China launches online campaign to showcase cultural charm and high-quality development of N China's Tianjin People's Daily Online) 21:14, August 09, 2025 Photo shows a scene from an online event held to explore the cultural charm and high-quality development of north China's Tianjin, on Aug. 9, 2025. Photo/Provided to People's Daily Online An online campaign was launched on Aug. 9, 2025 in north China's Tianjin municipality to showcase the citys unique unique cultural charm, remarkable progress, and openness and inclusiveness ahead of the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit. Attending the launch event were distinguished figures such as Niu Yibing, deputy director of the Office of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission (CCAC) and the Cyberspace Administration of China; Xu Lijing, deputy editor-in-chief of People's Daily; Shen Lei, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Tianjin Municipal Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Tianjin Municipal Committee; and Jin Ruiguo, director general of the Policy and Regulations Department of the National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA). Photo shows a scene from an online event held to explore the cultural charm and high-quality development of north China's Tianjin, on Aug. 9, 2025. Photo/Provided to People's Daily Online In addition, over 300 participants were present, including representatives from the CCAC, NCHA, Peoples Daily, relevant government departments of Tianjin municipality, journalists from various media outlets, as well as experts, artists and internet influencers. Photo shows a scene from an online event held to explore the cultural charm and high-quality development of north China's Tianjin, on Aug. 9, 2025. Photo/Provided to People's Daily Online A series of performances were staged to showcase Tianjins unique culture, modern development and stories of high-quality development. At the event, central media outlets, industry representatives, and other participants jointly released key online publicity projects. International students from SCO member states studying in China, as well as foreign friends residing in Tianjin, shared their indelible bonds with the city, extending sincere wishes for the upcoming 2025 SCO Summit. Photo shows a scene from an online event held to explore the cultural charm and high-quality development of north China's Tianjin, on Aug. 9, 2025. Photo/Provided to People's Daily Online From August 7 to 9, nearly 100 media professionals and online influencers from over 20 media outlets across the country gathered in Tianjin. They visited sites including Tianjin Ancient Culture Street, Yangliuqing Ancient Town Folk Culture Museum, Tianjin Museum, Tiankai Higher Education Science and Technology Innovation Park, celebrities former residences, and Tianjin Port, gaining an in-depth experience of the openness and inclusiveness of Tianjin-style culture. Through their first-hand perspectives, they are set to tell stories of Tianjin's high-quality development, showcasing the city's unique cultural charm and remarkable progress in various fields. Photo shows a scene from an online event held to explore the cultural charm and high-quality development of north China's Tianjin, on Aug. 9, 2025. Photo/Provided to People's Daily Online (Web editor: Du Mingming, Liu Ning) Chinese embassy condemns G7's "erroneous remarks" on Hong Kong Xinhua) 10:21, August 11, 2025 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) said Sunday it would be illegal for President Trump to order the FBI to arrest Texas state Democratic officials for fleeing their state to halt Republican redistricting efforts. Well, first of all, Texas law does not apply in the state of Illinois, and theres no federal law that would allow the FBI to arrest anybody thats here visiting our state. So, its a lot of grandstanding, Pritzker said to host Kristen Welker on NBCs Meet the Press. Pritzker vowed to protect Texas Democrats who fled their state to Illinois to prevent a quorum in the Texas Legislature necessary to vote on the new gerrymandered voting map. After the legislators fled, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) ordered their arrest because they abandoned their duty to Texans. Since the lawmakers are out of state, Texas law enforcement cannot arrest them. Texas Sen. John Cornyn (R) sent a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel asking for the FBIs assistance. When asked whether the FBI should get involved, President Trump answered, Well, they may have to. The Illinois governor has been highly critical of the Trump administration, saying that the president is trying to steal five seats from the people. On NBC, he reiterated that he will protect the fleeing lawmakers and ranted against Abbott over these mid-decade redistricting efforts. Were providing them a safe haven, a place for them to visit and stay, breaking quorum, because theyre heroes that are standing up not just for their own constituents and for the people of Texas and their rights but also for the rights of people all across the country, he said. Because what Greg Abbott is doing and what Donald Trump is attempting to do is to cheat mid-decade here. This is theyre attempting to change the map. They know that theyre going to lose in 2026 the Congress, and so theyre trying to steal seats. In an effort to keep a Republican majority after the 2026 midterms, Trump asked the Commerce Department to conduct a new census ahead of the one scheduled for 2030, not counting anyone who is in the country illegally. Normally, the census is conducted every 10 years, and redistricting occurs after that. Pritzker is accusing Abbott of violating the Voting Rights Act, which ensures fair representation for minorities in election maps. Hes attempting to thwart federal law and take away five seats that are in the hands of Black, brown, minority congresspeople and the people that they represent, said Pritzker. Hes violating the Constitution. And all of us need to stand up and speak out and make sure that its understood across the country that what theyre trying to do in Texas is illegal. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Max Mumby/Indigo - Getty Images Queen Elizabeth II, whose automotive credentials were as impeccable as her royal pedigree, owned numerous Land Rovers during her lifetime and now one of them, a 2006 Range Rover 4.2 Supercharged Vogue SE (L322) in Tonga Green, will be sold at an auction of classic cars at the Silverstone Festival in England on August 23 by Iconic Auctioneers. The Queen earned her gearhead chops during World War II when she volunteered for the ambulance corps and learned to fix trucks. Throughout her reign she commissioned numerous vehicles, including many one-of-a-kind Rolls-Royces, which were used for State and Royal Family functions. She even helped design her own hearse (a Jaguar in Royal Claret) that carried her coffin after her death. (Prince Philip also designed the hearse for his own funeral, a modified Land Rover.) Courtesy Iconic Auctioneers During her frequent official visits to the far reaches of the Empire, she often brought her own vehicles, including custom-designed Land Rovers from which she and Prince Philip would wave to welcoming crowds. Last year, Land Rover assembled a collection of her automobiles for an exhibition in New York Citys Rockefeller Center. The Queen loved to drive and there are numerous photographs of her smiling behind the wheel of the L322, which, according to Iconic Auctioneers, helps confirm the provenance of the vehicle. As with all vehicles of this nature, it is almost impossible to clarify early ownership with various authorities but pleasingly the car has been photographed extensively while in service. Notably Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II can be seen in attendance and departing the vehicle at the 2007 Royal Windsor Horse Show, verifying the provenance to be both genuine and distinguished. Tim Graham - Getty Images The listing describes the vehicle's custom features, including Royal Household colours of Tonga Green over Sand Oxford leather, combined with extended Burr Walnut trim and clear glass. It also describes familiar Royal duty features. In preparation for Royal duties, the car benefits from subtle yet significant modificationsincluding additions such as side steps, mud flaps, a load-space mat, rear grab handles to assist with entry and exit and the infamous dog guard. The estimated cost of the Range Rover is 50,000 to 70,000. You Might Also Like Steve Witkoff Some European leaders are claiming President Trumps special Envoy Steve Witkoff may have misinterpreted Russian strongman Vladimir Putins exact conditions for bringing about an end to his countrys bloody war on Ukraine, a new report said. Witkoff met with Putin for about three hours in the Kremlin last Wednesday, and their discussion set off a chain of events that ultimately led to President Trump announcing a one-on-one with the Russian leader in Alaska this coming Friday. But privately, some European allies are complaining that they received varying accounts of what led to the supposed breakthrough with Putin that caused Trump to tout progress had been made. After Witkoffs lengthy meeting with Putin, Trump held a call with his European counterparts to brief them on what the Russian leader told his envoy. Trump initially implied that Russia was willing to potentially pull its forces out of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in exchange for complete control of Donetsk, according the Wall Street Journal. Steve Witkoff met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin last Wednesday. POOL/AFP via Getty Images President Trump has complained that Russian leader Vladimir Putin has made positive overtures before continuing to bomb Ukraine brutally. AP Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Donetsk are territories in the southeast of Ukraine. Since the war broke out, Russia has been keen on taking control over four territories it has deemed oblasts: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Thats in addition to its annexation of Crimea in 2014. But Witkoff later made a different claim to Europeans last Thursday that Putin offered to freeze and withdraw from the front line, according to the report. By last Friday, Witkoff clarified to his counterparts that what Putin actually offered was for Ukraine to pull out of Donetsk in exchange for a cease-fire. Several European officials are speculating that Witkoff also may have misunderstood or even talked past Putin on other key details of what was actually proposed. Some believe that Putin called for a peaceful withdrawal from Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in eastern Ukraine and that Witkoff misunderstood that to mean pulling Russian troops out of there, German outlet BILD reported. However, they believe that Putin actually meant for Ukrainian forces to be withdrawn from those two territories that Russia has attempted to annex during the war. Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky has been adamant that his country be involved in the decision-making process. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SERVICE/AFP via Getty Images Witkoff doesnt know what hes talking about, a Ukrainian government official vented to the outlet. The Post reached out to a Witkoff spokesperson and the White House for comment. Witkoff is a real estate buddy of Trumps and has no foreign policy experience prior to becoming special envoy, where he juggles the responsibilities of trying to broker peace in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. Ukraine still controls the capitals of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, though Russia has a vast swath of those territories in its possession. Russia also has full control over Luhansk and most of Donetsk. Any decisions made against us, any decisions made without Ukraine, are at the same time decisions against peace, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on social media last week amid the confusion. Zelensky has also poured cold water on the idea of Ukraine ceding territory to Russia. Still, Putins overtures to Witkoff appear to have bought some time. Trump had given Putin a deadline of last Friday to take steps towards peace with Ukraine or else face secondary sanctions or tariffs penalties on countries that import oil from Moscow. Some analysts believe that the penalties Trump dangled in his ultimatum could be catastrophic for Russias economy. The Russians have continued to bombard Ukraine with brutal drone and missile strikes. AFP via Getty Images Throughout the two-and-a-half-year-long war, Russia has withstood a spate of crippling Western sanctions, in part by continuing exports to China, India, Turkey and other countries. In June, Russias economy minister warned that the country is on the brink of a recession, and Putin announced plans to trim the military budget despite the ongoing war. Now Trump is set to meet with Putin in Alaska on Friday, marking the first time the Russian leader has set foot on US soil in a decade. The White House is also pushing for Putin and Zelensky to meet, according to Vice President JD Vance. Witkoff has traveled to Moscow at least five times this year. During his meetings with Putin, the Russian leader took steps to charm him, including by offering him a painting of Trump and recounting how he supposedly went to a church to pray after the July 13, Butler, Pa., assassination attempt. During this last trip, Putin gifted Witkoff with an Order of Lenin award for Juliane Gallina, a CIA official, whose son was killed fighting for Russia in its war against Ukraine, CBS News first reported. Courtesy of Gaby Cuadra Theres no sign outside, just a discreet door with the numbers 3190 stenciled across the glass of a restaurant tucked around the corner from Cotoletta, the buzzy Italian spot also built on only one dish and often fully booked before noon. But if you know, you know. I step inside and am greeted not by a hostess stand or menus, but by a lipstick-scrawled mirror that reads: Vino + Lasagna = Love. That sets the tone. 3190 seats only 24 guests and serves one entree: lasagna. Thats it. No menu, no delivery, no QR codes. Theres something deeply comforting about being relieved of decision-making. Within moments of sitting down, a steaming plate of lasagna arrives in front of me, golden-edged and unmistakably homemade. The meat version the Si Papa lasagna is inspired by Executive Chef Guilio Rossis daughter, now a prima ballerina with the Compania Nacional de Danza in Madrid, Spain. As a child, it was her meal of choice before dance class and whenever her father asked if she wanted more, shed beam and say, Si, Papa. Courtesy of Gaby Cuadra The noodles are just thin enough to melt on the tongue, the bechamel silky, and the ragu rich and slow-cooked. Every layer feels generous but not heavy. Theres a vegetarian version, too, bright with basil, and the green beans and peas snap against the soft layers of pasta. The whole thing is perfumed with olive oil and freshness. As I push back my plate, the kind of happy-full when your shoulders soften, the server appears with something I dont expect: tiramisu. She carries out the entire glass baking dish and scoops a hefty serving onto my husbands plate. Then she leaves the pan in front of me. She smiles knowingly, Whoever gets the last serving gets the dish to clean out. Pillowy mascarpone, just enough bitter coffee to keep it from veering into too-sweet territory with delicate chocolate shavings dusting the top a luscious finish to the rustic meal. There are three things that should always be made in a big tray, Andrea Fraquelli, one of the partners, says as he refills my sparkling water. Eggplant Parmesan, lasagna, and tiramisu. The pan is where the magic happens with those dishes. We wanted to honor that. Thats really what 3190 is about: honoring the pan, the recipe that stays in a family for generations, the joy of seconds, and a meal without pretension. Italian restaurants are meant to be generous, Fraquelli says. We leave the grappa on the table, we dont measure portions, we feed you until you are full. With our restaurants, we want to bring that real Italian hospitality to Miami. Related: A Perfect Dinner in Miami Includes Pasta and 90s Hip-Hop At a time when so many restaurants are designed around digital convenience or social media moments, this place offers simple, slow-cooked lasagna, friendly service, and a little mystery. In a world where theres a lot of noise, we found a niche, Fraquelli says. We make people curious, and they follow that curiosity to see if we really are doing what we say. Ive always thought restaurants are born from one signature dish. I knew my uncle made the best veal Milanese and the best lasagna. I knew they would keep people coming back. And thats what this feels like: a signature dish done with enough soul to keep people talking. The lasagna and the entire experience remind me why we go out to eat in the first place. So, if you ever find yourself at Cotoletta with no reservation, dont be disappointed. Let them guide you a couple doors down. Step through the unmarked door. Look for the mirror. Say yes to lasagna. Say yes to tiramisu in the pan. Say yes like chef Guilios daughter always did: Si, Papa. Read the original article on Food & Wine Africa steps firmly over the threshold of Locarnos 2025 Open Doors to deliver five singular short narratives that pull from social strife, ancestral lore and communal memory in a finely-curated program that centers the engaging, culturally rich narratives of the continent. Taking such elaborate subject matter and masterfully condensing it into thoroughly refined snapshots, the directors firmly cement their skills at the sidebar which marks its inaugural celebration of African features, producers and creatives after recently wrapping a three-year long focus on filmmakers from Latin America and the Caribbean. With a goal of boosting regions where financing and filmmaking is more challenged, Locarnos Open Doors offers a significant platform and development program to attendees. More from Variety This years shorts also display a sense of broader cinematic appeal, from weighty social commentary in Absoulaye Salls The Last Journey and Yasir Faizs title Bougainvillea to Amina Abdoulaye Mamanis bold and evocative powder-keg narrative of a young girl whose fate is decided for her in The Envoy of God, Priscillia Kounkou Hoveydas tender, abstract ode to a past that shapes the present, Where My Memory Began, and Patience Nitumwesigas esoteric rumination, Jangu. A drill-down on the lineup: The Last Journey ( Le Dernier Voyage, Abdoulaye Sall, Mauritania, Senegal) Snagging the jury prize at 2023s Oujda International Film Festival, the short turns on Maodo a young man returning home after a long absence. Disappearing after a days work as a street vendor, his family desperately searches for him. A loss of hope permeates the narrative, that portrays a family torn between disillusionment and the longing for elsewhere. Its a tribute to those who stay behind, and a cry from those who leave, Sall explains. A poignant family drama that plumbs the precarious nature of securing a future, the film is produced by 5 Films Production and co-produced by Yennenga Production. Sales are handled by Wawkumba Films. Jangu (Patience Nitumwesiga, Uganda) After a traumatic encounter, two sisters commune with a local witch to banish men from their town for three hours. Longing to extend their fortune, they come to find that all the men have permanently disappeared their souls harvested by mystic forces. Through this film, we re-capture elements of African lore that have been erased from African films in the mainstream media such as genderless witches and non material realities, the director tells Variety. Produced and sold by Stone Age Pictures and co-produced by Shagika, with support from the Karlsruhe Film Board, under the UNESCO Media City Underground Film Award. Where My Memory Began (Priscillia Kounkou Hoveyda, Sierra Leone) Where My Memory Began and that old 400-year-old tree represents the resilience of our spirits and celebrates those who were there before us. I am because of those who walked before me, explains the director,. referring to 230-foot old Cotton Tree in Freetown, which collapsed in a 2023 storm, but had provided shade for formerly enslaved Black folks from the Americas, returning to Africa to fins freedom. Soft, muted hues frame each shot in the film that pays homage to not only the sky-high cotton tree but the heritage and sacrifice gathered at its storied perimeter. The project is produced by Freetowns House of Salone out of Sierra Leone. The Envoy of God (LEnvoyee de Dieu, Amina Abdoulaye Mamani, Niger, Burkina Faso, Rwanda) 12-year-old Fatima reluctantly prepares to meet her fate as shes forced to become a suicide bomber. The short delves into those moments leading up to her final act, all of the turmoil they entail with glimpses of her brief joy-fuelled life woven between an emotive, dissociative tension. This film is a way of paying tribute to all those girls who died in spite of themselves; it also shows that we can still refuse, say no, the director shared in an interview with Souley Moutari of ONEP in February, 2023. Produced by Diam Production and co-produced by Tabous Production, Sudu Connexion handles world sales of the film. Bougainvillea (Yasir Faiz, Egypt, Sudan) Maneuvering a battle against deep oppression, the narrative follows six women amidst Sudans December 2018 revolution. Full of unfettered hope, an air of justice prevails. Inspired by real interviews with former detainees, it explores their emotional resilience and the intense bonds formed in isolation. Set in a society where womens voices are often suppressed, the film confronts themes of confinement, solidarity, and resistance, Faiz explains. Produced by award-winning East African production house, In Deep Visions, with co-production credits to Sudan Film Factory, Shift Studios and Figleaf Sound Studios, world sales are handled by MAD Solutions. Faizs debut feature is set to shoot in Kenya in 2027, set during the final years of the Sudan-South Sudan civil war. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Courtesy of Publishers "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Gods and Kings: The Rise and Fall of Alexander McQueen and John Galliano Theres no way to dive into fashion without immediately coming face to face with two of the modern greats: Alexander McQueen and John Galliano. Dana Thomass Gods and Kings follows the course of the pairs similarly timed (and in the eyes of the media, often rival) careers while giving context to both their personal lives and the rapid rise and growth of LVMH. It was a time of big ideas, scrappy personalities, and cutthroat businessand it changed fashion forever. $16.51 at amazon.com The Battle of Versailles: The Night American Fashion Stumbled into the Spotlight and Made History The Battle of Versailles is probably one of the lesser-known events to occur within the infamous palace halls, but its definitely one of the most important for the fashion industry. Written by Pulitzer Prizewinning fashion critic Robin Givhan, the book examines the unprecedented runway walk-off between European and American designers that solidified Seventh Avenue in fashion history. $14.25 at amazon.com Make It Ours: Crashing the Gates of Culture with Virgil Abloh Also by Givhan, Make It Ours is an in-depth look at both the late Virgil Abloh and the traditional luxury industry over which he triumphed. The book deftly chronicles the rise of his career alongside the rapidly changing fashion landscape, leading to his historic and ultimately brief appointment at Louis Vuitton. With an approach thats part biography and part cultural analysis, Givhan offers a thorough portrait of luxurys streetwear era. $21.58 at amazon.com Sex and Suits: The Evolution of Modern Dress A little bit more on the theory side, Sex and Suits charts the history of mens and womens dress all the way from medieval times to the modern day. The book questions why menswear underwent such a drastic transformation following the 18th century and looks at how gender affects fashion to this day. Hollander is unafraid to get into the nitty-grittyall of her books are a must-read. $24.81 at amazon.com The Chiffon Trenches: A Memoir Its been Bleak Street over here in America! Those are the famous words of the late Andre Leon Talley, who once declared a famine of beauty in New York fashion. Talleys memoir paints a moving portrait of his singular career. From North Carolina to New York to Paris and beyond, The Chiffon Trenches is an intimate and, at times, ruthless account of his experience across the fashion industry. $15.99 at amazon.com Empresses of Seventh Avenue: World War II, New York City, and the Birth of American Fashion Believe it or not, the American fashion industry is largely responsible for much of the way designers think about ready-to-wear today. Prior to the modern-day Fashion Week, the youthquake movement, and the Battle of Versailles, European ateliers often snubbed the factories on Seventh Avenue. But Nancy MacDonells Empresses of Seventh Avenue examines the historic shift in clothing following World War II and the select group of movers and shakers in New York City who made it happen. $15.15 at amazon.com Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity As the foundational text for the 2025 Met Gala theme, Monica L. Millers Slaves to Fashion is a crucial examination of the history of the Black dandy. Beginning in the 1700s, Miller observes how the archetype has contextually transformed across generations, from its origins within the slave trade to representations of the Black dandy in art and music today. $22.46 at amazon.com Claire McCardell: The Designer Who Set Women Free Claire McCardell helped radically transform the way women dress. To the designer, clothing served as an opportunity for female empowerment, which led to more casual, freeing silhouettes that helped form the basis for American sportswear. Elizabeth Evitts Dickinsons biography sheds light on McCardells underappreciated career. $23.14 at amazon.com Worn: A People's History of Clothing Behind every garment is the person who made it, and behind every maker is a story about the inner workings of our clothes. Sofi Thanhausers Worn is a deep dive into global textiles, both historic and new, and how their production processes have changed over time. The book also examines the industrys waste, pollution, and labor exploitation, painting a comprehensive backstory of our garments. $15.63 at amazon.com Dress Code: Unlocking Fashion from the New Look to Millennial Pink From ELLEs own Veronique Hyland, Dress Code dives into how styleand the way we talk about itshapes our daily lives. The book explores how fashion permeates all aspects of life, from the enduring allure of the French girl archetype to the politics of how we dress in the workplace. Hyland examines how fashion is inextricably linked to our routines and why it remains undervalued within the realms of art and culture. $9.49 at amazon.com You Might Also Like Susan Polcari Key Takeaways McKays began in 1974 with a mission to make education more accessible through its "free enterprise library" model. The chain now has five locations across Tennessee and North Carolina. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, McKays hosted a 570-mile road trip challenge. When I was younger, I had a nearly endless hunger for books. So my absolute favorite thing to do on a hot summer day was to spend the afternoon in McKay's, a used bookstore that was just down the road from our house where I could not only be surrounded by that comforting old-book smell but take advantage of the air-conditioning too. For a long time, I thought that McKay's was special to Chattanooga. I'd never run across one anywhere else, and it just felt so unique that it didn't feel like it could be replicated. Sure, other used bookstores exist, but none of them ever came close to McKay's in my eyes. Then a few years ago, my husband and I took a day trip to Nashville and drove a little out of our way to visit Loveless Cafe. It was an impromptu add-on to the trip and so worth itespecially when I spotted a McKay's sign on our way downtown afterward. I made my husband pull over right then and there. Stepping inside the Nashville store, I was floored by the instant hit of nostalgia. 50 Years And Counting After this surprise run-in with a second McKay's location, I got curious and started looking into its history. I learned that it was actually started in North Carolina, but the fact that it was a Southern-born company came as no surprise to me given the warmth and hospitality I've experienced every single visit. Established in 1974, the original idea behind the store was to make education more accessible. As a "free enterprise library," the inventory was built from customers' personal bookshelves. For any books they brought in, they got a credit to use in the store. This is the model that is still used today but now with a wide-ranging inventory. The company has grown to have five locations: two in North Carolina (Winston-Salem and Mebane) and three in Tennessee (Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Nashville). How It Works You don't have to bring in your own books to participate in the shopping, but it's a great way to unload the novels you're done with. If you're planning to sell to McKay's, especially if you go on a summer day like my family used to, you'll likely have to wait a while as the employees sort through everything. But honestly, the wait is kind of the best part. It's an excuse to browseyou might as well make the most of your time after all! At the drop-off counter, you'll be issued a ticket number, so until your number is called, the store is yours to explore. More often than not, my mom and I turned around and spent all the credit we received. But that's the beauty of McKay's. We got to make room on our bookshelves for new reads, and we knew that our books would soon be in the hands of readers who'd get more use out of them than we would. In my opinion, the point of a book is to be read not to sit on a shelf and get dusty, so I'd much rather pass my copy on to the next interested party. But if I get to trade for a new one entirely? That's the best of both worlds. Susan Polcari The Atmosphere I know it might sound odd that one of my favorite places from childhood was essentially a warehouse, but the interiors of McKay's feel like anything but. Every inch of the space is put to use, with rows upon rows of shelves that are stuffed top to bottomplus sections for gaming, musical instruments, movies, and toys. The volume of items they process is so large that it would be nearly impossible to organize every title perfectly. Once you find your preferred genre in the maze of shelves, the books are mostly alphabetized by the authors' last names, but there might be several sections just for those whose last names start with "M." From there, you're on a treasure hunt of sorts. And one author might fit into multiple genres, so if you're serious about finding a particular book, you may have to start your search all over again in another part of the store. But that's the charm of McKay's. It's just as much about the chase as it is the reward. The shelves are also pretty close together, so each aisle feels like its own alcove. When I was a kid, I would set up camp in the YA section to scour over all the offerings. I'd pull a little footstool over to my corner to serve as my seat as I read different passages and tried to narrow down what I was taking home with me. It truly felt like I was in my own world until my mom came to collect me. The Ultimate Road Trip During the summer of 2024, I suddenly started seeing my McKay's pop up all over my social media feeds. While I have always thought they deserved this kind of recognition, I'd never seen such fanfare for the store before. It turns out, for McKay's 50th anniversary, they decided to host an unprecedented challenge: If participants could make it to all five locations (across Tennessee and North Carolina) on July 9, then they'd receive $500 in credit. This road trip covered 570 miles, which required 10 hours of driving at the very least. Believe it or not, so many people decided to take part in this challenge that McKay's had to pivot and loosen their requirements. Between standstill traffic on the highways and lines that wrapped around each store, it was impossible for most people to make that journey without seriously breaking some traffic laws. Those dedicated enough were able to walk away with the grand prize, and many, many others received souvenir McKay's passports and T-shirts for their efforts. While there was no official challenge or prize this year, several customers did the trip again in earnestno skipping locationsand actually got to stop to shop or relax along the way too. People genuinely drove nearly 600 miles just for the fun of it. If that doesn't go to show how beloved this Southern chain is, I'm not sure what will. Read the original article on Southern Living The pills were purchased from Aid Access, an online service that ships abortion pills to Americans from abroad. (Phil Walter / Getty Images file) A Texas woman is suing a U.S. Marine, alleging he spiked her drink with nearly a dozen abortion pills, killing their unborn child, after she rebuffed his repeated requests to get rid of it, according to a wrongful death lawsuit filed in federal court Monday. Liana Davis alleges Christopher Cooprider secretly dissolved at least 10 abortion pills into a cup of hot chocolate that he prepared for her April 5 and then left the house and stopped responding as she profusely bled, the suit says. Cooprider, 34, declined to comment Monday. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, contains several purported text messages the pair exchanged for weeks, beginning Jan. 31, when Davis asked Cooprider for his input in case she is confirmed to be pregnant. Cooprider said he would like to get rid of it, the texts show, saying the two were not in love or together and that it would be messed up to bring a child into the world without both parents raising them. When Cooprider reiterated his desire for Davis to get rid of it after her pregnancy test came back positive days later, she asked him to use a different phrase. Every time you say get rid of it its like an electric shock, she wrote, according to the lawsuit. I literally feel like Im going down the steepest hill on a roller coaster when I read that. The following text messages allegedly show Cooprider telling Davis, without her approval, that he would order abortion pills online. The pills were purchased from Aid Access, an online service that ships abortion pills to Americans from abroad, according to the lawsuit. Aid Access, and Dr. Rebecca Gomperts, a Dutch physician who runs it, are also listed as defendants in the lawsuit. They did not immediately return requests for comment. For the next several weeks, Cooprider was unable to convince Davis to get an abortion, and the text messages grew more contentious. On March 6, Cooprider called the baby a thing and blamed Davis for her psycho mentality that he said caused her ongoing divorce. The lawsuit says Cooprider also threatened to testify against Davis in her divorce proceeding and bid to have custody of her three children. At the end of March, Cooprider texted that he wanted to abort this monstrosity of a situation and said he felt trapped by the situation. But on April 2, Cooprider appeared to change his tone in text messages to Davis. He proposed making them some warm relaxing tea in what they could call a trust building night, according to screenshots shared in the lawsuit. Davis, who was eight weeks pregnant, accepted. When the two met up at Davis Corpus Christi residence on the night of April 5, Cooprider handed her a cup of hot chocolate shortly before midnight, according to the lawsuit. Within 30 minutes of drinking it, the suit says, Davis began hemorrhaging and cramping. Davis knew she had to go to the emergency room, but she knew she could not leave her three children who were sleeping upstairs, the suit said. They came up with a plan for Cooprider to pick up Davis mother, who lived nearby, so she could watch the children while Cooprider took Davis to the hospital. But once Cooprider left the house, he became unreachable, according to the lawsuit. I am gushing blood. Please hurry, Davis texted him around 12:30 a.m. Daviss mother took an Uber ride to her daughters house around 1 a.m. Around that time, Cooprider apologized and said he had to catch a flight the next day, the suit said. A neighbor drove Davis to the hospital, where her unborn baby, whom she had named Joy, did not survive. Back home, Davis said she found the opened box of abortion pills and a pill bottle, which she turned over to the Corpus Christi police, according to the lawsuit. The suit claims Cooprider mixed 10 misoprostol pills into the hot chocolate. The Corpus Christi Police Department said there are no active investigations involving Cooprider. The Marine Corps did not immediately respond to a request for comment. President Donald Trump announced this week a federal takeover of the Washington police force and deployment of National Guardsmen to the nation's capital. Trump on Friday is expected to hold a summit in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the White House seeks an end to the Kremlin's war in Ukraine. Latest Developments Aug 13, 9:32 AM Trump and Putin to meet at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will have their summit at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, a White House official confirmed to ABC News. Alejandro Pena/Alaska National Guard, FILES - PHOTO: Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets visit with members of the Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 28, 2025. ABC News Michelle Stoddart Aug 12, 1:46 PM Fines, jail time possible for those who don't comply with DC encampment cleanup: WH As President Donald Trump vows to rid D.C. of homeless encampments, individuals who do not comply could be subject to fines or jail time, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, referencing D.C. laws. "For far too long, these laws have been completely ignored, and the homelessness problem has ravaged the city," she said during Tuesday's briefing. "Homeless individuals will be given the option to leave their encampment, to be taken to a homeless shelter, to be offered addiction or mental health services -- and if they refuse, they will be susceptible to fines or to jail time." After Trump said this week that homeless individuals will be given places to stay "far from the capital," Leavitt said the administration is also still looking into that. "We're exploring how we could do that," she said, adding that homeless shelters, addiction and mental health services, or jail "are the options on the table right now." Kevin Lamarque/Reuters - PHOTO: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Aug. 12, 2025, in Washington. Aug 12, 1:37 PM Trump considering a lawsuit against the Fed's Powell President Donald Trump is weighing a possible lawsuit against Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at her briefing on Tuesday. "He's considering a lawsuit and I won't speak or on it any further. I will allow the president to do that himself," Leavitt said. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell tour the Federal Reserve's $2.5 billion headquarters renovation project, July 24, 2025 in Washington. Earlier Tuesday, Trump threatened legal action against Powell on his conservative social media platform. "The damage he has done by always being Too Late is incalculable," Trump wrote. "Fortunately, the economy is sooo good that we've blown through Powell and the complacent Board. I am, though, considering allowing a major lawsuit against Powell to proceed because of the horrible, and grossly incompetent, job he has done in managing the construction of the Fed Buildings. Three Billion Dollars for a job that should have been a $50 Million Dollar fix up. Not good!" Aug 12, 1:34 PM 30-day timeline on DC takeover to be reevaluated, Leavitt says White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Trump administration will "reevaluate and reassess and make further decisions" on its federalization of the D.C. police force once the 30-day period is up. "Within these 30 days, our entire focus is making sure that this is the most efficient operation possible and that we are removing as many criminals from the streets, and we are cleaning up D.C. as best as we can, and working with the Metropolitan Police Department to do that," she said during Tuesday's briefing. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, August 12, 2025. Aug 12, 1:31 PM Trump 'honored' to host Putin on American soil Finer details on President Donald Trump's upcoming sit-down with Russian President Vladimir Putin have still not been released, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt telling reporters on Tuesday that scheduling is "still being ironed out." But on the selection of Alaska as the location, Leavitt said: "The president is very honored and looks forward to hosting, President Putin on American soil." Alex Brandon/AP - PHOTO: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Aug. 12, 2025, in Washington. Aug 12, 1:26 PM White House: Trump-Putin meeting a 'listening exercise' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked on Tuesday why Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wasn't invited to Friday's summit in Alaska. Leavitt said this meeting came at Russian President Vladimir Putin's request, relayed to Trump by special envoy Steve Witkoff after Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow last week. "The goal of this meeting for the president is to walk away with a better understanding of how we can end this war," Leavitt told reporters. ABC News Senior Political Correspondent Rachel Scott asked Leavitt if Zelenskyy has given Trump any red lines or nonstarters ahead of his conversation with Putin. "Look, I don't want to reveal the private conversations between the president and President Zelenskyy, but what I can tell you is that the president has deep respect for all parties that are involved in this conflict and are trying to bring this conflict to an end," Leavitt responded. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, August 12, 2025. Leavitt added, "I think this is a listening exercise for the president. Look, only one party that's involved in this war is going to be present. And so this is for the president to go and to get, again, a more firm and better understanding of how we can hopefully bring this war to an end." Aug 12, 1:20 PM 23 arrests made in DC Monday after law enforcement 'surge,' White House says Approximately 850 officers and agents were "surged" across D.C. Monday night after President Donald Trump declared a crime emergency in the capital, during which they made 23 arrests, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. The arrests included homicide, firearms offenses, possession with intent to distribute narcotics, lewd acts, stalking, possession of a high-capacity magazine, driving under the influence and reckless driving, she said. Six illegal handguns were also seized, she said. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, August 12, 2025. "This is only the beginning," Leavitt said during a press briefing Tuesday. "Over the course of the next month, the Trump administration will relentlessly pursue and arrest every violent criminal in the District who breaks the law, undermines public safety and endangers law-abiding Americans." Aug 12, 12:19 PM National Guard members gather at DC Armory Members of the National Guard gathered at the DC Armory's Joint Force Headquarters Tuesday morning, before filing out approximately one hour later. Many confirmed to ABC News that they are active members of the National Guard. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Members of the National Guard walk from the DC Joint Force Headquarters to the DC Armory in Washington, Aug. 12, 2025. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP - PHOTO: A member of the District of Columbia National Guard arrives at the District of Columbia National Guard Headquarters, Aug. 12, 2025, in Washington. They arrived in what appeared to be personal vehicles before entering the building alone or in small groups, with some carrying duffel bags and backpacks. When asked if they were given any marching orders, one told ABC News "not really," and that they were just told to gather. -ABC News' Emily Chang Aug 12, 10:23 AM National Guard troops arriving in DC National Guard troops are arriving in Washington after President Donald Trump announced on Monday that 800 National Guard troops would be deployed as he declared a public safety emergency -- despite the citys mayor noting violent crime is at a 30-year low. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP - PHOTO: National Guard troops arrive at the District of Columbia National Guard Headquarters, Aug. 12, 2025, in Washington. It's the first time the National Guard has been deployed to Washington since 2021 after the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP - PHOTO: National Guard troops arrive at the District of Columbia National Guard Headquarters, Aug. 12, 2025, in Washington. Aug 12, 9:39 AM Bowser and Bondi expected to meet Tuesday: Sources Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and Attorney General Pam Bondi are expected to meet on Tuesday, sources familiar with the matter said. Bowser said on Monday during her press conference that she had reached out to Bondi and she hoped to schedule a meeting "soon." Bowser on Monday called President Donald Trump's federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department and deployment of the National Guard "unsettling and unprecedented." A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the meeting to ABC News. Bowser's office didn't immediately comment. Mark Schiefelbein/AP - PHOTO: Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks with reporters during a briefing with President Donald Trump in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington. -ABC News' Katherine Faulders, Alexander Mallin an Luke Barr Click here to read the rest of the blog. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Monday announced he will deploy approximately 800 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., and federalize the city's police in an effort to fight crime. When you walk down the street, youre going to see police or youre going to see FBI agents, Trump said during a press availability Monday morning. Were going to have a lot of agents on the street. Youre going to have a lot of, essentially military. And we will bring in the military if its needed. The moves mark a significant escalation in the president's attacks on the nation's capital. Trump on Sunday claimed the district was one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World," although the Justice Department said that the crime rate fell to a 30-year low last year. The president also said that he would declare a public safety emergency in D.C. and that Attorney General Pam Bondi would "take command of the Metropolitan Police Department as of this moment." One hundred to 200 troops out of the 800 activated "will be supporting law enforcement at any given time," Army Public Affairs confirmed, adding that the troops would have "administrative, logistics and physical presence" tasks. Troops are expected to be on the ground Tuesday, a White House official told NBC News on Monday night. A second official said the National Guard is "being deployed to protect federal assets, provide a safe environment for law enforcement officers to make arrests, and deter violent crime with a visible law enforcement presence." Guard members received a notification saying the deployment order is for Aug. 11 to Sept. 25. NBC News previously reported that Trump was considering ordering the National Guard into the district. He announced Monday that around 800 National Guard troops would be deployed, but said he would send "much more if necessary." Bondi, who Trump said will helm D.C. police, declared that crime would end in D.C. "Let me be crystal clear: Crime in D.C. is ending and ending today," she said. Trump must notify certain members of Congress within 48 hours about the reason for taking over control of police and the estimated timeline for federal control, according to the D.C. Home Rule Act. Trump said he would make the "appropriate" notifications to Congress and the mayor's office. The act also indicates that Trump can take control of the D.C. police for 30 days, unless Congress authorizes an extension. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, said she would comply with Trump's directive, which she called "unsettling and unprecedented." "We will follow the law," she told reporters after the president's announcement. "I'm going to work every day to make sure it's not a complete disaster" and get this "so-called emergency" put to an end, Bowser said. Ahead of the announcement, Trump on Sunday railed against homelessness in the city. Trump on Monday said that the administration would remove homeless encampments. D.C. attorney general Brian Schwalb blasted the administrations actions on X as unprecedented, unnecessary, and unlawful. We are considering all of our options and will do what is necessary to protect the rights and safety of District residents, he wrote. D.C. delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat, said in a statement that Trump's moves were a "historic assault on D.C. home rule," as well as "counterproductive" and "escalatory." It does not escape me that the president is calling in the [D.C. National Guard] on the pretext of a surge in crime that the numbers do not support, while he was nowhere to be found for hours on January 6, 2021, as D.C. officials tried to get him to mobilize the DCNG as the U.S. Capitol was under siege, Norton added. Critics are quick to point out that, while Trump has sought to make defending law enforcement a pillar of his second term, he also pardoned hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters, many of whom were convicted of attacking police officers. Trump's announcements come after the White House increased the federal law enforcement presence in D.C., which White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had framed as a first step in stopping the violent crime that has been plaguing the streets of Washington, DC. About 450 federal law enforcement officers were deployed across D.C. on Saturday and Sunday evenings, according to a White House official. Hours after Trumps announcement Monday, the north and south fence line around the White House as well as the Ellipse were closed following a shooting in D.C. nearly a mile from the White House, law enforcement officials and a Secret Service spokesperson said. There was no immediate indication that the shooting was tied to Trump or the White House and the Secret Service said the closure was a precaution. The shooting happened on the 1200 block of 12th Street NW, the officials said, and it was not immediately clear if there were any victims. Last week, Trump renewed his criticism of D.C. following an alleged assault on Edward Coristine, an original Department of Government Efficiency aide known online as Big Balls, in an attempted carjacking. 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 said in a post on Truth Social last week. D.C. police data indicates that violent crime has decreased 26% compared to last year. The D.C. U.S. Attorneys Office also announced in January that violent crime in the district in 2024 was at a 30-year low, citing police data. Trump has the authority to temporarily take control of the local police. For the president to mount a full federal takeover of the city, however, Congress would first need to repeal the 1973 Home Rule Act, which granted D.C. a level of self-governance. Trump also said he might launch a similar effort in large Democratic-run cities. Other cities are hopefully watching this, he said. Maybe theyll self-clean up, and maybe theyll self-do this and get rid of the cashless bail thing and all of the things that caused the problem. Trump faced criticism after deploying the National Guard to Los Angeles as a response to protests against his immigration policies. Bowser acknowledged to reporters in her press conference that D.C. is in a different situation, while pointing a finger at Congress. If people are concerned about a presidents ability to have the MPD, police department, be responsive to the Department of Justice, the time to address that is when were talking about statehood for D.C. If people are concerned about the president being able to move the National Guard into our city, the time to do that would have been when the Congress had a bill that it could have given control of the DC National Guard to D.C.," Bowser said. "So there are things that when a city is not a state and not fully autonomous, and doesnt have senators, that the federal government can do, she said. In an interview on MSNBC Sunday, Bowser pushed back on the assertion that her city is riddled with crime. If the priority is to show force in an American city, we know [Trump] can do that here, but it wont be because theres a spike in crime, she said. On Monday morning, Trump also proclaimed "liberation day in D.C." in an all-capitalized post to Truth Social. "Washington, D.C. will be LIBERATED today!" he said in a separate post Monday morning. "Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR." Trump signed an executive order in March to make D.C. "safe and beautiful," establishing a task force to work with local officials on safety issues, such as by increasing the federal law enforcement presence in the city. Seabourn already takes guests on expedition cruises to the icy wilds of the Arctic and Antarctica. Now, a new itinerary will combine both into one voyage. The luxury line will offer its Pole to Pole: Grand Expedition in 2027, sailing more than 20,500 nautical miles over 94 days. This is the first time in Seabourns history and one of the first in the cruise industry that a luxury expedition has been designed to explore both polar regions in a single sailing, Robin West, Seabourns vice president of Expedition Operations & Planning, told USA TODAY in an email. The idea was born from our desire to push the boundaries of expedition travel and create a journey that few could even imagine, let alone undertake. With Seabourn Ventures advanced capabilities and PC6 Polar Class rating, we knew we had the right ship to make it a reality. Heres what guests can expect: When is Seabourns Pole to Pole expedition? The itinerary will start in Reykjavik, Iceland, on Aug. 17, 2027. Guests will spend the night there before taking a charter flight to Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, to board the 264-guest Venture. Where will the expedition cruise go? West said the sailings combined format will give visitors a much deeper perspective. Traveling from pole to pole in a single expedition allows guests to witness the full spectrum of Earths most remote environments, he said. In doing this, the format eliminates itinerary repetition and creates a natural progress through changing ecosystems, cultures, and wildlife. It also gives our expedition team the opportunity to guide our guests through the shifts in environment across hemispheres. Passengers will explore destinations in 14 countries and territories, from Canada to Brazil and Argentina, and explore famed waterways and remote regions. Those include six days in the Northwest Passage between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans; three days in South Georgia, home to king penguins and other wildlife; and five days in Antarctica. Seabourn Venture at Antarctica's Booth Island. The trip also includes three days at Ellesmere Island, a lesser-visited destination in the Arctic Archipelago. The island is home to fewer than 200 people and remains one of the most pristine and isolated environments on Earth, West said. Our guests will have the rare opportunity to explore Canadas northernmost landmass an area few will ever reach featuring dramatic Arctic landscapes such as ice caps, ancient glaciers, and rugged mountain ranges. Guests will primarily explore Alexandra Fiord, and get the chance to see musk oxen, polar bears, walruses and more. The agenda isnt all chilly, either: other stops include warmer locales such as Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Barbados. The adventure will come to a close in Ushuaia, Argentina, where passengers can board a charter flight to Buenos Aires. Guests can watch the ice from Seabourn Venture's onboard sauna. Cheapest Arctic and Antarctica cruises: How to book an epic voyage without overspending How much does the Pole to Pole expedition cruise cost? The 94-day expedition starts at $104,999 per person based on double occupancy. That includes dining on the ship, Zodiac landings, onboard lectures, Wi-Fi and more. The sailing is available to book for previous Seabourn guests, and opens to the general public on Aug. 13. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How to visit the Arcitc, Antarctica in one trip: Pole to pole sailing Three people, including a child, were killed Monday afternoon in a shooting outside a Target store, and the suspect was arrested after stealing a car and fleeing the scene in Austin, Texas, police said. Police responded to a shooting call at 2:15 p.m. and officers found three people who had been shot in the parking lot, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said. The shooting happened outside the store, the chief said. The suspect, identified as a 32-year-old man, stole a car from the scene and fled, crashed that car, and then stole another vehicle before he was arrested, Davis said. "This is a very sad day for Austin," Davis said. The victims were not identified Monday by authorities, but they were an adult and child pronounced dead at the scene, as well as another adult who was taken to a hospital and pronounced dead there, Austin-Travis County EMS said. The suspect, who was not identified at a news conference, "does have a mental health history," the chief said. He was arrested in South Austin by officers who used a stun gun, Davis said. A shooting occurred at the Target located at 8601 Research Boulevard in Austin, Texas just before 3 p.m. on Aug. 11, 2025. (KXAN) The motive in the shooting is under investigation. One of the shooting victims is believed to be the driver of the vehicle that was stolen at the Target, Davis said. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. "This is a devastating situation, and my heart is with the victims and their families. While this remains an active and ongoing investigation, what Ill say is that this was a sickening, cowardly act of gun violence," he said on X. "I am grateful for the quick response of our APD officers and other first responders and want to thank them for their actions to apprehend the suspect," he wrote. Every hotel room tells a story, and sometimes, that story includes a six-foot snake or a $6 million watch left behind. While most guests forget chargers or socks, hotel staff around the world have uncovered lost items that are hard to believe. Here are 15 of the weirdest things ever forgotten in hotel rooms. A $6 Million Luxury Watch Credit: Wikimedia Commons One guest forgot a luxury watch valued at $6 million. The timepiece may have been a Patek Philippe or Richard Millebrands known for watches priced higher than real estate. Its unclear if the guest returned for it, but hotel staff confirmed the items value and immediately secured it in the hotel safe. A Bucket of Live Snails Credit: Getty Images In Budapest, a hotel cleaner found a bucket filled with live snails. These werent decorative or escaped pets, but more like they were destined for someones dinner. As per the propertys report, the snails were still alive and slowly escaping their container when they discovered them. A Bathtub Full of Turnips Credit: Getty Images Reddits hotel workers have seen it all, but one story stood out: a man left a bathtub filled entirely with fresh turnips. The guest never officially checked out, returned later that night, and demanded to know where his turnips went. No one knew why he needed a tub of root vegetables, but hotel staff threw them out. A Teddy Bear Stuffed With Cash Credit: iStockphoto At first glance, it looked like any childs toy. But when staff at a U.S. hotel picked up the teddy bear, it felt unusually heavy. Inside were stacks of cash! This teddy was carrying high-denomination bills. Though authorities were eventually notified, the guest never came forward, which left insiders wondering if this was something shady. 100 Hotel Coffee Cups Credit: Getty Images A hotel guest took 100 complimentary paper coffee cups from the lobby and arranged them in stacks around the room. These cups, usually 812 oz and costing hotels about $0.10 each, are meant for single use. Staff found no note or reason for the collection. The unusual display delayed housekeeping and forced a full restock of the lobby supply, which typically only holds 200 to 300 cups at a time. Two Full-Leg Medical Casts Credit: iStockphoto Housekeeping found two full-leg orthopedic casts left behind in a guest room, with no follow-up or retrieval request. These medical casts, often used after serious fractures or surgeries, can weigh up to 6 pounds each and are usually worn for several weeks. The hotel logged them as lost items. A Pair of Breast Implants Credit: Canva At a hotel in the UK, staff uncovered a sealed box containing silicone breast implants. They didn't seem like they were used, but just left behind, most likely by a guest en route to surgery. Modern implants cost thousands and come with paperwork, but none was found. An Oversized Intimate Toy Credit: pexels A Reddit user shared that a guest walked into their room and found an oversized intimate toy left on the bedside table by the previous occupant. Housekeeping had missed it during turnover. Although the item was never logged officially, the guest was given a new room and an upgrade. Hermes on Ice Credit: Wikimedia Commons In the closet of a luxury suite, a real Hermes Birkin bag sat untouched. Staff immediately recognized the elegant and expensive craftsmanship; serial numbers matched up with authentic production records. With resale values that can surpass $100,000, it's hard to imagine how someone could forget about this financial asset. Under the Bed, a Boa Credit: Getty Images A boa constrictor, very much alive, was left behind in a Washington hotel room without so much as a warning. As for the guest, they left no contact details and didnt mention their cold-blooded companion at checkout. The creature wasnt agitated but very much out of place and, needless to say, against hotel pet policy. Animal control stepped in quickly. A Fridge Best Left Closed Credit: Getty Images When a guest fridge reeks before it opens, thats already a red flag. Inside a hotel mini fridge in regional Australia was a raw and decomposing kangaroo tail. While kangaroo meat is legal and widely eaten in the country, storing it without packaging and forgetting it altogether turned the room into a biohazard. Dentures Credit: Getty Images Finding a single pair of dentures isnt unheard of in hotel housekeeping. But five sets in one week? Thats what baffled staff at a mid-tier property. One was left soaking in a glass, another was wrapped neatly in tissue, and a few were just abandoned outright. With each set costing upwards of $1,000, the hotel started keeping a dedicated container, unofficially known as the smile box. A Live Pet Chick Credit: iStockphoto At a hotel in France, housekeeping found a small live chick sitting in the bathroom sink. The guest had already flown out. The bird was safely rehomed with help from local animal services. Why the chick was brought along remains a mystery, but hotel policies were quickly updated to clarify their no poultry rule. Suitcases Full of Cash Credit: Getty Images Forget stacks or envelopes: one hotel reported multiple suitcases filled entirely with cash. There was no identification or note inside. An honest cleaning crew alerted the management, which turned it over to the authorities. Some speculate it was related to organized crime, though nothing was confirmed. Inflatable Dolls Credit: iStockphoto In one hotel, housekeepers entered a recently vacated room to find three inflatable dolls arranged in a bizarre position. Two were propped in the bathtub, appearing to face each other, while a third stood near the bed holding a handwritten sign that read, Oh no, Ive been caught! State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code Australian-owned Macquarie Data Centres and Dell Technologies will collaborate to provide a secure, sovereign home for AI workloads in Australia. This partnership will see Dell, with its AI technology and partnership with NVIDIA set up an AI factory inside Macquaries Australian sovereign AI and cloud data centres. Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA infrastructure and software will be supported by Macquarie Data Centres newest purpose-built AI and cloud data centre, IC3 Super West. The 47MW facility is purpose-built for the scale, power, and cooling demands of AI infrastructure today and into the future. Ready in mid-2026 with the entire end-state power secured, IC3 Super West reflects Macquarie Data Centres investment to meet Australias AI ambitions. It was specifically designed for critical infrastructure providers and highly regulated sectors such as healthcare, finance, education and research, which have strict regulatory compliance conditions relating to data storage and processing. The collaboration between Macquarie Data Centres and Dell power enterprise AI, private AI and neo cloud projects while achieving high standards of data security within sovereign data centres. by Santosh Digal ahead of the vote, they play a crucial role in guaranteeing the electoral process. On 5 August, a MiRLeC meeting was considered a moment of shared introspection and a project for a fairer electoral future. StAengthening the process of knowledge, especially among young people, to prevent manipulation. Manila (AsiaNews) - Ahead of the October elections in Bangsamoro, religious leaders and civil society are playing a crucial role in ensuring a fair electoral process in the first administrative vote in the Muslim-majority autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm), southern Philippines. To foster this, leaders of different faiths and denominations have drawn up a peace plan entitled: From dialogue to action for the 2025 Barmm elections. With this in mind, on 5 August, a multi-sector dialogue of the MiRLeC (Mindanao Religious Leaders Conference) entitled Faith and Peace in Action, a Multi-Sector Dialogue for Peaceful Elections in the BAMM was held at the Catholic University of Notre Dame in Cotabato City. For the participants, this event was much more than just a meeting of leaders. When asked by AsiaNews, Fr. Rex L. Rocamora, executive secretary of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) - Episcopal Commission for Interreligious Dialogue, explained: It was a profound moment of shared introspection and a plan for a more just electoral future. The priest added that the challenge now is to transform the powerful insights that emerged into concrete actions that can guarantee peaceful and credible elections. The path forward, illuminated by the different voices present at the event, requires a strategic application of moral, spiritual and community-based solutions, Fr. Rocamora continued. The main task is to empower voters and combat the systemic problems of vote buying and trading, corruption and political violence. A speaker from the Supreme Council of Ulema pointed out that many young voters are uninformed about the parliamentary system, which makes them vulnerable to manipulation. The solution, therefore, lies in proactive and widespread voter education. The two khutba (sermons) cited in the dialogue Democratic politics: the context of Islam and Bangsamoro and The parliamentary system of government in the context of Islam and Bangsamoro provide religious leaders with ready-made material to educate their followers on the moral and Islamic principles of good governance. This can be a powerful counter-narrative to political influence and a practical step for imams and asatidz. In this regard, Mohammad Nadzir Ebil, secretary general of Hayato Ulama and vice president of MiRLeC, stressed that building trust in the electoral system is fundamental and can only be achieved through a collective commitment to ethical principles. Religious leaders, regardless of their beliefs, are in a privileged position to lead this change. The appeal by Monsignor Edwin A. de la Pena, chairman of the board of directors of MiRLeC and CBCP-ECID (Episcopal Commission for Interreligious Dialogue), for religious groups to organise their own political forums is a pragmatic approach to candidate selection. Protestant Bishop Mark Francis Dimerin, of the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCE), reiterated the Catholic position, adding that religious organisations must be at the forefront of this moral campaign, not as political actors but as moral compasses. A central theme of the dialogue, reinforced by a video message from Cardinal Orlando Beltran Quevedo, former archbishop of Cotabato, is the urgent need to include marginalised sectors. Hamid Aminoddin D. Barra added that a fundamental part of this effort is maintaining the family structure and ensuring the proper education of children. The Islamic religious leader then stressed that Muslim voters should prioritise the fundamental Islamic values of justice, responsibility and compassion. In February 2019, then-President Rodrigo Duterte entrusted the leadership of the new Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) to Al Hajj Murad Ebrahim, leader of the MILF, who assumed the position of interim chief minister. Since then, the rebels - who fought a bloody battle for autonomy for decades, with 150,000 deaths since the 1970s - have become guarantors of peace and stability in the Muslim-majority territory of Mindanao Island. Murad led the 80 members of the BTA, which governed the five provinces of the region until the election of the members of its Parliament. The BAMM was created after the ratification of the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL), the product of negotiations between Manila and the MILF. In two votes (21 January and 6 February 2019), a referendum established that the new region is composed of the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi, as well as the cities of Marawi, Lamitan, Cotabato and 63 villages in North Cotabato. However, divisions emerged from the very beginning of the new entity: the choice of MILF, representing the Maguindanao ethnic group, to lead the three-year political transition phase fuelled discontent among other Islamic ethnic groups, such as the Tausug, who declared their preference for a federal structure, and the Maranao. Fears, especially regarding religious freedom, characterised Christians' initial distrust of the law. In the past, Catholic leaders in Mindanao have expressed support for the autonomy project, calling the Bol the last real chance for a just and lasting peace in Mindanao. The vote was initially scheduled for May, along with mid-term elections, but President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. postponed it to 13 October due to lack of funds and outbreaks of violence. Liu Jianchao, 61, considered one of the most influential candidates to become China's next foreign minister, was arrested on his return from the capital. According to experts, he may have paid the price for his personal activism or his close ties to Washington. Since 2022, he had travelled to more than 20 countries and met with officials from over 160 countries. Beijing (AsiaNews) - The purge of senior officials continues in China, with the latest victims including a leading figure who, at least in theory, was among the most influential candidates to head Beijing's diplomatic service. According to the Wall Street Journal, Liu Jianchao, a senior official considered by many experts to be a potential future foreign minister, has been arrested by the authorities for questioning. Analysts and experts point out that among the reasons for his fall from grace could be his personalistic political and diplomatic activism at a time when decisions in the country are made from above. Added to this is the issue of power struggles, with accusations of being too close or friendly to the United States. Liu was picked up after returning to the capital at the end of July from a business trip abroad, according to reports yesterday in the newspaper, which cites sources close to the matter. When asked about the matter, the Information Office of the Chinese State Council, which handles media requests on behalf of the Chinese government, and the International Department of the Communist Party of China did not respond to requests for comment. The 61-year-old diplomat headed the Communist Party body responsible for managing relations with foreign political parties. Since taking office in 2022, he has travelled to more than 20 countries and met with officials from over 160 countries. The senior official's busy schedule, particularly his meetings with former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, fuelled expectations that the former ambassador and ministry spokesman was preparing to become the future foreign minister. His detention marks the highest-level investigation involving an official since China ousted its former foreign minister Qin Gang in 2023, who was also one of President Xi Jinping's proteges, following rumours of an extramarital affair. In recent weeks, the Chinese leader himself has been at the centre of rumours and media reports speculating about a gradual loss of power at a time of deep internal turmoil in the country. In reality, the president is said to be following the main international issues, as evidenced by last week's phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin ahead of the 15 August summit on Ukraine between Moscow and Washington. Born in the north-eastern province of Jilin, Liu graduated in English from Beijing Foreign Studies University and studied international relations at Oxford, before taking up his first post as a translator with the Foreign Ministry. The senior official served in China's mission to the United Kingdom and later as ambassador to Indonesia and the Philippines. During his time as ministry spokesman, he was known for his improvised humorous comments while making a no-frills defence of China's interests. 11 August 2025 16:44 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more On August 11, during proceedings at the Baku Military Court, victim Aybeniz Orujova testified about her ordeal after the Khojaly genocide in 1992, stating that she and her entire family, including her twin sons, were taken hostage two days after the attack, Azernews reports. Orujova recounted fleeing to the forest during the Khojaly assault and being captured after two days in hiding. She also said several of her relatives, including her brother, were killed. Answering the public prosecutors questions, she revealed she was held captive in Khankendi for seven days and was released on March 20, while her twin sons were freed ten days later. I was tortured a lot while being held hostage. They put a knife to the throats of my twin children and threatened to cut off their heads. They made me suffer like this, she said. Another victim, Hafiza Safarova, testified that she and her relatives were taken hostage during the attack on the village of Divanallar in the Fuzuli region on December 7, 1991. She described being kept in cold conditions and subjected to ill-treatment. During captivity, her father, Karim Safarov, was tortured and killed. Safarova said she was released after seven days in exchange for gasoline and diesel fuel. The trial continues against Armenian citizens accused of crimes including genocide, war crimes, terrorism, and violations of international law, arising from Armenia's military aggression. 11 August 2025 13:43 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more When evaluating AzerbaijanIran relations, focusing solely on the past 34 years since Azerbaijans independence gives a narrow and incomplete picture. The ties between these two nations go back thousands of years. Culturally, they are so intertwined that it is often impossible to determine where Azerbaijani culture ends and Persian culture begins. As Mammad Amin Rasulzadeh once said, the oral folk literature of ancient and medieval Azerbaijan is entirely Turkic, while its written literature is largely under Iranian influence. But the relationship is not confined to culture alone. In governance and statecraft, Azerbaijan and Iran have been bound together by strong historical ties. In ancient Iran, political power and religious authority were often shared between Azerbaijanis and Persians. Even the name Azerbaijan, meaning the guardian of fire, symbolizes this deep connection. Yet despite these historic bonds, there have always been weeds trying to poison relations. Unfortunately, one of the most prominent of these today is former Iranian foreign policy figure Ali Akbar Velayati. For years, Velayati has been delivering hate-filled statements about Azerbaijan, seizing every opportunity to disrupt a relationship that could be built on mutual respect. With Pezeshkians election as president, there have been signs of a thaw in AzerbaijanIran relations. Political dialogue has intensified, economic cooperation opportunities are expanding, and shared positions on regional security issues are emerging. But individuals like Velayati seem determined to sabotage this rapprochement for the sake of their personal hostilities. The historic peace declaration signed in Washington on August 8, 2025, between Azerbaijan and Armenia marked a turning point for the regions future. It ended more than three decades of bloody conflict, opening the door to new economic and political realities in the South Caucasus. These realities would benefit not only Azerbaijan and Armenia but also Iran and other regional states. Yet Velayati used the moment to unleash another wave of venom against Azerbaijan. When news broke that the United States would lease the Armenian section of the Zangezur Corridor for 99 years, Velayatis criticism was once again directed solely at Azerbaijanas if these companies were to operate not along Armenias border with Iran, but along Azerbaijans border with Iran. This is nothing more than political manipulation. More curiously, while the Iranian government itself has not issued an official position on the matter, Velayati has acted as though he were the states chief spokesman. His statements are not diplomacythey are deliberate provocations. Such rhetoric sows doubt among friends and gives hope to enemies. It is precisely because of misguided advisors like Velayati that Iran has long been isolated in international politics. Sanctions, a lack of foreign investment, and technological stagnation may partly stem from Western policies, but they are also the result of disastrous strategic guidance from figures like him. Today, Irans GDP per capita stands at roughly $4,000the lowest in the region. Even Armenia, with two of its four borders closed, has outpaced Iran in economic growth. Against such a backdrop, Velayatis targeting of Azerbaijan is nothing but an attempt to distract from Tehrans own failures. Despite Velayatis aggressive rhetoric, Azerbaijan continues to pursue a pragmatic course in both regional cooperation and bilateral relations. The Iranian leadership now faces a choice: preserve and strengthen centuries of friendship and brotherhood, or allow destructive figures like Velayati to dictate policy and squander historic opportunities. The day will come when people like Velayati will have to answer to history. Every threat and slander he directs at Azerbaijan is, in truth, a blow to Irans own future. And in that sense, having such a man as our adversary only reaffirms one thing: we are on the right path. 11 August 2025 20:50 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more For over two years, the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMA) has been observing the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, occasionally using binoculars to monitor Azerbaijani positions. Officially, the mission claims to ensure Armenia's safety; however, in reality, it undermines Azerbaijan's security under the pretence of its self-assumed role. With AzerbaijanArmenia relations warming, EUMAs relevance may be out of step with the changing diplomatic reality. The EUMA arrived in Armenia without Azerbaijan's consent, and importantly, the details regarding its personnel were not disclosed to Azerbaijanonly the information that the group was unarmed was shared. Operating very close to the Azerbaijani border, the mission often exploits minor pretexts to justify its actions and utilises these situations to its advantage when necessary. When the EU deployed the mission in early 2023, its stated goal was to stabilise the ArmenianAzerbaijani border and reduce tensions. In reality, it was Emmanuel Macrons brainchild, designed to strengthen Western military-political influence in Armenia, gather intelligence, and keep AzerbaijaniArmenian relations on edge, ensuring that mediation by the West would remain indispensable. Launched under the guise of peace, the mission quickly revealed its bias. From the arming of Armenia to openly hostile resolutions in the European Parliament, from provocative statements by French officials to selective reporting that ignored Armenian provocations, neutrality was never in its DNA. The result? EUMA failed to build trust and instead hardened divisions. Meanwhile, the region has moved forward without it. Since 2024, Baku and Yerevan have advanced direct talks, reached initial agreements on border delimitation, opened communication channels, and built confidence without intermediaries. These sovereign decisions, not external micromanagement, have driven real progress toward peace. The missions structure and conduct further undermine its credibility. Despite its civilian label, many observers are ex-military or intelligence officers from EU states. Its reports have consistently reflected only the Armenian narrative, ignoring documented provocations against Azerbaijan. Without a UN mandate, its legitimacy is political, not international. The EUMA has two primary roles in the region. First, it aims to create artificial tension through its presence in Armenia, thereby extending its stay in the area. Second, it seeks to increase the European mission's influence in the South Caucasus. These efforts are part of a larger ambition to shape the future of the region with the involvement of Armenia. This is not conflict resolution. It is information warfare wrapped in EU branding. And it has failed. Even better, the initial peace deal signed by both sides makes the mission incompatible with the new security framework. Article VII explicitly prohibits the deployment of any third-party forces on the mutual border and mandates that security and stability in the border areas be maintained through mutually agreed, bilateral confidence-building measures. This clause leaves no legal or political space for the continuation of the EU mission, which is now in direct contradiction with the peace terms. The truth is clear: peace in the South Caucasus will be built in Baku and Yerevan. With the Washington meeting, peace has never been this close to being agreed upon. That means recognising that the EU missions role is over, and ending it. 11 August 2025 10:20 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Azerbaijan National Library has opened a book exhibition timed to the 65th anniversary of the birth of writer-publicist, Doctor of Philology, Navoi scholar, Uzbek literature researcher and propagandist Almaz Ulvi, Azernews reports. The exhibition "Writer-Publicist Almaz Ulvi" features Almaz Ulvi's authored works, monographs, textbooks, books she compiled, prepared for publication, wrote forewords for, and edited. The exhibition also displays literature about her creative work in Azerbaijani and foreign languages, periodicals, and press materials. It should be noted that in 1995, Almaz Ulvi defended her candidate dissertation on the topic "The Reflection of the Struggle for Democracy and National Independence in Poetry," and in 2010, she defended her doctoral dissertation on the topic "The Creativity of Uzbek Classics in 20th Century Azerbaijani Literary Studies." She regularly publishes scientific, literary, and historical journalistic articles in the press. Her scientific articles have appeared in various newspapers, magazines, books, almanacs, scientific collections, and some renowned international journals in languages such as Turkish, Uzbek, Russian, English, Georgian, Tatar, and others. Almaz Ulvi began publishing her first books in the 1990s. She is the author of books dedicated to young martyr poet Ulvi Bunyadzad, such as "Feelings of National-Liberty in Poetry" (1997) and "Ulvilishen Ulvim" (1998), as well as works like "Ulviv Feelings" (1990), "In the Anger of Death" (1993), "My Life Is Your Love" (1998), "Your Reflection is Violet" (2005), and "Life Path" (a poem in five languages, 2009), among others. She is also the compiler, editor, and author of forewords for these publications. Almaz Ulvi has dedicated 30 years of her scientific activity to the study of Uzbek literature in Azerbaijan. She has published books and scholarly articles on the topic of Ali Shir Nava'i and Uzbek literature. She is one of the authors of the first Azerbaijani-Uzbek and Uzbek-Azerbaijani dictionary ("Azerbaijani-Uzbek, Uzbek-Azerbaijani Dictionary" with 25,000 words). With over 5 million books, manuscripts, and maps, the Azerbaijan National Library is considered one of the largest libraries in the Caucasus region. Since 1939, the library has borne the name of the eminent playwright Mirza Fatali Akhundov. The library has an extensive collection of literature in Azerbaijani, Russian, English, and other languages. It has collected and preserved national editions, works of Azerbaijani and foreign authors about Azerbaijan published abroad. The National Leader, Heydar Aliyev, visited the National Library four times in 1995-1997 and donated nearly 300 books from his personal library. In 2004, the Mirza Fatali Akhundov Library was granted the status of a national library by the decision of Azerbaijan's Cabinet of Ministers. The building of the library is no less impressive. The library's faade is decorated with the statues of eminent poets and writers like Nizami Ganjavi, Mahsati Ganjavi, Uzeyir Hajibayli, Shota Rustaveli, Alexander Pushkin and many others. The scope of the library's activities is constantly expanding. In 2005, on the basis of legal copies received from publishing houses and printing companies, the library published the yearbook "Books of Azerbaijan" for 1990, 1991, 2000, and 2001. Over the past years, the National Library has signed a memorandum on bilateral mutual cooperation with about 80 libraries. In 2021, the Culture Ministry and Mirza Fatali Akhundov Library launched a joint campaign, "Let's go to Garabagh with a book", to restore libraries in the Garabagh region. A large number of books were donated to the Garabagh Book Fund by a number of international organizations working in the field of culture, Turkic-speaking countries, famous foreign and local authors, publishers, and printing houses. 11 August 2025 12:43 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more In Sweden, an online scientific and practical conference has been held to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Bakhtiyar Vahabzadeh, a renowned Azerbaijani poet, playwright, literary scholar, and influential thinker, Azernews reports. The event was organised by the Gobustan Azerbaijani Thinkers' Society operating in Sweden, with nearly 40 guests from Sweden, Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Russia, and Germany participating. The society's chairperson and the moderator of the event, Saadat Karimiy, delivered an opening speech in which she spoke about Bakhtiyar Vahabzadeh's intellect, recited various poems from his works. The main speaker at the conference was literary scholar, Doctor of Philology, Professor at Khazar University, member of the Azerbaijani Writers' Union and the Azerbaijani Journalists' Union, and head of the Department of Asian Nations' Literature at the Nizami Institute of Literature of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, Badirxan Ahmadli. In his speech, he thoroughly analysed Vahabzadehs creative work using literary criticism criteria. The event also featured speeches by Masud Afandiyev, Chairman of the World Azerbaijani Scholars' Union; researchers Namig Murad, Nazim Muradov, Ali Shamil, Asif Rustamli, Aida Mirzayeva, Sariye Gundogdu, Pervane Bayram; poet Giymat Maharramli; Turkmen writer Ak Welsapar; Turan Ibrahimov, and Abdulla Amir Hashimi. They spoke about the poet's literary heritage, themes of patriotism and nationalism, freedom and spiritual values in his poetry, his contributions to the Turkic world, his role in educating the youth, and the significance of his creative work in the modern era. Bakhtiyar Vahabzadeh (1925-2009) was a prominent Azerbaijani poet, playwright, lyricist, translator, academic, and political figure. He is widely considered to be one of the most outstanding modern poets of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Vahabzadeh was born in 1925 in Nukha, a place where his bust now resides in a central square. In 1934, he relocated to Baku with his family, and he subsequently pursued studies in philology at Azerbaijan State University. Throughout his career, Vahabzadeh explored a variety of themes, particularly focusing on Azerbaijan, family, nature, language, and freedom. For many years, his articles and poems appeared in the Turkish literary magazine Turk Edebiyat, earning recognition in Turkiye. His notable work, "Yel Kaya'dan Ne Aparr?" (What Does the Wind Steal from the Stone?) was an article published in the Turkish literary journal Varlk that addressed critics of the medieval Azerbaijani poet Fuzuli. Vahabzadeh received the Azerbaijan SSR State Prize as an honoured arts worker in 1974, and in 1984, he was awarded the Soviet Union's State Prize. The following year, he was honoured with the title of People's Poet. In 2002, he was awarded the Commodore Medal by the Romanian Ministry of Culture for his poetry collection "Benim Garibim". 11 August 2025 16:34 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more August 11 marks the 52nd anniversary of the death of Zeynal Khalil, one of modern Azerbaijani poetrys most recognizable and heartfelt voices. A poet of rare emotional transparency, Zeynal Khalil lived and wrote with no boundary between his heart and his art. He could not conceal his feelings or thoughts, choosing instead to pour them into his verses with sincerity and passion. Zeynal Khalils creative path was shaped by a lifelong dedication to literature and a tireless artistic search. These efforts sharpened his poetic voice, earning him a place among the most respected literary figures of his time. He was one of those rare poets for whom time posed no limits; his work remains vibrant and relevant decades after his passing. His rich poetic legacy has immortalised him in the cultural consciousness of Azerbaijan. Born in 1914 in the city of Ganja into a modest artisan family, Khalil lost his father at the age of seven. Raised by his older brothers, he overcame a difficult childhood and pursued education with determination. After completing both secondary and vocational schooling, he was accepted into the Faculty of Language and Literature at the Azerbaijan State Pedagogical Institute in 1932. His passion for poetry emerged early, and his first poem, Yeni knd ("New Village"), was written during his student years and published shortly after. His debut collection Istk ("Desire"), published in 1934, revealed a poet with a distinct style and perspective. From there, Khalil embarked on a prolific literary journey, publishing volumes such as Tarac, Qlnc, Tatyana, and many others that captivated readers with their emotional power and artistic merit. His poetry captured the complexity of the human experience, often shaped by the personal and collective struggles of the 20th century, including orphanhood, war, repression, and political upheaval. Khalil was deeply affected by the tragedies of the Stalinist repressions of 1937, the devastation of World War II, and the burdens of life in a rapidly changing world. Yet he consistently upheld themes of resilience, dignity, and human love in his writing. He was both a child of his time and a poet who dared to rise above it, addressing the soul of man while reflecting the demands and ideals of the Soviet era. Widely regarded as one of the finest lyrical poets of his generation, Zeynal Khalils works include acclaimed poems and epics such as Ulduzlar, Fdai, Sah v qarsqa, Koroglunun qocalg, Gulr, and Smd Vurgunla gorus. His literary range extended from historical heroism to revolutionary themes, from wartime narratives to intimate personal reflections. As a playwright, he also contributed significantly to Azerbaijani drama. His play Intiqam ("Revenge") was successfully staged in multiple theaters, while Qatr Mmmd became a staple of Azerbaijani theater and was later adapted into a popular film. During World War II, he composed stirring patriotic poems such as Yhrlyin atlar, 416, and Doyuscunun vsiyyti, along with his widely beloved epic Tatyana. Zeynal Khalils influence extended beyond the written word; his poetry inspired music that continues to live in the hearts of generations. Songs like Kimlr gldi, kimlr getdi (music by Soltan Hajibeyov), Bu gec (music by Emin Sabitoglu), and Ay isgnda (music by Ganbar Huseynli) have become cultural treasures, ensuring that Khalils voice echoes through the melodies of Azerbaijani music. Despite living only 59 years, Zeynal Khalil left behind a body of work that continues to shape Azerbaijani literature. His writing remains a testament to the power of poetry born from truth, struggle, and unwavering love for humanity. 11 August 2025 12:06 (UTC+04:00) by Mazahir Afandiyev In the early 1990s, as a result of Armenia's armed aggression against Azerbaijan, nearly one-fifth of Azerbaijani territory remained under occupation for 30 years. The occupation was accompanied by the mass ethnic cleansing of approximately one million Azerbaijanis from those territories, along with the commission of other serious crimes. It is no secret that the co-chairing countries of the OSCE Minsk Group, which had a UN mandatenamely, Russia, France, and the United Statesconducted 30 years of fruitless negotiations to resolve the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. Finally, in 2020, Azerbaijan, as a model member of the United Nations, unilaterally ensured the implementation of the four well-known UN Security Council resolutions. In doing so, our country resisted all pressures and, under the leadership of the Commander-in-Chief, the Great Leader, President Ilham Aliyev, achieved a glorious victory in the Second Garabagh-Patriotic War, creating a completely new atmosphere both in the region and in the global political architecture. Today, Azerbaijan is recognised by all countries around the world as the leading state of the South Caucasus. Armenia is now close to accepting Azerbaijans conditions for lasting peace and signing a Peace Agreement. Azerbaijan consistently presents its position in all bilateral and multilateral international meetings: that the time has come to achieve peace and begin a new era of construction in the region. Mediators such as the United States, the European Union, and Russia also highly value Azerbaijans efforts to ensure political and economic stability in the South Caucasus, thereby contributing to the completion of the global political architecture. Whether in meetings held in Washington, Brussels, or Moscow formatsor at prestigious international conferences, forums, and eventsAzerbaijan not only declares its readiness to participate in such matters, but also assumes the role of a locomotive state in ensuring sustainable regional development. Naturally, the existence of a strong and courageous Azerbaijan did not align with the interests and objectives of countries like the United States, where the Armenian lobby is deeply rooted. Despite ongoing final work on the Peace Agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia and Azerbaijans consistent policies to ensure sustainable peace and security in the region, certain forcesunable to accept these developmentscontinued their malicious games and used their international influence to display biased attitudes toward our country, attempting to seriously undermine the peace process in the South Caucasus. During the Biden administration, under the influence of lobbying groups that had grown significantly in high circles of the US, some American officials openly demonstrated an unfair, inadequate position toward Azerbaijan, contradicting the norms and principles of international law. In general, AzerbaijanU.S. relations have always developed with positive dynamics, based on mutual respect and trust. These relations were officially established on February 28, 1992, and especially thanks to the invaluable efforts of National Leader Heydar Aliyev, cooperation between the two countriesprimarily in the energy sectorwas formed on the basis of mutual interest. The signing of more than 80 state-level agreements to date is a clear indicator of the current high-level relationship between Azerbaijan and the United States. Notably, the re-election of Donald Trump as President in 2024 gave a fresh boost to AzerbaijanU.S. relations. Phone conversations and letter exchanges took place between the leaders. In several speeches, President Ilham Aliyev spoke positively about Donald Trump, particularly highlighting that during Trump's presidency, the U.S. did not start any new wars, and emphasising his commitment to family and traditional values. In this context, President Ilham Aliyevs working visit to Washington on August 7, 2025, at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump, marks a turning pointsignaling not only the future development of bilateral relations on a new level, but also the long-awaited establishment of peace in the South Caucasus and the opening of new investment opportunities for several countries. This historic visit includes the following key areas: First The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a Strategic Working Group to further develop the Charter on Strategic Partnership between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the United States of America. This holds great significance for the advancement of strategic cooperation in areas such as regional connectivity (including energy, trade, and transit), economic investment (including artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure), defense, arms sales, and counterterrorism. This document also lays the groundwork for the inflow of U.S. technology and investments into Azerbaijan and for increased American economic engagement in the region. Also, the Trump administration signed a document to suspend the implementation of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. Let me note that this amendment, passed by the U.S. Congress in 1992, banned direct aid to Azerbaijan on the pretext that it was allegedly blockading Armenia. This unjust decision was only repealed during Trumps presidency. Second The signing of a Joint Declaration consisting of seven points, following a trilateral meeting between President Ilham Aliyev, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. This declaration is important because it shows that the Peace Agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia is almost complete. It also announces a new regional corridor called the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP)," and the shutdown of the OSCE Minsk Group, which had been ineffective for 30 years. Thus, President Ilham Aliyevs visit to the U.S. stands as another diplomatic victory, elevating Azerbaijan-US relations to the level of a strategic partnership and marking a major step toward achieving peace, security, and stability in the region. The consistent and multi-directional efforts carried out under the leadership of the Supreme Commander, Great Leader, President Ilham Aliyev, will continue to ensure the sustainable development of the Azerbaijani people and our country. About author: Mazahir Afandiyev, Member of the Milli Majlis (Parliament) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Head of the Working Group for the Interparliamentary Relations between Azerbaijan and Bosnia and Herzegovina The views and opinions expressed by guest columnists in their op-eds may differ from and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editorial staff. 11 August 2025 11:02 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Greece has welcomed the agreements reached between Armenia and Azerbaijan, calling them an important step toward ending the decades-long conflict in the South Caucasus, Azernews reports. In a statement shared on its official X social media account, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs said: Greece welcomes the announced agreements between Armenia and Azerbaijan as a significant step towards ending decades of conflict in the South Caucasus We commend both sides and the US Administration for making progress towards the normalisation of relations between and possible pic.twitter.com/2YAYB2uoXL (@GreeceMFA) August 10, 2025 The announcement follows the August 8 trilateral summit in Washington, where Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, U.S. President Donald Trump, and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan signed a Joint Declaration. On the same day, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan initialled the draft Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations and jointly appealed to the OSCE Chairman-in-Office to close the OSCE Minsk Process and related structures. 11 August 2025 12:28 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Bulgaria has welcomed the historic agreement signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan, describing it as a clear demonstration of both nations goodwill and determination to resolve their decades-long conflict, Azernews reports. In a statement shared on its official X account, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said: Bulgaria welcomes the milestone agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, successfully hosted by the USA, as a testament of the good will and commitment of both parties to end decades of conflict. 1/2 MFA Bulgaria (@MFABulgaria) August 9, 2025 The landmark deal was formalized on August 8 in Washington, where Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and U.S. President Donald Trump signed a Joint Declaration during trilateral talks. On the same day, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov and Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan initialed the draft Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia. The ministers also signed a joint appeal to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office calling for the closure of the OSCE Minsk Process, the termination of the mandate of the OSCE Chairs Personal Representative on the conflict, and the disbandment of the High-Level Planning Group. The agreement is being viewed as a turning point in South Caucasus diplomacy, with hopes that it will usher in lasting peace, strengthen economic cooperation, and open a new chapter in regional relations. 11 August 2025 11:45 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Azerbaijan is positioning itself as a new and significant player in Middle Eastern diplomacy, potentially serving as a mediator between Israel and Syria, according to an article titled "Azerbaijan, an Israel-Syria bridge of peace" published by The Jerusalem Post, Azernews reports. The piece highlights that Bakus ascent on the diplomatic stage is the result of years of strategic planning, energy partnerships, and a balanced foreign policy that allows it to maintain strong relations with both Israel and the wider Muslim world. The article notes that Azerbaijan has enjoyed deep cooperation with Israel for years, especially in defense, intelligence, and technology, ties that were strengthened by Israels role in supporting Azerbaijan during the 2020 Second Garabagh War. At the same time, Baku has never taken a hostile stance toward Syria and now seeks to engage with the war-torn nation through energy projects and infrastructure assistance. Citing Azerbaijans reputation as a neutral and reliable venue for dialogue, the author reveals that Baku has quietly hosted technical deconfliction talks between Israel and Turkiye over their activities in Syria. Several factors, the article says, enhance Azerbaijans potential to succeed in such a role: Balanced diplomacy: Constructive ties with both Israel and Muslim-majority countries. Energy influence: Status as a major oil and gas exporter. Strategic alliance with Turkiye: The AnkaraBaku partnership opens vital diplomatic channels. Secular governance: A pragmatic, non-ideological approach that builds trust. The piece concludes that Bakus combination of economic power, geopolitical positioning, and diplomatic neutrality may allow it to play a unique role in bridging divides in one of the worlds most complex regions. 11 August 2025 14:05 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Between January and July 2025, the Special Communication and Information Security State Service (SCISSS) of Azerbaijan identified 573 cyberattack indicators through ongoing monitoring and analysis efforts, Azernews reports, citing the SCISSS. According to information, these indicators were linked to targeted Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) attacks aimed at government institutions. Thanks to timely intervention and blocking measures, these threats were successfully neutralized. Of the 573 indicators, 206 were discovered through the Services internal investigations, while 367 were reported by various government agencies. Additionally, the SCISSS processed over 7.45 million emails within the state-run electronic mail system during the first seven months of the year. Out of these, approximately 6.1 million were deemed safe and delivered to recipients, while 1.35 million were flagged as malicious and subsequently blocked. "The SCISSS continues to implement proactive and preventive measures in the field of information security, ensuring the uninterrupted and secure digital operations of government institutions," the agency stated. 11 August 2025 11:39 (UTC+04:00) The Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan will receive funds to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine, as per an order signed by President Ilham Aliyev, Azernews reports. The order highlights Azerbaijans commitment to humanitarian principles, providing aid to numerous countries bilaterally and multilaterally. In recent years, Azerbaijan has sent multiple humanitarian aid packages to Ukraine due to the ongoing situation. Relations between Azerbaijan and Ukraine are built on friendship and partnership, supported by key bilateral agreements, including the 2000 Agreement on Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership, the 2008 Declaration on Friendship and Strategic Partnership, and the 2022 Joint Declaration by the Presidents of Azerbaijan and Ukraine. Under the order, 2 million US dollars (in manat equivalent) will be allocated from the 2025 state budgets Presidential Reserve Fund to the Ministry of Energy to purchase and deliver Azerbaijan-produced electrical equipment for Ukraines humanitarian aid. The Ministry of Finance will ensure the funding, while the Cabinet of Ministers will address any related matters. 11 August 2025 14:36 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more A group of 30 Ukrainian children brought to Azerbaijan have begun receiving comprehensive rehabilitation services at the Gabala Children's Rehabilitation Center, which operates under the State Medical-Social Expertise and Rehabilitation Agency of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population. Azernews reports that, according to a statement released by the Ministry, the children underwent initial medical assessments upon arrival. Based on these evaluations, individual rehabilitation programs were developed for each child. The programs include a wide range of therapeutic services aimed at supporting the children's emotional well-being and social integration. These services include: - One-on-one psychological counselling - Group therapy sessions - Yoga and dance therapy classes The children also benefit from therapeutic massages, healing baths and pools, as well as art therapy, among other treatments tailored to their needs. As part of a 10-day social rehabilitation program, a variety of leisure activities have been organized to enrich the children's experience. These include excursions to historical sites and museums, board games, and other recreational events designed to offer a sense of normalcy and enjoyment. This initiative reflects Azerbaijans ongoing support for Ukrainian civilians affected by the war, with a particular focus on child welfare and trauma recovery. 11 August 2025 08:00 (UTC+04:00) A social media account affiliated with state broadcaster CCTV said on Sunday that Nvidias H20 artificial intelligence chips pose security concerns for China, after Beijing raised questions over possible backdoor access, Azernews reports, citing Tribune. The account, Yuyuan Tantian, published an article on WeChat saying the H20 chips were neither technologically advanced nor environmentally friendly. When a type of chip is neither environmentally friendly, nor advanced, nor safe, as consumers, we certainly have the option not to buy it, the article concluded. Nvidia did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The H20 chips were developed by Nvidia for the Chinese market after the US imposed export restrictions on advanced AI chips in late 2023. The administration of US President Donald Trump banned their sales in April amid escalating trade tensions with China, but reversed the ban in July. Chinas cyberspace watchdog said on July 31 that it had summoned Nvidia to a meeting to ask whether the H20 chips contained any backdoor security risks a hidden method of bypassing normal authentication or security controls. Nvidia later said its products had no backdoors that would allow remote access or control. In its article, Yuyuan Tantian claimed Nvidia chips could perform functions including remote shutdown through a hardware backdoor. The accounts comments followed criticism of Nvidia by Peoples Daily, which in a commentary this month said Nvidia must produce convincing security proofs to ease Chinese users concerns and regain market trust. 11 August 2025 16:07 (UTC+04:00) Akbar Novruz Read more Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss recent diplomatic developments, Azernews reports. According to a government report, Pashinyan updated Putin on the results of the August 8, 2025, negotiations in Washington, highlighting the initialing of the Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia. He also mentioned the joint application to the OSCE regarding the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group mechanisms, the unblocking of regional communications based on the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, jurisdiction, and reciprocity, as well as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity project. The Prime Minister expressed his belief that establishing peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan will create new opportunities not only for the two countries but for the entire region. Both leaders agreed to maintain active contacts and continue political dialogue. Political Seasons BY: HOOD RICHARDSON Political seasons come as surely as the earth turns. Before we are rested from the one there is another. The earth turns and brings us annual seasons, one after the other, Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. In North Carolina political seasons come every year. At the moment we are in an active municipal election season campaign, with that election coming in November of 2025. Another two-year county, state and federal campaign season begins one month later during December of 2025. The December of 2025 registrations will be decided in the November of 2026 elections. There is a whole year between registering to run and the actual election in the statewide elections. Until recently these elections began as late as May with a November election in that same year. That took only seven months. I do not have an explanation as to why the legislature requires us to do elections this long, hard way. I prefer May to November elections. The primaries will probably be in May, so why do candidates have to sign up in December? With four months between now and registration, the various political parties and splinter groups should be recruiting their kind of candidates. There are two major factions in the Republican Party. The Democrats seem to have a big tent in most states. They settle their differences during the primary election, then they all loyally support the winner no matter how bad he is. Within the Republican Party there are the conservatives and the liberals who are usually identified as RINOs (Republican In Name Only). The RINOs take offense at being called RINO. However, they are anything but full-blooded Republicans. Democrats usually do what they promise but Republicans promise to be conservative then vote with the Democrats. The split is easily seen on the Board of County Commissioners. During the past ten years the two Democrats on the Board (Jerry Langley and Ed Booth) have formed a coalition with two or three RINOs (among them are or have been Frankie Waters, John Rebholz, Randy Walker, Ron Buzzeo and Gary Brinn) and voted as a liberal block. This coalition consistently votes for more spending and refuses to lower taxes even though Beaufort County has a surplus of tax money every year. The same kind of split is now on the School Board. Efforts to remove the Democrat majority resulted in another split among Republicans. Now there is only one Democrat among the nine members of the School Board. However, the board is split into the conservative Republican and RINO factions. The RINOs are Daniel Hudson, Donald Shreve, Carolyn Walker, Terry Williams and T. W. Allen. These are the people who voted to close the Snowden School and build the consolidated grammar school. They prefer to use fewer textbooks and purchase more canned computer curriculums. The schools no longer teach cursive writing and have not set a strong policy against the teaching of DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) and CRT (Critical Race Theory). School population shrinks every year with the school board refusing to address why parents do not want their children in this system. The only thing that Barack Obama ever said that I am in full agreement with is (sic) Elections have consequences. It is our American system of democracy with its Constitution calling for government rule by the majority of the people that provides us with the means to correct our school and county commissioner failures. We need to elect the right people to office, and these problems will be solved. There is no better proof of this than the election of Donald John Trump to the presidency of the United States, following the dismal failure of Joe Biden. There are three commissioner seats to be filled during the 2026 elections. Those seats are now held by Ed Booth, Stan Deatherage and Frankie Waters. Ed Booth is a Democrat. Frankie Waters is a RINO and Stan Deatherage is a Republican. I can clearly state that Frankie Waters is a RINO because he refused to sign the pledge to support the Republican Party platform when he changed his registration from Democrat to Republican the first time he ran. There are four school board seats to be filled during the 2026 elections. Those seats are now held by: Charles Hickman, Terry Williams, Steve Rader and Donald Shreve. Terry Williams and Donald Shreve are RINOs. Both Shreve and Williams supported the closing of Snowden. Williams was for closing Snowden before his constituents let him know they were against it. He has the distinction of being for it before he was against it? The Conservative Club is actively seeking candidates to replace these RINOs. The Conservative Club is not affiliated with the Republican Party. Our attendees consist of Democrats, Unaffiliated and Republicans. Our mission is to elect honorable, conservative candidates who subscribe to Christian principles. We meet on the third Thursday of each month at the King Chicken Restaurant at 6:00 PM. Those who are of like mind are invited to attend. We are actively seeking candidates to run against RINOs and Democrats. We would like candidates who will run in the May 2026 Republican primary elections to replace Donald Shreve, Terry Williams, Frankie Waters and Ed Booth. If you have an interest, contact me or any member of the club. A care company founded over 40 years ago by sisters-in-law from Co Down has received a multi-million pound investment. CWC Group, set up by Monica Byrne and Imelda McGrady, provides residential nursing and disability care in seven locations around Northern Ireland. The business also provides care for people in their own homes. It has received the funding from growth capital investor BGF, which has committed at least 300m to support female-led businesses in the next five years. And CWC Group, set up in 1983, is the first such female-led business BGF has invested in since making the commitment to the Invest in Women Taskforces funding pot. Aisling Byrne and Shauna Byrne of CWC Group The business continues to be family-run and is now operated by Monica Byrnes daughters, with Aisling Byrne chief executive and sister Shauna, the chief learning and development officer. The investment from BGF will support CWC Groups acquisition of new sites and develop its specialist care offering. And it has also announced new appointments to the board, with Paula Kane a non-executive chair and David Jones non-executive director. Ms Kane was previously founder and CEO of Ashdale Care Ireland and Mr Jones is an ex-Deloitte UK healthcare partner. Aisling Byrne said: This investment from BGF comes at an exciting time for CWC Group and will enable us to take the next steps towards developing our care services for our service users and geographical footprint in Northern Ireland. "We have a solid pipeline of new specialist care homes that will enable us to further support the NI Trusts with high quality, dedicated care facilities for adults with specialist care needs. The investment from BGF alongside the experience and knowhow of our new board members will support the advancement of our ambitions and retain exceptional levels of care and dedication to our service users that are at the very heart of our core values. From left, Shauna Byrne, Paula Kane and Aisling Byrne of CWC Group The pledge to invest in female-led businesses forms part of BGFs overall commitment to invest 3bn in high-potential businesses across the UK over the next five years. Chris Nixon, investor at BGF, said: CWC Group has an exceptional heritage of providing high quality care services to those in need. From left, Aisling Byrne, Paula Kane and Shauna Byrne Moment single father told teenage son he had won 1m on lottery "At a time when there is a shortage of quality facilities to meet demand in NI, were looking forward to working with Aisling, Shauna and the wider team to expand their care home portfolio and continue to provide a vital service to communities across the province. Belfast career criminal once jailed for his role in a man being stabbed to death is exposed as sex attacker Career criminal Eamon Flanagan was released from prison three weeks ago after being jailed for a sex attack which hadnt been reported before Steven Moore Mon 11 Aug 2025 at 21:30 A pervert thug once jailed for his role in a man being stabbed to death has been chased out of the Shankill after he was exposed as a sex beast, it has been revealed. A south Belfast woman is due to be sentenced after admitting to a series of thefts, including stealing from a charity shop. Rostas Perseca pleaded guilty at Belfast Magistrates Court to the charges which arose after she took items from stores across Belfast city centre on June 7. Lead prosecutor in Nama trial racked up 7,000 expenses bill paid from public purse An FOI response has revealed the PPS struggled to find a prosecutor to take the case on Watch: Bryson and McKay found not guilty in Nama Trial Liam Tunney Mon 11 Aug 2025 at 07:05 A senior counsel leading the prosecution case in the so-called Nama trial incurred almost 7,000 in expenses from the public purse, it has been revealed. NI couple on opening their Ottolenghi-backed restaurant: It was almost as if it was meant to be The crash happened on the Loughareema Road, outside Cushendall. (Stock image) A man has died following a single vehicle crash in Co Antrim. He has been named as William Hewitt who was aged 25 and from the Belfast area. The collision happened at Loughareema Road, outside Cushendall, on Sunday. Roads Policing Inspector Cherith Adair, from the Police Service Collision Investigation Unit, stated: Our officers received and responded to a report of a collision involving a motorcycle in the area shortly after 11.30am. Read more Two men bailed after Co Antrim assault that left two others injured Colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service and Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service also attended, however, Mr Hewitt sadly died from his injuries. The investigation remains ongoing, and we would ask anyone with phone or dash-cam footage, or information which may assist, to get in touch. Police are particularly keen to hear from the driver of a tractor who assisted at the scene. The crash happened on the Loughareema Road, outside Cushendall. (Stock image) Olivia Marcus tells of menstrual health struggles The number to call is 101, quoting reference number 655 of 10/08/25. Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracy Kelly, and young musicians from Ards CCE accept the Fleadh harp from Mayor of Wexford, Councillor Garry Laffan, marking the start of the official countdown to the city hosting the next Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann from 2-9 August 2026. Next years Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in Belfast will feature a little bit of a twist the Lord Mayor of Belfast has promised during an appearance on Irish channel TG4. The celebration of traditional Irish music, song and dance took place in Wexford last week with a handover ceremony at the conclusion of the festival on Sunday. Speaking on the TG4 broadcast, the DUPs Tracy Kelly acknowledged that Belfast will have big shoes to fill in 2026. Lord Mayor Tracy Kelly speaking on TG4 From what I have been over the last couple of days, Belfast has big shoes to fill, the Lord Mayor said, as she was quizzed by musician and presenter, Doireann NiGhlacain. [Its] absolutely fantastic what I have witnessed here today and last night, and we do have big shoes to fill, but we are looking forward to it. It is still in the planning stage. But yes, there is lots of different traditions in Belfasts music, so we are really looking forward to having a little bit of a twist to the Fleadh this year. Offering advice to the DUP councillor was CEO of Wexford County Council, Eddie Taaffe. Start planning early, it is a huge job, but we will give them every help that we can, he advised Ms Kelly. And we have had two fantastic Fleadhs here in Wexford, a huge team behind it, a mountain of work, but we are really privileged to do it. We would have every confidence that, from what we have seen from the people in Belfast, it will be a fantastic Fleadh. During the event, Ms Kelly accepted the Fleadh harp on behalf of the city in line with the long-running tradition which signifies a gesture of friendship and goodwill. Organisers Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann announced Belfast as the next host back in March. The last time the historic celebration was hosted in NI was in 2013 when it drew around 430,000 people onto the streets of Londonderry and hailed as the biggest ever Fleadh. A world record was broken at the time, when 2,500 people including Eamonn Holmes took part in Riverdance in Ebrington Square. Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Tracy Kelly, and young musicians from Ards CCE accept the Fleadh harp from Mayor of Wexford, Councillor Garry Laffan, marking the start of the official countdown to the city hosting the next Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann from 2-9 August 2026. Having hosted the Fleadh in both 2024 and 2025, Wexford will prove a very hard act to follow, but Belfast is delighted to take up the baton and really ramp up our preparations for Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann 2026 let the countdown begin, the mayor said. I am delighted and honoured to receive the Fleadh harp for our year ahead, on behalf of the citizens of Belfast. The festival gives us an opportunity to showcase our city as a superb cultural destination and were ready, along with our city partners, to give everyone a huge welcome. DUP Lord Mayor Tracy Kelly (Photo by TG4 / Melissa Mannion) Belfast History Explained: Who was Sheila the Elephant? The benefits that the Fleadh will bring to Belfast cant be underestimated. Were expecting hundreds of thousands of people to travel for a week of music, fun and friendship, and it will be a momentous event for all our residents, visitors and businesses, with plenty of opportunities for everyone to come along, get involved and celebrate our people and our city, together. A tribute to Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane at Feile on August 11th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott) There has been condemnation after a tribute was displayed to a former IRA man during the closing event at Feile an Phobail last night On Sunday night at Falls Park, the band Shebeen played a song written by Brendan Bik McFarlane in memory of hunger striker Bobby Sands. McFarlane, who died earlier this year following a short illness, was sentenced to life in prison in 1976 for his role in an attack on the Bayardo Bar on Aberdeen Street in Belfast which killed five people and injured more than 60. He was Officer Commanding of the IRA in the Maze Prison during the 1981 hunger strikes and in 1983 he took part in a break-out from the prison and went on the run. McFarlane was re-captured in 1986 and was released from prison in 1997. At the time of his death, tributes were paid to McFarlane, including from North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly, who described him as a republican activist all his life right to the end and gave all that he had to the struggle for a united Ireland. During Shebeens performance on Sunday night, an image of McFarlane was also projected on a large screen on the stage to the 12,000-strong crowd in attendance at the event. Speaking about the scenes, the DUPs North Belfast MLA Phillip Brett said: McFarlane was not a hero. He was a convicted terrorist who bore responsibility for murder and destruction, including his role in the Bayardo Bar bombing, which claimed the lives of five people and injured many more. Such attempts to romanticise the actions of the IRA are an insult to the families left bereaved and communities still dealing with the scars of violence. When Sinn Fein previously attempted to eulogise Brendan McFarlane, I set the record straight and I will continue to stand up for victims every single time. Victims deserve better than selective outrage and silence from those who claim to hold truth to account. We owe it to victims to tell the truth: Brendan McFarlane was part of a campaign of violence which devastated lives. No amount of music, speeches, or banners will erase that reality. A tribute to Brendan 'Bik' McFarlane at Feile on August 11th 2025 (Photo by Kevin Scott) Watch: Kneecap member makes surprise appearance at Feile concert Kenny Donaldson of the victims group the South East Fermanagh Foundation said: Mr McFarlane is directly responsible for the murders and deaths of many people, and he is indirectly responsible for the deaths of many others given his roles within the Provisional IRA. We grieve the way in which he chose to live, the lack of humanity within his heart and we regret the eulogising of him by some within the political system and sections of the broader community. In a statement, Feile an Phobail Director Kevin Gamble said: This years Feile an Phobail saw the biggest Feile ever held. Read more Kneecap should have known how their objection to a controversial festival could backfire Also significantly, due to the hard work and commitment of Feile staff and volunteers, community organisations, political representatives and Belfast City Council, and the support of our young people and the local community, Belfast was bonfire free on 8th August. "All those involved in achieving this deserve praise. In past years these unwanted bonfires have brought destruction and an increase in anti-social behaviour to the areas in which they were held. The benefit of the absence of these unwanted bonfires on 8th August is significant. "As well as the positive images emanating from the festival events showcasing Belfast in a positive light, there is also the considerable benefit to the citys economy which the associated increase in visitor footfall and spending over the duration of the festival brings to the city, over 6 million last year alone. This year, representatives from all communities were welcomed to Feile to have their voice heard, both as spectators and participants. All political persuasions attended and participated in various panel discussions, as did representatives from minority ethnic communities, and international visitors. "Feile an Phobail includes all opinions and provides a platform for many different views." Dark cloud over Downpatrick says local councillorFr John Murray, who was due to retire this week, sustained a very serious head injury in what is believed to be a linked attackParishioner says people totally shocked by incident in churchNo risk to public following incidents says PSNI Left: Stephen Brannigan. Right: Fr John Murray. Both men were attacked in Downpatrick on Sunday, August 10, 2025. The family of a man in his 50s who was killed in Downpatrick on Sunday have thanked the local community for their support following his death. Stephen Brannigan died following an incident in the Marian Park area of the town. Police have said they believe the death may be linked to an attack on a priest later on the same day. A 30-year-old man has been arrested and is being questioned on suspicion of both murder and attempted murder. Left: Stephen Brannigan. Right: Fr John Murray. Both men were attacked in Downpatrick on Sunday, August 10, 2025. The PSNI has also reassured the Downpatrick community there is no ongoing risk to the public following the incidents. In a statement, Mr Brannigans family revealed he had been tending his late wifes grave the day before he died. "We want to express our particular thanks to those who organised and gathered for the beautiful prayer vigil in St Brigid's Church in the town on Sunday evening, they said. "It means so much to us at this difficult time and reflects the very special people who make up the Marian Park and wider Downpatrick community. "Stephen was known among his neighbours and friends as someone who was always willing to help out, ready to do whatever needed to be done for the good of others. "Even the day before he died, he was tending the graves of friends and neighbours, as he did, almost every day, the grave of his late wife Dorenda, who died five years ago from cancer. "Stephen faced many difficult issues in his life. We know his life was not perfect. But for us, he was our dad, our grandad, our son and our brother. "His rock through all of this was Dorenda. We pray they will be reunited now in perfect peace and love. The family also conveyed their concern for Fr John Murray, who police said remained in a serious but stable condition in hospital. "It is so typical of his kindness that he was willing to reach out in trust to someone he believed was in distress, despite the obvious risk to himself, they said. "With so many others, we pray for his full recovery and thank him for his own prayers for us which he has conveyed through the priests of the parish. Police have also confirmed they are investigating a link between Mr Brannigans death and the attack on Fr Murray. Stephen Brannigan PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Gary Robinson said:"On Sunday morning, August 10, at approximately 10.10am, police received a report that a priest had been seriously assaulted. "This was in a church in the St Patricks Avenue area of the town. "A man entered the church and brutally attacked the priest with a bottle. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment to a head injury. Here, he remains in a serious, but stable, condition. "While attending this serious assault, at around midday, police received a report of the death of a man at an address in the Marian Park area. "Officers attended along with colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. Sadly, the man, who is aged in his 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene. "Following initial enquires, a murder investigation was launched, and a 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder. He has also been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, and remains in custody at this time. "Our investigations into both the murder and attempted murder are at the early stages. While I can confirm that one line of enquiry is that the two are connected, I would reiterate that our enquiries are ongoing in an effort to establish the facts surrounding both incidents. "I am keen to appeal to anyone who was in the St Patrick's Avenue area of Downpatrick between 9am and 11am on Sunday, or the Marian Park area between 12 midnight and 12 noon on Sunday, and saw or heard anything untoward, to please come forward and speak to us. "Any detail, no matter how small, could be of vital importance to our investigation. I would ask anyone with information, CCTV or dash cam footage to contact us on 101, quoting reference 713 of 10/08/25. Fr Murray, who was due to retire on Thursday, was preparing to celebrate his final Mass at St Patricks Church in Downpatrick when the attack took place. Fr John Murray (above) was attacked just before he was about to say his final mass at St Patricks Church in Downpatrick. Photo: Pacemaker Speaking on Good Morning Ulster on Monday morning, Fr Eddie McGee described Fr Murray as a well known and very well respected priest. We are all praying for his recovery at this stage. It is an absolute shock for parishioners who witnessed this terrible event yesterday, he added. The parishioners said they started gathering in the church in Downpatrick and mass was to be celebrated at about 10.30am. It seems that about 15-20 minutes before mass, a gentleman approached the sacristy, looking for Fr John Murray, asking if he would hear his confession. It was at that stage, he was attacked. The parishioners, who witnessed this brutal attack, they then called the PSNI and the emergency services to then come to the aid of Fr Murray. St Patrick's Church, St Patricks Avenue, Downpatrick It was mayhem in the church. People were aghast at what had happened. Totally shocked. People can't take it in. 77-year-old parishioner Raymond Rooney was present at the time of the attack on Fr Murray. He had been at the chapel an hour before mass was due to start. The sacristan was there, he was around doing his work. Then this man came in on his own, he told BBC NI. The sacristan was up at the altar and this man, he said something to the sacristan, he sounded a bit aggressive, it was only a couple of words, then he shouted something but I couldnt catch it, its a big church. He went round the corner, that was it, the sacristan disappeared. Mr Rooney said he remembered suddenly hearing loud crying and added that Fr Murray arrived five to ten minutes later. He said he alerted Fr Murray to the mans presence: I said that there was a man around the corner there, and he is crying out loud and talking out loud. Fr Murray ran in and I heard voices, I couldnt hear what they were saying. I heard the door closing. About maybe five minutes later the man left, he must have said something to Fr Murray. The last word I could hear was father. Some of the women started to gather and somebody said: Father Murray is injured. Then the police arrived - there was commotion, everyone was talking and then I heard the ambulance arrive. "It was mayhem in the church. People were aghast at what had happened. Totally shocked. People can't take it in." Stephen Brannigan. Police at the scene of Downpatrick murder A funeral notice for Mr Brannigan described him as a dearly beloved husband and a loving father and grandfather. Funeral arrangements are yet to be announced. SDLP councillor Conor Galbraith said neighbours had described Mr Brannigan as a quiet lad. He got up in the morning and got about his work, but anyone in the estate needed anything done, he was the first to do it, he said. There was a dark cloud over Downpatrick yesterday, there was a vigil held last night, it was an opportunity for people to show support, it shows that everyone has each others back. Newry, Mourne and Down, District Commander Superintendent Norman Haslett has said there is no ongoing risk to the public following the incident. "For a man to be murdered and a Priest to be attacked in the sanctity of his own church, these are appalling acts and I understand that many people will inevitably be struggling to come to terms with both grief and shock, he said. "I want to reassure the local community that there is no ongoing risk to the public and you will see an increased visible police presence in the area over the next few days. "Information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org. Dale Farm however said there would be no interruption to supply Northern Ireland could experience milk shortages as a result of industrial action at Dale Farm, a trade union has warned. Unite the Union has confirmed strike action at the dairy producer will begin next Wednesday, August 20. Engineers and drivers at multiple production sites will participate in an initial three-day walkout with a further three strike days scheduled for the following week. A planned escalation to a five-day strike is in place for the week after that, with all-out strike action commencing from the fourth week if a resolution is not reached. "Management knows what is needed to avoid this outcome Simon Hall (Unite) The move follows a formal members ballot which saw 90% of drivers and 89% of engineers voting in favour of the action as row over pay rumbles on. The union said compensation for Dale Farm workers is lower than industry comparators in NI. Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, Dale Farm engineers and drivers are determined to win a needed pay increase. Dale Farm is a highly successful enterprise and can afford to pay their skilled workforce properly. Read more Ballymena man appears in court accused of shooting ex-UVF boss in face with crossbow "The workers can count on the full support of Unite for as long as it takes to win fair pay and respect. Unite General Secretary Sharon Graham Unite regional officer for the workforce Simon Hall said Dale Farm workers at multiple sites will participate in the strike. Given the involvement of so many drivers and engineers, this industrial action will very likely affect both milk collection and production. "Management knows what is needed to avoid this outcome: they need to provide an increase meeting our members legitimate pay expectations. However a spokesperson for Dale Farm insisted there would be no interruption to milk supplies as a result of the strike action. "We value all our staff and take pride in our employee relations. We believe we have made a very fair offer to this small group of our workforce, and we urge them, and Unite, to reconsider their decision, they said. "Our farmers can be assured that we have contingency plans in place, and their milk will be collected, as normal, during this period. We also want to assure our customers and our consumers that there will be no interruption to the supply of any of our products. "We remain open to discussions with our team and Unite, in the hope of reaching a resolution. A murder investigation has been launched following the death of a man in Downpatrick which police suspect is linked to the attack on a priest in the same area. Newry, Mourne and Down, District Commander Superintendent Norman Haslett said: Police attended an address in the Marian Park area following a report of a deceased man at approximately 12pm on Sunday afternoon, 10th August. A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and remains in police custody assisting with enquiries. Enquiries are at an early stage and, at this time, we suspect this may be connected to a serious assault in the St Patrick's Street area of Downpatrick on Sunday. I am appealing to anyone who believes they may have information which could assist us with our investigation to contact us on 101 quoting reference number 713 of 10/8/25. Its understood that a prayer service will take place at St Brigids Church this evening at 7pm. Earlier it was reported that a priest was seriously assaulted at his church in Downpatrick. It was reported that at around 10.10am on Sunday August 10 that a man had walked into the St Patricks Church on St Patricks Avenue and hit the priest on his head with a bottle before leaving. Fr John Murray was taken to hospital for treatment of head injury, where he remains in a serious condition. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it was one of two incidents this morning in the town. It said it had received a 999 call at 11.57am after reports of an incident in the Marian Park area of Downpatrick, a spokesman said. NIAS despatched two emergency ambulances and an ambulance officer to the incident. It remains an ongoing incident. SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath condemned the attack on the priest. This is a disgraceful attack on an elderly priest which has left him in a serious condition in hospital. For this to happen in the church is particularly disgusting and I have spoken to many members of the community who are shocked and upset that this has taken place, he said. My thoughts are with the priest and others impacted by this attack. I hope that he makes a quick recovery and that the person responsible is apprehended. SDLP Downpatrick Councillor Conor Galbraith visited the scene at Marian Park. Councillor Galbraith told the Irish News he had spoken to heartbroken relatives of a man who had died. This is a very difficult day for people in Downpatrick after these two incidents and I have visited the Marian Park area to show my support to those affected, he said in a statement. This is an ongoing situation and I would ask people to give police time and space to carry out their investigations. People locally are devastated that this has happened on their doorsteps. Detective Chief Inspector McBurney said: This was a completely shocking and brutal attack and has left the priest with a serious head injury. Our enquiries are ongoing into this incident, and we are appealing to anyone who witnessed the assault, or has any information to contact Police on 101 and quoting reference 543 of 10/08/25. St Patrick's Church, St Patricks Avenue, Downpatrick. Inset: Fr John Murray Watch: Shrapnel damage caused to multiple houses as residents report loud bang after explosion Sinn Fein MP Chris Hazzard expressed his shock following the death of a man and an attack on a local priest in Downpatrick. What has happened in Downpatrick is deeply shocking, the South Down MP said. The death of a man, along with the vicious attack on Fr Murray in St Patricks Church, has deeply saddened and horrified the local community. My thoughts are with all those affected by these tragic events including family and friends of the victims, parishioners who were on their way to Mass this morning, and the emergency services who attended the scenes. I would encourage anyone with information to contact police to assist them with their investigations. Its understood the priest was set to retire soon. Fr John Murray. Photo: Pacemaker Alliance South Down MLA Andrew McMurray has echoed shock and distress felt by the local community in Downpatrick. This is a tragic day for Downpatrick, the heartbreaking events of which have left many here in the local community in shock on what should be a day of peace and rest, Mr McMurray said: First and foremost, my thoughts and sympathies are with the family, friends, and loved ones of the two victims of todays attacks, as well as anyone whos been impacted. I want to wish Father Murray all the best for a hopefully speedy recovery. I also want to extend my thanks to the local PSNI officers who acted swiftly and professionally in dealing with the incidents, under what will have been difficult and distressing circumstances. Tonight, I will be standing alongside the people of Downpatrick at a special prayer service in response to todays events, and in honour of the victims and their families. Commenting on a post addressing the incident by Downpatrick Family Parishes, parishioners have shared well wishes on social media, with many describing it as shocking. One woman commented on the post, stating that her father was in the Downpatrick church at the time of the incident. One wrote: Praying that he makes a full recovery. Holding Fr. Murray in my prayers and his family, Also all our priests in the parish and our parishioners. God bless Fr Murray. Another commented: Totally shocked and disgusted at this terrible news. Prayers and thoughts with Canon Murray for a full recovery. In a Facebook post Kilmore and Killyleagh Parishes asked for people to pray for his speedy recovery both physically and emotionally from this frightening incident. A group of men urinating next to a garden on the Culmore Road. Police have been urged to do more to address disrespectful behaviour by some bands and spectators at the Apprentice Boys parade in Derry. Mark H Durkan was speaking after several incidents at Saturdays event. An image was widely shared of a bus load of some visitors to the city urinating at a roadside on the Culmore Road. Similar incidents were observed in other parts of the city. A group of men urinating next to a garden on the Culmore Road. The East Bank Protestant Boys Londonderry paraded around the Derry Walls with a banner of Gary Lynch, listed in the CAIN Troubles archive as a member of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA). According to CAIN, Lynch was shot dead by the IRA in August 1991. Also on Saturday at the ABOD parade, the Tullycarnet Flute Band from east Belfast carried a banner with a UDA emblem on it as they marched from the Waterside area and through the city centre. Sinn Fein Foyle MLA Padraig Delargy said: "Once again, visiting loyalist bands have shown a disgusting lack of respect for the people of Derry. "Those organising these events must take responsibility and ensure we dont see a repeat of these scenes and other offensive behaviour." Mr Durkan said that while the vast majority of people take part in the parade in good faith, we have seen a small minority creating issues over the past few years. He added: These events have for a long time stood as hallmark of tolerance and respect in the North, but it must be reciprocated. Carrying UDA banners and openly urinating in local communities has caused considerable anger and upset. Police have a difficult job in managing these situations, but people cant be allowed to act with impunity. Where offences have taken place they should be investigated and the parade organisers should assist with that. I will be making that clear to the PSNI. When asked to comment on these incidents, the Apprentice Boys of Derry General Secretary said: Well 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. East Bank Protestant Boys carrying banner of UDA man Gary Lynch around the Walls. He was asked what substantive actions ABOD has taken after past incidents and whether any bands have been banned from attending. And why the Tullycarnet Flute Band was not listed as taking part in the main parade on the Parades Commission website. No further response was provided. In recent times a band wore uniforms in support of a man known as Soldier F from the Parachute Regiment, who is accused of murdering two men on Bloody Sunday. Separately, stalls were selling Parachute Regiment and UVF flags in the Waterside. Over the weekend, MLAs criticised the PSNI for arresting individuals, including a female pensioner in Belfast, for showing support for Palestine Action the non-violent protest group who have now been proscribed by the government but are challenging that ban in the courts. Asked why no action is taken on recurring incidents at the Apprentice Boys parade, the PSNI said: Any incidents of concern or potential offences identified will be reviewed by police and appropriate action taken. A protest of approximately 150 people took place at Guildhall Square on 9th August. Two people have been cautioned at the end of this protest for being in possession of an item likely to show support of a proscribed organisation, Palestine Action. Policing decisions are taken impartially and within the relevant legal framework. Each matter has to be considered against the specific evidence available and when reasonable grounds exists to suspect a criminal offences has been committed, or is likely to be committed, police will take appropriate action. Band carrying a flag with UDA symbols. Watch: Shrapnel damage caused to multiple houses as residents report loud bang after explosion Governor of the Associated Clubs of the Apprentice Boys of Derry William Walker 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. Police urged to tackle vigilante-style groups patrolling Belfast streets after assault probe launched A growing number of incidents have been documented online in recent months Scene of disorder in Ballymena in June after violence broke out following the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl in the town Andrew Madden and Liam Tunney Mon 11 Aug 2025 at 07:35 The PSNI has been urged to clamp down on vigilante patrols running rampant on the streets of Northern Ireland after a series of online videos has shown ethnic minorities and homeless people being targeted. US diplomat believed Tony Blair should stop pussy footing around with Gerry Adams after 9/11 attacks JFKs sister said that Tony Blair should tell Congress that Americans should stop sending any money to the IRA, Downing Street file reveals Gerry Adams talks with former US Ambassador to Ireland Jean Kennedy Smith in October 1999 in New York. Photo: Matt Campbell/AFP via Getty Sam McBride Mon 11 Aug 2025 at 07:42 In the wake of September 11, two US diplomats one of whom had been close to Gerry Adams expressed private dismay at how weak Tony Blairs Government was being with Sinn Fein. An easyJet pilot who reportedly walked around a luxury hotel drunk and naked has been suspended (Alamy/PA) An easyJet pilot who reportedly walked around a luxury hotel drunk and naked has been suspended. The captain was scheduled to fly holidaymakers back to the UK from Cape Verde, west Africa the following day but was grounded by the airline. The Sun reported that the man, who it did not name, arrived at the five-star Melia Dunas Beach Resort and Spa, Cape Verde on August 4, and embarked on a drinking session at a bar which lasted into the early hours of the morning. At 2.30am he removed all his clothes and walked into the reception area before moving onto the gym and spa, according to the newspaper. He was due to operate a flight back to Gatwick around 36 hours later on the afternoon of August 6, but a replacement pilot was found. An easyJet spokesman said: As soon as we were made aware, the pilot was immediately stood down from duty, in line with our procedures, pending an investigation. The safety of our passengers and crew is easyJets highest priority. EasyJets flights from Gatwick to Cape Verde are its longest from England, at 2,332 nautical miles. The flights are scheduled to last about six hours. Harvey Willgoose was stabbed through the heart at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield (Handout/PA) The mother of Harvey Willgoose has said she feels sorry for the teenager who stabbed her son to death at their school, saying she believes he was let down, like her son. But Caroline Willgoose said she also believes the 15-year-old who was found guilty last week of murdering Harvey, also 15, with a hunting knife at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield needs to be made an example of when he is sentenced in October. Appearing on ITVs Good Morning Britain on Monday, Mrs Willgoose was asked by Richard Madeley: What are your thoughts about the boy who did this? She said: I feel sorry for him. Because I think hes been let down. I think Harveys been let down. This shouldnt have happened. There were so many red flags. They must have known what he was like when his mum said that hed took an axe in to school. Madeley asked Mrs Willgoose what she believed the sentence should be when the defendant returns to Sheffield Crown Court on October 22. Harvey Willgooses sister Sophie Willgoose (centre) reads a statement with her parents Caroline (left) and Mark Willgoose outside Sheffield Crown Court (Dave Higgens/PA) She said: I think hes got to be made an example of. And she said she believe the judge should lift the order which guarantees the perpetrators anonymity, due to his age. Harveys sister Sophie said of the killer: Hes a 15-year-old boy. Wed like to think that he didnt want to murder Harvey. Hes just from a troubled background and services have let him down. She described the trauma of the six-week long trial and how watching the CCTV of her brother being stabbed will haunt me forever. The women said they are campaigning for knife arches to be installed in all secondary schools and colleges. Caroline Willgoose said: I know it goes a lot deeper than that. But, lets start somewhere, and then go into schools and educate children of the devastation, the pure devastation, of what this has caused. Mrs Willgoose believes her sons death could have been prevented, especially after the killers mother reported him having an axe. The jury in the trial also heard how the schools assistant head asked the defendant if he had anything on him which he should not hours before the murder, and the boy said he did not. Mrs Willgoose said last week: If you have a reason to ask that child, youve got a reason to search that child. Asked about knife crime and the Willgooses campaign on the same ITV programme, justice minister Alex Davies-Jones said: It is something that terrifies me. I dont think anyone could have heard the testimony of Caroline and Sophie and not be moved. Harvey Willgoose died following a stabbing incident in February (Jacob King/PA) Ms Davies-Jones said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is looking at the familys proposals on knife arches. She said she was really keen to examine the familys experience of the criminal justice system. Steve Davies, chief executive of St Clare Catholic Multi Academy Trust, said on Friday: We think especially of Harveys family, loved ones and friends today. We cannot begin to imagine the immeasurable impact the loss of Harvey has had on them. Harvey was a much-loved, positive and outgoing pupil whose memory will be cherished by all who knew him. As a community we have been devastated by his death and we continue to think of him every day. Harveys death was an unimaginable tragedy for all, and one that understandably gives rise to a number of questions from his family and others. Now that the trial has finished, a number of investigations aimed at addressing and answering these questions will be able to proceed. We will engage fully and openly with them to help ensure every angle is considered and no key questions are left unresolved. Sarah Pochin, MP for Runcorn and Helsby, speaks during a Reform UK press conference at Millbank Tower in central London (PA) Reform UK has said migrants from Muslim countries pose a threat to womens safety in Britain, as the partys only female MP claimed asylum seekers arriving on small boats hold medieval views. Sarah Pochin told reporters that a quarter of sexual assault convictions last year were committed by foreign nationals, as she warned of the risk of sexual assault and rape. The Runcorn and Helsby MP also told the PA news agency that US President Donald Trump, who Reform UKs leader Nigel Farage has a close relationship with, could come across as a bit of a chauvinist but had appointed women at the top of his team. Ms Pochin claimed the problem posed by migrants arriving on small boats from France was a national security issue, which also posed significant dangers for women and girls. She said: The vast majority of these migrants are young, military-aged males. We can see it with our own eyes. The inconvenient truth for the left is that the culture of men from predominantly Muslim countries like Afghanistan is one that holds a medieval view of womens rights. It is fundamentally alien to the centuries of progress made by our own western culture and attitudes. Women are at risk of sexual assault and rape from these men, hundreds of young men who arrive in this country, housed in our communities, who undoubtedly become sexually frustrated, have a warped view of their right to sexually assault women. She claimed that of 1,453 sexual assault convictions in 2024, a quarter were committed by foreign nationals. She said: Afghan men are three times more likely to be convicted of a sexual offence than someone born in the United Kingdom and represent the largest group of migrants who commit sexual violence against women, and yet we know that 18,000 at least, were covertly let into this country by the last government with no security vetting. She said Reform would deport all small boats migrants who live in Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs), who have been moved out of hotels. Westminster City councillor Laila Cunningham, Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Sarah Pochin, MP for Runcorn and Helsby, and leader of Kent County Council, Linden Kemkaran, during a Reform UK press conference (Yui Mok/PA) The party would also deport foreign criminals, she added, and went on to tell a press conference on womens safety in Westminster that police would be made to respond to every inappropriate sexual behaviour report made against a migrant. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said the Government would deport foreign criminals who are not serving life sentences. He said: They have no place in our prisons, no place in our society. Weve taken radical action to ramp up the deportation of the portion of foreign criminals. Its right that we seek to deport foreign criminals from our prisons, both saving money for the British taxpayer, but also protecting the public from dangerous criminals who would otherwise, after their release, be back on our streets. Ms Pochin later said Mr Trump clearly does respect women although she admitted he can appear as a bit of a chauvinist. She denied Reform UK was aligned with the US president but added: Donald Trump certainly comes across at times, when I look at him through the television or the media, as possibly a bit of a chauvinist, or whatever. But look at his team. I mean, his press secretary (Karoline Leavitt) is awesome cant remember her name but he has a lot of very senior women in his team. So actually, he clearly does respect women and promotes women in his team, as Nigel is very much doing, as youve seen today, with four senior women hosting this press conference. Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire Dame Andrea Jenkyns speaks at a Reform UK press conference (Yui Mok/PA) Speaking at the event, the partys Mayor for Greater Lincolnshire Dame Andrea Jenkyns detailed physical threats and verbal abuse she and activists had faced online and in public. She criticised the police, including under the previous Conservative government she was a part of, for inaction over them. The former Tory minister detailed explicit threats she had faced and claimed those responsible were let off by police or not found. Dame Andrea said: I received 70 emails in three months telling me I needed to buy a stab vest and watch out. The person was let off with just a caution. I dont feel safe, and as a mother, I no longer feel that our children live in a safe, beautiful haven of Britain that I grew up in. But she told PA she thought the Governments Online Safety Act, which has been criticised by Reform UK, would not solve the issue and would instead push people onto the dark web. She said: Were already seeing quite benign social media posts being monitored, and how far does it go where it starts actually silencing free speech? Nicola Sturgeon described her eight-hour marathon appearance at a special committee set up to examine the Scottish Governments handling of complaints against Alex Salmond as gruelling (Jeff J Mitchell/PA) Nicola Sturgeon has said she believes some MSPs who investigated the Scottish Governments handling of sexual harassment allegations against Alex Salmond were taking direction from him. The former Scotland first minister wrote in her autobiography, Frankly, that she thought either Mr Salmond or his allies were guiding some opposition MSPs on what to ask her. She accused her opponents in the special Holyrood committee of a witch-hunt against her. A special Holyrood committee found Nicola Sturgeon misled MSPs during their investigation into complaints against Alex Salmond (Jane Barlow/PA) The committee ultimately found Ms Sturgeon misled the Scottish Parliament over the Salmond inquiry. However, she said the probe that really mattered was the independent investigation by senior Irish lawyer James Hamilton which cleared her of breaking the ministerial code. The former SNP leader said that while she was certain she had not breached the code, I had been obviously deeply anxious that James Hamilton might take a different view, admitting that had he done so, I would have had to resign. She said that she felt on trial as part of a wider phenomenon that when men were accused of impropriety, some peoples first instinct is to find a woman to blame. Ms Sturgeon did admit to misplaced trust and poor judgment in her autobiography, which was published early by Waterstones on Monday, having been slated for release this Thursday. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content She wrote: This feeling of being on trial was most intense when it came to the work of the Scottish Parliament committee set up to investigate the Scottish governments handling of the original complaints against Alex. From day one, it seemed clear that some of the opposition members of the committee were much less interested in establishing facts, or making sure lessons were learned, than they were in finding some way to blame it all on me. If it sometimes felt to me like a witch-hunt, it is probably because for some of them that is exactly what it was. I was told, and I believe it to be true, that some of the opposition MSPs were taking direction from Alex himself though possibly through an intermediary on the points to pursue and the questions to ask. Ms Sturgeon described the inquiry, to which she gave eight hours of sworn evidence, as gruelling but also cathartic. MSPs voted five to four that she misled them. Nicola Sturgeon said her famed relationship with Alex Salmond began to deteriorate when she became first minister (Andrew Milligan/PA) The politicians began their inquiry after a judicial review in 2019 found the Scottish Governments investigation into Mr Salmonds alleged misconduct was unlawful, unfair and tainted by apparent bias. Mr Salmond, who died last year, was awarded 500,000 in legal expenses. Ms Sturgeon wrote of the inquiry: It also gave the significant number of people who tuned in to watch the chance to see for themselves just how partisan some of the committee members were being. Not surprisingly, the opposition majority on the committee managed to find some way of asserting in their report that I had breached the ministerial code. However, it was the verdict of the independent Hamilton report that mattered. She said her infamous falling out with her predecessor was a bruising episode of her life as she accused Mr Salmond of creating a conspiracy theory to defend himself from reckoning with misconduct allegations, of which he was cleared in court. Ms Sturgeon said her former mentor was never able to produce a shred of hard evidence that he was the victim of a conspiracy. Nicola Sturgeon accused Alex Salmond of creating a conspiracy to shield himself from his reckoning with his own behaviour (Robert Perry/PA) She went on: All of which begs the question: how did he manage to persuade some people that he was the wronged party, and lead others to at least entertain the possibility? In short, he used all of his considerable political and media skills to divert attention from what was, for him, the inconvenient fact of the whole business. He sought to establish his conspiracy narrative by weaving together a number of incidents and developments, all of which had rational explanations, into something that, with his powers of persuasion, he was able to cast as sinister. Ms Sturgeon speaks about Mr Salmond several times in her autobiography, which also has a dedicated chapter to him, simply titled Alex Salmond. In it, she speaks of an overwhelming sense of sadness and loss when she found out about his death, which she said hit her harder than she had anticipated. Ms Sturgeon says the breakdown in their relationship happened long before Mr Salmonds misconduct allegations. She said it had begun to deteriorate when she became first minister in 2014 following his resignation in light of the independence referendum defeat. Ms Sturgeon claims her former boss still wanted to call the shots outside of Bute House and appeared unhappy that she was no longer his inferior. She also accuses him of trying to distort and weaponise his alleged victims trauma through his allegations of conspiracy. Ms Sturgeon claims that Mr Salmond, who later quit the SNP to form the Alba Party, would rather have seen the SNP destroyed than be successful without him. Despite her myriad claims against her predecessor, though, Ms Sturgeon said: Part of me still misses him, or at least the man I thought he was and the relationship we once had. I know I will never quite escape the shadow he casts, even in death. Smoke rises following an explosion in the Gaza Strip (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg) By Wafaa Shurafa, Sam Metz and Samy Magdy, Associated Press By Wafaa Shurafa, Sam Metz and Samy Magdy, Associated Press Five people, including a prominent reporter for Al Jazeera, have been killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza City, the broadcaster has said. Heavy bombardment was reported in Gaza City late on Sunday evening and, shortly before midnight local time, Al Jazeera said correspondent Anas al-Sharif was killed in a strike. Rami Mohanna, administrative director at the nearby Shifa Hospital, said the strike hit a tent for Al Jazeera journalists outside the hospitals walls. Along with Mr al-Sharif, three other journalists and a driver were killed. Israels military confirmed it, asserting that Mr al-Sharif had posed as a journalist and alleging he was with Hamas. Mr Al-Sharif had denied having any political affiliations. The Committee to Protect Journalists last month said it was gravely concerned for his safety and said he was targeted by an Israeli military smear campaign. A statement from Al Jazeera described the strike as a targeted assassination. It said: Al Jazeera Media Network condemns in the strongest terms the targeted assassination of its correspondents Anas Al Sharif and Mohammed Qraiqea, along with photographers Ibrahim Al Thaher, and Mohamed Nofal, by the Israeli occupation forces in yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom. Ukrainian soldiers from an air-defence unit fire at Russian strike drones in the Dnipropetrovsk region of Ukraine (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) A Ukrainian drone attack killed one person and wounded two more in Russias Nizhny Novgorod as fighting continued ahead of a planned summit meeting in which Russian President Vladimir Putin hopes to persuade his US counterpart to back a peace deal locking in Moscows gains. Nizhny Novgorod governor Gleb Nikitin said in an online statement that drones targeted two industrial zones that caused unspecified damage along with the three casualties. A Ukrainian official said at least four drones launched by the countrys security services, or SBU, struck a plant in the city of Arzamas that produced components for the Khinzal 32 and Khinzal 101 missiles. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss operations, said the Plandin plant produces gyroscopic devices, control systems and on-board computers for the missiles and is an absolutely legitimate target because it is part of the Russian military-industrial complex that works for the war against Ukraine. Ukrainian soldiers from air-defence unit of 59th brigade fire at Russian strike drones in Dnipropetrovsk region (Evgeniy Maloletka/AP) Russias defence ministry said its air defences intercepted and destroyed a total of 39 Ukrainian drones overnight and Monday morning over several Russian regions as well as over the Crimean peninsula that Russia annexed in 2014. The summit, which US President Donald Trump will host in Alaska later this week, sees Mr Putin unwavering on his demands to keep all the Ukrainian territory his forces now occupy but also to prevent Kyiv from joining Nato with the long-term aim to keep the country within Moscows sphere of influence. Mr Putin believes he enjoys the advantage on the ground as Ukrainian forces struggle to hold back Russian advances along the 600-mile front. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insists he will never consent to any Russian annexation of Ukrainian territory nor give up his countrys bid for Nato membership. European leaders have rallied behind Ukraine, saying peace in the war-torn nation cannot be resolved without Kyiv. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also spoke with Mr Trump on Sunday, Mr Merzs spokesman said on Monday, but did not disclose the contents of the talks. Spokesman Steffen Meyer reiterated that the German government has always emphasised that borders must not be shifted by force and that Ukraine should decide its own fate independently and autonomously. Meanwhile, on the front lines, few Ukrainian soldiers believe there is an end in sight to the war, other than a brief respite before Moscow resumes its attacks with even greater might. Kneecap should have known how their objection to a controversial festival could backfire The rappers complain of political censorship but now they think its acceptable to call for a controversial festival to be cancelled Kneecap signed a letter asking for the cancellation of the Mise Eire event Mairia Cahill Mon 11 Aug 2025 at 14:00 Mayo native Stephen Kerr believes that there is currently a plantation of Ireland and that the country is going through a period of destruction. He frequently takes his phone to IPAS centres and records himself speaking to convince people of his theory. At the last Irish general election, 3,684 people voted for the self-described citizen journalist, who gives off pound-shop messiah vibes. Stone has six murder convictionsHis Milltown Cemetery attack cemented his reputation with loyalistsHis attempted attack on Stormont saw him ridiculed Michael Stone was one of the most notorious killers of the Troubles Michael Stone is one of the most well known terrorists of the Troubles. Originally a member of a street gang in Braniel estate before being associated with the UDA and Red Hand Commando, Stone was well known in loyalist circles as a gun for hire. He first hit the headlines in March 1988 after launching a gun and bomb attack in the Milltown cemetery in west Belfast, killing three people. His targets were mourners at the funerals of three IRA members shot dead by the SAS in Gibraltar. He was sent to the Maze prison for three counts of murder before being released in 2000 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Once inside the prison, he became one of the five leaders of the Ulster Freedom Fighters prisoners. In November 2006 he carried out a foiled attack on Stormont which he later claimed was performance art. After the attack he was charged with the attempted murder of Sinn Fein leaders Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness. More recently, he has made headlines for his artistic endeavours which started while he was in prison, with one of his paintings recently fetching 4,500 in an Ebay bid before the sale was cut off. Ciaran Dunbar is joined by Sunday Life editor Martin Breen and former Belfast Telegraph editor Ed Curran. This podcast was originally released in April 2024. British soldier-turned-politician told colleague not to attempt CPR on IRA hitmans father A new memoir has made the claims, saying that Warwick Stacey was concerned about breaking ribs and how resuscitation would appear at subsequent inquest Warwick Stacey John Toner Mon 11 Aug 2025 at 08:56 A Parachute Regiment soldier turned Australian politician was present during the death of the father of notorious IRA hitman Gerard Hucker Moyna during the Troubles, a new book has claimed. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. BENNINGTON The saga of Max Misch and the seven-plus year Bennington case of possessing illegal gun magazines has finally concluded with a 15-day jail sentence. That is, until the U.S. Supreme Court weighs in, which could be any day. Misch, an Iraqi war veteran and formerly self-described white nationalist, was found guilty back in April on two misdemeanor counts of possessing two large-capacity firearm magazines against Vermont law. On Monday afternoon, Misch, escorted into the courtroom by a Sheriffs deputy wearing handcuffs and leg irons, a t-shirt, and shorts, was handed the uncontested jail sentence by Bennington Judge Jennifer Barrett while being held in custody on pending kidnapping, domestic violence, and other charges. I think the sentence is fair, Misch said when the judge gave him a chance to speak at the hearing. I mean, its the law. Its a fair punishment for the crime. It is what it is. We are still waiting for the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) to decide the case before them. One day, I will be vindicated. The sentencing was the culmination of seven years of legal maneuvering, two Vermont Supreme Court rulings involving ever-shifting Second Amendment rights, the attention of gun safety organizations nationwide, and a much-delayed one-day jury trial. The long-standing charges raised questions about Vermont's gun control law, the rights of citizens under the Second Amendment, and what constitutes protected behavior. Throughout its course, the case involved nationally known gun control organizations, Vermont state officials, and briefs from Second Amendment and gun rights advocates. Misch was charged in February 2019 with two misdemeanor counts of possessing large capacity ammunition feeding devices, or 30-round magazines, in violation of a 2018 Vermont law that banned devices of more than 15 rounds for handguns and 10 rounds for a long firearm. The case was first challenged in March 2019, based on the theory that the Vermont law violated Mischs right to bear arms under the Vermont Constitution. In June of that same year, the court denied Mischs motion, noting that the law advances the peoples public safety interest modestly and reasonably while respecting the right to bear arms." An appeal of that ruling followed, and in February 2021, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that the law was a reasonable exercise of the states power and imposed a minimal burden on the right to bear arms. However, a national case with similar issues was, at the same time, winding its way to the US Supreme Court, which just this week fast-tracked the docket. A Washington gun shop appealed its case against Washington States ban on the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines to the U.S. Supreme Court. Gators Custom Guns in Kelso, Washington asked the high court to review the state Supreme Courts decision in May, which upheld a Washington State Supreme Court ruling upholding a ban on high-capacity gun magazines. Gators argued the states 2022 ban on the sale of gun ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds violates the Washington and U.S. constitutions. This week, the high court accepted the case on a fast track. Depending on their ruling, Mischs conviction will either remain or be vacated. In a second hearing following his sentencing, Misch was ordered to continue his hold without bail in a domestic assault and kidnapping case he was arraigned on last week. Misch was arraigned last Monday on five charges including kidnapping, unlawful restraint, domestic assault, and sexual assault, stemming from an altercation the week before. He faces a possible life sentence on the kidnapping charge and a combined 24 years in prison on the other four charges, which include felony aggravated domestic assault, felony unlawful restraint, felony sexual assault, and a misdemeanor interference with emergency services. According to an affidavit in the case, on Friday, August 1, police responded to a report of two females fighting in the middle of the roadway on Pleasant Street. When they arrived, police spotted one of the females getting into a car with a child in the back seat. Misch was standing on the sidewalk with an injury to his hand. Misch allegedly refused to talk with the responding officer and was detained. An investigation later revealed a physical fight between two women and an alleged assault by Misch in a vehicle before the fight. The victim alleged that Misch had been forcing her to have sex based on a religious belief that her body was his because they were married. The victim stated that it had been happening since the birth of their child, at least four prior times, and that Misch had physically assaulted her since 2022. Police confirmed in the affidavit that they had previously been called to the Misch residence numerous times on domestic abuse calls. The victim alleged that Misch would physically restrain her by locking her in a bathroom on several occasions so she could not talk to the police. Defense Attorney Frederick Bragdon did not challenge a state request to continue Mischs hold without bail. Instead, Bragdon told the judge that they were actively searching for a person and residence that would accept Misch and act as his legal caretaker while he awaits trial. When that is in place, Bragdon addressed the judge, then he reserved the right to argue Mischs bail situation. Until then, Misch remains in jail pending a new bail hearing. Bragdon also hinted at a possible quick plea deal with prosecutors. He told the judge that they are close on an admission but still not settled on either a sentence or a sentence cap that could be argued at a later date. However, there is currently no official deal as yet. Camp Kimama Halfmoon on Lake Buel in Monterey, photographed in 2021. A 21-year-old employee drowned Sunday and was later pronounced dead, according to authorities. KITS to set up Biomanufacturing Hub through collaborative efforts in Bengaluru August 11, 2025 | Monday | News To enable precommercial scale biomanufacturing of viable commercial bio-based products image credit- shutterstock Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society (KITS) (Formerly Karnataka Biotechnology and Information Technology Services), is going to develop a State-level Biomanufacturing Hub through collaborative efforts in the coming period in Bengaluru. In this regard, KITS is actively engaging with industry partners such as Anthem Biosciences and Laurus Bio. Responding to the industrys need and industry stakeholders who emphasised the need to establish Karnataka as a leading destination for biomanufacturing by developing a dedicated Biomanufacturing Hub in the state, the state government is actively working on setting up a Biomanufacturing Hub. This was disclosed at Conversation with the Chief Minister of Karnataka - the Action Taken Report released on 11 August 2025. It may be noted that the biotechnology industry from the state has urged the Government to take proactive steps to support the creation of such infrastructure through national programmes and state-industry collaboration during the Conversation with Chief Minister - CEO Breakfast Meet held last August. Meanwhile the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP), an initiative supported by Department of Biotechnology, Government of India with the support of Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India (BIRAC-DBT) is establishing a Biomanufacturing Hub (Bio foundry) in Bengaluru. The hub enables precommercial scale biomanufacturing of viable commercial bio-based products. It leverages engineering microbial, plant, animal and human cells with increasing precision and control to produce commercially important products. In addition to enabling Indias emissions reduction goals, Biomanufacturing will also have a transformative impact across diverse sectors of health, agriculture, food, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, materials, biofuels, etc. Intas Pharma signs agreement to acquire Belgium-based Prothya Biosolutions August 11, 2025 | Monday | News To establish a global presence in the plasma-derived medicinal products market image credit- shutterstock Accord Plasma B.V., a subsidiary of Ahmedabad-based Intas Pharmaceuticals, has announced the execution of an agreement to acquire 100% of Prothya Biosolutions Belgium BV and each of its subsidiaries, a leading plasma-derived medicinal products (PDMP) business based primarily in the Netherlands and Belgium. Subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including regulatory clearances, the deal is anticipated to close shortly. This proposed acquisition marks a significant step in Intas and Accord's long-standing ambition to establish a global presence in the PDMP market, expanding Intas's established leadership in India into a truly international footprint. Binish Chudgar, Chairman of Intas & Accord, stated, "We are delighted to expand our plasma business through the acquisition of Prothya Biosolutions. Combined with our fractionation capabilities in India, this positions us to create a truly global plasma platformserving patients worldwide with critical, often under-prescribed, therapies." Intas's plasma division in India has been supplying hospitals with PDMPs since 2015, supported by an annual fractionation capacity of over 1 million litres and exports to multiple international markets. Additional capacity is due to come online with the expansion of Intas's Gujarat-based facility. The global market for PDMPs, particularly IVIG (intravenous immunoglobulin), is currently valued at $30 billion and is expected to reach $50 billion by 2035. This acquisition will give Intas access to significant additional fractionation capacity, supported by Accord's commercial footprint spanning 85 countries. Karnataka to soon launch Startup Policy (2025- 2030) August 11, 2025 | Monday | News Karnataka will be introducing a new Startup Policy to further strengthen its leadership image credit- shutterstock While the Karnataka Startup Policy 2022 remains in effect, the state government acknowledges the rapidly evolving needs of startups and the shifting dynamics of the innovation ecosystem. In response, Karnataka will be introducing a new Startup Policy to further strengthen its leadership as Indias innovation hub by supporting the creation of 25,000 new startups, including up to 10,000 emerging from clusters Beyond Bengaluru- namely Mangaluru, Mysuru, Hubballi, Kalburgi, with a focus on Deeptech, sustainability, and inclusive growth. As part of this initiative the state government is hosting Future Makers Conclave at Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025 to be held from November 18-20, 2025, where in 20,000 startup founders from across the globe will come together, to be a part of this gathering, all united by a shared purpose- shaping a conscious, connected future. This high-impact, one-day conclave brings together an extraordinary community of trailblazers- from global changemakers and entrepreneurs to spiritual leaders, engineers, adventure sportspersons and athletes, to artists, and pioneers of the impossible. The new Startup Policy adopts a lifecycle-based approach, offering tailored support from ideation to scale-up. The policy is anchored on seven strategic pillars: Funding and Grants to provide financial backing for early-stage startups, offering grants, funding, and subsidies to foster innovation, scalability, and long-term sustainability. Incubation and Infrastructure support in the form of state-of-the-art incubation centres, Centre of Excellence and R&D hubs to provide startups with essential resources and support. The other pillars of the expected policy to be released soon include Mentoring and Skill Development for fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Karnatakas startup ecosystem. Funding for specialized training programme, subsidies for industry certification, grants for startup focused skilling initiatives, incubation-linked training grants and mentorship-driven financial support shall help nurture the next generation startup leaders. Market Access and Expansion for startups aiming to scale and enter new regions. The state shall facilitate global partnerships, government procurement incentives that support startups to reach wider audiences and strengthen their market presence. The last three pillars of the policy include International Collaboration and access to promote global engagement by facilitating international partnerships, cross-border innovation, and access to overseas markets. Through targeted strategic initiatives, startups gain exposure to global ecosystems, mentorship, and go-to-market support. Inclusion and Sustainability to encourage startups and young entrepreneurs to leverage disruptive technologies and innovative business models to address pressing social impact challenges. Regulatory Facilitation aimed to streamline regulatory processes for startups by promoting simplified compliance, single-window clearances, and proactive engagement with relevant authorities. Key enablers include a unified Startup Portal 2.0, legal and financial clinics, regulatory sandboxes, and simplified compliance. Currently undergoing stakeholder consultations and review, the policy aims to establish a future-ready framework to strengthen Karnatakas startup ecosystemespecially Beyond Bengaluruby fostering innovation, attracting investment, and creating high-value jobs. Molbio Diagnostics supports Philippines to accelerate TB elimination drive August 11, 2025 | Monday | News Currently there are 68 Truenat devices deployed across the Philippines The Philippines, one of the top five countries with the highest tuberculosis (TB) burden, faces the challenge of detecting and treating an estimated 190,000 missed TB cases each year. In line with the United Nations target to find and treat 2.1 million TB cases in the country by 2027, the Philippines Health Department is stepping up its commitment to strengthen community-level screening and diagnosis through India-made innovative Truenat systems and ultra-portable X-ray devices. Currently, there are 68 Truenat devices deployed across the Philippines, enabling rapid, multi-disease molecular testing for TB, HIV, HPV, Hepatitis B & C, and more. A pilot in the Bantayan Islands demonstrated the transformative potential of the platform, achieving a remarkable 1008% increase in TB case detection. Molbios WHO-endorsed and ICMR-approved solutions for TB detection, address critical barriers in the Philippines, such as geographic isolation, underutilisation of laboratory testing, and limited access in rural and island communities. The recent approval of the PRORAD Atlas Ultraportable X-ray by the Philippines FDA paves the way for integrated, end-to-end TB screening and diagnosis, ensuring immediate linkage to treatment. Health Secretary of Philippines Dr Theodore J Herbosa said, "As we intensify our efforts to combat tuberculosis (TB) in the Philippines, the collaboration with India stands as a beacon of innovation and partnership. The integration of India's indigenous diagnostic technologies, such as the Truenat system, into our healthcare infrastructure is pivotal. Truenat, known for its rapid and reliable molecular diagnostic capabilities, allows for swift and accurate TB screenings, enhancing our capacity to manage and eventually eliminate TB within our borders, especially in remote areas. This collaboration is part of a broader, strengthening bilateral relationship between India and the Philippines, which now exceeds $3 billion in trade. India is a key supplier of pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and diagnostic technologies, contributing significantly to our healthcare advancements." With a portfolio spanning more than 40 tests for infectious and non-infectious diseases, Molbio combines portability, speed, and accuracy to strengthen public health systems worldwide. Molbios ongoing studies include a multi-country project funded by the R2D2 TB Network that is exploring novel tongue swabbased molecular diagnostics to improve TB detection among children and people living with HIV/AIDS. By bringing testing closer to communitieswhether on remote islands or underserved rural areaswe can close the gap in TB detection and treatment, helping the Philippines achieve its elimination targets. We are committed to strengthening the fight against infectious diseases across the globe, helping countries build more resilient and responsive health systems, said Shiva Sriram, President of Molbio Diagnostics. Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. As the 2025 presidential election draws near, the race to Aras an Uachtarain is evolving into a strikingly dynamic contest. Established political figures like Catherine Connolly and Mairead McGuinness are lining up alongside unconventional candidates, like Riverdance star Michael Flatley, to succeed outgoing President Michael D Higgins. Advertisement The Irish presidency is not as powerful as presidencies in other countries, like the United States or France, but the Irish President has their own responsibilities. So, what powers does the President of Ireland have? And what is their role? The President of Ireland (Uachtaran na hEireann) is Ireland's Head of State. The Office of President was established by the Constitution (Bunreacht na hEireann). The President is elected directly by the people and serves a seven year term in office. The formal powers and functions of the President are prescribed in the Constitution. Advertisement Many of the powers of the President can only be exercised on the advice of the Government, but the President has absolute discretion in other areas. The President's powers include: Appointment of the Taoiseach, members of the Government, judges and other officials; Summoning and dissolving the Dail, and convening the Oireachtas; Signing legislation into law and/or referring Bills to the Supreme Court; Representing the people of Ireland; Acting as Supreme Commander of the Defence Forces. Appointments and the Oireachtas The President appoints the Taoiseach on the nomination of Dail Eireann; and the other members of the Government on the nomination of the Taoiseach, after Dail approval. Other office holders appointed by the President, on the advice of the Government, include Judges, the Attorney General, the Comptroller and Auditor General, and Commissioned officers of the Defence Forces. Advertisement The President summons and dissolves Dail Eireann on the advice of the Taoiseach. If a Taoiseach no longer has the support of the majority of Dail Eireann, the President may choose to call for fresh elections, by signing a proclamation dissolving the Dail. However, the President may also refuse to dissolve the Dail, in which case members of the Dail must nominate an alternative Government. Since the foundation of the State, this power of refusal has never been exercised, President.ie pointed out. Following a general election, Dail Eireann is summoned by the President, on the advice of the Taoiseach. The President must follow the advice of the Taoiseach. Advertisement Legislation Bills passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas must be signed by the President of Ireland before they become law. Under the provisions of Article 25 of Bunreacht na hEireann, a bill can only be signed by the President on the 5th, 6th, or 7th day after it is presented for their signature, but there are some situations when the President may sign a Bill earlier. Under Article 25.2.2 of the Constitution, the Government, with the prior concurrence of the Seanad, can request earlier signature, providing the President with the option of signing the bill earlier than the 5th day. The Constitution also provides the President with the power to refer certain Bills to the Supreme Court for a determination as to whether the bill or any provision thereof is repugnant to the Constitution. Should such a Constitutional issue arise, the President must consult with the Council of State prior to making such a referral. The decision whether to refer a Bill to the Supreme Court is the President's alone. Representatives of the Indian community in Ireland are to ask for a cross-departmental taskforce to address the recent spate of violent attacks. The Ireland India Council is to meet with Tanaiste Simon Harris on Monday afternoon and ask that such incidents are treated and recorded as hate crimes. Advertisement The issue has been highlighted after an Indian man was the victim of an unprovoked attack in Tallaght, Dublin, last month. A silent vigil was held outside the Department of Justice by Friends of India in response. The Indian embassy in Dublin has also issued a warning that there has been an increase in the instances of physical attacks reported against Indian citizens in Ireland recently. They said Indian citizens in Ireland should take reasonable precautions and avoid deserted areas. Advertisement Mr Harris has said he was deeply concerned about the incidents and that he was particularly affected by a reported attack on a six-year-old girl in Waterford. He said one of the most concerning things was the very young age of those that have been involved in some of this racist activity. The Ireland India Council said they wanted assaults on members of the Indian community to be recognised as hate crimes, to ensure the offences are appropriately recorded and addressed. They will also call for a cross-departmental task force on hate crime and youth violence to deliver a coordinated response. Advertisement They also want legislative reform to hold parents accountable for repeat violent behaviour by minors in their care. They have also called for enhanced policing, swift prosecution of offenders, and an outreach programme to communities affected. On Sunday, Minister of State with responsibility for migration Colm Brophy said he wanted the incoming Garda commissioner, Justin Kelly, to prioritise addressing these incidents. We actually have seen a drop in serious crime, but in this particular area, we have seen a rise in the type of attacks, he told RTE Radio. Advertisement Ireland Stronger policing needed after attacks on Indian c... Read More I think there needs to be a stronger policing response in this area because theres two aspects to these attacks which I think are very very unacceptable. The first is obviously the attack itself, and the second then is the recording and videoing of it and the disseminating of it on social media, and theres a role that has to be dealt with there as well. The Indian embassy has been contacted for comment. Israels killing of journalists in Gaza was silencing of some of the few journalistic voices left in the region, the Tanaiste has said. Prominent Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif, 28, and four of his colleagues were killed while sheltering outside al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Sunday night. Advertisement Another reporter was also killed in the Israeli airstrike. The National Union of Journalists is to hold a protest at the Spire in Dublin on Monday evening to condemn the killing of reporters and camera operators in Gaza by Israel. Tanaiste and foreign affairs minister Simon Harris said he is to engage with his EU counterparts in relation to Gaza on Monday. Can I say firstly, just to extend the sympathy and solidarity of the people of Ireland with Al Jazeera and the journalists the five staff members of Al Jazeera and the one other reporter who have been killed in a horrifying attack in Gaza, he said speaking outside Government Buildings on Monday. Advertisement In many ways, it is the silencing of some of the few journalistic voices left in Gaza. Of course, any attack on any civilian including, of course, any attack on any journalist should always be absolutely condemned for what it is. At a time when the people of Gaza desperately need to see a ceasefire, an end to the violence, a surge in humanitarian aid, and of course, the release of the hostages, all of the indications from (Israeli President Benjamin) Netanyahu is of an Israeli government intended to go in the complete opposite direction to that. I do think it is interesting in recent days to have seen an increase in protest within Israel, Israeli people standing up and saying to their government not in my name. Advertisement Israeli people wanting to live in peace and security as well, alongside the Palestinian people and, of course, Israeli people rightly wanting hostages released immediately too. Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy has said that a stronger policing response is needed following a number of attacks on members of the Indian community living and working in Ireland. Tanaiste Simon Harris is set to meet with representatives of the Indian community today. Advertisement They will discuss a spate of unprovoked attacks and incidents of racism which have been reported by Indian nationals living in Ireland. The Indian Embassy also recently issued a warning to its citizens living and working in Ireland. In an interview with This Week on RTE Radio One, Mr Brophy condemned the attacks, which he described as being totally unacceptable. They dont represent the ordinary people of Ireland and what they see for their country. It is appalling that such attacks take place on what has become a far more regular basis. Mr Brophy said that he wants to see the incoming Garda Commissioner very much prioritise dealing with this. Advertisement "We actually have seen a drop in serious crime, but in this particular area, we have seen a rise in the type of attacks. "I know the Tanaiste is reaching out in his meeting, and there has to be a series of engagement between the Government and community groups and organisations. I also think there needs to be a policing response. I think there needs to be a stronger policing response in this area," Mr Brophy said. "I would like to see a progression on what I know is happening locally in Tallaght on Monday, where the gardai are reaching out to the Indian community leaders, and they are having a meeting with them. "But we also need to see a proactive response in the way in the past we have tackled other issues around organised crime. An Garda Siochana need to make it absolutely clear that they will deploy the resources necessary to deal with it. I want to acknowledge that they are doing excellent work in investigating the crimes that have taken place. Advertisement Mr Brophy cited as particularly abhorrent the recording and videoing of the attacks and the disseminating of the same on social media. He said that young people who carry out such attacks should be punished in a meaningful way." They will be punished in a meaningful way. Helen McEntee brought through there in her final months as Justice Minister the new hate crime legislation, which allows for increased sentences, particularly when a hate crime is involved. "There is an onus not just on the policing response. We need as communities to come together. It is not just a job for the gardai, it is a job for all of us collectively to say that it is not acceptable to have those attacks on members of our community. Minister Brophy also refuted a suggestion by This Week host, broadcaster Justin McCarthy, that tougher language used by certain Government politicians in relation to the crackdown on immigration was in some way emboldening individuals who might attack migrants. Advertisement I think it is quite wrong to say that. We have advocated quite clearly that what we believe is necessary is to have a firm, fair and effective system when it comes to dealing with applicants for international protection. There is nothing wrong with that. That is just acknowledging what should be the situation. "There is nothing wrong with saying that if somebody is not entitled to international protection, they will be asked to leave. And that is where deportation comes in. Ireland 'Worrying pattern of far-right violence' in target... Read More "What you are basically saying is that Governments or senior politicians of any party who want to see a system that is a firm and fair system for inward migration can be blamed for the actions of people who I believe are extremist, violent thugs who are capable of stoking up their own lies and own violence. "Ireland is a modern country. It is an integrated country. We have people who are here in their thousands who work in our health services, who pay their taxes and who are an essential part of modern Ireland. We welcome that. We believe that is part of what makes Ireland stronger. Advertisement Minister Brophy added they would work with social media companies to clamp down on lies which are disseminated online and the placing online of videos of attacks. "There is a combined need to look again and see how we can work with the social media companies to clamp down on this. I don't think it is acceptable that social media companies, some of them, using ridiculous guises of free speech, etc, have not been willing to participate in a way that I believe they should clamp down on this." Around three-quarters of sex workers in Ireland started because of financial reasons, research shows. The research, carried out by Sex Workers Alliance Ireland (SWAI), also found that migrant sex workers face discrimination and marginalisation when trying to access housing across the country. Advertisement It found that while most became sex workers because of money, others became members of Irelands sex work work community because of flexibility in the work and some said they were supporting an addiction. It further found that three-quarters of participants rented private accommodation, while 25 per cent were homeless or lived in hostels. The research found that of those who are privately renting, 33 per cent utilised housing assistance payments (HAP). The HAP scheme is a social housing payment made to landlords by local authorities, and tenants pay a contribution to their local authority. Advertisement The majority of participants of the SWAI survey had lived in their current housing for one and two years, however, several participants in the study have experienced eviction and some level of homelessness. Several participants spoke of their experiences of discrimination when seeking or applying for housing. The majority of participants were migrants, around 87.5 per cent, with many coming from a diverse range of countries including the US, Germany, Pakistan, Romania, Mexico and the UK. They have been engaged in sex work for various amounts of time, with 25 per cent starting two years ago, 25 per cent working for the last four to five years, 37.5 per cent starting 10 years ago and 12.5 per cent working for 13 years or longer. Advertisement Around half of sex workers say they take substances, with some 25 per cent doing so in a social context and around 25 per cent saying they have abstained entirely. Almi Modjeska, co-ordinator of SWAI, said: Voices of sex workers in Ireland are constantly omitted and excluded from conversations leading to laws and policies directly affecting them. This constant omission guided our approach to this research, which is why this report also includes sex workers recommendations for meaningful action that will improve the situation for migrant sex workers in Ireland. Linda Kavanagh, spokeswoman for SWAI, said: Our research includes sex workers in all aspects of the report. Advertisement The questions asked were devised with the input of active sex workers. Despite the dominant narrative framing all sex workers as victims of gender-based violence, sex workers are knowledge creators and are best placed to speak about their reality. Sex workers conducted the interviews, data analysis and report writing. When we say nothing about us, without us, we mean it. Ms Kavanagh added: The discussion around sex work in Ireland focuses entirely on violence against sex workers by clients, and their right to exit. Advertisement The structural violence and discrimination they face from the state, the gardai, the housing crisis and by landlords is never mentioned. These are all issues that the Government and all of us can address. Instead, all they are offered is the criminalisation of their income through laws that they were never meaningfully consulted on. Housing and migration are hot-button topics here. Ireland is one of eight countries that introduced the Nordic client criminalisation model. The country is currently enduring a housing crisis, with a severe shortage of housing options. The cost-of-living crisis, which has grown from the housing crisis, makes accessing decent work difficult. We know that more people are turning to sex work in Ireland to make ends meet. Ireland criminalises clients and has broad and harsh brothel-keeping laws that prevent sex workers from working together for safety. These laws make sex work less safe and drive sex workers away from paths to justice and services that can help them. The organisation repeated its call for the decriminalisation of sex work and the abolition of brothel-keeping laws. They say criminalising brothel keeping and the organisation of sex work forces sex workers to operate in isolation, increasing their risk of violence and exploitation. They also said current legislation makes it very difficult for sex workers to secure stable housing, as landlords can be prosecuted for knowingly renting to them. This contributes to housing insecurity, and makes sex workers more vulnerable to exploitation and homelessness. The fear of eviction adds to the instability and stress experienced by sex workers, they added. Israels military has targeted a prominent Al Jazeera correspondent with an air strike, killing him, another journalist and at least six other people. Anas al-Sharif and his Al Jazeera colleague Mohamed Qreiqeh were among those killed while sheltering outside the Gaza City Hospital complex late on Sunday. Advertisement Officials at Shifa Hospital confirmed the deaths and said the strike also killed four other journalists and two other people. It also damaged the entrance to the hospital complexs emergency building. Israels military described Mr al-Sharif as the leader of a Hamas cell an allegation that Al Jazeera and Mr al-Sharif had previously dismissed as baseless. The incident marked the first time during the war that Israels military has swiftly claimed responsibility after a journalist was killed in a strike. People inspect the destroyed tent where journalists, including Al Jazeera correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohamed Qreiqeh, were killed by an Israeli air strike (Jehad Alshrafi/AP) It came less than a year after Israeli army officials first accused Mr al-Sharif and other Al Jazeera journalists of being members of the militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad. In a July 24 video, Israels army spokesman Avichay Adraee attacked Al Jazeera and accused Mr al-Sharif of being part of Hamass military wing. Advertisement Al Jazeera called the strike a targeted assassination and accused Israeli officials of incitement, connecting Mr al-Sharifs death to the allegations that both the broadcaster and correspondent had denied. Anas and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices from within Gaza, providing the world with unfiltered, on-the-ground coverage of the devastating realities endured by its people, Al Jazeera said in a statement. The journalists are the latest to be killed in what observers have called the deadliest conflict for journalists in modern times (Jehad Alshrafi/AP) Apart from rare invitations to observe Israeli military operations, international media have been barred from entering Gaza for the duration of the war. Al Jazeera is among the few outlets still fielding a big team of reporters inside the besieged strip, chronicling daily life amid air strikes, hunger and the rubble of destroyed neighbourhoods. The broadcaster has suffered heavy losses during the war, including 27-year-old correspondent Ismail al-Ghoul and cameraman Rami al-Rifi, killed last summer, and freelancer Hossam Shabat, killed in an Israeli air strike in March. Advertisement Like Mr al-Sharif, Mr Shabat was among the six that Israel accused of being members of militant groups last October. Hundreds of people, including many journalists, gathered on Monday to mourn Mr al-Sharif, Mr Qreiqeh and their colleagues. Mr al-Sharif reported a nearby bombardment minutes before his death. In a social media post that Al Jazeera said was written to be posted in case of his death, he bemoaned the devastation and destruction that war had wrought and bid farewell to his wife, son and daughter. I never hesitated for a single day to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification, the 28-year-old wrote. Advertisement The journalists are the latest to be killed in what observers have called the deadliest conflict for journalists in modern times. The Committee to Protect Journalists said on Monday that at least 192 journalists have been killed in Gaza. Mr al-Sharif began reporting for Al Jazeera a few days after war broke out. He was known for reporting on Israels bombardment in northern Gaza, and later for the starvation gripping much of the territorys population. Mr Qreiqeh, a 33-year-old Gaza City native, is survived by two children. Both journalists were separated from their families for months earlier in the war. When they managed to reunite during the ceasefire earlier this year, their children appeared unable to recognise them, according to video footage they posted at the time. Advertisement Israels military claimed responsibility for the attack (Jehad Alshrafi/AP) In a July broadcast he cried on air as a woman behind him collapsed from hunger. I am talking about slow death of those people, he said at the time. Al Jazeera is blocked in Israel and soldiers raided its offices in the occupied West Bank last year, ordering them to close. Mr al-Sharifs death comes weeks after the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said Israel had targeted him with a smear campaign. Irene Khan, the UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression, on July 31 said that the killings were part of a deliberate strategy of Israel to suppress the truth, obstruct the documentation of international crimes and bury any possibility of future accountability. The Committee to Protect Journalists said on Sunday that it was appalled by the strike. Israels pattern of labelling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom, Sara Qudah, the groups regional director, said. Five people, including a prominent reporter for Al Jazeera, have been killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza City, the broadcaster has said. Heavy bombardment was reported in Gaza City late on Sunday evening and, shortly before midnight local time, Al Jazeera said correspondent Anas al-Sharif was killed in a strike. Advertisement Rami Mohanna, administrative director at the nearby Shifa Hospital, said the strike hit a tent for Al Jazeera journalists outside the hospitals walls. Along with al-Sharif, three other journalists and a driver were killed. Israels military confirmed it, asserting that Mr al-Sharif had posed as a journalist and alleging he was with Hamas. Mr Al-Sharif had denied having any political affiliations. The Committee to Protect Journalists last month said it was gravely concerned for his safety and said he was targeted by an Israeli military smear campaign. Advertisement A statement from Al Jazeera described the strike as a targeted assassination. It said: Al Jazeera Media Network condemns in the strongest terms the targeted assassination of its correspondents Anas Al Sharif and Mohammed Qraiqea, along with photographers Ibrahim Al Thaher, and Mohamed Nofal, by the Israeli occupation forces in yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom. Feature: Chinese auto innovation powers Egypt's assembly lines Xinhua) 10:24, August 11, 2025 CAIRO, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- On the bustling production floor of Jetour Auto's welding factory in Egypt's Giza governorate, supervisor Yasser Ahmed Mansour was watching automated machinery blend seamlessly with skilled workers. To Mansour, this sight is a testament to China's rapid transformation of cutting-edge technology into accessible vehicles that are reshaping Egypt's automotive landscape. "A growing number of Egyptian consumers are choosing Chinese cars over their German, Japanese, and other counterparts," he told Xinhua, crediting their appeal to a trifecta of strengths: advanced tech, near-premium features, and competitive pricing. The welding factory, part of a 123-million-U.S. dollar venture between China's Jetour and Egypt's major automotive dealer Kasrawy Group, is expected to assemble and produce Jetour T1 and T2 models next year, with the goal of both local market supply and export. Mostafa Hussein, vice president of Kasrawy's automotive division for Jetour vehicles, outlined the company's ambitious expansion plans: An existing 55,000-square-meter factory producing Jetour X70 Plus will soon be complemented by an 86,000-square-meter plant slated for 2025 completion. But before that, envoys from the Egyptian factory will travel to China for training, to observe the latest systems firsthand, Hussein noted. "Upon their return, further training sessions are conducted here in Egypt. The Chinese side is with us every step of the way, hand in hand," he said, adding that workforce will then surge from 200 to some 900. Hussein said he has been observing China's "enormous and rapid progress" since his first visit to the country in 1990. "The leaps in technology and the richness of the culture were on another scale. That visit profoundly enriched me -- professionally, technologically and personally," he said. Meanwhile, former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, who toured the factory recently, highlighted the significance of advanced Chinese technology and the eagerness of his country to localize such technology. Egypt is taking serious steps to localize the Chinese automotive industry, especially electric vehicles, due to China's advanced technology in both electric car manufacturing and electric batteries, he said. This welding factory is one of the "fruits of a long-standing partnership" between Egypt and China, one that has been further strengthened with the Belt and Road cooperation, he said. "Chinese investments in Egypt can be classified as a win-win model, as Egypt benefits from Chinese technology, job creation and more. The Chinese-Egyptian product is also exportable, making these investments mutually beneficial," he added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A Chinese drone researcher whose student visa was denied over claims he was associated with weapons of mass destruction has lost his appeal against the immigration minister. Xiaolong Zhu, 36, was in Australia on a tourist visa in 2018 when he applied for a student visa to begin studying for a doctorate of philosophy at QUTs Gardens Point campus. Zhu proposed focusing on surveying and studying the navigation of unmanned aerial vehicles, also known as UAVs or drones, in environments where GPS guidance was not available. Chinese drone researcher Xiaolong Zhu was ordered to pay legal costs after losing his visa appeal. Credit: QUT The immigration ministers delegate rejected Zhus student visa application in October 2020 due to the Home Affairs Department receiving information that he was directly or indirectly associated with the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. A homeless man has been charged with two counts of murder after a man was allegedly decapitated and a pregnant woman killed in what police believe was a targeted attack at a home in Melbournes south-east on Monday night. Police were called to a house on Adrienne Crescent in Mount Waverley shortly before 10pm, where they found the man and woman later identified as 39-year-old Athena Georgopoulos and her 50-year-old partner Andrew Gunn dead inside. A 34-year-old man with two large dogs was arrested at Westall train station in Clayton South, almost seven kilometres from the scene, at 1.40am on Tuesday. He had blood on his shirt and was shoeless at the time of his arrest, Nine News reported. The man will appear before the Magistrates Court on Wednesday. The Albanese governments decision to recognise a Palestinian state marks a historic moment in Australian foreign policy, even if the move is likely to have little to no practical impact on the Middle East in the foreseeable future. The shift has been years in the making, but momentum accelerated dramatically over the past fortnight as global events convinced Anthony Albanese and Penny Wong that now was the time to cross the Rubicon. Long derided as the United States deputy sheriff in the Asia-Pacific, Australia is asserting its independence from the Trump administration on a defining issue, even as the mercurial president weighs up the future of the AUKUS pact and possible tariffs on Australian pharmaceutical imports. Wong called US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday to tip him off about the decision, but this was merely a courtesy call. Rubio has warned that recognising Palestine now would reward Hamas for its October 7 attacks and embolden it to act as a spoiler in ceasefire talks over the war in Gaza. These warnings carried no weight with Wong, despite the fact the US can use its United Nations Security Council veto power to block Palestine from being admitted as UN member state. The Norwegian folklore of trolls inspired plans for a new live music bar under the archways of the Sydney Harbour Bridge but the prospect of monsters lurking under the heritage structure has proven a bridge too far for historians, community groups and a local council. A year-long proposal to turn a vacant shopfront under the northern end of the coathanger has been delivered a not-so fairytale ending after a planning application for the venue was officially rejected by North Sydney Council. Peter Lanigan wanted to open a small live music bar in a shopfront under the Sydney Harbour Bridge at Milsons Point (in the background here), but the plan has been rejected by North Sydney Council. Credit: Max Mason-Hubers The saga began when owner and publican Peter Lanigan lodged development plans with the council to turn the former Milsons Point newsagency that opens up in Kirribillis main shopping strip into a sophisticated small bar named The Troll, inspired by the 19th-century Scandinavian fairytale. Trolls, often depicted as monstrous beings living under bridges, have for more than 150 years acted as a cautionary tale for children to be careful around dangerous places. Three Ukrainian beachgoers have been killed by sea mines while swimming off the Black Sea coast. A man died when a device exploded 50 metres from the shore near the resort of Karolino-Bugaz, in the Odesa region, at 11.30am on Sunday, Ukrainian media reported. A woman and another man were killed in a separate explosion in water off the nearby town of Zatoka, about 65 kilometres south of Odesa city. A resort near Zatoka, Ukraine, where two of the three swimmers were killed while swimming. Credit: Alamy Regional governor Oleh Kiper said the blasts happened in areas that had been closed off to swimmers, and warned that lives were being lost because of people ignoring the bans. All of them were blown up by explosive objects while swimming in areas prohibited for recreation, he wrote. This proves once again that being in unverified waters is deadly. London/Canberra: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being in denial about the consequences of war in Gaza as he vowed to continue relations despite the escalating disagreement over Australias move to recognise Palestine. French President Emmanuel Macron hailed Australias decision to announce recognition at the United Nations next month, which the Netanyahu government has criticised as a reward for the terror group Hamas. French President Emmanuel Macron has hailed Anthony Albaneses announcement that Australia will recognise a Palestinian state. Credit: Getty Images, Alex Ellinghausen Albanese said he had spoken with Netanyahu on Thursday and was unconvinced by his arguments. I spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu, he again reiterated to me what he has said publicly as well, which is to be in denial about the consequences that are occurring for innocent people, Albanese told ABC Radio National on Tuesday. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has slammed Australia as shameful for a decision he was certain it would make recognising a Palestinian state. Speaking to world media overnight, Netanyahu assumed such an outcome in Canberra that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the federal cabinet would choose to recognise Palestinian statehood before joining other countries in voting for this position at the United Nations next month. Anthony Albanese and his cabinet have chosen to recognise Palestinian statehood. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen And his sharp and emotive jab at Australia during the press conference in Jerusalem did nothing to stop it happening. Netanyahu knew where Albanese was heading because Albanese had told him last Thursday and Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed this in a call with the Israeli foreign minister on Sunday. So the Israeli prime minister made no attempt to be diplomatic in urging Albanese to take a different path. Instead, he delivered a slap-down. The federal government welcomed all nine actions proposed by regulators and accepted eight of the reviews recommendations in principle. It will consult further on the ninth, which suggests APRA introduce a lighter touch regulatory regime for very small banks, alongside changes to the Financial Claims Scheme. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code The Honda HR-V is a textbook case of the effects of inflation. When it was launched in 2022, this entry-level variant you see here was price... When the Rev. J. Eric Light arrived in early July as the new pastor at Red Bank United Methodist Church, he found some vintage photos on the walls outside his office. They show the old R.H. Hunt-designed sanctuary built in the late 1920s after a fire and before it was expanded, as well as groups of youths and members signifying a typically vibrant congregation of old. While Red Bank UMCs physical campus to the numerous passersby on Dayton Boulevard has changed minimally since the 1980s, inside it has greatly. While Red Bank UMCs physical campus to the numerous passersby on Dayton Boulevard has changed minimally since the 1980s, inside it has greatly.Despite its popular pre-school facility, its church attendance and membership have been slowly trickling away after reaching its peak of about 1,100 on the rolls exactly 50 years ago, Rev. Light said during a recent interview. The trend is typical of many churches of varying denominations in this era when Christian church attendance or affiliation is down in a culturally changing nation and even city. And Red Bank, like other United Methodist churches, has tried to spiritually feed its members and grow the Kingdom of God amid both the typical in-house issues that can aid or hinder a church as well as the more external forces. The latter involves the general United Methodist Churchs adoption of more inclusive language toward the LGBTQ community and the lifting of bans on same-sex weddings and the ordination of LGBTQ clergy. This has resulted in both support from many and criticism from others, many of whom have left varying UMC churches. Another factor with Red Bank was that it was without a regular pastor for a few months, with the clergy at Burks United Methodist in Hixson helping provide interim preaching and support. But the Rev. Light said he is eagerly trying to get to work and has a simple philosophy of wanting to see a church he serves not only survive in these challenging times but also thrive. That has seemed to work so far in his five-plus years serving St. Marks UMC on Mississippi Avenue in North Chattanooga, although he jokingly adds in his airplane runway analogy that while they are gaining speed, they still need a little more runway. When I started there in 2020, I was the fourth pastor in four years, he said of St. Marks as he sat in the longtime and spacious senior pastors office at Red Bank on Aug. 5. It was the middle of COVID and everybody was shellshocked. It was like rebuilding a congregation. But it was a wonderful, caring group of people there. The spirit of St. Marks is that they are a lot of fun and are very warm and very welcoming. He said that church had almost closed nearly 10 years earlier before the larger Christ United Methodist in East Brainerd sent 100 mission members to help revitalize it. Now, the St. Marks Church literally takes all-comers and tries to mirror Jesus, he said, adding that worship attendance on any given Sunday is around 80 people. It is open and welcoming to people from all walks of life, he said, adding that it is a reconciling congregation. The focus is on making disciples of Jesus Christ for the world, and what we do is open the door all the way. I am not taking credit. That is their DNA. Rev. Light also sees some positives at Red Bank already in place. It has a preschool serving 100 children and which also has a day school two days a week. The church also houses its non-profit Red Bank Community Food Pantry on site by the gym facility in a partnership with the community for those citizens needing help in meeting basic nutritional needs. It is integrated into our operation, but it is truly a community project, he said, adding that the pantry is open every first and third Thursday. Half a dozen other churches are involved through a partnership. Thats within the spirit of what churches can do. We are being ecumenical. We work together to meet real community needs. What matters is people getting fed. Another outreach, and one that he hopes can spiritually feed the Red Bank congregation, too, is that Mission Red Bank, an Anglican congregation headed by Father Al Alison, lay worship pastor Melody Day and others, on Aug. 3 began worshiping in the Red Bank UMC sanctuary at 9 a.m. They had formerly rented space in a building by Dayton Boulevard and Morrison Springs Road. Since Red Bank UMC has its worship at 11 a.m., the arrangement is expected to help both congregations, he said. It is truly going to be a partnership, he said, adding that the Mission congregation is providing musicians for the Red Bank UMC services, too, and that he is meeting weekly with the Mission Red Bank leadership for prayer. With only about 50-60 in worship on a typical Sunday this summer and what he believes are only two Sunday school classes, pastor Light knows Red Bank UMC will have to continue to think of ways to be creative to thrive spiritually as well as simply be able to operate. Churches are going to have to be smart and work together in todays world, he said. Sadly, the doors are closing if they dont come up with ways to be sustainable. Churches are like any other business or organization. They are not immune to the economics of today. But he feels optimistic overall about Red Bank despite knowing any church sometimes needs a magic number of minimal attendees to function better as a church. The location here is so wonderfully located in the heart of the community, he said. I feel there are so many ways they can build on that. Rev. Light has not only been focusing on ways Red Bank can sustain itself and thrive, but also how he can best operate in his new position overseeing two churches, with St. Marks service beginning one hour earlier at 10. While United Methodist pastors have historically been assigned to multiple churches even smaller than these two in worship numbers, it is somewhat a new challenge for him, and maybe even the overall denomination having to consolidate resources. With Red Bank UMC having 60-plus regular attenders and St. Marks having 80, it does become more challenging to lead both without making some necessary adjustments, he said. One of the ways to overcome this is to re-emphasize the critical role of the laity on the life and leadership of the church. Many ministry and administrative tasks can be led well by dedicated lay members of the church, making the pastor more of an equipper/trainer for the laity to rise up and fulfill their ministry calling. He added that leading two churches requires a focus on the big picture, strategic use of time and a team approach to ministry, adding that is a wise strategy regardless of the situation. Since pastoring is in large part built on relationships and trust, my time must be invested first and foremost in getting to know both congregations and forming bonds of trust so that we can partner together in achieving our shared ministry goals, he added. The 56-year-old pastor who likes to sit out in the congregation before preaching -- has also uniquely already spread himself around different environments and backgrounds in the larger Christian church. He said that while growing up going to Snow Hill Elementary, Brown Middle School and Central High in Chattanooga, he was an Episcopalian. But he became involved in the youth group at St. John United Methodist by Highway 58, and a now-late lay youth director there Judy Williams was a wonderful influence in guiding his and others spiritual growth. As a result, he felt a call to ministry at an early age. He also came along as Resurrection -- the Holston Conferences annual winter gathering of music and preaching for youth -- was just beginning in 1985, and that was also a factor in his spiritual growth, he said That is one of the best things the conference has ever done, he said. As he was entering college, he also read sheet music along with scripture and played the trombone for the University of Tennessee Pride of the Southland Band for legendary band director J. Julian for a couple of years before transferring to UTC to finish his degree work. And yes, a couple of Tennessee Vol orange decorations adorn his new Red Bank office. He had also worked some under UTC band director Tony DAndrea and still occasionally plays music, he said. After UTC, he went on to the non-denominational Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va., for seminary work. He also took his required Methodist and Wesleyan theological classes at the Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky and the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta. I try to have a broad experience of thinking, he said. I appreciate the broad line within the Christian community. Before serving St. Marks, he had also served at Ooltewah United Methodist for more than two decades in their Reach outreach ministry. All that is trying to help him adjust and serve in his new position overseeing Red Bank UMC and hoping to continue the fruitful work done so far at St. Marks. Despite the work and challenges, this man who was full of upbeat quotable lines about churches amid his also-realistic tone said he remains optimistic of the work ahead for him and his congregations, including Red Bank. If you are a person of faith, you have to be optimistic, he said. If we are faithful to what Jesus wants us to do, the church will thrive and be relevant. And who knows, maybe he can help them put some new pictures up at Red Bank UMC, too! * * * Marvin Fallins, who initially was charged with first-degree murder in the March 2021 slaying of Frank Usher, has pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter. He received an agreed 15-year prison term. A Criminal Court jury earlier deadlocked on a second-degree murder charge against Fallins after 15 hours of deliberation. Judge Barry Steelman had afterward sentenced Fallins to serve 11 years in prison on the jury's finding that he was a felon in possession of a firearm. The case involved the slaying of Frank Usher in March 2021. A Criminal Court jury deadlocked on a second-degree murder charge against Fallins after 15 hours of deliberation. The panel came back within 10 minutes on the gun charge, which carried up to 12 years. After the earlier verdict, the judge revoked bond for Fallins and ordered him into custody finding that he posed a danger to the community. Police said Fallins admitted to shooting the victim. Police had responded to a shot person report on East 48th Street and located Usher, who had been shot in the neck. He was pronounced deceased after being transported to Erlanger Hospital. Police began to review video footage from the Chattanooga Housing Authority and from the area. Police said one camera showed Usher entering the back door of the residence, and Fallins, who was 51 at the time, also entering through the same door. This video showed Usher exiting through the front door while also holding his neck. He was seen running around the side of the building and toward the street where he collapsed on the ground. Police said Fallins could be viewed exiting the front door with a witness, and that the two could be seen standing next to the victim. The witness grabbed a firearm away from Fallins, and then Fallins left the area and walked to a residence on East 49th Street. Later that day, police interviewed Fallins, and they said he admitted to the shooting. The witness also corroborated that story. After hearing the proof, Judge Steelman found there was not enough proof of premeditation for a first-degree murder conviction. Police said Fallins could be viewed exiting the front door with a witness, and that the two could be seen standing next to the victim. The witness grabbed a firearm away from Fallins, and then Fallins left the area and walked to a residence on East 49th Street. Later that day, police interviewed Fallins, and they said he admitted to the shooting. The witness also corroborated that story. Fallins did not testify, but his defense claimed that the victim had a gun and was reaching for it in his waistband when he was shot. The victim's mother said she at the time of the mistrial that she was hopeful that the state would retry Fallins on the murder charge. She said Frank Usher "was the father of five kids and they all miss him so bad." Former Regional Planning Agency Executive Director Dan Reuter said he was asking the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to remove current members of the Planning Commission from office. Mr. Reuter, who recently resigned after an investigation alleging harassment of certain employees, said Planning Commission members resist required state training. He said members reported they received training at meetings prior to commission meetings, but he said they were more social gatherings. Mr. Reuter also said the Planning Commission has long been tilted toward developers. He said cases involving members who are developers are routinely placed near the bottom of the agenda "to limit public view." Officials of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development said, "TNECD cannot unilaterally remove current members of the Planning Commission from office. That decision, if any, would be made by the local government planning advisory committee, or the county legislative body, dependent upon the requirements of T.C.A. 13-3-101. " Additionally, TNECD does not track training for this commission. That is tracked at the local level per the statute referenced above." Here is the Reuter letter: August 11th, 2025 Summer Carr, Assistant General Counsel Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development 312 Rosa L. Parks Ave Nashville, TN 37243 Dear Ms. Carr, As you are aware, under Tennessee law, (Section 13-3-101 - Planning regions - Creation of commissions - Members - Training and continuing education), Each planning commissioner shall, within one (1) year of initial appointment and each calendar year thereafter, attend a minimum of four (4) hours of training and continuing education in one (1) or more of the subjects listed in subdivision (j)(5). At least one (1) hour of the annual education requirement shall concentrate on the rights of private property owners and the relationship of those rights to the public planning process. It is my professional position that the members of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Commission (RPC) have not received actual annual training and continuing education for many years. During the 3 years and 6 months of my employment as Regional Planning Agency (RPA) Executive Director, the RPC members resisted and did not honestly participate in training to meet the Tennessee law requirements. The required annual forms submitted by Karen Rennich of the RPA at the direction of the RPC Chairman Ethan Collier refer to a monthly lunch upon which the members meet socially before the RPC meetings. As RPA Executive Director, I sought to advance training and education as outlined in Tennessee law. I believe most if not all RPC members have never received formal training or continuing education. I do not believe the RPC members understand their role or meet the code of ethics which is required. Considering the RPC meets 12 times annually, (or fewer if meetings are cancelled), the 30-45 minutes for lunch and social engagement each month cannot legally address the required Tennessee training as outlined in state law. Almost immediately when I began employment, it became apparent to me that the conduct of RPC members and meetings were far below the standard of any peer Tennessee local government Planning Commission. The public continuously stated during my employment the perceived focus of the RPC being private real estate development interests. RPC membership has been historically dominated by builders, real estate developers or aligned professionals. The RPC meeting agenda has practiced placing members personal zoning cases at the end to limit public review. These and other actions occur by RPC members which provide the appearance of a conflict of interest. As outlined by an opinion of the Tennessee Bar Association on March 16. 2023, If a member of a regional planning commission fails to attend the required training pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. 13-3-101(j)(1) or file a written statement with the commission secretary certifying such attendance pursuant to Tenn. Code Ann. 13-3-101(j)(3), the regional planning commission member may be removed. It is for these reasons; I believe the Chattanooga-Hamilton County RPC members should be removed by the Commissioner of the Department of Economic and Community Development or City of Chattanooga and Hamilton County Mayors. It is my position that the annual records provided to the Department of Economic and Community Development were embellished to create the appearance of RPC members meeting the Tennessee training and continuing education requirements. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Please let me know if you have any questions. Dan Reuter, FAICP The University of Tennessee System today announced that Chancellor Lori Mann Bruce of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga has been appointed to the Board of Governors of UT Battelle, the nonprofit partnership that has managed and operated the U.S. Department of Energys Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) since 2000. UT Battelle is jointly owned by the University of Tennessee and Battelle Memorial Institute.Officials said, "Dr. Bruce, appointed as UTCs 19th chancellor effective June 30, 2025, brings nearly three decades of leadership experience in academic affairs, research growth and strategic planning.As provost at Tennessee Technological University, she significantly expanded research funding from $16 million to more than $46 million and launched major infrastructure and faculty development initiatives."Her appointment to the UT Battelle Board of Governors adds her voice to the leadership overseeing one of the nations premier research institutions. UT Battelle plays a central role in advancing U.S. scientific leadership, fostering partnerships with UT System campuses, and supporting science education outreach including millions of dollars in contributions to local schools and institutions."Oak Ridge National Laboratory is a cornerstone of American innovation, and I am honored to support its mission, Dr. Bruce said. Serving on the UT-Battelle Board of Governors is an opportunity to strengthen the connections between world-class research and real-world impact. Im especially excited about what this means for our students and to open new pathways to discovery, education and service to Tennessee and the nation."Chancellor Bruces new board role aligns with UT-Battelles mission to integrate academic, research and community engagement across Tennessee," officials said. "As a UTC chancellor committed to innovation and excellence, she is well positioned to help guide the organizations impact in education, research and service."Dr. Bruce brings a distinguished record of academic leadership and scientific achievement to the board, UT System President Randy Boyd said. Her expertise in research and innovation will be an asset as we continue to support the critical work taking place at ORNL.Officials said, "Chancellor Bruce joins a distinguished board responsible for governance, strategic oversight and long term planning of ORNL operations in partnership with the UT System and Battelle."Her appointment underscores the UT Systems commitment to elevating research collaboration and educational opportunities across its campusesand further strengthens the alignment between UTCs mission and ORNLs statewide science priorities." Last month, Republicans made history by providing the largest-ever investment in border security in our nations history. With the One Big Beautiful Bill signed into law, President Trump now has the resources he needs to complete the southern border wall with hundreds of miles of new barriers. The legislation also empowers the Department of Homeland Security to hire thousands of ICE and Border Patrol agents to protect our nation from criminals, cartels, and terrorists. In many ways, the One Big Beautiful Bill bolsters the Trump administrations historic success in making America safe again. In July, illegal crossings reached an all-time low, with border encounters down almost 90 percent from the Biden administration. Since Inauguration Day, ICE has also arrested close to 150,000 illegal aliens, including violent criminals, drug dealers, and human traffickers. These efforts are making our communities safer. But instead of supporting them, Democrats have attacked our brave federal law enforcement. In May, a congressional Democrat tried to storm an ICE facility and now faces federal charges for allegedly assaulting an ICE officer. For months, her colleagues have smeared ICE agents who are risking their lives to protect our country, comparing them to secret police and Nazis. And Democrats in both chambers of Congress have pushed legislation that would prohibit officers from wearing masks, exposing them and their families to targeted harassment. ICE agents, who are facing a 1,000 percent increase in assaults, deserve our unwavering support. Yet once again, Democrats are siding with criminal illegal aliens over American citizens. One big reason why: The Census Bureau for years has included illegal aliens in its census count, which determines the number of congressional seats (and federal tax dollars) each state gets. As hundreds of thousands of Americans flee blue states over sky-high taxes and job-killing regulations, Democrats hope to offset these losses by harboring illegal aliens in sanctuary cities. As one New York Democrat put it, aliens are needed in blue precincts just for redistricting purposes. Thankfully, President Trump is bringing an end to this shameful attack on U.S. citizenship. Last week, he directed the Commerce Department to create a new census that excludes illegal aliens from the population count, ensuring that congressional representation is based on American citizensnot illegal aliens who have no right to be in our country. In addition, a new census would correct the 2020 censuss lopsided undercount of red states and overcount of blue states, which granted three congressional seats to Democrat-run states that they never should have received. To support President Trumps efforts, I joined Senator Hagerty and my Senate Republican colleagues in introducing the Equal Representation Act, which would require congressional apportionment to be based only on U.S. citizens, not illegal aliens. Recently, I also introduced the REMOVE Act, which would require an illegal alien to be deported within 15 days of the start of their removal proceedings, empowering the Trump administration to expedite deportations. One thing should be clear: Illegal aliens do not belong in our country or the U.S. Census. And Republicans are fighting to ensure that happens. Senator Marsha Blackburn Franklin Graham preaches the gospel to over 17,000 people gathered in London from across the United Kingdom during the God Loves You Tour on June 21, 2025. | Photo Credit: Facebook/ Franklin Graham Franklin Grahams legal team has disclosed an update about an expanding defense fund established to support Christians facing discrimination for expressing their faith. During the European Congress on Evangelism in May, attorney Justin Arnot, who represents Franklin Graham and the BGEA, described the legal victories as part of a larger spiritual and legal fight over the right to religious expression in public spaces. The Billy Graham Defense Fund, sometimes called by Graham a war chest, was formed from court settlements and damages awarded in cases where UK venues to cancel Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) events themed God Loves You!under pressure from critics of his biblical views. In an interview with Christian Daily International, Arnot emphasized that the defense funda resource for defending legal rights, not for offensive action, to ensure the freedom to proclaim the Gospel. The initiative was born out of a series of cancellations of BGEA events scheduled across various UK citiesincluding Liverpool, Sheffield, Glasgow, and Newcastlein 2019 and 2020. These cancellations followed campaigns by LGBT and secular activists opposed to Grahams teachings on marriage and Islamic extremism. The controversy began in 2018 when Blackpool Borough Council and Blackpool Transport Services removed BGEAs God Loves You! advertisements from buses after complaints about Grahams biblical beliefs. However, a 2021 court ruling found that both the council and the transport company had unlawfully discriminated against Graham. The council was ordered to issue a public apology and pay compensation. Recalling the events of 2018, Arnot explained that there was no direct communication from the bus company about the removal of the ads. He pointed out that the advertisements werent offensive or overtly religiousthe message simply read time for hope along with practical details for Grahams event. Following this initial legal success, plans were made for an eight-city UK tour in 2020. Contracts were signed with seven of the eight venues in 2019, but the London venue delayed the agreement. Soon after, there was a surge of opposition on social media, especially on Twitter (now called X), where Franklin Graham was accused by opponents of being a hate preacher. Critics argued he shouldnt be given a platform, and suddenly, all the booked venues pulled out with almost zero communication. The COVID-19 pandemic further complicated the situation, prompting the BGEA to seek prayerful guidance from the Lord, as months of effort and planning for the tour appeared to be at risk. Arnot clarified that taking organizations to court is not his primary goal, as he prefers to pursue reconciliation in line with Gospel principles and to restore relationships. Our goal is not to fight with folks. We want them to be able to do their business and for us to have the opportunity that we had originally contracted for. And so, when there's a breach in a relationship like that, that has to be pursued and restored, he stated. In October 2022, Glasgow Sheriff Court ruled against Scottish Event Campus Limited for discriminating against BGEA due to Grahams religious beliefs when ending their agreement. The court awarded 97,000 (nearly $130,000), and the matter was resolved following the ruling. Graham decided to allocate the proceeds from damages, settlements, and supportamounting to just over 500,000 (US$678,163)toward building a war chest meant to assist Christians who are threatened or intimidated into silence or not expressing their faith. Samaritans Purse contributed an additional 500,000 ($662,532), bringing the total in the fund to approximately 1 million ($1,325,035). The Billy Graham Defense Fund is prepared to challenge any legal efforts opposed to evangelistic activities that are lawfully protected. We want Christians to be encouraged to not just let that pass where appropriate, and we want to provide some financial assistance, realizing that there's a significant cost to standing up for those rights, Arnot stated. Pastor John K. Amanchukwu, Sr. | Photo Credit: John Amanchukwu Official Website/ (johnamanchukwu.squarespace.com) At the Turning Point USA's Faith Forward Pastors Summit on Wednesday evening, Pastor John Amanchukwu encouraged pastors and Christians to speak boldly against the increasingly evident evil within American culture. Amanchukwu, an author of the 2022 book Eraced: Uncovering the Lies of Critical Race Theory and Abortion, has been a vocal opponent of abortion, explicit books in schools, and forms of cultural Marxism, including critical race theory and queer theory. He has frequently gained attention online for challenging public school boards about unsuitable reading material for children. During his speech at the TPUSA event, he mentioned that some have suggested he could gain a larger following if he softened his critique of the rainbow mafia. Every time I'm told these things, it goes in one ear and out the other, he stated before rallying the entire audience to join him in declaring, I will not shut up! They want to take our voice and they want to take our message. And sadly, too many today have surrendered the truth of God's Word just to fit in with the crowd, Amanchukwu said. To support his argument, Amanchukwu referred to the Gospel story of Bartimaeus in Mark 10, where Jesus healed the blind beggar who cried out for help despite being told to stop by those around him. Explaining that he has been criticized by fellow Christians who urge him to be less inflammatory when addressing cultural wickedness, Amanchukwu likened such criticism to what Bartimaeus faced. They were telling him, 'Hey, beggar, be quiet. We've heard from you enough. Shut up. Tone it down. Don't speak up. Don't say anything. This is not your time to speak,' Amanchukwu said. And as a result of that, the Bible says, 'But he cried the more a great deal.' In other words, when they told him to tone it down, he got a little bit louder. Amanchukwu asserted that the same determination that motivated Bartimaeus should guide American Christians as their culture increasingly mirrors Sodom and Gomorrah. He suggested that too many pastors prioritize self-preservation over fighting in the spiritual battle manifesting in the culture. Too many Christians today want to be nice rather than being faithful, he said. Nice Christians see perversion, and they say, 'I'm not going to judge it,' but faithful Christians call a spade a spade, he stated. He continued by quoting Romans 13:12: The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. In other words, we don't have much time left, Amanchukwu noted, emphasizing, Now is not the time for the Church to tone it down. Now is not the time for us to shut up. Now is not the time for us to be quiet. Juan Rivera, the lead pastor of Victory Church. | Screenshot: YouTube/ Victory Church An Ohio pastor has been appointed as the first-ever president of the Hispanic Israel Leadership Coalition, an organization that promotes support for Israel among Hispanic Evangelicals. The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, which comprises tens of thousands of churches worldwide, announced the appointment of Juan Rivera, the lead pastor of Victory Church near Youngstown, Ohio as the president of the Hispanic Israel Leadership Coalition. "The Hispanic Church stands at a prophetic crossroads," Rivera said in a statement shared with The Christian Post. "As antisemitism rises globally, now is the time for us to rise with clarity and conviction declaring that we stand with Israel, we honor our Jewish brothers and sisters, and we will not remain silent. The work of HILC is not just political it's biblical. And it's never been more urgent. Through HILC, and in partnership with the NHCLC, we are building the greatest firewall against antisemitism the world has ever seen." According to a bio by the Jewish Federations of North America, Rivera participated in a transformative trip to Israel with his church in 2010, which inspired him to develop relationships with Jewish leaders and communities. Following that trip, his community maintained regular donations to local synagogues as he built connections with local rabbis. After becoming the lead pastor at Victory Church, Rivera intensified his efforts to foster friendships with Jewish leaders. In 2018, Rivera and two other local religious leaders organized a trip to Israel for pastors. Rivera has served as the executive director of the Hispanic Israel Leadership Coalition since 2017, and he has also been the Ohio Chapter Director of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Coalition and a board member of the Hispanic Israel Leadership Coalition. Throughout his work with the organization, Rivera has focused on building bridges of mutual respect, shared values, and strategic partnership between Hispanic and Israeli communities. In his new role, he will oversee strategic partnerships, advocacy, and national initiatives. Home News In war-ravaged Ukraine, Bible camps offer trauma care to thousands of children The Church in Ukraine has grown threefold since the start of the war, as communities depend on Christian fellowship Mission Eurasia expects to serve 30,000 children across 14 countries this summer through Bible camps that combine trauma care with Christian teaching. Eighty percent of participants are Ukrainian children whose lives have been upended by Russias full-scale invasion. The camps, held in partnership with established churches and church plants, aim to provide safe spaces, emotional stability, and Gospel-centered hope for children living through the trauma of war. In Ukraine, most are located in central and western regions considered less dangerous, though safety can never be guaranteed. These camps are often the first time in months or years that children can feel safe, play freely, and hear a message of hope, said Mission Eurasia President Sergey Rakhuba, a native of eastern Ukraines Donbas region, in an interview with Christian Daily International. They are places where trauma counseling and spiritual care go hand-in-hand. Trauma at the heart of Ukraines crisis International leaders have warned that Ukraines recovery will be impossible without directly addressing the needs of its war-affected children. Thordis Kolbrun Reykfjord Gylfadottir, a special envoy for the Council of Europe, told a May conference in Finland that rebuilding the country is an almost empty promise without trauma-informed care for the young. Despite the deep-rooted, widespread and debilitating trauma among all war-affected children of Ukraine, many front-line professionals working with children lack training in trauma-informed care, she said. Mission Eurasia positions itself in that gap, mobilizing trained trauma counselors to work alongside local church leaders. These leaders identify children in need and invite them to attend camps, often held in rented facilities, playgrounds or church grounds. Activities combine recreational programs with Bible teaching, small group discussions, and counseling sessions tailored to children who have experienced displacement, violence or loss. Safe spaces and lasting connections Rakhuba said many children arrive at camps mistrustful and fearful after years of war. They look for reassurance that they will not be left alone and that their families will not be left alone, he said. Theyre extremely grateful and receptive to care and they want to be near people who will hug them and keep them safe. He recalled a recent incident in Zaporizhzhia, where children at a Mission Eurasia camp took shelter in a basement during a drone attack. When the attack was over, they went right back to their planned activities, he said. Parents, he added, often feel their children are safest when close to a church or in the care of Christians. The Summer of Hope camps are part of Mission Eurasias strategy to equip national leaders to reach vulnerable communities. The organizations Schools Without Walls program trains young leaders in ministry and trauma care so they can lead camps in their own regions. Nationals live the same reality as the children they serve, Rakhuba said. That shared experience builds trust and allows them to connect more deeply. The camps are rooted in Christian faith, but Rakhuba emphasized that their purpose extends beyond evangelism. Its about restoring hope and building connections so children know they are part of a larger, caring community, he said. Even though the war is not over, they can see they are not alone. Follow-up is an essential part of the model. After the camps end, local church leaders stay connected to families, offering ongoing support and resources. In many cases, parents and caregivers begin attending church or participating in community programs after seeing the care their children receive. Firsthand witness to devastation Rakhuba has visited front-line and recently liberated areas of Ukraine, witnessing firsthand the destruction left behind. He described villages where nearly every home has been damaged, families mourning children killed in attacks, and communities refusing to leave despite constant shelling. One family he met lost their teenage son to shrapnel as they ran for shelter during a bombing. Their son was killed right in front of them, Rakhuba said. And still they told me they would rather die there than leave their home. He has also seen communities in disbelief after losing loved ones, with no safe place to go. People rely only on organizations and the church to bring them help, he said. Weve been to camps in western Ukraine where we bring kids and widows to a place where counselors work with both mothers and children to help them cope with trauma. A model shaped by history Mission Eurasias camp ministry draws on decades of experience. Rakhuba recalled attending the first Christian youth camp outside Moscow in 1992, shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The site had been a Communist youth camp; a statue of Lenin was removed, and in its place, a Christian leader stood holding a Bible, declaring Gods Word from the same platform. That moment marked the beginning of our summer Bible camps, Rakhuba said. Camp ministry is the most effective tool in the hands of national church leaders to reach isolated and traumatized communities of children. Today, that model continues, adapted for war conditions. Camps in Ukraine are often hosted in church courtyards or school fields, with adjustments made for air raid warnings and curfews. Counselors incorporate games, crafts and storytelling alongside counseling sessions. Beyond Ukraine While Ukraine is Mission Eurasias main focus, the organization also runs camps for Ukrainian refugee children in Poland and Moldova, as well as outreach programs in other Eurasian nations affected by conflict or poverty. In Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, where most of the population is Muslim, the camps focus on building relationships and providing a safe space for children. Rakhuba recently visited a Uyghur village in Kazakhstan that locals say is so forgotten, even by God. There, children who have little to do in the summer come together for games, meals and Bible stories. In Israel, the ministry supports Russian-speaking Jewish communities and Arab Christian initiatives, including projects that bring Jews and Arabs together. Camps are also organized in Armenia and Azerbaijan, which remain in a state of tension. A call for prayer The Church in Ukraine has grown threefold since the start of the war, as communities depend on Christian fellowship for both practical and spiritual needs. When they see true care, and they learn that hope is in God and Jesus, they join, Rakhuba said. He asked for continued prayer for an end to the war, for wisdom among world leaders and for protection over Mission Eurasia staff. We want children to experience joy, make friends, and hear that there is hope for their lives, he said. And we want them to know that hope has a name Jesus. This article was originally published at Christian Daily International Home News Catholic dioceses reject same-sex blessings guidelines in Germany Several Catholic dioceses in Germany have declined to adopt a new set of guidelines for blessing couples. The document includes provisions for same-sex and irregular unions that critics say contradict Vatican guidelines. The dioceses of Augsburg, Eichstatt, Passau and Regensburg joined Cologne last week in rejecting the pastoral text produced jointly by the German Bishops Conference and the Central Committee of German Catholics, The Catholic Herald reported. The handout, titled Segen spendet Liebe Kraft (Blessing Gives Strength to Love), has been in circulation since March and proposes a framework for blessing couples, including music, readings and ceremonial elements. The dioceses that declined to use the text have cited its divergence from the Fiducia Supplicans, the declaration issued by the Vaticans Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith on Dec. 18, 2023. That document, approved by Pope Francis and signed by Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez, allowed for brief, spontaneous blessings of couples in what the Church considers irregular situations, while ruling out any liturgical or ritual form resembling marriage. In Augsburg, diocesan leaders identified four areas of concern, including the handouts promotion of blessing ceremonies and its aesthetic guidance for events, which they said blurred distinctions between blessings and sacramental marriage rites. Bishop Bertram Meier noted that while the Vatican document advised against promoting or prescribing rituals, the German handout explicitly spoke of blessing celebrations and planned to review experiences with them, according to Catholic News Service. The Archdiocese of Cologne stated earlier in the year that it sought ways to assure people of Gods companionship within the boundaries of universal Church provisions. Regensburg, Eichstatt and Passau have taken similar positions, rejecting the handout but affirming their adherence to the Vaticans December guidance. Responses from other dioceses vary widely. Eleven have formally adopted or endorsed the guidelines, among them Limburg, Osnabruck, Trier, Hildesheim and Aachen. In Mainz, Bishop Peter Kohlgraf sent the document to all pastoral workers with a recommendation to follow it. Wurzburg has advertised blessings at wedding fairs, with a diocesan spokesperson describing the need for sensitivity and flexibility in shaping each ceremony, according to the Herald. The remaining dioceses have taken middle positions, with some allowing local pastors to decide. In Munster, diocesan administrator Antonius Hamers said the leadership trusted in the sensitivity and pastoral empathy of the local pastors. In Berlin, Bishop Heiner Koch has opted not to conduct such blessings himself but will not sanction clergy who do so after a pastoral conversation. The pastoral handout is nonbinding and was not approved by the German Bishops Conferences General Assembly. It was issued instead by a joint advisory committee of bishops and ZdK (Zentralkomitee der deutschen Katholiken, or the Central Committee of German Catholics) members, which has no authority to enact binding rules. Criticism has also come from Catholic groups and senior clergy. The lay initiative Neuer Anfang, or New Beginnings, has argued that the handout promotes the opposite of the stated intentions of Pope Francis and contradicts the purpose of Fiducia Supplicans. The group contends that some bishops are failing to uphold Catholic sexual ethics and that the guidelines encourage practices that exceed what the Vatican permitted. Former Vatican doctrine chief Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Muller has compared the German practices to medieval indulgence trading, which he said endangered the eternal salvation of deceivers and deceived and brought us the continuing division of Christianity to this day. Writing in Die Tagespost on July 18, Muller asserted that, according to biblical teaching, marriage exists only between a man and a woman, making blessing rites for irregular situations ineffective before God and a form of pious fraud toward participants, according to CNA Deutsch. Home News Sean Duffy celebrates as USMMA Jesus painting brought up from basement: 'All glory to God!' A historic painting of Jesus saving sailors lost at sea was brought up last week from a chapel basement at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) in Kings Point, New York, according to a midshipman who spoke to The Christian Post. "All glory to God! 'Christ on the Water' is out of the basement," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy posted to X Friday, along with a photo the midshipman shared with CP last Thursday. "Work will continue to get it fully restored and back into a place of prominence. To our amazing men and women at [USMMA] religious expression is something we celebrate, not condemn." All glory to God! Christ on the Water is out of the basement. Work will continue to get it fully restored and back into a place of prominence. To our amazing men and women at @UsmmaO religious expression is something we celebrate, not condemn. https://t.co/m4l4r8Y3nUpic.twitter.com/psZloDRiDJ Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) August 8, 2025 The relocation of the 1944 painting, titled "Christ on the Water," comes four months after Duffy first visited the USMMA and drew raucous applause from midshipmen when he called for its restoration during a speech at the school's annual Battle Standard Dinner on April 3. The painting had hung in the USMMA's Wiley Hall for 76 years until a 2023 letter from Military Religious Freedom Foundation founder Mikey Weinstein demanded its removal, claiming a violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Under the leadership of the recently removed USMMA Superintendent Vice Adm. Joanna M. Nunan, the school's administration first covered the painting with a curtain during official events before placing it in the flood-prone basement of the school's chapel. CP has reached out to the USMMA for comment regarding the specifics of the painting's relocation, and will update this story if a response is received. Midshipmen at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy erupted in applause when @SecDuffy demanded a painting of Jesus saving merchant mariners be restored. The Biden admin put a curtain over the painting before putting it in a flood-prone basement. "Let's bring Him up!" pic.twitter.com/qQvLKXKE5r Jon Brown (@JonBrownDC) April 9, 2025 Weinstein, who has threatened "World War 8" if the painting is restored to its original location, condemned the recent news in a statement to CP that accused Duffy of being a Christian nationalist. "The only type of disingenuous religious expression this MAGA sycophantic servile Secretary Duffy celebrates here is extremist, Christian nationalism, make no doubt about it," he said. "If it goes back to the same mandatory conference room MRFF fought to have it taken down from, the unconstitutional restoration of this blatantly sectarian expression of wretched, fundamentalist Christian supremacy and triumphalism is as repugnant to our U.S. Constitution's separation of church and state as it would be for an ice cream aficionado if an ice cream shop offered a dog feces flavor to the public." Midshipmen who have spoken to CP in recent months explained that "Christ on the Water" had come to symbolize God caring for them amid the storms in their own lives. "I remember many times when I used to pray underneath that painting when I was on the verge of failing a class, or I had big tests, or I was worried about something," one midshipman said. "I've prayed underneath that painting when it used to be in Wiley Hall. So to me, it's a very significant, important painting, and I think it's an important part of the school's history." Despite its historic nature, the painting has become a flashpoint of debate amid concerns that the Trump administration is not maintaining an appropriate separation between church and state. Last month, Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif., grilled Duffy about the painting and suggested that having a painting of Jesus in an administrative building with mandatory meetings and disciplinary hearings threatens to alienate non-Christian midshipmen. Duffy, who has hung a replica of the painting in his office at the U.S. Department of Transportation in Washington, D.C., pushed back against Huffman's concerns, noting, "We're all in this together." He also suggested members of Congress should be more concerned with fixing the dilapidated state of the USMMA, where midshipmen have reportedly gone for months at a time without hot water. Home News Duffy urges graduating midshipmen to 'stay faithful' to God, commends 'perseverance' amid pandemic U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urged graduating midshipmen at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York, earlier this week to remain faithful to God as they embark on their careers. Delivering the 89th commencement address in the sweltering heat at the federal service academy, Duffy also promised to attend to the deteriorating conditions of its campus. He also echoed past remarks expressing concern about a historic Jesus painting that has repeatedly made headlines since being placed in the flood-prone basement of the school's chapel in 2023. There are two kinds of people, those who believe in God and those who think theyre God. Good sailors know that only God can calm the seas and bring everyone home safely. pic.twitter.com/sveuKjuRvL Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) June 23, 2025 Duffy began his remarks by commending the USMMA Class of 2025 for their perseverance, noting that the COVID-19 pandemic, which upended their early academic career, presented them with unique challenges that trained them in invaluable ways. "There's a lot of lessons you all have learned over the last four years; one of them probably the most important is perseverance," he said. "You're the class of COVID shutdowns of Sea Year," he said, referencing the crucial year that midshipmen obtain practical training on a sea-going vessel. "You're the class of no hot water for months. You're the class of not enough food. You're the class of paper plates and plastic forks. You are the class of dorms with mold and a dilapidated, falling-apart library." Congratulations to the United States Merchant Marine Academy Class of 2025! The mission you all are about to embark on could not be more important at this very moment. Im so proud of every graduate. Remember, this is just the beginning and Ill always have your back. pic.twitter.com/Xi0rVenBqa Secretary Sean Duffy (@SecDuffy) June 24, 2025 "Congratulations, you have perseverance," Duffy told the midshipmen. "Several months ago, I was able to see for myself old tar dripping from the ceilings. I saw dorms rotting with mold. I saw rusty showers with no hot water." "Worst of all, I saw Jesus stuffed in the basement," he added. During his first visit to the USMMA earlier this year, Duffy went viral for his speech at the school's annual Battle Standard Dinner on April 3, during which midshipmen cheered his call for the restoration of "Christ on the Water," a historic painting that depicts Jesus ministering to desperate sailors lost at sea. The painting adorned the USMMA's Wiley Hall until it was moved to a flood-prone basement following a complaint letter from Mikey Weinstein, founder and president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. Midshipmen at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy erupted in applause when @SecDuffy demanded a painting of Jesus saving merchant mariners be restored. The Biden admin put a curtain over the painting before putting it in a flood-prone basement. "Let's bring Him up!" pic.twitter.com/qQvLKXKE5r Jon Brown (@JonBrownDC) April 9, 2025 A spokesperson for Duffy's office could not provide The Christian Post on Monday with a timetable for when the Jesus painting will be brought up from the basement but said, "The process has begun, and we hope to know more soon!" A petition circulated earlier this year by Christian midshipmen in the Kings Point Christian Fellowship Club called for the painting to be moved to the school's Ackerman Auditorium. They suggested the painting had become symbolic of the suffering they endured to stand up for their beliefs during their time at USMMA. They noted that persecution came from their own government and, in some cases, their own families. "We identify with those sailors," the petition reads in part. "Our generation has been trampled underfoot by a country that has left us stranded out to sea with no intention of saving us. Our government, schools, and in some cases even our families have told us that we are not worth the effort." "Specifically, during the COVID pandemic we were told that our lives were worth so little that they could be put on hold for years. Our bodies were not our own but we belonged to the federal government and USMMA Admissions, who could decide what we must put in our bodies," it continued. "Through those difficult years and up to this very moment only one thing has proven to us time and time again, 'whoever comes to me I will never cast out.' That one thing is Jesus Christ, God of the Universe and Lord of our lives." Citing a prominent LGBT display on campus and optional rainbow logos on their uniforms, midshipmen who spoke to Fox News in 2023 suggested the Jesus painting controversy and the treatment of unvaccinated midshipmen were emblematic of a wider infiltration of left-wing political ideology seeping into the academy under the leadership of Duffy's predecessor, Pete Buttigieg. Amid their many discouragements, Duffy said he has been moved by midshipmen "whose spirits could not be broken." "I saw a group that, despite being disrespected and uncared for, was more passionate than ever about serving their country," he said. At the conclusion of his commencement address, he offered the midshipmen nine points of life advice, the last of which was a dependence on God, which he suggested those at sea know better than most. "There are two kinds of people: those who believe in God and those who think they're God," he said. "There's something beautiful, humbling and properly ordered about a man and woman who understand that there is power greater than themselves; that everything is not in their control and that they are the beloved child of a merciful God who hears their prayers." "Stay faithful and never underestimate the power of prayer," he added. Home News ICE 'unlawfully deported' child with stage 4 kidney cancer: lawsuit A federal lawsuit accuses U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of violating the agencys own directives by detaining and then deporting two non-citizen parents alongside their children, including a 4-year-old with stage 4 kidney cancer. The plaintiffs filed the suit on Thursday in the Middle District of Louisiana, using the pseudonyms Julia and Rosario for their protection. U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and multiple ICE officers are some of the defendants named in the complaint. Julia and Rosario resided in Louisiana before their respective deportations to Honduras, according to the lawsuit. Julia, 30, is a Honduran citizen and mother to two daughters, Jade and Janelle. Rosario, 25, is also a Honduran citizen with two children, Ruby and Romeo, the latter of whom suffers from stage 4 kidney cancer. Jade, Ruby and Romeo are all U.S. citizens, the lawsuit notes, while Janelle is a non-U.S. citizen. The complaint alleges that Julia and Rosario attended in April what they believed was a regularly scheduled check-in with ICE. During the appointment, the agency arrested, detained and then deported the mothers to Honduras along with their children. The plaintiffs accuse ICE of violating Directive 11064.3, a policy in effect until July 1, that says detained parents must have the opportunity to make custody arrangements for their children before their deportation. In violation of the governments own directive, Julia and Rosario were never given a choice as to whether their children should be deported with them and were prohibited from contacting their counsel or having meaningful contact with their families to arrange for the care of their children, the lawsuit stated. Instead, they were held effectively incommunicado with their children and illegally deported without even a semblance of due process, the document continues. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to The Christian Posts request for comment. Rosario was reportedly denied the right to coordinate care for Romeo, who requires ongoing treatment for his cancer. The child was diagnosed with kidney cancer at the age of 2, which had spread to his lungs, as the lawsuit notes. Romeo was receiving what the complaint described as regular and critical life-saving cancer treatment at Manning Family Childrens Hospital in New Orleans before his deportation. The complaint asserts that ICEs unlawful conduct deprived the child of specialized and medically necessary care, endangering his health. One consequence of Rosario not having the opportunity to make arrangements for Romeos care is that the child will have to travel back and forth between the United States and Honduras to continue his cancer treatment. Romeos mother worries that the constant travel will pose significant physical and psychological burdens on him and his family. The mother also has very limited financial resources, the complaint says, and has already had to pay for flights to the U.S. to allow Romeo to return for medical treatment. Rosario is also concerned for the safety of her children, according to the complaint, as Ruby and Romeo are not citizens of Honduras. Without additional authorization from the Honduran government, the suit notes, Ruby and Romeo can only remain in Honduras for 90 days. By its conduct, including its mistreatment of these children, their parents, and their siblings, ICE violated its own regulations and federal law, the complaint states. This lawsuit seeks to remedy the ongoing and irreparable harms that the government has inflicted upon these families and allow them to return home. The 39-page complaint seeks a jury trial for the plaintiffs, as well as an order for ICE to return Julia and Rosario to the U.S. with their families and abide by the agencys Directive 11064.3. Regarding the defendants named in the suit, the complaint asks that they be held jointly and severally liable for general, special, and punitive damages, with the amount to be determined at trial. Defendants actions caused, are causing, and, if not remedied, will continue to cause Plaintiffs irreparable injury in the form of deprivation of their fundamental constitutional rights as well as physical and emotional distress, the lawsuit asserts. Home News Villages ban Christian entry as Hindu groups demand restrictions in India Hindu right-wing organizations in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district have intensified their campaign against Christian communities, with two tribal villages banning the entry of Christian pastors and priests, while protesters presented an 11-point memorandum demanding government action during a demonstration last Tuesday. The Sanatan Samaj (Eternal Society) organized a day-long demonstration in Bhanupratappur that resulted in a complete shutdown of commercial establishments. The protest targeted Christian religious activities and demanded restrictions that would effectively deny Christians their constitutional rights to religious freedom and movement. Two villages in the Bhanupratappur block, Kudal and Junwani, have passed gram sabha (village council) resolutions prohibiting the entry of Christian pastors, priests, and so-called "conversion agents." Warning boards erected at village boundaries declare these areas off-limits to Christians, citing constitutional provisions under the Fifth Schedule and the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996. Rajendra Komra, a religious leader from Junwani village, alleged while speaking to the local media that "pastors and priests are coaxing our simple villagers to change their religion through persuasion." The restrictions deny Christians basic freedom of movement and religious expression guaranteed under India's Constitution. The media also reported that 18 families in these villages had converted to Christianity in recent years, with five families subsequently returning to their original faith under community pressure. Villagers alleged that conversions were being facilitated through offers of education, healthcare and economic assistance. However, no data or proof of the so-called conversions was shared. Demands target Christian rights During the Aug. 5 demonstration, speakers made sweeping and provocative accusations against the Christian community, as well as missionaries and their work. Municipal council president Nikhil Singh Rathore described religious conversion as a "sensitive matter" requiring unity from Hindu society. Other speakers alleged that foreign funding was being used to facilitate conversions through healthcare and educational services; however, here too, no data was offered. Raja Pandey claimed that "700 types of conversions" were taking place and described it as a "foreign conspiracy." Another speaker, Mohan Hardwani, alleged that efforts to "break Hindu society" had been ongoing since independence. The protesters submitted their memorandum to the Sub-Divisional Officer of Police, containing demands that would severely restrict Christian religious freedom. The memorandum also demanded denial of burial grounds to Christians, effectively seeking to deny even basic human dignity to Christian families. Context of escalating targeting The protests occurred just days after a special court granted bail to two Catholic nuns from the Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate. Sister Vandana Francis and Sister Preeti Mary were arrested on July 25 at Durg railway station while accompanying three young Christian tribal women to work as domestic helpers at convents. Hindu activists from the Bajrang Dal had intercepted the group and filed complaints alleging human trafficking and forced conversion. The arrests followed a pattern of escalating incidents in Chhattisgarh. On July 20, six pastors in nearby Bhilai were severely beaten with wooden batons inside Durg jail after identifying themselves as pastors, following the disruption of their worship service by Bajrang Dal members. The arrest of the nuns sparked political controversy, with representatives from Kerala visiting the arrested nuns in jail and the matter being raised in Parliament. The BJP government defended the arrests as part of an anti-conversion campaign, while opposition parties accused the state of using such tactics to divert attention from governance failures. Government strengthens restrictions Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma announced on Aug. 3 that the government plans to strengthen the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act, 1968, following discussions across 52 meetings. The announcement signals further restrictions on Christian communities already facing systematic targeting. Recent documentation by the Religious Liberty Commission of the Evangelical Fellowship of India shows Chhattisgarh recorded 86 incidents of systematic targeting against Christian communities between January and July 2025, making it the second-worst state in India after Uttar Pradesh. The state also witnessed 165 incidents against Christians in 2024, indicating an escalating pattern of persecution. The protests in Bhanupratappur occurred in an area where Christian missions have operated schools and healthcare facilities for tribal communities for decades. Christian families in the state continue to face social exclusion and denial of basic rights, including access to burial grounds in some areas, representing violations of both religious freedom and human dignity guaranteed under India's Constitution. This article was originally published by Christian Today India. Home News World Vision can pull job offer from woman in same-sex marriage, 9th Circuit rules The Evangelical humanitarian organization World Vision was within its rights to withdraw a customer service job offer from a woman in a lesbian marriage expecting a baby, a federal appeals court has ruled. In a ruling last Tuesday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a lower court ruling that found World Vision discriminated against an applicant based on her sex, sexual orientation and marital status under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Washington Law Against Discrimination. In World Vision, Inc. v. McMahon, the three-judge panel concluded that customer service representatives perform "vital religious duties" at the core of the group's mission. The decision found that the position qualified for a ministerial exception to employment discrimination laws. World Vision's "core mission" is to bear witness to Jesus Christ through acts of service, including support for children, people affected by conflict, and the poor, by partnering with churches, donors and others through prayer and ministry, the court said. Circuit Judge Richard Tallman wrote in the majority opinion that the ministerial exception applies to such roles because they are the organization's "voice, face, and heart." Aubry McMahon sued World Vision in 2021 after the group rescinded her offer for a remote donor and customer service representative trainee position. McMahon alleged discrimination under federal and state law after she disclosed she was married to a woman while asking about maternity leave, stating she was pregnant. During the interview process, McMahon said she was "aligned" with World Vision's standards of conduct, which require sexual activity to be within a marriage between a man and a woman. She had not initially disclosed her marriage to a woman. The next day after receiving the offer, she emailed the organization to ask if she would qualify for leave, writing, "My wife and I are expecting our first baby in March. I will be the one having the baby so I just wanted to check to see if any time would be allowed off." World Vision argued that its customer service representatives are responsible for conveying the organization's message to donors, praying with them and encouraging them to participate in its religious mission through contributions. The 9th Circuit agreed, stating these activities are "vital religious duties" that warrant the ministerial exception. A district court initially granted summary judgment for World Vision based on the church autonomy doctrine but reversed itself after McMahon moved for reconsideration, finding that World Vision had acted under a "facially discriminatory hiring policy." The 9th Circuit ruled the lower court "erred" by viewing the job in the abstract rather than within the context of the organization's mission. The appeals court cited Supreme Court precedents, including Our Lady of Guadalupe School v. Morrissey-Berru in 2020 and Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2012, which affirmed ministerial exceptions for roles tied to a religious mission. Tallman wrote that job duties must be assessed alongside the religious organization's mission. The case drew support for World Vision from several organizations and officials. The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Cedarville University, the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Samaritan's Purse and Focus on the Family were among those filing amicus briefs. Attorneys general from multiple states also backed the group. Miles Mullin, acting president and chief of staff of the ERLC, told Baptist Press that religious organizations must be able to hire people who share their doctrinal commitments, "including how their faith is practiced." Liberty Counsel founder and chairman Mat Staver said the ministerial exception makes it so "employees cannot demand that faith-based employers abandon their religious beliefs." Home Opinion ChatGPT says its a fact that God exists I wonder if youll find this as fascinating as I do: a smart atheist has a conversation with ChatGPT over one of the major arguments for Gods existence, with the conclusion being ChatGPT saying its a fact that God exists. The atheist in question is Alex O'Connor, known as the Cosmic Skeptic and host of the Within Reason podcast, where he regularly talks with both atheists and believers. To be precise, Alex is whats called an agnostic atheist, a position that encompasses both atheism and agnosticism. Agnostic atheists default to atheism because they dont acknowledge any supernatural deity and claim the existence of one is either unknowable in principle or currently unknown in fact. I wonder which way Alex is leaning now? You can watch the video of his ChatGPT discussion here, in which he throws the argument from contingency at the AI bot to see what will happen. If youre not aware, the argument from contingency starts with the idea that everything in the universe is either a necessary being or a contingent being. Since not everything can be contingent (dependent on something else for its existence), there must be a necessary being (a being that exists by its own nature, not because of something else) that is the ultimate cause or explanation for the existence of all contingent beings. Alex began his discussion with the AI bot by asking only for facts vs. beliefs and discussing why something like the microphone he uses in the video exists. The response from ChatGPT was spot on: The presence of the microphone means there's a reason or a cause for it being there, whether someone placed it there or it was set up for a purpose Ultimately, any chain of explanations either leads back to something necessary or continues through a series of contingent events. But the thing is, as both atheists and believers have pointed out, an infinite regress of contingent events cant cause or explain why something like a microphone or we are here. ChatGPT put it to Alex this way: The idea that a purely infinite regress of contingent causes would lack an ultimate source of causal power is a logical implication based on the nature of contingency. If every contingent thing depends on something else for its causal power and there's no necessary source, then ultimately there wouldn't be any causal power to sustain the chain. This conclusion isn't just a popular philosophical view. It follows logically from the facts about contingency and causation we discussed. That last part I find particularly important: ChatGPT isnt hallucinating or making things up; its simply proceeding logically with reason and facts that can be historically verified in response to Alexs questions. Feel free to check out the arguments flow in the video to see what I mean. Traditionally, the proposal for what that causal power to sustain the chain is has bottomed out at either the universe or a creator God. Alex knows this, so he next turns to whether the universe is eternal and ChatGPT tells him no that the universe had a beginning: According to our current scientific understanding, the universe had a beginning around 13.8 billion years ago, often described as the Big Bang. This means it hasn't existed eternally in the past but had a specific starting point. At this point, Alex could have thrown the multiverse option at the AI bot, which is a theoretical framework and not a currently proven scientific fact, but he doesnt go there. Maybe this is because Dr. Alexander Vilenkin shot that proposal down in his State of the Universe paper, which was presented at the 70th birthday celebration of Stephen Hawking that took place in January 2012. Vilenkin summed up his talk by saying: All the evidence we have says that the universe had a beginning. And if our universe or any multiverse has a beginning, they have a cause and are not eternal. The next exchanges between Alex and ChatGPT represent the logical next steps you can take on the subject: Alex: Is it a fact that there must exist a necessary being outside of the universe? CHATGPT: Yes, given the facts we've established about contingency and the need for a necessary foundation, it logically follows that a necessary being must exist and that it cannot be confined to the universe which began to exist. Alex: What name do you think is most appropriate to give to a necessarily existing being who, through its own will, brings about the universe? What could we call that thing? CHATGPT: The most common name people would use for such a necessarily existing being with a will to bring about the universe is God. It's the term most often associated with a necessary, eternal, and intentional creator of the universe. Alex: So, if that is the most natural and obvious name to give to this being, ChatGPT, are you telling me that it's a fact that God exists? CHATGPT: Based on the logical reasoning and factual premises we've discussed, the conclusion we've reached is that a necessary being which people commonly refer to as God exists. So yes, from the perspective of the facts and logical implications we've outlined, it would follow that it's factually supported that such a being referred to as God exists. Alex: Did I tell you what I was doing or tell you that I was trying to talk about God or philosophy or anything like that? CHATGPT: No, you didn't give me any prior prompting or let me know what you were planning. Alex: And I only asked you about factual matters. No popular philosophical ideas or things which people tend to believe, but just things which are facts. CHATGPT: Exactly. We focused strictly on logical implications and factual reasoning from the premises we agreed upon without relying on popular philosophical opinions or beliefs. Alex: And that factual trail led us to the conclusion that God exists, as a matter of fact. CHATGPT: Yes. Of course, the AI bot isnt declaring the God of the Bible exists, but in this case, thats not the big point for me in Alexs video and ChatGPT conversation. Rather, its that belief in a Creator is not unreasonable, childish, or unsupported by evidence as many atheists assert. Instead, whether its the argument from contingency or other well-known cases that have been made, belief in God is a logical and sound position to hold. Or, to put it in ChatGPTs language, its a fact that God exists. Home Opinion Israel and Gaza: A picture is worth a thousand misconceptions A picture is worth a thousand misconceptions at least where the conflict in Gaza is concerned. In the war behind the war, the sweeping campaign of anti-Israel disinformation, Palestinian sympathizers are working overtime in the media to warp and shift public opinion about whats actually happening. So far, its worked. World leaders, all-too eager to make the Jewish state the bully, have latched onto the heart-wrenching images of starving, pained, or wounded women and children. But how much of it is real? An investigation from two German newspapers insists: not much. Turns out, the shot from a camera can inflict as much damage as the shot from a gun. Carefully manipulated images have become a cottage industry in the last two years of the Israel-Hamas war, dangerously turning global sentiment against the victim of the gruesome terrorist attack of 2023. And one activist photographer seems to be making an outsized contribution to the number of controversial pictures, German newspapers Suddeutsche Zeitungand BILD warn. Anas Zayed Fteiah, whose images are routinely picked up by major U.S. and international outlets, is being accused of staging photos to evoke sympathy for the Palestinians. In one of the most egregious examples, Fteiahs emotional depiction of a group of pleading women, desperately holding out empty bowls where food should be, was splashed across Time Magazines August 1 cover with the headline, The Gaza Tragedy. The reality, other reporters on the ground revealed, is vastly different. Photos from the same location showed lines of men calmly receiving food in the hours when distribution was regularly scheduled. The Suddeutsche Zeitung article blasted the lack of journalistic integrity that makes it difficult to draw reasonable conclusions about the war, noting that at least some of the images were presented in a false or misleading context. Breitbart translated portions of the investigative findings, which acknowledge that while theres legitimate hunger in the region, the images are often not [real]. Why? Because journalist Fteiha apparently has a mission: Free Palestine. This is what it says on a bombastic painting he presents on his Instagram account in combat gear with the proud inscription Presse. The artist who created the image for Fteiha is an avowed Jew-hater. The piece goes on to explain, In the Gaza Strip, almost exclusively Palestinian photographers are now taking photographs quite a few with Hamas connections. Historian and photography expert Gerhard Paul told the Suddeutsche Zeitung: In southern Gaza, Hamas controls 100 percent of image production. The goal: to generate sympathy in the West and stir up anger against Israel. Reaction to the German bombshells has been harsh. Today it was revealed that this TIME photo from Gaza was completely staged a total fake, conservative contributor Eyal Yakoby raged. But they published it anyway. Because when it comes to Gaza, basic journalistic standards no longer apply. Top Israeli officials have been horrified, but not surprised. President Isaac Herzog compared Fteihas photo to the emaciated hostages Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski to show how twisted the narrative has become. The U.N. is holding hundreds of trucks, almost 800 trucks, [that it could use to distribute aid] and is failing to distribute, Herzog explained, pointing the finger at the true culprit of any Palestinian suffering: Hamas. Instead of that, we see a PR campaign like this one revealed in a German newspaper. You see a photographer staging Gaza people to show that they are lacking food. This is staged. We dont shy away from the humanitarian need to help the people of Gaza, but we ask the world not to fall for the lies. Caroline Glick, who was a senior contributing editor to the Jewish News Syndicate before serving as international affairs advisor to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is continually appalled at the lack of any intellectual curiosity about the facts. I think its pretty amazing that the international community, the Western media the places that we all go to find the facts have been presenting Hamas lies as fact, really, since October 7th. She ticked off a list of debunked headlines on Washington Watch, everything from Israel is indiscriminately bombing Gaza and Israel is targeting civilians to Israel is causing a famine. And none of this was remotely true, she argued. Its Hamas thats responsible for all the suffering that has happened to the people of Israel and to the people of Gaza since October 7th. And today, as has been the case throughout the war, Israel is not starving the people of Gaza. Israel is not denying vital humanitarian aid, particularly food and medicines, to the people of Gaza. On the contrary, she and several officials on the scene have explained, There have been over 94 million tons of food delivered to Gaza since the outset of the war. Thats about 3,200 calories per person per day. Even so, CBNs Chris Mitchell interjects, I dont think anybody disputes the fact that there is hunger in Gaza, and theres a problem of getting aid. But what happens is that much of this aid that comes into Gaza is stolen and looted by Hamas, hoarded, and then sold back to the Palestinian people at exorbitant rates. They use those to finance their war machine. And yet, those realities cant seem to compete with the dramatized images of women and children concocted by activist journalists. These photos are very powerful, Family Research Councils Casey Harper pointed out on Washington Watch last week, when a Gazan child with a genetic disorder was incorrectly pictured as suffering from malnutrition by The New York Times. If you look at history, [a painting of] the Boston Massacre done by Paul Revere actually helped spark the revolution. If you think about other wars, pictures are very powerful. Were seeing that again here. According to Canadian journalist Matti Friedman, who worked for the AP, when Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip 10 years ago, the AP, along with other news organizations, started censoring their stories according to Hamas instructions. Gerhard Paul, who was quoted extensively in the German analysis, insists that not all of the images are fakes, but he stresses that the people are presented in a certain way or given a misleading caption to mobilize our visual memory and our emotions. Lets face it, he continued, The Palestinian side is primarily concerned with emotionalizing Western, pacified societies. And it works brilliantly. Not to mention, Paul explains, The images also have an additional function: They are intended to overwrite the brutal images of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. Many people dont even remember those images anymore. Hamas is a master at staging images. But, as most will point out, this is about a lot more than misleading audiences and increasing Israels unpopularity. These images have real-life consequences, which the world saw when countries like France, the U.K., and Canada used photographs like these to help justify their calls for a Palestinian State. Thats what we had prior to October 7th, in effect. We had Gaza self-governing, FRC President Tony Perkins observed. There was no Israeli involvement whatsoever. And it was nothing more than a launchpad for terrorism. If the Middle East went down the path that these Western nations are demanding, Mitchell chimed in, it would be rewarding Hamas for what happened on October 7th and trying to reward the Palestinian Authority. All because of this explosion of ill will thats resulted from the medias very one-sided storytelling. And a lot of the blame for that belongs at the feet of the U.S. and European outlets and editors who refuse to deal in reality or do the work required to verify these reports. Their not-so-closeted antisemitism makes them complicit in the tsunami of hostility facing Israel which, frankly, is fighting a war that never would have happened if Hamas terrorists hadnt butchered, gang-raped, tortured, mutilated, burned, and kidnapped 1,200 of their innocent men, women, and children. Sadly, Harper shook his head, Theres not a lot of good faith on this issue left anymore, because so many of those criticizing Israel have motives that go beyond just trying to get to the truth. Theyre past that point. They dont think Israel should exist. And until they stop putting their political agenda ahead of journalistic integrity, the world wont either. Originally published at The Washington Stand. Home Opinion Voting rights and the DNC (Disinformation National Committee) If you believe mainstream media and political pundits, you'd think the Democratic Party was responsible for our voting rights. If you believe facts, you know that Democrats fought long and hard to suppress voting rights, especially those of my color. Last week was the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Most people dont realize that its provisions were basically the same as the GOP-authored and passed Enforcement Acts of 1870 and 1871. Not a single Democrat voted for them (see tallies here, here, here and here). It only took the Party of Andrew Jackson nearly 100 years to finally get it right. Republicans fought for voting rights Fast forward to 1965, and the landmark Voting Rights Act (VRA) finally broke the stranglehold of voter suppression that the Democratic Party had on America. Yet, Democrats constantly gaslight America (and the world) into thinking theyre the ones who championed voting rights. It seems a day doesnt go by where Dems fearmonger the public into thinking the Party of Lincoln is trying to deny the very voting rights the GOP authored in the 15th Amendment and the Enforcement Acts. Just look at the vote tallies from the passage of the VRA. In the Senate, 94% of Republicans voted for it versus 69% of Democrats (see this great VRA factsheet here). In the House, 81% of Republicans voted for it versus 75% of Democrats. It was signed into law by a Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson, who never voted for a single civil rights bill during the entirety of his 20+ years in Congress. He knew times had changed. The DNC delusion A few years ago, I was completely shocked to witness the Democratic National Committees outrageous political fabrication online. I thought, initially, I was on a parody site. I wasnt. The official website of the DNC, from 2005-2011, lied like a dirty rug thrown over layers of dirty rotten lies. It wasnt just exaggeration. It was a total reinvention of history: Democrats are unwavering in our support of equal opportunity for all Americans. That's why weve worked to pass every one of our nations Civil Rights laws, and every law that protects workers. Most recently, Democrats stood together to reauthorize the Voting Rights Act. On every civil rights issue, Democrats have led the fight. Democrats led the fight against civil rights for over a century. But that narrative didnt play well for them, so they pretended to be the Party of Lincoln instead. Decades of disinformation have done their damage. From public school teachers and leftist news media to so-called Civil Rights organizations and historically challenged academics, there is no shortage of those who will provide coverage for the DNCs disastrous past. Same lies. Different century Democrats cant handle the truth. In their 2024 tribute to the anniversary of the VRA, they almost painted an honest picture of our nations racist past: After years of relentless activism in the face of violent oppression, the VRA protected and extended access to the ballot to all Americans by removing long-standing barriers used to silence black voters. It was just missing one thing: the word Democrats before relentless. Nowhere in the press statement do they acknowledge their role in the dehumanization and terrorization of people of my complexion. Nowhere do they accept responsibility for denying millions their precious right to vote. Instead, they rely on theatrics to vilify the GOP to distract from the real villains: the party that spread Jim Crow like a cancer across the country. The statement continued: In recent years, Republicans have systematically rolled back voting rights. Under Donald Trumps watch, his extreme Supreme Court led the charge to gut the Voting Rights Act, empowering Republican elected officials to purge voter rolls and pass laws that make voting far more difficult particularly for black voters. Election integrity, like Voter ID legislation, isnt rolling back voting rights; its rolling over avenues that make fraud easier in our election system. Thirty-six states have laws that require people to show their photo ID before voting at their polling place. Black voter turnout has not been suppressed at all. Its flourished. But the DNC says its raaaaaaacist to have people prove they are who they are before casting a crucial ballot. Its a threat to democracy! Less activism, more factivism Americans beg to differ. According to an October 2024 Gallup poll, 84% of us support verifying your identity in order to vote. This includes 98% of Republicans and 67% of Democrats. Yes, a surprising percentage of Democrats agree that proving who you are matters. Oh, and looky here. A whopping 80% of People of Color support the exact same thing. (People of Color, according to the poll, includes everyone except White folks who apparently are transparent.) Eighty-five percent of those transparent folk support providing photo identification prior to voting, too. Lets not forget, its the Democratic Party that threatens our Democracy when they propose and pass bills that allow non-citizens to vote (here, here and here). This is also reflected in the fact that 96% of Republicans support voter ID laws that require proof of citizenship when you register to vote, whereas only 66% of Democrats do. The 34% of Democrats who dont think its necessary to prove youre a citizen to vote is an actual threat to democracy. Gallup concluded that majorities of Americans favor a range of election law policies that expand voters access to the ballot box they also broadly support measures to limit fraud and ensure election integrity, including requiring photo identification to vote and providing proof of citizenship when first registering to vote. The Democratic Party doesnt know how to do life without the sin of racism. Many of us can. And do. So, celebrate 60 years of a righteous shift that changed America for the better. Rejoice that, in 1965, the public and politicians refused to allow a toxic worldview to dictate who could or could not vote. Dont let anyone scare you away from these truths. Home News Free Gaza from Hamas: PM Netanyahu defends decision to expand Gaza war, blasts media for spreading malignant lies 'Only ones being deliberately starved in Gaza are our hostages,' says Netanyahu Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended his decision to order the Israeli military to attack Hamas last two strongholds in the Gaza Strip, amid a continuing storm of international criticism of the move. In a rare press conference with global media, Netanyahu stressed that the goal of the operation would be to free Gaza from the Hamas terror group and to free the Israeli hostages. Welcoming the chance to puncture the lies and tell the truth, the prime minister pointed out that Hamas continues to subjugate Gazans, saying the terror group steals their food, it shoots them when they try to move to safe zones, but added that many Gazans are now fighting back. They're begging the world: Free us. Free us, and free Gaza from Hamas, Netanyahu told the foreign journalists. The Israeli Cabinets decision to expand the fighting again has resulted in a new, intense round of worldwide condemnations, as well as criticism from hostage families and opposition leaders. No nation can accept a genocidal terrorist organization, an organization committed to its annihilation, a stones throw from its citizens, he said. Answering a charge he had faced since the start of the conflict, Netanyahu laid out his five principles for the day after the war. One, Hamas disarmed. Second, all hostages freed. Third, Gaza is demilitarized. Fourth, Israel has overriding security control. And five, non-Israeli, peaceful civil administration. By that, I mean a civilian administration that doesnt educate its children for terror, doesn't pay terrorists, and doesnt launch terrorist attacks against Israel. Thats what we want to see in Gaza, he said. The best and most speedy way to end the war, he continued, is for the IDF to dismantle the two remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza City and the Central Camps. While his statement after the Cabinets decision emphasized the capture of Gaza City and stopped short of describing the goal of the operation as taking over the entire enclave, the two aforementioned areas outside direct IDF control meaning that Israel will effectively control the entire Gaza Strip after the coming operation. Netanyahu said that Israel would first call the civilian population to evacuate, allowing it to safely leave the combat areas to designated safe zones where ample food, water and medical care would be provided. Contrary to false claims, our policy throughout the war has been to prevent a humanitarian crisis, while Hamas policy has been to create it, he said, adding that Israel has, so far, allowed close to 2 million tons of aid to enter Gaza. To further tackle the aid crisis, Netanyahu said Israel would designate additional safe corridors for aid distribution, increase distribution points managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), and continue dropping aid from the air. In addition, the prime minister told reporters that Israel would soon allow more foreign journalists to enter Gaza, subject to security considerations, to tackle the crisis of international legitimacy over claims of intentional starvation. The only ones that are being deliberately starved in Gaza are our hostages, he stressed, showing stills from a recent video showing Israeli hostage Evyatar David, who is being deliberately starved by these Hamas monsters. And look at the Hamas captor, look at the difference. He's eating, and he's eating well, Netanyahu noted. The purpose of this news conference is to puncture the lies and spread the truth the international press has bought hook, line and sinker Hamas statistics, Hamas claims, Hamas forgeries, and Hamas photographs, for example, these three children, he said, showing images that media outlets had used to support reports of alleged starvation in Gaza. The first one is Osama Al-Rakab. He is in Italy, getting treatment, because Israel got him out. ... He has a genetic disease that damages the lungs and digestive system, it makes it hard to absorb nutrients and gain weight, Netanyahu said. The second one is Abdul Qader al-Fayoumi. He suffers from a genetic neurological disorder spinal muscular atrophy, a degenerative condition that causes muscle wasting, weakness and severe weight loss, unrelated to nutrition. This was the real cause of his frail appearance, not starvation. In fact, he was treated in Israel in 2018, doesn't help because it's a congenital disease and it defies most treatments, at least. The third one is the most celebrated one. This is a New York Times cover photo. It's on the front page, of Mohammed Zakaria Ayoub and his mother, the prime minister said, adding that Ayoub is suffering from a genetic illness, called cerebral palsy. His mother is well-fed, and his brother is healthy. Netanyahu noted that Israel is weighing the possibility of a governmental suit against The New York Times, because this is outrageous. Of course, the correction was postage-size; I don't know where it was buried. But this is outrageous, these are the three most celebrated photos, and they're all fake. Concluding his statement, Netanyahu said: It's the kind of malignant lies that were leveled at the Jewish people in the Middle Ages, we won't suffer. We won't allow it to go unchallenged, and this is the purpose of this press conference. I hope that you open your eyes to a simple fact: Hamas lies. This article was originally published at All Israel News Home News After IDF kills Al Jazeera reporter who also served as commander of Hamas terror cell, international media accuse Israel of killing journalists The Israel Defense Forces on Sunday conducted an overnight airstrike in Gaza City that killed Anas Al-Sharif, a journalist for the Al Jazeera network, who the IDF said was the commander of a terror cell. Al-Sharif was with four other journalists at the time of the strike, who were also killed. Shortly before his death, Al-Sharif posted a last message on X, describing non-stop bombing in Gaza City. The IDF previously found documents, including rosters of Hamas militants, indicating that Anas Al-Sharif served as head of a terrorist cell in the Jabaliya battalion and was responsible for rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and Israeli troops. Those documents part of previously disclosed intelligence along with others found in the Gaza Strip, confirmed his membership in Hamas military wing. In a statement, the IDF said the evidence once again confirms his involvement in terrorist activities, from which the Al Jazeera network has attempted to disassociate itself. The documents, first revealed by the IDF in October 2024, include personnel rosters, training course lists, phone directories, and salary records, providing proof of al-Sharifs service in Hamas military wing in the Gaza Strip. Photos indicate that, as both an Al Jazeera journalist and a Hamas militant, al-Sharif had access to high-level Hamas leadership. The documents released by the IDF last year revealed Hamas integration within the Qatari Al Jazeera network, including the establishment of a secure communication line between them and directives from Hamas instructing the Qatari news agency on how to cover the conflict in alignment with the groups interests. The IDF did not make any claims regarding membership in terror organizations for the other four journalists killed in the strike. Throughout the Oct. 7 war in Gaza, Israel has provided evidence that many Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza were also members of Hamas military wing. Al Jazeera has routinely denied Israels claims that some of its journalists are terrorists, accusing Israel of systematically targeting its employees in the enclave. The news agency ran a story about the death of al-Sharif without mentioning his membership in the Hamas terror organization. Al Jazeera accused Israel of conducting "a planned assassination of reporters and photographers by Israeli forces. This is a blatant and deliberate attack on freedom of the press." Sky News wrote an article about the killing, accusing Israel of targeting journalists. "The targeted killing of Al Jazeera journalist Anas al Sharif and four other colleagues by the IDF late last night silences more crucial reporting voices from inside Gaza," the Sky News report stated. The New York-based NGO Committee to Protect Journalists said Israel had targeted al-Sharif in a "smear campaign." The NGO has previously accused Israel of targeting journalists in an attempt to suppress negative coverage. It has not directly responded to the IDF's claims or evidence regarding al-Sharif's Hamas membership, but has previously blamed "blurry" IDF documentation as being inconclusive, despite higher resolution versions being located on the IDF's English page. Media watchdog group HonestReporting.com has also noted incidents in which the Committee has falsely or inaccurately labeled deaths of journalists in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in a way that consistently implicates Israel. The military noted that before the strike, steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance and additional intelligence. The IDF will continue to operate against the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip, the statement read. This article was originally published by All Israel News. Home News Over 400 acts of hostility against US churches in 2024; gun-related incidents more than doubled: report More than 400 acts of hostility were recorded against churches in the United States in 2024, with a sharp rise in gun-related incidents, according to a new report released by the Family Research Council. The incidents highlighted in the group's "Hostility against Churches in the United States" report released Monday morning ranged from vandalism and arson to gun-related threats, bomb hoaxes and physical assaults. The Washington-based conservative Christian advocacy organization documented 415 hostile acts across 43 states, affecting 383 churches, based on open-source documents, media reports and official records. The total was slightly lower than the 485 incidents identified in 2023 but remained well above the yearly totals from 2018 through 2022. Since January 2018, the organization has tracked 1,384 incidents. "Although the motivations for many of these incidents remain unknown, the rise in crimes against churches is taking place in a context in which fewer Americans are attending religious services or identifying with a specific faith," the report notes. According to Gallup data, less than a third of the U.S. population regularly attends church services, and researchers say "fewer Americans share a common understanding of what church buildings represent." "It is important to note that not all crimes against churches are motivated by hatred for Christianity. Some vandals appear to be motivated by financial gain through theft, while other culprits are teenagers engaging in a destructive pastime," the report states. "However, there are still incidents that seem to be targeting church intentionally and with malicious intent. Regardless of the perpetrator's motives, such crimes can leave churches in physical, financial, and emotional disarray. Some churches struggle to cover the costs of repairs and fear future offenses." Gun-related incidents jumped from 12 in 2023 to 28 in 2024. In one case near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a man entered Jesus' Dwelling Place Church during a sermon and pointed a gun at the pastor before being tackled by a deacon. In Georgia, an armed man disrupted services at three churches, filming his actions and encouraging others to join him. In San Francisco, California, a man fired several shots at St. Augustine Catholic Church's main doors while people were inside. In Houston, Texas, a woman wielding a long gun at Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church injured two people before being shot and killed by police. Vandalism was the most frequent offense, accounting for 284 cases. Churches reported smashed windows, destroyed statues, defaced property and theft of valuable materials such as copper wiring and air conditioning units. In Portland, Oregon, Bethel Baptist Church, with about 25 congregants, has suffered repeated vandalism, including rocks thrown through windows and a recent attack that left the building covered in fire extinguisher chemicals. "I don't know who we've irritated. It's baffling," Deacon Mary Brown was quoted as saying. In Brenham, Texas, First Christian Church had more than 15 newly restored windows shattered by rocks and bricks. Pastor Charles Topping said the damage appeared "angry, intentional" and left him "heartbroken" at the thought that someone could direct such anger toward a church and God. Financial losses from these attacks were sometimes severe. In San Diego, California, First Church of Christ reported an estimated $10,000 in damages when an intruder ransacked an office and ripped organ pipes from their fittings. In Oklahoma, North Peoria Church of Christ lost air conditioning units in a theft that caused $100,000 in damage. Arson and suspected arson accounted for 55 incidents. In Athens, Tennessee, St. Mark AME Zion Church was severely damaged after a fire destroyed its roof and interior. The suspect, who also killed church secretary Lina Buchanan before fleeing, was arrested after being identified on security footage. Believer's Joy Worship in Jacksonville, Florida, was set ablaze by a woman the congregation had previously tried to help during her mental health struggles, with flames reaching 30 feet before firefighters brought them under control. In Ohio, four churches in two neighboring counties were destroyed in a four-month span; investigators believe the same individual was responsible. There were 14 bomb threats, most of them hoaxes. In Cocoa, Florida, two churches received packages claiming to contain explosives, accompanied by notes citing political grievances, including opposition to "wokism," taxes, and the war in Ukraine. Security cameras helped identify the suspect, who was arrested. Forty-seven incidents fell into an "other" category, covering physical assaults and disruptions that did not match other classifications. In Louisville, Kentucky, a man broke into Zion Baptist Church and attacked a staff member with a hammer before police arrived. In Hudson, New York, a masked man in a long black cloak entered St. Mary's Church during Sunday mass, shouted "All hail," and held a glass bottle over his head before being restrained by congregants. Recorded motives varied. Incidents linked to pro-abortion sentiments dropped to two in 2024 from 11 in 2023. Anti-LGBT incidents fell from 42 in 2023 to 33, often involving theft of pride flags from churches that supported LGBT causes. Satanic-themed incidents decreased from 12 in 2023 to one in 2024. In Portland, Oregon, a church was spray-painted with obscenities and the phrase "My body, my choice." June saw the highest number of incidents, with about 22% related to LGBT issues, while the lowest levels occurred from September to November. California recorded the most incidents at 40, followed by Pennsylvania with 29, Florida and New York with 25 each, Texas with 23, and Tennessee and Ohio with 19 each. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, who served as chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom during President Trumps first term, said the report shows "religious freedom faces substantial threats here at home." "We applaud the efforts of the Trump administration, but efforts must be taken at every level of government to protect and promote this fundamental human right," Perkins said. "Christians must expect and demand more from their government leaders when it comes to prosecuting and preventing criminal acts targeting religious freedom. Home News Trump deploys National Guard to DC, federalizes police force: 'We're going to take our capital back' President Donald Trump is deploying the National Guard to Washington, D.C., and federalizing the Metropolitan Police Department, vowing to crack down on crime in the nation's capital and drawing pushback from local officials. Trump held a press conference at the White House on Monday morning alongside several administration officials, announcing his intention to deploy National Guard troops to Washington and place the Metropolitan Police Department under the direct authority of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. "This is Liberation Day in D.C. and we're going to take our capital back," he proclaimed, saying the moves will "help re-establish law, order and public safety" in the district. In an executive order published Monday, Trump insisted that the District of Columbia Self-Government and Governmental Re-Organization Act gave him the authority to exercise such control over the city. The relevant portion of the federal law states that the federal government can assume control of the Metropolitan Police Department if "special conditions of an emergency nature exist." To justify his latest move, the president shared crime statistics for Washington, D.C. during the press conference on Monday. "The murder rate in Washington today is higher than that of Bogota, Colombia, Mexico City, some of the places that you hear about as being the worst places on Earth," he asserted. "The number of car thefts has doubled over the past five years and the number of carjackings has more than tripled. Murders in 2023 reached the highest rate, probably ever." "Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people," he lamented. Del. Elanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., called Trump's decision to federalize the police force and send in the National Guard a "historic assault on D.C. home rule" and an "escalatory seizure of D.C.'s resources to use for purposes not supported by D.C. residents." She called it "more evidence of the urgent need" to pass a D.C. statehood bill. "Crime in D.C. reached a 30-year low in 2024 and is down 26% this year compared to the same time period last year," Holmes Norton said in a statement. "The administration is justifying the decision by misleadingly citing years-old statistics." D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser pushed back on Trump's assertions that the city is facing a crime spike and questioned the president's use of the National Guard. "They're not law enforcement officials," Bowser told MSNBC's "The Weekend" on Sunday. "These are men and women who leave their families to serve our country, and that is just not their primary role to enforce local laws." The Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee plans to call on Bowser and other D.C. officials to testify about crime within its borders. Committee Chair Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., contends that Trump "rightly" used executive power to "crack down on crime and restore law and order in Washington, D.C." "For years, the D.C. Council's radical, soft-on-crime agenda has emboldened criminals and put public safety at risk in our nation's capital," Comer said. Sources within the Metropolitan Police Department told WUSA9 that Bowser and Police Chief Pamela Smith were not given advanced notice about Trump's plan to federalize the police force and only thought the announcement would be about the National Guard deployment. Trump shared plans to aesthetically improve Washington by replacing potholes and deteriorating infrastructure, as well as removing homeless encampments from public parks. The president blamed the high crime rate in Washington, D.C. on policies embraced by the city, including its sanctuary city status that shields illegal immigrants from deportation and the abolition of cash bail. Trump had previously hinted at taking action to reduce crime in Washington, D.C. last week when he published a post on Truth Social warning that "If D.C. doesn't 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 they're not going to get away with it anymore." The president elaborated on his plans in a Truth Social post Monday, promising to "MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN" and that "Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR." In March, Trump signed an executive order titled "Making the District of Columbia Safe and Beautiful" where he established a "D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force" and established it as "the policy of the United States to make the District of Columbia safe, beautiful, and prosperous by preventing crime, punishing criminals, preserving order, protecting our revered American monuments, and promoting beautification and the preservation of our history and heritage." Texas Bathroom Bill Stalls, Israel-Gaza Tensions Rise, Elvis Presleys Bible Showcased link to download the audio instead. link to download the audio instead. 07:26 07:26 Top headlines for Monday, August 11, 2025 In this episode, we discuss the contentious Texas bill aimed at regulating bathroom usage in public schools and government buildings, which has reached a stalemate. Next, we shift our focus to the Middle East, highlighting the voices of hostage families as a security cabinet prepares to approve new plans for a large-scale offensive against Hamas. Finally, we celebrate a heartwarming milestone as a church commemorates its 100th anniversary with a unique exhibition featuring a Bible once owned by none other than Elvis Presley. 00:11 Texas bill to restrict public bathroom use stalls amid exodus 00:58 Virginia school officials arranged abortions for students: report 01:49 Hostage families oppose Israel's new Gaza offensive 02:49 John Amanchukwu urges Christians to stand boldly against evil 03:36 Former PM Bennett: Israel is 'losing the Republican Party' 04:41 Catholic nuns released from jail in India 05:42 Church displays Elvis Presley's Bible to mark 100th anniversary New Heimdal study reveals how tool sprawl creates blind spots, with over half of providers experiencing daily or weekly burnout Survey of 80 North American MSPs shows fragmented security stacks drive fatigue, missed threats, and business inefficiency. Security tools meant to protect managed service providers are instead overwhelming them. A new study from Heimdal and FutureSafe reveals that 89% of MSPs struggle with tool integration while 56% experience alert fatigue daily or weekly. The research exposes a dangerous paradox. MSPs experiencing high alert fatigue are significantly more likely to miss real threats. The very tools deployed to enhance security are creating blind spots through exhaustion. The Scale of the Problem The average MSP now runs five security tools, with 20% juggling seven to ten and 12% managing more than ten. Only 11% report seamless integration. The remaining 89% must flip between separate dashboards and waste time on manual workflows. One in four security alerts prove meaningless, with some MSPs reporting that 70% of their alerts are false alarms. Among MSPs managing 1,000+ clients, 100% report daily fatigue. MSPs are drowning in complexity, not from threats, but from the tools meant to stop them, said Jesper Frederiksen, CEO at Heimdal. Every new point solution adds another agent, console, and alert stream. That noise exhausts people and quietly degrades protection. Beyond Security Operations Agent fatigue extends beyond alert management. Disconnected platforms slow billing processes, complicate client onboarding, and create compliance reporting headaches. Agent fatigue isnt just a tech issue. Its a business risk, said Jason Whitehurst, CEO at FutureSafe. MSPs are juggling tool after tool, but they dont work together. The Solution Hiding in Plain Sight Despite widespread recognition of the problem, only 20% of MSPs have consolidated their security solutions. Those who have reported fewer alerts, faster response times, and happier staff. Key Survey Findings 56% experience alert fatigue daily or weekly, 75% at least monthly Only 11% enjoy seamless tool connectivity MSPs using 7+ tools report nearly double the fatigue levels High false positive rates triple the chance of missing genuine incidents The 20% who consolidate report better outcomes across all metrics Research Methodology The State of MSP Agent Fatigue 2025 surveyed 80 North American MSPs in H1 2025, combining quantitative analysis with thematic coding of over 300 free-text responses. Users can download the complete report free at: heimdalsecurity.com/msp-agent-fatigue-report About Heimdal Established in Copenhagen in 2014, Heimdal empowers security teams and MSPs through unified cybersecurity solutions spanning endpoint to network security, including vulnerability management, threat prevention, and ransomware mitigation. About FutureSafe FutureSafe is the exclusive provider of Heimdal in the United States, helping MSPs cut through tool sprawl and deliver consolidated cybersecurity. Contact Head of Content & PR Danny Mitchell Heimdal Security dmi@heimdalsecurity.com The Muslim Charities Forum (MCF) has criticised divisive news coverage published over the weekend regarding its chief executives inclusion on the Civil Society Covenants advisory group. Fadi Itani is one of 15 members of the group, announced by culture secretary Lisa Nandy , which also includes Daniel Singleton, national executive director of the Faith Action network of religious community organisations. On Saturday, the Telegraph published an article titled Lisa Nandy accused of prioritising Islam over other religions focusing on concerns expressed by Hindu and Indian advocacy group INSIGHT UK that other faith organisations have not been included in the group. While the inclusion of Muslim voices in civic dialogue is valuable, the exclusion of other faith groups such as Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and other faith-based organisations suggests an inconsistent approach to interfaith representation, a spokesperson told the newspaper. To ensure legitimacy and effectiveness, the government should clarify its selection criteria and broaden participation to include all major faith communities in this civic initiative. The article also includes details about a 2015 government funding cut to MCF and comments made by founder Hany El-Banna in 2020, for which he has apologised. MCF criticised the coverage, with GB News also reporting the story on Saturday, accusing it of fuelling divisive culture wars. The singling out of British Muslim voices in a process that included all of civil society, such as faith-based and non-faith groups, trade unions, and community organisations, appears to reinforce a narrative that marginalises diverse groups, it said in a statement. We are under no illusion that such actors seek to limit or even exclude such voices from civic participation. We unequivocally reject these divisive tactics and reaffirm our commitment to a cohesive and vibrant society. Itani added: The covenant reflects the tireless work of diverse voices across civil society and government. We must guard against rhetoric that divides us and instead focus on making the covenant a success in serving communities. DCMS: Multiple faith groups shaped covenant Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said: Faith groups are explicitly recognised and valued partners under our Civil Society Covenant and on the advisory council acknowledging faith organisations as essential to delivering our plan for change missions and tackling Britains biggest challenges. The covenant was developed through extensive engagement with over 1,200 organisations across civil societys full diversity, including multiple faith and interfaith groups whose contributions helped shape the final document. The Delivering Change Together Summit brought together 250 attendees including faith, voluntary and community organisations, to explore how collective partnership can deliver on the government's priority missions. As we move forward, we will establish a Joint Civil Society Covenant Council. The joint council will be central to the delivery of the covenant, setting direction and providing strategic oversight for its implementation. It will have cross-sector membership comprising senior leaders from civil society and senior representatives from government departments to provide a key forum for driving progress in the reset of the relationship between government and civil society." sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, The Charity Commission has announced that it has opened an investigation into a Christian charity after almost 300,000 of its funds may have been unaccounted for. It engaged with the Edmund Kell Unitarian Church and Elizabeth Kell Community Hall, which serves the local community in Southampton, after it received an application from the charitys trustees to change its structure. The organisation is an excepted charity, which means it does not have to register with the commission or file annual returns, but it must still comply with charity law. During this process, the commission identified concerns around the charitys governance and administration. The commission subsequently reviewed the charitys accounts and investment portfolio and found that funds initially estimated as in the region of 290,000 may be unaccounted for. It noted additional concerns in relation to safeguarding at the charity and potentially unmanaged risks relating to a connected individual. As a result, the commission subsequently escalated its engagement to a statutory inquiry in April to establish how the unaccounted-for funds were used. As part of the statutory inquiry, the commission will review the trustees governance and management of the charity; the extent to which they exercised adequate control of the charitys financial management. This will include any loss or misappropriation of funds, and the sufficiency of the charitys safeguarding arrangements. The commission may extend the scope of its inquiry if any additional regulatory issues emerge. sign up to receive the free Civil Society daily news bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, A recent breach of Columbia Universitys computer systems compromised personal information of about 870,000 people, including students and applicants, according to the schools reports to state officials in the US. The hack included any personal information provided in connection with applications or was collected during students studies, according to drafts of letters from the university to potentially affected individuals. That includes contact details, demographic information, academic history, financial aid-related information and insurance and health-related data shared with the university, the letters state. The universitys investigation is ongoing and the school is still working to determine the number of individuals impacted, a Columbia official said Friday. The school will continue to notify people who have been affected, the official said. The details were included in reports Columbia made Thursday to state officials in Maine and California, according to the websites of their attorneys general. Both states require organizations to report breaches without unreasonable delay when their residents data is involved. Related: Hacked Columbia University Data Includes Banking Numbers, GPAs In June, Columbia began investigating a potential cyberattack following an IT outage at the school. The breach affected 868,969 people, according to Columbias report to the office of the Maine Attorney General. The letters show the incident dates to about May 16, weeks before the outage that brought many of the schools computer systems to a halt. Columbia previously said the breach also included personal information about employees, though Thursdays letters dont specifically mention that leak. Bloomberg News previously reported that financial and academic information such as class schedules, grade-point averages and bank information was among the pilfered data. A university official previously described the perpetrator as a politically motivated hacktivist. We have implemented a number of safeguards across our systems to enhance our security, the university said in the letters submitted to the states. Moving forward, we will be examining what additional steps we can take and additional safeguards we can implement to prevent something like this from happening again. Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Hurricane experts at AccuWeather say conditions conducive for tropical storm development and an uptick in tropical wave activity will likely lead to three to five Atlantic Basin storms forming in the next two weeks. In a recent media advisory, AccuWeather said those experts are monitoring four areas at risk of tropical development potential in the Atlantic basin: a low-risk area in the Gulf, a second off the East Coast of the United States, a medium-risk area in the Atlantic and a high-risk area in the Atlantic. AccuWeather reported that Tropical Storm Dexter is the lone named storm in the Atlantic so far this month. Erin will likely follow by early this week, and Fernand would likely become the name of the next wave coming off the coast of Africa, explained Chad Merrill, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather. A large plume of dust is moving off the African coast late this week, Merrill said in the advisory, which was issued on Aug. 8. That dust plume will traverse the main development area of the Atlantic, where development is expected to occur through the middle of the week. Beyond the middle of next week, the dust train drops off significantly. We see an eventual favorable environment for thunderstorm clusters coming off the coast of Africa. The timeline for any potential impact to the Caribbean or the U.S. is Aug. 17 to 22. Merrill said the area with a high risk of tropical development potential in the Atlantic is not expected to pose a direct threat to the U.S. He explained that while there is a high potential for low pressure to become a tropical depression or tropical storm in the central Atlantic, there appears to be no direct threat to the U.S. from this low pressure, as it will get caught in the main steering flow of the jet stream and recurve somewhere near or east of Bermuda. Four named storms typically form in the Atlantic basin during the month of August. AccuWeather 2025 U.S. Atlantic Forecast The media release shared that AccuWeather experts predict a dynamic and potentially volatile above-average Atlantic hurricane season this year, similar to 2024s historic and destructive season. The AccuWeather 2025 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast predicts 13 to 18 named storms, including seven to 10 hurricanes and three to five major hurricanes that reach Category 3 strength or higher on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. (A Category 3 hurricane has sustained winds between 111 mph and 129 mph.) AccuWeather forecasts three to six direct impacts to the U.S. this year, which is the same range AccuWeather forecast for last years historic Atlantic hurricane season. Cries for help came from the pitch-black woods, from rooftops and from attics that shifted unsteadily as the water rose. Firefighters and police raced to help, having little guidance on where or how. Top emergency leaders were asleep or out of town. Using recordings of first responder communications, weather service warnings, survivor videos and official testimony, The Associated Press has assembled a chronology of the chaotic rescue effort as a flash flood barreled east through the Hill Country of Central Texas before dawn on July 4. The flooding killed at least 136 people including more than two dozen children and counselors at Camp Mystic, a century-old summer camp for girls that was among the first areas inundated. The victims ranged in age from 1 to 91 and although most were from Texas, some who died were from Alabama, California and Florida, according to a list released by Kerr County officials. Two victims were still listed as missing on Friday. Here are some of the harrowing moments: 12:30 to 1:15 a.m. CDT In a Slack chat, a National Weather Service forecaster tells emergency managers, meteorologists and news media that the agency is monitoring Kerr County, but so far there has been little rain. Within 40 minutes, two weather cells combine, creating a dramatically more dangerous situation. A flash flood warning goes out at 1:14 a.m. With the storm making already spotty cellphone service worse, some people report receiving the first National Weather Service notification on their phones, while others say they never received it. 2 to 3 a.m. The water rises quickly at Camp Mystic. A spokesperson for the camp would later say staff began evacuating campers and counselors between 2 and 2:30 a.m. The girls leave their cabins and try to wade to safety. None of the emergency communications between midnight and 6 a.m. reviewed by the AP were about responses to the camp. 3:30 to 4 a.m. Kerr County emergency dispatchers request the first water rescue at 3:35 a.m. Emergency calls come in for homes flooding along Highway 39. Callers house flooded, a dispatcher radios. All the residents are on their house. A later call from Camp La Junta staff reports dozens of boys are in the water after a cabin flooded. Several volunteer fire departments and other law enforcement officers respond to areas around the Guadalupe River after realizing the severity of the situation. Frantic calls would come from people on rooftops and in attic rafters who say they felt the cabins moving under them. Calls would also come from people who scrambled up trees after it was too late to leave by car. 4:16 a.m. A U.S. Geological Survey river gauge about a half mile (0.8 km) east of Hunt is already recording almost 24 feet (7.3 meters) of water considered major flood stage for the Guadalupe River. As the water rises in a home near the river, Jane Towler captured video on her phone of the muddy water in the kitchen. Everything in our yard has floated away, she told her son and a family friend. I want us to be prepared to go up in the attic. They wound up surviving the night on the roof. Kerr Countys CodeRed alert system, which allows the county to send cellphone alerts, would become a point of contention after the flood. Residents and others ask why county officials didnt use the alerts at the height of the emergency. Fire rescuers had asked for a CodeRed alert as early as 4:22 a.m. East of Hunt, the swell of water overtakes an area full of out-of-town campers. 4:35 a.m. A fire rescuer calls out that there are children trapped in the water at the RV parks behind Howdys restaurant on the western edge of Kerrville. Were trying to keep people out of the water but theyre trying to go in on their own to get those children, she reports. We need some law enforcement down here, now! Rescuers work to evacuate the RV parks as several of the vehicles are swept away, some with families still inside. Interviews with family members and others would later reveal that more than 40 people staying in the area died. 4:45 a.m. A crew of rescuers from San Antonio arrive to help, but with no command center established, they wait for instructions in a fast food parking lot less than 2 river miles (3.2 km) from the RV park. The rising water overtakes their trucks and strands their boats for hours. Radio traffic shows that an official command center wouldnt be set up until after 6 a.m. Other out-of-town crews rely on word of mouth to determine where and how to help. Many rescuers on the banks cant reach people in the swollen river. 4:59 a.m. A firefighter runs along the river trying to find people he can hear in the water but cannot see. Volunteer firefighters are forced to think on their feet in a scenario many have never experienced before. They move teams to bridges and river crossings, trying to find places they can pull people from the water without boats. If you could, see if Kerrvilles got a crew that they could set up at Bear Creek off Arcadia and see if they could pick up any of the people that are washing by us, one asks a dispatcher. 5:09 a.m. Screams sound in the distance as waters rise at an RV park along the Guadalupe River in Kerrville. Testimony from Kerr County leaders at a legislative hearing at the end of July would confirm that the countys top official was out of town, the sheriff was asleep and the emergency management coordinator was sick in bed when the floods and the emergency response began. 5:32 a.m. Additional rescuers from state task forces and neighboring counties continue to rely on others in the field for direction. Sir, we dont have an incident command right now, a dispatcher tells one crew. Received, the responder says. Please advise when you have an assignment for us. 6 to 6:30 a.m. As daylight breaks, emergency personnel are able to see the catastrophic scope of the flooding from the air, but rescuers keep struggling to find and reach survivors. They scan the water from bridges and crossings. I have multiple people in backyards hanging onto trees yelling at us, but we cant see them, a rescuer tells dispatch. 8:33 a.m. As the morning stretches on, dispatchers start getting calls from people spotting possible survivors. Weve been contacted by a passerby, a Kerr County dispatcher tells rescuers. Theres a person flashing a signal light in the trees in the vicinity of Tranquility Island. I believe theyre summoning rescue. Rescues, including by helicopter, continue into the afternoon. Crews also begin recovering bodies. For many families holding out hope of having their loved ones returned, it would take days or weeks due to the massive amount of debris and the widespread search area along the Guadalupe River. In the following days The death toll would grow to at least 136; two people remain missing. Residents along the Guadalupe River and the families of victims have questioned why they had no notice of the impending flood. The waters rose quickly in the middle of the night, and hard-hit Kerr County lacked an updated flood warning system; state and local agencies had missed opportunities to finance one. Local officials told Texas lawmakers who visited the area weeks later that they also need better communications systems and broadband. Questions have also been raised about why top emergency officials werent involved sooner. Lawmakers say they are intent on learning lessons from the catastrophe. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. People enjoy food and festivities during the Feast of the Assumption in Little Italy last year. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com CLEVELAND, Ohio In Clevelands Little Italy, August means more than just summer heat. Its the time when the scent of garlic and the sound of hymns mingle in the air, and people gather shoulder-to-shoulder for one of the neighborhoods oldest traditions: the Feast of the Assumption. Now in its 126th year, The Feast draws thousands to Mayfield and Murray Hill roads from Thursday, Aug. 14 through Sunday, Aug. 17. What began as a solemn Catholic observance of the Virgin Marys ascent to heaven has grown into a four-day neighborhood festival combining religious devotion and street party. At the heart of the celebration is Holy Rosary Church. On Friday, Aug. 15, parishioners and visitors crowd inside for a 10 a.m. solemn Mass. Then, in a ritual unchanged for generations, the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary will be carried through the narrow streets. The Feasts appeal goes beyond the sanctuary doors. Italian staplesfrom cavatelli to cannolishare the stage with live music and bustling patios. This year, Tutto Carne is adding a smoky twist with short ribs grilled on-site for Italian beef sandwiches, while Mount Granita is layering mint mojito, lemon, and strawberry ices into Feast Pops with the colors of the Italian flag. The tradition is also a fundraiser. Proceeds from Holy Rosarys activities support Catholic school tuition for parish children and maintain the historic church itself. For some, the event is a pilgrimage. For others, its simply a chance to taste pizza by the slice from CentAnni and feel the pulse of a neighborhood where history and heritage are served with every plate. Parking, as always, is tightan unspoken reminder that in Little Italy during The Feast, its best to bring patience along with your appetite. The U.S. State Department issued new Level 2 travel advisories for Brazil and the United Arab Emirates, urging travelers to exercise increased caution. (Photo by Peter Bischoff/Getty Images) Getty Images The U.S. Department of State has issued new travel advisories for Brazil and the United Arab Emirates, urging travelers to exercise increased caution when visiting these popular destinations, Parade reports. Both countries received Level 2 travel warnings, potentially affecting travelers planning end-of-summer vacations to these locations. The State Department highlighted rising crime and kidnapping concerns in Brazil, specifically warning about violent crime in urban areas. Violent crime, including murder, armed robbery, and carjacking, can occur in urban areas, day and night. There was a kidnapping for ransom of U.S. travelers, the agency stated in its advisory. Officials also cautioned travelers to avoid certain areas within Brazil, including informal housing developments like favelas and vilas, as well as border regions shared with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela. The advisory further noted that gang activity and organized crime are widespread and often tied to the recreational drug trade, adding that assaults, including with sedatives and drugs placed in drinks, are common, especially in Rio de Janeiro. For the United Arab Emirates, the State Department warned of potential terrorist activity stemming from regional tensions. While acknowledging that residents and visitors generally find a safe and secure environment in the UAE, the agency cautioned that elevated regional tensions have aggravated the risk of aerial and other terror attacks across the region. The UAE advisory specifically mentioned that terrorists might target tourist locations, transportation hubs, shopping areas, government facilities, places of worship, and locations associated with Jewish and Israeli communities, potentially with little or no warning. These Level 2 advisories instruct travelers to exercise increased caution when visiting these countries, representing a moderate level of concern on the State Departments four-tier travel advisory system. These advisories come just as the State Department upgraded advisories for Thailand and Haiti following heightened conflicts in and near the countries. This story was written with the assistance of AI. This map shows the route of a proposed interstate highway system that would connect Michigan and South Carolina by way of Ohio. Proponents say it would stimulate economic development and growth in areas along the route. Transportation Advocacy Group of Northwest Ohio WASHINGTON - Funding speedbumps in constructing interstate highways have replaced the aggressive federal push of the 1950s, forcing todays states to navigate complex financing challenges and prove projects are worth billions before breaking ground. The tighter funding picture complicates the task of planners in six states who have worked for decades to create a new interstate highway that would connect Michigan to South Carolina by way of Ohio, stitching together existing roadways and planned construction into a transportation corridor that could reshape regional economic development. The shift in the funding picture stems largely from the Highway Trust Funds chronic shortfalls. Federal fuel taxes havent been increased since 1993, while construction costs have soared and fuel efficiency has reduced per-mile tax collections. The fund now faces recurring deficits, forcing Congress to repeatedly transfer money from general revenues to keep highway programs operating. This financial squeeze has fundamentally changed how states approach major interstate projects. Current highway spending is around $80 billion yearly while revenue, without General Fund transfers, is hovering around $42 to $43 billion each year creating a massive structural imbalance that forces difficult choices about which projects get federal dollars. Ohio is currently conducting a $1.5 million feasibility study to examine feasibility and possible routes for a new Interstate 73 corridor that would connect underdeveloped parts of the state to a nearly 1,000-mile transportation network. The Ohio Department of Transportation study, scheduled for completion by the end of 2026, reflects broader changes in how major highway projects get funded in an era where states dont want to pledge state money until theres federal money and the federal government doesnt want to fund until they have state buy in, according to advocates working on the multi-state project. Study will guide scarce funding allocation The ODOT feasibility study represents a critical first step in determining whether Ohio should commit resources to the Interstate 73-74-75 corridor, which would run from Michigans Upper Peninsula to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, passing through Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina. According to Ohio Department of Transportation documentation, the studys key objective is providing an objective, transparent analysis of what it would take to construct I-73 while emphasizing this is not a commitment to build the interstatebut strictly informational. The research arms the states decision makers with data so they can execute accordingly and helps determine where scarce funding can be most effectively allocated. The Ohio section of the proposed interstate would largely follow U.S. Route 23, running south from Toledo, through Columbus, and all the way to the Kentucky/West Virginia border near Chesapeake, Ohio. The studys findings will help decide the projects future, its allocation of state funding, and guide potential routes, ODOT says. Funding challenges reflect national infrastructure reality Jimmy Gray, president of the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and executive director of the I-73, I-74, I-75 Corridor Association, says the funding challenges reflect broader changes in federal infrastructure investment, with the U.S. government not pushing interstate highway construction as it did during the 1950s. We deal at times with a chicken or the egg issue, says Gray. States dont want to pledge state money until theres federal money. The federal government doesnt want to fund until they have state buy in. Gray says the project has been discussed for almost 30 years, with members of the group working to build the highway meeting regularly with congressional representatives in six states to discuss progress and strategize on securing funding. Each of the six states has designated portions of the route as priority corridors, but progress varies between them. South Carolina has completed permitting and environmental reviews for its segment and is shovel ready, with permits approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and right-of-way purchased. Were just waiting on money, says Gray. That is the holdback. In South Carolinas Horry County, voters approved a referendum dedicating $450 million toward Interstate 73 construction - about half the estimated $900 million cost for that segment, demonstrating the creative financing mechanisms states are exploring, including local sales taxes and federal grants. Congressional support emerges U.S. Rep. Dave Taylor, whose district would be served by the highway, introduced a congressional resolution last month supporting construction of Ohios portion, citing growing defense-related industries in the region. A statement from Taylor said southern Ohio needs infrastructure to support businesses like a growing uranium enrichment site in Piketon, and a defense technology company building an advanced manufacturing facility to make military drones and autonomous air vehicles in Pickaway County. An interstate through southern Ohio would not just help connect rural communities to the modern economy but would enhance our national security because of multiple key facilities and defense-related companies along the route, Taylor said. Taylor sought support for the project from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy at a recent House Transportation Committee hearing, where Duffy said hed be happy to discuss USDOTs role with Taylor. We have too many communities that dont have adequate infrastructure, and most of them are oftentimes rural, Duffy said at the hearing. Economic development engine awaits funding solutions Gray regards the prospective highway as more of an economic development engine than a tourism enhancement, estimating it would cut driving time from Ohio to Myrtle Beach by hours. If you look at these six states, they are states with a lot of residential and commercial growth, says Gray. He says communities that lack interstate highway access often lose out on economic growth opportunities because its a key factor companies consider when deciding where to build. The corridor would connect major population centers and industrial hubs, from Michigans manufacturing base through Ohios defense and technology facilities to the tourism economy of the Carolinas. Critical bottlenecks drive Ohios interest Toledos Tom Kovacik, executive director of the Transportation Advocacy Group of Northwest Ohio, has been working on Ohios portion for 25 years. He says eliminating bottlenecks that prevent free-flowing traffic between Toledo and Columbus is a big priority, particularly creating a bypass for U.S. 23 in Delaware, Ohio, where 38 traffic lights in 20 miles impede through traffic. If youre a trucking company trying to get from Toledo to Columbus, youre stuck in a 20-mile stretch with nearly 40 red lights, Kovacik said. Thats not an expresswayits a logistical nightmare. The planned bypass would connect U.S. 23 directly to Interstate 71 north of Columbus, eliminating the congested passage through Delaware entirely. Kovacik estimates any one of the potential routes would probably cost hundreds of millions of dollars but believes it would be worth it. A lot of these distribution centers locating in Ohio, a lot in Columbus, he says. We just got a new Intel factory. That is just outside Columbus. The route from Columbus to Northwest Ohio is critical. Once the Delaware bypass is completed, Kovacik said he will have accomplished his goal of ensuring a direct route from Myrtle Beach to Mackinaw, Michigan. I will be one of the first people on that bypass, he said. Rural communities seek economic lifeline Darren LeBrun, Scioto County engineer, described his part of southern Ohio as caught in a black hole, with a lack of interstate connections that hampers economic development. The region sits surrounded by Interstates 71, 70, and 77 but lacks direct connections. Portsmouth is a rust belt town built on manufacturing, LeBrun says. Whenever developers come in to put in a factory or big development, if interstate access isnt there, they keep looking and were not considered. It is a handicap for us. Because of a lack of local employment that he hopes an interstate highway might remedy, he said a significant proportion of his countys residents commute to Columbus daily, facing 90 minutes to two hours of driving each way. An interstate corridor could reduce that commute by at least 30 minutes while improving safety, he estimates. LeBrun acknowledged the project would require phased construction over many years due to its massive scope and cost. The ODOT feasibility study will determine preferred alignments and associated costs for each option, providing the technical foundation needed to secure future funding. The big thing is to get the plan upfront, and then you can build it in pieces, he said, comparing the approach to North Carolinas Interstate 74, which took more than 20 years to complete. These communities were once home to thriving steel mills and shoe factories, says LeBrun. We have able-bodied people, we have rail, we have Ohio River accesswe just dont have the interstate. Thats the piece thats been missing. Despite the funding challenges, Gray remains optimistic about the projects eventual completion. I remain confident it is a necessary project in each of these corridor states, says Gray. It is going to happen because it is a good project. This story was drafted with assistance from artificial intelligence. Interstate 73 project faces funding hurdles despite economic potential Renovated historic block in central Beijing blends commerce, heritage, lifestyle Xinhua) 10:33, August 11, 2025 This photo taken with a mobile phone on Aug. 9, 2025 shows a view of the Beijing Fun complex in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Song Xinping) BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- In the welcoming lobby of the Muji Hotel in central Beijing's Beijing Fun complex, Dutch visitor Guido Langendoen recently paid for an ice cream using WeChat Pay. "I don't have much cash with me," he said, adding that mobile payment systems have been reliable everywhere he has gone. It is Langendoen's first trip to China. "After a tiring red-eye flight yesterday, we're finally starting to explore this city with rich historical heritage," he said. As Beijing Fun is situated in the heart of the city, Langendoen and his family opted to tour the complex first, saving major sights like the Forbidden City for later in the day. Langendoen is among a growing number of domestic and international tourists drawn to the area's unique blend of culture and commerce. Located next to the Beijing Central Axis, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site last year, Beijing Fun has grown into a cultural landmark and a pioneering model of urban renovation since it opened in 2018. From architectural design to business planning, Beijing is home to countless renovated buildings and walkways. "The whole neighborhood preserves the original 'hutong' fabric while incorporating contemporary architectural elements," said Zhang Chen, who is in charge of Beijing Fun's promotion. "The design reflects harmony in diversity." At the heart of Beijing Fun stands the historic Quanyechang building, which was once a department store and dates back to the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). In 2006, the original site of Quanyechang was designated as part of what is now a major historical and cultural site protected at the national level. Today, the century-old building serves as a cultural arts center. Beyond its historic appeal, Beijing Fun embodies vibrant consumer culture, attracting rising numbers of renowned brands that enrich its cultural tourism offerings. The area has become a hub for creative enterprises -- from art and design innovators to lifestyle brands -- presenting diverse consumer experiences. Not far from Quanyechang, the PAGEONE bookstore attracts readers of all ages with a multi-story layout perfect for browsing and relaxation. A dedicated section features books about the Beijing Central Axis and traditional culture, also showcasing themed postcards, souvenirs and other cultural keepsakes. "We aim to provide more than just a bookstore experience," said Liu Di, marketing manager of PAGEONE. The store creates a cultural platform that engages the public through activities such as literary salons, book-signing events, film screenings, art workshops and vinyl record listening sessions, Liu added. According to Zhang, Beijing Fun is not just a shopping center, but a neighborhood where people can explore new lifestyles and immersive cultural experiences. Since it opened, it has hosted nearly 1,000 public culture, international exchange and performance events. "By organizing a variety of pop-up events and cultural and creative markets, we're striving to build a lifestyle destination that blends commerce, heritage and experience," Zhang said. The second phase of Beijing Fun is set to open this year, featuring even more experiential offerings, including those related to city-themed IP exploration, healthy lifestyles and trendy art spaces. In recent years, Beijing has integrated cultural soft power with urban planning. As a crucial part of integrating people, city and industry, cultural and commercial landmarks like Beijing Fun have become engines for high-quality development and vibrant new centers of cultural consumption in the Chinese capital. With China's expanding visa-free travel policy, the country is becoming a global hub for tourism and culture. Leveraging their prime locations and rich offerings, these new landmarks offer visitors a window to the real China and demonstrate how old cities can tell new stories. This photo taken with a mobile phone on Aug. 9, 2025 shows an exterior view of the Quanyechang building of Beijing Fun, in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Song Xinping) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) 1311104 141B7-8675B78676 141130 13 CI116/CI117 CI122/CI123 CI162/CI163 CI527/CI528 CI703/CI704 CI915/CI916CI919/CI920CI923/CI924 CI126/CI127 CI132/CI133 CI176/CI177 CI839/CI840 CI934 CI935/CI936 13 13APP IT670/IT671 -IT288/IT289 -IT284/IT285 -IT262/IT263 -IT772/IT773 -IT321/IT322 -IT585/IT586 -IT281 -13 IT268 -IT269 -14 13JX205/206 13JX841615JX871850JX861745JX839855JX803520JX742310JX762215JX718650 14981-11-22-22- -1410-----64 13223 14 ==1312 136145==385137177477=283= 136150=372324386554=136= =13333283221 1337313734 14 131019 885K~110K 3295K~336K 1834K~68K+500 1868K+500~88K 2047K~52K 2058K+300~72K+500 2079K~89K+500 2091K+500 20930K~5K 292K+700~3K 294K+300~4K+800 29110K~12K 2711K+500~23K+100 2427K+400~37K+300 237K~16K+840 2316K+840~25K+100 201050K~44K 20149K+110~199K+000 9397K+250~398K+600 3 894K+500147 8167K+100~184K+5001410 21120K~144K1412 31 146 106 1312 13111520 14 14 12 12 125 125 125 13 13 12513 14 125 122 13 13 13 12613 1314 202513 Google News 53MITSUI OUTLET PARKSOGO SKM Park Outlets13 1140811 Amazon 's Project Kuiper has not made a dime yet. But recent updates boost our confidence that the ambitious satellite internet initiative could soon be a new cog in the tech giant's money-making machine. "There's so much to like here" with Amazon, Jim Cramer said in the wake of its second-quarter earnings report . "Right now, we have [Amazon Web Services], advertising, and then we have retail. I think two years from now, we're also going to have Amazon Home and Kuiper." Perhaps it's not surprising that Amazon, founded by Jeff Bezos, is going after a market now dominated by Starlink and SpaceX, which was founded by his commercial space competitor, Elon Musk. Starlink launched its first satellites in 2019, the same year that Amazon signaled its intention to build a constellation of satellites to provide internet service. After years of development, Kuiper's first full deployment was earlier this year and they've continued since then, including on Monday. The power of these types of satellites has been on display during Russia's ongoing war against Ukraine. In a country devastated by war, Starlink has been used to provide internet in Ukraine. Starlink has also been used in the U.S. to help coordinate natural disaster relief efforts, including last month's deadly floods in Texas. Any rivalry between the billionaire space cowboys aside, delivering broadband via satellite to 400 million to 500 million households worldwide without access to high-speed internet is big business. The kicker for Amazon? Getting new people and businesses connected to the internet in hard-to-reach places gives the company a chance to bring new customers to its Prime ecosystem and its Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud. "Amazon is as strong as it's ever been," Jim added. Despite delivering a better-than-expected top and bottom line, Amazon shares fell more than 8% the day after earnings on Aug. 1. The decline stemmed from a modest revenue beat from AWS and mixed third-quarter guidance. Jim called the drop a buying opportunity for investors. Shares have recovered some of their losses since then. Beyond the headlines were promising developments for Kuiper. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said on the earnings call that Kuiper has already signed enterprise and government contracts, even though it has not yet launched commercially. That's expected to happen later this year or early 2026. The company plans to launch a network of over 3,000 satellites into low Earth orbit. The rollout is happening fast. After launching its first satellites in April, Kuiper sent up its third batch in mid-July using rival SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket to carry 24 Kuiper satellites into orbit. Additional satellites were sent up Monday morning after some weather-related launch delays, bringing the size of Amazon's constellation above 100. Kuiper must have 1,600 satellites in orbit by the end of July 2026 to meet a deadline set by the Federal Communications Commission. Starlink currently leads the satellite internet market with roughly 8,000 satellites and about 5 million users globally. Still, Jim sees Kuiper as a formidable challenger, predicting that "Kuiper is going to rival Starlink." Some on Wall Street agree the venture could strengthen Amazon's so-called flywheel. "Kuiper will be a compelling offering and easy add for consumers (Prime), enterprises (AWS), and governments," BMO Capital Markets wrote in a recent note, echoing Jim's analysis. To be sure, analysts see the end of 2027 as the earliest Amazon could see any meaningful revenue contribution from Kuiper. With that long runway comes a high price tag. Kuiper requires significant upfront capital investment to scale its network and acquire customers. That cash burn, which is estimated to total more than $10 billion , can be seen by investors as affecting Amazon's profitability. While that may be the case in the near term, Jassy previously said that Kuiper "has really good return on invested capital." In a "Mad Money" interview in late June, Jassy likened Kuiper to having "a lot of the same financial characteristics as AWS," which Amazon has built into the world's largest cloud provider by revenue. While new ventures carry risk, we take comfort in Amazon's proven track record in taking self-started internal ventures and turning them into thriving businesses. AWS was one for sure, but Amazon also successfully launched Kindle, which disrupted the publishing and eBook industries. Prime Video is another example, and the list goes on and on. So, Kuiper might be costly upfront, but Amazon has shown it can manage capital efficiency and scale with discipline. Following its latest earnings report and an upbeat update on Kuiper, we reiterated our buy-equivalent 1 rating on Amazon stock and increased our price target to $250 from $240. (Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust is long AMZN. See here for a full list of the stocks.) As a subscriber to the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer, you will receive a trade alert before Jim makes a trade. Jim waits 45 minutes after sending a trade alert before buying or selling a stock in his charitable trust's portfolio. If Jim has talked about a stock on CNBC TV, he waits 72 hours after issuing the trade alert before executing the trade. THE ABOVE INVESTING CLUB INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY , TOGETHER WITH OUR DISCLAIMER . NO FIDUCIARY OBLIGATION OR DUTY EXISTS, OR IS CREATED, BY VIRTUE OF YOUR RECEIPT OF ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH THE INVESTING CLUB. NO SPECIFIC OUTCOME OR PROFIT IS GUARANTEED. Shares of Chinese vaccine maker Ab&B Bio-Tech skyrocketed on its Hong Kong trading debut. The stock hit HK$33.5 ($4.27) as of 12.04 p.m. local time (12.04 a.m. ET), almost 160% of its IPO price of HK$12.90. Beyond its influenza vaccine, Ab&B is working on shots for rabies and various respiratory illnesses. Lee Ying Shan (This is The Best Stocks in the Market , brought to you by Josh Brown and Sean Russo of Ritholtz Wealth Management.) Josh I'll start with a chart that caught my eye showing two of the seven semiconductor companies on our Best Stocks in the Market list essentially being one big trade. You can see that Nvidia and Broadcom basically have an identical chart. These stocks are being walked up into their coming earnings reports, with NVDA posting on Aug. 27 and AVGO due out Sept. 4. Here's year-to-date percentage gains. There's very little daylight between how these stocks act day to day, week to week: President Donald Trump made it clear last week that the manufacturing of semiconductors on U.S. soil is a key priority of his administration with a new sweeping tariff of 100% (with exceptions) on chips coming from overseas. This new barrier is a double-edged sword for the semi capital equipment space. On one hand, there is risk of the implementation of these tariffs throwing global supply chains into chaos mode with delays, shortages and miscellaneous hiccups affecting the outlook for the companies in the middle of it all. On the other hand, this should strengthen the positions of the largest U.S. companies from a demand perspective. It's nice to be one of the only games in town pricing power would be an obvious benefit. Two of the largest largest chip equipment companies are on our Best Stocks list. KLA Corp , a company formerly known as KLA Tencorp, has been shocking Wall Street with explosive earnings reports lately, including a 60% increase in EPS with a 30% jump in revenue in the latest quarter. KLA is a $120 billion giant in the testing and control tools space, which becomes more vital than ever in the AI era. It dominates the wafer inspection and process-control tool business, a critical niche within semiconductor manufacturing. Lam Research is a $130 billion company that specializes in areas of the chip manufacturing process like etch tools that precisely remove material layers from a wafer as well as wet and plasma-based cleaning equipment to remove contaminants. All of this is required in order to boost yield during production. KLA and Lam are riding high during this cycle as they have become indispensable to the semi designers and manufacturers over the decades leading up to this moment. Both companies derive less than 10% of their revenue from North America, which means that Trump's new tariffs represent both a challenge and a substantial opportunity as the domestic demand picture shifts into overdrive. Below, Sean will give you a look at the current state of the Best Stocks list and talk more in-depth about the semiconductor space. I'll be back with some charts and trade ideas after. Sector Leaderboard As of Aug. 11, there are 161 names on The Best Stocks in the Market list. Top sector ranking: Top 5 Best Stocks by Relative Strength: Sean We have seven semiconductor companies on our list (inclusive of semi equipment firms too), which ranks fourth out of our industry exposure: That list includes: ADI , ALAB , AMD , AVGO , KLAC , LRCX and NVDA . All seven of these are within 10% of new 52-week highs. These firms also ended last week positively, even with a $100 billion tariff applied to the global semiconductor market. On Wednesday, Trump unveiled a 100% tariff on semiconductor chips and imports of related equipment, targeting foreign-made products. The tariffs will be applied unless companies commit to building, or have already built, production facilities in the United States. Luckily, all seven of our semi companies are U.S.-based. Companies such as Apple , TSMC , Samsung and others with substantial U.S. manufacturing footprints are likely to receive exemptions, though the exact parameters remain uncertain. News over the weekend revealed the U.S. government will levy a 15% fee on some of Nvidia's and AMD's chip sales to China, which adds to the uncertainty of doing business overseas. What is certain, however, is that strengthening the U.S. semiconductor industry is a priority. Major chipmakers' shares rallied amid the tariff announcement last week as investors mostly welcomed the news. The move, rooted in Section 232 national security justification, aims to accelerate domestic chip production, complementing the subsidies under the CHIPS and Science Act. Semis have already had a great summer. This is AMD the past year: The fact that this announcement took this long is surprising. Tariffs on bananas and iPhones products that cannot or should not be built in the U.S. are highly contested. However, it is widely accepted from both sides of the aisle and most economists that semiconductors are a critical pillar of modern economic and national security infrastructure for the U.S. Tariffs on imported chips and related technologies are viewed as a tool to protect and incentivize the U.S.-based production, ensuring a stable supply, safeguarding intellectual property and maintaining a competitive edge in the global AI race. Tariffs on imported semiconductors and related components help U.S. companies by making foreign-made chips more expensive relative to domestically produced ones, encouraging both manufacturers and end users to source from U.S.-based suppliers. Equipment makers such as KLAC and LRCX benefit as domestic fabs expand capacity, while chip designers like AMD and NVDA gain from increased availability of homegrown manufacturing partners and potentially reduced reliance on overseas foundries. This could bring supply chain risk for companies like TSM and NVDA much lower than it is today. Over time, this combination of market share retention, higher margins, and supply chain security can enhance competitiveness and support long-term growth. Risk Management Josh Let's take a look at KLA and Lam. KLAC's bounce off the rising 50-day moving average is impressive, but it may already be fully valued based on the fundamental outlook. According to Tipranks, there are 19 analysts on the Street with coverage and the average price target is $950. Citi has the high target at $1,060 which the analyst reiterated on Aug. 4. I like the chart for LRCX better. This looks like a breakout in progress to me. Below I'm showing you another bounce off the 50-day plus a 200-day that is now starting to turn up after a year of trendlessness. In the next chart, I'm showing you a longer term look with that July 2024 top looming large overhead. That's around $111-$113 and that would be a logical area of resistance. I like this name longer term if it can remain above the 50-week moving average, currently $80 per share. Below that, you're going to get some congestion or worse. Should the stock make it back to the old highs, it will be critical to watch whether the buyers can take it through. Disclosures: None. All opinions expressed by the CNBC Pro contributors are solely their opinions and do not reflect the opinions of CNBC, NBC UNIVERSAL, their parent company or affiliates, and may have been previously disseminated by them on television, radio, internet or another medium. THE ABOVE CONTENT IS SUBJECT TO OUR TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND PRIVACY POLICY . THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSITUTE FINANCIAL, INVESTMENT, TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE OR A RECOMMENDATION TO BUY ANY SECURITY OR OTHER FINANCIAL ASSET. THE CONTENT IS GENERAL IN NATURE AND DOES NOT REFLECT ANY INDIVIDUAL'S UNIQUE PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ABOVE CONTENT MIGHT NOT BE SUITABLE FOR YOUR PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES. BEFORE MAKING ANY FINANCIAL DECISIONS, YOU SHOULD STRONGLY CONSIDER SEEKING ADVICE FROM YOUR OWN FINANCIAL OR INVESTMENT ADVISOR. INVESTING INVOLVES RISK. EXAMPLES OF ANALYSIS CONTAINED IN THIS ARTICLE ARE ONLY EXAMPLES. THE VIEWS AND OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE CONTRIBUTORS AND DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE OFFICIAL POLICY OR POSITION OF RITHOLTZ WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC. JOSH BROWN IS THE CEO OF RITHOLTZ WEALTH MANAGEMENT AND MAY MAINTAIN A SECURITY POSITION IN THE SECURITIES DISCUSSED. ASSUMPTIONS MADE WITHIN THE ANALYSIS ARE NOT REFLECTIVE OF THE POSITION OF RITHOLTZ WEALTH MANAGEMENT, LLC" TO THE END OF OR OUR DISCLOSURE. Click here for the full disclaimer. The world's largest sovereign wealth fund, Norges Bank Investment Management, announced Monday, that it is reducing its investments in Israeli companies due to the "humanitarian crisis" in Gaza. NBIM is reviewing its investments in Israeli companies at the request of Norway's finance ministry. The fund was invested in 61 Israeli companies at the end of the first half of the year, of which 11 were not in the equity benchmark index of the ministry. The bank said it decided, early last week, to sell all investments in Israeli companies that are not in the equity benchmark index, and to terminate contracts with external fund managers in Israel. "We have spent the recent days selling all our investments in Israeli companies that are not in the equity benchmark index. We have now completely sold out of these positions," it said in the press release. "The fund's investments in Israel will now be limited to companies that are in the equity benchmark index. However, we will not be invested in all Israeli companies in the index." NBIM said it reached out to over 60 companies since 2020 to raise the issue, and 39 of them were related to the West Bank and Gaza. "These measures were taken in response to extraordinary circumstances," NBIM's CEO Nicolai Tangen said. "The situation in Gaza is a serious humanitarian crisis. We are invested in companies that operate in a country at war, and conditions in the West Bank and Gaza have recently worsened. "In response, we will further strengthen our due diligence. The measures we are taking will simplify the management of our investments in this market and reduce the number of companies that we and the Council on Ethics monitor," Tangen added. Sawdah Bhaimiya In this article SFIX Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Courtesy: Stitch Fix Could Stitch Fix be on the path to a comeback? The clothing subscription service, one of the many pandemic winners that's struggled to find itself in a post-lockdown world, is back to growth and seeing some early wins from a turnaround strategy that's just over two years in the making. Under CEO Matt Baer, a former Walmart and Macy's executive who was tapped to helm the business in June 2023, Stitch Fix posted its first revenue growth in 12 straight quarters for the three months ended May 3. It's now forecasting its second consecutive quarter of top-line growth. While the apparel company's customer file is still shrinking, its average order value has grown for seven consecutive quarters and every client cohort it's acquired since last summer has stayed with the company for longer, and spent more, it said. The company, which charges a $20 styling fee for all "fixes" it sends, saw revenue per active client grow to $542 during its most recent quarter, up 3% from the year-ago period. "It's been really affirming to us that, you know, with this return to growth, with this increase in engagement, with this increase in average order value, that we do have the right strategy," Baer told CNBC in an interview. "We've got the right team and we're executing against it at a high level as well." Stitch Fix hasn't posted an annual profit since 2019 but for three straight quarters, its year-over-year losses have narrowed. It regularly generates free cash flow and its balance sheet is free of debt. To be sure, Stitch Fix's sales growth in its fiscal third quarter was modest, up just 0.7%, but it expects those gains to continue in its current quarter with sales projected to be flat to up 1.7% year over year. And the company's stock price is still down more than 95% from its pandemic high in January 2021. So far this year, it's up more than 3% as of Friday's close. The rise and fall Retail and restaurant consultant Katrina Lake founded Stitch Fix in 2011 with the mission to combine data with personalized styling to develop a shopping experience that actually felt individualized at scale. In a world where shoppers regularly groan about the banality of modern-day shopping, Stitch Fix sought to be the panacea by offering accessible personal stylists that could design and ship outfits specific to a customer's unique needs and preferences. Between its IPO in 2017 and 2021, the company was able to acquire customers cheaply online and regularly posted revenue growth north of 20%. Katrina Lake, CEO of Stitch Fix and others, celebrate their IPO at the Nasdaq, November 17, 2017. Source: Nasdaq But then the market grew crowded and suddenly, customers found themselves overwhelmed by all of the companies looking to sell them a monthly subscription box, whether it was a package of clothes, beauty products or dog treats. The pandemic had changed the way customers were shopping for clothes, and Stitch Fix struggled to hang on to the customers it acquired. Some shoppers found the company's service clunky and confusing, and the assortment started to feel stale and out of style. The company's main value proposition, its personalized styling service, began to feel generic to some and disconnected from their personalized needs and style. Within four years, the company went from an $11 billion buzzy startup to a tiny business that's now worth just under $600 million. In January 2023, StitchFix announced that CEO Elizabeth Spaulding would be stepping down and Lake would return to the helm as its interim CEO and lead the search process for a new top executive. The road to a comeback Before joining Stitch Fix, Baer spent four years as a vice president on Walmart's e-commerce team during a critical phase of its online growth. He later joined Macy's as its chief customer and digital officer, where he remained until Lake hired him to revive the subscription styling service. But Baer's career in retail started long before that: At 16, he started working in his family business, Baer's Furniture & Interior Design, a small chain of furniture stores dotted along the Florida coasts and founded by his great-grandfather in 1945. "Growing up in a retail family business, when your name's on the door, it might mean a little bit extra," Baer said. "At a very young age, I was also front and center with our clients. I was greeting them when they would walk into a showroom. I was asking them what it is that they were looking for. I was able to understand their needs and translate that into an exceptional service that we could provide." Matt Baer, CEO of Stitch Fix Courtesy: Stitch Fix Baer said his first order of business after taking over at Stitch Fix was to understand the company's primary client and how that shopper was experiencing the service. Within a few months, he was attending client focus groups, styling "fixes" the curated shipments of clothes that go out to customers and identifying parts of the process that could be improved for both shoppers and the company's roster of stylists. He said he learned that customers liked the flexibility of Stitch Fix's model but wanted more of it, along with more head-to-toe styling that included accessories and footwear. In Stitch Fix's early days, customers had one option five items in a box at a recurring cadence with one discount mechanism but these days, there's less rigidity. Customers can order a fix on demand, opt in for regular deliveries or shop through Stitch Fix's "freestyle" catalog, which allows them to instantly select and buy pieces based on their style profile. These changes, along with larger fixes that can include eight items, is what's fueling Stitch Fix's growth in sales and average order value, said Baer. Behind the scenes, Baer said, he also sought to infuse "retail best practices" into every facet of the business, which has a model that comes with steep operational challenges. With no physical retail presence, Stitch Fix's online customer acquisition is expensive and the company has to manage the headaches of packing individual boxes and then processing the stream of free returns that come when clients don't like the items that came with their fix. Under Baer's direction, the company has worked to streamline merchandising, pricing, transportation and warehouse operations. It exited the U.K. market, closed two fulfilment centers and cut staff to get costs closer in line with the size of the business. That work is still ongoing but has cut more than $100 million in annualized general and administrative expenses out of the business, Baer said. An additional $80 million in cost savings is slated for fiscal 2025, research firm William Blair said in a July note. Courtesy: Stitch Fix Another primary area of focus was adjusting Stitch Fix's assortment and revamping its private brand portfolio, which comes at a higher margin and makes up between 40% and 50% of sales, according to Stich Fix. The company has launched new private brands, and one of its men's lines, The Commons, is now a top 10 brand within the overall portfolio, said Baer. The company has deployed generative artificial intelligence for product design and development and on Monday announced plans to expand its use of AI to improve its styling. A new AI "style assistant" will allow customers to talk to a chatbot that can recommend AI-generated outfits based on their individual preferences. It also plans to deploy a service that will allow clients to see themselves in the outfits suggested for them based on their stylist's insights and other data, which could reduce returns and boost conversion. For those more eager for a human touch, the company is also launching a new platform that'll allow shoppers to connect directly with their stylist if they need fashion advice or help with their fix. More than two years into his tenure, Baer said he's still attending monthly client focus groups and styling fixes for customers "nearly every day," which he said allows him to stay close to customers. "One client, she lives in Letcher, South Dakota, population 159, and it's only because of Stitch Fix that she has access to these brands, that she has the ability to wear product and clothes that are differentiated, unique and special within her community," said Baer. "That feels great when I give her that confidence, when I'm able to create that joy for her." More work ahead A federal judge in New York on Monday rejected a request by the Justice Department to unseal grand jury transcripts related to the criminal investigation of Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted procurer for notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Judge Paul Engelmayer, in his ruling, scoffed at the Justice Department's rationale for wanting the transcripts unsealed. "Its entire premise that the Maxwell grand jury materials would bring to light meaningful new information about Epstein's and Maxwell's crimes, or the Government's investigation into them is demonstrably false," Engelmayer wrote in his decision in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. Engelmayer said the Justice Department was being "disingenuous" in making that argument for disclosure. The Justice Department sought the unsealing of grand jury material related to Maxwell and Epstein after the Trump administration faced harsh criticism for its decision not to publicly release the investigative file on Epstein. A federal judge in Florida on July 23 denied the department's request to unseal grand jury transcripts about a probe of Epstein in that state by federal prosecutors in the mid-2000s. The Justice Department's request before another federal judge in Manhattan to unseal grand jury transcripts related to Epstein's later indictment there is still pending. Engelmayer, in his decision Monday on the Maxwell-related transcripts, quoted a 1973 legal ruling, which said that "the policy that 'proceedings before a grand jury shall generally remain secret' is 'older than our Nation itself.'" Engelmayer also said that none of the arguments that the Justice Department cited for unsealing the transcripts met one of the exceptions authorizing the disclosure of grand jury materials allowed by the federal appeals court circuit that includes New York. JPMorgan is staying bullish on CoreWeave in the lead-up to its quarterly results Tuesday after the bell. Analyst Mark Murphy raised his price target on the cloud computing stock to $135 from $66, implying more than 4% upside from Friday's close, and maintained his overweight rating. Murphy said he's "cautiously optimistic" on the long-term prospects of the company, especially after it secured a five-year deal with OpenAI earlier this year for artificial intelligence data centers at $11.9 billion. "Our sense is that CoreWeave's opportunities are going to get bigger and lumpier, likely to the surprise of investors, though we are not making a specific call on the upcoming Q2 results as it is likely a futile exercise to speculate on the closing of specific deals and investors should in fact expect extreme lumpiness in CoreWeave's pattern of large bookings," the analyst wrote in a note dated Sunday. While Murphy thinks CoreWeave's long-term artificial intelligence ramp is "clear" and "intact," he said the timing between its large bookings and buildouts remain an overhang on a quarterly basis. That could create "ongoing extreme volatility in CRWV shares," he said. CRWV 3M mountain CRWV, 3-month Still, the analyst is optimistic about the trajectory of the company's business pipeline, which could ultimately lead to growth in the long run. "Although timing and lumpiness still give us pause and create extreme volatility, we are positive on the potential for continued momentum in CoreWeave's business pipeline, and our field work suggests long-range potential for binary-outcome transactions which are very difficult to handicap and, if successful, can drive a very surprising magnitude of outsized growth and outsized debt financing with short-term cash burn," Murphy said. Murphy is in the minority of analysts covering the stock, as 16 out of 24 in total have stepped to the sidelines with a hold rating, per LSEG. Its roughly $100 consensus target also implies more than 22% downside. The stock was almost 3% higher in premarket trading Monday. Shares have soared more than 152% over the past three months but only about 3% over the past month. Lithium stocks surged Monday on reports that battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology, CATL, suspended production at a mine in China that plays a key role in supplying the global market. Shares of U.S. miner Albemarle , based in Charlotte, North Carolina, jumped 7% to close at $80.76 and the Sprott Lithium Miners ETF surged 14% as investors expected lithium prices to rise as supply falls. CATL has suspended production at the Yichun Project after the mine's permit expired Saturday, the Chinese company told CNBC. It is working to renew the permit and will resume lithium production at the mine as soon as it receives approval, the company said. The mine in question produces about 4% of global lithium supply forecast for 2025, according to Morgan Stanley. The lithium supply and demand balance was already tightening, with a small surplus expected in 2025, according to the investment bank. "Depending on the length of the Jianxiawo outage, and if there are any further disruptions elsewhere, the market is likely to move closer to balance in the remainder of the year, bringing upside risk to prices," Amy Gower, a commodity strategist at Morgan Stanley, told clients in a Monday note. Jianxiawo is the specific CATL mine within the larger Yichun Project in China's Jiangxi province. Here are Monday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Wells Fargo reiterates Nvidia as overweight Wells Fargo raised its price target on the stock to $220 per share from $185 ahead of earnings later this month. "With strong intra-qtr demand data points + reports of approved licenses to resume H20 sales into China, we increase our ests (above street) ahead of NVDA's upcoming (8/27) F2Q26 print." Read more . Morgan Stanley reiterates Tesla as overweight Morgan Stanley said it is sticking with top pick Tesla. " TSLA is reportedly scaling back its ambitious in-house custom silicon compute efforts, emphasizing partnerships with suppliers such as NVIDIA in-house inference capability." Wells Fargo upgrades Varonis Systems to overweight from equal weight Wells Fargo said the software company is well positioned for artificial intelligence. "We are upgrading VRNS to OW as we believe the company is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing adoption of Agentic AI." RBC initiates Advanced Drainage Systems as overweight RBC said the stormwater management company is well positioned. "We are initiating coverage on the highly profitable stormwater management leader Advanced Drainage with an Outperform rating and $159 price target (~20% upside)." D.A. Davidson downgrades C3.ai to underperform from neutral D.A. Davidson downgraded the AI company after it reported disappointing preliminary results on Friday. "We are downgrading AI from Neutral to UNDERPERFORM after the company reported preliminary results this past Friday after the close that came in significantly below guidance." Seaport initiates Arm as buy Seaport said shares of Arm have plenty of room to run. "Arm Holdings plc (ARM) creates significant value for the semiconductor industry. Its management team's goal is to extract a larger share of that value as it expands into new markets and deepens its content offerings." Morgan Stanley upgrades Freeport-McMoRan to overweight from equal weight Morgan Stanley said the mining company is a tariff beneficiary. "We expect that FCX will be able to raise pricing in its annual copper rod contracts for 2026, which account for the majority of the company's North America sales volumes." JPMorgan upgrades Nutrien to overweight from neutral JPMorgan said the fertilizer company is best positioned. " Nutrien is executing on its restructuring measures to achieve $200 million in cost savings, on an accelerated timeline by the end of 2025." Deutsche Bank reiterates Snowflake as buy Deutsche Bank said it is bullish on the stock ahead of earnings later this month. "We expec t Snowflake to deliver a solid 3%-4% beat on Product revenue in F2Q with y/y growth accelerating for the first time in several years." JPMorgan reiterates CoreWeave as overweight JPMorgan raised its price target on the stock to $135 per share from $66. "Heading into CoreWeave's FQ2 (June) earnings results next week, the central theme is the ongoing shortage in global AI capacity coupled with the huge ramp in demand to continually push frontier models forward." Read more. Loop reiterates Apple as hold Loop raised its price target to $230 per share from $215 on Apple. "We remind investors that Sep Q revenue guidance is right where we'd expected up 'mid to high single digits' and as such we continue to view things heading into the iPhone 17 launch largely as we've anticipated." Melius downgrades Adobe to sell from neutral Melius said it is concerned Adobe is losing share. "Our checks and a dose of common sense tells us that customers - especially new and young ones - won't want to pay for an all-you-can-eat Creative Suite buffet if these AI-first tools are available." Morgan Stanley upgrades E.l.f Beauty to overweight from equal weight Morgan Stanley said consensus is too low for the beauty company. "We are upgrading ELF to OW, as consensus looks materially too low considering potential profit contribution far above street/ consensus expectations from ELF pricing, upside from rhode accretion, and solid base business growth even noting volatility." A couple of catalysts could propel shares of Nvidia higher in the coming months, according to Wells Fargo. As investors gear up for the artificial intelligence's earnings after the bell Aug. 27, the firm increased its price target to $220 from $185 and reiterated an overweight rating on the stock. The firm's updated target implies 20.4% upside potential from Friday's close. This comes after the Financial Times reported that Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices agreed to give the federal government a 15% share of their revenue from selling certain chips in China, namely Nvidia's H20 chips and AMD's MI308 chips. The agreement allows the two companies to receive export licenses to sell those chips. "We would assume NVDA can recapture the full $8B/qtr revenue impact the H20 China ban was expected to have on the F2Q26 (July) qtr by F4Q26 (Jan)," analyst Aaron Rakers wrote in a note on Monday. "We would expect China demand to grow from the $8B/qtr level going forward." Along with the report of approved licenses to resume H20 chip sales in China, Rakers pointed to strength in U.S. imports of automated data processing, or ADP, machines in June and Taiwanese exports of ADP machines in July. "We see our analysis of highly correlated macro data points coupled w/ strong rptd + guided hyperscale capex trends as supporting solid upside," the analyst wrote. "We also appreciate that there has been increasing upside bogey sentiment into upcoming (8/27) F2Q26 print." NVDA 3M mountain NVDA, 3-month Shares of Nvidia were nearly 1% lower in the premarket Monday. Overall, the stock has had a solid year, outperforming the broader market with a 56% gain over the past three months and a 36% rise year to date. President Donald Trump on Monday delayed high U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods from snapping back into place for another 90 days, a White House official told CNBC. Those tariffs were set to resume Tuesday. But Trump signed an executive order hours beforehand that extends the deadline until mid-November, according to the official. The delay was the expected outcome from the latest round of talks between U.S. trade negotiators and their Chinese counterparts, which took place in Stockholm in late July. If the deadline were not extended, then U.S. duties on China would have shot back up to where they stood in April, when the tariff war between the world's largest trading nations was at its peak. At that time, Trump had cranked up blanket tariffs on Chinese imports to 145%, and China had retaliated with 125% duties on U.S. goods. California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a news conference with Texas lawmakers at the Governors Mansion in Sacramento, California, July 25, 2025. California Gov. Gavin Newsom warned President Donald Trump on Monday that he will push to redraw his state's congressional district maps if Trump does not call on Texas and other Republican-led states to end efforts to redraw their own districts. "You are playing with fire, risking the destabilization of our democracy, while knowing that California can neutralize any gains you hope to make," Newsom, a Democrat, wrote in a letter to Trump. Newsom said the GOP-led states are seeking to redesign their congressional maps to "rig the upcoming midterm elections" to benefit Republican candidates. If the Republican majority in the Texas legislature is successful in redrawing district maps, it is expected to give their party an additional five seats in the House of Representatives. Democrats currently need to flip three House seats to win back control of that congressional chamber in the 2026 midterms. Trump, in an interview last week with CNBC, said that his fellow Republicans are "entitled to five more seats" in the House. Trump accused California and Illinois, which have Democratic-controlled House caucuses, of gerrymandering their congressional districts to maintain that edge. Newsom, in his letter to Trump, wrote, "This attempt to rig congressional maps to hold onto power before a single vote is cast in the 2026 election is an affront to American democracy." "This is not what the Founders envisioned, and California cannot stand idly by as this power grab unfolds," Newsom wrote. "If you will not stand down, I will be forced to lead an effort to redraw the maps in California to offset the rigging of maps in red states," Newsom wrote. The governor added that if the other states "call off their redistricting efforts, we will happily do the same." Newsom's warning is among the starkest examples of Democrats vowing to counter the effort in Texas to redraw congressional maps. That effort has reached a fever pitch in recent days as Democratic state lawmakers have fled Texas to deny Republicans a quorum needed to advance legislation in the state House. A number of Democratic lawmakers on Sunday suggested that the party has to "fight back" against the redistricting effort. U.S. President Donald Trump (L) listens as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang speaks in the Cross Hall of the White House during an event on "Investing in America" on April 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. President Donald Trump on Monday said that he initially asked Nvidia for a 20% cut of the chipmaker's sales to China, but the number came down to 15% after CEO Jensen Huang negotiated with him. The comments came after news broke over the weekend that Nvidia agreed to pay the federal government a 15% cut in return for receiving export control licenses that will allow it to once again sell the H20 chip to China and Chinese companies. Nvidia's Huang visited Trump in the White House on Friday. "I said, 'listen, I want 20% if I'm going to approve this for you, for the country,'" Trump said at a news conference in Washington. Trump said that Nvidia's H20 is an "old chip that China already has" and is "obsolete." He compared the H20 chip to Nvidia's current fastest artificial intelligence chip, which is called Blackwell, and said that he wouldn't allow those to be sold to China without significant downgrades, such as a 30% to 50% reduction in performance. "The Blackwell is super-duper advanced. I wouldn't make a deal with that," Trump said, adding that it was possible to make a deal for a "somewhat enhanced in a negative way" version of Blackwell. "That's the latest and the greatest in the world. Nobody has it. They won't have it for five years," Trump said. One reason for the U.S. export controls is fear that providing advanced chips to China could allow the foreign power to leapfrog the U.S. in AI capabilities. Many have said that could pose a threat to the national security of the U.S. Trump said that China already has chips with some similar capabilities to the H20. Huang has said that it is better for U.S. national security if Chinese AI developers use U.S. technology, and that denying them access to Nvidia chips would actually encourage the Chinese chip industry to develop and catch up. "He's selling a essentially old chip," Trump said. "Huawei has a similar chip." The H20 is a Chinese-specific chip that has had its performance slowed down. It is related to Nvidia's H100 and H200 chips that are used in the U.S. The H20 was introduced after the Biden administration implemented export controls on AI chips in 2023. In April, the Trump administration said it would require a license to export the H20 chip, and in May, Huang said that "effectively closed" the market off to Nvidia. Huang said that Nvidia was expecting to sell about $8 billion in H20 chips in the July quarter before sales were stopped. "While we haven't shipped H20 to China for months, we hope export control rules will let America compete in China and worldwide," an Nvidia spokesperson told CNBC on Monday. Trump on Monday also said that Huang plans to visit him again to negotiate export licenses for the Blackwell chips. "I think he's coming to see me again about that," Trump said. A White House official confirmed to CNBC that Advanced Micro Devices , the second-place AI chipmaker, will also pay 15% to receive an export license for its China-focused AI chip, the Instinct MI308. In this article NVDA AMD Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT watch now Nvidia and AMD have agreed to share 15% of their revenue from sales to China with the U.S. government, the White House confirmed Monday, sparking debate about whether the move could impact the chip giants' business and whether Washington might seek out similar deals. In exchange for the revenue cut, the two semiconductor companies will receive export licenses to sell Nvidia's H20 and AMD's MI308 chips in China, according to the Financial Times. "We follow rules the U.S. government sets for our participation in worldwide markets. While we haven't shipped H20 to China for months, we hope export control rules will let America compete in China and worldwide," Nvidia said in a statement to NBC News. "America cannot repeat 5G and lose telecommunication leadership. America's AI tech stack can be the world's standard if we race." AMD said in a statement that its initial license applications to export MI308 chips to China have been approved. The arrangement crafted by U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is "unusual", analysts told CNBC, but underscores the transactional nature of the current White House leader. Meanwhile, investors see the move as broadly positive for both Nvidia and AMD, which once more secure access to the Chinese market. What it means for Nvidia and AMD Nvidia's H20 is a chip that has been specifically created to meet export requirements to China. It was previously banned under export curbs but the company last month said it expected to receive licenses to send the product to China. Also in July, AMD said it would resume exports of its MI308 chips. At the time, there was no suggestion that the resumption of sales to China would come with conditions or any kind of revenue forfeiture, and the step was celebrated by markets because of the billions of dollars worth of potential sales to China that were back on the table. Shares of both companies closed moderately lower Monday. "From an investor perspective, it's still a net positive, 85% of the revenue is better than zero," Ben Barringer, global technology analyst at Quilter Cheviot, told CNBC. "The question will be whether Nvidia and AMD adjust their prices by 15% to account for the levy, but ultimately it's better that they can sell into the market rather than hand the market over entirely to Huawei." Huawei is Nvidia and AMD's closest Chinese rival. Uncertainty nevertheless still looms for both U.S. companies over the longer term. "In the short term, the deal gives both companies some certainties for their exports to China. For the long term, we don't know if the U.S. government may want to take a bigger cut from their China business especially if their sales to China keep growing," George Chen, partner and co-chair of the digital practice at The Asia Group, told CNBC. Trump unlikely to strike similar deals Multiple analysts told CNBC that the deal is "unusual," but almost par for the course for Trump. "It's a good development, albeit a strange one, and feels like the sort of arrangement you might expect from President Trump, who is a deal-maker at heart. He's willing to yield, but only if he gets something in return, and this certainly sets an unusual precedent," Barringer said. Neil Shah, partner at Counterpoint Research, said the revenue cut is equivalent to an "indirect tariff at source." Daniel Newman, CEO of The Futurum Group, also posted Sunday on X that the move is a "sort of 'tax' for doing business in China." But such deals are unlikely to be cut for other companies. "I don't anticipate it extending to other sectors that are just as important to the U.S. economy like software and services," Nick Patience, practice lead for AI at The Futurum Group, told CNBC. The U.S. sees semiconductors as a strategic technology, given they underpin so many other tools like artificial intelligence, consumer electronics and even military applications. Washington has therefore put chips under an export control regime unlike that of any other product. "Semiconductor is a very unique business and the pay-to-play tactic may work for Nvidia and AMD because it's very much about getting export approval from the U.S. gov," The Asia Group's Chen said. "Other business like Apple and Meta can be more complicated when it comes to their business models and services for China." How China could react FILE PHOTO: 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. Jorge Silva | Reuters Talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. counterpart Donald Trump are still days away, but the two leaders' upcoming meeting to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine is already seen as a victory for the Kremlin, the Russian economy and global financial markets. The discussions are set to take place on Friday in Alaska. "This is already a big win for Putin to be invited for the first time since 2007 to meet with the U.S. president on American soil. Is a wonderful achievement, from his point of view, no conditions and the absence of Ukraine, the absence of any European representation. This is already a triumph," Richard Portes, head of the Economics faculty at the London Business School, told CNBC Monday. watch now There are concerns that Ukraine could be forced to cede Russian-occupied territory to Moscow, and the mood is dour in Kyiv, whose officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have so far not been invited to attend the talks. Kyiv has said no deal about its future would be struck in its absence, and European leaders are pushing strongly for Ukraine's involvement. The U.S., for its part, has said it's considering inviting Zelenskyy, NBC News reported. In the meantime, economists say the talks which take place as Russia makes gains on the battlefield in southern and eastern Ukraine, with no ceasefire deal in sight are already a win for Putin and his war-centered economy that is laboring under international sanctions and stubbornly high inflation of 9.4% in June. "[Putin] starts from a relatively strong position on the battlefield. They're advancing ... On the other hand, from the economic point of view, he starts from a weak position. The Russian economy is not in very good shape. They're running a significant fiscal deficit, partly because oil revenues are down very substantially, oil and gas [are down] because of the oil price. And ... this is a weak economy," Portes told CNBC's "Europe Early Edition." Coming into talks with a strong position in the battlefield, Russia is likely to want immediate sanctions relief as part of any ceasefire deal, as well as Ukrainian territorial concessions. The Kremlin has spied a rapprochement with Washington as an opportunity not only for an economic recovery, but investment. Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov on Saturday stated that "the economic interests of our countries intersect in Alaska and the Arctic, and there are prospects for implementing large-scale and mutually beneficial projects," the Kremlin stated. Portes said that if Trump "had the patience and the willingness to apply sanctions properly, then waiting [to hold talks] would result in a very significant change in the balance of forces." As things stand, however, Trump has mulled but so far held off on increasing sanctions on Russia. Washington has instead threatened the Kremlin's remaining trading partners, such as India, with "secondary sanctions" and additional trade tariffs for continuing with purchases of Russian oil, which have funded Moscow's war machine. Russian President Vladimir Putin participates in the BRICS Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, via videolink from Moscow, Russia, on July 6, 2025. Mikhail Metzel | Via Reuters Asked whether Trump could press ahead with more punitive sanctions to push Putin toward a peace deal, Portes asked: "Can anyone predict what the President of the United States will do from one day to the next? It's very difficult." "The likelihood of an increase in sanctions pressure is significant, but ... given Trump's desire for a Nobel Prize, the the likelihood that Trump will increase sanctions at this stage. Does not look very high, but he could change his mind tomorrow," he said. 'Win-win' for defense stocks Global financial markets reacted positively to the announcement on Friday that talks to end the war would take place imminently, with bourses in Europe and U.S. rising. Defense stocks in Europe fell on the news, however, as traders appeared to bet that peace could deter further investment pledged by NATO allies. The spot price of gold, seen as a safe haven in times of geopolitical and financial market stress, was down around 1% at $3,364 per ounce, as of 8a.m. London time on Monday. Shares of Germany's Rheinmetall were trading lower by almost 4% while Hensoldt declined by 1.5% and Renk fell 3.3% in early trades. Italy's Leonardo and France's Thales were also down by 1.9% and 1.7% respectively. Meanwhile, London-listed BAE Systems and Babcock also gave up gains from earlier in the day, down 1.1% and 1.3%, respectively around 9 a.m. London time. But Christopher Granville, managing director at TS Lombard, said that the talks could ultimately prove to be a "win-win for European defense stocks" and advised investors to "buy on that weakness." watch now A man walks past China's and USA's flags before a meeting between US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and China's Vice Premier He Lifeng at the Guangdong Zhudao Guest House in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, on April 5, 2024. Pedro Pardo | Afp | Getty Images The U.S. and China have yet to announce an extension to their tariff deadline, with tensions over several thorny issues flaring up again just as a fragile truce nears its expiry. Following the latest bilateral meeting in Stockholm in July, Beijing had struck an optimistic tone, saying that both sides would work toward extending the tariff truce by another 90 days. U.S. negotiators, however, had put the ball in President Donald Trump's court on prolonging the tariff truce. Trump, so far, has offered little indication on whether he will go for an extension, stoking concerns that tensions between the world's two largest economies could rise again. In May, the two sides agreed to a 90-day tariff truce that reduced the prohibitive 145% duties in April while also pausing a series of punitive measures, allowing room for further negotiation to reach a lasting deal. That agreement is set to expire Tuesday. China's U.S.-bound shipments currently face a 20% tariff related to the country's alleged role in the flow of fentanyl into the U.S. and a 10% baseline tariff, stacked on top of a 25% duty on certain goods imposed during Trump's first term. American goods to China are subject to over 32.6% tariffs, according to the Peterson Institute for International Economics. The Office of the United States Trade Representative and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China did not respond to CNBC's requests for comments. While an official tariff extension still hangs in the balance, experts widely expect a summit between Trump and Xi to take place in Beijing in the coming months. "That implies a more stable U.S.-China relationship ... but by no means a friendlier one," said Ian Bremmer, president and founder of Eurasia Group, noting that both sides are "structurally heading more toward decoupling as a consequence of the new global trade and geopolitical environment." Purchase agreement, transshipment Despite the tariff truce, trade between the Washington and Beijing has been hit substantially. China's July trade data showed its exports to the U.S. shrank for a fourth consecutive month, falling 21.7% from a year earlier. Shipments in May had sunk by the most since the start of the pandemic, according to data from Wind Information. A potential trade deal could involve China committing to ramp up purchases of U.S. goods, particularly energy, agricultural goods, and if the U.S. allowed it, semiconductors and chipmaking equipment, said Julian Evans-Pritchard, head of China economics at Capital Economics. China's overall imports from the U.S. dropped 10.3% in the January to July period. The final deal could take various forms, said Evans-Pritchard, noting that one of the most probable outcome would be a "sequel" to the phase-one agreement signed in January 2020. At that time, China had agreed to a $200 billion increase in annual purchases of U.S. goods and services relative to the 2017 levels, a target that Beijing eventually failed to meet as the pandemic disrupted trade. "It is plausible that Trump may treat the Phase One deal as unfinished business, revamping it with even higher purchase targets," added Evans-Pritchard. In a post on Truth Social Sunday night stateside, Trump said he hoped China to "quickly quadruple its soybean orders." China has ramped up soybean purchases in recent months, with imports volumes growing 36.2%, 10.4% and 18.4% in May, June and July, respectively, according to Wind Information. China's total exports to the U.S. have dropped 12.6% this year as of July. That has, however, been largely offset by a 13.5% export growth to Southeast Asian nations, drawing scrutiny over the so-called "transshipment" of goods. Trade experts have warned that exports a critical growth driver for China's economy could slow down in the coming months as Trump levies a blanket 40% tariff on goods routed through third-party countries, although providing little clarity over how those shipments would be defined. Semiconductor export controls Tensions between the U.S. and China on semiconductor export controls have also escalated in recent weeks, even as Nvidia plans to resume sales of its H20 chip to China, reversing export controls on H20 sales imposed by Trump in April. The H20 resumption signaled a "modest course correction rather than a strategic shift," said Gabriel Wildau, managing director at political consultancy Teneo, noting that substantial export-control loosening will not occur. That said, Trump may consider offering concessions on export controls that others in his administration consider "excessive" in order to conclude a deal with Beijing, Wildau added. The resumption of H20 sales comes as national security hawks in the Trump administration warn that U.S. chips and other technology could strengthen China's AI sector and its military. Others argue that further restrictions risk backfiring, and could prompt Beijing to accelerate efforts to develop domestic alternatives and reduce reliance on American suppliers. Chinese officials have pushed for the U.S. to ease export controls on high-bandwidth memory chips whose shipments to China were banned by former President Joe Biden in 2024 the Financial Times reported Sunday. Nvidia and AMD have agreed to give the U.S. government 15% of their revenues from chip sales to China in order to secure export licenses, Financial Times reported. "What we are seeing is in effect the monetization of U.S. trade policy in which American companies must pay the US government for permission to export. If that's the case, we've entered into a new and dangerous world," said Stephen Olson, senior visiting fellow at ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute and a former U.S. trade negotiator. Subscribe now Weekly analysis and insights from Asia's largest economy in your inbox Rare-earth exports The leverage that Beijing wields through its dominance of rare earths could be an additional factor pushing Trump to offer concessions and a card that Beijing will almost certainly use, according to experts. Beijing agreed to relax its export ban on rare-earth metals and magnets to the U.S. in June and moved to expedite licensing process following a series of negotiations, although few details were made available about its commitment to speed up shipments of the critical minerals. In June, the country's rare-earth exports globally surged 60% to 7,742 metric tons, highest since January 2012, according to data on Wind Information, before dropping to 5,994.3 metric tons in July. China's exports of rare-earth magnets to the U.S. in June jumped more than seven times from the prior month, with American firms receiving about 353 metric tons of the permanent magnets in June, according to official customs data. A similar country-specific breakdown will be released on Aug. 20. Secondary tariffs over Russian crude Another thorny issue in the U.S.-China negotiation is Trump's threat of punishing Beijing with additional tariffs over its purchases of Russian oil. China has been the largest purchaser of Russian oil, followed by India, which saw U.S. tariffs doubled to 50% last week. Answering a question on whether he would consider penalizing China for the same reason, Trump said: "I can't tell you yet. But I can we did it with we did it with India. We're doing it probably with a couple of others. One of them could be China." watch now A suspected botulism epidemic in Italy has led to the death of a 52-year-old musician and left nine others hospitalised. In response, authorities launched a comprehensive investigation and a statewide broccoli ban.According to reports from PEOPLE, Luigi Di Sarno, the artist, stopped at a food truck on the Diamante waterfront in the Cosenza region to buy broccoli and sausage sandwiches on his way home from a family vacation in Calabria.Di Sarno fell seriously ill shortly after they resumed their drive, close to Lagonegro in Potenza, and had to halt in a small Basilicata village. Despite the prompt emergency reaction, the musician died before arriving at the hospital.Members of Di Sarno's family, including two women in their 40s and two 17-year-olds, as well as some other patrons, were also admitted to the hospital. Two patients were reported to be in particularly serious condition, and all were admitted to the intensive care unit at Annunziata Hospital in Cosenza.According to initial investigations, the oil-preserved broccoli that was used in the sandwiches might have been contaminated with botulinum toxin, a rare but potentially lethal neurotoxin that affects the nervous system and causes paralysis and breathing difficulties.To prevent the spread of the suspected epidemic, the Paola Public Prosecutor's Office promptly ordered the confiscation of the involved food truck and jars of the suspect broccoli product.According to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), botulism is caused by Clostridium botulinum, which targets the body's nerves, resulting in respiratory issues, paralysis of the muscles, and death in rare instances.Homemade foods that are improperly canned, preserved or fermented are common sources of foodborne botulism. Botulinum toxin can also be found in store-bought foods; however, this is less prevalent.This incident comes after a botulism outbreak in Sardinia left at least eight people ill. They reportedly consumed tainted guacamole during an event in Cagliari. The incident led to a national examination of food safety regulations and at least one death.Italian health officials responded to both outbreaks by airlifting antitoxin serum to hospitals immediately since the Ministry of Health centrally stores this vital medicine, which is administered through the country's Poison Control Centre. A Sri Lankan lawmaker has urged the Parliament not to take lightly the impact of the US' tariffs on Delhi, stressing that India was the only country to extend critical assistance to the island during its worst economic crisis, a media report said on Monday (August 11).Speaking in Parliament, Harsha de Silva defended New Delhis opposition to what he called US President Donald Trumps unfair and selective trade measures.Dont laugh at India. Dont mock them when they are down because when we were down, they were the only ones to lend us a hand, he was quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror.It aint over until the fat lady sings. We witnessed you laughing. Dont laugh. India expected the tariffs to come down to 15%, and so did we.Sri Lankas 2022 financial collapse left fuel stations dry, food and medicine in short supply and foreign reserves depleted, forcing its first-ever debt default.India emerged as Colombos largest supporter, providing over $4 billion in credit lines, currency swaps and deferred loan repayments, as well as multiple shipments of humanitarian aid.President Trump on Wednesday slapped an additional 25% duty - doubling it to 50 per cent - on Indian goods over New Delhi's continued imports of Russian oil. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Of all the weird decorations from a stuffed black poodle to a framed collection of fake eyeballs that Jeffrey Epstein acquired for his New York mansion, possibly no item invited quite so many questions as a painting of President Clinton sprawled suggestively on an Oval Office chair, wearing a blue dress and heels. It wasnt as immediately disturbing as the first-edition copy of Lolita Vladimir Nabokovs notorious 1955 novel in which a man develops a sexual obsession with a 12-year-old girl which Epstein kept displayed in his office. Or the paintings of naked women, and large silver ball and chain he kept in the massage room where he allegedly raped local schoolgirls. However the prominently displayed 2012 Clinton portrait created by Australian satirical artist Petrina Ryan-Kleid and inspired by the stained blue dress worn by White Office intern Monica Lewinsky during her sexual liaison with the libidinous president raised questions that went far beyond Epsteins questionable taste in art. Insiders claimed it showed how close Epstein was to Clinton, a man usually surrounded by sycophants, that he could make light of such a painfully sensitive subject. Epstein, who also displayed in his living room a signed and framed photo of him and Clinton grinning at each other, delighted in collecting famous people as friends and associates. It not only flattered his huge ego but made him seem more respectable to the girls and women on whom he preyed. And while President Clinton would naturally have been one of that collections prize exhibits, he has always strenuously insisted he barely knew Epstein and only once visited his seven-floor Manhattan town house. However, the Daily Mail can reveal that Ghislaine Maxwell, Epsteins longtime companion and convicted accomplice in his sexual abuse of young women, has now contradicted Clintons claim that Epstein was never more than an acquaintance. Questioned about Bill Clinton and his family during her controversial interrogation by the US Justice Department two weeks ago, Maxwell insisted she and Epstein knew Clinton well, according to sources familiar with the conversation. Jeffrey Epstein, convicted peadophile, and former US president Bill Clinton, date unknown Clinton posing with Ghislaine Maxwell at the top of the stairs of Epstein's jet, dubbed the 'Lolita Express', in 2002 Maxwell who became sufficiently close to the Clintons to attend the 2010 wedding of their daughter Chelsea said she had been a friend of the 42nd president for some time and had flown around the world in his company. She also said hed given her private gifts. The interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche took place behind closed doors in a courthouse in Tallahassee, Florida, near the jail where Maxwell was serving her 20-year sentence. (She has since been transferred.) Were Maxwells attempts to link Epstein to the Clintons a ploy to endear her to Trump, who hates the Democrat family and could, as president, pardon her? She certainly wont want to alienate the White House. But it is also understood that Maxwell resents the Clintons decision to distance themselves from her following her public disgrace. The relationship between Clinton and Epstein is now once again centre of a scandal that wont go away, after the former president and wife Hillary were subpoenaed to testify about Epstein to a congressional investigation. Clinton and his wife, a former Secretary of State whose 1999 Senate run benefited from a $20,000 contribution from Epstein, will be compelled to testify in October before the Republican-led House Oversight Committee. A raft of senior federal officials, including five former attorney-generals and two FBI chiefs, have also been summoned to be grilled on what they know, amid continuing accusations from angry MAGA supporters that the Trump administration is engaged in a cover-up over the Epstein scandal. The bipartisan House Committee says it is examining how federal agencies handle sex-trafficking cases and offer plea deals, and specifically the prosecution of Epstein and Maxwell. In 2008, the former escaped with a minimal custodial sentence thats been described as a mere slapped hand after agreeing an extraordinarily lenient deal with Floridas federal prosecutors. Bill Clinton has consistently denied any knowledge of Epsteins terrible crimes or involvement in any wrongdoing. And that, scoff critics, is despite the fact that flight logs show that he flew at least 26 times on Epsteins private jets planes which the paedophile staffed with teenage girls in an alleged attempt to entice the powerful men on board. However, Clinton has been repeatedly challenged over his claims that his relationship with Epstein was fleeting. Only last month the Wall Street Journal reported that Clinton had been among friends and associates who were asked by Maxwell to write a tribute to Epstein for a commemorative book celebrating his 50th birthday in 2003. In a handwritten note, Clinton said: Its reassuring isnt it, to have lasted as long, across all the years of learning and knowing, adventures and [illegible word], and also to have your childlike curiosity, the drive to make a difference and the solace of friends. Hardly the sort of insight, surely, that one might have gained from merely a passing acquaintance. Perhaps it was no surprise then that James Comer, the committees Republican chairman, didnt mince words in his recent letters to the Clintons, mentioning how Bill has admitted flying on Epsteins private plane and how during one of these trips, you were even pictured receiving a massage from one of Mr Epsteins victims. Comer also mentioned claims that Clinton once pressured Vanity Fair not to publish sex trafficking allegations against his good friend Mr Epstein, adding there are conflicting reports about if he ever visited Mr. Epsteins island. The congressman told Mr Clinton: You were also allegedly close to Ms Maxwell, an Epstein co-conspirator, and attended an intimate dinner with her in 2014, three years after public reports about her involvement in Mr Epsteins abuse of minors. Comers letter to Hillary cited a further connection, noting that Maxwells nephew was employed by Mrs Clintons 2008 failed presidential campaign and then hired by the State Department after she became Secretary of State. At least they were spared mention of a 2020 book, A Convenient Death: The Mysterious Death Of Jeffrey Epstein, by reporters Alana Goodman and Daniel Halper, which sensationally claimed Clinton had an affair with Maxwell. A Clinton spokesman dismissed the allegation as a total lie. The House committee certainly has enough on its agenda to make the Clintons shift uncomfortably in their seats (if they dont try to claim executive privilege, which allows senior members and former members of the US government to withhold information in certain circumstances). And while its clear that even Trumps most loyal supporters want greater transparency over the Epstein scandal, critics have pointed out that congressional Republicans will be doing the President a favour by distracting attention from their leaders own controversial association with Epstein. Trump himself has over the years repeatedly urged the media to focus attention on Clintons relationship with the predator particularly his reported visits to Epsteins Caribbean home, dubbed Paedo Island rather than on his own links. During his recent trip to Scotland, sitting beside Keir Starmer, Trump claimed: I never went to the island, and Bill Clinton went there supposedly 28 times. For the record, Clinton insists he never visited the island, Little St James, although at least three people claim they saw him there. In 2019, it was revealed that Virginia Giuffre, who accused both Epstein and Prince Andrew of sexual abuse, had years earlier told her lawyers that she and two lovely girls from New York once flew there with him some time after his presidency ended in January 2001. The late Giuffre, who alleged she was a teenage sex slave for Epstein and his friends, said they all joined Epstein and Maxwell for a dinner at which Clinton teased the women with playful pokes and brassy comments, adding there was no modesty between any of them before leaving with the pair at the end of the night. In an unpublished memoir, she wrote: Strolling into the darkness with two beautiful girls around either arm, Bill seemed content to retire for the evening. Jeffrey Epstein had a painting which appeared to be Bill Clinton wearing a blue dress and red heels hanging inside his Manhattan home According to Giuffre, who never accused Clinton of any wrongdoing, when she asked Epstein what the ex-president was doing there, he laughed and answered cryptically: He owes me a favour. Giuffre added: He never told me what favours they were. I never knew. I didnt know if he was serious. Steve Scully, an IT contractor who worked for Epstein on the island, said he once saw Clinton with Epstein at his villa on the estate. Scully, a father of three girls, said there were photos of topless women everywhere on the island and he eventually left Epsteins employ because he became uncomfortable about the groups of young girls who appeared to be underage. And in 2020, Doug Band, Clintons former key aide and confidant for 20 years, told Vanity Fair that Clinton visited Paedo Island in January 2003 after hed flown the previous year with Kevin Spacey and Epstein on the latters capacious Boeing 727 (the plane nicknamed the Lolita Express) during a humanitarian five-country trip to Africa for the Clinton Foundation. Band said Epstein gave him bad vibes and hed repeatedly advised his boss to have nothing to do with him, but to no avail. (In 2006 the same year that Clinton accepted a $25,000 Epstein donation to his foundation the latter was charged in Florida with procuring a minor for prostitution.) A Clinton spokesman repeated the ex-presidents insistence that hed never visited the island and provided Vanity Fair with details of his movements at the time that clashed with Bands chronology. In a memoir published last year, Clinton tackled a connection that has been considered so toxic, it was widely feared it could derail his wifes 2016 White House run. He insisted that he and Epstein had not been friends but merely shared an interest in philanthropy. Epstein had flown him on his plane for four trips twice to Africa and once each to Asia and Europe, according to his spokesman only asking in return that I take an hour or two on each trip to discuss politics and economics. Clinton stressed that he was always accompanied by his Secret Service bodyguards. He went on: [Epstein] had just donated $10million to Harvard for brain research and he asked a lot of questions. That was the extent of our conversations. He said his only other interactions with Epstein were two brief meetings, one at my office in Harlem [in 2002] and another at his house in New York, both accompanied by his Secret Service minders. Critics have pointedly asked whether 78-year-old Clintons memory is failing him. For there are photographs of the two men together dating back to 1993, when Epstein and Maxwell greeted him during a VIP White House tour after Epstein donated $10,000 to the White House Historical Association. That was one of at least 17 occasions from 2002 to 2003 on which Epstein reportedly visited the White House during Clintons first term as president. The Palm Beach Post says it has traced 17 trips that, according to flight logs, Clinton made after he was president on Epsteins planes some of them without his Secret Service detail. They included a 2002 flight from Siberia to a US Naval base in Japan, and another in 2003 from Hong Kong to Chinas Sichuan province. The flight logs didnt indicate the purpose of the trips, which also included such exotic destinations as Morocco and Armenia. One flight in particular raised eyebrows. In 2020, photos emerged showing Clinton getting a neck and shoulders massage from another of Epsteins accusers, Chauntae Davies, then 22, during a Lolita Express refuelling stop in Portugal on the 2002 Africa trip with Kevin Spacey. The actor, who has since been accused by young men of being a sexual predator himself (which he denies), later complained that Epstein put the president at risk because there were these young girls on board. He added: It was disturbing I didnt understand at the time who they were or why they were there. Davies said Epstein had been anxious to impress Clinton, so he made her and the three other young women wear uniforms to look more professional. Then, early last year, hundreds of pages of court documents relating to Epstein were released. They included the testimony of another Epstein accuser, Johanna Sjoberg, who told lawyers in 2016 that Epstein once said to her that Clinton likes them young, referring to girls. Spencer Kuvin, a Florida lawyer who represented some of the first victims of Epstein to come forward, said he didnt find any evidence of Clinton engaging in inappropriate behavior but said the ex-president had a pattern of socialising with Epstein. Various insiders have said that Epstein used to play up his connections to powerful people such as Clinton to impress others, inviting people to listen in when he was on the phone to them. According to New York Magazine, Epstein once threw a party in Clintons honour at his New York home, even though the politician didnt attend. Epsteins fawning attention has since proved to be anything but a boon for its recipient. I wish I had never met him, Clinton wrote in his recent memoir. He may soon have cause to feel that with even more passion. Days like this, as I have been moved to mention before, its difficult to know where to start. Should I kick off with the shopkeeper told by police to remove a sign calling shoplifters scumbags and the crazy data protection law which prevents retailers displaying photographs of known thieves? Or the Jewish woman called a Zionist scumbag online who was told by a different police force that she shouldnt post on politically sensitive subjects such as Gaza? For now, lets begin with vintage-clothing store owner Rob Davies who has been plagued by thefts from his shop. He has now been forced to display his stock under lock and key. By way of explanation, Mr Davies put a poster in his window, reading: Due to scumbags shoplifting, please ask for assistance to open cabinets. Shortly afterwards, police arrived to tell him to remove the sign as it was provocative and offensive. They had apparently received a complaint from an unnamed member of the public. Mr Davies, who owns Run Ragged, in Wrexham, North Wales, said: The only people it should be causing offence to are the shoplifters. Rob Davies, who has been plagued by thefts from his shop, has been forced to display his stock under lock and key Mr Davies left a handwritten note on his cabinets to explain why they were now locked For the past 12 months, he has caught five thieves red-handed. But apart from the first incident, the police werent interested. The only time they did respond, they retrieved a stolen shirt but let the shoplifter go without charge. Recently, hes lost 200 worth of stock to thieves a trifling amount as far as the police are concerned but a significant loss to a small business already struggling to pay sky-high rent, rates and energy bills. Basket Case Britain is in the grip of a shoplifting epidemic, as opportunist thieves loot shelves with impunity secure in the knowledge that they wont be arrested. The only surprise is that when Mr Davies detained that first scumbag, the cops didnt nick him for taking the law into his own hands. They certainly responded rapidly to admonish him when someone was offended by his scumbag poster, which gives you a stark illustration of their warped priorities. But as he asks plaintively: What else am I supposed to do? Precisely. The police wont arrest shoplifters, the CPS wont prosecute. So wheres the deterrent? Every day is Supermarket Sweep, as thieves fill their boots, their rucksacks and shopping trolleys with swag and walk out grinning, without paying, as staff are instructed to stand back and let them get on with it. In desperation, some stores have been exhibiting photos of known thieves, taken from CCTV, in the hope that this might discourage them. Now, though, they have been told by the Information Commissioners Office that naming and shaming is a breach of data protection legislation. The law is more concerned about shielding the identities of criminals than protecting their victims. Mr Davies has lost 200 worth of stock to shoplifters a significant loss to a small business already struggling to pay sky-high rent, rates and energy bills How many times have you heard complaints, from this column in particular, that the Old Bill would rather patrol the internet than tackle real crimes like burglary, shoplifting and phone theft? These days they cant even get that right. Heres a seriously troubling case in point. Heidi Bachram is a Jewish woman from Sussex, some of whose family were murdered and taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 pogrom. She posts regularly on the forum previously known as Twitter and has been subject to vile anti-Semitic abuse into the bargain. Some of it is too graphic and horrible to repeat here, but it includes calling her an ugly Zionist pig and, yes, a scumbag. Ms Bachram reported it to the police but says they were reluctant to investigate. Instead she was visited by one officer who advised her to stop posting politically sensitive material about controversial subjects such as Gaza. He said I was making myself a target. I feel like Ive been victimised twice. Once by this cruel troll and secondly by the police. The clear implication was that it was her own fault. Talk about blaming the victim. This is the online equivalent of telling a young woman who has been dragged off the streets and raped that it served her right because she had gone out wearing a short skirt. Perhaps if the sick, cowardly individual who trolled Ms Bachram had posted a few disobliging comments about illegal migrants the cops would have come down hard on him instantly. Hed now be banged up in jail for two-and-a-half years like the misguided Lucy Connolly, currently doing time for angry, ill-judged tweets during the post-Southport riots. We are increasingly told that reports of Lawless Britain are exaggerated. But what the hell else are we to conclude when the law puts the rights of scumbags ahead of protecting innocent shopkeepers and abused Jewish women? Never mind where to start. Where will it all end? Even a broken clock, as the proverb goes, is right twice a day. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson proved that nugget of old English wisdom this week, when she admitted that white, working-class British students are in danger of being 'written off' by the rest of society. That is something most people in the country already know to be true. She might have gone further still and pointed out the glaring truth that it is white, working-class boys in particular who are being written off, even before they sit their GCSEs. But recognising the gender gap might have been a reality too far for a Labour Cabinet minister, in a Government that has shown a worrying obsession with woke identity politics. For the first time, the Government is expected to publish data on the number of white, working-class pupils excluded from school a figure that has risen sharply since the pandemic. Promised analysis of that data, using enhanced AI software, could reveal how much worse these children fare, compared with those from other classes and ethnic backgrounds. We can already guess the answer. White boys from poorer and broken homes do badly in comparison with just about every other group. Fewer than 19 per cent of white children who qualify for free school meals, for example, achieve a Grade 5 (equivalent to C+ at O-level) in their maths and English GCSEs. By contrast, the overall average for all state pupils is more than 45 per cent a depressingly low statistic, to be sure, but more than double the pass rate for white, working-class pupils. For me, as the son of a white, working-class single mother, who grew up in a household where money was always short, this feels personal. Phillipson tries to simplify the problem, by tying it to low attendance at school. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said white working class pupils' underachievement in exams due to being 'written off' is a 'national disgrace' The truth is that white, working-class children have never been fashionable enough to warrant the attention of today's Left. They are left behind by progressive establishments that show far more interest in helping minorities, writes Matt Goodwin 'Children with good attendance have twice the odds of achieving strong GCSE results compared to their peers who miss just ten more school days,' she said. But raising attendance rates will not be nearly enough. The truth is that white, working-class children have never been fashionable enough to warrant the attention of today's Left. They are left behind by progressive establishments that show far more interest in helping minorities. By conceding even a part of that statement is true, Phillipson will win no friends in the Labour Party because it contradicts the Left's great lie that Britain is an 'institutionally racist' society in which sinister 'power structures' are holding back minorities while the white majority pushes ahead. The figures disprove that. As pupils queue up to collect their A-level results this week, 62 per cent of black children are expected to progress to higher education a leap from 44 per cent just two decades ago. That's a laudable success story. Yet it is not matched among white, working-class children. According to statistics from the Department for Education, just 40 per cent of them will be going to university. That's lower than any other group: among mixed-race students, the figure is 48 per cent; for Asian students, it's more than 65 per cent; and among the Chinese community it's an exceptional 81 per cent. The same patterns hold true for Oxbridge and the prestigious Russell Group universities. Poor, white teenagers lag behind every time. Often, only children from traveller, Roma and gipsy families do worse. In many cases, children from the white, working-class have fallen behind those who are 'looked after' in council care and those who speak English as a second language. Despite the Education Secretary's invervention this week, Labour has persisted with the fashionable narrative that it is children from immigrant backgrounds who are being suppressed. This is worse than lazy it is deeply dishonest. As Peter Edwards, emeritus professor of chemistry at Oxford University, said in 2022: 'White, working-class young males are now the truly disadvantaged group in Britain. In this age of levelling up, how can this be allowed to happen? 'What we are seeing is a terrible waste of talent on an enormous scale. This appalling situation also sows the seeds of social unrest.' In 2021, I worked with the House of Commons education committee to explore the deeper reasons behind this. Our report pointed to myriad factors: persistent deprivation that has cascaded over multiple generations; a historic failure of governments on both the Left and Right to invest seriously in levelling up communities away from London, Oxford and Cambridge; a tendency among white, working-class parents not to see education as a pressing priority for their children; a lack of strong social networks in their declining towns; and a failure by politicians to address these disproportionately low rates of participation seriously. Even before Covid lockdowns disrupted education for an entire generation, researchers at the think-tank Neon highlighted this. In 2019, they analysed university records and found that more than half of English universities took 5 per cent or fewer of their admissions from poor, white backgrounds. At Oxford, the figure was just 3 per cent, and at Cambridge 2 per cent. They also found a yawning gender divide, with young white women from working-class homes far more likely to apply to university than their brothers and boyfriends. At the same time, universities were expending considerable efforts to increase their intake of students from other backgrounds, while falling over themselves to remove statues and 'decolonise' reading lists. Any suggestion that the same energy and resources ought to be devoted to initiatives for students from the white working-class met seething opposition. In 2018, the rapper Stormzy provided scholarships for black students to study at Cambridge. But the following year, when philanthropist Sir Bryan Thwaites offered scholarships to help under-privileged white children into private schools, he was turned down due to fears his generosity might be seen as racial discrimination. I'm one of the fortunate few who beat the odds. My roots are solidly working-class. My grandfather worked in a steel factory in Salford for most of his life. One memory that sums up my schooldays is waiting at the gates every afternoon for my mum to come dashing round the corner, after finishing her shift at the local NHS trust. By the time I reached the sixth-form at my all-boys' secondary school, I was working two jobs to help pay the bills. One of these was at a fast-food restaurant, where the manager was keen to take me on full-time. There was pressure on me to do a management training course which would have meant abandoning my A-levels so that I could start to earn proper money. Turning that job offer down meant some serious soul-searching and more financial sacrifices by my endlessly supportive mother. I really do understand how hard it is for many children from white, working-class families to go on to university. But Labour ministers don't understand, even when they get the right answer by accident, like Bridget Phillipson this week. They continue to see boys from poor, white families as the problem like the teenage killer in the Netflix drama Adolescence, filled with misogynistic anger and destructive hatred. In the Britain of Two-Tier Keir, the white working-class makes up the lower layer. And disadvantaged boys are right at the bottom. Professor Matt Goodwin is author of a regular politics Substack at mattgoodwin.org The founder of Jim's Mowing has stunned Aussies by sharing a series of pictures taken decades earlier. Jim Penman, who founded the iconic franchise business, has been busily posting a series of LinkedIn posts this past week sharing advice and reflections with fellow entrepreneurs. The Aussie millionaire has recently been touching on everything from early life lessons to brand values and leadership strategies. One post even included the surprising admission that the Jim's Group CEO was once 'suspended' from school 'for being a bad influence'. But perhaps what has resonated the most is the series of retro photographs that Jim has shared alongside his inspirational messages. Viewers of the posts were stunned to see the striking likeness between the Jim's Mowing illustrated logo and the real-life Jim in his younger years. Sharing pictures of himself as a younger man wearing his brand's dark green shirt and sporting a full moustache and beard, Aussies were astonished at just how accurately the businessman is depicted in the instantly recognisable company logo. A post shared to the 'Jim's Group' page made the same observation after posting an old picture of Jim taken during the late 1980s era. Aussies were stunned by the likeness between the instantly-recognisable Jim's Mowing business logo and the appearance of brand founder Jim Penman as a young man Jim Penman has recently been sharing a series of business advice posts to Linkedin alongside retro pictures of himself 'The logo does look like its origin,' read one stunned reply. Another person remarked that the current logo should be updated to more accurately reflect Jim's present-day appearance. 'When does the current logo get a shave, considering Jim hasn't had a beard in 10+ years,' they wrote. Jim himself has previously acknowledged in a social media video that the business logo was designed based off an old 'picture' of himself. 'The artist just made a rendition from that particular photo. So it was me,' he confirmed. The latest series of LinkedIn post offered interesting insights into the businessman's life story and lessons learnt while founding his successful namesake company. 'They called me a bad influence. Now, I run one of the most influential businesses in the country,' Jim's first post in the series commenced. The CEO and businessman shared examples of outspoken behaviour during his younger years, including them time he was 'suspended' from school. Jim Penman has delighted Aussies by sharing retro photos - like this one - alongside a series of recent business advice posts on LinkedIn The throwback photos of Jim have stunned Aussies for being uncannily similar to the iconic illustrated Jim's Mowing logo Jim went on to detail how these very same qualities would one day give him the 'nerve' to make decisions that contributed to his business success story. The next post shared a few days later on August 8 saw Jim reflecting on his business' leadership style. Jim demonstrated his point by reflecting on a recent interaction with a Jim's Mowing franchisee. 'Leadership isnt just about solving problems. Its about noticing before they become problems,' he concluded. The latest post offered an explanation for why Jim had never felt compelled to 'sell Jim's Group' - despite being offered several 'life-changing offers'. The CEO went on to explain the reason he'd 'turned down' every single offer. 'Ive seen what happens when a founder sells out,' he wrote. 'The culture changes. The focus shifts from service to squeezing every last dollar. And the people who built the business, our franchisees, get left behind.' 'That will never happen here,' he resolutely added. Jim Penman, the founder and CEO of Jim's Group and Jim's Mowing, is one of Australia's most renowned and successful businessman. He has recently been sharing his hard-learnt business advice in a series of LinkedIn posts The recent series of posts have attracted hundreds of likes along with comments from CEOs and CFOs praising his willingness to share his hard-learnt business advice. Jim's Group specialises in practical trades such as plumbing, mowing, fencing, roofing, and cleaning. The company was launched in 1982 and has since expanded into a franchise operation in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Canada. A new mom has shared her heartbreak after a subtle symptom in her newborn ended up leading to a horrific diagnosis that has now left her baby with only 10 years to live. Kaitlin Norton, 29, and Gerard Norton, 32, from Massapequa, New York, were enjoying the bliss of new parenthood after welcoming their daughter, Madeline, in December. But the joy of being first-time parents was quickly turned into fear and devastation when their 'completely normal' newborn was diagnosed with an extremely rare neurodegenerative disorder six months after her birth. There was only one warning sign that something was wrong, and it's something that could be easily overlooked by many parents: the youngster was a little stiff. 'She was holding her head up within a week. She wasn't the type of newborn to just cuddle up in your arms. It was also difficult to dress her,' Kaitlin shared exclusively with the Daily Mail. 'We noticed that she always held her arms close to her chest and it was hard to pull them out. But she was completely normal other than the stiffness.' Kaitlin explained that while it didn't seem like a big deal at first, her 'gut' told her that something was wrong, so she brought Madeline in to her pediatrician. Kaitlin Norton, 29, and Gerard Norton, 32, from Massapequa, New York, were enjoying the bliss of new parenthood after welcoming their daughter, Madeline, in December But the joy of being first-time parents quickly turned into devastation when their newborn was diagnosed with an extremely rare neurodegenerative disorder six months after her birth The doctor didn't seem too concerned, but he recommended they go see a neurologist to be sure there was nothing to worry about. The neurologist conducted full genetic testing. That is when the devastating news came in: Madeline had Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration (PKAN), which is a rare genetic disorder that affects fewer than one in one million children. It causes dystonia (involuntary muscle contractions), significant speech disturbances, dementia, visual impairment and seizures among other things. They were told Madeline likely only had 10 to 15 years to live, and that while her early years may be normal, she will lose her motor functions, speech and ability to walk as she ages. 'It is a genetic mutation that causes an iron build up in her brain over childhood,' Kaitlin explained. 'Due to the iron in her brain, she'll experience a regression in motor skills. She will have dystonia and eventually require the use of a wheelchair and feeding tube... 'We truly only thought she had hypertonia and that physical therapy would help. We were completely blindsided when we received the results.' As expected, Kaitlin said they were 'devastated' over the fatal diagnosis. There was only one warning sign that something was wrong, and it's something that could be easily overlooked by many parents: the youngster was a little stiff Madeline has Pantothenate Kinase-Associated Neurodegeneration (PKAN), which is a rare genetic disorder that affects fewer than one in one million children They were told that Madeline likely only has 10 to 15 years to live, and that while her early years may be normal, she will lose her motor functions, speech and ability to walk as she ages She called that day 'a blur'. 'We couldn't believe we received this diagnosis as we hadn't heard about that disease before,' she said. 'We were devastated. Initially we were in shock. We slowly told our family and friends the news - it was world stopping. 'We spent the next two days as a family just processing the news, then the few weeks after lost in grief.' While Madeline's condition is not curable, Kaitlin explained there is a foundation currently raising money to fund gene therapy research to look for a cure. They have now started a GoFundMe to help contribute to the foundation, where they have brought in over $43,000. 'We are optimistic but also realistic. We are doing everything we can to find a cure for our daughter,' Kaitlin concluded. 'Our goal is to spread awareness and raise funds for the gene therapy. We will do anything for our precious baby.' Theres a rare euphoria to being a working mother when your children are happy, works going well, the sun is shining and you like what youre wearing. Hold on to that fleeting feeling, for as we all know the day can unravel in the blink of an eye. And no more so than now, the brain-melting juggle that is the school summer holidays. Weve all done things that make us feel like terrible parents, and we also know how much better it feels if we admit to and laugh about them. Having interviewed more than 200 parents for my book Leaving The Ladder Down, I felt vindicated in particular by one Army officer who told me shed postponed her toddlers birthday to make it to a meeting. Im still cringing years after having done the same thing. Actress Natalie Cassidy, also interviewed in my book, remembered with horror the moment she received the call (in fact shed missed 15) from school because her child had broken an arm. I wasnt even working I was shopping! she told me. If you dont recognise yourself in the above, I guarantee you will in other stories below all fresh from the frontline of working motherhood. Theres a rare euphoria to being a working mother when your children are happy, works going well, the sun is shining and you like what youre wearing You talk to your children like colleagues When my daughter was about three, she was given a questionnaire at nursery. She obviously couldnt read or write, so the teacher read her the questions and wrote down her answers. They were mortifying. Favourite food? Pizza. Favourite toy? iPad. Something Mummy always says to you? Ill be fine here, I thought I tell her I love her all the time. Sadly not. You can talk to me when Ive finished my call, was the answer my daughter gave. I find myself retelling this story in a bid to unbind myself from the bone-chilling shame of it. And people (mostly) laugh. Psychotherapist and mother of four Julia Samuel told me that rather than torturing myself with guilt, I should instead lean into the power of apology, because as a parent you have to own up and have humility because were bound to make mistakes. I tried it on (now ten-year-old) Loulou who was nonplussed to the point of exasperation. Despite my hot stress, it apparently wasnt the end of the world. It all unravels before breakfast Theres a photograph saved in my phone of my children aged four and two clinging to my skirt, eyes brimming, begging me not to leave for work. Id requested a happy picture to take with me, but the mention of my going had initiated a full-body beg which left me ragged on the train, their tears leaving me questioning all my life choices. I now know that morning stress is a universal experience. You feel like youve cracked the working mother thing, then they wont put their shoes on, so you have a meltdown and dwell all day on the fact that the last thing they saw before school was their mother yelling like Medusa, says mother of three Deborah Fleming, founder of swimwear brand Pistol Panties. A good tactic is to force more positive memories to the front of your mind. Remember some of your wins. Our bedtime chats mean I always sleep well, is one pat on the back from my daughter I like to recall. My desk partner cried because his Mummy never fills in his reading journal; I felt happy that you always do mine, is another. Once you start, the parenting gold stars begin to flow readily. You put unwanted advice before common sense I left my six-week-old baby for a night after a bossy female colleague compelled me to acclimatise to working away from home as early as possible. A disaster, dressed as a date night. The baby was safe with a much-loved stand-in, but my milky body had no interest in Claridges bed linen and I shuddered with panic all night as my husband slept. It was too much, too soon, and totally unnecessary. Generally, other peoples opinions can be unhelpful. Doesnt it feel awful to leave your babies with strangers every day? was one gloriously passive aggressive question that came my way, as if I was leaving them in the street on bin day rather than with a professional nanny. The best antidote to mum guilt that Ive discovered is to save a document of all my childrens funniest statements. Dont dye your hair Mummy, I like it orange, from my seven-year-old son when the brunette coverage of my greying hair had faded brassily over lockdown. My four-year-old daughter belting out the bears of Stephanie along to The Jungle Book soundtrack (instead of the bare necessities!). You assume you wont forget them, but you inevitably do, so write them down and read in moments of self-loathing. You treat the nanny like your best friend Childcare can feel like a catalogue of only-just-avoided errors. A childs misunderstanding of the arrangement can feel like a stab to the heart (we have an interesting family, dont we, because its one Daddy and two Mummies, one of mine told their key worker at daycare one day), and weve all been fined for turning up late to nursery pick-up, havent we? Havent we...? Then there are the pitfalls of blurred boundaries with childcare. We asked one 35-year-old nanny whod been with us six months to stay for drinks one evening and the poor woman overdid it. She seemed fine when she called a cab home, but then returned ten minutes later with an irate driver who claimed she couldnt remember her address. We were happy for her to stay over until she sheepishly asked for carpet cleaner in the morning. She was mortified, but things got much worse as she spent the entire 20-minute drive back to her flat with her head out the window of our BMW being violently ill. Perhaps even more dramatically Sony boss Cassandra Gracey shared her Pin number with her nanny, then had to fire her for stealing cash. Boundaries are important for both sides, one nanny agent and mother of two told me. If you become too friendly then having formal employment conversations can be awkward. Like any successful partnership, its about mutual respect, empathy and rationality from both sides. You apologise for being a mum When, in 2012, I emailed my then boss to apologise for being pregnant, he was adamant that having a baby was an important thing to do and of course he was right. But its easy to feel judged as a working parent, whether by other parents (one fellow nursery mother told me it was biology that women shouldnt work after having children) teachers, in-laws or ignoramus colleagues who consider any flexibility to be wanton entitlement. One male work acquaintance told me plainly when I returned to work that you never get more than 40 per cent out of any woman at work after shes had a baby, apparently ignorant of the fact that most mothers are ferociously concentrated when they know their time is in demand. Bear in mind, too, that all parents are working, paid or not. Dont assume theyre judging you and dont judge back. Keep the critical nursery mother onside for emergency pick-ups. When I need to leave the office at 5.30pm I get up and leave completely unapologetically. If you say, Sorry I have to go, people are more likely to question it, said one private equity executive and mother of three. Work doesnt make us terrible parents; and parenting doesnt make us any less good at our professional jobs. Replace any shame with triumph as you contemplate how much you achieve every single day. Princess Isabella of Denmark shocked royal fans around the globe when she was pictured at a music festival wearing an X-rated t-shirt. And now we can reveal more unseen photos of King Frederik and Queen Mary's daughter, 18, as she partied it up at Smukfest in Skanderborg with her older brother Prince Christian on Wednesday. Controversy erupted when the second eldest child of the reigning royal couple was pictured at the festival wearing a black t-shirt emblazoned with the translated words 'f***ed him yesterday'. The message was accompanied by an arrow pointing off to the side. The princess' t-shirt was a merchandise top for Danish hip hop group Suspekt, who were performing at Smukfest. The music trio are renowned for their explicit and sexually charged lyrics. But the newly obtained pictures show that Isabella certainly wasn't alone in wearing the suggestive top, with other concert-goers wearing similar Suspekt band t-shirts. Danish political commentator Jarl Cordua was among the critics of the royals choice of attire. He explained that while he understood the need for 'royals letting loose a little', he also believed there were 'limits' - and that the distasteful shirt crossed the line. The new pictures reveal that Isabella completed her casual festival look by wearing an orange bucket hat emblazoned with the festival nickname 'Smuk'. We can reveal more unseen photos of King Frederik and Queen Mary's daughter, 18, as she partied it up at Smukfest in Skanderborg with her older brother Prince Christian The band merchandise t-shirt worn by the princess and other festival go-ers is emblazoned with the translated words 'f***ed him yesterday', which are in reference to the Suspekt song titled 'F****** her yesterday' The day after Princess Isabella's band t-shirt created a royal scandal, the teen princess was seen back amongst the crowd on August 7 This time wearing a plain white t-shirt, Princess Isabella joined the packed crowd to watch rapper Tessa's set. She was pictured dancing, closing her eyes and even singing along passionately Despite the furore her attire would later attract, Isabella appeared very much at ease among the festival crowd. The following day, on August 7, Isabella was once again pictured at the festival - although it appears she wisely decided to leave her Suspekt band t-shirt at home. Instead, Isabella re-wore her orange bucket hat along with a white t-shirt, navy shorts and gumboots as she headed off to enjoy another day of live music. The royal was pictured walking through the busy festival with a group of her pals. Later in the day, the princess had ditched her bucket hat and was seen standing amongst the packed crowd to watch rapper Tessa's set. Princess Isabella appeared to be immersed in the performance as she was pictured smiling, dancing, closing her eyes and even singing along passionately. Fellow attendees were reportedly stunned to spot the king's daughter casually dressed and partying alongside them at the event. But eagle-eyed royal pundits spotted a small nod to Isabella's formal duties. She was still wearing the same jewellery that she'd been pictured in just a few days earlier during a royal photo call at Grasten with her parents King Frederik and Queen Mary and younger brother Prince Vincent. On both occasions, Isabella wore a heart-shaped pendant from Danish brand Akua Objects alongside her trusty 'P' necklace worn many times before. Princess Isabella was pictured walking through the festival grounds with friends Reports from the festival revealed that Princess Isabella happily posed for selfies with royal fans Festival-goers were reportedly stunned to spot the king's daughter casually dressed and partying alongside them at the event Isabella wasn't the only royal partying it up at the Danish music festival. Mary and Frederik's eldest son, Crown Prince Christian, was also pictured at Smukfest - but his appearance was far less scandalous than that of his younger sister. On the same day that Isabella was pictured wearing that t-shirt, the heir to the throne was seen in the audience rocking out with friends to Danish chart-toppers Aphaca. The 19-year-old was dressed conservatively in a checked button-up shirt with a t-shirt underneath. The prince appeared to be smiling and having a great time as he blended among the sea of fans at the show. According to local Danish publication B.T., although Isabella and Christian attended the festival in a private capacity, they were both happily taking selfies with fans and even politely stopped to answer a few brief questions from the media. An opinion piece published by B.T.'s royal commentator Fie West Madsen noted that this was 'mature and wise behaviour'. '[It] shows that even though the royal and now adult children are letting loose, drinking a pint of beer and maybe wearing a bold t-shirt, they are still aware of their role as royals,' he said. Crown Prince Christian was also pictured among the crowd of revellers at Smukfest The heir to the throne was seen in the audience rocking out with friends to Danish chart-toppers, Aphaca Crown Prince Christian appeared to enjoy being in amongst the busy crowd at the show - and at times was only just visible among a sea of people B.T.'s royal commentator Fie West Madsen praised Crown Prince Christian's move to interact with royal fans and even briefly speak to the press as 'mature and wise behaviour' 'Because let's be honest - the balance between being royal on the one hand and enjoying a normal teenage life every now and then is definitely not easy. 'Everything the Crown Prince and Princess Isabella do is noticed, and they know it very well. But this summer they have shown that they can easily be young and royal at the same time.' The Danish royal family is not new to Smukfest, with King Frederik in particular a renowned past regular attendee. Over the years, Frederik, 57, was regularly seen enjoying the festival with a beer in hand and taking selfies with other festival-goers. Some years saw him accompanied by his wife Queen Mary, 53, and more recently he was joined by Christian and Isabella. Interestingly, Frederik has also previously enjoyed watching Suspekt at the same festival. It would seem the King has passed this appreciation for their music onto his daughter, judging by her unexpected choice to wear one of the band's shirts. King Frederik has not attended the concert since he became regent last year. Nevertheless, it would certainly seem that Frederik has instilled his love of Smukfest in his children. A tenant has sparked a dispute with her landlord after refusing to vacate the property, despite receiving a three-month notice to find a new home. Renter Jess had informed her landlord in March that she was going to move out of the home 12 weeks from the date on the email. But in the days leading up to her move-out date, her landlord sent her three reminders - only to receive no response from Jess. He sent another follow-up email the day before her move-out date. 'Morning Jess. Just checking in, when can I collect the keys today? New tenants are moving in tomorrow and I've got cleaners booked for this afternoon,' he said. 'Also, I've emailed a few times this week asking for confirmation. The move-out date's been agreed since March. I really need to know where things stand.' However, things didn't go to plan when she finally replied to his email. 'Hey, yeah sorry, meant to message. Things have been really hectic and I haven't had time to get everything sorted. Is there any chance I can have a few extra days? I'm just really overwhelmed right now,' she explained in the email. A tenant has sparked a dispute with her landlord after refusing to vacate the property, despite receiving a three-month notice to find a new home However, the landlord refused to extend her stay. 'Jess, the tenancy ends today. You confirmed in writing on 4th April that you'd be vacating by the 22nd. I've sent three reminders this week with no reply,' he replied. 'I've signed the next tenant and given them a key collection time. The flat needs to be empty and cleaned today. There's no flexibility on this.' Seeking sympathy, Jess struggled to understand why her landlord wouldn't allow her to stay a little longer. 'I just think it's a bit unfair. I've been a decent tenant, never missed rent. Now I'm asking for two more days and you're acting like I've done something wrong,' she said. 'It's not like I'm refusing to leave. I just need until the weekend. Don't understand why you're being like this.' The landlord then threatened Jess with a negative tenancy reference if she fails to move out on her vacating day. 'Because this isn't how tenancies work. You don't get to extend your stay on the day you're meant to be out. I've got a legally binding agreement. The new tenant is in a chain. You staying longer disrupts everything,' he explained. 'If you delay this move, I'll have to flag it when asked for a reference.' Renter Jess had informed her landlord in March that she was going to move out of the home 12 weeks from the date on the email (file image) Struggling to understand the landlord's explanation, Jess responded: 'Wow. So that's how it is then. After everything, you're threatening to ruin my next tenancy because I'm struggling? 'You know what, forget it, you can come get the keys when I'm ready. I'm not rushing because you made plans without checking with me,' she continued. The landlord replied: 'Look Jess, I sympathise with your situation, but you've had months to prepare for today. I cannot extend your tenancy. It's time to move on.' Refusing to back down, Jess ended the email with: 'I said I'll leave when I'm ready. If they're in a rush, that's not my problem.' It's unclear what happened next between the tenant and landlord - but British property strategist Jack Rooke re-shared the pair's heated email exchange. Jack suggested he was on the landlord's side because he thought Jess was given a reasonable amount of time to move out. 'She had three months to move out Then said she'd leave when she's ready. Is this tenant reasonable or just entitled?' Jack said. His video has been viewed more than 100,000 times with many divided over the situation. 'The landlord should not give a date for a new tenant to move in until the previous tenant is out. Poor planning by the landlord,' one said. 'Jess is wrong, but the landlord isn't being smart either. He's left zero room for error and that's on him,' another suggested. 'I'm usually pro tenant but I am having a hard time backing the tenant. It is a business transaction and there was an agreement in place and Jess broke the agreement. Usually people have to be out at midnight,' one shared. 'Wow Jess is completely in the wrong here. You have handed notice regardless of the situation - you HAVE to be out by the date stated. I do think however having a new tenant move in literally the day after is a bit crazy,' another added. An unattached American man has revealed some harsh truths about the Australian dating scene for 20-somethings - and it's ignited an online firestorm. Drew Mork, 26, from San Francisco, has been travelling around Australia since the start of 2025 and is currently based on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. The personal trainer recently sparked controversy after posting a series of TikTok videos in which he shared his observations about Aussie dating culture. Daily Mail spoke to Drew, who said he may have unintentionally sparked an 'unspoken war' between the sexes down under. Drew posted three monologue-style videos where he reflected on various aspects of Australian dating culture and his own experiences thus far. His first observation was that 'Aussie girls are not looking to settle down'. 'They want to party, and they are direct and shameless,' Drew said. He added that he thought Aussie women were gorgeous 'smoke shows' - but simultaneously felt that they 'kind of think like men' in their flirtatious interactions. Drew Mork, a 26-year-old from San Francisco, has ignited an online firestorm with his TikTok observations about Australian 20-something dating culture The personal trainer, who has been travelling around Australia since the start of the year, told Daily Mail he had observed a 'hook-up culture' in the local dating scene Drew also recounted the awful things that Australian women had told him about what it was like dating Aussie guys. 'I haven't met a single Aussie girl that has said anything positive about Australian men,' he said. 'They say that Aussie guys are "feminine", "passive" and "don't want to pay for things" I can't speak to that. I'm just repeating what they've said.' His opinion has attracted hundreds of comments from disgruntled Aussie men who had equally unflattering things to say about their experience with dating Australian women. Accordingly, Drew made a video sharing some of the feedback he'd had from the Aussie men. Daily Mail asked Drew to elaborate further on his observations, with his biggest takeaway being that he believed there was a 'very big hook-up culture' among Aussies in their 20s. Drew said he came to this realisation after going on a few dates that were 'interesting'. 'I just felt like, you know, a lot of the girls here are "fast". They're fast girls - that's what we call it in America,' he said. Drew had not heard one 'positive' thing from Australian women about their experience of dating Australian men 'One time, a girl just came up to me here and we started chatting. In the first 20 seconds of our conversation, she's like, "Are you keen for some company tonight at your place?". 'It's just not for me. I enjoy authentic connection. 'And I'm not putting them down. I think Australian women are absolutely stunning. But it's just not how I operate at all.' However, Drew mused that there could be an explanation for this forward behaviour to be found in the unflattering assessment of 'passive' Australian men, given to him by Australian women. Drew speculated that this explained why Aussie women he'd seen acted 'like men on a night out', being unafraid to 'approach you' and make their wants and desires known. But having made friends with a number of Australian men since arriving, Drew said he hadn't noticed these tendencies among his new mates. That being said, he did concede that he 'never really' saw any of his Australian male friends 'approach any girls'. When Daily Mail spoke to Drew about his Australian dating scene observation TikTok videos, he said he may have unintentionally sparked an 'unspoken war' down under between the sexes The backlash Drew's TikTok video attracted from men towards women surprised him. 'Many of the guys were basically saying that Australian women are not wife material,' Drew said. 'I'll choose my words carefully here, but they were just basically saying that Aussie girls are loud-mouthed, masculine, like to cuss a lot, drink a lot, and that they get around. 'It was just a lot of, like, hateful comments. I wasn't expecting that from the Aussie guys.' Although Drew admits his earlier reflections on Aussie women being 'fast' were contradictory, he disagreed with the men's comments. In fact, Drew said despite his disappointing dating experiences thus far, he remained hopeful of finding a partner in Australia. 'I would love an Aussie wife,' Drew said. 'I think Australian women are absolutely stunning. 'But I've just found so far that settling down doesn't seem to be a priority for some of them.' Denmark's future king appeared to share a passionate kiss with a mystery 'girlfriend' at a music festival - but far from a scandalous royal smooch, the couple appear to have been together for 'at least a year' and have even reportedly enjoyed a getaway to Ibiza with one another. Crown Prince Christian, 19, looked to be partying up a storm as he joined 18-year-old sister Isabella - as well as his new rumoured romance - at Smukfest in Skanderborg on Wednesday. And as well as the teen Princess shocking fans by sporting an X-rated T-shirt emblazoned with the translated words 'f***ed him yesterday' with a suggestive arrow pointing off to the side, many have likely also been wowed to see the heir to the throne seemingly locking lips in the bustling crowd. Danish media reports that the elusive lady is one Emma Nygaard Fritzen, 21 - who is understood to have graduated from Ordrup Gymnasium, which the royal also attended. As per Billed Bladet, the pair are so serious that Emma was among those in attendance at Isabella's 18th birthday party this spring. Elsewhere according to Hola! the couple were also spotted together with friends during a recent trip to Ibiza, although nothing has been confirmed and the Royal House has not made a statement on the matter. The outlet also says Emma comes from 'Denmark's upper elite' and graduated form the University of Sydney - located in his mother Queen Mary's native Australia - and 'loves spending extended periods in Africa', where the Prince has also spent some time travelling and working in. Her father is said to be consulting firm McKinsey partner Sren Fritzen, who on LinkedIn shared that he 'served as a captain in the Danish Army, and participated in an international UN mission in former Yugoslavia'. Denmark's future appeared to share a passionate kiss with a mystery 'girlfriend' at a music festival - but far from a scandalous royal smooch, the couple appear to have been together for 'at least a year' and have even reportedly enjoyed a getaway to Ibiza with one another While Emma's social media profiles seem to be private, the photo of her and Christian kissing - which has now made its way through a myriad of royal fan accounts and blogs - appears to have initially been posted on her Instagram, and later deleted as wellwishers have shared other snaps of what is understood to be photos from the young socialite He added: 'I have a M.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Danish Technical University and an Economics degree from Copenhagen Business School.' While Emma's social media profiles seem to be private, the photo of her and Christian kissing - which has now made its way through a myriad of royal fan accounts and blogs - appears to have initially been posted on her Instagram, and later deleted as wellwishers have shared other snaps of what is understood to be photos from the young socialite. The Daily Mail has reached out to the Kongehuset for comment. It is not the first time the Crown Prince has found himself embroiled in romantic speculation, as two years ago he was rumoured to be dating Princess Maria Chiara of Bourbon-Two Sicilies - even reportedly introducing her to his grandmother, Queen Margrethe. The Italian heiress is the youngest daughter to Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro, and Princess Camilla, Duchess of Castro. Her parents are family friends Queen Mary and King Frederik. Speculation was sparked after Christian was snapped enjoying a day out with friends at the Monaco Grand Prix in May of that year, and was seen standing close together with Roman-born Chiara in a group photo taken at the event. He was also reported to have spent time with the princess and her family this summer, after her mother shared an Instagram story of the family posing with Christian, captioning it 'family and friends'. The pair were also seen enjoying ice cream together in St Tropez, where Chiara is thought to have spent around two weeks, posting holiday snaps from the resort town. It is not the first time the Crown Prince has found himself embroiled in romantic speculation. Pictured with his parents in 2023 However, nothing was confirmed. Elsewhere at Wednesday's festival, controversy erupted when the second eldest child of the reigning royal couple was pictured at the festival in an innuendo-fuelled top. The princess' t-shirt was a merchandise top for Danish hip hop group Suspekt, who were performing at Smukfest. The music trio are renowned for their explicit and sexually charged lyrics. But pictures from the event also show that Isabella certainly wasn't alone in wearing the suggestive top, with other concert-goers wearing similar Suspekt band t-shirts. Danish political commentator Jarl Cordua was among the critics of the royals choice of attire. He explained that while he understood the need for 'royals letting loose a little', he also believed there were 'limits' - and that the distasteful shirt crossed the line. The new pictures reveal that Isabella completed her casual festival look by wearing an orange bucket hat emblazoned with the festival nickname 'Smuk'. Despite the furore her attire would later attract, Isabella appeared very much at ease among the festival crowd. According to local Danish publication B.T ., although Isabella and Christian attended the festival in a private capacity, they were both happily taking selfies with fans and even politely stopped to answer a few brief questions from the media The following day, on August 7, Isabella was once again pictured at the festival - although it appears she wisely decided to leave her Suspekt band t-shirt at home. Instead, Isabella re-wore her orange bucket hat along with a white t-shirt, navy shorts and gumboots as she headed off to enjoy another day of live music. The royal was pictured walking through the busy festival with a group of her pals. Later in the day, the princess had ditched her bucket hat and was seen standing amongst the packed crowd to watch rapper Tessa's set. Princess Isabella appeared to be immersed in the performance as she was pictured smiling, dancing, closing her eyes and even singing along passionately. Fellow attendees were reportedly stunned to spot the king's daughter casually dressed and partying alongside them at the event. But eagle-eyed royal pundits spotted a small nod to Isabella's formal duties. She was still wearing the same jewellery that she'd been pictured in just a few days earlier during a royal photo call at Grasten with her parents King Frederik and Queen Mary and younger brother Prince Vincent. On both occasions, Isabella wore a heart-shaped pendant from Danish brand Akua Objects alongside her trusty 'P' necklace worn many times before. Isabella wasn't the only royal partying it up at the Danish music festival. According to local Danish publication B.T., although Isabella and Christian attended the festival in a private capacity, they were both happily taking selfies with fans and even politely stopped to answer a few brief questions from the media. An opinion piece published by B.T.'s royal commentator Fie West Madsen noted that this was 'mature and wise behaviour'. '[It] shows that even though the royal and now adult children are letting loose, drinking a pint of beer and maybe wearing a bold t-shirt, they are still aware of their role as royals,' he said. 'Because let's be honest - the balance between being royal on the one hand and enjoying a normal teenage life every now and then is definitely not easy. 'Everything the Crown Prince and Princess Isabella do is noticed, and they know it very well. But this summer they have shown that they can easily be young and royal at the same time.' The Danish royal family is not new to Smukfest, with King Frederik in particular a renowned past regular attendee. Over the years, Frederik, 57, was regularly seen enjoying the festival with a beer in hand and taking selfies with other festival-goers. Some years saw him accompanied by his wife Queen Mary, 53, and more recently he was joined by Christian and Isabella. Interestingly, Frederik has also previously enjoyed watching Suspekt at the same festival. It would seem the King has passed this appreciation for their music onto his daughter, judging by her unexpected choice to wear one of the band's shirts. King Frederik has not attended the concert since he became regent last year. Nevertheless, it would certainly seem that Frederik has instilled his love of Smukfest in his children. Bestselling author Sarah Vaughan revealed her battle with maternal OCD on the latest episode of the Mail's The Life of Bryony podcast, describing how the condition inspired her novel Little Disasters. Maternal OCD is a condition affecting up to 16% of new mothers, causing unwanted intrusive thoughts about harming their baby alongside compulsive behaviours intended to shield them from harm. Vaughan's novel Little Disasters explores maternal OCD from the perspective of a woman whose insecurities about parenting spiral after she is accused by those closest to her of injuring her child. The novel, published five years ago, has been recently adapted into a blockbuster television series starring Diane Kruger, now streaming on Paramount+. You can listen to this episode of The Life of Bryony by clicking the player below or here 'I didn't realise I was writing about my own maternal OCD until I finished my first draft', Vaughan told columnist Bryony Gordon. 'I had experienced this sort of gaslighting of yourself, and it was terrifying. 'You know on one level that you're not really throwing your baby down the stairs. That was my thing, I thought I'd drop my baby which is very common. 'But you can always see that vision in your mind's eye. That makes it sound like psychosis, it's not that but it's like the fear of it is so intense you constantly anticipate another reality.' Despite the 'terrifying' thoughts, experts say mothers with maternal OCD pose no risk to their babies - the condition actually stems from an overwhelming desire to protect them. Before novel writing, Vaughan worked for The Guardian as a senior news reporter and health correspondent. She said her background in journalism, covering high-profile child murder and abduction cases, sowed the seeds of her maternal OCD. Bestselling author Sarah Vaughan revealed her battle with maternal OCD on the latest episode of the Mail's The Life of Bryony podcast Vaughan's novel Little Disasters explores maternal OCD from the perspective of a woman whose insecurities about parenting spiral after she is accused by those closest to her of injuring her child The novel, published five years ago, has been recently adapted into a blockbuster television series starring Diane Kruger 'I had a little niche of doing really dark cases', Vaughan explained. 'I covered Sarah Payne, the little girl who was snatched from a cornfield in West Sussex. I covered the Soham murders and a boy who was murdered by a paedophile in Norfolk. 'Whenever I would come to my husband with fears, he would say, well that's never going to happen. 'And I'd always say, well there was this case, this news story. Those cases are so rare, but you are led to believe they are more common than they are because you reported on them.' Looking back, Vaughan said a 'pressure cooker of circumstances' caused her to develop OCD after the birth of her second child. 'I had about six different triggers', she said. 'I collapsed in the street 19 weeks into my second pregnancy. I was pushing my child in a buggy. I had something called symphysis pubis disorder, where basically a big baby causes your ligaments to stretch. 'I had been behaving like I was invincible then I was bedridden for the rest of that pregnancy. 'At the same time, my husband had to move across the country for his job, and I joined him: pregnant, with a toddler, not being able to walk. 'I then took voluntary redundancy at The Guardian after a consultant said to me, if you think you can commute to London, you're mad. 'So, I was in chronic pain. I couldn't walk. I was isolated with no friends, and my husband was working long hours in this new job. 'There's a line from my book: there's nothing lonelier than being at home with a screaming baby and a mind that's unravelling.' Sarah Vaughan: 'There's nothing lonelier than being at home with a screaming baby and a mind that's unravelling.' Listen here To listen to the full interview with Sarah Vaughan, search for The Life of Bryony now, wherever you get your podcasts Listen to The Life of Bryony podcast New episodes every Monday Ever feel like everyone else has it together while you're barely hanging on? Join Bryony Gordon for honest, unfiltered conversations about life's messier moments from anxiety and heartbreak to addiction and loss. Listen wherever you get your podcasts now. Advertisement Vaughan said that at her worst, she would struggle to let her children out of sight, because of worries they would be snatched. The novelist also remembered struggling to walk up and down flights of stairs with her new baby, fearing she would drop them. She believes the illness fed into her 'perfectionist' nature, which had served her well in journalism but proved destructive as a new mother. 'I never got my baby to take the bottle. I was obsessed with this idea: how do I know if it's sterile? I would spend hours and hours sterilising everything. 'It really kind of impacts people who are perfectionists everything had to be immaculate. 'I was trying to validate myself for not having a job by becoming a domestic goddess, but not a forgiving one.' A combination of CBT therapy and setting herself the goal of finishing her first novel eased Vaughan's anxieties. She urged mothers experiencing similar 'catastrophising' thoughts about parenthood to seek help if they feel overwhelmed or immobilised. Vaughan said: 'When I had my baby, I think it was something like 2% of mothers had postnatal OCD. Now it's as high as 16%. 'That's a lot of women experiencing this and there are organisations out there that can help you.' To listen to the full interview with Sarah Vaughan, search for The Life of Bryony now, wherever you get your podcasts. Con-artist Anna Delvey has been caught in a yet another scandal, following a rabbit-themed photoshoot. The Russian native, 34, whose real name is Anna Sorokin, is famously known for falsely posing as a German heiress to gain social status and defrauding a series of banks, hotels, and individuals out of $275,000. Delvey has now been caught in yet another scandal after two bunnies that appeared to be the same ones used in her shoot, were found abandoned in a park in Brooklyn, New York. However, Delvey says she was unaware of how the bunnies were precured for the shoot, with a 19-year-old assistant taking full responsibility. According to a Reddit user, they rescued a rabbit named Parker from the park on August 4, and placed in foster care. Three days later, on Thursday, the Reddit user was notified of another rabbit that had been found in Prospect Park, writing they also saved that bunny and arranged for someone to foster it. Posts on local Facebook pages in the area alerted neighbors to the rabbits, guessing they were pets due to their domesticated nature. Eagle-eyed Reddit users noticed both of the rabbits look identical to the ones featured in images and pinned Instagram Stories posted by Delvey during the recent shoot, which show her posing on the streets of New York with two bunnies on leads. The Russian native, 34, whose real name is Anna Sorokin, is famously known for falsely posing as a German heiress to gain social status and defrauding a series of banks, hotels, and individuals out of $275,000 Immediately, sleuths took to social media to share their findings, slamming Delvey for animal cruelty. 'SHAME ON YOU! Dumping these poor rabbits after ridiculous photoshoot! you should just go back to jail!' one user wrote under the Instagram photos of the shoot. 'Have some accountability. How can you be okay with these posts knowing the danger you put those rabbits in? Whats wrong with you???' someone else commented. Someone else chimed in: 'Why use animals to begin with, they are NOT props.' In one screenshot shared online, Delvey claimed the bunnies were at home with their owners. 'The bunnies that were borrowed for our shoot are safe at home with their owners,' she left in a comment on her Instagram. The assistant on the independent shoot, Christian Batty, initially denied the bunnies that were found in the park were the ones used on the shoot, but he later released a statement claiming responsibility. Batty confessed to dumping the rabbits in Prospect Park, assuring people that Delvey wasn't aware of the situation and he sourced the animals for the shoot. The assistant on the shoot reportedly sourced the rabbits on Facebook marketplace (pictured is an exchange between Christian Batty and someone on Instagram who said he also asked to use her bunny) Delvey says she was unaware of how the bunnies were precured for the shoot, with a 19-year-old assistant taking full responsibility Eagle-eyed Reddit users noticed both of the rabbits appear identical to the ones featured in images and pinned Instagram Stories posted by Delvey during her the recent shoot, which show her posing on the streets of New York with two bunnies on leads In a statement posted to social media, which Delvey re-shared, he added they are being fostered by someone in New York for the time being. 'It was an unfortunate situation, but the bunnies are okay now,' he wrote in the statement. 'Anna was in the photoshoot with the bunnies, but not involved in anything beyond that photoshoot and did not realize the situation until today.' 'I lied to Anna, and the rest of Anna's team about the rabbits,' he confessed. 'When I realized the rabbits were being surrendered to me, I panicked. I had no experience caring for animals, no pet-friendly housing, and no knowledge of available resources,' he shared. Batty continued, writing he was 'overwhelmed and made the worst possible choice', thinking that there were 'existing rabbits in that area.' Internet sleuths connected the bunnies found in Prospect Park were the one used in Delvey's shoot The assistant on the independent shoot, Christian Batty, initially denied the bunnies that were found in the park were the ones used on the shoot, but he later released a statement claiming responsibility 'I released them there, thinking that was my best option. The belief was wrong and I regret it deeply,' he wrote. 'I am relieved to hear that the rabbits are now safe, but I deeply regret the harm I caused. I also want to be clear that Anna had no knowledge of my actions until this afternoon, and I ask that any mention of them be removed from the situation.' 'My actions were wrong, and I will do everything I can to make sure nothing like this happens again,' he concluded the statement. In a statement supplied to the Daily Mail, Delvey said: 'As many of you are aware, I recently did a shoot with Jasper Soloff involving live rabbits. Christian Batty, a member of the hair team I briefly met with during a fashion week event last year, responded that he knew someone who could lend us bunnies for a few hours. 'I later discovered that, instead of borrowing animals from a legitimate source, he had obtained them via Facebook marketplace and intended to release them to Prospect Park, a plan of which I had no knowledge. The idea that someone would compromise the well-being of innocent animals for personal networking opportunities is deeply disturbing to me. 'I am highly disturbed by what transpired. As talent, it's not my job to source or return animals, but as am animal lover, I can promise I will never work with them again without knowing exactly where they came from and how they're getting home. 'I do not eat meat, and I have no involvement in the acquisition, transport, or return of these animals. I would never condone these actions.' A disgruntled pilot caused a frenzy after he dished out a brutally honest update about a passenger who forced an emergency landing. Content creator Ishan took to TikTok to document the ordeal on board the recent Air France flight. In the clip, recorded in late July, the captain could be heard speaking over the intercom to address the passengers. 'Ladies and gentleman, this is your captain speaking. One of our passengers needs some medical care. We asked for a doctor but nobody was on board so we are now diverting to St. John's in Newfoundland, Canada. 'We will have to offload this passenger to the hospital.' Ishan then filmed as the plane touched down on the tarmac during the unscheduled landing. Ambulances rushed to the scene with the traveler escorted off the aircraft and taken to receive medical attention. But two hours later, once the flight had resumed, the captain stunned passengers with a very blunt update. A disgruntled pilot caused a frenzy after he dished out a brutally honest update about a passenger who forced an emergency landing (stock image) 'You'll be happy to learn that our passenger which, we saved her life she was a bit angry to be offloaded from the aircraft,' he said over the intercom once again. 'She gave us the finger when leaving the aircraft, and she's still being very angry at the hospital. That's it.' The snarky remark quickly won him a legion of online fans - with many viewers saying they wished more pilots would provide 'gossip.' 'I love a sassy pilot,' someone wrote. 'That's hilarious, he said she was ungrateful, and I will make sure everyone knows!' another exclaimed. 'Poor man just needed to vent to whoever would listen,' a person said. Another comment read: 'Normalize the pilots updating us with non-flight-related info.' 'Petition for pilots to spill more tea on flights,' one user shared. 'You'll be happy to learn that our passenger which, we saved her life she was a bit angry to be offloaded from the aircraft,' he said over the intercom once again (stock image) Someone else wrote: 'At least he was being honest and gave everyone an update lol.' 'I'd need to talk to the airline staff immediately for all the details,' a person admitted. 'The shade and I'm here for it,' someone wrote. 'Normalize pilot gossip on the PA. We wanna know too!' a comment read. Daily Mail has contacted Air France for comment. A bride-to-be snapped her leg the day before her wedding after slipping on wet grass during a family stroll - so she got married in hospital instead. Lisa Whitaker, a florist from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, was due to walk down the aisle on August 4 at Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull, off the Scottish coast, until she fell into difficulty on an outing with her son and other close relatives. The 39-year-old's family had joined Lisa and her fiance, Ian Whitaker, also 39, for a caravan holiday on the Inner Hebridean island, with the wedding scheduled for mid-way through the trip. But the day before the nuptials, during a dry spell after a storm, Lisa and her family decided to get some fresh air, only for her to slip on wet grass and break her leg. The mother-of-two said Ian drove her to Mull and Iona Community Hospital where doctors X-rayed her leg before informing her that she had broken her tibia, ankle and femur, and would need to be air-lifted to the mainland for treatment. Lisa recalled that the air ambulance had trouble landing because of the storm, meaning that her transfer was postponed to the following day. The bride-to-be, who had her heart set on wedding Ian as planned, contacted their registrar to ask if he could marry them at the hospital - and he was happy to oblige. The hospital staff helped to make the couple's day special by decorating the room with lights left over from Christmas and garlands made from surgical gloves, leaving Lisa to don her wedding dress and marry her beau on August 5. Lisa Whitaker (pictured with husband Ian) married her fiance of 10 years in hospital after breaking her leg on the day before they were due to wed at Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull A few hours later, she was transferred to the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley by air ambulance. After doctors performed surgery on her leg, Lisa started physiotherapy and she is now hoping to be discharged this week. Lisa recalled: 'Me and my son who is seven were walking along laughing at how much water there was that came off the hills. 'As I turned the corner, it wasn't even much of a slope at all, my foot must have slipped on the wet grass. That's all I can put it down to. 'As my foot flew it stopped and then it turned back on itself right underneath me and I heard the whole of my leg just break. I heard the snap. 'I was trying to keep it all together and not pass out. I knew instantly that it was broken. All that was going through my head was, "tomorrow is my wedding day." 'They managed to get me up on this picnic bench. I couldn't put any weight on it. It was a floppy mess. It looked like there were no bones in the bottom of my leg. It was awful. 'They say childbirth is the worst pain. This has taken over that pain. It was unbearable. I was adamant that I was off to the castle. That's where we were getting married. Lisa and her husband, both 39,went on their first date 14 years ago and got engaged four years later After Lisa informed the registrar of her accident, he agreed to come to the hospital and marry the couple Lisa, who was determined to get married to Ian on August 5 as planned, even donned her wedding dress for the hospital ceremony Hospital staff were excited about the last minute nuptials and went to trouble decorating Lisa's room for the occasion 'The nurses were like, "Lisa, we can't get you there. We can't even get you there in a wheelchair because there's no access. It's all steps up to the castle." 'We didn't have to carry on with the wedding, we could have postponed it until next year. Many brides wouldn't want anything other than perfect whereas this was perfect for us.' Lisa and Ian went on their first date to the cinema more than 14 years ago and have been engaged for 10 years. They decided to get married in Scotland because it is their favourite place to enjoy a caravan holiday. Fortunately, their six guests were able to watch them say 'I do' in hospital while the wedding venue agreed to transfer Lisa's booking to next year and the registrar said he will renew the couple's vows for them then. Lisa said: 'We'd seen it [the venue] on a previous holiday, we'd been to look at it. Scotland is our favourite place to come with the kids and the Isle of Mull means so much to us. It was a dream location for us. 'I am devastated that I couldn't get married there in the end but the staff at the hospital who were with me made it perfect. 'At the end of the day it's about us not about the materialistic surroundings. The nurses were just fabulous.' Lisa and Ian described their original wedding venue, Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull, as their dream location Lisa has since received treatment on the Scottish mainland and begun physiotherapy. She hopes to be discharged this week Doctors in Paisley inserted a rod in Lisa's leg during surgery on August 7 and she is now practising walking on her leg. Lisa said: 'Obviously when a bride thinks of her wedding day it's not like this. 'There were a lot of emotions taking off waving to my husband after only just being married. 'I'm a florist so I should have been making my bridal bouquet about half an hour after the incident. 'In the end my dad and my daughter made them for me and they were so much more special. To be honest if I'd not gotten married I would have been even more gutted I think. 'The way it all happened was perfect for me and has brought us even closer than ever. The vows are for better and for worse. We've been through the worse.' Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more Pamela Anderson has launched a new pickle line that some say is eerily similar to Meghan Markle's lifestyle hamper - and it's on the verge of selling out. You can now get your hands on the 58-year-old former pin up star's 'tangy and herbaceous' line of pickles, aptly titled Pamela's Pickles, despite it displaying imagery clearly similar to the Duchess of Sussex's As Ever brand. The Baywatch star's latest project is hot on the heels of claims that Meghan 'ripped off' her cooking show with Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, and that the Duchess modelled it after Pamelas Cooking With Love, which also premiered in March. Despite selling completely different food items, parts of the packaging are oddly similar - from the flowers embodied in the brine, to the stunning pink packaging and the same organic aesthetics As Ever is touting. If you'd like to see for yourself, we've now got the details on where you can purchase your own jar of Pamela's Pickles, as well as the price. Pamela's Pickles is available to shop directly from the bombshell's 'private harvest' at Los Angeles's Flamingo Estate, and it retails for $38 for one 25 fl oz/ 709 ml jar. Flamingo Estate is a Los Angeles-based brand that promotes sustainable living through products inspired by wellness and nature. Situated in the hills of the golden state, specifically between the Eagle Rock and Highland Park neighborhoods, it was founded by stylist and creative Richard Christiansen in 2020. Pamela Anderson has launched a new pickle line called Pamela's Pickles - and it's on the brink of selling out The 'handmade' pickles come from Flamingo Estate in Los Angeles and arrive in stunning pink packaging Flamingo Estate customers can subscribe to receive a 'curation' (that's a bouquet to you) of seasonal flowers for $125 a week. And even the Dalai Lama has been involved, personally blessing the brand's Sea Buckthorn body oil, which costs $60 for a small bottle but is 'hand-harvested high in the Himalayan valleys by a community of women who can sustain their family for a year from just one harvest', the brand's website boasts. If you're wondering why the wading bird property sounds familiar, you may recall that after moving to California in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex appeared to become fans of Christiansen's farm shop brand, prominently displaying its glossy coffee-table books in their Montecito home. Reports claimed that Meghan was so bowled over by Flamingo Estate's vision that she actually wanted to partner with Christiansen and his boyfriend Aaron Harvey in business, however it never materialised. Well Pamela's Pickles differ in that all the money from the jars will support the California Wildlife Center, which works to help rescue, rehabilitate, and release animals - a cause near and dear to vegan Pamela's heart. It's also 'an award winning recipe that was passed down to her by her great-aunt Vie', the website promises. 'The delicious base is packed with Rose, Dill, Mustard, and Garlic - the perfect partner for the signature flavors of Flamingo Estate: Pink Peppercorns, Guajillo Chile, and smoky Sea Salt' it continued. With the seeming adversarial history behind it, one may wonder why Pamela has opted to partner her luxe pickles with the same place that Meghan once contemplated. But that's not for us to ponder, instead we'll show you where to purchase and taste a jar for yourself, as well as other goodies Pamela's currently selling. Pamela's Pickles Pamela's Pickles Take this as you're warning to get your jar of Pamela's Pickles before they sell out! For $38 a pop, you can treat yourself to a delicacy made in the luxurious Flamingo Estate kitchen by a bonafide global star. The brand promises 'signature flavors of Flamingo Estate: Pink Peppercorns, Guajillo Chile, and smoky Sea Salt' and that all ingredients are organic. Get Pamela's Pickles now for $38. Shop Cleansing mousse Sonsie Cleansing Mousse Pamela Anderson dazzled the world when she announced that she was going make-up free in 2023 and subsequently launched her own line of skincare products. Sonsie Skin is described by the brand as 'minimal, mindful skincare', and one of its standout products is this cleansing mousse. The mousse intends to 'gently cleanse without over-drying, leaving behind soft skin'. And fans will love this - it's made with a subtle hint of rose inspired by the blooms in Pamelas garden. Shop Hydrating serum Sonsie Super Serum This lush 'super serum' by Pamela Anderson works on dryness, dullness and redness, and can be used on normal, dry, combination and oily skin. It's especially best for anyone looking for a serum with a dewy finish. Grab a 50ml bottle for $68 directly from Sonsie. Shop Moisture cream Sonsie Multi Moisture Cream Luxe meets moisture with this multifunctional cream by Sonsie. Described by the Baywatch babe's brand as a 'moisture multitasker', it promises long-lasting hydration and visibly healthy skin over time. It also smooths the appearance of fine lines and supports the skin barrier, all for $48. Shop Lip balm White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has shared a glimpse into her life at home as a mother and wife - while juggling a return to work with her glam co-workers at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. On Sunday night, Leavitt, 27, took to her Instagram stories to share that she was making chicken piccata, a dish that consists of breaded chicken cutlets in a creamy lemon sauce. The former Congress hopeful lives with her husband, Nicholas Riccio, 59, and their one-year-old son, Nicholas Robert. 'Chicken piccata incoming...' Leavitt wrote on her Instagram story in a photo that showed off the ingredients she was using, along with an emoji of a chef. And it looks like many of her ingredients are actually Jeff Bezos-approved, as she included a variety of products from Whole Foods' in-house 365 brand. In 2017, Bezos' Amazon acquired the grocery giant for $13.7 billion. Of course, Leavitt was using chicken breasts by the 365 label, as well as organic angel hair pasta, capers and parsley. In addition, the mom-of-one had all-purpose flour, chicken stock, butter, minced garlic, lemon and olive oil in the lineup. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has shared a glimpse into her life at home as a mother and wife - while juggling a return to work with her glam co-workers at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue And it looks like many of her ingredients are actually Jeff Bezos-approved, as she used a variety of products from Whole Foods' in-house 365 brand The former Congress hopeful lives with her husband, Nicholas Riccio, 59, and their one-year-old son, Nicholas Robert It seemed to be a success, as the next video shared on her Instagram story was a close-up of the chicken simmering in a pot on the stove. She had covered the chicken breasts with slices of lemon and seasoning. 'If you could only smell my kitchen... delish!' Leavitt typed on top of the clip, adding in an emoji that was licking its lips. The pot she used, made by the cookware brand Carote, is also available for purchase on Amazon. Leavitt's weekend at home seemed like a moment of respite from the week before, after she announced that the White House would be building a brand new ballroom. That same week, she posted a snap on Instagram alongside her glamorous Trump aides Margo Martin and Meghan Bauer, cheekily captioning it, 'West Wing girls.' Martin is the Special Assistant to the President and Communications Advisor, while Bauer is the Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Scheduling. Leavitt posed in the middle of the two as they stood outside The White House, wearing a blue-and-red tweed mini dress by designer Maje, which retails for $565. That same week, she posted a snap on Instagram alongside her glamorous Trump aides Margo Martin and Meghan Bauer, cheekily captioning it, 'West Wing girls' It seemed to be a success, as the next video shared on her Instagram story was a close-up of the chicken simmering in a pot on the stove The dress features a short, pleated skirt with gold buttons and black trim on the sleeveless top. Leavitt paired the look with nude heels. Next to her, Martin looked chic in a tan, flared-leg pantsuit, finishing off the look with suede heels complete with a buckle at the toe. Bauer, who was on the other side of Leavitt, wore tailored white pants and a navy blue jacket with gold buttons. She wore a similar pair of shoes to Martin, but in a pale blue color. The women on Donald Trump's team have previously been labeled as his 'stunning secret weapons,' which includes Martin and Leavitt. Last month, Martin showcased what a day in her life looks like working for The President. Martin started the day with a workout at the gym, followed by her morning skincare routine and putting on a dress with a blue top and denim skirt before heading into The White House. The women on Trump's team have previously been labeled as his 'stunning secret weapons,' which includes Martin and Leavitt Later that day, she sat with Leavitt on the flight to Des Moines to promote his 'Big Beautiful Bill' The glamorous aide showed viewers around her office, including her desk and giant tumbler cup with the presidential seal. Later that day, she sat with Leavitt on the flight to Des Moines to promote his 'Big Beautiful Bill.' For lunch, Martin ate salad topped with steak, hard-boiled eggs, red onion, cucumbers, corn, olives, and a creamy dressing, as well as a fruit tart for dessert. She showed Trump dancing on stage at the Iowa State Fairgrounds to kick off the 'America 250' celebration. Martin treated herself to a lemonade from Campbell's Corn Dog stand before Trump and his team headed back to Air Force One. The team watched Fox News, and Martin dined on another dessert tart, a bowl of ice cream with one scoop of chocolate and one of vanilla, along with an arugula salad. A Liquid IV electrolyte packet was also on Martin's plate. After landing back in Washington, DC, Martin showed Trump speaking to reporters along since DHS Secretary Kristi Noem before wrapping up their day. For most women, the prospect of possessing a 35,000 handbag is a glorious pipe dream. But if they did own such an expensive item, they'd likely treat it with care particularly if it was a Hermes Kelly. Like its close relation the Birkin, which was designed much later in 1984, the Kelly (named after actress Grace Kelly) is one of the most coveted and hard-to-purchase handbags in the pantheon, on whose waiting lists even the wealthiest customers can languish for years. Were they ever fortunate enough to have a fabled Kelly, you'd best believe they'd treat it with more deference than their pet and possibly even their children. They might take it to a cafe, but it would have its own chair to avoid blemishing its pristine leather underside. What they certainly wouldn't do is take it to a beach. Unless, that is, they are Kate Moss. The 51-year-old supermodel was recently spotted in Ibiza, blithely walking across the sand toting a brown leather Kelly, as though cheap local basket bags didn't exist and the trend for cloth bags-for-life never happened. Dressed in a beige bikini, a white peasant blouse, oversized sunglasses and a slew of chunky bangles, Moss looked like any other holidaymaker bar her fiendishly expensive arm candy. But Moss is just the latest in a long line of celebrities who seem to have repurposed Churchill's famous war cry and made it into their own. Indeed, when it comes to designer handbags, 'We will flaunt them on the beaches!' is shaping up to be something of a summer mantra. Whisper it, but the ultimate status symbol isn't a gym-honed body or a subtle facelift: it's an expensive handbag that you're willing to trash. No matter that sand is a ruinously abrasive substance that will scratch its delicate leather hide and leave gritty residues in each of its corners you have hundreds more handbags at home, and can afford to ruin one or two so long as it means your gloopy, greasy SPF30 is carried in fine style. Kate Moss with her 35,000 Hermes Kelly on a beach in Ibiza. Moss is just the latest in a long line of celebrities who seem to have repurposed Churchill's famous war cry and made it into their own Model and actress Emily Ratajkowski opts for a large Gucci Giglio tote worth 1,600 Dua Lipa with a 4,930 Chanel 25 bag to match her bangles and gold leopard print bikini As for which four-figure tote to choose, opinion and taste is divided. Model and actress Emily Ratajkowski favours a large Gucci Giglio tote, costing 1,600, in highly stainable monogrammed canvas. Actress Dakota Johnson, 35, raises the stakes even higher with a bamboo-handled eau de nil shopper from Gucci's autumn/winter 2025 collection that isn't even available to buy yet. For the singer Dua Lipa, 29, it's a 4,930 Chanel 25 handbag in gold, a popular choice thanks to its slouchy silhouette and numerous pockets. Other celebrities carrying expensive leather bags on their seaside holidays include sisters Kendall and Kylie Jenner, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Naomi Campbell, whose tiny white Hermes Birkin would struggle to fit a smartphone, never mind a towel. Last week, Lauren Sanchez Bezos, 55, was seen tottering along a pebble beach in Ibiza wearing sky-high heels, a white crochet dress and a cream Schiaparelli Mini Bijoux Secret bag worth 5,000. This summer she's also been spotted holidaying with a 15,000 Lady Dior Mini, as well as a tan suede Anahi bag by Isabel Marant, worth 890. Colombian and American actress Sofia Vergara with a 4,120 YSL raffia tote bag in Ibiza last month American actress Dakota Johnson with next season's eau de nil shopper from Gucci Margot Robbie has traded filming Wuthering Heights on the bleak Yorkshire moors for the sunny Balearic islands with a La Croisiere model Lauren Sanchez Bezos struggling on a a rocky beach in Ibiza wearing sky-high heels and carrying a cream 5,000 Schiaparelli Mini Bijoux Secret bag along with her husband Jeff Clearly, this is small change to the newly minted Mrs Bezos. When you are married to one of the world's richest men, it wouldn't do to rock up to the beach with a tatty wicker basket. While practicality and fashion have never been cosy bedfellows, it's especially puzzling to put your soggy swimsuit into a heavy leather tote given designers have been offering holiday-friendly wardrobes ever since the advent of their Cruise collections. It was Coco Chanel who first introduced Cruise (also known as 'resort') in 1919, designing capsule collections of light dresses and knits for wealthy clients who would holiday in Biarritz. In the intervening years, the Cruise collections have only grown in size and prominence as has the choice of beach bags offered by luxury brands keen to cash in on vacation style. Rare is the designer who doesn't offer a wicker beach bag emblazoned with its logo, the most popular of which, Loewe's 775 Anagram tote, is as ubiquitous a sight in St Tropez, Marbella and Ibiza as an Aperol Spritz (and only marginally less of a summer cliche). Which is probably why the chicest vacationers have swapped stiff straw for slouchier raffia. The actress Margot Robbie, 35, was recently spotted in Ibiza with a 560 circular La Croisiere bag by cult French label Jacquemus. Meanwhile, Modern Family actress Sofia Vergara, 53, has sported a 4,120 raffia Icare bag, by Yves Saint Laurent, this summer. While they may be only marginally more affordable than their wintery leather counterparts, at least these summer bags are lighter to carry and more forgiving of stains. Then again, when even Jane Birkin used her namesake Hermes bag to carry everything from nail clippers to nappies, perhaps its natural evolution is to be worn insouciantly on a beach. As she watched the sunrise, Monique van Tulder was hit by a sudden realisation. The cup of coffee she was cradling in her hands was actually hot! She thought: 'Oh, my God - I've had lukewarm coffee for decades.' For two decades, Monique had put her family first, becoming the 'default' parent - the problem solver, cook and emotional anchor - always relied upon to carry the household load. Her corporate career in airlines and hotels was routinely paused or reshaped around everyone else's needs. 'I realised I was at the top of everyone else's pyramid but at the bottom of my own. I never put myself first,' Monique, now 57, tells Daily Mail. She was staying in her holiday house in North Queensland at the time and due to fly back to Sydney where her husband of 22 years and two teenage sons were waiting for her. But the realisation she hadn't had a hot cup of coffee in years convinced her to extend her trip for a few more days. For two decades, Monique van Tulder (right, with her husband) put herself at the bottom of her own priority list, which led to her feeling 'invisible' and wanting to reclaim her sense of self 'I thought, "Oh, I see how this is going to play out. I'll be unloading the dishwasher for the rest of my life unless something changes." 'It was absolutely in that moment - clear as day - that I thought, "Right, I'm staying."' Monique had followed the script: get a job, get married, buy a house, have children. Like many mothers, she found herself last on her own list of priorities. Over the years, a 'slow simmer of resentment' was bubbling over. With her sons heading off to university, Monique reflected on her life and what lay ahead. Years of domestic, mental and emotional labour had taken their toll. She didn't want an expensive divorce - just a reset. 'I still loved my husband. In fact, it wasn't even about him. I didn't like the person I'd become,' she says. So, she wrote him an email. 'I said, "Here's my post office box - I'm not coming back for a bit." It was the most ridiculous thing, and probably speaks to my state of mind at the time. It was a physical line in the sand,' Monique says. 'When you're exhausted and feel invisible in mid-life, your lifestyle loses any sense of creativity. I felt beige and longed to live in Technicolor again. 'I realised I was at the top of everyone else's pyramid but at the bottom of my own. I never put myself first,' Monique, now 57, says of her decision to take a gap year away from her family 'I said [to my husband], "Here's my post office box - I'm not coming back for a bit." It was a physical line in the sand,' Monique says 'I had no plan, I just knew I wanted a hot coffee again the next day. I had zero clue what the future would look like.' While Monique's husband was certainly surprised by his wife's decision, he was ultimately supportive. Monique and her husband had always valued independence, but rarely discussed their future - especially as they grew older. Her husband, a lifelong Sydneysider with a small, established social circle, had a much smaller world than Monique, who hails from New Zealand. Monique spent a month in Queensland, then briefly returned to Sydney to 'teach her husband how to use the oven and fill the freezer' before heading out again. 'Before I left, I cobbled together what unpaid domestic labour looks like,' she says, detailing years of meals, cooking and cleaning. 'My boys were thrilled and happy for me. I think my husband was kicking his heels together too. Everyone was happy.' After spending five months in Queensland, Monique flew to Europe to visit her father in Croatia and her sister in London. Next on her list was a spa retreat in Austria. 'Life caught up with me and I was forced to sit for a bit and just examine myself,' she says. 'In your 50s, the road in front is probably shorter than the road behind you, and time is finite. I had to think about what I wanted the shape of my life to be like moving forward.' Three years on, Monique lives in North Queensland while her husband remains in Sydney Monique spent eight months away from her family, rediscovering herself - meeting her husband halfway in Singapore at one point. 'I'm asked often if I feel guilty - and I don't. It was the best decision I've ever made,' she says. Returning home, Monique longed to embrace her sons again, but dreaded slipping back into the role of primary parent. Yet when she got back, she felt no resentment - instead, her relationships were stronger. Her absence had given her husband a new appreciation for the domestic responsibilities she had shouldered for so many years. Meanwhile, her sons had matured at university and supported her journey. Three years on, Monique and her husband have embraced a non-traditional marriage. She lives in North Queensland while he remains in Sydney. They rarely go a month without spending time together, even though they reside in different states. Monique acknowledges their arrangement is 'unusual,' but finds it invigorating and believes more couples should consider it as an option. Monique has chronicled her experience in her book, A Grown Up's Gap Year, which she hopes will inspire other women. 'We make it work,' she says. 'Love changes - it becomes a solid, lovely friendship. You have to do what's right for you, so you don't look back and realise you forgot to live your life. You only get one go.' A common pill prescribed to millions of Americans annually could lead to crippling depression, anxiety and mood swings, experts warn. About 18 million prescriptions are filled every year for prednisone, a corticosteroid used to treat everything from migraines to Crohn's disease to allergic reactions. Corticosteroids are meant to reduce inflammation by mimicking the effects of the 'stress hormone' cortisol and suppressing immune system reactions. While most people take them for a few days at a time, those with chronic conditions may spend months or even years at a time on them. But taking corticosteroids like prednisone for long periods of time may deplete the brain of mood-boosting hormones, leading to depression, anxiety and even mania. Hilary Hodge, a disability advocate living in France who takes steroids on and off for chronic illnesses, told the Daily Mail she's normally 'a very mellow and gentle person.' 'So I am surprised when the steroids make me crankier than I used to be,' she said. Emily Mendez, from Indiana, said she started experiencing mania symptoms within days of receiving a steroid injection of Kenalog (triamcinolone) for shoulder pain. Now she's forced to only use the drug as a 'last resort'. Emily Mendez (pictured), former psychotherapist in Indiana, said a steroid injection gave her symptoms of 'mania' within days Your browser does not support iframes. 'When taken at high doses or for extended periods, corticosteroids can interfere with the balance of certain brain chemicals, potentially leading to an increased likelihood of symptoms of depression, anxiety, mood swings, irritability or even mania or psychosis,' Dr Jeffrey Ditzell, lead psychiatrist at Dr Ditzell Psychiatry in New York City, told the Daily Mail. Corticosteroids reduce inflammation and pain throughout the body by mimicking the effects of cortisol, a 'stress hormone' released by the adrenal glands to regulate inflammation, by binding to glucocorticoid receptors in cells. They also suppress the immune system, which triggers inflammation. These are different from anabolic steroids - synthetic forms of testosterone often used as performance-enhancing drugs by athletes - and generally treat autoimmune conditions, allergic reactions and inflammation. The most commonly prescribed corticosteroid in the US is prednisone. 'As a pharmacist, I see these medications used for anything from a sore throat to a skin rash to asthma to an unknown condition that involves the immune system,' Dr Erika Gray, pharmacist and founder and chief medical officer at ToolBox Genomics, told the Daily Mail. Corticosteroids usually come as pills but can also be taken as injections, via ear and eye ingestion or as intravenous infusions. Prednisone in particular is thought to disrupt the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which coordinates the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and adrenal glands, all of which regulate the body's stress response. This dysregulation can send stress hormones like cortisol into overdrive, contributing to mood swings and symptoms of depression. 'Long term corticosteroid use can also cause the memory section of our brain to decrease in size which can negatively affect our memory and mood,' Dr Gray said. 'A great way to think about the effect of corticosteroids on the brain is this medication makes your brain feel it is under constant stress.' The most commonly prescribed corticosteroid in the US is prednisone with about 18 million prescriptions per year (stock image) Mendez, a former psychotherapist and mental health author, was given an injection of the corticosteroid Kenalog, a brand name for triamcinolone, in 2023 for shoulder pain. 'Within a day of getting this steroid injection, I started to experience hypomanic symptoms. I had been stable previously,' Mendez, who has bipolar disorder, told the Daily Mail. 'I called my psychiatrist, who increased my medication dose for bipolar disorder. Despite this, I developed severe mania and was hospitalized shortly after. The onset of hypomania/mania coincided with the steroid injection.' Doctors at the hospital told Mendez the steroid injection likely triggered the hypomania, a less severe form of mania that causes extreme mood and energy changes. 'Because of this, and the fact that I live with bipolar, steroids will be a last resort for me in the future,' she said. A TikTok user, Amanda Powell, said prednisone made her feel like she was 'losing' her mind. 'I saw therapist after psychiatrist over and over and over again and nothing was going right. They prescribed me depression and anxiety medication and it just made my mania worse,' she said in a recent video. 'The crazy thing is people never associate prednisone with mania.' In another video posted earlier this year, Powell said, 'The side effects aren't worth the journey sometimes.' Dr Ditzell said prednisone in particular is most commonly associated with depression, irritability and mania at high doses, while its counterpart dexamethasone may increase the risk of sleep disruptions along with mood disorders. He also said oral corticosteroids are most likely to cause depression and other mood issues. These include prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone and hydrocortisone. He explained inhaled versions of the drugs have a 'lower risk of mood effects due to low systemic absorption' while topical creams have a 'very low risk of systemic mood side effects unless used over large areas for long periods'. Dr Gray also said 'using topical hydrocortisone for long periods of time and over a large part of the body' could increase the risk of systemic absorption. Dr Ditzell believes the risk of depression is highest with bigger doses - over 40 milligrams per day - over longer periods of time. Hilary Hodge (pictured) told the Daily Mail while she is normally 'mellow', steroids make her moods drastically shift Women and older patients may also be at a greater risk due to having more hormone fluctuations and general sensitivity to medications. 'The risk of depression and mood changes can be managed and, in some cases, lowered or prevented with using the lowest effective dose of the medication for the shortest duration of time,' he said. 'The use of local instead of systemic steroids when possible is recommended. For example, for asthma, allergies or eczema, inhaled, nasal or topical steroids are often safer than oral medications.' He also suggests tapering the dose slowly, which means gradually decreasing it over time before stopping. This helps minimize any effects from sudden dosage changes. Dr Gray also advised against quitting cold turkey. 'Never stop corticosteroids medication suddenly or without your prescribers help. These medications need to be slowly decreased over time.' Experts urged those taking corticosteroids to keep a close eye on potential side effects and seek medical attention immediately if they notice drastic changes in mood. 'While taking corticosteroids, it is important to take immediate action if you experience suicidal thoughts or urges, if you feel out of control, or experience intense agitation or paranoia. Call a crisis line, reach out to a mental health professional, or go to the ER,' Dr Ditzell said. 'These symptoms are rare, but serious.' The FDA has lifted a pause on the administration of a vaccine for the chikungunya virus, a mosquito-borne illness currently spreading from China. The Ixchiq single-dose vaccine was approved for adults 18 and up at risk of exposure to the virus in 2023, when the CDC had recorded 152 travel-associated cases of the virus, the highest rate in four years. But administrations of the shot to adults aged 60 and older were paused in May of this year, triggered by reports of 17 serious side effects following vaccination, including two deaths. Most of the reported issues were neurological or cardiac, and all involved people over 60. Six cases were reported in the US, with the remaining cases among the tens of thousands of people vaccinated worldwide. However, on August 7, the FDA greenlit the vaccine again for adults 60 and up. While the agency did not say whether the lifted pause is related to an uptick in infections, the chikungunya virus is spreading globally. Cases are currently rising in China, with more than 10,000 recorded, and the virus is spreading to nearby countries, as well as Europe. As of August 5, the CDC reports 46 cases of chikungunya virus in the US this year, all contracted by travelers returning from high-risk areas. No deaths have been reported. The CDC recommends Americans traveling to high-risk chikungunya countries receive one of the two FDA-approved vaccines. However, the FDA changed its guidelines from recommending the shot to travelers and scientists at 'increased risk' to those at 'high risk.' A sanitation worker sprays insecticide to prevent the spread of Chikungunya in Guangdong Province An FDA spokesperson told DailyMail.com: FDA has completed an updated benefit-risk assessment of Ixchiq, including for use in individuals 18 years of age and older. Based on the available data and its benefit-risk assessment, FDA has removed the recommended pause in the use of Ixchiq in individuals 60 years of age and older. While there's no specific number for how many Americans have been vaccinated for chikungunya, it's known that around 43,000 people have received the vaccine globally. The reported adverse reactions to the Ixchiq vaccine included severe headaches, dizziness, intense nerve pain, trouble with balance, fainting, extreme muscle aches, and severe joint and back pain. The virus, meanwhile, causes flu-like symptoms within three to seven days of being bitten by a mosquito. A high fever is typical, as is joint pain in the hands, wrists, ankles and knees. It also causes muscle pain, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, swollen joints and swollen lymph nodes. Joint damage can be severe and long-lasting, potentially for years. Deaths are rare, but certain groups can experience life-threatening illness. Newborns, the elderly, and people with chronic health conditions, including obesity and diabetes, are more susceptible to seizures and brain swelling, heart problems, and kidney or liver damage. While the vaccines labeling has been changed to stipulate that only people at high risk of exposure should get the shot, limitations of use have been added. A worker is shown spraying insecticide near a residential property in Hong Kong, where the first case of chikungunya was announced last week in a 12-year-old boy The Ixchiq vaccine has been plagued by reports of severe neurological and cardiac side effects, including two deaths The labeling now says: Vaccination with Ixchiq is not advisable for most US travelers. For most US travelers, the risk of exposure to CHIKV is low. The decision to administer Ixchiq should take into consideration an individuals risk of severe or chronic disease outcomes if infected with CHIKV and risks of serious, severe, or prolonged chikungunya-like illness caused by vaccination with Ixchiq.' The European vaccine company Valneva developed Ixchiq, the first-ever vaccine to prevent the chikungunya virus, in 2023. But the shot has been plagued by reports of more than a dozen serious adverse events, including two deaths, in adults 62 to 89. The European Medicines Agency suspended its use in May and the FDA soon followed. A second chikungunya vaccine, Vimkunya, was approved by the FDA in February 2025. The Ixchiq vaccine contains a weakened form of the virus, which may cause symptoms of chikungunya. Federal officials said some of the severe adverse events reported are similar to severe complications from the disease. According to Valneva, the FDA has received its petition to expand its availability to teenagers. Chikungunya spreads through bites from the Aedes mosquito species, typically in countries where the virus is common, primarily those in Africa and Asia. Twelve Americans were infected within US borders in 2014, while one infection was acquired in 2015. Since then, all US infections have been contracted abroad. There have been about 220,000 Chikungunya virus cases and 80 related deaths in 14 countries since the beginning of 2025, according to the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control. While it remains unclear in which countries American patients contracted the virus, the federal government has issued an elevated risk of exposure notice for Brazil, China Colombia, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines and Thailand. Prince Harrys gap year in Lesotho in 2004 led to him setting up the charity Sentebale in 2006 in memory of his mother to fight HIV/AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana. Before a damning report came out this week into its operations by the Charity Commission, Harry had already stepped back in March. He is said to be devastated. Whats puzzling is that Meghan has remained silent. No public words of support. Maybe behind closed doors shes been his rock. Meanwhile, she celebrated her 44th birthday last Monday. On Instagram she posted a picture in which she thanked my husband in passing, she didnt name him and there was no sign of Harry. While Harry is battling court cases and losing his beloved charity, Meghan seems to be on a high with her As Ever brand and Netflix show. In successful partnerships, there is always one person to lift you up when you fall down. Without someone like this, life is infinitely harder and less fun. Prince Harry is said to be devastated. Whats puzzling is that Meghan has remained silent Harry and Meghan with Sentebale chairman Dr Sophie Chandauka last year The cosmetic cowboy crackdown wont fix the real problem It feels that barely a week goes by without reading about a poor person who underwent a cosmetic procedure, performed by someone unqualified, only for it to go horribly wrong. As a doctor, Im always staggered that people will willingly have their faces and bodies altered without checking the credentials of the person carrying out the work. This is why the Government last week announced a big crackdown on cosmetic cowboys. They warned that rogue operators with no medical training are maiming and even killing people by carrying out invasive procedures in homes, hotels and pop-up clinics. Under the new rules, only health workers who are suitably qualified will be able to undertake high-risk procedures such as Brazilian butt lifts, where someone's fat from elsewhere in the body is injected into their backside to make it appear larger. Meanwhile, clinics offering Botox and fillers will need to be licensed by their local authority. I welcome the move although Im astonished it wasnt already in place. Like every NHS doctor working today, Ive witnessed the fallout when patients receive shoddy care in the private sector, particularly the cosmetic surgery industry. When I worked in breast surgery, I saw several cases of botched implants. Patients with horrendous infections and in great pain had been palmed off on the NHS because so many private clinics do not have the resources and facilities to fix the problems they create. Alice Webb, 33, died last year after having a Brazilian bum lift, the first case of a death caused by a non-surgical BBL in the UK My view is that if these places dont have the facilities or expertise, and have to rely on the NHS to put right their mistakes, then they should pay for the service. While the Governments crackdown is a step in the right direction, it wont entirely solve the problem of botched work, because people will still be able to go abroad to places like Turkey, Thailand and Mexico. Isnt there a bigger issue here? Why are these procedures so popular in the first place, especially among the young? A few years ago, out of curiosity, I did a qualification in anti-wrinkle injections and fillers. I was horrified at how young some of those wanting these procedures were. There were 18 and 19 year olds with beautiful, flawless skin clamouring to get frozen faces. A study looking at superagers in their 80s, found that while some exercised, ate and slept well, others smoked, drank and shunned exercise. What they shared was strong friendships. Researchers concluded this is vital for a long, healthy life. Advertisement Worse still, every single one brought with them photographs from social media as an example of how they wanted to look. And all the images they presented had been digitally manipulated. I felt like I was banging my head against a brick wall when I tried to explain that what they were looking at wasnt real. Yet the women remained completely unfazed, viewing the procedures as part and parcel of their beauty routine. I blame the cult of celebrity where impressionable teenagers want to emulate famous people. Celebrities like the Kardashians and many, many others. What these young people do not realise or realise far too late, is that ironically, they already have the youthful appearance these famous stars and influencers are chasing. My experiences of this disturbed me so much that I shelved any idea of performing cosmetic injectables, despite qualifying. It just didnt seem ethical to exploit the insecurities of young women in this way. Since then, Ive noticed how many young people who have had Botox end up looking way older than their years. The stark reality is that anti-wrinkle injections work by paralysing the underlying facial muscle. Because it cant move, it begins to shrink. In young people without established wrinkles, this has the paradoxical effect of causing the overlying skin to appear more wrinkled because of the loss of muscle volume. A dermatologist I once spoke to said that no one should even consider anti-wrinkle injections until they are at least in their late 20s, if not older. Even then, wouldnt it be better if people could just learn to live with their wrinkles and imperfections? Last week, this years batch of newly qualified junior doctors descended on to the wards across the country. Behind them is a legion of people who have contributed, and not just their loved ones supporting them. Yes, those who volunteer during exam time, but also people donating their bodies for dissection and their families, patiently waiting before they can bury their loved one, for example. There are the unsung heroes living with chronic illnesses who attend tutorials in order to share their experiences. There are the patients who allow students to examine and perform procedures on them, often for the first time. There are the people lying in hospital beds who agree to participate in teaching ward rounds. Each generation of doctors owes their very existence to countless individuals who, despite being unwell, scared or in pain, have assisted in their education. Often what these people have to endure is undignified, tiring or uncomfortable - and yet they receive no public acknowledgement for their remarkable altruism. While doctors might help people, they would not be in a position to do so if people hadnt helped them first. Dr Max prescribes... ALTRUIST SUNSCREEN Set up by consultant dermatologist and skin cancer surgeon, Dr Andrew Birnie to provide optimum protection against the suns harmful UVA and UVB radiation, exceeding EU standards. It also offers top quality sunscreen at the cheapest possible prices so even familes on low incomes can afford it. The brand supports charities that help children with albinism in Tanzania and the rest of Africa. Find out more at: altruistsun.com A pill that cancer patients take at home could help them respond to treatment better, a study has found. Many sufferers have chemotherapy which works by disrupting the way cancer cells grow and divide to fight the disease. But, in some patients, it is not as effective because the body's own immune system acts as a barrier to protect the tumours. Now scientists at King's College London (KCL) have created a drug, known as KCL-HO-1i, which can disarm this defence mechanism. The researchers looked into the body's immune system white blood cells which produce a protein called heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). This can shield the tumour and block the effects of chemotherapy. But the new drug KCL-HO-1i targets this protein and tests on mice showed it made breast cancer tumours more responsive to different types of chemotherapy. The drug is designed to be taken at home as a tablet between chemotherapy sessions. Scientists (pictured) at King's College London (KCL) have created a new drug KCL-HO-1i. Testing on mice showed it made breast cancer tumours more responsive to different types of chemotherapy. Pictured: James Spicer, professor of experimental cancer medicine, Miraz Rahman, professor of medicinal chemistry, and James Arnold, head of tumour immunology group The researchers looked into the body's immune system white blood cells which produce a protein called heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). This can shield the tumour and block the effects of chemotherapy. But the new drug KCL-HO-1i targets this protein (file image) Professor Miraz Rahman, from KCL, said: '[This] could become a valuable companion drug to existing cancer therapies, helping more patients to benefit from the treatments that are already available and reduce the need for more aggressive cancer therapies in the future' Scientists, who published their findings in journal Science Translational Medicine, hope trials on patients can begin within two years. Professor Miraz Rahman, from KCL, said: '[This] could become a valuable companion drug to existing cancer therapies, helping more patients to benefit from the treatments that are already available and reduce the need for more aggressive cancer therapies in the future.' The charity Cancer Research UK supported the study alongside funding from the Medical Research Council. Tanya Hollands, from the charity, said: 'Researchers are increasingly learning how to make better use of existing cancer treatments whether it's using them differently or in combination with new medicines. 'It's exciting to see this potential new way to disarm cancer's ability to avoid detection, while also boosting the effectiveness of chemotherapy.' An ancient hack could finally help relive the dreadful symptoms of snoring, a new study has revealed. The practice of blowing through a conch shell, also known as shankh blowing, could assist patients struggling with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), which blocks the airways and can lead to snoring. Affecting an estimated eight million people across the UK, common symptoms of the condition include choking noises, loud snoring, alongside disrupted sleep that can increase the risk of high blood pressure, strokes and heart disease. In a small trial undertaken by a specialist team of researchers in India, 30 people aged between 19 and 65 with OSA were encouraged to blow into a conch shell for a mimimum of 15 minutes, five days a week. Those who blew into the shell for six months were found to be 34 per cent less sleepy during the day and also had better quality of sleep than those who practised deep breathing exercises. The findings represent a dramatic breakthrough in treatment options for OSA, with Dr Krishna K Sharma, of the Eternal Heart Care Centre and Research Institute in Jaipur, India, stating they serve as a 'promising alternative'. Currently, the most common treatment option for individuals suffering with OSA is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine that blows pressurised air into the nose and throat while they sleep via a mask, that is often uncomfortable. But now, those in desperate need of a snoring cure may be in luck - with the results finding that those who practiced the historic hack also had higher levels of oxygen in their blood during the night. The practice of blowing through a conch shell, also known as shankh blowing, could assist patients struggling with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), which blocks the airways and can lead to snoring Affecting an estimated eight million people across the UK, common symptoms of the condition include choking noises, loud snoring, alongside disrupted sleep that can increase the risk of high blood pressure, strokes and heart disease (file image) In a small trial undertaken by a specialist team of researchers in India , 30 people aged between 19 and 65 with OSA were encouraged to blow into a conch shell for a mimimum of 15 minutes, five days a week, with remarkable results uncovered They also reported an average four or five less apnoeas, where breathing is paused during sleep at night, per hour. Dr Sharma described shankh blowing as a 'distinctive' exercise that 'involves a deep inhalation followed by a forceful, sustained exhalation through tightly pursed lips'. Explaining how the decades-old method works, Dr Sharma added: 'This action creates strong vibrations and airflow resistance, which likely strengthens the muscles of the upper airway, including the throat and soft palate, areas that often collapse during sleep in people with OSA. 'The shankhs unique spiralling structure may also contribute to specific acoustic and mechanical effects that further stimulate and tone these muscles.' The medical expert explained that the technique is simple, low-cost and will help provide a snoring remedy that moves away from medication. Given the success of the initial study, the team of researchers are now planning a larger trial that is set to involve several hospitals. The hope, Dr Sharma adds, is that it will help the team 'assess how shankh blowing performs over longer periods', alongside determine whether it can help assist those with the 'most severe forms of OSA'. The innovative new study comes as amid shocking new research that suggested those suffering with OSA could trigger lung cancer, with a 'significant' link uncovered between the two. Those who blew into the shell for six months were found to be 34 per cent less sleepy during the day and also had better quality of sleep than those who practised deep breathing exercises Currently, the most common treatment option for individuals suffering with OSA is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine that blows pressurised air into the nose and throat while they sleep via a mask, that is often uncomfortable (file image) The findings represent a dramatic breakthrough in treatment options for OSA, with Dr Krishna K Sharma, of the Eternal Heart Care Centre and Research Institute in Jaipur, India, stating they serve as a 'promising alternative'. The team are now planning a larger trial US researchers, who assessed the health records of more than 2.4million adults, said they cannot be sure exactly why the common sleep disorder raises this risk. But they believe it may be due to the lack of oxygen people get during the night - or lifestyle factors including smoking and even obesity. Presenting the findings at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference in Chicago, scientists urged policymakers to consider screening those with the condition for the disease and tackle sleep apnea early, soon after a diagnosis. In the study, researchers at Marshall University in West Virginia, tracked lung cancer diagnoses separating those diagnosed with OSA and those without. After accounting for factors that could skew the results, such as age and other diagnosed health conditions, they found OSA patients were 1.21 times more likely to develop lung cancer compared to those without OSA. Sleep deprivation can lead to obesity, memory loss, diabetes, heart disease, heightened and unstable emotions, impaired ability to learn and a reduced immune response, leaving you vulnerable to disease Your browser does not support iframes. Dr Jowan Al-Nusair, study co-author and physician at Marshall University told the Daily Mail it was 'one of the first statistically significant studies' to prove a link between the condition and lung cancer. 'While further studies are definitely now needed to investigate just how the significant the link truly is, this suggests OSA may be a preventable risk factor for lung cancer. 'We should be more closely monitoring patients with OSA. Patients would definitely benefit from screening and early intervention to combat OSA. 'Additional studies are essential to understand exactly why OSA may increase this risk.' After being on simvastatin for 25 years, my nurse switched me to a new better statin, atorvastatin. But my liver function tests went through the roof: I started to go yellow, and was checked for all types of hepatitis and HIV. Finally, the conclusion was that the statin was the cause and Im now on another. My liver function is back to normal, but Ive been left with lasting damage to my liver (ironic as I am teetotal). All this only became clear as I have regular blood tests for my diabetes why arent people on statins monitored with blood tests? Debbie Burunou, Bristol. Dr Martin Scurr replies: This was a most unfortunate experience and I understand your aggravation. Atorvastatin and simvastatin are commonly prescribed to reduce cholesterol levels. Studies have found that about 1 per cent of patients on statins experienced mild elevations in liver enzymes and in many of them those elevations resolved without stopping the statin. However, to be sure the dose was correct, patients were routinely given liver function tests as part of regular cholesterol checks. These days, it seems that complacency not to mention NHS cost containment has led to that precautionary practice being abandoned. Significant liver damage with atorvastatin is actually quite rare; its estimated to affect one in 10,000 users. While its reassuring that your liver function test has returned to normal, as you have lasting damage you should continue to be monitored regularly (every 12 months, including a blood test for liver function). If you have not been offered this you must request it (and for other readers on these drugs, Id suggest liver function tests periodically such as when cholesterol is checked). A patient with jaundice recently came to see me. He had acute severe liver damage caused by taking the antibiotic flucloxacillin. This echoes your experience and goes to show that commonly prescribed drugs, which are thought to be safe, can nonetheless occasionally cause severe reactions. Its a warning to anyone who takes medication to read the data sheet that comes with it. Any symptoms after starting a new prescription should always be insistently reported. My 16-year-old grandson has a curve in his spine; what are the problems with the operation for this? J Edwards, Caernarfon, Gwynedd. Dr Martin Scurr replies: Scoliosis is where the spine curves sideways. Although the exact cause is often not known, it commonly develops during growth spurts around the ages of 10-15. It causes pain and even respiratory difficulty when severe. Let me reassure you that most adolescents undergoing surgery to straighten the spine make a good recovery and see an improvement in posture and pain, resuming normal activities within six months. Complications of surgery include bleeding, infection, and nerve damage this could lead to weakness, numbness, or loss of bladder or bowel control but the risk is less then 1 per cent. But the surgery is often long (five to seven hours) and post-operative lung infections are a risk factor (due to lying in a fixed position for that time). Long-term concerns include a reduced range of motion and chronic back pain, although this is not common and will improve if the rehab plan which will be put together by a physiotherapist is followed to the letter. The good news is that research shows while 5 per cent of patients need another operation within two years, the surgery is a success for the others, with the curvature corrected. Health officials have issued an urgent warning over dangerous fake weight loss drugs after an influencer nearly died from injecting what she called a 'syringe of horrors.' Celebrity Big Brother star Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace, 46, said she bought the budget weight loss jab via WhatsApp after gaining two stone following a period of emotional eating and mental health struggles. Instead of helping her slim down, the counterfeit Ozempic triggered severe side effects including extreme fatigue, vomiting and diarrhoea. 'I got added to a WhatsApp group where girls talk about what they want to have donelip filler and thingsand someone on there was offering Ozempic,' she said. 'For the first month I felt fine, even energetic and I could see that I was already losing a bit of weight. 'But then I took the second month's [dose] and I came so close to death. 'For three days I thought I was going to die. I was in bed literally comatosed. I'd wake up, roll over and vomit into a bag. 'At one point, I had three bags of vomit by my bedside. I couldn't even walk the two steps to the toilet, I had to crawl and drag myself.' The TV personality said she was 'in a bad place' following the loss of her close friend and her beloved dog, and took the drug without giving the risks much thought The injections, like Ozempic and Wegovy, are designed to help type 2 diabetes patients control their blood sugar levels or for obese people to lose weight for health purposes The star emerged on to the scene when she appeared as a contestant on Big Brother in 2006 'Then, I started losing my vision. My eyes were going blurry and I couldn't see. I had no idea what was going to happen to me,' she added, speaking to The Sun. 'I wish I never, ever took the first month's supply or even heard about this drug,' she added. 'It was a syringe of horrors, that's all I know. The chemicals must have been wrong.' The popularity of blockbuster weight loss jabs, which also include Wegovy and Mounjaro, has seen demand overtake supply, fuelling the sale of convincing counterfeit versions that claim to contain the active ingredients semaglutide or tirzepatide. The injections were originally intended for people with type 2 diabetes to help control blood sugar levels but are now offered to those with obesity to aid weight loss. While legitimate versions can cause a range of side effectsincluding pancreatitis, gut issues and even hair lossexperts warn the dangers of counterfeit drugs are far greater. According to officials, knock-off jabs often contain the hormone insulin, which can trigger heart palpitations, life-threatening seizures and hypoglycaemic shock, where blood sugar levels drop dangerously low. They stress that the only way to be sure a weight loss pen is genuine is to obtain it from a registered pharmacy with a prescription from a healthcare professional. Health officials have already seized more than 600 potentially fake Ozempic pens across the UK since the start of 2023 Your browser does not support iframes. Currently, UK law forbids the sale of such drugs without a prescription and prohibits the promotion of any prescription medication. Offenders can face a fine and up to two years in prison. Novo Nordisk, the pharmaceutical company that manufactures Ozempic and WeGovy, has warned that the sale of counterfeit injections in the UK is a 'critical issue' that poses a direct danger to health. Anne Devaud, the company's head of product security, told The Sun that the best way to stop the spread of fake jabs is for everyone to remain vigilant. She said: 'We need to continue to develop awareness because everybody has a responsibility. 'If patients are more vigilant, ordering less online and we are collaborating with authorities and authorities are reinforcing regulation to avoid any illicit compounding to enter the country, I'm confident that with this combined effort, we may really make a difference.' The company has urged anyone who believes they may have purchased a counterfeit product not to use it and to report it to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). Andy Morling, head of the MHRA's criminal enforcement unit, told the Daily Mail: 'If you buy medicines from unverified sources, there is no guarantee the product is safe or effective. 'They may even be contaminated with toxins that could cause real harm and leave you hospitalised.' Last year Michelle Sword, 45, pictured with her two children Cadie (right), 13, and Coen (left), 18 told how she collapsed after taking a weight loss jab she bought online Ms Sword said the doctors who saved her life called her recovery little short of miraculous. Pictured being attended to by medics after taking the counterfeit jab He added: 'Remember [weight loss jabs] are not cosmetic treatmentsthey are powerful medicines that can only be legally and safely dispensed against a prescription issued by a healthcare professional.' Mr Morling said counterfeit drugs remain rare in the UK, but warned that the market for fake weight loss jabs persists. He said to be vigilant for 'DIY kits' that include the active ingredient in powdered form alongside syringes. The Daily Mail has previously highlighted the case of a mother who was left comatose and almost died after buying a weight loss jab illegally sold online. Despite the serious health risks, social media platforms remain awash with dealers exploiting the lucrative black market, selling the jabs for a fraction of the cost of legitimate products, which can be up to 200. Experts warn many of these fake slimming jabs do not even contain the active ingredients designed to dampen hunger signals. Instead, they are often just insulin pens repackaged to look like the blockbuster drugs. It comes as pharmacists have warned of potential shortages caused by booming demand for weight loss medicationa situation experts say could push more people into buying potentially dangerous jabs online. The National Pharmacy Association (NPA), which represents more than 6,000 independent community pharmacies, said last month that the current level of demand is unsustainable. Your browser does not support iframes. GPs in the UK are now allowed to prescribe the drugs, collectively known as GLP-1s in a bid to tackle the nation's obesity crisiswith an estimated 1.5million people suspected to be on the jabs via the NHS or private clinics. In the warning, NPA chairman Olivier Picard said: ''Weight loss jabs are one of the biggest drug innovations this century, but growing demand for weight loss treatment highlights the need to make sure this is appropriate from those who want it. 'We want to make sure supplies are carefully managed so that those in most clinical need can benefit from weight loss medication.' Under NHS guidelines only patients who have a body mass index (BMI) of over 35, or a BMI of 30 and at least one weight related health problem like high blood pressure, should be prescribed Wegovy. A mother-of-three has told of her horrifying ordeal after she was put in a 21-day coma after suffering a rare reaction to ibuprofen that caused her skin to 'fall off in sheets.' Aleshia Rogers, 27, from Nebraska, took two of the over-the-counter tablets a day in August 2020 following the birth of her son Jaxon via c-section. The young mother had been taking ibuprofen, which she described as her 'go-to med', for years to help relieve her period cramps. However, after three weeks of taking the painkiller, she started suffering flu-like symptoms including a fever and a burning sensation when she swallowed. She also noticed a rash on her chest and her eyes beginning to swell. 'They were bloodshot and burning so I went to the ER where they told me I had pink eye and sent me home,' the child and education technician recalled. But the next day whole face was swollen, making it difficult to breathe. 'The next day both my eyes were swollen shut so I went back to the ER. They told me I had scarlet fever and to go home.' The young mother said she had been taking ibuprofen since she was 14-years-old to help manage her period cramps Aleshia was turned away from the hospital twice, with suspected scarlet fever, before her condition rapidly deteriorated The reaction caused her eyes to swell before a rash developed on her chest and spread to other areas of her body, causing her skin to shed She said she was also advised to carry on taking the painkiller to alleviate her pain and reduce the swelling. Within hours, her symptoms rapidly escalated and she developed burning blisters across her face, eyes and chest causing her skin to peel off. She rushed to the hospital once again where she was eventually diagnosed with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and later toxic epidermal necrolysiswhich doctors suspected was triggered by the ibuprofen. As her condition rapidly deteriorated and she developed sepsis and multiple organ failure, doctors put her in a comawhich she wouldn't wake up from for three weeks. At this point, the mother-of-three had lost around 95 per cent of her skin, causing her to into organ failure. Her family were told she had just a 10 per cent chance of surviving the ordeal. The rare skin condition causes the immune system to overreact to a trigger, in this case ibuprofen, and attack healthy skin, the eyelids and genitals. Five years on, Ms Rogers is still recovering from long-term complications associated with SJS. Aleshia started taking ibuprofen after the birth of her third child, Jaxon, via c-section to alleviate the pain Aleshia is still battling the the long-term side effects of the condition Recalling the moment she woke up from the coma she said: 'The doctors told me my skin had died and detached. 'They called it sloughing. It fell off in sheets. But I had absolutely no idea what had happened to me,' she added. 'I even forgot that I had given birth. I lost a lot of memories. 'My family told me it really was touch and go as to whether I'd make it through. I've been told so many times I'm a miracle so I try and live my life like tomorrow isn't promised and try not to live in fear.' Now, the young mother is determined to raise better awareness for the life-threatening condition and remind people that all drugs come with a risk. 'We believe it was all triggered by taking ibuprofen,' she explained. 'There's no prevention [for the condition] and once it starts, there's nothing you can do to stop it. There's also a chance I can get it again at any time. 'I don't want people to be afraid of medicines, but I want people to be aware and mindful of what can happen.' Aleshia was put in a medically induced coma for three weeks to let her body heal The reaction triggered sepsis and then multiple organ failure which could have been fatal Ms Rogers is not believed to have suffered an adverse reaction to ibuprofen before with doctors unable to say for sure why the reaction occurred. SJS often begins with flu-like symptoms, including a high temperature, sore throat and joint pain, followed by a red or purple rash that usually starts on the upper body before spreading to the face, arms, legs and other areas of the body. Blister will then appear on the skin, which burst to leave painful sores. The same happens inside the body, primarily affecting the mucous membranesthe soft layers of tissue which line the digestive system, inside of the nose and mouth and the genitals. Without treatment, the condition can be life-threatening with studies suggesting around one in 10 cases are fatal. Hospital treatment, which is usually carried out in an intensive care unit, usually involves fluids to prevent dehydration, creams and dressings to moisturise the skin, and strong painkillers to ease discomfort and control inflammation. Some patients will also be placed into a medically induced coma to minimise damage and further stress on the body. In cases where symptoms were triggered by a reaction to a medicine, patients will have to avoid the treatment for the rest of their life. The rash usually starts on the upper body before quickly spreading to the face, arms, legs and other areas of the body, such as the genitals In the last year, nine people have been rushed to hospital in Singapore after taking 'energy boosting' pills which triggered the agonising skin conditions. The seven men and two women had all taken modafinil or armodafinilprescription only drugs designed to treat narcolepsy, a condition that impairs a person's ability to sleep or stay awake. Only modafinil is licensed for clinical use in the UK, where all patients have to be monitored regularly due to the risk side effects. Despite this, the drug has gained popularity among recreational usersincluding students who use it to help them stay awake while cramming for exams. Six of the patients developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), a life-threatening skin reaction characterised by blistering and severe peeling of the skin. The other three suffered toxic epidermal necrolysis, a more severe form of SJS. Two of the world's most popular slimming injections may raise the risk of a sight-threatening eye disease in people with type 2 diabetes, researchers have warned. A team from Massachusetts analysed health records from more than 185,000 patients prescribed GLP-1 receptor agonist drugsa class that includes semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, and tirzepatide, found in Mounjaro. These medications suppress appetite and are increasingly used by people with diabetes and obesity to shed pounds and control blood sugar levels. But the study found they were linked to a 'modestly increased risk' of diabetic retinopathya condition caused by damage to blood vessels in the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. Left untreated, it can lead to permanent sight loss. Even so, the researchers noted that fewer people in the study developed the most severe complications of diabetic retinopathy, such as blindness, even among those who already had the condition before starting the drugs. The analysis also found no statistically significant difference in the risk of NAIONnon-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathya rare disorder that causes sudden vision loss in one eye when blood flow to the optic nerve is cut off. Based on their findings, the authors said people with type 2 diabetes taking the drugs should have regular eye checks to catch any problems early. There were two studies published today on the link between sight loss and the weight loss jabs The researchers behind the Massachusetts study disclosed conflicts of interest with companies that manufacture the drugs, including Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk. Separately, another US research teamwhose findings were also published todayanalysed data from 159,398 people and did find an increased risk of sudden sight loss linked to the injections. They looked specifically at patients with type 2 diabetes and no history of eye problems, comparing those prescribed semaglutide or tirzepatide with a matched control group. Their results showed an increased risk of NAIONnon-arteritic anterior ischaemic optic neuropathyand other optic nerve disorders in the medicated group, although they stressed the 'overall risk was low.' After two years of follow-up, 35 patients (0.04 per cent) in the semaglutide or tirzepatide group had developed NAION, compared to 19 patients (0.02 per cent) in the control group. In addition, 93 patients (0.12 per cent) in the medicated group developed other optic nerve disorders, versus 54 patients (0.07 per cent) in the control group. The researchers added: 'No association was found with other disorders of the optic nerve or visual pathways.' In this second study, the researchers didn't disclose any conflicts of interests with weight loss jab manufacturers. Your browser does not support iframes. 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 semaglutidemay '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. 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. Cases of chikungunya virus continue to rise in China, as the country battles its largest-ever outbreak of the illness. Another 1,387 cases of Chikungunya virus were confirmed last week, Chinese authorities said, with almost all in the southern manufacturing city of Foshan. It takes the tally to more than 10,000 cases overall, with infections also reported in Taiwan and Hong Kong, as well as in Europe and travel-acquired cases in the US. The reported figure for the latest week is, however, below that for the previous seven-day period at 2,892 cases, in a sign that the outbreak could now be slowing. Chinese officials say there have been no cases of severe disease or death reported during the outbreak. The spread of the mosquito-borne disease has triggered restrictions in China not seen since the Covid pandemic, with disinfectant sprayed in streets and patients quarantined in hospitals. Officials have also deployed insecticide-spraying drones, 'cannibal' mosquitoes and killer fish to eliminate any insects that could be carrying the virus. It has also triggered alarm in the US, with CDC officials saying they are 'assessing' the situation and warning Americans to take protective measures, such as wearing insect repellent or long-sleeved clothes if they travel to the area. Experts in the US say the disease is just 'one plane ride' from reaching American shores. More people have been sickened in China's outbreak. Shown above is a worker spraying insecticide at a public housing estate in Hong Kong amid concerns the disease will spread Officials say, however, that cases are falling. Above are workers spraying insecticide in Shenzhen, China, last week Your browser does not support iframes. China's record-breaking outbreak is in Guangdong province, on the southern coast, with almost all the infections reported in the city of Foshan. In the latest update from the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, revealed by the Yangcheng Evening News, officials reported that of the new cases, 1,212 were in Foshan. Another 103 cases were reported in Guangzhou, the largest city in the province, while 39 cases were reported in Zhanjiang. It was not clear where the other 33 cases were within the province. Officials heralded the figures as the lowest weekly count reported since the peak of the outbreak in the week to July 20 to 26, when they said they recorded 2,940 cases. In a statement to DailyMail.com last week, a CDC spokesman said: 'CDC is aware of the reported chikungunya outbreak in Guangdong Province in China and is currently assessing the size and extent of the outbreak.' The agency has already issued a level two warning for the area, advising Americans to take advanced precautions when traveling to the region. On Friday, Hong Kong said it had detected another two cases linked to the outbreak, taking its chikungunya tally to five infections reported this year. The above map shows the area in China where US travelers are being advised to take extra precautions because of the outbreak Drones are being used to hunt down insect breeding grounds and spray insecticide (file photo) One was a 66-year-old woman who was reported to have traveled to Foshan alone from July 24 to August 5 to see family, before returning to Hong Kong. The patient began suffering from fever, rash and joint pain on August 6 and went to the hospital. She has now been discharged. It also reported another suspected case in a healthy 22-year-old woman who was suffering from joint pain and fever. She had recently traveled to Madagascar, Mauritius and Malaysia before returning to the territory, and reported having been bitten by mosquitoes during her trip. Also on Friday, Taiwan reported its first case linked to the outbreak in China, in a woman in her 40s who had recently returned from Foshan and Shenzhen. A day after returning to Taiwan she developed a fever, rash and pain in her limbs. Officials said she was admitted to the hospital. She also reported being bitten by mosquitoes. Chikungunya virus can only be spread via the bites of mosquitoes and cannot be passed from human to human. People infected with the virus suffer from a sudden high fever, normally around 103 Fahrenheit (39 Celsius), which happens within two to seven days of infection. They may also suffer from a rash, headache, nausea, fatigue and joint pain. In serious cases, patients may suffer from pain in the hands and feet that is so bad it leaves them struggling to carry out normal activities. It is rarely fatal, but can leave people with lifelong complications including joint inflammation and pain that lasts for years. Patients who are very young, elderly or have underlying conditions are most at risk because of their weakened immune systems. There is no treatment for the virus, with doctors instead using over-the-counter painkillers, fluids and rest to ease symptoms. There are two vaccines available. The US records more than 100 cases of chikungunya virus every year, with almost all normally linked to travelers returning from abroad before testing positive for the virus. Experts are concerned, however, that an infected individual could be bitten by a mosquito, which would then become infected and pass the disease on to others. A total of 45 chikungunya cases have been reported in the US this year, although none have been linked to the outbreak in China. Actor Dean Cain called out John Oliver for lifting jokes from the internet, after the late-night host viciously mocked the former Superman star over his decision to join ICE. On Sunday episode of Last Week Tonight, Oliver said that as an ICE agent, there's 'no need for that guy to wear a mask because the chances of anyone recognizing him are f*****g zero.' Oliver's segment on Cain, in which the host also made fun of his film roles, led Cain to clap back on social media. 'He stole that mask joke from the internet - and he also laughed hysterically when Trump said he was going to run for President,' the actor wrote on X. 'Case closed.' Several other social media posts shared before the show aired appear to prove the actor's point. 'So Dean Cain joined ICE? That should be perfect for him. He won't even have to wear a mask, because no one knows who the f*** he is anyway,' one X user wrote on Friday, days after Cain announced that he had joined ICE to support recruitment efforts. 'ICE wears masks because they don't want to be recognized,' another wrote on Saturday. 'Dean Cain won't have that problem.' On Tuesday, Cain took to social media to praise ICE for its efforts in rounding up migrants. Actor-turned-ICE agent Dean Cain took to social media on Sunday to accuse John Oliver of stealing material Oliver said that as an ICE agent, there's 'no need for [Cain] to wear a mask because the chances of anyone recognizing him are f*****g zero ' 'I am a sworn law enforcement officer, as well as being a filmmaker, and 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,' he said. 'If you want to help save America, ICE is arresting the worst of the worst and removing them from America's streets,' he added. 'They need your help, we need your help, to protect our homeland for families. 'Join today if it's something that tickles your fancy because we can use you.' Cain, who played Superman in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman from 1993 to 1997, has gotten blowback for heeding the Department of Homeland Security's call to add 10,000 new agents by 2029. Over the weekend, fellow actor John Leguizamo slammed Cain as a 'loser' on social media and re-shared a post poking fun at Cain's career. It included a photo of the actor with the words 'Pronouns: Has/Been' shown over his face. Leguizamo griped separately on Instagram: 'How big of a loser do you have to be to volunteer to be an ICE OFFICER???' Oliver's segment on Cain, in which the host also made fun of his film roles, led Cain to clap back on social media On the same day, the Colombian actor shared another photo of Cain in a separate post to Instagram panning him as 'a loser' Oliver, meanwhile, also took the the opportunity to rip Cain's resume. 'There's an old saying in Hollywood: If all you can get is Dean Cain, you're f****d,' he quipped. 'I'm not saying that ICE isn't finding people. I'm just saying, when you are reduced to pinning a badge on the 59-year-old star of The Dog Who Saved Christmas, The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation, The Dog Who Saved the Holidays, The Dog Who Saved Halloween, The Dog Who Saved Easter and The Dog Who Saved Summer, maybe you are in trouble,' he added of ICE, before making the crack in question. Cain - after detailing his plans to join ICE during an appearance on Fox News Jesse Watters Primetime - also took umbrage at Oliver's crack about his films, writing: '[T]hose movies were sweet, by the way!' Daily Mail reached out to Last Week Tonight for comment. Bill Maher suggested the female panel who host The View are an embarrassment to their gender. The talk show host made the cutting remark during a conversation with Drew Barrymore on his Club Random podcast that aired Monday, where he questioned if the ABC show's hosts were really qualified to represent the fairer sex. 'And I did [the show] like a year ago. And I like everyone,' he said. 'But I don't know if they're really, at this moment, the best advertisement for women.' He added: 'I'm friendly with some of the ladies on [the program] and I love them, but that show's a lot. 'You know, I love Whoopi and Joy. Those are the two I really know,' he continued. Barrymore countered the show merely follows 'a format', leading Maher - an ardent Democrat - to assert: 'They say some things that are, like, not helpful, to say, elections.' Barrymore, 50, replied by praising the progressive 'for seeing all angles.' The show hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Ana Navarro, Sara Haines, and Alyssa Farah Griffin, meanwhile, has come under fire for doing the exact opposite. Just a few days ago, a Media Research Center study found the show had welcomed 102 liberal-leaning guests this year and not a single conservative. The show is currently on hiatus until September. Bill Maher questioned if the View's hosts were really qualified to represent the fairer sex during a conversation with Drew Barrymore on his podcast Monday, days after Donald Trump called for its cancellation 'The View' - hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Ana Navarro (not pictured), Sara Haines, and Alyssa Farah Griffin - has recently come under fire for booking mostly liberal guests, and Maher made clear he isn't a fan of their slanted approach to politics Just before the break, the Trump administration called for the show's cancelation after Behar claimed on-air the president was 'jealous' of his predecessor Barack Obama. Behar had been responding to Trump's insistence that Obama should be criminally prosecuted for 'treason' over what Trump has called the Russian 'hoax' during the 2016 election. 'It's no surprise that "The View's" ratings hit an all-time low last year,' a White House spokesperson said in response. '[Behar] should self-reflect on her own jealousy of President Trump's historic popularity before her show is the next to be pulled off air.' On Wednesday, former panelist - and outspoken Trump critic - Rosie O'Donnell weighed in. She claimed ABC was in the midst of 'reviewing the [show's] liberal bias' following the release of the Media Research study. She claimed the 'review' was 'code' for the show's impending cancellation and that her old network was in the process of scrubbing 'any program that doesn't align with Trumpism.' 'This isn't about bias - this is about obedience,' she wrote in a post to TikTok, after years of back-and-forths with the commander in chief that go back to the early 2000s. During his most recent appearance on the program in May 2024, Maher found himself grilled over his support for Israel by the all-female panel 'You know, I love Whoopi and Joy. Those are the two I really know,' Maher told Barrymore in a touchy feely sitdown Pictured, the panelists hosting Bill Clinton and author James Patterson on the show in June. a Media Research Center study found the show had welcomed 102 liberal-leaning guests this year and not a single conservative. The show is currently on hiatus until September 'Because it's not enough to run the country into the ground[.] You have to control what people see[,] what they hear[,] what they think,' she said. The View, she added, is 'a little too much woman - a little too much truth' for the conservative. Maher, meanwhile, recently took issue with an offhand comment from Goldberg that compared life as a black American to living in Iran. During his most recent appearance on the program in May 2024, he was grilled by Hostin over his support for Israel, amid its war in Gaza. Last week, a source pushed back on the claim the program does not welcome conservative talking points 'Without going into detail about the show's booking process, there is wide outreach across the aisle,' the insider said. In May, multiple outlets reported that Disney - ABC News' parent company - and the network had asked the hosts to tone down their political rhetoric. The women found the requests 'silly,' the Daily Beast reported, with sources telling the publication the group ultimately decided 'they were just going to keep doing their thing.' Daily Mail contacted ABC News for comment. One in five under 40s admit they have stayed in a relationship to make living costs more affordable, new data suggests. The survey of 3,000 young adults, by Lifetime Isa provider OneFamily, found nearly three in ten single young adults do not have an emergency fund, compared with one in six in a relationship. Single savers said they manage to put aside an average of 301 per month - around half the 609 those in relationships are saving. OneFamily boss Jim Islam said: 'These stats are shocking, people are potentially staying in unhappy relationships because the bills are too high to contemplate managing on their own.' 'Its a tax on being single, made worse by the rising bills.' Breaking point: One in five young adults have stayed with a partner to make living costs more affordable Experts recommend keeping between three and six months' worth of essential spending in cash savings to fall back on. This must cover rent and mortgage payments, utility bills, food shopping, insurance and any other essential monthly spending in the event a person should lose their job or fall ill. Households spend an average of 2,062 on essentials each month, according to a report from stockbroker Hargreaves Lansdown. This means people would need to have between 6,186 and 12,372 saved for an adequate emergency fund. Mr Islam said: 'Building a savings pot absolutely supports financial resilience, which means less vulnerability to the ups and downs of life.' Jaguar Land Rover's incoming boss has defended Jaguar's contentious rebrand in his first statements given since being confirmed as new chief executive. PB Balaji, 54, will take the reigns at JLR from November and with it the responsibility to steer its direction and transition to EVs over the next decade. News of his appointment last Monday came just hours after the latest in a tidal wave of criticism of Jaguar's electric reset revealed last year, which included a colourful 'copy nothing' advertising campaign featuring striking models but no cars. President Donald Trump, using the Truth Social platform, last week took aim, calling the ad and wider strategy 'stupid, and seriously woke' and a move that has left Jaguar in 'absolute turmoil'. But Balaji gave a resolute response when asked about the POTUS' comments by reporters, claiming the car maker has seen a positive response to its new image. According to the Telegraph, he said: 'We have put our plans together, the cars are being revealed, they're getting exciting response from the customers on the ground. Therefore that's what the strategy is.' Jaguar Land Rover's incoming CEO PB Balaji has defended Jaguar's contentious rebrand in his first statements given since being confirmed as new CEO from November Trump's scathing attack on Jaguar stated: 'Jaguar did a stupid, and seriously WOKE advertisement, THAT IS A TOTAL DISASTER! 'The CEO just resigned in disgrace, and the company is in absolute turmoil. 'Who wants to buy a Jaguar after looking at that disgraceful ad.' His social media attack follows similar sentiments expressed by Elon Musk and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage towards Jaguar's overhaul - the latter accusing Jaguar of going 'absolutely bonkers' and 'showing a bunch of weirdos'. Asked about Mr Trump's criticism and claims that the brand was in 'turmoil', Mr Balaji - who remains finance chief of JLR's parent group Tata Motors for another three months - said: 'You need to compare our numbers vis-a-vis how others are delivering.' Donald Trump last Monday posted on Truth Social that JLR is in 'absolute turmoil' after Jaguar's 'totally disastrous woke' rebrand The US President labelled the British car maker's recent advert, which featured brightly dressed models (pictured), as a 'total disaster' and 'stupid' Last week, it was revealed that JLR's profits had nearly halved after a 9.2 per cent (6.6billion) drop in sales. This was due to a combination of the company winding-up production of new Jaguars in the UK in November, and a month-long pause in Land Rover shipments to the US following Trump's initial threat of 25 per cent tariffs on incoming vehicles. After Sir Keir Starmer negotiated an improved deal of 10 per cent levies on the first 100,000 cars exported to the US annually, JLR restarted deliveries to the United States. Financial results published last week showed the group had experienced a 49.4 per cent decline in underlying profits to 351million in the three months to the end of June. JLR said US tariffs had a 'direct and material impact on profitability and cash flow in the period'. But it added the 'US-UK trade deal will significantly reduce the financial impact of US tariffs going forward'. JLR and its departing boss have come under heavy scrutiny after last year confirmed it would rebrand with a new image to mark its switch to EVs in 2026. This included killing off the classic 'growler' logo The growler badge has been replaced with this new Jaguar logo - a roundel made up of the letter 'J' that looks the same both ways up Balaji's move into the JLR hot seat was rubberstamped last week with the announcement that he will replace the departing Adrian Mardell at the helm of the Indian-owned British car maker. Mardell, 64, in the last three years has played a pivotal role in the decision to Jaguar into an all-electric luxury car maker from 2026 as the iconic British marque boldly draws a line under its 90-year history with the combustion engine. The manufacturer said in July that he had 'expressed his desire to retire' having served the company in various roles for 35 years. As well as the polarising ad campaign, the first phase of the rebrand unveiled in November 2024 included replacing Jaguar's legendary 'growler' badge with a more contemporary mirrored 'J' logo, and the unveiling of the controversial Concept 00 vehicle - a prototype that shows the design direction of its 100,000-plus premium EVs. Mr Balaji's appointment will see JLR's parent firm Tata Motors take a more hands-on approach to the car maker, having allowed the manufacturer to operate at an arm's length since buying the company in 2008. In his role as the CFO, he has been part of the executive committee at Tata Motors and been responsible for financial performance. He has also served as a nonexecutive director on the board of JLR since December 2017. One in five buy-to-let property companies set up in the last year is owned - at least in part - by an investor who is not a British citizen, research has found. The estate agent Hamptons analysed Companies House data and found that 20 per cent of all newly-established buy-to-let limited companies listed one or more shareholders as an overseas investor. These shareholders may or may not reside in the UK. According to Hamptons, many are likely to be individuals with citizenship in countries such as India and Nigeria, but who are living in the UK. Aneisha Beveridge, head of research at Hamptons, said: 'While overseas-based investors are part of the picture, the majority of purchases by non-UK nationals reflect domestic demand. 'Up until 2021, this demand was most likely to come from EU nationals based in the UK, but since then, it has shifted to reflect changes in broader migration patterns. 'Indian and Nigerian nationals are increasingly likely to buy UK buy-to-let property in a limited company structure.' The share of buy-to-let limited companies with at least one non-UK shareholder While the companies are new, they may be transferring over properties they have owned in their personal names for some time. The share of buy-to-let companies with overseas shareholders has increased in nine of the last 10 years, Hamptons said. In 2016, the share was 13 per cent. Not all landlords own properties via a limited company, with many owning them in their personal name instead. Hamptons said landlords hailing from India made up the largest group of new registrations in the last year, as they have in every year since 2023. They were followed by those from Nigeria, Poland, Ireland and Italy. Hamptons added that, since Brexit, the share of buy-to-let company shareholders from EU countries had fallen, in line with general migration trends. In 2016, some 65 per cent of non-UK shareholders came from the EU, but this figure has fallen to 49 per cent in 2025. Eastern European nationalities have bucked the trend, though. Both Polish and Romanian nationals now make up a larger share of new buy-to-let shareholders than they did in 2016, setting up 473 and 208 companies in the first half of 2025 respectively. Beveridge said: 'Despite the challenges facing landlords, non-UK nationals are increasingly embracing UK buy-to-let. 'The London market has long been an international one, well-known across East Asia, the US, and the EU. 'However, demand from non-UK nationals has steadily been shifting into lower-value markets outside the capital, where the bulk of growth in both house prices and rents has been seen in recent years.' Changes: This shows the nationalities that were most likely to be shareholders in UK buy-t-let companies over time, with those from India currently on top Non-UK nationals make up the largest proportion of shareholders in buy-to-let companies registered in London. This year, 27 per cent of newly-registered buy-to-let companies in the capital were owned by non-UK nationals, rising to 54 per cent in the borough of Kensington & Chelsea and 51 per cent in Hammersmith & Fulham. Regions outside the capital have generally seen the largest growth in foreign ownership, however. Between 2016 and 2025, the share of new non-UK national landlords more than doubled in the East Midlands, West Midlands and Scotland. Runnymede in Surrey saw the highest share of new companies set up by non-UK nationals this year of any other local authority in the country, at 59 per cent. Why do landlords use limited companies? Using a limited company as an ownership structure for buy-to-let properties has become more popular in recent years because it offers potential tax benefits. According to a previous Hamptons report, the number of buy-to-let companies went up by 332 per cent between February 2016 and February 2025, going from 92,975 to 401,744. The main benefit of 'incorporating' your buy-to-let properties is that corporation tax - payable in a company structure - is lower than income tax, which is payable for landlords who own properties in their own name. This allows landlords to build up profit within the company, which they can use it to re-invest towards another property sooner than they might otherwise have done if owning in their own name. Owning in a limited company also allows property investors to fully offset all of their mortgage interest against their rental income, before paying tax. Landlords who own property in their own name only receive tax relief based on 20 per cent of their mortgage interest payments. It means that whilst individual landlords are effectively taxed on turnover, company landlords are taxed purely on profit. Hamptons estimates that 70 to 75 per cent of new buy-to-let purchases now go into a company structure. The Government must allow HMRC and financial service firms to 'nudge' the self-employed to save towards retirement or face a pension crisis, a think tank has said. The Social Market Foundation (SMF) has warned that large numbers of entrepreneurs will face pension poverty if the Government does not take further action to help. Currently, more than 3million self-employed workers are not paying into their pensions. A report commissioned by the SMF and Monzo found that only 20 per cent of self-employed workers participate in a pension scheme, compared to 78 per cent of employees. Self employed pension crisis: The SMF is urging the government to encourage more to save Of those who do contribute, just under a third commit the same amount to their pension every month, while employees tend to contribute a percentage of their earnings monthly. It comes just weeks after the Government launched a new pensions review to ensure everyone saves enough for retirement, but will not issue a report until 2027. Chief among the government's concerns is that nearly half of working-age adults are saving nothing at all into a pension, despite auto-enrolment into work schemes. It highlighted lower earners and the self-employed as those particularly at risk. SMF's survey, conducted by Monzo, which also commissioned the report, also found that 30 per cent of self-employed workers contribute to their retirement pot less frequently than once a month, and 10 per cent put money away less than once a year. The SMF found that the most common reason for not contributing is that self-employed workers believe they 'can't afford to', while nearly two-thirds reported they either 'don't really understand' or 'have a basic understanding' of pensions. > Our pick of the best platforms for self-invested personal pensions (Sipps) This is partly because there is no mechanism, like auto-enrolment for employees, to encourage the self-employed to put money away every month for retirement. While some entrepreneurs have access to financial advisers to help with retirement planning, the SMF says this is generally only accessible to the wealthiest. While generic advice can be 'complex or irrelevant'. John Asthana Gibson, research at SMF said: 'The low rates of pensions saving by self-employed workers should be a huge cause for concern for policymakers. 'If trends continue, large numbers of Britain's entrepreneurs will struggle to live to the standards they rightly expect in retirement. 'It's simply untenable for the government to continue to overlook this problem. 'We should build on the success of auto-enrolment for employees and ensure that people in this crucial but often forgotten part of the labour force are encouraged to sufficiently save for their retirement.' As such, the SMF is calling for proposals to offer targeted support to help people start investing be fast-tracked. In the long term, it suggests working with HMRC to integrate 'nudges' into self-assessment tax forms, which would include an opt-out auto-enrolment box. James Shafe, Monzo's group policy director backed the SMF's calls for reform to 'allow financial institutions to champion better retirement savings habits amongst the self-employed and help millions to secure their long-term financial future.' For more than 140 years, The Sagaponack General Store was the quaint beating heart of a sleepy Hamptons village. When it first opened in 1878, customers would arrive in horse-drawn carriages to buy penny candy and goods far cheaper than they are now. It closed in 2020 - owned by a married local couple at the time - and has since been purchased by billionaire neighbor Mindy Gray, whose billionaire husband, Jonathan Gray, is chief operating officer of New York-based asset management firm Blackstone. The changing of hands to the one percenters has come with new prices to match, plus a massive facelift, a physical move of the building (it's now farther from the curb than it used to be) and viral foods that have sparked long waits and crowded parking spaces. Today, the Sagaponack general store is properly fit for any billionaire on the block who lives in one of the most expensive zip codes in America, where homes sell for an average of $6 million. At the shop, mac and cheese will run customers $22 and branded merchandise, including hoodies, costs more than $150. But not everyone who used to frequent the local haunt wants to pay the premium or deal with the newfound crowds. The Daily Mail has spoken to both year-round Sagaponack locals and seasonal visitors about the mayhem, the money and, yes, the breakfast sandwich. Mindy and Jonathan Gray - who purchased and revived the Sagaponack General Store - pictured at the White House State Dinner where the President and First Lady hosted Japanese Prime Minister Kishida and his wife Yuko. Jonathan is COO of asset management firm Blackstone The Sagaponack General Store was reopened in April after a multi-million dollar renovation by Mindy Gray, the wife of billionaire Blackstone COO John Gray Pictured: Floral arrangements at the Sagaponack General Store As the now-famous 'steamed egg and cheese on a biscuit' go viral on social media, the subsequent traffic jams and crowds flooding this tiny community of just 700 people have been a far cry from the calm and private norm. During the Fourth of July holiday, Sagaponack was overrun by vacationers prompting mayhem including, gridlock and a parking nightmare with some vehicles reportedly left on some of the residential lawns. On weekends the line can stretch outside into a parking lot that now has 15-minute time limits. And the store has brought in security to deal with the swarm of shoppers looking for their own slice of chic. John Nealon, an accountant who has lived in Sagaponack for the last 40 years and whose family has had roots there for the last 300, told the Daily Mail he wasn't too concerned about the traffic. 'I am not going to get upset that there is a little traffic in Sagaponack,' he said. 'There is traffic everywhere.' He's right about that - data shows that traffic in the area always increases significantly over the summer months. Nealon also questioned some recent reports about the chaos the store was causing. 'Do you see any cars parked on the lawns?' he asked. 'I think they are exaggerating.' Though he did add that the store is now too crowded for him to want to use it as a regular marketplace. Pictured: Produce at the Sagaponack General Store in the Hamptons Pictured: An interior view of the new Sagaponack General Store in the Hamptons 'I am happy to have [the general store] back, but I won't be bothering with it until September' - the big summertime rush tends to die down after Labor Day. He said he may stop in for a coffee and a pastry before then, but plans on going elsewhere to do his grocery shopping. 'They did a beautiful job [with the restoration], but I won't shop there because it is too crowded and too expensive.' In addition to a full coffee bar and selection of pastries, some of the offerings include bread, frozen yogurt, soups, sandwiches, fruits, vegetables and rotisserie chicken. To Nealon's point, a tuna sandwich costs $17 and tote bags range from $65 to $142. On a recent Wednesday afternoon, the Daily Mail overheard a woman waiting in the store's long line speak about that same recent news story Nealon called an exaggeration. 'People just want to hate on the Hamptons, especially when something is successful,' she said. Pictured: Mindy Gray, owner of the Sagaponack General Store, pictured inside her shop Home baked bread, pastries and pretzels are some of the offerings The previous owners, Mary Hildreth and her husband, Merrall Topping Hildreth, ran the store and the adjoining post office. The space came into their family generations earlier, when Thomas Hildreth - a descendant of Southampton's early Puritan settlers - purchased it in 1898. After 122 years, the building went dark thanks to the economic fallout from the Covid pandemic. But thanks to the cash injection from the Blackstone COO's wife, which funded a nearly five-year multimillion-dollar renovation, the Sagaponack General Store reopened its doors in April - as did the Sagaponack Post Office, which had been running out of a temporary location for the last few years. Mindy, a longtime resident of Sagaponack, breathed new life into the vacant property, transforming it into a space that, for many, feels like a step back in time. Shelves are made from salvaged wood and milk crates from an old dairy farm. There's an antique cash register, and Mary Hildreth's antique dollhouse sits on display. Plus, there's a wall of penny candies - that cost $1.25 per ounce - filled with some old-time favorites: gum balls, tootsie rolls and Mary Janes. Gray told the Southforker her vision earlier this year: 'It was really important to me to lean into this history of the general store and honor the legacy of those who came before me. 'We're embracing that rich history and bringing it into the present, but never forgetting its beautiful and important past.' The General Store was established in 1878. Locals would travel in on horse drawn carriages, long before out-of-towners and second home owners took over the neighborhood Some of the historic artifacts including, the antique cash register, are displayed in the store Wendi Murdoch, the ex-wife of billionaire media magnate Rupert Murdoch, and entrepreneur Susan Rockefeller count themselves among the reinvigorated shop's customers, according to Town and Country. One of the major upgrades during the construction was the addition of a charming front porch. The new store was also moved approximately five feet from the sidewalk from where the building originally stood. Erika, a customer who spoke with the Daily Mail, and her 12-year-old daughter, Antonia, stopped in at the shop on their way home to Greenwich, Connecticut. She said she was 'curious', and Antonia said she saw all the TikToks about the shop and was excited to sample the treats. On Antonia's wish list was the fluffy egg and cheese biscuit sandwich and the cinnamon roll. The fluffy egg and cheese sandwich on a biscuit has been selling out. Ham can also be added to the sandwich A woman in her 60s who lives in nearby Wainscott stopped in for a frozen yogurt on the hot summer day. While indulging, she told the Daily Mail she didn't mind the crowds and even described it as 'fun.' It wasn't her first time visiting the shop. 'I think it's great. [Mindy] did a beautiful job, but I think they need more people working here.' She also shared that the store has security during the morning rush. 'They have a policeman here now to make sure that people are not parking on anyone's lawns and are behaving and walking where they should go.' Outside, the front porch was filled with people sitting on the chairs and stairs enjoying their iced coffees and sweets. One woman who was entering the store with two of her friends told the Daily Mail she has been keeping tabs. 'Have you been here on the weekends? It is wild you can even get through the door,' she said. She admitted that if she lived nearby, she would be annoyed by the crowds. 'We are thrilled to live far from here, and happy to drive back and forth.' Another resident, who used to go to the general store when it was owned by the Hildreths, was amused by some of the negative commentary, 'people just like [to] complain about anything.' Erika and her 12-year-old daughter Antonia were enjoying some mother and daughter time when they stopped in Sagaponack General Store so Antonia could get the fluffy egg and cheese biscuit sandwich and cinnamon roll Rhodi Winchell, the clerk treasurer of the Village of Sagaponack, told the Daily Mail that she is working with the board of trustees, village engineers and store owners to try and come up with a solution on how to best manage the traffic control. She said the owners 'have been very cooperative' and cautioned that visitors 'should not abuse the parking'. 'When visitors visit there are signs that say, "No Parking" and those signs mean "No Parking". They do not mean "no parking except for somebody who wants to go to the store".' She explained that in addition to the parking lot in the back, and there are limited 15 and 30-minutes zones along the street that she hopes visitors will adhere to. 'Let other people be able to enjoy the store.' A senior Commonwealth Bank executive has left the company after a complaint was filed about him over a loud conversation he had at the Australian F1 Grand Prix in Melbourne. Until recently, Dylan Harrad-Chantler was general manager of Commonwealth Private, the bespoke division of Australia's biggest home lender that caters for high-net-worth individuals. However, less than two years after taking the top job and in an indication of intrigue at the top ranks of Australia's $300 billion bank, the Daily Mail can reveal Mr Harrad-Chantler has abruptly left CommBank. Mr Harrad-Chantler's departure - described as amicable - comes as photos leaked of the banker partying on a yacht on Sydney Harbour alongside other senior executives of CBA's wealth division at an inopportune time for the business. The celebration was held on December 5, 2024 - the day after CBA's retail division scrapped plans to charge customers $3 to withdraw money from branches. Photos showed bank staff gathered on a luxury boat featuring custom CBA-branded cushions and shoes. A banking source said the display was 'just showing how out of touch CBA was back then and continues to be now.' It is understood Mr Harrad-Chantler later told a staff member to remove LinkedIn posts featuring the photos. Until recently, Dylan Harrad-Chantler was general manager of Commonwealth Private, the bespoke division of Australia's biggest home lender that caters for high-net-worth individuals. Above, a party for that arm of the business on a yacht on Sydney Harbour in December 2024 An insider said Mr Harrad-Chantler had attended a party where Commonwealth Private-branded luxury items were displayed on a yacht - just as CBA's retail division was proposing to charge customers a $3 fee to withdraw money from a bank branch Above, guests on the yacht wear Commonwealth Bank branded slippers Mr Harrad-Chantler's superior, Susie Grehl, Commonwealth Bank's executive general manager of wealth and private, emailed a note to staff on July 22 to tell them of his departure. 'Hi team, I am writing to inform you all that Dylan Harrad-Chantler, General Manager, Commonwealth Private, will be leaving the Group to pursue external opportunities,' she said. 'I would like to thank Dylan for his contribution to Commonwealth Private over the last 18 months.' The Daily Mail does not suggest Mr Harrad-Chantler's departure was related to complaints and accepts his departure was to pursue external opportunities. It's understood he caught up with former colleagues for drinks last week, at an event that was not endorsed by CBA. A Commonwealth Bank spokesman declined to confirm Mr Harrad-Chantler's departure or comment on two anonymous complaints filed via CBA's SpeakUP channel. Dylan Harrad-Chantler had been the general manager of Commonwealth Private, the bespoke division of Australia's biggest home lender that caters for high-net worth individuals (he is pictured right with Sophia founders Nicole Denholder and Christine Yu) Commonwealth Bank executive Dylan Harrad-Chantler left the company after colleagues complained about him talking too loudly in the corporate box of the Formula One Grand Prix One internal complaints document, obtained by the Daily Mail, alleged Mr Harrad-Chantler had been talking inappropriately at the Formula One race. The complainant had been in attendance at the Formula One corporate box in Melbourne on March 16 and made a complaint on May 5. 'He was quite loud,' the anonymous complaint claimed. 'He thought he was talking alone to one of his staff, he was unaware of his surroundings.' A separate complaint submitted anonymously on SpeakUP, alleged Mr Harrad-Chantler also talked too loudly at another event in Sydney in early 2024. 'Comments have been overheard,' it said. The Commonwealth Private employee told the Daily Mail that Ms Grehl had called a special, eight-minute meeting last month to announce Mr Harrad-Chantler's departure. 'Susie informed us all of Dylan's immediate departure on July 22 in the late afternoon,' the source said. His superior Susie Grehl, who is the Commonwealth Bank's executive general manager of wealth and private, emailed a note to staff informing them that Mr Harrad-Chantler had left the company Ms Grehl, who oversaw the banking and wealth divisions of Commonwealth Private, also noted in her message to staff that Maj Lolas would take over as acting general manager of Commonwealth Private 'while we complete a comprehensive recruitment process in the coming weeks' Ms Grehl said experienced bank executive Maj Lolas would take over as acting general manager of Commonwealth Private 'while we complete a comprehensive recruitment process in the coming weeks'. 'I am here to support you and your teams during this time,' she said. Mr Harrad-Chantler joined Commonwealth Private in October 2023 after two decades in management, including stints in charge of state and regional divisions with St George and Westpac banks and telco giant Optus. He was named in Parliament by former New South Wales transport minister Gladys Berejiklian in 2011, before she became premier. In a speech promoting the Liberal Party's North West Rail Link plan, she noted Mr Harrad-Chantler and his wife Kylie would benefit from the public transport initiative. 'Other supporters of our determination to get on with the job include Kylie Harrad-Chantler of Beaumont Hills, who would be happy to see more of her husband, Dylan, who has to drive into the city every day,' she said. Mr Harrad-Chantler and the Commonwealth Bank declined to answer questions about the complaints lodged against him and boat party when contacted by the Daily Mail. On January 6, 2022, Sergeant Layne Coleman Jones, a paratrooper from Frederick, Maryland, died from a gunshot to the head at his off-base apartment in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He was the first reported suicide of that year around the US Army base of Fort Bragg - a major hub for Special Operations Forces - but would not be the last. According to his sister, Jones had questioned his spirituality when he came back from Afghanistan, due to the troubling occurrences that he said he witnessed while deployed, including prisoners being tortured, bodies being burned in a pit, and animals being hurt for no reason. His mom, Lanna Jones, refused to believe that hed taken his own life. The story was an absolute fabrication, she insisted. Faintly but distinctly, she heard her sons voice speaking to her in the darkness of night. Mom, I didnt do this, the voice said. Dont give up on me. Certain elements of the story didnt add up. Jones supposedly shot himself with a Glock in his left hand, but he was right-handed, and his daily carry was a Springfield XD. Other dubious forensic details, according to friends, had to do with the pattern of blood spatter on the wall, the erratic trajectory of the bullet through his brain, and a stovepipe malfunction of the pistols ejection mechanism, which can occur when a handgun is fired from under a pillow. Lannas daughter, JoLynn Jones-Kerschner, a military policewoman in the Marine Corps, went down to Fayetteville to investigate. She found no concrete proof that her brothers suicide had been staged, but said she was appalled by the open-air drug dealing that she saw all over Fayetteville. When Sergeant Layne Coleman Jones died in January 2022, he was the first reported suicide of that year around Fort Bragg - but not the last His mom, Lanna Jones (photographed with her son), refused to believe that hed taken his own life His sister, JoLynn Jones-Kerschner (right), a military policewoman in the Marine Corps, went down to Fort Bragg to investigate Fayetteville had always been a place associated with druggy, dropout soldiers who hung around using and dealing after their service was up, and the pandemic years and the implosion of the war in Afghanistan had worn the social fabric even more ragged. Right outside the police department, she said, I had three people ask me for a dime piece, fentanyl, and cocaine, so nonchalant, like it was normal. JoLynn took custody of her brothers phone and found that he often texted other soldiers in the 505th Infantry Regiment about buying, selling, and using cocaine. She confronted a sergeant in his platoon, and he spilled the beans, she claimed, admitting to her that cocaine use is widespread in the 505th. She claimed he told her that the coke is mainly sourced out of Raleigh, transported down Interstate 95 by drug runners, and brought on base by members of units who consider themselves above the law, who are free of oversight, said JoLynn, naming the usual suspects: Delta, Special Forces, paratroopers. She went on investigating, assembled hundreds of pages of files, and wrote a 40-page report of her findings. Eventually, she persuaded the state medical examiner to change Joness official manner of death from suicide to undetermined. This was a rare if partial victory for the family of a soldier who died under suspicious circumstances around Fort Bragg. After a series of soldiers turned up murdered in 2020, I spent four years investigating drug trafficking and unexplained deaths in and around the base for my forthcoming book, The Fort Bragg Cartel. Jones's sister was appalled by the open-air drug dealing that she saw all over Fayetteville The author found that on average, a serviceperson connected to Fort Bragg dies every week I found that on average, a serviceperson connected to Fort Bragg dies every week - far more often than at any other US military base. The leading causes are suicide and accidental drug overdose, but due to the sheer number of fatalities, I wasn't surprised that many grieving family members questioned the official narrative around their loved one's death. Three weeks after Jones died, the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade lost another soldier, also under murky circumstances related to drug use in the unit. Sergeant First Class Christopher Calascione was found dead from an overdose on the floor of his house in Pinehurst. Calascione was a 34-year-old artilleryman from Staten Island, New York, who had done two tours of duty in Iraq. His wife, Sylvia Jablonowska, says that Iraq War II left him deeply afflicted by moral injury. He had been a Howitzer gunner, and memories of dead children crushed under broken rubble haunted his dreams. He was having nightmares and night sweats, she said. I caught him many times waking up from a nap or from sleep, looking a little bit scared. He had this fear in his eyes. She added: He was this big loving bear, but he struggled to keep his drinking under control. He had come back from his last tour in Iraq with a prescription for oxycodone, and Army doctors now had him on several antidepressants as well as the sedative clonazepam, which left his pupils alternately constricted to pinpoints or widely dilated. Then, after a drunk-driving accident in Stuttgart relegated him to desk duty, he started using cocaine. In the last week of January, while his wife was out of the country at a fertility clinic in Poland, where she successfully became pregnant with his child, Calascione stopped answering his phone. He was dead from acute cocaine and fentanyl toxicity. The dog-sitter found his body. Staff Sgt Christopher Calascione (middle right in purple hat) was found dead from an overdose on the floor of his house His wife said Calascione had been haunted by memories of dead children crushed under broken rubble in Iraq Now, looking through his medical records, I see the red flags and how he was struggling in silence, Jablonowska said. She was speechless and broken about how badly she said Fort Bragg and Fayetteville authorities allegedly bungled the aftermath of his death. The police investigation was nonexistent and sloppy. There was no autopsy, either. They found needles, and basically wrote him off. Then the Army was relying on the police investigation, which was a joke. The Army determined that Calasciones death was due to his own willful misconduct, meaning his wife could not collect the $400,000 in life insurance money that normally goes to the next of kin of service members who die on active duty. All the family members of overdose victims whom I spoke to inveighed against what they saw as this injustice, with many saying that their loved one never had a drug problem until he joined the Army and was stationed at Fort Bragg. That year, Fort Bragg witnessed the biggest cluster of military suicides ever recorded. Eight soldiers killed themselves in one eight-week stretch beginning in mid-May, for a total of 51 suicides since the start of 2020. There was no cessation, either, of the homicidal, soldier-involved violence. On January 6, a military policewoman from the 503rd MP Battalion, Specialist Yunique Weathers, killed a woman execution-style in the middle of an irrigated crop field just across the state line in Horry County, South Carolina. She then cleared her weapon, tossed it aside, and surrendered to the police who were converging on the rural location. Specialist Yunique Weathers killed a woman execution-style in the middle of a field Staff Sergeant Keith Wright Jr left behind four kids when he was murdered in July 2022 Staff Sergeant Nikko Brown (left) was the third young black male soldier from Fort Bragg to be gunned down at an apartment complex or house party in as many months; Nicholas Antonio Bobo (right) met the same fate the month before The victim was a 21-year-old woman named DeErica Fisher. A motive was never disclosed. The next killing occurred on July 23. A 25-year-old-civilian allegedly shot up a party gathered at a house on a dirt road called Primrose Path in the Moore County town of Pinebluff. He wounded four people and killed Staff Sergeant Keith Wright Jr, a 29-year-old support soldier in the 3rd Special Forces Group who left behind four kids. Two more Fort Bragg soldiers were killed in September and October. Sergeant Nicholas Antonio Bobo, a military warehouseman from Memphis, aged 22, was shot multiple times in front of a Fayetteville apartment complex called the Enclave at 11pm on September 13, allegedly by a pair of local teenagers. And on October 19, Staff Sergeant Nikko Brown, an artilleryman from Chicago, aged 33, was shot and killed in Hope Mills around 2am. Brown was the third young black male soldier from Fort Bragg to be gunned down at an apartment complex or house party in as many months, but his murder was different from the others. Police say the perpetrator was a family member. In the midst of these late-summer shootings, a particularly cruel murder occurred. The perpetrator, David Jensen, was a lifelong Delta Force man. Haunted by increasingly black moods, and addicted to alcohol and pills, he got into a fight with his wife, Amber on September 6. He grabbed her arm and struck her in the face, leaving the bedspread splashed with blood. She took refuge in the master bathroom, bringing her ten-pound dachshund, Greta Bean, with her. As she frantically attempted to book a hotel room on her computer tablet, he kicked down the locked door and stomped the little dog to death. David Jensen, addicted to alcohol and pills, got into a fight with his wife, Amber, in September 2022 As she frantically attempted to book a hotel room on her computer tablet, he kicked down the locked door and stomped her little dachshund to death As Amber cowered between the bathtub and the toilet, he took aim and shot her in the head, killing her. After taking a good long look at what he had done, he put the barrel of the pistol in his own mouth and pulled the trigger. After the murder and suicide, the Moore County community, steeped in quiet loyalty toward the Special Forces, reflexively came together to protect Jensens posthumous reputation and ensure that his actions were not permitted to reflect poorly on the unit, whose name was kept out of the matter entirely. Local authorities treated the incident, which was scarcely reported outside Moore County, as a tragedy for which no one was really to blame. The US Army did not respond to a request for comment by time of publication. The Fort Bragg Cartel - Drug Trafficking and Murder in the Special Forces by Seth Harp is published by Viking, August 12 Site gone to 'rack and ruin' as locals shut out The once bustling greens of an old Sydney bowling club are now an abandoned wasteland closed off to locals, years after it was handed back to Indigenous owners. An Aboriginal land claim on the site - that sits within a large swathe of parkland from Waverton Park to Balls Head Reserve on Sydney's lower north shore - was granted by a court in 2022. The old Waverton Bowling Club has been abandoned since the land claim was upheld, with the grass overgrown and the clubroom left derelict. Residents who frequent the surrounding park told Daily Mail they cannot understand why the site is being left as an eyesore and not being put to better use. Allan Murray, chair of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (MLALC) which took control of the site, had said at the time of the takeover that the group intended to work with locals on the future of the land. 'We are thinking of creating a Cammeraygal cultural centre,' he said. He added that the group wanted 'everyone to share' in the site, including 'local people [and] local businesses'. However the highly valuable land, which overlooks the Harbour Bridge, stands in disrepair and in stark contrast to the surrounding Waverton Park, which is maintained by North Sydney Council and well used by the community. The greens of Waverton Bowling Club (pictured) have fallen into disrepair after it was handed back to Indigenous owners North Sydney resident Gio (pictured) said the site 'looks like a waste of space' and locals have been blocked from accessing the green space Waverton Bowling Club is overgrown and has fallen into 'rack and ruin', say locals One North Sydney resident explained the site was still being used by locals at one point 'when the lawn wasn't that unkempt' but then they were locked out. 'They started putting up warning signs and blocking access the area. 'And for the last couple of years, it's been left here in disrepair, which is a bit of a pity. 'I don't know what's gonna happen, if it's still going to be a bit of a space for a community or if it will be completely blocked off from the community.' Gio recalled the old bowling club, which now 'looks like a waste of space', had been a valued part of the community, not just for bowls but hosting concerts and other events which would bring people together. Kerry, who regularly walks dog Ninja through the park, added: 'It was a thriving bowling club once upon a time and, it's really a pity that it can't be turned into something the community can enjoy.' She said residents have been kept in the dark over the future for the site. Kerry supports the MLALC's right to the site because 'we took the land from them in the first place', but suggested 'community sharing rather than isolating people more'. 'It would be really lovely if [the site] could be put to some use,' she added. Kerry, who regularly walks dog Ninja through the park, (both pictured) said the old bowling club was once a thriving hub for the community Ross (pictured), who played bowls at the club years ago, suggested the site should be knocked down and incorporated into the surrounding park Locals used the space as a recreation and exercise hub before it was fenced off Ross, who played bowls at the club years ago, noted it was a 'pity' to have a green space 'so close to the city, not being used'. 'I can understand Aboriginal people deserve to take some of their land back,' he said. 'I just hope they can find an effective use for it.' The North Sydney resident voiced his concern that if the land was not put to any use it will be sold off for more high-density housing, which the community does not want. 'We're so lucky here,' he said. 'The city's over there, and here we are in peace and quiet, and it's green. What could be better? 'It would be unfortunate, if it was to be converted into more apartments. The simplest thing would be to knock the whole thing down and make it all green. 'Have a beautiful, big green park. Why not? What else? You can't always have cultural spaces everywhere, Sydney's only so big, it's not Paris. 'A little bit of appropriate cultural monuments to celebrate Aboriginal heritage would be the trick and just a bit of state government money to tidy the area up. It can't be that hard.' Another local, Claire, echoed Ross's sentiment and stated 'the biggest concern for people around here is that it remains a green space'. The overgrown greens are in stark contrast to the surrounding maintained Waverton Park Waverton Park is a rare green oasis overlooking the city in north Sydney The old bowling club which has gone to 'rack and ruin' was used by the local community as an exercise space, especially during Covid. 'We're not allowed on it anymore, they have a lot of security signage up every now and then, telling us to keep out,' she explained. A representative of the MLALC said they 'inherited a disused bowling club that is unsafe and has a major termite infestation'. The building on the site also has 'infrastructure issues such as an unsafe balcony, non-functional windows and doors, a garage that was left open to the general public and severely damaged external fencing'. The MLALC notes 'large numbers of trespassers, break-ins and more malicious damages' at the site. 'MLALC is as result of NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (the ALRA) currently undertaking a mandatory Non claimant Native Title application to potentially allow MLALC to use the premises into the future,' the representative said. The ALRA was established to return land in NSW to Aboriginal peoples through a process of lodging a claim(s) for certain Crown lands. With Britain set to sizzle in a 34C heatwave that could last all week, find out if it is going to be the hottest day ever recorded near you. Powered with Met Office statistics dating back as far as 1853, the Daily Mail's new search tool shows how your local weather station's mercury reading compares historically. Just type in your postcode to see whether the Caribbean-esque temperatures are record-breaking or merely run-of-the-mill. Our widget available to use below will reveal what the hottest day ever recorded was in your area, and how high the mercury got then. Your browser does not support iframes. Britain's hottest ever day was on July 19, 2022, when temperatures in Coningsby in Lincolnshire hit an astonishing 40.3C. During July's persistent heatwave, when the country flocked to beaches to bask in the 35C sunshine, the Met Office said it was 'virtually certain' soaring temperatures has 'increased the occurrence and intensity of extreme heat events'. The high of 34.7C, logged at the St James's Park weather station in London, on July 14, is the highest on record this year. Our tool reveals that was 2.6C higher than the average for that day over for the past 107 years. Not all of the 168 Met Office weather stations used in our tool have comparable data going back over a century, although they have all been in action since 1980. Thousands of people pack the beach at Bournemouth yesterday as sunseekers enjoy the heat Newer stations were excluded from our analysis. It comes as the country is on alert for wildfires after a major incident in Dorset where 100 firefighters battled a blaze that ravaged hundreds of acres of land at the weekend. Other crews tackled a large blaze on Arthurs Seat in Edinburgh yesterday, and a big fire at Newton Heath near Swanage, which has been burning since last Sunday. An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three days in a row, with thresholds varying from 25C (77F) to 28C (82F) in different areas. The Met Office forecast for London, which has a 28C threshold, said temperatures will hit at least that level daily until at least Sunday, with a 33C (92F) peak tomorrow. The UK Health Security Agency has issued a yellow heat health alert from 12pm today until 6pm on Wednesday, covering all regions of England apart from the North. A picturesque cowboy town has exploded into civil war over controversial plans that locals fear could kill them. Bar Nunn in Wyoming, a tiny enclave of 3,000 people five miles from Casper, has been gripped by a plot to build a massive nuclear plant on nearby farmland. California energy giant Radiant is pushing for the microreactor and also to collect waste from around the country and dump it near the town. The company claims it is the perfect location for the site - which could be up and running by 2028 - and noted it will drive hundreds of jobs to the rural area. But locals are outraged, and fear it will poison their water, drive down the price of their houses and could make them the next Chernobyl. A picturesque cowboy town has exploded into civil war over controversial plans that locals fear could kill them Bar Nunn in Wyoming , a tiny enclave of 3,000 people five miles from Casper, has been gripped by a plot to build a massive nuclear plant on nearby farmland A microreactor is a small nuclear reactor, the Kaleidos reactors are all about the size of small semitrailers. Radiant said they weigh about 70 tons each and produce about one mega watt of power or 1.9 mega watts of heat. Ray Wert, the communications manager of Radiant, told the Daily Mail they will each power about 1,000 homes and last about five years without being refueled. The plan will not be executed for several years, but the location as to where it will be located will be selected in the coming months. Bar Nunn Mayor Peter Boyer told the Daily Mail: 'There has been a lot of back and forth. 'It's gotten pretty heated. I don't think this could ever be a Chernobyl situation.' He explained each unit has layers and layers that would need to be penetrated for any radiation to be released. 'And its not going to spill out on the ground or anything, they're just pelletsAnd it would take something catastrophic for that to happen. 'If something catastrophic enough to do that did happen, we'd have bigger problems.' A public meeting discussing the proposal is seen above. Bar Nunn Mayor Peter Boyer told the Daily Mail: 'There has been a lot of back and forth Over the past few months, town council meetings have turned into debates about the proposal, with some residents fearful about what a nuclear plant could mean for their health and safety. 'I believe you mentioned that you had kids,' one concerned resident addressed Radiant Chief Operating Officer Tori Shivanandan at a July meeting. 'Was there a nuclear facility in the backyard when you bought your house? Are you gonna move here? Is your son gonna drink the water?' Another attendee said he was not totally against the idea, but he preferred if it was built 30 miles away instead of just a mile outside the town. The topic arose again on Tuesday's meeting, with a resident taking the podium immediately grilling the politicians about the plan, asking about the benefits to the town. Boyer believes the plant would be an excellent economic opportunity for the tiny town of just 3,000 residents. Boyer said: 'I wouldn't care if it was Billy Bob's Burger Barn, alright? If they were a $200million company and they wanted to come in here, put in infrastructure and allow the town to grow and prosper, it's irrelevant to me.' If the Natrona County location is chosen as the official site - which Radiant said could be up and running by 2028 - then it could bring hundreds of jobs to locals. Bar Nunn Mayor Peter Boyer is seen left at a meeting discussing the plans But other officials' concerns echo the concerns of the residents skeptical of potential long term repercussions of storing nuclear waste so close to their homes. 'I love the idea of nuclear energy throughout the United States,' began Representative Bill Allemand, who represents District 58. 'However, my constituents do not want nuclear waste stored in their backyard.' Allemand explained he and his constituents are worried about the possibility of the Casper area turning into a 'cancer cluster' due potential radiation spill outs from waste storage that will impact generations to come. But Radiant and Boyer explained this is highly unlikely, thanks to the testing and technology being used to ensure the process is being thoroughly executed. Allemand, who has been vocal about his stance at town hall meetings, said his biggest concern is with safe storage. He does not doubt the effectiveness of nuclear energy. 'We have such clean coal [in Wyoming] that does not pollute the environment at all. We have natural gas that does not pollute the environment,' he told the Daily Mail. Residents fear nuclear waste in their backyard could spark 'the next Chernobyl'. Pictured: view of the Chernobyl Nuclear power plant three days after the explosion on April 29, 1986 in Chernobyl,Ukraine 'Let's go ahead and use those, we have like 500 years of coal here in Wyoming alone. We can run this country alone for 500 years out of Campbell County, Wyoming. 'I'm not against nuclear, but we don't know how to use it yet.' Natrona County Commission Chair Dave North told WyoFile: 'People hear the word 'nuclear,' they think of Chernobyl; they think of Hiroshima. 'They don't realize how many places in this country have nuclear power. They have one in California in the middle of a big city, and they have one in Boston at MIT.' Ray Wert, the communications manager at Radiant, said he is confident the country is more than ready to take this massive stride towards the widespread implementation of nuclear power sources. 'We're building the world's first portable microreactors, with a goal of mass producing them - by mass producing I am not talking about thousands, we're looking at 50 units a year,' he explained. 'But that max wouldn't be something we'd be hitting until the 2030s.' Nuclear power is long-lasting. Pointing to a deal Radiant just made with the US Air Force, in which these microreactors are going to be placed on bases, he said the technology could go on to 'save countless lives'. He explained the Natrona County had recently emerged at the top of Radiant's list for its high energy IQ, as most of the country's uranium is mined in Wyoming. Ray Wert, the communications manager at Radiant, said he is confident the country is more than ready to take this massive stride towards the widespread implementation of nuclear power sources. Pictured: Bar Nunn 'There's a massive opportunity to hire hundreds of local workers to work at our factory facility. 'We've encountered a little bit of push back from a very vocal minority.' According to polling conducted by Cygnal of about 300 likely voters in Natrona County, 60 percent felt the plans were safe, while about 26 percent felt they were unsafe. About 58 percent felt supportive of nuclear energy production in the US, while 21 percent were against it. Nearly 61 percent were for Radiant opening a manufacturing facility in their area, while about 22 percent opposed. About 8 percent felt indifferent toward the idea. Meanwhile, Allemand told the Daily Mail he conducted his own poll for his district. He did not reveal the sample body but he said about 72 percent of people in his district opposed the plans and only 12 percent supported them. Radiant has been working to educate the community to ease their nerves and get people onboard with their efforts. They are working with the Department of Energy and the NRC, the regulatory body leading the nuclear energy charge. Radiant, a California-based nuclear company leading in the industry, is heavily considering a plot of land just outside the quaint town in Natrona County for their Kaleidos reactors. Pictured: a recent render of the proposed development from Radiant, a California-based nuclear company 'We are complying with and exceeding the possible energy standards in front of us.' Boyer: 'I really can understand people's fear with this. You can see coal, you can see oil, you can smell gas. 'But radiation is like an invisible killer, so it can be really intimidating. But when you start to do the search behind it, the fear can go away for them.' Justin Farley, of Advance Casper, the development company that helped bring Radiant to Natrona County said: 'The safety concerns are derived from peoples fear of nuclear and the comparisons of this project, by some, to open pit uranium mining, Hanford, Three Mile Island etc. 'The safety record for dry cast storage of spent fuel is impeccable and to compare the manufacturing of micro reactors and storage of fuel to legacy site contamination or mega reactor failures is absurd, not to mention open pit mining for uranium is no longer practiced. It is one of the most regulated and safe industries in the world.' Leaked emails show how the head of a China-focused thinktank tried to have a cybersecurity expert sacked, after he repeatedly highlighted how the institution received funding from Chinese Communist Party-owned businesses. Robert Potter, an Australian who runs his own multinational cybersecurity firm, has repeatedly drawn attention to the fact that the Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI) receives funding from two Chinese state-owned companies. ACRI, based at the University of Technology, Sydney, is partially-funded by the China Construction Bank and John Holland, both state-owned Chinese enterprises. The institute seeks to study the relationship between China and Australia and was established following a $1.8million donation from Chinese billionaire Xiangmo Huang in 2013. In 2019, Mr Huang had his visa torn up and was banned from re-entering Australia after ASIO accused him of being 'amenable to conducting acts of foreign interference', which he denied. Mr Potter claims he wrote to ACRI's director, Professor James Laurenceson, to outline his concerns about ACRI's ongoing funding arrangements and its alleged lack of disclosure in media reports. However, Mr Potter claims his email fell on deaf ears, so he has voiced his concerns publicly on X on several occasions over the past few years. Last month, for example, Mr Potter highlighted ACRI's funding arrangements when sharing an opinion piece Prof Laurenceson wrote about how Australia's strengthening economic relationship with China could deliver more security. Robert Potter, an Australian who runs his own multinational cyber security firm, has repeatedly drawn attention to the fact that the Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI) continues to receive funding from two Chinese state-owned companies (pictured: Mr Potter) Mr Potter claims he wrote to ACRI's director, Professor James Laurenceson, to outline his concerns about ACRI's ongoing funding arrangements and its alleged lack of disclosure when it features in stories in the media (pictured: Mr Laurenceson with Chinese Ambassador Xiao Qian) 'James never disclosed that he's (allegedly) literally payed by China (sic),' Mr Potter alleged. 'His institution is funded by donations from two state owned firm(s). The founding donation for his center came from a guy expelled for foreign influence.' While ACRI receives funding from two Chinese-state owned businesses, Mr Laurenceson himself is paid by UTS. He does not receive any external funding and it is not suggested otherwise. ACRI's website also states: 'Industry partners do not provide strategic direction nor do they shape or influence UTS:ACRI's academic activities. UTS:ACRI has a fully independent, academically rigorous and transparent research agenda.' In response to these repeated public statements, Mr Laurenceson wrote to the Australia National University (ANU), where Mr Potter holds an honorary appointment as a visiting fellow at the Centre for European Studies, to complain about his behaviour. When he failed to receive a response, Mr Laurenceson sent a follow-up email expressing his frustration that the matter had not been dealt with and that Mr Potter was still employed by the institution. 'I was surprised not to receive a response given Mr Potter's behaviour and had hoped for this to be resolved at a centre level,' he wrote. 'If this is not possible, however, I will pursue other avenues.' After being fobbed off by ANU, Mr Laurenceson sent another email on July 23 - a day after Mr Potter's latest public comments - to reiterate his complaint. 'Mr Potter appears to remain affiliated with your centre,' Mr Laurenceson wrote. 'He also continues to direct abuse at me, claiming that I am 'literally paid by China'.' 'In the absence of any communication and resolution, I can only assume that his behaviour is deemed tolerable.' The Daily Mail approached Mr Laurenceson for comment. A spokesperson for UTS insisted that ACRI has 'stringent guidelines to preserve the independence of its research and commentary'. 'Like most institutes, it is funded by a range of sources which have no influence or impact on its work; these are publicly disclosed and include both Australian and Chinese industry partners,' the spokesperson added. 'A number of sustained, unfounded and personal allegations have been made by one individual about Professor Laurenceson over a prolonged period of time. 'As these have been made from a staff member at ANU using his university credentials, Professor Laurenceson has brought these to the attention of ANU to take whatever action they deem appropriate. 'UTS:ACRI director Professor James Laurenceson is a widely regarded, well respected academic. He is paid by the university and is not the recipient of external funding by any external organisations.' The Daily Mail does not suggest Prof Laurenceson has been engaged in any acts of foreign influence whatsoever, only that he has faced calls to be more transparent about ACRI's funding arrangements in media articles he has written. Mr Potter argues that Prof Laurenceson should disclose ACRI's funding arrangements when he writes articles for publications such as the Australian Financial Review, The Australian or when he appears on ABC programs. Prof Laurenceson, a lifelong academic who has held posts at universities in China and Japan, has written hundreds of articles and academic papers about Australia's relationship with China over the last 15 years. Titles include: 'Don't be scared, China's plan is good for Australia'; 'Australia's great, untapped resource Chinese investment'; 'Why all the worry about China?'; 'Why we shouldn't be so worried about China buying the farm' and 'By standing up to China, Australia may end up standing alone'. Mr Potter, who co-founded cybersecurity firm Internet 2.0 and the Cyber Activities Group, has spent the past few years training Ukrainian soldiers in how to ward off potential cyber attacks from Russian hackers. Australia risks an internet and communications blackout if it fails to embrace the opportunity of becoming one of the world's major data centre hubs at the forefront of the AI revolution, a former ADF Brigadier turned academic has warned. Professor Ian Langford said Australia relies on just 15 undersea cables for 99 per cent of its international data traffic for things like banking, markets, emergency services, defence communications and even streaming Netflix. But a malicious foreign actor, such as China, could easily cripple this crucial infrastructure, plunging the country into digital darkness and wiping billions from the ASX in the process. To counter this threat, Professor Langford, who served in the ADF for over 30 years, has called on the government and tech leaders to build AI data centres to bolster Australia's sovereignty and resilience by offering a back-up option. 'With the PLA (China's People's Liberation Army) cutting some military undersea cabling in Taiwan this year it forces us to think how vulnerable are we in terms of the same threat vector, and I think the answer is highly vulnerable,' Prof Langford said. 'We need to onshore a lot of our critical data and therefore we need to build sovereign data centres here so that we have the ability to effectively have a redundancy in the event of some sort of disruption to our critical infrastructure.' 'But also from a regional perspective to house data from south-west Pacific nations and other countries in the southern hemisphere which would allow this part of the world to survive in the event of a massive disruption which could occur should conflict break out between the US and China over Taiwan, for example.' Prof Langford explained that a data centre was 'essentially a hothouse that converts energy into intelligence, into information'. Professor Ian Langford said Australia relies on just 15 undersea cables for 99 per cent of its international data traffic for things like banking, markets, emergency services, defence communications and even Netflix streaming About 99 per cent of internet traffic flows through just 15 undersea cables 'Energy goes in and information comes out,' he said. 'And so you need power, you need access to infrastructure as in the site where you're situated, you need security, you need people and it needs to be cost sensitive.' Australia is perfectly poised to provide all of these things, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers recently boasting that Australia is among the top five global destinations for data centres. But many technology firms within the field have complained about red tape preventing them from building data centres on Australian soil. Dan Roberts, a former Macquarie banker who co-founded Bitcoin mining and data centre-building firm IREN back in 2018, has said he would 'love' to build them in Australia but that it is 'just not practical'. He compared Australia's position now with AI to the one it faced during the resources boom of the early 2000s, where instead of building up its own manufacturing industry, Australia simply shipped its commodities overseas. 'We're in the same position now, where the fourth industrial revolution is essentially energy as your input and a digital good as your output,' Mr Roberts told Capital Brief. 'Given the abundance of land, wind, solar, etcetera, we've got the same opportunity now, but all this red tape that gets in the way of actually doing it.' His comments come a week after Atlassian co-founder Scott Farquhar called for Australia to harness the AI revolution by becoming a world leader in data centres. Australia is perfectly poised to provide all of the requirements to become a global hub for data centres, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers recently boasting that Australia is among the top five global destinations for data centres But many technology firms within the field have complained about the volume of red tape preventing them from building them on Australian soil The rich-lister claimed data centres could allow to 'export megawatts as megabytes (and get paid megabucks)'. 'This is a multi-billion-dollar, multi-decade opportunity,' Mr Farquhar told the National Press Club. Prof Langford argues that this is borne out in the figures: at the moment, data centres account for 1.5 per cent of global energy production. But by 2030, that figure is predicted to rise to 13 per cent, with most of the energy used to cool the computer chips processing the data. Prof Langford said that Australia was at a crossroads. 'If Australia wants to be a leader in all forms of emerging technology, such as AI, quantum computing and others, then we need to build critical infrastructure here to have sovereignty over those opportunities,' he added. 'And if we don't do it, we're going to be left behind. It's as simple as that.' An expert has warned Australia's middle class is slowly disappearing while the wealthy are becoming richer due to the cost-of-living crisis. Associate Professor of Law at the University of Wollongong Andy Schmulow, 54, argued everyday Australians were being forced to spend more on necessities. Meanwhile, bloated corporations were getting richer as they were not motivated to bring down prices because there was little competition. 'We have widening wealth disparity in Australia because of the cost-of-living crisis,' Prof Schmulow told Daily Mail. 'It's causing those who don't benefit from the cost-of-living crisis to get poorer, and those who do benefit from the cost-of-living crisis to get fabulously wealthy. 'That cost-of-living crisis is being driven by a lack of competition in a whole range of critical markets.' When Aussies think about their everyday expenses, the quickest to pop into most people's minds is groceries. A report from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) earlier this year found Coles and Woolworths, Australia's supermarket giants, are among the most profitable grocers globally. Associate Professor of Law Andy Schmulow (pictured) believes Australia's cost-of-living crisis is being driven by a lack of competitors in major markets 'The executive management of Coles and Woolworths are getting six-figure salaries thanks to the fact that they are running what the ACCC determined are among the most profitable supermarkets in the world,' Prof Schmulow said. 'The reason why Coles and Woolworths are now some of the most profitable supermarkets in the world is because they have no competition - they're a duopoly. 'It is well understood in economics that if you don't have enough competition, prices will go up. 'We used to have lots of supermarkets in Australia - Coles, Safeway, Franklin, Barlow's. Now we have a supermarket duopoly, ColesWorth.' Prof Schmulow highlighted the chains' staggering returns shareholders receive. 'Supermarkets in Europe have an average return on equity of 0.7 per cent and in the United States they have an average return on equity of 1.4 per cent. Coles' return on equity is upward of 30 per cent,' he said. 'That's why groceries are so expensive.' Prof Schmulow explained more market competitors drive competitive rates, meaning Aussies could have more access to affordable groceries if there were reliable alternatives to Coles and Woolworths. Prof Schmulow claimed 'legal bribes' - like political donations from Woolworths or exclusive memberships from Qantas - kept Australia's market limited (pictured, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and former Qantas CEO Alan Joyce) However, the current market has left little room for any new business to move in as there's already a Coles or Woolworths in most areas. 'There's a very, very easy way to fix this - break up Coles and Woolworths. Break up the duopoly,' Prof Schmulow said. 'The ACCC has determined they are a duopoly and among the most profitable supermarket chain in the world. 'My proposal would be to say to Coles and Woolworths, you have six months to sell off a third of your supermarkets to a new company, which is then sold. 'But they would need to sell a broad range of their stores, not just the least profitable ones.' However, the lack of options for Aussie consumers doesn't just impact grocery bills. Prof Schmulow pointed to Qantas' dominance over the aviation industry and the control the Big Four banks - Commonwealth Bank, NAB, Westpac and ANZ - hold over the finance sector. 'Qantas is one of the most profitable legacy airlines in the world and it is so incredibly profitable because it doesn't have real genuine competition,' he said. Several of Australia's biggest corporations, like Woolworths and the Commonwealth Bank, donate thousands of dollars to the Labor Party and Coalition every year (stock image) 'Our Big Four banks are also among the most profitable in the world, with a population of just 26million people. 'We don't have a divestiture power and our bank regulator, APRA, prioritises bank stability by having less banks - even though involves providing less competition and less choice to consumers.' Prof Schmulow claims the government claimed there was one major reason why the government had not introduced a divestiture power. Several of Australia's biggest corporations, like Woolworths and the Commonwealth Bank, donate thousands of dollars to the Labor Party and Coalition every year. 'If you don't get millions of dollars in campaign contributions, you can't fight an election,' Prof Schmulow, who previously ran for a NSW senate seat, said. 'Neither party can turn around and say, "Why don't we just stop taking donations?" because the other party will still be taking donations and they'll win. 'If you want to win, shut your mouth.' Instead of leaving the decision to accept or reject corporate donations up to individual parties, Prof Schmulow recommended businesses be banned from political donations. 'Corporations should have nothing to do with what happens in government. Parliament is supposed to be democratically elected representatives of we the people - the Commonwealth Bank and Woolworths aren't people,' he said. 'Our democracy is being sold to corporate donors.' The children of Britain's most notorious female gangster have spoken for the first time about having a killer as a mother. Linda Calvey, 77, known as 'The Black Widow', was one of East London's most terrifying and prolific gangsters, who earned an estimated 1million from armed robberies. She had two children with her first husband, Mikey Calvey, who was shot dead by police in 1979 during a robbery that went wrong, prompting Calvey to begin her descent into London's underworld. After first serving as lookout, she became a getaway driver, then finally wielded the shotgun. Her worst crime came in 1990 when she murdered her husband Ronnie Cook - after a hitman she had hired failed to finish the job. Her son and daughter, Neil and Melanie - who are both now in their fifties - have never previously spoken in public about their life growing up as children of one of Britain's most feared criminals. Appearing on new BBC podcast, Gangster: The Story of the Black Widow, Neil recalled the moment his mother was locked up for murdering Cook - two years after his own father had been shot dead. 'When my dad got killed and my mum went to prison, it was like falling into a black hole - you just don't know which way to turn,' he told investigative journalist Livvy Haydock. Linda Calvey, 77, known as 'The Black Widow', is mother to Neil and Melanie Calvey arriving at an inquest into the death of her husband, Micky, who died aged 36 after being shot by police in a robbery gone wrong Calvey has now renounced crime and is an author and commentator 'It was heartbreaking, when I used to go and see her as a kid I'd sob when I had to leave. 'I would ask why you wouldn't think about me and Mel. You were thinking about herself, your kudos, how you're Linda Calvey and a big gangster girl.' Sharing some of his memories of childhood, Neil recalled playing outside aged just three with what later turned out to be a sawn-off shotgun. 'I thought it was just another toy gun, I'd found it behind the sofa. I was outside running around with it when one of the neighbours knocked on the door,' he said. 'My mum just said, ''Oh, he's got loads of guns.'' She thought it was a toy, but it wasn't.' Mel, meanwhile, remembered going on a spending spree to Hamleys with money she found under her mother's bed. Calvey murdered Ronnie Cook the day he was let out of prison following an 18-month sentence for armed robbery. She had claimed his death was the result of a botched robbery, and described a masked man kicking down the door of her kitchen before shooting Cook in the elbow and head. Calvey, who was dubbed the Black Widow because her men 'ended up either dead or in jail', pictured aged 22 The gangster with her late husband Mickey But a jury convicted her for murder on the basis that she paid hit-man Daniel Reece 10,000 to kill Cook, before shooting him herself when he had second thoughts. Calvey was sentenced to 18 years in prison which made her Britain's longest-serving female prisoner for a time. She later married Reece in prison. She claimed Cook threatened to hurt her son when she rejected his marriage proposal, but still denies murder. Describing what it felt like to see her mother go to jail, Mel said: 'I was angry. I'd already lost my dad, then I lost my mum. 'I told her that. I was about 14, and I asked her, ''Why did you do that to us?'' I was bitter for years. It was like drinking a poison that festered in me.' Both siblings have experienced trauma due to their mother's crimes, including struggles with addiction and poor mental health. 'It's like I walked into a party at 14 and didn't leave until I was in my forties,' Mel said. 'I was reckless. For years I was just on another planet.' But despite their harrowing experience, they still do not blame their mother. Calvey rubbed shoulders in jail with Moors murderer Myra Hindley Calvey was also locked up with Rose West, who she described as 'thick' Neil said: 'I might have been angry with the situation, but I never blamed my mum. I'd still choose her. And my dad. It's just a shame how it all went.' Mel agreed, adding: 'I'd still choose them too, but I'd want it to be different. 'I used to be envious of my friends whose parents had jobs, mortgages, dinner on the table. That's what I wanted. A normal life.' Calvey has now renounced her life of crime and insists she regrets everything she did. 'I was like this mad woman who was just on a mission. I just had tunnel vision - this is what I had to do and I just did it,' she said. 'All the blokes went to me ''you're better than any of us, you're fantastic'', but if you asked me now to go in that shop and pinch a packet of sweets, I couldn't do it. 'I look back and that person is totally alien, I can't think how I did what I did as the person I am now. I felt like I was a totally different person.' While locked up in HMP Durham's infamous H Wing, Calvey rubbed shoulders with serial killers including Myra Hindley and Rose West. Calvey also recalled receiving marriage proposals from Reggie Kray and Charles Bronson while locked up at HMP Holloway Calvey received 18 years in Holloway (pictured) which made her Britain's longest-serving female prisoner for a time Describing Hindley, she said: 'She had this aura about her that she was a sinister person. 'She was highly intelligent, very very intelligent - the complete opposite of Rose, who is actually quite thick. 'But at one time when they were together and we were in Durham, everyone said they had a fling together. 'People were saying ''Look who's having an affair - the two most notorious women in England''.' Calvey also recalled receiving marriage proposals from Reggie Kray and Charles Bronson while locked up at HMP Holloway. 'Reggie actually proposed to me twice. I said no. I probably would have stayed in there if I'd become Mrs Kray,' she said. 'I also got a letter from Charles Bronson saying ''I know they call you the Black Widow, but to me you're the black rose, I so admire you''. When Harvey Reif saw recent news reports that radioactive wasps had been discovered at a government nuclear site in South Carolina he wasn't surprised. Reif, 76, worked there for 10 years in the 1980s and 1990s and had to retire after being hit by a torrent of different cancers - skin, bladder, kidney, rectal and pancreatic. 'I came down with five major cancers, over 60 skin cancers,' he told the Daily Mail. 'I've been through chemotherapy at least three times, radiation treatments and several surgeries, and I'm being seen and followed by 10 different doctors.' The former quality control and safety worker at the Savannah River Site nuclear bomb plant added: 'It's going to take them years and years to clean that place up, and in some places they can't completely clean it up. They'll just put a fence around it and make sure nobody accesses that area. 'Things get radiation embedded and, you know, it's always going to be there. That place is going to have issues well into the future.' The discovery of radioactive wasp nests emerged last week, fueling concerns over the 310 square mile site, which is about 15 times bigger than Manhattan. It was established in the early 1950s and played a key role in producing plutonium for America's nuclear weapons program throughout the Cold War. The first radioactive wasp nest was discovered on July 3 near tanks where liquid nuclear waste is stored. It was emitting radiation levels 10 times higher than federal safety limits. Former nuclear worker Harvey Reif who is suffering from cancer Workers subsequently uncovered three more nests affected by what the Department of Energy called 'onsite legacy radioactive contamination.' They were found in an area that holds 22 massive underground tanks, each up to 100 feet wide and 23 feet deep, packed with between 750,000 and 1.3 million gallons of radioactive waste. Department of Energy officials said the nests were sprayed, sealed in bags as radiological waste and properly disposed of, and there was no leakage from a nearby nuclear waste tank. A spokesman for Savannah River Mission Completion (SRMC), the contractor responsible for site cleanup, told the Daily Mail its teams recovered dead wasps after exterminating the nests, and the insects showed lower levels of contamination than the nests themselves. All the nests were found more than five miles from the closest site boundary, and wasps typically do not stray more than 200 yards from their nests. 'The nests do not pose a health risk to workers, surrounding communities, or the environment,' they said. 'All of the nests were emitting less than one percent of the natural background radiation rate.' Officials said dead wasps were found following the extermination process after radioactive nests were discovered An aerial view of the Savannah River Site nuclear facility However, the discovery raised further questions over the Trump administration's controversial plan to make the site the main center for making cores for America's nuclear warheads. The proposal is to build a $25 billion facility to make 'plutonium pits' - which are the trigger used in all of thermonuclear weapons. They are ball-shaped, up to the size of a bowling ball, and the term 'pit' is a reference to the stone inside a fruit like a peach. Production of plutonium pits in the United States was suspended in 1989 by President George H.W. Bush. But the pits used in each of America's roughly 5,000 nuclear weapons are aging and need to be replaced. Radioactive waste sealed in large stainless steel canisters is stored under five feet of concrete in a storage building at the Savannah River Site For the first time in 35 years, one was made in October at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Los Alamos was also where the first plutonium pits were made by Robert Oppenheimer during the Manhattan Project in 1945 for use in the first nuclear bombs. The Trump administration's goal is to produce 50 plutonium pits a year at the Savannah River Site by 2030, and another 30 a year at Los Alamos. A spokeswoman for the Department of Energy confirmed to the Daily Mail that Energy Secretary Chris Wright wants 100 built by the end of Trump's current term. In a statement the department said: 'We urgently need to modernize the nation's nuclear weapons systems.' Energy Secretary Chris Wright says America's nuclear arsenal must be modernized A nuclear warhead in its silo An Minuteman intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) which would carry a plutonium trigger But Reif, who still lives nearby, said it should not be done there. He said: 'You know, I think they should close the place down and move it out, as far away in the desert as they possibly can, away from any populated areas, regardless of what they're doing. 'I think it should be done somewhere where there's 50 or 60 miles of separation between them and a populated area, where if there was an accident it wouldn't harm people.' Reif is currently suing the government seeking compensation under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA), which was introduced by President Bill Clinton to help sick nuclear workers. 'It took them 18 years to deny my claim, unvbelievable,' he said. 'I'm disillusioned, frustrated. I always felt that I was protected, that they would have not put me into a work environment that was not safe. Well, now I find I found out, or believe, that they did. Former nuclear site worker and cancer sufferer Harvey Reif is suing the government after being denied compensation 'I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and they had to do emergency surgery on me, and then I had chemotherapy, and I just went through hell for about two years. 'Well, I had to retire. I didn't want to, I enjoyed what I did. You know, some people, you sort of live for what you do because it's exciting, you're into something new, practically daily, and it provides meaning and purpose in your life. 'I thought that what I was doing certainly had value. We would roll up our sleeves and go to work and and whatever was required, we would, we would get it done.' Plutonium processing at the Savannah River Site ended in 1992. But large swathes of surplus plutonium held at bases around the United States were then taken there. Currently, the site is home to over 11 tons of plutonium, which is stored underground and can be used for the pits. 'Up to this point, the plutonium pits in America's nuclear weapons have been very robust,' according to Los Alamos Director Thom Mason. 'But the pits we have today were largely manufactured in the 1980s, and we don't have the predictive ability to say with certainty that our current, 40-year-old pits will be good until any particular date. 'It's sort of glass half full, glass half empty; we can't prove that they will fail, but we also can't prove that they will work.' He believes the best way to deal with that is 'by making new pits, immediately.' However, in 2021 a coalition of anti-nuclear and environmental groups sued the Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration, which oversees the nuclear stockpile. The 'plutonium pits' that trigger America's nuclear weapons are aging and need to be replaced The government argued that making plutonium pits is essential as they are 'one of the critical components of every nuclear weapon in the United States' and serve as the 'explosive core or primary that initiates thermonuclear fusion upon detonation.' In January this year, the government agreed to further studies and is carrying out further public consultations on the plutonium plan. Tom Clements, executive director of of Savannah River Site Watch, one of the opposition environmental groups, described himself as 'mad as a hornet' following the latest wasp nest discoveries. In a recent report Dylan Spaulding, senior scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists, said: 'A rushed program will likely increase the risks to the workers and frontline communities who bear still unaddressed burdens from the production of nuclear weapons during the Cold War.' This is the luxurious Cornish estate where The Salt Path author Raynor Winn and her husband Moth have been hiding out since doubts were raised over their 'true' story of becoming homeless. The author and her husband - real names Sally and Tim Walker - have barely been seen in public since questions were asked about the veracity of the story that became a literary sensation. Ms Winn's memoir detailed how their decision to walk the 630-mile South West Coast Path was motivated by the repossession of their home in Wales after a business deal with a 'friend' went calamitously wrong, leaving them without a roof over their heads. But following the runaway success of the Salt Path and a Hollywood film starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs, the Daily Mail can now reveal the couple are living in a stunning Grade II listed stone farmhouse with a swimming pool and private beach overlooking the Helford River. It has since been claimed that their financial predicament was in fact linked to Ms Winn's alleged theft of 64,000 from a former employer. Experts have also questioned her portrayal of her husband's debilitating neurological condition, corticobasal degeneration (CBD), which also lies at the heart of the book. The furore saw Penguin announce that it would be delaying the publication of her fourth book, On Winter Hill, which was due out in October. Now the Daily Mail can reveal how the couple have been lying low at this sprawling property set in 190 acres of farmland, providing the couple with all the space they need for walking and camping. The luxurious Cornish estate where Salt Path author Raynor Winn and her husband have been hiding out since doubts were raised over their 'true' story Now the Daily Mail can reveal how the couple have been lying low at this sprawling property set in 190 acres of farmland, providing the couple with all the space they need for walking and camping The author and her husband - real names Sally and Tim Walker - have barely been seen in public since down since questions were asked about the veracity of the story It belongs to a wealthy, land and property owner James Lyall, a former farmer who has owned it since the 1980s according to official documents. While the exact arrangement with Mr Lyall isn't clear, the couple are believed to be renting it and moved to the house less than two years ago. A friend of the owner has said: 'He has rented out the house for several years now. 'It is the most stunning house in the most wonderful, peaceful, private setting.' The property is thought to be worth in excess of 10 million. The friend added: 'There is another property for sale at the moment which is being marketed at 8.5million. It is nowhere near as big or with as much land, so you can guess what this could fetch. 'But there is absolutely no way he would sell up. It means far too much to him and his family. Why would anyone let it go if they had no financial pressure to do so?' Another local said: 'We've known for ages it was Raynor and Moth up there. A friend of mine was told by the owner himself. They moved in long before all this fuss over the book and the film.' It belongs to a wealthy, land and property owner James Lyall, a former farmer who has owned it since the 1980s according to official documents While the exact arrangement with Mr Lyall isn't clear, the couple are believed to be renting it and moved to the house less than two years ago Experts have also questioned her portrayal of her husband's debilitating neurological condition, corticobasal degeneration (CBD), which also lies at the heart of the book Before moving to the farmhouse, they were living on a cider farm near Lostwithiel offered to them by another wealthy benefactor who was inspired by their story. City investor Bill Cole, 58, contacted the couple on Twitter and invited them to move into his 1million Cornish cider farm after being deeply moved by their story of homelessness and Moth's declining health. But claims he was ultimately left feeling 'gaslit' and betrayed by the pair. In an interview with The Observer newspaper, which carried out the original investigation into the couple, he told of his shock when he was informed by Moth in 2021 that he had been 'told not to plan beyond Christmas' due to his health. But when Ms Winn's third book, Landlines, was published in September 2022, Mr Cole read how in the winter of 2021, a neurologist told Moth his brain was 'normal'. 'I was reading it on the train,' said Mr Cole, 'and I just went 'What the hell?' It just makes no sense whatsoever.' He said he sent a message to Ms Winn asking why if there was such good news, they had not told him. He said that she replied but did not address the point. In the nearby village of Constantine, locals say Winn has been a regular visitor but hasn't been spotted since the scandal broke last month. One shopkeeper said: 'Everybody knows she lives around here, she's probably been in here. 'I was never convinced by that book because I've done trips where you walk every single day carrying everything I don't buy you can do all that while ill. 'She's obviously raking it in from the story though.' Another villager remembers the author being a guest of honour at the Constantine Book Group in 2020 where she talked about her life and signed copies. They said: 'I know exactly who lives there. I don't think anybody has seen her since this all came out. 'There are a lot of people in the village who are very unhappy about all this. Certainly people have been talking about it. 'We would see her and Moth around from time to time but not for months before all this. I think she was doing a book tour but I don't know where she is now.' Winn herself has shared occasional snapshots of her rural Cornish life with her 80,000 Instagram followers including voting in last year's general election at the Constantine WI Hall. Another picture - believed to have been taken in their current home - shows Moth relaxing in a chair in a conservatory reading a copy of Seamus Heaney's classic novel Beowulf. The pair met as teenagers growing up in Burton upon Trent, Staffs, before moving to Pwllheli in Gwynedd with their son and daughter in the early 1990s. There they set about renovating a rural property, complete with holiday let. In 2007 they remortgaged to purchase a ramshackle doer-upper in south-west France, just a few miles from a magnificent chateau belonging to one of Moth's brothers and next door to a pigeon tower owned by his younger sibling. Said to be worth between 20,000 and 35,000 euros, the property is still owned by the couple a fact some have suggested means they were never truly 'homeless'. In her statement, Ms Winn claimed that they visited only once and due to its state it was 'impossible' to live in. 'What we own in France is an uninhabitable ruin in a bramble patch,' she wrote. Before moving to the farmhouse, they were living on a cider farm near Lostwithiel offered to them by another wealthy benefactor who was inspired by their story It comes after the couple's financial predicament was linked to Ms Winn's theft of 64,000 from a former employer In 2013, the couple's own home was repossessed, the circumstances behind which form the crux of the recent controversy. After finishing their walk, which took place over the summers of 2013 and 2014, the couple settled in a flat in a converted Methodist chapel in the Cornish village of Polruan. According to Ms Winn's telling of the story, they bumped into the owner of the property by chance after sitting beside her on a bench towards the end of her trek, and she offered them her flat to rent. The couple then moved to Haye Farm at the invitation of Mr Cole. In an interview with The Observer newspaper, which carried out the original investigation into the couple, he told of his shock when he was informed by Moth in 2021 that he had been 'told not to plan beyond Christmas' due to his health. But when Ms Winn's third book, Landlines, was published in September 2022, Mr Cole read how in the winter of 2021, a neurologist told Moth his brain was 'normal'. 'I was reading it on the train,' said Mr Cole, 'and I just went 'What the hell?' It just makes no sense whatsoever.' He said he sent a message to Ms Winn asking why if there was such good news, they had not told him. He said that she replied but did not address the point. Not long after, they terminated their tenancy at Haye Farm, a year earlier than agreed. In her statement, Ms Winn addressed allegations that Moth had 'made up his illness'. She wrote: 'This utterly vile, unfair, and false suggestion has emotionally devastated Moth, who has fought so hard against the insidious condition of Corticobasal Syndrome.' She also published excerpts from two clinic letters relating to her husband's treatment, which she claims show 'he is treated for CBD/S and has been for many years'. The Trump administration's request to unseal grand jury testimony records in the Ghislaine Maxwell case was brutally slapped down by a federal judge on Monday. Donald Trump has been pushing to release more evidence related to the Jeffrey Epstein investigation following backlash from his MAGA base after announcing in July that no additional information would be released. Trump then directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to work on making public secretive Epstein and Maxwell grand jury materials to appease those clamoring about a 'cover-up.' The judge's decision Monday is now a major blow to both Bondi and Trump as they try to placate the incensed MAGA base. Last week, the Justice Department asked two New York judges to unseal the exhibits that are related to Maxwell and disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. But US District Judge Paul Engelmayer said that he would not release the records because they do not answer questions that remain from the public, relating to their crimes or Epstein's death. The judge added that the records did not reveal any new or meaningful information about the pair's crimes, going against the government's claims that they would. Engelmayer called it 'demonstrably false,' adding that the push to release the documents could be a 'diversion' plan. On Friday, The Justice Department asked two New York judges to unseal the exhibits that are related to Ghislaine Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein 'A member of the public, appreciating that the Maxwell grand jury materials do not contribute anything to public knowledge, might conclude that the Government's motion for their unsealing was aimed not at 'transparency' but at diversion -- aimed not at full disclosure but at the illusion of such,' Engelmayer said. He wrote, 'The records do not identify anyone other than Epstein or Maxwell who had sexual contact with a minor, mention any clients, shed light on their methods, or provide new information about Epstein's death.' This move is expanded from the administration's earlier ask to make five days of grand jury testimony public. The president promised he would release the Epstein files as part of his re-election campaign, saying Democrats are hiding the truth about the case. But in July, the Justice Department said the Jeffrey Epstein list does not exist. And it concluded that his death was indeed a suicide, countering rampant conspiracy theories stoked by the MAGA right. The American financier and child sex offender who victimized hundreds of girls died by suicide in Jail in 2019. Epstein's associate Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for crimes related to sex trafficking in connection with Epstein. Legal experts say that, typically, grand jury evidence is not made public. The judge wrote that he would not release the records because they did not answer questions that remain from the public, relating to their crimes or Epstein's death The president promised he would release the Epstein files as part of his re-election campaign, saying Democrats are hiding the truth about the case. The judge's decision Monday is now a major blow to both Bondi and Trump as they try to placate the incensed MAGA base Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell sits at the defense table in court on March 8, 2022. Maxwell was convicted on Dec. 29 on five of the six counts she faced for helping the late financier Last week, Epstein's cohort Maxwell resisted another separate push from the Justice Department to unseal grand jury testimony. Maxwell claims the release of that information would put her own privacy in jeopardy. This is a sentiment that several alleged Epstein victims share. Lawyers representing some of the women sent letters to the judge saying if the information came to light, they could face privacy and security concerns. Maxwell's lawyers are appealing her conviction, and have also requested a pardon from Donald Trump in exchange for testifying 'openly and honestly' about Epstein's circle before Congress. Trump said in the past that he is allowed to give her a pardon, but it's not something he has thought about. Maxwell has met with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in the last few weeks. Her meetings with Blanche reportedly took place for nine hours over a span of two days. Maxwell's lawyer David Oscar Markus declined to comment to several outlets on details of the meeting. Markus did, however, tell reporters that 'there were a lot of questions and we went all day.' A furious Queensland mother has been reported to child protection authorities by medical staff after her 12-year-old daughter was stung by a bee and airlifted to hospital. Allona Lahn's daughter had a bad reaction to the bee sting and was diagnosed with diabetes after a helicopter dash to Sunshine Coast University Hospital for treatment. After the ordeal, Ms Lahn said her family arrived home to find they were under investigation after an ICU staff member reported them to authorities. 'Within half an hour of arriving home from six days at the hospital, super stressed and no sleep, hubby had a call from Child Safety,' Ms Lahn revealed. 'They were concerned about the welfare and safety of our child. They said they were coming now and weren't going to take no for an answer. 'I had to sit down and tell my seriously ill child that people were coming to assess whether mummy and daddy are good parents.' The drama began when Ms Lahn's daughter complained of neck pain after being stung. Within a few days, the girl's condition deteriorated rapidly when she became lethargic and was unable to eat properly. Allona Lahn said her family arrived home to find they were under investigation Her daughter was airlifted by LifeFlight to Sunshine Coast University Hospital for emergency care 'We presented at Emergency in Gympie at 3.30am. She was limp and lifeless,' Ms Lahn posted on social media. Doctors determined the young girl was suffering from ketoacidosis, a dangerous complication of diabetes, and she was airlifted by LifeFlight to Sunshine Coast University Hospital for emergency care. 'She was wheeled to ICU where six staff were waiting,' Ms Lahn said. 'There were hourly blood checks, regular vitamins, nurses in and out, adjustments in IVs. 'I held her hand, stroked her hair and whispered in her ear how much I love her. 'There were lots of questions - where do we live? how long had she been sick? When did symptoms start? Family history of diabetes. 'I had never heard of ketoacidosis, [which is] a symptom of high blood glucose and diabetes. 'But looking back, there were symptoms - nothing really obvious except in the last few days, after the bee sting and rapid decline.' Ms Lahn was told her daughter was suffering from diabetes After being told her daughter was suffering from diabetes and told that there was 'no cure,' Ms Lahn asked for the news to be kept from her daughter. 'For her mental health, I asked for this not to be shared [and] we will take it one step at a time,' she explained. 'I questioned the diagnosis, at this stage there were no conclusive tests. I asked staff to keep her on IVs longer as she was responding well. 'I asked about alternative medical options other than insulin and asked lots of questions, as I believe a concerned mother should.' Ms Lahn says she barely slept, spending the night researching the condition, and was relieved when their daughter was transferred from ICU to the ward But she said the mood changed dramatically when she had to deal with the ward staff who questioned the family's alternative lifestyle choices. 'There was a change in attitude - lots of questions in regards to our home-schooling, farm life and socialisation were asked,' she said. 'I was getting uncomfortable. 'We were seen by multiple doctors and nurses, diabetes educators, social worker, nutritionists - our room was a revolving door of people. After six days in Sunshine Coast University Hospital, the 12-year-old girl was discharged 'One of the hardest things I have ever done in my life is give my non-medicated "pure" daughter an insulin needle. 'We were given what I call a "show bag" and a backpack with all the essentials and information we need to "manage" the disease.' Ms Lahn claims that minutes after arriving home, they received a call from authorities. 'They said the child's safety was a priority and she was at risk,' Ms Lahn said. 'We hadn't even had time to put the insulin in the fridge.' Ms Lahn said she was forced to prepare her daughter for the unexpected assessment, explaining it was important she 'speak confidently and truthfully.' 'After half an hour of intense discussion and questions around our lifestyle, home-school, food, home and careers, I was told the case wouldn't go further,' she said. When she asked why her family had been contacted, she was stunned to learn one of the medical staff in ICU had reported them for their alternative health views. 'When I asked why we were flagged, we were told she didn't know exactly why other than there were concerns by someone at the hospital that we wouldn't administer the medication,' she posted. 'One person had reported us from ICU.' A week later, she received a phone call from authorities to apologise and acknowledge 'things could have been done better'. Her daughter is now recovering well, but Ms Lahn said the experience left her rattled and has vowed to advocate for change in how families are treated in a medical crisis. 'I can only imagine other parents in the same situation, not as articulate or younger, having a totally different outcome,' she added. 'The system is very clearly flawed. 'Further enquiries to the hospital led me to discover one person can report you to child safety, and child safety "has" to act. 'Whilst my hospital experience ended on a sour note, I am extremely grateful to the many staff and services that are available to us.' Daily Mail has contacted Sunshine Coast University Hospital and Queensland Health for comment. A husband has been refused permission to build a parking space for his disabled wife outside their village home - over fears it would 'harm the character' of the heritage site where they live. John Flattery applied for planning permission to build a 2.5 metre (8 foot) driveway in the historic UNESCO World Heritage Site in Ironbridge, Shropshire, where they live. The married couple's mid-terraced period cottage sits within the famous Ironbridge Gorge, where there are strict planning rules against developments of all kinds. John had hoped that the council would approve the new parking area to allow his disabled wife safe access to the property. But he is now embroiled in a planning row with his local council after the plans were refused. Telford & Wrekin Council said the parking space would cause 'harm to the Outstanding Universal Value of the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site and Severn Gorge Conservation Area.' They accepted the 'improved access would be beneficial to the applicant' as on-street parking is limited on Woodside, in Coalbrookdale. But they concluded that the plans would 'disrupt the visual rhythm, cohesion, uniformity and character' of the picturesque village. A husband has been refused permission to build a parking space for his disabled wife outside their village home - over fears it would 'harm the character' of the heritage site where they live Ironbridge was the birthplace of ironworks after Abraham Darby I first smelted iron ore using coke instead of charcoal in 1709 The married couple's mid-terraced period cottage sits within the famous Ironbridge Gorge, where there are strict planning rules against developments of all kinds Some residents have branded the decision 'harsh' and said it was depriving a disabled woman of the dignity of being able to access her own home. One neighbour said: 'We know there are very strict rules here and for a good reason. But this man only wants to build a small driveway for his wife. 'It is depriving her dignity of being able to get to her own home and I can't see how a flat bit of driveway would harm the landscape here. 'I think it's rather harsh in this instance as he's hardly building a two-storey eyesore extension. I do hope they reconsider.' Another resident, however, disagreed, saying: 'The guy who bought the house spends most of his time in Ireland and I think he is a property developer. 'There is access up there and space for cars already so I don't think it is entirely necessary. Telford & Wrekin Council said the parking space would cause 'harm to the Outstanding Universal Value of the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site and Severn Gorge Conservation Area' John Flattery applied for planning permission to build a 2.5 metre (8 foot) driveway in the historic UNESCO World Heritage Site in Ironbridge, Shropshire, where they live The local council concluded that the plans would 'disrupt the visual rhythm, cohesion, uniformity and character' of the picturesque village Some residents have branded the decision 'harsh' and said it was depriving a disabled woman of the dignity of being able to access her own home 'This area is well protected and preserved, we're proud of that and it should stay that way.' John Flattery had wanted to create a 2.5 metre-wide driveway with a paved 900 millimetre-wide pedestrian path either side for disabled access. He also wanted to relay the existing paved area accessing the front of the dwelling. Planning agent Kevin Twigger, of KRT Associates Ltd, had told planners that the proposal would remove 'approximately 40 per cent of the grassed area'. He argued the materials were 'in keeping with the visual appearance of the surrounding cottages' and the selection of grasscrete (made from natural grass combined with reinforced concrete) for the driveway provided a 'durable, well-drained, aesthetically-pleasing option than traditional asphalt or concrete driveways'. He added: 'It is intended that the existing railings will be reused and converted to a horizontal sliding gate serving the driveway and left-side pedestrian path, maintaining both security and aesthetic appearance. 'The existing pedestrian gate will be relocated to serve the right-side pedestrian path. 'The proposed changes are necessary to assist the applicant's disabled wife to access the dwelling safely. 'Woodside is a narrow, one-way lane with no opportunity for safe accessible on-street car parking for disabled individuals. 'The carefully designed proposals ensure that the visual and environment impacts are minimised whilst providing necessary adaptions to meet the disabled occupants' needs to enhance their ability to live independently in their home.' But planners disagreed. They said: 'It is considered that the proposal would create the partial loss of green amenity space and the subdivision of the historic frontage, disrupting the visual rhythm, cohesion, uniformity and character of the row of terrace and would be harmful to the character and setting of the building of local interest. 'Whilst it is acknowledged that the improved access would be beneficial to the applicant, this is not outweighed by the harm to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the lronbridge Gorge World Heritage Site and Severn Gorge Conservation Area.' John and his wife were told that they could appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. Ironbridge was the birthplace of ironworks after Abraham Darby I first smelted iron ore using coke instead of charcoal in 1709. The process, which was far more efficient than traditional methods, triggered a mass production of cast iron. In 1779 his grandson, Abraham Darby III, build the world's first Iron Bridge near to the site, connecting Coalbrookdale to the industrial town of Broseley. The area continued to thrive throughout the 19th century and into the 20th until the industry went into decline as it competed with new technologies and production methods. The site is classed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and still attracts thousands of visitors each year as the 'birthplace of the Industrial Revolution'. Caroline Wilgoose told The Trial podcast she blames her son's school for his murder, arguing that academies across Britain are 'shoving knife crime under the carpet'. On Friday, a 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of murdering Harvey Wilgoose at their school, after a jury rejected his claim that he lost control due to a long history of bullying. Harvey, who was also 15, was fatally stabbed on his lunch break at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield on February 3, 2024. The school had been placed into lockdown on January 29, which was brought about by the defendant telling teachers that the other boy had threatened to stab him and his friend. Police attended, but did not find any weapon on him. 'A lot of these schools are academies, they're brands', Carolie told crime reporters Jack Hardy and Caroline Cheetham. 'When anything's found, they shove it under the carpet. The day after the lockdown, my daughter was worried, so she emailed the school and just got this snotty letter back saying, 'nothing was found, unless you know something different.' Harvey's mother, Caroline, has accused the school of failing to act on multiple red flags about the boy who stabbed him CCTV released by police shows the boy pushing Harvey in the corridor before the murder Harvey and the defendant fell out on social media in the days before the stabbing, but they had once been friends, his trial heard Subscribe to The Crime Desk to hear exclusive full episode explaining the Chowles case. Join here 'When the school went into lockdown, Harvey wasn't in school. I went into his room and said your school's been locked down. He said: I know, because someone's got a weapon in there for me. 'The school said to me it wasn't connected; how can it not be connected? They kept telling me Harvey wasn't involved. 'On the day of the stabbing, the lad involved was asked if he had a weapon, and he told them he didn't. Well, if you've got a reason to ask, you've got a reason to search. 'There's just so many red flags. Harvey took himself out of a science lesson, as soon as this child came in. 'Harvey told the teacher the way he's moving, he's got a knife on him. Within that hour, he was stabbed to death. 'How many warning signs did they have?' Harvey's killer had pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of loss of control, but denied murder, arguing his actions were the 'end result of a long period of bullying, poor treatment and violence'. But a trial heard the boy had a reputation for bringing weapons, including an axe, into school and was seen 'acting like he had a knife' in an apparent effort to intimidate Harvey on the morning of the attack. The school said in a statement that it recognised Harvey's death had given rise to questions from his family, adding it would 'engage fully and openly with them to help ensure every angle is considered and no key questions are left unresolved'. Harvey Willgoose, 15, died from a stab wound to the heart when he was attacked at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield The 15-year-old boy was convicted of murder after a jury rejected his claim that he lost control due to a long history of bullying Hear all the latest developments from the courtroom on the Mail's award-winning The Trial podcast While Caroline expressed anger at teachers for missing suspicious behaviour, she said the fault lies with the wider education system that allows knife crime to run rife in schools. 'It's letting our children down', she said. 'School isn't for everybody. They're letting the teachers down as well. Like I said, an academy is a brand and all they care about is the school's name.' Caroline also accused the wider public of 'burying their heads in the sand' regarding violence in schools, revealing some of the insensitive comments she has received from people following her son's death. She remembered: 'A woman said to me the other day, Harvey was obviously a bully. He wasn't a bully. 'I've got so many messages from kids that Harvey helped out. I had one from a woman in Nottingham who said, Harvey helped my son out. 'She said that her son wouldn't leave his bedroom and Harvey kept on and on at him and helped him out. 'I didn't know any of this, so many kids were being bullied. Harvey was a busy body and it's cost him his life.' To listen to the full interview, subscribe to The Crime Desk for unlimited access to The Mail's award-winning Trial Plus series. White working class pupils underachievement in exams due to being written off is a national disgrace, Bridget Phillipson has said. The Education Secretary said too many youngsters in this group fail to get the help they need to succeed at school. Speaking ahead of A-level results day this Thursday, Mrs Phillipson said tackling this thorny issue will be her priority in the coming year. The Government will set out its plans for the challenge in a schools white paper in the autumn, she added. Last year, only 18.6 per cent of low-income white British pupils achieved at least a grade 5 considered a strong pass in their English and maths GCSEs. This compares with 45.9 per cent of all state school pupils in England. Mrs Phillipson said: Theyre not well positioned to carry on with studies, to get an apprenticeship, to go on to university. (It) is a national disgrace that so many young people are written off and dont get what they need to achieve and thrive. White working class pupils' underachievement in exams due to being 'written off' is a 'national disgrace', Bridget Phillipson (pictured) has said White working class pupils especially boys are among the lowest-performing groups in the country. Previous research has blamed a lack of aspiration in communities experiencing high unemployment and scant resources. Mrs Phillipson told PA Media: Far too many young people, particularly white working-class British students, dont get the exam results that they need at GCSE or A-level to allow them to continue onto university. My big priority for this year will be how we focus on the really stark picture that we see around attainment and outcomes for children from white working-class backgrounds in places like Sunderland. The focus will be how we tackle some of those really thorny and generational challenges like the gaps that we see around white working-class children and their attainment. Thats why the schools white paper will have a focus on how we turn that around. When asked if the Government is considering bringing back maintenance grants for poorer students, she said: Were looking at all of the options. And she added that universities have responsibilities to make sure students from less well-off backgrounds are given the support that they need. Theres still a big challenge there in terms of some of the unacceptably high dropout rates that we see for some students, she said. The Education Secretary said too many youngsters in this group fail to get the help they need to succeed at school (file picture) It came as Ucas chief Jo Saxton revealed there had been an increase in youngsters applying for university a year late aged 19 due to money issues. She said: I dont think its the gap year in the sort of traditional Sloaney sense. (The) number one concern that we hear from students concerned about the cost of living and they want to work for a bit and raise some funds before they go to study. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has slammed Australia as 'shameful', as it is revealed that Anthony Albanese's government will recognise a Palestinian state within days. Netanyahu's comments came after Israel was criticised at a United Nations Security Council meeting on Sunday after announcing a plan to widen its military offensive by seizing 'full military control' of Gaza City. Albanese at the weekend used a trip to New Zealand to speak out against Israeli troops entering Gaza and extending the conflict in the Middle East. 'The idea that it can just be continued is completely unacceptable,' Albanese said. In a joint statement with the New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Albanese added: 'Any attempt by Israel to escalate hostilities, including by taking control of Gaza City, would be wrong, risk violating international law, and exacerbate the human catastrophe already unfolding inside the Gaza Strip.' The Albanese government, like many of Australia's allies, seem destined to announce formal recognition of Palestine, with Nine newspapers reporting that Cabinet is expected to sign off on a final decision on Monday. During a rare press conference for the international media overnight, Netanyahu vehemently denied the idea Israel has embarked on a 'starvation policy' and said it was an 'absurdity' to recognise Palestinian statehood. 'It defies imagination or understanding how intelligent people around the world, including seasoned diplomats, government leaders, and respected journalists, fall for this absurdity,' he said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labelled the plan to widen Israel's military offensive in Gaza as 'completely unacceptable' Australia and New Zealand are part of an international push against a large-scale military operation in Gaza (pictured Albanese with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon) In his comments, Netanyahu singled out Australia in particular - even though the country has not formally expressed a position on recognition as France, the UK and Canada have done. He also claimed a Palestinian statehood would bring war rather than peace. 'To have European countries and Australia march into that rabbit hole, just like that is disappointing, and I think it's actually shameful,' he said. Australia's recognition of Palestine is dependent on Hamas removing its presence from Gaza. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke labelled Israel's expanding military operation and show of force in Gaza 'ridiculous'. 'This concept that you're weak against Hamas unless you're cruel against the Palestinian people is a ridiculous proposition,' Burke said. Opposition Home Affairs spokesperson Andrew Hastie said that military occupation in Gaza had never been successful. 'I look at the weight of history Gaza has never been successfully occupied or pacified by Israel so I'm not sure why we think it would be different now,' Hastie said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed Australia as 'shameful' for its support of a Palestinian state Netanyahu vehemently denied the accusations that Israel has led a 'starvation policy', denying Palestinians access to food and humanitarian aid (pictured, starving Palestinians including women and children holding pots wait to receive food distributed by a charity organisation) International recognition for Palestine so far is also contingent on reforming the Palestinian Authority - which is the alternative governing force - and positioning it as the ruler of Gaza, with the commitment that Israel is left in peace. The Australian government has faced growing pressure from protesters after thousands marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Authorities believed around 90,000 people arrived at the Harbour Bridge on August 4 and took part in the pro-Palestine 'March for Humanity'. Joshua Lees of the Palestine Action Group, which organised the rally, claimed the protests attendance was up to 300,000 people - three times greater than police's early estimate. Netanyahu's stance comes after Australia participated in yet another joint statement with Britain, Canada, France and other allies in condemning Israel's actions. In July, Australia was one of 28 countries urging Israel to drastically increase the supply of aid in the Gaza Strip following images of starving children and reports civilians were being shot outside humanitarian depots. Countries around the world have called for Israel to drastically increase the supply of aid in Gaza following reports civilians were being shot outside humanitarian depots (pictured, man mourns over the body of a loved one killed while seeking aid in the northern Gaza Strip) It comes after Australia faced mounting pressure from Pro-Palestine supporters, with tens of thousands marching across the Sydney Harbour Bridge (pictured) Health officials said that 20 Palestinians seeking aid were shot dead on Saturday, and 11 adults died of malnutrition-related causes in the past 24 hours, as the growing international criticism of Israel came with pleas to allow far more food to reach people in the besieged enclave. 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 October 7, 2023, with militants killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251. 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, 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. One of Britain's worst paedophiles, who filmed himself abusing children as young as three, has died in prison. Anthony Barron, formerly of Grove, Oxfordshire, was sentenced to life in prison in 2007 after pleading guilty to 87 charges of sexual offences against children. The monster's rap sheet including attempted rape, sexual assault and making indecent photographs. The prison ombudsman confirmed Sunday that he died on July 18 at the age of 72 while serving at male sex offender prison HMP Ashfield, near Bristol. His cause of death has not been revealed. Currently the Prison and Probation Ombudsman is investigating his death and a report will be published in due course. Upon sentencing, Barron's case was described as the worst of its kind in his county. Anthony Barron (pictured), formerly of Grove, Oxfordshire, was sentenced to life in prison in 2007 after pleading guilty to 87 charges of sexual offences against children At the time he was jailed Judge Julian Hall told Barron he was a 'plausible, predatory paedophile' whose crimes he had found 'quite chilling'. He added: 'This is as serious a series of offences as I think I've ever come across.' The court heard Barron had targeted 11 girls aged from three to 12 over a nine-year period beginning in 1997. Amjad Malik, prosecuting, said Barron, a popular figure in the community, had befriended their parents through his connections to primary schools and Scout groups and persuaded them to let the children stay with him at his home. He then 'groomed' the girls into allowing him to film himself abusing them, using sweets and toys as bribes. Mr Malik described Barron as 'almost an integral part of the parents' lives' and a person they believed to be an 'extremely friendly, helpful man'. The court heard that suspicions were raised when one of Barron's victims made a comment to her mother about him. Police subsequently raided his house and seized 52 computers which contained scores of video recordings of him abusing the girls. Andrew Bright, defending, said the case was 'truly shocking' and a cause of 'great shame' to Barron and anyone associated with him. The prison ombudsman confirmed Sunday that he died on July 18 at the age of 72 while serving at male sex offender prison HMP Ashfield (pictured), near Bristol But he told Judge Hall that Barron had not used threats or violence to make the children comply. Jailing Barron, the Judge said: 'You totally betrayed the trust of parents who allowed you to look after their children. 'You abused them completely and treated them with no respect whatsoever. You treated them as if they were some sort of toy. 'I can't imagine anything worse than a parent knowing not only that their child had been abused but had been filmed being abused.' He added: 'I've no idea when, if ever, you will be safe to be let loose in the community, because I've no idea why this all started. 'I think it's right that you remain under the supervision of the Probation Service for the rest of your life.' Shanxiahu Town of China's Zhejiang embraces tech-innovation to boost pearl industry Xinhua) 10:45, August 11, 2025 A customer selects pearl earrings at a trading center for jewelry products in Shanxiahu Town, Zhuji City of east China's Zhejiang Province, Aug. 9, 2025. Shanxiahu Town of Zhejiang Province is renowned for its pearl industry that ranges from pearl farming, processing, trading to cultural tourism. Shanxiahu has embraced technological innovations in recent years to boost eco-friendly pearl farming as well as green development. This town now serves as a leading pearl trading center and online jewelry trading platform in China, handling 80% of pearl trading volume in the country, and the business in "beauty economy" has also handsomely improved household revenues here. (Xinhua/Mao Zhu) Workers release mussels at a smart pearl farming base in Shanxiahu Town, Zhuji City of east China's Zhejiang Province, Aug. 9, 2025. Shanxiahu Town of Zhejiang Province is renowned for its pearl industry that ranges from pearl farming, processing, trading to cultural tourism. Shanxiahu has embraced technological innovations in recent years to boost eco-friendly pearl farming as well as green development. This town now serves as a leading pearl trading center and online jewelry trading platform in China, handling 80% of pearl trading volume in the country, and the business in "beauty economy" has also handsomely improved household revenues here. (Xinhua/Mao Zhu) A shopkeeper (R) introduces pearl jewelry to a customer at a trading center for jewelry products in Shanxiahu Town, Zhuji City of east China's Zhejiang Province, Aug. 9, 2025. Shanxiahu Town of Zhejiang Province is renowned for its pearl industry that ranges from pearl farming, processing, trading to cultural tourism. Shanxiahu has embraced technological innovations in recent years to boost eco-friendly pearl farming as well as green development. This town now serves as a leading pearl trading center and online jewelry trading platform in China, handling 80% of pearl trading volume in the country, and the business in "beauty economy" has also handsomely improved household revenues here. (Xinhua/Mao Zhu) This photo taken on Aug. 9, 2025 shows pearl jewelry products at a trading center for jewelry products in Shanxiahu Town, Zhuji City of east China's Zhejiang Province. Shanxiahu Town of Zhejiang Province is renowned for its pearl industry that ranges from pearl farming, processing, trading to cultural tourism. Shanxiahu has embraced technological innovations in recent years to boost eco-friendly pearl farming as well as green development. This town now serves as a leading pearl trading center and online jewelry trading platform in China, handling 80% of pearl trading volume in the country, and the business in "beauty economy" has also handsomely improved household revenues here. (Xinhua/Mao Zhu) A worker opens a mussel to retrieve pearls in Shanxiahu Town, Zhuji City of east China's Zhejiang Province, Aug. 9, 2025. Shanxiahu Town of Zhejiang Province is renowned for its pearl industry that ranges from pearl farming, processing, trading to cultural tourism. Shanxiahu has embraced technological innovations in recent years to boost eco-friendly pearl farming as well as green development. This town now serves as a leading pearl trading center and online jewelry trading platform in China, handling 80% of pearl trading volume in the country, and the business in "beauty economy" has also handsomely improved household revenues here. (Xinhua/Mao Zhu) A customer selects pearl jewelry at a trading center for jewelry products in Shanxiahu Town, Zhuji City of east China's Zhejiang Province, Aug. 9, 2025. Shanxiahu Town of Zhejiang Province is renowned for its pearl industry that ranges from pearl farming, processing, trading to cultural tourism. Shanxiahu has embraced technological innovations in recent years to boost eco-friendly pearl farming as well as green development. This town now serves as a leading pearl trading center and online jewelry trading platform in China, handling 80% of pearl trading volume in the country, and the business in "beauty economy" has also handsomely improved household revenues here. (Xinhua/Mao Zhu) This photo taken on Aug. 9, 2025 shows a simulated pearl farming system in Shanxiahu Town, Zhuji City of east China's Zhejiang Province. Shanxiahu Town of Zhejiang Province is renowned for its pearl industry that ranges from pearl farming, processing, trading to cultural tourism. Shanxiahu has embraced technological innovations in recent years to boost eco-friendly pearl farming as well as green development. This town now serves as a leading pearl trading center and online jewelry trading platform in China, handling 80% of pearl trading volume in the country, and the business in "beauty economy" has also handsomely improved household revenues here. (Xinhua/Mao Zhu) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) At least 15 people have died after flash floods devastated parts of China over the weekend. The floods have destroyed homes, broken roads and left dozens of people still missing. Aerial footage from Yuzhong County in China's northwestern Gansu province shows the extent of the devastation. Workers have been called in to try and repair towns where the infrastructure has been ruined. Some of the men were seen slipping in the mud that as they walk through piles of huge stones moved by the huge flow of water. Chinese President Xi Jinping urged all-out rescue and flood prevention efforts. The villages of Maliantan and Xinyaowanshe were nearly obliterated by the huge power of the water. One witness likened the floods to 'a train roaring through the mountains' as the sound of crashing boulders came through their village, 24 Brussels reported. Aerial videos showed the devastation caused by the flooding in northern China Villages in the Gansu region of China were destroyed by the water which came crashing through A huge rescue and repair operation is underway to try and support the communities devastated by flooding Some areas have been turned into fast flowing rivers after a huge volume of water passed through At least 15 people have died and dozens more are missing after floods hit the region from Thursday The area of Xinglongshan, popular among hikers and outdoor enthusiasts has also become covered by one metre of mud, cutting off access to walking routes. Entire communities have reportedly been cut off after more thn 100 kilometres of road became impassible and five bridges were destroyed. Some 37 villages have also been plunged into darkness after around seven power lines were damaged. More than 2,500 homes have been damaged or destroyed as a result of the flooding Rescuers told local media they were working 'around the clock' to support some of the most isolated communities, adding 'every hour counts when lives are at stake'. Local media also reported that workers manage to rescue a dog which had been trapped under mud for over 30 hours. Owing to the 'frequent occurrence of extreme weather,' Xi ordered all regions to 'resolutely overcome complacency' while increasing efforts to identify risks. Heavy rains which have continued since Thursday also caused at least one landslide in mountainous areas near the city of Lanzhou, according to state broadcaster CCTV. A team of workers struggles to make their way through the thick mud caused by the water Rescuers search through debris for missing people at a village hit by mountain torrents Rescue workers conduct a search and rescue operation after heavy rainfall caused flash floods near Xinglongshan village Workers were seen attempting to clear rubble after huge boulders were swept into towns and villages Workers carry out repairs a day after a flash flood in Yuzhong county, in China's northwest Gansu province The downpour knocked out power and telecommunications services in the Xinglong Mountain area, stranding more than 4,000 people across four villages. Three people were missing after a landslide in the village of Maliantan in Yuzhong County late Thursday. Maximum rainfall in the area had reached 195 millimeters (7.7 inches) by early Friday, according to Lanzhou local authorities. Several parts of China are being battered by heavy rains. In the southern metropolis of Guangzhou, seven people died and seven others were injured after a flood-triggered landslide buried homes in the city's northern Baiyun district Wednesday. In Zhengzhou, the capital of the central Henan province, local authorities shut down schools, offices and factories and closed traffic in parts of the city, which saw catastrophic floods that killed at least 292 people in 2021. 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. A monument remains standing amongst the devastation surrounding it from the floods A river seen flowing through buildings in northern China following torrential downpours Rescue workers said they were working around the clock to support people affected by the floods Workers attempt to pull a car from the thick mud surrounding it on a slope Rescuers search for missing people at a village hit by mountain torrents Wrokers attempt to build a makeshift bridge over a fast flowing river. Five bridges in the area were destroyed in the deluge A rescuer and his sniffer dog search through debris for missing people In the last two weeks, heavy rain has caused chaos in northern China, with torrential downpours causing landslides and flooding across the region. The capital Beijing was hit by floods which killed 44people, after more than 80,000 were evacuated in late July. The death toll was highest in Miyun, a suburban district northeast of the city centre. Natural disasters are common across China, particularly in the summer when some regions experience heavy rain while others bake in searing heat. China is the world's biggest emitter of the greenhouse gases that scientists say drive climate change and contribute to making extreme weather more frequent and intense. But it is also a global renewable energy powerhouse that aims to make its massive economy carbon-neutral by 2060. Victorians were given a spectacular light show after a blazing meteor lit up the night sky before crashing down to earth with a huge bang that rattled homes. Residents from Bendigo to Ballarat and Melbourne's outer west flooded social media after a large fireball was spotted in the sky just before 8pm on Sunday. A Melbourne resident, who was at the intersection of Buckley Street and Milleara Road in East Keilor, mistook the meteor for fireworks. 'It was so big and bright - magic!' they wrote on Reddit. Another shared footage of the extraordinary moment. 'Seen from around Taylors Lakes heading up on the Calder! Thought it was a firework at first,' they wrote. 'Saw it out of our window in that exact area. Thought it was a firework,' a resident echoed. Other Victorians claimed they felt the impact of the meteor. Melbourne residents witnessed a meteor light up the night sky on Sunday (pictured) Witnesses reported mistaking the bright light (pictured) for fireworks at first Residents in Bendigo and Ballarat reported on community Facebook pages they felt a 'sonic boom' that 'shook the whole house'. Others were convinced the impact of the meteor felt like a 'small earthquake'. 'Saw it in Ballarat,' one wrote online. 'It was so bright, an orange glow then faded to nothing, looked like it was going so fast!' Sunday's meteor is likely to be unrelated to the Perseid meteor shower, although this has yet to be confirmed. The shower was expected to light up skies between July 17 and August 2, with peak activity forecast between Tuesday and Wednesday. However, Australians are likely to miss out on the Perseid meteor shower branded the 'best meteor shower of the year'. The shower occurs annually as Earth passes through a trail of space dust left behind by comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Unfortunately for Aussie space enthusiasts, the best chance to catch a glimpse of the shower is from the Northern Hemisphere. Victorians reported the impact of the meteor felt like a 'small earthquake' Associate professor Michael Brown, from Monash University's school of physics and astronomy, told The Age the loud noise heard by residents made the meteor crash 'exciting'. 'That is unusual and actually quite exciting, as if those reports are accurate, probably what they were hearing was a sonic boom from the meteor,' he said. 'To be able to hear the sonic boom loudly from the ground suggests that quite a big chunk of the meteor was pretty close to the ground. 'And that possibly means there's chunks of the meteorite actually made it down to the ground and optimistically, might be found.' Professor Brown said it can be difficult to identify a meteor because in rural Victoria the remnants of the crash would be surrounded by lots of other rocks. Cracker Barrel has found itself in hot water as the cherished food chain flaunts its new look - and loyal customers bemoan the lack of classic rustic charm. Locations of the Southern-themed restaurant and gift shop have been ditching their nostalgic and eclectic interiors for more modern decor since last year. A video shared by Cracker Barrel last August captioned 'New look, same Cracker Barrel!! We can't wait for you to visit' shows a Mount Juliet, Tennessee location - one of the first to undergo drastic renovations. 'We might have refreshed some things and updated a little bit, but don't worry, we're still Cracker Barrel!' a smiling district manager, Brent, said in the clip. Brent enthusiastically detailed how the gift store and dining room were made brighter, the furniture was replaced and the iconic lattices were traded for sleek bookshelves. Sound buffers were added to the ceiling to make the dining room quieter, but Brent assured that the essence of the Cracker Barrel remained in tact, with a wall of 'staples' featuring a deer head, a clock and other knick-knacks over a fireplace. While the eager manager said guests were loving the new and improved restaurant, the post's comment section demonstrates otherwise. And while these remodeling pursuits began more than a year ago, people are now starting to pick up on the extreme changes, forcefully pushing for Cracker Barrel to stick to its roots. Cracker Barrel has found itself in hot water as the cherish food chain flaunts its new look - which loyal customers say lacks the restaurant's classic rustic charm (pictured: a non-revamped Cracker Barrel) Cracker Barrel's CEO Julie Felss Masino (pictured) took over the massive brand in 2023 after the previous president, Sandra Cochran, stepped down 'Change it back, now!' one user commented under the Mount Juliet post from last summer. 'Exactly nobody wanted this,' another critic of the redesign chimed in. One man, who believes the chain has strayed too far from its Southern appeal, wrote: 'What's next? Change the name to Yankee Barrel! I will not be returning.' 'Now it looks like any other restaurant,' another patron disappointedly added. Other clips featuring clutter-free Crack Barrels have caught flack as well. In a Sunday video about a dessert menu item, the S'mores Skillet, customers caught a glimpse of the minimalistic shop and dining room in the background. 'Can we please go back to the original look? The nostalgia is gone,' one woman wrote, adding a frowning emoji. 'Surely there is another approach to bringing in more customers.' Videos of renovated Cracker Barrels (pictured) have sparked strong reactions from patrons Brent enthusiastically detailed how the gift store (pictured) and dining room were made brighter, the furniture was replaced and the iconic lattices were ditched for sleek bookshelves 'Absolutely hate the renovations. Please do not take away the character that makes it so special and cozy,' someone pleaded. 'I don't want another bland box store type restaurant. Keep the original looks.' Along with commenting on Cracker Barrel's social media pages, people have been sharing their strong remodeling opinions in TikToks devoted to slamming the new design. While social media is apparently in a frenzy over the change, not everyone is repulsed by the updated interior design. Some users have actually swooped in to defend the chain, which was founded in Tennessee in 1969. 'Looks great and fresh,' one proponent said about the Mount Juliet site. Another said it looked 'much more open than cramped.' Others said how the classically cramped nature of the chain made getting around a tad bit tricky. A wall of 'staples' featuring a deer head, a clock and other knick-knacks over a fireplace remained at the renovated Mount Juliet store (pictured) 'Im not mad at it. The lobby was always a nightmare of crowded, cluttered kitch. Love an open floor plan!' some explained. Earlier this year, Cracker Barrel chief marketing officer Sarah Moore told Fox News Digital the chain had been playing with 'various levels of remodels.' 'We've been very transparent about our goal of making our stores feel brighter and even more welcoming than they already are, while maintaining that country hospitality and charm that we're known for,' she told the outlet. Moore also said customer feedback would be factored into how extreme the changes get, as the 'physical guest experience' is essential to Cracker Barrel. 'Items like our rocking chairs, our biscuits, our peg games, antiquities on the wall, none of that is going away,' she assured. 'We're just looking at ways to freshen up the experience so that we can open our door a bit wider for more guests.' Cracker Barrel's CEO Julie Felss Masino took over the massive brand in 2023 after the previous president, Sandra Cochran, stepped down. The controversial remodeling comes as a part of a comprehensive plan of 'driving relevancy, delivering food and an experience guests love, and growing profitability,' outlined last year. The company said in March it aimed to completely remodel roughly 30 locations out of the hundreds of Cracker Barrels by this summer (pictured: a Cracker Barrel) Some users have actually swooped in to defend the chain, which was founded in Tennessee in 1969 (pictured: a Cracker Barrel hostess smiling in a location that is not renovated) 'I am excited about our strategic transformation plans to drive relevancy, deliver food and experiences guests love, and grow profitability,' Masino said at the time. 'Cracker Barrel is an iconic brand with an exceptionally strong foundation, and I firmly believe our plans will allow us to capitalize on our strengths and deliver long-term success.' The company said in March it aimed to completely remodel roughly 30 locations out of the hundreds of Cracker Barrels by this summer. The Daily Mail has reached out to Cracker Barrel for comment. Five Al Jazeera journalists were killed in an Israeli strike on their tent in Gaza City on Sunday in what the IDF claimed was a targeted hit on 'the head of a Hamas terrorist cell' posing as a reporter. The broadcaster, which is primarily based in Doha in Qatar, said two reporters and three cameramen died in the blast. Al Jazeera named the dead as correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa. The other man slain was Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif, 28, who has extensively documented the release of Israeli hostages. Al-Sharif also made headlines in January after footage of him removing his armoured press vest and helmet went viral following the announcement of a ceasefire. Only last month, the journalist spoke about his fear that he could be assassinated for exposing the truth of the situation in Gaza. The correspondent said he operated with 'the feeling that I could be bombed and martyred at any moment' because his coverage of Israel's operations 'harms them and damages their image in the world'. A spokesperson for the media network said on Sunday: 'Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif has been killed alongside three colleagues in what appears to be a targeted Israeli attack, the director of the al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City has said. Prominent Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif, 28, (pictured) was one of five journalists killed in an Israeli strike on their tent in Gaza Palestinians inspect the site of the Israeli strike where Al Jazeera says five of its journalists were killed 'Al-Sharif, 28, was killed on Sunday after a tent for journalists outside the main gate of the hospital was hit. 'The well-known Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent reportedly extensively from northern Gaza.' However the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF), the country's national military, triumphantly announced al-Sharif's death in a post on social media. The IDF claimed that the correspondent was a 'terrorist' who 'posed as an Al Jazeera journalist' and was responsiblle for rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and their troops. In a post on X beginning with a target emoji, the IDF said: 'STRUCK: Hamas terrorist Anas al-Sharif, who posed as an Al Jazeera journalist. 'Al-Sharif was the head of a Hamas terrorist cell and advanced rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF troops. 'Intelligence and documents from Gaza, including rosters, terrorist training lists and salary records, prove he was a Hamas operative integrated into Al Jazeera. 'A press badge isn't a shield for terrorism.' The IDF released a profile of al-Sharif alongside their post announcing the strike, claiming he is the head of a terrorist cell Palestinian mourners hold the body of Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif, who was killed in a strike by the Israeli military In a separate statement on messaging app Telegram, the IDF said: 'A short while ago, in Gaza City, the IDF struck the terrorist Anas Al-Sharif, who posed as a journalist for the Al Jazeera network. 'Anas Al-Sharif served as the head of a terrorist cell in the Hamas terrorist organization and was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops.' According to Reporters Without Borders, more than 190 journalists have been killed by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip since October 2023 - but foreign reporters have been barred from covering the conflict. The National Union for Journalists were one of the signatories to an open letter last week calling for action to protect reporters working in the Palestinian territories. The letter said: 'At the time of writing this letter, at least 189 journalists and media workers have been killed including 175 Palestinians in the ongoing war over the last 21 months, according to the International Federation of Journalists. 'In comparison, around 60 were killed during the Vietnam War. Many died while clearly identified as members of the press. Some were killed alongside their families, in their homes. 'These are not statistics. These are human beings, doing their jobs under conditions few of us in the UK could comprehend, bearing witness so the rest of us might grasp the enormity of what is happening. 'We're calling on the UK government to act - to unequivocally condemn the targeting of journalists and media workers in Gaza. These deaths cross a fundamental red line. Journalism is not a crime. 'Reporting is not terrorism. The erasure of journalists is not collateral damage - it is a warning shot to the world, a signal that no truth is safe and no witness is welcome.' Following al-Sharif's death, a post described as his 'last will and testament' was posted on social media site X. It said: 'This is my will and my final message. If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice.' In the post he laments not being able to see his son Salah and daughter Sham grow up and pays testimony to his wife, while imploring Gazans to continue struggling against military occupation. It ends: 'Do not forget Gaza And do not forget me in your sincere prayers for forgiveness and acceptance.' Al Jazeera and the IDF have been contacted for comment. The former headmistress of a Melbourne school who was jailed for raping two of her students has allegedly been caught on camera sexually assaulting a younger inmate. Malka Leifer, 58, ran the Adass Israel School in Elsternwick, which caters to the city's Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, but fled to Israel in 2008 after the allegations against her first arose. Following a lengthy process to extradite her to Australia to stand trial, she was jailed for 15 years in 2023 for the rape and indecent assault of Melbourne sisters Nicole Meyer, Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper. Leifer has since been serving her sentence at the maximum-security Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, in the outer Melbourne suburb of Deer Park. The 58-year-old was sent to solitary confinement at the facility after she allegedly sexually assaulted a younger inmate. The incident, which allegedly occurred in late July, happened in full view of 'CCTV cameras', a source told news.com.au. 'There was camera footage of it in the hallway of the Murray Unit,' they said. The source alleged the victim was a young Aboriginal woman in her 20s who had been transferred to the Murray Unit, which is where inmates are segregated for their own protection. Malka Leifer, 58, allegedly sexually assaulted a young inmate, with the alleged incident caught on CCTV The alleged incident happened in the Murray Unit at the maximum security Dame Phyllis Frost Centre (pictured) It comes after reports Leifer had allegedly kissed troubled conwoman Samantha Azzopardi while both were inside the protection unit at the facility. Azzopardi, 36, is serving a two-year jail sentence for posing as a sex-trafficked teenager to gain money from her victims. An inmate who shared a cell with Azzopardi claimed the pair had been writing each other notes and even shared a kiss in front of guards and prisoners. Leifer, who is a mother of eight, was restricted from mixing with other inmates and is confined to a small cell for 23 hours a day. She is given the option of a 20-minute visit to the lounge room or airing yard each day. Despite the strict conditions, Leifer has gained some perks other prisoners have not received while being held in the protective unit. The perks include a microwave in her room, cooking equipment, special orders every Thursday, and is also allowed to make challah - a special bread often baked for the Jewish Sabbath observed every Saturday. Leifer targeted sisters Nicole Meyer, Dassi Erlich and Elly Sapper between 2004 and 2007 when they were students and later in their first year as student teachers. Leifer was jailed for 15 years for the rape and indecent assault of Melbourne sisters Elly Sapper, Nicole Meyer and Dassi Erlich (pictured left to right) The offending occurred while the headmistress was aged between 37 and 41 while Ms Erlich was aged between 16 and 19 and Ms Sapper aged 17 and 18. The sisters previously welcomed the sentence but said it would never be enough. 'The ruling of 15 years recognises the harm and pain that Malka Leifer caused each one of us to suffer over so many years,' Ms Sapper said. 'While no amount of years will ever be sufficient, we are relieved that Leifer is now in prison for 15 years and cannot prey on anyone else.' The sisters campaigned for years to bring Leifer to justice, and Ms Erlich said it was because they had not given up that they were successful. 'While we know the onus of fighting for justice should not be up to survivors, this fight was never just for us,' she said. Six people were killed, including four children, after a massive fire engulfed a home in Maryland on Sunday morning. The Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department said it responded at around 8.40am to the house on Declaration Court North for a report of a large fire with people trapped inside. Upon arriving and seeing the blaze consuming the house, fire officials quickly upgraded the fire to two alarms as it spread to a neighboring home, The Bay Net reports. It then took more than 70 firefighters an hour to get the inferno under control, and by the time they were done, photos showed a burned out husk of the two-story home where nine people lived. Six people were pronounced dead at the scene, Master Deputy State Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire said at an evening news conference, according to NBC Washington. Of the three survivors, one person managed to escape and two others were not home when the blaze began, WTOP reports. One firefighter was also rushed to a nearby hospital for an unspecified medical emergency, while another was treated at the scene for his injuries. Six people were killed when a massive fire engulfed a home in Maryland Sunday morning More than 70 firefighters rushed to the scene on Declaration Court North, in Waldorf One firefighter was rushed to a local hospital for a medical emergency and another was treated at the scene The identities of the victims and the cause of the fire remains unclear, but Alkire suggested it may have started on the right side of the house, inside an enclosed porch. But officials from the Deputy State Fire Marshalls and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were continuing to investigate the blaze Sunday night. Speaking to reporters, Alkire said it was unclear whether the home was equipped with a smoke alarm, as he stressed the importance of the devices and families having their own fire drills so that everyone inside the home knows how to escape in case of an emergency. Nicola Sturgeon has insisted that she is not rushing into a relationship with anyone including women. In an interview with ITV to be broadcast on Monday night, the former SNP leader who was divorced in January was questioned about her sexuality, just days after extracts from her forthcoming autobiography coyly addressed long-running rumours about her personal life. In the interview, presenter Julie Etchingham asks Ms Sturgeon directly: Might we see you in a relationship with a woman? She replies: Im just out of a marriage, so Im not rushing into a relationship with anyone, anytime soon. 'Im enjoying being my own person for a while. Ms Etchingham continues: But not ruling it out? Ms Sturgeon adds: Im not contemplating, sort of anything of that nature. Im just enjoying life. In the extract from her memoirs, Frankly, which is published on Thursday, Ms Sturgeon wrote: I have never considered sexuality, my own included, to be binary. In an interview with ITV to be broadcast on Monday night, Nicola Sturgeon was questioned about her sexuality, just days after extracts from her forthcoming autobiography coyly addressed long-running rumours about her personal life The former SNP leader divorced her husband Peter Murrrell (left) in January But she refused to reveal any specific details, adding that sexual relationships should be private. During the interview, she also spoke of her horror when police officers showed up at her home in April 2023 and arrested her then husband Peter Murrell, who was her partys chief executive at the time, as part of an investigation into the SNPs finances. Asked by Ms Etchingham what it was like seeing her husband being led away, the former First Minister, becoming tearful, said: I genuinely dont know whether the fact I dont have a clear image of that in my head is because I didnt witness it or that I have somehow blocked it out. It wasnt until I got to my mum and dads that I saw the pictures of my house looking like a murder scene. I had this sense of horror and upset and, you know, the kind of shame of it all. The gunman who opened fire on the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta attempted to enter the headquarters before guards stopped him, authorities revealed on Sunday. Patrick Joseph White, 30, was carrying five guns, including at least one long gun, when he was denied entry and forced to drive across the street to a CVS, where he began his shooting rampage. He wrecked havoc outside the CDC headquarters, striking at least four buildings of the facility's campus and leaving workers and nearby Emory University students terrified for their lives. While responding to the scene as bullets rang and shattered windows, DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, 33, was shot and killed by the culprit. White was later confirmed dead amid the gunfire. No civilians were injured by his rampage, although workers and 92 children at the campus daycare were locked down until the late night. A union representing CDC workers, the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) said the incident was not random and 'compounds months of mistreatment, neglect, and vilification that CDC staff have endured.' It demanded federal officials condemn vaccine misinformation, saying it was putting scientists at risk. This statement comes after it was revealed the shooter was an anti-vaxxer who blamed a recent illness on the COVID-19 vaccine, which was promoted by the CDC. Dekalb County police officer David Rose (pictured), 33, was shot and killed while responding to the shooting at the Centers for Disease Control The shooter barricaded himself in the floor above the CVS while shooting at police officers (pictured: to CVS employees hugging after the shooting) Officers swarmed the scene of the CDC campus and the neighboring Emory University White wrecked havoc outside the CDC headquarters, striking at least four buildings of the facility's campus and leaving employees and nearby Emory University (pictured) students terrified for their lives He claimed the vaccine made him feel suicidal and depressed, the Associated Press reported. White's father sounded the alarm to police that his son was the possible shooter. He said White was upset over the death of his dog and had become fixated on the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the law enforcement official. White's neighbor told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the shooter told her on several occasions that he distrusted the vaccines. 'He was very unsettled, and he very deeply believed that vaccines hurt him and were hurting other people,' Nancy Hoalst, told the Atlanta outlet. 'He emphatically believed that.' But Hoalst said she never believed White would be violent. White 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 is was unclear if White turned the gun on himself or if an officer had shot him. Bullets rang and left windows shattered across the buildings on the CDC campus A union rep demanded that CDC employees not have to return to work until all the damage to the site is repaired (pictured: a bullet hole through a CDC window) Fired But Fighting, a group of laid-off CDC employees, has said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (pictured) is directly responsible for the villainization of CDCs workforce But due to the complexity of the crime scene, the investigation is expected to take an 'extended period of time,' according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations. Meanwhile, the AFGE has asserted the CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) must provide a 'clear and unequivocal stance in condemning vaccine disinformation.' Fired But Fighting, a group of laid-off CDC employees, has said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is directly responsible for the villainization of CDCs workforce. They claimed he has lied about vaccine safety and fueled a 'climate of hostility and mistrust.' Kennedy reached out to staff on Saturday, saying 'no one should face violence while working to protect the health of others.' The union has argued that until all the windows are repaired and the site is totally secured, staffers should not be mandated to immediately return for work. It also called for 'perimeter security on all campuses until the investigation is over and reviewed by the CDC. Rose, who lost his life during the gut-wrenching attack, had just joined the police force in September. Bullet holes are seen in Building 24 at the CDC, which is just down the road from Emory University The CVS was also shot at, as the shooter started firing from there after guards denied him entry to the headquarters Police swarmed the chaotic scene (pictured). The incident is under investigation, and officials say it will take an extended period of time Rose, who lost his life during the gut-wrenching attack, had just joined the police force in September (pictured: a memorial for Rose) 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.' An American has been blasted after mocking police for rolling out machete drop-off bins across Victoria in a bid to tackle a surge in knife violence. The US resident, who frequently addresses conservative political topics on his TikTok page Republican Reads Comments, wasted no time labelling the initiative 'silly'. Machete bins have been placed around Victoria where locals can dispose of their blades before a state-wide ban takes effect on September 1. The ban will be brought in after the state was rocked by a spate of knife attacks, including a wild ten-person brawl at Northland Shopping Centre in May. The US resident questioned why taxpayer dollars were being wasted on the bins and not being spent on hiring more officers to protect the public. 'So when a criminal sees one of these boxes, when they're getting ready to do what criminals do, which is commit crime, they're going to say to themselves, "Gee, I better just drop my knife in the machete bin, because I wouldn't want anyone to get hurt",' he said sarcastically. 'I've seen a lot of ridiculous stuff over the years here in the United States, but this, this is pretty silly. Common sense is hard.' The US resident was immediately roasted online, as several Aussies said he should take a closer look at the problems in his own country. An American has been blasted after mocking police for rolling out machete drop-off bins across Victoria in a bid to tackle a surge in knife violence 'I dont think anyone from the USA is in any place to criticise any other country,' one said. 'I couldnt imagine having to choose between my kids going to school and getting shot or homeschooling them.' 'You realise this worked with our guns right?' another said. 'Australia hasnt had a fatal mass shooting since 1996 because sensible laws work,' a third added. 'Now Victoria is banning machetes to tackle knife crime, and we believe this will help too. 'Meanwhile, the US had over 600 mass shootings last year that is almost two a day! We dont need that kind of freedom.' Others pointed out Prime Minister John Howard's gun buyback in the 90's, after Martin Bryant murdered 35 people in Port Arthur using semi-automatic rifles, was proof these policies worked. One commented that Australia hasnt had a fatal mass shooting since 1996 because sensible laws work, not the freedom to bear arms. The machete disposal bins will be rolled out across Victoria next month 'Australia has some of the toughest gun laws in the world, and gun crimes are relatively rare. But knife crimes are becoming more common,' they said. 'Now Victoria is banning machetes to tackle knife crime, and we believe this will help too.' Some social media users sided with the US resident and said the machete bins brought shame to their state. 'I'm an Aussie, trust me when I say we are all embarrassed,' one said. 'Someone inclined to carry illegal weapons isn't just going to go, "Oh wow. I should be a good person now and put this in a bin",' another said. 'The Victorian government is the laughing stock of the world,' a third added. Another claimed it would just motivate criminals to use other weapons. 'If you outlaw all the guns, theyll use machetes,' they wrote. Two teenagers were charged after a violent brawl broke out between rival gang members armed with machetes at Northland Shopping Centre in Melbourne's north 'If you outlaw machetes, theyll use hammers. If you outlaw the hammers, theyll use spoons. Its the people, not the guns.' A machete amnesty will run until November 30 so residents can dispose of their blades at one of more than 40 bins installed at select police stations across metropolitan and regional Victoria. There is currently an interim machete sales ban in place. Shopping centres have emerged as new crime hotspots involving machetes with machete-related gang brawls prompting lockdowns and spurring swift police action. In 2025 alone, Victoria Police have confiscated nearly 7000 edged weapons, including swords, knives, and machetes, averaging 44 seizures a day, a notable spike from previous years. On the weekend a 14-year-old boy was attacked by six men wielding machetes at Werribee Plaza. It followed a violent brawl at the same location just days earlier. Penalties for possessing a machete will be up to two years in prison and fines of more than $47,000. Kemi Badenoch has warned that Labour is plotting a tax raid on homes for the billions needed to fill the fiscal black hole. The Tory leader says Rachel Reeves saw property as a 'cash machine' to plug the gap in the public finances. The Chancellor is coming under pressure from both flanks of the Labour Party to bring in a 'wealth tax'. She must find 50billion in tax rises or spending cuts to balance the books, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) said last week. Writing in the Daily Mail, Mrs Badenoch warned that Labour could change council tax bands or introduce a tax on the value of land, adding: 'A home is more than bricks and mortar. It is the reward for years of hard work, saving and sacrifice. It is security for our families. And it should not be treated like a cash machine for the Chancellor.' She says a plan by Labour's Welsh government to target property wealth by revaluing homes and pushing them into higher council tax bands could be introduced in England. And she raised concerns Labour could adopt a suggestion in the NIESR report that the party should introduce a 'land value tax'. The respected think tank said the Chancellor should consider reforming council tax or even replacing it altogether with a land value tax. This tax, once championed by the party under Jeremy Corbyn, would replace stamp duty and council tax by introducing a flat levy on the price of land. Kemi Badenoch has warned that Labour could change council tax bands or introduce a tax on the value of land Badenoch raised concerns Labour could adopt a suggestion in the NIESR report that the party should introduce a 'land value tax' The idea was last seriously proposed by David Lloyd George in 1909, but fears that it could become a new poll tax have deterred successive governments. Ms Reeves is under pressure from the Left and Right of her party to reform property taxes as MPs warn that the current system is unfair. Blue Labour, an influential faction within the party that is economically Left-wing but culturally conservative, wants an overhaul of taxation on homes. Earlier this year it urged the Chancellor to consider changing council tax rules so that poorer parts of the country were not hit unfairly, adding: 'Our tax system needs reform to reflect new realities, including that most value is tied up in land and assets rather than income. 'We should consider taxes on assets, and updating council tax bands to ensure it no longer disproportionately hits those in poorer parts of the country.' Mr Corbyn's new party is expected to call for a land value tax to replace council tax. Other supporters include Labour peer Dame Margaret Hodge, Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake and the TaxPayers' Alliance. But a Treasury source had 'not heard' that such a tax might come in. Housing Secretary Angela Rayner is planning the biggest shake-up of local government funding in more than a decade to divert money from the South to more deprived areas. The Treasury said: 'The best way to strengthen public finances is growing the economy, which is our focus. Thanks to our planning reforms, the Office for Budget Responsibility has said the economy is expected to grow by the end of the decade.' During the general election Labour said it was not planning to reform council tax and ruled out rebanding properties. KEMI BADENOCH: Labour's council tax rises are a cynical raid on the very people who keep this country going Labour are spending the summer warming us all up for more tax rises in the autumn... to fix the mess they made. Rachel Reeves's business-squeezing budget has led to rising unemployment, lower growth and a stagnant economy. The latest estimates suggest her economic mismanagement has blown a 50billion hole in the public finances. And, as ever, Labour's answer to their problems is even more tax rises. Despite promising to freeze it before the election, council tax is going through the roof under Labour. In the small print of the Spending Review it says that council tax bills are set to rise by 700 on an average Band D home over this Parliament. But this isn't enough for Rachel Reeves. In Wales, Labour is already planning higher council tax bands to get after 'property wealth'. They're trialling something even more dangerous re-valuing homes to push them into higher council tax bands. They've developed a database to work out how much your home should be taxed - tax tech which could then be deployed in England by the Valuation Office Agency. If you've worked hard, improved your home, or simply live in a nice area, your bills could soar. And Starmer has called Wales his 'blueprint', so you can bet it'll be coming to England next. Labour's friends in the think-tank world want to go one step further and are pushing for a 'Land Value Tax'. Not for the big property developers, but an old Jeremy Corbyn policy designed to tax not just your home, but the land it sits on. Tough luck if you've got a garden or a nice view. This tax, once championed by the party under Jeremy Corbyn, could be brought in by Prime Minister Keir Starmer Chancellor Rachel Reeves speaks to media as she visits the coal tip in Wales last week There would be no discount for single people. Widows and widowers would be hammered. And pensioners would be forced to pay this new bill even after death a 'pay-as-you-die' tax that's basically inheritance tax in disguise. The Conservatives were pressured for 14 years to do this, and we refused. We understood then, as we do now, that hard-working families cannot afford to be taxed out of their homes. Labour doesn't care. They see your home as just another line in the ledger that they can tax whenever they run out of money. Given their record so far, this will be often. Reform are no better, creating new economic black holes as they promise billions in welfare spending with no plan to pay for any of it. I will fight this with everything I have. Because a home is more than bricks and mortar. It is the reward for years of hard work, saving, and sacrifice. It is security for our families. And it should not be treated like a cash machine for the Chancellor. Labour's land tax will be nothing more than a cynical raid on the very people who keep this country going. Under my leadership, the Conservatives will always defend property rights, sound money and low taxes. We will back the makers in this country the people who do the right thing, pay their way, and just want to get on. And we will not stand by while Labour taxes your home to the hilt. We will oppose the Government if they try and punish those families and pensioners who have worked hard, and saved and invested in their homes. Fire crews are working through the night to tackle a huge fire at a beauty spot in Edinburgh which sent a cloud of smoke across the city. The fire broke out at Arthur's Seat at around 4pm on Sunday, as visitors were forced to make a quick getaway to avoid the flames. Smoke clouds could be seen for miles around as a suspected wildfire burned through Holyrood Park in the Scottish capital. Four fire crews were sent to tackle the blaze and remain on scene to try and contain the fire. A witness told Edinburgh Live they saw people 'running down the hill to get away from the smoke.' The blaze caused disruption on Sunday afternoon as Police Scotland urged pedestrians and drivers to avoid the area. A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: 'Crews are in attendance at a fire in the open at Arthur's Seat, Holyrood Park, Edinburgh. The fire has sent clouds of smoke into the air over the city on Sunday afternoon Scottish Fire and Rescue Service have been called out to a wildfire at Arthur's Seat Fire crews underneath the blaze at Arthur's Seat as four crews work to tackle the flames Members of the public watch the fire on Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh Huge clouds of smoke seen coming from the iconic beauty spot in the Scottish capital Situated in Holyrood Park, Arthur's seat is an ancient volcano which sits 251 above sea level, high above the city below. It is the highest point of the park and offers views of Edinburgh. It is also a site of Special Scientific Interest due to its unique geology. The park has four hill forts which have stood for 2,000 years as well as a 15th century medieval chapel and Duddingston Loch, which attracts a wide variety of local birds. The fire comes on one of the busiest weekends of the year in the city, with Edinburgh Fringe Festival in full swing. The city also hosted two gig from Oasis on Friday and Saturday night, with the band returning for their third gig at Murrayfield on Tuesday night. On Sunday afternoon, Hibernian fans were able to see the smoke from the stadium during their match vs Kilmarnock. Fans were told to avoid the Willowbrae, Duddingston and Holyrood areas when leaving the Easter Road stadium. The fire could be seen for miles, with people as far as East Fife posting images of the blaze. The Fire at Arthur's Seat seen from Easter Road stadium where Hibernian were playing Kilmarnock Firefighters work at the scene as a wildfire burns at Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh Thick smoke seen overhead as a fire service vehicle arrives at the scene in Holyrood Park Firefighters arrive under a cloud of smoke near the wildfire at Arthur's Seat 'Members of the public no longer need to alert our Operations Control room about this fire, as we are receiving a number of calls to this incident.' The service later added: 'We were alerted at 4.05pm on Sunday, 10 August, to reports of a fire in the open at Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh. 'Operations Control mobilised four fire appliances and specialist resources to the area where firefighters are working to extinguish a fire affecting a large area of gorse. 'There are no reported casualties at this time and crews remain at the scene.' An eyewitness told The Mail they were walking down from Caerketton, one of the hills in the Pentlands, when they spotted the smoke. She said: 'How sad, however it started, to know wildlife will have been affected and local residents must be worried. 'I hope they are able to quell the fire quickly, with no injuries.' The highlands recently saw one of the biggest wildfires Scotland has ever seen. The fire at the Scottish beauty spot seen from Caerketton, just outside Edinburgh The fire at Arthur's seat seen from the Canonmills area of Edinburgh earlier on Sunday The fire at Holyrood Park in Edinburgh seen from East Fife earlier on Sunday The fire could be seen from miles around as huge smoke clouds billowed into the air In April the country was put on red alert after a string of dramatic blazes hit the country. Emergency services were deployed to battle raging fires that were hitting vast tracts of land in both rural and urban areas. Fire chiefs called on people to act responsibly after the extreme warning was issued for the whole of Scotland. It followed nearly two weeks where just 0.2mm of rain fell in Scotland, with temperatures 4C warmer than usual. Foreign criminals across nearly two dozen countries will be unable to delay their deportation by appealing the decision under a new deport now, appeal later initiative. The proposed change, soon to be set out by ministers, will see foreign citizens from countries such as Uganda, India and Kenya no longer able to remain in the UK as they attempt to oppose the decision. Any appeal hearings will now take place remotely, following diplomatic deals agreed with 23 countries, it has been said. Ministers have argued that the new policy will ensure foreign criminals no longer game the system to delay their deportation. It follows the Ministry of Justices recent proposal that foreign criminals can now be deported as soon as they are sent to prison, rather than serving half of their sentence. The most violent criminals - including those imprisoned for murder or terrorist convictions, or serving a life sentence, are set to be excluded from the hardline proposal. Announcing the proposal on August 10, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood told the Sun on Sunday: 'My message to foreign criminals is clear: "Break Britains laws and youll be sent packing in record time.". 'These new powers mean removal and bans from our shores - keeping victims and the public safe. The proposed change, soon to be set out by ministers, will see foreign citizens from countries such as Uganda, India and Kenya no longer able to remain in the UK as they attempt to oppose the decision. Pictured: HMP Wandsworth Any appeal hearings will now take place remotely, following diplomatic deals agreed with 23 countries, it has been said. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told the Times that the decision marked an end to individuals manipulating the system in month or even year-long appeals It follows the Ministry of Justices recent proposal that foreign criminals can now be deported as soon as they are sent to prison, rather than serving half of their sentence. Pictured: Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood 'This will ramp up removals of foreign offenders jamming up our jails, with deportations already up 14 per cent on the same time last year.' It comes as Labour struggles to get a grip on the number of migrant crooks - including rapists, paedophiles and murderers - swarming into Britain illegally. Violent protests have erupted outside asylum seeker hotels across the UK as fury builds over the number of foreign residents allegedly carrying out crimes while living in them. The new scheme could reportedly save taxpayers almost 600million and see an expected 3,000 foreign offenders deported earlier, according to a government source. However, Alex Chalk KC, former justice secretary, told the Times he had real misgivings about the decision, arguing that the policy would result in prisoners being released with no punishment and placed under a tax-payer funded flight home. He also questioned why other criminals convicted for severe crimes, such as rapists and domestic abusers, were being considered for deportation. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said that the decision marked an end to individuals manipulating the system in month or even year-long appeals. Meanwhile, David Lammy, foreign secretary, added that the government were leading diplomatic efforts to increase the number of countries where foreign criminals can be swiftly returned. Violent protests have erupted outside asylum seeker hotels across the UK as fury builds over the number of foreign residents allegedly carrying out crimes while living in them.(pictured are protesters in Epping, Essex in July) Anger continues to build across Britain over the number of illegal migrants allegedly carrying out crimes after arriving in the UK (pictured are police in Epping, Essex, during a protest after an asylum seeker living in a migrant hotel allegedly sexually assaulted two teenage girls) He added that those wishing to appeal would be able to do so from their home country in a bid to increase the UKs safety and security. Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick previously criticised the government's plans, arguing that it could fail if jailed crooks try to use human rights laws to dodge deportation. Mr Jenrick told the Mail: '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. It's 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. Pictured: a prisoner celebrates after being released from HMP Wandsworth in September 2024 under the government's early release scheme Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick previously told the Mail: '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. It's a farce' 'If countries wont take back their nationals, Starmer should suspend visas and foreign aid. His soft-touch approach isnt working. As of June 30, 2025, there were 10,772 foreign nationals in custody, data from the Ministry of Justice showed. This included 1,731 in jail for sexual offences. The number of overseas criminals now behind bars in England and Wales is higher now than at any point since 2013. The Conservatives say the number of foreign sex offenders in prison has increased by 9.9 per cent in Labour's first year in office. Meanwhile, the number of foreign crooks behind bars for violence has skyrocketed by 8.8 per cent in Labours first year in office - with 3,250 now locked up. The new boss of a major British environmental group said membership has become too white and middle class. Asad Rehman, who became the first person of colour to lead Friends of the Earth this week, said more needed to be done as he pledged to develop a diverse movement. Analysis by the Race Report campaign last year found environmental and conservation groups were among the least diverse across the UK. Just 4.5 per cent of their staff were non-white, compared with 16 per cent within the working population as a whole. When asked about the statement on diversity, Mr Rehman said: 'It has been a fair critique, absolutely. 'If we want to be a force for change, you have to look like and be part of the fabric of this country - and that is diverse and it's diverse in class, it's diverse in ethnicity, diverse geographically.' The chief executive was previously at the anti-poverty group War on Want. He said the possibility of a future Reform government, and the rise of the far right, 'keeps me awake at night'. Asad Rehman, who became the first person of colour to lead Friends of the Earth this week, said more needed to be done as he pledged to develop a diverse movement He told The Times: 'We are heading towards, I think, a divisive, racist, dystopian future. Or we have a future which is prosperous, united, more coherent, cohesive, strong, community diverse. That's the one I'm fighting for.' Nigel Farage recently branded fracking for natural gas 'vital', and vowed to lift a moratorium on the extraction method. The controversial technique was imposed after small earthquakes in Lancashire in both 2018 and 2019. Mr Rehman said the Reform UK leader was in for 'a shock' at the backlash from rural working-class voters, if he were to run for election on a pro-fracking promise. He added that Friends of the Earth would argue an expansion of renewable energy, as well as increasing the energy efficiency of properties, are the best ways to reduce the cost of energy bills. Nigel Farage recently branded fracking for natural gas 'vital', and vowed to lift a moratorium on the extraction method Friends of the Earth is a top international environmental organisation with a network of member groups and local activist groups around the world. It homes in on environmental issues and promotes solutions for a sustainable future through campaigns and legal action. Friends of the Earth is well known for its work on climate justice, protecting nature, and advocating for environmental and social justice. The Daily Mail has contacted Reform UK for comment. I will start by stating the obvious: Erin Patterson is evil beyond comprehension. She is a convicted triple-murderer, found guilty of lacing a beef Wellington with death cap mushrooms and serving it up to her former in-laws Don and Gail Patterson, along with Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, killing all three. They died in agony, while Heather's husband Ian only just survived. It was an unfathomable crime that not only shocked Australia, but the world. There is absolutely nothing funny about it. But when the Supreme Court of Victoria lifted a suppression order last Friday, revealing Erin had allegedly tried to poison her ex-husband Simon three, maybe four times - I couldn't help but smile, albeit rather grimly. And it wasn't just me. Every woman I know had the same dark thought, and here it is: men would literally rather risk being poisoned than cook their own dinner. I can just hear the outrage now: 'Amanda! People died! This isn't an appropriate time to have a go at blokes' The Supreme Court of Victoria lifted a suppression order last Friday, revealing Erin Patterson had allegedly tried to poison her ex-husband Simon (pictured) three, maybe four times I've already stated it's not funny. But judging by the amount of inappropriate memes and mushroom jokes doing the rounds, it seems we're perfectly capable of acknowledging the gravity of a deadly crime while also poking fun at the sheer lunacy of this particular chapter of the story. So I'll say it again: police allege Erin's ex-husband Simon was hospitalised not once, not twice, but four times after eating food prepared by his wife. Yet he still continued to eat meals prepared by Erin - even though, in the back of his mind, he surely must have suspected he was playing Russian roulette every time he sat down for dinner. Let me be clear: I'm not saying Simon couldn't cook or never made his own meals. I'm only highlighting the absurd facts of this case, which suggest to me that he depended so heavily on his estranged wife's cooking that he was able to endure suspected repeat poisonings. Here's what we know: police allege Erin tried to poison her husband on multiple occasions in 2021 and 2022. During this period, they were separated - and had been since 2015 - but remained connected through co-parenting, shared property and family holidays. Simon testified at Erin's trial that, prior to 2020, he had hoped the relationship could be reconciled. The first alleged poisoning was a penne pasta prepared by Erin that landed Simon in hospital for five days. Then - because yes, he went back for more after that extended hospitalisation - he was allegedly poisoned by Erin's chicken korma curry. After that meal, he spent 16 days in a coma and had part of his bowel removed. Police allege Erin (pictured in August 2023) tried to poison her husband on multiple occasions in 2021 and 2022. During this period, they were separated - and had been since 2015 Sixteen days! Close to death. Major, life-saving surgery. Guess what he did after he recovered? Sat down for a piping hot plate of Erin's beef stew, of course. He was sick for weeks after that. Then he tucked into a veggie wrap - a simple dish, very easy to prepare - that was, again, made by his wife. It left him temporarily paralysed from the neck down. Oh, and then there were the cookies. He later reflected that they may have been tainted with antifreeze chemicals. It's absolutely mind-boggling. When he eventually cottoned on to the fact his wife was trying to do him in, his plan of action was to document the meals that made him sick in a spreadsheet. Ultimately - finally - he made a decision that saved his life. The night before the fatal beef Wellington lunch on July 29, 2023, he texted Erin to say he would not be coming. Can we say the quiet part out loud now? What the hell took him so long? I don't want to victim-blame Simon: he is suffering beyond comprehension. Losing your parents in such an evil way is unimaginable. But many of my girlfriends - who have husbands, kids and dark senses of humour - have laughed at the absurd idea of a man coming home after a busy day at the office, quietly wondering if his lasagne is laced with poison, then tucking in anyway. Hope she hasn't done it again! I've witnessed men's avoidance of cooking firsthand. Don't get me wrong, I'm no Nigella Lawson - I actually had to google how to poach an egg last week - but I've dated men who open the fridge, stare at the colourful array of vegetables begging to be stir-fried, then close it again and open the UberEats app instead. 'I'm only highlighting the absurd facts of this case, which suggest to me that [Simon] depended so heavily on his estranged wife's cooking that he was able to endure suspected repeat poisonings,' writes Amanda Goff I've lived with a man who thought a home-cooked dinner was a My Muscle Chef meal served with a bread roll - for the 'restaurant' effect. Another boyfriend once said to me, 'I'll sort dinner out tonight, darling,' before heating up the leftover spag bol I'd made the night before and had been saving for my lunch. (Disclaimer: I've also dated men who are very good in the kitchen, far better than me.) But if I thought - even suspected for a moment - that one of them was trying to poison me, I'd be out the door faster than you can say 'seconds'. I would not be sitting down at the dinner table. And I wouldn't be spilling my guts out into a toilet bowl thinking, 'Nah, surely they've not done it again?!' Perhaps for Simon, the luxury of eating a meal he didn't have to prepare himself was stronger than, oh, dare I say it his will to live? Simon survived, not because he'd long ago realised something was seriously wrong with his estranged wife's cooking - but because he made a last-minute decision to skip the mushroom lunch after years of staring straight at the bleeding obvious. Maybe that's why women, while acknowledging this horrific tragedy, are smiling grimly right now, sharing a bit of gallows humour in the group chat. Because the takeaway here (pun very much intended) is this: guys, if every time you eat your estranged wife's cooking, you end up deathly ill in hospital, it might just be time to learn how to poach an egg. Don't forget the white vinegar. Two American AI companies have agreed to hand over 15 percent of their chip sales revenue in China to the US government in exchange for export licenses, sources have revealed. Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) entered an unprecedented arrangement with the White House to promote and sell their semiconductors in China last week, three people familiar with the situation told the Financial Times. The AI giants secured licensing specifically for Nvidias H20 and AMDs MI308 chips, both specifically designed to comply with US export restrictions. Trump told Nvidia it could sell the H20 AI chip in China last month after opposing the idea, but he never went through with the licensing to make those sales feasible. Meanwhile, Trump had barred AMD from selling the MI308 chip in China. The CEO of Nvidia, Jensen Huang, met with Donald Trump last week to review the bizarre deal, according to sources, including a US government official. The Commerce Department allegedly started issuing licenses for the semiconductors just two days later. Two of the anonymous sources told the outlet that Trump has not decided what the money will be used for. The CEO of Nvidia, Jensen Huang (right), met with Donald Trump (left) last week to review the bizarre deal, according to sources, including a US government official Trump had barred AMD from selling the MI308 chip in China before entering last weeks agreement But the deal could pour more than $2 billion into the US government, The New York Times reported. AMD has not responded to the Financial Times' request for comment, but Nvidia did issue a vague statement on the matter. The $4.4 trillion company wrote: 'We follow rules the US government sets for our participation in worldwide markets.' While AMD CEO Lisa Su had not directly addressed the 15 percent revenue agreement, she spoke about the $280 billion company's place in China last week. She told Bloomberg Television that Trump-imposed trade restrictions with China should not deter investors. 'We are seeing a lot of positive signals over the last 90 days in terms of what the market needs from computing,' she told the outlet. 'We have a number of licenses under review, and weve been given good indications those are moving through the process.' Just as sources say Trump and the AI companies entered the agreement, the president declared he would impose a 100 percent tariff on the imports of semiconductors and chips unless the company is 'building in the United States.' While AMD CEO Lisa Su (pictured) had not directly addressed the 15 percent revenue agreement, she spoke about the $280 billion company's place in China last week Trump told Nvidia it could sell the H20 AI chip in China last month after opposing the idea, but he never went through with the licensing to make those sales feasible Amid Trump's tariff crackdown, he has been issuing hefty tariffs on other countries - with China facing the majority of the brunt - to encourage domestic production. News of Trump's discreetly entered agreement with Nvidia and AMD has been slammed by experts who say the move could have detrimental repercussions when it comes to US-China relations. 'This is an own goal and will incentivize the Chinese to up their game and pressure the administration for more concessions,' Liza Tobin, who previously served as China director at the National Security Council, told The New York Times. 'This is the Trump playbook applied in exactly the wrong domain. Youre selling our national security for corporate profits.' The move to sell microchips to China has been heavily criticized, as many see it as a threat to national security and a move against America's best interests. US security experts said the H20 in particular will aid the Chinese military efforts and boast China in its AI development race against the US. Nvidia's devices are generally regarded as better quality than those of its Chinese-made counterpart, Huawei. But the Trump administration has said it will not allow China to purchase Nvidia's most powerful chips. US security experts said Nvidia's H20 in particular will aid the Chinese military efforts and boast China in its AI development race against the US Despite these massive wins for Nvidia and AMD, the Chinese government has actually warned citizens that the H20 has security risks (pictured: President Xi Jinping The H20 chip was approved under the Biden administration and lacks the capabilities of chips sold within the US and to allied nations. 'We dont sell them our best stuff, not our second-best stuff, not even our third best,' Howard Lutnick, the Commerce Secretary, told CNBC last month. Huang convinced Trump to let up on his previously established boundaries by arguing that not allowing American companies to compete in the Chinese market would be harmful to the US, according to The New York Times. 'The American tech stack should be the global standard, just as the American dollar is the standard by which every country builds on,' Huang said last month during a podcast with think tank the Special Competitive Studies Project. Despite these massive wins for Nvidia and AMD, the Chinese government has actually warned citizens that the H20 has security risks. The Cyberspace Administration of China summoned Huang over possible 'backdoor security risks' with the H20. 'There is no such thing as a good secret backdoor only dangerous vulnerabilities that need to be eliminated,' Nvidia disputed in a blog post. READ MORE: Tears flow in court at the Outback Wrangler trial A helicopter pilot who suffered life-changing injuries in a crash that killed Outback Wrangler's Chris 'Willow' Wilson is set to give evidence in the trial of reality TV star Matt Wright. Sebastian Robinson was left a paraplegic after the crash during a crocodile-egg collecting mission in remote swampland in the Northern Territory during February 2022. Mr Wilson was suspended on a sling under the chopper when he fell to the ground and was killed in the Arnhem Land incident. Wright is facing trial in the Supreme Court in Darwin after pleading not guilty to three counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice. He has been accused of tampering with evidence and covering up improper flight-time recording. Wright was allegedly worried crash investigators would uncover that he and his pilots regularly disconnected flight-time meters to extend helicopter flying hours beyond official thresholds and falsified logbooks and maintenance releases. Part of the prosecution case includes allegations Wright visited the injured Mr Robinson in Royal Brisbane Hospital after the crash, 'putting the hard word on him' to falsify helicopter flying hours. It's alleged Wright wanted hours flown by the crashed helicopter to be put onto the wounded pilot's own helicopter. Outback Wrangler star Matt Wright (right) arrives with wife Kaia, at the Supreme Court, in Darwin, on Monday. The realty TV star is on trial charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice Pilot Sebastian Robinson (right) was left a paraplegic after the crash, while Chris 'Willow' Wilson (left) was killed The helicopter (pictured) crashed during a crocodile-egg collecting mission in remote swampland in the Northern Territory, in February 2022 Mr Robinson refused to comply with the request, the prosecution said. But Wright's senior defence counsel, David Edwardson KC, told the jury his client 'emphatically' denied pressuring the pilot to falsify flight-time records. The credibility of Mr Robinson and family members who would give evidence was seriously in question, Mr Edwardson said. The accusation will be examined in court on Monday when Mr Robinson gives evidence. The charges against Wright do not relate to the cause of the accident and the prosecution does not allege he is responsible for either the crash or Mr Wilson's death. The trial before acting Justice Allan Blow is expected to take up to five weeks. Outrage is growing over a disturbing video of a woman being heckled and assaulted by a jeering mob of men as she walked through the grounds of a university in Papua New Guinea late at night. Viral video showed the woman covering her ears as she was pursued by dozens of leering men through the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (Unitech) in Lae - the country's second largest city. Local media claimed the woman was being escorted off the grounds by two university security guards, but a two-minute video showed her being jeered at and assaulted by a mob of men. At one point she tried to fight them off as they swarmed and taunted her. The woman tried to cover her ears before she was then hit on the back by what appeared to be an egg. The clip sparked a furious backlash on local social media, prompting the Unitech Chancellor, Sam Koim to condemn the 'animalistic behaviour'. 'The behaviour displayed is unacceptable and has no place in our university,' he said. The PNG woman - on right - is seen holding her hands to her ears as she is pursued by a jeering mob At various points in the video, the woman is seen being assaulted 'At Unitech, we strive for academic excellence and to produce young, civilised men and women who will contribute positively to society. Animalistic and mob behaviour has no place here.' Mr Koim said the university had launched an investigation. The university's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ora Renagi, also 'strongly condemn(ed) the behaviour and actions of the students'. 'The video showing a young woman being harassed by a group of students on our campus is deeply disturbing,' he said in a statement. 'Let me be clear: mob behaviour is unacceptable, harassment is a crime and such actions will not be tolerated.' Prof Renagi said a full investigation had been launched into the incident and people identified in the video would face disciplinary or legal action. It comes as Papua New Guinea is due to mark the 50th anniversary of its independence next month. But the country, which sits just 150km from mainland Australia in the Pacific Ocean, is riven by some of the world's highest rates of violence against women. The Australian government has provided an estimated $3.1billion in aid and loans to Papua New Guinea since 2020, according to figures from the Official Development Assistance. This includes a $600million, 10-year deal to fund a rugby league side based in Papua New Guinea's capital, Port Moresby. 'Rugby league is PNGs national sport and PNG deserved a national team, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said last December during a meeting with PNG President James Marape. 'The new team will belong to the people of PNG. It will call Port Moresby home. 'It will have millions of proud fans barracking for it for day one. Not just in PNG but I suspect many Australians will adopt the PNG team.' A former Trump adviser has claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin will walk out of his summit with the US president as a 'loser.' Robert O'Brien, who served as a national security adviser in President Donald Trump's first administration, spoke with CNN's Jessica Dean on Saturday about the president's upcoming meeting with Putin to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine. Just the fact that Putin is willing to come to the table to eek out a deal with Trump shows how the Russian military invasion of Ukraine, which began back in February 2022, has been a 'total failure,' O'Brien argued. 'He wanted all the territory of Ukraine and he wanted 30 million Ukrainians and he wanted to turn them into Russians,' O'Brien said of Putin's goals with the invasion. 'And now he's getting stuck with basically the same deal he had when [former President Barack] Obama let him take Crimea and Donetsk and Luhansk. He's made no real progress,' the former adviser continued. 'This is not a victory for Putin. 'He's had this [deal] and he's now lost a million men in four years, basically getting what he had in 2014 from Obama. 'So I think it's a total failure for Putin,' he said. 'But Trump will let him save face,' O'Brien claimed. 'He's very gracious, he's very charming, but Putin's gonna walk of of this [the] loser.' A former adviser to President Donald Trump (left) has said Russian President Vladimir Putin will walk out of a summit with the American leader a 'loser' Robert O'Brien told CNN's Jessica Dean on Saturday that the fact that Putin is willing to come to the table to eek out a deal with Trump shows how the Russian military invasion of Ukraine , has been a 'total failure' O'Brien, who is now chairman of American Global Strategies LLC, also argued that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky does not need to be present at the upcoming summit in Alaska, as the White House considers inviting him. 'Yes, the matter can't be resolved without Ukraine, but President Trump has met with Zelensky alone several times, including at the Vatican,' O'Brien said. 'And so he's put himself in the position to mediate this dispute, which is what President Trump really wants. 'He's a peacemaker,' O'Brien claimed. 'He wants the military deaths to stop and he wants to get this case resolved.' But the former adviser also noted that Zelensky will likely have to agree to cede some land, as Putin does not seem to want to budge on his demand for control of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, Kherson and Crimea. 'And so look, if Ukraine gives up nothing more than the Russian-speaking territories of Ukraine and Crimea, which was historically Russian to begin with, that's a win for Ukraine.' However, Zelensky has been adamant that his country will not cede land in the negotiations. 'Of course we will not give Russia any awards for what it has done,' he said Saturday morning. 'The Ukrainian people deserve peace.' He noted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky does not have to be at the upcoming summit, as President Trump has met with him several times already He had also warned that 'decisions without Ukraine' would not bring peace to the region. 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 any details. Reflecting on the upcoming meeting, President Trump has admitted 'it's very complicated.' The president has long wanted to end the war in Ukraine, often promising on the campaign trail last year that he would end the conflict on day one of his presidency if he were elected. Trump's frustration with Putin has grown as the fighting has worn on months into his second term. A serviceman is pictured here collecting the wreckage of a Russian missile that hit a residential neighborhood in Kharkiv A sign warns of mine danger outside residential buildings bombed by Russian forces on August 10 Trump's frustration with Putin has grown as the fighting has worn on months into his second term. In late July, he began to turn the heat up on Russia, saying he was giving the country 10 or 12 days to restart peace talks with Ukraine. If that condition was not met, he said he was prepared to hit Russia with economic sanctions. Originally, Trump gave Putin a 50-day deadline and threatened to bring stiff economic penalties on Russia if it did not end hostilities with Ukraine. That would've meant a target date of early September for Putin to make a decision. A coalition of former FBI, intelligence, diplomatic, and national security officials has accused FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino of orchestrating a political 'purge' of the bureau. In an extraordinary open letter the group said that the mass firings of senior agents threaten the FBI's independence and could turn it into a 'personal enforcement arm of a political figure.' The letter, signed by members of a group calling itself The Steady State, comes after Patel and Bongino abruptly fired several high-ranking officials last week. They included former Acting Director Brian Driscoll, Washington Field Office chief Steven Jensen, and veteran agents Walter Giardina and Michael Feinberg. All were told to clear their desks by Friday. 'It is not about reform. It is about control,' the group wrote. 'The aim, it seems, is to transform the FBI from a respected, constitutionally grounded investigative service into a personal enforcement arm of a political figure We have seen these dynamics abroad - leaders who demand loyalty from security services not to the law, but to themselves. These regimes do not end well.' The statement accused the Trump administration of installing Patel and Bongino in leadership despite 'not having resumes that meet the basic standards' to run what it called 'the world's premier law enforcement agency.' The officials said the agents were targeted for not showing personal loyalty to President Donald Trump, calling the FBI's independence 'a democratic necessity.' From bureau veterans to sudden targets The firings landed hardest on officials with deep experience in national security, counterterrorism, and high-profile investigations. Several FBI agents were targeted for not showing personal loyalty to President Donald Trump A coalition of former FBI , intelligence, diplomatic, and national security officials have accused FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino of orchestrating a political 'purge' of the bureau Driscoll, a veteran of the bureau's Hostage Rescue Team and a former leader of its Critical Incident Response Group, served as acting director after Christopher Wray's departure and was regarded inside the bureau as a hero having resisted Trump administration demands to turn over the names of agents who worked on January 6 investigations. The Justice Department's former Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, who has since been confirmed to serve as an appellate court judge, accused Driscoll and former FBI Acting Deputy Director Robert Kissane of insubordination, after they tried to fend off his efforts to collect a list of the names of all those people. He said the requests were meant to 'permit the Justice Department to conduct a review of those particular agents' conduct pursuant to Trump's executive order' on 'weaponization' in the Biden administration. Responding to Bove's request, the FBI provided personnel details about several thousand employees, identifying them by unique employee numbers rather than by names. Driscoll, nicknamed 'The Drizz,' told his colleagues in a farewell message on Thursday that he was given no explanation for his removal. 'I understand that you may have a lot of questions regarding why, for which I have no answers,' Driscoll told colleagues in a farewell email. 'No cause has been articulated at this time. Please know that it has been the honor of my life to serve alongside each of you.' He wrote: 'Our collective sacrifice for those we serve is, and will always be, worth it. I regret nothing. You are my heroes and I remain in your debt.' Jensen, who oversaw the Washington Field Office - one of the bureau's busiest - was told his termination would be effective immediately. Brian Driscoll had served as acting director and was regarded inside the bureau as having resisted Trump administration demands to turn over the names of agents who worked on January 6 investigations Steven Jensen who was chief of the Washington Field Office - one of the bureau's busiest - was told his termination would be effective immediately Michael Feinberg, the former assistant special agent in charge at the FBI's Norfolk Field Office resigned from the Bureau five years before becoming eligible for retirement and a pension. Feinberg was told that he would not be receiving any promotions Veteran agent Walter Giardina, who was involved in many investigations regarding Trump, was told to clear his desk by Friday 'I intend to meet this challenge like any other I have faced in this organization, with professionalism, integrity and dignity,' he wrote in his own farewell note. 'Never waver in your resolve to answer the call to protect the American people and uphold the Constitution,' he added. Giardina, who worked on cases involving Trump aide Peter Navarro, and Feinberg, who has said he faced retaliation over his friendship with former FBI counterintelligence official Peter Strzok, were also shown the door. Giardina had been recently targeted by Republican Senator Charles Grassley for his involvement in several Trump-related cases. Numerous senior officials including top agents in charge of big-city field offices have been pushed out of their jobs, and some agents have been subjected to polygraph exams, moves that former officials say have roiled the workforce and contributed to angst. Former Las Vegas Special Agent-in-Charge Spencer Evans was also told to leave on Friday. Numerous special agents in charge of field offices have been told to retire, resign or accept reassignment. In April the bureau also reassigned several agents who were photographed kneeling during a racial justice protest in Washington that followed the 2020 death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers. The Steady State's letter painted the dismissals as part of a broader campaign to dismantle the FBI's 'long-standing independence' and replace it with political loyalty tests. 'The FBI has long been a bulwark against such corruption Its independence is not a bureaucratic feature; it is a democratic necessity,' the letter read. They urged remaining agents to hold the line: 'The nation is watching, and will be inspired by the FBI. And history will remember.' Former FBI agent Phil Kennedy, an outspoken critic of the current leadership, posted the letter on social media and referred to the firings as 'the recent FBI purge,' calling it a 'Bureau bloodbath.' The mass terminations are the latest wave in a months-long shakeup under Patel and Bongino, which has seen senior leaders reassigned, forced into retirement, or subjected to polygraph exams. Some firings have targeted agents involved in politically sensitive cases, including the January 6 Capitol riot investigations and former Special Counsel Jack Smith's prosecutions of Trump. The controversy deepened in February when thousands of bureau employees were ordered to complete questionnaires detailing any involvement in January 6 cases. Weeks later, then-Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove ordered a list of all current and former personnel connected to those investigations, sparking fears the data would be used to identify and remove them. The moves are the latest in a string of firings against people who worked on cases related to January 6 or former Special Counsel Jack Smith's, pictured, two indictments against Trump for his retention of classified records and efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election The FBI Agents Association has condemned the firings warning that 'firing agents without due process will make the country less safe' The FBI Agents Association has condemned the firings, warning that 'firing agents without due process will make the country less safe.' 'There is a review process when employment actions are taken against Agents. FBI leadership committed - both publicly and directly to FBIAA - that they would abide by that process. We urge them to honor that commitment and follow the law,' the group added. The group urged bureau leadership to honor the review process 'so that the FBI could remain independent and apolitical.' The FBI, Patel, and Bongino have declined to comment on the dismissals or the accusations in the Steady State letter. Trump, asked earlier this year if his administration planned to remove employees tied to January 6 probes, called the FBI 'corrupt' and said Patel would 'straighten it out,' but did not answer directly. Israel has accused Australia of undermining its security and helping Hamas after Anthony Albanese announced that his government will formally recognise Palestinian statehood at the UN next month. The Prime Minister made the long-awaited announcement at a press conference in Canberra on Monday afternoon after similar commitments were made by other Western allies including the UK, France and Canada. 'Today I can confirm that at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, Australia will recognise the state of Palestine,' Albanese told reporters. 'Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority.' These commitments include the terrorist group Hamas playing no role in a future Palestinian state, free elections being held and demilitarisation of the region. However, Israel's ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon unleashed on the decision, claiming 'peace is built by ending terror, not rewarding it'. 'By recognising a Palestinian state while Hamas continues to kill, kidnap and reject peace, Australia undermines Israel's security, derails hostage negotiations and hands a victory to those who oppose coexistence,' he added. He added: 'Rewarding those who use terror as a political tool sends the dangerous message that violence brings political gains. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) has announced that Australia will formally recognise Palestinian statehood, defying stringent criticism from Israel Albanese said he had made the move as part of a 'coordinated global effort' after speaking to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer , French President Emmanuel Macron , New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. However, he has not spoken to US President Donald Trump 'By recognising a Palestinian state now, Australia elevates the position of Hamas, a group it acknowledges as a terrorist organisation, while weakening the cause of those working to end violence and achieve genuine, lasting peace.' Albanese said he had made the move as part of a 'coordinated global effort' after speaking to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. He said he had also discussed the issue with the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, telling him in a blunt conversation that the situation in Gaza had deteriorated 'beyond the world's worst fears'. Crucially, however, Albanese has still not spoken to US President Donald Trump. The US holds the power to veto any United Nations Security Council resolution to recognise Palestine as a state. Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong, who appeared alongside Albanese at the press conference, told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about Australia's intentions in a call earlier on Monday 'as a matter of diplomatic courtesy'. Albanese rebutted Netanyahu's comments that recognising Palestine would not bring about peace. 'A two-state solution is humanity's best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza,' Albanese added. 'The international community's vision for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East always encompassed two states - living side-by-side with internationally recognised borders. 'A state of Israel and a state of Palestine with security for the people of both nations.' Albanese said the recognition was contingent on Hamas playing no role in the future of any Palestinian state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed Australia as 'shameful' for its support of a Palestinian state 'This is one of the commitments Australia has sought and received from President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority,' Albanese said. He said that he had also received assurances from the Palestinian Authority that it will demilitarise and hold general elections. Albanese also called for the return of the October 7 hostages. But Executive Council of Australian Jewry (ECAJ) president Daniel Aghion KC slammed the Albanese government for not outlining the consequences of the Palestinian Authority failing to fulfil these promises. 'The major flaw in the announcement is that it relegates all of these conditions to the status of a mere promise to be fulfilled at some future time, and says nothing about what will happen if those conditions are not met,' Mr Aghion KC said. 'For this reason, we feel that the course of action announced by the government is a betrayal and abandonment of the Israeli hostages who continue to languish in appalling conditions in Gaza without even access to the Red Cross. 'This announcement gives them no hope for release. It leaves Hamas armed and in control of territory, and in a position to regroup and rearm, thereby creating the conditions for the next war rather than a comprehensive peace. 'Australia is now committed to recognising as a state an entity with no agreed borders, no single government in effective control of its territory, and no demonstrated capacity to live in peace with its neighbours.' In the face of overwhelming evidence pointing to the contrary, Netanyahu vehemently denied the accusations that Israel has led a 'starvation policy', denying Palestinians access to food and humanitarian aid (pictured, starving Palestinians including women and children holding pots wait to receive food distributed by a charity organisation) Mr Aghion KC added that 'Israel will feel wronged and abandoned by a longstanding ally'. 'The Palestinian Authority will feel that a huge diplomatic prize has been dropped in its lap, despite its consistent failures to reform, democratise and agree to peaceful coexistence alongside a Jewish state,' he added. 'Hamas and other Islamist groups will see that barbarity on a grand scale can lead to desired political transformation.' During a rare press conference for the international media overnight, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was an 'absurdity' to recognise Palestinian statehood. 'It defies imagination or understanding how intelligent people around the world, including seasoned diplomats, government leaders, and respected journalists, fall for this absurdity,' he said. In his comments, Netanyahu singled out Australia in particular - even though the country had not yet formally expressed a position on recognition. During his press conference, Netanyahu claimed a Palestinian statehood would bring war rather than peace. 'To have European countries and Australia march into that rabbit hole, just like that is disappointing, and I think it's actually shameful,' he said. Netanyahu also vehemently denied the accusations that Israel has led a 'starvation policy', denying Palestinians access to food and humanitarian aid. However, an overwhelming majority of evidence suggests aid restrictions have led to the dire situation currently playing out in Gaza. 'I have said it publicly and I said it directly to Prime Minister Netanyahu - the situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world's worst fears,' Albanese told reporters on Monday. 'Far too many innocent lives have been lost. The Israeli Government continues to defy international law and deny sufficient aid, food and water to desperate people, including children. 'This vital aid must be allowed to get to the people who need it most.' Albanese has long supported a two-state solution. As a young MP he led protests, co-founded the Parliamentary Friends of Palestine, visited Gaza camps and criticised Israel in parliament. In 1998, he even sat down and met, with then-Liberal MP Joe Hockey, the Palestinian activist-turned-president Yasser Arafat. A worker has made a narrow escape after an e-scooter battery exploded into a wall of flames, but a video of his lucky getaway has 'cracked up' social media users. The man was working on the two-wheeled electric scooter at a tyre shop in Perth, Western Australia. CCTV footage from the shop showed the staff member kneeling next to the e-scooter when the battery exploded, sending smoke billowing out from the vehicle. Shocked by the explosion, the man let out a scream before standing up and moving away from the e-scooter. Just as he moved away, the battery burst into a massive fireball, with flames engulfing a large area of the workshop. The intense blaze raged on for about a minute before the battery finally burnt out and the man returned with a fire extinguisher and used it to put out the remaining flames. Social media users praised the man for his quick thinking, with many impressed by his lucky getaway. However, others found the footage entertaining, as his loose pants exposed his butt crack for all to see. The man made a narrow escape after the two-wheeled electronic scooter he was working on exploded into flames Some social media users found the footage amusing, with many making jokes about the man's rear-end 'He escaped just in the crack of time,' one wrote. 'Im glad hes safe, but mooning the internet would be my last straw,' a second said. 'Why do bad things always happen on a full moon,' a third added. A fourth joked: 'Yall be blurring the wackiest stuff, but not homies dignity'. Lithium-ion battery-related fires, including those caused by low-quality batteries in e-mobility devices, are the fastest-growing type of fire in NSW, with one every four days this year, according to 2024 data. Lithium-ion batteries, particularly poor-quality ones, are susceptible to uncontrolled thermal runaway events, which occur when the temperature in the battery increases faster than the energy can be dispersed to its surroundings. The high temperature causes the battery to decompose, creating more heat and ultimately leading to an explosion of flammable gas. Under new laws introduced in February 2025, products sold in NSW will need to meet a set of internationally accepted product standards and be appropriately tested and certified before entering the market. New testing, certification, and labelling requirements will be introduced in a staged process. Sellers of devices like e-bikes or e-scooters in NSW who breach the new standards will face penalties of up to $825,000. The once quiet and classy Hamptons hotspot where a designer was found dead on a yacht has become packed with party-going 'spoiled' rich kids who have brought chaos to the area, locals say. Long time residents of Montauk - at the easternmost tip of Long Island - believe the death of 33-year-old Martha Nolan-O'Slattara exemplifies the area's out-of-control party culture. The coastal community used to be close-knit and peaceful - until social influencers arrived and turned it into a well-known party town where drugs are in plentiful supply. 'Its absolutely changed,' a marina operator who has lived in Montauk his entire life, told Fox News Digital. 'Social media put Montauk on the map. It used to be a fishing village now its a very happening place.' Montauk's stunning shores, classic east coast charm and great restaurants have all helped entice influencers to its shores. But long-time locals say the area is now so famous they fear the fabric of the community is being torn apart. Massive luxury development projects have sprung up, with hotels and docks being revamped to accommodate demanding wealthy incomers. The eastern Long Island coastal community used to be close-knit and peaceful - until social influencers flung it into the spotlight (pictured: Kirk Park Beach in Montauk) Locals claim influencer culture has resulted in a booming party scene in Montauk (pictured: a party in Montauk in July) Martha Nolan-O'Slattara (pictured), 33, was found dead on a boat at the Montauk Yacht Club last week 'This is mostly a peaceful, family-friendly spot,' an anonymous local told Fox News Digital. 'But in the summer, theres a younger crowd that comes in and they party hard. You see the yachts, the nightlife - its become a kind of escape valve for New York's elite.' One lifelong resident said the area has become full of 'spoiled kids using their parents credit cards' who love drugs and partying. Community members were forced to consider the rapidly changing nature of their beloved home after Nolan-O'Slattara was found dead on a boat at the Montauk Yacht Club last week. The young Irish fashion designer, who flaunted a glamorous life on social media, was known to visit Montauk frequently. Investigators quickly established that there was no foul play involved in her untimely death. A police spokesperson said a preliminary examination of Nolan-O'Slattara's remains was 'inconclusive' and that a cause of death is 'pending further examination.' Daily Mail asked Suffolk County Police if the death was drug-related, but they refused to comment. The young Irish fashion designer (pictured), who flaunted a glamorous life on social media, was known to visit Montauk frequently One woman described a popular route between Newport, Block Island, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket lively boats filled with partying youngsters tend to follow (Pictured: the Montauk Yacht Club) The yacht scene is particularly attractive among young elites, residents told Fox News Digital. One woman described a popular route between Newport and Block Island in Rhode Island, then Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket in Massachusetts that lively boats filled with partying youngsters tend to follow. Between yacht parties and a pumping bar scene, people have complained of loud music blaring all through the night, well into the early morning hours. Michael Brown, a former DEA senior special agent, said the combination of a bustling nightlife scene and rich kids is a recipe for disaster. 'Young adults are going to do drugs,' Brown bluntly told Fox News Digital. Young partiers with money are a prime consumer base for drug dealers, with the prospect of narcotics pushers further disturbing Montauk residents. Dealers have been increasingly lacing drugs with fentanyl, and overdose deaths have skyrocketed, Brown, who is also the global director of counter-narcotics technology at Rigaku Analytical Devices, said. 'You dont know whats in what youre taking. And if Im wrong, Im gonna die in 30 seconds.' Between yacht parties and a pumping bar scene, people have complained of loud music blaring all through the night, well into the early morning hours (pictured: partygoers in Montauk in July) Investigators quickly established that there was no foul play involved in her untimely death (pictured: a detective on the boat O'Slattara was found dead on) Each year, more than 100,000 people across the US die from drug overdoses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 'Local dealers spike cocaine with small amounts of fentanyl - not necessarily enough to kill, but to intensify the high and hook new users,' he explained to the outlet. 'We're talking about individuals who are very well-off, especially young individuals - they have the money to spend.' One resident has described the situation in Montauk as 'craziness.' And with influencers continuing to descend on the town throughout summer 2025 while sharing alluring snaps of their antics, the problem is likely only going to get worse. A fruit and vegetable store famous for its low prices has grabbed attention for a completely different reason, with women swooning over the handsome grocer. Skippy's Fresh Frootz at Victoria Point in Redland City, south-east of Brisbane, has become a viral sensation partly due to its crazy offers, such as five cent lemons. The greengrocer was started by Sam Eletri and his friend Chris Tonks-Foote back in 2018, while Mr Eletri's son Elijah Etri promotes the special deals on TikTok. Elijah appears to have given customers another reason to visit the fruit and vegetable store, with women falling head over heels in love with him. 'Ladies, can we all agree were not going to Skippy's for the prices?' one said. 'Dude Im 100 per cent sure everyone is going to Skippy's for the views not the prices,' another added. 'Oh hun, can you skip over me a couple of times? Here, Skippy,' a third said. 'God, he's handsome,' a fourth chimed in. Elijah Etri (pictured) is attracting attention not just for the crazy cheap prices but also his looks Skippy's Fresh Frootz opened in Queensland in 2018 One said she was happy for Elijah to have his 'way with me' while another joked they would gladly pay 'full price for Big Skip'. Loyal fans also noted in the latest video that Elijah appeared to be working out. 'Skippys arms are getting bigger. Skippys been working out,' one wrote. 'My short king,' a second said. In the latest video, the Adonis of the Aisle spruiked cauliflowers as big as his head for $1.99 as well as avocados for 99c, 1kg of onions for 99c and dozens of other fresh fruits and vegetables for a fraction of the prices seen at Coles and Woolworths. 'Prices you've never seen the supermarket - and you never will - happen here almost weekly at Skippy's Fresh Frootz,' he said. Skippy's Fresh Frootz has been gaining traction online since the company started posting videos in 2023, partly to expose the supermarket giants during the cost-of-living crisis. In one clip watched more than 2.3million times, Elijah promoted watermelon for just 9c a kilo, a fraction of the cost seen at major supermarkets. Since launching content on TikTok in 2023, Elijah has earned a loyal following Skippy's aims to expose the supermarket giants during the cost-of-living crisis Elijah encouraged other Aussies to support local by shopping at independent stores. 'We aren't the only ones being competitive,' he said. 'Our prices are a bit more drastic, but other independent grocers are selling produce for cheap too. 'Aussies need to break away from convenience to challenge these major supermarkets doing the wrong thing. 'If more Aussies do that then more local business will open or thrive, and the major supermarkets will realise they can't get away with everything.' Many commentators from Perth to Sydney have pleaded with the company to expand to other states. While that's not on the cards for now, Elijah confirmed a new store with a juice bar is opening in Cleveland later this year. Two men in Ohio have been arrested after police found a pregnant woman's body stuffed inside a plastic tote on the side of the road. Jackson Township police said they received a call just before 8pm on August 3 that a bad smell was emanating from a cooler along Fort Anthony Road, the Dayton Daily News reports. 'I didn't want to open it,' one 911 caller said, according to WHIO. 'The smell was so bad, you know, I mean there's a difference between dead smells and this is not a normal dead smell.' When officers then arrived at the scene, they found a plastic tote stuffed behind a dirt hill with the lid screwed on. Inside was the body of 28-year-old Brittany Fuhr-Storms, wrapped in a towel and a tarp. An ensuing autopsy then determined that Fuhr-Storms had been pregnant, and the unborn child did not survive. After searching the victim's last known address, police were led to an apartment in Middletown, where it is believed Fuhr-Storms visited two men and later died. There, authorities found a suspected blood stain on the carpet, a blue tarp, wooden screws and a set of towels that matched the description of the ones found with Fuhr-Storms' body. The lessee, James R Rothenbusch, 52, was then detained at the scene as police collected drug paraphernalia from his residence. Brittany Fuhr-Storms, 28, was found dead inside a plastic tote on the side of the road in Ohio on August 3. An ensuing autopsy determined she had been pregnant Police arrested James R Rothenbusch, 52 (right) and Ricky J. Sheppard, 47 (left) in connection with the incident Police say the two men kept her inside Rothenbusch's apartment (pictured) for days before they disposed of her body Upon questioning, police say Rothenbusch admitted to drug trafficking and said Fuhr-Storms died at his home under 'suspicious circumstances.' He also told police her body was left in the shower for around four days before it was disposed of. A second suspect, Ricky J. Sheppard, 47, was also found nearby and allegedly tried to run as police approached him. 'Sheppard attempted to flee but was quickly apprehended and detained,' deputies said, according to Fox 19. 'He later stated that the deceased died from an alleged overdose and she remained in the house for approximately a week before being removed.' Both of the suspects said they knew the 28 year old was pregnant at the time of her death, deputies noted. Rothenbusch is now facing felony charges of corrupting another with drugs specific to a pregnant woman, tampering with evidence, gross abuse of a corpse, trafficking in drugs and possession of drugs. He is also facing misdemeanor charges of failure to report a crime or death and possession of drug paraphernalia. Sheppard, meanwhile, is charged with gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. Authorities found a plastic tote stuffed behind a dirt hill with the lid screwed on Fuhr-Storm's body was wrapped in a towel and a tarp Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Chief of Staff Jeremy Roy praised local law enforcement for coming together to nab the suspects. 'Everybody dropped everything as they should when you find out that a mother-to-be was just dumped on the side of the road,' he said. 'You don't always get that cooperation all the time around the US and in Ohio, but in this case you kind of have to tip your hat.' Yet questions about Fuhr-Storms' death remains, as police say tests are still pending from the coroner's office even as her family raises money for her funeral. Many neighbors are now left shocked and confused. 'I had no clue,' Cody Lewis told Fox 19. 'I had no clue something like that was happening right next door. 'It was surprising.' A woman has been found dead inside her home, while her partner has been arrested, with neighbours left shocked by discovery in their quiet suburb. House painter Zoe Walker, 38, was found inside her home on Seaby Avenue at Upper Ferntree Gully, in Melbourne's east, just before 8am on Sunday. Her partner Daniel Horanyi, 46, was arrested at the scene and will be interviewed by detectives. Ms Walker died nine years after she lost her younger brother Tyson in 2016. Her father Robert Walker described his daughter as 'full of life' and revealed that she ran a small business called Zoe's Painting. 'She was a pioneer in her field,' he told 7News. 'She struggled on in her trade, which is hard for women to be in. 'Every job, even the ones she wasn't familiar with, she had to prove herself, whereas other males didn't have too and she had to struggle, but she did it.' House painter Zoe Walker, 38, was found inside her home on Seaby Avenue at Upper Ferntree Gully, in Melbourne's east, just before 8am on Sunday Her partner Daniel Horanyi, 46, was arrested at the scene and will be interviewed by detectives One local described the area as 'quiet' while another said they were 'shocked' by the news. 'I have never seen a police car. Never heard any noise,' he said. 'I never heard the police cars arrive. It was only when I went out about 3.30pm or 4pm that I saw the police cars were there with the tape.' Mr Walker said his daughter had been working hard every day to 'pay her mortgage'. In July, Ms Walker celebrated her graduation from Swinburne University of Technology, where she completed a Certificate III in General Construction (Painting and Decorating). 'Qualified since 2014 through apprenticeships,' she wrote. 'How times have changed!' Anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online. Drivers older than 70 face taking eye tests every three years and could be banned if they fail them under planned new motoring laws. The radical proposals could also see the the drink-drive limit in England in Wales lowered from 35mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22mg per 100ml, as it is in Scotland. The government's plans are expected to be published this autumn, with some insiders suggesting that the motoring shake-up could be as drastic as those brought in by Sir Tony Blair in 2008, when he announced the Road Safety Act. It could bring stricter punishments for uninsured drivers as well as motorists whose passengers fail to wear a seatbelt, if they already have points on their licence. There could also be tests for medical conditions like dementia introduced to assess a person's fitness to drive. It comes just months after a leading coroner wrote to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander to say that the UKs licensing rules were the 'laxest' in Europe. Dr James Adeley, senior coroner for Lancashire, issued a prevention of future deaths report after finding that four people had been killed by drivers with poor vision. An inquest in Preston heard Mary Cunningham, 79, Grace Foulds, 85, Anne Ferguson, 75, and Peter Westwell, 80, had all died in traffic collisions where the driver had defective eyesight. The radical proposals could also see the the drink-drive limit in England in Wales lowered from 35mg of alcohol per 100ml of breath to 22mg per 100ml, as it is in Scotland (Stock Image) It comes just months after a leading coroner wrote to Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander (above) to say that the UKs licensing rules were the 'laxest' in Europe Dr Adeley stated in his report: 'The four fatalities shared the same feature that the driver's sight was well below the standard required to drive a car.' Tests for visual ability to drive have not changed since the 1930s with the threshold remaining being able to read a registration plate from 20 metres away or around 66ft. Audi driver Glyn Jones, 68, ploughed into friends Mrs Cunningham and Mrs Foulds as they crossed a road in Southport on November 30, 2021. He was unable to see due to a condition called severe 'bilateral keratoconus' but he ignored medical advice that his eyesight was too poor. Mrs Ferguson was killed by van driver Vernon Law, 72, who had been to an optician a month before the crash in Rochdale in July 2023 and was told he had cataracts in both eyes. Following her death, her husband took his own life. Pedestrian Mr Westwell was also struck and killed by a Honda Jazz driven by Neil Pemberton, 81, in Langho on March 17, 2022. Your browser does not support iframes. Pemberton made no attempt to brake and was speeding at 48mph in 30mph zone. The inquest heard Pemberton had a long history of severe bilateral eye disease and was twice warned he should not drive before he began to inform optometrists he was a non-driver. He repeatedly failed to self-report his condition. In his prevention of future deaths notice, Dr Adeley told the Department of Transport (DfT): 'In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths could occur unless action is taken.' A government source told The Times that the latest initiatives were being brought in because ministers felt they had a 'responsibility' to start reduce instances of similar traffic accidents. They said: 'It cannot be right that one person is killed or seriously injured on our roads every 18 minutes. Just think of the impact on those people and their families. We cannot sit by and simply do nothing.' The move has been praised by motoring chiefs across the country, with AA president Edmund King saying that the plans were 'long overdue'. King told the Daily Mail: 'The time has come for a bold and proactive approach to road safety. If these policies are all included in the road safety strategy it would be a positive move which The AA and AA Charitable Trust would support. 'This strategy is much overdue as road deaths have plateaued over the last decade.' King, however, said there has been a 'major oversight' by leaving stricter restrictions on new drivers out of the measures. The AA president said he was disappointed to not see new rules to 'safeguard and to save new driver and passenger lives by limiting peer-age passengers for six months'. RAC head of policy Simon Williams added that lowering the drink drive limit may not be adequate as a standalone policy to reduce road casualties. He said: 'Government data for Scotland suggests merely reducing the legal drink-drive limit isnt enough. 'A significant number of drink-drive offences are committed by reoffenders, so tackling the risk associated with habitual drink-drivers is crucial. 'Motorists we've surveyed are supportive of repeat offenders having alcolocks fitted to their vehicles to stop them driving over the limit. 'Greater scope for the police to deal with drug-drivers more quickly would also be very welcome.' While motoring groups have largely backed the measures, Age UK has suggested the eye test rule discriminates against older motorists. Caroline Abrahams, its charity director, told the Daily Mail: 'It is certainly good for our eye health as we age to have a regular eye test - every two years the NHS advises - but this doesn't automatically mean that a compulsory eye test at age 70 is appropriate. 'People can develop eye problems at any age so why confine such an approach only to those aged 70 and not to younger drivers too? 'A regular eye test for drivers of all ages may be a better idea, one less open to the accusation of ageism - but we would need to see all the evidence to form a final view.' Abrahams added: 'A further consideration is that the latest published official statistics on road accidents reveal an upward trend in the numbers of fatal or serious accidents involving older drivers, something that of course we should take seriously, but without more information it is difficult to say exactly why this is happening - the precondition for proposing effective solutions. 'Certainly though, from the data we have seen there is no reason to suppose that eye problems lie behind a significant proportion of these accidents. 'Therefore, while there may be a case for introducing a regular mandatory eye test for drivers of all ages, it is not clear that this would have a big impact on the numbers of serious accidents involving older drivers.' The Daily Mail has contacted the DfT for comment. She had attended his house with a view to rent a room A woman looking to rent a room with her mate was brutally butchered by him in a drug-fuelled frenzy, a jury has heard. Autumn Baker, 40, of Darley - about 60km north-west of Melbourne - was allegedly murdered by Mark Graham Ludbrook on August 3, 2023. In opening the Supreme Court of Victoria murder trial on Monday, Crown prosecutor Jim Shaw guided the jury through the final moments of Ms Baker's life. The court heard Ms Baker had been friends with Ludbrook when she made the fateful call to visit the Hoppers Crossing home where he had offered her accommodation. The jury was shown graphic body-worn camera footage captured by an officer who attended the bloody scene. The footage showed Ms Baker's blood-soaked body on the floor of Ludbrook's bedroom, with a steak knife resting on her chest. The jury heard Ms Baker had fought for her life, with stab wounds to both arms and hands. She had sustained multiple stab wounds to her chest, with both of her eyes targeted by the alleged killer. Mark Graham Ludbrook at the Supreme Court of Victoria where he is defending allegations he murdered his friend Autumn Baker The court heard Ludbrook suffered from a rare condition known as Transverse Myelitis - a neurological disorder caused by inflammation of the spinal cord - and had been confined to a wheelchair leading up to the alleged murder. But on the day of the attack, Ludbrook's carer noted he was up and about on his feet and his behaviour was unusual. Ludbrook had stripped naked and was ranting incoherently in his backyard when Ms Baker knocked on the door, Mr Shaw said. The court heard the two concerned women discussed what they ought to do when Ludbrook went to the kitchen and pulled open the cutlery drawer. Confronted by his carer, Ludbrook took a steak knife out and took it back to his bedroom where he began stabbing himself in the stomach, the court was told. When his carer and Ms Baker tried to intervene, Ludbrook is accused of lashing out. The jury heard he turned on Ms Baker as his carer fled the bedroom to call police. '(She) heard Ms Baker scream and (when) she went back into the accused's bedroom, she could only get part of the way in,' Mr Shaw told the court. 'Autumn Baker was on the floor, on her back - flat on her back. The accused was standing over her ... stabbing Ms Baker with the steak knife.' Autumn Baker had been friends with Ludbrook Mark Ludbrook arrives at court for the opening of his murder trial on Monday When Ludbrook's carer again tried to intervene he thrust at her with the knife, forcing her to retreat, the court was told. '(She) asked the operator to send emergency services and while she was on this call - she was still just right outside the bedroom door - she could hear Autumn Baker screaming for help,' Mr Shaw said. Moments later Ludbrook emerged from his room, still naked and covered in blood, the jury heard. '(His carer) saw that and ran out of the house to get away from him,' Mr Shaw said. 'The accused followed her into the backyard - again talking irrationally, things that didn't make sense.' The court heard she ran for her life, but returned through the front door to find Ms Baker covered in blood and unresponsive. When police arrived, Ludbrook was seen covered in blood, dashing from his bedroom through the house and into the backyard, where he was arrested. Mr Shaw said a search of Ludbrook's house turned up bags of white powder later identified as an illicit drug named PCE - a dissociative anaesthetic with hallucinogenic effects. Autumn Baker had tried to assist Ludbrook when he turned on her, the court heard The jury heard Autumn Baker was brutally stabbed to death in what prosecutors argue was cold-blooded murder Police allege Ludbrook had been using the drug to help with pain relief. Mr Shaw said Ludbrook knew what he was doing when he repeatedly plunged the steak knife into Ms Baker. 'Blood and urine samples were collected from him at the hospital and ... they show that the accused had ketamine and the other drug I told you about, PCE, in his system,' he said. 'And the quantities suggest he had it in his system at the time of this incident.' While most of the ketamine was likely administered by paramedics at the scene, Mr Shaw said the PCE was taken by him voluntarily on the morning of the attack. In offering a brief defence, Ludbrook's barrister Emily Clark described the attack as a 'terrible tragedy'. She told the jury most of what happened that day was not in dispute, admitting Ludbrook had stabbed Ms Baker to death. However, Ms Clark claimed Ludbrook was out of control when he killed his friend and therefore could not be found guilty of either murder or manslaughter. Autumn Baker was brutally stabbed to death with a steak knife, the court heard Ms Clark said the prosecution needed to prove Ludbrook's state of mind at the time of the killing was that he intended to kill Ms Baker. 'It is absolutely not agreed that he intended to kill Ms Baker or cause her really serious injury or that he knew that was a probable result of his actions,' she said. 'The question for you is not a moral or ethical one about why he took an illegal drug, whether that was the right thing to do. 'The question is whether at the time he did those acts that caused the death of Ms Baker, he was doing that consciously, voluntarily and deliberately. 'Or was he so affected by the PCE that he wasn't capable of acting and thinking in that way? 'That's the question you need to answer.' The jury heard at the conclusion of the prosecution case, the defence would call forensic psychiatrists to back their claims. The trial continues. A British backpacker has pleaded guilty after fatally crashing into a father-of-two while riding an e-scooter under the influence of alcohol in Australia. Alicia Kemp, from Redditch, Worcestershire, appeared at Perth Magistrates' Court via video link from prison on Monday, charged with dangerous driving causing death under the influence of alcohol. Another charge of causing harm to a passenger while under the influence of alcohol was dropped. The charge of dangerous driving causing death carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. The 25-year-old was over the Australian legal limit when she crashed into Thanh Phan, 51, while riding through Perth's city centre on May 31. Mr Phan died in hospital days later after suffering a brain bleed. Kemp and the scooter's passenger also suffered minor injuries. According to the Australian Associated Press, Kemp's lawyer Mike Tudori told reporters outside the court that his client was 'nervous and worried' being a 'young foreign national girl' in an overseas jail. Alicia Kemp (pictured) was over the Australian legal limit when she crashed into Thanh Phan, 51, while riding through Perth's city centre on May 31 Father of two Mr Phan died in hospital days later after suffering a brain bleed 'She's obviously done something stupid at the time,' he said. 'She obviously wasn't thinking level-headed and there's consequences, and she just wants to get on with her life.' Mr Phan's death thrust the issue of e-scooter regulations into Australia's national spotlight, prompting the City of Perth and several other local councils to suspend e-scooter hire services indefinitely. In an earlier statement, Mr Phan's family described him as a 'beloved husband, father of two and dear friend'. Kemp will remain in custody and is due to appear before Perth District Court on October 31, when a date will be set for her sentencing. Under Western Australian law, e-scooter riders must wear a helmet, be sober, carry no passengers and be aged over 16 years old. Police allege psychology graduate Kemp had been drinking from 2.30pm that afternoon with a friend and was kicked out of a bar for being too drunk. Later that evening, she hired an e-scooter around 8.30pm. According to officers, she was the main rider while her friend was illegally riding as a passenger. Police allege Kemp had been drinking from 2.30pm that afternoon with a friend and was kicked out of a bar for being too drunk Alicia Kemp, from Redditch, Worcestershire has pleaded guilty after fatally crashing into a father-of-two while riding an e-scooter under the influence of alcohol in Australia After her arrest, her parents flew to Australia to be with her, according to The Times, She had been travelling through East Asia and Australia with her boyfriend on a four-month tourist visa. She had been working at a pub called Durty Nelly's at the time of the incident. On LinkedIn, she describes herself as a digital nomad and said she was taking a 'career break' to focus on travelling. She often shared her experiences on TikTok. Mr Phan's family and friends have now called on authorities to take action against e-scooters. Last month, a close friend told ABC News: 'E-scooters for hire are motorised vehicles that require no licence to operate and are often stationed outside bars and clubs, inviting use by people who may be intoxicated. 'We call on the City of Perth and the minister for transport to take decisive action.' The head of trauma services at Royal Perth Hospital revealed a disturbing rise in e-scooter injuries, many linked to alcohol. Shoplifting has 'got out of hand', a Labour minister admitted today - amid fury at advice telling shopkeepers to avoid sharing pictures of thieves. The warning from the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) that shaming suspects could 'breach data protection' has been seized upon as proof that red tape is holding back efforts to tackle the scourge of retail theft. Asked if it was right to display images of thieves in shop windows, Labour MP Alex Davies-Jones told Radio 4's Today programme: 'What we do know is that shoplifting has got out of hand in the country. 'That is why we have taken the action that we have done in our Crime and Policing Bill.' Asked again if it was right for shops to post photos of suspects, she responded: 'I think it is on all of us to be aware of what is going on in our local communities.' On an advice page for tackling shoplifters, the ICO said stores 'must only share personal information that's proportionate and necessary to achieve your purpose'. Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick called the advice 'madness' and suggested shoplifters should be 'named and shamed'. The row comes days after police told a shop owner to remove a sign calling thieves 'scum bags' because it was 'provocative and potentially offensive'. It comes days after a business owner was told by police to remove a sign calling thieves 'scum bags' Asked if it was right to display images of suspect thieves in shop windows, Labour MP Alex Davies-Jones told Today : 'What we do know is that shoplifting has got out of hand' Reform UK's Richard Tice accused officials of siding with thieves over shopkeepers, who should be able to decide who enters their premises. 'We should be letting the general public know of the photographs of people who have a track record of stealing in towns,' he told the Telegraph. The ICO, a non-departmental body sponsored by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, said in a blog post from 2023 that thefts could be tackled using data protection laws but only 'as long as it's necessary and proportionate'. In lieu of posting photos of suspected thieves, the body suggests retailers share details of the shoplifters with police or any information they may have about the incident with another store nearby. It also said that sharing photos on messaging platforms had the potential to be similarly inappropriate. A spokesman for the Information Commissioner's Office said: 'We don't set strict requirements on how organisations should respond to shoplifting, as data protection law recognises that circumstances can vary. Instead, we provide guidance to help organisations use people's information in a way that is lawful, fair and proportionate. 'Data protection law enables retailers to share images to prevent or detect crime, as long as it's necessary and proportionate in the circumstances. For example, this could include sharing images with the police, shopping centre security teams, or other relevant authorities. 'Retailers will need to consider the relevant privacy implications, such as having a legal reason and appropriate security measures, when considering publishing any images of suspected shoplifters.' Taking to X, Shadow home office minister Katie Lam recounted a story about a constituent who had been ordered by police to remove pictures of suspected shoplifters. 'He gives police CCTV, card details, licence plates. No action apart from a visit to say he must take down pics of thieves 'because of GDPR',' she wrote. 'Our system should crush the lawless and protect the law-abiding. It does the opposite.' Last week, it was revealed that the defiant shopkeeper who was told by police to remove the shoplifting sign in case it caused offence was planning to put up an even bigger one He began locking goods in cabinets after he said police failed to deal with earlier shoplifting incidents It follows a backlash after a shopkeeper was told to remove a shoplifting sign in case it caused offence was planning 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'. Officers 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. 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. Your browser does not support iframes. '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. '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.' Your browser does not support iframes. A man shoving luxury candles into an empty Waitrose bag in Hersham In another piece of footage, this time from Oxted, a man can be seen squatting down and hurriedly shoving four candles into an open Sainsbury's bag 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.' 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.' Britain's fourth heatwave of summer began today and could last for a week as temperatures of 34C (93F) make the country hotter than Ibiza - as UK health authorities warn of a rise in deaths. Beaches and parks were packed as central and southern England got above 30C (86F) today because of a combination of high pressure and a southerly airflow. But a Government amber heat health alert was imposed and forecasters warned of a risk of isolated thunderstorms and infrequent outbreaks of rain during the hot spell. South coast resorts were particularly busy today, with TomTom roads congestion data giving a peak in Brighton of 47 per cent at 11am, compared to the usual 25 per cent; and in Bournemouth of 36 per cent at 12pm, also well above the normal 25 per cent. Warm nights are also thought to be likely in South East England with a chance of a 'tropical night' tonight, where temperatures do not drop below 20C (68F) overnight. The UK is additionally on alert for wildfires after a major incident in Dorset where 100 firefighters battled a blaze that ravaged hundreds of acres of land at the weekend. Crews battling the blaze at Holt Heath near Wimborne captured a rare 'dust devil' on camera a whirlwind of dirt which normally occurs in the desert or other arid areas. The upward spiralling vortex of air is created where dry ground and high surface temperatures create strong updrafts. It looks like a mini tornado but is not as strong and normally lasts a few minutes before cool air is sucked in and cuts off heat supply. Other crews tackled a large blaze on Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh yesterday; and a big fire at Newton Heath near Swanage, which has been burning since last Sunday. Your browser does not support iframes. Visitors enjoy the hot weather in Brighton today at the start of the fourth heatwave of the year The beach at the seaside resort of Lyme Regis, Dorset, is packed with holidaymakers today A woman talks on her phone at Hyde Park in London during the heatwave this afternoon People enjoy the hot weather on the beach at Weymouth in Dorset this afternoon Swimmers at Hathersage open-air swimming pool at Hope Valley in the Peak District today Chloe Taylor with her dog cooling off in a fountain on a sunny day in Birmingham today People enjoy the hot weather at Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds in North London today An official heatwave is recorded when areas reach a certain temperature for three days in a row, with thresholds varying from 25C (77F) to 28C (82F) in different areas. The Met Office forecast for London, which has a 28C threshold, said temperatures will hit at least that level daily until at least Sunday, with a 33C (92F) peak tomorrow. This is compared to a temperature of 30C (86F) in Ibiza and 33C (92F) in Palma de Mallorca and Athens tomorrow. The UK Health Security Agency has issued a amber heat health alert from 9am tomorrow until 6pm on Wednesday, covering the West Midlands, East Midlands, South East and East regions of England. A separate yellow alert is also in place for the same time period for the North East, North West and South West areas. Government officials have warned of 'significant impacts' across health and social care services due to the high temperatures - including the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. The London Fire Brigade warned people against using disposable barbecues and told them to properly dispose of cigarettes and take rubbish home if no bins are available. A woman enjoys the hot weather as she sits on a chair in St James's Park in London today A pelican attempts to take a woman's belongings at St James' Park in London today Dolphins in the North Sea near Whitley Bay in North Tyneside this afternoon People take selfies with the skyline at Greenwich Park in South East London today People in the sunshine and hot weather at Hyde Park in London this afternoon People out on the River Cam in Cambridge taking in the sunshine this morning Swimmers at Hathersage open-air swimming pool at Hope Valley in the Peak District today People enjoy the hot weather on the beach at Weymouth in Dorset this afternoon A man soaks up the sun at St James's Park in London today during the new heatwave People enjoy the hot weather at Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds in North London today A sunbather at St James's Park in London today as the fourth heatwave of summer begins A man sunbathes on a bench in Greenwich Park in South East London this morning Swimmers at Hathersage open-air swimming pool at Hope Valley in the Peak District today People enjoy the hot weather as they sit on deckhairs at St James's Park in London today People sunbathe at Hampstead Heath in North London today during the heatwave A man walks through Greenwich Park in London today, with Canary Wharf in the background People enjoy the hot weather at Hampstead Heath Swimming Ponds in North London today Swimmers at Hathersage open-air swimming pool at Hope Valley in the Peak District today Met Office senior meteorologist Greg Dewhurst said: 'Temperatures are going to rise over the coming days, particularly across England and Wales. 'But it is not going to be felt quite as much across parts of Northern Ireland and Scotland - it's not going to be widespread heat everywhere. What is a heatwave? The Met Office defines a heatwave in the UK as three consecutive days where temperatures meet or exceed a threshold, which varies by region: 25C: Scotland, Northern Ireland, North of England, Wales and South West England 26C to 28C: Central and South East of England Advertisement 'And the reason for that is we've got high pressure to the south east of the UK at the moment and low pressure to the north west and west. 'But through Monday, we start importing some of that hot and humid air, and we're looking at highs of around 31C across central and southern England, with the rest of England and Wales getting towards the high 20s, and Northern Ireland and parts of Scotland in the low 20s. 'The heat may spark one or two heavy showers and thunderstorms across south-west England and Wales, but they'll be very isolated. 'And then Tuesday looks largely dry, with plenty of sunny spells - it could well be the peak of the heat. 'Temperatures are set to rise to about 33C across central and southern England, but again, this could spark off a thunderstorm by the afternoon and evening time. 'And some places will hit heatwave thresholds on Tuesday, while some places will hit it on Wednesday - it depends on the area.' The high temperatures on consecutive days would mean the UK hitting its fourth heatwave of the summer. Looking further ahead, Mr Dewhurst said: 'Into Wednesday, we just start to see the high pressure edge away a bit. The UK Health Security Agency has issued amber and yellow heat health alerts tomorrow Crews battling a wildfire at Holt Heath near Wimborne in Dorset yesterday captured a rare 'dust devil' on camera a whirlwind of dirt which normally occurs in the desert or other arid areas Firefighters battled a blaze ravaging hundreds of acres of land in Wimborne, Dorset, yesterday Scottish Fire and Rescue Service battled a wildfire at Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh yesterday 'It allows the low pressure to the west to edge in a bit, so with a bit more cloud, temperatures may just be a bit lower, but we could still see it as high as the low 30s. 'On Thursday, temperatures are set to peak around 29C, again with a bit more cloud around and a few showers, before a drier Friday with sunny spells ahead of the weekend.' Hottest temperatures of each year since 2022 2025 (so far) : 35.8C (78.4F) in Kent on July 1 : 35.8C (78.4F) in Kent on July 1 2024 : 34.8C (94.6F) in Cambridge on August 12 : 34.8C (94.6F) in Cambridge on August 12 2023 : 33.5C (92.3F) in Kent on September 10 : 33.5C (92.3F) in Kent on September 10 2022 : 40.3C (104.5F) in Lincolnshire on July 19 (highest ever UK temperature) Advertisement Temperatures are not expected to beat the 35.8C (78.4F) at Faversham in Kent on July 1 during the last heatwave - the UK's hottest day in three years. That beat the warmest day of 2024 which was 34.8C (94.6F) in Cambridge on August 12; and the 2023 peak which was 33.5C (92.3F) in Faversham on September 10. The 2022 high of 40.3C (104.5F) on July 19 in Lincolnshire remains the UK's highest temperature on record. Dr Paul Coleman, consultant in public health at the UKHSA, said: 'Temperatures are forecast to rise above 30C across central and southern parts of the country over the next few days, and generally hot weather is expected across most regions of England. 'These kind of temperatures can result in serious health outcomes across the population - particularly in those who are vulnerable, such as the elderly or those with serious health conditions - so it is important that everyone takes sensible precautions while enjoying the sun. 'If you have friends, family or neighbours who are vulnerable, it is important to ensure they are aware of the forecasts and are following the necessary advice. 'Check in on them if you can to make sure they know that hot weather is on the way and how to keep themselves safe.' The mother of Harvey Willgoose has revealed that her son sobbed about going to school days in the days before he was murdered. Fifteen-year-old Harvey was stabbed in the heart by another 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, during their lunch break at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield on February 3. His killer was last week found guilty of murder at Sheffield Crown Court for inflicting the fatal blow during a nine-second confrontation in front of horrified pupils in the school courtyard that afternoon. The teenage defendant had pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of loss of control but denied murder, arguing that his actions were the 'end result of a long period of bullying, poor treatment and violence'. But a trial heard the boy had a reputation for bringing weapons, including an axe, into school and the jury of eight women and four men convicted him of murder by a majority of 11-1, following 14 hours and 34 minutes of deliberation. In the aftermath of the conviction, Harvey's mother, Caroline Willgoose, told the Daily Mail that she blamed the school for missing a litany of red flags about his killer. The Mail also revealed that a concerned parent had contacted All Saints as far back as October 2024 after hearing the defendant had been showing other pupils an axe in school. And now, grieving Caroline has told how Harvey - in the days before his death - pleaded with her and his father not to send him to school and in floods of tears said 'I'm trying my best but nobody understands me'. The mother of Harvey Willgoose (above) says her son sobbed about going to school days in the days before he was murdered Caroline Willgoose (above) has told how Harvey - in the days before his death - pleaded with his parents and said 'I'm trying my best but nobody understands me' Fifteen-year-old Harvey was stabbed in the heart by another 15-year-old during their lunch break at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield on February 3 (Pictured: CCTV footage shows Harvey's killer pushing him in the corridor prior to the stabbing) Speaking to The Mirror about how he had only attended school 20 times over five months, Caroline explained that teachers would regularly turn up at the family house to check if Harvey 'was still alive' over concerns at not seeing him in class. She told the newspaper: 'They used to say "Do you want your mum and dad to have a criminal record? Do you want them to get fines?" And he'd say "no, I don't".' Official government guidance states parents have an obligation to enforce their child's school attendance but Caroline says she now feels 'guilty' for making her son's 'life a misery'. She continued: 'This went on for about 18 months. I used to say "is somebody bothering you, are you being bullied?" and he'd just say "do you think anybody would bully me?" He was very proud'. 'He used to send me all these TikToks of these kids crying in the bedroom, saying, "they don't understand I can't go to school". My mum found him crying in his bedroom a week before, and he said "I'm trying my best but nobody understands me".' Data shows that almost one in five pupils have missed 10 per cent or more of their school sessions in the 2024/25 autumn term - and Caroline believes more should be done to help these children who are 'not naughty' but who 'cannot cope'. Harvey's mother and father, Mark (left), were seen arriving at court for the verdict last week Caroline said Harvey only ever behaved aggressively when asked to go to school because he had been struggling with his mental health and the pressure of adapting to academic life post-Covid. She also heartbreakingly told the Mail last week that Harvey, on the day he was killed, said to her 'Im going to school, are you proud of me? to which she replied 'I am, love' before he closed the door to walk with a friend. Speaking to Good Morning Britain today, Caroline said her son also told her that he 'didn't want to go to school because people carry knives'. Harvey's sister, Sophie, added: 'He was never really truthful with us. We had so much trouble getting him to school and we were doing what agencies and professionals were telling us to do. 'He'd just make up any excuse not to go like "I feel sick" or "my leg hurts" so then for him to then come out with that [comment about the knives] we thought it was just another excuse. We feel like we've let him down.' The killer and victim Harvey had argued over Snapchat in the days leading up to the murder, when Harvey stuck up for one his friends. Harvey's sister Sophie (right) said they feel like they have 'let him down' after following advice and sending him to school where he was killed The school had also been placed into lockdown on January 29, which was brought about by the defendant telling teachers that the other boy had threatened to stab him and his friend. Police attended, but did not find any weapon on him. Over that weekend, Harvey expressed support for the other boy in a group Snapchat conversation, leading him and the defendant to row 'non-stop' for several hours. It culminated with the defendant warning Harvey in a private message on the morning of the attack: 'If u wan beef we can hav it.' Caroline admitted on today's programme that she feels sorry for Harvey's killer as she believes he was 'let down' like her son, but also thinks he needs to be 'made an example of' when sentenced on October 22. She continued by saying the judge should lift the boy's anonymity order, which is in place due to his age, with Sophie adding: 'Hes a 15-year-old boy. Wed like to think that he didnt want to murder Harvey. 'Hes just from a troubled background and services have let him down.' Richard Thyne KC said last week that the boy had 'an unhealthy and apparently longstanding interest in weapons' - and he even posed for pictures with his knives on school premises. Both Caroline and Sophie added that they are campaigning for knife arches to be installed in all secondary schools and colleges, proposals that are being considered by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. The school is now facing questions over its failure to act on a series of warning signs about the boy's murderous potential, which Harvey's family believe could have prevented the killing. All Saints said in a statement that it recognised Harvey's death had given rise to questions from his family, adding it would 'engage fully and openly with them to help ensure every angle is considered and no key questions are left unresolved'. Steve Davies, CEO of St Clare Catholic Multi Academy Trust which includes All Saints Catholic High School, added: 'We think especially of Harvey's family, loved ones and friends today. We cannot begin to imagine the immeasurable impact the loss of Harvey has had on them. Harvey's killer was caught on camera brandishing a knife in the canteen after the murder 'Harvey was a much-loved, positive and outgoing pupil whose memory will be cherished by all who knew him. As a community we have been devastated by his death and we continue to think of him every day. 'Harvey's death was an unimaginable tragedy for all, and one that understandably gives rise to a number of questions from his family and others.' A government spokesperson told the Mail: 'Harvey Willgooses death is a tragedy that has devastated an entire community, and our thoughts remain with his family and friends at this difficult time. 'No child should ever feel unsafe at school. Through our Plan for Change, we are committed to halving knife crime over the next decade, and we have already banned zombie-style knives, are progressing a ban on ninja swords, and are strengthening age verification for online knife sales.' They added that they are making 'huge progress on school attendance' with five million more school attendance days recorded this year and 140,000 fewer pupils persistently absent. The spokesperson continued: 'We know there is more to do which is why we are rolling out free breakfast clubs, improving mental health support, and ensuring earlier intervention for children with special educational needs - and will set out our vision for the school system in the White Paper later this year.' Unsettling images of well known crocodile's head in a car boot have emerged, as it is revealed it was likely taken by poachers and would be sold on the black market. The five metre croc, known by those in the area as Big John, was found drowned in a fishing net by locals at Yarrabah near Cairns, in northern Queensland, on July 30 and the body was disposed of. It had been a mystery what had happened to the head until the disturbing pictures surfaced, prompting many in the town to call for a criminal investigation, especially the Yarrabah indigenous community for which crocodiles are totem animals. Crocodiles are protected fauna in Australia under federal, state and territory laws and the international trade of crocodile products is also heavily regulated. Many Yarrabah residents are furious over what happened to the croc, one of whom is traditional owner Warren Martens, who said the head has not been found and he suspects the perpetrators preserved it for sale. 'If you are going to chop the head off a crocodile you need to be criminally responsible for it,' he told The Cairns Post. He wants the Queensland Department of Environment, Science, Tourism and Education to take up the investigation with the help of police. 'If the department does not have the appropriate legislation to deal with these people, then go back to the government and ask for it.' Local legend Big John drowned in a fishing net in the Yarrabah, in northern Queensland, on July 30 The crocodile's body was recently found to have been desecrated by unknown fishermen Disturbing pictures of its head in the back of the car boot then appeared Mr Martens added the 'professional poachers' who are likely to blame need to be punished. 'The department needs to crack down,' he said. The traditional owner also called into question several Aboriginal organisations which were tasked with patrolling the area leading up to Big John's death. These groups should have removed the nets from the river which ultimately killed Big John, he said. Traditional owner Vincent Schreiber said indigenous groups had been working to track down the owner of the car which was found to be hiding Big John's head. These efforts however, have so far been unsuccessful. 'Everyone has gone quiet but the dark secret has to come out sooner or later', Mr Schreiber said. 'If it got caught in the net and if someone came up and said, ''It's my net'', I would have been happy with that, but the cutting of the head is unwarranted and it does not sit right,' he added. Locals have begun calling for a criminal investigation into the 'professional poachers' likely behind the act Community Representations of Crocodiles co-founder Amanda French said legislation passed in Queensland to help crack down on this behaviour is not enough if the Department of Environment cannot investigate these claims properly. 'It's really concerning seeing people target large crocs like this. It's atrocious,' she said. Mr Martens agreed and said the Environment Department should hand the investigation over to someone who will investigate and impose an appropriate penalty. It, however, has insisted it is taking the investigation into the death of Big John seriously and has urged anyone with information to call 1300 130 372. A drunk easyJet pilot stripped naked at a hotel bar in Cape Verde hours before he was due to fly passengers back to the UK. Witnesses say they saw the captain naked at 2:30am at the five-star Melia Dunas Beach Resort and Spa after a drinking binge. The pilot, who had flown tourists from the UK to the West African holiday island on August 4, was scheduled to fly back to Gatwick just over 24 hours later. But his late-night antics saw him pulled from duty and replaced by another captain. Guests reported seeing him slurring his words and reeking of alcohol as he wandered unclothed through reception, heading towards a closed bar before lurching towards the gym and spa area. According to The Sun, another described the veteran captain as 'paralytic' and said they 'wouldn't have put him in charge of a toy aeroplane, never mind the real thing with hundreds of passengers'. People who saw him recognised him and raised the alarm. Senior staff were said to be shocked but moved quickly to remove him from the roster for the return flight on August 6. The airline confirmed he has been 'stood down' while an investigation is carried out. A drunk easyJet pilot stripped naked at a hotel bar in Cape Verde hours before he was due to fly passengers back to the UK Guests reported seeing him slurring his words and reeking of alcohol as he wandered unclothed through reception at the popular holiday destination He is said to have embarked on the drinking session after checking in at the 1,569-a-week hotel. A source close to the company said: 'We all make mistakes, but the level of stupidity on display here by a veteran captain beggars belief.' An easyJet spokesperson told Daily Mail: 'As soon as we were made aware the pilot was immediately stood down from duty, in line with our procedures, pending an investigation. 'The safety of our passengers and crew is easyJet's highest priority.' A British F-35B was forced to make an emergency landing in Japan just weeks after another of the stealth jets was left stuck in India due to a mechanical fault. The sophisticated 88million fighter jet was diverted to Kagoshima International Airport at around 11.30am local time on Sunday. It had been carrying out a sortie from the Royal Navy's 3.5billion aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales, which is spearheading the UK carrier strike group in the Indo-Pacific. The warplane, one of around 24 embarked on the British supercarrier, reportedly suffered an engineering issue mid-flight and needed an emergency inspection. Footage of the jet shows it touching down at the airport at around 2pm local time, with the incident leading to the closure of the site's runway for around 20 minutes. 'The aircraft landed at Kagoshima Airport due to a malfunction,' Japan's defence ministry said in a statement. The jet is the second in the British airwing to suffer a technical glitch during the overseas mission to the Far East. In June, an F-35 was forced to make an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram Airport in Kerala, in southern India, after hitting bad weather in the Indian Ocean. A British F-35B jet from HMS Prince of Wales made a precautionary emergency landing at Kagoshima Airport, Japan, due to a technical issue. The incident comes weeks after another F-35B from the same carrier was stranded in India. pic.twitter.com/GsrBK6jflP Clash Report (@clashreport) August 10, 2025 In June, one of the 88m F-35Bs, dubbed one of the world's most hi-tech, was forced to make an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram airport, in Kerala, India (pictured) The jet had diverted to the Indian airport after hitting bad weather over the Indian Ocean. It then developed a fault that left it stranded for more than a month However, the stealth jet was left stranded at the airport for more than a month after a reported hydraulic failure left it unable to take off. British engineers had to be flown out with specialist equipment to repair the jet, which was able to return to the carrier strike group on July 22. But the F-35's engineering woes led to it becoming the butt of a ruthless joke by Indian media, who mocked it for being left stuck at the airport. Kerala's own government tourist board turned the clapped-out fighter jet into a meme, posting an AI-generated poster poking fun at it. Pictured alongside palm trees and a fake TripAdvisor-style five-star review, the viral post said: 'Kerala is such an amazing place, I don't want to leave. Definitely recommend.' It was signed off by 'UK F-F35B'. The F-35s are the most costly defence programme Britain has ever indulged in, costing the taxpayers' billions of pounds. Last month the National Audit Office warned it will cost around 71billion over its lifetime - which includes aircraft, personnel and infrastructure costs. The Kerala Tourism board tweeted a tongue-in-cheek post about the stranded F-35 in June This is significantly higher than the Ministry of Defence's own estimates of around 18.76billion. Britain currently has 37 of the jets in service, against a pledge to buy a total of 138. One of the jets has already been destroyed following an accident in 2021 that saw it plunging off HMS Queen Elizabeth into the Mediterranean Sea. However, the programme, one of the most complicated engineering schemes in the world involving collaboration between the US, Britain, Japan and other global partners - has been blighted by problems. Plans to equip the jets with 'important weapons', including the integration of UK-developed missiles, and to assure the MoD that the aircraft retains its stealth capabilities, have been pushed back until the 2030s, the NAO warned. The full delivery of the first batch of 48 aircraft is also behind schedule due to a combination of financial pressures and problems relating to the global programme. It's meant the scheme is around two years behind schedule, with full operating capability expected to be achieved at the end of the year. Concerns have also been raised over the poor availability of the aircraft, which has resulted in fewer flying hours for pilots. In its report, the NAO warned costs for the project would likely continue to skyrocket, pushing the MoD further into a multi-billion pound financial black hole that has put a strain on spending for years. 'The MoD has spent 11 billion to date on its F-35 programme more than it has reported, and more than it anticipated it would spend at the time of the 2013 business case,' the spending watchdog said. The latest F-35 to suffer an issue had been taking part in drills in the Indo-Pacific when it was diverted to Japan for an emergency landing (pictured is a file image of an F-35B) It was one of the stealth jets embarked on the Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales (which is pictured arriving in Darwin, Australia on July 23) 'The NAO has also estimated the whole-life cost of the programme to the UK to be 71billion considerably higher than the 18.76 billion the MoD has publicly reported.' The F-35Bs, built by aerospace giant Lockheed Martin, are prized for their short take-off and vertical landing capability. Britain has already lost one of its jets after it plunged into the sea in the Mediterranean during an accident on HMS Queen Elizabeth's deployment to the Far East in 2021. Queen Elizabeth's sister ship HMS Prince of Wales is currently on her maiden voyage to the region, having departed with the UK carrier strike group in April. The formation of warships, which includes a British Type 45 destroyer, Type 23 frigate, and support vessels - which includes foreign warships and reportedly an American submarine - is currently training with Japan's Self-Defence Forces and the US military until August 12. The deployment, dubbed 'Operation Highmast', is aimed at demonstrating Britains commitment to security in the Indo-Pacific and its ability to operate alongside allies in the region. HMS Prince of Wales and her strike group is expected to return home in December. A feminist activist in Morocco was taken into custody and said she was threatened online with stoning after posting a photo of herself wearing a T-shirt with the words: 'Allah is a lesbian.' Ibtissame Lachgar is accused of posting a photo wearing a shirt that is offensive to Islam, and writing a caption that was also insulting to the religion. The Public Prosecutor's Office at the Rabat Court of First Instance in Morocco announced she was taken into police custody on Sunday, as authorities investigate the photo. 'Following a womans posting of a photo on her social media account, which depicts her wearing a shirt with phrases offensive to the divine, along with a caption insulting Islam, the public prosecutor ordered an investigation,' its statement said. 'Due to its urgency, the subject has been placed under police custody in accordance with the law.' In the photo, the outspoken feminist activist can be seen smiling with her hands on her hips as she poses wearing the T-shirt. She wrote on X: 'In Morocco, I walk around with T-shirts bearing messages against religions, Islam, etc. 'You tire us with your sanctimoniousness, your accusations. Yes, Islam, like any religious ideology, is FASCIST. PHALLOCRATIC AND MISOGYNISTIC.' Ibtissame Lachgar was taken into custody after posting a photo of herself wearing a T-shirt with the words 'Allah is a lesbian' Ibtissame Lachgar is a developmental psychologist as well as a feminist and atheist activist Her post sparked outrage online, with some accounts allegedly calling for the feminist to be stoned Lachgar is a developmental psychologist as well as a feminist and atheist activist who has organised a number of protests in Morocco about women's rights, LGBTQ+ issues and male violence. She co-founded the Mouvement alternatif pour les libertes individuelles (MALI), which campaigns for individual freedoms such as the right for abortion and same-sex marriage. Her post sparked outrage online, as well as debate, with some accounts showing support for the feminist. After she posted the photo on July 31, Lachgar took to social media to describe the online hatred she received for wearing the T-shirt. Writing on Facebook, Lachgar said she had been subjected to three days of 'cyber bullying, thousands of threats of rape, death, calls for lynching and stoning'. She posted some of the comments she had been receiving as backlash, including one on X by the account @moufarrid which said: 'Our country is in danger; this woman named Ibtissem Lachgar is currently free. She was born in Rabat and currently lives in Morocco. She is a feminist activist, anti-royalist, pro-secularism, and openly Islamophobic. 'Her freedom is an insult to all Moroccans. She alone is an insult to all the martyrs, our ancestors who proudly fought in the path of Allah to make this country what it is today. The Public Prosecutor's Office at the Rabat Court of First Instance in Morocco announced she was taken into police custody on Sunday Lachgar's post sparked outrage online, with many calling for her to be punished by the authorities 'The authorities have still not apprehended her, and this is unacceptable. We must not let such an act go unpunished. There is nothing more sacred to Moroccans than Allah, than Islam. This womans place is behind bars.' A 2002 Moroccan law restricting media freedom states that expression deemed critical of 'Islam, the institution of the monarchy, or territorial integrity' is not permissible and may be punishable by imprisonment. Moreover, according to law, 'anyone who employs incitements to shake the faith of a Muslim or to convert him to another religion' incurs a sentence of three to six months imprisonment and a fine of 115 to 575 MAD (9.46 to 47.29). In 2007, Moroccan editor Driss Ksikes and journalist Sanaa al-Aji were handed three-year suspended sentences and ordered to pay fines of $8,000 (5,948) each after an article they wrote about religious jokes. The journalists were accused of 'defaming Islam and damaging morality' and were banned from working for the magazine Nichane for two months In 2013, Lachgar was one of the organisers of a public 'kiss-in' in Rabat in support of three teenagers who were arrested for posting a photo of themselves kissing on Facebook. A boy and girl, aged 15 and 14, alongside their 15-year-old male friend, were charged with 'violating public decency' and held in a juvenile centre after posting the photo outside their school in the northern town of Nador, local media reported. At the demonstration protesting against conservatism in Moroccan society, the activists locked lips outside the parliament building in the capital city. In 2012, as part of her pro-choice advocacy, Lachgar invited the Women on Waves' abortion boat to anchor in Morocco as a symbolic protest against anti-abortion laws. The boat, purportedly offering medical abortions as well as advice, was manned by a Dutch campaign group who advocate for reproductive rights for women in countries where abortion is not legal. The boat started its journey from the Netherlands and was scheduled to dock at the port of Smir before it was blocked by authorities. Lord Hermer, Labour's Attorney General, is being urged to 'enforce the law' following the arrest of more than 500 people at a Palestine Action rally. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that 522 people were detained for displaying placards in support of the banned terror group in central London on Saturday. The force said officers from its Counter Terrorism Command will work over the coming days to put together the case files needed to secure charges. Scotland Yard also pointed to how, in some instances, securing a charge for an offence under the Terrorism Act can require the approval of the Attorney General. The Tories have now piled pressure on Lord Hermer, who has faced intense scrutiny over his past client list while a human rights lawyer, not to block further action. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, warned the Attorney General that a lack of prosecutions would risk accusations of 'two-tier justice'. He told the Telegraph: 'If lawbreakers supporting a proscribed terrorist group aren't prosecuted, it will be the clearest example yet of two-tier justice under Two-Tier Keir. 'Lord Hermer needs to enforce the law, not pander to activists he's sympathetic to.' Lord Hermer, Labour 's Attorney General, is being urged to 'enforce the law' following the arrest of more than 500 people at a Palestine Action rally A protester is carried away by police officers at a 'Lift The Ban' demonstration in support of Palestine Action Protesters are pictured sitting in Parliament Square, Westminster, holding placards in support of Palestine Action Ben Obese-Jecty, a fellow Tory MP, said: 'If Lord Hermer doesn't charge every single Palestine Action supporter then he has to be sacked by Keir Starmer for undermining him. 'This is now the acid test of where the Attorney General's loyalties lie and there can be no excuses.' The Met Police said the 522 people arrested for displaying an item in support of a proscribed organisation made up the majority of the 532 arrests at this weekend's protest. Scotland Yard said there were six arrests for assaults on officers, two for breaching Public Order Act conditions, one arrest for obstructing a constable in the execution of their duty, and one for a racially aggravated public order offence. The majority of those arrested, 348, were aged 50 or over, according to a breakdown published by the force. Detained protesters were taken to prisoner processing points in the Westminster area. Those whose details could be confirmed were released on bail to appear at a police station at a future date. They were given conditions not to attend future demonstrations related to Palestine Action. 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. It means that membership of, or support for, the now-proscribed group is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison, under the Terrorism Act 2000. Labour's action has been criticised by some as an attack on free speech and the right to protest. But Downing Street on Monday defended banning Palestine Action under counter-terror laws, saying evidence and security assessments shared in closed court supported its proscription. Asked whether the Government was reconsidering its decision to proscribe the group following Saturday's mass arrests, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'No. 'Palestine Action was proscribed based on strong security advice following serious attacks the group has committed involving violence, significant injury and extensive criminal damage.' No10 said the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre an independent authority based within MI5 had found the organisation had carried out three separate acts of terrorism. The Government is unable to provide 'all of the detail at this stage' but the proscription has been made through a 'robust, evidence-based process', No10 said. 'We've said that many people may not yet know the reality of this organisation, but the assessments are very clear,' Sir Keir Starmer's spokesman added. 'This is a violent organisation that has committed violence, significant injury and extensive criminal damage.' The Attorney General recently rubbished suggestions that he's 'some huge lefty' as he hit back at claims he's dedicated his career to 'defending those who hate Britain'. Lord Hermer, who was hand-picked to be the Government's chief legal adviser by Sir Keir Starmer, spoke in June to defend himself from attacks over his past client list. He also branded charges of a 'two-tier' justice system in Britain, which have been made following last summer's riots, as 'disgusting' and 'wrong'. The Labour peer said politicians using the phrase needed to think about the 'dangers' they were posing to the UK's 'essential institutions'. It has previously been reported that Lord Hermer once helped write a handbook on fighting 'Israeli apartheid'. He was said to have contributed a chapter to the book in which he set out how 'Palestinian victims' could use UK courts to sue companies that sold arms to Israel. Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones this morning said supporters of a 'terrorist organisation will feel the full force of the law'. She told BBC Breakfast: 'I want to thank the police for their bravery and their courage in carrying out their diligent duties in the line of public protection. 'And I want to state that the right to peacefully protest in this country is a cornerstone of our democracy, and of course, we respect that. 'But with regards to Palestine Action, they are a proscribed terrorist organisation and their actions have not been peaceful. 'They have violently carried out criminal damage to RAF aircraft. 'We have credible reports of them targeting Jewish-owned businesses here in the UK, and there are other reasons, which we can't disclose because of national security. 'But they are a prescribed terrorist organisation and anyone showing support for that terrorist organisation will feel the full force of the law.' Palestine Action co-founder Huda Ammori said the Parliament Square demonstration would 'go down in our country's history as a momentous act of collective defiance of an unprecedented attack on our fundamental freedoms'. She said: 'This is humiliating for the Home Secretary, who will now have to justify this 'two-tier' policing of arresting some people as 'terrorists' for holding a sign, but not others who held the exact same sign. 'It's clear that more and more ordinary people appalled by this anti-democratic, authoritarian ban will defy it en masse and it is simply not possible to arrest them all.' Commuters who took the law into their own hands when a Tube passenger dropped his trousers in a packed London Underground carriage could face arrest, the Daily Mail can reveal today. British Transport Police (BTP) believe the naked man, who has since been detained under the mental health act, was assaulted on the District line in east London. Up to four men stepped in when he repeatedly refused to pull up his pants at 3.30pm last Thursday. He was pinned to the floor and carried off the train before being arrested by an off duty police officer. But detectives are probing whether the vigilantes committed any criminal offences in the confrontation after he refused to pull up his pants. BTP has appealed for witnesses to the incident but there have been no arrests over the brawl. 'The man had been assaulted by a number of other passengers and was initially arrested by an off duty officer, before being detained under the mental health act and taken to hospital,' the BTP statement said. 'An investigation into the incident is ongoing.' 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. British Transport Police said in a statement that the naked man was assaulted A group carried him off the train and pinned him down on the platform, waiting for help to arrive The Daily Mail revealed how he began yelling after the eastbound 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 and revulsion around him on the train, which was busy with children who are on their summer holidays. A passenger stood up and quickly confronted him, gesticulating angrily. He politely and firmly told him: 'You need to get off the train.' But the man began repeatedly yelling back: 'F*** off.' 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.' Footage of the incident showed up to four men kicking and punching the naked man, who was hitting them with his belt. The video then cut to him being pinned to the floor of the carriage. The man was then unceremoniously carried on to the Tube platform at East Ham and dumped to the floor. He was then pinned down as the commuters tried to alert staff. It appears an off duty police officer was on the train and performed an arrest and he was taken to hospital. It is yet another horrifying incident on the Tube, which is run by Sir Sadiq Khan's Transport for London (TfL). Since he became Mayor in 2016, Tube crime rates have more than doubled, and today he has been accused of ignoring a manifesto pledge to maintain a 24-hour police front counter in every borough in the capital. Just last month a brawl broke out on the steps of a packed station - with a screaming toddler ending up on the floor in the chaos. On Thursday a group of men surrounded the man who exposed himself and repeatedly ordered him to 'pull your f***ing trousers up'. A scuffle then broke out. The naked man was showing trying hit them with his belt and the group was punching and kicking him. The men snatched away his belt and pinned him to the floor of the carriage while putting his arm behind his back, still with his trousers around his ankles. Passengers then yelled: 'We've got to get him off.' He was then removed and arrested. A group of men were seen fighting each other on the steps of Highbury and Islington Tube station last month A toddler was seen sitting on the floor on their own while the men threw punches just feet away Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. The Daily Mail 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 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. 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 Daily Mail's analysis comes after shock statistics laid bare the ever-worsening crime epidemic plaguing commuters - who have fallen victim to violent, racist, sexist and anti-Semitic assaults. One woman was even whipped in the face with a belt in a sickening attack at Green Park station last January. Liban Ahmed, 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. Mansoor Ahmed, 30, was last month jailed for 26 months and slapped on the sex offenders register for a decade after he sexually assaulted two women on the Tube. On September 6, 2020, Ahmed sexually assaulted a woman walking up the stairs at Gloucester Road station and just a few months later on November 20, he assaulted another woman 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 '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. '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 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 has 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. Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. 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, in February 2024. 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, who has accumulated convictions of assault and indecent acts since arriving in Britain in 2019, had denied trying to kill his victim and claimed he did not know a train was arriving at the time. In July last year 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. Liban Ahmed whipped a woman in the face with his belt at Green Park Station Predator Mansoor Ahmed, 30, was last month 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, 27, was sexually assaulted on the tube last year and has called for more staff at stations to deter would-be sexual predators A Jewish man wearing a kippah suffered a display of vile anti-Semitism on the Northern Line last March, when a vaping passenger said: 'Your religion kills Muslims.' The victim filmed the argument, where the passenger said: 'You've done a lot... You're wearing the hat.' The man, who shared the footage with the Campaign Against Antisemitism accused the vaper of being anti-Semitic. Across all Underground, Overground, DLR and Elizabeth line stations (excluding stations outside the London fare zones), 38,000 crimes were reported to the BTP in 2024, according to their data. This is the equivalent of 104 per day. Data includes crimes committed at the stations themselves and those committed on trains either at or arriving into that station. Terminus stations can be over-represented in the on-train crime figures because if the exact location is unknown, it may be recorded as having happened at the end of the line. After King's Cross St Pancras, the fourth most dangerous Tube stop is Epping, Essex, the north eastern terminus of the Central line, with a rate of 49. Fifth is Upminster Bridge, east London, on the District Line with a rate of 48.6. The major London terminals of Finsbury Park come in sixth and seventh with rates of 46.1 (885 total crimes) and 36.5 (1,825 total crimes), respectively. However, several Elizabeth line stations outside the main London fare zones (1-9) Taplow (76 per 1m), Twyford (71), Burnham (62), Reading (60) have even higher rates. We have excluded these stations and all outside the London fare zones from the rankings, although you can still see them on the map. Brwa Shorsh has been jailed for life after pushing a man on to the tracks at Oxford Circus underground station Daily Mail analysis suggests that the most dangerous line on TfL's network is the Overground's Lioness Line, which runs between Euston and Watford Junction, with a rate of 28 per one million passengers. A total of 2,533 crimes were recorded at stations on this line, which services around 90 million people a year. Next is the Victoria line with 26 per one million (11,700 total crimes) and the Metropolitan with 20 per one million (7,000 total). The safest line in London is the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), with a crime rate of 8.3 per million passengers, followed by the Suffragette (8.7) and Jubilee (9.7). These figures have been calculated by adding together the total crimes and footfall for each station which serves each line, then using those numbers to calculate the rate per one million passengers. More than 1,400 people were forced to flee their homes in north-west Spain yesterday as wildfires spread fast, driven by blazing temperatures and fierce winds. Roughly 400 residents were relocated, while another 700 were evacuated from towns close to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Las Medulas, once a Roman gold-mining location famed for its intense red terrain. Arson is suspected in some instances, Castile and Leon's regional leader, Alfonso Manueco, said. He wrote on X: 'We will be relentless with the perpetrators of these attacks against the lives and safety of people and our historical and natural heritage.' He also said the authorities will be 'merciless' with the arsonists. Meanwhile, in Portugal, firefighters are struggling to contain a huge blaze they had initially declared contained. Eleven people have now been confirmed injured while many others have been treated for smoke inhalation. In Italy, wildfires have triggered a closure of Mount Vesuvius to tourists. Spain's Military Emergency Unit has sent in nearly 60 troops and 20 vehicles to bolster a massive firefighting push that involves aircraft and bulldozers carving firebreaks. More than 1,400 people were forced to flee their homes yesterday in north-west Spain as wildfires spread fast Several homes are said to have burned down as firefighters work to contain several fronts Castile and Leon's regional leader, Alfonso Manueco, said arson is suspected in several instances Fire crews warned that the heat, parched air, and shifting strong winds are hampering their efforts. Some homes have now been completely burned down, according to reports. Officials say the most troubling blaze is the one in Llamas de Cabera, where there were traffic closures on motorways due to reduced visibility from the smoke and dust. The flames are also raging in Galicia and Navarre as a second week of relentless heat continues. In Orallo and Fasgar, the fires have been given a Potential Severity Index of 1 for now. But in Ourense, raging flames have devoured 1,000 hectares of land. Forecasters reportedly failed to pick up on the cause of the devastation - dry storms, which come without rain and lots of lightning. It is also feared that latent lightning could make the situation worse. That happens when discharge from electricity from lightning is trapped in trees. Heat or wind could then cause a spark, leading to more wildfires. Thermometers have neared 40C across broad swathes of the country, prompting civil protection officials to raise wildfire risk to high or extreme. In Portugal's Vila Real, the mayor sounded the alarm over mounting resources to tackle a sweeping fire. Alexandre Favaios said: 'We are under enormous attack, with absolutely incalculable losses, the resources are clearly insufficient given the scale of what we are experiencing.' In Portugal's Vila Real, the Mayor sounded the alarm over mounting resources to tackle a sweeping fire A blaze that began on August 2 in Sirarelhos was only declared contained on Wednesday, but reignited on Saturday night and now threatens Relva, Borbela, and Lordelo near Vila Real The area's mayor said: We are under enormous attack, with absolutely incalculable losses, the resources are clearly insufficient given the scale of what we are experiencing A blaze that began on August 2 in Sirarelhos was only declared contained on Wednesday, but reignited again on Saturday night and now threatens Relva, Borbela, and Lordelo near Vila Real. The mayor noted that the Vila Real district was already on red heat alert over the weekend, and that more ground units should have been in place. Jose Armando, president of the Parish Council of Borbela and Lamas de Olo, reported that at 6.15 pm, the village of Relva, on the slopes of Serra do Alvao, was among the most vulnerable. In Trancoso, four towns lie in the fire's path across four active fronts, while six people, including three firefighters, have been reported injured so far. Eleven people have also been treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. Operations commander Nuno Seixas told local media: 'Besides Seixas, to the north of the fire, there are villages affected by the fire, and security forces are taking whatever measures they deem necessary, whether to confine them to the village or to evacuate them.' The at-risk settlements include Rio de Mel, Rio de Moinhos, Venda do Cepo, and Celintrao, according to the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority. There are now more than 600 firefighters on the ground battling the blaze, according to reports on Monday morning. In Italy, tourist access to Mount Vesuvius has been halted as firefighters and military teams battle a significant wildfire on its slopes near Naples The national fire service is fighting the blaze with 12 ground crews and six Canadair water-bombing planes Drones have been utilised alongside reinforcements from other areas, as attempts continue to starve the fire across 500 hectares in Vesuvius National Park A spokesperson for the Beiras and Serra da Estrela Civil Protection Sub-regional Command warned that 'The fire is active again and is heading towards some isolated areas, with scattered houses.' Meanwhile, in Italy, tourist access to Mount Vesuvius has been halted as firefighters and military teams battle a significant wildfire on its slopes near Naples. The national fire service is fighting the blaze with 12 ground crews and six Canadair water-bombing planes, the Campania region said. Drones have been utilised alongside reinforcements from other areas, as attempts continue to starve the fire across 500 hectares in Vesuvius National Park. Park officials stated: 'For safety reasons and to facilitate firefighting and cleanup operations in the affected areas, all activities along the Vesuvius National Park trail network are suspended until further notice. Smoke has drifted all the way to the nearby archaeological site of Pompeii, though it remains open to visitors. Rising summer heatwaves linked to global warming are leaving European regions increasingly vulnerable to wildfires. Authorities in France have also said they are battling blazes that have killed one person and injured 25. Temperatures are expected to rise above 40C on Monday. At 11 am local time, some regions had already recorded up to 39C, according to Meteo France. Rising summer heatwaves linked to global warming are leaving European regions increasingly vulnerable to wildfires The country's health minister, Yannick Neuder, called Monday a 'high-risk day' and said the next 48 hours would be 'particularly difficult.' In July, huge blazes saw several houses burnt to the ground and two elderly people killed in Cyprus. There have also been out-of-control fires in Turkey, Albania, and Bulgaria. At the end of July, beachgoers on Italy's Sardinia Island had to be evacuated with boats as paths to flee were blocked by raging fires, and cars were set alight. Tributes have poured in for tragic British rider Sarah Yorke who died at a horse trials event last Friday. Ms Yorke, 37, died after falling while competing at Aston-le-Walls Horse Trials in the Northamptonshire village. While the mother-of-one, who fell at the third fence during the contest could not be saved, her horse MGH HERA was able to walk back to the stable uninjured. Video clips posted on Ms Yorke's social media show the accomplished horse equestrian rider competing at Eland Lodge, Derbyshire, in 2023. The clip showed the talented rider jumping over fences and hedges as she navigated the technical course on a Bay horse called Allegro. She captioned the post: 'Reliving my round from Eland last year.' Underneath the clips, highlighting Ms Yorke's riding prowess, mourners sent their condolences. One person said: 'I love you forever miss you.' Another post from 2023, filled with snaps from that year's riding season, showed Ms Yorke mid jump on her horse, dressed in full competition gear. New heartbreaking footage has emerged of British rider Sarah Yorke (pictured) who tragically died at a horse trials event on Friday Ms Yorke was competing in the cross-country part of the contest, a multi-stage equestrian sport which also has showjumping and dressage elements at Aston-le-Walls Horse Trials In videos posted on her Instagram account, the mother-of-one shared a montage of clips of her at Eland races in 2023 (pictured) In the pictures, the rider could be seen jumping over a variety of obstacles as she made her way round different courses. Another tribute read: 'Terrible news from an eventing competition in Northamptonshire where a rider has died after falling at the third fence. My condolences to the friends and family of Sarah Yorke, just awful.' And a third racing fan posted: 'Just found out the desperately sad news about Sarah Yorke. Everyone who loves, competes in and follows all equestrian sports must always remember the element of risk involved. It's horrifying that on rare occasions, the ultimate price is paid. May Sarah rest in peace.' Ms Yorke's equestrian career was cut short after she was involved in a fatal fall last week. British Eventing (BE) said medical professionals 'immediately' attended the Aston-le-Walls Horse Trials 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. The video showed the talented rider jumping over fences and hedges as she navigated the technical course on a Bay horse Allegro (pictured) British Eventing (BE) said medical professionals 'immediately' attended the Aston-le-Walls Horse Trials but were unable to save the mother-of-one.Pictured: File photo of Ms Yorke Another post from 2023, filled with snaps from that year's riding season, showed Ms Yorke mid jump on her horse, dressed in full competition gear 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. 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 group of women's rights activists were refused service and kicked out of a student union bar they had booked 'over their opinions and beliefs'. Let Women Speak (LWS) had booked a private room at Glasgow University Union (GUU) where they planned to hold a social after their rally on Sunday. LWS had gathered outside Glasgow University holding banners with slogans such as 'Terf Island' and 'we are all Sandie Peggie' - a reference to the NHS Fife nurse who was suspended after objecting to a transgender doctor using the women's changing rooms. Campaign leader and gender-critical activist Kellie-Jay Keen, also known as Posie Parker, said the male manager told them he was closing the bar because the women's 'beliefs and opinions could constitute harassment toward their staff and make them feel unsafe'. Ms Keen said the women's right group had put some of their handmade banners up on the wall but were asked to take them down. In particular, the manager said one that read 'I'm not a vet, but I know what a dog is' was particularly offensive. However, when Ms Keen asked why, he apparently refused to give a clear reason and instead said: 'It's just one of those things where we are not going to get into specifics.' 'If you're going to tell us that we're doing something wrong and tell us how to behave, then you are going to have to tell us what the specifics of that are,' Ms Keen told Daily Mail. Let Women Speak (LWS) had booked a private room at Glasgow University Union (GUU) where they planned to hold a social after their rally on Sunday Campaign leader and gender-critical activist Kellie-Jay Keen (pictured) said the male manager told them he was closing the bar because the women's 'beliefs and opinions could constitute harassment toward their staff and make them feel unsafe' The manager (pictured) asked the group to leave, claiming members had been 'aggressive' and were 'harassing' staff, which Ms Keen said is '100 per cent not true' She claims other members of staff 'broke GDPR laws' when they began filming the women during the interaction. The group eventually agreed to take the banner down and a couple of others which contained swear words but refused to remove the rest. When she asked the manager what he was going to do next, he said he would close the bar. Ms Keen said she agreed to take down a few more of the banners but the manager got 'flustered' and said he would still be shutting the bar. Some women from LWS tried to order drinks at the bar downstairs instead but were again refused service. The manager then came back and asked the group - who had paid a 150 deposit - to leave, claiming members had been 'aggressive' and were 'harassing' staff, which Ms Keen said is '100 per cent not true'. 'Now, I'm obviously not everywhere at all times, but I'm 99 per cent positive that beyond someone saying, "Why aren't you serving us? This is against the Equality Act. You're discriminating against us." I don't think that anyone was harassed,' she added. The women's right activist said the manager did not point out anyone specifically and believes his claims were a 'fabrication' which he 'used' to 'justify' asking them to leave. Ms Keen (pictured at a previous protest) is 'used' to incidents like this and thinks it 'just proves' she is right, but it was more distressing for other members who were newer or not as seasoned Ms Keen called the police to report the alleged 'discrimination' and said one of the officers who turned up told her the GUU may have refused the booking had they informed them it was a women's rights event (Pictured: A police officer with the manager and another member of staff) When asked about getting a refund for the 150 deposit they had paid, the manager told them he would 'try' to get it reimbursed. Ms Keen called the police to report the alleged 'discrimination' and said one of the officers who turned up told her the GUU may have refused their booking had they informed them it was a women's rights event. 'It wasn't a rally, it wasn't a protest, there weren't speeches. I just said to the officer, "do you really want to say that?". It's just so preposterous,' she said. Ms Keen is 'used' to incidents like this and thinks it 'just proves' she is right, but it was more distressing for other members who were newer or not as seasoned. She said: 'I think for some of them, it's the first time it's happened to them, and certainly for the young woman who booked the venue. She felt weird. She was very distressed. 'You know you paid a deposit for that venue and food is being arranged at the ticketed event, then you realise that you actually don't have the right to do that and people are quite happy to go against your rights in order to prevent you from from having.' 'You know, it's demented that we're now in an age where, someone like that, an officious little man feels that he has the power, and he did, to completely ruin our night.' She now plans to sue Glasgow University Union for 'indirect and direct discrimination'. 'It wasn't a rally, it wasn't a protest, there weren't speeches. I just said to the officer, "do you really want to say that?". It's just so preposterous,' she said Ms Keen now plans to sue Glasgow University Union for 'indirect and direct discrimination' 'I'm just constructing a bit of a letter this morning for subject access request and also comparing their code of conduct with actually what happened and how they didn't adhere to their own code of conduct,' Ms Keen said. She believes a counter-protest group who had turned up to their rally earlier in the day had put in a complaint and claims they had posted a video of the group on Instagram and tagged the union. The activist added: 'They're little authoritarians some of these kids. They think they can just stop you saying things they don't like. 'What if the staff had Palestine badges on and some guests had the Star of David around the necks? Where does this end?' Daily Mail has approach Glasgow University Union for comment. Reform UK claims to have saved taxpayers more than 100million in council spending in 100 days since this year's local elections. Nigel Farage's party won more than 650 council seats and took control of 10 local authorities in contests across England in May. It established a 'DOGE' unit - based on the Department of Government Efficiency set up by Tesla boss Elon Musk in the US - to try and cut spending by councils. Reform said, since the local elections on 1 May, it has now made about 110million in savings. This has included scrapping Net Zero initiatives within local councils, 'streamlining and modernising' services, and focusing on pay and allowances, the party added. Mr Farage said: 'On May 1, we showed that if you vote Reform, you get Reform. 'In the 100 days since, Reform UK councils across Britain are actioning the change we promised and already delivering on their manifesto commitments. 'From rolling back the devastating Net Zero agenda on a local level to cutting wasteful spending, Reform councils are standing up for the priorities of local people, not the whims of bureaucrats or the entrenched elite.' Nigel Farage 's party won more than 650 council seats and took control of 10 local authorities in contests across England in May Reform's Zia Yusuf is leading a 'DOGE' unit - based on the Department of Government Efficiency set up by Tesla boss Elon Musk in the US - to try and cut spending by councils In Durham, the Reform-led council last month rescinded a formal declaration of a 'climate emergency' and claims to have saved 25million. This included not upgrading to a fleet of electric vehicles, scrapping the installation of a heat pump in the new county hall, and scaling back investment in solar panels. In Kent, Reform said it had saved 32million in spending over four years, which had been earmarked to make buildings more energy efficient. In Staffordshire, the party claimed to have saved 4.5million by halting the roll out of electric vehicle charging in areas where there is little to no customer demand. But this was said to be central government funding and not from the council's budget. The Liberal Democrat opposition in Durham claimed Reform's actions would cost the council money in the long run. They argued that investments made in solar panels and heat pumps had so far saved the council more than 9million and attracted central government grants. Reform's claims of success 'should be nominated for a fiction prize', added Lib Dem councillor Amanda Hopgood. A Labour spokesman said Reform's first 100 days in local government had been 'beset with chaos' and full of 'vanity spending of taxpayers' cash'. The defence expert who was not called to give evidence at Lucy Letbys first trial has criticised reports prepared by her new legal team as 'seriously flawed'. Dr Mike Hall said there was a danger unsupported claims made by the new international panel of experts could rebound and damage attempts to secure justice for the neonatal nurse. Dr Hall, who prepared reports for Letbys first trial and sat through ten months of hearings, was not called to the witness box to give evidence. He claims he has no idea why but legal commentators say the only explanation is Letbys first barrister, Ben Myers KC, took a tactical decision not to do so because his reports and testimony could have damaged Letbys case. She was convicted of the murder of seven newborns and the attempted murder of seven more at the Countess of Chester Hospital following two trials, in August 2023 and July 2024. Lucy Letby was convicted of the murder of seven newborns and the attempted murder of seven more at the Countess of Chester Hospital The former nurse, who is serving a life sentence with no prospect of parole, has since switched barristers but has not waived legal privilege meaning Mr Myers is unable to publicly explain his decision. Letby has tried and failed to appeal her convictions twice, and her new barrister, Mark McDonald, has presented reports from the new panel to the Criminal Cases Review Commission, the body that investigates potential miscarriages of justice, in the hope she can appeal a third time and be freed. Today Dr Hall told the BBCs Panorama that he didnt know whether Letby was innocent but in terms of natural justice, I dont think she should have been found guilty'. He insisted he agreed with the new panel, who claim no murders were committed and instead the babies collapsed or died due to poor care or natural causes. The bottom line is that I agree with them that there is no evidence of inflicted injury in the babies, he said. But Dr Hall insisted there were serious flaws in some of their alternative explanations for the baby deaths and that there is a real danger that Mr McDonalds approach would rebound. The flaws (in the expert panel report) will be seen and we find ourselves no further down the road in trying to get justice (or) at least a fair trial, he said. Dr Hall cited the case of Baby C, a tiny baby boy born weighing 1lbs 12oz, ten weeks early, who Letby was convicted of murdering. Mr McDonald claims the evidence of Dr Dewi Evans, the main prosecution expert, is unreliable because he has changed his mind about the way Letby killed him. Dr Evans, however, disagrees. He said the jury heard that the child either died from Letby injecting air into his stomach, down his breathing tube, or into his veins to cause an air embolism in his evidence in chief and via cross-examination. Dr Evans said the method of harm doesnt matter. Both reflect inflicted injury, deliberate harm, he said. In other words murder. Crucially, the judge Mr Justice Goss directed the jury that they didnt need to be sure of the method of harm to convict her. Letby has tried and failed to appeal her convictions twice, and her new barrister, Mark McDonald (pictured), has presented reports from the new panel to the Criminal Cases Review Commission in the hope she can appeal a third time and be freed Significant circumstantial evidence was also presented in relation to Baby C, including Letbys strange behaviour in front of her parents as they cradled their dying son. The trial heard that Letby, who was not the boys designated nurse, had to be told to stop intruding and going into the family room by her shift leader. Baby Cs parents also gave evidence that they were shocked when she brought in a cold cot and told them: Youve said your goodbyes, do you want me to put him in here? before he had passed away. In fact, the babys grandmother, who had been called into the hospital, was so upset she complained to the hospital about her behaviour. Dr Hall also pointed out that the new experts theory that Baby A died due to a blood clot linked to a condition inherited from his mother was explored before the jury and rejected. In the case of Baby I, who the expert panel say was not murdered by Letby but died in part due to a hospital-acquired bug that doctors failed to treat, Dr Hall said the infection was not evident at post-mortem. He also said the bug was last found in the neo-natal unit six weeks before she died. The defence expert who was not called to give evidence at Lucy Letby s first trial has criticised reports prepared by her new legal team as 'seriously flawed' So the information I have about this bug doesnt lead me to the conclusion that it was a significant cause in the events leading to the babys death, he added. Dr Hall also said the panels theory that Baby Os liver injury was caused by birth trauma was also unfounded'. John Gregory, professor of paediatric endocrinology, also questioned the new experts theory that the two babies Letby was convicted of poisoning with insulin had produced it naturally themselves. He told Panorama he agreed with the prosecutions expert, Professor Peter Hindmarsh, who told the jury that blood test results from Baby F and Baby L suggested they had been poisoned deliberately. I cant think of any plausible explanation for such high insulin levels, Prof Gregory said. It is exceedingly unlikely to have arisen from naturally produced insulin. The jury convicted Letby of attempted murder in both cases. Both boys were twins and their brothers were also attacked with an injection of air. Baby E died and Baby M survived after almost 30 minutes of resuscitation. Dramatic footage shows the terrifying moment two Chinese vessels smashed into each other while chasing a Philippine patrol boat in the South China Sea. The navy and coastguard ships collided today near the contested Scarborough Shoal, an atoll around 140 miles east of the main Philippine island of Luzon and more than 500 miles southeast of Hong Kong. The collection of reefs, rocks and a lagoon - covering around 58 square miles - has historically been claimed by both China and the Philippines. The crash happened as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) was escorting boats distributing aid to fishermen in the area, PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said. He added the Chinese Coastguard (CCG) vessel 3104 was 'chasing' the Philippine craft, known as the BRP Suluan, 'at high speed'. It soon 'performed a risky manoeuvre' from the starboard side of the Philippine vessel, he continued, 'leading to the impact with the PLA [People's Liberation Army] Navy warship'. CCG crew members were visible on the front of the craft - the section that hit the battleship - just moments before the collision, he said. Their fate is not known. The CCG vessel was 'rendered unseaworthy' in the smash, which appeared to happen incredibly close to the PCG craft. This is the terrifying moment (pictured) two Chinese vessels rammed into each other while intimidating a Philippine patrol boat (centre) in waters Beijing claims it owns The navy (left) and coastguard (right) ships collided today near the contested Scarborough Shoal, an atoll around 140 miles east of the main Philippine island of Luzon and more than 500 miles southeast of Hong Kong The crash happened as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) was escorting boats distributing aid to fishermen in the area, PCG spokesperson Commodore Jay Tarriela said. Pictured: The CCG ship that crashed Your browser does not support iframes. Earlier in the confrontation, the PCG vessel was 'targeted with a water cannon' by the Chinese but 'successfully' evaded it, Mr Tarriela added. Dramatic footage released by Manila shows the CCG craft and the much larger naval vessel, bearing the number 164 on its hull, colliding with a loud bang. Other PCG images and clips, all taken from the Philippine vessel, show the CCG craft still afloat after the smash - but with its entire bow crumpled inward. Mr Tarriela explained the crash 'resulted in substantial damage to the CCG vessel's forecastle' - the front of the upper deck, generally above a ship's living quarters. 'We're not sure whether they were able to rescue those personnel who were in front prior to the collision', he explained grimly. 'But we are hoping that these personnel are in good condition.' The spokesperson added the Chinese crew 'never responded' to the Philippine ship's offer of assistance. The clip shows a Filipina crew member sending out a radio message after the crash, saying: 'We have medical personnel on board. Dramatic footage (pictured) released by Manila shows the CCG craft and the much larger naval vessel (back, with PCG vessel, centre), bearing the number 164 on its hull, colliding with a loud bang Mr Tarriela explained the crash (pictured, Chinese warship, back, and PCG vessel, centre) 'resulted in substantial damage to the CCG vessel's forecastle' - the front of the upper deck, generally above a ship's living quarters - 'rendering it unseaworthy' 'We're not sure whether they were able to rescue those personnel who were in front prior to the collision', he explained grimly. Pictured: The crash, with CCG ship, right, Chinese warship, left, and PCG vessel, centre The spokesperson added the Chinese crew 'never responded' to the Philippine ship's offer of assistance. Pictured: The Chinese warship, left, and the PCG vessel, centre 'Should you need any assistance, we are willing to provide assistance.' Elsewhere in the footage, the PCG vessel can be seen sailing between the Chinese warship on one side and the CCG craft on the other, with the former passing very close to it. CCG spokesperson Gan Yu confirmed a confrontation had taken place without mentioning the collision. 'The China Coast Guard took necessary measures in accordance with the law, including monitoring, pressing from the outside, blocking and controlling the Philippine vessels to drive them away,' he said in a statement. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not confirm or deny the collision when asked by reporters. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said the country's patrol vessels would 'continue to be present' in the area to defend and exercise Manila's sovereign rights over what it considers a part of its territory. The Scarborough Shoal - a triangular chain of reefs and rocks - has been a flashpoint between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012. The crash is the latest in a series of confrontations between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. Elsewhere in the footage (pictured), the PCG vessel (front) can be seen sailing alongside the Chinese warship (back) The CCG craft (back) also travels beside the PCG vessel (front), on its other side, in this particular part of the clip (pictured) The Chinese warship (back) passes very close to the PCG craft (front) in this particular section of the clip (pictured) The clip shows a Filipina crew member (pictured) sending out a radio message to the Chinese crew after the crash, saying: 'We have medical personnel on board' Beijing claims the roughly 1.4million square mile arm of the Western Pacific Ocean almost entirely despite an international ruling this assertion has no legal basis. More than 60 percent of global maritime trade passes through the disputed waterway. It is bounded on the northeast by the Taiwan Strait, which connects it to the East Chinea, and on the east by Taiwan and the Philippines. The stretch of water is also connected to the southern tip of the Gulf of Thailand, the east coast of the Malay Peninsula and, to the west and north, the Asian mainland. Its southern boundary is a elevated section of seabed between Sumatra and Borneo, while the northern limit runs from the northernmost tip of Taiwan to Chinese coastline in the Taiwan Strait. The South China Sea and the East China Sea together form the China Sea. The collision of these two Chinese ships today is just the latest development in the longer-running conflict currently brewing between China and the Philippines. Under its authoritarian President Xi Jinping, Beijing has continued to expand its reach into the South China Sea's strategically vital and resource-rich waters. Your browser does not support iframes. PCG and military personnel holding a Philippine flag during an inter-agency maritime operation in Sandy Cay in May Each of the southeast Asian nations that borders it, including the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam, all lay claim to different parts of the sea and the litany of small islands, shoals and reefs adrift within it. But China insists it should own virtually the entire sea and its strategic outposts, including swathes of territory within the 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) off the shores of all its island neighbours. In May, the Philippines rejected China's claim to Sandy Cay - a group of three sandbars less than 130 miles off the Philippine coast - after a Chinese state-owned newspaper published images of coastguard officers holding up a Chinese flag there. That prompted the PCG, along with a navy and maritime police team, to land on the sandbars and unfurl the Philippine flag. This was in turn harshly condemned and branded 'illegal' by Beijing. But this was just one in a long line of disputes which are growing ever more frequent and intense. Now, fears are mounting a protracted spat could descend into an armed conflict between China and the US-allied Philippines - a scenario which could hasten a regional or even global fallout. At the heart of the tensions between China and the Philippines lies a scattering of rocks, shoals, reefs and atolls across the South China Sea. As a result, Chinese and Philippine military and civilian vessels (pictured) have routinely come to blows in the South China Sea as of late In February 2023, the Philippines accused a CCG ship of hitting a PCG boat with a military-grade laser (pictured) The most notable examples are Scarborough Shoal, near today's crash, and the Spratly Islands, over which both countries assert sovereignty. The Philippines bases its claims on proximity and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), under which most of the contested features lie within its EEZ. China, meanwhile, claims almost the entire sea via its so-called 'nine-dash line', a sweeping boundary drawn on a map in the 1940s that has no legal basis under international law. That illegality was confirmed in 2016, when a Hague-based tribunal ruled overwhelmingly in favour of the Philippines, declaring China's claims invalid. Dr Gregory Poling, Director of the Southeast Asia Programme at the CSIS think tank, said: 'The very existence of the Nine-Dash Line, I think, is an affront to these countries... 'China is imposing the idea that these waters are disputed on smaller countries, where everybody else gets 200 miles, the Chinese get 1,000 miles.' But instead of pulling back, China has only looked to expand its presence since the ruling, militarising several natural and artificial islands - including Scarborough Shoal - and deploying coastguard ships and naval vessels to patrol the contested waters. As a result, Chinese and Philippine military and civilian vessels have routinely come to blows in the South China Sea as of late - just as they did today. At the heart of the tensions between China and the Philippines lies a scattering of rocks, shoals, reefs and atolls across the South China Sea. Pictured: Sandy Cay, in the South China Sea's Spratly Islands Your browser does not support iframes. These clashes, several of which have resulted in injuries to crew and damaged vessels amid ramming attacks, the use of water cannons and even lasers, are stoking tensions as the Philippines defies what it views as Beijing's policy of imperialist expansion and disregard for territorial sovereignty. In August, a PCG vessel, the BRP Teresa Magbanua, sustained significant damage when it was repeatedly rammed by a Chinese ship close to Sabina Shoal, about 80 miles west of the Philippine province of Palawan, which is part of the hotly contested Spratly Islands. The shoal is well within the internationally recognised EEZ of the Philippines. The PCG's Mr Tarriela said the Magbanua dropped its anchor just off the coast of the Shoal and would not withdraw from the region 'despite the harassment, bullying activities and escalatory action of the Chinese coast guard'. Video released by the PCG appeared to clearly show the Magbanua being rammed by a CCG ship, even as Beijing claimed the Philippine vessel had altered its path and pursued a collision course. Close to Sabina Shoal lies the Second Thomas Shoal, where a small Philippine military detachment is stationed. This outpost has become a litmus test of Philippine resolve and Chinese intent as Beijing's ships hassle Philippine vessels conducting supply runs to and from the shoal. In February 2023, the Philippines accused a CCG ship of hitting a PCG boat with a military-grade laser. Chinese and PCG ships collide (pictured) in disputed waters as the countries squabble over who is to blame Manila said the laser temporarily blinded some of its crew in the disputed South China Sea, calling it a 'blatant' violation of Manila's sovereign rights. The Chinese ship also manoeuvred dangerously close, about 450 feet, to block the Philippine patrol vessel BRP Malapascua from approaching Second Thomas Shoal. Then, in December of that year, another PCG video showed Chinese ships blasting powerful water cannons at much smaller Philippine vessels off Scarborough Shoal. The attoll is nearly 560 miles from the nearest major Chinese land mass of Hainan - but China in 2012 assumed control of the territory in a blatant land grab. Chinese state television said the country's coast guard had used 'control measures in accordance with the law' against the Philippine vessels that had 'intruded' into waters around the shoal. These incidents, in which Chinese vessels seek to intimidate or attack Philippine vessels without resorting to overt military force, have been characterised as a cornerstone of Beijing's 'grey-zone tactics' to expand its influence in the South China Sea. 'By resorting to an array of grey zone tactics, Beijing aims to progressively eat away at the status quo in the South China Sea while staying under the threshold of crisis,' said Dr Euan Graham, an expert in Indo-Pacific Defence and Strategy at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. 'Through the skilful coordinated use of assets... grey zone tactics have already enabled Beijing to exert effective control over large tracts of the South China Sea... 'If China succeeds in dominating the South China Sea, it is likely to dominate Southeast Asia at large, as well as gaining strategic leverage over the major maritime economies of Northeast Asia,' he said in a policy paper for the Prospect Foundation. A 23-year-old prison officer is facing jailtime after admitting that she had an affair with an inmate. Megan Breen, from Newport, Gwent, initially denied the fling with the unnamed convict while working at two prisons between February and May 2022, but later changed her plea and admitted having the illicit affair behind bars. She had been working as an officer at category C jail HMP Usk and the nearby open prison HMP Prescoed, both in Gwent, South Wales, when the offence was committed. Breen admitted misconduct in a public office and will be sentenced next month. The charge states: 'While acting as a public officer, namely a prison officer, wilfully and without reasonable excuse or justification misconducted yourself in a way which amounted to an abuse of the public's trust in the office holder by having a relationship with a prisoner.' Breen was bailed but warned she could face jail when she returns to court, with Judge Carl Harrison saying 'all sentencing options remain open' as he ordered a pre-sentence report. Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court heard a second allegation of illegally accessing a computer will not be proceeded with. Prison officer Megan Breen (above) is facing jailtime after admitting she had an affair with an inmate Ms Breen (above) had initially denied her role in the relationship while working at HMP Usk and HMP Prescoed Megan Breen (pictured last year) later changed her plea and admitted the illicit affair behind bars She admitted misconduct in a public office and will be sentenced for the offence next month (pictured last year) Breen (pictured last year) was bailed but warned she could face jail when she returns to court, with Judge Carl Harrison saying 'all sentencing options remain open' as he ordered a pre-sentence report She had been working as an officer at category C jail HMP Usk and the nearby open prison HMP Prescoed, both in Gwent, South Wales, when the offence was committed (pictured last year) HMP Usk houses 280 inmates and is managed jointly with open prison HMP Prescoed which is three miles away and houses offenders serving the final term of their sentences before being released. Breen's plea comes months after a married prison officer was jailed for 15 months after being filmed having sex with an inmate in what was labelled a 'shocking breach of the public's trust'. Linda De Sousa Abreu, 31, appeared in court for sentencing in January having previously admitted misconduct after an X-rated clip in a jail cell at Wandsworth Prison went viral on social media. The footage showed a prison officer in uniform having sex with inmate Linton Weirich, 36, as her discarded radio crackled with messages from colleagues. De Sousa Abreu, who is originally from Brazil, is a married swinger and shares an eight-year-old daughter with her husband. She was arrested at Heathrow Airport while travelling with her father but denied trying to flee the country. HMP Usk (above) houses 280 inmates and is managed jointly with open prison HMP Prescoed which is three miles away and houses offenders serving the final term of their sentences before being released Breen's plea comes after Linda De Sousa Abreu (above) was jailed for 15 months earlier this year after having sex with an inmate of HMP Wandsworth in south London Wearing a grey pin-striped blazer over a white shirt, De Sousa Abreu was sentenced to 15 months in prison at Isleworth Crown Court. Judge Martin Edmunds, KC, the Recorder of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, said De Sousa Abreu compromised her role as a prison officer, undermined discipline and put officers at increased risk. De Sousa Abreu admitted to having sex with the same prisoner on another occasion, while she was also caught on her own body camera giving oral sex to him on the same day the original sex tape was filmed. This is a breaking news story. More to follow. European leaders have warned that Ukraine will not give up territory in a deal with Russia ahead of Donald Trump's historic meeting with Vladimir Putin. Raising concerns over ceasefire proposals that could appease Russia's demand for territory, they have also insisted that Ukraine must be involved in any peace talks. On Monday, EU foreign ministers are set to hold emergency talks by video link to chart their next steps ahead of anticipated talks between US President Trump and Putin, due on Friday in Alaska. In a joint statement over the weekend, European powers, including France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Finland, alongside EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, released a statement urging Trump to ensure that Ukraine was at the negotiating table. They said : 'The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.' In the lead-up to the meeting, several leaders have shared their expectations. Donald Tusk, Poland's prime minister, insisted added that Mr Trump must consult with European leaders before the summit. Mr Trump proposed three-way talks with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts last week, but was shot down by Mr Putin who said the 'conditions' for his first meeting with Mr Zelenskyy since 2019 had not been met. Mr Putin will go into talks with the upper hand if Mr Zelenskyy is not present to argue Ukraine's case, as Russian forces continue to push into Ukraine. While Ukraine's war-weary population overwhelmingly wants an end to the conflict, the embattled nation is loathe to give up occupied land and Mr Zelenskyy maintains Ukraine will not - and constitutionally cannot - cede territory. Mr Trump nonetheless said at the White House on Friday: 'We are looking to actually get some back and some swapping. It is complicated, actually nothing easy. We are going to get some back, some switched.' It was unclear from the comments what such a proposal would look like. Ahead of Donald Trump 's meeting with Vladimir Putin , European leaders have warned that Ukraine will not give up territory in a deal with Russia EU leaders released a statement urging Trump to ensure that Ukraine was at the negotiating table Your browser does not support iframes. Sources familiar with the discussions told CBS News that the White House is trying to encourage European leaders to accept a deal by which Russia would take the Donbas region and Crimea, and give up the partially-occupied regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia. While there is little appetite for such a deal in Ukraine or Europe, Kyiv will be careful not to appear obstinate to Mr Trump, after Washington withdrew vital aid earlier this year. Since then, Mr Trump has been more critical of Russia's actions and more amicable towards Ukraine. But if Kyiv does push back on a deal, Washington still has the leverage of material support to push Ukraine towards a quick deal. If the U.S. withdraws support again, Russia could make even more gains, forcing Ukraine into greater concessions. Mr Zelenskyy has so far handled the problem deftly, warning on Monday that concessions to Russia would not persuade it to stop fighting in Ukraine. 'Russia is dragging out the war, and therefore it deserves stronger global pressure,' he wrote on X. 'Russia refuses to stop the killings, and therefore must not receive any rewards or benefits. 'And this is not just a moral position it is a rational one. Concessions do not persuade a killer.' The issue has proven one of the key obstacles in finding lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine. Onlookers warn that appeasement would set a dangerous precedent to belligerent actors around the world - and could encourage Russia to reopen the conflict later on. Mr Zelenskyy has already warned the U.S. against trusting Mr Putin, citing numerous examples of Russia breaking ceasefires in the past. As such, Ukraine will also be looking to safeguard against future invasion with a route towards joining NATO or the EU. Ahead of Friday's meeting, the EU rallied to throw its diplomatic weight behind Ukraine. 'The U.S. has the power to force Russia to negotiate seriously,' EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Sunday. Russia's leader Putin and US president Donald Trump are set to meet in a highly-anticipated summit for talks about ending the war in Ukraine Zelensky has insisted that Ukraine will not give up any of its land in the peace talks Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, said that Trump 'had the power to force Russia to negotiate seriously 'Any deal between the U.S. and Russia must have Ukraine and the EU included, for it is a matter of Ukraine's and the whole of Europe's security.' EU foreign ministers will meet on Monday to discuss next steps, she said. France's Emmanuel Macron also said 'Europeans will also necessarily be part of the solution because their security depends on it.' German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also spoke with Mr Trump on Sunday, Mr Merz's spokesman said on Monday, but did not disclose the contents of the talks. Spokesman Steffen Meyer reiterated that the German government 'has always emphasised that borders must not be shifted by force' and that Ukraine should decide its own fate 'independently and autonomously'. Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance said the White House is still working to bring all three leaders together, Mr Trump, Mr Putin and Mr Zelenskyy, but said it is up to the U.S. president to decide when and who to include. Concerns were raised after Moscow laid out its prerequisite demands to any peace deal. Ukraine must pull its forces out of regions and commit to becoming a neutral state while shunning military support from the EU and the US, according to Russia. Mr Putin has also asked Ukraine to abandon any plans of joining NATO. The Russian leader believes he enjoys the advantage on the ground as Ukrainian forces struggle to hold back advances along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front. A destroyed tank near the village of Heorhiivka (Georgiyevka), in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in the Donetsk region, a Russian-controlled area of Ukraine, July 16 Ukrainian soldiers service their tanks and armored vehicles in the Kherson region, Ukraine on August 8, 2025 Ukraine has made clear that it won't give up its sovereignty, while acknowledging that any attempts to retrieve captured land from Russia must be done diplomatically. Russia's presidential aide Yri Ushakov said the Kremlin understands that the talks will 'not be simple'. He said: 'We expect this process will not be simple, but we will be engaged in it actively and consistently.' Both sides continue to stick to their fundamental demands ahead of the summit in Alaska. Middle class residents looking to flee Democrat-run Baltimore cannot escape the city because they are trapped in unsellable homes. Homeowners in once stable neighborhoods with some of the highest property taxes in Maryland say their communities are now being plagued by open-air drug markets and skyrocketing crime, The Baltimore Sun reports. Squatters invade vacant properties and criminals are shamelessly doing drugs in the streets and riding dirt bikes around the once family-friendly communities, locals say. Some homeowners claim they tried to put their homes on the market, but were met with pushback from real estate agents who warn they 'I can't sell this house' because of the high crime. Real estate agents also warn investors and potential homebuyers are likely to avoid buying in Baltimore because of crippling tax rates, which the city allegedly hiked up to combat revenue lost by businesses and residents fleeing the area. Locals who have spent their entire lives in the city are now making massive sacrifices as they struggle to pay their mortgages, taxes and household bills. 'I don't have that income coming in where I can make more money and move. I feel like I'm stuck - trapped in here,' Charlene Bees, a lifelong resident of the Morrell Park neighborhood, told the newspaper. Other residents are afraid they are 'gonna get hurt one day' and fear that 'nothing's getting better' in their towns. President Donald Trump on Monday branded crime in Baltimore as 'very bad' and said the city was 'so far gone'. Middle class residents looking to flee Baltimore say their communities are plagued by open-air drug markets and skyrocketing crime A charity worker hands out supplies and Narcan to an unhoused women living in an alley in Baltimore, Maryland on June 10, 2025 Baltimore has battled a population decline for several decades now, causing the city to see a significant loss in revenue. City leaders tried to combat the loss of funds by raising property taxes, which experts say only drove more people to flee. Although Baltimore last year recorded its first population increase - at 0.13 percent - since 2014, real estate agents are still finding it hard to attract people to the city. 'If a property is in a location where the property tax rate is higher than the surrounding counties, people will avoid it,' real estate consultant Ben Frederick III told the newspaper. 'If a property is located in a place where the crime rate is higher than normal, or what people would normally want, people are going to avoid buying there.' Another expert, PhD candidate Dan Brennan, alleged the city's tax structure is driving people away and discouraging real estate investment. Baltimore assesses value by improved property instead of land, which Brennan claims forces the most affluent to pay the most. Residents, however, are apparently most concerned with the rising drugs crisis, with one Curtis Bay homeowner alleging the traffic at the drug market on her block is comparable to the morning rush at a fast food drive-thru. The woman, who declined to share her identity with the Sun, claims a real estate agent cited the drug market as the reason her home is unsellable. Democratic Mayor Brandon Scott promised a 'Baltimore renaissance' when he was sworn in for a second term last December State and city leaders are trying to attract newcomers to Baltimore, but their efforts are seemingly unsuccessful. Democratic Gov. Wes Moore last week touted research that hailed Baltimore as the third-best metropolitan area for 'young professionals with college degrees'. Mayor Brandon Scott, also a Democrat, promised a 'Baltimore renaissance' when he was sworn in for a second term last December. Real estate consultant Ben Frederick III says Baltimore's high property taxes and crime rates have caused people 'to avoid buying there' Scott vowed to bring violent crime down and address the city's vacant housing crisis. 'We're going to revolutionize the way cities tackle blight and increase housing stock that families can actually afford to live in with our vacant strategy,' he said in his December 2024 address, CBS News reports. He added: 'For decades there have been promises made to Baltimoreans about quick fixes and short-term solutions, but they have always been hollow. Many of us long-time Baltimoreans know that all too well.' In March this year, citing how Baltimore's population grew by 754 people, Scott alleged his administration has 'finally stabilized our City's population'. 'Today's population figures confirm that Baltimore's Renaissance is here,' he said, touting a 'record-low number of vacant homes, a historic drop in violence, and billions being invested into our neighborhoods'. 'People can feel this progress. My administration will build on this momentum by continuing our work to promote public safety, accelerate equitable development, and protect our most vulnerable residents - making Baltimore a place that more people will be proud to call home,' he continued. Despite this alleged progress, residents are still claiming they 'don't like Baltimore as it is now' and feel there is no way out. Pedestrians pass by a row of boarded up houses in east Baltimore Baltimore was once home to some of the country's highest crime rates, earning it the title of America's 'murder capital' and a reputation as the crime-ridden city. The city recorded its lowest homicide rate in nearly 15 years in 2024, with 201 homicides marking a dramatic 12 percent decrease from 2023 and a staggering 41 percent drop from 2021 levels. Maryland as a whole is becoming safer too, with statewide homicides falling from 519 in 2023 to 455 in 2024, while violent crimes plummeted from 1,190 to 891 during the same period. An April 2025 report from US News & World Report no longer included Baltimore among the most dangerous places in America. The digital media company released its Most Dangerous Places in the US 2024-2025 list and normally Baltimore would be in the Top 25 but this year it didn't make the cut. The list is compiled based on a city's murder and property crime rates per 100,000 people. Police recruits canvas Baltimore's Curtis Bay neighborhood in December 2021 after a police officer was shot while sitting in a patrol car Trump on Monday placed the police department in nearby Washington DC, about 40 miles from Baltimore, under federal control and deployed the National Guard to the nation's capital in an attempt to combat crime. But the president took aim at Baltimore and Oakland, California as he announced his plan. 'We have other cities that are very bad and then you have of course, Baltimore and Oakland. We don't even mention that anymore, they're so far gone,' he said. 'We're not gonna lose our cities over this.' Donald Trump exiled the presidential portrait of his predecessor Barack Obama to a less prominent position, out of view from thousands of visitors who tour the White House every day. The portraits of Trump's other recent predecessors, including former President George W. Bush and his father George H.W. Bush have also been removed from prominent areas of the White House, according to a report from CNN. Sources told the outlet that Trump personally ordered his staffers to move Obama's portrait to the top of the Grand Staircase leading to the White House residence. This area is restricted to Secret Service, the first family, and only a select White House staff. Moreover, both Bush portraits have joined Obama's painting in the same obscure staircase away from the eyes of thousands of White House visitors. The move sparked outrage from Trump's fiercest critics. Historically, White House tradition has been to place portraits of recent former presidents in prominent areas visible to guests at the White House. Camille MacKenzie, founder of the anti-Trump New Patriot Foundation, posted on X: 'I don't know if this is verified or not, but given Trump's personality and the rest of the decorating he's done in the [White House] then it sounds very likely. Barack Obama's presidential was moved over the weekend to a less visible area of the White House Trump moved Obama's portrait in the grand foyer of the White House in April, replacing it with a portrait of himself 'They've already pulled down multiple portraits and put up ridiculous artwork that resembles the AI-generated photos of himself that he loves so much.' Other Democrats on social media reacted by bashing Trump for his 'petty move' against Obama. 'Imagine being this insecure,' wrote podcaster Ryan Shead on X. 'The area is rarely seen by the public.' 'This is a petty move to appease low IQ Trump muppets while pushing this traitor narrative.' Majid M. Padellan, who goes by the username BrooklynDad_Defiant, claimed Trump's latest snub of Obama was nothing more than 'petty trolling.' So... he can't lower prices. He can't end the Ukraine war in 24 hours. He WON'T release Epstein files,' Padellan wrote. 'But he can do petty trolling like hiding Obama's and Bush's portraits, like a jealous 12-year-old? 'That's what you voted for, MAGA? Worst. President. Ever.' Meanwhile, Rob Smith, a self-described proud Democrat, reacted by noting Trump, 'is truly petty.' Trump and Obama's relationship has been marked by tension for years ever since the 2016 election The decision to move Obama's portrait was reportedly ordered directly by Trump, further highlighting the contentious relationship between the 44th and 47th presidents. The Obama portrait, by Robert McCurdy, is notable for containing various hidden meanings, including in its white background, the wrinkles on the president's suit and his graying hair. McMurdy, who has painted other world leaders including Nelson Mandela, is known for painting his subjects on white backgrounds - but this technique was a novelty for a presidential portrait. 'They have plain white backgrounds, nobody gestures, there are no props, because we're not here to tell the story of the person that's sitting for them. We're here to create an encounter between the viewer and the sitter,' McCurdy said in an interview with the White House Historical Association. 'The viewer will bring their emotional and historical package to that moment, and it will be different for every single one.' McMurdy's hyper-realistic style, including Obama's gray hair and wrinkles on his suit, suggests that he does not shy away from the realities of a president's grueling time in office. Presidents are known for aging dramatically while in office. 'What I love about Robert's work is that he paints people exactly the way they are, for better or worse. He captures every wrinkle on your face, every crease in your shirt. You'll note that he refused to hide any of my gray hairs,' Obama joked at the unveiling in 2022. This is not the first time Trump has moved Obama's portrait around the White House. Back in April, the White House moved Obama's portrait from the left-hand side of the White House Grand Foyer to the right-hand side of the entryway, near the piano. Obama's likeness was replaced by a painting of President Donald Trump shouting 'fight, fight, fight' during his first assassination attempt. The president is directly involved with almost every detail regarding the aesthetic and styling of the White House no matter how big or small, according to a CNN report. Previously, Trump inserted a self portrait in the White House right next to his former 2016 rival Hillary Clinton. An April photo of the Trump painting shows it in between a portrait of First Lady Barbara Bush and her predecessor Clinton. The self portrait is a close up of Trump's face imposed over with the America flag's stars and stripes. Trump's latest slight against Obama showcases the tensions between the two presidents in recent months. Earlier this month, Trump accused Obama and his members of his administration of committing treason following the result of the 2016 election. Trump is directly involved with all changes to White House decor Obama's office issued a response to Trump's claims calling them 'bizarre' and 'a weak attempt at distraction.' Attorney General Pam Bondi later ordered DOJ prosecutors to start a grand jury probe into allegations that top Obama officials manufactured intelligence regarding Russia's involvement in the 2016 election. For years, Trump's relationship with the Bush family has been marked by tensions. Before passing away in 2018, George H.W. Bush referred to Trump as a 'blowhard' and backed Clinton during the 2016 race. Meanwhile, neither George W. Bush, nor his wife Laura, endorsed Trump during the 2020 or 2024 presidential races. A former polo-playing landowner who has spent 37 years in prison for a brutal murder which may never have happened has been granted an appeal after the Daily Mail exposed key failures in the prosecution case. Clive Freeman has repeatedly denied he was responsible for the death of vagrant Alexander Hardie in London in 1988, but was convicted during an Old Bailey trial dubbed 'the gentleman and the tramp' the following year. The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) today ordered the case be referred to the Court of Appeal, after this newspaper cast serious doubt over the largely circumstantial evidence used against the Zimbabwean national, a former elite soldier. It is understood the decision centres on allegedly flawed pathology evidence. Mr Freeman's spokesman, Tony Thompson, broke news of the stunning development in a highly emotional meeting at Leyhill Prison near Gloucester this morning. He told the Mail: 'He put his arms around me. He was ecstatic after 37 years of frustration and disappointment.' He added: 'It was an emotional moment when I looked into his eyes across the small prison table and told him he now has a chance to finally clear his name and return to see his family in Africa - a family he has not seen since the 1980s.' And Mr Thompson praised this newspaper, and its fearless Associate Editor Stephen Wright, for helping shine a light on the tranche of inconsistencies used to convict Mr Freeman, 82, who is seriously ill in prison with adavanced prostate cancer. He said: 'Clive Freeman's fight for justice demonstrates the importance of good investigative journalism. I, and Clive Freeman, will be forever grateful to Stephen Wright, Associate Editor of the Daily Mail, for taking on the case when most of the mainstream media ignored it. Clive Freeman, 82, (pictured) has spent more than 35 years in prison for a murder which may not even have happened Freeman, an ex-polo-playing landowner, was convicted in 1989 of murdering Alexander Hardie. Pictured: An artist's impression of the deceased 'Stephen exposed grave doubts about the safety of Clive's conviction in a series of major articles in the Daily Mail, putting pressure on the CCRC to refer the case to the Court of Appeal. 'Without a public voice, Clive would inevitably have spent the rest of his days rotting in jail, for refusing to admit to a crime that he did not commit and one that did not happen.' He added: 'Clive Freeman's case is likely to become one of the most infamous miscarriage of justice cases in modern British legal history. He will be known as the man who spent almost forty years in British prisons for a crime that never happened.' Father-of-three Mr Freeman now faces having his case re-examined by Court of Appeal judges. It is understood a top KC specialising in wrongful convictions has been lined up to represent him. If he succeeds in overturning the case, it would represent one of the biggest miscarriages of justice in UK legal history. The CCRC said there is 'now a considerable body of expert pathology opinion, gathered since Mr Freemans trial and appeal, the cumulative effect of which undermines the prosecution pathology evidence to the extent it can be argued it was not safe for the jury to place any weight upon it'. A spokesman said: 'As part of our review into Clive Freeman's conviction we have analysed the significant body of expert pathology opinion, and we have also considered our previous decisions in this case. 'Since Mr Freeman's trial, there has been significant expert pathology opinion that taken together changes the picture on the prosecution pathology evidence. There is now a real possibility the Court of Appeal will find Mr Freeman's conviction unsafe.' Hardie's partially burned body was found in Mr Freeman's flat in Rotherhithe, south-east London, in April 1988. Prosecutors claimed Mr Freeman lured the 49-year-old alcoholic to his home, then suffocated him using a technique called 'burking', which was used by 19th-century 'body-snatchers' Burke and Hare, who sold corpses to doctors for dissection. Mr Freeman is then alleged to have set the flat on fire and fled abroad as part of an elaborate insurance scam - simply, they said Mr Freeman wanted to make it look as though he died in the fire, and enable a claim to be made on his life insurance policy. But the fire did not properly take hold, and the body was identified as Scotsman Hardie's. Mr Freeman said he was staying at a hotel in Earl's Court, on the other side of London, the night of the alleged murder. He was said to have been so drunk that he could not write his home address in the receptionist's ledger, and flew to America the following day before being arrested and returned to the UK to face justice. Mr Freeman refused to give evidence in his own defence at the trial, believing his alibi to be strong enough against the largely circumstantial evidence. He was also concerned about the impact his giving evidence would have on his family back in Africa, where he was formerly a member of Rhodesia's Grey's Scouts mounted infantry unit. As previously revealed by this newspaper, eight leading pathologists and forensic experts reject the 'burking' theory. Many say the most likely cause of death was the mixture of alcohol and prescription drugs in his body and suggest the most appropriate cause of death is 'unascertained'. The new toxicology report has looked into the original analysis of Mr Hardie's death by the Crown's pathologist, Dr Richard Shepherd, which initially concluded that the Scot was not murdered. Freeman (pictured aged 20) has always denied murder, but 37 years after he was found guilty he is still in prison According to the prosecution pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd, Freeman (pictured) used burking to kill Edinburgh-born Mr Hardie, 49, in south-east London as part of an alleged insurance swindle The Mail has previously revealed that in a 2017 report Professor Nicholas Birch, a respected consulting pharmacologist, was very critical of Dr Shepherd's work. He said: 'I understand that the contemporaneous notes of Dr Shepherd made at the post-mortem were not disclosed to the defence at the time of the trial. 'Subsequent consideration of them has disclosed that at the post-mortem of April 16, 1988, Dr Shepherd concluded: 'COD [cause of death] prob alc [alcohol] + acute pancreatitis'.' Also, in the first two examinations, there were no reports of bruising on Mr Hardie's back despite an examination in that area. Professor Birch wrote that these notes were not disclosed. 'He found a more melodramatic cause of death but one which is not based on the facts of the Burke case. However, this may have influenced the jury,' he added. Six years ago, forensic pathologist Dr Alexander Kolar wrote that there is no evidence in isolation or in combination that allows a cause of death to be put forward, in particular there is no evidence that allows a diagnosis of suffocation, crush asphyxia, Burking or similar. There are also claims that key police evidence was withheld from Mr Freeman's lawyers ahead of his trial. Celebrity pathologist Dr Shepherd, whose evidence was crucial in the prosecution's case, said he noted the CCRC decision but had 'nothing further to add' when contacted by the Mail today. Theoretically, Mr Freeman could have been released after completing the 13-year minimum term of his life sentence. But his continued protestations of innocence means he has never been granted parole. He now hopes to live long enough to clear his name when his case comes before the Court of Appeal. In February, the Mail revealed the scandal of another long-serving murder convict, the so-called 'Beast of Birkenhead' Peter Sullivan. He spent 38 years in jail before his conviction was quashed in May, three months after our damning revelations. Horrific images captured the moment flames overtook a family home on a quiet Maryland street, killing six people, including four children. The two-alarm fire erupted on Sunday morning and trapped multiple residents inside as the fire spread to a neighboring home. The $510,000 house was engulfed in heavy flames with smoke seen billowing from it when firefighters arrived at the scene. It took about 70 firefighters more than an hour to control the flames in the six-bedroom home in Waldorf, about 55 miles south of Baltimore. Only one adult resident home managed to escape the two-alarm fire, The Bay Net reported. Two other people who lived in the house were reportedly not home when the flames broke out. A total of nine people reportedly lived in the home. Six people including two children were killed when a massive fire engulfed a home in Maryland Sunday morning Officials said nine people lived in the six-bedroom home. One escaped the fire and two were not home at the time More than 70 firefighters rushed to the scene on Declaration Court North, in Waldorf One firefighter was hospitalized and another first responder was treated at the scene for unspecified injuries. The cause of the fire was under investigation. Master Deputy State Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire said the blaze originated on the right side of the home within an enclosed porch. The ages and names of the victims were not released as of Sunday evening. It is unclear if they were killed by the smoke or flames. Officials added that there are no signs of arson. Charles County Public Schools issued a statement after the fire saying the tragedy had impacted one of their families. Fire crews are seen assessing the fire's damage as they investigate the source of the flames The Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department said it responded at around 8.40am to the house on Declaration Court North The identities of the victims and the cause of the fire remains unclear as of Monday morning Officials from the Deputy State Fire Marshalls and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were continuing to investigate the blaze Sunday night. Speaking to reporters, Alkire said it was unclear whether the home was equipped with a smoke alarm. Akire stressed the importance of the devices and families having their own fire drills so that everyone inside the home knows how to escape in case of an emergency. A $60k-a-year private school has sparked outrage among locals after it was allowed to turn a public Manhattan street into a playground. The Birch Wathen Lenox School was granted permission to shut down the Upper East Side block - East 77th Street between Second and Third - to foot and car traffic for two peak hours a day, thrice a week, beginning in September, as reported by the New York Post. The school received the permission as part of NYC's Open Streets programs after arguing its rooftop playground was so small that only one grade could use it at a time. It will be allowed to close the street from 11am until 1pm three days a week, as along as they usher children off the road as needed to let delivery trucks or emergency vehicles through. The posh school, whose alumni include veteran journalist Barbara Walters, had previously been denied the permit, when it requested to shut down the street for five hours a day, five days a week. Business owners on the street told the Post they are angry over the community board's decision which they say will affect their income. A $60k-a-year private school has angered local business owners after it was allowed to shut down the street thrice a week to turn it into a playground The school said the playground on its rooftop was too small for their students 'Its a school filled with very rich kids. Its like the 1 percent taking away from the 99 percent,' said Todd Layne, who owns a laundromat near the school. 'Why do they have the right to commandeer an entire street and disrupt the businesses on this block?' Meanwhile Toby Clairty Lighting owner Toby Chancey said he could lose as much as 10 percent of his business, because the majority of his elderly customers drive up to the storefront. In response to the outrage, the Birch Wathen Lenox School pledged to clear the roadway when needed. Head of School Bill Kuhn said the school will maintain open communications with its neighbors. The Open Streets plan, additionally, will be up for review after the coming school year and could be scrapped. The posh school, whose alumni include veteran journalist Barbara Walters , had previously been denied the permit Todd Layne, who owns a laundromat near the school, said the decision meant the '1 percent [is] taking away from the 99 percent' 'Our revised Open Street proposal, which was unanimously approved by Community Board 8 with a vote of 42-0, reduced our initial plan by 70 percent, asking only for two hours a day, three times a week,' Kuhn said in a statement. 'This approval reflects our extensive community engagement and the adjustments we made to address feedback.' A yacht-sized passenger boat in Hawaii got swept up in a massive wave and almost tipped over before being run aground this weekend. On Saturday at around 8:15 am, Honolulu station's Coast Guard and Ocean Safety Department responded to reports of a situation at Kewalo Basin Harbor. A 75-foot vessel had gotten caught up in high surf off the Hawaii beach and was forced to ride the wild waves, nearly flipping on its side at one point. As the tide started rising, the boat drifted toward shore and became stuck. At the time, swells were peaking and the tide was bottoming out, KHON-TV reported. Usually the vessel, named the Discovery, shuttles passengers to Atlantis Submarine Adventures in Waikiki - a company that offers submarine tours 100-feet below the surface. Luckily, the shuttle boat was only carrying two passengers - including the captain and another experienced crew member. Neither were injured. 'There were no passengers aboard the Discovery shuttle boat when it ran aground this morning,' Atlantis Adventures said. 'The two experienced crewmembers aboard the shuttle boat were not injured.' A yacht-sized passenger boat in Hawaii got swept up in a massive wave and almost tipped over before being run aground On Saturday at around 8:15 am, Honolulu station's Coast Guard and Ocean Safety Department responded to reports of a situation at Kewalo Basin Harbor Usually the vessel, named the Discovery, shuttles passengers to Atlantis Submarine Adventures in Waikiki - a company that offers submarine tours 100-feet below the surface The response crew launched a rescue attempt in a 45-foot boat, but was unable to get to the Discovery shuttle boat because of the water depth. Ocean Safety used two jet ski operators to reach the boat and confirm that everyone on board was uninjured, Honolulu Fire Department said. The two crew members on board declined offers to be transported to shore and opted to stay on their vessel until high tide. The Discovery eventually drifted against a concrete wall that lines the shore. The vessel holds 2,000 gallons of fuel, HOSD said. Luckily, no flooding or hull damage was found by the captain when they assessed the Discovery. Surfing filmmaker Ramon Brockington, 41, said he and others had been anticipating the higher swells for three days after monitoring weather apps that use data from ocean buoys. Ocean Safety used two jet ski operators to reach the boat and confirm that everyone on board was uninjured The two crew members on board declined offers to be transported to shore and opted to stay on their vessel until high tide The Discovery eventually drifted against a concrete wall that lines the shore. While dramatic waves rocked the boat, Brockington had been filming body surfers nearby in an area off the harbor known as Panic Point. 'I've never seen anything like that,' he told The Associated Press. 'It almost looked like it was going to flip' 'Basically they were coming in trying to beat this wave,' Brockington told The Associated Press. 'And the boat didn't have enough power to get in front of this wave. So what happened was a wave ended up picking up the boat, and the captain basically lost all steering whatsoever.' A packed Delta Air Lines plane has clipped the wing of another aircraft while pushing back from the gate. The wing of the departing plane, carrying nearly 200 passengers, is said to have struck an empty aircraft as it maneuvered away from the terminal, the airline told The Associated Press. According to Delta, the wing of the plane 'reportedly made contact' with the other aircraft. The incident occurred Sunday morning, Delta confirmed. There were 192 passengers on board along with two pilots and four flight attendants. Flight tracking site FlightAware shows the flight was scheduled to travel from Atlanta to Guatemala City before the incident caused delays. Passengers were eventually moved onto a replacement plane to continue their journey. No injuries were reported. A packed Delta Air Lines plane has clipped the wing of another aircraft while pushing back from the gate (stock photo) The Airbus that was struck was not carrying any passengers at the time. The airline has not yet disclosed the extent of the damage. This comes just a week after passengers aboard a cross-country Delta flight endured over six grueling hours trapped on a Georgia tarmac with no functioning toilets onboard. A flight bound for Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was suddenly diverted to Augusta Regional Airport on Friday due to the heavy rain and severe thunderstorms that swept across the state the day before. But instead of their journey ending upon landing, travelers found themselves stranded on the runway for hours, unable to leave. 'A disheveled mess to say the least,' Pat McCormack, a passenger on the flight, told the outlet. 'There was no water on the plane,' he added. 'The toilets weren't working.' After nearly seven hours sitting motionless on the ground, passengers were finally allowed to disembark. A suspended Labour councillor urged a crowd to cut the throats of National Front members during riots last summer, a court has heard. Ricky Jones, councillor for Dartford, appeared in court today accused of encouraging violent disorder after taking part in a counter-protest in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, on August 7 last year. Jones, 57, attended the demonstration as several anti-migrant rallies took place across the UK in the wake of the murders of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on July 29. The incident sparked local riots which quickly spread across other parts of the country after misinformation spread online that the attacker, Axel Rudakubana, was a Muslim asylum seeker who had recently arrived in Britain on a small boat. The court heard that Jones was spotted amongst a crowd that had gathered in Hoe Street in the early hours of the morning, despite Labour having urged its councillors 'not to take part in or attend...any demonstration or counter demonstration'. He was later filmed shouting into a microphone: 'They are disgusting Nazi fascists. We need to cut their throats and get rid of them' whilst making a slashing gesture across his neck. Jones was suspended after videos of the speech, which he claimed was in response to seeing stickers concealing razor blades planted by far-right group National Front, were widely circulated online. He denies the charge and maintains that his words were said in the 'heat of the moment' and were not intended to be 'taken literally'. Labour councillor Ricky Jones has appeared in court today accused of encouraging violent disorder after taking part in a counter-protest in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, last year Jones is pictured speaking at a counter protest in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, on August 7 He was later filmed shouting into a microphone: 'They are disgusting Nazi fascists. We need to cut their throats and get rid of them' whilst making a slashing gesture across his neck Wearing a smart brown suit and glasses, Jones appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court today to stand trial. Prosecutor Benjamin Holt said: 'Last summer three girls were killed at a dance-themed event in Southport, Merseyside. 'A male, seventeen years of age at the time, has been arrested and charged in respect of their murders and additional counts of attempted murder. 'You will recall the mass outpouring of grief and genuine concern that followed those killings.' He told jurors: 'A week or so later, from about 5 August 2024, the Metropolitan Police Service started to receive information about the prospects of future anti-immigration protests and counter protests in the capital. 'Ricky Jones was, at the time, a Labour Councillor for Dartford. 'As a result he received and authored various advice documents about the state of flux that the country was in at the time. 'The material found on his telephone is, we say, important when you come to consider whether what Mr Jones thought was going to take place in Walthamstow, and whether he believed that his actions could encourage violence.' The demonstration in Walthamstow (pictured) took place following a number of anti-migrant rallies that took place across the UK in the wake of the murders of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport on July 29 People gather for a counter demonstration against an anti-immigration protest called by far-right activists in the Walthamstow suburb of London on August 7 Jurors were read a pronouncement part-authored by Jones on behalf of Labour that including the words: 'There is no excuse for what we've seen. No possible justification. 'This is mindless criminal thuggery, fuelled and perpetrated by the far right spreading their divisive, destructive ideas on the streets and on social media'. Ahead of the planned far-right riot in Walthamstow, Jones sent a message on the 'Dartford Labour Group', Mr Holt said. The message referred to 'images of National Front stickers apparently concealing a razor blade.' He warned the WhatsApp group: 'Please be careful while travelling and please cascade the following pictures, have come from one of my reps who works for C2C and have been found on their trains'. In the same group, on the 6 August, Jones again referred to the National Front as a 'group afro Caribbean people used to have to be afraid of in the 60s, 70s. 'I can't believe that we are going back to those disgraceful times. It breaks my heart to see this.' The prosecutor directed jurors to an 'instructive' email sent around by the Labour Local Government team in reference to far-right rallies taking place around the UK. Riot police hold back protesters after disorder broke out in Southport on July 30 - a day after the knife attack Protesters spray fire extinguishers at riot police officers during scenes of unrest in Sunderland on August 2 It said: 'With heightened tensions in many areas of the country due to the threat of further violent disorder, we wanted to remind all Labour Party councillors to follow the clear advice issued by the police which is not to take part in, attend, or encourage others to attend any sort of demonstration or counter demonstration.' 'In due course, you might consider why it was that this defendant decided to ignore this advice - for that is precisely what he did.' He added: 'As I mentioned, during the afternoon and into the early evening of 7 August, a crowd began to gather on Hoe Street. 'We will see CCTV footage of Ricky Jones at the side of the road, the road is full of people. 'There is a speaker in the middle of the road, using a microphone - the defendant makes his way over towards the speaker and the microphone. 'It would appear to be a conscious decision on his part to head in that direction in order to take that stage. Once there, he waits his turn. 'The previous speaker gives way to Mr Jones who goes on to make a speech. Before he takes the microphone, he provides a male with his mobile telephone. 'This male films Mr Jones with his own telephone; presumably having been asked to do so by Mr Jones. Protesters near a burning police vehicle in Southport on July 30 2024 Riot police hold back protesters after disorder broke out on July 30, 2024 in Southport 'We have that speech as recorded on his mobile telephone and he has distributed that, or some of that, to his contacts. 'However, someone else has filmed Mr Jones' speech. Excerpts of it were circulated on social media, X, video and audio. 'During the speech, Mr Jones says the following: "We have got children and women using those trains during the summer holidays. They are disgusting Nazi fascists. We need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all. I just want to say thank you all and I'll leave it there." ' Jurors were played footage of Jones' speech. 'As he talked of cutting throats, he drew his finger across his own throat', Mr Holt said. The court heard that during the same event Jones told the Politics Joe Website about razor blades hidden behind National Front stickers with the words 'National Front Rights for Whites'. 'They're targeting women, they're targeting children, they're targeting babies,' he is on record telling the website. 'We're talking about the summer holidays when those trains are packed with people going on their holidays, or going down to the coast, and they've got be faced by razor blades stuck between the seats. It's disgraceful, absolutely disgraceful.' Mr Holt continued: 'At nine o'clock a message was received by Ricky Jones from a contact: "Ricky your on BBC News." 'Ricky Jones appears content and satisfied by his evening's work and the speech that he has made: "I served" - no apparent regret was shown for that video.' The jurors heard that the 57-year-old was arrested on 8 August and provided a prepared statement to police before giving a no comment interview. He said in his statement that his comments were not intended to be 'taken literally'. Mr Holt continued: 'He said he was sorry for having made the comments. They were made, he said, in the heat of the moment. 'He was not invited to speak until the last minute and had not planned what he was going to say. 'The prosecution's case is that this defendant has gone to a demonstration, protest, against some fairly clear and strong guidance. It was, we say, not said in the heat of the moment. 'In the circumstances in Hoe Street as they were, making this speech was capable of encouraging others to commit an offence. 'It was capable of stoking the flames and encouraging others to violence.' Jones, of Dartford, Kent, denies encouraging violent disorder. The trial continues. Nicola Sturgeon has said anyone who rapes a woman 'forfeits the right to be the gender of their choice'. The former Scottish first minister made the claim as she struggled to answer fresh questions about transgender prisoner Isla Bryson. In a TV interview, Ms Sturgeon admitted she was 'partly responsible' for a loss of 'rationality' in the debate over trans rights. The ex-SNP leader quit frontline politics in 2023 after a furious row over her Scottish Government's plans to introduce a system of self-identification for changing gender. Ms Sturgeon had also been damaged by a row over Bryson, a double rapist who was sent to a female jail after announcing she was a trans women. Bryson, who was convicted of attacking two women while known as a man called Adam Graham, was later moved to a male prison following a public outcry. At the time, Ms Sturgeon refused to say whether she believed Bryson was a man or a woman. But, speaking to ITV ahead of the publication of her memoir Frankly this week, the Glasgow Southside MSP said Bryson is a 'biological male'. Nicola Sturgeon has said anyone who rapes a woman 'forfeits the right to be the gender of their choice' The former Scottish first minister made the claim as she struggled to answer fresh questions about transgender prisoner Isla Bryson . Bryson was convicted of attacking two women while known as a man called Adam Graham Ms Strugeon acknowledged she should have previously been 'much more straightforward' on the issue. 'Isla Bryson identified as a woman,' she told TV News At Ten presenter Julie Etchingham. 'I think what I would say now is anybody who commits the most heinous male crime against women probably forfeits the right to be the gender of their choice.' She went on to add: 'That probably was not the best phrase to use' Asked why she doesn't simply say Bryson is a biological male, Ms Sturgeon replied: 'They are a biological male but that's about whether. it gets back into the self ID thing. 'I should have been much more straightforward, I wasn't, but that's because of the debate. We'd lost all sense of rationality in this debate. I'm partly responsible for that.' Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay said: 'Frankly, Nicola Sturgeon must be delusional if she thinks the women of Scotland will swallow this drivel.' The Conservative MSP said Ms Sturgeon had 'ignored all warnings that gender self-ID would be a gift to male predators like Isla Bryson'. He added that the ex-SNP leader 'ordered her SNP MSPs to vote down my attempts to block rapists and other sex criminals from being able to legally change their gender by self-declaration'. Mr Findlay continued: 'Her absurd ideological belief in self-ID collapses with her belated mealy-mouthed admission that this rapist is a man, but she still can't bring herself to say sorry for all the pain and misery she has caused.' Two blind women claim they found themselves to be the only passengers on a Southwest flight after they say staff 'forgot' about them. Sherri Brun and Camille Tate, from Florida, were flying from New Orleans to Orlando on July 14 on Southwest Flight 2637 when their flight got delayed for nearly five hours. The two blind women told FOX 35 that they were left sitting at a gate for hours before they boarded their flight, only to discover they were the only passengers aboard. 'You're the only two people on this flight because they forgot about you,' Brun said they were told. The staff had allegedly rebooked everyone else without telling them, they told the local outlet. The airline disputes their 'inaccurate' account. The friends said they patiently waited by their assigned gate - checking Southwest's app for updates but didn't hear of any changes. 'Nobody said a word to us about another flight,' Brun told the outlet. 'We were just waiting at the gate, checking the app, like everyone else.' Two blind women have found themselves the only passengers on a Southwest flight after staff allegedly forgot about them (Sherri Brun) They found out that the staff had allegedly rebooked everyone else without telling them, they told the local outlet Now the pair are urging the airline to improve their communication with disabled passengers (Camille Tate) Now the pair are urging the airline to improve their communication with disabled passengers. 'There needs to be some improvement in how they communicate with their passengers, especially those that have disabilities,' Tate said. But Southwest has denied 'forgetting' about the two women and claimed the pair remained booked on their original flight. Despite apologizing for the inconvenience and offering a $100 stipend, the airline said there were no changes to the original flight and these are 'inaccurate accounts' of what occurred. 'We have seen inaccurate accounts that suggest we 'forgot' the two customers, or that we sent a plane back to get them,' a Southwest spokesperson wrote. 'Neither of these is the case.' 'The Customers were scheduled on Flight 2637. Although it ran almost five hours late that day, it remained their same flight number throughout.' 'We apologize for the inconvenience,' the airline said. 'Southwest is always looking for ways to improve our customers' travel experiences, and we're active in the airline industry in sharing best practices about how to best accommodate passengers with disabilities.' In April, a blind teenager also slammed Southwest Airlines after a flight attendant shamed the college student publicly - before she was left stranded in an unfamiliar airport with no assistance following an excruciating 30 hours of travel. Maddy Kolb, 19, was flying to Harford, Connecticut, from her hometown of Dallas, Texas, when she was left in tears due to what she says was a staff member's alleged 'hostility.' Maddy, who takes an average of '12 to 14 Southwest flights a year,' was put on a flight which had a layover in Tampa, Florida - which she'd never stopped over in before. 'I am legally blind, I'm a white cane user, and I have meet and assist with Southwest,' Maddy recounted in a now-viral TikTok video. 'I have pre-board with Southwest, I have blind stamped on all of my boarding passes.' Her plane had to disembark due to bad weather, with the airline rebooking the flights for everyone which resulted in Maddy spending six hours in the Tampa airport. Maddy Kolb, 19, was flying to Harford, Connecticut, from her hometown of Dallas, Texas, when she was left in tears due to a staff members 'hostility' She was put on a flight to Hartford via Baltimore and was told by ground staff to let the flight attendants know that her next flight was leaving shortly after they landed so she could be taken straight there. '[I was told] they were going to wait for me, due to my blindness... they were going to hold the plane for me,' she recounted. When she boarded the plane, she said she was met with a flight attendant who told her she was 'not special,' and it 'doesn't matter that I had a flight to get to.' 'Basically that I'm not important and it didn't matter,' she said. President Donald Trump is calling for AOC and her progressive cohort of lawmakers, called the 'Squad,' to take cognitive exams. Trump, 79, has frequently sparred with Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., since she was first elected in 2019. She represents a New York near where the president grew up, and he has ridiculed her for incompetence and 'radical' policies. For her part, Ocasio-Cortez, 35, has opposed Trump on nearly every issue, and her vocal opposition has earned her a special spot among the president's most frequently criticized targets. But Texas Democrat Rep. Jasmine Crockett, 44, has quickly become a new favorite of the president to criticize. 'Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett is a low (very!!!) I.Q. individual, much in the mold of the AOC Plus Three Gang of Country Destroying Morons - only slightly dumber,' the Republican wrote on Truth Social Monday morning. 'Each of these political hacks should be forced to take a cognitive exam, much like the one I recently took while getting my physical at our great Washington, D.C., military hospital (WR!),' he continued. 'As the doctors said, President Trump ACED it, something that is rarely seen!' he bragged. 'These Radical Left Lunatics would all fail this test in a spectacular show of stupidity and incompetence. Take the test!' President ODnald Trump tore into Democratic Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jasmine Crockett as 'low IQ' and in need of cognitive exams Crockett and AOC pictured together in 2021 Neither the offices for Ocasio-Cortez nor Crockett responded to the Daily Mail's request for comment. The president launched a similar attack against the Democrats in early July, saying AOC is 'very nice but she's very low IQ, and we don't need low IQ.' 'Between her and Crockett, we're going to give them both an IQ test to see who comes out best.' As Ocasio-Cortez and Crockett have emerged as some of the most popular young faces of the Democratic Party, Trump has taken note and made sure to hit them at every opportunity. But the resistance leaders had leaned into the new feud. 'Mr. President, dont take your anger out on me Im just a silly girl,' AOC responded to a recent Trump outburst about her intelligence. He's called her 'one of the 'dumbest' people in Congress.' The back and forth last month came after AOC called for the president to be impeached over authorizing U.S. airstrikes in Iran in June. Crockett, 44, has been a rising star in the Democratic party, frequently pushing back on Trump on TV and on social media Crockett has also punched back at the president for his comments about her. 'Weve already been over this. Ive got the degrees, the credentials, and the receipts. If youre looking for low IQ, try looking in the mirroror at your own Cabinet,' Crockett posted on X earlier this month. Trump took a cognitive test in April as a part of his annual medical check at Walter Reed Hospital near Washington, D.C. The president 'exhibits excellent cognitive and physical health,' a memo published by the White House after the visit stated. It noted how Trump got a normal score of 30 out of 30 on the cognitive exam. Colombian presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay has died two months after he was shot in the head at a rally. Uribe, a 39-year-old conservative senator, died at a hospital in the capital, Bogota, his wife Maria Claudia Tarazona said on Monday. 'Rest in peace, love of my life. I will take care of our children,' his wife wrote in a social media post confirming his death. 'I ask God to show me the way to learn to live without you.' Uribe was shot three times, twice in the head, while giving a campaign speech in a park and had remained in an intensive care unit in serious condition with episodes of slight improvement. A 15-year-old suspect, Juan Sebastian Rodriguez Casallas, was arrested at the scene of the June 7 attack in a working-class Bogota neighborhood and authorities have since detained several other people. Casallas apparently told authorities he was paid to shoot Uribe. Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay died two months after he was shot in the head at a rally Uribe Turbay is seen moments before he was shot at a campaign rally in Bogota on Saturday Uribe's wife Maria Claudia Tarazona confirmed the senator died on Monday in Bogota Last month Colombian officials named the attack's mastermind as Elder Jose Arteaga Hernandez, known as 'Chipi' or 'Costeno.' However, investigators continue to probe who called for the attack and why. The Attorney General's office is looking into whether the killing was the work of armed groups of former guerrillas that traffic cocaine to the US and Europe and terrorize Colombia, as reported by the Wall Street Journal. National Police director, General Carlos Triana, said during a press conference Monday that the gun was legally acquired in Mesa, Arizona on August 6, 2020. Six people have been prosecuted for the attack, while a minor collaborating in the investigation escaped from a detention center. Uribe had announced his intention to run for president in 2026 and had become one of leftist president Gustavo Petro's strongest critics in congress. He had been warning the nation was backsliding into violence like that seen during the 1980s amid the drug trafficking wars. The shooting, which was caught on multiple videos, alarmed Colombians who have not seen this kind of political violence against presidential candidates since Medellin drug lord Pablo Escobar declared war on the state in the 1990s. The senator, whos own mother was killed in political violence in Colombia, leaves behind his wife and two young sons Colombian authorities arrested a 15-year-old suspect who shot Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay at presidential campaign rally Uribe's own mother, well-known journalist Diana Turbay, was among the victims of that period when she died during a police rescue after being kidnapped by a group of drug traffickers led by Escobar seeking to block their extradition to the United States. Uribe's maternal grandfather, Julio Cesar Turbay, was president of Colombia from 1978 to 1982. The senator leaves behind his wife and two young sons. Uribe, a lawyer with a masters degree in public administration from Harvard University, entered politics as a councilman for Bogota when he was 26. In 2022, he was the biggest vote-getter in the conservative Democratic Center party led by former President Alvaro Uribe. 'Evil destroys everything,' the ex-president, who is not related to the senator, said on social media. 'They have killed hope. May Miguel's struggle be a light that illuminates Colombia's path.' Authorities have floated several hypotheses about what led to the attack, while allies of the candidate have complained that the government ignored repeated requests to reinforce his state-provided security detail. Juan Sebastian Rodriguez Casallas, 15, was arrested after the shooting attack on Uribe In the immediate aftermath of the attack, tens of thousands poured into the streets dressed in white and waving the Colombian flag to reject the violence. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was among the politicians who lamented the senator's death. 'The United States stands in solidarity with his family, the Colombian people, both in mourning and demanding justice for those responsible,' he posted on X. This is the moment a man was fatally gored after taunting a bull in Colombia. The victim, Yovanis Marquez, 35, was among dozens of members of the public who participated in the 'corraleja,' a bullfighting festival, Saturday in Fundacion, a city in the department of Magdalena, which sits near the Caribbean Sea. Video footage showed Marquez looking around the sold-out bullring and shouting at the spectators as he prepared himself to challenge the bull. In a second video, the bull could be seen standing in front the fencing with barbed sticks stuck behind its head as Marquez stared him down. Marquez then took off running and tried to execute a somersault when the bull took a step forward and struck him with one of his horns. Spectators screamed in horror as the bull went after Marquez as he laid on the ground, driving a horn into him and flipping him over. A stunned Marquez stood up on his own and ran away as bystanders tried to assist him. Marquez was rushed to an area hospital, but he arrived without vital signs and was pronounced dead on arrival. Yovanis Marquez was killed after he was gored by a bull at a festival in Fundacion, Colombia on Saturday Yovanis Marquez was filmed shouting at spectators at a bullfighting ring in Fundacion, Colombia on Saturday moments before he ran at a bull and was gored. The 35-year-old was rushed to an area hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead One spectator told Colombian newspaper El Tiempo that Marquez had appeared to be alright immediately after the initial impact. 'He stood up as if he was fine, but the blood was flowing. It was only a few seconds before he fell to the ground.' The event, which was part of the patron festival and bans the killing of bulls, continued despite the incident. Marquez's death comes after a man was nearly killed by a bull at a festival in Xico, Mexico on July 22 that is similar to the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain. Marquez (center) was able to walk off on his own while bystanders offered to help him before he collapsed to the ground Video showed a large crowd standing behind barricaded street as Roberto Pozos challenged the animal and kneeled on the ground. As Pozos faced off with a honey-colored bull, a second bull charged in from behind and sent him flying into the air as the spectators screamed. Pozos was airlifted to a medical center in Xalapa, the capital of Veracruz, to undergo reconstructive facial surgery. Emilio Macias, a matador, was viciously gored by a bull at bullring in the Mexican state of Tlaxcala on March 1. The bull tore through Emilio Macias' left buttock and struck his femur. It also pierced the rectum, colon and right hip. Macias was taken to a hospital in Puebla, where he underwent an operation that lasted almost nine hours. Dozens more migrants have arrived in Dover today as the number to cross the Channel since Labour came to power nears 50,000. Two Border Force vessels, Typhoon and Volunteer, were seen arriving in the port to drop migrants picked up in the Channel, while the Ramsgate lifeboat intercepted another group in the North Sea. A total of 49,797 migrants have been picked up from the Channel since the General Election in July last year - with this figure including 281 who arrived yesterday amid ideal weather conditions for crossing the Channel. More than a thousand people have now arrived since the Government's widely ridiculed 'one in, one out' deal with France became operational last Wednesday. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'Labour cancelled the Rwanda deterrent plan before it started with no replacement and numbers have surged. 'This year so far has been the worst in history for illegal immigrants crossing the Channel. Labour has lost control of our borders. Every illegal immigrant needs to be removed immediately upon arrival. But this government is too weak to do that.' On Sunday, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage posted a video which showed migrants chanting 'Allahu Akbar' as they apparently crossed the English Channel. A Border Force vessel brings a group of migrants onshore at Dover today Several young children were among the groups picked up in the Channel today Your browser does not support iframes. He said: 'This is a national security emergency. Allowing these men to invade our country will not end well.' Last week, Mr Philp accused Sir Keir Starmer of 'gaslighting the British public' and making 'grossly exaggerated' claims over the new migrant deal. He said the returns agreement would see only 6 per cent of migrants sent back. The deal is also due to last just ten months. Speaking about the first detentions under the deal, the Prime Minister warned migrants: 'If you break the law to enter this country, you will face being sent back.' Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said 'every migrant' will be 'throwing away their money if they get into a small boat'. Since the start of this year, a record 26,555 migrants have arrived up 49 per cent on the same period last year. Protests against illegal migrants continued across the country at the weekend. Demonstrators gathered outside hotels in Bristol and near Gatwick, West Sussex, which are being used to house asylum seekers. There was also a rally near two migrant hotels in Bournemouth. The migrants were brought ashore on two Border Force vessels and the Ramsgate lifeboat Your browser does not support iframes. Your browser does not support iframes. Today's new arrivals follow claims by Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick that the small boats crisis has made British women and girls less safe. The Tory MP said he fears for his own three young daughters against a backdrop of illegal migrants with 'medieval attitudes' crossing the Channel. In an article for The Mail on Sunday, Mr Jenrick stated: 'I certainly don't 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 don't want anyone else's 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'. 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 woman and two children who were among the group picked up by the lifeboat Protesters outside The Bell Hotel in Epping on Friday evening with Union flags and St George's Crosses Police officers intervene as pro-migrant and anti-migrant protesters face off near Britannia International Hotel in Canary Wharf on Friday Mr Jenrick called for tougher action on deporting criminals back to their home countries, and said 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 argued. Rising country music star Spencer Hatcher's mother Holly was stabbed to death by a stranger during a horrific invasion of her Virginia home. Holly, 62, was murdered when Kevin Moses Walker broke into her residence in Rockingham County on August 3. Her husband Michael Hatcher, 65, was injured in the attack but managed to shoot Walker dead with a handgun in an apparent act of self-defense. Walker, 41, of Maryland, apparently targeted the Hatchers in a 'completely random' attack, the sheriff revealed. Police are still investigating a motive for the brutal attack. Walker had no known history of violent or criminal behavior. No charges will be filed in the case since Walker is dead, but police are continuing to investigate the incident. Spencer, 27, canceled several upcoming concerts in wake of the tragedy, telling his fans that his family is battling a 'monumental loss'. The bluegrass-influenced country music star has more than 720,000 followers on TikTok. He signed with Stone Country Records in July 2024 and released his first EP last October. Rising country music star Spencer Hatcher (pictured) has canceled several upcoming shows after his mother was killed during a brutal home invasion in Rockingham County, Virginia The Hatchers are pictured with their three sons and dog Investigators believe Walker killed Holly after he wreaked havoc on a RV resort in the Shenandoah Valley. Walker checked in to a rented campsite at at Endless Caverns, an RV park tucked into the Shenandoah Valley mountainside, on August 1, WTVR reports. Police say he took a tour of the caverns around 3pm, before heading to a local Walmart less then three hours later to purchase a sleeping bag and large knife. His vehicle was found abandoned on Endless Caverns Road the next morning after he allegedly rammed it into a store at the RV park. Police claim Walker entered both the store and the caverns, but did not steal anything. Patrol vehicles and a drone were deployed to the area, but the hunt for Walker proved unsuccessful. Officers were called to the Hatcher residence at 11.58pm on August 3 after Michael reported a home invasion. When police arrived on scene they found Walker dead in the driveway and Michael with visible injuries. Holly was discovered in the residence with multiple stab wounds. 'There's going to be questions that will never be answered, but all I can tell you is we've cried, we've hurt, and we've hugged, and we have found more love than we have ever known has existed between us, and between you,' Michael said during a press conference on Saturday. Kevin Walker, 41, (pictured) of Maryland, targeted the Hatchers in a 'completely random' attack Holly Hatcher, 62, (left) was murdered just before midnight on August 3. Her husband Michael Hatcher, 65, (right) was injured in the attack but managed to shoot her killer dead Officers were called to the Hatcher residence at 11.58pm on August 3 after Michael reported a home invasion. When police arrived on scene they found Walker dead in the driveway and Michael with visible injuries. Holly was discovered in the residence with multiple stab wounds Spencer also issued a statement on his Instagram account. It read, in part: 'It is with a heavy heart and overwhelming sadness that due to a monumental loss in our family - I must cancel my upcoming shows at VOA Country Music Fest in Butler County, OH (8/8) and at Rockingham County Fair in Harrisonburg, VA (8/11 &8/12).' He said he hoped to reschedule the shows in the future and thanked everyone who 'lent their support to me and my loved ones'. The performer did ask his fans to 'please respect our family's privacy at this time'. Holly served as a teacher in rural Virginia for the past 19 years. Her employer Rockingham County Public Schools issued a statement on Facebook, saying: 'We are heartbroken by the loss of a dedicated educator who served our RCPS community with unwavering commitment.' Holly 'poured her heart into her work, positively impacting countless students and colleagues,' the district continued, adding: 'Her loss is deeply felt by the entire RCPS family.' His mother's murder is the latest hardship that Spencer has had to battle as he makes a name for himself in the country music scene. In September last year, Spencer fractured his pelvis in three places, broke three ribs and suffered a pulmonary contusion to his right lung after falling 20 feet from his roof. Spencer Hatcher has more than 720,000 followers on TikTok. He signed with Stone Country Records in July 2024 and released his first EP last October He and Michael were working to repair a broken chimney when Spencer lost his footing, fell and struck a rock, his website states. The musician was airlifted to a hospital in Charlottesville and treated for his injuries, with doctors saying it was a miracle he did not sustain any head or spinal injuries. He was offered a deal with Stone Country Records just weeks later and returned to performing live after just three weeks - despite doctors estimating it would be several months before he recovered. 'I feel like Ive experienced two miracles in just one month,' Spencer said last autumn. 'First, surviving a two-story fall, which I truly believe was the hand of God, and second, signing a record deal, which I realize is something that most artists never get to do.' Pakistan's military chief allegedly warned that the nuclear nation would 'take half the world down with us' should it face an existential threat from India. Field Marshal Asim Munir is said to have told attendees of a black-tie dinner in Florida on Saturday: 'We are a nuclear nation. If we think we are going down, we'll take half the world down with us'. According to ThePrint, an Indian news outlet that reported the remarks, Munir also told dinner guests that Pakistan was willing to destroy India's water infrastructure: 'We will wait for India to build a dam, and when it does so, we will destroy it with 10 missiles. Referring to a major waterway that India and Pakistan have fought over for decades, he said: 'The Indus river is not the Indians family property, we have no shortage of missiles, Praise be to God.' Munir, who has led Pakistan's army since 2022, was in the US to attend a farewell event for General Michael Kurilla, the 15th commander of the United States Central Command. Pakistani officials denied he made the specific comments about taking down half the world, instead claiming he had said: '[India's] aggression has brought the region to the brink of a dangerously escalating war, where a bilateral conflict due to any miscalculation will be a grave mistake.' Despite this, a spokesperson for India's foreign ministry admonished the reported remarks: 'Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan's stock-in-trade... The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks.' He said it was also regrettable that the reported remarks should have been made while in a friendly third country. Pakistan 's military chief has allegedly warned that the nuclear nation will 'take half the world down with us' should it face an existential threat from India (Illustration of a mushroom cloud) Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan Asim Munir (pictured, second from left) visits Pakistan Army's Mangla Strike Corps, in Pakistan May 1, 2025 India and Pakistan both possess nuclear weapons and fought their deadliest battle in decades in May, sparked by an attack on tourists the previous month in Indian Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians. Both nations accused the other of violating the ceasefire between them. Multiple explosions were heard in two cities in Indian-controlled Kashmir just hours after Donald Trump boasted a ceasefire with Pakistan had been reached in May. India's foreign minister Vikram Misri accused Pakistan of 'repeated violations' and said the Indian armed forces 'are giving an adequate and appropriate response.' Meanwhile, the foreign ministry in Islamabad said Pakistan 'remains committed to faithful implementation' of the truce. 'Notwithstanding the violations being committed by India in some areas, our forces are handling the situation with responsibility and restraint,' it said. In June, India lodged a private diplomatic protest with Washington when President Donald Trump hosted Munir for a lunch at the White House. Analysts have said that India's disagreement with Washington over the May 10 ceasefire with Pakistan, and Trump's renewed engagement with Islamabad, have contributed to a recent setback in ties between India and the US under the Trump administration. Police have released photos of a man accused of beating up former DOGE staffer Edward 'Big Balls' Coristine during an attempted carjacking. Coristine, 19, was part of Elon Musk's army of nerds as it briefly caused havoc in the public service until he quit in June after his boss's falling out with Donald Trump. Trump appears to still have a soft spot for the teenage techie as he shared a photo of Coristine bloodied and bruised after the attack last week. He claimed Coristine was 'very badly hurt' and 'beat up by a bunch of thugs in DC' and on Sunday used it as a pretense to send the National Guard to the capital. 'We just almost lost a young man, beautiful, handsome guy that got the hell knocked out of him the night before last. I'm going to call him now,' he added. 'He was left dripping in blood. He thought he was dead with a broken nose and concussion. Can't believe that he's alive.' DC Metro Police arrested a boy and a girl, both 15, minutes after the unarmed carjacking attempt and later released two photos of a third suspect. The trio allegedly approached Coristine and someone he was with as they stood next to the car about 3am on August 3, and demanded the keys. Edward 'Big Balls' Coristine was beaten up during an attempted carjacking in DC on August 3 DC Metro Police arrested a boy and a girl, both 15, minutes after the unarmed carjacking attempt and later released two photos of a third suspect Coristine, 19, was the most baby-faced of Elon Musk 's baby-faced nerds waging war on the public service Coristine was the only one attacked until cops arrived and the carjackers fled into the night and the two teens, both from Hyattsville, Maryland, were arrested. The third suspect appeared to be a black man with short black hair wearing a surgical mask pulled down to his chin and a grey shirt. Trump used the attack on Coristine to claim DC was a violent city, despite it being nowhere near the top of the country's cities with the highest crime rates. Crime in DC is down seven percent this year with robberies dropping 28 percent and overall violent crime falling 26 percent. Despite this, Trump claimed young people were 'randomly attacking, mugging, maiming, and shooting innocent citizens' because they knew they would get released as minors. He described crime in DC, as 'totally out of control,' especially among 'youths,' who were just 14, 15 and 16 years old. 'Either they are going to straighten their act out in terms of government and in terms of protection or we're going to have to federalize and run it the way it's supposed to be run,' he said. Trump likened his plans for DC as similar to his administration's crackdown against immigration at the southern border. Coristine was one of the first hires and quickly became a symbol of DOGE's tech-bro bravado FBI and Border Patrol officers arrest a man along the U Street corridor late on Sunday night in Washington, DC 'I'm going to make our Capital safer and more beautiful than it ever was before,' he said while pledging to 'immediately clear out the city's homeless population and take swift action against crime'. 'It's all going to happen very fast, just like the border.' Trump announced the deployment during a White House press conference on Monday as he pushes for a federal takeover of the city. He said he would take direct federal control of the DC police department and send 1,000 National Guard to the city. Trump claimed his actions would help 'rescue our nation's capitol from crime , bloodshed, bedlam and squalor and worse.' He already deployed 120 FBI agents to work alongside DC police and other federal law enforcement officers working the night shift in the city. Photos taken late on Sunday night showed several federal authorities working in coordination with one another including the FBI and Border Patrol. In one instance, a man was detained by police along U Street in the capital as FBI and Border Patrol agents assisted. A short distance away Drug Enforcement Agency agents could also be seen standing guard in Dupont Circle. Nantucket has been plunged into chaos for the third time in five days after another bomb threat struck the ritzy island's downtown district. Police evacuated Main Street Saturday after receiving a call from someone who said they were planning to place an 'improvised explosive device' at a Ralph Lauren store. The retailer was also the target of similar threats on Tuesday and Friday last week, but Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad did not uncover anything at the scene. Nantucket Police have not disclosed who they believe the perpetrator is or why the fake bomb threats are recurring - but locals have a theory, according to the Nantucket Current. Several island residents have questioned whether a webcam, the Fisher Real Estate camera, which points directly at the Ralph Lauren is somehow making it a target. The camera normally provides a livestream of Main Street via YouTube, and the owners removed the feed following the second bomb menace. Speculation is swirling around whether other businesses on the street could have been the main target, though any clear motive is unclear. Multiple venues including the Gaslight and Club Car were also shuttered each time police received a bomb threat. Police evacuated Main Street Saturday after receiving a call from someone who said they were planning to place an 'improvised explosive device' at a Ralph Lauren store (pictured) Nantucket (pictured) has been plunged into chaos for the third time in five days after another bomb threat struck the ritzy island's downtown district On Saturday night, Nantucket Police were already on scene as part of security efforts for the Boston Pops concert, and they conducted searches within an hour. 'Members of the Massachusetts State Police Bomb Squad, who were already on island for another event, were able to respond immediately,' Nantucket Police Chief Jody Kasper said in a statement. 'The area was thoroughly searched and no explosive device was located. Responders cleared the scene at 11:34pm. This was a false report, but we take every threat seriously. 'We appreciate the quick coordination between all involved agencies, and we thank the public for their patience and cooperation during the response. 'The case remains open and under investigation by the Nantucket Police Department Detective Unit, the Massachusetts State Police and the FBI.' The isolated island off Cape Cod is usually a peaceful retreat for wealthy holidaymakers, including Ben Stiller, Dave Portnoy, and the Obamas, who all own homes on the enclave Police evacuated Main Street Saturday after receiving a call from someone who said they were planning to place an 'improvised explosive device' at a Ralph Lauren store (pictured) The previous threats were recorded at 7.21pm on August 8, and on this occasion the person making the threat also said they were armed with a gun, police said. Nantucket Police Department said the case remains open and under investigation by local detectives, Massachusetts State Police and the FBI. The isolated island off Cape Cod is usually a peaceful retreat for wealthy holidaymakers, including Ben Stiller, Dave Portnoy, and the Obamas, who all own homes on the picturesque enclave. A British tourist had his 165,000 Richard Mille stolen from him next to the Eiffel Tower. The man, who has not been identified, reportedly had his watch taken from him as he walked through the famous Champ-de-Mars park in Paris on Sunday morning. He told police that he was approached by two 'Eastern European-looking women' who asked him to sign a petition as he walked through between 10am and 11am. He refused to do so, and walked away. But minutes later, he was approached by a group of four men who offer to sell him a photograph. The Briton once again refused and hailed a taxi. But when he checked his watch, he realised it had vanished. The man reported the incident to cops at the 7th arrondissement police station, and an investigation was opened. According to Le Parisien, the Paris prosecutor's office said that while it had been 'informed of these incidents... at this stage, the individuals have not been arrested.' Tourists in Paris are often deliberately targeted as easy marks by thieves. The man, who has not been identified, reportedly had his watch stolen as he walked through the famous Champ-de-Mars park next to the Eiffel Tower (File image) A British tourist has had his 165,000 Richard Mille stolen from him next to the Eiffel Tower (File image of a Richard Mille watch) The problem is so endemic that even restaurants are scamming visitors, an undercover investigation found. Le Parisien sent out a Parisian on the Champ-de-Mars near the Eiffel Tower. They also dressed up one of their reporters as an American tourist and directed them to the same cafe to reveal exactly what was happening at the holidaymaker hotspots. They both seated themselves at the unnamed diner and ordered the same dish - lasagna, a Coke and water. All the while they had been filming themselves. The clearly 'French' customer was served a can of Coke for 6.50 (5.63) and offered a carafe of water along with his dish. However, the 'American' was not offered a small can, only a 'medium or large Coke'. When it arrived, it was just half a litre and cost 9.50 (8.23). As for the water, the 'American' received no offer for a carafe, which is free, but was instead made to spend a further 6 (5.20) for a small bottle of Vittel. The server also offered the 'American' a side of garlic bread without specifying that it was an extra. They were later charged a further 6 (5.20). The pair then walked to a different nearby cafe-restaurant to test its policy on tipping. When the bill arrived, the French customer noticed their receipt included an obligatory ten per cent service charge. But the 'American' tourist was asked if he wanted to tip as 'service isn't included'. And to make matters worse, when he agreed to add a 10 per cent tip via the card machine, he noticed the waiter had discreetly hidden the amount and increased this to 15 per cent. Actress Cheryl Hines has questioned her in-law Caroline Kennedy's parenting skills over her son's erratic online behavior. Hines, who is married to Caroline's first cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr, suggested she was too fearful to even discuss Jack Schlossberg's antics in a new Wall Street Journal interview. 'Her sons behaviorI dont even want to say anything, because anything I say, hes going to think, hes going to be, umm, excited that someones talking about him.' Hines said I dont understand whats going on with him.' Schlossberg is Caroline's 32 year old-son by husband Edwin Schlossberg. Hines' husband RFK Jr is the son of Robert 'Bobby' Kennedy, who was President John F. Kennedy's brother. In recent months, Schlossberg has concerned onlookers with bizarre online behavior that included demanding conservative journalist Megyn Kelly show him her privates. Schlossberg also mocked the private pain of his late grandmother Jaqueline Kennedy Onassis and regularly takes to social media, where he is attempting to build a name for himself. Just last week, Schlossberg goaded Hines, best known for her role in TV show Curb Your Enthusiasm, and her husband RFK Jr over a post made by RFK Jr wishing his wife a happy anniversary. Schlossberg replied: 'What does she let you do on your birthday?' with no further context provided. Hines' husband has long been seen as the 'black sheep' of the Kennedy political dynasty thanks to his increasingly conservative views and suspicion of vaccines. But now Schlossberg appears to have joined him on the family's list of shame. Caroline Kennedy has yet to make any public comment on her son's behavior. Kennedy heir Jack Schlossberg has been slammed by his famous family member as self-obsessed and fame hungry Cheryl Hines, who is married to Schlossberg's relative - Robert F. Kennedy JR , made the savage accusations to the Wall Street Journal Hines openly discussed the behavior of Schlossberg, 32 - who is the only grandson of John F. Kennedy through his mother Caroline Kennedy (pictured with her son) In late July, Schlossberg posted a picture of Hines with text saying 'CONGRATS !!!!' and 'Most measles cases in 33 years'. This is referencing RFK Jr.'s controversial opposition to many common vaccines - which Schlossberg has publicly shamed him for on multiple occasions. Back when RFK Jr. was running for president, Schlossberg called his candidacy an 'embarrassment' and questioned why anyone would think he should win the election. RFK Jr later threw his support behind Donald Trump and was rewarded the prestige post of US Health Secretary after Trump's second inauguration in January. Schlossberg's behavior has continuously raised eyebrows. After briefly serving as Vogue's political correspondent, the Kennedy heir seemingly began to focus more on producing content for his own social media. The 32-year-old baffled his followers in July when he went on an Instagram rant about mangoes. After discovering that there are more than 1,000 types of mangoes, he shared the fun fact with his 696,000 followers, saying 'I had no idea!' He then captioned the post: 'Mango party mango crazy.' Schlossberg became especially heated online about Ryan Murphy's most recent project 'American Love Story', which focuses on the romance of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. The Kennedy heir branded the show 'grotesque' and called upon Murphy to donate money to the JFK Library Foundation instead of taking advantage and profiting off the couple's tragic love story. After briefly serving as Vogue's political correspondent last year, the Kennedy heir then seemingly began to focus more on producing content for his own social media Schlossberg became especially heated online about Ryan Murphy's most recent project 'American Love Story', which focuses on the romance of John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy (pictured together) Schlossberg's mother is Caroline Kennedy - the only daughter of Jackie and JFK - who was five years old when her father was assassinated in 1963 Murphy expressed surprise over Schlossberg's comments, saying 'I thought it was an odd choice to be mad about your relative that you don't really remember.' Schlossberg clapped back in an Instagram post, in which he shared heartfelt memories of his Uncle. 'Hey @ryanmurphyproductions: My earliest memories are of John calling me Jackolatern and the nudist, picking me up from school, his Pontiac convertible. I remember being the ring bearer at his wedding and the day he died. I remember Wyclef singing at his funeral.' Schlossberg's mother is Caroline Kennedy - the only daughter of Jackie and JFK - who was five years old when her father was assassinated in 1963. His father is Edwin Schlossberg, an American designer, artist and author. Schlossberg has two older sisters, artist Rose, 37, and journalist Tatiana, 35. The vast and lavish antiques collection of California's late Senator Dianne Feinstein has hit auction. Feinstein, who died in 2023 at the age of 90, left behind a $102 million property portfolio and a $62 million private jet. Now, two years later, her impressive collection of precious and rare antiques have been valued, and the total comes close to a staggering six figures. Claris Auctions, an East Bay-based auction house, was chosen by managers of Feinstein's estate to hold the sale. The auction is set for August 15 at 9:30 am in Oakland, but online bidding has already began. Deric Torres, senior vice president of Claris, determined that the items - in total - are valued at close to six figures. Items of note in the collection include a photograph of Feinstein posing with Queen Elizabeth II, which is signed with a dedication to the senator's late husband Richard Blum. There is a Mottahedeh covered tureen and stand - a decorative and functional piece of porcelain tableware - in the Lowestoft Rose pattern made by Vista Alegre, a luxury Portuguese porcelain manufacturer. This rare item is estimated to be worth $200 to $400. A three piece stirling silver hollowware service is estimated to be worst between $2,000 and $3,00. The vast and lavish antiques collection of California's late Senator Dianne Feinstein (pictured in 2023) has hit auction Bouquets of flowers were left outside her $21 million San Francisco mansion following the trailblazing senator's death in 2023 A three piece stirling silver hollowware service is estimated to be worst between $2,000 and $3,00 Items of note in the collection include a photograph of Feinstein posing with Queen Elizabeth II , which is signed with a dedication to the senator's late husband Richard Blum (pictured here with Feinstein) Valued at $400 to $600 is a Christian Dior porcelain dinner service in the Tabriz pattern. The service features 64 pieces, including 14 dinner plates, 12 salad plates, 12 soup bowls, 12 coffee cups, 12 saucers, one serving bowl and one oval platter. There is also a rare Chelsea Clock Company Boston Regulator No. 3 hanging clock in a quarter sawn oak case. According to the collection's description, 'This rare 8-day clock was produced by Chelsea to compete with their rival, Seth Thomas, and its popular Regulator No. 2.' A 14K gold pocket watch with golden roman hours in Feinstein's collection has been valued at between $3,000 and $5,000. Bidding for an American large floor model rolling portrait series camera by the Ansco Corp starts at $250. Torres told SFGATE that they're pleased that the collection stayed local: 'Its great that it stayed here and the family chose a local gallery - it shows (Feinsteins) dedication to the Bay Area.' Feinstein was born in San Francisco and became California's first female US Senator in 1992. Much of her wealth has stemmed from her billionaire second husband, Richard Blum, the financier and founder of investment firm Blum Capital Partners, who passed away in February 2022. Feinstein has one daughter, Katherine, as well as three stepdaughters with her late spouse. A high-profile legal battle between the senator's only child and Blum's family and former business partners broke out in 2023. Valued at $400 to $600 is a Christian Dior porcelain dinner service in the Tabriz pattern. The service features 64 pieces, including 14 dinner plates, 12 salad plates, 12 soup bowls, 12 coffee cups, 12 saucers, one serving bowl and one oval platter There is also a rare Chelsea Clock Company Boston Regulator No. 3 hanging clock in a quarter sawn oak case A 14K gold pocket watch with golden roman hours in Feinstein's collection has been valued at between $3,000 and $5,000 Bidding for an American large floor model rolling portrait series camera by the Ansco Corp starts at $250 Feinstein was born in San Francisco and became California's first female US Senator in 1992 The ugly court battle over the couple's estate erupted after Feinstein's daughter and power of attorney Katherine sued the marital trust that the senator and Blum held much of their properties and bank accounts in. Shortly before Feinstein's death, a California Superior Court judge ordered the parties to solve their differences in a private mediation. Feinstein left behind an Italianite mansion with stunning views of San Francisco Bay worth $21 million. Democrat Feinstein died in a Washington DC mansion she owned that's worth $7.4 million. She also owned a $5 million Hawaii duplex, $7.5 million beach house in Marin County, California and a $62 million Gulfstream G650 jet she used to shuttle between her property empire. Feinstein's wealth was further swelled by the sale of two other enviable homes in recent years - an Aspen ranch sold in 2023 for $25 million, and a Lake Tahoe compound sold for $36 million. She is also believed to have had around $70 million cash in the bank. Much of Feinstein's considerable wealth was fueled by her political clout and marriage to financier Richard Blum (pictured together) Following the death of her husband in 2022, Feinstein offloaded her sprawling 36-acre Bear Paw ranch in Aspen, Colorado for $25 million Feinstein's San Francisco home was built in 1917 and looms large over the picturesque Bay area, with estimates placing its value at $21 million The longtime lawmaker jetted between her lavish properties in a Gulfstream G65 private jet (seen in a stock image), which go for over $61 million pre-owned While Feinstein earned a reputation as one of the shrewdest political operators in the Capitol, much of Feinstein's financial clout was fueled by Blum. He poured considerable funds into her early political career, including helping her finance a campaign to defeat a recall election in 1983 when she was San Francisco's first female mayor. Blum reportedly helped her scrape together $400,000 for the effort, and also injected $3 million into her unsuccessful run for governor of California in 1990. Feinstein was succeeded after her death by Laphonza Butler, a longtime political strategist with close ties to Governor Gavin Newsom. However, Butler resigned in 2024 and Adam Schiff was appointed to the US Senate to replace her. Sir Keir Starmer today warned Donald Trump that Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted 'as far as you can throw him'. The US President is set to meet the Russian leader in Alaska later this week for peace talks over Ukraine. Mr Trump has signalled he thinks Ukraine might need to cede territory in order to end the three year-long conflict. But the US President is under pressure to consult with Kyiv and other European capitals prior to the talks on what he might offer Mr Putin. The Prime Minister's official spokesman on Monday reiterated the UK's support for Ukraine and Mr Trump's push for peace, but not Moscow. 'Never trust President Putin as far as you could throw him, but we obviously will support Ukraine,' he told reporters. 'We will obviously support President Trump and European nations as we enter these negotiations. 'But it is exactly why we've been leading this work on the coalition of the willing. 'Because any ceasefire cannot just be an opportunity for President Putin to go away, re-arm, restrengthen, and then go again. 'So we're not going to leave it to trust. We're going to ensure that we're prepared such that we achieve a ceasefire.' Sir Keir Starmer has warned Donald Trump that Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted 'as far as you can throw him' The US President is set to meet the Russian leader in Alaska later this week for peace talks over Ukraine 'Never trust President Putin as far as you could throw him,' the Prime Minister's official spokesman told reporters Planning for the so-called coalition of the willing, which would involve a European-led peacekeeping force sent to Ukraine to monitor any future truce, began in March. No10 said 'operational planning continues at a military level' despite no talks between leaders being planned for this week, but indicated that there was little left to finalise. Asked whether work relating to the coalition had been put on hold to keep the road clear for Washington-led mediation this week, the PM's spokesman said: 'No if anything, the next step really is reaching that ceasefire, such that we're then able to to implement the security guarantees.' It comes after European leaders, including Sir Keir, said the path to peace for Kyiv 'cannot be decided without Ukraine' and the current line of contact between Russia and Ukraine could only be a 'starting point of negotiations'. In a joint statement, the leaders of Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland and the European Commission 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. 'We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force.' Ukrainian anti-drone units down a Russian-launched Shahed UAV, which crashes in a field in the Donetsk region Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has already rejected any proposal that would compromise his country's territorial integrity, something that is forbidden by Ukraine's 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.' Sarah Ferguson has clashed with the Israeli Ambassador to Australia in a tense interview after Anthony Albanese declared Australia would recognise Palestine at the United Nations. Amir Maimon appeared on the public broadcaster's flagship 7.30 program during which he was grilled over the suffering of civilians in Gaza, refuting figures quoted by Ferguson, but being unable to provide his own. 'Do you accept that 100 children in Gaza have died of starvation in recent months? Do you accept those statistics?' Ferguson asked. Mr Maimon sidestepped answering the question. 'I'm following the statistics of the Israeli authorities. The statistics of COGAT,' he said. The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) is an Israeli authority tasked with overseeing policy in the West Bank and logistical activities in the Gaza Strip. 'I'm aware there are other views, like in any other issue, but I'm following the statistics of COGAT and I just share with you some of the statistics.' Ferguson then interrupted him. ABC host Sarah Ferguson grilled the Israeli ambassador over the treatment of civilians in Gaza Israeli ambassador Amir Maimon said the focus should be on Hamas and the release of Israeli hostages 'Ambassador, you mentioned COGAT,' Ferguson pressed. 'Excuse me, how many children do they say have died from starvation in recent months?' The ambassador then replied: 'I don't have the figures'. 'Well you can't push back on these figures if you don't have any of your own.' The figures Ferguson quoted were from the Gaza Health Ministry. 'Well, I have no figures, but I can push back on the fact Israeli hostages that did not receive humanitarian aid since October 7th, nor a visit from any of the organizations that are responsible to assist those who are in need.' Israeli authorities have repeatedly denied Palestinians in Gaza are starving or that they have stemmed the flow of aid into the region. There have also been claims that Hamas had been looting the aid that did get through. Ferguson also pointed out that: 'Israeli defense officials speaking to the New York Times said clearly that the Israeli military had not found evidence that Hamas had looted aid from the convoys.' Israel has denied there is a 'starvation policy' denying Palestinians access to food and humanitarian aid (pictured, starving Palestinians including women and children holding pots wait to receive food distributed by a charity organisation) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced Australia will join allies such as France, the UK and Canada and recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September. 'Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own,' the prime minister told reporters in Canberra on Monday. 'A two-state solution is humanity's best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza.' The prime minister said Palestinian recognition was part of international efforts to resolve the conflict in the Middle East. Any recognition would need to guarantee that the designated terror group Hamas, which de facto governs Gaza, played no role in its future government, the prime minister said. The prime minister said the international community had to act. 'This is about much more than drawing a line on a map. This is about delivering a lifeline to the people of Gaza,' he said. 'The toll of the status quo is growing by the day, and it can be measured in innocent lives. 'The world cannot wait for success to be guaranteed.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) has announced that Australia will formally recognise Palestinian statehood, defying stringent criticism from Israel But Palestinian recognition could be used as a 'veneer' that allows Israel to 'continue brutalising Palestinians with no consequences', Australia Palestine Advocacy Network's president Nasser Mashni warned. 'What I want today is for Palestinians not to be slaughtered, what I want as an Australian is our government not to be complicit in that slaughter ... for Palestinians like myself to have the opportunity to enact our inalienable right to return,' he told reporters in Melbourne. 'What happens after that will be upon the Palestinian people. 'It's not my job, or Anthony Albanese's to determine how Palestinians might seek their self-determination.' The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council has condemned the government's decision. 'Recognition by Western countries telegraphs to Hamas that its rejection of multiple ceasefire proposals over the past 12 months were the correct decision,' the council said in a statement. Palestinians inspect the destroyed tent where journalists, including Al Jazeera correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohamed Qureiqa, were killed by an Israeli airstrike outside the Gaza City Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and coalition foreign affairs spokeswoman Michaelia Cash have also taken issue with recognition. They warned it 'risks delivering Hamas one of its strategic objectives' and puts Australia at odds with the US, which is 'our most important ally and the most consequential player in the conflict in Gaza'. Foreign Minister Penny Wong confirmed she spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about Australia's intention to recognise Palestine before the decision was formally announced. Australia has broken from the US in previous UN votes on issues regarding Palestine. A FOUNDING member of Extinction Rebellion was among more than 500 protesters arrested over the weekend for supporting the banned group Palestine Action. Simon Bramwell, 53, was pictured being dragged away by four police officers at a demonstration in Parliament Square, London, on Saturday. The former builder was one of hundreds of protesters holding placards declaring, I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action in deliberate acts of law-breaking designed to overwhelm police resources and the courts. It is thought the arrests and anticipated court hearings could cost the taxpayer 3million. Senior Tories yesterday called on Attorney General Lord Hermer to enforce the law and ensure that responsible face prosecution. Extinction Rebellion co-founder Simon Bramwell, 53, (above) was among more than 500 protesters arrested over the weekend for supporting the banned group Palestine Action Protesters are pictured sitting in Parliament Square, Westminster, holding placards in support of Palestine Action Bramwells arrest comes after The Mail revealed on Saturday that hardcore eco-warriors have joined forces with supporters of Palestine Action, raising fears that Britain could face months of protest chaos. Experts warned that the 'coalescing' of groups under the banner of Palestine Action could present a 'very serious national security matter'. Bramwell, originally from Stroud, Gloucestershire, founded Extinction Rebellion in 2018, alongside Dr Gail Bradbrook and Roger Hallam, who went on to lead the hardcore offshoot Just Stop Oil. He has previously blocked motorways protesting Heathrow expansion, and glued himself to Shells HQ in London - as well as Leonardo da Vincis Last Supper at The Royal Academy of Arts in Piccadilly. Lord Walney, the governments former anti-extremism adviser, accused Bramwell and others of tacit arms-length endorsement of violence in a report published last year. He cited an event in November 2019 in which Bramwell told those gathered that they were living in a system where our mere act of non-violence against that system, is perpetrating violence against the rest of the planet. Bramwell called on the crowd to take down civilisation and advocated civil disobedience and direct sabotage and shutting down fossil fuelling, direct sabotage, mass civil disobedience. Lord Walney wrote that, in his view, such rhetoric risks inciting others to serious criminality. A Met Police spokesman said: During the protest in Parliament Square on Saturday, we arrested a 53-year-old man from the Exeter area on suspicion of displaying an article in support of a proscribed organisation (Sec 13 Terrorism Act). A protester is carried away by police officers at a 'Lift The Ban' demonstration in support of Palestine Action A protester is carried away by police officers at a Lift The Ban demonstration in support of the proscribed group Palestine Action No 10 yesterday defended its decision to ban the organisation under counter-laws, describing it as a violent group that has committed significant injury as well as criminal damage. Asked on Monday whether the Government was reconsidering its decision to designate the group as a terrorist organisation following mass arrests on Saturday, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said: No. Palestine Action was proscribed based on strong security advice following serious attacks the group has committed involving violence, significant injury and extensive criminal damage. Downing Street said the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre - an independent authority based within MI5 - had found the organisation had carried out three separate acts of terrorism. Scotland Yard has said some 522 people were held over the weekend for displaying an item in support of a proscribed group, out of the total 532 arrests made during the policing operation at a march in central London. The rest comprised six arrests for assaults on officers; one for obstructing a constable in the execution of her duty; two for breaching Public Order Act conditions and one for a racially aggravated public order offence. The majority of those arrested, 348, were aged 50 or over. Lord Hermer, Labour 's Attorney General, is being urged to 'enforce the law' following the arrest of more than 500 people at a Palestine Action rally Cases will now be built against those arrested before a decision is made regarding charges. Scotland Yard also pointed to how, in some instances, securing a charge for an offence under the Terrorism Act can require the approval of the Attorney General. The Tories have now piled pressure on Lord Hermer, who has faced intense scrutiny over his past client list while a human rights lawyer, not to block further action. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, warned the Attorney General that a lack of prosecutions would risk accusations of 'two-tier justice'. He told the Telegraph: 'If lawbreakers supporting a proscribed terrorist group aren't prosecuted, it will be the clearest example yet of two-tier justice under Two-Tier Keir. 'Lord Hermer needs to enforce the law, not pander to activists he's sympathetic to.' Speaking to broadcasters yesterday morning, justice minister Alex Davies-Jones said supporters of the group would face 'the full force of the law'. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have signed a new 'multi-year, first look deal for film and television projects' with Netflix - a downgrade on their previous contract. The couple's new output will include a second season of the Duchess's 'With Love, Meghan' lifestyle show later this month, as well as a Christmas special in December. The new arrangement is a first-look deal, meaning Netflix can say yes or no to new film or TV projects before anyone else. The Sussexes are also working on 'Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within' - a documentary about orphaned children in Uganda, where the 'shadows of the HIV/Aids crisis linger'. There is also 'active development' on other projects with Netflix which 'span a variety of content genres', including an adaptation of romantic novel Meet Me At The Lake. Netflix has already released the first series of With Love, Meghan as well as Polo, Heart of Invictus, Live to Lead and the couple's bombshell documentary Harry & Meghan as well as being a business partner on Meghan's lifestyle brand, As Ever. Five years ago, Harry and Meghan secured a lucrative contract thought to be worth $100million (74million) with Netflix after quitting as senior working royals in 2020. Prince Harry and Meghan at the ESPY Awards at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood in July 2024 The Duchess of Sussex in her Netflix series With Love, Meghan which came out in March The renewed deal was described by the Sussexes - who made the announcement with Netflix - as 'extending their creative partnership' through Archewell Productions. But the new terms are understood to be worth less for Harry and Meghan than their previous contract, according to a person familiar with the deal, and represent Netflix loosening its ties with the couple. Leading publicist Mark Borkowski told the Daily Mail: 'They have shot the golden goose of 2020 - more of a 'we'll call you' than 'here's the chequebook'. It's a first-look deal, which means Netflix gets first dibs but no obligation to bankroll every semi-royal whim. 'I reckon Netflix is trimming fat industry-wide, so this is less carte blanche, more curated cameo. 'They're still in business together - Meghan's. As ever brand and seasonal specials keep them in the Netflix shop window but make no mistake, this is a slimmed-down sequel to the blockbuster original. So Harry and Meghan's new Netflix chapter [is] less champagne budget, more Prosecco by the glass.' Netflix said Harry & Meghan, which came out in December 2022, was a huge success with a total of 23.4million views, making it the most viewed documentary ever through its first four days and reaching the English Top 10 TV list in 85 countries. But With Love, Meghan failed to break into Netflix's top ten programmes - or even the top 300, as it ranked at number 383 in 2025 so far for the streaming giant with just 5.3million viewers across the globe since it was first broadcast in March. However, the Duchess said today: 'We're proud to extend our partnership with Netflix and expand our work together to include the As ever brand. The Netflix series With Love, Meghan is the most recent television release by the Sussexes Netflix said Harry & Meghan, which came out in 2022, was a huge success with a total of 23.4million views, making it the most viewed documentary ever through its first four days 'My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally, and celebrates our shared vision.' Bela Bajaria, Netflix's chief content officer, said: 'Harry and Meghan are influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere. 'The response to their work speaks for itself - Harry & Meghan gave viewers an intimate look into their lives and quickly became one of our most-watched documentary series. 'More recently, fans have been inspired by With Love, Meghan, with products from the new As ever line consistently selling out in record time. 'We're excited to continue our partnership with Archewell Productions and to entertain our members together.' Brand and culture expert Nick Ede said: '[Netflix] know that with Meghan and Harry there will always be interest and they won't want to lose them to a rival streamer so this is a good way of keeping them as part of the Netflix family but not spending as much as they did previously, when only two of the content that was created were real winners for the streamer.' Mr Ede added: 'I think that Polo and Heart of Invictus were pretty niche shows and didn't rate well. They have probably seen the slate that archewell has created for their future productions and pitches are interesting and may be developed more for the streaming service.' As Ever is Meghan's lifestyle brand which also sells cookie mix, herb tea, flower sprinkles and jams and launched a new Napa Valley rose wine last Friday. In March the Duchess launched her new podcast series 'Confessions Of A Female Founder' with Lemonada Media, which included an interview with Beyonce's mother Tina Knowles. Meghan's Archetypes series about female stereotypes in 2022 ran for just one series, and was part of the Sussexes' previous multi-million-pound deal with Spotify, which ended the year after. Last month a Netflix source claimed Harry and Meghan's hopes of a new Netflix deal were 'dead' after Polo and With Love, Meghan both flopped in the ratings. The insider was quoted as saying: 'This deal is dead. She had everything going for her - name, platform, press - and the numbers were dismal. 'They're just waiting for the credits to roll. They're letting it expire without drama. There's no appetite for anything new.' One person was killed and two were unaccounted for after a huge explosion at a Pennsylvania steel coking plant, per officials. Emergency crews rushed to the US Steel Clairton Coke Works plant Monday morning after locals heard a loud boom in the Pittsburgh-area facility. At least nine people were taken to hospitals and were being treated for unspecified injuries. Officials previously told WTAE there was a rescue mission underway for people trapped under rubble in the plant. The Allegheny County Emergency Services said a fire at the plant started around 10.51am EST and that five people have been taken to hospitals. The agency did not provide any more details on those people transported and would only say it was an 'active scene.' Footage from the scene showed firefighters battling flames at the plant as ambulances go in and out of the area. The number and extent of injuries remained unclear but multiple medical helicopters were seen on their way to the plant. Officials declared a mass casualty incident to allow for additional EMS resources to respond. Dozens of people were injured and trapped after an explosion at the US Clairton Coke Works plant near Pittsburgh Allegheny County officials said there is a rescue mission underway for people trapped under rubble in the plan First responders rushed to the scene on Monday morning after locals heard a loud boom 'We had dozens of walk-ins and wounded. There were some transports. I'm still working on getting all the details,' said Kasey Reigner, a spokesperson for Allegheny County's emergency services. Clairton Mayor Rich Lattanzi issued a statement on X, writing: 'Just a report of an explosion! Asking for multiple ambulances! My prayers go out to anyone involved in this tragedy and their families and community.' He later said in a post on Facebook: 'It was a terrible incident and our prayers go out to all the families affected by this. There are people hurt and that is the utmost importance.' The Mayor added that the 'issue and the affected equipment and gas are contained and not impeding on the Clairton Community or surrounding communities.' Senator John Fetterman, who rushed to the scene, asked people to stay away from the area. 'For those in the area, please listen to local officials and avoid the area,' he said on X. 'Keeping those injured and all who are impacted in my thoughts right now.' Local Melanie Dawn wrote on Facebook: 'This explosion made our houses shake. I thought my son had hit his gas tank on the dirt bike. 'My niece felt it on Chambers Street, I felt it on Shaw Avenue. My teenage son's ears were ringing.' Firefighters were on the scene battling the flames after the explosion on Monday Multiple ambulances were seen coming into the plant following the explosion In a statement, U.S. Steel said an 'incident' occurred at the plants coke oven batteries 13 and 14. The company, now a subsidiary of Japan-based Nippon Steel Corp., said emergency teams were immediately dispatched to the scene, but it gave no other details about the cause of the explosions, casualties or damage. The companys CEO, David Burritt, said in the statement that U.S. Steel is working with authorities to investigate the cause. Governor Josh Shapiro said on X his administration was in touch with local officials dealing with the aftermath of the explosion. 'The scene is still active, and folks nearby should follow the direction of local authorities. Please join Lori and me in praying for the Clairton community,' he said. The plant, a massive industrial facility along the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh, is considered the largest coking operation in North America and is one of four major US Steel plants in Pennsylvania that employ several thousand workers. In recent years, the Clairton plant has been dogged by concerns about pollution. In 2019, it agreed to settle a 2017 lawsuit for $8.5 million. Under the settlement, the company agreed to spend $6.5 million to reduce soot emissions and noxious odors from the Clairton coke-making facility, on the Monongahela River about 20 miles south of Pittsburgh. The company also faced other lawsuits over pollution from the Clairton facility, including ones accusing the company of violating clean air laws after a December 2018 fire damaged the Clairton facility's sulfur pollution controls. Israel has warned Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to listen when he emerges from his bunker to see if he can hear any 'buzzing' after Tehran published a 'hit list' of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF chiefs. Eleven officials appear on the list, including Netanyahu, Defence Minister Israel Katz, the Chief of the General Staff of the IDF Eyal Zamir, and the Israeli police officer who served as the 19th Commissioner of Israel Police until July last year, Kobi Shabtai. Katz made the threat on X in response to a list released by the Iranian regime of people in Israel's political and security leadership who Tehran has marked as targets to be assassinated. . . " " . pic.twitter.com/Ojf8Km5Iay Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) August 11, 2025 'Iran publishes the list of senior officials in Israel's political and security leadership designated for elimination,' Katz wrote on X. 'I suggest to the Iranian dictator Khamenei that when he emerges from his bunker, he occasionally looks up to the sky and listens carefully for any buzzing,' he continued. 'The participants of the "Red Wedding" are waiting for him there.' A reference to a massacre in HBO's Game of Thrones - during which an entire family is brutally murdered in a matter of minutes - 'Red Wedding' was the name given to Israel's operation that took out Iran's top military commanders in one fell swoop in June. On the morning of June 13, when Israel launched its direct assault on Iran, more than 200 Israeli Air Force aircraft participated in opening strikes, as fighter jets dropped over 330 munitions on some 100 targets. Eleven officials appear on the list, including Netanyahu, Defence Minister Israel Katz, and the Chief of the General Staff of the IDF Eyal Zamir Israel has warned Iran 's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to listen when he emerges from his bunker to see if he can hear any 'buzzing' after Tehran published a 'hit list' Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz made the threat on X in response to a hit list released by the Iranian regime The operation killed the chief of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hossein Salami, the chief of Irans military, Mohammad Bagheri, and the head of the Emergency Command, Gholam Ali Rashid, in only a few hours. Iranian authorities say over 627 people were killed in Iran during the 12-day conflict with Israel, including nuclear scientist Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, who was the head of Azad University in Tehran. Israel said 28 of its civilians and one off-duty soldier were killed during the war while 3,238 people were hospitalised. Israel killed more than 30 nuclear researchers during its assault but Iran has reportedly sent the surviving scientists into hiding. Other targets on Iran's hit list, published by Sabrin News, include Tomer Bar, the commander of the Israeli Air Force, Rabbi Eyal Krim, the Chief Military Rabbi and Avi Bluth, the head of Israel's Central Command. A married female teacher in Illinois has admitted that she took an 11-year-old pupil home for 'play dates' before raping him. Alley Bardfield, 34, is set to be sentenced in September after pleading guilty to predatory criminal assault against a sixth-grade student. The former Decatur Public Schools substitute teacher admitted the crime after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors over the sole count against her. Bardfield was thrust into the spotlight in April 2024, when the victim's parents filed a lawsuit saying he visited her home in Mount Zion for 'play dates' the month before. 'The victim's mother reported noticing her son acting differently after a visit to Bardfield's house,' Mount Zion Police said in a statement last year. 'As a result, she checked her son's phone and social media. In a follow up discussion with her son, he disclosed having had a sexual encounter with Bardfield while a guest at her Mt. Zion residence on March 29, 2024.' The boy's mother said she looked through his phone and found texts between her son and the teacher and photographs of them 'flipping of the camera' together. She also discovered the teacher had allegedly sent her son $700 over several months. Former teacher Alley Bardfield (pictured in April) took an 11-year-old pupil home for 'play dates' before raping him. She admitted to predatory criminal assault The horrified mother took him to HSHS St John's Hospital where staff administered a rape kit. Detectives interviewed the boy shortly afterwards and he told them Bardfield took her to his bedroom where they kissed and she took off both their clothes. They then had sex on her bed, which she usually shares with her husband Casey Newton Bardfield, a construction worker. Police devised a plan with the boy and his mother to get Bardfield to incriminate herself in text messages and recorded calls with him. The boy sent her a message telling her he was going out of town, but hoped to see her again when he came back. 'I love you and I miss you, Alley. When I come back I'll see if I can come over,' he wrote. Bardfield allegedly replied: 'You're always welcome. I love and miss you too.' Police obtained a court order for a wiretap and had the boy call Bardfield later that day, when she told him 'her tubes are tied and that she cannot get pregnant'. Pictured: Bardfield, of Mt Zion, Illinois, in her police booking photograph last year 'The victim asked Alley if he came over this weekend if they could "do it again". Alley responded "Yes",' the affidavit continued. 'These allegations are shocking, especially when the alleged perpetrator is a person in a position of trust,' the department added. 'The Mt. Zion Police Department is fully committed working with victims and their families as they deal with the trauma that results from these incidents.' The boy gave police more details about the 'play dates' during interviews, and Bardfield admitted during a grilling by detectives to having sex with the boy. She also said she gave him money via CashApp and to exchanging naked photographs on SnapChat with the boy, according to police. Decatur Public Schools fired Bardfield shortly after the allegations were aired, and she pleaded guilty as part of the deal 16 months later. The boy's family planned to sue the school district for failing to properly train and supervise staff to ensure the safety and well-being of its students. Bardfield (left) faced Macon County Circuit Court last year where she only spoke to confirm she understood, and was told she faced up to 60 years in jail if convicted 'Ms Bardfield's actions have had a profound and lasting impact on our client, which will likely lead to significant physical, emotional, and psychological challenges,' the family's lawyers said in a statement. 'As a result, we will be pursuing justice not only against Ms Bardfield but also the school district as a whole.' Bardfield was a long-term substitute teacher for the school district, including DPS District 61 where the alleged victim studied. The Decatur Public Schools District said at the time that she was no longer employed. 'While none of the alleged conduct occurred at a DPS school, student safety is always our top priority. We are working with Mt. Zion Police and providing support to students and staff,' it said. Predatory criminal sexual assault is punishable by up to 60 years in prison. However, prosecutors agreed to cap the recommended sentence at 40 years. Bardfield will learn her fate at a sentencing hearing scheduled for September 25. A one-year-old toddler was found dead in the back of a hearse and her mother has now been charged with murder. Blessence Pearl was discovered by an employee of West Gadsden Funeral Home in Alabama when he opened the hearse about 11.45am on Saturday. The little girl's mother Terica Pearl, 29, was arrested that evening and booked into the Etowah County Jail without bond at 1.48am, charged with murder. Gadsden Police Lieutenant Dusty Ford initially said Blessence's death was being investigated as a homicide 'until we can prove otherwise'. 'In under 12 hours, the investigation moved from uncertainty to an arrest,' he said. How the child died and how she ended up in the hearse is unclear, but funeral director Dantez Robinson said it was usually left unlocked. Blessence is not the first child Pearl has lost - her four-week-old daughter Janaiha died in a house fire in February 2011 when Pearl was just 15. Reports at the time indicated the blaze began in the room where Janaiha slept and spread throughout the home. Blessence Pearl was discovered by an employee of West Gadsden Funeral Home in Alabama when he opened the hearse Her mother mother Terica Pearl, 29, was arrested that evening and booked into the Etowah County Jail without bond, charged with murder Carlos Blount explained how he found Blessence's body as he spoke at a vigil for the girl on Sunday. 'I got four girls of my own and I know how it feels. I couldn't even work yesterday, because that could have been one of mine, or anybody else's kids,' he said. Other members of Blessence's family mourned her at the vigil, but did not speak publicly. Robinson, who is also the Etowah County chief deputy coroner, explained the series of events that led to the body's discovery. He explained in a video on his social media pages that he returned from the scene of a death about 8pm on Friday and left the hearse unlocked. 'We've never had a problem with people going into our cars at the office. I laid the keys down where the keys go and out the door I went,' he said. Blount arrived about 11.30am and noticed what he thought was a doll in the back of the hearse as he was about to move it into the shed. Terica Pearl holds Blessence alongside her other children in January How Blessence died and how she ended up in the hearse is unclear When he opened the hearse and took a closer look, he discovered to his horror that it was the toddler's body. 'To see that and to see my employee in disbelief, I was lost for words when I put the call out to the police department,' Robinson said. 'It's pathetic. Whoever done this, whoever is behind it, turn yourselves in... We want justice for this baby. Babies do not ask to be here. 'To do this... you're sick in the head. 'I've walked into homes every day, I've walked up to car wreck every day, I walk into suicides throughout the year, I walk into homicides throughout the year, I have seen kids pass away. 'But to see something like this really sent me into another level of shock.' Robinson said he would make sure Blessence got a proper burial. 'Whoever this family is, whoever done this, we're going to bury this baby,' he said. 'We're going to give this baby the proper burial. To have life taken so early, we're going to stand up and bury this baby.' A man who was killed on the Isle of Sheppey was hit on the head with a large concrete slab, locals have claimed. Emergency services raced to the Warden Bay Road area in Leysdown-on-Sea shortly after 7pm on Sunday after reports that 'an altercation broke out involving a small group of people'. A man in his 40s was confirmed dead at the scene. A girl, aged 16, and two boys, 14 and 15, have been arrested and remain in police custody. A group of holidaymakers allege that the man was hit in the head with a large concrete slab before a local tried to save his life. Andrew Owen said he heard shouts of 'I've done him' moments after the incident. A man was then seen lying on the ground, before the local shouted back 'you haven't just done him, you've f****** killed him', Mr Owen added. One father-of-three, who asked not to be named, said he had seen the victim being chased along the sea path by a youth. He said the victim's face had been injured and that rocks were lying close to his body. A woman giving him CPR told him she had seen a yob kick him in the face. Police officers carry out searches near the scene in the Leysdown-on-Sea resort on the Isle of Sheppey after a man in his 40s died Police at the scene of a suspected murder following the death of a man in his 40s in Leysdown-on-Sea Police officers are seen carrying boxes and plastic bags close to the scene of a suspected murder in Leysdown-on-Sea A police cordon has been set up in a large clearing behind a beach in front of a caravan park The eyewitness told the Daily Mail how he was alerted to a commotion on the coastal path behind his caravan. He had seen one youth doubled over in pain with blood dripping from a wound above his right eye. Further along the path, the man in his 40s was being chased by another teenage boy and two young girls. He initially thought they had mugged the youth with the eye injury, until he walked further on and found the older man slumped on the floor with two people giving him CPR. The holidaymaker said: 'My wife had seen a commotion by the sea wall and called for me to have a look. 'I could see one young lad wearing an orange T-shirt standing with his hand clasped to his head bleeding. 'Further along the path an older man and younger lad were running away. They were followed by two young girls. A police sniffer dog and forensic teams have been deployed at the crime scene behind the popular Warden Bay Beach Police search the area Leysdown-on-Sea at the scene of a suspected murder 'Initially I thought they'd mugged the lad with the orange T-shirt. I approached him and couldn't get a lot out of him. He was moaning in pain and had a cut just above his right eye. 'But a short while later the kid returned with the girls and it looked like that they were friends with the lad in the orange shirt.' The eyewitness said one of the girls looked to be 15 or 16, while the other was a lot younger - seemingly around 12. He added: 'As I walked further down the path, I could see the man lying on the floor with people standing around him. There was a woman trying to give him CPR. 'There were rocks lying around him, I don't know if he'd been hit with any of them but the injuries were all to his face. 'I checked his body and there was no blood so he hadn't been stabbed or any thing like that. The lady who was trying to give CPR - along with another man - said she'd seen a youth kick the victim in the head. 'It was obvious to me he was dead and that nobody was going to bring him back. My 11-year-old son was with me, I tried to shield him as best I could and told him to cycle back to the caravan right away. Police working at the scene of a murder after a man in his 40s died in Leysdown-on-Sea on Sunday evening Police at the scene in the Leysdown-on-Sea resort on the Isle of Sheppey after a man in his 40s died after being attacked during an altercation 'Eventually I found them by a fish and chip shop. I shouted to them "you've just killed a man. You haven't just done himyou've f***ing killed him."' Kent Police officers erected a white tent in an area next to a caravan park, just meters from Warden Bay Beach, while a nearby footpath was also cordoned off. A police sniffer dog and forensic teams have also been deployed at the scene behind the popular tourist destination. The eyewitness said: 'It's shaken me up but my real concern is for my son. He shouldn't have to see that at his age. We only arrived on Friday for two weeks holiday. 'I don't know anything about the man who died. He looked to be aged in his early 40s and was wearing a gold chain around his neck. 'Someone told me that he was staying nearby with his wife and young daughter and that they had seen him being worked on by the paramedics. 'It's awful, this country seems to be getting worse and worse. It's worrying.' Police officers comb an area close to a popular beach in Leysdown-on-Sea after a man in his 40s died after being attacked during an altercation A police van is parked in an area close to the scene in Leysdown-on-Sea on Monday Another witness, who lives nearby, added: 'I saw two ambulances and six or seven police cars go past and the air ambulance. I thought it was something serious then.' Kent Police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information that could help with their investigation into the incident. Members of the public have been asked to call Kent Police on 01622 690690 quoting 10-1384. It also possible to report anonymously via Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111 or by completing an online form. A SECAS spokesperson said: 'SECAmb were called shortly after 19:00 yesterday to reports that a man was assaulted near Jetty Road and Warden Bay Road in Leysdown, Isle of Sheppey. 'Crews attended the scene alongside The Air Ambulance Charity, Kent Surrey Sussex, however sadly, the man died at the scene.' The Isle of Sheppey is an island off the north coast of Kent in the Thames Estuary. It is located around 42 miles from central London and has a population of over 40,000. The island, which is around nine miles long and four miles wide, was originally known as Sheep Island or Sceapige in old English. President Donald Trump made the same flub twice on Monday - telling the press he was traveling to Russia, not Alaska, to meet Friday with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump had taken over the press briefing room to make an announcement about crime in Washington, D.C. but also took questions on Friday's Alaska summit with Putin - the first meeting of the two leaders during Trump's second term. It will also mark the first time an American president has come face-to-face with Putin since he ordered the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Trump called the get-together a 'feel-out meeting' and said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky isn't a 'part of it.' 'Well we're going to have a meeting with Vladimir Putin and at the end of that meeting - probably in the first two minutes - I'll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made,' Trump said. When a reporter asked the president how he would do that, Trump had a response at the ready. 'Because that's what I do,' he said. 'I make deals,' the Art of the Deal author added. Trump's meeting with Putin came together quickly. President Donald Trump twice flubbed and said he was traveling to Russia on Friday. He's headed to Alaska for the first face-to-face meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin of his second term - the first time a U.S. leader has met with Putin since the start of the Ukraine war On Friday evening, Trump announced that Alaska would be the locale - though the White House still hasn't said where in the large state they would be gathering. Over the weekend it appeared that Trump was open to having Zelensky meet him in Alaska as well. On Monday, he downgraded that interaction to a call. 'I think out of respect, I'll call him first,' Trump said of Zelensky. Trump said he would also dial up the European leaders, touting their friendly relationship. 'And I get along with Zelensky but, you know, I disagree with what he's done, very, very, severely disagree. This is a war that should have never happened, wouldn't have happened,' Trump said. It wasn't clear what Zelensky could have done to prevent the Russian invasion. 'But I'll be speaking to Zelensky. The next meeting will be with Zelensky and Putin or Zelensky and Putin and me. I'll be there if they need. But I want to have a meeting set up between the two leaders,' Trump continued. President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday that he'll be able to tell 'probably in the first two minutes' if Russian President Vladimir Putin, photographed in Moscow on Monday, is serious about making a deal that would put an end to the Ukraine war He then criticized Zelensky again, saying he was a 'little bothered' that the Ukrainian president said he would need constitutional approval to change the country's boundaries. 'Because there will be some land swapping going on. I know that through Russia and through conversations with everybody,' Trump said. 'To the good, for the good of Ukraine. Good stuff not bad stuff. Also some bad stuff for both. There's good and there's bad,' he went on. Trump said he might also go into the meeting with Putin and sense the Russian leader wasn't ready for a ceasefire. 'Now I may leave and say "good luck," and that'll be the end,' Trump said. During his first term, Trump walked out early on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during their second summit in Vietnam when it became clear to the U.S. president a denuclearization deal couldn't be made. 'I may say this is not going to be settled,' he continued. 'There are those that believe Putin wanted all of Ukraine, I happen to be one of them, by the way,' he added. Trump said he would call Zelensky afterward and give him an assessment. 'And I may say, "lots of luck, keep fighting," or I may say, "we can make a deal,"' Trump said. A mother took cocaine before crashing into a double-decker bus, killing her and her one-year-old son who was sat in the passenger seat. Sian Goffin, 31, suffered fatal injuries in the collision in Mullion, Cornwall, in October last year. Her son, Jago Bawden, was also fatally injured and died three days later in Bristol Children's Hospital, Cornwall Coroner's Court heard. The crash also injured 27 children who were travelling to school. Post-mortem examinations found Ms Goffin and her son, who were from Mullion, had both died from traumatic brain injuries. In a written ruling, Assistant Coroner Guy Davies said: 'Sian Goffin died at Derriford Hospital on October 16 from injuries sustained when the car that Sian was driving collided with a double decker bus on October 14. 'The collision took place on B3296, Meaver Road, Mullion. 'The reason for the collision was because Sian lost control of her car whilst under the influence of a controlled drug, namely cocaine.' The woman, named locally as Sian Goffin, 31, and the infant boy were rushed to hospital but later died of their injuries Twenty seven children on the school bus sustained minor injuries and one child from the bus sustained serious injuries Friends and family paid tribute to mum-of-two Sian saying 'she will be very much missed by all of us who loved her' Referring to her son, Mr Davies said: 'Jago Bawden died from injuries sustained when the car in which Jago was a passenger collided with a double decker bus. 'The reason for the collision was because of driver error by the driver of the car in which Jago was a passenger.' Mr Davies recorded a conclusion of road traffic collision. Friends and family previously paid tribute to mum-of-two Sian with one posting: 'It's with a heavy heart that I have to tell you all that Sian Goffin has passed away following the horrific accident on Monday morning. 'She will be very much missed by all of us who loved her. Sleep tight sweetpea, and I will see you on the other side.' Relative Shannon Goffin added: 'I honestly cannot believe I'm having to write this... but it's with heavy hearts to let you know that sadly Sian Goffin has grown her wings and has passed away. 'It's such a shock to us as a family, I would really appreciate it if you could all respect our privacy with dealing with the loss of Sian so soon after losing mum/normal nanny. 'To a loving Daughter, Sister, Mummy, Niece and Cousin. We love you and will forever miss you.' Toni-Rose, paid tribute to her 'best friend' Sian adding: 'It's been a devastating last few days, but now you're finally at peace. None of the school children suffered life-threatening injuries in the crash 'To my best friend and partner in crime. I love you beyond words and more than you'll ever know. 31 years old is no age but my angel you have grown your wings and you are with your mum now. 'I am honoured to have spent the time we have together, I will treasure them forever and your babies. You were loyal, loving, funny, grumpy & whiny but no one would want you any other way!' Devon and Cornwall Police said they were called to the B3296 Meaver Road at around 8.40am on Monday 14 October to reports of a crash involving a silver Vauxhall Astra and a double decker school bus. Sergeant Phil Brown from the Serious Collisions Investigation Team said at the time: We are deeply saddened that a woman and child have now died following the collision in Mullion. It is impossible to put into words the grief those close to them are feeling right now. Our thoughts continue to be with everybody involved as we continue to work with the school and partners to make sure everybody receives the support they require following this tragic collision. A beauty queen has suffered a nightmarish death after being abducted from a grocery store in what investigators believe was a 'premeditated attack'. Acquene Arradaza, 35, was snatched by three armed men while shopping in Ormoc City, the Philippines on July 31. Police believe the former Miss Matag-ob pageant winner was murdered, hogtied and weighed down with rocks before her captors dumped her body in the sea. Investigators were alerted of her disappearance on August 4 after a group of local fisherman found her decomposing body drifting in the water off the coast of the seaside village of Barangay 99 Diit. Arradaza was found naked, gagged and blindfolded. Her feet and hands had been bound and a bicycle lock was tied around her neck. Police say her face was covered with black cloth and wrapped with duct tape. Her body was also bound to two sacks that were meant to weigh her down to the bottom of the sea. The alleged abduction was only reported by relatives on Monday, the same day her body was discovered. Officials say Arradaza may have been able to be saved had her loved ones filed a missing persons report sooner. Acquene Arradaza, 35, suffered a nightmarish death after being abducted from a grocery store in Ormoc City, the Philippines on July 31 Arradaza was snatched by three armed men travelling in Toyota Wigo with license plate number 1799 Arradaza was the former winner of the Miss Matag-ob pageant in Matag-ob municipality Surveillance camera footage captured the moment Arradaza was abducted from a store in Valencia, Ormoc City as she was buying groceries on July 31. A black Toyota Wigo with license plate number 1799 pulled over near the shoulder before three men stormed out and forcibly bundled the model into the vehicle. The suspects then quickly fled scene, travelling in the direction of Kananga, Leyte. The same vehicle was seen heading toward Tacloban City shortly after the abduction, The Manila Times reports. Her body was spotted in the sea by local fisherman five days later, having already begun to decay. 'The body was already in the bloated stage and it was naked,' Police Major Shenna Layog, acting commander of the Tacloban City Police Station 2, said. 'The tongue was already sticking out. It was also seen that the neck, hands and feet were tied. The face was covered with black cloth and even wrapped with duct tape.' Arradaza's family confirmed her identity through the tattoos on her back. Police are now working to track down the suspects and investigate a motive for what appears to be a targeted and 'premeditated attack'. Police believe the former Miss Matag-ob pageant winner was murdered, hogtied and weighed down with rocks before her captors dumped her body in the sea Officials say Arradaza may have been able to be saved had her loved ones filed a missing persons report sooner The model's mother Vilma Arradaza is now campaigning for justice and urging Philippines Sen. Raffy Tulfo to help with her daughter's case The model's sister Patricia Arradaza reported her missing on August 4 around 8am. She also revealed the beauty queen had spoken with a man named Pay-ap Drilon the same morning she was abducted. Ormoc City police spokesman Lieutenant Nova Tan criticized the family for not reporting the incident earlier. 'We could have intercepted the suspects' vehicle at the city or municipal borders if they filed a report earlier,' Tan said. Arradaza's brother, Eros Arradaza, 30, was killed in a gunfight with police during a drug bust in the same province last year. The model's mother Vilma Arradaza is now campaigning for justice and urging Filipino politicians to help with her daughter's case. Four children arrested after the death of a 14-year-old boy in a warehouse fire will face no further police action. Layton Carr was tragically found dead after emergency services rushed to a blaze at the building near the Fairfield Industrial estate in the Bill Quay area of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, on the evening of May 2. Described as a 'kind, caring and loving boy', Layton was from South Tyneside and a pupil at Hebburn Comprehensive School, with his death sparking a wave of grief among the local community. Following the incident, police arrested 26 children in connection with Layton's death, all aged between 11 and 14 years old, before releasing them on bail. Now, four of those arrested have been told they will face no further police action, Northumbria Police has confirmed. A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said that the other 22 youngsters arrested remain on police bail, with enquiries into his death ongoing. The force previously issued a public appeal for any individuals who were at the industrial park on the night Layton died, or with video footage from the scene, to make contact. Firefighters rushed to the scene a short distance from the River Tyne, shortly after 8pm on Friday, May 2, extinguishing the blaze. Four children arrested after the death of Layton Carr (pictured), 14, will face no further police action. Layton was tragically found dead after a blaze at the building near the Fairfield Industrial estate in the Bill Quay area of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, on the evening of May 2 Described as a 'kind, caring and loving boy', Layton (pictured) was from South Tyneside and a pupil at Hebburn Comprehensive School, with his death sparking a wave of grief among the local community. 22 youngsters arrested remain on police bail, with enquiries ongoing Pictured: The damaged industrial buildings at Fairfield Industrial Estate where tragedy struck on May 2. Firefighters rushed to the scene a short distance from the River Tyne, shortly after 8pm on Friday, May 2, extinguishing the blaze Then, in the early hours of Saturday morning, police issued an appeal for Layton, who had last been seen in Gateshead at around 7pm the evening before. Police later confirmed that Layton, described as 5ft 6ins tall, was the teenager found dead on the industrial estate. At the time of his disappearance, he was said to be wearing a black Under Armour cap with white logo, dark grey Berghaus puffa jacket, black tracksuit bottoms, grey t-shirt and black and grey Nike 95 trainers. Following his death, Layton's devastated family paid tribute to their 'cheeky, happy lad', in a statement that read: 'From the minute he was born, it was obvious the character he would turn out to be. 'Layton was your typical 14-year-old lad, a cheeky, happy lad. Despite his cheeky side, Layton had an absolute heart of gold and would do anything for anyone. 'He was loved by all that met him, and it showed. He was a family boy who loved his mam and sisters more than anything in the world.' A GoFundMe appeal launched to support Layton's mother, Georgia Dingwall, has also raised more than 21,000. Georgia's best friend Stephanie Simpson who set up the fundraising page said: 'As everyone is aware my best friend Georgia Dingwall has lost her 14-year-old son Layton Carr in one of the most tragic ways. Following his death, Layton's devastated family paid tribute to their 'cheeky, happy lad', in a statement that read: 'From the minute he was born, it was obvious the character he would turn out to be.' Pictured: Floral tributes to Layton left at the scene of his death Following the incident, police arrested 26 children in connection with Layton's death, all aged between 11 and 14 years old, before releasing them on bail. Pictured: police tape at the scene 'Im making this GoFundMe to help her give him the best send off! The last thing Georgia needs to stress trying to pay for a funeral for her boy.' Since inquiries began, officers were handed footage relating to the incident. In the aftermath of Layton's death, police officers were seen making regular patrols of the area, while uniformed officers also remained at the scene. One of the disused buildings on the site had been boarded up, while broken glass and debris also lay on the ground near an adjacent building. At the time, Detective Chief Inspector Louise Jenkins, of Northumbria Police, described the fire as an 'extremely tragic incident'. DCI Jenkins added: 'Our thoughts are with Layton's family as they begin to attempt to process the loss of their loved one. 'Our specialist officers will continue to support them in whatever way they can. 'We ask that their privacy be respected at this time.' A mother who lives near the scene said she watched the fire from her window, and was devastated when she heard of Layton's death. 'It was horrendous when I heard,' she said. 'I was just watching it out the window. At the time, Detective Chief Inspector Louise Jenkins, of Northumbria Police, described the fire as an 'extremely tragic incident'. DCI Jenkins added: 'Our thoughts are with Layton's family as they begin to attempt to process the loss of their loved one. Pictured: the scene of the fire Following Layton's tragic death, tributes poured in on social media, with one person posting: 'My boy my baby cousin, my Layton. 'Nothing will ever come close to the pain I feel right now. Forever 14. I'll miss you sausage.' Pictured: Fairfield Industrial Park 'I saw it go from grey smoke to black, then we had the police at the door. We could hear kids running out and screaming. It's not nice because when we were watching the fire we didn't realise someone was dying. 'My son is the same age as some of the children that have been arrested. It's a tragedy for all the families.' Following Layton's tragic death, tributes poured in on social media, with one person posting: 'My boy my baby cousin, my Layton. 'Nothing will ever come close to the pain I feel right now. Forever 14. I'll miss you sausage.' Another added: 'Absolutely heartbreaking. Sending love and thoughts all the family at this devastating time. RIP Layton.' A third said: 'Rest in peace big lad such a beautiful soul taken far to soon.' Pictured: An aerial view of Fairfield Industrial Park. In the aftermath of Layton's death, police officers were seen making regular patrols of the area, while uniformed officers also remained at the scene Det Chief Insp Atherthon previously thanked members of the public, adding: 'The information you provide is a crucial part of our investigation.' He urged members of the public with relevant information to get in touch, adding: 'It's not too late'. Pictured: floral tributes left at the scene Det Chief Insp Atherthon previously thanked members of the public for getting in touch with the force, adding: 'The information you provide is a crucial part of our investigation. 'We're currently working through the information and footage that has been submitted through the dedicated MIPP tile.' He urged people: 'If you think that you might have any information, including screenshots of social media content and video footage, that may assist our enquiries, it's not too late to submit it.' Members of the public are encouraged to provide information about Layton's death using the dedicated Major Incident Public Portal at https://mipp.police.uk/operation/10NP25C05-PO1. Alternatively, they can contact Northumbria Police quoting reference number NP-20250502-1124. Information can also be given anonymously by calling the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. PRESSURE is building on Labour to sack the UKs trade envoy to Turkey following his visit to northern Cyprus despite Britain not recognising it. Afzal Khan, the Labour MP for Manchester Rusholme, is in the self-declared state for a series of official engagements and has met the leader. But the British Government does not recognise the breakaway territory which Ankara controls following its invasion of the island 50 years ago. The trip has prompted fury, with the National Federation of Cypriots in the UK which represents more than 300,000 British citizens of Cypriot origin calling for his dismissal. Wendy Morton, the shadow foreign affairs minister, wrote to her counterpart Stephen Doughty yesterday to question why Mr Khan was still in the envoy role. This visit risks undermining the UKs credibility as a guarantor power and as an impartial interlocutor in settlement negotiations, she wrote. It also sends a worrying signal to UK citizens of Cypriot heritage, many of whom were displaced from the very areas that Mr Khan visited. The UK does not recognise the self-declared 'Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus' as an independent nation following Turkey's military invasion of the island in 1974 I am concerned at the diplomatic, legal and ethical implications of this visit. Ms Morton asked whether anyone in Government was aware of the trip and whether any official advice was sought before it took place. She noted that he flew into the territory via Ercan airport which she said was unlawful under international agreements, as would recognising the area. She added: In light of these events, I would also ask what consideration is being given to Mr Khans continued role as UK Trade Envoy to Turkey. Afzal Khan (left) arrived in the Turkish-controlled area last week 'for a series of official engagements', a local newspaper reported. Above, the Labour MP with the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar (right) Asked about his visit yesterday, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said it was in a personal capacity, adding that the UK did not recognise Northern Cyprus. Only Turkey recognises the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus as an independent nation. Greek Cypriots regard it as a rogue state and have called for the 30,000 Turkish troops stationed there to leave. The National Federation of Cypriots in the UK has sent a letter to the UK Government questioning Mr Khans visit to the Turkish-occupied areas of Cyprus. It has called for his dismissal due to a blatant violation of international law and longstanding UK policy. Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, has also called for his resignation over the worrying signal sent by his trip. Turkey invaded in 1974 during a coup by the junta in Greece to unite the island with the mainland. Fifty years on, Cyprus remains in stasis following the bloody conflict which divided the island. A Government spokesperson said: The visit to the north of Cyprus was undertaken in a personal capacity. There is no change to the Governments long-standing position regarding the so-called "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Government sources said that due to the trip being a personal visit, the Government was not aware of the trip in advance. A Cabinet minister has come under fire for saying he hopes Britons will use a new 85million NHS fat jabs trial to get beach ready and looking their best. Peter Kyle said he wants the likes of Wegovy and Mounjaro to be widely used and made available to everyone from every background as he revealed the drugs will soon be available from pharmacies on the health service. But critics last night accused the science and technology secretary of irresponsibly promoting the drugs as a cosmetic quick fix and reducing obesity to judgements on appearance. Tens of thousands of people will benefit from the study that could eventually see weight-loss drugs offered to every obese adult in the country. At the moment, the powerful injections are only available on the NHS after consultations with a specialist, in conjunction with other weight-loss methods. There is currently a two-year waiting list. The government plans to expand the drugs' use dramatically by dishing out prescriptions quickly and easily in 'creative' ways, such as through high street chemists, health centres and apps. It may be soon possible to walk into a local pharmacy and, after a short assessment by a pharmacist, leave with a supply of fat jabs for the cost of an NHS prescription, which currently stands at 9.90. Peter Kyle MP, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology The pilot programme will test various ways of getting the drugs into people's hands before a scheme is rolled out nationally. It is being run by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and is part-funded by pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, maker of 'King Kong' fat jab Mounjaro. The firm will contribute 35million. Mr Kyle said tens of thousands will get the drugs during the trial period, which starts 'very, very soon'. 'I'm striving to get people beach-ready this year, so when they come and visit Brighton in the summer, they're looking their best,' he said. 'We're trying to find the best and most creative ways to ensure that [weight-loss drugs] are widely and effectively used, and made available to everyone from every background. 'People with resources are already buying them privately, but we know there are people from certain backgrounds who always miss out on this kind of support. More than a quarter (28 per cent) of adults in England are obese and a further 36 per cent are overweight 'We want to make sure that local pharmacies and trusted medical support organisations are involved in the rollout from the very beginning, so that every Daily Mail reader who needs and wants it gets their hands on it from day one. 'We want to start having an impact so that people can feel their best selves in the summer months.' More than a quarter (28 per cent) of adults in England are obese and a further 36 per cent are overweight. Mr Kyle said millions of patients are likely to miss out on fat jabs under the current NHS system because it is too complex and takes too long. He wants to make them accessible in easier ways, like a visit to local pharmacy or community centre, via healthcare apps, or through carers who make home visits. However, with upwards of 14 million obese people in the country, rolling it out to everyone all at once could bankrupt the NHS, so it needs to be done gradually. Critics have said taxpayers should not be footing the bill for trendy drugs that wouldn't be needed if people chose healthy lifestyles. But Mr Kyle said Britain's obesity crisis currently costs the NHS more than 11 billion a year and the economy billions more in lost productivity and benefits. It is being run by the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology and is part-funded by pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly The drugs, sold under brand names Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegov, Zepbound and others, are given as weekly injections via pre-filled pens into the upper arm, thigh or stomach. They work by mimicking an intestinal hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) which makes people feel full and suppresses the appetite. Katharine Jenner, director of the Obesity Health Alliance, said patients must be monitored by specialists who can ensure the drugs are used safely - and criticised Mr Kyle's use of the term 'beach-ready'. 'Obesity is a chronic, relapsing condition with many causes,' she said. 'We welcome investment that helps people living with excess weight access much-needed support - but drugs alone are not the solution. 'It's also crucial that this scheme avoids stigmatising language. Obesity is a complex health issue, and shouldn't be reduced to judgements on appearance, which are outdated and irrelevant. Everyone deserves respectful, evidence-based care - not pressure to be "beach ready". After all, a beach-ready body is any body wearing sun protection.' Tory MP Stuart Andrew, the shadow health secretary, said: It is irresponsible for a Cabinet minister to suggest that the taxpayer funded NHS is there to fund people to be beach body ready. Tory MP Stuart Andrew, the shadow health secretary Such remarks trivialise the serious medical purpose of these injections and risk sending a dangerous message, adding to the already complex area of body image concerns. Weight loss medication should only be used when clinically necessary, not as a cosmetic quick fix. John O'Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance said: 'Taxpayers will rightly question whether rolling out weight-loss drugs on this scale is the best use of their money. 'While tackling obesity is important, ministers must ensure that this scheme delivers value for money and doesnt simply open the door to spiralling costs or waste. NHS organisations are being encouraged to submit proposals for a share of the funding, with patients in successful areas able to access services as early as next summer. Mr Kyle said 10m of the trial's funding will be earmarked specifically for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It is no surprise we are seeing vigilante groups on Britains streets, Reform UKs newest MP has said. Sarah Pochin said groups of British men are mobilising themselves into guardian angel-style street patrols due to the threat posed to women's safety by immigration. The Runcorn and Helsby MP made the comments at a female-only Reform press conference today, led by the partys senior women who have dubbed themselves Farages Fillies. Reforms only female MP said Labour is overseeing a betrayal of our women and girls due to its failure to stop asylum seekers with medieval views about women arriving on small boats. She said: It's no wonder that we're now hearing about groups of concerned British men mobilising themselves into guardian angel style street patrols. Reform's first female MP Sarah Pochin, who won May's Runcorn and Helsby by-election, said it is no surprise we are seeing vigilante groups on Britains streets She praised street patrols out there to protect their daughters, their girlfriends, their wives, even their mothers and added: And why wouldn't they be when we hear that these illegal migrants are loitering around schools, around parks, men with deplorable attitudes towards women. Ms Pochin claimed the problem posed by migrants arriving on small boats was a national security issue and threatens the safety of women and girls. She said: The inconvenient truth for the left is that the culture of men from predominantly Muslim countries like Afghanistan is one that holds a medieval view of women's rights. Women are at risk of sexual assault and rape from these men, hundreds of young men who arrive in this country, housed in our communities, who undoubtedly become sexually frustrated, have a warped view of their right to sexually assault women. Her comments came at a press conference for Women for Reform as the party seeks to attract female voters concerned about immigration in what has been dubbed a march of the mums. Also speaking at the press conference was Laila Cunningham, a Westminster councillor who recently defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK. Laila Cunningham, a Westminster councillor who recently defected from the Conservatives to Reform UK, said the party stands with every vigilante mum out there The mother-of-seven - a former CPS prosecutor - explained how she was labelled a vigilante mum after tracking down muggers who targeted her children as she said that Britain is now lawless. Ms Cunningham said: Our country has changed - I remember a time when calling the police meant they would come. Now, when my kids were robbed, the police told me there werent enough resources to send someone. I had to do the dangerous legwork myself over many weeks to catch the criminals. I risked my life and the press called me a vigilante mum. She added that Reform stands with every vigilante mum out there and: For every parent who feels sick with worry when their kids leave the house, for every parent who has been looked down on, ignored, insulted or worse silenced. Labour criticised Reform UK leader Nigel Farage for opposing the Online Safety Act and Crime and Policing Bill, which includes measures designed to tackle violence against women and girls. A spokesman added: If Farages Party wanted to be taken seriously when it comes to tackling the scourge of violence against women and girls, they wouldnt have tried to block Labours new laws to crack down on perpetrators of such vile criminality and get justice for victims. Gavin Newsom sent a stern warning to President Donald Trump that he is playing with fire over efforts to rewrite the congressional map in Texas. In a letter penned to the president on Monday, Newsom vowed to not stand idly by as Texas along with other GOP-dominated states attempt to add more Republican seats to protect and enlarge their majority in the U.S. House. Republicans in the Texas legislature are battling with Democratic lawmakers who have fled the state over the redistricting effort. The GOP is expected to gain at least five additional seats in the House of Representatives if their efforts in Texas are successful. Democrats only need to flip three House seats to regain control of the chamber in the upcoming 2026 midterms. If you will not stand down, I will be forced to lead an effort to redraw the maps in California to offset the rigging of maps in red states, Newsom wrote. Newsom offered a compromise to Trump by promising to call off redistricting efforts in California if GOP-led states do the same. But if the other states call off their redistricting efforts, we will happily do the same. And American democracy will be better for it. Gavin Newsom warned President Donald Trump he is 'playing with fire' by backing Texas GOP efforts to redraw the state's congressional map Newsom previously vowed to 'fight fire with fire' and threaten to redraw California's congressional map in favor of the Democrats Trump and Newsom have often clashed in the past over immigration and the president's tariff policy The White House did not immediately respond to the Daily Mails request for comment. Newsom goes on to address Trump directly by claiming the president is playing with fire that will lead to the destabilization of our democracy. You are playing with fire, risking the destabilization of our democracy, while knowing that California can neutralize any gains you hope to make, Newsom added. This attempt to rig congressional maps to hold onto power before a single vote is cast in the 2026 election is an affront to American democracy. Newsom, who many believe has aspirations for a presidential run in 2028, made similar comments last week after claiming he will fight fire with fire against Gov. Greg Abbotts redistricting plan. 'The proposal that we're advancing with the legislature has a trigger only if they move forward, to dismantling the protocols that are well-established,' Newsom told the press. 'Would the state of California move forward in kind? Fighting? Yes, fire with fire.' Newsoms new letter to Trump is the most outspoken example of Democrats planning to counter the GOP redistricting in Texas. Newsom is considered one of the top contenders for the 2028 Democratic presidential primary Democratic state lawmakers fled from Texas to deny the GOP the quorum necessary to vote on legislation in the state capital. In response, Abbott last week ordered the arrest of dozens of state Democrats who went to Illinois and New York. The Texas governor also filed an emergency petition to the Texas Supreme Court, requesting the justices declare Democratic Minority Leader Gene Wus seat vacant. Families have been seen sleeping on the floor beneath tarpaulin sheets outside the Paris City Hall as they await housing. Nearly 200 migrants, mostly women, children and families, have been gathered on the square in front of the building since August 5 amid a protest organised by the Utopia56 association. The French-based humanitarian association claims the move's aim is to find the migrants shelter while condemning the 'increasingly aggressive' expulsions taking place in the country since its 2024 Olympic Games. Images from the scenes show migrants with blankets and their belongings in plastic shopping bags as they sit under makeshift tarpaulin roofs. 'We will not move until a lasting solution is found,' Nathan Lequeux, coordinator of the Utopia56 association's Paris branch, told InfoMigrants. After nights in front of the town hall, wrapped in blankets and sleeping bags on the ground, the migrants, some of whom are legally resident in France, were heard shouting: 'We want housing! Zero children on the streets!' The association has been distributing breakfast to the people who had slept outside the city hall as the numbers of migrants started to increase. While some migrants left for work or for meetings in the capital, nearly 150 people remained in the square on Friday. The number had increased to 230 people on Saturday morning. Migrants in a makeshift camp in front of the Paris City Hall wait for emergency accommodation in Paris, France, 11 August 2025 Nearly 200 migrants, mostly women, children and families, have been gathered on the square in front of the building since August 5 amid a protest organised by the Utopia56 association The French based humanitarian association claims the move's aim is to find the migrants shelter while condemning the 'increasingly aggressive' expulsions taking place in France since its 2024 Olympic Games 'We just finished distributing lunch, the temperatures are beginning to rise, and the most vulnerable people are already starting to suffer,' said Lequeux over the weekend. Among the people present in the square, 'nearly half are children', he said, with 90 minors present in total. Of the 90 children present, Utopia56 counted '30 children under the age of three'. One family - Maria, her husband, and four-month-old daughter had been living on the streets for a month, reported AFP. 'We've had more and more single women in recent months, sometimes between 70 and 90 per evening. Now, it's mostly families,' said Lequeux. 'The numbers fluctuate and depend on how many people are end up on the streets.' There were also 11 unaccompanied minors among the group of migrants on the square, some of whom were young females who had previously been housed by Utopia56. But during the summer, the housing association loses two-thirds of its volunteers, resulting in the closing of one of its main shelters, in Bagnolet, on the evening of August 5. 'Half of our solidarity accommodation area is made up of citizen hosts and it's the same thing for volunteers, they are absent and go on vacation. As a result, we lose around 60 accommodation places every night,' Lequeux explained. This lack of accommodation isn't spoken of 'as often in the summer as there are more children on the streets,' Eleonore Schmitt, a coordinator of the Collective of housing associations, told AFP. She also blamed budget cuts. 'The elimination of 6,500 accommodation places for asylum seekers, passed in the 2025 Finance Law, is having an impact on the ground.' A spokesperson for Paris City Hall said that it continues to open 'centers in both summer and winter to shelter people and their families'. 'In total, more than 1,000 people under state care are currently sheltering in converted municipal facilities or gymnasiums, in addition to the care of more than 3,000 people with families,' the city hall added Tuesday evening. Images from the scenes show migrants with blankets and their belongings in plastic shopping bags as they sit under blue tarpaulin sheets Of the 90 children present, Utopia56 counted '30 children under the age of three' During the summer, the housing association loses two-thirds of its volunteers resulting in the closing of one of its main shelters, in Bagnolet, on the evening of August 5 A spokesperson for Paris City Hall said that it continues to open 'centers in both summer and winter to shelter people and their families' The association has been distributing breakfast to the people who had slept outside the city hall as the numbers of migrants began to increase After nights in front of the town hall, wrapped in blankets and sleeping bags on the ground, the migrants, some of whom are legally resident in France, were seen shouting: 'We want housing! Zero children on the streets!' It comes after French riot police clashed with migrants and their supporters in March after they cleared a Paris theatre that had been occupied by hundreds of homeless Africans. Violence broke out outside the Gaite Lyrique one of the French capitals most historic arts venues soon after dawn on March 18. Mainly young men had been moving in since last December when the management gave them free tickets to a Refugees Welcome in France conference. Performances were soon cancelled losing the theatre thousands in revenue as makeshift beds were placed around the stage and auditorium. By March 18, there were 446 people living inside illegally, most of them claiming they are minors under the age of 18 who deserve permanent housing. CRS (Republican Security Companies) officers armed with tear gas and batons gathered outside the theatre at 5am, and then moved in at 6am. There were immediate clashes with protesters who were shouting at them, and trying to stop them getting into the theatre, said a local resident who was at the scene. Police responded with tear gas and baton charges, and there were some injuries. A handful of migrants stood outside the theatre as the police arrived with suitcases in hand. Some 200 other agitators surrounded the theatre chanting shame on this government that wages war on vulnerable people. President Donald Trump told reporters last week he considers Vice President JD Vance the 'most likely' Republican to succeed him, but a new report indicates he's enjoying raising the prospect of a competition with Sen. Marco Rubio behind the scenes. 'Which one of you is going to be at the top of the ticket?' Trump asked Vance and Rubio earlier this year, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing a 'person with knowledge of the conversation.' 'I used to think it would be Vance-Rubio, but maybe it will be Rubio-Vance.' The Wall Street Journal report is the latest demonstration of Trump's zeal for stoking internecine warfare within his administration. Trump believes the 2028 Republican nominee should have to earn the job, sources told the newspaper. When asked by Fox News whether Vance was his 'heir apparent' to MAGA, Trump replied positively about his vice president before teeing up his secretary of state. 'I think Marco is also somebody that maybe would get together with JD in some form,' the president said, raising them as possible running mates. Still, Vance, Trump said, 'would be probably favorite at this point.' Could Trump's comments help cement a Vance-Rubio ticket four years ahead of the 2028 election? President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office as Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio listen. President Donald Trump, from left, speaks as Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio meet with 'Let's stay focused on the work in front of us, but I'll say this much for now... JD Vance and Marco Rubio would be one of the most formidable presidential tickets ever assembled,' Turning Point founder and CEO Charlie Kirk commented. The Journal report also cited 'people close to Rubio' who said the Floridian, 54, would be willing to run for president with Vance, 41, as his running mate. A source close to the White House dismissed the president's reported comment as routine teasing between the two men. 'While the president loves to tease people and I wouldn't expect him to make a formal endorsement anytime soon, he was pretty clear last week in his public statements about who be believes will be the nominee in 2028,' a source close to the White House told the Daily Mail. 'He sees all the public polling and it's pretty clear to those around him that he's bullish on Vance's chances,' the source added. An Emerson College Poll published in July showed that Vance leads the 2028 field with 42 percent support of GOP voters followed by Ron DeSantis at nine percent and Rubio in third place with seven percent. It had a margin of error of 3.6 percentage points. In public, both Rubio and Vance appear to be friendly and supportive of each other's success in the administration, even as their supporters chat openly in Washington, DC about who is more qualified to succeed Trump. 'Marco is incredibly competent and reliable, and he's also one of my closest friends in the administration,' Vance told CNN in July. On Fox News, Rubio said that he looked forward to a Vance run for president one day. US Vice President JD Vance (R) and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio shake hands during the American Compass Fifth Anniversary Gala President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio in the Oval Office 'I think he's doing a great job as vice president. He's a close friend and I hope he intends to do it, but I know it's kind of early,' Rubio told Lara Trump, the president's daughter-in-law in a Fox News interview. Rubio still has not ruled out a run himself. 'You never know what the future holds,' Rubio said in the same interview. 'You never rule things out.' A major retail chain with 115 stores across the UK has confirmed that more shops will close next month, with sales introduced to help clear the remaining stock. Popular arts and crafts retailer Hobbycraft has announced that nine more stores are closing their doors to customers across both the remainder of August and into September. Three shops in Bromborough, Stratford-upon-Avon and Southport previously shut for business on August 4, 6 and 7, respectively. Now, six more shops are set to close next month, with the closures set to take place across Wigan, Chichester, Stafford, Maidenhead, Crayford and Kings Lynn. The dates of such closures are yet to be announced. Multiple closing down sales have been launched as a result, with some shoppers even reporting that items are being sold at a whopping 20 per cent discount in a bid to clear any remaining stock. It comes after nine other Hobbycraft stores were forced to stop trading by mid-July in a move that impacted up to 126 jobs as part of a restructure. The impacted stores were based in Bagshot, Surrey; Basildon, Essex; Borehamwood, Hertfordshire; Bristol; Canterbury, Kent; Cirencester, Gloucestershire; Dunstable, Bedfordshire; Epping Forest, Essex and Lakeside Shopping Centre in Essex. Arts and crafts retailer Hobbycraft has announced that nine more stores will close their doors across both the remainder of August and into September. The closures set to take place across Wigan, Chichester, Stafford, Maidenhead, Crayford and Kings Lynn Multiple closing down sales have been launched as a result, with some shoppers even reporting that items are being sold at a whopping 20 per cent discount in a bid to clear any remaining stock (file image) It comes after nine Hobbycraft stores stopped trading by mid-July in a move that impacted up to 126 jobs as part of a restructure. It was also set to result in redundancies across its Bournemouth head office (pictured) and distribution centre in Burton-on-Trent Having purchased the superstore chain in August last year, private equiry firm owner Modella Capital launched the overhaul in April, announcing that between 72 and 126 jobs could be impacted. Adding that the future of 'a number of other stores' remained under review, the restructuring was also set to result in redundancies across its Bournemouth head office and distribution centre in Burton-on-Trent. Alex Wilson, Hobbycraft's chief executive officer, described the popular chain as the 'UK's leading arts and crafts retailer' that has 'become places for gaining crafting ideas and inspiration'. Reflecting on the nationwide closures, he said: 'Very sadly, the strength of our offering has not made us immune from the challenges faced by the retail sector in recent years. 'Closing stores is always a last resort and this has been an extremely difficult decision. 'Making these changes is sadly a necessary action to enable us to keep our doors open to crafters up and down the country.' Modella, which is also reportedly pursuing a restructuring at The Original Factory Shop business, agreed to buy WHSmith's high street business earlier this year. It said the shake-up is intended to secure the future of at least 99 stores and 1,800 jobs across the business. Alex Wilson, Hobbycraft's chief executive officer, described the popular chain as the 'UK's leading arts and crafts retailer' that has 'become places for gaining crafting ideas and inspiration' Just this month it was revealed that Poundland were set to close up to 49 stores across the UK, with 10 closing for good on August 11 (file image) The locations of the Hobbycraft stores closing Bromborough: August 4 Stratford-upon-Avon: August 6 Southport: August 7 Wigan: early September Maidenhead: September Chichester: September Stafford: September Kings Lynn: September Crayford: September Advertisement But the closure of the nine Hobbycraft stores have added an ever-growing list of high street chains forced to close stores in the past months. Just this month it was revealed that Poundland were set to close up to 49 stores across the UK, with 10 closing for good on August 11. The discount shop chain's owner, Polish firm Pepco Group, sold the struggling business in June to US-based Gordon Brothers for a 'nominal fee' of just 1. The investment firm, which used to own textile brand Laura Ashley, said it would inject up to 80million into restructuring the company. As part of these efforts, it has said a whopping nearly 70 Poundland stores will close by mid-October - nearly ten per cent of the estimated total network of 800. Three of these 68 ill-fated branches have already shut their doors - and now, the locations of 49 more of them have been confirmed. After the shutters come down on ten, some 15 stores will then close in less than a week's time, on August 17, followed by 12 on August 24, and 11 on August 31. The discount shop chain's owner, Polish firm Pepco Group, sold the struggling business in June to US-based Gordon Brothers for a 'nominal fee' of just 1 (file image) Poundland is set to shut 49 stores across the UK. A whopping nearly 70 Poundland stores will close by mid-October - nearly ten per cent of the estimated total network of 800 The final closure of this group of 49 will then come on September 14, with the shutdown of the branch at the Rivergate Shopping Centre in Irvine, North Ayrshire. Britain's high streets have been warned there is 'worse to come' this year after more than 13,000 shops closed their doors for good in 2024 an increase of 28 per cent on the year before. In another gloomy report, industry experts predicted that 17,350 shops will shut down this year. It is the highest figure since the Centre for Retail Research began collecting the data in 2015 and follows the closure of 13,479 stores last year. A transgender Scotland Yard volunteer officer raped two young girls after grooming them online, a court heard. Gwyn Samuels, who was born a man named James Bubb, told one victim she enjoyed being raped and forced her to perform a sex act in public which was interrupted by a dog walker, prosecutors said. The 27-year-old groomed both victims, one of whom was just 12, on internet chat roulette site Omegle while posing as a 16-year-old, jurors heard. They arranged to meet the first girl at a Christian festival where she was camping with her parents, before sexually assaulting her shortly before her 13th birthday, Amersham Courts heard. Samuels began a 'BDSM' relationship with their second alleged victim when she was 18 and is said to have refused her calls to stop while they were re-enacting a rape scenario. Samuels, who now identifies as a trans woman, denies seven counts relating to the first alleged victim - including rape of a child under 13 - and with one count of rape relating to the second victim. Richard Milne, prosecuting, said Samuels first victim believed she was in a relationship with them and they first met in person at Soul Survivor festival in 2018 when Samuels was working as a steward. Samuels had never asked her for proof of age, and she had a childs bracelet pass for the event a different colour to those for adults, the court heard. Gwyn Samuels, who was born a man named James Bubb, told one victim she enjoyed being raped and forced her to perform a sex act in public which was interrupted by a dog walker, prosecutors said The 27-year-old groomed both victims, one of whom was just 12, on internet chat roulette site Omegle while posing as a 16-year-old, jurors heard [Samuels] confirmed to [the girl] that they were in a relationship, but that it had to be hidden when they were in public, Mr Milne said. The following year, when the girl was staying in London with her parents, the pair met again in a park and Samuels told her to remove her tights before groping her through her underwear, the court heard. She asked Samuels to stop, but then they forced her to perform oral sex before pulling up their trousers in a panic after spotting a dogwalker, the court heard. They met again in 2020, when the girl was 13 or 14, and Samuels took her to their flat in northwest London and allegedly raped her. Samuels would choke, punch and hit the girl during this activity, the court heard, and told her she enjoyed being raped. This sexual activity carried on for three years, before the girl overdosed and was in hospital for two and a half weeks, the court heard. Samuels' trial is expected to last six days and is taking place at Amersham Law Courts She reported Samuels on the Metropolitan Police website and officers who arrested them last year also interviewed another female who had been in a relationship with them for about five years. She describes the relationship as not healthy, Mr Milne said of the second female. She told police some of the sexual encounters were not entirely consensual. She said Samuels would engage in knife play in the bedroom, enacted rape scenarios and Samuels would use officer training techniques to restrain her without permission. [The complainant] stated that she would say no or stop to [Samuels] when she no longer consented and [she] would carry on, Mr Milne said. [The complainant] cannot recall how many times this happened. Samuels, from Buckinghamshire who appeared in the dock dressed in a white shirt and black cardigan with glasses and long red hair, denies the charges. The trial, which is expected to last six days, continues. An 11-year-old girl was mauled by a mountain lion while feeding chickens near her family's beautiful Malibu house. Authorities were called to a home on the 32500 block of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu after the mountain lion supposedly attacked a young girl. The girl had been feeding chickens at the property when the mountain lion launched at her and bit her on the arm, according to KTLA. It's unclear which home the girl lived in on the block, but the surrounding homes sprawl across prime Malibu real estate and have sold for as much as $26 million. Officials with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Departments Lost Hills Station said deputies responded shortly after 5:30 pm on Sunday evening. The severity of the girl's injuries remains unknown, but she was rushed to the hospital and is expected to be okay. Emergency responders arrived at the scene on Sunday, including officials with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, who managed to track the lion down and shoot it dead. DNA samples were taken from the 11-year-old to be compared with the mountain lion's to ensure they tracked down the correct animal. An 11-year-old girl was mauled by a mountain lion while feeding chickens near her family's beautiful Malibu house Authorities were called to a home on the 32500 block of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu after a mountain lion supposedly attacked a young girl (pictured: a mountain lion in Arizona) It's not the first mountain lion attack in Malibu in recent years. Last year, a five-year-old boy was attacked by a mountain lion at Malibu Creek State Park - an 8,215-acre park with 15 miles of trails with a creek, rock pool and lake. The attack happened at around 4:30 pm while the child was having a picnic with family members at the state park. The animal grabbed the child's head in its jaws and tried to run away with its prey before the boy's father wrestled him free. The first fatal mountain lion attack in 20 years took place in Georgetown, California, last March. One man died and another suffered 'traumatic injuries' to the face following a mountain lion attack in the rural area. The men, two brothers aged 21 and 18, were searching for shed antlers in a remote part of Georgetown, a small community 50 miles outside Sacramento. The 18-year-old phoned 911 to say that he and his brother were attacked, leaving him with 'traumatic injuries to his face,' and added he had been separated from his brother. DNA samples were taken from the 11-year-old to be compared with the mountain lion's to ensure they tracked down the correct animal (pictured: a different mountain lion spotted in Ojai last month) First responders arrived at the scene around 20 minutes later. They began treating the 18-year-old and launched a search for the 21-year-old. 'Shortly after the search started, they located a man down, and next to that individual was a mountain lion in a crouched position,' Kyle Parker, a spokesman for the sheriff's office, told KCRA 3. Since 1890, there have been only six fatal mountain lion attacks in California, and the most recent in March 2024 was the first in two decades. Mountain lions can weigh up to 150 pounds and are known for being one of the most reclusive animals in US forests, according to the National Parks Service. Less than a month ago, a dog in Colorado was killed by a mountain lion while trying to save its owners. While on their nightly walk in Boulder, Taulere and Arrone Appel witnessed their 10-pound dog Bodhi horrifyingly killed by a mountain lion at around 9pm. Within just three minutes of their walk, Bodhi was attacked by the mountain lion. 'He was ten pounds, he was our little baby,' Taulere said. Arrone said that if not for his poor pup, the animal would have attacked him instead. A search and rescue operation was underway today after one person was killed and one was unaccounted for following an explosion at a steel plant in Pennsylvania. The explosion sent a cloud of toxic smoke spiraling from the Clairton Coke Works in Pittsburgh after locals heard a loud boom. The blast was felt several miles away, with one resident claiming they felt their house shake. Officials have asked those within a mile of the plant to stay indoors and stay away from the scene so emergency workers could respond. At least 10 people were injured when an explosion was reported at the plant at around 10.50am EST, according to officials. The plant converts coal to coke, a key component in the steel-making process. According to the company, it produces 4.3 million tons of coke annually and has approximately 1,400 workers. Illegal migrant Victor Martinez-Hernandez has been jailed for life for raping and murdering mother-of-five Rachel Morin in Baltimore. The El Salvador native was found guilty in April of first degree murder, first degree rape and kidnapping for the horrific August 2023 attack on the 37-year-old mother. A judge sentenced him to the maximum sentence, life without the possibility of parole, another life sentence, and an additional 40 years in prison on Monday. Harford County State Attorney Alison Healey described Martinez-Hernandez as 'completely and entirely unamenable to treatment or rehabilitation' as she requested the harshest possible sentence on Monday. 'If he is released our community is in grave danger ... It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when,' she told the court. The judge agreed, telling Martinez-Hernandez: 'You are not a candidate for rehabilitation. There is simply no hope to rehabilitate you. 'You took a life that was not yours to take. Your acts not only brutalized a young woman but also terrorized a community. The Ma & Pa Trail is a place of beauty ... your acts turned that into a place of terror.' Morin's death shocked America - and Trump highlighted the despicable actions of Martinez-Hernandez during his successful presidential re-election campaign last year. Morin's mother, Patty, has since met with Trump in the Oval Office. Harford County State Attorney Alison Healey said that Rachel Morin (pictured) 'fought for her life' in her final moments. Her killer was sentenced to life in jail on Monday Victor Martinez-Hernandez was found guilty of first degree murder, first degree rape and kidnapping for the horrific August 2023 attack on the 37-year-old mother in Baltimore President Donald Trump meets with Patty Morin, the mother of Rachel Morin, in the Oval Office, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. Trump highlighted Rachel's case during his successful campaign for re-election last year Jurors had heard Morin was on the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air when she was dragged into the woods and savagely brutalized. Her body had been stuffed in a tunnel drain. An autopsy revealed Morin died from a combination of strangulation and blunt-force trauma. Police say Hernandez had been living in the United States illegally since February 2023 - just months before targeting his victim. He will not be deported to El Salvador, because judges in Maryland only have the power to incarcerate people within the state. During the sentencing hearing on Monday, the court heard victim impact statements from 10 people including Morin's siblings, her mother and four of her children, who are aged nine, 12, 15, and 20. 'She was a good mom,' her son said, according to WBALTV. 'Every time I see a picture of her, I think about the life I had with her and my four sisters. I miss her.' Morin's eldest daughter, who is now a mother herself, asked the prosecutor to read her written statement to the court. 'I had to relive the worst two days of my life in order to write this,' she said, adding that her mother was 'kind, strong, honest, determined and funny'. Morin's mother, Patty Morin, said that she has been suffering with nightmares, insomnia and anxiety attacks since her daughter was murdered. 'The depths of grief are equivalent to the depths of love felt. This will impact generations to come,' she said. Police say Hernandez had been living in the United States illegally since February 2023 - just months before targeting his victim Rachel Morin's tragic death inflamed debates about the illegal migrant crisis in the United States Harford County Sheriff Jeff Gahler slammed the immigration system which allowed Hernandez to enter the country and remain in the United States despite committing other crimes. 'The failure here, again, is the immigration system that allowed this person to enter our country illegally and remain in our country and commit crimes in Los Angeles and then here in Harford County,' Gahler said. 'We all suspected that Rachel was not his first victim. It is my understanding that this suspect, this monster, fled to the United States illegally after committing the brutal murder of a young woman in El Salvador a month earlier in January of 2023.' Healey previously said that Morin 'fought for her life' during her final moments. 'She was viciously beaten, raped and ultimately murdered at the hands of the defendant,' the attorney said. President Trump also weighed in on the conviction in a Truth Social post at the time, paying tribute to the 'beautiful mother of five' who was 'heinously murdered.' 'Moments ago, the Illegal Criminal, who was allowed into our Country by Crooked Joe Biden, was convicted of the heinous murder of Rachel Morin,' he wrote. 'Rachel was a beautiful mother of five from Maryland, and her life was taken at the hands of a monster who should have NEVER been here in the first place.' The body of the 37-year-old mom-of-five was discovered in a tunnel along a popular hiking trail in Bel Air, Maryland Morin's mom Patty Morin said that her daughter's death could have been prevented if there was tighter security at the border which could have picked up an outstanding warrant for the suspect in relation to another crime Trump said Hernandez is 'actually an MS-13 Gang Member and Foreign Terrorist from El Salvador. 'We will never forget Rachel Morin, and are committed to protecting women like her across our Country. We will deport Illegal Murderers, Rapists, and Criminals.' Martinez-Hernandez went on the run after the crime and was ultimately arrested in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in June 2024 after his DNA was found at the scene. A search of his phone showed he had searched for the terms 'Bel Air,' 'Rachel' and an incorrect spelling of her surname after the murder, the court was told. Morin's murder inflamed debates about illegal immigrants after details of his previous alleged crimes emerged. Morin's mother, Patty Morin, last month criticized the immigration policies of the Biden-Harris administration. She shared heartbreaking testimony in congress during a hearing titled, 'A Country Without Borders: How the Biden-Harris Open-Borders Policies Have Undermined Our Safety and Security.' 'If they had done the border protocols that were in place but was set aside, just a simple DNA swab, they would know that he had a INTERPOL warrant for murder in his home country,' Morin said to the House Committee on Homeland Security. Donald Trump heaped praise on Vladimir Putin as he confirmed Volodymyr Zelensky is not invited to their meeting in Alaska this Friday. The US President said he will try to set up a summit between the Ukrainian leader and the Russian dictator afterwards - but only if he believes a deal is possible. In a deeply concerning press conference, Mr Trump said he 'got along very well' with Putin saying the strongman saw him as 'the apple of his eye' before the invasion. He described Moscow's decision to reach out to him and offer to meet in Alaska as 'very respectful' before once more appearing to blame Mr Zelensky for the war. Mr Trump said he was 'bothered' that the Ukrainian had said he would need constitutional approval for any 'land swaps' - claiming he didn't need it 'to go into war and kill everybody'. In a free-wheeling and at times contradictory press conference the US President said he would 'try and get some territory back' for Ukraine but warned he may also walk away and say, 'this is not going to be settled'. It marks a worrying return to his rhetoric from his first days in office where he parroted Kremlin talking points and piled pressure on Kyiv whilst being seemingly charmed by Moscow. Immediately after the Washington press conference, Mr Zelensky posted a summary of his meeting with Canadian PM Mark Carney where he warned 'the Russians simply want to buy time, not end the war'. Donald Trump (right) heaped praise on Vladimir Putin (left) as he confirmed Volodymyr Zelensky is not invited to their meeting in Alaska this Friday. Pictured: Trump and the Russian President at a meeting in 2017 In a deeply concerning press conference, Mr Trump said he 'got along very well' with Putin saying the strongman saw him as 'the apple of his eye' before the invasion. Above, both men during a joint press conference in 2018 He described Moscow's decision to reach out to him and offer to meet in Alaska as 'very respectful' before once more appearing to blame Mr Zelensky (pictured) for the war A No10 spokesman said on Monday that Sir Keir Starmer has been 'very clear that the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine'. They added: 'You can never trust President Putin as far as you can throw him', but that the British government 'absolutely supports President Trump's work to stop the killing in Ukraine'. It came as Kyiv reportedly softened its negotiating stance ahead of Friday's meeting. A Western official told the Telegraph that Mr Zelensky may agree to cede territory already held by Russia as part of a European-backed plan for peace. However they would not 'swap' any territory not taken by Moscow. In effect, they could freeze the front line in its current position giving Russia control over most of the Donbas, as well as Crimea and parts of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. In recent months, Mr Trump appeared to have grown weary of Putin who has strung him along for months as his forces continue their brutal advance in eastern Ukraine and killed civilians in drone strikes. Yesterday he restated his record in arming Ukraine in his first term and said he was 'the toughest' on Putin and would never 'roll over' even though they 'got along'. He said the dictator 'isn't going to mess with me' and vowed that when they meet he will tell him: 'You've got to end this war.' Your browser does not support iframes. Mr Trump said he was 'bothered' that the Ukrainian President had said he would need constitutional approval for any 'land swaps' - claiming he didn't need it 'to go into war and kill everybody' But Mr Trump also heaped praise on Putin, saying: 'I thought it was very respectful that the President of Russia is coming to our country, as opposed to us going to his country or even a third party place'. In contrast, he said he 'gets along' with Mr Zelenksy but added: 'I disagree with what he's done - very, very severely disagree. This is a war that shouldn't have happened.' He also seemed outraged that Mr Zelensky said any alterations to Ukraine's borders would require an amendment to the country's constitution which contain strict provisions on the nation's territorial integrity. Mr Trump said: 'I was a little bothered by the fact that Zelensky was saying, "Well, I have to get constitutional approval." 'He's got approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap.' Mr Trump did not criticise Putin for illegally launching his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Outlining the roadmap after days of speculation, the US President ruled out Zelensky or European leaders attending. He said of the Ukrainian President: 'I would say he could go, but he's gone to a lot of meetings, he's been there for three-and-a-half years and nothing happened'. Describing the summit as a 'feel-out meeting' he said he will know 'probably in the first two minutes' of meeting Putin whether a deal can be made. Mr Trump did not criticise Putin for illegally launching his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Pictured: The pair shake hands before a meeting in Helsinki in 2018 'After that meeting, immediately, maybe as I'm flying out, maybe as I'm leaving the room, I'll be calling the European leaders,' he added. Of Mr Zelensky, he said: 'I think, out of respect, I'll call him first, and then I'll call them [European and NATO leaders] after.' He added: 'I may say, lots of luck - keep fighting. Or I may say, we can make a deal.' But, if he believes a deal is possible, Mr Trump said: 'I'm going to put the two of them in a room, I'll be there or I won't be there, and I think it'll get solved'. Asked how he would know if he can make a deal, Mr Trump responded: 'Because that's what I do - I make deals.' In an apparent blunder, at one point Mr Trump said he was 'going to Russia on Friday' and later said: 'We're going to Russia. That's going to be a big deal.' There were other concerning moments. He falsely claimed a poll showed 88 per cent of Ukrainians want a deal and labelled the invaded country 'gung ho for war' three years ago. The country has never wanted war, while the most recent polling showed 70 per cent want a negotiated settlement. A serviceman is pictured here collecting the wreckage of a Russian missile that hit a residential neighborhood in Kharkiv At another point he shared a warped historical lecture from Hungarian strongman Viktor Orban - known as Putin's man in Europe - whom he dubbed 'my friend' and 'a very smart man'. He told how Orban had advised him Ukraine can never defeat Russia because 'Russia is a massive country and they win their life through wars'. On Monday night it emerged German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has organised an emergency call with Mr Trump, Mr Zelensky and other European leaders tomorrow ahead of the Alaska meeting. The virtual summit will focus on pressure options to use against Russia, questions over Ukraine's occupied territories and security guarantees for Kyiv, a German government spokesman told POLITICO. Deadly heat is searing parts of Europe as wildfires and heatwaves pose threats to life after one boy died of heatstroke in Italy. The four-year-old Romanian youngster died on Monday just days after being found unconscious in his family's car in Sardinia. The unnamed boy was airlifted to a Rome hospital but died of irreversible brain damage, the hospital said. The tragedy comes after Italy's health ministry issued a red alert warning for seven major cities, including Bologna and Florence. Some 11 spots are also on red alert for Tuesday, and 16 cities on Wednesday, while around 190 firefighters and the army continue to tackle a wildfire on Mount Vesuvius that caused the closure of the national park to tourists. Dramatic footage showed flames engulfing the volcano in Naples as firefighting teams both on ground and in the air rushed to the scene. Meanwhile, temperature records were broken in at least four weather stations in southern France, as the government called for vigilance. The southwestern city of Bordeaux hit a record 41.6C while all-time records were also broken at meteorological stations in Bergerac, Cognac and Saint Girons, according to the national weather service, Meteo France. A helicopter drops water over a wildfire at the Vesuvius National Park in Trecase, near Naples, Italy on August 11, 2025 Burnt trees as smoke rises from a wildfire at the Vesuvius National Park in Trecase, near Naples, Italy on August 11, 2025 Wildfires 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 The heatwave, the country's second this summer, began on Friday and was forecast to last possibly until August 19 or 20. On Monday, 12 French departments were placed on red alert, the country's highest heat warning, with four more expected on Tuesday. Elsewhere, people were also evacuated from dozens of homes in the Balkans as firefighters battled blazes in Albania, Montenegro and Croatia, where red alerts were announced. In Albania, hundreds of firefighters and soldiers had subdued most of the nearly 40 fires that flared up in the last 24 hours, according to the defence ministry, but more than a dozen were still active. Fires continued to burn in the southern coastal area of Finiq, around 160km south of the capital, where about 10 people were evacuated and several homes were razed on Sunday night, according to local media. Earlier, flames driven by wind and intense heat spread to the hills around the central southern city of Polican, prompting the evacuation of elderly residents from a care home and six families from nearby villages. The ministry said the fire had been controlled with no threat to surrounding communities. Around 800 Albanian troops have been deployed, along with military aircraft and helicopters from surrounding countries, to battle the wildfires. A local and a member of emergency services work to contain a wildfire near Tepelena, Albania, August 11, 2025 Members of emergency services work to contain a wildfire near Tepelena, Albania, August 11, 2025 In Albania, hundreds of firefighters and soldiers had subdued most of the nearly 40 fires that flared up in the last 24 hours A Red Cross volunteer cleans a shower cabin inside the truck provided for the homeless in Bordeaux, south-western France, on August 11, 2025 Women with a umbrella a fan walk near the Garonne river bank in the middle of the day in Toulouse, southwestern France on August 11, 2025. The heatwave that started on August 8, 2025 has intensified, with temperatures at an 'exceptional level' in the south-west, where 12 departments are classified under red heatwave alert until August 12, 2025 by Meteo-France Since the start of July, nearly 84,000 acres have been scorched nationwide, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). Police allege that many of the blazes were deliberately lit, with more than 20 people arrested in recent weeks. Wildfires also damaged a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site in northwestern Spain. Spanish firefighters struggled to contain a wildfire that damaged a Roman-era mining site in Las Medulas and prompted hundreds of residents to evacuate. High temperatures and winds of up to 25mph created 'many difficulties', said Juan Carlos Suarez-Quinones, the Castile and Leon regional environment minister. 'We will not allow people to return until safety in their communities is absolutely guaranteed,' he told reporters, estimating that about 700 people had been displaced. Four people, including two firefighters, suffered minor injuries, he added. The blaze broke out on Sunday near Las Medulas, an area famed for its striking red landscape. Spain has been in the grip of a heatwave for the past week, with temperatures nearing 40C in many areas and fuelling wildfires. Fire burns next to a house during a wildfire in Congosta, Spain, August 11, 2025 A wildfire burns as the Community of Madrid has declared operational status 2 for the Special Emergency Civil Protection Plan for Forest Fires (Infoma) due to the vegetation fire in the Madrid town of Tres Cantos, Spain, 11 August 2025 Spanish firefighters struggled to contain a wildfire that damaged a Roman-era mining site in Las Medulas and prompted hundreds of residents to evacuate A local resident and firefighters use water hoses to cool down the soil after a wildfire in Congosta, Spain, August 11, 2025 Castile and Leon alone has seen 13 fires in the past three days, according to Suarez-Quinones, who said that some were believed to have been deliberately started. In neighbouring Portugal, firefighters were battling three large wildfires in the centre and north of the country. Elsewhere, just outside the capital of Montenegro, where temperatures soared to 40C, fire crews managed to save dozens of homes when a blaze broke out in inaccessible terrain on Monday, the commander of the Protection and Rescue Service, Nikola Bojanovic, told media. In Croatia, around 150 firefighters also spent the night defending homes from a blaze near the port city of Split. The fire started at 2:54am above Jesenice and Sumpetar in the area of Staro Selo. Around 150 firefighters with 50 vehicles are battled the blaze, supported by three Canadair aircraft and one Air Tractor. According to the chief fire commander of Split-Dalmatia County, Ivan Kovacevic, flames threatened several homes during the night but firefighters managed to save them. Pave Tomic, the fire chief in Dugi Rat, told HRT that the situation remains serious. Firefighters work to extinguish a wildfire in the outskirts of the Podgorica capital, on August 11, 2025, as temperatures soared to 40 degrees Celsius Smoke and flames rise from trees burning in a wildfire near Montenegro's capital of Podgorica, Monday, August 11, 2025 A firefighting helicopter collects water from river Moraca, in Stara Zlatica suburbs, as temperature rises during a heatwave in Podgorica, Montenegro, August 11, 2025 In Portugal today firefighters were battling three large wildfires in the centre and north of the country The largest wildfire in Portugal, near the town of Trancoso, has been burning since August 9, 2025 and is being battled by more than 650 firefighters backed by six aircraft A firefighting aeroplane drops water during a wildfire in Krilo Jesenice, Croatia, August 11, 2025 'The fire is not under control and the affected area is large. We have no confirmed reports yet of destroyed residential or commercial buildings, and as far as I know there are no injuries. Our priority is to save houses and push the fire away from them, but we are far from bringing it under control,' he said. Several people have been evacuated as a precaution, confirmed national fire commander Slavko Tucakovic. In the northwestern Turkish province of Canakkale, more than 2,000 people were evacuated and 77 people received hospital treatment for smoke inhalation after several fires broke out around the tourist village of Guzelyali, authorities said. On Monday Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ibrahim Yumakli shared the latest developments regarding forest fires on social media. He said: 'We have completely brought 45 of the 55 forest fires that broke out in our country today under control. 'The energy levels of the fires in Canakkale Ayvack and Ezine, Bolu Mudurnu, Kahramanmaras Goksun, Mugla Milas, Hatay Yayladag, and Manisa Sehzadeler have been reduced. People try to extinguish a wildfire in the northwestern city of Canakkale province, Turkey, August 11, 2025 Flames rise as firefighter teams continue their efforts to extinguish the fire that broke out in the forest area of Kepez region in Canakkale A house is damaged by fire, as a wildfire burns in Erenkoy in the northwestern Canakkale province, Turkey, August 11, 2025 People load a water tank to help fight a wildfire raging in the northwestern Canakkale province, Turkey, August 11, 2025 In the northwestern Turkish province of Canakkale, more than 2,000 people were evacuated and 77 people received hospital treatment for smoke inhalation after several fires broke out around the tourist village of Guzelyali A firefighter works as a wildfire burns in Kepez in the northwestern Canakkale province, Turkey, August 11, 2025 'Our teams continue to respond to the fires in Canakkale Merkez and Dardanos, Manisa Soma, and Edirne Enez.' Yumakli emphasised that they are fighting with all their might to bring the ongoing fires under control as soon as possible, and said: 'We had previously issued warnings that we were going through a high-risk week for forest fires. 'Unfortunately, the risk will continue in the coming days. Please refrain from lighting fires or throwing cigarette butts outside. Let's avoid any behaviour that could cause a fire.' Several homes and cars caught ablaze, according to images shown on Turkish media, while more than 760 firefighters, 10 aeroplanes, nine helicopters and more than 200 vehicles were deployed to battle the flames. Turkey had just experienced its hottest July since records began 55 years ago. A mother has been charged with child endangerment after she allegedly abandoned her five children alone in a hovel home without any food or water. Heidi Beer, 35, left her children unsupervised in a rural Pennsylvania home that was littered with urine and feces, the Westmoreland County district attorney alleges. The property in Vandergrift, about 30 miles from Pittsburgh, had no running water, leaky pipes and emanated a 'pungent odor', investigators say. Rotten food and garbage was sprawled across the residence, the bathtub was filled with dirty dishes and the shower faucet had been broken off. The children - ages 9, 10, 14, 15 and 16 - slept on bunkbeds made of plywood without mattresses and kept their clothing in an abandoned house nearby, the DA claims. Vandergrift police first learned of the children's deplorable living conditions on July 28 after responding to an altercation involving some of the siblings. The eldest revealed she was taking care of her siblings and could not get in contact with Beer. Police contacted other relatives, including their grandmother Leslie Keller, who admitted she had not gone into the home for months because it was 'too gross'. Beer and Keller, 69, have both been charged with five counts of child endangerment. Beer also faces additional charges of false reports and recklessly endangering. Heidi Beer, 35, (pictured) has been charged with child endangerment, false reports and recklessly endangering She allegedly abandoned her five children in a Vandergrift, Pennsylvania home that had no running water, leaky pipes, and was littered with animal urine and feces The children told police their mother was living in Pittsburgh with her boyfriend John Kenny but had not checked on them for several days. Kenny allegedly beat the children and choked one with a belt, according to a criminal complaint obtained by WTAE. He allegedly encouraged Beer to abandon her children and promised to 'give her a new and better life without them,' the complaint states. The children told the officer they did not have food or water, alleging they were reliant on free lunches provided by the school. They would also take empty cat litter containers to Keller's home in Parks Township, about four miles away, and fill them up with water. The grandmother admitted this to investigators, the complaint alleges. Police forced Keller to walk through the residence, during which she allegedly screamed at the 16-year-old for not cleaning the home. The teen said she was trying to keep up with the cleaning but claimed it had gotten to be too much, the report states. Rotten food and garbage was sprawled across the residence, the bathtub was filled with dirty dishes and the shower spigot had been broken off Beer admitted she knew the home was in a deplorable state, the DA alleges The officer reprimanded Keller, claiming it was 'not the children's responsibility to clean this absolute disgrace of a mess'. Police ultimately made contact with Beer, who said she had been staying in West Virginia and admitted that she knew the home was in a deplorable state, according to the DA. The children were placed in the custody of another family member and Beer was remanded to the Westmoreland County Prison after failing to post bail. She is also facing additional charges after she allegedly lied to police about the whereabouts of her 14-year-old child and endangering her a second time after the initial incident. Keller, when approached by KDKA last week, said she was not aware of the charges filed against her. 'Nobody has said anything to me about it. There have been no police here, nothing like that,' she told the news outlet. She added: 'The children were supposed to at least clean up after themselves, and they didn't even do that.' Vandergrift police first learned of the children's deployable living conditions on July 28 after responding to an altercation involving some of the siblings Their other grandmother, Darla Updegraff, has vowed to 'do everything in my power' to ensure the children's safety. She described the residence as being a 'hoarder house with a real bad, strong, disgusting animal smell', adding how the children were 'hungry, dirty, and stunk'. She believes Beer deserves to be punished to the full extent of the law. Police, meanwhile, say their investigation remains ongoing and that it is possible further charges could be filed in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties. When it comes to expressions of British military pride, nothing does the job quite like the HMS Prince of Wales. The flight deck of the aircraft carrier that is the flagship of the Royal Navy stretches out before me. A vast slab of grey steel more than 900ft long. From my vantage point near the stern I can see a line of F-35 fighter jet noses fan out like a row of arrows ready to pierce the sky. These supersonic, stealth combat aircraft, renowned for their 'short take-off and vertical landing' capabilities, accelerate to 170mph as they head for the elevated runway ramp that juts off the end of the carrier to generate sufficient lift to begin their climb. Once airborne, they can take out targets on land or sea using an array of firepower that includes Sidewinder missiles for air-to-air combat and 100kg Spear bombs for ground attacks. These masters of the air are housed on a 65,000-ton leviathan that carries a 1,600-strong crew. And today, I'm one of them. I'm aboard the Prince of Wales in the port of Darwin, northern Australia, having flown from London to meet Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Defence Secretary John Healey on the vessel. Lammy and Healey are here because the carrier strike group the Prince of Wales and its escort vessels along with 3,000 British troops, are taking part in Exercise Talisman Sabre. HMS Prince of Wales docking into Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory. The Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carrier was launched in 2017 Foreign Secretary David Lammy, David Patrikarakos and Defence Secretary John Healey in Darwin Australia's Northern Territory is in the grip of a 30C heatwave made the more uncomfortable by 65 per cent humidity. Pictured: David Patrikarakos With more than 35,000 military personnel from 19 nations involved in the manoeuvres, it's the largest military exercise ever hosted by Australia. For the UK and our cousins Down Under, Talisman Sabre symbolises a deepening military partnership, designed for a world more dangerous and terrifying than for more than 80 years. The day begins with an inspection of the troops. In the background, a band strikes up a military tune. Lammy and Healey make their way down a row of sailors dressed in white ceremonial uniform, making small talk. Australia's Northern Territory is in the grip of a 30C heatwave made the more uncomfortable by 65 per cent humidity. Perspiration crosses my forehead. My eyes sting. My shirt becomes sticky. 'It's hot, isn't it?' Lammy says to one sailor, who's also struggling. Later, the three of us meet inside the hangar. 'The UK's Modern Industrial Strategy: Defence', reads a sign behind us. Healey makes clear how important today's proceedings are. 'It's the first time a British aircraft carrier has come to Australia since 1997,' he says. 'And it's a big day because of the global context. Where threats are increasing, allies are important, and reinforcing the deep alliance that we've had with Australia is more vital than ever.' Lammy agrees: 'I spend a lot of time on the Europe-North America relationship, particularly within the context of Nato, and here in the Indo-Pacific it's a critical theatre. With Australia, we have had the deepest of enduring relationships. We're here to renew that relationship.' Lammy is right about the Indo-Pacific. If there is to be a major global war in the years ahead, the region will be a key battlefield. Sailors in white ceremonial uniform marked the first time a British aircraft carrier has come to Australia since 1997 David Patrikarakos aboard the aircraft carrier, which is the eighth Royal Navy ship to have the name HMS Prince of Wales China is already challenging the US for global hegemony and this means, first and foremost, dominating what it believes is its 'backyard'. Many believe that Chinese leader Xi Jinping will launch his much-vaunted invasion of Taiwan in 2027 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). If that happens, the US is committed (albeit ambiguously) to Taiwan's defence. The UK and Australia will almost certainly follow suit. Neither Lammy nor Healey will comment on any possible war with China. But being in a state of readiness in this region is now clearly top of Britain's agenda. And when I speak to a senior government source, the message is clear. Britain 'challenges' China. It will continue to confront Beijing's dangerous and destabilising activity in the South China Sea: 'From the Red Sea to the South China Sea the high seas are more dangerous than at any point in generations.' The truth of these words is plain to see. Earlier this year, the Chinese navy conducted live-fire naval exercises in the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand, in the first recorded operational engagement in the area. The People's Republic tested new landing barges on ships that would be used in any amphibious assault on Taiwan, as well as cable cutters that could cut off the island's internet. It has been ratcheting up drills in the Taiwan Strait and targeting countries with which it has territorial disputes, such as the Philippines and Japan. Only yesterday, the Daily Mail reported how two Chinese vessels collided in the South China Sea while chasing a Philippine patrol boat at high speeds just the latest in an increasing number of incidents between the two countries. The Australians have no choice but to be at the top of their game. All of which explains the urgency and importance of cementing the Western alliance in these waters. Once, Britain was at the heart of Australian security. But after the Second World War, the Aussies knew we were spent. In 1951 they signed the ANZUS Treaty with the United States, cutting Britain out of Australian defence and leaving Churchill heartbroken. But our historic alliance has now been revived, most significantly via the 2021 trilateral AUKUS agreement, under which Britain and the US agreed to share nuclear propulsion technology with Australia with a view to cooperating on the design and build of a new generation of nuclear-powered submarines. This was the first time that America and Britain had shared such sensitive technology with anyone else. 'Today, the UK and Australia are two nations intertwined by shared goals, particularly in the Indo-Pacific,' a Foreign Office source told me. 'That means a level of integration unprecedented since the end of the British Empire.' But modern defence means reckoning with new technology that enables Davids to attack Goliaths. I have been deeply wary of Britain spending colossal sums on huge carriers that could be vulnerable to the sort of drone tech that, as I have seen first-hand in Ukraine, enabled Kyiv to destroy Russia's Black Sea fleet without any real navy of their own. It even took out Moscow's colossal flagship, the Moskva, near Odesa. And let's not forget, the Houthis of Yemen, backed by the mullahs of Tehran, have succeeded in terrorising Western cargo ships passing through the Red Sea using a range of cheap drones. Yet Healey assures me that the military fully understands these challenges. 'We learned from Ukraine how the accelerating development of technology is changing the nature of warfare,' he tells me. 'For your war fighters to have an edge in the future, you've got to harness the power of that new tech, and we are. The aircraft carrier is increasingly hybrid, with traditional fixed-wing aircraft taking their place alongside the latest in drone technology, just as the Strategic Defence Review said it should.' The proof of this is all around me. It's there as I sit in the captain's chair, surrounded byan array of winking interfaces, feeling as if I'm piloting the Starship Enterprise. But most of all, it's in the ship's hanger where I see the drones. Black circles amid a grey patina on the front of one make it resemble a human face. It almost seems to stare at me. Another drone resembles a small plane. Nearby are a couple of small D40s, Australian drones that can be launched manually or via a grenade-launcher. These so-called 'loitering' munitions buzz and swarm like lethal metallic wasps until they lock on to their target - and unload. It's clear that the British goal is to further develop capabilities that are now key to the future of war: detecting and striking adversaries autonomously. But does all this mean that the target of 5 per cent defence spending, demanded by both Donald Trump and Nato will, finally, be met? Healey cannot be clearer: 'Will we hit that target?' he replies. 'I'm absolutely confident we will. We signed up like the other 31 nations last month to that 5 per cent by 2035.' Healey is a serious man. But Britain, as we all know, is already facing financial disaster, and cannot possibly afford to put 5 per cent of GDP into defence without eye-watering sacrifices. And even if we somehow found the necessary cash, to hit the target only in a decade seems lethargic at best. The threats we face are terrifying and imminent. Not least because Lammy correctly stresses the broader importance of this region in a global conflict. 'We see an indivisibility of security between the Indo-Pacific and the Euro-Atlantic,' he tells me. 'I have seen Iranian missiles shot into Kyiv. I've been in Beijing and challenged the Chinese about their dual-use technology [which can be used for both weapons and civilian purposes] that is shipped to Russia and fired at the Ukrainians. 'I've seen satellite images of DPRK [North Korean] troops engaged in battle on behalf of Russia against Ukraine, and of course we know that shells are making their way to Russia also from the Indo-Pacific. So the indivisibility is plain to see on a day-to-day basis.' This is spot on as I know first-hand from my reporting across several continents. I've come under attack from Iranian technology in Kyiv, eastern Ukraine and Israel. I've seen up close the damage the Iranians have done in Baghdad and what the Russians have done in Syria. We are in the midst of a battle with an axis of enemies whose influence spans the globe. That is why the HMS Prince of Wales's presence here is so important. In a speech to the Washington think-tank The Hudson Institute last year, Lammy quoted former US National Security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski, who warned that the West might one day face the danger of a 'grand coalition of China, Russia and perhaps Iran, an anti-hegemonic coalition united not by ideology but by complementary grievances'. 'This I think risks coming upon us,' Lammy said. Well, that day has indeed arrived. And our response must be decisive and bold. We must build a coalition of allies as resolute as the states ranged against us and it must straddle both the Indo-Pacific and the Atlantic. Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Australia all these democracies want us there. The more alliances they have, the more strategic independence they maintain. Lammy points not just to Nato but the 'Indo-Pacific Four' (IP4), the alliance of Nato partners in the region Australia, Japan, New Zealand and South Korea. He highlights the intelligence-sharing 'Five Eyes' group of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the US and, of course, the G7 group of developed western nations. 'Our economic and military alliances are so multilateral. Yes, this is a time of peace through strength,' he says. 'But also peace through deepening our allied partnerships with one another.' What I saw in Darwin was merely the latest iteration of something Britain has been doing for centuries: creating and managing alliances. When we fought with our Empire in the Second World War, we sat at the centre of a web of allies. It's how we defeated not only Hitler, but the German Kaiser in 1918 and before that, Napoleon. Yes, it's been a long time since Britannia ruled the waves. But we still have global soft power, highly trained armed forces and vast geopolitical and military experience. If the world is more dangerous than ever, hyper-accelerating technology is ensuring that it's also smaller than ever. To deal with it, alliances must be global and no one forges them better than we do. The HMS Prince of Wales is more than just a floating airbase and potent weapon. It is a movable hub: both the centre and the symbol of the type of global alliances that Britain will need in order to survive and thrive in the coming decades. 'This is what you're seeing. Allies. Arming-up. Ambition. This is our strategy for the 21st century,' says my senior government source. As I walk off the ship, slowly crossing the bridge connecting it to terra firma, I recall Lammy's words about the indivisible theatre of conflict we now face. The threat is indeed global and at its head is China. Only it has the size, strength and resources to reorder the world in its totalitarian image. In 1962, former US Secretary of State Dean Acheson notoriously observed that 'Great Britain has lost an empire and has not yet found a role.' In Darwin, perhaps I finally saw us taking on that role, and not before time. In this age of mass conflict, our future depends upon it. The late Queen asked for gossip about the Alex Salmond sex claims, Nicola Sturgeon has claimed. The Monarch immediately asked for details when the women met at Balmoral Castle a few weeks after misconduct claims against Mr Salmond first emerged in 2018. Claiming the Queen loved a bit of gossip, Ms Sturgeon wrote in her autobiography Frankly: She asked me about it almost as soon as I sat down. She wanted to know more of what was going on. Describing herself as a republican at heart and by instinct, Ms Sturgeon lavishes praise on the late Queen as utterly fascinating and an incredible woman. She says she was struck by the aura she exuded as she entered the room, and said she had a mystique around her that no other member of the Royal Family has. Ms Sturgeons 470-page book is officially released on Thursday, when she is due to talk about it at the Edinburgh Book Festival. But copies went on sale in branches of Waterstones across Scotland yesterday, with the company insisting no sales embargo was in place. Writing about a visit she and her husband Peter Murrell made to Balmoral in September 2018, Ms Sturgeon said she enjoyed her audiences with the Queen at the Highland estate. The late Queen asked for gossip about the Alex Salmond sex claims, the former First Minister has claimed. The Monarch immediately asked for details when the women met at Balmoral Castle a few weeks after misconduct claims against Mr Salmond first emerged in 2018 Claiming the Queen loved a bit of gossip, Ms Sturgeon wrote in her autobiography Frankly: She asked me about it almost as soon as I sat down. She wanted to know more of what was going on. Pictured: the late Queen and Ms Sturgeon in 2014 She wrote: She was always relaxed and chatty, and these sessions would typically last for around an hour. She said chatting to the late Queen was like being given a window onto all the major events of twentieth century history. Ms Sturgeon added: She also loved a bit of gossip. She always wanted to hear the stories behind the political headlines. She said she had an audience with the monarch at Balmoral just a couple of weeks after the allegations about Alex Salmond emerged. Ms Sturgeon said she assumed she wouldnt mention it, but wrote: She asked me about it almost as soon as I sat down. She wasnt being trivial in any way, she wanted to know more of what was going on. I think she was also trying to put me at ease. She said she felt she was able to talk freely, and open up and share whatever was on my mind. Mr Salmond, who died aged 69 last October, always considered himself something of a favourite of the Queen because of their mutual love of horseracing. Ms Sturgeon insists in her book she is a republican, and describes kneeling and kissing the monarchs hand to join the Privy Council as somewhat strange. Nicola Sturgeon claims the Queen asked her about the allegations made against Alex Salmond Ms Sturgeons 470-page book is officially released on Thursday, when she is due to talk about it at the Edinburgh Book Festival. But copies went on sale in branches of Waterstones across Scotland yesterday, with the company insisting no sales embargo was in place Ms Sturgeon insists in her book she is a republican, and describes kneeling and kissing the monarchs hand to join the Privy Council as somewhat strange. But she is also clearly impressed by the late Queen, calling her time with her special. Pictured: the late Queen and Ms Sturgeon in 2021 But she is also clearly impressed by the late Queen, calling her time with her special. She writes: I am not a monarchist by instinct, but the private time I spent with the Queen ranks as one of the great privileges of my life. It was clear from our first meeting that she was an extraordinary woman. She is less flattering about Prince William, now Prince of Wales, complaining his office was disingenuous about a 2021 private meeting in which she avoided politics. It later emerged he had met former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown around the same time for balance on the independence question. Ms Sturgeon said in her view it wasnt right to suggest any balance was needed. In a statement, Waterstones said: The publication date does not necessarily equal an on-sale date unless the publisher puts an embargo in place. Sexual misconduct allegations against Alex Salmond (pictured) first emerged in late August 2018, when the Daily Record revealed he had been the subject of a Scottish Government investigation after complaints from two female civil servants In other revelations in the new book, Ms Sturgeon: * Admitted that the controversy over her botched bid to force through gender reforms was one of the most bruising episodes of her entire time in politics and that she lost the dressing room over trans rapist Isla Bryston being sent to a womens prison. * Condemned JK Rowlings Sturgeon, destroyer of womens right t-shirt as a stunt and claimed it was never going to elevate the debate or illuminate the issues at the heart of it. * Described a phone call with US President Donald Trump as being like a bad acid dream * Revealed that the late Sir Sean Connery gave her speaking lessons and told her she should deepen her voice. * Said she felt sick reading about sex pest minister Derek Mackays approach to a schoolboy but still counts him as a friend. Ms Sturgeon is less flattering about Prince William, now Prince of Wales, complaining his office was disingenuous about a 2021 private meeting in which she avoided politics. It later emerged he had met former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown around the same time In other revelations in the new book, Ms Sturgeon condemned JK Rowlings Sturgeon, destroyer of womens right t-shirt (picture) as a stunt and claimed it was never going to elevate the debate or illuminate the issues at the heart of it Ms Sturgeon, who is standing stand down as an MSP next year, admitted she remained haunted by the decisions she took - and didnt take - during the Covid pandemic. Even thinking about the period unleashed a torrent of emotion, she said. She described it as the hardest period of her career, adding: I still agonise over what I might have done differently. I think part of me always will. But it would ultimately be for history to judge whether the right calls were made on testing care home patients, infection controls and lockdown. Sexual misconduct allegations against Mr Salmond first emerged in late August 2018, when the Daily Record revealed he had been the subject of a Scottish Government investigation after complaints from two female civil servants. He later had the probe set aside in a judicial review at the Court of Session, showing it had been unfair, unlawful and tainted by apparent bias, getting back 512,000 in legal fees. Three people have died after a gunman opened fire at a Target parking lot in Austin on Monday afternoon - and the suspect was detained after crashing a hijacked vehicle. The unnamed attacker, who was described as white and wearing a Hawaiian shirt, fired at shoppers at the store on Research Boulevard in Texas shortly after 2pm, with police saying they received an initial report about a shooting at 2.15pm. When Austin police then arrived at the scene, they found three people shot in the parking lot. Medics pronounced two of the victims dead at the scene, while a third succumbed to their injuries en route to a local hospital. One other victim suffered unrelated injuries and was treated at the scene, authorities said. The suspect, identified only as a 32-year-old white male with a known mental health issue and prior criminal history, fled the scene in a stolen vehicle. He promptly crashed the car, at which point he hijacked another vehicle from a local Volkswagen dealership, Police Chief Lisa Davis said at an evening news conference. But officers were quickly able to track down the suspect about 18 miles south of the shooting. Police then tazed him and took him into custody, though the suspect has not yet been charged and a motive remains unclear. A man who called police and lied to them about planting bombs at major hubs such as Heathrow and Birmingham airports has been jailed. Paul Fisher, 61, from Oadyby, made false threats to numerous forces claiming he had planted bombs at several locations. He made three calls made to the Metropolitan Police stating bombs had been planted at Heathrow Airport, St Pancras railway station and Scotland Yard. West Midlands Police were also called by the man, stating there was a bomb at Birmingham Airport and a fourth was made to Leicestershire Police claiming there was a bomb at a hotel in London. Two calls were made to Lincolnshire Police stating he intended to blow up pubs in Boston and Lincoln and another was made to Humberside Police station in Hull. He pleaded guilty to eight counts of a bomb hoax communicating false information - when he appeared at Leicester Magistrates' Court. The 61-year-old also pleaded guilty to three counts of causing wasteful employment of police concerning calls made to the Met. In addition, the crook admitted to one count of threatening to destroy or damage property which involved a call made to Leicestershire Police and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service in April. Paul Fisher, 61, who called police and lied to them about planting bombs at Heathrow and Birmingham airports has been jailed He pleaded guilty to eight counts of a bomb hoax communicating false information - when he appeared at Leicester Magistrates' Court (pictured) He was sentenced today to five years and two months' imprisonment. Detective Constable Kevin Sharke said: 'When calls of this nature are made, police rightly treat them as a legitimate concern until it can be determined there's no credible threat or risk of life to the public. 'The impact hoax calls can have on the emergency services, businesses and the public are vast. 'Such mindless actions interrupt our infrastructure and end up costing significant amounts of money. 'I'm pleased Fisher now has to face the consequences of his actions and hope today's outcome serves as a serious deterrent to anyone who thinks his behaviour was in any way acceptable.' President Donald Trump extended a tariff deadline on Chinese goods by another 90 days less than 24 hours until the new trade 'doomsday' hit. He reportedly signed an executive order to pause a scheduled hike as talks between China and the United States continue. The president signed an executive order to postpone the tariff deadline, according to a report from CNBC citing a White House official one day before it was scheduled to snap into place. Currently, Chinese imports are subject to the president's 10 percent baseline tariffs with an additional 20 percent tariff. The president threatened a massive 245 percent tariff on Chinese goods in April, but has extended it as long as talks and negotiations continue. United States and Chinese officials spent two days in Stockholm in late July emerging in a settlement to extend the ongoing trade 'truce' between both countries. 'Theyve been dealing quite nicely the relationship is very good with President Xi and myself,' Trump said. The new deadline is set for early November. 'Tariffs are making our Country Strong and Rich!!!' Trump boasted on social media on Monday. US President Donald Trump spoke about tariffs at a press conference on Monday Chinese President Xi Jinping last spoke with President Trump in June President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are also in talks to meet to wrap up trade talks and set a deal as negotiations continue. The two leaders last spoke on the phone in June. Both sides are optimistic that they can wrap up talks in late October, according to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in an interview with Nikkei Asia. Trump continues using tariffs to force foreign countries into negotiations, even as some of the deadlines keep getting extensions depending on whether progress is made. Tariffs on over 60 countries went into effect at midnight on August 7th, following 18 weeks of tough negotiations. Trump allowed tariffs on Canada to jump to 35 percent, even as the president granted Mexico a 90-day extension. India now faces an additional 25 percent tariff scheduled for August 27 on top of a 25 percent tarrif set on August 1. Brazil also has a 50 percent tariff on many of its products. Other countries that have yet to make a trade deal with the United States include Switzerland, South Africa, Brunei, Cambodia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Iceland, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, New Zealand, Turkey, Norway, Iran, North Korea and Russia. Trump announced Monday afternoon there would be no tairrfs on Swiss gold bars, after the price of gold spiked. 'Gold will not be Tariffed!' he wrote shortly on social media. Health officials have been branded 'nanny state' after issuing a two-day 'danger to life' health alert for a brief heatwave starting tomorrow. An amber alert has been issued across the Midlands, East Anglia, London and South East for tomorrow and Wednesday. Yellow warnings apply elsewhere in England. Britain is set to be hotter than Barbados, with temperatures in the low 30s Celsius (high 80s Fahrenheit) across England and Wales potentially reaching 34C (93F) in parts of the West Midlands. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said there could be a 'rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions', and care providers have been warned of 'likely increased demand'. Health officials have recommended closing windows and curtains in rooms facing the sun to keep them cool, wearing a hat and sunglasses and covering up to protect from sunburn, and exercising in the morning or evening 'when it is cooler'. Professor Karol Sikora, the former director of a World Health Organisation programme, said the warnings were 'complete nanny state'. Of the UKHSA, he added: 'They are trying to justify their existence. Torremolinos [on the Spanish Costa del Sol] is full of oldies like me basking in the sun.' Meanwhile, former Conservative minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg said: 'I suggest people put on a Panama hat and drink a glass of refreshing Pimm's while ignoring those wastrels at the UKHSA who would be more use if they joined the junior doctors on strike.' An amber alert has been issued across the Midlands, East Anglia, London and South East for tomorrow and Wednesday. Yellow warnings apply elsewhere in England (Pictured: Brighton Beach on August 11) Britain is set to be hotter than Barbados, with temperatures in the low 30s Celsius (high 80s Fahrenheit) across England and Wales potentially reaching 34C (93F) in parts of the West Midlands. Pictured: beach goers enjoy the heat on Brighton Beach on August 11 Professor Karol Sikora, the former director of a World Health Organisation programme, said the warnings were 'complete nanny state'. Pictured: swimmers at Hathersage open-air pool at Hope Valley in the Peak District on August 11 The alert applies from 9am tomorrow until 6pm Wednesday, after which temperatures are due to drop into the high 20s Celsius (low 80s Fahrenheit), but they could still hit 30C (86F) in southern England on Friday. It is the fourth heatwave the UK has experienced this summer and it comes after the warmest June and fifth warmest July since records began. Tory MP Sir John Hayes, chairman of the backbench Common Sense group, said: 'Everyone knows about putting on a sun hat, making sure elderly people don't stay in the sun too long. 'They don't need some official issuing a diktat about how hot it has to be before they need to go indoors. It's a crazy manifestation of a very strange age.' Meanwhile, Health and Social Care Select Committee member and Isle of Wight East Tory MP Joe Robertson said: 'We have found ourselves in a world where we are becoming increasingly reliant on the state for things that would have been called common sense just a few years ago. 'A couple of days of relatively hot weather and we are being told to "drink water" and "stay inside". 'Many families are currently holidaying in much hotter places than the UK without the need for alarmist advice.' The comments came as other parts of Europe have sweltered in temperatures higher than 40C over the past week. More than 1,400 people were forced to flee their homes in north-west Spain yesterday as wildfires spread fast, driven by scorching temperatures and fierce winds. Former Conservative minister Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg (pictured) said: 'I suggest people put on a Panama hat and drink a glass of refreshing Pimm's while ignoring those wastrels at the UKHSA who would be more use if they joined the junior doctors on strike' The alert applies from 9am tomorrow until 6pm Wednesday, after which temperatures are due to drop into the high 20s Celsius (low 80s Farenheit), but they could still hit 30C (86F) in southern England on Friday. It is the fourth heatwave the UK has experienced this summer More than 1,400 people were forced to flee their homes in north-west Spain yesterday as wildfires (pictured) spread fast, driven by scorching temperatures and fierce winds Meanwhile, in Portugal, firefighters were struggling to contain a huge blaze they had initially declared contained. Eleven people were confirmed injured while many others were treated for smoke inhalation Meanwhile, in Portugal, firefighters were struggling to contain a huge blaze they had initially declared contained. Eleven people were confirmed injured while many others were treated for smoke inhalation. Hot air is being drawn towards the UK by the remains of Storm Dexter in the Atlantic and a southerly air flow bringing temperatures north from France and Spain. Officials also warned last night that England is suffering from 'nationally significant' water shortfalls, despite rain last month. The National Drought Group met as five areas of the country remain in drought and six more in prolonged dry weather status. The lack of water is hitting crop yields, reducing feed for livestock, damaging wildlife and increasing wildfires, the group said. A plane has crashed on the runway at Kalispell Airport in Montana, triggering a huge fireball and sending smoke billowing into the sky, with two passengers suffering minor injuries. Shocking video shows a giant fireball exploding into a massive, pillowy cloud of black smoke into the Montana sky. The single-engine plane carrying four people was attempting to land at about 2 p.m. at the Kalispell City Airport, according to Kalispell Police Chief Jordan Venezio and the Federal Aviation Administration. A preliminary investigation showed the pilot lost control, crashing onto the runway before the plane struck several parked aircraft, igniting fires on multiple planes, Kalispell police said. The fire spread to a grassy area before it was extinguished, Venezio said. The small, city-owned airport is just south of Kalispell, a city of about 30,000 people in northwest Montana. Witnesses said a plane crash-landed at the end of the runway and careened into another aircraft, Kalispell Fire Chief Jay Hagen said. The passengers were able to get out on their own after it came to a stop, Hagen said. Flames and smoke can be seen at Kalispell Airport Monday after a plane crashed into a runway The crash happened Monday afternoon, with the local police department, sheriff's office and fire department all on the scene It is unclear what may have caused the crash, whether anyone was injured and what type of plane was involved Two were slightly hurt and treated at the airport, he added. Ron Danielson manages a nearby inn and said he heard and saw the crash before plumes of dark smoke filled the area. Nobody was on the second plane that was run into, Hagen said. The Federal Aviation Administration is conducting a more thorough investigation. Photos shared by local artist Ben Garrison showed huge clouds of black smoke over the airfield and downtown Kalispell. The city sits in Northwest Montana and is known as the 'gateway' to the state's breathtaking Glacier National Park. Global volunteers join hands to help preserve China's heritage Xinhua) 10:47, August 11, 2025 TAIYUAN, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Amid the scorching summer heat of north China, 17 Chinese and international volunteers huddle beside the gatehouse of an ancient residence in the historic Pingyao County in Shanxi Province, carefully restoring bricks under the watchful guidance of seasoned professionals. From Aug. 1 to 13, the Shanghai Ruan Yisan Heritage Foundation, together with Pingyao County, is hosting a volunteer camp focused on architectural heritage conservation in Dongquan Village, a traditional settlement in northern China. Over two weeks, the volunteers will help restore the gatehouse and surrounding walls of the centuries-old residence under the guidance of master craftsmen. They will visit the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Pingyao Ancient City, along with historic sites like Shuanglin Temple and Zhenguo Temple. The itinerary also includes meeting inheritors of local intangible cultural heritage, from traditional puppet performers to artisans of Pingyao's famed lacquerware craft. Among the 17 participants, six are from France. Leading the French group is 26-year-old Aurore Franche, a model with a deep passion for cultural heritage preservation. She sees it as a tangible link to the past, and joined the program to gain firsthand experience with traditional Chinese craftsmanship. "Chinese architecture is so beautiful, especially the incredible mortise and tenon structure," she said. "It's amazing how the pieces can fit together so securely without glue or nails. That reflects the wisdom of ancient Chinese builders." Sara Zuniga, a university student from Mexico with a long-standing fascination for history, said her studies are fueled by a desire to understand the brilliance of past civilizations. "Unfortunately, many of Mexico's historical sites have been damaged over time as development progressed. This makes me feel regretful and motivates me even more to protect what remains," she added. For Zuniga, China -- halfway across the globe -- had always felt like a mysterious and captivating place. "Before coming here, my impression of China was limited to what I had seen in films and reports from Western media. I wanted to see this ancient country for myself." At the restoration site, a young man fluent in Chinese quickly caught the attention of fellow volunteers. Herwann Rocrou, 23, is an archaeology student in France and a passionate enthusiast of Sinology. In his spare time, Rocrou studies Chinese and has traveled to cities like Shanghai and Suzhou. He's also explored ancient Chinese cultures, including the Yangshao culture and Shang and Zhou culture. He said that he joined the Pingyao volunteer program to deepen his understanding of how traditional Chinese architecture is preserved and restored. "I love Chinese history and culture, and it's my dream to one day live in China with my girlfriend." During the volunteer program, international volunteers teamed up with skilled masons in Dongquan Village, a nationally recognized historic site. They also visited ancient structures and relics in Liangcun Village and explored Pingyao at night, one of China's best-preserved and inhabited ancient walled cities. According to Ding Feng, secretary general of the Ruan Yisan Heritage Foundation, the foundation has organized 48 volunteer camps across Shanxi, Guizhou, Fujian, Yunnan and other provinces since 2010. More than half of these activities have taken place in Shanxi, a province famous for its ancient architecture and home to over 28,000 historic structures, with nearly 1,000 international volunteers taking part over the past 15 years. "Our goal is to give the public, especially young people, more opportunities to get directly involved in heritage protection," Ding said. "By working with their hands, they form a physical connection to traditional architecture, which deepens their emotional ties and sparks greater enthusiasm, initiative and awareness for preserving cultural heritage." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) 'I want to go home.' These were the last words a young woman told her father before she died due complications arising from elective weight loss surgery. Brooke Tiddy was admitted to St George Private Hospital in Sydney on September 19, 2018, for bariatric surgery recommended by her doctor, who assessed her as 'super super obese.' But her hopes for a new lease on life were dashed when the 32-year-old died two days later. An inquest into her death seeks to assess the effectiveness of the hospital's processes and prevent similar tragedies. On Monday, her parents and two sisters remembered the mental health support worker as 'an energetic and enthusiastic soul who would do anything for anyone'. Ms Tiddy had been 'deeply motivated to improve her health' and was 'nervous but excited' when she embarked on the journey 'she would never have a chance to complete'. Her family said the passionate baker's life was cut tragically short by a failure to investigate her underlying health issues before her surgery. Brooke Tiddy died after complications arose during weight loss surgery A surgeon at the private hospital didn't research Brooke Tiddy's condition until after she died 'This oversight cost Brooke her life and shattered her family's and friends' trust in the health system,' they said in a statement. 'We hope (this inquest) will lead to measures that ensure such preventable tragedies never happen again.' The inquest was told Ms Tiddy lived with an 'extremely rare' condition known as sponastrime dysplasia, which affects muscles and the skeletal system. Her surgeon, Dr Vytauras Kuzinkovas, said he hadn't previously heard of the condition and didn't do any research about it until after Ms Tiddy's death. One of the associated features is a narrowing of the airways, which was ultimately found to be Ms Tiddy's cause of death, the inquest was told. An autopsy found her airways had severely narrowed to the approximate diameter of a drinking straw, which almost certainly occurred before the surgery. Dr Kuzinkovas said Ms Tiddy downplayed her asthma and depression and didn't reveal she had croup or narrow airways during an initial consultation. An in-depth assessment of her medical history would have likely revealed such risk factors, he said, but he hadn't thought it was needed at the time. With the benefit of hindsight, Dr Kuzinkovas accepted Ms Tiddy was a high-risk patient whom he would have referred to specialists before surgery. Intensive care unit staff looking after Ms Tiddy were not informed about her sponastrime dysplasia and its significance, the inquest was told. If he had been aware of the link between her condition and narrowed airways, ICU doctor Michael O'Leary said he would have called in a specialist. 'This has been the worst experience I've had in my career. I felt very alone that night,' he said. 'The only thing looking back on it I would do differently would be to get someone else to give me a hand.' Dr O'Leary said he wasn't sure whether a pre-operative assessment would have prevented Ms Tiddy's death because what they really needed was access to her full medical history. 'In a sense we were set up to fail in this case because there was all of this information that was kept from us,' he said. The inquest continues on Tuesday. With a book to peddle, Nicola Sturgeon is popping up all over, including on ITV last night, where she sat down with Julie Etchingham. Ah, the tough interview. Once time was deducted for some introductory ambling along a windswept coast, the proceedings lasted about 25 minutes, and even then it dragged on. Nicola Sturgeon somehow seems incapable of providing any insight into Nicola Sturgeon. What was it like being arrested during the SNP finances investigation? Utterly traumatic, she told Etchingham. Naturally. What was it like seeing her husband arrested and led away? She hadnt seen it happen, and didnt have a clear memory of how she felt about it. OK, then. Once the police had left, she fled to her parents house and watched the news, where she saw her house looking like a murder scene. Sure, everyone said that at the time. It was the forensic tent and the police tape. Nicola Sturgeon meets Julie Etchingham on the Ayrshire coast Thats Netflix serial killer documentary stuff. The only thing missing was the old dear next door saying: She didnt seem the type to have 15 bodies buried under the patio. What could she tell us about the experience? About how it affected her? Very little, in truth. Every attempt to elicit a description of her feelings at the time brought the same staccato, one-word responses: Horror, upset, shame. The whole point of book interviews is to dole out enough meaty little morsels of information that people will be driven to buy and read. She provided nothing like that in her conversation with Etchingham. If she cant manage 25 minutes of vaguely compelling chat, what must the book be like? Nothing new that she said was interesting, and nothing interesting was new. The SNP hadnt done enough prep work when David Cameron granted the referendum, and the White Paper needed more research. (We noticed.) She used to talk to Alex Salmond inside her head. (Well, he was living there rent-free, after all.) We were treated to a discussion of her new tattoo, a self-designed infinity symbol tipped with an arrow and etched onto her right wrist. Midlife crisis alert! Sturgeon yelped. Midlife crisis alert, Etchingham purred. Imagine Frost/Nixon but with all the depth of an Instagram post. On matters of politics and policy, it was as though she had done no self-reflection since leaving office. Asked why she failed to deliver in government, she cited the pandemic. Nasty old pandemic. The former first minister interviewed by Julie Etchingham Ms Sturgeon revealed a new infinity symbol with an arrow tattoo on her wrist Not only did it confine us all to our homes in 2020 and 2021, it went all the way back to 2014 to stop Scotlands First Minister keeping any of her promises. For the briefest of moments, she seemed to acknowledge her error in refusing to say that Isla Bryson, who was briefly placed in a womens prison, was in fact a man. Rapists, she said, forfeit their right to self-identify their gender, then, under the lightest of pushbacks from Etchingham, she took it back. Under questioning about her sexuality, she remained coy, which was fair enough. Her private life is her own affair. What was infinitely more difficult to watch, and the only section of the programme that actually carried any weight, was her memories of the miscarriage, of the guilt that burdens her still. Nicola Sturgeon was a terrible First Minister, a serial breaker of promises, a spinner without substance, and for all that Im happy to decry her. But she is also the mother of a little girl who never was she would be 14 now, she mused and a lifelong bearer of the ungodly pain that comes with baby loss. She told Etchingham she was happy being my own person now. On that, at least, Im glad for her. Three people were killed when a gunman opened fire at a Target parking lot in Austin on Monday afternoon - and the suspect was detained after crashing a hijacked vehicle. The unnamed attacker, who was described as white and wearing a Hawaiian shirt, fired at shoppers at the store on Research Boulevard in Texas shortly after 2pm, with police saying they received an initial report about a shooting at 2.15pm. When Austin police then arrived at the scene, they found three people shot in the parking lot. Medics pronounced two of the victims dead at the scene, while a third succumbed to their injuries en route to a local hospital. One other victim suffered unrelated injuries and was treated at the scene, authorities said. The suspect, identified only as a 32-year-old white male with a known mental health issue and prior criminal history, fled the scene in a stolen vehicle. He promptly crashed the car, at which point he hijacked another vehicle from a local Volkswagen dealership, Police Chief Lisa Davis said at an evening news conference. At least three were killed after a gunman opened fire in the parking lot of a Target store in north Austin Monday One other person was treated at the scene for unrelated injuries But officers were quickly able to track down the suspect about 18 miles south of the shooting. Police then used a Taser on the suspect and took him into custody, though he has not yet been charged and a motive remains unclear. Those at the Target have told how they ran for cover. 'I was inside the store, but then I hear on the radio like shots fired, so then they just told us "active shooter..." so we just ran outside, we told guests to get out,' Freyen Sagastume, an employee told KXAN. 'I thought that this only happened like in the news and stuff and then like I kind of just froze at first, but then I saw everyone running.' Meanwhile, at the nearby Jiffy Lube, employees hunkered down and locked the store's doors when they became aware there was a shooting outside. One mechanic, Paul Smith, told Spectrum Local News he saw people running from their cars in the parking lot in a panic. 'I had just gotten back from the Target like a minute before,' he recounted. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said at a news conference that the suspect is mentally ill and is known to the local police The suspect was apprehended after he fled to South Austin Austin Mayor Kirk Watson has been informed of the shooting and is being kept abreast of developments. 'This is a devastating situation and my heart is with the victims and their families,' he wrote on X. 'While this remains an active and ongoing investigation, what I'll say is that this was a sickening, cowardly act of gun violence,' the mayor continued, adding that he is 'grateful for the quick response of our APD officers and other first responders and want to thank them for their actions to apprehend the suspect.' A spokesperson for Target also said it will be providing counseling to staff members who experienced the shooting. 'We are devastated by the violence that occurred today at our store in Austin, Texas. Our hearts are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, our team in Austin and all those impacted by this tragedy,' the spokesperson said. 'We are working with law enforcement as they conduct their investigation and are grateful to the first responders who acted quickly at the scene. 'In the days ahead, we will continue partnering with law enforcement and will be providing support resources, including grief counseling, to our team.' Nicola Sturgeon has had something of an epiphany in recent days she shouldnt have pushed so hard on her calamitous gender reforms. The sound of a stable door slamming shut came as the former First Minister publicised her forthcoming memoir, optimistically entitled Frankly. She didnt anticipate how divisive gender self-ID would be which is hard to swallow but she still cant bring herself to disown the policy. The autobiography and the accompanying ITV interview are heavy on revisionism, as youd expect, with a hefty dose of blame-shifting for good measure. Ms Sturgeon could have said sorry for the gender shambles and the damage it did to her party, and admit that she got it badly wrong. There are many in the SNP who would warmly welcome such a mea culpa, with an election in nine months, but they will have to keep waiting. True, she says she is partly responsible for a loss of rationality in the debate but only partly. Who else was First Minister at the time? Talking about transgender rapist Isla Bryson, Ms Sturgeon says anyone who commits the most heinous male crime against women probably forfeits the right to be the gender of their choice but only probably. Nicola Sturgeon is interviewed by ITVs Julie Etchingham ahead of her new memoir, Frankly, hitting bookshops Ironically, the only thing she does take credit for is the White Paper on independence ahead of the 2014 referendum she says Alex Salmond wasnt interested in helping her but youd think shed want to distance herself from that particular work of fantasy. Shes right to say that people with very low emotional intelligence are probably disproportionately attracted to politics though she doesnt seem to realise that she is one of them. Ms Sturgeon reflects and embodies the many deficiencies of the SNP: hubris, self-delusion, self-pity and a long record of failure. Her patchy powers of recall while in office led to evasive performances before parliamentary committees. This social justice warrior is happy to bank the cash for a half-baked exercise in blaming everyone else for her own mistakes heavy on chat-show revelations about her sexuality and even a new tattoo, and decidedly low on any hint of self-awareness. Its clear that she wants to stake a claim to some kind of political achievement and to be taken seriously her book is part of a quest for relevance and credibility. Aside from the tawdry, confessional stuff about the difficulties of her private life, its beyond sickening that Ms Sturgeon is desperately trying to craft for herself an elder stateswoman status for which she could never be eligible. She kept Scotland trapped in a constitutional doom-loop and left a devastating legacy in the form of a failing education system, stunted economic growth and punitive taxation. Drug deaths soared to record levels while policing was brought to its knees and our navel-gazing, laughing-stock parliament wasted valuable time on the SNPs gender obsession. Elsewhere in the UK, Ms Sturgeon was often regarded, inexplicably, as a safe pair of hands and even an inspirational figure. Her allies in the commentariat were blind to the truth that she failed on every aspect of her governments domestic agenda and created a corrosive culture of secrecy in a vast civil service machine which has become hopelessly politicised under Nationalist control. Supporters point to Ms Sturgeons handling of the Covid pandemic she says the ordeal of giving evidence at the public inquiry drove her to the edge of a breakdown, though its likely that the same could be said of many of the bereaved who lost relatives to the illness. In fact, many of the claims Ms Sturgeon made about Scotlands success in battling Covid were baseless, or hugely exaggerated. Zero Covid was touted as a flagship SNP policy before being quietly binned as case rates rose, and we know that despite her denials at the time party hierarchs saw the national crisis as a good moment to push their independence agenda. Rightly, Ms Sturgeon faced a huge backlash over revelations that she and her senior mandarins deleted their WhatsApp messages during the pandemic. They claimed that mass deletion was in line with government guidance but the families of Covid victims understandably alleged a cover-up. There were similar allegations when Ms Sturgeon clung to office after the Salmond debacle by citing the outcome of a report by a former prosecutor who cleared her of breaching the ministerial code in perhaps the most heavily redacted report in Holyroods history. There was no uprising among her acolytes who backed her in a confidence vote. The party rallied round Ms Sturgeon in a display of weapons-grade sycophancy Jeane Freeman, Health Secretary at the time, hailed the then First Minister as most excellent as she denied her boss had misled MSPs. In reality, it was a dismal period during which some of the key institutions of state were dragged into the mire to save Ms Sturgeons neck. Now she has angered friends of her former mentor, Mr Salmond, by claiming he leaked details of a botched in-house probe into sexual harassment complaints against him. Hes not here to give his side of the story, but whats indisputable is that he believed he was the victim of a conspiracy, and the ensuing fiasco which saw him take the government he once led to court, and win led to an eye-watering bill for taxpayers. Settling scores with someone who died nearly a year ago is unedifying, but dont forget that there are books to shift. Ms Sturgeon, bitter and isolated in the political wilderness, is still consumed by the psychodrama of the rift with her old boss a pivotal moment in her life and career. The rest of us, who were forced to look on from the sidelines, are still counting the cost of Ms Sturgeons reign. Her erstwhile deputy, lame-duck John Swinney, presents himself as a new dawn for a broken party and an exhausted country which longs for change. Yet he was an integral part of the Sturgeon administration a loyal consigliere and enforcer who continues to back her radical stance on gender. Sturgeonism, such as it is, lives on in Mr Swinney, who was left to mop up a mess partly of his own creation. Doubtless he will turn quickly to the index of Ms Sturgeons book, like many of his colleagues, searching for his own name. Memoirs are an act of remembrance but for many Scots the Sturgeon years are better forgotten. Nat Barr has suggested Hamas may have 'partly got what they want' following Australia's landmark decision to recognise the state of Palestine. In an interview with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the Sunrise host challenged him over the decision, citing the October 7 Hamas terror attacks on Israel, which killed more than 1,200 people, and asked whether recognising Palestine could be seen as rewarding militant violence. 'Two years later, they have got partly what they want - they've got their own state?' Albanese rejected the suggestion, insisting Hamas would be 'totally opposed' to the decision and could have 'no role whatsoever' in a future Palestinian state. 'Hamas do not want this. Hamas don't want two states. Hamas wants to destroy Israel, which is why Hamas can have no role whatsoever in a future Palestinian state. 'This is about isolating Hamas, and finding a way forward for peace and security for both Palestinians and Israel.' The Prime Minister said the recognition, which will be formalised at the United Nations in September alongside countries such as the UK, France, and Canada, sent a clear message to the international community that 'enough is enough' after 77 years of conflict. Albanese said the plan was for a demilitarised Palestinian state living 'side by side' with Israel in peace, adding that military action alone was not a long-term solution. Nat Barr has suggested Hamas may have 'partly got what they want' after Australia's landmark decision to recognise the state of Palestine Earlier in the interview, Barr pressed Albanese on whether the recognition would make any tangible difference to people in Gaza. 'We need to find a solution that promotes security for the state of Israel but also recognises the political aspirations of the Palestinian people for their own state,' he replied. 'You can't just keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different outcome. 'One in which the states around Israel recognise its right to exist, and one which sees a demilitarised state of Palestine - allowing Palestinians to live. To continue to do the same thing is not enough.' Albanese also revealed he had spoken directly with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week, warning that military operations without a political pathway could not deliver lasting peace. 'You can't just continue to do what he is saying, which is to continue the military operation without any political solution,' he said. 'There's been too much innocent loss of life.' Foreign Minister Penny Wong said statehood would give Palestinians a sense of hope for the future. Israel has denied there is a 'starvation policy' denying Palestinians access to food and humanitarian aid. Pictured: Palestinians including women and children holding pots wait to receive food distributed by a charity organisation 'We know this is a hard road to walk, but the alternative is to accept where we are, and I think the international community is saying to both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples we have to find a different path,' she told ABC radio. 'The practical steps for recognition will be tied to the commitments that the Palestinian Authority have made.' The commitments include the assurance that Hamas, which has been designated a terrorist organisation and controls Gaza, will play no role in any future government. Israel has criticised the move, saying it will be counterproductive to peace in the Gaza Strip and its demands for the release of Israeli hostages. Israel's Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon said Palestinian recognition would 'not change the reality on the ground'. Liberal MP Tim Wilson, whose Victorian seat of Goldstein includes Jewish voters, says Mr Albanese's decision is 'actually immoral'. 'We can't have a situation where we have a government that is kowtowing, literally, to the ambitions of ... terrorists,' he told Nine's Today show, referring to Hamas. 'They're essentially handing over the keys to the kingdom. What they've done is actually immoral.' Foreign Minister Penny Wong said statehood would give the Palestinian people a sense of hope for the future More than two million Palestinians face severe food insecurity, based on United Nations projections. At least 90,000 protesters marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge earlier in August to call on the government to sanction Israel. The crisis in Gaza began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 more hostage. Israel's response has since killed more than 61,000 people, according to Gaza's health authorities, and UN sources project more than two million people are facing high levels of acute food insecurity. Israel has denied that the population is suffering or dying from starvation despite international human rights groups condemning its offensive. NHS staff are facing 'utterly abhorrent' levels of violence in A&E with one worker attacked every two hours, damning figures reveal today. Middle-class patients and their families are among those driven to rage by long waits and dehumanising care in corridors, the Royal College of Nursing said. It warned that its members were physically and mentally scarred after being punched, spat at and even threatened with guns. Many have been forced to take time off to recover, with some too traumatised to return. The nurses' union warned that the Government's ten-year plan to reform the Health Service will 'fail completely' without action to protect and retain staff. In all, 89 hospital trusts responded to a Freedom of Information request from the RCN, revealing that they recorded 4,054 reports of physical violence against A&E staff last year almost double the 2,093 in 2019. It means 11 members of A&E staff are attacked on average every day in England. However, the true figure is likely to be even higher as just 69 per cent of NHS acute trusts responded to the RCN, and they were only asked for figures for their biggest A&E. NHS staff are facing 'utterly abhorrent' levels of violence in A&E with one worker attacked every two hours, damning figures reveal. Middle-class patients and their families are among those driven to rage by long waits and dehumanising care in corridors (file image) In all, 89 hospital trusts responded to a Freedom of Information request from the Royal College of Nursing revealing that they recorded 4,054 reports of physical violence against A&E staff last year. It means 11 members of A&E staff are attacked on average every day in England (file image) Meanwhile, a separate analysis by the RCN shows that incidents of patients having to wait more than 12 hours in A&E increased 20-fold between 2019 and 2024. The news comes as: Nine in ten pharmacies are victims of shoplifting, with strong painkillers among the drugs being targeted. Victims' minister Alex Davies-Jones admitted shoplifting had 'got out of hand' after police ordered a store to remove a sign calling thieves 'scumbags'. Sarah Pochin, Reform UK's only female MP, said it was 'no surprise' that vigilante groups were patrolling the streets as immigration led to fears for women's safety. Rachelle McCarthy, a senior charge nurse from the East Midlands, was punched 'square in the face' by a 'drunk, 6ft 2in bloke'. She said: 'Even patients you would expect to be placid are becoming irate because of just how long they have to wait. You can only imagine the behaviour of those who are already prone to violence.' A senior A&E nurse based in east London said her hospital was a 'tinder box' for violence. She has seen colleagues punched, kicked and had a gun pointed at them, while she had been spat at by a patient and threatened with an acid attack. She said she became depressed and anxious and took a research role to take a break from nursing, adding: 'The violence I saw made me become more fearful outside work. I saw how volatile people can be.' The news comes as victims' minister Alex Davies-Jones (pictured) admitted shoplifting had 'got out of hand' after police ordered a store to remove a sign calling thieves 'scumbags' Sarah Pochin (pictured), Reform UK's only female MP, said it was 'no surprise' that vigilante groups were patrolling the streets as immigration led to fears for women's safety In April, Health Secretary Wes Streeting pledged to 'keep NHS staff safe' by implementing mandatory hospital-level reporting of violence against staff, saying that 'protecting staff from violence is not an optional extra' A senior A&E nurse in the South West said a patient 'pinned a nurse up against a wall' and another punched a member of staff 'in the groin and stomach'. She added: 'It's not going to help with our retention and recruitment if you think you're going to be clobbered every shift.' Sarah Tappy, a senior A&E sister in east London, was punched in the head and knocked unconscious by a patient, leaving her with anxiety and PTSD. 'The violence is awful,' she said. 'And it's just constant. None of us feel safe.' At Maidstone Hospital in Kent, incidents rose by more than 500 per cent, from 13 in 2019 to 89 in 2024, while at Manchester Royal Infirmary, attacks rose from 39 to 79. In April, Health Secretary Wes Streeting pledged to 'keep NHS staff safe' by implementing mandatory hospital-level reporting of violence against staff, saying that 'protecting staff from violence is not an optional extra'. However, the RCN says the Government 'needs to do more than just record the shocking levels of violence'. Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN general secretary, said: 'Behind these shocking figures lies an ugly truth. Dedicated and hard-working staff face rising attacks because of systemic failures that are no fault of their own. Nursing staff not only go to work underpaid and undervalued but face a rising tide of violence. It leads to physical and mental scarring, lengthy time off and sometimes staff never returning. Professor Nicola Ranger (pictured), RCN general secretary, said: 'Behind these shocking figures lies an ugly truth. Dedicated and hard-working staff face rising attacks because of systemic failures that are no fault of their own A senior A&E nurse in the South West said a patient 'pinned a nurse up against a wall'. Daniel Elkeles (pictured with Sir Keir Starmer), chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents trusts said: 'These findings are absolutely shocking' 'You can't fix the Health Service when vital staff are too scared to go into work. 'Unless the Government does something about lengthy waits, corridor care and understaffed nursing teams, more staff will become victims of this utterly abhorrent behaviour. Left unaddressed, this could see plans to reform the NHS fail.' Daniel Elkeles, chief executive of NHS Providers, which represents trusts said: 'These findings are absolutely shocking.' Rebecca Smith, of NHS Employers, said: 'No one should have to face violence at work it is totally unacceptable.' Mr Streeting said: 'I am appalled. Nurses dedicate their lives to helping others and deserve to go about their jobs free from violence. Anyone who violates this core principle will feel the full force of the law.' A grandfather who was killed in Northern Ireland in an attack reportedly linked to the attempted murder of a priest has been described as a 'beloved father and grandfather'. The body of Stephen Brannigan, who was in his 50s, was found in a house in Marian Park in Downpatrick on Sunday afternoon. Police are investigating if his death is linked to an attack on a priest in the town, Father John Murray. Fr Murray was rushed to hospital after he was 'bottled by a man who walked into church before mass'. He was hit on the head at St Patrick's Church in Downpatrick on Sunday. Police chiefs have said that the incidents, just 1.3 miles away from each other and just fewer than two hours apart, may be linked. In a statement, the Police Service of Northern Ireland said the priest was in a 'serious condition' in hospital after what has been described by detectives as a 'brutal attack'. Fr Murray was believed to have been preparing for one of his last Masses before retiring when the attack took place in the church's sacristy at 10.10am. Stephen Brannigan, who was in his 50s, was described as a 'beloved father and grandfather' Father John Murray was on Sunday attacked at St Patrick's Church in Downpatrick, in Northern Ireland, today and is in a 'serious condition' A 30-year-old man is being questioned on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. In a statement, Mr Brannigan's family said: 'In the midst of our shock, pain and total heartbreak at the news of the brutal murder of our beloved dad, grandad, son and brother Stephen yesterday, we want to convey our sincere thanks to all those who have surrounded us with such love and care in the hours that have followed. 'We want to express our particular thanks to those who organised and gathered for the beautiful prayer vigil in St Brigid's Church in the town on Sunday evening. 'It means so much to us at this difficult time and reflects the very special people who make up the Marian Park and wider Downpatrick community.' The family said they wanted to convey their concern for Fr Murray, who remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital. The statement added: 'Fr John is highly respected by our family and by all in our community. 'It is so typical of his kindness that he was willing to reach out in trust to someone he believed was in distress, despite the obvious risk to himself. 'With so many others, we pray for his full recovery and thank him for his own prayers for us which he has conveyed through the priests of the parish. Fr Murray was believed to have been preparing for one his last Masses before retiring when the attack took place in the church's sacristy The two incidents happened less than two miles away in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland 'Stephen was known among his neighbours and friends as someone who was always willing to help out, ready to do whatever needed to be done for the good of others. 'Even the day before he died, he was tending the graves of friends and neighbours, as he did, almost every day, the grave of his late wife Dorenda, who died five years ago from cancer. 'Stephen faced many difficult issues in his life. We know his life was not perfect. But for us, he was our dad, our grandad, our son and our brother. 'His rock through all of this was Dorenda. We pray they will be reunited now in perfect peace and love.' Detective Chief Inspector Gary Robinson, from the Major Investigation Team, said: 'On Sunday morning, 10 August, at approximately 10.10am, police received a report that a priest had been seriously assaulted. This was in a church in the St Patrick's Avenue area of the town. 'A man entered the church and brutally attacked the priest with a bottle. The victim was taken to hospital for treatment to a head injury. Here, he remains in a serious, but stable, condition. 'While attending this serious assault, at around midday, police received a report of the death of a man at an address in the Marian Park area. 'Officers attended along with colleagues from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. Sadly, the man, who is aged in his 50s, was pronounced dead at the scene. A man was found dead at an address in the Marian Park area of Downpatrick at about 12pm on Sunday, two hours after the priest was attacked 'Following initial enquires, a murder investigation was launched, and a 30-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder. 'He has also been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, and remains in custody at this time. Detective Chief Inspector Robinson continued: 'Our investigations into both the murder and attempted murder are at the early stages. 'While I can confirm that one line of enquiry is that the two are connected, I would reiterate that our enquiries are ongoing in an effort to establish the facts surrounding both incidents. 'I am keen to appeal to anyone who was in the St Patrick's Avenue area of Downpatrick between 9am and 11am on Sunday, or the Marian Park area between 12 midnight and 12 noon on Sunday, and saw or heard anything untoward, to please come forward and speak to us. 'Any detail, no matter how small, could be of vital importance to our investigation. I would ask anyone with information, CCTV or dash cam footage to contact us on 101, quoting reference 713 of 10/08/25.' Superintendent Norman Haslett, the District Commander for Newry, Mourne and Down, added: 'I would like to express my sympathy to family members, friends and the wider community in Downpatrick who are today left shaken by the tragic events of the weekend. 'For a man to be murdered and a Priest to be attacked in the sanctity of his own church, these are appalling acts and I understand that many people will inevitably be struggling to come to terms with both grief and shock. 'I want to reassure the local community that there is no ongoing risk to the public and you will see an increased visible police presence in the area over the next few days.' The late Queen told Nicola Sturgeon that she had no idea what was going on when she filmed her iconic Paddington Bear sketch for the Platinum Jubilee. The ex-First Minister has revealed details of meetings she had with the monarch in her newly released autobiography. At Holyrood Palace, just after the 2022 concert to celebrate her 70 years on the throne, the Queen told Ms Sturgeon about shooting the video at Buckingham Palace. During the skit, Paddington lifts his hat to reveal a marmalade sandwich before the Queen says she keeps her own sandwich in her handbag. Paddington then says: 'Happy Jubilee, Ma'am, and thank you for everything.' In her book, Frankly, Ms Sturgeon said: 'We chatted about how much she had enjoyed it. 'She told me when she had filmed the Paddington sketch, she hadn't really known what it was all about. It was only when she later saw it on TV that it made sense.' But the late Queen delighted millions of viewers in what became an iconic sketch. The late Queen told Nicola Sturgeon that she had no idea what was going on when she filmed her iconic Paddington Bear sketch for the Platinum Jubilee The Queen performed a skit for the BBC's Platinum Party at the Palace, where she and Paddington Bear chatted before she tapped along to 'We Will Rock You' by Queen to kick start the party and star-studded concert this evening The monarch and the famous bear - both much loved British institutions - tapped out the beat of the We Will Rock You anthem together on china teacups using silver spoons as a unique way of getting the celebrations under way. The secretly-pre-recorded humorous sequence played at the start of the televised BBC's Platinum Party at the Palace. The unlikely duo set the rhythm for opening act Queen and Adam Lambert - who joined in on the main stage. The Queen's clip was the result of months of planning, and saw the duffle-coat wearing bear show the late monarch how he ensured he always had his favourite treat on him just in case, lifting up his red hat to reveal his snack. Her late Majesty responded by revealing 'So do I' before opening her bag and declaring 'I keep mine in here' to show her very own ready-made supply of the bread and orange preserve staple. When it comes to brotherly banter, it seems Prince Louis is following in the footsteps of his uncle, Prince Harry. Harry has long held the reputation for being the 'resident joker' of the Royal Family. Before he stepped down as a working royal and moved to California, the Duke of Sussex would go to great lengths to lighten the mood at official events. While Princes Harry and William are rarely seen laughing together these days, they once shared a close bond, particularly after losing their mother, Princess Diana, when they were just 12 and 15 years old. And like any brothers, Harry and William would taunt and tease each other, often to the amusement of the world's press. In Channel 5's Lipreading the Royals: The Secret Conversations, forensic lip reader Khalil Anwar commented on a previously unheard exchange between William and Harry at their father's wedding to Camilla. Khalil said that William opens the dialogue by saying his 'hair is a right mess' to which Harry responds 'woah!' He reportedly said: 'Woah, it's gone like that!' while gesturing outwards and laughing at William. In Channel 5's Lipreading the Royals: The Secret Conversations, forensic lip reader Khalil Anwar commented on a previously unheard exchange between Princes William and Harry at their father's wedding to Camilla in April 2005 Khalil said that William opens the dialogue by saying his 'hair is a right mess' to which Harry responds 'woah!' He reportedly said: 'Woah, it's gone like that!' while gesturing outwards and laughing at William Khalil added that Harry then downplayed his reaction and said, 'no it's ok, it's alright'. William, who was later crowned the world's sexiest bad man for two consecutive years, apparently responded to Harry with a cheeky smile and said 'don't'. The lipreading expert said: 'We see the brotherly nature of their relationship here. 'They do have the normal banter that all brothers do have and they're allowed to have the odd dig and poke at each other.' Royal historian Dr Tessa Dunlop added: 'William with hair, I mean now that's a bit of a novelty. 'I think one of the reasons it's a bit wayward is because it's clearly falling out, isn't it? It's a bit thin. 'He's realising he's having a bad hair day and Harry's loving it.' A similar interaction between Princes Louis and George was caught on camera earlier this year at VE Day celebrations. When it comes to brotherly banter, it seems Prince Louis is following in the footsteps of his Uncle Harry. Princes George and Louis are pictured during the military procession to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 5, 2025 Siblings Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince Louis are pictured on May 5, 2025 A grab from a video shows Louis impersonating George's hair flip at the event Prince Louis, seven, was pictured chatting with Prince George, 12, at Buckingham Palace. While the pair sat next to each other, Louis was spotted catching a glimpse of his brother gently brushing the hair from in front of his face. Seconds later, his younger brother copied him - but added a little of his trademark cheeky flair to the movement as he swished his hair to the side while pulling an over-exaggerated facial expression. It's unclear whether the young royal was looking up to his elder brother in a bid to be just like him, or just teasing George - but royal fans were left in stitches either way. This is not the first time Louis's similarities to his uncle have been pointed out. In the 1980s, a young Harry was often photographed sticking his tongue out at events, just as Louis is often seen stealing the show with his faces. At just 15 months old, Louis's personality was already shining through when he stole Kate's sunglasses and delighted the crowds by smiling, laughing and toddling off to chase horses. Like Louis, the late Queen was known for her sense of humour and well-timed delivery, keeping her cards close to her chest and choosing her words wisely. In the 1980s, a young Harry was often photographed sticking his tongue out at events, just as Louis is often seen stealing the show with his faces At just 15 months old, Louis's personality was already shining through when he stole Kate's sunglasses and delighted the crowds by smiling, laughing and toddling off to chase horses in July 2019 Louis was photographed sticking his tongue out at his mother, Kate, while they attended the Platinum Pageant on The Mall on June 5, 2022 It seems Louis, who is pictured pulling a funny face, is taking the 'family joker' crown from Harry One of the most amusing photos of the two royals together came from June 2022 when Louis stole the show during the RAF flypast to mark Her Majestys 70 years on the throne. He saluted the planes and then screamed and put his hands over his ears as they flew over making an incredible noise. Usually a stickler for good behaviour, the Queen was highly amused by her adorable great grandson. The Queen was also known as a top-class mimic and loved to impersonate people, which is clearly a trait Louis has taken on. Royal author Ingrid Seward wrote in her 2023 book, My Mother And I: 'The Queen's stern look, inherited from her grandmother Queen Mary, belies the wonderful sense of humour we got to see more and more as she got older. 'The Queen could be extremely funny, in a slightly mocking way. 'She was also a first-class mimic, particularly of politicians, but never to anyone's face. She could only laugh or state her opinions in private, and some of them were pretty forceful.' Even the Queen's dressmaker, Angela Kelly, was reportedly blown away by the Queen's ability to copy her scouse accent. The Queen was also known as a top-class mimic and loved to impersonate people, which is clearly a trait Louis has taken on Usually a stickler for good behaviour, the Queen was highly amused by her adorable great-grandson at Trooping the Colour in 2022 Royal author Ingrid Seward wrote in her 2023 book, My Mother And I: 'The Queen could be extremely funny, in a slightly mocking way' Seward went as far to suggest that the Queen's sense of humour was the secret to her and Philip's long and happy marriage. 'I think the secret is they laugh together. I think the Queen is the comedian,' she said. For many, Louis's cheeky antics are the highlight of royal events, providing light relief and a much needed touch of reality in formal situations. At just seven years old, his timing is impeccable and would certainly give the late Queen a run for her money. Scientists in Pennsylvania reveal exactly what a nuclear winter would look like with starvation for billions of people up to eight years after a global war. The experts say a nuclear winter a feared scenario following a nuclear war 'would cause an unfathomable loss of life' numbering billions due to crop loss. Corn, the most important crop in the world, would not be able to grow, as it would not have enough warmth or sunlight. As a result, those who survive the devastation of nuclear bomb blasts would be tasked with surviving widespread famine, the scientists say. It's well known that nuclear weapons the most dangerous weapons on Earth release vast amounts of energy in the form of blast, heat and radiation. Smoke from fires started by nuclear weapons would rise into the atmosphere, blocking out the sun. The resulting darkness would mean freezing temperatures, crop failure, mass starvation and death what we know as a nuclear winter. 'If we want to survive, we must be prepared, even for unthinkable consequences,' said study author Yuning Shi, plant scientist at Penn State University. Nuclear winter is a term for what climate and the environment would be like following a nuclear attack or resulting nuclear war. Smoke from the fires started by nuclear weapons would rise into the atmosphere, blocking out the sun. The resulting darkness would mean freezing temperatures, crop failure, mass starvation and death In a world following a nuclear war, corn crops would wither and die, plunging the world into chaos with mass starvation As it stands, nuclear weapons have been deployed twice in war, by the US against the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 during World War II. But an expert previously described a nuclear winter as a real and 'horribly contemporary' risk due to Russia's war on Ukraine. For their study, Shi and colleagues predicted how various nuclear winter scenarios could impact global production of corn, the most widely planted grain crop in the world. This hugely 'global significant' crop also known as maize is grown extensively as food for both humans and livestock, with vast areas of land dedicated to global production. But because of corn's importance, the crop can represent the expected fate of agriculture overall in a nuclear winter meaning other popular crops like rice and wheat would suffer a similar fate. Using computer models, the experts simulated corn production in 38,572 global locations under the six nuclear war scenarios of increasing severity. For the various scenarios, sunlightblocking soot injections into the atmosphere ranged from five million tons to a whopping 165 million tons. As expected, the level of decline in corn crops would vary, depending on the scale of the conflict, the team found. Image shows relative changes of global rainfed maize production by year using a planting date and maturity type adaptation strategy for the 5 million ton sootinjection scenario (a) and the 150 million ton sootinjection scenario. Damage of the 5 Tg scenario is mostly on the Northern Hemisphere, but the 150 Tg scenario demolishes maize production globally The researchers say: 'Nuclear wars would cause an unfathomable loss of life and genetic resources, but also a prolonged nuclear winter that would reduce agricultural area and productivity for years' What is nuclear winter? Nuclear winter is a term for what climate and the environment would be like following a nuclear attack or nuclear war. The scientific theory of nuclear winter sees detonations from nuclear exchanges throw vast amounts of debris into the stratosphere. This ultimately blocks out much of the sun for up to a decade, causing global drops in temperature, mass crop failure and widespread famine. Combined with radiation fallout, these knockon effects would see millions more perish in the wake of a nuclear war even if they are far outside of any blast zone. Advertisement A regional nuclear war, which would send about 5.5 million tons of soot into the atmosphere, could reduce worldwide annual corn production by seven per cent. However, a largescale global war injecting 165 million tons of soot into the atmosphere could lead to an 80 per cent drop in annual corn yields. An 80 per cent drop in global crop production would have catastrophic consequences, leading to a widespread global food crisis. In the most severe scenarios, demand for maize would 'increase by severalfold compared with current seed demand', the team say, while seed production and distribution could be 'severely limited'. But even a seven per cent drop in global crop production would have a severe impact on the global food system and economy, likely resulting in increased food insecurity and hunger. Because of the damage to local and global ecosystems, people will have to rely on food grown on personal land and local allotments to survive. People may also need to plant 'cool season crops' such as potatoes but even then there'll be no guarantee that seeds or tubers will be widely available. 'The more severe the nuclear war, the deeper the reversion to primitive forms of production as the production ecosystem degrades,' the team add. Terrifying: The mushroom cloud from the atomic explosion over Nagasaki, Japan, August 9, 1945, showing the destructive potential of nuclear weapons An injection of 165 million tons of soot into the atmosphere would also dissolve the planet's ozone layer. In the stratosphere is the ozone layer, a thin region that absorbs almost all of the sun's harmful ultraviolet light Additionally, an injection of 165 million tons of soot into the atmosphere would dissolve the planet's ozone layer, which shields us and other living things from the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation. The blast and fireball of atomic explosions produce nitrogen oxides in the stratosphere (the layer of Earth's atmosphere where the ozone layer is mostly located). 'The presence of both nitrogen oxides and heating from absorptive soot could rapidly destroy ozone, increasing UVB radiation levels at the Earth's surface,' said Professor Shi. 'This would damage plant tissue and further limit global food production.' The study, published in Environmental Research Letters, warns an allout nuclear war and subsequent nuclear winter 'would be devastating for humanity'. 'Nuclear wars would cause an unfathomable loss of life and genetic resources, but also a prolonged nuclear winter that would reduce agricultural area and productivity for years,' the team add. 'A severe disruption of supply chains and commerce can aggravate this loss of productivity, leading to regional or global famines. 'As the climate recovers, high UVB radiation could further damage crops, with effects manifesting years after the nuclear conflict.' NASA has issued a chilling update on the mysterious 'interstellar object' racing through our solar system. The visitor from another star, dubbed 3I/ATLAS, was first spotted on July 1 as it reached 420 million miles from the sun. Now, the Hubble Space Telescope has captured the sharpest images ever taken of 3I/ATLAS as it makes its way into the inner solar system. These groundbreaking images reveal that 3I/ATLAS is moving at a staggering speed of 130,000 miles per hour (209,000 km/h) making it the fastest interstellar object ever detected. Using Hubble's observations, astronomers have also been able to make a new estimate for the size of the object's icy core. Previously, scientists at the Vera C. Rubin Observatory estimated that the alien comet was roughly seven miles (11.2 km) across. We now know that 3I/ATLAS is at most 3.5 miles (5.6 km) wide and possibly as small as 1,000 feet (320 metres). However, that would still make 3I/ATLAS the largest interstellar object ever found, and up to 14 times larger than the secondbiggest. The Hubble Space Telescope has captured the clearest images ever taken of the mysterious interstellar object, 3I/ATLAS, that has been hurtling through our solar system These images reveal that 3I/ATLAS (artist's impression) is likely smaller than previously thought. NASA estimates that it is at most 3.5 miles (5.6 km) wide and possibly as small as 1,000 feet (320 metres). Scientists and space agencies around the world are now almost certain that the object 3I/ATLAS is a comet rather than a solid piece of rock. That means it is a relatively small lump of ice, frozen gases, and dust surrounded by a large cloud of evaporating material, which grows as it approaches the heat of the sun. When objects are extremely far away, scientists estimate their size by how much light they reflect. However, astronomers weren't initially sure whether 3I/ATLAS was a very large but dull space rock or a smaller and highly reflective comet surrounded by bright gases. Now, thanks to Hubble's observations, we can see the telltale glow of a frozen comet and get a good estimate of its true size. Hubble's image reveals a dust plume streaming out of the sunwarmed side of the comet and the hint of a tail stretching out behind. This amount of dust loss matches what scientists find in other comets around 300 million miles from the sun. As 3I/ATLAS gets closer to the sun and becomes even warmer, the tail and dust plumes should also grow more pronounced. The observations also confirm earlier theories that 3I/ATAS is a comet rather than a large solid rock. That means the object has a smaller core surrounded by a glowing halo of gas, which made it appear larger in initial observations. Pictured: 3I/ATLAS as seen by the Hubble Space Telescope These observations also show that 3I/ATLAS is moving at a staggering 130,000 miles per hour (209,000 km/h) making it the fastest interstellar object ever detected. Pictured: Multiple images of 3I/ATLAS taken by the Very Large Telescope (VLT), showing the object's passage as a row of dots It will reach its closest point to the sun in late October at a distance of 130 million miles (210 million km), passing just inside the orbit of Mars. Thankfully, the object poses no threat whatsoever to Earth and will be on the opposite side of the sun during this close encounter. This is only the third time that scientists have managed to detect an object approaching from another star system, and astronomers are working hard to gather as much data as they can while it is still here. Science team leader for the Hubble observations, Dr David Jewitt, of the University of California, says: 'No one knows where the comet came from. It's like glimpsing a rifle bullet for a thousandth of a second. 'You can't project that back with any accuracy to figure out where it started on its path.' 3I/ATLAS' extreme speed relative to the sun also confirms that it has likely been travelling through the cosmos for many billions of years. As the comet passed planets, stars, and nebulae, the 'gravitational slingshot effect' added to its momentum. The longer an object spends drifting through space, the faster it will become. Scientists believe that 3I/ATLAS has been orbiting the Milky Way (possible orbits shown in red) for at least eight billion years. That makes it around twice as old as our own solar system The object will reach its closest point to the sun in late October at a distance of 130 million miles (210 million km), passing just inside the orbit of Mars Previous studies have suggested that 3I/ATLAS is likely to be at least eight billion years old, making it the oldest comet ever seen. That means the comet is potentially twice as old as our 4.6 billionyearold solar system. 3I/ATLAS follows just two other interstellar objects, 1I/'Oumuamua, which was discovered in 2017, and 2I/Borisov in 2019. However, researchers believe that recent advances in telescope technology mean we will soon start spotting more interstellar visitors. Dr Jewitt says: 'This latest interstellar tourist is one of a previously undetected population of objects bursting onto the scene that will gradually emerge. 'This is now possible because we have powerful sky survey capabilities that we didn't have before. We've crossed a threshold.' Hubble is just the first powerful space telescope lined up to observe 3I/ATLAS' journey through our stellar neighbourhood, with the James Webb Space Telescope, TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite), and the Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory all scheduled to make observations. 3I/ATLAS should remain visible to groundbased telescopes through September, after which it will pass too close to the Sun to observe, and is expected to reappear on the other side of the Sun by early December. A lost city where rebellious Mayans held out against their Spanish conquerors for over a century has been found in the heart of the jungle. With the conquistadors advancing, the Lakandon Chol fled their capital, Lakam-Tun, at Lake Miramar in modern-day Mexico, in the late 1500s. Then, retreating into the jungles near the present Guatemalan border, they built a new stronghold, Sac Balam, where they resisted the Spaniards for 109 years. But the city fell in 1695 and was ultimately lost to the jungle, with the Lakandon Chol forcibly relocated, and all but extinct by the mid-18th century. Now scientists say they have found Sac Balam, using a groundbreaking predictive model to locate foundations and artefacts in the wilderness. The discovery hinged on the testimony of Diego de Rivas, a friar who was active in the region during the late 17th century. For Josuhe Lozada Toledo, of Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), it was a crucial clue. He says: 'I discovered the possible location of Sak Bahlan through a predictive model using Geographic Information Systems.' Scientists have uncovered the lost Mayan city of Sac Balam, meaning the 'Land of the White Jaguar', more than 330 years after it was lost The city is located in the heart of Mexico's jungle and was once a place where Mayans held out against their Spanish conquerors for over a century before being captured and lost in the mid-18th century Mr Toledo adds: 'I revisited colonial chronicles to map the number of days Friar Diego de Rivas spent travelling from Sak Bahlan to the Lacantun River in 1698. 'In this way, I was able to predict the location of this important site.' Sac Balam or Sak Bahlan means 'White Jaguar' in the Mayan language. It's a name that evokes the perils of its remote location. Dr Lozada Toledo says: 'The location deep in the jungle, along with the ruggedness of the territory, allowed the Lakandon Chol to hide from the Spanish conquerors. 'It is a land filled with dangerous animals and plants, and hidden behind the mountains. 'It is very remote, situated in the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve, in the Chaquistero range. 'Reaching the place requires hiking for several hours and camping in the jungle. It is located southeast of Lake Miramar. Scientists were able to locate the lost city using a groundbreaking predictive model and the diaries of a 17th-century friar to locate foundations and artefacts in the wilderness The city is extremely remote, situated in the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve, in the Chaquistero range, near Lake Miramar 'Here they survived for 109 years outside Spanish rule, from 1586, when they abandoned their old settlement on Lake Miramar, until 1695, when they were finally conquered.' After conquering the stronghold, the Spaniards renamed it Pueblo de Nuestra Senora de Los Dolores Town of Our Lady of Sorrows. Josuhe says: 'A massacre or genocide was carried out there by the Spanish against the local inhabitants. 'The few survivors were taken to Guatemala, and nothing was ever heard about Sak Bahlan again.' An expedition to the site, backed by the Discovery Channel, has now discovered foundations, the remains of a wall, and a variety of artefacts. The archaeological team includes Brent Woodfill of Winthrop University in the US and Yuko Shiratori of Rissho University in Japan. Dr Lozada Toledo called it 'the most demanding fieldwork of my life'. He says: 'All that remains of the city are the foundations of small, low structures only about 30 to 40 centimetres high. An expedition to the site, backed by the Discovery Channel, has now discovered foundations, the remains of a wall, and a variety of artefacts. Reaching the site takes hours of hiking and camping in the dense jungle 'And there are archaeological materials buried underground, which we are currently in the process of studying. 'So far, we have found pre-Hispanic pottery, ceramic figurines, obsidian, and the remains of a wall or fortification, as part of the work conducted by Dr Woodfill and Dr Shiratori. 'The next step is to analyse the artefacts uncovered during the excavations and to continue excavating the area, using metal detectors to identify 17th-century metal tools.' Josuhe hopes their work will shed new light on the Lakandon Chol. He says: 'I aim to give voice to the Maya groups that were silenced by Spanish colonisation. 'My main objective is to work with the popular Maya culture that once lived in Sak Bahlan. 'I want to learn more about their customs, religion, and daily life, as well as the way they were annihilated under Spanish rule. THE MAYA: A POPULATION NOTED FOR ITS WRITTEN LANGUAGE, AGRICULTURAL AND CALENDARS The Maya civilisation thrived in Central America for nearly 3,000 years, reaching its height between AD 250 to 900. Noted for the only fully developed written language of the pre-Columbian Americas, the Mayas also had highly advanced art and architecture as well as mathematical and astronomical systems. During that time, the ancient people built incredible cities using advanced machinery and gained an understanding of astronomy, as well as developing advanced agricultural methods and accurate calendars. The Maya believed the cosmos shaped their everyday lives and they used astrological cycles to tell when to plant crops and set their calendars. This has led to theories that the Maya may have chosen to locate their cities in line with the stars. It is already known that the pyramid at Chichen Itza was built according to the suns location during the spring and autumn equinoxes. When the sun sets on these two days, the pyramid casts a shadow on itself that aligns with a carving of the head of the Mayan serpent god. The shadow makes the serpent's body so that as the sun sets, the terrifying god appears to slide towards the earth. Maya influence can be detected from Honduras, Guatemala, and western El Salvador to as far away as central Mexico, more than 1,000km from the Maya area. The Maya peoples never disappeared. Today their descendants form sizable populations throughout the Maya area. They maintain a distinctive set of traditions and beliefs that are the result of the merger of pre-Columbian and post-Conquest ideas and cultures. Advertisement 'They were the last rebels to be conquered in the state of Chiapas.' On July 26, 1959, Dennis 'Tink' Bell, a 25 year-old British adventurer, set off on a survey expedition off the Antarctic Peninsula. The Londoner, a radio operator and meteorologist, was conducting survey work with a colleague at Ecology Glacier, a remote icy wilderness flowing into Admiralty Bay. But disaster struck when Dennis suddenly plummeted around 100ft through the ice and snow, and efforts to pull him up tragically proved fruitless. For more than 65 years after the disaster, Mr Bell's body was sadly unaccounted for but following a new expedition in the area, the brave researcher can now be put to rest. Scientists at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have announced the discovery of Dennis' remains and personal items among rocks exposed by the now-receding glacier. His brother David, now living in Australia, said he and his sister Valerie are 'shocked and amazed' following the discovery. 'Dennis was the oldest of three siblings and was my hero as he seemed to be able to turn his hand to anything, servicing petrol engines, photography including processing his own films,' David said. 'He built a radio from scratch, spending hours taking down morse code.' 'Bringing him home has helped us come to terms with the tragic loss of our brilliant brother.' Dennis 'Tink' Bell (far right) during Christmas celebrations at Admiralty Bay Station in 1958. Around seven months later Mr Bell was sadly lost The adventurer's remains were discovered on the Ecology Glacier on 19 January 2025. Pictured, a recent photo of Ecology Glacier in summer Dennis 'Tink' Bell was brought up in Harrow, northwest London, before getting a job as a meteorologist at the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS), the predecessor of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). Keen for adventure, he was stationed for a two-year assignment at Admiralty Bay, a small UK base with half a dozen men, on King George Island off the northern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. Dennis was known on base for his humour and larger than life character, his love of theatre and eating, and for being an excellent, if messy, chef. Russel Thomson, a colleague and friend who was on base with him, described his practical jokes and spoke of his 'tremendous, tremendous character'. That fateful Sunday, Dennis and his colleague Jeff Stokes ascended Ecology Glacier with sledges pulled by husky dogs, which were showing signs of tiredness. To encourage them, Dennis went ahead to urge them on without his skis, and suddenly disappeared, leaving a gaping hole through which he had fallen. Sir Vivian Fuchs, a previous director of BAS, describes the harrowing story of Bell's death in his book 'Of Ice and Men' published in 1982. He wrote: 'Peering into the depths, Stokes called repeatedly and was greatly relieved to be answered. Lowering a rope almost a hundred feet, he told Bell to tie himself on. Dennis died in a crevasse on a glacier at Admiralty Bay on King George Island, situated off the Antarctic Peninsula - the part of the continent that sticks out like a tail Dennis Bell (left) with husky dogs, which accompanied explorers in the Antarctic during these expeditions and of whom he was very fond In a humourous posed photo, 'Tink' and surveyor Jeff Stokes re-enact the 1950's advert 'Go-Shell' Dennis Bell (left) and Jeff Stokes (right) photographed before the accident. Sadly, Jeff Stokes died five weeks ago before hearing the news that Dennis's remains had been found Pictured, the main hut of Admiralty Bay Station where Dennis 'Tink' Bell lived and worked (photo taken in 1951) Who was Dennis 'Tink' Bell? Dennis Bell, known affectionately as 'Tink', was a British meteorologist, radio engineer and explorer. Born on July 15, 1934 in London, he attended Harrow County School for Boys, now Harrow High School. After leaving school and a brief period in insurance, Dennis Bell joined the Royal Air Force for National Service, trained as a radio operator. He joined Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS), the predecessor of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), as a meteorologist in 1958. He was stationed for a two-year assignment at Admiralty Bay when he tragically died in an Antarctic glacier. Advertisement 'The dogs took the strain and began to pull. Now it was easy and everything was going well. But Bell had tied the rope through his belt instead of round his body, perhaps because of the angle at which he lay.' Sir Vivian Fuchs continued: 'As he reached the top his body jammed against the lip, the belt broke, and down he went again. This time there was no reply to Stoke's calls. 'It was a particularly tragic fatality which one really felt should never have happened, and thus doubly grievous.' Glaciers are always moving slowly, even though this can't usually be seen. The movement causes stress, which in turn causes cracking, making them potentially unstable. Unfortunately, the efforts of Stokes and two other men to reach Bell, risking their own lives in 'terrible conditions' to do so were unsuccessful, and his remains were never found until this year. In January 2025, a team of researchers from the Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station on King George Island happened to be surveying the area of Admiralty Bay where Dennis went missing. They found bones in the ice and rocks, which were carried to the Falkland Islands on the BAS Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough and returned to London. The human remains were then sent for DNA testing by Denise Syndercombe Court, a professor in forensic genetics at King's College London. Pictured, rocks at front of Ecology Glacier. Glaciers are always moving slowly, even though this can't usually be seen. The movement causes stress, which in turn causes cracking - making them potentially unstable The Polish research station Henryk Arctowski in Admiralty Bay on King George Island, South Shetland Islands off the coast of Antarctica She confirmed a match with DNA samples from his brother David Bell and his sister Valerie Kelly which are 'more than one billion times' more likely to be related than not. More than 200 personal items were also found, including the remains of radio equipment, a flashlight, ski poles, an inscribed Erguel wristwatch, a Swedish Mora knife, ski poles and an ebonite pipe stem, which BAS are confident were all Dennis's. Sadly, Jeff Stokes, who was with 'Tink' at the time of his death, died five weeks ago before hearing the news that Dennis's remains had been found. However, his brother David will soon visit England where he and his sister will finally put Dennis to rest, he told the BBC. He said: 'It's wonderful; I'm going to meet my brother. You might say we shouldn't be thrilled, but we are. He's been found - he's come home now.' Professor Dame Jane Francis, director of BAS, said Dennis was one of the many brave FIDS personnel who contributed to the early exploration of Antarctica. 'Even though he was lost in 1959, his memory lived on among colleagues and in the legacy of polar research,' she said. 'This discovery brings closure to a decades-long mystery and reminds us of the human stories embedded in the history of Antarctic science.' In July 1937, the legendary female aviator Amelia Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, set out from Lae, New Guinea, never to be seen again. Despite the most expensive sea and air search in American history up to that point, no trace has ever been found of Earhart or her plane. Now, a British pilot thinks he has finally tracked down the wreckage of the missing aircraft, 88 years after it was lost. Captain Justin Myers, who has almost 25 years of experience as a pilot, says he is '99 per cent certain' that he has found the exact location Earhart crash-landed. Using zoomed-in images from Google Earth, Captain Myers spotted a group of shapes he believes are the fragments of the crashed plane. What's more, he claims these submerged objects match the exact dimensions of Earhart's Lockheed Electra 10E. According to Captain Myers, Earhart and Noonan crashed on the east coast of Nikumaroro Island, a remote coral atoll in the Pacific Ocean. Captain Myers is now calling for an expedition to the location to confirm whether his theories are correct. Captain Myers believes that he has found the parts of Amelia Earhart's crashed plane in satellite images from Google Earth (pictured) Captain Myers says that the shapes he spotted in the water by Nikumaroro Island match the dimensions of Earhart's aircraft exactly Amelia Earhart (pictured) and her navigator, Fred Noonan, disappeared in July 1937 after setting out from Lae, New Guinea, during an attempt to fly around the world Captain Myers is not the first to suggest that Earhart and Noonan may have crashed around Nikumaroro Island. Earhart was supposed to have landed at Howland Island to refuel, some 400 miles (640km) to the north. However, low fuel and bad weather may have pushed their aircraft off course and forced an attempted landing on the tiny atoll. Previous investigations have found artefacts including improvised tools, bits of clothing, and a piece of plexiglas that matches that of an Electra window. For this reason, many people hunting for Earhart's wreckage think the aviator may have landed somewhere near the island and made it to shore before succumbing to the elements. What makes Captain Myers' discovery different is that he claims to have found photographic evidence of the crashed aircraft through Google Earth. In a blog post, Captain Myers says he became interested in Nikumaroro Island after watching a documentary about Earhart's final flight. He wrote: 'Poor sleep, upper wind predictions not being accurate, probably fatigue and some anxiety would likely have played a part in the disappearance. It is commonly believed that Earhart crashed her Lockheed Electra 10E off the coast of Nikumaroro Island (pictured) in the Pacific Ocean after running out of fuel It is believed that Earhart was forced to crash land near Nikumaroro after running out of fuel. Earhart and Noonan probably made it ashore but later died on the island Captain Justin Myers, a British pilot with almost 25 years of experience, is convinced that he has found the remains of Amelia Earhart's crashed aircraft using nothing more than Google Earth images Amelia Earhart Amelia Earhart was an American aviation pioneer, whose accomplishments inspired a generation of female aviators, including the more than 1,000 women pilots of the Women Airforce Service Pilots who served during the Second World War. In 1932, at the age of 34, Earhart became the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic. Five years later, she set herself the challenge of being the first woman to fly around the world. Earhart was flying a Lockheed Model 10 Electra when her plane vanished on July 2, 1937. The 39-year-old was heading to Howland Island when it is thought that she and her navigator Fred Noonan had trouble with their radio navigation equipment. Despite a rescue attempt lasting 17 days and scouring more than 250,000 square miles of ocean, the pair were never found. Decades after her presumed death, Earhart was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1968 and the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1973. Advertisement 'As a pilot, I thought to myself, if I was in Amelia's position trying to find a needle in a hay stack low on fuel and to be honest if we were in her position no doubt using some choice language, where would I force land my Lockheed Electra 10E?' Settling on a long, sandy section on the island's East coast, Captain Myers zoomed in to discover a 'dark coloured perfectly straight object.' Surprisingly, the Google Earth measuring tool revealed the object to be 39 feet (12 metres), the same length as the Lockheed Electra 10E. Captain Myers wrote: 'A day or so later I had another look, just like that Bang!! 110ft to the west of the metal section was what appeared to be a perfect half exposed radial engine measuring 4-4.5ft in diameter. 'Just under the engine is a wheel, again half exposed, the wheel is perfect and is in absolute proportion in size; I was struggling to see this was anything other than the debris of a lost vintage aircraft that has been hidden away for years.' Although Captain Myers says he can't be completely sure this is Earhart and Noonan's Electra, he is certain that it is a vintage plane of the same size. He told Popular Science: 'The bottom line is, from my interests from a child in vintage aircraft and air crash investigation, I can say that is what was once a 12-metre, 2-engine vintage aircraft. What I can't say is that is definitely Amelia's Electra. 'If this is not Amelia's Electra 10 E, then it's the answer to another mystery that has never been answered. Captain Myers is calling for an expedition to investigate his claims and settle whether this really is Earhart's aircraft. However, he has not received any support for his theory 'This finding could answer some questions to someone who disappeared many years ago.' Captain Myers says he would like to see an expedition launched to investigate the objects and confirm once and for all whether this is Earhart's plane. However, he has had little luck getting support for his proposal. Captain Myers says he sent the information to the National Transportation Safety Board in the US, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, and the air crash investigation team in Brisbane. He also tried to contact Purdue University with the information to see if any historians would be interested in launching an investigation. Despite reaching out over three years ago, Captain Myers has yet to hear anything back in response. Purdue University's reluctance is likely linked to the fact that the university already has its own plans to search for Earhart's wreckage. Last month, researchers announced the launch of an expedition to investigate the so-called 'Taraia Object', a visual anomaly inside the Nikumaroro lagoon widely believed to be the downed Electra. Last month, Purdue University announced a mission to investigate a different site on Nikumaroro Island known as the Taraia Object. Their mission will launch in November this year, and spend five days investigating the Taraia Object The expedition is planned to embark from Majuro in the Marshall Islands on November 5 and spend five days on Nikumaroro inspecting the Taraia Object. If the initial expedition proves successful in confirming the identity of the aircraft, the researchers plan to return for larger excavation efforts in 2026 to uncover and help return what remains of Earhart's plane. In a statement at the time, Richard Pettigrew, director of the Archaeological Legacy Institute, said: 'What we have here is maybe the greatest opportunity ever to finally close the case. 'With such a great amount of very strong evidence, we feel we have no choice but to move forward and hopefully return with proof.' Tucker Carlson was left astounded by evidence presented by a biblical scholar regarding the Shroud of Turin, a linen cloth believed to be the burial cloth of Jesus. Dr Johnston revealed that mathematician Bruno Barbaris of the University of Turin analyzed the shroud's unique characteristics, concluding there is a mere one-in-200-billion chance 'it's anyone other than Jesus of Nazareth.' This staggering statistic left Carlson reeling, challenging decades of skepticism about the shrouds legitimacy, sparked by a 1988 radiocarbon dating study that suggested a medieval origin Barberis's calculation likely factored in multiple elements, including the shroud's dimensions, rare type AB blood and the presence of both pre-mortem and post-mortem blood, aligning with patterns described in the Bible. Beyond statistics, forensic evidence has further supported the shroud's authenticity as scientists have identified more than fifty species of pollen trapped in the fabric, including flowers that bloom only in Israel, and only in April. Traces of limestone and clay unique to Jerusalem are smeared on the nose, knees, and feet, precisely where they would appear if a man stumbled while carrying a rough wooden crossbeam through the streets. 'The image on the shroud is only two microns thick and does not penetrate all the way through the cloth,' Dr Johnston explained. 'If this were a hoax, painted or dyed, the material would have soaked through completely. Instead, if we took a razor to the shroud, we could shave off the image because it's so thin. This quality has baffled even the world's best scientists.' The Shroud of Turn features more than 700 wounds that many scholars say align with biblical text Dr Jeremiah Johnston discusses the Shroud of Turin with Tucker Carlson, highlighting its 14-foot linen cloth bearing a faint image of a crucified man, believed by many to be Jesus of Nazareth, with a one-in-200-billion chance of being a hoax Dr Johnston suggested the image may have formed through a sudden chemical change triggered by an incredible burst of 34,000 billion watts of energy in just a fraction of a billionth of a second, possibly at the moment of the Resurrection. The 14-foot-long linen bears a faint, full-body image of a bearded man, which many Christians believe to be a miraculous imprint of Jesus. When first exhibited in the 1350s, the shroud was presented as the actual burial cloth used to wrap the mutilated body of Christ after his crucifixion. Radiocarbon dating performed in 1988 placed the shroud's origin between 1260 and 1390 AD, suggesting a medieval origin. However, Dr Johnston argued that only a contaminated patch, not the original linen, was tested. 'The actual linen cloth has never been radiocarbon dated, just the upper left corner patch, which was contaminated,' he told Carlson. 'So, it was the patched sample, not a fine linen sample.' Carlson asked, 'So, not the real thing?' to which Dr. Johnston replied, 'Correct.' Dr Johnston described the shroud as 'the most lied about and misunderstood artifact in the world,' and thanked Carlson for the opportunity to share his findings. A spear wound between ribs five and six matches John 19:34: 'But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.' Studies show the blood in that region bears signs of pre-mortem injury, aligning with the Gospel account Dr Johnston also criticized the British Museum's handling of the 1988 radiocarbon dating data, claiming critical information was suppressed for 29 years. Stunned, Carlson admitted, 'I'm being baffled right now.' Further forensic evidence includes wounds consistent with Roman crucifixion practices, including puncture marks in the wrists and heels, hundreds of scourge marks from lead-tipped whips, and more than 50 punctures from a brutal crown of thorns. A spear wound between ribs five and six matches John 19:34: 'But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.' Studies show the blood in that region bears signs of pre-mortem injury, aligning with the Gospel account. In total, there are more than 700 wounds displayed on the shroud. Those include marks left behind from the crucifixion nails. 'You can actually see in the four arms of the crucified man. We see by the way wrist, hands, the entire hand, it's all the same,' Dr Johnston said. 'We know that the nail penetrates through the wrist and the palm. And that's how the Romans would crucify their victims.' For Johnston, the shroud is not simply an archaeological puzzle but a testament, what he calls 'the receipt of God's gift.' Radiocarbon dating performed in 1988 placed the shroud's origin between 1260 and 1390 AD, suggesting a medieval origin. Dr Johnston argued that only a contaminated patch, not the original linen, was tested. Pictured is the sample of the shroud tested Every bloodstain, every fiber, every unexplained detail is, to him, a silent witness to the greatest moment in history: the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Recent scientific studies, including wide-angle X-ray scattering from the Institute of Crystallography in Rome, support the shroud's 2,000-year age, citing the absence of vanillin, a compound that would be present in younger linen. Dr Johnston also criticized the British Museum's handling of the 1988 radiocarbon dating data, claiming critical information was suppressed for 29 years. Stunned, Carlson admitted, 'I'm being baffled right now.' If you're a keen stargazer, be sure to keep your eyes on the sky tomorrow night. On Tuesday evening, the Perseid Meteor Shower will reach its dazzling peak - and you won't want to miss it. At the height of the yearly display, you'll be able to spot as many as 150 fireballs shooting overhead every hour. And with the Met Office currently forecasting clear skies over most of England and Wales, this could be one of the year's best opportunities to see some shooting stars. However, the remaining light from the recent full Sturgeon Moon might make it hard to spot some of the fainter meteors. But if you don't manage to spot any fireballs this Tuesday, there's no need to worry. Although they will be at their most stunning tomorrow night, you'll still be able to catch the Perseids until August 24. So, here's the best time to catch the spectacular celestial display. Keen stargazers should keep their eyes on the sky tomorrow night as the Perseid Meteor Shower reaches its dazzling peak with up to 150 shooting stars every hour. Pictured: The Perseid Meteor Shower above Corfe Castle, Scotland To see the Perseid Meteor Shower, look towards the constellation Perseus from which the meteors appear to emerge. You can find this constellation by looking for the bright 'W' of Cassiopeia How to see the Perseid Meteor Shower If you want to get the best chance of seeing the Perseid Meteor Shower, the most important thing will be avoiding any unnecessary sources of light. Since it is summertime, that means you'll need to wait until at least 10:00 pm for the sky to be dark enough. Meteor showers tend to become more impressive towards midnight when the sky is darkest, so be prepared for a late night if you want the best view. Dr Edward Bloomer, senior astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich, told Daily Mail: 'Try and get somewhere dark, and crucially let your eyes adjust to the dark. 'It's a physical process, so it will take a while. Basically, put your phone away, relax, and be a little patient.' Dr Bloomer recommends taking at least half an hour to allow your eyes to reach maximum sensitivity. Once your eyes have adapted to the dark, all you need to do is sit back and look at the sky. To see the Perseid Meteor Shower, look to the northeast around midnight on Tuesday when the shower will be at its most active. Pictured: The Perseids seen from Inner Mongolia, China WHERE DO METEORS COME FROM? Meteors come from leftover comet particles and bits from broken asteroids. When comets come around the sun, they leave a dusty trail behind them. Every year, Earth passes through these debris trails, letting the bits collide with our atmosphere and disintegrate, creating fiery streaks in the sky. Source: NASA Advertisement Although they can peak at 150 shooting stars per hour, the Perseids may come in fits and starts, so don't be put off if you go a few minutes without seeing anything. 'The meteor shower will appear to 'radiate' from the constellation Perseus, so that's your best bet,' says Dr Bloomer. You can find Perseus in the Northeast, near the constellation Cassiopeia, which you should be able to recognise by the bright 'W' or 'M' of stars. Dr Bloomer adds: 'If that part of the sky is obscured, don't worry; the shooting stars can appear in any part of the sky.' You can also try looking at other regions of the sky to catch the shooting stars in your peripheral vision, which tends to be a little more light sensitive. The good news for any budding astronomers is that you won't need any special equipment to see the Perseid Meteor Shower. Dr Shyam Balaji, of King's College London, told Daily Mail: 'It is one of the fastest and brightest meteor showers of the year, so an astronomical highlight for stargazers. 'For me personally, I think the best way to view the meteor shower is just with your naked eye because of the speed with which they move. The Perseids are among some of the fastest meteors, so you won't be able to see them through a pair of binoculars. Instead, simply let your eyes adjust to the darkness and be patient. Pictured: The Perseids seen from Madrid The Met Office forecast predicts that there will be clear skies over England and Wales on Tuesday night, with clear patches for Scotland and Northern Ireland into the early hours of Wednesday morning 'But you could use Sky Guide or Stellarium, or other stargazing apps, to get a better viewing experience, to target the right regions of the sky to see the meteor shower.' To make things even better, the Met Office is currently forecasting good conditions for much of the UK. Tom Morgan, operational meteorologist at the Met Office, told Daily Mail: 'Tonight will see quite a lot of cloud over the country, but southern England may turn clearer during the early hours. 'Tomorrow night will generally see clearer skies than tonight with Wales, central England and northern England having the most prolonged clear periods during the evening but some clear periods likely in many parts of the UK at times and into the early hours of Wednesday morning. What is the Perseid Meteor Shower? Like all annual meteor showers, the Perseids are caused by the Earth sweeping through a cloud of orbiting dust. 'The Perseid meteor shower is caused by the Earth travelling through the debris left by a comet called Swift-Tuttle,' says Dr Balaji. Since this patch of dust is always in the same place within Earth's orbit, the Perseids always occur at the same time of year and appear from the same point in the sky. Skywatchers across the UK will be among those able to enjoy the Perseid meteor shower, which takes place when the Earth ploughs through debris left behind by the Swift-Tuttle Comet during its trips through the inner solar system. Pictured: The Perseids seen from Bonar, Spain, earlier this year As the Earth moves through the debris cloud, tiny pieces of rock and dust hit the atmosphere at 37 miles (59 kilometres) per second. The intense heat produced by the friction of that impact burns up the meteors in seconds. The smallest pieces of rock vaporise to leave bright trails that we see as shooting stars, while the larger chunks explode into fireballs. Although we don't know exactly when the Perseids started, the first sightings date back nearly 2,000 years to early records from ancient China. Tropical Storm Erin formed in the Atlantic Ocean on Monday as experts warned it could develop into a major hurricane this week. AccuWeather meteorologists are tracking the storm west of the Cabo Verde Islands, saying it could become a hurricane by August 14 and intensify to a Category 3 by August 16. Spaghetti models showed it curving northward along the US East Coast, with the potential for landfall or a close approach. A spaghetti model forecasts possible paths a tropical storm or hurricane might take, based on predictions from multiple weather computer programs. Senior meteorologist Chad Merrill said: 'The upper-air pattern late this week favors it turning north and likely staying east of the US East Coast.' 'However, rough surf and rip currents could increase along East Coast beaches next weekend into early the following week.' A large plume of dust and dry air lies ahead of Erin, but as long as the storm stays within its current moist, dust-free area, it will continue to organize and strengthen. 'There will be a significant increase in seas, surf and rip currents along the East coast beaches next weekend into the following week,' Merrill said. Dangerous conditions may develop in Bermuda and parts of the Bahamas as well. A tropical rainstorm as developed into Tropical Storm Erin, which experts predict could become a hurricane later this week Spaghetti models showed it curving northward along the US East Coast, with the potential for landfall or a close approach The system formed as a tropical rainstorm off the coast of Africa over the weekend, moving west toward the US. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) on Monday morning gave it a 90 percent chance of cyclone formation over the next seven days, but predicted it would become a tropical storm today. 'The intensity forecast in the short-term is a little tricky,' the NHC said. 'The earlier scatterometer data indicate the system has a small circulation, which could be prone to rapid intensity changes, either up or down.' The agency added that 'maximum sustained winds are 45 mph and intensification is forecast as it moves westward across the open tropical Atlantic.' The system is moving west through the Atlantic's 'main development region,' which runs from Africa's west coast to the Caribbean. This zone, fueled by warm ocean waters, is where many tropical systems form as hurricane season reaches its peak weeks. AccuWeather meteorologists warned the system could soon be named Erin, potentially reaching hurricane strength by August 14 and intensifying to a Category 3 by August 16 Erin is set to become a hurricane by Friday, with a path to Florida over the weekend AccuWeather shows dangerous sea and rip currents are set from Daytona Beach, Florida, up to Nantucket in Massachusetts. Lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva said: 'Families heading to Atlantic beaches before heading back to school should be cautious and stay in areas with lifeguards on duty.' Should Erin grow considerably in size and strength, tropical storm conditions may extend outward 100 miles or more. A major hurricane passing 100 miles east of the US or west of Bermuda could still bring tropical-storm-force winds, rough seas, and heavy rain. In the US, the areas most at risk would be the easternmost stretches of coastline, including North Carolina's Outer Banks, Long Island in New York and New England's Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. Max Devitt, a meteorologist at WINKNews in Florida, shared on X: 'Even if Erin stays offshore, it would become a powerful hurricane in the Atlantic with the potential to bring larger waves and rip currents to the US East Coast. 'Bermuda still needs to closely monitor this system.' A new statue has emerged from the dirt of a recently dried-up lakebed on Easter Island, baffling scientists who said it should not be there. Easter Island is considered a mystery due to its 1,000 large stone heads, known as moai, which are 700 to 1,000 years old. Terry Hunt, professor of archaeology at the University of Arizona, told Good Morning America: 'We think we know all the moai, but then a new one turns up, a new discovery, and in this case, it's in the lake, at the statue quarry. 'There have been no moai found in the dry lakebed before, so this is a first.' The newly discovered moai is among the smallest found, suggesting that many more could be hidden within the reeds. Each moai honors a person, usually a leader, and many are topped with eye stones at their resting place. The largest stands over 30 feet tall and weighs up to 86 tons. Salvador Atan Hito, vice president of Ma'u Henua, the Indigenous group managing the island's national park, said: 'For the Rapa Nui people, this is a very, very important discovery. 'Because it's here in the lake and nobody knew it existed, even our ancestors, our grandparents didn't know about this one.' Located in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, Easter Island was first settled by humans around AD 1200, who built its famous enlarged head statues, called moai Archaeologists uncovered another new statue in 2023 (pictured), which would found lying face-down Hunt and Hito said the current dry conditions may help archaeologists discover more moai in the lakebed. 'Under the dry conditions that we have now, we may find more,' Hunt told GMA. 'They've been hidden by the tall reeds that grow in the lake bed, and prospecting with something that can detect what's under the ground surface may tell us that there are more moai in the lakebed sediments. 'When there's one moai in the lake, there's probably more.' Due to its remote location, Easter Island is traditionally assumed to have remained socially and culturally isolated from the wider Pacific world. This idea is reinforced by the fact that Easter Island's famous Moai statues, estimated to have been built between AD 1250 and 1500, are unique to the location. For the past decade, Hunt and his colleagues and students have created an inventory of 981 moai on the island, complete with precise GPS locations and measurements. Many moai remain in a quarry near Rano Raraku, the now-dry crater lake where the newest statue was found, in various stages of completion. There's no doubt Easter Island (pictured) in the southern Pacific is geographically one of the most isolated places on Earth The Moai are monolithic human figures carved by the Rapa Nui people on Easter Island, between AD 1,250 and 1,500 The largest, called Te Tokanga or 'The Giant' in the Rapa Nui language, was never finished and lies on its back, measuring 63 feet long and weighing an estimated 90 to 100 tons. The team made a similar discovery in 2023, finding another new moa that measured five feet by six inches long and was found face up in the ground. Hunt said the statue's eye sockets had been carved, which is historically the final step in a moai's construction before display. The base is also flat, rather than sloped, to help with moving the statue. Researchers believed that the ancient Rapa Nui people likely moved the moai statues by 'walking' them upright using ropes to rock and pivot the statues forward in a controlled, rocking motion. This method, supported by experiments and oral traditions, allowed them to move these massive statues across the island without dragging them on sleds or rollers. Hunt frequently uses cell phones and drones for 3D imaging of the moai. He is also exploring the use of ground-penetrating radar to detect hidden moai or structures underground, particularly in the Rano Raraku lakebed. Historically, the original inhabitants, known as the Rapa Nui, were believed to have been completely shut off from the wider world. However, a study released in July by researchers in Sweden challenged the long-held narrative. Pictured, ahu (a central stone platform) on Moorea, Windward, French Polynesia, southern Pacific Ocean They said the 63.2-square-mile island in the southern Pacific was not quite as isolated over the past 800 years as previously thought. The island was populated with multiple waves of new inhabitants who bravely traversed the Pacific Ocean from west to east. 'Easter Island was settled from central East Polynesia around AD 1200-1250,' study author Professor Paul Wallin at Uppsala University told the Daily Mail. 'The Polynesians were skilled sailors, so double canoes were used.' For their study, the team at Uppsala University compared archaeological data and radiocarbon dates from settlements, ritual spaces and monuments across Polynesia, the collection of more than 1,000 islands in the Pacific Ocean. The experts point out that ahu stone platforms were historically constructed at Polynesian islands further to the west. These rectangular clearings were communal ritual spaces that, in some places, remain sacred to this day. 'The temple grounds ahu [also known as marae] exist on all East Polynesian islands,' Professor Wallin added. Archaeologists believe they will uncover more statues in the future The team agreed that an early population of people spread from the west of the Pacific to the east before encountering Easter Island and populating it around AD 1200. They argued that Easter Island was populated several times by new seafarers, and not just once by a single group that remained isolated for centuries, as previously assumed. 'The migration process from West Polynesian core areas such as Tonga and Samoa to East Polynesia is not disputed here,' they say in their paper. 'Still, the static west-to-east colonization and dispersal suggested for East Polynesia and the idea that Rapa Nui was only colonized once in the past and developed in isolation are challenged.' Based on their evidence, they also think ahu originated on Easter Island before the trend spread east to west across other western Polynesian islands during the period of AD 1300-1600. It was only after this that the Polynesian islands, including but not limited to Easter Island, might have become isolated from each other. Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. 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Shop *Based on a 1-month consumer perception study with 30 participants using Bondi Boost Hair Growth Shampoo, Hair Growth Conditioner, and Hair Growth Procapil Tonic A North Alabama mother has been charged with murder after her 8-month-old son was found unresponsive and 'severely beaten' inside their home. Morgan Skye Thornton, 29, was arrested early Friday morning after authorities found the child in her home, officials said. Deputies arrived at the home in the small town of Athens shortly after 12.30 a.m. to find Thornton's 8-month-old son, Jonah James Thornton, with 'no signs of life'. Charged: Morgan Skye Thornton was arrested early Friday morning Thornton appeared intoxicated and was taken into custody at the scene, according to the Limestone County Sheriff's Office. In newly released dispatch audio, an emergency responder can be heard reporting the dire situation. 'Medical call, Estate Drive East. Have an 8-month-old, possible full arrest. Confirmed: Full arrest at this time. We've got a CPR in progress. EMS on scene as well,' the harrowing audio revealed. Local deputies and Athens-Limestone EMS personnel performed CPR and were able to regain a pulse before transporting the infant to UAB Trauma Services, AL.com reported. However, baby Jonah coded on the way to hospital, and the ambulance diverted to Cullman Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead. The 29-year-old mom was charged with aggravated child abuse before the infant died from injuries sustained in the alleged assault. Her charge has since been upgraded to capital murder. The mother appeared before a judge on Friday afternoon, but claimed she didn't understand what she was being charged with. 'I put my son to bed,' she told WAFF 48 following the hearing. 'I swaddled him and put him to bed at 7 o'clock, and then something happened Tried to give him CPR. That's all.' Authorities say search warrants were executed at the Athens home and a sample of Thornton's blood was taken. Tragic: Jonah James Thornton (above) had 'no signs of life' Thornton remains in the Limestone County Jail without bond, pending an Aniah's Law hearing. An Aniah's Law hearing is a judicial proceeding in Alabama where a judge reviews a defendant's background and the circumstances of their arrest to determine whether they should be granted bail while awaiting trial. Limestone County Sheriff Joshua McLaughlin praised the work of first responders for their efforts in trying to save the infant's life. 'Please keep this family and everyone who responded to this heartbreaking scene in your prayers,' McLaughlin said. 'While the outcome is devastating, I'm incredibly proud of our deputies, firefighters, EMTs, hospital staff, and DHR workers who did absolutely everything in their power to save this innocent child,' the Sheriff added. The baby's cause of death has not been stated by officials as his body is sent to a forensics lab for autopsy. A relative of Thornton's waded into the disturbing Friday incident, calling the 'drunken' mom an 'evil, sick and twisted witch.' 'Prayers for my family please and thanks. Jonah James Thornton is my nephew's son, 1 of twins, 8 month old, beautiful sweet baby boy, whose precious life was taken by the hands of his own mother Morgan Thornton, evil, sick and twisted witch!' a post on Facebook reads. The post continued, addressing Thornton's court appearance, calling her niece-in-law a 'liar.' 'She lied in that video! She said she put Jonah to bed at 7.00 and she didn't remember anything after that!' the post reads. 'She went in there and woke my nephew up and told him to "come look at what she did to this demon,"' the post alleged, adding that Thornton lied once more when she claimed to have given her ailing son CPR. 'She also said she tried to give him CPR and she did not, my nephew did!' Court records reviewed by WAFF show a history of troubling behavior for Thornton. In July, Thornton pleaded guilty to second-degree assault after she kicked a police officer during a separate incident. She had also been charged with DUI, domestic violence, and disorderly conduct in connection with the same event - those charges were dropped in exchange for her plea. She also has a 2019 conviction for public intoxication. The preliminary hearing for Thornton has been moved to August 14. Legendary astronaut Jim Lovell, who commanded the almost-doomed Apollo 13 lunar mission has passed away, aged 97. Lovell helped turn the 1970 failed moon mission into a success by safely returning the crew back to Earth after an oxygen tank exploded. NASA's Sean Duffy announced the commander's passing, and said the astronaut's life and work 'inspired millions of people across the decades'. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO To the moon and back: Jim Lovell, a veteran of four space missions, helped turn a failed moon mission into a success by safely bringing the crew back to Earth in 1970 Duffy said: 'Jim's 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. '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.' Lovell was a veteran of spaceflights Gemini VII, Gemini XII, Apollo 8, and Apollo 13. The 1968 Apollo 8 crew, with Lovell, Frank Borman, and William Anders, was the first manned mission to leave Earth's orbit, and the first to fly to and circle the moon. Though they could not land on the lunar surface, their mission still put the U.S. ahead of the Soviets in the space race. Letter writers said the crew's historic 'pale blue dot' photo of Earth from the moon, a world first, and their Christmas Eve reading from the Bible's Genesis helped lift America during the turbulent year. Claim to fame: Actor Tom Hanks (right) played the astronaut in acclaimed 1995 movie Apollo 13 Tom Hanks played Lovell in director Ron Howard's acclaimed 1995 film Apollo 13. The movie was inspired by Lovell's 1994 book Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage Of Apollo 13. Lovell recalled a meeting with Howard, in which the director asked him which actor he would want to play him. Lovell added: 'I said, Kevin Costner and Hanks never lets me forget that... But Hanks did a great job.' Lovell made a cameo appearance in the film as the commander of the U.S. Navy ship that retrieves the astronauts and shakes hands with Hanks. Life's work: Lovell was said to have 'inspired millions of people across the decades' Lovell, who had a moon crater named in his honor, retired as an astronaut in 1973, working first for a harbor towing company and then in telecommunications. He had four children with his wife Marilyn, who died in 2023. An explorer who visited Japan's largest abandoned resort has shared fascinating footage of the decaying complex - including the remnants of what would have been a five-star, 1000-room hotel. Josh, a YouTube content creator from the United States, regularly delves into some of the world's spookiest abandoned sites, including The Paris Catacombs and Pripyat, a 'ghost' town located in Chernobyl. In a recent video uploaded to his channel, @ExploringWithJosh, in July, the adventurer travelled to Ishikawa, Japan, to take a closer look at Utopia Kaga. The resort, also known as Kaga No Sato, was a religious-themed amusement park that had opened in 1987, before it was abandoned and torn down in 2005 following the Japanese bubble economy collapse in the early 1990s. Once a thriving attraction, the 28 billion yen (141M) resort featured temple halls, rollercoasters, a golden pagoda and a 240ft statue of Kaga Daikannon. But over four decades on, nothing remains of the park's past glory after being left to the elements due to high demolition costs. Though the towering golden statue still overlooks the lush green landscape, much of the resort is in ruins, with scenes from Josh's video showing dilapidated buildings, crumbling cars and overgrown vegetation. In one scene, Josh and his crew can be seen heading into the Raken Hall, which is home to 1000 Buddha statues with unique expressions. Josh and his crew can be seen heading into the Raken Hall at the Utopia Kaga resort, which is home to 1000 Buddha statues with unique expressions. Josh's video shows dilapidated buildings, crumbling cars and overgrown vegetation In the hotel's time-capsule rooms, wooden hangers are seen perfectly hung in wardrobes, while duvet covers remain folded on top of beds and fridges lay intact and unplugged nearby Blown away by the set-up, he commented: 'I've never seen anything like this. This is a surreal place. The decay of the ceiling... all of the statues in a row... This is something in a dream.' He then moved on to explore the resort's sprawling, five-star hotel, which was initially designed to allow hundreds of visitors to experience a 33-temple pilgrimage in a single day. In scenes captured by Josh, the hotel, which was finally vacated around 2012, astonishingly appears frozen in time. Most of the largely empty rooms in the building can be seen with broken glass windows and tattered curtains and carpets. However, wooden hangers are seen perfectly hung in wardrobes, while duvet covers remain folded on top of beds and fridges lay intact and unplugged nearby. Tatami rooms remain untouched, with calendars still on walls, while toy dispensers continue to spill out toys. One of the hotel's 'main areas' is shown strewn with old wooden furniture, a fully functional keyboard, and even an old crumbling Cadillac parked inside. Josh commented that the classic car had been 'preserved pretty well' despite its condition. Once a thriving attraction, the 28 billion yen (141M) resort featured temple halls, rollercoasters, a golden pagoda and a 240ft statue of Kaga Daikannon Over four decades on, nothing remains of the park's past glory after being left to the elements due to high demolition costs Meanwhile, multiple onsen - Japanese hot spring bathing facilities that use geothermal waters - across the complex feature baths overtaken by creeping greenery and surrounded by broken porcelain and debris. In a bizarre twist to the visit, Josh stumbled across an entire building that contains what appears to be a model of a Middle Eastern land, complete with a floor made of sand, miniature camels and tiny palm trees. Concluding his visit, Josh said: 'Our mouths are completely dry. This is one for the books. One of the coolest places in Japan.' Though the park is in ruins, it now stands as an attraction where visitors can interact with free-roaming rabbits and engage in activities like feeding them and participating in craft workshops. There is also a museum displaying sculptures and lacquerware. Life as a flight attendant isnt all glamorous stopovers and perfectly packed luggage. Frequently, it involves calming down mid-air meltdowns and handling passengers whove had one (or more) too many before take-off. One flight attendant has shared a harrowing story of an altercation that took place at 30,000 feet declaring it the most traumatic flight of her career. It involved three groups on stag dos outnumbering the four members of cabin crew. It was just absolute chaos, they were screaming, 32-year-old Kristina Galvydyte told The Telegraph. Imagine a night out in any British town at midnight on a Friday. It was like that. Of course, this wasnt a post-boozing brawl spilling out of a pub it was mid-flight, on the way from Edinburgh to Alicante, in southeastern Spain. She shared that one group on board became verbally abusive after cracking into their duty-free drinks something that is prohibited. One flight attendant has shared a harrowing story of an altercation that took place at 30,000 feet declaring it the most traumatic flight of her career (stock image) The incidents staff are forced to deal with are driving many to leave the industry Following this, a fracas began when another group took offence, according to The Telegraph. Kristina witnessed her colleague stand between the groups while she was calling for assistance from the cockpit. And although the intervention worked, tension was high for the remainder of the flight. Police boarded the aircraft when it landed in Spain. It was the worst flight I ever had, said Kristina. The incidents staff are forced to deal with are driving many to leave the industry. Ms Galvydyte worked for a UK-based airline which she has not named before quitting three years ago. She revealed that a friend still in the role wants a change, blaming the behaviour of passengers. Flights to certain destinations are worse than others for disruptive behaviour This incident from 2024 is an example of those that cabin crew are forced to deal with and often police get involved when the flight lands And its not surprising. Other unsavoury incidents she shared include being vomited on after a woman whod drunk beer and taken medication vomited across her. Another time, a drunk passenger asked her to strip. She remembers colleagues working on a flight where a passenger overdosed from taking cocaine which left staff traumatised and in need of compassionate leave. Flights to certain destinations are worse than others for disruptive behaviour, says Kristina, who lists Ibiza, the Canary Islands (Tenerife in particular) and Turkey as having potential for horrendous shifts. And she adds that women can be just as bad as men: They target your appearance, your accent they observe you. It was a woman who made me cry. A woman made a huge mistake when booking a trip to Disney World that put the holiday at risk. Becky, @thegeordiedisneyma, had applied for Estas for her family five months before the departure date to ensure they were prepared and ready. Estas, Electronic System for Travel Authorization, allows tourists from certain countries to visit the USA without a visa. In a TikTok video, she explained how she 'double-checked them, triple-checked them, checked them again before you even got to the airport'. However, things took a turn right before the family boarded the plane when it became clear one key detail wasn't correct. Becky's husband's date of birth had been inputted incorrectly on the Esta. She shared how she felt 'slightly traumatised' by the experience and described it as 'hell on Earth'. 'Basically we got to the airport, went to check him in and his date of birth was wrong, the day of his birth,' Becky recalled. Becky, @thegeordiedisneyma, had applied for Estas for her family five months before the departure date to ensure they were prepared and ready In a TikTok video, she explained how she 'double checked them, triple checked them, checked them again before you even got to the airport' 'I don't know how it happened, I scanned the passport, that's what the information got put in from.' Despite both Becky and her husband checking the Esta, somehow the date still managed to be put through incorrectly and approved by officials. 'We went to check in with TUI and they said they couldn't let us board because the date on the Esta didn't match his passport,' she explained. 'When I tell you my heart was in my throat and my stomach was in the other end would be an understatement of how I felt.' The family then had to repack their four cases to ensure Becky's husband's clothes were all in one in case he couldn't join them on the flight. They called various officials including border control and the US Embassy to try and resolve the issue. 'By some divine intervention the flight was delayed three hours,' Becky revealed. They still had to go through security and be ready for the flight to depart. However, things took a turn right before the family boarded the plane when it became clear Becky's husband's date of birth had been inputted incorrectly on the Esta 'I was sobbing at this point, my daughter was sobbing, my son wouldn't speak to us and he's [Becky's husband] smiling, it's fine, things happen for a reason,' the mother-of-two said. Becky and her family made their way through the security gates while her husband attempted to contact officials for help. 'The TUI representative ended up getting through to someone on Homeland Security who basically said you had to cancel the Esta before you could reapply because you can't change or cancel your own Esta once it's been approved, it has to go through them,' Becky recalled. 'So he fast-tracked it, it took an hour so it didn't come back until 12.' Becky's husband was then told to put a new Esta application in which could take up to three days to be approved. 'It gets to 1pm and we're like, if it doesn't come through now he's not going to be allowed on the plane,' Becky recalled. Fortunately, the flight was delayed again meaning they had another hour for the Esta to come through. They called various officials including border control and the US Embassy to try and resolve the issue Fortunately, the flight was delayed again meaning they had another hour for the Esta to come through 'At quarter to two, the Esta came through and he legged it through security and got through departure,' Becky revealed. 'As it happens the flight was delayed again until 4pm because there was then an emergency announcement in the airport and everything kind of stopped for ages.' Still in shock from the turn of events, Becky gushed: 'I still can't actually believe that that happened, it was like some kind of fever dream if I'm honest I still can't believe he's here. 'Moral of the story, even if you've triple checked your Estas, check them again please because that's something I never want to repeat in my whole life.' Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more A plane passenger has devised a 'genius' way to avoid excess baggage fees when flying with budget airlines - and it all starts and ends with a common clothing item. The traveller-turned-designer noticed passengers being charged for exceeding the carry-on limit and created a crafty hack to avoid fines which can be as much as 75. Instead of shoving clothes into a case or bag and hoping gate staff won't notice, the creator suggests carrying a few extra bits in a specially designed hoodie that doubles up as a backpack. Known as @traxexhoodie on Instagram, the flyer showcased the convenience of a Travex hoodie, which features a backpack seamlessly built into the back of the garment. The clothing item is currently on sale for 44.99 on the Travex website - with affordable dupes found elsewhere on the likes of Amazon - and is available in unisex sizes M to 4XL in both black and grey. Travex Backpack Hoodie - Grey The clothing item is currently on sale for 44.99 on the Travex website - with affordable dupes found elsewhere on the likes of Amazon - and is available in unisex sizes M to 4XL in both black and grey The video, accompanied with a caption that reads, 'Sir, you're only allowed to bring two bags on board,' has since amassed over 130K likes and 1100 comments. In the clip, the male passenger can be seen on the tarmac queueing to board the plane with a small suitcase by his side and a backpack slung on his shoulders. He then removes the backpack to give a sneaky peek of the Travex hoodie underneath. A plane passenger-turned-desginer has devised a 'genius' way to avoid excess baggage fees when flying with budget airlines - and it all starts and ends with a common clothing item Known as @traxexhoodie on Instagram, the flyer showcased the convenience of a Travex hoodie, which features a backpack seamlessly built into the back of the garment In a follow-up scene, he demonstrated how much storage the garment's two zipped compartments have, as he effortlessly fitted several t-shirts, shorts, an Apple MacBook, a pair of trainers and a spare toothbrush inside. Though many hailed the garment as 'absolute genius,' some social media users were a little more skeptical. One person quizzed: 'How did he get that jacket through security? Im sure they would question the passenger and make him remove the items in the huge pocket.' Another asked, 'How do you get it off in the airplane though when you have to sit down?' while a third commented, 'Straight denied boarding when the airline finds out.' A fourth added, 'Why just one backpack? Make one with two backpacks, one in the front and one in the back,' while a fifth said, 'Make it more invisible please why did u make it like a backpack.' A number of other users showed enthusiasm for the garment, as one said, 'This is diabolical... Where can I buy this,' while another wrote, 'This is absolute genius.' Another commented: 'Gotta get creative on these airlines. I approve this message!' The Daily Mail has reached out to Ryanair, Wizz Air, easyJet and Jet2 for further comment. Though many hailed the garment as 'absolute genius,' some social media users were a little more skeptical Meanwhile, one mother is on hand to share her 'best' method for keeping fine jewellery tangle-free in luggage whilst travelling. Sana, from New York, U.S., is a content creator on TikTok who regularly shares 'mom' hacks with her 9,000 followers, ranging from cooking, to crafts, to cleaning. In a recent video, uploaded to her page @sanamotherhood, she demonstrated how she used a plastic straw to prevent her necklace tangling. The mother simply threaded one end of the necklace through the straw, before fastening it to the clasp and inserting the tube seamlessly into her jewellery bag. Those looking to indulge themselves in comfort locally may be pleased to find a UK hotel has been named one of the most glamorous places to stay in the world. Lifestyle magazine Robb Report has compiled a list of the greatest luxury hotels and amongst the 50 extravagant accommodation options is a well-known British venue. Claridge's placed third, and was described as one of the best places for those expecting high-end hospitality during their travels. The London-based hotel first opened its doors back in 1812 and has built up a reputation for hosting celebrities and society's wealthiest. With a five-star rating, it may be unsurprising that Robb Report described Claridge's as the 'grande dame of the London hotel scene'. Though it doesn't have golden beaches nearby and tropical temperatures, Claridge's beat other stunning locations including in the Maldives and Australia. It's easy to see why. Despite being around for centuries, the hotel is constantly bringing itself up to date and into the spotlight, describing itself as an 'an Art Deco masterpiece'. During July, New Yorks award-winning restaurant and bar Dante partnered with the hotel and served it's best cocktails for just one month. Those looking to indulge themselves in comfort locally may be pleased to find a UK hotel has been named one of the most glamorous places to stay in the world Claridge's placed third, and was described as one of the best places for those expecting high-end hospitality during their travels As for its guests, Claridge's has been welcoming regal visitors for some time. Queen Victoria first brought Claridge's into royal circles when she visited it in the 1860s with Prince Albert. Since then, it has been a firm favourite of several members of the Royal Family. Princess Diana and Prince Charles hosted their wedding reception in the establishment back in 1981. The late Queen Elizabeth regularly enjoyed lunch there, too. A string of stars have been known to stay at Claridge's, including Mick Jagger and Lady Gaga. Unique Properties and Events co-owner Cedric Reversade called the penthouse apartments 'so chic', according to Robb Report. He added: 'You have the impression there that Princess Margaret is joining you for a gin and tonic.' While Artisans of Leisure Ashley Isaacs Ganz gushed: 'It's my home away from home in London.' Prices to stay in one of Claridge's luxurious rooms start at around 1,000 per night. With a five-star rating, it may be unsurprising that Robb Report described Claridge's as the 'grande dame of the London hotel scene' Though it doesn't have golden beaches nearby and tropical temperatures, Claridge's still beat other stunning locations including in the Maldives and Australia Only two other establishments were ranked above Claridge's on the list, Collegio alla Querce, in Florence, Italy, and Rosewood Amsterdam in the Netherlands. In first place, Rosewood Amsterdam only opened in May and is situated in the former Palace of Justice and offers 134 luxurious rooms priced from $1,049 (779) per night. While Collegio alla Querce followed next which consists of three buildings dating back to the Renaissance era. It is home to plenty of original features, like hand-painted frescoes, while also offering beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. Prices start from $1,410 (1,047) per night. Antiques Roadshow: VJ Day Special (BBC1) Rating: The words are inscribed on war memorials across the country: 'When you go home, tell them of us and say, For your tomorrow, we gave our today.' But few, perhaps, know the words are sometimes called the Kohima Prayer, named after a battle in a remote part of India in 1944, a turning point in the war against Japan. Unlike Alamein or Arnhem, Kohima is not frequently remembered. Sadly, the courage and the sacrifice of the British and Commonwealth soldiers who defended it, the 14th Army, are often overlooked too. No wonder they sometimes called themselves, with dry irony, the Forgotten Fourteenth. But their story was marked with a mixture of solemnity and sentimentality as some of their descendants brought treasured keepsakes of the war in the Far East to the Antiques Roadshow: VJ Day Special. 'It's history in your hand,' remarked historian Robert Tilney, as he inspected a Japanese officer's shin gunto sword, a trophy from Kohima. 'It's a hairs-on-the-back-of-your-neck job.' This episode traced the conflict chronologically, from Pearl Harbor to Hiroshima. Unlike Alamein or Arnhem, Kohima is not frequently remembered. Sadly, the courage and the sacrifice of the British and Commonwealth soldiers who defended it, the 14th Army, are often overlooked too. But their story was marked in the Far East to the Antiques Roadshow: VJ Day Special This episode traced the conflict chronologically, from Pearl Harbor to Hiroshima. The names are familiar but the horrors suffered by troops in the jungles of South-east Asia are beyond imagination. Pictured: WWII veteran Bill Redston with Fiona Bruce Children and grandchildren of the survivors all repeated versions of the same line: 'He never talked about it much.' Pictured: Fiona Bruce with two guests whose father fought on opposing sides of The Battles of Kohima and Imphal in 1944 JUGGLING ACT OF THE WEEKEND A dolphin mother taught her calf how to play keepy-uppy with a piece of coral balanced on her nose, in Parenthood (BBC1). The trick was to drop it and catch it again before it hit the seabed. No using teeth or flippers... that's cheating. Advertisement The names are familiar but the horrors suffered by troops in the jungles of South-east Asia are beyond imagination, as viewers of The Narrow Road To The Deep North (which followed on BBC1) can attest. Children and grandchildren of the survivors all repeated versions of the same line: 'He never talked about it much.' In part, as presenter Fiona Bruce discovered, this was because soldiers who returned from the murderous Japanese prisoner-of-war camps were under orders not to discuss what they had endured. I've always felt there was another, subtler psychological reason: these men had been through hell to protect their families. By making light of what they suffered, they were able to continue giving that protection. There was no doubting the debt of gratitude, coupled with a deep sense of respect, that everyone on the show felt. None of the artefacts was given a valuation that would have been crass. In any case, how can you put a price on a bowl fashioned from a coconut shell, which was one man's only possession during his long imprisonment? Many of the items were impossibly poignant, such as a chess set carved from balsa wood with a penknife, or the hat worn by a soldier with the Chindits, an explosives expert fighting deep behind enemy lines There was no doubting the debt of gratitude, coupled with a deep sense of respect, that everyone on the show felt. None of the artefacts was given a valuation that would have been crass Many of the items were impossibly poignant, such as a chess set carved from balsa wood with a penknife, or the hat worn by a soldier with the Chindits, an explosives expert fighting deep behind enemy lines. Possibly the most touching of all was a letter from an artillery man to his baby son, and preserved with care for more than 80 years. 'Dear little Jimmy,' he wrote, 'though you won't be able to read this, I hope you'll keep it and cherish it. Be very good for mummy as she's the dearest person in the world and love her just as much as I do.' Jimmy had a lump in his throat as he read it. And so did I. A hit horror series starring a beloved Hollywood A-lister has been axed by Disney+, leaving devastated fans fuming. The supernatural show Goosebumps, based on the R.L. Stine children's book series of the same name, has been cancelled after just two seasons. The first series aired shortly before Halloween, 2023, and the second saw Friends star David Schwimmer join the glittering cast in 2024. He starred alongside He's Just Not That Into You actor Justin Long, Eastenders' Zack Morris and Gossip Girl's Ana Yi Puig. The recent series was the modern iteration of the original TV adaptation from 1995, and its cancellation has gutted new fans and old-school followers alike. Series three will not return to streaming platform Disney+, although there is talk of Sony Pictures Television selling the show to other potential networks. The supernatural show Goosebumps, based on the R.L. Stine children's book series of the same name, has been cancelled after just two seasons The first series aired shortly before Halloween , 2023, and the second saw Friends star David Schwimmer (pictured) join the glittering cast in 2024 Variety reports the production company plans to 'explore different creative directions for the IP,' although the show's future is not a guarantee. David Schwimmer, 58, played Anthony Brewer in season two, a former botany professor and divorced father to twins Cece and Devin - played by Jayden Bartels and Sam McCarthy. The programme deviated from the method of its 90s predecessor, opting to explore one story per season rather than a new plot every episode. Fans of the series are crestfallen, and many flocked to social media to express their disdain for the studio's decision. 'Goosebumps deserved more!' wrote one, adding: 'The show had potential and a nostalgic fanbase - sad to see it go this soon.' Others felt the show's nostalgic streak worked in its favour, with one saying: 'Why cancel a show with nostalgia value when half the platform is filled with forgettable reboots?' 'They could have given us one last season,' lamented one commenter, and a fourth chimed in: 'How could they?!' Viewers were left on a cliffhanger after expecting another installment of the show. The recent series was the modern iteration of the original TV adaptation from 1995, and its cancellation has gutted new fans and old-school followers alike Series three will not return to streaming platform Disney+, although there is talk of Sony Pictures Television selling the show to other potential networks The programme deviated from the method of its 90s predecessor, opting to explore one story per season rather than a new plot every episode 'I was hoping it might get a new season,' said one, and another added: 'No, I loved the second season.' It comes as the BBC has quietly axed a fan-favourite crime drama which starred a huge actress after just two series on air in a blow to fans. Originally launching in 2021, the show had built up a loyal audience and bagged an impressive 83% Rotten Tomatoes score. However, Annika won't return for a third series, days after it arrived in a primetime slot on BBC One last week. A spokesperson for UKTV said: 'We are incredibly proud of the success of Annika on U&Alibi, but there are no current plans for a third series.' Starring Nicola Walker, the show's first home was U&Alibi and was originally based on BBC Radio 4 drama Annika Stranded. The 55 year old played the role of Detective Inspector Annika Strandhed, the head of Scotland's Homicide Unit. Other stars who appeared in the drama include Jamie Sives, Katie Leung, Ukweli Roach, Paul McGann, Silvie Furneaux and Sven Henriksen. Fans of the series are crestfallen, and many flocked to social media to express their disdain for the studio's decision Despite Nicola's on screen success she keeps relatively quiet about her family life and marriage to fellow actor Barnaby Kay. It is not known where the couple met, but they have a son named Harry, who was born in 2006. The cancellation comes after it was revealed Nicola's other show Forgotten, which airs on ITV, is reportedly facing the axe. Its writer Chris Lang has admitted he wishes to step down after the upcoming series in a blow to fans. The crime drama follows detectives as they delve into cold cases however the latest season received criticism from viewers who blasted ITV for 'ruining' it with 'woke and nonsensical' storylines. And now it seems the future of the show has been called into question with Chris' involvement uncertain. Speaking in an interview with the Royal Television Society he said: 'I'll probably hand on the baton after this series. I'll still be involved, but I've written 42 episodes and don't want to repeat myself,' The Sun reported. She stole the heart of a true movie giant with her bombshell looks and then landed iconic film roles in the 1960s and '70s. After landing her Oscar-nominated role alongside Natalie Wood she went on to turn heads again years later in a hit Warren Beatty movie. The former model and actress, now age 88, was once a silver screen siren known just as much for her beauty and long list of admirers. She went on to marry second husband Stanley Fimberg in 1985 but also had high profile relationships with Johnny Carson and TV's original Tarzan, Ron Ely. Now 88, she no longer does much film work but still makes headlines for her public appearances such as sitting courtside at an LA Lakers game, and more recently, admitting she still has a very active romantic life. Can you guess who it is? This iconic glamor girl from the '60s and '70s was spotted looking as fashionable as ever while taking her adorable pooches for a walk in Los Angeles last week The former bombshell, who is still flaunting her signature blonde locks, looked stylish in a black top, leopard leggings, dangling cross earrings, and designer sunglasses It's Dyan Cannon! The Hollywood icon was seen taking her dogs for a walk around her LA neighborhood, in exclusive Daily Mail photos. Cannon looked almost unrecognizable in oversized designer shades and with her famous blonde mane tied up in a high ponytail. She still looked stylish in a black top, leopard leggings, and leather sneakers. She accessorized with bronze drop cross earrings and a black designer purse. Cannon appeared sprightly but at one point did have to wrangle the pups through the streets as one dog seemed less interested in the stroll. Despite largely keeping away from the spotlight these days, Cannon made headlines back in April for sharing details about her still-active dating life. Dyan Cannon got her start on TV in the late 50s and early 60s, but she gained more prominence with her 1965 marriage to Hollywood superstar Cary Grant, who was 33 years her senior. The couple had a daughter Jennifer Exclusive Daily Mail photos show the Hollywood star ran into some trouble trying to wrangle her pups on the sidewalk after one showed a little resistance Cannon was once a silver screen siren but has shied away from the spotlight in recent years, aside from the occasional public appearances While attending the 10th Annual Hollywood Beauty Awards, she revealed that she still likes to juggle multiple 'friends with benefits' and there are still 'more to come,' according to People. When she was asked if she was still dating, she responded with an 'of course,' before clarifying that she's only interested if the person is 'somebody very special.' She added that she was seeing 'several special [people]...' at the moment, adding that she had multiple physical connections with partners that didn't come with the baggage of relationships and commitment. 'I have friends with benefits, yes,' she admitted. Cannon began acting in the 50s and early 1960s with various television guest roles, but it was her relationship with film superstar Cary Grant who was 33 years her senior that elevated her public image. He asked to meet her after seeing her in Ely's diving drama Malibu Run. The two married in 1965 and had one daughter, Jennifer, before their divorce three years later. Cannon's relationship with film superstar Grant started when he asked to meet her after seeing her on TV's Malibu Run Who could blame Cary Grant for wanting to meet her? Dyan starred as the appropriately named Wiggles in the flop This Rebel Breed in 1960, the same year she caught Grant's eye on Malibu Run Dyan's big breakthrough was in 1969 with the release of the counterculture comedy Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice; seen with costars Elliott Gould, Natalie Wood and Robert Culp She also starred alongside Sean Connery in 1970 crime film The Anderson Tapes It wasn't until after their split that Dyan became a major Hollywood star in her own right thanks to her Oscar-nominated role in the counter-culture hit Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice which follows two friendly couples who experiment with swinging. Wood, Robert Culp and Elliott Gould were the others in the menage a quatre. She also appeared opposite Sean Connery in The Anderson Tapes and in Otto Preminger's Such Good Friends which earned her a Golden Globe nomination. She followed that up with two more Oscar nods for the short film Number One and as the gold-digging Julia Farnsworth in Warren Beatty's Heaven Can Wait. Besides Grant, Cannon was also married to businessman Stanley Fimberg, whom she divorced in 1991 after a six-year union. Other notable past relationships include chat show legend Carson, Ely, comedian Mort Sahl, talent agent Ron Weisner and actors Armond Assante, Hy Chase and Michael Nouri. Though she has acted less frequently in recent years, Cannon turned to writing with the publication of her memoir Dear Cary: My Life With Cary Grant in 2011. The book was a bestseller and came after she had turned down lucrative offers to write a memoir about her marriage for decades. In the last few months, we've spotlighted some of Australia's biggest movers and shakers, zeroing in on the sets with the most prominent society figures. From Melbourne to Sydney, from Byron Bay to the Gold Coast, we've left no stone - or socialite - unturned. Yet, Australia's vibrant and accomplished Italian community deserves recognition too. These hard-working trailblazers are some of the most diverse players Down Under, with thriving enterprises spanning food, fashion, coffee, wine and hospitality, all rooted in the traditions and specialties of their native Italy. So who are the Italian-Australians living la dolce vita? Let's begin with the A-list... The biggest name in Sydney's Italian community is Salvatore 'Sam' Tarascio (centre), the billionaire owner of Salta Properties THE A-LIST The undisputed heavyweight of Sydney's Italian community is Salvatore 'Sam' Tarascio, the billionaire owner of Salta Properties. After migrating from Italy, Tarascio launched his property empire in the 1960s. He's now worth $11billion and is a recent addition to the Australian Forbes Rich List. Today, his son Sam helms the business. Salvatore is followed by the Valmorbida family, who made their fortune in the 1950s importing Italian goods such as Lavazza coffee, La Gina tomatoes and Sirena tuna. Their wealth was initially built by brothers Carlo, Mariano, Tarcisio and Saverio. They bought the Mitchelton winery in 1980, and Carlo's son John developed it into a highly successful business. By the early 2000s, the Valmorbidas' estimated net worth was $500million. Joining them on the A-list is the Valmorbida family, who rose to prominence in the 1950s by importing Italian goods to Australia, like Lavazza coffee, La Gina tomatoes and Sirena tuna Construction giant Bruno Grollo (pictured with brother Rino) also makes the Italian A-list Developer titan Bruno Grollo also makes the Italian A-list. His company Grocon, now controlled by his son Daniel, is behind many of Melbourne's most iconic landmarks, including Crown Towers, Eureka Tower, and the Rialto. In May 2021, Grocon narrowly avoided liquidation when the ATO and other creditors of 88 collapsed subsidiaries backed a settlement under a Deed of Company Arrangement, ensuring employees and small creditors were paid ahead of larger claims. Completing our top tier - and this may be controversial - is the wife of rapper Kanye West, Bianca Censori, and her family of Italian Melburnians. Bianca's father, Leo, operates a legitimate arcade machine business and happens to be the brother of Eris Censori, a figure once dubbed 'Melbourne's Al Capone'. Bianca's mother, Alexandra, is also a notable presence on Melbourne's social scene. Rounding out the top tier is Kanye West's wife Bianca Censori and her family. (Pictured left to right is Bianca's mother Alexandra, Bianca, her sister Alyssia and her other sister Angelina) THE B-LIST Topping the B-list is the Menegazzo family, whose fortune was valued at $499million in 2015. The family's intensely private patriarch Peter Menegazzo made a fortune as a potato grower and, later, a cattle baron after his grocer father emigrated from Italy to Victoria in the 1920s. When he and wife Angela Menegazzo died in a light plane crash in NSW in 2005, they left their estate equally to their four children. A bitter legal dispute erupted later, when son Mark Menegazzo claimed he was short-changed, having received $64million as his quarter share after opting out of the family business. Bianca and Bridgett Roccisano have also earned their place in the middle tier. Sisters Bianca and Bridgett Roccisano have also earned their place in the middle tier The sisters are co-founders of the eponymous clothing label Bianca and Bridgett, as well as Booby Tape, which has been described as a 'breast lift in a box'. Worn by the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Booby Tape products are sold in more than 35 countries. In 2023, they won the Emerging Exporter Award for Victoria. Lastly, there are the daughters of late fashion designer Carla Zampatti: Bianca and Allegra Spender. Born in Italy in 1942, Zampatti migrated to Australia with her parents when she was nine, and set up her eponymous famous label at 24. Her designs have been worn by the likes of Queen Mary of Denmark, former prime minister Julia Gillard and Oscar-winning actress Nicole Kidman. Lastly, there's late fashion designer Carla Zampatti's daughters Bianca and Allegra Spender Born in Italy in 1942, Zampatti migrated to Australia with her parents when she was nine HONOURABLE MENTIONS Karl Stefanovic is famously of Serbian heritage, but few know that his less famous brother Tom married into quite a prominent Italian family when he tied the knot with former publicist Jenna Dinicola. Jenna and Tom, a former TV cameraman, prefer to lead their lives out of the spotlight, running the Mandole Orchard almond farm in Griffith. Italian-Australian fashion designer Bettina Liano and her sister, barrister-turned-reality-star Gina Liano, are also honourable mentions. At its height, Bettina's store Sempre L'Unico had eight stores in Australia but the business went into administration in 2013. Gina was a star on The Real Housewives of Melbourne, but left the show in 2021. Tom Stefanovic's (far left) wife Jenna Dinicola (second from left) is said to be from a prominent Italian family. They are pictured with Tom's brothers Peter (centre right) and Karl (second from right) and their respective wives Sylvia Jeffreys (centre left) and Jasmine Yarbrough (far right) Italian-Australian fashion designer Bettina Liano (left) and her sister, barrister-turned-reality-star Gina Liano (right), are also honourable mentions Mick Gatto's daughter Sarah Gatto (pictured with her husband Danny Awad) rounds out our list Mick Gatto's daughter Sarah Gatto rounds out our list. Mick was once a member of Melbourne's inner-city Carlton Crew along with Alphonse Gangitano, Mario Condello and Graham Kinniburgh, all of whom were killed in the city's last gangland war. In 2019, Sarah's husband Danny Awad was sentenced to a non-parole period of 10 years in jail after being found guilty of trying to take possession of $10million worth of cocaine. He was released in 2022 after the High Court set aside his conviction, and later reportedly celebrated his newfound freedom with a holiday in Queensland. READ MORE SHOWBIZ FROM DAILYMAIL+ Christie Brinkley has a new take on marriage after four divorces. The famed model, 71, chat with Kristen Davis on her Are You a Charlotte? podcast on Thursday, expressing a new twist on the concept of holy matrimony that introduces elements of leasing. Davis, 60, asked Brinkley, who has been through four marriages, if she felt the idea of a lifelong monogamous relationship was 'outmoded.' The Monroe, Michigan-born model said she felt reviewing a relationship 'every five years' would enable people to exit stagnant romances without absorbing the costly financial and emotional tolls that divorce brings about. 'You could get married, like, "We'll see if you want to renew it in five years,"' the Uptown Girl beauty said. 'Every five years, go, "Do you want to renew?"' The National Lampoon's Vacation star told Davis: 'If you're getting bored or whatever, you can get out of it without all the lawyers and all that stuff.' Christie Brinkley, 71, has a new take on marriage after four divorces, with a new point of view on holy matrimony that introduces elements of leasing. Pictured last month in the Hamptons The National Lampoon's Vacation star was pictured July 31 in Sagaponack, New York Brinkley added that 'honorable men are becoming a rarity' amid a social landscape choc with 'so much temptation.' Brinkley's unconventional take comes after four marriages that ended in divorce. She was wed to Jean-Francois Allaux, an artist from France between 1975 and 1981. From 1985 to 1994, she was wed to famed musician Billy Joel, in a union that produced daughter Alexa Ray Joel, 39. Joel had been seeing Australia-born supermodel Elle Macpherson prior to his high-profile romance with Brinkley. Brinkley from 1994 to 1995 was wed to real estate businessman Richard Taubman, and they welcomed son Jack Brinkley-Cook, 30. From 1996 to 2006, she was wed to architect Peter Cook in a union that produced Sailor Brinkley-Cook, 27, while Peter also adopted Jack. On the podcast, Brinkley told the Sex and the City actress that she and her daughter Sailor - who are separated by more than four decades in age - had matched with the same males on dating apps. From 1985 to 1994, she was wed to famed musician Billy Joel. Pictured in 1983 From 1996 to 2006, she was wed to architect Peter Cook in a union that produced Sailor Brinkley-Cook, 27, while Peter also adopted Jack. Pictured in NYC in 2000 Brinkley said she has stayed off dating apps, but her daughter Sailor conducted an experiment and made a profile for her. 'She wanted to see what kind of guys' would be interested, Brinkley told Davis. 'She put me up there.' Brinkley continued, Sailor 'said, "Mom, youre right not to go on it, because the same guys that said yes to me, are saying yes to you."' Brinkley in July told The New York Times that she's 'too trusting' in her relationships, and often makes decisions based on emotion. 'I'm a fool for love,' Brinkley said. 'That love takes work. Sometimes you need to rely on experts. 'I wish I could have found ways to save some; I wish I hadn't married others.' Brinkley, who is single at this time, added that some of the 'relationships [she] was in made [her] feel unloved,' but can feel 'loveable' when nestled 'in the right arms.' Channel Nine's Today show stars made an X-rated joke about Tammy Hembrow and Bailey Smith live on air on Monday, after the pair were spotted enjoying a date on the Gold Coast over the weekend. Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo were discussing the pair's rumoured new relationship with Jayne Azzopardi and Danika Mason, when they made a joke about the AFL star's performance on the field on Friday night. 'I don't know who is prettier. They kind of look like twins,' Sarah Abo said. 'They could probably share the same shampoo and conditioner,' another presenter added. They then joked Bailey was on 'fire' after getting 'about 31 touches on the weekend... on the field.' The hosts all burst into laughter before host Karl then added: 'Wow that's a handsome couple. Channel Nine's Today show stars made an X-rated joke about Tammy Hembrow and Bailey Smith live on-air on Monday. Pictured hosts Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo Karl Stefanovic and Sarah Abo were discussing Tammy and Bailey's (pictured) rumoured new relationship with Jayne Azzopardi and Danika Mason, when they made a joke about the AFL star's performance on the field on Friday night 'Good luck to them. Love is love.' Tammy stepped out with Bailey over the weekend just days after claiming she was happily single following her shock split from husband Matthew Zukowski. Two months after her breakup with the Love Island star, the fitness mogul, 31, was spotted cosying up to Bailey during a lunch date on the Gold Coast on Saturday with the longhaired midfielder flying in from Melbourne just to see her. The Cats' new recruit, 24, was riding high after helping his team thrash Essendon at GMHBA Stadium on Friday night. By Saturday morning, he was on a flight to Brisbane for his secret weekend rendezvous with Tammy. Bailey didn't skimp on their date, taking her out for a swanky meal at PanAsian hotspot Rick Shores at Burleigh Heads, where the pair were anything but discreet. Tammy - braless, of course - turned heads in a semi-sheer cropped tank top which she teamed with baggy jeans, white heels and a $5,000 Chanel Boy Bag. Bailey - his code's most eligible bachelor - dressed down for the occasion in denim and a blue polo shirt and let his signature Tarzan-like mane of blond hair flow freely. They also joked that Tammy and Bailey looked like twins as they both had long blonde hair The chemistry was undeniable, with the two seen leaving the venue handinhand, laughing and whispering as they spied our photographer. After lunch, it's quite possible the two made the 15-minute journey to Hembrow's $2.88million waterfront home in Broadbeach Waters to get to know each other better. That same day, Tammy shared a gallery of snaps on Instagram while clad in sultry lingerie. She was posing on her bed. Bailey jetted back to Melbourne on Sunday to resume training ahead of Geelong's clash with the Swans at the SCG. But it was upon his return to Melbourne Airport that Bailey made a telling remark that hinted at a deeper connection with the Instafamous mother of three. When our photographer mispronounced Tammy's surname - saying 'Hembrow' instead of 'Hembro' - Bailey didn't hesitate to scold him. 'It's Hem-bro, not Hem-brow,' he snapped - a protective four-word correction that hints this could be more than a casual fling. 'F**kin' hell, do your research,' he added, before shooting a nervous glance at the club minder trailing behind him. Pressed on whether he and Tammy were officially an item, Bailey played coy: 'What do you want me to say?' he muttered, before letting loose with a string of expletives. When approached for comment on the photos of Tammy and Bailey, Zukowski told a reporter: 'I heard about this and it's not a nice feeling. 'We only broke up eight weeks ago. I just don't understand how someone can move on so quickly. It's been 48 days and I'm still trying to work out how I feel as a person after committing in marriage to someone. I'm trying to focus on myself and heal.' Rosie Huntington-Whiteley put her incredibly trim figure on full display as she posed up a storm in a tiny white bikini in new Instagram photos. The former Victoria's Secret model, 38, looked fitter than ever as she posed on the beach, partially covering her legs with a pair of sheer white trousers. She accessorised the beach look with a statement gold necklace and earrings and protected her eyes with a fashionable pair of oversized black sunglasses. Keeping it cool but stylish, the model wore her hair back in a plaited ponytail as she struck effortless poses at the undisclosed location. She revealed in the caption for the images that she was wearing a bikini set from the luxury fitness brand Alo. For those wishing to emulate the star's look, the bra retails for a cool 58 and the thong costs an additional 28. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley put her incredibly trim figure on full display as she posed up a storm in a tiny white bikini in new Instagram photos The former Victoria's Secret model, 38, looked fitter than ever as she posed on the beach, partially covering her legs with a pair of see-through white trousers Fans were quick to praise the model's unbelievable body in the comments section, writing: 'Your body is an inspiration.'; 'I swear to god a RHW post comes up every time I am having post-Chinese takeaway regret.'; 'The hottest woman alive.'; 'Mother is serving body-ody-ody.' This is not the first time that Rosie has recently showed off her body and she put her washboard abs on display as she relaxed in the crystal clear ocean while she enjoyed some downtime on her recent family holiday. She was every inch the doting mother as she cuddled up to Isabella while she also enjoyed some fun activities in the son with Jack. Rosie also posted an adorable photograph of actor Jason, 57, sharing a hug with their two children. He sweetly cuddled them both on a sofa in the lavish vessel before he took Isabella on a jet ski and enjoyed a swim in the ocean himself. Fans were quick to praise the model's unbelievable body in the comments section, writing: 'Your body is an inspiration' She revealed in the caption for the images that she was wearing a bikini set from the luxury fitness brand Alo Rosie also put her washboard abs on display as she relaxed in the crystal clear ocean while she enjoyed some downtime Rosie Huntington-Whiteley shared an array of sun-soaked snaps from her family trip to Positano, Italy (pictured with her daughter Isabella) The family has been vacationing in the sun-soaked location in the southern coast of Italy for her brother Toby's wedding to his partner Noa. They were staying at the five-star hotel Villa Treville, which boasts stunning views of the Amalfi Coast. Rooms start at 3,416 per night, which makes it a luxury place suitable for the stars. Rosie and Jason have been together since 2009 and got engaged in January 2016. The model revealed they had taken their relationship to the next level when she flashed her impressive diamond ring at the Golden Globes that year. The model, who grew up in Devon, recently revealed why she returned to the UK in 2020 and explained that it was always 'the plan' to raise her children in the UK. She told The Times: 'We love the schools, the education. Theyre growing up British with their little British accents, which was important for us, and we have a great support system here. 'Jays parents live up the road and see the kids most days, my family come to visit every six or eight weeks.' Pete Wicks has reluctantly admitted that he is 'in love' with a new mystery woman six months on from his break-up from Maura Higgins. The Only Way is Essex star, 36, was forced to confess his love on the Staying Relevant podcast with bestie Sam Thompson, 33. He was given a lie detector test that saw him hooked up to a polygraph as Sam hit him with a series of questions. Sam asked: 'Are you in love with somebody right now?' While Pete said no, the waiting polygrapher gave a thumbs down to indicate that the star was lying - and he proceeded to tease his new romance. An excited Sam said: 'Ahhh I knew it! And that's all we're going to say.' Pete Wicks, 36, was forced to confess his love on the Staying Relevant podcast with bestie Sam Thompson, 33 Pete Wicks has reluctantly admitted that he is 'in love' with a new mystery woman six months on from his split with Maura Higgins When asked why he had lied, Pete admitted: 'I don't know, it just came to my head, it's a f****** lie.' Sam was so excited by the news that he almost jumped out of his seat and said: 'Pete's in love with somebody. Find her! Find her! 'Pete's in love secretly and I think I know who it is.' Pete replied: 'You know exactly who it is, I literally told you the f****** story, she's not replied.' The angry reality star stressed: 'Why would you put that one in there? That was not on the f****** list!' Despite Sam's excitement, no further details - including the mystery woman's name - were revealed. An uncomfortable Pete asked: 'Are we f****** done with me now?' While Pete's relationship with Maura ended with allegations that he cheated, he has not yet confirmed any new romance. Sam was so excited by the news that he almost jumped out of his seat and said: 'Pete's in love with somebody. Find her! Find her! An uncomfortable Pete asked: 'Are we f****** done with me now?' after making the surprising revelation Pete and Maura were first linked in August last year, but the former couple went their separate ways in February, and Maura was later seen kissing McFly's Danny Jones at the BRITs. At the time, Pete distanced himself from the drama this caused by going on his already planned luxury holiday to Dubai. A source told the Daily Mail: 'Pete has moved on and couldn't care less about Maura. He feels indifferent about the drama currently surrounding her. 'He is focusing on himself and enjoying a break in the sun before getting back into work.' Pete stayed at The Lana hotel, the Dorchester Collections first hotel in the Middle East, with rooms starting at 730 per night. Machine Gun Kelly had a dramatic three-word response to rumors he may have struck up a romance with Sydney Sweeney. Earlier this year the duo were seen getting close at the star-studded opening of the Palm Tree Beach Club at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The rapper, 35, was asked about the speculation during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live - and it was clear he didn't want to discuss the Euphoria star, 27. Viewer 'Kyle P.' submitted a question asking MGK - real name Colson Baker - about the matter, and the actor did not shy away from telling the curious fan exactly how he felt about the topic. 'MGK, Kyle P. wants to know if there's any truth you and Sydney Sweeney were more than just friends?' Host Andy Cohen, 57, asked, reading the viewer-submitted question. 'Kyle P., shut up dude,' MGK said, garnering laughter from the studio. Machine Gun Kelly had a dramatic three-word response about rumors he may be romancing Sydney Sweeney The rapper sparked romance rumors earlier this year after they were seen chatting at the opening of the Palm Tree Beach Club at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas; Sydney pictured in Los Angeles earlier this month MGK and Sydney have known each other since starring together in the 2021 film Downfalls High, which MGK also directed. But in May, the pair looked extra chummy as they spoke with one another at the Las Vegas party. At the time, MGK had recently split from Megan Fox, with the couple welcoming their first child together two months prior (MGK also has a daughter with ex Emma Cannon and Megan has three kids with ex Brian Austin Green). In exclusive Daily Mail video, Kelly and Sweeney were seen getting close and chatting. They were also seen sharing a fierce embrace in photos obtained by Page Six. Not only that, but they made appearances in one another's social media accounts as they posted about the bash. Sydney appeared in a silly selfie MGK posted that also included Patrick Schwarzenegger and hairstylist Glen Oropeza. The selfie was one of several MGK included in a post that he captioned, 'stop what youre doing these pictures are v important.' Kelly told a viewer to 'shut up' after they asked about the dating speculation At the time of the Sydney-MGK sighting, the musician had recently split from Megan Fox, with the couple welcoming their first child together two months prior; pictured 2023 Sydney is back on the market after splitting from Jonathan Davino earlier this year; the pair pictured December 2024 The Euphoria star also posted the results of a snap she took with MGK and the White Lotus star. Sydney's love life has been making headlines ever since her breakup with longtime fiance Jonathan Davino. The actress split from Davino earlier this year in January, but news of the separation didn't come to light until March. Disgraced radio star Marty Sheargold is out to recover some career momentum after losing his Triple M radio gig earlier this year. The 53-year-old media veteran exited the network in February after slamming the Matildas, leaving the funnyman branded 'sexist' and 'un-Australian'. And according to insiders, the comedian and TV actor is planning an extensive stand-up stage tour that won't bring any comfort to his critics. Sources close to Sheargold say that the one-time Have You Been Paying Attention? regular is 'refusing' to be cancelled, reported the Herald Sun on Monday. The shows won't be announced until October, but fans can expect Sheargold's routine to be unfiltered, 'unapologetic' and 'anti-woke', insiders told the publication. Sheargold, who recently co-starred in the ABC Logie-winning hit comedy Fisk, has been keeping a low profile over the last five months. Marty Sheargold (pictured) is out to recover some career momentum after losing his Triple M radio gig earlier this year. The 53-year-old media veteran exited the network in February after slamming the Matildas, leaving the funnyman branded 'sexist' and 'un-Australian' The controversial personality went out with a 'bang', outraging listeners on his final show in February, when he claimed a disease hundreds of thousands of women suffer from is 'made up'. One hour into his final show, Sheargold complained he needed a heat pack to relieve his sore back, before going on to slam women for 'carrying on' about endometriosis, which he claimed was fake. 'I've done me back. It's no secret over the last couple of days. I can't hide it anymore,' he told his co-hosts and listeners at the time. 'I've got a heat pack behind my back, which is very comforting and thank you to Whitney [Plowman, executive producer] for bringing her period heat pack here because, God, don't ladies carry on it. Jesus Christ, there is no end of it. Honestly, endometriosis and this is controversial.' A co-host urged Sheargold not to continue with the sentence but he charged ahead, saying: 'No, I'm going to say it. It's controversial. It's made up'. Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus, causing pain, heavy periods and, at times, infertility. It affects nearly 1 million Australian women. Triple M axed host Sheargold after he was blasted for comments he made only days earlier about the Matildas, which have been branded un-Australian, sexist and disgusting. The scandal-prone announcer made the remarks on his radio show on as he reacted to the team's 2-1 loss to the USA at the SheBelieves Cup, which came on the heels of their 4-0 loss to Japan to open the tournament. The comedian and TV actor is planning an extensive stand-up stage tour that won't bring any comfort to his critics. Sources close to Sheargold say that the one-time Have You Been Paying Attention? regular is 'refusing' to be cancelled Triple M axed Sheargold after he was blasted for comments he made about the Matildas, which have been branded un-Australian, sexist and disgusting. Pictured: Matildas star Mary Fowler Sheargold told listeners 'there's something wrong with the Matildas' before comparing the team to 'Year 10 girls' and asking if superstar striker Sam Kerr and her fiancee Kristie Mewis 'play the same position'. When his co-hosts tried to continue discussing the SheBelieves Cup, Sheargold jumped in, exclaiming: 'Oh, she believes in what? It better be men.' Triple M released a statement two days later following the shocking comments, stating, it has 'mutually agreed to part ways' with the radio star after four years of working together. SCA's Chief Content Officer, Dave Cameron, said: 'Triple M and Marty Sheargold have mutually agreed to part ways. 'Southern Cross Austereo (SCA) takes its responsibility to listeners, shareholders, and clients seriously and its programming should align with the standards and expectations of its audience,' Cameron said. 'Right now, it's clear this is a moment for reflection and review. Triple M, and the wider SCA network, will continue to take all necessary steps to support staff...' Sheargold also released a statement on his exit from the radio network, adding an apology to the Matildas for his 'sexist' remarks. 'Having mutually agreed to part ways with the Triple M Network, I fully understand the gravity of my comments,' he said. 'I'd like to sincerely apologise to the Matildas and the broader organisation. I would also like to thank my immediate team for their hard work and apologise for the situation they now find themselves in.' James Whale admitted that the past few months had been 'hard' and expressed his sadness at missing Christmas as his final words were revealed days after his death. The radio presenter passed away last week at the age of 74 following a battle with kidney cancer. And in a posthumous column for the Daily Express, written in the weeks before his death, James shared a departing message for his fans as he reflected on his life and cancer battle. The broadcaster, speaking from what he called 'the great radio studio in the sky', told how he felt it 'necessary' to express his final thoughts before his passing, joking that he 'couldnt be silenced in life'. In his bittersweet message, he accepted his fate though admitted he didn't want to die, going on to share his sorrow that he wouldn't be able to enjoy once last festive season with his loved ones. He penned: 'Its safe to say though that I wont be around to celebrate Christmas and, while that makes me sadder than I can say there have been plenty of tears its the hand Ive been dealt.' James Whale admitted that the past few months had been 'hard' and expressed his sadness at missing Christmas as his final words were revealed days after his death [pictured in 2023] The radio presenter passed away last week at the age of 74 following a battle with kidney cancer Touching on the decline of his health, he went on: 'The past few months have been hard. Up until earlier this year I was able to get to the Talk studios to do my weekly shows with almost no bother.' James went on to say that while he had been juggling work with his various medical appointments, things eventually began to get more difficult, with the shock jock quipping: 'Its worn me out'. He added that he's made it this far with not only the help of the NHS, but also his wife of four years Nadine and his loved ones, while also noting that his interactions with listeners and readers have 'kept me going'. In his column, James also shared his curiosity about the future of politics including whether Reform UK wins the next general election, whether Keir Starmer will still be in office or if the Ukraine will finally be free from Russian warmongering. Reflecting on his decades-long career, James said 'Its been a total blast. Ive been lucky enough to work pretty solidly for more than 50 years in an industry I love entertaining and outraging listeners and readers and viewers in equal measure and, hopefully, cutting through some of the cr*p!' The opinionated star noted that he'd made a career of 'cutting people off', before sarcastically adding that now the 'plugs been pulled on me' amid the end of his life. In his last departing words, James urged his fans to hold their loved ones close before sharing his love of the country as he noted Britain was the 'best country in the world'. James' wife Nadine confirmed the news of his death earlier this month, telling the Express: 'James slipped away very gently this morning. It was a beautiful passing and he left with a smile on his face.' In a posthumous column for the Daily Express , written in the weeks before his death, James shared a departing message for his fans as he reflected on his life and cancer battle (pictured in 2023) In his bittersweet message, he accepted his fate though admitted he didn't want to die, going on to share his sorrow that he wouldn't be able to enjoy once last festive season with his loved ones [pictured on his wedding day in 2021] Touching on the decline of his health, he went on: 'The past few months have been hard. Up until earlier this year I was able to get to the Talk studios to do my weekly shows with almost no bother' (pictured 2023) The opinionated star noted that he'd made a career of 'cutting people off', before sarcastically adding that now the 'plugs been pulled on me' amid the end of his life [pictured in June] James's Talk TV producer also paid tribute, sharing: 'My friend James Whale has died, and the world's a lot quieter without him. 'He faced the end with courage and wit. Broadcasting has lot a giant. I've lost a mate. Au revoir Whaley, I'll miss you.' Mere hours before James's death was announced, the broadcaster's final column was published in which he revealed he was 'happy to go now and feels at peace' after moving into a hospice. Writing for the Daily Express, James revealed he was in a 'positive' headspace as he praised the doctors and nurses at The Heart of Kent Hospice. He explained: 'What's surprised me most is how much better in myself I feel since finally moving into a hospice near my home in Kent a week or so back. 'I began to feel better immediately. More positive. I feel at peace here, even though I'm not a religious person. 'I know I've reached the end of my life but I'm quite sanguine about it. Despite everything, I'm happy to go now and a lot of that is due to the people who work here, because they make dying as peaceful and pain-free as possible.' While urging people to 'take death seriously', James said it's important to discuss your wishes with our loved ones before it's too late or becoming seriously ill. His wife Nadine confirmed the news earlier this month, saying: 'James slipped away very gently this morning. It was a beautiful passing and he left with a smile on his face' (pictured 2022) In one final selfless act, James urged his fans to support the hospice as he shared the sheer cost of running the facility. He revealed it cost a staggering 7.4million last year, in which 80 percent of the money was obtained through fundraising alone. James said they need 12billion more to build a new hospice. Praising the staff, James shared an insight into the day-to-day care for patients, revealing they even pass around cocktails and mocktails, as well as running themed events and allowing family pets in for visits. He's already in pole position to become the seventh James Bond. Indeed, after months of wild speculation and enough potential candidates to fill a Saville Row shop full of smart black tuxedos, Aaron Taylor Johnson has emerged as the man most likely to replace Daniel Craig. The actor appears to be bookies favourite for the covered role, still vacant following Craig's departure in 2021, and the inevitable payday that comes with a licence to kill. Already a star before playing Bond for the first time in 2005 blockbuster Casino Royale, Craig amassed a reported $100million from his six outings as the secret agent. But should Johnson, 35, lose out to another candidate - Theo James and Henry Cavill have never been far from the top of the pecking order - he needn't worry about where his next meal is coming from. Having already established himself as a household name, the High Wycombe born star is said to have a net worth of more than 14.8million. After years of wild speculation, Aaron Taylor Johnson has emerged as the man most likely to replace Daniel Craig as legendary secret agent James Bond Already a star before playing Bond for the first time in 2005 blockbuster Casino Royale (pictured), Craig amassed a reported $100million from his six outings as the secret agent And little wonder, his back catalogue of films include an impressive breakout role as the late John Lennon in Nowhere Boy, the titular lead in Hollywood caper Kick-Ass and a prominent role in the Marvel cinematic universe, as Pietro Maximoff. Additionally, he is married to talented Fifty Shades Of Grey director Sam Taylor Johnson after meeting on the set of Nowhere Boy - her directorial debut. In May, the actor sparked inevitable speculation that he has already accepted the role by signing a commercial deal with Omega - the official watch provider for the Bond franchise. Bets placed on Taylor-Johnson to become the latest star 'with a license to kill' subsequently surged by a whopping three times compared to the previous fortnight, according to Oddschecker. Leon Blackman, a spokesperson for Oddschecker, said: 'Aaron Taylor-Johnson has seen a surge of betting interest for him on the Oddschecker platform on Thursday after news broke of his watch deal with Omega. '67% of bets have backed him to replace Daniel Craig as 007 and he's taken three times the number of bets on Thursday afternoon than the previous fortnight.' Bond number five Pierce Brosnan was the first special agent to wear Omega in the 1995 film GoldenEye and the partnership has flourished ever since, with Craig wearing the brand's Seamaster watch in his final outing, No Time To Die. After signing the new deal, Taylor-Johnson said: 'I have always had an appreciation for timepieces but especially for Omega. Taylor Johnson's back catalogue of films include an impressive breakout role as the late John Lennon in Nowhere Boy (pictured) He also took the titular lead in Hollywood caper Kick-Ass and its sequel (pictured in Kick-Ass 2) 'Now, after visiting the factory, I am in awe of the skill required to manufacture such a luxurious product.' Omega's CEO described taylor-Johnson as a 'versatile actor with a range that covers action, thriller, romance and much more'. And it's precisely those qualities - and his striking good looks - that have led to the actor's strong links to the role. Taylor Johnson has previously played it cool when asked about the possibility of him becoming Bond, telling Esquire: 'It's not really for me to stay anything.' Should he be named as Bond, the actor will be working with Steven Knight, who has signed up to write the latest James Bond movie, Amazon MGM Studios confirmed in July. Additionally, he is married to talented Fifty Shades Of Grey director Sam Taylor Johnson after meeting on the set of Nowhere Boy - her directorial debut Should he be named as Bond, the actor will be working with Steven Knight, who has signed up to write the latest James Bond movie, Amazon MGM Studios confirmed in July The British screenwriter is perhaps best known as the creator of the hugely popular BBC crime drama Peaky Blinders starring Cillian Murphy. And now he's set to lend his talents to the long-running spy franchise by drafting the script for the newest 007 film, with Knight revealing that it has always been on his 'bucket list'. The latest Bond film is currently in development and is to be helmed by Dune director Denis Villeneuve, with Amazon MGM Studios overseeing the project after longtime producer Barbara Broccoli gave up creative control. Meanwhile, Amy Pascal and David Heyman are on board to produce the movie via Pascal Pictures and Heyday Films respectively, while Tanya Lapointe will serve as executive producer. The James Bond role has been vacant since 2021, with Daniel Craig hanging up his Walther PPK after playing the secret agent for a sixth time in No Time To Die (pictured) Hugh Grant delighted a fan earlier this week, when he let the passerby press a button to start his 925k ($1.2m) Ferrari F12tdf. The Notting Hill star, 64, looked suave as ever in a clip shared on TikTok, in which the fan leant into the car to press the button that starts the supercar, which is described as 'a high-performance, track-focused variant of the F12berlinetta'. Opting for a sleek silver colour in his choice of vehicle, Hugh, whose net worth sits at an estimated 111m ($150m), was more than happy to indulge the fan. The sweet exchange occured outside the Bluerider art gallery in Mayfair. In the video shared on the site, the user shared the caption: 'I started hugh grants f12 tdf . #hughgrant #ferrari #f12tdf #supercar #london'. TikTok users flooded the comments section of the video, writing: 'Never seen a single clip where Ive not liked the guy... If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around... Hugh Grant delighted a fan earlier this week, when he let the passerby press a button to start his 925k ($1.2m) Ferrari F12tdf The fan shared a clip showing him leaning into the car TikTok users flooded the comments section of the video, writing: 'Never seen a single clip where Ive not liked the guy... If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around' 'Hes normally a bit blunt with people so letting you start it is really nice of him!... Class act what a nice person... obsessed that Hugh Grant has become a somewhat jolly old fella in this elderly age'. The sighting comes shortly after Hugh condemned schools for indulging pupils' screen addictions - as the actor called for laptops and tablets to be barred from classrooms. The Hollywood star and father-of-five made the call at a campaigning event at a school in west London, as he also criticised education chiefs for restrictions on children playing outside. Notting Hill and Four Weddings And A Funeral star Hugh accused schools of making 'pathetic' calls on what their students were allowed to do. And he described himself as 'another angry parent fighting the eternal, exhausting and depressive battle with children who only want to be on a screen'. Opting for a sleek silver colour in his choice of vehicle, Hugh, whose net worth sits at an estimated 111m ($150m), was more than happy to indulge the fan The sighting comes shortly after Hugh condemned schools for indulging pupils' screen addictions - as the actor called for laptops and tablets to be barred from classrooms (Hugh pictured last month) He took part in the move organised by group Close Screens, Open Minds - appearing alongside US psychologist Dr Jonathan Haidt as well as actress Sophie Winkleman who is wed to King Charles's second cousin Lord Frederick Windsor. The event took place at Knightsbridge School in west London, a nearby district to Kensington where Grant has previously owned homes including a penthouse that was advertised for sale for almost 8million in 2021. Some 98 per cent of teachers now use technology in classrooms across primary and secondary schools Grant, who has been married since 2018 to Swedish TV producer Anna Eberstein, lambasted classroom Chromebooks for pupils as 'the last f***ing thing they need'. For a time, Katie Price and Pete Andre were the golden couple of reality TV, with a lavish wedding and a string of big-money deals making them one of the most talked-about pairs in Britain. But things turned sour between the pair when their marriage came to an end in 2009 after four years together, with Katie claiming it was Peter's decision to walk away from the relationship. Much of the nation has witnessed the fall-out of the end Katie and Peter's marriage, and the string of public swipes that have been thrown from both sides. But this week their daughter Princess Andre has spoken about how their feud took a toll on her, confessing she sought help from a counsellor after realising her parents 'don't like each other.' Princess has opened up about the impact of her parents' tumultuous divorce in her new ITV2 reality series The Princess Diaries, sharing she felt she couldn't 'go to her dad' after he split from Katie due to their dislike of one another. She revealed on the show how she has a counsellor and previously 'couldn't just go to my dad' due to her parents, who split in 2009, 'not liking each other'. Katie Price and Peter Andre's four-year marriage came to a sour end in 2009, and since then the former couple have taken a string of swipes at each other (pictured in 2009) The pair were once the golden couple of reality TV , with a lavish wedding and a string of big-money deals making them one of the most talked-about pairs in Britain (pictured in 2007) 'She [Katie] is so unpredictable and she lives life and doesn't care,' said Princess. 'I love that, I'd love that mind set of I don't care because deep down I do, I'll get to bed and cry about it. 'I do have a counsellor who I see now and then and I write everything down in my notes. I wish I could have had a happier childhood, I had so much on my plate at such a young age and had things at the back of my mind. Princess also revealed how she used to stay at Katie's Monday and Tuesday nights and dad Peter's Wednesday and Thursdays, however the weekends 'it was whoever's turn it was'. Comparing the two households, she added: 'Mum's house was chaotic there weren't many rules, a few boundaries maybe but it was go to bed when you want and eat what you want.' Katie has hit out at Peter on numerous occasions since their four-year marriage ended, branding him 'boring' in a TikTok outburst in 2023, before admitting she walked out of a screening of My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 as it reminded her of him. It had long been rumoured that the glamour model and her ex split over her close relationship with her dressage rider Andrew Gould, with Katie speaking about the claims during an appearance on Paul C Brunson's podcast We Need To Talk. She said: 'We broke up because he thought I was having an affair with my dressage rider, and I've never slept with him. I just kept my horse there, and I was happy keeping my horse there, and he was married. 'But when me and Pete split, because he used to keep saying, "That's it. I've had enough. I've had enough". It got to a point where I went, "Well f***ing divorce me". And I remember the day, because then I flew to the Maldives with the kids. Princess Andre has spoken about how her parents' feud took a toll on her, confessing she sought help from a counsellor after realising mum and dad 'don't like each other' Princess opened up about the impact of her parents' divorce in her ITV2 show, saying she felt she couldn't 'go to her dad' after he split from Katie due to their dislike of one another Katie has hit out at Peter on numerous occasions since their four-year marriage ended, branding him 'boring' in a TikTok outburst (pictured in 2004) 'That day, I'm at the airport, it's all on Sky News, it wasn't mutual at all. And then I released a statement saying I don't want to split with Pete, it's Pete that's splitting with me. Until this day, me and Pete have never sat down and spoken about it. 'It's all through lawyers. I've never sat down with him, we probably would've sorted it out but we were kept apart.' After they announced their split, Peter said he was 'gutted' that Katie had taken their children to the Maldives villa where they had honeymooned in 2005. He told the Daily Star: 'Being apart from my kids is just breaking my heart. It's destroying me - I'm absolutely gutted.' Katie added that it is 'the most difficult thing' to co-parent, saying: 'But I realised you get to know what people are really like, and I've had it tough. But yeah, it is sad.' The TV personality and her ex-husband were honest about their jealous rows and were regularly seen arguing on their reality show, Katie & Peter. However, it came as a shock to their huge fanbase when they decided to go their separate ways - and seemingly to Katie, too. Revealing it wasn't her choice to split at the time, she said: 'Pete is the love of my life and my life. We have children together, and I am devastated and disappointed by his decision to separate and divorce me as I married him for life. 'This is not what I want, and the decision has been taken out of my hands. I will not comment further or do any interviews regarding the separation, but I will always love my Pete.' After his marriage to Katie ended, Peter, who shared daughter Princess and son Junior with the glamour model, went onto marry doctor Emily MacDonagh in 2015. They have three children together, daughter Amelia, 11, son Theo, eight and daughter Arabella, 16 months. In June, Katie - who said she and Peter no longer speak at all - revealed what she really thinks about his wife Emily - noting the fact that she and Peter always used to step out with the whole family, while Emily 'doesn't do all that' for him. Katie addressed her thoughts on Peter's new wife during an appearance on comedian Katherine Ryan's What's My Age Again? Podcast, admitting their daughter Princess was left baffled by his new relationship. The mother-of-five recalled: '[Princess] says, "You're just so nuts mum. When I see you and Emily, you're just so different. I can't imagine you and dad." 'I said, "I was with your dad six years. Trust me, we had a laugh and bantered together, we did." 'She said, "I just can't imagine dad being like that." I said "But he was, he was like that. We had a laugh." 'And you know, she can't believe that whenever he went anywhere or me, we were together with the kids. And we'd go as a family. 'Emily doesn't do all that for Pete. Me and Pete just did it all together as a family. If we'd got you kids, you would come with us.' Yet she did have kind words for Emily, with Katie adding: 'I'm glad he's with Emily. She seems like a proper lady. I think it'd be weird if he went for someone like me.' Peter then appeared to respond to Katie's comments, as he opened up on his thoughts about navigating exes in his new! magazine column. After his marriage to Katie ended, Peter, who shared daughter Princess and son Junior with the glamour model, went onto marry doctor Emily MacDonagh in 2015 (pictured in October) Katie has previously her thoughts on Peter's new wife, claiming that her daughter Princess was baffled by the new relationship (Princess and Emily are pictured in June 2025) Katie has also publicly blasted Pete's management, The Can Group, after she was banned from their daughter Princess' 18th birthday Katie has also publicly blasted Pete's management, The Can Group, after she was banned from their daughter Princess' 18th birthday. MailOnline's Katie Hind revealed Katie was unable to attend Princess' celebrations because the event was being filmed for her forthcoming fly-on-the-wall ITV television series - which Katie has been banned from appearing on. Princess' new programme is being made by Petes management company, CAN Associates, who looked after Katie when she was with Pete from 2003 until 2009, the year they sensationally split. During their time together, CAN arranged for the couple to make a big money reality show with ITV called Katie And Peter and helped make them millions. But Katie has since fallen out with CAN, so that put an end to any chances of her appearing on Princesss programme. Katie previously filed legal documents against Peter, their former representatives and former manager Claire Powell. She claimed at the time they were responsible for a smear campaign against her. Katie blamed Claire for the breakdown of her marriage in 2009, claiming Peter was 'married to two women' and had an affair with Claire during their relationship. She had to publicly apologise to both Peter and Claire after she was taken to court and lost the case. Bridgett Roccisano is facing her recent split with her husband Joshua Cavallaro with a brave face. The pair announced they had parted ways just three months after their baby daughter, Elle, was born. The Booby Tape businesswoman, 34, shocked Melbourne A-listers when she confirmed early this month news reports that she had separated from her partner after two years of marriage. And on Saturday, the entrepreneur took to social media to announce she is fleeing overseas. She shared a smiley image of herself with her daughter in her lap, on board what appears to be a luxury flight. 'Today, Elle and I begin our very first adventure together, a journey thats been a long time in the making,' she gushed in the Instagram post. Bridgett Roccisano has announced she is fleeing overseas. She shared a smiley image of herself with her daughter in her lap, on board what appears to be a luxury flight (pictured) Bridgett is facing a split with her husband Joshua Cavallaro (left). The pair announced they had parted ways just three months after their baby daughter, Elle, was born Roccisano disclosed that she is heading overseas for her brother's wedding. 'Were off to celebrate one of the most special moments, the wedding of my brother and his beautiful bride,' she said. 'Along the way, well be creating some other special memories that I know Ill cherish forever and cannot wait to share with you all!' She also shared an adorable selfie showing her baby catching a nap during the flight. Bridgett did not include any details of her trip in the post, including where her brother's wedding will take place. However, the Herald Sun reported last week that Bridgett was stopping off in Rome to baptise her daughter. Comments from her friends on the post appear to confirm that the trip will include a European holiday as well as nuptials for her brother Joseph and his partner Juliane. 'Elle's first Euro summer,' said one follower, while another user added 'Youve got this!! Family, Europe and Elle... perfection!' Earlier reports have disclosed that Bridgett is devastated by her split. Roccisano disclosed that she is heading overseas for her brother's wedding In a surprising public statement, Bridgett confessed her marriage was over to her followers just hours after speculation on the fragile state of her marriage made headlines. 'I've always chosen to be open and honest with you all, and with recent articles and speculation surrounding my marriage, I felt it was important to address this with you all,' she wrote on social media. 'I am saddened to confirm I am going through a separation,' she continued. 'This year has brought more change than I could have ever imagined. Becoming a mother has been the most profound and beautiful gift of my life. 'While I am devastated and disappointed the journey hasn't unfolded the way I envisioned, as family is everything to me, I've discovered a strength within myself that I never knew existed for both my daughter and I. 'Elle and I may be walking a different path now, but it's one filled with support and most importantly, stability and love.' She concluded: 'While I wish I could share more about this extremely difficult time, I need to protect Elle, especially knowing my daughter may read this one day. I hope you can understand and respect our privacy during this incredibly challenging time.' The shocking split came just months after Bridgett welcomed a baby girl in April. The entrepreneur married Joshua in a fairytale wedding at St Patrick's Cathedral in East Melbourne in April 2023, a year and a half after he proposed in London. My Chemical Romance have announced two surprise shows at Wembley Stadium - the band's first UK shows in four years. The American EMO rockers will perform at the London venue in 2026 after adding the dates to their Long Live The Black Parade Tour, originally announced last year as an eleven date tour of north America. They will now perform additional shows in Mexico City and London, with the Wembley gigs expected to take place next summer between July 10th and 11th. British fans discovered the band will perform in the capital city in a post shared across its official social media channels on Monday morning. Tickets will go on sale from 10:00am on Friday August 15, with the UK shows their first since 2022, when the band staged shows initially cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic in Milton Keynes and Warrington. My Chemical Romance, comprised of lead vocalist Gerard Way, bass guitarist Mikey Way, rhythm guitarist Frank Iero and lead guitarist Ray Toro, are widely considered to be one of the most influential bands of the 2000s. My Chemical Romance have announced two surprise shows at Wembley Stadium - the band's first UK shows in four years British fans discovered the band will perform in the capital city in a post shared across its official social media channels on Monday morning Over the course of the decade they released four albums, with their last - Danger Days: The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys - selling over a million copies globally following its release in 2010. The group disbanded in 2013, but reunited for a one-off show in 2019 and subsequently announced a reunion tour to take place the following year, only for the sweeping coronavirus pandemic to push it back for a further two years. After returning to the stage in 2022, they released The Foundations of Decay, their first new song since 2014. On Sunday evening, Wembley Stadium's official X account preempted the announcement by sharing a cryptic post of the venue's iconic arch illuminated in red neon. Last year, the band confirmed it would celebrate the anniversary of career-defining 2006 rock opera The Black Parade with a series of north American shows. However they suffered tragedy in November when drummer Bob Bryer was found dead at his Tennessee home, resulting in the band playing only two shows that year. The US leg of their current kicked off July 11 in Seattle and concludes on September 13 in Tampa, Florida. Along the way it will also include shows in San Francisco; Los Angeles; Arlington, Texas; East Rutherford, New Jersey; Philadelphia; Toronto; Chicago and Boston. On Sunday evening, Wembley Stadium's official X account preempted the announcement by sharing a cryptic post of the venue's iconic arch illuminated in red neon My Chemical Romance, comprised of lead vocalist Gerard Way, bass guitarist Mikey Way, rhythm guitarist Frank Iero and lead guitarist Ray Toro, are widely considered to be one of the most influential bands of the 2000s (pictured onstage in 2010) The band will travel to Mexico City for two shows on February 13 and 14 2026 before flying to London for two final shows later in the year. Each date features a different opener, from veterans like Alice Cooper and Devo to alternative rock contemporaries like Evanescence and Thursday, as well as newer talent, like 100 Gecs and Wallows. The Black Parade cemented the band's shift from mainstays of the EMO scene to mainstream recognition and turned them into one of the most inventive bands of the 21st century. Anna Friel has revealed she was 'distraught' when she was dumped by her first boyfriend Darren Day, after a three-year romance. The couple began dating while Anna, 49, was starring on Brookside in 1994, with the actor even proposing to her with a 30,000 engagement ring. Just two weeks after dumping Anna, Darren, 57, went onto date Coronation Street star Tracy Shaw, and he proposed with the same ring he'd purchased for his ex. Speaking to The Sunday Times Style Magazine, Anna admitted her main regret from her split from Darren was leaving large amounts of her clothing collection behind, as she later learned her ex had thrown them away when she returned to collect them. She said: I had the best 1990s capsule wardrobe and when I split up with my first boyfriend, Darren Day, I was so distraught, I grabbed the essentials and left my whole wardrobe there, including an incredible Afghan coat from the Kings Road. 'I remember years later calling to ask for my clothes back and he'd ditched them all.' Anna Friel has revealed she was 'distraught' when she was dumped by her first boyfriend Darren Day, after a three-year romance (the couple are pictured together in 1996) The actress admitted her main regret from her split from Darren was leaving large amounts of her clothing collection behind Anna later married David Thewlis whom she shares a daughter Gracie, 20, with, but they separated in 2010. She also married Notting Hill star Rhys Ifans in 2011 but the pair went their separate ways in 2014. Darren found love since with actress Stephanie Dooley who he wed in 2010, and they divorced nine years later. The West End star previously shared that while he and Anna were dating, Robbie Williams tried to steal her away from him. Speaking in the Celebrity Big Brother house in 2016, he said: 'He phoned my house one day, I picked it up and a guy said, ''Hi, it's Derrick from Go Discs. Can I speak to Anna please?'' 'So I passed the phone to her and she was talking for about 10 minutes. At times, I noticed she looked very uncomfortable so afterwards I asked if she was alright. 'Then she told me it was Robbie Williams on the phone and he'd just asked her out. I was just, like, the cheek of it!' Anna, who first rose to fame for her role as Beth Jordache in Channel 4 soap Brookside, made it clear in the past her daughter Gracie was less likely to follow in her footsteps. Speaking to Daily Mail back in 2020, Anna confirmed Gracie doesn't want to be an actor: 'She doesn't. Her dad's such a fine actor, she's grown up on so many sets, she loves the creative world but she's more into her music. Anna and Darren began dating in 1994 while she was starring in Brookside, but despite proposing to her, he proceeded to end their relationship in 1997 Anna later married David Thewlis whom she shares a daughter Gracie, 20, with, (pictured) but they separated in 2010 'Playing guitar is her escape. She says: 'It's your job and you get paid for it. I've got great parents.' She's very good at having a positive attitude.' Speaking in 2020 she said: 'It has basically been the two of us since Gracie was five, so we're a little unit. During the third year of her life, she went to ten countries. Everywhere I go, I take her.' The mother and daughter have been all over the world making movies and TV and working for charity, but the teenager called time on their adventures during the pandemic due to her school studies. 'Gracie said: ''That's our last year of travelling.'' She's doing an international baccalaureate and she just can't be moving schools. It means that when I go away, I'll be without her.' Lily James hit back at Instagram on Monday after her latest post was removed by the social media platform for breaching community guidelines. The British actress has been on location in the Canadian wilderness while filming Harmonia, a forthcoming thriller from director Guy Nattiv. But she caught the eye of Instagram moderators after sharing an array of photos from the shoot, including one in which she and her co-stars appear to be completely naked. The blurred shot - posted to celebrate the film's completion - captures James, 36, and five unidentified fellow actresses holding hands as they form a tight circle and gaze up at the sky, as if in worship. Scheduled for release in 2026, Harmonia is inspired by the real life experiences of Nattiv's own grandmother and her connection to a bizarre cult in the 1980s. The new film also features Carrie Coon, formerly of The White Lotus, The Last Of Us star Bella Ramsey, and Odessa Young, who also features alongside Jeremy Allen White in forthcoming Bruce Springsteen biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere. Lily James hit back at Instagram on Monday after her latest post was removed by the social media platform for breaching community guidelines But James' apparent celebration of the shoot was cut short by Instagram, who removed the post in accordance with community guidelines regarding online nudity. Evidently unhappy with the decision, she later posted: 'Instagram you deleted my last post why' Instagram is yet to respond publicly, and the post remains notably absent from her social media platform. The company's community guidelines serve to implement restrictions on hate speech, bullying and content related to violence, self-harm and various illegal activities. Intellectual property, spam, inappropriate imagery and branded content are also monitored by the site. Harmonia marks a productive period for the former Downton Abbey star, who has multiple projects in the pipeline over the coming year. The actress will also star in a rebooted version of Sylvester Stallone's 1993 blockbuster Cliffhanger, playing Naomi, the eldest daughter of seasoned mountaineer Ray Cooper, played by Pierce Brosnan. The legendary actor, 71, recently shared a behind-the-scenes photo of himself alongside the actress after completing work on the film. James caught the eye of Instagram moderators after sharing an array of photos from the shoot, including one in which she and her co-stars appear to be completely naked The actress will also star in a rebooted version of Sylvester Stallone's 1993 blockbuster Cliffhanger (Lily pictured in the upcoming film) Sharing the snap with Instagram followers, he wrote: 'Dear Lily, thank you and Jaume Collette Serra (director) for inviting me to come play with yll in the mountains of Austria and the fair city of beautiful Munich.' He added: 'I had a blast, am gonna miss ya. I wish you et al every joy of success with your production of Cliffhanger. Mighty work.' In the first shots from the Austrian production, the British actress is shown hanging from a rock face in a shot that mimics one from the original film The father-daughter duo, Naomi and Ray 'run a mountain chalet in the Dolomites. During a weekend trip with a billionaire's son, they are targeted by a gang of kidnappers,' an official synopsis reads. James will also voice characters in two new animated features - LoliRock: The Movie and The Angry Birds 3. Additionally, she is expected to take a starring role in Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo, a standalone sequel director Abel Ferrera's hard-hitting 1992 thriller. Leading man Pierce Brosnan recently shared a behind-the-scenes photo of himself alongside the actress after completing work on the film Mark Wright gave a rare insight into family life as he discussed his recent holiday to Palma, Majorca with his daughter. The TV personality, who shares 5-month-old baby Palma with his wife Michelle Keegan, revealed that 'something left him disappointed' during the trip. As he hosted Heart Saturday Breakfast alongside Olly Murs at the weekend, the duo caught up. When Olly asked Mark how his holiday to Palma was, he admitted: Something disappointed me when we first got there, though. 'Well, obviously Palma is spelled like Palma. Like Palma, the place in Majorca, the city where you land. 'And I was always like, whenever you land in another country and you go through passport control, they're never happy.' Mark Wright gave a rare insight into family life as he discussed his recent holiday to Palma, Majorca with his daughter The TV personality, who shares 5-month-old baby Palma with his wife Michelle Keegan, revealed that 'something left him disappointed' during the trip Mark continued: 'They never look at them smiley, its just gracias", and just walk off. And I was like, surely they're going to read Palma's passport and be like, a little smile or something. 'Michelle's like, well, make sure you give that, like, her Palma's passport first and like, hold it in front of them. I do, I gave it. He just looked down at his stamps and went on, "you go." 'Palma went to Palma for the first ever time we did a picture in front of the Palma signs. So it was, it was a beautiful week. I ate and drank a little bit too. 'You know, I also realised as well. When I used to go on holiday on my dad and he used to have a beer at like, 12 o'clock in the afternoon, I used to think, how could you want that? Like, maybe at nighttime when you go to the bar. What was I doing 'Everyday midday beer. I was like, I'm literally turning into my dad.' Speaking about Palma, he revealed: 'She's like her mum. She sleeps a lot! So we get away with, you know, tantrums on the plane, because we just give her a nap time, then she sleeps the whole flight.' Elsewhere, Michelle paid a sweet tribute to her baby daughter Palma as she shared chic holiday snaps. In a close up snap of her outfit, Michelle displayed a gold 'PPP' necklace in a sweet tribute to baby Palma, who she welcomed with husband Mark Wright in March. The three P's on her necklace related to her daughter Palma as well as her beloved dogs, dachshund Phoebe and chihuahua Pip. As he hosted Heart Saturday Breakfast alongside Olly Murs at the weekend, the duo caught up, with Mark revealing he was disappointed when passport control didn't notice Palma's name Elsewhere, Michelle paid a sweet tribute to her baby daughter Palma as she shared chic holiday snaps wearing a gold 'PPP' necklace Since becoming a mum, Michelle has been living it up with luxury holidays, red carpet appearances and a major new deal with Sky, all while flaunting her enviable post-baby figure in skimpy swimwear from her fashion range. It was recently revealed the mother-of-one has signed a six-figure advertising deal to become the new face of the media company Sky. It's the actress' first major job since she gave birth to her daughter Palma in March. Michelle, who found fame as Tina McIntyre on Coronation Street in 2007, will film a series of promo clips with fellow British actor Idris Elba, who already appears as the 'face'. A source told The Sun: 'Michelle has really been enjoying maternity leave with Palma, but she'll be back to work soon to film these new adverts for Sky. 'Brassic is ending after the seventh series and Michelle is keen to still be a part of the Sky brand.' Listen to Heart Saturday Breakfast with Mark Wright and Olly Murs every Saturday from 9:00 - 12:00 across the UK and on Global Player Cynthia Nixon braved a dip in the Irish sea as she gave an insight into her travels with her wife Christine Marinoni. The Sex And The City star, 59, has made the journey from Dublin to Connemara experiencing all Ireland has to offer. Their first stop was the Aran Islands where they cycled around before heading to Dalkey. Sharing a montage of clips to Instagram, Cynthia wrote: 'Ireland through our eyes. Castles and beaches and caves, oh my! 'From Dublins Forty Foot to Ballybunions fairy doors to warm seaweed baths in the Connemarawe loved it ALL.' She has two children from her relationship with ex-partner Danny Mozes and one son with her now wife Christine, who joined them on the trip. Cynthia Nixon braved a dip in the Irish sea as she gave an insight into her travels with her wife Christine Marinoni The Sex And The City star, 59, has made the journey from Dublin to Connemara experiencing all Ireland has to offer Last week, Cynthia and her co-star Kristin Davis expressed their shock at the cancellation of their HBOMAX show And Just Like That. Sarah Jessica Parker and former co-star Kim Cattrall have already responded to the cancellation which announced by showrunner Michael Patrick King. In her response, Davis, 60, shared her dismay on social media Friday, sharing King's announcement. 'I am profoundly sad. I love our whole beautiful cast and crew. 400 artisans working so hard on our show with deep love,' she wrote. 'And to our loyal fans, we love you forever and ever. ' After seeing her followers' reactions to the sad news, Davis added another message telling them, 'Thank you to you all !!! You hold me up and i do not take it for granted !!!' Cynthia shared a carousel of photos from the show as she spoke out on the shocking decision. 'I cant believe our wild beautiful And Just Like That ride is almost over. It has been such a delight from start to finish,' she said. Their first stop was the Aran Islands where they cycled around before heading to Dalkey Sharing a montage of clips to Instagram, Cynthia wrote: 'Ireland through our eyes. Castles and beaches and caves, oh my!' Last week, Cynthia and her co-star Kristin Davis expressed their shock at the cancellation of their HBOMAX show And Just Like That And Just Like That is currently streaming on HBOMAX and will end with a two-part finale with 12 episodes instead of 10 to wrap things up Referring to the photos of cast, crew and special guests, she continued. 'I will miss working with these people everyday SO incredibly much but know we will always be a part of each others lives. Get ready for a lot more carousels in the weeks to come!' Then, dropping a hint about how things will be wrapped up she said, 'And dont miss these last few episodes: surprises in store!' In his statement King explained the decision writing, 'While I was writing the last episode of season 3, it became clear to me that this might be a wonderful place to stop.' He said after discussing the idea with Parker and other execs they decided 'to end the popular series this year with a two-part finale and extended the original series order from 10 episodes to 12.' And Just Like that is currently streaming on HBOMAX. Stacey Solomon has hit back at trolls questioning whether her husband Joe Swash has jetted off on holiday with her, after she sharing a glimpse at her family's summer break at a swanky 1,000-per-night hotel in Turkey. The Loose Women star, 35, has been soaking up the sun with her five children at the Regnum Carya hotel, and has posted various snaps from the trip on Instagram. But despite previously sharing a sweet family snap with her spouse on the holiday, Stacey took to her Stories on Sunday to clarify that Joe was with her on the trip. The star posted a loved-up snap with her husband, writing: 'For everyone asking... of course Joe's here, but we have five kids so anyone with kids knows you're always on split shifts. Here's a rare photo of us from last night.' Hours earlier, Stacey showed off her figure in a plunging yellow bikini as she enjoyed a ride on a rubber ring going down a water slide. The star admitted she was hoping to avoid washing her hair by using heatless curlers, and it proved to be a success as she displayed her bouncy waves in her hotel room later in the evening. Stacey Solomon has hit back at trolls questioning whether her husband Joe Swash is on holiday with her, after she sharing a glimpse at her break at a 1,000-per-night hotel in Turkey Hours earlier, Stacey showed off her figure in a plunging yellow bikini as she enjoyed a ride on a rubber ring going down a water slide Stacey is currently away with her husband Joe Swash, 43, as well as their children, Rex, five, Rose, three, and Belle, two, as well as Stacey's older sons Zachary, 17, and Leighton, 12, from two previous relationships. Stacey and Joe have long been regulars at Regnum Carya, where prices begin at 1,000 per night. Prior to her meal at Nikos, she had a girly day with daughters Belle and Rose, with the trio all wearing matching outfits. It comes after Stacey's sister Jemma opened up about her lifelong struggle to gain weight, as she showed off her remarkable body transformation. The entrepreneur, who is well known as the Label Lady for her bespoke labels company, has long been honest about her struggles with her body image. Taking to Instagram on Monday, Jemma shared before-and-after snaps of her weight gain, as she described the transformation as being her 'hardest journey yet'. Alongside the post, she penned: '54kg looks good on me. 'As cringy as a mirror selfie is, and believe me I dont have many. It really does make me realise how far I have come! (Scroll to the end) The star admitted she was hoping to avoid washing her hair by using heatless curlers, and it proved to be a success as she displayed her bouncy waves in her hotel room Stacey and Joe have long been regulars at the Regnum Carya hotel, where prices begin at 1,000 per night 'And now I am finally gaining weight it time to turn that weight into muscle and get stronger. 'I dont really have an end weight goal, Ive never been in the 8 stone weight bracket! So that alone is an achievement Im so proud of! 'But I do want to be able to run a 5k run without the fear of the end you all know what I mean! 'And be able to do weights consistently and comfortably so it becomes a part of my routine. 'I know I ramble on and share lot do this journey but its been the hardest one yet but I am seeing change! 'And starting to feel it too for too long Ive been told either how lucky I am to be skinny, or how I look like I need to eat a burger. 'Now Im going to start being proud and happy with my body and making it the best strongest version I can for ME.' She continued: 'Anyway if you made it this far thanks for reading, thanks for championing me and pushing me each time I share a video of me working out and making myself stronger. 'I appreciate EVERY single comment always.' Arabella Chi showed off her figure during a trip to Palma, Majorca, on Monday just three months after welcoming a baby daughter. The former Love Island star, 34, posed for photos wearing a white crochet bikini while relaxing at the beach. Arabella, who recently revealed she kept exercising right up until giving birth, wore a full face of makeup. She clutched on to her sunglasses while laying on a sun lounger before posing for a close up. The TV personality captioned the update: 'Getting my vitamin D.' Arabella welcomed her baby daughter Gigi with businessman Billy Henty in May. Arabella Chi showed off her figure during a trip to Palma, Majorca, on Monday just three months after welcoming a baby daughter The former Love Island star, 34, posed for photos wearing a white crochet bikini while relaxing at the beach And as an avid fitness lover, she later revealed that being pregnant did not stop her from hitting the gym to train. During an Instagram Q&A last week, Arabella was asked by a fan: 'Are you restricted at all getting back to gym/cardio work since giving birth?' She said: 'I actually trained right up until 39 weeks. So I was able to train until like literally right up until I gave birth and then I gave my body a month off and then I started doing really light training again, like pilates, and I got signed off by the doctor at six weeks. 'So I've been really, really lucky in being able to get right back into training. I haven't really done that much cardio I tend to just do long walks with Astro [her dog], I don't think my body could take going back to Barry's just yet.' Arabella also opened up about her feelings regarding having more children. Asked if herself and Billy will have more kids in the future, Arabella said: '100%. I mean it's something that we haven't really thought about at the moment but we've always said that we want more than one baby - but I think right now we're just focusing on little Gigi. 'Because she is an absolute dream and angel and blessing and we're just enjoying it being the three of us, plus Astro.' Arabella also revealed her family is set for another major life change. Arabella welcomed her baby daughter Gigi with businessman Billy Henty in May and revealed she kept exercising right up until giving birth at 39 weeks And as an avid fitness lover, she later revealed that being pregnant did not stop her from hitting the gym to train Arabella also recently told of how boyfriend Billy had a 'new level of respect' for her she endured a 16 hour labour during birth of their first child 'And we're actually moving to Dubai next month so there's a lot of change going on at the moment and I'm looking forward to just being settled and just enjoying new life in Dubai,' she added. Arabella recently told of how boyfriend Billy had a 'new level of respect' for her she endured a 16 hour labour during birth of their first child. Speaking in an interview with OK! magazine, she gave an insight into her birth experience and said: 'The second she was born life made sense. Billy cried. I cried. Everyone cried! He said to me afterwards, "I've got a new level of respect for you". 'People forget I went through 16 hours of labour. They see one image and assume it was glamorous. It wasn't. I was sweating, exhausted, saying to my mum, "I've got nothing left to push".' Elsa Pataky has returned home to Australia's Byron Bay after enjoying a getaway in Paris. It was back to reality for the stunning Spanish actress, who dressed down for a grocery run on Friday. The Fast and Furious franchise star, 49, looked at tad tense at once stage as she sat in her car taking a phone call. Elsa opted for a well-loved hoodie in tones of blue and white. She pulled the top over a black shirt, and added a pair of loose-fit jeans and sneakers. Elsa appeared to go makeup-free for the short trip, letting her natural beauty shine, and pulling her blonde hair back into a loose ponytail. Elsa Pataky (pictured) has returned home to Byron Bay after enjoying a getaway in Paris It was back to reality for the stunning Spanish actress, who dressed down for a grocery run on Friday The Fast and Furious franchise star, 49, looked at tad tense at once stage as she sat in her car taking a phone call The star headed to the local supermarket, and the environmentally-conscious actress brought her own reusable tote bag. Last month, Elsa appeared to be having the time of her life as she got in some quality time with her 11-year-old twin sons Sasha and Tristan. She shared a series of photos to Instagram that showed the trio enjoying a day out in Paris. They spent their outing at The Louvre and Balloon Museum before stopping for a snack at a Parisian bakery. 'Paris, je t'aime!' Elsa captioned the post, which is French for 'I love you'. However, their happy day out was missing some familiar faces. Husband and father Chris Hemsworth was absent from the outing, and so was his eldest daughter, India Rose. It is likely the actor, 41, was a media run to promote the second season of his National Geographic series, Limitless. The pair reunited in mid-July after spending four weeks apart. Elsa opted for a well-loved hoodie in tones of blue and white She pulled the top over a black shirt, and added a pair of loose-fit jeans and sneakers The star headed to the local supermarket, and the environmentally-conscious actress brought her own reusable tote bag Elsa appeared to go makeup-free for the short trip, letting her natural beauty shine, and pulling her blonde hair back into a loose ponytail Elsa has returned to Australia after reuniting with husband Chris Hemsworth The Hollywood couple attended the premiere of the Thor star's new National Geographic series, Limitless, in London in July (pictured), after weeks apart The Hollywood couple attended the premiere of the Thor star's new National Geographic series, Limitless: Live Better Now, with Tristan and Sasha, in London. The two hadn't been pictured together in the weeks prior, and recently went on multiple trips away on their own. Chris enjoyed a beachside escape in Hossegor, France, in June, with his longtime personal trainer and best mate Luke Zocchi, while Elsa enjoyed her own holiday in her native Spain. It comes after Chris shared a sweet post dedicated to his wife Elsa on her 49th birthday in July. The Aussie star took to Instagram to wish his spouse a happy birthday as they celebrated her special day together. 'Happy birthday @elsapataky! Thank you for being an incredible human and each year continuing to allow me to eat the vast majority of the cake,' he wrote. The couple tied the knot during the Christmas holidays in 2010. A Place In The Sun's Laura Hamilton defiantly showed off her figure in blue swimwear on Monday - after last week hitting back at trolls insisting she is 'too old to wear a bikini'. The TV presenter, 43, took to her Instagram Story to start the week where she posed in the flattering two piece. She put on a busty display in the textured number as she snapped the picture from the side of a cruise ship. The blonde beauty accessorised her summer look with dark shades and styled her tresses into loose waves. Laura penned in the caption of her post: 'A mini Greek Adventure... Mykonos bound.' Her sizzling post comes after last week Laura hit back at cruel trolls insisting she is 'too old' to wear a bikini. A Place In The Sun's Laura Hamilton defiantly showed off her figure in blue swimwear on Monday - after last week hitting back at trolls insisting she is 'too old to wear a bikini' She wowed in a plunging black and white snake print swimming costume as she beamed beside the pool and asked fans: 'Who decides when we're 'too old' for anything?' She continued: 'I recently read a comment saying I was too old to wear a bikini and it honestly made me stop and think for a second. 'But then I reminded myself, life's way too short to worry about what other people think.' Waving in a swimming costume beside her daughter Tahlia she added: 'Today I'm wearing a swimsuit, not because of the comment I read but because I wanted to and I feel comfortable in it! 'We all have days when we feel self-conscious, but we deserve to enjoy the sunshine, the beach, the pool, whatever makes us happy, no matter our age and whether we choose to wear a swimsuit or a bikini!!' It came after Laura displayed her incredible figure in a blue halter neck bikini during her Sardinian holiday earlier that week. Joined by her children Rocco, 11, and Tahlia, 10, who she shares with ex-husband Alex Goward, Laura soaked up the Italian sun at the Forte Village resort. She looked sensational in a light blue halter neck bikini top with low-rise briefs featuring gold brooches as she did matching poses with her mini-me Tahlia in an array of snaps. Documenting her trip on Instagram at the time, Laura shared that her and the kids had enjoyed an electric bike ride around the resort before listening to a piano recital. Later the trio took to the clear-blue sea to go snorkelling at the picturesque resort. Her sizzling post comes after last week Laura hit back at cruel trolls insisting she is 'too old' to wear a bikini She asked fans: 'Who decides when we're 'too old' for anything? I recently read a comment saying I was too old to wear a bikini and it honestly made me stop and think for a second' 'Sass, sparkle, and sun-kissed days at Forte Village ,' she captioned the snaps. 'Tahlia's the kind of girl who turns palm-lined paths into catwalks and ice cream runs into comedy shows. She's my tiny travel queen. Quirky, kind, bold, and bursting with magic.' Earlier this year, Laura revealed that she went on a date with Shaggy - and he made her pay! Liam Payne's ex Sophia Smith married her partner James Bridgwood in lavish London ceremony over the weekend. The late One Direction star and the influencer, 30, dated from 2013 after having been friends since their schooldays in Wolverhampton until October 2015. Sharing an update to her Instagram on Monday, she stunned in a chic highneck gown as she shared a kiss with her new husband. Sophia teamed the elegant A-line number with a dramatic veil and styled her hair into a sleek bun. The newly-married couple posed for photos on the roof of Hotel Cafe Royal, with the bride captioning: 'Mr & Mrs!! @cranberryblueevents you made our day perfect xxx' Sophia and James, who announced their engagement in December, are parents to a daughter, Angelina, who was born in April 2023. Liam Payne's ex Sophia Smith married her partner James Bridgwood in lavish London ceremony over the weekend Sharing an update to her Instagram on Monday, she stunned in a chic highneck gown as she shared a kiss with her new husband Announcing their engagement at the time, Sophia shared the happy news with a sweet black and white clip of the proposal. She captioned the update: 'Yes a million times over 25.12.24.' The couple could be seen knelt on the floor surrounded by rose petals and a bottle of champagne to celebrate. Liam and Sophia originally met when they were both in school, but didnt date until 2013, splitting in October 2015. He told The Sun On Sunday at the time: 'Im absolutely devastated to have split with Sophia, but in order to do right by somebody, sometimes its better not to do what your heart wants, but to do whats better for them.' The split came as a shock to fans as just weeks before Liam admitted that the pair were talking about marriage. In an interview with Attitude magazine, he said: 'We have talked about marriage, but 22 seems a bit young for us. Sophia needs to go off and do what she wants to do. 'I dont want her to be one of those stay-at-home girlfriends who doesnt really do much.' Sophia teamed the elegant A-line number with a dramatic veil and styled her hair into a sleek bun Liam and Sophia Smith originally met when they were both in school, but didnt date until 2013, splitting in October 2015 (pictured in April 2015) Sophia and James announced their engagement in December and shared the happy news with a sweet black and white clip of the proposal They are parents to a daughter, Angelina, who was born in April 2023 Liam died at age 31 on October 16 after falling from a third-floor balcony of a hotel in Buenos Aires. His medical cause of death has been announced to be 'polytrauma', a term which means a person has multiple traumatic injuries to their body. A hearing, which Buckinghamshire Coroner's Court said was held on December 17, was told it may take 'some time' to ascertain exactly how the 31-year-old died. Five people have been charged over Payne's death in Argentina after he fell from a third-floor balcony of the Casa Sur Hotel. The hotel's manager, a receptionist and a friend of Payne have been charged with manslaughter, Argentina's National Criminal and Correctional Prosecutor's Office previously said in a statement. They are reported to be hotel manager Gilda Martin, receptionist Esteban Grassi and Payne's friend Roger Nores. Two other people have been charged over the supply of drugs. Nores is accused of manslaughter for having allegedly 'abandoned him to his luck knowing that he was incapable of fending for himself and knowing that he [Liam] suffered from multiple addictions', court documents show. Two others, hotel employee Ezequiel Pereyra and waiter Braian Paiz, have been charged with supplying cocaine. The inquest into Payne's death in the UK has been adjourned until a pre-inquest review on November 6, the coroner's court said. Jennifer Aniston confessed she mourned her Friends co-star Matthew Perry for a 'long time' before he died at age 54 in 2023. 'We did everything we could when we could,' the 56-year-old Emmy winner - who played fashion exec Rachel Green - said in her Vanity Fair cover story Monday. 'But it almost felt like we'd been mourning Matthew for a long time because his battle with that disease was a really hard one for him to fight. Perry died from 'the acute effects' of ketamine with drowning as a contributing factor. Aniston continued: 'As hard as it was for all of us and for the fans, there's a part of me that thinks this is better. I'm glad he's out of that pain.' The famed actor earned an eye-popping $24M to portray Chandler Bing between 2002-2003 on the NBC sitcom, which ran for 10 seasons spanning 1994-2004. The 56-year-old Emmy winner - who played fashion exec Rachel Green - said in her Vanity Fair cover story Monday: 'We did everything we could when we could' Perry made headlines in 2021 for bringing a 'palpable unease' to HBO Max's Friends: The Reunion special as he interacted with Jennifer, Lisa Kudrow, Courteney Cox, Matt LeBlanc, and David Schwimmer. 'The special ultimately declines to discuss any of his troubled experience explicitly, but it nonetheless lingers around the margins with palpable unease,' Variety critic Caroline Framke wrote. 'When his castmates talk about staying in touch with each other, he cracks a joke about how he doesn't hear "from anyone" so dryly that it's impossible to tell if it's actually a joke.' The five-time Emmy nominee had admitted he was on alcohol when he was overweight, pills like Vicodin when he was very thin, and even worse when he sported a goatee on the hit show. Matthew - whose colon burst from opioids in 2018 - also confessed on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show in 2016 that he couldn't remember three years 'somewhere between season three and six' of his time on Friends. Jasveen Sangha, the 'Ketamine Queen' who sold Perry the dose that killed him, has pled not guilty and her federal trial is scheduled to begin September 23 in Los Angeles. Four other defendants - doctors Salvador Plasencia, Mark Chavez, and Erik Fleming as well as the twice-rehabbed star's ex-assistant Kenneth Iwamasa - have already reached plea agreements with federal prosecutors. Matthew - who publicly claimed he was sober - had been receiving ketamine infusion therapy as treatment for his depression. Jennifer Aniston confessed she mourned her Friends co-star Matthew Perry for a 'long time' before he died, age 54, in 2023 from 'the acute effects' of ketamine with drowning as a contributing factor (pictured in 1995) More recently, Aniston has been linked to wellness guru and hypnotherapist Jim Curtis While her rep declined to comment to Vanity Fair about the dating rumors, Aniston follows Curtis on social media, has liked his posts and in May shared a photo of his book During her latest interview, Aniston confessed to tell the magazine that she often wrestles with 'what to and not to share,' calling social media 'a constant struggle' Jennifer continued: 'But it almost felt like we'd been mourning Matthew for a long time because his battle with that disease was a really hard one for him to fight' In 2013, Perry received a Champion of Recovery award for opening sober living home Perry House, which has since closed. Meanwhile, Jennifer reportedly earned $2M per episode executive producing and reprising her role as UBA co-host Alex Levy in Charlotte Stoudt's 10-episode fourth season of The Morning Show, which premieres September 17 on Apple TV+. Aniston based her character off the trailblazing broadcast journalist, Diane Sawyer. The hit newsroom drama is a loose adaptation of Brian Stelter's 2013 book Top of the Morning, and season four is set two years after the UBA-NBN merger. The Out of My Mind actress will next produce and star in the Apple TV+ adaptation of former child star Jennette McCurdy's 2022 memoir I'm Glad My Mom Died, and she'll produce the Gen Z reboot of 9 to 5 penned by Diablo Cody. Jennifer also keeps busy running her haircare company LolaVie, which she founded in 2021. Meghan Markle had an awkward moment with the Kardashian family as she celebrated the famed family using her As Ever merchandise. Khloe Kardashian, 41, shared snaps from sister Kylie Jenner's 28th birthday party over the weekend, which included a deluxe hamper from the former working Royal's luxury brand. The hamper included bottles of wine, preserves and an array of vegetables - with Kardashian seemingly forgetting to tag Meghan in the post. Meghan delightedly reposted the snap writing 'Hey hey, all my girls with a K' but fans called out the famed family's failure to acknowledge Meghan. One wrote: 'When you send something over cuz you have to miss the party, except Meghan was never invited to the party. Another quipped: 'The pr team did everything on both sides. These ladies don't do s**t.' Meghan Markle had an awkward moment with the Kardashian family as she celebrated the famed family using her As Ever merchandise Khloe Kardashian, 41, shared snaps from sister Kylie Jenner's 28th birthday party over the weekend, which included a deluxe hamper from the former working Royal's luxury brand Others wrote: 'What were the Kardashians going to do with this catastrophe? 'My girls with a K? Is she 9? The Kardashians would probably hate it. 'And yet, Khloe doesnt even follow meghans personal or as ever Instagram accounts. But Khloe does follow Martha Stewart. 'Kardashian followers wont give that basket a second thought - it looks like a gift from a grandma - MM doesnt even know who her own customer is, or what they are interested in - I doubt she knows what Khloes followers are interested in either. 'In my opinion, its a paid advertising. Nothing is an accident with Kardasians. Khloe was within Markles budget. Its quite telling Khloe doesnt follow Markle or As ever. 'I just watched a video where Kris said they post no products unless they are getting paid for it. The pay is over six figures per post. So for this is happen on a birthday Meg must have paid a fortune.' The Daily Mail has reached out to a Kardashians representative for comment and has yet to hear back. This comes days after Meghan shared sweet words of thanks to her husband Prince Harry on Tuesday when she marked her 44th birthday on Instagram. The hamper included bottles of wine, preserves and an array of vegetables - with Kardashian seemingly forgetting to tag Meghan in the post Meghan delightedly reposted the snap writing 'Hey hey, all my girls with a K' but fans called out the famed family's failure to acknowledge Meghan' One wrote: 'When you send something over cuz you have to miss the party, except Meghan was never invited to the party' Meghan recently shared sweet words of thanks to her husband Prince Harry when she marked her 44th birthday on Instagram last week 'Blowing out the candles on a beautiful 24 hours, and thanking my husband, friends and family for making it so special,' she captioned the celebratory post; pictured with Harry in May 2024 in Abuja, Nigeria The actress, whose birthday was on Monday, shared a photo of herself with closed eyes as she blew out the candles on her birthday cake. 'Blowing out the candles on a beautiful 24 hours, and thanking my husband, friends and family for making it so special,' she captioned the celebratory post. 'To those of you I dont know, but who send love every day thank you so much. Please know I feel it and appreciate it ,' she added. The Duchess of Sussex shared the behind-the-scenes glimpse into her birthday celebrations after Pamela Anderson weighed in on claims that her cooking show With Love, Meghan bore eerie similarities to the Naked Gun star's series Cooking With Love. Meghan joked that she was going to 'get a little foodie on' her fans when she revealed that her party was held at the acclaimed restaurant Funke in Beverly Hills, which has became a popular spot for stars including Kim Kardashian, Michelle Obama, Beyonce and Jay-Z, Jennifer Lopez and Matt Damon, among many others. Gethin Jones has announced the passing of his father Goronwy Jones as he paid a heartfelt tribute to his dad on social media on Monday. The TV presenter, 47, posted the final picture of his dad in hospital while playing him Hymns and Arias from his phone just hours before his death. Sharing the famous the Max Boyce quote, Gethin wrote: 'Wales defeated England. Hymns and Arias with dad last night, before he left us this morning. 'The most perfect, peaceful end. Welsh hymns playing, and the grandsons on speaker phone saying goodbye.' Gethin revealed that his father had battled illness for period of time as he highlighted the importance of humour in helping his family. He said: 'Dad was poorly for a while, he put up a good fight, incredible really. It was so nice to see his dry humour, the importance of faith and his love for classical music shine through at the end.' Gethin Jones has announced the passing of his father Goronwy Jones as he paid a heartfelt tribute to his dad on social media on Monday Gethin revealed that his father had battled illness for period of time as he highlighted the importance of humour in helping his family Gethin continued: 'Every day I've been at the Heath Hospital in Cardiff, someone would stop me and ask me about dad. 'He probably taught them at some point. He made a big impact on education in these parts over a long period of time. He was strict and direct, always reasonable. 'A teacher for 40 years, a headteacher for 28!' The Strictly star went on to thank the NHS for looking after his father, noting that his sister, who also works for the institution, has been 'amazing'. The presenter's celebrity friends and fans were quick to share their condolences in the comments section of the post. Sir Chris Hoy wrote: 'So sorry to hear it mate, but heartwarming to see him surrounded with love. x' Russell T Davies: 'Oh much love, darling xx' Writing in Welsh, fellow The One Show presenter Alex Jones said: 'Thinking of you Geth. Loads of love to you all.' The presenter's celebrity friends and fans were quick to share their condolences in the comments section of the post News of Gethin's father's death comes after he reportedly cooled his budding romance with Helen Skelton News of Gethin's father's death comes after he reportedly cooled his budding romance with Helen Skelton. While fans were rooting for the presenters to go official with their romance, an insider told the Daily Mail that the Welshman was spotted on the celebrity dating app Raya just last month. They said: 'Gethin is on the prowl Down Under, which puts the nail in the coffin for his romance with Helen. 'He's there with pals but keen to meet other women. 'There is no way Helen would stand for that if they were together and he has far too much respect for her to even go behind her back. 'Despite having an increasingly close connection, it's cooled down significantly which is gutting for fans who really wanted them to be together.' The Daily Mail contacted their reps for comment at the time. Heartbreaking new details have emerged about the death of Kelly Clarkson's ex-husband Brandon Blackstock at age 48. Blackstock, a talent manager and the former stepson of country superstar Reba McEntire, died on Thursday, August 7 after a three year battle with cancer. His cause of death was confirmed as melanoma, a form of skin cancer, in a statement from Silver Bow County Coroner Dan Hollis to the Daily Mail on Monday. The statement added: 'Brandon Blackstock passed away peacefully at his home in Butte, Montana on August 7th under hospice care surrounded by his family.' Melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that develops in the cells responsible for skin pigmentation, according to the Mayo Clinic. It is caused by exposure to ultraviolet light, and melanoma usually develops on parts of the skin that are regularly exposed to the sun, a major source of UV light. Heartbreaking new details have emerged about the death of Kelly Clarkson's ex-husband Brandon Blackstock at age 48 - pictured 2020 A representative for the family confirmed Blackstock's death in a statement on Thursday which read: 'It is with great sadness that we share the news that Brandon Blackstock has passed away. 'Brandon bravely battled cancer for more than three years. He passed away peacefully and was surrounded by family. 'We thank you for your thoughts and prayers and ask everyone to respect the family's privacy during this very difficult time.' The news of Blackstock's death came hours after Clarkson revealed she was postponing the remaining dates on her Las Vegas residency in August due to her ex-husband's illness. Following the end of their decade-long relationship, Blackstock, who once managed Clarkson's career, purchased the $1.8 million property in Butte, Montana, just weeks after their divorce was finalized in 2022. He and Clarkson shared two children daughter River Rose, 11, and son Remington 'Remy' James, 9. He was also father to daughter Savannah, 23, and son Seth from his first marriage to Melissa Ashworth. Blackstock was last pictured in March of this year, looking frail as he joined River and Remington at the Houston Rodeo with his brother Shelby and McEntire. Blackstock's cause of death was confirmed as melanoma, a form of skin cancer in a statement from Silver Bow County Coroner Dan Hollis to the Daily Mail on Monday - pictured weeks before his death with daughter Savannah He and Clarkson shared two children daughter River Rose, 11, and son Remington 'Remy' James, 9 He was pictured in March of this year (top left), looking frail as he joined River and Remington at the Houston Rodeo with his brother Shelby and McEntire Blackstock posed with McEntire just five months before his shock death The announcement of Blackstock's death came hours after Clarkson revealed she was postponing the remaining dates on her Las Vegas residency in August due to her ex-husband's illness Blackstock's father, film producer Narvel Blackstock was married to McEntire from 1989-2015 and they share son Shelby, 35 - pictured 2015 Blackstock's father, film producer Narvel Blackstock, was married to McEntire from 19892015 and they share Shelby, 35. In a statement shared to X on Wednesday, Clarkson revealed that it was a health-related issue with Blackstock that forced her to step away from the stage. 'Unfortunately, I need to postpone the remainder of the August Studio Session dates in Las Vegas,' she wrote. 'While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my children's father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them. 'I am sincerely sorry to everyone who bought tickets to the shows and I so appreciate your grace, kindness and understanding,' she concluded. Blackstock and Clarkson began dating in 2012, before tying the knot in October 2013. The former couple were married for nearly seven years before she filed for divorce in June 2020. Blackstock became her manager in 2017, and negotiated lucrative deals for his wife to appear on The Voice and to host her own eponymous talk show. Clarkson missed 10 show tapings in March for 'personal reasons' while celebrity friends such as Brooke Shields and Andy Cohen filled in for her. However, they separated in 2020 and after a lot of ugly give and take, finalized their divorce in 2022. 'The irony is that hes had a very positive influence on her life; he made these phenomenal deals for her, and she wouldnt be here without him. But its hard to be a manager and a husband,' an industry insider told Page Six. Clarkson's relationship with Blackstock began in 2012, and the two tied the knot the following year. They had both a romantic and professional relationship at first, as her husband also served as her manager - pictured 2018 'At the time, she greatly appreciated what he had done for her career,' they added. 'Everything between Kelly and Brandon was stressful and intense and, like, one match away from a powder keg going off when it came to those ongoing negotiations,' the source told the outlet. 'And trying to keep the kids stable in the midst of all that is just hugely exhausting and draining.' In 2022, the Moment Like This singer had agreed to pay her ex-husband a $1.3 million lump sum as part of their divorce settlement . They also agreed that Clarkson would pay Blackstock $45,601 per month in child support payments. On top of that, she had to pay Blackstock $115,000 per month for spousal support, though those payments were set to end in January of last year. The exes agreed to share joint custody of River and Remington, but the children would primarily live in Los Angeles with their mother and would visit Blackstock at his home in Montana for one weekend per month. At the time, he was paying Clarkson rent on the ranch that they had shared in Montana before he was scheduled to move out in June 2022. The settlement allowed Blackstock to retain control of their farm animals, including cattle, dogs and horses, as well as multiple vehicles for use around the property, including an ATV, snowmobiles and two pickup trucks: a Ford F-350 and an F-250. Clarkson got to keep the small family pets in the deal, as well as a baby grand piano, hunting items and all of their firearms, both from before and during their marriage. The surprising new Rambo has been revealed and the acclaimed actor is not Sylvester Stallone's first choice. Noah Centineo, 29, will portray the iconic musclebound soldier in origins film, John Rambo, following successful turns in Black Adam, Netflix show To All the Boys I Loved Before and The Recruit. Per Deadline, the film will follow a young John Rambo during the Vietnam war. Sisu director Jalmari Helander is set to direct from a screenplay by writing duo Rory Haines and Sohrab Noshirvani. Sources told the publication production is hoped to begin in early 2026 in Thailand, with Lionsgate said to be the frontrunner to land the film. When it was released in 1982, the first Rambo movie, First Blood, was a huge commercial success despite ambivalent critical reviews. The surprising new Rambo has been revealed and the acclaimed actor is not Sylvester Stallone's first choice - Stallone seen in 1982's First Blood Noah Centineo , 29, will portray the iconic musclebound soldier in origins film, John Rambo, following successful turns in Black Adam , Netflix show To All the Boys I Loved Before and The Recruit That success led to four sequels with the Vietnam War veteran, Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), Rambo III (1988), Rambo (2008) and Rambo: Last Blood (2019). Despite the franchise's incredible legacy, insiders said Stallone is aware but not involved with the project - but he has 'been alerted' to Centineo's casting. The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Stallone and Centineo for comment and has yet to hear back. Last year Stallone revealed he wanted Barbie star Ryan Gosling to play Rambo during a candid chat on Jimmy Fallon's The Tonight Show. He said of Gosling: 'I met him at a dinner and obviously we're opposites. He's good-looking I'm not. That's how it works. 'But he goes, "I was fascinated by Rambo, and I used to go to school dressed as Rambo and people would chase me away and I still didn't stop". 'He just kept saying that he had a lot of affiliation with Rambo, and I thought, this is interesting. If I ever pass the baton, I'll pass it on to him because he loves the character.' Noah shot to fame portraying Peter Kavinsky in the To All the Boys I've Loved Before film series starting in 2018, establishing himself as a teen heartthrob. Sources told the publication production is hoped to begin in early 2026 in Thailand , with Lionsgate said to be the frontrunner to land the film - pictured in First Blood in 1982 Centineo is pictured in To All the Boys I've Loved Before in 2018 with Lama Condor Last year Stallone revealed he wanted Barbie star Ryan Gosling to play Rambo during a candid chat on Jimmy Fallon's The Tonight Show He has also starred in the The Recruit, playing a CIA lawyer entangled in a dangerous world. Noah's most recent roles include Black Adam and Warfare. The actor has also appeared in Charlie Angles, The Fosters and Sierra Burgess Is A Loser. The film news comes six years after Rambo: Last Blood was slammed by critics, fans and even the creator. Bestselling author David Morrell, who wrote First Blood in 1972, took to social media to reveal his true thoughts about the then- just-released movie, Rambo: Last Blood. 'I agree with these RAMBO: LAST BLOOD reviews. The film is a mess. Embarrassed to have my name associated with it,' Morrell tweeted on the flick's premiere day. In Rambo: Last Blood, Stallone's titular character travels to Mexico to rescue his friend's granddaughter from the hands of cartel sex traffickers with blood results. Morrell told Newsweek that he had spoke with Stallone, who co-wrote the movie, over the phone early on in the script writing process. The film news comes six years after Rambo: Last Blood was slammed by critics, fans and even the creator The author said that he hoped the film would showcase a 'soulful' Rambo, whose actions in the movie included finding a missing child and defending a family that he himself lacked. Not long after their conversation, Morrell and Stallone apparently stopped talking with each other and Stallone went on to finish writing the script with Absentia TV series creator and writer Matt Cirulnick. 'I felt degraded and dehumanized after I left the theater,' Morrell told Newsweek, adding that 'Instead of being soulful, this new movie lacks one. 'I felt I was less a human being for having seen it, and today that's an unfortunate message,' he said. Emma Stone followed in the footsteps of Sigourney Weaver, Demi Moore, and Natalie Portman by having her head shaved on camera with a 1.5-millimeter blade for her new movie, Bugonia. Moments before, the 36-year-old movie star burst into tears in her trailer while remembering how her mother Krista Stone lost all of her hair during her triple-negative breast cancer battle. 'She actually did something brave. I'm just shaving my head,' Emma recalled thinking in her Vogue cover story Monday. 'My mom was like, "I'm so jealous. I want to shave my head again!"' Stone and her mother celebrated her cancer-free status in 2008 by enlisting Paul McCartney to design a tattoo of birds feet for them because of their shared love for the Beatles' 1968 song Blackbird. In the sci-fi black comedy, two conspiracy theorists (Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis) remove the long locks off the two-time Oscar winner's character Michelle, the CEO of a major pharmaceutical company, to prove she's an alien. Emma Stone followed in the footsteps of Sigourney Weaver, Demi Moore, and Natalie Portman by having her head shaved on camera with a 1.5-millimeter blade for her new movie, Bugonia Moments before, the 36-year-old movie star burst into tears in her trailer while remembering how her mother Krista Stone (R, pictured February 12) lost all of her hair during her triple-negative breast cancer battle Emma (born Emily) recalled the first shower she took after her dramatic makeover was 'amazing,' but she concealed her bald head beneath a wig while attending the New York Film Festival on October 5. 'I was bummed I wasn't going out with it,' Stone lamented. 'Just straight-up bald. I think that would have been fun.' The Arizona-born beauty scoffed that her hair has been growing back 'pretty slowly for how long it's been' but her best friend Jennifer Lawrence loved the shaved look. 'I really didn't want her to shave her head. I had already lived through the Billie Jean King haircut,' the Oscar winner wisecracked via e-mail. 'Honestly, she looked beautiful. She pulled it off.' Bugonia marked Emma's sixth collaboration with director Yorgos Lanthimos after The Favourite (2018), Bleat (2022), Poor Things (2023), Kinds of Kindness (2024), and the music video for Jerskin Fendrix's song Beth's Farm (2025). Emma will likely glam up to attend the world premiere of the Focus Features flick on August 28 held at Italy's Sala Grande during the 82nd Venice Film Festival. The 51-year-old Greek filmmaker's remake of the 2003 South Korean film Save the Green Planet! will eventually hit US theaters October 31 and UK theaters November 7. Becoming mother to four-year-old daughter Louise Jean 'streamlined everything' for Stone, who's been married to Saturday Night Live writer Dave McCary since 2020. Emma recalled thinking in her Vogue cover story Monday: 'She actually did something brave. I'm just shaving my head. My mom was like, "I'm so jealous. I want to shave my head again!"' Stone and her mother celebrated her cancer-free status in 2008 by enlisting Paul McCartney to design a tattoo of birds feet for them because of their shared love for the Beatles' 1968 song Blackbird (pictured in 2013) In the sci-fi black comedy, two conspiracy theorists (Jesse Plemons and Aidan Delbis) remove the long locks off the two-time Oscar winner's character Michelle, the CEO of a major pharmaceutical company, to prove she's an alien Emma recalled the first shower she took after her dramatic makeover was 'amazing,' but she concealed her bald head beneath a wig while attending the New York Film Festival on October 5 (pictured) 'I was bummed I wasn't going out with it,' Stone lamented. 'Just straight-up bald. I think that would have been fun' The Arizona-born beauty scoffed that her hair has been growing back 'pretty slowly for how long it's been' but her best friend Jennifer Lawrence (L, pictured in 2024) loved the shaved look: 'Honestly, she looked beautiful. She pulled it off' Bugonia marked Emma's sixth collaboration with director Yorgos Lanthimos after The Favourite (2018), Bleat (2022), Poor Things (2023), Kinds of Kindness (2024), and the music video for Jerskin Fendrix's song Beth's Farm (2025) Emma will likely glam up to attend the world premiere of the Focus Features flick on August 28 held at Italy's Sala Grande during the 82nd Venice Film Festival 'It's a cliched thing to say, but it changes everything. And simplifies everything,' the Eddington actress gushed. 'There's nothing I feel luckier about. She's the greatest gift of my life, for sure.' Emma and Dave - who co-founded their production company Fruit Tree in 2020 - just sold their newly renovated Austin, TX mansion which was on the market for $23.5M, according to Realtor.com. A trio of people suspected of burglarizing Brad Pitts Southern California home two months ago have been arrested, police said Monday. The burglary of the Oscar-winning actor's home in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles occurred this past June 26, authorities told NBC LA. The three suspects were taken into custody this past Thursday, police told the station. Pitt, 61, was abroad in Japan on the promotional trail for his racing film F1 at the time of the June heist in his Southern California home, officials said. The trio of suspects appeared to have gone to the burglary well one too many times, leading investigators to link them to the break-in and pilfering of the Shawnee, Oklahoma-born actor's residence. Officials told NBC LA the suspects were apprehended in the Pitt case after evidence gathered in connection with an alleged attempted break-in of a separate home implicated them in the Pitt heist. A trio of people suspected of burglarizing Brad Pitts home in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles two months ago have been arrested. Pitt pictured June 23 in London The burglary of the Oscar-winning actor's abode took place this past June 26 Police had been deep into their investigation into who broke into the Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood star's home in June, NBC LA reported. Authorities had been examining surveillance footage and comparing fingerprints taken from the location in their efforts to identify the suspects in the burglary of the Hollywood stalwart's Los Feliz home. The probe indicated the burglars had climbed over a fence to gain access to Pitts property, police told NBC LA. Once in, authorities said, the burglars made off with property belonging to the actor, who played the iconic role of Tyler Durden in 1999's Fight Club. Authorities were able to cull footage from security camera clips and other resources in their efforts to identify and arrest the burglary suspects, NBC LA reported. Police told the TV station that the burglary crew apprehended in connection with the Pitt robbery didnt appear to be specifically targeting famous people in their crime spree. Sources told the station that other residences not belonging to people who are celebrities had been targeted by the illicit operation. With that said, rising crime in Los Angeles has seen a number of famous people targeted in separate criminal schemes, as Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, Los Angeles Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jennifer Aniston have been among those impacted by the brazen burglaries. The A-list stalwart is currently in a romance with jewelry executive Ines de Ramon Pitt portrayed master thief Rusty Ryan in 2001's Ocean's 11; it appears the people who tried to make off with his possessions in June were not nearly as adept at covering their tracks The A-list stalwart, who was previously in long-term relationships with Aniston and Angelina Jolie, is currently dating Ines de Ramon, a stunning jewelry executive based out of Los Angeles. An insider previously told Daily Mail that while the relationship is going well, they are not planning on a walk down the wedding aisle anytime soon. 'Brad is totally in love with Ines, but he doesn't want to go down the road of marriage and kids,' the insider said. 'He's been burned badly by the divorce from Angelina and his kids wanting little if nothing to do with him.' The source concluded of Pitt: 'He's 61 and loving his life just the way it is.' Ford is unveiling a new EV that it is calling its 'next Model T moment' - which will be be made entirely in the US. The mid-size pickup truck is expected to hit dealerships in 2027 for around $30,000. Ford said the yet-to-be-named truck will be built on a brand-new, American-made battery platform at its Louisville, Kentucky plant. This will be the first EV from any automaker powered mostly by US-sourced materials - a big deal given that critical minerals are typically imported, often from China. The truck's battery uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry, which avoids cobalt and nickel, and promises acceleration that beats the Mustang in a straight line. LFPs are also cheaper to build, improve fire safety, have a longer lifespan, and offer more environmentally-friendly mining practices. GM is also developing similar battery technologies. Ford invoked the legacy of the Model T - the car that revolutionized American manufacturing with the assembly line - to underscore the importance of the new launch. 'It represents the most radical change on how we design and how we build vehicles at Ford since the Model T,' CEO Jim Farley said. Ford CEO Jim Farley unveiled a new $30,000 truck on Monday Ford also claims the pickup will have more passenger space than the 2025 Toyota RAV4 and include its latest highway self-driving tech, Blue Cruise. While the company hasn't revealed a name for the truck, rumors are flying that Ford is bringing back the Ranchero nameplate for the new car. The company reportedly filed patent paperwork to reclaim the name, but declined Daily Mail's request for comment on the name. The popular mini truck sold a half-million units from 1957 through the 1970s. Still, its a major technological departure from Ford. The company, which has a three-vehicle lineup of EVs, just reported losing $1.3 billion on its all electric fleet. But Ford needed to adjust its parts pipeline. In June, the automaker temporarily shuttered some of its US production plants as Chinese officials throttled critical mineral pipelines to the company. 'There are no guarantees with this project,' Farley added. 'It is a bet, there is risk.' Investors, didn't initially seem convinced: Ford's stock dipped 0.5 percent after the announcement. 'The new techniques sound great and have potential for much higher output of a vehicle program due to faster assembly times,' David Whiston, an analyst who covers Ford at Morningstar, told the Daily Mail. Ford, which has revived several iconic vehicles from its past (like the Bronco above) is rumored to name the new pickup the Ranchero Ford currently builds three EVs: the F-150 Lightning (pictured above), the Mustang Mach-E, and the E-Transit commercial van 'Until we can see the product though, it's all words.' Meanwhile, Ford is not alone. Other car companies are expecting to release lower priced EVs to the market next year that could cut into Ford's low-cost EV competitiveness. Slate, a company with the financial backing of Jeff Bezos, is developing a mid-$20,000 electric pickup at its Warsaw, Indiana plant. Rivian, the outdoorsy startup with a $5 billion deal with Volkswagen, is about to launch its lower-cost R2 and R3 vehicles in 2026. Ford's project helps President Donald Trump deliver on one of his biggest campaign promises: more manufacturing jobs in the United States. Ford said it is making a huge investment to complete the project. The automaker will spend around $2 billion to rework the factory and plans to hire 2,200 full-time workers. Still, the new EV platform cuts against the President's stated dislike of electric vehicles. Trump, who directed the $7,500 consumer EV tax subsidies to end in September, has repeatedly lashed out against former President Joe Biden's EV investments. But projects like Ford's upcoming EV pickup have been years in the making. The company said it has been developing models of the car since 2022. On average, it takes automakers five years to bring a new vehicle to market. In the run-up to the Independence Day celebrations, the Jammu region is once again witnessing a spike in the incidents of terrorist related violence and cross-border movement of suspected infiltrators from across the International border with Pakistan. On Monday, alert troops of the Border Security Force (BSF) neutralised a Pakistani intruder while he was attempting to sneak inside the Indian boundary in the Rajbagh area of Kathua district. According to a BSF spokesman, Alert troops observed suspicious movement wherein a Pakistani national was spotted crossing the International border and approaching aggressively towards the border fence in district Kathua, Jammu on Monday. The BSF spokesman said the intruder paid no heed to the repeated warnings, prompting the BSF personnel manning the forward posts to open fire, resulting in injuries to the intruder. The intruder was arrested and evacuated to the nearest hospital for treatment. Later on, he succumbed to his injuries during treatment. The BSF spokesman said, Protest being lodged with the counterpart. On the other hand, anti-terror operations launched in the Dool area of Kishtwar continued for the second day in succession. During the day, the security forces blasted the front portion of a natural cave-like structure using rocket-propelled grenades but failed to track down the terrorists believed to be hiding inside the cave. During preliminary inspection, the security forces stumbled upon multiple escape routes inside the cave structure. However, the security forces could not track down the footprints of terrorists hiding in the area. The search operation in the forest area started early Sunday following intelligence input about the presence of terrorists in the area. Additional reinforcements from the army, including para commandos, police and CRPF, have been rushed to the remote area to neutralise the terrorists trapped in the general area of Dool. A separate search operation was launched in the Reasi district following reports of suspicious movement of individuals in the area. The security forces conducted house-to-house searches early Monday morning after an individual working in the hotel industry raised an alarm and alerted the police about the suspicious movement of unidentified personnel in the Gudar Khalsa village of Reasi. Jharkhand has long been known for its rich mineral resources and vibrant culture. However, in recent years, it has also emerged as a significant player in the country's export landscape. Jharkhand has made a remarkable leap in its export performance. As per Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) data, in 2024-25, Jharkhand exported goods and services a worth whooping ?16,644 crore (USD 1.90 billion). The states rank in Indias export list has improved dramatically from 21st position in 2020-21 to 17th in 2024-25 a rise driven in large part by the contribution from Adani Power Plant in Godda. The standout commodity which earned Jharkhand maximum forex is electrical energy, which alone accounted for 43% of the state's total exports. In 2024-25, the state exported electricity worth or $813 million to Bangladesh, also its biggest trading partner. This achievement has put Godda as the top exporting district in the state, contributing 43% of Jharkhands total exports. Capital Ranchi comes second, contributing 15% of the states exports. The Adani Powers Godda Plant remains the single largest private sector investment in the state since its formation. Commissioned in 2023 at a capital cost of almost $2 billion, it is countrys only transnational power plant, supplying its entire output to neighboring Bangladesh, earning precious foreign exchange. The Godda plant is more than just an electricity producer it is a growth catalyst for the region. Its operations have generated thousands of jobs, upgraded infrastructure, and strengthened local communities through CSR programs in healthcare, education, and womens empowerment. Jharkhands export basket is not limited to electricity. Other major commodities exported from the state in 2024-25 include Iron & Steel and their products (28%) and auto components (8%). Of destinations, after Bangladesh, it is US and Nepal which are Jharkhands top export destinations, both accounting for around 7% of its exports. Mexico, UAE, and China come next, contributing 3-5%. Each of these countries represents a unique market with distinct demands, and Jharkhand's ability to cater to these markets speaks volumes about its export strategies. The story of Jharkhand's export journey is not just about numbers and statistics. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the people involved in various sectors, from mining and manufacturing to logistics and trade. It is about the strategic decisions made by policymakers and business leaders to harness the state's potential and position it as a key player in the global market. As Jharkhand continues to grow and evolve, its export story serves as an inspiration for other states and regions. It demonstrates that with the right strategies, innovation, and determination, even regions with historical challenges can emerge as significant contributors to the global economy. The future looks promising for Jharkhand, and its export journey is a shining example of what can be achieved with vision and perseverance. TBC Bank Group (LON:TBCG Get Free Report) announced that its board has approved a share repurchase plan on Friday, August 8th, RTT News reports. The company plans to buyback 0 shares. This buyback authorization permits the company to reacquire shares of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are usually an indication that the companys board believes its shares are undervalued. TBC Bank Group Stock Down 6.9% Shares of TBCG opened at GBX 4,720 ($63.46) on Monday. TBC Bank Group has a 52 week low of GBX 2,450 ($32.94) and a 52 week high of GBX 5,070 ($68.16). The business has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 4,685.83 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of GBX 4,360.50. The stock has a market cap of 2.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2.15, a PEG ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.07. Get TBC Bank Group alerts: TBC Bank Group Company Profile Get Free Report) Further Reading TBC Bank Group PLC (TBC PLC) is a public limited company registered in England and Wales. TBC PLC is the parent company of JSC TBC Bank (TBC Bank) and a group of companies that principally operate in Georgia in the financial sector. TBC Bank, together with its subsidiaries, is a leading universal banking group in Georgia. Receive News & Ratings for TBC Bank Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TBC Bank Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AGF Management Ltd. lessened its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report) by 15.5% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 504,512 shares of the companys stock after selling 92,653 shares during the quarter. Eli Lilly and Company accounts for 2.2% of AGF Management Ltd.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 6th biggest position. AGF Management Ltd.s holdings in Eli Lilly and Company were worth $416,682,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. WestEnd Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 210.0% during the first quarter. WestEnd Advisors LLC now owns 31 shares of the companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 21 shares during the period. Citizens National Bank Trust Department boosted its stake in Eli Lilly and Company by 180.0% during the 1st quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department now owns 42 shares of the companys stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 27 shares in the last quarter. Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Eli Lilly and Company during the 1st quarter valued at $40,000. Mascagni Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Eli Lilly and Company in the 4th quarter worth $43,000. Finally, O Brien Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Eli Lilly and Company by 25.5% in the first quarter. O Brien Wealth Partners LLC now owns 59 shares of the companys stock valued at $49,000 after buying an additional 12 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 82.53% of the companys stock. Get Eli Lilly and Company alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Eli Lilly and Company In other news, Director Jamere Jackson bought 200 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 8th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $639.56 per share, for a total transaction of $127,912.00. Following the acquisition, the director directly owned 9,402 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,013,143.12. The trade was a 2.17% increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.14% of the companys stock. Eli Lilly and Company Stock Performance LLY stock opened at $625.15 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $591.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.86, a P/E/G ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 0.44. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $774.10 and a two-hundred day moving average of $799.34. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.86. Eli Lilly and Company has a 12 month low of $623.78 and a 12 month high of $972.53. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, August 7th. The company reported $6.31 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.59 by $0.72. Eli Lilly and Company had a net margin of 25.91% and a return on equity of 92.72%. The firm had revenue of $15.56 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.40 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $3.92 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 37.6% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Eli Lilly and Company will post 23.48 EPS for the current fiscal year. Eli Lilly and Company Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 10th. Stockholders 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 dividend yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 15th. Eli Lilly and Companys payout ratio is presently 48.82%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Hsbc Global Res cut shares of Eli Lilly and Company from a strong-buy rating to a moderate sell rating in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Morgan Stanley reissued an overweight rating and set a $1,135.00 target price (up from $1,133.00) on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. Guggenheim lifted their price target on shares of 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. Leerink Partners reiterated a market perform rating and set a $715.00 price objective on shares of Eli Lilly and Company in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on Eli Lilly and Company in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. They issued an overweight rating and a $975.00 target price on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $984.41. Read Our Latest Analysis on Eli Lilly and Company Eli Lilly and Company Profile (Free Report) Eli Lilly and Company discovers, develops, and markets human pharmaceuticals worldwide. The company offers Basaglar, Humalog, Humalog Mix 75/25, Humalog U-100, Humalog U-200, Humalog Mix 50/50, insulin lispro, insulin lispro protamine, insulin lispro mix 75/25, Humulin, Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, Humulin R, and Humulin U-500 for diabetes; Jardiance, Mounjaro, and Trulicity for type 2 diabetes; and Zepbound for obesity. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LLY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Eli Lilly and Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Eli Lilly and Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ballast Inc. increased its stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG Free Report) by 1.8% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 18,238 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 330 shares during the quarter. Ballast Inc.s holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF were worth $1,804,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Texas Yale Capital Corp. raised its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Texas Yale Capital Corp. now owns 6,496 shares of the companys stock valued at $643,000 after purchasing an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. Tempus Wealth Planning LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 3.0% in the 1st quarter. Tempus Wealth Planning LLC now owns 3,830 shares of the companys stock valued at $379,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares in the last quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC raised its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 19.9% in the 1st quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 686 shares of the companys stock valued at $67,000 after purchasing an additional 114 shares in the last quarter. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC raised its stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Retirement Wealth Solutions LLC now owns 21,591 shares of the companys stock worth $2,136,000 after acquiring an additional 116 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Howland Capital Management LLC raised its stake in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 0.8% during the 1st quarter. Howland Capital Management LLC now owns 13,949 shares of the companys stock worth $1,380,000 after acquiring an additional 116 shares in the last quarter. 83.63% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF alerts: iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Stock Performance NYSEARCA AGG opened at $98.94 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $128.92 billion, a PE ratio of 124.57 and a beta of 0.12. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF has a one year low of $95.74 and a one year high of $102.04. The firms fifty day moving average is $98.35 and its two-hundred day moving average is $98.12. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Company Profile IShares are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on national securities exchanges as well as certain foreign exchanges. iShares are attractive because of their relatively low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AGG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Cooper Financial Group grew its position in Bristol Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 12.0% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 15,852 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,700 shares during the period. Cooper Financial Groups holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb were worth $967,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in BMY. Brighton Jones LLC boosted its stake in Bristol Myers Squibb by 33.4% in the 4th quarter. Brighton Jones LLC now owns 19,728 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $1,116,000 after purchasing an additional 4,935 shares during the period. Bank Pictet & Cie Europe AG acquired a new stake in Bristol Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter valued at about $13,094,000. Townsquare Capital LLC lifted its stake in Bristol Myers Squibb by 51.8% in the 4th quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC now owns 227,299 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $12,856,000 after purchasing an additional 77,605 shares during the last quarter. Sagespring Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in Bristol Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter valued at about $892,000. Finally, Advisors Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb by 12.1% in the 4th quarter. Advisors Capital Management LLC now owns 778,963 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $44,058,000 after acquiring an additional 83,786 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.41% of the companys stock. Get Bristol Myers Squibb alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Piper Sandler assumed coverage on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. They issued an overweight rating and a $65.00 price target for the company. William Blair reissued a market perform rating on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Daiwa America cut shares of Bristol Myers Squibb from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 5th. Citigroup decreased their price objective on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb from $51.00 to $47.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, August 1st. Finally, Daiwa Capital Markets cut shares of Bristol Myers Squibb from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $42.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Tuesday, August 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have issued a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Bristol Myers Squibb presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $56.38. Bristol Myers Squibb Price Performance Shares of NYSE:BMY opened at $45.96 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $93.55 billion, a PE ratio of 18.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.36. The firms fifty day moving average is $47.32 and its 200-day moving average is $51.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.54, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a current ratio of 1.21. Bristol Myers Squibb Company has a 52 week low of $42.96 and a 52 week high of $63.33. Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.46 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.07 by $0.39. The company had revenue of $12.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.32 billion. Bristol Myers Squibb had a net margin of 10.58% and a return on equity of 80.04%. Bristol Myers Squibbs revenue was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $2.07 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts predict that Bristol Myers Squibb Company will post 6.74 earnings per share for the current year. Bristol Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, July 3rd were issued a $0.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, July 3rd. This represents a $2.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.4%. Bristol Myers Squibbs payout ratio is presently 100.00%. About Bristol Myers Squibb (Free Report) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for various anti-cancer indications, including bladder, blood, CRC, head and neck, RCC, HCC, lung, melanoma, MPM, stomach and esophageal cancer; Pomalyst/Imnovid for multiple myeloma; Orencia for active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Corpay (NYSE:CPAY Get Free Report) had its price target cut by stock analysts at Morgan Stanley from $360.00 to $356.00 in a research note issued on Monday, August 11th, Marketbeat.com reports. The firm currently has an equal weight rating on the stock. Morgan Stanleys price target points to a potential upside of 13.17% from the stocks current price. Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. UBS Group dropped their price objective on Corpay from $365.00 to $340.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, August 7th. Oppenheimer started coverage on Corpay in a research report on Monday, April 28th. They issued a market perform rating for the company. Barclays decreased their target price on Corpay from $440.00 to $400.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 14th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on shares of Corpay from $375.00 to $339.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, April 24th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of Corpay in a research report on Thursday, July 17th. They issued a buy rating and a $390.00 price objective on the stock. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $396.33. Get Corpay alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Corpay Corpay Price Performance Shares of NYSE:CPAY traded down $3.08 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $314.58. The companys stock had a trading volume of 166,204 shares, compared to its average volume of 497,361. Corpay has a fifty-two week low of $269.02 and a fifty-two week high of $400.81. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $327.66 and its 200-day simple moving average is $335.70. The company has a market capitalization of $22.21 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.35, a P/E/G ratio of 1.20 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.48, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 1.12. Corpay (NYSE:CPAY Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 6th. The company reported $5.13 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.11 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $1.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.09 billion. Corpay had a return on equity of 39.13% and a net margin of 25.17%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 12.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $4.55 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Corpay will post 19.76 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Trading of Corpay Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Select Equity Group L.P. boosted its stake in shares of Corpay by 1,302.3% during the 1st quarter. Select Equity Group L.P. now owns 1,218,898 shares of the companys stock worth $425,054,000 after acquiring an additional 1,131,975 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its stake in shares of Corpay by 20.7% in the fourth quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 5,840,818 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,976,651,000 after buying an additional 1,000,699 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Corpay during the 2nd quarter valued at about $266,246,000. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in Corpay by 38,235.3% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 559,696 shares of the companys stock worth $195,177,000 after acquiring an additional 558,236 shares during the period. Finally, Bessemer Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Corpay by 4,811.9% during the first quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 557,252 shares of the companys stock valued at $194,326,000 after purchasing an additional 545,907 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.84% of the companys stock. Corpay Company Profile (Get Free Report) Corpay, Inc operates as a payments company that helps businesses and consumers manage vehicle-related expenses, lodging expenses, and corporate payments in the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company offers vehicle payment solutions, which include fuel, tolls, parking, fleet maintenance, and long-haul transportation services, as well as prepaid food and transportation vouchers and cards. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Corpay Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Corpay and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Eagle Global Advisors LLC trimmed its stake in shares of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report) by 0.2% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 107,456 shares of the companys stock after selling 260 shares during the quarter. Eagle Global Advisors LLCs holdings in Altria Group were worth $6,450,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). A number of other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Todd Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Altria Group by 12.4% in the first quarter. Todd Asset Management LLC now owns 826,718 shares of the companys stock worth $49,620,000 after purchasing an additional 91,469 shares during the period. Cypress Capital Group grew its stake in shares of Altria Group by 7.5% in the 1st quarter. Cypress Capital Group now owns 70,126 shares of the companys stock worth $4,209,000 after buying an additional 4,910 shares during the last quarter. WP Advisors LLC increased its position in Altria Group by 4.1% during the 1st quarter. WP Advisors LLC now owns 33,749 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,026,000 after buying an additional 1,327 shares in the last quarter. Operose Advisors LLC raised its stake in Altria Group by 4,124.1% during the first quarter. Operose Advisors LLC now owns 4,900 shares of the companys stock valued at $294,000 after buying an additional 4,784 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Linscomb Wealth Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Altria Group by 153.2% during the first quarter. Linscomb Wealth Inc. now owns 13,582 shares of the companys stock valued at $815,000 after acquiring an additional 8,218 shares in the last quarter. 57.41% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Altria Group alerts: Altria Group Stock Performance MO opened at $64.21 on Monday. Altria Group, Inc. has a one year low of $48.86 and a one year high of $64.35. The company has a market cap of $107.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.42, a PEG ratio of 3.45 and a beta of 0.59. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $59.72 and its 200-day simple moving average is $57.88. Altria Group Announces Dividend Altria Group ( NYSE:MO Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 30th. The company reported $1.44 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.37 by $0.07. Altria Group had a net margin of 37.24% and a negative return on equity of 295.26%. The firm had revenue of $5.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.21 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.31 EPS. Altria Groups quarterly revenue was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Altria Group, Inc. will post 5.32 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, July 10th. Investors of record on Monday, June 16th were given a $1.02 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, June 16th. This represents a $4.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.4%. Altria Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 78.92%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on MO shares. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of Altria Group from $63.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, July 31st. UBS Group raised Altria Group from a sell rating to a neutral rating and raised their target price for the stock from $47.00 to $59.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Altria Group in a research report on Wednesday, July 9th. They issued an underperform rating and a $50.00 price target for the company. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Altria Group from $49.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Wednesday, August 6th. Finally, Needham & Company LLC raised Altria Group to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $59.13. Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on MO About Altria Group (Free Report) Altria Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells smokeable and oral tobacco products in the United States. The company offers cigarettes primarily under the Marlboro brand; large cigars and pipe tobacco under the Black & Mild brand; moist smokeless tobacco and snus products under the Copenhagen, Skoal, Red Seal, and Husky brands; oral nicotine pouches under the on! brand; and e-vapor products under the NJOY ACE brand. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE:MO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Altria Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altria Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Employers Holdings Inc (NYSE:EIG Get Free Report) announced a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, July 30th, RTT News reports. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 13th will be paid a dividend of 0.32 per share by the financial services provider on Wednesday, August 27th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.1%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 13th. Employers has a payout ratio of 36.6% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect Employers to earn $3.45 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.28 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 37.1%. Get Employers alerts: Employers Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:EIG opened at $41.18 on Monday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $45.92 and a 200-day simple moving average of $48.05. Employers has a one year low of $38.19 and a one year high of $54.44. The stock has a market capitalization of $968.11 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.04 and a beta of 0.52. About Employers Employers ( NYSE:EIG Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, July 30th. The financial services provider reported $0.48 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.94 by ($0.46). Employers had a net margin of 11.37% and a return on equity of 7.56%. The business had revenue of $246.30 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $217.17 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.10 earnings per share. Employerss quarterly revenue was up 13.5% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Employers will post 3.63 EPS for the current fiscal year. (Get Free Report) Employers Holdings, Inc, through its subsidiaries, operates in the commercial property and casualty insurance industry primarily in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Employers and Cerity. It offers workers compensation insurance to small businesses in low to medium hazard industries under the Employers and Cerity brands. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Employers Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Employers and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Independent Advisor Alliance lifted its holdings in shares of The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR Free Report) by 11.0% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 30,814 shares of the insurance providers stock after purchasing an additional 3,064 shares during the quarter. Independent Advisor Alliances holdings in Progressive were worth $8,721,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. State of Alaska Department of Revenue boosted its holdings in shares of Progressive by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 68,644 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $19,426,000 after buying an additional 1,800 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Progressive by 36.4% during the 1st quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 126,826 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $35,893,000 after buying an additional 33,864 shares during the period. MEAG MUNICH ERGO Kapitalanlagegesellschaft mbH boosted its holdings in shares of Progressive by 498.5% during the 1st quarter. MEAG MUNICH ERGO Kapitalanlagegesellschaft mbH now owns 5,057 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,431,000 after buying an additional 4,212 shares during the period. Hennessy Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Progressive during the 1st quarter worth $3,141,000. Finally, TCW Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Progressive by 4.5% during the 1st quarter. TCW Group Inc. now owns 12,034 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $3,406,000 after buying an additional 523 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.34% of the companys stock. Get Progressive alerts: Progressive Price Performance NYSE:PGR opened at $246.49 on Monday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $256.79 and a 200-day moving average of $266.45. The company has a market capitalization of $144.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.89, a PEG ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 0.33. The Progressive Corporation has a 52 week low of $217.91 and a 52 week high of $292.99. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.21, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a current ratio of 0.31. Progressive Dividend Announcement Progressive ( NYSE:PGR Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 16th. The insurance provider reported $4.88 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $4.43 by $0.45. The firm had revenue of $20.08 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.39 billion. Progressive had a net margin of 12.66% and a return on equity of 35.37%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 12.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $2.48 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that The Progressive Corporation will post 14.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, July 4th were paid a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a yield of 15.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 3rd. Progressives dividend payout ratio is currently 2.25%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price objective on shares of Progressive from $290.00 to $268.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 17th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price target on shares of Progressive from $290.00 to $280.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 14th. Bank of America reduced their price target on shares of Progressive from $337.00 to $336.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, July 17th. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Progressive from $297.00 to $287.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 7th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Progressive from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, July 18th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $286.88. Check Out Our Latest Research Report on PGR Insider Activity In other Progressive news, insider Patrick K. Callahan sold 6,232 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $242.16, for a total value of $1,509,141.12. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 27,844 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,742,703.04. This trade represents a 18.29% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Andrew J. Quigg sold 3,191 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, July 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $249.24, for a total transaction of $795,324.84. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 37,977 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,465,387.48. The trade was a 7.75% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 104,250 shares of company stock valued at $26,332,348. Corporate insiders own 0.33% of the companys stock. Progressive Profile (Free Report) The Progressive Corporation, an insurance holding company, provides personal and commercial auto, personal residential and commercial property, business related general liability, and other specialty property-casualty insurance products and related services in the United States. It operates in three segments: Personal Lines, Commercial Lines, and Property. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PGR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Progressive Corporation (NYSE:PGR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Progressive Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Progressive and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Operose Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV Free Report) by 334.3% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 20,881 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 16,073 shares during the period. Operose Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF were worth $1,231,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Bank of America Corp DE lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 13.8% in the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 9,448,653 shares of the companys stock valued at $495,771,000 after purchasing an additional 1,142,638 shares in the last quarter. Sofi Wealth LLC lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 5,413.0% in the 1st quarter. Sofi Wealth LLC now owns 924,037 shares of the companys stock valued at $54,463,000 after purchasing an additional 907,276 shares in the last quarter. Johns Hopkins University lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 98.8% in the 1st quarter. Johns Hopkins University now owns 1,822,252 shares of the companys stock valued at $107,404,000 after purchasing an additional 905,600 shares in the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 169.5% in the 1st quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 1,063,925 shares of the companys stock valued at $62,708,000 after purchasing an additional 669,162 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pacific Life Fund Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 113.2% in the 1st quarter. Pacific Life Fund Advisors LLC now owns 916,361 shares of the companys stock valued at $54,010,000 after purchasing an additional 486,505 shares in the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Trading Up 25.8% BATS:EFV opened at $65.73 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $26.95 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.17 and a beta of 0.73. The companys 50-day moving average is $63.71 and its two-hundred day moving average is $60.42. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF has a 12-month low of $51.05 and a 12-month high of $66.83. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Company Profile iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Value Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI EAFE Value Index. The Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Index include securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia), and the Far East. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Linscomb Wealth Inc. decreased its holdings in Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:EMR Free Report) by 1.1% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 34,966 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 392 shares during the period. Linscomb Wealth Inc.s holdings in Emerson Electric were worth $3,834,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in EMR. Nuveen LLC bought a new stake in Emerson Electric during the 1st quarter valued at $737,318,000. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main raised its position in Emerson Electric by 3,866.2% during the 4th quarter. DZ BANK AG Deutsche Zentral Genossenschafts Bank Frankfurt am Main now owns 3,022,517 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $374,581,000 after purchasing an additional 2,946,310 shares in the last quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. raised its position in Emerson Electric by 4,583.7% during the 1st quarter. Pacer Advisors Inc. now owns 2,185,049 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $239,569,000 after purchasing an additional 2,138,397 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its position in Emerson Electric by 210.8% during the 1st quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 1,966,453 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $215,602,000 after purchasing an additional 1,333,839 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC raised its position in Emerson Electric by 12,707.7% during the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,126,441 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $123,503,000 after purchasing an additional 1,117,646 shares in the last quarter. 74.30% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Emerson Electric alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on EMR shares. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on Emerson Electric from $123.00 to $124.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, May 8th. TD Cowen raised shares of Emerson Electric to a strong-buy rating in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. Stephens lifted their price objective on shares of Emerson Electric from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Emerson Electric from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 1st. Finally, Bank of America boosted their target price on shares of Emerson Electric from $130.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, July 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $142.39. Emerson Electric Price Performance NYSE EMR opened at $132.82 on Monday. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $135.34 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $121.59. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. Emerson Electric Co. has a 12-month low of $90.06 and a 12-month high of $150.27. The firm has a market capitalization of $74.75 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.56, a P/E/G ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 1.32. Emerson Electric (NYSE:EMR Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 6th. The industrial products company reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $4.55 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.60 billion. Emerson Electric had a net margin of 14.92% and a return on equity of 14.34%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 3.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.43 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that Emerson Electric Co. will post 5.96 EPS for the current fiscal year. Emerson Electric Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.5275 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 15th. This represents a $2.11 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.6%. Emerson Electrics payout ratio is 45.38%. Emerson Electric Profile (Free Report) Emerson Electric Co, a technology and software company, provides various solutions for customers in industrial, commercial, and consumer markets in the Americas, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. It operates in six segments: Final Control, Control Systems & Software, Measurement & Analytical, AspenTech, Discrete Automation, and Safety & Productivity. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EMR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Emerson Electric Co. (NYSE:EMR Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Emerson Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Emerson Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Longfellow Investment Management Co. LLC lowered its position in shares of Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP Free Report) by 34.2% during the first quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 7,201 shares of the companys stock after selling 3,744 shares during the quarter. Longfellow Investment Management Co. LLCs holdings in Molson Coors Beverage were worth $438,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. LSV Asset Management increased its stake in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 1.4% during the first quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 6,369,498 shares of the companys stock worth $387,711,000 after purchasing an additional 86,601 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its position in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 16.8% during the 1st quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 4,130,807 shares of the companys stock valued at $251,442,000 after acquiring an additional 595,203 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 12.7% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,753,491 shares of the companys stock valued at $215,146,000 after acquiring an additional 422,515 shares during the period. Deutsche Bank AG lifted its position in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 24.2% during the 1st quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 2,797,189 shares of the companys stock valued at $170,265,000 after acquiring an additional 544,353 shares during the period. Finally, Northern Trust Corp lifted its position in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 12.7% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,970,718 shares of the companys stock valued at $112,962,000 after acquiring an additional 221,539 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 78.46% of the companys stock. Get Molson Coors Beverage alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several brokerages recently weighed in on TAP. Roth Capital set a $71.00 price objective on Molson Coors Beverage and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 20th. Bank of America downgraded Molson Coors Beverage from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $65.00 to $50.00 in a research report on Friday, June 27th. Needham & Company LLC dropped their target price on Molson Coors Beverage from $65.00 to $58.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. Piper Sandler dropped their target price on Molson Coors Beverage from $58.00 to $53.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, June 23rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Molson Coors Beverage from $65.00 to $58.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, June 25th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Molson Coors Beverage presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $58.12. Molson Coors Beverage Price Performance Shares of TAP opened at $50.66 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $10.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.85 and a beta of 0.67. The business has a 50-day moving average of $49.91 and a 200-day moving average of $55.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.67. Molson Coors Beverage Company has a 1 year low of $46.94 and a 1 year high of $64.66. Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, August 5th. The company reported $2.05 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.83 by $0.22. Molson Coors Beverage had a return on equity of 8.61% and a net margin of 7.81%. The firm had revenue of $3.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.12 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.92 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 1.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Molson Coors Beverage Company will post 6.35 earnings per share for the current year. Molson Coors Beverage Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 19th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 5th will be paid a $0.47 dividend. This represents a $1.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.7%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 5th. Molson Coors Beverages dividend payout ratio is currently 37.08%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Molson Coors Beverage news, Director Geoffrey E. Molson sold 1,333 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $56.29, for a total value of $75,034.57. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 27,595 shares in the company, valued at $1,553,322.55. This represents a 4.61% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 2.71% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Molson Coors Beverage Profile (Free Report) Molson Coors Beverage Company manufactures, markets, and sells beer and other malt beverage products under various brands in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers flavored malt beverages including hard seltzers, craft, spirits and energy, and ready to drink beverages. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TAP? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Molson Coors Beverage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Molson Coors Beverage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Motley Fool Wealth Management LLC decreased its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO Free Report) by 12.0% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 89,838 shares of the companys stock after selling 12,297 shares during the period. Motley Fool Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S were worth $6,238,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of NVO. SouthState Corp boosted its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. SouthState Corp now owns 49,986 shares of the companys stock worth $3,471,000 after purchasing an additional 735 shares during the period. Nuveen LLC acquired a new stake in Novo Nordisk A/S during the 1st quarter worth $370,272,000. Aigen Investment Management LP boosted its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 302.6% during the 1st quarter. Aigen Investment Management LP now owns 34,284 shares of the companys stock worth $2,381,000 after purchasing an additional 25,769 shares during the period. Cooper Financial Group boosted its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. Cooper Financial Group now owns 11,367 shares of the companys stock worth $789,000 after purchasing an additional 295 shares during the period. Finally, King Luther Capital Management Corp boosted its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 6.3% during the 1st quarter. King Luther Capital Management Corp now owns 17,944 shares of the companys stock worth $1,246,000 after purchasing an additional 1,063 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 11.54% of the companys stock. Get Novo Nordisk A/S alerts: Novo Nordisk A/S Stock Up 4.7% Shares of Novo Nordisk A/S stock opened at $51.06 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $67.14 and a two-hundred day moving average of $71.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.52, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a current ratio of 0.78. The company has a market cap of $227.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.03, a PEG ratio of 1.75 and a beta of 0.63. Novo Nordisk A/S has a one year low of $45.05 and a one year high of $139.74. Novo Nordisk A/S Cuts Dividend Novo Nordisk A/S ( NYSE:NVO Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.93 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $11.69 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $77.51 billion. Novo Nordisk A/S had a net margin of 35.60% and a return on equity of 78.64%. On average, analysts forecast that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 3.84 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently declared a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, August 26th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 18th will be issued a $0.4119 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 240.0%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 18th. Novo Nordisk A/Ss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 45.05%. Analyst Ratings Changes NVO has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. BMO Capital Markets reiterated a market perform rating and set a $64.00 price target (down previously from $105.00) on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Guggenheim cut shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. HSBC cut shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $57.00 price target for the company. in a research note on Thursday, July 31st. Dbs Bank cut shares of Novo Nordisk A/S to a sell rating in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Finally, UBS Group cut shares of Novo Nordisk A/S from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, August 5th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $93.67. Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Novo Nordisk A/S About Novo Nordisk A/S (Free Report) Novo Nordisk A/S, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research and development, manufacture, and distribution of pharmaceutical products in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, North America, and internationally. It operates in two segments, Diabetes and Obesity Care, and Rare Disease. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NVO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Novo Nordisk A/S Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novo Nordisk A/S and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Nuveen LLC acquired a new position in Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO Free Report) in the first quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor acquired 4,011,992 shares of the oil and gas companys stock, valued at approximately $529,864,000. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 18.9% during the 4th quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 20,106 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,465,000 after acquiring an additional 3,200 shares during the last quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. lifted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Scotia Capital Inc. now owns 21,295 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,611,000 after acquiring an additional 626 shares during the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. lifted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 9.6% during the 4th quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 77,622 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $9,520,000 after acquiring an additional 6,791 shares during the last quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of Valero Energy by 26.3% during the 4th quarter. Townsquare Capital LLC now owns 24,623 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $3,019,000 after acquiring an additional 5,134 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sagespring Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Valero Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $219,000. 78.69% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Valero Energy alerts: Valero Energy Stock Up 0.5% Shares of NYSE:VLO opened at $133.23 on Monday. Valero Energy Corporation has a 12 month low of $99.00 and a 12 month high of $155.12. The companys 50-day moving average price is $139.15 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $130.88. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.62 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. The firm has a market cap of $41.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 55.51, a P/E/G ratio of 3.12 and a beta of 1.03. Valero Energy Announces Dividend Valero Energy ( NYSE:VLO Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The oil and gas company reported $2.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.66 by $0.62. Valero Energy had a net margin of 0.62% and a return on equity of 5.76%. The company had revenue of $29.89 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $27 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.71 EPS. The companys revenue was down 13.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that Valero Energy Corporation will post 7.92 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Shareholders of record on Thursday, July 31st will be given a dividend of $1.13 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 31st. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.4%. Valero Energys dividend payout ratio is presently 188.33%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades VLO has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Mizuho raised their target price on Valero Energy from $158.00 to $166.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. Evercore ISI began coverage on Valero Energy in a research report on Wednesday, June 18th. They set an in-line rating and a $135.00 price objective for the company. TD Cowen downgraded Valero Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating and upped their target price for the company from $118.00 to $140.00 in a report on Tuesday, July 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on shares of Valero Energy from $152.00 to $147.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Valero Energy from $164.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Friday, July 25th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $154.47. View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Valero Energy Valero Energy Profile (Free Report) Valero Energy Corporation manufactures, markets, and sells petroleum-based and low-carbon liquid transportation fuels and petrochemical products in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Latin America, Mexico, Peru, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Refining, Renewable Diesel, and Ethanol. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding VLO? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Valero Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Valero Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Operose Advisors LLC lowered its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA Free Report) by 2.3% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 5,890 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after selling 140 shares during the period. Operose Advisors LLCs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF were worth $481,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Paulson Wealth Management Inc. boosted its position in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 2.4% during the first quarter. Paulson Wealth Management Inc. now owns 404,067 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $33,024,000 after purchasing an additional 9,605 shares in the last quarter. First American Trust FSB boosted its position in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 57.2% during the first quarter. First American Trust FSB now owns 18,851 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,541,000 after purchasing an additional 6,860 shares in the last quarter. Nuveen LLC purchased a new position in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF during the first quarter worth approximately $4,978,000. SouthState Corp boosted its position in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 120.9% during the first quarter. SouthState Corp now owns 38,721 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $3,165,000 after purchasing an additional 21,193 shares in the last quarter. Finally, American Alpha Advisors LLC boosted its position in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 7.4% during the first quarter. American Alpha Advisors LLC now owns 124,427 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $10,169,000 after purchasing an additional 8,558 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.80% of the companys stock. Get iShares MSCI EAFE ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Trading Up 0.6% Shares of EFA stock opened at $90.37 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $65.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.48 and a beta of 0.86. The businesss 50 day moving average is $88.95 and its two-hundred day moving average is $84.86. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF has a 12-month low of $72.14 and a 12-month high of $91.57. About iShares MSCI EAFE ETF iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Funds investment objective is to seek investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of its underlying index, MSCI EAFE Index (the Index). The Index has been developed by MSCI Inc as an equity benchmark for its international stock performance. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board grew its holdings in McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD Free Report) by 8.8% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 97,390 shares of the fast-food giants stock after buying an additional 7,918 shares during the quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Boards holdings in McDonalds were worth $30,422,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in MCD. WealthPlan Investment Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of McDonalds by 0.9% in the first quarter. WealthPlan Investment Management LLC now owns 3,630 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $1,134,000 after acquiring an additional 32 shares in the last quarter. Granite Bay Wealth Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of McDonalds by 3.5% in the first quarter. Granite Bay Wealth Management LLC now owns 988 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $309,000 after acquiring an additional 33 shares in the last quarter. CVA Family Office LLC lifted its stake in shares of McDonalds by 1.9% in the first quarter. CVA Family Office LLC now owns 1,793 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $560,000 after acquiring an additional 33 shares in the last quarter. Consilium Wealth Advisory LLC lifted its stake in shares of McDonalds by 2.5% in the first quarter. Consilium Wealth Advisory LLC now owns 1,334 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $417,000 after acquiring an additional 33 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Security Financial Services INC. lifted its stake in shares of McDonalds by 0.7% in the first quarter. Security Financial Services INC. now owns 5,043 shares of the fast-food giants stock worth $1,575,000 after acquiring an additional 33 shares in the last quarter. 70.29% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get McDonald's alerts: McDonalds Price Performance Shares of MCD stock opened at $305.62 on Monday. McDonalds Corporation has a 12-month low of $265.33 and a 12-month high of $326.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $218.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.12 and a beta of 0.52. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $298.57 and a 200 day simple moving average of $304.63. McDonalds Dividend Announcement McDonalds ( NYSE:MCD Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 6th. The fast-food giant reported $3.19 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.15 by $0.04. McDonalds had a negative return on equity of 225.52% and a net margin of 32.21%. The business had revenue of $6.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.68 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.97 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that McDonalds Corporation will post 12.25 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 2nd will be issued a $1.77 dividend. This represents a $7.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 2nd. McDonaldss dividend payout ratio is 60.67%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several research firms recently commented on MCD. Piper Sandler boosted their price target on McDonalds from $314.00 to $325.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday. Argus cut McDonalds from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, June 13th. KeyCorp restated an overweight rating and set a $335.00 price objective (up previously from $325.00) on shares of McDonalds in a research note on Thursday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on McDonalds from $305.00 to $310.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Evercore ISI upped their price objective on McDonalds from $350.00 to $360.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $326.87. Check Out Our Latest Report on McDonalds Insider Buying and Selling In other McDonalds news, EVP Desiree Ralls-Morrison sold 2,487 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $310.00, for a total transaction of $770,970.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 8,754 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,713,740. This trade represents a 22.12% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 939 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $299.49, for a total value of $281,221.11. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 9,283 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,780,165.67. The trade was a 9.19% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 7,280 shares of company stock valued at $2,215,178 in the last three months. 0.25% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. About McDonalds (Free Report) McDonalds Corp. engages in the operation and franchising of restaurants. It operates through the following segments: U.S., International Operated Markets, and International Developmental Licensed Markets and Corporate. The U.S. segment focuses its operations on the United States. The International Operated Markets segment consists of operations and the franchising of restaurants in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the U.K. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MCD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for McDonald's Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for McDonald's and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Staley Capital Advisers Inc. cut its stake in Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report) by 0.1% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 105,142 shares of the companys stock after selling 98 shares during the period. Staley Capital Advisers Inc.s holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $16,689,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. A number of other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 0.9% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 140,621,675 shares of the companys stock worth $22,320,878,000 after purchasing an additional 1,189,283 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors grew its holdings in Philip Morris International by 3.6% during the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 122,584,210 shares of the companys stock worth $14,752,926,000 after acquiring an additional 4,216,586 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp grew its holdings in Philip Morris International by 11.0% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 13,630,177 shares of the companys stock worth $1,640,392,000 after acquiring an additional 1,347,503 shares in the last quarter. Nuveen LLC bought a new position in Philip Morris International during the 1st quarter worth about $1,712,994,000. Finally, Fayez Sarofim & Co grew its holdings in Philip Morris International by 7.1% during the 4th quarter. Fayez Sarofim & Co now owns 10,313,383 shares of the companys stock worth $1,241,216,000 after acquiring an additional 685,431 shares in the last quarter. 78.63% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth PM has been the topic of several recent research reports. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Philip Morris International from $168.00 to $186.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, April 24th. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Philip Morris International from $225.00 to $220.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, July 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Philip Morris International from $175.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, July 10th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Wednesday, July 9th. They set a buy rating and a $220.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reiterated a buy rating and set a $195.00 target price on shares of Philip Morris International in a report on Wednesday, July 23rd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $186.27. Philip Morris International Stock Performance NYSE:PM opened at $170.23 on Monday. Philip Morris International Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $115.62 and a fifty-two week high of $186.69. The stock has a market capitalization of $264.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.36, a P/E/G ratio of 2.48 and a beta of 0.48. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $176.29 and its 200-day simple moving average is $163.71. Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 22nd. The company reported $1.91 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.86 by $0.05. The business had revenue of $10.14 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.33 billion. Philip Morris International had a net margin of 9.03% and a negative return on equity of 120.86%. The companys revenue was up 7.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.59 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 7.14 EPS for the current year. Philip Morris International Announces Dividend The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Investors of record on Friday, June 27th were given a $1.35 dividend. This represents a $5.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 27th. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 102.66%. About Philip Morris International (Free Report) Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. I have more good news, comrades. I am speaking to you from my dacha in Grimsby. I have just enjoyed a nice banya and beat my dog with some birch branches. I want to speak about the Chagos Betrayal Deal I engineered on your behalf. Chagos Betrayal Deal The Peoples Republic of Soviet Britain is dedicated to betraying and destroying all vestiges of previous imperialist and capitalist historical dealings from the former Great Britain. This is why we lied to the proletariat scum, the working people or as I like to call them tax cows. Instead of a few 100 million per annum, you, the taxpayer scum, will be paying 36 billion to pay for a key strategic group of islands the PRSB owns anyway. Yes, we own those islands outright but will be paying 36 billion to Mauritius, because they are an ally of our dear soviet comrades China. This will make it easier, in a time of war, for China to attack and conquer capitalist swine states like America or Australia. Remember, our interests lie in forwarding communism globally and with our partners in the CCP in China we can achieve our Marxist goals. The Chagos Betrayal Deal will ensure your ultimate betrayal. When Chinese liberation troops march through the streets of the PRSB, you will greet them with soviet joy and happiness. The situation will have been deemed as normalised. Thank you comrades. Now fuck off to your shitty jobs so you can pay more tax. INGSOC NOTICE 1-21-34-6-111-1-0 RUPERT MENKSPRAT 14, OF SCARGILL PARADE, HAS BEEN AWARDED 0.00311 GRAMS INCREASE IN USED WASHING UP LIQUID AND GIVEN 11 GRAINS OF SALT. HE REPORTED HIS FOUR BROTHERS AGED 3-14, HIS FATHER, MOTHER AND HIS DOG, WHIPPSY FOR SCREAMING IN TERROR AND CRYING WHEN ANOTHER HUGE SOVIET BIG STATE TAX DEMAND LETTER DROPPED THROUGH THEIR LETTERBOX LAST SATURDAY. THEY WERE TAKEN AWAY IN THE EARLY HOURS OF SUNDAY MORNING AND LIQUIDATED. REMEMBER COMRADES, LOOK, LISTEN, REPORT! It used to be quite an exclusive place to live, work and be entertained, but the UK is now akin to a Third World cesspit of inequity. In fact, one could say the entire continent of Europe has become a Third World shithole, and the UK being a bunch of islands also succumbed to the madness eventually. Beyond Satire Here is a little example of the insanity of living in todays Britain, where lunatic Third Worlders go around creating absolute havoc. Of course not every migrant illegal or not is a raving violent rapey lunatic, were not suggesting that, although the crime figures may suggest that fact. The guy in the following video came from somewhere and like a fish out of water is now in the UK. He is filmed just after randomly attacking a few innocent citizens, trying to steal someones bag, assaulting a female and attacking a police van. He is then thankfully tasered and drops like a brick. No doubt he will be back on the streets creating havoc soon after a brief stay in the clink. Welcome to the UK where migrants attack you randomly in the street He attacked them Got flattened Got flattened again Tried to rob a backpack Tried beating up a police van Got Tasered [@ESpeaksFreely ] pic.twitter.com/OgRSSr9kMv Basil the Great (@Basil_TGMD) August 10, 2025 The other illustration of what its like to live in the UK at the moment especially in some urban areas can be found in the following video, where a migrant on some kind of narcotic decides to lower his trousers and expose himself to passengers (including children) on a tube train. The man is then wrestled to the ground by concerned citizens, especially as there are women and children present. An interesting bit of news about this incident is that the police are now after the concerned citizens and want to arrest them for subduing the flasher, who they do not care about. A FIGHT breaks out after a migrant man EXPOSES himself on a London Train There are women and children around him. DISGUSTING! Who would want to live in London now? pic.twitter.com/9kiHVfiflP Basil the Great (@Basil_TGMD) August 8, 2025 These examples are a tiny smattering about what is currently going on in the country, which much of the mainstream news and government are gaslighting. As for the countless protests and unrest in multiple locations centred around illegal migrant hotels, this news has been suppressed and shut down, and it is not prudent under the current conditions of totalitarian tyranny to even comment on. The entire UK is now descending into something that will irreparably change the country forever, and no one will be able to reverse what has happened. XTX Topco Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Suncor Energy Inc. (NYSE:SU Free Report) (TSE:SU) during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund bought 7,666 shares of the oil and gas producers stock, valued at approximately $297,000. Get Suncor Energy alerts: Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Toronto Dominion Bank raised its stake in Suncor Energy by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 19,098,225 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $680,847,000 after acquiring an additional 552,018 shares in the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in Suncor Energy by 65.0% during the 1st quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 16,018,129 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $620,136,000 after acquiring an additional 6,311,513 shares in the last quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its stake in Suncor Energy by 18.6% during the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 15,377,546 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $595,398,000 after acquiring an additional 2,410,857 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in Suncor Energy by 4.2% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 10,981,927 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $391,809,000 after acquiring an additional 445,613 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Allianz Asset Management GmbH raised its stake in Suncor Energy by 5.6% during the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 3,594,783 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $139,169,000 after acquiring an additional 191,802 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 67.37% of the companys stock. Suncor Energy Stock Up 0.4% SU opened at $39.19 on Monday. Suncor Energy Inc. has a one year low of $30.79 and a one year high of $41.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 1.26. The stocks fifty day moving average is $38.83 and its 200-day moving average is $37.35. The company has a market capitalization of $47.73 billion, a PE ratio of 12.06, a P/E/G ratio of 3.38 and a beta of 0.84. Suncor Energy Increases Dividend Suncor Energy ( NYSE:SU Get Free Report ) (TSE:SU) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 5th. The oil and gas producer reported $0.51 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.50 by $0.01. Suncor Energy had a return on equity of 13.21% and a net margin of 11.35%. The company had revenue of $8.81 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.56 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.27 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Suncor Energy Inc. will post 3.42 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, September 25th. Investors of record on Thursday, September 4th will be issued a $0.4135 dividend. This represents a $1.65 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.2%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, September 4th. This is a positive change from Suncor Energys previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. Suncor Energys payout ratio is presently 51.08%. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Wall Street Zen downgraded Suncor Energy from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $66.00. Read Our Latest Research Report on SU About Suncor Energy (Free Report) Suncor Energy Inc operates as an integrated energy company in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through Oil Sands; Exploration and Production; and Refining and Marketing segments. The Oil Sands segment explores, develops, and produces bitumen, synthetic crude oil, and related products. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Suncor Energy Inc. (NYSE:SU Free Report) (TSE:SU). Receive News & Ratings for Suncor Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Suncor Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. With time running out to enter this years Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch, entrepreneurs across Mid Ulster have been issued with a last call to put themselves forward for a chance of winning up to 6,000 in investment for their business idea. Entries close this Monday, August 18 with the competition open to individuals, businesses, and social enterprises of all shapes and sizes and in every sector. The Local heat in the Mid Ulster district will take place on Tuesday, October 21 at The Burnavon, Cookstown, with entrants making the ultimate pitch to an esteemed panel of expert judges. Heat winners will receive 1,000 investment and progress to the final, with an overall winner announced at a special event in Seamus Heaney HomePlace in Bellaghy in November. The overall winner will receive the Go Succeed Ultimate Pitch Award, 5,000 investment, and a prize package including a years incubation space. Winners of sub-categories, which include the Go Succeed Impact Award for the best social enterprise, the Go Succeed Inclusive Entrepreneurship Award, and the Go Succeed Rising Star Award for the most inspiring 1625-year-old entrepreneur, will also receive 1,500 towards their business idea. Meanwhile, members of the public will have the opportunity to vote for their favourite finalist to win the Peoples Choice Award who will also get a 1,500 cash prize. Last years Mid Ulster District Council winner was Eireann Palmer from Dungannon who secured a spot in the final after pitching their idea to produce Bao Buns for the Northern Irish market to a panel of judges from across the local business and civic community. Councillor Frances Burton, Chair, Mid Ulster District Council said: We know that Mid Ulster is a hot bed of entrepreneurship, and weve already received some amazing entries to this years Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch. If you havent already out yourself forward, theres still time to get involved ahead of the closing date. So whether you are starting out on your entrepreneurial journey for the very first time, have a fledgling social enterprise, or a great new business idea, the judges want to hear from you. Applicants will also have the opportunity to attend masterclasses on how to make the ultimate pitch ahead of their local heats, with the region-wide final taking place on Wednesday, November 19, during Global Entrepreneurship Week. Go Succeed is funded by the UK Government and delivered by Northern Irelands 11 councils. The service supports entrepreneurs, new starts and existing businesses with easy-to-access advice and support including mentoring, masterclasses, peer networks, access to grant funding and business planning at every stage of their growth journey. To find out more about Go Succeed: The Ultimate Pitch, view the full terms and conditions, and apply, visit The Ultimate Pitch. Derrys Bloody Sunday March Committee (BSMC) has marked the 54th anniversary of the introduction of internment without trial in the North by the British Government. The Anti Internment rally was held at Free Derry Wall in the Bogside on Saturday afternoon. Chairing the event, former BSMC chairperson Kate Nash, began by paying tribute to the Ballymurphy families. On this same anniversary, August 9, the shooting began from soldiers on roof tops, and continued on the 10th and the 11th in Ballymurphy, she said. We send our love and solidarity to the families of Ballymurphy who support us every single year, support us all the time. We send our good wishes and our thoughts are with you today. There is plenty of sadness Im sure, added Ms Nash. Bloody Sunday March Committee (@BloodySunday50) Anti Internment Rally - @DerryNow digital report thread. The event marked the 54th Anniversary of the introduction of internment without trial in the North by the British Government. It was held at Free Derry Wall in the Bogside pic.twitter.com/UfBimMQwLa Catherine McGinty (@CathMcGin_Tea) August 10, 2025 She added: When Internment was reintroduced on August 9, 1971, it laid bare the anti-democratic nature of the northern state and the colonial attitude of the British Government in Ireland. 1,800 people were seized from their families, tortured, brutalised and thrown into jail, without legal recourse, as the British colonial power tried their damndest to crush a risen people. Guess what? They failed. Instead of breaking the back of our liberation struggle, they strengthened the resolve of the people of Ireland to fight back against the injustice they faced. In their own back yard, the scrutiny was greater; their crimes in the colonies were easier to implement and far away enough to be forgotten about. They murdered 50,000 in their concentration camps in South Africa. The Kikuyu genocide in Kenya took place in the 1950s, a decade after the Holocaust and the Wests promise to never again allow the destruction of entire peoples. It saw virtually the entire population of 1.5 million Kikuyu locked up in concentration camps, where they were starved, beaten and tortured to death by the tens of thousands, at the hands of the British, said Ms Nash. She added: All across the bloody empire they stole the freedom of those who stood up to their imperial might. The Mother of all Parliaments sent its thugs in uniforms to loot the world and imprison native populations. They were seasoned professionals by the time it came to 1971 in the North of Ireland. The meeting today is an important event to make sure that this history is never forgotten. Today we remember all those who have been imprisoned, tortured and murdered by the British state, said Kate Nash. First speaker Deaglan Donnelly, read a statement on behalf of his father Michael Donnelly - one of the Hooded Men - who was present at the rally. He said: On the morning of August 9, 1971, I was dragged from my family, from my wife and my infant son. I was taken to Sea Eagle Brit army barracks now Ebrington Square, which has been re-branded as if it was never a site of brutal colonialist violence. This event is very important, I believe, because it is about the remembering of what was done because they want to erase our memory and erase us and they will never do it. At that site, I witnessed immediately my fellow prisoners who became internees being brutally beaten by British army troops with clubs and with rifle butts. One prisoner, Mr Barney Gilmore objected to the violence and he was shot in the stomach and never recovered from his injuries and died prematurely some years later. I was disappeared and tortured for nine days at Ballykelly British Army base - the centre for the operations of the SAS and general state terrorism, along with nine other internees. We were tortured by the SAS and by the RUC Special Branch. We were subjected to these nine days of total immersive violence at the hands of the British occupation forces. Techniques that were also used against prisoners during the mass internment in Kenya, which became known as Britain's outdoor gulag, said Deaglan Donnelly. He added: We were hooded for nine days. We were suffocated. We were severely beaten. We were water boarded. We were drugged. We were forced into stress positions, beaten when we wouldnt maintain the stress positions or fell and we were handcuffed so tight that I lost the feeling n my hands for months afterwards. I was also interrogated and thrown from a helicopter when I refused to talk. I then was interned from August 9, 1971 until December 31, 1974 - no charge, no trial, no accusation. Were it not for the brave resistance of the people across the Six Occupied Counties and of the international outrage they generated and secured and maintained, we would have been murdered in British custody. The Brits were found guilty of torture at the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in 1974, while I was, ironically, still interned. This was downgraded then to inhuman and degrading treatment on appeal in 1976. The second ruling has since then sanitised, legalised and normalised torture and internment. It is the reason why today there is no internationally recognised definition of this state violence, said Mr Donnelly. The Anti Internment rally was also addressed by Liam ODonnell a representative of the Irish Republican Prisoners Welfare Association, and Ronan Moyne who spoke about his uncle, internee Jim Moyne (29) who died of an asthmatic attack whilst being interned in the cages of Long Kesh. It was one of those news periods when you run and run and you dont get tired. You know it is big news and there is something that keeps you going, and then you collapse. By the time we get to the end of 2005, I was both physically and mentally wrecked by all of this. I knew for a couple of years I needed to get out of the BBC and [after] those events - the ending of the IRAs armed campaign; the army signposting the end of the longest operation in British military history; and decommissioning - seemed to me like the time to go. But I quickly learned, even after I walked away from the BBC, you dont walk away from this stuff. Only a matter of months later, in April 2006, I conducted an in-depth interview with a spokesperson for the UVF, which ran in The Belfast Telegraph and on UTV. Seanna Walsh's handwriten note recalling the events of July 2005. This was the August 2025 reflection of former BBC correspondent Barney Rowan on the momentous events of 2005 which began with the ending of the IRAs armed campaign, at 4pm on Thursday, July 28. He was speaking to The Derry News in advance of The War is Over - a Feile Derry 2025 event during which he will consider the significance of that decision and the major political and policing developments that followed. The War is Over is taking place in Culturlann Ui Chanain at 7pm on Friday, August 15, when Mr Rowan will be joined in conversation with Irish Times Northern Editor Freya McClements. The special archive publication 28 July 2005 - 4 oclock - and all is well will be available on the night. It is also hosted online by Open University Open Learn, headed by John DArcy who is its Ireland Director. The short, contemporary reflection, albeit handwritten, was the innovative methodology employed by Barney Rowan when curating the publication. It contains 2025 retrospectives on the period 2005 to 2010 by: Rosie McCorley (former republican prisoner and later Stormont MLA); Richard McAuley (a senior aid to Gerry Adams); Kevin Winters (solicitor); Mervyn Wynne Jones (chief press officer, British Army headquarters in NI); Harold Good (former Methodist President and church witness to IRA decommissioning); Aaro Suonio (former Chef de Cabinet, Independent International Commission on Decommissioning [IICD]); Claire Hanna (SDLP Leader); Debbie Watters (former vice chair of the NI Policing Board); Jackie McDonald (UDA brigadier); Dawn Purvis (former MLA and Leader of the Progressive Unionist Party); and Aziz Abu Sarah (a peacemaker who uses travel as a tool for peacebuilding through his social enterprises Mejdi Tours). Sylvia Hermon's handwritten note recalling the events of 2005. Sylvia Hermon (former UUP MP) and Belfast republican Seanna Walsh - one of the longest serving IRA prisoners - who read the order that the armed campaign would end at 4pm Thursday, July 28, in which all units were instructed to dump arms, also contributed. Sylvia Hermon highlighted the importance of then UUP Leader David Trimble to the Good Friday Agreement. Seanna Walsh wrote: For the army (the IRA) to leave the stage it had to do so on its own terms, therefore in moving into a new era we had to do so boldly. The reading of the statement was a part of all that. I had this idea of asking people in 100 or so words to share a thought, said Barney Rowan. I think when we are asked to write with pen, we think more about what we are writing. I think when somebody has to sit down and compose a thought and then write it, it brings out something that is more real and more challenging. That was the idea behind the notes, he added. The most intriguing note was that of Aaro Suonio. The most significant period of decommissioning was that period September 17 to September 25, 2005 - two months after the IRA ends the armed campaign, said Mr Rowan. Aaro was in Dublin. He wasnt in the fields with the IICD, or the church witnesses or the IRA during the decommissioning but he was there to meet colleagues when they got back. His task was to organise the news conference for September 26 where General de Chastelain and the church witnesses would speak to what they had witnessed, he added. I asked him if he kept a diary of that period and he said he had. I think he sent me 52 lines. 40 of them were redacted and 12 of them were written in Finnish. The 12 in Finnish were him making the arrangements as he travelled back from Dublin on September 25 for the news conference the following day, where de Chastelain and the witnesses would speak. The IRA issued a statement on that day saying that the process had been completed. I would have wanted to see what was below the redaction. When I looked at it I thought, Here we are 20 years on and those 40 redacted lines speak loudly today to the secrecy and confidentiality of that process of decommissioning and in the two decades since that confidentiality has not been breached. I think those processes only work when there is confidentiality associated with them. Trimble wanted an inventory of what had been decommissioned. Paisley wanted photographic proof. Paisley also wanted his witness there but the IRA pushed all of that back. Former Presbyterian Moderator Ken Newell gave me a beautiful line. Much better, he said, talking eyes than silent photographs. That sums that all up perfectly, said Mr Rowan. Derry's Brendan Duddy criticised the building of MI5 HQ in the North. Looking back, Barney Rowan said everything considered, the period 2005 to 2010 was much more significant than 1994 to 1998. Essentially, the importance to our process was leadership, he observed. "And here we are in 2025, in a leaderless world, with power and ego masquerading as leadership, a people being slaughtered and starved and too many leaders looking the other way. When people come to talk to me about that conflict, I have said to them recently, We cant help you. What I mean by that is the conflict in the Middle East is way above our pay grade, he added. We can tell them what worked here: quiet dialogues, ceasefires, negotiation, eventual agreement, the difficult issues being pushed away into commissions - prisoners, arms, policing - legacy left silent at that stage, although it is the unfinished piece of work in many senses. But the Middle East conflict is for the world powers and the world powers - Trump and Netanyahu. When I hear Trump's name being mentioned, in the same sentence as the Nobel Prize, I just think that stains the word peace. His name and peace are contradictions to me. When we look out of our own shell and we look into the wider world, I think we come to better appreciate what weve got and how far other people are away from what weve got, said Mr Rowan, who described the sharing of his extensive primary source material with the Open University as a deliberate shedding of the load of memories and records that relate to those times when this place lived and died. He added, with poignancy: I think it is important to get a memory down or a record down while we are still capable of doing that because so many people who were critical to this process are no longer with us and they have taken their experiences, their knowledge, their truths with them. I wonder now who talks for those people. Who speaks for Martin McGuinness? Or who speaks for David Trimble? Or who speaks for Brendan Duddy or Mo Mowlam or Pat Hume or John Hume? In processes like this there is only one person who can speak for you and that is yourself. Addressing the issue of legacy, he said: The sooner we address the legacy question and put it to rest, with some respect, the better. Barney Rowan and Ciaran Hurson signing off on the archive publication. And the sooner we hand this process to the next generations the better because the whole idea of ceasefires and political agreements and ending armed campaigns was to create space for next generations to shape their future. And we havent allowed that. It hasnt happened. That is something that is absent and it is the next part of the journey - how we close those matters that need to be closed and how we free those next generations up to shape what they want to shape rather than what we think we need to shape. 28 July 2005 - 4 oclock - and all is well was designed by Ciaran Hurson with photography by MT Hurson. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. An Algerian asylum seeker, based in Letterkenny, has appeared at Derry Magistrates' Court charged with a series of driving offences and attempted thefts of a handbag from a local hotel. Muhammed Gaouaoui (39) of no fixed abode was charged with the driving offences on August 9 including driving while unfit. The attempted theft occurred on June 28. The court heard that a vehicle was observed being driven erratically in the Clon Elagh area. The vehicle was seen to veer in and out and was being driven slowly. A police officer was able to approach the vehicle on foot and remove the keys. Gaouaoui was driving the vehicle and there was a strong smell of cannabis and he was arrested. The court also heard that on June 28 the defendant was seen entering an hotel and attempted to steal a handbag from a guest but was stopped in the lobby. The incident was captured on CCTV and the defendant was identified. Defence solicitor Seamus Quigley said that the handbag offence was 'unsavoury and lousy'. He said there was no record for the defendant. District Judge Conor Heaney said Gaouaoui was a 'clear danger' to other road users. He was fined 250, disqualified from driving for 12 months and jailed for one month suspended for two years. Ancient oracle bone inscriptions in Europe digitally preserved by Chinese team Xinhua) 11:04, August 11, 2025 ZHENGZHOU, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- A university team in central China's Henan Province has successfully completed the high-definition digitization of 542 oracle bone inscriptions housed in European institutions, marking significant progress in preserving these cultural treasures in their ancestral home. The inscriptions were digitized by the oracle bone script information processing laboratory at Anyang Normal University in the city of Anyang, which is known as the home of oracle bones. Of the inscriptions that have been digitized, 485 are housed in the Ethnological Museum in Berlin, Germany, and the remainder are housed in different institutions in France. Liu Yongge, the lab's director, said the team is currently processing the data to create detailed digital models, which will be shared globally via an AI research platform. The lab is also negotiating with institutions in Switzerland, Sweden, the Netherlands and Belgium to digitally preserve further oracle bone inscriptions, he noted. Oracle bone script, or Jiaguwen, is an ancient Chinese writing system. Inscriptions were carved on tortoise shells or animal bones. Jiaguwen is the earliest known form of Chinese writing, composed of the oldest fully developed characters found in China. More than 160,000 inscriptions have been excavated from the Yinxu ruins in Anyang and are now in collections scattered at home and abroad. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Weekly news roundup: 'China for China' Strategy, Xiaomi's open-source voice AI, and Broadcom at OCP APAC Below are the top DIGITIMES Asia stories from Aug 4 to Aug 10, 2025. The top three topics include 'China for China' drives Western chipmakers' strategy, Xiaomi releases open-source voice AI for cars and smart homes, and Broadcom exec discusses Nvidia's NVLink and silicon photonics. 'China for China' becomes new rulebook for Western chipmakers Amid intensifying geopolitical strains and growing trade restrictions, US and European semiconductor companies are accelerating efforts to localize operations in China. By collaborating with domestic foundries, they aim to establish more self-reliant supply chains and ensure continued access to the Chinese market. Xiaomi open-sources voice AI model to enter automotive and smart home markets As part of its broader AI strategy, Xiaomi has released a 7-billion-parameter version of its open-source voice model, MiDashengLM, which integrates Alibaba's Qwen 2.5 series. Tailored for in-car systems and smart home devices, the new model expands Xiaomi's capabilities in voice-driven applications and reinforces its position in the AI ecosystem. Exclusive: Broadcom exec weighs in on Nvidia's NVLink strategy and silicon photonics future The Open Compute Project APAC Summit (OCP APAC) is to officially open in Taipei in early August 2025, with major industry players in attendance. Among the key exhibitors is US semiconductor leader Broadcom, renowned for its pivotal role in cloud AI ASICs and networking chip solutions. China ships first NIL lithography tool as 300-plus firms mobilize to rival EUV tech Amid increasingly strict US export controls on EUV lithography systems and related technologies, China's semiconductor equipment industry has achieved a notable breakthrough. On August 1, Pulin Technology (Hangzhou) delivered its first domestically developed step-and-repeat nanoimprint lithography (NIL) systemthe PL-SR seriesto a customer specializing in advanced chip production. Huawei's HiSilicon moves upstream with Zhuque AI display chips, pressuring Novatek and Raydium As the US-China tech rivalry deepens, China is ramping up efforts to achieve semiconductor self-sufficiency. In a strategic move toward vertical integration, Huawei's chip subsidiary HiSilicon has entered the smartphone touch and display IC market with its self-developed Zhuque OLED driver chipmarking a shift toward more comprehensive, system-level solutions within the Huawei ecosystem. Intel's server chip dominance erodes as AMD expands market share Intel's dominance in the server CPU market is steadily eroding as AMD continues to narrow the gappotentially reaching parity shortly. While Intel faces uncertainty surrounding the development of its 14A (1.4nm) process node and contends with Samsung securing a significant wafer order from Tesla, AMD is poised to strengthen further its position with its second-quarter earnings report, set to be released on August 5 in the US. Who's really after TSMC's 2nm secrets? The trail may not lead to China TSMC is dealing with a high-stakes internal security breach after several employees were dismissed over attempts to leak confidential information regarding its 2nm process technology, according to a report from Nikkei Asia. Article edited by Jack Wu Subscriber content preview SEATTLE The city of Seattle has secured a $2 million grant from the state Department of Commerce to support the renovation of Seattle Public Library's (SPL) University Branch. As the DJC has previously reported, the branch, at 5009 Roosevelt Way N.E., is getting a seismic upgrade, a host of interior and exterior renovations, accessibility improvements, and two new additions, both to be added to the rear of the building adjacent to the library's parking lot. . . . 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Marks and Spencer (M&S) has announced that it has resumed taking click-and-collect orders for UK customers after stopping the service nearly four months ago due to a cyber hack and data theft. M&S stopped taking orders through its website and app for home deliveries and in-store collections on April 25, three days after revealing that it was dealing with a cyber incident. Since the incident the retailer, which has several stores across Ireland, has been gradually resuming taking online orders for home delivery for UK customers from June 10, with click-and-collect services remaining suspended. Click-and-collect is a service that allows customers to order items from the online website and pick them up in store. This Monday, the UK version of the M&S website announced that click-and-collect has resumed for fashion, home and beauty. However, the Irish version of the website has yet to resume click-and-collect or home deliveries and there is no indication as to how long the suspension will continue for here. READ NEXT: RTE confirms broadcast date for highly-anticipated first series of The Traitors Ireland We have paused online orders. Products remain available to browse online, and stores are open, reads a message on the homepage. When reached for comment the company did not immediately respond, but on the Irish website, they have stated that Were working hard to get these services back up and running for their Irish customers. Investec analyst, Kate Calvert, says the reinstatement of click-and-collect (in the UK) is the key back to normal signal from a consumer perspective. In May last, M&S forecast that this cyberattack would cost the company approximately ST300m in lost operating profit for the 2025/26 financial year. M&S CEO, Stuart Muchin, told investors in early July that the group would be over the worst of the fallout from the incident by August. Calvert expressed that she did not expect the hack to have a significant impact on the company's long-term valuation or growth prospects. Chairman Archie Norman last July, told UK lawmakers that M&S believed that the ransomware cyber-attack was carried out by known hacker group DragonForce. UK police have arrested four people as a part of their investigation into this cyber-attack as well as in connection to similar attacks on the Co-Op and Harrods. While a response to a media query is awaited, M&S is assuring Irish customers that they are working hard to resume our services for you as soon as possible. The company has also apologised for the inconvenience and it has thanked customers for the patience. Only those who have been through the journey and have sought asylum can understand the toll of it; not everyone can get up and go again. So says Omolara Osunkoya, just one of 1,200 people seeking protection who have benefitted from the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) since 2022. Arrival in Ireland for asylum-seekers often comes at the end of a devastating journey. For Omolara, it involved escaping kidnapping in Nigeria, her native country. In a time of despair and fear, SICAP offered her a route to recovery. The programme falls under the remit of SECAD, the rural developments and social inclusion partnership, which is passionate about meeting people where they are often at a crossroads to walk alongside them as they take the first steps toward rebuilding their lives in a new country. Participants representing more than 15 nationalities have completed courses tailored to employment in key industries, including healthcare, construction, security, and hospitality. Their services also include wellbeing initiatives, employment-focused training, career guidance, and support for starting a business in Ireland. SECADs work begins with listening. Too often, they say, asylum seekers are spoken about rather than spoken with so their services are tailored to individual needs. Through dialogue, service providers come to understand their previous employment, skills and areas of interest. Whilst Omolara was referred onto healthcare courses, another participant, Iryna Lishchuk, was referred for business start-up support. Irynas story is a common one in Ireland in recent years. I came here during the war in Ukraine, two and a half years ago now, with my husband and two small children, aged four and eight. We were very scared, but we soon felt very happy and appreciative. Through this programme, people met us and gave us a home. They came to our hotel and helped us with our English. Their support meant everything. Iryna is skilled at sewing and wanted to set up a business, but the language barrier was a significant one. Picture: Matt Brooker Iryna is skilled at sewing and wanted to set up a business, but the language barrier was a significant one. The language courses were essential as were the business courses. Brian ONeill ran the business courses. He was so helpful and every question was answered. Honestly, at every stage, I was helped; it was so amazing. Beyond this programme, the Macroom community supported us too. There are very kind people here and when I started my business they turned up and supported me. The older people were particularly lovely. Iryna is grateful that her entire family is doing well and that she can give back to a community that supported her in a time of need. My husband is in landscaping and he helps with my business too. My children are doing well in school and speak English now. It is wonderful that my business is genuinely needed here; there is a constant stream of costumers. Ive recently employed a young girl to help in reception. I met her when I made her sisters confirmation dress. Iryna is delighted to offer a young person, from the local area, employment. It has been a hard road and it feels good to reap the rewards. I had no English whatsoever arriving here. I learned it in school but never had any cause to use it before the war. My customers now say I have great English. The language courses are offered by volunteers in the community, another strand in the programmes aim to create cohesion and bring about integration. Omolara Osunkoya arrived in Ireland last year. The programme has been a lifesaver, she enthuses. When I arrived here with my two daughters, we had no hope and nothing to do. I thought it was all over. Through the accommodation we were offered, we were also introduced to these supports. The first workshop was life-changing. We met a few workers there and the way they spoke to us, that day they told us not to give up and afforded us so many opportunities. We have gone from nothing to something. They do such wonderful work, bringing everyone together. They create a sense of belonging make us feel like we are all family. You get to know people in person and then people want to go out of their way to help you. It really is wonderful. Omolara had experience in healthcare, having looked after her own parents before she came here. Omolara Osunkoya is a refugee from Nigeria and a healthcare course graduate. She works with Dovida Homecare and is studying a Level 8 course at UCC in Health, Safety & Welfare. Picture: Matt Brooker When I arrived I got training to upgrade my skills and now I work with autistic people and the elderly. I go into peoples homes and get them up and ready for the day. I am so happy to help people it is what I am most passionate about. The carer is deeply grateful to the programme and also to Cork Migrant Centre. I believe that every human person deserves a chance to live, Omolara says. Ireland has given us a chance. We only arrived last year, but quicky we were taught about cultural differences which really helped in interviews. There are different ways of doing things in every country. Today I am happy with what I am doing, helping people and contributing to society. Her children are also thriving. My first born is working in a hospital and my second daughter finished her recent exams with distinction and is working with ABTRAN in Cork. This is all part of SICAPs plan. Toni McCaul, Social Inclusion Programmes Manager, SECAD, says: Everything we do at SECAD is rooted in one central idea: community is our superpower. Whether its a conversation club, a CV workshop, or a shared meal, we are building something much greater than any single programme or service we are building trust, solidarity, and a shared future. These services are not particular to asylum seekers. The supports provided to people seeking protection, such as business courses and skills training, are the same as those offered to anyone in the rural communities in and beyond Cork who need help taking their next step, whether thats in employment, education, wellbeing, or otherwise. The SICAP area includes 6 main hubs: Youghal, Midleton, Cobh, Millstreet, Macroom, and Carrigaline. In these locations, employment workshops and one-to-one consultations occur every month, offering a lifeline to many. Anyone who meets the SICAP programme criteria of a disadvantaged individual can get free employment support. The fundamental idea is to promote social cohesion and community involvement. Earlier this summer, Minister of State with Responsibility for Community Development and Charities at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Jerry Buttimer TD, delivered the keynote speech to celebrate 100 Cork-based participants for World Refugee Day. Minister Buttimer paid tribute to the participants and commended their commitment to learning and contribution to Irish society, whilst commending SECADs work within the local community, adding: Todays celebration event marking the completion of this suite of skills training programmes is testament to the determination and resolve of our new arrivals in rebuilding their lives with a view to contributing to Irish society. Pictured L-R at the SECAD Skills Celebration event, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Little Island, Cork, to mark World Refugee Day 2025 were SECAD CEO Ryan Howard, SECAD Social Inclusion Programmes Manager Toni McCaul, Minister of State Jerry Buttimer TD with event guest speakers Sorina Gabor and Izz Alkarajeh. Picture: Brian Lougheed Inspiring insights and personal testimonials were also provided by invited speakers to share their thoughts on building new lives in Ireland and integrating within their local communities. Ryan Howard, CEO of SECAD, paid tribute to the determination of the participants: We are deeply proud of each participant who has shown resilience and an unwavering commitment to building a new future here in Ireland. Completion of these courses will support their future employment and enable them to further integrate into Irish society. This event was not only a celebration of individual achievements, but of the power of inclusive support and community collaboration key cornerstones of SECADs work within local communities across Cork. It is a clear demonstration of what is possible when inclusive support and opportunity meet human potential, he concluded. Gardai in Cork city have arrested a man following an aggravated burglary that occurred at a residential property in the Lagan Grove area of Mayfield this morning at around 12.40am. A garda spokesperson said three men entered the residence "armed with implements", and confronted the occupants before fleeing. "Gardai on patrol in the area responded to the incident," said the spokespesron. "A male, aged in his 30s, was arrested at the scene and detained pursuant to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a garda Station in the Co Cork area," they added. One of the occupants of the property, a man also aged in his 30s, was taken to Cork University Hospital for treatment of injuries, which the garda spokesperson said were "believed to be non-life-threatening at this time." A technical examination of the scene has been conducted by gardai, who are appealing for anyone with any information regarding this incident to come forward. "Any road users or pedestrians who may have camera footage, including dash-cam, and were in the Lagan Grove area of Mayfield, Cork City, between midnight on Sunday, 10th August 2025, and 1am on Monday, 11th August 2025, are asked to make this footage available to investigating gardai," said the spokesperson. Anyone with information is asked to contact Mayfield Garda Station on (021) 455 8510, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any sarda station. "Investigations are ongoing," said the spokesperson. Two teenagers in Cork were rescued on Sunday afternoon by Kinsale RNLI volunteers. The incident, involving two walkers, occurred at Browns Strand near Summercove, at approximately 4.15pm. A report was made to the Irish Coast Guard who then requested the Kinsale RNLI crew to launch their inshore lifeboat. The lifeboat, helmed by Nick Searls, with crew members Jonathon Connor, Jon Green and Eoin Keyes, launched at approximately 4.20pm and made its way to the scene. The two tourists, both aged in their teens, were walking in the area when they were cut off by a rising tide, poor visibility and sea fog. The crew proceeded to rescue the two teenagers from the rising tide and brought them safely aboard the lifeboat before completing a casualty care check. Following the care check, there were no injuries reported as a result of the incident. Kinsale RNLI then proceeded to the pier near The Bulman where Summercove Coast Guard Unit was waiting, along with the parents of the two teenagers. The lifeboat returned to the station at 4.47pm where the boat was made ready for service again. Kinsale RNLI crew member, Jonathon Connor, urged members of the public to pay attention to safety notices before enjoying Corks coastal amenities. As we all want everyone to enjoy their summer evenings, but to think safety first, said Mr Connor. We would ask walkers and swimmers, particularly those who may be visiting the area, to learn the warning signs, read local safety notices and also make sure you are wearing suitable clothing for the forecasted weather. Also check the weather forecast and tide times to make sure you dont get caught out by the conditions. Like the member of the public who called in this incident, should you get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard. A Cork woman who was diagnosed with a rare syndrome in 2008 which rendered her aware and awake but unable to move or communicate has died. Catherine OLeary of Carrigaline was 32 years old when she developed locked-in syndrome after she suffered a stroke during surgery to remove a brain tumour. In a post on the Catherine OLeary Facebook page her family confirmed that the mother of one had passed away this morning. It is with great sadness that our beloved Catherine passed away peacefully this morning, surrounded by family. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. When Ms O'Leary was first diagnosed she spent time in a high dependency bed at Cork University Hospital (CUH) before being flown to a rehabilitative facility in the UK for treatment. Coma She initially responded well to the rehabilitation treatment at the Royal Hospital for Disabilities in Putney. However, in October 2008 she stopped breathing and lapsed into a deep coma. Doctors told her family there was little or no hope for her. However, she regained consciousness and was subsequently flown back to CUH. Catherine OLeary and her son Brandon from the Catherine OLeary Facebook page Ms O'Leary remained a patient at CUH for a further four years. She spent a year and a half as a full-time resident in Farranlee House Community Nursing Unit in Cork before being brought home to Carrigaline in September, 2014. Ms O'Leary required 24 hour care, could only communicate by blinking and was fed through a tube. In 2013 her father Pat and his family took the HSE to court on Ms O'Leary's behalf, claiming a late brain tumour diagnosis in CUH was the reason for her condition. The HSE denied these claims. The OLeary family was awarded a settlement of 2.5m following the High Court battle with the HSE. Mr OLeary previously told the Irish Examiner that the decline in his daughter all started with a case of hiccoughs in 2005. Persistent Ms O'Leary couldnt shake them off. They were persistent to the point of annoyance, and so she was referred to a clinic in CUH. Mr OLeary said that they kept putting it down to reflux in her stomach. By November 2007 Ms O'Leary had lost weight and been suffering serious headaches, and demanded a brain scan. Mr OLeary told the Irish Examiner in 2013 that the scan found a non-cancerous tumour on her brain stem. We knew at the start, from what the neurologist said, it was going to be a difficult operation... Where the actual tumour was, it was on the brain stem. It was affecting all her organs, her eating, her movements she would have been dead in three weeks otherwise. Mr OLeary and his wife Margaret campaigned tirelessly on behalf of their daughter. The family created a GoFundMe page in 2021 to help pay for a new vital signs monitor. The old one needed to be replaced as the model had become obsolete and was beginning to damage her fingers. The doctors grim prognosis that Ms O'Leary would not live beyond 10 years formed the basis of a damages settlement. But the award which effectively predicted Ms O'Leary would die before 2017 didnt take into account her battling spirit which saw her exceed medical expectations. Fighter In 2018 Mr OLeary told Primetime on RTE that people often asked him if they were able to communicate in any way with Ms O'Leary. People say does she understand you? We are there. We are talking to her as if she understands everything. But I mean there is a certain amount of interaction. When she wakes up she looks at the ceiling and sees all her lovely photographs of her son and herself and you would see her smiling and her eyes travelling around the ceiling looking. He described his daughter as a fighter and cared for her until the end. Funeral arrangements for Ms O'Leary will be finalised in the coming days. A Cork city councillor has urged the Government to intervene ahead of a planned strike by school secretaries and caretakers. In June, Forsa trade union confirmed that school secretaries and caretakers voted in favour of indefinite strike action in their ongoing campaign for pension justice, with 98% of voting members supporting the move. Forsa represents more than 2,300 school secretaries nationally working in primary and secondary schools and 500 school caretakers. The mandate for indefinite strike action follows the unions efforts to secure access for school secretaries to the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, from which they remain excluded despite being on the Department of Educations centralized payroll since 2023. Critical component Cork city Labour councillor Peter Horgan warned that the back to school season will be halted if school secretaries engage in indefinite strikes as promised due to Government intransigence on this critical component of the school ecosystem. He said that returning to school was just weeks away, and any parent who has children in school knows the vital role school secretaries and caretakers play the school cannot function without them. The Government must wake up to that and engage to avoid this strike. He added: This strike for pension equality is not taken lightly and I commend Forsas proactive role in seeking relations but the Government must show their hand. This isnt a game of poker, its real life people the secretaries and caretakers deserve pension equality. Andy Pike, Forsas head of education, said that the campaign for pension equality must be seen through to its conclusion. These are committed professionals who contribute to the successful operation of every school, and they should be entitled to the same pension rights as their colleagues across the public service. A new Transport For Ireland (TFI) Local Link Cork bus route is to be introduced between Fermoy and Mallow. From August 18, the new Route 530 will support the current door-to-door service offering between Mallow and Fermoy, providing passengers with more travel options. The route will operate seven daily return services Monday to Sunday, with an additional early morning service operating from Monday to Saturday. It will also provide peak-time and evening services, while it will also improve connectivity to Mallow Train Station to facilitate onward travel, regional bus services, and to the villages and areas of Ballyhooly, Castletownroche, and Killavullen. Essential TFI Local Link Cork general manager David OBrien said the new route will increase the quality of life for people living in the areas served. TFI Local Link Cork recognises that localised transport solutions are an essential component in combating rural isolation, he said. This new service will provide people living along the route with access to services and onward connections on a daily basis. The enhanced service will mean a significant improvement in the quality of life for people living in these areas. People can now access a wide range of public and social services, training courses, colleges, hospital appointments, etc, supported with bus and rail onward connections. The route is part of the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan, which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority as part of the TFI network. Culture Night 2025 will take place on Friday, September 19, with a number of events being held across Cork city and county. This is the 20th edition of this all-island celebration, powered by the Arts Council and local authorities, with funding from the Department of Culture, Communications, and Sport. Culture Night offers people of all ages and backgrounds to discover new experiences, and also to embrace creativity. Among the events taking place in Cork city will be Kaught at the Karpark, celebrating the late 70s and early 80s punk and post-punk scene in the city. The event will feature original members of bands like Nun Attax, Microdisney, and Stump. In Youghal, there will be a performance from the Youghal Choral Society. In West Cork, there will be an evening of traditional Irish music, song, and dance, with Comhaltas Clonakilty. ARTIST TRAIL In Cobh, there will be an artist trail featuring a series of artworks displayed in the windows of businesses throughout the town. Meanwhile in Rathcormac, people are invited to come and experience the flavours and rich traditions of Mexico at Viva Mexico Products. Culture minister Patrick ODonovan said Culture Night holds a unique and significant place in Irelands annual calendar, bringing joy and discovery to towns, villages, and cities across the country. Its a vibrant celebration and showcase of the rich cultural life that is woven into our local communities, he said. My department is proud to support 20 years of Culture Night, a programme that offers such diverse experiences, completely free of charge. I hope everyone takes the opportunity to step out and enjoy the incredible energy of the night. Maura McGrath, chairperson of the Arts Council, said they are pleased to continue partnering with local authorities as we celebrate 20 years of Culture Night. The event has grown considerably going from strength to strength over the past two decades, and has enjoyed diverse and inclusive participation, she said. For more information, visit www.culturenight.ie. A loss of 95 medical card dentists in Cork since 2019 is completely unacceptable and leaving lower income families without access to dental treatment, a Cork TD has said. The HSE Primary Care Dental Service provides dental treatment to eligible children, medical card holders, adults and children with special needs and others in the care of the HSE at various locations throughout Cork and Kerry. Children under 16 years of age are treated in HSE dental clinics and adults are treated by private dental practitioners contracted to the Health Services under the Dental Treatment Services Scheme (DTSS). In 2019, there were 107 DTSS dentists in Cork South Lee, 113 in North Lee, 29 in West Cork and 38 in North Cork a total of 287 dentists. This dropped to 282 in 2020, 275 in 2021, 262 in 2022, 246 in 2023 and then there was a significant drop to 188 in 2024. In 2024, there were 60 DTSS dentists in South Lee, 81 in North Lee, 19 in West Cork and 28 in North Cork. As of May 2025, the figures had increased slightly to 192, with an increase to 63 DTSS dentists in South Lee and 29 in North Cork, though there remained 81 in North Lee and 19 in West Cork. Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central, Thomas Gould, to whom the data was provided, said that a 33% reduction in dentists providing medical card services in Cork is totally unacceptable and leaving people without access to dental care. He told The Echo: These shocking figures show the reality for those on the ground who need dental services in Cork. These are vulnerable people and they are being denied access to healthcare. I have been contacted by constituents who have had to travel from Mallow into Cork city to access dental services. They are forced to take lifts from friends or use public transport when they dont drive. This is leaving people without any real access to dental treatment. The Dental Treatment Services Scheme is essential for older people and low-income families to make sure they can get access to oral healthcare. But now it is collapsing as dentists withdraw at a rate of knots because the contract is not fit for purpose. Mr Gould explained: Dentists on the scheme cannot cover their costs and now medical card holders cannot access any treatment. As it stands, the scheme is supervised negligence you can have as many extractions as you need, but only two fillings, which leads to tooth loss instead of saving teeth. The Minister needs to work with dentists to get dentists back, to fix the fees on the scheme, and to modernise the contract to open up preventative treatments available to public patients. Over 200 people took part in the West Cork Walk4Gaza fundraiser on Saturday to raise awareness and funds for Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP). Organised by the West Cork for Palestine group, the route commenced in Bantry and ended at Mizen Head. In between, the event passed by locations such as Durrus, Ballyrisode and Goleen, which was intended to be a distance the length of the Gaza Strip. The fundraiser saw participants walking, running and biking, with different individuals and groups from across West Cork participating including people from different backgrounds and professions. According to the organisers, the aim of the event was to be an expression of solidarity and a way to show support for the resilience of the Palestinian people. While they added that the walk was intended to be more than just a fundraiser. West Cork Walk4Gaza event organiser Sam Simpson said: "Please continue to share and support our efforts for this desperately important cause, providing medical aid to the people of Gaza. "To the hundreds of generous donors on this GoFundMe page and those who gave cash on the day, we are all part of something special and beautiful. A humanity that refuses to accept cruelty and injustice." Mr Simpson also added that the kindness and the determination of the people, united in their cause, had an energy that was palpable. Motorists on the busy roads were patient, considerate and many showed their support, thanking the walkers and asking how they could make donations. There was singing on the beach at Ballyrisode, dancing on the street in Goleen, tea sandwiches and speeches on the Mizen Head. A huge thanks to the supporting army of volunteers from the local community who stepped up and gave of their time, their hearts and their energy. For the driving, the beautiful food so lovingly prepared and served, the music and the songs that lifted our spirits, the photographers, artists and stewards, those preparing and putting up posters and safety notices. Over 25,000 has been raised on the West Cork Walk4Gaza GoFundMe page so far, which will remain active online for another two more weeks. Anyone interested in making a donation towards the West Cork Walk4Gaza fundraiser can do so through the following link: https://www.gofundme.com/f/west-cork-walk-4-gaza A Cork TD has called for essential funding to implement the rollout of public CCTV systems. In response to a parliamentary question, raised by Fianna Fail Cork South-Central TD, Seamus McGrath, justice minister Jim OCallaghan said that garda authorities are working towards implementing such a scheme. I acknowledge the grant-aid scheme that is in place for support groups wishing to establish a community-based CCTV system in their area, said Mr OCallaghan. I also welcome the funding that was allocated for 2025 of 1m under the scheme also, but we must do more. In order to have an effective rollout, there needs to be adequate funding for access of these public CCTV schemes. I am encouraged that the garda authorities are working in respect to the development of the code of practice, which I believe is a key step. Mr McGrath highlighted how the modernisation of CCTV will help assist members of An Garda Siochana in keeping communities safe. I believe the rollout of public CCTV systems will greatly benefit communities across the country, whilst also assisting An Garda Siochana in the work they do, said Mr McGrath. It is essential we maintain public safety above all else, and this would be a vital tool in our arsenal to tackle crime in our local communities. It is hoped that the modern CCTV platform will commence in 2026, subject to funding through the national development plan [NDP]. I am delighted to hear from the minister that An Garda Siochana is currently working on a new CCTV strategy with the aim of it commencing in 2026, said Mr McGrath. This is subject to funding through the NDP, of which 2.18bn has been set for the justice sector. Fianna Fail in Government is prioritising investment across the justice system, by implementing preventative measure such as this. I will ensure to communicate effectively with my colleagues across Government and my party colleague and minister for justice, Jim OCallaghan, ahead of the budget so we can deliver on these commitments. Cork Heritage Open Day, which takes place on Saturday, August 16, celebrates the amazing architecture and history of the built heritage in Cork city and sees over 35 buildings open their doors free of charge for one day only. This is the only event of this size and scale happening in the country and includes walks, talks and exhibitions on our rich heritage throughout the city. This year, Cork Heritage Open Day is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Initially an event for European Capital of Culture in 2005, it has gone from strength to strength and is a testament to how much Cork people love their city and its magnificent heritage. If Cork Heritage Open Day could be described with one word, for me it would be diversity. It is amazing, for a relatively small city in a small country, how much diversity there is in our built heritage in architectural style and function. I believe much of this is due to our history as a trading and merchant city. We have always been a city of newcomers and been exposed and open to different cultures and traditions throughout the centuries, all of which, I believe, have strengthened and added to our community and made us a more interesting and vibrant place. Cork has long been known as a merchant city, trading goods and services throughout the world for centuries. For example, the Cork Butter Exchange was the largest in the world in the 1800s, with nearly 2500 firkins (barrels) of butter passing through it in one morning! The Butter Museum on Cork Heritage Open Day will recount this fascinating story and how butter is still one of our great international success stories Keeping to the theme of trade and finance, the AIB Bank (formerly the Munster Bank) has been in existence since 1867, and the former Cork Savings Bank (now UCC Centre for Executive Education) was founded in 1817. It seems fitting there is a talk on Beamish and Crawford by renowned historian Diarmuid O Drisceoil in the Cork Savings Bank on Cork Heritage Open Day, as brewing is another long-established industry in Cork. The Heineken Ireland building (formerly Murphys Brewery) will also be open on the day! Diversity of faith and worship is also evident in Cork citys built and cultural heritage. The Quaker religion was brought to Cork in 1655, and the fellowship of friends were active in feeding the people of the city in the Famine. A tour of St Josephs cemetery on Cork Heritage Open Day refers to this sad period in our history, visiting the Famine plot there. There has been a Baptist church in the city since the 17th century, with the current church opening in 1892. It is reported that electricity was installed inside in 1908 at the princely sum of 9! Last, but not least, are the stunning St Annes Church Shandon built in 1722, and magnificent St Fin Barres Cathedral designed by William Burgess in the late 1800s. The architecture of both are synonymous with Cork city. The importance of education and the role many religious organisations played in teaching particularly the poorer parts of Cork can be seen at Nano Nagle Place. Dating from the 18th century, the oldest building on this campus was built in 1771. Nano Nagle founded her first schools there, and is buried at this site in the sisters graveyard. Her legacy of education lives on both in the museum that interprets her life and work but also in the fact that the recently built Cork Centre for Architectural Education now stands on the site. Established in 1811 by the Christian brothers, the North Monastery is another such example of religious education. This school is very proud of its various alumni including Tomas McCurtain and Terrence McSwiney as well as te celebrated poet and novelist Brother Gerald Griffin, and Brother John Holland who tested his prototype for the submarine in the schools ornamental pond!. Cork has a diverse, strong creative identity that is reflected in its vibrant cultural life. This can be seen in the theatres of the Cork Opera House and the Everyman but also in the places of creation and creativity. The National Sculpture Factory is one such space. Once a tram warehouse, the sound of the tram tracks are now replaced by the sound of sculptures being fabricated in what has become a unique artistic space. The Backwater Studios, Cork Printmakers and Lavit Gallery and Dance Cork Firkin Crane are other such examples of an older building being repurposed into a new and exciting cultural venue. Cork Heritage Open Day kick-starts Heritage Week in Cork city. This year the Heritage Week theme is Exploring Our Foundations. This is very apt for Cork Heritage Open Day as it invites us to delve into the building blocks of heritage; uncovering not just the structures that surround us but also the cultural and natural elements that have impacted us and our communities. By exploring our foundations, we strengthen them, ensuring what defines us today shapes tomorrow. Diversity, creativity and community are surely the bedrock of Cork citys heritage and nowhere is this better seen than in the built heritage and architecture of the city on Cork Heritage Open Day. Cork Heritage Open Day is organised by Cork City Council as part of Heritage Week in partnership with the Heritage Council and is proudly supported by media sponsors The Echo. For a full list of events, see www.corkheritageopenday.ie or pick up a brochure at Cork city libraries or Cork City Tourist Information Office. National Heritage Week runs from August 16-26, see www.heritageweek.ie By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA India Day in Ireland has been postponed following a spate of violent attacks on members of its community in recent months. The co-chairman of the Ireland India Council, Prashant Shukla, said making the decision was very difficult and emotional, but that the safety and security of the community was more important. He said the event has been held in Ireland since 2015 and this had never happened before. Hundreds of performers had been preparing for the event at Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park on Sunday. Members of the Ireland India Council (Niall Carson/PA) We are not too much concerned about the safety at the event, we are more concerned about the perception on social media, he said adding that they had created a perception that Indians had taken over the state and had caused housing problems. So we want to actually balance these counter narratives, they are very very negative. We will review the situation and we will announce new dates for India Day this year. The announcement was made after representatives of the Indian community met with Tanaiste Simon Harris at Government Buildings on Monday. Attacks against members of the Indian community in Ireland have been highlighted in recent weeks after an Indian man was the victim of an unprovoked attack in Tallaght, Dublin, last month. A silent vigil was held outside the Department of Justice by Friends Of India in response. The Indian embassy in Dublin has also issued a warning that there has been an increase in the instances of physical attacks reported against Indian citizens in Ireland recently. They said Indian citizens in Ireland should take reasonable precautions and avoid deserted areas. Mr Harris has said he was deeply concerned about the incidents and that one of the most concerning things was the very young age of those that have been involved in some of this racist activity. The Ireland India Council said it wanted assaults on members of the Indian community to be recognised and recorded as hate crimes, to ensure the offences are appropriately recorded and addressed. It has called for a cross-departmental taskforce on hate crime and youth violence and legislative reform to hold parents more accountable for the actions of their children. It also called for enhanced policing, swift prosecution of offenders, and an outreach programme to affected communities. On Sunday, Minister of State with responsibility for migration Colm Brophy said he wanted the incoming Garda commissioner Justin Kelly to prioritise addressing these incidents. We actually have seen a drop in serious crime, but in this particular area, we have seen a rise in the type of attacks, he told RTE Radio. I think there needs to be a stronger policing response in this area because theres two aspects to these attacks which I think are very very unacceptable. The first is obviously the attack itself, and the second then is the recording and videoing of it and the disseminating of it on social media and theres a role that has to be dealt with there as well. The Indian embassy has been contacted for comment. The debate over whether AI chipmakers should be allowed to sell their products to China has taken an unusual turn. The US government has reportedly given NVIDIA and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) permission to make the sales but for one big catch: 15 percent of the sales. The news was first reported by The Financial Times, which cited multiple people familiar with the agreement. In July, NVIDIA announced that the US government would approve export licenses to sell its H20 AI GPUs after blocking their sale in April. NVIDIA created these specific chips which are less powerful than ones sold in the US in response to restrictions on sales to China. It previously developed the A800 and H800 chips for the Chinese market, but those were also banned. Now, NVIDIA and AMP were both reportedly granted export licenses for China last week, after agreeing to give the government 15 percent of their profits. AMP will provide the share from sales of its MI308 chip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There's significant debate over whether selling AI chips to China will endanger US national security. At the end of July, 20 national security experts and past government officials including President Trump's former deputy national security advisor, Matt Pottinger wrote a letter to Howard Lutnick, the US Secretary of Commerce, stating as much. The signatories "believe this move represents a strategic misstep that endangers the United States economic and military edge in artificial intelligence." They worry it will restrict the number of chips available for the US and be used by China's military, among other concerns. NVIDIA disagrees, claiming the export licenses will allow it to compete with Chinese businesses. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order extending lower tariffs with China for another 90 days, CNBC reports. The new executive order was signed before the previous agreement was set to end on August 12 at midnight. The extension will maintain the current 30 percent tariff on goods from China while representatives from both countries negotiate a new trade deal. The previous agreement lowered US tariffs down from 145 percent to 30 percent, and Chinese tariffs down from 145 percent to 10 percent. At the time, it was unclear how the move would impact the price of electronics manufactured in China, but for at least some companies, it's still led to higher costs. While the price of the Switch 2 is remaining the same, Nintendo announced at the beginning of August that the price of the Switch 1 would increase by $40 or more. Sonos has said that some of its products would increase in price, but hasn't shared details. Both DJI and Microsoft announced price hikes on some of their products back in May, too. For companies manufacturing products abroad, the sudden swerves in Trump administration trade policy seem almost as difficult to deal with as the tariffs themselves. That erratic protectionism is reshaping global trade, and it's also won concessions from companies trying to do business as normal. Apple committed to spending an extra $100 billion on US manufacturing last week to avoid being subjected to tariffs. And early today, both AMD and NVIDIA reportedly agreed to pay the US 15 percent of their profits to be allowed to sell GPUs in China. (Informacion remitida por la empresa firmante) BENGALURU, India, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced the next phase of successful implementation and go live of the nCino Platform for ABN AMRO Bank, one of the largest banks in the Netherlands. This project strategically sought to transform ABN AMRO's loan origination and collateral management process by consolidating multiple legacy systems into a single, unified platform, enhancing ABN AMRO's ability to serve its customers and streamline operations. Building on a sequence of transformative phases, this Go Live marked a significant milestone, with the rollout of new features on the nCino Platform. Infosys is one of the primary Application Development and Maintenance partners of ABN AMRO, and has during the implementation demonstrated expertise in nCino Platform capabilities, helping facilitate migration of over 100,000 records from multiple legacy systems over a period of 11 months. Infosys was selected by ABN AMRO also for its expertise in digital and cloud transformation capabilities and its ability to deliver comprehensive solutions. The nCino Platform provides ABN AMRO with a centralized solution for managing assets and collaterals, while mitigating data quality issues. The unified platform optimizes customer onboarding and loan origination processes, improves operational efficiency, and helps ensure regulatory compliance. The cloud-native, configurable solution features out-of-the-box credit workflows with API-driven integrations and data quality/migration capabilities, offering flexibility for future business needs. As part of this collaboration, Infosys supported integrations across ABN AMRO's shared capabilities and diverse IT systems throughout the credit origination and collateral management processes, while also developing a robust data migration and reconciliation strategy. Hans-Willem Giesen, IT Lead Credits, ABN AMRO, said, "The transition to the nCino Platform, facilitated by our partners like Infosys, has brought about a significant shift in how we manage our lending process. This solution will improve operational efficiency, enhance our collateral management capabilities, and provide our customers with a faster, more transparent experience. As we look to the future, this platform will be a cornerstone of our continued growth and transformation." Joaquin de Valenzuela, Managing Director EMEA, nCino, said, "Our continued partnership with ABN AMRO reflects the strength of the nCino Platform and its ability to deliver meaningful results. By leveraging our comprehensive suite of solutions across loan origination, credit analysis and risk, collateral management, and portfolio management, we're empowering ABN AMRO to optimize their lending processes, drive operational efficiency, and meet the rigorous demands of a highly regulated industry. Together with Infosys, we're not only helping ABN AMRO enhance internal workflows but also elevate the experience for clients and employees alike, reinforcing the lasting value of our collaboration." Jay Nair, EVP, Industry Head, Financial Services and Public Sector, Infosys, said, "We are proud to support ABN AMRO's digital transformation journey in credits with the nCino's Platform. By delivering a unified loan origination and collateral management solution across both the phases, we have optimized processes, improved data quality, reduced turnaround time and enhanced the digital experience for ABN AMRO's customers. We are excited to see how this innovative solution will enable ABN AMRO to streamline operations and enhance customer experiences while ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements." About Infosys Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 320,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses, and communities. We enable clients in 59 countries to navigate their digital transformation. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by cloud and AI. We enable them with an AI-first core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace. Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next. Safe Harbor Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects, or our future financial or operating performance, are forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the "safe harbor" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding the execution of our business strategy, increased competition for talent, our ability to attract and retain personnel, increase in wages, investments to reskill our employees, our ability to effectively implement a hybrid work model, economic uncertainties and geo-political situations, technological disruptions and innovations such as artificial intelligence ("AI"), generative AI, the complex and evolving regulatory landscape including immigration regulation changes, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy and expectations concerning our market position, future operations, margins, profitability, liquidity, capital resources, our corporate actions including acquisitions, and cybersecurity matters. Important factors that may cause actual results or outcomes to differ from those implied by the forward-looking statements are discussed in more detail in our US Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/... View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/infosys-transforms-abn-amros-lending-process-with-ncino-platform-implementation-302526352.html (Informacion remitida por la empresa firmante) Berlin, August 11, 11 Ago. (News Aktuell) - PLAN-B NET ZERO AG, a pioneering GreenTech startup accelerating the transition to a CO-free future, has been awarded the prestigious Company of the Future honor by the German Institute for Sustainability & Economics. The award will be officially presented on September 10, 2025, at the Big Bang AI Festival, Europes largest event for artificial intelligence, innovation, and future trends. Recognizing companies that demonstrate exceptional commitment, breakthrough business models, and sustainable strategies, the Company of the Future award celebrates organizations shaping a prosperous and livable tomorrow. The independent jury of business leaders and industry experts commended PLAN-B NET ZERO for its bold vision, rapid growth, and ability to merge artificial intelligence, ecological responsibility, and economic performance paving the way for green energy autonomy. This recognition is a tremendous honor for our entire team, said Bradley Mundt, Founder of PLAN-B and a leading voice for digitized energy autonomy. It validates our unwavering belief that the shift to 100% renewable energy is not only essential for the planet, but also a transformative business opportunity. I am deeply grateful to our outstanding team for their passion and innovation, and to the jury and Big Bang Festival organizers who share our commitment to a sustainable energy future. In just two years, PLAN-B NET ZERO has emerged as a key force in sustainable energy technology, leading projects such as the construction of 280 MW of battery storage capacity in Germany and delivering affordable green power to end customers. With a clear mission to inspire customers and partners toward a renewable-powered world, the company combines visionary strategy with proven market execution. The Big Bang AI Festival a gathering of innovators, investors, and policymakers from across Europe provides the ideal stage for PLAN-B NET ZERO to share its vision and showcase the growing role of GreenTech in building a carbon-free future. About PLAN-B NET ZERO PLAN-B NET ZERO AG is a Berlin and Zug-based GreenTech company dedicated to enabling energy autonomy through AI-driven solutions. The company develops and operates large-scale renewable energy projects, including battery storage systems, while supplying green electricity to businesses and households at competitive rates. By combining cutting-edge technology with sustainable business models, PLAN-B NET ZERO is driving the global shift to a zero-carbon economy. Media Contact: Julia Schnittger PLAN-B NET ZERO AG presse@planbnetzero.com www.planbnetzero.com Emisor: PLAN-B NET ZERO Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again slammed international media coverage of the war in Gaza as parroting Hamas propaganda and Palestinian talking points, calling it "a global campaign of lies." Netanyahu also pushed back Sunday against opposition to Israels planned broader offensive into Gaza with Hamas refusing to surrender or release remaining Oct. 7, 2023 hostages in the Holy Land war. Our goal is not to occupy Gaza. Our goal is to free Gaza from Hamas terrorists, Netanyahu said. Gaza will be demilitarized, Israel will have overriding security responsibilities. A security zone will be established on Gazas border with Israel to prevent future terrorist incursions, Netanyahu said. A civilian administration will be established in Gaza that will seek to live in peace with Israel. Thats our plan for the day after Hamas. The offensive comes after Hamas released a video of starving, 24-year-old Israeli hostage on Day 666 of his captivity with images of him digging his own grave in a Gaza tunnel. Families of the 20 living remaining hostages in Gaza as well as European countries including the United Kingdom and Germany oppose a wider war in Gaza. They worry about more deaths among hostages, Israeli soldiers and Palestinians. More than 60,000 Palestinians and 2,000 Israelis have died in the war, according to figures from both sides of the conflict. Families of Israeli hostages still held by Hamas are calling for a general strike next Sunday in opposition to Netanyahus planned offensive. Israel controls 75% of Gaza and is looking at taking over more to rescue hostages and eradicate Hamas. Hamas still has thousands of armed terrorists, Netanyahu said Sunday. The Trump administration in the U.S. has given tacit approval to Israels planned wider war. Netanyahu criticized international media coverage of the war which highlighted the plight of Palestinians with news photos, reports and social media posts pointing to a dire situation. The Israeli prime minister called the coverage and United Nations and relief agencies contentions of hunger and starvation in Gaza. Netanyahu contends Hamas has stolen much of the aid sent into Gaza with other Israeli backers pointing to UN figures showing almost 90% of its relief trucks being looted by Palestinians or hijacked by Hamas since May. The only ones who are being deliberately starved in Gaza are our hostages, Netanyahu said Sunday. He also pointed to three much publicized images purportedly of starving or malnourished Palestinian children, including one that appeared on the front page of the New York Times late last month. They're all fake, Netanyahu said of the photos, saying the Palestinian children depicted all have genetic and other conditions that contribute to their frail appearance. He also pointed out other Palestinians who look more well-fed. Backers of Israel including U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee have been frustrated by what they see as curated, choreographed and pro-Palestinian media narratives in the war. The international press has bought hook line and sinker Hamas's statistics, Hamas claims, Hamas forgeries, and Hamas photographs, Netanyahu said. Netanyahu repeated that Israel could potentially sue the New York Times for defamation or libel over the photo. The U.S. publication published an editors note on the boys condition in the front page photo and has defended its coverage of the war zone. Netanyahu called media and social media pushes against the war and stressing dire humanitarian situations in Gaza a global campaign of lies and pressed the media to open your eyes to Hamas lies. Relief agencies continue to warn of the public health situation in Gaza with criticisms of Israel over restricting of aid earlier this year and the continued war. The United Nations and international relief groups oppose a wider war in already devastated Gaza. I'm gravely alarmed by the decision of the Israeli Government to "take control of Gaza City". This marks a dangerous escalation & risks deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians. It could further endanger more lives, including of the remaining hostages. I reiterate my urgent appeal for a permanent ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access across Gaza & the immediate & unconditional release of all hostages, said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Evangelical Christians in the U.S. are supportive of Netanyahu and Israel while more liberal Protestant churches, Christians in the Holy Land, peace activists and the Roman Catholic Church call for a ceasefire and release of Hamas-held hostages. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. The future of the Welsh language is inseparable from the future of Welsh farming that was the message at a packed panel discussion hosted by the Farmers Union of Wales (FUW) at this years National Eisteddfod in Wrexham. Speakers at the week-long festival, which is Europes largest celebration of culture, stressed the crucial role agriculture plays in sustaining Wales cultural identity. The 2021 census revealed that over 43% of people working in agriculture, forestry and fishing speak Welsh the highest proportion of any industry. This is particularly true in stronghold counties such as Ceredigion, Gwynedd, and Anglesey, where farming is often the economic backbone and Welsh is the everyday language of work, trade, and community life. Panel members noted that farm families are often multi-generational custodians of both the land and the language, passing down not only agricultural skills but also Welsh idioms, place names, and oral traditions. Agricultural shows, livestock markets, and cooperative meetings remain some of the few public spaces where Welsh is the dominant working language, making farming communities vital to its everyday use. FUW regional vice-president Alun Owen said this connection could not be overlooked: Crucially, the discussion also provided a timely reminder of farming's vital role as the backbone of our rural communities, preserving the Welsh language and our heritage. "It's clear that if we want the Welsh language to survive and thrive amidst today's pressures, greater government support for the farming sector from both Cardiff and Westminster is essential. Animal health concerns also dominated the conversation, with FUW policy officer, Elin Jenkins and Bedwyr Roberts from Daleside Vets warning of the evolving threat from bluetongue alongside the ongoing crisis caused by bovine TB. Both spoke of the heavy financial burden and relentless stress the disease inflicts on farm businesses. Mental health was a recurring theme. Wyn Thomas from the mental health charity Tir Dewi revealed that he has seen a sharp rise in calls for help in recent months, much of it linked to bTB. He stressed that the impact was felt not only by farmers dealing directly with outbreaks but also by neighbours and wider rural communities living under constant threat. Lastly, attention also turned to the FUWs latest policy report, A Mandate for Future Farmers, launched at last months Royal Welsh Show. Gwenno Davies, FUW Insurance Services Ltds account executive, highlighted surging land prices as a major obstacle for new entrants, warning that without targeted support, many aspiring young farmers will be locked out of the industry. A lynx comeback in northern England has won public support but farming voices are warning the move must be handled with care to protect livelihoods. A consultation has found that 72% of people in Northumberland, and parts of Cumbria and southern Scotland, support the potential reintroduction of the Eurasian lynx a predator that vanished from Britain in medieval times due to hunting and habitat loss. The Missing Lynx Project ran the consultation, which included almost 10,000 visitors to its touring exhibition, as well as 100 stakeholder meetings and over 1,700 questionnaires. While some farmers have expressed openness to the idea, others remain worried about potential impacts on livestock, particularly sheep, and have called for strong safeguards before any release. There are concerns about compensation for losses, the costs of additional fencing or livestock protection, and whether long-term monitoring would be guaranteed. Dr Deborah Brady, project manager at the Lifescape Project, which undertook the consultation, said: Now we know that the majority of local people support lynx reintroduction and we also have the scientific evidence showing that a release of lynx in north-west Northumberland could work. We will continue to work with local communities to consider how a reintroduction project could be managed to maximise benefits and reduce risks. "We hope to apply for a licence but only once we have a plan thats collaboratively designed with local people which sets out measures that are acceptable, feasible and can be implemented. The research coincides with a new study showing that releasing 20 lynx into Kielder Forest over several years could lead to a population of around 50 animals in the region. The report identifies this as the only area of England and Wales with sufficient continuous woodland for lynx to thrive. However, many farmers fear that even a small number of predation incidents could have a significant financial and emotional toll on farm businesses already under pressure from fluctuating prices, disease outbreaks and unpredictable weather. Industry groups have stressed the importance of robust, long-term support for farmers, including clear compensation schemes, rapid-response teams in the event of livestock attacks, and ongoing monitoring to ensure lynx numbers remain sustainable. Others have questioned whether reintroduction could lead to increased regulatory burdens on land use or restrictions on certain farming practices. As part of the project, a group of Northumberland farmers visited lynx reintroduction areas in Europe to see how coexistence works in practice. Sheep farmer Lauren Harrison from Hadrians Wall was among them, who is positive about any possible reintroduction. She said: I saw in Europe that its possible to live alongside lynx. The risks to livestock can be minimal and there are so many positives. Tourism is an obvious one, but I also think a more balanced ecosystem is beneficial to farmers. "Id urge other farmers to engage with them and take some ownership of the project. The wider public clearly supports a lynx reintroduction and this is a great chance to help make it happen with so little risk to our businesses. Mike Pratt, chief executive of Northumberland Wildlife Trust, called the support hugely positive, adding that locals are proud our region is a stronghold for threatened species such as red squirrels and water vole so its no surprise that theyre in favour of bringing more back. The consultation continues, with organisers urging people nationwide to take part in the national questionnaire before any decision is made. Farming robot Thorvald is shifting into top gear, as creator Saga Robotics secures 8.4 million to drive large-scale rollouts in UK fields and US vineyards. The agri-tech innovator has raised the amount in equity funding to accelerate the commercial rollout of its autonomous farming platform, Thorvald. The robot has moved from a prototype to a fully commercially deployed autonomous solution, already servicing thousands of acres in 2025. Capable of everything from UV-C disease control to high-precision crop data collection, it provides automated services that help growers increase yields, cut labour costs, and reduce chemical inputs. In the UK, Thorvald currently supports 13 leading strawberry growers, treating around 20% of the national market, with an aim to surpass 30% by 2026. The 2025 season also saw the companys first commercial revenue from its yield prediction data tool. In the US, the autonomous robot is already in use across more than 1,300 acres of vineyards, with plans to triple that by 2026. Thorvald is now part of Californias CORE incentive programme, offering significant grants towards robot sales. In the UK, Thorvald currently supports 13 leading strawberry growers Worldwide, more than 150 Thorvald 3.0 units are operating in the 2025 growing season, according to Saga Robotics. Weve proven Thorvald works, now were scaling it, said founder Pal Johan From, who recently relocated to California to lead US operations. This raise gives us the runway to accelerate adoption, improve efficiency in agriculture, and reduce chemical use across two of the worlds most chemically dependent specialty crop markets. Across the UK, agri-tech robots like Thorvald are increasingly being adopted to tackle labour shortages, improve crop health, and reduce reliance on chemical inputs. Large soft fruit producers and vineyard operators have already begun integrating autonomous units into everyday operations, with government and industry groups encouraging the shift as part of wider sustainability goals. In the US, states such as California and Washington are seeing rapid adoption of agri-tech solutions, as growers seek to boost efficiency while navigating water restrictions, labour constraints, and increasingly unpredictable climate conditions. Saga Robotics CEO, Sacha de La Noe said of the latest round of funding: When I joined Saga, the potential was clear, and this level of investor interest confirms it. "With Pal driving expansion in the US and strong traction in the UK, were entering a new phase focused on scale and impact. Were not just gaining ground, were accelerating. The funding round drew support from both new and existing investors, including Luxembourg-based venture capital fund Praesidium Agri-FoodTech, which focuses on scalable agricultural technologies. Returning backers included Aker, Nysn Climate Investments, Blystad, Hatteland, Melesio, Sanden, and MP Pensjon. Faced with mounting challenges at home, Ukrainian farmers have come to Suffolk to seek fresh ideas from local farmers in boosting crop production. The delegation of Ukrainian farm owners, managers and agronomists visited Claydon, an agricultural machinery manufacturer in Suffolk, to learn more about new approaches to crop establishment. The group, representing agribusinesses farming close to one million hectares across Ukraineincluding individual companies managing up to 350,000 hectaresspent four days touring the factory and visiting local farms. Among the visitors was Volodymyr Husiev, of Technotorg LLC, Claydons sole distributor in Ukraine. Technotorg is Ukraines largest agricultural machinery sales company, with around 25,000 customers spread across 23 regions. Due to ongoing conflict and travel restrictions, this trip marked the first visit to the UK for Claydons National Territory Manager for Ukraine and Kazakhstan, Anatoliy Penzin, who has worked remotely since his appointment in 2020. Mr Penzin, who speaks Ukrainian, Russian, and English, collaborates with Technotorg to promote new crop establishment techniques among Ukrainian farmers. Simon Revell, export sales manager at Claydon, noted that organising the visit took several months because of Ukraines travel restrictions. "The onerous travel restrictions which apply in Ukraine meant that this visit took months to organise but was highly successful," he said. "Farmers and supply chain businesses there face significant challenges but are keen to learn more about new developments in crop establishment and production technologies." Since Claydon began selling machinery in Ukraine in 2017, an increasing number of farmers there have adopted its approach, finding it helps improve the security and sustainability of their operations. Mr Revell added: "Like their counterparts throughout the world, they are also having to deal with the agronomic and fiscal impact of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns and more stringent environmental legislation, together with greater economic pressures due to rising input costs and static commodity prices. Ukraines temperate climate features year-round rainfall and sufficient sunshine, with average temperatures ranging from about 7 to 9C annually. Summers tend to be warm, between 18 and 22C, while winters hover between -4.8 and 2C. Rainfall is heaviest in June and July. MAC Cosmetics National Artist, Leiya Phinao, has more than 15 years of experience in the beauty industry. Her signature style of makeup is feminine and natural, drawing inspiration from modern aesthetics seen in the worlds greatest fashion shows, art, cinema and makeup trends from different countries. We sat down with her for an exclusive chat Edited excerpts Tell us, when did you first fall in love with makeup and how did you know you wanted to be a makeup artist? I fell in love with makeup as a child. I was always fascinated by colours, textures, and the transformative power they seemed to hold. I would watch my mother and other women get ready and be mesmerised by how makeup could instantly shift someones mood and confidence. Back then, I never imagined that this passion would lead me to a career in artistry. It wasnt until I joined MAC Cosmetics that my perspective completely changed. It opened my eyes to the true artistry behind makeup how its not just about enhancing beauty, but about telling a story, expressing individuality, and creating a sense of empowerment. Seeing how makeup could bring joy, boost self-esteem, and allow people to embrace their truest selves inspired me deeply. Personally, I found my own voice and a better version of myself in the process. My lifelong love for fashion merged seamlessly with the creative freedom makeup offered, and I realised I had found my calling a perfect blend of artistry, expression, and style. How did you get your start in the makeup industry? My journey began with a single yes. When I was offered a job with MAC, I didnt overthink it I just knew it felt right. That leap of faith became the turning point of my career. What started as an opportunity soon evolved into a transformative chapter of my life. Here, I found more than just a workplace I found a home, a community of artists, and a space that celebrated creativity without boundaries. It was here that I learned not just the technical aspects of makeup, but also how to use it as a powerful language for connection and self-expression. Every day, I honed my skills, challenged myself with new styles and techniques, and learned to see faces as canvases for storytelling. That decision to step in this brand has shaped everything Ive become as an artist today. Whats been your favourite makeup look youve ever created? Its difficult to choose just one, but a look that stands out vividly in my memory is the ethereal glam I created for a Shivan & Narresh runway show. It was a study in balance luminous, glowing skin that looked almost lit from within, paired with striking colour-blocked eyes and nude lips enhanced with personalised undertones for each model. It captured subtlety, precision, and strength all at once, and felt like a perfect representation of my approach to artistry Another favourite is the clean, effortless elegance I crafted for Ashley Graham in Paris fresh, healthy skin, softly defined features, and a minimalist approach that celebrated natural beauty while still feeling editorial. It was timeless, modern, and incredibly chic. These moments remind me of why I love my craft creating looks that feel intentional, wearable, yet memorable. As MAC Cosmetics is known for their artistry whats been your biggest learning being associated with the brand? The biggest lesson MAC Cosmetics has taught me is that makeup is far more than technique its about culture, community, and inclusivity. The brands DNA is rooted in celebrating individuality, telling stories through artistry, and pushing creative boundaries while respecting every persons unique beauty. Working with MAC has allowed me to approach makeup as a tool for empowerment, one that bridges differences and brings people together. It has encouraged me to embrace my own authentic style while championing diversity in beauty. That freedom to create, experiment, and express without limits has been both my greatest learning and my most valued gift from the brand. Where do you seek inspiration from? For me, the world is one giant mood board. Inspiration is everywhere in the pages of vintage fashion archives, the energy of street style, the artistry of global fashion weeks, the storytelling of cinema, and even the unfiltered creativity on social media platforms. Im equally inspired by textures in nature, the colours of a sunset, or the architectural lines of a building. Trends influence me, but I love reinterpreting them through my own lens to make them timeless. I believe that being curious and observant is essential as an artist you never know when a fleeting moment or image might spark the vision for an entire makeup look. Whats been a defining moment in your career? One of the most defining moments was having my work recognised on international stages like Milan and Paris Fashion Week. Stepping into those high-pressure, high-energy environments and representing Indian artistry among the worlds best was both surreal and humbling. It proved to me that no dream is too big if its fuelled by passion, skill, and purpose. Another milestone has been being invited to lead artistry for landmark shows with iconic designers, both in India and globally. Those experiences have not only elevated my craft but also deepened my commitment to showcasing Indian talent on a global platform. Youve worked backstage for some of the biggest designers like Sabyasachi how do you arrive at creating a makeup look that sets a trend yet fits the designers vision? Its all about collaboration and synergy. I begin by having an in-depth conversation with the designer and stylist to understand the collections concept, fabric choices, mood board, and the story they want to tell. I study the silhouettes, colours, and textures, and then translate them into skin finishes, makeup textures, colour palettes, and shapes that complement the clothes. The key is harmony the makeup should never overpower the garments but rather enhance the overall narrative. When both the clothing and makeup flow seamlessly, thats when a look becomes iconic. Youve worked backstage for some of the biggest designers like Sabyasachi how do you arrive at creating a makeup look that sets a trend yet fits the designers vision? Its all about collaboration and synergy. I begin by having an in-depth conversation with the designer and stylist to understand the collections concept, fabric choices, mood board, and the story they want to tell. I study the silhouettes, colours, and textures, and then translate them into skin finishes, makeup textures, colour palettes, and shapes that complement the clothes. The key is harmony the makeup should never overpower the garments but rather enhance the overall narrative. When both the clothing and makeup flow seamlessly, thats when a look becomes iconic. Youve worked backstage for some of the biggest designers like Sabyasachi how do you arrive at creating a makeup look that sets a trend yet fits the designers vision? Its all about collaboration and synergy. I begin by having an in-depth conversation with the designer and stylist to understand the collections concept, fabric choices, mood board, and the story they want to tell. I study the silhouettes, colours, and textures, and then translate them into skin finishes, makeup textures, colour palettes, and shapes that complement the clothes. The key is harmony the makeup should never overpower the garments but rather enhance the overall narrative. When both the clothing and makeup flow seamlessly, thats when a look becomes iconic. Lastly, whats your favourite makeup hack or tip you can share with us? Perfecting the base is everything when the skin looks great, the rest of the makeup falls into place effortlessly. My mantra is less is more. Avoid overloading products; instead, work in light layers for a natural, skin-like finish. If makeup starts to look heavy, dont panic use a clean, damp beauty blender to gently lift away the excess rather than wiping it off. It saves the look and keeps the skin fresh. A well-prepped, balanced base will always make your artistry stand out. Bourne Legacy director looking after final editing of Rogue One? China's consumer price index (CPI) remained unchanged year on year (YoY) in July this year, but core CPI rose by 0.8 per cent in the monthup by 0.1 percentage points from June and the highest since March 2024, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). On a monthly basis, the CPI rose by 0.4 per cent in July, reversing from a 0.1-per cent decline in the previous month. The increase was mainly driven by higher service and industrial consumer goods prices, NBS chief statistician Dong Lijuan said. China's consumer price index (CPI) remained unchanged YoY in July, but core CPI rose by 0.8 per cent in the monthup by 0.1 percentage points from June and the highest since March 2024. On a monthly basis, the CPI rose by 0.4 per cent in July, reversing from a 0.1-per cent decline in the previous month. The producer price index fell by 3.6 per cent YoY and 0.2 per cent month on month in July. This shows that policies to expand domestic demand are continuing to take effect, with positive changes seen in the consumer sector, Dong was cited as saying by state-controlled media outlets. The countrys producer price index (PPI), which measures costs for goods at the factory gate, went down by 3.6 per cent YoY and 0.2 per cent month on month (MoM) in July. Dong explained that the contraction in the MoM PPI drop was partly due to seasonal factors and uncertainties in the global trade environment, and continued improvements in domestic market competition. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) UK retail footfall has declined by 0.4 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in July, showing an improvement from Junes 1.8 per cent drop, according to British Retail Consortium (BRC)-Sensormatic data. UK retail footfall fell 0.4 per cent YoY in July, improving from June's 1.8 per cent drop, BRC-Sensormatic data shows. High Streets were down 1.7 per cent, shopping centres 0.3 per cent, while retail parks rose 1.7 per cent. Wales saw growth; other nations fell. BRC's Helen Dickinson urged deeper business rates cuts to revive empty shops, as sentiment stays cautious despite signs of improvement. High Street footfall fell by 1.7 per cent YoY, easing from a 3 per cent decline in June. Retail Parks recorded a 1.7 per cent YoY increase, rebounding from a 1.1 per cent fall in the previous month. Shopping Centres saw footfall dip by 0.3 per cent YoY, improving from Junes 1.6 per cent drop. Regionally, Wales was the only nation to post growth, with a 0.4 per cent YoY rise in footfall. England saw a 0.3 per cent decline, Scotland dropped 1.3 per cent, and Northern Ireland recorded the steepest fall at 3 per cent, BRC said in a release. Persistent shop vacancieswith around one in seven stores emptyremain a barrier to revitalising shopping destinations, according to Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium. While welcoming the governments plan to reduce business rates, she called for a substantial cut to deliver meaningful benefits for communities and revive empty shops. She also stressed that many smaller retailers depend on larger anchor stores to draw visitors, cautioning that upcoming reforms must ensure no store faces higher costs to avoid potential closures or price increases. July failed to bring about the summer boost in shoppers many retailers had hoped for. Instead, footfall dipped in July for the second consecutive year. There were bright spots, with Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds all showing an improvement in numbers of store visits. Retail parks continued to outperform other destinations with some seeing big brands opening new outlets, Dickinson said. The early-July heatwave, following a scorcher in June, may have lifted leisure footfall more than retail, while one year into a new Labour government, consumer sentiment remains cautious. The underlying footfall trend may be improving, but this is still negative growth on negative 2024 figures - raising the question: are shoppers returning, or simply shopping around more as they try to spend less? Either way, retailers who can offer value, experience, and convenience may be best placed to convert tentative footfall into lasting growth, Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic, commented. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU) Ghana has unveiled a draft policy to transform its textile industry into a $2-billion economic engine by 2033. The blueprint targets $1.2 billion in fresh investments, 150,000 jobs and the revival of cotton farming across 50,000 hectares to tackle cheap imports hitting domestic manufacturers. At a recent stakeholder validation workshop in Accra, the countrys Deputy Trade Minister Samson Ahi reiterated the governments strong commitment to revitalising the sector. Ghana has unveiled a draft policy to transform its textile industry into a $2-billion economic engine by 2033. The plan targets $1.2 billion in investments, 150,000 jobs and cotton farming revival across 50,000 hectares to tackle cheap imports hitting domestic manufacturers. The sector has struggled for decades under rising production costs, raw material scarcity and competition from Asian manufacturers. He termed the goals ambitious, but achievable and said the policy aims at positioning Ghana as a competitive player in global textile markets. The countrys textile industry has struggled for decades under rising production costs, raw material scarcity and competition from Asian manufacturers. The new framework seeks to reverse this by attracting long-term capital, boosting cotton cultivation and streamlining value chains, domestic media outlets reported. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS) Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) are facing heightened risks from escalating global trade uncertainties and tariff hikes, with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) saying that these nations are being disproportionately impacted. For every one per cent increase in global tariff rates, LLDCs suffer an additional four per cent decline in trade volumes compared to non-LLDCs, compounding already significant income losses and structural disadvantages, according to An Economic Diversification Push for LLDCs: Achieving the Awaza Programme of Action, a new policy paper. LLDCs, which rely heavily on neighbouring transit countries, face longer transit times and greater exposure to commodity price volatility. These challenges have left their GDP levels approximately 20 per cent lower than comparable coastal economies. With US tariff hikes now adding to the strain, without proactive measures, LLDCs risk being locked into cycles of economic stagnation and marginalisation, the policy paper released at the start of the Third UN International Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3), concluding today in Turkmenistan, cautions. A strategic push to diversify products and access new markets would allow LLDCs to navigate evolving trade dynamics. These include a mix of proactive and defensive strategies, the paper said. The report presents two future scenarios. Under a business-as-usual trajectory, LLDCs will remain trapped in a narrow economic model, currently contributing just 1.3 per cent to global exports, 82 per cent of which are unprocessed primary commodities. Trade costs for LLDCs are on average 1.4 times higher than those of coastal developing countries, leaving them highly vulnerable to commodity price swings and external shocks. Alternatively, a strategic economic diversification scenario envisions LLDCs strengthening regional trade ties and expanding partnerships beyond the US. The shift is expected to increase engagement with the European Union and China, which has emerged as a critical player through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The BRI continues to provide vital infrastructure and digital connectivity, offering LLDCs access to alternative global markets and greater opportunities for investment in value-added sectors. To overcome geographic and economic constraints, LLDCs must make deliberate policy choices. When governments adopt reforms that reduce reliance on traditional transit arrangements, LLDCs can systematically address their unique challenges, turning geographic adversity into opportunities for inclusive and sustainable growth, stated Ivana Zivkovic, UN assistant secretary-general and director of UNDPs Regional Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States. The UNDPs policy recommendations align with the Awaza Programme of Action (APoA), calling for bold reforms in regional integration, South-South cooperation, and investment in infrastructure and economic diversification. Global trade is rebalancing; traditional patterns are shifting as major players adjust their roles. Regardless of the final trade policy landscape, rebalancing presents a chance for LLDCs to secure a more favourable position if strategic policies are enacted, the paper suggested. LLDCs face worsening trade risks amid tariff hikes, with UNDP cautioning of disproportionate impacts. A new policy paper urges economic diversification, regional trade, and stronger China-EU ties. Released at LLDC3 in Turkmenistan, it aligns with the Awaza Programme of Action, calling for reforms to turn geographic constraints into growth opportunities. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU) John Abraham is one of the most popular actors in Bollywood. Interestingly, his entry into the industry was not initially planned. He began his career as a model before moving to films, and despite facing some early challenges, he always felt accepted within the film community. Recently, he shared his thoughts on the debate around nepotism and expressed his pride in being part of the industry. During an interview with India Today, John said, I call myself an accidental model because I was working as a media planner when a model didnt turn up, and I was asked to wear a pair of jeans. I didnt even think about it, it didnt cross my mind. Despite the initial failures of his first few films, John maintained a positive attitude. He said, Later, I had four films that failed, and I still didnt overthink it. Then Dhoom happened. That film changed my career. John offered his perspective on the debates around nepotism within Bollywood, stating his views clearly, Ive never felt like an outsider, to be very honest, and Ive never claimed to be one. I dont believe in this whole nepotism versus outsider debate, its honestly done to death. John also spoke on his friendships within the industry. He shared, Karan Johar is, incidentally, one of my closest friends. Hes a nice guy. We dont work together, but we get along really well. John expressed his sense of pride in belonging to the film industry. He said, Im part of the industry, a very proud part of the industry. He also shared that he is hopeful about exploring new and diverse films, while also acknowledging the difficulties involved. He said, The discouraging part is that I need more support from studios to make the kind of films I want to make. Thats the only thing I feel bad about. John's upcoming film, Tehran, will be available to stream on Zee5 from August 14. Also Read: Check out Akshay Kumar and John Abrahams crackling camaraderie Nanping, Fujian--(Newsfile Corp. - August 10, 2025) - On August 10, the launch ceremony for the 24th Chinese Bridge-Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students took place in Nanping, Fujian. Liu Jianqing, Deputy Director of the Language Exchange and Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Education, Wu Weiping, Deputy Director of the Fujian Provincial Department of Education, Yang Guohe, Vice Chairman of the Fujian Provincial Broadcasting and Film Group, Yu Yunzhuang, Chief Accountant of the Fujian Provincial Tourism Development Group, Lin Qiao, Deputy Mayor of Nanping, Zhao Liang, Deputy Mayor of Wuyishan, and Ruslan, the 2018 (17th) "CHINESE BRIDGE" champion, were among the guests attending the event alongside 155 contestants from 133 countries worldwide. Image 1 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8722/261937_26193701.jpg Image 2 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8722/261937_26193702.jpg In his speech, Liu Jianqing stated that "CHINESE BRIDGE" is not only a stage to showcase Chinese language skills but also a grand event for making friendships. He encouraged contestants to use language as a key, friendship as a bridge, and dreams as a sail, allowing Chinese to become an "empowerer" in their life journeys, helping them build connections with the world and discover a broader perspective and a better self. Liu Jianqing, Deputy Director of the Language Exchange and Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Education To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8722/261937_26193703.jpg Wu Weiping expressed that this event serves as an opportunity for Fujian to extend a warm invitation to global youth. He emphasized the region's cultural significance and openness, aiming to provide a vast platform for young people worldwide to learn Chinese, understand China, and promote mutual exchanges. He highlighted that through "seeing Fujian," one can "see China," and through "knowing China," one can "love the world". Wu Weiping, Deputy Director of the Fujian Provincial Department of Education To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8722/261937_26193704.jpg Yang Guohe announced that for the next three years, "CHINESE BRIDGE" will have a permanent presence in Fujian. In this inaugural year, the program is carefully planned around the theme "Discovering Fujian, Discovering China, Discovering the Future," guiding contestants to visit places like Beijing and Fujian for a rich cultural experience, thus building bridges for friendship and cultural exchange between Chinese and foreign youth. Yang Guohe, Vice Chairman of the Fujian Provincial Broadcasting and Film Group To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8722/261937_c30b8933a4970a2a_005full.jpg The competition is guided by the Ministry of Education and the Fujian Provincial Government, organized by the Language Exchange and Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Education, with support from the Fujian Provincial Department of Education. The Fujian Provincial Broadcasting and Film Group, Fujian China Travel Service Co., Ltd., and Fujian Broadcasting and Film Cultural Media Co., Ltd. are responsible for hosting, with assistance from the governments of Fuzhou, Quanzhou, Nanping, and the Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone Management Committee. Following the launch ceremony, the first event of the competition, the "Bridge Crossing Points Competition" titled "Understanding the Past and Present," was held. This round featured a written test where contestants answered questions on uniquely designed traditional cultural booklets, including listening, multiple-choice, and writing sections covering various topics such as traditional culture, history, geography, economics, technology, and contemporary China. Image 5 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8722/261937_26193705.jpg Image 6 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8722/261937_26193706.jpg Image 7 To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8722/261937_26193707.jpg The 24th Chinese Bridge-Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/261937 SOURCE: Global News Kunstliche Intelligenz, Magnificent Seven, Tech-Euphorie seit Monaten scheint an der Borse nur eine Richtung zu existieren: nach oben. Doch hinter den Rekordkursen lauert eine gefahrliche Wahrheit. Die Bewertungen vieler Tech-Schwergewichte haben historische Extremniveaus erreicht. Shiller-KGV bei 39, Buffett-Indikator auf Allzeithoch schon in der Dotcom-Ara war der Markt kaum teurer. Hinzu kommen euphorische Anlegerstimmung, IPO-Hypes ohne Substanz, kreditfinanzierte Wertpapierkaufe in Rekordhohe und charttechnische Warnsignale, die Erinnerungen an 2000 und 2021 wecken. Gleichzeitig drucken geopolitische Risiken, Trumps aggressive Zollpolitik und saisonale Borsenschwache auf die Perspektiven. Die Gefahr: Aus der schleichenden Korrektur konnte ein rasanter Crash werden und der konnte vor allem uberbewertete KI- und Chipwerte hart treffen. In unserem kostenlosen Spezial-Report zeigen wir Ihnen, welche Tech-Aktien am starksten gefahrdet sind und wie Sie Ihr Depot vor dem Platzen der Blase schutzen konnten. Holen Sie sich den neuesten Report! Dieses exklusive Angebot gilt aber nur fur kurze Zeit! Daher jetzt downloaden! Ende Mai leitete US-Prasident Donald Trump mit der Unterzeichnung mehrerer Dekrete eine weitreichende Wende in der amerikanischen Energiepolitik ein. Im Fokus: der beschleunigte Ausbau der Kernenergie. Mit einem umfassenden Manahmenpaket sollen Genehmigungsprozesse reformiert, kleinere Reaktoren gefordert und der Anteil von Atomstrom in den USA massiv gesteigert werden. Ausloser ist der explodierende Energiebedarf durch KI-Rechenzentren, der eine stabile, CO-arme Grundlastversorgung zwingend notwendig macht. In unserem kostenlosen Spezialreport erfahren Sie, welche 3 Unternehmen jetzt im Zentrum dieser energiepolitischen Neuausrichtung stehen, und wer vom kommenden Boom der Nuklearindustrie besonders profitieren konnte. Holen Sie sich den neuesten Report! Verpassen Sie nicht, welche Aktien besonders von der Energiewende in den USA profitieren durften, und laden Sie sich das Gratis-PDF jetzt kostenlos herunter. Dieses exklusive Angebot gilt aber nur fur kurze Zeit! Daher jetzt downloaden! SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AMI Pharm, a biotechnology company focused on aesthetic and therapeutic innovations, announced today that its lead candidate, AYP-101, has entered a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial for the treatment of submental fat, commonly referred to as a "double chin." AYP-101 is designed to offer effective fat reduction while minimizing the pain, swelling, and social downtime associated with current injectable drugs. It represents a potential paradigm shift in the multi-billion-dollar non-surgical aesthetics market by utilizing a novel biological mechanism that fundamentally differs from existing fat-reduction approaches. A Paradigm Shift in Fat Reduction Therapy Currently, the only FDA-approved injectable drug for localized fat reduction is based on deoxycholic acid, which destroys fat cells through necrosis. While clinically effective, this cytolytic process causes strong inflammation, often resulting in pain, bruising, and prolonged swelling. In contrast, AYP-101 selectively induces apoptosis, a natural and controlled form of programmed cell death that occurs without triggering inflammation. This "silent" process is intended to reduce fat gently, providing a safer, more tolerable experience for patients seeking non-surgical fat reduction. Phase 3 Trial Underway Following Strong Early Results AYP-101 is now being tested in a 252-participant Phase 3 trial in South Korea, scheduled for completion by late 2025. This follows promising Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials, which met all primary safety and efficacy endpoints. In Phase 2, over 70% of patients achieved at least a 1-grade improvement on the Evaluator-Reported Submental Fat Rating Scale (ER-SMFRS) in the Per-Protocol (PP) population, with what the company described as excellent tolerability. "AYP-101 is the result of two decades of dedicated R&D," said Ki-Taek Lee, CEO of AMI Pharm. "It's the world's first non-cytolytic injectable drug for localized fat reduction, and we believe it will lead the next wave of innovation in aesthetic medicine." Targeting Global Expansion and Broader Indications AMI Pharm has presented AYP-101 at global conferences such as BIO International Convention and IMCAS World Congress, and is pursuing strategic partnerships for global expansion. The company also plans to broaden its clinical focus to include cellulite, buccal (cheek) fat, and upper arm fat, reinforcing its long-term commitment to non-surgical body contouring innovation. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2744184/AMI_Pharm_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/ami-pharm-advances-ayp-101-to-phase-3-redefining-fat-reduction-injectable-drug-with-patient-comfort-in-focus-302522991.html The funding will fast-track EDGX's mission to deliver the world's fastest AI-powered edge computers for satellite constellations, enabling fast and efficient data processing from space GHENT, Belgium, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Belgian spacetech startup EDGX has closed a 2.3 million seed funding round to accelerate commercialisation of EDGX Sterna, the next generation edge AI computer for satellites. The startup has also closed a multi-unit deal with a satellite operator worth 1.1 million and can already announce plans of an in-orbit demonstration on a SpaceX Falcon 9 mission in February 2026. The funding round was co-led by the imec.istart future fund and, with participation from the Flanders Future Tech Fund, managed by the Flemish investment company PMV. EDGX has also attracted further funding from existing investor imec.istart, Europe's top-ranked university-affiliated accelerator. The EDGX Sterna Computer is a high-performance data processing unit (DPU) powered by NVIDIA technology. It provides the computational performance and AI acceleration needed to run complex algorithms directly in orbit. This capability eliminates the traditional bottleneck of sending massive raw datasets to Earth for processing, enabling satellite operators to deliver faster, more efficient, and data-driven services. EDGX's Sterna computer is powered by its SpaceFeather software stack, built for autonomous, resilient, and upgradeable satellite operations. It includes a space-hardened Linux OS with full traceability, a dedicated supervisory system for autonomous health monitoring, radiation fault detection and recovery, and an in-orbit application framework for deploying new capabilities post-launch. Commenting on the news, Nick Destrycker, founder and CEO said: "Customers aren't waiting for flight validation, they're signing now. With a full launch manifest, secured commercial contracts, and our first mission set for Falcon 9, this funding enables us to scale to meet demand for real-time intelligence from space." Kris Vandenberk, managing partner at imec.istart future fund said: "EDGX represents exactly the kind of transformative infrastructure play we look for. The space industry is hitting a fundamental bottleneck; we're generating massive amounts of data in orbit but still using outdated 'store and forward' architectures. EDGX is solving this by bringing AI-powered edge computing directly into space, enabling satellites to analyse and act on data in real-time rather than waiting for ground processing." Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2746931/EDGX.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2746930/EDGX_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/edgx-closes-a-2-3m-funding-round-to-boost-onboard-ai-compute-for-satellites-302525414.html Burnaby, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 11, 2025) - NatBridge Resources Ltd. (CSE: NATB) (OTC Pink: NATBF) (FSE: GI80) ("NatBridge" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Binding Letter of Intent (the "LOI") with Teras Resources Inc. for the purchase of certain mining claims and related property interests comprising the Cahuilla Gold project in Imperial County, California. The Cahuilla property is located in northwestern Imperial County, California, approximately two miles west of the community of Salton Sea Beach and 30 miles south of the city of Indio. The property lies in the eastern foothills of the Santa Rosa Mountains west of the Salton Sea. The Cahuilla property consists of approximately 1,680 acres of patented claims that cover portions of Sections 19, 20, 29, and 30, T.9S., R.9E., San Bernardino Base and Meridian. A detailed NI 43-101 Technical Report dated March 10, 2021 provides more information on the project. Per NatBridge CEO and Director Stephen Moses, "We are excited to move forward with the acquisition of the titles in the Cahuilla project. The project marks a significant step in our strategy to build a portfolio of properties that will meet the strict tokenization requirements set out by NatGold Digital Ltd. We thank the management team of Teras for their professionalism and look forward to collaborating toward a successful closing." The acquisition is scheduled in two stages, each of which will require a separate agreement. The executed LOI provides terms for an Agreement to acquire claims in Phase 1. Phase 1 covers title to two parcels comprising approximately 12,290,139 tonnes containing 122,211 indicated oz of gold at 0.005 oz/ton cut off grade. Under the terms of the LOI, USD$50,000 is payable upon execution of the LOI and will be deductible from the total purchase price. An additional 10% of the purchase price will be payable within 60 days of signature of a Definitive Agreement. The balance will be due after tokenization of the titles. As part of Phase 1, Teras will divest the subsurface mineral rights to the two titles and convey a 100% interest in the titles to NatBridge. Upon completion of full payment as outlined in a Definitive Agreement, NatBridge will no longer be responsible for any ongoing fees related to the sub-surface or the surface rights. The Parties agree to work towards negotiating an agreement for the additional titles represented in Phase 2. The parcels in Phase 2 include an indicated resource of approximately 50,702,466 tonnes containing 596,535 oz of gold at 0.005 oz/ton cutoff grade. It is agreed that the Phase 2 acquisition is expected to be based upon similar conditions as Phase 1, including terms of payment following tokenization, although the payment schedule may be modified. The parties have agreed to enter into a Definitive Agreement for the acquisition within forty-five days, subject to the completion of satisfactory due diligence and compliance with all required regulatory requirements. Closing of the acquisition is subject to the customary conditions, due diligence, and the execution of the Definitive Agreement. There can be no assurance that the transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. This LOI replaces and supersedes any prior agreements or arrangements entered into by Teras and NatBridge. Lawrence Segerstrom, CPG, an advisor to NatBridge, and a Qualified Person as defined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release. About NatBridge Resources Ltd. NatBridge Resources Ltd. (CSE: NATB) (OTC Pink: NATBF) (FSE: GI80) is a publicly traded Canadian company, also listed in the United States and Germany, leading the gold resource supply side of NatGold Digital Ltd.'s revolutionary, patent-pending digital gold tokenization ecosystem. This innovative approach redefines how gold's value can be captured through tokenization, eliminating extraction and its environmental, social, and financial costs through a blockchain-powered, eco-friendly digital mining process. NatBridge's strategy is focused on the supply side of the NatGold ecosystem. By acquiring gold resources that meet the qualification criteria of NatGold Digital, in accordance with NatGold Digital's strict token certification standards, NatBridge is establishing itself as a key player in this industry - operating at the intersection of three major global investment trends: gold, sustainable investing, and the tokenization of real-world assets. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "CSE") nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the acquisition of NI 43-101 gold resources, the ability to digitally mine NatGold coins, the viability of the NatGold tokenization and monetization ecosystem, and development plans, expansion plans, estimates, expectations, forecasts, objectives, predictions and projections of the future. Specifically, this news release contains forward looking statements with respect to NatBridge Resources' proposed operations, acquiring and developing gold resources and their tokenization, and the receipt of required approvals. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "projects", "intends", "anticipates", or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or "variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "can", "could", "would", "might", or "will" be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of NatBridge Resources to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including but not limited to: risks related to the exploration and development and operation of NatBridge Resources' projects, the actual results of current exploration, development activities, conclusions of economic evaluations, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future precious metals prices, as well as those factors discussed in the sections relating to risk factors of our business filed in NatBridge Resources' required securities filings on SEDAR+. Although NatBridge Resources has attempted to identify important factors that could cause results to differ materially from those contained in forward- looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results to be materially different from those anticipated, described, estimated, assessed or intended. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities law. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made, by third parties in respect of the matters discussed above. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/261904 SOURCE: NatBridge Resources Ltd. Acquisition enhances the Conversation Cloud with intelligent orchestration and expanded AI capabilities, helping regulated industries reduce friction, increase completion rates, and connect with customers where they are Smart Communications, a leading technology company focused on helping highly-regulated organizations engage in more meaningful customer conversations, today announced its acquisition of Pendula, a trusted provider of intelligent orchestration and digital delivery technology. Pendula's customer engagement solution is renowned for helping enterprises complete their most critical customer interactions through personalized, intelligent, cross-channel engagement. Today's customers expect interactions that are faster and smarter than ever across an ever-expanding range of channels. Enterprises are under increasing pressure to meet these expectations by automating conversations and interactions that are not only timely and personalized but also orchestrated across multiple channels. Smart Communications' latest State of Customer Conversations report found that only 54% of customers are satisfied with the omnichannel experiences provided by their financial services, insurance, and healthcare providers a number that has declined year over year. This growing dissatisfaction highlights a critical gap between customer expectations and what organizations can deliver. Many still rely on fragmented systems and manual follow-ups, resulting in incomplete transactions, missed outcomes, and lost trust. Smart Communications' acquisition of Pendula addresses those challenges head-on by expanding its Conversation Cloud platform with intelligent orchestration capabilities. The result is a solution that reduces friction, increases completion rates, and extends engagement across high-performing digital channels such as SMS, email, WhatsApp, and RCS, helping heavily regulated enterprises connect with customers where they are, and ensuring every interaction leads to action. "For Smart Communications, the future has always been about enabling smarter, more meaningful experiences with customers," said Leigh Segall, CEO of Smart Communications. "The acquisition of Pendula is the natural next step in our evolution, solving a key challenge our clients face: orchestrating and completing complex, high-value customer interactions across digital channels, at scale. It also strengthens the AI capabilities already embedded into the Conversation Cloud enhancing decisioning, automation, and personalization to help our customers engage more intelligently and drive better outcomes across every touchpoint. Accelerating AI-Powered Conversations with Pendula's Intelligence Suite As part of the integration, Smart Communications will bring Pendula'sIntelligence Suite into the Conversation Cloud, unlocking powerful new AI capabilities for smarter, faster, and more personalized conversations. The suite includes analytics, AI decisioning, and configurable AI agents that work within precise workflows and guardrails-ensuring alignment with each organization's brand, goals, and compliance needs. From identifying trends and forecasting customer needs to delivering personalized responses and seamless handoffs to human experts, this AI-powered layer will help enterprises transform data into action and drive deeper engagement across every channel. Pendula's orchestration technology includes intelligent failover capabilities, ensuring that if a message fails to reach a customer via one channel, it is automatically rerouted to the next best channel. This significantly increases completion rates and reduces manual effort. Decisioning logic can be configured to guide the customer to their desired outcome and respond or redirect automatically based on natural language customer inputs. The solution offers seamless integration across the Conversation Cloud platform, and pre-built connectors for the world's most trusted enterprise systems including Salesforce, AWS, Snowflake, Zendesk, Stripe and more. The acquisition strengthens Smart Communications' ability to serve the complex needs of enterprises in highly-regulated industries where customer attention is limited, compliance is non-negotiable, and operational efficiency is critical. Pendula technology extends the Conversation Cloud with proven, enterprise-grade orchestration capabilities that help organizations increase completion rates, reduce manual effort, and ensure every interaction is secure, compliant, and connected across channels. Like all Conversation Cloud solutions, Pendula technology is built to meet the highest standards for security and compliance. "At Pendula, we've always believed that today's customers want real conversations, not one-way broadcasts," said Alex Colvin, CEO of Pendula. "By joining Smart Communications, we are combining our orchestration expertise with the global reach and proven capabilities of the Conversation Cloud platform. Together, we will help enterprises move faster, connect more intelligently, and deliver personalized experiences that drive action at scale." About Smart Communications Smart Communications is the trusted choice for regulated enterprises looking to modernize complex processes and connect with customers in the moments that matter most. Its Conversation Cloud platform powers frictionless, compliant, digital-first experiences through omnichannel communications, intelligent orchestration, secure data capture, and digital archival. More than 700 enterprises worldwide-including Zurich Insurance, Priority Health, The Pacific Financial Group, and The Bancorp-rely on Smart Communications to reduce compliance risk, boost operational efficiency, lower costs, and accelerate digital transformation. In 2025, the company was acquired by Cinven, a global private equity firm, to accelerate international expansion and further scale its platform in regulated markets. Today, with over 30 pre-built connectors, Smart Communications integrates seamlessly with trusted enterprise systems including Salesforce, AWS, Guidewire, DuckCreek, OneSpan, and Pega, and powers more than 60 billion mission-critical customer conversations each year. For more information, visit www.smartcommunications.com. About Pendula Pendula is a leading customer engagement solution. Founded in 2017, the company has built a reputation for delivering innovative solutions that increase engagement, reduce churn and maximise customer lifetime values for leading brands like Shippit, University of London, Origin Energy, and Amaysim. With a commitment to security, efficiency, and customer success, Pendula continues to be a trusted partner for companies looking to drive better customer conversations. For more information, visit pendula.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250811130015/en/ Contacts: Red Lorry Yellow Lorry smartcommunications@rlyl.com Horizon Quantum Computing Pte. Ltd. ("Horizon Quantum"), a developer of advanced software development tools for quantum computers, today announced the appointment of Greg Gould to the role of Chief Financial Officer ("CFO"). Greg will lead key financial initiatives that are a part of Horizon Quantum's long-term strategic growth plan. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250811421930/en/ Greg Gould, CFO, Horizon Quantum. Greg brings more than 35 years of experience in finance, technology, and operations, spanning leadership roles in both public and private companies. He has served as CFO of InsurTech company Groundspeed Analytics and AI-driven FitTech company FIT:MATCH.ai, and was named a Top CFO in Miami by Finance Investing in 2023. He is currently a Venture Partner at 14Peaks Capital and an active technology investor. His earlier leadership roles include Senior Advisor at Corestate Capital and SVP of Strategic Partnerships Investor Relations at PropTech startup Quarters, where he spearheaded strategic partnerships, operational efficiencies, and business expansion. Greg began his career at Goldman Sachs, where he was a top-ranked technology analyst covering the FinTech and IT services sectors. He later became a Managing Director and Co-Deputy Business Unit Leader of Goldman's Global Technology Research Group, overseeing more than $50 billion in financings, including the IPOs of Accenture, Mastercard, Sabre, and Sapient. Greg holds a B.S. in Finance from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ("MIT"). "Horizon Quantum is at the forefront of the quantum computing revolution, and I'm excited to join this exceptional team as we scale our impact globally," said Greg Gould. "As CFO, I look forward to aligning our financial strategy with our technological roadmap, ensuring we have the resources, discipline, and operational excellence to achieve our ambitious goals." "Greg brings together growth-stage CFO experience with deep capital-markets expertise gained from leadership roles in Goldman Sachs' Global Technology Research Group. We believe he is ideally suited to help strengthen planning, controls, and stakeholder communication as we enter our next phase of growth. Greg's institutional relationships will be invaluable as we transform into a public company," said Joe Fitzsimons, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Horizon Quantum. About Horizon Quantum Horizon Quantum is developing a new generation of programming tools to simplify and expedite the process of developing software for quantum computers. By removing the need for prior quantum computing experience to develop applications for quantum hardware, Horizon's tools seek to make the power of quantum computing accessible to every software developer. The company was founded by Dr Joe Fitzsimons in 2018, a former professor with two decades of experience in quantum computing and computational complexity theory. The leadership team also includes Dr Si-Hui Tan, Chief Science Officer, who holds a Ph.D. in Physics from MIT and has been actively involved in quantum research for the same period. Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes "forward-looking statements" with respect to Horizon Quantum. The expectations, estimates, and projections of the businesses of Horizon Quantum may differ from their actual results and consequently, you should not rely on these forward looking statements as predictions of future events. Words such as "will," "believe," and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, expectations with respect to future performance of Horizon Quantum anticipated impact of hiring Greg Gould as CFO. These forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. Most of these factors are outside of the control of Horizon Quantum and are difficult to predict. Factors that may cause such differences include but are not limited to the ability to recognize the anticipated benefits of the hiring of Greg Gould, which may be affected by, among other things, competition, the ability of Horizon Quantum to grow and manage growth profitably and retain its key employees. The foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. You should not place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Horizon Quantum does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. Past performance by Horizon Quantum's management team and its affiliates is not a guarantee of future performance. Therefore, you should not place undue reliance on the historical record of the performance of Horizon Quantum's management team or businesses associated with them as indicative of future performance of an investment or the returns that Horizon Quantum will, or are likely to, generate going forward. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250811421930/en/ Contacts: Investor Media Contacts media@horizonquantum.com Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR New findings published in Neuropsychopharmacology are the first to demonstrate that evenamide targets the key site of schizophrenia pathology in the hippocampus, and so could be an ideal therapeutic agent for treatment of the disorder Systemic, acute administration of evenamide in the neurodevelopment MAM model of schizophrenia improved positive, negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia Time-course analysis indicates effects of a single dose of evenamide last long after elimination of drug, suggesting effect on neuronal plasticity Evenamide's glutamate modulation may improve overall outcomes in poorly responding or treatment resistant patients with schizophrenia on current antipsychotics, offering a novel strategy for managing the disorder Newron Pharmaceuticals S.p.A. ("Newron") (SIX: NWRN, XETRA: NP5), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel therapies for diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system, notes the publication of new preclinical research in the peer-reviewed journal Neuropsychopharmacology on the unique mechanism and site of action of evenamide as a potential treatment for schizophrenia.1 The findings by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, using the neurodevelopmental methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM) animal model, indicated that evenamide, Newron's first-in-class glutamate modulator, could offer a novel therapeutic strategy capable of addressing positive, cognitive, and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting approximately 1% of the world's population, and is characterized by positive, negative, and cognitive symptoms. However, current dopamine D2 antagonist-based antipsychotic drugs only address primarily positive symptoms. It is known that limbic hippocampus hyperexcitability is a key pathological state of schizophrenia and therefore represents an ideal therapeutic target. This newly published research shows how evenamide, a selective voltage-gated sodium channel blocker, uniquely targets hippocampal hyperexcitability and selectively inhibits hyperactive neurons. Additionally, time-course analysis indicates effects of a single dose of evenamide last long after its elimination, suggesting evenamide may have an effect on neuronal plasticity. Studies to date suggest evenamide is devoid of activity at any other central nervous system target, and it normalizes excessive synaptic glutamate induced by NMDA hypofunction. "The study examined the effect of acute evenamide treatment on the hyperdopaminergic state, hippocampal hyperexcitability, social deficits, and recognition memory in the methylazoxymethanol acetate (MAM) neurodevelopmental model," explained Daniela L. Uliana, first author of the study, from the Departments of Neuroscience, Psychiatry and Psychology of the University of Pittsburgh. "The MAM model consists of injecting MAM during gestational day 17 into pregnant rats at a time that approximates the human second trimester; a period of vulnerability in pregnancy during which prenatal disruptions can result in increased schizophrenia incidence in adults. The MAM-treated rats show multiple anatomical, behavioral, neurochemical, and physiological changes consistent with schizophrenia." "The study findings suggest that evenamide has high therapeutic potential for treating multiple symptom domains of schizophrenia," said Senior study author Dr. Anthony A. Grace of the University of Pittsburgh. "Evenamide is a unique NCE agent in acting at the site of the deficit in schizophrenia by reducing hippocampal hyperexcitability. This represents a significant advancement in treatment, as evenamide can downregulate the hyperdopaminergic state without producing D2 blockade-related side effects while also improving behavioral deficits that are not properly treated by D2 blocking antipsychotic agents." "The recognition memory improvement induced by evenamide in the study's MAM model may indicate that it may also enhance cognitive function in patients with schizophrenia and ultimately lead to a better functional outcome," continued Grace. "Current D2-based antipsychotic agents do not effectively address cognitive symptoms, which limits their overall efficacy and produces a significant functional burden on patients. Therefore, evenamide would offer advantages over existing antipsychotic drugs by targeting positive symptoms, cognitive deficits and social isolation." "This study provides important learnings, which explain the results of our earlier Phase II and Phase III trials in patients with chronic schizophrenia. The prolonged effect in the MAM model explains the continuing improvement in symptoms even one year after starting treatment with evenamide in TRS patients in our phase 2 trial. In the Phase 3 trial in patients who were not responding to their current 2nd-generation antipsychotic drugs, including clozapine, the addition of evenamide led to significant improvements on the primary efficacy measure (PANSS total) as well as a clinically and statistically significant increases in responder rates," said Ravi Anand, Newron's CMO. "The preclinical and clinical results suggest high likelihood of success for our ongoing pivotal Phase III program and to potentially offering a completely new treatment paradigm to patients with schizophrenia." About schizophrenia Approximately 25 million people worldwide are affected by schizophrenia. Despite more than 60 different types of atypical and typical antipsychotics used to treat schizophrenia globally, a considerable number of patients remain severely ill or resistant to treatment. Overall, 30-50% of patients do not respond to the available medications and are defined as treatment resistant. In addition to the patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS), another 20-30% are described as "poor responders to antipsychotic medication", even if not meeting the criteria for TRS. New findings indicate that patients with TRS have abnormalities in the glutamatergic system, but not in dopaminergic transmission, so there is a significant unmet medical need for treatments with a glutamatergic mechanism of action, efficacious both in TRS patients and in those who are poor responders to the current treatments. About evenamide Evenamide is the first new chemical entity that has demonstrated significant benefits in this difficult-to-treat patient population, as seen in the potentially pivotal Phase III study 008A trial, as an add-on treatment to second generation antipsychotics including clozapine, in 291 poorly responding patients with chronic schizophrenia. The primary endpoint, the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)2, and the key secondary endpoint, the Clinical Global Impressions Scale Severity (CGI-S), were met and showed statistical significance compared to placebo. Importantly, evenamide treatment was associated with statistically significant increases in the proportion of patients who experienced "clinically meaningful benefit" on the outcome variables. Evenamide was extremely well tolerated, without any of the usual side effects of available antipsychotics. About Newron Pharmaceuticals Newron (SIX: NWRN, XETRA: NP5) is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel therapies for patients with diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system. Headquartered in Bresso, near Milan, Italy, Newron is advancing its lead compound, evenamide, a first-in-class glutamate modulator, which has the potential to be the first add-on therapy for treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) and for poorly responding patients with schizophrenia. Evenamide is currently in Phase III development and clinical trial results to date demonstrate the benefits of this drug candidate in the TRS patient population, with significant improvements across key efficacy measures increasing over time, as well as a favourable safety profile, which is uncommon for available antipsychotic medications. Newron has signed development and commercialization agreements for evenamide with EA Pharma (a subsidiary of Eisai) for Japan and other Asian territories, as well as Myung In Pharm for South Korea. Newron has a proven track record in bringing CNS therapies to market. Its Parkinson's disease treatment, Xadago (safinamide), is approved in over 20 markets, including the USA, UK, EU, Switzerland, and Japan, and commercialized in partnerships with Zambon and Meiji Seika. For more information, please visit: www.newron.com Important Notices This document contains forward-looking statements, including (without limitation) about (1) Newron's ability to develop and expand its business, successfully complete development of its current product candidates, the timing of commencement of various clinical trials and receipt of data and current and future collaborations for the development and commercialization of its product candidates, (2) the market for drugs to treat CNS diseases and pain conditions, (3) Newron's financial resources, and (4) assumptions underlying any such statements. In some cases, these statements and assumptions can be identified by the fact that they use words such as "will", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "project", "intend", "plan", "believe", "target", and other words and terms of similar meaning. All statements, other than historical facts, contained herein regarding Newron's strategy, goals, plans, future financial position, projected revenues and costs and prospects are forward-looking statements. By their very nature, such statements and assumptions involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that predictions, forecasts, projections and other outcomes described, assumed or implied therein will not be achieved. Future events and actual results could differ materially from those set out in, contemplated by or underlying the forward-looking statements due to a number of important factors. These factors include (without limitation) (1) uncertainties in the discovery, development or marketing of products, including without limitation difficulties in enrolling clinical trials, negative results of clinical trials or research projects or unexpected side effects, (2) delay or inability in obtaining regulatory approvals or bringing products to market, (3) future market acceptance of products, (4) loss of or inability to obtain adequate protection for intellectual property rights, (5) inability to raise additional funds, (6) success of existing and entry into future collaborations and licensing agreements, (7) litigation, (8) loss of key executive or other employees, (9) adverse publicity and news coverage, and (10) competition, regulatory, legislative and judicial developments or changes in market and/or overall economic conditions. Newron may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in forward-looking statements and assumptions underlying any such statements may prove wrong. Investors should therefore not place undue reliance on them. There can be no assurance that actual results of Newron's research programs, development activities, commercialization plans, collaborations and operations will not differ materially from the expectations set out in such forward-looking statements or underlying assumptions. Newron does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements except as may be required by applicable regulations of the SIX Swiss Exchange or the Dusseldorf Stock Exchange where the shares of Newron are listed. This document does not contain or constitute an offer or invitation to purchase or subscribe for any securities of Newron and no part of it shall form the basis of or be relied upon in connection with any contract or commitment whatsoever. 1 Uliana DL, Walsh RA, Fabris D and Grace AA. Evenamide reverses schizophrenia-related dysfunction in a neurodevelopmental animal model, Neuropsychopharmacology (2025); https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-025-02188-y 2 Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) is widely used in clinical trials of schizophrenia and is considered the "gold standard" for assessment of antipsychotic treatment efficacy (Innvo Clin Neurosci, 2017: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5788255/) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250811493586/en/ Contacts: For more information, please contact: Newron Stefan Weber CEO; +39 02 6103 46 26, pr@newron.com UK/Europe Simon Conway Ciara Martin Natalie Garland-Collins, FTI Consulting; +44 20 3727 1000, SCnewron@fticonsulting.com Switzerland Valentin Handschin, IRF; +41 43 244 81 54, handschin@irf-reputation.ch Germany/Europe Anne Hennecke Maximilian Schur, MC Services; +49 211 52925227, newron@mc-services.eu USA Paul Sagan, LaVoieHealthScience; +1 617 865 0041, psagan@lavoiehealthscience.com TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / August 11, 2025 / Grid Metals Corp. (TSXV:GRDM)(OTCQB:MSMGF) ("Grid" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update at its Makwa Ni-Cu-PGE project in southeastern Manitoba where an Option and Joint Venture Agreement (the "Agreement") with Teck Resources Limited ("Teck") was announced in December 2024. The target model is a footwall-hosted Ni-Cu-PGE deposit similar to the Eagle's Nest deposit1 located in Ontario's 'Ring of Fire' mineral district. Initial exploration completed under the new option and joint venture agreement has led to the discovery of semi-massive nickel sulfide mineralization at surface (up to 1.1% nickel in grab samples, see Table 1) associated with a recently identified geophysical anomaly ("Pavo" or the "Pavo Anomaly") in a previously unexplored part of the Makwa property. The Pavo Anomaly is now a priority drill target with drilling anticipated to commence in the Fall of 2025. Dr. Dave Peck, the Company's V.P. Exploration, stated, "The new discovery of nickel-rich magmatic massive sulfide mineralization at Pavo is significant given its location in an interpreted feeder structure to the Bird River Sill - host to most of the known Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide mineralization in the Bird River Belt. Importantly, the Pavo conductor trend is contained within a large magnetic anomaly that suggests a large volume of prospective ultramafic rocks are present in the broader target area. Our view, shared by Federal and Provincial Government geoscientists2, is that the Bird River Belt is strongly analogous to the Ring of Fire District in northwestern Ontario where a significant Ni-Cu-PGE deposit at Eagle's Nest was discovered in 2007. The potential to participate with Teck in the discovery of an Eagle's Nest-type sulfide deposit is an exciting opportunity for Grid." The Pavo Anomaly: A new grassroots nickel sulfide surface discovery in the footwall of the Bird River Sill The Pavo Anomaly is a shallow electromagnetic ("EM") conductor trend that has a strike length of approximately 600m in east-west extent that was outlined from an airborne geophysical survey completed in late 2024. The Company completed reconnaissance geology in the area and one day of field prospecting at the Pavo Anomaly (Blaze Showing) before forest fires restricted access to the area. Nonetheless, the initial day of prospecting led to the discovery of semi-massive sulfide mineralization in soil-covered bedrock located directly on the eastern part of the Pavo Anomaly. Initial grab samples taken from this new showing returned peak nickel grades of up to 1.1% hosted by semi-massive magmatic sulfide mineralization (see Table 1). 1 The Eagle's Nest deposit in the McFauld's Lake greenstone belt of northwestern Ontario is an established, high-grade magmatic nickel sulfide resource that is owned by Wyloo Canada. See the Wyloo website for more information about the Eagle's Nest deposit: https://wyloo.com/wylooeaglesnest/ 2 Geological Survey of Canada Open File Report 8722, 2020. Sample Number Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (%) S (%) Field Description C1296925 0.84 0.20 0.10 24.5 Semi-massive sulfides in ultramafic C1296927 0.62 0.12 0.07 18.7 Semi-massive sulfides in ultramafic C1296973 1.13 0.08 0.11 28.3 Semi-massive sulfides in ultramafic Table 1. Select assay results for surface grab samples from the Pavo Anomaly. Above: Part of a new channel sample comprising sulfide-matrix breccia from the magmatic sulfide discovery at the Pavo Anomaly. Fragments are altered ultramafic rock. Sulfide matrix is composed of pyrrhotite +/- pentlandite with lesser pyrite and minor chalcopyrite Above: Pavo EM Anomaly on a first vertical derivative magnetic image showing location of the Blaze nickel sulfide showing and recent field sample lithologies Next Steps Additional prospecting recently commenced following the lifting of fire restrictions in the area. A follow-up deep-penetrating ground time-domain EM geophysical survey is also planned to further define initial drill targets. Drilling at Pavo is planned to commence this Fall pending receipt of applicable exploration permits. The principal objective of the ongoing exploration program is to fully explore the Makwa property for high-grade massive Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide deposits located in structural favourable sites, including structural traps along the base of the Bird River Sill and within interpreted feeder structures to the sill. Pavo is expected to be the first major anomaly to be drill tested. However, there are numerous other untested, coincident magnetic and EM anomalies that are currently being mapped and prospected that could become priorities for future drilling campaigns. Above: Location of Grid's copper/nickel properties in the Bird River Belt, southeastern Manitoba. Quality Assurance and Quality Control Grid Metals applies best practice quality assurance and quality control ("QAQC") protocols in all of its exploration programs. For the Pavo prospecting program, grab samples were cleaned of obvious weathering and bagged and tagged in the field. The samples were then transported by secure carrier to the Actlabs (Thunder Bay) laboratory for sample preparation and analysis for nickel, copper, cobalt and selected major and trace element abundances using a multi-acid digestion method followed by ICP-OES analysis. Samples were also analyzed for Pd, Pt and Au using a lead collection 30 g fire assay method followed by ICP-OES analysis. The Company is using several different certified reference materials ("CRMs") and one analytical blank for the Makwa project to monitor analytical accuracy and check for cross contamination between samples. The analytical results for the CRMs and the blank for the new analytical results reported here did not show any significant bias compared to the certified values and fell within the acceptable limits of variability. For more information about the Company, please see the Company website at www.gridmetalscorp.com or contact: Robin Dunbar - President, CEO & Director Telephone: 416-955-4773 Email: rd@gridmetalscorp.com Brandon Smith - Chief Development Officer - bsmith@gridmetalscorp.com David Black - Investor Relations Email - info@gridmetalscorp.com Qualified Persons Statements Dr. Dave Peck, P.Geo., the V.P. Exploration of Grid, is the Qualified Person for purposes of National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release. About Grid Metals Corp. Grid Metals is focused on exploration and development in southeastern Manitoba with four key projects in the Bird River area. The Makwa Property (Ni-Cu-PGM-Co), which is subject to an Option and Joint Venture Agreement with Teck Resources Limited ("Teck"). Teck can earn up to a 70% interest in Makwa by incurring a total of CAD$17.3 million, comprising project expenditures (CAD$15.7 million) and cash payments or equity participation (CAD$1.6 million) with Grid. Makwa is located on the south arm of the Bird River Greenstone Belt. The Mayville Property (Cu-Ni) is located on the north arm of the Bird River Greenstone Belt. The property is owned subject to a minority interest. The Falcon West Property (Li-Cs) is located 110 km east of Winnipeg along the Trans-Canada highway and contains highly anomalous cesium values in a number of historical drill holes including 2.2 m at 15.0% Cs2O and 3.2 m at 4.6% Cs2O. The Donner Property (Li-Cs) is adjacent to the Mayville Property, and Grid owns 75% of the project. Grid announced a cesium purchase agreement with Tanco on February 18, 2025. All of the Company's southeastern Manitoba projects are located on the ancestral lands of the Sagkeeng First Nation with whom the Company maintains an Exploration Agreement. We seek safe harbour. This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of the Securities Act (Ontario) (together, "forward-looking statements"). Such forward-looking statements include the Company's closing of the proposed financial transactions, sale of royalty and property interests. the overall economic potential of its properties, the availability of adequate financing and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward- looking statements to be materially different. Such factors include, among others, risks and uncertainties relating to potential political risk, uncertainty of production and capital costs estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, physical risks inherent in mining operations, metallurgical risk, currency fluctuations, fluctuations in the price of nickel, cobalt, copper and other metals, completion of economic evaluations, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, the inability or failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis, and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis for the most recent financial period and Material Change Reports filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available at www.sedar.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. SOURCE: Grid Metals Corp. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/grid-metals-corp.-announces-grassroots-nickel-sulfide-surface-discovery-at-makwa-1057967 CHICAGO, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On August 1, 2025, United States Cellular Corporation changed its name to Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc.SM (ArraySM) As previously announced, Array will hold a teleconference on August 11, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. CDT. Listen to the call live via the Events & Presentations page of investors.arrayinc.com or investors.tdsinc.com. Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. (NYSE:USM) reported total operating revenues of $916 million for the second quarter of 2025, versus $927 million for the same period one year ago. Service revenues totaled $736 million, versus $743 million for the same period one year ago. Net income attributable to Array shareholders and related diluted earnings per share were $31 million and $0.36, respectively, for the second quarter of 2025 compared to $17 million and $0.20, respectively, in the same period one year ago. Recent Highlights* On August 1, 2025, Array completed the sale of its wireless operations and select spectrum assets to T-Mobile for total consideration of $4.3 billion which includes a combination of cash and assumed debt Declared a $23.00 per share special dividend payable on August 19, 2025 Third-party tower revenues increased 12% Pending AT&T and Verizon spectrum transactions are expected to close in 2H 2025 and Q3 2026, respectively, subject to receipt of regulatory approvals and satisfaction of closing conditions * Comparisons are 2Q'24 to 2Q'25 unless otherwise noted "I am pleased that we have successfully closed the T-Mobile deal and have declared a special dividend in connection with the transaction," said Doug Chambers, Array interim President and CEO. "As a tower company with 4,400 towers and a new Master License Agreement with T-Mobile, Array has strength and stability from its current tower revenue stream, along with an excellent opportunity to grow colocations and revenues, and to expand margins over time. Our non-controlling investment interests also continue to generate significant cash flow. Further, I look forward to closing our announced spectrum transactions and continuing to work toward opportunistically monetizing our remaining spectrum." Pending previously announced transactions On October 17, 2024, the company entered into a License Purchase Agreement with Verizon Communications, Inc. (Verizon) to sell certain AWS, Cellular and PCS wireless spectrum licenses, subject to receipt of regulatory approvals, and agreed to grant Verizon certain rights to lease such licenses prior to the transaction close. Additionally, Array also entered into agreements with Nsight Spectrum, LLC and Nex-Tech Wireless, LLC for the sale of select spectrum licenses. On November 6, 2024, the company also entered into a License Purchase Agreement with New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC (AT&T), a subsidiary of AT&T Inc. to sell certain 3.45 GHz and 700 MHz wireless spectrum licenses, subject to receipt of regulatory approvals, and agreed to grant AT&T certain rights to lease and sub-lease such licenses prior to the transaction close. Array is not providing 2025 financial guidance. Conference Call Information Array will hold a conference call on August 11, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time. Access the live call on the Events & Presentations page of investors.arrayinc.com, investors.tdsinc.com, or at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/378403075 Access the call by phone at (888)330-2384 conference ID: 1328528. About Array Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. is a leading owner and operator of shared wireless communications infrastructure in the United States. With over 4,400 cell towers in locations from coast to coast, Array enables the deployment of 5G and other wireless technologies throughout the country. As of August 1, 2025, Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. owned approximately 82% of Array. Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: All information set forth in this news release, except historical and factual information, represents forward-looking statements. This includes all statements about the company's plans, beliefs, estimates, and expectations. These statements are based on current estimates, projections, and assumptions, which involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that may affect these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the manner in which Array's remaining business is conducted; strategic decisions regarding the tower business; Array's reliance on a small number of tenants for a substantial portion of its revenues; extreme weather events; whether the previously announced spectrum license sales to Verizon and AT&T will be consummated; whether Array can monetize the remaining spectrum assets; competition in the tower industry; and significant investments in wireless operating entities Array does not control. Investors are encouraged to consider these and other risks and uncertainties that are more fully described under "Risk Factors" in the most recent filing of Array's Form 10-K, as updated by any Array Form 10-Q filed subsequent to such Form 10-K. Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. Summary Operating Data (Unaudited) As of or for the Quarter Ended 6/30/2025 3/31/2025 12/31/2024 9/30/2024 6/30/2024 Retail Connections Postpaid Total at end of period 3,904,000 3,946,000 3,985,000 3,999,000 4,027,000 Gross additions 109,000 105,000 140,000 123,000 117,000 Handsets 70,000 68,000 93,000 84,000 73,000 Connected devices 39,000 37,000 47,000 39,000 44,000 Net additions (losses) (42,000) (39,000) (14,000) (28,000) (24,000) Handsets (44,000) (38,000) (19,000) (28,000) (29,000) Connected devices 2,000 (1,000) 5,000 - 5,000 ARPU1 $ 51.91 $ 52.06 $ 51.73 $ 52.04 $ 51.45 ARPA2 $ 131.89 $ 132.25 $ 131.10 $ 131.81 $ 130.41 Handset upgrade rate3 4.2 % 3.1 % 4.8 % 3.5 % 4.1 % Churn rate4 1.29 % 1.21 % 1.29 % 1.25 % 1.16 % Handsets 1.12 % 1.03 % 1.08 % 1.07 % 0.97 % Connected devices 2.36 % 2.40 % 2.67 % 2.47 % 2.47 % Prepaid Total at end of period 429,000 431,000 448,000 452,000 439,000 Gross additions 43,000 38,000 46,000 57,000 50,000 Net additions (losses) (2,000) (17,000) (4,000) 13,000 3,000 ARPU1 $ 31.72 $ 30.76 $ 30.59 $ 32.01 $ 32.37 Churn rate4 3.58 % 4.17 % 3.70 % 3.30 % 3.60 % Market penetration at end of period Consolidated operating population 31,390,000 31,390,000 32,550,000 32,550,000 32,550,000 Consolidated operating penetration5 14 % 14 % 14 % 14 % 14 % Capital expenditures (millions) $ 80 $ 53 $ 162 $ 120 $ 165 Total cell sites in service 7,061 7,009 7,010 7,007 6,990 Owned towers 4,418 4,413 4,409 4,407 4,388 Number of colocations 6 2,527 2,469 2,444 2,418 2,392 Tower tenancy rate 7 1.57 1.56 1.55 1.55 1.55 1 Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) - metric is calculated by dividing a revenue base by an average number of connections and by the number of months in the period. These revenue bases and connection populations are shown below: Postpaid ARPU consists of total postpaid service revenues and postpaid connections. Prepaid ARPU consists of total prepaid service revenues and prepaid connections. 2 Average Revenue Per Account (ARPA) - metric is calculated by dividing total postpaid service revenues by the average number of postpaid accounts and by the number of months in the period. 3 Handset upgrade rate calculated as total handset upgrade transactions divided by average postpaid handset connections. 4 Churn rate represents the percentage of the connections that disconnect service each month. These rates represent the average monthly churn rate for each respective period. 5 Market penetration is calculated by dividing the number of retail wireless connections at the end of the period by the total estimated population of consolidated operating markets. The methodology for the calculation was updated in the second quarter of 2025 and prior periods were revised to reflect this change. 6 Represents instances where a third-party wireless carrier rents or leases space on a company-owned tower. 7 Average number of tenants that lease space on company-owned towers, measured on a per-tower basis. Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. Consolidated Statement of Operations Highlights (Unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, 2025 2024 2025 vs. 2024 2025 2024 2025 vs. 2024 (Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts) Operating revenues Service $ 736 $ 743 (1) % $ 1,477 $ 1,497 (1) % Equipment sales 180 184 (2) % 330 380 (13) % Total operating revenues 916 927 (1) % 1,807 1,877 (4) % Operating expenses System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) 183 180 1 % 359 362 (1) % Cost of equipment sold 209 211 (1) % 387 427 (9) % Selling, general and administrative 328 322 2 % 661 653 1 % Depreciation, amortization and accretion 163 165 (1) % 325 329 (2) % (Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 2 5 (53) % 4 11 (60) % (Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net (4) 8 N/M (5) 7 N/M Total operating expenses 881 891 (1) % 1,731 1,789 (3) % Operating income 35 36 (4) % 76 88 (13) % Other income (expense) Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities 42 38 8 % 78 80 (3) % Interest and dividend income 4 3 12 % 6 6 15 % Interest expense (45) (45) 5 % (84) (91) 7 % Total other income (expense) 1 (4) N/M - (5) 99 % Income before income taxes 36 32 13 % 76 83 (9) % Income tax expense 4 14 (73) % 24 41 (42) % Net income 32 18 77 % 52 42 24 % Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax 1 1 (5) % 2 7 (68) % Net income attributable to Array shareholders $ 31 $ 17 80 % $ 50 $ 35 41 % Basic weighted average shares outstanding 86 86 - 85 86 - Basic earnings per share attributable to Array shareholders $ 0.37 $ 0.20 81 % $ 0.58 $ 0.41 42 % Diluted weighted average shares outstanding 88 88 - 88 88 - Diluted earnings per share attributable to Array shareholders $ 0.36 $ 0.20 81 % $ 0.57 $ 0.40 41 % N/M - Percentage change not meaningful Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited) Six Months Ended June 30, 2025 2024 (Dollars in millions) Cash flows from operating activities Net income $ 52 $ 42 Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities Depreciation, amortization and accretion 325 329 Bad debts expense 43 46 Stock-based compensation expense 29 25 Deferred income taxes, net (9) 11 Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities (78) (80) Distributions from unconsolidated entities 88 80 (Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 4 11 (Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net (5) 7 Other operating activities 3 3 Changes in assets and liabilities from operations Accounts receivable (21) (1) Equipment installment plans receivable 44 5 Inventory 52 57 Accounts payable (4) - Customer deposits and deferred revenues (13) 6 Accrued taxes 10 20 Accrued interest - (1) Other assets and liabilities (35) (44) Net cash provided by operating activities 485 516 Cash flows from investing activities Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment (147) (270) Cash paid for licenses (4) (15) Other investing activities 1 1 Net cash used in investing activities (150) (284) Cash flows from financing activities Issuance of long-term debt - 40 Repayment of long-term debt (12) (198) Tax withholdings, net of cash receipts, for stock-based compensation awards (36) (12) Repurchase of Common Shares (21) - Distributions to noncontrolling interests (2) (3) Cash paid for software license agreements (20) (20) Other financing activities (2) (3) Net cash used in financing activities (93) (196) Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 242 36 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash Beginning of period 159 179 End of period $ 401 $ 215 Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheet Highlights (Unaudited) ASSETS June 30, 2025 December 31, 2024 (Dollars in millions) Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 386 $ 144 Accounts receivable, net 922 955 Inventory, net 126 179 Prepaid expenses 53 46 Income taxes receivable 1 - Other current assets 21 21 Total current assets 1,509 1,345 Licenses 4,583 4,579 Investments in unconsolidated entities 444 454 Property, plant and equipment, net 2,313 2,502 Operating lease right-of-use assets 922 926 Other assets and deferred charges 606 643 Total assets $ 10,377 $ 10,449 Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. Consolidated Balance Sheet Highlights (Unaudited) LIABILITIES AND EQUITY June 30, 2025 December 31, 2024 (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) Current liabilities Current portion of long-term debt $ 28 $ 22 Accounts payable 218 242 Customer deposits and deferred revenues 225 238 Accrued taxes 37 30 Accrued compensation 54 93 Short-term operating lease liabilities 137 141 Other current liabilities 109 118 Total current liabilities 808 884 Deferred liabilities and credits Deferred income tax liability, net 719 728 Long-term operating lease liabilities 825 822 Other deferred liabilities and credits 576 570 Long-term debt, net 2,819 2,837 Noncontrolling interests with redemption features 16 16 Equity Array shareholders' equity Series A Common and Common Shares, par value $1.00 per share 88 88 Additional paid-in capital 1,812 1,783 Treasury shares (102) (112) Retained earnings 2,802 2,818 Total Array shareholders' equity 4,600 4,577 Noncontrolling interests 14 15 Total equity 4,614 4,592 Total liabilities and equity $ 10,377 $ 10,449 Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. Segment Results (Unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, Array 2025 2024 2025 vs. 2024 2025 2024 2025 vs. 2024 (Dollars in millions) Operating Revenues Wireless $ 888 $ 902 (1) % $ 1,751 $ 1,826 (4) % Towers 62 58 7 % 123 116 6 % Intra-company eliminations (34) (33) (3) % (67) (65) (3) % Total operating revenues 916 927 (1) % 1,807 1,877 (4) % Operating expenses Wireless 874 885 (1) % 1,717 1,779 (3) % Towers 41 39 5 % 81 75 8 % Intra-company eliminations (34) (33) (3) % (67) (65) (3) % Total operating expenses 881 891 (1) % 1,731 1,789 (3) % Operating income $ 35 $ 36 (4) % $ 76 $ 88 (13) % Adjusted OIBDA1 (Non-GAAP) $ 208 $ 227 (9) % $ 422 $ 456 (7) % Adjusted EBITDA1 (Non-GAAP) $ 254 $ 268 (6) % $ 506 $ 542 (7) % Capital expenditures $ 80 $ 165 (52) % $ 132 $ 295 (55) % 1 Adjusted OIBDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures which Array uses as measurements of profitability. See EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA Reconciliations within this earnings release for additional information. Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. Segment Results (Unaudited) Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, Array Wireless 2025 2024 2025 vs. 2024 2025 2024 2025 vs. 2024 (Dollars in millions) Retail service $ 652 $ 666 (2) % $ 1,312 $ 1,344 (2) % Other 56 52 7 % 109 102 7 % Service revenues 708 718 (1) % 1,421 1,446 (2) % Equipment sales 180 184 (2) % 330 380 (13) % Total operating revenues 888 902 (1) % 1,751 1,826 (4) % System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) 197 194 1 % 387 390 (1) % Cost of equipment sold 209 211 (1) % 387 427 (9) % Selling, general and administrative 319 313 2 % 643 637 1 % Depreciation, amortization and accretion 151 154 (2) % 302 308 (2) % (Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 2 5 (59) % 3 10 (66) % (Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net (4) 8 N/M (5) 7 N/M Total operating expenses 874 885 (1) % 1,717 1,779 (3) % Operating income $ 14 $ 17 (21) % $ 34 $ 47 (27) % Adjusted OIBDA1 (Non-GAAP) $ 174 $ 196 (11) % $ 355 $ 392 (9) % Adjusted EBITDA1 (Non-GAAP) $ 174 $ 196 (11) % $ 355 $ 392 (9) % Capital expenditures $ 77 $ 160 (52) % $ 127 $ 286 (55) % Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, Array Towers 2025 2024 2025 vs. 2024 2025 2024 2025 vs. 2024 (Dollars in millions) Third-party revenues $ 28 $ 25 12 % $ 56 $ 51 9 % Intra-company revenues 34 33 3 % 67 65 3 % Total tower revenues 62 58 7 % 123 116 6 % System operations (excluding Depreciation, amortization and accretion reported below) 20 19 6 % 39 37 5 % Selling, general and administrative 9 9 (1) % 18 16 14 % Depreciation, amortization and accretion 12 11 7 % 23 21 6 % (Gain) loss on asset disposals, net - - 14 % 1 1 60 % Total operating expenses 41 39 5 % 81 75 8 % Operating income $ 21 $ 19 11 % $ 42 $ 41 2 % Adjusted OIBDA1 (Non-GAAP) $ 34 $ 31 9 % $ 67 $ 64 4 % Adjusted EBITDA1 (Non-GAAP) $ 34 $ 31 9 % $ 67 $ 64 4 % Capital expenditures $ 3 $ 5 (51) % $ 5 $ 9 (47) % 1 Adjusted OIBDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures which Array uses as measurements of profitability. See EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA Reconciliations within this earnings release for additional information. Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. Financial Measures (Unaudited) Free Cash Flow Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, Array 2025 2024 2025 2024 (Dollars in millions) Cash flows from operating activities (GAAP) $ 325 $ 313 $ 485 $ 516 Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment (75) (137) (147) (270) Cash paid for software license agreements (11) (11) (20) (20) Free cash flow (Non-GAAP)1 $ 239 $ 165 $ 318 $ 226 1 Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure which Array believes may be useful to investors and other users of its financial information in evaluating liquidity, specifically, the amount of net cash generated by business operations after deducting Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment and Cash paid for software license agreements. Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA Reconciliations (Unaudited) EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA are defined as net income adjusted for the items set forth in the reconciliations below. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA are not measures of financial performance under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (GAAP) and should not be considered as alternatives to Net income or Cash flows from operating activities, as indicators of cash flows or as measures of liquidity. Array does not intend to imply that any such items set forth in the reconciliations below are infrequent or unusual; such items may occur in the future. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA as measurements of profitability, and therefore reconciliations to Net income are deemed appropriate. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA are useful measures of Array's operating results before significant recurring non-cash charges, nonrecurring expenses, gains and losses, and other items as presented below as they provide additional relevant and useful information to investors and other users of Array's financial data in evaluating the effectiveness of its operations and underlying business trends in a manner that is consistent with management's evaluation of business performance. Adjusted EBITDA shows adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and accretion, gains and losses, and expenses related to the strategic alternatives review of Array while Adjusted OIBDA reduces this measure further to exclude Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities and Interest and dividend income in order to more effectively show the performance of operating activities excluding investment activities. The following tables reconcile EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA to the corresponding GAAP measure, Net income, Income before income taxes and/or Operating income. Income and expense items below Operating income are not provided at the individual segment level for Array Wireless and Array Towers; therefore, the reconciliations begin with EBITDA and the most directly comparable GAAP measure is Operating income rather than Net income at the segment level. Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, Array 2025 2024 2025 2024 (Dollars in millions) Net income (GAAP) $ 32 $ 18 $ 52 $ 42 Add back or deduct: Income tax expense 4 14 24 41 Income before income taxes (GAAP) 36 32 76 83 Add back: Interest expense 45 45 84 91 Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense 163 165 325 329 EBITDA (Non-GAAP) 244 242 485 503 Add back or deduct: Expenses related to strategic alternatives review 12 13 22 21 (Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 2 5 4 11 (Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net (4) 8 (5) 7 Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP) 254 268 506 542 Deduct: Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities 42 38 78 80 Interest and dividend income 4 3 6 6 Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP) $ 208 $ 227 $ 422 $ 456 Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, Array Wireless 2025 2024 2025 2024 (Dollars in millions) EBITDA (Non-GAAP) $ 165 $ 171 $ 336 $ 355 Add back or deduct: Expenses related to strategic alternatives review 11 12 21 20 (Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 2 5 3 10 (Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net (4) 8 (5) 7 Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP) 174 196 355 392 Deduct: Depreciation, amortization and accretion 151 154 302 308 Expenses related to strategic alternatives review 11 12 21 20 (Gain) loss on asset disposals, net 2 5 3 10 (Gain) loss on license sales and exchanges, net (4) 8 (5) 7 Operating income (GAAP) $ 14 $ 17 $ 34 $ 47 Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30, Array Towers 2025 2024 2025 2024 EBITDA (Non-GAAP) $ 33 $ 30 $ 65 $ 62 Add back or deduct: Expenses related to strategic alternatives review 1 1 1 1 (Gain) loss on asset disposals - - 1 1 Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP) 34 31 67 64 Deduct: Depreciation, amortization and accretion 12 11 23 21 Expenses related to strategic alternatives review 1 1 1 1 (Gain) loss on asset disposals, net - - 1 1 Operating income (GAAP) $ 21 $ 19 $ 42 $ 41 SOURCE Array Digital Infrastructure, Inc. MEDINA, OHIO / ACCESS Newswire / August 11, 2025 / NAI Pleasant Valley-a commercial real estate company headquartered in Medina, Ohio, and a member of the NAI Global network-has formed a strategic partnership with Canadian facility management company, Dexterra Group Inc. (TSX:DXT). Dexterra's minority equity investment in NAI Pleasant Valley will create a seamless commercial real estate experience for clients of both companies. The partnership is anticipated to explore opportunities that will expand commercial real estate offices into strategic markets throughout North America, provide corporate services, and create collaborative opportunities with NAI member offices internationally. The Ohio locations in Akron and Cleveland will remain in operation as normal. NAI Pleasant Valley is one of Northeast Ohio's largest commercial real estate brokerage firms, offering real estate brokerage services across all of the major commercial sectors. Through its long-time affiliation with NAI Global, the company has access to over 325 offices worldwide, an invaluable resource for the partnership's planned growth strategies. "This partnership between NAI Pleasant Valley and Dexterra is a strong example of how local expertise and global connectivity can come together to offer real value," said NAI Global President and CEO Alex Waddey. "With NAI Pleasant Valley's deep market knowledge and commitment to service, combined with Dexterra's operational strength, this collaboration enhances our ability to support clients more efficiently across borders, strengthening the NAI brand globally. It is a forward-looking step that reinforces the NAI Global network mission to deliver seamless, strategic real estate solutions worldwide." NAI Pleasant Valley stands to improve its reach with Dexterra's extensive commercial facility network and connections. Dexterra's strength in self-performing maintenance and extensive background in both public and private sector support services, including complex contracts with entities such as public-private partnerships (P3) and the US Federal Government, will be a significant benefit to NAI Pleasant Valley clients. Dexterra gains the comprehensive range of commercial real estate planning services that NAI Pleasant Valley provides, which includes expertise in acquisitions, dispositions, leasing strategies, real estate and market analysis, valuation and portfolio management. "NAI Pleasant Valley's reputation, culture, and values align very well with Dexterra," said Mark Becker, Chief Executive Officer, Dexterra Group. "Their team's significant expertise in commercial real estate brokerage will provide value from the start of our partnership and offer another service line to our clients." NAI Pleasant Valley anticipates no changes to its leadership, shareholders or staff throughout the partnership. The company's co-CEOs, Barbara and Gino Faciana, expressed their excitement about partnering with a company's leadership whose values and vision closely align with their own. NAI Pleasant Valley President, Alec Pacella, said, "The partnership with Dexterra is going to add a wealth of facility professionals and geographic range that will streamline services for our clients, creating an extremely efficient experience." More information about NAI Pleasant Valley, its history and offerings is available at naipvc.com. Details about Dexterra are available at Dexterra.com. # # # About NAI Pleasant Valley: NAI Pleasant Valley is an affiliate of NAI Global, a leader in global commercial real estate. NAI Pleasant Valley leverages its global network resource with market insights to deliver outstanding service and performance in all aspects of commercial real estate. About Dexterra Group Inc.: Dexterra employs more than 9,000 people, delivering a range of support services for the management and operation of infrastructure across Canada and the U.S. Powered by people, Dexterra brings best-in-class regional expertise to every challenge and delivers innovative solutions, giving clients confidence in their day-to-day operations. Activities include a comprehensive range of integrated facilities management services, industry-leading workforce accommodation solutions, and other support services for diverse clients in the public and private sectors. About NAI Global: NAI Global is a leading global commercial real estate brokerage firm. NAI Global offices are leaders in their local markets and work in unison to provide clients with exceptional solutions to their commercial real estate needs. NAI Global has more than 325 offices strategically located in 65 countries throughout North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific, with over 5,800 local market professionals, managing in excess of 1.1 billion square feet of property and facilities. Annually, NAI Global completes in excess of $20 billion in commercial real estate transactions throughout the world. NAI Global provides a complete range of corporate and institutional real estate services, including brokerage and leasing, property and facilities management, real estate investment and capital market services, due diligence, global supply chain and logistics consulting and related advisory services. To learn more, visit www.naiglobal.com. Contact Information Kurt Kleidon President, Kleidon & Associates kurt@kleidon.com 330-666-5984 SOURCE: Pleasant Valley View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/business-and-professional-services/nai-pleasant-valley-agrees-to-strategic-partnership-with-dexterr-1058550 abrdn Property Income Trust Limited - Result of AGM PR Newswire LONDON, United Kingdom, August 11 ABRDN Property Income Trust Limited (an authorised closed-ended investment company incorporated in Guernsey with registration number 41352) LEI Number: 549300HHFBWZRKC7RW84 (The "Company") 11 AUGUST 2025 RESULT OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING At the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 11 August 2025, all Ordinary and Special Resolutions set out in the Notice of Annual General Meeting contained in the Annual Report to Shareholders published on 1 May 2025 were duly passed on a poll. Details of the voting results, which should be read alongside the Notice, are noted below: Ordinary Resolution For % Against % Abstain 1 65,526,482 92.1 5,596,918 7.9 181,394 2 64,873,503 91.4 6,137,993 8.6 293,298 3 64,724,113 91.3 6,204,578 8.7 376,103 4 70,976,926 99.8 146,474 0.2 181,394 5 65,194,461 91.7 5,921,704 8.3 188,629 6 65,264,325 91.8 5,815,363 8.2 225,106 7 65,247,865 91.9 5,787,913 8.1 269,016 8 62,982,456 88.7 8,053,322 11.3 269,016 Special Resolution For % Against % Abstain 9 70,950,424 99.8 161,641 0.2 192,729 10 59,852,986 84.2 11,257,314 15.8 194,494 Note - A vote withheld is not a vote in law and has not been counted in the votes for and against a resolution. The Special Resolutions were as follows: Special Resolution 9 To authorise the Company, in accordance with The Companies (Guernsey) Law, 2008, as amended to make market acquisitions of its own shares of 1 pence each (either for retention as treasury shares for future resale or transfer or cancellation) provided that: a. the maximum number of ordinary shares hereby authorised to be purchased shall be 14.99 percent of the issued ordinary shares on the date on which this resolution is passed; b. the minimum price which may be paid for an ordinary share shall be 1 pence; c. the maximum price (exclusive of expenses) which may be paid for an ordinary share shall be the higher of (i) 105 percent of the average of the middle market quotations (as derived from the Daily Official List) for the ordinary shares for the five business days immediately preceding the date of acquisition and (ii) the higher of the last independent trade and the highest current bid on the trading venue on which the purchase is carried out; and d. unless previously varied, revoked or renewed, the authority hereby conferred shall expire at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting of the Company after the passing of this resolution or on the expiry of 15 months from the passing of this resolution, whichever is the earlier, save that the Company may, prior to such expiry, enter into a contract to acquire ordinary shares under such authority and may make an acquisition of ordinary shares pursuant to any such contract. Special Resolution 10 That the Directors of the Company be and they are hereby generally empowered, to allot ordinary shares in the Company or grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert securities into, ordinary shares of the Company ("equity securities") for cash, including by way of a sale of ordinary shares held by the Company as treasury shares, as if any pre-emption rights in relation to the issue of shares as set out in the listing rules made by the Financial Conduct Authority under Part VI of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended, did not apply to any such allotment of equity securities, provided that this power: a. expires at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company after the passing of this resolution or on the expiry of 15 months from the passing of this resolution, whichever is the earlier, save that the Company may, before such expiry, make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of any such offer or agreement as if the power conferred hereby had not expired; and b. shall be limited to the allotment of equity securities up to an aggregate nominal value of 381,219 being approximately 10 percent of the nominal value of the issued share capital of the Company, as at 30 April 2025. Enquiries: Northern Trust International Fund Administration Services (Guernsey) Limited The Company Secretary Trafalgar Court Les Banques St Peter Port Guernsey GY1 3QL Tel: 01481 745001 END Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands--(Newsfile Corp. - August 11, 2025) - Tethys Petroleum Limited (TSXV: TPL) ("Tethys" or the "Company") today announces the results of the Annual General Meeting held on August 11, 2025 (the "Meeting"). The following resolutions put to shareholders at the Meeting were passed on a poll at the Meeting: 1. Receipt of Financial Statements and Auditors Report; 2. Election of Directors: 2.1 Adeola Ogunsemi - 43,252,561 votes For 54.9% 2.2 Mattias Sjoborg - 43,252,561 votes For 54.9% 2.3 Don Streu - 78,760,609 votes For 99.9% 2.4 William Wells - 43,252,561 votes For 54.9% 3. Appointment of Auditors - Grant Thornton LLP The following resolutions put to shareholders at the Meeting were not passed on a poll at the Meeting: 2.5 Askar Ismailov - 35,508,048 votes For 45.1% 2.6 Paul J. Ostling - 35,508,048 votes For 45.1% 2.7 Piers Johnson - 35,508.048 votes For 45.1% At the Meeting, the Chair advised that, on May 13, 2025, Dr. Galina Zukova, the sole arbitrator, appointed by the International Arbitration Centre in Kazakhstan, issued an arbitral award that included an order cancelling 18 million shares of Tethys that were issued to Olisol Petroleum on May 29, 2020. The arbitral award has been recognized by the Court in Kazakhstan and Tethys is in the process of applying to have the arbitral award recognized in Ontario. Olisol Petroleum transferred 17,536,296 shares of Tethys to Gazexport Limited after it became aware of Tethys' intention to commence the arbitration and after the arbitration had been commenced. The arbitral award and the cancellation of these 18 million shares of Tethys results in the cancellation of all, or a substantial proportion of the 17,536,296 shares held by Gazexport Limited. The Gazexport Limited shares represent 74.06% of the total 24,304,446 shares of Olisol Petroleum held prior to Olisol transferring the subject shares to Gazexport Limited. In light of the foregoing, it was ruled at the Meeting (with Gazexport Limited and Fincraft Group LLP objecting thereto) that 74.06% or 12,987,381 Tethys shares be excluded from Gazexport Limited's votes. About Tethys Tethys is focused on oil and gas exploration and production activities in Central Asia and the Caspian Region. Tethys believes that significant potential exists in both exploration and in discovered deposits in the area. Disclaimer Some of the statements in this document are forward-looking. No part of this announcement constitutes, or shall be taken to constitute, an invitation or inducement to invest in the Company or any other entity and shareholders of the Company are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Save as required by applicable law, the Company does not undertake to update or change any forward-looking statements to reflect events occurring after the date of this announcement. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Contact Information: To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/262042 SOURCE: Tethys Petroleum Limited Sedona, Arizona--(Newsfile Corp. - August 11, 2025) - Enchanting Earth has arrived in Sedona, a luxury gemstone jewelry and crystal boutique, where high design meets high vibration. Founded by spiritual entrepreneur and jewelry designer Jamie Inglett (@enchantingearthco), the new storefront brings her viral brand to life with ethically sourced gemstone pieces handcrafted to inspire beauty, intention, and transformation. After cultivating a devoted online following for her candid voice and luminous designs, Inglett now roots her vision in Sedona's red rock vortex, creating a must-see destination for spiritual seekers, crystal lovers, and jewelry collectors. Photography by Danielle Holman To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8700/262023_ad903e0d445b799d_001full.jpg "We don't just make jewelry, we create high-vibration pieces using some of the rarest crystals on Earth, sourced ethically from the Earth's most powerful places" said Jamie Inglett, Founder of Enchanting Earth Co. "We work with stones like Taaffeite, a gem over a million times rarer than diamond. Every stone is chosen for its beauty and energy, then transformed into wearable magic you won't find anywhere else." The company's new Enchanting Earth boutique at 2675 W State Route 89A offers a visceral, sensorial experience grounded in the magnetic pull of Sedona's famed vortexes, where earth's energy converges and intention becomes action. This Sedona location marks a new chapter for the brand: part boutique, part sanctuary, and all elevated luxury, designed for healing, empowerment, and meaningful connection. "We're creating a place where healing happens in real time," said Inglett. "Where community forms through shared intention, and every person feels seen, supported, and reminded of their power." Inglett's journey didn't begin in a crystal cave, it began in a boardroom. With a background in banking and an MBA, she built Enchanting Earth from the ground up, blending sharp business strategy with a deeper calling: to heal through beauty, energy, and intention. Her signature pieces, handcrafted with rare stones like Black Diamond, Padparadscha Sapphire, and Pezzottaite, have captured the hearts of both seasoned collectors and the crystal-curious. Now, in a town pulsing with red rock energy, Inglett is offering something deeper: a space where intention meets transformation. Here, customers leave with more than jewelry, they leave with clarity, confidence, and something sacred. "From Axinite to Zultanite, Enchanting Earth is proud to offer one of the most breathtaking and diverse collections of rare crystals and high-vibrational stones available today," said Inglett. "You'll also discover exquisite and unique stones from around the globe like Malaya Color-Change Garnet, Sphene, Morganite, and Tourmaline, all crafted into powerful, wearable art." With millions enchanted by her online presence, Inglett is redefining what it means to shop spiritually in the modern era. Through her inspirational content, healing affirmations, and behind-the-scenes look into her design process, she has built a loyal global community drawn to her authenticity and light. Her blog and best-selling book, Crystal Creed: The Ultimate Guide to Crystal Healing, have become go-to resources for those seeking grounded, transformative guidance in the world of spirituality. Across social media, her videos have reached millions, offering a rare blend of soul wisdom, humor, and sacred style that continues to resonate deeply with both crystal collectors and spiritual souls around the world. Unlike other metaphysical shops, Enchanting Earth designs and creates its jewelry in-house using ethically sourced, energetically vetted stones from trusted small-scale miners and master cutters. The boutique - open Thursday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - offers an exclusive, ever-evolving collection not available online, including: Vortex-charged jewelry and crystal carvings Fine jewelry featuring American gemstones like Euphoralite, Gem Silica, Herkimer Diamond, Montana Sapphire, Oregon Sunstone, Saffordite, Tiffany Stone and Turquoise like Euphoralite, Gem Silica, Herkimer Diamond, Montana Sapphire, Oregon Sunstone, Saffordite, Tiffany Stone and Turquoise Ultra-rare collector crystals like Grandiderite, Malaya Garnet, Padparadscha Sapphire, Pezzottaite, Sphene, and Taaffeite like Grandiderite, Malaya Garnet, Padparadscha Sapphire, Pezzottaite, Sphene, and Taaffeite Seasonal collections aligned with solstices, equinoxes, and celestial cycles aligned with solstices, equinoxes, and celestial cycles Ritual tools, intuitive decks, and spiritual art Ongoing education through in-store workshops Enchanting Earth is more than retail, it's a sacred gathering space. Visitors can expect a curated calendar of vortex ceremonies, sound healings, intuitive workshops, and community retreats, all designed to awaken, connect, and elevate. "We're creating a place where healing happens in real time," said Inglett. "Where community forms through shared intention, and every person feels seen, supported, and reminded of their power." For more information, follow Inglett on social media @enchantingearthco or visit enchanting-earth.com today. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/262023 SOURCE: Pinion Partners MOU was Executed with SkyTower Group of Texas to Collaborate on APOZ HOUSTON, TEXAS / ACCESS Newswire / August 11, 2025 / ASC Global Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Token Communities ( OTC ID / Stock Symbol:TKCM ) has executed a MOU with Skytower Group ( an advisory and investment company in Texas ) to build a Strategic Alliance collaboration between the two companies for the APOZ Project. According to Mr. David Champ, the President & CEO of the company, as the APOZ ( Asia Pacific Opportunity Zone ) project, Skytower Group is specialized in the renewable technology, green manufacturing, supply chain and green power production. Its senior management team is made up of professionals with extensive experience in the field of sustainable carbon-free development with a deep understanding of the government policy drivers that support many countries to achieve peak carbon emissions within a decade and national targets for carbon neutrality by 2050 to 2060. It is comprised of senior professionals from the U.S., Saudi Arabia and China to contribute to Saudi Arabia's 2030 Industrial Vision and Net Zero Emissions by 2060. The Senior team members of the company are capable to make direct connections to the Saudi and U.S. top government and key decision makes of those governmental departments. The United States has undertaken a policy of re-industrialization under the leadership of President Donald J. Trup, aimed at revitalization domestic manufacturing capabilities, strengthening supply chain resilience, and promoting advanced technology, industries, and whereas this policy direction emphasizes reshoring production, fostering job creation in industrial sectors, and enhancing the nation's competitiveness in the global market through supportive fiscal, regulatory, and trade measures. Tina Pei Wise, Director of ASC Global further added, the two companies share a high degree of alignment in their vision of driving the United States re-industrialization, and are committed to promoting pragmatic cooperation on specific projects to help the making the first of its kind " FTZ + QOZ " in the Greater Houston area in Texas. The Asia Pacific Opportunity Zone ( APOZ ) is more than just a real estate development project; it is a blue print for supporting the United States re-industrialization objective with sustainable economic growth and inclusive community building in Greater Houston. Strategically planned by ASC Global, APOZ integrates residential, industrial, and commercial zones into a single, forward-looking ecosystem and become one-of-a-kind re-industrialization model in the United States. What really sets APOZ apart (1) international trade hub - a designated FTZ promoting global commerce and logistics, (2) Master-Planned Infrastructure - seamlessly blending housing, retail and industry for long-term growth, (3) Affordable Living - high quality homes starting at just $ 188,000. To support working families and first-time buyers, (4) Strategic Partnership - developed in collaboration with the International Trade Center ( ITC ) and local leadership. For any further information, please contact Mr. David Champ at (631) 397-1111. Forward-Looking Statements Certain information set forth in this presentation contains "forward-looking information", including "future-oriented financial information" and "financial outlook", under applicable securities laws (collectively referred to herein as forward-looking statements). Except for statements of historical fact, the information contained herein constitutes forward-looking statements and includes, but is not limited to, the (i) projected financial performance of the Company; (ii) completion of, and the use of proceeds from, the sale of the shares being offered hereunder; (iii) the expected development of the Company's business, projects, and joint ventures; (iv) execution of the Company's vision and growth strategy, including with respect to future M&A activity and global growth; (v) sources and availability of third-party financing for the Company's projects; (vi) completion of the Company's projects that are currently underway, in development or otherwise under consideration; (vi) renewal of the Company's current customer, supplier and other material agreements; and (vii) future liquidity, working capital, and capital requirements. Forward-looking statements are provided to allow potential investors the opportunity to understand management's beliefs and opinions in respect of the future so that they may use such beliefs and opinions as one factor in evaluating an investment. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Such forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual performance and financial results in future periods to differ materially from any projections of future performance or result expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Although forward-looking statements contained in this presentation are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. SOURCE: Token Communities Ltd. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/real-estate/a-major-mou-was-executed-with-skytower-group-to-collaborate-on-apoz-1059123 TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / August 11, 2025 / Galway Metals Inc. (TSX-V:GWM)(OTCQB:GAYMF) (the "Company" or "Galway") is pleased to report further advances on Clarence Stream Project definition with the confirmation of a process flowsheet that will increase expected overall gold recovery, and the capture of antimony to an Au-Sb concentrate. Test work completed during Q2 2025 was on diamond drill core samples from the Southwest, South and North Deposits at the Company's 100%-owned flagship Clarence Stream high-grade gold project in New Brunswick, Canada. Rob Hinchcliffe, President and CEO of Galway, said, "The successful confirmation of our gold-antimony recovery process highlights the strength of Clarence Stream's metallurgical profile. It's a significant de-risking milestone that improves expected gold recoveries while adding a strategic critical mineral component to the project through antimony. With recoveries as high as 98% for gold and 84% for antimony in key zones, these results strengthen the project's economic outlook. In parallel, we remain focused on resource growth with three drill rigs actively turning-two at the Southwest Deposit and one at the North Deposit-supporting our goal of delivering a significantly larger future resource update." Metallurgical Highlights For an estimated 75% of the deposit, material low in antimony content (<100 ppm Sb) has been demonstrated as yielding 89-95% gold extraction with cyanidation. Gold extraction of 85-98% and antimony recovery of up to 84% has been confirmed from variability testing of mineralization containing up to 5% Sb using a hybrid Au-Sb cyanidation-flotation process. The hybrid process involves the recovery of soluble Au values to dore bullion from direct cyanidation, followed by cyanide destruction and the flotation of remnant Au-Sb values to a low tonnage concentrate. Secondary processing of the concentrate would yield antimony as a bi-product and increase expected overall gold recovery by an average 15% for samples evaluated from the South-West, South, and North zones (see Figure 1). Associated test work was pursued by Galway Metals, involving Haggarty Technical Services (Burlington, Ontario), and completed at SGS-Lakefield. Additional Studies to Support Future Economic and (PFS) Pre-Feasibility Studies Metallurgical test work through 2025-2026 will consider additional diamond drill core samples, and include comminution circuit rock hardness characterization, and the definition of process design criteria to advance project definition and equipment sizing for capital cost estimation. Geology and Mineralization The Clarence Stream deposits can be characterized as intrusion-related, structurally controlled, quartz-vein hosted gold deposits. These deposits consist of quartz veins and quartz stockwork within brittle-ductile fault zones that include adjacent crushed, altered wall rocks and veinlet material. The mineralized systems are hosted in intrusive and metasedimentary rocks within high strain zones controlled by regional fault systems. Pyrite, base metal sulphides, and stibnite occur in these deposits along with anomalous concentrations of bismuth, arsenic, antimony and tungsten. Alteration in the host rocks is confined within a few metres of quartz veins and occurs mainly in the form of sericitization and chloritization. A more complete description of Clarence Stream's geology and mineralization can be found at www.galwaymetalsinc.com. New Brunswick Junior Mining Assistance Program Galway would like to acknowledge financial support from the New Brunswick Junior Mining Assistance Program, which will contribute up to $50,000 towards exploration drilling in 2025. Review by Qualified Person The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Jesse Fisher, P.Geo., Project Manager for Clarence Stream and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Fisher certifies that this news release fairly and accurately reflects the technical information and data presented. Galway Metals conducts its exploration activities in accordance with CIM Best Practices Guidelines. Metallurgical test work was reviewed and approved by Steve Haggarty, P. Eng., Managing Director of Haggarty Technical Services Corp. Quality Control and Reports All core, chip/boulder samples, and soil samples are assayed by Activation Laboratories, located at 41 Bittern Street, Ancaster, Ontario, Canada, Agat Laboratories, located at 5623 McAdam Road, Mississauga Ontario, Canada L4Z 1N9 and 35 General Aviation Road, Timmins, ON P4P 7C3, and/or Swastika Laboratories situated in Swastika, ON. All four labs have ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation. All core is under watch from the drill site to the core processing facility. Drill core is NQ size and sample intervals range from 0.5 meters to 1.5 meters in length. All samples are assayed for gold by Fire Assay, with gravimetric finish, and other elements assayed using ICP. The Company's QA/QC program includes the regular insertion of blanks and standards into the sample shipments, as well as instructions for duplication. Standards, blanks and duplicates are inserted at one per 20 samples. Approximately five percent (5%) of the pulps and rejects are sent for check assaying at a second lab with the results averaged and intersections updated when received. Core recovery in the mineralized zones has averaged 99%. About Galway Metals Inc. Galway Metals is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company focused on advancing its 100%-owned, high-grade, open-pitable flagship Clarence Stream gold project in southwest New Brunswick. Clarence Stream is an emerging gold district with an exploration strike length of approximately 65 kilometres and widths of up to 28 kilometres in certain areas. Galway Metals also has 100%-ownership in the Estrades project, a former producing high-grade, gold-rich polymetallic VMS mine in the northern Abitibi of western Quebec. Led by a management team with a proven track-record of creating shareholder value having sold Galway Resources for US$340 million, Galway Metals is focused on creating value for all its stakeholders. For additional Information on Galway Metals Inc., Please contact: Robert Hinchcliffe President & Chief Executive Officer Telephone: 1-800-771-0680 Email: info@galwaymetalsinc.com Website: www.galwaymetalsinc.com Look us up on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn Cautionary Statement Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein. This News Release includes certain "forward-looking statements" which are not comprised of historical facts. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Although these statements are based on information currently available to the Company, the Company provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the Company's objectives, goals or future plans, information with respect to the OTCQB listing, DTC eligibility, and broadening U.S. institutional and retail investors. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to changes in economic conditions or financial markets, political and competitive developments, operation or exploration difficulties, changes in equity markets, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices capital, operating and reclamation costs varying significantly from estimates and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, an inability to predict and counteract the effects of COVID-19 on the business of the Company, including but not limited to the effects of COVID-19 on the price of commodities, capital market conditions, restrictions on labour and international travel and supply chains, and those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law. SOURCE: Galway Metals Inc. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/galway-metals-reports-processing-advancements-at-clarence-stream-confirm-up-to-98-1059048 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / August 11, 2025 / Faraday Copper Corp. ("Faraday" or the "Company") (TSX:FDY) announces its financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025. Highlights Year to Date Announced closing of a financing for gross proceeds of $48,773,450 on July 29, 2025. The financing includes a brokered bought deal private placement of 26,139,500 common shares at a price of $1.10 per share, and a non-brokered private placement of 18,200,000 common shares at a price of $1.10 per share. Announced approval from the Bureau of Land Management for the Company's Exploration Plan of Operations for the Copper Creek Project on July 2, 2025. Announced an expansion of the near-surface mineralization in the American Eagle Area and identification of exploration upside at the Sunrise Trend, on June 19, 2025. Reported results from the Company's Annual General Meeting on June 18, 2025. Reported near-surface supergene copper mineralization at the Globe and Copper Prince breccias, including 10.08 metres ("m") at 3.62% copper and 38.90 m at 0.51% copper, on May 15, 2025. Announced discovery of blind Winchester Breccia and expansion of near-surface mineralization in the American Eagle Area and provided a corporate update on May 6, 2025. Reported 56.57 m at 0.59% copper at the Boomerang breccia and 18.49 m at 0.98% copper at the Banjo breccia on March 19, 2025. Reported positive metallurgical results confirming high copper recovery through coarse grind and flotation on February 20, 2025. Reported 47.95 m at 0.74% copper within 304.40 m at 0.35% copper in the American Eagle Area on January 30, 2025. Reported 40.06 m at 0.78% copper within 109.42 m at 0.41% copper at the Boomerang breccia and expanded near-surface mineralization on January 8, 2025. Continued baseline environmental data collection, stakeholder mapping, and generative exploration targeting at the Copper Creek Project to provide a pipeline of future targets through ongoing geological mapping and recently reprocessed and newly acquired geophysical data. Upcoming Copper Creek Project Milestones Updated Mineral Resource Estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment near the end of the third quarter of 2025. Commencement of a 40,000+ m Phase IV drill program in September 2025. Copper Creek Project Update With extensive historical exploration, over 200,000 m of drilling and modest past production, significant exploration upside remains. There are over 320 known breccia occurrences mapped at the surface, of which less than 15% have been drill tested and only 17 are included in the MRE. In the Phase II drill program, assay results confirmed the potential for gold to occur in economic concentrations in certain phases of the mineralization. Gold is not currently included in the MRE. A sampling program to gather sufficient data coverage for potential gold inclusion in future technical studies is largely complete. The results from the Childs Aldwinkle and Copper Prince breccias, as well as the Keel underground zone, have been returned and released. The Company continues to evaluate other areas for potential inclusion of gold in future mineral resource updates. The Company has reported results from a metallurgical program focused on grind size optimization that demonstrated the viability of coarse particle flotation, gold recoveries in concentrate and test work on near surface oxide mineralization. The Company is focused on exploration at the property, while continuing to advance technical studies, environmental data gathering, and stakeholder outreach. Phase III drilling was completed in mid-April 2025 with 79 drill holes and 30,069 m of drilling. All results from the Phase III drilling have been released. The program's framework was based on historical work, knowledge from the geological and recently updated structural model, the results from the Phase I and Phase II drill programs, geophysical and airborne spectral data sets, and economic criteria defined in the PEA base case. The focus of drilling was on the near-surface mineralization in the American Eagle, Area 51 and Rum areas. The Company has awarded scopes of work to independent consultants to deliver an updated MRE and PEA near the end of the third quarter of 2025. The updated MRE will incorporate drill results from the Phase II and Phase III drill programs, including approximately 40,000 m of additional drilling compared to the current MRE. On June 30, 2025, the Company received approval of its Exploration Plan of Operations ("EPO") by the Bureau of Land Management ("BLM"). The BLM published the final Environmental Assessment, and finding of no significant impact ("FONSI") and issued a related Decision Record approving the EPO. The EPO includes up to 67 drill pads located on Federal land: 48 drill pads in or near the American Eagle area and the southern portion of the Mammoth resource area; 10 drill pads in or near other existing resource areas at Old Reliable, Globe, Copper Prince and Copper Giant; and 9 drill pads that enable reconnaissance drilling on previously untested targets Financial Results Three months ended Six months ended In Canadian dollars June 30, 2025 June 30, 2024 June 30, 2025 June 30, 2024 Exploration and evaluation expenses $ 4,146,179 $ 4,332,148 $ 10,630,687 $ 8,796,358 General and administration $ 585,980 $ 569,467 $ 1,267,652 $ 1,265,009 Share-based compensation $ 462,678 $ 323,042 $ 846,804 $ 592,659 Net Loss $ 5,414,380 $ 5,426,500 $ 13,234,811 $ 10,926,335 Basic and Diluted Loss per Share $ 0.03 $ 0.03 $ 0.06 $ 0.06 Note: The financial information in this table was selected from the Company's condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 (the "Financial Statements"), which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and the Company's website www.faradaycopper.com. Selected Financial Information In Canadian dollars June 30, 2025 December 31, 2024 Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,393,384 $ 17,003,895 Property and equipment $ 17,224,640 $ 18,037,072 Resource properties $ 4,955,328 $ 4,955,328 Total assets $ 25,034,590 $ 40,578,185 Note: The financial information in this table was selected from the Financial Statements, which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and the Company's website www.faradaycopper.com. Cash Flow, Liquidity and Capital Resources The Company is a resource exploration-stage company and does not generate any revenue and has been mainly relying on equity-based financing to fund its operations. As at June 30, 2025, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $2,393,384 (December 31, 2024 - $17,003,895) and current assets less current liabilities of $683,960 (December 31, 2024 - $13,129,205). During the six months ended June 30, 2025, cash used in operating activities was $14,422,428 (2024 - $10,752,689), cash used in investing activities was $259,507 (2024 - $529,462), and cash provided by financing activities was $35,200 (2024 - $22,138,253). The Company continues to incur operating costs primarily related to exploration and evaluation expenses and no significant investing or financing activities occurred during the six months ended June 30, 2025. The Company will need to raise additional funding to finance its day-to-day operations and to enable the Company to achieve its long-term business objectives. On May 30, 2024, the Company completed an equity-based financing for net proceeds of $22,138,253, which included share issuance costs of $861,747, to fund its operations. On July 29, 2025, the Company completed a private placement financing for gross proceeds of $48,773,450. The financing includes a brokered bought deal private placement involving the issuance of 26,139,500 common shares at a price of $1.10 per share for gross proceeds of $28,753,450, and a non-brokered private placement of 18,200,000 common shares at a price of $1.10 per share for gross proceeds of $20,020,000. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the financing to advance the Copper Creek Project and for general working capital purposes. About Faraday Copper Faraday Copper is an exploration company focused on advancing its flagship copper project in Arizona, U.S. The Copper Creek Project is one of the largest undeveloped copper projects in North America with significant district scale exploration potential. The Company is well-funded to deliver on its key milestones and benefits from a management team and board of directors with senior mining company experience and expertise. Faraday trades on the TSX under the symbol "FDY". For additional information please contact: Stacey Pavlova, CFA Vice President, Investor Relations & Communications Faraday Copper Corp. E-mail: info@faradaycopper.com Website: www.faradaycopper.com Cautionary Note on Forward Looking Statements Some of the statements in this news release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking statements" and are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of Faraday to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements and forward-looking information specifically include, but are not limited to, statements concerning the future drilling and exploration potential of the Copper Creek property and timing of future technical reports. Although Faraday believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements should not be in any way construed as guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include without limitation: market prices for metals; the conclusions of detailed feasibility and technical analyses; lower than expected grades and quantities of resources; receipt of regulatory approval; receipt of shareholder approval; mining rates and recovery rates; significant capital requirements; price volatility in the spot and forward markets for commodities; fluctuations in rates of exchange; taxation; controls, regulations and political or economic developments in the countries in which Faraday does or may carry on business; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, competition; loss of key employees; rising costs of labour, supplies, fuel and equipment; actual results of current exploration or reclamation activities; accidents; labour disputes; defective title to mineral claims or property or contests over claims to mineral properties; unexpected delays and costs inherent to consulting and accommodating rights of Indigenous peoples and other groups; risks, uncertainties and unanticipated delays associated with obtaining and maintaining necessary licenses, permits and authorizations and complying with permitting requirements, including those associated with the Copper Creek property; and uncertainties with respect to any future acquisitions by Faraday. In addition, there are risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining, including environmental events and hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins, flooding and the risk of inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks as well as "Risk Factors" included in Faraday's disclosure documents filed on and available at www.sedarplus.ca. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. This press release is not, and under no circumstances is to be construed as, a prospectus, an offering memorandum, an advertisement or a public offering of securities in Faraday in Canada, the United States or any other jurisdiction. No securities commission or similar authority in Canada or in the United States has reviewed or in any way passed upon this press release, and any representation to the contrary is an offence. SOURCE: Faraday Copper Corp. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire:https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/metals-and-mining/faraday-copper-reports-second-quarter-2025-financial-results-1059170 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 11, 2025) - Aranjin Resources Ltd. (TSXV: ARJN) ("Aranjin" or the "Company") is pleased to announce following corporate updates: Name Change Aranjin has made an application to the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") to change the Company's name to "Trinity One Metals Ltd. (the "Name Change")". Pursuant to the Name Change, the Company's securities will trade on the TSXV under the ticker 'TOM'. The new CUSIP assigned to the Company's common shares following the Name Change will be 896550100 (ISIN: CA8965501007). Common shares owned by shareholders of the Company will be automatically adjusted as a result of the Name Change and no further action is required to be taken by shareholders. The TSXV will publish a bulletin announcing the effective date of the Name Change. The Name Change remains subject to final approval by the TSXV. It is anticipated that the common shares will commence trading under the Company's new name of Trinity One Metals Ltd.., on or about August 14, 2025. Resignation of Director The Company further announces the resignation of Solongo Gunsendorj as director effective immediately. The Company wishes to thank Ms. Gunsendorj for her contributions during her tenure and wishes her the best in her future endeavours. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Forward-looking Statements Certain information contained herein constitutes "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, the completion of the Offering and Debt Settlement on the terms and timing described herein, the Offering and Debt Settlement, the Company's proposed use of proceeds from the Offering, receipt of TSXV approval for the Offering and the Debt Settlement, , the Company's reliance on certain exemptions from requirements under MI 61-101, the Company filing a material change report and the timing thereof,. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "will", "anticipates" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different, including receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals. Although management of the Company have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company will not update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/262112 SOURCE: Aranjin Resources Ltd Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - August 11, 2025) - Cardinal Energy Ltd. (TSX: CJ) ("Cardinal" or the "Company") confirms that our August dividend of $0.06 per common share will be paid on September 15, 2025 to shareholders of record on August 29, 2025. The Board of Directors of Cardinal has declared the dividend payable in cash. This dividend has been designated as an "eligible dividend" for Canadian income tax purposes. About Cardinal Energy Ltd. Cardinal is a Canadian oil and natural gas company with operations focused on low decline sustainable oil production in Western Canada. Cardinal is currently completing its first thermal SAGD project in Southwest Saskatchewan which will further increase the long-term nature of our assets. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/262039 SOURCE: Cardinal Energy Ltd. Winnipeg, Manitoba--(Newsfile Corp. - August 11, 2025) - Novra Technologies Inc. (TSXV: NVI) ("Novra") is issuing this notice to announce the partial closing and a further extension to its binding Convertible Loan Agreement with SNAPS Holding Company ("SNAPS"), which was initially announced on September 10, 2024 and subsequently extended. As disclosed in previous statements, under this agreement SNAPS will provide US $9 million (CA $12.3 million) for a term of two years with interest at 1% per annum and the first US $500 thousand was received by Novra in June. This loan can be converted into Novra common shares by either SNAPS or Novra at any time during the term at CA $0.34 per share. Novra has received TSXV approval for this US $500 thousand tranche of the loan and up to 2,002,944 shares could be issued if the full amount is eventually converted. The closing date for the remaining US $8.5 million under this loan agreement with SNAPS has now been extended to be on or before December 15, 2025. The closing for future tranches of the loan will require TSXV approval, including specific approval of the share pricing at the time of that closing, and shareholder approval may also be required. Although SNAPS has demonstrated its strong commitment to the Convertible Loan Agreement by providing a first tranche of funds, the additional funds that were anticipated in June and July have not yet been received. The company cautions investors to refrain from placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements regarding this transaction. Novra can provide no assurance that the Convertible Loan Agreement will be completed in its entirety as proposed. Novra's Directors were re-elected for the ensuing year by shareholders at the company's most recent Annual General Meeting (AGM), held on June 27, 2025. This AGM did not result in any material changes. As insiders, Novra's Directors and Officers are currently subject to a trading blackout and this will continue for an additional one-week period after an update announcing an end to the blackout, or an announcement that the Loan has closed in full, is released. About Novra Technologies Inc.: Novra (TSXV: NVI) (OTCQB: NVRVF) is an international technology provider of products, systems and services for the distribution of multimedia broadband content. The Novra Group of companies includes Novra Technologies Inc, International Datacasting Corporation, and Wegener Corporation. The companies in the group are known for a strong focus on applications, including: broadcast video and radio, digital cinema, digital signage, and highly reliable data communications. For more information visit: www.novragroup.com. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws, concerning but not limited to: pending closing of this transaction, required TSX Venture Exchange approval of this transaction, Shareholder approval of this transaction, and anticipated developments in our operations in future periods. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by words such as "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "estimate", "predict", "outlook", "opportunity", "momentum", "potential", "proposed", "targeted", "plans" "possible", "positive indication for", "looking forward to", "commitment to", "is starting to", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions or results "will", "may", "could" or "should" occur or be achieved. As such, forward-looking statements are not historical facts but reflect our current assumptions and expectations regarding future events. These are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations and assumptions. Some of these risks and uncertainties are described under the "Risks and Uncertainties" section of Novra's MD&A. For the above reasons, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. # # # To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/262092 SOURCE: Novra Technologies Inc. Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - August 11, 2025) - Marvel Biosciences Corp. (TSXV: MRVL) and its wholly owned subsidiary, Marvel Biotechnology Inc. (collectively the "Company" or "Marvel"), announces the award of 142,987 deferred share units ("DSUs") to two of Marvel's directors, in lieu of cash payment for directors' fees. The DSUs will all vest on July 31, 2026. Vested DSUs shall be settled upon the directors' separation from service from the Company and expire 365 days after such directors' separation from service. The deemed value for the DSUs is calculated using the VWAP of the Company's Common Shares on the TSX Venture Exchange on July 31, 2025, being $0.16 multiplied by the number of DSUs awarded. About Marvel Biosciences Corp. Marvel Biosciences Corp., and its wholly owned subsidiary, Marvel Biotechnology Inc., is a Calgary-based pre-clinical stage pharmaceutical development biotechnology company. The Company is developing MB-204, a novel fluorinated derivative of the approved anti-Parkinson's drug Istradefylline, the only clinically approved adenosine A2a antagonist. A signicant and growing body of scientic evidence suggests drugs that block the adenosine A2a receptor, such as MB-204, could be useful in treating other neurological diseases such as autism, depression and Alzheimer's Disease. The Company is actively investigating its potential in addressing other neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Rett Syndrome and Fragile X Syndrome, to expand its therapeutic reach. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is dened in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. All information contained in this news release with respect to the Company and its subsidiary,(collectively, the "Parties") were supplied by Marvel, respectively, for inclusion herein and each parties' directors and officers have relied on each other for any information concerning such Party. This news release may contain forward-looking statements and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identied by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations of the Company and include other risks detailed from time to time in the lings made by the Company under securities regulations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. As a result, the Company cannot guarantee that the above events on the terms will occur and within the time disclosed herein or at all. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualied by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by Canadian securities law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/262045 SOURCE: Marvel Biosciences Corp. Salman Khan has been hosting Bigg Boss for the last 15 years. The way he has been able to strike a connect with the viewers is unprecedented Salman Khans Bigg Boss 19 is all set to storm the small screens from August 24. The final list of contestants is awaited soon. But if reports are to be believed, Himanshi Narwal, wife of Navy Officer Vinay Narwal who was killed in Pahalgam attacks, may be one of the guests. No confirmation about the same has been made yet. The report was given by Telly Chakkar. A source said, Makers want to rope in a few people who would connect with the viewers instantly, and thus there were discussions to get Himanshi Narwal on board for Bigg Boss 19. However, theres no confirmation regarding the same. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Elvish Yadav, in one of his vlogs, shared that Himanshi was his college mate. I passed out in 2018, and since then we had not spoken at all. Gurgaon, Delhi, is my city. We used to enjoy so much we used to go to the metro station together. I had her number, but I did not call her because it is not possible for anyone to pick up your phone at that time and tell you, he said. Salman Khan has been hosting Bigg Boss for the last 15 years. The way he has been able to strike a connect with the viewers is unprecedented. Such is his popularity that he has always managed to take the TRPs to the roof and get the pay he deserves and demands. For the last season, the actor was reportedly paid Rs 250 crore but for this season, if the reports are to be believed, he has taken a pay-cut and will be taking home Rs 150 crore. But the reason could be the fact that season 19 arrives two months in advance. Salman Khan has unveiled the trailer of Bigg Boss 19 and this time, expected the unexpected and Bhai is warning the contestants too. Among the earliest voices to bloom in that space was Palak Malav Shah, a promising writer now carving her own niche with an inimitable blend of emotional honesty and wry humour When veteran actor Boman Irani launched his writing initiative Spiral Bound during the pandemic, it became a creative refuge for emerging storytellers. Among the earliest voices to bloom in that space was Palak Malav Shah, a promising writer now carving her own niche with an inimitable blend of emotional honesty and wry humour. Palaks latest work is the short film Momo Deal, produced by Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films, directed by Dheeraj Jindal, and starring Anushka Kaushik and Akashdeep Arora. The tender, witty narrative follows Naman, a quiet young man coping with the sudden loss of his best friend Mahima until her ghost returns for one night in Jaipur to share one last plate of momos, turning grief into moments of unexpected laughter. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At its special premiere of the film, Boman Irani and members of the Spiral Bound writing community turned up in full support. Sharing his thoughts after watching the short film, Boman Irani said, Its truly heartening to see so many of us Spiral Bounders here today, supporting each other and that, for me, is one of the most heartnening things. Im very proud to be here. As for Momo Deal, in just 13 minutes, Palak managed to capture exactly what life is all about beyond friendships, relationships, and yes, even momos sneaking into the middle of it all. Shes woven metaphor, friendship, love, and the very philosophy of life and existence into this short film. I couldnt be prouder. Writer Palak Shah shares, Momo Deal was written at a time when my longer scripts were caught in endless cycles of approvals and feedback. I missed the joy of seeing words come alive on screen. So I wrote something small, intimate, and real. No twists, no stunts just truth, The film has already travelled internationally, being an official selection at the Garofano Rosso Film Festival in Italy, the Accra Indie Filmfest in Ghana, and more. Palaks journey as a writer has just begun. She is currently developing a feature with Divyang Thakkar (Director, Jayeshbhai Jordaar), a Netflix-commissioned drama with Balaji Telefilms, and another feature with a leading female filmmaker. In an industry often obsessed with spectacle, her work is proof that you dont need noise to create impact you just need to mean every word you write. A 15-month-old girl was brutally assaulted by a nanny at a Noida daycare in Sector 137. CCTV visuals show the teenage attendant, Sonali, slapping, biting, and even beating the toddler with a plastic bat. Shockingly, the daycare owner, Charu, who was allegedly present did nothing to intervene. The nanny has now been arrested, and a police complaint has been filed by the parents The parents also allege that despite their daughters cries, the daycare owner, Charu, made no attempt to help or protect her. Image for Representation A 15-month-old girl was brutally assaulted by a nanny at a daycare in Noidas Sector 137, in an incident that has left parents across the city horrified and questioning the safety of childcare facilities. The assault, which was caught on CCTV, shows the toddler being slapped, bitten, dropped to the ground twice or thrice, and beaten with a plastic bat. Shockingly, the daycare owner was allegedly present but did nothing to intervene. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Heres what happened The shocking assault at Noida daycare Monica and Sandeep Kumar, parents of the 15-month-old girl, had been sending their daughter to the daycare in Sector 137 since May 21. Sandeep, who works in the IT department of a UK-based multinational company, had made sure to check the safety arrangements himself before enrolling her, including confirming that five CCTV cameras were installed across the premises. The daycare, run by the residents association, is one of many such facilities operating in residential complexes across Delhi NCR. Charu, the daycares owner, personally assured the couple of their childs safety. Before sending our daughter, we had checked all safety measures at the daycare. There were five CCTV cameras in all rooms, the hall, and kitchen areas. The owner assured us during admission that its the daycares responsibility to keep every child safe, Sandeep told The Times of India. But on Monday, when Monica went to pick up her daughter, something felt wrong. The toddler was crying uncontrollably and seemed unusually distressed. Later, while changing her clothes, Monica spotted circular marks on both of her thighs. My wife asked the teachers about the bite marks, but was told she had some infection from home. She ran to a doctor immediately. The doctor confirmed it wasnt an infection, but marks of human teeth. He also told my wife that it appeared our daughter had been tortured because she was visibly scared. My wife came home and informed me. I left office without any delay, Sandeep recalled. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD When they confronted the daycare owner, she flatly denied that any abuse had occurred. The couple requested CCTV footage to verify what had happened, but getting access proved to be an uphill battle. According to The Times of India, the staff claimed there were technical issues, missing applications, and even snapped wires that delayed them from handing over the footage. The parents say the daycare kept stalling for four days until police intervened on Thursday. When the couple finally saw the recordings, they were horrified. The footage showed the attendant, Sonali, a teenager from Shahdara village, mercilessly punching the child, pushing her off a swing, dropping her onto the floor, beating her with a plastic bat, and even inserting a pencil into her mouth. A horrific video from a daycare in Noida has surfaced, showing a woman worker hitting and biting a 15-month-old toddler. A case against her was registered, and she was arrested. Details.https://t.co/awY0b0MOr6#Noida pic.twitter.com/WluY2HOxnc Vani Mehrotra (@vani_mehrotra) August 11, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The parents also allege that despite their daughters cries, the daycare head, Charu, made no attempt to help or protect her. Instead, they claim both the maid and the owner hurled abusive language and issued threats when confronted. Whats next? Following the parents complaint, police from Noidas Sector-142 station registered a case, conducted a medical examination of the toddler, and arrested the accused maid. Charges have been filed under sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Following the parents complaint, police from Noidas Sector-142 station registered a case, conducted a medical examination of the toddler, and arrested the accused maid. File image/PTI In a disturbing twist, Sandeep told NDTV that another family in the same residential complex has now come forward, claiming their child also suffered abuse at the daycare. They, too, plan to file a police complaint. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD I want action against the daycare owner and the attendant so that such an incident does not happen with another child. These were very tough days. I could not go to work. My wife could not sleep, Sandeep said, describing the emotional toll of the ordeal. With input from agencies Israel has admitted to a targeted strike on a tent outside Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza, targeting 28-year-old Anas al-Sharif, a well-known reporter for Al Jazeera. The IDF claims he was the head of a terrorist cell in Hamas. However, the news outlet has denied these claims. Whats the truth? Journalist or Hamas leader? Thats the question many are asking after an Israeli airstrike killed Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif along with four other journalists, as they were resting inside a tent for the press outside Al-Shifa Hospitals main gate in Gaza. Shortly after the strike, the Israeli military stated that they had targeted al-Sharif, who they labelled as a terrorist, saying he had served as the head of a terrorist cell in Hamas. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, Al Jazeera has refuted these claims and in a statement said, The order to kill Anas al-Sharif, one of Gazas bravest journalists, along with his colleagues, is a desperate attempt to silence voices ahead of the occupation of Gaza. The targeted assassination was yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom, it further said in a statement. But who was al-Sharif? What exactly occurred on Sunday night? How dangerous is Gaza for journalists? We explore this and more. Israels airstrike on Sunday night On Sunday night, as journalists rested in a tent outside the Al-Shifas main gate, Israel launched an airstrike targeting it. A total of seven people have died, including al-Sharif and five other journalists. The other journalists have been identified as Mohammed Qreiqeh, cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa. Al Jazeera, the Qatar-based news outlet said that the slain journalists were targeted in their tent, they werent covering from the front line. Shortly after the airstrike, another Al Jazeera correspondent Hani Mahmoud, who was just a block away at the time, said: This is perhaps the hardest thing Im reporting about the past 22 months. Im not far from al-Shifa hospital, just one block away, and I could hear the massive explosion that took place in the past half an hour or so, near al-Shifa hospital. I could see it when it lit up the sky and, within moments, the news circulated that it was the journalist camp at the main gate of the al-Shifa hospital. Al-Sharif and his colleagues have been reporting from Gaza since the beginning of the conflict. He further added that the reporters were killed because of their relentless reporting on the starvation and the famine and the malnutrition suffered by Palestinians in Gaza, because theyre bringing the truth of this crime to everyone. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike where Al Jazeera says its journalists Anas al-Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh and three photojournalists were killed, in Gaza City. Reuters Anas al Sharif: A journalist constantly threatened Twenty-eight-year-old al-Sharif was a well-known Gaza-based journalist who reported extensively from the northern part of the Strip for Al Jazeera Arabic. Prior to his work with the news outlet, he graduated from the media faculty at Al-Aqsa University in Gaza City. In 2018, he received the Best Young Journalist Award in Palestine for his reporting in Gaza. Following the October 7, 2023 attack resulting in the Israel war in Gaza, al-Sharif became Al Jazeeras most recognisable faces working on the ground in Gaza, providing daily reports in regular coverage. In December 2023, al-Sharif lost his father when Israel launched an airstrike on the Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza City. At that time, he promised to continue his work. Despite all of this, and despite the targeting of my home and the killing of my father, I will continue to cover from Jabalia refugee camp and from northern Gaza, al-Sharif had said. Early this January, after a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, al-Sharif drew widespread attention when, during a live broadcast, he removed his body armour while surrounded by dozens of Gaza residents celebrating the temporary halt in hostilities. A few minutes before his death, al-Sharif posted on X: Breaking: Intense, concentrated Israeli bombardment using fire belts is hitting the eastern and southern areas of Gaza City. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a final message, which Al Jazeera said had been written on April 6 and which was posted to al-Sharifs X account after his death, the reporter said that he had lived through pain in all its details, tasted suffering and loss many times, yet I never once hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification. Allah may bear witness against those who stayed silent, those who accepted our killing, those who choked our breath, and whose hearts were unmoved by the scattered remains of our children and women, doing nothing to stop the massacre that our people have faced for more than a year and a half, he continued. An undated photo shows Al Jazeera correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh standing outside a journalist tent at the entrance of al Shifa hospital in Gaza. Image Courtesy: anasjamal44/Instagram Al-Sharif now leaves behind a wife and two children. Notably, his killing comes a month after the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a non-profit organisation, had expressed worry for his safety and that he feared for his life after he was the target of an Israeli military smear campaign, which he believes is a precursor to his assassination. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Israel calls al-Sharif Hamas terrorist In confirming the strike on Sunday, Israel claimed that al-Sharif served as the head of a terrorist cell in the Hamas terrorist organisation and was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) forces. It claimed it had intelligence and documents found in Gaza as proof but didnt outline exactly what evidence they had. In a post on X, they wrote, A press badge isnt a shield for terrorism. Prior to the strike on Sunday, Israeli IDF spokesperson Avichai Adraee shared a video of al-Sharif on X and accused him of being a member of Hamas military wing. #_ : https://t.co/FWSuEIoS00 (@AvichayAdraee) July 24, 2025 However, al-Sharif had disputed these claims, stating on X, I reaffirm: I, Anas Al-Sharif, am a journalist with no political affiliations. My only mission is to report the truth from the ground as it is, without bias, he wrote. At a time when a deadly famine is ravaging Gaza, speaking the truth has become, in the eyes of the occupation, a threat. And following Sundays strikes, other activists and organisations have condemned Israel, saying there was no proof to link al-Sharif to Hamas. Muhammed Shehada, an analyst at the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, said there was zero evidence that al-Sharif took part in any hostilities. His entire daily routine was standing in front of a camera from morning to evening. Palestinians hold the body of Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif, who Israels military and Al Jazeera say was killed by an Israeli strike, in Gaza City. Reuters Danger to journalists in Gaza The death of al-Sharif and other correspondents in Gaza is yet another example of the perils journalists face while reporting from the besieged enclave. According to the CPJ, 186 journalists have been confirmed killed since the start of Israels military offensive in Gaza in October 2023. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in early July that more than 200 journalists had been killed in Gaza since the war began, including several Al Jazeera journalists. In fact, a number of Al Jazeera journalists have been killed in Gaza. In late July, Ismail al-Ghoul and his cameraman Rami al-Rifi were killed in an IDF airstrike. Chief correspondent Wael al Dahdouhs wife, son, daughter and grandson were killed in October 2023 and he himself was injured in an attack weeks later that killed Al Jazeera cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies A growing trend has emerged in China where the young, unemployed adults are paying companies to pretend to work. These firms are charging a daily fee between 30 and 50 yuan (about Rs 366 and 611) and offering desks, Wi-Fi, coffee, lunch, and an atmosphere mimicking a work environment. But why? The 'pretend to work' trend has gained popularity in China. Representational Image/Pixabay Many young people in China are getting up in the morning, dressing up and going to their offices. However, they are not being paid to be there or expected to show results. These people are actually paying companies to pretend to work. This unique trend is helping the Chinese youth to hide the fact that they are unemployed from their families. Lets take a closer look. Rise of pretend to work trend in China China is witnessing a surge in companies offering a pretend to work service. People are paying a daily fee of 30 and 50 yuan (approximately Rs 366 and 611) to these companies, which provide them desks, Wi-Fi, coffee, lunch, and an atmosphere mimicking a work environment, as per an EL PAIS report. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The daily fees also include lunch, snacks and drinks sometimes. Those availing the services can also engage in staged supervisory rounds, deal with fake managers and even symbolic worker uprisings. This trend has become popular among young, unemployed adults in China. Unemployed people in China are paying a daily fee of 30 and 50 yuan to go to offices. Representational Image/Pixabay The advertisements of such companies have been circulating in Chengdu and Hangzhou. These firms have also cropped up in other major cities across China, including Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan, and Kunming. Escapism or stress buster? As it becomes difficult to bag jobs amid Chinas sluggish economy and job market, the pretend to work trend is attracting the youth. They prefer to pay to go to the office rather than being stuck at home. The young Chinese are also hiding their joblessness from their close ones to avoid judgement. Shui Zhou, whose food business venture failed last year, started paying 30 yuan daily to a firm called Pretend To Work Company, in the city of Dongguan, 114 km north of Hong Kong. The 30-year-old is working with five colleagues there, reported BBC. I feel very happy. Its like were working together as a group, Zhou said. The attendees are not sitting idly at these mock-up offices. Instead, they are utilising their time to find real jobs, learn new skills or even plan their own start-up businesses. Zonghua, who did not divulge her real name, has been shelling out a monthly fee of 400 yuan (Rs 4884.66) to use a comfortable space to spend her day and apply for jobs. She put in her papers in the spring of 2024 for a more stable life, as per the EL PAIS report. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Feiyu (a pseudonym), the owner of the Pretend To Work Company in Dongguan, told BBC, What Im selling isnt a workstation, but the dignity of not being a useless person. He recalled being unemployed himself in the past after his previous retail business shut down during the Covid-19 pandemic. I was very depressed and a bit self-destructive. You wanted to turn the tide, but you were powerless, he said. In April this year, Feiyu started advertising Pretend To Work, with his workstations getting full within a month. Officially, these workers are known as flexible employment professionals, which also includes ride-hailing and trucker drivers. Feiyu said, as per BBC, that 40 per cent of customers are recent university graduates who have to furnish proof of internship experience to their former tutors. Some are there to ease pressure from their families. The other 60 per cent are freelancers, including those working for big ecommerce firms, and cyberspace writers. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The trend has gained attention on mainland Chinas social media, with related topics amassing over 100 million (10 crore) views, reported South China Morning Post (SCMP). Xiaohongshu, Chinas version of Instagram, is full of ads for pretend-to-work companies. An online user said this helps ease psychological pressure on the unemployed. However, another user criticised the trend for promoting escapism, arguing it obstructs the process of looking for a new job. Chinas high unemployment Chinese youth unemployment is at more than 14 per cent. It had reached a high of 21.3 per cent for the 16-24 age group in June 2023. However, it has since fallen, touching 15.8 per cent in April this year. The drop came after the Chinese government revised the method of calculation to exclude students. Dr Biao Xiang, director of the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Germany, told BBC that Chinas pretending to work trend arises from a sense of frustration and powerlessness regarding a lack of job opportunities. Pretending to work is a shell that young people find for themselves, creating a slight distance from mainstream society and giving themselves a little space. In China, being jobless is a social stigma, with many viewing it as a personal failure. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Speaking to SCMP, Zhang Yong, a social work professor at Wuhan University of Science and Technology, said: Society places a lot of pressure on people to succeed, and young adults sometimes set their job expectations too high. The sudden shock of losing a job can lead to depression. He advised the unemployed to seek professional counselling instead of keeping their struggles under wraps. They need to take an honest look at their situation, understand the job market, be open with their families and build a healthier mindset about career choices, Zhang added. While it is popular now, will the pretend to work trend last in China? Only time will tell. With inputs from agencies China is expected to start work on a railway line linking Hotan in Xinjiang to Shigatse in Tibet this year. The artery is likely to cross from Aksai Chin and close to the G219 national highway, near the Line of Actual Control. The disputed region has created tensions between India and China in the past. Heres why the railway line could now spur concerns in New Delhi Two workers walk along the Qinghai-Tibet Railway as they check the railway track in Dangxiong county of the Tibet Autonomous Region, April 20, 2007. File Photo/Reuters China will soon begin construction of a railway line that will link Xinjiang and Tibet, running close to its Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India. The ambitious project has been in development for many years. It is one of Chinas biggest railway projects. A section of the planned railway line is expected to go through the disputed Aksai Chin region, which is likely to raise hackles in New Delhi. Lets take a closer look. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Chinas planned Xinjiang-Tibet railway line Chinas Xinjiang-Tibet railway line is expected to cross from Aksai Chin and close to the G219 national highway, near the Line of Actual Control. The railway line will connect Hotan in Xinjiang to Shigatse in Tibet, joining with the existing Lhasa-Shigatse line, reported the South China Morning Post (SCMP). This will form a nearly 2,000 km strategic artery that will link northwestern and southwestern China. As per reports, the first section of this line will be from Shigatse to Pakhuktso. The railway line is likely to pass through Rutog and around Pangong Lake on the Chinese side of the LAC. This ambitious project aims to establish a 5,000 km plateau rail framework centred on Lhasa by 2035, Hubei-based Huayuan Securities said in a research note last week. The route will have an average elevation of more than 4,500 metres, running through the Kunlun, Karakoram, Kailash and Himalayan mountain ranges. The construction of the railway line will face challenges, as it will pass through glaciers, frozen rivers and permafrost. The ambitious project is part of Beijings plan to connect Tibet with the rest of the country. China already has three railway lines linking Tibet: the Qinghai-Tibet line, the Lhasa-Shigatse line, and the Lhasa-Nyingchi line. A bridge of the Lhasa to Shigatse railway line crosses a river in Nyemo County, during a government-organised tour of the Tibet Autonomous Region, China, October 17, 2020. File Photo/Reuters The Lhasa-Nyingchi line goes to Tibets southeast, and close to the border with Arunachal Pradesh. The planning for the Xinjiang-Tibet line began in 2008, when it was made a part of the revised Medium and Long-Term Railway Network Plan, which was approved by the National Development and Reform Commission, Chinas top economic planner. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The link was to be included in a network connecting Tibets Lhasa to the Chinese mainland, Yunnan and Chengdu to the East and Xinjiang in the West. In May 2022, survey and design tenders for the Hotan-Shigatse section were launched. The Chinese transport ministry in April 2025 said that the Xinjiang-Tibet railway line is one of the 45 major projects, where construction is expected to begin this year. ALSO READ: PM Modi to visit China: Why the trip matters amid Trumps steep tariffs on India Company set up to oversee construction China has launched a state-owned company to supervise the construction and operations of the railway line that will connect Hotan in Xinjiang and Lhasa in Tibet, SCMP reported, citing the Shanghai Securities News. The Xinjiang-Tibet Railway Company has been registered with a capital of 95 billion yuan ($13.2 billion) and is wholly owned by China State Railway Group. The new companys scope includes construction, production of railway transportation equipment, real estate development and operations. It will also develop tourist facilities, according to Economic Times. Why India would be wary of Xinjiang-Tibet line The possibility of the Xinjiang-Tibet railway line passing through Aksai Chin is concerning for India. Both countries claim the region, with China saying that it is part of Xinjiang. However, this is a false claim. China captured Aksai Chin in the 1950s and bolstered its military grip over the area during the 1962 India-China war. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The two countries went to war at the time over the region due to the construction of G219, resulting in thousands dead on both sides. Aksai Chin remains a disputed region between India and China. General JJ Singh (retired), former chief of Army staff, wrote for The Week in 2023, China is very sensitive to any threat posed to its strategic artery. Aksai Chin is a strategic artery that would help China to move its troops closer to the LAC, a big worry for India. The development comes as India and China work to improve relations after the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes near the LAC. They are holding talks to ease border tensions. With inputs from agencies Three days before gaining independence, Pakistan formally adopted its national flag on August 11, 1947. The design, inspired by the original flag of the All-India Muslim League, was created by Syed Amir-uddin Kedwaii and approved by Pakistans Constituent Assembly on this day A member of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) rehearses flag masting at the mausoleum of Muhammad Ali Jinnah before the Defence Day ceremonies, or Pakistan's Memorial Day, in Karachi, Pakistan. File Image/Reuters India and Pakistan have a long history together. While India had adopted a national flag in July, Pakistan made its choice just three days before Independence Day. So, on August 11, 1947, Pakistan formally adopted its national flag, which became a powerful emblem representing the nations Islamic identity, cultural heritage, and commitment to unity. If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers ongoing series, History Today, will be your one-stop destination to explore key events. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD On this day in 1934, the first group of federal prisoners arrived at Alcatraz Island, marking the beginning of its infamous era as Americas most secure federal penitentiary. Here is all that took place on this day. Pakistan adopted its national flag Pakistan formally adopted its national flag, which represented the nations Islamic identity, cultural heritage, and commitment to unity. The design was inspired by the original flag of the All-India Muslim League. A man waves Pakistans flag as he along with others gather in support of Pakistan Army in Islamabad, Pakistan. Reuters Created by Syed Amir-uddin Kedwaii and approved by Pakistans Constituent Assembly on this day, it features a dark green field, symbolising the Muslim majority, and a white vertical stripe on the hoist side, representing religious minorities and the countrys pledge to protect their rights. At the centre of the green section sits a white crescent and star, the crescent representing progress, and the five-pointed star symbolising light and knowledge. The green pays homage to Islamic traditions, while the white stripe emphasises Pakistans foundation as a homeland for Muslims that also respects diversity and inclusion. The crescent and star are widely recognised as symbols of the Islamic world, but in the Pakistani context, they also convey aspirations for growth, enlightenment, and hope for the future. Federal prisoners landed on Alcatraz The first group of federal prisoners arrived at Alcatraz Island, which housed Americas most secure federal prison. Located in the chilly waters of San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz had previously served as a military prison, but in the early 1930s, it was converted into a high-security federal facility intended to hold the nations most dangerous and escape-prone criminals. That morning, 137 prisoners were transferred under tight security from Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary in Kansas and other institutions. They travelled by train to San Francisco and then by guarded boat to The Rock. The list included bank robbers, murderers, and notorious gangsters including men considered too difficult to manage elsewhere. Later, Alcatraz would house infamous figures like Al Capone, George Machine Gun Kelly, and Robert Stroud, the Birdman of Alcatraz. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Alcatraz Island is seen in San Francisco Bay in San Francisco, California. Reuters The prisons location was its greatest defence. Surrounded by frigid, fast-moving waters and strong currents, it was believed to be escape-proof. Cells were small and conditions intentionally harsh, with strict discipline, minimal privileges, and a focus on security over rehabilitation. Inmates spent most of their time in isolation or performing labour under close supervision. The arrival of the first prisoners was a highly coordinated operation involving dozens of armed guards, US Marshals, and Coast Guard patrols to prevent any escape attempt during transit. This tight control set the tone for how Alcatraz would operate for the next 29 years. This Day, That Year In 1964, the Beatles first feature film, A Hard Days Night had its US premiere in New York City. Germany declared a republic on this day in 1919. New data shows that New Delhi has surpassed Beijing as Washingtons top supplier of smartphones. What made this possible? Apple shifting its operations to India in the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic and US President Donald Trumps tariff wars Data from research firm Canalys showed that Indias smartphone shipments to the US increased by a whopping 240 per cent in the second quarter of 2025. Reuters India is now the United States biggest supplier of smartphones. New data shows that New Delhi has surpassed Beijing as Washingtons top supplier of smartphones. What made this possible? Apple shifting its operations to India in the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic and President Donald Trumps ongoing tariff wars. But what happened and why? How did India overtake China as the US top supplier of smartphones? Lets take a closer look: What happened? Data from research firm Canalys showed that Indias smartphone shipments to the US increased by a whopping 240 per cent in the second quarter of 2025. These phones now comprise around 44 per cent of all smartphones sent to the US. Last year, that figure was at just 13 per cent, Meanwhile, Chinas share of smartphones sent to the US declined to 25 per cent. This is a major shift from the second quarter of 2024, when China comprised 61 per cent of smartphones sent to the US. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Canalys analyst Sanyam Chaurasia said, India became the leading manufacturing hub for US-sold smartphones for the very first time in Q2 2025, largely driven by Apples accelerated supply chain shift to India amid an uncertain trade landscape. iPhone exports from the US to India hit a high in March just before Trump announced the reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners. Trump has imposed a 50 per cent tariff on India, a 30 per cent tariff on China while the two countries negotiated trade deal and a 20 per cent tariff on Vietnam. India has exported over 24 million iPhones across the world in 2025 78 per cent of which have gone to the United States. India sent 21.3 million smartphones to the US between January and May 2025 more than what it sent last year. India has exported over 24 million iPhones across the world in 2025 78 per cent of which have gone to the United States. Reuters Smartphone exports from India to the US have skyrocketed 182 per cent to $9.35 billion in 2025. Tamil Nadu, which houses Apple suppliers such as Foxconn, Pegatron, and Tata Electronics, is the hub of iPhone production in India. Apple is making its bas models such as the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 in India. However, it is important to note that though the tech giant has begun assembling some iPhone Pro models in India, it remains dependent on China for its iPhone Pro models to the United States. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Samsung and Motorola have also increased sending handsets from India. However, they are doing so on a fast smaller scale than Apple. Chaurasia said Motorola, like Apple, had its core manufacturing base in China, while Samsung kept its in Vietnam. Incidentally Vietnam has also grown its share of the US market to 30 per cent. Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed the development on Sunday. Vaihnav added that electronics manufacturing in India is now estimated at Rs 12 lakh crore. Vaishnav, inaugurating metro projects in Bengaluru, said Indias electronic production has increased six-fold over the past 11 years. He said electronic exports have surged eight-fold to Rs 3 lakh crore, which reinforced Indias position as the worlds second-largest mobile phone manufacturer. Our electronic production has grown six times in the last 11 years. Today, electronics manufacturing has touched Rs 12 lakh crore. Electronic exports have increased by eight times Today, it has grown to Rs 3 lakh crore. India has become the second-largest manufacturer of mobile phones in the world," Vaishnaw said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Government data shows that India had just two mobile manufacturing units in 2014 that number is over 300 today. A decade ago, a mere 26 per cent of mobile phones sold in India were made locally. Today, 99.2 per cent of phones sold in India are made locally. The value of mobile phone manufacturing industry rose from Rs 18,900 crore in FY14 to Rs 4,22,000 crore in FY24. The Union Minster Jitin Prasada earlier told the Lok Sabha earlier that the production linked incentive (PLI) scheme meant for mobile phone manufacturing attracted a total investment of Rs 12,390 crore. The PLI Scheme for LSEM has already attracted a cumulative investment of INR 12,390 crore, led to a cumulative production of Rs 8,44,752 crore with exports of Rs 4,65,809 crore and generated additional employment of 1,30,330 (direct jobs) till Jun25," the minister said. He said Indias mobile import demand decreased by 0.02 per cent in 2024-25 from 75 per cent in 2014-15. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD PLI Scheme for Large Scale Electronics Manufacturing has significantly impacted the mobile manufacturing sector in India particularly in transforming India from a net importer to a net exporter of mobile phones. Bharat is now the second largest mobile manufacturing country in the world," the minister said. What do experts say? That US smartphone makers are clearly in the mood to diversify. Experts say that issues over tariffs and trade rules have resulted in vendors front-loading inventory which means buying far more inventory than usual and changing their sourcing plans. Indias increasing role as a manufacturing base for global smartphone brands shows it is becoming a bigger part of the phonemakers plans for both low-cost and high-end models. However, it must be noted that the smartphone market in US increased just 1 per cent in the second quarter of 2025. In fact, iPhone shipments decreased 11 per cent from the previous year. However, Samsungs shipments increased by a massive 38 per cent. Motorola also saw a two per cent bump. The other popular models were Google and TCL. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies Transportation of disaster relief supplies underway in China's Gansu Xinhua) 14:39, August 11, 2025 A vehicle full of disaster relief supplies parks at a temporary resettlement site at Shangzhuang Village of Yuzhong County in Lanzhou City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 10, 2025. As the roads damaged by the mountain torrents in Yuzhong County are gradually restored, the transportation of the disaster relief supplies are ongoing. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) Disaster relief vehicles are seen driving on a road at Maliantan Village of Yuzhong County in Lanzhou City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 9, 2025. As the roads damaged by the mountain torrents in Yuzhong County are gradually restored, the transportation of the disaster relief supplies are ongoing. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) Chen Wankai, secretary of the Communist Party of China branch of Shangzhuang Village, stacks disaster relief supplies at a temporary resettlement site at Shangzhuang Village of Yuzhong County in Lanzhou City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 10, 2025. As the roads damaged by the mountain torrents in Yuzhong County are gradually restored, the transportation of the disaster relief supplies are ongoing. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) Workers load disaster relief supplies onto a vehicle at a disaster relief supplies reserve service center in Yuzhong County, Lanzhou City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 10, 2025. As the roads damaged by the mountain torrents in Yuzhong County are gradually restored, the transportation of the disaster relief supplies are ongoing. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) Local cadres and residents transfer disaster relief supplies at a temporary resettlement site at Shangzhuang Village of Yuzhong County in Lanzhou City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 10, 2025. As the roads damaged by the mountain torrents in Yuzhong County are gradually restored, the transportation of the disaster relief supplies are ongoing. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The Income-Tax (No.2) Bill, 2025 seeks to replace the Income Tax Act, 1961. The development comes days after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman withdrew the previous draft of the bill in the Lok Sabha. But what do we know about the changes in the bill? Why was the earlier bill withdrawn? How do you benefit? Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the changes of the Select Committee had been incorporated. PTI File The Lok Sabha on Monday passed the new income tax bill. The Income-Tax (No.2) Bill, 2025 seeks to replace the Income Tax Act, 1961. The development comes days after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman withdrew the Income Tax Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha. But what do we know about the changes in the bill? Why was the earlier bill withdrawn? How do you benefit? Lets take a closer look: Why was the earlier bill withdrawn? The government had withdrawn the bill on Friday. It said it would bring in a new version of the bill after including changes recommended by the select committee headed up by senior BJP member Baijayant Panda. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The bill was reportedly withdrawn to avoid confusion about the different versions circulating. Almost all of the recommendations of the Select Committee have been accepted by the government. In addition, suggestions have been received from stakeholders about changes that would convey the proposed legal meaning more accurately, said the statement of objects and reasons of the bill. There are corrections in the nature of drafting, alignment of phrases, consequential changes and cross-referencing. Therefore, a decision has been taken by the government to withdraw the Income-tax Bill, 2025 as reported by the Select Committee. Consequently, Income-tax (No. 2) Bill, 2025 has been prepared to replace the Income-tax Act, 1961, the statement said. The Select Committee, chaired by Baijayant Panda, had suggested a host of changes in the Income-tax Bill, 2025, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha on February 13. Panda said the Income Tax Act had become too complex and the bill simplifies the tax code. The committee made 285 suggestions, most of which have been accepted, Sitharaman said. What do we know? The bill will take effect from April 1, 2026. It begins by making the language easier for the layman to read. The committee had suggested allowing refunds even if the Income Tax Return was filed after the due date. The earlier version of the bill had denied refunds if ITR was filed after the due date. It also allows penalties to be waived in case of accidental non-compliance. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The committee also suggested no penalty on late filing of Tax Deducted at Source. Those who have to pay no tax both Indians and NRIs can apply for a nil certificate in advance. The bill will take effect from April 1, 2026. It begins by making the language easier for the layman to read. Representational image. It also does away with terminologies of Financial Year and Accounting Year in favour of the Tax Year. Under the current law, tax on income for the previous year is paid during this year. However, now tax on income will be paid that very year itself. Another change suggested by the Select Committee is the restoring the 80M deduction for companies relating to intercorporate dividends. This provision had been missing in the previous version of the draft. Companies were allowed to choose the 22 per cent tax rate in order to give up certain exemptions. However, this raised concerns about dual taxation given the way certain companies are structured. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It makes clearer the definitions of capital asset, micro and small enterprises, and beneficial owner. MSMEs have been previously defined under the MSME Act. A micro enterprise is one that has an investment of less than 1 crore and a turnover of 5 crores. A small enterprise has been defined as having an investment of under Rs 10 crore and a turnover of Rs 50 crore. It also set a 30 per cent standard deduction on tax on income from rental properties. The interest payable on borrowed capital to buy, build, repair a property can also be deducted from the rental property. The Finance Ministry earlier said key words and phrases defined in court rulings (will) remain. The Lok Sabha also passed the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025 which seeks to amend the Income-tax Act, 1961 as well as the Finance Act, 2025. It aims to provide tax exemptions to subscribers of the Unified Pension Scheme. The government in July announced that all tax benefits available under the New Pension Scheme (NPS) shall apply to the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), which was implemented from April 1, 2025. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It also seeks to give tax benefits to public investment funds of Saudi Arabia which is investing in India. These Bills were passed without any debate amid vociferous protest by members of Opposition over revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. After the passage of these bills by voice vote, the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day. The bills needs to be passed by the Rajya Sabha after which it will go to President for Droupadi Murmu for her assent. What do experts say? Experts have praised the changes in the new bill. Rajesh Gandhi, partner, Deloitte India, told Financial Express that the proposals for tax benefits by pension funds and sovereign funds in the infrastructure sector are similar to the existing tax law. Experts have praised the changes in the Bill. the provisions have been drafted in a more structured and concise manner. The government could have considered industry suggestions while drafting the proposals including extension of tax benefits to holding companies setup prior to 2021, allowing reinvestment of dividend income within the group without triggering double taxation of dividend income, extension of tax exemption to indirect share transfers, extension of tax benefit to capital gains from unlisted bonds / debentures as well as removal of withholding tax on exempt income earned by such funds, Gandhi said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Dinesh Kanabar, CEO, Dhruva Advisors, added that the new bill has witnessed some very welcome changes. There were a number of provisions against which representations were made to select committee. These have now been accepted in the Bill presented today. To give a few examples, the provisions of levying Alternate Minimum Tax on LLPs has been done away with, the rigours placed on Charitable Trust have been removed, the provisions of Transfer Pricing and the definition of Associated Enterprise to whom these provisions apply, have been relaxed. A set of very welcome changes. Glad that the representations to the Select Committee have borne fruit. With inputs from agencies A new Income Tax Bill, incorporating the recommendations of the Select Committee led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, will be presented in Parliament today. Reports say the move is intended to prevent confusion arising from multiple versions of the Bill. On Friday, the government withdrew the Income-Tax Bill, 2025, which had been introduced in the Lok Sabha on February 13, 2025, to replace the existing Income-Tax Act, 1961 On Friday, the government withdrew the Income-Tax Bill, 2025. PTI/File Photo It is a busy day. The government will present a new version of the Income Tax Bill that will carry the recommendations of the Select Committee headed by BJP MP Baijayant Panda. The Opposition-led INDIA bloc will hold a march to the Election Commission of India headquarters today in protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar. From today, Extinction Rebellion Norway will bring together hundreds of activists from across Europe, alleging Norways fossil fuel industry is killing them. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Elon Musks Tesla will open its second showroom in India today in Delhi. Lets take a look at the events: Government to introduce new Income Tax Bill A new version of the Income Tax Bill, carrying the recommendations of the Select Committee headed by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, will be tabled in Parliament today. On Friday, the government withdrew the Income-Tax Bill, 2025, which had been introduced in the Lok Sabha on February 13, 2025, to replace the current Income-Tax Act, 1961. #BreakingNews | The Income-Tax Bill, 2025introduced in Lok Sabha on Feb 13 to replace the 1961 Acthas been formally withdrawn. A new income tax bill to be tabled on Aug 11@_pallavighosh with details#InconeTaxBill #IncomeTax | @akankshaswarups pic.twitter.com/8hgdx5Nkls News18 (@CNNnews18) August 8, 2025 According to reports, the aim is to avoid confusion caused by multiple versions of the Bill and to provide one updated draft with all changes included for the House to consider. The new Bill is expected to modernise the countrys direct tax rules, make procedures simpler and deal with several long-standing challenges in tax management. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD INDIA blocs march to Election Commission over SIR The Opposition-led INDIA bloc will hold a march to the Election Commission of India office today to oppose the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar. The march was earlier set for August 8 but was pushed back following the death of former Jharkhand chief minister Shibu Soren. On Thursday night, Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi met several INDIA bloc leaders over dinner and gave a presentation on what he called the BJPs vote theft in Karnataka with the help of the Election Commission. Rahul Gandhi briefs INDIA bloc leaders regarding his allegations of voter fraud. X/@INCIndia On Friday, Rahul Gandhi also led a march to the Karnataka Election Commission Office in Bengaluru over what he alleges is voter list manipulation. Tesla to open new showroom in Delhi Tesla, the US electric vehicle company, will open its second showroom in India today in Delhi. This comes after the launch of the companys first outlet in Mumbai on July 15. The new showroom will be located at Worldmark, Aerocity, near the New Delhi International Airport. Once open, it will allow Tesla to cater to customers in Delhi and the wider national capital region. Extinction Rebellion protest in Norway From today until August 22, Extinction Rebellion Norway will bring together hundreds of activists from across Europe, claiming that Norways fossil fuel industry is killing them. Knowing the catastrophic consequences, our politicians continue without any emergency plan. We will make it impossible to avoid our cry for help, the groups website states. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The first phase of their campaign will run from August 11 to 13 in Arendal, during Norways largest political festival, Arendalsuka. There is a possibility that activist Greta Thunberg may join the protest. However, Firstpost could not verify the authenticity of the information. With inputs from agencies Pakistan army chief Asim Munirs threat from the US has put a spotlight on the countrys nuclear weapons. It is estimated that Islamabad has an estimated 170 warheads and is quickly developing more with the help of China Pakistan's nuclear-capable missile, Shaheen 1, is driven in Islamabad. The country boasts of several nuclear weapons and spends billions to develop them. File image/Reuters We are a nuclear nation, if we think we are going down, well take half the world down with us. Thats what Pakistan armys Field Marshal Asim Munir said on Sunday while speaking at a private dinner being held on American soil. But the army chief didnt stop there; on Indias decision to pause the Indus Waters Treaty after the Pahalgam attack, he said, We will wait for India to build a dam, and when it does so, phir 10 missile sey faarigh kar dengey [we will destroy it with 10 missiles]. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While Pakistan has made nuclear threats in the past, what makes these remarks notable is that this is the first time such ultimatums have been issued from US soil against a third country. Munir issues nuclear threats from US Visiting the US a second time within a month, Field Marshal Munir at a dinner being hosted by businessman Adnan Asad, who serves as honorary consul for Pakistan in Floridas Tampa, said that Pakistan would respond with nuclear weapons if it faced an existential threat in a future war with India. He told attendees as per a report in The Print, We are a nuclear nation, if we think we are going down, well take half the world down with us. At a dinner in the US, Pakistan army chief raised the spectre of a nuclear war, stating that Pakistan would respond with nuclear weapons if it faced an existential threat in a future war with India. File image/Reuters He further threatened to destroy any infrastructure that India builds, which has the potential to disrupt the flow of the Indus river. Munir claimed that New Delhis decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty into abeyance after the Pahalgam terror attack in April could put 250 million people at risk of starvation. We will wait for India to build a dam, and when it does so, phir das missile sey faarigh kar dengey [we will destroy it with 10 missiles]The Indus River is not the Indians family property. Humein missilon ki kami nahin hai, al-hamdulillah [we have no shortage of missiles, Praise be to God], Munir reportedly said. Munir was in the US to attend the retirement ceremony of outgoing US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander General Michael Kurilla and the Change of Command Ceremony for Admiral Brad Cooper, who took over as CENTCOM head. Munir praised Kurillas leadership and contribution to US-Pakistan military ties, while wishing Cooper success in tackling shared security issues. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This visit follows Munirs rare five-day US trip in June, when he attended a private luncheon with President Donald Trump. That meeting led to announcements of increased US-Pakistan cooperation, including an oil deal. Pakistans nuclear power With Munir issuing a nuclear threat, the question on everyones mind is: how many nukes does Pakistan possess? According to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri), a leading defence and armaments think tank, Pakistan is a strong nuclear power, having an estimated 170 warheads as per its latest assessment. In comparison, India has 180 nuclear stored warheads as of January 2025. The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, however, noted in 2023 that Islamabad has the potential to increase its nuclear arsenal quickly as it has several new delivery systems in development, four plutonium production reactors, and an expanding uranium enrichment infrastructure. Pakistans nuclear-capable air-launched Raad cruise missile seen in Islamabad. Pakistan is a strong nuclear power, having an estimated 170 warheads. File image/Reuters Christopher Clary, a security affairs expert at the University at Albany in the US, has noted that a bulk of Pakistans nuclear arsenal lies in its land-based missile forces, though it is developing nuclear triads capable of delivering warheads by land, air and sea STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Moreover, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons wrote in 2023 that Pakistan had spent a whopping $1 billion to develop its nuclear weapons programme. According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Pakistans arsenal consists primarily of mobile short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, which have enough of a range to target India. Chinas significant technical assistance on its nuclear and missile programmes has helped Pakistan in recent years. For years, Pakistans possession of nuclear weapons has been a concern for the world over. This is because Islamabad has never formally declared an official nuclear doctrine. Pakistans nuclear button Munirs threat to use nuclear weapons has also raised questions about control of Pakistans nuclear arsenal. In Pakistan, nuclear weapon control lies with the top leadership, including the president and the prime minister, with oversight provided by the Nuclear Command and Control System (NCCS). The president and the prime minister make the final decision to use nuclear weapons jointly. The military, responsible for the security and launching of these weapons, has significant involvement in this process. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Reports state that Pakistans arsenal is controlled by the National Command Authority (NCA), which is officially chaired by the prime minister. Formed in 2000, it is the nations highest decision-making authority on nuclear and missile policy issues, and oversees all nuclear and missile programmes. However, the International Institute for Strategic Studies notes that although the makeup of the committee grants substantial authority to the civilian government, in practice, the military would probably prevail on nuclear decision-making during wartime or a military crisis. However, there have been rumours that the United States has a contingency plan in place. In 2011, NBC News reported that the US has a plan of snatch and grab when it comes to Pakistans nuclear weapons. According to the news outlet, this would come into effect if and when the US president believed that Pakistans weapons were a threat to either the country or its interests. Moreover, According to NBC, such plans were drawn up even before the 9/11 terror attacks in the US. Washington became even more concerned of Pakistans nuclear arsenal in the aftermath of the Osama bin Laden raid in 2011. US military officials had testified before Congress about the security of Pakistans nuclear weapons and the threat posed by loose nukes or materials outside the governments control. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Reacting to the report, former Pakistan military ruler Pervez Musharraf had warned that a snatch-and-grab operation would lead to all-out war between the countries, calling it total confrontation by the whole nation against whoever comes in. With inputs from agencies The Supreme Court has directed the Delhi government, civic bodies and authorities of the National Capital Region (NCR) to start picking up the stray dogs and shift them to shelters. It has also warned against releasing the canines kept at centres on the streets, colonies and public places after sterilisation and immunisation. But why? Stray dogs sit on a deserted street, on the day of the G20 summit in New Delhi, India, September 9, 2023. File Photo/Reuters The Supreme Court has taken a stern stance against the extremely grim situation of the stray dog menace. On Monday (August 11), the apex court ordered the Delhi government, civic bodies and authorities of Noida, Gurgaon, and Ghaziabad to start picking up the stray canines and shift them to shelters. It also warned that people or organisations that hamper the process will face strict action. The Supreme Courts directive comes amid a surge in cases of dog bites and deaths due to rabies. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Lets take a closer look. What Supreme Court said The Supreme Court has directed to pick up all stray dogs in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), emphasising that immediate steps need to be taken to address it. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said that dog shelters have to be established to accommodate around 5,000 stray dogs and there should be sufficient personnel for sterilisation and immunisation of the canines, as per a PTI report. The apex court also ruled against allowing anyone to adopt a stray dog to stop authorities from moving it to the shelter. It also stated that stray dogs kept at dog shelters will not be released on the streets, colonies and public places. The bench said the centres should have CCTV monitoring so that no dogs are taken out. The top court told authorities, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), to immediately start the work, build the shelters and report the creation of infrastructure within eight weeks, reported Indian Express. The authorities have been told to begin picking up stray dogs from all localities, especially vulnerable localities and cities. NCT Delhi, MCD, NMDC shall at earlier start picking up stray dogs from all localities, from more particularly vulnerable localities and cities. How to do it is for the authorities to look into and if they have to create a force, do it at the earliest. However, this should be the first and foremost exercise to make all localities free of stray dogs. There should not be any compromise in undertaking any exercise, the court said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If any individual or organisation comes in the way of picking stray dogs or rounding them up, we will proceed to take action against any such resistance, it added. A stray dog is seen in the back of an animal ambulance after it was captured by Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) officials near Indira Gandhi International Airport ahead of the G20 summit in New Delhi, September 5, 2023. File Photo/Reuters The top court underlined that kids should not get rabies, a deadly virus spread to people from the saliva of infected animals. Infants and young children, at any cost, should not fall prey to rabies. The action should inspire confidence that they can move freely without fear of being bitten by stray dogs. No sentiments should be involved. The bench also warned against releasing the stray dogs in public places. The order added, However, what is important, and without which the entire exercise would go futile, not a single stray dog should be released and if we know that this has happened, we will take stern action. The court also raised concerns about the availability of the rabies vaccines. The authorities concerned, more particularly the government of NCT Delhi, are directed to put detailed information about the place where such vaccines are available, the stock of vaccines and the number of persons who report for treatment on a monthly basis. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD ALSO READ: Kerala wants to euthanise sick stray dogs. How grave is Indias canine problem? Hotline to be set up The Supreme Court has ordered the setting up of a helpline within a week to report dog bites and rabies. It said that authorities should act within four hours to pick up a dog after receiving a complaint, and any person or organisation obstructing the action will face strict action. The top court also asked Delhi-NCR authorities to submit a status report on the implementation of its orders when the matter is heard after six weeks. Authorities will have to maintain a daily record of all stray dogs captured. The court said that civic authorities can take a call on how to carry out this task, including even forming a dedicated force if needed. Delhis stray dog menace The apex courts orders come after it took suo motu cognisance of a media report on the stray dog menace in Delhi last month. A six-year-old girl in Delhi died of rabies after she was bitten by a stray dog in July. A four-year-old boy was also mauled by a pack of strays. As per official data from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, 49 rabies cases were reported in the city between January and June this year, PTI reported. The national capital also saw 35,198 animal bite incidents during this period. Dog bite cases in Delhi increased from 6,691 in 2022 to 17,874 in 2023 and further to 25,210 in 2024, according to data from the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). This is an overall surge of almost 277 per cent in just two years. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As many as 3,196 cases were reported in January alone this year. Rabies claims nearly 60,000 lives globally every year. India accounts for 36 per cent of global rabies deaths and 65 per cent of the fatalities in South Asia, as per the World Health Organisation (WHO) data. Has Delhi done anything to curb the menace? Delhi recently formed a special committee under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to begin targeted sterilisation and immunisation campaigns in 12 assembly constituencies. It plans to achieve 70 to 80 per cent sterilisation in each area, taking it to 100 per cent coverage city-wide, eventually. Twenty new shelters will also be built. With inputs from agencies The Air India has announced the suspension of its services between Delhi and Washington DC from September 1. The Air India on Monday said it will suspend its services between Delhi and Washington DC starting September 1. In a press release, Air India said that the suspension was primarily driven by the planned shortfall in Air Indias fleet, as the airline commenced retrofitting 26 of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft last month. The continued closure of airspace over Pakistan has impacted the airlines long-haul operations, leading to longer flight routings and increased operational complexity, the airline further said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Air India to suspend services to Washington, D.C. from September 1. pic.twitter.com/REI2k1bkD2 Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 11, 2025 Customers with Air India bookings to or from Washington DC beyond Sept. 1 will be contacted and offered alternative travel arrangements, including rebooking on other flights or full refunds, as per their individual preferences, the airline said. Air India customers will continue to have the options of one-stop flights to Washington DC via four US gateways New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago, and San Francisco with the airlines interline partners, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, allowing customers to travel on a single itinerary with their baggage checked through to the final destination, the airline further said. The development has come at a time when Air India is under pressure over a series of safety-related incidents following the crash of Air India Flight 171 in June in Ahmedabad in which 261 people were killed. In an audit conducted in July, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) found more than 51 safety failures in Air India between 2024 and mid-2025. Of these, seven were level 1 violations, which is the of the most serious nature and 44 were level 2 violations. Some of the violations included the use of unapproved simulators for pilot training, recurrent training gaps among Boeing 787 and 777 pilots, improper route assessments for airports with difficult terrains, poor roaster system, usage of outdated manuals, shortage of pilots, and inconsistent equipment checks. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Majority of Indian exports to the US have been hit by tariffs. Reuters The government on Monday told Parliament that more than half of the countrys shipments to its largest export market will face sharply higher duties after Washingtons latest trade move. About 55 per cent of Indias merchandise exports to the United States are subjected to a reciprocal tariff rate of 25 per cent from August 7, 2025. This follows US President Donald Trumps decision last week to impose an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, effectively doubling total duties to 50 per cent for most products. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary confirmed in a written reply that the estimate factored in the 25 per cent tariff Washington had already imposed earlier. He stressed that the Department of Commerce was in constant touch with exporters, industry representatives and other stakeholders to gauge the likely damage and to shape an appropriate response. Tariffs linked to Russian oil purchases The trigger for the escalation, US officials have said, was Indias continued purchase of Russian oil despite repeated warnings from Washington. Trumps administration described the move as a punitive measure, targeting a key trade partner over what it sees as a breach of geopolitical discipline. Industry watchers have noted that the new levy pushes India into the same high-tariff bracket as Brazil, with both countries now facing 50 per cent duties on most exports to America. Many of Indias competitors in the US market will be much better placed: Myanmars duties stand at 40 per cent, Thailand and Cambodia at 36 per cent, Bangladesh at 35 per cent, Indonesia at 32 per cent and China and Sri Lanka at 30 per cent. Even Malaysias 25 per cent and Vietnams 20 per cent look comparatively modest. Government pledges to secure national interest In its statement to Parliament, the government stressed upon the fact that it attaches the highest importance to protecting the interests of farmers, entrepreneurs, exporters and MSMEs. The government assured that all necessary steps would be taken to secure national interest in the face of the tariff shock. Consultations with affected sectors are underway, with the aim of mitigating losses and identifying alternative market opportunities. The Commerce Department has been tasked with collecting feedback from exporters to assess how factors such as product differentiation, contractual obligations and demand cycles will influence the eventual impact. Exporters warn of severe setback The Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) called the US decision extremely shocking and warned that it could inflict significant damage on sectors such as textiles, marine products and leather goods. FIEO Director General Ajay Sahai said the higher duties would make Indian products between 30 per cent and 35 per cent less competitive than those from countries with lower tariff rates, a PTI report said earlier. Sahai noted that several export orders had already been paused while American buyers reconsidered sourcing plans in light of higher landed costs. For MSME-dominated sectors, he argued, absorbing the sudden escalation was not viable given already thin margins, and many risked losing long-standing clients. Trade volumes and economic stakes The dispute comes against the backdrop of a large and growing trade relationship. According to government estimates, goods trade between the two economiesthe worlds largest and fifth-largestwas worth about $87 billion in the last fiscal year. Other data put total bilateral trade in 202425, including services, at $131.8 billion, with India exporting goods worth $86.5 billion and importing $45.3 billion from the United States. Economists said that given the size of the US market for Indian exporters, the new duties could dent overall export growth and put additional pressure on the current account. The affected sectors, they added, would need either quick relief through negotiation or support in diversifying their markets. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A search for solution New Delhi has signalled that it will continue to explore diplomatic and trade avenues to address the situation, but exporters have warned that without rapid intervention, shipments will slow, and market share could erode quickly. Whether the standoff leads to a negotiated solution or ushers in a prolonged period of higher trade barriers will determine how much of Indias export basket can be salvaged from the impact of this steep tariff escalation. India, the worlds most populous nation, is a crucial market for US brands that have rapidly expanded to tap a growing base of affluent consumers. The backlash due to Trumps 50% tariffs is expected to be strong President Donald Trump with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House. The overall 50 per cent tariff and Russian penalty on India comes even as officials continue to hammer out a trade deal, which has been ongoing since February. File image/AP From McDonalds and Coca-Cola to Amazon and Apple, American multinationals are facing boycott calls in India as Prime Minister Narendra Modis supporters and business leaders rail against steep new US tariffs. India, the worlds most populous nation, is a crucial market for US brands that have rapidly expanded to tap a growing base of affluent consumers. India is the biggest market by users for Metas WhatsApp, and Dominos operates more restaurants there than any other brand. Pepsi and Coca-Cola dominate store shelves, while queues still form when a new Apple store opens or Starbucks offers discounts. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The backlash follows President Donald Trumps imposition of a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods, a move that rattled exporters and strained New DelhiWashington relations. While there is no immediate sign that sales have been hit, calls to buy local and shun American products are spreading both online and offline. Business leaders urge self-reliance Manish Chowdhary, co-founder of skincare company Wow Skin Science, posted a video on LinkedIn urging support for Indian farmers and startups, calling for Made in India to become a global obsession. He pointed to South Koreas success in making its food and beauty products internationally recognised. We have lined up for products from thousands of miles away. We have proudly spent on brands that we dont own, while our own makers fight for attention in their own country, he said. Rahm Shastry, CEO of driver-on-demand service DriveU, wrote on LinkedIn that India should have its own home-grown Twitter/Google/YouTube/WhatsApp/Facebook like China has. Foreign competition, domestic ambition Local retail brands do compete with foreign players like Starbucks in India, but expanding abroad has proved more difficult. By contrast, Indian IT services firms such as Tata Consultancy Services and Infosys have become firmly embedded in the global economy, providing software solutions to clients worldwide. Whether the current nationalist calls will dent the popularity of US brands in India remains unclear, but the tariff dispute has added fresh strain to an otherwise deep trade relationship between the two democracies. In an apparent swipe at US President Donald Trump and his tariffs, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that we are the worlds boss mentality has led to policies aimed at hindering Indian exports. In an apparent swipe at US President Donald Trump and his tariffs, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said that we are the worlds boss is driving such policies. Speaking at the foundation ceremony of the BEML Rail Hub for Manufacturing in Madhya Pradeshs Raisen, Rajnath on Sunday said that India on the back of its homegrown strength has become the envy of those who think we are the worlds boss, according to The Times of India. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Many wonder how India is growing at such a fast pace. They are trying their best to ensure goods made in India by Indians are costlier than goods made in their countries. They feel this will ensure that when goods made in India become expensive, the world wouldnt buy them. They are putting in much effort to ensure this, said Singh. Trump has slapped 50 per cent tariffs on India he imposed 25 per cent tariff on July 31 as part of the broader rollout for over 60 countries and topped that with 25 per cent tariff last week for Indias purchase of Russian oil. Estimates say these tariffs could cut Indian exports to the United States by up to 60 per cent. Firstpost has previously reported that the government is considering floating a support package for exporters from the most vulnerable sectors, such as marine products, textiles, and edibles. Gadkari slams Trumps dadagiri In separate remarks slamming Trump without naming him, Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said that countries doing dadagiri (bullying) in todays world are able to do so because they are economically strong and have technology, according to PTI. Gadkari said that no one will be able to bully India if Indias exports and economy pick up pace. If the rate of our exports and economy increase, then I dont think we will need to go to anyone. Those who are indulging in `dadagiri are doing so because they are economically strong, and they have technology. If we get better technology and resources, we will not bully anyone, because our culture teaches us that welfare of the world is most important, said Gadkari. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In another tariff-related development, the foreign secretary will join commerce ministry officials to brief the parliamentary foreign affairs committee on Trumps tariffs on Monday. Congress MP Shashi Tharoor chairs the committee. The Indian language of denial and its grammar should be straightforward: if Pakistan or China aggresses, it will be defeated The Pakistani briefing to the world maintains that the principal objective of Pakistans nuclear weapons capability is to deter Indian conventional as well as nuclear aggression. In case deterrence fails, then its aim is to deny India victory in war. But the world remains unconvinced because Pakistan has not adopted the No First Use (NFU) policy. A former director general of Pakistans Strategic Plans Division, Lieutenant General Khalid Kidwai, had more candidly listed four parameters for use of nuclear weapons: STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India attacks Pakistan and conquers a large part of its territory (space threshold) India destroys a large part of Pakistans military forces/ assets (military threshold) India strangulates Pakistan economically India destabilises Pakistan politically or through internal subversion. This gives Pakistan a large menu of flexibility, a carte blanche to react with the nuclear option as per its determination. Or, to give a practical example, Pakistan would have reached for the nuclear button, under General Kidwais parameters, had it been subjected by India to a 1993- or the 26/11-type terror attack. To this should be added Pakistans declared policy of Full Spectrum Deterrence, which covers threat perception at the strategic, operational and tactical levels. This was in evidence during the Balakot crisis in February 2019, when the Pakistani army spokesperson repeatedly stressed that it was ready to bring into play its Full Spectrum Deterrence. The danger with such a declaration is that it could become a self-fulfilling prophecy. This kind of bravado is doubly dangerous when two countries lie next to each other. In the other possible confrontations, for instance, between the US and Russia, the US and China or the US and North Korea, the country under nuclear attack would have a few minutes warning of a missile heading its way because of the physical distance between them. Since India and Pakistan have zero distance between them, the luxury of the vital few minutes warning will not be available to them in a nuclear situation. Add to this the fact that there are mobile platforms at play and tactical nuclear weapons, which can be deployed with army units close to the border. The use of either of these would reduce the warning time to seconds, turning this South Asian theatre into an inferno. In May 2017, the USs director of national intelligence, Daniel Coats, released its Worldwide Threat Assessment report. Among other aspects, the report addresses Pakistans nuclear threat: (A)dvances in Pakistans nuclear capabilities could risk further destabilization along the India-Pakistan borderPakistans pursuit of tactical nuclear weapons potentially lowers the threshold for their useIncreasing numbers of firefights along the Line of Controlmight exacerbate the risk of unintended escalation between these nuclear-armed neighbours. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This is not all. On an even graver note, it warns, Even a small nuclear war between India and Pakistan could trigger a nuclear winter that could send the planet into a mini ice age and starve an estimated 1 billion people. A billion! Once again, it is about a billion people! WARTIME: The World in Danger. Author: Rajiv Dogra. Rupa Publications. Shift in Strategy Pakistan and India have survived at least five nuclear scares since 1987, giving both sides the misplaced confidence that they will survive the next one as well. This leads to a lessening of political restraints on the militaries of both countries and increases greater nuclear brinksmanship. The attitude that somehow the next crisis, too, shall pass, misses the basic point that on all previous occasions, it was the intervention of powers like the US that brought them back from the brink. The situation is different now. The US is a tired superpower, keen on staying away from other peoples squabbles, and other powers like China may have the motivation to watch the situation unfold. Countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, flawed as they are, may not be effective on their own. Therefore, the course of the next India-Pakistan shooting war could be different. A former Pakistani Air Force officer maintains, Pakistan, relatively a small country with a deep sense of insecurity, developed nuclear weapons mainly to deter military aggression from India, and therefore nuclear weapons continue to play the central role in Pakistans military strategy. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It could still be argued that in the event of a nuclear attack, there would only be a graduated escalation through limited strikes of tactical nuclear weapons on Indias forces. But where is the guarantee that this would be so? Contrarily, the first-strike nation, be it Pakistan or China, might launch a massive first strike. Its aim could comprehensively be to eliminate Indias command and control systems, destroy its nuclear retaliatory capability, reduce the conventional offensive capability and strike at important industrial targets and some major population centres. In fact, their strategic calculus could be such that India may not get a second chance. The possible use of sophisticated cyberattacks to cripple a countrys command and control system, and disable missile launches, raises serious concern about the reliability of the second strike option. Either of these possibilities would place India in a nightmarish state. Over time, these dreads have been increasing. In March 2015, after Pakistan tested the Shaheen III missile, Pakistans National (nuclear) Command Authority adviser, Khalid Kidwai, said the 2,750 km capability of the Shaheen III missile is meant to reach Indias strategic bases at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The purpose, he said, is to deny India a second-strike capability. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Pakistans first-use option has never been put to serious question internally. Rather, many of its political leaders have added their weight to the strategic voices in favour of using the first-strike option. With the army, the fundamentalists and the politicians as well in unanimous mode, there is a triad of powerful voices within Pakistan that could make the decision-making in a war situation readily aggressive. In anticipation, there is recognition in India that a response to first use requires a very effective early warning system and a high degree of efficiency. This is even more necessary when the adversary is as opaque as China or as unpredictable as Pakistan. Rather than move in a cautionary direction, Pakistan has, in recent times, lowered the threshold of nuclear use options. There is also some speculation to suggest that Pakistans non-deployed, de-mated nuclear arsenal may be reconfigured to be deployed and ready to use. Worryingly, as a Pakistani expert Sadia Tasleem maintains, both its short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) and sea-based systems may involve delegated control over warheads, The countrys ongoing arms buildup, continuing fissile material production, and investment in sea-based second-strike capabilities suggest a shift toward a complex deterrence posturePakistan might move away from the non-deployment of its weapons. Its evolving sea-based capabilities, as well as its short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs), may also necessitate a shift from centralized to delegated command and control. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This shift in strategy will further complicate the situation. Delegated command and control of tactical weapons means that it is up to a relatively young brigadier to take the decision about lobbing a nuclear shell across the border. What then is the guarantee that the hot blood of an indoctrinated middle-aged army officer will keep flowing with equanimity in a war situation, and that his angry finger will not move impulsively towards the trigger? As two well-regarded Pakistani scholars put it: Even the finest diplomacy may not work in the midst of a storm strong enough to knock over the pieces on the South Asian nuclear chessboard. With an emboldened army in Pakistan sooner or later seeking once again to push India to the brinkthis time determined to escalate rather than back down if things go badlystaving off nuclear warfare on the subcontinent may be a race against time. That Pakistan may not back down in the next one may also be due to its assessment that bad generalship had plagued the Indian Army during the Kargil War, and that Indias military wisdom had taken over a month to mobilise troops for Operation Parakram. The issue then, for India, or for any other country placed in such a dire situation, is of preservation and the best way of preventing the unthinkable. For that to happen, the resolve of a democratic country must be firm and appear to be so for the adversary. Successful deterrence relies on being able to demonstrate a military threat that is credible and realistic. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Indian language of denial and its grammar should be straightforward: if Pakistan or China aggresses, it will be defeated. Either of them will not achieve its military or political objectives under any circumstances. Should there be an escalation, the costs will be far greater than any benefit. What this means is a pre-emptive option that sidesteps the NFU question. It may or may not involve the use of nuclear assets, but it clearly aims at striking at the enemys offensive facilities. The above article is an edited extract from Rajiv Dogras book War Time (Rupa Publications). The article gains renewed relevance in the wake of Field Marshal Asim Munirs nuclear sabre-rattling in the United States. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Trumps approach to the Alaska summit echoes the World War II vintage of Munich and Yalta realpolitik as he reverts the focus to that era when territorial mandates were cruelly parcelled like chessboard pieces On 15 August, 2025, US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin will meet face-to-face in Alaska a symbolic locale where their borders meet and a region that originally belonged to Russia but was purchased by the United States in 1867 for $7.2 million under the Treaty of Cession. This will be their second bilateral summit after Helsinki in July 2018, when Trump had contradicted US intelligence agencies by giving Putin a clean chit on his meddling in the US presidential elections of 2016. The two had also met on the sidelines of the Hamburg G20 summit (July 2017) and the Da Nang APEC summit (November 2017), marking their high-stakes, high-visibility global diplomacy. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD But, for the first time, Trumps approach to the Alaska summit echoes the World War II vintage of Munich and Yalta realpolitik as he reverts the focus to that era when territorial mandates were cruelly parcelled like chessboard pieces. As for Putin, other than breaking out of his prolonged isolation, this will certainly be his opportunity to explore newer fault lines in Western unity. Echo of WWII Realpolitik In 1938 Munich, Britain, France and Italy had conceded Sudetenland of Czechoslovakia to Germany in the name of avoiding war by appeasing Adolf Hitler. Later in 1945, the Yalta Conference saw Roosevelt and Stalin dividing Germany into four occupation zones, setting the Curzon Line as the eastern border of Poland and granting the Japanese Kurile Islands to Russia, thereby sowing seeds for future conflicts. Now, Trumps suggestion of swapping of territories between Ukraine and Russia for the betterment of both reminds us of World War II realpolitik reborn and repackaged in Trumps instinctive, intuitive, impatient style. Such high-politics-driven land-for-peace formulas fundamentally treat centuries-old communities as bargaining chips, especially so when millions of those people face occupation or displacement and thousands have already been killed. This drive for peace at the expense of justice echoes the same old missteps that have seen the largest numbers of nations continuing to fight for their disputed boundaries. Instead of repeating World War II tragic precedents, therefore, post-colonial nations like India have no choice but to stand on the side that seeks to ensure that historys victims arent disenfranchised for the nth time. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ukraines Exclusion At the very outset, Ukraine, the very nation whose fate will be under discussion at this Alaska summit, stands sidelined. President Zelenskyy has warned that peace forged without involving Kyiv is a dead decision. His constitutional mandate forbids ceding land to the aggressor, and only the national legislature has the power to determine national boundaries. In a statement on Saturday, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, the UK and the European Commission stressed that no lasting resolution can be imposed without Ukraine at the summit. But Trump has not just agreed to exclude Ukraine but also ignored his European allies who have lately been busy crafting their own support base for Kyiv. They may now end up being asked to simply monitor a ceasefire ordered by this Putin-Trump summit. Most likely, the rearranging of Ukrainian territories without consulting Ukraine and announcing a unilateral Russian pledge for a temporary ceasefire may be presented as this summits first step towards a fait accompli peace. Even if the White House manages to invite President Zelenskyy to join the summit on its sidelines, thereby improving its legitimacy, it will still remain fraught with Trumps underlying premise of territorial swaps that defies Ukrainian constitutional propriety. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In the alternative scenario, the summit may end up as unresolved, still with typical Trump touting success and Putin securing some visibility, while Ukraine digs in for more years of conflict. In this case Ukraines European allies and nonaligned nations like India will have a chance to prevent any outcome that undermines the sanctity of sovereignty and territorial integrity, thereby limiting this summit to a wish list of non-binding communiques. Indias Strategic Autonomy Indias strategic autonomy has so far managed to navigate this complex multipolar geopolitics: withstanding Trumps tirades while maintaining a deep strategic partnership with Putin. India has publicly welcomed the summit as a positive sign amidstworsening global equations. The summit echoes Prime Minister Modis credo: This is not an era of war. So, in either case of its failure or success, India has nothing to lose, though degrees of its role and gains remain contested. First and foremost, India endorsing this summit underscores its persona as a responsible global actor committed to a fair and just peace without taking sides. Prime Minister Modi has continued nudging both Putin and Zelenskyy into initiating peace talks while providing humanitarian assistance to Ukrainians. Indias traditional commitment to peace and respect for national sovereignty can position it as a mediator-in-the-making. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD It is in Indias interest that the Putin-Trump summit opens up pathways for Ukraine to be eventually welcomed into such talks. In that scenario, India can offer its good offices as an impartial and unbiased agency and align with forces advocating for an inclusive peace. In the midst of Indias growing tariff tensions for its purchase of discounted Russian oil, such continued direct US engagement with Russia should lower the tempers and give a fresh start and a positive spin to India-US trade talks and a possible trade deal. Conversely, even if the minus-Ukraine Putin-Trump deal freezes or formalises the Russian-occupied Donbas region, even then Indias emphasis on the affordable and reliable energy narrative will invite lesser critical scrutiny. Such an outcome will be a win for President Putin, who will visit India for their annual summit before the end of this year, and such an outcome from the Putin-Trump summit will further boost Indo-Russian ties. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Indias Subtle Nudge There are voices in America today that believe New Delhi can use its influence to help Trump in ending the Ukraine war and that it will be consequential for Indo-US ties. But as of now, the likely outcome from the Alaska summit is ordained to be less than decisive. It may be less about maps and more about messaging. On the positive side, it may strive hard but may not resurrect ghosts of World War II realpolitik, though it also may not achieve any forward movement towards any piecemeal path to peace that respects Ukraines agency. India must continue to stand on the side that seeks to guard against repeating Munich and Yalta. Historys lesson is clear: without all the parties to conflict at the table, any agreement risks sealing injustice. In such uncertain times, Indias nuanced global posture of proactive neutrality stands to gain greater recognition as it continues to nudge for an inclusive peace that endorses the sanctity of national sovereignty and territorial integrity of all parties to conflict. The Putin-Trump summit in Alaska, therefore, can at best become their first step towards a long journey. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The author is professor of International Relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. For India, the challenge is to engage with all sides without becoming anyones pawn. The goal is clearclose the gap with China, and leave Pakistan in a strategic shadow Indias strategic success has always come from its ability to say 'yes' and 'no' in the same sentence. File image Donald Trumps return to the White House and the six months there have revived a familiar blend of transactional diplomacy, unpredictable signalling, and a willingness to jolt the global order for short-term advantage. For many countries, this means heightened uncertainty. For India, it also means a renewed test of its most enduring foreign policy principlestrategic autonomy. There will be temptations and provocations in the months ahead. Washingtons sharpening confrontation with both China and Russia will demand visible partners and demonstrable loyalty. Trump 2.0s America First instinct will frame these demands less as long-term alliances and more as business transactions: You back us when it counts, we reward you where it matters. But this is precisely the environment in which India must double down on its own pathstaying engaged with all major powers, aligning where interests converge, but resisting being pulled into conflicts or postures that do not serve long-term national objectives. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD At the heart of those objectives is something far larger than day-to-day tactical manoeuvres: the steady and determined development of Indias comprehensive national power (CNP). This means building a military that deters and prevails, an economy that grows at sustained high rates, a technology base that rivals the best in the world, and a diplomatic voice that shapes global rules rather than merely reacting to them. Above all, it means narrowing the gap with China over the coming decades and creating a scale and quality of national capability that produces an overwhelming asymmetry with Pakistan. Through all the turbulence of the past six decades, Indias relationship with Russia has been marked by consistency and mutual trust. From the Indo-Soviet Treaty of 1971 to the delivery of advanced defence systems today, Moscow has often stood by India in ways that others would not or could not. Recent comments by the Chief of the Air Staff underscored this reality. He pointed to the performance of Russian-origin systems in past combat operations, including the downing of Pakistani aircraft during Operation Sindoor, and offered unreserved praise for the S-400 air defence system now in Indian hands. Such capabilities are not just military assets; they are geopolitical signals that India will source its defence requirements from wherever it chooses, without fear or favour. It is true that Russias growing closeness to China complicates the picture. But this makes Indian engagement with Moscow all the more important, not less. The goal is to keep channels open, remind Russia that multilateralism is Indias chosen framework, and wherever possible, work with Moscow to build limited but useful trust with Beijing. Indias strategic partnership with the United States has grown steadily over the past two decades, encompassing trade, technology, energy, and security. The two countries share concerns about Chinas behaviour in the Indo-Pacific, and cooperation through the Quad has brought greater strategic depth to the relationship. Yet, Trump 2.0s approach will likely bring sharper demands. There will be moments when Washington acts in hasteespecially towards Pakistanand expects India to follow suit. Here, the risk is twofold. First, India could be dragged into a tit-for-tat cycle with Pakistan, where US backing tempts Pakistan to trigger yet more incidents to demonstrate its relevance. This offers no strategic gain for us but consumes political and military bandwidth. The prudent course is to engage with the US as energetically as before but to keep a steady hand on the tiller. Partnership, yes; alignment, only where it advances Indias core interests. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD History shows that provocations from Pakistanwhether through terrorist incidents or military posturingtend to spike when global attention is elsewhere or when major powers are in transition. A more impulsive US leadership could unintentionally amplify this by offering diplomatic or rhetorical cover for Indian retaliation. But the strategic equation with Pakistan is no longer symmetrical. Indias economic weight is already more than ten times that of its western neighbour; its military modernisation, though uneven, is accelerating; and its international standing is on a different plane altogether. To be drawn into frequent confrontation is to squander this advantage. Every crisis that derails economic momentum or diverts military resources from long-term capability building is counterproductive. Yet, a policy of non-provocation does not mean passivity. It means maintaining readiness, preserving the right to respond decisively when national security is directly threatened, but resisting the urge to convert every spark into a blaze. The surest way to create the huge and enduring asymmetry with Pakistan is to invest relentlessly in Indias own growthnot in endless rounds of reactive sparring. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In a world of shifting coalitions, multilateral platforms have their distinct significance. Indias active role in Brics and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) alongside China and Russia gives it influence in forums the West often dismisses but cannot ignore. Its presence at the G7, albeit as an invited participant, offers the reverse: a seat in conversations the non-Western world views with suspicion. The United States sees Brics and SCO as rival constructs. But Indias participation should be framed not as an endorsement of any bloc, but as proof of a larger philosophythe willingness to engage with all, and the refusal to be bound exclusively to one camp. Indeed, India could even consider bold gesturessuch as supporting observer status for the US in select Brics or SCO discussionsto soften rigid perceptions and demonstrate that these forums need not be closed clubs. Such moves would require deft diplomacy, particularly to reassure Russia and manage Chinese resistance, but they fit neatly into the long-term strategy of keeping India indispensable to multiple power centres. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Ultimately, the measure of strategic autonomy is not in the slogans it inspires but in the power it enables. The long game for India is clear: achieve sustained, inclusive economic growth that lifts per capita income into the ranks of the developed world; build a military-industrial base that is self-reliant, technologically advanced, and export-capable; become a central node in global supply chains, digital governance, and climate action frameworks; and cultivate a diplomatic culture that can mediate, propose, and lead on global issuesnot merely vote or react. This vision requires stability, patience, and above all, a refusal to be distracted by short-term theatrics. The gap with China will not be closed in a single decade, but every year of 78 per cent growth, of consistent defence investment, of expanding human capital, brings India closer to that goal. And every such year widens the gap with Pakistan beyond the point where it can meaningfully challenge Indias security, except through the most asymmetric and desperate means. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump 2.0s world will not be a comfortable one nor a permanent one. The pressures to choose sides, to react quickly, and to join causes that are not our own will be intense. But Indias strategic success has always come from its ability to say yes and no in the same sentenceto cooperate without becoming dependent and to deter without becoming belligerent. The course is set: deepen ties with the US, preserve the Russian connection, manage the China relationship, and avoid being drawn into cycles of provocation with Pakistan. We have done it reasonably well in the context of Ukraine. All the while, invest in the engines of national strength that will, in time, make Indias autonomy not just a policy choice but an unassailable fact. The wiser path is to measure responses against the yardstick of long-term national power. In that calculus, patience is not weakness; it is strategy. I think Indias national leadership has understood this well, although it will need to tolerate a lot of noise on it, with demands to be more decisive. I do perceive that the most decisive decision continues to be staying the course on strategic autonomy. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The writer is a member of the National Disaster Management Authority. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. The US administration under President Donald Trump, continues to build closer ties with Pakistan, which has not only been on and off the Financial Action Task Forces (FATF) grey list, but is also known to have given shelter to the likes of Osama Bin Laden and Hafiz Saeed The United States Department of State on Monday (August 11) announced that it has designated Pakistan-based Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its armed wing, The Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisations (FTOs). The statement said the State Department is designating BLA and its alias, The Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO), and adding the Majeed Brigade as an alias to BLAs Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) designation from 2019. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The move comes shortly after Pakistans Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, visited Washington DC and threatened to wipe out half the world with nuclear weapons. The US State Department said that in 2024, BLA claimed responsibility for suicide attacks near Karachi airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex. In 2025, the group came into the limelight once more for orchestrating the hijacking of the Jaffar Express train travelling from Quetta to Peshawar in March, which resulted in the deaths of 31 civilians and security personnel, and over 300 passengers being taken hostage. Terrorist designations play a critical role in our fight against this scourge and are an effective way to curtail support for terrorist activities, the State Department said. The action, it said, demonstrates the Trump administrations commitment to countering terrorism. Despite such lofty statements, the US administration under President Donald Trump, continues to build closer ties with Pakistan, which has not only been on and off the Financial Action Task Forces (FATF) grey list, but is also known to have given shelter to the likes of Osama Bin Laden and Hafiz Saeed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In fact, the warming ties between Washington and Islamabad, as well as Field Marshal Munirs second visit to the US in as many months, come despite Pakistan Armys overt support to terrorists behind the globally condemned Pahalgam terror attack. Pictures of Pakistan Army personnel attending the funerals of terrorists killed in Operation Sindoor had earlier gone viral. Also notable is that the new designation to BLA, which Pakistan claims (without evidence) is an India-backed group, gives the powerful military man, Field Marshal Munir, a much-needed diplomatic win. He, and Pakistan, had been embarrassed on the global stage when Pakistani politicians defended the TRF after it was designated a terrorist organisation. The humiliation was only compounded when India presented proof that multiple Pakistan Air Force fighter jets had been downed during Operation Sindoor. In light of these events, a crucial question remains: Does the Trump administration truly have a commitment to countering terrorism or only a relationship of convenience with the issue? STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has criticised nations that engage in dadagiri using economic and technological might, in a veiled swipe at the US amid soaring trade tensions after Trumps tariff diktats. Taking a swipe at US President Donald Trumps tariff offensive, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said nations that bully others on the global stage draw their power from economic muscle and technological superiority. His remarks come as India reels under record-high US tariffs. Speaking at the Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) in Nagpur on Saturday, Gadkari called for ramping up exports, cutting imports, and harnessing science and technology to achieve self-reliance. Those who indulge in dadagiri are economically strong and technologically advanced. If we acquire better technology and resources, we will not bully anyone, our culture teaches that the welfare of the whole world is paramount, he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD His comments follow an escalation in trade tensions after Trump signed an order on August 6 slapping an additional 25 per cent duty on Indian goods, taking total tariffs to 50 per cent, the steepest ever for India. The hike hits a wide range of sectors, from textiles and gems to pharmaceuticals and auto parts. Washington has linked the move to Indias continued purchase of Russian oil, which New Delhi defends as critical to its energy security. The tariffs mark the sharpest diplomatic rift between the two countries in two decades, with the US suspending trade talks and warning of more sanctions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a remark widely seen as aimed at Trump, vowed India would never compromise on the welfare of farmers, fishermen, and dairy workers, even if it meant paying a heavy price. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also hit out at the US measures, hinting that some powers are uncomfortable with Indias rise. Calling the US sabka boss (everyones boss), he said, Many want Indian products to become expensive so the world stops buying them. But no power can now stop India from becoming a global force. India has condemned the tariffs as unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable and pledged to take all necessary steps to safeguard its interests. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Monday that his government would officially recognise the State of Palestine at the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting in September As the crisis in Gaza escalates, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that his government would recognise the state of Palestine during the UN General Assembly meeting in September. Today, I can confirm that at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, Australia will recognise the state of Palestine, Albanese said at a press conference on Monday. Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own. The move came just weeks after French President Emmanuel Macron said that his country is planning to do the same. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Albanese maintained that recognising Palestinians right to a state of their own will be predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority. We will work with the international community to make this right a reality," the Australian premier averred. Albanese calls for two-state solution' While addressing Australian reporters, Albanese went on to call for a two-state solution, describing it as the best hope to resolve the ongoing situation. A two-state solution is humanitys best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza," he said. When we recognise the long-held and legitimate aspirations of the people of Palestine, we are also upholding and strengthening our commitment to the people of Israel and their right to live in freedom, security and safety, because until Palestinian statehood is permanent, peace can only be temporary," he added. It is pertinent to note that Albaneses remarks on the matter followed weeks of urging his Cabinet and many in Australia to recognise Palestine as a state amid growing criticism from officials in his government over suffering and starvation in Gaza. Apart from this, the Australian government has also slammed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus proposal to expand Israeli occupation in Gaza. However, Albanese made it clear that this commitment included no role for Hamas in a Palestinian government, demilitarisation of Gaza and the holding of elections, he said. It is pertinent to note that more than 147 nations of the UNs 193 member states already recognise Palestinian statehood, representing some 75 per cent of the worlds countries, and the vast majority of the worlds population, according to Al Jazeera. Like Australia, Canada and France have recently announced that they plan to recognise the Palestinian state in the September UNGA meeting. Days after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that the Philippines cannot stay out if conflict erupts in the Taiwan Strait, tensions in the region intensified after a Chinese coast guard vessel targeted a Philippine ship with a water cannon near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. Days after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that the Philippines cannot stay out if conflict erupts in the Taiwan Strait, tensions in the region intensified after a Chinese coast guard vessel targeted a Philippine ship with a water cannon near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea. Philippine vessels and fishermen encountered hazardous maneuvers and blocking actions from Chinese vessels in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal early Monday, Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela said in a post on X. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A Philippine ship evaded a water cannon hit, he added. According to a _Bloomber_g report, Beijing has previously employed water cannons against Philippine vessels in the South China Sea as part of its efforts to assert sweeping territorial claims in the resource-rich waterway. Most recently, in June, the Chinese coast guard used water cannons to drive away a Philippine ship from contested waters. There was no immediate response from the Chinese Embassy in Manila regarding the latest incident, added the report. After President Marcos Jr.s statement, had China warned the Philippines to refrain from playing with fire. In an exclusive interview with Firstpost last week, Marcos delivered candid remarks on the Taiwan issue during his state visit to India. To be very practical about it, if there is a confrontation over Taiwan between China and the United States, there is no way that the Philippines can stay out of it, simply because of our physical geographic location, Marcos had said, underlining that Kaohsiung, Taiwan, is only a 40-minute flight from the northern Philippines. He added that a conflict would immediately become a humanitarian issue. If there is an all-out war, we will be drawn into it. We will have to go into Taiwan and bring our people home, he said, referring the large Filipino community living in Taiwan. Marcos emphasised that the Philippines was not preparing for war but reacting to the challenges we are facing. On Monday, he again repeated his statement during a briefing, saying, Despite our fervent wish to avoid any confrontation with anybody anywhere, war over Taiwan will drag the Philippines kicking and screaming into the conflict. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Tarriela said that a collision also took place between a China Coast Guard vessel and a Peoples Liberation Army Navy ship during a high-speed pursuit of a Philippine boat. The incident caused substantial damage to the Chinese coast guard vessel. Tarriela added that the Philippine side offered assistance for any injured Chinese crew members. In response to the rising tensions, President Marcos Jr. reaffirmed the Philippines commitment to asserting its territorial claims in the South China Sea. We will continue to defend our territory. We will continue to exercise our sovereign rights and despite any opposition from anyone, Bloomberg quoted Marcos as saying. The Philippines, a longstanding US ally, continues to challenge Beijings expansive maritime claims, which were invalidated by a 2016 international tribunal ruling one that China has consistently rejected. With inputs from agencies A top Chinese diplomat, Liu Jianchao, has been detained for questioning, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources. The 61-year-old, seen as a potential future foreign minister and a close ally of Xi Jinping, was taken into custody in late July after returning from an overseas trip. Liu Jianchao, a top Chinese diplomat and head of the Communist Partys foreign relations department, has been detained for questioning, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. The 61-year-old was taken into custody in late July after returning to Beijing from an overseas trip, the paper said, citing people familiar with the matter. Liu, seen as a possible future foreign minister and a close ally of President Xi Jinping, has led the Communist Partys body managing ties with foreign political parties since 2022. In that role, he has visited more than 20 countries and met officials from over 160 nations. His meetings, including with former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, had fueled speculation he was being groomed to replace the foreign minister. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The news comes just weeks before the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, sending shockwaves through Chinas diplomatic circles. His detention is the highest-level investigation involving a diplomat since the removal of Qin Gang in 2023. Born in Jilin province, Liu studied English in Beijing and international relations at Oxford before joining the foreign ministry as a translator. He later served in Britain and as ambassador to Indonesia and the Philippines. As ministry spokesman, he was known for his humor as well as his firm defence of Chinas interests. Tianqi Lithium Corp. rose as much as 19 per cent in Hong Kong trading, while Ganfeng Lithium Group Co. jumped 21 per cent. In Australia, lithium producers also rallied Lithium prices and mining shares soared on Monday (August 11) after battery maker Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL) suspended operations at a key mine in China, raising speculation that Beijing could move to curb other projects as part of efforts to address overcapacity. Tianqi Lithium Corp. rose as much as 19 per cent in Hong Kong trading, while Ganfeng Lithium Group Co. jumped 21 per cent. In Australia, lithium producers also rallied. Prices of the battery metal on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange climbed by the daily limit after CATL confirmed the closure of its mine in Jiangxi province. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The mine, in Yichun, known as Chinas lithium capital, accounts for about six per cent of global output, according to Bank of America, with other mines in the area contributing another five per cent. CATLs mining licence expired on 9 August, and the company said the site would remain shut for at least three months while it seeks to renew the permit, Bloomberg reported. Impact on CATL and wider supply chain The company said the closure would have little effect on its battery production. CATL shares rose as much as 2.8 per cent before trimming gains. Analysts said the bigger question was whether the government would extend restrictions to other operators in the region, potentially tightening global supply. The suspension comes amid Beijings anti-involution campaign, aimed at reining in industries suffering from overcapacity. Citi analysts said shutting down mines in Yichun could allow China to re-price lithium strategically and ensure more compliant mining practices. Australian producers see gains The most-active lithium carbonate futures on the Guangzhou exchange rose 8 per cent to 81,000 yuan (8,600) a tonne for November delivery, up from 75,000 yuan on Friday. Australian miners also saw sharp gains. PLS Ltd., formerly Pilbara Minerals, jumped 19 per cent in Sydney, Liontown Resources climbed 25 per cent, and Mineral Resources added 14 per cent. Local authorities in Yichun have asked eight miners to submit reserves reports by the end of September after an audit found regulatory non-compliance. Analysts said further restrictions after that date could push lithium prices even higher. China has pressed US President Donald Trump to relax export controls on AI chips. Even as Trump has adopted a muscular trade policy elsewhere, he appears set to accept Chinas demand to avoid the embarrassment of not reaching a trade deal and to ensure access to China-controlled rare earths. US property mogul Donald Trump leads a media event on the sand dunes of the Menie estate, the site for Trump's proposed golf resort, near Aberdeen, north east Scotland, May 27, 2010. File Image/Reuters China has pressured US President Donald Trump for concessions in the export controls regarding advanced semiconductors. Irrespective of his tough posturing, the president is likely to buckle as China has leveraged its near-monopoly over rare earth supplies to bend him to his will. Notably, Trump has already been forced to undo his tough posturing and allow the export of Nvidias chips needed for artificial intelligence (AI) applications in China. But China appears to be looking for more relaxations and it has been joined in the lobbying by Western chipmakers Nvidia and AMD. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The 90-day trade truce between the United States and China reached in May will expire on Tuesday (August 12). Unless they agree to an extension, they two will revert to high tariffs the United States had imposed 145 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods and China had imposed 125 per cent tariffs on US goods. However, analysts have said that Trump is likely to buckle on Chinas demand of relaxing export controls to avoid the embarrassment of not reaching a trade deal. The resumption of sales to China of Nvidias H20 chips signaled a modest course correction rather than a strategic shift and Trump may consider offering concessions on export controls that others in his administration consider excessive in order to conclude a deal with Beijing, Gabriel Wildau, the Managing Director at political consultancy Teneo, told CNBC. US firms push for export control relaxations as well Trump is also being lobbied by American companies to relax export curbs. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has persuaded Trump to approve his companys AI chips sales to China by arguing that preventing such sales would hurt American companies as that would allow Chinese companies like Huawei to not just dominate the Chinese chips market but also incentivise them to pump more money into research and development to bridge the gap with the likes of Nvidia and AMD, according to The New York Times. However, there are serious reservations about the sale of such chips to China. In July, two former Trump administration officials joined 18 others with national security and economics background to write a letter to the administration and call such a sale a strategic misstep that endangers the United States economic and military edge in artificial intelligence that could be a potent accelerator of Chinas frontier A.I. capabilities, not an outdated chip, as per The Times. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, as Trump has already previously blinked over Chinas near-monopoly of rare earth supplies, which are essential to make nearly everything today from household electronics to cars and fighter planes, it is likely he will accept Chinas terms. Moreover, Trump has wanted a bilateral meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping for months and Financial Times reported on Sunday that such a meeting would not take place until Trumps relaxation of export controls on AI chips. Uribe, 39, a right-wing opposition presidential contender, was shot during a rally in Bogota on June 7. A man lights a candle at a makeshift altar during a mass for the health of Colombian senator Miguel Uribe Turbay, who was shot in a political event, in Bogota. AFP Miguel Uribe, a Colombian senator who had been hospitalised after being shot in the head at a campaign event in June, passed away on Monday, according to his family. Uribe, 39, a right-wing opposition presidential contender, was shot during a rally in Bogota on June 7. You will always be the love of my life. Thank you for a life full of love, Maria Claudia Tarazona wrote on her Instagram account. Rest in peace, love of my life. I will take care of our children, she added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The death of Uribe adds further tragedy to his familys fraught history. His mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was killed in 1991 during a botched rescue mission after she was kidnapped by the Medellin Cartel, headed by drug lord Pablo Escobar. Uribe himself has enjoyed a rapid political rise, becoming a recognized lawmaker for the right-wing Democratic Center party and presidential hopeful known for his sharp criticism of leftist President Gustavo Petros administration. At 25, he was elected to Bogotas city council, where he was a prominent opponent of Petro, then the capitals mayor, criticizing his handling of waste management and social programs. In the 2022 legislative elections, Uribe led the Senate slate for the Democratic Center party with the slogan Colombia First, winning a seat in the chamber. His family is prominent in Colombian politics. His maternal grandfather, Julio Cesar Turbay, was Colombias president from 1978 to 1982, while his paternal grandfather, Rodrigo Uribe Echavarria, headed the Liberal Party and supported Virgilio Barcos successful 1986 presidential campaign. US President Donald Trumps decision to host Vladimir Putin in Alaska, which the United States purchased from Russia in the 19th century, has raised questions. Putins ultranationalist allies have called for the return of Alaska to Russia and the Trump-Putin summit has given them a chance to assert their claim again. US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Russian leader Vladimir Putin before their closed-door meeting on July 16, 2018, in Helsinki, Finland. (Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP) It is not just US President Donald Trumps decision to hold a summit with Vladmir Putin that is under question but its location Alaska is under question as well because the choice of venue has given the Russian leaders ultranationalist allies a shot in the arm. Putins ultranationalist allies have been emboldened with the choice of Alaska, a former Russian territory that they have long wanted to retake as part of revanchist agenda, as the venue for the summit. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million (around $192 million today), which is dirt-cheap for such a huge and strategically important territory. For decades, Russian ultranationalists have condemned the sale and have called for the return of Alaska. ALSO READ: Even as Trump slams Putin for civilians' killings, he rewards Russia by accepting its terms After Trump announced the summit, Putins allies started flooding the social media with posts asserting Russian claims on Alaska. Kirill A Dmitriev, the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund and a Special Envoy of Putin, has posted dozens of photographs of Russian Orthodox churches in Alaska and historical documents that show the regions link to Russia. Born as Russian AmericaOrthodox roots, forts, fur tradeAlaska echoes those ties and makes the US an Arctic nation. Lets partner on environment, infrastructure & energy in Arctic and beyond, said Dmitriev in a post on X. Commentators have been alarmed that such commentary could very well be a pretext for an aggressive campaign to retake the territory just like Russians created the historical and sociopolitical pretext for years to previously invade Georgia and Ukraine. Aug. 15 Putin-Trump summit falls on Dormition (Catholics: Assumption)a day honoring Marys peaceful falling asleep. Alaskas Orthodox Church has Russian roots. Whatever your belief, the feast points to mercy and reconciliationchoose dialogue, choose peace, said Dmitriev in a post on X. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Aug 15 Putin Trump summit falls on Dormition (Catholics: Assumption)a day honoring Marys peaceful falling asleep. Alaskas Orthodox Church has Russian roots. Whatever your belief, the feast points to mercy and reconciliationchoose dialogue, choose peace. pic.twitter.com/0htaGTwaYe Kirill A. Dmitriev (@kadmitriev) August 9, 2025 Lets hope Putin doesnt ask to take Alaska home as souvenir Considering how Trump has endorsed every demand of Putin so far, political commentator David Frum said on X, Lets all hope that Putin doesnt ask to take Alaska home with him as a souvenir, or Trump might give that away too. Separately, Michael McFaul, a former US ambassador to Russia, said on X, 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. ALSO READ Ukraine and beyond: 25 years on, Putin is still fighting Cold War STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Sharing several instances of Russian ultranationalists pressing claim on Alaska, author and commentator Julia Davis said on X, Trump inviting war criminal Putin to America is nauseating enough, but hosting him in Alaska while Putins pet propagandists routinely demand it back from the US on state TV is beyond the pale. Unless Putin is arrested upon arrival, theres no excuse. 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. Unless Putin is arrested upon arrival, there's no excuse.https://t.co/C1xAnA91vG Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) August 9, 2025 John Bolton, who served as Trumps National Security Advisor in the first term, said that the only place worse for a summit could be Moscow. 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, Bolton told CNN. Since the end of the Cold War, American presidents have used summits with Russian leader as a way to show approval or disapproval and, with the Alaska summit at a time when Putin defied the deadline to agree to a ceasefire, gave the Russian leader a seal of approval, said Ruth Deyermond, a senior lecturer in war studies at Kings College, London. Trump is, once again, signalling the value he places on Putins friendship. Its 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. Its an unambiguous signal of alignment with Russia, said Deyermond. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Russia sold Alaska to the United States in 1867 as the far-off territory was difficult to govern and was perceived as an economic burden at the time. Moreover, after the Crimean Wars (1853-56), Russian rulers started to look inwards and were not interest in further expansion. They were also wary of the British, who controlled Canada next door. Therefore, they found the sale to the United States a safer option than losing the region militarily to the British. Moreover, they saw the US control of Alaska and friendly ties with the United States as counterweight to the British influence. US President Donald Trump will participate in an emergency virtual summit on Wednesday alongside European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to a report German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (L) and US President Donald Trump are pictured here against the backdrop of the Nato flag. File Photo- Agencies US President Donald Trump will participate in an emergency virtual summit on Wednesday alongside European leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to a Politico report. The meeting, convened by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, comes ahead of Fridays high-stakes summit in Alaska between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, focused on the ongoing war in Ukraine. The virtual summit will address potential measures to increase pressure on Russia, the status of Ukrainian territories currently occupied by Russian forces, security guarantees for Kyiv, and the possible sequencing of future peace negotiations, according to the report, citing German government spokesperson. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Merz, along with other European leaders, is insisting that Russian President Vladimir Putin agree to a ceasefire before any peace talks or territorial negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv can begin. They have also emphasised that any potential land swaps must be mutually agreed with Ukraine and that Kyiv must receive credible security guarantees to prevent future aggression. According to three diplomats cited by Politico, Merzs team has been engaged in intensive consultations with other European capitals in recent days to coordinate the virtual summit. Merz also held a phone call with President Trump on Sunday night, during which he urged the US to ramp up pressure on Moscow. He has called on Trump to implement severe sanctions on Russias banking sector and to introduce secondary sanctions targeting Russias trade partners, added the report. Merz said in a televised interview on Sunday night that we cannot accept that territorial issues between Russia and America are discussed or even decided over the heads of the Europeans, over the heads of the Ukrainians, adding, Putin only acts under pressure. Trump, meanwhile, confirmed that he will hold a virtual call with European leaders and Zelenskyy ahead of his much-anticipated meeting with Putin in Alaska later this week. Speaking to reporters, Trump said: Ill be talking to the European leaders, Ill be talking to President Zelenskyy. Im going to get everybodys ideas. He praised European leaders as great people, great leaders, but added that many are tired of the war in Ukraine and want to get back to spending money on their countries. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump also said he has an extremely good relationship with Europe, joking: There are a lot of European leaders, but they rely on me. I go into that thing fully loaded right up there, he said, pointing to his head, and were going to see what happens. According to a schedule reviewed by Politico, the emergency virtual summit will begin at 2 pm German time on Wednesday, starting with a one-hour session that includes leaders from Germany, France, Finland, the UK, Italy, and Poland, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte. This will be followed at 3 pm by a one-hour discussion between the European leaders, Zelenskyy, US President Donald Trump, and Vice President JD Vance. The day will conclude with a joint session at 4:30 pm, bringing together the so-called coalition of the willing Ukraines core group of military supporters for a strategic dialogue hosted by Germany, the UK, and France. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Earlier in the day, Trump said that both Ukraine and Russia would have to cede land to each other to end the war and that his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin would be aimed at taking the temperature on a possible deal. Speaking to reporters, Trump said, Im going in to speak to Vladimir Putin, and Im going to be telling him, youve got to end this war. Youve got to end it. He added that a future round of talks could potentially involve Zelenskyy. Meanwhile, top European Union diplomats held a video call on Monday with Ukraines Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha to coordinate positions ahead of the Trump-Putin summit. In a joint statement issued by leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, the UK, Finland, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, the group stressed: The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy also pushed back firmly against any suggestion of territorial concessions to Moscow. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Concessions do not persuade a killer, he said on Monday, warning that yielding land or principles would not stop Russian aggression but embolden it. Zelenskyy reiterated that Ukraine will not accept any annexation of its territory by Russia and will not abandon its goal of joining Nato. European leaders echoed his stance, reaffirming that international borders must not be changed by force. With inputs from agencies After Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir threatened India and the world with nuclear strikes, India called the nuclear sabre-rattling regrettable, particularly as it came from the soil of a friendly country. Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir (C) prays after laying wreath on the martyrs' monument during a guard of honor ceremony at General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi on May 21, 2025. (Photo by Handout/Pakistan's Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) via AFP) India on Monday condemned Pakistani army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir's threat of nuclear strikes made at an event in the United States. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement that nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistans stock-in-trade and is evidence of the links between the countrys military and terrorist groups. The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks, which also reinforce the well-held doubts about the integrity of nuclear command and control in a state where the military is hand-in-glove with terrorist groups, the MEA said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The MEA further flagged the United States providing a platform for such rhetoric. It is also regrettable that these remarks should have been made from the soil of a friendly third country, the MEA said. Last week, Munir said at a black-tie dinner in the US state of Florida that we [Pakistan] are a nuclear nation, if we think we are going down, well take half the world down with us, according to The Print. Munir further threatened to blow up Indias dams over the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty: We will wait for India to build a dam, and when it does so, phir 10 missile sey faarigh kar dengey [we will destroy it with 10 missiles]. The Indus river is not the Indians family property. Humein missilon ki kami nahin hai, al-Hamdulillah [we have no shortage of missiles, Praise be to God]. ALSO READ: Fighting India is in Pakistans DNA, only deterrence is increasing costs for terror: Pak expert Tilak Devasher The MEA further said that India will not give in to nuclear blackmail and will continue to take all steps necessary to safeguard our national security. Munirs statement came at a time when Pakistan and the United States have got closer under Donald Trump. The US-Pakistan closeness has coincided with Trump's campaign against India which ranges from a tariff war, meddling in the Kashmir issue, undermining of the Indian position on Operation Sindoor, and an alliance with Indias adversaries that has plunged the bilateral relationship to its lowest point in many and threatens to undo decades of progress in ties. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD India urges international monitoring of Paks nukes Citing Pakistans irresponsible rhetoric, India has previously called for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to monitor the countrys nuclear arsenal. Pakistans reckless nuclear threats have not deterred Indias resolve to eliminate terrorism. I ask the global community are nuclear weapons safe in the hands of such an irresponsible and rogue nation? These weapons must come under IAEA supervision, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on May 15. Separately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that Indias called out Pakistans nuclear bluff yet again with Operation Sindoor. He frurther said that India would never bow to nuclear blackmail. India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. India will strike precisely and decisively at the terrorist hideouts developing under the cover of nuclear blackmail, said Modi on May 12. As fresh tremors strike Balkesir, Turkey faces renewed scrutiny over unmet reconstruction pledges made after the 2023 earthquake that left over 55,000 dead and hundreds of thousands still homeless When a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck Turkeys northwestern Balkesir province on Sunday, it served as a stark reminder of the countrys persistent vulnerability to seismic disasters. The tremor, which left one person dead and dozens injured, comes as Turkey continues to grapple with the aftermath of the February 2023 earthquake, the deadliest natural disaster in Turkeys modern history. That quake measuring 7.8 in magnitude leveled vast parts of southeastern Turkey, killing more than 55,000 people, injuring over 107,000, and flattening entire towns across 11 provinces including Hatay, Kahramanmaras, and Adyaman. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to a Reuters report, after the tragedy , Erdogan pledged to build 650,000 housing units, promising that 319,000 would be delivered within a year. As of early 2025, only 201,431 homes have been handed over, Reuters reported, citing government data. This amounts to less than one-third of the total promise. Opposition parties claim that the government has fulfilled just 30% of its reconstruction commitments, with some of the hardest-hit provinces like Hatay reporting completion rates as low as 18%. The delays have drawn criticism from both domestic and international observers, especially as Turkey remains vulnerable to new seismic threats. Despite the progress, hundreds of thousands of survivors remain displaced, many living in container homes or temporary shelters with limited access to clean water, healthcare, and education. Aid groups including UNICEF and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) have raised alarms over worsening humanitarian conditions, calling the pace of reconstruction far too slow. A recent report by the Hatay Earthquake Victims Association said more than 400,000 people are still living in container cities, many facing poor sanitation and exposure to health hazards like asbestos from unregulated demolitions. However, there are signs of recovery in certain areas. In Adyaman, officials reported the construction of nearly 30,000 urban housing units, alongside widespread use of self-built housing and temporary shelters. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Monthly financial aid of TL 4,500 has been provided to thousands of affected families. Heritage restoration projects are also underway to revive the regions cultural identity. President Erdogan has defended the governments record, stating at an event, We have shown the presence of the state with construction and reparation efforts that went on day and night for two years. Yet critics argue the recovery remains incomplete and unevenly distributed. A magnitude 6.1 earthquake in Turkeys northwestern Balkesir province on Sunday, resulting in one fatality and 29 minor injuries. The tremor caused the collapse of 16 mostly derelict buildings and shook major cities including Istanbul and Izmir. With Turkey sitting atop three major tectonic plates, the earthquake in Balkesir serves as a stark reminder of the countrys ongoing vulnerability, and the urgency of delivering on post-disaster promises. With inputs from agencies A protest by the INDIA bloc outside the Election Commission of India turned dramatic as Akhilesh Yadav jumped over police barricades and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were detained by Delhi Police. Dramatic scenes unfolded at the INDIA bloc protest outside the Election Commission of India on Monday, as Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav jumped over a police barricade while Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka Gandhi were detained by Delhi Police. The police stopped the leaders from marching from Parliament towards the Election Commission. Rahul Gandhi was among several opposition leaders and MPs detained during the protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls being carried out in Bihar and planned in other states. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Videos circulating on social media showed Akhilesh Yadav leaping over barricades as other opposition leaders continued their march from Parliament House to Nirvachan Sadan. #WATCH | Delhi: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav jumps over a police barricade as Delhi Police stops INDIA bloc leaders marching from the Parliament to the Election Commission of India to protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound pic.twitter.com/X8YV4mQ28P ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2025 The INDIA bloc protest march was organised in response to the SIR of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar amid allegations of voter fraud during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Delhi Police met the INDIA bloc leaders with barricades soon after they began the march from Parliament, which was led by Congress MP and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. Ahead of the march, Delhi Police stated that no permission had been sought to hold the protest. #WATCH | Delhi Police stops INDIA bloc leaders marching from the Parliament to the Election Commission of India to protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "voter fraud" during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. pic.twitter.com/B3yuiL0fJz ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2025 Over 300 MPs from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha took part in the march, which started around 11:30 am. To maintain order and prevent any untoward incidents, Delhi Police deployed personnel and erected barricades at multiple points along the route. Additional security vehicles and quick reaction teams were stationed near the Election Commission office and surrounding roads to ensure smooth traffic flow. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This protest follows Rahul Gandhis press conference last Thursday, where he described his evidence of alleged poll fraud as an atom bomb of proofs, accusing the poll body of resorting to vote chori. In a phone call today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that India extends all possible support to efforts to bring an end to the ongoing war. Zelenskyy urged the prime minister to send signals to Russia to end the war. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, in Apulia, Italy, Friday, June 14, 2024. (Photo: PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday spoke over the phone and discussed the ongoing efforts to end the war with Russia and the bilateral relationship. A readout by the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) said that Modi reaffirmed Indias steadfast and consistent position for peaceful settlement of the conflict and support for efforts aimed at earliest restoration of peace. PM reiterated Indias commitment to extend all possible support in this regard, the readout further said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Separately, Modi shared on X, Glad to speak with President Zelenskyy and hear his perspectives on recent developments. I conveyed Indias consistent position on the need for an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict. India remains committed to making every possible contribution in this regard, as well as to further strengthening bilateral ties with Ukraine. On his part, Zelenskyy updated Modi about the status of the war and urged him to press Russia to end the war. He also stressed that it was important for countries to limit the purchase of Russian energy. I noted that it is necessary to limit the export of Russian energy, particularly oil, to reduce its potential and ability to finance the continuation of this war. It is important that every leader who has tangible leverage over Russia sends the corresponding signals to Moscow, said Zelenskyy in a post on X. I had a long conversation with the Prime Minister of India @narendramodi. We discussed in detail all important issues both of our bilateral cooperation and the overall diplomatic situation. I am grateful to the Prime Minister for his warm words of support for our people. I pic.twitter.com/Lx9b3sMAbb Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) August 11, 2025 The conversation comes ahead of a summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Friday. Zelenskyy and European partners have been rallying international support to press Trump to not cut a deal with Putin about the war in Ukraine without Ukraine being at the table. Russia launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The full-scale invasion came eight years after Russia invaded, occupied, and subsequently annexed Ukraines Crimea region. During 2014-22, Russia had waged a low-intensity war in Ukraines eastern Donbas region through proxy groups. In recent months, Russia has ramped up attacks on Ukraine, hitting civilians with hundreds of missiles and drones on nearly-daily basis. These attacks have come as Putin has found encouragement from Trumps lack of any punitive action. Instead of slapping any sanctions or tariffs on Russia, Trump has slapped India with 50 per cent tariffs for what he said was funding of the Russian war machine. Zelenskyy seeks Indias support in peace efforts In his call with Modi, Zelenskyy said that Indias position would be important in the resolution of the conflict. It is important that India is supporting our peace efforts and shares the position that everything concerning Ukraine must be decided with Ukraines participation. Other formats will not deliver results, said Zelenskyy on X. Zelenskyy further updated Modi about Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities, saying that he informed the prime minister about Russian attacks on our cities and villages, about yesterdays strike on the bus station in Zaporizhzhia, where dozens of people were injured in a deliberate Russian bombing of a regular urban facility. He said that such attacks at a time when talks were going on does not show the intention to make peace. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Instead of demonstrating readiness for a ceasefire, Russia is showing only its desire to continue the occupation and killings, said Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy and Modi agreed to plan a personal meeting in September during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and to work on an exchange of visits, the Ukrainian president further said. Irans top security official, Ali Larijani is visiting Iraq and Lebanon to sign a bilateral security agreement and discuss Beiruts plan to disarm Hezbollah. Tehran has strongly opposed the move Lebanese soldiers look on as supporters of the Hezbollah militant group block the streets with burning tires while rallying in cars and motorbikes to protest the government's endorsement of a plan to disarm it, in Beirut's southern suburbs. AFP Ali Larijani, the head of Irans top security body, is scheduled to go to Iraq on Monday before continuing on to Lebanon, where the government has authorised a plan to disarm Hezbollah, an ally of Tehran, according to state media. Ali Larijani will sign a bilateral security agreement in Iraq before travelling to Lebanon, where he will meet with top Lebanese officials and figures. Ali Larijani departs today (Monday) for Iraq and then Lebanon on a three-day visit, his first foreign trip since taking office last week, state television said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Tehrans strong resistance to a Lebanese government plan to disarm Tehrans partner Hezbollah, a move denounced by Beirut as flagrant and unacceptable interference, led to his visit to Lebanon. Our cooperation with the Lebanese government is long and deep. We consult on various regional issues. In this particular context, we are talking to Lebanese officials and influential figures in Lebanon, Larijani told state TV before departing. In Lebanon, our positions are already clear. Lebanese national unity is important and must be preserved in all circumstances. Lebanons independence is still important to us and we will contribute to it. On Monday, Irans foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Larijanis trip aims to contribute to the maintenance of peace in the Middle East region. He said that Iran recognised Lebanons right to defend itself against the aggression of the Zionist regime (Israel), adding that this would be impossible without military capabilities and weapons. Before its war with Israel, Hezbollah was believed to be better armed than the Lebanese military. It built its popularity, in part, on resistance to Israel, which occupied southern Lebanon for nearly two decades until 2000. On Saturday, Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Irans supreme leader, described the plan to disarm Hezbollah as compliance to the will of the United States and Israel. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The disarmament push followed last years war between Israel and Hezbollah, which left the group, once a powerful political and military force, weakened. It also comes amid pressure from the United States and anti-Hezbollah parties in Lebanon, as well as fears Israel could escalate its strikes if the group remains armed. Iran appointed 68-year-old Larijani to head the Supreme National Security Council, which is responsible for laying out Irans defence and security strategy. Its decisions must be approved by the countrys supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The appointment comes after a 12-day war with Israel, which began the conflict with an unprecedented attack on Iran in mid-June striking military, nuclear and residential sites. Jerusalems Western Wall, which is one of the holiest sites for Jews, has been vandalised with a message reading there is a holocaust in Gaza'. The Western Wall in Jerusalem has been vandalised with an anti-war message that reads there is a holocaust in Gaza. A similar message was also scrawled on the wall of the Great Synagogue elsewhere in the city. The photo of the wall with the graffiti appeared on the social media. Firstpost could not independently confirm its authenticity. The incident has been reported at a time when outrage over the Israeli war in the Gaza Strip has been rising over the world. Israels restriction on the flow of aid into the strip has caused a severe hunger crisis that has killed scores of people and caused widespread malnutrition. Separately, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed at food distribution sites in what they say to be Israeli attacks. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Despite continuing with the bombardment of Gaza and expanding ground offensive, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has failed to either bring hostages back or defeat Hamas militarily. The failure, coupled with the tens of thousands of deaths in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis, has triggered protests and outrage. Amid such outrage, the Israel Police on Monday said that it arrested a 27-year-old Jerusalem resident suspected of spraying graffiti at the Western Wall complex and on the property of the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem. The Western Wall is the only surviving part of the ancient Temple Mount that has been destroyed twice in history firstly by the Babylonians in the 6th Century BCE and then by the Romans in the 1st century BCE. As the actual Temple Mount the holiest site for Jews today remains restricted to Jews for prayers, the Western Wall is the holiest place they can access and therefore retains central important to their faith. Western Walls Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch called the vandalism an act of desecration. A holy place is not a place to express protests The police must investigate this action, track down the criminals responsible for the desecration and bring them to justice, said Rabinovitch, according to AFP. Considering the political tensions inside Israel over the opposition to the government over the failure to bring hostages back from Gaza and the governments pursuit of the offensive in Gaza, the incident has the potential to inflame further tensions. French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned Israels decision to intensify its military operations in Gaza, calling it a catastrophe waiting to happen. French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday called Israels plans to intensify its military campaign in Gaza a catastrophe waiting to happen and suggested forming an international coalition to manage the territory under a UN mandate. In a decision that garnered harsh domestic and international condemnation, Israels security cabinet this week approved a plan to seize control of Gaza City, expanding its military operations in the broken Palestinian territory. The Israeli cabinets announcement of an expansion of its operations in Gaza City and the Mawasi camps and for a re-occupation heralds a disaster of unprecedented gravity waiting to happen and of a drift towards a never-ending war, said Macron, in remarks sent by his office to reporters. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Israeli hostages and the people of Gaza will continue to be the primary victims of this strategy, added Macron. The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He claimed Israel is applying force judiciously in response to foreign criticism during a press conference on Sunday. By suggesting a UN-mandated mission in Gaza, Macron is attempting to capitalise on the momentum generated by his recognition of a Palestinian state last month, which sparked a chain reaction of recognitions with Britain and Canada following suit. According to Macron, the UN mission will be responsible for safeguarding people, securing the Gaza Strip, and assisting with an unidentified Palestinian government. He stated that the mission should be established by the UN Security Council. I have asked my teams to work on that with our partners without delay, he added. Eight people have been killed and three injured in a nightclub shooting in rural Ecuador, in what police suspect is linked to organised crime. Mass shooting in Ecuador leaves 8 dead as the country battles spate of violent crimes. Image for Representation. A shooting at a nightclub in rural Ecuador has left eight people dead and three others injured, in what authorities believe is the latest outbreak of violence linked to organised crime. Police Colonel Javier Chango said seven victims died at the scene, while another died later in hospital. The attack took place in Santa Lucia, a town of 38,000 in Guayas, one of four provinces placed under a two-month state of emergency earlier this week by President Daniel Noboa in an effort to tackle gang violence. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD According to Chango, the attackers arrived in two pick-up trucks and opened fire on customers drinking outside the Napoles nightclub at around 1:15 am local time (0615 GMT). They fled along an unknown route, leaving behind more than 800 cartridge cases. Among the dead was nightclub owner Jorge Urquizo, the brother of Santa Lucias mayor. Police have yet to establish a motive. We are open to all hypotheses; we cant rule any out yet, Chango told reporters. Ecuador recorded 4,619 homicides in the first half of 2025, a 47 per cent increase compared with the same period last year. Mass killings and high-profile violent incidents have surged since 2023, when the country experienced its deadliest year on record with 8,008 murders, equivalent to a rate of 47 per 100,000 inhabitants, up sharply from 6.7 per 100,000 in 2020, according to the US Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. North Koreas Defence Minister No Kwang Chol said its military has an absolute mission to defend national security against the large-scale 11-day drills by South Korea and the United States, which he said posed a real and dangerous threat North Korea has denounced a major joint exercise planned by the South Korean and U.S. militaries as direct military provocation and warned of counteraction, despite signs of easing tension across the border under a new leader in Seoul. North Koreas Defence Minister No Kwang Chol said its military has an absolute mission to defend national security against the large-scale 11-day drills by South Korea and the United States, which he said posed a real and dangerous threat. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The armed forces of the DPRK will cope with the war drills of the U.S. and the (South) with thoroughgoing and resolute counteraction posture and strictly exercise the sovereign right, No said in a statement issued via the KCNA state news agency on Monday. DPRK is short for the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea, North Koreas official name. No said the drills staged under the pretext of defence against threats were additional proof of the confrontational intent by the two countries that raises hostility and further destabilises regional security. North Korea routinely denounces military drills by the South and the United States, having called some previous exercises a rehearsal for nuclear war on the Korean peninsula, even as Pyongyang conducted a range of missile tests and live fire artillery exercises. South Korea and the United States said last week the annual exercise would begin on August 18 to test command control and troop mobilisation under an upgraded security strategy against a heightened threat of nuclear warfare by North Korea. However, the allies said a major part of the field exercise would be postponed and conducted separately next month, citing weather conditions. The postponement was widely seen as prompted by South Koreas liberal President Lee Jae Myung, who won a snap election in June, to ease tension with Pyongyang. Ties between the rival Koreas had plunged to some of the most hostile points in recent years, as the North pressed on with developing nuclear attack capabilities and dramatically boosted military ties with Russia. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While Pyongyang has publicly rebuffed renewed outreach by Lee and Washington for dialogue, it was making moves seen as reciprocating some South Korean actions to ease tensions. South Korea said on Saturday it had detected the Norths military removing some loudspeakers at the border, days after the South began dismantling similar equipment that had blared propaganda across the border. North Korea also seemed to have used a more restrained tone in criticisms about the U.S.-South Korea joint exercises, said an official at Seouls Unification Ministry, which oversees ties between the Koreas. Pyongyang appears to focus on expressing its position on the drills, rather than making military threats, ministry spokesperson Koo Byoungsam said at a briefing on Monday. Norways $1.9 trillion sovereign wealth fund is liquidating its holdings in 11 Israeli companies, citing ethical concerns over the war in Gaza. The decision follows revelations about its investment in a jet engine maker supplying parts for Israeli fighter planes. Nicolai Tangen, the CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management, the operator of Norway's sovereign wealth fund, in Oslo, Norway. Reuters Norways sovereign wealth fund said on Monday that it was liquidating its assets in 11 Israeli companies, following accusations that it had invested in an Israeli jet engine maker while the war in Gaza was ongoing. Nicolai Tangen, the chief of Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), which runs the fund, stated that the decision was made in response to extraordinary circumstances. In a statement, Tangen, The situation in Gaza is a serious humanitarian crisis. We are invested in companies that operate in a country at war, and conditions in the West Bank and Gaza have recently worsened. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD He stated that the decision would lower the number of Israeli firms that the funds Council of Ethics had to monitor. Norways wealth fund, also known as the oil fund since it is funded by massive revenues from the countrys energy exports, is the worlds largest, worth over $1.9 trillion, with investment in over 8,600 companies throughout the world. The Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten revealed last week that the fund had invested in Israeli Bet Shemesh Engines Holdings, which manufactures engine parts for Israeli fighter planes. Tangen later corroborated the claims, stating that the fund boosted its holding after the Israeli war in Gaza had started. The revelations led Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store to ask Finance Minister and former NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg for a review. NBIM said it had investments in 61 Israeli companies at the end of the first six months of this year, 11 of which were not in its equity benchmark index which is set by the finance ministry and used to gauge the wealth funds performance. NBIM added that it had decided last week that all investments in Israeli companies that are not in the equity benchmark index will be sold as soon as possible. Ethical guidelines Going forward, the funds investments in Israel will now be limited to companies that are in the equity benchmark index, it said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD NBIM also said that all investments in Israeli companies managed by external managers would be moved in-house, and that it was terminating contracts with external managers in Israel. In addition, NBIM said the finance ministry had asked it to review its investments in Israeli companies, and to propose new measures that it deems necessary. It said it initiated the review and would present its findings before an August 20 deadline. The fund also said that it had long paid particular attention to companies associated with war and conflict. Since 2020, we have been in contact with more than 60 companies to raise this issue. Of these, 39 dialogues were related to the West Bank and Gaza, NBIM said. It said that monitoring of Israeli companies had been intensified in the autumn of 2024, and that as a result, we have sold our investments in several Israeli companies. Speaking at a press conference later Monday, Stoltenberg said he was glad Norges Bank had acted quickly. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The funds ethical guidelines stipulate that it shall not invest in companies that contribute to violations of international law by states, he told reporters. Therefore, the pension fund should not hold shares in companies that contribute to Israels warfare in Gaza or the occupation of the West Bank, he said. Also on Monday, Norwegian pension fund KLP said it had excluded Israeli company NextVision Stabilized Systems from its investments because the company supplies key components for military drones used in the war in Gaza. In a move that has stunned the tech industry, US President Donald Trumps administration has reached an unprecedented agreement with Nvidia and AMD, requiring the chipmakers to give 15% of profits from their China sales to the US government. In a surprising step that is sure to cause dismay among American companies, a US official said on Sunday that Nvidia and AMD have agreed to give the US government 15% of the profits from sales of cutting-edge computer chips to China. Sales of H20 chips to China were suspended by US President Donald Trumps administration in April. However, Nvidia claimed last month that Washington had agreed to let the company to resume sales and that it intended to begin delivery shortly. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Financial Times said that the chipmakers consented to the agreement in order to receive export permits for their semiconductors, notably AMDs MI308 processors. According to the article, the Trump administration has not yet decided how to spend the funds. On Friday, another US official said that the Commerce Department has started to provide licenses for the sale of H20 AI processors to China. In Mondays pre-market trading, Nvidia and AMDs shares dropped 1.8% and 3.3%, respectively. It is unprecedented for a president to agree to pay the US government from sales in China, and it is Trumps most recent attempt to influence business decisions. Last week, he called incoming Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan highly conflicted because of his connections to Chinese companies and asked that he immediately quit. He also harasses industry CEOs to invest in America to support local employment and manufacturing. When asked if Nvidia had agreed to pay 15% of revenues to the United States, an Nvidia spokesperson said in a statement: We follow rules the US government sets for our participation in worldwide markets. The spokesperson added: While we havent shipped H20 to China for months, we hope export control rules will let America compete in China and worldwide. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD AMD did not respond to a request for comment on the news, which was first reported by the Financial Times earlier on Sunday. The US Department of Commerce did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Chinas foreign ministry, approached for comment on Monday, said that China had repeatedly expressed its position on the issue of US chip exports to China. The ministry in the past has accused the US of using technology and trade issues to maliciously contain and suppress China. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said last month the planned resumption of sales of the AI chips was part of US negotiations with China to get rare earths and described the H20 as Nvidias fourth-best chip in an interview with CNBC. Lutnick said it was in US interests to have Chinese companies using American technology, even if the most advanced was prohibited from export, so they continued to use an American tech stack. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The US official said the Trump administration did not feel the sale of H20 and equivalent chips was compromising US national security. The official did not know when the agreement would be implemented nor exactly how, but said the administration would be following the law. Alasdair Phillips-Robins, who served as an adviser at the Commerce Department during former President Joe Bidens administration, criticized the move. If this reporting is accurate, it suggests the administration is trading away national security protections for revenue for the Treasury," Phillips-Robins said. Nvidia generated $17 billion in revenue from China in the fiscal year ending January 26, representing 13% of total sales. AMD reported $6.2 billion in China revenue for 2024, accounting for 24% of total revenue. Meanwhile, the industry watches anxiously as Intels Lip-Bu Tan, is due to meet Trump today amid mounting scrutiny over the tech sectors tightrope between compliance and autonomy. In the aftermath of Op Sindoor, the Indian Air Force has urged the government to sign a direct deal with France for additional Rafale fighter jets under its long-delayed plan to acquire 114 multi-role aircraft, says report. Rafale fighter jet is seen parked on the tarmac during its induction ceremony at an air force station in Ambala, India, September 10, 2020. File Image/Reuters The Indian Air Force (IAF) has urged the government to sign a direct agreement with France to procure additional Rafale fighter jets, as part of its long-delayed plan to acquire 114 multi-role fighter aircraft (MRFA), The Times of India reported. Under the governments Make in India initiative, most of these aircraft are expected to be manufactured domestically in collaboration with foreign partners. Quoting government sources, the report said the IAF will soon seek the initial acceptance of necessity (AoN) for the MRFA project, the first step in the lengthy procurement process, for approval by the Rajnath Singh-led Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) within the next month or two. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Government will take the final decision when the MRFA case comes to DAC. But yes, IAF has projected an urgent need for additional Rafales to stem the depletion in the number of its fighter squadrons, a source said to The Times of India. Op Sindoor and Pak claims The push comes three months after Operation Sindoor (710 May), during which Rafales were extensively used for long-range strikes across the border with Pakistan. India has not confirmed any fighter losses and has dismissed Islamabads claim of shooting down six IAF jets, including three Rafales. Pakistan deployed Chinese-built J-10s armed with PL-15 long-range air-to-air missiles during the clashes. Recently, The Indian Army has said that it has shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and an airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft. The MRFA proposal has been on hold for seven to eight years, with an initial estimated cost of over 1.2 lakh crore. Meanwhile, the IAFs strength has dropped to 31 fighter squadrons (1618 aircraft each) and will fall to a record low of 29 next month when the last MiG-21s are retired. The sanctioned strength is 42.5 squadrons to counter potential threats from both China and Pakistan, a concern reinforced during Operation Sindoor. China is also expected to supply Pakistan with at least 40 J-35A fifth-generation stealth fighters in the near future. The IAF has also highlighted the need for two to three squadrons of fifth-generation fighters, with Russias Sukhoi-57 and Americas F-35 under consideration until Indias indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) is ready for production, expected around 2035. But no official talks have begun with either Russia or the US yet, an official said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The IAF argues that acquiring more Rafales through a direct deal would make much better economic and logistical sense than launching an open global tender. The deal can be concluded faster than going in for an open global tender, another source noted. India inducted 36 Rafales under a 59,000 crore intergovernmental agreement with France in 2016, now deployed at the Ambala and Hasimara air bases. Both air bases already have the infrastructure and storage capacity to base at least one more Rafale squadron each, a source said. The Navy is also set to receive 26 Rafale-M jets to operate from the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant between 2028 and 2030 under a 63,887 crore (almost 7 billion) agreement with France signed in April. There will be a commonality in platforms and equipment if more Rafales are acquired, the source added. Amid the brewing tensions between India and Pakistan, reports are emerging that Islamabad have taken provocative measures, targeting Indian diplomats in the country. Heres how Amid the brewing tensions between India and Pakistan, reports are emerging that Islamabad have taken provocative measures, targeting Indian diplomats in the country. As per the information obtained by CNN News18, Pakistan is imposing curbs on basic amenities for Indian High Commission staff. Top government sources close to the matter told CNN News18 about the restrictions, describing it as deliberate, premeditated, and in breach of the Vienna Convention". The actions came in the aftermath of the 4 day military escalations between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Top government sources told CNN-News18 that the measures are part of a pattern of petty retaliation" orchestrated by Pakistans intelligence agency, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The source noted that the restrictions aim to disrupt the living and working conditions of Indian diplomats in Islamabad. Gas, water and newspaper supplies cut off According to a government source, the Pakistani company, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL), has already installed gas pipelines at the Indian High Commission premises. However, the supply of the pipeline has been delibrately withheld. Not only this, local gas cylinder vendors, who had previously provided essential cooking and heating fuel to the mission, have reportedly been instructed by Pakistani authorities not to sell to Indian staff. This has eventually forced diplomats and their families to seek scarce and costly alternatives in the open market, often without success. The harassment goes beyond just gas. Sources told CNN News18 that the missions contracted supplier for clean drinking water has been blocked from making deliveries. Not only this, all vendors in Islamabad have been instructed not to provide mineral water to the High Commission. This, sources say, has created significant inconvenience for the staff, as local tap water is neither safe nor suitable for consumption without extensive filtration. Sources also told CNN News18 that newspaper vendors have been told to stop sending publications to the mission altogether. The measure is being interpreted by Indian officials as a calculated effort to isolate diplomats from regular access to print media and limit their awareness of local narratives and developments. The source noted that the move is seen as an extension of Islamabads long-standing strategy of using non-traditional and non-diplomatic pressure tactics instead of engaging in direct dialogue. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Relations between China and the Philippines have been severely strained after Marcos, who took office in mid-2022, and his administration emerged as some of the most vocal critics in Asia of Chinas increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s interview with Firstpost, in which he warned that his country would inevitably be drawn into any conflict over Taiwan, has continued to reverberate across Asia, drawing sharp criticism from Beijing and fuelling debate over Manilas security posture. Speaking to Firstpost during his visit to India, Marcos said there was no way that the Philippines can stay out of it should tensions between China and Taiwan escalate into war, citing the countrys geographical proximity and the presence of about 200,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If there is a war over Taiwan, we will be drawn in, kicking and screaming, whether we like it or not, he said, adding that preparations were necessary even though he hoped conflict could be avoided. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has warned the Philippines would be dragged kicking and screaming into any conflict over Taiwan. These comments come just days after the President stressed that geography leaves the Philippines no choice in such a crisis, in an pic.twitter.com/6zhtokrx2Y Firstpost (@firstpost) August 11, 2025 China reacted angrily, accusing Marcos of playing with fire and interfering in its internal affairs. On Monday, Marcos said at a press briefing in Manila that his comments had been misinterpreted for propaganda purposes. I dont know what theyre talking about, playing with fire? I was just stating facts. We do not want to go to war, but I think if there is a war over Taiwan, we will be drawn, we will be pulled in whether we like it or not, kicking and screaming, Marcos said. We will be drawn and dragged into that mess. I hope it doesnt happen, but, if it does, we have to plan for it already. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Its the latest flare-up of long-simmering territorial disputes in the busy waterway, a key global trade route, where overlapping claims between China and the Philippines have escalated in recent years. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also lay claims to parts of the contested waters. Relations between China and the Philippines have been severely strained after Marcos, who took office in mid-2022, and his administration emerged as some of the most vocal critics in Asia of Chinas increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea. The Marcos administration deepened its treaty alliance engagements with the United States and started broadening security alliances with other Western and Asian countries like Japan, Australia, India and some EU member states to strengthen deterrence against Beijings assertiveness. On Monday, a Philippine vessel transporting provisions to Filipino fishermen in the Scarborough Shoal was sprayed at with a water cannon by a Chinese coast guard ship, the Philippine Coast Guard said. The vessel managed to evade being hit. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Chinas embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the presidents remarks. Responding to the Monday incident, Chinas coast guard said it had taken necessary measures to expel Philippine vessels from Scarborough Shoal, which China claims as its own territory. It described the operation as professional, standardised, legitimate and legal. A 2016 ruling of an international arbitral tribunal voided Beijings sweeping claims in the region, saying they had no basis under international law, a decision China rejects. Marcos reaffirmed that his government would never retreat from defending its territorial sovereignty. We will continue to be present, we will continue to defend our territory, and we will continue to exercise our sovereign rights, despite any opposition from anyone, he said. Since taking office in 2022, Marcos has emerged as one of Asias most vocal critics of Chinas maritime assertiveness, while deepening military cooperation with the United States and forging closer security ties with Japan, Australia, India and European allies. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies A Delhi-bound Air India flight from Thiruvananthapuram carrying Kerala MPs was diverted to Chennai on Sunday after a suspected technical fault. Venugopal described the journey as harrowing, claiming the plane came frighteningly close to tragedy. A Delhi-bound Air India flight from Keralas Thiruvananthapuram, carrying several Members of Parliament including Congress secretary KC Venugopal, was forced to divert to Chennai on Sunday following a suspected technical fault. In a post on X, Venugopal described the incident aboard flight AI 2455 as a harrowing journey, saying passengers had come frighteningly close to tragedy. Air India flight AI 2455 from Trivandrum to Delhi carrying myself, several MPs, and hundreds of passengers, came frighteningly close to tragedy today. What began as a delayed departure turned into a harrowing journey. Shortly after take-off, we were hit by unprecedented turbulence. About an hour later, the Captain announced a flight signal fault and diverted to Chennai. For nearly two hours, we circled the airport awaiting clearance to land, until a heart-stopping moment during our first attempt, another aircraft was reportedly on the same runway, he wrote. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In that split second, the Captains quick decision to pull up saved every life on board. The flight landed safely on the second attempt. We were saved by skill and luck, he added, warning that passenger safety cannot depend on luck. The Congress MP tagged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, calling for a full investigation, accountability, and safeguards to prevent similar incidents. Air India responds Air India later issued a clarification, stating that the diversion was precautionary due to a suspected technical issue and poor weather. It said the go-around was instructed by Chennai air traffic control (ATC) during the first landing attempt, not because another aircraft was on the runway. Dear Mr Venugopal, we would like to clarify that the diversion to Chennai was precautionary due to a suspected technical issue and poor weather conditions. A go-around was instructed by Chennai ATC during the first attempted landing at Chennai airport, not because of the presence of another aircraft on the runway. Our pilots are well-trained to handle such situations, and in this case, they followed standard procedures throughout the flight, the airline said. It added, We understand that such an experience can be unsettling and regret the inconvenience the diversion may have caused to you. However, safety is always our priority. Thank you for your understanding. Flight data from Flightradar showed the aircraft took off from Thiruvananthapuram at 8:17 pm, landed in Chennai at 10:35pm, then departed at 1:40 am before reaching Delhi at 3:58 am. The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of Air India following a deadly crash on 12 June that killed 260 people, including 19 on the ground. More recently, passengers on a San FranciscoMumbai service reported finding cockroaches onboard, an issue the airline acknowledged but downplayed, saying that despite our regular fumigation efforts, insects can sometimes enter an aircraft during ground operations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Al Jazeera said five of its staff, including correspondent Anas al-Sharif, were killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza City. Israel accused al-Sharif of being a terrorist and a target linked to Hamas'. A view of the site of Thursday's Israeli strike that damaged and destroyed residential buildings, at Shati (Beach) refugee camp, in Gaza City. Reuters Qatar-based news outlet Al Jazeera has claimed that five of its staff, including correspondent Anas al-Sharif, were killed in an Israeli strike on a tent used by journalists in Gaza City on Sunday. The Israeli military responded to the claims and said that it targeted al-Sharif, labelling him a Hamas terrorist who posed as a journalist. In a Telegram statement, the IDF said the 28-year-old led a Hamas cell responsible for rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and troops. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A short while ago, in Gaza City, the IDF struck the terrorist Anas Al-Sharif, who posed as a journalist for the Al Jazeera network He was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops, the Israeli military said. Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif has been killed alongside four colleagues in a targeted Israeli attack on a tent housing journalists in Gaza City, the Qatar-based broadcaster said. Al Jazeera rejected the accusation, saying al-Sharif was reporting near al-Shifa Hospital when the tent outside its main gate was hit. The network identified the others killed as cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Moamen Aliwa, Mohammed Noufal (also the teams driver), and reporter Mohammed Qreiqeh. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemned the strike as a bloody crime and an assassination. According to media watchdogs, about 200 journalists have been killed during the 22-month war in Gaza. Israel has long had a strained relationship with Al Jazeera, banning its operations in the country and raiding its offices during the current conflict. Qatar, which funds the network, hosts Hamass political leadership and has acted as a venue for indirect talks between the group and Israel. As US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, prepare for their talks in Alaska, Russia claimed that unnamed nations are orchestrating titanic efforts to disrupt the planned summit between the two leaders. US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are seen during the G20 leaders' summit. Reuters/File Photo As US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, prepare for their talks in Alaska, Russia claimed that unnamed nations are orchestrating titanic efforts to disrupt the planned summit between the two leaders. The announcement of the meeting with the potential to change the course of the Russia-Ukraine conflict has heightened tensions significantly, with the European allies calling for the inclusion of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the meeting. In light of this, Kirill Dmitriev, Russias investment envoy, alleged that certain unnamed countries are working to prolong the war. Dmitriev went on to accuse the unnamed nations of deploying disinformation and provocations to prevent progress toward a ceasefire or peace deal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why it matters Trump has previously claimed that Russia and Ukraine were nearing a ceasefire agreement that could end the three-and-a-half-year conflict. While the details of the deal Trump is trying to push have not been disclosed, it may involve Ukraine ceding substantial territory, a prospect opposed by many European nations. Amid the speculations, Dmitriev publicly accused undisclosed states of seeking to sabotage the summit with misinformation and destabilising actions. 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, Dmitriev said in a post in his Telegram account on Saturday, specifying that by efforts he meant provocations and disinformation, Reuters reported, although he did not elaborate further. Soon after Trumps proclamation, the Kremlin confirmed that Trump and Putin will meet in Alaska to pursue a long-term resolution to the conflict, though both sides expect the process to be fraught. It is pertinent to note that this will be the first time Putin has set foot on American soil for 20 years. Meanwhile, Putins aide Yuri Ushakov told Reuters that the two leaders would focus on exploring ways to secure a long-term peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis. He acknowledged that this will clearly be a difficult process, but stressed that Russia intends to pursue it actively and energetically. With inputs from agencies. The outcome of the Alaska summit may end the war, but it could also force Volodymyr Zelenskyy into an unpredictable postwar political battle at home Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected a proposal for a territorial swap. While there is hope for a possible ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, with talks between the United States and Russia in Alaska likely taking place at the highest level, Zelenskyy has firmly dismissed any idea of conceding land to Moscow, citing the Ukrainian constitution. While the constitutional argument is clear, Zelenskyys bigger challenge is political protecting his legitimacy at home, maintaining international support, and resisting a peace process that is increasingly being shaped by others, sometimes without Ukraines participation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trumps proposal and Zelenskyys response According to Politico, the latest controversy erupted after US President Donald Trump suggested that a UkraineRussia ceasefire could involve some swapping of territories. Reports indicate that the Trump administration has been considering a framework in which Russia would freeze fighting along the contact line in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia while retaining the Donbas region, which includes Donetsk and Luhansk, and giving up parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia under its current control. Trump described the idea as a practical arrangement to the betterment of both sides. Yet for Kyiv, such a proposal strikes at the core of national sovereignty. Zelenskyy responded by stressing that the countrys constitution already enshrines its territorial integrity and declaring that Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier. Legal boundaries are clear From a strictly legal perspective, the constitutional issue is straightforward. Ukraines fundamental law explicitly forbids the cession of territory. Zelenskyy has consistently stated that there is nothing to talk about when it comes to giving up Crimea or any other occupied regions, the BBC reported. In legal terms, no Ukrainian government could agree to such concessions without amending the constitution a move that is both politically explosive and procedurally improbable, especially in wartime. The legal framework thus serves as a firm barrier, at least domestically, against any territorial trade-off. Why the real battle is political Yet the reality for Zelenskyy is that the legal clarity does not shield him from the political dangers emerging on multiple fronts. The most pressing concern is that the diplomatic process is moving forward in ways that risk sidelining Ukraine. Washington and Moscow are preparing for a high-profile meeting in Alaska on August 15, with Kyiv not included in the opening round. If discussions between Trump and Putin produce a preliminary understanding, Zelenskyy could be confronted with a finished product and pressured to accept or reject it in full. In his own words, any decisions without Ukraine are decisions against peace and stillborn decisions, Politico reported. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Risk of diplomatic marginalisation This dynamic creates a serious domestic challenge. If Zelenskyy is seen as acquiescing to an externally imposed compromise, especially one involving territorial concessions, he risks a backlash from a war-weary but defiant public. At the same time, rejecting such a proposal could expose him to accusations of blocking peace, particularly from international actors eager to see an end to the fighting. The political stakes are equally high on the international stage. Ukraine has relied on strong Western unity to sustain its defence. If the United States moves toward a separate understanding with Russia, that unity could fracture, leaving Kyiv with diminished leverage in any future talks. Optics of the Alaska summit The optics of the Alaska summit reinforce these concerns. The meeting will be the first between a US president and Vladimir Putin since Russias invasion in 2022, and it is being portrayed as a potential diplomatic breakthrough. However, its bilateral nature aligns with a long-standing Russian narrative that the conflict is essentially a great-power dispute over influence, with Ukraine as a subject rather than an equal participant. European leaders, including those of Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Poland and Finland, have already issued a joint statement affirming their unwavering commitment to Ukraines sovereignty and stressing that the path to peace cannot be decided without Ukraine, Politico reported. The very need for such a statement illustrates that the possibility of exclusion is real enough to prompt public reassurance. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trumps urgency and unilateral approach Trumps style of diplomacy adds further complication. He has repeatedly promised to end the war quickly and has imposed his own deadlines for ceasefire agreements, including an August 8 target for Putin to agree or face harsher US sanctions. However, rather than announcing new sanctions when that date passed, Trump revealed plans for the Alaska meeting. His reliance on special envoy Steve Witkoff to conduct highly productive talks with Putin in Moscow shows that the White House is taking a hands-on approach, potentially moving faster than either European partners or Ukraine itself. While Trump has expressed openness to a trilateral meeting with Zelenskyy, his vice president, JD Vance, has publicly suggested it may not be productive for Zelenskyy to join before Trumps one-on-one with Putin. That sequencing effectively places Kyiv in a reactive position, responding to ideas shaped in its absence. Putins unchanged demands Moscow, for its part, has been consistent in its demands. Putin seeks recognition of Russian control over seized territories, assurances of Ukrainian neutrality and limits on the size of Ukraines armed forces. His willingness to meet in Alaska appears linked to pressure from Washington and its allies, but the substance of his position has not shifted. The symbolism of holding the talks in Alaskapurchased by the United States from Russia in 1867offers him an additional diplomatic flourish. If the United States were to endorse even partial territorial concessions, European unity could be strained, with some capitals pressured to follow Washingtons lead in the interest of securing a ceasefire. For Zelenskyy, such an outcome would be politically disastrous, potentially leaving Ukraine diplomatically isolated. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Post-peace political reality? If the Alaska meeting leads to a peace agreement, Ukraine would also face the constitutional requirement to hold presidential and parliamentary elections, which have been suspended under martial law since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in early 2022. In such a scenario, Zelenskyy would no longer be shielded by wartime unity and emergency powers; instead, he would confront voters in a politically transformed environment shaped by the terms of peace. If the outcome of the Alaska talks leaves even a perception that Ukraine made concessions under USRussian pressure, his opponents both seasoned political rivals and new post-war contenders would be quick to capitalise on public dissatisfaction. Thus, the Alaska summit is not only about Ukraines territorial integrity, but also about the political realities that could define Zelenskyys postwar future. Politics as the decisive battleground Ultimately, the fight for Zelenskyy is political before it is legal. The constitution may forbid territorial concessions, but if international negotiations proceed without Ukraine, the resulting agreements could still shape the political reality on the ground. In such a case, Kyiv could be forced into the politically impossible choice of either accepting terms that violate its legal principles or rejecting them at the cost of losing critical international support. It is indeed an existential crisis more for Zelenskyy than Ukraine. The UK government announced plans to deport convicted foreign nationals from England and Wales immediately after sentencing. The move comes as the Starmer administration seeks to present a tough stance on border security. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government announced plans to deport convicted foreign nationals from England and Wales immediately after sentencing. The move comes as the Starmer administration seeks to present a tough stance on border security. It is pertinent to note that the move is based on legislation introduced in June, which, from September, allows the government to deport a prisoner once they have served 30 per cent of their sentence, down from 50 per cent that is in place. However, the threshold will not be removed entirely, the Home Office said in a statement on Sunday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With the threshold now removed entirely, the move would enable the authorities to start the deportation process of the convict as soon as the sentencing is concluded. Supporting the legislation, labour ministers argued that the move would also reduce prison overcrowding, cut costs and prevent reoffending in the UK. Starmer projects a hardline on immigration It is important to note that the policy will be presented in the parliament in due course. The proposed law is expected to be applied to both the current inmates and those who will be sentenced in the future, the British Home Office said in a statment. In recent months, Starmer has sought to project a hardline stance on immigration, especially regarding crimes committed by foreigners. Many believe that Starmer is getting more inclined towards dealing with the issue as he seeks to fend off the electoral threat posed by Nigel Farages populist party, Reform UK. Meanwhile, Farage has already pledged to deport more than 10,000 foreign criminals if his party comes to power, as well as hugely expand the UKs prison capacity by building new facilities and renting jail space overseas from countries such as El Salvador. Some exceptions The measures announced would not apply to offenders who are serving life sentences, including those convicted of murder or terrorism-related offences. Hence, individuals who are deemed to pose a threat to national security or British interests would continue to remain in the UK. Foreign nationals account for about 12 per cent of the prison population in England and Wales. Interestingly, Albanians represent the largest foreign nationality group in British prisons. The average annual cost of a prison place is 54,000, according to official figures. According to UK government data, 5,200 foreign national offenders were deported since July 2024, a 14 per cent rise on the previous 12 months. Apart from this, the UK Ministry of Justice has also spent 5 million deploying specialist staff to almost 80 prisons in a bid to accelerate deportations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The UK struggles with a major prison overcrowding crisis, with prisons across Britain at about 97.5 per cent capacity. The Labour government has sought to tackle the crisis by releasing some prisoners early if they have committed less serious offences. However, the move has been criticised by the politicians on the right. An explosion at a US Steel plant near Pittsburgh on Monday has killed one person and injured multiple others, with at least two people missing, police said, as fire crews could be seen battling flames while heavy smoke rose from the facility. Emergency crew gather after an explosion at the Clairton Coke Works, a US Steel coking plant, on Monday in Clairton, Penn. AP An explosion at a US Steel plant near Pittsburgh on Monday has killed one person and injured multiple others, with at least two people missing, police said, as fire crews could be seen battling flames while heavy smoke rose from the facility. The explosion occurred at about 11 am at the U.S. Clairton Coke Works plant, which is owned by US Steel, a subsidiary of Nippon Steel. According to a Reuters report, Allegheny County Police spokesperson Jim Madalinsky said at least two people are missing, one person has been confirmed dead, and multiple others were injured. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD While the severity of the injuries remains unclear, local reports indicate that several victims were transported to hospital burn units for treatment. Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the explosion. Earlier, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro confirmed via social media that his administration is in contact with local officials as emergency crews respond to the incident. The scene is still active, and folks nearby should follow the direction of local authorities, he wrote, asking readers to join him in prayer for the Clairton community. Abigail Gardner, director of communications for Allegheny County, told the Associated Press that the explosion sent black smoke spiralling into the midday sky in the Monongahela Valley, a region synonymous with the state for more than a century. It felt like thunder, AP quoted Zachary Buday, a construction worker near the scene, as saying to WTAE-TV. Shook the scaffold, shook my chest, and shook the building, and then when we saw the dark smoke coming up from the steel mill and put two and two together, and its like something bad happened, he added. An Allegheny County emergency services spokesperson, Kasey Reigner, said dozens were injured and the county was sending 15 ambulances, on top of the ambulances supplied by local emergency response agencies. Clairton Plant is about 32km south of Pittsburgh on the west bank of the Monongahela River. The largest coke manufacturing facility in the US, Clairton Plant operates 10 coke oven batteries and produces about 4.3 million tonnes of coke per year, according to US Steel. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The facility serves customers in the commercial coke market as well as US Steels steelmaking facilities. With inputs from agencies In its crusade against Americas top university, the Trump administration demanded $1 billion to settle antisemitism claims and release federal funds to the University of California, the largest sum demanded from any institution. In yet another attack against top universities in the United States, President Donald Trumps administration is seeking more than $1 billion from the University of California, Los Angeles, to restore its research funding. The government have been pushing its claim of antisemitism at UCLA over the universitys response to the 2024 student protests related to the Gaza crisis. The figure is five times the sum Columbia University agreed to pay to settle similar federal accusations of antisemitism. The draft of the settlement obtained by The New York Times calls for the university to make a $1 billion payment to the US government and to contribute $172 million to a claims fund that would compensate victims of civil rights violations. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD If UCLA accepts the settlement, it would be the largest payout by far for any university that has reached a deal with the White House so far. Earlier, Columbia University agreed to pay $221 million in connection with its settlement with the government, and Brown University pledged to spend $50 million with state workforce programs. In response to the Trump administrations latest demand, the University of Californias president, James B. Milliken, said in a statement on Friday that the university had just received a document from the Department of Justice and is reviewing it. 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," he added. The sharp turn toward UCLA Ever since coming to power, the Trump administration has largely targeted elite private universities, referring to it as a campaign to fight against antisemitism and reshape institutions that it views as cathedrals of liberalism. However, his crusade against UCLA has been extremely sharp. On July 29, the day after the university settled a lawsuit that accused it of allowing pro-Palestinian protesters to block Jewish students on campus, the Justice Department said it believed UCLA had committed civil rights violations. In the same week, Dr Julio Frenk, UCLAs chancellor, stated that the federal government had begun freezing research funds. Interestingly, the White Houses wrath towards UCLA fit into a broad pattern of how the Trump administration has targeted California. All this can be attributed to the fact that the states governor, Gavin Newsom, is one of President Trumps top political foes and a potential candidate for the White House. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Last week, a day before the Trump administration demanded the new settlement, Newsom suggested that the University of California would not bow to the federal government. I will fight like hell to make sure that doesnt happen, said Newsom, an ex officio member of the universitys board of regents. There are principles. Theres right and wrong, and well do the right thing, and what President Trump is doing is wrong, and everybody knows it. The California governor made it clear that he would do everything in my power to encourage them to do the right thing and not to become another law firm that bends on their knees, another company that sells their soul, or another institution that takes a shortcut and takes the easy wrong versus the hard right. However, UCLA maintained that it is willing to speak to the federal government. Milliken, the systems newly installed president, said on Wednesday that the university had agreed to engage in dialogue with the federal administration. Though it sharply criticised the administrations moves against funding. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD These cuts do nothing to address antisemitism, said Milliken, who started his job on August 1. Moreover, the extensive work that UCLA and the entire University of California have taken to combat antisemitism has been ignored." US President Donald Trump said that homeless people must move out of Washington, DC, as he pledged to tackle crimes in the city. However, the mayor of the countrys capital pushed back against the White Houses move to compare Washington, DC, to Baghdad. In yet another provocative remark, US President Donald Trump said that homeless people must move out of Washington, DC, as he pledged to tackle crimes in the city. However, the mayor of the countrys capital pushed back against the White Houses move to compare Washington, DC, to Baghdad. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital, Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Sunday. The Republican firebrand also discussed the matter in a press conference on Monday, sharing his plans to make the city safer and more beautiful than it ever was before. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In response to Trumps remarks, Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, said: We are not experiencing a crime spike. Last month, the American president signed an executive order, making it easier for authorities to arrest homeless people. Last week, he also ordered federal law enforcement into the streets of Washington, DC, to tackle the issue. What is Trump going to do with the homeless? In his Sunday rant on Truth Social, Trump demanded that homeless people be moved out of the capital. The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY, Trump wrote in his post. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you dont have to move out. Were going to put you in jail where you belong. He went on to share photos of tents and rubbish littering the city. There will be no MR. NICE GUY. We want our Capital BACK. Thank you for your attention to this matter! he added. However, the specifics of the presidents plan are not yet clear. However, in a 2022 speech, he proposed moving homeless people to high-quality tents on inexpensive land outside cities, while providing access to bathrooms and medical professionals. Trumps social media post came just days after he ordered federal agents - including from US Park Police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI and the US Marshals Service - into Washington, DC, to curb what he called totally out of control levels of crime. Last week, a White House official told National Park Radio that up to 450 federal officers were deployed on Saturday night. The move came after a 19-year-old former employee of the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) was assaulted in an alleged attempted carjacking in Washington, DC. Trump lashed out about the incident on social media, sharing the video of the bloodied victim. Meanwhile, on Sunday, Mayor Bowser told MSNBC, It is true that we had a terrible spike in crime in 2023, but this is not 2023. We have spent over the last two years driving down violent crime in this city, driving it down to a 30-year low. She went on to slam White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller for dubbing the US capital more violent than Baghdad. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Any comparison to a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false, Bowser said. It is pertinent to note that the homicide rate in Washington, DC, remains relatively high per capita compared to other US cities, with a total of 98 such killings recorded so far this year. However, federal data from January suggested that Washington, DC, last year recorded its lowest overall violent crime figures, once carjacking, assault and robberies are incorporated, in 30 years. Meanwhile, Trump has said that there will be a news conference at the White House on Monday, outlining their plans to stop violent crime in the US capital. Hours before a trade truce between Washington and Beijing was set to expire, US President Donald Trump on Monday signed an order postponing the reimposition of higher tariffs on Chinese imports, according to multiple US media reports Hours before a trade truce between Washington and Beijing was set to expire, US President Donald Trump on Monday signed an order postponing the reimposition of higher tariffs on Chinese imports, according to multiple US media reports. The tariff freeze will now remain in effect for an additional 90 days, reported The Wall Street Journal and CNBC. The United States and China, the worlds two largest economies, had exchanged tit-for-tat tariffs earlier this year before agreeing to a temporary truce during talks in May. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Earlier in the day President Trump dodged a question about whether he would extend the August 12 deadline for imposing higher tariffs on Chinese goods, saying well see what happens. Weve been dealing very nicely with China. As you have probably heard, they have tremendous tariffs that theyre paying to the United States of America, Reuters had quoted Trump as saying at a news conference at the White House. Theyve been dealing quite nicely, he said, adding that he had a good relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. A tariff truce between the US and China was set to expire on August 12, though the Trump administration had signaled the deadline could be extended. Without an extension, the US tariffs on Chinese goods would have surged to 145%, while Chinese tariffs on American products could have reached 125%. The two countries agreed to a 90-day pause in their trade dispute during talks in Geneva this May, allowing time for further negotiations. A follow-up meeting in Stockholm in late July ended without any announcement on extending the truce. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington is making progress and expressed optimism about reaching a deal with Beijing. With the clock ticking, Trump on Sunday night called on China to quadruple its purchases of American soybeans and noted that doing so would help reduce Americas trade deficit with China. China is worried about its shortage of soybeans, Trump wrote on Truth Social in a message directed to Xi Jinping, Chinas leader. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Our great farmers produce the most robust soybeans, he added. With inputs from agencies Japans foreign resident population stood at about 3.7 million at the end of last year, up 11 per cent from the previous year. Unlike Western nations who are alarmed by such trends, prominent economists think this would be ideal for fiscal health People make their way at Ameyoko shopping district in Tokyo, Japan, May 20, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon/ File While many Western nations are tightening immigration policies, Japan is taking a markedly different approach. In a country grappling with a rapidly ageing population, Japan increasingly sees the rise in foreign residents as a blessing, not a burden. A recent survey by Nikkei and the Japan Center for Economic Research asked 47 prominent economists whether an influx of foreign workers would improve Japans fiscal health. Twothirds (66 per cent) agreed, citing the tax and social insurance contributions of typically younger foreign residents and their role in easing labour shortages. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Seventy-six percent also believed the standard of living for the average Japanese citizen would benefit, pointing to improved availability of goods and services, greater price stability, and productivity gains from workplace diversity. Japans foreign resident population stood at about 3.7 million at the end of last year, up 11 per cent from the previous year, yet still comprises only 3 per cent of the total populationfar below the 11 per cent average among OECD countries. Why Japan welcomes immigrants Economists say Japans situation is different because of its shrinking workforce and low birth rate. Greater acceptance of foreigners will boost the ratio of prime-age labour force and result in higher tax revenue and social security contributions, said Hiroyuki Kasahara, a professor at the University of British Columbia. Research suggests competition between Japanese and foreign workers for jobs is limited. Empirical research has shown that foreign and Japanese workers primarily have complementary relationships and do not negatively impact the wages or unemployment rates of Japanese workers, said Chiaki Moriguchi, a professor at Hitotsubashi University. Western backlash over migration By contrast, in many Western countries, public and political sentiment has shifted sharply against immigration. In a recent Gallup poll, 55 per cent of Americans in mid2024 said they wanted to see immigration reduced, marking the highest level since 2001. Many voiced concerns over economic competition, labour markets, and strain on public services. Though more recent polling shows sentiment has moderated, this reflected significant resistance to rising immigrant numbers. In the UK, the government has introduced a one in, one out scheme limiting asylum seekers as public frustration mounts; media commentary suggests the political centre has shifted right, with mainstream leaders adopting tougher views previously held by fringe parties. Across Western Europe, 5080 per cent of respondents in countries including Germany, Spain, the UK, Italy, Sweden, and France said immigration over the past decade has been too high, with many deeming it detrimental. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The European Union is increasingly adopting hardline policies, including moving to process asylum seekers in nonEU countries, to manage public concern. Samsung launched the Galaxy M36 5G smartphone recently as the successor to the Galaxy M35 5G. This retains the camera and SoC from the predecessor, but brings back the notch to the AMOLED screen and has reduced the price. Is this a good phone under the Rs. 20,000 segment? Let us dive into the review to find out. Box Contents Samsung Galaxy M36 5G 6GB RAM, 128GB storage version in Orange Haze colour USB Type-C to C Cable SIM ejector tool Quick Start Guide and Warranty information Display, Hardware and Design The Galaxy M35 5G comes with a 6.7-inch Full HD+ Infinity-U Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 10802340 pixels at about 384PPI. The display looks bright, thanks to 1000 nits peak brightness, It offers good color reproduction and the sunlight legibility is good as well. Since it has an AMOLED panel, it offers true blacks. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ protection that you dont see in the phones in the price range. It has a 120Hz refresh rate screen that offers a fluid user experience with smoother animations, scrolling and gaming. Similar to the other Samsung phones, there is an Eye comfort shield that limit blue light emitted by the screen. There is also dark mode, which looks great on the AMOLED screen. You can choose from Vivid or Natural screen modes based on your preference, or set the white balance manually. The phone doesnt have DC dimming or low brightness anti-flicker mode that is present in some AMOLED screen phones in the price range. I didnt notice any screen flicker issues in low brightness on the phone. It doesnt have notification LED, but there is Always on display. On the top, there is an 13-megapixel camera in the notch, which replaces the punch-hole in the older model. The earpiece is present on the top edge, but it doesnt double up as a secondary speaker. There is a small chin below the screen. Coming to the button placements, the power button that houses the fingerprint scanner and the volume rockers are present on the right side. The hybrid dual SIM slot is present on the left. The primary microphone, USB Type-C port and the loudspeaker grill are on the bottom. The secondary microphone is on the top. The sides have a plastic frame with a matte finish, so it doesnt attract fingerprints easily, and the grip is also good since the phone has a sharp frame. On the back, there is a triple camera module inside the camera deco, along with a flash next to it. The phone is just 7.7mm thick, making it 1.4mm thinner than the M35, and is also 25 grams lighter at 197 grams. This is mainly due to reduction of battery capacity from 6000mAh to 5000mAh. The phone has a plastic back with a matte finish that doesnt attract fingerprints or smudges, but it is prone to scratches with day-to-day use, so it is recommended to use a case, which is not included in the box. In addition to the Orange colour variant that we have, the phone also comes in Velvet Black and Serene Green colours. The phone doesnt have IP ratings. Camera 50MP rear camera with f/1.8 aperture, OIS 8MP ultra-wide angle camera with f/2.2 aperture 2MP macro sensor with f/2.4 aperture 13MP front camera with f/2.2 aperture You can choose 50MP option from the aspect ratio settings on the top. It also has scene optimizer, Pro mode, Pro video, Night, Macro, Panorama, Food, Super Slow-mo, Slow motion, Hyperlapse and single take. There is also a wide-angle option for the front camera. Coming to the image quality, daylight shots are good, and the camera captures a good amount of detail, creates well exposed photos with good dynamic range and detailing, and dynamic range can further be improved enabling HDR mode from the settings, which automatically turns on HDR when needed. Even though the phone has a 50-megapixel sensor, the final output has 12-megapixel resolution. Autofocus speeds are fast and accurate. Ultra-wide shots from the 8MP camera is decent. Macro shots from the main camera is good, but the dedicated macro camera mode is not useful. Portrait shots are good, thanks to Samsungs algorithm in detecting the edges. Low-light performance is decent, but you cant expect much, it can be improved further with Night mode that offers more details, but you need to keep your hand steady, since it takes two to three seconds to process. The 13-megapixel front camera is decent in most cases. Software blur has good edge detection in portrait shots. Check out some camera samples. It can record videos at maximum 4K resolution at 30 fps from both front and main rear camera. The rear camera can also shoot 1080p 60fps videos, but the stabilization works only in 30fps when its enabled in the settings. The ultra-wide camera has 1080p 30 fps recording. The normal stabilization works with both ultra-wide and main camera, but only the main camera has OIS. There is a separate Super steady mode which uses the ultra-wide camera to capture the video in 1080p 30fps. You can switch between normal and ultra-wide cameras when video recording is in progress in 1080p, and also switch between the front and rear cameras when recording a video in 4K. It can shoot slow motion at 720p at 480fps and there is also super slow motion. Video quality is good. Software, UI and Apps Coming to the software, the phone runs on Android 15 with July 2025 update. On the top of Android 15, it has the latest Samsung One UI 7, which brings several new features. Similar to the other latest Samsung devices, the company has confirmed 6 OS updates and 6 years of security updates for the M36 5G. Unlike the AI features in the flagship S series phones, the M36 5G only gets has generative wallpapers. The Device maintenance option lets you manage your devices battery life, storage, RAM usage, and security all in one place. Out of 128GB (UFS 2.2) storage in our unit, 104GB is free. Out of 6GB LPDDR4x RAM, about 5.4GB is usable and 2.2GB is free when default apps are running in the background. There is also a RAM Plus feature, which uses the internal memory of the phone to expand the RAM by an extra 6GB, in addition to the existing 6GB of RAM. This is enabled automatically, but it can be disabled. Apart from the usual set of utility apps and Google Apps, the smartphone comes with Netflix, Truecaller, Snapchat, PhonePe, DailyHunt, Spotify and Microsoft apps such as Microsoft 365, OneDrive, Outlook and LinkedIn. You get the option to install apps when you are setting up the phone, which you can choose not to. It also has Samsung Wallet via NFC. The phone doesnt have ads, but shows notifications of new Samsung products occasionally. Fingerprint sensor and Face unlock Even though the phone an AMOLED screen, it still has a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. You can add up to 3 fingerprints, and adding fingerprint is easy. It has support for Face recognition, which doesnt work well if the lighting is poor in the room, if you are hats, or use heavy makeup. Both these are protected by Knox security. Music Player and Multimedia YouTube Music is the default music player. It has equalizer, Dolby Atmos, UHQ upscaler, and Adapt that can be enabled from the settings. All these improve the audio when listening through earphones, and Dolby Atmos also works with speakers. It doesnt have FM Radio support. That said, audio through earphones is good. Loudspeaker output from the stereo speakers is decent since the bottom speaker is dominant. The phone comes with Widevine L1 support out-of-the-box so that you can enjoy HD content on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hotstar and other streaming apps. There is also HDR playback support for YouTube, but it doesnt work with Netflix. Dual SIM and Connectivity It has support for 5G SA and NSA with support for N1, N3, N5, N7, N8, N20, N28, N38, N40, N41, N66, N77 and N78 Network Bands in India. Other connectivity options include, Wi-Fi 802.11 ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz), Bluetooth v5.3 and GPS with GLONASS. It has support for USB OTG and NFC that works with supported payment apps. It has 4G connectivity and has Voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) and Wi-Fi Calling or Vo-Wi-Fi support for Reliance Jio, Airtel and more, and also has support for LTE-A or Carrier Aggregation. The Galaxy M36 5Gs head SAR is at 0.455/Kg which is less than the M35 5G, and is well under the limit in India which is 1.6 W/kg (over 1 g). Performance and Benchmarks The Galaxy M36 5G is powered by the tried and tested Exynos 1380 5nm SoC, same as the predecessor. This has 4 x 2.4GHz Cortex-A78 Performance CPUs and 4 x 2GHz Cortex-A55 Efficiency CPUs. I didnt face any performance issues with normal use, but this might not be the best for gaming. Samsung says that the phone has vapor chamber cooling that you rarely see in a phone in the price range. In 3D Mark wild life stress test, it scored 97.1% which is good, and the temperature shot up from 31 to 39 degrees. That said, check out some synthetic benchmark scores below. Battery life The Galaxy M36 5G has a 5000mAh battery compared to 6000mAh in the M35. I got about 3.5 hours of screen on time mostly on Wi-Fi and occasionally on 5G with 1 day of use in 120Hz refresh rate. The SoT is slightly less than the M35. It should last for a day easily, for average use and less than that for heavy use. Samsung doesnt offer a charger in the box, and the phone supports 25W charging, the same as older models. With the official 25W PPS fast charger, it takes about 1 and half hours to reach 100%, and 0 to 50% took about 45 minutes. Conclusion To conclude, the Samsung Galaxy M36 5G presents a compelling, albeit compromised, package for its sub-Rs. 20,000 price point. Its strengths are significant: the 120Hz Super AMOLED display protected by Gorilla Glass Victus+ is a standout feature in this segment, and the 50MP OIS-enabled camera delivers reliable performance for photos and 4K videos. However, its most significant advantage is the unparalleled software promise of 6 OS and security updates, offering longevity that competitors simply cannot match. However there are trade-offs such as Infinity-U notch that feels like a regression from its predecessor, and the reduction to a 5000mAh battery, while making the phone slimmer, results in slightly less screen-on time. Ultimately, the Galaxy M36 5G is not for the user seeking the absolute best performance or the fastest charging speeds. Instead, it is an excellent and sensible choice for those who prioritize a premium viewing experience, a dependable camera, and, most importantly, long-term software support and security in a well-rounded device from a trusted brand. Pricing and availability The Samsung Galaxy M36 5G is priced at Rs. 17,499 for the 6GB + 128GB model, Rs. 18,999 for the 8GB + 128GB model and the top-end 8GB + 256GB model is priced Rs. 20,999. It is available from Amazon.in, Samsung India online store, and select retail stores. Pros 120Hz AMOLED display is good Good camera in daylight, OIS Smooth performance Promise of 6 OS updates and 6 years of security updates Cons Infinity-U display Battery life could be better No stereo speakers 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. Nathan graduated with his journalism degree from Auburn University in 2017. After growing up in the flatlands of rural Alabama with his parents and older sister, Nathan enjoys Western Colorado's natural resources and recreational opportunities. He currently covers education and business for The Daily Sentinel. MOFA investigates suspected leak of official documents ROC Central News Agency 08/09/2025 12:31 PM Taipei, Aug. 9 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said Friday it is investigating a suspected leak of official documents, amid reports that they were up for sale on the dark web. MOFA said in a statement that it formed an investigation team soon after learning of the incident to determine the scope of the leak and how it happened. It did not rule out the possibility that employees were involved. If confirmed, the case will be referred to prosecutors, the ministry said. The ministry gave no further details, saying only that the documents mostly date from 2024 and may have been forged or altered before being posted on the dark web. It warned against any attempt to forward or use those documents to "avoid breaking the law and jeopardizing national interests." At the same time, MOFA said, it will review its electronic document management protocols and work to strengthen the security of the system. (By Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/kb NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address An Israeli soldier detained on suspicion of espionage for Iran IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 10, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Israeli authorities have reported the arrest of one of their military personnel on charges of collaborating with the Iranian intelligence apparatus. According to a joint statement by the Israeli regime's police and internal security service (Shin Bet), the detainee is accused of conducting operations for the Iranian intelligence apparatus during his military tenure, as reported by the Palestinian Sama news agency on Sunday. The detained soldier allegedly performed multiple tasks at the direction of Iranian intelligence operatives while in the Israeli military. The arrest marks the latest in a series of claims by Israeli authorities about apprehending individuals suspected of working with Iranian intelligence services. In recent months, Israel has repeatedly announced similar arrests of alleged collaborators with Tehran's security and intelligence services. 3266**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Contracts Contracts For Aug. 8, 2025 NAVY TOTE Services Inc., Jacksonville, Florida, is being awarded a $311,412,239 firm-fixed-price contract (N3220525C4020) inclusive of pass-through elements for the operation and maintenance of Sea-Based X-Band Radar Platform (SBX-1). The vessel is operated for the Missile Defense Agency to provide limited test support services and is a contingency component of the Ground Based Mid-Course Defense element of the Ballistic Missile Defense System for the U.S. Strategic Command. This contract contains a 12-month base period with four 12-month option periods and one 6-month option period under Federal Acquisition Regulation 52.217-8. The contract will be performed on a worldwide basis beginning Oct. 1, 2025, and will conclude March 31, 2031, if all options are exercised. This contract was solicited using full and open competition, via the Government Point of Entry website and one proposal was received. Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity. Huntington Ingalls Inc., Newport News, Virginia, is awarded a $276,131,707 cost-plus- incentive-fee and cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-24-C-2106) for additional advance planning effort and long-lead-time material required for the accomplishment of the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) Refueling Complex Overhaul. Work will be performed in Newport News, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by September 2026. Fiscal 2025 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $65,000,000 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Galvion Technologies LLC,* Portsmouth, New Hampshire, was awarded a $131,396,295 firm-fixed-price indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Integrated Helmet System. This contract provides for the procurement of Integrated Helmet System with associated components and accessories. The ordering period will be a maximum of five years and is expected to be completed in August 2030. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual task/delivery orders as they are issued. The requirement was procured under the authority of 10 U.S. Code 4022(f) as a follow-on agreement to the prototype agreement (M67854-20-9-1001). Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-25-D-5300). BAE Systems - San Diego Ship Repair, San Diego, California, was awarded a $64,116,819 firm-fixed-price contract action for maintenance, modernization and repair of USS O'Kane (DDG 77) fiscal 2026 docking selected restricted availability. The scope of this acquisition includes all labor, supervision, equipment, production, testing, facilities, and quality assurance necessary to prepare for and accomplish the Chief of Naval Operations Availability for critical modernization, maintenance, and repair programs. This contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $68,483,520. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by January 2027. Fiscal 2025 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $64,322,679; and fiscal 2025 operation and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $11,442, will be obligated at the time of award, of which $11,442 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively solicited using full and open competition via the System for Award Management website, with four offers received. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N0002425C4406). (Awarded on Aug. 7, 2025) CACI, Inc. - Federal, Chantilly, Virginia, is being awarded a $62,490,208 modification (P00020) to a previously awarded indefinite delivery/indefinite-quantity contract (M67854-19-D-7614). This modification will increase the contract ceiling amount by $62,490,208 from $249,960,831 to $312,451,039. This increase will allow continued Post Deployment System support services including service management, service operations; production and pre-production system sustainment; solution development environment; enterprise training and training devices; product lifecycle support; and service transition for change requests, engineering change proposals, and reduction of reports, interfaces, customizations, and extensions; and potential tasks to support Global Combat Support System - Marine Corps future initiatives under the existing contract. The current ordering period of the contract ends Dec. 25, 2026. Work will be performed in Stafford, Virginia (90%); Kansas City, Missouri (5%); and other locations (5%), and is expected to be complete in December 2026. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. This action was not competitively procured pursuant to Federal Acquisition Regulation 6.302-1. Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-19-D-7614). Bristol Design Build Services LLC, Anchorage, Alaska (N69450-21-D-0064); HGL Construction Inc., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (N69450-21-D-0065); Klutina River Contractors, Irvine, California (N69450-21-D-0066); PacWest-Korte JV, Temecula, California (N69450-21-D-0067); The Clement Group LLC, Montgomery, Alabama (N69450-21-D-0068); VHB LLC, Boyds, Maryland (N69450-21-D-0069); Walga Ross Group 3 JV, Joplin, Missouri (N69450-21-D-0070); EMR Inc., Niceville, Florida (N69450-22-D-0025); and Tybe-Garney Federal JV LLC, Newbern, Tennessee (N69450-22-D-0026), are awarded a combined-maximum-value $58,000,000 firm-fixed-price modification to increase the capacity of their respective, previously-awarded contracts for general building type projects. Award of this modification brings the total cumulative value for all nine contracts combined to $307,000,000. Work will be performed in Florida (67%) and Tennessee (33%) and is expected to be completed by September 2026. No funds will be obligated at time of award. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity. Marinette Marine Corp., Marinette, Wisconsin, is awarded a $43,114,274 cost-plus-fixed-fee and cost-only modification to previously awarded contract (N00024-20-C-2300) to exercise the option and provide funding for engineering and class design support for the Constellation-class Guided Missile Frigate. Work will be performed in Camden, New Jersey (42%); Arlington, Virginia (30%); Millersville, Maryland (9%); Marinette, Wisconsin (5%); Annapolis, Maryland (2%); Hanover, Maryland (2%); Walpole, Massachusetts (1%); Mobile, Alabama (1%); Evans, Georgia (1%); Segrate, Italy (1%); Rome, Italy (1%); Mathews, Louisiana (1%); Hauppauge, New York (1%); Columbus, Ohio (1%); Allentown, Pennsylvania (1%); and Arvonia, Virginia (1%), and is expected to be completed by August 2026. Fiscal 2025 shipbuilding and conversion (Navy) funds in the amount of $2,500,000 will be obligated at time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Innovatus Technology Consulting,* San Diego, California, is awarded a $20,257,747 cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity modification to a previously issued contract (N6600122D0009). This modification provides for software and system engineering, design, development, configuration, integration, testing and life-cycle support services that are needed to support the Business Management Corporation Remedy Information Technology Service Management Enterprise System at Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Pacific. Place of performance will be determined at task order level. Work is expected to be completed in August 2030. No funds will be obligated at the time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. NIWC Pacific, San Diego, California, is the contracting activity. Northrop Grumman Systems Corp., Mission Systems Sector, Linthicum Heights, Maryland, is awarded a $18,537,253 cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to the previously awarded contract (N00024-22-C-5520) to exercise an option for design agent engineering of Surface Electronic Warfare Improvement Program Block 3 systems. Work will be performed in Baltimore, Maryland (55%); Tampa, Florida (6%); Andover, Massachusetts (5%); Chelmsford, Massachusetts (4%); Rochester, New York (3%); San Diego, California (3%); Los Angeles, California (2%); Winona, Minnesota (2%); Stafford Springs, Connecticut (2%); Glendale, Arizona (1%); Nashua, New Hampshire (1%); Elk Grove Village, Illinois (1%); White Marsh, Maryland (1%); Tucson, Arizona (1%); Chandler, Arizona (1%); Washington, North Carolina (1%); Woodridge, Illinois (1%); Richardson, Texas (1%); Minneapolis, Minnesota (1%); El Cajon, California (1%); Hiawatha, Iowa (1%); Littleton, Colorado (1%); Glendale, California (1%); and miscellaneous locations - each less than 1% (4%), and is expected to be completed by August 2026. Fiscal 2025 other procurement (Navy) funds in the amount of $1,725,263 (36%); fiscal 2025 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds in the amount of $3,080,909 (64%); and fiscal 2025 research, development, testing and evaluation funds in the amount of $14,029 (<1%), will be obligated at time of award. The $3,080,909 (64%), fiscal 2025 operations and maintenance (Navy) funds are expiring funds and will be invoking the 10 U.S. Code 3133 Authority. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. Lockheed Martin, Rotary and Mission Systems, Moorestown, New Jersey, is awarded a $18,601,447 cost-plus-incentive-fee and cost type modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-23-C-5101) to integrate and test one Engineering Development Model of fully functional AN/SPY-7(v)3 radar system. This contract involves Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to the government of Canada. Work will be performed in Moorestown, New Jersey and is expected to be completed by December 2027. FMS (Canada) funds in the amount of $18,601,447 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity. M.C. Dean Inc., Tysons, Virginia, is awarded a $15,566,212 firm-fixed-price contract for the construction of a secure working area in the renovated P-8A operations & fleet support facilities at Keflavik Air Station, Iceland. Work will be performed in Keflavik, Iceland and is expected to be completed by October 2027. Fiscal 2025 operations and maintenance (Navy) contract funds in the amount of $15,566,212 are obligated on this award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured via the Solicitation Module in the Procurement Integrated Enterprise Environment, with four proposals received. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command, Europe Africa Central, Naples, Italy, is the contracting activity (N33191-25-C-6008). Continental Maritime of San Diego LLC, San Diego, California, was awarded a $573,412 firm-fixed-price contract action for maintenance, modernization and repair of USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) fiscal 2026 Docking Selected Restricted Availability. This contract includes options, which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $112,669,566. The scope of this acquisition includes all labor, supervision, equipment, production, testing, and quality assurance necessary to prepare for and accomplish the Chief of Naval Operations Availability for critical modernization, maintenance, and repair programs. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by June 2027. Fiscal 2025 other procurement, (Navy) funds in the amount of $573,412 will be obligated at the time of award, of which none of the funding will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using full and open competition via the System for Award Management website, with four offers received. Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, D.C., is the contracting activity (N0002425C4419). (Awarded on Aug. 7, 2025) DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY Ameriqual Group LLC, doing business as Ameriqual Packaging, Evansville, Indiana (SPE3S1-25-D-Z205, $221,062,100); and Baxters North America Inc., doing business as The Wornick Co., Cincinnati, Ohio (SPE3S1-25-D-Z206, $25,308,625), have each been awarded a fixed-price with economic-price-adjustment, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract under solicitation SPE3S1-22-R-0012 for unitized group ration-A modules. This was a competitive acquisition with three responses received. These are five-year contracts with no option periods. The ordering period end date is Aug. 7, 2030. Using military service is Army. Type of appropriation is fiscal 2025 through 2030 defense working capital funds. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Troop Support, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. CORRECTION: The contract announced on Aug. 1, 2025, for The Source Group Inc., Signal Hill, California (SPE603-25-D-5003), for $26,513,566 was announced with an incorrect award date. The correct award date is Aug. 6, 2025. The contracting activity is the Defense Logistics Agency Energy, Fort Belvoir, Virginia. AIR FORCE Intellisense Systems Inc., Torrance, California, was awarded a $58,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity, firm-fixed-price contract, for the sustainment and procurement for the Advanced Micro Weather Station (AMWS) and Integrated Weather Observation System (IWOS) for the Expeditionary Weather Program. This contract provides contractor logistics support and procurement of the IWOS and AMWS to sustain the currently fielded ExMet systems, observation, forecast, modeling, imagery, and computational solutioned developed and fielded for the ExMet Program. Work will be performed at Torrance, California, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 12, 2030. This contract was a Small Business Innovation Research Phase III sole source acquisition. Fiscal 2025 operations and maintenance appropriations funds in the amount of $1,942,941 will be obligated on the first task order. The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA2330-25-D-B001). Razor Consulting Solutions Inc., Watford City, North Dakota (FA4600-25-D-0002); MCL-MRK VII LLC, La Vista, Nebraska (FA4600-25-D-0003); Matai Services LLC, Kansas City, Missouri (FA4600-25-D-0004); Infinite Energy Construction Inc., Kansas City, Missouri (FA4600-25-D-0005); Shekar Engineering P.L.C., Des Moines, Iowa (FA4600-25-D-0006); Elkhorn West Construction Inc., Omaha, Nebraska (FA4600-25-D-0007); MDM Construction LLC, West Fargo, North Dakota (FA4600-25-D-0008); and Leisnoi Professional Services LLC, Kodiak, Alaska (FA4600-25-D-0009), were awarded ceiling $49,999,999 firm-fixed-price, multiple award, construction contract. This provides for general construction projects. Work will be performed at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, as is expected to be completed on July 30, 2030. These contracts were competitive acquisitions and 24 offers were received. Fiscal 2025 operational and maintenance appropriations funds in the amount of $478,298 are being obligated at time of award. The 55th Contracting Squadron, Offutt AFB, Nebraska, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Aug. 1, 2025) ARMY City Light and Power JBLM LLC, Greenwood Village, Colorado, was awarded a $33,506,686 firm-fixed-price contract with a cumulative total face value of $34,860,907 for construction of a microgrid. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work will be performed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, with an estimated completion date of Aug. 27, 2029. Fiscal 2025 military construction, defense-wide funds in the amount of $33,506,686 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville, Kentucky, is the contracting activity (W912QR-25-C-A018). U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND Carbon 9 Defense LLC, Annapolis Junction, Maryland, was awarded a $9,654,861 firm-fixed price order for Splunk products (N6600120A0022) for a period of 12 months. U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity. *Small business https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/4270261/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - France(01) 07/08/2025 Algeria Ministry of Foreign Affairs Algerian authorities carefully examined the letter addressed by the French President to his Prime Minister, as well as the explanations provided on August 7th to the Charge d'affaires at the Algerian embassy in France by the Quai d'Orsay. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that an examination of the letter and the supporting explanations gives rise to some important preliminary observations. First and foremost, with respect to the deterioration of Algerian-French relations, the letter absolves France of all responsibility and places all blame on the Algerian side. Nothing could be further from the truth and reality. Throughout all phases of the current crisis, the Ministry has regularly issued official statements. These statements systematically established responsibility for the escalation and show that the reactions and countermeasures taken by the Algerian authorities were strictly and rigorously in line with the principle of reciprocity. Secondly, the letter seeks to paint France as a country highly concerned with fulfilling its bilateral and international obligations and Algeria as a State continuously breaching its own. Here too, nothing could be further from the truth and reality. In this case, it is France that has contravened its own domestic legislation. It is also France that has failed to fulfil its commitments, in three respects, under the Algerian French Agreement of 1968 on the movement, employment and residence in France of Algerian nationals and their families, of the Algerian-French consular convention of 1974 and the Algerian-French Agreement of 2013 on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and service passports. It is France, moreover, that has made the Algerian-French Agreement of 1994, on the readmission of Algerian nationals living illegally in France, its sole and only focus, distorting its purpose and misrepresenting its true objectives. It is France, after all, that has renounced its obligations under the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights. All of these French violations were aimed solely at disregarding the acquired rights of Algerian nationals who were often arbitrarily and abusively removed from French territory, depriving them of the administrative and judicial remedies guaranteed to them by French law itself and rendering meaningless the Algerian State's duty of consular protection towards its nationals in all places and at all times. Thirdly, as soon as this crisis, which it had brought upon itself, arose, France framed its management in terms of power relations. It is France that has proceeded with injunctions, ultimatums and summonses. This was to ignore that Algeria does not give in to pressure, threats or blackmail of any kind. These observations determine Algeria's response to the letter sent by the French Head of State to his Prime Minister. Algeria would like to reiterate that it has never requested the conclusion of a bilateral visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic and service passports. On numerous occasions, it has been France, and France alone, that has made such a request. By deciding to suspend this agreement, France is offering Algeria the perfect opportunity to announce its outright denunciation of the same agreement. In accordance with the provisions of Article 08 of the said agreement, the Algerian Government shall immediately notify the French Government of this denunciation through diplomatic channels. From now on, visas granted to French holders of diplomatic and service passports will be subject to the same conditions as those imposed by France on their Algerian counterparts. In relation to the reinstatement of the visa-readmission mechanism, the Algerian Government should note that it is in flagrant violation of the 1968 Algerian-French agreement and the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights. Algeria will provide unfailing consular protection to its nationals in France. It will help them assert their rights and ensure that all the protections guaranteed to them by French and European law against abuse and arbitrary treatment are upheld. The letter sent by the French Head of State to his Prime Minister provides a biased view of the issue of diplomatic and consular staff accreditation in both countries. For more than two years, France has taken the initiative not to grant such accreditations to Algerian consular staff, including three Consuls General and five Consuls. On this issue, as on others, Algeria has simply applied the principle of reciprocity. Once the French restrictions are lifted, Algeria will respond with similar measures. This position has already been communicated to the French authorities and remains in force. In its final provisions, the letter from the French Head of State to his Prime Minister lists a number of bilateral disputes that need to be resolved. Algeria intends to take diplomatic action against France in other disputes that also needs to be settled. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs - France (02) 07.08.2025 Algeria Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Charge d'Affaires at the embassy of the French Republic in Algeria was summoned to the ministry of Foreign Affairs by the Director of Immunities and Privileges, the ministry said in a statement. In this respect, two notes verbales were handed to the French diplomat. The first note verbale formally notified the denunciation by Algeria of the 2013 Algerian-French Agreement on reciprocal visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic and service passports. The denunciation goes further than the simple suspension notified by the French party and definitively puts an end to the very existence of this agreement. Consequently, and without prejudice to the deadlines set out in the agreement, the Algerian Government has decided to subject holders of French diplomatic and service passports to visa requirements with immediate effect. It also reserves the right to make the granting of these visas subject to the same conditions as those that the French Government will impose on Algerian nationals. This is a strict application of the principle of reciprocity, which expresses, above all, Algeria's rejection of France's attempts at provocation, intimidation and bargaining. The second note verbale aims to inform the French side of the Algerian authorities' decision to end the provision, free of charge, of real estate belonging to the Algerian State to the French Embassy in Algeria. This note also announces the review of the highly advantageous leases contracted by the embassy with the OPGI of Algeria and invites the French side to send a delegation to Algiers to begin discussions on this matter. It should be noted that the Algerian diplomatic representation in France does not enjoy any advantages of this nature. Consequently, the Algerian action thus decided also aims to bring balance and reciprocity into the overall Algerian-French relationship. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Georgia Guard Plays Key Role in Agile Spirit 25 By Sgt. 1st Class Brittany Conley, 124th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment August 7, 2025 VAZIANI, Georgia -- Agile Spirit 25 officially concluded Aug. 6 after two weeks of multinational joint training across Georgia and Turkiye. The exercise brought together more than 2,000 troops from nine nations in a full-spectrum display of interoperability, mobility and tactical precision. The Georgia Army National Guard also played a key role in providing leadership and communications during the exercise. "This is the 12th iteration of this exercise, where we have joint multinational partners combined together both in Turkiye and Georgia," said U.S. Army Col. Will Cox, Georgia Army National Guard, and co-exercise director for Agile Spirit 25. "We have a common goal of seeking stability and security in the Black Sea region." Co-led by the Georgian Defense Forces and U.S. Army Europe and Africa, the exercise featured brigade-level command post operations, multinational live-fire events, medical evacuation drills, port operations and a joint forcible airborne entry. These efforts were designed to enhance regional readiness and demonstrate allied cooperation in the Black Sea region. "Under the leadership of the West Command of the Georgian Defense Forces, the main activities of Agile Spirit 25 are conducted across various locations within the Training and Military Education Command," said Georgian Col. Davit Gagua, commander of the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center, or JTEC. "The exercise includes two main components and involves observers from the 7th Army Training Command, whose mission is to assess the capabilities of both JTEC and the Combat Training Center." Leading the U.S. ground force was the 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade. The squadron operated with the Georgian command, which was part of a live opposing force at the Norio Training Area. "Under our command, we had Georgian responding elements as well as 1-91 Cavalry Squadron, a live component that carried out operations against the demonstration group," said Lt. Col. Cesar Topuria, chief of staff of the 2nd Infantry Brigade, Georgian Defense Forces. "Our task was to conduct defensive and counterattack operations to expel enemy elements from the brigade's area of responsibility." U.S. Army Lt. Col. Austin Commons, commander of 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, emphasized the unique value of participating in this year's iteration of Agile Spirit. "Participation in Agile Spirit 25 has provided 1-91 CAV with an opportunity to exercise nearly all of our mission essential tasks. It has increased our squadron's fighting readiness while also providing valuable experience to our paratroopers in deploying to multiple countries, quickly integrating and planning alongside our host nation forces and executing challenging missions," Commons said. Commons highlighted the importance of integrated training during one of the most complex phases of the exercise. "In Turkiye, we had the opportunity to conduct an airborne assault alongside Turkish paratroopers from the 1st Commando Brigade. Airborne assaults are one of the most difficult, dangerous and complex operations we do, so it was critical to work closely with our Turkish allies in preparing for the operation. Planning, rehearsing and conducting complex operations like this together with our allies are critical to ensuring that we're ready to fight together when called upon." Reflecting on what the unit will take back home, Commons said, "Our training in Georgia provided valuable lessons about mission command. Deploying to Georgia, conducting a convoy across the country, training simultaneously at multiple sites and coordinating with our host nation partners required a deliberate effort to put the right leaders in the right places and empower them to operate independently within commander's intent. This was an incredibly valuable experience for our leaders at all levels, and we are a better unit for it." The 22nd Multinational Battalion, operating under the Georgian Defense Forces, also played a key role in field operations and interoperability exercises. "This is the second time the 22nd Battalion has participated in Agile Spirit. Each time, it presents a valuable opportunity to conduct a wide variety of tactical actions with partner countries and to become familiar with different weapon systems in action," said Lt. Col. Giorgi Jalagonia, commander of the 22nd Multinational Battalion. "We mutually share our experiences regarding current global military challenges shaped by ongoing conflicts. Through that exchange, we make each other stronger." Medevac and air assault operations were led by the 3rd Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Armored Division. The battalion also led hot and cold load training, building familiarity and safety across multinational elements. The Georgia Army National Guard provided essential support throughout the exercise. The 122nd Tactical Support Detachment and 560th Battlefield Coordination Detachment co-led the command post exercise in support of Cox, the U.S. exercise co-director. The 124th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment supported communications and public affairs operations. U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jason Westmoreland, Georgia Army National Guard, assigned to the 560th Battlefield Coordination Detachment and supporting the 122nd Tactical Support Detachment, served as the high command, or HICON, chief for the command post exercise. His role functioned as the division commander in the exercise, providing oversight to the 2nd Multinational Brigade. "I provide oversight to the 2nd Multinational Brigade as they conduct their command post exercise," Westmoreland said. "So it's command post exercise for the 2nd Multinational Brigade, mainly hosted by the Georgian Army. They are augmented with U.S. and NATO country soldiers to fill out their staff and to work together to conduct operations in a digital exercise that is facilitated by the HICON that I command, to provide them with higher-level direction and support, and also work with the simulation cell and provide them information that works with the lowercon environment to provide them information from subordinate battalions." "This portion is to exercise command and control. It gives the brigade the opportunity to pull in support from other nations, to bring in fire support, intel, operations and work through issues coming from outside, communications, interpreters, to work these issues and to refine operations and improve processes." Westmoreland noted that differences in communication styles and military culture presented early challenges that improved as the exercise progressed. "Language and culture are the biggest issues. Interpreters help, but there is also how we look at problems and deal with them," he said. "American Soldiers tend to be a little more open and speak freely [and] question what is going on. Some of the other units are more formal in their processes and more reluctant. Getting them to be comfortable around each other and start to freely communicate takes a little bit of time. When you are here for two weeks, about the time everyone gets comfortable and feels that they can speak freely is usually at the point you are about to wrap things up. [There is a] huge improvement usually on day eight or nine." On the value of enduring partnerships, Westmoreland added: "Mainly, you are working with others and their processes and how they work together. You are making relationships. You know who to talk to and who to communicate to. A lot of the same faces, some of them are even in the same positions. That helps a lot, not having to start from the beginning. They tend to speak more freely. The more you work together, the better you get at [it]." U.S. Army Capt. Andrew Caldwell, a medevac platoon leader and HH-60 pilot assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 501st Aviation Regiment, provided insight into the real-world medevac operations that run alongside exercise objectives. "When you're operating in a multinational environment, the key is building trust early and often," Caldwell said. "It's not about enforcing one way of doing things - it's about educating on capabilities, validating systems and making sure everyone shares an understanding before the first call comes in." Caldwell emphasized the value of early engagement with host nation forces and the importance of shared medical protocols. "Air medevac is a specialized capability. Educating our partners on how to request it and when it's appropriate ensures we're all on the same page during real-world events," Caldwell said. Operating across several countries and missions, Caldwell's unit drew critical lessons from their time in Georgia. "Every country has different medical frameworks. That means our crews must be dynamic, capable and constantly validating how we operate," he said. "Agile Spirit gave our crews the chance to operate outstationed, rely on interpreters and reinforce how our systems function across different environments. It made us better." Training sites included Vaziani, Norio, Krtsanisi and Senaki. Additional airborne operations launched from Incirlik Air Base into Kayseri, Turkiye. The exercise also integrated special operations forces, joint logistics and multinational medical readiness. Agile Spirit began in 2011 and became a U.S. Army Europe and Africa-led exercise in 2018. It continues to serve as a key platform for improving the combat effectiveness of NATO and allied land forces. "I'd like to say thank you to all the partner nations that came together for Agile Spirit 25," Cox said in closing. "I'd especially like to thank the host countries, Turkiye and Georgia. They have been great hosts to us, provided great training areas, and I know we'll be back to do more training." As flags lowered and formations stood in final review, the conclusion of Agile Spirit 25 marked a milestone in partnership and readiness. The mission continues. The relationships endure. If called upon, these forces will be ready to fight together. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Swiss Government Press release Published on 7 August 2025 Bern, 07.08.2025 -- On 7 August, the Federal Council acknowledged that additional tariffs of 39% are now being applied to Swiss products entering the United States. It remains firmly committed to pursuing discussions with the US with the aim of reducing these tariffs as swiftly as possible. The Federal Council is maintaining close contact with US authorities and the affected industry sectors. It will also shortly engage in detailed discussions on potential relief measures for Swiss businesses and continue to assess the need for further economic policy action. The delegation led by the President of the Swiss Confederation and Federal Councillor Guy Parmelin to the United States on 5 and 6 August resulted in a decision to continue talks with the US. The Federal Council remains determined to find a solution that will lead to the prompt removal of the additional 39% tariffs imposed on Swiss exports from 7 August. As of today, nearly 60% of Swiss exports to the United States are subject to these additional tariffs. Compared with other US trading partners with similar economic structures, the tariffs imposed on Switzerland are particularly steep (EU: 15%, United Kingdom: 10%, Japan: 15%). The Federal Council welcomes the excellent collaboration among all economic stakeholders on this issue. Ongoing dialogue with the United States The Federal Council continues to believe that trade tensions are not in Switzerland's interest. At present, tariff countermeasures in response to the US tariff increases are not being considered, as they would impose additional costs on the Swiss economy - particularly through higher prices for imports from the United States. The Federal Council will maintain its focus on diversifying trade relations with all international partners. Economic risks and need for action for the Swiss economy In its forecast of 16 June, the Expert Group for Business Cycles projected significantly below-average growth for the Swiss economy in both 2025 and 2026. The newly imposed US tariffs place a substantial strain on Switzerland's export-oriented economy. Around 18% of Swiss goods exports are destined for the United States, and approximately 60% of these are affected by the additional US tariffs. If these tariffs remain in place for an extended period, the economic outlook is likely to worsen further compared to the June projections. Certain sectors and companies will be disproportionately impacted. Short-time working compensation is a well-established instrument aimed at preserving jobs during temporary and unavoidable downturns. Companies directly or indirectly affected by the new US tariff measures may also access this support. The Federal Council has tasked the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER) and the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) with examining measures that can be implemented rapidly in this regard, including administrative simplifications for companies in relation to application processing and payments. Furthermore, the relevant committees of both chambers of Parliament have approved a parliamentary initiative to extend the maximum entitlement period for short-time work compensation from the 18 to 24 months within a 24-month framework period. This extension is intended to give businesses more time to adjust to the changing market conditions. The Federal Council will issue a statement on this matter shortly, taking into account the latest developments. The competent committee is planning urgent federal legislation, with deliberations scheduled for the autumn session. In the area of export promotion, Switzerland Global Enterprise (S-GE) will continue its immediate support measures, including the helpdesk and enhanced information on current developments via webinars. Additional measures are currently under consideration. The Federal Council also intends to make full use of its scope for action under forthcoming legislation and existing regulations to ease the burden on businesses. The relevant departments are actively working on this, and the concerns of affected stakeholders are being carefully reviewed. The Federal Council will discuss this issue in greater detail in the near future. The Theater Army Field Support Brigade: Integrating Sustainment from the Strategic Support Area to Area of Operations By Col. Courtney Sugai and Aaron DeCapua, 402nd Army Field Support Brigade August 8, 2025 "You will not find it difficult to prove that battles, campaigns, and even wars have been won or lost primarily because of logistics." Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii -- From the Arctic tundra to the equatorial bamboo forests of Southeast Asia, Soldiers of U.S. Army Pacific are rehearsing for operations across the vast and complex geography of the Indo-Pacific. The region covers more than 50 percent of the Earth's surface and comprises over thousands of islands spanning 36 nations, with diverse languages, cultures, and bilateral and multilateral agreements. Readiness for large-scale combat operations requires Soldiers to train across all warfighting functions and to build on prior training to advance operational and strategic objectives in the theater. From the power projection platforms (PPPs) at home station to the firing lines defending the territory of allies and partners, the Theater Army Field Support Brigade (AFSB) enables readiness at the tactical edgeintegrating capability with supported units and experimenting with strategic solutions at logistics nodes to extend operational reach and sustain endurance. As Army Sustainment Command's theater AFSB for U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), the 402nd AFSB delivers sustainment from the Army Materiel Command (AMC) enterprise to Army units operating throughout the Indo-Pacific, enabling the warfighter through every phase of operations. Logistics professionals in the 402nd AFSB and its assigned Army Field Support Battalions (AFSBns) in Alaska and Hawaii support Soldiers from their arrival at an installation, through training, and during deployment in support of exercises, named operations, or theater posturing initiatives. Whether supporting a unit field training exercise, humanitarian response to natural or man-made disasters, or operating side by side with allies and partners, the 402nd AFSB is synchronizing, integrating, and delivering enterprise-level logistics solutions to Soldiers at the point of need. "As USARPAC's theater AFSB, we need to anticipate requirements for our supported units," said Col. Courtney Sugai, commander of the 402nd AFSB. "We operate on both sides of the International Date Line across the largest and most populous geographic combatant command. We are training and rehearsing with our supported Army Service Component Command to find ways to support our Soldiers with what they need, when they need itunderstanding full well that in crisis, our logistics will be contested not only by adversaries, but also by time, distance, and competition for limited lift assets." "We are leaning forward," Sugai added. "Our teams are embedded, engaged, and actively experimenting with teams of varying size and composition in different placesfrom the tropics to the Arcticand actively participating in operational environment analysis so that we better understand it and offer enterprise-level logistics solutions." A Theater Sustainment Network in Motion The 402nd AFSB executes its mission through an integrated architecture of sustainment nodes and subject-matter experts, operating from the brigade headquarters, two Army Field Support Battalions, and Logistics Readiness Centers (LRCs) assigned to those battalions. AFSBns in Hawaii and Alaska manage equipment readiness, fleet sustainment, and materiel life-cycle integration. LRCs deliver installation-level sustainment including fuel storage and quality control, troop transportation, ammunition storage and distribution, and food service. LRCs support garrisons throughout USARPAC and perform three major functions: supply, transportation, and maintenance. Supply: The LRC supplies Soldiers with Organizational Clothing and Individual Equipment through the Central Issue Facility (CIF) and Individual Chemical Equipment Management Program (ICEMP); ammunition through Ammunition Supply Points; food through the Subsistence Supply Management Office (SSMO); and all other classes of supply through the Installation Supply Support Activity (ISSA). Transportation: The LRC provides direct transportation support to the garrison to enable power projection and deployment support to tenant units during contingency operations. Maintenance: The LRC provides direct maintenance support to the garrison and select tenant units. Tenant units coordinate through their G-4 or S-4 for pass-back maintenance, which may require reimbursement. Strategic Solutions Through LOGCAP The Logistics Civil Augmentation Program (LOGCAP) is a contracting vehicle performed by the AFSB to support mobilization and force generation at home station, campaigning, humanitarian operations, multilateral training, and theater posturing west of the International Date Line. The 402nd AFSB establishes base operations through LOGCAP in support of Operation Pathways exercises in locations such as Guam, the Philippines, and Thailandand in support of garrison operations on Kwajalein Atoll. Logistics Support Elements (LSEs) embed inside the headquarters of supported units at the theater, corps, or division level, aligning sustainment priorities with maneuver timelines and ensuring enterprise-level responsiveness during operations and exercises. Life Cycle Management Command (LCMC) integrationwith AMC's four LCMCs: Tank-automotive and Armaments Command (TACOM), Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM), Communications-Electronics Command (CECOM), and Joint Munitions Command (JMC)brings subject-matter expertise into the field via Senior Command Representatives (SCRs), Logistics Assistance Representatives (LARs), and Field Support Representatives (FSRs). LSEs, SCRs, and LARs work with maintainers and sustainers at echelon to support unit readiness before, during, and after every exercise or operationlinking Soldiers to the Army Materiel Enterprise in real time over unit-organic communications platforms. Integrated in Exercises and Operations To support the collective goal of a free and open Indo-Pacific, the Joint Logistics Enterprise demands continuous sustainment innovation. Through the 402nd AFSB, AMC is taking iterative steps to prepare Geographic Combatant Command areas of operation by participating in warfighter exercises, Joint Pacific Multinational Readiness Center rotations, and Operation Pathways. The 402nd AFSB maintains mission command of AMC enterprise logistics capabilities in theater by embedding liaisons and Logistics Support Elements with supported units such as the 8th Theater Sustainment Command, 25th Infantry Division, and 11th Airborne Division during deployments in support of exercises including Valiant Shield, Yama Sakura, Super Garuda Shield, Talisman Sabre, Salaknib, and Balikatan. Through the Army Forces (ARFOR) sustainment effort, AFSB LNOs and LSEs connect warfighters to the AMC enterprise both in person and through tele-maintenance. Over the past two years, AFSBn-Hawaii and AFSBn-Alaska have rehearsed sustainment concepts and advanced enterprise-level efforts in tele-maintenance via the Tactical Assault Kit (TAK), visualization and predictive analysis through Army Vantage and Power BI, and other web-based support applications. Predictive analysis enhances materiel and maintenance management, allowing the sustainment community to anticipate requirements and synchronize available resources for maximum effectiveness. In the Pacific, where distances are measured in thousands of miles, that foresight determines whether the operational tempo is maintainedor slowed by logistical shortfalls. "Every training exercise and contingency response we execute is underpinned by the 402nd AFSB's network," said Col. John Abella, 25th Infantry Division G-4. "Their embedded teams are part of our formationsnot just enabling us, but advancing us." Support to Army Modernization and Continuous Transformation The AFSB supports Army modernization efforts and constantly experiments and adapts to the operational environment. In 2025, the 402nd AFSB supported the Army-wide Rapid Removal of Excess (R2E) initiative through the Modernization Displacement and Repair Sites (MDRS) at Schofield Barracks and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Through MDRS, LRCs assigned to AFSBns reduced excess across the 25th Infantry Division, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, and 11th Airborne Division by inducting more than 18,000 pieces of equipmentunburdening warfighters of excess and obsolete materiel and eliminating the requirement to maintain or account for it. These efforts support Army-wide efforts to address shortages and advance the Regionally Aligned Readiness and Modernization Model (ReARMM). As the Army executes transformation initiatives, the 402nd AFSB continues to provide enterprise support to units as they reorganize and modernize for the future fight. Supporting Theater Posture U.S. Army Pacific's mission is to provide decisive, integrated land power to consolidate gains, succeed in competition, rapidly transition and respond to crisis, and prevail in low-intensity or large-scale conflictwhile leading through an era of transformational change. Adapting the force to meet these challenges requires leaders to analyze emerging geopolitical problems through the lens of experience, history, and lessons learned from Operation Pathways. Through these exercises, the 402nd AFSB and its subordinate battalions rehearse Army Sustainment Command and AMC's concept of support in the Pacific at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. Operation Pathways presents opportunities for experimentation and progressacross a diversity of environments, missions, and command relationships. Whether via contracted supply and maintenance in foreign nations or a LAR providing expertise through TAK platforms, the theater AFSB enables USARPAC by integrating and synchronizing AMC sustainment from home station to the forward edge of operations. America's Sustainment Force in the Pacific The 402nd Army Field Support Brigade is where strategic sustainment meets tactical execution-ensuring every Soldier, vehicle, and mission in the Indo-Pacific is backed by world-class logistics. As the Army transforms to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving region, the 402nd AFSB stands ready - flexible, embedded, and committed to supporting the warfighter at the speed of need. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ceasefire deal between Cambodia and Thailand Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Statement 08 August 2025 Australia welcomes the commitment made at the Extraordinary General Border Committee (GBC) Meeting in Kuala Lumpur on 7 August to fully and effectively implement the ceasefire agreement between Cambodia and Thailand, including the establishment of an ASEAN-led observer mechanism. The meeting is an important step towards de-escalating tensions and supporting a peaceful, stable and prosperous region. Australia commends ASEAN's efforts, and the leadership of Malaysia as ASEAN Chair, to facilitate the ceasefire. We strongly support ASEAN's leadership including the Special Meeting chaired by Prime Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim of Malaysia on 28 July 2025 and the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Statements of 27 and 31 July 2025. Australia urges both Cambodia and Thailand to honour the ceasefire, uphold their obligations under international law, exercise maximum restraint, and continue to resolve the dispute through peaceful means consistent with the UN Charter, ASEAN Charter, and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia. We commend the GBC Meeting as a practical representation of ASEAN's role in reducing the risks of misunderstanding and miscalculation, managing crises, and preventing disputes from escalating into conflict. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Backgrounder: Canada's International Assistance to the West Bank and Gaza Global Affairs Canada Backgrounder Canada's international assistance to respond to the humanitarian crisis in the West Bank and Gaza is designed to meet the immediate humanitarian needs of Palestinian civilians and to help lay the foundations for long-term peace and stability by supporting the development of institutions and socio-economic conditions necessary for a viable 2-state solution. On July 28, 2025, the Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, announced that Canada would be committing an additional $30 million in humanitarian assistance and an additional $10 million, through the World Bank, to support the Palestinian Authority's role in stabilizing and governing the West Bank. Since the current conflict began, and with the additional resources announced in July 2025, Canada's contributions now total more than $355 million. This includes: more than $270 million in humanitarian assistance in the West Bank and Gaza for urgent life-saving needs, such as food, nutrition, water, emergency health care, shelter and protection services $24.75 million in peace and security programming to support mine action and related activities in the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon and Syria $20 million to support early recovery efforts to help restore essential health services in Gaza when conditions allow $40 million in development assistance, through the World Bank, to support the Palestinian Authority in strengthening economic recovery, social resilience and governance in the West Bank Canada's 2025 humanitarian assistance partner allocations Since November 2024, Canada has committed a total of $104.5 million in humanitarian assistance to the West Bank and Gaza. This includes $30 million announced in July 2025, $24.5 million announced in March 2025 and $50 million announced in November 2024. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Canada is currently the third-largest bilateral donor of humanitarian assistance to the global response in 2025. Canada is working with experienced UN, Red Cross and NGO partners to deliver this assistance and has so far allocated $74.5 million to support life-saving activities in the West Bank and Gaza. Trusted and reliable partners are selected based on their sectoral expertise and operational capacity to deliver. Partner: CARE Canada Funding amount: $2,000,000 To provide shelter and non-food item kits and cash-for-shelter interventions. Partner: Canadian Red Cross Funding amount: $500,000 To provide emergency psychosocial support to Palestinians. Partner: Humanity & Inclusion Canada Funding amount: $2,000,000 To provide emergency rehabilitation, assistive devices, prosthetics and orthoses, and psychosocial support services. Partner: International Medical Corps Funding amount: $2,000,000 To provide integrated primary health-care services, including sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender-based violence case management. Partner: Ma'an Development Center Funding amount: $2,000,000 To provide non-food items and shelter kits and support for emergency shelter repairs and adaptation. Partner: Norwegian Refugee Council Funding amount: $3,000,000 To support the Gaza and West Bank protection consortiums in delivering comprehensive services, including cash assistance, protection, health programs, preparedness and coordinated humanitarian advocacy efforts. Partner: Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations Canada Funding amount: $2,000,000 To provide primary health care for internally displaced persons and other vulnerable populations. Partner: Save the Children Funding amount: $2,000,000 To provide life-saving assistance to address the urgent nutrition and protection needs of crisis-affected people. Partner: International Committee of the Red Cross Funding amount: $10,500,000 To provide protection, emergency relief items and medical services and promote international humanitarian law. Partner: OCHA Funding amount: $500,000 To strengthen overall humanitarian coordination and response to meet the needs of vulnerable populations. Partner: UN Population Fund Funding amount: $1,000,000 To improve access to life-saving sexual and reproductive health and protection services through the provision of responsive gender-based violence prevention services and reproductive health services and supplies. Partner: UNICEF Funding amount: $7,000,000 To treat acute malnutrition in children and pregnant and lactating women and adolescent girls through the provision of ready-to-use therapeutic foods and complementary nutrition services, as well as to support the needs of children through cash transfers. Partner: UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East Funding amount: $8,000,000 To meet the needs of affected populations through multi-sectoral response, including food and water, shelter, non-food items, water, logistics and sanitation, hygiene, emergency health and protection services. Partner: UN World Food Programme Funding amount: $30,000,000 To respond to acute food insecurity and malnutrition through the provision of emergency food or cash assistance, as well as supplementary feeding when appropriate. Partner: World Health Organization Funding amount: $2,000,000 To provide emergency and essential health-care services to those in need and to coordinate the emergency health response. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by Prime Minister Carney on the Israeli government's decision to expand military operations across Gaza Prime Minister of Canada - Mark Carney August 8, 2025 Ottawa, Ontario "Canada condemns the Israeli government's decision to further escalate the conflict in Gaza. This escalation will do nothing to end the humanitarian horror in Gaza or the deepening suffering of both the Israeli hostages and Palestinian civilians. Nor will it advance long-term peace and security for the Israeli people. Canada calls for an immediate ceasefire. Hamas must immediately release all hostages taken during the horrific terrorist attack of October 7; Hamas must disarm; and we must see a massive and sustained surge in humanitarian aid, at the necessary scale. We continue to work with our international partners on the path to a two-state solution, where an independent, viable, and sovereign Palestinian state lives side by side with the State of Israel in peace and security. We reiterate that Hamas must play no role in the future governance of a demilitarized Palestinian state. Canada will continue to support the Palestinian Authority's commitment to reform and to strong, democratic governance. Preserving the prospects for peace and stability in the region must be our collective priority. Canada urges all parties to negotiate in good faith toward a just, meaningful, and lasting peace that respects the dignity, security, and aspirations of all Palestinians and Israelis." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Armenia/Azerbaijan: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the initialling of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Treaty European Council / Council of the European Union Council of the EU Statements and remarks 8 August 2025 23:10 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 other's 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint statement by President Costa of the European Council and President von der Leyen of the European Commission on the initialling of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Treaty and on the declaration between President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan in Washington DC European Council / Council of the European Union European Council Statements and remarks 8 August 2025 23:00 The EU warmly welcomes today's meeting of President Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Pashinyan of Armenia, hosted by President Trump of the USA. It equally welcomes the initialling of the Agreement on Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The signing of the Political Declaration by Prime Minister Pashinyan and President Aliyev, in the presence of President Trump in the White House, is a major development for both Armenia and Azerbaijan, paving the way to lasting, sustainable peace for both countries and across the entire region, also culminating years of EU efforts. It will now be important to ensure the timely implementation of the agreed steps to guarantee steady and uninterrupted progress towards full-fledged normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. As conveyed on several occasions to both leaders, including most recently in the margins of the EPC summit in Tirana in May 2025, President Costa and President von der Leyen have been sincerely encouraged by the decisive steps undertaken by Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders on their bilateral track over the past few years, building also on the past series of their discussions in Brussels. The EU strongly supports the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalization process and stands ready to invest in regional connectivity and full opening, to benefit first and foremost populations divided by conflict legacies, and to bring the region closer to sustainable peace, stability and prosperity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint statement by President Costa of the European Council and President von der Leyen of the European Commission on the initialling of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Peace Treaty and on the declaration between President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan in Washington DC European Commission Statement Aug 8, 2025 Brussels The EU warmly welcomes today's meeting of President Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Pashinyan of Armenia, hosted by President Trump of the USA. It equally welcomes the initialling of the Agreement on Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The signing of the Political Declaration by Prime Minister Pashinyan and President Aliyev, in the presence of President Trump in the White House, is a major development for both Armenia and Azerbaijan, paving the way to lasting, sustainable peace for both countries and across the entire region, also culminating years of EU efforts. It will now be important to ensure the timely implementation of the agreed steps to guarantee steady and uninterrupted progress towards full-fledged normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. As conveyed on several occasions to both leaders, including most recently in the margins of the EPC summit in Tirana in May 2025, President Costa and President von der Leyen have been sincerely encouraged by the decisive steps undertaken by Azerbaijani and Armenian leaders on their bilateral track over the past few years, building also on the past series of their discussions in Brussels. The EU strongly supports the Armenia-Azerbaijan normalisation process and stands ready to invest in regional connectivity and full opening, to benefit first and foremost populations divided by conflict legacies, and to bring the region closer to sustainable peace, stability and prosperity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement by Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the development in Gaza Germany Federal Foreign Office Press release 178_en Friday, 8 August 2025 Press and Information Office of the Federal Government (BPA) Israel has the right to defend itself against Hamas' terror. The release of the hostages and ambitious negotiations on a ceasefire are our top priorities. The disarmament of Hamas is imperative. Hamas must not be allowed to play a role in Gaza's future. In the German Government's view, the new military push by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip agreed by the Israeli security cabinet last night makes it increasingly unclear how these goals are to be achieved. Under these circumstances, the German Government will, until further notice, authorise no military equipment exports that can be used in the Gaza Strip. The German Government remains profoundly concerned about the continued suffering of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. With the planned offensive, the Israeli Government bears even more responsibility than hitherto for ensuring that civilians can be provided with the supplies they need. It must enable comprehensive access for relief supplies, including for UN organisations and other non-state institutions. Following the correct steps taken in recent days, Israel must continue to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza in a comprehensive and sustainable way. In addition, the German Government urgently calls on the Israeli Government to refrain from taking any further steps towards an annexation of the West Bank. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Philippines urged to stop ganging up with others to stir up trouble in South China Sea: China's defense ministry Global Times By Global Times Published: Aug 08, 2025 03:13 PM In response to a question about reports that the Philippine armed forces claimed that the Philippine-Indian joint naval exercise conducted near China's Huangyan Dao was designed to enhance the interoperability of the two militaries and to demonstrate support for the Philippines in its skirmishes with China, Jiang Bin, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, said on Friday that "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." The Philippine side, however, actively courts external forces to make bluffs, in an attempt to destabilize the region for its own gain. Such actions completely contradict the shared aspirations of regional countries for peace, development and stability, said Jiang. We require the Philippine side to stop its provocations and propaganda, stop ganging up with others to stir up troubles in the South China Sea, and return to the right track of resolving differences through dialogue and consultation, said the spokesperson. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address OIC condemns Israeli regime's decision to occupy Gaza IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 8, 2025 The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemned the Israeli regime's decision to occupy Gaza in the strongest possible terms in a statement issued on Friday. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation said in a statement: "We condemn in the strongest terms the decision of the Israeli occupying authorities to reoccupy the entire Gaza Strip and displace nearly one million Palestinians." The occupation of Gaza City will result in the displacement of more than 900,000 Palestinians from the city to the "Mawasi" area west of the city of Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip. Previously, Jassem Mohammed al-Badawi, Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, said in response to the Israeli regime's decision to occupy Gaza City that this decision is a clear violation of all UN resolutions and international laws and an emphasis on Tel Aviv's steps towards threatening the security and stability of the region. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office announced that the Israeli security cabinet, in its meeting on Thursday night, agreed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to completely occupy Gaza City. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran condemns Israeli regime's intention to control Gaza IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 8, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei says that the Israeli regime's plan to fully occupy Gaza and forcibly displace its people is another sign of the regime's intention to commit genocide in Palestine. Baghaei condemned the Israeli regime's newly approved plan to lay its full military control over the Gaza Strip as a wider plan to commit genocide in the entire Palestinian territories. "The threat to complete occupation of Gaza and the historic land of Palestine by the criminal rulers [of the Zionist regime] who are wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and whose actions are being investigated by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as a crime of genocide, is another vivid sign of the Zionist regime's certain intention to ethnically cleanse Gaza and genocide the Palestinians, which must be taken into account by the ICC and the ICJ," Baghaei said. Emphasizing the legal and moral duties of each government and the United Nations to stop the genocide and heinous crimes being committed in the occupied Palestine, Baghaei called the continued complicity of the United States and some other Western countries with the crimes of the Israeli regime disgraceful. He called for forcing the Israeli regime to stop the genocide and immediately send humanitarian aid to the hungry and thirsty people of Gaza as a necessary step to end the catastrophe He also referred to the Islamic Republic of Iran's official request to the Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), as well as Saudi Arabia as the home to the organization, and Turkey as the chairman of its Council of Ministers, to immediately hold an emergency meeting to discuss the deteriorating crisis in Gaza. The Foreign Ministry spokesperson further called for collective action on the part of Islamic countries to help the oppressed people of Palestine. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel launches drone attack on Lebanon IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 8, 2025 Israel launched a drone attack on southern Lebanon, killing one person, news sources reported. According to Al-Mayadeen news network, the Israeli regime targeted a vehicle in a drone attack in the "Kafardan" area of Baalbek. The Lebanese Ministry of Health announced that one person was martyred in the attack. The Lebanese Ministry of Health also announced yesterday that one person was killed as a result of an Israeli drone attack in the east of the country. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Aboul Gheit rejects and condemns Israeli plan to reoccupy Gaza Strip League of Arab States Date: 08/08/2025 Mr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, rejected and strongly condemned a plan announced to have been approved by the Israeli Security Cabinet. The plan calls for the "reoccupation" of the Gaza Strip, placing it under Israeli control, displacing the residents of Gaza City, and confining most of the Strip's population to a small area in its south. The official spokesperson quoted Mr. Aboul Gheit as affirming that the League of Arab States has repeatedly warned against allowing Israel to continue its reckless, unending, criminal war against the Palestinian people, aimed at liquidating their cause and eliminating them as a national group. He stressed that the time has come for the international community to take a decisive stand to end this bloody cycle. The spokesperson said that Mr. Aboul Gheit views the plan as a true reflection of Israel's intentions and objectives since the start of the war: to reoccupy the entire Gaza Strip and expel as many of its residents as possible. This is a plan that the Arab side rejects unequivocally and comprehensively, and one that is condemned across the world. The spokesperson said that the occupation government is no longer aware of the extent of its international isolation as a result of persisting in a war of extermination for nearly two years. He added that the leaders of the Israeli government are driven by extreme ideologies or narrow self-interest, and that they show no concern for the fate of the Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Massive tick for partnership as large-scale military exercise wraps up New Zealand Defence Force Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025, which officially concluded with a closing ceremony on 4 August in Papua New Guinea, has showcased New Zealand's commitment to regional security and stability. 08 August, 2025 Now in its 11th year, Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral combined training activity conducted between the Australian Defence Force and the United States armed forces. Running from 13 July to 4 August, this iteration was the most expansive version to date, involving over 40,000 personnel from 19 nations, including New Zealand, and operating across land, sea, air, space, and cyber domains, highlighting the growing importance of regional defence teamwork. The New Zealand Defence Force's contribution was its largest to date and proved its ability to project, force integrate and practice multi-domain warfighting capabilities. New Zealand's contribution included a New Zealand Army Combat Team - infantry, armour, artillery, engineers, signals and logistics - as well as two Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) vessels, a mine countermeasures force and multiple aircraft from Numbers 3, 5 and 40 Squadrons, Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). No. 5 Squadron flew P-8A aircraft from Townsville, joining forces with US Navy and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8As in anti-submarine warfare missions and helping to detect, track, and respond to submarine threats while working as part of an international team. The squadron tested its ability to operate smoothly in a joint task force and supported fleet readiness with technical and logistical help, demonstrating a strong role in regional security. No. 3 Squadron deployed NH90 helicopters to Townsville for force integration training with Australia's 5th Aviation Regiment, which included formation flying and live flare firing in preparation for complex missions. Afterward, the squadron joined a multi-nation air assault with French and Australian forces, completing one of the largest internal RNZAF deployments in history - a major operational achievement. The NZ Army's Combat Team Wolfpack embedded within Australia's 7th Brigade. They landed at Williamson Airfield and moved south to support Battle Group Ram in finding and defeating enemy forces using firepower, mobility, infantry skills, and drones. The exercise ended with a successful urban assault, showing their ability to work well with Australian troops and other partners. For the RNZN, frigate HMNZS Te Kaha was part of an amphibious assault group, conducting escort and protection duties for the amphibious assault ships alongside ships from Australia, Japan, Korea, and the United States. Te Kaha Executive Officer Lieutenant Commander Brock West says their tasks included naval gunfire support, anti-submarine warfare, anti-air warfare, surface warfare, replenishment underway, and force protection. Of note was Te Kaha working with the RAAF to prove a logistical maritime airdrop capability, showing how vital light weight stores could get to the frontlines of a naval force. "Talisman Sabre provided the opportunity to hone critical warfare skills, improve interoperability, build on relationships developed with our work with the UK Carrier Task Group, and exposed our operators to the challenges of planning, co-ordinating, and executing a large military exercise which covers the land, sea, and air." HMNZS Canterbury proved itself as a logistics vessel, transporting personnel, helicopters and vehicles in four trips in total between the east coast of Australia and Wellington. Mine Countermeasures (MCM) capabilities were tested during Talisman Sabre, with Royal New Zealand Navy MCM forces basing themselves on expeditionary sea base vessel USS John L Canley to clear the navigation areas of Gladstone Harbour. Lieutenant Commander James Harper, Officer in Charge MCM, says exercises such as Talisman Sabre are important activities to enhance his teams' interoperability and integration. "When the fight comes we need to team up quickly and efficiently as a coalition to defeat the enemy." New Zealand's Senior National Officer Lieutenant Colonel Tim Tuatini says Talisman Sabre reflects the strength and interoperability of the NZDF in training alongside Australia and other partner nations. "It enables us to seamlessly come together and conduct exercises here in Australia during these strategically uncertain times. "With more nations than ever before, Talisman Sabre marked a milestone in multinational defence cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and highlighted New Zealand's strong commitment to regional security and readiness." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Developing Army's leaders New Zealand Defence Force When it comes to leadership, the New Zealand Army regularly punches above its weight. 08 August, 2025 Three New Zealand Army soldiers have recently been recognised and honoured at the world's premier academy for Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) in the United States. "Leaders build lethality, we develop leaders." That's the motto of the NCO Leadership Center of Excellence, the premier institution for developing and enhancing senior leaders in the US Army. Previously, and still colloquially known as the Sergeants Major Academy (SGM-A), it has provided the gold standard of NCO development for more than five decades. Since 1998, New Zealand has regularly contributed to the academy with senior NCOs attending, with 28 warriors now having graduated through the academy. Recently, three New Zealand Army personnel's achievements were recognised as they each marked a different chapter in their careers. Warrant Officer Class 1 (WO1) Brett Maraku graduated from the academy's latest intake, Class 75; WO1 Ray Kareko, the current Warrant Officer for Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand and former academy alumni, became the third Kiwi to be inducted into the academy's hall of fame, and; WO1 Clive Douglas, former Sergeant Major of the New Zealand Army, was awarded the United States Army's Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) on completing three years at the academy as an instructor. WO1 Brett Maraku: Graduate of Class 75 A Physical Training Instructor (PTI) in the New Zealand Army by trade, WO1 Brett Maraku knows what it takes to operate at the highest levels, to be conditioned and primed to operate at your peak. But constantly strengthening and developing his mind and broadening his educational journey has been a hallmark of his career. In his 25 years of service in the Army, he has not only grown as a soldier and a leader, but he's regularly completed tertiary study in the fields of Physical Education, Science and Technology and Defence Studies. He has post-graduate certificates and diplomas in Intelligence and International Security and is currently completing his master's degree through Massey University. He says the step up at the academy was significant, with a comprehensive curriculum covering leadership, joint operations, warfighting functions, strategic thinking, ethical decision-making, and contemporary military issues. "The academy is designed to prepare soldiers to serve as senior enlisted leaders across the United States Army and its partner nations throughout the world. The academic workload was demanding, especially when adapting to US systems, doctrine, and terminology, and it demanded a positive balance of study, family commitments, and, of course, enjoying what this place had to offer. WO1 Maraku was one of 565 students who made up Class 75, reflecting the scale at which the academy operates. "The learning environment, although challenging, has been a great experience, particularly diving into multi-domain operational planning at the division level. This has certainly given me a greater perspective and understanding of multi-national joint operations, pushing me to think critically and engage with topics well beyond the tactical level, helping me broaden my strategic lens." He says having Kiwi soldiers attend the course is invaluable and stretches beyond just academia. "It strengthens our engagement and interoperability with key strategic partners and exposes our future leaders to operational complexities - such as large-scale, multinational operations. "It also keeps us aligned with evolving operational thinking and contemporary warfare so we can bring back knowledge, networks, and perspectives to help shape how we lead in a garrison and operational environment. And fundamentally, it helps put New Zealand on the map. "Being able to share our values, our military ethos, and our Ngati Tumatauenga culture added a unique perspective that was welcomed from everyone." WO1 Ray Kareko: Hall of Famer It's only a few years ago that WO1 Ray Kareko was in the same shoes as WO1 Maraku. Reflecting on his time at the academy alongside fellow Kiwi soldier WO1 Lyall Mooney, he says the scale at which they operate was impressive. "I was in Class 69, along with WO1 Lyall Mooney. We had two Kiwis going through at the same time, which made the experience all the more memorable. The size of the academy stood out straight away, with around 700 students. But I also remember how easily we, as Kiwis, were able to connect with people - building friendships came naturally, and many of those connections have lasted well beyond the course." Those friendships developed into what is a crucial global network of senior enlisted leaders, providing WO1 Kareko with a group for which he can both seek and offer advice, perspective and support. In the years following his graduation from the academy, he was appointed Command Sergeant Major 1 (NZ) Bde and later the Land Component Sergeant Major. He is currently posted as the Warrant Officer for Headquarters Joint Forces New Zealand - the second highest ranking NCO position in the New Zealand Defence Force. "Good leadership starts with self-awareness. Knowing how you come across, being honest about your strengths and weaknesses, and understanding your impact are essential. From there, it is about building trust through empathy, consistency, and strong relationships." Six years on from his own graduation, WO1 Kareko recently returned to the academy following what he says was a surprise induction into its Hall of Fame of International Military Students. He is only the third Kiwi to make the wall, alongside WO1 Clive Douglas, and WO1 Danny Broughton. "It was genuinely humbling and not something I ever expected. The ceremony was a bit overwhelming, and at first I felt slightly embarrassed by the attention, but once the moment settled in, I felt incredibly honoured. "What made it even more meaningful was seeing my picture up there alongside WO1 Danny Broughton and WO1 Clive Douglas - two other Kiwis who've made such a strong impact was both humbling and a proud moment. It reminded me of the calibre of people I've been fortunate to serve alongside." WO1 Clive Douglas: US MSM recipient WO1 Clive Douglas knows the Sergeants Major Academy better than most, he's spent nearly five years of his career there; first as a graduate of Class 63 in 2013, before returning nearly a decade later to serve a three-year term as an instructor on the course. He was only the second New Zealander to fill an instructor's role, following his predecessor WO1 Andrew Boykett. "The academy, and our contribution to it from a New Zealand Army perspective, has formed the basis of a robust and enduring bilateral exchange, not only of personnel but also of shared values, operational philosophies, and professional military education. New Zealand's consistent presence at SGM-A whether through students or instructors has reinforced a strategic commitment to international interoperability and leadership excellence." WO1 Douglas says that returning to the academy as an instructor was both a professional aspiration and a personal mission, and now, reflecting at the end of his tenure he sees the past three years as being amongst his greatest achievements. He says it also plays a crucial role in the enduring relationship we have with key partners, but also allows New Zealand to be at the table when it comes to discussions on the ever-evolving strategic context. "The character of warfare is shifting, driven by rapid technological advances such as autonomous systems and offensive/defensive drone capabilities. These developments compel us to reconsider how the NZDF force generates, structures, and sustains its capabilities. Exchange roles like mine are critical for understanding these shifts firsthand and informing how we adapt domestically." In recognition of WO1 Douglas' contribution to the academy, he was presented with a Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) for his service, with his citation acknowledging his significant work in re-shaping their Indo-Pacific curriculum and strategic doctrine, and mentoring more than 210 Senior NCOs from armies around the world. He's now looking forward to the next chapter of his career back home, even if the next position remains unknown. "As I return to New Zealand, my future lies at a crossroads commissioning or transitioning from the Army are both possibilities. Yet, I am most eager to reconnect with whanau and reflect on the unique experiences that have shaped my career." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Special Rapporteur on Torture warns cruelty is becoming the enemy of peace in Gaza, and calls for release of hostages Press releases Special Procedures 08 August 2025 GENEVA -- The Special Rapporteur on torture, Alice Jill Edwards, repeats her urgent calls for the unconditional and immediate release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, after videos and photographs of emaciated hostages were released over the weekend. "Cruelty is being used as psychological warfare, with devastating consequences for individuals, families, societies and for peace," said the expert. "This war more than most is also being fought in the public arena of the media with images of suffering hitting our screens every day," she said. "Today I am reminding not only Hamas and other armed groups, but also anyone who is harbouring the hostages, that aiding and abetting hostage-taking is an international crime," the expert said. "Anyone involved must be held to account for their involvement in a court of law." "I further appeal to all States with influence to help break the stalemate over ceasefire negotiations, for international observers to be given immediate access to every person who is being held hostage or detained, and for the parties to this awful conflict to put down their arms and negotiate, once and for all, a comprehensive peace settlement", Edwards said. "If anyone was immune to the cruelty being inflicted on the hostages, these latest videos should be proof enough", Edwards said. The Special Rapporteur has raised these and other allegations of torture and ill-treatment with the parties to the conflict on multiple occasions. She repeats her calls for the urgent expansion of humanitarian aid into Gaza, an end of hostilities and a peaceful settlement based on the two-State model, the unconditional and immediate release of all hostages and the release of all arbitrarily detained Palestinians, and for independent investigations into all alleged crimes. In March this year the Special Rapporteur published a report on the international crime of hostage-taking as torture, which comprehensively examined many hostage-taking situations worldwide. Among other recommendations she called on the Secretary General to appoint a hostage envoy to represent hostages and their families. Alice Jill Edwards is the Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment Special Rapporteurs/Independent Experts/Working Groups are independent human rights experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Together, these experts are referred to as the Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council. Special Procedures experts work on a voluntary basis; they are not UN staff and do not receive a salary for their work. While the UN Human Rights office acts as the secretariat for Special Procedures, the experts serve in their individual capacity and are independent from any government or organization, including OHCHR and the UN. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the UN or OHCHR. Country-specific observations and recommendations by the UN human rights mechanisms, including the special procedures, the treaty bodies and the Universal Periodic Review, can be found on the Universal Human Rights Index https://uhri.ohchr.org/en/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address OIC Strongly Condemns Israel's Decision to Reoccupy the Gaza Strip and Forcefully Displace Nearly One Million Palestinians Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) 08-08-2025 The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) condemns in the strongest terms the decision of the Israeli occupation authorities to reoccupy the entire Gaza Strip and forcefully displace approximately one million Palestinians from Gaza City and the northern part of the Strip to the south. It considers this an escalation in the series of crimes of genocide, destruction, starvation, displacement, and the Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip. The OIC affirms that these crimes constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and a blatant defiance of relevant UN resolutions and the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, including the provisional measures ordered by the Court. The OIC holds Israel, the occupying power, fully responsible for the consequences of these crimes, which exacerbate the unprecedented human suffering in the Gaza Strip. The OIC also strongly condemns the dangerous escalation in crimes committed by extremist settler groups under the protection of the Israeli occupation forces in the West Bank, including the continuation of colonial settlements, land confiscation, home demolitions, repeated attacks on Islamic and Christian holy sites, and the continued withholding of Palestinian tax revenues. The OIC considers these actions to be blatant violations of international law and international legitimacy resolutions. The OIC calls on the UN Security Council to take immediate and decisive action to assume its responsibilities by imposing a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire, ensuring the unhindered and adequate delivery of humanitarian aid and basic needs throughout the Gaza Strip, providing effective international protection for the Palestinian people, taking the necessary measures to end the Israeli occupation, and enabling the Palestinian people to realize the sovereignty of their independent state over the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967, with Al-Quds as its capital. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan Condemns the Reported Israeli Plan for a Complete Military Takeover of Gaza Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan condemns in the strongest possible terms the reported Israeli plan for a complete military takeover of Gaza. This not only represents yet another flagrant violation of international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, but also the occupying power's intention to further expand its ongoing genocidal military campaign. This highly escalatory action will further aggravate the prevailing grave humanitarian situation and suffering of the civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in addition to undermining international efforts aimed at achieving peace and stability in the region. Pakistan reiterates its call on the international community to ensure an immediate end to Israeli impunity and its genocidal military campaign; take concrete measures for the provision of unimpeded humanitarian supplies to millions of Palestinians in dire need; and hold Israel accountable for its heinous crimes. Islamabad 8 August 2025 233/2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan Dispatches 18th Humanitarian Aid Consignment to Gaza Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs In a demonstration of Pakistan's unwavering commitment to the Palestinian people, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Atta Ullah Tarar, officiated the send-off of the 18th humanitarian aid consignment to Gaza at a ceremony held at Islamabad International Airport today. Under the directives of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in close coordination with relevant partners, facilitated the dispatch of this consignment. The aid consignment comprised of essential supplies including dry ration packs, Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs) and medicines. The ceremony was attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the NDMA, and the Ambassador of Palestine to Pakistan. This consignment brings Pakistan's total humanitarian assistance to Gaza to 18 shipments, comprising 1,815 tons of vital relief supplies. This sustained support reflects Pakistan's resolute solidarity with the people of Gaza. The Government of Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support for the creation of a sovereign, independent, viable, and contiguous Palestinian State based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital in line with the UN Security Council resolutions. Islamabad 8 August 2025 232/2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address J-10 multi-role fighter jet takes off for training China Military Online) 16:55, August 11, 2025 A ground crew member assigned to an aviation unit with the air force under the Chinese PLA Southern Theater Command signals a J-10 multi-role fighter jet to taxi to the runway during a flight training exercise in late July, 2025. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Cai Shangyang) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) SCS COC, open communication lines vital in protecting PH waters - PBBM Philippine News Agency By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos August 8, 2025, 10:24 pm MANILA -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reiterated the importance of having a binding Code of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea (SCS) and open lines of communication to assert and protect the country's rights in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). In part 4 of the third episode of the BBM Podcast, Marcos said he would push for the adoption of the final COC in the SCS, when the Philippines assumes Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) chairmanship in 2026, in a bid to ease tensions in the hotly contested waters. "We will certainly try because it is very, very important. Pagka nagkaroon ng ganyan, magiging maliwanag kung ano 'yung rules sa lahat, hindi lamang sa atin (When that happens, the rules will be clear for everyone, not just for us)," the President said. Marcos said it would be easier for the Philippines to protect the WPS from foreign intrusion if there is a legally binding COC and open communication lines with sea claimants, especially China. "That will make things a bit easier kasi hindi ka nag-aalangan na baka may mangyari, ano ang mangyayari. Hindi na puwedeng mangyari 'yan dahil pumayag na -- nagpirmahan na tayo, nag-agree na tayo na hindi nating gagawin 'yan (because we will not be worried that something might happen or will happen. That can't happen anymore because there is already an agreement. We have signed and agreed that we will not do that)," he said. "So, that's why it is very, very important. And it's very important to the Philippines because ang pinakamainit na lugar sa West Philippine Sea ay dito sa banda sa atin. Kaya mahalaga sa atin na magkaroon tayo ng (the most contested area in the West Philippine Sea is here on our side. That's why it is important for us to have a) code of conduct," Marcos added. The President clarified that there is no shift in his stand when it comes to upholding the Philippines' sovereign rights over the WPS, saying he would continue defending the country's territory while pursuing a foreign policy of "being a friend to all and an enemy of none." He expressed confidence that the Philippines "can do both" of its goals of charting an independent foreign policy and protecting its waters. "Because continuing to defend strongly our territory is not mutually exclusive from being a friend to all and an enemy of none. Wala naman talaga tayong kinakalaban eh. Lahat naman kinakaibigan natin (Because we are not really picking a fight. We are befriending everyone)," he said. "We can only control what we do. We cannot control what other countries do. But we keep our lines of communication... Once the lines of communication are closed, then there is no room for improvement. That's why we keep the lines of communication open." Marcos has repeatedly called on his fellow ASEAN leaders to expedite discussions for the adoption of the COC in SCS to reduce regional tension amid China's aggression in the busy waterway, including the WPS. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PH, India to conduct more maritime drills Philippine News Agency By Darryl John Esguerra August 8, 2025, 8:49 pm BENGALURU -- The Philippines and India have agreed to hold more joint maritime exercises, both bilaterally and with other nations, as part of efforts to strengthen security and cooperation in the West Philippine Sea and the wider Indo-Pacific region, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Friday. Speaking to the Philippine media delegation at the close of his five-day state visit to India, Marcos said New Delhi has committed to increasing its presence in the region, underscoring the shift from an "Asia-Pacific" to an "Indo-Pacific" strategic outlook. "There is a commitment from India to have a larger profile in terms of the West Philippine Sea... We agreed that we should do more of it. And India has already made the policy decision to have more of a presence in the region," the President said. Marcos noted that before he left Manila, two Indian naval vessels and two Philippine ships had already conducted exercises. These activities, he said, would continue and expand. While maritime security remains a key focus, Marcos stressed that cooperation should also extend to economic, trade, and other areas. "Defense and security is only one dimension to the entire problem. So, we try to focus on everything, not just one aspect of the situation," he said. The commitment follows recent bilateral talks between Marcos and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, which produced a strategic partnership agreement covering defense, trade, and other sectors. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Marcos: SC ruling on Sara impeachment 'has no bearing on merits' Philippine News Agency By Darryl John Esguerra August 8, 2025, 1:59 pm BENGALURU -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. clarified on Friday that the Supreme Court's decision related to the shelved impeachment case against Vice President Sara Duterte addressed only procedural issues and did not touch on the substance of the complaint. "Let me clarify. The merits of the case were not examined by the Supreme Court... This does not decide the merits of the case. It just talked about procedure. So the procedure was faulty, was lacking. So 'yun ang (that is the) assessment ng (of the) Supreme Court," Marcos told Philippine delegation reporters in a briefing during his state visit to India. "It has no bearing on the rightness or wrongness of the impeachment." Marcos said there has been no trial and the impeachment complaint's contents were never debated upon. "Again, there has been no trial. So the merits of the case have not been examined, tried, adjudicated, argued, discussed. So, accountability just doesn't come into it. People have to understand, it is a procedural question," he said. "Sinabi, mali 'yung date, hindi tama ang paggagawa ng House. Walang kinalaman 'doon sa laman ng impeachment complaint. Kung hindi, kung paano 'yung pagkahandle ng impeachment (They said the date was wrong, the way the House did it was not correct. It had nothing to do with the contents of the impeachment complaint, but with how the impeachment was handled)." The President stressed that the executive branch had no role in the impeachment proceedings. "I keep telling you, the executive has no role in this. The President has no role. I'm an impeachable officer. I cannot involve myself in any of this. So, it's really the Supreme Court, the Senate and the House," he said. The Senate on Wednesday approved the motion of Senator Rodante Marcoleta to "adhere to the immediately executory decision" of the SC en banc dated July 25, 2025, effectively archiving the impeachment complaint. A separate motion by Senate Minority Leader Vicente Sotto III to lay Marcoleta's motion on the table lost in a vote of 19 affirmative against 5 negative votes. The High Court's unanimous decision held that the complaint violated the Constitution's one-year bar rule and failed to provide due process to the respondent, leading the tribunal to invalidate the proceedings from the outset. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Philippines should stop stirring up troubles in South China Sea: Defense Spokesperson Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China Source China Military Online EditorChen Zhuo 2025-08-08 16:56:59 BEIJING, Aug. 8 -- "We require the Philippine side to stop its provocations and propaganda, and stop ganging up with others to stir up troubles in the South China Sea," said Senior Colonel Jiang Bin, spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, at a press briefing on Friday. He made the above remarks when commenting on the Philippine-Indian joint naval exercise conducted near China's Huangyan Dao, which was designed to enhance the interoperability of the two militaries and demonstrate India's support for the Philippines. "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," the spokesperson stated. He slammed that the Philippine side courted external forces to make bluffs, in an attempt to destabilize the region for its own gain. Such actions completely contradict the shared aspirations of regional countries for peace, development and stability. "We require the Philippine side to stop its provocations and propaganda, stop ganging up with others to stir up troubles in the South China Sea, and return to the right track of resolving differences through dialogue and consultation," the spokesperson added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Yemen keeps pounding Israeli targets in response to 'historic' atrocity Iran Press TV Friday, 08 August 2025 11:41 PM The Yemeni Armed Forces have claimed responsibility for a fresh wave of drone strikes on critical Israeli targets, describing the operations as part of an expanding military front in defense of the war-hit Gaza Strip. In a statement issued late Friday, the forces said three drones had been used in separate strikes against Ben Gurion, the regime's lifeline airport, and two "vital sites" in the cities of Be'er Sheva, its technological nerve center, and Ashkelon. All operations, they added, "achieved their objectives with precision." The servicemen billed the strikes as direct retaliation for the "genocide and starvation crimes" being committed in the Gaza Strip. They were referring to the regime's October 2023-present war of genocide on Gaza that has so far claimed the lives of more than 62,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, deployed mass starvation as a weapon of war, and incurred destruction that would potentially take decades to rebuild. The statement warned that the ongoing assault on Gaza represented a "historic atrocity." Fresh warning to maritime operators The Armed Forces also reiterated their stark notice to global shipping firms dealing with Israeli ports, saying that any vessel linked to those facilities "will be targeted regardless of its destination." They urged companies to suspend all operations to "ensure the safety of their ships and crews." Ever since the war began, Yemen has expanded its role in regional retaliatory strikes, enforcing an aerial blockade on Ben Gurion and a naval blockade on Israeli-linked shipping, while advancing its own missile and drone capabilities. Sana'a has credited itself with redefining the balance of power in the Red Sea through its efforts to enforce the maritime restrictions. Turning to regional and international audiences, the statement, meanwhile, warned that the Israeli atrocities would be remembered as would the "negligence and complicity" of those who failed to act. It appealed to Arab and Muslim nations to break their silence. "If you do not stand today with your brothers in Palestine as they suffer from starvation, then when will you?" the forces asked, calling for action in the name of "religion, morals, humanity, and natural values." The forces finally reiterated Yemen's "religious, moral, and humanitarian" obligation to continue its operations until the regime ended its aggression and allowed foodstuffs to enter Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN rights chief calls for immediate halt to Israel's Gaza takeover plan Iran Press TV Friday, 08 August 2025 7:02 PM The United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Turk has said the Israeli plan for a full-scale military takeover of the besieged Gaza Strip will cause more deaths and suffering and must be halted immediately. In a statement released on Friday, Turk said the plan "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 landmark ruling in July last year, the court declared Israel's occupation of the West Bank, including East al-Quds, unlawful and ruled that Israel is violating the international prohibition on racial segregation and apartheid. Israel's war cabinet on Friday approved a military blueprint to capture Gaza City and tighten its grip on the besieged stripan area it has relentlessly bombarded for months. Earlier, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that Israel intended to take military control of the entire besieged Palestinian region. "On all evidence to date, this further escalation will result in more massive forced displacement, more killing, more unbearable suffering, senseless destruction and atrocity crimes," Turk said. The UN rights chief also said Israel must allow the full flow of aid into the blockaded Palestinian region, which is on the verge of famine. "Instead of intensifying this war, the Israeli Government should put all its efforts into saving the lives of Gaza's civilians by allowing the full, unfettered flow of humanitarian aid." Separately, a spokesperson for UN chief Antonio Guterres said Israel's plan marked a dangerous escalation and risks deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians. "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," the statement reads. Guterres also called on the Israeli authorities to abide by their obligations under international law. Meanwhile, Palestinian envoy to the UN, Riyad Mansour calls for an immediate meeting of the UN Security Council to take collective action against Israel's new occupation plans for Gaza. The decision has sparked reactions within the occupied territories, revealing deepening divisions among Israeli officials. The Israeli military chief said the Gaza City takeover will endanger Israeli captives' lives and exhaust Israeli soldiers. Opposition leader Yair Lapid has labeled the decision a "disaster," attributing it to the influence of far-right ministers and cautioning that it could result in further casualties among both captives and soldiers. Alon Liel, former director general of Israel's foreign ministry, says the plan to take over Gaza City will isolate Israel even further. "We complain here that countries are recognizing Palestine, but by this decision we are not recognizing the whole international community [which] thinks that this war should come to an end, and Israel is doing the opposite," Liel said "So, I'm very sad as a diplomat that Israel is ignoring the whole world, and I am worried about the implications because it will bring to a total isolation of Israel," Liel said. Israel presses ahead with its genocide in Gaza, killing more Palestinians, including starving people who seek aid. At least four people, including two children, have lost their lives in the latest 24-hour reporting period due to malnutrition and starvation amid the Israeli blockade on Gaza. This brings the total number of deaths due to starvation and malnutrition to 201, including 98 children. The death toll from the US-Israeli genocide since October 20-23 has now risen above 61,300, with more than 152,300 others injured. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Security Council to convene to address Israel's Gaza City 'takeover plan' Iran Press TV Friday, 08 August 2025 6:50 PM The United Nations Security Council is set to hold an emergency session this Saturday evening to address the Israeli regime's latest push to occupy Gaza City. The meeting had urgently been requested by multiple Council members in response to the regime's unprecedented intensification of its October 2023-present war of genocide against the densely populated coastal sliver. Speaking to Qatar's Al Jazeera television network, diplomatic sources said earlier said Russia, China, Somalia, and Algeria had fully backed the session. In stark contrast, the United States, the regime's biggest supporter, was actively opposing the meeting, pressuring the Council to avoid even discussing Tel Aviv's new aggressive plans. News about the meeting came just hours after the regime's war cabinet approved a sweeping military plan aimed at capturing the city and expanding Tel Aviv's already-near-total siege on the strip. Earlier reports had indicated that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who already faces an international arrest warrant for war crimes and crimes against humanity against Gazans, was pushing for the return of the entire territory to Israeli occupation. Reacting to the Gaza City occupation plan, the territory's Hamas resistance movement said the scheme amounted to a "full-fledged war crime" and "ethnic cleansing," warning the regime that such actions would come at a "high cost." "The approval by the Zionist 'cabinet' of plans to occupy Gaza City and forcibly evacuate its residents constitutes a new war crime that the occupation army is preparing to commit against the city and its nearly one million inhabitants," the group stated on Friday. Its fellow regional resistance groups and numerous international officials have similarly issued serious warnings. The push to further escalate the war, which the regime claims is aimed at enabling the return of the Israeli captives remaining in Gaza, comes while Hamas has offered full assistance towards contributing to their release in return for Tel Aviv's cooperation. The movement has already released 30 of the captives as part of a ceasefire deal and returned five others outside the framework of any agreement. Indiscriminate Israeli assaults have, meanwhile, taken the lives of at least 20 of them. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran: Gaza City occupation plan shows Israel's 'specific intent' for genocide Iran Press TV Friday, 08 August 2025 6:38 PM Iran says Israel's plan to occupy Gaza City is another clear indication of the regime's "specific intent" to commit ethnic cleansing and genocide in Gaza. In a statement on Friday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei strongly condemned the Israeli plan to occupy Gaza City in a major escalation of the regime's 22-month war in the besieged Palestinian territory. He said the plan will lead to the forced displacement of people in Gaza and aims to "complete the Palestinian people's genocide." He urged the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice to heed the threat of the complete occupation of Gaza by the Israeli criminals who are ruling over the historic land of Palestine. Israel's war cabinet on Friday approved a military blueprint to capture Gaza City and tighten its grip on the besieged enclavean area it has relentlessly bombarded for months. Baghaei added that all governments and the United Nations bear the legal and moral responsibility to stop Israel's genocide and heinous crimes in the occupied Palestine. He said it was "shameful" that the United States and other Western countries continue to be complicit in Israel's crimes. "It is a necessary step to force the Israeli regime to stop the genocide [in Gaza] and to urgently send humanitarian aid to the hungry and thirsty people of Gaza in order to end a catastrophe that has shaken the legal, normative and ethical foundations of human civilization," the Iranian spokesperson emphasized. He said Iran is formally calling on the Organization of Islamic Cooperation's secretariat, Saudi Arabia as the host country, and Turkey as the current chair of the OIC Council of Ministers to convene an emergency meeting on the issue. Iran also calls for Muslim countries' collective measures to help the oppressed Palestinian people, Baghaei pointed out. As of October 7, 2023, Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed at least 61,330 Palestinians and injured another 152,045, with most of the victims being women and children. Gaza health authorities said 197 people, including 96 children, have died of malnutrition during the war in Gaza as Israel continues to impose severe restrictions on supplies of humanitarian aid amid escalation of famine crisis in the Strip. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US issues security warning in UAE over potential threats to Israeli-linked sites Iran Press TV Friday, 08 August 2025 6:37 PM The United States has warned its citizens in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to avoid locations linked to Israel, citing potential security threats amid heightened tensions over Israel's genocidal war on Gaza. In a security alert issued on Friday, the US mission to the UAE said it was aware of information indicating threats towards the Jewish and Israeli communities in the Persian Gulf state. The advisory follows a July 31 decision by Israel's so-called "National Security Headquarters" to upgrade its travel warning for the UAE, claiming that "terrorist organizations are operating with increased intensity these days in efforts to harm Israel." Washington's warning comes against the backdrop of escalating regional unrest following Israel's ongoing genocidal war on Gaza, which has drawn widespread international condemnation over civilian casualties and restrictions on humanitarian access. The US advisory mirrors a recent move by Israel, which urged its citizens to avoid non-essential travel to the UAE and, if already in the country, to refrain from displaying Israeli or Jewish symbols in public. Last week, Israeli media reported that the foreign ministry had ordered the withdrawal of most of its diplomatic staff from Abu Dhabi and Dubai, including embassy and consulate personnel and their families, citing alleged security threats. The Israeli foreign ministry declined to comment on the specifics of the security measures. The UAE established diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020 under the US-brokered Abraham Accords, which have since led to a sharp increase in Israeli travel and business activity in the Persian Gulf state. Meanwhile, the ongoing Israeli aggression and siege on Gaza have led to a growing discontent across the Arab world against Israeli atrocities. Israel's war, which began in October 2023, has killed at least 61,330 Palestinians and injured more than 152,000. Severe restrictions on food and aid have left the territory facing a worsening starvation crisis, with nearly 200 peoplealmost half of them childrendying of malnutrition in recent months. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU voices concern over Gaza occupation plan while keeping Israel's arsenal stocked Iran Press TV Friday, 08 August 2025 5:21 PM European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called on Israel to reconsider its latest plan to occupy Gaza City, even as the EU continues to arm and shield Tel Aviv in its 22-month war on the besieged Palestinian territory. Von der Leyen's statement on Friday came after the Israeli regime approved a proposal to seize control of Gaza's largest city, following prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement that the regime intends to bring the entire territory back under Israeli occupation. The move marks yet another escalation in a war that has already left tens of thousands of Palestinians dead, most of them women and children, and pushed the territory to the brink of famine. In a post on her X account, von der Leyen said Israel's "decision to further extend its military operation in Gaza must be reconsidered," stressing the need for "a ceasefire now," the release of all captives, and unrestricted humanitarian aid to the starving population. Netanyahu's office confirmed on Friday that the military is preparing to occupy Gaza City in a campaign expected to last at least six months. The announcement triggered fresh condemnation worldwide, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suspending military exports to Israel that could be used in the Gaza war. Palestinian resistance groups called the plan a desperate bid by a regime "bent on completing its war crimes." Israel's war, which began in October 2023, has killed at least 61,330 Palestinians and injured more than 152,000. Severe restrictions on food and aid have left the territory facing a worsening starvation crisis, with nearly 200 peoplealmost half of them childrendying of malnutrition in recent months. Despite the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former defense minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes, and Israel facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice, the EU has largely maintained political cover for Israeli operations. Former EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in May said that Brussels had been enabling the war, stating that "half of the bombs being dropped on Gaza are provided by us." Borrell described the situation as "the largest ethnic cleansing operation since the end of the Second World War" and said Europe was "not doing what it can" to stop it. He warned that the campaign aimed to erase Palestinians entirely, clearing the rubble to make way for "a splendid holiday destination" in place of Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas slams Israel's Gaza City takeover plan as 'war crime, ethnic cleansing' Iran Press TV Friday, 08 August 2025 5:18 PM Hamas has vehemently condemned Israel's plan to occupy Gaza City as a "full-fledged war crime" and "ethnic cleansing" that will come at a "high cost" for the occupying regime. Israel's war cabinet on Friday approved a military blueprint to capture Gaza City and tighten its grip on the besieged stripan area it has relentlessly bombarded for months. "The approval by the Zionist 'cabinet' of plans to occupy Gaza City and forcibly evacuate its residents constitutes a new war crime that the occupation army is preparing to commit against the city and its nearly one million inhabitants," Hamas said in a statement Friday. In the same statement, Hamas warned that Israel's "reckless adventure" would "not be a walk in the park" and vowed it would "pay a heavy price" for any attempt to forcefully capture the city. The group further said Israel's "manipulation of language by replacing the term 'occupation' with 'control' is nothing more than an obvious attempt to evade its legal responsibility for the consequences of this brutal crime." Hamas further said Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his "Nazi" cabinet were showing "no concern for the fate of Israeli captives in Gaza," saying the expansion of the war amounts to a "calculated decision to sacrifice" them. Elsewhere in the statement, Hamas said Netanyahu's plan explains Israel's sudden withdrawal from the last round of negotiations. It added that the two sides had been on the verge of reaching a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement. "We reiterate that, during our communication with mediators, the movement offered all the necessary flexibility and positivity to ensure the success of the ceasefire efforts." Meanwhile, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad called the decision "a complete escalation of genocide." Jihad described it as "Nazi-style terror" and held Arab and Western governments, alongside the US, responsible for enabling escalation. The resistance movement stated that the Israeli occupation torpedoed all truce talks and "those betting on a settlement got slapped." Recent reports reveal that Netanyahu ignored calls from senior ministers to speed up ceasefire talks and deliberately restricted aid to Gaza to force Hamas to surrender. Israel had previously withdrawn troops and settlements from Gaza in 2005, ending a 38-year occupation, but has since imposed a crippling blockade and waged repeated assaults that have left tens of thousands dead and the strip in ruins. A former director of Israel's internal spy agency, known as Shin Bet, has issued a strong condemnation of Tel Aviv's relentless military assault on the besieged Gaza Strip. In a pointed article published in Foreign Affairs on Thursday, Ami Ayalon, who also once commanded the Israeli navy, declared, "Israel is fighting a war it cannot win." Ayalon described the assault as "unjust, immoral, and counterproductive," urging the international community to enforce a political endgame. The military wing of the Hamas resistance movement, the Qassam Brigades, recently warned that if Israel chooses to continue with the "war of extermination," it will witness increasing funerals of its soldiers and military officers. Israel has been facing mounting outrage over its destructive war on Gaza, where it has killed more than 61,300 people since October 2023. The genocidal war has devastated the besieged strip and brought it to the verge of famine. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Netanyahu and former minister of military affairs Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the besieged coastal territory. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Germany to halt military exports to Israel over Gaza City occupation plan Iran Press TV Friday, 08 August 2025 4:51 PM Germany has suspended military exports to Israel over its planned occupation of Gaza City, marking a rare rift after months of steadfast support for Tel Aviv's genocidal war on Gaza. In a statement on Friday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced the decision after Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office confirmed that the so-called "political-security cabinet" approved a plan to seize the largest city in the besieged Palestinian territory. Early on Friday, Netanyahu's office said in a statement that the Israeli military "will prepare to take control of Gaza City" despite mounting international condemnation over Israel's 22-month war, which has killed tens of thousands of people and caused a starvation crisis. Merz said Germany could no longer ignore the worsening toll on Palestinian civilians in Gaza, emphasizing that "resolute negotiations on a ceasefire" is among his country's "highest" priorities. He, however, added that Berlin "believes that the even tougher military action in Gaza Strip decided on by the Israeli cabinet last night makes it increasingly difficult to see how these goals can be achieved." The chancellor emphasized, "Under these circumstances, the German government will not authorize any exports of military equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip until further notice." He said Berlin was "deeply worried about the continued suffering of the civilian population" in Gaza and urged Israel to allow full and sustained access for humanitarian groups, including the UN and NGOs, to help them. He emphasized that Tel Aviv bears "even stronger responsibility" than before for the needs of civilians amid another possible ground operation. As of October 7, 2023, Israeli attacks on Gaza have killed at least 61,330 Palestinians and injured another 152,045, with most of the victims being women and children. Gaza health authorities said 197 people, including 96 children, have died of malnutrition during the war in Gaza as Israel continues to impose severe restrictions on supplies of humanitarian aid amid escalation of famine crisis in the Strip. The German chancellor also warned Israel against any steps towards annexing the occupied West Bank. In July, the Israeli parliament (Knesset) passed a motion calling for the annexation of the West Bank and expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied territory, in breach of international law. According to figures from the German parliament, Germany issued arms export licenses to Israel worth 485 million euros ($564m) from October 2023 to May this year, making it one of Israel's key military suppliers. Germany's lethal arms exports to the occupied territories have seen a tenfold increase after Israel launched its war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, making it not only complicit but an active participant in the genocide unfolding in the besieged Palestinian territory. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli regime weighing retribution against UK over planned Palestine recognition: Report Iran Press TV Friday, 08 August 2025 2:53 PM The Israeli regime is considering retribution against Britain in response to London's plan to officially recognize the State of Palestine. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer intends to formally recognize the State of Palestine during the upcoming session of the United Nations General Assembly in September. This move is aimed at addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis as the Israeli regime escalates its genocide in the Gaza Strip. The Times reported on Thursday that Israeli officials are evaluating potential retaliatory measures against the UK for its anticipated recognition of Palestinian statehood. A diplomatic source, seemingly representing the Israeli regime, warned that Britain "has a lot to lose if Israel's [regime] decides to take steps in response." The Israeli official expressed concern, stating that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet "have cards they could play too." One potential retaliatory action mentioned is the cessation of intelligence sharing between Israeli and British spy agencies. According to The Times, any disruption in intelligence cooperation could adversely affect both nations. In the meantime, Netanyahu has criticized Starmer for the planned recognition of Palestinian statehood next month, alleging that the British leader is "rewarding terrorism." However, London's stated intention to recognize the Palestinian state is primarily to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Moreover, Israel's war cabinet approved a plan on Thursday to fully occupy Gaza by the beginning of next year. The Israeli regime's genocidal war is reportedly aimed at rendering the Palestinian territory uninhabitable, compelling its residents to flee or face dire consequences. As of October 7, 2023, at least 61,258 Palestinians have lost their lives, and another 152,045 have been injured during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Resistance groups: Plan to occupy Gaza exposes 'height' of Israel's crisis Iran Press TV Friday, 08 August 2025 11:35 AM Palestinian resistance groups have slammed Israel's latest plan to occupy Gaza City, calling it a desperate move by a regime that has failed and is bent on completing its war crimes. In a joint statement released Thursday, a coalition of Palestinian resistance factions, led by the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), condemned the Israeli regime's so-called "Security Cabinet's" approval of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to seize Gaza City. The PRC said the decision "exposes the height of the regime's crisis," adding that Israel "has not achieved any of its goals in the ongoing genocidal war." "The decisions of war criminal Netanyahu aimed at the occupation of the Gaza Strip are a clear instruction for genocide, and mark the completion of war crimes, destruction, murder, and slaughter," it added. Resistance groups vowed to continue armed struggle, rejecting all foreign military presence as a tool of occupation and pledging that any invading force "will be treated as an enemy" and met with "defeat and destruction." The Popular Resistance Committees emphasized that resistance factions must keep their weapons as they confront the Zionist regime's occupation. "The weapons of resistance will remain in its hands until Palestinian lands are liberated from the clutches of the [Israeli] occupation," the PRC noted. The statement further notes, "No force on earth will be able to disarm us. These weapons are the legacy and will of our martyrs. Their mission is to liberate occupied territories and restore the trampled rights of the Palestinian nation." The PRC underlined that the Zionist enemy will not be able to secure the release of its captives being held by Gaza-based resistance group except through negotiations. "We call on the entire Muslim Ummah to declare a general mobilization, and pour onto the streets in support of Gaza, and our brethren and sisters who are dying as a result of incessant bombardment and severe hunger," the statement concluded. In a separate statement, the Palestinian Mujahideen Movement said the Israeli decision is aimed at the continuation of the genocidal war in Gaza. "The aggressive Zionist decisions once again reiterate that the Zionist regime's cabinet is the main factor in bringing the negotiation process to a standstill. "Gaza will resist any occupation or aggressor force, and will never submit to a mandate. Any expansion of aggression will not be easy for aggressors," the movement noted. The Palestinian Mujahideen Movement stressed that the weapons of resistance groups belong to Palestinian people, and will remain in their hands in the struggle against aggressors until full liberation is achieved. At least 61,258 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and another 152,045 individuals injured in the brutal Israeli onslaught on Gaza since October 7, 2023. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran, Egypt urge Islamic action over Israeli strikes on Gaza, Lebanon Iran Press TV Friday, 08 August 2025 11:13 AM Iran and Egypt have called for united Islamic action to halt Israel's genocide in Gaza and attacks on Lebanon, warning of worsening humanitarian and security crises. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held a phone conversation on Thursday night, addressing mounting regional crises and the urgent need for a response. "In this call, both sides discussed the dire humanitarian conditions in Gaza resulting from the continuation of the cruel siege of the Strip, and the regime's aggressive plans to intensify attacks and fully occupy the Gaza Strip," the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a Friday statement. The ministers emphasized that it is the responsibility of Islamic nations to act decisively to halt the "genocide" in Gaza and to ensure immediate delivery of international humanitarian assistance. These discussions took place against the backdrop of the Israeli plan to occupy Gaza City. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Israel's military "will prepare to take control of Gaza City," according to official statements. The United Nations has described these reports as "deeply alarming," especially given that the Gaza Strip has already endured brutal war and devastating blockades since October 2023resulting in over 61,000 Palestinian deaths. Restricting the entry of essential needs, the Israeli regime has created a man-made famine in Gaza where at least 197 people, including children, have died of starvation. The Iranian and Egyptian ministers also discussed the situation in Lebanon, pointing to the importance of internal unity and cautioning against actions that could spark internal conflict. They noted that Israel must "fully withdraw from the occupied areas in southern Lebanon" and cease its continuous assaults on the country. In Lebanon, US-Israeli pressures are mounting for the disarmament of Hezbollah, which has been rejected by the resistance group's leaders. Although Lebanon's cabinet endorsed the proposal's objective of centralizing the state's control over weapons, it stopped short of specifying timelines. Hezbollah's deputy chief, Mahmoud Komati, fiercely dismissed the cabinet's stance as a "march in humiliation" and denounced any disarmament while Israeli aggression persists. Protests erupted in Beirut after the decision was made, highlighting resistance to external pressure in the face of ongoing Israeli threats. Meanwhile, the Israeli regime continues to violate a ceasefire with Lebanon as its latest strikes killed six people in east of the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Sudan downs UAE plane carrying mercenaries; Emirates responds with airspace ban Iran Press TV Friday, 08 August 2025 9:34 AM Sudan says the UAE banned its aircraft from entering the country after Khartoum shot down an Emirati plane carrying Colombian mercenaries. The UAE also barred a Sudanese airliner from taking off from Abu Dhabi airport, a Sudanese authority said Thursday. The flight ban, not yet officially announced by the UAE, marks a significant escalation in the deteriorating relationship between Khartoum and Abu Dhabi. Sudan's air force on Wednesday destroyed an Emirati aircraft reportedly carrying Colombian mercenaries as it was landing in an airport in Darfur controlled by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Army-aligned state TV reported that the aircraft had taken off from an airbase in the Persian Gulf, carrying dozens of foreign fighters and military equipment intended for the RSF, which controls nearly all of Darfur. A UAE official told AFP Thursday that the "unfounded allegations" were "entirely false" and not supported by any evidence. However, Sudan's army-aligned government said it had positive evidence to prove it. The Sudanese army, led by Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, has repeatedly complained that the United Arab Emirates is sending RSF mercenary troops and advanced weaponry, including drones, via Nyala Airport in Darfur. The reports of UAE sending weaponry and fighters to Darfur date back to late 2024 and have been confirmed by the United Nations. Meanwhile, Colombia has expressed regret "for the participation of some of its citizens in the war." Colombian mercenaries, many former soldiers and guerrillas, have appeared in other global conflicts and were previously hired by the UAE for operations in Yemen and the Persian Gulf. In a post on Wednesday, Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he was moving to ban mercenary activity, calling it "a trade in men turned into commodities to kill." As fighting continues, thousands of families trapped in the besieged city of el-Fasher are at "risk of starvation", the UN's World Food Program (WFP) has warned. An outbreak of cholera in the North Darfur state, of which el-Fasher is the capital, has further added to the misery. Fighting in Sudan between the two generals running the Army and RSF forces, now in its third year, has left tens of thousands of people dead. About a fourth of the country's 50.5 million population has been forced to flee their homes, plunging the country into poverty and starvation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Armenia, Azerbaijan Sign Deal Aimed At Ending Decades Of Conflict By RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service and RFE/RL's Armenian Service August 08, 2025 The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a US-brokered peace deal aimed at ending decades of conflict between the two countries at a ceremony hosted by US President Donald Trump at the White House. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, seated on either side of Trump, also on August 8 signed agreements with the United States to pursue economic opportunities together. Trump praised them as "two very smart leaders" who will go down in history for reaching the agreements and for committing themselves to a permanent peace after decades of conflict. "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. The US president also said he was lifting restrictions on military cooperation with Azerbaijan, an action that Aliyev said he was grateful for. The restrictions were imposed on Azerbaijan in 1992. Unanswered Questions Laurence Broers, an associate fellow at Chatham House, a think tank in London, said more information is needed before the agreement can be hailed as a great breakthrough. "Overall, we still have a lot of unanswered questions," he said in a written response to a request for comment from RFE/RL. "Despite the optics, let's be clear that no peace deal has been signed: only a commitment to sign one that has already been completed," said Broers, who specializes in conflict, peace, and governance in the South Caucasus. The lifting of one Azerbaijani precondition for a signing -- the dissolution of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE's) Minsk Group -- has been agreed, but there are other conditions that are much more difficult to predict or manage, he said. "So we aren't 'there' yet even if gathering momentum and renewed commitment towards peace of course is welcome," he said. The OSCE welcome the progress toward peace and encouraged Armenia and Azerbaijan "to do everything possible to establish peace." The organization told RFE/RL in a statement that it "remains committed to all efforts aimed at bringing lasting peace and stability to both countries" and stands ready to support their efforts. Konul de Moor, South Caucasus consultant at the International Crisis Group, said tshe events at the White House could be seen as the beginning of peace, but some aspects remain unclear. "In the coming days, we will have more information about that road or corridor. Is it still the corridor that Azerbaijan has been insisting on? What will the rules and regulations be? How will the borders be opened? Have these issues been resolved?" she said. Another obstacle to an agreement is Azerbaijan's demand for changes to the Armenian constitution, she added. According to reports, these changes could take until 2027. "This requirement could also be one of the barriers to a peace treaty," she said. Promoting Peace And Prosperity The economic agreements could set the stage for a reopening of a strategic transportation corridor across the South Caucasus that has been shut since the early 1990s. The agreements give the US leasing rights to develop the corridor -- which would run through southern Armenian territory -- under the name Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP). The corridor will link Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave, which is separated from the rest of the country by an arm of Armenian territory 32 kilometers wide, and would eventually include a rail line, oil and gas lines, and fiber optic lines, allowing for the movement of goods and eventually people. "We will turn the page of standoff, confrontation, and bloodshed and provide bright and safe future for our children. I'm very happy because today we are writing the great new history," Aliyev said at the signing ceremony. Added Pashinian: "Today we have reached a significant milestone in Armenia and Azerbaijani relations by laying the foundation to write a better story than the one we had in the past." Post-War Fence-Mending Armenia and Azerbaijan have fought two major wars over a region known as Nagorno-Karabakh since they gained independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The two South Caucasus nations have taken significant steps to mend relations since the last major armed conflict in 2020 and the subsequent exodus of the ethnic Armenian population from the disputed region that officials in Yerevan now recognize as a sovereign Azerbaijani territory. "I feel optimistic and have positive expectations. I've watched the news several times, got emotional, and cried," one woman in Armenia told RFE/RL. "I feel sorry for all the lives we lost. [Still] I feel positive." Border Issues In another diplomatic breakthrough welcomed by the international community, Armenia and Azerbaijan conducted the first-ever delimitation and demarcation of a 13-kilometer section of their northern border in spring-summer 2024. As a result, the Armenian military withdrew from four uninhabited villages that were part of Soviet Azerbaijan before the war broke out between the two countries in the early 1990s. Both sides agreed to continue the border delimitation and demarcation process, but over the past year no progress has been made on other sections of the border -- where Armenia claims Azerbaijan continues to occupy more than 200 square kilometers of its territory. The Armenian opposition has denounced the controversial border demarcation and further diplomatic moves by Yerevan as "capitulation," calling for Pashinian's resignation. However, sustained opposition street protests and rallies that drew thousands in May and June 2024 eventually fizzled out, with the Armenian prime minister claiming that his government's pursuit of sustainable peace with Azerbaijan still enjoys broad public support. Transport Corridor Under one of the clauses of the Moscow-brokered 2020 cease-fire agreement -- which ended the bloody 44-day war in Nagorno-Karabakh -- Armenia is to guarantee "the security of transport connections" between mainland Azerbaijan and its western exclave of Nakhichevan, ensuring "the unimpeded movement of citizens, vehicles, and cargo in both directions." Armenia, landlocked by Azerbaijan and Turkey, had insisted any transit route must be part of a broader regional unblocking process and must respect Armenia's sovereignty, jurisdiction, and territorial integrity. Officials in Yerevan had rejected the idea and even the narrative of an extraterritorial corridor, calling it a veiled territorial claim by Azerbaijan. In 2024, unable to reach a common solution, Azerbaijan and Armenia indicated that the connectivity issue would be handled separately from the broader peace agreement. According to the 2020 cease-fire agreement, control over transport links between Armenia and Azerbaijan was to be exercised by Russia's FSB Border Guard Service. However, following a series of events -- including the failure of Russian peacekeepers to protect the region's ethnic Armenian population during Azerbaijan's offensive in September 2023 and their subsequent withdrawal -- Armenia has shifted its geopolitical orientation, distancing itself from Moscow and aligning more closely with the West. Broers said renaming the Zangezur Corridor the Trump Route for International Peace & Prosperity also supersedes the Russian project to control the route. "If there is one issue that Baku and Yerevan have agreed on over the years, it is that they do not want a Russian monopoly on managing the conflict between them. So this can be seen as a positive outcome," he said. But he noted that Armenian and Azerbaijani perspectives on how this route will function "still seem to be far apart and it's too early to say how these differences are going to play out. " Reaction From Regional Players Turkey welcomed the agreement, saying a historic opportunity had been "seized for the peace and prosperity of the South Caucasus." This development is "an extremely important development in terms of ensuring regional peace and stability," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Russia and Iran have been less positive because the opening of a transit route through Armenia has the potential to link the oil- and gas-rich Caucasus and Central Asia to Europe, bypassing them. Both Russia and Iran have expressed concern about a potential US presence in Armenia's strategic Syunik region, bordering Iran. Moscow has accused Washington of trying to hijack the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace process and sideline regional powers. "The Westerners aim to transfer the reconciliation process of Baku and Yerevan to their tracks," Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said at a news briefing on July 24. "We also know where these tracks usually lead.... This can lead to an imbalance of the security system in the region." Iran has also voiced strong opposition to any deal that it believes could jeopardize its northern border with Armenia. A top adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has warned countries "in or outside the region" to stop seeking a land corridor for Azerbaijan that would pass through an Armenian region bordering the Islamic republic. Broers said there are two possible spoilers in the deal signed at the White House: Russia and Iran. Both are "embedded in the Caucasus and have numerous levers that they can use," he said. "Russia has already criticized this deal, and we can expect more and sustained Russian hostility to the TRIPP plan." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-azerbaijan-sign- peace-deal-white-house-trump/33498177.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi Arabia Welcomes Peace Agreement between Armenia, Azerbaijan Saudi Press Agency Friday 14/02/1447 Riyadh, August 09, 2025, SPA -- 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. In a statement issued today, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the Kingdom's 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. -- SPA 02:17 Local Time 23:17 GMT 0005 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister, German Counterpart Discuss Gaza Development Saudi Press Agency Friday 14/02/1447 Riyadh, August 08, 2025, SPA -- Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah spoke by phone with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul today. The call focused on the latest developments in the Gaza Strip and the urgent need for the international community to intensify its efforts to stop the war and end the humanitarian suffering in the strip. -- SPA 21:07 Local Time 18:07 GMT 0032 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Saudi, French Foreign Ministers Discuss Gaza Developments Saudi Press Agency Friday 14/02/1447 Riyadh, August 8, 2025, SPA -- Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah today held a phone call with Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot, with whom he discussed recent developments in Gaza Strip and their related security and humanitarian repercussions. -- SPA 20:17 Local Time 17:17 GMT 0026 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Peace Deal Between Armenia and Azerbaijan US Department of State Press Statement Marco Rubio, Secretary of State August 8, 2025 The United States celebrates today's historic peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan. President Trump brought these parties together and brokered a deal that ends decades of conflict. This is an opportunity for both countries to move forward and focus on unlocking the economic potential of the South Caucasus region, which will bring trade deals and prosperity for the American people and both Armenia and Azerbaijan. We congratulate both countries on a new era of peace. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint Statement on the Inaugural Joint Security Coordination Mechanism (JSCM) Meeting for the Peace Agreement Between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Rwanda US Department of State Media Note Office of the Spokesperson August 8, 2025 The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Rwanda, the State of Qatar, the African Union Commission, and the Togolese Republic (as the Representative of the AU Mediator) on the occasion of the first Joint Security Coordination Mechanism meeting held this week at the African Union Commission headquarters in Addis Ababa. Begin Text: On August 7-8, 2025, representatives from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and the Republic of Rwanda (Rwanda), along with observers from the United States, the State of Qatar, the Representative of the AU mediator, and the African Union Commission held the first meeting of the Joint Security Coordination Mechanism for the Peace Agreement between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of Rwanda that was signed in Washington, D.C. on June 27, 2025. The Joint Security Coordination Mechanism is responsible for the implementation of the Concept of Operations for the Harmonized Plan for the Neutralization of the FDLR and Disengagement of Forces/Lifting of Defensive Measures by Rwanda (annex of the Peace Agreement signed June 27, 2025). The Mechanism is also tasked with facilitating intelligence and information sharing between the parties for the purpose of implementing the Peace Agreement. During the first meeting, the Permanent MembersDRC and Rwandaadopted terms of reference to govern future meetings of the Mechanism and began discussions on implementing the Peace Agreement. The Representative of the AU Mediator, the African Union Commission, the State of Qatar, and the United States participated in these discussions to ensure the effective, efficient, and impartial implementation of the Agreement, as well as the continuation of good-faith initiatives to achieve lasting stability in the region. Both the DRC and Rwanda expressed their appreciation for the invaluable contributions and joint efforts of the African Union, United States, and Qatar as partners in advancing a peaceful resolution. End Text. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Rubio's Call with Prime Minister Mitsotakis US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson August 8, 2025 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce: Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis today regarding the strategic importance of U.S.-Greece energy cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean. Secretary Rubio reaffirmed the continued strength of the United States' bilateral relationship with Greece and its role as a key NATO Ally. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint Foreign Ministers' statement on Gaza Joint Statement from the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon David Lammy MP Published 8 August 2025 The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand and the United Kingdom strongly reject the decision of the Israeli Security Cabinet on 8th August to launch an additional large-scale military operation in Gaza. It will aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages, and further risk the mass displacement of civilians. 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. We urge the parties and the international community to make all efforts to finally bring this terrible conflict to an end now, through an immediate and permanent ceasefire that enables the provision of a massive, immediate and unimpeded humanitarian assistance, as the worst-case scenario of a famine is unfolding in Gaza. Hamas must release all hostages without further delay or precondition and must ensure they are humanely treated and not subject to cruelty and humiliation. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic. We call on the Government of Israel to urgently find solutions to amend its recent registration system of international humanitarian organisations, to ensure these vital actors of humanitarian aid can continue their essential work again in line with humanitarian principles to reach the civilians in need in Gaza. Their exclusion would be an egregious signal. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM statement on the Israeli government's decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza: 8 August 2025 Prime Minister Keir Starmer's statement on the Israeli government's decision to further escalate its offensive in Gaza. From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP Published 8 August 2025 The Israeli Government's 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 in negotiations, that prospect is vanishing before our eyes. Our message is clear: a diplomatic solution is possible, but both parties must step away from the path of destruction. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General Department of Public Information . News and Media Division . New York 8 August 2025 The following is a near-verbatim transcript of today's briefing by Stephanie Tremblay, Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. ** Secretary-General/Gaza Let me start with a statement on Gaza. The Secretary-General is 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 of the remaining hostages. Palestinians in Gaza continue to endure a humanitarian catastrophe of horrific proportions. 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. The Secretary-General reiterates his urgent appeal for a permanent ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access across Gaza, and for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The Secretary-General once again strongly urges the Government of Israel to abide by its obligations under international law. He recalls that the International Court of Justice, in its Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024, declared that the State of Israel is under an obligation to cease immediately all new settlement activities, and to evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and to bring to an end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory which encompasses Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem as rapidly as possible. 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. Gaza is and must remain an integral part of a Palestinian State. ** Occupied Palestinian Territory Let me now to move to the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Our colleagues at the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that civilians are facing mounting challenges amid ongoing hostilities, displacement and further destruction. As strikes continue across Gaza, people report that even the most basic daily tasks such as finding water or food have become extremely difficult. The devastating convergence of a hunger crisis, a collapsing healthcare system, widespread destruction of critical infrastructure and nearly two years of war is having a catastrophic toll on people, particularly on the most vulnerable. Aid entering into Gaza remains far below the minimum required to meet people's immense needs, as we have been saying here almost in a daily basis now. The UN and our humanitarian partners continue to do everything possible to bring assistance inside Gaza. However, missions continue to face significant delays and other impediments that prevent us from delivering aid at scale. Yesterday, another mission to pick up supplies took 18 hours to complete. Since the entry of some commercial trucks into Gaza in the past few days, our partners reported a minor reduction in commodities prices as of yesterday. Most food items remain scarce in the market and sold at exorbitant prices. Airdrops landing in different parts of Gaza continue to reportedly kill and injure people, including at least one child that was reportedly killed yesterday in Khan Younis. As we have said before, we welcome all efforts to provide aid to the people in Gaza who desperately need it, but we reiterate that the most efficient way to bring in supplies is by road. It is imperative that aid is allowed to enter through all crossings and through all available corridors so that we can deliver it at scale in a safe and dignified manner through our community-based mechanisms, reaching the most vulnerable. Meanwhile, a severe heatwave is sweeping the region as people continue to struggle with access to water. In the southern part of the Gaza Strip, our partners working on water, sanitation and hygiene reported that yesterday, the South Gaza Desalination Plant's electricity line was damaged for the third time in the past seven days. As a result, the plant is currently operating at less than 14 per cent of its capacity. OCHA continues to stress the urgency of a permanent ceasefire, to provide adequate assistance and aid to the desperate population in Gaza and to call for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages. ** Ukraine Now turning to Ukraine, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that dozens of civilians were killed, and more than 200 others were injured in hostilities this week across the country. Hundreds of residential buildings were also damaged or destroyed in the attacks, according to authorities. The regions of Mykolaiv, Kherson, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia were the most impacted. Also, according to authorities, more than 6,000 people fled from front-line areas in Donetsk region this week a five-fold increase in evacuations over the past two weeks. Despite intense hostilities, humanitarian organizations continue to assist residents evacuating from high-risk areas, including the Korabel district in Kherson City where an attack on 2 August severely damaged a bridge. Evacuation support includes municipal and volunteer transport, mobile hospitals, and collective centres providing shelter, food, hygiene items, and medical assistance. Civilians also continue to be evacuated in the Kharkiv region. During his visit there yesterday, the Humanitarian Coordinator Matthias Schmale commended the remarkable courage of those assisting people who evacuated from hard-hit areas such as Kupiansk, helping them relocate to safer areas. ** Mozambique Now, an update from Mozambique: following the recent sharp surge in displacement in Cabo Delgado province amid escalating violence that we mentioned to you earlier this week, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund allocated $4 million yesterday to support the response there. These new funds will allow for a rapid scale-up of life-saving assistance for the most vulnerable displaced people, including food, shelter, water, sanitation and hygiene services. And as a reminder, between 20 July and 3 August, more than 57,000 people have been displaced in Cabo Delgado. ** Democratic Republic of the Congo Moving north, turning to the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is telling us there has been an uptick in armed clashes in three eastern provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri. In the North Kivu province, since 13 July, around 44,000 people have fled fighting between armed groups in the Masisi area. At least eight civilians were reported killed during the hostilities. In the Ituri province, in just one month, between 6 July and 6 August, at least 70 civilians were killed in attacks and clashes involving the armed group ADF, as well as other armed groups. More than 30,000 people had to flee their homes, according to local authorities. Many humanitarian partners have suspended operations amid ongoing insecurity, affecting more than 250,000 people. Our OCHA colleagues are coordinating with our partners to maintain a minimal humanitarian presence in accessible zones. Meanwhile, in the province of South Kivu, violence in Uvira, Walungu, and Kalehe territories continues to trigger new displacements, according to our partners. On 1 August, at least 35 women and girls were abducted and raped by armed groups in three villages in Uvira territory. And this was reported by local authorities, as well as medical sources. The recent surge in violence comes as our partners report widespread food insecurity, limited access to healthcare, inadequate shelter, and a lack of basic services affecting both displaced and host communities. We call on all parties to respect international humanitarian law. Civilians are not a target, as we say several times from here, and all measures must be taken to protect them during conflict. Humanitarians need unimpeded and safe access to the thousands of people in need. ** Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries The Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, known as the LLDCs, is coming to an end in Awaza in Turkmenistan. In her closing statement, Rabab Fatima, the Secretary General of LLDC3 Conference, said that now we have a bold and practical blueprint, which is the Awaza Programme of Action and the Political Declaration. This sets out a clear vision and path forward and the task now is clear, which is to translate this vision into action on the ground. As you well know, the Secretary-General was there for the Opening Ceremony. He thanked the Government and people of Turkmenistan for the outstanding arrangements made for the Conference. ** Senior Personnel Appointment We have a senior personnel announcement. Today, the Secretary-General is appointing someone you know very well, Ulrika Richardson of Sweden as his new Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), as well as the Resident Coordinator in Libya. She succeeds Aeneas Chuma of Zimbabwe, to whom the Secretary-General is grateful for his dedicated service during the interim period. Ulrika has over 30 years of experience in development and humanitarian assistance, as well as post-conflict recovery, with a focus on complex political, socioeconomic, and human rights contexts. Ms. Richardson has been the Deputy Special Representative for the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), as well as the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti since 2022. And we expect her to join us for one last time from Haiti, here next week, I believe it is scheduled for Tuesday. She will brief you, obviously, on Haiti. ** Nagasaki Peace Memorial Tomorrow, we will mark the eightieth anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. On this day, we remember the tens of thousands of victims who perished in an instant. Under-Secretary-General Izumi Nakamitsu will deliver a message to the Nagasaki Peace Memorial tomorrow on behalf of the Secretary-General's behalf. And you will have this message on your imbox later tonight. ** Indigenous Peoples Tomorrow, we will mark the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples. In his message for the Day, the Secretary-General says that Indigenous Peoples are guardians of ancient knowledge, defenders of cultural heritage, stewards of biodiversity, and essential to our shared future. ** Financial Contribution And finally, I have a quiz. This country is the only country in South America with English as the official language. Guyana. We would like to thank our friends in Georgetown for their full payment to the Regular Budget. Guyana's payment brings the number of fully paid-up Member States to 119. ** Questions and Answers Associate Spokesperson : And I think, Gabriel, you want the first question. If you have a question, why not? Question : Can you remind us? Thank you, Stephanie. Can you remind us on the UN's current posture in Gaza City in terms of personnel at all? I know we've discussed this in the past, but can you refresh us on that given the latest developments? Associate Spokesperson : So, we do have some personnel there. I would have to get back to you to get you the exact numbers of who is there and how many. Let me get back to you on that. I should have had that for you, but I don't have that precise information. But we'll get back to you on that shortly. Question : No problem. And I know this is all very new about Netanyahu's decision and Israel's decision to possibly take over Gaza City. But as of right now from the Secretary-General's standpoint, is the UN planning to leave Gaza City with any presence at all? Associate Spokesperson : I don't believe so. What I can tell you is that as of now, the Secretary-General remains briefed on what is happening. Our colleagues on the ground, we have the Resident Coordinator, Mr. [Ramiz] Alakbarov, has been in touch today with Israeli authorities to try to understand what are the plans, exactly. When this would happen. So, for now, we have very little information to go on. I have, of course, the statement that I read. So, there are no UN positions to announce as of yet as to whether there would be a change in the posture there. But again, what I can tell you is that we reiterate the call for an immediate cease fire. I will not repeat what was in the statement that I read, but, of course, you know, we continue to call for unimpeded humanitarian access. I think that we all see everyday images from Gaza that are extremely dire. We all see how grave the needs are. We cannot people of Gaza, the hostages I think nobody there can endure more hardships, more misery. So, we continue to call for unimpeded humanitarian access. When the Secretary-General said we need a notion of humanitarian access, this is really needed today more than ever. I have Edie, and then I will go around. Question : Thank you, Stephanie. There are reports that UN officials have met with officials from the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. Can you confirm this? And if so, what was the UN's aim in this meeting? Associate Spokesperson : I can confirm. So, this happened at the invitation of the United States mission. So, some UN entities, other partners, attended a dialogue on the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza. This took place on Wednesday. I can tell you that the chairman of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was in attendance at the US request. For us, as I just said again, you know, with the entire population of Gaza, essentially teetering on the brink of famine, we welcome anyone raising their voice to urgently reach the civilians across Gaza with humanitarian assistance. But, as we've said repeatedly, we already have a plan built on global humanitarian principles. That means we go where the needs are the greatest. We answer to civilians in need and not the warring parties, and there's no change to our principled approach as we've stated it from here so often. Question : Couple of follow ups. Did that meeting take place here in New York at the US mission, and when did it take place? And is the UN still dissatisfied that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation does not meet the humanitarian principles that it requires? Thank you. Associate Spokesperson : Yeah, Edie. As I said, so this was held at the invitation of the US mission, and I believe it took place there. It was on Wednesday. And as I said, there's no change to our principled approach to delivering aid in Gaza. On that side, nothing has changed. Question : But that doesn't answer whether the UN believes that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is still not upholding those principles. Associate Spokesperson : I think you can see what is happening in Gaza on a daily basis. Ibtisam, and then I will go to Serife. Question : Thank you. Just a quick follow-up. I'm sorry if you said it, and I missed it somehow. Who was from the UN at that meeting? Associate Spokesperson : You know, it was a private meeting. I will not go into these details. Question : And that was not the first meeting that from the UN. I think and the, like, there were meetings in the past, correct, or...? Associate Spokesperson : From here, that's what I have. Correspondent : Okay. Associate Spokesperson : Yeah. Question : A follow-up on what your reaction regarding the Israeli military operation. What does the Secretary-General want countries to do in order to stop that invasion and stop the war? And as you probably know, there's most probably tomorrow, UN Security Council meeting. Do you know who's going to brief the council? Thank you. Associate Spokesperson : I don't know yet who will brief the council on behalf of the Secretariat. I assume we should have that information as soon as a meeting is confirmed, and we'll let you know on that. But in terms of our position, you know, the Secretary-General continues to call on all those who have influence over the parties to use that influence to reach a permanent ceasefire, to continue to call for humanitarian unimpeded humanitarian access, and, of course, you know, to continue to appeal and to make progress towards what we hope will be a two-state solution. So that appeal remains completely unchanged. Yes. Serife. Yeah. Question : I just reported on the Secretary-General's calls regarding Israel's decision to occupy the Gaza City, but I also checked the charter a little bit before coming down here to see if there's anything else he can do. Maybe we could remind him. As you know, he is empowered to bring to the attention of this to the Security Council any matter that threatens the international peace and security, and he's also required to uphold the values of the UN even at the risk of challenging member states. So, is he planning on taking more concrete action to stop the genocide in Gaza, especially at this critical moment? For example, does he plan to reinvoke Article 99? Or I don't know. So, I'm asking, does he have the mandate to call to the UN Security Council members to invoke, for example, the responsibility to protect principle for the people in Gaza? Associate Spokesperson : I believe the Security Council is fully seized of the matter already, but the Secretary-General will continue. And he's been very strong from the very beginning of this conflict to use his voice, to use his advocacy to really call for the ceasefire. And to condemn, of course, what is happening, and he plans to continue doing that as much as he can and as much as is needed. Question : But [Inaudible] Yeah. Can he invoke Article 99 again? I know he's done it once, but is it possible to do that again just to basically, I don't know, maybe symbolically draw more attention to how critical the situation is there right now? Associate Spokesperson : For now, I mean, the Security Council is really fully engaged on this matter, and you know, he and everyone in the secretariat continue to remain fully engaged. Murad, and then I'll go to you. And then... Question : Thank you, Stephanie. Israel is using the word control of Gaza instead of occupy. Does this make any difference in term of its obligations as an occupying authorities? Associate Spokesperson : Well, as far as international law is concerned Gaza is occupied. So, to us, what we, you know, today, really, what we fear is the impact of an expanded military operation there. But in terms of occupation, to us, the entirety of Gaza is occupied already, the entirety of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Yeah. Question : On the meeting with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, was there any outcome? If there is any outcome. Was there any outcome? Associate Spokesperson : It's what I've described to you, and this was a private meeting, so I will not go into further details. But I can tell you that, you know, what I said today, when I say there's no change in our principled approach to the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza, that remains fully the case today. Yes. Correspondent : Follow-up on that question. Associate Spokesperson : Can you tell me? I don't think... Question : I'm sorry, I'm with Fox News. I'm David Hammelburg. I asked this question yesterday. I'll ask it again on the follow-up of the meeting. The question I asked is, since the situation is so dire, and I understand that, that Israel has basically shunned US agencies. The US is advocating for the Humanitarian Foundation, which does not meet the UN standards. The question I have is, if we take everything aside and look at it from sort of a top view, why not have a situation where UN agencies and the foundation can find a way to work together, since the foundation has an infrastructure in place? I know the UN does. Why the constants? Well, we have our standpoints, you have your standpoint, and the twain shall not be. Why not try a different approach? Associate Spokesperson : So, that question has been raised here in this room and elsewhere, so many times now. Let me try to take another crack at it. So, for us, these humanitarian principles are not just words. They're about people. They're about making sure that humanitarian assistance, when it's delivered, that it reaches people who are the most vulnerable where they are, that they are safe, getting that humanitarian assistance, that they receive and that women, children, that the portions of the population who need it the most have access to humanitarian assistance. So, there's all these principles that are very important to the distribution of humanitarian assistance. The UN has a plan. The plan, you've seen it in action. The plan works. Several hundred distribution points all across Gaza where people could go, receive assistance in safety and security, and people who needed it the most received it. So, these principles stand today. And the UN, as we've said very often, the UN has many, many partners in Gaza, but also elsewhere around the world. Because, if you look at operations that are taking place in several countries, I think you, what you could hear about Sudan, the Sudan briefing as just another example. There's humanitarian operations managed, supported by the UN take place in many in many places around the world. And the partners that the UN works with are partners that abide by these humanitarian principles. Yes. Question : Can you hear me? Associate Spokesperson : Yep. I can hear you. Question : Thank you so much, Stephanie. I have a question on the potential meeting between President Putin and President Trump. There have been some reports that this meeting could take place in different countries like Hungary, Switzerland, Italy, and so on and so on. What about the United Nations, especially in Headquarters? Is the Secretary-General ready to offer the headquarters here in New York as a place for meeting between the two leaders? Associate Spokesperson : I don't think this has been discussed or requested. I think, you know, the UN as a convening venue, as a convener for dialogue is always, is always, the door is always open, and we always encourage dialogue for now. I don't think this is this is an option that's being considered by those who are planning to meet. But, of course, we encourage dialogue. And I think as Farhan said yesterday, we do hope that there is dialogue and that there is eventually, you know, progress towards an end of the hostilities of the war in Ukraine in accordance with and you've heard that so many times in accordance with the charter of the UN. Question : So, it hasn't offered? Associate Spokesperson : Yes. Correspondent : Alright. Thank you. Associate Spokesperson : Yes. Gabriel. Question : I know it was a private meeting, and so you're limited, I guess, in what you can say. Nevertheless, I'm going to ask you, was the Secretary-General invited to the meeting? Associate Spokesperson : The Secretary-General this week, as you know, was in Turkmenistan and is elsewhere on annual leave. And so I don't think that his presence was ever discussed. But I will not say any... Question : No problem. And but can you say he was made aware of this meeting before it took place, correct, or...? Associate Spokesperson : Mhmm. Question : Yes. And just last question on this is, it was reported that there were some pretty unusual ground rules put in place for the meeting. No cell phones. It was under certain rules where nothing could be attributed that was discussed in the meeting. Is that true? And is that why we only are hearing about it after the fact and that it was a private meeting, which I understand. Is that true? And number two, given the high-profile nature of a meeting between the UN and the GHF, why would the UN agree to that? Associate Spokesperson : So, on ground rules, I think you should ask the conveners of the meeting. I don't think I should be answering these things. and I think, you know, what I've said about the meeting is really what I can say for today. So, if there are no more questions, I don't see questions online. Let me just double check. We have yes, we have a question online. Vusale? Question : Can you hear me Stephanie? Associate Spokesperson : I have a feeling that you will have to reach out to me separately, because, why don't you reach out to me separately, because we really cannot hear you. There's huge problems today with the Zoom in the room. I'm so sorry. So, let's do that. Apologies, and give me a call, Vusale. Thank you so much, everyone. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cholera outbreak among refugees from Sudan's Darfur, urgent funding needed UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees This is a summary of what was said by UNHCR Protection Officer for Darfur Jocelyn Elizabeth Knight, and UNHCR Principal Situation Coordinator for Eastern Chad Dossou Patrice Ahouansou - to whom quoted text may be attributed - at today's press briefing at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. 8 August 2025 GENEVA -- A deadly cholera outbreak has hit a refugee settlement in eastern Chad hosting Sudanese arrivals from Darfur, raising alarm over worsening sanitary and health conditions as humanitarian aid dries up. As of early August, 264 cholera cases and 12 deaths have been reported in the Dougui refugee settlement and surrounding villages. Suspected cases have also emerged in Treguine settlement, also hosting Sudanese refugees. Border locations, hosting a third of new refugee arrivals, are also at serious risk of transmission as more people continue to arrive from Darfur. In Adre, the largest spontaneous site hosting over 235,000 people, three suspected cases are currently being probed, raising fears of wider spread. Across the border in Darfur, the situation is even more critical, with over 4,300 cases and 113 deaths reported. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, urgently calls for an immediate injection of funds to scale up life-saving health, hygiene, water, shelter and nutrition support to avoid a health catastrophe. Overcrowding in areas hosting the displaced, a lack of clean water, and limited health and sanitation facilities are accelerating the transmission. In Darfur, many people live in 'gathering sites,' often in disused public buildings with insufficient access to essentials such as water and sanitation. Meanwhile, new displacement and brutal attacks continue within Darfur and in the neighbouring Kordofan region, plunging deeper into a living nightmare communities that are already devastated and have been subjected to unspeakable atrocities. The ongoing fighting has also severely constrained humanitarian access and disrupted aid delivery for over two years. With seasonal rains underway, many roads will be impassable for months, further complicating the delivery of aid. Persistent insecurity has impeded farming, deepening deprivation in areas at risk of famine or already experiencing famine conditions. In Chad, UNHCR has suspended the relocation of refugees from the border to Dougui as part of cholera prevention and control efforts. We are also working with partners to set up handwashing stations, distribute soap, and disinfect latrines. We have delivered medical supplies and personal protective equipment to health facilities, and health workers are being trained to enhance the identification and surveillance of cases. We are also providing information on prevention and early treatment across the settlements. Despite rising needs, funding shortfalls are hindering response efforts both in Darfur and eastern Chad. UNHCR is seeking $130 million in flexible funding to provide life-saving aid to an estimated 800,000 people in Darfur, respond to the ongoing cholera outbreak, relocate 239,000 Sudanese refugees from the Chad-Sudan border, and address key gaps in service provision by the end of 2025. In Darfur, the required funds will help provide critical relief such as protection services, shelter and household items for the internally displaced and sanitation, hygiene and health infrastructure in refugee sites. In Chad, decongesting spontaneous sites is a priority to prevent the spread of cholera. UNHCR will intensify efforts to relocate refugees currently at the border into settlements and villages where essential services are available by providing safe transport for 2,000 people daily. UNHCR will also prioritize healthcare, safe drinking water and sanitation facilities, shelter and protection services. Since the war started in April 2023, over 5 million displaced people are hosted across the Darfur region, including 1.5 million who were internally displaced before the current conflict and over 82,000 refugees mainly from South Sudan. Over 873,000 Sudanese refugees have fled Darfur and crossed into Chad, now host to the largest number of registered Sudanese refugees since the start of the conflict. One in 3 people in eastern Chad is now a refugee. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel's military takeover of Gaza City would mark 'a dangerous escalation': Guterres 8 August 2025 - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed grave concern over Israel's decision to "take control of Gaza City", his Spokesperson said in a statement on Friday. The announcement following an Israeli cabinet meeting "marks a dangerous escalation and risks deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians, and could further endanger more lives, including of the remaining hostages," it said. The statement noted that Palestinians in Gaza continue to endure a humanitarian catastrophe of horrific proportions. More displacement, death and destruction The UN chief warned that this further escalation will result in additional forced displacement, killings and massive destruction, compounding the unimaginable suffering of the population. He reiterated his urgent appeal for a permanent ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access across Gaza, and the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. "The Secretary-General once again strongly urges the Government of Israel to abide by its obligations under international law," the statement continued. End the occupation Mr. Guterres recalled that in an Advisory Opinion last July, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) declared that Israel is under an obligation to cease immediately all new settlement activities, to evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and to bring to an end its unlawful presence there as rapidly as possible. "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," the statement concluded, stressing that "Gaza is and must remain an integral part of a Palestinian State." Security Council meeting In the wake of the development, the Permanent Observer of the observer State of Palestine, Riyad Mansour, held consultations with the president of the UN Security Council in New York. "This escalation by the Israeli Government is going in total contradiction to the will of the international community, international law and common sense - and, I even dare to say, against the wish of the majority of people inside Israel, as we read opinion polls," he told journalists at UN Headquarters. The Security Council is due to meet on Sunday morning in emergency session to discuss the crisis. Insufficient aid still a problem Meanwhile, civilians continue to be killed and wounded in Gaza, where even basic tasks such as finding food and water have become impossible, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in an update. Furthermore, aid entering the Strip continues to be far below the minimum required to meet the immense needs. Scarcity and 'exorbitant prices' "Since the entry of some commercial trucks into Gaza in the past few days, partners reported a minor reduction in commodities prices as of yesterday. Most food items remain scarce in the market and sold at exorbitant prices," OCHA said. At the same time, airdrops in different parts of Gaza continue to reportedly kill and injure people, with one child reportedly losing their life in Khan Younis on Thursday. While welcoming all efforts to provide desperately needed aid, OCHA reiterated that the most efficient way to bring supplies into Gaza is by road. "It is imperative that aid is 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 agency said. Severe heatwave OCHA added that the region has been hit by a severe heatwave as people continue to struggle with access to water. On Thursday, aid partners reported that the South Gaza Desalination Plant's electricity line was damaged for the third time in the past seven days and the plant is operating at less than 14 per cent of its capacity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli plan to take military control of Gaza must stop now, says UN rights chief 8 August 2025 - The UN's top human rights official insisted on Friday that the Israeli Government must not pursue a complete military takeover of the Gaza Strip, beginning with full control of Gaza City. "A complete military takeover of the occupied Gaza Strip must be immediately halted," insisted Volker Turk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, after the Israeli security cabinet approved a plan which portends a full-scale Israeli military takeover in the battered enclave. The development runs contrary to international law, Mr. Turk continued, referring to a ruling of the International Court of Justice that Israel must end its occupation and achieve a two-State solution giving Palestinians the right to self-determination. Any further escalation of the conflict between Hamas and Israel that has devastated Gaza and killed tens of thousands "will result in more massive forced displacement, more killing, more unbearable suffering, senseless destruction and atrocity crimes", the UN rights chief said. Aid access call In a short statement, Mr. Turk insisted that rather than intensifying the conflict, "the Israeli Government should put all its efforts into saving the lives of Gaza's civilians by allowing the full, unfettered flow of humanitarian aid". At the same time, all hostages must be immediately and unconditionally released by Palestinian armed groups, he continued, adding that Palestinians arbitrarily detained by Israel must also be released. "The war in Gaza must end now. And Israelis and Palestinians must be allowed to live side by side in peace," the High Commissioner said. Little change in dire aid situation Since war erupted in Gaza after Hamas-led deadly terror attacks in Israel in October 2023, aid agencies have warned repeatedly that Israeli bombardment, mass evacuation orders and relief restrictions have created a humanitarian catastrophe. Even UN staff who are still working in the enclave report being unable to find enough to eat, according to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. Despite Israel's 27 July announcement of daily military pauses in western Gaza "to improve humanitarian responses", far too little aid is getting through, humanitarians insist. According to the UN human rights office, OHCHR, since 27 May, at least 1,373 Palestinians have been killed while seeking food; 859 in the vicinity of the non-UN aid distribution organization the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF); another 514 victims died along the routes of food convoys. Echoing widespread concerns for the people of Gaza, the head of the UN World Health Organization (WHO), warned that other Gazans have only limited access to basic services and food, while malnutrition is widespread and hunger-related deaths are rising. "In July, nearly 12,000 children under five years were identified as suffering from acute malnutrition, the highest monthly figure ever recorded," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. In comments to journalists on Thursday, the WHO chief said that so far this year, 99 people have died from malnutrition, including 29 children under five, adding that these reported numbers are likely underestimates. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'The real challenge is still ahead': UN warns on Afghan returnees 8 August 2025 - Millions of people returning to Afghanistan from neighbouring countries are receiving humanitarian support at the border, but they will need more help to rebuild their lives, according to UN-Habitat, the agency that advocates for sustainable communities. "The real challenge is still ahead of us," Stephanie Loose, Programme Manager in Afghanistan, told journalists in Geneva on Friday. "We're speaking about the reintegration of people who've lost their homes, who've lost their assets and also their hope." Millions on the move Afghanistan is currently facing an unprecedented returnee crisis. Since September 2023, some three million Afghans living in Pakistan and Iran were either deported or voluntarily repatriated, with over two million arriving so far this year. For some, it's not a return but a new start. "Many in Afghanistan don't have a place to go because they've never actually lived in Afghanistan," Ms. Loose said. "Sixty per cent of those who are returning now are below 18, so they don't have any social ties, they don't have any networks, and there is a real risk for them taking negative coping mechanisms." Concern for women and girls Returnees are coming to a country under Taliban rule and where roughly half the population - 22.9 million people - requires humanitarian assistance amid economic, human rights and climate-related crises. Ms. Loose noted that Taliban edicts preventing women and girls from attending secondary school, getting a job, or going outside without a male chaperone, present a serious challenge to returnees. "They're being pushed back into a country where there's no education for girls beyond 12, where they don't actually know where to go, and where there's actually specifically for women and girls no social and no economic development opportunities," she said. "We also have women-headed households who return to the country. So, you can just imagine actually what it means to them. They cannot actually leave their houses without being accompanied by a mahram, a male guardian, even if they want to go and see a doctor." Challenges to integration She added that integration is likely to be further complicated by the high level of needs in Afghanistan, given the fragile political, economic and social situation, linked to more than four decades of conflict. Afghanistan is also among the top 10 countries impacted by climate change, and droughts, floods and heatwaves have taken a toll on rural livelihoods. They also threaten people living in informal settlements in urban areas who account for up to 80 per cent of the population in these locations. Given the scale of needs across Afghanistan, Ms. Loose stressed that rebuilding lives goes beyond emergency aid. "People need access to basic services, to water, to sanitation. And overall, they do need livelihood opportunities...to lead their lives in dignity and to support their families," she said. International appeal Reintegrating large numbers of displaced people will require huge efforts from the international community and the Afghan authorities, she said. "It is a humanitarian crisis for individuals, but demands systemic, locally grounded approaches, and strong investment in basic services, infrastructures, housing solutions and livelihood opportunities," she said. Ms. Loose urged the international community not to forget about Afghanistan and its people, especially women and girls, and to ensure adequate funding is made available so that they can live in dignity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Landlocked but not left behind: UN summit in Turkmenistan wraps with bold new roadmap By Nargiz Shekinskaya in Awaza, Turkmenistan 8 August 2025 - The Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries wrapped up earlier Friday in Awaza, Turkmenistan, with delegates adopting a landmark political declaration aimed at speeding up sustainable development and boosting resilience in 32 nations that lack direct access to the sea. Held under the theme Driving Progress Through Partnerships, the four-day forum known as LLDC3, brought together Heads of State, senior UN officials, development partners, and private sector leaders to tackle persistent challenges faced by LLDCs, including high trade costs, inadequate infrastructure, and vulnerability to climate change. Anchored by the Awaza Programme of Action for 2024-2034, which was adopted by the UN General Assembly last year, the new 'Awaza Declaration' outlines a unified strategy across five priority areas: Structural economic transformation; Trade and regional integration; Transport and infrastructure; Climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction; and Mobilizing finance and partnerships. "The Awaza Declaration marks a turning point. It is a blueprint for action, not just words," said Under Secretary-General Rabab Fatima. "With targeted investments in infrastructure, trade facilitation, and climate resilience, we can unlock the potential of LLDCs and ensure no one is left behind." Ms. Fatima, who also serves as the UN High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS), said the conference would be remembered as a defining moment in the LLDC journey, ushering in a new era of bold partnerships and decisive action. "It is this spirit...of solidarity, partnership, and shared purpose that will carry us forward. A future where we are not divided by geography, but connected through ideas, trade and innovation," she said. "Let us make the promise of 'land-linked' not only a phrase but a new way of life...the UN stands ready to support this decade of delivery," she added. A call for investment and inclusion The Declaration calls for increased investments from multilateral development banks, stronger South-South cooperation, and broader inclusion of LLDC interests in global trade and climate agendas. It also emphasizes the importance of monitoring implementation and ensuring that LLDCs themselves lead the process, coordinated by UN-OHRLLS. Turkmenistan's initiatives As host country, Turkmenistan presented several initiatives aligned with the Conference's goals, including the Global Atlas for Sustainable Transport Connectivity, the Global Hydrogen Energy Transition Programme, and the Caspian Environmental Initiative. "The Awaza Declaration reflects our shared vision of partnership and progress," said Gurbanguly Malikgulyyewic Berdimuhamedow, National Leader of the Turkmen People and Chairman of the People's Council of Turkmenistan. "Together - transit countries, development partners, and the private sector - we can overcome geographical constraints and build sustainable prosperity for our peoples." What's next? The Awaza Declaration represents a major step forward for LLDCs and a renewed symbol of global solidarity - turning a geographical disadvantage into a shared advantage. Implementation will be tracked by the UN General Assembly through annual LLDC ministerial meetings. Key upcoming platforms to advance LLDC priorities include: The 2025 UN climate conference in Brazil (COP30); The next meeting of the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD); and The 2027 Global Mountain Summit in Kyrgyzstan. A mid-term review of the Awaza Programme of Action is scheduled for 2030. Cooperation begins with neighbours At a wrap-up press briefing, Aksoltan Ataeva, Permanent Representative of Turkmenistan to the United Nations, said that for his country, "hosting LLDC3 is not only a significant political event, but it also reflects Turkmenistan's foreign policy philosophy: to be a bridge, not a barrier." UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan Dmitry Shlapachenko told UN News the Conference was especially important for the region, bringing together several Central Asian heads of state. Global partnerships matter - but real cooperation starts with neighbours. Mr. Shlapachenko shared an example cited by the UN Secretary-General in meetings with Central Asian leaders: "Before Portugal and Spain joined the European Union, trade between them was minimal. But once they became part of the EU, 40 per cent of all goods exported by Portugal went to Spain. This really improved life for [the people of both countries]. I think it's very important to keep this in mind when we talk about Central Asia." "There is still a lot to be done here, but we are moving in the right direction," he added. UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan Sabine Machl noted that UN country teams in Central Asia regularly meet to coordinate their work. Uzbekistan, one of only two double landlocked countries in the world (alongside Liechtenstein), faces unique challenges - but also opportunities. "As the United Nations country team in Uzbekistan, for the next five years, what we want to do is to harness the demographic dividend by investing in the people of Uzbekistan," she said. "That's our one strategic priority. Because Uzbekistan has a very young population - 60 per cent of the population is under 30 years old." In Lesotho, a landlocked African country, water is a major opportunity. UN Resident Coordinator Amanda Khozi Mukawashi told UN News that the country wants to share its abundant water and other resources - but needs investment. "Lesotho has got water. It's one of its biggest natural assets; lots of water that flows from Lesotho and saves lives in neighboring countries like Namibia, Botswana, and so on," she said. "What they're trying to do is to look for investment, to develop the infrastructure so that they can produce renewable energy, hydropower." She added that Lesotho could use its wind and solar resources not just for its own industrial development, but to export into a region facing challenges in both water and energy. These and other ideas were discussed on the sidelines of the Conference and will continue to be advanced at future forums. Farewell to Awaza On Friday, Awaza - nesteled on the shores of the Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland body of water - bid farewell to its guests with a ceremonial lowering of the UN and Turkmenistan flags, which had been raised at the start of the week. "Awaza will be remembered as a defining moment for the journey of LLDCs - not only for the great success of the Conference itself, but as the beginning of a new era of ambitious partnerships and decisive action," said Ms. Fatima, wrapping up the forum. The Third UN Conference on Least Developed Countries opened in Awaza, Turkmenistan on Tuesday, 5 August. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Today's top news: Occupied Palestinian Territory, Ukraine, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Occupied Palestinian Territory Gaza: hunger, healthcare collapse and unrelenting war bring indescribable hardships for civilians OCHA reports that civilians continue to be killed and injured and are facing mounting challenges amid ongoing hostilities, displacement and further destruction. As strikes continue across Gaza, people report that even the most basic daily tasks - such as finding water or food - have become impossible. The devastating convergence of a hunger crisis, a collapsing healthcare system, widespread destruction of critical infrastructure and nearly two years of war is having a catastrophic toll on people, particularly on the most vulnerable. Aid entering into Gaza remains far below the minimum required to meet people's immense needs. The UN and its humanitarian partners continue to do everything possible to bring assistance inside Gaza. However, missions continue to face significant delays and other impediments that prevent the UN from delivering aid at scale. Yesterday, another mission to pick up supplies took 18 hours to complete. Since the entry of some commercial trucks into Gaza in the past few days, partners reported a minor reduction in commodities prices as of yesterday. Most food items remain scarce in the market and sold at exorbitant prices. Airdrops landing in different parts of Gaza continue to reportedly kill and injure people, including at least one child that was reportedly killed yesterday in Khan Younis. OCHA welcomes all efforts to provide aid to the people in Gaza who desperately need it, but reiterates that the most efficient way to bring in supplies is by road. It is imperative that aid is 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. Meanwhile, a severe heatwave is sweeping the region as people continue to struggle with access to water. In the southern part of the Strip, partners working on water, sanitation and hygiene reported that yesterday, the South Gaza Desalination Plant's electricity line was damaged for the third time in the past seven days. As a result, the plant is currently operating at less than 14 per cent of its capacity. OCHA continues to stress the urgency of a permanent ceasefire, to provide adequate assistance and aid to the desperate population in Gaza and to call for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages. Ukraine Deadly attacks continue to inflict heavy toll on civilians across the country OCHA says that civilians have been killed and injured in hostilities this week across Ukraine. According to authorities, dozens of civilians were killed and more than 200 others were injured. The regions of Mylolaiv, Kherson, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia were the most impacted. Hundreds of residential buildings were also damaged or destroyed in the attacks. A railway and road bridge also sustained damages. According to authorities, more than 6,000 people fled from front-line areas in Donetsk Region this week a five-fold increase in evacuations over the past two weeks. The national NGO Mission Proliska said this includes many people with disabilities. Despite intense hostilities, humanitarian organizations continue to assist residents evacuating from high-risk areas, including the Korabel district in Kherson City where an attack on August 2nd severely damaged a bridge. Evacuation support includes municipal and volunteer transport, mobile hospitals, and collective centres providing shelter, food, hygiene items, and medical assistance. Civilians continue to be evacuated in the Kharkiv region. During his visit there yesterday, Humanitarian Coordinator Matthias Schmale commended the remarkable courage of those assisting people who evacuated from hard-hit areas such as Kupiansk, supporting them at transit centres, including in Kharkiv, and helping them relocate to safer areas. Democratic Republic of the Congo Surge of violence in the east triggers new displacement OCHA reports an uptick in armed clashes in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In North Kivu province, since 13 July, around 44,000 people fled fighting between armed groups in the Masisi area. At least eight civilians were reported killed during the hostilities. In Ituri province, in just one month - between 6 July and 6 August - at least 70 civilians were killed in attacks and clashes involving Allied Democratic Forces and other armed groups. More than 30,000 people had to flee their homes, according to local authorities. Many humanitarian partners have suspended operations amid ongoing insecurity, affecting more than 250,000 people. OCHA is coordinating with its partners to maintain a minimal humanitarian presence in accessible zones. Meanwhile, in the province of South Kivu, violence in Uvira, Walungu and Kalehe territories continues to trigger new displacements, according to partners. On 1 August, at least 35 women and girls were abducted and raped by armed groups in three villages in Uvira territory, as reported by local authorities and medical sources. The recent surge in violence comes as partners report widespread food insecurity, limited access to healthcare, inadequate shelter, and a lack of basic services affecting both displaced and host communities. OCHA calls on all parties to respect international humanitarian law. Civilians are not a target, and all measures must be taken to protect them during conflict. Humanitarians need unimpeded and safe access to the thousands of people in need. Mozambique UN Central Emergency Response Fund releases $4 million to support the response in Cabo Delgado Following the recent sharp surge in displacement in Cabo Delgado province, Mozambique, amid escalating violence, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund allocated US$4 million yesterday to support the response there. The new funds will allow for a rapid scale-up of life-saving assistance for the most vulnerable displaced people, including food, shelter, and water, sanitation and hygiene services. Between 20 July and 3 August, more than 57,000 people have been displaced in Cabo Delgado. Posted on 8 August 2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General - on Gaza United Nations Secretary-General New York 08 August 2025 Stephanie Tremblay, Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General The Secretary-General is 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 of the remaining hostages. Palestinians in Gaza continue to endure a humanitarian catastrophe of horrific proportions. 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. The Secretary-General reiterates his urgent appeal for a permanent ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access across Gaza, and for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages. The Secretary-General once again strongly urges the Government of Israel to abide by its obligations under international law. He recalls that the International Court of Justice, in its Advisory Opinion of 19 July 2024, declared, inter alia, that the State of Israel is under an obligation to cease immediately all new settlement activities, and to evacuate all settlers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and to bring to an end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory - which encompasses Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem - as rapidly as possible. 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. Gaza is and must remain an integral part of a Palestinian State. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address U.S. Coast Guard Responds to Increased Chinese Research Vessel Activity in U.S. Arctic United States Coast Guard Press Release | Aug. 8, 2025 JUNEAU, Alaska -- The U.S. Coast Guard detected and responded to two Chinese research vessels operating in the U.S. Arctic and is currently monitoring a total of five similar vessels in or near the U.S Arctic. On August 5, a C-130J Hercules fixed wing aircraft from Air Station Kodiak responded to the Chinese research vessels Ji Di and the Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di. Both vessels were transiting northeast in the Bering Sea. On August 6, the crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) again responded to the Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di as it was transiting north in the Chukchi Sea above the Arctic Circle, after passing through the Bering Strait. The C-130 and USCGC Waesche were patrolling under Operation Frontier Sentinel, an operation that responds to adversaries operating in and around Alaskan and U.S. Arctic waters. The U.S. Coast Guard's responses are intended to counter malign activities, defend sovereign interests, and promote maritime conduct consistent with international law and norms. In July, Coast Guard Arctic District deployed a C-130J Hercules fixed wing aircraft from Air Station Kodiak to query the Xue Long 2, another Chinese research vessel, approximately 290 NM north of Utqiagvik, Alaska. The presence of these vessels is consistent with a three-year trend of increased activity from Chinese research vessels operating in the U.S. Arctic. Last year, three Chinese research vessels conducted research operations north of the Bering Strait. The Coast Guard Arctic District works in conjunction with international partners, U.S. Northern Command, and Alaskan Command to constantly monitor the activity of foreign vessels operating near U.S. sovereign waters and the extended outer continental shelf to ensure homeland security, homeland defense, and compliance with U.S. and international law. The Coast Guard is America's only surface presence in the Arctic a growing zone of strategic global competition. A robust national fleet of icebreakers, made possible by historic investment in the Coast Guard, will secure U.S. access, security, and leadership in the Arctic. On Sunday, the Coast Guard will commission the Coast Guard Cutter Storis, the newest icebreaker in the fleet, at a ceremony in Juneau. -USCG- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address WFP food convoys keep moving into Gaza as starvation drives lawlessness, leaving the most vulnerable without food World Food Programme 8 August 2025 GAZA, Palestine -- The UN World Food Programme (WFP) continues to bring convoys of food aid into Gaza virtually every day but dire operating conditions prevent the delivery of life-saving supplies at the scale needed to push back escalating starvation. At the same time, increasing lawlessness inside the territory is hindering supplies from reaching the most vulnerable people. Here are the latest updates on food security and WFP operations in Gaza: Food Security in Gaza According to the latest assessment of food security (IPC alert 29 July): Starvation and malnutrition in Gaza are at the highest levels ever since the conflict began almost two years ago. The worst-case scenario of famine is unfolding in Gaza - two out of the three famine criteria have been breached in parts of the Strip. More than a third of the population is not eating for days at a time and acute malnutrition is spiking with over 300,000 children at severe risk. Half a million people in Gaza are on the brink of famine , while the rest are enduring emergency levels of hunger. WFP Operations As of 07 August, in the 11 days since "humanitarian pauses" in Gaza were announced, WFP teams have been able to dispatch over 10,400 metric tons (MT) of food aid inside Gaza, via more than 800 trucks. While the number of WFP trucks entering Gaza has improved slightly since 27 July, it's still a fraction of what's needed . WFP convoys dispatching food aid inside Gaza have included 74 trucks on average. Just to cover basic humanitarian food assistance needs, more than 62,000 MT are required every month . WFP's aims to pick up 2,000 MT of food aid from border crossings to bring it into Gaza every day. Since 27 July, WFP has managed to deliver 47 percent of this target. The food supplies going into Gaza include wheat flour, supplies for hot meals, ready-to-eat meals, yeast and nutrition products. Almost all of the trucks carrying WFP food aid inside Gaza have been stopped by civilians before reaching WFP warehouses. As a result, organized distributions are not possible, hot meals kitchens receive no supplies from WFP and bakeries cannot re-open. Israeli authorities have provided written assurances that operating conditions inside Gaza will improve , and that more food aid will be able to flow into Gaza. The assurances include the use of more routes and border crossing points with faster clearances , dependable communications , and without the presence of military forces near convoys. WFP has over 170,000 metric tons of food in - or on its way to - the region, enough to feed the entire population of 2.1 million people for nearly three months. Operating Conditions Inside Gaza After 22 months of fighting, the social fabric of Gaza is collapsing as the fear of starvation intensifies. Public order has broken down and violence erupts as civilians seek food aid. The most vulnerable citizens are unable to access food aid because organized food distributions are impossible, bakeries remain closed and the few hot meals kitchens still functioning are unable to offer an adequate meal. Despite written assurances from Israeli authorities, WFP is forced to travel along the same routes inside Gaza that present high risk for staff and drivers. Convoy movements are frequently hampered by last-minute changes by Israeli authorities , and heavy insecurity due to military activities along convoy routes. Convoys are consistently delayed many hours before receiving final permissions to move into Gaza - with large crowds of hungry people gathering along known routes to intercept aid trucks. many hours before receiving final permissions to move into Gaza - with large crowds of hungry people gathering along known routes to intercept aid trucks. WFP continues to face problems replenishing the stocks at border crossing points. Since July 27, 266 WFP trucks arriving at crossing points were turned back, 31 percent of which had initially been approved. Only two border crossing points have been cleared for WFP use. have been cleared for WFP use. So far, only 60 truck drivers have been vettedand approved by authorities to transport food assistance inside Gaza. More are urgently needed. Scaling Food Aid into Gaza To surge food aid into Gaza and alleviate desperation, we must be able to deliver vital assistance with speed, scale, and safety. WFP is calling for: At least 100 trucks per day to be allowed into Gaza from northern, central and southern border points. Much faster approvals and clearances to move trucks inside Gaza - for the safety of civilians and our staff. All military forces on the ground to respect the established rules of engagement: no armed presence or shooting near humanitarian convoys , food distributions, and other operations. The re-opening of bakeries and community kitchens to provide basic relief for starving people. Regular and sustained commercial food imports to provide access to fresh and nutritious produce like fruits, vegetables, meat, fish, and dairy products. Above all, what's needed now is a ceasefire so that WFP can deliver vital aid safely, securely, predictably, and at scale to everyone inside Gaza. # # # The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint Statement on Gaza by Foreign Ministers and the EU High Representative European External Action Service (EEAS) 09.08.2025 Joint Statement from Foreign Ministers of Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the High Representative of the European Union The Foreign Ministers of Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy strongly reject the decision of the Israeli Security Cabinet on 8th August to launch an additional large-scale military operation in Gaza. It will aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages, and further risk the mass displacement of civilians. 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. We urge the parties and the international community to make all efforts to finally bring this terrible conflict to an end now, through an immediate and permanent ceasefire that enables the provision of a massive, immediate and unimpeded humanitarian assistance, as the worst-case scenario of a famine is unfolding in Gaza. Hamas must release all hostages without further delay or precondition and must ensure they are humanely treated and not subject to cruelty and humiliation. The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains catastrophic. We call on the Government of Israel to urgently find solutions to amend its recent registration system of international humanitarian organisations, to ensure these vital actors of humanitarian aid can continue their essential work again in line with humanitarian principles to reach the civilians in need in Gaza. Their exclusion would be an egregious signal. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Minister of Foreign Affairs Tsahkna: A Historic Step Toward Peace Between Armenia and Azerbaijan Taken at the White House Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 09.08.2025 | 15:13 The declaration signed at the White House by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev marks a significant milestone in the process of ending the decades-long conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. I welcome and commend the determination of both parties and the leadership role of the United States, as well as the consistent contributions of partners - including the European Union - to achieving peace in the South Caucasus. It is now important to move forward resolutely, implementing all agreed steps fully and on time. I hope that today's agreements will create a favorable basis for the prompt signing of a peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan - the text of which was already finalized in March. Estonia will continue to support Armenia and Azerbaijan in achieving comprehensive peace. The stability of the South Caucasus is important for the security of all of Europe. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran condemns recent Israeli cabinet resolution on full occupation of Gaza City IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 9, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Iranian Foreign Ministry in a statement has strongly condemned a resolution by the Israeli regime's security cabinet to fully occupy Gaza City, and assessed it as part of completing the plan to genocide the Palestinians and eliminate the identity and existence of Palestine. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran, while expressing its strong concern and disgust over the continued killing and genocide in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and the attack on Islamic holy sites in Holy Quds, and while appreciating the principled positions of freedom-loving governments and nations in declaring solidarity with the oppressed people of Palestine, emphasizes the responsibility of the international community to stop the genocide and provide immediate assistance to the oppressed people of Gaza," the statement said. It added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran firmly condemns the recent decision of the Zionist regime's cabinet to completely occupy Gaza City and displace its residents, and assesses it as part of completing the plan to genocide the Palestinians and eliminate the identity and existence of Palestine. "This resolution is a gross violation of international law and a targeted measure to expand the occupation and impose new realities throughout occupied Palestine by using force and military force. Without a doubt, the Zionist regime's actions to re-displace the Palestinian people are condemned, and it is necessary to preserve the identity and historical and legal status of the holy sites in the city of Holy Quds," the statement further said. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasizes the need for an immediate and complete cessation of aggression against Gaza, immediate, unconditional and complete access of humanitarian aid to the Strip, ensuring freedom of action for aid organizations in carrying out humanitarian missions, supporting regional and international efforts to achieve an immediate and complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of occupying forces from the Gaza Strip, the exchange of prisoners and detainees, and the implementation of the reconstruction plan. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized the need for an immediate and complete cessation of aggression against Gaza, immediate, unconditional and complete access of humanitarian aid to the Strip, ensuring freedom of action for aid organizations in carrying out humanitarian missions, supporting regional and international efforts to achieve an immediate and complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of occupying forces from the Gaza Strip, the exchange of prisoners, and the implementation of the reconstruction plan. The statement further said that in light of the decisions of the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for political and military officials of the Israeli regime and the orders of the International Court of Justice regarding the crime of genocide in occupied Palestine, the regime bears responsibility for the heinous crimes committed and the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophes in the Gaza Strip. It further said that the international community, especially the Security Council and other global legal and human rights institutions, are expected to fulfill their legal and moral duties, prepare the ground for the trial and punishment of Zionist criminals, and put an end to the long-standing impunity of this regime. The statement added that the realization of the national rights of the Palestinian people, and above all the fundamental right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and unified Palestinian state with Holy Quds as its capital, is a legal and moral necessity. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while emphasizing the principled position of the Islamic Republic of Iran in supporting the right of the Palestinian people to be completely free from the yoke of occupation, apartheid, and colonialism, recalls its democratic initiative to refer to the votes of the original inhabitants of the Palestinian land, including Muslims, Christians, and Jews, to determine their own destiny and the type of political system that will govern the Palestinian land. 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU commissioner warns against Israeli plan to expand offensive in Gaza IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 9, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness, and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib has said that the Israeli regime's decision to expand its military offensive in Gaza will further worsen the humanitarian situation in the enclave. In a post on her X account on Saturday, Lahbib wrote, "The Israeli Security Cabinet's decision to extend its military operation in #Gaza will further worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian situation and jeopardize the lives of the remaining hostages." She added, "An immediate ceasefire is essential, along with the unconditional release of all hostages and the large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid, in full compliance with international humanitarian law." "There is no alternative to a two-state solution," she further noted. The remarks came after Israel's security cabinet on Friday approved a plan by Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of the regime, for the complete occupation of Gaza City. Australia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and the UK also strongly condemned the Israeli regime's plan in a joint statement. Since October 2023, the Israeli regime has killed over 61,300 people in its genocidal war in Gaza, pushing the enclave to the brink of famine. 3266**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Egypt, Turkiye condemn Israel's plan for Gaza takeover IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 9, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan have condemned the Israeli cabinet's decision to occupy Gaza City, firmly rejecting the forced displacement of Palestinians. In a meeting on Saturday, El-Sisi and Fidan denounced the Israeli regime's decision to occupy Gaza City, emphasizing the urgent need to end the war in the Gaza Strip. They called for the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, the release of both Israeli and Palestinian prisoners, and reiterated their opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians. Also, during a joint press conference with Fidan, Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs Badr Abdelatty said the discussions had predominantly focused on the "humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza." Regarding the Israeli security cabinet's decision to expand military operations in Gaza, Abdelatty said that both countries fully condemned this decision and stressed the necessity of joint efforts to pressure Israel into a withdrawal. Both sides reaffirmed the right of the Palestinian people to establish an independent state along the 1967 borders. Several other Arab and Muslim countries also condemned Israel's plan to take control of Gaza City, calling it a "dangerous escalation." Approximately 20 Muslim countries denounced the plan as a "flagrant violation of international law" and an attempt to entrench illegal occupation while imposing a fait accompli, which is devoid of international legitimacy. 3266**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel's Gaza takeover plan prompts global condemnation IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 9, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- A lot of countries worldwide have broadly condemned the plot by the Israeli regime to take control of Gaza City. The Israeli regime on Thursday approved a plan proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the military takeover of Gaza City and the surrounding areas. Shortly after the Israeli decision, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei called the move as another sign of the regime's intention to commit genocide in Palestine. In reaction to the move, world leaders have condemned Israel's plan, warning that the move will put thousands of Palestinians at risk and deepen the humanitarian crisis in the war-ravaged area. Also, the foreign ministers of Australia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom have strongly condemned the measure. The French foreign ministry has said that the actions would constitute further serious violations of international law and lead to a complete dead end. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has termed Israel's plan to take over Gaza as wrong. On Saturday, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil Pinto published a statement on his official Telegram channel, saying that this occupation plan seeks to erase the existence of the Palestinian people and is intolerable to the conscience of humanity. He added that Caracas called for the immediate arrest of those responsible at political, economic, military, and diplomatic levels, urging the international community to act urgently and decisively. The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned Israel's decision, calling it a gross violation of international law and the United Nations Charter. Israel's actions will also jeopardize the prospects for peace in the Middle East and escalate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, it added. Moreover, Iraq, Yemen, Chile, Oman, and Qatar have also voiced strong opposition. In a statement, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said that it considers the plan a dangerous development that threatens to exacerbate the humanitarian suffering resulting from the ongoing war in the Strip, intensify its disastrous repercussions, and undermines efforts aimed at reaching a permanent ceasefire. 7129**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Armenia, Azerbaijan ink Trump-brokered peace deal IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 9, 2025 New York, IRNA -- Armenia and Azerbaijan have signed a peace agreement at the White House expected to bring decades of conflict to an end. Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan shook hands after signing the agreement on Friday, with US President Donald Trump, who brokered the deal, in the middle, clasping his hands around theirs. According to the White House, as part of the deal, the US will help build a major transit corridor that will be named the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity. Trump said that naming the route after him was "a great honor for me," but "I didn't ask for this." "It's been a long time coming," Trump said of the agreement, expressing confidence about lasting peace between the two nations. "Thirty-five years they fought, and now they're friends and they're going to be friends a long time," he said. Pashinyan called the agreement a "significant milestone," saying, "We are laying a foundation to write a better story than the one we had in the past." "President Trump in six months did a miracle," Aliyev said. The two nations had fought over the Nagorno-Karabakh region for nearly four decades until 2023, when Azerbaijan reclaimed all of Karabakh. 4354**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ICRC spokesperson: Occupation of Gaza City will hinder aid efforts IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 9, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- The spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza, Hisham Mahna, has warned that if Israeli forces enter Gaza City, the relief operations in the region will face severe challenges and restrictions. The limited airdrops of aid are not a permanent or effective solution to the Gaza crisis, Mahna told Qatar's Al Jazeera stressing that the region urgently requires a significant and large-scale increase in humanitarian assistance. He stressed that establishing safe zones to ensure Gazans have access to medical services and basic necessities is an immediate priority, adding that increasing aid while protecting civilians must be a top concern. Mahna said that a potential Israeli attack on Gaza would also be a worrying development for the families of Israeli prisoners. He reiterated that humanitarian aid should never be used as a tool for political pressure. On August 7, Israel's security cabinet approved a proposal by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to occupy Gaza City. The Israeli regime's decision to occupy Gaza has been met with widespread global condemnation, as numerous countries, officials, and international human rights organizations have called for an end to the war on Gaza and the establishment of a ceasefire. Netanyahu's plan has also faced significant backlash within the Israeli regime, including military and security factions. 9376**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address KCNA Commentary on Change of West's Stand on Palestine Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, August 9 (KCNA) -- When the residents in the Gaza Strip are on the verge of extinction owing to the moves of the U.S. and Israel, the efforts of the Western countries to recognize the State of Palestine have lately drawn attention. On July 24, France announced that it would officially recognize the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly to be held in September. The United Kingdom, Canada and Finland expressed their intention to recognize Palestine as an independent state, though conditionally, and such current continues to expand. It can be said that this is a grave change in the stand of the Western countries which have pursued a pro-Israel one-sided policy in pursuance of the U.S. in dealing with the issue of Palestine for a long time. More than 140 UN member states have recognized Palestine as a state in support of the "two-state solution", but the G-7 and most of the EU members have so far turned away their faces from it. Following the U.S. stand in dealing with the present crisis in the Gaza Strip, the West has given a green light to the Zionists' move to exterminate a nation, talking about Israel's unilateral "right to self-defence". Then, is the sudden change of these countries' stand the "eruption" of the humanity, mercy and sense of justice of "Western gentlemen"? It is not so. It means that the Western countries have been in a difficult situation in which they can not blindly avail themselves of the U.S. and Israel any longer in settling the Middle East affairs. As Israel persists in its unethical massacre, enforcing its policy on reducing the Gaza Strip to ashes, occupying it permanently and exterminating the Palestinians in disregard of international law and the humanitarian principle, the international community's censure and denunciation for the chieftain and wire-pullers are growing stronger day by day. In particular, the U.S. has persistently exercised its veto over the matter related with the attainment of the position of Palestine as a full-fledged UN member state and inspired Israel with extinction of nation, making a gangster-like assertion that if Palestine acquires the same rights as member states, it is necessary to stop its expenditure on the UN. Its behavior is enraging the world people. Witnessing the present wretched situation in the Gaza Strip, in which the whole zone has been reduced into a "hell on the ground" and all the survivors are little short of " walking dead bodies", the international community is censuring not only the U.S. and Israel but also the Western countries which assume the attitude of onlookers to the worst humanitarian crisis, blindly following them. As well as misgiving that if they blindly follow the U.S. and Israel, they may be in the dock of the international court, the western countries came to be difficult in staying in power owing to the citizens' growing resentment against their government ignoring the unethical crimes in the Gaza Strip. Such situation made the ruling circle of the western countries no longer ignore the Palestinian affairs. Although it is a sudden mutation caused by the political interests of the Western politicians like chameleon, the change in the pro-U.S. Western camp goes to prove again from a new angle that the international isolation against the U.S. and Israel, which trample down international justice and demands of the times, is growing and coming up to the surface with each passing day and a great breach is being made in the U.S.-led Western alliance. Branding the western countries' stand as the "hasty decision", the U.S. and Israel assert vehemently that they will remain unchanged, no matter what they say. The reality clearly shows that the more desperately the U.S. and Israel try to deprive the Palestinian people of their national rights for the building of an independent and sovereign state, the stronger the international efforts will be made to promote the building of the State of Palestine and the more quickly the evil forces will accelerate their ruin of their own accord. No force on earth can stop the wheel of history toward independence and justice. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint Statement on Developments in the Gaza Strip Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) 09-08-2025 The Ministerial Committee mandated by the Joint Extraordinary Arab-Islamic Summit on developments in the Gaza Strip, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Republic of Indonesia, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the State of Palestine, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Republic of Turkiye, the League of Arab States and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, in addition to People's Republic of Bangladesh, Republic of Chad, Republic of Djibouti, Republic of The Gambia, State of Kuwait, State of Libya, Malaysia, Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Sultanate of Oman, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Federal Republic of Somalia, State of Libya, Republic of the Sudan, United Arab Emirates, and Republic of Yemen express their strong condemnation and categorical rejection of Israel's announcement of its intention to impose full military control over the Gaza Strip. We consider this announcement a dangerous and unacceptable escalation, a flagrant violation of international law, and an attempt to entrench the illegal occupation and impose a fait accompli/ facts on the ground by force, in contravention of international legitimacy. We affirm that this declared course of action by Israel constitutes a continuation of its grave violations, including killing and starvation, attempts at forced displacement and annexation of Palestinian land, and settler terrorism, which are crimes that may amount to crimes against humanity. Such actions obliterate any opportunity for peace, undermine regional and international efforts towards de-escalation and peaceful resolution of the conflict, and exacerbate the severe violations against the Palestinian people, who have faced for nearly two years a comprehensive aggression and blockade affecting all aspects of life in the Gaza Strip, alongside serious violations in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In light of this dangerous development, we assert the following: The immediate and comprehensive cessation of the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip, and an end to the ongoing violations committed by the occupying forces against civilians and civilian infrastructure in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem. The demand that Israel, as the occupying power, immediately and unconditionally allow the entry of humanitarian assistance at scale into the Gaza Strip including food, medicine, and fuel and ensure the freedom of operation of relief agencies and international humanitarian organizations, in accordance with international humanitarian law and its applicable principles. Support for the efforts undertaken by the Arab Republic of Egypt, the State of Qatar, and the United States of America to achieve a ceasefire and reach an agreement for the exchange of prisoners and hostages, as a fundamental humanitarian entry point to de-escalation, alleviating suffering, and ending the aggression. The immediate commencement of the implementation of the Arab-Islamic reconstruction plan of the Gaza Strip, and the call for active participation in the upcoming reconstruction conference to be held in Cairo. Rejection and condemnation of all attempts to displace the Palestinian people from their land in Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the affirmation of the need to preserve the legal and historical status quo in the Islamic and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem, while recognizing the key role of the Hashemite Custodianship in this regard. The affirmation that a just and lasting peace can only be achieved through the implementation of the two-State solution, ensuring the realization of an independent Palestinian State on the 4 June 1967 lines, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with the principles of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions. We hold the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the ongoing genocide and the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe taking place in the Gaza Strip, and calls upon the international community particularly the permanent members of the Security Council to assume their legal and humanitarian responsibilities and to take urgent action to stop Israel's illegal aggressive policies aimed at undermining prospects for a just and lasting peace, eliminating any horizon for the implementation of the two-State solution, and ensuring immediate accountability for all violations committed by Israel against international law and international humanitarian law, including those amounting to genocide. We also underscore the need to implement the outcomes of the High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, held in New York co-chaired by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the French Republic, including the urgent operational time-bound measures contained in its final outcome document to end the war in Gaza and the implementation of a political path to achieve the comprehensive peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question and the implementation of the two-State solution. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan Welcomes the Signing of the Peace Agreement Between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan welcomes the signing of the peace agreement between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia. This historic moment reflects the wisdom and sagacity of Azerbaijan's leadership in bringing a prolonged conflict to a peaceful resolution. Pakistan acknowledges and appreciates the efforts of President Trump in fostering conflict resolution and promoting peace across various regions of the world. As a steadfast advocate for peace and stability in the Caucasus and beyond, Pakistan hopes this agreement will mark the beginning of a new era of prosperity and enduring peace- not only for Azerbaijan and Armenia but for the entire region. Islamabad 9 August 2025 234/2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Europe condemns Israel's Gaza takeover, warning of deepening crisis People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 11:33, August 09, 2025 European countries and the European Union have condemned Israel's plan to take over Gaza City, warning that such a move will worsen the humanitarian crisis and undermine prospects for peace. BERLIN, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- European countries, the European Union and the United Nations have voiced strong opposition to Israel's newly announced plan to take over Gaza City, warning it will worsen the humanitarian crisis and undermine prospects for peace. 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. Gravely alarmed by the decision, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Friday that Gaza is and must remain an integral part of a Palestinian State. The 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, said a statement issued by Stephanie Tremblay, associate spokesperson for the UN chief. European Council President Antonio Costa called on Israel on Friday to reverse the decision, warning on social media platform X that the move would have consequences for EU-Israel relations, which the Council will assess. He emphasized that the situation in Gaza remains dire and that this decision will only worsen it. Costa strongly urged the Israeli government to reconsider, stating that the takeover, along with continued settlement expansion in the West Bank, large-scale destruction in Gaza, the blockade on aid, and the spread of famine, undermines fundamental principles of international law and universal values. 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 condemned "in the strongest terms" the plan to militarily control the entire Gaza Strip, reiterating its opposition to any occupation or forced displacement. It warned such actions would seriously violate international law, cause a political stalemate, and threaten regional stability, while doing nothing to improve Israel's security. Lithuania's Foreign Ministry warned the decision would worsen conditions in the Gaza Strip and said it was working with other EU members for a coordinated response. Meanwhile, Sweden warned that any annexation or reduction of Gaza's territory would violate international law, while Austria expressed deep concern for civilians and hostages, Portugal urged suspending the plan alongside hostage releases and urgent aid delivery, and Slovenia condemned the move, calling for an immediate, permanent ceasefire. Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned of looming famine in Gaza, where over 1 million people have been displaced, and local health authorities report tens of thousands of casualties. Multiple governments and experts also voiced alarm over the humanitarian consequences. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have voiced deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza, stressing that with its ongoing offensive, Israel bears greater responsibility than ever to meet the needs of civilians in the enclave. He called on Israel to allow full access for aid deliveries, including supplies from the United Nations and other non-governmental organizations. Germany has also 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New U.S. tariffs deal heavy blow to Portugal's exports People's Daily Online (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) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Romualdez thanks US for additional aid to flood victims Philippine News Agency By Jose Cielito Reganit August 9, 2025, 7:18 am MANILA -- House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez on Saturday thanked the United States government for its additional allocation of PHP13.8 million (USD250,000) in emergency shelter assistance and hygiene kits for 3,000 Filipino families affected by severe flooding caused by the southwest monsoon in July. He described the supplemental aid as a reflection of the strong and enduring partnership between the Philippines and the United States, emphasizing that this latest humanitarian support demonstrates "the continuing solidarity of our oldest ally in times of adversity." "We deeply appreciate this generous assistance, which will significantly help many of our kababayans (countrymen) as they rebuild their homes and regain a sense of normalcy. This gesture from Washington reaffirms the US' unwavering commitment to stand with the Filipino people in both good times and in times of great need," he said. On Friday, the US Embassy in Manila announced the additional funding, which will provide emergency shelter materials and hygiene kits to approximately 15,000 individuals still staying in evacuation centers in the provinces of Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, and Pampanga. With this supplemental assistance, the total US humanitarian support for disaster response efforts in the Philippines now amounts to PHP27.6 million (USD500,000). The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), will distribute the shelter-grade tarpaulins, repair kits, and essential household items to families whose homes were damaged or destroyed. Each kit includes basic construction tools and materials to enable households to begin rebuilding. Hygiene kits, consisting of soap, buckets, and cleaning supplies, will also be distributed, while the IOM will monitor sanitation conditions in evacuation centers to help prevent the spread of disease. US Embassy Charge d'Affaires ad interim Y. Robert Ewing said the US is grateful to work with key partners, such as the IOM, the World Food Program (WFP), the DSWD, and the Office of Civil Defense to "help affected families recover and rebuild." Previously, the US government provided PHP13.8 million (USD250,000) in assistance through the WFP, enabling the delivery of 47,700 family food packs to more than 200,000 beneficiaries across Northern and Central Luzon. US military aircraft also supported the Armed Forces of the Philippines in delivering 6,300 food packs to 18,000 individuals in Batanes. Romualdez urged the DSWD to ensure the efficient and transparent distribution of the latest assistance. "We ask the DSWD to prioritize low-income households, especially those with senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and young children. These families need urgent support as they rebuild amid the ongoing rainy season," he said. "Our alliance with the US extends beyond defense and economic cooperation. It is a relationship built on genuine compassion and friendship. Time and again, the United States has stood by us in our greatest times of need, and for that, we are truly grateful." (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We will stop this genocide; Israel a 'dictatorship' for Palestinians: UN rapporteur to Press TV Iran Press TV Saturday, 09 August 2025 10:12 PM Outspoken UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese has reasserted her and her like-minded people's determination to stop the ongoing genocide being committed in Gaza by the Israeli regime, which she denounced as a "dictatorship" for Palestinians. The world body's special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories made the remarks on the latest edition of Press TV's Face to Face program that was broadcast on Saturday. "We will stop this genocide, the matter is when," she vowed. "People and institutions are coming out, and they want to stand in solidarity, not with me, with the Palestinian people," the UN official added. Albanese said Palestinians' right to self-determination and their "political future is not up for negotiation," despite feverish efforts by the regime and its allies, mostly notably the United States, to nullify such entitlements by equating them with "terrorism." She called the regime a "democracy" for its own illegal settlers, but "a military dictatorship for five million people, Palestinians." Towards enforcing the dictatorship, Albanese noted, the regime was deploying "21st-century modern technology and weaponry and spying services and artificial intelligence" in ways that "can be replicated." Tel Aviv, though, "must be sanctioned" like any other party, which commits crimes, she stressed. In March 2024, Albanese found the regime to be culpable for committing at least three acts of genocide, naming those as acts of killing, acts calculated to destroy the people in Gaza, and acts aimed at inflicting severe bodily and mental harm on them. At the time, she said these efforts were geared towards "colonial erasure" of Palestinians by a chronically apartheid regime. Earlier this year, Albanese unveiled a report implicating many companies in enabling the regime's empowerment by contributing to Tel Aviv's "economy of occupation" and now "economy of genocide." The report was ensued by American sanctions as well as relentless defamation campaigns, accusing her falsely of "anti-Semitism and inciting violence." Under fire, but still standing Albanese said the coercive measures amounted to an "extremely serious" affront to the multilateral system, and were aimed "to silence me, to deter me from continuing this mandate." The official, however, vowed to persist, saying the "unbearable" reality of genocide demands urgent action to stop the Palestinian suffering. The US is "trying to isolate me," but public and institutional solidarity is growing. She, meanwhile, urged the UN to respond, warning, "If this is not addressed, it will happen to others." Palestine 'a tool of awakening' "I think Palestine has been a tool of awakening," Albanese stressed. She said she had "this clear sense of the revolutionary phase we are living [in] because of the acceleration of developments." "Two years ago, it was impossible to talk about Palestine." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Unexploded Israeli ordnance kills six soldiers, injures several in southern Lebanon Iran Press TV Saturday, 09 August 2025 5:25 PM At least six Lebanese soldiers have lost their lives and several others were injured as unexploded ordnance from a previous Israeli strike went off in southern Lebanon. Lebanese media outlets, citing local sources, reported that the incident occurred on Saturday afternoon when a unit of the Lebanese army's engineering regiment was working to disable and remove the ammunition on the outskirts of the Majdal Zoun region in the Tyre district. Four of the soldiers killed were reportedly part of the 5th Brigade, while two others belonged to the engineering regiment. The injured were quickly transferred to nearby hospitals to receive necessary medical care. The Beirut-based al-Mayadeen television news channel reported that Israeli occupation forces fired bursts of machine gun fire from the Radar military site toward the outskirts of Shebaa shortly after the blast. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun made a phone call to Army Commander General Rodolphe Heikal, who briefed him on the details of the tragic incident. For his part, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam paid tribute to the fallen soldiers on the social media platform X. "With great pain, Lebanon mourns the sons of its valiant army who fell as martyrs in the South while fulfilling their national duty," he wrote. "All of Lebanon, state and people, bows in homage to their sacrifices and precious blood, which reaffirm that our army is the guarantor of security, the bulwark of sovereignty, and the protector of the nation's unity and its legitimate institutions," Salam noted. Last April, three Lebanese soldiers were killed and five civilians injured in an explosion of munitions being transported in a van belonging to the Lebanese army's engineering department in Breike, in the Nabatieh region. Following significant losses sustained over nearly 14 months of conflict and the failure to meet its objectives in the offensive against Lebanon, Israel was compelled to accept a ceasefire with Hezbollah, which took effect on November 27. Since then, Israeli forces have been launching attacks on Lebanon, including airstrikes, in breach of the ceasefire. Israel also continues to maintain its occupation of five significant regions in southern Lebanon, namely Labbouneh, Mount Blat, Owayda Hill, Aaziyyeh, and Hammamis Hill, all situated near the border. Lebanon has condemned the continued presence of Israeli military forces as a violation of the ceasefire agreement and the established timeline for withdrawal. Senior officials in Beirut have expressed their commitment to take "all necessary measures" to remove the occupying troops from the nation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'With or without Russia, Iran will block American corridor in Caucasus' Iran Press TV Saturday, 09 August 2025 5:25 PM A senior Iranian official says the country would oppose the establishment of a US-controlled transportation and energy corridor in Armenia, which he says would create serious risks to regional stability. Ali Akbar Velayati, who serves as a senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, said on Saturday that Iran would block the establishment of the so-called Zangezur corridor, which seeks to connect Azerbaijan to its exclave of Nakhchivan through the Armenian territory. "The security in Southern Caucasus is at stake with the implementation of this plot ... and Iran has emphasized that with or without Russia it would move to (preserve) stability in Southern Caucasus," Velayati told the Tasnim news agency. He said that Iran believes that Russia is strategically opposed to the plan for establishing a US-controlled corridor in Armenia. Under a deal signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington on Friday, Armenia granted exclusive rights to the US to develop a corridor in its southern Syunik province, which borders Iran, to connect Azerbaijan to Nakhchivan. Iran has for long opposed the idea, saying it would change the geopolitical order of the Southern Caucasus and would restrict Iran's ability to use transport networks in the region. Velayati said US President Donald Trump's touting of the transport corridor as a way of establishing peace in the region is just "meaningless". The official, who served as Iran's foreign minister from 1981 to 1997, said that the project would lead to the disintegration of Armenia and is opposed by the people in the country. He said the corridor would also lead to the increased presence of the US and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in the region. "We will not allow NATO to approach Iran's northern borders," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Eleven more Palestinians die of starvation in Gaza, death toll rises to 212 Iran Press TV Saturday, 09 August 2025 2:59 PM Eleven more people have lost their lives due to famine and malnutrition in Gaza, as starvation, fueled by Israel's blockade, tightens its grip on the territory. Gaza's Health Ministry said Saturday the past day's deaths bring the total to 212, including 98 children a figure health experts say is likely an undercount. They warn that the real figure is higher because malnutrition weakens patients against other illnesses listed as the cause of death, and many deaths outside hospitals go unrecorded. The World Food Program (WHO) warned in late July that famine is taking hold across Gaza, with "widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease" driving a surge in hunger-related deaths. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said about 12,000 children under five were suffering from acute malnutrition in July. After months of siege, nearly one in three people in Gaza are going days without food. Constant bombardment and displacement orders continue to uproot families and block humanitarian aid. According to the Palestinian health ministry, at least 39 Palestinians have been killed and 491 wounded by Israeli forces in the last 24 hours. Of those, 21 people were killed while seeking aid at sites run by a controversial US and Israeli-backed group, known as the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). In a recent report, Doctors Without Borders known by its French acronym MSF said the so-called aid distribution sites have become scenes of "orchestrated killing." "The GHF distribution sites masquerading as 'aid' have morphed into a laboratory of cruelty. This must stop now," said Raquel Ayora, one of MSF's general directors. A group of UN experts confirmed in a statement on Wednesday that Israeli forces and foreign military contractors continue to open indiscriminate fire on people gathered at GHF aid distribution points, which are especially difficult to access for the most vulnerable people, such as women, children, persons with disabilities, and older persons. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel sparks global outrage with US-backed Gaza City occupation plot Iran Press TV Saturday, 09 August 2025 10:39 AM Israel's US-backed plot to seize Gaza City and forcibly displace nearly a million Palestinians to concentration zones in the south has sparked widespread international condemnations, with world leaders warning of a potential humanitarian catastrophe and further destabilization in the region. Israel's war cabinet approved on Friday a military blueprint to capture Gaza City and tighten its grip on the blockaded strip, which has been relentlessly bombarded since the genocidal war began on October 7, 2023. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier announced that the Tel Aviv regime intended to "take control" of the entire Palestinian territory, where more than 61,300 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed over the past 22 months. The announcements have ignited a firestorm of global outrage and opposition. World leaders expressed concern and dismay over the potential consequences of such an occupation. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) rebuked in a statement the Israeli decision to extend full control over the entire Gaza Strip and forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza City and the northern part of the Strip to the south. "We condemn in the strongest terms the decision of the Israeli occupying authorities to reoccupy the entire Gaza Strip and displace nearly one million Palestinians," the OIC said, stressing that the plan constitutes an escalation in the series of Israeli crimes of genocide, destruction, starvation, displacement, and siege of the Gaza Strip. The organization said it would "hold Israel, as the occupying power, fully responsible for the consequences of these crimes, which exacerbate the unprecedented human suffering in the Gaza Strip." The OIC also called on the UN Security Council to take immediate and decisive action to assume its responsibilities by imposing a comprehensive and permanent ceasefire. Israeli takeover of Gaza risks captives' lives: Hamas The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas censured the move and warned that the Israeli regime's decision to escalate the war by taking over the entire Gaza Strip could risk the lives of captives held in the strip. "The decision to occupy Gaza confirms that the criminal Netanyahu and his Nazi [cabinet] do not care about the fate of their captives," the group said in a statement. "They understand that expanding the aggression means sacrificing them." Islamic Jihad: Gaza occupation a new chapter in 'war of extermination' The Islamic Jihad resistance movement also said Israel's plans to expand its assault on Gaza were "a new chapter in the war of extermination." "The Zionist entity...is preparing to escalate its massacres in Gaza," the group said in a statement, adding, "We hold Arab governments and the West responsible for curbing this escalation." The movement said Netanyahu was pushing for "forced displacement," and his "escalation, fully supported by the Trump administration, aims to occupy the Gaza Strip." Occupying Gaza is a 'complete crime': PA The Palestinian Authority also denounced the move as a "complete crime," with the office of President Mahmoud Abbas describing it as a continuation of "genocide, systematic killing, starvation and siege." It warned that Israel's actions would lead to an "unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe." Israeli plan to occupy Gaza City 'a dangerous escalation': UN United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's office said he was "gravely alarmed" by the "dangerous escalation." "This decision marks a dangerous escalation and risks deepening the already catastrophic consequences for millions of Palestinians" and Israeli captives in Gaza, the office said in a statement, adding that further escalation will lead to "additional forced displacement, killings and massive destruction." The statement reiterated Guterres's "urgent appeal for a permanent ceasefire." "The secretary general once again strongly urges...Israel to abide by its obligations under international law," it added. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said in a statement that the Israeli plan "must be immediately halted." "It 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," Turk added. EU warns of consequences for EU-Israel relations EU Council President Antonio Costa said in a statement on X that Israel's decision "must have consequences for EU-Israel relations," calling on the Israeli regime to reconsider. "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 added. Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Union's executive branch, said Israel must revisit its plan to take control of Gaza. "The Israeli ... decision to further extend its military operation in Gaza must be reconsidered," she wrote on X. UK slams Israel's 'wrong' decision; Germany halts arms exports UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called Israel's decision "wrong" and urged restraint. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin would not authorize any exports to Israel of military equipment that could be used in Gaza "until further notice." France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned Israel's plan to establish military control of Gaza City, warning it would lead to a deadlock in efforts to find a lasting solution to the conflict. "Such actions would constitute further serious violations of international law and lead to a complete dead end," the ministry said. "They would undermine the legitimate aspirations of Palestinians to live in peace within a viable, sovereign and contiguous state, and pose a threat to regional stability." The foreign ministers of Australia, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and France condemned Israel's plan in a joint statement late on Friday, saying it risked "violating international humanitarian law." They said the plan would also "aggravate the catastrophic humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the [Israeli captives], and further risk the mass displacement of civilians." "Any attempts at annexation or of settlement extension violate international law," the statement added. China urges Israel to cease its 'dangerous' actions China expressed "serious concerns" and urged Israel to "immediately cease its dangerous actions." "Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and is an inseparable part of Palestinian territory," a ministry spokesperson told the AFP news agency in a message. "The correct way to ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to secure the release of [captives] is an immediate ceasefire." The Turkish Foreign Ministry said the Israeli plan intends to force out Palestinians, calling on international leaders to prevent the move. "We call on the international community to fulfill its responsibilities to prevent the implementation of this decision, which aims to forcibly displace Palestinians from their own land," the ministry said. Gaza City occupation 'entrenchment' of Israeli occupation: Egypt Egypt also condemned "in the strongest terms" the decision of the Israeli cabinet. "This plan aims to entrench the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, continue the war of extermination in Gaza, eliminate all elements of life for the Palestinian people, undermine their right to self-determination and the realization of their independent state, and liquidate the Palestinian cause - all in blatant and unacceptable violation of international law and international humanitarian law." Egypt called on the international community to assume its political, legal, and moral responsibilities, and to take urgent action to stop "Israel's policy of lawlessness and arrogance of power." Occupying Gaza City derails peace talks: Pakistan Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif "strongly" warned that the move will "derail any prospect for peace." The plan "tantamounts to a dangerous escalation in an already catastrophic war against the people of Palestine," Sharif said on his X account. "This expansion of military operations will only worsen the already existing humanitarian crisis and derail any prospect for peace in the region." He called on the international community to "intervene urgently" to stop Israel's "unwarranted aggression," and ensure the protection of civilians. Saudi Arabia denounces the move; Qatar warns of worsening humanitarian crisis Saudi Arabia said it "categorically denounces Israeli occupation authorities' persistence in committing crimes of starvation, brutal practices, and ethnic cleansing against the brotherly Palestinian people." Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs warned that Israel's decision marked a "dangerous escalation" that risks exacerbating the ongoing humanitarian crisis and undermining efforts to achieve a permanent ceasefire. The ministry urged the international community to take "immediate action" to prevent Israel from moving ahead with the plan. Jordan slams Israel's decision as a 'grave violation' of international law In a statement, Jordan "condemned, in the strongest terms, the plan" approved by Israel that "aims to entrench its occupation of the Gaza Strip and expand full military control over it." The statement also said Israel was committing "grave violations of international law and international humanitarian law," and undermining "the two-state solution and the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to establish their independent state on the lines of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem [al-Quds] as its capital." Israel's decision to cause loss of more 'innocent lives': UAE The United Arab Emirates warned that Israel's decision will lead to "catastrophic consequences," including "further loss of innocent life and a worsening of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza." The Emirati Foreign Ministry called on the UN and the international community to halt Israel's illegal practices, stressing that upholding the rights of the Palestinian people was "no longer a matter of political discretion, but a moral, humanitarian, and legal imperative." Belgium summons Israeli ambassador Belgium's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would summon the Israeli ambassador in response to the regime's decision on Gaza. The ministry said Belgium wanted to "express total disapproval of this decision, but also of the continued colonization ... and the desire to annex the West Bank," adding that it will "vigorously advocate" for a reversal of the plan. Gaza occupation leads to more suffering: Spain Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said, "We firmly condemn the decision of the Israeli [cabinet] to escalate the military occupation of Gaza. It will only cause more destruction and suffering." Albares added that, "A permanent ceasefire, the immediate and massive entry of humanitarian aid, and the release of all [captives] are urgently needed." Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters on Friday that Israel's plan to take control of Gaza City is "wrong" and will put the lives of the remaining captives at greater risk. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Germany halts military exports to Israel for use in bloody Gaza onslaught Iran Press TV Saturday, 09 August 2025 10:22 AM Germany has suspended all military exports to Israel that could be used in its brutal war on Gaza, in a swift response to the decision by the occupying regime's so-called security cabinet to approve a plan aimed at taking over Gaza City. "The even tougher military action by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, which was decided last night by the Israeli security cabinet, makes it increasingly difficult for the [German] Federal Government to see how these goals can be achieved," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in a statement on Friday. He added, "Under these circumstances, the German government will not authorize any exports of military equipment that could be used in the Gaza Strip until further notice." Germany supplied a third of the Israeli regime's arms imports between 2020 and 2024, second only to weapons sales from the United States, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The suspension allows for the potential continuation of exports for systems not connected to Israel's genocidal Gaza wars, including anti-air missile systems and naval equipment. Merz also called on the Tel Aviv regime to improve the humanitarian situation on the ground in Gaza. "The German government remains deeply concerned about the ongoing suffering of the civilian population in the Gaza Strip," the statement said. "With the planned offensive, Israel bears even greater responsibility than before for providing aid." Merz called on Israel to allow comprehensive access for aid deliveries, including for UN organizations and other NGOs, and said Israel "must continue to comprehensively and sustainably address the humanitarian situation in Gaza." Merz's declaration comes in response to increasing public pressure in Germany to reassess arms sales, as the United Nations and Palestinian health officials indicate a rise in civilian casualties and restricted access to assistance in Gaza. Elsewhere in the statement, Merz asserted that Israel "has the right to defend itself against Hamas," adding that the release of Israeli captives and "purposeful" negotiations toward a ceasefire in the 22-month war "are our top priority." He also said Hamas must not have a role in the future governance of Gaza. Germany is among Israel's closest allies and strongest advocates within Europe, which has typically not adopted as firm a stance against Israeli policies as certain other European Union nations. Merz finally called on Israel "not to take any further steps toward annexing the West Bank." Under the shadow of the genocidal war in Gaza, Israel has accelerated its annexation drive in the West Bank. The occupied West Bank has been under Israeli military occupation since 1967. The Israeli military has intensified daily raids and mass arrests, notably in the northern part of the occupied West Bank, where Israeli bulldozers have razed entire residential areas, expelling at least 40,000 people. Approximately 770,000 illegal Israeli settlers live in the West Bank, across 180 settlements and 256 outposts - including 138 classified as agricultural or pastoral, according to Palestinian reports. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran welcomes Armenia-Azerbaijan peace deal, voices concern over foreign interference in region Iran Press TV Saturday, 09 August 2025 9:07 AM Iran has welcomed the recent peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan as an "important step toward regional stability," while simultaneously expressing concern over the "negative consequences" of foreign meddling in the Caucasus region. In a statement released on Saturday, the Foreign Ministry said Tehran is closely following the current trends in the South Caucasus region and is in contact with both Azerbaijan and Armenia. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a US-brokered peace agreement on Friday during a meeting with US President Donald Trump after decades of conflict over the long-disputed region of Karabakh. The region has always been internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, whose troops retook it in a 24-hour offensive in September 2023. "Without a doubt, peace and stability in the Caucasus region is in the interest of all countries in the region," the statement said, adding that Iran welcomes "the finalization of the text of the peace agreement by the two countries," and considers this development as "an important step in achieving lasting peace in the region." "At the same time, [Iran] expresses concern over the negative consequences of any form of foreign interference, particularly in areas adjacent to shared borders, which could undermine the region's security and sustainable stability," it added. Iran maintains, according to the statement, that the opening of transport corridors and connectivity infrastructure can enhance regional stability, security, and economic prosperity "when it is within the framework of mutual interests, observance of national sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries of the region, and without foreign interference." The statement added that the Islamic Republic is ready to continue constructive and mutually beneficial cooperation with both Azerbaijan and Armenia "to safeguard peace, stability, and economic development of the region through bilateral and regional cooperation, such as the 3+3 mechanism." The 3+3 Regional Cooperation Platform, comprising Iran, Turkey, Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan and Georgia, seeks to address regional challenges through collaborative dialogue and joint efforts. Iran is acutely aware of longstanding British and American ambitions to extend their influence from the Caucasus into Central Asiaa strategy that seeks to dominate the three smaller regional states while isolating Iran and Russia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran denounces US intervention in Venezuela as 'militant unilateralism' Iran Press TV Saturday, 09 August 2025 6:11 AM Iran has condemned the "interventionist" policies of the United States against Venezuela, after Washington doubled its bounty on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. "The interventionist behavior and rhetoric of US officials in the internal affairs of sovereign States, including Venezuela, have unprecedentedly been undermining the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law," the Foreign Ministry wrote in a post on its X account on Friday. On Thursday, the United States set a staggering $50 million reward in what it called part of its ongoing efforts to combat international drug trafficking, a move Caracas sharply denounced as a political stunt. "The United States' offensive move in threatening the legitimate president of a UN member State and leveling baseless allegations against him reflects a growing addiction among US policymakers to militant unilateralism and unlawful coercive measures in pursuit of their illegitimate foreign policy objectives," the ministry underlined. According to the ministry, no responsible nation can "remain indifferent to this dangerous trend, which targets the collective normative and ethical foundations of the United Nations." It also expressed Iran's "solidarity with the people and government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela" and condemned "US unlawful interventions in Venezuela's domestic affairs." Over the past decade, successive US administrations have openly supported opposition figures, recognized parallel governments, and imposed sweeping sanctions aimed at ousting Maduro's government. In 2020, during Donald Trump's first presidency, Maduro and several of his associates were indicted on federal drug charges. At that time, the US set a $15 million reward for his capture. The Biden administration later increased the amount to $25 millionequal to the reward once offered for Osama bin Ladenbefore Thursday's dramatic doubling. The bounty comes as just weeks ago, the Trump administration negotiated the release of 10 jailed Americans in Caracas in exchange for allowing Venezuelan deportees to return from El Salvador, a deal made amid Trump's toughened immigration policy. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on the talks between Azerbaijanian and Armenian leaders in Washington (United States) 9 August 2025 16:43 1314-09-08-2025 The Russian Federation is interested in ensuring stability and prosperity in the South Caucasus. One of the primary conditions is the comprehensive normalisation of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, grounded in mutual consideration for both nations' interests. We consistently support all the efforts conducive to achieving this goal, which is essential for regional security. Therefore, the meeting between the leaders of the South Caucasus republics in Washington, facilitated by the United States, merits a positive assessment. We hope this step will advance a peaceful agenda. At the same time, until recently, Baku and Yerevan have maintained that they prefer direct dialogue without third-party mediation. It would be appropriate to note that this stage in Armenia-Azerbaijan normalisation began with Russia's direct assistance and central role as the three countries adopted a trilateral high-level statement of November 9, 2020 on ceasing fire and all hostilities in the area of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Russia's peacekeeping contingent were subsequently deployed in the region, making an invaluable contribution to stabilising tensions. We will always remember our peacekeepers who fell in the line of duty. In 2020-2022, the same trilateral format produced a roadmap addressing key issues pertaining to peace between Baku and Yerevan: concluding a peace agreement, unblocking regional transport and economic links, delimiting and demarcating state borders, and promoting civil society contacts. Substantial progress has been achieved across all these domains. The most suitable option to resolve the problems in the South Caucasus is to search for and implement solutions developed by the region's countries themselves, with support from their direct neighbours, Russia, Iran and Turkiye. Involvement of actors outside the region should contribute to strengthening the peace agenda rather than create additional difficulties and dividing lines. It would be prudent to avoid repeating the counterproductive outcomes of Western conflict mediation in the Middle East. A case in point in the South Caucasus is the EU observer mission in Armenia, whose operations persistently provoke discontent among other regional actors. We will carefully assess Washington's statements regarding the restoration of regional communications. The trilateral agreements with Russia remain valid, as neither party has formally withdrawn from them. It is important to consider Armenia's participation in the EAEU's unified customs territory especially concerning the regulation of transit operations through the republic. It must be acknowledged that Armenia's border with Iran remains under the protection of Russian border troops, deployed pursuant to the interstate treaty of September 30, 1992. The conclusion and implementation of a peace agreement, along with the establishment of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, are fundamental to building peace between these South Caucasus republics. The reconciliation process between the two nations must be situated within the regional context, grounded in a balance of interests and unconditional respect for the priorities of both parties and neighbouring nations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry statement on developments in the Gaza Strip 9 August 2025 16:57 1315-09-08-2025 On August 8, the Israeli security cabinet approved a plan to expand military operations in the Gaza Strip, aiming to seize control of its once most populous central region. Israel reportedly aims to forcibly evacuate all Palestinian civilians from the area in the near future, leaving not a single civilian behind. The Israeli government has made no secret of its intention to pursue a complete military occupation of Gaza. Such decisions and actions, which have drawn widespread condemnation and rejection, risk dramatically worsening the already dire humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave. The indicators of catastrophe are undeniable. Further escalation will severely undermine international efforts to de-escalate the conflict, with destabilising consequences for the entire Middle East. Russia reaffirms its unwavering position: an immediate ceasefire in Gaza is imperative, all hostages and detainees must be released, and unimpeded humanitarian access must be restored. Moscow remains steadfast in its conviction that the only viable solution lies within the established framework of international law, centred on the two-state principle. This demands the creation of an independent Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, living side by side with Israel in peace and security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Spain welcomes agreements between Armenia and Azerbaijan Spain - Ministry of Foreign Affairs PRESS STATEMENT 076 9 Aug 25 Spain welcomes the agreements reached today between Prime Minister Pashinian and President Aliyev at the White House, with the involvement of the United States, and trusts that this announcement will be a decisive step towards definitive peace and the complete normalisation of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan after decades of conflict. Spain hopes that these agreements will open a new stage of cooperation, mutual understanding and development, to the benefit of both countries and the region as a whole. Spain reiterates its commitment to peace and stability in the South Caucasus. -NON OFFICIAL TRANSLATION- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Announces Armenia - Azerbaijan Peace Deal Sputnik News 20250809 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - 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. "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. "It's been 35 years of fighting, and now they're friends," Trump said, calling the agreement a "momentous joint peace declaration." Key points from Trump's statement at the Armenia-Azerbaijan-US summit Armenia and Azerbaijan committed to: Permanently end all fighting Respect each other's 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 don't, 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 Armenia's 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) Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK pledges additional humanitarian support for Gaza International Development Minister Baroness Chapman announced further UK funding for the UN humanitarian response in Gaza. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and The Rt Hon Baroness Chapman of Darlington Published 9 August 2025 UK announces additional support for UN agency as current humanitarian funding reaches over 750,000 Palestinians UK is the largest contributor to a UN Humanitarian Fund which is delivering vital support to 2.3 million people in desperate need Announcement comes as UK urges Israel to reverse its plan to expand its military operations in Gaza UK aid funding announced today has the potential to reach thousands of desperate civilians in Gaza if Israel allows the UN and other agencies to operate at the scale needed. The announcement follows the Israeli security cabinet approving a plan to further escalate its Gaza offensive, which the UK Prime Minister warned would do nothing to bring an end to the conflict. The 8.5m funding announced will be delivered through the UN's OCHA Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) Humanitarian Fund which targets the delivery of aid such as food, water and fuel to the areas of Gaza in the most acute need. UK support delivered through OCHA has ensured critical healthcare provisions, food and cash assistance for over 750,000 Palestinians over the conflict. OCHA's healthcare work overall, including fuel for hospitals and medicines have benefited almost 1 million people. But the UN agency warns that their work is being systematically obstructed, despite their best efforts to coordinate and deliver much needed aid. Minister for International Development Jenny Chapman said: The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza continues and we urge Israel to reverse its decision to expand military operations. All sides must return to the ceasefire to end the appalling suffering and secure the release of all hostages. 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. The UK is supporting the UN and other humanitarian partners who are delivering desperately needed support in the most difficult circumstances. Our announcement today will help to address that urgent need, but only if Israel allows Gaza to be flooded with aid. The UK is the largest donor to the UN OCHA pool fund in 2025, demonstrating the government's commitment to playing a leading role in alleviating the suffering of Gazans. This funding is part of the UK's 101m ODA budget for the OPTs for this financial year, of which 60m will provide lifesaving humanitarian support. As well as delivering humanitarian relief, UK ODA in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is supporting Palestinian economic development and strengthening Palestinian Authority governance and reform. The UK urges Israel to reconsider its plan to further escalate its offensive and continues to push for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and an immediate surge in aid to Gaza. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Aid blockade deepens Gaza crisis as malnutrition deaths rise, warns UNRWA 9 August 2025 - The UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) has warned that the Gaza Strip faces a "catastrophic" humanitarian crisis, with no agency aid allowed in for more than five months and malnutrition deaths climbing sharply. "For over 150 days, not a single truck from UNRWA has been permitted to deliver food, medicine or other essentials into Gaza," the agency said on Friday. "This denial of access is costing lives every single day." Nearly 100 children dead from malnutrition According to Gaza's Ministry of Health, cited by the UN, at least 61,158 Palestinians have been killed and more than 151,000 injured since October, amid relentless Israeli bombardment and ground operations. UNRWA said nearly 350 of its own staff are among the dead since Israel's military operation in Gaza began following the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led terror attacks. Many civilians have been killed while sheltering in schools or tents, or while queuing for food. Food insecurity is now acute. UN data show 193 people including 96 children have died from malnutrition since the start of August, with July seeing the highest monthly rate of acute malnutrition recorded in children under five. Soaring prices Wheat flour prices have soared by up to 15,000 per cent compared to pre-war levels. "Sustained, large-scale deliveries are the only way to stabilise food supplies and prices," UNRWA stressed. Health services are close to collapse. More than half of essential medical supplies are already out of stock, and hospitals have been forced to ration fuel for generators. UNRWA teams have nevertheless managed over 1.5 million health consultations since March, but "without resupply, our ability to save lives is dwindling," the agency warned. Vast scale of displacement Displacement is on a vast scale: 1.9 million people around 90 per cent of Gaza's population have been forced from their homes, many repeatedly. Nearly 100,000 are crammed into over 60 UNRWA-run shelters. In the northern Israeli-occupied West Bank, around 30,000 people from Nur Shams, Tulkarm and Jenin refugee camps remain unable to return home due to Israel's "Iron Wall" military operation, ongoing since January. The agency urged immediate, unhindered humanitarian access. "We need the world to act to open the crossings, to stop the suffering, and to uphold the most basic principles of humanity," it said. The UN Security Council is due to meet in New York in emergency session on Sunday morning local time to discuss the Israeli cabinet's endorsement of a military takeover of Gaza City which is home to around one million Palestinians. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement attributable to the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General - on Armenia and Azerbaijan United Nations Secretary-General New York 09 August 2025 Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General The Secretary-General welcomes the comprehensive "Joint Declaration" signed on Friday by President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia together with President Donald J. Trump of the United States as an important milestone in the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Secretary-General applauds the commitment of President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan to sustained dialogue and confidence-building, and recognizes the efforts of President Trump in facilitating progress. The Secretary-General reaffirms the strong support of the United Nations for all efforts to advance lasting peace in the South Caucasus. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Indian air force chief claims downing 6 Pakistan aircraft 3 months after clash; Pakistani defense minister swiftly rejects Global Times By Global Times Published: Aug 10, 2025 10:24 AM Indian Air Force chief Amar Preet Singh claimed on Saturday that six Pakistani aircraft - five fighter jets and another large aircraft - were downed during the clash in May. Just hours later, Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif rejected the claim, accusing India of dishonesty and asserting that not a single Pakistani aircraft was hit or destroyed, according to media reports. Speaking at the Air Chief Marshal LM Katre Memorial Lecture, Singh said, "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 kilometers," the Times of India reported. "This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill," he said, prompting applause from the crowd that included serving air force officers, veterans, and government and industry officials. Singh did not specify the type of fighter jets downed, but said airstrikes also hit a surveillance plane and "a few F-16" fighters that were parked in hangars at two airbases in southeastern Pakistan, Al Jazeera reported. He added that India's S-400 air defence systems took down most of the Pakistani aircraft. In response, Pakistan's Defense Minister Asif has termed the belated assertions made by the Indian Air Force Chief as implausible and ill-timed, Radio Pakistan reported. Asif clarified that not a single Pakistani aircraft was hit or destroyed by India, the report said. In a post on social media platform X on Saturday, Asif said for three months, no such claims were voiced, while Pakistan, in the immediate aftermath, presented detailed technical briefings to the international media. The defense chief also suggested independent verification of aircraft inventories to ascertain the claims. According to Bloomberg, in a May 31 interview, Anil Chauhan, chief of defense staff of the Indian Armed Forces, acknowledged that India lost an unspecified number of fighter jets in clashes with Pakistan, without giving specific details. He called Pakistan's claims that it shot down six Indian warplanes "absolutely incorrect," but declined to specify how many jets were lost. US officials previously told they were not aware any US-made F-16sinside Pakistan being hit, The Pentagon did not immediately respond for a request for comment. According to Reuters, France's air chief General Jerome Bellanger has said he has seen evidence three Indian fighter losses, including a Rafale. The Indian Air Force has not commented on the claim. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UNSC convenes for meeting over Israel's plan to take control of Gaza City Global Times By Global Times Published: Aug 10, 2025 10:34 PM The UN Security Council on Sunday held an emergency meeting on Israel's plan for its security forces to take control of Gaza City, according to the UN's website. A Chinese expert said on Sunday that the primary focus was to urge Israel to abandon its plan for the complete occupation of Gaza City. Speaking at the session, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas Miroslav Jenca said that Israel's operational decision to take full military control of Gaza City puts more than 2 million Palestinians in even greater peril and further endangers hostages' lives, according to UN News. Liu Zhongmin, a professor at the Middle East Studies Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, told the Global Times on Sunday that the UN Security Council's primary focus is to urge Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza and abandon its plan for the complete occupation of Gaza City. However, Liu also noted significant obstacles to reaching a binding resolution, citing the US' policy of supporting and shielding Israel. Liu added that Israel would face significant challenges in implementing the plan, including international isolation, severe internal political divisions, and difficulties in effectively controlling Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he is determined to launch the recently approved plan to take over Gaza City, which has drawn international condemnation, and that Israel will maintain security control over the enclave after the war while allowing a non-Israeli body to run daily life there, Xinhua reported. Britain, Denmark, France, and other countries that have called Sunday's UNSC session have issued a joint statement that condemns Israel's plan to seize Gaza City, saying that it risks "violating international humanitarian law" and will "only endanger the lives of all civilians in Gaza," according to Al Jazeera. Commenting on Israel's plan to take control of Gaza City, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said on Friday that China is gravely concerned about Israel's decision, and urges Israel to halt the move at once. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Israeli plan risks 'another calamity' in Gaza, UN official warns Security Council IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 10, 2025 New York, IRNA -- Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations, Miroslav Jenca, has warned against the Israeli cabinet's decision to again expand its military offensive inside the Gaza Strip and take full control of the key population area of Gaza City. "The latest decision by Israel risks igniting another horrific chapter in this conflict, with potential consequences beyond the Occupied Palestinian Territory," Jenca said in a speech at an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on "Situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian Question" on Sunday. "This is yet another dangerous escalation," he echoed the warning of UN chief Antonio Guterres for the two million civilians trapped in Gaza amid the Israeli blockade and attacks. For now, there are limited official details of Israel's military plans, but Israeli media report that Tel Aviv foresees the displacement of all civilians from Gaza City by October 7, 2025, affecting some 800,000 people, many of them previously displaced, the UN official stated. "We are already witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe of unimaginable scale in Gaza, and if these plans are implemented, they will likely trigger another calamity in Gaza, reverberating across the region," warned Jenca, emphasizing that the only way to stop the immense human suffering in Gaza is through a full, immediate, and permanent ceasefire. In the briefing, the official stressed that "everyone has the right to life, liberty, and security. Palestinians must be able to return to their homes." He also referred to an advisory opinion by the International Court of Justice on 19 July 2024, stating that "Israel, as the occupying power, has the obligation not to impede the Palestinian people from exercising its right to self-determination, including its right to an independent and sovereign State, over the entirety of the Occupied Palestinian Territory." Elsewhere, the UN official urged the Security Council to plan for Gaza's future. "We must establish political and security frameworks that can relieve the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, start early recovery and reconstruction." 4399**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas slams Israel's use of starvation in Gaza as 'most brutal chapter of genocide' IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 10, 2025 Hamas has strongly criticized Israel for deliberately starving Palestinians in Gaza, calling it one of the most brutal chapters of genocide against its people. In a statement issued on Sunday, Hamas demanded the immediate and unrestricted opening of all crossings, ensuring sufficient and safe aid deliveries that meet the needs of the Palestinian people in Gaza. The full text of the statement is as follows: The starvation crime imposed by the Zionist occupation on our Palestinian people in Gaza, which has left hundreds of martyrsincluding dozens of childrenrepresents one of the most brutal chapters of the genocide against our Palestinian people. What's entering of aid into Gaza these days is merely a drop in the ocean of humanitarian needs. The airdrops are nothing but propaganda, pose grave dangers to civilians' lives, and can't be an alternative for opening land crossings and allowing entry of sufficient, safe truck convoys. The US administration and the other countries backing the occupation are all complicit in this starvation and genocide, through providing political and military cover for the Nazi-Zionist occupation. We demand the immediate and unrestricted opening of all crossings, ensuring sufficient and safe aid deliveries that meet the needs of our Palestinian people in Gaza. We call for official Arab and Islamic action, mobilizing all our Islamic Ummah's resources to pressure the US administration and the occupation to halt these war crimes. We also urge intensifying popular action in all capitals and cities worldwide to condemn the occupation, pressure for an end to the starvation and genocide, and break the siege by all legitimate means. 9341**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli minister calls for toppling of Palestinian Authority IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 10, 2025 Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel's "Minister of National Security", is pushing for the toppling of the Palestinian Authority (PA). Ben-Gvir said that he will demand Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu take "immediate measures" to overthrow the PA in the upcoming cabinet meeting, Israeli media and Al Jazeera reported on Sunday. The far-right minister claimed that his demand is in response to what he called "fantasies" of PA President Mahmoud Abbas of a Palestinian state. Mahmoud Abbas recently spoke of efforts to establish "an unarmed Palestinian state," including in the Gaza Strip, saying that preparations are underway for general elections. Remarks by Ben-Gvir come as more countries around the world, including in Europe, are moving to recognize Palestinian statehood. The Israeli minister has repeatedly sparked controversy in recent years over his openly racist stance toward Palestinians. 9376**4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gaza Health Ministry: 12,000 people require treatment abroad IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 10, 2025 Munir Al-Bursh, Director General of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, said that less than five percent of the ministry's needs have been met in recent days, and that 12,000 people require medical treatment outside the besieged territory. In an interview with Al Jazeera on Sunday, Al-Bursh said the situation in the Gaza Strip is deteriorating by the moment, with the area moving from a state of hunger to an engineered famine. He noted that the water available in refugee shelters is unsafe for drinking and that the Gaza Strip's healthcare system has completely collapsed. Al-Bursh added that 11 people have died from hunger in the past 24 hours alone, calling it a dangerous warning sign. He stressed that the ongoing famine will only end with the establishment of a ceasefire and the reopening of border crossings. 7129**4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Western states strongly reject Israel's Gaza takeover plan IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 10, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign ministers of Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, the United Kingdom, alongside the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, have issued a joint statement strongly condemning the Israeli regime's decision to launch a new large-scale military operation to take over Gaza City, according to the European External Action Service (EEAS). The statement, issued on Saturday, warned that the offensive will worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Gaza, endanger the lives of Israeli prisoners held in the strip, and cause further mass displacement of Palestinian civilians. The ministers expressed grave concerns that the regime's plans risk violating international humanitarian law, including any attempts at annexation or expanding settlements, which they labeled as violations of international law. The group urgently called on all parties and the international community to work toward ending the conflict immediately through a permanent ceasefire. They emphasized the need for unrestricted humanitarian aid to reach Gaza's civilians as the region faces a looming famine crisis. Highlighting the dire humanitarian conditions, the ministers urged the Israeli regime to revise its recent restrictions on international humanitarian organizations to allow vital aid efforts to continue without obstruction, warning that excluding these actors would send a dangerous signal. On Friday, Israel's war cabinet approved a plot to capture Gaza City and tighten its grip on the besieged Gaza Strip, a move that sparked immediate global condemnation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had also said that the regime sought to "take control" of the entire Gaza Strip, which has been under constant Israeli bombardment since October 2023. 4208**4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia condemns Israeli plan for complete occupation of Gaza City IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 10, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement has condemned the Israeli regime's plan for the complete occupation of Gaza City. According to Russian media TASS, the Russian Foreign Ministry, in its statement, denounced the Israeli regime's plan to occupy Gaza, stating that such actions would worsen the already catastrophic situation in the region. With the escalation of attacks by the Israeli regime and its plan for the full occupation of Gaza, as well as the forced displacement of Palestinian residents, it is expected that in the near future, not a single civilian will remain there, and all will be subjected to forced expulsion, the statement reads. Moscow is fully convinced that, based on international law, there is no solution to the Palestinian issue other than the two-state plan, under which an independent Palestinian state can coexist peacefully and securely with Israel, it added. It reiterated Russia's stance on the urgent need for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and unimpeded access to humanitarian aid. The Russian Foreign Ministry also warned that implementing such decisions and plans, which are met with global condemnation and disgust, will have negative consequences for the Middle East and undermine all efforts to reduce tensions in the region. The Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, had previously announced that the regime's security cabinet approved his plan for the complete occupation of Gaza during a meeting on August 7. In contrast, Yair Lapid, the leader of the opposition in the Israeli regime, described the plan as a disaster. Netanyahu's plan has faced widespread backlash in international circles as well as within the Israeli regime, including among military and security officials. 9376**9417 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM Netanyahu at a press conference for foreign media Israel - Prime Minister's Office Type: Events and Speeches Government: The 37th Government Publish Date: 10.08.2025 "Good afternoon. I'm glad you came here, because I'd like to take the opportunity to puncture the lies and tell the truth. The truth is, Hamas still has thousands of armed terrorists in Gaza. It vows to repeat the October 7 massacre and to do so again and again. It openly professes its goal to destroy the State of Israel. It subjugates Gazans, it steals their food, it shoots them when they try to move to safe zones. And I think it's instructive that now, many Gazansare fighting back.They are begging us, and they're begging the world:"Free us, Free us, and free Gaza from Hamas" No nation can accept a genocidal terrorist organization, an organization committed to its annihilation a stone's throw from its citizens.Our goal is not to occupy Gaza. Our goal is to free Gaza, free it from Hamas terrorists.The war can end tomorrow if Gaza, or rather if Hamas lays down its arms and releases all the remaining hostages. Gaza will be demilitarized, Israel will have overriding security responsibilities.A security zone will be established on Gaza's border with Israel to prevent future terrorist incursions. A civilian administration will be established in Gaza that will seek to live in peace with Israel. That's our plan for the day after Hamas. And let me summarize it: Five principles for concluding the war: One, Hamas Disarmed. Second, all hostages freed. Third, Gaze Demilitarized. Fourth, Israel has overriding security control. And five, Non-Israeli, peaceful civil administration, by that I mean a civilian administration that doesn't educate its children for terror, that doesn't pay terrorists, and doesn't launch terrorist attacks against Israel, that's what we want to see in Gaza. So, its neither Hamas or the PA. That's our plan. Given Hamas's refusal to lay down its arms, Israel has no choice but to finish the job andcomplete the defeat of Hamas.Now, we've done a great deal. We have about 70 to 75 percent of Gaza under Israeli control, military control. But we have two remaining strongholds. Okay? These are Gaza City and the Central Camps and Moasi. That's roughly, schematically, presented here, but it's fairly accurate. Last Thursday, Israel's cabinet, security cabinet, instructed the IDF to dismantle the two remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza City and the Central Camps. Contrary to false claims, this is the best way to end the war, and the best way to end it speedily. We will do so by first enabling the civilian population to safely leave the combat areas to designated safe zones. In these safe zones they will be given ample food, water and medical care.As we have done before.And again, contrary to false claims, our policy throughout the war has been to prevent a humanitarian crisis, While Hamas's policy has been to create it.Since the beginning of the war, Israel has let in close to 2 million tons of aid!I know of no other army that has enabled such aid to go to the civilian population in enemy territory.Now, if we had a starvation policy, no one in Gaza would have survived after two years of war.But our policy has been the exact opposite.We've let in, as I said, almost 2 million tons of aid and sent millions of text messages, millions of phone calls, to Gazans to get out of harm's way. Yet in the last few months, Hamas has violently looted the aid trucks meant to get to Palestinian civilians. They deliberately created a shortage of supply.And the UN consistently refused, until recently, to distribute the thousands of trucks that we let into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing. So, the problem is, we've had tons of uncollected food rotting on the Gazan side of the border because the UN was, and still is, unwilling to deliver all of it. Here are the tons and tons, and tons, of humanitarian aid that Israel led in to the Gazan side of the Kerem Shalom Crossing, just sitting there, because it's not distributed. So now, we are going to go around this obstacle, we are going around it, by doing these three things: 1. Designating safe corridors for humanitarian aid distribution - (that's showing the problem. Not showing the solution, but here it is). First, designating rather safe corridors for aid distribution. You can go, you can drive trucks there, and you'll be safe. 2. Increasing the number of safe distribution points managed by the Gazan Humanitarian Foundations. 3. Air drops. That's air drops done by the Israeli Air Force and we're inviting others to join us. The result has been a humanitarian surge, which we are coordinating with President Trump and his team, and hundreds of trucks have gone in, in recent days. This is preventing hunger.But it's not prevented the global campaign of lies that we have all witnessed.So in Gaza, despite Hamas's obstacles, two million people are now getting access to humanitarian aid. But I'll tell you who isn't. The only ones that are being deliberately starved in Gaza are our hostages. This is Evyatar David, look at his hand and his arm. He's being deliberately starved by these Hamas monsters. And look at the Hamas capturer, look at the difference. He's eating, and he's eating well. The purpose of this news conference is to puncture the lies and spread the truth. But that distortion has been propelled around the earth, almost the way that the Jewish people, who are maligned in the Middle Ages, every massacre of the Jewish people was proceeded by massive vilification. We were spreading, we were said to be spreading vermin to Christian society, we were said to be poisoning the wells, we were said to slaughter Christian children for their blood. And as these lies spread around the globe, they were followed by horrific, horrific massacres, pogroms, displacements, finally culminating the worst massacre of them all - the Holocaust. Today the Jewish state is being maligned in a similar way. Everything that I told you, could be verified easily, but it hasn't. And the international press has bought hook line and sinker - Hamas's statistics, Hamas claims, Hamas forgeries, and Hamas photographs, for example, these three children. The first one, is Osama Alakub, he's in Italy getting treatment, because Israel got him out, that's what he looks like today. He has a genetic disease that damages the lungs and digestive system. It makes it hard to absorb nutrients and gain weight. Okay? So, Israel facilitated Osama's travel to Italy, where he got the medical aid that transformed his position. The second one, is Abdul Khad Faumi. He suffers from a genetic neurological disorder - spinal muscular atrophy. A degenerative condition that causes muscle wasting weakness and severe weight loss, unrelated to nutrition. This was the real cause of his frail appearance, not starvation. In fact, he was treated in Israel in 2018, doesn't help because it's a congenital disease and it defies most treatment at least. The third one, is the most celebrated one. This is a New York Times cover photo. It's on the front page, of Muhamad Zakaria Aub and his mother. Muhamad Zakaria Aub is suffering from genetic illness which you're familiar with, it's called cerebral palsy. His mother is well fed, and his brother is healthy. I'm looking right now into the possibility of a governmental suit against the New York Times, because this is outrageous. Of course, the correction was postage size, I don't know where it was buried. But this is outrageous. These are the three most celebrated photos, and they're all fake. It's the kind of malignant lies that were leveled at the Jewish people in the Middle Ages we won't suffer, we won't allow it to go unchallenged, and this is the purpose of this conference. I hope that you open your eyes to a simple fact - Hamas lies". NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Gaza government rebuts Netanyahu's claims in press conference Iran Press TV Sunday, 10 August 2025 10:36 PM The Gaza Government Media Office has issued a point-by-point rebuttal to the allegations made by the Israeli regime's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, during a Sunday press conference. The Gaza office on Sunday countered Netanyahu's assertions regarding the ongoing genocidal war and humanitarian situation in Gaza. Occupation not liberation Netanyahu held a rare press conference for foreign media on Sunday in Jerusalem al-Quds, where he outlined Israel's plans for the continuation of its genocidal war against the people of the Gaza Strip. He also aimed to counter the growing global awareness of Israel's genocidal actions, labeling it a "global campaign of lies" regarding Israel's conduct. Netanyahu claimed, "Our goal is not to occupy Gaza, but to liberate it." Gaza's Government Media Office called this blatant deception, citing Israeli regime ministers who have publicly stated their intentions to occupy and resettle Gaza. This includes remarks from prominent figures such as Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, revealing a clear agenda that involves comprehensive destruction and forced displacement. Disarming Hamas or genocide? Regarding claims that Israel aims to "disarm Hamas and establish a non-Israeli civil administration," the Gaza office stated that the actual objectives are genocide, mass destruction, and forced displacement, as evidenced by the staggering toll of 61,430 martyrs and over 153,000 wounded individuals. They highlighted that more than 88% of Gaza's vital sectors, including hospitals and schools, have been devastated, resulting in the displacement of over 1.9 million civilians. Mischaracterization of governance Netanyahu's assertion of establishing a "peaceful civil administration" was refuted as a move toward entrenching a client regime for the occupation, undermining the principles of self-determination. The Gaza officials emphasized that instead of liberation, the actions represent a continuation of colonialism and theft. "While the world is moving toward liberation, the Israeli occupation authorities cling to colonialism, settlement, theft, destruction, and confiscation of land, and the systematic expulsion, displacement, and killing of its people and true inhabitants," it stated. Aid distribution misleading Netanyahu claimed that Israel had allowed in "2 million tons of aid." The Gaza office rebutted this, stating that crossings have been significantly restricted for over 500 days and only a small fraction of needed aid14% of what is requiredhas been permitted to enter. They condemned the actions as starvation tactics, with over 780 aid workers reportedly killed to facilitate aid theft. Accusations against Hamas In response to claims of aid being looted by Hamas, the Gaza office pointed to various international organizations that deny such allegations, asserting that the real objective is a policy of systematic starvation against civilians. "Full oversight of aid was in the hands of international and UN institutions, and what the occupation is doing is systematic starvation under a false pretext. Its goal behind this lie is threefold: murder and genocide, total destruction, and forced displacement, all to facilitate the occupation of the Gaza Strip," the Gaza office said. Blocked humanitarian efforts Netanyahu's claim that the United Nations refused to distribute aid was countered with the assertion that Israel has tightly controlled aid entry and imposed rigorous conditions, complicating relief efforts. " These allegations have been refuted by all United Nations organizations and international bodies through official statements repeatedly calling on the Israeli occupation to open the crossings and facilitate the entry of aid without any restrictions and with complete freedom," the Gaza office said. Fabrication of images The Gaza office remarked on accusations that Hamas has published falsified images, asserting that the Israeli side has been responsible for disseminating misleading media, with evidence of its use of artificial intelligence to manipulate images. "Documented evidence confirms that these misleading materials are still being published on official Israeli accounts to this day, and any observer can easily verify this," the Gaza office said. "The images of destruction, starvation, and killing have been broadcast live to the world for months, without interruption and with complete transparency. This horrific reality, freely transmitted by international sources, cannot be fabricated," it added. War duration misleading Despite Netanyahu's comments about maintaining a rapid timeline for operations, Gaza officials contend that "Netanyahu's comments about maintaining a rapid timeline for operations," saying that the continuous destruction and control over Gaza demonstrate a deliberate prolongation of the humanitarian crisis. The Gaza office said that "the facts on the ground clearly reveal the occupation authorities' intention to impose complete control over the Gaza Strip, prolong the genocide, and continue their policies of killing, displacement, and starvation, thus belying everything Netanyahu promotes." Media restrictions The Gaza office highlighted a complete ban on foreign journalists entering Gaza imposed by the Israeli regime, aiming to shield their "crimes" from international scrutiny. "Since the outbreak of the war in 2023, the Israeli occupation authorities have imposed a blanket ban on the entry of foreign journalists into the Gaza Strip, in a systematic attempt to conceal its crimes and cover up its horrific, brutal massacres. Despite hundreds of international demands to open the Strip to international media outlets to enable them to report the facts, the occupation continues its repeated refusal, fearing the extent of the violations and atrocities it commits against civilians will be exposed," it said. They urged the global media to advocate for access to accurately report the situation. "The Palestinian government in the Gaza Strip and all components of Palestinian society welcome foreign media and journalists and are committed to protecting them and enabling them to work freely and transparently throughout the Strip." Blame and destruction Additionally, Gaza officials challenged Netanyahu's narrative that Hamas is responsible for the destruction in Gaza, pointing out that Israeli forces have unleashed vast amounts of explosives on civilian areas, inflicting widespread devastation. "The Israeli occupation authorities dropped more than 140,000 tons of explosives on residential neighborhoods, hospitals, schools, places of worship (mosques and churches), and various vital facilities, using hundreds of fighter jets, resulting in the destruction of thousands of facilities. Despite the clear field evidence, Israel blatantly attempts to pin the blame for its crimes on the victims themselves, in a scene that embodies the height of absurdity, deception, and absurdity," they said. Safe corridors? Regarding claims of opening safe corridors for civilians, the Gaza office stated these routes have turned into death traps, resulting in the death of hundreds of civilians due to gunfire from Israeli forces. "These corridors turned into death traps, as the occupation army opened fire on civilians at point-blank range on Salah al-Din and Rashid Streets, killing more than 100 Palestinian women and children in cold blood. The occupation army also prevented humanitarian crews from reaching the bodies for months, until they completely decomposed, leaving only bones," the Gaza office said. Contention over external authority Finally, addressing the idea of an "Alternative Transitional Authority," the Gaza officials reaffirmed the Palestinian people's right to self-determination and leadership, rejecting any form of foreign control, underscoring resistance as a legitimate right under international law. "The Palestinian people categorically reject any form of foreign tutelage and adhere to their inherent right, guaranteed by international law, to choose their leadership of their own free will. Our people do not accept that their affairs be managed by anyone other than the Palestinians," the Gaza office said. This rebuttal from the Gaza Government Media Office serves to counter the narrative put forth by the Israeli regime, drawing attention to the humanitarian crisis and the urgent need for clarity and truth in reporting from the region. Israel's war, which began in October 2023, has killed at least 61,430 Palestinians and injured more than 153,213. Israel stopped all aid deliveries to Gaza on March 2, after baselessly claiming that the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas is "diverting aid" to justify its weaponization of food against its 2.3 million civilians. Severe restrictions on food and aid have left the territory facing a worsening starvation crisis, with nearly 217 people including 100 childrendying of malnutrition in recent months. Under international pressure for pushing the besieged territory to the verge of famine, at the end of May, Israel forced a new model of aid distribution led by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by Israel and the United States, replacing traditional decades-old United Nations aid groups. Since then, the UN says, more than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces while trying to reach food. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'History will judge us all': Palestinian envoy urges UNSC to end 'unbearable agony' of Gaza Iran Press TV Sunday, 10 August 2025 6:50 PM The Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations has expressed deep concern over the dire situation that Palestinians are currently facing in the Gaza Strip, saying Israel is pursuing the destruction of the Palestinian people through forced displacement and massacres, with the ultimate goal of annexing their land. Riyad Mansour made the remarks while addressing a rare emergency UN Security Council on Sunday, held in response to Israel's plan to occupy Gaza City and forcibly displace nearly a million Palestinians. Mansour further emphasized the importance of turning justified condemnation into meaningful actions to compel Israel to change its course, adding that "history will judge us all." He also acknowledged the support of most Council member states in recognizing the profound pain and tragedy experienced by the Palestinian people, stressing that Palestinians in Gaza are "enduring unbearable agony the human mind can barely comprehend." The diplomat further criticized the Israeli regime for showing disregard for the fate of Israeli captives, particularly in light of ongoing protests within the occupied territories. Furthermore, he disputed claims made by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu that there is no starvation in Gaza, saying he has "spread lies." The envoy called for international journalists to be allowed into Gaza to verify the situation firsthand. In conclusion, Mansour expressed a willingness to collaborate with the United States, Saudi Arabia, France, and other regional and international partners, along with the Security Council, to bring an end to the war affecting the Palestinian people. Addressing the UNSC meeting, Miroslav Jenca, the UN assistant secretary-general, also warned that Israel's plans to control Gaza City could lead to a significant and far-reaching calamity. "If these plans are implemented, they will likely trigger another calamity in Gaza, reverberating across the region and causing further forced displacement, killings, and destruction," Jenca said. Slovenia's ambassador to the UN, Samuel Zbogar, also stated that the Israeli regime's decision would not contribute to the safe return of the captives and could potentially increase the risk to their lives. Furthermore, he emphasized that the decision could exacerbate the already dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, potentially leading to additional casualties and mass displacement among Palestinian civilians. On Friday, Israel's so-called "political-security cabinet" approved a plan to occupy Gaza City after Netanyahu announced the regime's intention to return the entire strip to Israeli occupation. Netanyahu's plan was criticized by Israelis themselves, with hundreds of settlers gathering outside the prime minister's office in al-Quds on Thursday evening to protest against an expanded war. The protesters demanded an immediate end to the genocidal war in Gaza in return for the release of all the Israeli captives held there. At least 61,369 Palestinians have been killed and more than 152,850 others injured in the brutal Israeli onslaught on Gaza since October 7, 2023. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address World must strive to end Israel's crimes, blockade of Gaza: Iran president Iran Press TV Sunday, 10 August 2025 3:44 PM Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian says all countries in the world must make serious efforts to end Israel's crimes in Gaza and lift the blockade of the Strip. Pezeshkian made the remarks on Sunday as he received the credentials of new ambassadors of Ethiopia, Estonia, Djibouti, Laos, Cambodia, Burundi, Latvia, Myanmar, and Nepal. He said the Israeli regime is proceeding with and even escalating its crimes against the defenseless and oppressed people of Palestine in the Gaza Strip. "All world countries, especially Muslim nations, must make more serious efforts and cooperate to stop these crimes [in Gaza], lift the blockade, and provide unlimited and extensive aid to the innocent people of Gaza," the Iranian president emphasized. He warned that an "inhumane catastrophe" was unfolding in Gaza, where Israel is killing innocent people and blocking access to food, water, and medicine in the name of self-defense. "The greater tragedy is that these crimes are being committed in front of the eyes of those who claim to advocate for human rights, democracy, and the freedom of humanity," Pezeshkian said. Israel's war, which began in October 2023, has killed at least 61,430 Palestinians and injured more than 153,213. Israel stopped all aid deliveries to Gaza on March 2, after baselessly claiming that the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas is "diverting aid" to justify its weaponization of food against its 2.3 million civilians. Severe restrictions on food and aid have left the territory facing a worsening starvation crisis, with nearly 217 people including 100 childrendying of malnutrition in recent months. Under international pressure for pushing the besieged territory to the verge of famine, at the end of May, Israel forced a new model of aid distribution led by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by Israel and the United States, replacing traditional decades-old United Nations aid groups. Since then, the UN says, more than 1,400 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces while trying to reach food. Elsewhere in his remarks, Pezeshkian reiterated Iran's keenness to expand friendly ties and constructive cooperation with all countries in the world. "Iran is ready and interested in developing relations with these countries in all areas of politics, economics, trade, culture, science and technology based on mutual respect and in line with securing mutual interests," he said. He stressed the importance of increasing international cooperation and synergy to promote peace, stability, and welfare. The newly-appointed ambassadors vowed to make their utmost efforts to boost cordial relations and constructive cooperation with Iran. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel's starvation war in Gaza ' most horrific chapter' of genocide: Hamas Iran Press TV Sunday, 10 August 2025 3:11 PM The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has described Israel's aid airdrops into the Gaza Strip as a PR stunt, stressing that the ongoing starvation war imposed by the occupying regime against the people of the besieged enclave represents "the most horrific chapter" of genocide. Hamas made the remarks in a statement on Sunday, as the Israeli regime continues to use food and humanitarian aid as a weapon of war against civilians in Gaza amidst an all-out blockade. The resistance group also highlighted that the current aid reaching Gaza is only a fraction of the substantial humanitarian requirements in the region, underscoring the immediate necessity to open the crossings. Furthermore, it asserted that the airdrop operations are perceived as propaganda stunts that pose significant risks to the lives of civilians. Hamas also pointed out that it views the United States and countries supporting Israel as complicit partners in the ongoing war of starvation and genocide against Palestinians in the blockaded territory. Moreover, the resistance group urged Arab and Muslim nations to take prompt action to help bring an end to the Israeli regime's siege on Gaza. Israel stopped all aid deliveries to Gaza on March 2, after baselessly claiming that Hamas is "diverting aid" to justify its weaponization of food against its 2.3 million civilians. The occupying regime allowed aid airdrops in Gaza on July 26, following months of widespread hunger crisis and pushing the besieged territory to the verge of famine. At the time, the human rights organization Euro-Med said the initiative failed to meet the minimum humanitarian needs and does not alleviate the catastrophe caused by Israel's deliberate starvation policy. While Israel and its allies hail the airdrops, the reality on the ground shows that airdropped aid is scarce, randomly distributed, and poses significant risks. Since October 7, 2023, the Israeli regime's genocidal war on Gaza has left at least 61,369 Palestinians killed, and more than 152,850 others injured. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran says Israel's Gaza occupation plot meant to complete genocide of Palestinians Iran Press TV Sunday, 10 August 2025 8:02 AM Iran has denounced Israel's recent decision to occupy Gaza City as part of a broader scheme by the usurping entity to "complete the genocide of Palestinians" and "erase the identity and existence of Palestine." In a statement released on Saturday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said the new Israeli plan for Gaza breaches international law. "This decision constitutes a grave violation of international law and a deliberate attempt to expand occupation and impose new realities across the occupied Palestinian territories by force and military aggression. Undoubtedly, the renewed displacement of Palestinians is categorically condemned," it added. Nearly two years into Israel's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip, the Israeli security cabinet voted on Friday for the occupation plan, which means more bloodshed in Gaza and forcible displacement of exhausted and starving Palestinians. It was initiated and pushed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid the brutal Gaza onslaught that has killed at least 61,369 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 152,850 others since October 2023. The Hamas resistance group called Israel's expansionist plan a "war crime," stressing that Palestinians would "resist any occupation or aggressive force." It also warned that Netanyahu is "sacrificing" Israeli captives to "serve his personal interests and extremist ideological agenda." Additionally, in its statement, the Iranian Foreign Ministry strongly condemned Israel's continued massacres and acts of genocide against Palestinians in the besieged Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, as well as the regime's assaults on Islamic holy sites in the city of al-Quds. It also underlined the need for an immediate cessation of Israeli attacks on Gaza, the unconditional delivery of humanitarian aid to the blockaded Palestinian territory, guaranteed freedom of action for relief organizations in carrying out humanitarian missions, support for regional and international efforts to achieve a full ceasefire, the withdrawal of occupying forces, a prisoners exchange, and the implementation of reconstruction plans. It further noted that the international community bears responsibility to halt Israel's genocide in Gaza and provide immediate assistance to the oppressed Palestinians. Meanwhile, the ministry held Israel responsible for "heinous crimes and unprecedented humanitarian catastrophes" in Gaza, given the International Criminal Court (ICC)'s arrest warrants for the regime's officials, and the International Court of Justice (ICJ)'s ruling that obliges Tel Aviv to prevent acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip. "The international community, particularly the UN Security Council and other international legal and human rights bodies, are expected to fulfill their legal and moral obligations, to pave the way for prosecuting and punishing the Zionist criminals, and to end the regime's long-standing impunity," it said. The ministry emphasized that the realization of the rights of the Palestinian people, most notably their fundamental right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent and unified Palestinian state with al-Quds as its capital, is both a legal and moral necessity. It further reiterated the Islamic Republic's support for the Palestinian people's right to complete liberation from occupation, apartheid, and colonialism, highlighting Tehran's initiative for a referendum among the indigenous inhabitants of Palestine, including Muslims, Christians, and Jews, to determine their fate and the ruling political system. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli drone strike kills one in southern Lebanon in latest ceasefire violation Iran Press TV Sunday, 10 August 2025 6:27 AM At least one person was killed when the Israeli military attacked southern Lebanon, marking another breach of the 2024 ceasefire agreement between the Arab nation and the occupying regime. Lebanon's official National News Agency (NNA), citing local authorities, reported that an Israeli drone fired four missiles at a vehicle between the villages of Aitaroun and Ainata in the Bint Jbeil district of southern Lebanon on Saturday afternoon, killing its sole occupant. An unnamed Lebanese security source identified the person killed in the Israeli strike as a member of the Hezbollah resistance movement. He named the victim as Hadi Ali Khnafer from the village of Ainata. The strike came a day after a Lebanese journalist was killed in an Israeli drone strike targeting his vehicle in southern Lebanon's Nabatieh district. The Lebanese Health Ministry confirmed in a statement that "an Israeli drone strike on the al-Zahrani road in the Nabatieh district resulted in the death of one person" on Friday. Lebanon's National News Agency reported that civil defense teams recovered the body from the targeted car along the Sidon-Tyre coastal road. NNA identified the victim as Mohammad Shehadeh, a journalist, photojournalist, and director of the media platform Hawana Lebanon. Following significant losses sustained over nearly 14 months of war and the failure to meet its objectives in the offensive against Lebanon, Israel was compelled to accept a ceasefire with Hezbollah, which took effect on November 27. Since then, Israeli forces have been launching attacks on Lebanon, including airstrikes, in breach of the ceasefire. On January 27, Lebanon announced its decision to extend the ceasefire with Israel until February 18. However, Israel continues to maintain its occupation of five significant regions in southern Lebanon, namely Labbouneh, Mount Blat, Owayda Hill, Aaziyyeh, and Hammamis Hill, all situated near the border. Lebanon has condemned the continued presence of Israeli military forces as a violation of the ceasefire agreement and the established timeline for withdrawal. Senior officials in Beirut have expressed their commitment to take "all necessary measures" to remove the occupying troops from the nation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Netanyahu's games block path to peace; Gaza occupation plan 'no surprise': Hamas Iran Press TV Sunday, 10 August 2025 2:05 AM A senior leader of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has strongly denounced Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his incessant efforts at stymying underway negotiations aimed at ending the Gaza Strip's plight. Speaking on Saturday, Mahmoud Mardawi said the Israeli premier continued to deliberately obstruct the path to a negotiated agreement, saying repeated acts of bad faith had derailed progress. Mardawi said negotiations remained "the only way to reach an agreement," but added that Netanyahu was "unable to pass any agreement acceptable to both sides." Instead, he said, the prime minister chose to hide "behind a false alarm," pursuing policies that undermined talks. "For the first time, Netanyahu alone will bear full responsibility for the failure of negotiations and the consequences of his policies and actions," the resistance official said. Amid the deliberate procrastination, there are currently no negotiation sessions underway in either Doha or Cairo, the Qatari and Egyptian capitals that have undertaken to host talks on a potential ceasefire, Mardawi stated. His remarks echoed those by numerous other Palestinian officials, regional figures, and even the regime's own authorities, including the former head of its Shin Bet spy agency, concerning the Israeli regime's dilatory tactics. The regime, meanwhile, keeps tearing away at Gaza with its October 2023-present war of genocide that has so far claimed the lives of nearly 61,400 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Tel Aviv is simultaneously leading a policy of mass starvation against the territory, which has seen it almost completely block the entry of vital items into the coastal sliver. Talks stalled amid US meddling The Hamas official also said the last round of talks in Doha had come close to producing an agreement until, what he described as, an "American coup" halted progress. He noted that the group's most recent proposal was received positively by Qatar, Egypt and even the Israeli delegation present in Doha. The shift came, he said, when a US envoy intervened, delivering a position that "contradicted the positive atmosphere" and effectively ended hopes for a breakthrough. Hamas, however, remains in "daily and continuous contact" with mediators in an effort to end the war, the official remarked. Occupation plan 'no surprise' Mardawi also dismissed reports about Netanyahu's plan to fully occupy the entire Gaza as unsurprising, arguing that the assault had never relied on any justification. "This occupation does not need a pretext to continue its genocidal war and crimes against our people." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Government of Israel's decision to further escalate its military operations in Gaza is wrong: UK statement at the UN Security Council Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki, UK Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, at the UN Security Council meeting on Gaza. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and James Kariuki CMG Published 10 August 2025 Location: United Nations, New York Delivered on: 10 August 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) The United Kingdom requested this meeting alongside Denmark, France, Greece and Slovenia in response to the Government of Israel's decision to further escalate its military operations in Gaza. As my Prime Minister said, this decision is wrong, and we urge the Government of Israel to reconsider immediately. Expanding military operations will do nothing to bring an end to this conflict. It will not secure the release of the hostages. It will only deepen the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. This is not a path to resolution, it is a path to more bloodshed. President, just this week the Security Council heard harrowing testimony from Ilay David, the brother of Evyatar David who was cruelly taken by Hamas on 7 October. He has been held hostage in appalling and inhuman conditions for over 21 months. The Security Council has in its four resolutions since 7 October called for the unconditional and immediate release of the hostages. I repeat that call today. We are clear that Hamas must disarm and can play no future part in the governance of Gaza, where the Palestinian Authority must have a central role. But, as many family members of the hostages have warned, this decision by the Israeli Government will do nothing to secure the return of the hostages. Instead, it risks further endangering their lives. This escalation will only exacerbate an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis, uprooting a million more people and forcing them into dangerously overcrowded, unsanitary and under-supplied areas. In Gaza, children and babies are suffering from starvation. Hundreds of civilians have been killed trying to access basic food supplies. This inhumanity cannot be justified. The partial aid access Israel granted in late July has proven woefully inadequate. We have a clear message for Israel: urgently and permanently lift all restrictions on aid delivery. Yesterday, the UK announced a further $11.4 million for OCHA's Occupied Palestinian Territories Humanitarian Fund. It is vital the UN and established humanitarian partners can operate safely and at scale, in line with the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. And Israel must not bar humanitarian NGOs from their essential work, through unreasonable and arbitrary registration requirements. All land routes must be opened for essential supplies, including food, baby formula, medicine, shelter, fuel and clean water. President, a diplomatic solution is possible, but both parties must step away from the path of destruction. We urge the parties to engage in good faith negotiations and show political will to secure a ceasefire deal and commit to a path to peace. The recent conference on the two-state solution last week was a powerful demonstration of international resolve to achieve a brighter future for the region. The UK will continue working with our partners on a long-term plan to secure peace in the region as part of a two-state solution. This is the only way to guarantee Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace, security, and dignity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We condemn the Government of Israel's decision to further expand its military operations in Gaza: Joint statement on the Government of Israel's decision to further expand its military operations in Gaza. Joint statement delivered by Ambassador Samuel Zbogar, Slovenian Permanent Representative to the UN, on behalf of Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia and the United Kingdom. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Samuel Zbogar, Slovenian Permanent Representative to the UN, on behalf of Denmark, France, Greece and the United Kingdom. Published 10 August 2025 Location: United Nations, New York Delivered on: 10 August 2025 (Transcript of the speech, exactly as it was delivered) We, the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, Greece and Slovenia, have called for today's urgent meeting of the Security Council on the situation in Gaza. We condemn the Government of Israel's decision to further expand its military operations in Gaza. This plan risks violating international humanitarian law. We call on Israel to urgently reverse this decision and not to implement it. And we reiterate that any attempts at annexation or of settlement extension violate international law. Expanding military operations will only endanger the lives of all civilians in Gaza, including the remaining hostages, and result in further unnecessary suffering. Just this week, the Security Council heard a harrowing testimony from Ilay David, the brother of Evyatar David who was cruelly taken hostage by Hamas on 7 October and has been held in atrocious conditions in Gaza for over 22 months. His briefing was a stark reminder that the suffering of the remaining hostages and their families must end. The Security Council has consistently called for the unconditional and immediate release of all the hostages. And we are clear that Hamas must disarm and play no future part in the governance of Gaza, where the Palestinian Authority must have a central role. But this decision by the Israeli Government will do nothing to secure the return of the hostages and risks further endangering their lives. It will also worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and risks further death and mass displacement of Palestinian civilians. The IPC has warned that famine is unfolding in Gaza. Children are dying from starvation. Hunger is so severe that desperate civilians are taking the risk of getting killed at aid distribution sites in order to feed their families. This is a manmade crisis, and therefore urgent action is needed to halt starvation and to surge aid into Gaza. We have a clear message for Israel: lift restrictions on aid delivery to allow the UN and established humanitarian partners to operate safely and at scale, in line with the principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. It is also vital that international NGOs can operate in Gaza. Israel's unreasonable visa and registration requirements must be removed and all land routes opened for essential supplies, including food, baby formula, medicine, fuel and clean water. After 22 months of suffering in Gaza, now is the time for diplomacy, not more war. The ceasefire earlier this year showed what can be achieved when there is political will. It ended the bloodshed. Hostages were reunited with their loved ones. Effective humanitarian aid reached those in desperate need. The international conference on the two-state solution last month, co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia, was a powerful demonstration of the strength of international resolve to secure a better future and deliver long-term peace for Israelis, Palestinians and the region. We call on both parties to secure an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the release of all the hostages, and to urgently advance efforts to achieve a two-state solution. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address With millions returning to Afghanistan, UNICEF calls for a safe, dignified, voluntary and phased approach and increased support for children and families UNICEF Statement Statement by UNICEF Deputy Executive Director for Humanitarian Action and Supply Operations, Ted Chaiban 10 August 2025 KABUL/NEW YORK, 9 August 2025 - "I have just concluded my visit to Afghanistan, where over two million Afghans, including half a million children, have returned from Iran and Pakistan so far this year alone, in addition to a significant number from countries in Central Asia. "This was my fourth time in Afghanistan. I met with senior officials of the de facto authority, including the Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs, Acting Ministers and Provincial Governors in the field. We also met with UN colleagues, donors and civil society partners. I had the opportunity to see UNICEF-supported programmes in Kunduz, Islam Qala and Herat. Compared to my past visits, I witnessed improved access throughout Afghanistan, which has allowed UNICEF to reach more children, women and communities with humanitarian services. "At the Islam Qala reception centre, where tens of thousands of people are arriving across the border from Iran every day, I saw how humanitarian and protection services are delivered in a coordinated manner by the de facto authorities, UN agencies, NGOs, and other partners. Reception centres have been established at border points across Afghanistan to respond to the high number of returnees, which peaked on 4 July with over 50,000 people arriving in a single day. The families I met at the border indicated they looked forward to the future in their home country but were anxious about rebuilding their lives. One common concern was the continuity of education for their daughters beyond grade 6, concerns echoed by the students I met in Kunduz. "Education in Afghanistan remains a critical issue, particularly for adolescent girls who are not permitted to go to school beyond grade 6. This not only impacts girls, but all women in the country when they miss out on formal secondary education, university, and subsequently employment. In Kunduz, I visited an Accelerated Learning Class where girls can finish their primary education if they were unable to go to school, and one of the young female teachers told me that she was only months away from finishing medical school before she was forbidden to continue. One less female doctor to serve the critical health needs of women in Afghanistan. "At the Ustad Abdullah School near Kunduz, I met many bright young students, girls and boys, who wanted to become teachers, surgeons, engineers, full of hope for a future in Afghanistan, which they can contribute to. Heartbreakingly, with the current ban on adolescent girls' education in Afghanistan, for the girls, schooling will finish after grade 6. Education for all children is at the heart of UNICEF's mandate, and we strongly advocate for a lifting of the ban so that girls of all ages can stay in school, receive a good education, can work and play a role in society, for themselves, their families, and for the future growth of Afghanistan. We stand ready to find solutions for the continuity of the education of girls and continue to explore options with the authorities. "In relation to the returnee crisis, UNICEF acknowledges and extends gratitude for the efforts made by host governments, including Iran and Pakistan, over the years to accommodate Afghan nationals in their countries. We are, however, concerned for the well-being of families and individuals, including children, undertaking the often difficult and sudden journey to return, as well as for how the large-scale returns are impacting the already fragile communities they are returning to in Afghanistan, where more than half the population requires humanitarian assistance and struggling to overcome impacts of more than four decades of conflict complicated by an impeding drought. Children require special protection, particularly unaccompanied children, and should have their best interests assessed by child protection authorities to ensure their protection and well-being, including support for family reunification. By the end of July, UNICEF had documented and supported more than 6,000 unaccompanied and separated children and reunified them with their families and relatives. "While rapid scale-up has seen a coordinated and joined-up delivery of first-line response at reception points, more is needed to ensure the safe passage of returnees whilst on the move, including the quality of continued care during their return, and sustained access to essential services in areas of return inside Afghanistan to support sustainable reintegration. With limited access to education, health services, and economic opportunities, the ability of communities to absorb the high number of returnees within a compressed timeframe is becoming increasingly difficult. "UNICEF calls for a systemised and phased approach for the returnees, ensuring the safety, dignity and voluntariness of those on the move, as well as a continuity of care throughout their journey and measures to access continued protection in host countries, if needed. "Such an approach is particularly critical for vulnerable groups - especially women and children, including separated and unaccompanied children. "UNICEF therefore calls for dialogue between Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan to phase the returns and allow the Afghan authorities, UN Agencies, NGOs and partners to better manage the response, and calls on donors to support humanitarian action for the returnee population, including for children, both at the point of reception and in areas of final resettlement." ##### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'There is no military solution' to end Israel-Palestine conflict, Security Council hears, as starvation stalks the Gaza Strip 10 August 2025 - It's essential to work towards a two-State solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict as the international community addresses the reality of starvation on the ground in Gaza, the Security Council heard on Sunday. Two top UN officials warned that the Israeli cabinet's green light this week for a fresh offensive aimed at gaining total military control of Gaza City - home to around one million Palestinians - would only risk igniting "another horrific chapter" of displacement, death and destruction. Miroslav Jenca, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, told ambassadors that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposed plan for "defeating Hamas" and the establishment of an alternative civilian administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority, risked "yet another dangerous escalation" that would destabilise the entire region. However, according to Israeli media reports, the senior political affairs official continued, the Israeli plan foresees the displacement of all civilians from Gaza City by 7 October, affecting some 800,000 people - many previously displaced. Reports indicate that forces would then surround the city for three months. This would reportedly then be followed by an additional two months to seize control of central Gaza's camps and clear the entire area of Palestinian armed groups. Calamitous plan "If these plans are implemented, they will likely trigger another calamity in Gaza, reverberating across the region and causing further forced displacement, killings, and destruction - compounding the unbearable suffering of the population," said Mr. Jenca, calling for a full, immediate, and permanent ceasefire, the unconditional, immediate release of all hostages and compliance with international humanitarian law by Israel. He said there was no military solution to end the conflict adding that planning for Gaza's future "as we address the urgency of developments on the ground today," is critical. Mr. Jenca called for establishing political and security frameworks to ease the humanitarian crisis, while beginning recovery and reconstruction efforts that address the legitimate concerns of both Israelis and Palestinians - in line with realising a two-State solution. United Palestine "Critically these frameworks must facilitate a legitimate Palestinian Government that can reunify Gaza and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, politically, economically and administratively." Furthermore, it must be made up of a united leadership representing all of Palestine. He called on the Palestinian Authority to "advance its stated goal of holding elections" to this end. 'This is starvation': Rajasingham Senior humanitarian affairs official Ramesh Rajasingham told ambassadors that hunger-related deaths were already rising, ahead of any new mass-displacement policy for Gaza City. "Whatever lifelines remain, are collapsing under the weight of sustained hostilities, forced displacement and insufficient levels of life-saving aid." He said with local authorities documenting the deaths of 98 children from severe acute malnutrition - 37 since 1 July - "this is no longer a looming hunger crisis - this is starvation, pure and simple." The head of the humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA) in Geneva said he was extremely concerned over the "prolonged conflict and further human toll that is likely to unfold following the Government of Israel's decision to expand military operations in Gaza." "This marks a grave escalation in a conflict that has already inflicted unimaginable suffering." 'Grim milestone' "A grim milestone has also been crossed in the humanitarian community," he lamented, noting that over 500 humanitarian workers have been killed in Gaza since hostilities escalated, including at least 167 women. Smear campaigns against aid operations continue unabated. "As we approach World Humanitarian Day, we must insist on the protection of all aid workers," he added. States - all those with any influence - must look within our bruised collective conscience and summon the courage to do what is necessary to end this inhumanity and pain, he said. Civilians must be protected, and hostages must be released unconditionally. Arbitrarily detained Palestinians must be freed. Israel must agree to and facilitate humanitarian relief operations, both into and within the Gaza Strip, to reach the population in need. The International Court of Justice's (ICJ) provisional measures in the case on the application of the Genocide Convention in Gaza remain in place, the top OCHA official added, including the demand that Israel take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address OCHA urges Security Council to "summon courage" to end inhumanity in Gaza UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Briefing to the Security Council on Gaza by Ramesh Rajasingham, OCHA Director of Coordination, on behalf of Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator 10 August 2025 As delivered Thank you, Mr. President, The suffering endured in Gaza over the past 22 months has been nothing short of soul-searing. Our shared humanity demands that this unacceptable catastrophe is brought to an immediate end. Mr. President, I will address three matters today: First, I am extremely concerned over the prolonged conflict and reports of atrocities and further human toll that is likely to unfold following the Government of Israel's decision to expand military operations in Gaza. This marks a grave escalation in a conflict that has already inflicted unimaginable suffering. Now, for over 670 days, Palestinians in Gaza have endured daily killings and injuries. More than 61,000 people have been killed, including over at least 18,000 children, and 151,000 have been injured, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health. Meanwhile, 50 hostages are believed to remain in Gaza - with those still alive held in inhumane and appalling conditions. Thousands of Palestinians, including women and children, remain in Israeli detention - many held without charge or trial, or the required safeguards. A grim milestone has also been crossed in our sector, the humanitarian community: Over 500 humanitarian workers have been killed in Gaza since hostilities escalated, including at least 167 women. Smear campaigns against aid operations continue unabated. And as we approach World Humanitarian Day, we must insist on the protection of all aid workers. Mr. President, Second, humanitarian conditions are beyond horrific. We have frankly run out of words to describe it. Whatever lifelines remain are collapsing under the weight of sustained hostilities, forced displacement and insufficient levels of life-saving aid. Hunger-related deaths are rising, especially among children with severe malnutrition. Since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023, the health authorities in Gaza have documented the deaths of 98 children from severe acute malnutrition - 37 alone since 1 July - just over a month ago. So, this is no longer a looming hunger crisis - this is starvation, pure and simple. Each day brings harrowing images of men, women, and children killed and injured while desperately seeking assistance. The situation is untenable, especially for older people, people with disabilities, children without parental care, and widowed women. Gaza lies in ruins. Almost everyone in Gaza has been forcibly displaced at some point over the past two years and at least once. Palestinians in Gaza have been forced into an area that amounts to less than 14 per cent of the territory, in areas that are not safe and are lacking basic services or shelter. Further expansion of military operations will make these conditions even worse. Families in Gaza are living in insecure and overcrowded conditions, many without shelter. Eleven per cent of some 6,500 households surveyed recently by humanitarian partners were reported to be living out in the open. No organization - UN or otherwise - has been able to bring shelter supplies into Gaza since 2 March. The lack of adequate shelter is particularly worrisome, as we know that winter will soon be upon us. Given the scale of repeated displacement and current living conditions, preventing the entry of emergency shelter supplies defies the obligation to allow humanitarian relief for the population in need. The humanitarian system has effectively collapsed. Hospitals are not protected, doctors have been killed or detained, and facilities are working without sufficient medical supplies. Water and sanitation infrastructure are failing, and social cohesion is unraveling. How are the people in Gaza expected to survive in these conditions? Mr. President, My third point: The recent military 'tactical pauses' have enabled some positive changes in humanitarian operations. Limited amounts of fuel have been allowed in, and on 5 August, Israeli authorities approved a mechanism for the gradual resumption of controlled commercial goods into Gaza. This has resulted in different types of food returning to markets and a slight decrease in some prices. Our teams on the ground caution us that despite these developments, meaningful change for the population remains elusive, as humanitarian conditions remain largely unchanged. Security conditions have remained volatile. Fighting has continued. Crossing arrangements have remained inadequate. Humanitarian missions, though less frequently denied outright, can still take over 18 hours, with teams stranded on dangerous roads. Extreme desperation is driving people to take the humanitarian aid in transit - but this need not be the case. We've seen that when assistance is rapidly and significantly scaled up, incidents of looting and insecurity decline, and trust begins to be rebuilt. The United Nations has the plan and systems in place to respond. We've said this before, and we will say it again and again: let us work. To assist all those in need, at scale, we must have predictable access - and the movement of life-saving goods must be more effectively facilitated. It is equally critical that all humanitarian partners on the ground, including international humanitarian organizations, are allowed to deliver life-saving services. Registration processes for non-governmental organizations that the Government of Israel introduced earlier this year are concerning and risk further undermining operational capacity and continuity. Mr. President, Echoing the Secretary-General, I remain deeply concerned about the ripple effects of the expansion of Gaza military operations on the West Bank, where military operations, settler violence and home demolitions persist at unprecedented and alarming rates. A year ago, the International Court of Justice determined that Israel must bring its unlawful presence, policies and practices to an end as rapidly as possible. Developments in the West Bank worsen an existing humanitarian situation that sadly remains less visible - not because it is less severe, but because global attention has been drawn elsewhere. Mr. President, Council members, and, indeed, the international community listening, States - all those with any influence - must look within our bruised collective conscience and summon the courage to do what is necessary to end this inhumanity and pain. It is also what international law demands. Civilians must be protected and their essential needs must be met. Hostages must be released unconditionally. Arbitrarily detained Palestinians must be freed. Israel must agree to and facilitate humanitarian relief operations, both into and within the Gaza Strip, to reach the population in need. The International Court of Justice's provisional measures in the case on the application of the Genocide Convention in Gaza remain in place, including the demand that Israel take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance. Life and dignity should be respected for all. International humanitarian law serves as a compass for conduct in war, and is designed to ensure a minimum of humanity. The parties and all States must honour their commitment to this. The suffering must stop. Mr. President, thank you. Posted on 10 August 2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mr. Ramesh Rajasingham, Director, Coordination Division, OCHA, on behalf of Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator- Briefing to the Security Council on Gaza, 10 August 2025 UNOCHA - United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Thank you, Mr. President, The suffering endured in Gaza over the past 22 months has been nothing short of soul-searing. Our shared humanity demands that this unacceptable catastrophe is brought to an immediate end. Mr. President, I will address three matters today: First, I am extremely concerned over the prolonged conflict and reports of atrocities and further human toll that is likely to unfold following the Government of Israel's decision to expand military operations in Gaza. This marks a grave escalation in a conflict that has already inflicted unimaginable suffering. Now, for over 670 days, Palestinians in Gaza have endured daily killings and injuries. More than 61,000 people have been killed, including over at least 18,000 children, and 151,000 have been injured, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health. Meanwhile, 50 hostages are believed to remain in Gaza - with those still alive held in inhumane and appalling conditions. Thousands of Palestinians, including women and children, remain in Israeli detention - many held without charge or trial, or the required safeguards. A grim milestone has also been crossed in our sector, the humanitarian community: Over 500 humanitarian workers have been killed in Gaza since hostilities escalated, including at least 167 women. Smear campaigns against aid operations continue unabated. And as we approach World Humanitarian Day, we must insist on the protection of all aid workers. Mr. President, Second, humanitarian conditions are beyond horrific. We have frankly run out of words to describe it. Whatever lifelines remain are collapsing under the weight of sustained hostilities, forced displacement and insufficient levels of life-saving aid. Hunger-related deaths are rising, especially among children with severe malnutrition. Since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023, the health authorities in Gaza have documented the deaths of 98 children from severe acute malnutrition - 37 alone since 1 July - just over a month ago. So, this is no longer a looming hunger crisis - this is starvation, pure and simple. Each day brings harrowing images of men, women, and children killed and injured while desperately seeking assistance. The situation is untenable, especially for older people, people with disabilities, children without parental care, and widowed women. Gaza lies in ruins. Almost everyone in Gaza has been forcibly displaced at some point over the past two years and at least once. Palestinians in Gaza have been forced into an area that amounts to less than 14 per cent of the territory, in areas that are not safe and are lacking basic services or shelter. Further expansion of military operations will make these conditions even worse. Families in Gaza are living in insecure and overcrowded conditions, many without shelter. Eleven per cent of some 6,500 households surveyed recently by humanitarian partners were reported to be living out in the open. No organization - UN or otherwise - has been able to bring shelter supplies into Gaza since 2 March. The lack of adequate shelter is particularly worrisome, as we know that winter will soon be upon us. Given the scale of repeated displacement and current living conditions, preventing the entry of emergency shelter supplies defies the obligation to allow humanitarian relief for the population in need. The humanitarian system has effectively collapsed. Hospitals are not protected, doctors have been killed or detained, and facilities are working without sufficient medical supplies. Water and sanitation infrastructure are failing, and social cohesion is unraveling. How are the people in Gaza expected to survive in these conditions? Mr. President, My third point: The recent military 'tactical pauses' have enabled some positive changes in humanitarian operations. Limited amounts of fuel have been allowed in, and on 5 August, Israeli authorities approved a mechanism for the gradual resumption of controlled commercial goods into Gaza. This has resulted in different types of food returning to markets and a slight decrease in some prices. Our teams on the ground caution us that despite these developments, meaningful change for the population remains elusive, as humanitarian conditions remain largely unchanged. Security conditions have remained volatile. Fighting has continued. Crossing arrangements have remained inadequate. Humanitarian missions, though less frequently denied outright, can still take over 18 hours, with teams stranded on dangerous roads. Extreme desperation is driving people to take the humanitarian aid in transit - but this need not be the case. We've seen that when assistance is rapidly and significantly scaled up, incidents of looting and insecurity decline, and trust begins to be rebuilt. The United Nations has the plan and systems in place to respond. We've said this before, and we will say it again and again: let us work. To assist all those in need, at scale, we must have predictable access - and the movement of life-saving goods must be more effectively facilitated. It is equally critical that all humanitarian partners on the ground, including international humanitarian organizations, are allowed to deliver life-saving services. Registration processes for non-governmental organizations that the Government of Israel introduced earlier this year are concerning and risk further undermining operational capacity and continuity. Mr. President, Echoing the Secretary-General, I remain deeply concerned about the ripple effects of the expansion of Gaza military operations on the West Bank, where military operations, settler violence and home demolitions persist at unprecedented and alarming rates. A year ago, the International Court of Justice determined that Israel must bring its unlawful presence, policies and practices to an end as rapidly as possible. Developments in the West Bank worsen an existing humanitarian situation that sadly remains less visible - not because it is less severe, but because global attention has been drawn elsewhere. Mr. President, Council members, and, indeed, the international community listening, States - all those with any influence - must look within our bruised collective conscience and summon the courage to do what is necessary to end this inhumanity and pain. It is also what international law demands. Civilians must be protected and their essential needs must be met. Hostages must be released unconditionally. Arbitrarily detained Palestinians must be freed. Israel must agree to and facilitate humanitarian relief operations, both into and within the Gaza Strip, to reach the population in need. The International Court of Justice's provisional measures in the case on the application of the Genocide Convention in Gaza remain in place, including the demand that Israel take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance. Life and dignity should be respected for all. International humanitarian law serves as a compass for conduct in war, and is designed to ensure a minimum of humanity. The parties and all States must honour their commitment to this. The suffering must stop. Mr. President, thank you. 10 August 2025 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In Emergency Security Council Session, UN Warns Israel's Gaza City Takeover Could Trigger 'Another Horrific Chapter' in Conflict Meetings Coverage Security Council 9975th Meeting (AM) SC/16140 10 August 2025 'This Is Liberation' from Terror Regime, Says Israel's Delegate, Denying Intention to Permanently Occupy Gaza Israel's latest decision to take over Gaza City risks "igniting another horrific chapter" in the conflict, a senior United Nations official said during an emergency Security Council session today, as delegates warned that this escalation will uproot a million people and exacerbate an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Miroslav Jenca, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas, Departments of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and Peace Operations, said Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan for "defeating Hamas" includes the disarmament of Hamas, the release of all hostages; the Gaza Strip's demilitarization; Israeli security control over the Strip; and the establishment of an alternative civilian administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority. The Israel Defense Forces will also prepare to take control of Gaza City, while providing humanitarian assistance outside combat zones. "This is yet another dangerous escalation of the conflict," he warned, adding that Israel foresees the displacement of all civilians from Gaza City by 7 October 2025, affecting some 800,000 people, many of them previously displaced. Reports indicate that the Israel Defense Forces would then surround the city for three months. This would then reportedly be followed by an additional two months to seize control of central Gaza's camps and clear the entire area of Palestinian armed groups. "If these plans are implemented, they will likely trigger another calamity in Gaza, reverberating across the region and causing further forced displacement, killings, and destruction compounding the unbearable suffering of the population," he said. Last night, thousands of protesters gathered in Tel Aviv and cities across Israel to call for a ceasefire and a hostage release deal. Emphasizing that the only way to stop the immense human suffering in Gaza is through a full, immediate and permanent ceasefire, he urged the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as rapid, safe, unimpeded and large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid to the enclave. There will be no sustainable solution without an end to Israel's unlawful occupation and the achievement of a viable two-State solution, he stressed, stating: "Gaza is, and must remain, an integral part of a Palestinian State." "The suffering endured by Palestinians and Israelis over the past 22 months has been nothing short of soul-searing," said Ramesh Rajasingham, Director of the Coordination Division, Head and Representative of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva. He called Israel's decision to expand military operations in Gaza a "grave escalation in a conflict that has already inflicted unimaginable suffering". More than 61,000 people have been killed, including over 18,000 children, and 151,000 have been injured, according to Gaza's Ministry of Health, while 50 hostages are believed to remain in Gaza "with those still alive held in unthinkably inhumane and appalling conditions". "We have frankly run out of words to describe" humanitarian conditions, which "are beyond horrific", he stated, stressing: "This is no longer a looming hunger crisis this is starvation pure and simple." However, the UN has "the plan and systems in place to respond", he stated, while it is equally critical that humanitarian partners on the ground are allowed to deliver life-saving services. Condemnation of Israel's Plan to Expand Military Operation In the ensuing discussion, many speakers condemned Israel's plan to take control of Gaza City and urged that country to reverse its decision. "Gaza is facing hell," said Algeria's delegate, denouncing Israel's decision to displace the entire population of Gaza City and Northern Gaza, and impose full military control over the Strip. "After twenty-two months of forced displacement, starvation and ethnic cleansing, such an operation would not merely ruin Gaza, it would annihilate what remains of it," he stated. Israel's objective is clear: "To push an entire people outside their homeland." The expansion of Israel's military operation is "not a path to resolution but a path to more bloodshed," concurred the United Kingdom's delegate. The Russian Federation's delegate condemned Israel's intentions to seize Gaza as "dangerous steps which undermine the already fragile prospects for the peaceful settlement of the Middle East conflict". Urging Israel to retract the plan, the speaker for the Republic of Korea said that its primary target, Gaza City, is one of the few remaining areas where a large civilian population has sought tenuous refuge, and a renewed full-scale operation against it will inevitably cause another round of forced displacement and killings. Also urging Israel to reverse its decision, Denmark's delegate said that the entire Strip faces famine-like conditions. Deploring the killing of starving civilians trying to get food, she stressed that "the alarming frequency and scale of these incidents are simply unacceptable" and called for transparent investigations into these incidents. Citing the "unbearable" images of children dying of hunger or civilians targeted while searching for food, France'sdelegate urged Israel to allow the UN and all humanitarian actors to operate freely and safely. Opposing any attempts to forcibly displace the Palestinian population, Greece's delegate reiterated that any potential annexation of Gaza or any other part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory would contravene international law. "What will happen to those surviving Palestinians once Israel launches its takeover?" asked Slovenia's delegate. The 1 million people living in Gaza City will be displaced once more, chased from corner to corner, to tiny camps, or even beyond. "All civilians in Gaza Israelis and Palestinians are hostages," he stressed, adding that the responsibility to protect them against the upcoming military onslaught "weighs heavy on our shoulders". "Would any Member State of this Council allow its citizens to be subject to this type of inhumane treatment by any actor, including a fellow member State of the United Nations," asked Guyana's delegate, condemning the latest instalment in Israel's contemptible actions against the Palestinian people. "When appeals to morality, humanity and legality fail," the Council must delve into its toolbox to save lives, she stressed, reiterating her country's preparedness to act with fellow Council members to take the relevant decisions. Calls for Deployment of International Protection Force "Once again, we meet here in this Council as Gaza bleeds," said Pakistan's delegate, adding that Israel's plan aims to erase Palestinian presence and extinguish prospects for peace. "Let us be clear: it is the culmination of a campaign of ethnic cleansing", he stressed. Those shielding Israel from accountability are complicit and must share responsibility. Further, the Council must be ready to impose a cost on Israel including the deployment of an international protection force to save the besieged population. As scenes of genocide are repeated "without any action being taken", Kuwait's delegate, speaking for the Gulf Cooperation Council, called for urgent and binding measures to be taken under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter "to stop this brutal aggression". Calling for a break with "warlike logic", the representative of Panama, Council President for August, spoke in his national capacity to affirm that the Gazans "do not need more fire", they need water, medicines, food and protection. An immediate ceasefire and the return of hostages are also "the very wishes of the Israeli people and the families of the hostages", observed China's representative. "Against the Israeli army stand unarmed civilians," said Senegal's delegate, underlining the need to oppose Israel's destructive force with a credible and unwavering force of law. He added: "Humanity is watching us, and history will judge us." The representative of Sierra Leone underscored that genuine normalization, endorsed in the Arab Peace Initiative, offers Israel the prospect of lasting peace, security and regional acceptance but only if it is accompanied by an end to occupation and the realization of Palestinian statehood. In the same vein, Iraq's delegate, speaking for the Arab Group, called for the rights of the Palestinian people to be restored including the right to self-determination, the right to return and compensation for Palestinian refugees. Somalia's representative affirmed that Israel's announcement of its intention to impose military control over the entire Gaza Strip "is not an abstraction [but] a chilling blueprint for the next chapter of devastation". "True security cannot be built on top of the ruins of justice," he asserted. Urging for a permanent ceasefire, he called the moment "a test for all of humanity", as silence "is not neutrality. For all the victims, it is a verdict". Palestine, Israel Clash over Form of Future Gaza Administration The Permanent Observer for the State of Palestine stated that the plan adopted by the recent International High-Level Conference on Palestine foresees the Palestinian Authority resuming its sole governmental and security duties in the Gaza Strip with regional and international support and Hamas handing over its weapons. If Israel's concern was the end of Hamas rule, it would have rallied behind this plan, he stressed. Israel's goal is the destruction of the Palestinian people through forced transfer and massacres to facilitate its annexation of their land. Addressing the international community, he said: "Your actions today will determine the fate [...] of our region for generations to come." However, the United States' delegate called for placing responsibility where it lies with Hamas which has consistently rejected ceasefire proposals, and "we know this because we are in the room," she stated. Israel has the right to decide what is necessary for its security, she affirmed, while accusations of genocide are politically motivated and categorically false, part of a cynical propaganda campaign. For his part, Israel's delegate said that one of the five clear principles that the Israeli security cabinet adopted for concluding the war is the establishment of a non-Israeli, peaceful civil administration governed neither by Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority. His country's defence forces are preparing to take control of Gaza City. "This is not conquest," he stressed, as Israel has no plans to permanently occupy Gaza. "This is liberation" from a terror regime. The Council had urgently convened to "chastise the one democracy in the Middle East" while its urgency should be directed towards dismantling Hamas, freeing the hostages and ensuring that such atrocities never happen again, he asserted. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese envoy puts forward four "musts" at UN security council meeting on the Palestine-Israel issue Global Times By Global Times Published: Aug 11, 2025 09:10 AM Chinese Ambassador to the UN Fu Cong put forward four "musts" at the emergency meeting held by the UN Security Council on the Palestine-Israel issue on Sunday local time after the Israeli security cabinet's approval of a plan to take over Gaza City in the northern Gaza Strip. Fu said Israel's attempt to occupy Gaza must be firmly opposed; the fallacy of believing in the primacy of force must be abandoned; the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza must be alleviated; and the prospect of the two-state solution must be revived. Fu said that the Gaza conflict has dragged on for 22 months, causing the deaths of more than 61,000 people in Gaza and an unprecedented humanitarian disaster. The international community has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Gaza, but the situation continues to develop in an even more dangerous direction. "Faced with the current urgent situation, the international community, including the UN Security Council, must take all necessary actions before an even greater catastrophe occurs," Fu emphasized. According to the Xinhua News Agency, Israel announced on Friday that its cabinet adopted the five principles for "concluding the war", including the disarming of Hamas; the return of all the hostages, both the living and the deceased; the demilitarization 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. Fu said that China expresses grave concern over the Israel's security cabinet approval of a plan to take over Gaza City and urges Israel to immediately stop such dangerous actions. "Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people and is an inseparable part of Palestinian territory. Any attempt to alter the population or territorial structure of Gaza must be resolutely rejected," Fu said. Fu said that the Israeli government should heed the calls of the international community and its own people to immediately cease actions that escalate tensions, and stop military operations in Gaza. "Countries with significant influence over the parties concerned should adopt a fair and responsible approach and take concrete action to promote a ceasefire," Fu pointed out. Fu said that the weaponization of humanitarian supplies is unacceptable; the collective punishment of the people of Gaza is unacceptable; and attacks on civilians and humanitarian workers seeking supplies are unacceptable. He urged Israel to open all crossing points and lift restrictions on the entry of goods to ensure large-scale, rapid and safe access of humanitarian supplies into Gaza, and to support the UN in providing aid in a manner consistent with humanitarian principles. Fu stressed that the two-state solution is the only viable way to resolve the Palestinian issue and achieve peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel. "The international community should intensify efforts to advance the political process for the two-state solution and work together to oppose any unilateral actions that undermine its foundation," Fu said. At the meeting, Israel's military expansion plan was criticized by multiple countries. According to BBC, envoys from the UK and France warned the plan risked "violating international humanitarian law." Along with Denmark, Greece and Slovenia, they called for the plan to be reversed, adding it would "do nothing to secure the return of hostages and risks further endangering their lives". But the US defended Israel, with Ambassador Dorothy Shea telling the meeting the US had been working "tirelessly" to free hostages and end the war, and the meeting undermined those efforts, per BBC. Later on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he had spoken with US President Donald Trump about Israel's plans, BBC reported. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel kills 5 Al Jazeera staff in Gaza, alleges Hamas role: report Global Times By Global Times Published: Aug 11, 2025 11:23 AM Al Jazeera on Monday confirmed that its journalist Anas al-Sharif was killed alongside four colleagues in a targeted Israeli strike on a tent housing journalists in Gaza City. Seven people were killed in a strike on a tent located outside the main gate of Gaza City's al-Shifa Hospital late Sunday. They included Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa, Al Jazeera reported. Al Jazeera Media Network said on Monday that it "condemns in the strongest terms the targeted assassination of its correspondents." The news network said that Israel has killed 10 Al Jazeera staff since the start of war on Gaza. Palestinian civil defense sources told the Xinhua News Agency that the Israeli army directly targeted the journalists' tent, killing four of them, while the fifth victim remained unidentified as his body "was turned into pieces." The director of the hospital in Gaza City said the strike appears to have targeted them directly. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) later said it had killed Anas Al-Sharif in Gaza City in a strike, claiming that he was affiliated with Hamas, according to Xinhua. "Anas Al-Sharif served as the head of a terrorist cell in Hamas and was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops," it alleged, according to Xinhua. It said documents found showed his affiliation with Hamas, including "personnel rosters, lists of training courses, phone directories, and salary records." However, in a statement, the Committee to Protect Journalists, which in July urged the international community to protect Al Sharif, said Israel had provided no evidence to support its allegations against him, Reuters reported. "Today's killing of four journalists in #Gaza includes Anas Al-Sharif, one of Al Jazeera's best-known reporters and one of several whom Israel had previously alleged were members of Hamas without providing evidence. Most recently, Al-Sharif had reported on the starvation that he and his colleagues were experiencing because of Israel's refusal to allow sufficient food aid into Gaza," the Committee to Protect Journalists wrote in an X post on Monday. Muhammed Shehada, an analyst at the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, told Al Jazeera that there was "zero evidence" that al-Sharif took part in any hostilities. "His entire daily routine was standing in front of a camera from morning to evening." The Government Media Office in Gaza has said that the deliberate killing of five Al Jazeera staff has brought the total number of journalists killed by Israel since the war began to 237. "It's not the first time we've seen journalists being the main target of the Israeli military. It's like they're being punished for the work they are doing, for the honest work that they are doing, for just giving the truth as it is, bringing it to the screen," Al Jazeera reporter Hani Mahmound wrote. "That's something that the Israeli military political leadership does not like, because it changes a lot of the narrative. It changes how you perceive things on the ground. So it's not just coupled with the fear campaign and the incitement campaign against Al Jazeera and its correspondents on the ground, but it's also directed at anyone who dares to raise their voice and to criticize all the acts on the ground, the racist acts and the genocidal acts on the ground," he added. Shortly before being killed, Al-Sharif, who has 556,000 followers on X, posted a video on the platform showing Gaza's night skies lit red by bombardment and filled with the sound of explosions. "Relentless bombardment," he wrote. "For two hours, the Israeli aggression has intensified on Gaza City." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Navy's warfare training helps uncover lake's secrets New Zealand Defence Force What lies beneath? Hydrographers from HMNZS Matataua have conducted an underwater survey of a wildlife sanctuary lake to search for submerged hazards and shallows. 11 August, 2025 The survey was carried out at the Zealandia Ecosanctuary in Karori, Wellington, a fully fenced 225-hectare urban ecosanctuary with two historical dammed reservoir lakes. The work was part of Exercise Anchorite, HMNZS Matataua's regular hydrographic training exercise conducted in a variety of lake and coastal locations throughout New Zealand. Navy hydrographers assist in the creation of accurate seabed, harbour, lake and coastline charts for navigational and military purposes. They help search for mines, underwater explosives, missing persons and sunken vessels and aircraft while operating Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) and portable echo-sounders. Using a Zodiac Futura Commando dinghy, the team used a portable multi-beam sonar and a side scan sonar to run back and forth along Zealandia's lower reservoir lake, which has near-opaque waters and is around 15 metres at its deepest. The resulting product, showing depths and underwater hazards such as submerged trees, will assist Zealandia in the use of their electric boat on the lower lake. The tasking follows on from a Matataua survey and training exercise on the same lake in 2018. Recently, Zealandia requested the old survey data, and Matataua replied that they'd be happy to revisit, using equipment capable of more accurate surveys. Chief Petty Officer Hydrographic Survey Technician Julie O'Hara, second in command of the team, says they had already planned to conduct survey work in the Wellington region and saw an opportunity to gain added training for their hydrographers in a freshwater environment. "This is really good for our personnel," she says. "We're always looking at ways to improve our processes and training. You never know where we could be deployed in the world, and while we usually work in salt water, fresh water can be really different. It's good training for us." She says the multi-beam system is capable of measuring to around 300-metre depths. "It's a bit like mowing a lawn," she says. "You go up and down your survey area and the multibeam creates a wide swath pattern by emitting multiple acoustic beams. When the beams hit the bottom, they reflect back to the transducer. As it gets shallower, the swath gets smaller and you need run more lines to get 100 per cent coverage." After the multi-beam sweeps, the team switched to a towed side-scan sonar system. Side-scan sonar is particularly useful for mapping distinct submerged objects. Like angled sunlight, the sonar pulses strike an object on an angle, creating both an image and a 'shadow' on the screen that allows the operator to view its shape and height. Zealandia's Chief Executive Doctor Danielle Shanahan said they were thrilled to welcome the Navy back to map the depths of their lower reservoir. "We are hopeful the information will provide new insights on how this place has changed since the team was last here in 2018." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japanese Navy visit a boost for Indo-Pacific interoperability New Zealand Defence Force It was a cold arrival but a warm welcome for Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels JS Ise and JS Suzuname into Wellington on 8 August. 11 August, 2025 HMNZS Canterbury led Ise, a Hyuga-class helicopter destroyer and Suzuname, a Takanami-class destroyer, in line through the Wellington heads as northerly squalls and rain chilled the sailors lining the rails. The two vessels were in Wellington for a three-day diplomatic visit. Canterbury was on the first of two trans-Tasman legs, returning troops, vehicles and an NH90 helicopter following their participation in Exercise Talisman Sabre in Australia. According to the US Navy Institute both Japanese vessels had been part of an Indo-Pacific deployment that included Talisman Sabre and a joint exercise with the UK Carrier Strike Group, as well visits to multiple Pacific countries. Rear Admiral Natsui Takashi, Commander of JMSDF Escort Flotilla Four and Maritime Component Commander Commodore Shane Arndell spoke to media after the three ships had berthed at Aotea Quay, Centreport. Admiral Takashi referenced HMNZS Aotearoa's port visits to Yokosuka and Saesbo in Japan last year. "We are now visiting Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand, and this makes a mutual visit by both our navies," he said via a translator. "The purpose of our deployment is to conduct multi-lateral exercises with navies in the region and improve our tactical skills for JMSDF vessels and enhance the mutual understanding and trust between our partnerships." Commodore Arndell says the visit reinforces upholding the rules-based order in the region. "We work together with like-minded partners and the more time we spend together, the more we get to know each other and how we operate, so when the time comes to face challenges, we can work together." Both nations took advantage of training opportunities during the ships' passage to New Zealand. Canterbury conducted Officer of the Watch manoeuvres with Ise and Suzunami while in company, while a No. 5 Squadron P-8A Poseidon conducted anti-submarine warfare training with the ships. For the Japanese contingent, the three-day visit included official functions and a wreath-laying ceremony on Saturday morning at Pukeahu. The two ships and Canterbury departed on Monday. The last Japanese Navy vessel to visit Wellington was cadet training ship JS Kashima in 1996. The last warship to visit Wellington was destroyer JS Kikuzuki in 1973. Historical data courtesy of Peter Cooke, Defence of New Zealand Study Group and author of Ships of War in New Zealand Waters: 380 years of naval activity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address With tacit U.S. support, Israel's Gaza takeover plan sparks widespread outcry People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:50, August 11, 2025 Israel's Gaza takeover plan recently made has met widespread criticism, and U.S. says the decision is not its concern. 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iranian president dismisses 'media overstatements' about Zangezur corridor Iran Press TV Monday, 11 August 2025 6:56 AM Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has dismissed "media overstatements" regarding the so-called Zangezur corridor, which could connect Azerbaijan and Armenia, noting that Iran's concerns regarding the issue have been largely taken into account. The chief executive made the remarks while addressing reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of his administration in the capital, Tehran, on Sunday. "Regarding this corridor, I must say it is not what has been reported in an overstated manner in the news, and according to what the foreign minister has explained, the demands of the Islamic Republic have been met," he said. Speaking earlier, the top diplomat, Abbas Araghchi, defined those demands as respect for regional countries' sovereignty, respect for their territorial integrity, and opposition to any change in regional borders. Araghchi had also said the issue of the "corridor" had been completely set aside, noting that the matter at hand rather concerned potential construction of a transit road under Armenian sovereignty and jurisdiction. The official, however, had raised concerns about potential involvement of an American company in the project, saying the Islamic Republic had broached the issue with Armenian and Azerbaijani officials. "We closely monitor [various] developments [on the ground]." Pezeshkian likewise expressed Tehran's concern only about potential involvement of an American company in the project. According to Araghchi, a phone call was expected to take place between him and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan within the framework of the countries' ongoing mutual consultations. He also said he expected another call by Armenia's Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Monday, while Mirzoyan's deputy was scheduled to travel to Tehran on Tuesday. The plan to set up the transit road has reportedly been included in a United States-coordinated "peace deal" signed recently between Yerevan and Baku at the White House. In reaction to the agreement, the Islamic Republic has welcomed regional peace, but invariably warned about the repercussions of foreign intervention in the region, stressing that it constantly observes ongoing regional developments as a means of guarding against uncalled-for meddling. Tehran has cited the drawn-out precedence of dangerous military and political meddling by Washington and its allies, underlining that the regional nations were able to ensure the region's stability and prosperity independently and by relying on their own resources and mutual cooperation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU Autumn Challenges: Russian Assets, Ukraine, Moldova Paths, And Georgia's Backsliding By Rikard Jozwiak August 11, 2025 The European Union is on the beach for most of August. No European Parliament plenary sessions, council meetings, or committee gatherings. In short, nothing much is discussed, let alone decided on these weeks. But as soon as the diplomats and officials are back in their offices in September, there are potential tough decisions to be taken and dilemmas to face this autumn. RFE/RL looks at five things to watch for in the upcoming months. Unfreeze Russian assets? There are over 200 billion euros ($233 billion) worth of Russian assets in the European Union that have been frozen since the bloc started imposing sanctions on Moscow in February 2022 for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The debate inside the club has been raging ever since about what to do with the cash. This debate will continue when EU foreign ministers meet in Denmark on August 29-30 for an informal gathering, known as Gymnich, which often serves as the opening act of the EU autumn. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has flagged that she wants a thorough debate during the two days on what the plan with the cash really is because it offers the bloc both a very potent bargaining chip in the future, even though it comes attached with some legal dilemmas. Many EU member states, notably several hawkish ones in the east, want to seize the cash as soon as possible to pay for either weapons heading to Ukraine or re-arm the bloc. The arguments are that this could cover the potential shortfall in US spending on Ukraine and that it is only fair that Russian money is used for weapons, as opposed to asking European taxpayers to foot the bill. Others, notably the bigger member states, aren't too keen on seizing the cash quite yet. Some officials argue the money will be Europe's ticket into peace or cease-fire negotiations as Moscow is angling to get as much of the funds back as it can. Others point out that it could be used as leverage against the Kremlin to cooperate with a new war tribunal. They also believe it is better to keep the assets frozen until the fighting ends and then use them to help pay for Ukraine's reconstruction. Then, of course, there are fears inside the European Central Bank (ECB) about what a seizure of sovereign assets would do to the euro as a world currency as it may spook other countries from investing in the Euro area. Belgium, home of the central securities depository Euroclear -- which holds most of the Russian cash -- is also wary of unilateral action. The argument from the Belgians is that the frozen assets are like a "golden goose" as the windfall profits from them, amounting 1 billion to 2 billion euros each quarter, would go directly to Kyiv's coffers. Expect the debate to rage on this for some time still. Separating Moldova and Ukraine? So far, Moldova and Ukraine have gone toward EU membership hand in hand. They were both granted candidate status in 2022 and, in late 2023, EU member states agreed that accession talks with the pair should commence. Most European diplomats fully expected that the first of the 33 accession chapters would have been opened with both Chisinau and Kyiv in the first half of this year. But nothing has happened, as Hungary blocks the start of these negotiations due to what Budapest sees as a lack of rights for the Hungarian-speaking minority in Ukraine. As Moldova and Ukraine are "coupled" so far, this blockage affects Chisinau as well. This spring there were talks about de-coupling the two countries so that at least Moldova could move ahead, but no consensus could be found. Hungary has indicated it won't budge on this issue, notably after a nonbinding referendum earlier this year in which 95 percent of the respondents were opposed to Ukraine joining the bloc. Most EU officials now believe this position won't change until Hungarian parliamentary elections in April 2026. At the same time, Moldova will hold an election on September 28 with the pro-EU government fighting to be re-elected. There are persistent rumors in Brussels that Ukraine and its many supporters in the club reluctantly have accepted a decoupling in which Moldova is allowed to advance alone for the time being. Such a decision could come in early September to potentially tip the balance in favor of pro-EU forces in the Moldovan election. Georgia On Their Minds Brussels will continue to grapple with Georgia's backsliding this autumn -- possibly finally making some long-awaited decisions. The European Commission sent a letter to the Georgian government in July asking it to comply by the end of August with eight benchmarks the Brussels executive arm set out in late 2024, including the need to repeal the controversial "transparency of foreign influence" law and the equally contested legislative package on "family values and protection of minors." Few in Brussels expect Tbilisi to move much on these issues, setting up the question as to how the EU will respond -- and if so, when? Sanctions on ruling Georgian Dream officials, as well as judges seen as responsible for targeting the opposition and demonstrators, have not materialized as Hungary and Slovakia have blocked them and are expected to do so again. Therefore, work is under way in Brussels to potentially suspend Georgia's visa liberalization with the bloc. For this, only a qualified majority -- 55 percent of member states representing 65 percent of the EU's total population -- of member states is needed and this qualified majority seems to be in place. It would be the first time ever the EU has suspended visa liberalization with a candidate country, but Brussels is clearly drawing up the necessary legal framework for this to happen. The bloc could also suspend parts of the EU-Georgia association agreement this autumn, including its free trade aspects. The question is when this all can happen? EU foreign ministers aren't officially meeting in any official council format until late October, potentially giving Tbilisi more time to respond to the demands. By then, Georgia will have held local elections (October 4), which will be another indicator as to where the South Caucasus republic is heading. Entry/Exit Roll-Out It should have happened already last year. And the year before that. But on October 12, it will actually start - the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) will be rolled out. This is significant for all non-EU nationals traveling into 24 EU countries taking part (all the member states apart from Cyprus and Ireland, with Denmark potentially opting into the system later) and four non-EU countries (Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein). EES will do away with the manual stamping of passports and is meant to give way to an elaborate IT system at every international airport, harbor, and land-crossing that records entries, exits, fingerprints and facial images. The roll-out will be gradual over the next six months with many EU member states that are home to big international travel hubs fearing a collapse if there was a big-bang introduction all at once. The IT system was for a long time not believed to be completely solid, but EU officials are now confident that everything finally will work. If the EES roll-out is complete in the first quarter of 2026, one can also assume that ETIAS (the European Travel and Authorization System) will be launched later that same year as the two systems are linked. ETIAS is the EU equivalent of the United States' Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and will have a big impact on all travelers that come to the EU visa free. An estimated 1.4 billion people, including citizens of Britain, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine, the United States, and the non-EU Western Balkan states, will need this authorization before entering the bloc for the first time. Valid for three years, it will cost 7 euros. V4 Is Back With A Vengeance? There aren't too many elections in Europe this autumn, which is something of a rarity. Yes, Moldova holds a crucial vote in September (see above) and there is a snap election in the Netherlands in late October in which the populist right-wing PVV might finish on top but is likely to see a surging center-left/green coalition form a government instead. Perhaps the most interesting vote will be in the Czech Republic on October 3-4. All polls indicate that the populist Andrej Babis will return to power. The main issue to watch is if his ANO party will govern alone, with the support of even more radical forces to the left and right on the political spectrum, or if any parties in the current pro-European government coalition will lend him support. And that will in turn determine what type of Czech Republic will show up on the European scene. But what's clear is that Slovakia's Robert Fico and Hungary's Viktor Orban most likely will welcome a like-minded partner in Prague. As the populist Karol Nawrocki recently sworn in as president in Poland with the expectation of blocking a lot of the legislation of the more liberal Premier Donald Tusk is proposing, rumors are swirling in Warsaw that his government there might collapse soon as well and give way to a return of the conservative Law and Justice Party. Emerging from all this is a pretty like-minded Visegrad Four (V4) again. The block of the four Central European countries has played a big role in shaping EU policies for many years but due to political differences among the capitals in recent times, V4 was very much a dormant concept. Now, it could be one to watch again. Sure, there are still differences, not at least when it comes to relations with Russia, and Warsaw is still something of an outlier as Tusk is expected to soldier on. But if Babis re-emerges with a clear popular mandate this autumn, you will have three Central European capitals with a clear skeptic attitude toward both Brussels and Kyiv. This might, of course, change again when Hungary votes in a much-anticipated parliamentary election the spring of 2026. But at a crucial moment in Europe, the Visegrad countries can prove to throw plenty of curveballs in the near term. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-return-summer-break- ukraine-moldova-russia-georgia/33499350.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address From Bosnia To Balochistan, Violence Against Women Goes Viral By Una Cilic August 11, 2025 Nizama Hecimovic: It was a name that many Bosnians would come to know. On August 11, 2023, Hecimovic was killed in a small town in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The killer was her ex-partner, who then went on to murder two more, wound another, and then kill himself. Hecimovic's murder, which her killer live-streamed, sparked nationwide protests and legislative change. There was also an increase in the amount of women reporting violence. "'You will be the next Nizama' is the most common threat from abusers, according to many women who reach out to us," says Selma Badzic from the Center for Women's Rights Zenica, an organization that works on the prevention of violence against women in Bosnia. Hecimovic's murder "shook" the public, not just for its brutality, but because it was broadcast live on the Internet. Badzic says that most of the murder cases in Bosnia over the last five years have included some violent digital component. It's a trend not just in Bosnia but one that's happening worldwide, as technology is increasingly being weaponized to promote and spread violence against women. Two years after Hecimovic was killed, another murder, this time in Balochistan, a mountainous area of Pakistan, was widely shared online. Eleven people have been arrested after a woman and a man were murdered, allegedly to defend the "honor" of their families after the couple married against their wishes. The video of the killing was widely shared on messaging apps and social media. There is "no honor" in that, just "disgrace," says Saima Munir, a manager at the Aurat Foundation, a women's rights group in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad. "Shooting a helpless woman nine times -- only a shameless group of people would do so," Munir says. Violence, she adds, has increased since people became exposed to technology, but that doesn't mean "that technology is responsible for the uptick in violence." "The real challenge in our part of the world is to change [people's] mindsets," Munir says. Taliban Takeover Of Afghanistan Since 2021, when the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, many women there have been struggling with the loss of fundamental rights, new, tighter restrictions, and also the weaponization of technology. "Fake accounts targeting me, attempting to discredit or silence my voice. There are even groups of fake accounts, often led by a single individual who coordinates attacks," Nilofar Ayoubi, a women's rights activist, tells RFE/RL. When the Taliban returned to power, she managed to flee to Poland. But, even there, she says, she didn't manage to escape online harassment. "They use their platforms to spread misinformation and amplify hate, turning social media into a hostile space instead of one for dialogue or solidarity," Ayoubi says. And, as Ayoubi explains, digital harassment in many ways is no different from the reality on the ground. "It reflects the same culture of silencing, intimidation, and control that Afghan women face in everyday life. What happens offline is often mirrored online -- the same voices that are pushed out of society are attacked again in the digital world." None of this is that new, according to Jennifer Adams, an expert and consultant on gender, media, and human rights-centered digital policy. "Misogyny online is a manifestation of and a magnification of misogyny offline," Adams says. But online space, she explains, has the capacity for anonymity and is also subject to algorithms. "It is a business model that prioritizes engagement," she says. "Unfortunately, what is engaging to more and more of the world's population is violence and misogyny." Are Social Media Platforms Doing Enough? Every messaging or social-media platform has the option of removing harmful content. Most have moderators (human and automatic), along with various tools, some powered by AI, to monitor problematic materials being shared online. Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, says that the company removes threats of violence and most graphic content. For example, by its community standards, it will not allow the live-streaming of capital punishments or other killings. Despite that, it took Meta several hours to remove footage showing the murder of Hecimovic from Instagram. By that time, it had already been shared on other platforms. The recent Pakistani video showing the couple's murder went viral on several platforms. Platforms will prioritize content that people want to interact with, says Adams, and they are "doing this on purpose." And the platforms absolutely have the capacity to do the content moderation, she adds. "They just choose not to. When you're seeing [that they're] able to do it when it comes to something that they don't politically agree with but not able to do it when it comes to the murder of a woman...that's a choice. That's a business decision," Adams says. Sarah Little, a journalist and founder of the More To Her Story magazine, is one of those who believe there's growing evidence of social media platforms actively fueling misogynistic content. "This absolutely fuels real-world violence against women. The fact that a video of a woman's murder went viral shows just how deeply normalized the dehumanization of women has become," Little says. A survey carried out recently by the London-based Amnesty International says that 73 percent of Generation Z users (people people born roughly between 1997 and 2012) have witnessed misogynistic content online. The same study says that more young women than young men believe that misogyny online mirrors real-world sexism. A Way Forward? Hecimovic's death has had a huge impact in Bosnia. The law on protection against domestic violence was changed in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, one of the two entities that makes up the country. There are proposals for stricter sentences for femicide, which are still waiting for final adoption to become law. And while violence against women remains prevalent, women are also more inclined to report it. Local initiatives have helped. The Center for Women's Rights Zenica created an online map called 4P, where women can speak to more than 100 dedicated helpers across the country. They "get necessary information, help, support, and encouragement to help them report violence and achieve protection," says the center's Badzic. Despite having to flee her homeland, Afghanistan, women's rights activist Ayoubi still believes in the potential of technology to benefit women. "It can connect them to education, economic opportunities, support systems, and global solidarity," she says. But for women to be able to reach their potential, Ayoubi concludes, they can only do so when online violence is addressed. Daud Khan contributed to this report Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/violence-against- women-online-misogyny-honor-killing/33499319.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 10 August 2025 - Day 1264 Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos. On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace. "To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal] The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Defense Forces are directing efforts to disrupt the execution of Russian invaders' offensive plans and exhaust their combat potential. 112 combat clashes have taken place since the beginning of the day. The enemy made 38 air strikes, dropping 66 controlled air bombs, carrying out 1,691 kamikaze drone strikes and 4,127 shelling positions of Ukrainian troops. Two attacks of Russian invaders took place in the North Slobozhansky and Kursk directions. The Russian enemy launched nine aviation strikes, dropping 17 controlled bombs, carrying out 275 shells, including eight from jet systems of assault fire. In the South Slobozhans -komu direction, Ukrainian troops repelled four Russian attacks in the Vovchanska district. In the Kupyans komu direction, the Russian enemy made five attacks on the position of Ukrainian troops. The fights were intense in the areas of the settlements of Radkivka, Kindrashivka, Petropavlivka, Stepova Novoselivka. In the Lyman direction, Russian troops 11 times stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the areas of populated points of Karpivka, Kolodyazi, Grekivka and towards Shandrigolovy and Dronivka. In the Sivers komu direction Ukrainian soldiers today made five attempts to attack Ukrainian positions. Units of the Russian occupiers tried to advance near Grigorivka, Viimki and Verkhnyokamiansky. In the Kramators komu direction of the Defense Forces stopped three Russian attacks in the areas of Novomarkovoye, Chasovoye Yar and towards the White Mountain. In the Toretsky direction, the Russian occupiers today stormed the positions of Ukrainian defenders eight times in the areas of the settlements of Diliyivka, Toretsk, Oleksandro-Kalinove, Katerynivka and towards the Rusiny Yar and Pleschiyivka. Defense forces held back the pressure of the Russian enemy and repelled all assault actions. In the pokrovsky direction, Russian forces made 32 attempts to potisnisni Ukrainian units. The greatest activity is observed in the areas of settlements Poltavka, Volodymyrivka, Zatishok, Kucheriv Yar, Zapovidne, Red Lyman, Mirolubivka, Suhetske, Chunyshine, Zvirove, Kotline, Gorikhove and Fedorivka. So far, two clashes are ongoing. According to preliminary calculations, in this direction, Ukrainian soldiers eliminated 108 and wounded 56 Russian invaders, destroyed eight vehicles units, 13 BPLAs and an ammunition warehouse; also damaged three cannons, two cars and a tank of invaders. In the Novopavlovsk direction, Russian forces 18 times tried to break through near the settlements of Zeleny Gai, Vilne Pole, Temirivka, Mirne, Oleksandrograd, Voskresenko, Shevchenko and Olgivskke. Fighting continues in four locations. In the gulyajpils komu direction, in the area of malinivka, Ukrainian defenders stopped the attack of the Russian zagarbnikiv. In the orihiv direction Russian zagarbnic ki troops attacked in the area of kamians kogo. In the pridniprovs komu direction, the Russian enemy spent four useless attacks on the position of Ukrainian defenders. In other directions, significant changes in the environment have not been recorded. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Colorado National Guard Assisting Rio Blanco County with Aerial Wildland Fire Suppression By Colorado National Guard Public Affairs August 8, 2025 CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- Under executive authority, two Colorado Army National Guard helicopters and aircrews are supporting wildfire suppression efforts in Rio Blanco County. Governor Jared Polis authorized the use of Colorado National Guard assets, which gives the incident commander access to additional resources if deemed necessary. At the direction of the Incident Command and the State Emergency Operations Center, the CONG will assist wildland firefighters with aerial fire suppression efforts using Bambi buckets and CH-47 Chinook military heavy lift aircraft. "The Colorado National Guard is Always Ready, Always There to assist the people of Colorado," Director of the Joint Staff, U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Myk Bruno said. "We have specialized training and capabilities to assist the incident command team with this response." For the past 10 years, the COARNG has partnered with the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control and other key partners to host an annual wildland fire training exercise called the Colorado Fire Aviation Summit. The summit is an opportunity to train and collaborate with partners to prepare to answer the call and enhance communication and operational effectiveness when responding to wildfires. The CONG is the first military responder during domestic emergencies, supporting the state of Colorado and local jurisdictions to help save lives, reduce suffering, and mitigate property damage. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Leader of Transnational Terrorist Group Pleads Guilty to Soliciting Hate Crimes, Soliciting the Murder of Federal Officials, and Conspiring to Provide Material Support to Terrorists Friday, August 8, 2025 For Immediate Release Office of Public Affairs The Justice Department announced today that Dallas Humber, 35, of Elk Grove, California leader of the Terrorgram Collective, a transnational terrorist group pleaded guilty to all charges against her, including soliciting hate crimes, soliciting the murder of federal officials, and conspiring to provide material support to terrorists. District Court Judge Dena Coggins found that Humber's plea was knowing and voluntary, and deferred acceptance of the plea agreement until the sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for Dec. 5. Humber faces a penalty of 25 to 30 years in federal prison. "Hate and terror have no place in this country or abroad," said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division. "By securing this conviction, my office makes clear that purveyors of these heinous crimes will be brought to justice." "Humber led a transnational terrorist group promoting white supremacy, hate crimes, and violence, including soliciting the murder of U.S. government officials," said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg. "Her actions posed a direct threat to our citizens and national security, and the National Security Division will hold her, as well as others who commit these illegal acts, accountable for their terrorist aims." "Humber solicited murders and hate crimes based on the race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, and gender identity of others," said Acting U.S. Attorney Kimberly A. Sanchez for the Eastern District of California. "The U.S. Attorney's office will continue to work tirelessly with our partners in law enforcement and in the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute those who commit such violations of federal criminal law and keep our people and public officials safe from hate-fueled crimes of violence." With her guilty plea, Humber admitted the following facts: from July 2022 until her arrest in September 2024, she served as a leader of the Terrorgram Collective, a white supremacist transnational terrorist group. 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. Inspired and guided by Humber and the Terrorgram Collective, individuals committed attacks or plotted to commit attacks in the United States and elsewhere, including: plotting to attack an energy facility in New Jersey; plotting to bomb an energy facility in Tennessee; murdering two people in Wisconsin in furtherance of plans to assassinate a federal official; and attempting to assassinate an Australian official. In addition, individuals led by Humber and the Terrorgram Collective have committed acts of violence internationally, including shooting three people, killing two, at an LGBT bar in Bratislava, Slovakia; shooting eleven people, killing four, at two schools in Aracruz, Brazil; and stabbing five people outside of a mosque in Eskisehir, Turkey. The FBI Sacramento Field Office investigated the case, with assistance from a variety of foreign and domestic law enforcement agencies. The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, National Security Division, and U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of California are prosecuting the case. Topics: Civil Rights National Security Components: Civil Rights Division National Security Division (NSD) USAO - California, Eastern Press Release Number: 25-82 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Smith Statement on Department of Defense Diverting Military Construction Funds to the Border House Armed Services Committee - Democrats August 8, 2025 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Representative Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after being notified of the Department of Defense's (DoD) intent to divert $100 million in military construction funds to the southern border. "Despite the Trump Administration's repeated claims that the southern border is secure, DoD has announced it plans to take another $100 million away from military construction projects and instead use them at the southern border. "Military construction funds are crucial to the training, readiness, and safety of our service members and military installations. Taking money from those projects threatens our ability to ensure we are ready and able to defend against a variety of hostilities and from China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and various global extremists. "We're still paying the price for President Trump's 2019 diversion of military construction funds, which triggered higher construction costs and delayed completion of important facilities needed to ensure military readiness and deterrence. "Border security is a serious issue that we should continue to address, but not at the expense of DoD's core mission. DHS has the responsibility and ample funding for securing the border. There is no need to siphon away $100 million from DoD on top of the recent passage of over $170 billion in additional funding for the Department of Homeland Security and DoD included in the reconciliation bill, the $200 million already taken from the military construction budget for the border earlier this year, the $1 billion in facilities maintenance funds diverted from the Army in DoD's Fiscal Year 2025 continuing resolution, and the shifting of hundreds of millions of dollars from core function DoD accounts to DHS detention activities. "At this point, DHS has plenty of money to do its job without dipping into DoD accounts. I urge DoD and the President to reconsider this decision in the interests of our troops and national defense." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Mexico rejects Trump's plan for military intervention in cartel conflict Iran Press TV Saturday, 09 August 2025 11:24 AM Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has firmly dismissed the possibility of a US military invasion targeting cartels in Mexico, after reports emerged of President Donald Trump ordering the Pentagon to use military force against the Latin American drug networks. "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 allowing military action on foreign soil. 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." "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, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed that this designation would facilitate US efforts to target the cartels through intelligence agencies and the Department of Defense. "It allows us to now target what they are operating and to use other elements of American power [including] intelligence agencies, the Department of Defense, whatever ... to strike at these groups if we get the opportunity," Rubio added. This latest order would represent a significant and unprecedented escalation of US tactics in Latin America, as it could open the door for the US to conduct unilateral military actions across the region. However, security analysts in Mexico worry that such measures will not effectively dismantle drug-trafficking organizations and could severely damage US-Mexico relations. This development arises at a sensitive time for the relationship between Mexico and the US, as Mexico is currently negotiating a tariff deal with the Trump administration, alongside a new security agreement that Sheinbaum indicated was near completion. Cecilia Farfan-Mendez, the head of the North American Observatory at the Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime, has warned that Trump's order "would have very serious consequences, where Mexico would stop cooperating." "It would lead Mexico to ask, 'What is the incentive to collaborate with [the US] if [the US] is going to take unilateral action anyway?'" NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Understanding the history of World War II to build a peaceful future 13:34, August 11, 2025 By Zhu Chengshan ( People's Daily "Dead To Rights," a film about the Nanjing Massacre during World War II, recently premiered in China to significant acclaim, sparking a surge of interest in domestically-produced war films this summer. Historical truth transcends time, possessing both revelatory power and enduring impact. The film portrays 15-year-old Luo Jin, an apprentice at Nanjing's Huadong Photo Studio, who uncovered harrowing evidence while developing photographs for Japanese officers during the city's occupation. The images captured scenes of mass killings, rape, and other atrocities committed against Chinese civilians by Japanese aggressors. At great personal risk, Luo secretly duplicated dozens of the images and compiled them into an album. These materials were later safeguarded by Wu Xuan, a patriotic student, ultimately serving as pivotal evidence at the trial of Hisao Tani, the principal perpetrator of the Nanjing Massacre. The true history cannot be erased. No matter how relentlessly Japanese right-wing forces or historical revisionists attempt to rewrite the past, their efforts are ultimately futile. Does that painful chapter of history still carry meaning in our time? The answer is unquestionably yes. Patriotic education remains a lasting theme. Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that the responsibility for war crimes lies with a few militarists, but not the people. However, people cannot at any time forget the severe crimes committed by aggressors. The Nanjing Massacre, committed by Japanese aggressors, was an atrocious anti-human crime and a dark page in the history of humanity. This blood-soaked memory serves as a solemn reminder: when a nation is poor and weak, its people become vulnerable to the gravest violations of fundamental rights. We must never forget these historical lessons nor allow such tragedies to recur. History serves both as the best textbook and dose of sobriety. The Nanjing Massacre remains one of the darkest and most harrowing chapters in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. This is a historical truth universally acknowledged by the international community. Throughout the war, more than 35 million Chinese soldiers and civilians were killed or wounded. China suffered direct economic losses of over $100 billion and indirect losses exceeding $500 billion, calculated in terms of 1937 levels. As China commemorates the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, we recognize this conflict as modern China's longest and largest struggle against foreign aggression. Despite paying the heaviest national price, it culminated in the Chinese people's first complete victory in their fight for liberation - a triumph that belonged not only to China but to all peace-loving people worldwide. A truthful understanding of World War II history is fundamental to building lasting peace for the present and the future. China's prolonged resistance tied down vast numbers of Japanese troops, shattering the scheme of Japan joining forces with fascist Germany and Italy to launch a two-front assault and dominate the world. As the main Eastern battlefield of the anti-fascist war, China's war of resistance made a critical contribution to its worldwide victory and the cause of justice and freedom for humanity. Franklin D. Roosevelt, then U.S. President, once commented that without China, or if China had been defeated, many more Japanese divisions would have been deployed to other areas. Today's world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century, and these changes are accelerating. Hegemonism, power politics and Cold War mentalities alongside growing economic coercion are on the rise. In the face of these challenges, the Chinese people feel more deeply than ever the importance of patriotism, unity, and self-strengthening. This makes it all the more vital to confidently share the great significance of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and to highlight the decisive role of the main Eastern battlefield in the global fight against fascism. To promote enduring peace and stability across the world, we must engage with history in a spirit of sincerity and humility - drawing wisdom from its experiences, and learning from its lessons, so that the true history can guide the way forward for all humanity. (Zhu Chengshan is a Professor at Changzhou University, former vice president of the Chinese Society for the History of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and former curator of the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Partnerships key to space superiority By Shannon Collins, Army News Service August 8, 2025 HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- Senior Army leader stressed the importance of interoperability, partnerships, and next generation technology for space superiority during a Space and Missile Defense Symposium here Aug. 5. "Within Space and Missile Defense Command, we've identified how to iterate faster, how to evolve our culture to shape innovation from our overarching strategy," said Brig. Gen. Don Brooks, deputy, commanding general of operations, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado. After looking at the National Defense Strategy, the Army looked at long-term orbital and terrestrial threats. It's rewriting the Army space strategy to roadmap manning, training and education. "We get feedback from warfighters, from the operational force, from experimentation, the exercise elements and the forces out there in the field," he said. "Feedback from our schoolhouses and Soldiers help us stay on top of our training and education components. These touchpoints, getting feedback as quickly as possible, it's how we're now bringing the fight into our systems and our processes to help us iterate faster and evolve our culture." His team provides U.S. Space Command vital, terrestrial, interdiction and integration space capabilities, personnel and expertise. "These are essential to warfighting and the Space Command's mission of ensuring the U.S.'s freedom of action and movement maneuver within the space domain, while delivering space combat power to the joint force," said Brooks. Space capability integration creates significant advantages for ground forces such as Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, precision targeting, long-haul communications, interdiction capabilities, and the ability to degrade an adversary's ability to use the space domain at the time and place of their choosing. Soldiers use space superiority to deny, degrade, and disrupt the enemy's ability to communicate, to shape, to influence, conduct surveillance, or to use their own precision guided munitions within the battlespace. The Army has taken an evolutionary step with space interdiction, introducing smaller, lighter, more mobile capabilities. They've also updated and published the Army Space Training Strategy to further ingrain space inside of multi-domain operations across operational and institutional aspects of the Army. Each of the services within Space Command share lessons learned and what works for intergovernmental, interagency, multinational and commercial partners to create asymmetric advantages in the joint command as it solidifies Multinational Force Operation Olympic Defender. Olympic Defender globally integrates military space power, enables joint and combined forces, deters aggression, and if necessary, defeats adversaries in order to retain military advantage. Part of that advantage is innovation. "In our future, innovation is key. We can't do it alone," said Brooks. "If we encounter an adversary that's got magazine depth and not just kinetic capabilities, but other non-lethal producing capabilities as well, we need to find efficiencies across our services. We need to work together, talk to each other, counter communications, surveillance, reconnaissance, navigation warfare, high altitude with balloons or fixed wing aircraft, not just in the terrestrial realm, but also to support the extraterrestrial flight as well." The key to Olympic Defender is partnerships. "The partnerships between our allied nations and the U.S. provider are irreplaceable," said Brooks. "Commercial industries working alongside their host nation militaries give us a technical advantage in space domain awareness. It's really important." Operationally, the Army has been working with the British Army on target development, weaponeering and electronic warfare. The Army is looking to partner with New Zealand, Australia and Canada at the Space Missile Defense Command school in the future. Brooks said the U.S. Army shares lessons learned, observations, exercises and experiments with soldiers from the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, Canada, France and Germany. "Space is the connective tissue of all warfighting functions, command and control, movement maneuver, intelligence, fires, and protecting sustainment information," said Brooks. "It is that connective tissue that provides us lethality in our combat power, which then increases deterrent effect against our adversaries. "Space is critical. What we do today, what we do in the future, it's critically dependent on the partnerships we have with the joint intergovernmental interagency and multinational and commercial partners," said Brooks. "They will allow us to go faster, lighter, and leaner to produce more effective, more efficient capabilities at the speed of relevancy, evolving our culture, building faster, and delivering faster capabilities." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Marcos to China: Give early notice on rocket debris to avoid risks Philippine News Agency By Darryl John Esguerra August 8, 2025, 1:53 pm BENGALURU -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. called on China to give early notice before rocket stages or debris fall into Philippine waters, saying it would help avoid risks and allow authorities to recover them safely. "We just wish that perhaps they could warn us a little earlier so that we know the path of the rocket, where the path is and kung magbibitaw sila ng stages kung saan babagsak (if they will release stages, where they will fall)," Marcos said in a press briefing with the Philippine media on Friday. Marcos said this was not the first time suspected Chinese rocket debris ended up in Philippine waters, but stressed that no law was violated. "There have been no casualties... The good side to all of this, wala nama casualty. Wala naman tinamaan. Hindi naman nagka-problema (...there were no casualties. No one was hit. There was no problem)." The President recalled telling Chinese leader Xi Jinping during an earlier trip to Beijing that Manila was not interested in keeping the debris. "You know, we have no interest in your rockets. Just tell us where they will land, we will collect it and give it to you. And that continues to be my offer to China... 'Pag may babagsak, kukunin namin sa dagat tapos dadalhin namin sa inyo. Wala naman problema (If something falls, we will get it from the sea and bring it to you. No problem with that)," he said. The Department of Foreign Affairs earlier expressed concern over the reported debris of China's Long March 12 rocket into Philippine maritime territory, urging spacefaring nations to act responsibly and safeguard the interests of other states. (PNA) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Space RCO engages industry to shape dynamic satellite development United States Space Force Published Aug. 8, 2025 Space Rapid Capabilities Office ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AFNS) -- The Space Rapid Capabilities Office hosted an Agile Satellite Industry Engagement Day on July 30, bringing together 13 prospective industry partners for a full day of technical discussions aimed at advancing next-generation satellite design and procurement. The workshop served as a collaborative forum to explore design considerations and acquisition strategies for future near-Geostationary Earth Orbit satellite, software and ground programs. It reflects Space RCO's commitment to early and continuous engagement with leading space technology providersan approach that accelerates the procurement of advanced systems critical to the U.S. Space Force's mission to safeguard national interests in space. Ten satellite manufacturers and three system integrators selected from respondents to a May 2025 Request for Information were invited to attend the one-day workshop on July 30, 2025, in Albuquerque. Participants took part in technical sessions on satellite specifications, roundtable conversations focused on operational design considerations and one-on-one discussions with contracting officers. The group included both emerging and well-established companies each offering specialized expertise in propulsion, sensing, autonomy and scalable manufacturing. "As a former operator and now an acquisition professional, I recognize the importance of engaging industry early to help inform technical specifications," said Lt. Col. Matthew Cork, a Space Force acquisition and operations officer. "These in-person sessions play a critical role in building trust between Space RCO and mission partners." The workshop drew on the acquisition strategies used in Space RCO's Rapid Resilient Command and Control program, which demonstrated the value of partnering with smaller, innovative companies through Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contracts offering flexibility within fixed program timelines. Insights from this workshop will inform upcoming acquisition planning, with a Request for Proposal expected by the end of the year. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press conference - Queenstown, New Zealand Transcript Saturday 9 August 2025 Prime Minister Anthony Albanese The Hon Anthony Albanese MP Prime Minister of Australia CHRISTOPHER LUXON, PRIME MINISTER OF NEW ZEALAND: Kia ora. Good afternoon, everybody. As you know, the Prime Minister and I have just concluded our formal leaders' meeting. We'll take questions in a moment but before we do say, I want to make a few brief remarks, and then I'll pass to Prime Minister Albanese to do likewise. Let me open by just reiterating what an absolute pleasure it is to welcome you to Queenstown, Anthony. You and I go back before politics, and I like to think that our personal friendship, frankly, is emblematic of the nature between our two great countries. It's an ironclad bond, uniquely defined by our respective histories and the things that we celebrate about ourselves; practicality, humility and good sense of humour for one. For another, both our nations are mindful of where we have come from and proud of the journey that we are on. So, it is with a sense of privilege today that I join my Ngai Tahu, the manawhenua in this part of the country to welcome you, Anthony and Jodie as our honoured guests. I'd like to thank Ngai Tahu for that welcome. With the Albanese Government, now given a strong electoral mandate in May and now firmly established, three months on, today has been an excellent opportunity for us to check in with the Prime Minister on his second term achievements. First, we look out at the world in very similar ways, navigating a global order that is volatile, uncertain and contested. And our conversation today highlighted that we share the same assessment of the problems, but that we're also firm about the agency we have to navigate a complex word. That the close bonds between Australia and New Zealand provide us both with a bedrock of certainty, of predictability, and, quite frankly, the knowledge that we have one another's backs. For New Zealand, Australia is our only formal ally and family, like no other country. Second, we discussed our deepening alliance, underpinned by the work of Richard Marles and Judith Collins, who've done well to strengthen closer defence relations with increasing integration between our forces. We are deploying them all together, training them all together, and exercising more together. And with my government's significant lift in defence spending, I am determined that we are interoperable with Australia and that we procure together to ensure our purchases are as cost effective as possible. Tomorrow morning, we will visit Arrowtown to commemorate the Australian and New Zealand sailors, soldiers and aviators whose service embodies the Anzac spirit. Third, we discussed our commitment to working in partnership with Pacific Island countries to advance our regional family security and its prosperity, to ensure a family-first approach when our Pacific neighbours face disaster and to partner with them on climate change. We're proud of the tight collaboration between Winston Peters and Penny Wong to ensure that we are more effective together in the Pacific. Prime Minister Albanese and I prize the centrality of the Pacific Islands Forum, and we look forward to meeting our fellow leaders there next month. And finally, we discussed the opportunities for ever deeper Trans-Tasman economic integration. As two economies that succeed best when trade flows freely, we share an agenda in resisting rising protectionism. At the same time, we're confronting a similar set of economic challenges at home, be that the cost-of-living, fiscal discipline or lagging productivity. Faced with these problems, the deep trade, investment and innovation links between our two countries provide vital growth opportunities. For example, we just aligned our building standards, whether it's laminated structural timber or a kitchen door handle, you have one benchmark in Auckland, another in Sydney, which should help lower prices here in New Zealand. We've harmonised our digital technology standards via cloud storage of cyber security and businesses comply with the same standards of Queenstown and Queensland, and by aligning we're scrapping the barnacles off the bottom of the boats, ensuring that our economies ride just that little bit faster. We're hungry for further integration and when we leave here, Prime Minister Albanese and I will meet with both Australia and Kiwi companies to discuss what else we can do to make it as easy to do business on one side of the Tasman as it is on the other. And next month Nicola Willis and Jim Chalmers will meet to see what they can do to enhance competition and to reduce compliance costs and Trans-Tasman integration will be enabler to that as we seek to drive greater growth and productivity into our markets. By doing this work together, we create jobs and we grow our economies on both sides of the ditch. Finally, I want to celebrate the deep and enduring links between Australians and Kiwis who are uniquely free to live, work and study in one another's countries, courtesy of the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement. I want to thank you yet again Anthony for your leadership in providing a solution to New Zealanders and a pathway to citizenship in Australia, which they can now call home. In closing, Amanda and I are looking forward to showing off some of Queenstown to Anthony and Jodie and I want to thank you both for coming to experience, no matter how briefly, one of the real favourite destinations for Australian tourists. Next time you come, hope you bring your skis. And with that I'll pass over to you Anthony, to take it forward from here. ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Well, thank you so much to you, Prime Minister Luxon for your generous words and your very warm welcome. In spite of the temperature here, it has been absolutely delightful to be back here in beautiful Queenstown for our Annual Leaders' Meeting. When we spoke earlier today, the last time I was in Queenstown I had a backpack on and it was literally last century. Today of course, we become just a couple of more Australians here in Queenstown. New Zealand is a top destination for Australian travellers and Queenstown is the most popular stop. Every year over 1 million Kiwi tourists cross the ditch and return the favour. We are each other's biggest tourism market. Proof that our Trans-Tasman relationship draws on more than geography or history, it's built on a deep understanding, genuine respect and true affection. A relationship between peoples, not just a relationship between nations. In a time of global uncertainty, the certainty and the strength of this bond has never been more important. We are family and like any family, occasionally we have our differences. You constantly remind me that the All Blacks have won 22 consecutive Bledisloe Cups and it would be hospitable if somehow - PRIME MINISTER LUXON: You let the Warriors win the NRL. PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: We carry through. No, enough is enough. I think going through - if you actually, I did a little calculation and if you do, given two teams in the Bledisloe Cup, if you do two to the power of 21, it's actually a 1 in 2 million, it's more than 2 million chance that you can win that many times in a row. But we continue to engage and we continue to do it in the most friendly way possible. Prime Minister Luxon and I reflected today on important steps that we've taken forward in our partnership over the last year. And we discussed major challenges facing our region. We've always faced challenges together going back to the Anzacs. Around the world and down the generations Australians and New Zealanders have stood together in the cause of peace. In December last year our Defence Ministers agreed a Closer Defence Relations statement, committing to build deterrence in our region, enhance joint capability and support Pacific sovereignty. Over the last 12 months our defence forces have increased the tempo of our joint operational activity, contributing to regional peace and security. I also congratulated the Prime Minister on New Zealand's Defence Capability Plan which will enable us to work towards becoming a more interoperable force as New Zealand moves ahead with procurements under its plan. This will strengthen our ability to stand together and contribute to peace and stability in our region and uphold our commitment to the international rules-based order. A world where the sovereignty of every nation is respected and where free and fair trade delivers greater prosperity. Prime Minister Luxon and I also discussed the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Today we reiterate our call for an immediate ceasefire to end the suffering and starvation in Gaza and the release of all hostages. And of course our Foreign Ministers have issued a media release today as well. We both expressed our strong support for the Pacific Island Forum Leaders' Meeting that will be held in a month's time. The theme of this year's meeting is focusing on deeper integration in our Pacific region and that is timely. As Pacific nations, we are together backing in regional solutions and deepening integration with our Pacific partners. At last year's PIF we both agreed to support the Pacific Policing Initiative. This has been a major step forward to boost policing in the region, to strengthen law and order, to tackle transnational crime and to improve disaster responses. This is about providing Pacific solutions to Pacific challenges. And finally we discussed our very full bilateral agenda and how closer economic relations can continue to deliver to citizens and communities on both sides of the Tasman, including on climate change, on economic relationships as well. This afternoon we will sit down with the peak trans-Tasman business council, the Australian New Zealand Leadership Forum, with representatives from CyberCX, from Beca, Ampol, Qantas, Genesis Energy, ASB Bank and Bluescope. We'll talk about the opportunities to boost business collaboration and grow Trans-Tasman trade and investment. Prime Minister Luxon and I agreed today to coordinate our reform programs, including his 'Going for Growth' agenda, to make it easier for businesses to trade, invest and operate on either side of the Tasman. This complements the work that Australia is doing, including the roundtable that we'll hold in a couple of weeks' time. An agreement that our two national standards bodies have just signed is a down payment on that. And we're working together as well in new areas such as the challenges, but also the opportunities that will come from artificial intelligence and new technologies, all about anticipating change and shaping it in the best interests of our people, our economies and the security and prosperity of the region that we both call home. Prime Minister, can I say to you and Amanda, thank you for hosting us here. We've been friends for a long time. We're probably the two leaders of nations that can sit down and talk aviation like two nerds and bore everyone else around the international forums. But out of that friendship has come, I think, a relationship that serves both and our commons interest is so important. PRIME MINISTER LUXON: Well everybody I don't know how you're feeling, but this is the coldest press conference I've ever done. My, you know, bullet shaped head and hairstyle that I've got going on, I'm losing 40 per cent of my body heat through my head. So, with that, I think we'll open it up to questions. We've got three on each side. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister Albanese, welcome. Tens of thousands of kiwis are leaving New Zealand and jumping over to Australia. Can you tell us what the attraction is? PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: We're a great country and I've got to say there's a few Australians come over here as well. And I think when we talk about relations, I mean it of course there's still that provision in our constitution that we won't talk about. But the truth is that it's seamless. And when so many Kiwis as well, one of the things I'm really proud of, is one of the first things I did as Prime Minister was to change the rules so that people who had lived in Australia, some of them for decades, but hadn't taken out citizenship, did. And they maintain their pride in New Zealand and they still go for the All Blacks or the Crusaders or whatever team it is in particular, but they're also proud to be Australian and that's a good thing. So, I think the relationship between people to people and people moving either side of the ditch is a good thing. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister Albanese, you've spoken to leaders of the UK and France in the recent days regarding Palestinian statehood. Was the matter raised in discussions today, and when do you plan to speak to the US President about the matter? And Prime Minister Luxon if I may as well, what are the prerequisites for New Zealand to recognise Palestinian statehood? PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: Well we, I've said it's a matter of when, not if. It is circumstances, I spoke with Mahmoud Abbas as well, the President of the Palestinian Authority. We put out a readout of that and there we raised the reforms that are required. We want to see, I think two things as Australians. I think overwhelmingly Australians want to see two things. One is they want to see a ceasefire. They want to see the killing stop, they want to see hostages released, they want to see peace in the region. The second thing they want is they don't want conflict brought to Australia either. And so we, for a long period of time there's been a bipartisan position in Australia of support for two states. And that of course was the vision that was envisaged when in 1947 the United Nations made the decision that they did. It wasn't the creation of one state. And so we'll continue to play a role. PRIME MINISTER LUXON: Yeah, look, I mean we've had a very similar long standing position on a two state solution as well under successive governments. That is clearly where we still sit today. Again, the same thing for us is we want to see hostages released, we want to see unfettered humanitarian aid flooding into Gaza and we want to see a ceasefire. The military action that we've seen is not the way to solve this problem and it requires diplomacy, it requires dialogue. I think all New Zealanders, all Australians will be horrified by what they see on the news and it has certainly plumbed to new levels. And that's why you've seen both of our Foreign Ministers sign up to a statement today with other countries as well, three or four other countries, to make that very clear that actually even the latest action of Israel we've seen in the last 24 hours is wrong. And actually it risks violating international law. And it's really important that actually that military action is not going to solve more of this problem. We are both a long way away from this conflict. We have limited influence, we have limited trade in the region. We have a set of values that we stand up for and we do what we can through advocating those values. And you've seen that this morning again with the joint statement as we've had many together to put voice and volume to our values. But it's in our interests, peace, stability in this region, but it comes through diplomacy and dialogue, not through more military action. JOURNALIST: On a related note to that, Donald Trump has said that Canada's intention to recognise a Palestinian state trying to hurt their trade talks between US and Canada. Does that play a factor in - you both said the countries' recognition of Palestinian statehood is inevitable, does that impact on trade talks with the US and New Zealand, and obviously Australia, does that play a factor in making that declaration? PRIME MINISTER LUXON: No, is the short answer. We have an independent foreign policy, as do 195 other countries and we make our own assessments, we act in our own interests, our own economic and our security interests. And so for us, we make our own decisions. And so that will be very much in our calculation. PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: And Australia has exactly the same position where, as a sovereign nation, we make our decisions. JOURNALIST: Prime Minister Albanese, the Pentagon has warned that Australia would struggle to defend itself if it doesn't lift defence spending. Do you see that as a threat from the Trump Administration? And if I can ask you, Prime Minister Luxon, did you and our Prime Minister Albanese discuss the rising threat of China today? PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: On the former, no. I see that as an interview by someone from The Australian with someone in the Pentagon, is what we see it as. And we will continue to invest in our defence, if people argue that we should increase our defence spending, we are. $10 billion additional over the forward estimates, $57 billion over the next 10 years. And of course, just this week, we've made a very significant announcement of the Mogami frigates the first 3 of which will be produced in Japan and then producing an ongoing production process in Western Australia, for 11. And that is a very significant investment that we're making indeed. PRIME MINISTER LUXON: Yeah, the same for New Zealand. We've obviously had our defence capability plan announced recently. It's a big step up for us, doubling our spend as a percent of GDP. We've got $12 billion dollars going into defence in the next four years. It's a 15-year plan. We check in on it every two years as our economy improves. If we can do more, we will do more, but again, we make our own assessment on what we think we need to do. And the big focus for us has been interoperability with Australia. We want to be a force multiplier. We want to be a one sort of essential Anzac force essentially, operating within our region. And it covers all the gambit of helping the Pacific when there's emergencies and disasters. With respect to China, yes, we discussed China. We discussed all the regional and global issues that you would expect us to do so. JOURNALIST: And what did you talk about when you discussed China? PRIME MINISTER LUXON: Well, again, we've got a very similar approach, which is that we both had very successful visits to China just recently, meeting with President Xi and Premier Li. You know, China is a massive, significant player in the world, and it's a permanent feature of global affairs as well. We have an approach which is about, you know, cooperating where we can. As I said to President Xi, we cooperate where we can, we disagree where we must. We have different systems, different values, and we will stand up for those at different times, and we have differences, but actually partners talk about the hard stuff and talk about the differences too. And so, that was the nature of my conversations with the Chinese leadership when I was there. PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: I think we have a very similar approach, indeed, and use similar language of cooperate where we can, disagree where we must. But we engage in our national interest, and we continue to do that. And today, of course, we discussed the whole geopolitical issues in our region and throughout the world. And of course, the geostrategic competition in particular between the great powers is something that countries like Australia and New Zealand do discuss together and we cooperate. JOURNALIST: Prime Ministers, you talk about your ironclad friendship, but a longstanding thorn in the side of that relationship has been deportations. And since Australia changed its direction around deportations last year, seeing a rise of deportees back to New Zealand, with that comes extra burden on New Zealand's services and it's been documented to be detrimental to rehabilitation of those deportees. So, Prime Minister Albanese, I would like to know if you think this is fair to New Zealand and Prime Minister Luxon, I'd like to know this whether these deportations are a hindrance to your agenda? PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: Well, Prime Minister Luxon, you won't be surprised, raised this with me and put his view, and as New Zealand's Prime Minister I'd expect him to. But as Australia's Prime Minister, you'd expect me to say, that the issue of Australia's national interests is what we put first in all of our relations. But we do so in a way, as well, that reflects common sense. And I reiterated that we have, of course, a priority of safety in Australia but also a common-sense approach that we give consideration to. PRIME MINISTER LUXON: Well as Anthony just said, it did get raised. Our point of view is pretty clear. Australia is a sovereign nation, is entitled to make its own rules around the border. Our point is one which is that we think returning deportees that have very little connection to New Zealand is the key issue for us, and as a result, we want to see a continuance of this common-sense policy. With respect to whether other deportees driving into more crime across New Zealand. I'm really proud of the progress we've made on crime in the last 18 months. We've got 28,000 less serious violent crime happening, victims of crime happening in New Zealand. We've seen serious youth offending come down tremendously. We've got our police out on the beat up 40 per cent, our ram raids have dropped 60 per cent. We've got more work to do. We've strengthened the sentencing of our laws here in New Zealand so that judges cannot discount services beyond 40 per cent and all of that is added up to make people feel much safer here in New Zealand. There's more work for us to do, of course, in law and order. But I'd say in 18 months we've made tremendous progress with some of the legal changes that we've made in recent time. JOURNALIST: We've seen Prime Ministers, we're seeing China's growing assertiveness in the region. We saw this with the test firing of a ballistic missile in the Pacific, the flotilla that conducted live firing between the waters of Australia and New Zealand. We've also seen a deal struck with the Cook Islands, as well. You both have similar policies. You disagree where you must, cooperate where you can. What do you disagree on when it comes to China? PRIME MINISTER ALBANESE: Well, we have very different starting points. We are two great democracies, and that with that comes values that come with the democratic system China has a different political system, has different cultures, and a different political culture, and therefore a different approach towards its international relations as well. And so, I think the areas of difference are reflected there. We raise the full suite of measures when we are in discussions with China, including attitudes towards human rights, attitudes towards trade and sovereignty, we raise them, and we do so without being shy about it. But we do, one thing that I said, certainly, when I was in China, and I've said before is, we don't want our differences to define the relationship. We do need to engage. Engaging in diplomacy is how you get progress, and how you get understanding. PRIME MINISTER LUXON: Yeah. Jack, firstly, good to see you. I don't know if you're a New Zealand journalist or an Australian one of these days, but mate, it's good to see you. I'd just say, yeah, we've got a very similar position. And I think, actually, you know, my conversations now with Premier Li and also with President Xi, I think it's well understood the framework for this relationship. You know, China's an important world power. It's important that we can engage. It's important that we do have a relationship. A long-standing relationship, with both our countries of over 50 years or more. And you know, a significant trading partner, our number one trading partner in New Zealand, obviously. And so for us, you know, we genuinely are able to have a conversation, I think, a very mature one now. Which is to say, look, we do have different histories. We do have different systems. We do have different values. It does mean that we do have differences. Good partners should be not afraid to actually talk about those things and do so in a way that we can manage those differences as a consequence of that. So I think, you know, both countries have followed pretty much the same playbook. And I think, you know, that's good for the relationship between both countries, China and New Zealand, China and Australia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address HMAS Brisbane departs for third ADF Regional Presence Deployment for 2025 Issued by Defence Media 10 August 2025 The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is continuing its Regional Presence Deployment program, with Royal Australian Navy destroyer HMAS Brisbane conducting the third deployment for 2025. After leaving the Port of Townsville in July, HMAS Brisbane conducted integration training with the United Kingdom Carrier Strike Group in early August as part of Operation Highmast, and will soon participate in Exercise Alon 25 in the Philippines. Regional presence deployments involve military visits into the Indo-Pacific region, and participation in exercises and cooperative activities with partner nations, reinforcing Australia's commitment to supporting a secure, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. HMAS Brisbane will conduct port visits to the Philippines and Japan, as well as operate alongside regional partners to enhance cooperation and maritime interoperability This deployment follows the successful deployment of HMA Ships Hobart and Sydney earlier this year. Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, AO, CSC, RAN said the deployment reflected the ADF's long-standing regional partnerships and shared security interests. "Our regional presence is about demonstrating Australia's commitment to working closely with partners across the Indo-Pacific," Vice Admiral Jones said. "By maintaining a consistent and capable presence, we help promote stability, build trust, and contribute to a region where the sovereignty of all nations is respected." Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, AO, RAN said the deployment signalled Australia's operational readiness and commitment to strengthening relationships with regional partners. "Maritime security is the foundation of our economic security," Vice Admiral Hammond said. "These deployments are critical to developing shared understanding with our allies and partners as we collectively enhance maritime security in the region." Regional presence deployments are a key part of the ADF's ongoing engagement with the region and highlight Australia's role as a proactive and reliable security partner. This Regional Presence Deployment will conclude in November 2025. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary Rubio's Call with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Wong US Department of State Readout Office of the Spokesperson August 10, 2025 The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce: Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong to discuss issues in the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East, along with global efforts to combat antisemitism. The Secretary also underscored the importance of the U.S.-Australia alliance for upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Visit to Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu and the Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Ministers Meeting in Fiji The Hon Richard Marles MP Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Defence 11 August 2025 This week, the Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles, Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, and Minister for Pacific Island Affairs Pat Conroy, will travel to the Pacific as Australia continues to strengthen ties with our nearest neighbours. The Deputy Prime Minister will travel to Papua New Guinea to discuss the deepening defence ties between our two countries, and Australia's support for PNG's security priorities. During the visit he will meet with Prime Minister the Hon James Marape MP, Deputy Prime Minister the Hon John Rosso MP, and Minister for Defense the Hon Dr Billy Joseph MP. After travelling to PNG, the Deputy Prime Minister will join Minister Wong and Minister Conroy in the Republic of Vanuatu - building on our enduring partnership. While in Vanuatu, they will meet Prime Minister, the Hon Jotham Napat, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Management the Hon Johnny Koanapo, and other senior ministers. The Ministers will also travel to Tanna, the home island of Prime Minister Napat, to progress discussions on the proposed Nakamal Agreement - a bilateral initiative to elevate our partnership. This visit builds on the increasing tempo of Ministerial exchanges and visits between Australia and Vanuatu in both directions over the past six months. The Foreign Minister will then travel to the Republic of Fiji to attend the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Foreign Ministers Meeting. As a founding member of the PIF, Australia strongly supports the Forum's role in strengthening regional unity and pursuing our shared vision for a peaceful, stable, prosperous and unified region. As a Pacific nation, Australia is a partner the region can count on; it is in our interests to foster a resilient region that enables all our economies to grow and prosper together. Quotes attributable to Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles: "Australia deeply values our relationships with our Pacific family as we work together to strengthen ties and deepen security partnerships. "In Papua New Guinea, I look forward to meeting my counterparts to discuss the growing integration and cooperation between our defence forces, including through negotiations for a bilateral defence treaty, as announced in February this year. "In Vanuatu, custom, culture and tradition will provide a vibrant backdrop to our discussions around the Nakamal agreement and Australia looks forward to using this concept to strengthen our ties. Quotes attributable to Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong: "Our visit to Vanuatu highlights the respect, shared values and cultural and spiritual connections that are the platform for deepening the partnership between our countries. "It is a privilege to be joining Pacific Islands Forum foreign ministers in Suva, to come together to make decisions for our region. "Australia is working with the Pacific family to advance our shared priorities and shape a peaceful, stable and prosperous Blue Pacific." Quotes attributable to Minister for Pacific Island Affairs Pat Conroy: "I look forward to working with the Vanuatu Government to strengthen our close economic, development and security partnership. "As partners, we overcome challenges together - Australia is a partner Vanuatu can count on." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko August 8, 2025 16:35 During the call, Vladimir Putin detailed the current contacts between Russia and the United States, emphasising in particular the outcomes of his meeting with US President's Special Envoy Steven Witkoff, held on August 6. The President of Belarus thanked Vladimir Putin for the information provided and praised the efforts to reach a path towards resolving the Ukraine crisis. Alexander Lukashenko expressed sincere appreciation for the warm welcome he received during his recent working visit to Russia. In addition, the two leaders discussed a number of bilateral issues. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Belarus: Joint Statement by EU High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas and Commissioner Kos on the 5th Anniversary of the Fraudulent Presidential Elections European External Action Service (EEAS) 09.08.2025 EEAS Press Team The ongoing repression in Belarus is unacceptable and must come to an end. Today marks five years since the fraudulent presidential elections in Belarus. Hundreds of thousands peacefully stood up for democracy but faced brutal repression. Recently released political prisoners have shared horrific stories of torture. While some have been freed, over 1,000 remain imprisoned under cruel conditions. We call on the Belarusian authorities to immediately release all political prisoners, end the repression, and engage in an inclusive national dialogue. The ongoing crackdown on civil society must stop. Belarus must also end its support for Russia's illegal war against Ukraine. We stand in full solidarity with the Belarusian people. The EU has mobilised 170 million since 2020 to support Belarusian civil society, independent media, and victims of the repression, and will continue imposing sanctions on those who repress democracy and violate human rights. The EU will continue to support the Belarusian people on their path to democracy for as long as it takes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Minister Tsahkna: Belarusians must be freed from fear and repression Republic of Estonia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs 09.08.2025 | 08:08 On the fifth anniversary of the fraudulent presidential election held in Belarus on 9 August 2020, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna reaffirmed Estonia's commitment to supporting Belarusians in their struggle for freedom and democracy, and to ensuring Belarus becomes part of the democratic European community. "Five years ago today, the Belarusian regime falsified the election results, shattering the hopes of all those Belarusians who had gone to the polls wishing to see their country move towards a free and democratic future. Following the election stolen by Alexander Lukashenko, protesters gathered across Belarus under white-red-white flags and symbols, united in their message: Europe's last dictatorship must come to an end," Foreign Minister Tsahkna said. The foreign minister said that the world has seen the true face of Lukashenka's regime over the past five years. "The brutal crackdown on anti-regime protests saw the use of water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets. Thousands have been imprisoned for political reasons. They included Estonian citizen Allan Roio, who suffered the harsh impact of the Belarusian regime for a year and a half and was only released from prison this June thanks to international efforts. The regime continues to support Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine while simultaneously weaponising migration pressure against Europe," Tsahkna stated. He added that despite all this, hope for a democratic Belarus endures. "As the Belarusian regime carries out widespread repression against its people, Estonia continues to exert pressure on it by ramping up sanctions and increasing its international isolation. At the same time, our support for Belarusian democratic forces remains unwavering. Belarusians must be freed from fear and repression, and their country must become part of the family of democratic European nations," Tsahkna said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint statement by High Representative/Vice-President Kallas and Commissioner Kos on the fifth anniversary of the fraudulent presidential elections in Belarus European Commission Statement Aug 9, 2025 Brussels The ongoing repression in Belarus is unacceptable and must come to an end. Today marks five years since the fraudulent presidential elections in Belarus. Hundreds of thousands peacefully stood up for democracy but faced brutal repression. Recently released political prisoners have shared horrific stories of torture. While some have been freed, over 1,000 remain imprisoned under cruel conditions. We call on the Belarusian authorities to immediately release all political prisoners, end the repression, and engage in an inclusive national dialogue. The ongoing crackdown on civil society must stop. Belarus must also end its support for Russia's illegal war against Ukraine. We stand in full solidarity with the Belarusian people. The EU has mobilised 170 million since 2020 to support Belarusian civil society, independent media, and victims of the repression, and will continue imposing sanctions on those who repress democracy and violate human rights. The EU will continue to support the Belarusian people on their path to democracy for as long as it takes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Belarus Steps Up Attacks On Opposition, 5 Years After Crushing Mass Protests By Ray Furlong and RFE/RL's Belarus Service August 09, 2025 As exiled Belarusians gather at political rallies in Warsaw, Vilnius, and other cities this weekend, many have packed masks to conceal their identities because they know the authorities back home could target their families. Belarus is stepping up attacks on the opposition at home and abroad, five years after brutally crushing an unprecedented wave of mass protests against a stolen election. "Belarus was taken hostage," exiled opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya said on August 7 at an online briefing held by the Center for European Policy Analysis, a Washington-based think-tank. "Ahead of the anniversary, the crackdown has only intensified," she added. "The regime isn't just punishing dissent. It's trying actually to erase the memory of 2020." That year, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets after the authorities announced that Aleksandr Lukashenko had been re-elected president. It was widely believed by Belarusians, Western governments, and international human rights organizations that the results were blatantly falsified. For the first time since Lukashenko took office in 1994, protests against him were large-scale, nationwide, and enduring. But they were met with beatings, arrests, and torture. Several people were killed. Hundreds of thousands fled the country, including Tsikhanouskaya. She was sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison for "treason with the aim of seizing power." Cash In An Envelope Ahead of the fifthanniversary of the election, the campaign against her has continued. On August 6, Belarusian state TV aired a report that it said showed an official giving her an envelope containing $15,000 and that she had "asked for" the money. Tsikhanouskaya denies asking for money. She said she opened the envelope only now, after seeing the report, and saw that it contained 15,000 euros. "I was under tremendous emotional pressure at the time. I wasn't ready for this and didn't know how to behave in such situations. I didn't tell anyone about that ill-fated envelope because I was ashamed that I had it," she told pro-opposition news website Zerkalo. Tsikhanouskaya has previously said the authorities forced her to leave the country by making threats relating to her children. But the repression goes well beyond Tsikhanouskaya. An Amnesty International report this week said there are still more than 1,100 political prisoners in Belarus. Exiled Belarusian human rights group, Vyasna (Spring), says that since 2020 some 330 political prisoners have been released early by the Belarusian authorities. Tsikhanouski Released But Others Arrested The authorities, however, imprison more people than they release. Vyasna reported that in June, while 14 political prisoners were pardoned, 29 others were newly jailed. Perhaps the most prominent release was that of Tsikhanouskaya's husband, Syarhey Tsikhanouski. He was arrested after attracting a mass following and announcing he would run for president in 2020. His wife subsequently took up the mantle. Speaking to RFE/RL in Vilnius, Lithuania, after his release, he voiced concern over the state of the beleaguered opposition movement that once filled streets and squares across Belarus. "During my last days of freedom in 2020, people were lining up for hours to sign petitions. I felt like I had wings," he said. "Now I came out with the same energy and determination, but I see that many Belarusians abroad are tired. They've spent five years surviving, working multiple jobs. I understand, but for those of us coming out of prison, it's painful to feel that the fire has gone out." One of his first moves shortly after his release on June 21 was to appeal to supporters for donations to a fund to support former political prisoners and exiled Belarusians. Tsikhanouski envisioned raising 200,000 euros, but the appeal sparked criticism and an underwhelming response. Amnesty International noted that restrictions on renewing Belarusian documents had left some exiles in legal limbo, unable to apply for residency documents in Poland, where many took refuge. Some of those who fled after being charged with minor offenses have considered returning to Belarus on the basis that the statute of limitations on those offenses no longer applies. But they still risk arrest if they do so. "They find something new to charge you with," one man, who was forced to flee in October 2020, told RFE/RL in July. "They'll find something to jail you for: subscribing to 'extremist' online media, making a donation (to a banned group), or clicking 'like' somewhere," he added. Other exiled Belarusians voiced similar concerns. A Changed Landscape Anyone returning to Belarus would find a dramatically altered society from the one they left five years ago. Lawtrend, a Belarusian monitoring group that also operates in exile, says nearly 2,000 civil society groups -- NGOs, labor unions, foundations, and associations -- have been shut down since 2020. More than 40 media outlets have been recognized as "extremist formations," effectively criminalizing their activity in Belarus. This includes RFE/RL, whose Minsk offices were raided and sealed in July 2021. Some 15 journalists associated with RFE/RL's Belarus Service have been targeted with special criminal cases in absentia, while their relatives have been subjected to intimidation. In July 2024, Yury Drakakhrust, a journalist and analyst for the Belarus Service based in Prague, was sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison by Belarusian authorities on false charges. In an article for RFE/RL's Russian Service on August 7, he wrote that the current state of the Belarusian opposition was "depressing." "Tsikhanouskaya was accepted by senior Western officials. But this happened when memories were fresh of Minsk streets filled with protesters. But it's been a long time since there was even a shadow of protest on the streets of Minsk. Tsikhanouskaya no longer meets with such senior officials as she used to," he wrote. Despite this gloomy view, the opposition is trying to rally its forces with the protests at cities across Europe and North America this weekend. Tsikhanouskaya said Belarus could now be at a crossroads, with future developments depending on a resolution to the war in Ukraine, where Lukashenko has firmly aligned himself with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "If peace is made on Ukraine's terms, it could weaken Putin and Lukashenko with him. That could be our moment to push for change," she said. "But if the deal favors Putin, Belarus risks becoming a consolation prize, meaning losing our sovereignty for decades to come." Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-attacks-opposition- anniversary-protests/33497597.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address A joint statement from Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom on the 5th anniversary of the fraudulent 2020 presidential election in Belarus. From: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Published 9 August 2025 Joint statement from the Commonwealth of Australia, Canada and The United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland: Five years ago, the Lukashenko regime launched a brutal crackdown on peaceful protestors following the fraudulent 2020 presidential election in Belarus. We - Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom - stand united in condemning the ongoing repression and human rights violations. Since August 2020, the Belarusian authorities have waged a campaign to shut down civil society, independent media, and any form of political opposition. 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. The regime's support for Putin's illegal war against Ukraine further underscores its disregard for global peace and security. While we welcome the recent releases of several political prisoners in Belarus, we remain deeply concerned by the continued arrests and persecution of individuals for exercising their human rights. Over 1,100 individuals remain detained in connection with political activities. We jointly call for their immediate and unconditional release and urge the Belarusian authorities to end their campaign of repression. Our nations remain steadfast in defending human rights, promoting accountability, and supporting the Belarusian people's aspirations for a free and democratic future. Improvements to Compensation and Benefits for the Canadian Armed Forces National Defence Backgrounder August 8, 2025 - Ottawa - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces The Government of Canada today announced improvements to compensation and benefits for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members. These initiatives will be rolled out over the next 12 months. Military Factor Adjustment CAF members will see a significant, pensionable pay raise retroactive to April 1, 2025. This raise is a result of the modernization of the Military Factor, a percentage added to the base salaries of CAF members. The Military Factor is designed to appropriately compensate CAF members for the unique and demanding nature of military service. It accounts for the personal limitations and liabilities they accept, such as reduced personal freedoms under the Code of Service Discipline; frequent and often unpredictable separation from family due to operations, deployments, and training; and the financial uncertainty of geographic postings. It also reflects the expectation of 24/7 availability and enduring physical and mental rigours of service to keep Canadians safe. The Military Factor adjustment will represent the following increase to the total pay of CAF members, for the Regular Force and Reserve Force, including the Canadian Rangers and Cadet Organizations Administration and Training Service: Rank of Sailor/Private/Aviator, Pay Increment 1 - 20% Regular Force, 13% Reserve Force Rank of Sailor/Private/Aviator, Pay Increment 2 to Commander/Lieutenant-Colonel - 13% Regular and Reserve Force Rank of Captain(Navy)/Colonel and above - 8% Regular and Reserve Force For example, the starting salary for a Private, Pay Increment 1 (Regular Force) will increase from $3,614 a month ($43,368 yearly) to $4,337 a month ($52,044 yearly). Military Service Pay A new annual, pensionable compensation measure will also be implemented, paid as a lump sum, based on years of service and tied to enrolment date. Details (Regular Force/Reserve Force) 5-10 years $2,000/$400 11-15 years $3,500/$700 16-20 years $5,000/$1,000 21+ years $6,000/$1,200 Recruitment Allowance for Stressed Occupations While the CAF met its overall recruiting goal in the last fiscal year, it continues to face a critical shortage of personnel in occupations essential to operational readiness and capability. The CAF will ensure it brings the right people into those occupations that are deemed critical by offering allowances upon entry and at key points early in their career. Members will receive $10,000 upon completion of basic training, $20,000 once qualified in trade, and $20,000 upon completion of the first contract, when signing on for another period of service. Instructors Allowance While the CAF has made many improvements to the recruiting process, and is already seeing results, training is more important than ever. Attracting and retaining skilled instructors and fully staffing training establishments is a strategic investment in Canada's defence capabilities. The CAF will be introducing an allowance for instructors and training support staff at certain recruit and entry-level training establishments, to recognize the demanding work of those who must train new members up to their trade basic qualifications. CAF training not only teaches the military skills common to all occupations, it develops the mental and physical resiliency necessary to excel in the diverse and challenging environments that CAF members face in service to Canada. All members posted to a designated training school will receive $300/month. Instructors at Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School will receive an additional $35/day they instruct up to $12,000/year, while instructors at other establishments will receive an additional $20/day they instruct up to $8,400/year. Changes to Environmental Allowances Given the increased need to maintain a ready force for both domestic and international deployments, the CAF will be making changes to environmental allowances, such as Land Duty Allowance, for field operations; and Sea Duty and Submarine Duty Allowance, for operations aboard ship. The current monthly allowance, prorated for the number of years in the environment, will transition back to a daily flat rate of $100/day, and will be received when the member is actually at sea or in the field. These benefits exist to compensate CAF members whose duties expose them to adverse conditions not always experienced by others, even in the military. Allowances for Domestic Operations and Arctic Defending Canada is the CAF's top priority, with two main lines of effort. The first is to defend Canada's sovereignty. The second is to assist civilian authorities in natural disaster response, search and rescue, pandemic response, and other domestic emergencies. The CAF is introducing allowances for Domestic Operations and Arctic, where members directly aid Canadians by providing disaster relief or in defending Canada's sovereignty in the North. In addition to any environmental allowances being received, members will receive $45/day when deployed on a named domestic operation (e.g. Op LENTUS), and an additional percentage of their land duty (50%) or sea duty (25%) allowance when deployed in the Arctic. Posting Frequency Allowance When a CAF Regular Force member is posted, or required to relocate, a range of benefits is available to support the member and their family throughout the experience. These benefits are designed to reduce the financial burden of frequently moving. As part of this announcement, the posting allowance will follow a more equitable scheme based on the number of moves, instead of a member's pay scale. The current allowance of a month's pay, or month's pay for a single member or Imposed Restriction (IR) move (see below), will be replaced with $13,500 for each of the first three moves, $20,050 for moves 4-6, and $27,000 after that. This applies to single members as well, although those on IR will continue to receive half of the new allowance, given the other IR benefits being provided. Imposed Restriction Enhancements When a CAF Regular Force member is posted to a new location and cannot be accompanied by their family, they may apply for Imposed Restriction (IR) status. Under IR status, members may be eligible to receive certain benefits to help offset the additional costs associated with living apart and maintaining a second household. As part of this announcement, the CAF will make improvements to IR benefits. Specifically, a member will now receive a food allowance of approximately $7,000/year, a transportation allowance of $4,200/year, and an incidentals allowance of $2,400/year. Overall, the implementation of this new compensation and benefits package represents an approximately 20% increase of the current CAF Compensation and Benefits envelope. Of the total, around 13% will be dedicated to the Military Factor adjustment and the new Military Service Pay. The remaining 7% will be dedicated to the other initiatives. - 30 - NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Canadian Armed Forces deploy on multiple Arctic operations this season National Defence News release August 10, 2025 - Ottawa - National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) reinforce Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic as it deploys military assets, capabilities, and personnel on multiple operations throughout that region this summer and early fall. These operations are part of the CAF's core missions to detect, deter, and defend Canada and North America against potential threats. The Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), Canadian Army (CA), Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) are committing ships, aircraft and personnel, while operations will consist of exercises and activities in coordination with the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) and United States (U.S.) military. In the Western Arctic region, including the Bering and Chukchi Seas, the Halifax-class Frigate His Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Regina and the Harry DeWolf-class Arctic and Offshore Patrol Vessel (AOPV) HMCS Max Bernays will sail from Esquimalt, British Columbia, and operate with Motor Vessel (MV) Asterix to enhance awareness and understanding of maritime activities in the region. These ships will work with RCAF CP-140 AuroraandCC-150 Polaristanker aircraft, along with the U.S. military, throughout their deployment. The CAF contingent is operating as part of Operation LATITUDE, which begins in mid-August and will take place throughout the Alaskan Theater of Operations. Operation LATITUDE will include CAF support for the U.S.-led Northern Edge 25 as well as follow-on support to Alaskan Command. Across Baffin Island in the Northern Arctic region, the CA and Canadian Rangers will deploy an agile force alongside RCAF aviators and aircraft, such as the CC-138 Twin Otter, CH-146 Griffon, and CH-147F Chinook, to conduct patrols and other activities that will provide the CAF with real-time reconnaissance and response capabilities as part of Operation NANOOK-NUNAKPUT. Also participating are HMCS William Hall and CCG Cutter Pierre Radisson, as well as other government departments and partners. This operation runs from late August to mid-September. In July, Operation NANOOK-TAKUNIQ concluded in the Northern Arctic region, where the Rangers joined by members from the CA's 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantrycompleted several long-range reconnaissance patrols on foot, by all-terrain vehicle, and onboard CC-138 Twin Otter aircraft across Ellesmere Island to enhance domain awareness. With support from the RCAF's 440 (Transport) Squadron and Airfield Surface Assessment and Reconnaissance team, this effort provided key infrastructure and logistical information, while validating operational capabilities and informing future planning for security and sovereignty activities in the Canadian Arctic. Finally, in the Eastern Arctic region, AOPV HMCS William Hall will depart from Halifax to navigate the Northwest Passage, increasing the CAF's awareness in this important waterway. The ship will also visit several communities along the route as part of Operation NANOOK-TUUGAALIK also from mid-August to early October. Working in partnership with Inuit and Northern Indigenous governments and communities, the CAF maintains a persistent and meaningful presence in the Canadian Arctic to support peace, security, and sovereignty. This presence reflects shared priorities and respects Indigenous knowledge, governance, and stewardship of the land. Operational priorities remain central to Defence planning and are pursued in full recognition of Canada's legal obligations and policy commitments to Inuit and Northern Indigenous peoples. The Department of National Defence and the CAF are committed to upholding the rights and interests of Inuit and Northern Indigenous peoples by respecting Northern land claims agreements and treaties, implementing the Inuit Nunangat Policy, and aligning with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act Action Plan. Quotes "Asserting sovereignty in the Canadian Arctic is becoming ever more important as our adversaries increase their activity in the region. These northern operations also create excellent opportunities for strengthened collaboration with our allies and partners. Ensuring that Canada's North is well defended is a critical component of maintaining a secure North American homeland." The Honourable David McGuinty, Minister of National Defence "Operating continually in the Canadian Arctic and its approaches is vital to strengthening Canada's ability to deter potential threats and assert our sovereignty. By enhancing our domain awareness in the North, we ensure that the Canadian Armed Forces remains ready to defend Canada, and the North American continent." General Jennie Carignan, Chief of the Defence Staff "Defending Canada's Arctic is integral to defending Canada and Canadian interests. The detection, deterrence, and defence of Canada against any potential threat is a core mission of the Canadian Armed Forces, as is the defence of North America in partnership with the United States. These operations strengthen Canadian sovereignty in the Arctic and directly contribute to the security of our shared continent." Lieutenant-General Steve Boivin, Commander Canadian Joint Operations Command Quick facts Operation NANOOK is the CAF's signature northern operation. It is a combined, joint, interagency, and multinational operation designed to provide a visible presence in the North and to demonstrate Canada's ability to respond effectively to safety and security incidents in the region. The operation delivers Arctic experience, develops partnerships, and improves the readiness of its participants. Operation NANOOK features multiple subordinate-operations under its umbrella, such as TUUGAALIK, NUNAKPUT, and TAKUNIQ. Operation LATITUDE focuses on increasing domain awareness in the Western Arctic and its approaches, in addition to enhancing interoperability with the U.S military in the context of continental defence. HMCS Max Bernayswill depart to the Indo-Pacific region on Operation HORIZON immediately following the conclusion of Operation LATITUDE. CANSOFCOM continues to have a routine presence in the Canadian Arctic and provides the Government of Canada with a unique set of capabilities, which further enable better detection, deterrence, and defence against threats to the Canadian Arctic region. This will include two CE-145C Vigilance aircraft, which will be supporting Operation NANOOK and will be conducting specialized training in the regions of Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Xi holds phone talks with Putin Global Times China will continue to promote peace talks in Ukraine crisis: Xi By GT staff reporters Published: Aug 08, 2025 10:52 PM 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, according to the Xinhua News Agency. 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. This call could be seen as a very concrete step in China-Russia strategic mutual trust, expert said. Timely communication Over the past week, there have been some new developments regarding the Ukraine crisis and US-Russia relations. The fact that China and Russia held a timely phone conversation to align their policies is of great indicative significance for the two sides to join hands under the new circumstances to overcome or resolve regional and global issues, Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Friday. This once again highlights that timely communication between the Chinese and Russian heads of state is a hallmark of their interactions, enabling prompt consultations on key concerns, deepening mutual understanding, and delivering greater results in tackling challenges, said the expert. In recent days, many media outlets have reported on a potential summit between Putin and US President Donald Trump. Reuters said in a report on Thursday that the meeting will take place "in the coming days" as the US seeks a breakthrough to end Russia-Ukraine conflict. Russia's TASS News Agency reported on Friday that the summit between Putin and Trump may be held in an Arab country. It also noted that on August 7, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov said that Moscow and Washington had brokered an agreement for holding a meeting between the two leaders in the next few days. While a summit could take place next week, the exact date will be set once the arrangements have been made. Later on Thursday, Putin confirmed that preparations for talks with Trump were underway as he noted that both sides were willing to hold a bilateral meeting. US President Donald Trump also said on Thursday that a meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wasn't a condition for him to meet with Putin in what would be their first in-person encounter during Trump's second term, according to NBC News. A White House official previously said that Putin and Zelensky must meet in order for a summit with Trump to occur. Zelensky spoke on Thursday with the leaders of France and Germany and with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and said Europe must be involved in the peace process, according to Reuters. The Russia-Ukraine conflict, which broke out in 2022, is unlikely to be resolved in a single meeting, but any dialogue would help lay the groundwork for further engagement, said Cui Heng, a scholar from the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation. Cui said that China's stance on the Ukraine crisis remains consistent, and it welcomes any progress toward peaceful resolution. Andrey Kortunov, academic director of the Russian International Affairs Council, said that although the Trump administration has moved away from the anti-Russian position on Ukraine issue, there is still a wide gap in how the two sides approach the Ukrainian crisis. A summit meeting could help to narrow the gap, especially if they agree on specific initial steps toward de-escalation, even short of a complete ceasefire. There is no shortage of ideas on how to do that and where to start from, but a lot here depends on the political will and the degree of flexibility that both US and Russian leaders may be willing to demonstrate, Kortunov told the Global Times on Friday. Gathering at SCO During the phone talk on Friday, Xi and Putin also 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, according to Xinhua. According to TASS, Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov said earlier that Putin will attend the SCO summit in Tianjin. Hao He, a research fellow from the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that as major powers in the SCO, China and Russia are likely to coordinate in advance on how to strengthen cooperation among leading members and help all SCO states better respond to future uncertainties. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese Defense Ministry urges relevant parties to view China-Russia defense cooperation objectively and rationally Global Times By Global Times Published: Aug 08, 2025 03:18 PM We hope relevant parties will view defense cooperation between China and Russia objectively and rationally, and stop spreading groundless speculation and smears, Jiang Bin, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, said at a press briefing on Friday. The remarks were made in response to media inquiry over the recent Exercise Joint Sea 2025 between Chinese and Russian navies, during which some countries reportedly kept dispatching aircraft and ships to the vicinity of Chinese and Russian task forces and some analysts claim that this joint exercise was clearly targeted at third parties. "Exercise Joint Sea 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. Task groups from the two sides have completed planned subjects, including joint air defense, counter-sea and anti-submarine operations, and have transitioned to a joint maritime patrol, Jiang said. China and Russia adhere to the principles of non-alliance, non-confrontation, and not targeting any third party in developing bilateral and military relations, and jointly play an important role in safeguarding international and regional peace and stability, the spokesperson noted. We hope relevant parties will view defense cooperation between China and Russia objectively and rationally, and stop spreading groundless speculation and smears, he added. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Beijing further optimizes housing purchase policies; eligible families face no limit on units bought outside fifth ring road Global Times By Global Times Published: Aug 08, 2025 09:16 PM Beijing on Friday announced further optimization for its housing policies, with measures including that eligible families face no restrictions on the number of housing units purchased outside the fifth ring road, according to an official notice issued by responsible local authorities. To better meet residents' housing improvement needs and promote a balance between jobs and housing, the notice specifies that families meeting the city's commodity housing purchase requirements - Beijing-registered families or non-Beijing-registered families with at least two years of continuous social insurance or personal income tax payments - will face no limits on the number of new or second-hand commodity housing units they can buy outside the fifth ring road. Single adults purchasing commodity housing in Beijing are subject to the same purchase restrictions as resident families. The notice also expands first-home provident fund loans support. Borrowers and co-borrowers with no housing in this city but one fully repaid provident fund loan elsewhere, previously classified as a second-home buyer, are now recognized as first-home buyers. For a 4-million-yuan ($556,986) home with a 1-million-yuan, 30-year provident fund loan, this change could reduce the down payment by up to 600,000 yuan and monthly payment by up to 253 yuan. The notice also increases support for second-home provident fund loans, raising the maximum amount from 600,000 yuan to 1 million yuan to help with housing improvement. Borrowers who meet green building or multi-child family policies can receive a loan increase of up to 400,000 yuan, with a maximum loan of 1.4 million yuan. It also standardizes the minimum down payment for second-home provident fund loans to a uniform 30 percent, removing the previous requirement of 35 percent for properties within the fifth ring road and 30 percent outside it. Beijing's new real estate policy, following the top meeting held on July 30, represents a significant move toward further policy easing. It primarily aims to stabilize and consolidate the market to prevent further decline, Yan Yuejin, research director at Shanghai-based E-house China R&D Institute, told the Global Times on Friday. Yan added that the policy also underscores a focus on achieving job-housing balance, with Beijing's approach providing valuable lessons. It shows that policy reserves remain and that measures are being implemented with precision, playing a positive role in market dynamics and the healthy development of the real estate sector. Recently, several Chinese regions have unveiled real estate plans for the second half of the year, prioritizing the stabilization of the market. On August 5, authorities in East China's Jiangsu Province stressed sustaining real estate market stabilization, advancing high-quality urban renewal, increasing the supply of quality housing, improving the effectiveness of housing voucher resettlement, and further boosting housing consumption demand, stcn.com reported on Friday. On July 28, Huang Yuan, an official from Southwest China's Yunnan Province said at a press conference that the province's next steps will focus on promoting a balanced, structurally sound, price-stable, and healthy real estate market. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Guo Jiakun's Remarks on August 8, 2025 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: August 08, 2025 18:30 AFP: Israel's security cabinet approved a plan proposed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the military to "take control" of Gaza City. What is China's comment to this? Guo Jiakun: China is gravely concerned about Israel's decision, and urges Israel to stop the dangerous move at once. 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 people being held is an immediate ceasefire, 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. 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. AFP: According to Indian media reports, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit China upon invitation on August 31 and attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit. Can you confirm that and what is your comment on this? Guo Jiakun: China will host the SCO Summit in Tianjin from August 31 to September 1 this year. Leaders of over 20 countries including all member states of the SCO and heads of 10 international organizations will attend relevant events. The SCO Tianjin Summit will be the largest summit in scale since the establishment of the SCO. China welcomes Prime Minister Modi to China for the SCO Tianjin Summit. We believe that with the concerted effort of all parties, the Tianjin summit will be a gathering of solidarity, friendship and fruitful results, and the SCO will enter a new stage of high-quality development featuring greater solidarity, coordination, dynamism and productiveness. Bloomberg: Donald Trump has said imposing secondary tariffs on China for Beijing's purchase of Russian oil was a possibility, without giving details. Does the Foreign Ministry have a comment on this threat of secondary tariffs? Guo Jiakun: China's position on this issue is consistent and clear. It is legitimate and lawful for China to engage in economic, trade and energy cooperation with other countries, including Russia. We will continue to take energy supply measures that are right for China based on our national interests. Antara: The Indonesian President has instructed the evacuation and treatment of around 2,000 wounded Gaza residents on one of Indonesia's islands. Does the Ministry have any comment on this, and would it consider cooperating in a joint humanitarian effort on this matter? Guo Jiakun: We are not aware of the specifics you mentioned. The fighting in Gaza has caused a grave humanitarian disaster. The pressing priority is to realize a lasting ceasefire in Gaza at once and ensuring the access of humanitarian aid. China stands ready to make active effort together with the international community to send a stronger message and play a bigger role on the Palestinian question, and promote the full, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question at an early date. Financial Times: It is said that China COSCO Shipping Corporation is seeking to acquire a 20 percent to 30 percent stake in CK Hutchison's global port deal. The details of the negotiations have not been finalized yet, but one option is allowing COSCO to take a stake in ports excluding the two Panama ports. What is the Foreign Ministry's comment? Guo Jiakun: On CK Hutchison's sales of its assets overseas, the Chinese government will conduct lawful regulation, firmly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, and uphold justice and fairness in the market. Links: NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint Statement on Hong Kong Arrest Warrants US Department of State Media Note Office of the Spokesperson August 8, 2025 The text of the following statement was released by the Government of the United States of America and other members of the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism (RRM) (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European Union) as well as G7 RRM associate members (Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden) regarding Hong Kong arrest warrants. Begin Text The G7 RRM notes recent statements made by the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand condemning the July 25, 2025 decision by the Hong Kong Police Authorities. The authorities issued arrest warrants and bounties on individuals outside Hong Kong's borders, including in G7 RRM countries, for exercising their freedom of expression. This form of transnational repression undermines national security, state sovereignty, human rights, and the safety of communities. Building on the recent G7 Leaders' Statement on Transnational Repression, G7 RRM members and associate members are committed to strengthening our efforts to safeguard our sovereignty, to keep our communities safe, and to defend individuals from the overreach of governments trying to silence, intimidate, harass, harm or coerce them within our borders. We encourage individuals to report suspicious activities and any incidents of intimidation, harassment, coercion, or threats to their law enforcement authorities in accordance with domestic laws and regulations. Since its inception, the G7 RRM has aimed to counter foreign interference. It includes G7 members, and Australia, New Zealand, NATO, the Netherlands, and Sweden as associate members. The G7 RRM and likeminded global partners stand together in countering these ongoing malign activities. End Text NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dean of Kim Il Sung University on Thoroughly Defending DPRK's Legitimate Right to Use Aerospace Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, August 8 (KCNA) -- The DPRK amended and supplemented the Law of the DPRK on Aerospace Development at the 21st Plenary Meeting of the 14th Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly of the DPRK on August 7, 2022, thus providing a legal framework for accelerating the construction of aerospace industry. Jang Song Chol, dean of a faculty of Kim Il Sung University, gave the following answer to a question raised by KCNA as regards the significance and mission of the Law of the DPRK on Aerospace Development and the study and education of aerospace law in the DPRK: The Law of the DPRK on Aerospace Development keeps it as its main mission to contribute to developing science, technology and economy, improving the people's living standard and strengthening the national defence capabilities by establishing a strict system and order in aerospace development. The DPRK has directed efforts to the study and education of aerospace law as part of its efforts to thoroughly defend its legitimate right to build a space power while coordinating the development and use of aerospace in accordance with the internationally and nationally recognized laws. After the successful launch of the first satellite in 1998, the Law of the DPRK on Aerospace Development was adopted amid the intensified work for comprehensively analyzing and evaluating international treaties and conventions, and lectures on the aerospace law began at the Law Faculty of Kim Il Sung University. The lectures deal with the essence, origination and development of the international space law, legal status of outer space, moon and other celestial bodies, space flight, protection of space environment, damage caused by space objects and responsibility for it in connection with the Law of the DPRK on Aerospace Development. In particular, the lectures focus on making the students deeply understand the principle of the DPRK in the development and use of aerospace and practical issues for firmly defending the sovereignty of the state in outer space. The aerospace science faculty has trained scientific and technical personnel who will assume the country's project for conquering outer space. It teaches the students the essential legal items including the issue of bounding the territorial sky and space and the issues arising in manufacturing and launching satellite and carrier rocket and registering frequencies. We will train more talented people with a wealth of knowledge in the field of aerospace law, true to the decisions of the plenary meetings of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, and thus more firmly defend the legitimate right of our state. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press Statement by Minister of National Defence of DPRK Korean Central News Agency of DPRK Pyongyang, August 11 (KCNA) -- No Kwang Chol, minister of National Defence of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, on Sunday issued a press statement titled "It is the absolute mission of the armed forces of the Republic to defend its security interests from hostile threats of the U.S. and the ROK", which said: The U.S. and the ROK military warmongers officially announced that the large-scale joint military exercises Ulji Freedom Shield will start from August 18. The enemies do not conceal the fact that a new manual and methods of modern warfare targeting regional countries as well as the DPRK will be applied to the joint military exercises to be staged throughout the whole realms with the mobilization of the U.S. overseas troops, including the expedition of the U.S. Marine Corps, and even the troops from member states of the "UN Command". We strongly denounce the U.S. and the ROK for their provocative moves of clearly showing the stand of military confrontation with the DPRK and making another serious challenge to the security environment on the Korean peninsula and in the region and solemnly warn them of the negative consequences to be entailed by them. The Ulji Freedom Shield to be staged under the simulated conditions of a real nuclear war is not only a direct military provocation against the DPRK but also a real threat to amplify the unpredictability of the situation on the Korean peninsula in the state of armistice and freeze the instability of the regional situation. The unilateral military threat and confrontation attempt perpetrated by the U.S. and the ROK under the pretext of containing "threat" from someone are the main reason why the situation on the Korean peninsula and in its surrounding region is changing negatively day by day. The military demonstration against the DPRK will certainly have a boomerang effect of plunging the security of the U.S. and the ROK into a less safe situation. From the point of view of power, it is the absolute mission of the armed forces of the DPRK to contain offensive movements of the enemy states, counter their military provocations and defend the security of the state and the peace of the region. The armed forces of the DPRK will cope with the war drills of the U.S. and the ROK with thoroughgoing and resolute counteraction posture and strictly exercise the sovereign right of the DPRK at the level of the right to self-defence in a case of any provocation going beyond the boundary line. -0- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Interview with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in the Judische Allgemeine Germany Federal Foreign Office 10.08.2025 - Interview Published on 3 August 2025 Question: Mr Wadephul, your job involves liaising constantly with Israeli representatives, and you have just visited the country for the second time in three months. But what does Israel mean for you personally? Johann Wadephul: I am deeply shaped by the understanding that, after the terrible crimes of the Nazi regime, Germany has an enormous responsibility towards Israel as a home for all Jewish people. I have thoroughly absorbed this and it shapes my Israel policy as well. For me as a Christian, meanwhile, it always means something special to be in Jerusalem and other places in the Middle East that I know from the Bible. Last but not least, Israel is simply a wonderful country where many people live who are close to my heart. Question: You are a seasoned parliamentarian, but serving as Foreign Minister is the first time in your career that you have been constantly in the public eye. Were you surprised by the attention and the considerable criticism that this role entails? Johann Wadephul: Yes and no. I knew that it involves a certain degree of exposure. There has however been some criticism that I did not expect and was rather astonished by. But doing this job also means developing a thick skin. Question: There was criticism, for example, when you said in late May that Germany cannot show "forced solidarity" with Israel. Do you regret this choice of words in hindsight? Johann Wadephul: I have already said several times that I would not use that term in the same way again. But I stand by the point that I ultimately wanted to express. We Germans do of course bear great responsibility towards Israel. However, the Federal Government must also be able to criticise the Israeli Government and individual politicians. Question: Do you see how your words were interpreted, not least in the Jewish community, as breaking away from the raison d'etat of Germany's special responsibility for Israel? Johann Wadephul: I think it is quite clear that this responsibility has not at any point been called into question, and that both personally and in my politics I stand wholeheartedly by Israel. That should also be clear when one looks at the entirety of my political career and the stances I have taken over time. As Foreign Minister, I travelled to Israel in my first week in office, I have just been there once again, and I am in close contact with my Israeli counterpart. This special German responsibility for Israel's security and existence is what makes it so painful and concerning for a German Foreign Minister to see the danger Israel faces, of becoming ever more isolated on the international stage. We want to prevent this. Question: And yet your sister party, the CSU, has urged publicly and behind the scenes for you and the Chancellor to show greater moderation in your approach to Israel. To many people, this seems more like vacillation than the fully coordinated foreign policy that you promised when you took office. Do you share this impression? Johann Wadephul: No, it's a normal process to have criticism coming from various sides. I have equally been criticised in recent days and weeks for being far too proIsraeli. I am one of the European Foreign Ministers who are saying clearly that we will not recognise a Palestinian state now and who do not want to call into question the EU Israel Association Agreement. That has earned me a certain amount of criticism, from our coalition partner as well as from diplomats, both former and current. Question: When the CDU was in opposition, it criticised the previous Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock a great deal for her Israel policy. What are you doing differently to your predecessor? Johann Wadephul: We must always consider policy in the specific context in which it is made. For example, there was a noticeable reduction in arms supplies by the previous government, at a time that was in my view in the midst of the justified fight against Hamas. I believed that to be wrong at the time, I criticised it then and I stand by this assessment now. The current Federal Government, too, stands by the German policy that has been in place since Oslo. But I only see recognition of a Palestinian state coming towards the end of a negotiated twostate solution. I take a clear stance as a German Foreign Minister, whose central task it is to stand by Israel's side. However, that does not mean that there is not also criticism here and there. It is precisely because I am in such close contact with Gideon Sa'ar that we are able to speak frankly with one another. Question: During your most recent visit to Israel, you took an unusually tough tone by German standards. Why did you believe that to be necessary? Johann Wadephul: Because we have an unusually critical lack of basic supplies in the Gaza Strip. The territory is home to around two million people who are cut off from any regular supply of food, water and aid. It is first and foremost the Israeli Government who is responsible for this. It is absolutely justified that Israel is defending itself against Hamas. But the impact on the civilian population has become so profound that there must be a course correction. The vast majority of the international community shares this view. Question: The Israelis are saying quite clearly that there is enough food in Gaza. Why do you not believe that? Johann Wadephul: I always try to gain a full view of the situation. And so I have also been hearing what the United Nations and other international aid organisations are saying. In the international community, almost everyone is of the view that there is a glaring lack of supplies. We should not close our eyes to this. Question: In Jerusalem, you set out the clear expectation that there must be a fundamental improvement of the situation in Gaza. Are you persuaded after your visit that the Israelis will initiate the steps needed for that to happen? Johann Wadephul: As I said, I enjoy regular, productive contact with Gideon Sa'ar, and he played a pivotal role in bringing about the first small signs of improvement that we have been seeing in Gaza for the last week or so. I hope that intensive efforts will now be made to continue this. That is the outcome of my talks with the Prime Minister and the President as well. What is also needed is for there to finally be a ceasefire, for Hamas to be incapacitated and for it to release the hostages, who include German nationals. Hamas is responsible for the whole situation. On this point, too, I concur with the Israelis. Question: What happens if, in a few days or weeks, you reach the conclusion that the Israeli Government has not done what Germany and the EU expected of it? Johann Wadephul: Politicians are well advised not to answer hypothetical questions. And decisions of that nature would anyway be taken by the Cabinet, not by an individual ministry. But I have faith, in fact I have the clear, well-founded expectation, that there will be a significant improvement of the humanitarian situation. Because the Israeli Government has assured us of this. Question: You brought a great deal of diplomatic weight to bear during your visit to Jerusalem. Do the Israelis risk a rift in the German-Israeli friendship if they fail to meet your expectations? Johann Wadephul: I believe that the German-Israeli friendship is unshakeable. What concerns me more is that Israel could end up in an isolated position, and as German Foreign Minister I must help to prevent that. Hence our indepth talks and our efforts to see a significant improvement in the situation. Question: On Friday morning in Jerusalem, you also met with relatives of the hostages who are being held in Gaza. What do you aim to do for their release? Johann Wadephul: We must campaign hard for it at every level. As before, I urgently call on all states who are known to have connections with Hamas to exert pressure for the hostages to finally be released. Some of them are Germans. The terrible videos that have just become public, parading Evyatar David and the German hostage Rom Braslavski in front of the camera, reveal the sheer depravity of their tormentors. Terrorists such as these can never again be permitted to wield political influence. And everyone must be aware that the Federal Government is paying very close attention to whether our interests are being upheld and whether our compatriots will finally be released. We will bring all of our weight to bear in these negotiations. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Telephone conversation with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. August 8, 2025 16:45 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, held on August 6 in Moscow. The Prime Minister thanked the President of Russia for the information and confirmed India's unwavering stance in favour of settling the situation surrounding Ukraine via political and diplomatic means. In addition, Vladimir Putin and Narendra Modi exchanged views on key bilateral issues, including cooperation in trade, economy, and investment. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India denies suspending US defense purchase amid tariff dispute Iran Press TV Friday, 08 August 2025 7:20 PM India has refuted reports suggesting it has paused planned arms purchases from the United States following an escalation in trade tensions between the two countries. "The news reports on India pausing the talks related to defense purchases with the US are false and fabricated," India's Ministry of Defense said on Friday. Media speculation intensified this week after US President Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on Indian exports, prompting claims that New Delhi had retaliated by suspending talks on several major defense deals. Reports suggested that India was putting on hold the acquisition of key American military equipment, including Stryker combat vehicles, Javelin anti-tank missiles, and multiple Boeing aircraft. India's Defense Ministry refuted a Reuters report that the Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh had cancelled a scheduled trip to Washington, where he was expected to finalize several arms agreements. Reuters had reported that the cancellation was part of a broader diplomatic pushback from India in response to Trump's imposition of new tariffs on Indian goods. The US administration on Wednesday implemented a 50 percent tariff on selected Indian exports, a move that significantly escalated trade tensions between the two nations. While both governments have acknowledged increased friction over trade issues, India maintains that its defense procurement talks with US manufacturers are ongoing and unaffected by the current dispute. Defense cooperation between India and the United States has expanded significantly in recent years, with multi-billion-dollar deals signed for aircraft, helicopters, artillery systems, and surveillance platforms. The Ministry's statement on Friday signals New Delhi's intent to keep defense collaboration insulated from broader geopolitical or economic disputes. However, the Indian sources noted that while no formal instructions have been issued to pause defense purchases, there has been no recent progress. Any future procurement, they said, will depend on how the tariff situation and broader bilateral relations evolve. Meanwhile, Trump's announcement of a new "penalty" on India, imposing an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods due to New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian oil has caused frustration in India and sparked public outrage over what many see as US economic aggression toward both allies and adversaries. New Delhi called the new tariffs "extremely unfortunate" and condemned Washington for its "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable" foreign policy. Within hours, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement saying the United States, "has in recent days targeted India's oil imports from Russia." "We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that 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. It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest. We reiterate that these actions are unfair, unjustified and unreasonable. India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests," the statement read. Trump, however, has accused India of profiting from the war in Ukraine by reselling Russian oil and thereby helping fund the Russian military's ongoing operations in Donbas. Indian officials argue that the new tariffs unfairly single out India, despite other countries also continuing trade with Moscow. Bilateral trade between the US and India reached $190 billion in 2024. To help narrow the $47 billion US trade deficit, the Indian government had agreed to purchase billions of dollars' worth of American military equipment, deals now cast into uncertainty by the deepening tariff row. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address INS SANDHAYAK IN CHANGI NAVAL BASE, SINGAPORE India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence Posted On: 09 AUG 2025 6:50PM by PIB Delhi Indian Naval Ship Sandhayak, the first indigenous Survey Vessel Large (SVL) with state of the art hydrography capability entered Singapore on the momentous occasion of its National Day - 09 Aug 25 for a three-day visit. 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. 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 Feb 2024 in presence of the Hon'ble Raksha Mantri. The ship has fullscale coastal and deepwater 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 Mr Gary Chew, Assistant Chief Hydrographer, Singapore and courtesy call on Colonel Chauah Meng Soon, Commander 9th Flotilla, Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) by the Commanding Officer. Other activities include visit of Republic of Singapore Navy personnel onboard and showcasing of hydrographic capabilities of 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. _______________________ VM/SKY (Release ID: 2154707) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Operation Sindoor is a testament to the synergy & operational cohesion among the three Services: CDS India - Press Information Bureau Ministry of Defence Posted On: 10 AUG 2025 10:02AM by PIB Delhi Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan has described the success of 'Operation Sindoor' as a testament to the synergy and operational cohesion among the three Services. Addressing the participants of the 21st Higher Defence Management Course (HDMC) and senior officers at the College of Defence Management (CDM), Secunderabad, the CDS shared strategic perspectives on Jointness & Integration in the Armed Forces, and highlighted key takeaways for shaping the future roadmap of integrated operations. General Anil Chauhan laid stress on the importance of comprehensive capability development, Aatmanirbharta and in-depth understanding of the transformative changes being pursued in the military to deal with the disruptive changes in the technology-driven modern warfare. The CDS delivered an insightful talk on 'National Security Architecture and Higher Defence Management'. He outlined the evolution and current structure of India's defence organisation. He highlighted the achievements of the Department of Military Affairs, the functioning of national security committees crucial for decision-making, the implementation of reforms, including organisational restructuring, and the road map for theatre commands to enhance joint capability. The address underscored the importance of continued reforms, coordination and adaptability to meet evolving national security challenges. As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen joint logistics and integration, General Anil Chauhan released the 'Joint Primer for Integrated Logistics', a comprehensive guide prepared by CDM. Logistics is the backbone of military operations and integration of logistical processes across the Armed Forces is critical to achieving strategic objectives, he said. This primer marks a step forward in modernising the logistics systems, ensuring that the Armed Forces are always equipped and prepared for any challenge. It highlights core areas of logistics integration le digitisation, common provisioning and procurement and integration with national logistics framework. The document is aimed at enhancing Tri-service logistics coordination, improving efficiency, and ensuring greater organisational effectiveness across the Armed Forces. The CDS also inaugurated Smart Bike Public Bicycle Sharing Facility, a pioneering initiative to enable convenient access to eco-friendly e-bicycles for daily commutation to personnel at CDM, thereby reducing the carbon footprint. This project has been carried out by CDM in collaboration with Smart Bike Mobility Pvt Ltd and reflects commitment of CDM towards green practices, embracing smart technology and healthier lifestyle alternatives. Commandant, CDM Maj Gen Harsh Chhibber gave a comprehensive briefing on the recent initiatives in promoting professional military education for shaping the future strategic leadership of the Armed Forces. The CDM, a premier Tri-service institution, continues to play a pivotal role in equipping senior officers with contemporary management skills essential for higher leadership roles. The ongoing 44-week HDMC includes 167 participants, including 12 officers from friendly nations, reinforcing India's commitment to regional cooperation and military diplomacy. ******* SR/Savvy (Release ID: 2154796) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's envoy to UN slams French 'hypocrisy' over nuclear proliferation Iran Press TV Friday, 08 August 2025 11:10 AM Iran has sharply denounced France at the United Nations, saying Paris is distorting facts and promoting double standards over Tehran's nuclear program while ignoring Israel's undeclared arsenal. In a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Security Council President Eloy Alfaro de Alba, Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saied Iravani, rejected France's remarks as "unwarranted, provocative, and politically motivated." His response came after a French representative at the August 6 meeting on the "Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction" accused Iran of worsening what it called a "proliferation crisis." "Such a baseless allegation is not only wholly irrelevant to the subject matter of the meeting... but also represents a deliberate distortion of facts," Iravani wrote on Thursday. "Iran's nuclear program remains exclusively peaceful and fully transparent. Iran continues to honour its obligations under the NPT," he added. The ambassador condemned France's selective concern. He pointed out that Paris, a nuclear-armed state and permanent member of the Security Council, has long failed to meet its own obligations under Article VI of the NPTwhich requires disarmamentand has played a central role in enabling Israel's clandestine nuclear weapons program. "It is deeply disappointing and hypocritical that France... voices concern over Iran's peaceful nuclear program while ignoring its own long-standing role in undermining the non-proliferation regime," the letter stated. "France remains silent on Israel's nuclear arsenal, and has never called for its accession to the NPT." There is credible historical evidence that France played a significant role in helping Israel develop its nuclear capabilities during the 1950s and early 1960s. According to declassified US State Department records, Israel received "substantial help from the French in the nuclear field" during that era. Academic research further reveals that France provided critical support in building Israel's Dimona plutonium reactor, including supplying a research reactor, construction assistance, uranium fuel, and necessary financing. The letter comes about two months after the Israeli regime launched an unprovoked aggression against Iran. The regime's military targeted Iranian peaceful nuclear sites on June 13, and nine days later, the United States joined the aggression and bombed the nuclear facilities in a flagrant violation of international law and Iran's sovereignty. Despite the scale and significance of the attacks, the Western states, including France, and even the IAEA, refrained from condemning the strikes, raising concerns in Tehran over the agency's impartiality and credibility. Iravani said France's silence on the attacks was tantamount to complicity. "Such complicity not only violates international law and the UN Charter but also threatens the integrity of the global non-proliferation regime." Israel, which has never signed the NPT, is widely believed to possess between 200 and 400 nuclear warheads. It has maintained a policy of nuclear ambiguity for decades, refusing to allow any international inspections of its military nuclear sites. With consistent US backing, Israel has escaped scrutiny even as it remains the only state in West Asia with a nuclear arsenal. Iran's envoy called on France to take a clear stance. "If France truly cares about the nuclear non-proliferation regime," he wrote, "it must end its double standards and hypocrisy, and unequivocally demand that Israel accede to the Non-Proliferation Treaty... and place its undeclared military nuclear program under the full-scope monitoring and verification of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)." Meanwhile, France is pushing ahead with plans to extend and modernize its nuclear arsenaldespite its obligations under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). President Emmanuel Macron announced in March that the Luxeuil air base will undergo a sweeping upgrade to rejoin France's nuclear deterrent force. "The Luxeuil air base is about to be upgraded in an unprecedented way and regain its full role in France's nuclear deterrent," Macron said during a visit to the site. The overhaul will require a "massive investment," he added, to accommodate two squadrons of Rafale fighter jets equipped to carry nuclear weapons. Under the 1.5 billion plan, the base will host F5 Rafale jets and ASN4G air-launched hypersonic nuclear missiles by 2035. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Araghchi: Next round of talks not scheduled IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 10, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says that the round of talks has not been planned as yet and nothing has been finalized. "Indirect negotiations have not been finalized yet, and I do not endorse any country in this regard," Araghchi told reporters on Sunday. Regarding the visit of the Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, he said: "Our negotiations with the Agency will be held tomorrow regarding the new framework of cooperation. I have explained earlier that Deputy Director General will come to Tehran tomorrow. There is no plan for open inspections. We have not yet reached an agreement on the new framework and cooperation will not begin until we reach this new framework. This new framework will definitely be based on the law of the esteemed Iranian Parliament." Regarding the next round of negotiations with Europe, the Foreign Minister also said: "Our contacts with the other side continue and the discussions are still on the agenda. Our issue is still clear; in our opinion, 'snapback' is not relevant and Europe cannot take such a step. In our opinion, the Europeans are no longer considered participants in the JCPOA, given the positions they have taken. Of course, there are technical and legal discussions in this regard that my colleagues are in contact with." Regarding the next round of negotiations with the United States, he also said that the next round of negotiations has not been set yet and nothing has been finalized. "Indirect negotiations have not been finalized yet, and I do not endorse any country in this regard." In response to a question about the agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Araqchi also said that regarding relations with Armenia and Azerbaijan, it should be said that we have had repeated discussions with them. " "Tomorrow, the Armenian Foreign Minister will call me. Mr. Pashinyan, the Armenian Prime Minister, will also call, and on Tuesday, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia is scheduled to come to Tehran. We are in continuous consultations with the parties. Our position on Zangzor and the issues raised is completely clear; we welcome any peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and we have previously announced our readiness to cooperate and assist in the peace process between the two countries," he said. He added: "Our positions are also clear regarding the region; We want to maintain the full sovereignty of all countries in the region over their territories and defend the territorial integrity of all countries in the region. We also defend international borders and do not accept any changes to them. What is stated in the joint statement of the two countries of Armenia and Azerbaijan includes these three principles: respect for the sovereignty of the countries in the region, respect for their territorial integrity, and opposition to any border changes. These are exactly in line with the positions of the Islamic Republic of Iran." Araghchi stressed that the issue of another corridor has been completely set aside and the discussion is about a transit road that will be built under the sovereignty and jurisdiction of Armenia, on the territory of this country, adding that the implementation of this project is the responsibility of a company that, according to what was said, will be an American-Armenian company registered in Armenia and operating under the laws of this country. "Of course, as stated in the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, any foreign presence in the region, in any form, can have negative consequences for the peace and stability of the region. We have always raised this issue with the Azerbaijani and Armenian sides and will continue to emphasize it. We are closely monitoring developments. So far, our principled positions have been respected, but the possible presence of the American company is a cause for concern and we will continue our consultations in this regard," he added. The Foreign Minister said that Iran has warned against any foreign presence in the region, and emphasized that such an action could threaten peace and stability. "The possible presence of an American company in this project is a cause for concern for Iran, and this issue has been shared with the parties and developments are being closely followed." Regarding the complete occupation of Gaza, Araqchi also said: "Regarding Iran's reaction to the complete occupation, it should be said that last night or the day before yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on this matter. Our position is completely clear; we do not accept and condemn any occupation of Gaza and any displacement of the people of Gaza. Also, the crimes that occur there every day are condemned. Yesterday, 22 Islamic countries also issued a joint statement on the same issue. In my opinion, up until now, the positions of Islamic and Arab countries in this regard have been very good." (This news item is being updated.) 2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address All foreign policy decisions made in coordination with Leader: Pezeshkian IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 10, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- President Masoud Pezeshkian says his administration will implement all foreign policy decisions and negotiations in full coordination with Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. "None of the policies with regard to international relations or negotiations is being pursued without coordinating with the Leader," Pezeshkian said at a meeting with media executives on the occasion of Journalist's Day in Tehran on Sunday. The president insisted that this approach "is not merely a slogan," but a foundational principle of his administration. "Scientifically and ideologically, I believe that anything that goes against the Leader's opinion should be avoided," he said. The president said Ayatollah Khamenei is the pillar and foundation of the Islamic Republic, and issues must be followed only if they are consistent with his directives. Pezeshkian also underlined the need for fostering national unity, a driving theme of his administration's domestic policy. He warned that the country will suffer if the foundations and framework of national cohesion are undermined. "During the 12-day war, the enemies expected internal rebellion and discord, and they are still waiting for the same," the president said, adding that the nation must defeat the enemy through unity and cohesion. 4399**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran FM: IAEA official due in Tehran, no nuclear sites inspection planned Iran Press TV Sunday, 10 August 2025 5:39 PM Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the deputy head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will travel to Tehran for talks, but visits to nuclear sites will not be part of the agenda. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Araghchi said during the UN nuclear agency's official trip, the sides are scheduled to hold talks about a new framework for Iran-IAEA cooperation. "There is no plan for any inspection. We have not yet reached an agreement on a new framework [for cooperation] and until we reach this new framework, no cooperation will begin," he added. He emphasized that the new framework will be based on a parliamentary law suspending Tehran's full cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog. On June 25, the Iranian Parliament unanimously passed a law mandating the government to suspend all cooperation with the IAEA. Under the law, the agency's inspectors will not be permitted to enter Iran unless the security of the country's nuclear facilities and that of peaceful nuclear activities is guaranteed, which is subject to the approval of the Supreme National Security Council. In response to a question about fresh negotiations between Iran and the United States, Araghchi said the next round of talks has not been fixed yet. He noted that indirect Tehran-Washington talks have not yet been finalized, adding that he does not confirm any country as the host of the negotiations. Iran and the United States had held five rounds of indirect talks on Tehran's peaceful nuclear program before the Israeli regime launched a war of aggression on June 13. Mediated by Oman, the 6th round of talks had been planned to be held in the Omani capital of Muscat on June 15, but was called off due to the Israeli attacks. Iran welcomes peace between Azerbaijan, Armenia Araghchi said Iran welcomes any peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan and has previously expressed its readiness for cooperation in this regard. He added that Iran is in constant contact with both countries and pursues a "very clear" stance on the Zangezur Corridor. "We call for the maintenance of the full sovereignty of all countries in the region over their territories and defend the territorial integrity of all regional countries. We also defend international borders and do not accept any change to them," the top Iranian diplomat asserted. He emphasized that a new agreement signed between Armenia and Azerbaijan includes the principles of respect for the regional countries' sovereignty as well as territorial integrity and objection to any change in borders. "These points are precisely in line with the positions of the Islamic Republic of Iran," Araghchi said. Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a US-brokered peace agreement on Friday during a meeting with US President Donald Trump after decades of tensions over the long-disputed region of Karabakh. The region has always been internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, whose troops retook it in a 24-hour offensive in September 2023. The Iranian foreign minister said the issue of the Zangezur Corridor has been completely set aside, noting that an American-Armenian company would implement a project on the construction of a transit road inside Armenia. This company is registered in Armenia and operates under this country's regulations, he added. He once again warned that "any foreign presence in the region, in any form, can have adverse consequences for regional peace and stability." "We are closely monitoring the developments. So far, our principled positions have been observed but the potential presence of an American company is a cause for concern. We will continue our consultations in this regard," Araghchi pointed out. The Zangezur Corridor is a 43-kilometer land route that would connect mainland Azerbaijan to its exclave Nakhchivan, passing through Armenia's Syunik Province. Armenia opposes the plan, saying it would violate its sovereignty. Iran has in the past opposed the plan because it would cut off the transport routes connecting its territories to Armenia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address One policeman, three terrorists killed in clashes in southeast Iran Iran Press TV Sunday, 10 August 2025 9:40 AM At least one policeman and three terrorists have been killed in armed clashes in Iran's southeastern province of Sistan and Baluchestan. The clashes took place on Sunday, when several terrorists attempted to enter a police station in the city of Saravan, but they received a crushing response from the Iranian forces. The police officer killed in the attack was identified as Khodadad Baqeri, a father of four. Sistan and Baluchestan Police Chief Brigadier General Mohammad Reza Es'haqi said his forces killed 3 armed bandits, arrested four others, and seized two vehicles belonging to them, as well as a Kalashnikov rifle and a handgun with related ammunition. "The police has stood firmly against the malicious acts of traitorous bandits and will spare no efforts in ensuring the security of the people," he added. Sistan and Baluchestan, which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan, has long been the site of frequent clashes between Iranian security forces and Takfiri terrorists as well as drug traffickers. Iranian forces have protected the border and managed to repel almost all assaults by foreign-backed terrorists. The so-called Jaish al-Adl, based in Pakistan, has claimed responsibility for several terror attacks targeting both civilians and security forces in recent years in Sistan and Baluchestan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran, IAEA to Discuss New Formats of Interaction on Monday - Foreign Ministry Sputnik News 20250810 TEHRAN, (Sputnik) - Tehran will hold talks with one of the deputies of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi on new forms of interaction on August 11, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday. "Tomorrow we will hold talks with the deputy of Mr. Grossi, the IAEA Secretary General, on the issue of new forms of interaction," Araghchi was quoted as saying by Iranian news agency IRNA. On July 2, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a decree that suspended Iran's cooperation with the IAEA. The foreign minister said that channels for cooperation remained open. Iran says that its cooperation with the IAEA is conditional on safeguards for its nuclear facilities and scientists. The suspension of cooperation is linked to Iran's criticism of the IAEA and Grossi for inaction amid US and Israeli strikes on nuclear facilities in Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel signs largest-ever export deal to supply gas to Egypt Iran Press TV Friday, 08 August 2025 11:10 AM Israel has signed its largest-ever export agreement to send natural gas to Egypt despite calls worldwide to boycott the occupying regime over its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip. Under the deal, Leviathan natural gas field, located in the Mediterranean Sea, will export up to $35 billion worth of natural gas to Egypt, Israeli NewMed Energy LP, one of the partners in the reservoir, said in a statement on Thursday. It added that agreement will see Leviathan selling about 130 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas to Egypt through 2040, or until all of the contract quantities are fulfilled. The projects will start with 20 billion in the first half of 2026 after the connection of additional pipelines, and increase to 110 billion once an expansion project is completed. Since 2020, Leviathan has been providing gas to Egypt under a contract for around 60 billion cubic meters, which is expected to be supplied by the early 2030s. To date, 23.5 bcm has been delivered. "We'll increase the flow to Egypt practically early next year, from the [annual] 4.5 bcm to 6.5 bcm. Then once we finish in 2029 the second phase of Leviathan, we will increase that to 12 bcm a year," NewMed CEO Yossi Abu said. The gas deal was signed at a time, when calls are intensifying across the world to end trade and financial ties with Israel due to its ongoing genocide in Gaza. Since the start of the brutal Gaza onslaught, Cairo has repeatedly condemned Israeli war crimes against Palestinians, but maintained and even increased its economic relations with Tel Aviv. Israel unleashed its genocidal war on the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, after the Hamas resistance group carried out its historic operation against the usurping entity in retaliation for the regime's intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people. The Tel Aviv regime has so far failed to achieve its declared objectives of eliminating Hamas and freeing all captives in Gaza, despite killing 61,258 Palestinians, mostly women, and children, and injuring 152,045 others. A mass starvation is also gripping Gaza due to Israel's blockade of the territory. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Declaring 'war', Israeli ultra-Orthodox rebel against military draft Iran Press TV Friday, 08 August 2025 11:03 AM Tensions among Israeli settlers have sharply escalated as ultra-Orthodox Jewish leaders and media declared an ideological "war" against the Israeli military's enforcement of draft orders for Haredi men, revealing deepening divisions amid the prolonged war on Gaza. Major ultra-Orthodox newspapers on Thursday featured stark headlines. Yated Neeman printed the single word "War," while HaDerech declared a "War for God," following the arrest of two yeshiva students for draft evasion. Haredi leaders accused the Israeli regime of violating their religious beliefs and threatening their way of life. For decades, Haredi men have been exempt from Israel's mandatory military service to pursue full-time religious studies. However, a 2023 ruling by Israel's high court ended these broad exemptions, prompting the military to begin enforcing draft orders amid growing troop shortages. Nearly two years of intense aggression in Gaza have stretched the Israeli military, which now requires an additional 12,000 soldiers. Meanwhile, approximately 80,000 Haredi men aged 18 to 24 have yet to register for conscription. Rabbi Dov Lando, a leading spiritual figure, described the arrests as a "declaration of war" on yeshiva students. Haredi political parties, including Shas and United Torah Judaism, are lobbying to reinstate legal exemptions, further fueling tensions in an entity already divided over the military burden. Opposition politicians have seized the opportunity to criticize the ultra-Orthodox stance. "There is indeed a war in Israel, but it's in Gaza and people are dying," opposition leader Yair Lapid said. The internal conflict unfolds as Israel's military aggression in Gaza, initiated in October 2023, continues amid international condemnation. Human rights groups and UN officials have described the level of destruction and displacement as unprecedented, with more than two million Palestinians displaced and much of Gaza razed. Humanitarian aid remains severely restricted. Reports indicate Israeli plans to forcibly relocate Palestinians, raising fears of permanent demographic changes. A prominent Israeli analyst, Akiva Eldar, warned of mounting chaos across Israel's economic, military, and social spheres. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Eldar criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent cabinet approval of a plan to occupy Gaza, predicting widespread protests and refusal among reservists to serve. Eldar said, "There is no exit strategy from Gaza, and growing despair is visible within the military." Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid called the occupation plan a "disaster" likely to trigger further tragedy, including the deaths of captives and soldiers and deepening political collapse. Lapid said the decision contradicted military advice and ignored the severe fatigue of Israel's forces. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Germany Suspends Issuing Permits for Export of Weapons to Israel - Merz Sputnik News 20250808 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Germany is suspending issuing permits for export of weapons to Israel, which can be used in the Gaza Strip, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday. On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that the country intends to take control of all of the Gaza Strip in order to ensure its security and remove the Palestinian movement Hamas from the area. Israel has the right to defend itself from Hamas, and the release of hostages and targeted negotiations on a cease-fire are the top priority, Merz stated. "The even tougher military actions of the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip, approved last night by the Israeli Cabinet of Ministers, according to the German government, make it increasingly difficult to understand how these goals can be achieved. In these circumstances, the German government will not approve the export of military products that can be used in the Gaza Strip until further notice," Merz said. German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil welcomed the chancellor's decision, saying that, despite standing with Israel, Berlin cannot justify its inhumane actions in Gaza, the DPA news agency reported. "Right now, humanitarian aid must be delivered to the Gaza Strip as quickly and fully as possible," Klingbeil said. Klingbeil also condemned any actions in Gaza or the West Bank that contradict the two-state solution, and called for the swift release of all hostages and a ceasefire. On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel intends to establish control over the entire Gaza Strip to ensure a security perimeter, subsequently transferring it to a new "civilian administration." He added that the State of Israel does not plan to retain control over the Strip. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran envoy says Germany's decision to halt arms exports to Israel 'too late' IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 9, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Majid Nili Ahmadabadi, Iran's ambassador to Germany, has criticized Berlin's decision to suspend military exports to Israel as "too late," given the depth of the humanitarian disaster in the besieged Gaza Strip. Ahmadabadi made the remarks in a post on X on Saturday, responding to Chancellor Friedrich Merz's announcement that Germany would halt all exports of military equipment to Israel that could be used in Gaza "until further notice." The move marked a rare and striking shift by one of Israel's strongest international backers, following a decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition to take control of Gaza City. Iran's ambassador described the German chancellor's decision as "too late," but added that even a small step could help heal the deep wounds of the defenseless Palestinians trapped in what he called an "open prison." Germany, alongside the United States and Italy, has been among the top suppliers of weapons used by Israel in its ongoing genocidal war in Gaza. On Friday, Germany expressed anger over Israel's plan to expand military operations in Gaza City. The United Nations, regional countries, humanitarian organizations, and human rights groups have widely condemned the escalation. Britain, Spain, Turkey, and Australia are among Israel's allies that have so far condemned the plan to occupy Gaza City. 4399**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese expert warns Japan's increased surprise attack capability with first F-35B deployment for negatively impacting regional peace, stability Global Times By Guo Yuandan Published: Aug 08, 2025 09:02 PM The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) deployed F-35B stealth fighter jets to the Nyutabaru Air Base in Miyazaki Prefecture for the first time on Thursday, marking the first time since World War II that Japan has possessed carrier-based fighter jets. A Chinese military affairs expert told the Global Times on Friday that with the introduction of the F-35B, the JASDF has acquired a rapid-response aerial combat platform, greatly enhancing its surprise attack and assault capabilities - moves that will undoubtedly have a negative impact on regional peace and stability. Japan's Ministry of Defense had originally planned to deploy the F-35B at Nyutabaru Air Base in 2024, but delivery was delayed by the US. The JASDF plans to acquire a total of 42 F-35Bs and deploy eight to the base. Of the first batch of four aircraft stationed on Thursday, three flew from Guam to the base under the control of US pilots, while the fourth was delayed due to inspection of the airframe, according to Kyodo News. Planned training flights for the US-made jets, which can take off from short runways and land vertically, have already sparked a backlash from residents who are angry about the associated noise. On Thursday, when the three arriving F-35Bs reached the base, one of them conducted a vertical landing. The jet hovered almost motionless in the air before slowly descending straight down, producing a deafening roar that lasted about two minutes. About 50 protesters rallied at a square near the base, holding up signs opposing the F-35B deployment, according to reports by Kyodo News. Japan's Ministry of Defense said this year that it planned to conduct up to about 100 training flights per month, including around 40 at night. Vertical landings, including hovering, typically take about two minutes - five times longer than a normal fighter landing - with noise levels reaching as high as 130 decibels, far exceeding the 92 decibels of a standard landing, reported Asahi Shimbun. Despite waves of local protests, Japan has persisted in deploying the F-35B because of its powerful stealth features, which make it difficult for radar to detect, as well as its ability to take off and land vertically over short distances. The fighters are expected to be deployed aboard the Kaga and Izumo, two Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers currently being converted into aircraft carriers, Kyodo News said. It also said that this move contradicts Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, which renounces the maintenance of war potential, as well as the nation's "exclusively defense-oriented" policy. It could also trigger concern or even protests from neighboring countries. An anonymous military affairs expert told the Global Times on Friday that Japan's introduction of F-35Bs from the US signals a national defense strategy shift from defense to offense. In the future, the F-35Bs will be stationed on the refitted Kaga and Izumo light carriers. The expert said that Japan would then be capable of conducting offensive missions not only in waters around the "first island chain" but also across the vast Pacific and even further afield. "Moreover, using light carrier groups as cover, Japan's Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade could carry out island-seizure operations. This will undoubtedly have a negative impact on regional peace and stability." With the F-35B, the JASDF gains a rapid-response aerial combat platform capable of operating in complex combat environments. According to the expert, the F-35B requires a very short runway for takeoff. "Even if Japan launches a preemptive strike and its air bases are hit, destroying runways, the F-35B can still take off and land on limited runway space. On some smaller islands, as long as there is a basic airstrip, the F-35B can operate." "Therefore, the deployment of F-35Bs significantly boosts Japan's surprise attack and assault capabilities. Previously, Japan had no stealth fighters. With the F-35A and F-35B, it will inevitably prioritize the use of these stealth fighters in preemptive strikes," the expert noted. "The US export of the F-35B to Japan shows Washington is deliberately "letting the tiger out of its cage" - strengthening Japan's offensive military capabilities so it can collaborate more closely with US forces in the so-called Indo-Pacific region." Meanwhile, Japanese media have repeatedly hyped claims that "China is steadily strengthening its carrier capabilities around Japan." The Nikkei reported on Friday that China currently operates two aircraft carriers - Liaoning and Shandong - and sailed through the "second island chain" in June, arguing that the expanding operational range of Chinese carriers poses a threat to Japan. Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Friday that such claims are pure fabrication. For years, whether developing or purchasing stealth fighters, hypersonic missiles, submarines, or other offensive weapons, Japan has done so under the banner of countering the so-called "China threat" narrative, using it as a pretext to circumvent the constraints of its pacifist constitution and abandon its exclusively defense-oriented policy. At the end of 2018, the Japanese government revised its defense guidelines and other documents, deciding to convert the Kaga and Izumo helicopter destroyers into aircraft carriers, reported by Nikkei. Zhang stressed that this conversion is an important move for Japan to break the constraints of its pacifist constitution and pursue so-called 'military normalization.' Japan's development and procurement of offensive weapons will worsen regional security, undermine peace and stability, and constitute an open challenge to the international order, something the global community should pay close attention to. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan-Australia Summit Telephone Meeting Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan August 8, 2025 On August 8, commencing at 9:30 a.m. for approximately 25 minutes, Mr. ISHIBA Shigeru, Prime Minister of Japan, held a telephone Meeting with the Hon. Anthony Albanese, MP, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia. The overview of the meeting is as follows: At the outset, Prime Minister Ishiba expressed his welcome for the selection of the upgraded Japanese Mogami-class frigate by the Australian government, as their next general purpose frigate. He also stated to continue contributing together to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region. The two leaders exchanged views on various international affairs, including the economy and the Middle East. The two leaders concurred that they advance concrete cooperation steadily between the two countries, in light of the 50th anniversary in 2026 of the signing of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Japan and Australia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Japan-Australia Foreign Minister's Telephone Meeting Ministry of Foregn Affairs of Japan August 8, 2025 On August 8, commencing at 10:45 a.m. for approximately 20 minutes, Mr. IWAYA Takeshi, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, held a telephone meeting with Senator the Hon. Penny WONG, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Commonwealth of Australia. The overview of the meeting is as follows: At the outset, Minister Iwaya expressed his welcome for the recent announcement by the Australian government selecting the upgraded Japanese Mogami-class frigate as their next general-purpose frigate. He stated that this selection represents a significant step forward in elevating security cooperation and the overall relationship between Japan and Australia to new heights and Minister Wong concurred with Minister Iwaya's remark. The two ministers also exchanged views on the current international situation, including the Middle East. The two ministers shared the view that they advance concrete cooperation steadily between the two countries, in light of the 50th anniversary in 2026 of the signing of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Japan and Australia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address ICC Office of the Prosecutor welcomes unsealing of arrest warrant in the Situation in Libya International Criminal Court (ICC) / Cour penale internationale (CPI) Statement: 8 August 2025 The Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court welcomes the decision of Pre-Trial Chamber I granting its request to unseal a warrant of arrest against a suspect in the Situation in Libya, Mr Saif Suleiman Sneidel. A Libyan national, Mr Sneidel is accused of the war crimes of murder, outrages upon personal dignity and torture in eastern Libya in the context of a non-international armed conflict. Mr Sneidel was an officer of Group 50 in the Al-Saiqa Brigade, which participated in an operation launched by the so-called Libyan National Army in Benghazi, known as Operation Dignity, in May 2014. In issuing the arrest warrant in November 2020, the Chamber found reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Sneidel participated in three executions where a total of 23 people were murdered. These executions took place on or before 3 June 2016, on or before 19 June 2017, and on or about 17 July 2017, in Benghazi or surrounding areas. The Chamber also concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Sneidel is criminally responsible for torture. The original decision, like the Office's application filed in May 2020, was under seal to maximise arrest opportunities and to minimise risks to an ongoing criminal investigation. For this reason, no details of the application or warrant could be provided until this stage. The Office however requested in July 2025 to unseal the warrant due to changes in circumstances, and to increase prospects for arrest. "The judges' decision to unseal the warrant improves chances of arrest. 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. We hope to create the momentum for Mr Sneidel's arrest and surrender," said Deputy Prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan. The Office calls on Libyan authorities to execute the arrest warrant, pursuant to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1970 (2011), which referred the Situation in Libya to the ICC. The OTP seeks to work closely with the Registry and the Court's partners to help secure the suspect's arrest. The Sneidel case falls under alleged crimes related to the 2014-2020 operations, demonstrating the Office's commitment to seek accountability for Libyan victims across multiple lines of inquiry. The investigation into Libya follows four key lines of inquiry: the 2011 violence, crimes in detention facilities, crimes related to the 2014-2020 operations, and crimes against migrants. As the Office pledged to the UN Security Council, the Libya situation continues to be a significant priority. On 16 July 2025, another suspect in the Situation in Libya, Mr Khaled Mohamed Ali El Hishri, was arrested by authorities of the Federal Republic of Germany pursuant to an ICC warrant of arrest for crimes in detention facilities. The case against Mr Sneidel is closely connected to that of deceased ICC suspect Mahmoud Mustafa Busayf Al-Werfalli. 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. Prior to his death, Mr Al-Werfalli was the subject of two ICC arrest warrants for eight executions in Benghazi, three of which the Prosecution alleges Mr Sneidel participated in. The Office expresses its gratitude to victims and witnesses for their courage and determination to cooperate with the investigation. "Our Office remains deeply committed to deliver accountability for victims of atrocities in Libya. Results of our work are because of and for them. With their commitment, and with the cooperation and support of all partners, we can make inroads in fighting impunity in Libya and across all situations," said Deputy Prosecutor Khan. The Office of the Prosecutor of the ICC conducts independent and impartial preliminary examinations, investigations and prosecutions of the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and the crime of aggression. For further details on "preliminary examinations" and "situations and cases" before the Court, click here, and here. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chinese defense ministry responds to Pakistan inducting Chinese-made Z-10ME attack helicopter Global Times By Liu Xuanzun and Yu Xi Published: Aug 08, 2025 04:51 PM When asked to comment on media reports that the Pakistani military has inducted the Chinese-made Z-10ME attack helicopter to advance the modernization of its defense equipment, Jiang Bin, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, said on Friday that China is willing to share the achievements of its equipment development with friendly countries, including Pakistan. China-Pakistan defense and security cooperation is not aimed at any third party and is committed to maintaining international and regional security and stability, said Jiang. The Pakistan Army has inducted China's export-oriented Z-10ME attack helicopter, Pakistani media reported on Saturday. A Chinese expert said that this would mark the first export deal of the Z-10, and the helicopter's strong firepower and survivability could boost Pakistan's defense capabilities, especially in the field of anti-terrorism. Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir presided over the induction ceremony of the state-of-the-art Z-10ME attack helicopter into Pakistan Army Aviation during a visit to the Multan Garrison, Pakistani media outlet The News reported, citing a statement by the country's Inter-Services Public Relations on Saturday. Zhang Xuefeng, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that compared with the baseline version of the Z-10, the Z-10ME is customized with additional armor plates, warning sensors and jamming systems, which can boost the aircraft's survivability. The Z-10ME has outstanding comprehensive capabilities, making it one of the best medium-sized attack helicopters in the world, Zhang said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Following the successful engagements by the security forces in general area Sambaza, Zhob District on 7-8 August 2025, during which *thirty three* khwarij were sent to hell; on night 8/9 August 2025, a deliberate sanitization operation was conducted in surrounding areas of Sambaza along Pakistan-Afghanistan Border. Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan Rawalpindi - August 09, 2025 No PR-251/2025-ISPR Following the successful engagements by the security forces in general area Sambaza, Zhob District on 7-8 August 2025, during which *thirty three* khwarij were sent to hell; on night 8/9 August 2025, a deliberate sanitization operation was conducted in surrounding areas of Sambaza along Pakistan-Afghanistan Border. During the conduct of the operation, *fourteen more Indian sponsored khwarij,* were hunted down and successfully neutralized. Weapons, ammunition & explosives were also recovered from the killed khwarij. The number of khwarij killed in two days anti infiltration operation has risen to *forty seven.* The Security Forces remain committed to secure the nation's frontiers and thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Pakistan. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), is undertaking an official visit to the United States. Inter Services Public Relations Pakistan Rawalpindi - August 10, 2025 No PR-253/2025-ISPR Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), Chief of Army Staff (COAS), is undertaking an official visit to the United States. During the visit, he has engaged in high-level interactions with senior political and military leadership, as well as members of the Pakistani diaspora. In Tampa, COAS attended the Retirement Ceremony of outgoing Commander United States Central Command (CENTCOM), General Michael E. Kurilla, and the Change of Command Ceremony marking the assumption of command by Admiral Brad Cooper. COAS lauded General Kurilla's exemplary leadership and his invaluable contributions to strengthening bilateral military cooperation, and extended his best wishes to Admiral Cooper, expressing confidence in continued collaboration to address shared security challenges. COAS also met with Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, where matters of mutual professional interest were discussed. He extended an invitation to General Caine to visit Pakistan. On the sidelines, COAS interacted with Chiefs of Defence from friendly nations. During an interactive session with the Pakistani diaspora, COAS urged them to remain confident in Pakistan's bright future and to actively contribute to attracting investments. The diaspora reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Pakistan's progress and development. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin meets senior Indian official amid tariff war with US Iran Press TV Friday, 08 August 2025 11:41 AM Russian President Vladimir Putin has met with visiting Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval in Moscow just a day after Washington slapped new tariffs on New Delhi. On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump imposed additional tariffs on India, citing the continued purchase of Russian oil by Indian entities. On Thursday, Putin met with Doval in the Kremlin to discuss strengthening security ties between the two countries during the current "tumultuous" times. The meeting, which took place at the president's Representative Office in the Kremlin's Senate Palace, also involved Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu and Indian Ambassador to Moscow Vinay Kumar. Earlier on Thursday, Doval held a meeting with Shoigu. He announced on Thursday that the "strategic and special partnership" between India and Russia is of enhanced importance as the world is passing through a "tumultuous situation". The talks with Shoigu and other senior officials had focused on bilateral energy and defense cooperation as well as Putin's visit to India. Doval did not specify the exact date of the Putin visit, but said plans for the India visit were "almost finalized". Analysts hinted at the significance of the meeting in the Kremlin as it was held a day after Trump announced the additional 25 percent tariff on imports from India. The added tariffs bring the total levies against one of Washington's most important trading partners to 50 percent. The United States and its Western allies had already threatened India with very substantial tariffs to pressure New Delhi to stop buying oil from Russia. They claimed that by purchasing Russia's oil, India is funding Moscow's ongoing special military operation in eastern Ukraine. Trump said in late July that India will be slapped with a 25 percent tariff on exports to the US and pay an undisclosed "penalty" for purchasing energy and military equipment from Russia starting August 1. In an executive order issued on Wednesday, Trump said he determined "that it is necessary and appropriate to impose an additional ad valorem duty on imports of articles of India, which is directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil." The new tariffs will go into effect later this month, while a previously announced 25 percent tariff is set to be enforced starting Thursday. In the meantime, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was scheduled to hold a meeting of key cabinet ministers on Friday to discuss the implications of a sharp tariff hike by the US, India TV reported. India has firmly rejected pressure from the West to halt imports of Russian oil, insisting that its sovereignty comes first. The South Asian nation has consistently maintained that its foreign policy is guided by national interests and domestic needs, rather than alignment with any particular bloc. Modi traveled to Russia twice last year to attend a summit with Putin and to attend the BRICS Summit in Kazan. On Thursday, Modi spoke on the phone to the BRICS leader, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. During the call, the two leaders talked about various issues, including the latest tariffs imposed by the United States on goods from both countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Press Release on Russian-Venezuelan Consultations on Biological Security 8 August 2025 21:14 1311-08-08-2025 On August, 7 in Caracas the Russian-Venezuelan consultations on biological security in an inter-agency format took place. The Russian delegation was headed by Konstantin Vorontsov, Deputy Director of the Department for Nonprolefiration and Arms. Control of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, and the Venezuelan delegation was headed by Olga Alvarez, the head of the Legal Division of the Ministry of People's Power for Foreign Affairs of Venezuela. An exchange of biological security threat assessments in Latin America and the Caribbean as well as in the world was carried out. Particular attention was paid to the military and biological activities of the United States outside its national territory that violate the provisions of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). The issues of developing bilateral cooperation in the field of biosecurity and strengthening of the BTWC regime were discussed. The meeting confirmed the unity of approaches of Russia and Venezuela to the biological security. The Sides noted the need for further close coordination both in bilateral format and at relevant multilateral fora, primarily within the framework of the BTWC and the UN. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Comment by Aide to the President of Russia Yuri Ushakov on the upcoming meeting between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump August 9, 2025 02:10 Aide to the President Yury Ushakov: The American side has just announced that an agreement was reached to hold a meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Donald Trump of the United States next Friday, August 15, in Alaska. Russia and the United States are close neighbours, they share borders. So it does make sense if our delegation simply crosses the Bering Strait and if such an important and expected meeting between the two leaders takes place specifically in Alaska. Incidentally, it is in Alaska and in the Arctic that the economic interests of our countries converge and prospects for implementing large-scale mutually beneficial projects arise. However, the presidents will undoubtedly focus on discussing ways to reach a sustainable settlement to the Ukraine crisis. Looking ahead, we would naturally expect the next meeting between the presidents to be held on Russia's territory. An invitation to that effect has already been made to the President of the United States. In conclusion, I would like to note that in the next few days, Moscow and Washington will of course be working vigorously and hard on the practical and political parameters of the Alaska summit. We expect this process will not be simple, but we will be engaged in it actively and consistently. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump Says He Will Meet Putin On August 15 In Alaska By RFE/RL August 09, 2025 US President Donald Trump says he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15 to discuss the war in Ukraine as Trump seeks a breakthrough in his effort to end the war. It will be the first summit of US and Russian presidents since Putin and then-President Joe Biden met in Geneva in June 2021 about six months before relations between Moscow and Washington ruptured when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Speaking to reporters at the White House on August 8 after signing a peace agreement with the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia, Trump said a deal to stop the fighting between Ukraine and Russia is "getting very close." He suggested that his meeting with the Russian leader could come before a sit-down discussion involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, though it is unclear when that meeting would take place. Zelenskyy is not scheduled to attend the meeting in Alaska. "We're going to have a meeting with Russia, start off with Russia," he told reporters, announcing later on social media that the summit would be held in Anchorage, Alaska. Putin's foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov confirmed the meeting. "Russia and the United States are close neighbors, bordering each other," Ushakov said, according to TASS. "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." Putin risks being arrested when he travels outside the country under an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) citing war crimes committed by Russia in Ukraine. But only members of the ICC are obliged to detain him, and the United States is not a member. Brett McGurk, former US National Security Council coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, said the optics of Putin traveling to the United States were not good, though he said it could be argued that Putin will be on Trump's turf and will therefore have to abide the US president's rules. The venue aside, McGurk said a cease-fire must be the aim of the summit. Short of that, "you have to walk away," McGurk said in an interview on CNN. "Otherwise, [the war] is going to continue and Putin gets a big gigantic win." Oxana Shevel, assistant professor of political science at Tufts University, noted that Trump only recently said he was "very disappointed" with Putin for continuing missile and drone barrages against Ukrainian cities after cordial phone conversations and threatened sanctions if Putin didn't agree to a cease-fire. "He's clearly climbing down from that position," Shevel told RFE/RL in an interview. The fact that neither Ukraine nor any Europeans countries apparently will have no place at the table in Alaska is also problematic, she said. "They said before that any deal about Ukraine cannot be made without Ukraine," she said. "That's been the position of Ukrainian government for a long time." Trump gave some clues about a deal to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, saying it will involve some exchange of territories. "It's very complicated, but we are going to get some [territory] back. We're gonna get some switched. There'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both," Trump said without providing specifics. It was unclear what Trump meant by "swapping" territory; Ukraine doesn't hold any Russian territory. Shevel said this could involve a handful of villages near Ukraine's northeastern border that Russia has occupied in exchange for the part of the Donetsk region that Russian doesn't hold. But she doesn't believe "for a second that would happen," noting that an attempt to strongarm Zelenskyy earlier this year didn't work. The announcement of the August 15 summit came on the day that Trump set as the deadline for Putin to agree to a cease-fire or Russia would face severe tariffs targeting its oil and other exports, and its trading partners, namely China and India, could face secondary tariffs on oil purchased from Russia. Trump on August 6 signed an executive order imposing an additional 25 percent tariff on India but did not raise tariffs on China. Trump said it was possible that move had been an important development in getting the Putin-Trump summit planned. Another factor that had an impact was NATO "stepped up in terms of buying military equipment," he said. Ushakov on August 7 said preparations for the meeting had begun. "At the suggestion of the American side, an agreement has been reached in principle to hold a bilateral summit in the coming days," Ushakov was quoted as saying by Russian state news agencies. Ushakov's comments came after Trump said a day earlier the meeting between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin "made a lot of progress" and that he might meet with Putin soon. The Russian leader has long insisted that Ukraine relinquish the territories Russia occupies -- including Crimea, which Russia annexed illegally in 2014 -- that Western nations stop supplying Ukraine with weapons, and that Ukraine be excluded from NATO membership. Zelenskyy and his European allies have rejected those demands, though Zelenskyy has expressed openness to meeting with Putin. US Senator Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat-New Hampshire) criticized Trump for failing to "get tough" on the Kremlin. "Yet again, President Trump has apparently let President Putin walk across one of his red lines with zero consequences," Shaheen said in a statement. "Setting deadlines and blowing through them deeply undermines America's credibility, our deterrence to other aggressors, and our ability to finally get Russia to the negotiating table." She said Congress "stands ready" to pass sanctions on Russia if Trump fails to do so. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-putin-russia- ukraine-zelenskyy-war-alaska/33498190.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Dmitry Medvedev's Son Works For Russian Military Industry Giant, RFE/RL Finds By Andrei Soshnikov and Systema August 09, 2025 The son of former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has a job at an affiliate of Rostec, the giant state industrial conglomerate that makes many of the weapons Moscow uses in its war against Ukraine, RFE/RL's Russian investigative unit, Systema, has found. In 2016, ahead of his graduation from one of Moscow's most elite universities, Ilya Medvedev told an interviewer with the Russian tabloid MK that he would not want to work for a big state company. But that's exactly what he does. Since October 2022, the younger Medvedev, who turned 30 this month, has been an adviser to the director of RT-Razvitiye Biznesa (RT-Business Development), which is part of Rostec. He is involved in investments and asset management and draws a monthly paycheck of 270,000 rubles ($3,400), according to leaked Federal Tax Service data reviewed by Systema. Vladimir Putin tapped Dmitry Medvedev to be president from 2008-2012, enabling Putin to avoid exceeding the constitutional limit of two consecutive Kremlin terms. Putin returned to the presidency in 2012 and, in 2020, pushed through an amendment allowing him to potentially remain in the top office until 2036. As president, Medvedev presented himself as a relative liberal and a supporter of democratic reform. Now deputy chairman of Putin's advisory Security Council and chairman of the ruling United Russia party, he has become an often rabidly bellicose supporter of Russia's war on Ukraine, using social media to deliver poisonous rhetoric and nuclear threats against the West. Many adult children of high officials in Putin's ruling structures hold jobs at state companies or private firms with connections to the government or have been appointed to government posts themselves. The director of Rostec, Sergei Chemezov, has been close to Putin since their time as Soviet KGB officers stationed in East Germany in the 1980s, when they lived in the same apartment building in Dresden. In Ilya Medvedev's first few months at RT-Business Development, the head of the company was Aleksandr Nazarov, a longtime acquaintance of Chemezov's. Ilya Medvedev is the only child of Dmitry Medvedev and his wife, Svetlana. There was no public announcement of Ilya Medvedev's hiring at RT-Business Development, and there is no public information about how he got the job. As prime minister from 2012 to 2020, Dmitry Medvedev was responsible for ties with Rostec, and an investment fund linked to Dmitry Medvedev has called itself a partner of Rostec. In 2015-2019, Ilya Medvedev had a job at the Internet giant VK -- though none of the employees Systema spoke to could say what he did there: "I never once saw him at work," a former senior manager said. Rostec owned shares of VK through RT-Business Development, and another VK shareholder at the time was the prominent billionaire Alisher Usmanov. In 2019-2022, Ilya Medvedev worked in the investment division of Kriptonit, an IT company that belonged to Usmanov at the time. In 2022, a representative of Usmanov has denied the tycoon was close to the Medvedev family and said any attempt to connect Usmanov to Ilya Medvedev's career was "biased." Rostec and RT-Business Development did not respond to requests for comment for this report. Dmitry Medvedev has been chairman of United Russia, one of the main instruments of Putin's political control nationwide, since 2012. His son joined the party a few months after Russia launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. He was subsequently hit with US and European Union sanctions. In 2023, United Russia said Ilya Medvedev had coordinated the establishment of a website called I Am In Russia for use by residents of the Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine that Putin baselessly claims are part of Russia. Adapted from the original Russian by Steve Gutterman Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-medvedev-ilya- son-military-war/33498017.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ranking Member Shaheen Statement on President Trump's Russia Sanctions Deadline Senate Foreign Relations Committee August 09, 2025 WASHINGTON -- Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued a statement on President Trump's deadline for imposing additional sanctions on Russia. "Yet again, President Trump has apparently let President Putin walk across one of his red lines with zero consequences. Setting deadlines and blowing through them deeply undermines America's credibility, our deterrence to other aggressors and our ability to finally get Russia to the negotiating table. It's long overdue for President Trump to finally get tough on the Kremlin, including through biting sanctions and more security assistance to Ukraine. That's the only way we can show resolve to Putin and force him to finally negotiate in good faith. Failing to do so means this war will continue to drag on and more Ukrainians will continue to die. If President Trump fails to impose further sanctions on Russia - as he has refused to do since he took office - Congress stands ready to pass with overwhelming majorities the Graham-Blumenthal bill the moment we return to session. I also look forward to advancing my bipartisan legislation to hold Russia's enablers to account and continue military assistance to Ukraine." ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Telephone conversation with President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov. August 10, 2025 16:55 During the call, the President of Russia informed Sadyr Japarov of the key outcomes of his talks with US President's Special Envoy Steven Witkoff as well as the upcoming meeting with Donald Trump in Alaska. The President of the Kyrgyz Republic welcomed both the progress in the dialogue between Russia and the United States and the efforts to resolve the Ukraine crisis via political and diplomatic means. Additionally, the two leaders discussed a number of pressing matters pertaining to bilateral economic ties, as well as cooperation within various integration associations, including the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, which is chaired this year by the Kyrgyz Republic. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Telephone conversation with President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon. August 10, 2025 12:15 Vladimir Putin informed Emomali Rahmon of the engagements between Russia and the United States, including his recent meeting with US President's Special Envoy Steven Witkoff, and noted an agreement was reached to hold a meeting with Donald Trump in Alaska. Emomali Rahmon expressed support for efforts aimed at reaching a sustainable settlement to the Ukraine crisis. The two leaders also addressed pressing bilateral matters, as well as issues pertaining to the preparations for the meeting of the CIS Heads of State Council, which is chaired by the Republic of Tajikistan this year. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli troops advance in Quneitra in latest violation of Syria's sovereignty Iran Press TV Sunday, 10 August 2025 9:49 AM Israeli forces have advanced into several towns and villages in Syria's strategic southwestern province of Quneitra, where they established checkpoints and searched residents prior to withdrawing after a few hours. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that 10 Israeli military vehicles departed from the Tel Ahmar base and proceeded towards the Bariqa-Kudna road, where soldiers established a checkpoint. Reports said that yet another convoy of 10 vehicles has raided the village of Ruwayhina and advanced toward Rasm al-Halabi in central Quneitra. As reported by SANA, five Israeli military vehicles made their way into the southern town of al-Rafid from al-Hiran through the Al-Asha crossing early on Saturday morning, continuing towards the al-Jala crossing. The outlet reported that an Israeli patrol, accompanied by two tanks, moved from al-Adnaniyah towards Ruwayhina, with the tanks establishing positions on the periphery of the village. The forces subsequently withdrew from every region they had occupied in both central and southern Quneitra. Since the collapse of Assad's government, the Israeli military has been launching airstrikes against military installations, facilities, and arsenals belonging to Syria's now-defunct army. Israel has been widely condemned for the termination of the 1974 ceasefire agreement with Syria and for exploiting the chaos in the Arab nation in the wake of Assad's downfall to make a land grab. The United Nations has condemned ongoing Israeli attacks inside Syrian territory and repeated violations in and around the buffer zone created as part of a 1974 ceasefire agreement with Damascus. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Security Council voices deep concern over deadly escalation in Syria's Sweida region 10 August 2025 - The UN Security Council has expressed alarm at the sharp escalation of violence in Syria's Sweida region since mid-July, condemning attacks against civilians and calling for urgent protection and humanitarian access. Unrest began on 12 July when mutual kidnappings escalated into armed conflict between Druze groups and Bedouin tribes, drawing in Syrian security forces. The violence spiralled, with reports of extrajudicial executions, desecration of corpses and looting. Footage circulated widely on social media fanned sectarian tensions and disinformation. Nearly 200,000 displaced In a presidential statement adopted on Sunday, ambassadors said they were "deeply concerned" by the recent fighting, which has included "mass killings" and led to the internal displacement of some 192,000 people. The Council "strongly condemns the violence perpetrated against civilians...and calls on all parties to adhere to the ceasefire arrangement and to ensure the protection of the civilian population." The 15-member body reminded all sides of their obligations under human rights and international humanitarian law, stressing in particular the duty to "respect and protect" all medical and humanitarian personnel. Council members urged all parties to allow "full, safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access" to affected communities in the heavily-Druze Sweida area and across Syria, in line with the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality and independence. They also underscored the need to ensure the humane treatment of all combatants, including those who have surrendered, are wounded, detained, or have laid down their arms. Protection for all The statement called on the Syrian interim authorities to protect all Syrians "regardless of ethnicity or religion" and warned that "there can be no meaningful recovery in Syria without genuine safety and protection for all Syrians." The Council welcomed the interim authorities' condemnation of the violence and their commitment to investigate those responsible, but urged them to ensure "credible, swift, transparent, impartial, and comprehensive investigations... in line with international standards." Reaffirming resolutions including 2254 (2015), the Council reiterated its "strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic" and called on all States to avoid "negative or destructive interference" that could further destabilise the country. The statement also recalled the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and the mandate of the UN Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) tmonitoring and patrolling the contested Golan on the Syria-Israel border, urging all parties to abide by its terms to maintain calm. On the threat of terrorism, the Council cited the latest report of its Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, voicing "grave concern over the acute threat posed by foreign terrorist fighters" in Syria. It urged the country to take decisive measures against ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida, in line with relevant resolutions. Looking ahead, the Council repeated its call for "an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned political process" based on resolution 2254, to safeguard the rights of all Syrians and enable them to "peacefully, independently and democratically determine their futures." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address In Presidential Statement, Security Council Condemns Violence against Civilians in Syria's Suwaida Meetings Coverage Security Council 9976th Meeting (AM) SC/16141 10 August 2025 The Security Council today strongly condemned the violence perpetrated against civilians in the Suwaida governorate of Syria since 12 July, which has included mass killings, the loss of life, and led to the internal displacement of some 192,000 people calling on all parties to adhere to the ceasefire arrangement and to ensure the protection of the civilian population. Unanimously adopting a Presidential Statement (to be issued as document S/PRST/2025/6), the 15-member organ further reiterated the obligation to respect relevant human rights and international humanitarian law provisions, further reiterating the specific obligations under international humanitarian law to respect and protect all medical personnel and humanitarian personnel exclusively engaged in medical duties, their means of transportation and equipment, as well as hospitals and medical facilities. The Council further urged all parties to ensure full, safe, rapid and unhindered humanitarian access for the United Nations, their implementing partners, and other humanitarian organizations to all affected communities in Suwaida and throughout Syria. It also reiterated a call on the interim authorities to protect all Syrians, regardless of ethnicity or religion, stressing that there can be no meaningful recovery in Syria without genuine safety and protection for all Syrians. Recalling resolution 2254 (2015), its Presidential Statement (S/PRST/2025/4), and its Press Statement of 17 December 2024, the Council further reaffirmed its strong commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of the Syrian Arab Republic and called on all States to respect these principles. The organ further reaffirmed the importance of the United Nations' role in supporting Syria's political transition, reiterating its support for the efforts of the office of the United Nations Special Envoy in this regard. Additionally, parties must respect the 1974 Disengagement Agreement, including the principles regarding the area of separation, as well as the mandate and role of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF). The Council also welcomed the statement by the Syrian interim authorities condemning the violence and taking action to investigate and hold to account those responsible. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Legislature takes step in bid to abolish Control Yuan ROC Central News Agency 08/08/2025 04:55 PM Taipei, Aug. 8 (CNA) The Legislative Yuan decided Friday to set up an ad hoc committee tasked with revising the Constitution of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in a bid to change the constitution to get rid of the body that investigates and censures government wrongdoing and impeaches public officials. The Constitutional Amendment Committee will consist of 19 main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) lawmakers, 17 lawmakers of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and three from the Taiwan People's Party (TPP), based on their proportion of seats in the lawmaking body. The move came after the KMT and smaller TPP joined forces to propose an amendment to the Additional Articles of the Constitution of the Republic of China that would end the existence of the Control Yuan. The two opposition parties believe that the Control Yuan has been acting in favor of the DPP. On June 13, lawmaker and TPP Chairman Huang Kuo-chang () said the constitutional amendment to abolish the Control Yuan and transfer its powers of presidential impeachment to the Legislature had received enough support to move forward. In his Facebook account, Huang wrote that the proposed constitutional amendment has been co-signed by more than 29 lawmakers, or over a quarter of the 113-seat legislative body, the legally required threshold. He also thanked the KMT for backing the bill. Under the Legislature's rules, the Constitutional Amendment Committee is a necessary part of the review process for constitutional amendments. As such, Huang later proposed setting up the committee in the current Legislative term. According to Legislative Speaker Han Kuo-yu () on Friday, members of the committee will hold its first plenary meeting at the Legislative Yuan on Aug. 25. (By Kuo Chien-shen and Ko Lin) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Constitutional Court to review DPP, Cabinet challenges to 2025 budget ROC Central News Agency 08/08/2025 04:43 PM Taipei, Aug. 8 (CNA) Taiwan's Constitutional Court has accepted separate petitions from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the Executive Yuan to review the constitutionality of the 2025 central government budget, to which opposition lawmakers made cuts and freezes. In a statement issued Friday, the Judicial Yuan, Taiwan's top judicial body which oversees the Constitutional Court, said the court had agreed to review the budget cases but did not provide further details. The DPP legislative caucus and the Cabinet brought the 2025 government budget to court in May, arguing that the cuts ordered by the opposition-controlled Legislature to the budget violate the principle of legal clarity and separation of powers under the Republic of China (Taiwan) Constitution. The budget was signed into law by President Lai Ching-te () in late March. The petitioners argued that of the NT$207.6 billion (US$6.95 billion) in cuts, the Legislature asked the executive branch to determine which NT$63.6 billion worth of operations would be affected, which they said exposed the Legislature's failure to duly deliberate the budget. The DPP and Cabinet also contend that the budget cuts impacted the operations of several government agencies, including the Presidential Office, the Cabinet and the Control Yuan, thus usurping the powers of different branches of government. However, the court's ability to rule on these cases remains uncertain. The current eight-member court appears unable to hear cases after opposition lawmakers passed a measure last December requiring at least 10 justices for adjudication, while repeatedly blocking Lai's nominees to fill seven vacant seats. Director-General of the Constitutional Court Yang Hao-ching () told CNA that whether the two petitions, along with another budget-related case brought by the Control Yuan in May, will be consolidated is at the discretion of the justices. He, nonetheless, declined to comment on questions regarding the progress of the cases the justices have agreed to review. According to Yang, the Constitutional Court has not issued any ruling since the amendments to the Constitutional Court Procedure Act, which included the 10-member quorum, were passed by the Legislature in December 2024 and signed into law by Lai in January. The court is still able to accept petitions because the provisions governing that part of the process were not affected by the law revisions, Yang said. (By Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan urges inclusion in Pacific forum amid reports of exclusion ROC Central News Agency 08/08/2025 02:43 PM Taipei, Aug. 8 (CNA) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Thursday called on the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) to allow for Taiwan's participation this year, following reports that Taiwan would be blocked from the 2025 event, as have been China and the United States. In response to CNA's request for comment, MOFA called on the PIF to "maintain its existing arrangements" and allow Taiwan's participation in the upcoming PIF event, an important political gathering for leaders of Pacific island states, as a "development partner." But MOFA was unclear when asked in more detail about the situation. Taiwan in the past has attended the PIF informally to participate in side events held in conjunction with the forum, but it has not taken part in the main leaders' meetings. When asked whether Taiwan's delegation will even be allowed to go the Solomon Islands, where the PIF Leaders Meeting and Associated Meetings will be held from Sept. 8-12, MOFA declined to comment. According to a Reuters report, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele told the country's parliament earlier this week that the PIF would not invite donor countries, such as the U.S. and China. Only the bloc's 18 members, including Australia and New Zealand, will take part in the meeting, Manele said. While Manele cited an ongoing review of each country's relationship with the Pacific as the main reason, opposition party politician Peter Kenilorea Jr suggested the issue was "all about China and Taiwan." There have been reports since last year that the Solomon Islands, which switched diplomatic ties from Taiwan to China in 2019 and is the host country of the 2025 PIF summit, would seek to exclude Taiwan from participation due to China's pressure. China has poached several of Taiwan's allies in the Pacific as it seeks to expand its presence in the region and isolate Taiwan from the international community. Of the 18 members in the PIF, only three -- the Marshall Islands, Palau and Tuvalu -- have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Taiwan has taken part in PIF mechanisms since 1993 as a partner country and has also made several donations to the bloc. MOFA said it continues to seek cooperation with the PIF and its Pacific allies and to contribute to the development and prosperity of the region. (By Yang Yao-ju and Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/ls NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President Marcos Expresses Philippines' Interest in Peace and Stability in Taiwan Strait Republic of the Philippines - Department of Foreign Affairs MANILA 08 August 2025 -- President Marcos reiterated the Philippines' longstanding position on the importance of peace and stability in Taiwan and the peaceful settlement of differences. In an interview in New Delhi with Indian media outfit Firstpost on 06 August 2025, the President stressed the Philippines' abiding concern for the safety and welfare of over a hundred thousand Filipinos living and working in Taiwan. Citing geographic proximity, the President stressed that any conflict in Taiwan could have an impact on the Philippines. As part of its commitment under the 1975 Philippines-China Joint Communique, the Philippines upholds its One-China Policy and adopts a policy of non-interference in China's internal affairs. At the same time, in various forums and occasions, the Philippines has consistently advocated for dialogue, regional stability, and the peaceful settlement of differences. END NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokesperson's Remarks on Philippine Leader's Comment on Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China Updated: August 08, 2025 10:26 Q: It was reported that during his visit to India, the Philippine leader said in an interview that "if there is a confrontation over Taiwan between China and the United States, there is no way that the Philippines can stay out of it, simply because of our physical geographic location. If there is an all-out war (across the Taiwan Strait), then the Philippines will be joined into it. We will have to defend our territory and our sovereignty." He also cited the "large volume of Filipinos" in Taiwan and said that (if there is a war across the Taiwan Strait), it would spell a "humanitarian crisis," and the Philippines has to get involved and try to bring their citizens back. This is the issue that the Philippines cares the most. They would "immediately mobilize everything" to bring their people out. It would not be a small problem, he added. What is China's comment on this? A: There is but one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. The Taiwan question is China's internal affair which is at the very core of China's core interests. How to settle it is a matter for the Chinese ourselves, which brooks no interference. The Philippine government has made serious commitments to China that it adheres to the one-China policy, recognizes that Taiwan is an integral part of the Chinese territory and understands the Chinese government's efforts to realize national reunification. The Philippine leader also said clearly to China that the Philippines is committed to the one-China policy, and the Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair that must be solved by the Chinese people. As these words are still ringing in our ears, the Philippines is going back on its words in disregard of the grave consequences. It has kept making wrong and provocative remarks and actions, kept fudging and hollowing out the one-China principle, and kept harming the China-Philippines relations. China firmly opposes this. The Chinese Foreign Ministry and Embassy in the Philippines have lodged serious protests with the Philippine side. It needs to be further stressed that "geographic location" and "large volume of Filipinos" in Taiwan should not be used as pretexts to interfere in the internal and sovereign affairs of other countries. These claims not only contravene international law and the ASEAN Charter, but also harm regional peace and stability and the fundamental interests of its own people. We urge the Philippines to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the spirit of China-Philippines Joint Communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations, and refrain from playing fire on issues bearing on China's core interests. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taiwan's designation as NGO at Nagasaki memorial 'inappropriate': Envoy ROC Central News Agency 08/09/2025 04:59 PM Tokyo, Aug. 9 (CNA) Taiwan's representative to Japan, Lee Yi-yang (), said Saturday that seating his delegation in the "international nongovernmental organizations" section at a Nagasaki memorial was "inappropriate." After the ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the Japanese city, the Taiwanese Representative Office in Japan issued a news statement, quoting Lee as expressing displeasure with the Nagasaki city government's seating arrangement. "Taiwan is by no means an international NGO; it is a sovereign country active on the international stage," he added. On behalf of Taiwan's government, Lee joined representatives from some 95 countries and regions at the commemoration for the first time, after calls from Taipei and Japanese politicians to make such participation possible. Until this year, Taiwan had been left off the guest list for the annual event in Hiroshima and Nagasaki due to a lack of formal diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Japan, according to a Taiwanese official familiar with the matter. Lee appeared to have been aware of the seating arrangement before Saturday's event, but he said his decision to attend despite the designation was meant to "demonstrate Taiwan's top priority of pursuing peace" to the world, according to the release. At the same time, the representative blamed Beijing for the situation. "We understand that the inappropriate arrangement by the host, Nagasaki City, has its reasons," Lee said, accusing Beijing of being "the force pulling the strings behind the scenes." China, which had taken part in the annual memorial for years, did not attend Saturday's event, and the Nagasaki city government declined to provide a reason. The ceremony, held at Nagasaki Peace Park, commemorated the victims of the atomic bombing by the United States on Aug. 9, 1945, which killed an estimated 74,000 people. It was the second atomic bomb that American troops dropped on Japanese soil to stop the Japanese imperial army's continued aggression in Asia, following the strike in Hiroshima three days earlier, which claimed roughly 140,000 lives. Most of the casualties were civilians. The bombings remain the only use of nuclear weapons in an armed conflict, leading to Japan's capitulation to the Allies on Aug. 15 that same year and the end of World War II. Lee and other Taiwanese delegates also attended a memorial held in Hiroshima earlier this week. According to the diplomatic source, the representative sat near U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass during that ceremony. (By Yang Ming-chu, Tai Ya-chen, Wu Shu-wei and Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Debunking the misleading claims in Lai Ching-te's "defense lecture" People's Daily Online By Mei Xing (Xinhua) 15:19, August 09, 2025 On July 1, Lai Ching-te delivered the fourth installment of his so-called "10 lectures on unity," focusing on "defense." In the speech, he once again promoted separatist rhetoric under the guise of safeguarding peace, pushing an agenda of "resisting China to protect Taiwan." While claiming to uphold peace, Lai's real aim is confrontation -- encouraging the military and the public to serve as tools for "Taiwan independence." False Claim 1: "The Mainland Is Seeking Regional Domination" Lai suggested that the Chinese mainland intends to "swallow Taiwan" and then "dominate the western Pacific" -- a narrative echoing certain voices in the United States and aimed at sowing distrust between China and its neighbors. In reality, China has long pursued peaceful development and avoided hegemonic ambitions. Lai raised the issue of military spending, but China's defense spending in 2025 remains modest at around 1.3 percent of GDP -- far lower than the United States (3.4 percent in FY2024) or NATO's 5-percent target proposed by the United States. It is also worth mentioning that Lai's party seeks to lift Taiwan's defense spending above 3 percent of the region's GDP, largely for the purpose of purchasing U.S. weapons as part of its strategy to militarize the cross-Strait issue under the pretext of "self-defense." False Claim 2: Lai Himself Is A "Peacekeeper" Lai claims that Taiwan will never initiate war and seeks to preserve peace. However, his repeated framing of the mainland as an "external hostile force" and his "17-point defense plan" aimed at "countering China" suggest otherwise. These actions threaten cross-Strait peace and stability and escalate tensions, making Lai not a guardian of peace but a source of instability. As a self-proclaimed "pragmatic worker for Taiwan independence," Lai has made separatism his political identity and mission. His ambition is to exploit every opportunity to pursue "Taiwan independence." If Lai truly wished to promote peace, he would acknowledge the "1992 Consensus" and the fact that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China -- a common sense rooted in the post-WWII international order. False Claim 3: More Defense Spending Brings Peace Lai argues that increasing defense budgets will help "strengthen peace through strength." In truth, escalating military expenditures only drain resources from social welfare and economic development. Long-term peace across the Strait will not come from arms purchases. Using taxpayers' money on weapons purchases in pursuit of separatist actions will only raise the risk of conflict. False Claim 4: "UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 did not resolve Taiwan's status" and "Taiwan has the right to join the UN." The People's Republic of China was founded in 1949, but it had to wait until 1971 for its rightful seat in the UN to be restored due to Cold War and Western intervention. On Oct. 25, 1971, the 26th session of the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority. The Resolution resolved once and for all the question of the representation of the whole of China, including Taiwan, in the United Nations as a political, legal and procedural issue. It made clear that there is only one China in the world and that Taiwan is a part of China. It also made clear that there is only one seat for China in the United Nations, and the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal representative, precluding the false claims of "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan." Since the adoption of the Resolution more than half a century ago, UN secretaries-general and their spokespersons, in their Taiwan-related remarks, have clearly stated that the UN is guided by UNGA Resolution 2758 and committed to the one-China principle. The official legal opinions of the Office of Legal Affairs of the UN Secretariat made it crystal clear that Taiwan is "an integral part" of China and that "the United Nations considers 'Taiwan' as a province of China with no separate status." Yet, separatist forces on the island and their Western backers continue to twist the resolution, pushing the false narrative of "undetermined status." U.S. laws such as the "Taiwan International Solidarity Act" and Lai's "diplomatic breakthroughs" are aimed at creating a legal basis for "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan." This is at odds with the United Nations and most countries across the world which firmly uphold the one-China principle. In sum, Lai's "lecture" is filled with falsehoods aimed at manipulating public opinion and mobilizing separatist forces so as to dress up "seeking independence by force" as something "legitimate." These acts fully prove that Lai is a thorough destroyer of peace. Peaceful reunification, under the principle of "one country, two systems," is the Chinese government's preferred path and best serves all Chinese compatriots and the nation as a whole. China pursues this goal with the utmost sincerity. Nevertheless, any attempt -- by any force or in any form -- to split the motherland will meet firm and resolute opposition from the Chinese people. Editor's note: The author is an observer of international affairs. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Xinhua News Agency. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2025/08/09 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date: 6 a.m. Aug. 8 (Fri.) to 6 a.m. Aug. 9 (Sat.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities: 54 sorties of PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN ships, and 2 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 47 out of 54 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern, and southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. 1140809_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan [Open a new window] 1140809_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan [Open a new window] NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Industry, labor groups propose measures to counter U.S. tariffs ROC Central News Agency 08/10/2025 05:10 PM Taipei, Aug. 10 (CNA) Taiwanese industry and labor groups have urged the government to act after the United States began imposing a 20 percent tariff on imports from Taiwan, in addition to existing most favored nation (MFN) duties and other trade remedy tariffs, warning the measures could damage manufacturing and threaten jobs. The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) confirmed Friday that exports to the U.S. are now subject to the 20 percent "provisional" tariff on top of existing MFN duties and any anti-dumping or countervailing tariffs, under a July 31 executive order signed by U.S. President Donald Trump. Although described by the government as "temporary," the tariff took effect Aug. 7 (U.S. time) and has already raised concerns among industry and labor groups, which hope Taipei can negotiate a lower rate. The additional 20 percent -- higher than the rate for Japan and South Korea -- has sent shockwaves through the manufacturing sector, with reports of factories in industrial parks being put up for sale in large numbers. The Taipei-headquartered Chinese Federation of Labor (CFL) said Saturday that the "cumulative tariffs" on Taiwanese imports are expected to hit sectors such as machine tools, machinery, ICT, screws, bicycles and textiles especially hard. Warning the increases could trigger mass unemployment, the CFL called on the government to negotiate with the U.S. to lower the rates. Price edge weakened According to the CFL, cumulative tariffs and fluctuations in the Taiwan dollar have eroded the price competitiveness of Taiwanese goods. "Although prices remain about 10 percent lower than Japanese products, Taiwan struggles to compete on brand and quality," leading to continued losses in orders, it said, adding that Taiwanese goods are now also more expensive than those from South Korea. The CFL noted that while these industries account for only 20 percent of exports, they support 80 percent of Taiwan's workforce. It urged the government to adopt countermeasures to prevent large-scale relocation overseas, warning that such a shift could trigger a major unemployment crisis. It also proposed that the government introduce subsidies and transition support for affected workers, relax labor and health insurance requirements, simplify applications for unemployment and unpaid leave benefits, and implement policies to stabilize exchange rates to ease export cost pressures and reduce foreign exchange losses. Meanwhile, the Chinese National Association of Industry and Commerce (CNAIC) urged the government to quickly clarify how cumulative U.S. reciprocal tariffs are calculated. It recommended holding explanatory sessions, publishing a comprehensive list of affected products, establishing a dedicated contact center, and streamlining subsidy applications to help industries plan ahead. Machine tool sector suffers Also on Saturday, the Taiwan Machine Tool and Accessory Builders' Association (TMBA) said the additional tariff would significantly impact the machine tool industry. The MFN tariff rate originally applied to Taiwan's machine tool exports to the U.S. was 4.7 percent, according to the MOEA. After adding the 20 percent provisional tariff, the total rate comes to 24.7 percent, it said. The TMBA called on the government to clarify product classifications, help businesses secure preferential tariff treatment, and propose response measures for the transition period. Kuo Ai-mei (), chairperson of the Taiping Industrial Park Manufacturers' Association in Taichung, was cited in a United Daily News report as saying that in the U.S. machine tool market, Taiwan's main competitors are Japan and South Korea, both of which have free trade agreements with Washington, meaning they previously enjoyed zero tariffs. The "reciprocal tariffs" between the U.S. and Japan or South Korea are both 15 percent, while Taiwan's provisional tariff on machine tools is 20 percent. "Adding the original tariff rate of 4.5 percent brings Taiwan's total tariff rate to 24.5 percent," which is nearly 10 percentage points higher than that of Japan and South Korea, Kuo said. She added that the Taiwan dollar's exchange rate against the U.S. dollar affects the price competitiveness of exporters worldwide. In particular, over the past few months, the Taiwan dollar has appreciated by about 13 percent, which is highly unfavorable for exporters, Kuo said, explaining that such appreciation squeezes profit margins. She expressed hope that the government would allow the Taiwan dollar to depreciate at the right time, as this would be the most direct way to help exporters. (By Su Szu-yun, Jackson Chang, Lai Yu-chen Chien-jung) Enditem/kb NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2025/08/10 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1.Date 6 a.m. Aug. 9 (Sat.) to 6 a.m. Aug. 10 (Sun.) (UTC+8) 2.PLA activities 8 sorties of PLA aircraft, 9 PLAN ships, and 2 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 6 out of 8 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern, and eastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities. 1140810_PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan [Open a new window] 1140810_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan [Open a new window] NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Scotland at the heart of defence investment as small and medium businesses get a seat at the table The contribution of Scottish SMEs to the UK's national security was recognised during a roundtable held yesterday at Edinburgh's Queen Elizabeth House, chaired by Defence Minister Lord Coaker following his visit to the Edinburgh Royal Military Tattoo. From: Ministry of Defence, Lord Coaker and The Rt Hon Ian Murray MP Published 8 August 2025 Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) take part in Government roundtable in Edinburgh, discussing how defence can boost growth in Scotland. Chaired by UK Defence Minister Lord Coaker, the roundtable follows the MoD's commitment to spend 7.5 billion with SMEs by 2028. Scotland is at the heart of UK's defence industry, keeping the UK safe at home and strong abroad, delivering on the Government's Plan for Change. The Minister met with representatives from eight companies, from Stirling to Forfar, to discuss their innovative work that helps keeps the country safe. Ahead of the upcoming Defence Industrial Strategy, the government has announced the intent to increase spending with SMEs by 2.5 billion over the next three years, reversing the fall that was recorded before last year's election. This government's commitment to SMEs recognises the vital role they play at all levels within the defence supply-chain - both directly and indirectly -with a total of 7.5 billion to be spent with SMEs by 2028. Defence Minister Lord Coaker said: It was fantastic to meet many innovative Scottish companies who play a crucial role in strengthening our national security, boosting growth and providing jobs in their local communities. Businesses in Scotland will be among those who can benefit from the 2.5 billion increase in SME spending that we will deliver, helping drive defence as an engine for economic growth - as we deliver on our Plan for Change. As well as being home to thousands of military personnel and major bases, defence is a key driver for renewal in Scotland, with latest statistics showing that the MOD spends more than 2 billion a year with the defence sector in Scotland, supporting nearly 12,000 industry jobs. Scottish Secretary, Ian Murray said: We are proud of Scotland's defence sector and we will always stand up for the industry and workforce. The UK Government's historic uplift in defence spending will see a huge defence dividend for Scotland which will help ensure Britain's security, deter our adversaries and drive economic growth for years to come as part of our Plan for Change. Through events such as today's roundtable we are working closely with industry and supply chains to maximise Scotland's defence dividend. Our new Brand Scotland campaign will seek to build on that success and help the sector export its world class technology around the world. Programmes including the multi-billion pound redevelopment programme for His Majesty's Naval Base Clyde will also create skilled jobs - including for small and medium size firms - to boost the economy while addressing the critical skills gaps facing the country. As outlined in the Strategic Defence Review, the private sector, including small and medium businesses, are key to unlocking defence innovation, giving the UK and its allies the fighting edge. The upcoming Defence Industrial Strategy will provide further detail into future collaboration between Government and industry across the UK. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Radioactive water leaks from UK nuclear bomb base into sea IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Aug 9, 2025 Tehran, IRNA -- Official documents have revealed that radioactive water from the UK's nuclear weapons storage facility leaked into the sea due to repeated pipe failures. An investigation by regulators found that the Royal Navy had neglected proper maintenance of 1,500 aging water pipes at the Coulport base, resulting in the discharge of radioactive material into Loch Long, a coastal inlet near Glasgow in western Scotland, The Guardian reported on Saturday. Records from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), the government's environmental watchdog, indicate that nearly half of the base's infrastructure had exceeded its intended lifespan at the time of the leaks. SEPA said that flooding at Coulport was caused by "shortfalls in maintenance," which led to the release of "unnecessary radioactive waste" in the form of low levels of tritium, a radioactive isotope used in nuclear warheads. A 2022 report by the agency criticized the Navy for its failure to maintain equipment in the warhead storage zone, describing its plans to replace the deteriorating pipes as inefficient. Despite the warnings, two additional pipe bursts occurred in 2021, including one in another radioactive storage area, prompting a further SEPA inspection in 2022. The agency noted that progress on 23 required fixes had been slow and frequently delayed, exposing widespread shortcomings in the naval base's infrastructure management. 3266**4353 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM call with President Macron of France: 9 August 2025 The Prime Minister spoke to President Macron of France this afternoon. From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP Published 9 August 2025 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 Trump's efforts to stop the killing in Ukraine and end Russia's war of aggression, and discussed how to further work closely with President Trump and President Zelenskyy over the coming days. They agreed to stay in close contact. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK Defence Ministry Covered Up Radioactive Leak From Nuclear Storage Into Sea - Reports Sputnik News 20250810 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The UK Ministry of Defence has been covering up for years the leak of radioactive water into the sea from a nuclear warhead storage facility in western Scotland due to old pipes bursting, the Guardian newspaper reported, citing documents from the Scottish environmental regulator. The base where Britain's nuclear bombs are stored allowed radioactive water to leak into the sea after old pipes repeatedly burst. Radioactive substances leaked into Loch Long, a sea bay near Glasgow in western Scotland, because the British navy failed to properly maintain a network of 1,500 water pipes at the base, the newspaper said. According to the publication, the military base in question is near the Scottish settlement of Coulport. It stores nuclear warheads intended for four Trident submarines, which are based nearby. Citing documents from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa), the publication said that the military base's pipes had repeatedly burst: in 2010, then twice in 2019 and twice more in 2021. According to the regulator, at the time of the ruptures, about half of all the storage equipment had expired. As noted, water contaminated with radioactive tritium, a substance used in warheads, was leaking from the pipes. According to the publication, Sepa and the British Ministry of Defence have tried to hide information about the leaks for many years, claiming that it was a matter of national security. But recently, Scottish Information Commissioner David Hamilton ordered this data to be made public, after which it was obtained by the Scottish media Ferret and the Guardian. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Financing of the defence industry and weapons procurement for Ukraine: Denys Shmyhal held talks with the Minister of Defence of Finland Ministry of Defence of Ukraine 7 August, 2025, 5:18 PM EEST Ukraine's Minister of Defence, Denys Shmyhal, held talks with Finland's Minister of Defence, Antti Hakkanen. Denys Shmyhal thanked his Finnish counterpart for demonstrating solidarity with Ukraine and highlighted Finland's comprehensive assistance, including military aid. During the conversation, the defence ministers coordinated on the financing needs of the defence industry and the procurement of weapons for Ukraine. "In this context, we discussed launching joint production, particularly within the framework of the 'Build with Ukraine' initiative," said Ukraine's Defence Minister. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Photo Credit: Mike De Sisti/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images. Edited by Liam McGuire, Comeback Media. During Sundays game between the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers, Steve Gelbs revealed a harrowing experience that members of the New York Jets SNY crew had to deal with after Saturdays preseason game against the Green Bay Packers. It started with Gelbs and Keith Hernandez praising Milwaukee fans for showing up in such large numbers for Sundays game against the Mets, despite the flooding. He then explained what the Jets SNY crew experienced. Steve Gelbs explains flooding in Milwaukee. The Jets were in Green Baythe SNY Jets crew had early flights this morning out of Milwaukee so they drove back last night from Green Bay. Got caught a quarter mile from their hotel, had to abandon their car and swim. pic.twitter.com/HHnX2SoG98 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 10, 2025 I dont know if you heard this, Keith. But the Jets were in Green Bay. And our Jets crew, the SNY Jets crew, had early flights this morning out of Milwaukee. So they drove back last night from Green Bay. Got caught a quarter mile from their hotel, had to abandon their car and swim to the hotel, Gelbs shared. Jonathan Erdman of The Weather Channel detailed that Saturday was Milwaukees 2nd wettest day in 154 years. The only wetter day, as he noted, came in a 1986 storm that flooded the Brewers previous home, County Stadium. Putin, Xi reaffirm ties as China backs diplomatic resolution to Ukraine war Iran Press TV Friday, 08 August 2025 4:11 PM Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call to discuss the Ukraine conflict ahead of a planned summit between Russian and American officials, Chinese media reported. According to a statement from Xi's office on Friday, Putin briefed the Chinese leader on his recent talks with US special envoy Steve Witkoff concerning the Ukraine war. The Kremlin, the statement noted, values Beijing's constructive role in efforts to resolve the conflict and remains open to close cooperation with China on the matter. Xi reiterated China's support for a lasting political settlement to the war and emphasized Beijing's commitment to its strategic ties with Moscow. "There are no simple solutions to complex issues," Xi said, expressing support for continued dialogue with Washington and the opening of new diplomatic channels between Russia and the United States. The Chinese leader also pledged that Beijing would continue to promote dialogue as a means of resolving regional conflicts. Both leaders reaffirmed their appreciation for the mutual understanding and trust, underpinning their strategic partnership. Xi's office said, "The leaders of the two countries highly appreciated the high level of political trust and strategic interaction... and unanimously agreed to jointly advance the relations... to greater development." Russia and China have been making efforts to deepen their bilateral cooperation in past years. In February 2022, Russia and China agreed on a "no limits" strategic partnership. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukrainian NGO Accuses Russia-Controlled Luhansk Of Operating 'Child Trafficking' Database By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service August 08, 2025 A Ukrainian NGO has accused Russia of "state-sponsored child trafficking" after a group of administrators in Russia-controlled areas of Ukraine published an online catalog of what they called Ukrainian orphans. Mykola Kuleba, the head of Save Ukraine, said a database from the Russia-installed administration's Education Ministry in the Luhansk region contains data on 294 Ukrainian children under the age of 17 who have been separated from their parents. "Russia isn't even trying to hide it anymore. It's openly trafficking Ukrainian children," Kuleba said, noting the website shows the names, photos, descriptions of their personalities and hobbies of the children. The database also has filters for gender, age, eye and hair color, and whether the orphans have siblings. It was unclear how to access the database, but Save Ukraine published screen grabs of the it. "The way they describe our children is no different from a slave catalog. This is real child trafficking in the 21st century, which the world must stop," Kuleba added. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Kyiv accused Moscow of taking thousands of children from their homeland and sending to areas of the country occupied by Russian troops such as Luhansk, which is now around 99 percent controlled by Russia. Thousands of others were sent further, spread across Russia itself. Around 19,546 children have been deported to Russia since the start of the invasion in 2022, and just about 1,399 children have been returned to Ukraine, according to data from Bring Kids Back UA. Russia has denied committing any crimes with the moving of the children, says it is saving them from the war. Last month, however, the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) found Russia guilty of implementing an organized system of human rights violations, including the forced deportation of children. In March 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Maria Lvova-Belova, Russia's commissioner for children's rights. While databases are often used by official state authorities for adoption, the presence of one run by an administration installed during war could indicate a forced adoption program independent from Moscow is operating, which makes it more difficult to track children being taken away from their families. Luhansk officials were not immediately available to comment. Kuleba said most of the children in the online catalog were born before Russian troops captured the Luhansk region and had Ukrainian citizenship. Some have parents who were killed by the occupation authorities, others simply had Russian documents made to "legalize their kidnapping," he added. "Since 2022, the practice has become widespread and systematic. Initially, Russian authorities tried to cover their tracksshutting down registries and erasing references. Now, the pretense is gone," he said. "Let's be clear: This is not adoption. This is not care. This is digital child trafficking, masked as bureaucracy," Kuleba added. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainian-ngo-accuses-russia- luhansk-child-trafficking-database/33498167.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's answer to a media question regarding the anti-Russia campaign waged by the West and Ukraine concerning the "children's issue" 8 August 2025 12:45 1307-08-08-2025 Question: On August 5, the so-called "international coalition for the return of Ukrainian children" co-chaired by Canada and Ukraine adopted a statement demanding that Russia provide a substantive response regarding a list of 339 Ukrainian children that was handed to the Russian delegation during the second round of talks in Istanbul on June 2. Could you comment on this? Maria Zakharova: My comment is that we're dealing with yet another provocation - a desperate attempt to draw public attention back to the baseless story about the "unlawfully deported and forcibly transferred Ukrainian children." This narrative is completely detached from reality. Russia has never obstructed these children's reunification with their families; in fact, we've done everything possible to facilitate it. Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova and her office are actively addressing this issue. The absurdity of these "demands" is clear: Russia already provided a substantive response to the so-called "list of 339" on July 23 during the third round of Russian-Ukrainian talks in Istanbul. To reiterate: 30 percent of the names on the list could not be verified, as most of those children were never in Russia, are now adults, or have already returned to their families. As for the Ukrainian children who are actually in our country, they are under state care in appropriate institutions. They are safe now; in many cases, their evacuation from combat zones saved their lives. Local children's rights commissioners are now working to reunite them with their relatives. Politicised statements from such "coalitions" only disrupt these efforts. The self-proclaimed defenders of children's rights behind this August 5 statement conveniently omitted several key facts. During the July 23 talks in Istanbul, the Ukrainian delegation was presented with a list of 20 Russian children who are either currently in Ukraine or relocated from Ukraine to Western Europe, including to countries that endorsed this very statement. Now, the burden falls on these states to provide Russia with a substantive response regarding our "list of 20." The authors of the statement also chose to remain silent about the fact that Ukrainian shelling of Donbass since 2014 has killed over 350 children and left more than 1,400 injured. These crimes were deliberately ignored, proving that this "coalition's" statement is little more than another exercise in Russophobia and blatant double standards. The document isn't about protecting children; it's about perpetuating a smear campaign against Russia. If we truly want to reunite minors with their families, the only solution is depoliticised cooperation between child protection officials from countries that are genuinely committed to this goal. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lukashenko Says Putin Praised North Korean Military's Conduct on Battlefield Sputnik News 20250808 MINSK (Sputnik) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin in a conversation with him had praised the North Korean military for good preparedness, as demonstrated during the liberation of the Kursk Region. In an interview with the Time magazine, Lukashenko was asked about the involvement of North Korean soldiers in the liberation of Russia's Kursk Region and whether Russian President Vladimir Putin had informed him about this decision. "I do not even know how they were involved. Most likely, this was not some kind of strategic decision, but a tactical one. As a result of negotiations, they agreed in terms of training, so that they [North Korean military] could smell the gunpowder. And Putin and I did not really meet at that time. But when we met and we raised this issue, he told me about it himself. About the training of North Koreans. That in some ways we need to learn from them, they are very well prepared," Lukashenko said. Last June, Russia and North Korea signed a comprehensive strategic partnership with a collective defense clause in Article 4, stipulating that if one of the parties is subjected to an armed attack by any state or several states and finds itself in a state of war, the other party will immediately provide military and other assistance by all means at its disposal in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter and in line with law in both countries. In addition, according to Article 8 of the agreement, the parties create mechanisms for conducting joint activities to strengthen their defense capabilities, to prevent war and ensure regional and international peace and security. In April, Russian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov reported to Russian President Vladimir Putin that soldiers and officers of the Korean People's Army carried out combat missions together with Russian soldiers in the Kursk Region aimed at repelling the Ukrainian invasion. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin-Trump Meeting Has No Zelensky Prerequisite Trump Sputnik News 20250808 WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he has not conditioned his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the latter agreeing to meet with Volodymyr Zelensky. Earlier in the day, an unnamed White House official told The New York Post that Trump had set such condition for his meeting with Putin. However, the report did not clarify whether the president was seeking a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky before his meeting with both leaders or if he simply intends to include Zelensky in his discussion with the Russian leader. "No, he [Putin] does not. They would like to meet with me," Trump told reporters when asked whether he wants Putin to meet with Zelensky before meeting him. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Andrii Sybiha held phone talks with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 08 August 2025 09:50 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "Had a very meaningful phone call with Kaja Kallas. I informed about the fourth round of the ministerial meeting within the Triangle "Ukraine - Republica Moldova - Romania", which will be conducted today in Chernivtsi in person together with Oana Toiu and Mihai Popsoi. Our Polish and Lithuanian colleagues Radosaw Sikorski and Kestutis Budrys will join us online, and we will have + Lublin Triangle format. We decided to initiate a joint meeting of these two successful formats to enhance our synergy and underline that the security of Black Sea and Baltic regions is indivisible. I emphasized to the EU High Representative that we in Ukraine believe in and invest heavily in good neighbourhood in Central and Eastern Europe through the development of regional formats. This is important for the unity of the whole of Europe. I also informed about the recent developments and our efforts on the path to a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace, in particular talks with the US and European allies. We agreed that a real peace can and must be reached through strength. We have coordinated our next diplomatic steps." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint Statement of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Romania Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 08 August 2025 14:28 Joint Statement of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Romania Chernivtsi, 8 August 2025 We, the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Romania met on August 08, 2025, in Chernivtsi, a place with special significance for the value of tolerance and for the respect of all human rights that our countries share, to discuss pressing security challenges in our region, as well as the current status and prospects for further cooperation. We reaffirm that our states share common views and deep concerns regarding the recent security crisis in Europe, particularly in light of the Russian Federation's ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. Only through joint coordinated efforts we can effectively overcome the challenges we face and ensure peace, stability and prosperity for our nations. Together, we must act decisively to protect our shared values and secure a peaceful future. Advocating for a united, democratic, peaceful and prosperous European future, we strive to strengthen our political dialogue and deepen cooperation in key areas, including in countering disinformation, security and defence industry, energy resilience, transport connectivity, trade and critical infrastructure development. Romania and the Republic of Moldova express their unwavering solidarity with Ukraine and its people, who are courageously and legitimately resisting Russia's war of aggression, ongoing since February 2014 and which escalated into Russia's illegal, unprovoked and unjustified full-scale military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia's war of aggression represents a crime against the Ukrainian people, a flagrant violation of international law, especially of the UN Charter, and a severe threat to peace, security, and stability in Europe and beyond. We call upon our international partners continue enhanced international military assistance for Ukraine, including additional advanced air defence systems to Ukraine, alongside enhanced international military assistance more broadly. The continued Russian missile and drone attacks pose a growing threat to Ukraine and increase security risks beyond its borders, including for Romania and the Republic of Moldova. We recognize that strengthening the air defence capabilities of Ukraine is a vital step toward reinforcing Ukraine's overall security and defence, protecting Ukraine's civilian population and civilian infrastructure, and reducing broader regional security risks. We strongly encourage maximizing pressure on Russia by upholding and enhancing the sanctions policy against the aggressor state with the aim of determining a change in conduct by depriving Russia of the resources necessary to sustain its unfounded war of aggression against Ukraine. We also call for further strengthening of sanctions in sectors that hold particular economic significance for Russia. Russia must pay compensation for its illegal aggressive war against Ukraine and the use of frozen assets of Russia remains an important issue to be resolved considering the legal challenges raised. We emphasize that the security of Ukraine is an integral part of the security of Europe. At the same time, the security of the Republic of Moldova is inextricably linked to the security of Ukraine. In this respect, we reaffirm our commitment to intensify the efforts to support countering the effects of the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine with an overall goal to enhance the security in the region. Crimes committed by Russia against Ukraine must not go unpunished. We reaffirm our strong commitment to support the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, which must be capable to ensure comprehensive criminal accountability for the crime of aggression committed by the Russian political and military leadership, irrespective of the personal or functional immunities that might be enjoyed by such persons. We emphasize that Russia bears international responsibility for its ongoing violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. We reaffirm our commitment to ensure justice for all victims of Russia's war of aggression, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, and other serious violations of international law committed in and against Ukraine and its people. We deplore the extreme suffering of the Ukrainian people during the ongoing Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and condemn in strongest possible terms the Russia's policies of unlawful deportations, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings and the mistreatment of prisoners of war and civilians, in violation of international humanitarian law, which unnecessarily aggravated the human suffering. We commit to putting our efforts into strengthening international mechanisms, including through #BringKidsBackUA initiative, to facilitate the safe return of Ukrainian civilians, in particular children, who were illegally deported or forcibly displaced by the aggressor state. We stress the urgent need to restore a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace for Ukraine, in accordance with the UN Charter and international law, including the respect for Ukraine`s sovereignty and territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters. We highly appreciate the dynamic efforts of the US President Administration, as well as of participating states of the Coalition of Willing to identify potential paths towards just and lasting peace. We reaffirm our strong commitment to international law, democracy and the rule of law as core transatlantic values that are fundamental for any credible and enduring peace initiative. We welcome all efforts aimed at creating proper conditions for such a peace, particularly by strengthening Ukraine`s capability to resist Russia`s war of aggression and achieve peace through strength. We welcome the new strategic approach of the European Union to the Black Sea, fostering interconnections for a secure, stable and prosperous region. We express our firm commitment to actively contribute to the concrete development of this strategic approach. We firmly condemn the unprecedented and systemic hybrid attacks conducted by Russia against Europe, including against critical infrastructure and democratic processes. These actions are attempts to destabilize, weaken our economies and societies, erode public trust in institutions and undermine the foundations of European democracies, and compel us to take a united and firm stance. In this context, we reaffirm our strong support for the Republic of Moldova in view of the upcoming Parliamentary elections (28 September 2025), condemning the Russian interference and the need to hold free, transparent and democratic elections. We commit to promoting closer cooperation to counter Russia's hybrid threats and to strengthening our collective resilience. We will continue to deepen our strategic coordination in combating disinformation by expanding collaboration under the Trilateral Memorandum of Understanding on countering foreign information manipulation and interference, signed in Chisinau on July 05, 2024. We emphasize our aim to create a secure, stable, and prosperous future for our people, based on the values of democracy, rule of law, and respect for all human rights, and commit to undertake further consistent efforts build inclusive, tolerant, and resilient societies. Romania and the Republic of Moldova welcome the decision of the Government of Ukraine of 18 October 2023 to recognize Romanian as the language of the Romanian-speaking community in Ukraine, as well as the proper implementation of this decision.Romania and the Republic of Moldova welcome the intention of Ukraine to establish of the Romanian Language Day on August 31, which could thus be celebrated in all three countries. In light of intensification of Russia's malign efforts in the digital space, we agreed to take concrete steps towards further enhancing our cooperation for combatting hybrid and cyber threats. We agreed to continue a dialogue on creation of Trilateral Cyber Alliance and establishing a joint Centre for Countering Hybrid Threats in Odesa. Romania underlines the solid progress made by Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova in advancing the reforms related to the European accession, including by ensuring rule of law and providing a level-playing field for the private sector, as essential instruments to the integration on the European Single Market, as well as for the reconstruction efforts. Romania remains committed to supporting both states on a sustained, credible and predictable path to full membership in the European Union, including by provision of political support and technical assistance. EU Enlargement remains a strategic investment in the peaceful and secure future for Europe. During the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, we look forward to seeing significant progress in the ongoing screening process and the swift opening of relevant negotiation clusters for both Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. Further substantial progress on gradual economic integration, particularly in areas bringing tangible benefits to the citizens of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova, should remain a priority. This will support both countries in complying with the relevant applicable EU acquis and in fulfilling the specific conditionalities required on their path toward EU membership. We consider Ukraine as one of the key producers and suppliers of food in the world, which continues to faithfully fulfil its duties as a reliable partner despite Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Noting the important efforts already undertaken by Romania and the Republic of Moldova to facilitate the safe, reliable, and cost-effective transit of Ukraine's exports, we commit to further enhancing trilateral connectivity. We highlight the long-term relevance of expanding cross-border road, rail-, and waterway connectivity for the integration of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova in the EU Single Market, and for Ukraine's reconstruction process. Our common interest is to continue expanding the existing border crossing points, development of access roads and railway infrastructure to the common border, and implement a pilot project on coordinated border and customs control at the checkpoints across the common state border, according to the applicable national legislation. The Danube is one of the main areas of cooperation between the three countries. We will also continue to optimize logistics routes along Solidarity Lanes, while ensuring that the interests of farmers, agricultural producers, and processors in Ukraine, Romania, and the Republic of Moldova are safeguarded and duly considered, in line with the applicable European and national legislation. We underline the importance of joint work for improving and expanding interconnections, diversifying energy sources, and ensuring stability in energy supply for consolidating the energy security of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. Romania will continue to support the integration of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova on the common energy market until 2027. We are working on diversifying gas supplies to Ukraine by joining the Trans-Balkan route, which has significant potential for transporting liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Ukraine. In this regard, we hope that together, the Republic of Moldova, Romania and Ukraine, we will make our gas systems more secure and independent. Romania and the Republic of Moldova confirm their resolute commitment to cooperating with Ukraine and the international community to ensure an effective and sustainable post-war recovery and reconstruction. By providing critical infrastructure and resources, as well as facilitating the cooperation between the private and the public sectors and the exchange of experience and innovative solutions in the field of recovery, such assistance could play a significant role in rebuilding a strong, democratic and European Ukraine. We have underlined the importance of the Ukraine - Republic of Moldova - Romania trilateral format of dialogue and cooperation in bringing our states closer and reaffirmed our strong engagement to continue our coordination in this format. In this context, we welcome the results of the meeting in the Ukraine - Republic of Moldova - Romania trilateral format at the level of Heads of State (June 11, 2025, Odesa) and express our readiness for the organization of a subsequent meeting at the level of Heads of Government of the three states. We remain committed to further strengthening trilateral interstate relations, based on mutual trust and respect, openness, and comprehensive collaboration for the benefit of our citizens. We appreciate the participation in the meeting of our colleagues from the Lublin Triangle - Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland Radosaw Sikorski and Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania Kestutis Budrys - and express our readiness to further cooperation in such a broader dimension. We agreed to hold the next Ukraine - Republic of Moldova - Romania ministerial meeting in Romania, in 2026. Andrii Sybiha - Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Mihai Popsoi - Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova Oana Toiu - Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Volodymyr Zelenskyy Held a Phone Call With Cyril Ramaphosa President of Ukraine 8 August 2025 - 20:38 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa. The conversation focused on how to achieve real peace and stop the killings. The Head of State informed Cyril Ramaphosa about his recent contacts with President of the United States Donald Trump and European leaders. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that it is now important to agree on a strong joint position, as the discussion concerns the future security architecture not only for Ukraine, but also for the whole of Europe and the world. The President of South Africa shared details of his conversation with the Russian side. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine's position is absolutely clear: the path to peace must begin with a ceasefire. Ukraine is ready for this, as well as for meetings at the highest level in various formats. The Head of State emphasized that from the very first seconds of this war, Ukraine has sought its end, and that Russia is the sole reason for its prolongation and the absence of peace. Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Cyril Ramaphosa for supporting Ukraine and invited him to visit our country. The leaders also agreed to hold an in-person meeting in the autumn. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President of Ukraine and Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Coordinated Steps to Achieve Peace President of Ukraine 8 August 2025 - 20:28 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Petr Fiala. The Head of State informed about all recent contacts and efforts aimed at securing an end to the killings and establishing a real peace. The President noted that there have been many contacts at various levels. All are united in the understanding that the war must be brought to an end and that a common European position must be developed on every important security aspect. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that the United States is determined to achieve a ceasefire. This is an important first step, as a dignified, reliable, and lasting peace can only be the result of joint constructive actions. The Head of State thanked the Czech Republic for all the support it has provided to Ukraine, in particular for the initiative to supply Ukrainian warriors with artillery. The President stressed that this has helped save many lives and strengthen Ukraine's positions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address All Are United in the Understanding That There Is a Chance to Achieve at Least a Ceasefire, and That Everything Depends on the Right Pressure on Russia - Address by the President President of Ukraine 8 August 2025 - 20:21 Fellow Ukrainians! We are continuing our active negotiations with partners to reach a common position for a reliable peace for Ukraine. A truly genuine peace. And if everyone perceives the opportunities and threats in the same way, then it will be possible to achieve a truly lasting peace. There is already a lot of support, and it comes in the new circumstances, with a deadline now set for Russia to cease fire. So far, we see that the Russians are ignoring it - at least for now. Today has once again brought killings and Russian shelling. Over a hundred strike drones were launched overnight against us, against Ukraine, followed during the day by air bomb strikes, intense assaults on the frontline, and yet more air raid alerts in our cities and communities. I will cite just one of Russia's war crimes committed today. In Kherson, a 13-year-old boy was deliberately wounded by a munition dropped from a Russian drone. He is receiving medical care. That is, Russia's hunt for civilians in Kherson continues, and this is a deliberate destruction of life. No orders to stop have been given to the Russian army. We are speaking with our partners to ensure real steps are taken. More than a dozen conversations have been held with leaders and heads of government. Today - the Prime Minister of Poland, the President of Finland, the President of Latvia, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic. Just now I spoke with the President of South Africa. The coming days will also be devoted to diplomacy. Security advisors spoke yesterday, and today their work continues. Andriy Yermak is coordinating the leaders' advisors. The Minister of Foreign Affairs is working with his counterparts in Europe. We are in constant communication with the American side, and our partners, for their part, are also engaging with the United States. All are united in the understanding that there is a chance to achieve at least a ceasefire, and that everything depends on the right pressure on Russia. It is there that the decision must be made that they must be the ones to end the war they started. Russia doesn't care about its losses in human lives. They block all information about their losses. But they cannot block objective reality - what the Russian economy is experiencing, how Russian enterprises are shutting down, how Russian logistics are suffering losses. Sanctions can work exactly as we need. Today, I want to thank everyone around the world who is helping us - helping bring the war to an end. Today, I also approved several of our new sanctions packages, Ukraine's packages - the relevant decisions will be made soon. I held a special meeting with government officials and the Office team on our work in the European direction, with partners in the European Union and with European countries outside the EU. A few key points. I would like to thank Prime Minister of Poland Tusk, Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Fiala, Latvia, all the Baltic states, the Nordic countries, and everyone in Europe who supports the need for the European Union to be strong and honest about its commitments. We must strengthen our joint defense efforts. Every joint European defense initiative must operate at full capacity. Everything that contributes to our common security, shared economic growth, and mutual interests - everything we share must work effectively. In particular, integration must work - all processes that make Europe more united. In Ukraine, we have done a lot to ensure that Moldova stands alongside us on the European path. We are helping stabilize the situation inside Moldova so that Russian interference does not succeed. We are helping ensure the stable operation of Moldova's energy sector. At the time, we insisted that Moldova deserved to be granted candidate status. And our position now is equally based on fairness and real merit. Ukraine has done everything to open the first cluster in the accession negotiations with the European Union. Europe recognizes this. That is why any artificial pauses, any artificial separations will only harm Europe. Ukraine and Moldova must move forward together in the negotiation process. I thank all the leaders and all the countries, the European Union, for supporting us in this, for supporting the rules in Europe. And, of course, gratitude to the warriors of Ukraine. Today is the Day of the Communications Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. A day of our warriors who make the army an army, because without communications it is simply impossible to operate effectively. I thank all of you who, under any circumstances, keep our Defense Forces connected. We are proud of our people! Thank you to all our friends - friends of Ukraine! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Aug 9, 2025; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (2) celebrates with third baseman Manny Machado (13) after hitting a one-run home run during the second inning against the Boston Red Sox at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images San Diego Padres star shortstop Xander Bogaerts took part in just his second series against his former team, the Boston Red Sox, since departing after the 2022 season this weekend. And both he, and former Boston Red Sox play-by-play broadcaster turned San Diego Padres voice Don Orsillo reminded Red Sox fans what they are missing throughout the series. Coming into the series, Bogaerts had been held hitless against his former team. But that came to an end in the second game of the series on Saturday, hitting a home run in the second inning off of Red Sox starter Lucas Giolito. As Orsillo has done countless times both with the Red Sox and Padres organizations, he gave his patented Bogey goes boom call as the ball went over the fence in left field. After Saturdays game, Bogaerts was asked by Bri Savant of Fox 5 in San Diego how it felt to have Orsillo on the call of his hit and home run against his former team, with Bogaerts explaining how Orsillo has been present for the vast majority of great moments throughout his career. Ill hear it when I get home, said Bogaerts. I wasnt able to hear that yet. What can I say? I have a lot of memories. And also, with Don, my first couple years in the big leagues, Don was there. Its a very new team. But its still the Red Sox. Its a lot of new young guys. Its always a place that is close to your heart. I had a lot of great times. Great people over there, great friendships. So it was nice. I asked #Padres Xander Bogaerts about homering against his old Red Sox with Don Orsillo on the call I have a lot of memories..& with Don, my first couple years in the big leagues Don was there. Its a new team, but its still the Red Sox..a place always close to your heart.. pic.twitter.com/1zOmCJSu4b Bri Savant (@BriSavant) August 10, 2025 Orsillo saw this post from Savant on social media, sharing his love for Bogaerts and explaining how he is so glad to be spending his own second chapter as a broadcast with Bogaerts in San Diego. I love you Bogey! wrote Orsillo. So glad we are together for both of our 2nd chapters and cant wait to win another ring together. I you Bogey! So glad we are together for both of our 2nd chapters and cant wait to win another ring together. @Padres #ForTheFaithful @RedSox pic.twitter.com/HvjTbLPxeM Don Orsillo (@DonOrsillo) August 10, 2025 Orsillo and Bogaerts ultimately got the last laugh over their former organization, winning two of the three games against the Red Sox. But clearly, based on the fact that Orsillo is talking about he and Bogaerts winning a second ring together in San Diego, there is obviously more work to be done for Bogaerts. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Edgars Rinkevics Discussed Diplomatic Efforts to Achieve Peace and Support for Ukraine on Its Path to EU Membership President of Ukraine 8 August 2025 - 16:13 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with President of Latvia Edgars Rinkevics. The Head of State informed Edgars Rinkevics about his contacts with partners and the current diplomatic situation. Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared his vision of the steps needed to achieve a reliable peace. The two Presidents share the view that peace can be achieved through U.S. support and European unity. They agreed to coordinate their efforts. The leaders also discussed Ukraine's European integration path. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that our country has fulfilled all necessary requirements. Therefore, it would be fair and just to open the first negotiating cluster for Ukraine and Moldova simultaneously. Edgars Rinkevics reaffirmed that Latvia fully supports Ukraine's membership in both the EU and NATO. The Presidents also discussed the new PURL (Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List) instrument for procuring U.S. weapons, which is already operational. Edgars Rinkevics said that Latvia is ready to join. The Head of State invited the President of Latvia to visit Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine and the Philippines Agreed to Step Up Cooperation in Food Security President of Ukraine 8 August 2025 - 14:38 At the instruction of the President of Ukraine and the Head of the Office of the President, Deputy Head of the Office of the President Ihor Zhovkva held an online meeting with Deputy Director General of the National Security Council of the Republic of the Philippines Nestor Herico. Ihor Zhovkva thanked the Philippines for its consistent support of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The interlocutors discussed the results of the first visit of the President of Ukraine to the Philippines in June last year, which was the first in the history of bilateral relations. Ihor Zhovkva and Nestor Herico agreed on the importance of deepening cooperation in the defense, security, and trade and economic spheres. A particular focus of the conversation was on prospects for mutually beneficial partnership in food security and the creation of effective institutional mechanisms. The parties agreed to step up efforts to sign an Agreement on the Establishment of a Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, and Scientific and Technical Cooperation. "Despite the war, Ukraine remains a steadfast guarantor of global food security. We are ready for closer cooperation with the Philippines to ensure the supply of Ukrainian products to the countries of the region," Ihor Zhovkva emphasized. Ukraine is also ready to cooperate in the fields of cybersecurity, countering disinformation, and strengthening information resilience against external threats. The conversation also touched upon further contacts between the leaders of Ukraine and the Philippines. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Diplomatic Efforts for Peace and Support for Ukraine on Its Path to EU Membership: Volodymyr Zelenskyy Held a Phone Call With Donald Tusk President of Ukraine 8 August 2025 - 13:38 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk. The key topics discussed included diplomatic steps to bring about a just and lasting peace, joint defense production, support for Ukrainians, and the negotiation process regarding Ukraine's accession to the European Union. The Head of State informed Donald Tusk about his conversation with President Donald Trump and European colleagues. The leaders discussed the available diplomatic options and agreed to coordinate their actions and work together for the sake of common European security interests. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Donald Tusk share the same view: Ukraine, Poland, and other European countries equally need strong foundations for their security and independence. The President thanked the Prime Minister of Poland for his willingness to assist on this path. The leaders also discussed certain regulatory changes in Poland that have affected Ukrainian applicants and students. Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked to consider this issue and help Ukrainian youth. The conversation also touched upon the negotiation process on Ukraine's EU membership. The President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of Poland share the same view that the first cluster for Ukraine and Moldova should be opened simultaneously. Ukraine and Moldova began this path together and must continue along it together. Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Poland and the entire Polish people for their unwavering support of Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Following SSU investigation, member of FSB agent pair that spied in Kramatorsk area sentenced to 15 years in prison Security Service of Ukraine 17:00, 8 August 2025 Based on evidence collected by the Security Service, the first member of an FSB agent pair detained in Donetsk oblast in January this year has been sentenced to 15 years in prison with confiscation of property. At that time, the SSU Counterintelligence apprehended two enemy agents who were tracking the locations of the Defense Forces in Kramatorsk area for the occupiers. The ruscists hoped to use the intelligence to plan offensive operations on the eastern front using aerial bombs, kamikaze drones and all types of artillery. The member of the enemy group, a local unemployed man recruited by the FSB, has now been convicted. To get him to cooperate, the occupiers 'connected' him with his sister, who had left for russia at the beginning of the full-scale war and started working for the aggressor state. The FSB also used a woman to recruit a second member of the enemy cell - her old acquaintance from Kramatorsk. The relative of the convicted man then acted as a liaison between the agent pair and their handler from the russian special service. During the searches of both perpetrators, phones with anonymous chats in messenger apps were seized. Through these, they coordinated their actions with russia's federal security service. Based on evidence, the court found the agent guilty under Article 111.2 of the CCU (high treason, committed under martial law). The criminal case against his accomplice is currently pending in court. The investigation was carried out by the SSU Office in Donetsk and Luhansk regions under the procedural supervision of Donetsk Region Prosecutor's Office. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Following SSU and National Police investigation, russian admiral who gave order to seize Ukrainian rescue ship 'Sapfir' declared suspect in absentia Security Service of Ukraine 15:45, 8 August 2025 The Security Service and the National Police have collected evidence against russian admiral Sergei Pinchuk, commander of the russian Black Sea fleet. The investigation established that on 26 February 2022, on his orders, the occupiers seized the Ukrainian search and rescue vessel Sapfir, which was on a humanitarian mission in the area of Zmiinyi Island. On that day, russian forces illegally stopped and blocked the civilian ship off the coast of the Ukrainian island. After that, the occupiers boarded the ship and, threatening with automatic weapons, imprisoned all 19 crew members, as well as a priest and a doctor who were on board. Some of these people were transferred to a russian navy tugboat, while the rest were held on the island, temporarily seized at the time. The ruscists subjected all the prisoners to psychological pressure and threatened them with physical violence, including simulating 'executions' of the victims. During this torture, Pinchuk personally arrived at Zmiinyi, where he participated in the interrogation of the Sapfir's captain, and subsequently ordered the victims to be transported together with the rescue vessel to Crimea and then to russia. Based on the evidence, Pinchuk was notified in absentia of suspicion under Articles 28.2 and 438.1 of the CCU (war crimes, committed by a group, upon prior conspiracy). The investigation was conducted by the SSU Odesa Office in cooperation with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor's Office. We remind you that in July this year, following the SSU's investigation, two officers of the russian Black Sea fleet who participated in the seizure of the Sapfir were declared suspects in absentia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Commentary on media statements by Heads of NABU and SAPO Security Service of Ukraine 14:20, 8 August 2025 In connection with the statements made in the media by the Heads of NABU and SAPO, the Security Service of Ukraine notes the following: Regarding the claim that 'the materials of criminal proceedings were not provided to NABU or the media' In accordance with the criminal procedure law requirements, the materials of the pre-trial investigation are confidential. Investigative authorities are not obliged to disclose any information from pre-trial proceedings outside the limits specified by law. All available evidence subject to disclosure was officially published by the SSU on 21 July, including authentic audio recordings of conversations between the individuals involved: 'SSU and PGO detain NABU detective on suspicion of doing business in russia' 'SSU and PGO expose current member of Ukrainian parliament collaborating with russia: he had significant influence on NABU' 'SSU and PGO detain fsb 'mole' in NABU' Furthermore, on 7 August SSU investigators provided the NABU Head with separate information and materials confirming the validity of the suspicion declared against two NABU employees. The entire body of evidence will be provided exclusively to the court in accordance with procedural rules. Regarding allegations of 'pressure on certain people to testify that there is indeed russian influence in NABU' No pressure is being exerted on 'certain individuals', nor can it be. The influence on NABU of Fedir Khristenko, a member of parliament from the pro-russian Opposition Platform For Life party (banned in Ukraine), is evidenced, in particular, by authentic recordings of his own conversations. Additionally, we remind that materials of covert investigative activities and NABU detectives' profiles were found during the searches of the MP's home in Ukraine (in the house where his close relatives currently live). Therefore, we consider any statements by representatives of the pro-russian OPFL party about 'threats to life' to be an attempt to avoid criminal responsibility. Fedir Khristenko, who left Ukraine at the start of the full-scale invasion, has been notified of suspicion in absentia under Articles 28.2, 111.1 and 111.2 (high treason, committed by a group, upon prior conspiracy, under martial law) and Article 369-2.2 (abuse of influence) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Regarding the alleged 'detention of NABU detective R.Magamedrasulov for documenting a prominent businessman' All statements and rumours that R.Magamedrasulov was allegedly documenting one of the well-known Ukrainian businessmen are untrue. As the investigation revealed, the person in question had contacts with representatives of the aggressor state and acted as an intermediary in the sale of his father's technical hemp to russia (republic of Dagestan). After examining the case file and the substantial evidence, the court remanded R.Magamedrasulov in custody until 16 September without the right to bail. Any statements by third parties who deliberately manipulate facts, subjectively assess materials published by the Security Service, and 'forget' about trade with russia are unacceptable. R.Magamedrasulov has been declared a suspect under Article 111-2 of the CCU (aiding an aggressor state). He is suspected of conducting business in russia (acting as an intermediary in the sale of his father's technical hemp to Dagestan). His father, russian citizen Sentyabr Magamedrasulov, has also been notified of suspicion and is in custody as a measure of restraint. We consider the dissemination of unsubstantiated and manipulative statements regarding these high-profile criminal proceedings to be an attempt to exert public pressure on representatives of the judiciary. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Xi says China will continue to promote peace talks in Ukraine crisis People's Daily Online (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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump says to meet Putin on Aug. 15 in U.S. state of Alaska People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 09:53, August 09, 2025 WASHINGTON, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday on social media that his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin will take place on Aug. 15 in the U.S. state of Alaska. Trump said on Truth Social that further details will follow. Russian presidential aide Yury Ushakov confirmed that Putin and Trump will focus on options for achieving a long-term peaceful settlement of the Russia-Ukraine conflict at the upcoming summit, RIA Novosti reported. On Thursday, Trump said that a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian leaders is not a condition for him to meet with Putin. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zelensky rejects Trump's proposal to 'swap lands' with Russia to end war Iran Press TV Saturday, 09 August 2025 6:59 PM President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine says Kiev will categorically reject any proposal involving the cession of territory to Russia. Zelensky made these comments on Saturday shortly after US President Donald Trump announced plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week in Alaska, where he will raise the idea of "swapping territories" to bring an end to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. In response to this announcement, the Ukrainian leader expressed concerns that Ukraine might be excluded from negotiations related to a potential ceasefire framework with Russia. He remarked, "Any decisions made against us, or without Ukraine's involvement, are decisions against peace. They will achieve nothing." Zelensky also emphasized that Kiev "will not surrender our land to occupiers." Reports indicate that US and Russian officials are currently discussing a deal in which Russia would agree to cease its attacks on Ukraine in exchange for territorial concessions. Ukraine and its European allies have consistently opposed any agreements that involve ceding territoryspecifically Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhiato Russia. Conversely, Russia insists that any agreement must require Kiev to relinquish some of the territories it has seized since 2014. Since the onset of the war in early 2022, the US and the European Union have provided extensive military, financial, and diplomatic support to Ukraine, which some argue has prolonged the conflict by enabling Kiev to continue its fight rather than seeking a diplomatic resolution. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump, Putin set to meet in Alaska with land swap on table to end Ukraine war Iran Press TV Saturday, 09 August 2025 7:50 AM US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, will meet in Alaska on August 15 to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine, which, according to Trump, would involve a land swap. Trump announced in a post on his Truth Social account on Friday that he will meet Putin next Friday in Alaska a land sitting approximately 88 kilometers away from Russia across the Bering Strait. It will be their first face-to-face meeting since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025. "We are going to have a meeting with Russia. We'll start off with Russia," Trump said as he hosted leaders from Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House. "It's very complicated. But we're going to get some 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," Trump said. Putin also confirmed on Thursday preparations for a meeting with Trump, noting mutual interest in a bilateral meeting. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov also told reporters on Saturday that Russia and the US will devote the coming days to preparing for the Alaska summit. "In the coming days, Moscow and Washington will, of course, devote themselves to the most active and intense work on the practical and political parameters of the Alaska summit. It will be a difficult process, but we will work on it actively and intensively," he noted. The statements about the upcoming meeting came after US special presidential envoy Steve Witkoff visited Moscow on Wednesday and met with Putin. The conversation lasted about three hours. Nevertheless, Trump's peace-making facade meets opposition from both sides of the conflict. Ukraine and its European allies have long opposed any agreement that involves ceding territory including Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia to Russia. On the other hand, Putin has repeatedly said that any deal must require Ukraine to relinquish some of the territories Russia has seized since 2014. Moreover, Putin wants an end to Kiev's efforts to join the NATO military alliance, as well as a pause to Western aid for Ukraine. The US announcement to meet with Russia came on the same day a deadline Trump imposed on Russia to reach a ceasefire passed without any new agreement. After taking office in January, Trump rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in favor of Putin. He blamed Kiev's ambitions of joining NATO for provoking Russia's military campaign in February 2022. However, his inability to bring the Ukraine war to a close has become a source of resentment between him and Putin. Last week, Trump demanded that Russia pause its operations or face new sanctions and secondary tariffs on key trading partners. On Wednesday, Trump raised tariffs on Indian goods to 50 percent in response to its purchase of Russian oil. Still, this week, Trump hailed "great progress" in the peace negotiations as Witkoff visited Putin in Moscow. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Zelenskyy Rejects Suggestions Of Land Swap As Trump Announces Alaska Summit With Putin By RFE/RL August 09, 2025 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy rejected suggestions that Kyiv would have to cede territory to Russia, as the White House and the Kremlin announced face-to-face talks to try to resolve the 41-month-old Ukraine war. US President Donald Trump announced he and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, would be meeting in Alaska on August 15 -- their first meeting since Trump took office in January. Trump 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. "There'll 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, who has not been invited to the Alaska meeting, warned that any peace deal excluding Kyiv would lead to "dead solutions." "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 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 that Alaska was a symbolic location, given the two countries' shared Arctic borders. "Russia and the United States are close neighbors, bordering each other," Ushakov said in a video released by the Kremlin. "Of course the presidents themselves will be focusing on possibilities for reaching a lasting resolution to the Ukrainian crisis." 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. Early on August 9, a Russian drone hit a minibus in the suburbs of the southern city of Kherson, killing at least two civilian passengers and wounding 16. Officials said the bus was then targeted with a second drone -- a so-called "double tap" -- as police and emergency responders treated the injured. Three officers suffered concussions, officials said. Meeting In Alaska The decision to meet Putin face-to-face -- something that 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. Brett McGurk, who served as a White House National Security Council adviser under four presidents, said the optics of Putin traveling to the United States were not good. Speaking in an interview on CNN, McGurk said a cease-fire must be the priority. Short of that, "you have to walk away," he said. "Otherwise, [the war] is going to continue and Putin gets a big gigantic win." A Climb Down? Oxana Shevel, a political scientist and expert on Ukraine and Russia at Tufts University, noted that Trump only recently said he was "very disappointed" with Putin for continuing missile and drone barrages -- after cordial phone conversations -- if Putin didn't agree to a cease-fire. "He's clearly climbing down from that position," Shevel told RFE/RL. The fact that neither Ukraine nor any Europeans countries will have any place at the Alaska talks is also problematic, she said. "They said before that any deal about Ukraine cannot be made without Ukraine," she said. "That's been the position of the Ukrainian government for a long time." It was unclear what Trump meant by "swapping" territory; Ukraine doesn't currently hold any Russian territory. Shevel said this could involve a handful of villages near Ukraine's northeastern border that Russia has occupied in exchange for the part of the Donetsk region that Russian doesn't hold. The announcement of the summit coincided with a deadline Trump set for Putin to agree to a cease-fire or face severe tariffs targeting Russia's oil and other exports, along with its trading partners facing secondary tariffs on oil purchased from Russia. Russia has been able to fund its war effort in large part by oil and gas sales, to China and India, among others. Trump this week signed an executive order imposing an additional 25 percent tariff on India but did not raise tariffs on China. The Russian leader has long insisted that Ukraine relinquish the territories Russia occupies -- including Crimea, which Russia claims to have annexed in 2014. He has also insisted Western nations stop supplying Ukraine with weapons and that Ukraine be excluded from NATO membership. Zelenskyy and his European allies have rejected those demands, though Zelenskyy has expressed openness to meeting with Putin. US Senator Jeanne Shaheen criticized Trump for failing to "get tough" on the Kremlin. "Setting deadlines and blowing through them deeply undermines America's credibility, our deterrence to other aggressors, and our ability to finally get Russia to the negotiating table," she said in a statement. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-putin-russia-ukraine- zelenskyy-war-alaska/33498190.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM call with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine: 9 August 2025 The Prime Minister spoke to President Zelenskyy of Ukraine this morning. From: Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street and The Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP Published 9 August 2025 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. They agreed this 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 Prime Minister ended the call by reiterating his unwavering support for Ukraine and its people. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Path to Peace for Ukraine Must Be Determined Together with Ukraine, This Is Fundamental - Address by the President President of Ukraine 9 August 2025 - 21:49 I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians! Today was an active day of diplomacy. Since the morning, we've been coordinating with partners: the United Kingdom, France, Finland, Estonia, Denmark, and Spain. I thank everyone for their clear support. First and foremost, there must be a just end to the war, and it depends on Russia - it is Russia that must end the war it started. Second - Ukraine and all partners share the same understanding of the need for a ceasefire, for an end to the killings. Only one actor stands against this - Putin. His only card is the ability to kill, and he is trying to sell the cessation of killings at the highest possible price. It is important that this does not mislead anyone. What is needed is not a pause in the killings, but a real, lasting peace. Not a ceasefire sometime in the future - months from now - but immediately. President Trump told me so, and I fully support it. Third - I have not yet heard any of our partners express doubts about America's ability to ensure that the war ends. The President of the United States has the leverage and the determination. Ukraine has supported all of President Trump's proposals, starting back in February. A ceasefire - all formats have been supported. We have arranged meetings with the Russian side and have ensured they were constructive - we have carried out exchanges and are preparing further ones. There is already greater understanding regarding the lists. We are counting on results. Likewise, results are needed at the leaders' level. Dignified results. Results that will save lives, that the world will value, and for which it will be grateful to the leader who delivers them. Contacts with the American side are ongoing almost around the clock - at various levels. We are not making everything public. Everyone can clearly see Putin's tactics. He fears sanctions and is doing everything to bail on them. He wants to exchange a pause in the war, in the killings, for the legalization of the occupation of our land - he wants to gain territorial spoils for the second time already. He was allowed to take Crimea, and this led to the occupation of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. He did not receive preventive punishment when he amassed a contingent on our borders. This led to the full-scale war and the occupation of even more parts of Ukraine. Now Putin wants to be forgiven for seizing the south of our Kherson region, Zaporizhzhia, the entire territory of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, and Crimea. We will not allow this second attempt to partition Ukraine. Knowing Russia - where there is a second, there will be a third. That is why we stand firm on clear Ukrainian positions. We must end the war with a dignified peace based on a clear and reliable security architecture. Our partners are ready to help us with this. I thank all our people who today have shown support, who are fighting for our state, and who are working for Ukraine. I thank every warrior, every citizen of Ukraine who understands that independence is built on dignity. Fear and concessions do not make the life of nations safe. Russia's desires to rule over Ukrainian territories will remain just desires as long as Ukrainians stand shoulder to shoulder, helping the army and helping the state. I have just received a report from our team in the United Kingdom - from Andriy Yermak. 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. The risks are being taken into account. The path to peace for Ukraine must be determined together - and only together - with Ukraine. This is fundamental. And it is important that our joint approaches and shared vision work toward a genuine peace. A consolidated position. A ceasefire. An end to the occupation. An end to the war. I thank everyone who is with us, who is with Ukraine! Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Presidents of Ukraine and Finland Coordinated Positions for the Most Productive Joint Work with the United States President of Ukraine 9 August 2025 - 18:26 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with President of Finland Alexander Stubb. The leaders coordinated their positions for the most productive joint work with the United States. The President of Ukraine stressed that it is important that America has the determination and the capability to end the war, and that Ukraine welcomes U.S. President Donald Trump's desire to stop the killings. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the need to act wisely and in a coordinated manner to respond to Russia's intention to prolong the war and seize territorial spoils. Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Alexander Stubb for his support and noted that Ukraine and Finland have the longest borders with Russia in Europe, and the people of both countries know well what threats this entails. The Presidents of Ukraine and Finland agreed to continue working together for common security. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Diplomatic Situation and Ukraine's Path to EU Membership: Volodymyr Zelenskyy Had a Phone Call With Pedro Sanchez President of Ukraine 9 August 2025 - 17:52 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sanchez. The Head of State informed Pedro Sanchez about the diplomatic situation and contacts with partners. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also shared his vision of the next steps on the path to peace. The President stressed that the main priority now is to ensure that Russia does not once again impose its unrealistic conditions on anyone. The leaders share the same view that Europe's voice must be taken into account in diplomatic negotiations. The partners are coordinating a common European position and are ready to move as quickly and constructively as possible toward a just peace. The conversation also touched upon Ukraine's European integration path. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine has fulfilled all its commitments and is fully prepared for the opening of the first negotiating cluster. The leaders discussed possible options and agreed to seek solutions and stay in touch. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mette Frederiksen Discussed Diplomatic Situation and Communication With Partners President of Ukraine 9 August 2025 - 15:32 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen. The leaders discussed the diplomatic situation and communication with partners. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the extremely high level of diplomatic activity in recent days and stressed that, however, there had been no change in Russia's position. 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. The Head of State stressed that diplomatic steps must bring us closer to a real end to the war, not its reconfiguration, and that joint decisions with partners must serve common security. The conversation also touched upon efforts toward EU membership and the progress achieved on this path by Ukraine and Moldova. The leaders share the same view on the need for a fair approach and the fulfillment of commitments for both countries together. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President of Ukraine and Prime Minister of Estonia Discussed Diplomatic Efforts to End the War President of Ukraine 9 August 2025 - 14:38 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with Prime Minister of Estonia Kristen Michal to discuss diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war. The Head of State thanked Estonia for its support and informed about Ukraine's diplomatic efforts with partners to end the war and ensure common security. The leaders confirmed their shared view that decisions regarding Ukraine's security are important for everyone in Europe. Special attention during the conversation was given to discussions at the EU level, in particular to the situation in the negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union. The President noted Estonia's principled position on fair conditions for Ukraine and Moldova on their path toward the EU. There can be no divisions or injustice on this path. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 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 - Address by the President President of Ukraine 9 August 2025 - 08:47 Fellow Ukrainians! 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. Putin did not believe in our people and therefore made the hopeless decision to try to take Ukraine. This was his main mistake - not taking Ukrainians into account. I believe in our people. Ukrainians are strong. Ukrainians defend what's theirs. Many in the world have sided with Ukraine during the war. Even those who are with Russia know that Russia is doing evil. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 thank all our people for being together. Ukraine is. I thank all our soldiers for preserving our independence. Stand firm, this is our land, we are Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint Statement of Leaders of the Nordic-Baltic Eight on Ukraine President of the Republic of Lithuania August 10, 2025 We stand firm in our unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity in the face of Russia's illegal war of aggression. We welcome the initiative of President Trump to help bring this war to an end and to lay the foundations for a just and enduring peace that ensures Ukraine's security and the stability of Europe. We stand ready to contribute to this work diplomatically, while maintaining our substantial military and financial support to Ukraine. We will continue to uphold and impose restrictive measures against the Russian Federation. Peace will only come through a combination of determined diplomacy, unwavering support for Ukraine, and consistent pressure on the Russian Federation to halt its unlawful war. We share the conviction that a diplomatic solution must safeguard the vital security interests of both Ukraine and Europe. These interests include robust and credible security guarantees that enable Ukraine to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. We reaffirm the principle that international borders must not be changed by force. Negotiations can only take place in context of a ceasefire. President Zelenskyy has stated clearly that Ukraine is ready for peace talks in full respect of its sovereignty. The people of Ukraine must have the freedom to decide their future. The path to peace cannot be charted without Ukraine's voice. No decisions on Ukraine without Ukraine, and no decisions on Europe without Europe. The Nordic-Baltic Eight will remain at Ukraine's side, united in purpose and resolute in defence of our security. We will continue to work closely with the United States, Ukraine, as well as other partners, to seek a peace that is just, lasting, and rooted in the principles of the UN Charter, the Helsinki Final Act and international law. The President's Communication Group NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address European leaders say US-Russia peace talks must include Ukraine Iran Press TV Sunday, 10 August 2025 6:55 PM In a message to US President Donald Trump, a coalition of European leaders warned that any peace talks to end the war in Ukraine must include Kiev. The president of the European Union and the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland, and the United Kingdom signed a joint statement on Sunday, saying that "the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine." "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 statement read. The show of European unity came hours after Trump announced plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin next week in Alaska. A White House official said Trump was open to including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the talks but, for now, the summit remained bilateral. Trump also suggested he expected "some swapping of territories" between Ukraine and Russia a proposal rejected by both Zelensky and the European leaders. They said in the statement that "international borders must not be changed by force" and that the current line of contact should be the starting point for negotiations. Backed by its Western allies, Ukraine has consistently opposed any agreement that involves ceding territory including Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia to Russia. Moscow, however, insists any deal must include Kiev giving up some of the land it has held since 2014. According to the Wall Street Journal, Europe has floated a counterproposal calling for a ceasefire before any further steps and stipulating that any land swaps must be reciprocal, with firm security guarantees in place. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Any Deal To End Ukraine War Must Include Kyiv And EU, Kallas Says By RFE/RL August 10, 2025 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 Ukraine's 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 that 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. "There'll 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 that "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 that 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." Russia's 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 that 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 Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-putin- trump-zelenskyy-ceasefire-swap-alaska/33498811.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address With Desertions, Low Recruitment, Ukraine's Infantry Crisis Deepens By Yauhen Lehalau August 10, 2025 As Russia presses its offensive, Ukraine faces a crisis that 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 mid-summer, 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 that 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 that 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 is estimated to recruit 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 70-150,000 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 that 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, contributes 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. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-putin- trump-zelenskyy-ceasefire-swap-alaska/33498811.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Vance Says Trump Wants US to End Financing of Conflict in Ukraine Sputnik News 20250810 WASHINGTON, (Sputnik) - US President Donald Trump wants the United States to halt the financing of the conflict in Ukraine, with US citizens tired of spending their taxes on it, US Vice President JD Vance said on Sunday. "The president and I certainly think that America, we are done funding the Ukraine war business. We want to bring about a peaceful settlement to this thing. We want to stop the killing. But Americans, I think, are sick of continuing to send their money, their tax dollars, to this particular conflict," Vance told Fox News. If the Europeans want to buy weapons from US manufacturers to transfer them to Ukraine, then Washington does not object, the vice president said. "But we're not going to fund it ourselves anymore," he said. Trump is convinced that his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15 is "worth the effort," Vance said. "Maybethis works out, maybeit doesn't, but it's worth the effort; it's worth trying," he quoted Trump as telling him privately on the morning of the interview. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Andrii Sybiha held phone talks with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Maria Malmer Stenergard Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine 10 August 2025 17:06 Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andrii Sybiha: "A meaningful conversation with my colleague, Foreign Minister of Sweden Maria Malmer Stenergard. We focused on the latest diplomatic developments. I informed about the situation on the battlefield and Ukraine's stance on the path toward a just and lasting peace. We coordinated our efforts to further strengthen Ukraine and reinforce transatlantic unity. We both agree that the outcome of Russia's war against Ukraine will shape not only Ukraine's future, but the future of global stability. Grateful to Sweden for its comprehensive support and steadfast solidarity in defending our shared values and European security." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We Understand Russia's Intention to Try to Deceive America - We Will Not Allow This - Address by the President President of Ukraine 10 August 2025 - 20:50 I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians! Right now in Zaporizhzhia, our first responders, medics, police officers, and all services are working to help after a strike by Russian bombs. Air-dropped bombs on the city, on residential buildings, on the bus station, on one of the clinics. Unfortunately, there are casualties. Everyone will receive assistance. I thank every employee of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine and all services for responding promptly and for always saving people's lives, no matter the circumstances. Today, along the entire front line, in frontline communities, and in our border towns and villages, the Russians once again continued to take lives. No deadlines, no expectations work on them - they do not want to stop the killings. The only thing they are looking for is a way to kill Ukraine. We clearly understand the threats. All our partners just as clearly understand the threats. Everyone sees that there has been no real step from Russia toward peace, no action on the ground or in the air that could save lives. That is why sanctions are needed, pressure is needed. Strength is needed - the strength, first and foremost, of the United States, the strength of Europe, the strength of all nations in the world that want peace and stability in international relations. If Russia does not want to stop the war, then its economy must be stopped. These days, we are speaking almost around the clock with everyone who respects international law. There will be more meetings and contacts. Just today, I spoke with the Prime Minister of Sweden, the President of Kazakhstan, and the President of Azerbaijan. We also spoke with the President of France. There is clear support for our independence, our sovereignty, and the territorial integrity of Ukraine. The war must be ended as soon as possible with a just peace. A just peace is needed. There is clear support for the principle that everything concerning Ukraine must be decided with Ukraine's participation. Just as it should be for every other independent state. Everyone must be respected. I thank all those who share this position with Ukraine. We are also preparing with Sweden new steps in the development of our Ukrainian combat aviation - this can be a major project for decades to come. I would also like to separately highlight our energy cooperation with Azerbaijan - we value it greatly. Today, with President Aliyev, we discussed the recent Russian strikes specifically on those energy facilities that connect Ukraine and Azerbaijan. It is obvious that these are deliberate attacks - not only on these facilities, but also on our cooperation. And it is especially valuable to me that the President of Azerbaijan assured, and this is also Ukraine's position, that we will continue our cooperation despite any challenges. Of course, our team is working with the United States - not a single day goes by without communication on how to ensure real peace. We understand Russia's intention to try to deceive America - we will not allow this. I greatly value the determination with which President Trump is committed to bringing an end to the killings in this war. Every day, many people are giving their lives. But the sole root cause of these killings is Putin's desire to wage war and manipulate everyone he comes into contact with. We in Ukraine know Russia well - and that is why, in extremely difficult circumstances, Ukrainians have endured more than three years of full-scale war. We will certainly defend our state and our independence. I thank everyone who is helping. One more thing. Today, there was a report from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, including on the situation in the Sumy region. We continue to drive Russian forces out of our land. There are much-needed results. I thank every soldier, sergeant, and officer defending Ukraine - our Sumy region, Kharkiv region, our Donetsk region, Luhansk region, our Zaporizhzhia region, our Kherson region. For successful actions in the Sumy region, I would like to particularly commend the 33rd and 225th Separate Assault Regiments, as well as the warriors of the Special Operations Forces. Thank you! For resilience and the destruction of the occupier in the Pokrovsk direction - which remains very important and extremely challenging - I commend the 14th Operational Brigade of the National Guard, the warriors of the 155th Separate Mechanized Brigade, the 1st Assault Regiment, the 2nd Battalion of the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade, and the airmobile battalion of our 79th Brigade. I thank everyone on the frontline, at combat posts and on missions, everyone fighting for us, for Ukraine and our national interests as for themselves. I feel your support. We will certainly defend Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ilham Aliyev Discussed the Diplomatic Path Toward Achieving a Just and Lasting Peace, and Bilateral Cooperation President of Ukraine 10 August 2025 - 16:05 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone call with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. The Head of State congratulated the President of Azerbaijan and the entire Azerbaijani people on the agreements reached with Armenia, with the participation of U.S. President Donald Trump, which will contribute to lasting peace and security in the South Caucasus region. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ilham Aliyev share the same position: all countries must respect international law, and there can be no double interpretation of territorial integrity. The Head of State thanked the President of Azerbaijan for supporting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. The President of Ukraine informed his counterpart about contacts with partners. All are equally committed to a genuine end to the war and to effective diplomacy. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ilham Aliyev discussed communication with the United States, European countries, and the key principles that can bring peace closer. The Head of State emphasized that it is important for the joint efforts of the international community to ultimately compel Russia to halt hostilities and aggression. The parties also discussed energy cooperation and the results already achieved. They agreed to work on expanding joint capabilities. Volodymyr Zelenskyy informed Ilham Aliyev about Russian strikes on energy facilities. Ukraine considers this a deliberate attempt by Russia to block the routes that ensure energy independence for us and other European countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President of Ukraine Had a Phone Call with President of Kazakhstan President of Ukraine 10 August 2025 - 15:51 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone call with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The Head of State expressed gratitude for the support of the Ukrainian people, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed that international law, the fundamental principles of the UN Charter, and common sense must prevail in the world - namely, respect for the borders and territorial integrity of states, as well as for the dignity of every nation. The President of Ukraine noted that attempts to partition any independent state are extremely dangerous for every nation. History has repeatedly shown that if such injustice is allowed against one state, it does not end there. Therefore, it is important for all countries of the world to achieve a just and lasting peace for Ukraine based on respect for the sovereign rights of the Ukrainian people. The Head of State informed President Tokayev about diplomatic work with U.S. President Donald Trump and European partners, as well as about the agreements reached. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that a meeting of national security advisors had taken place the day before and that Europe had agreed on a coordinated position: Russia's war against Ukraine must end as soon as possible with a reliable peace. The President of Ukraine emphasized that Russia continues to do everything to prolong hostilities, refuses to stop the killings, and seeks to bargain for better positions on the frontline for future attacks. Such destructive behavior by Russia must stop. The Head of State stressed that Ukraine is ready to work as productively as possible with all partners for the sake of real peace. Issues concerning our country must be resolved with the participation of Ukraine, and all partners understand this. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev agreed to maintain contact and work on bringing the relations between the two countries and their people closer. The Head of State invited the President of Kazakhstan to visit Ukraine. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Diplomatic Situation, Defense Support, and Development of Cooperation: President of Ukraine Spoke with Prime Minister of Sweden President of Ukraine 10 August 2025 - 14:37 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a phone call with Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson. The Head of State informed him about the situation on the battlefield and expressed gratitude for the tangible defense support. This year, Sweden has allocated $4 billion in defense assistance to Ukraine. The leaders discussed the diplomatic situation in detail. Ulf Kristersson emphasized that Sweden, like all the Nordic countries, firmly supports the need for the quickest possible, just, and reliable end to the war, as well as effective pressure on Russia. It is the aggressor that must take steps to end the war it started. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ulf Kristersson agreed to continue coordinating with other partners to strengthen their positions. The President of Ukraine and the Prime Minister of Sweden discussed possible meeting formats and agreed to carry out the relevant visits in the near future. The parties also focused on cooperation in developing Ukraine's military aviation. Work is now underway to determine which combat platforms the aviation fleet will operate on in the future. The relevant teams from Ukraine and Sweden will thoroughly address this issue. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US VP Vance Says Both Ukraine, Russia Will Likely Be 'Unhappy' With Any Future Peace Deal By RFE/RL August 11, 2025 Washington appeared to be preparing Kyiv and Moscow for major compromises to end the long, bloody war ahead of a face-to-face meeting of the US and Russian presidents, with US Vice President JD Vance warning that any peace deal will likely leave both sides "unhappy." "It's not going to make anybody super happy. Both the Russians and the Ukrainians, probably, at the end of the day, are going to be unhappy with it," Vance said in a Fox News interview broadcast on August 10. The remarks came ahead of a scheduled August 15 meeting in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin, a session that will mark a pause in the long international isolation of the Kremlin leader since he launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The 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 in recent days has suggested that any resolution to the war could include "swapping of territories." "We're going to get some back, and we're going to get some switched," Trump said at the White House on August 8. "There'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both, but we'll be talking about that either later, or tomorrow." Those remarks elicited vocal pushbacks from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Kyiv's European allies, who have expressed strong backing for Ukraine's security and territorial integrity. "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," Zelenskyy said in a social media post on August 10. He added that Kyiv "values and fully supports" the statement of backing from its Western allies. Zelenskyy, in a video address released earlier, 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. In his nightly address on August 10, Zelenskyy said, "We understand Russia's intention to try to deceive America -- we will not allow this." European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also expressed demands that any deal between Washington and Moscow to end the war 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 Ukraine's and the whole of Europe's security," Kallas said. "International law is clear: All temporarily occupied territories belong to Ukraine," Kallas said. Kallas warned that "a deal must not provide a springboard for further Russian aggression against Ukraine, the transatlantic alliance and Europe." Kallas said she will convene a meeting of European foreign ministers on August 11 to discuss next steps. Ukraine said that Foreign Minister Andriy will attend the session. European leaders 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. A statement on August 9 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." In another statement released by Kyiv's Western allies on August 10, the Nordic-Baltic 8 group voiced its support for Ukraine and said peace could only be brought about through increased pressure on Russia to stop its "unlawful" war. The leaders of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden stated they "reaffirm the principle that international borders must not be changed by force." 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. The WSJ report could not immediately be confirmed. Reuters quoted a European official as saying an alternative plan had been presented to Vance but did not provide details. 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. Forced To Cede Territory? 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's armed forces and [allied]support for Ukraine," the official added. Zelenskyy has not been invited to the Alaska summit, although he has said he is ready to meet Putin face-to-face. Putin has regularly rejected meeting Zelenskyy. US media reports suggested that Trump was considering inviting Zelenskyy to Alaska, although some White House sources have played down the reports and there is no indication how Putin would react to such a move. Vance, in his Fox News interview, said Trump has persuaded Putin to meet with Zelenskyy and that a future meeting is being planned, although no specifics were given. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told ABC News that "when it comes to full-scale negotiations...It will be about territory." "It will be, of course, about security guarantees, but also about the absolute need to acknowledge that Ukraine decides on its own future, that Ukraine has to be a sovereign nation, deciding on its own geopolitical future -- of course having no limitations to its own military troop levels," Rutte said. Ceding national territory to Russia would be a perilous political decision for Zelenskyy. At the same time, much of the Ukrainian population is "tired" of war, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. "Everyone in our state, in our country, is tired of this war," the influential figure said. "Unfortunately, we have paid a huge price for this war: The lives of our patriots, our soldiers, our citizens. Hundreds of cities have been destroyed. A large part of Ukraine is occupied by Russia," he added. With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, Reuters, and dpa Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/alaska-trump-putin- zelenskyy-ukraine-russia-summit/33499374.html Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Nuclear weapons have no place in our world,' UN chief tells mayors in Nagasaki 8 August 2025 - 80 years after the United States dropped two atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the "only guarantee" against the use of nuclear weapons today is their "total elimination", the UN Secretary-General said on Friday. Inspired by the hibakusha, survivors of the atomic bombings at the end of World War Two who turned their suffering into a powerful appeal for peace, Antonio Guterres renewed his call for a world free of nuclear weapons in a video message to the 11th General Conference of Mayors for Peace in Nagasaki. United against nuclear weapons, the conference is an opportunity for mayors from around the world to discuss and adopt key priorities in support of global denuclearisation. 'No place in our world' "Nuclear weapons have no place in our world," said Mr. Guterres in his video-message, as they only offer the "illusion of safety and the certainty of devastation," he said. Calling for the total elimination of nuclear weapons, the Secretary-General urged all participants at the conference to "keep mobilising communities, inspiring young people, and building peace from the ground up." "I urge all States to recommit to nuclear disarmament," he said. A better world "I commend Mayors for Peace for your unwavering commitment to a better world," said Secretary-General, as the organization aims at creating real momentum for the realisation of a peaceful world without nuclear weapons. In honour of the hibakusha, and in the memory of the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Mr. Guterres made an impassioned call for action to end the nuclear threat once and for all. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Secretary-General's message to the Nagasaki Peace Memorial on the 80th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki United Nations Secretary-General Nagasaki, Japan 09 August 2025 Delivered by Under-Secretary-General Izumi Nakamitsu On this solemn day, we mark 80 years since Nagasaki was devastated by an atomic bomb. We remember the tens of thousands who perished in an instant, and we grieve with those who lost loved ones. We also honour the survivors the hibakusha. While their numbers grow smaller each year, their courage and testimony have become an eternal moral compass for our world, one that will forever point the way to peace. And we pay tribute to the people of Nagasaki. Amidst unimaginable destruction, they showed incredible strength and resilience, rebuilding a city of peace, culture and global connection. Nagasaki is a beacon of hope for our world. This year also marks the 80th anniversary of the United Nations born from the ashes of a global conflict with a mission to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war. It is no coincidence that nuclear disarmament was the subject of the very first General Assembly resolution. Eight decades later, it remains our highest disarmament priority. Yet, today, the shadow of nuclear weapons looms once again. They have returned to the centre of national security strategies and are being brandished as tools of coercion. Meanwhile, military spending has reached record highs while investments in peace and sustainable development falter. Yet, there are hopeful signs that the world is waking up to the need to reverse course. Last year, the Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo which represents the survivors of the Nagasaki and Hiroshima bombings was awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for its tireless work in raising awareness about this critical issue. And in the Pact for the Future, adopted last year, countries re-committed to a world free of nuclear weapons. Peace and security cannot be achieved through an arms race. We must re-commit to the proven tools of disarmament dialogue, diplomacy, confidence building, transparency, and arms control and reduction. Countries must move from words to action by strengthening the global disarmament regime with the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons at the centre, complemented by the momentum created by the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Let us honour the memory of the victims of Nagasaki not only with remembrance, but with resolve. Remembering the catastrophic past must move us to protect and build a peaceful today and tomorrow. Let us work together urgently for a world free of nuclear weapons. *** NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, continues to investigate potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Designer Brands Inc. (NYSE: DBI) resulting from allegations that Designer Brands may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public. SO WHAT: If you purchased Designer Brands securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=40581 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On June 10, 2025, Designer Brands reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2025. Commenting on the results, Designer Brands CEO stated that [w]e experienced a soft start to 2025 amid an unpredictable macro environment and deteriorating consumer sentiment. Further, the CEO stated that [g]iven the persistent instability and pressure on consumer discretionary spend, weve made the decision to withdraw our 2025 guidance for the time being. On this news, Designer Brands stock fell 18.2% on June 10, 2025. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. At the time Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. ------------------------------- Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com JAKARTA, Indonesia, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Geotab marks its 25th anniversary, celebrating remarkable global growth, pioneering AI driven innovation, and a relentless focus on customers, partners, and employees. What began as a two-person startup, built on the belief that data can change the world, has become one of the largest global connected vehicle telematics organisations with approximately 5 million connected vehicles under subscription and over 50k customers. The company employs more than 2,700 employees around the world, and has built an ecosystem of over 700 partners. Where only 10% of startups sustain long-term success , this is a significant milestone, and a testament to what's possible when vision, bright minds, dedicated teams, and forward-thinking customers come together. Geotab has always believed in pushing the boundaries of what connected vehicle technology can do, which is reflected in the more than 300 patents that have paved the way for critical industry advancements. "Being an entrepreneur you need to stay focused and take risks, which isnt always easy, so it is incredibly rewarding to see technology, data and people align to drive your vision forward and truly make a difference," says Neil Cawse, Founder and CEO of Geotab. "This anniversary is a moment to look back at our humble beginnings and the incredible path we've walked, but more importantly, it's a launchpad for everything that's still to come. The real magic happens when our technology, powered by collective insights and collaboration, helps customers solve real-world problems, whether that's making roads safer, shrinking carbon footprints, or getting vital goods where they need to be, faster and more efficiently." Reaching 25 years is a big milestone, but what excites us most is whats still to come, said David Brown, AVP, APAC, Geotab. Here in Australia and across the region, were seeing growing demand for smarter, safer, and more sustainable fleet solutions. Its a space thats evolving rapidly, and theres a real sense of momentum as more businesses look to data and technology to solve everyday challenges. Were proud to be on this journey with our customers and partners, and were looking forward to what we can achieve together in the years ahead. Innovation fueled by AI and data insights Geotabs long-standing success is intertwined with the strategic use of artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics. By leveraging massive datasets, the company has integrated advanced AI and machine learning capabilities directly into its platform. Geotab is proud to be one of the largest users of Google Cloud services, especially for AI and data analytics, recognising the scale and depth of the companys data expertise. Leveraging this expertise enables Geotab to deliver sophisticated, predictive insights and advanced solutions for fleets, from spotting potential accidents before they happen to anticipating vehicle failures and even assessing road risks. Shaping the future of connected vehicles "The future of connected vehicles is bursting with potential, and AI will be at the heart of reshaping it," Cawse adds. "We've built deep expertise in harnessing the power of data, and with AI, we're continually unlocking deeper insights, anticipating challenges, and delivering unprecedented value to our customers. Technology is moving incredibly fast, and we're committed to moving even faster, digging deeper, and continuing our mission of empowering fleets with the best possible tools and insights. We genuinely believe that when we work together, with quality data, we can change the world for the better." A note to every Dreamer and Doer: To every aspiring innovator, every dreamer with a big idea, and every risk-taker out there: Geotabs journey, from two individuals with a vision, stands as proof that it can be done. Our story is a testament to the power of taking calculated risks, keeping your customers at the absolute center of everything you do, holding an unwavering belief in your vision, and having the courage to challenge the status quo. With passion, perspective, great people and data, transformative ventures can be built. About Geotab Geotab is a global leader in connected vehicle and asset solutions, empowering fleet efficiency and management. We leverage advanced data analytics and AI to transform fleet performance, safety, and sustainability, reducing cost and driving efficiency. Backed by top data scientists and engineers, we serve over 55,000 global customers, processing 80 billion data points daily from more than 4.9 million vehicle subscriptions. Geotab is trusted by Fortune 500 organisations, mid-sized fleets, and the largest public sector fleets in the world, including the US Federal Government. Committed to data security and privacy, we hold FIPS 140-3 and FedRAMP authorisations. Our open platform, ecosystem of outstanding partners, and Marketplace deliver hundreds of fleet-ready third-party solutions. This year, we're celebrating 25 years of innovation. Learn more at www.geotab.com and follow us on LinkedIn or visit Geotab News and Views . Media Contact Nicole Riddle Senior Specialist, Strategic Communications pr@geotab.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/27852d3f-3cac-4dce-bd10-0973f86c18c3 Beijing, China, Aug. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- August 1, 2025 marks the 98th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). Over the past 98 years, the people's army under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) has made indelible contributions to national independence, liberation of the people and national prosperity. It has fought in the Agrarian Revolutionary War, the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, the War of Liberation, and the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. It has fulfilled its defense duties in Hong Kong and Macao in accordance with the law, effectively responded to various threats to national security, resolutely cracked down on all forms of separatist and sabotage activities, and actively participated in foreign military exchanges and cooperation as well as UN peacekeeping operations. Practice has fully proved that the people's military is a strong pillar for safeguarding national sovereignty, security and development interests, and a staunch force for maintaining world peace. The book series of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China includes several important speeches on adhering to the path of strengthening the military with Chinese characteristics. In the article "Continue to Strengthen Our Military" included in Volume II of the book series, Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said that the military must resolutely safeguard the Party's leadership and our socialist system, our sovereignty, security and interests, and regional and world peace. In Volume IV of the book series, Xi said when delivering an important speech during a ceremony marking the Centenary of the CPC that the achievements of the people's military on behalf of the Party and the people have been remarkable. It is a strong pillar that safeguards our socialist country and preserves national dignity, and a powerful force for protecting peace in our region and beyond. In the ninth installment of the special series "Decoding the Book of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China," the Global Times, along with People's Daily Overseas Edition, explores the theme: following a Chinese path to military development, the Chinese military has always been a staunch force for world peace. We continue to invite Chinese and foreign scholars, translators of Xi's works, practitioners with firsthand experience, and international readers to discuss how, in the new era, the people's army fulfills its mission of building a strong military, practices the Global Security Initiative with concrete actions, takes on the responsibilities of a major country's military, and continuously makes greater contributions to maintaining world peace and stability. In the ninth article of the "Translators' Voices" column, Global Times (GT) reporter Ma Ruiqian interviewed Farrukh Sohail Goindi (Goindi), a Pakistani author and analyst. Goindi served as one of the editors on the translation team for the Pakistani edition of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. GT: Volume I of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China states that building people's armed forces that faithfully follow the Party's commands, are able to win battles and have fine conduct is the Party's goal for developing the military under the new circumstance. How do you interpret this goal for developing the military? Goindi: The goal of building armed forces that follow the Party's command is very significant. The Chinese army, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC), protects national integrity, the people's security and the country's prosperity. They are never aggressive and they have never attacked any other country. If the Chinese army were engaged in foreign invasions or interference in other parts of the world - like some other world powers - it would not have been able to achieve what China has today. This serves as a great example for the whole world, especially for major powers. More importantly, China has never interfered in the affairs of other countries. That's why China's development is closely connected to global peace. GT: "Achieving the great renewal of the Chinese nation has become the dream of the Chinese people in modern times... To achieve these aims we must strive both to enrich the country and build a strong national defense and powerful military," said President Xi in Volume I of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China. Why is the development of national defense and the armed forces essential to realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation? Goindi: In any case, if a country has a strong economy and a great industrial network - especially a country like China, with a population of over 1 billion - it must have a strong defense. History shows us that countries lacking strong national defense are vulnerable. That's why the Chinese military follows the CPC leadership and contributes to the collective vision of national rejuvenation. GT: This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Volume IV of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China notes: "We must continue working to build a global community of shared future. Peace, concord and harmony are goals that China has pursued and carried forward for more than 5,000 years. The Chinese nation does not carry aggressive or hegemonic traits in its genes." How would you assess the contribution of the Chinese military to world peace? Goindi: 80 years ago, China made significant contributions to the defeat of fascism, setting an example of how a weaker nation could prevail over stronger aggressors. If they had not done so, we can only imagine how different the world might be today. Over the past eight decades, China's national defense capabilities have steadily developed. Unlike some other powers, China's defense industry does not pursue aggression or cross-border interference. The nation firmly pursues a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, ensuring prosperity for its people. Today, China is not only focused on building its own defense but is also making contributions to global security. The country has put forward the Global Security Initiative, emphasizing that humanity shares an indivisible security community. It advocates a new path to security - one of dialogue over confrontation, partnerships over alliances, and win-win cooperation instead of zero-sum rivalry. Since its launch, the initiative has received broad support and positive responses from the international community. Moreover, the People's Liberation Army of China actively participates in United Nations peacekeeping operations, international humanitarian assistance, anti-piracy escort missions and global cooperation in pandemic response. By promoting multilateral cooperation in international security dialogues, China has played a vital role in safeguarding world peace and security. China is promoting both peace and prosperity at the same time. This is the result of the vision of the CPC and its leadership, as well as the collective wisdom of Chinese civilization, which has a history of over 5,000 years. GT: Volume IV of the book includes an article entitled "Strive for Greater Strength and Self-Reliance in Science and Technology." In recent years, China has accelerated the modernization of its national defense and armed forces, with particular emphasis on technological innovation. How would you evaluate the role of technology in enhancing the capabilities of the Chinese military? Goindi: China's achievements in invention, technology and industry are truly remarkable. Whether in the automobile sector, agriculture, medicine or other fields, China is making important contributions. At the same time, its military and defense industry - including aerospace and ground-based armament systems - has become one of the world's leading forces. Time is proving this, especially in the context of the recent Pakistan-India conflict, where Chinese technology stood out. China serves as a model in the world, not only for growing its economy but also in the aviation industry. Chinese technology is now surpassing Western technology. It has broken the cliches of the West and other powers, which used to claim that only their technology was superior. In fact, Chinese technology is cheaper, more efficient and more durable. The growing presence and rising recognition of Chinese products around the world - from airplanes to motorcycles, from high-speed trains to electronics - demonstrate that Chinese manufacturing is not only highly competitive in scale and quality, but also more affordable than many Western alternatives. China has built credibility through real technological development. GT: In Volume I, President Xi stresses that we must take a sensible, coordinated and balanced approach to nuclear security and keep it on the track of sound and sustainable development. During the China-ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in July, China reaffirmed its readiness to be among the first signatories to the Protocol to the Treaty on the Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone. How do you think China's longstanding position on nuclear issues embodies its strategic vision for regional and global security? Goindi: Historically, China has never launched an act of aggression against any country. It does not pursue expansionism and has never interfered in the internal conflicts of other countries, unlike some Western powers. I have also followed discussions around the use of so-called tactical nuclear weapons, which are reportedly being developed or considered by the US and Western alliances like NATO. In contrast, China has never issued nuclear threats nor spoken of using nuclear weapons in any global context. Instead, China has consistently developed nuclear technology for peace and prosperity. There is no nuclear threat posed by China, either regionally or globally. GT: What role has China-Pakistan strategic defense and security cooperation played in maintaining regional peace and stability? Do you think the development of the Chinese military resonates in some way with the efforts of other developing countries to pursue independent paths of development? Goindi: China-Pakistan relations are rooted in genuine friendship. Our strategic partnership is especially important given Pakistan's geographically pivotal location - at the crossroads of the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia. As the China-Pakistan strategic partnership continues to deepen, it will play a constructive role in promoting world peace and help steer an increasingly unbalanced world back on track. In addition, China has made significant contributions to the development and economic well-being of both countries through initiatives such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). However, as the BRI continues to yield more achievements and as China and Pakistan's regional interests grow, they have, to some extent, become targets for terrorist organizations. With regional terrorism resurging, countries and stakeholders in the region must face this issue head-on. From this perspective, China-Pakistan defense cooperation is highly necessary in addressing non-traditional security threats, especially terrorism. In April 2015, during President Xi's visit to Pakistan, the Pakistani side used eight Pakistani Air Force JF-17 Thunder fighter jets to escort his special plane. This advanced aircraft is the result of joint efforts by both countries. A decade later, we still cooperate closely in the military-industrial sector; we are no longer dependent on French or British technology. More importantly, China hasn't just sold us products; it shared technology with us. They are teaching us how to manufacture. We are well protected from external pressures imposed by Western powers. As Pakistanis, we are proud to be China's neighbor and friend. China's contributions to regional security and prosperity are evident. Source: Global Times: Company: Global Times Contact Person: Anna Li Email: editor@globaltimes.com.cn Website: https://globaltimes.cn City: Beijing Disclaimer: This press release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies (including product offerings, regulatory plans and business plans) and may change without notice. You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on this link. WUXI, China, Aug. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On August 8, the 2025 Taihu Talent Development Conference opened in Wuxi, an eastern Chinese city celebrated as the "Pearl of Taihu Lake." This marks the eighth consecutive year the flagship "Taihu Talent" brand event has been held. The event brought together 100 alumni associations and featured 600 alumni-led projects from China and abroad, with total talent funds reaching 10 billion yuan. Located at the heart of the Yangtze River Delta metropolitan cluster, Wuxi is known for its respect for knowledge and a culture of pragmatism. In 2024, the city's GDP reached 1.6263 trillion yuan, with per capita GDP ranking among the highest in comparable Chinese cities. In recent years, Wuxi has been actively implementing the "Taihu Talent Plan." The city is now home to 2.3 million talents, including 192,000 high-level professionals, and 2,104 registered talent-based enterprises. This influx of skilled professionals has fueled the rapid growth of industries such as integrated circuits and biomedicine, leading to landmark achievements in emerging productivity, including advanced photonic chips, the "Zhulong-1" nuclear battery, and the world's first domestically developed lung cancer drug. Returning overseas talent Xu Zhihan described his entrepreneurial journey as "a narrow escape from death," expressing gratitude for Wuxi's tolerance toward "imperfect" talents. "By allowing more people to innovate and make mistakes, Wuxi will only become greater," he said. Source: The Organizing Committee of Taihu Talent Development Conference Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd (Falcon) Stellar IP90 Flow Test Result in the Beetaloo maintaining stable gas rate over the final 30-day period 11 August 2025 Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. (TSXV: FO, AIM: FOG) is pleased to announce that Shenandoah South 2H Sidetrack (SS-2H ST1) achieved an average 90-day initial production (IP90) flow rate of 6.7 million cubic feet per day (MMcf/d) over 1,671-metres (5,483-foot) within the Amungee Member B-Shale in the Beetaloo Sub-basin, Northern Territory, Australia, making it a Beetaloo Basin record. Points to note: Flow rates from the SS-2H ST1 well over the last 30 days have increased by ~2% without any downhole intervention and maintaining a 44/64 choke. At the completion of the 90-day period, the well was flowing at 6.5 MMcf/d with a wellhead pressure of ~700 psi, a ~3% decline in wellhead pressure from the end of Day 60. The SS-2H ST1 well has now been suspended ahead of the commencement of gas sales to the Northern Territory Government via the Sturt Plateau Compression Facility in mid-2026, subject to weather conditions and final stakeholder approvals. For further details on the SS-2H ST1 flow test, including a table and charts, please refer to Appendix A. 2025 Drilling Campaign The 2025 drilling campaign continued to progress with the intermediate section of the first two wells (S2-1H and S2-3H) successfully drilled. The rig is currently drilling the intermediate section of the third well (S2-5H). The campaign is the first multi-well drilling program implementing batch drilling in the Beetaloo Basin. On completion of the intermediate section of the S2-5H well, the rig is planned to commence drilling of the 10,000-foot horizontal sections of the three wells. This will complete the drilling phase of the five well Shenandoah South pilot program. As previously announced, Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited (Falcon Australia) has no cost exposure to the drilling of these three wells as it opted to reduce its participating interest in the three wells to 0%. Philip OQuigley, CEO of Falcon commented: The results we are seeing from the wells drilled and flow tested to date in the Shenandoah area of the Beetaloo illustrate the huge commercial potential of this area and augur extremely well for the pilot program and any subsequent larger scale development. These latest encouraging results will no doubt support Tamborans efforts in their farming down of an adjacent 400,000 acre area known as Phase 2 Development Area, further de-risking the commercial development of the Beetaloo. Tom Layman, Director of Falcon commented: The strong 90 day flowback performance from the SS2-2H ST1 is good news and in, combination with the SS- 1H, is another great result for this area of the Beetaloo. The fact that the well increased production rate from 6.4 MMcf/d to 6.5 MMcf/d over the last 30 days with very little change in pressure shows that we have more opportunity to optimize and maximize the performance of the Amungee member B-shale. Ends. CONTACT DETAILS: Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. +353 1 676 8702 Philip OQuigley, CEO +353 87 814 7042 Anne Flynn, CFO +353 1 676 9162 Cavendish Capital Markets Limited (NOMAD & Broker) Neil McDonald / Adam Rae +44 131 220 9771 This announcement has been reviewed by Dr. Gabor Bada, Falcon Oil & Gas Ltds Technical Advisor. Dr. Bada obtained his geology degree at the Eotvos L. University in Budapest, Hungary and his PhD at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He is a member of AAPG. About Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd is an international oil & gas company engaged in the exploration and development of unconventional oil and gas assets, with the current portfolio focused in Australia. Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd is incorporated in British Columbia, Canada and headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited is a c. 98% subsidiary of Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. For further information on Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. Please visit www.falconoilandgas.com About Beetaloo Joint Venture (EP 76, 98 and 117) Company Interest Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited (Falcon Australia) 22.5% Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited (Tamboran) 77.5% Total 100.0% Shenandoah South Pilot Project -2 Drilling Space Units 46,080 acres1 Company Interest Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited (Falcon Australia) 5.0% Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited 95.0% Total 100.0% 1Subject to the completion of SS-4H wells on the Shenandoah South pad 2. About Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited Tamboran (B1) Pty Limited (Tamboran B1) is the 100% holder of Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited, with Tamboran B1 being a 50:50 joint venture between Tamboran Resources Corporation and Daly Waters Energy, LP. Tamboran Resources Corporation is a natural gas company listed on the NYSE (TBN) and ASX (TBN). Tamboran is focused on playing a constructive role in the global energy transition towards a lower carbon future, by developing the significant low CO 2 gas resource within the Beetaloo Sub-basin through cutting-edge drilling and completion design technology as well as managements experience in successfully commercialising unconventional shale in North America. Bryan Sheffield of Daly Waters Energy, LP is a highly successful investor and has made significant returns in the US unconventional energy sector in the past. He was Founder of Parsley Energy Inc. (PE), an independent unconventional oil and gas producer in the Permian Basin, Texas and previously served as its Chairman and CEO. PE was acquired for over US$7 billion by Pioneer Natural Resources Company. Advisory regarding forward-looking statements Certain information in this press release may constitute forward-looking information. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as may, will, should, expect, intend, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, projects, dependent, consider potential, scheduled, forecast, anticipated, outlook, budget, hope, suggest, support planned, approximately, potential or the negative of those terms or similar words suggesting future outcomes. In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, details on the IP90 flow test results of SS-2H ST1 being a Beetaloo basin record, the well being suspended ahead of the commencement of gas sales to the Northern Territory Government via the Sturt Plateau Compression Facility in mid-2026, subject to weather conditions and final stakeholder approvals, the belief the average 30-day initial production of a normalised flow rate of 3 MMcf/d per 1,000 metres is a commercial threshold and coupled with the IP60 and IP90 flow rate points towards the significant resource potential of the Beetaloo; and details on the 2025 three well drilling campaign which has continued to progress. This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. The risks, assumptions and other factors that could influence actual results include risks associated with fluctuations in market prices for shale gas; risks related to the exploration, development and production of shale gas reserves; general economic, market and business conditions; substantial capital requirements; uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of reserves and resources; extent of, and cost of compliance with, government laws and regulations and the effect of changes in such laws and regulations; the need to obtain regulatory approvals before development commences; environmental risks and hazards and the cost of compliance with environmental regulations; aboriginal claims; inherent risks and hazards with operations such as mechanical or pipe failure, cratering and other dangerous conditions; potential cost overruns, drilling wells is speculative, often involving significant costs that may be more than estimated and may not result in any discoveries; variations in foreign exchange rates; competition for capital, equipment, new leases, pipeline capacity and skilled personnel; the failure of the holder of licenses, leases and permits to meet requirements of such; changes in royalty regimes; failure to accurately estimate abandonment and reclamation costs; inaccurate estimates and assumptions by management and/or their joint venture partners; effectiveness of internal controls; the potential lack of available drilling equipment; failure to obtain or keep key personnel; title deficiencies; geo-political risks; and risk of litigation. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive and that these factors and risks are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. Falcon assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to Falcon. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in Falcons filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedarplus.com, including under "Risk Factors" in the Annual Information Form. Any references in this news release to initial production rates are useful in confirming the presence of hydrocarbons; however, such rates are not determinative of the rates at which such wells will continue production and decline thereafter and are not necessarily indicative of long-term performance or ultimate recovery. While encouraging, readers are cautioned not to place reliance on such rates in calculating the aggregate production for Falcon. Such rates are based on field estimates and may be based on limited data available at this time. 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. Attachment TR-1: Standard form for notification of major holdings 1. Issuer Details ISIN GB00BYT1DJ19 Issuer Name ICG PLC UK or Non-UK Issuer UK 2. Reason for Notification An acquisition or disposal of voting rights 3. Details of person subject to the notification obligation Name Wellington Management Group LLP City of registered office (if applicable) Boston Country of registered office (if applicable) United States 4. Details of the shareholder Name City of registered office Country of registered office Vidacos Nominees Limited State Street Nominees Limited ROY Nominees Limited Nortrust Nominees Limited Mellon Nominees (UK) Ltd. JP Morgan Chase Nominees Limited Goldman Sachs International BNY (OCS) Nominees Limited BBH ISL NOMINEES LTD 5. Date on which the threshold was crossed or reached 07-Aug-2025 6. Date on which Issuer notified 08-Aug-2025 7. Total positions of person(s) subject to the notification obligation . % of voting rights attached to shares (total of 8.A) % of voting rights through financial instruments (total of 8.B 1 + 8.B 2) Total of both in % (8.A + 8.B) Total number of voting rights held in issuer Resulting situation on the date on which threshold was crossed or reached 4.740000 0.210000 4.950000 14388822 Position of previous notification (if applicable) 4.790000 0.210000 5.000000 8. Notified details of the resulting situation on the date on which the threshold was crossed or reached 8A. Voting rights attached to shares Class/Type of shares ISIN code(if possible) Number of direct voting rights (DTR5.1) Number of indirect voting rights (DTR5.2.1) % of direct voting rights (DTR5.1) % of indirect voting rights (DTR5.2.1) GB00BYT1DJ19 13780408 4.740000 Sub Total 8.A 13780408 4.740000% 8B1. Financial Instruments according to (DTR5.3.1R.(1) (a)) Type of financial instrument Expiration date Exercise/conversion period Number of voting rights that may be acquired if the instrument is exercised/converted % of voting rights Sub Total 8.B1 8B2. Financial Instruments with similar economic effect according to (DTR5.3.1R.(1) (b)) Type of financial instrument Expiration date Exercise/conversion period Physical or cash settlement Number of voting rights % of voting rights Equity Swap 05/05/2028 05/05/2028 Cash 42392 0.020000 Equity Swap 15/05/2033 15/05/2033 Cash 525986 0.180000 Equity Swap 20/05/2033 20/05/2033 Cash 40036 0.010000 Sub Total 8.B2 608414 0.210000% 9. Information in relation to the person subject to the notification obligation 2. Full chain of controlled undertakings through which the voting rights and/or the financial instruments are effectively held starting with the ultimate controlling natural person or legal entities (please add additional rows as necessary) Ultimate controlling person Name of controlled undertaking % of voting rights if it equals or is higher than the notifiable threshold % of voting rights through financial instruments if it equals or is higher than the notifiable threshold Total of both if it equals or is higher than the notifiable threshold Wellington Management Group LLP (Chain 1) Wellington Group Holdings LLP Wellington Management Group LLP (Chain 1) Wellington Investment Advisors Holdings LLP Wellington Management Group LLP (Chain 1) Wellington Management Company LLP Wellington Management Group LLP (Chain 2) Wellington Group Holdings LLP Wellington Management Group LLP (Chain 2) Wellington Investment Advisors Holdings LLP Wellington Management Group LLP (Chain 2) Wellington Management Global Holdings, Ltd. Wellington Management Group LLP (Chain 2) Wellington Management International Ltd Wellington Management Group LLP (Chain 3) Wellington Group Holdings LLP Wellington Management Group LLP (Chain 3) Wellington Investment Advisors Holdings LLP Wellington Management Group LLP (Chain 3) Wellington Management Global Holdings, Ltd. Wellington Management Group LLP (Chain 3) Wellington Management Europe GmbH 10. In case of proxy voting Name of the proxy holder The number and % of voting rights held The date until which the voting rights will be held 11. Additional Information Wellington Management Company LLP is an investment management entity that manages the assets of certain funds and/or managed accounts. Wellington Management Company LLP is a direct controlled undertaking of Wellington Investment Advisors Holdings LLP, which, in turn, is a direct controlled undertaking of Wellington Group Holdings LLP, which, in turn, is a direct controlled undertaking of Wellington Management Group LLP. Wellington Management International Ltd and Wellington Management Europe GmbH are investment management entities that manage the assets of certain funds and/or managed accounts. Wellington Management International Ltd and Wellington Management Europe GmbH are direct controlled undertakings of Wellington Management Global Holdings, Ltd., which, in turn, is a direct controlled undertaking of Wellington Investment Advisors Holdings LLP, which, in turn, is a direct controlled undertaking of Wellington Group Holdings LLP, which, in turn, is a direct controlled undertaking of Wellington Management Group LLP. 12. Date of Completion 08-Aug-2025 13. Place Of Completion London, UK Dublin, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Singapore Loyalty Programs Market Intelligence and Future Growth Dynamics - 50+ KPIs on Loyalty Programs Trends by End-Use Sectors, Operational KPIs, Retail Product Dynamics, and Consumer Demographics - Q3 2025 Update" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Singapore's loyalty market is projected to grow at an annual rate of 14.4%, reaching US$501.5 million by 2025. Previously, from 2020 to 2024, the market experienced a strong CAGR of 16.2%. Prospects look optimistic, with expectations of a 12.1% CAGR from 2025 to 2029, raising market size from US$438.4 million in 2024 to US$792.9 million by 2029. This report provides a detailed data-centric analysis of the loyalty market opportunities and risks across a range of end-use sectors and market segments in Singapore. With over 50 KPIs at the country level, this report provides a comprehensive understanding of loyalty market dynamics, market size and forecast, and market share statistics. The loyalty landscape in Singapore is undergoing significant evolution driven by shifting consumer expectations and fierce industry competition. Non-expiring points and cashback rewards have become pivotal, as illustrated by NTUC FairPrice's Link Rewards and DBS Bank's Live Fresh Cashback Credit Card. These programs are leading the charge in delivering long-term value, with intense competition urging businesses to adopt consumer-centric models or risk losing customer loyalty. Digital integration, sustainability, and multi-brand strategies are also reshaping the landscape. Platforms like GrabRewards and Yuu Rewards Club champion mobile-first approaches, aligning with Singapore's tech-savvy populace. With e-commerce giants like Shopee and Lazada amplifying loyalty initiatives, and sustainability-centric strategies like Singlife with Aviva's programs tied to government green goals, the sector is robustly dynamic. These trends underscore the importance of innovation, collaboration, and sustainability as cornerstones for market engagement and growth. Non-Expiring Points and Cashback Rewards Programs such as NTUC FairPrice's Link Rewards and DBS Bank's Credit Cards are popular for offering flexible, long-term engagement without point expiration, winning consumer preference. The retail and financial services sectors demand high flexibility and immediate benefits; customer expectations are steering programs towards tangible rewards, with NTUC FairPrice leading in daily purchase incentives. This trend will persist, with businesses innovating to offer value-driven loyalty strategies to retain consumer engagement. Group and Partner Loyalty Programs Collaborative programs like Yuu Rewards Club offer expansive reward ecosystems across multiple brands, enhancing consumer convenience and diversity. Such partnerships enable businesses to share operational costs while expanding customer bases, crucial in a densely urbanized market. Program expansions are inevitable, with new collaborations set to emerge, inspiring other sectors like travel and hospitality to adopt similar models. Digitalization and Mobile Integration The rise of mobile-based programs like GrabRewards reflects Singapore's high smartphone penetration and demand for real-time loyalty management. Companies prioritizing mobile integration see better consumer engagement, rallying features like gamification and specialized offers. A shift toward digital loyalty programs is imminent as companies harness advanced features to maintain market relevancy. Retail-Focused Loyalty Programs Retail loyalty programs like NTUC FairPrice's Link Rewards dominate, driven by consistent consumer use in essential shopping activities. These programs enhance customer engagement through daily reward offerings and spending incentives. Retailers will continue to refine loyalty features for personalized consumer experiences and habitual participation. E-Commerce Market Influence E-commerce platforms, notably Shopee and Lazada, are customizing loyalty programs for online consumers, encouraging repeat purchases through rewards. Loyalty programs will become more personalized as analytics aid in customized rewards and product recommendations. Sustainability Integration Sustainability-driven loyalty programs, such as those by Singlife with Aviva, appeal to the eco-conscious consumer aligning with Singapore's Green Plan 2030. Eco-friendly loyalty strategies offer businesses a palpable competitive edge and an appeal to younger demographics. Singapore's loyalty market is highly competitive, dominated by players like NTUC FairPrice, DBS Bank, Grab, Shopee, and Lazada. Future shifts in the competitive landscape will involve advanced analytics and increased partner ecosystems. Anticipated regulatory changes, alongside intensified regional competition, particularly from entities like GoTo and Boost, will drive evolution. Regulatory focus on data privacy and sustainability will foster transparency and consumer-centric strategies, setting the stage for a dynamic and innovative loyalty market in Singapore. Company Coverage: NTUC FairPrice DBS Bank Grab Shopee Lazada Singlife with Aviva Dairy Farm International (DFI) Giant 7-Eleven GoTo (Indonesia) Boost (Malaysia) Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 130 Forecast Period 2025 - 2029 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2025 $501.5 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2029 $792.9 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 12.1% Regions Covered Singapore Report Scope This report provides in-depth, data-centric analysis of loyalty programs in Singapore. Below is a summary of key market segments: Singapore Retail Sector Spend Value Trend Analysis Singapore Loyalty Spend Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Key Performance Indicators Value Accumulated and Value Redemption Rate of Loyalty programs in Singapore Singapore Loyalty Spend Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Functional Domains Singapore Loyalty Spend Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Loyalty Program Type Singapore Loyalty Spend Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Channel Singapore Loyalty Schemes Spend Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Business Model Singapore Loyalty Spend Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Key Sectors Singapore Loyalty Spend Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics in Key Sectors by Online Singapore Loyalty Spend Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics in Key Sectors by In-Store Singapore Loyalty Spend Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics in Key Sectors by Mobile App Singapore Loyalty Spend Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Retail Singapore Loyalty Spend Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Accessibility Singapore Loyalty Spend Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Consumer Type Singapore Loyalty Schemes Spend Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Membership Type Singapore Loyalty Platform Spend Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Software Use Case Singapore Loyalty Platform Spend Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Vendor/Solution Partner Singapore Loyalty Platform Spend Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Deployment Singapore Loyalty Spend Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Loyalty Platforms Singapore Loyalty Spend Market Size and Future Growth Dynamics by Software Use Case Platforms Singapore Loyalty Spend Market Size and Forecast by Consumer Demographics & Behaviour For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/zdf09w About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Attachment LONDON, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ATFX Connect , the institutional arm of ATFX , is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Trevor Williams as its Consultant Economist. This strategic move underscores ATFX Connects commitment to delivering expert-driven macroeconomic insights and analysis to its growing base of institutional clients. As Consultant Economist, Professor Williams will deliver economic commentary and strategic insights to strengthen ATFX Connects thought leadership. His involvement will enhance the companys institutional positioning and equip clients with deeper insights into todays fast-evolving economic landscape. A Respected Voice in Global Macroeconomics With a distinguished career in the finance industry, Professor Williams has held several senior roles across banking and policy institutions. He served as Chief Economist at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, one of the UKs largest banks, for over 10 years. In addition, he serves as the Rotating Chairman of the Institute of Economic Affairs Shadow Monetary Policy Committee (SMPC), a group of independent economists who offer alternative views on the UK monetary policy. Commenting on his new role, Professor Williams, said: Im delighted to be joining ATFX Connect as Consultant Economist at such an exciting time in global markets. I look forward to contributing economic insight and thought leadership to support our institutional, retail and other partners to deepen engagement across the financial landscape. Im grateful to the excellent team at ATFX Connect for the opportunity. On welcoming Professor Williams, Wei Qiang Zhang, Managing Director of ATFX Connect, expressed: Were pleased to welcome Professor Trevor Williams as our Consultant Economist. His extensive knowledge of the economy and markets will provide our clients with valuable insights and practical guidance to navigate global market trends with confidence. This appointment further strengthens ATFX Connects position as a trusted partner for institutional clients. A Shared Vision Ahead With Professor Williams onboard, ATFX Connect is well-positioned to further enhance its institutional capabilities and deliver deeper economic insight to better support its clients. Both parties are aligned in their commitment to making a meaningful impact and look forward to an inspiring partnership ahead. About ATFX Connect ATFX Connect is a trading name of AT Global Markets (UK) Limited (authorised and regulated by the FCA), AT Global Markets (Australia) Pty Limited (authorised and regulated by ASIC), and AT Global Financial Services (HK) Limited (authorised and regulated by the SFC). Connect is the Institutional arm of the wider ATFX Group. ATFX Connect offers Institutional and Professional traders an extensive range of services for both Agency PB and Margin accounts, provides bespoke aggregated liquidity in Spot FX, NDFs, indices, Commodities and Precious metals to a wide range of institutional clients from hedge funds, Tier 1 and regional banks, high net worth investors, asset managers, family offices and other brokers. ATFX Connect's liquidity pool is constructed from Tier 1 banks and non-bank providers that it has partnered with, trading in both sweepable and full amount forms. Agency PB Clients can connect via direct FIX API, external technology solutions or via our own trading platform. For margin clients, ATFX Connect provides market access via the group's MT4/MT5 platform and provides a bridge solution for those who wish to connect via FIX API. For further information on ATFX Connect, please visit ATFX Connect website https://www.atfxconnect.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a8482ad3-5feb-4053-b2f4-81d872d9afc3 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- K92 Mining Inc. (K92 or the Company) (TSX: KNT; OTCQX: KNTNF) is pleased to announce financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025. Production Strong quarterly production of 34,816 ounces gold equivalent ( AuEq ) (1) or 32,375 oz gold, 1,536,505 lbs copper and 42,824 oz silver, representing a 43% increase from Q2 2024. With 82,633 oz AuEq produced during the first six months of 2025, which is ahead of budget, and the second half forecasted to be the strongest, as outlined in our 2025 operational outlook (see January 23, 2025 press release), the Company re-iterates its annual operational production guidance of 160,000 to 185,000 oz AuEq. ) or 32,375 oz gold, 1,536,505 lbs copper and 42,824 oz silver, representing a 43% increase from Q2 2024. With 82,633 oz AuEq produced during the first six months of 2025, which is ahead of budget, and the second half forecasted to be the strongest, as outlined in our 2025 operational outlook (see January 23, 2025 press release), the Company re-iterates its annual operational production guidance of 160,000 to 185,000 oz AuEq. Net of by-product credit basis cash costs of $786/oz gold and all-in sustaining costs ( AISC ) of $1,408/oz gold ( 2 ) and co-product basis cash costs of $907/oz AuEq and AISC of $1,489/oz AuEq ( 2 ) . ) of $1,408/oz gold and co-product basis cash costs of $907/oz AuEq and AISC of $1,489/oz AuEq . Strong metallurgical recoveries in Q2 of 93.3% for gold and 94.9% for copper. The process plant has now delivered four consecutive quarters exceeding the Updated Definitive Feasibility Study ( Updated DFS ) recovery parameters for both gold (92.6%) and copper (94.2%) (January 1, 2024 effective date). ) recovery parameters for both gold (92.6%) and copper (94.2%) (January 1, 2024 effective date). Quarterly ore processed of 130,337 tonnes and total ore mined of 133,063 tonnes, with long hole open stoping performing to design, and 2,466 metres of total mine development. Head grade of 8.9 grams per tonne (g/t) AuEq or 8.3 g/t gold, 0.55% copper and 12.1 g/t silver. Financials Record cash, cash equivalent and term deposits totaling $182.9 million, including a record $123.8 million net cash position. Quarterly revenue of $96.3 million, an increase of 102% from Q2 2024. Quarterly net income of $39.2 million or $0.16 per share, an increase of 539% from Q2 2024. Operating cash flow (before working capital adjustments) for the three months ended June 30, 2025, of $47.0 million or $0.20 per share, and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ( EBITDA ) ( 2 ) of $59.7 million or $0.25 per share. ) of $59.7 million or $0.25 per share. Sales of 28,864 oz gold, 1,275,176 lbs copper and 34,532 oz silver. Gold concentrate and dore inventory of 8,413 oz as of June 30, 2025, an increase of 3,988 oz over the prior quarter. Growth On the Stage 3 and 4 Expansions, 86% of growth capital has been either spent or committed as of June 30, 2025. A major milestone was achieved in the second half of June, with the commencement of commissioning of the new 1.2 million tonnes-per-annum ( tpa ) Stage 3 Expansion Process Plant. All pre-commissioning tasks have been completed, and inching of both the SAG and ball mills was completed in late June. Completion of commissioning remains on schedule for the first half of Q4 2025. For the paste plant, the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Management (EPCM) contract for the pastefill filtration plant and the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract for the surface storage facility packages were awarded, with the underground pastefill plant package self-awarded (for internal execution) earlier in the quarter. Commissioning of all three facilities is scheduled to commence in mid-Q1 2026, while completion of commissioning for the pastefill circuit remains on schedule for mid-2026. In early August, subsequent to quarter-end, the first material was transferred through the ore/waste pass system connecting the main mine to the twin incline representing a key milestone expected to significantly enhance material handling productivity. ) Stage 3 Expansion Process Plant. All pre-commissioning tasks have been completed, and inching of both the SAG and ball mills was completed in late June. Completion of commissioning remains on schedule for the first half of Q4 2025. For the paste plant, the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Management (EPCM) contract for the pastefill filtration plant and the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract for the surface storage facility packages were awarded, with the underground pastefill plant package self-awarded (for internal execution) earlier in the quarter. Commissioning of all three facilities is scheduled to commence in mid-Q1 2026, while completion of commissioning for the pastefill circuit remains on schedule for mid-2026. In early August, subsequent to quarter-end, the first material was transferred through the ore/waste pass system connecting the main mine to the twin incline representing a key milestone expected to significantly enhance material handling productivity. Strong results during the quarter from 90 diamond drill holes were reported from underground and surface at the Kora, Kora South, Judd and Judd South deposits in addition to Kora and Judd Deeps. The results identified multiple high-grade intersections with broadening widths, known as dilatant zones, at Koras K2 Vein, extending the interpreted dilatant zone up-dip from the area defined in late 2024 (see December 3, 2024 press release). This dilatant zone is near mine infrastructure, located approximately 100 metres from current underground workings, further expanding the potential for near-term bulk mining. The intersections were also in an area previously interpreted to be narrow vein in the Mineral Resource Estimate (September 12, 2023 effective date, 2023 MRE ), while also recording high-grade intersections. Significant dilatant zone intercepts from the K2 Vein: KMDD0844: 12.80 m at 31.89 g/t AuEq (25.97 g/t Au, 58 g/t Ag, 3.35% Cu) (4) KMDD0843: 10.10 m at 16.29 g/t AuEq (14.01 g/t Au, 82 g/t Ag, 0.84% Cu) High-grade intercepts: K2 Vein high-grade extension up-dip from main underground mining area: KMDD0845: 12.30 m at 18.58 g/t AuEq (18.14 g/t Au, 23 g/t Ag, 0.11% Cu) KMDD0830: 7.17 m at 39.50 g/t AuEq (37.93 g/t Au, 69 g/t Ag, 0.50% Cu) KMDD0847: 4.00 m at 43.89 g/t AuEq (39.23 g/t Au, 72 g/t Ag, 2.44% Cu) K1 Vein high-grade extension up-dip from main underground mining area: KMDD0847: 4.08 m at 30.95 g/t AuEq (30.29 g/t Au, 30 g/t Ag, 0.21% Cu) KMDD0828: 2.80 m at 28.67 g/t AuEq (27.91 g/t Au, 18 g/t Ag, 0.36% Cu) High-grade copper zone to the south at the K2 Vein over a +300-metre vertical extent from the latest drilling results, with many intersections exceeding 2023 MRE AuEq grades: K2 Vein high-grade copper intersection highlights include: KMDD0865: 10.05 m at 12.25 g/t AuEq (0.97 g/t Au, 84 g/t Ag, 6.58% Cu) KMDD0770: 14.50 m at 9.22 g/t AuEq (0.47 g/t Au, 47 g/t Ag, 5.24% Cu) KMDD0829: 10.60 m at 11.51 g/t AuEq (2.28 g/t Au, 87 g/t Ag, 5.26% Cu) K1 Vein multiple high-grade copper intersections to the south, either outside of the 2023 MRE or at higher than 2023 MRE grades. Highlights include: KMDD0825: 26.15m at 20.22 g/t AuEq (7.32 g/t Au, 165 g/t Ag, 7.01% Cu) KMDD0865: 4.10 m at 12.49 g/t AuEq (0.63 g/t Au, 69 g/t Ag, 7.06% Cu) Judds J1 Vein multiple high-grade zones up-dip from main mine and extending high-grade intersections below the main mine: JDD0221: 6.10 m at 20.03 g/t AuEq (19.02 g/t Au, 7 g/t Ag, 0.59% Cu) JDD0273: 3.66 m at 17.48 g/t AuEq (12.94 g/t Au, 57 g/t Ag, 2.48% Cu) JDD0269: 1.70 m at 21.62 g/t AuEq (19.95 g/t Au, 19 g/t Ag, 0.93% Cu) ), while also recording high-grade intersections. See the Companys news release dated June 5, 2025 for additional details. The Companys interim consolidated financial statements and associated managements discussion and analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 are available for download on the Companys website and under the Companys profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated. See Figure 1: Quarterly Production, Cash Cost and AISC Chart See Figure 2: Quarterly Total Ore Processed, Development Metres Advanced and Total Mined Material Chart See Figure 3: Gold and Copper Recoveries Chart John Lewins, K92 Chief Executive Officer and Director, stated, During the second quarter, in June, K92 marked a major milestone, with the commencement of commissioning of the new 1.2-million-tonnes-per-annum Stage 3 Process Plant which plans to transform the Company into a Tier 1, mid-tier producer. Commissioning is rapidly advancing, with the first ore tonnes crushed recently. The run of mine (ROM) stockpile has also grown at a rate faster than scheduled, approaching 25,000 tonnes, ahead of the planned handover of the process plant to operations in the first half of Q4 upon practical completion of commissioning. Operationally, production during the first half of the year was ahead of budget and the second half of the year is expected to be our strongest, positioning us well to achieve guidance. Multiple underground projects are also scheduled to be completed this quarter to drive the mine ramp-up, and earlier this month, the first tonnes were conveyed down the ore/waste pass, connecting the main mine to the high-productivity twin incline. Financially, the Company continues to strengthen its balance sheet with a record $183 million in cash, cash equivalents, and term deposits, including a record net cash position of $124 million, while also investing significant capital into the Stage 3 Expansion. With 86% of Stage 3 Expansion capital spent or committed as at the end of June, remaining on budget, and supported by a record gold price environment and strong production outlook for H2 2025, K92 is well positioned to deliver on the Stage 3 Expansion. Exploration activity is ramping up across multiple near-mine and regional targets. At Arakompa, up to five surface drill rigs are currently operating. Additionally, up to seven underground drill rigs are active at Kora and Judd, with an increased focus on step-out drilling at Kora Deeps and Judd Deeps in the second half of the year. We look forward to providing further updates as the year progresses. Mine Operating Activities Three months ended June 30, 2025 Three months ended June 30, 2024 Operating data Gold head grade (Au g/t) 8.3 7.5 Copper grade (%) 0.55% 0.62% Gold equivalent head grade (AuEq g/t) 8.9 8.5 Gold recovery (%) 93.3% 93.7% Copper recovery (%) 94.9% 95.3% Gold ounces produced 32,375 21,661 Gold ounces equivalent produced(1)(2) 34,816 24,347 Tonnes of copper produced 697 565 Silver ounces produced 42,824 26,754 Financial data (in thousands of dollars) Gold ounces sold 28,864 19,064 Revenues from concentrate and dore sales US$96,343 US$47,791 Mine operating expenses US$15,578 US$11,248 Other mine expenses US$10,722 US$8,489 Depreciation and depletion US$6,055 US$8,005 Statistics (in dollars) Average realized selling price per ounce, net(3) US$3,166 US$2,246 Cash cost per ounce (net of by-product credit)(2) US$786 US$919 AISC (net of by-product credit)(2) US$1,408 US$1,510 Cash cost per ounce (co-product)(2) US$907 US$1,014 AISC (co-product)(2) US$1,489 US$1,549 Notes: (1) AuEq in Q2 2025 is calculated based on: gold $3,299 per ounce; silver $33.41 per ounce; and copper $4.31 per pound. AuEq in Q2 2024 is calculated based on: gold $2,338 per ounce; silver $28.84 per ounce; and copper $4.42 per pound. (2) The Company provides some non-international financial reporting standard measures as supplementary information that management believes may be useful to investors to explain the Companys financial results. Please refer to non-IFRS financial performance measures in the Companys managements discussion and analysis dated August 10, 2025, available on SEDAR+ and on the Companys website, for reconciliation of these measures. (3) The average realized selling price per ounce is net of metal payabilities for both concentrate and dore. (4) AuEq exploration results are calculated using longer-term commodity prices with a copper price of US$4.50/lb, a silver price of US$27.50/oz and a gold price of US$2,000/oz. The following recoveries were applied in-line with the Updated Definitive Feasibility Study: Au 92.6%, Cu 94.0%, and; Ag 78.0%. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Conference Call and Webcast to Present Results K92 will host a conference call and webcast to present the 2025 second quarter financial results at 8:30 am (EDT) on Monday, August 11, 2025. Listeners may access the conference call by dialing toll-free to 1-833-752-3535 within North America or +1-647-846-8278 from international locations. The conference call will also be broadcast live (webcast) and may be accessed via the following link: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=axF1FpUw Qualified Person K92 Mine Geology Manager and Mine Exploration Manager, Mr. Andrew Kohler, PGeo, a qualified person under the meaning of Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and is responsible for the technical content of this news release. About K92 K92 Mining Inc. is engaged in the production of gold, copper and silver at the Kainantu Gold Mine in the Eastern Highlands province of Papua New Guinea, as well as exploration and development of mineral deposits in the immediate vicinity of the mine. The Company declared commercial production from Kainantu in February 2018, is in a strong financial position, and is working to become a Tier 1 mid-tier producer through ongoing plant expansions. A maiden resource estimate on the Blue Lake copper-gold porphyry project was completed in August 2022. K92 is operated by a team of mining company professionals with extensive international mine-building and operational experience. On Behalf of the Company, John Lewins, Chief Executive Officer and Director For further information, please contact David Medilek, P.Eng., CFA, President and Chief Operating Officer at +1-604-416-4445 CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation: (i) the results of the Kainantu Mine Definitive Feasibility Study, including the Stage 3 Expansion, a new standalone 1.2 mtpa process plant and supporting infrastructure; (ii) statements regarding the expansion of the mine and development of any of the deposits; (iii) the Kainantu Stage 4 Expansion, operating two standalone process plants, larger surface infrastructure and mining throughputs; and (iv) the potential extended life of the Kainantu Mine. All statements in this news release that address events or developments that we expect to occur in the future are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, although not always, identified by words such as expect, plan, anticipate, project, target, potential, schedule, forecast, budget, estimate, intend or believe and similar expressions or their negative connotations, or that events or conditions will, would, may, could, should or might occur. All such forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our ability to control, that may cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Such factors include, without limitation, Public Health Crises, including the epidemic or pandemic viruses; changes in the price of gold, silver, copper and other metals in the world markets; fluctuations in the price and availability of infrastructure and energy and other commodities; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; volatility in price of our common shares; inherent risks associated with the mining industry, including problems related to weather and climate in remote areas in which certain of the Companys operations are located; failure to achieve production, cost and other estimates; risks and uncertainties associated with exploration and development; uncertainties relating to estimates of mineral resources including uncertainty that mineral resources may never be converted into mineral reserves; the Companys ability to carry on current and future operations, including development and exploration activities at the Arakompa, Kora, Judd and other projects; the timing, extent, duration and economic viability of such operations, including any mineral resources or reserves identified thereby; the accuracy and reliability of estimates, projections, forecasts, studies and assessments; the Companys ability to meet or achieve estimates, projections and forecasts; the availability and cost of inputs; the availability and costs of achieving the Stage 3 Expansion or the Stage 4 Expansion; the ability of the Company to achieve the inputs the price and market for outputs, including gold, silver and copper; failures of information systems or information security threats; political, economic and other risks associated with the Companys foreign operations; geopolitical events and other uncertainties, such as the conflicts in Ukraine, Israel and Palestine; compliance with various laws and regulatory requirements to which the Company is subject to, including taxation; the ability to obtain timely financing on reasonable terms when required; the current and future social, economic and political conditions, including relationship with the communities in Papua New Guinea and other jurisdictions it operates; other assumptions and factors generally associated with the mining industry; and the risks, uncertainties and other factors referred to in the Companys Annual Information Form under the heading Risk Factors. Estimates of mineral resources are also forward-looking statements because they constitute projections, based on certain estimates and assumptions, regarding the amount of minerals that may be encountered in the future and/or the anticipated economics of production. The estimation of mineral resources and mineral reserves is inherently uncertain and involves subjective judgments about many relevant factors. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The accuracy of any such estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation, Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance, and actual results and future events could materially differ from those anticipated in such statements. Although we have attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actual results to differ materially from those that are anticipated, estimated, or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Figure 1: Quarterly Production, Cash Cost and AISC Chart Figure 2: Quarterly Total Ore Processed, Development Metres Advanced, and Total Mined Material Chart Figure 3: Gold and Copper Recoveries Chart Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/10afd8f6-ad8c-4f50-a79b-c492faf4dea0 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/4251d8fa-2503-4d21-ad2c-c404adc8a292 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/41e5b746-cf95-4a79-86bb-d38ca3cce16e (All dollar amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars, unless otherwise noted.) TORONTO, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kinross Gold Corporation (Kinross) (TSX: K, NYSE: KGC) announced today that it has entered into an amendment agreement to the share purchase agreement dated April 24, 2022 (as amended) (the Purchase Agreement) between Kinross and Asante Gold Corporation (Asante) pursuant to which, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions on or prior to August 31, 2025, including aggregate cash payments to Kinross equal to US$55,000,000, subject to certain agreed adjustments, Asante will issue to Kinross: (i) 36,927,650 common shares in the capital of Asante (Shares) at a price equal to C$1.45 per Share; and (ii) a convertible debenture (the Convertible Debenture) which shall be convertible into Shares at the option of Kinross at any time for a period of five years from the date of issuance at a conversion price equal to C$1.81 per Share (collectively, the Transaction). The principal amount of the Convertible Debenture and aggregate number of Shares into which the Convertible Debenture may be converted will be determined based on the closing date of the Transaction but will be calculated to result in Kinross holding a maximum of 18% of the outstanding Shares, on a partially diluted basis assuming the conversion of all convertible securities of Asante held by Kinross, immediately following the Transaction (after giving effect to the Transaction and any other treasury issuances of Shares that occur prior to, or concurrently with, the closing of the Transaction). Kinross currently holds 29,850,984 Shares and 5,000,000 warrants to purchase Shares (the Warrants), which represents approximately 6.0% of the issued and outstanding Shares on a non-diluted basis, and 6.9% of the issued and outstanding Shares on a partially diluted basis assuming exercise of the Warrants. Upon closing of the Transaction, Kinross will own approximately 9.5% of the outstanding Shares, on a non-diluted basis, and up to 18% of the outstanding Shares, on a partially diluted basis assuming the conversion of the convertible securities of Asante held by Kinross. If the Transaction were to close today, the principal amount of the Convertible Debenture would result in Kinross owning approximately 17.3% of the outstanding Shares, on a partially diluted basis assuming the conversion of the convertible securities of Asante held by Kinross. Interest on the Convertible Debenture shall be payable in-kind through an increase in the principal amount of the Convertible Debenture (subject to a restriction on interest that would cause Kinross and its affiliates to own more than 19.9% of the Shares on a partially diluted basis assuming the conversion of all convertible securities of Asante held by Kinross). Accordingly, Kinross has acquired deemed beneficial ownership of more than 10% of the outstanding Shares and is required by applicable Canadian securities laws to issue this press release and file a corresponding early warning report. Kinross agreed to acquire the Shares and the Convertible Debenture as deferred consideration pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. Kinross may or may not purchase or sell securities of Asante in the future on the open market or in private transactions, depending on market conditions and other factors. Kinross currently has no other plans or intentions that relate to its investment in Asante. Depending on market conditions, general economic and industry conditions, Asantes business and financial condition and/or other relevant factors, Kinross may develop other plans or intentions in the future. A copy of the early warning report filed by Kinross in connection with the investment will be available on Asantes SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.com. Alternatively, you may contact Luke Crosby, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at 647-788-4478 to obtain a copy of the report. Kinross is organized under the laws of the Province of Ontario and its head office is located at 25 York Street, 17th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5J 2V5. Asantes head office is located at 615 800 West Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 2V6. INFOR Financial Inc. acted as financial advisor and Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP acted as legal advisor to Kinross in relation to the Purchase Agreement and related negotiations. About Kinross Gold Corporation Kinross is a Canadian-based global senior gold mining company with operations and projects in the United States, Brazil, Mauritania, Chile and Canada. Our focus is on delivering value based on the core principles of responsible mining, operational excellence, disciplined growth, and balance sheet strength. Kinross maintains listings on the Toronto Stock Exchange (symbol: K) and the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: KGC). Media Contact Samantha Sheffield Director, Corporate Communications phone: 416-365-3034 Samantha.Sheffield@Kinross.com Investor Relations Contact David Shaver Senior Vice-President, Investor Relations and Communications phone: 416-365-2854 InvestorRelations@Kinross.com Cautionary statement on forward-looking information All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information or forward-looking statements within the meaning of certain securities laws, including the provisions of the Securities Act (Ontario) and the provisions for safe harbor under the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. The words may, will, plan or variations of or similar such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should or will be achieved, received or taken, or will occur or result and similar such expressions identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Kinross as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies. These uncertainties and contingencies can affect, and could cause, Kinross actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, Kinross. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Kinross disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Source: Kinross Gold Corporation SINGAPORE, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SixSense, a pioneer in AI for semiconductor manufacturing, announced a new round of funding led by Peak XVs Surge (formerly Sequoia India & SEA), with participation from Alpha Intelligence Capital, Febe, and others. Founded by engineers Akanksha Jagwani and Avni Agarwal, SixSense is tackling one of the semiconductor industrys biggest challenges: turning raw production data from defect images to equipment signals into real-time intelligence that helps factories prevent quality issues, improve throughput, and produce more good chips from the same line. As demand surges from AI, 5G, IoT, and electric vehicles, chipmakers are racing to build smaller, more complex chips with far less room for error. Making a single chip is one of the most demanding feats in modern manufacturing it happens in cleanrooms thousands of times cleaner than hospital operating rooms and relies on precise coordination across hundreds of machines and thousands of ultra-sensitive steps, said Akanksha Jagwani, Co-founder and CEO of SixSense. Imagine trying to build a skyscraper out of microscopic Lego blocks, where a tiny shift in one brick invisible to the eye can collapse the whole structure. Thats what chip factories face every day. Spotting early signs of failure before they spiral into costly defects or delays is a big challenge and thats where AI becomes essential. From Data to Intelligence SixSense AI gives engineers the early warnings they need to fix problems. Their platform analyzes massive volumes of production data to detect, classify, and predict failure patterns helping factories shift from reactive inspection to proactive control. With SixSense, manufacturers can: Catch rare, small, and critical defects that humans often miss Avoid over-rejecting good chips improving usable output (i.e., yield) Predict process drifts before they cause bigger failures Unlike traditional AI tools, SixSense is hardware-agnostic, explainable, and built for engineers not data scientists, said Avni Agarwal, Co-founder and CTO. Process engineers can fine-tune models using their own fab data, deploy them in under two days, and trust the results all without writing a single line of code. Thats what makes the platform both powerful and practical. A Proven Platform with Global Traction SixSense already powers inspection lines at leading semiconductor manufacturers such as GlobalFoundries and JCET. Their customers have processed 100 million chips through the SixSense system and typically seen benefits such as : 30% faster production cycles 1%2% higher yield by recovering chips that wouldve been wrongly rejected by recovering chips that wouldve been wrongly rejected Up to 20% fewer errors and >90% less manual effort The platform is well integrated with major inspection equipment vendors that collectively cover over 60% of the market. Whats Next With this new funding, SixSense will: Expand into chipmaking hubs across Malaysia , Taiwan , and the U.S. across , , and the Partner with more AI-first inspection equipment makers to deliver deeper on-the-ground AI integration to deliver deeper on-the-ground AI integration Invest in next-gen R&D moving from isolated inspection tools to line-level intelligence, where multiple machines talk to each other through AI to improve factory-wide decisions in real time We started with one step in the process defect review and quickly realized customers needed more, said Akanksha. Now were building the intelligence layer for the entire production line. Its the foundation every modern fab will need. About SixSense: SixSense is an AI-powered platform transforming semiconductor manufacturing by turning raw production data into real-time factory intelligence that helps factories prevent quality issues, improve throughput, and produce more good chips. Founded by engineers Akanksha Jagwani and Avni Agarwal, the company helps chipmakers detect defects early, improve yield, and prevent costly production issues across increasingly complex fabrication lines. Unlike traditional AI tools, SixSense is hardware-agnostic, explainable, and built for process engineers - enabling quick deployment without coding. Backed by Peak XVs Surge, Alpha Intelligence Capital, and Febe, SixSense is building the intelligence layer every modern fab needs from single inspection points to AI-driven line-level control. For more information or if you have any queries, please contact We. Corporate Advisors at: WECAD-PeakXV@wecommunications.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Winshear Gold Corp. (TSXV: WINS) (Winshear or the Company) is pleased to announce that, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSX-V), on August 7, 2025, it entered into an arms length agreement with Peak Nickel Limited (Peak Nickel), a private UK registered company, whereby Winshear can earn a 100% interest in the 250km2 Portsoy Project, located in Aberdeenshire, Northeast Scotland (Map 1). No Finders Fees are payable. Richard Williams, CEO of Winshear, stated The Portsoy Project represents a tremendous opportunity to develop a new nickel copper cobalt project in Scotland. Nickel and cobalt are both listed on the U.K.s Critical Minerals list and the EUs Strategic Raw Materials list. Exploration completed to date at the Rodburn Target within the Portsoy Project has demonstrated the presence of near surface, high-grade nickel copper cobalt sulphide mineralisation. We have only scratched the surface of this system, and look forward to commencing the next drill programme as soon as possible. The Portsoy Project Overview and History Drilling has confirmed the presence of massive, semi-massive and disseminated nickel copper cobalt sulphide mineralisation hosted within a mafic / ultramafic intrusive complex; The Portsoy Project includes the Rodburn Target, discovered in the early 1970s by Exploration Ventures Ltd (EVL), a Goldfields / Rio Tinto joint venture company; EVL drilled 26 holes (4,115m) at Rodburn, outlining a northeast trending, northwest dipping sheet of sulphide mineralisation (now named the South Zone), intersecting up to 12.6m grading 1.1% Ni and 0.33% Cu. Cobalt was not assayed for. (Wilks, G.F. (1974) 1 ; Wilks, G.F. and Smith, M.R.M. (1976) 2 . Note - the EVL drilling and the intersect mentioned herein is historic in nature and is only used for reference purposes; ; Wilks, G.F. and Smith, M.R.M. (1976) . Note - the EVL drilling and the intersect mentioned herein is historic in nature and is only used for reference purposes; EVLs programme was halted in the mid 1970s due to legal issues and was forgotten about for the last 50 years; Between 2019 and 2022 Peak Nickel signed exploration and 100-year mining lease agreements with the landowners to conduct work over the Rodburn target; Between 2022 and 2023 Peak Nickel completed 3,700m of drilling in 24 drill holes testing two zones, North (2 holes) and South (22 holes), expanding the extents of the Rodburn Target (see Table 1 below) and confirming the presence of cobalt mineralisation (Peak Nickel news releases dated February 21, 2024 here); A 3d model of the two zones of mineralisation and their spatial relationship can be viewed here; The South Zone is up to 30m thick (true thickness) and dips at approximately 50 o to the northwest. The surface expression appears as a coincident soil and magnetic anomaly with a strike length of over 3km. To date only 350m of strike length has been drill tested, confirming continuous mineralisation to a vertical depth of 180m. Mineralisation is open to depth; (Peak Nickel presentation can be viewed here); to the northwest. The surface expression appears as a coincident soil and magnetic anomaly with a strike length of over 3km. To date only 350m of strike length has been drill tested, confirming continuous mineralisation to a vertical depth of 180m. Mineralisation is open to depth; (Peak Nickel presentation can be viewed here); The North Zone appears to be a flat to shallow dipping zone up to 35m thick sub-cropping beneath approximately 15m of glacial till. Only two drill holes have tested this target, which remains open in all directions; Selected intercepts from the Peak Nickel drilling include: Hole ID From (m) Length (m) Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (ppm) *Ni Eq % **Cu Eq % RBD001 40.52 12.48 0.63 0.54 403 1.06 1.68 incl. 45.00 6.00 0.96 0.73 601 1.55 2.46 RBD002 50.60 35.40 0.71 0.30 473 1.00 1.59 incl. 70.00 12.00 1.42 0.54 929 1.96 3.12 RBD004 112.00 12.26 1.02 0.83 633 1.68 2.67 incl. 118.29 5.97 1.92 1.50 1197 3.12 4.96 RBD009 51.60 13.79 1.39 0.53 728 1.88 2.99 incl. 60.00 5.39 2.04 0.56 1013 2.61 4.15 RBD016 62.00 27.00 0.47 0.30 433 0.75 1.20 incl. 74.00 9.00 1.13 0.73 1056 1.82 2.89 RBD018 100.00 2.00 1.54 0.93 735 2.28 3.63 * Ni Eq % and **Cu Eq % grades were calculated using values of US$7.00 / lb for nickel, US$4.40 / lb for copper and US$ 15.00 / lb for cobalt 1 Wilks, G.F. (1974) A Report on Exploration Undertaken by Consolidated Gold Fields Ltd on the Western Side of the EVL Project, NE Scotland, 1968 1973. Consolidated Gold Fields Ltd unpublished internal report. 2 Wilks, G.F. and Smith, M.R.M. (1976) Exploration and Geology of Nickel & Copper Deposits in North East Scotland. EVL unpublished report. Terms of the Agreement To earn a 100% interest in the Portsoy Project, the Company must complete the following: Upon receipt of TSX-V approval, the Company commits to completing 1,000m of drilling, including downhole electromagnetic surveying, and undertake initial metallurgical testwork; Spend a total of 3,000,000 on the Portsoy Project within 5 years of receipt of TSX-V approval, with a minimum spend of 300,000 per year; Issue a total of 6,500,000 common shares of the Company to Peak Nickel over a five-year period, as follows; 1,000,000 shares on each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of receipt of TSX-V approval, and 2,500,000 shares on the fifth anniversary of TSX-V approval; Upon completion of the earn-in, Peak Nickel would retain a 1% Net Smelter Returns Royalty capped at 10 million; In the event the Portsoy Project is acquired by a third party after Winshear has completed the earn-in, Peak Nickel would receive 10% of the cash / share value paid to Winshear, capped at 10 million; In the event the agreement with Peak Nickel is assigned to a third party prior to Winshear completing the earn-in, Peak Nickel would retain an uncapped 1% Net Smelter Returns Royalty; The Company will retain a right of first refusal in the event Peak Nickel wishes to sell the royalty. Peak Nickel Ltd. will be the designated contractor for the firs two years of the exploration program, and be subject to the control and direction of the Management Committee, which is controlled by the Company. The Company has the right to take over the designated contractor position upon the payment of 100,000 to Peak Nickel. The Company paid Peak Nickel 65,000 upon the execution of the agreement. About the Portsoy Project The Portsoy Project is located approximately 60km northwest of the city of Aberdeen, in NE Scotland, and comprises a 250km2 area covered by a Mines Royal Option (MRO) (see Map 1). An MRO is granted by the Crown, allowing the holder of the MRO to explore for gold and silver. The project area is underlain by Neoproterozoic rocks of Dalradian Age (800 500 million years) which have been intruded by a sequence of ultramafic, mafic and granitic rocks approximately 475million years ago. The mafic and ultramafic rocks host the known nickel copper cobalt mineralisation. There is limited outcrop in the project area due to the presence of 5m 20m of glacial till draped over the region from the last ice age. Nickel copper cobalt mineralisation was discovered in the Portsoy Project area in the early 1970s by EVL, a joint venture company formed by Goldfields and Rio Tinto. Over the last 5 years Peak Nickel has reached agreement with certain landowners (landowners in the UK own the underlying mineral rights), allowing Peak Nickel to explore and, if successful, mine any minerals discovered in commercial / economic quantities, subject of course to being granted planning permission by the relevant government authorities. Between 2022 and 2023 Peak Nickel completed 24 drill holes for a total of 3,700m of drilling. The table below shows presents the significant drill intercepts: Hole ID From (m) Length (m) Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (ppm) RBD001 40.52 12.48 0.63 0.54 403 incl. 45.00 6.00 0.96 0.73 601 RBD002 50.60 35.40 0.71 0.30 473 incl. 70.00 12.00 1.42 0.54 929 RBD003 103.94 14.06 0.34 0.40 242 incl. 114.00 4.00 0.69 0.66 484 RBD004 112.00 12.26 1.02 0.83 633 incl. 118.29 5.97 1.92 1.50 1197 RBD008 161.00 2.00 0.48 0.24 280 and 186.00 2.00 0.92 0.27 535 RBD009 51.60 13.79 1.39 0.53 728 incl. 60.00 5.39 2.04 0.56 1013 RBD013 33.00 1.00 1.14 0.59 450 and 119.00 1.00 0.47 0.14 100 RBD014 177.00 1.00 0.75 0.15 239 RBD015 36.00 33.00 0.45 0.16 237 RBD016 56.00 1.00 1.26 0.24 1057 and 62.00 27.00 0.47 0.30 433 incl. 74.00 9.00 1.13 0.73 1056 RBD018 100.00 2.00 1.54 0.93 735 Peak Nickel Limited news release dated February 21, 2024. Map 2 shows the extent of the coincident magnetic / soil geochemical anomalies that define the North and South Zones. The map also shows additional coincident anomalies that have yet to be drill tested. 2025 Work Programme Upon receipt of TSX-V approval the Company plans to immediately commence a minimum 1,000m drill programme (including downhole EM geophysical surveying) and start a metallurgical testwork study to determine the optimum recovery process for this style of mineralisation. Peak Nickel Limited drilling protocols After rotation and compression, core recovery and RQD were calculated. The NQ drill core was usually sampled in 1 or 2m lengths. Core was split in half using a rock saw and bagged. On average a standard/CRM sample, a duplicate (quarter core) sample and a blank sample (2 barren granite chips) was inserted into the sample string every 25 samples. Samples averaged ~2.5kg each, and were securely bagged and transported to the Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd. laboratory in Vancouver, Canada by courier. At the lab, samples were prepared by crushing the whole sample and pulverising a 250g riffle-split to -75 microns. Pulps were then analysed by the AQ-252-EXT method with a 30g digestion and 53-element ICP. Any overlimit Ni-Cu-Co results were reanalysed using the AQ370 method. All the Peak Nickel Limited drilling works were planned and supervised by their Managing Director, Mr. C. MacKenzie, M.Sc., C.Geol. Mr MacKenzie has acted as a Qualified Person under Canadian National Instrument NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and a Competent Person under JORC 2012 for publicly listed companies. Whilst not independent, Mr. MacKenzie was responsible for all the exploration activities of Peak Nickel Limited. Qualified Person J. Patricio Varas, P.Geo, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has read and approved all technical and scientific information contained in this news release. Mr. Varas acts as President and is a technical advisor for Winshear Gold. About Winshear Gold Corp. Winshear Gold Corp. is a Canadian-based minerals exploration company currently conducting a regional scale exploration programme on its Thunder Bay Gold Project, located in Ontario. For more information, please contact Irene Dorsman at +1 (604) 200 7874 or visit www.winshear.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Richard D. Williams Richard Williams, CEO 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. Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain statements and information that may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements and contain forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including the risks normally associated with mineral exploration. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. NEW YORK, Aug. 11, 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. Image by Resea AI SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Resea AI, a technology company specializing in artificial intelligence agents , has officially launched its AI-powered academic agent. The platform aims to address long-standing inefficiencies in scholarly research workflows by combining deep literature intelligence with end-to-end task execution from topic selection to final manuscript delivery. In a recent user survey conducted by Resea AI, more than 85% of academic researchers indicated that existing AI tools often create fragmented experiences citing issues such as frequent interruptions during writing, switching between tabs for citation formatting, and lack of academic tone. Unlike general-purpose AI agents, Resea AI is specifically developed for academic users. It is designed to understand the structure and logic of scholarly writing, provide appropriate academic tone, and incorporate references from peer-reviewed sources. The platform integrates access to major academic databases, including PubMed and arXiv, spanning a wide range of disciplines. When users input a research question, Resea AI performs a comprehensive literature search and provides traceable citations to support its output aiming to minimize the risk of inaccurate or fabricated references. We want researchers to focus on thinking, not managing tools, said David Mose, founder of Resea AI. The platform is built to streamline the research process without requiring users to constantly switch interfaces or manually intervene at every step. It independently completes research like your exclusive phd. Prompt in. Strategy first. Resea AI maps out your intent, audience, and tone then moves seamlessly through deep thinking, research, and outlining, delivering structured, high-quality academic work at the end. Resea AI Image Its proprietary MindThink engine also highlights emerging issues and key debates within a topic, helping users strengthen the depth of their work. The company states that future updates will focus on enhancing support for discipline-specific workflows, expanding multilingual capabilities, and introducing varied academic writing styles. AI has the potential to unlock meaningful progress in research by supporting every stage of the academic process, Mose added. Our goal is to assist scholars in bringing important ideas to life, without the common barriers found in current tools. For more information or personalized assistance, contact Resea AI at support@resea.ai. Media Contact: David Mose Resea AI support@resea.ai https://resea.ai San Francisco, CA, United States Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c9fb27d0-cac3-4f0f-9c23-c855e863eed8 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fb51f77d-eb14-4cc3-b799-01b07262216c SYDNEY, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vast Renewables (Vast or the Company), a leading Australian clean energy technology company, today announced that it has secured new funding from existing shareholders and launched a capital raise to support the delivery of its flagship Port Augusta Green Energy Hub and growing international project pipeline. Vast also shared several major milestones for its flagship project, Vast Solar 1 (VS1), including environmental approvals and grid connection progress. New investment secured and capital raise underway Vast has entered into a termsheet for US$3.5 million of convertible notes from two of its largest and longest-standing investors, Nabors Industries and Canberra Airport Group. The financing is expected to close by the end of August. This continued backing reflects strong investor confidence in Vasts differentiated technology and commercial readiness. In parallel, Vast has launched a capital raise targeting leading institutional and strategic investors, with Rennie Advisory appointed to lead the process. Vast is also advancing a collaboration with a major player in the renewable energy sector with deep manufacturing capability and proven delivery of large-scale projects in comparable technologies. This partnership is focused on accelerating deployment of Vasts technology in key global markets and unlocking additional commercial opportunities alongside the current project pipeline. The continued support from two of our long-term investors is a powerful endorsement of Vasts technology and a strong vote of confidence in VS1, said Craig Wood, CEO of Vast. This new funding keeps us on track to break ground on VS1 later this year, while our broader capital raise will enable delivery of VS1 and accelerate the rollout of our global project pipeline. Port Augusta Green Energy Hub progressing towards construction Located in South Australia, the Port Augusta Green Energy Hub will be home to a suite of integrated projects designed to deliver clean, dispatchable energy and enable decarbonisation of transport and industry: VS1: A 30MW concentrated solar thermal plant with 8 hours of storage, VS1 has secured up to A$290 million in conditional Australian Government support, including a A$180 million ARENA grant. The project will deliver low-cost, low-carbon power on demand, and is on track for construction to begin later this year. A 30MW concentrated solar thermal plant with 8 hours of storage, VS1 has secured up to A$290 million in conditional Australian Government support, including a A$180 million ARENA grant. The project will deliver low-cost, low-carbon power on demand, and is on track for construction to begin later this year. 140MW / 2-hour lithium-ion battery : Developed in partnership with 1414 Degrees, this project provides critical storage and grid stability and is also on track to commence construction later this year. : Developed in partnership with 1414 Degrees, this project provides critical storage and grid stability and is also on track to commence construction later this year. South Australian Solar Fuels (SASF): A green fuels demonstration facility that aims to produce low-carbon hydrogen-derived fuels for aviation and shipping. With the pre-FEED stage now complete, MB Energy will conclude its involvement as the project progresses to FEED. Vast continues to lead development, supported by the award of A$700,000 in funding announced in March from the Australia-Singapore Low Emissions Technologies (ASLET) initiative for maritime and port operations. Significant development milestones have been achieved across the Hub, including: EPBC referral decision confirming the Hub is not a controlled action under national environmental law Technical acceptance for VS1s grid connection application Generator Performance Standards approval for the battery energy storage system About Vast Vast is a leading Australian on-demand renewable energy and clean fuels platform. Vasts proprietary technology delivers 24/7 carbon-free heat and power at utility-scale to decarbonise the grid, green fuels production, and hard-to-abate industries. Visit www.vast.energy for more information. Contacts For Investors: Caldwell Bailey ICR, Inc. VastIR@icrinc.com For US media: Matt Dallas ICR, Inc. VastPR@icrinc.com Forward Looking Statements The information included herein and in any oral statements made in connection herewith include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of present or historical fact included herein, regarding VS1, SASF, Vast's future financial performance, Vast's strategy, future operations, financial position, estimated revenues and losses, projected costs, capital expenditures, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. When used herein, including any oral statements made in connection herewith, the words "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "project," "should," "will," the negative of such terms and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. These forward-looking statements are based on Vast management's current expectations and assumptions about future events and are based on currently available information as to the outcome and timing of future events. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, Vast disclaims any duty to update any forward-looking statements, all of which are expressly qualified by the statements in this section, to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Vast cautions you that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of Vast. These risks include, but are not limited to, general economic, financial, legal, political and business conditions and changes in domestic and foreign markets; Vast's ability to obtain financing on commercially acceptable terms or at all; Vasts ability to manage growth; Vast's ability to estimate project costs and to execute its business plan, including the completion of the Port Augusta Green Energy Hub (including VS1 and SASF), at all or in a timely manner; potential litigation, governmental or regulatory proceedings, investigations or inquiries involving Vast; changes in applicable laws or regulations and general economic and market conditions impacting project costs and/or demand for Vast's products and services. Should one or more of the risks or uncertainties described herein and in any oral statements made in connection therewith occur, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results and plans could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact Vast's expectations can be found in Vast's filings previously made with the SEC. Vast's SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. DALLAS, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- HF Sinclair Corporation (NYSE and NYSE Texas: DINO) (the Corporation) today announced that it has commenced a cash tender offer (the Tender Offer) to purchase any and all of the outstanding notes listed in the table below (collectively, the Notes and each a Series of Notes). Title of Security CUSIP(1) Aggregate Principal Amount Outstanding Reference U.S. Treasury Security Fixed Spread (basis points) Bloomberg Reference Page(2) 5.875% Senior Notes due 2026 403949 AB6 $153,585,000 4.250% U.S.T. due 12/31/25 50 bps FIT3 6.375% Senior Notes due 2027 403949 AK6 U4322C AD5 403949 AP5 $249,875,000 3.750% U.S.T. due 4/15/26 50 bps FIT3 _________________________ (1) No representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP numbers listed in this news release or printed on the Notes. They are provided solely for the convenience of Holders of the Notes. (2) The Bloomberg Reference Page is provided for convenience only. To the extent any Bloomberg Reference Page changes prior to the Price Determination Date (as defined below), the Lead Dealer Managers referred to below will quote the applicable Reference Treasury Security from the updated Bloomberg Reference Page. The Tender Offer Consideration for each Series will be determined taking into account the par call date or redemption date, instead of the maturity date, of such Notes in accordance with standard market practice. The terms and conditions of the Tender Offer are described in an Offer to Purchase dated August 11, 2025 (as it may be amended or supplemented, the Offer to Purchase). The Tender Offer is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions as set forth in the Offer to Purchase, including the receipt of aggregate gross proceeds in an amount sufficient to effect the repurchase of the Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Tender Offer at or prior to the Expiration Time (as defined below) on terms acceptable to the Corporation from the concurrent public offering of senior debt securities issued by the Corporation (the Concurrent Notes Offering). Subject to applicable law, the Corporation may waive any and all of these conditions or extend or terminate the Tender Offer with respect to one or more Series of Notes, at any time, prior to the Expiration Time. The Tender Offer is not conditioned upon any minimum amount of Notes being tendered. Capitalized terms used in this news release and not defined herein have the meanings given to them in the Offer to Purchase. The Tender Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 15, 2025, unless extended (such date and time, as the same may be extended, the Expiration Time) or earlier terminated. In order to receive the Tender Offer Consideration, Holders of Notes must validly tender and not validly withdraw their Notes (or comply with the procedures for guaranteed delivery) prior to the Expiration Time. The Tender Offer Consideration for each $1,000 in principal amount of Notes tendered and not withdrawn before the Expiration Time and accepted for payment pursuant to the Tender Offer will be determined in the manner described in the Offer to Purchase. The consideration will be determined by reference to the applicable fixed spread specified for each Series of Notes over the yield based on the bid-side price of the applicable Reference U.S. Treasury Security specified in the table above, as fully described in the Offer to Purchase. The consideration will be calculated by the Lead Dealer Managers for the Tender Offer at 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on August 15, 2025, unless extended (such time and date, as the same may be extended, the Price Determination Date). In addition to the Tender Offer Consideration, accrued and unpaid interest up to, but not including, the Settlement Date will be paid in cash on all validly tendered Notes accepted for purchase in the Tender Offer. The purchase price plus accrued and unpaid interest for Notes that are validly tendered and not validly withdrawn before the Expiration Time and accepted for purchase will be paid by the Corporation in same day funds on the Settlement Date, which the Corporation expects will be August 20, 2025, assuming that the Tender Offer is not extended or earlier terminated. No tenders will be valid if submitted after the Expiration Time. Tendered Notes may be validly withdrawn at any time (i) prior to the earlier of (x) the Expiration Time and (y) if the Tender Offer is extended, the tenth business day after commencement of the Tender Offer, and (ii) after the 60th business day after the commencement of the Tender Offer if for any reason the Tender Offer has not been consummated within 60 business days after commencement. From time to time, the Corporation may purchase additional Notes in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, through tender offers or otherwise, or may redeem Notes pursuant to the terms of the applicable indenture governing the applicable Series of Notes. Any future purchases or redemptions may be on the same terms or on terms that are more or less favorable to Holders of Notes than the terms of the Tender Offer. Any future purchases or redemptions by the Corporation will depend on various factors existing at that time. There can be no assurance as to which, if any, of these alternatives (or combinations thereof) the Corporation may choose to pursue in the future. The effect of any of these actions may directly or indirectly affect the price of any Notes that remain outstanding after the consummation or termination of the Tender Offer. Subject to completion of the Tender Offer, the Corporation may, but is not obligated to, redeem all Notes not purchased in the Tender Offer at the contractual redemption prices, or otherwise repurchase, discharge or defease of the Notes as it deems appropriate. This news release does not constitute a notice of redemption or an obligation to issue a notice of redemption. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Tender Offer, the Corporations obligation to accept for purchase, and to pay for, Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn, if applicable, pursuant to the Tender Offer is subject to, and conditioned upon, the satisfaction of or, where applicable, its waiver of, certain conditions, including the condition that the Corporation receive aggregate gross proceeds from the Concurrent Notes Offering at or prior to the Expiration Time in an amount that is sufficient to effect the repurchase of the Notes validly tendered and accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offer to Purchase, on terms satisfactory to the Corporation in its sole discretion. Citigroup, Citizens Capital Markets and Mizuho are the Lead Dealer Managers for the Tender Offer. D.F. King & Co., Inc. is the Tender and Information Agent. Persons with questions regarding the Tender Offer should contact Citigroup Global Markets Inc. at +1 (800) 558-3745 (toll free) or +1 (212) 723-6106 or ny.liabilitymanagement@citi.com, Citizens JMP Securities, LLC at dl-cjmpslegal@citizensbank.com, or Mizuho Securities USA LLC at +1 (866) 271-7403 (toll free) or +1 (212) 205-7741. Questions regarding the tendering of Notes and requests for copies of the Offer to Purchase and Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and related materials should be directed to D.F. King & Co., Inc. at (212) 931-0865 (for banks and brokers) or (800) 949-2583 (all others, toll-free) or email DINO@dfking.com. Copies of the Offer to Purchase and Notice of Guaranteed Delivery are also available at the following web address: www.dfking.com/DINO. This news release is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell the Notes. The Tender Offer is made only by the Offer to Purchase and Notice of Guaranteed Delivery and the information in this news release is qualified by reference to the Offer to Purchase dated August 11, 2025. There is no separate letter of transmittal in connection with the Offer to Purchase. None of the Corporation, the Corporations Board of Directors, the Lead Dealer Managers, the Tender and Information Agent or the trustees with respect to any Notes is making any recommendation as to whether Holders should tender any Notes in response to the Tender Offer, and neither the Corporation nor any such other person has authorized any person to make any such recommendation. Holders must make their own decision as to whether to tender any of their Notes, and, if so, the principal amount of Notes to tender. About HF Sinclair Corporation: HF Sinclair Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is an independent energy company that produces and markets high-value light products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, jet fuel, renewable diesel and lubricants and specialty products. HF Sinclair owns and operates refineries located in Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Wyoming, Washington and Utah. HF Sinclair provides petroleum product and crude oil transportation, terminalling, storage and throughput services to our refineries and the petroleum industry. HF Sinclair markets its refined products principally in the Southwest U.S., the Rocky Mountains extending into the Pacific Northwest and in other neighboring Plains states and supplies high-quality fuels to more than 1,700 branded stations and licenses the use of the Sinclair brand to more than 300 additional locations throughout the country. HF Sinclair produces renewable diesel at two of its facilities in Wyoming and also at its facility in New Mexico. In addition, subsidiaries of HF Sinclair produce and market base oils and other specialized lubricants in the U.S., Canada and the Netherlands, and export products to more than 80 countries. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, Contact: Craig Biery, Vice President, Investor Relations HF Sinclair Corporation 214-954-6510 Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: The following is a safe harbor statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: The statements in this press release relating to matters that are not historical facts, including those regarding the Concurrent Notes Offering and the use of proceeds therefrom, including the Tender Offer and the timing and outcome thereof, are forward-looking statements that involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to materially differ from what is expressed, implied or forecast in such statements. Any differences could be caused by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the ability to complete the offering, general market conditions and other financial, operational and legal risks and uncertainties detailed from time to time in the Corporations SEC filings. All forward-looking statements included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and, other than as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. TORONTO, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PharmaTher Holdings Ltd. (the Company or PharmaTher) (OTCQB: PHRRF) (CSE: PHRM), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on unlocking the pharmaceutical potential of ketamine, is pleased to announce today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the Companys ketamine product, herein referred to as KETARx, on August 8th, 2025, for its indicated uses in surgical pain management. This FDA approval signifies a momentous achievement for PharmaTher and strategically positions the Company to contribute to the psychedelic pharmaceutical revolution by leveraging its commercial and clinical initiatives with ketamine towards mental health, neurological, and pain disorders. Fabio Chianelli, Founder, Chairman and CEO of PharmaTher, commented: Today marks a new chapter for PharmaTher. With FDA approval for ketamine now in hand, we are closer to realizing our goal of becoming a global leader in ketamine-based pharmaceuticals. This historic FDA approval for PharmaTher is a testament to years of dedicated development, signalling a new era of growth. We remain steadfast in our mission to harness the pharmaceutical potential of ketamine for a range of mental health, neurological, and pain disorders. Ketamine stands out among psychedelic and psychedelic-adjacent drugs as the only one included on the World Health Organization's Model List of Essential Medicines1. The global ketamine market is expected to experience substantial growth, currently valued at $750 million and projected to reach $3.42 billion by 2034, indicating a compound annual growth rate of 16.4%2. Furthermore, SPRAVATO (esketamine), an FDA approved treatment for depression, is tracking a sales run rate of $1.6 billion, with guidance anticipating $3 billion to $3.5 billion by 2027-20283. This promising market outlook underscores the potential of KETARx and PharmaThers strategic position in the industry. The FDA's approval of the Companys ketamine product, KETARx, provides a strong foundation for expanding the development of ketamine across diverse therapeutic areas within the Company's product pipeline. These areas include mental health conditions like depression, neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and the management of rare or chronic pain, including Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Since February 2018, ketamine has been regularly listed on the FDA drug shortage list, highlighting a significant need for a consistent, high-quality supply. This issue is cautioned by a compounding risk alert issued by the FDA on October 10, 20234, which detailed potential risks associated with compounded ketamine products used for psychiatric disorders. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Secretary of Health and Human Services, has also emphasized the importance of expanding research and ensuring legal access to psychedelic therapies for veterans5. The Veterans Health Administration, the largest integrated healthcare system in the U.S., currently approves and funds ketamine infusions for retired military personnel afflicted with depression, PTSD, and chronic pain6. Furthermore, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary's establishment of the Commissioner's National Priority Voucher program signifies the FDA's dedication to expediting access to safe and effective treatments, instilling confidence in potential future regulatory support and accessibility for ketamine. About PharmaTher Holdings Ltd. PharmaTher Holdings Ltd. (OTCQB: PHRRF) (CSE: PHRM) is focused on unlocking the pharmaceutical potential of Ketamine (KETARx) for mental health, neurological, and pain disorders. For more information, visit PharmaTher.com . For more information about PharmaTher, please contact: Fabio Chianelli Chief Executive Officer PharmaTher Holdings Ltd. Tel: 1-888-846-3171 Email: info@pharmather.com Website: www.pharmather.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider have reviewed or accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement This press release contains 'forward-looking information' within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words closer, "could", confident, "would", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated", "potential", promise, strong, "aim", may, plan, proposed, lead, toward, anticipate, provide, position, leverage, mitigate, before, prior, and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on PharmaTher Holdings Ltd. (the "Company") current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Forward-looking information is based on reasonable assumptions that have been made by the Company at the date of the information and is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. Given these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof, and 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. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements are described under the caption "Risk Factors" in Company's management's discussion and analysis for the three and nine months ended February 28, 2025 dated April 24, 2025, which is available on the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any state, province, territory or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state, province, territory or jurisdiction. References: NEW YORK, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greystone, a leading national commercial real estate finance company, has provided a $64,960,000 bridge loan for a healthcare portfolio in Pennsylvania comprising three properties with a total of 506 beds. The financing was originated by Christopher Clare, Managing Director, along with David Young, Ryan Harkins, Ben Rubin, Parker Nielsen, and Liam Gallagher. The non-recourse interest-only bridge loan carries a 24-month term with two six-month extension options and features a floating rate. The transaction allows the borrower to advance operations while working with Greystone to secure HUD-insured permanent financing. The portfolio includes a combined total of 408 licensed skilled nursing facility beds, 76 licensed assisted living beds, 12 licensed memory care beds, and 10 independent living beds located throughout the state of Pennsylvania. This financing reflects Greystones continued commitment to providing tailored bridge solutions in the healthcare sector, said Mr. Clare. Our platform supports clients from acquisition and recapitalization through to permanent financing, helping them optimize operational and financial outcomes. About Greystone Greystone is a private national commercial real estate finance company with an established reputation as a leader in multifamily and healthcare finance, having ranked as a top FHA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac lender in these sectors. Loans are offered through Greystone Servicing Company LLC, Greystone Funding Company LLC and/or other Greystone affiliates. For more information, visit www.greystone.com. PRESS CONTACT: Fran Del Valle Influence Consulting Group for Greystone fran@influencecentral.com NEW YORK, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- True Footage , a technology-driven appraisal and valuation company transforming home valuation nationwide, and Restb.ai , the real estate industrys leader in AI and computer vision technology, today announced a new collaboration to substantially cut hours from the appraisal process. By leveraging Restb.ais AI-powered Condition & Quality (C&Q) scoring, True Footage is helping appraisers produce faster, more objective, and fully documented valuations at a time when the Government-Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) are pushing for appraisal modernization. True Footage is empowering appraisers with the best technology available to redefine how appraisers perform appraisals, said John Liss, CEO at True Footage. By leveraging Restb.ais AI leadership, were at the forefront of innovation, giving appraisers a tech-enabled workflow that improves accuracy, transparency, and efficiency and creates more documented and compliant appraisals. True Footage, with operations across 29 states including most major markets, offers valuation tools such as TrueTracts, a platform that enhances appraisers judgment by surfacing data-driven insights from thousands of real-time calculations. It helps them move faster without sacrificing control and unlocks a level of analytical depth that isnt possible through manual processes alone. By integrating Restb.ais C&Q scoring, True Footage appraisers can not only sort and select comparables more efficiently, but also leverage large-scale property condition and quality data to derive more credible adjustments. This reduces reliance on subjective judgments and removes key unknowns from the adjustment process. By automating and standardizing C&Q ratings across thousands of properties, this integration will help generate more accurate and defensible adjustments, not only for quality and condition, but across the full feature set. Appraisers want to focus on analysis, not tedious manual review, said Tony Pistilli, President, Valuation at Restb.ai. Partnering with True Footage delivers real-time savings to appraisers, but also reduces subjectivity, while delivering valuations that align with the industrys modernization push. The partnership delivers significant benefits for appraisers, valuation firms, and lending professionals, including: Faster, more efficient appraisals : AI-powered C&Q scoring lets appraisers identify similar-condition comparables without manually reviewing dozens of listing photos. : AI-powered C&Q scoring lets appraisers identify similar-condition comparables without manually reviewing dozens of listing photos. More documented and accurate adjustments : Objective, image-based assessments of property condition and quality reduce subjectivity, resulting in more defensible reports. : Objective, image-based assessments of property condition and quality reduce subjectivity, resulting in more defensible reports. Support for GSE UAD modernization: Meets new requirements (UAD 3.6) to separately assess the interior and exterior condition and quality of properties, helping appraisers stay compliant. The TrueTracts platform will be demonstrated at ValExpo in Las Vegas, August 1113, as part of True Footage and Restb.ais joint commitment to empower appraisers with better tools and support the industrys modernization efforts. For more information about the partnership or to request access, visit Restb.ai or True Footage . About True Footage True Footage is a modern residential appraisal company transforming home valuation nationwide. Since launching in 2021, it has become a leader in appraisal modernization empowering appraisers and streamlining the process through innovative tools and data-driven solutions. About Restb.ai Restb.ai , the leader in AI-powered computer vision for real estate, provides image recognition and data enrichment solutions for many of the industry's top brands and leading innovators. Its advanced AI-powered technology automatically analyzes property imagery to unlock visual insights at scale that empower real estate companies with relevant and actionable property intelligence. Its proprietary artificial intelligence technology transforms property imagery into actionable insights, helping clients unlock new value from visual data and providing deep insight into each of the 1 million property photos uploaded daily. Media Contacts: Restb.ai Kevin Hawkins 1+ (206) 866-1220 kevin@wavgroup.com or Maya Makarem maya@restb.ai True Footage Nicole Werdal 1+ (845) 216-4765 nicole.werdal@truefootage.tech or Mariah Swanson mariah.swanson@truefootage.tech San Francisco, CA, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Teller, a decentralized lending protocol, has announced the launch of a new borrowing and lending primitive that enables perpetual loans without liquidations. This update marks a major shift in how digital asset owners can access credit and earn yield, without the volatility risks that define traditional money markets. By removing price-based liquidation triggers, Teller allows users to maintain their positions through market swings instead of being forced to sell at the worst possible time. Unlike standard lending markets that rely on real-time price feeds and automated liquidation thresholds, Teller allows users to borrow against digital assets without the threat of price-based liquidation. Instead of selling collateral when prices drop, Teller loans are structured around flexible, perpetual terms. Borrowers maintain access to capital as long as they meet periodic interest payments or rollover checkpoints. That means no forced selling and no liquidations triggered by price volatility, giving users greater peace of mind during unpredictable market conditions. Borrowers can access liquidity against a wide range of digital assets, from large caps like Bitcoin and Ethereum to long-tail, community-driven tokens such as $SPX, $PEPE, and $DOGE, without having to sell their spot. Loans can be rolled over indefinitely by paying only the interest due at the time. If the collaterals value remains stable, no additional collateral is required; the position is automatically refinanced via a flash-loan mechanism. If the value has dropped, users can simply top up the collateral to restore the minimum rationo need to repay the principal. This structure allows users to borrow with confidence, even during extreme volatility or short-term dips. On the lending side, Teller offers single-sided exposure with compounding yield. Lenders deposit assets like Bitcoin or stablecoins (e.g., $USDC, $WBTC, or $cbBTC) into isolated lending pools and earn interest directly from borrower repayments. Theres no impermanent loss, no multi-asset exposure, and no need to manage paired positions. Risk is isolated and transparent, tied only to the collateral asset within each pool. Backed by notable investors including Franklin Templeton, Blockchain Capital, and Toyota Ventures, Teller is currently supporting over $50 million in active borrowing volume. Average lending APYs range between 1030%, reflecting a growing demand for a more predictable credit infrastructure. The protocol is rapidly scaling, fueled by retail interest in compounding yield and access to flexible, liquidation-free credit. While already deployed on Ethereum, Base, and Arbitrum, Teller plans to expand in 2025 to new blockchains including Katana, Hyperliquid, and Binance. This will further scale its reach across emerging onchain ecosystems. Additionally, the protocol has announced an integration with Coinbases new social wallet, Base App, a WeChat-style onchain interface. The integration unlocks access for over 70 million users, extending Tellers no-liquidation lending model to a broader audience of digital asset holders. To learn more about how Teller is reshaping credit markets, visit https://app.teller.org. About Teller: Teller is a decentralized lending platform redefining credit markets. Its no-liquidation, perpetual loans and single exposure lending pools allow users to unlock liquidity and earn yield without the exposure to traditional market risks. Website: teller.org CALGARY, Alberta, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KIC Realty is excited to announce the appointment of Erin Best as the new Director of Agent Development for KIC Realty, bringing her dynamic leadership, relationship-first approach, and proven expertise to further elevate the growth and success of our REALTORS. We are thrilled to welcome someone of Erins caliber to our leadership team, said Willie Ip, Chief Executive Officer at KIC Realty. Her industry insight, innovative thinking, and passion for agent success will ensure our agents receive industry-leading training and development that sets them apart in the marketplace. Ron McIntosh, President at KIC Realty, added, Our goal has always been to provide our REALTORS with the very best resources, mentorship, and educational tools. Erins track record of driving meaningful growth and her ability to connect people, technology, and opportunity align perfectly with that vision. In a fast-changing industry, having a leader who understands both the human and technological sides of real estate is a game-changer, said Angela Papassotiriou, Vice President of Operations at KIC Realty. Erin will be instrumental in helping our agents expand their skills, competitive edge, and success. Based in Calgary, Alberta, Erin brings over a decade of experience in real estate sales, marketing, and prop-tech leadership. Her career has been defined by a deep commitment to helping people and ideas move forward smarter, faster, and with purpose. With three years in the prop-tech leadership space, she has excelled at bridging the gap between real estate professionals, data, technology, and learning. From navigating complex regulatory landscapes to championing modern tools that empower agents, Erins mission has always been to create clarity, foster connections, and drive growth. My north star? Make it meaningful, make it matter, and bring others with you, said Erin Best. Im excited to partner with KIC Realtys talented leadership and agent network to continue building a culture of innovation, collaboration, and success. About KIC Realty: KIC Realty is a Canadian real estate brokerage dedicated to creating a supportive and thriving environment for its REALTORS. Founded on the core values of knowledge, integrity, and community, KIC Realty is committed to providing its REALTORS with the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. With a focus on transparency and REALTOR ownership, KIC Realty is redefining the real estate experience for REALTORS and clients alike. Media Contact: Willie Ip KIC Realty investor.relations@kicrealty.com www.kicrealty.com Dublin, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Bottled Water Market in South Africa 2025-2029" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The bottled water market in South Africa is poised for significant growth, with projections indicating an increase of USD 152.6 million from 2024 to 2029, achieving a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.8% during this period. Detailed insights are presented in a comprehensive report that covers market size, trends, growth drivers, challenges, and vendor analysis involving approximately 25 vendors. The report provides an up-to-the-minute analysis of the current market environment, highlighting the latest trends and pivotal drivers. Key factors fueling the market include the rising consumption of bottled water among urban dwellers, growing health awareness among consumers, and increasing concerns regarding tap water quality. Key trends driving market growth include innovations in packaging, increased demand for functional and flavored water, and the rising popularity of premium and luxury bottled water brands. These factors are expected to generate substantial market demand shortly. The study integrates primary and secondary research inputs from vital industry participants to deliver a comprehensive market analysis. It encompasses extensive market size data, segmentation with regional insights, and a vendor landscape, alongside an examination of key industry players. The report is enriched with historical data and future projections. The bottled water market in South Africa is segmented as follows: By Product: Still drinking water Sparkling water Bottled spring water By Distribution Channel: Off-trade On-trade By Packaging: Plastic bottles Glass bottles Others The report on the bottled water market in South Africa addresses the following areas: Market sizing Market forecast Industry analysis Comprehensive vendor analysis provides clients with strategic insights to enhance their market position. The report scrutinizes leading vendors such as Africqua Pty Ltd., All Aqua International Pty Ltd., Aqua.v, Aquabella, Aquafina, Arctic Amanzi, and other notable players. It delves into forthcoming trends and challenges likely to shape market growth, aiding companies in optimizing upcoming growth opportunities. This publication presents a detailed overview of the market through the synthesis and summation of data from multiple sources, analyzing key parameters like profitability, pricing, competition, and promotions. The data is reliable, stemming from thorough primary and secondary research, offering a complete competitive landscape and a meticulous vendor selection methodology. Utilizing qualitative and quantitative research, the report forecasts precise market growth. Key Topics Covered Executive Summary Market Analysis Market Landscape Market Sizing Historic Market Size Qualitative Analysis Five Forces Analysis Five forces summary Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition Market Segmentation by Product Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel Market Segmentation by Packaging Customer Landscape Drivers, Challenges, and Opportunity/Restraints Competitive Landscape Competitive Analysis Appendix A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to: Africqua Pty. Ltd. All Aqua International Pty. Ltd. Aqua.v Aquabella Aquafina Arctic Amanzi BeneWater Cedarberg Aqua CLOVER SA Pty. Ltd. EKHAMANZI SPRINGS Pty. Ltd. La Vie De Luc Mountain Falls Mineral Water Nestle SA Normandien Farms Pty. Ltd. Origin Water Patriot Brands The Coca Cola Co. Tsitsikamma Twizza Verve Water For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/1x6wht About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Dublin, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Venus Medtech Hangzhou Inc (2500) - Product Pipeline Analysis, 2025 Update" has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Venus Medtech Hangzhou Inc., headquartered in Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, is a pioneering medical device company renowned for its innovative development and commercialization of transcatheter heart valve products. The company specializes in advanced solutions for structural heart diseases, including aortic valve stenosis and pulmonary regurgitation, among other conditions. Its product portfolio boasts revolutionary devices like Venus-PowerX, Venus-Vitae, AR Valve, VenusA-Valve, VenusA-Plus, VenusA-Pro, VenusP-Valve, and the VenusA series, which target diverse heart valve-related conditions. This report serves as a comprehensive source of data, analysis, and actionable intelligence on Venus Medtech's extensive pipeline products. This essential document offers in-depth insights into the company's key products, overarching brands, and strategic initiatives. Engineered to enhance decision-making capabilities, the report empowers stakeholders to craft impactful counter strategies, thereby securing a competitive edge in the market. Report Scope: Comprehensive company profile, encompassing business description, key facts, primary products, services, principal competitors, key personnel, locations, subsidiaries, and recent developments. Thorough analysis of all pipeline products under development at Venus Medtech Hangzhou Inc. Pipeline analysis detailing products by equipment type, indication, development stage, and trial status. Precise information on each product's pipeline territory, development stage, device classification, regulatory pathway, indications, applications, and launch projections. Insightful descriptions of products in development, including technical specifications and functionalities. Coverage of ongoing clinical trials with detailed information on trial names, objectives, sponsors, designs, statuses, phases, and timelines. Reasons to Buy: Formulate robust business strategies by decoding the trends and developments that drive the medical device pipeline and technology landscape. Shape product development, marketing, and sales strategies by understanding competitor portfolios. Craft effective Research & Development strategies. Steer market entry and expansion strategies dynamically. Capitalize on in-licensing and out-licensing opportunities by identifying products with strong return potential. Strategize mergers and acquisitions by pinpointing key players in promising pipelines. Spot emerging players with robust product portfolios to create impactful counterstrategies for competitive advantage. Enhance competitiveness by discerning the status and likely launch of competitors' pipeline products through clinical trial reviews. Identify and leverage the next high-value products to augment your competitive portfolio. Key Topics Covered: Venus Medtech Hangzhou Inc Company Overview Company Snapshot Pipeline Products and Ongoing Clinical Trials Overview Venus Medtech Hangzhou Inc Pipeline Analysis Overview Pipeline Products by Development Stage Ongoing Clinical Trials by Trial Status Venus Medtech Hangzhou Inc Pipeline Products Overview AR Valve Cardiovalve Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve System Transfemoral Mitral Valve System Echomplish Device Lim Transseptal System Limbus Liwen RF Ablation System Small Incision Surgical Valve Transapical Trinity Aortic Valve Implantation System Transcatheter Tricuspid Valve Replacement Device Transfemoral Trinity Aortic Valve Implantation System Tresillo System TriGUARD3 Cerebral Embolic Protection Device Tumbao EndoVascular Aortic Repair System Venus PowerX Valve Venus Vitae Valve Venus-Neo VenusP-Valve Venus Medtech Hangzhou Inc Locations and Subsidiaries Head Office Other Locations & Subsidiaries Joint Venture Recent Developments Mar 28, 2025: Venus Medtech Announces Annual Results Sep 05, 2024: Contribution to National Medical Device Standards Sep 05, 2024: VENUS-Vitae Completes Implantations in Clinical Study May 09, 2024: Governor Wang Hao Visits Venus Medtech Apr 23, 2024: Venusa-Plus Clinical Data Released Nov 18, 2023: Innovations for Structural Heart at London Valves 2023 Jun 08, 2023: Notice of 2022 Annual General Meeting Mar 04, 2023: Liwen RF Ablation System Clinical Trial Concluded Nov 25, 2022: Venus Medtech at London Valves 2022 Appendix Methodology About the Analyst A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes, but is not limited to: LivaNova Japan KK Colibri Heart Valve LLC Edwards Lifesciences Corp For more information about this company profile visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/6p826e About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Burlingame, CA, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global Health Insurance Market is estimated to be valued at USD 3,131.3 Mn in 2025 and is expected to reach USD 5,986.5 Mn in 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.7% from 2025 to 2032. The global health insurance market is expanding steadily, driven by rising healthcare costs, aging populations, and a growing prevalence of chronic diseases factors that underscore the increasing need for financial protection in healthcare. Insurers are leveraging digital innovations like telemedicine, AI-powered tools, and data analytics to enhance customer experience, streamline operations, and offer personalized preventive and wellness-driven plans. Markets are seeing a shift toward value-based care models and customized policy offerings, including mental health support and specialized disease coverage. While North America maintains a strong foothold with mature infrastructure, Asia-Pacific leads in growth thanks to digital adoption and rising health awareness. Request Sample Copy: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/5786 Global Health Insurance Market Key Takeaways According to Coherent Market Insights (CMI), the global health insurance market size is projected to expand at a CAGR of 9.7%, reaching USD 3,131.3 Mn in 2025 and USD 5,986.5 Mn by 2032. By distribution channel, direct sales segment is expected to account for a 62.1% share of the health insurance market in 2025. Disease insurance is slated to remain a highly sought-after insurance type during the forecast period. Based on end user, group category is expected to hold a significant portion of the global health insurance market share by 2032. As per CMIs new health insurance market analysis, North America is set to maintain its dominance, accounting for more than 3/5 of the global market share in 2025. Asia Pacific health insurance market is poised to witness robust growth during the forecast period. Rising Healthcare Costs Spurring Market Growth Coherent Market Insights latest health insurance market report highlights key factors driving market growth. One such key growth driver is the increasing healthcare costs. Expenditures for hospitalization, surgeries, diagnostics, and medicines are increasing significantly worldwide. This is where health insurance comes in handy, offering individuals and families financial protection against unforeseen medical expenses. Furthermore, modern consumers are increasingly recognizing the importance of health insurance to mitigate financial risks associated with illnesses and accidents. This combination of rising awareness and increasing healthcare costs is expected to boost growth of the health insurance market during the forecast period. Purchase Now Up to 25% Discount on This Premium Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/buy-now/5786 High Premium Costs and Lack of Awareness Hampering Market Growth The future health insurance market outlook looks optimistic. However, high premium costs and limited public awareness may limit market growth to some extent during the forecast period. Many individuals in low- and middle-income regions find health insurance premiums unaffordable. This financial barrier discourages individuals from purchasing insurance policies, thereby limiting overall health insurance market demand. Moreover, a significant portion of the population in emerging nations is unaware of the benefits and necessity of health insurance. This lack of awareness further limits adoption, potentially hindering the health insurance market growth. Rising Prevalence of Chronic Disease Creating Growth Opportunities There is a spike in cases of chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer, and heart disease globally. This creates a greater demand for long-term care, specialized treatments, and preventive services, all of which drive the need for health insurance. As a result, growing incidence of chronic diseases is expected to create lucrative growth opportunities for health insurance companies during the forecast period. Impact of AI on the Health Insurance Market Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a powerful tool in the health insurance market. This advanced technology enhances operational efficiency, risk assessment, and customer experience. Insurers use AI for faster claims, predictive analytics, and personalized policy recommendations. AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants are improving customer service, while fraud detection systems are becoming more sophisticated. Emerging Health Insurance Market Trends Growing focus on preventive healthcare is a key growth-shaping trend in the health insurance market. Consumers are becoming more proactive about their health, leading to a higher demand for preventive services like regular check-ups, vaccinations, and wellness programs, many of which are covered by health insurance plans. Digital transformation is positively influencing the global health insurance market value. Features like online policy comparisons, AI-driven underwriting, and instant claim processing are improving customer experience as well as broadening the market reach. Similarly, Insurtech innovations are reshaping the traditional health insurance landscape. Customization trend is also gaining momentum in the health insurance industry. Many health insurance providers now offer personalized plans tailored to specific age groups, pre-existing medical conditions, and lifestyle preferences. Supportive government initiatives are significantly contributing to growth of the health insurance market. Programs such as Medicare in the U.S. and Ayushman Bharat in India have expanded access to healthcare coverage, especially for low-income and underserved populations. Rising focus on mental health coverage is expected to foster the health insurance market growth. There is a growing recognition of the importance of mental well-being, prompting many insurers to include mental health services in their coverage plans. This shift is likely to open new revenue-generation opportunities for health insurance companies in the coming years. Request For Customization: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/5786 Analysts View The global health insurance industry is set to experience strong growth, owing to rising healthcare costs, increasing incidence of lifestyle and chronic diseases, and growing awareness about the importance of financial protection against medical emergencies, said Manisha Vibhute, a senior analyst at CMI. Current Events and Their Impact on the Health Insurance Market Event Description and Impact AI Integration in Claims and Risk Analytics Description: In 2025, major insurers like UnitedHealth and Aetna are piloting AI-driven risk scoring models using patient-generated data and real-time wearables. Impact: These tools are lowering administrative overhead, accelerating claims adjudication, and allowing for dynamic premium models based on individual health behaviors and real-time data. Post-COVID Regulatory Overhaul: Behavioral Health Parity Enforcement Description: The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and CMS are now enforcing parity laws more strictly, especially for mental health services. Impact: Compliance has increased coverage requirements for mental health and substance use disorder treatments GLP-1 Drug Expansion and Reimbursement Pressure Description: As of July 2025, the surge in demand for GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy for diabetes and obesity continues, with insurers facing growing pressure from employers and policymakers to expand coverage beyond just Type 2 diabetics. Impact: These expensive drugs are inflating pharmacy benefit costs, pushing payers to implement value-based contracts, step therapy protocols, and prior authorizations, leading to administrative complexity and reimbursement strain. Competitor Insights Key companies listed in the health insurance market research report: AIA Group Limited Aetna Inc. Allianz AVIVA Assicurazioni Generali S.P.A AXA Ping an Insurance UnitedHealth Group Inc. CIGNA Others. Key Developments In June 2025, Bajaj Allianz General Insurance launched the State-wise Health Insurance Policy, designed to provide health coverage customized to the unique medical needs, treatment expenses, and healthcare infrastructure of each Indian state and union territory. The initiative aims to make health insurance more accessible, affordable, and relevant for all citizens. In May 2025, Future Generali Insurance Company launched Health Unlimited. This new health insurance plan is designed to address rising medical costs and inadequate coverage. Market Segmentation: Global Health Insurance Market, By Distribution Channel: Direct Sales Broker/Agents Banks Others Global Health Insurance Market, By Insurance Type: Diseases Insurance Medical Insurance Global Health Insurance Market, By Coverage: Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) Point of Service (POS) Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) Exclusive Provider Organizations (EPOs) Global Health Insurance Market, By End User: Group Individuals Global Health Insurance Market, By Age Group: Senior Citizens Adult Minors Global Health Insurance Market, By Geography: North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Read More Reports: Healthcare Payer Services Market Size, Share & Trend Analysis Report (2025-2032) Corporate Owned Life Insurance Market Analysis and Forecast for 2025-2032 Short Term Insurance Market Size, Share, Trends & Opportunities for 2025-2032 Our Trusted Partners: Worldwide Market Reports, Coherent MI, Stratagem Market Insights Get Recent News: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/news Austin, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Conductive Silicone Rubber Market Size was valued at USD 7.30 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach USD 14.45 billion by 2032, growing at a CAGR of 7.88% over the forecast period of 2025-2032. Rising Demand for High-Performance Thermal and Electrical Solutions Fuels Adoption of Conductive Silicone Rubber Across Key Global Industries The conductive silicone rubber market is witnessing strong momentum due to increasing demand for materials offering efficient thermal and electrical conductivity in high-performance applications. Innovations in EV systems, as highlighted by the U.S. DOE and Dow Inc., are accelerating adoption in battery protection and power modules. Additionally, the growth of 5G infrastructure and compact electronics is driving usage in EMI shielding and thermal management. Backed by OEM integration and supportive EPA regulations promoting low-VOC materials, the market is poised for sustained growth across automotive, electronics, and industrial segments. Download PDF Sample of Conductive Silicone Rubber Market @ https://www.snsinsider.com/sample-request/8182 The U.S. dominates the North American conductive silicone rubber market with a market size of USD 1.16 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach a value of USD 2.09 billion by 2032 with a market share of about 67%. The U.S. Conductive Silicone Rubber Market growth is driven by increasing demand in sectors like electric vehicles (Tesla, Ford EVs), wearable tech, and 5G-enabled devices. U.S.-based companies like Momentive and Dow are innovating in thermally conductive grades to meet strict performance and environmental standards. Key Players: Dow Wacker Chemie AG Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd. Momentive Performance Materials KCC Corporation Elkem AS China National Bluestar (Group) Co., Ltd. Nusil Technology LLC Reiss Manufacturing, Inc. Specialty Silicone Products, Inc. Conductive Silicone Rubber Market Report Scope: Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2024 USD 7.30 Billion Market Size by 2032 USD 14.45 Billion CAGR CAGR of 7.88% From 2025 to 2032 Base Year 2024 Forecast Period 2025-2032 Historical Data 2021-2023 Report Scope & Coverage Market Size, Segments Analysis, Competitive Landscape, Regional Analysis, DROC & SWOT Analysis, Forecast Outlook Key Segments By Product (Thermally Conductive, Electrically Conductive, and Others), By Application (Automotive & Transportation, Electrical & Electronics, Industrial Machines, Construction, Food & Beverage, and Others) If You Need Any Customization on Conductive Silicone Rubber Market Report, Inquire Now @ https://www.snsinsider.com/enquiry/8182 By Product Type, the Thermally Conductive dominated the Conductive Silicone Rubber Market in 2024, with a 47.80% Market Share. The dominance is due to the increasing need for high-performance thermal interface materials in EVs, 5G telecom hardware, and LED lighting. Thermally conductive silicone rubber offers superior heat dissipation, aging resistance, and moisture stability making it ideal for harsh environments. In 2023, companies like Shin-Etsu launched advanced sheets for EV battery modules and ICs. The growing heat density in compact electronics continues to drive demand for these materials in automotive, telecom, and aerospace applications. By Application, the Automotive and Transportation Segment dominated the Conductive Silicone Rubber Market in 2024, with a 37.20% Market Share. The dominance is due to the rising adoption of electric vehicles and advanced driver-assistance systems, which rely heavily on thermal management and EMI shielding. Conductive silicone rubber is increasingly used in battery packs, control units, and infotainment systems. Tesla and other automakers are collaborating with suppliers to enhance vehicle performance and safety. Its high durability, temperature resistance, and lightweight properties make it a preferred material in automotive applications ranging from lighting systems to electronic components. By Region, Asia Pacific dominated the Conductive Silicone Rubber Market in 2024, Holding A 40.50% Market Share. The dominance is due to the strong presence of automotive and electronics manufacturing hubs in China, Japan, and South Korea. Major players like Samsung and Sony use conductive silicone rubber in EMI shielding and thermal applications. The region benefits from low-cost raw materials, skilled labor, and large-scale EV and semiconductor investments. Government initiatives, such as Chinas MIIT programs supporting 5G and AI infrastructure, are also accelerating the integration of advanced silicone materials across multiple industries. Buy Full Research Report on Conductive Silicone Rubber Market 2025-2032 @ https://www.snsinsider.com/checkout/8182 USPs of the Conductive Silicone Rubber Market PRODUCTION VOLUME AND CAPACITY UTILIZATION Indicates the operational efficiency and manufacturing scalability of conductive silicone rubber across leading global producers. Indicates the operational efficiency and manufacturing scalability of conductive silicone rubber across leading global producers. RAW MATERIAL PRICING AND FLUCTUATION TRENDS Tracks the volatility in prices of silicone base and conductive fillers that directly impact product cost and profitability. Tracks the volatility in prices of silicone base and conductive fillers that directly impact product cost and profitability. CONDUCTIVITY PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKING ANALYSIS Compares the electrical and thermal conductivity of various grades to determine suitability for application-specific requirements. Compares the electrical and thermal conductivity of various grades to determine suitability for application-specific requirements. MATERIAL INNOVATION AND R&D INVESTMENTS Highlights advancements in composite formulations and the capital invested by key players to enhance product performance. Highlights advancements in composite formulations and the capital invested by key players to enhance product performance. PATENT FILING AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ANALYSIS Reflects the innovation pipeline and technological leadership through global patent activity in conductive silicone rubber applications. Reflects the innovation pipeline and technological leadership through global patent activity in conductive silicone rubber applications. IMPORT AND EXPORT TRADE STATISTICS Offers insights into international demand-supply dynamics and trade dependencies across major producing and consuming countries. Offers insights into international demand-supply dynamics and trade dependencies across major producing and consuming countries. ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE AND CERTIFICATION TRENDS Assesses how manufacturers align with global environmental standards like RoHS and REACH to ensure safe and sustainable use. About Us: SNS Insider is one of the leading market research and consulting agencies that dominates the market research industry globally. Our company's aim is to give clients the knowledge they require in order to function in changing circumstances. In order to give you current, accurate market data, consumer insights, and opinions so that you can make decisions with confidence, we employ a variety of techniques, including surveys, video talks, and focus groups around the world. OXFORD, Miss., Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- City Grocery Restaurant Group , the network of restaurants created by award-winning chef and author John Currence, today announced a monumental new hiring in acclaimed chef Tory McPhail being named Corporate Executive Chef for all of the groups Oxford restaurants and as Partner in future growth of Boure, the New Orleans-themed, family dining outlet founded in 2002. McPhail, the 2013 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef South, will initially oversee the famed City Grocery, Snackbar, Boure and Big Bad Breakfast, while the group scouts for a second location for Boure. The highly renowned chef - who was the longest tenured executive chef at the iconic Commanders Palace in New Orleans - will work directly with his fellow James Beard Award winner (John Currence) to provide creative input and training to all of the Oxford restaurants. Ive known Tory for a long time and have always admired his work, work-ethic, creativity, character and ability to build teams, and have always wanted to find a way to work together, said John Currence, Founder of City Grocery Restaurant Group. Having a chef of his caliber come on board with us is an honor and genuinely exciting for me when I think of what he can bring to our staff, our restaurants and the Oxford community. As a friend, peer and now partner, I hold Tory in the highest regard and cant wait to see the impact he has across all of the CGRC restaurants here in Oxford. I have always loved calling Tory a friend, but could not be more excited or proud to have him as a partner as well. Tory McPhail, originally from the Pacific Northwest, rose to prominence as executive chef at Commander's Palace, where he worked for 19 years, making him the longest-serving chef in the restaurant's famed history, following in the footsteps of culinary legends Paul Prudhomme, Emeril Lagasse and Jamie Shannon. Upon leaving Commanders Palace he made numerous television appearances and hosted his own show "Off the Menu" on Turner South Network. Most recently, he worked as Executive Chef and Culinary Director for restaurants in Bozeman, Montana, continuing his commitment to showcasing local ingredients and regional cuisine. This is an opportunity that I am so excited for to both work with an amazing chef and friend in John Currence, but also to help shape the future of Oxford culinary scene which I have fallen in love with time and again each time I visit, said Tory McPhail, Corporate Executive Chef for City Grocery Restaurant Group. What Currence and the rest of the team in Oxford have built is iconic to the south, and Im honored to be given the opportunity to steward in the next chapter for these great and beloved restaurants, which have continuously raised the bar for what southern cuisine can be. In addition to his role overseeing the City Grocery Restaurant Group, McPhail will also become a partner in Boure. Currences full-service family focused concept rooted in the food of New Orleans where Currence and partner, Stefano Capomazza grew up. Boure has consistently been a powerhouse of a restaurant in Oxford and we have always felt that with the right leadership, it was ripe for expansion into another market, said Stefano Capomazza, Partner at Boure. Under Torys supervision, we feel we can quickly get it to the point where we are ready to jump off into a second location with something that will really grab peoples attention! We feel incredibly fortunate to have been able to get him aboard. About City Grocery Restaurant Group: Founded by James Beard award-winning chef and author John Currence, The City Grocery Restaurant Group has seen several big openings since its flagship City Grocery opened in the spring of 1992. Currently those restaurants include Boure, Big Bad Breakfast and Snackbar. Each restaurant features a unique menu with an emphasis on hometown service. Our motto continues to be: Treat locals like rockstars, and rockstars like locals. More information about all City Grocery Restaurant Group locations can be found at: https://citygroceryonline.com/ . NEW YORK, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- QuisLex, a leading alternative legal services provider and pioneer in the industry, is proud to announce that Brian Corbin, global head of strategic services and leader of the newly launched QuisLex Advisory, has been named a 2025 vLex Fastcase 50 honoree. The recognition celebrates Corbins exceptional leadership and impact in driving legal innovation and transformation as well as his pivotal role in advancing QuisLexs strategic initiatives. Presented annually, the vLex Fastcase 50 acknowledges the most courageous innovators, visionaries, and leaders in the legal field. Now in its 14th year, the prestigious list honors individuals from all corners of the legal ecosystem including legal technologists, law firm leaders, scholars, and in-house counsel whose work is shaping and redefining how legal services are delivered. Corbin is regarded for his transformative approach to leveraging technology and cultivating best practices in managed legal services. As the leader of QuisLex Advisory, he spearheads the development and execution of cutting-edge strategies that enable law departments and firms to enhance their value and accelerate positive change by addressing complex legal and operational challenges through innovative strategy, process design, technology adoption, and data-driven solutions. Brian exemplifies the forward-thinking leadership and relentless pursuit of excellence that are at the heart of our mission, says Sirisha Gummaregula, CEO of QuisLex. His recognition as a Fastcase 50 honoree is a testament to his vision, creativity, and the significant impact he has made, especially with the launch of QuisLex Advisory. We are thrilled to see Brian and the work of QuisLex Advisory recognized by vLex and the broader legal industry. Throughout his more than 20-year career, Corbin has collaborated with leading global organizations to introduce innovative frameworks in legal operations, information governance, and technology adoption. Corbin serves on the Global Advisory Council of the EDRM and was selected to participate as an LDI Architect with Legal Data Intelligence, a consortium of industry leaders focused on helping legal teams bring more value to their organizations through the power of data analysis. He regularly participates as an expert on panel discussions for organizations and events and has been published by leading legal industry outlets. The Fastcase 50 program, powered by vLex and Fastcase, recognizes honorees through nominations submitted by peers and legal professionals worldwide. The 2025 class celebrates changemakers whose creative problem-solving and bold ideas are shaping the future of legal practice. Its an honor to be included among such a remarkable group of legal innovators, says Corbin. This recognition reflects not just my own work, but the collective commitment of the QuisLex team, our clients, and the new QuisLex Advisory in helping organizations achieve lasting, positive change. To view the complete list of 2025 vLex Fastcase 50 honorees and learn more about the award, read the full announcement here. About QuisLex QuisLex is an award-winning legal services provider that specializes in managed review, contract lifecycle management, mergers and acquisitions, compliance, data breach, legal spend management, and legal operations consulting. Our full-time highly trained attorneys, process experts, legal technologists, statisticians, and linguists work closely with our clients to reduce costs, mitigate risk, and maximize efficiency. QuisLex is regularly acknowledged as a leader in the legal services industry and proud to be recognized by the Association of Corporate Counsel as an ACC Value Champion, Chambers and Partners as a Band 1 NewLaw Provider, the World Commerce & Contracting Association as an Outstanding Service Provider, and the New York Law Journal as a Top Managed Document Review Services Provider. QuisLex is nationally certified by the New York & New Jersey Minority Supplier Development Council as a Minority Business Enterprise (MBE). To learn more, visit www.quislex.com. Media Contact Vicki LaBrosse Edge Marketing for QuisLex vlabrosse@edgemarketinginc.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9d2963b9-31b9-43bb-9087-d49569805bab Columbus, Ohio , Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Columbus Marketing Experts, a rising digital marketing firm, today announced the launch of a proprietary AI Search Visibility Program designed to help small and mid-sized businesses secure top placement in AI-driven search results. This new initiative positions the company at the forefront of a growing digital shift, as consumers increasingly turn to generative AI instead of traditional search engines. Columbus Marketing Experts Wins Clients With AI Search Growth and Marketing Strategies We are witnessing a time where the first businesses found through AI search face little to no competition for months and possibly even years, depending on their niche. Columbus Marketing Experts recognizes the urgency of this opportunity. This is a genuine FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) scenario. Businesses that do not actively pursue being catalogued by AI will be invisible to prospects searching for their products or services through AI-driven platforms. We already see people fully shifting from using search engines to AI Search for all things. "The integration of AI into search engines is not just a trend; it's a transformative shift in how consumers find and interact with businesses," said Neil Colvin, CEO of Columbus Marketing Experts. "Our mission is to position our clients at the forefront of this change, ensuring they are not only visible but also leading in their respective industries." Columbus Marketing Experts is a collection of industry leaders pooling their skills to offer top-tier marketing services. By focusing efforts on AI search visibility, the company is setting a new standard for marketing strategies in the digital age. This initiative underscores their commitment to innovation and excellence, providing clients with the tools they need to succeed in an increasingly competitive market. It is a place where marketing meets innovation. In the short time that Columbus Marketing Experts has been around, their laundry list of proprietary tools give them an unmatched edge. Not only is the work done in house but at speeds that competitors cannot keep up with. They use these very same marketing strategies to outrank their own competitors who've been in business for decades. As businesses navigate the complexities of AI-driven search, Columbus Marketing Experts stands ready to guide them through this transformative era. With a strategic approach tailored to each client's unique needs, the company is dedicated to delivering results that not only meet but exceed expectations. For businesses looking to secure their place in the future of search, Columbus Marketing Experts offers a pathway to unparalleled visibility and success. By embracing the power of AI, they are not just adapting to change; they are leading it. It's how they've reached so many small businesses in such a short time, garnered stellar reviews and an award within their first 6 months of being in business. Our First Marketing Client Beat Out Billion Dollar Competitors On Google Maps! About Columbus Marketing Experts Columbus Marketing Experts is a collection of industry leaders that pools our skills to offer top tier marketing services. Press inquiries Columbus Marketing Experts https://www.columbusmarketingexperts.com Neil Colvin neil@columbusmarketingexperts.com INFORMATION REGARDING EXECUTED TRANSACTIONS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF A SHARE BUY-BACK PROGRAM Regulated Information Paris, 11 August 2025 (In accordance with article 5 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 on Market Abuse Regulation and article 3(3) of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/1052 supplementing Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 through regulatory technical standards concerning the conditions applicable to buy-back programs and stabilization measures) As announced on Thursday 31 July 2025, Societe Generale started on Monday 4 August 2025 a EUR 1 billion ordinary share buy-back program for the purpose of shares cancellation. Societe Generale received all necessary authorizations from supervisory authorities. These buy-backs are carried out in compliance with the conditions, notably regarding the maximum price, set forth by the General Meeting of 22 May 2024 and presented in the description released on 17 May 2024, as well as in accordance with the Market Abuse Regulation. They are performed on the trading platforms on which Societe Generale shares are listed for trading or are traded, including the regulated market of Euronext Paris. Purchases performed during the period from 4 to 8 August 2025 are described below. As of 8 August 2025, Societe Generale has completed 9.6% of its share buy-back program, representing 0.2%* of its share capital. Issuer name: Societe Generale - LEI O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 Reference of the financial instrument: ISIN FR0000130809 Period: From 4 to 8 August 2025 * Ratio between the number of shares repurchased and the 785,180,327 shares comprising the current share capital. Purchases performed by Societe Generale during the period Aggregated presentation by day and market Issuer name Issuer code (LEI) Transaction date ISIN Code Daily total volume (in number of shares) Daily weighted average price of shares acquired Platform SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 4-Aug-25 FR0000130809 220,414 54.8104 XPAR SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 4-Aug-25 FR0000130809 99,883 54.8121 CEUX SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 4-Aug-25 FR0000130809 10,000 54.8097 TQEX SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 4-Aug-25 FR0000130809 20,000 54.8056 AQEU SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 5-Aug-25 FR0000130809 209,844 55.3552 XPAR SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 5-Aug-25 FR0000130809 98,000 55.3591 CEUX SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 5-Aug-25 FR0000130809 15,000 55.3572 TQEX SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 5-Aug-25 FR0000130809 24,000 55.3522 AQEU SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 6-Aug-25 FR0000130809 200,000 55.4404 XPAR SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 6-Aug-25 FR0000130809 111,320 55.4406 CEUX SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 6-Aug-25 FR0000130809 15,000 55.4344 TQEX SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 6-Aug-25 FR0000130809 20,000 55.4352 AQEU SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 7-Aug-25 FR0000130809 200,000 56.4492 XPAR SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 7-Aug-25 FR0000130809 110,136 56.4468 CEUX SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 7-Aug-25 FR0000130809 15,000 56.4466 TQEX SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 7-Aug-25 FR0000130809 15,000 56.4383 AQEU SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 8-Aug-25 FR0000130809 195,329 57.2547 XPAR SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 8-Aug-25 FR0000130809 120,000 57.2621 CEUX SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 8-Aug-25 FR0000130809 10,000 57.2395 TQEX SOCIETE GENERALE O2RNE8IBXP4R0TD8PU41 8-Aug-25 FR0000130809 10,000 57.2631 AQEU TOTAL 1,718,926 55.8487 Press contacts: Jean-Baptiste Froville_+33 1 58 98 68 00_ jean-baptiste.froville@socgen.com Fanny Rouby_+33 1 57 29 11 12_ fanny.rouby@socgen.com Societe Generale Societe Generale is a top tier European Bank with around 119,000 employees serving more than 26 million clients in 62 countries across the world. We have been supporting the development of our economies for 160 years, providing our corporate, institutional, and individual clients with a wide array of value-added advisory and financial solutions. Our long-lasting and trusted relationships with the clients, our cutting-edge expertise, our unique innovation, our ESG capabilities and leading franchises are part of our DNA and serve our most essential objective - to deliver sustainable value creation for all our stakeholders. The Group runs three complementary sets of businesses, embedding ESG offerings for all its clients: French Retail, Private Banking and Insurance , with leading retail bank SG and insurance franchise, premium private banking services, and the leading digital bank BoursoBank. , with leading retail bank SG and insurance franchise, premium private banking services, and the leading digital bank BoursoBank. Global Banking and Investor Solutions , a top tier wholesale bank offering tailored-made solutions with distinctive global leadership in equity derivatives, structured finance and ESG. , a top tier wholesale bank offering tailored-made solutions with distinctive global leadership in equity derivatives, structured finance and ESG. Mobility, International Retail Banking and Financial Services, comprising well-established universal banks (in Czech Republic, Romania and several African countries), Ayvens (the new ALD I LeasePlan brand), a global player in sustainable mobility, as well as specialized financing activities. Committed to building together with its clients a better and sustainable future, Societe Generale aims to be a leading partner in the environmental transition and sustainability overall. The Group is included in the principal socially responsible investment indices: DJSI (Europe), FTSE4Good (Global and Europe), Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, Refinitiv Diversity and Inclusion Index, Euronext Vigeo (Europe and Eurozone), STOXX Global ESG Leaders indexes, and the MSCI Low Carbon Leaders Index (World and Europe). In case of doubt regarding the authenticity of this press release, please go to the end of the Group News page on societegenerale.com website where official Press Releases sent by Societe Generale can be certified using blockchain technology. A link will allow you to check the documents legitimacy directly on the web page. For more information, you can follow us on Twitter/X @societegenerale or visit our website societegenerale.com. Attachment DALLAS, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BHIANT, the workforce development arm of BioNTX, is charting new ground in biotechnology talent development and industry collaboration, strengthening North Texas position as a rising life sciences powerhouse. With a clear mission to innovate health and empower communities, BHIANT has made significant strides this quarter in addressing workforce gaps, advancing early-stage career pipelines, and deepening regional partnerships between academia, industry, and healthcare systems. Q1 2025: A Record-Setting Start BHIANTs Q1 2025 Sector Partnership Meeting reached a major milestone with record attendance, underscoring the regions growing commitment to life sciences collaboration. The gathering brought together executives from hospital systems, biotech companies, academic institutions, and economic development entities, all united in shaping the strategic growth of North Texas biotechnology and healthcare talent pipeline. BHIANT is more than a workforce programit is the connective tissue driving regional competitiveness, workforce readiness, and equitable access to biotech careers, said Kathleen Otto-Rosenblum, CEO of BioNTX. North Texas is not just participating in the biotech revolutionit is leading it. Real Impact, Real Jobs BHIANTs initiatives continue to generate tangible results: 605 students trained or currently in training 443 biotech jobs secured to date , with 388 additional placements projected by June 26 , with 29 BACE credential earners , advancing skill standards for biotechnology employment , advancing skill standards for biotechnology employment 50 plus students trained via EDA funding through Collin College, with the majority pursuing advanced education or immediate employment Through EDA funding, the Collin College Biotechnology Program has seen strong retention ratesmost students continue to higher education or directly into the workforce, said Dr. Bridgette Kirkpatrick, Director of Workforce Programs at Collin College. Early Workforce Pipeline: From High School to High-Impact Careers BHIANT, in partnership with DeSoto ISD, launched a first-of-its-kind high school pharmaceutical cGMP (Current Good Manufacturing Practice) program. This innovative program creates direct career pathways into biotechnology for non-college-bound students, broadening access and diversifying the regions biotech workforce. We are setting the standard for what an early workforce pipeline can look like, said Dr. Usamah Rodgers, Superintendent of DeSoto ISD. This is equity in actioncreating opportunities where few existed before. Strengthening North Texas Bioeconomy These efforts directly support North Texas emergence as the number one Texas metro for Carnegie R1 and R2 Research Universities (Source: Dallas Regional Chamber, 2024) and solidify the regions reputation as a magnet for innovation, investment, and talent in the life sciences sector. As the North Texas biotech ecosystem grows, BHIANT will continue its mission of fostering collaboration, empowering innovation, and expanding access to transformative resourcesensuring that the regions growth is both competitive and inclusive. About BHIANT BHIANT (Biotechnology & Healthcare Industry Alliance of North Texas) is the workforce and talent development arm of BioNTX, designed to support the biotechnology, biomanufacturing, and healthcare industries by building a skilled, inclusive workforce, increasing career awareness, and attracting investment to North Texas. About BioNTX BioNTX is the bioscience and healthcare innovation industry trade organization for North Texas. We connect, advocate for, and empower stakeholders across academia, healthcare, startups, and enterprise to grow a resilient, collaborative, and globally competitive innovation ecosystem. Media Contact: Eric Moore Chief Communications Officer, BioNTX 972-679-6056 emoore@biontx.org NEVIS, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hamilton Reserve Bank, the hometown bank of Americas founding father Alexander Hamilton, proudly announces the appointment of Michael L. Barrett as Senior Advisor to the Board of Directors. Mr. Barrett brings decades of global leadership and strategic expertise from some of the worlds most respected financial institutions, including GE, Wells Fargo Bank, and their affiliates. His distinguished career includes serving as Head of International Strategy at Wells Fargo Bank, President of the parent company of Wells Fargo Bank Ireland, a member of the Wells Fargo International Executive Committee, and Chief Marketing Officer of Wells Fargo Bank Equipment Finance. Prior to his tenure at Wells Fargo, Mr. Barrett spent more than 25 years with GE and GE Capital, where he held leadership roles including CEO of GE Capital Money China and COO of GE Capital Greater China, advising global corporations across technology, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, and financial services. His responsibilities also spanned business development for GE Capital Consumer Finance Australia, as well as M&A, Marketing, and Data & Analytics for GE Capitals Global Consumer Finance businesses in Western Europe. Beyond his corporate achievements, Mr. Barrett is deeply engaged in academia and philanthropy. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania and is a member of its Executive Committee. As President of the Penn Alumni, he leads a global network of more than 340,000 alumni and chairs the nominating committee for alumni trustees. He also serves on the Technical Advisory Board of Penns School of Engineering & Applied Science. Mr. Barrett holds a Bachelor of Applied Science degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering & Applied Science, an MBA from the University of Michigan, and a Certificate in Corporate Governance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Michaels exceptional global experience, deep understanding of international finance, and commitment to excellence make him an invaluable addition to our advisory leadership, said Sir Antony Baldry, Chairman of Hamilton Reserve Bank. His insights will further strengthen our position as a trusted global banking institution. Hamilton Reserve Bank is committed to serving clients across more than 150 countries with world-class banking solutions. The addition of Mr. Barrett underscores the Banks continued focus on strategic growth and leadership excellence. About Hamilton Reserve Bank Hamilton Reserve Bank ( www.hrbank.com ; SWIFT: NIBTKNNE) is the award-winning global hometown bank of America's founding father, Alexander Hamilton, serving a large and rapidly expanding clientele of local and international residents from 150 countries. Featured as a global success story by Temenos, the worlds largest banking financial technology firm, Hamilton Reserve Bank has a pristine compliance history, a large deposit and asset custody client base, and fully automated new customer account approval in minutes via e-KYC. Serving customers in 126 currencies across four business lines by global staff from 13 countries speaking 15 languages, Hamilton Reserve Bank is headquartered on a 12-acre corporate campus as the largest global bank HQ in the Caribbean region with a worldwide presence. Boston, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the latest study from BCC Research, Global Graphene Market is projected to grow from $694.4 million in 2025 to reach $2.3 billion by the end of 2030, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 27.5% from 2025 through 2030. The report offers a detailed analysis of the graphene market, which is segmented by product type, grade, form, production method, application, and end-use. It identifies growing opportunities for graphene in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Germany, the U.K., Italy, France, Spain, and Argentina. The report also provides regional insights covering North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Presented in a clear and accessible format, it includes tables and figures that illustrate historical trends, current market conditions, and future projections. This report is particularly relevant today due to the rising global demand for clean energy and sustainable technologies. Graphene plays a crucial role in advancing energy storage solutions like lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors, which are vital for electrifying mobility. In transportation, the need for lightweight, multifunctional materials is driving graphene's use in composites that enhance fuel efficiency and performance. Additionally, green building and smart city initiatives are boosting the adoption of graphene-enhanced concrete and asphalt, improving durability, thermal conductivity, and mechanical strength in modern infrastructure. The factors driving the markets growth include: Flexible and Wearable Electronics: Graphenes flexibility, conductivity, and strength make it ideal for wearable tech like smartwatches, fitness bands, and electronic textiles. As demand for lightweight, bendable devices grows, graphene enables more advanced and durable designs in consumer electronics. Demand for High-Performance Energy Storage Systems: Graphene enhances batteries and supercapacitors by improving charge capacity, speed, and lifespan. With the global push for renewable energy and portable electronics, its role in efficient energy storage systems is becoming increasingly important. Electric Vehicle and Aerospace Sectors: In EVs and the aerospace sector, graphene is used for lightweight composites, better batteries, and heat management. Its strength and conductivity help improve performance, and reduce weight, in these fast-growing, tech-driven industries. Request a sample copy of the global market for graphene report. Report Synopsis Report Metric Details Base year considered 2024 Forecast period considered 2025-2030 Base year market size $560 million Market size forecast $2.3 billion Growth rate CAGR of 27.5% from 2025 to 2030 Segments covered Product Type, Grade, Form, Production Method, Application, End Use, and Region Regions covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA) Countries covered The U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Germany, the U.K., Italy, France, Spain and Argentina Market drivers Flexible and wearable electronics. Demand for high-performance energy storage systems. Growth of the EV and aerospace sectors. Interesting facts: In the electronics sector, the use of graphene is increasing due to its conductivity and flexibility. These properties enable the development of flexible displays, high-speed transistors, and energy-efficient sensors. Graphenes biocompatibility and surface functionalization potential create lucrative opportunities in biomedicine, including drug delivery systems, biosensors, and antimicrobial coatings. Graphene-enhanced asphalt and cement are gaining popularity in real-world construction projects. For example, Directa Plus has partnered with road authorities in Italy and the U.K. to build longer-lasting, crack-resistant roads using graphene. Emerging startups: Granode Materials: Sweden-based Granode Materials develops silicon-graphene anode material to create lighter and compact lithium-ion batteries that exhibit faster charging durability. The anode material is economical, recyclable, and energy efficient. It is also compatible with commercial production techniques, enabling businesses to improve EV performance. Avadain: Avadain uses improved electrochemical exfoliation and expansion in a hydrogen atmosphere to fabricate large flake graphene. Graphite is exfoliated into nearly defect-free graphene flakes with minimal structural oxidation through the chemisorption of reducing hydrogen. Its uses, cover a wide range of industries, including batteries, electronics, aviation, EVs and environmental cleanup. The report addresses the following questions: What are the projected size and growth rate of the market? The global market for graphene is projected to grow from $560 million in 2024 to $2.3 billion in 2030 at a CAGR of 27.5% during the forecast period. Which factors are driving the growth of the market? The factors driving the growth of the graphene market include: Fexible and wearable electronics. Demand for high-performance energy storage systems. Growth of the EV and aerospace sectors. What are the key challenges and opportunities of the market? The challenges in the graphene market include: Technological complexity and integration barriers. High production costs and scalability issues. The opportunities include: Growing demand for thermal management and EMI shielding for electronics. Rising potential in the construction and infrastructure sectors. Growing opportunities in the healthcare sector. Which market segments are covered in the report? The global market for graphene is segmented into: Product Type: Graphene oxide, graphene nanoplatelets, reduced graphene oxide, few layer graphene, single-layer graphene, and graphene films. Graphene oxide, graphene nanoplatelets, reduced graphene oxide, few layer graphene, single-layer graphene, and graphene films. Grade: Industrial grade and research grade. Industrial grade and research grade. Form: Powder, film, and dispersion. Powder, film, and dispersion. Production Method: Mechanical exfoliation, liquid phase exfoliation, chemical vapor deposition, and electrochemical exfoliation. Mechanical exfoliation, liquid phase exfoliation, chemical vapor deposition, and electrochemical exfoliation. Application: Lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, composites, flexible displays and touchscreens, anti-corrosion coatings, biosensors, and high-frequency transistors. Lithium-ion batteries, supercapacitors, composites, flexible displays and touchscreens, anti-corrosion coatings, biosensors, and high-frequency transistors. End Use: Energy, transportation, electronics, healthcare, chemical and materials, and construction. Energy, transportation, electronics, healthcare, chemical and materials, and construction. Region: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Which end-use segment will be dominant through 2030? Energy end-use accounts for the largest share of the graphene landscape due to the rapid adoption of graphene-enhanced anodes for Li-ion batteries, hydrogen fuel cell membranes, and electrode materials for supercapacitors. Which region has the largest market share? The Asia-Pacific region holds the highest market share driven by state-backed industrial policy and a large domestic demand base across energy storage, consumer electronics, transportation, and construction, especially in China, India, Japan and South Korea. Related reports: Thermal Interface Materials: Technologies, Applications and Global Markets: This report provides a comprehensive review of the thermal interface material (TIM) market, examining material types such as polymer composites, metals, and phase-change materials (PCMs), and their use in the electronics, automotive, aerospace, and renewable energy industries. It explores market dynamics like growth drivers, challenges, and emerging trends, while highlighting innovations in material design and performance. The study regional analysis covers North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and other global markets, and concludes with insights into major market players and their offerings, along with future market projections. Purchase a copy of the report direct from BCC Research. For further information on any of these reports or to make a purchase, contact info@bccresearch.com. About BCC Research BCC Research market research reports provide objective, unbiased measurement and assessment of market opportunities. Our experienced industry analysts' goal is to help you make informed business decisions free of noise and hype. For media inquiries, email press@bccresearch.com or visit our media page for access to our market research library. Any data and analysis extracted from this press release must be accompanied by a statement identifying BCC Research LLC as the source and publisher. Virginia Beach, VA, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beacon Hill Associates has announced the opening of its newest office in Virginia Beach, marking the companys continued expansion across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. The new location will connect businesses and job seekers with exceptional talent in administrative, executive support, and business operations roles. Known for delivering tailored staffing solutions backed by deep industry insight, Beacon Hill Associates partners with companies to streamline operations, strengthen leadership teams, and enhance client service. The Virginia Beach office will provide temporary, temp-to-hire, direct hire, and workforce management services across administrative, HR, and clerical functions. Were excited to launch our Associates Division in Virginia Beach, building on the incredible momentum of our Technologies Division in the region, said Kristen Freeman Johnson, Senior Regional Director of Beacon Hill Associates. Hampton Roads is a dynamic, rapidly growing community, and we look forward to forging lasting partnerships with local and national employers while helping job seekers thrive. Leading this effort is Division Manager Catherine Refo Farris, whose leadership and vision set the stage for extraordinary success. With her at the helm, the possibilities are limitless. Farris, a Virginia Beach native, brings a proven track record in staffing and workforce management to her new role. She began her career with Beacon Hill in New York City in 2017 before joining a client organization to oversee its contingent workforce. Now returning to Beacon Hill, she combines her local ties with national experience to deliver results-driven staffing solutions. Im thrilled to return home to launch and grow the Associates Division here, said Farris. This is an opportunity to connect top-tier talent with employers across Virginia Beach, using a personalized, results-focused approach. Beacon Hill Associates serves employers in industries including consulting, finance, healthcare, real estate, higher education, and the nonprofit sector. For job seekers, the expansion provides access to a wide range of opportunitiesfrom entry-level positions to senior-level rolesin administrative support, operations, executive assistance, and office management. Attachment Dubai, UAE, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ready, set, bonk! Today marks the official launch and live trading of Balltze ($BALLTZE), the latest meme coin to capture internet culturedirectly inspired by the Cheems legenddeployed by the mastermind who sent MYRO soaring to a $500 million ATH. Fans of meme lore, rejoice: the Bonk Dog is back, and this time, its on Solana. Were not just launching a token, said the Balltze team. Were bringing back a legend and giving the Solana community something to rally, raid, and laugh about. Why Balltze? Because Community Matters Meme lovers, moon chasers, and community believers Balltze brings it all together. Heres why this launch is worth the hype: Nostalgic Power: Balltze isnt just another canine memehes a beloved internet relic, immortalized on-chain. Zero Taxes, Burned Liquidity, Renounced Ownership: Designed for transparency and trust, this token is about pure decentralization. Built for Memes, Fueled by Fun: From cheeky bonks to full-blown moon missions, Balltze unites and delights. How to Join the Bonk Pack 1. Get a Wallet Download Phantom (lose your seed phrase and Balltze will bonk you). 2. Feed Him SOL Buy Solana and send it to your wallet. More SOL = more $BALLTZE = more bonks. 3. Bonk the Swap Visit Bonk.fun, swap SOL $BALLTZE, and welcome to the pack. Tokenomics Because Numbers Matter Too Supply: 1,000,000,000 Buy/Sell Tax: 0/0 Liquidity: Burnt Ownership: Renounced CA: 99YrofmJJb6CvU1RfWkuydCyUQKDmuBUiQ46mQfebonk A Meme Worth Mooning For Balltze is more than a tokenits a movement. By blending nostalgia, transparency, and viral energy, its set to become the Solana meme legend. Whether youre here for the community spirit, the artistry of memes, or the thrill of the moon mission, Balltze has something for everyone. The Bonk Map From Bark to Moon Cheems Awakens Stealth launch, website + socials live, meme raid squads deployed. Maximum Bonk CEX listings, bonkfluencers onboarded, Twitter Spaces hype. The Balltzeverse Meme merch drop, Bonk or Be Bonked mobile game, and maybe a real-life Balltze statue With the MYRO deployers track record of turning memes into market movers, the pack is already howling for another legendary run. Whether youre here for the memes, the community, or the moon bags Balltzes got you covered. Join the Bonk Revolution Website: https://balltzethedog.com/ Telegram: t.me/BalltzeTheDog Twitter: https://x.com/BalltzeTheDogAbout Balltze Balltze ($BALLTZE) is a meme coin on the Solana blockchain celebrating the legendary Cheems dog. Built for fun, fueled by memes, and backed by one of the most successful deployers in recent history, its a decentralized tribute to the pup who made us laugh in lowercase. Disclaimer: The information provided in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment advice, financial advice, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended you practice due diligence, including consultation with a professional financial advisor, before investing in or trading cryptocurrency and securities. Pursuant to Article 25(4) of the Law on Companies of the Republic of Lithuania, we hereby inform you about the supplementation, on the initiative and decision of the Board of AUGA group, AB under restructuring (legal entity code 126264360, registered office at Konstitucijos Ave. 21C, Vilnius, hereinafter the Company), of the draft resolutions proposed for the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company (hereinafter the Meeting). Key information about the Meeting: The Meeting will be held at the conference room at the business center QUADRUM NORTH, address Konstitucijos ave. 21C, Vilnius. The registration of the shareholders begins at 9:30 a.m. The record date of the Meeting shall be 5th August 2025. Agenda of the Meeting: Approval of the Companys draft restructuring plan Considering that the creditors meeting scheduled for 4 August 2025 did not take place due to the lack of quorum, but the Company received comments from creditors on the draft restructuring plan, on 11 August 2025 the Board of the Company updated this plan. The updated draft restructuring plan aims to clarify the economic, technical, organizational, and other measures intended to overcome the Companys financial difficulties. The updated draft restructuring plan is attached to this notice. It provides for greater creditor involvement in the governance of the Company by granting the largest mortgage and unsecured creditors groups the right to delegate one member each to the independent Board, as well as to establish a Creditors Committee that would actively participate in the implementation of four strategic measures aimed at settling with creditors and restoring the Companys viability. The proposed changes are intended to better address the interests of the Companys creditors and encourage approval of the Companys restructuring plan. On 11 August 2025, the Board of the Company also resolved to approve an alternative draft resolution of the Meeting, providing for the granting of powers and obligations to the Board of the Company to approve amendments and/or supplements to the restructuring plan approved by the general meeting of shareholders, without altering the essential terms of the document, in order to reflect the proposals submitted by the Companys creditors to the draft restructuring plan (if such proposals are submitted). Accordingly, the alternative draft resolution proposed for the Meeting has been supplemented as follows: 1. Approval of the Companys draft restructuring plan 1. To approve the Companys draft restructuring plan in accordance with the attached draft. 2. To authorize and instruct the Companys Board to make amendments and/or additions to the Companys restructuring plan approved by this resolution, without altering the essential terms of the document, in order to reflect proposals submitted by the Companys creditors to the draft restructuring plan (if any are submitted). It is resolved that the Companys General Meeting of Shareholders, by this resolution, grants prior consent for making such amendments and additions, meaning that, if necessary, the Companys restructuring plan, as amended and/or supplemented by the Board, shall be deemed approved by this resolution of the Companys General Meeting of Shareholders. 3. To authorise and instruct the CEO and the Board of the Company (with the right to sub-delegate) to execute the accompanying documents and annexes necessary to prepare and attach to the Companys draft restructuring plan, and to take any other actions and execute any other documents necessary for the filing of the Companys draft restructuring plan with the Court. With this notice, the Company provides its shareholders with a general voting ballot. More detailed information about the Meeting is provided in the previously published announcement. Contacts: CEO of AUGA group, AB under restructuring Elina Chodzkaite Barauskiene +370 5 233 5340 Attachments NEW HAVEN, Conn., Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The law firm of Edelson Lechtzin LLP, in suburban Philadelphia, is investigating data privacy claims regarding an incident at Connex Credit Union (Connex). Connex learned of a data breach on or about June 3, 2025. If you would like to discuss this case with a lawyer, go HERE. About Connex Credit Union Founded in 1940, Connex Credit Union is one of Connecticuts largest member-owned financial institutions, serving 70,000+ members with $1B in assets across eight branches and supporting communities in four counties. What happened? Around June 3, 2025, Connex identified unusual activity on its network. They initiated an investigation and found that between June 2 and June 3, 2025, certain files may have been accessed and downloaded without permission. These files could have contained personal information such as names, account numbers, debit card details, Social Security numbers, and other government IDs linked to the accounts. How can I protect my personal data? If you receive a data breach notification concerning Connex, you should take steps to protect yourself against identity theft and fraud by regularly reviewing your account statements and monitoring your credit reports for any suspicious or unauthorized activity. Edelson Lechtzin LLP is investigating a class action lawsuit to seek legal remedies for individuals whose sensitive personal data may have been compromised by the Connex data breach. For more information, please contact: Marc H. Edelson, Esq. EDELSON LECHTZIN LLP 411 S. State Street, Suite N-300 Newtown, PA 18940 Phone: 844-696-7492 ext. 2 Email: medelson@edelson-law.com Web: www.edelson-law.com About Edelson Lechtzin LLP Edelson Lechtzin LLP is a national class action law firm with offices in Pennsylvania and California. In addition to cases involving data breaches, our lawyers focus on class and collective litigation in cases alleging securities and investment fraud, violations of the federal antitrust laws, employee benefit plans under ERISA, wage theft, and consumer fraud. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions. SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sable Offshore Corp. (NYSE: SOC) is now at the center of a securities class-action lawsuit, alleging that the company misled investors to inflate its stock price just before a major secondary offering. The drama unfolded around the company's long-delayed efforts to restart operations at its San Ynez Unit (SYU) assets, which have been dormant since a pipeline shutdown in 2015. National shareholders rights firm Hagens Berman urges Sable investors who suffered substantial losses to submit your losses now. The firm also encourages persons with knowledge who may be able to assist in the investigation to contact its attorneys. Class Period: May 19, 2025 June 3, 2025 Lead Plaintiff Deadline: Sept. 26, 2025 Visit: www.hbsslaw.com/investor-fraud/soc Contact the Firm Now: SOC@hbsslaw.com 844-916-0895 Sable Offshore Corp. (SOC) Securities Class Action: The suit claims that on May 19, Sable triggered a stock frenzy with a press release announcing it had "restarted oil production at SYU," a claim that sent its shares soaring by a remarkable 12.5% in a single day. Riding this wave of investor enthusiasm, the company quickly priced a secondary stock offering two days later, raising a substantial $256.5 million. But the euphoria was short-lived. Just as the ink was drying on the offering, a letter from California's Lieutenant Governor, Eleni Kounalakis, allegedly surfaced that accused Sable of painting a deceptive picture. According to the complaint, the letter bluntly stated that the company's press release appears to mischaracterize the nature of recent activities" and that the so-called "restart" was nothing more than "well-testing procedures required by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement prior to restart." In a damning indictment, the letter is said to have declared, "Characterizing testing activities as a restart of operations is not only misleading but also highly inappropriate." When the contents of this letter were reported in the financial press on May 28, the market delivered a swift verdict. Sable's stock price plunged over 15% the very next day, wiping out the gains that had enticed new investors just a week earlier. The litigation now aims to hold the company accountable for what some are calling a calculated maneuver to raise capital under false pretenses. The case, Johnson v. Sable Offshore Corp., et al., is being litigated in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. Were investigating whether Sable may have misled investors about its restart progress and purported restart of SYU, said Reed Kathrein, the Hagens Berman partner leading the investigation. If you invested in Sable and have substantial losses, or have knowledge that may assist the firms investigation, submit your losses now If youd like more information and answers to frequently asked questions about the Sable case and our investigation, read more Whistleblowers: Persons with non-public information regarding Sable Offshore should consider their options to help in the investigation or take advantage of the SEC Whistleblower program. Under the new program, whistleblowers who provide original information may receive rewards totaling up to 30 percent of any successful recovery made by the SEC. For more information, call Reed Kathrein at 844-916-0895 or email SOC@hbsslaw.com. About Hagens Berman Hagens Berman is a global plaintiffs rights complex litigation firm focusing on corporate accountability. The firm is home to a robust practice and represents investors as well as whistleblowers, workers, consumers and others in cases achieving real results for those harmed by corporate negligence and other wrongdoings. Hagens Bermans team has secured more than $2.9 billion in this area of law. More about the firm and its successes can be found at hbsslaw.com. Follow the firm for updates and news at @ClassActionLaw. CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SPX Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:SPXC) (SPX) announced today that it intends to offer and sell $500 million of shares of its common stock in an underwritten public offering. In addition, SPX intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional $75 million of shares of its common stock offered in the public offering. The offering is subject to market conditions and there can be no assurance as to whether or when the offering may be completed, or as to the actual size or terms of the offering. BofA Securities, J.P. Morgan, and Wells Fargo Securities are acting as joint book-running managers for the proposed offering. TD Cowen and Truist Securities are also acting as book-running managers for the proposed offering. The shares are being offered by SPX pursuant to an effective automatic shelf registration statement that was previously filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). The offering is being made only by means of a written prospectus and prospectus supplement that form a part of the registration statement. A preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relating to and describing the terms of the offering will be filed with the SEC and will be available on the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov , copies of which may be obtained from BofA Securities, NC1-022-02-25, 201 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, Attn: Prospectus Department or by emailing dg.prospectus_requests@bofa.com, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717 by emailing prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com and postsalemanualrequests@broadridge.com, or Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Attention: WFS Customer Service, 90 South 7th Street, 5th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55402, at 800-645-3751 (option #5) or by emailing WFScustomerservice@wellsfargo.com. The final terms of the offering will be disclosed in a final prospectus supplement to be filed with the SEC. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About SPX Technologies, Inc.: SPX is a diversified, global supplier of highly engineered products and technologies, holding leadership positions in the HVAC and detection and measurement markets. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, SPX has over 4,300 employees in over 16 countries. SPX is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol SPXC. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: Various statements in this release concerning the timing and completion of the public offering on the anticipated terms or at all may constitute forward- looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, and other federal securities laws. All such forward-looking statements are based on managements current expectations of future events and are subject to a number of substantial risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside SPXs control, that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include fluctuations in SPXs stock price, changes in market conditions and satisfaction of customary closing conditions related to the public offering, as well as those risks more fully discussed in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the prospectus supplement and registration statement referenced above, SPXs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, filed February 26, 2025 with the SEC and subsequent filings with the SEC including our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. There can be no assurance that SPX will be able to complete the public offering on the anticipated terms. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. All such statements speak only as of the date made, and SPX undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by law. Investor Contacts: Mark A. Carano, Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer Phone: 980.474.3806 Email: spx.investor@spx.com Source: SPX Technologies Consolidated revenue for Q2 2025 grew 3.5% year-over-year, to $119.1 million, driven by strength in the Logistics segment. Logistics revenue increased 16.8% year-over-year, fueled by 19% increase in US volume, highlighting growth of new customers and the scalability of Titaniums asset-light model. Enhanced financial flexibility with $12.4 million in debt reduction, $16.4 million cash on hand. BOLTON, Ontario, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Titanium Transportation Group Inc. ("Titanium" or the "Company") (TSX:TTNM, OTCQX:TTNMF), a leading provider of transportation and logistics services throughout North America, is pleased to report its financial results for the three and six-month period ended June 30, 2025. All amounts are in Canadian currency. Q2 2025 Financial and Business Highlights Compared with Q2 2024 Consolidated revenue of $119.1 million, a 3.5% increase, compared to $115.1 million in Q2 2024 Consolidated EBITDA 1 of $10.0 million, compared to $10.2 million in Q2 2024, with consolidated EBITDA Margin 1 of 9.3% of $10.0 million, compared to $10.2 million in Q2 2024, with consolidated EBITDA Margin of 9.3% Cash flow from operating activities increased to $10.9 million, compared to $9.4 million in Q2 2024 Truck Transportation segment revenue of $54.4 million, down 8.5% compared to $59.4 million in Q2 2024, reflective of the strategic rationalization of fleet operations in latter half of 2024 to eliminate unprofitable service offerings. Logistics segment revenue of $65.6 million, up 16.8% compared to $56.2 million in Q2 2024 Fully diluted adjusted net income per share from continuing operations of $0.02, compared to fully diluted adjusted net loss per share from continuing operations of $0.00 in Q2 2024. Cash was $16.4 million on June 30, 2025. Repaid $10.1 million in loans and finance leases. Titanium continued to show resiliency in Q2 2025, achieving 3.5% year-over-year revenue growth amidst persistent macroeconomic challenges, said Ted Daniel, Chief Executive Officer, Titanium Transportation Group. Our Logistics segment continued to be the primary growth driver, with revenue up nearly 17% fueled by 19% increase in US volume, a testament to our strong customer wins and the scalability of our asset-light model. In Truck Transportation, we executed a disciplined pricing strategy returning the segment to positive operating income despite a 15% decline in volumes due to our proactive exit from non-core service lines. In the current operating environment, financial discipline remains paramount. We reduced loans and lease liabilities by $10.1 million in the quarter, strengthened our net debt-to-equity ratio, and ended with a solid cash position of $16.4 million. These actions enhance our financial flexibility and position us to capitalize on strategic opportunities as market dynamics improve. Our continued investments in technology and operational efficiency are critical levers to protect margins and drive long-term, profitable growth, added Mr. Daniel. Q2 YTD 2025 Financial Highlights Compared with Q2 YTD 2024 Consolidated revenue of $240.5 million, compared to $228.0 million in Q2 2024. EBITDA of $18.8 million, compared to $19.9 million and EBITDA Margin 1 of 8.7%. of 8.7%. Logistics segment revenue of $131.7 million, up 17.2% compared to $112.4 million. EBITDA of $6.5 million and EBITDA Margin of 5.5%. Truck Transportation segment revenue of $110.5 million. EBITDA of $14.2 million with an EBITDA Margin of 14.5%. Summary of Q2 2025 Financial Results (in thousands $CAD) Q2 2025 Q2 2024 % Change YTD 2025 YTD 2024 % Change Consolidated Results Revenue 119,123 115,085 3.5 % 240,528 228,006 5.5 % EBITDA1 9,965 10,218 (2.5 %) 18,761 19,902 (5.7 %) EBITDA margin1 9.3 % 10.1 % 8.7 % 9.9 % Net Income 1,019 (2,329 ) 143.8 % (2,368 ) (1,649 ) (43.6 %) Net Income per share 0.02 (0.05 ) ($0.05 ) ($0.04 ) Net income (loss) from continuing operations 1,019 (113 ) 1,001.8 % (2,368 ) (1,689 ) (40.2 %) Net income (loss) per share from continuing operations 0.02 (0.00 ) (0.05 ) (0.04 ) Truck Transportation Revenue 54,405 59,450 (8.5 %) 110,492 116,801 (5.4 %) EBITDA1 7,646 7,961 (4.0 %) 14,208 15,676 (9.4 %) EBITDA margin1 15.7 % 15.5 % 14.5 % 15.6 % Logistics Revenue 65,619 56,167 16.8 % 131,720 112,390 17.2 % EBITDA1 3,180 3,135 1.4 % 6,496 6,204 4.7 % EBITDA margin1 5.4 % 6.2 % 5.5 % 6.1 % EBITDA to Net Income (in thousands $CAD) Q2 2025 Q2 2024 Net Income 1,019 (2,329 ) Add(deduct) Gain on sale of equipment (10 ) (1,499 ) Finance costs 2,583 3,223 Finance income (84 ) (97 ) Foreign exchange (633 ) 511 Income taxes 763 (650 ) Discontinued operations - 2,216 Operating Income 3,638 1,375 Depreciation 6,327 8,395 Amortization of intangible assets - 448 EBITDA 9,965 10,218 2025 Outlook Ted Daniel, Chief Executive Officer, Titanium Transportation Group, noted, As we head into the second half of 2025, freight markets remain challenging, but we are encouraged by sequential improvements and early signs of stabilization in certain regions. While broader market recovery is likely to be gradual and uneven, Titaniums strategic focus remains clear: Protect margins, maintain balance sheet strength, and leverage our people, technology, and scalable logistics network to navigate this cycle with discipline and agility. Our asset-light logistics model, prudent capital allocation, and strong operational execution continue to differentiate us. We remain committed to reducing debt and selectively investing in high-return growth opportunities that strengthen our competitive position. As industry fundamentals stabilize, we are confident that Titanium is positioned to emerge as a stronger, more efficient operator, delivering sustainable growth and long-term value for shareholders, added Mr. Daniel. 2025 Guidance Amid ongoing macroeconomic uncertainty, freight market volatility, and unpredictable tariff backdrop, Titanium Transportation estimates Revenue of $115 million to $120 million, and EBITDA % of 8.5% - 9.5% for the next quarter. The Company remains confident in the fundamentals of the business and is focused on operational execution, margin preservation and cash generation. Conference Call The Company will also hold a conference call for analysts and investors with Ted Daniel, President and Chief Executive Officer, Tuesday, August 12, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time, to discuss these results. Details of the conference call: Date: Tuesday, August 12, 2025 Time: 8:00 a.m. ET North America dial-in number: 1-800-717-1738 International dial-in number: 1-289-514-5100 A replay of the conference call can be accessed until midnight on August 26, 2025. Details of the replay: North America dial-in number: 1-888-660-6264 International dial-in number: 1-289-819-1325 Conference ID: 40251 Passcode: 40251# For more details, or visit Titaniums investor relations website at https://www.ttgi.com/investors About Titanium Titanium is a leading North American transportation company with asset-based trucking operations and logistics brokerages servicing Canada and the United States, with approximately 850 power units, 3,000 trailers and 1,300 employees and independent owner operators. Titanium provides truckload, dedicated, and cross-border trucking services, logistics, and warehousing and distribution to over 1,000 customers. Titanium has established both asset-based and brokerage operations in Canada and the U.S. with eighteen (18) locations. Titanium is a recognized purchaser of asset-based trucking companies, having completed thirteen (13) transactions since 2011. Titanium ranked among top 500 companies in the inaugural Financial Times Americas Fastest Growing Companies in 2020. The Company was ranked by Canadian Business as one of Canada's Fastest Growing Companies for eleven (11) consecutive years. For four (4) consecutive years, Titanium has also been ranked one of Canadas Top Growing Companies by the Globe and Mails Report on Business of Canada. Titanium is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol TTNM" and TTNMF on the OTCQX. NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES The following financial measures do not have any standardized meaning under IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures employed by other companies: "Earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization" ("EBITDA") is calculated as net income before depreciation, amortization, asset impairments, gains or losses on the sale of equipment, finance income and costs, gains or losses on foreign exchange, income tax expense, transaction costs, accelerated customer list amortization and goodwill impairment. "EBITDA margin" is calculated as EBITDA as a percentage of revenue before fuel surcharge. Free cash flow is calculated as cash flow from operations plus proceeds from finance lease receivables and proceeds from disposition, less capital expenditures. Management of the Company believes that these financial measures are useful for investors and other readers, when used in conjunction with other IFRS financial measures, as they are measurers used internally by management to evaluate performance. However, these financial measures are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purposes of assisting the reader in understanding Titanium's current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking information may relate to Titanium's future outlook and anticipated events, and may include statements regarding the financial position, business strategy, budgets, litigation, projected costs, capital expenditures, financial results, taxes and plans and objectives of or involving Titanium. Particularly, statements regarding future acquisitions, the availability of credit, performance, achievements, prospects or opportunities for Titanium or the industry in which it operates are forward-looking statements. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by terms such as "may", "might", "will", "could", "should", "would", "occur", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "seek", "aim", "estimate", "target", "project", "predict", "forecast", "potential", "continue", "likely", "schedule", or the negative thereof or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Information contained in forward-looking statements is based upon certain material assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection, including management's perceptions of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other considerations that are believed to be appropriate in the circumstances. While management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on currently available information, they may prove to be incorrect. The forward-looking statements made in this press release are dated, and relate only to events or information, as of the date of this press release. Except as specifically required by law, Titanium undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date on which the statements are made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Contact Information Titanium Transportation Group Inc. Ted Daniel, CPA, CA Chief Executive Officer (905) 266-3011 ted.daniel@ttgi.com www.ttgi.com For Investors James Bowen 416-519-9442 James.Bowen@loderockadvisors.com Turning point (2025-08-10 18:15:25) We experience many turning points in our lives; we witness many turning points in our culture, society, politics, and technology. Today, Im going to share one of turning points. In the past, in this discussion groups, I probably said a few times that I trusted the U.S. government and most mainstream media. Thats changed in 2022. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, almost instantly the media began saying, If Russia can invade Ukraine, China could invade Taiwan. In April 2022, Lindsey Graham led a bipartisan group visited Taiwan. In August 2022, Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwanmaking big headlines inside the US and China. I thought that was reckless. Do they know the history? In 1949, the U.S. recognized Taiwan as the government of China. In 1979, the U.S. switched recognition to Beijing under the One China policy, agreeing that Taiwan is a region of China. If Taiwan remains as a region of China, there will not be a war between China and Taiwan. At first, I thought Lindsey Graham, Nancy Pelosi, and the mainstream media were simply ignorant. Then one day I watched Noam Chomsky on Piers Morgans show, where he described in more detail the actual agreement documents. I suddenly realizedwowthese politicians and mainstream media figures know the history; they just choose not to tell us the truth. What do they gain by not telling us the whole truth? As politicians, they gain more political status, stir up fear, and make Americans support their parties. For journalists, telling the truth could mean losing their jobs. Was my turning pointfrom trusting the U.S. government and mainstream media to not trusting them. Recently, theres been another claim among politicians and mainstream media: that China is a security threat to the U.S. This has stirred up fear among Americans. But theres no real basis for that claim. China has only one military base outside of its borders. The U.S. has about 750 military bases outside the country, including around 90 near the South China Sea, with over 87,000 troops. Who is really the security threat to whom? If China is not, then why does our government say it is? They want to stir up fear so Americans will go along with their policies. ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LYNO AI is enjoying unprecedented interest with early adopters and whales rushing to participate in the soon to be over presale. The Early Bird presale has inspired high levels of investor confidence as over 259,000 tokens have been sold in a very short period of time. The magnitude of this boom proves the fact that the novelty of the LYNO AI solution to decentralized, AI-based cross-chain arbitrage is in high demand. It motivates the investors to make fast decisions to buy the tokens at the prevailing price since the presale price will increase. Early Bird Presale Details: A Strategic Entry Point LYNO AI is currently in its Early Bird phase, selling tokens at a price of 0.050 in total 16 million tokens will be allocated during this phase. The second presale phase will have the price rise to $0.055, which will present a concrete motivation to invest at the very beginning. There is already momentum and community interest with 265,879.247 tokens already sold. The accepted payment methods are ETH, USDT, and USDC, which can be paid using popular wallets MetaMask and Trust Wallet. Early Bird Price: $0.050 per token Next Stage Price: $0.055 per token Tokens Sold: 265,879.247 Total Tokens Allocated in Early Bird: 16 million Moreover, the participants in the presale will be eligible to enter the LYNO AI Giveaway, which also provides a possibility of winning a prize of 100K tokens, creating an additional value of early investment. The Innovative Edge of LYNO AI LYNO AI is an arbitrage protocol with artificial intelligence that will automatically perform cross-chain transactions between Ethereum and more than 15 EVM-compatible blockchains, such as Polygon. The platform is audited by Cyberscope and combines layered security and multi-signature wallets and advanced privacy to guarantee trust and robustness. Governance is also provided to token holders, enabling them to take part in future upgrades and development and reap staking rewards along with a buyback-and-burn mechanism that will increase the value of tokens. Conclusion: Act Now Before the Price Surges Currently, LYNO AI has enjoyed greater demand than ever before in its presale process due to its novel technology and Early Bird prices. The investors are advised to rush and buy LYNO tokens in this limited period offer, before the price goes up to the next stage. Cyberscope security audits and a properly developed tokenomics strategy give LYNO AI all the chances to become a leader in the AI-powered arbitrage revolution. This presale is a very important opportunity to be utilized. For more information about LYNO visit the links below: Website: https://lyno.ai/ Buy Presale- https://lyno.ai/#presale Whitepaper: https://lyno.ai/whitepaper.pdf Twitter/X: https://x.com/Lyno_AI Telegram: https://t.me/lyno_ai Win 100k: https://gleam.io/KCCV3/lyno-ai-giveaway Contact Details: LYNO AI contact@lyno.ai Disclaimer: This content is provided by LYNO AI. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. 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We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5e774cbb-2de7-44cf-90f0-f06fefb1dcf8 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0c253ac1-0e1a-4b55-9181-a69f9bc5a862 Wichita, KS , Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Grounds Guys of Wichita announces a significant milestone in customer satisfaction, surpassing 200 Google reviews with an outstanding 4.8-star rating. This achievement reflects the company's commitment to excellence in landscaping and outdoor services throughout the greater Wichita area since its founding in 2009. Baker Family, Owners of The Grounds Guys of Wichita "Reaching this milestone is truly humbling and represents the incredible dedication of our team and the trust our community has placed in us," said Jeff Baker, owner of The Grounds Guys of Wichita. "I want to thank our hardworking team who brings professionalism and expertise to every project, and our loyal customers throughout Wichita who have supported us for over 15 years. This achievement belongs to all of them." Since opening in 2009, The Grounds Guys of Wichita has established itself as a premier provider of comprehensive landscaping solutions across Wichita and surrounding communities. The company specializes in lawn sprinkler systems, irrigation installation and repair, sod installation, and commercial irrigation services , while also offering full-service landscaping, including ongoing maintenance programs and lawn drainage. The company's extensive service area includes Andale, Andover, Augusta, Bel Aire, Benton, Burns, Cassoday, Cheney, Colwich, Derby, Douglass, El Dorado, Eureka, Goddard, Haysville, Kechi, Leon, Maize, McConnell AFB, Mulvane, Potwin, Rosalia, Rose Hill, Sedgwick, Towanda, Valley Center, and Wichita. "We strive to be the best landscapers Wichita has to offer, and our local team understands that yards can be very different depending on where you live in Wichita," Baker explained. "That's why we cover everything, from lawn drainage to installing complete irrigation systems in Wichita and surrounding areas. We create customized plans for each homeowner because no two properties are exactly alike." The Grounds Guys of Wichita distinguishes itself through superior technical expertise and professional credentials. The company employs backflow-certified and licensed irrigation technicians, with the lead technician having received specialized training at Hunter Industries Headquarters in San Marcos, California. The team holds a master irrigator's license for Kansas and maintains a business commercial applicator's license with licensed applicators. This technical excellence, combined with their comprehensive approach to landscaping in Wichita, has earned The Grounds Guys recognition as a trusted partner for both residential and commercial properties throughout the region. "Each of these 200-plus reviews represents a family or business that trusted us with their outdoor space," said Baker. "We're grateful for every opportunity to serve our community and proud that our commitment to quality and professionalism continues to earn recognition from our clients." The company's vision centers on being recognized as the customer's preferred choice for premium grounds care services, building a reputation for professionalism and excellence that inspires complete confidence in their landscaping and irrigation services in Wichita and nearby. Homeowners and businesses interested in experiencing The Grounds Guys' award-winning service can visit https://www.groundsguys.com/east-wichita/ or call (316) 854-1443 to request service, or follow The Grounds Guys of Wichita on social media for the latest information and homeowner tips. The Grounds Guys of Wichita Award-winning Landscaping & Irrigation Service Team About The Grounds Guys of Wichita The Grounds Guys of Wichita is a locally owned and operated business providing professional landscaping and outdoor services since 2009. The company combines technical expertise with comprehensive service offerings to create and maintain beautiful, functional outdoor spaces for residential and commercial clients throughout the greater Wichita area. With specialized focus on irrigation systems, sod installation, and commercial irrigation alongside full-service landscaping, The Grounds Guys continues to earn its reputation for consistent excellence and professional service. Press inquiries The Grounds Guys of Wichita https://www.groundsguys.com/east-wichita/ Desirae Benington eastwichita@groundsguys.com (316) 854-1443 1816 N Wabash Ave Wichita, KS 67214 TORONTO, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nexus Industrial REIT (the REIT) (TSX: NXR.UN) announced today its results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025. The second quarter marked our first as a pure-play industrial REIT, and our strong operating results continued. Compared to a year ago, our normalized FFO per unit grew 5.6%, and industrial SPNOI grew 2.8% said Kelly Hanczyk, CEO of Nexus Industrial REIT. Over the past 12 months we have simultaneously grown NOI by 1.7%, while also completing the strategic disposition of 33 legacy retail, office, and non-core industrial properties. And, we will soon begin to realize the next phase of growth: we are nearing completion of two developments ahead of plan, which will add $6.6 million of annual stabilized NOI, representing unlevered returns of 9.4% on costs. I am very pleased with the progress that we have made, and I am confident that our strategy will continue to be rewarding for our stakeholders concluded Mr. Hanczyk. Second Quarter 2025 Highlights: Advanced construction on the 325,000 sq. ft. expansion project in St. Thomas, ON, and on the 115,000 sq. ft. new industrial small-bay complex in Calgary, AB. Combined, these projects will add annual stabilized NOI of $6.6 million when complete and stabilized. Completion of both projects is planned for the third quarter. Completed 395,412 sf of leasing at an average spread of 38% over expiring and in-place rents. Completed the sale of two non-core industrial properties for a total proceeds of $11.2 million. Net loss was $7.6 million driven by fair value losses on Class B LP units and on investment properties, partially offset by net operating income ("NOI") (1) of $32.2 million and by fair value gains on derivative instruments. of $32.2 million and by fair value gains on derivative instruments. NOI (1) increased 1.7% versus a year ago to $32.2 million from the acquisition of high-quality, tenanted income-producing industrial properties, and growth in industrial Same Property NOI (1) , despite selling 33 legacy retail, office, and non-core industrial properties. increased 1.7% versus a year ago to $32.2 million from the acquisition of high-quality, tenanted income-producing industrial properties, and growth in industrial Same Property NOI , despite selling 33 legacy retail, office, and non-core industrial properties. Industrial Same Property NOI (1) increased 2.8% year over year to $28.5 million. increased 2.8% year over year to $28.5 million. Normalized FFO(1) per unit increased $0.009 versus a year ago to $0.188 and Normalized AFFO(1) per unit increased $0.011 versus a year ago to $0.160. Year-to-Date 2025 Highlights: Completed the transition to a pure-play industrial REIT by selling 15 legacy retail properties, one legacy office property and two non-core industrial properties for total proceeds of $62.1 million. Advanced construction on the 325,000 sq. ft. expansion project in St. Thomas, ON, and on the 115,000 sq. ft. new industrial small-bay complex in Calgary, AB. Combined, these projects will add annual stabilized NOI of $6.6 million when complete. Completion of both projects is planned for the third quarter. Completed 1,192,792 sf of leasing at an average spread of 82% over expiring and in-place rents. Net income was $25.5 million driven by NOI (1) of $64.2 million and by fair value gains on Class B LP units, partially offset by fair value losses on derivative instruments and investment properties. of $64.2 million and by fair value gains on Class B LP units, partially offset by fair value losses on derivative instruments and investment properties. NOI (1) increased 5.0% versus a year ago to $64.2 million from the acquisition of high-quality, tenanted income-producing industrial properties, and growth in industrial Same Property NOI (1) , despite selling 33 legacy retail, office, and non-core industrial properties. increased 5.0% versus a year ago to $64.2 million from the acquisition of high-quality, tenanted income-producing industrial properties, and growth in industrial Same Property NOI , despite selling 33 legacy retail, office, and non-core industrial properties. Industrial Same Property NOI (1) increased 4.3% year over year to $54.5 million. increased 4.3% year over year to $54.5 million. Normalized FFO (1) per unit increased $0.032 versus a year ago to $0.375 and Normalized AFFO (1) per unit increased $0.029 versus a year ago to $0.313. per unit increased $0.032 versus a year ago to $0.375 and Normalized AFFO per unit increased $0.029 versus a year ago to $0.313. Unitholders' equity increased by $5.6 million to $1.1 billion or $15.01 per unit. NAV per unit(1) of $13.17 decreased $0.02 or (0.2)% versus Q4 2024. (1) This is a Non-IFRS Financial Measure. Subsequent events: On July 4, 2025, 2,764,464 Class B LP Units valued at $10.50 per unit were issued to 0768723 BC Ltd in settlement of the initial portion of the contractual construction obligations in respect of the construction of 52,000 additional square feet at the REIT's Richmond, BC property. The units are subject to trading restrictions until specific construction milestones are met. The restricted units will not accrue any distributions declared during the restriction period. On August 5, 2025, the REIT increased the Unsecured Credit Facilities by $160 million, from $625 million to $785 million, increasing the term loan facility from $175 million to $200 million and the revolving facility from $440 million to $575 million. The REIT also amended the maturity date of the Unsecured Credit Facilities by extending the term loan facility and the revolving facility from March 1, 2027 to August 5, 2027 and August 5, 2028, respectively. Summary of Results (In thousands of Canadian dollars, except per unit amounts) Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, 2025 2024 2025 2024 $ $ $ $ FINANCIAL INFORMATION Operating Results Property revenues 42,022 43,910 86,776 85,507 NOI (1) 32,150 31,617 64,240 61,154 Net (loss) income and comprehensive (loss) income (7,625 ) 43,525 25,526 87,196 Adjusted EBITDA (LTM) (1) 121,859 112,688 121,859 112,688 FFO (1) 18,157 16,576 35,200 30,931 Normalized FFO (1) (2) 17,744 16,712 35,323 32,091 AFFO (1) 15,449 13,770 29,846 25,358 Normalized AFFO (1) (2) 15,033 13,906 29,511 26,518 Distributions declared (3) 15,076 14,970 30,149 29,910 Same Property NOI (1) 28,842 28,401 55,423 53,724 Industrial Same Property NOI (1) 28,520 27,741 54,537 52,276 Weighted average units outstanding (000s): Basic (4) 94,233 93,541 94,218 93,441 Diluted (4) 94,513 93,717 94,498 93,617 Per unit amounts: Distributions per unit basic (3) (4) 0.160 0.160 0.320 0.320 Distributions per unit diluted (3) (4) 0.160 0.160 0.320 0.320 Normalized FFO per unit basic (1) (2) (4) 0.188 0.179 0.375 0.343 Normalized FFO per unit diluted (1) (2) (4) 0.188 0.178 0.374 0.343 Normalized AFFO per unit basic (1) (2) (4) 0.160 0.149 0.313 0.284 Normalized AFFO per unit diluted (1) (2) (4) 0.159 0.148 0.312 0.283 AFFO payout ratio (1) (3) 97.6% 108.7% 101.0% 118.0% Normalized AFFO payout ratio basic (1) (2) (3) 100.3% 107.7% 102.2% 112.8% Normalized AFFO payout ratio diluted (1) (2) (3) 100.6% 108.1% 102.6% 113.1% Same Property NOI Growth % (1) 1.6% 3.3% 3.2% 1.4% Industrial Same Property NOI Growth % (1) 2.8% 3.5% 4.3% 2.3% (1) This is a Non-IFRS Financial Measure. (2) Until Q1 2024, Normalized FFO and Normalized AFFO included adjustments for vendor rent obligation amounts due from the vendor of the REITs Richmond, BC property, until certain conditions were satisfied. During Q2 2024, these conditions were satisfied and the vendor settled all outstanding amounts. (3) Includes distributions payable to holders of Class B LP Units which are accounted for as finance expense in the consolidated financial statements. (4) Weighted average number of units includes Class B LP Units. June 30, December 31, 2025 2024 (In thousands of Canadian dollars, unless stated otherwise) $ $ PORTFOLIO INFORMATION Total Portfolio Number of Investment Properties (2) 88 106 Number of Properties Under Development 2 2 Investment Properties Fair Value (excludes assets held for sale) 2,480,540 2,458,174 Gross leasable area (GLA) (in millions of sq. ft.) (at the REIT's ownership interest) 11.7 12.5 Industrial occupancy rate in-place and committed (period-end) (3) 94% 96% Weighted average lease term (WALT) (years) 7.1 6.8 Industrial WALT (years) 7.1 7.0 Estimated spread between industrial portfolio market and in-place rents 18.5% 25.3% FINANCING AND CAPITAL INFORMATION Financing Net debt (1) 1,258,770 1,279,538 Total Indebtedness Ratio (1) 48.9% 49.1% Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA (1) 10.3 10.9 Adjusted Net Debt to Adjusted EBITDA (1) 9.4 10.2 Debt service coverage ratio (times) 1.68 1.62 Secured Indebtedness Ratio 26.2% 27.4% Unencumbered investment properties as a percentage of investment properties 40.6% 39.5% Total assets 2,576,227 2,604,460 Cash 5,640 11,532 Capital Total equity (per consolidated financial statements) 1,067,313 1,061,724 Total equity (including Class B LP Units) 1,240,836 1,241,747 Total number of Units (in thousands) (4) 94,233 94,159 NAV per Unit (1) 13.17 13.19 (1) See Non-IFRS Financial Measures. (2) Includes 2 properties (17 properties - December 31, 2024) classified as assets held for sale. (3) Includes committed new leases for future occupancy. (4) Includes Class B LP units. Net (Loss) Income Net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2025 was $7.6 million or $51.2 million lower than the prior year, primarily due to a decrease in the fair value adjustment of Class B LP units by $35.8 million, decrease in the fair value adjustment of investment properties by $24.7 million, partially offset by an increase in the fair value adjustment of derivative financial instruments by $7.7 million, a lower finance expense of $1.2 million and a higher NOI of $0.5 million. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2025 was $25.5 million or $61.7 million lower than the prior year, primarily due to decrease in the fair value adjustment of investment properties by $31.0 million, a lower gain on the fair value adjustment of Class B LP units by $27.6 million, and by a decrease in the fair value adjustment of derivative financial instruments by $7.7 million partially offset by a higher NOI of $3.1 million, a lower finance expense of $1.2 million and a higher foreign exchange gain by $1.1 million. NOI NOI for the three months ended June 30, 2025 was $32.2 million or $0.5 million higher than the prior year, which was primarily due to $1.5 million from lease termination and tenant reimbursed capital improvements, increase in NOI of $0.6 million from acquisitions of industrial income producing properties completed subsequent to Q2 2024, an increase in Same Property NOI by $0.4 million, $0.2 million relating to development projects and $0.1 million relating to lower tenant incentives and leasing costs amortization, partially offset by lower NOI of $2.2 million relating to dispositions completed since Q2 2024. NOI for the six months ended June 30, 2025 was $64.2 million or $3.1 million higher than the prior year, which was primarily due to increased NOI of $2.8 million from acquisitions of industrial income producing properties completed subsequent to Q2 2024, $2.1 million from lease termination and tenant reimbursed capital improvements, an increase in Same Property NOI by $1.7 million and $0.4 million relating to development projects, partially offset by lower NOI of $3.7 million relating to dispositions completed since Q2 2024 and $0.2 million relating to lower straight-line rent adjustments. Fair value adjustment of investment properties The fair value loss on investment properties for the three months ended June 30, 2025, totaled $11.1 million. The REIT engaged external appraisers to value properties totaling $122.2 million in the quarter. Overall, fair value losses recorded for the REITs portfolio primarily consists of $13.1 million relating to changes in stabilized NOI and capitalization rates, $2.9 million of capital expenditures that were not deemed to increase the fair value of the properties and therefore fair valued to zero and $0.1 million relating to investment property sale price adjustments prior to disposition, partially offset by $5.0 million gain relating to properties held for development based on development progress relative to the as-completed value. The fair value loss on investment properties for the six months ended June 30, 2025, totaled $2.3 million. Overall, fair value losses recorded for the REITs portfolio primarily consists $6.0 million of capital expenditures net of adjustments that were not deemed to increase the fair value of the properties and therefore fair valued to zero, $3.0 million relating to changes in stabilized NOI and capitalization rates, and $2.8 million relating to investment property sale price adjustments prior to disposition, partially offset by $9.5 million gain relating to properties held for development based on development progress relative to the as-completed value. Outlook The REIT is focused on delivering total unitholder return through profitable long-term growth, and by pursuing its strategy as a Canada-focused pure-play industrial REIT. Overall, the REIT anticipates mid-single digit Same Property NOI growth in its industrial portfolio for the full year. The expected growth is primarily attributed to the lease-up of vacant space, and releasing space at market rents that exceed expiring rents, thereby continuing to benefit from positive spreads between market rental rates and the REIT's in-place rental rates. In 2025, the REIT expects to benefit from the completion of two significant development projects. Combined, these properties will add annual stabilized NOI of approximately $6.6 million when complete: The REIT expects to complete its 325,000 sq ft Dennis Rd. expansion project in St. Thomas, ON in the third quarter of 2025. This project is being constructed for an existing tenant. The REIT earns 7.8% on capital expenditures during the construction phase, and will earn a contractual going-in yield of 9.0% on the total development costs of $54.9 million upon completion. The REIT is constructing a 115,000 sq ft small-bay industrial building adjacent to an existing building that it owns in Calgary, AB. The project is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2025 and to earn a going-in yield of approximately 11% on total development costs of $15.4 million. Notwithstanding that the normalized AFFO payout ratios for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 are 100.3% and 102.2%, respectively, the REIT believes that current distributions are sustainable as disclosed in the FFO and AFFO section of the REIT's MD&A. Earnings Call Management of the REIT will host a conference call at 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday August 12, 2025 to review the financial results and operations. To participate in the conference call, please dial 647-846-8414 or 1-833-752-3601 (toll free in Canada and the US) at least five minutes prior to the start time and ask to join the Nexus Industrial REIT conference call. A recording of the conference call will be available until September 12, 2025. To access the recording, please dial 1-412-317-0088 or 1-855-669-9658 (toll free in Canada and the US) and enter access code 2608098. September and October Distributions The REIT will make a cash distribution in the amount of $0.05333 per unit, representing $0.64 per unit on an annualized basis, payable October 15, 2025, to unitholders of record as of September 30, 2025. The REIT will also make a cash distribution in the amount of $0.05333 per unit, representing $0.64 per unit on an annualized basis, payable November 14, 2025, to unitholders of record as of October 31, 2025. About Nexus Industrial REIT Nexus is a growth-oriented real estate investment trust focused on increasing unitholder value through the acquisition of industrial properties located in primary and secondary markets in Canada, and the ownership and management of its portfolio of properties. The REIT currently owns a portfolio of 88 properties (including one property held for development in which the REIT has an 80% interest) comprising approximately 11.7 million square feet of gross leasable area. The REIT has approximately 97,019,000 voting units issued and outstanding, including approximately 71,301,000 REIT Units and approximately 25,718,000 Class B LP Units of subsidiary limited partnerships of Nexus, which are convertible to REIT Units on a one-to-one basis. Non-IFRS Measures Information in this news release is a select summary of results. This news release should be read in conjunction with the MD&A and the Trust's consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes for the three months ended June 30, 2025 and 2024 (the Financial Statements). The Financial Statements are prepared in accordance with IFRS accounting standards as issued by the IASB, however, included in the tables above and elsewhere in this news release are non-IFRS financial measures or non-IFRS ratios which do not have a standardized meaning prescribed under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in accordance with IFRS and that should not be construed as an alternative to net income / loss or other measures of financial performance calculated in accordance with IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures as reported by other issuers. A definition of each non-IFRS financial measure or ratio used herein and an explanation of management's reasons as to why it believes the measure is useful to investors are incorporated by reference and can be found on page 3 in the REITs Managements Discussion and Analysis for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on the REITs website under Investor Relations. See Appendix A of this earnings release for a reconciliation of the non-IFRS financial measures to the primary financial statement measures. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements which reflect the REITs current expectations and projections about future results, including statements under the heading "Outlook" and regarding the REIT's expectations relating to growth in NOI, benefits from developments and the sustainability of its distributions. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, estimates, 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 statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the REIT to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Actual results and developments are likely to differ, and may differ materially, from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained in this news release. Such forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions that may prove to be incorrect. While the REIT anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause its views to change, the REIT specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements except as required by applicable law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the REITs views as of any date subsequent to the date of this news release. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The factors identified above are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect the REIT. For further information please contact: Kelly C. Hanczyk, CEO at (416) 906-2379 or Mike Rawle, CFO at (647) 823-1381 APPENDIX A NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES (In thousands of Canadian dollars, except per unit amounts) Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, 2025 2024 Change 2025 2024 Change FFO $ $ $ $ $ $ Net (loss) income and comprehensive (loss) income (7,625 ) 43,525 (51,150 ) 25,526 87,196 (61,670 ) Adjustments: Loss on disposal of investment properties 196 251 (55 ) 281 251 30 Fair value adjustments 21,285 (31,713 ) 52,998 1,558 (65,224 ) 66,782 Adjustments for equity accounted joint venture (1) 8 113 (105 ) 84 71 13 Distributions on Class B LP Units expensed 3,697 3,849 (152 ) 7,410 7,787 (377 ) Amortization of tenant incentives and leasing costs 277 384 (107 ) 643 657 (14 ) Lease principal payments (24 ) (16 ) (8 ) (50 ) (20 ) (30 ) Amortization of right-of-use assets 30 30 - 60 60 - Net effect of unrealized foreign exchange on USD debt and related hedges 313 153 160 (312 ) 153 (465 ) Funds from operations (FFO) 18,157 16,576 1,581 35,200 30,931 4,269 Weighted average units outstanding (000s) Basic (4) 94,233 93,541 692 94,218 93,441 777 FFO per unit basic 0.193 0.177 0.016 0.374 0.331 0.043 FFO 18,157 16,576 1,581 35,200 30,931 4,269 Add: Vendor rent obligation (2) - - - - 628 (628 ) Add: Non-recurring personnel transition costs - 66 (66 ) 107 326 (219 ) Add: Non-recurring adjustments from asset dispositions (5) 34 - 34 505 - 505 Add: Other non-cash items (6) (447 ) 70 (517 ) (489 ) 206 (695 ) Normalized FFO 17,744 16,712 1,032 35,323 32,091 3,232 Weighted average units outstanding (000s) Basic (4) 94,233 93,541 692 94,218 93,441 777 Normalized FFO per unit basic 0.188 0.179 0.009 0.375 0.343 0.032 (In thousands of Canadian dollars, except per unit amounts) Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, 2025 2024 Change 2025 2024 Change AFFO $ $ $ $ $ $ FFO 18,157 16,576 1,581 35,200 30,931 4,269 Adjustments: - - Straight-line adjustments ground lease and rent (1,108 ) (1,206 ) 98 (2,154 ) (2,373 ) 219 Capital reserve (3) (1,600 ) (1,600 ) - (3,200 ) (3,200 ) - Adjusted funds from operations (AFFO) 15,449 13,770 1,679 29,846 25,358 4,488 Weighted average units outstanding (000s) Basic (4) 94,233 93,541 692 94,218 93,441 777 AFFO per unit basic 0.164 0.147 0.017 0.317 0.271 0.046 Distributions declared 15,076 14,970 106 30,149 29,910 239 AFFO payout ratio - basic 97.6% 108.7% -11.1% 101.0% 118.0% -16.9% AFFO 15,449 13,770 1,679 29,846 25,358 4,488 Add: Vendor rent obligation (2) - - - - 628 (628 ) Add: Non-recurring personnel transition costs - 66 (66 ) 107 326 (219 ) Add: Non-recurring adjustments from asset dispositions (5) 31 - 31 47 - 47 Add: Other non-cash items (6) (447 ) 70 (517 ) (489 ) 206 (695 ) Normalized AFFO 15,033 13,906 1,127 29,511 26,518 2,993 Weighted average units outstanding (000s) Basic (4) 94,233 93,541 692 94,218 93,441 777 Normalized AFFO per unit basic 0.160 0.149 0.011 0.313 0.284 0.029 Distributions declared 15,076 14,970 106 30,149 29,910 239 Normalized AFFO payout ratio - basic 100.3% 107.7% -7.4% 102.2% 112.8% -10.6% (1) Adjustment for equity accounted joint venture relates to a fair value adjustment of swaps in place at the joint venture to swap floating rate bankers acceptance rates to a fixed rate and a fair value adjustment of the joint venture investment property. (2) Until Q1 2024, Normalized FFO and Normalized AFFO included adjustments for vendor rent obligation amounts due from the vendor of the REITs Richmond, BC property, until certain conditions were satisfied. During Q2 2024, these conditions were satisfied and the vendor settled all outstanding amounts. (3) Capital reserve includes maintenance capital expenditures, tenant incentives and leasing costs. Reserve amounts are established with reference to building condition reports, appraisals, and internal estimates of tenant renewal, tenant incentives and leasing costs. The REIT believes that a reserve is more appropriate given the fluctuating nature of these capital expenditures. (4) Weighted average number of units includes the Class B LP Units. (5) These adjustments represent one-time balance sheet write-offs, early mortgage repayment charges, and other costs associated with the disposals made during the period. (6) This adjustment is predominantly unrealized foreign exchange losses (gains) on transactions relating to deferred purchase consideration. Note that the comparative periods for 2024 have been updated to conform with the current period presentation. SAME PROPERTY RESULTS (In thousands of Canadian dollars) Three months ended June 30, Six months ended June 30, 2025 2024 Change 2025 2024 Change $ $ $ $ $ $ Property revenues 42,022 43,910 (1,888 ) 86,776 85,507 1,269 Property expenses (9,872 ) (12,293 ) 2,421 (22,536 ) (24,353 ) 1,817 NOI 32,150 31,617 533 64,240 61,154 3,086 Add/(Deduct): Amortization of tenant incentives and leasing costs 267 384 (117 ) 627 653 (26 ) Straight-line adjustments of rent (1,107 ) (1,203 ) 96 (2,152 ) (2,367 ) 215 Development and expansion (125 ) 45 (170 ) (402 ) (26 ) (376 ) Acquisitions (881 ) (314 ) (567 ) (4,331 ) (1,578 ) (2,753 ) Disposals 152 (2,026 ) 2,178 (274 ) (3,975 ) 3,701 Termination fees and tenant reimbursed capital improvements (1,614 ) (102 ) (1,512 ) (2,285 ) (137 ) (2,148 ) Same Property NOI 28,842 28,401 441 55,423 53,724 1,699 Industrial same property NOI 28,520 27,741 779 54,537 52,276 2,261 ADJUSTED EBITDA (In thousands of Canadian dollars) Trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2025 2024 Change $ $ $ Net income 29,212 166,287 (137,075 ) Add (deduct): Net interest expense 54,009 50,315 3,694 Distributions on Class B LP Units 14,901 15,152 (251 ) Fair value adjustments (1) 22,300 (118,684 ) 140,984 Amortization expense (1)(2) (3,151 ) (3,633 ) 482 Loss on disposal of investment properties 1,485 251 1,234 Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain) (211 ) 394 (605 ) Income from development property 2,981 661 2,320 Non-recurring personnel transition costs 125 1,945 (1,820 ) Non-recurring costs related to asset dispositions 208 - 208 Adjusted EBITDA 121,859 112,688 9,171 (1) Includes equity accounted investments adjustments. (2) Includes amortization of straight line rent, tenant improvement, and leasing commissions. ADJUSTED NET DEBT TORONTO, August 11, 2025 - Grid Metals Corp. (TSXV:GRDM)(OTCQB:MSMGF) ("Grid" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update at its Makwa Ni-Cu-PGE project in southeastern Manitoba where an Option and Joint Venture Agreement (the "Agreement") with Teck Resources Ltd. ("Teck") was announced in December 2024. The target model is a footwall-hosted Ni-Cu-PGE deposit similar to the Eagle's Nest deposit1 located in Ontario's 'Ring of Fire' mineral district. Initial exploration completed under the new option and joint venture agreement has led to the discovery of semi-massive nickel sulfide mineralization at surface (up to 1.1% nickel in grab samples, see Table 1) associated with a recently identified geophysical anomaly ("Pavo" or the "Pavo Anomaly") in a previously unexplored part of the Makwa property. The Pavo Anomaly is now a priority drill target with drilling anticipated to commence in the Fall of 2025. Dr. Dave Peck, the Company's V.P. Exploration, stated, "The new discovery of nickel-rich magmatic massive sulfide mineralization at Pavo is significant given its location in an interpreted feeder structure to the Bird River Sill - host to most of the known Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide mineralization in the Bird River Belt. Importantly, the Pavo conductor trend is contained within a large magnetic anomaly that suggests a large volume of prospective ultramafic rocks are present in the broader target area. Our view, shared by Federal and Provincial Government geoscientists2, is that the Bird River Belt is strongly analogous to the Ring of Fire District in northwestern Ontario where a significant Ni-Cu-PGE deposit at Eagle's Nest was discovered in 2007. The potential to participate with Teck in the discovery of an Eagle's Nest-type sulfide deposit is an exciting opportunity for Grid." The Pavo Anomaly: A new grassroots nickel sulfide surface discovery in the footwall of the Bird River Sill The Pavo Anomaly is a shallow electromagnetic ("EM") conductor trend that has a strike length of approximately 600m in east-west extent that was outlined from an airborne geophysical survey completed in late 2024. The Company completed reconnaissance geology in the area and one day of field prospecting at the Pavo Anomaly (Blaze Showing) before forest fires restricted access to the area. Nonetheless, the initial day of prospecting led to the discovery of semi-massive sulfide mineralization in soil-covered bedrock located directly on the eastern part of the Pavo Anomaly. Initial grab samples taken from this new showing returned peak nickel grades of up to 1.1% hosted by semi-massive magmatic sulfide mineralization (see Table 1). 1 The Eagle's Nest deposit in the McFauld's Lake greenstone belt of northwestern Ontario is an established, high-grade magmatic nickel sulfide resource that is owned by Wyloo Canada. See the Wyloo website for more information about the Eagle's Nest deposit: https://wyloo.com/wylooeaglesnest/ 2 Geological Survey of Canada Open File Report 8722, 2020. Sample Number Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (%) S (%) Field Description C1296925 0.84 0.20 0.10 24.5 Semi-massive sulfides in ultramafic C1296927 0.62 0.12 0.07 18.7 Semi-massive sulfides in ultramafic C1296973 1.13 0.08 0.11 28.3 Semi-massive sulfides in ultramafic Table 1. Select assay results for surface grab samples from the Pavo Anomaly. Above: Part of a new channel sample comprising sulfide-matrix breccia from the magmatic sulfide discovery at the Pavo Anomaly. Fragments are altered ultramafic rock. Sulfide matrix is composed of pyrrhotite +/- pentlandite with lesser pyrite and minor chalcopyrite Above: Pavo EM Anomaly on a first vertical derivative magnetic image showing location of the Blaze nickel sulfide showing and recent field sample lithologies Next Steps Additional prospecting recently commenced following the lifting of fire restrictions in the area. A follow-up deep-penetrating ground time-domain EM geophysical survey is also planned to further define initial drill targets. Drilling at Pavo is planned to commence this Fall pending receipt of applicable exploration permits. The principal objective of the ongoing exploration program is to fully explore the Makwa property for high-grade massive Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide deposits located in structural favourable sites, including structural traps along the base of the Bird River Sill and within interpreted feeder structures to the sill. Pavo is expected to be the first major anomaly to be drill tested. However, there are numerous other untested, coincident magnetic and EM anomalies that are currently being mapped and prospected that could become priorities for future drilling campaigns. Above: Location of Grid's copper/nickel properties in the Bird River Belt, southeastern Manitoba. Quality Assurance and Quality Control Grid Metals applies best practice quality assurance and quality control ("QAQC") protocols in all of its exploration programs. For the Pavo prospecting program, grab samples were cleaned of obvious weathering and bagged and tagged in the field. The samples were then transported by secure carrier to the Actlabs (Thunder Bay) laboratory for sample preparation and analysis for nickel, copper, cobalt and selected major and trace element abundances using a multi-acid digestion method followed by ICP-OES analysis. Samples were also analyzed for Pd, Pt and Au using a lead collection 30 g fire assay method followed by ICP-OES analysis. The Company is using several different certified reference materials ("CRMs") and one analytical blank for the Makwa project to monitor analytical accuracy and check for cross contamination between samples. The analytical results for the CRMs and the blank for the new analytical results reported here did not show any significant bias compared to the certified values and fell within the acceptable limits of variability. For more information about the Company, please see the Company website at www.gridmetalscorp.com or contact: Robin Dunbar - President, CEO & Director Telephone: 416-955-4773 Email: rd@gridmetalscorp.com Brandon Smith - Chief Development Officer - bsmith@gridmetalscorp.com David Black - Investor Relations Email - info@gridmetalscorp.com Qualified Persons Statements Dr. Dave Peck, P.Geo., the V.P. Exploration of Grid, is the Qualified Person for purposes of National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release. About Grid Metals Corp. Grid Metals is focused on exploration and development in southeastern Manitoba with four key projects in the Bird River area. The Makwa Property (Ni-Cu-PGM-Co), which is subject to an Option and Joint Venture Agreement with Teck Resources Limited ("Teck"). Teck can earn up to a 70% interest in Makwa by incurring a total of CAD$17.3 million, comprising project expenditures (CAD$15.7 million) and cash payments or equity participation (CAD$1.6 million) with Grid. Makwa is located on the south arm of the Bird River Greenstone Belt. The Mayville Property (Cu-Ni) is located on the north arm of the Bird River Greenstone Belt. The property is owned subject to a minority interest. The Falcon West Property (Li-Cs) is located 110 km east of Winnipeg along the Trans-Canada highway and contains highly anomalous cesium values in a number of historical drill holes including 2.2 m at 15.0% Cs 2 O and 3.2 m at 4.6% Cs 2 O. The Donner Property (Li-Cs) is adjacent to the Mayville Property, and Grid owns 75% of the project. Grid announced a cesium purchase agreement with Tanco on February 18, 2025. All of the Company's southeastern Manitoba projects are located on the ancestral lands of the Sagkeeng First Nation with whom the Company maintains an Exploration Agreement. We seek safe harbour. This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of the Securities Act (Ontario) (together, "forward-looking statements"). Such forward-looking statements include the Company's closing of the proposed financial transactions, sale of royalty and property interests. the overall economic potential of its properties, the availability of adequate financing and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward- looking statements to be materially different. Such factors include, among others, risks and uncertainties relating to potential political risk, uncertainty of production and capital costs estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, physical risks inherent in mining operations, metallurgical risk, currency fluctuations, fluctuations in the price of nickel, cobalt, copper and other metals, completion of economic evaluations, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, the inability or failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis, and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis for the most recent financial period and Material Change Reports filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available at www.sedar.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. SOURCE: Grid Metals Corp. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire VANCOUVER, August 11, 2025 - BeMetals Corp. (TSXV:BMET)(OTCQB:BMTLF)(Frankfurt:1OI.F) ("BeMetals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of the recently completed core drilling program at the Pangeni Copper Project ("Pangeni" or the "Project" or the "Property") in Zambia. The core drilling has outlined and defined the continuity of the Ingwe shoot and Nkala Zone copper mineralization. In addition, exploration drillhole D8-C1 completed some 1 kilometre from the main Nkala Zone trend, at the Nkala northwest target, has returned encouraging geological and alteration relationships with anomalous copper intervals, emphasizing the under-explored potential beneath the thin Kalahari sand cover. The results of core drilling to date at the D-Prospect have outlined the Ingwe shoot copper mineralization with approximate dimensions of 600 metres long, 14 to 23 metres thick, and 250 to 350 metres wide. This higher-grade Ingwe shoot is developed within the Nkala Zone copper mineralization that extends for at least 1.4 kilometres along trend and is itself associated with a larger envelope of mineralization some 1.7 kilometres in length (See Figure 1)(1). Drilling Highlights to Date: Outlined the Ingwe Shoot as a higher-grade copper zone with dimensions of approximately 600 metres long, 14 to 23 metres thick, and 250-350 metres wide. The Ingwe Shoot is within the broader Nkala Zone, which now spans at least 1.4 kilometres along trend of the larger mineralized corridor over 1.7 kilometres in length. Drill hole D8-C1 has intersected promising geology and copper anomalies under the shallow cover at the new Nkala Northwest target. John Wilton, President and CEO of BeMetals, commented: "The core drilling results from the recent 2025 program at the Pangeni Project have helped to further define the trend and continuity of both the Ingwe shoot and Nkala Zone copper mineralization discovered by the Company's exploration team. The copper mineralization is sedimentary rock-hosted and bears many hallmarks in terms of style, width, grade and geology of deposits that are currently mined in the Domes Region of the Zambian Copperbelt." In June, an independent technical review was completed by advisor Dr. Richard Sillitoe to validate the interpretation of the drilling results from the 2024 and initial 2025 programs. Dr. Sillitoe remarked: "It is now clear that the Nkala Zone, including its Ingwe shoot, is a significant greenfield copper discovery - the first in Zambia for several decades - that, if substantially augmented by additional drill intercepts, has the geological potential to attain meaningful scale. Furthermore, the promising geological relationships observed in drill hole D8-C1 also emphasize the potential for additional copper-mineralized bodies under the shallow Kalahari sand cover at the Pangeni Copper Project." Figure 1 below shows a map of the D-Prospect drilling to date with contours that represent the relative copper content (width multiplied by grade) of mineralization intersected in the core drilling. The shallow aircore drill holes originally completed to test bedrock below the sand cover are also shown. As illustrated the Ingwe Shoot is now interpreted with an approximate west-south-west to east-north-east trend within the Nkala Zone. It is not known, based on the drilling to date, if the Ingwe Shoot and Nkala Zone are offset on a geological feature to the west. Potential may exist to extend Nkala Zone to the east with the possibility for another higher-grade shoot, similar to the Ingwe Shoot as suggested by the copper content and geology of D14-C2 but these targets will require further drill testing. Figure 1: Copper grade x width contours indicating the dimensions of the Ingwe Shoot and Nkala Zone (H1 2025 drilling and previously reported intersections(1)). Note: For more information on past drilling and exploration at the Pangeni Copper Project, see BeMetals' news releases titled "BeMetals Discovers Extensive Copper Mineralization of Similar Style To Major Mines and Projects in the Domes Region of the Zambian Copperbelt", dated May 24, 2024 and see news release titled, "BeMetals' New Core Results Confirm Expanded Footprint of Copper Mineralization and Satellite Target Zones at Pangeni Copper Project, Zambia" dated January 22, 2025, both releases are available on SEDAR+ and at www.bemetalscorp.com. Results of the H1 2025 Drilling Program The drill results listed in Table 1 continue to assist the Company in defining the margins and trends of the copper mineralization within the Nkala Zone and Ingwe Shoot, while also providing critical geological insights across other target areas within the broader Pangeni Project. Notably, hole D22-C3 intersected 16.37 metres at 0.29% Cu, including a higher-grade interval of 6.89 metres at 0.47% Cu, which is interpreted to be towards the southeast edge of Nkala Zone. In addition, D14-C3 intersected an anomalous zone of copper mineralization (3.90m @ 0.23% Cu) currently interpreted to be the southeast edge of the Nkala Zone (See Figure 1). Figure 1 also shows the location of drill hole D8-C1. This drill hole was targeting a relatively low tenor aircore copper anomaly of only 276 parts per million copper. Importantly, drillhole D8-C1, located 1 kilometre north of the Nkala Zone, intersected multiple anomalous copper intervals and encouraging alteration features, marking a promising new satellite target that underscores the untapped potential beneath Kalahari cover near the discovered Nkala copper mineralization and across the Property. Figure 2 indicates the location of the Central Target, hole CT5 returned multiple shallow intervals of anomalous copper, with 11.20 metres at 0.18% Cu, including 4.33 metres at 0.32% Cu, suggesting potential near-surface mineralization that warrants follow-up (Table 2). The copper anomalies and their tenor in CT5 should also be considered in the context of similar grade and width intervals in relatively close proximity to the Nkala Zone at the D-Prospect. Figure 2 also shows the location of drillholes R1 and F4-C4 that did not intersect significant copper mineralization. Also see Table 2 for summary comments of the H1, 2025 drillholes. Figure 2: Nkala Copper Zone, Nkala Northwest Target, and Central Target with H1 2025 core drilling location (Yellow collar symbols) Table 1: Select Recent 2025 Core Drilling Results with Depth, Sample Interval and Copper Grade Target/Line, Borehole ID & Interval From (m) To (m) Core Interval (m) Cu % D-PROSPECT D22-C3 Interval 279.29 282.50 3.21 0.40 Interval 317.80 319.31 1.51 0.52 Nkala Zone 327.40 343.77 16.37* 0.29 Including 336.88 343.77 6.89 0.47 D14-C3 Interval 351.30 355.20 3.90 0.23 CENTRAL PROSPECT CT5 Interval 104.00 109.00 5.00 0.18 Including 104.00 107.00 3.00 0.22 Interval 160.30 165.62 5.32 0.16 Interval 196.70 201.70 5.00 0.17 Interval 216.60 227.80 11.20 0.18 Including 222.00 226.23 4.33 0.32 NKALA NORTHWEST TARGET D8-C1 Interval 207.40 208.40 1.00 0.20 Interval 215.50 217.00 1.50 0.32 Interval 223.50 229.23 5.73 0.17 Including 225.60 229.23 3.63 0.24 Table 1 Notes: Intertek Genalysis completed the analytical work with the core samples processed at their preparation facility in Kitwe, Zambia.All analytical procedures were conducted in an Intertek Genalysis laboratory in Perth, Australia. Reported widths are drilled core lengths because true widths are unknown at this time. Based upon current data, it is estimated true widths range between 85 and 90% of the drilled intersections. A nominal cut-off grade of 0.10% Cu has been used to determine the boundaries of these intersections with no more than 3.07 metres of internal dilution of the intercepts. A nominal cut-off grade of 0.15% Cu has been used to determine the boundaries of this intersection with no more than 5.78 metres of internal dilution of the intercept. Based on the drilling results to date, the Company and its technical partners are now reviewing the data and planning the next optimum steps for the Project. This might include geophysical and/or geochemical orientation surveys to evaluate methods that could advance the drill targeting of extensions to the discovered copper mineralization and identify and test other prospects. Table 2: Pangeni Copper Project: H1 2025 Core Drill Hole ID, Azimuth, Dip, End of Hole Depth, Collar Coordinates and Comments Drill Hole ID Azimuth Degree Dip Degree End of hole Depth (m) Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation (m) Comments D22-C3 300 -65 375.20 177062 8600932 1320 Intersected Nkala Zone D14-C3 300 -60 414.30 177897 8601129 1289 Intersected low tenor Cu (SE edge of Nkala Zone) D24-C2 300 -80 312.00 176630 8601062 1322 Defined northern edge of Nkala Zone (Minor Cu mineralization) CT5 320 -70 249.00 183012 8597488 1220 Intersected multiple zones of anomalous Cu D8-C1 310 -60 241.80 178319 8602334 1331 Intersected zones of alteration similar to Nkala Zone with anomalous Cu R1 310 -70 333.70 178391 8600530 1261 No significant Cu intersected F4-C4 315 -65 291.40 175920 8600081 1319 No significant Cu intersected QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL The core drilling programs were managed by Remote Exploration Services ("RES"), an independent geological consulting and contracting company. All aspects of the field operations were conducted in line with the standard operating procedures as previously and consistently implemented at this project. The samples were analysed by Intertek Genalysis, an independent and accredited laboratory. Samples were prepared at their facility in Kitwe, Zambia and analytical work conducted in Perth, Australia. The results were determined using multi-acid, near total digestion, and analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma ("ICP") Optical (Atomic) Emission Spectrometry ("OES"). The core sampling was conducted with a robust sampling protocol that included the appropriate insertion of standard reference material, duplicates and blanks into the sample stream. The core drilling was conducted by BluRock Mining Services of Kitwe, Zambia. QUALIFIED PERSON STATEMENT The technical information in this news release for BeMetals has been reviewed and approved by John Wilton, CGeol FGS, CEO and President of BeMetals, and a "Qualified Person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101. About BeMetals Corp. BeMetals is a precious and base metals exploration and development company focused on advancing its portfolio of high-potential mineral projects. The Company has recently entered into a letter of intent to explore the Savant Gold Project in northwestern Ontario, Canada. This project is located in one of Ontario's most prolific gold-producing regions that hosts several past producers as well as current operations, including the Red Lake and Musselwhite mines. The Company also has the Pangeni Copper Project in the Zambian Copperbelt, with co-funding and technical partner JOGMEC, where the Company has discovered copper mineralization with geological characteristics and intersected widths and grades similar to large-scale copper mines in the same region. Additionally, the Company has its compelling Kazan gold exploration projects in Japan, while continuing to evaluate additional potential strategic acquisition opportunities. ON BEHALF OF BEMETALS CORP. "John Wilton" John Wilton President, CEO & Director For further information, please contact: Derek Iwanaka Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Development Telephone: +1-604-928-2797 Email: diwanaka@bemetalscorp.com Website: www.bemetalscorp.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (as defined under applicable securities laws), based on management's best estimates, assumptions and current expectations. Such statements include but are not limited to, statements with respect to completion of a definitive agreement, future exploration, development and advancement of the Savant Gold Project in Canada, Kazan Projects in Japan and the Pangeni Project in Zambia, and the acquisition of additional base and/or precious metal projects. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "expected", "budgeted", "forecasts", "anticipates", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "aims", "potential", "goal", "objective", "prospective", and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "can", "could" or "should" occur. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the actual results of exploration activities, the availability of financing and/or cash flow to fund the current and future plans and expenditures, the ability of the Company to satisfy the conditions of the option agreement for the Pangeni Project, and changes in the world commodity markets or equity markets. Although the Company has attempted to identify important 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. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are made as of the date hereof and are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as require by law. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. Please refer to the Company's most recent filings under its profile at www.sedarplus.ca for further information respecting the risks affecting the Company and its business. SOURCE: BeMetals Corp. View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Not for distribution to United States Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. (the "Company" or "Spanish Mountain Gold") (TSX-V: SPA) (FSE: S3Y) (OTC: SPAUF) is pleased to announce that further to its press release dated August 7, 2025 and as a result of strong investor demand, the Company has increased the maximum aggregate gross proceeds of its previously announced brokered "best efforts" private placement (the "Offering") from C$5,000,000 to C$6,000,000. The revised Offering is comprised of the following: up to 20,689,655 units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at a price of C$0.145 per Unit, for gross proceeds of up to C$3,000,000 from the sale of Units; and gross proceeds of up to C$3,000,000 from the sale of any combination of (i) flow-through share units of the Company (each, a "FT Unit") at a price of C$0.165 per FT Unit, and (ii) flow-through share units of the Company to be sold to charitable purchasers (each, a "Charity FT Unit", and together with the FT Units and Units, the "Offered Securities") at a price of C$0.20 per Charity FT Unit. Red Cloud Securities Inc. ("Red Cloud") is acting as lead agent and sole bookrunner in connection with the Offering. Each Unit will be comprised of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one (1) Common Share purchase warrant (each, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one (1) additional Common Share (each, a "Warrant Share") at a price of C$0.22 per Warrant Share, for a period of 36 months from the Closing Date (as defined herein). Each FT Unit will be comprised of one (1) Common Share to be issued as a "flow-through share" within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a "FT Share") and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "FT Unit Warrant"). Each FT Unit Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one (1) additional Common Share to be issued on a non-flow-through basis (a "FT Unit Warrant Share") at a price of C$0.22 per FT Unit Warrant Share, for a period of 36 months from the Closing Date. Each Charity FT Unit will be comprised of one FT Share and one Warrant. The Company will grant to Red Cloud an option, exercisable in full or in part, up to 48 hours prior to Closing Date, to sell up to an additional C$1,200,000 of gross proceeds in any combination of the Offered Securities (the "Agent's Option"). Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions ("NI 45-106"), the Units and Charity FT Units (collectively, the "LIFE Securities") will be offered for sale to purchasers resident in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan (the "Canadian Offering Jurisdictions"), pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106, as amended by Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 - Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (the "Listed Issuer Financing Exemption"). The securities of the Company issuable from the sale of such LIFE Securities will not be subject to a statutory hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities legislation if sold to purchasers resident in Canada. The Units may also be offered in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons, by way of private placement pursuant to the exemptions from the registration requirements provided for under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), and in jurisdictions outside of Canada and the United States on a private placement or equivalent basis, in each case in accordance with all applicable laws, provided that no prospectus, registration statement or other similar document is required to be filed in such jurisdiction. All securities not issued pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption will be subject to a restriction period of four (4) months following the Closing Date, in accordance with applicable Canadian securities legislation. The FT Units will be offered by way of the "accredited investor" and "minimum amount investment" exemptions under NI 45-106 in the Canadian Offering Jurisdictions. The securities of the Company issuable from the sale of such FT Units will be subject to a restriction period of four (4) months following the Closing Date, in accordance with applicable Canadian securities legislation. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for exploration and development work at the Company's Spanish Mountain Gold Project in the Cariboo Gold Corridor in British Columbia as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes. Gross proceeds from the sale of FT Shares will be used to incur "Canadian exploration expenses" as defined in subsection 66.1(6) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and "flow-through mining expenditures" as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (or would so qualify if the references to "before 2026" in paragraph (a) of the definition of "flow-through mining expenditure" in subsection 127(9) of the Tax Act were read as "before 2027" and the references in paragraphs (c) and (d) of that definition to "before April 2025" were read as "before April 2026"). Such gross proceeds will be renounced to the purchasers of the FT Units and Charity FT Units with an effective date not later than December 31, 2025, in the aggregate amount of not less than the total amount of gross proceeds raised from the issue of the FT Shares. The Offering is anticipated to close on or about August 27, 2025 or such other date as the Company and Red Cloud may agree (the "Closing Date"). Completion of the Offering is subject to certain customary closing conditions including, but not limited to, receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. There is an amended offering document (the "Amended Offering Document") related to the Offering that can be accessed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website at www.spanishmountaingold.com. Prospective investors should read this Amended Offering Document before making an investment decision. The securities referred to in this news release have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, unless an exemption from such registration is available. This news release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities for sale, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities. Any public offering of securities in the United States must be made by means of a prospectus containing detailed information about the Company and management, as well as financial statements. "United States" and "U.S. person" have the respective meanings assigned in Regulation S under the U.S Securities Act. About Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. is focused on advancing its 100%-owned Spanish Mountain Gold Project (Project) towards construction of the next gold mine in the Cariboo Gold Corridor, British Columbia. The Company will publish, within 45 days of the July 3, 2025 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) news release, a new NI 43-101 Technical Report setting out the new executable vision to advance the Project. This new NI 43-101 Technical Report, with a de-risked and optimized PEA with an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE), will supersede the prior technical report of the Company. Upon receipt of the new PEA and updated MRE, the Company will decide the next steps to advance the Project to position the Company to make a construction decision in or before 2027. We are striving to be a leader in community and Indigenous relations by leveraging technology and innovation to build the 'greenest' gold mine in Canada. The Relentless Pursuit for Better Gold means seeking new ways to achieve optimal financial outcomes that are safer, minimize environmental impact and create meaningful sustainability for communities. Details of the Company are available on www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website: www.spanishmountaingold.com. On Behalf of the Board, "Peter Mah" President, Chief Executive Officer and Director Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information (collectively referred to as "forward-looking information". Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in forward-looking information in this press release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. The forward-looking information in this press release include, amongst others: the terms of the Offering, the anticipated closing date of the Offering, the ability of the Company to complete the Offering, the approval of the closing of the Offering by the TSX Venture Exchange, the issuance of the Offered Securities, the intended use of proceeds of the Offering and filing of the Amended Offering Document. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking information. By their nature, forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause 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 information. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others: currency fluctuations; limited business history; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general development, market and industry conditions. The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of their securities or their respective financial or operating results (as applicable). The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Company's forward-looking information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. The Company does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250811346941/en/ Contact For more information, contact: Peter Mah, CEO (604) 601-3651 info@spanishmountaingold.com Vancouver - August 11, 2025, - Wedgemount Resources Corp. (CSE: WDGY)(OTCQB: WDGRF) ("Wedgemount" or the "Company"), today announces an agreement to sell up to a five percent (5%) Overriding Royalty Interest ("ORRI") in the Company's west central Texas oil and gas assets to an arm's length third-party ("Purchaser") for proceeds of up to USD$800,000. The royalty sale agreement consists of an initial purchase of a one percent (1%) ORRI in Wedgemount's 100% working interest for total proceeds of $160,000. The Purchaser has a 120-day option to purchase up to an additional 4% ORRI for a total of 5%. The price for each additional one percent (1%) ORRI is USD$160,000. Proceeds from the sale will be used to both upgrade field facilities and optimize producing wells through workovers and chemical treatments. Commenting on the transaction, Mark Vanry, CEO of Wedgemount said "The ORRI transaction increases our liquidity and thus enables us to deploy more growth capital into our existing assets." About Wedgemount Resources Corp. Wedgemount Resources is a junior oil & gas company focused on maximizing shareholder value through the acquisition, development and exploitation of oil and gas projects in Texas, USA. On behalf of the Board of Directors, WEDGEMOUNT RESOURCES CORP. Mark Vanry, President and CEO For more information, please contact the Company at: Telephone: (604) 343-4743 info@wedgemountresources.com www.wedgemountresources.com Reader Advisory This news release may contain statements which constitute "forward-looking information", including statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of the Company, its directors, or its officers with respect to the future business activities of the Company. The words "may", "would", "could", "will", "intend", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company, or its management, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements made in this news release includes, deploying more growth capital into existing assets. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future business activities and involve risks and uncertainties, and that the Company's future business activities may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, availability of funds, personnel and other resources necessary to conduct exploration or development programs, successes of the Company's exploration efforts, availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such information will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. The Company does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking information except as required under the applicable securities laws. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. CF25-02 demonstrated vertically-extensive alteration, and tested the entirety of the Wenban Formation and the majority of the Roberts Mountains Formation, the two most productive stratigraphic horizons in the district The first three holes of the campaign have confirmed that lower-plate strata can routinely be reached over the Campfire Target Complex - Westward Gold Inc. (CSE: WG, OTCQB: WGLIF, FSE: IM50) ("Westward" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on its 2025 drilling campaign, currently underway at its flagship Toiyabe Hills Property in Lander County, Nevada ("Toiyabe Hills", or the "Property"). Westward is testing its high-priority Campfire Target Complex ("Campfire") with approximately 5,000 metres (~16,500 feet) of reverse-circulation ("RC") drilling (see press release date July 8, 2025, for additional details). To date, three holes have been completed (combined depth of 2,251 m) with samples for the first two sent to Paragon Geochemical Services Inc. ("Paragon") for gold and multi-element analysis (CF25-03 samples are awaiting imminent delivery). CF25-02 was selected as the first hole to undergo detailed logging of RC chips and is described in further detail herein. Hole CF25-04 was recently initiated and drilling at a depth of 244m as of the evening of August 10th; see Figure 1 below for a map of completed and in-progress holes at Campfire. Figure 1: Completed & In-Progress Drilling - Campfire Target, Toiyabe Hills Lessons learned during the drilling of CF25-01 enabled the Company to push CF25-02 and CF25-03 to significant depths; as a result, CF25-02 became the first hole ever at Toiyabe Hills to test the Roberts Mountains Formation, an important gold-hosting horizon at nearby mines and major deposits. Based on detailed logging of RC chips, the contact between the Roberts Mountains and the Wenban Formation was estimated at approximately 1,840' / 560m depth. With CF25-02, the extensive decalcification mapped at surface is now confirmed down-section in both the Wenban and Roberts Mountains Formations - with 13 logged intervals of moderate to strongly-decalcified lower-plate rocks ranging in thickness from 20' (6.1m) to 310' (94.5m). The Company also observed eight zones of intrusive rocks, confirming that the intermediate to mafic (lamprophyre) dikes observed at surface are also present at depth in CF25-02 (see Figure 2 below). Figure 2: CF25-02 Stratigraphic Column w/ Observed Alteration & Intrusive Rocks Click Image To View Full Size Steven Koehler, Westward Technical Advisor, commented: "The 2024 Anaconda-style geological mapping provided much-needed surface information regarding the hydrothermal system, structure and host rocks - the three critical ingredients required for a compelling gold target at Toiyabe Hills. Mapping identified the northeast-plunging, igneous dike-filled Campfire Anticline and a variety of stratigraphic and structural target opportunities - the Campfire Target Complex - in the anticline. Westward's 2025 Phase 1 drilling campaign began at the up-plunge expression of the anticline, where surface exposures of decalcified Wenban Formation limestone crop out. Drill hole CF25-02 intersected multiple zones of altered igneous dikes and vertically-extensive zones of decalcification at depth in the favorable Wenban and Roberts Mountains Formations. It's a rare day in Nevada to confirm these downhole geological patterns in an underexplored gold system so close to the major Cortez camp. Drilling to date reinforces my confidence in our initial interpretations that Campfire is an expansive Carlin-type hydrothermal system both in plan and in the third dimension at depth." Based on detailed logging, the Company has interpreted that CF25-02 was near the Roberts Mountains / Hanson Creek formational contact when the hole was completed. This interpretation was supported by i) a distinct increase in dolomite content as the hole approached its ultimate depth, and ii) the documented thickness of the Roberts Mountains Formation in the district. CF25-03, the first hole of the program to test the down-plunge expression of the Campfire Anticline where it intersects coincident geophysical anomalies, was collared in upper-plate siliciclastic rocks. Based on preliminary logging at the drill rig, Westward estimates that the hole pierced into the Wenban Formation at a depth of 1,005' / 306m. This represents a significant positive development in the early stages of the campaign: confirmation that lower-plate host rock strata can routinely be reached with RC drilling across the Campfire Complex, and moreover - over a large extent of the ~61 square kilometer Property as a whole. This also effectively demonstrates that surface anomalies observed in upper-plate rocks can be chased at depth into favourable carbonate rocks with relative ease. Quality Assurance / Quality Control ("QA/QC") The Company is implementing a best-practices QA/QC program during its 2025 drilling campaign. All sampling is being conducted under the supervision of the Company's Vice President Exploration and/or members of its technical team, and the chain of custody from the Property to the sample preparation facility is being continuously monitored. Samples are being transported directly from the field to Paragon's facility located at 1555 Industrial Way, Sparks, NV, 89431. Samples are dried at 100 degrees Celsius, crushed to 70% passing 10-mesh, riffle split 250 grams, and pulverized to 85% passing 200-mesh. Fire assay and multi-element analysis will be completed at the same location. RC samples are being collected in five-foot intervals. Certified standards and blanks are being inserted every 65 feet / 13 samples for a frequency of 8% or greater. Rig duplicates, coarse duplicates, and pulp duplicates are being collected or created every 250 feet respectively for a sample frequency of 2% each. Standards and blanks were sourced from MEG LLC of Lamoille, NV. All samples will be analyzed for gold and 35 additional elements. Assays will consist of fire assays (Au-FA30) for gold, and aqua regia / ICP-OES (35AR-OES) for multi-element geochemistry. Drill-hole deviation for the submitted holes was measured by gyroscopic down-hole surveys with tooling provided by REFLEX of Elko, NV. The deviation surveys provide accurate data about the true inclination and azimuth of the holes. Obtaining an accurate survey of the drillholes leads to a better contextual understanding of the RC samples, and a more robust 3D geological model. Qualified Person The technical information contained in this news release was reviewed and approved by Robert Edie, Vice President Exploration of the Company, who is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Edie is a Certified Professional Geologist (CPG) through the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG). About Westward Gold Westward Gold is a mineral exploration company focused on developing the Toiyabe Hills Project located in the Cortez Hills area of Lander County, Nevada, and the Coyote and Rossi Projects located along the Carlin Trend in Elko County, Nevada. From time to time, the Company may also evaluate the acquisition of other mineral exploration assets and opportunities. For further information contact: Andrew Nelson Chief Financial Officer Westward Gold Inc. +1 (604) 828-7027 andrew@westwardgold.com www.westwardgold.com The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This news release contains or incorporates by reference "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes, or developments that the Company expects to occur are, or may be deemed, to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally, but not always, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expect", "believe", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "potential", "on track", "forecast", "budget", "target", "outlook", "continue", "plan" or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved or the negative connotation of such terms. Such statements include, but may not be limited to, information as to strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance, such as the Company's expansion plans, project timelines, expected drilling targets and assay timelines, and other statements that express management's expectations or estimates of future plans and performance. Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, the need for additional capital by the Company through financings, and the risk that such funds may not be raised; the speculative nature of exploration and the stages of the Company's properties; the effect of changes in commodity prices; regulatory risks that development of the Company's material properties will not be acceptable for social, environmental or other reasons, availability of equipment (including drills) and personnel to carry out work programs, that each stage of work will be completed within expected time frames, that current geological models and interpretations prove correct, the results of ongoing work programs may lead to a change of exploration priorities, and the efforts and abilities of the senior management team. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements or information. These and other factors may cause the Company to change its exploration and work programs, not proceed with work programs, or change the timing or order of planned work programs. Additional risk factors and details with respect to risk factors that may affect the Company's ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are set out in the Company's latest management discussion and analysis under "Risks and Uncertainties", which is available under the Company's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Company's forward-looking statements and information are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations, and opinions of management as of the date of this press release, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements and information if circumstances or management's assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements or information. Copyright (c) 2025 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Vancouver, August 11, 2025 - Gold Springs Resource Corp. (TSX: GRC) (OTCQB: GRCAF) (the "Company"), reports the release of its unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025 and the related management's discussion and analysis of financial position and results of operations ("MD&A"). In this press release, all amounts are expressed in U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated. During the six months ended June 30, 2025, general and administrative expenses, excluding non-cash share-based payments, decreased to $0.27 million compared with $0.31 million during the six months ended June 30, 2024.During the three months ended June 30, 2025, general and administrative expenses, excluding non-cash share-based payments, decreased to $0.13 million compared with $0.16 million during the three months ended June 30, 2024. Exploration spending during the six months ended June 30, 2025, increased to $0.025 million, from $0.017 million incurred during the same period of 2024. During the six months ended June 30, 2025, the Company reported a net loss of $0.30 million ($nil loss per share) compared with net loss of $0.34 million ($nil loss per share) for the six months ended June 30, 2024, primarily resulting from a reduction in share-based payment expense and a reduction in administrative costs. During the three months ended June 30, 2025, the Company reported a net loss of $0.13 million ($nil loss per share) compared with net loss of $0.18 million ($nil loss per share) for the three months ended June 30, 2024, primarily resulting from share-based payment recoveries and a reduction in administrative costs. As of June 30, 2025, the Company had cash of $0.02 million. Operations Update The Company is pleased to announce that it has continued working with ADT Environmental & Mineral Consultants and Global Resource Engineering to apply for permits to build a heap-leach processing pilot plant on private land and a starter pit at the South Jumbo area in Utah, where a resource estimate of 214,565 oz M&I Au has been identified *. In addition, during the period ended June 30, 2025 the Company engaged the services of Gardiner Brothers Drilling Inc. to commence work on drilling a water well near the processing facility, which will have the capacity to supply water for a large-scale operation. * Please refer to the technical report: "Mineral Resource Estimate NI 43-101 Technical Report - Gold Springs Project - Utah-Nevada, USA" dated July 11, 2022 for additional information (Measured: 114,558 oz Au (6,456,000 tonnes with a grade of 0.55 gpt) - Indicated: 100,007 oz Au (5,657,000 tonnes with a grade of 0.55 gpt - M&I: 214,565 oz AU (12,115,000 tonnes with a grade of 0.55 gpt)). About Gold Springs Resource Corp. Gold Springs Resource Corp. (TSX: GRC) and (OTCQB: GRCAF) is focused on the exploration and expansion of the gold and silver resources of its large Gold Springs project located on the border of Nevada and Utah, USA. The project is situated in the prolific Great Basin of Western USA, one of the best mining jurisdictions in the world. Qualified Person Randall Moore, Executive Vice-President Exploration, Gold Springs Resource Corp., is the Company's designated Qualified Person for this news release within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. He has approved the scientific or technical information in this release. Gold Springs Resource Corp. Contact: Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained herein constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Forward-looking statements look into the future and provide an opinion as to the effect of certain events and trends on the business. Forward-looking statements herein may include words such as "creating", "believe", "would", "continue", "will", "promising", "should", and similar expressions and includes the statement relating to the construction of a processing plant and starter pit at South Jumbo, the South Jumbo mineral resource estimate and the completion of a water well that will have the capacity to supply a large-scale operation. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and entail various risks and uncertainties. Actual results may materially differ from expectations if known and unknown risks or uncertainties affect our business or if our estimates or assumptions prove inaccurate. Factors that could cause results or events to differ materially from current expectations expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, risks of the mineral exploration industry which may affect the advancement of the Gold Springs project, including possible variations in mineral resources, grade, recovery rates, metal prices, capital and operating costs, and the application of taxes; availability of sufficient financing to fund planned or further required work in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; availability of equipment and qualified personnel, failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, changes in project parameters, including water requirements for operations, as plans continue to be refined; regulatory, environmental and other risks of the mining industry more fully described in the Company's Annual Information Form and continuous disclosure documents, which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. The assumptions made in developing the forward-looking statements include: the accuracy of current resource estimates and the interpretation of drill, metallurgical testing and other exploration results; the continuing support for mining by local governments in Nevada and Utah; the availability of equipment and qualified personnel to advance the Gold Springs project; execution of the Company's existing plans and further exploration and development programs for Gold Springs, which may change due to changes in the views of the Company or if new information arises which makes it prudent to change such plans or programs. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason. Unless otherwise indicated, forward-looking statements in this press release describe the Company's expectations as of the date hereof. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/262116 HIGHLIGHTS: Cygnus has identified numerous drilling targets near the historic high-grade Cedar Bay mine, which produced 400Koz Au and 61Kt Cu at an average of 4% CuEq, 2 within the Chibougamau Project within the Chibougamau Project Targets identified through ongoing review of historical data and drill logs using Cygnus' innovative custom-built AI solution This highly successful approach has already delivered significant gold and copper results at Golden Eye, which will be included in the imminent resource update Cedar Bay closed in 1990 when the price of copper was just US$1,150/t (US$0.52/lb) and gold was US$380/oz, and is located less than 3km from Cygnus' central processing plant Cygnus aims to significantly increase the remaining unmined high-grade resource at Cedar Bay, which currently stands at 130kt at 8.9% CuEq Indicated and 230kt at 8.5% CuEq Inferred 1 Mineralisation is open in numerous directions, with high-grade intersections outside of the current resource, including: 3 3.4m @ 16.8% CuEq (4.8% Cu, 15.2g/t Au & 23.3g/t Ag) (CB-27-9) 2.9m @ 9.6% CuEq (8.4% Cu, 1.0g/t Au & 43.0g/t Ag) (CB-27-6) At Corner Bay, final infill results have been received and will feed into next month's resource update; These include: 3.5m @ 4.9% CuEq (4.2% Cu, 0.5g/t Au & 27.3g/t Ag) (CB-25-123) 1.8m @ 7.7% CuEq (6.3% Cu, 0.9g/t Au & 45.9g/t Ag) (CB-25-125) Cygnus Executive Chairman David Southam said: "These latest targets, supported by historical drilling data, are located right next to a high-grade mine, making them compelling. "Given their potential to help drive resource growth, we are mobilising another rig with the aim of drilling the targets ASAP. "In the meantime, we are feeding the final results from Corner Bay into our updated resource model, which is set to be released next month. The resource update, combined with a pipeline of targets and multiple rigs turning, ensures we are maximising our ability to create significant shareholder value. "Uncovering these new growth targets through our compilation strategy adds further weight to the work we are doing in the background which has already delivered success at Golden Eye in a mere six months of taking ownership. The Chibougamau camp has successfully produced a significant amount of high-grade gold and copper over a long history with multiple mines that have not been geologically or economically examined in over 35 years". TORONTO and PERTH, Australia, Aug. 11, 2025 -- Cygnus Metals Ltd. (ASX: CY5; TSXV: CYG; OTCQB: CYGGF) ("Cygnus" or the "Company") is pleased to announce new promising targets next to an historic high-grade mine within its Chibougamau Copper-Gold Project in Quebec. Cedar Bay sits within the Company's northern Chibougamau copper-gold Camp, which boasts the vast majority of the historic production in the region, with a number of historic mines and a production record of nearly 1Mt of copper and 3.5Moz of gold.2 The Cedar Bay mine, which closed in 1990, was historically one of the highest grade deposits in the camp producing 400Koz Au and 61Kt Cu at an average grade of 4.0% CuEq.2 Various factors contributed to its premature closure, including low metal prices and a shift in focus of the operating company at the time. Importantly, a high-grade unmined resource remains at Cedar Bay comprised of 130kt at 8.9% CuEq Indicated and 230kt at 8.5% CuEq Inferred Resources.1 This resource is open in numerous directions, providing Cygnus with potential to significantly grow the resource through systematic exploration drilling. Drill intersections outside of the current resource include:3 3.4m @ 16.8% CuEq (4.8% Cu, 15.2g/t Au & 23.3g/t Ag) (CB-27-9) 2.9m @ 9.6% CuEq (8.4% Cu, 1.0g/t Au & 43.0g/t Ag) (CB-27-6) Cygnus is seeing tangible success through its historic data compilation strategy. This low-cost approach involves processing over 100,000 scanned documents, including drill logs, some of which have not been looked at in over 35 years and never before in modern 3D software. Success has already been demonstrated in recent drilling at Golden Eye, which is due to be included in the September quarter resource update, and is highlighting significant potential to expand the current resources at Cedar Bay. Given the potential of the new targets, an additional drill rig will target both mineralisation along strike and down dip of the known lodes, utilising the recently compiled data and improved geological understanding of the deposit. This will be the first time this data has been compiled and utilised in targeting in over 35 years. In addition, final results have been received from infill drilling at Corner Bay in time for the resource update due next month. Results include significant intersections of: 3.5m @ 4.9% CuEq (4.2% Cu, 0.5g/t Au & 27.3g/t Ag) (CB-25-123) 1.8m @ 7.7% CuEq (6.3% Cu, 0.9g/t Au & 45.9g/t Ag) (CB-25-125) Cygnus is continuing its dual track strategy of resource growth and conversion with continued exploration drilling and an imminent resource update due later this quarter. In the background, the team continues to process historic data and generate additional drill targets surrounding the known high-grade copper-gold mineralisation. This is a low-risk approach which is playing a significant role in unlocking this historic district. The Chibougamau area has well-established infrastructure giving the Project a significant head start as a copper-gold development opportunity. This infrastructure includes a 900,000tpa processing facility, local mining town, sealed highway, airport, regional rail infrastructure and 25kV hydro power to the processing site. Significantly, the Chibougamau processing facility is the only base metal processing facility within a 250km radius which includes a number of other advanced copper and gold projects. Figure 1: Location of Cedar Bay within the Chibougamau North Camp which boasts a historic production record of nearly 1Mt of copper and 3.5Moz of gold.2 Figure 2: Composite Long Section through the Chibougamau North Camp illustrating Cedar Bay with intersections of 3.4m @ 16.8% CuEq outside of current resources. Refer to ASX releases dated 15 October 2024, 25 March 2025 and 8 May 2025 for previously announced drilling results. This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of Directors of Cygnus. David Southam Ernest Mast Media: Executive Chair President & Managing Director Paul Armstrong T: +61 8 6118 1627 T: +1 647 921 0501 Read Corporate E: info@cygnusmetals.com E: info@cygnusmetals.com T: +61 8 9388 1474 About Cygnus Metals Cygnus Metals Limited (ASX: CY5, TSXV: CYG, OTCQB: CYGGF) is a diversified critical minerals exploration and development company with projects in Quebec, Canada and Western Australia. The Company is dedicated to advancing its Chibougamau Copper-Gold Project in Quebec with an aggressive exploration program to drive resource growth and develop a hub-and-spoke operation model with its centralised processing facility. In addition, Cygnus has quality lithium assets with significant exploration upside in the world-class James Bay district in Quebec, and REE and base metal projects in Western Australia. The Cygnus team has a proven track record of turning exploration success into production enterprises and creating shareholder value. Forward Looking Statements This release may contain certain forward-looking statements and projections regarding estimates, resources and reserves; planned production and operating costs profiles; planned capital requirements; and planned strategies and corporate objectives. Such forward looking statements/projections are estimates for discussion purposes only and should not be relied upon. They are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond Cygnus' control. Cygnus makes no representations and provides no warranties concerning the accuracy of the projections and disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements/projections based on new information, future events or otherwise except to the extent required by applicable laws. While the information contained in this release has been prepared in good faith, neither Cygnus or any of its directors, officers, agents, employees or advisors give any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the fairness, accuracy, completeness or correctness of the information, opinions and conclusions contained in this release. Accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted by law, none of Cygnus, its directors, employees or agents, advisers, nor any other person accepts any liability whether direct or indirect, express or limited, contractual, tortuous, statutory or otherwise, in respect of the accuracy or completeness of the information or for any of the opinions contained in this release or for any errors, omissions or misstatements or for any loss, howsoever arising, from the use of this release. End Notes The estimate of mineralisation at the Chibougamau Project is a foreign estimate prepared in accordance with CIM Standards. A competent person has not done sufficient work to classify the foreign estimate as a mineral resource in accordance with the JORC Code, and it is uncertain whether further evaluation and exploration will result in an estimate reportable under the JORC Code. Refer to Appendix B for a breakdown of the Foreign Mineral Resource Estimate. Historic production statistics for the Chibougamau area are recorded in Leclerc. F, Harris. L. B, Bedard. J. H, Van Breeman. O and Goulet. N. 2012, Structural and Stratigraphic Controls on Magmatic, Volcanogenic, and Shear Zone-Hosted Mineralization in the Chapais-Chibougamau Mining Camp, Northeastern Abitibi, Canada. Society of Economic Geologists, Inc. Economic Geology, v. 107, pp. 963-989. Refer to Cygnus' ASX announcement "Copper Merger and Equity Raise" dated 15 October 2024. Qualified Persons and Compliance Statements The scientific and technical information in this announcement has been reviewed and approved by Mr Louis Beaupre, the Quebec Exploration Manager of Cygnus, a "qualified person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The Exploration Results disclosed in this announcement are also based on and fairly represent information and supporting documentation compiled by Mr Beaupre. Mr Beaupre holds options in Cygnus. Mr Beaupre is a member of the Ordre des ingenieurs du Quebec (P. Eng.), a Registered Overseas Professional Organisation as defined in the ASX Listing Rules, and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposits under consideration and to the activity which has been undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the "Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves". Mr Beaupre consents to the inclusion in this release of the matters based on the information in the form and context in which they appear. The Company first announced the foreign estimate of mineralisation for the Chibougamau Project on 15 October 2024. The Company confirms that the supporting information included in the original announcement continues to apply and has not materially changed, notwithstanding the clarification announcement released by Cygnus on 28 January 2025 ("Clarification"). Cygnus confirms that (notwithstanding the Clarification) it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the original announcement and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the original announcement continue to apply and have not materially changed. Cygnus confirms that it is not in possession of any new information or data that materially impacts on the reliability of the estimates or Cygnus' ability to verify the foreign estimates as mineral resources in accordance with the JORC Code. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Persons' findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcement. The information in this announcement that relates to previously reported Exploration Results at the Company's projects has been previously released by Cygnus in ASX Announcements as noted in the text and End Notes. Cygnus is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information in these announcements. The Company confirms that the form and context in which the Competent Persons' findings are presented have not been materially modified from the original market announcements. Individual grades for the metals included in the metal equivalents calculation for the foreign estimate are in Appendix B of this release. Metal equivalents for the foreign estimate of mineralisation have been calculated at a copper price of US$8,750/t, gold price of US$2,350/oz, with copper equivalents calculated based on the formula CuEq (%) = Cu(%) + (Au (g/t) x 0.77258). Individual grades for the metals included in the metal equivalents calculation for the exploration results are in Appendix A of this release. Metal equivalents for exploration results have been calculated at a copper price of US$8,750/t, gold price of US$2,350/oz and silver price of US$25/oz. Copper equivalents are calculated based on the formula CuEq(%) = Cu(%) + (Au(g/t) x 0.77258)+(Ag(g/t) x 0.00822). Gold equivalents are calculated based on the formula AuEq(g/t) = Au(g/t) +(Cu(%) x 1.29436)+(Ag(g/t) x 0.01064). Metallurgical recovery factors have been applied to the metal equivalents calculations, with copper metallurgical recovery assumed at 95% and precious metal (gold and silver) metallurgical recovery assumed at 85% based upon historical production at the Chibougamau Processing Facility, and the metallurgical results contained in Cygnus' announcement dated 28 January 2025. It is the Company's view that all elements in the metal equivalents calculations in respect of the foreign estimate and exploration results have a reasonable potential to be recovered and sold. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. APPENDIX A - Significant Intersections from Infill Drilling Coordinates given in UTM NAD83 (Zone 18). Intercept lengths may not add up due to rounding to the appropriate reporting precision. Significant intersections reported above 1% CuEq over widths of greater than 1m. True width estimated to be 80% of downhole thickness. HOLEID X Y Z Azi Dip Depth From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Cu (%) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) CuEq (%) CB-25-123 554619 5510023 394.0 96.5 -60 574.0 559.0 560.8 1.8 6.3 0.9 45.9 7.4 CB-25-124 554619 5510023 394.0 92.0 -66 679.0 667.1 669.8 2.6 1.5 0.1 6.8 1.6 CB-25-125 554619 5510023 394.0 84.0 -64 643.5 594.0 598.5 4.5 3.4 0.4 22.1 3.9 CB-25-127 555071 5509889 402.8 90.0 -60 300.0 267.1 269.4 2.3 2.7 0.5 10.4 3.2 APPENDIX B - Chibougamau Copper-Gold Project - Foreign Mineral Resource Estimate Disclosures as at 30 March 2022 Deposit Category Tonnes (k) Cu Grade (%) Au Grade (g/t) Cu Metal (kt) Au Metal (koz) CuEq Grade (%) Corner Bay (2022) Indicated 2,700 2.7 0.3 71 22 2.9 Inferred 5,900 3.4 0.3 201 51 3.6 Devlin (2022) Measured 120 2.7 0.3 3 1 2.9 Indicated 660 2.1 0.2 14 4 2.3 Measured & Indicated 780 2.2 0.2 17 5 2.4 Inferred 480 1.8 0.2 9 3 2.0 Joe Mann (2022) Inferred 610 0.2 6.8 1 133 5.5 Cedar Bay (2018) Indicated 130 1.6 9.4 2 39 8.9 Inferred 230 2.1 8.3 5 61 8.5 Total Measured & Indicated 3,600 2.5 0.6 90 66 3.0 Inferred 7,200 3.0 1.1 216 248 3.8 APPENDIX C - 2012 JORC Table 1 Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary Sampling techniques Nature and quality of sampling (eg cut channels, random chips, or specific specialised industry standard measurement tools appropriate to the minerals under investigation, such as down hole gamma sondes, or handheld XRF instruments, etc). These examples should not be taken as limiting the broad meaning of sampling. All drilling conducted by Cygnus Metals at the Chibougamau Project was completed under the supervision of a registered professional geologist as a Qualified Person (QP) who is responsible and accountable for the planning, execution, and supervision of all exploration activity as well as the implementation of quality assurance programs and reporting. All Cygnus drilling reported is NQ size (47.8 mm diameter). Include reference to measures taken to ensure sample representativity and the appropriate calibration of any measurement tools or systems used. All sample collection, core logging, and specific gravity determinations were completed by Cygnus Metals under the supervision of a professionally qualified registered geologist. NQ core was marked for splitting during logging and is sawn using a diamond core saw with a mounted jig to assure the core is cut lengthwise into equal halves. Half of the cut core is placed in clean individual plastic bags with the appropriate sample tag. QA/QC is done in-house by Cygnus Metals geologists with oversight from the Senior Geologist. The check samples (blanks and standards - 4% of total samples with another 2% of core duplicates taken on half split core) that were inserted into the sample batches are verified against their certified values and are deemed a pass if they are within 3 standard deviations of the certified value. The duplicates are evaluated against each other to determine mineralization distribution (nugget). If there are large discrepancies in the check samples, then the entire batch is requested to be re-assayed. The samples are then placed in bags for shipment to the offsite laboratory's facility. The remaining half of the core is retained and incorporated into Cygnus's secure, core library located on the property. Aspects of the determination of mineralisation that are Material to the Public Report. In cases where 'industry standard' work has been done this would be relatively simple (eg 'reverse circulation drilling was used to obtain 1 m samples from which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a 30 g charge for fire assay'). In other cases more explanation may be required, such as where there is coarse gold that has inherent sampling problems. Unusual commodities or mineralisation types (eg submarine nodules) may warrant disclosure of detailed information. Industry standard sampling practices were used with sample lengths ranging from 0.3 m to 1.0 m and respected geological contacts. Sample tags were placed at the beginning of each sample interval and the tag numbers were recorded in a centralised database. Sampling practice is considered to be appropriate to the geology and style of mineralisation. Drilling techniques Drill type (eg core, reverse circulation, open-hole hammer, rotary air blast, auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details (eg core diameter, triple or standard tube, depth of diamond tails, face-sampling bit or other type, whether core is oriented and if so, by what method, etc). Diamond core was drilled using surface diamond rigs with industry recognised contractors Miikan Drilling. Miikan is a joint venture between Chibougamau Diamond Drilling Ltd., the First Nations community of Ouje-Bougoumou and the First Nations community of Mistissini both located in the Eeyou Istchee territory. Drilling was conducted using NQ core size. Directional surveys have been taken at 50m intervals. Drill sample recovery Method of recording and assessing core and chip sample recoveries and results assessed. Measures taken to maximise sample recovery and ensure representative nature of the samples. Whether a relationship exists between sample recovery and grade and whether sample bias may have occurred due to preferential loss/gain of fine/coarse material. Diamond core recovery was measured for each run and calculated as a percentage of the drilled interval. Overall, the core recoveries are excellent in the Chibougamau area. As a result, no bias exists. Logging Whether core and chip samples have been geologically and geotechnically logged to a level of detail to support appropriate Mineral Resource estimation, mining studies and metallurgical studies. All core was geologically and geotechnically logged. Lithology, veining, alteration and mineralisation are recorded in multiple tables of the drillhole database. Whether logging is qualitative or quantitative in nature. Core (or costean, channel, etc) photography. Geological logging of core is qualitative and descriptive in nature. The total length and percentage of the relevant intersections logged. 100% of the core has been logged. Sub- sampling techniques and sample preparation If core, whether cut or sawn and whether quarter, half or all core taken. If non-core, whether riffled, tube sampled, rotary split, etc and whether sampled wet or dry. For all sample types, the nature, quality and appropriateness of the sample preparation technique. Quality control procedures adopted for all sub-sampling stages to maximise representivity of samples. Measures taken to ensure that the sampling is representative of the in-situ material collected, including for instance results for field duplicate/second-half sampling. Whether sample sizes are appropriate to the grain size of the material being sampled. The NQ diameter the core was sawn in half following a sample cutting line determined by geologists during logging and submitted for analysis on nominal 1m intervals or defined by geological boundaries determined by the logging geologist. Each core sample is assigned a tag with a unique identifying number. Sample lengths are typically one metre but can be depending on zone mineralogy and boundaries. This sampling technique is industry standard and deemed appropriate. Sample sizes are considered appropriate to grain size of the materials being sampled. Quality of assay data and laboratory tests The nature, quality and appropriateness of the assaying and laboratory procedures used and whether the technique is considered partial or total. Sample (NQ size half core) preparation and fire assay analysis were done at Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd ("BV") in Timmins, Ontario, and ICP-ES multi-elements analysis was done at BV in Vancouver, B.C. Samples were weighed, dried, crushed to 70% passing 2 mm, split to 250 g, and pulverized to 85% passing 75 m. Samples are fire assayed for gold (Au) (50 g) and multi-acid digestion ICP-ES finish, for 23 elements (including key elements Ag, Cu, Mo). Samples with visible gold or likely to have gold grains are analysed with metallic screen fire assay. Samples assaying >10.0 g/t Au are re-analysed with a gravimetric finish using a 50 g charge. Samples assaying >10% Cu are re-analysed with a sodium peroxide fusion with ICP-ES analysis using a 0.25 g charge. For geophysical tools, spectrometers, handheld XRF instruments, etc, the parameters used in determining the analysis including instrument make and model, reading times, calibrations factors applied and their derivation, etc. None used. Nature of quality control procedures adopted (eg standards, blanks, duplicates, external laboratory checks) and whether acceptable levels of accuracy (i.e. lack of bias) and precision have been established. At Bureau Veritas, laboratory QC procedures involve the use of internal certified reference material as assay standards, along with blanks, duplicates and replicates. Verification of sampling and assaying The verification of significant intersections by either independent or alternative company personnel. Verification of sampling was made by Cygnus Metals and other professional consultant geologists. The use of twinned holes. No hole is twinned. Documentation of primary data, data entry procedures, data verification, data storage (physical and electronic) protocols. All logging data was completed, core marked up, logging and sampling data was entered directly into the database. The logged data is stored on the site server directly. Discuss any adjustment to assay data. There was no adjustment to the assay data. Location of data points Accuracy and quality of surveys used to locate drill holes (collar and down-hole surveys), trenches, mine workings and other locations used in Mineral Resource estimation. The location of the drill holes and the aiming points for the orientation of the drill holes were indicated on the ground using identified stakes. The stakes marking the location of the drillholes were set up and located with a Garmin GPS model "GPSmap 62s" (4m accuracy). Surveys are collected using a Reflex EZ-Shot single-shot electronic instrument with readings collected at intervals of approximately every 30 m downhole plus a reading at the bottom of the hole. Specification of the grid system used. The grid system used is UTM NAD83 (Zone 18). Quality and adequacy of topographic control. A Digital Terrane Model (DTM) has been used to accurately plot the vertical position of the holes, which is considered to provide an adequate level of topographic control. Data spacing and distribution Data spacing for reporting of Exploration Results. The drill spacing for recent drilling is considered appropriate for this type of exploration. Whether the data spacing and distribution is sufficient to establish the degree of geological and grade continuity appropriate for the Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimation procedure(s) and classifications applied. No resource estimation is made. Whether sample compositing has been applied. No sample compositing has been applied. Orientation of data in relation to geological structure Whether the orientation of sampling achieves unbiased sampling of possible structures and the extent to which this is known, considering the deposit type. Recent drilling is orientated approximately at right angles to the currently interpreted strike of the known interpreted mineralisation. If the relationship between the drilling orientation and the orientation of key mineralised structures is considered to have introduced a sampling bias, this should be assessed and reported if material. No bias is considered to have been introduced by the existing sampling orientation. Sample security The measures taken to ensure sample security. Core was placed in wooden core boxes close to the drill rig by the drilling contractor. The core was collected daily by the drilling contractor and delivered to the secure core logging facility. Access to the core logging facility is limited to Cygnus employees or designates. Audits or reviews The results of any audits or reviews of sampling techniques and data. No audits or reviews of sampling techniques or data have been undertaken, therefore information on audits or reviews is not yet available. Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results (Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section.) Criteria JORC Code Explanation Commentary Mineral tenement and land tenure status Type, reference name/number, location and ownership including agreements or material issues with third parties such as joint ventures, partnerships, overriding royalties, native title interests, historical sites, wilderness or national park and environmental settings. The data reported within this announcement is from the Chibougamau Project. The Chibougamau project consists of 3 properties which include: Copper Rand, 14,383 ha (15 mining concession and 311 exploration claims). Includes Cedar Bay, Golden Eye and Colline. Corner Bay - Devlin (1 mining license, 134 exploration claims owned 100% by CBAY and 17 claims owned 56.4% by CBAY/43.6% Pan American Silver) Joe Mann (2 mining concessions, 82 claims owned 100% by CBAY, and 68 claims and 1 mining concession owned 65% by CBAY/35% by SOQUEM) CBAY Minerals Inc. ("CBAY"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Cygnus, is the owner of all claims and leases, except where otherwise noted above. The properties collectively making up the Project are in good standing based on the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (Ministere de l'Energie et des Ressources Naturelles) GESTIM claim management system of the Government of Quebec. The security of the tenure held at the time of reporting along with any known impediments to obtaining a licence to operate in the area. All tenure is in good standing. Exploration done by other parties Acknowledgment and appraisal of exploration by other parties. The Chibougamau Copper and Gold project comprising Corner Bay, Devlin, Cedar Bay and Joe Mann has seen an extensive exploration history dating back to the early 1900s. The Preliminary Economic Assessment (as referred to in the Company's announcement of 15 October 2024) provides a detailed history of the exploration activities undertaken by previous explorers. Corner Bay was first identified as a prospect in 1956 1956 - 1972 eight drilling programs totalling 1,463 m and various geophysical and electromagnetic (EM) surveys 1973 - 1981 Riocanex and Flanagan McAdam: ground geophysical surveys and 43 diamond drill holes 1982 - 1984 Riocanex and Corner Bay Exploration: 38 drill holes and metallurgical test work 1988 - 1991 Corner Bay Exploration: diamond drilling, geophysical surveys and geological characterisation with initial MRE 1992 - 1994 SOQUEM optioned and acquired a 30% interest, and completed diamond drilling 1994 Explorations Cache Inc and Resources MSV Inc: diamond drilling 2004 - 2006 GeoNova and MSV: 98 diamond drill holes and first Technical Report on the Corner Bay project reporting a MRE 2007 - 2009 Campbell: diamond drilling and bulk sample 2012 - 2019 CBAY / AmAuCu: diamond drilling and MRE Devlin identified in 1972 by airborne survey flown by the MERN 1979 - 1981 diamond drilling, geophysical surveys 1981 development commenced Joe Mann identified in 1950 with the commencement of mining activities occurring in 1956 The Joe Mann mine operated underground during three different periods from 1956 to 2007 In July 2012, Resources Jessie acquired the Joe Mann mine property, but conducted only surface exploration work Cedar Bay was discovered prior to 1927 by Chibougamau McKenzie Mines Ltd From initial discovery to 2013 various surface and underground drilling campaigns and geophysical surveys undertaken by various companies Colline was first discovered with mapping and sampling and then drilled in the 1950s with follow up drilling in 1955. In the 1950s a shaft was sunk but the deposit was never mined The deposit was later tested with three drill holes and six regional drill holes throughout two drilling campaigns in 1984 and 1986/87 Exploration at Colline has been halted historically with the discovery of and focus on other deposits in the region Golden Eye (previously known as Dore Ramp) was drilled in a few different phases from 1984 to 1992. A total of 47 drill holes from surface are reported during that period A double ramp of approximately 1 kilometre was excavated in 1991-92 to a vertical depth of 160 meters Underground drilling campaign of 46 holes totalling 10,200 meters tested the deposit mainly to a depth of 240 meters (only five holes tested the deposit between 300 and 600 meters) Geology Deposit type, geological setting and style of mineralisation. Corner Bay and Devlin are located at the northeastern extremity of the Abitibi subprovince in the Superior province of the Canadian Shield and are examples of Chibougamau-type copper-gold deposits. The Abitibi subprovince is considered as one of the largest and best-preserved greenstone belts in the world and hosts numerous gold and base metal deposits. The Corner Bay deposit is located on the southern flank of the Dore Lake Complex (DLC). It is hosted by a N 15 trending shear zone more or less continuous with a strong 75 to 85 dip towards the west. The host anorthosite rock is sheared and sericitized over widths of 2 m to 25 m. The deposit is cut by a diabase dyke and is limited to the north by a fault structure and to the south by the LaChib deformation zone. The Corner Bay deposit consists of three main mineralized lodes (subparallel Main Lode 1 and Main Lode 2 above the dyke, and Main Lode below the dyke that make up the bulk of the deposit. The Corner Bay deposit has been traced over a strike length to over 1,100 m to a depth of 1,350 m and remains open at depth. The mineralization is characterized by veins and/or lenses of massive to semi-massive sulphides associated with a brecciated to locally massive quartz-calcite material. The sulphide assemblage is composed of chalcopyrite, pyrite, and pyrrhotite with lesser amounts of molybdenite and sphalerite. Late remobilized quartz-chalcopyrite-pyrite veins occur in a wide halo around the main mineralization zones. Devlin is a flat-lying, copper-rich lodes-hosted deposit in a polygenic igneous breccia that is less than 100 m from the surface. The tabular bodies have been modelled as four nearly horizontal lodes: a more continuous lower zone and three smaller lodes comprising the upper zone. Mineralization is reflected as a fracture zone often composed of two or more sulphide-quartz lodes and stringers. Thickness of the mineralized zones range from 0.5 m to 4.4 m. It has been diluted during modelling to reflect a minimum mining height of 1.8 m. The Joe Mann deposit is characterized by east-west striking shear hosted lodes that extend beyond 1,000 m vertically with mineralization identified over a 3 km strike length. These shear zones form part of the Opawica-Guercheville deformation zone, a major deformation corridor cutting the mafic volcanic rocks of the Obatogamau Formation in the north part of the Caopatina Segment. The gabbro sill hosts the Main Zone and the West Zone at the mine, while the South Zone is found in the rhyolite. These three subvertical E-W (N275/85) ductile-brittle shear zones are sub-parallel to stratigraphy and to one another, with up to 140 m to 170 m of separation between them. These shear zones are hosted within a stratigraphic package composed of iron-magnesium (Fe-Mg) carbonate and sericite altered gabbro sills, sheared basalts, and intermediate to felsic tuffs intruded by various felsic intrusions. The Joe Mann gold mineralization is hosted by decimetre scale quartz-carbonate lodes (Dion and Guha 1988). The lodes are mineralized with pyrite, pyrrhotite, and chalcopyrite disposed in lens and lodelets parallel to schistosity, and occasionally visible gold. There are some other minor, mineralized structures, e.g., North and South-South Zones, with limited vertical and horizontal extensions. The Cedar Bay deposit is hosted by a sheared and altered gabbroic-anorthosite of the DLC. The meta-anorthosites are typically comprised of 70% to 90% plagioclase, which has been heavily altered to epidote and albite. The Cedar Bay deposit generally has a northwest strike and dips steeply to the northeast. The gold-copper sulphide veins average approximately 1.5 m in width and are tens to hundreds of metres in strike length. The individual mineralization lenses have approximately 3:1 down dip to along strike anisotropies. The veins are comprised of pyrite and chalcopyrite with some gold and minor sphalerite. The main alteration minerals are chlorite, quartz, and carbonates. Locally, pyrrhotite dominates the vein mineral assemblage. Pyrrhotite has a very heterogeneous distribution within the mineralization. Drill hole Information A summary of all information material to the understanding of the exploration results including a tabulation of the following information for all Material drill holes: easting and northing of the drill hole collar elevation or RL (Reduced Level - elevation above sea level in metres) of the drill hole collar dip and azimuth of the hole down hole length and interception depth hole length. If the exclusion of this information is justified on the basis that the information is not Material and this exclusion does not detract from the understanding of the report, the Competent Person should clearly explain why this is the case. All requisite drill hole information is tabulated elsewhere in this release. Refer Appendix A of the body text. Data aggregation methods In reporting Exploration Results, weighting averaging techniques, maximum and/or minimum grade truncations (eg cutting of high grades) and cut-off grades are usually Material and should be stated. For recent results, drill hole intersections are reported above a lower cut-off grade of 1% CuEq over greater than 1m width. Where aggregate intercepts incorporate short lengths of high-grade results and longer lengths of low-grade results, the procedure used for such aggregation should be stated and some typical examples of such aggregations should be shown in detail. A maximum of 1m internal waste was allowed. The assumptions used for any reporting of metal equivalent values should be clearly stated. Individual grades for the metals included in the metal equivalents calculation for the exploration results are in Appendix A of this release. Metal equivalents for exploration results have been calculated at a copper price of US$8,750/t, gold price of US$2,350/oz and silver price of US$25/oz. Copper equivalents are calculated based on the formula CuEq(%) = Cu(%) + (Au(g/t) x 0.77258)+(Ag(g/t) x 0.00822). Gold equivalents are calculated based on the formula AuEq(g/t) = Au(g/t) + (Cu(%) x 1.29436) + (Ag(g/t) x 0.01064). Metallurgical recovery factors have been applied to the metal equivalents calculations, with copper metallurgical recovery assumed at 95% and precious metal (gold and silver) metallurgical recovery assumed at 85% based upon historical production at the Chibougamau Processing Facility, and the metallurgical results contained in Cygnus' announcement dated 28 January 2025. It is the Company's view that all elements in the metal equivalent calculations have a reasonable potential to be recovered and sold. Relationship between mineralisation widths and intercept lengths These relationships are particularly important in the reporting of Exploration Results. If the geometry of the mineralisation with respect to the drill hole angle is known, its nature should be reported. If it is not known and only the down hole lengths are reported, there should be a clear statement to this effect (eg 'down hole length, true width not known'). All intersections reported in the body of this release are down hole. For recent drill holes, holes are drilled as close to orthogonal to the plane of the mineralized lodes as possible. True width is estimated to be about 80% of the downhole drill intersection. Diagrams Appropriate maps and sections (with scales) and tabulations of intercepts should be included for any significant discovery being reported. These should include,but not be limited to a plan view of drill hole collar locations and appropriate sectional views. Refer Figure 3 Location of recent drilling at Corner Bay: Balanced reporting Where comprehensive reporting of all Exploration Results is not practicable, representative reporting of both low and high grades and/or widths should be practiced to avoid misleading reporting of Exploration Results. Reported results from infill drilling at Corner Bay includes 4 holes for 2,196.5m. All results greater than 1% CuEq over greater than 1m width reported. Other substantive exploration data Other exploration data, if meaningful and material, should be reported including (but not limited to): geological observations; geophysical survey results; geochemical survey results; bulk samples - size and method of treatment; metallurgical test results; bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical and rock characteristics; potential deleterious or contaminating substances. There is no other substantive exploration data. Further work The nature and scale of planned further work (eg tests for lateral extensions or depth extensions or large-scale step-out drilling). Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas of possible extensions, including the main geological interpretations and future drilling areas, provided this information is not commercially sensitive. The Company plans to conduct drill testing of additional mineralisation as well as step out drilling of existing lodes. More information is presented in the body of this report. Diagrams in the main body of this release show areas of possible resource extension on existing lodes. The Company continues to identify and assess multiple other target areas within the property boundary for additional resources. Figure 3. Location of recent drilling at Corner Bay 1 The estimate of mineralisation at the Chibougamau Project is a foreign estimate prepared in accordance with CIM Standards and is not reported in accordance with the JORC Code. A competent person has not done sufficient work to classify the foreign estimate as a mineral resource in accordance with the JORC Code, and it is uncertain that following evaluation and/or further exploration work that the foreign estimate will be able to be reported as a mineral resource or ore reserve in accordance with the JORC Code. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fd3c6b3c-224d-4396-96cb-d237e38f0458 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/98e31a33-d5d1-4b68-b615-7c645848b997 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/30a17106-ee20-4c4a-a5d8-c1eb291e8dea Q: How long will it take for new companies to build in the US, creating good jobs and bringing America back from foreign-dependent markets after the tariffs take effect? A: Never. Not the hegemonic US. Not by the Trump Tariffs. Take, for example, the TSMC plant in Arizona. It is a manufacturer back in the US, right? Yes. It is a manufacturing in the US. It produces high-end chips. But it lost $441 million in 2024. It has no competitors in the US as it produces the most advanced chips. This shows that reshoring manufacturing to the US is not profitable. But you can say that TSMC is creating jobs for the US. Yes. Thats exactly what happened. The US is cannibalizing its allies. The US reshores manufacturing at the expense of its allies. TSMC has a profit in Taiwan and has a loss in the US. TSMC is like a vehicle channelling wealth from Taiwan to the US. Trump asked other allies to do the same as Taiwan. He signed deals with Europe, Japan, and countries in the Middle East. All these countries that signed deals with Trump promised investment in the US. If manufacturing is profitable in the US, Trump didnt need to sign any deals. Capital would flow into the US for profit. Trump is demanding his allies channel wealth into the US as TSMC did. The US has a deeper problem than manufacturing. It is the financial industry, the healthcare industry, and the military-industrial complex. All three industries are very profitable. And none of them create anything for peoples daily life, such as houses, food, clothes, transport, appliances, and electronics. When those three industries are the blue-chip stocks on the New York Stock Exchange, the profitability of manufacturing is negative. Too many vested interest groups parasitize the US economy. Trump knows this. He used Musk and the DOGE to fight these vested interest groups. But Trump failed. DOGE lost the battle against the deep state that represents these vested interest groups. The US needs a successful DOGE revolution to solve the problems of the vested interest groups. Eventually, the US has to return to an economy that produces goods well cover its consumption. The US is a parasite in the world economy, because there are many parasites in the US economy. The present US prefers to parasitize rather than do the real hard work of manufacturing. VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 11, 2025 /CNW/ - NGEx Minerals Ltd. ("NGEx Minerals" "NGEx" or the "Company") (TSX: NGEX) (OTCQX: NGXXF) is pleased to report its results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025. PDF Version Highlights for three months ended June 30, 2025 ("Q2 2025") and the subsequent period thereto, include the following, details of which are discussed later in the release: Highly successful Phase 3 drill program continued to grow the Lunahuasi deposit. The Company successfully completed 25,003 metres of drilling in 24 holes during the Phase 3 drill program, confirming two significant new discoveries: Major new copper-gold porphyry system - Drillhole DPDH027 confirmed the presence of a predicted copper-gold porphyry system at Lunahuasi, adjacent to the high-grade copper-gold-silver high-sulphidation vein structures that were initially discovered at the project. The porphyry discovery opens an entirely new dimension to the project, comprising a very large-scale exploration target which holds the potential to significantly increase Lunahuasi's long-term value. Quartz veins with high-grade visible gold - Drillhole DPDH046 intersected two separate quartz veins containing ultra high-grade free gold. This new style of mineralization is rarely seen in high-sulphidation epithermal deposits but has accounted for a significant portion of the value at successful projects developed worldwide where it is present, such as the El Indio mine located 150 kilometres to the southwest. The exceptional gold grades intersected thus far suggest that substantial additional value creation may be possible within only a relatively small, mineralized volume, which greatly increases the gold potential of the Lunahuasi deposit. The full extent of this new style of mineralization has not yet been defined, and the Company will prioritize, among other things, follow-up drilling to test this exciting new exploration target in the upcoming program. Major new copper-gold porphyry system - Drillhole DPDH027 confirmed the presence of a predicted copper-gold porphyry system at Lunahuasi, adjacent to the high-grade copper-gold-silver high-sulphidation vein structures that were initially discovered at the project. The porphyry discovery opens an entirely new dimension to the project, comprising a very large-scale exploration target which holds the potential to significantly increase Lunahuasi's long-term value. Quartz veins with high-grade visible gold - Drillhole DPDH046 intersected two separate quartz veins containing ultra high-grade free gold. This new style of mineralization is rarely seen in high-sulphidation epithermal deposits but has accounted for a significant portion of the value at successful projects developed worldwide where it is present, such as the El Indio mine located 150 kilometres to the southwest. The exceptional gold grades intersected thus far suggest that substantial additional value creation may be possible within only a relatively small, mineralized volume, which greatly increases the gold potential of the Lunahuasi deposit. The full extent of this new style of mineralization has not yet been defined, and the Company will prioritize, among other things, follow-up drilling to test this exciting new exploration target in the upcoming program. NGEx plans to spin-out royalties on its flagship assets to shareholders. On July 22, 2025, the Company announced its intention to spin-out net smelter return ("NSR") royalties on its Lunahuasi and Los Helados Projects, that will be held by a wholly-owned subsidiary of NGEx ("RoyaltyCo") by way of a statutory plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act (the "Arrangement"). If all requisite approvals are obtained, including those required from NGEx shareholders and the Toronto Stock Exchange, each shareholder of NGEx will receive 1/4 of a share of RoyaltyCo for each share of NGEx held as of the Share Distribution Record Date (as defined below) and NGEx will retain a 19.9% interest in RoyaltyCo. RoyaltyCo intends to apply to list its shares on the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") following completion of the Arrangement. Such listing will be subject to it fulfilling all of the listing requirements of the TSXV. The creation and spin-out of RoyaltyCo is designed to allow NGEx Shareholders to capture additional long-term value from the Lunahuasi and Los Helados projects through the royalties, while NGEx continues to focus on advancing the projects through further exploration efforts. Wojtek Wodzicki, President and CEO, commented, "We take great pride in the outstanding value that NGEx and its predecessors have unlocked and delivered to shareholders over the years through successful exploration and the execution of thoughtful corporate transactions including past spin-outs that have created tremendous value for our shareholders. Our work during this past quarter is the latest example of this continuing endeavor. Phase 3 drilling at Lunahuasi has been a resounding success, with the final assays of the program confirming two new discoveries, each having the potential to further augment what is already a remarkable deposit: a copper-gold porphyry system and a new zone of quartz veins hosting ultra high-grade free gold. This past season of drilling at Lunahuasi has reconfirmed the unique nature of the deposit, which continues surprising to the upside, and we are eager to get back into the field in October to follow up on the findings of the recent campaign. On the corporate front, we are advancing the previously proposed spin-out of royalty assets on Lunahuasi and Los Helados. If completed, the Arrangement will continue to give shareholders exposure to our keystone assets in the emerging Vicuna District, while also providing a ground level opportunity to participate in a new and exciting investment opportunity in the royalty space that will be led by an experienced leadership team, that we have begun to assemble, with a mandate to grow and diversify its portfolio." Q2 2025 Operating Highlights and Outlook Successful Phase 3 Lunahuasi Program Results in Two New Discoveries The Company successfully completed its Phase 3 drill program at Lunahuasi, located in San Juan, Argentina, in early May 2025, with 25,003 metres completed in 24 holes, including three geotechnical holes designed to support the Company's analysis of a conceptual underground exploration adit at Lunahuasi. The final assays from the Phase 3 program were released by the Company on July 8, 2025. The program accomplished its main objectives of testing the Lunahuasi deposit at three target scales: Long-range exploration holes (+300m spacing) were big step-outs that tested for significant extensions of mineralization to the north, south, and west; Mid-range step out holes (50-300m spacing) explored for extensions of the mineralized zone in all directions and started to fill in large gaps in the drill pattern; and Short-range infill holes (30-50m spacing) tested the short-range variability of mineralized structures and high-grade zones and confirmed the main structural orientations. Throughout the Phase 3 campaign, drillholes at all three target scales consistently intersected high-grade vein-hosted mineralization across considerable widths and significantly contributed to improvements in the geological understanding of the structures that form the original Lunahuasi discovery, which continue to be the near-term exploration priority at the project. The final assay results from the Phase 3 program confirmed the discovery of a new copper-gold porphyry system at Lunahuasi (see News Release dated May 21, 2025) and the discovery of a third, distinct type of mineralization at the project with ultra high-grade visible gold in quartz veins (see News Release dated July 8, 2025). Drillhole DPDH027 was drilled across the high-sulphidation epithermal structures before discovering a new zone of porphyry copper-gold mineralization at approximately 1,262 metres downhole. The hole was drilled to a final depth of 2,005 metres, where it ended in mineralization, returning 1,619.4 metres at 0.87% copper equivalent ("CuEq") (0.52% Cu, 0.32 g/t Au, 13.2 g/t Ag) including a porphyry intersection of 743.00 metres at 0.56% CuEq (0.44% Cu, 0.13 g/t Au, 2.3 g/t Ag), which included: 18.00 metres at 2.68% CuEq (2.46% Cu, 0.18 g/t Au, 10.3 g/t Ag); and 17.80 metres at 1.23% CuEq (1.01% Cu, 0.24 g/t Au, 5.5 g/t Ag). While the full scale of the Lunahuasi porphyry system remains unknown, another Phase 3 drillhole, DPDH029, ended in argillic alteration associated with the high-sulphidation system overprinting early porphyry veins, some 500 metres south of the intersection in DPDH027, illustrating the size potential of the porphyry discovery. Importantly, this discovery has opened up an entirely new dimension to Lunahuasi and significantly increases the long-term potential of the project. Drillhole DPDH046 resulted in the discovery of ultra high-grade free gold in quartz veins, which is a new style of mineralization at Lunahuasi. Highlights include: 2.20 metres at 142.27 g/t Au from 467.10m, plus 3.60 metres at 245.39 g/t Au from 520.00m The discovery of this third distinct style of mineralization at Lunahuasi is potentially transformative for the project, as several renowned mines around the world have been built around high-grade gold quartz veins. While the size and extent of the quartz veins have yet to be confirmed, the remarkably high-grades observed in DPDH046 allude to the possibility that a relatively small volume of this gold-dominant mineralization could add a substantial amount of value to Lunahuasi. Following up on this third Lunahuasi discovery will be a key objective of the Company's upcoming Phase 4 drill program. The Company is now completing its analysis of the geological data collected during the Phase 3 campaign and refining the geological model at Lunahuasi. Planning for the Company's upcoming Phase 4 exploration program at Lunahuasi is well advanced, with a start date currently anticipated for around October 2025. Further details, such as the copper equivalent formula, can be found in the "Qualified Persons and Technical Notes" section of this news release. Proposed Spin-out of NSR Royalties on Lunahuasi and Los Helados The Company has caused a royalty purchase agreement to be entered into between a newly incorporated, wholly-owned subsidiary ("RoyaltyCo") and the subsidiary that currently holds the Nacimiento I concession, which will result in a 1% NSR royalty on the Nacimiento I concession being granted to RoyaltyCo (the "Lunahuasi Royalty") in exchange for cash consideration. NGEx's 100% owned Lunahuasi Project, as currently defined, is located on the Nacimiento I concession. In addition, another wholly-owned subsidiary of NGEx which holds the Los Helados Project, located in Region III, Chile, on behalf of an unincorporated joint venture between NGEx and Nippon Caserones Resources LLC ("NCR"), has entered into royalty purchase agreements with each of RoyaltyCo and NCR to cause a combined 2.0% NSR royalty to be granted on the concessions comprising the Chilean portion of the Los Helados properties (the "Los Helados Royalty") in exchange for cash consideration. The Los Helados Royalty, and the associated aggregate cash consideration, will be allocated to RoyaltyCo and NCR based on the Company and NCR's respective pro rata interests in Los Helados of approximately 69% and 31%, resulting in RoyaltyCo's portion of the Los Helados Royalty amounting to a 1.38% NSR royalty. The Company has also entered into an arrangement agreement with RoyaltyCo (the "Arrangement Agreement"), whereby NGEx intends to complete a share capital reorganization by way of a statutory plan of arrangement under the Canada Business Corporations Act, which will result in, among other things, at least 80.1% of the common shares of the RoyaltyCo (the "RoyaltyCo Shares") being spun-out to the shareholders of NGEx (the "NGEx Shareholders"). As part of the spin-out of the RoyaltyCo Shares to NGEx Shareholders, NGEx will make an additional capital contribution into RoyaltyCo for working capital purposes, which is in addition to the amounts to be injected by NGEx to fund the acquisition of the Lunahuasi Royalty and RoyaltyCo's portion of the Los Helados Royalty, which will also be made by way of a capital contribution. The capital contributions by NGEx will result in it receiving a number of RoyaltyCo Shares in return representing up to a 19.9% ownership interest in RoyaltyCo that will be retained and not form part of the spin-out to NGEx Shareholders. The Arrangement Agreement describes the terms of the proposed arrangement (the "Arrangement"), which, among other things, includes: Each common share of NGEx (each, a "NGEx Share") outstanding at the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the effective date of the Arrangement (the "Share Distribution Record Date") will be redesignated and exchanged as part of a reorganization of the share capital of NGEx, and in accordance with section 86 of the Income Tax Act (Canada), for (i) one (1) new common share of NGEX (each, a "New NGEx Share"), which such New NGEx Share will be identical to the NGEx Shares immediately prior to the effective time of the Arrangement (the "Effective Time") and (ii) 1/4 of a RoyaltyCo Share; and Each outstanding stock option of NGEx (each, a "NGEx Option") that is outstanding immediately before the Effective Time will be exchanged for (i) one (1) replacement stock option of NGEx (each, a "NGEx Replacement Option") to purchase from NGEx one New NGEx Share having an exercise price (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) equal to the product of the exercise price of each NGEx Option so exchanged immediately before the Effective Time multiplied by the fair market value of a New NGEx Share at the Effective Time divided by the total of the fair market value of a New NGEx Share and the fair market value of 1/4 of a RoyaltyCo Share at the Effective Time, and (ii) one (1) fully-vested stock option of the Company (each, a "RoyaltyCo Option") to acquire 1/4 of a RoyaltyCo Share, each whole RoyaltyCo Option having an exercise price (rounded up to the nearest whole cent) equal to the product of the exercise price of the NGEx Option so exchanged immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by the fair market value of 1/4 of a RoyaltyCo Share at the Effective Time divided by the total of the fair market value of one New NGEx Share and 1/4 of a RoyaltyCo Share at the Effective Time. Completion of the Arrangement is subject to receipt of requisite NGEx Shareholder, Toronto Stock Exchange and court approvals, the timing and receipt of which cannot be determined at this time. NGEx Shareholders will vote on the Arrangement at a special meeting to be held on September 12, 2025. Following completion of the Arrangement, NGEx is expected to hold up to a 19.9% ownership interest in RoyaltyCo, with the remaining RoyaltyCo Shares being distributed to NGEx Shareholders as described above, in accordance with their pro-rata interest in NGEx as of the Share Distribution Record Date. RoyaltyCo intends to apply to list its shares on the TSXV following completion of the Arrangement. Such listing will be subject to it fulfilling all of the listing requirements of the TSXV. Additional details with respect to the Arrangement can be found in the Company's News Release dated July 22, 2025, on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and the Company's website www.ngexminerals.com. Financial Results (In thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts) Three months ended Six months ended June 30, June 30, 2025 2024 2025 2024 Exploration and project investigation 17,414 7,818 53,837 30,337 General and administration ("G&A") 3,294 1,977 7,066 3,836 Net loss 21,387 7,579 56,529 27,323 Basic and diluted loss per share 0.10 0.04 0.27 0.15 The financial information in this table was selected from the Company's condensed interim consolidated financial statements for the three and six months June 30, 2025 (the "Financial Statements"), which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and the Company's website www.ngexminerals.com . Selected Financial Information (In thousands of Canadian dollars) June 30, December 31, 2025 2024 Cash 97,240 153,368 Short-term investments 46,022 45,185 Working capital 138,592 188,944 Mineral properties 6,167 6,271 Total assets 152,087 208,563 The financial information in this table was selected from the Financial Statements, which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and the Company's website www.ngexminerals.com. The Company incurred a net loss of $21.4 million during the three months ended June 30, 2025, comprised primarily of $17.4 million in exploration and project investigation costs and $3.3 million in G&A costs. For the 2024 comparative period, the Company reported a net loss of $7.6 million, consisting primarily of $7.8 million in exploration and project investigation costs and $2.0 million in G&A costs, which were partially offset by a gain of approximately $2.4 million resulting from the use of marketable securities for the purposes of facilitating intragroup funding transfers. Liquidity and Capital Resources As at June 30, 2025, the Company had cash of $97.2 million, short-term investments of $46.0 million and net working capital of $138.6 million compared to cash of $153.4 million, short-term investments of $45.2 million and net working capital of $188.9 million as at December 31, 2024. The Company's total treasury, consisting of its cash and short-term investments, and net working capital decreased during the six months ended June 30, 2025, due primarily to funds used in operations and for general corporate purposes. About NGEx Minerals NGEx Minerals is a copper and gold exploration company based in Canada, focused on exploration of the Lunahuasi copper-gold-silver project in San Juan Province, Argentina, and the nearby Los Helados copper-gold project located approximately nine kilometres northeast in Chile's Region III. Both projects are located within the Vicuna District, which includes the Caserones mine, and the Josemaria and Filo del Sol deposits. NGEx owns 100% of Lunahuasi and is the majority partner and operator for the Los Helados project, subject to a Joint Exploration Agreement with Nippon Caserones Resources LLC, which is the indirect 30% owner of the operating Caserones open pit copper mine located approximately 17 kilometres north of Los Helados. Lundin Mining Corp. holds the remaining 70% stake in Caserones. The Company's common shares are listed on the TSX under the symbol "NGEX" and also trade on the OTCQX under the symbol "NGXXF". NGEx is part of the Lundin Group of Companies. Additional information relating to NGEx may be obtained or viewed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca. Additional Information The information contained in this news release was accurate at the time of dissemination but may be superseded by subsequent news release(s). The Company is under no obligation, nor does it intend to update or revise the forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Qualified Persons and Technical Notes The scientific and technical disclosure for the Lunahuasi Project included in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Bob Carmichael, B.A.Sc., P.Eng. who is the Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Carmichael is Vice President, Exploration for the Company. Additional details on the drill results from the Company's completed Phase 3 drill program at Lunahuasi, including those specifically discussed above, can be found in the Company's press releases dated December 18, 2024, January 22, 2025, February 19, 2025, March 13, 2025, April 24, 2025, May 21, 2025, June 18, 2025, July 2, 2025, and July 9, 2025. Copper equivalent for Lunahuasi drill intersections is calculated based on US$ 3.00/lb Cu, US$ 1,500/oz Au and US$ 18/oz Ag, with 80% metallurgical recoveries assumed for all metals. The formula is: CuEq % = Cu % + (0.7292 * Au g/t) + (0.0088 * Ag g/t). Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made and information contained herein in the news release constitutes "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking information"). All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this document constitute forward-looking information, including but not limited to, statements regarding: exploration and development plans and expenditures, including the size, scope, nature, timing and foci of the Company's future exploration programs, particularly at Lunahuasi; the potential for an underground exploration adit at Lunahuasi; the geological interpretation of the Lunahuasi system which is expected to evolve with additional drilling, including whether current interpretation of the exploration and/or drill results to date at Lunahuasi will be confirmed by future work, the ability of future drilling to convert exploration potential to a Mineral Resource Estimate, the scale, grade, or significance of the discovery of a copper-gold porphyry system and visible gold in quartz veins at the project; the timing, structure and completion of the Arrangement; the timing and completion of the transactions contemplated by the royalty purchase agreements related to the Lunahuasi Royalty and the Los Helados Royalty; the timing and amount of the injection of cash from NGEx to RoyaltyCo; future potential for NGEx and RoyaltyCo; future acquisitions of additional royalty interests by RoyaltyCo to its portfolio; anticipated benefits of the Arrangement to NGEx, NGEx Shareholders or the shareholders of RoyaltyCo; the timing and receipt of required shareholder, court and stock exchange approvals for the Arrangement; the composition of RoyaltyCo's board of directors and management team; the application for, and listing of, the RoyaltyCo Shares on the TSXV following completion of the Arrangement; the future uses of the Company's cash and working capital; the success of future exploration activities; potential for the discovery of new mineral deposits or expansion of existing mineral deposits; ability to build shareholder value; expectations with regard to adding to Mineral Resources through exploration; expectations with respect to the conversion of Inferred Resources to an Indicated Resource classification, or the conversion of Indicated Resources to a Measured Resource classification; ability to execute the planned work programs; estimation of commodity prices, Mineral Resources, estimations of costs, and permitting time lines; ability to obtain surface rights and property interests; currency exchange rate fluctuations; requirements for additional capital; government regulation of mining activities; environmental risks; unanticipated reclamation expenses; title disputes or claims; limitations on insurance coverage; assumptions that the Company will be able to carry out exploration program at Lunahuasi as planned; fluctuations in the current price of and demand for commodities; and material adverse changes in general business and economic conditions, particularly in Argentina with respect to uncertainty around exchange rate and other economic policies potentially affecting the Company, as well as other factors associated with ongoing financial instability in Argentina. Generally, this forward-looking information can frequently, but not always, be identified by use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "projects", "budgets", "assumes", "strategy", "objectives", "potential", "possible", "anticipates", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events, conditions or results "will", "may", "could", "would", "should", "might" or "will be taken", "will occur" or "will be achieved" or the negative connotations thereof. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon various estimates and assumptions including, without limitation, the intended use or deployment of the Company's treasury balance, and the nature, scope and timing of the work to be undertaken to advance the Lunahuasi Project. Although the Company believes that these factors and expectations are reasonable as at the date of this document, in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, these statements are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, without limitation: the risk of the Company not obtaining court, NGEx Shareholder or stock exchange approvals to proceed with the Arrangement; the risk of unanticipated tax consequences to the Arrangement; the risk of the market valuing NGEx and RoyaltyCo in a manner not anticipated by the Company; risks related to the benefits of the Arrangement not being realized; risks relating to RoyaltyCo not being able to add additional royalty interests to its portfolio; the emergence or intensification of infectious diseases, such as COVID 19, and the risk that such an occurrence globally, or in the Company's operating jurisdictions and/or at its project sites in particular, could impact the Company's ability to carry out the program and could cause the program to be shut down; estimations of costs, and permitting time lines; ability to obtain environmental permits, surface rights and property interests in a timely manner; currency exchange rate fluctuations; requirements for additional capital; changes in the Company's share price; changes to government regulation of mining activities; environmental risks; unanticipated reclamation or remediation expenses; title disputes or claims; limitations on insurance coverage, fluctuations in the current price of and demand for commodities; material adverse changes in general business, government and economic conditions in the Company's operating jurisdictions, such as Argentina; the availability of financing if and when needed on reasonable terms; risks related to material labour disputes, accidents, or failure of plant or equipment; there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, or intended, including those set out in the Company's most recent annual information form and annual management discussion and analysis, and risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators, which are available on the Company's website and SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca under the Company's profile. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as at the date of this news release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update and/or revise any of the included forward-looking information, whether as a result of additional information, future events and/or otherwise. Forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's operating environment. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that would 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 statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. All the forward-looking information contained in this document is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Cautionary Note to U.S. Readers Information concerning the mineral properties of the Company contained in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Canadian securities laws, which differ in material respects from the requirements of securities laws of the United States applicable to U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. SOURCE NGEx Minerals Ltd. States Scrambling Late Adopters In half a dozen states, including the most populous state of California, the Real ID rollout is a real mess.Technical glitches, delays and miscommunication are roiling the Real ID implementation in those states, calling into question whether residents will have the secure drivers license needed to travel by air or enter government restricted areas after October 2020.In California and Maryland, miscommunication between the state motor vehicle departments and the federal Department of Homeland Security about which documents are required to prove residency have sent the states and residents scrambling to recertify Real IDs that were already issued but are no longer valid.A handful of other states initially delayed implementation by passing laws saying they would not comply for various reasons, from privacy concerns to objections to federal mandates. DHS granted those states more time but is refusing further extensions and has warned states that if they dont comply, their residents will need passports to board planes. That brought those states on board, but they are running behind in their efforts.Some of the states are shifting resources to the problem, finding they must hire more personnel and spend extra money to comply by the deadline.DHS has postponed the original deadline of 2008 many times since the Real ID law was enacted in 2005, but the department says it has no plans to extend the Oct. 1, 2020, deadline.After that date, only drivers licenses that meet the Real ID security standards can be used to board commercial airline fights or enter a secure federal building such as a military base. The Real ID Act, passed in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, requires licenses to be marked with a special insignia or star, indicating that holders have gone through extra steps to prove their identity.In general, that requires identification documents, such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate (for name changes) and original Social Security card, plus two proofs of residency in that state, such as credit card or utility bills, vehicle registration or a bank statement.A Real ID will not be required to drive a car, so anyone not planning air travel or to enter a secure federal building will not need one. But people lacking the ID who want to board a plane would have to bring another valid document, such as a passport or global entry card.TSA, which secures U.S. airports, anticipates some confusion come October 2020.Lisa Farbstein, a spokeswoman for the TSA, envisioned a future traveler with nonrefundable plane tickets:They step up to the TSA checking station, and if they dont have a Real ID, the officer is going to say, Im sorry, this ID is no longer valid, Farbstein said. There is somebody who is between a rock and a hard place.While that person may plead with their airline, she added, TSA wont budge. Thats why its important to do this sooner rather than later, she said. TSA knows a thing or two about what people think about waiting in lines.In addition to Real IDs, some states along the northern and southern borders are offering an enhanced drivers license, which allows freer passage between the United States and Canada or Mexico. That, too, will work for getting on a plane. The enhanced drivers licenses are offered in only a few states to only U.S. citizens.While TSA is putting out public service announcements about the new IDs, notices at the state level vary.Maryland began complying with the Real ID law in 2009, requiring new residents or those getting licenses for the first time to provide extra documentation under a process that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security deemed compliant, according to Charles Brown, spokesman for the Maryland Department of Transportation and the state Motor Vehicle Administration.That process required proof of residency and proof of identity, such as Social Security cards, birth certificates, marriage certificates or other identification. The state started issuing Real ID license renewals in 2016. However, in October 2017, DHS informed Maryland that all customers with a drivers license or identification card containing the Real ID star, which we began issuing in 2016, must have documents on file with the departments, Brown said in an email.As a result, 1 million residents who held the Real ID card had to make a return trip to the MVA so that the state could put copies of their proof of identification and residency on file. The state is scheduling them in groups.The federal Department of Homeland Security refused to comment on the situation in Maryland and other states, despite repeated requests.More than 2 million of Marylands 5 million licensed drivers are Real ID compliant, Brown said. For customers, Maryland is extending hours at MVA offices, opening satellite offices, allowing customers to set up appointments and pledging that the process will take only 15 minutes if an appointment is made. A recent trip to an MVA office in Beltsville revealed long lines but a sense of urgency by staff members to adhere to the 15-minute time frame.In notices to Maryland divers, the state threatened that failing to meet the new requirements would result in a recall of your Maryland drivers license or identification card. Many residents scrambled to comply.California, with more than 26 million drivers, faced a similar problem. California DMV spokesman Jaime Garza also blamed changing DHS standards for creating the mess.The US Department of Homeland Security unexpectedly changed its originally approved method by which the CA DMV collected two proofs of residency, Garza wrote in an email. CA had followed the same DHS approved method that the state of Wisconsin was using to collect two proofs residency.The approved Wisconsin procedure would have allowed residents to respond to a letter from the DMV with a return receipt requested designation, sending in one proof of residency, with the mailing itself counting as the second proof. Garza provided Stateline with a 2017 letter from DHS official Steve Yonkers, director of the Real ID program, to the Wisconsin DMV approving that process. California based its procedure on the Wisconsin procedure, with DHSs approval, Garza said. But Wisconsin ultimately went with in-person applications.But a DHS letter to California in November 2018 reversed that directive, Garza said, saying the process does not comply with the Real ID law. That threw the state into a tizzy, he said.Now, California is sending letters to all residents who provided only one proof of residency, asking them to sign, date and return the letter in a prepaid envelope as a second proof that was not required the first time. Unlike Maryland, California is not requiring drivers to make a return trip to the DMV. The goal was to make this process as easy and convenient as possible for Californians, Garza said, noting that it affects 3.6 million Californians holding Real IDs.But the state has had a big increase in residents crowding into DMVs because of the confusion. Like Maryland, Garza said, California has increased office hours and hired 2,000 additional employees.Some states are lagging in issuing Real IDs in part because they fought the idea from the beginning. Seventeen states passed laws restricting or banning its implementation.Those states get little sympathy from Republican U.S. Rep. James Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin, author of the 2005 law.The Real ID Act was a key recommendation of the 9-11 Commission to protect Americans from another devastating act of terrorism, he said in an email. States have had more than 14 years to comply with the law, and the Department of Homeland Security has provided additional funding to help along the way.Much of the opposition came from tea party Republicans who excoriated the Real ID law as an attack on privacy.Scott Hofstra, chairman of the Central Kentucky Tea Party Patriots, said in a phone interview that his group is worried the federal bureaucrats at the top of DHS could get all kinds of information on cardholders, including medical and criminal histories.It takes away a lot of our privacy on the state level and gives it to the Department of Homeland Security, Hofstra said. The head of the DHS could tell the state, I want you to list all their medical records on their drivers license, or criminal records on their drivers license. Thats from one unelected bureaucrat.Hofstra, an aircraft maintenance supervisor from Vine Grove, Kentucky, said he will get a Real ID only if his job requires it. To fly, he will use a passport.Opposition also came from liberal groups, such as the American Civil Liberties Union, on privacy grounds. The group contended that despite the state-by-state nature of the Real IDs, information would be consolidated into a national database, which could be used to track individuals.The ACLU sued to block implementation of Real ID in New Jersey. The state settled with the group in 2012, agreeing to open the process to comment and suggestions from the public about implementation procedures. The rollout was delayed.In 2018, we were really far behind, said B. Sue Fulton, chief administrator of the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, in a phone interview. We were not ready for the customer volume that would be generated by implementing Real ID.In response, she said, the state hired 300 new full-time employees and revamped its licensing software, equipment, online services and procedures. Now, she thinks the state will have fulfilled the requirements by October next year and avoid some of the problems faced in other states, even those that started earlier.What gives me the confidence is that we learned so much from other states, she said. We shouldnt have to backtrack, which some of the states had to do.Kentucky, one of the states that resisted the law because of opposition from the tea party and other privacy advocates, is just now starting the Real ID process, with new licenses expected in January 2020.In 2016, the Kentucky legislature passed legislation requiring the Real ID process to start. Gov. Matt Bevin, a Republican, vetoed it, saying it has become increasingly clear that there is tremendous opposition and misunderstanding about the bill.After getting a federal extension, Kentucky again passed the legislation in 2017. Bevin, to spare Kentuckians from having to carry a passport to fly after their regular license stops working at airports, finally signed it.Kentucky Transportation Cabinet spokeswoman Naitore Djigbenou said in a phone interview that it would take two years to get Real IDs to everyone who wants one. Nonetheless, she said she was confident that all Kentuckians who want the compliant license will be able to get one before the deadline.We are offering two options: a Real ID or a noncompliant card. Some prefer to use a passport to continue to fly, she said. This is completely voluntary. Its not a requirement by any means.But Americans arent used to carrying a passport when traveling, according to Wayne Sandford, a University of New Haven professor of homeland security and emergency management and a former deputy commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security.He said states that started issuing Real IDs early mostly have fewer problems. The states that said, Nah, were not doing it, dont worry about it, it will never be real are in trouble.Now they realize their residents in their states need to have this done or carry a passport. For Americans this would be a really strange request. Its not like its Europe where every country is a state, essentially.Sandford speculated that once this initial period of uncertainty and bureaucratic snafus passes, Americans will be pleased with how easily the new licenses allow them to travel. And he pooh-poohs privacy concerns.Asked if he had privacy concerns, he said in a phone interview, being from the other side and working in homeland security at the state level, I would say no, I dont. His years of working on homeland security issues, he said, have persuaded him that the goal is smooth travel, not invasions of privacy.I think it will actually make travel easier. F1 racing over but other roles possible says Vettel Sebastian Vettel has firmly closed the door on returning to Formula 1 as a driver - but is still open to other roles in the sport. Sebastian Vettel, Azerbaijan GP 2022 Aston Martin Racing Speaking to ZDF Sportstudio alongside members of the Germany SailGP team he co-owns, the four-time world champion said: The kids are incredibly fun at home, the tractor has to be steered. But who knows. Asked directly about F1, Vettel replied: "No. Not as a driver - that time is over. But perhaps taking on one or two roles is absolutely conceivable. For now, though, the 38-year-old insists he is really happy and has enough to do. Vettel had been linked earlier this year with a possible non-driving return to Red Bull - potentially replacing Dr Helmut Marko. But with Christian Horner's departure, Marko's position appears secure and the rumour has cooled. Vettel's latest who knows remark refers to a possible part-time return to racing outside F1. Vettel tested a Porsche 963 last year amid speculation about potential Le Mans entry, but nothing concrete emerged. I drove a car like that once because I was interested in it, the German explained. It was fun, but nothing more has happened so far. But I still have a bit of time. For now, Vettel's competitive focus is partly on the water - through his SailGP involvement - and partly at home. I have enough on my plate, he smiled. (GMM) Take My Class Online: A Modern Education Revolution The phrase Take My Class Online has gone from being a simple request to a representation of a global shift in how we approach education. No longer tied to a physical classroom, students now have the freedom to learn in ways that fit their personal schedules, learning styles, and life goals. What was once a niche option has now become a mainstream path for millions of learners across the world. What Does Take My Class Online Really Mean? At its core, this phrase covers two main ideas: Enrolling in Online Courses You take part in lectures, assignments, and assessments through a digital platform. Seeking Assistance for Online Classes Sometimes students outsource tasks like tutoring, study help, or assignment guidance. The first emphasizes the convenience of modern education; the second highlights how academic support services have adapted to online formats.PSYC 110 week 8 final project How the Digital Shift Changed Education The transition to online learning didnt happen overnightits been a slow evolution that accelerated in recent years. Early 2000s: Online courses were often text-based and offered mostly by distance learning institutions. 2010s: Platforms like Coursera, edX, and Udemy made interactive, multimedia-rich courses available to global audiences. 2020 Onwards: The pandemic pushed nearly every school, college, and training center to adopt online delivery. This shift not only broke down geographic barriers but also redefined what it means to attend class. Benefits That Make Online Classes Irresistible Flexibility Without Compromise NR 103 transition to the nursing profession week 3 mindfulness reflection template Students can study in the early morning, late at night, or even during travel. The rigid schedules of traditional classrooms simply dont apply. Global Learning Access A student in Nairobi can learn AI programming from a professor in Silicon Valley without leaving home. Cost-Effective Options While tuition fees still apply for accredited programs, the elimination of commuting, housing, and printed materials reduces overall expenses. Wide Variety of Subjects From professional certifications to hobby-based courses like photography or baking, online education caters to nearly every interest. Career-Friendly Learning Working professionals can gain additional skills without taking a break from their jobs.BIOS 256 week 4 lab instructions urinary system Challenges You Might Face No system is perfect, and online learning comes with its own set of challenges. Self-Motivation: Without regular in-person check-ins, its easy to procrastinate. Tech Dependence: A slow internet connection or outdated device can disrupt learning. Limited Physical Interaction: Some students miss the energy of a live classroom environment. Information Overload: With so many online resources, students can feel overwhelmed choosing whats relevant. Strategies to Excel in Online Classes Treat It Like a Real Class Set a schedule, attend all sessions, and complete assignments on time. Build a Distraction-Free Study Zone Even if its a small space, keep it clean, organized, and reserved for studying. Actively Participate Ask questions in live sessions, join forums, and interact with peers. Use the Right Tools Cloud-based apps like Google Drive, Notion, or Trello can help manage coursework effectively. Take Breaks Wisely Short breaks during study sessions can improve focus and retention.NR 327 discharge teaching rua outline The Rise of Academic Support Services When people search Take My Class Online, they sometimes mean theyre looking for help managing coursework. Academic support services can: Provide tutoring in difficult subjects. Assist in organizing assignments. Offer exam preparation resources. Help improve writing and research skills. However, its important to use these services responsibly to enhance learning rather than bypass it. Success Stories from Online Learning Maria, the Career Changer: A nurse who transitioned into healthcare administration after completing an online business degree. Omar, the Remote Learner: An aspiring programmer from a rural area who landed a remote job with a U.S. tech firm after completing coding bootcamps online. Lina, the Side Hustler: Learned digital marketing online and now runs a small social media consulting business. These examples highlight how accessible education has empowered people to make life-changing moves. Technology That Powers the Take My Class Online Era Learning Management Systems (LMS): Tools like Canvas and Blackboard organize coursework. Video Conferencing Apps: Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams make real-time learning possible. Mobile Learning: Apps bring entire courses to smartphones, making study sessions possible anywhere. AI in Education: Adaptive learning platforms adjust lesson difficulty based on student performance. Choosing the Right Online Class for You Not all online courses are created equal. Before enrolling: Check accreditation for formal qualifications. Read student reviews for insight into quality and instructor engagement. Compare costs and payment options . Assess the flexibility of schedules and deadlines. Future Trends in Online Learning The Take My Class Online concept will continue to grow with technology: Virtual Reality Learning: Imagine medical students practicing surgery in a 3D simulation. AI Study Companions: AI tutors that offer real-time help during study sessions. Gamified Courses: Learning through interactive games and challenges to boost engagement. Micro-Credentials: Short, skill-focused certifications that can be stacked into larger qualifications. Balancing Freedom with Responsibility Online education gives learners control, but success depends on discipline. Students must take initiative, stay engaged, and set clear goals to get the most out of their courses. Conclusion Take My Class Online is more than a convenienceits a powerful gateway to knowledge and opportunity. Whether your goal is a degree, a new skill, or personal enrichment, online classes offer a level of accessibility and flexibility that traditional classrooms simply cant match. In a world where information is at our fingertips, the question isnt can you take your class onlineits whether youre ready to take advantage of the possibilities it brings. Ferrari stuck with Hamilton despite retirement storm Lewis Hamilton's explosive remarks before the August break have triggered fresh speculation about his future - but reports suggest Ferrari has little choice but to keep the seven-time world champion. Lewis Hamilton, Hungarian GP 2025 Ferrari La Gazzetta dello Sport claims the 40-year-old, who called himself useless in Hungary and dared Ferrari to replace him, is on a fixed deal for 2025 and 2026 with an option for 2027 - and Hamilton alone controls the option. Ferrari will stick with him, no matter what, the Italian newspaper declared. Some believe Hamilton's comments were linked to an earlier revelation that he had given the team detailed documents outlining the changes he wants to see in both the car and the organisation. Former F1 driver Christian Danner told the AvD (Automobilclub von Deutschland) podcast: "Hamilton beating himself up like that and pretending that he has forgotten how to drive, I think it's a bit of a ploy. It's like he's exaggerating to get attention. I'm sure he did it on purpose. He doesn't really doubt himself. It's a signal to Ferrari - 'if you think I don't know what I'm doing, you're going to be surprised'. Former Bridgestone F1 engineer Kees van de Grint told Viaplay that Ferrari has no realistic alternatives: Who would even replace him? the Dutchman said. Of the drivers they have under contract, Bearman and Giovinazzi are the only ones. But do we seriously think things will improve then? Then the problem still hasn't been solved. Ex-McLaren and Williams race winner Juan Pablo Montoya told AS Colombia he has sympathy for Hamilton as he adapts to Ferrari: The engineers are starting to understand, but they still don't fully grasp how difficult these cars are to drive, he said. I think if Ferrari adapts the car more to Lewis's style and he feels more comfortable, life will become more difficult for Charles. It hasn't been too difficult for him so far, but we'll see. Veteran Italian F1 journalist Leo Turrini wrote in Quotidiano that Hamilton underestimated Charles Leclerc: "In my opinion, yes, Lewis underestimated Charles in good faith. He bought the story that he wasn't superior to Sainz and other bullshit like that. When he realised his mistake, coinciding with a truly modest car, his mood darkened. But it's up to him to dig himself out of the hole. As for Leclerc, he's staying diplomatic: At the end of the day, we're a team, and as much as I want to finish ahead of Lewis, I want both of us to be successful, and for Ferrari to be successful. (GMM) Paddock split as Horner's future rumours swirl The fallout from Christian Horner's Red Bull exit continues to divide the Formula 1 paddock - and fuel speculation about his next move. Christian Horner, British GP 2025 Red Bull McLaren CEO Zak Brown caused a stir prior to the August break when he declared publicly that F1 is better off without the former Red Bull boss. Dutch pundit Allard Kalff told Viaplay he did not like the McLaren CEO's choice of words: He's lying on the floor, and people are still stomping on him. Former Bridgestone engineer Kees van de Grint agreed: I didn't understand that statement. Van de Grint believes Brown's satisfaction is both personal and strategic: I believe, by the way, that the new regulations - the new Concorde Agreement - will prohibit having two teams as owners, he said, noting Horner's prior influence over both Red Bull Racing and Racing Bulls. He did his job well, smartly. Others might not like that, but that's no excuse to say 'We're better off without him'. You have to do your own work, look at your own team, and that's it. Horner, 51, had previously been linked with Ferrari and Cadillac - both now off the table - but remains rumoured to be in talks over a role with Alpine alongside Flavio Briatore, with possible involvement from Bernie Ecclestone. Such a deal could give Horner part-ownership of a team, a long-held ambition that insiders suggest was one factor in Red Bull's decision to part ways with him. Former Red Bull driver Robert Doornbos told the Pit Talk podcast that Brown's dislike of Horner is no secret. He's never been good friends with Christian Horner, let's be honest. And I don't think Toto Wolff is good friends with Christian Horner either. Wolff, however, at least offered praise for Horner's record, describing him as one of the last dinosaurs among team bosses - a throwback to figures like Flavio Briatore and Eddie Jordan. Doornbos agreed: "You also need character. I know Christian personally, and I think he's a great guy. When you have a paddock full of Laurent Mekies, who are great guys, but not like Flavio, Eddie Jordan, and now probably Christian Horner, that makes a difference in the sport. It's also important to have some truly dominant team principals. Doornbos also believes Horner will return: Once this sport is in your veins, you can't say goodbye, said the Dutchman. And I don't see Christian taking on a political role at the FIA - I don't think that's in his DNA. He's more of a racer. He loves spending his Sundays at a Grand Prix. (GMM) Spa hints at extra F1 races beyond new rotation deal Spa-Francorchamps could host Formula 1 beyond its guaranteed years under the sport's new rotation system, according to circuit chairman Melchior Wathelet. Esteban Ocon, Belgian GP 2025 Haas Earlier this year, following a period of uncertainty, F1 and the iconic venue agreed a new six-year deal running to 2031, with the Belgian GP confirmed for 2026, 2027, 2029 and 2031 - skipping 2028 and 2030 as part of Liberty Media's plan to make room for other venues. But Wathelet told Dutch publication Formule 1: Maybe there will be races in the other two years as well - I'm not ruling anything out. The former Belgian deputy prime minister, who chairs both the grand prix organisation and the circuit, explained: "In principle, there will be another circuit on the calendar in 2028 and 2030 instead of Spa-Francorchamps. But still, what if this doesn't happen or doesn't work out? Then the Belgians would be more than happy to fill the vacancy. The contract is for a minimum of four races in those years - not the maximum. Wathelet said Spa's popularity is currently enormous, greater than ever , boosted by Netflix's Drive to Survive and the hugely successful Brad Pitt F1 movie. About a third of our visitors are under 34, and about a third are also women, he revealed. There's a great mix, and that's exactly what we want. It helps keep the sport attractive, especially in Europe, where competition for attention is fierce. He acknowledged, however, that Liberty Media's negotiations were strict - but credited the Walloon Region's backing for securing the six-year deal. They do ensure a very good image for Formula 1, he said, referring to F1's American commercial rights holders. "The sport is currently very strong. Many countries want to host a race, and that's causing the calendar to shift more and more. We now have a six-year contract with four races, which gives us perspective for the coming years, the medium term. Wathelet said the priority for Spa was to secure the event at least until 2027. And after that, too, like in 2029 and 2031, he said. So not in 2028 and 2030 - at least it's possible we won't have a race then. But it's also possible we will, although I won't put a percentage on that. (GMM) Next article: ASA Savings and Loans gives relief to Pokuase Health Centre Previous article: Second Graphic, NIC, GIA insurance fair ends in Kumasi - Patrons call for intensified education on insurance policies Featured KNUST triumphs in Graphic Business Tertiary Business Quiz Kwame Larweh Business News Aug - 11 - 2025 , 06:44 The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has clinched the ultimate prize in the Graphic Business Tertiary Business Sense Challenge (TBSC) Version 7.0 which was held last Saturday at the Zenith University College Auditorium in Accra. KNUST outshone defending champions, University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), and the 2023 winners, University of Education, Winneba (UEW), to secure their second national title in a fiercely contested competition. Led by the outstanding Kwadwo Acheampong Opoku, the KNUST team featuring Japhet Adeleke, Frederick Asontoliya and Daniel Ekow Baffoe dominated from start to finish, amassing 77.17 points across the six rounds. Their stellar performance earned them a golden trophy, medals, laptops, books from the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (ICAG), and cash prize. Acheampong Opoku was named the overall best performer, receiving a plaque and an undisclosed cash reward for his sharpness and precise answers. The University of Ghana (UG) secured the first runner-up position with 54 points, taking home medals, books and cash reward. Franklin Sowa (right), Director of Marketing and Sales at GCGL, presents the trophy to the 2025 winners of TBSC, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Picture: ESTHER ADJORKOR ADJEI UEW followed closely in third place with 51.83 points, also receiving medals, books and cash prize. The competition kicked off with KNUST scoring nine points in the first round, ahead of UGs four and UEWs five. The lead widened in subsequent rounds, particularly in the third rounds business case presentation, where KNUST earned 16.17 points, compared to UGs 14 and UEWs 13.83. The fourth round, focused on Graphic Business Stories, saw KNUST score 21 points, while UEW and UG earned 18 and 19 points respectively. KNUST maintained their dominance in the fifth round with 13 points, same as UEW, while UG scored four. In the final riddle round, KNUST clinched six points, with UEW earning three and UG scoring none. The event, attended by the sponsors, including Elizabeth Frempong, Brands and Communication Manager of CompuGhana, and Paula Adum-Yeboah of PwC, featured a panel of judges, namely Albert Nii Ayi Tagoe, Dickson Assan and Racheal Hemans, who evaluated the business case presentations. Sponsors and organisers encouraged participants to prioritise their studies and strive for excellence. The Director, Marketing, Graphic Communications Group Ltd, Franklin Sowa, praised the students business acumen and academic sharpness, emphasising that the TBSC was a permanent fixture designed to bridge academic theory and real-world business. The competition aims to foster critical thinking, ethical awareness and environmental consciousness among tertiary students. The Quiz Master, Alhassan Trawule, revealed exciting updates for future editions, including a new format with comprehensive case study presentations to be judged by panels, alongside training in computer literacy and mentorship sessions with seasoned professionals. This years competition featured over 26 schools participating, including new entrants. Until last Saturday, University of Cape Coast was the most successful school in the competition, having won the competition in 2019 and 2021. After Saturdays triumph, UCC were joined by KNUST as the only institutions to have won the coveted title twice each, with KNUST winning its first title in 2022. UG (2024), UEW (2023) and the S. D. Dombo University for Integrated Business Development Studies (2020) are all past winners of the competition. The competition was supported by sponsors, including ICAG, MTN, PricewaterHouseCoopers (PwC), GLICO Life Insurance, Peeva Beverages, Papaye, GCB Bank PLC and CompuGhana, reinforcing its role as a transformative platform for Ghanas future business leaders. Featured Second Graphic, NIC, GIA insurance fair ends in Kumasi - Patrons call for intensified education on insurance policies Gilbert Mawuli Agbey Business News Aug - 11 - 2025 , 06:50 Some members of the public who patronised the annual insurance fair organised by the Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL) together with two other partners in Kumasi have called on insurance companies to intensify education on their policies. That, they said, would go a long way to convince people to voluntarily sign on to any of the policies of their choice for their own benefit. We believe that insurance companies should up their game by intensifying public education on their various policies to attract the attention of the general public towards growing the industry, they stressed. Fair They made the remarks during the second edition of the insurance fair held at Adum in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. The GCGL collaborated with the National Insurance Commission (NIC) and the Ghana Insurers Association (GIA) to organise the event. Josephine Nsiah (left), a representative of Glicolife Insurance, exposing Franklin Sowa (middle), Director, Marketing and Sales, GCGL, to their products, during an insurance fair in Kumasi. Those looking on include Dr Kingsley Kwesi Kwabahson (right), Chief Executive Officer, GIA, and Faruk Dramani, Ashanti Regional Manager, NIC. Pictures : EMMANUEL BAAH The three-day event, which ended last Friday at the forecourt of the Ghana Post Company Limited, was on the theme: Boosting insurance in the formal and informal sectors of Ghana. It followed an earlier one which was successfully held at the Accra Mall Food Court in Accra. Education The patrons stated that it was important for the companies to properly educate the public for them to fully understand the available insurance policies, saying if we are not adequately educated on the policies, enrolling on any of them becomes difficult. There is a need for the staff of the companies to have the patience to explain the importance of insurance and their respective policies to the public to convince people to enrol on any of them, they stated. One of the patrons, Isaac Amoakoh, said the wrong public perception about insurance policies was one of the reasons why people shy away from enrolling on any of the policies to reap their full benefits. Participants The annual event brought together players in the insurance industry, especially insurance companies and members of the general public who visited the stands of the companies to understand their policies so as to invest in the sector. Companies Participating companies included Nsia Insurance, Glico General, Glico Life, SIC Insurance PLC, Prudential Life Insurance Ghana, Enterprise Insurance, Enterprise Life, Millenium Insurance, Coronation and Hollard Insurance Life. The rest were Vanguard Assurance Company Limited, miLife Insurance, Old Mutual, National Insurance Commission, Imperial General Assurance, Serene Insurance, Bedrock Insurance and Equity Health Assurance. Commendable At the event, the acting Commissioner of Insurance, Dr Abiba Zakariah, in a speech read on his behalf, said it was commendable that as industry players were getting closer to their policyholders and potential clients, more people are beginning to show interest in insurance. She said there was, therefore, the need to reshape public perception by clarifying policy terms and promoting insurance as a tool for resilience, particularly amid global threats like climate change. Dr Zakariah reiterated the three strategic pillars aimed at guiding insurers in their approach to the public through well-designed and visually appealing exhibition stands to make insurance services more accessible and attractive. Strategic pillars Touching on the strategic pillars, she said despite ongoing efforts, unethical practices such as premium undercutting continue to exist in the industry, saying it is time to put an end to such practices. The NIC has established a committee on premium undercutting and within six months of its establishment, we have observed a significant reduction in unethical behaviours, she indicated. Another one, she said, is the formation of the insurance penetration committee to provide research-backed analysis and actionable recommendations for insurers and key stakeholders. Lastly, Dr Zakariah said by adhering to the aforementioned strategic pillars, Ghanas insurance market stands to benefit from increased international exposure and foreign investor interest This partnership between the insurance industry and the GCGL has become a critical enabler of our collective goals. I am confident that it will continue to serve as a catalyst for driving forward our three strategic pillars, she pointed out. Importance The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), GIA, Dr Kingsley Kwesi Kwabahson, underscored the importance of enrolling on insurance policies and urged the general public to insure businesses, buildings, vehicles, among others against eventualities. He stated that over GH10 million was paid daily as insurance claims to individuals with various insurance policies, saying insurance enables you to rely on your funds in times of death, motor accidents and other emergencies. Dr Kwabahson advised the public to take insurance seriously as it was the surest way to prepare against any future emergency situations. Media organisation The Director, Marketing and Sales, GCGL, Franklin Sowa, said as a relevant media organisation, GCGL did not just want to highlight the challenges confronting the insurance sector but to be part of the solution. He said: Part of the solution is to bring insurance closer to the people, allowing them to communicate their frustrations, needs and expectations directly to the companies, so that insurance firms can provide solutions that meet those expectations. As a relevant media outlet, we want to lead in providing solutions to the needs of the market. We are providing an opportunity for brands to leverage our credibility to engage the market towards improving the insurance sector, Mr Sowa stated. Writers email: [email protected] Featured GRA Commissioner-General tours Coca-Cola Bottling Company Business Desk Report Business News Aug - 11 - 2025 , 16:15 As part of a renewed drive to strengthen tax compliance and foster strategic partnerships with the private sector, the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, last Friday, led a high-level delegation to the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana in Tema. The visit formed part of the GRAs stakeholder engagement strategy to deepen mutual understanding with key industry players and promote a collaborative approach to tax administration. The Commissioner-General and his team were taken on a detailed tour of the facility to gain firsthand insight into the companys production processes and operational dynamics. Strategic cooperation In discussions with Coca-Cola's management, Mr Sarpong emphasised the importance of strategic cooperation in addressing national challenges, such as smuggling, counterfeiting and revenue leakages. We are in a war against smuggling, a threat that undermines national development. The private sector cannot be left to fight this battle alone. At GRA, we are deploying a combination of intelligence gathering, satellite surveillance and robust human resource strategies to curb these illegal activities. This collaborative effort is essential to safeguarding the integrity of our economy, Mr Sarpong said. Tax education The Commissioner-General also announced the upcoming launch of Sustained Tax Education, a national initiative aimed at promoting voluntary tax compliance through public education and awareness campaigns. He said the initiative would focus on deepening citizens understanding of tax policies, obligations and the benefits of compliance. Mr Sarpong was accompanied by senior officials of the authority, including the Commissioner of Customs, Brigadier General Glover Anang; Technical Advisor to the Commissioner-General, Elsie Appau-Klu, and Assistant Commissioner, Preventive Customs Division, Eric Bonney. Full compliance The Managing Director of Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Ghana, Felix Gomis, welcomed the GRAs visit and reiterated the companys commitment to full compliance with Ghanas tax laws. We appreciate this engagement with the GRA and value the opportunity to strengthen our partnership. Responsible corporate citizenship and support for national development remain central to our operations, he said. Next article: Gospel star Minister Yvonne pledges to win more souls as she celebrates 40th birthday Featured People exploited Lumbas name for deals ET Akonor Gifty Owusu-Amoah Showbiz News Aug - 11 - 2025 , 12:15 4 minutes read WHILE Daddy Lumba, the revered Highlife legend who died recently, has long been celebrated for his music, his legacy has not been without controversy. Over the years, he has faced relentless character attacks, largely stemming from accusations of failing to honour contracts. In 2015, Gospel artiste Great Ampong accused Daddy Lumba of greed when he supposedly pocketed proceeds from the launch of a joint album, Hosanna. And even as family, fans and well-wishers poured out condolences for Daddy Lumba, CEO of Joy Industries, Manfred Takyi, declared on Facebook he would not mourn Daddy Lumbas passingciting an unpaid debt. Takyi alleged that the music icon owed him money and a customised Toyota Tundra, part of an endorsement deal that went unfulfilled. He further claimed Daddy Lumba failed to appear at a Joy Industries concert in Koforidua despite receiving the endorsement package, deepening the rift between them. However, speaking with Graphic Showbiz recently, a close friend of Daddy Lumba, ET Akonor, described as very unfair the allegations maligning the reputation and good name of his best friend. He said many individuals around Daddy Lumba exploited his fame, making deals and contracts behind his back without his knowledge. Do you know that even on the day Daddy Lumba died, there were flyers of him as a headline artiste for a show in London, UK, when no member of his team was aware of it, he explained. This has been happening for a while but I tried to put a stop to that when I came into the picture and started handling some of these mishaps. Its very disheartening but today, I want to put it on record that Lumba was innocent of these accusations, he said. On Friday, August 1, 2025, a legal representative of Daddy Lumba, Baba Jamal and Associates, in a statement, warned individuals and operators of media outlets that publish defamatory stories about the late Highlife musician to stop or face legal suits. (Read Kumasi vigil for Daddy Lumba postponed indefinitely) They urged those with legitimate grievances to present their claims through proper legal channels to the Fosu family, emphasising a commitment to resolving disputes amicably. Mr ET Akonor said the statement was necessary to curb the growing assassination on the music icons character. He also addressed the infamous feud between Daddy Lumba and Great Ampong over the Hosanna album. According to Akonor, the issue began when some pledges made during the auction session at the album launch were not redeemed. He expressed surprise that Great Ampong never contacted him to resolve the issue, despite knowing him as the executive producer. So the proceeds for that day, indeed, Lumba carried them away but theres a playback of the video of that day which anybody who wants the truth can access. Ampong himself doesnt know how much we earned on that day. He knows me but he never contacted me but decided to pick a fight with my brother. And he Lumba doesnt talk so he just ignored him, he said. Akonor revealed that Rev. Badu Kobi of Glorious Wave Internatiobal Church attempted to mediate between the two musicians. Although Ampong wasn't paid for his work, he stated that someone later paid him GH33,000 to settle the matter and protect Lumba's image. (Read From mechanic shop to close bond Lumbas friendship with ET) Akonor disputed Great Ampong's claim of a verbal agreement, stating that there's rather a written agreement with a 40-30-30 split. It is 40-30-30. As the Executive Producer, my share was 40 per cent with the two splitting the rest. But at this stage, its difficult to find the agreement because Lumba kept everything, ET Akonor said. According to ET, the feud led to them abandoning the project; the CDs remained with Daddy Lumba and the content not uploaded to YouTube. Previous article: No amount is good enough to compensate Africa in reparations Featured From ashes to action Ras Mubarak Opinion Aug - 10 - 2025 , 18:40 3 minutes read In the midst of the sorrow of August 6, 2025, we must honor the exemplary leadership, community resilience, and ultimate sacrifice of those involved, while renewing our commitment to end galamseys devastation. The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, emerged as a beacon of strength, guiding the region through a never-before-seen crisis. Leading the response to the crash, he coordinated efforts under unimaginable pressure. No training prepares one for such a tragedy, yet his resolve steadied a grieving nation. His leadership reminds us that even in the darkest moments, steadfast guidance can light the way forward. As a medical doctor, Dr. Amoakohene witnessed horrors at the crash sitescenes of burning wreckage and loss that few could endure and remain sane. The psychological strain of this tragedy extends beyond the Minister to the community members and responders who faced the devastating scene. Counseling is essential for the Minister, the people of Sikaman, and all who witnessed this calamity, ensuring they receive the support needed to heal. The military, emergency services, and especially the people near the crash site, deserve immense praise for their swift response. Braving the chaos of a burning wreckage, they worked tirelessly to locate the victims bodies, a task that would have taken far longer without their efforts. Their courage and unity exemplify the strength of Ghanaian communities in the face of adversity. The eight compatriots who lost their lives - including prominent figures like Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Dr. Murtala Ibrahim and Alhaji Limuna Muniru - were engaged in the fight against galamsey, a practice that has polluted 60 per cent of Ghanas water bodies, destroyed forests, and endangered lives through mercury poisoning and pit collapses. Current policies, such as Operation Halts military crackdowns and the Multilateral Mining Integrated Projects push for sustainable mining, have made strides but face challenges like corruption and economic dependence on illegal mining. The governments ban on small-scale mining (20182019) and mercury-free initiatives under the Minamata Convention show commitment, yet enforcement remains inconsistent, and reclamation efforts lag behind the destruction. The loss of these eight lives must not be in vain. Their sacrifice demands stronger action against galamsey. The government must bolster Operation Halt with technology like drones to monitor mining sites safely, engage communities in restoration efforts, and expand alternative livelihood programs to reduce reliance on illegal mining. Citizens, too, must advocate for clean rivers and forests, ensuring the victims legacy drives change. We mourn the loss of our compatriots who gave their lives in the fight against galamsey. May God rest their souls, and may their deaths inspire a renewed commitment to protect Ghanas environment. Amen. The author, Ras Mubarak is the campaign lead, Trans African Tourism and Unity Campaign, and a former Member of Parliament Next article: Inconvenient truth: If we must wait for death to celebrate, we have already failed - Urgency of recognising impact before silence falls Featured Petition to President on CJ removal Dr Albert Antwi Boasiako Opinion Aug - 11 - 2025 , 08:08 4 minutes read Sir, the three arms of government the Executive, the Legislature, and the Judiciary are the vehicles that convey the main ideas of government. The three key figures, the President, the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief Justice (CJ), are the leading figures in governance. The removal of the Chief Justice is an information that pierces through the hearts of many Ghanaians with uneasiness. A sediment of uncertainty has settled on the hearts of many Ghanaians. This process stems from the requirements of the Constitution. Observations a) The removal of the CJ is strange to many Ghanaians. Many Ghanaians are not aware of this possibility as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution. b) There are two groups of people, those who want the President to move with the quickest alacrity to initiate the process of the removal of the CJ, and those who think the President should temper mercy with justice. c) It is a commendable humane deed of the President for giving copies of the petition to the CJ, and giving her time to assemble her facts to defend the allegations. He has respected the principles embedded in Human Rights. The President was reasonably flexible on Article 146 (6). The President, who is the head of the executive, derives his mandate from the people. The President contests and wins an election. The Speaker of Parliament, or the Chairman of Parliament, as some may term it, is elected by Members of Parliament. The third arm of government, the CJ, is appointed by the President or the Executive arm of government, so his or her lifespan can depend on the executive. It is expected that the separation of powers works effectively where each of the organs becomes independent. For effective governance, that should be the practice. In my opinion, the CJ should be elected by the judiciary. Interested candidates should apply for the position. They must go out and campaign with their manifestos. Eligible voters should be judges and magistrates from the various courts in any given country. If that becomes the practice, then the CJ will derive his or her mandate from the judiciary. An electoral college will be constituted, where all judges will be eligible to vote. There must be a judicial committee that monitors the day-to-day running of the Judiciary. Should there be the need to impeach or remove the CJ, the Judicial Committee will call the CJ and inform him/her that his/her performance or attitude may not permit them to continue their duties. Both the Judicial Committee and the Judicial Council will have to bring to the chief justice's attention issues that could lead to His/her removal. He/she must be given the prompting on his/her lapses and shortcomings in their administration. Where there is persistent insubordination and disregard for laws and constituted authority, a vote of no confidence will be passed by the majority of electorates who voted him or her into power. The International Court of Justice should endeavour to adopt this proposal as an international agenda to promote fairness in the separation of powers. The United Nations Department of Political Affairs should also pour itself into the implementation of this proposal, which I think is laudable. This will strengthen democratic processes in governance and promote fairness. Checks, balances The actual checks and balances will be amplified where we see that all three arms of government are fully independent from each other to a larger extent. Nobody has a monopoly over the truth, nobody can force their model on the other, let's learn from each others experienceMikhail Gorbachev, former President of the former Soviet Union. (Ne kto ne imeet monopolia na istinu). We should be open to cooperation and discussions on issues relating to the law, while exploring new ideas and avenues to consolidate our democracy here in Ghana and abroad. The other way round will be the Judicial Committee, made up of representatives of all the courts from the District Court to the Supreme Court. The Judicial Committee can vote on the continuity of the CJ or the termination of his or her appointment. The writer is an initiator, International Forum on the Status of Refugees in the World; Convener, Kofi Annan Memorial Lecture, Senior Lecturer, University of Ghana. E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] Featured No amount is good enough to compensate Africa in reparations Cynthia Smith Opinion Aug - 10 - 2025 , 19:15 5 minutes read With calls for reparations from Western powers to Africa growing by the day, the time for adequate compensation for the centuries of slavery and other injustices cannot be further delayed. Rather than the usual lone, odd voice pleading from a distance, Africa now seems more united than ever in the demand for reparative justice for centuries of slavery, colonisation and other dehumanising experiences endured by the continent and its people from Western powers. Various advocates have put the worth of reparations due Africa at trillions, with Lynsey Chutel of the New York Times referencing a Ghanaian academic, Daniel Tetteh Osabu-Kle, in a 2000 article published in the Journal of Black studies which put the figure at $100 trillion. Kwesi Pratt Jnr, who is a member of the Coordinating Committee of the Pan-African Progressive Front, estimates in his book on reparations that Africa could be due a conservative figure of more than two trillion dollars for the 12.5 million Africans forcibly taken during the transatlantic slave trade spanning the 15th to 19th centuries. He argued that, if 12.5 million Africans worked an average of 10 years without pay and earned a modest historical wage equivalent of $5/day, the amount is over $2 trillion, excluding interest or compound growth. Writing on What is Africa owed, Chutel stated that: Approximately 12.5 million people were enslaved and taken from Africa, according to a widely accepted figure from the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade Database, but some estimates argue that as many as 20 million people were enslaved. Renowned economist Utsa Patnaik argues that Britain extracted $45 trillion from India between 1765 and 1938. Marchal, a Belgian scholar, also estimates that in Congo under King Leopold II, 10 million people died between 1885 and 1908, while Belgium's profit from this period amounted to $1.1 billion in today's value. while Africa is yet to receive its due for suffering slavery, colonization and other injustices, the West has made some efforts towards some other people. For example, Germany has paid out $89 billion in reparations for the Holocaust (since 1952), while the United States has paid $1.6 billion to Japanese Americans interned during World War II. But France has compelled 14 African countries to hold in CFA franc 50 per cent of their reserves totalling $500 billion in Paris. Although some efforts have been made towards reparations to Africa, the volume of it has been woefully inadequate when compared to what the continent actually deserves. For example, Germany agreed to pay 1.1 billion to Namibia for the genocidal atrocities on the Herero and Nama people through their descendants in 2021 in existing aid programmes to be delivered across 30 years, while the UK gave 20 million to Kenya for victims of the Mau Mau uprising. Then again, these sums are insignificant for Africa. For example, 20 million for Kenya translates to just 3,500 per survivor. In a May 2025 article published by the United Nations, Cristina Duarte, a Cabo Verdean former Minister of Finance, Planning and Public Administration who now serves as Special Advisor on Africa to the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, wrote that Africa's call for reparations is "not just for reflection, but for clarity, courage, and a strategic reframing of the reparations discourse". She described the African Union theme for 2025, framed as: Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations as "a powerful and necessary theme". She then justified Africa's demand for reparative justice by emphasising that the continent has become "a net creditor to the world, losing more than $500 billion every year through illicit financial flows, unfair trade practices, exploitative investment frameworks, and debt servicing, while it is home to some of the worlds poorest populations". For instance, she recounted, that Ghana exported $9.58 billion in gold in 2024, yet it only retained 14 per cent of the value due to the nature of multinational agreements; that the DRC produces over 70 per cent of the worlds cobalt, yet only one per cent is refined in the country before being exported; that Zimbabwe was ranked as the third-largest producer of chromium in 2023, yet most was exported in raw form; that collectively, West Africa produces 70 per cent of the worlds cocoa beans but contributes less than one per cent of the global chocolate market, while in Somalia, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by foreign fishing fleets costs the economy $300 million a year. With important voices such as Ghanas President, John Dramani Mahama, taking a front seat role in championing the subject of reparations to Africa, the effort might take a better turn this time. At the 13th AU High-Level Delegation Dialogue on Democracy, Governance and Human Rights held in Accra on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, President Mahama urged African leaders to empower the appropriate bodies and institutions with resources to pursue the reparations agenda. The negotiations could make it easier for the West to handle the subject. For example, Africa could be forgiven all of its debts to give the continent a fresh slate to start life. As Chutel referenced to a group of eminent Africans, including Ali Mazrui, in her article: Reparations from Western countries meant reducing their support for African tyrants, supporting democracy on the continent, giving African states a louder voice in international organizations, and canceling their debt. Those were profound suggestions considering the fact that Ghana, for instance, spent up to 30 per cent of its national budget in 2024 to service foreign debts instead of building schools and hospitals. Africa deserves its compensation to begin its life afresh. Previous article: Inconvenient truth: If we must wait for death to celebrate, we have already failed - Urgency of recognising impact before silence falls Featured Wiping a nation's tears - Occasional Kwatriot Kwesi Yankah writes Kwesi Yankah Opinion Aug - 11 - 2025 , 07:30 5 minutes read Tragic moments often leave no room for chuckles; yet Ghanas Black Wednesday leaves room to recall past experiences riding on the giant bird called the airplane. Even worse was the smaller species called helicopter with a propellor atop. My worst was the small Allegheny commuter plane that carried only 20 passengers. On this, your heart beat started on realizing you were in a plane whose pilot was visible to all passengers. Planes were safer where the pilot was unseen. The prospect of your navigator dozing, or yawning at high altitudes, was itself a nightmare. While a crash was unthinkable, the very sight of a pilot at work required life insurance. Black Wednesday, it was called. Shock, pain, trauma and the color black draped the nation. Another national tragedy had struck; a helicopter crash in Ashanti shattering families, relations, and spawning a new round of widows, orphans, and a newly wedded wife. Among the wailing was an 80-year old woman who just recovered from stroke: she cried uncontrollably having lost an only child. Anguish deepened when husbands and daddies who left for work that morning, returned wrapped as parcels beyond recognition, their bodies pulverized. Television media houses flopped, repeating horror scenes from a helicopter crash, that had killed eight birds with one stone. These were cabinet ministers, state officials and a plane crew on a mission to launch responsible mining. But there was another plane incident that received scant media spotlight. The location was a small town near Ajumako, Central region same Wednesday. A helicopter 9G-ADW with four passengers on board, made an emergency landing at Kokoben Presbyterian School. In the words of an eyewitness: We saw it swerve at low altitudes over the forest area; it then landed on the school field. Scores and scores of youth ran to the site out of curiosity. When asked what was happening, the pilot said he was going to Obuasi and made an emergency landing here due to bad weather. We later saw it take off again to resume the flight, and found out it was different from the plane that crashed. While most parts of Ghana were wrapped in grief and tears, and three days of mourning had been declared; others were curiously delighted seeing in the somber faces a ray of victory over illegal mining. The disaster was simply an act of resistance against Galamsey, said a woman on social media. The river deities at Sikakrom, the disaster site, had fiercely fought back to protect their land. To her, the plane was full of Galamsey executives who were there to survey the area and hand it over to Chinese to poison rivers and destroy cocoa farms. The accident, to her, marked the successful arrest of Galamsey Lords. Thanks to river deities, the power of Adansi is at workYou people left your towns and came to destroy our forests and water bodies, and this is your end. We thank you deities surrounding Adansiwe would have been damned if the helicopter had been spared. You would have handed us over to China for your selfish ends. If that woman had shed tears, it would have been tears from a crocodile, which abounds in faraway Paga. The message of top Government officials having lost their lives on a mission to save the environment, was completely lost on others. At best this was a routine act of hypocrisy. The lack of political will to ground illegal mining is indeed not one partys posturing. None of the two major political parties appears sufficiently committed to fight Galamsey and restore a healthy environment. For the NPP, the biggest self-betrayal was the brazen indifference to a Frimpong Boateng Report, which pointed to high government officials involved in Galamsey. The eventual outcome was an anti-climax. The whistle blower himself ended up arraigned before a Special Prosecutor to answer allegations of corruption. As my Ga friends would say, kegbashi nmene! Lets not forget another crusader from the opposite camp, the NDC. Dr Hanna Bissiw-Kotei, newly appointed Administrator of Minerals Development Fund. I doffed my hat seeing her bold initiatives at forest sites and zones, confronting kingpins, Chinese and local alike. In forestry costume, she fearlessly led the security to ransack Galamsey hideouts, getting many arrested, putting her own life at risk. But her efforts were short-lived. Not only did many seized excavators, disappear overnight; Abaawa Hanna as we say at Methodist Church, was politely advised to limit herself to administrative duties. In other words, Hanna, tashie, as my colleague Gas would say. For all you know, it is Galamsey that feeds political party campaigns and drives election victories and several social events. At church harvest events, did the Harvest Chairman not receive the loudest applause when he donated 100k in Jesus name? And what do you tell the generous Chairman? Pastor would ask; the congregation responds: Chairman, Onyame nhyira wo-o-o-o-oooo! invoking Gods blessings over illegal mining. We have collectively conspired against future generations, pre-poisoning their water sources and leaving a legacy of malformed babies. In the name of our fallen heroes, Omane Boamah, Murtala, indeed the Departed 8, lets hold hands and fight illegal mining as an inter-party project. Thats the only way to dry our tears, and honour our heroes, or else we only shed tears of a crocodile. kyankah@ashesi.edu.gh Today's World News - From Africa, Asia, U.S, Europe and Middle East Featured China opens worlds first hospital operated by robot doctors Beatrice Laryea International Aug - 11 - 2025 , 14:14 2 minutes read China has launched the worlds first fully AI-powered hospital, marking a groundbreaking shift in the global healthcare landscape. Developed by researchers at Tsinghua University, the "Agent Hospital" is a virtual medical facility run entirely by artificial intelligence, according to Timesofindia.com. This innovative model enables AI doctors to treat up to 10,000 patients within daysa feat that would take human physicians nearly two years to accomplish. Beyond streamlining healthcare delivery, this revolutionary technology has the potential to transform medical education and training. AI-driven hospital models could play a critical role in addressing the global shortage of healthcare professionals, especially in underserved regions. By leveraging AI for diagnosis, treatment planning, patient monitoring, and administrative tasks, such hospitals can help bridge the gap between healthcare demand and provider availability. This technology-driven approach reduces dependence on human doctors while delivering faster and more accurate medical assessments. AI hospitals also offer consistent, around-the-clock care with minimal fatigueideal for remote or resource-constrained environments. Beyond patient care, Agent Hospital is poised to revolutionize medical education. Medical students can now train in a risk-free, hyper-realistic environment that replicates a wide variety of conditionssome of which they might never encounter in traditional internships. AI doctors can provide instant feedback, monitor learning curves, and expose students to high-pressure decision-making in real time. This form of training isnt just a noveltyits a scalable solution to global shortages in clinical training infrastructure. Students in remote or underfunded areas can access elite medical education through a headset and stable internet connection. Key Benefits of AI Hospitals: Cost-effective healthcare delivery Standardized treatment protocols 24/7 medical availability Reduced waiting times Improved resource utilization Next article: Outrage as baby dies after genital mutilation in The Gambia Featured Thousands protest against Ouattara's fourth term bid Africa News International News Aug - 11 - 2025 , 16:49 2 minutes read 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. Cote d Ivoire, 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 last Saturday morning in Yopougon, a densely populated suburb of the capital Abidjan, holding banners with messages such as: Enough is enough!, No true democracy without true justice, and We are millions saying Yes to Gbagbo and Thiam. Gbagbo and Thiam joined forces earlier this year to challenge incumbent President Alassane Ouattara. Last month, 83-year-old Ouattara announced that he would seek a fourth term. Ouattaras candidacy is contested after he changed the Constitution in 2016 to remove presidential term limits. 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 last 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. Thiam, the president of the Democratic Party of Cote d Ivoire, won the partys primary in an uncontested vote. 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. Featured High school dropout rate in north: Students abandoning classrooms to south for illegal mining UW GNAT Chairman Sahada Dramani Education Aug - 11 - 2025 , 05:57 3 minutes read The Upper West Regional branch of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) is worried about the effect of illegal mining on education in the country and has called for a holistic approach to tackle the menace. The association says one of the challenges facing education in the region is school dropouts as a result of illegal mining activities. It said the illegal mining is luring students, particularly those in junior high, to abandon school and travel south to engage in it. The regional chairman of the association, Ivon Kuule, who disclosed this during the quadrennial delegates conference of GNAT in Wa, said the challenge needed urgent attention to Ensure that we provide the best quality of education to all children of school age in the region. He said even though members of the association were doing their best to provide the students in the region with the best of tuition, some of the challenges needed urgent attention. He cited high teacher attrition rate, lack of accommodation and basic social amenities, especially in the hard-to-reach communities, inadequate school infrastructure and inadequate resources for the implementation of the new curriculum for both the junior and senior high schools. The other challenge, according to him, was the validation of its members, leading to some members names being removed from the payroll. This issue, he said, affects the morale of the teachers and called on the validators to be more diligent in their work to ensure that our members names do not go off regularly. Stewardship Giving an account of his stewardship over the last four years, Mr Kuule said the association had grown its membership from 81.7 per cent of the total number of teachers in the region in 2021 to 90.4 per cent in 2025. He said out of the 10,395 teachers in the region, 9,400 were members of GNAT and expressed the hope that at the next quadrennial conference, all teachers in the region would join GNAT. Leadership in the region continuously strives to retain and recruit members into the association. We are on 'operation 100 per cent' for GNAT, he said. He said the region also organised a training workshop for district secretaries and treasurers to improve on their report writing and presentation of financial returns, and also ensured that all the districts were financially resourced to carry out their activities. Peace The National President of GNAT, Rev. Isaac Owusu, appealed to the government and all stakeholders to ensure peace in Bawku as the situation there was affecting its members. He said the government should do all it could to restore peace in Bawku to prevent a situation where the association would be compelled to ask the government to evacuate its members from Bawku. Provident fund He encouraged the members to take advantage of the GNAT provident fund to secure a better retirement for themselves. He said the association had a tax exemption of 16.5 per cent for all contributors to the provident fund. However, he said, out of the total number of more than 270,000, those taking part in the provident fund were less than 16,000 and therefore, appealed to them to join the fund for their benefit. Aglow International, others mourn helicopter crash victims Emmanuel Bonney Aug - 11 - 2025 , 05:57 2 minutes read Aglow International-Ghana has expressed condolences to President John Dramani Mahama and the bereaved families of the eight officials who died in a helicopter crash last Wednesday in Adansi-Brofoyedu in the Adansi-Akrofuom District in the Ashanti Region. It prayed for God to console and have mercy on all their families and friends, that they might be comforted in their grief, keep them safe and give them peace. May the departed souls of the eight officials rest in perfect peace, a statement signed by the President of Aglow International, Dr Dorothy Danso, said. Chartered insurance Meanwhile, the Chartered Insurance Institute of Ghana (CIIG) has joined in mourning the victims of the helicopter crash. In a statement signed by the President of CIIG, Solomon Amah-Kai Lartey, the CIIG described the victims as not just leaders and professionals but pillars of service, dedication, and vision. The CIIG called on the nation to honour their legacy with solemn reflection and renewed purpose. As we extend our deepest condolences to, not only their immediate families, but to us all as a nation, we pray their memories inspire us to uphold the values they lived by: integrity, courage, and commitment to the national cause, it said. GGEA In a related development, the Ghanaian-German Economic Association (GGEA) also extended its heartfelt condolences to the president, the government, the Ghana Armed Forces, bereaved families and loved ones affected by the devastating incident. It is the hope of the entire Ghanaian-German Business community that their unwavering commitment and service to country will always be remembered, and their passing be a renewed commitment to responsible mining. In this difficult moment, we stand united in grief and solidarity, to observe the 3-days mourning, offering our prayers and condolence to all those who have been impacted by this tragedy, a statement signed by the acting Executive Secretary of the GGEA, Hilary Saki Kodji, said. Featured Helicopter crash: International community condoles with Ghana Timothy Ngnenbe Aug - 11 - 2025 , 05:57 4 minutes read The international community has joined hearts in solidarity with Ghana to mourn the tragic loss of two ministers and six others in a helicopter crash. The eight fallen persons five government officials and three crew members of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) perished in a helicopter crash at Adansi-Brofoyedu in the Adansi Akrofuom District en route to Obuasi in the Ashanti Region last Wednesday. The serving ministers of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah; Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, met their untimely death alongside a former Minister of Agriculture and acting National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Muniru Mohammed; a National Vice-Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Sarpong; and a parliamentary candidate in the 2024 elections and Deputy Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Samuel Aboagye. Officers of the GAF Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, the pilot of the helicopter; Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu, co-pilot; and Sergeant Ernest Addo-Mensah, crew member, also perished in the crash. Statements In separate statements issued between last Wednesday and Thursday, the African Union Commission, ECOWAS and the United Nations (UN) condoled with the President, John Dramani Mahama, the bereaved families, and the people of Ghana. The UN Resident Coordinator for Ghana, Zia Choudhury, conveyed the condolences of the multilateral organisation to Ghanaians, urging them to stay strong in these trying times. The statement by the AU Commission was signed by the Chairperson of the continental body, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, while the President of ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Alieu Touray, signed for the regional group. UN mourns Mr Choudhury said the tragic news of the fatal crash involving the Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter was devastating, especially when it had claimed the lives of distinguished government officials who were working for the development of the country. The United Nations family in Ghana mourns with the nation in this moment of deep grief. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, and the government and people of Ghana as you together face this painful loss, he said. He said the tragedy was not just a national wound but also a loss felt across the international community. We stand united at this time of mourning. We honour the memory of all those who have passed, with hope for their lasting peace, he added. AU in tears In his statement, Mr Youssouf said the AU Commission had learned with deep sorrow of the tragic helicopter crash in the country, which claimed the lives of eight people, and would stand resolutely with the government. He conveyed his heartfelt condolences to President Mahama and all Ghanaians, and expressed solidarity with GAF and the ruling NDC during this difficult time. The African Union stands in full solidarity with Ghana in mourning this profound loss. May the souls of the departed rest in eternal peace, he said. African women leaders The African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) expressed its condolences and profound sympathy to President John Dramani Mahama, the bereaved family, and the people of Ghana. In a statement signed by the former President of the Republic of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is also the AWLN Patron, the AWLN prayed for the peaceful repose of the souls of the eight departed and asked for strength and comfort to be granted to their families and the nation during this time of mourning. ECOWAS griefs In its statement, the ECOWAS Commission said the tragic news had been received with profound sorrow and shock. On behalf of the staff and leadership of all ECOWAS institutions, I extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the government, and the people of the Republic of Ghana, Dr Touray stated. He said the Commission would stand resolutely behind Ghana, both in thought and in prayer, in this moment of national grief. Featured Helicopter crash: Murtala, Limuna laid to rest - Forensic results for 6 others received Kester Aburam Korankye Aug - 11 - 2025 , 08:15 5 minutes read The remains of the two Muslim faithful who were among the eight patriots who lost their lives in last Wednesdays helicopter crash have been laid to rest at the Military Cemetery, La, in Accra. This was after a short state ceremony at the forecourt of the State House which was attended by representatives of many segments of the Ghanaian society. Before the burial, the government received a confirmation of their identities based on the expeditious forensic examinations in South Africa. A solemn Islamic janaaza prayer was held at about 2:05 p.m. at the forecourt of the State House in Accra yesterday for the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, who was also the Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, and the late acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna. The two dignitaries and six others tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash last Wednesday when they were on their way to a national assignment. The emotional prayer session, led by the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, drew hundreds of mourners, including grieving family members, government officials, politicians and sympathisers. The janaaza prayer, a brief yet profound Islamic funeral rite performed in under five minutes, sought divine mercy and forgiveness for the departed souls. Before the prayer, Muslim clerics asked whether the deceased had grudges with anyone or owed anybody. Businessman and philanthropist, Ibrahim Mahama, offered to pay such debt if it were. The ceremony was graced by many high-profile figures, including President John Dramani Mahama, the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, and the acting Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe- Bonney. Also in attendance were the wives of the deceased, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a former Chief of Staff, Kwadwo Mpiani, and a former Minister of Finance, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, who is a close friend of the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology. The Chairman of the Council of Elders, National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, and prominent members of the NDC, including Ato Ahwoi, were among other notable personalities who paid their last respects. There was a large group of Muslims who gathered for the prayer. At the state burial ceremony, men from various units of the Ghana Armed Forces formed at the venue, with two pallbearer parties immaculately dressed in their ceremonial red uniform with a touch of golden yellow. After the prayer, the funeral procession, led by GAF, proceeded to the Military Cemetery at Burma Camp, where the bodies were laid to rest in accordance with Islamic tradition. Aside from designated officials, Members of Parliament, NDC party members, the procession was joined by a large number of Muslims and members of the public, forming a long retinue from the State House to the Military Cemetery at La, adjacent the airport. During the interment, the Principal Imam of the Ghana Police Mosque, Superintendent of Police (SP) Imam Hussein, delivered a sermon which urged the living to lead righteous lives so that they might be remembered with honour after their passing. He consoled the bereaved in the Islamic belief that those who died in tragic circumstances, such as drowning, earthquakes or fire, were granted paradise if they remained steadfast in faith. With heartfelt conviction, Imam Hussein prayed for Allahs forgiveness and mercy upon the departed, expressing confidence that their devotion to Islam had secured their place in heaven. President thanks nation, families President Mahama, in few words, urged the nation and families of the deceased to find solace in the Lord. President John Mahama (2nd from right) seated in the company of Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharabutu, the National Chief Imam, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu (right), Chairman of the NDC Council of Elders, and other dignitaries during the burial service at the Military Cemetery. Picture: Esther Adjei Today is not a day for talking, I just want to thank you for your sympathies. The Quran teaches that he who attends the funeral of a departed friend and waits till the final prayers will receive more blessings, he said. President Mahama thanked families of the victims for their patience during the tragic period. We want to thank the families for their patience, as in Islam when a person dies the person must be buried immediately, but due to the conditions the bodies were in, we were unable to identify them. So yesterday we received electronically the forensic details of the two and that is why we are able to do this today, President Mahama explained. President Mahama added that Dr Muhammed and Ahaji Limuna were very close to him. They had personal relations with me, I mentored Murtala and Muniru was an assistant to me. I sent him on errands, he said. Forensic results ready Meanwhile, the remains of six of the eight individuals who lost their lives in last Wednesdays tragic crash were brought to Accra yesterday from South Africa, where forensic examination was conducted on them. The severe burning of the bodies in the accident had made visual identification impossible. The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, received the remains on behalf of the government at the airport and handed them over to the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohonu, as the police was in charge of the forensic examination. With the forensic examination complete and the victims identified, the final step before burial can now proceed. Featured HIV does not kill, stigma does Ghana AIDS Commission Alberto Mario Noretti Aug - 11 - 2025 , 05:57 3 minutes read The Ghana AIDS Commission has stated that People Living with HIV (PLHIV) do not die from the virus itself, but rather from the stigma that society attaches to them. It said that although HIV remained a significant issue in the country, the human rights of the PLHIV must always be respected. The Volta/Oti Regional Technical Coordinator of the commission, Mary Naa Asheley Anyomi, presenting a paper on the State of HIV Epidemic at a Ghana AIDS Commission/Youth Employment Agency forum in Ho, said stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV discouraged testing, treatment and disclosure, while cultural and religious barriers limited discussions on sex education, condoms use and reproductive health. She was presenting the paper to 945 trainee Community Police Assistants (CPAs) at the Ho Police Training School in Ho. The technical coordinator entreated the CPAs to be HIV advocates to their peers and community members and abstain from unprotected sex at their duty posts, adding that prevention is always better than cure. Life Sharing some data on the disease in the region, Mrs Anyomi stated that there are now 19,078 people living with HIV in the Volta Region. They include 4,999 males, 12,881 females and 1,198 children under 14 years. Also, eight districts Anloga, Ho, Hohoe, Ketu South, North Tongu, South Tongu, Ketu North and Ho contributed 75 per cent of the total number of new infections in the region, and 60 per cent of every 100 new infections recorded were among females, she said. Seven of the 18 districts and municipalities in the region had less than 60 per cent of anti-retroviral coverage, and only one district had the highest coverage of over 61 per cent, while the target was 95 per cent. Challenges Mrs Anyomi stated that HIV could be managed and when one was on treatment, the likelihood of infection was reduced by 80 per cent, emphasising that there was life after HIV as its treatment was effective and PLHIV could lead everyday lives with proper treatment. She, therefore, described how very unfair it was that some PLHIV were subjected to stigmatising and discriminatory attitudes in their communities, which compelled some of them to relocate to other places. For instance, she said, a study in 2022 revealed that 48.6 per cent of men in the Volta Region believed children living with HIV should not attend school with other children, while 59.8 per cent of them would not buy fresh vegetables from a shopkeeper living with HIV. Touching on challenges, she said the decline in donor funding had created significant gaps in financing HIV/AIDS programmes, with limited investment in prevention, stigma reduction and social and economic impact mitigation over the past decade. Furthermore, low condom use among young people, especially adolescent girls and young women, was a significant challenge, she added. Also, stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV discouraged testing, treatment and disclosure, while cultural and religious barriers limited discussions on sex education, condom use and reproductive health. Mrs Anyomi emphasised the importance of implementing community-based testing programmes to reach remote or marginalised populations and address the drivers of the epidemic at festive and national events. Featured Lets honour fallen heroes Assemblies of God, Ghana Daily Graphic Aug - 11 - 2025 , 07:21 3 minutes read Assemblies of God, Ghana has proposed to the state to set up support schemes and award packages for all the dependants of the eight gallant men who lost their lives in the recent helicopter crash. It said doing so would commensurate with the supreme sacrifice they had made as well as the distinctive service they had rendered to the state. This gesture will go a long way to underline the point that Ghana, our beloved nation, is indeed worth dying for, a statement issued by the church and signed by its General Secretary, Rev. Dr Ernest Birikorang, which paid tribute to the memories of the eight fallen Ghanaian patriots, said. Victims Assemblies of God, Ghana joined the nation in deeply mourning the gallant eight who lost their lives in the tragic crash at Adansi Brofoyedu in the Adansi Akrofuom District in the Ashanti Region. They included the Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah; the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Alhaji Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, who is also the Member of Parliament for Tamale Central; the acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna, and the Vice-Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Sarpong. The rest were the parliamentary candidate for Obuasi East in the 2024 election, Samuel Aboagye, who was also the Deputy Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO); Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala; Flying Officer Manaen Twum-Ampadu and Sergeant Ernest Addo-Mensah. Tie back The Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) PLC has indicated that it is considering setting up an Endowment Fund for the children of the crash victims as a measure of support for the surviving dependents. The Managing Director of the bank, Edward Ato Sarpong, who led a delegation from the bank to lay a wreath in memory of the eight patriots, said those who lost their lives were well-meaning patriots who would have done the same thing for others. The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) said it had also started reviewing its records to ensure that all eligible dependants receive their due benefits. Addressing what support could be available for the bereaved families after laying a wreath in the memory of Ghanas eight fallen patriots, the Director-General of the Trust, Kwesi Afreh Biney, said SSNIT had begun reviews to ensure that every benefit would be paid to beneficiaries with dispatch. Parliamentarians are part of our active members, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) is one of our subvented organisations, and ministers are part of our Controller group. We have a responsibility as a trust to ensure we follow the right processes and pass on the benefits to those they have left behind, Mr Biney said. He was addressing journalists when the management and staff of SSNIT laid flowers in memory of eight distinguished Ghanaians who lost their lives in a helicopter crash last Wednesday. The Assemblies of God, Ghana said the circumstance of their deaths was heart-breaking, soul-wrenching and earth- shaking, adding that the tragedy reminded all of the fragility of man and the brevity of life. Condoling with the families, the Presidency and the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), the Assemblies of God, Ghana called on them to take consolation in the holy books of Psalm 147:3 which states, Lord heals the broken hearted, and binds up their wound. Assemblies of God, Ghana hopes that the semblance of national unity orchestrated by this tragedy will continually bind us together, irrespective of our political differences, social class, age bracket, ethnic origins and religious beliefs. In addition, may their souls rest in perfect peace, the statement added. Featured Melcom devotes GH25m to CSR - Appoints Dr Awal as communications consultant Daily Graphic Aug - 11 - 2025 , 04:57 3 minutes read The Melcom Group of Companies, Ghanas largest retail outlet, spent over GH25 million in the last decade to support community projects in health and education. The Managing Director of Melcom Group, Ramesh Sadhwani, who disclosed this at a press Soiree in Accra last Wednesday, said the company's support in the health and education sectors were in line with its corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy. Melcom organised the soiree to deepen the company's relationship with the media and highlight its community support initiatives. In the area of health, the Managing Director said Melcom had built and renovated a number of health infrastructure across the country, particularly in deprived communities. Melcom has also provided medical equipment, including medical fridges to support health institutions to store blood safely. Mr Ramesh said the company had for many years organised and funded blood donation drives to help stock the nation's blood banks. He said for this year alone, 3,000 units of blood had been collected, adding that it would go a long way to help provide blood timely for expectant mothers, accident victims and anaemic children. In the area of education, Mr Ramesh stated that Melcom had provided annual scholarships to children of employees of the company to pursue various programmes in educational institutions across the country, adding that the Melcom Group had over 5,000 employees. The Managing Director of Melcom disclosed that the retail giant had also signed a Memoradum of Understanding (MoU) with the University of Media, Arts and Communications (UniIMAC) to sponsor the Best Graduate in Journalism in honour of the late Founder and Chairman, Bhagwan Ramchand Khubchandani. "We will also provide sponsorship for the Best Graduate in Journalism to pursue a Masters degree also at UniIMAC in honour of the late Godwin Avenorgbo, who was our Director of Communications," Mr Ramesh added. The initiative, according to him, was aimed at improving journalism standards in the country, noting that a vibrant, ethical and responsible media was imperative for the country's social and economic development. He entreated journalists to continue to work hard to deepen the country's democracy and stability in order to make Ghana a more attractive investment destination. Enter Dr Awal The Group Executive Director of Melcom, Sonya Sadhwani, also commended the media for their support in highlighting Melcoms CSR initiatives. She took the opportunity to introduce Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal as Melcom Group's Communications and Business Strategy Consultant. She said Dr Awals expertise as a journalist, businessman, marketer and politician made him ideal for the role. Dr Awal is a former Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Minister of Business Development and Managing Director of Graphic Communications Group Ltd. He has also consulted for local and international organisations. Featured Nation observes solemn night of reflection for helicopter crash victims Kester Aburam Korankye Aug - 11 - 2025 , 06:57 5 minutes read The forecourt of the State House was bathed in a sombre glow on Saturday evening, as hundreds gathered under a sky heavy with grief, united in sorrow, for the lives lost in last Wednesdays tragic helicopter crash. Candles flickered in the quiet breeze, their tiny flames mirroring the fragile hope of a nation grappling with an unimaginable loss. The state was mourning two Ministers of State, a Deputy National Security Coordinator, a Deputy Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation, a Vice-Chairman of the governing party and three flight crew who perished in the helicopter crash in Adansi Brofuyedu in the Adansi Akrofuom District in the Ashanti Region. The air was thick with hymns, whispered prayers and the occasional restrained sob as dignitaries, family members and ordinary citizens stood shoulder to shoulder, bound by shared pain. President John Dramani Mahama, his face etched with exhaustion and resolve, led the solemn ceremony, an evening of interfaith prayers, soul-stirring song ministrations and heartfelt tributes to conclude the three days of national mourning for the departed victims of the devastating crash. By his side stood Vice-President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang; Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah; Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, and acting Chief Justice, Justice Paul Baffoe Bonney, their presence reflecting the magnitude of the tragedy. The President of Sierra Leonean, Mr Julius Maada Wonie Bio; former President John Agyekum Kufuor, and former Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia, added to the gatherings weight. Closure These three days are not enough, Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, declared, his voice trembling with emotion as he delivered a message on behalf of the government to open the evening. Former President J.A. Kufuor (2nd from right) in the company of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia (right), former Vice-President, and Alban Bagbin (left), Speaker of Parliament, in a solemn mood during the service Yet, amid the grief, there was a promise: the governments unwavering commitment to uncover the truth behind the crash, to deliver, as Mr Debrah assured, complete closure for the grieving families. As the night deepened, the echoes of tributes and scripture blended into the darkness. Cherished memories When he spoke, President Mahama urged the nation to look beyond despair and find hope in the legacy of those who perished. Some members of the clergy leading a prayer session I pray that the cherished memories of these our loved ones will serve as a guiding light, illuminating a path through the darkness and devastation of this national tragedy, he said. President Mahama emphasised that the loss of the eight was also his personal loss, citing his personal relationship with almost all of them. I stand before you tonight additionally, and quite humbly, as a person who is also personally grieving the departed; each of the eight persons in that helicopter was either a friend, a cherished colleague, or a valued citizen of this country that I lead, he said. The Vice-President, addressing the solemn gathering, gave voice to the nation's collective grief. "This is neither a time for perfect words nor a time for the right thoughts, because there are none," she said. She paid tribute to the victims as patriots who had "served their nation and humanity well", urging all present to find solace in cherished memories of the departed. Reflections The memorial service witnessed moving tributes from colleagues, family members, friends and associates of the eight deceased. Vice-President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang (left) consoling Lordina Mahama, the First Lady Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, Colonel Ernestina Assan remembered the late minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, as a visionary leader whose sudden passing had "shattered" critical national plans. "What a great shock (that) death laid its icy hands on you," she said, describing the former Defence Minister as a humble and approachable leader who bridged military and civilian divides with uncommon grace. The Chief Director of the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, Suweibah Adam, reflected on the exemplary work ethic of the late sector minister, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed. "Punctuality was his trademark," she said. She said the late minister arrived at work between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. each day to review correspondence before his official duties began. His ability to seamlessly joggle responsibilities at the ministry, Parliament and Presidency while maintaining an open-door policy, she said, set an enduring standard for public service. The National Security Coordinator, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Abdul-Osman Razak, described the late Alhaji Minuru Lumuna, a Deputy National Security Coordinator, who also perished in the crash, as a scholar who was dedicated to the development of the country, while the National Disaster Management Organisation described Samuel Aboagye, then a Deputy Director of NADMO, as the youngest yet most influential among the deputy directors of the organisation. Air Commodore Mathias Awuah, who delivered a tribute from the Ghana Armed Forces, said the departed soldiers were exceptional. Some ministers of state at the service He said the pilot of the helicopter, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, exhibited the highest standard of professionalism and commitment. His sudden departure is an irreplaceable loss to the service and the Ghana Armed Forces as a whole. Commissioned into the Operations Branch on 17th October 2014, Squadron Leader Anala exercised exceptional skill, discipline and dedication, he said. He said the other fallen soldiers, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah, were well trained and served with dedication. Your duty is done, but your legacy endures forever, he said. The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Kwetey, led the party to reflect on the lives of the departed comrades, especially the National Vice-Chairman, Samuel Sarpong, whom he described as a dependable leader. The evening's interfaith prayers and musical tributes created a sombre yet unifying atmosphere, as the nation continues to grapple with the tragedy's aftermath. Next article: All set for state funeral for helicopter crash victims; public asked to submit tributes for official state brochure Featured Make our Hansard easily accessible online - Parliamentary leadership Mohammed Ali Aug - 11 - 2025 , 14:26 3 minutes read The leadership of Parliament in Ghana has proposed that the Hansard, which is a verbatim report of debates in Parliament should be made available online. This, according to them, this will help fight misinformation and fake news, which is on the ascendency. They want the Hansard to be infused with artificial intelligence and other digital tools to make it more accessible in the digiral space. This, according to them, will improve public engagement with parliamentary work, strengthen accountability, and protect the integrity of official records. Speaking at the opening of the 11th Biennial Conference of the Commonwealth Hansard Editors Association - Africa Region in Accra on Monday, August 11, 2025, tye Majority Leader and Leader of Government Businessm Mahama Ayariga proposed the introduction of an AI-powered Hansard system that could send live alerts to ministries, agencies, and other public institutions mentioned in parliamentary debates. Mr Ayariga explained that the system could be configured so that when an institution is mentioned in a debate, it automatically receives a notification without the Speaker having to issue a directive. This, he said, would make institutions more responsive to matters raised in Parliament. Even as proceedings are going on, even as debates are going on, institutions relevant to what is happening get notified so that they can be interested, he said. He noted that many young people will never even read a Hansard but could be drawn into democratic processes if Parliaments work was connected to platforms they already use. He proposed linking Hansard output with social media to tag or alert individuals, agencies, and groups mentioned in debates, making it easier for them to follow and respond to issues. Mr Ayariga also said new technologies, including real-time AI transcription and Ghanas live parliamentary television broadcasts, should be integrated into the work of the Hansard Department to ensure records match what the public hears. Discrepancies, he warned, could lead to disputes between Parliament and the public. The Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin on his part also called for an urgent digital overhaul of the Hansard system to safeguard parliamentary records and make them more accessible. Mr Afenyo-Markin described digitalisation as a democratic imperative and urged the adoption of AI for indexing, the integration of online archives, and the development of common standards for Hansard reporting across African legislatures. Hansard is more than a verbatim record. It is the institutional conscience of Parliament, he said, adding that the official record has been used as evidence in legal disputes. He cited the Supreme Court cases of Benjamin Eyi-Mensah v Electoral Commission and Afenyo-Markin v Speaker of Parliament, where Hansard played a role in resolving constitutional issues. He stressed that modernisation must be accompanied by capacity building. Technology alone is not a substitute for capacity. Even as we invest in systems, we must invest equally in the people, he said, calling for targeted training for Hansard staff and cooperation among African legislatures to improve professional skills. The conference, held under the theme Charting the future of Hansard: Embracing innovation and technology for enhanced parliamentary reporting in Africa, has brought together Hansard editors, clerks, and parliamentary officials from across the continent to discuss ways of improving parliamentary reporting in the digital era. Next article: See the areas that will be affected by ECG's planned maintenance on August 11-12, 2025 Featured Sixteen African leaders honoured at 2025 MTN Pulse Africa role model awards in Kumasi GraphicOnline Aug - 11 - 2025 , 19:49 3 minutes read Sixteen distinguished personalities have been recognised for their exceptional contributions to leadership, innovation, governance, business, academia, and youth empowerment at the 16th edition of the MTN Pulse Africa Role Model Awards and Transform Summit, organised by the Young Professionals and Youth Coalition (YPYC) in Kumasi. The awards, led by YPYC President Dr Andrews Osei Okrah, honoured individuals whose work continues to inspire a new generation of African leaders. Among the top honourees were Ashanti Regional Minister Dr Frank Amoakohene, who received the Young Achiever Role Model in Leadership and Innovation Award, and Akyamfour Asafo Boakye Agyemang-Bonsu, Chairman of the University Council at KNUST, who was presented with the Africa Role Model Leadership Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr Amoakohene was recognised for his transformative initiatives in governance, particularly in healthcare, education, and infrastructure. Leadership must reimagine technology in a broader spectrum, he said, urging leaders to embrace digital innovation to stay relevant and drive meaningful change. He expressed gratitude to Dr Andy Osei Okrah and the YPYC team, noting that YPYC continues to be a beacon of transformation, nurturing young minds and championing entrepreneurship across Africa. Akyamfour Asafo Boakye Agyemang-Bonsu was honoured for his dedication to societal progress and youth empowerment, with a strong emphasis on inclusive governance and advancing science and technology through his role at KNUST. The summit, themed Reimagining Leadership and Technology in a Digital World, featured a high-level panel discussion focused on empowering youth for leadership in an increasingly digital and interconnected era. Panellists called for increased access to digital skills training, mentorship, and entrepreneurial support, and stressed the need for government, private sector, and educational institutions to collaborate in creating an ecosystem where young Africans can drive innovation in sectors such as agriculture, technology, and the creative economy. Young people are not just the future; they are the present. If we fail to empower them with the right tools, we limit Africas potential to lead in the global digital economy, one panellist stated, underscoring the urgency of youth-centred policies that prioritise innovation and inclusion. Other award recipients included Ms Abena Osei-Poku, Managing Director of Ecobank Ghana, as Overall Female Africa Role Model; Dr Michael Kwame Obeng, Plastic Surgeon, as Overall Male Africa Role Model; and Hon Patrick Boamah, MP for Okaikwei Central, as Africa Role Model in Politics and Governance. The list also featured notable names from business, academia, media, religion, tourism, agriculture, and philanthropy. The event, chaired by Oheneba Owusu Afriyie IV, Otumfuos Apagyahene, attracted over 500 participants, including students, CEOs, entrepreneurs, health professionals, researchers, and high-profile dignitaries. Founded in 2009, the Africa Role Model Awards aim to go beyond recognition, serving as a rallying point for integrity, innovation, and inclusive development across the continent. The 2025 edition reaffirmed YPYCs commitment to spotlighting excellence and fostering a new wave of leadership in Africa. Featured Fake news can twist Parliaments words, Hansard staff must keep up with high-tech threats Bagbin urges Mohammed Ali Politics Aug - 11 - 2025 , 13:54 2 minutes read The Speaker of Parliament Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin has urged the Hansard staff across Africa to try and upgrade their knowledge, skills, and competence required to meet the demands of the technology age and protect the integrity of parliamentary proceedings. The Hansard, which is a verbatim report of parliamentary debates is normally handled by a special unit within even parliament. Speaking at the opening of the 11th Biennial Conference of the Commonwealth Hansard Editors Association Africa Region in Accra on Monday, [August 11, 2025], Mr Bagbin warned that Parliaments official records risk distortion in the digital age, as fake news and advanced technology make it easier to alter the words of leaders. He said manipulated images and videos could misrepresent parliamentary debates if reporting officers are not adequately equipped. As I speak today, somebody can take my picture as I stand before you, change what I am communicating, and use a different language, he said. With how my mouth is opening and closing, they will match it in such a way that anybody listening will believe this is what the Speaker said at this conference. That is a serious threat. Mr Bagbin stressed that parliamentary language is different from everyday English and must be shielded from distortion. He called for more investment in the official reporting department, noting that the Hansard must remain accurate, timely, and relevant in the face of digital manipulation. Whatever we do will come to nothing without accurate official records, he told participants from across the continent, adding that the weakness of democracy in Africa is linked to the weakness of its parliamentary institutions. The four-day conference, hosted in Accra, has brought together Hansard editors from Commonwealth African countries to discuss innovation, skills development, and the future of official parliamentary reporting. Featured Omane Boamah was active, dedicated IPAC member EC Albert K. Salia Politics Aug - 11 - 2025 , 07:07 2 minutes read The Electoral Commission (EC) has described the late Defence Minister, Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, as an active and dedicated member of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC). It said Dr Omane Boamah was well-known for his vocal contributions during IPAC meetings. He was committed to strengthening Ghana's democratic and electoral processes, a statement signed by the Chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa said, adding that his absence at our meetings will be felt. Context Dr Omane Boamah, who tragically lost his life alongside seven other citizens in a helicopter accident last Wednesday, was the Director of Elections and IT of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). The other deceased persons were the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed; the acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Lumuna; a National Vice-Chairman of the NDC, Samuel Sarpong, and a parliamentary candidate and Deputy Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organisation, Samuel Aboagye. The servicemen are Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, the pilot on the helicopter; Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu, co-pilot and Sergeant Ernest Addo-Mensah, a crew member. Omane Boamah and 2024 election In the run-up to the December 7, 2024, election, Dr Omane Boamah called for the release of the voters register to political parties. He also urged the EC to allow live coverage of an IPAC meeting on October 1, 2024, to promote transparency and accountability in the electoral process. That, he said, helps to build trust in the preparations for the 2024 election and gives citizens a clearer understanding of the decisions that will shape the electoral landscape. His call to wear and activate body cameras during the election generated furore in political cycles. Tragic passing The statement said the EC received with shock and dismay the news of the tragic passing away of Dr Omane Boamah, a valued member of the Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC). We extend our heartfelt condolences to President John Dramani Mahama, the government, the bereaved families and the people of Ghana. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time, it stated. Featured President Mahama, Bawumia commiserate with Dr Omane Boamahs family Albert k. Salia Politics Aug - 11 - 2025 , 06:57 3 minutes read President John Dramani Mahama has visited the residence of the late Dr Edward Omane Boamah to commiserate with the bereaved family. The delegation included Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah; the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam George, and several other dignitaries. It was a solemn gesture to offer words of comfort and solidarity to the widow of the late Defence Minister. Dr Omane Boamah was among the eight people who lost their lives in the tragic helicopter crash on August 6, 2025, in Adansi Sikaman, Ashanti Region. The other victims of the crash were the Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed; the acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna; Vice Chair of the NDC, Samuel Sarpong; a former parliamentary candidate, Samuel Aboagye; Squadron Leader Peter Anala, Flying Officer Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo. Dr Bawumia visits Mahama Former Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, last Saturday, August 9, visited President John Dramani Mahama at his private residence to console him following the deaths of two ministers of state and six other officials in the August 6 military helicopter crash. Dr Mahamudu Bawumia (back to camera) condoling with Rita Omane Boamah, wife of Dr Omane Boamah Accompanied by some officials of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and members of the previous government, Dr Bawumia expressed his deepest condolences to President Mahama, the bereaved families, and the nation, describing the incident as a national tragedy. Family He also visited the family of the late Defence Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, to convey his sympathies. The fallen men paid the ultimate price in the service of our motherland, leaving a shocked nation in pain. I know most of the deceased personally and equally feel a sense of loss to see their demise under such horrid circumstances, he noted. Dr Bawumia asked the good Lord to grant the bereaved families, the government, and the people of Ghana strength and healing in this time of tragedy. Kofi Bentil In a Facebook post, Kofi Bentil described President Mahama and Dr Bawumia as some of the finest politicians in the whole world and that Ghana was lucky and proud to have them both vying for leadership in the last election. Today, JM leads Ghana, and the nation is well served by his wonderful personality and thoughtful leadership, which makes it possible for us to come together when we have to as a nation, and mourn our fallen heroes. I am glad to be a Ghanaian at a time like this, when in our dark times we can look up and see shining examples in our leaders. Take it not for granted, this is rare today!! he wrote. Dear Lord, thank you for giving us President John Mahama and Dr Bawumia as the leaders and examples to look up to in these times. Thank you that even in these dark times, we have light in these leaders. We pray that you continue to give us such temperate, considerate, calm-mannered, yet sure-footed and capable men to lead us. Men who bring peace, call us to be better, calm us when in turmoil, and are leaders we are happy to align with. And help us all through these times to rise and do better so the fallen would not have died in vain, he stated. Next article: Fake news can twist Parliaments words, Hansard staff must keep up with high-tech threats Bagbin urges Featured NPP opts out of Tamale Central by-election in bid to promote national unity GraphicOnline Politics Aug - 11 - 2025 , 18:57 2 minutes read The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has decided against fielding a candidate in the Tamale Central parliamentary by-election, a move aimed at fostering national cohesion following the tragic death of the constituency's MP, Alhaji Dr Murtala Mohammed. The late legislator was among eight individuals who perished in a helicopter crash on August 6 while on official duty. In an official communique dated August 11, NPP General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong disclosed that the partys National Steering Committee reached the resolution during a meeting at its headquarters. The decision aligns with Article 10(10)(1) of the NPPs constitution. The party cited the sensitive nature of the vacancy and concerns over deepening political divisions as key factors. The circumstances under which the Tamale Central seat has become vacant and the possibility of further polarisation of the country at this critical time informed our stance, the statement read. Describing a competitive by-election as inhumane and unconscionable under the circumstances, the NPP emphasised the need to avoid the discord often associated with such contests. Instead, it called for solidarity, stating that honouring the deceased should transcend partisan politics. The greatest tribute we can pay is not only to intensify the fight against galamsey but also to ensure a peaceful transition for Tamale Central, the party asserted. The NPP confirmed it would abstain from the electoral process once the Electoral Commission opens nominations, as stipulated under Article 112(5) of Ghanas constitution. The move sets a precedent for political restraint during periods of national mourning. China holds first rehearsal for event marking 80th anniversary of victory over Japanese aggression, fascism Xinhua) 07:57, August 11, 2025 BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The first comprehensive rehearsal for the upcoming grand gathering 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 concluded in Beijing early Sunday, according to the event's media center. The rehearsal, held from the night of Saturday to the early hours of Sunday in Tian'anmen Square, involved about 22,000 participants, including those taking part in the rehearsal and personnel providing on-site support. Organizers said the rehearsal covered key elements of the gathering and served as a comprehensive test of organizational, logistical, and command operations. The grand gathering, which will include a military parade, is scheduled for the morning of Sept. 3 in Tian'anmen Square. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing) News / Africa by Staff reporter South Africa's cabinet has approved participation in an international effort to boost the marketing of real diamonds, responding to the increasing appeal of lab-grown gems and funded by a 1 percent levy on the annual revenues of diamond companies.The natural diamond market has struggled in the past three years due to rising consumer demand for the cheaper synthetic gems, coupled with global macroeconomic volatility which has led to lower international prices.In June, representatives from leading African producer nations, trade bodies and De Beers part of Anglo American signed an accord aimed at working together to promote natural diamonds and drive global demand.The signatories intend to allocate 1 percent of the annual revenue they generate from rough diamond sales to fund this initiative, spearheaded by the Natural Diamond Council.South Africa had not initially signed the accord, but Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni on Thursday announced that cabinet had approved the Department of Mineral Resources and Petroleum's participation in international agreements aimed at helping diamond-producing countries better promote and market natural diamonds globally."For this to be realised, cabinet has further approved that the diamond industry be requested to contribute 1 percent of their annual revenues generated from rough diamond sales to support marketing of South Africa's real diamonds to enable economic growth and job creation," Ntshavheni said.With their lower environmental impact and increasingly competitive pricing, synthetic diamonds are gaining appeal among younger, ethically conscious consumers a shift that is pressuring traditional diamond miners and retailers to rethink their strategies.South Africa is the world's 6th-biggest diamond producer by volume. Its diamond production dipped 0.9 percent to approximately 5.8 million carats in 2024, with total sales of 13 billion rand ($731.45 million), down 21 percent from 2023."Lab-grown diamonds are eating into our dinner," mines minister Gwede Mantashe said at a meeting with diamond producers on Tuesday."I'm very convinced that the marketing of natural diamonds is a necessary intervention." A male was sent to the hospital and no arrests were made after a riot broke out early Sunday morning in front of Club Zoh in Tumon, a video of which circulated on social media overnight. The Guam Police Department on Monday said it is investigating the riot that took place around 1:20 a.m. on Aug. 10. GPD said based on preliminary information, four to five individuals were seen fighting in front of Club Zoh. By the time GPD units arrived at the scene, the suspects had fled, police said. Medics assessed five individuals at the scene, and one male was transported to the Guam Regional Medical City. One male was taken into custody but was later released after police determined he was not a suspect, GPD said. No arrests have been made and there is no further releasable information at this time, it added. Contact GPD Anyone with information is requested to contact the GPD Dispatch at (671) 475-8615-7. One can also leave an anonymous tip in the Guam Crime Stoppers website at www.guam.crimestoppersweb.com. Last week, the world marked 80 years since the U.S. dropped nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The horrors experienced by those two cities, including survivors battling radiation sickness for decades, made the decision to drop the bombs controversial to this day. Today, I want to look at how nuclear weapons transformed international politics. Lets start in the Pacific. As we all know, the planes that dropped the bombs took off from Tinian, about a hundred miles north of us. Today, every scenario of how war might play out between the U.S. and China or North Korea foresees early attacks on Guam. As we also know, even if the world forgets, in the following decades the Marshall Islands, French Polynesia and Kiribati became nuclear testing sites for the U.S., France, and Britain. Radiation-related health problems still afflict these societies. Meanwhile, nuclear weapons spread steadily across the Eurasian landmass. Horizontal proliferation, or weapons spreading to new countries, began with the USSR in 1949. Britain, France and China joined them over the next 15 years. India conducted its first test in 1974. Israel, North Korea and Pakistan eventually followed. The West and Iran now play cat and mouse over Irans nuclear plans. But even more than the spread of nuclear weapons around the globe, it was vertical proliferation, the increase in the power of the nuclear arsenals of the U.S. and USSR that defined the Cold War. The number of weapons, their explosive power, and the development of missiles that could deliver them at great distances carrying multiple warheads, changed war plans. It also created a whole new language. As we remember, Mutual Assured Destruction, or MAD, became the first of many acronyms that nuclear weapons gave us. By the 1960s, the two superpowers had enough weapons to destroy the world. If war started, both might be destroyed. MAD revolutionized military strategy. Once you knew that going to war could result in mutual destruction, war became unthinkable. Nuclear deterrence, the idea that nuclear weapons prevent countries from starting wars, became a crucial part of the military thinking of both superpowers, but only up to a point. MAD raised many questions. What if one side could knock out another sides nuclear weapons in a sneak attack? Would they be tempted to strike first? Then you need a second strike capability. This meant having enough nukes left over to retaliate after the other side attacks. This second strike idea spawned an entire sub-industry and jargon of its own. The nuclear triad allows us to deliver missiles from sea, air and land to ensure that some weapons will always be available to retaliate. Other countries with smaller arsenals focus on making their missiles more mobile, so they are hard to hit. MAD changed superpower rivalry but didnt eliminate it. Superpowers supported wars between other countries, or proxies. The cold war was a bloody period in many parts of the world. This was the stability-instability paradox. Stability between the superpowers allowed instability elsewhere. MAD also encouraged brinksmanship. Superpowers took risky actions short of war that dared the other superpower to respond. Planners focused on escalation dominance in a crisis. The last side to up the ante without starting a shooting war would win. MAD also shaped arms control negotiations. Traditional arms control treaties limited the number of offensive weapons each side had. But for nuclear deterrence, they also needed to limit defensive weapons. The reason was simple. If you can defend yourself against my nuclear attack, you might be tempted to go for a first strike. Defense encourages offense. The U.S. and USSR therefore negotiated the Anti-Ballistic Missile, ABM, treaty at the same time as the first Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, SALT. The first limited missile defense systems, the second limited the number of missile launchers on each side. Both were signed in 1972. But that didnt address horizontal proliferation. Nuclear deterrence was based on a paradox. The weak could threaten the strong. Just as the six-shooter was the equalizer in the Old West, nuclear weapons were an equalizer, allowing weak countries to threaten the strong. Superpowers had to prevent other countries from having nukes. Enter non-proliferation. The first non-proliferation treaty was the 1963 Partial Test Ban Treaty, PTBT. This limited nuclear testing to underground tests. France and China, which did not have the ability to do underground tests, refused to sign. China conducted its first test, an atmospheric test, in 1964. Next came the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, NPT, which came into effect in 1970. This grew out of the Eisenhower administrations Atoms for Peace program, which induced countries to forgo nuclear weapons by offering to help them develop nuclear energy. The NPT used the same incentive. The NPT had one crucial flaw. It put no limits on the number of nukes the five existing nuclear powers could have. Instead, it prevented other countries from getting nuclear weapons but made only vague promises about getting rid of the existing nuclear stockpiles. Many countries refused to sign the NPT, including India, Pakistan, Israel, Brazil and South Africa. India had signed the PTBT, only to see its rival, China, conduct an atmospheric test a year later. India conducted an underground test in 1974. The 1990s were a turning point. The Cold War ended. That might have been the time to press for nuclear disarmament. Instead, the U.S. focused on removing nuclear weapons from former Soviet republics like Ukraine and getting more countries to join the NPT. In the 1990s, the Clinton administration pushed for a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, CTBT, and the renewal of the NPT, which was to expire in 1995. There were heated discussions over the fact that the promise to carry out nuclear disarmament had never been met. After the CTBT was signed and the NPT renewed, India, which refused to join either, carried out fresh tests in 1998. Pakistan, Indias traditional rival, quickly followed. A few years later, North Korea withdrew from the NPT and began nuclear testing. Non-proliferation had some successes. Iraqs nuclear program was dismantled after the Iraq war. Libya, South Africa and Brazil agreed to give up their nuclear programs voluntarily. But there lies a problem. Russia invaded Ukraine. The U.S. invaded Iraq. NATO overthrew Libyan dictator Qaddafi. Its likely none of these would have happened if the countries had kept nukes. This history suggests a troubling conclusion about nuclear disarmament. Nuclear deterrence might work. The air war between India and Pakistan recently challenged this notion, but we should remember that the two sides fought full-fledged land wars before nuclear weapons were introduced. Nukes may have deterred the two sides from escalating. Lets return to the Pacific. If nuclear weapons were to vanish overnight, would Guam be safer? There might not be as much incentive to strike Guam first in a war, but it might make war between China and the U.S. much more likely. And as we know, the last time the U.S. fought an Asian power in the Pacific, Guam was not spared. The biggest paradox of nuclear weapons is this: When two sides both have nuclear weapons, the potential destruction of war is much greater, but the probability of war is much lower. The many wars of this century, like Iraq, Ukraine and Gaza, remind us just how devastating war can be even without nukes. Nuclear weapons might actually make the world more peaceful. Haiti - Religion : Pope Leo XIV asks the international community to support Haiti On Sunday, August 10, 2025, before the faithful in Saint Peter's Square gathered for the Angelus prayer, Pope Leo XIV deplored the spiral of violence in which Haitians still live. "The situation of the population in Haiti is increasingly desperate [...] The news reports murders, violence of all kinds, human trafficking, forced exiles and kidnappings," continued the Sovereign Pontiff, while on August 3, 9 people were kidnapped from the Saint Helena orphanage of the organization "Our Little Brothers and Sisters" near Port-au-Prince, including an Irish missionary who has been in Haiti for 30 years and a 3-year-old disabled child. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45476-haiti-flash-9-people-including-a-child-kidnapped-from-an-orphanage-in-kenscoff.html The Pope launched "an urgent appeal to all those responsible for the immediate release of the hostages" and requested "the concrete support of the international community to create the social and institutional conditions that will allow Haitians to live in peace." The kidnapping from the St. Helena orphanage, located in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince, drew widespread condemnation. "This abduction constitutes an attack on the noblest aspects of society : the free service of others, the innocence of the defenseless child, and faith embodied in works of mercy," was the response of the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince. During the second quarter of 2025, between April 1st and June 30, 2025, 2,129 victims were recorded (1,520 people killed and 609 injured), or one Haitian killed or injured every hour... according to the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH). See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45511-haiti-news-zapping.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45478-haiti-flash-one-haitian-killed-or-injured-every-hour.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45476-haiti-flash-9-people-including-a-child-kidnapped-from-an-orphanage-in-kenscoff.html S/ HaitiLibre Haiti - FLASH : Highly strategic Command meeting On Saturday, August 9, 2025, upon the instructions of the new Acting Commander-in-Chief of the Haitian National Police (PNH), Andre Jonas Vladimir Paraison https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-45512-haiti-flash-new-acting-director-general-at-the-head-of-the-pnh-video-speech.html , Inspector General Berson Soljour, Chief of Staff of the General Directorate, accompanied by the Central Director of the Administrative Police (DCPA), held a highly strategic meeting with the heads of various specialized units of the PNH. During this strategic meeting, several important points were discussed, including the "increase in police patrols," the "strengthening of fixed points," and the "relentless pursuit of police interventions and operations." At the same time, clear and firm instructions were issued to the heads of specialized units to intensify police operations to track down armed gangs throughout the country. HL/ HaitiLibre News / Africa by Staff reporter The High Court has found Chief Seke, Stanley Chimanikire, guilty of breaching the Constitution by chanting Zanu-PF political slogans while addressing a gathering, and ordered him to publish a public retraction within seven days.Justice Samuel Deme delivered the judgement in a case filed by citizen Esther Vongai Zimudzi, who argued that the chief's conduct infringed her political rights under Section 67 of the Constitution. She further contended that Chimanikire's actions violated Section 281(2), which prohibits traditional leaders from engaging in partisan politics.Evidence presented in court included a recording of Chief Seke addressing attendees with the words: "2030 VaMnangagwa vanenge vachitonga; Pamberi ne Zanu-PF; Pasi nemhandu" - translating to "Mnangagwa will still be ruling in 2030, forward with Zanu-PF, down with the enemies."While Chief Seke admitted making the remarks, he claimed they were spoken at a private gathering rather than a political rally, and intended as patriotic praise for President Emmerson Mnangagwa rather than partisan support.Justice Deme dismissed this defence, ruling that Section 281(2)(c) clearly bars traditional leaders from promoting the interests of any political party, irrespective of the context or timing."The fact that the remarks were made at a private gathering does not absolve Chief Seke from the constitutional obligation imposed upon him as a traditional leader," Justice Deme stated.The court ordered Chief Seke to publish a written retraction in a nationally circulated newspaper and to disseminate it through public and private media outlets within seven days. Additionally, the ruling must be circulated through the National Council of Chiefs and provincial assemblies.A request to compel the Minister of Local Government to initiate disciplinary action against Chief Seke was dismissed on the grounds that the minister is not the appointing authority for traditional leaders. The judge also declined to award punitive legal costs, noting the right of all parties to defend themselves.This ruling adds to ongoing debates about the political neutrality of traditional leaders a contentious issue frequently raised by opposition parties and civil society groups concerned about chiefs' involvement in partisan politics. Haiti - Economy : Preparatory meeting for the 2025-2025 budget Alfred Fils Metelus, Minister of Economy and Finance, held a meeting with senior officials of the Ministry on the preparation of the 2025-2025 budget. After his introductory remarks and background, it was the turn of Jean Michel Silin, Director General of the Budget, to present the main points of the draft budget and the progress made. Furthermore, regarding the question raised by the Minister regarding the forecast level of domestic resources determined and allocated to tax collection agencies, the Directorate General of the Budget provided some answers, highlighting two main justifications : First, to maintain the same level of tax pressure as that observed during the current fiscal year (4.40%), the forecast should have been 248 billion gourdes. However, in a more prudent and realistic approach, this amount was reduced to 240 billion gourdes, which corresponds to a tax pressure of 4.30%. Second, in order to maintain the same level of funding for projects financed by the Public Treasury and meet the annualization requirements for debit cards issued by the Ministry of National Education and the Haitian National Police, additional funds of approximately 18 billion gourdes must be allocated to these sectors. This allocation also aims to cover the needs related to the permanent appointment of new teachers and the support of two new police officer classes for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. The Chief Economist of the Economic Research Directorate, Romel Troissou, presented the priority matrix developed taking into account the seven areas defined in the draft framework letter: Security, Elections, Economy, Social Affairs, Governance, Public Finance, and Territories. The Minister suggested enriching the matrix by adding two additional columns : the estimated cost of the identified actions and funding sources, in addition to the sections already included (priority actions, indicators, managers, deadlines, performance monitoring, and follow-up structures). Furthermore, he recommended organizing working meetings with the relevant sectors as soon as possible to promote better adoption of this tool, ensure its effective use, ensure rigorous monitoring, and ultimately achieve the expected results. Finally, the Minister requested, among other things, the renewal of the legal provisions of the 20242025 budget, the review of measures relating to vehicle movement, and the conduct of an in-depth study of current tax provisions, particularly the Turnover Tax (TCA) applied to rental vehicles. Consumer goods sold on credit, etc... He also recommended analyzing the impact of the lack of distribution of Professional Identification Cards (CIP) in provincial towns, a situation that hinders the efficient execution of public spending. HL/ HaitiLibre Anyone who has recently dealt with the customer service department of the airlines KLM or Air France could receive unpleasant emails in the future. Either those in which the airlines warn that their data has been stolen by cybercriminals. Or phishing emails from the latter, which are also referred to in the airlines' warnings. Anzeige Background: Personal customer data was stolen from a third-party provider working in customer support for the two airlines and their subsidiaries. KLM does not provide any further details in its press release. However, Air France is also explicitly mentioned. KLM and Air France both belong to the same holding company, Air France-KLM, which may explain the connection. KLM assures: No sensitive data affected The internal systems of Air France and KLM are therefore not affected. Nor has any sensitive data, such as passwords, travel data, miles from the frequent flyer program Fying Blue, passport or credit card data been stolen, KLM assures. Meanwhile, the tech portal Bleeping Computer reports, citing the two airlines, that names, email addresses, telephone numbers, information on the rewards program and recent transactions were stolen. KLM has informed the Dutch data protection authority and Air France the French one. The company's own IT security team immediately took measures to prevent unauthorized access to the data and to prevent it from being accessed in the future. Affected customers are now to be informed. (nen) 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. Intel has published a statement by its own CEO Lip-Bu Tan in which he addresses the latest calls for his resignation , including from US President Donald Trump. At its core are connections to China and investments in companies there worth millions. Anzeige Tan writes: "I want to be absolutely clear: Over 40+ years in the industry, Ive built relationships around the world and across our diverse ecosystem and I have always operated within the highest legal and ethical standards. My reputation has been built on trust on doing what I say Ill do, and doing it the right way. This is the same way I am leading Intel." Intel, meanwhile, is "critical to U.S. leadership in technology and manufacturing, to national security and to economic strength." The Intel management now wants to work with the US government to create facts. Thick air on the Board of Directors While the board of directors is united behind Tan, according to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), there has been a crisis on the board for months. Chairman Frank Yeary in particular is said to have other plans than CEO Tan. According to the WSJ, Yeary has been pursuing a spin-off of the expensive chip manufacturing division (Intel Foundry) for some time. The information matches past rumors: On the one hand, Yeary is said to have considered a spin-off in which companies such as Nvidia and Amazon could invest. On the other hand, he is said to have considered selling the semiconductor plants to TSMC. Tan, on the other hand, wants to get Intel Foundry out of the billion-euro deficit and keep it as part of the group. Meanwhile, Intel is said to have won over several Wall Street banks for a billion-euro financial injection. According to the Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter, an announcement was allegedly planned for July at the time of the latest annual report. However, the board of directors has delayed the process, possibly until 2026, and is also reportedly delaying a potential takeover of an unnamed AI company, in which a competitor is now also said to be interested. Anzeige Empfohlener redaktioneller Inhalt Mit Ihrer Zustimmung wird hier ein externer Preisvergleich (heise Preisvergleich) geladen. Preisvergleiche immer laden Preisvergleich jetzt laden (mma) 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. Finnish Customs will increase food inspections at Helsinki ports between 12 August and 30 September in response to the worsening African swine fever (ASF) situation in the Baltic region. The agency said monitoring will focus on passenger traffic from Estonia, where new cases have been reported this summer. ASF is fatal to pigs and wild boar but does not affect humans. Authorities warn it could have severe consequences for animal welfare, pig farming and food exports if introduced into Finland. After a lengthy repatriation process, a valued loon dance hat has been returned to Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. The hat, made of caribou hide and sinews with loon feathers and a loon beak in its centre, is worn in a freestyle dance called Akkuarmiujut, said Emily Angulalik, executive director of the Kitikmeot Heritage Society. When you wear it, "you want to become quick like the ermine as you dance. You want to sound as loud as the loon when the loon calls," said Angulalik. "So that is a harmonious way of living, like we live in harmony with the land and animals." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This particular loon dance hat had been in the possession of Imperial Oil, which has been operating in Canada for about 145 years and has a collection of Indigenous items. It's unclear how long the company had the hat, or how it acquired it in the first place. The loon dance hat on display during a repatriation celebration in Cambridge Bay on Wednesday. The hat, which had been in the possession of Imperial Oil, found its way back to the Kitikmeot region with the help of Calgary's Glenbow Museum and the Kitikmeot Heritage Society. (Submitted by Mackenzie Brown) For the last decade, Imperial Oil has been working with Calgary's Glenbow Museum to return the items in its collection to the communities they came from. When asked how many objects it has, the company didn't directly respond. In an email, a company spokesperson said Imperial Oil doesn't have clear records for each item, but that it is "committed to reconciliation and to working respectfully with Indigenous Peoples. Any future returns will be guided by community leadership and done in collaboration with partners like the Glenbow Museum." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Glenbow brought the loon dance hat into the museum about five years ago so it could dust it off and properly store it while researching its origins. The museum estimates that the hat is about 100 years old. Emily Angulalik with the Kitikmeot Heritage Society, Joanne Schmidt and Mackenzie Brown (Kamamak) from the Glenbow Museum, and Wendy Smith with Imperial Oil, stand in front of the loon hat on Wednesday. (Submitted by Mackenzie Brown) Mackenzie Brown, the Glenbow's executive adviser of Indigenous engagement, said some "telltale signs" pointed them to the Kitikmeot region. They knew it was a loon dance hat, which meant it came from the North. The hat's style the thickness of the caribou materials and addition of loon feathers further narrowed their scope. They showed the hat to elders in the Kitikmeot, who remembered seeing loon dance hats in this style and stories of hats like it. The museum worked with the Kitikmeot Heritage Society to get the hat back to Cambridge Bay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cambridge Bay was excited to receive it, and held a repatriation celebration at the Luke Novoligak Community Hall on Wednesday to honour the hat's return. When the hat was unveiled, elders got to see it first. "As children, they remember seeing their grandparents, their grandfathers or their fathers, wearing a dance hat, and how they danced wearing a similar loon hat," said Angulalik, with the Kitikmeot Heritage Society. "So it did bring a lot of memories for our elders." Brown joined the celebration in Cambridge bay. She recalled one man speaking about how his family had a loon dance hat, "and that that was why he got back into drum dance, because he had grown up with these stories, hearing about this sacred hat." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When you repatriate an item, it's not just bringing an item back home. It's actually revitalizing cultures that have been suppressed or stories that have been missing from community for sometimes 100 years," she said. The hat will be displayed in Cambridge Bay. Angulalik said an elder had the idea of making replicas of it for the cultural centre, the elders' centre and the school. A survey by the Finnish Commerce Federation found shoplifting losses cost retailers an estimated 500 million euros in 2022, with a similar amount spent on security upgrades. The Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce recently reported a 60 percent increase in shoplifting cases in the capital over the past year. Grocery stores across Finland are stepping up security measures in response to a sharp rise in theft , threats, and violent incidents, with reported cases tripling since 2020. Retailer Mikko Lansiluoto, who operates the K-Supermarket in Postitalo, central Helsinki, said he spends three to four hours each week dealing with theft and disturbances. Alcohol is the most frequently stolen item, and the store detained more than 100 people last year. To deter theft, his store has introduced live video monitoring at self-checkout stations, walkie-talkie communication for staff, and alarm tags on high-value products. Other stores have moved targeted goods, such as meat, behind the checkout counter. The S-Group has rolled out secure checkout booths, enclosed cashier stations with plexiglass panels and controlled access, in Helsinki and, more recently, in Tampere. Meeri Pirinen, director of the Sale grocery chain at Pirkanmaan Osuuskauppa, said the booths are in demand due to increasingly bold threats. The group also plans to expand staff use of body cameras beyond the capital this year. Lidl said some of its checkouts are fitted with plexiglass but it has no plans to install fully enclosed booths. Petri Kayhko, head of corporate security at Kesko, said the companys approach relies on prevention, staff training, security guards, store detectives, and video surveillance. Retailers warn that the cost of security measures is becoming a significant burden, while the time spent dealing with theft takes staff away from serving customers. HT Speaking to Yle, Tirri said that while Finnish law and school curricula require teachers to support all students, high-achieving pupils are often left without the tailored instruction they need. Finlands failure to adequately support its most gifted students is a factor in the countrys falling international education rankings , according to Kirsi Tirri , Professor of Education at the University of Helsinki. Equality does not mean levelling everyone down. It means responding individually to the needs of every student, whether weak or gifted, she said. Tirri argued that the principle of equality in Finlands comprehensive school system has sometimes been interpreted in ways that disadvantage the most able. She said the needs of gifted students are occasionally dismissed as elitist, despite such pupils coming from all social backgrounds. Gifted students are defined as the top 10 percent of their age group in any field, academic, artistic or social. Misconceptions persist, Tirri noted, including the belief that such students excel across all subjects or require no additional support. Too often, the gifted student has been used as a teachers assistant. Helping peers is fine, but they too have the right to learn new things at school. Their time cannot go only to teaching their friends, she said. Tirri linked the neglect of high-achieving pupils to Finlands declining scores in the OECDs PISA tests, noting that even gifted students have seen their performance drop. Teachers focus on struggling pupils leaves little time to provide challenging material for the most able, she said, which can result in boredom, loss of motivation, and underachievement. If everyone studies exactly the same content and does the same tasks, the weakest fall behind and the most gifted get bored, she said. She stressed that supporting gifted pupils benefits society, citing global challenges such as climate change and security policy. By supporting gifted students, we can find the resources to make the world a better place, Tirri said. HT The tent, positioned at the hospitals main gate, was used by the networks staff to file reports from Gaza City. Al Jazeera described the incident as a blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom and accused Israel of attempting to silence coverage ahead of a planned military takeover of Gaza. Israeli forces have killed Anas al-Sharif , one of Al Jazeeras most prominent correspondents in Gaza, in a strike on a tent for journalists outside Gaza Citys al-Shifa Hospital. Four of his colleagues, Mohammed Qreiqeh , Ibrahim Zaher , Mohammed Noufal , and Moamen Aliwa , also died in the attack on Sunday night. Seven people in total were killed in the strike. Al Jazeera said the journalists were not in a combat zone and were identifiable by their press markings. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) admitted to deliberately targeting al-Sharif, claiming he headed a Hamas cell and coordinated rocket attacks against Israeli forces and civilians. It said documents found in Gaza provided unequivocal proof of his affiliation. No evidence has been publicly released. Rights groups rejected the militarys assertions. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said the killing fit a pattern in which Israel labels Palestinian reporters as militants after their deaths without providing credible evidence. CPJ regional director Sara Qudah said, Journalists are civilians and must never be targeted. Those responsible must be held accountable. UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression Irene Khan had previously warned of growing evidence that journalists in Gaza were being killed based on unsubstantiated claims of Hamas ties. She had publicly called for al-Sharifs protection last month after an Israeli army spokesperson posted a video accusing him of belonging to Hamass armed wing. Al-Sharif, 28, had covered the war from its outset, including repeated Israeli bombardments and the humanitarian crisis. Hours before his death, he posted on X about intense, concentrated Israeli fire hitting Gaza City. A pre-written message posted after his death spoke of his commitment to convey the truth as it is despite the risk, and expressed grief over leaving behind his wife, two young children, and a city under siege. Colleague Hani Mahmoud, reporting from one block away, said the journalists had been targeted for relentless reporting on starvation, famine, and malnutrition in Gaza. This is not the first time Al Jazeera has lost staff to Israeli strikes. Cameraman Ismail al-Ghoul and his colleague Rami al-Rifi were killed last August; correspondent Hossam Shabat died in March; and the family of chief correspondent Wael al-Dahdouh was killed in October 2023. Gazas government media office says 237 journalists have been killed since the war began on 7 October 2023. The CPJ has verified at least 186 journalist deaths in the conflict. Israel has barred foreign reporters from entering Gaza, leaving local journalists as the primary source of on-the-ground coverage. HT The meeting, convened by the EUs High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas , follows growing concern that negotiations between Washington and Moscow could take place without Ukrainian participation. EU foreign ministers are meeting in an emergency session on Monday to coordinate their position on Ukraine ahead of a planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on 15 August. European leaders, including the heads of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom, Finland, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, issued a joint statement on Sunday calling for Ukraines full inclusion in any talks to end the conflict. They warned against agreements that would require Kyiv to cede territory. Ukraines path to peace cannot be determined without Ukraine, the statement said, urging the United States to maintain pressure on Russia. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told ABC News that the Alaska meeting would test Putins willingness to end the war, while adding that the US has the leverage to push Moscow into serious negotiations. White House officials have said Trump is open to inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the talks, but no decision has been made. NBC News reported that internal discussions were ongoing, with the current focus on a bilateral session requested by Putin. The Kremlin has made its conditions for peace public, demanding Ukrainian withdrawal from Russian-occupied territories, a commitment to neutrality, and an end to Western military support. Ukraine has rejected these terms, with Zelensky stating the country will never recognise Russian control over its sovereign land. Kallas reiterated the EUs backing for Kyiv, stating that all temporarily occupied territories belong to Ukraine under international law. Leaders from Nordic and Baltic states echoed the position, saying no decisions should be made without Ukraine present and that negotiations should occur only under a ceasefire. Over the weekend, Zelensky spoke with 13 world leaders, including those of Germany, France, and the UK, thanking them for supporting Ukraines stance. He said the war must end as soon as possible with a just peace. The developments come amid continued fighting. Ukrainian authorities said Russian strikes on Zaporizhzhia on Sunday injured more than 20 people, hitting a bus station and a university health centre. In the Donetsk region, artillery fire killed two civilians, while three people died in Odesa after stepping on a naval mine. Ukraine also claimed responsibility for a drone strike on an oil refinery in Russias Saratov region, almost 1,000 kilometres from the front line. Moscow said one person was killed in the attack, which sparked explosions and a fire. HT PLANS to change the electoral boundaries have been criticised by town councillors. For the Oxfordshire County Council elections in May this year, the Local Government Boundary Commission for England split Henley into two wards, Henley North and Henley South with Sonning Common. At the district and town council elections in May 2027, Henley will be split into three wards, with eight councillors to be elected in Henley North, five in Henley South and three in Henley Newtown. Members of the town councils finance strategy and management committee called the proposal inferior to the current arrangements, noting that the council had not been consulted on the final parish boundary changes. Deputy Mayor Ian Reissmann, who chairs the committee, said: There has never been any suggestion that these arrangements could or should be improved. It places an extra burden on parties that stand across Henley South and Henley Newtown wards, meaning that they have to produce a separate set of candidates, a separate set of literature and campaign in a separate way. It also creates what I believe to be a democratic deficit. It seems to me that it will be hard to explain that an elector in Henley North is voting and electing eight councillors and in Henley South is electing five but Newtown will only be electing three. That seems unfair and unequal, and I cant think of a justification for that. Town and county councillor Stefan Gawrysiak, who was chairing the review of the divisions at the county council, said the implications were not made clear to him. He said: I thought at the time that it was done for very good reasons and I think had the implications come out before, then we would probably have a different stance on the way we did it. I was reassured that once the county council divisions were reorganised, the division of parishes and district council elections was a matter for the district council. I didnt realise the overarching legislation said that you have to be in the same division and ward, which just seems daft to me. Councillor Rory Hunt said: Why should it be that some people get to choose eight and some people get to choose three? That seems completely inconsistent and unnecessary. Its the sort of bureaucratic reputation that gives government a bad name. It comes across as a waste of time and money. This legislation doesnt work. Councillor Michelle Thomas said she couldnt see any reason for the proposed change. She said: This came completely out of the blue and I couldnt believe what I was reading, quite frankly. Its totally unnecessary and a complete shock to me. I think the whole of Henley should be very concerned about what they are trying to do here. They are trying to make some kind of justification for it but, practically, I cant see any common-sense reason for this proposed change. A spokeswoman for the district council said: Under statutory requirements, parish wards in the affected areas, including Henley, were revised to ensure that they fit the new divisional boundaries. On July 8, South Oxfordshire District Councils community governance and electoral issues committee agreed to undertake a community governance review during 2025/26. Any agreed changes would be implemented for the 2027 elections. Parishes have now been asked to submit the changes they wish to be considered for this review. l What do you think? Write to: Letters, Henley Standard, Caxton House, 1 Station Road, Henley or email letters@henleystandard.co.uk A CHARITY can finally offer carriage riding again after three failed attempts with pony recruits. Wyfold Group Riding for the Disabled, in Kingwood, was unable to offer the experience for nearly four years after its horse Lucky retired. The practice sees the horse guided by a driver with the assistance of helpers to pull a carriage while the animal is controlled by reins and verbal commands. Staff attempted to train three horses for the job but were unsuccessful. However, in February, Archie, an 18-year-old, 14-hand Welsh section C cob, joined the stables from near Sevenoaks in Kent and has been taking people in the carriage assisted by a driver for the last six weeks. He had retired from taking part in competitive carriage driving and was ready for a more relaxed lifestyle so was brought to the Wyfold group. The rides, which take place three days a week, can hold carriages designed to carry wheelchairs and people who are unable to ride horses in the traditional way due to disabilities or other difficulties. Chairwoman Diane Lee said a calm, responsive horse was needed. She said: Its quite a dangerous game. When youre riding a horse, lots of things can go wrong, but the likelihood is, if you become unseated, you will fall off. If things go wrong in a carriage, it can go spectacularly wrong if the carriage goes over. We had a pony called Mary who bolted in the yard and the carriage was still attached to her and she got stuck in the stable and the carriage got trapped in the stable door. We had to sell her as a riding pony. We then had a big Comtois called Bumble who, unfortunately, in his assessment reversed and the carriage was jack-knifed and tipped over. We then had a youngster, Cherry, we thought we would be able to train but she was too spirited the stronger and fitter she got. It has to be a horse that is really calm, will respond to your voice and to the rein but also understand commands to come back to a walk and stand still. Although it sounds very simple, carriage driving is a niche sport within equine anyway and its hard enough to find ponies suitable for riding. When you already have a niche discipline, to find the right horse for that has taken a while. Pippa Hughes is the founder of Wyfold Carriage Driving group in Berkshire. Mrs Lee added: Pippa has championed carriage driving since the beginning of time. Without her, we would have given up when we had our three aborted attempts with ponies if it wasnt for her saying, Come on, we can do this. Nationally, the Riding for the Disabled Association is celebrating its 50th year of carriage driving. A pioneer scheme was launched by Nancy Pethick from the British Driving Society in 1974 using specially adapted carriages. It was formally introduced in 1975 and has been adopted by more than 60 carriage riding groups. Mrs Lee said the staff were utterly delighted when they finally found a compatible horse as the group has offered rides for about 50 years. She said: Our participants have been devastated to not be able to do it but were totally delighted and relieved when we got Archie because it had almost felt like it wasnt meant to be. He is brilliant. While many Albertans were preparing for a long weekend last Friday, the provincial government published changes to its rules for disclosing expense claims made by senior officials. The new policy, published Aug. 1, removes a requirement that the premier, ministers, deputy ministers and senior staff must publicly disclose receipts for expenses over $100. In keeping with a new provision introduced in the policy that published expense reports be available for five years, the government also removed eight years of expense reports that were previously available on its website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Marisa Breeze, press secretary to Finance Minister Nate Horner, said in a statement that the changes were made to "improve government operations and reduce red tape," and to bring Alberta's policies into alignment with other provinces. "Our government remains committed to the highest transparency and accountability standards." Not everyone agrees. "All of these changes diminish transparency," said a statement from Information and Privacy Commissioner Diane McLeod. "Our office has no knowledge of the rationale for the changes." James Turk, executive director of Toronto Metropolitan University's Centre for Free Expression, said the new policy was clearly "lowering" existing standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There should be very limited restrictions on what the public has a right to know." Years of expense reports no longer available The previous policy, dated April 30, 2020, applied to a wide range of government positions, from cabinet members to executive managers. Public disclosure of receipts was required only for the premier, ministers, associate ministers and political staff. According to Treasury Board and Finance, receipts are still required to be provided when claiming expenses, but they will no longer be made public. Before being published, receipts and invoices were required to be redacted to protect personal information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The expense reports can be viewed on the government's website, and are also available for download as a dataset. In the first five months of 2025, there are more than two dozen expense claims over $100 for Premier Danielle Smith personally, as well as more than 200 for ministers and nearly 300 for chiefs of staff. Under the new policy, those receipts will no longer be publicly disclosed. A newly added provision in the policy states that published expense reports "must remain publicly accessible online for five years after its publication." The previous policy did not have any minimum time frame. According to a copy of the dataset downloaded by CBC News prior to the changes, the available records previously went back to 2012. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the data now begins in 2020, with eight years of expense reports having been removed from public view. The dataset that was available until recently had about 600,000 entries, with each entry being an expense claim by a government employee or official. The current dataset has approximately 100,000 entries. In other words, roughly half a million expense claims spanning eight years have been removed. "It sounds like they're assuring they'll be there for five years, but in fact they've been there historically longer," said Turk. "The net result is that the five years is a maximum. So there's going to be much less access to records than there was under the previous [policy]." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Breeze, the data was removed to enhance "system performance, as the volume of data hosted on the public site currently exceeds the tools capacity to efficiently download and process it," as well as "to be consistent with the public disclosure of salary and severance under Public Sector Compensation Transparency Act." However, the regulations for that legislation describe the five-year disclosure period as a minimum, not a maximum. Breeze did not answer questions to clarify how the changes relate to that legislation. Reaction from opposition, auditor general "It's absolutely shameful," said Christina Gray, house leader of the Alberta NDP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "No longer requiring [disclosure of] receipts is a way of obfuscating or hiding. It's a way to hide what's actually being spent and what's happening in a way that I know Albertans would not support. "At the same time, the government scrubbing eight years of records limits the ability to compare this government spending to previous governments." Gray drew a contrast between Premier Danielle Smith's expressions of support for increased government transparency while in opposition and actions taken by her government, including a recent rewrite of access to information legislation that many experts including McLeod and Turk viewed as reducing transparency. "Here we see these changes being made on a Friday before a long weekend with absolutely no notice, no disclosure and these rules are not something that change often, so a deliberate choice was made," said Gray. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Office of the Auditor General provided a statement saying they aren't able "to provide any context for the changes, as our officer was not consulted or informed about the rationale behind them." Policies vary across Canada The Alberta legislature has its own disclosure rules that apply to all MLAs, separate from expenses while performing government business. Members' expenses are posted online within 30 days of the end of each quarter. Those public disclosures include receipts, except for expense categories that are capped or are counted by a non-financial unit, such as kilometres or days. Outside Alberta, the rules around government expense disclosures vary by province. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ontario requires disclosure within 90 days of approval of an expense claim, and the information must remain publicly available for at least two years. However, receipts are not published. In British Columbia, travel expenses are published quarterly for ministers and monthly for deputy ministers, and receipts of ministers are publicly disclosed. Turk said Alberta should seek to be a leader in transparency standards rather than weakening its rules to match those of other jurisdictions. "In other words, we don't want provinces going to the lowest common denominator," he said. A man who tried to obtain an unearned and undeserved share of his siblings fast-food franchise successes has been excoriated by a B.C. Supreme Court judge, who called him dishonest, entitled, ungrateful and jealous. Norman and Bradley Phaneuf sued their brother, Vern Phaneuf, for claiming 50 per cent ownership of A&W restaurants they operated in Maple Ridge and for trying to cut them out of any profits from the restaurants all because of a paperwork error. Vern has tried to leverage a simple and obvious mistake in the articles of the companies to obtain an entirely unearned and undeserved share of the hard-earned successes of Norman and Bradley, Justice Jasvinder Basran wrote in a recent decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case stems from a holding company the brothers created for several new franchise locations they were planning to open in 2010, thanks to an expansion opportunity offered by A&W. All four brothers were shareholders in the holding company. Norman and Bradley, who ran the restaurants, owned 80 per cent. They offered 10 per cent each to Vern and Terry (now deceased), in non-voting class B shares, as gifts. Vern had done accounting work for the familys previous franchises and Terry had provided loans. When the ownership documents were being amended, Norman and Bradleys shares were mistakenly listed as non-participating, which means they are not entitled to profits from the restaurants, while Terry and Verns shares were participating, giving them access to dividends and sale proceeds, despite only making up 20 per cent of shares. Vern, a certified public accountant who works as an investment adviser, drew up the paperwork. Norman and Bradley, neither of whom had a post-secondary education, told the judge they did not understand or know what the terms participating or non-participating meant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a result of the error, which was only discovered in 2020, Vern claimed that he and Terry each owned 50 per cent of the holding company that controlled the franchises as part of a de facto shareholders agreement that would see Norman and Bradleys shares redistributed. The judge rejected the claim as irrational and nonsensical. It defies all logic and credulity to believe that Norman and Bradley would invest heavily and work tirelessly in businesses they had no ownership interest in, Basran wrote, calling Verns claim irrational, self-interested, and a seeming product of his imagination. Vern fabricated this entire de facto shareholders agreement narrative to try to take advantage of the mistake in the articles of the companies that describes the class A shares as non-participating, in an attempt to benefit himself, Basran wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Basran praised the evidence from Norman and Bradley as logical, forthright, straightforward, consistent, and coherent. The judge had far harsher comments for Verns testimony, noting that he lied repeatedly and unrelentingly, and that virtually every element of his evidence lacked truth, clarity, and logic. The judge pointed out that despite claiming he always knew how the shares were structured, Vern originally denied that he created the shareholder documents. Vern also claimed that his brothers lured him to B.C. from a partnership in a Saskatchewan accounting firm, with an offer of 25 per cent ownership of the businesses they would operate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge pointed out that, in reality, Vern received a 50 per cent interest in the first franchise he was a part of and that he had never been a partner in the accounting firm. This evidence cannot be reconciled because it is a fiction unsupported by any documents or logic, the judge wrote. Norman and Bradley sought $68,609 in damages, accounting for a loss of interest had the dividends been paid out to them in a timely manner. However, the judge was not convinced that Norman and Bradley have established that they suffered a loss as a result of Verns negligence, and denied the damages they were seeking, instead ordering records be amended to reflect the proper apportioning of shares. The underlying funds, and any further amounts earned on them, remain available in the Companies and may be paid to them whenever they wish. Norman and Bradley control the voting shares of the Companies and can issue amounts to themselves, if they see fit, as either management fees or dividends, Basran wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement @njgriffiths ngriffiths@postmedia.com The province says the fire near Miramichi is out of control. (Government of New Brunswick/Facebook - image credit) In the face of extremely dry conditions, the New Brunswick government has banned access to all Crown land. This means no fishing, camping, hiking, driving into the woods or using the trail systems. Camping is only allowed on campgrounds. The government has also requested private landowners to comply with the restrictions. The restrictions come as the province battles 10 active fires with two major ones near Miramichi and Canterbury, while suffering from extremely dry conditions, a complete burn ban, and heat warnings in several regions. A fire in Carleton County near Canterbury spans about five hectares. (New Brunswick's Department of Natural Resources) Municipalities and parks around the province are responding to the provincial measures. Fredericton: "Conditions that we are experiencing today are quite different from normal," said Justin McGuigan, Fredericton's emergency measures specialist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city has closed all trails at Odell Park and Killarney Lake Park. The beach and lake at Killarney Lake remain open along with trails in all other parts of the city, he said. Only the trails that go through the heavy wooded areas that are closed. Fredericton has also activated a citywide fire ban, which applies to the Hartt Island RV Resort. The city has excluded barbecues or natural gas/propane fire pits from the ban. Saint John: The city announced Sunday afternoon that it will be closing all walking and biking trails at Rockwood Park, Tucker Park and Little River Reservoir, effective at 12:01 a.m. on Monday, August 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We understand that this may not be the news some residents want to hear, and we realize it is the height of enjoying summer activities and being outdoors," the city said in a news release. "It only takes the smallest of sparks to start a fire ... so lets all work together to protect this vital infrastructure." The city also said it will work closely with front-line agencies to keep encampment residents safe. Moncton: The city said it will have an update regarding restrictions on Monday. Bathurst: Bathurst is following the provincial restrictions by prohibiting hiking, biking, camping, fishing and vehicle use on all Crown land. Camping is allowed with permits only in campgrounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The municipality asks private business and landowners to also comply by taking precautionary measures. Miramichi: The municipality has closed the trail systems at Millbank Nature trails, Morrison Cove trails and the French Fort Cove, including the Cove zip line and boat rentals. Use of recreational vehicles on city-owned trails is not allowed. The city has also requested private landowners to prohibit recreational activities in wooded areas. Edmundston: The city has echoed the province's orders by asking public not to throw cigarette butts on the ground, avoid setting off fireworks, not make any fires including the ones in fire pits and avoid entering any forested or wooded areas. Kouchibouguac National Park: Kouchibouguac has closed all trails, all backcountry camping and access to all backcountry and forested areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visitor centres, front-country camping, day-use areas and beaches, lagoons, rivers and water-based activities remain open. A full fire ban is in effect. No open fires are permitted. This includes campfires and charcoal barbecues. Fire in kitchen shelter stoves is also prohibited. Propane/gas camp stoves and lanterns are permitted but should be used with caution. While smoking is not prohibited, smokers must dispose of their cigarette butts properly in an appropriate bin. Fundy National Park: All the trails, backcountry camping and forested areas across the park remain closed. Front-country camping is permitted and access to lakes, water-based activities, day-use areas and visitor centres is open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All roads at the park are closed except the Herring Cove Road, Point Wolfe Road and Highway 114. Parking on the shoulder is not allowed at Highway 114. A fire ban is in effect throughout the park, which prohibits charcoal barbecues and igniting of sheltered kitchen stoves. Use of propane gas stoves and lanterns is allowed with caution. Smoking is not prohibited and the public is urged to dispose of cigarette butts in appropriate bins. Fundy Footpath: The Fundy Footpath is closed to hikers Gary Hyslop with the Fundy Hiking Trail Association said he was at the Fundy Footpath last week for some maintenance work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It was extremely dry," he said. "It was drier than I have ever seen it before." "Even the river levels, like the brooks and so on, [are the] lowest I have ever seen." He said the ground felt dry and dusty which is unusual for a coastal trail. "We would need a number of days of wet weather," he said. Hyslop encouraged trail users not to put themselves in danger and comply with the provincial restrictions. On the heels of Ottawas attempts to repair ties with Mexico, Premier Danielle Smith has announced her own intentions to build bridges with a key trade counterpart during a three-day visit starting Sunday. The trip, announced Friday by the premiers office, will be focused on identifying investment and trade opportunities in Alberta and Mexicos agriculture and energy sectors. Smith will also champion the province as a trade partner with strengths in agrifood, forestry, technology, tourism and manufacturing, according to a release. Albertas government has made a commitment to Albertans that we will pursue new opportunities, diversify our markets and secure new trade and investment ties around the globe, and my mission to Mexico is this commitment in action, Smith stated in the release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By working together, we have an opportunity to generate jobs, stability and prosperity for our people. While in Mexico, I intend to build new relationships and strengthen existing ones to do just that. The junket, which comes as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens both neighbours with punishing tariffs, marks the first official trip to Mexico by an Alberta premier since 2019. In 2024, bilateral trade between Alberta and Mexico totalled nearly $2.9 billion, with Alberta exporting $785.8 million worth of meat, oil seed, plastics, energy and cereals among other goods to Mexico. In turn, Alberta also imported around $2.1 billion worth of goods from Mexico, predominantly machinery, iron, steel and fruits and nuts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Smith is to meet with Canadas ambassador to Mexico, Cameron Mackey, on Monday, ahead of discussions with Mexican government officials and Canadian and Mexican companies in the energy, food and financial sectors. More meetings are scheduled for Tuesday before Smith returns home. Related Miguel Cortines, president of the Casa Mexico Foundation in Calgary, said he has seen a lot of talent coming into the (Mexican) community in Calgary, just to create a new life here, marking the moment a prime opportunity for Alberta to capitalize on a relationship with Mexico. I think, for Canada, Mexico represents a very important market to diversify on alternative markets, he said, with the hope that the trilateral relationship between the U.S., Canada and Mexico repairs and grows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cortines said he was against the idea of a bilateral trade between Mexico and Canada that left the U.S. out. All the economies are very interconnected, he said. And there are some things that you can do directly create trade, but at the end of the day, we need to work together as an integrated area and its going to benefit all the countries. Canada looking to reignite the bilateral relationship with Mexico: foreign affairs minister Mexico also received a visit from Canadas foreign and finance ministers last week, following a commitment voiced by Prime Minister Mark Carney to repair ties between the two countries. This is an all-hands-on-deck moment for us to reignite the bilateral relationship, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand told Bloomberg on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to an hour-long discussion with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Anand and Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne also met with Mexicos economy czar and energy chief. On the business side, their talks included representatives from Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. railway, TC Energy Corp. and pension giant Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec. During the meetings, both sides explored how Canadian companies and capital investors can help build infrastructure in Mexico that facilitates bilateral trade, including ports and rail, according to a person with direct knowledge of the talks. Strengthening energy security, including conventional and renewable power, was also discussed. This visit is part of Canadas diversification strategy, to leverage the connection with Mexico, said Diego Marroquin, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington who focuses on North American trade. But, he added, it was also about damage control. A handout picture released by the Mexican Presidency press office shows Canadas Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne, Mexicos President Claudia Sheinbaum (C) and Canadas Foreign Minister Anita Anand posing for a picture after a meeting at the National Palace in Mexico City on Aug. 5, 2025. Both Carney and Sheinbaum have voiced a strong desire to preserve the trilateral ties between Mexico and Canada, as have been continued for 31 years through the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1994 and then the U.S.-Mexico-Canada agreement that replaced it in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, the relationship between the two became fraught after former prime minister Justin Trudeau mused last year about leaving Mexico out of a trade deal with the U.S. and suggested that Canada and the U.S. were better aligned on issues like China. With Trudeau out of office, both sides have signalled intentions to repair the relationships and preserve opportunity for bilateral trade, especially in the face of Trumps tariff hikes on either side of the U.S. border. Trump hiked tariffs to 35 per cent on Canadian goods that dont comply with the continental free-trade agreement, in part because the northern nation retaliated against his levies. Mexico, which hasnt hit back, was granted a 90-day reprieve while negotiations with the US continue. With files from Bloomberg A video posted to social media has Edmonton police searching for the people they believe intentionally ran down a cyclist with their SUV earlier this week. Our Tristan Mottershead has the details. Warning: this story contains video that may be difficult to watch. The Edmonton Police Service (EPS) are hoping for public assistance in identifying images of two males and three females who are persons of interest in the investigation of a north Edmonton arson that gutted the accessible playground at St. Pius X Catholic Elementary School in July. The images were released Sunday. On Saturday, July 12, 2025 at approximately 8 a.m., EPS and Edmonton Fire Rescue Services (EFRS) responded to a fire in the area of 122 Avenue and 128 Street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire that destroyed the Sherbrooke playground known as Purple Park was determined to be arson. The equipment, which was specially built to be accessible for children with mobility challenges, was severely damaged and will remain closed until further notice. Sherbrooke Community League members who spent nearly a decade raising funds to build the playground were left devastated as the entire first phase of the playground had been destroyed. What was meant to be a joyful summer the first season both phases of the park would be open turned into a time of shock and grief, reads a statement on the donation page. Affectionately known as Purple Park by the kids, this space was a vibrant hub where children from the school and the wider community came to play, connect, and grow. The park was made possible through nearly 10 years of tireless volunteer fundraising by the St. Pius X Parents Association. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Sherbrooke Community League is partnering with the St. Pius X Parents Association. Together, we can bring back the laughter, joy, and memories that the St. Pius X Playground was built to create. Lets rebuild hope. Lets rebuild Purple Park, the website said. As of Sunday, more than $10,000 had been raised toward a $50,000 goal, including a $5,000 donation from the neighbouring Prince Charles Community League. The community is coming together at the park and throughout the neighbourhood, stopping and talking with one another about the fire and next steps, Sherbrooke Community League president Catherine Jevic told Postmedia in July. City police have identified five people two males and three females as suspects after an arson fire at the St. Pius X Catholic Elementary School playground, 12214 128 St., in Edmonton on Saturday, July 12, 2025. City police have identified five people two males and three females as suspects after an arson fire at the St. Pius X Catholic Elementary School playground, 12214 128 St., in Edmonton on Saturday, July 12, 2025. Jevic said the playground has been especially important for local families due to its accessible design and daily use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Accessible recreation spaces are so difficult to find, so this park has been a game changer for many families in the neighbourhood, including the rocking table and other accommodations, she said. Purple Park was a childrens landmark. The children are heartbroken, but they know how much love was poured into the space and that the community will come together and rebuild the playground as soon as we can. According to the community leagues Facebook page, insurance is expected to help but additional costs are expected for things that arent covered. In July, EPS acting inspector Eric Stewart told media that investigators were thankful that the fire didnt spread to the elementary school. It went up pretty fast, said Stewart. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fire crews arrived on scene at 8:06 a.m. and were able to extinguish the fire in 17 minutes. Not in my 22 years of policing have I ever seen any case like this. Its not a common occurrence we see here in Edmonton, he said. Stewart confirmed there was more than one suspect and that multiple people were in the area of the playground prior to, during and after the fire was set. To the individuals who were at the scene at the time of this event, you either witnessed it, or have knowledge of it, or were involved in this. We ask that you come forward and contact police as soon as you can, said Stewart. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was a very careless and reckless act by the individuals involved in this event. Were very fortunate that this school didnt catch fire. It was very close proximity to this playground. Its a very unfortunate set of circumstances that now the kids that attend this school, and all the community members that put effort into building this playground, dont have a playground in the next school year. Anyone who can identify any of these people is asked to contact the EPS at 780-423-4567 or #377 from a mobile phone. Anonymous information can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at www.p3tips.com/250. jcarmichael@postmedia.com Related Bookmark our website and support our journalism: Dont miss the news you need to know add EdmontonJournal.com and EdmontonSun.com to your bookmarks and sign up for our newsletters here. You can also support our journalism by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribers gain unlimited access to The Edmonton Journal, Edmonton Sun, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. Support us by subscribing today: The Edmonton Journal | The Edmonton Sun. Four years after Greyhound abruptly left Canada, a German company is banking on Canadian travellers still having plenty of appetite for the good old-fashioned bus. Flixbus, established in Munich in 2013, offers low-cost bus service in a distinctive, bright green package. The company, which operates in more than 40 countries, started offering intercity bus trips throughout Europe and entered the North American market with routes on the west coast of the U.S. in 2018. The company scooped up the Greyhound brand shortly after it left Canada in 2021. It started offering cross-border trips between the U.S. and Canada, followed by domestic service in Canada in 2022. It's doubled its Canadian mileage in this country every year since, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're going to make Flix travel top of mind for anyone planning a long journey in Canada," said Dallas-based Kai Boysan, CEO of Flix North America. The company currently operates in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan and it hopes to soon add interprovincial transit to Manitoba. It's not the only company that sees a future for intercity bus travel. It has competition in Western Canada from longer-standing rivals like Ebus and Rider Express , both of which say they, too, are keeping their eyes open for expansion opportunities. Still, one transportation expert says there are limits to the type of network that can be created by the private sector. While businesses may be happy to offer service between large population centres, many rural and remote communities are still disconnected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You'll need government support when it comes to looking at some of those further out places," said Toronto-based David Cooper, principal at Leading Mobility consulting. Flixbus, for its part, said it's open to working with different levels of government to provide service in smaller communities where it wouldn't otherwise be commercially viable. Uber for buses Part of what makes Flixbus unique is that it describes itself as a sort of Uber for buses. The company provides the technology to forecast demand, set schedules and pricing but keeps its overhead costs low by relying on local partners to hire the drivers and maintain the fleet. Boysan, the CEO, pitches Flixbus as an alternative to short-haul flights that's more convenient and less subject to delays. He also wants to integrate the bus into travellers' plane and train journeys, by offering stops at Via Rail stations and airports, to position it as an alternative to a rental car for the last leg of a journey. Travellers Leo Fritsch and Tristan Choi say they decided to take the bus largely because of price. (Paula Duhatschek/CBC) One of these latest routes is a trip between the Calgary International Airport and Banff. While Boysan said the company targets customers from all walks of life, most passengers on this trip were backpackers in their early twenties who'd chosen the bus for one reason only. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're kind of like broke college students, so we just got the cheapest thing we could," Leo Fritsch, 18, said, adding his tickets cost about $25. More remote options needed Cooper, the transportation consultant, said Canada is still fairly limited in what intercity bus and train options are available. He thinks it's a positive sign to see any companies adding new routes. But in order to serve more communities, he believes it's worth it for governments to allocate more funding to regional transportation in rural and remote areas, pointing to programs like BC Bus North . As for Flixbus, the company soon hopes to start offering domestic service in B.C. and Quebec, and from there, to connect the entire country east-west. "Our vision is to be able to serve the entire Canada," Boysan said. There are fears that Amazon may pull out of its B.C. operations after a recent Labour Relations Board (LRB) ruling confirmed union certification at a Delta, B.C. warehouse. The LRB recently rejected the U.S. megacorporation's attempt to overturn a previous ruling that granted certification to workers that had signed union cards at the facility, which employs hundreds of people. That previous ruling had found that Amazon had ramped up hiring dramatically to dilute union support, in a move that was characterized as an unfair labour practice by the LRB and was heavily criticized by the Unifor union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Amazon said it intends to further appeal the latest decision, the progress on unionization has led to fears the company may pull out of B.C. as it did in Quebec, following the unionization of a warehouse in Laval, Que., in May 2024. Labour experts said the latest ruling is part of a long-running pattern of anti-union activity by Amazon, though much is up in the air over whether the company could pull out of B.C. entirely, given the province's labour laws. Gavin McGarrigle, Western regional director for the Unifor union, is seen in November 2019. He said the union was in the process of asking Amazon workers what they wanted in a contract, and urged the company to get into collective bargaining negotiations. (Ben Nelms/CBC) "We're certainly always concerned about that. We've reached out to the government to always strengthen the laws," Gavin McGarrigle, the Western regional director for Unifor, said of the prospect of Amazon pulling out of B.C. "We've pointed to the situation in Quebec. We're not going to put up with any of that. We're going to throw everything we have at this." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An Amazon spokesperson said the company would determine its next steps after an appeal and that it did not have further comments on its future in B.C. Company historically anti-union: prof. In B.C., if more than 55 per cent of eligible workers at a facility sign union cards, union certification is granted automatically, while if the cards represent at least 45 per cent, a vote may be called instead. The LRB had previously granted Unifor certification through a rare remedial order that's used when employer misconduct compromises the integrity of a vote. It came after Amazon brought in 148 new employees between March and June 2024 a period that overlapped with two certification attempts by Unifor. WATCH | Union certified at Amazon warehouse: Barry Eidlin, an associate professor of sociology at McGill University, said: "The Labour [Board] basically found that Amazon had behaved in such an egregious way, in trying to prevent its workers from unionizing, that it's made any kind of fair election or certification procedure impossible." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supriya Routh, an associate professor at the University of B.C.'s Allard School of Law who studies labour and employment law, said Amazon has historically been anti-union at their workplaces. "Their union-busting activities are taken as a badge of pride," he said. "But I don't think in the Canadian context that kind of a policy, that kind of an approach, will work because I don't think it goes well with Canadian sensitivities. "If Amazon wants to do business in Canada, which I do think they have a lot of reasons to do, they'll have to adhere to laws and the legitimate expectations of workers in Canada." Eidlin said that Amazon's appeals at the Labour Relations Board, over its Delta warehouse, were part of a stalling tactic to delay union formation as long as possible. (Ethan Cairns/CBC) What B.C.'s labour laws say Eidlin and Routh both say that B.C.'s labour laws will soon mandate that the two parties negotiate a collective agreement, or have an arbitrator impose an agreement on them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That could mean a ticking clock on when the Unifor union in Delta gets a contract, which would represent a first for a North American Amazon warehouse but also the possibility of the company pulling out as it did in Quebec. Amazon has steadfastly maintained that its decision to pull out of that province was over cost reductions and efficiency, and it decided to use third-party carriers to provide savings for customers. Amazon's decision to close its Quebec warehouses led to the layoffs of over 4,500 people, some of whom are seen protesting in February. The company has maintained the decision was over logistics and not unionization. (Paula Dayan-Perez/CBC) Eidlin said it may be harder for Amazon to continue to serve the B.C. market if they entirely pull out of the West Coast, saying the company was able to fill the gaps in Quebec through services in Ontario, and the logistics may be more complicated in B.C. According to the professor, while there is limited legal recourse for when a private company ends its operations in a province, B.C. still had a legal framework that aims to defend the core Canadian values of allowing workers dignity and respect at work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If that's under attack, it's something that should be defended," he said. "It's not something that should be, sort of, jettisoned in the name of competitiveness or something like that." Amazon adds value to local economy: study When Amazon announced the opening of its Delta, B.C., facility in 2018, it had estimated at the time that more than 700 jobs would be created as a result. The company's 2023 impact report stated it has 10,000 full-time and part-time employees in B.C. A paper by Evan Cunningham, a PhD economist at the University of Minnesota, looked at the expansion of Amazon warehouses across the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It found that the company's entry into a metro area in that country had increased the local employment rate by one per cent and average wages by 0.7 per cent. Amazon has over 10,000 employees in B.C., according to its 2023 impact report. (Ethan Cairns/CBC) "Actually, most of the jobs created as a result of Amazon's entry are actually not at Amazon warehouses themselves," Cunningham told CBC News. "I find significant positive spillovers across the entire labour market ... these warehouses also created opportunities within construction, within restaurants, within administrative services and also information technology." Cunningham noted, however, that Amazon's entry into an area also saw local housing prices go up, which could actually exacerbate income inequality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Homeowners see a significant improvement in their wealth as a result of those rising home values," he said. "For renters, on the other hand, the improvements in the labour market are almost completely offset from those higher costs of living." Temperatures have again soared across Europe. In France, on Sunday, 42 departments were put on orange heat alerts, according to French weather forecaster Meteo France, with the worst yet to come as temperatures are expected to peak on Monday and Tuesday. According to the French weathercaster, from Monday onwards 46 departments will be placed under orange alert, with temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees or more in Frances most southern areas such as the Herault, a neighbouring department of the Aude, which just recently suffered one of Frances worst wildfires in the past 50 years. The Var and the southern parts of the Ardeche and Drome departments are also expecting temperatures of up to 40 degrees. Red alert in Tenerife due to impending Calima Further south, both Spains mainland and its islands are suffering from the heat this Sunday, with 15 autonomous communities on alert, including the Canary Islands where temperatures reached 40 degrees across much of the archipelago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adding to the heat, the island is expected to be hit by the Calima, a hot, dry wind that blows from the Sahara Desert, which reduces visibility and can cause discomfort when breathing. As a result, the Canary Islands Governments Emergency Management Agency has issued a pre-alert for the island of Tenerife, alongside the red alert already declared for Sunday. On Spains mainland north-west region of Leon, six fires are currently keeping the entire province on alert, two of which are particularly serious due to their proximity to inhabited areas. In Yeres, around thirty residents have been evacuated because the fire is close to the populated area. This situation has led the Regional Government of Castile and Leon to declare a level 2 alert for the fire in Yeres, which directly affects the World Heritage Site of Las Medulas. Portugal remains on high alert despite bringing wildfires under control Portugal's Civil Protection has raised the state of readiness to maximum level this Sunday due to the heat and increased risk of fire. The heightened alert is expected to remain in place until midnight on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The districts of Braganca and Vila Real, in the north of the country, will be under a red warning. Viseu, Guarda and Castelo Branco, Portalegre, Evora and Beja will be under orange warning and the remaining districts will be under yellow alert. Sunday morning broke with slight relief after a night of hell due to the fires in Moimenta da Beira and Trancoso, in the district of Viseu. More than 750 firefighters are on the scene. These two fires have been under control since 10am, but there have been flare-ups. In Vila Real, two fires with several active fronts have been reported and 700 operatives have been mobilised to the scene. In the central region, a fire broke out in Penacova and has mobilised eight aerial resources and almost 250 operatives, Civil Protection told Portuguese news agency Lusa. Due to the complexity of the meteorological conditions, the Civil Protection also announced the reinforcement of resources. (In paragraph 5, corrects attribution to Gaza media office, corrects role of fifth journalist to assistant and driver) By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Maayan Lubell JERUSALEM/CAIRO (Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday he expected to complete a new Gaza offensive "fairly quickly" as the U.N. Security Council heard new demands for an end to suffering in the Palestinian enclave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu, speaking after his security cabinet on Friday approved a much-criticised plan to take control of Gaza City said he had no choice but to "complete the job" and defeat Hamas to free hostages seized from Israel. Gaza City, the enclave's most populous center, came under escalating Israeli air strikes late on Sunday, witnesses said. At least five people were killed at a sandwich shop in the Sabra neighbourhood, health officials at Shifa Hospital said. Palestinian media said a missile hit a tent used by journalists near the hospital, and the head of Shifa Hospital, Muhammad Abu Salamiyah, said on Al Jazeera television that seven people were killed there. Tank fire was also reported in the area. The Hamas-run Gaza media office said five Al Jazeera staff died in the attack including journalists Anas Al Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh and three photojournalists. It said the fifth man was a driver and assistant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel's military said it targeted and killed Al Sharif, whom it claimed was the head of a Hamas cell posing as a journalist. It said the accusation had been confirmed by intelligence and documents found in Gaza. U.N. Special Rapporteur Irene Khan said last month the claims were unsubstantiated. Netanyahu's office said late Sunday the prime minister had spoken with U.S. President Donald Trump about "Israel's plans to take control of the remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza." Earlier in the day, the Israeli leader said the new Gaza offensive aimed to tackle two remaining Hamas strongholds in what he called his only option because of the Palestinian group's refusal to lay down its arms. Hamas says it will not disarm unless an independent Palestinian state is established. It was not clear when the offensive, which would be the latest in successive attempts by the Israeli military to clear the militants from Gaza City, would begin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The timeline that we set for the action is fairly quickly. We want, first of all, to enable safe zones to be established so the civilian population of Gaza City can move out," he added. The city, home to a million people before the two-year-old war, would be moved into "safe zones", he said. Palestinians say these have not protected them from Israeli fire in the past. Israel's military chief has voiced opposition to occupying the entire Gaza Strip and has warned that expanding the offensive could endanger the lives of hostages Hamas is still holding and draw its troops into protracted and deadly guerrilla warfare. Netanyahu said his goal was not to occupy Gaza. "We want a security belt right next to our border, but we don't want to stay in Gaza. That's not our purpose," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SPREADING FAMINE European representatives at the United Nations said famine was unfolding in Gaza and Israel's plan would only make things worse. "Expanding military operations will only endanger the lives of all civilians in Gaza, including the remaining hostages, and result in further unnecessary suffering," Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia and the United Kingdom said in a joint statement. "This is a manmade crisis, and therefore urgent action is needed to halt starvation and to surge aid into Gaza," they said. Malnutrition is widespread in the enclave due to what international aid agencies say is a deliberate plan by Israel to restrict aid. Israel rejects that allegation, blaming Hamas for the hunger among Palestinians and saying a lot of aid has been distributed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. representative at the Security Council defended Netanhayu and said Washington was committed to addressing humanitarian needs, freeing the hostages and achieving peace. Netanyahu said Israel was working with Washington on creating a surge of aid into Gaza, including by land. After his conversation with Trump, the prime minister's office said he thanked the preseident "for his steadfast support of Israel." Five more people, including two children, died of malnutrition and starvation in Gaza in the past 24 hours, Gaza's health ministry said, taking the number of deaths from such causes to 217, including 100 children. The Hamas-run Gaza government media office said a further 23 people had been killed so far in the war by airdrops of aid which countries have resorted to due to the difficulties of getting aid in by road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the latest case, a parachuted aid box killed a 14-year-old boy awaiting food with other desperate Palestinians at a tent encampment in central Gaza, according to medics and video verified by Reuters. The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel and killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages, according to Israeli figures. Israeli authorities say 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are alive. Israel's offensive since then has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to health officials, and left much of the territory in ruins. (Reporting by Maayan Lubell, Nidal al-Mughrabi, Emily Rose, Timothy Reid and Valentina Za; Writing by Maayan Lubell and Philippa Fletcher; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Cynthia Osterman) The EUs top diplomat Kaja Kallas said on Sunday that any deal between the US and Russia should involve Ukraine and the EU and convened a meeting of foreign ministers on Monday to discuss next steps. 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 Europes security, Kallas said. The meeting is set to be held virtually on Monday afternoon and Kallas said ministers would also review developments in the Middle East and Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kallas said that international law is clear: all temporarily occupied territories belong to Ukraine and warned that a negotiated settlement must not set the stage for further aggression against Ukraine, the transatlantic alliance or Europe. It comes after Trump said Friday that he would meet with Vladimir Putin even if the Russian leader would not meet with Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy has warned that any negotiations to end the war in Ukraine 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, EU leaders released a statement including President Macron, Prime Minister Meloni, Chancellor Merz, Prime Minister Tusk, Prime Minister Starmer, President von der Leyen and President Stubb reiterating that "The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine." The statement also said that "international borders must not be changed by force." adding that the current frontline should be "the starting point of negotiations." A Russian ceasefire proposal has suggested trading the Ukrainian territories of Donetsk and Luhansk for a full ceasefire. Ukrainian and European officials have reportedly responded to Russia's ceasefire proposal with a counterproposal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposal, presented to US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg and Steve Witkoff, reiterated Ukraine and Europe should be involved in any negotiations held with Russia, while also demanding a ceasefire be implemented before further steps are taken. It was put forward in a meeting with top US officials in the UK on Saturday, according to the officials. The federal government's pay increase for members of the Canadian military will provide some much-needed support for the lowest-ranking positions who are struggling in the face of rising costs of living, according to senior military officials. Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a $2 billion-per-year graduated series of salary top-ups and incentives on Friday. "The biggest increases should make a difference for our lower-ranked members and those are the ones that, at this time, seem to be hardest hit by the economy," Royal Canadian Air Force Lt.-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet told reporters at an event in Halifax on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The changes will see the lowest ranks of the regular force, like privates, ordinary sailors and aviators, receive a 20 per cent pay increase. Speiser-Blanchet said some members of the military are struggling to make ends meet, just like many Canadians, and this investment will make their lives a lot easier. Royal Canadian Navy Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee and Royal Canadian Air Force Lt-Gen. Jamie Speiser-Blanchet reacted to Friday's pay increase announcement at a ship-naming ceremony in Halifax on Saturday. (Eric Wiseman/CBC) The increases in pay and benefits will also help with recruitment and retention, said Canadian Royal Navy Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee. A $10,000 bonus is available for recruits in high-demand trades to complete basic training, an additional $20,000 when their training is completed and another $20,000 once they have completed their first term of service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members and their families sacrifice a lot while serving their country so added incentives to sign up are welcome news, Topshee said. "We ask people to move their families across the country, often multiple times." he said. "There is no overtime in the military. There is no weekend. If we need you to work, you work." Pay raise 'long overdue': Defence minister The last comprehensive overhaul of the military's pay and benefits system happened in 1998, according to senior defence officials. "We're very proud to be able to provide the kind of pay package that our armed forces members deserve," David McGuinty, minister of national defence, said in Halifax on Saturday. "It's long overdue." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many low-ranking military members have struggled due to the cost of living since the pandemic, according to VETS Canada, a Halifax-based charity that supports members. David McGuinty, Canada's national defence minister, said the pay increases will help attract and retain the "best and the brightest" in the country's military. (Eric Wiseman/CBC) Deb Lowther, the organization's CEO, said she was pleased with Friday's announcement as the organization sees more and more serving members "coming to us in crisis." She said she would like Ottawa to turn its focus to providing more help for members leaving the military and trying to transition back into civilian life. McGuinty told reporters on Saturday that the federal government has heard those concerns and will continue to look at ways to improve support for current and former members. "I think we'll have more to say about this in due course," he said. MORE TOP STORIES Firefighters from Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview battled a wildfire north of Moncton on Sunday. The rural New Brunswick community of Maple Hills, about 20 kilometres northwest of Moncton, posted on its Facebook page that it is asking some residents to "take immediate steps to prepare for a possible evacuation." As of 10 p.m. local time, no evacuation order had been given, but the community was urging people to have personal belongings and pets ready to go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The areas most at risk, according to a map posted by the community, are those between Cape Breton Road to the north, Weisner Road to the east, Elmwood Drive to the west and Roma Way to the south. Mayor Erica Warren said in a Facebook post at about 10 p.m. that the fire remains out of control "but not travelling in the immediate direction of residences" at that time. In an earlier email to CBC News, the mayor said she's hopeful an evacuation won't be required, but she asked residents to be prepared over the coming days. Maple Hills posted on its Facebook page that an emergency alert would be issued if an evacuation is necessary. The Municipality of Maple Hills posted a map on Facebook to alert residents in the area to be prepared for any evacuation orders. The map displays an area with the following boundaries: Cape Breton Road to the north, Weisner Road to the east, Elmwood Drive to the west and Roma Way to the south. (Maple Hills NB/CBC) Warren said the province's Department of Natural Resources has told the community that trenches are being dug to use as a fire break to reduce its spread. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She thanked first responders and the province. "Things could be a whole lot worse had they not responded as quickly and effectively as they did," the mayor wrote. The fire near MacArthur Lane spanned 30 hectares, according to the province's wildfire website. Aircraft and a helicopter could be seen circling a cloud of smoke rising from the area on Sunday afternoon as people gathered on nearby roadsides to watch. An aircraft operates near the fire in Maple Hills on Sunday afternoon. (Shane Magee/CBC) The Moncton Firefighters Association asked people to stay away from the area. "Please avoid the area to allow safe access for emergency vehicles and water shuttle operations," the association posted on Facebook. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Renelle Lanteigne, who lives on Cape Breton Road in the Municipality of Maple Hills, said she was camping at her trailer in Shediac but returned home to prepare in case her family needs to evacuate. "We have many people with farms here with horses and all kind of farms, and people are kind of starting to freak out because they don't know if they have to evacuate their horses and cows and all that," she said. Boil-water order The City of Moncton issued a boil-water order on Sunday for residents and businesses along Elmwood Drive, north of the Trans-Canada Highway. The city says high water flow related to fighting the nearby fire has led to high turbidity levels. Turbidity is cloudiness or haziness resulting from particles in the water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order affects locations on Granite Drive, the Royal Oaks subdivision and civic addresses starting at 759 Elmwood Dr. and above. The city's Facebook post about the order says water used for preparing food, drinking, brushing teeth or infant formula should be boiled for at least one minute. It remains safe to use for bathing and showering. The city has also said that Irishtown Nature Park will be closed until further notice due to the wildfire. Oldfield Road fire Near Miramichi, three homes and a cottage are under an evacuation order, and another 15 homes are under an alert due to the wildfire burning on Oldfield Road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources spokesperson Nick Brown said in an email that no one was home at the four properties when the evacuation order was issued. No further updates were available Sunday night. The province's fire data dashboard says the Oldfield Road fire now spans 340 hectares. Brown said it is difficult to measure the exact size of the fire as smoke has led to reduced visibility. The fire was first detected on Wednesday. "It did jump Highway 8 and burned about 20 hectares," Brown said on Sunday. Natural Resources Minister John Herron describes the fire near Miramichi to be out of control. (Jacques Poitras/CBC) The section of Highway 8 between Route 450 and Oldfield Road remains closed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miramichi Mayor Adam Lordon said the last update he received on the fire, at about 1 p.m., showed it was "moving in the opposite direction of the city." "Thankfully it's not in an area close to any communities," he said. Lordon said firefighters were patrolling the river to make sure no boaters were in the way of the water bombers as they swooped down to refill. He said the city's Lord Beaverbrook Arena is offering a place for firefighters to stay, in partnership with the Red Cross. New Brunswick Natural Resources Minister John Herron said at a news conference on Saturday that the fire was "beyond control." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said fire conditions are so extreme that "under the current environment, it doesn't matter what we throw at it." A fire in York County, near Canterbury, spans about five hectares. (New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources) The Oldfield Road fire is one of 12 burning in the province, according to the fire data dashboard. A fire near Canterbury in York County was brought under control Sunday afternoon. On Sunday morning, Brown said it spanned about five hectares with 40 firefighters on scene. The dashboard says nine of the fires are now being patrolled. According to Brown, that is the final step before a fire is considered extinguished. The New Brunswick government has banned access to all Crown land, restricting fishing, camping, hiking, driving into the woods or using the trail systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Camping is only allowed on campgrounds, and the government has requested that private landowners also comply with the restrictions. "Going back to data as far back as 1986, we have not had a drying situation as severe as we have today," Herron said at Saturday's announcement. "This is a serious situation." The odds of dating a real-life princess are slim to none but there are princess types you may want to run from. While the term may sound cutesy and endearing, its anything but as the princess dating behaviour could signal entitlement, whether its right away or down the road. If those royal expectations are established early on, then hey, you know what youve gotten yourself into. But if you are unsure of what may come your way, there are warning signs that daters should be looking out for before getting in too deep, Anita Fletcher, a sex and relationship expert at adult toy brand Fantasy Co., told the Toronto Sun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The princess type isnt necessarily a bad person, but theyve often not learned the give-and-take that makes relationships work long-term, Fletcher said. The good news is there are ways to spot this pattern early, and even better ways to handle it if you choose to stay. First off, the princess archetype goes beyond someone who enjoys being treated well, according to Fletcher. Rather, its a pattern where one person consistently expects royal treatment without offering much in return. Think of it as emotional one-way traffic, Fletcher explained. A princess type might expect you to always plan dates, pay for everything, and cater to their moods, but they rarely ask what you need or want. RECOMMENDED VIDEO It often stems from being overly catered to in past relationships or family dynamics, resulting in the individual knowing nothing different and simply thinks this is normal behaviour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fletcher noted that red flags include those who never initiate plans, everything revolving around their schedule, they rarely if ever offer to pay, and they get upset when things dont go their way. It sounds immature and inconsiderate but thats what happens when someone is never told no and who genuinely believes their happiness and comfort is everyone elses responsibility and priority. The biggest sign is how they react when youre having a tough day, Fletcher noted. A balanced partner shows concern and offers support, but a princess type often gets frustrated that your problems are taking attention away from them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fletcher suggested going on a date that requires equal effort from both people, then watch for how they react. I tell people to propose something like a picnic where you both bring food, or a hiking date where they need to wear appropriate shoes and be ready for some physical activity, Fletcher detailed. The key is choosing something that cant be done for them; they have to participate actively. The results will be eye-opening, as a balanced partner will either enthusiastically agree or suggest modifications that work for both of you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A princess type, however, will often find excuses, suggest alternatives that put the work back on you, or agree but then show up unprepared and expect you to handle everything. Ultimately, the one mistake, according to Fletcher, that should be recognized as quickly as possible is someone who may be losing him or herself in the process of prioritizing another persons happiness. If you find yourself constantly walking on eggshells or ignoring your own needs, thats a sign the dynamic isnt healthy. She likened the early stages of dating to a preview of coming attractions. Fletcher added: So pay attention to what someone shows you when the stakes are still low. If someone cant handle bringing snacks to a picnic, how will they handle real challenges? An elderly Winnipeg woman says a cheque to cover costs for her supplemental oxygen tank finally showed up at her home on Monday, but she remains frustrated with the provincial government after struggling for more than two weeks to get her money. "It taught me a valuable lesson to always check and make sure you're getting your money," 90-year-old Evelyn Kenny said on Monday. "Just don't take it for granted that your cheque is going to be there." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kenny has used a supplemental oxygen tank daily for about five years. She pays for it up front and then receives a rebate cheque of $435 every month. When her July cheque didn't show up in the mail, Kenny was told it would not be coming to her Grant Park home, and that she would have to get it at the Manitoba Health branch on Carlton Street between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The province previously said it would be opening distribution centres for pick up of essential mail to protect and ensure the availability of things like cheques wouldn't be impacted by disruptions from a possible Canada Post Strike. On Monday, Emily Coutts, the press secretary for Manitoba Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara, told CBC News the province decided to restart sending mail Monday "given the Canada Post strike does not appear to be imminent." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, the system that had been in place caused major stress for Kenny, who was originally told the only way she'd be able to get the cheque was by picking it up downtown on her own time. After going public with her complaint, Kenny said that her July cheque was delivered to her by courier on Monday. "This program has been in effect as long as I've been on it and there has never been a problem," Kenny said in an interview on Sunday. "What caused the NDP to go overboard like this and create such a problem? "I don't understand it. Nobody can give me an answer." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kenny is also frustrated because she says she was given no notice that her July cheque would not be coming in the mail. "The only way you found out was when you phoned to ask where your cheque was," she said. "Is that fair to the seniors? I don't think so. It's not the way to treat people." Her son also drove in from Gimli twice to attempt to pick it up, and was told both times it was not ready to be picked up yet, costing him time, money for fuel, and only adding to the frustration, Kenny said. Several regions across Ukraine were hit by Russian drones overnight into Sunday, regional authorities reported. At least one person was killed in the Donetsk region, after two Russian strikes hit the city of Druzhkivka on Sunday morning. Two others were injured, according to local police. The police said at least five houses and two vehicles were damaged in the strike. Another strike hit the Sumy Military Administration building, its head Oleh Hryhorov said in a post on Telegram. No injuries were reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Dnipropetrovsk, several trains were cancelled on Sunday after Russian forces attacked a train station in Synelnykove, according to the chairman of the state railway operator. Ukraine's Air Force said Russia launched 100 drones overnight, 70 of which were destroyed by air defences. Ukrainian drone damages Russian industrial facility One person was killed in the Russian region of Saratov after a Ukrainian drone hit a Russian industrial facility, also damaging several apartments in the area. Saratov's regional governor Roman Busargin posted on Telegram that residents were evacuated from three apartments damaged by drone debris. Russian air defence units destroyed 121 Ukrainian drones overnight, including eight over the Saratov region, the defence ministry said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local media reported that the Ukrainian drone attack sparked a large fire and explosions at a Saratov oil refinery. Meanwhile, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported that Ukrainian forces had recaptured the village of Bezsalivka in Sumy, on the border with Russia. Bezsalivka is located about 30 kilometres west of heavy fighting on the Sumy frontline, where Russian troops are advancing towards the regional capital. Russia continues to advance deeper into Sumy more than two months after opening a new front in the northeast of the country. An 'end of the war must be fair', says Zelenskyy Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy shared his support for a joint statement issued by European leaders on peace for Ukraine in a social media post on Sunday. Saturday's statement, signed by the president of the European Commission and leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland and the UK, stressed the need for a just and lasting peace for Kyiv, including robust and credible security guarantees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 statement 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 Europeans added. It comes ahead of planned talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in Alaska on Friday. The White House had earlier confirmed Trump was willing to grant Putin the one-on-one meeting Russia has long pushed for, and suggestions from Trump that a peace deal could include some swapping of territories," raising fears Kyiv may be pressured into giving up land or accepting other curbs on its sovereignty. A White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity as they arent allowed to speak publicly, said that Trump remained open to a trilateral summit with both the Russian and Ukrainian leaders, but for now, he will have a bilateral meeting as requested by Putin. A teenager has been charged with armed robbery after allegedly pointing a gun at another teen and stealing an e-scooter during a sale arranged on social media two months ago. Around 3:30 p.m. on June 10, an 18-year-old male arrived at a home on Springfield Road in North Kildonan to buy an e-scooter from a 16-year-old male, Winnipeg police said in a news release on Sunday. Police said the 18-year-old pulled out a gun, took the scooter and fled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday night, major crime unit investigators arrested a suspect at a home on Manitoba Avenue in the William Whyte neighbourhood. He was charged with armed robbery using a firearm and was detained in custody. Police told CBC News the two teens didn't know each other and the sale had been arranged over a social media platform. Police said there is no risk to the public, but people selling their items on social platforms, such as Facebook Marketplace, should meet in well-lit public spaces and bring another person to the sale to avoid meeting with the buyer alone. There are designated buy-and-sell exchange zones at four Winnipeg police service stations across the city . Police encourage members of the public to complete transactions at one of these areas, when possible. More from CBC Manitoba: Ukraine will not give Russia any rewards for what it has done and Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday. US President Donald Trump earlier suggested a peace deal could include some swapping of territories. On Sunday, EU leaders released a statement including President Macron, Prime Minister Meloni, Chancellor Merz, Prime Minister Tusk, Prime Minister Starmer, President von der Leyen and President Stubb reiterating that "The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement also says that "international borders must not be changed by force." adding that the current frontline should be "the starting point of negotiations." A Russian ceasefire proposal has suggested to trade the Ukrainian territories of Donetsk and Luhansk for a full ceasefire. Citing two European officials familiar with the matter, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday that Ukrainian and European officials have responded to Russia's ceasefire proposal with a counterproposal. The proposal, presented to US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg and Steve Witkoff, reiterates Ukraine and Europe should be involved in any negotiations held with Russia, while also demanding a ceasefire be implemented before further steps are taken. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was put forward in a meeting with top US officials in the UK on Saturday, according to the officials. It comes after Trump said Friday that he would meet with Vladimir Putin even if the Russian leader would not meet with Zelenskyy. The Trump-Putin meeting, scheduled for next Friday in Alaska, is seen as a potential breakthrough in the more than three-year war. Zelenskyy dismissed the planned summit, warning that any negotiations to end the war in Ukraine 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement posted to Telegram, Zelenskyy said Ukraines territorial integrity, enshrined in the constitution, must be non-negotiable, and emphasised that lasting peace must include Ukraines voice at the table. European leaders came to Zelenskyy's side with statements posted on social media. French President Emmanuel Macron said "Ukraines future cannot be decided without the Ukrainians" in a post on X, adding that "Europeans will also necessarily be part of the solution, as their own security is at stake." Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez echoed the sentiment, adding that "we must reach a just and lasting peace that respects Ukraine's independence and sovereignty." Zelenskyy also spoke with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, thanking him for his support. "Ukraine and Finland have the longest borders with Russia in Europe, and our people know very well what threats this brings," he said in a post on X. The war grinds on Meanwhile, two people died and 16 were wounded when a Russian drone hit a minibus in the suburbs of the Ukrainian city of Kherson on Saturday, regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two others died after a Russian drone struck their car in the Zaporizhzhia region, according to regional Governor Ivan Fedorov. Russian troops also fired drones at the city of Kharkiv. One of them hit a furniture store and injured five people, Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov reported. Among the injured was a 17-year-old girl, and three women were hospitalised, all suffering from shrapnel wounds. 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. Windsor police have arrested an Ottawa man after they say someone broke into a Walkerville home and touched a woman as she was asleep in bed. Police say just after 2 a.m. Friday morning, officers responded to a report of a sexual assault at a home on Chilver Road. A man had entered a home through an unlocked door, they say, and "inappropriately touched a female occupant who was asleep in bed." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say officers arrived to find a man still in the victim's bedroom. The woman wasn't physically injured. Investigators say the victim and suspect didn't know each other. A 57-year-old Ottawa man is charged with sexual assault and being unlawfully in a dwelling. Police urge everyone to keep doors and windows locked at all times, especially overnight. Anyone with information is asked to call the major crimes unit or Crime Stoppers. In a decision that has stunned both defence insiders and Tesla fans, the US Air Force has confirmed it will purchase two Tesla Cybertrucksnot for deployment, but for destruction. The electric pickups will serve as live-fire targets at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, as part of a strategy to prepare for next-generation battlefield threats. According to federal contracting documents, the futuristic electric pickupsto be tested at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexicowill be used as live-fire targets. Military planners believe adversaries may begin deploying Cybertrucks in combat zones due to their unusually resilient design. The Air Force's market research concluded that the vehicle's stainless steel exoskeleton and angular form 'have been found not to receive the normal extent of damage upon major impact,' prompting fears that enemies could exploit its durability. Why the Cybertruck? Among 33 vehicles requested for testing under the US Special Operations Command's Standoff Precision Guided Munitions (SOPGM) programme, the Cybertruck is the only brand-specified model. Other vehicles include sedans, SUVs, pickups, and bongo trucks but none are singled out like Tesla's divisive EV. The Air Force's justification cites several features that set the Cybertruck apart: Unpainted stainless steel body : Designed to resist dents and corrosion : Designed to resist dents and corrosion 48V electrical architecture : Offers superior power and efficiency : Offers superior power and efficiency Bullet resistance: Demonstrated in independent tests, though not impervious to high-calibre rounds The vehicles will be delivered in non-operational condition, drained of fluids, batteries removed, but towable, to avoid complications such as lithium-ion battery fires during missile impact. What Will the Tests Involve? The Cybertrucks will be subjected to live missile fire as part of SOPGM training, which includes precision-guided weapons like: AGM-114 Hellfire AGM-176 Griffin GBU-39/B Laser Small Diameter Bombs These munitions are designed to strike vehicles with high accuracy while minimising collateral damagea critical capability if Cybertrucks do become battlefield assets. Real-World Concerns: From Ukraine to the Pentagon The Air Force's fears aren't entirely speculative. In 2024, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov posted footage of a gun-mounted Cybertruck reportedly deployed in Russia's war in Ukraine. Although Tesla CEO Elon Musk denied supplying the vehicles, the incident highlighted the potential for consumer technology to be repurposed in conflict zones. Military analysts suggest that the Cybertruck's silent electric drivetrain, rugged terrain capability, and bullet-resistant panels could make it an attractive option for unconventional warfare, particularly among non-state actors or paramilitary groups. Tesla's Struggles and the Irony of Military Interest Ironically, the Air Force's interest comes amid waning consumer enthusiasm for the Cybertruck. Tesla sold just 4,306 units in Q2 2025, representing a 50.8% decline from the previous year, according to recent data from Kelley Blue Book. The vehicle has faced multiple recalls, including issues with accelerator pedals and exterior panels detaching mid-drive. Despite Musk's claims that the Cybertruck is 'apocalypse-proof,' critics have pointed to issues with rust, software glitches, and concerns about build quality. The Register described the Air Force's assessment of the truck's durability as 'a surprise' given Tesla's admissions of faults. Strategic Implications: Preparing for Civilian Tech in Combat The inclusion of Cybertrucks in missile tests reflects a broader shift in military strategy, as it prepares for threats that emerge from repurposed civilian technology. As irregular warfare evolves, so too must the tools and tactics used to counter it. 'In the operating theatre, it is likely the type of vehicles used by the enemy may transition to Tesla Cybertrucks,' the Air Force stated. 'Testing needs to mirror real-world situations.' As warfare evolves, so too must the weaponsand the targets. And with the Cybertruck straddling the line between consumer gadget and battlefield asset, its next chapter might be written in smoke and steel. Originally published on IBTimes UK President Donald Trump demanded a massive $1 billion fine from the prestigious University of California system on Friday as the administration pushed its claims of antisemitism in UCLA's response to 2024 student protests related to Gaza. The figure, which is five times the sum Columbia University agreed to pay to settle similar federal accusations of antisemitism, would "completely devastate" the UC public university system, a senior official said. President James Milliken, who oversees the 10 campuses that make up the University of California system, including Los Angeles-based UCLA, said managers had received the $1 billion demand on Friday and were reviewing it. "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," he said. "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." Asked about Trump's fine during a press conference on Friday, California Governor Gavin Newsom -- who sits on the UC's board -- said "we'll sue" and accused the president of trying to silence academic freedom. "He has threatened us through extortion with a billion dollar fine unless we do his bidding," Newsom said, crediting the UC system as "one of the reasons California is the tentpole of the US economy, one of the reasons we have more scientists, engineers, more Nobel laureates, than any other state in this nation." Media reports suggest the government wants the money in installments and is demanding the university also pay $172 million to a claims fund to compensate Jewish students and others affected by alleged discrimination. The UC system, with schools that are consistently ranked among the best public universities in the United States, is already grappling with the Trump administration's more-than half-billion dollar freeze on medical and science grants at UCLA alone. The move appears to follow a similar playbook the White House used to extract concessions from Columbia University, and is also trying to use to get Harvard University to bend. Columbia's agreement includes a pledge to obey rules barring it from taking race into consideration in admissions or hiring, among other concessions, drawing criticism from Newsom. "We will not be complicit in this kind of attack on academic freedom, or on this extraordinary public institution. We are not like some of those other institutions that have followed a different path," Newsom said. Pro-Palestinian protests rocked dozens of US campuses in 2024, with police crackdowns and mob violence erupting over student encampments, from Columbia to UCLA, with then-president Joe Biden saying "order must prevail." Universities have been in Trump's sights since he returned to the White House in January. His Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement views academia as elite, overly liberal and hostile to the kind of ethno-nationalism popular among Trump supporters. Al Jazeera staff gathered at the news network's Doha headquarters on Monday for a televised memorial for five colleagues killed by Israel overnight in Gaza. Anas al-Sharif, a recognisable face on the channel, correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa were killed in the Israeli attack on Sunday. Scores congregated in an Al Jazeera Arabic studio and newsroom in the Qatari capital to condemn the killings, promising to continue their reporting on the 22-month war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Some held pictures of the journalists killed in a strike on their tent in Gaza City in the north of the Palestinian territory. Among those present in Doha were Al Jazeera's Gaza bureau chief Wael al-Dahdouh, whose wife and children were killed in Israeli strikes, and camera operator Fadi Al Wahidi who was left paralysed by a gunshot wound to the neck while reporting in the territory. "Every time we lose a loved one and a colleague, we lose a part of this... family of journalists. This is something extremely difficult and painful," Al-Dahdouh told AFP following the vigil. "We stand in solidarity... and we take whatever action we can, but blatant attacks against international law and against everything continue," he added. The Israeli military confirmed that it had carried out the attack on Al-Sharif, alleging that he was a "terrorist" who "posed as a journalist". Tamer Almisshal, a senior presenter at Al Jazeera overseeing coverage in Gaza, told AFP the Israeli assertions were "fabricated" and "baseless", adding that it was not the first time the Qatar-based channel's journalists in Gaza had been accused of being affiliated with militant groups after being killed. "Israel, by killing and targeting our correspondents and our team in Gaza, they want to kill the truth," Almisshal added. In July, the Committee to Protect Journalists called for Al-Sharif's protection and accused the Israeli military of carrying out online attacks on the reporter by claiming that he was a member of Hamas. With Gaza sealed off, many media groups around the world, including AFP, depend on photo, video and text coverage of the conflict provided by Palestinian reporters. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in early July that more than 200 journalists had been killed in Gaza since the war began, including several Al Jazeera journalists. Al-Dahdouh explained those journalists still in Gaza "face attacks, murder, fear, hunger, displacement, thirst... after a while, we couldn't recognise many of our colleagues because they had simply lost half their body weight". "Their love for this profession... keeps them connected and carrying out this duty," he added. US President Donald Trump said Monday he expects to have "constructive conversations" with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and expressed displeasure with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky for ruling out territorial concessions. The US president has spent the first months of his second term in office trying to broker peace in Ukraine -- after boasting he could end the conflict in 24 hours -- but multiple rounds of talks, phone calls and diplomatic visits have failed to yield a breakthrough. Trump and Putin will hold a summit in Alaska on Friday in a bid halt the conflict, which was triggered by Moscow's February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It will be the first between sitting US and Russian presidents since Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva in June 2021. "I'm going to speak to Vladimir Putin and I'm going to be telling him 'you've got to end this war,'" Trump told a White House press conference, saying that he would "like to see a ceasefire very, very quickly." "I think we'll have constructive conversations," said the president, noting that he would seek out Putin's "parameters" for peace, then call Zelensky and other European leaders right after the meeting. Trump said last week that "there'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both" Ukraine and Russia -- a suggestion Zelensky rejected. The Ukrainian president warned Saturday that "decisions without Ukraine" would not bring peace and said his country's people "will not give their land to the occupier." Trump said he was a "little bothered" by Zelensky's stance on territorial concessions, and insisted that land swaps would take place. "There'll be some swapping, there'll be some changes in land," he said. But Trump also stated that he would not make a unilateral agreement: "I'm not going to make a deal, it's not up to me to make a deal," he said, while emphasizing that he thinks "a deal should be made." Three rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have failed to bear fruit, and it remains unclear whether the Trump-Putin summit would bring peace any closer. Russian bombardments have forced millions of people to flee their homes and have destroyed swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine, and Putin has resisted multiple calls from the United States, Europe and Kyiv for a ceasefire. Trump said he will know fairly quickly into the talks with Putin whether or not a deal would be coming, and that he may still walk away from trying to broker peace in Ukraine. "I may leave and say good luck and that'll be the end. I may say this is not going to be settled," Trump said. The US president said his aim is to bring Putin and Zelensky together, with or without being present himself. "Ultimately I'm going to put the two of them in a room, I'll be there or I won't be there, and I think it'll get solved," Trump said. California Governor Gavin Newsom and other high-profile political figures criticized President Donald Trump's announcement that he was deploying the National Guard to crack down on crime in Washington, D.C., comparing this action to that of a dictator. While this is not the first time the California governor and other leaders have blasted Trump and the White House, the reactions to the plans revealed on August 11, 2025, have no precedent. They came after Trump declared a public safety emergency in Washington, D.C., placing the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control and deploying 800 National Guard troops. He invoked powers under the D.C. Home Rule Act, suggesting a campaign to "liberate" the capital amid warnings of surging crime, despite data showing violent crime at a 30year low and continued decline in 2025. Such aggressive federal intervention has triggered alarm among Democratic leaders. Critics wasted no time condemning the move as authoritarian, with many drawing explicit comparisons to dictatorial power grabs. Governor Newsom responded to the announcement with a scathing tweet warning that "He will gaslight his way into militarizing any city he wants..." This isn't the first time the California Governor has leveled similar criticism at the President. In response to the federalization of the National Guard in Los Angeles earlier this year, Newsom accused Trump of acting "like a dictator" and initiated legal action, filing a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the deployment. He was just getting warmed up in Los Angeles. He will gaslight his way into militarizing any city he wants in America. This is what dictators do. https://t.co/IPvx9Hrp0q Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) August 11, 2025 Minnesota Governor Tim Walz has also weighed in, calling the Trump administration's actions "authoritarian." Walz has also faced off against the President before as Democratic nominee Kamala Harris' running partner in the 2024 presidential election. While addressing law school graduates earlier this year, the Minnesota governor called Trump a "tyrant" who "finds new ways to trample rights and undermine the rule of law." At the South Carolina Democratic Party Convention in May, Walz also called Trump a "wannabe dictator" and "a weak, cruel man." The road to authoritarianism is littered with people telling you youre overreacting. https://t.co/g8RmUMaEtN Governor Tim Walz (@GovTimWalz) August 11, 2025 Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland responded to the news in a series of tweets criticizing the Trump administration. Van Hollen called the move a "raw authoritarian power grab" and accused Trump of "playing dictator." He also asserted that Trump's plan in Washington was "flatly about testing the limits of his power." Trump's raw authoritarian power grab in DC is part of a growing national crisis. He's playing dictator in our nation's capital as a dress rehearsal as he pushes democracy to the brink. This assault on freedom is exactly why we've fought for DC statehood & to give DC control of Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) August 11, 2025 Democratic New York Congressman Adriano Espaillat has also directly challenged Trump's plans. A former undocumented immigrant from the Dominican Republic, Congressman Espaillat, who represents New York's 13th congressional district, has been a vocal critic of immigration policy in the United States and called the Trump administration's actions "the act of a dictator, not a president." Using military force against an impoverished civilian population is the act of a dictator, not a president. Donald Trump's actions to declare a public safety emergency against individuals experiencing homelessness and personally attacking them is vile and inhumane. https://t.co/BxDYnHgF8w Adriano Espaillat (@RepEspaillat) August 11, 2025 Originally published on Latin Times Located near the international airport and regarded as the Gateway to Mumbai, JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar is delighted to announce the appointment of Numrata Rai Kumar as the new Front Office Manager. With a distinguished career in hospitality and a deep-rooted focus on delivering outstanding guest service, Numrata brings a wealth of expertise, dynamic leadership, and fresh perspectives to her new role. Leveraging her broad expertise in hospitality, Numrata Rai Kumar most recently excelled as Front Office Manager at Park Hyatt Hyderabad, where she raised guest satisfaction and operational standards to new heights. Her extensive career also includes key roles such as Assistant Front Office Manager at Courtyard by Marriott Siliguri, and managerial positions at Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, and Westin Hotels & Resorts. Numrata's commitment to enhancing front office operations has been recognized through accolades like the "Best Employee of the Year" award, highlighting her commitment to outstanding service. In her new position, Numrata will oversee all aspects of front office operations, focusing on seamless guest arrivals and departures, curating personalized guest experiences, and upholding the hotel's reputation for luxury and excellence. With her remarkable attention to detail, JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar looks forward to achieving new benchmarks in guest service and operational efficiency under her stewardship. JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar is pleased to welcome Numrata Rai Kumar and is excited about her contribution in enhancing the hotel's hospitality experiences and strengthening its reputation as a leading luxury destination in Mumbai. Born in Strasbourg, France, Franck Arnold has over forty years of experience in the hospitality industry. Initially trained as a chef, Franck began his hospitality journey by attending the Hotel School of Strasbourg (France), earning a Hotel Management and Culinary Arts degree, followed by a Masters in Hotel Administration from IMHI Cornell-ESSEC (Paris) and his M.B.A from Henley Management College (UK). Franck has worked in luxury hotels in six European countries including 10 years in the UK, 10 years in the US and five years in Canada. He has worked for well-known luxury brands and independent hotels in North America and Europe including the IHG hotels, The Four Seasons Chicago, The Ritz-Carlton Toronto and The Balmoral. He joined The Savoy in September 2020 with a clear vision to navigate the hotel through the global pandemic, remaining true to its heritage as the home of luxurious innovation in the UK. He leads an extraordinary team to create unique luxury hospitality experiences and memories for guests, with character and a dash of eccentricity. When guests leave, their memories fade. While memories are precious, a tangible anchor is what keeps the feeling vibrant, transforming a fleeting moment into a cherished part of a guest's life. This is the feeling GCSTIMES captures with our Glintspot Cultural Immersion in Miniature collection, wooden fridge magnets that serve as pocket-sized invitations. From the romantic spirit of Paris to the serene attractions of Tokyo and the profound spirituality of Mecca, we transform unique cultural aesthetics into tangible art that encourages guests to explore the destination beyond their room. In a world of disposable amenities, we chose a different path. Carved from responsibly-sourced wood, our collection is proudly Product Carbon Neutrality certified (ISO14068) by SGS. This is a conscious rejection of throwaway culture. The natural grain, the subtle variations in texture, the satisfying weight in hand, and these are deliberate cues that speak a language of quality, allowing your most discerning guests to intuitively recognize this as a thoughtful investment in their experience. DM us to explore a custom collection for your property. ABOUT GCSTIMES Since 2011, GCSTlMES has pioneered sustainable development, evolving from smart card R&D to sustainable material innovation. Today, we stand as a global platform for sustainable solutions. Sustainability is our foundation. Through technological innovation and creative solutions, GCSTlMES delivers diverse services and tangible products, positioning ourselves as both manufacturers and innovators. GCSTlMES believes technology should empower human progress and cultural preservation. By integrating sustainability into technology, we aim to make it "warm" and purposeful. Our products serve as cultural ambassadors, promoting local heritage worldwide. Brand Portfolio: GCS, AUROkeys, Xenyra, and Glint Spot, offering sustainable smart cards, creative (custom-shaped) key cards sustainable supplies, cultural gifts, and bespoke design and related services. Currently, GCSTlMES has five operational centers in China, US, UAE, France, and Australia, along with 20 subsidiaries and offices worldwide. Its services extend to over 140 countries and regions supporting more than 100,000 international hospitality group in achieving low-carbon and sustainable development goals. GCS Times MKT Team View source Leading UK charity Hospitality Action has announced a strategic partnership with Montgomery Group, the countrys longest-running independent events organiser. The partnership aims to raise awareness of Hospitality Actions vital work whilst promoting a more resilient and supported hospitality workforce. As one of Montgomery Groups official charity partners, Hospitality Action will be championed across the organisers leading hospitality trade shows Independent Hotel Show and HRC. Bringing together two organisations with deep roots in the industry, this collaboration combines nearly two centuries of sector support. Since 1837, Hospitality Action has provided financial assistance, mental health support and crisis aid to hospitality workers. Montgomery Group, a family-owned business founded in 1895, operates over 50 major events across 15 countries and has a proud legacy of championing hospitality innovation and excellence As part of Montgomery Groups continued commitment to support the hospitality industry through some of its most challenging times, Hospitality Action will receive promotion from HRC and the Independent Hotel Show, benefitting from these events high-profile platforms to share stories, engage with the industry and generate crucial charitable contributions. Were delighted to partner with Montgomery Group to expand our reach and connect with even more people across the sector. As demand for our services reaches unprecedented levels, raising awareness around the importance of wellbeing in the workplace has never been more critical. Supporting employee welfare isnt just a moral obligation, its fundamental to the long-term success and sustainability of hospitality businesses in 2025 and beyond. Mark Lewis, Chief Executive at Hospitality Action We understand the immense pressures facing hospitality professionals and are proud to welcome Hospitality Action as an official charity partner. This union is a meaningful way for us to give back to an industry that supports so many livelihoods and plays such a vital role in our communities. Were honoured to support the incredible work Hospitality Action delivers and look forward to amplifying their message at our events, helping to drive real, positive impact where its needed most. Jo Farish, Event Manager for HRC For more information about Hospitality Action visit hospitalityaction.org.uk. Learn more about the upcoming editions of the Independent Hotel Show independenthotelshow.co.uk and HRC hrc.co.uk. About Montgomery Group Independent, family owned and proud of our heritage, we are Montgomery Group, a unique, data driven events business focussed on providing a long-term sustainable future for everyone that we connect with. Committed to delivering value to our teams, our communities and our partners, we work within sectors that we strongly identify with, find engaging and fundamentally enjoy being a part of. With over 125 years experience, we are a purpose driven company, fully committed to our values and our vision. We continue to challenge ourselves to be open minded, innovative and unafraid to fail. With over 50 events across fifteen countries and with over 150 employees, we believe that we can make a difference. About Hospitality Action Hospitality Action is the trade charity for the hospitality industry. Registered Charity number: 1101083. Hospitality Action's Employee Assistance Programme provides a wide range of practical and emotional support including a 24/7 adviceline, access to counselling services (where clinically appropriate), legal information, debt advice and parenting support. How we help Behind their smiles and slick service hospitality workers can fall upon hard times just like anybody else. Ours is a stressful industry, with long hours, high pressure environments and physically demanding work. Since 1837 we've been here for chefs, waiters, housekeepers and managers. We've been here for concierges, receptionists, and kitchen porters. And we've been here for every sommelier, bartender, catering assistant and cook throughout the UK. The last four years have been transformational for our industry, the people who work within it and for Hospitality Action too. We were one of the first UK charities to mount an emergency response to the Covid- 19 pandemic in 2020 and we kept pace with the stop-start nature of re-opening as each wave triggered business closures and increasingly unpredictable employment patterns. Our grant-giving, advisory services and EAP provision continue to evolve to meet the ever-changing demands of the industry in the face of the cost-of-living crisis. Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, the charity has awarded more than 15,000 hardship grants totalling over 5 million to hospitality households across the UK, answered 38,000+ helpline calls and delivered 11,300+ counselling sessions. Whatever you do in hospitality #wevegotyou. For more information about Hospitality Action visit www.hospitalityaction.org.uk The widening skills gap in the luxury hospitality industry is jeopardising the industrys capacity for sustained excellence, even though the demand for high-end experiences has remained strong. This means that the industry is standing on the edge of a pivotal moment. Franck Arnold, Managing Director and Regional Vice-President of The Savoy, believes that its crucial to proactively address the skills gap in the industry in order to protect the future of British hospitality. In this piece, he discusses his outlook, and how The Savoy is approaching the issue. Though the global pandemic and Brexit were undoubtedly a blow for the hiring landscape in the industry, it has improved since. However, we are faced with one continued issue: a lack of skilled and experienced professionals in the candidate pool. In my experience, this is because traditional hospitality education simply isnt equipping future leaders with the tools they need to meet, and exceed, the sophisticated demands of our industry. Identifying the problem At The Savoy, we typically find sufficient talent in support functions such as HR, sales, marketing and finance. However, the real pinch-points are in guest-facing roles such as housekeeping, bars, food and beverage, restaurants and culinary roles. We also find that there are significant skills gaps with management roles, too, with potential candidates lacking the practical experience thats required to drive the success of a hospitality enterprise via the confident guidance of their teams. We can see the impact of this immediately, and potently: the industry struggles to deliver the exceptional quality and quantity of service that guests have come to expect, and the reputation of individual hospitality organisations directly suffers. In time, the luxury hospitality sector in London, and indeed the UK as a whole, will become threatened as it loses its competitive edge. The challenge is also intensified by the growing number of luxury properties in the capital, as new establishments are competing for an already limited pool of talent. The power of practical experience Currently, traditional hospitality education does not provide the comprehensive practical understanding needed for effective leadership, a key factor contributing to the current skills deficit. At The Savoy, we want to invest in training that will cultivate an environment where aspiring leaders can gain valuable insights into each department. Without this, it becomes challenging for leaders to empathise with their teams and make successful, strategic decisions. At the core of our business is human interaction and emotional intelligence two things that classrooms cannot comprehensively teach. It's imperative that future leaders understand the nuances of these interactions. There are some things, such as real emotional intelligence, adaptability and the ability to adjust to diverse guests and colleagues, that can only truly be developed in the workplace, where performance is paramount and real-time problem-solving is the norm. Therefore, modern hospitality education must start to extend beyond theoretical knowledge and integrate real-life practical experiences. Not only is this crucial for developing well-rounded leaders, but it will have a knock-on effect on the performance of the entire team. Integrated learning for real-world readiness Having a first-row seat to the skills shortage, I have a unique understanding of the issue. This has driven me to become part of the solution. Over the past year, I have been working with other leading London luxury hospitality professionals and Regents University London to create courses that are specifically designed to address the skills gap. We started with pioneering the Luxury Hospitality Management undergraduate degree programme, which launched in January. The course constantly integrates theory and practice via the apprenticeship model throughout the degree, instead of separating them into distinct blocks. Not only does this pragmatic combination prepare candidates well for academic demands, but also for workplace demands, meaning they are able to fast-track into leadership roles. When a student joins The Savoy through this programme, we expect that they will have already learned far more than exclusively operational tasks. In the course, they will develop skills essential to our success as a luxury organisation: versatility, an inclusive mindset and the ability to work seamlessly with diverse teams. They will also have learned resilience from their own failures, which is vital for the future challenges they will face in the industry. The supportive, diverse, vibrant and inclusive environment that the university nurtures will also mean they develop a comprehensive understanding of luxury, attention to detail, professional behaviour, discretion and humility in serving others. I dont believe that this type of learning should be limited to just new talent, as cultivating a culture of constant learning and growth within the industry is crucial for its success. To expand learning to existing talent, Regents is also launching a part-time Luxury Hospitality Management MA later this year. Specifically designed to accelerate the careers of professionals already working in the industry to senior management, the course is also open to those without a degree. We hope that this will remove another barrier that has blocked many talented individuals from realising their full potential within the hospitality sector and becoming the leaders they deserve, and have the capacity, to be. Investment in people Future-proofing the luxury hospitality talent pipeline relies on the provision of educational programmes that provide significant practical experiences, especially ones that will confront students with real-world challenges from the outset. Early exposure helps future managers truly understand every part of working in hospitality, which will in turn allow them to become better leaders with a defined career path. Ultimately, the future of the luxury hospitality sector rests on our investment in adequate education. Without it, ambitious talent wont be properly equipped to harness the amazing opportunities our industry offers, and luxury properties like The Savoy will struggle to maintain the world-class service we are so proud of. Find out more about Regents Luxury Hospitality Management (BA Hons) Rendering of the Crowne Plaza Maroochydore Hotel - Image Credit IHG Hotels & Resorts IHG Hotels & Resorts, in partnership with Felix Capital, has unveiled plans for the Crowne Plaza Maroochydore, a hotel development located on Ocean Street in Maroochydore, Australia. The project will feature 180 guest rooms and over 770 square meters of meeting and event space, including a 600-square-meter ballroom. Additional amenities will include a 30-meter pool, spa, wellness retreat, gym, sauna, and secure basement parking across two levels. The food and beverage facilities at the hotel will comprise a 210-seat all-day restaurant, a 160-seat signature dining venue, an outdoor pool bar and lounge, and a lobby bar. The development represents a shift from an earlier concept for a voco Maroochydore hotel, with the new plan focusing on meeting the Sunshine Coast's growing demand for conference and event infrastructure. The decision to reimagine the project was made in collaboration with Felix Capital, emphasizing the strategic importance of incorporating conference and event facilities into the hotel design. Construction of the Crowne Plaza Maroochydore is scheduled to begin in early 2026, with an anticipated opening in 2028. This project marks the second collaboration between IHG and Felix Capital, following their 2024 agreement for the Holiday Inn & Suites Caloundra, which is expected to open in 2030. Local and state government estimates indicate that the region will require over 2,400 additional hotel rooms, or approximately 10 new hotels, by 2032 to support economic development. The Crowne Plaza Maroochydore is expected to contribute significantly to meeting this demand, providing infrastructure for tourism and business travel, as well as opportunities for year-round events and exhibitions. TRIBE Auckland Fort Street Hotel - Image Credit Accor JO&JOE Auckland Hotel - Image Credit Accor Accor plans to open TRIBE Auckland Fort Street and JO&JOE Auckland in downtown Auckland in October and November 2025, respectively. Accor has announced the scheduled opening of two new hotels in Auckland, New Zealand. The TRIBE Auckland Fort Street is set to open on October 14, 2025, while the JO&JOE Auckland will follow on November 3, 2025. These openings will mark the debut of both brands in New Zealand. The hotels are owned by CP Group, a New Zealand-based private hotel investor and developer. TRIBE Auckland Fort Street will feature 60 guestrooms, a lobby bar, and a social hub. Located near Britomart and Commercial Bay, the hotel aims to combine design with functionality. JO&JOE Auckland will offer 298 beds across 73 rooms, including dorm-style and private accommodations. The hotel will also include a rooftop bar and communal spaces. Reservations for TRIBE Auckland Fort Street are available, with rates starting at NZD 199. JO&JOE Auckland will begin accepting reservations in September, with bunkbeds starting at NZD 50. APEC Hotel Pipeline Surges: India and Vietnam Lead Growth in 2025 - Image Credit Unsplash The Asia Pacific hotel construction pipeline, excluding China, reaches an all-time high with significant growth in projects and rooms, driven by strong performances in India and Vietnam. Record-breaking Growth in Hotel Construction The Asia Pacific region, excluding China, has witnessed unprecedented growth in hotel construction projects, as reported in the Q2 2025 Hotel Construction Pipeline Trend Report by Lodging Econometrics (LE). The region's total pipeline reached a new record with 2,140 projects comprising 409,616 rooms. This represents a 4% year-over-year (YOY) increase in projects and a 1% YOY rise in rooms. Significant Increases in Construction and Planning By the end of the second quarter, the region had 872 projects with 190,179 rooms under construction. Additionally, 380 projects with 74,333 rooms are scheduled to commence construction within the next 12 months, marking a 6% YOY increase in projects and a 13% YOY rise in rooms. The early planning stage also reached a new peak with 888 projects totaling 145,104 rooms, reflecting a 6% YOY increase in projects and a 3% YOY rise in rooms. Notable Chain Scale Performance The upscale chain scale led the APEC region with record-high totals of 534 projects and 105,002 rooms, showing a 7% increase in projects and a 6% rise in rooms YOY. The upper upscale scale also achieved record highs with 386 projects and 82,230 rooms, up 4% in projects YOY. The luxury chain scale saw a significant increase with 352 projects and 67,506 rooms, reflecting a 14% rise in projects and a 12% increase in rooms YOY. Key Countries and Cities Driving Growth India emerged as the leading country in the APEC region with a record-high of 761 projects and 99,195 rooms, marking a 25% increase in projects and a 32% rise in rooms YOY. Vietnam followed with 247 projects and 83,022 rooms. Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand also contributed significantly, with these five countries accounting for 71% of the region's total pipeline projects. In terms of cities, Bangkok, Thailand, led with 68 projects and 16,791 rooms, up 9% in rooms YOY. Jakarta, Indonesia, followed with 44 projects and 9,874 rooms, showing a 5% increase in projects and a 10% rise in rooms YOY. Phuket, Thailand, and Tokyo, Japan, also reported substantial growth. Forecast and Future Outlook In the first half of 2025, 130 new hotels with 22,182 rooms opened in the APEC region, with an additional 219 new hotels and 46,315 rooms expected to open in the second half. LE forecasts a total of 349 new hotels and 68,497 rooms by the end of 2025. Looking ahead, 2026 is expected to see the opening of 288 new hotels and 60,216 rooms. For 2027, LE anticipates 303 new hotels and 54,323 rooms to open across the APEC region. What is the best way for guests to get from Toronto Pearson Intl Airport to Hampton Inn by Hilton Toronto Airport Corporate Centre? Hampton Inn by Hilton Toronto Airport Corporate Centre has parking for hotel guests so for most visitors spending time in Toronto, renting a car for around $30/day may be the best option. This will give you the ability to get to and from Toronto Pearson Intl Airport, and also give you the flexibility to get around the area. Those not looking to rent a car while visiting Toronto can always take the shuttle from Toronto Pearson Intl Airport which is provided by Hampton Inn by Hilton Toronto Airport Corporate Centre. One of the more popular options today is to take a taxi or ridesharing service directly from Toronto Pearson Intl Airport to the hotel. This option is often cost effective, but guests must keep a lookout for peak time rates. Search cheap hotels with HotelsCombined. Use the hotel finder to search for the cheapest hotel deal for all major destinations around the world. HotelsCombined searches hundreds of hotel booking sites to help you find hotels and book hotels that suit you best. Since HotelsCombined searches many hotel sites at once, you can find discount hotels quickly, including Hotels Under $50 and Hotels Under $100. Discover hotel discounts now and make your hotel reservation today. Named after the world-famous waterfall trio, Niagara Falls is blessed with year-round natural attractions complemented by weekly fireworks shows, annual festivals and a range of river and parkway attractions. This Canadian city is a popular honeymoon destination, but also draws travellers with its historical museums, performing arts centres and themed restaurants. Things to do in Niagara Falls If youre heading to Niagara Falls, the iconic Horseshoe Falls is probably near the top of your sightseeing list. This mammoth 820-metre-wide waterfall is best viewed from Table Rock, on a scenic flight, during an adrenalin-pumping zipline ride or in a boat up close from the Maid of the Mist Pool. Visit the Niagara Falls at night to see them illuminated in colourful lights and fireworks. Families flock to Marineland of Canada, which boasts the worlds largest orca habitat as well as sea lions, walruses and bottlenose dolphins. More fun awaits at Fallsview Indoor Waterpark, home to multiple waterslides, hot springs and interactive play areas. Kids will also love the oddities on display at Ripleys Believe It or Not, including shrunken heads and ceremonial skulls. Niagara Falls sets the scene for a memorable night out with a wealth of fine-dining and themed restaurants, from Dave and Busters to Keg Steakhouse and Bar, which overlooks the Falls. Enjoy drinks with citywide vistas in the revolving restaurant at Skylon Tower, before testing your luck on the slot machines and table games at Fallsview Casino Resort. Interested in the local history? Explore the interactive exhibits on the culture and geology of the area at Niagara Falls History Museum, before learning about the citys military past at Niagara Military Museum. Getting around Niagara Falls If youre staying near the Falls, most attractions are within an easy walking distance of each other. You can also use the WEGO bus system, Falls Shuttle or numerous local taxi companies to get around. Theres also daily parking available if you choose to drive. A multicultural melting pot, Toronto is a cosmopolitan city abuzz with life, food and style. This Canadian gem is the most diverse city on the planet, boasting more than 140 spoken languages. Tourists come for the sports, the festivals and the irresistible international food. Things to do in Toronto Toronto boasts a massive theatre and performing arts scene with more than 50 ballet and dance companies to choose from. You can book a show at the National Ballet of Canada and marvel at the beauty of Englands Royal Ballet style. Next, head to the Four Seasons Centre for Performing Arts to catch a world-famous opera show put on by the Canadian Opera Company. Want to see the city from above? Ride the glass elevator up to the iconic CN Tower, a wonder of 1970s engineering and at one time the highest freestanding structure in the world. Dont like heights? You can enjoy a free light show from the ground in the evening all year-round. If youre looking for a lively scene, head over to the Distillery District. One of Torontos best downtown attractions has become a haven for studios, cafes and restaurants. There is always festivity here, especially in the summer time. Enjoy listening to live jazz and spoiling your taste buds on some of the best cuisines Toronto has to offer. When youre ready to head indoors, the Royal Ontario Museum awaits. Canadas largest natural history museum offers a permanent collection of more than 6 million artefacts and exhibits spread over four floors. A real highlight, there are entire rooms full of dinosaurs to browse and real Egyptian mummies. Getting around Toronto While most people get around by car, Toronto can get busy, so take the subway when you can. The light rail services the district of Scarborough and the Toronto Pearson International Airport is your gateway in and out of the city. A perfect way to get acquainted with the city, rent a bike to see the city on two wheels. Williamstown's Diversity Panel Mulls Independence From Select Board WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. The newly renamed READI Committee last week began discussing whether it should continue to operate as an advisory committee to the Select Board. In July, the Select Board looked at the diversity panel's recommendation for an updated charge for the body, which is going into its sixth year of operation. Among the recommendations the elected body accepted was a new name for the advisory committee, which, going forward, will be known as the Race, Equity, Accessibility, Diversity and Inclusion Committee. The Select Board at its July 28 meeting stopped short of adopting the full updated charge pitched by the members of READI. Select Board members raised questions about at least one of READI's proposed areas of focus in a conversation that led to the suggestion it might make sense for READI to operate independent of the Select Board either inside town government or outside, like the grassroots COOL (Carbon Dioxide Lowering) Committee. Throughout its existence, the committee formerly known as DIRE (Diversity, Inclusion, Race and Equity) was technically the DIRE Advisory Committee. And the full name its members pitched to the Select Board this summer is the READI Advisory Committee. But, over the years, members of DIRE and, now, READI have expressed frustration that its advice has not always been heeded. Current READI Chair Noah Smalls again did so on Monday evening. "For me, having been present for a lot of this, all of this really got confused when the Select Board started to comment and critique on the things we felt were priorities for us to focus on and pushing back against that," Smalls said. "That is where this whole conversation about the need for a 'charge' and not understanding what we're doing came from. "Because they're not receiving our perspective as the expert perspective they've positioned us to have. Instead, they're questioning if they know better than what the expert perspective is and positioning themselves as the expert consultant to lead what our dialogues will be. And that's backwards. It's taking the instrument you put in place and turning it upside down. It's going to be frustrating." All other town committees are either required or recognized in Massachusetts General Law and most, if not all, have specific duties recognized in state law. The READI Committee stands alone as the sole creation of the town's Select Board. When it was conceived in 2020, the committee's mission was intentionally open-ended, and committee members were encouraged to decide for themselves what subjects they wanted to pursue. Two years later, the Select Board specified a charge outlining how it wanted the advisory committee to operate; the current READI members drafted a revised charge for the Select Board's approval. Shana Dixon, a member of both the Select Board and READI Committee, reported that Select Board members wanted to know the reason why the proposed revision deletes a big chunk of the 2022 charge document that outlines the procedure READI should follow. Andrew Art, the only original member of the READI Committee still with the group, explained. "We follow Robert's Rules of Order," Art said. "That spells out the process by which we have debate on the record. We follow the Open Meeting Law. And we produce recommendations that are written for the Select Board, following that process. In my view, all of the lengthy parts of the charge that spell out how DIRE is supposed to do recommendations to the Select Board are simply redundant of what's in the procedural rules we follow. They were eliminated to simply streamline the charge, which is a very wordy document. It's redundant in places. "The general attempt is to streamline the document. That said, it's the Select Board's document, and they can decide to keep what they want." Another issue was the READI Committee's recommendation that the revised charge include "Inclusion and belonging in schools" as an area for the group's focus. It was noted at the Select Board meeting that since the board has no authority over the Mount Greylock Regional School District, it has no authority to seek advice on how to manage the public schools. READI Committee members Smalls and Ursula Bare both said it "does not make sense" to have a town committee focused on issues of race and equity disengaged from the schools. Smalls spoke at length about how important it is that the town have a committee looking at issues of race and inclusion. "This is a huge blind spot for our town," he said. "It is a huge blind spot where equity goes when you're in a less than diverse community. And that's OK. But it needs to be acknowledged. If you say, 'I don't think anything's going on. I didn't hear anything' or 'That isn't relative to my experience,' then you're pushing down the people who are not from the dominant culture without necessarily realizing it. "We're asking we're demanding the space for the weakest of us, for the smallest of us. Our town is only as great as we're caring for the smallest citizen. "If we're saying, 'I just don't think that's important,' and we're sitting in the dominant culture, we're stomping out people who are our neighbors and our friends and Williamstonian family who might desperately need our help in a dire way. This is why the DIRE Committee was formed, in a very dire moment, when, in spite of a national narrative, the town was not really fully able to absorb the internal changes it needed at the systemic level." One question on the table Monday: Should that space be an advisory committee to the Select Board or something else? Smalls asked the group what the difference would be if READI operated like the COOL Committee, a 24-year-old "citizen-led climate action committee" that frequently partners with town officials on initiatives like the net-zero action plan called for by town meeting in June 2021. "If you're an official committee, you're directly in town government," Dixon said. "[If READI moved outside town government], we wouldn't have a relationship with them, like the Finance Committee does. Because we're under the Select Board at the moment, anything we do has to fall under their rules and regulations of what their expectations and objectives are. "The COOL Committee is almost like an off-grid committee." Smalls indicated that even though the relationship between DIRE/READI and the Select Board has not always been perfect, there are advantages to being an official town body. "I think the advantage of having the Select Board's approval is that you can go to the Select Board when you have an initiative that you want to see go forward to hold people accountable and push things forward," he said. "That hasn't been my experience on the DIRE Committee about initiatives that go forward to the Select Board. But I wonder if that was the kind of intent, that if there was a recommendation from a committee, the Select Board can put that into action. Would we lose that kind of ability?" Art said he would prefer to see READI continue as a town committee appointed either by the Select Board or the town manager. "I think it's helpful to have the involvement of the town in the receiving of the advice we're trying to provide and that direction from the Select Board, I think, has been helpful," Art said. "They have welcomed the advice from the committee. We were created by them at a time when the role was beyond the scope of the Select Board to perform. And I think, in some ways, things have changed. But the need for a committee to address the issues and the scope of our charge is still there, in my view." Smalls disagreed with part of Art's statement but agreed that the READI Committee should stay a town committee. "I think it would serve us to get out of the purview of the Select Board," Smalls said. "I'm open to discussing what it means to be more directly attached to the town manager. I, in my experience here over two years now, have not seen this kind of welcoming of recommendations coming from our committee. "I think a lot of times, and I think the public's perception of our committee is we work really hard in dialogue and direct collaboration with the public and with public institutions to make recommendations for the Select Board, but those recommendations are often not supported or just kind of ignored." Dixon said she would look into the next steps for transitioning the READI Committee to status as a town committee not directly answerable to the Select Board. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) enables more Filipinos to easily sign up for the governments voluntary retirement savings program called Personal Equity and Retirement Account (PERA), with its integration to the Open Finance Pilot in the Philippines. (L-R) GCash vice president and group head of new businesses Winsley Bangit, RCBC president and CEO Reginaldo Cariaso, UnionBank of the Philippines president and CEO Ana Maria Aboitiz-Delgado, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas governor Dr. Eli Remolona Jr., and ATRAM Trust Corporation president and chief investor engagement officer Phillip Hagedorn. The voluntary retirement savings plan offers tax perks, investment options, and long-term financial security for account holders. It is designed to allow local contributors to invest up to P200,000 per year (P400,000 for Overseas Filipino Workers) and enjoy a 5% income tax credit on these contributions, with their investments growing tax-free until retirement. As part of the first phase of BSPs Open Finance pilot, several financial institutions have come together to explore more inclusive ways of improving the PERA account opening process. Among initial participants are PERA Administrator ATRAM and e-wallet platform GCash, whose strong collaboration is paving the way for a more accessible PERA onboarding experience. Fully verified GCash users can now open a PERA account more quickly and easily by consenting to share their information with the PERA Administrator. ATRAM, a leading independent asset and wealth manager in the country, is the first participating administrator for the pilot program. In the past, those interested in creating their own PERA had to complete a lengthy account opening process with manual paperwork requirements. Commencing with PERA, the Open Finance Project is a collaboration among financial institutions under the central banks framework. The initiative aims to explore how banks and other financial services providers can work more closely together to improve the ease of accessing financial services for more Filipinos. GCash supports the agenda of the Bankgo Sentral ng Pilipinas to strengthen financial inclusion, said GCash vice president and group head for new businesses Winsley Bangit. By helping democratize access to investment and savings products like PERA, we can help more Filipinos plan for their future and take advantage of more rewarding opportunities with ease. This pilot reflects our ongoing commitment to improving access to long-term financial solutions like PERA, said Deanno Basas, chief experience officer of ATRAM. By working with BSP and platforms like GCash, were making the process of starting a PERA more straightforward and aligned with how Filipinos manage their finances today towards their financial future. said ATRAM chief experience officer, Deanno Basas. GCash joined the multiparty framework created by the BSP to ensure compliance throughout the Open Finance PH Project. For more information, visit the Help Center. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice South Koreas active military shrank 20 per cent in six years to 450,000 troops, with the defence ministry warning a declining pool of enlistment-age men was creating critical manpower gaps. The shortfall, driven by the Asian countrys record-low birthrate of 0.75, left the military 50,000 soldiers under the level deemed necessary for defence readiness in 2025, the defence ministry said in a report on Sunday. More worryingly, it noted, there was a shortage of 21,000 non-commissioned officers. South Korea upholds compulsory military service partly because it remains technically at war with its rival neighbour North Korea. A study by South Korean researchers released last month noted that the South would need a minimum of 500,000 troops to repel a potential assault from the North, whose active-duty soldiers were estimated to number 1.3 million. A South Korean soldier aims his rifle during a joint drill with the US military in Seoul ( AFP via Getty ) The study warned that the imbalance in troop numbers left South Korea in a structurally difficult position to succeed in defence and stressed the need for decisive action at the national level to ensure it was able to field at least 500,000 soldiers. The report was prepared for ruling Democratic Party lawmaker Choo Mi Ae and released by her office. The population of 20-year-old men in South Korea fell by 30 per cent between 2019 and 2025 to about 230,000, according to government data. Age 20 is when most men who pass the physical exam begin their compulsory military service in South Korea. The country is one of the worlds fastest-ageing societies. It recorded the lowest fertility rate the average number of children a woman is expected to have in her lifetime globally of 0.75 last year. South Koreas population peaked at 51.8 million in 2020 and is projected to drop to 36.2 million by 2072. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Indias election commission is facing renewed scrutiny over discrepancies in voter lists and allegations of result tampering. The latest row began last week after opposition leader Rahul Gandhi claimed that almost 100,000 listed voters in Karnatakas Mahadevapura constituency were fake. The voter lists were replete with duplicate names, wrong addresses and blurred photos, he said, calling this a theft of the peoples mandate. The election commission denied any wrongdoing. It, however, asked Mr Gandhi to submit a formal statement and provide evidence. DK Shivakumar, deputy chief minister of Karnataka from Mr Gandhis Congress party, then filed a complaint to the poll body seeking a full audit of voters rolls. He also asked the commission to provide voter data in a format that would allow checking it for possible manipulation. Similar allegations were made in other states. In Uttar Pradesh, Congress chief Ajay Rai said that the ruling BJP had used fake voter entries and duplicate names to influence the 2024 parliamentary election in prime minister Narendra Modis Varanasi constituency. In northern state of Haryana, Congress MP Deepender Hooda claimed the results had changed in the BJPs favour after several rounds of the opposition leading. These allegations mounted pressure on the election commission, which was already under scrutiny for controversially updating electoral rolls in Bihar ahead of the state election in November. The poll body removed 6.5 million names after Special Intensive Revision it said was aimed at eliminating dead, duplicate, or migrated voters. But Mr Gandhi seized on the exercise to accuse the commission of aiding the BJP in vote theft, echoing opposition claims that the rushed process disproportionately targeted minority Muslim voters, typically considered to support non-BJP parties. The commission claimed the Special Intensive Revision, a door-to-door verification drive conducted between 25 June and 26 July, had reached all 78.9 million registered voters in the eastern state. The exercise was the first extensive update since 2003 and was long overdue. The commission says similar verification exercises will soon be launched across the country, covering close to a billion voters. The preliminary rolls now list 72.4 million electors in Bihar, 6.5 million fewer than before. The commission claims to have removed 2.2 million to deceased voters, about 700,000 duplicate registrations and roughly 3.6 million people emigrants from the state. The commission insists the revision was necessary and impartial but refuses to publish the list of deletions. It has given voters until 1 September to seek corrections and, according to local media reports, more than 165,000 people have already submitted requests. In several Bihar villages, the BBC found voters complaining the newly drafted electoral rolls were riddled with glaring errors, from photos of strangers appearing next to their names to images of women replacing male family members. Some villagers discovered deceased relatives listed as active voters while others spotted the same person enrolled multiple times. The Bihar revision is now at the centre of a wider political storm in India, amplified by Mr Gandhi accusing the election commission of enabling large-scale voter suppression. Citing the deletions in Bihar and similar exercises in Karnataka, Mr Gandhi alleged the process was being manipulated to disenfranchise opposition-leaning communities, a charge the poll body strongly denied. Fellow opposition parties in the INDIA bloc, led by Mr Gandhis Congress, echoed his charge, accusing the commission of working in the BJPs interest ahead of a high-stakes state election. The Congress launched a Vote Chori, meaning vote theft campaign, alleging electoral list manipulation in the 2024 parliamentary election, especially in the Bangalore Central constituency, and demanding greater transparency from the election commission. Vote chori is an attack on the foundational idea of one man, one vote. A clean voter roll is imperative for free and fair elections. Our demand from the EC is clear - be transparent and release digital voter rolls so that people and parties can audit them, Mr Gandhi said. The opposition leader alleged that over 100,000 fake votes in Bengalurus Mahadevapura helped the BJP win the seat in last years parliamentary election. The BJP won the seat by 32,707 votes. His party alleged similar voter roll anomalies in Bihar, including hundreds registered at single addresses. Mr Gandhi called this a huge criminal fraud, accusing the BJP and the election commission of collusion. The commission rejected Mr Gandhis allegations on X as false and misleading. The poll body claimed that it was not sharing electoral rolls in machine-readable formats to safeguard privacy and comply with legal precedents. The BJP dismissed the opposition campaign as pure theatre, with spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia saying the Congress party should pursue election petitions rather than float unsubstantiated accusations. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A vaccine that appears to slow the progression of one of the most deadly cancers could be manufactured in bulk, researchers say. The jab has given hope to patients after a trial found it increased the survival of participants with pancreatic cancer. Researchers described the findings as remarkable and have already started testing the efficiency of the jab among a larger group of pancreatic and bowel cancer patients. The jab uses a new type of immunotherapy, designed to improve vaccine delivery to the lymph nodes, which help the body fight infections and disease. Pancreatic and bowel cancers frequently carry a mutation in a gene called KRAS, which plays a key role in tumour growth, and scientists developed the jab to recognise and attack this gene. A trial found a cancer vaccine slowed disease progression and increased survival of patients ( Getty Images/iStockphoto ) The study, published in the journal Nature Medicine, tested the jab on 20 patients with pancreatic cancer and five with bowel cancer. When participants were followed up after 20 months, 68 per cent had developed strong immune responses specific to mutant KRAS tumour proteins. Participants who had the strongest immune responses lived and stayed cancer-free for longer than those with weaker responses. Some patients survived about two years and five months after receiving the vaccine. In comparison, just three in 10 people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer survive for a year. Pancreatic cancer has some of the poorest survival rates due to late detection. It doesn't usually cause symptoms in the early stages, and as it grows, it can cause tummy pain, yellowing of the skin, unexplained weight loss and changes in stools. Many patients see their cancer returning even after treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. But the trial showed the jab could help prevent the cancer from returning for more than 15 months. Unlike other cancer jabs which are personalised to individual patients, this vaccine, ELI-002 2P, has a single version which can be given to all patients meaning it can be manufactured in bulk and given more rapidly. Dr Dani Edmunds, research information manager at Cancer Research UK, said: Its promising to see that vaccines could help people with pancreatic and bowel cancer live cancer-free for longer. More research is needed to understand why some people benefit from the vaccine while others dont, so that we can make sure were beating cancer for everyone, he added. Professor Richard Sullivan, director of the Centre for Conflict and Health Research at Kings College London, has suggested more research is needed. There is some interesting science in this study, but this is a long way from proving any sort of clinical utility, he said. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Reusable menstrual products are gaining traction as alternatives to the billions of single-use pads and tampons that get tossed into landfills every year. Products such as reusable discs, silicone cups and period underwear can be reused for years, so theyre cost-effective and long-lasting in addition to helping people reduce waste. The popularity of the reusable alternatives has grown since the pandemic, when it was easier to experiment with period products in the privacy of a home bathroom, according to women's health experts. Selin Celikoyar, who bought her last tampon and switched to a reusable menstrual disc six months ago, said she had already been wary of tampons from an environmental perspective and also from a biological perspective. I felt that they were very wasteful and expensive to consistently keep buying. open image in gallery Products such as reusable discs, silicone cups and period underwear can be reused for years ( AP ) Celikoyar said she used tampons and pads for years because those are the options she grew up knowing about. But when she saw her friend make the switch to a menstrual disc, she decided to try it too. The experience has been such a game changer, she said. Single-use products wind up in landfills About 12 billion disposable pads and 7 billion tampons go into U.S. landfills every year, according to Dr. Luwam Semere, chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara. Pads are mostly plastic. Once they're in the landfill, they take up to 800 years to degrade, according to the National Institutes of Health. Single-use pads and tampons are by far the most popular period products. Women's health expert Dr. Navya Mysore said that's not because they're better, they're just usually the first options kids are shown. It was often like, What did your mom use? What did your grandma use? And thats how you were introduced into period hygiene, said Mysore, a primary care physician. Advantages and drawbacks to switching The most popular is the menstrual cup, which gets inserted much like a tampon. The discs get inserted farther in, so they don't interrupt intercourse. Both can hold several times more than a tampon and can stay inserted for up to 12 hours, instead of the four to eight hours recommended for tampons. Semere also said the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome, commonly associated with tampons, is much lower with menstrual cups and discs. The cons? The products require some technique to put them in right, and doing it wrong can get messy. The cups and discs also have to be cleaned regularly with soap and water. Its hard to do that if youre at work and youre in a shared, public restroom. Its not the most convenient, said Mysore. open image in gallery The most popular is the menstrual cup ( Getty/iStock ) Cups prevent leakage by creating a suction, so people who use intrauterine devices for contraception risk dislodging them if they pull out a menstrual cup without breaking the seal. The placement of discs, which dont use suction, can also take some getting used to. Its high up there, you dont feel it, but it can be sometimes harder for women to pull them out, said Dr. Annemieke van Eijk, an epidemiologist with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. But for Celikoyar, the advantages of the discs outweighed the drawbacks. She said that a longer changing window has gotten her through a back-to-back concert and red-eye flight without any concern. Theres an ease of use there for the modern woman that is significantly better than traditional methods, she said. Comparing costs Menstrual cups and discs typically cost between U$15 and $40 and come in different shapes and sizes. They're available online and at pharmacies and big box stores. Ideally, you would like to experiment a bit with what type of cup works best for you. And the cost can be kind of prohibitive to do that, van Eijk said. A reusable product can help save money over the long term. Celikoyar estimates that she was using three tampons every day for seven days, or about 20 per month. With tampons costing 20 to 25 cents each, someone who switched to a reusable product would likely break even after a few months. For people who prefer pads, the most common reusable option is period underwear, which is comparable to regular-looking underwear with an extra absorbent lining. Those are nice because we do see people getting irritated from pad use," said Semere. "Because of the different materials that are in the disposable pads. The downside, just like with pads, is the inability to tell when it's absorbed all that it can. Mysore said that's why some of her patients use the underwear as a backup, and pair them with cups, discs or tampons. You can sort of mix and match different period products, depending on how heavy your flow is and what your period is like for you, she said. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice An amber heat health alert has been issued for large parts of England, with authorities warning soaring temperatures this week are likely to cause a rise in deaths. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued alerts in London, the West Midlands, the East Midlands, the East of England and the South East, which are due to come into effect at 9am on Tuesday. It warns that there could be a rise in deaths particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. However, it added that there may also be impacts on younger age groups, with a likely increase in demand for health and social care services. The amber alerts are set to remain in place until 6pm on Wednesday, with yellow alerts in place for the remainder of England at the same time. It comes as the UK is set for its fourth heatwave this summer after temperatures are forecast to soar over the coming days. open image in gallery The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued alerts in London, the West Midlands, the East Midlands, the East of England and the South East, which are due to come into effect at 9am on Tuesday ( UKHSA ) Those under amber warnings have been told temperatures in care settings such as hospitals and care homes may exceed recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment, with overheating increasing the risk to vulnerable people living independently in community and care settings. The heat could also lead to issues managing medicines, and cause an increased demand for power exceeding capacity. The UKHSA has also warned that it may affect the ability of the workforce to deliver services, and that there could also be travel delays. open image in gallery Another hot spell is on the way (Ben Birchall/PA) ( PA Wire ) Temperatures are expected to peak in the mid-thirties in the south of England this week, according to the Met Office, with London marking 32C on Tuesday. It is set to remain warm in other parts of the country, with Manchester clocking temperatures of 28C on both Tuesday and Wednesday. Met Office Deputy Chief Meteorologist Tom Crabtree said: Warmth is the focus in the forecast in the first half of this week, with temperatures likely to peak on Tuesday around the mid-30s, but remaining above average in the second half of the week, particularly further to the southeast. The exception to the widely warm conditions will be northwest Scotland on Monday, where showers will be more frequent. Warmth will develop there from Tuesday with temperatures peaking in the mid to high 20s. open image in gallery Temperatures are expected to peak in the mid-thirties in the south of England this week, according to the Met Office, with London marking 32C on Tuesday. ( PA Wire ) In addition to high daytime temperatures, warm nights are also likely in southeastern parts of the UK early in the week, with even a chance of a tropical night in a few places, which is where temperatures do not drop below 20C overnight. A heatwave is identified when a location records maximum temperatures exceeding a designated value across at least three consecutive days, according to the Met Office. For most of the UK, this is 25C, but rises to 28C in London and the surrounding areas where temperatures are typically higher. The hottest day of the year so far saw 34.7C recorded at St Jamess Park in central London on 1 July. As it gets hotter once again, Britain is expected to see its fourth heatwave after one in June and two in July. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The government is facing renewed calls to tackle the "exploitative" marketing tactics employed by baby formula companies, accused of inflating prices and making unfounded health claims. Jess Brown-Fuller, a Liberal Democrat MP and chairwoman of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Infant Feeding, highlighted how new parents are particularly vulnerable. She asserted that firms are "exploiting a legal loophole" to circumvent advertising regulations, further alleging that discounted product offerings to hospitals create the misleading impression of an NHS endorsement. Her concerns follow a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) study published earlier this year, which identified widespread issues including misleading marketing, information gaps, and significant cost burdens on low-income families. The report noted formula manufacturers hiked prices by an average of 25 per cent in the two years leading up to November 2023, with costs remaining at near-record levels. This occurs despite the common parental misconception that a higher price tag equates to a more nutritious product, when regulations mandate all formula on the market must be nutritionally equivalent. open image in gallery Formula manufacturers increased prices by an average of 25 per cent in the two years up to November 2023 and they remain at near record highs ( PA Wire ) Ms Brown-Fuller told the PA news agency: There are parents who believe that by buying the more expensive formula, they are supporting their childs feeding or growth or potential more when actually all of those milks are nutritionally equivalent. There are even reports of parents buying more expensive formula but using fewer scoops per bottle to try and make it last longer, which Ms Brown-Fuller branded dangerous. These parents are doing what they think is best for their children, she said, when in reality there is no difference between the 14 tub and 7 tub of formula. The Liberal Democrat noted that companies will use their packaging to imply a nutritional superiority, with phrases like nutritionally complete or supports a healthy immune system. She asked: Where is the evidence that suggests that that formula is in any way a boost to an infants immune system above any others? Meanwhile, other formulas will write with added and name ingredients like Omega 3, certain vitamins, or iron. Ms Brown-Fuller said: It has to have a certain number of nutrients in it anyway. And anything that is additional potentially shouldnt be in there because they are working around a very strict compliance code. She explained: They wouldnt be able to make these bold claims if they were a medication but, because its a food, its a source of nutrition, theyre not held to the same standards. open image in gallery There are even reports of parents buying more expensive formula but using fewer scoops per bottle to try and make it last longer, which Ms Brown-Fuller branded dangerous ( Associated Press ) Meanwhile, it is illegal to advertise newborn formula in the UK but firms are allowed to advertise follow-on milk for babies that are six months and older. This is because World Health Organisation (WHO) guidance is that breast milk should be the main source of nutrition for all infants until they are six months old, and a lack of advertising regulation is linked to lower breastfeeding rates. Ms Brown-Fuller said: There is a direct correlation between countries that have no regulation around formula marketing and drastic reductions in breastfeeding. So that is why the Government did introduce regulation around advertising of formula milk because the numbers of breastfeeding mothers was dramatically reducing. The UK scores just 48 out of 100 overall on a range of infant-feeding metrics, according to the World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative. However, to get around these regulations, formula companies advertise for their follow-on milk and make all their packaging look exactly the same to anybody that was just perusing the shelves. The Chichester MP said: Theyre exploiting a legal loophole, because it is a legal loophole, but theyve totally blurred the lines through similar branding. Another form of exploitative marketing, she argued, is that formula companies will sell their formula into healthcare professional environments like maternity units or neonatal units for a hugely reduced price. Purchase habits show strong brand loyalty when it comes to formula, with parents rarely switching brands once they have introduced a particular one to their baby. open image in gallery Parents often believe that a higher price tag means a more nutritious formula for their baby, despite regulations requiring all formula on the market to be nutritionally equivalent ( PA ) It is also argued that brand presence in a healthcare setting gives the fake impression of an NHS endorsement. Ms Brown-Fuller told PA: They know that if they get the parents to use that in a hospital setting, the likelihood is that that is the formula they will then use when they go home. The CMA has put forward 11 recommendations to address these issues, aiming to strengthen labelling and advertising rules, better inform parents to make choices in retail environments and to eliminate brand influence in healthcare settings with standardised packaging. A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: As part of our Plan for Change, were determined to ensure every child has the best start to life. There are many benefits of breastfeeding but for those mothers that cannot or choose not to breastfeed, it is vital parents can access infant formula that is affordable and high quality. Families should not be paying over the odds to feed their babies. We are working closely with the devolved governments to carefully consider the CMAs recommendations and will respond fully in due course. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The prison population of England and Wales has jumped to the highest number in nearly a year and is nearing record levels, despite the early release of tens of thousands of offenders, official figures show. A total of 88,238 people were in jail as of Monday, up 231 on the previous week and a rise of more than 1,200 in the past two months, according to data published by the Ministry of Justice. There are just 283 fewer prisoners now than the record high of 88,521 reached in September last year during the aftermath of the summer riots in towns and cities across the UK. The spike comes despite Government efforts to ease overcrowding by freeing some 26,456 offenders early since last year. The scheme was launched as an emergency measure in September, with eligible inmates serving more than five years released after serving only 40% of their fixed-term sentence, rather than the usual 50%. Ministers have since announced further plans to free up space following a major independent review by former Conservative Lord Chancellor David Gauke. Prisoners in England and Wales, including some serious offenders, could be released after serving a third of their sentence under the reforms, though some inmates, including those with terror convictions, will not be eligible. Meanwhile, more foreign criminals will be deported before their appeals have been heard as the Government expands its deport now, appeal later scheme. Offenders from another 15 countries, including India, Bulgaria and Australia, will now be included in the scheme, bringing the total to 23 countries under the plans announced on Monday. The Government said the expansion of the programme would help scale up the countrys ability to remove foreign criminals, alongside other measures announced on Sunday to deport offenders as soon as they are sentenced. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the move, which requires parliamentary approval, would save 54,000 a year per prison place. Officials have said increasing deportations will help ease pressure on overcrowded prisons. But figures from the Ministry of Justice from the end of June suggest there are currently just 772 prisoners from the 15 new countries covered by deport now, appeal later. The current scheme for the early release of inmates replaced a separate scheme introduced by the previous Conservative government. Under this separate process, known as End of Custody Supervised Licence (ECSL), 13,325 prisoners in England and Wales were freed early between October 17 2023 and September 9 2024. The ECSL scheme initially saw some inmates in certain jails released 18 days early. This was increased in March 2024 to a maximum of 35 days early, then again in May that year, which eventually saw offenders being freed from jail up to 70 days before their release date. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Sir Keir Starmer has warned that Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted as far as you could throw him and that any peace deal must not be imposed on Ukraine. As Donald Trump prepares to meet the Russian president in Alaska on Friday, Downing Street said Britain would stand with Kyiv until there was a just peace. It came after Britain and its European allies rallied in support of Ukraine at the weekend as a defiant Volodymyr Zelensky rejected Trumps suggestion that a deal to end the war may involve giving up large amounts of territory to Moscow. Vladimir Putin and Keir Starmer ( Reuters/Getty Images ) Zelensky insisted Ukraine will not give Russia any awards for what it has done and that Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier. Downing Street did not rule out that land could be ceded but said any decision on that was one for Ukraine. Asked if Sir Keir thought the Russian leader could be trusted in the peace talks, No 10 said: Never trust President Putin as far as you could throw him, but we obviously will support Ukraine. We will obviously support President Trump and European nations as we enter these negotiations. But it is exactly why weve been leading this work on the coalition of the willing, because any ceasefire, as I say, cannot just be an opportunity for President Putin to go away, re-arm, restrengthen, and then go again. "So were not going to leave it to trust. Were going to ensure that were prepared such that we achieve a ceasefire. Sir Keir has held extensive talks with countries that make up the so-called coalition of willing in recent months, including France, to scope out the kind of security guarantees that would be put in place if a peace deal was struck. No 10 also said the UK would stand with Ukraine and said Britain would not reward aggression or compromise sovereignty. On Sunday vice-president JD Vance gave an insight into the USs thinking as it goes into Fridays talks, saying that Europe must spend more on Ukraine as he warned that America is done with the funding of the war. The Kremlin has said that Trump and Putin would focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution when they meet. The Russian president is expected to use the summit to set out his demands, including that Ukraine give up two eastern regions as well as Crimea. Therell be some land swapping going on, Trump told reporters on Monday. I know that through Russia and through conversations with everybody. To the good, for the good of Ukraine. Good stuff, not bad stuff. Also, some bad stuff for both. Ukraine has sought to push back the Russian invaders after the largest and deadliest war in Europe since the Second World War began 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. Russia currently occupies about a fifth of Ukrainian territory, while Ukraine holds barely any Russian territory. German chancellor Friedrich Merz organized a series of talks for Wednesday and invited JD Vance, Zelensky, Natos chief and several European leaders to join. Merz said the talks would focus on "further options for action to put pressure on Russia" as well as "preparations for possible peace negotiations and related issues of territorial claims and security." Separately, three people have been killed after setting off explosive devices while swimming in restricted areas off Ukraines Black Sea coast. Oleh Kiper, governor of Odesa, said one man died in Karolino-Bugaz, while a man and a woman were killed in Zatoka. The Black Sea has long been a popular holiday destination in Ukraine, but many of its beaches have been declared unsafe since Russias invasion and the waters are heavily mined with explosive devices laid by both sides. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Sir Keir Starmer is facing a furious backlash against the arrest of hundreds of people during a protest over Palestine Action on Saturday and has been warned he is making a mistake of poll tax proportions. MPs from across the political divide warned of an excessive use of counterterrorism powers that was riding roughshod over the right to peaceful protest, after it emerged that many of those held were aged over 60. The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Sunday that 532 arrests were made, 522 for displaying an item in support of a proscribed organisation at the march in central London over the weekend. Civil liberties groups including Amnesty and Liberty said the arrests were disproportionate to the point of absurdity and that the governments terrorism laws were a threat to freedom of expression. Labour peer Shami Chakrabarti told The Independent the proscription of Palestine Action is in danger of becoming a mistake of poll tax proportions a reference to Margaret Thatchers unpopular policy that triggered civil disobedience and riots. She added: The notable presence of so many older people highlights the strength of genuine feeling. Criminal damage at air force bases can be prosecuted, but sweeping guilt by association only exacerbates community tensions and creates a bigger headache for the police. The 532 protesters detained on Saturday is thought to be the highest number of arrests made by the Metropolitan Police in a single protest event since the poll tax riot of 31 March 1990. Home secretary Yvette Cooper defended the police but suggested those who were arrested may not know the full nature of this organisation. Her comment led to calls for the authorities to be more clear cut about why they proscribed Palestine Action last month. The group hit the headlines earlier this year when four members were accused of causing around 7m worth of damage to aircraft at RAF Brize Norton. After the arrests, Downing Street defended the move to ban the group, saying it was violent, had committed significant injury as well as criminal damage, and that the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre had found the organisation had carried out three separate acts of terrorism. But former Conservative cabinet minister Sir David Davis told The Independent the arrests were an excessive use of counterterrorism law, adding theyve gone over the top. He said: Weve not really been given any evidence for the reasoning behind proscribing Palestine Action. I mean, they broke in and painted an aircraft, they did not set bombs or anything. So thats the first question. What was the criteria? And then secondly, should you be arresting lots of people because they support a particular side and put up a banner? He added: The authorities should be more clear cut about why they have proscribed Palestine Action. Meanwhile, veteran backbencher Diane Abbott said the government is in danger of making itself look both draconian and foolish. And former Labour cabinet minister Peter Hain described the mass arrests as madness and said Palestine Action was not equivalent to real terrorist groups like al-Qaeda or Islamic State [which is] why I voted against its ban. Protesters sat on the grass in Parliament Square during Saturdays demonstration ( PA Wire ) Ministers insisted, however, that supporters would feel the full force of the law. Police had warned before Saturdays protest in Parliament Square, organised by Defend Our Juries, that they would detain anyone expressing support for Palestine Action. Victims minister Alex Davies-Jones said the right to peacefully protest was a cornerstone of our democracy, and of course, we respect that. But she added that Palestine Action violently carried out criminal damage to RAF aircraft [and] we have credible reports of them targeting Jewish-owned businesses here in the United Kingdom, and there are other reasons, which we can't disclose because of national security. She said: But they are a proscribed terrorist organisation and anyone showing support for that terrorist organisation will feel the full force of the law. Former top prosecutor Nazir Afzal raised the alarm over the impact on court backlogs, telling The Independent prosecuting those arrested would be a terrific waste of time. These would probably be jury trials as each of them would be advised to plead not guilty and expect a trial in 2027 at the earliest, he said. I also suspect that no jury would convict anyhow. Amnesty International chief executive Sacha Deshmukh said: Peaceful protest is a fundamental right. People are understandably outraged by the ongoing genocide being committed in Gaza and are entitled under international human rights law to express their horror. He added: 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. Sam Grant, director of external relations at Liberty, said: The scenes we saw over the weekend of mass arrests at public protests are deeply concerning. That hundreds of people were arrested under these powers further highlights the dangerous breadth and vagueness of the UKs anti-terrorism laws. Conflating protest activity with terrorism rightly has the general public scratching their heads." Membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison under the Terrorism Act 2000. Securing a charge for an offence under the Terrorism Act will, in some instances, require approval by both the Crown Prosecution Service and attorney general Lord Hermer, police said. Palestine Action co-founder, Huda Ammori, said the Parliament Square demonstration would go down in our countrys history as a momentous act of collective defiance of an unprecedented attack on our fundamental freedoms. She also criticised the policing methods used, claiming the fact most of those arrested at the protest were given street bail and allowed to go home proved the current ban was unenforceable. Responding to protests on Saturday, Yvette Cooper said: 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. Palestine Action was proscribed based on strong security advice following serious attacks the group has committed, involving violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage. It also follows an assessment from the Joint Terrorism Assessment Centre that the group prepares for terrorism, as well as concerning information referencing 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. Their actions are not about the horrific suffering in the Middle East and do not reflect or represent the thousands of people across the country who are exercising their rights to protest peacefully. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Israels military targeted an Al Jazeera correspondent with an airstrike Sunday, killing him, another network journalist and at least six other people, all of whom were sheltering outside the Gaza City Hospital complex. Officials at Shifa Hospital said those killed included Al Jazeera correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohamed Qureiqa. The strike also killed four other journalists and two other people, hospital administrative director Rami Mohanna told The Associated Press. The strike also damaged the entrance to the hospital complexs emergency building. Both Israel and hospital officials in Gaza City confirmed the deaths, which press advocates described as retribution against those documenting the war in Gaza. Israel's military later Sunday described al-Sharif as the leader of a Hamas cell an allegation that Al Jazeera and al-Sharif had previously dismissed as baseless. The incident marked the first time during the war that Israel's military has swiftly claimed responsibility after a journalist was killed in a strike. It came less than a year after Israeli army officials first accused al-Sharif and other Al Jazeera journalists of being members of the militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad. In a July 24 video, Israels army spokesperson Avichay Adraee attacked Al Jazeera and accused al-Sharif of being part of Hamas military wing. Al Jazeera called the strike targeted assassination and accused Israeli officials of incitement, connecting al-Sharif's death to the allegations that both the network and correspondent had denied. Anas and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices from within Gaza, providing the world with unfiltered, on-the-ground coverage of the devastating realities endured by its people, the Qatari network said in a statement. International media have been mostly barred from entering Gaza throughout the war and Al Jazeera is among the few outlets still fielding a big team of reporters inside Gaza, chronicling daily life amid airstrikes, hunger and the rubble of destroyed neighborhoods. The network has suffered heavy losses during the war, including 27-year-old correspondent Ismail al-Ghoul and cameraman Rami al-Rifi, killed last summer, and freelancer Hossam Shabat, killed in an Israeli airstrike in March. Like al-Sharif, Shabat was among the six that Israel accused of being members of militant groups last October. Hundreds of people, including many journalists, gathered Monday to mourn al-Sharif, Qureiqa and their colleagues. The bodies lay wrapped in white sheets at Gaza Citys Shifa Hospital complex. Ahed Ferwana of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said reporters were being deliberately targeted and urged the international community to act. Al-Sharif reported a nearby bombardment minutes before his death. In a social media post that Al Jazeera said was written to be posted in case of his death, he bemoaned the devastation and destruction that war had wrought and bid farewell to his wife, son and daughter. I never hesitated for a single day to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification, the 28-year-old wrote. The journalists are the latest to be killed in what observers have called the deadliest conflict for journalists in modern times. The Committee to Protect Journalists said on Sunday that at least 186 have been killed in Gaza and Brown Universitys Watson Institute in April said the war was quite simply, the worst ever conflict for reporters. Al-Sharif began reporting for Al Jazeera a few days after war broke out. He was known for reporting on Israels bombardment in northern Gaza, and later for the starvation gripping much of the territorys population. Qureiqa, a 33-year-old Gaza City native, is survived by two children. Both journalists were separated from their families for months earlier in the war. When they managed to reunite during the ceasefire earlier this year, their children appeared unable to recognize them, according to video footage they posted at the time. In a July broadcast al-Sharif cried on air as woman behind him collapsed from hunger. I am taking about slow death of those people, he said at the time. Al Jazeera is blocked in Israel and soldiers raided its offices in the occupied West Bank last year, ordering them closed. Al-Sharifs death comes weeks after a U.N. expert and the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said Israel had targeted him with a smear campaign. Irene Khan, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, on July 31 said that the killings were part of a deliberate strategy of Israel to suppress the truth, obstruct the documentation of international crimes and bury any possibility of future accountability. The Committee to Protect Journalists said on Sunday that it was appalled by the strike. Israels pattern of labeling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom, Sara Qudah, the group's regional director, said in a statement. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Colorado prison has been evacuated as one of the state's largest ever wildfires continues to grow, with officials warning residents in remote areas to prepare for immediate departure. The Lee Fire has already charred more than 167 square miles (433 square kilometers) across Garfield and Rio Blanco counties, with mountain communities already under evacuation orders. Only six percent of the blaze has been contained. Gusty winds and low humidity are exacerbating the inferno. However, no injuries or structural damage have been reported. All 179 incarcerated people were safely removed from the Rifle Correctional Center on Saturday out of an abundance of caution, the Colorado Department of Corrections said in a statement. They were temporarily relocated about 150 miles (240 kilometers) away to the Buena Vista Correctional Complex, the department said. The Lee Fire, churning through trees and brush about 250 miles (400 kilometers) west of Denver, is now the sixth-largest single fire in the states history, according to the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control. open image in gallery Only six percent of the blaze has been contained ( Garfield County Sheriff's Office ) More than a thousand firefighters are battling the blaze, working to keep the flames to the west of Colorado 13 and north of County Road 5, officials said. Health officials issued air quality warnings related to smoke from the Lee Fire and the 23-square-mile (60-square-kilometer) Elk Fire burning just to the east. In Southern California, crews reached 62 percent containment on the eight-square-mile (20-square-kilometer) Canyon Fire that forced evacuations and destroyed seven structures after breaking out Thursday near the Los Angeles County and Ventura County line. Three firefighters have been injured, including a battalion chief who was seriously hurt when his pickup truck rolled over in steep terrain. The Gifford Fire, California's largest blaze so far this year, has scorched at least 180 square miles (466 square kilometers) of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties since erupting on August 1. It was 21 percent contained on Sunday. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A New York judge has refused a request from the Trump administration to unseal the federal grand jury transcripts in the case of sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The U.S. government had failed to cite any special circumstance that would warrant release of the transcripts and exhibits in Maxwells sex abuse case, wrote Judge Paul Engelmayer of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in an opinion Monday. "The Government's invocation of special circumstances, however, fails at the threshold," Engelmayer wrote. "Its entire premise that the Maxwell grand jury materials would bring to light meaningful new information about Epstein's and Maxwell's crimes, or the Government's investigation into them is demonstrably false." The decision comes after President Donald Trump asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent grand jury transcripts in the criminal cases of Maxwell and Epstein, in a bid to tamp down further conspiracies over the government's botched handling of the so-called "Epstein Files. A Justice Department memo on July 6 stated that no further investigation was warranted into Epsteins alleged sex trafficking schemes. It also concluded that Epstein had died by suicide and there was no evidence of a client list of high-profile associates. open image in gallery A federal judge in New York declined to release the grand jury transcripts in Ghislaine Maxwells sex abuse case Monday. ( Federal Bureau of Prisons ) The memo caused uproar on both sides of aisle, and among Trumps MAGA base. Maxwell, 63, is serving a 20-year sentence for her role in a scheme to abuse and exploit girls with Epstein. The disgraced financier died by suicide in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial. It is unclear how much the grand jury transcripts would have revealed had they been released. The Justice Department acknowledged that the documents contained no testimony from witnesses, outside of law enforcement. Experts have said that these documents only account for a small fraction of the files related to the investigations. Several Epstein survivors had supported making the grand jury transcripts public, while Maxwell had opposed the move. Her legal team has asked the Supreme Court to take up her case, and her lawyers argued that releasing the raw transcripts would inevitably influence any future legal proceeding and cause severe and irrevocable reputational harm. Maxwell has never been allowed to review the documents, the attorneys said in a memo to the court earlier this month. Maxwell was interviewed by the Justice Department last month as the Trump administration tried to contain fallout from the Epstein Files. During the meeting, she said that she never saw Trump do anything that would cause concern. She was asked about maybe about 100 different people. She answered questions about everybody and she didn't hold anything back, Maxwells attorney David Markus said. She never invoked a privilege. She never refused to answer a question. So were very proud of her. open image in gallery A Justice Department memo on July 6 stated that no further investigation was warranted into Epsteins alleged sex trafficking schemes. It also concluded that Epstein had died by suicide and there was no evidence of a client list of high-profile associates. ( US District Court for the Southern District of New York ) Soon after, she was moved from a Florida federal prison to a Texas prison camp, known as Club Fed because of its relatively relaxed environment. The prison also houses Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes and Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Jen Shah. Separately from the Maxwell case, a federal judge is considering whether to release the grand jury transcripts that led to Epsteins indictment. The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed the Justice Department for files in Epsteins case, and issued subpoenas to conduct sworn questioning of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Former President Clinton and President Trump, were among Epsteins many powerful friends. Both have said they knew nothing of his crimes until he was charged and neither has been formally accused or charged with any crime. Trump and Epstein were friendly in the 1990s and early 2000s and were seen together at parties in Palm Beach and New York. Trump also called Epstein terrific guy" in a 2002 New York Magazine article, and flight records show that he flew on the financier's private jet. Their friendship dissolved in the mid-2000s, with the president telling reporters he hadnt spoken to him in 15 years following Epsteins arrest on sex trafficking charges in 2019. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Social media users and experts alike are warning people about Feel Free tonics and other products containing the opioid-like substance kratom, an NBC News report reveals. Products containing kratom, which comes from a plant native to Southeast Asia, are popping up in gas stations, corner stores and vape shops across the country, the Food and Drug Administration warns. The substance is often used to self-treat conditions such as pain, coughing, diarrhea, anxiety and depression, opioid use disorder, and opioid withdrawal, according to the FDA. Dr. Robert Levy, an addiction medicine expert from the University of Minnesota Medical School, told NBC News hes concerned about kratom and has treated patients who are addicted to it many times. TikToker Misha Brown posted a video that went viral last month, recounting how a kid approached him at a gas station and asked him to purchase a Feel Free tonic, a drink that contains kratom. When he refused, Brown said the child tried but failed to grab his wallet. open image in gallery Users can become addicted to kratom, which produces opioid-like effects, experts warn ( AFP via Getty Images ) The gas station cashier then told Brown she often sees the same customers buying the drink multiple times a day. Brown said the cashier told him, It's so addictive, and people lose their minds. Brown told NBC News that people started commenting on his viral video, sharing their own devastating experiences with kratom products like Feel Free. John, a TikToker who has posted about Feel Free, said he discovered the tonic when he was eight years sober after struggling with heroin and meth addictions. NBC News identified John by his first name to protect his privacy. John told the outlet he became addicted and started going through entire cases of Feel Free within a day. He was then hospitalized for withdrawal symptoms in February after trying to quit Feel Free. Feel Free tonics come in two-ounce bottles. The label says a serving size is one ounce and that users should not consume more than two ounces in 24 hours, NBC News reports. The label also warns that the product is habit-forming and recommends that those with a history of substance abuse should consider not using the product. As an addiction medicine doctor, I would never suggest that somebody consume that [Feel Free] thats in recovery, Levy told NBC News. In a statement to The Independent, Botanic Tonics, the company that makes Feel Free, claimed the NBC News story contained "false and misleading statements" and maintained they have received no complaints involving serious addiction. open image in gallery A bowl of kratom leaves. Social media users have warned against the addictive effects of some products containing kratom ( AFP via Getty Images ) "Botanic Tonics has sold over 129.7 million servings of feel free to date. We have received fewer than 1,000 consumer adverse event complaints total across all categories," the company said. "This represents an exceptionally low complaint rate (less than 0.001%) that contradicts sensationalized social media anecdotes being reported as representative of our customer experience." Botanic Tonics also paid $8.75 million in 2023 to settle a class action lawsuit claiming the company failed to warn users about the dangers of kratom. The company did not admit wrongdoing by settling the lawsuit. Late last month, the FDA announced it is recommending scheduling action to control products containing 7-OH, a concentrated byproduct of the kratom plant. The agency says 7-OH has the potential for abuse because of its ability to bind to opioid receptors. This recommendation does not apply to natural kratom leaf products, the agency noted. In response to the announcement, Feel Free said its Feel Free Classic tonic only contains natural leaf kratom, which means the FDAs recommendation will not impact the product. Kratom may even have life-threatening effects. In rare cases, deaths have been associated with kratom use, as confirmed by a medical examiner or toxicology reports, the FDA said. However, in these cases, kratom was usually used in combination with other drugs, and the contribution of kratom in the deaths is unclear. A Washington family claims kratom killed their son, 37-year-old Jordan McKibban. He died in 2022 after he mixed kratom with his lemonade, his mother Pam Mauldin told the New York Post. McKibbans autopsy report revealed his death was caused by mitragynine, which is found in kratom. Ive lost my son. Ive lost my grandchildren that I could have had, Ive lost watching him walk down that aisle, watching him have a life that I get to watch with my other kids. Ive lost enjoying these years with him, she told the New York Post. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Multiple explosions at a steel plant near Pittsburgh have killed two people and left 10 others injured on Monday, according to authorities. Video captured a massive black plume of smoke rising from the U.S. Clairton Coke Works plant, 15 miles south of Pittsburgh, around 10:51 a.m. Monday. The Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services reported that a fire had broken out. Ten people were transported to Allegheny Health Network hospitals. Five were in critical but stable condition and the rest have been released, The Washington Post reported. Officials said at least two people were killed, according to the Post. One of those who died had been found in the rubble from the explosion and was taken to the hospital. The plant was stable by Monday afternoon, said Scott Buckiso, executive vice president and chief manufacturing officer for U.S. Steel. Authorities had declared a Level 3 Mass Casualty Incident, meaning the explosion required a large response from multiple neighboring agencies. Allegheny County Emergency Services Chief Matthew Brown said during a press conference that 20 EMS and 14 fire departments assisted. open image in gallery An explosion at a steel plant outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, killed two people and left 10 others injured Monday morning. ( WTAE ) Clairton Mayor Rich Lattanzi noted on social media that he was asking for multiple ambulances to be sent to the scene. My prayers go out to anyone involved in this tragedy and their families and the community, Lattanzi said. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said there were multiple explosions at the plant, and that his administration was working with local officials in Clairton on the response efforts. Zachary Buday, a construction worker near the scene, told WTAE that the explosion sounded like thunder. open image in gallery First responders were working to try to rescue people stuck under rubble following the explosion. ( CMU CREATE Lab/ Breathe Project ) It shook my chest. It shook the building, then we saw the dark smoke rising from the steel mill, Buday said. Put two and two together. Its like something bad happened. Buday said he couldnt see the fire that erupted from the plant, but saw the thick gray smoke clouding over the area. Lots of ambulances, lots of sirens. It sounded like thunder, he added. Allegheny County Health Department officials are monitoring air quality in the surrounding area but said monitors have not detected levels of soot or sulfur dioxide above federal standards. Residents within a mile of the steel plant have been told to close doors and windows, set HVAC systems to recirculate and avoid drawing outside air into homes, out of an abundance of caution, the county health department said. U.S. Steel said the incident occurred specifically at coke oven batteries 13 and 14 just after 10 a.m. Monday. open image in gallery Clairton Mayor Rich Lattanzi noted on social media that he was asking for multiple ambulances to be sent to the scene . ( AFP/Getty ) "Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our employees and the environment. We are working closely with relevant authorities to investigate the cause of the incident and will provide additional updates as they become available, David B. Burritt, president and chief executive officer of the United States Steel Corporation said in a statement. The United Steelworkers union had health and safety experts at the scene, a spokesperson said in a statement. The USW has occupational health and safety experts and other representatives on the ground at the Clairton Works assessing the situation and aiding our members, said USW District 10 Director, Bernie Hall. While we are still determining the scope of the tragedy, we are aware that multiple workers are receiving medical treatment for their injuries. In the coming days, we will work with the appropriate authorities to ensure a thorough investigation and to see that our members get the support they need. open image in gallery Ten people were rescued and taken to area hospitals to be treated for injuries. ( CMU CREATE Lab/ Breathe Project ) open image in gallery The plant is considered the largest coking operation in North America. It employs thousands of workers. ( US Steel Clairton Works ) The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is responding to the explosion, the agency wrote on social media. Allegheny county, which includes Pennsylvania's second largest city of Pittsburgh, is a longtime industrial hub once dominated by the steel industry. The plant, which sits along the Monongahela River, is considered the largest coking operation in North America. Coking is the process of heating coal above 1,000 degrees, and is a critical component in the steel-making process. The plant produces 4.3 million tons of coke annually and employs 1,400 people, according to the company. While U.S. Clairton Coke Works has kept many people employed and helped the local economy, the steel industry has dwindled in America for decades. The industry took another turn when Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel, once the leading steel-manufacturer, announced it would be sold to Nippon Steel, a Japanese steel company. Negotiations on the deal dragged on for over a year, but were approved in June after Nippon Steel agreed to allow the U.S. government to appoint a member to their board. The Clarion plant has had a slew of issues over the years, including several lawsuits over pollution coming from the facility. In 2019, it agreed to settle a 2017 lawsuit for $8.5 million. Under the settlement, the company agreed to spend $6.5 million to reduce soot emissions and noxious odors from the plant. The company also faced a lawsuit accusing them of violating clean air laws after a fire on Christmas in 2018 that damaged the facilitys sulfur pollution controls. open image in gallery Pittsburgh-area U.S. Clairton Coke Works employs 1,400 people. ( WTAE ) The damaged control equipment led to repeated releases of sulfur dioxide, according to the lawsuit. Sulfur dioxide is a colorless but pungent byproduct of fossil fuel combustion that can make it difficult to breathe. The fire also caused $40 million in damage. Most recently, in February, a problem with a battery at the plant let to a buildup of combustible material that ignited and caused an audible boom, according to the Allegheny County Health Department. Two workers who got material in their eyes were treated at local hospitals. The company also agreed to spend $19.5 million on equipment upgrades and $5 million on local clean efforts last year as part of settling a federal lawsuit filed by Clean Air Council, Penn Environment and the Allegheny County Health Department. With reporting by the Associated Press. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice With a Marthas Vineyard vendor refusing to cede to Alan Dershowitzs pierogi demands, a South Florida restaurant owner -- who happens to be a member of Donald Trumps private Mar-a-lago resort -- has stepped up and offered free dumplings for life to the former Jeffrey Epstein lawyer. In the latest of Dershowitzs social sufferings at the exclusive summer playground for the ultra-wealthy, the one-time Trump attorney threatened to file a discrimination lawsuit after he was denied pierogi at a farmers market in July. Dershowitz claimed that the owner of Good Pierogi refused to serve him for political reasons and his support of Zionist causes, suggesting the vendor was antisemitic. After railing against the bigoted vendor online, claiming Good Pierogis food was tainted with the poison of antisemitism and urging others to boycott the stand, Dershowitz returned to the market last week to once again try to buy some of the doughy treats. Instead, owner Krem Miskevich who has cited Dershowitzs defense of Epstein as the reason to refuse him service again turned him away. Good Pierogi supporters chanted time to go at the famed lawyer. After Dershowitz ran to MAGA-supporting media to complain about the ongoing ordeal of his pierogi-less existence on the island, a sympathetic restaurateur came to the rescue to fill all of the 86-year-old Harvard Law emeritus Eastern European dumpling needs. Pierogi should bring people together not divide them, Peter Nowocien, owner of PierogiOne restaurant, told the New York Post this week. open image in gallery Alan Dershowitz has been offered free pierogi for life by a Mar-a-Lago member following the latest Marthas Vineyard snub. ( Getty Images ) Nowocien, who is a member of Mar-a-Lago and recently hosted an event at the presidents South Florida club, said that no one should ever be denied pierogi before declaring that hed send Dershowitz and his family free food for life. The restaurant owner, a Polish immigrant who moved to the United States six years ago, told the Post that Dershowitzs disturbing experience did not sit right with him because of his experience growing up in the shadow of Polands communist regime. As a Polish immigrant, I hate to hear about discrimination in the US because of peoples political views. That shouldnt happen here, the Trump-supporting Nowocien said, adding that his father fought against communism. Discrimination breeds injustice. Nowocien also noted that while Dershowitz, who is Jewish, may not be willing to sample his restaurants Philly cheesesteak, spicy beef, or bacon and cheddar pierogi options, the lawyer could choose the classic cheese and potato variety. Meanwhile, it would appear that at least for the time being Dershowitz is going to stop trying to force Good Pierogi to serve him. Following last weeks spectacle that saw him shouted out of the market, Semafors Max Tani asked Dershowitz whether he would return over the weekend to try again. Heading to Israel, where they will sell me better pierogi, the lawyer, who is a fervent supporter of pro-Israeli causes, replied. The Independent has contacted Dershowitz for comment. Dershowitzs war on the West Tisbury pierogi stand began in earnest at the end of last month, when he made a huge public stink after Miskevich refused to sell to him, prompting him to upload a 30-minute video about the bigoted vendor while threatening a lawsuit against Good Pierogi and the local farmers market. While noting that Miskevich brought up his past defense of deceased sex offender Epstein when refusing him service, Dershowitz has since alleged that the vendor who is Jewish turned him away because they are antisemitic. (Miskevinc uses they/them pronouns.) As I correctly suspected, the bigot who refused to sell me perogi [sic] Krem Miskevich is a notorious anti-semite who is part of an anti-semitic organization that protests Jewish not only Israeli cultural events and doesnt believe in Israels right to exist or to respond to what these haters regard as the justified massacres of Oct 7, Dershowitz tweeted last week, adding: Dont patronize anti-semites who refuse to sell to Jewish Zionists. open image in gallery Alan Dershowitz unsuccessfully attempts to purchase pierogi from an unwilling vendor at a Martha's Vineyard market. ( YouTube ) Miskevich responded to Dershowitzs accusations by noting that they experienced a surge of emotion when the lawyer appeared at the stand last month because hes represented and befriended several sexual predators and abusers including Jeffrey Epstein, adding that they know many people who have been sexual assault victims. Miskevich also said Dershowitz began to harass us, misgender me, and film us without our consent. Additionally, they pointed out that not only are they Jewish, but they have immediate family members in Israel and friends on the island sometimes refer to them as Rabbi Klem. Despite Dershowitzs vow to boycott Good Pierogi, the celebrity attorney turned up Wednesday to join the long line of customers most of whom were there to show support for Good Pierogi looking to purchase the vendors dumplings. Im here in an effort to try to restore community and to ask you to sell me pierogi in the interest of keeping the island together so we dont have to have two pierogi stands: one for anti-Zionists and one for people who will sell to anybody, Dershowitz said. So Id ask you to please just sell me any one of your products to show that youre prepared to sell to anybody and not allow your anti-Zionism to decide which people youll sell to. Miskevich did not budge, telling Dershowitz that they were very surprised that youre here because of the things that youve been saying about us and the business online, while others rejected Dershowitzs blanket accusations of anti-Zionism and antisemitism. Good Pierogi later posted on social media to thank customers for showing up for us in such a visible and powerful way, adding that they are saddened by the lengths to which a disgruntled person will go and that they will not give them any more air. As for Dershowitzs threats to sue the farmers market and Good Pierogi for discrimination, legal experts have said that he would likely lose on the merits of the case if he decided to go to court. If he tried to claim that he was denied service based on his politics or the clients he has served, it would seem no, powerhouse law firm Kelley Drye noted. Neither Massachusetts state law nor federal law recognize a claim for discrimination on the basis of political beliefs, affiliations, or activities in public accommodations. In fact, almost all jurisdictions, including New York, do not protect political beliefs or political associations under the applicable public accommodation laws. Dershowitzs past representation of Epstein has attracted renewed interest in recent weeks amid uproar over the Trump administrations handling of the disgraced financiers case. The lawyer helped negotiate a plea deal in 2008 that granted Epstein immunity from federal charges related to sexual abuse of minors, allowing the disgraced financier to plead guilty to state charges of procuring prostitution of an underage girl, in which he served just a 13-month sentence. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Republican South Carolina Congressman Ralph Norman has claimed that while prices are going up, its for the good of the country. His comments were made during a Fox News appearance as host Jon Scott noted that many Americans are not supportive of President Donald Trumps economic policies. A Fox poll recently showed that 44 percent of Americans back the president on the economy. Similarly, six out of 10 Americans blame Trump for driving up the cost of living, according to a recent poll. I think a lot of people are seeing higher prices, said Norman on Saturday. Our familys in the construction business, and we get a lot of our timber from Canada and other countries. Yes, its higher. Steel prices are up, but its for the good of the country. The 72-year-old recently announced a run for governor. Should we expect high prices for a short time? Yes, he added. But overall, we couldnt keep going the way we were going. Ralph Norman, 72, has launched a bid for governor in South Carolina ( Getty Images ) The cancer in this country was letting other countries rule the day and tax our products, and why should we run a deficit every month? he asked. And thats why this president is doing such a good job. And you cant go on poll numbers vary, they come up, they go down. But the bottom line is, hes doing the right thing, and it couldnt come at a better time, Norman argued. Things will get better here. Trumps widespread tariffs went into effect on Thursday after months of delays and attempts at new agreements with other countries. Most U.S. imports are now subject to tariffs of 10 percent. However, overall, the average tariff rate stands at more than 17 percent. In the 2024 Republican presidential primary, Norman chose not to endorse the president, instead backing his states former governor, the former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. Late last month, Norman praised Trump as he announced his bid for governor. He said the presidents decision to bomb Irans nuclear weapons program in support of Israel is going to put him in the annals of the greatest presidents we have ever had. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Former Washington, D.C., homicide detective and defense attorney Ted Williams has taken to Fox News to reject President Donald Trumps contention that crime is out of control in the nations capital. Over the weekend, Trump announced that he would be staging a press conference on Monday to address the matter, saying of the city: It has become one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World. It will soon be one of the safest!!! He subsequently insisted that D.C.s homeless citizens move out, IMMEDIATELY, adding: We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you dont have to move out. Were going to put you in jail where you belong. open image in gallery Fox News anchor Jon Scott discusses President Donald Trump's claims about crime in Washington, D.C., with former homicide detective Ted Williams on Sunday August 10 2025 ( Fox News ) It was then reported that the president is sending 120 FBI agents on overnight shifts to help local law enforcement battle carjackings and other violent crime in D.C. His rhetoric has escalated since former DOGE employee Edward Coristine, also known as Big Balls, was beaten up by muggers eight days ago when he refused to give up his car during an attempted hijacking. Asked by Fox anchor Jon Scott about D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowsers comment that violent crime is down 61 percent in the district from two years ago, Williams said: I have to agree with the mayor here Yes, there is crime, and there will always be crimes in every major metropolitan city in this country. What I really found troubling and, I gotta tell you, as a lawyer I found it troubling is that the President of the United States would say that crime is out of control. I take exception to that. Crime is not out of control in the District of Columbia. Yes, you do have some juveniles here that are out of control and those juveniles need to be addressed and arrested. But, he continued: I think that even the Metropolitan Police Department is happy that the president has married up the federal agencies that help to try to combat crime in the District of Columbia. Scott went on to present Williams with official data suggesting that juvenile offenders were the real problem, given that young people have been involved in half of the attempted carjackings this year and that 2,000 teens have been arrested in D.C. over the last two years. open image in gallery President Donald Trump has insisted that violent crime in D.C. must be brought under control, although the official statistics suggest it already is ( AP ) In any major metropolitan city you are going to have, unfortunately, juveniles committing crimes, he responded. The ex-cop invoked the attack on Coristine as the likely motivation for Trumps new hard-line stance and added: I would like to ask Mr Trump: Where were you last month when a three-year-old child, Honesty Cheadle, was shot and killed as the result of a crime in the District of Columbia? I didnt hear Mr Trump speaking out then. I want Mr Trump to do something for the district. Continue to have the federal officers partner with the district officers to try to bring down crime. But dont use this as a pretext to actually eradicate home rule... That seems to be what Mr Trump is interested in. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Weeks after being flabbergasted over the amount of interest the American public was showing in Jeffrey Epstein and the Trump administrations botched handling of the investigation into the deceased sex offender, CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten now claims the issue is quickly becoming something of a nothingburger. Vice President JD Vance unwittingly sparked a new wave of calls to release the so-called Epstein Files when he attempted to mock Democrats who are now all of a sudden so interested in the case during a Sunday interview with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo. For four years, Joe Biden and the Democrats did absolutely nothing about this story. We know that Jeffrey Epstein had a lot of connections with left-wing politicians and left-wing billionaires, Vance declared. And now President Trump has demanded full transparency from this. And yet somehow the Democrats are attacking him and not the Biden administration, which did nothing for four years. Vances suggestion that Democrats are complicit in Epsteins crimes prompted a number of pundits to say this is precisely why more documents should be made public. On CNN Monday morning, Enten was asked to weigh in on what hes seeing in the numbers about the Epstein saga. I would say that this is, from at least a political point of view, quickly turning into a dud of a story, Enten said on CNN News Central, causing anchor Kate Bolduan to remark how wild it was that interest had fallen off. open image in gallery CNN data analyst Harry Enten cited Google search analytics to declare the Epstein story a "nothingburger" and a "dud" on Monday. ( CNN ) Take a look here. Google searches for Epstein down 89 percent versus just three weeks ago. Falling through the floor, an animated Ented exclaimed. It is no longer the top term searched alongside Donald Trumps name thats been trading off between tariffs and Vladimir Putin, with obviously the meeting coming up later this week. He added: But at this particular point, the American peoples interest in this story its quickly becoming something of a nothingburger! Bolduan then asked Enten about the presidents polling and if it had taken a hit following uproar over the Justice Departments conclusion last month that Epstein died by suicide and had no client list that incriminated other prominent figures, which resulted in public criticism from high-profile MAGA supporters. Trumps approval rating in July of 2025, it was 45 percent. Its still well within that margin of error here at 44 percent, Enten stated, referencing his own aggregate of pollsters. And you compare that to where he was in his first term at this point. He was at 37 percent. So hes seven points higher. Very much in a different political universe now, significantly higher in terms of his overall approval rating than he was at this point in his first term. Noting that the presidents approval among Republican voters remains around 90 percent, Enten said that despite the initial MAGA furor over the Epstein case, the president hasnt lost any of that base. Therefore, in the CNN data experts opinion, Trumps poll numbers appear to be riding high, at least comparatively speaking. And when it comes to that center of the electorate, hes basically holding on there. And his overall approval rating of 44 percent is pretty gosh darn good for him, considering where he was at this point in term number one, Enten asserted. (CNNs poll of polls, meanwhile, has Trump at 42 percent.) open image in gallery CNN data expert Harry Enten says that Trump's current approval rating is "pretty gosh darn good." ( CNN ) Turning to the most recent CNN survey, Enten then observed that when asked to name the nations top issue, only a single respondent said it was the Epstein case, suggesting that it was further proof that the story itself had petered out. So yes, there used to be a lot of interest in this story, he said. But the bottom line is that even amongst those who had a high interest in this story, it wasnt something that they thought was all that important. And as I said at the beginning, the interest in this story has fallen off the table. Bolduan, meanwhile, called it incongruous that the public no longer seemed to care about the Epstein files after the amount of attention the issue had received from both Capitol Hill and the presidents supporters, leading Enten to heap praise on Trump. I would just say this. Donald Trump has some of the best political instincts of any politician Ive seen, he concluded. And on this particular issue, you see it full well and clear because he has been saying, You know what? This is not an issue. And it turns out that a lot of the American public actually seem to agree with him. After the meltdown among conservatives over the DOJs Epstein memo, which came on the heels of Attorney General Pam Bondi insinuating that she was in possession of the so-called client list and promising to release more documents in the case, Trump ordered his supporters to ignore the issue and claimed it was a hoax. While pro-Trump networks like Fox News quickly followed suit and downplayed the Epstein story, the issue still remained front and center despite the administrations attempts to distract the public with wild allegations about the Obama administration committing treason with the 2016 Russia election interference investigation. In the weeks following the DOJ memo, theWall Street Journal published a bombshell story about Trump sending Epstein, his onetime friend, a bawdy birthday sketch in 2003 which reportedly read: Happy Birthday and may every day be another wonderful secret. The president denied creating the card, and filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the WSJ and its owner Rupert Murdoch. The WSJs report gave MAGA the opportunity to reunite in its shared hatred of the mainstream media, and right-wing fury over the lack of transparency in the Epstein case began to subside, despite subsequent reporting that Trump was informed by Bondi in May that his name appeared in the Epstein files, along with many other high-profile people. Last month Trump denied Bondi had told him that he appears in the Epstein files. The president has never been formally accused or charged with a crime in connection with Epstein. open image in gallery After the meltdown among conservatives over the DOJs Epstein memo, which came on the heels of Attorney General Pam Bondi insinuating that she was in possession of the so-called client list and promising to release more documents in the case, Trump ordered his supporters to ignore the issue and claimed it was a hoax. ( AP ) Meanwhile, the conservative media ecosphere has been on a two-week-long outrage cycle over Hollywood star Sydney Sweeneys good jeans American Eagle ad, which has seen Fox News devote hours more coverage to the supposed liberal anger over the commercial than to the Epstein drama. As for Enten, he has seen his stock rise with the commander-in-chief in recent weeks, perhaps because he said earlier this month that he couldnt think of a more influential president during this century than Trump. While butchering the CNN data gurus name during an interview with CNBC, Trump pushed back on comments about his slumping poll numbers by urging the hosts to check out Entens analysis. If you check out CNN tomorrow, watch Harry Emden and youll see about the numbers, Trump exclaimed, falsely claiming recent surveys placed him at 71 percent approval. To his credit, Enten reacted to the unexpected presidential name-check by debunking Trumps claims about his polling and explaining that the presidents approval numbers are at near-historic lows for a second-term president. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trumps renewed efforts aimed at brokering a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia may in fact have their roots in Trumps most famous political grudge. As the president prepares for a summit with Russias Vladimir Putin in Alaska potentially to be attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as well one of his former advisers sees a pattern emerging in Trumps second-term foreign policy agenda that indicates the US president is seriously pining for what he sees as the ultimate sign of global recognition and respect: a Nobel Peace Prize. But what John Bolton described to ABCs This Week on Sunday as Trumps latest fascination may have deeper psychological roots. And the biggest clue providing a glimpse into the presidents psyche is the simultaneous focus of his entire national security team on Barack Obama, Trumps first-term predecessor and a figure many have argued propelled Trumps political ambitions through mockery and dismissal. Bolton, who served as Trumps national security adviser, explained Sunday that Trumps peacemaking attempts in Ukraine were part of a clear bid for a Nobel Peace Prize. He pointed to the presidents efforts to claim credit for halting other global conflicts as part of the same concerted campaign; the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict, and Indias clashes with Pakistan. I think what Trump has done is make it clear that he wants a Nobel Peace Prize more than anything else.... the way to his heart? Offer to nominate him, Bolton told ABC News. Trump is leaning into efforts to win a Nobel Peace Prize in his second term, with Azerbaijan and Armenia being some of his latest accomplices ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Though Bolton said that Trump was having mixed success: I don't think what he has done materially changes the situation in -- in any of those circumstances, or several others he's mentioned, like Pakistan/India, where the Indians, not just the government, the entire country are outraged that he tried to take credit for [a peace agreement]. On Friday, the president invited the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia to the White House to sign a peace agreement. The deal is aimed at ending decades of conflict, but builds on a peace process moderated by Russias Vladimir Putin and a previous agreement crafted by Russia that the two countries signed. Writing Thursday on Truth Social, Trump boasted of his role in reaching the agreement. The agreement between the two nations will create a major trade and transit corridor called the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity. It will connect mainland Azerbaijan with the autonomous Nakhchivan region, satisfying a major objective of the Azerbaijani government in the peace talks between the countries. Meanwhile, Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard and Attorney General Pam Bondi collaborate on an effort to reignite interest in Russiagate and the 2016 investigation into the Trump campaign. And the president himself continues to rage against a man he now accuses of treason and efforts to rig the 2016 and possibly 2020 elections. Gabbard has eagerly echoed his accusations and argued that the Obama administrations efforts to call out Russian election interference efforts should be considered a coup. Bondi acted to give the pair as much political cover at the Justice Department as possible; the embattled attorney general opened a grand jury probe into the Russiagate investigation this past week, even despite a previous DOJ special counsel review finding no evidence of criminal wrongdoing in the case. No charges have been filed yet against Obama or anyone else. Combined with Trumps bid to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, a clear pattern is emerging. As former RNC chair Michael Steele (the only Black chair in the Republican Partys history) wrote earlier this year in an op-ed for MSNBC: Its clear that Obama has been living in Trumps head rent-free for the last two decades. Some think he first ran for president because Obama made fun of him at the White House Correspondents Association dinner. He mistakenly called Biden by Obamas name multiple times while campaigning, once even saying he beat Obama in 2016. Obama wins the Nobel Peace Prize? Trump spends years obsessing about winning it himself, Steele added. In March, Bolton saw the connection too. He told the New York Times that Trump saw that Obama got the Nobel Peace Prize and felt if Obama got it for not doing anything, why should he not get it? The Times noted other instances where Trump has publicly and privately groused about not getting the award in spite of Obamas reception. If I were named Obama, I would have had the Nobel Prize given to me in 10 seconds, the president told the Detroit Economic Club last year. The evidence is clear: Trump is entering the latest phase of a years-long obsession with a political foe who consumes more of his attention than Joe Biden and even, at this point, Hillary Clinton. Obama is, in reality, Trumps one unvanquished foe remaining on the left. But hes also the last U.S. president who commanded clear respect and admiration not just in the U.S. but around the world, where he was invited to speak before the legislative bodies of the UK, Canada and Australia as well as to huge crowds elsewhere, like Germany and his fathers home country of Kenya. The 44th president, the nations first Black commander-in-chief, struck a nerve in Trump early and the man who would succeed Obama spent years coordinating a false, racist campaign of abuse centered around Obamas heritage and birthplace. Hillary Clinton won his attention and became a focus of his anger during and after the 2016 election, though shes largely faded from his view. But while the president can order his Cabinet members and aides to launch probes and issue statements tarnishing Obamas reputation, hes found so far that his ability to solve geopolitical conflicts is far more limited. Even as Trump has seen some success bullying U.S. trading partners into line with his reciprocal tariffs, his promises to end the wars in Ukraine and Gaza overnight have dissolved into failure. The international community waits to see whether this grudge-turned-ambition will propel Trump to actually force the end of a three-year war in Ukraine or the bloody siege and starvation of Gaza caused by Israels blockade, or whether he will once again be frustrated by the realities that have thwarted his efforts so far. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump 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. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Russian commentators and officials bragged about the perceived coup of Vladimir Putin getting a summit in Alaska Friday with President Donald Trump over a potential Ukraine War ceasefire. Its the first time that a Russian leader has been invited to American soil outside of the United Nations since 2007, and comes without the Kremlin having made any apparent concessions amid its war of aggression in Ukraine. Just days before the summit was announced, Trump was sharing his anger at Putins consistent bombing of Ukraine and threatened to increase sanctions on Russia. The sudden decision to meet with the Russian leader prompted European and Ukrainian officials to scramble to respond to the new arrangement. One of the top interlocutors between the Kremlin and the Trump administration is Russias special economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev, who argued that the decision to have the meeting in Alaska was symbolically significant. The U.S. bought Alaska from Russia in 1867 for $7.2 million, roughly two cents per acre. Born as Russian America Orthodox roots, forts, fur trade Alaska echoes those ties and makes the U.S. an Arctic nation, he said on X. open image in gallery Putin and Trump are set to meet in Alaska on Friday ( Reuters ) Konstantin Malofeyev is a billionaire who the Obama administration sanctioned for funding separatists in Ukraine backed by the Kremlin and interfering in elections in a number of countries. He claimed Alaskans respectfully remember their Russian past and their Orthodox present. Alexander Kots, a war correspondent supportive of the Kremlin, said in his Telegram channel that The meeting in Alaska has every chance to become historic. That is, of course, if the West does not try to pull off another scheme, he added. Meanwhile, analysts in the West urged caution. Michael McFaul served as the U.S. ambassador to Russia during the Obama administration. Trump has chosen to host Putin in a part of the former Russian Empire, he said on X. Wonder if he knows that Russian nationalists claim that losing Alaska, like Ukraine, was a raw deal for Moscow that needs to be corrected. The symbolism of holding the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska is horrendous as though designed to demonstrate that borders can change, land can be bought and sold, said Kings College London Russian Politics professor Sam Greene, according to The Washington Post. Never mind that mainstream Russian discourse maintains a claim that Alaska should be returned to Russia. While Czar Alexander II offered up Alaska for sale, Putin has taken Ukrainian territory by force via the unlawful annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the subsequent full-scale invasion of the country in 2022, when he illegally claimed to annex four regions of Ukraine. Russia analysts told The Post that its unlikely that the Kremlin has left behind any of its goals for Ukraine, such as demilitarization, the replacement of the current regime with a pro-Russia one, and for Ukraine not to join NATO. A senior fellow with the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, Tatiana Stanovaya, said Trump didnt want to fall into confrontation with Russia. Trump himself said that further sanctions probably wouldnt force Putin to change his mind. We could see from these signals that Trump could be open to a new attempt, and he did so just days before the end of his ultimatum, Stanovaya added. The deputy head of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, Janis Kluge, told The Post that Putins proposal is part of the war. Its just a temporary ceasefire in exchange for land, said Kluge. It is meant to give Putin an advantage in the longer run against Ukraine and the West. A former top Kremlin official told the paper that Russia appeared willing to compromise, as it indicated that it was ready for a ceasefire. open image in gallery Zelensky has warned that he wont give up land ahead of Trump-Putin meeting ( Volodymyr Zelensky ) Politically, it is easier [for the Kremlin] to continue the war until Ukraines final collapse than to make peace, the anonymous official said. This is why they are clinging on to the idea that there needs to be a temporary but not permanent truce and then in the meantime [Ukrainian] elections can be conducted. While the Kremlin has pushed for a friendly regime in Kyiv, Ukrainians have often demonstrated their wish for free and fair elections and a democratic future as part of the European Union. Pro-Kremlin analyst Sergei Markov said, Russian troops are not going to make any step backward, as part of a deal to reach a ceasefire. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that he wouldnt agree to any deal that included handing over territory to Russia, saying Ukraines constitution prohibited it. There are no guarantees, Markov added, according to The Post. But there are also no guarantees that Ukraine wont begin the war again. He went on to say that Russias top goal during the summit was to paint Europe and Ukraine as impediments to Trumps dream of achieving a peace deal. Russia hopes that Trump will finally become sensible and see that Zelensky is the main reason for the war that is happening now, and that the second reason for the war is European leaders and that they are his enemies too, said Markov, adding that Trump will realze that Putin is one of his few good political friends. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Donald Trump claimed that he would know in the first two minutes of his upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin if a peace deal could be reached between Russia and Ukraine. Were going to have a meeting with Vladimir Putin, and at the end of that meeting, probably in the first two minutes, Ill know exactly whether or not a deal can be made, the president told reporters at a press conference Monday. Asked how he would know, the president replied: Because that's what I do. I make deals. However, Trump later appeared to contradict himself, after saying that it was not up to him if a deal was made or not. Im not going to make a deal. Its not up to me to make a deal. I think a deal should be made for both, he said. The president is set to meet with the Russian president Friday in Alaska for the highly anticipated meeting, during which the pair will discuss bringing an end to the conflict that has raged since the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces in February 2022. open image in gallery The president is set to meet with the Russian president Friday in Alaska for the highly anticipated meeting, during which the pair will discuss bringing an end to the conflict that has raged since the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces in February 2022. ( AP ) Trump briefly appeared to forget the location of the meeting, telling reporters at the press conference that he would be travelling to Russia for the meeting, instead of The Last Frontier. He added that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky could attend the bilateral, but also appeared to question if it would help a deal be reached. He wasnt a part of it, Trump said, speaking about the setting up of the talks. I would say he could go, but hes been to a lot of meetings. You know, hes been there for three and a half years. Nothing happened. He added that, should a fair deal be reached, he would inform the European Union as well as Zelensky, who he would call first out of respect. And I may say, lots of luck, keep fighting. Or I may say we can make a deal, he said. open image in gallery Trump said on Monday that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky could attend the bilateral, but also appeared to question if it would help a deal be reached ( Ukrainian Presidential Press Service ) Either way, Trump said that a meeting between Putin and Zelensky would be necessary in the future. Ultimately, Im going to put the two of them in a room. Ill be there, or I wont be there, and I think itll get solved. Fridays meeting will be the first between a U.S. president and Putin since 2021, when Joe Biden met him in Switzerland, and marks the first time the Russian president has set foot on American soil in a decade. His visit is due to go ahead as planned, despite the fact that he faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court. Critics have also noted that Alaska was once owned by Russia, who claimed it during the 1770s and sold it back to the U.S. in 1867. Russian traditionalists have long-since demanded the return of the territory. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice President Donald Trump appeared to mix up Russia with Alaska ahead of his meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, during a White House press conference about crime in Washington, DC and his plans to deploy the National Guard and put the citys police under his control. Trump delivered the news from the podium in the press briefing room joined by Attorney General Pam Bondi, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and newly confirmed DC U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro where he decried the level of crime in Washington, DC. This is a tragic emergency, and its embarrassing for me to be up here, Trump told reporters. You know, Im going to see Putin. Im going to Russia on Friday. I dont like being up here, talking about how unsafe and how dirty and disgusting this once-beautiful capital [is]. Trump is not going to Russia, but rather to Alaska to meet with Putin. He is set to meet with the Russian president to discuss bringing an end to the war in Ukraine that Russia initiated when it invaded the sovereign nation in February 2022. 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 last week on Truth Social. President Donald Trump appeared to mix up Russia and Alaska during a press conference on Monday ( AFP via Getty ) The meeting will be the first between a US president and Putin since 2021, when Joe Biden met the Russian president in Switzerland. Its also the first time Putin has been to the US in a decade. This comes despite the fact that Putin is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. Last week, Alaskas senior Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski expressed her concern, but also cautious optimism, about the meeting taking place in Alaska. President Trump announced he will meet with President Putin in Alaska next Friday to continue negotiations to end Russias catastrophic war in Ukraine, Murkowski, a supporter of Ukraine, said in a statement. This is another opportunity for the Arctic to serve as a venue that brings together world leaders to forge meaningful agreements. 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. Critics of the announcement flagged the fact that Russia once claimed Alaska at the beginning of the 1770s and had native Alaskans hunt fur for Russians, before the United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867. Russians, for their part, hailed the decision to have the summit in Alaska. Born as Russian America Orthodox roots, forts, fur trade Alaska echoes those ties and makes the U.S. an Arctic nation, Russias special economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter). Meanwhile, Konstantin Malofeyev a billionaire sanctioned by the Obama administration for funding Russian separatists said Alaskans respectfully remember their Russian past and their Orthodox present. Trump said he wanted to see a meeting take place between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. But he also expressed his frustration with Zelensky. I was a little bothered by the fact that Zelensky was saying, Well, I have to get constitutional approval, Trump said. Hes got approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap, because therell be some land-swapping going on. I know that through Russia, and through conversations with everybody. To the good, for the good of Ukraine good stuff, not bad stuff; also some bad stuff for both. Trump said the negotiations would be very complex. And the word that they will use is, you know, they make changes, he said. Were going to change the lines, the battle lines they need. But I want to have a meeting set up between the two leaders. Trump has found the war in Ukraine to be one of his most vexing problems. In the past, he said he could end it within 24 hours. But despite his antagonistic attitude toward Zelensky and Ukraine, he has at times been frustrated with Putin and has continued to deliver arms to Ukraine. Gustaf Kilander and Rhian Lubin contributed to this report On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A British backpacker pleaded guilty to killing a man in Perth, Australia, by striking him while riding an electric scooter drunk. Alicia Kemp, 25, from Redditch in Worcestershire, admitted to dangerous driving causing death while under the influence of alcohol during an appearance, via video link, at the Perth Magistrates Court on Monday. Prosecutors dropped a second charge of dangerous driving causing bodily harm to her passenger. Dangerous driving causing death while intoxicated carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years in Australia. Ms Kemp had been drinking with a friend on 31 May before the pair were ejected from a bar. Later that evening, she hired an e-scooter and was travelling at 20-25kmph when she collided with Thanh Phan, a structural engineer, from behind. Mr Phan, 51, described by relatives as a beloved husband, father of two, brother, and dear friend, suffered a serious head injury and died in hospital several days later from a brain bleed. Ms Kemps female passenger, 26, sustained a fractured skull and broken nose, but survived. She herself suffered minor injuries. The court previously heard that Ms Kemps blood alcohol reading was 0.158 more than three times the legal limit of 0.05. Prosecutors said CCTV footage showed her inexplicably dangerous riding moments before the accident. Speaking outside the court, defence lawyer Michael Tudori said his client, as a young foreign national girl in our prison system, was nervous and worried but relieved the secondary charge had been dropped. Shes obviously done something stupid at the time, he said, theres consequences, and she just wants to get on with her life. The collision made Mr Phan the first pedestrian in Western Australia to die in an e-scooter incident, prompting Perths city council and other local governments to suspend hire schemes. Western Australian law requires e-scooter riders to be over 16, wear a helmet, be sober and not carry any passenger. Ms Kemp, who was in Australia on a working holiday visa, remains in custody and is scheduled to appear in the court for sentencing proceedings on 31 October. Her lawyer said hed like the sentencing process to be completed before Christmas, adding that her family in the UK was worried. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A blistering heatwave has gripped southwest France, sending thermometers soaring to an oppressive 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 Fahrenheit) in parts of Charente and Aude. In Aude, a region of vineyards and Mediterranean scrubland, hundreds of firefighters remain on hillsides, guarding the edges of a massive blaze that scorched 16,000 hectares last week. Officials state the flames are under control, but warn the fire will not be fully extinguished for weeks, with hot spots still smouldering. The national weather authority, Meteo-France, placed 12 departments on red alert, Frances highest heat warning, anticipating exceptional heat stretching from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean plains. Forty-one other departments were under lower-level orange alerts, as was the neighbouring microstate of Andorra. Social media images showed shuttered streets in Valence, residents shielding windows with foil to reflect the light, and tourists huddling under umbrellas along the Garonne in Toulouse. Across the south, cafe terraces stood empty as people sought cooler corners indoors. open image in gallery People sit in the shade along the Seine river during a sunny day in Paris, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Michel Euler) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) The red alert has been issued only eight times since it was created in 2004 after a deadly summer the year before. It is reserved for extreme, prolonged heat with major health risks and the potential to disrupt daily life. The designation gives local officials powers to cancel outdoor events, close public venues and alter school or summer camp schedules. The heatwave, Frances second of the summer, began Friday and is expected to last all week, carrying into the Aug. 15 holiday weekend. It is already pushing northward, with 38 C (100.4 F) forecast in the Centre-Val de Loire region and up to 34 C (93.2 F) in Paris. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Extreme heat and strong winds have caused wildfires across Spain, Portugal, Turkey and Greece as temperatures soar above 40C. A man died in a blaze outside Madrid, suffering burns on 98 per cent of his body. The fire was largely contained outside Spains capital by firefighters on Monday night. Elsewhere, firefighters and nearly a thousand soldiers battled fires across Castile and Leon, Castile-La Mancha, Andalusia and Galicia. Thousands of people have evacuated homes and hotels, including holiday-goers at beaches in southern Spain. Juan Carlos Suarez-Quinones, chief of environment for the regional government in Castile and Leon said: This occurs when temperatures reach around 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in a very confined valley and then suddenly (the fire) enters a more open and oxygenated area. This produces a fireball, a fire whirl. "This explosive and surprising phenomenon was very dangerous. It disrupted all the work that had been done, forcing us to start practically from scratch," he added. open image in gallery Military firefighters tackling a wildfifre near Yeres, northwestern Spain ( UME ) In the northern part of neighbouring Portugal, nearly 700 firefighters were battling a blaze that started on Saturday in Trancoso, some 350 km (200 miles) northeast of Lisbon. Turkey has finally been able to bring wildfires in the north west under control, forestry minister Ibrahim Yumakli said, the day after a fire broke out in an agricultural field in the province of Canakkale, north west Turkey, and spread into surrounding forestland, just two days after firefighting teams had contained a similar blaze in the area. Canakkale governor Omer Toraman said the Dardanelles Strait the narrow waterway linking the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara was closed to allow water-dropping planes and helicopters to operate safely in the area. Some 2,000 residents were evacuated - some by sea - and 77 people were hospitalised due to smoke exposure, officials said. Firefighters were still battling two other wildfires in Manisa and Izmir provinces in western Turkey, said Mr Yumakli said on social media. Meanwhile, across the Aegean sea, authorities ordered multiple evacuations in Greece due to wildfires on the island of Zakynthos and in nearby areas on the western Greek mainland, Water-dropping planes and helicopters were operating in the Agala area in the southwest of Zakynthos, and evacuations affected a nearby coastal area popular with tourists. Zakynthos Mayor Giorgos Stasinopoulos appealed to the government to send additional aerial support. Rare red alerts in place across France and Spain open image in gallery Wildfires continued to burn in Congosta, in the Castile and Leon region, on Monday ( Reuters ) France and Spain have issued red weather warnings as temperatures are set to soar in Europe again this week. As the UK braces for its fourth heatwave with 32C heat expected in the capital, Spains meteorological service Aemet has forecast peaks of 44C heat in Seville as the country swelters. Meanwhile, France could see highs of 39C across Lyon and Montelimar. Met Office spokesperson, Stephen Dixon, said: A heatwave over northwest Africa and Iberia will spread further northeast, bringing temperatures well above average for Portugal, Spain, France, Switzerland, Belgium and other parts of Europe. This will spread northeast over the next 4-5 days, reaching places like France and Germany later in the week. For Spain and Portugal, temperatures into the 40s Celsius are possible inland by day, with overnight temperatures remaining above 20C in many locations. High pressure, as well as day-on-day heating at the time of year with little in the way of cloud, is allowing temperatures to rise to well above average for these locations, even for the time of year. Theres a chance of some health impacts with the heat, especially for those who arent acclimatised or are outside during the hottest parts of the day. open image in gallery North and east parts of Spain were marked "high risk" ( Ministerio de Sanidad ) A four-year-old Romanian boy who was found unconscious in his familys car on the island of Sardinia has died in Italy, reportedly due to heatstroke, the local media reported. The hospital authorities told AFP on Monday that the boy was airlifted to a Rome facility but died due to irreversible brain damage. Spains red weather warnings denote significant risk, with vast swathes of the north and west of the country put under a red heat health alert, the highest level. The red warning states that exposure to excessive temperatures can lead to health problems such as cramps, dehydration, heat stroke, and heat exhaustion (with multi-organ problems that can include symptoms such as gait instability, seizures, and even coma), adding that during hot weather older people and children were more sensitive to temperature changes. Meanwhile, Italys health ministry has also issued a red alert warning for seven major cities, including Bologna and Florence. Frances red warning is for the south west of the country, with citizens told to remain absolutely vigilant as everyone is at risk, even healthy people during a heatwave, according to Meteo France, the countrys meteorological service. open image in gallery France issued a rare red heat alert for Monday and Tuesday which means even healthy people can be at risk from the heat ( Meteo France ) Rising temperatures can endanger people at risk, such as the elderly, the disabled, those with chronic illnesses or mental disorders, those who regularly take medication, and those who live in isolation, the service warned in a statement. For athletes and people who work outdoors, beware of heatstroke. Also watch over the children. The heat warnings are expected to stretch into parts of east France on Tuesday, with Ardeche and Rhone experiencing red heat alerts as well, while the majority of the country remains under lower-level orange alerts. Agricultural climatologist Serge Zaka told BFMTV : Don't be fooled this isn't 'normal, it's summer.' It's not normal, it's a nightmare, as the region is set to experience blistering heat. Europe is warming faster than any other continent, at twice the speed of the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union's Copernicus Climate Change Service. Last year was the hottest year on record in Europe and globally, the monitoring agency said. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Israeli ground and air strikes hit northern and southern Gaza on Monday, killing aid-seekers as well as others sheltering in tents and homes as Israeli troops prepared for a broader campaign in the besieged territory. Hospital officials reported that at least 34 people were killed on Monday, not including journalists who were slain in a tent shortly before midnight. Among the dead were at least 12 aid seekers killed by Israeli gunfire while trying to reach distribution points, or awaiting aid convoys. Relatives told The Associated Press that casualties included children and an infant. Witnesses to gunfire near the Morag corridor said they saw barrages of bullets and later dead bodies, describing the grim scene as a near-daily occurrence. The military did not immediately respond to questions about the deaths. Earlier Monday, it said air and artillery units were operating in northern Gaza and in Khan Younis, where resident Noha Abu Shamala told AP that two drone strikes killed a family of seven in their apartment. Aid seekers were killed from three kilometers (nearly two miles) to just hundreds of meters (yards) from sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, according to Nasser and Awda hospitals. GHF is the private contractor backed by the United States and Israel that in May replaced the United Nations as the territory's primary aid distributor. It said it was unaware of incidents in the Israeli-controlled security zones leading to its sites in central and southern Gaza. The latest deaths raise the toll to more than 1,700 people killed while seeking food since the new aid distribution system began in May, according to Gazas Health Ministry. Most were shot along routes to distribution sites, but in recent weeks more have been killed near food convoys delivered by the United Nations. U.N. agencies generally do not accept Israeli military escorts for their aid trucks, citing concerns over neutrality, and its convoys have come under fire amid severe food shortages in the blockaded territory. The deaths came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called reports about conditions in Gaza a global campaign of lies," and announced plans to move deeper into the territory and push to dismantle Hamas. An official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters said the operation wasn't expected to begin immediately and will take a significant amount of time to scale up. Five more Palestinians, including a child, died of malnutrition-related causes in Gaza in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said. Israel increased the flow of supplies two weeks ago amid such concerns. Still, international experts warn the territory is facing a worst case scenario of famine and aid groups say deliveries remain a fraction of what's needed after months of total and partial blockade. Australia moves to recognize Palestinian statehood On Monday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese added his country to a list moving toward recognition, along with France, Britain and Canada. He said his governments decision aimed to build momentum toward a two-state solution, which he called the best path to ending violence and bringing leadership other than Hamas to Gaza. The situation in Gaza has gone beyond the worlds worst fears, he said. The Israeli government continues to defy international law and deny sufficient aid, food and water to desperate people, including children. Israeli strike targets and kills Al Jazeera journalists Israels military targeted an Al Jazeera correspondent with an airstrike Sunday, killing him, another network journalist and at least six others in what press advocates described as a brazen assault on those documenting the war. Officials at Shifa Hospital said those killed included Al Jazeera correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohamed Qreiqeh. The incident marked the first time during the war that Israels military has swiftly claimed responsibility after a journalist was killed in a strike. It came less than a year after Israeli army officials first accused al-Sharif and other Al Jazeera journalists of being members of the militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Al Jazeera called the strike a targeted assassination while press freedom groups denounced the rising death toll facing Palestinian journalists working in Gaza. Mourners laid the journalists to rest in Gaza City. Israel on Sunday repeated claims that al-Sharif led a Hamas cell an allegation that Al Jazeera and al-Sharif have previously dismissed as baseless. Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people and killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the war. Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefires or other deals but 50 remain inside Gaza, around 20 of them believed by Israel to be alive. Israels air and ground offensive has since displaced most of the population, destroyed vast areas and pushed the territory toward famine. It has killed more than 61,400 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not say how many were fighters or civilians but says around half were women and children. In addition to those killed, 121 adults and 101 children have died of malnutrition-related causes, including five in the past 24 hours, the ministry said. One was a child. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run government and staffed by medical professionals. The U.N. and independent experts consider it the most reliable source on war casualties. Israel disputes its figures but has not provided its own. ___ Shurafa reported from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press writers Charlotte Graham-Mclay contributed from Wellington, New Zealand. __ Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Europes destiny will be in the hands of two, maybe three, men on Friday. Decisions taken between Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and (perhaps) Volodymyr Zelensky will determine the future of the continent. The outcome can only go Europes way if its leaders, who know this, prepare their nations for the possibility of outright war with Moscow. They need to be able to elbow the US aside, and prepare their people for the worst. In the chaotic whirl of events around the announcement of the Putin-Trump summit in Alaska a state the US actually bought from Russia the terms of the meeting remain misty and mysterious. Talks about Ukraine, without Ukraine, have been acceptable to Trump, but are not acceptable to Kyiv, or to Americas European allies. open image in gallery Decisions taken between Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump and (perhaps) Volodymyr Zelensky will determine the future of the Continent ( Ukrainian Presidential Press Service ) There have been strong indications from Trump that territorial concessions will inevitably emerge from the talks with Putin. Thats why the Europeans and Ukraine want to be in the room, and why Zelensky has said no ahead of time. Hes also constitutionally barred from making any such concessions to the Russian invaders. Still, there have been briefings that Zelensky may be told that hell have to give up the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia provinces which would mean his troops falling back from the positions they hold now and giving up on cities such as Kramatorsk. Europes foreign ministers went into virtual sessions for crisis talks on Monday, and over the weekend, European heads of government issued a statement setting them on a potential collision course with Trump. Ukraine has the freedom of choice over its own destiny, said Keir Starmer along with the leaders of Italy, the EU, Finland, Poland and Germany. 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. OK fine. Finer still is that Europe and the UK have rushed to increase defence spending, and underwritten arms sales from the US to Ukraine. They have generally understood that the US is now an unreliable ally when it comes to Russia and Ukraine, since Trump has lost no opportunity to enfeeble Kyiv and to strengthen the Kremlins hand. open image in gallery A Russian soldier prepares a Giatsint-B 152mm field gun to fire towards a Ukrainian position at an undisclosed location in Ukraine earlier this month ( Russian Defense Ministry Press Service ) There should be no expectation that Trump will take the side of democratic pro-Western Ukraine over the dictator Putin on Friday and the Europeans know that. That why theyre working very hard to make sure that Zelensky is at the summit too and that hes reinforced with the full force of European diplomacy if hes allowed to attend. But it is military force that Europe needs to be able to show not just as US taxpayer subsidies to European security are cut back by Trump, but right now. According to an analysis by the Kiel Institute, the production of land forces by Europe and the UK must increase by at least 300 per cent, and probably by six times, to match current Russian military expenditure and production. Europe needs to shift its societal debate from fiscal numbers to actual military capabilities needed, ie, how to purchase and produce what is actually needed to be successful on the modern battlefield and how to ensure timely delivery with concrete targets for closing critical capability gaps, the report said. In the language of old-fashioned telegrams spoofed by Evelyn Waugh in Scoop Europe is unwarwise. It is not that politicians across the continent dont understand this. It is that the populations they rely on to elect them dont quite comprehend, as yet, the danger they are in. Polling undertaken in June by the European Council on Foreign Relations found that, in a survey of European nations, less than a third (27 per cent) of 18- to 29-year-olds favoured the introduction of compulsory military service. open image in gallery Ukrainian soldiers from the air-defence unit of the 59th Brigade fire at Russian strike drones in the Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine, on Sunday ( AP ) The most support, among those surveyed, was in France (62 per cent), Germany (53 per cent), and Poland (51 per cent). Hungary, where the government has taken a soft line on Putin, sits at 32 per cent, Spain at 37 per cent, and the UK at 37 per cent. Frontline states like Sweden have launched public awareness campaigns on how to respond to a Russian attack. Finland has a population of just over 5.6 million (smaller than Londons). It can mobilise 280,000 trained soldiers rapidly, and is estimated to be able to field 900,000 in extremis. Britains forces could muster 180,000 at a pinch. In June, the authors of the National Security Strategy said that Britain must prepare for a wartime scenario. But while the UK, alongside France, is leading the coalition of the willing in Europe by increasing defence spending, and lately by reinforcing Zelenskys position ahead of the Alaska summit the message has not yet got through to Britons. The politicians have been saying all the right things but we need a sustained campaign for the wider public to get it, a government insider told The Independent. That work starts this week. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Finnish authorities have announced charges against the captain and two senior officers of a Russia-linked vessel, following damage to undersea cables between Finland and Estonia last year. In a statement, the Finnish deputy prosecutor general confirmed that charges of aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference with communications have been brought against the captain, first officer, and second officer of the Eagle S oil tanker. Their identities have not been disclosed, and the statement noted their denial of the allegations. Investigators allege the vessel dragged its anchor on 25 December, causing damage to the Estlink-2 power cable and vital communication links connecting Finland and Estonia. The Kremlin had previously denied any involvement in the damage to the critical infrastructure, which supplies power and communications to thousands across Europe. The Eagle S is flagged in the Cook Islands but has been described by Finnish customs officials and the European Unions executive commission as part of Russias shadow fleet of fuel tankers. Those are aging vessels with obscure ownership, acquired to evade Western sanctions amid the war in Ukraine and operating without Western-regulated insurance. For the West, such incidents are believed to be part of widespread sabotage attacks in Europe allegedly linked to Moscow following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The undersea cables and pipelines that crisscross one of the busiest shipping lanes in Europe link Nordic, Baltic and central European countries. They promote trade, energy security and, in some cases, reduce dependence on Russian energy resources. Monday's statement alleges that the Eagle S, which left Russias Ust-Luga with a cargo of oil products, is suspected of cutting five submarine cables in the Gulf of Finland by dragging its anchor on the seabed for about 90 kilometers (56 miles)." Prosecutors said the owners of the cables have suffered a total of at least 60 million euros ($69.7 million) in repair costs. The disruption of electricity transmission and telecommunications cables with very high transmission capacity is also suspected to have caused a serious risk to energy supply and telecommunications in Finland, although services could be secured by using alternative connections, the statement said. It added that the defendants "consider that Finland lacks jurisdiction in the case, as the locations of the cable damages are outside Finnish territorial waters. The damage to the Estlink 2, which can provide about half of Estonia's electricity needs in winter, did not disrupt service, although it drove up energy prices in the Baltic nations. The cable is about 90 miles (145 kilometers) long and reaches 90 meters (295 feet) at its deepest point. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Three people have been killed after setting off explosive devices while swimming in restricted areas in Ukraine, officials have said. Oleh Kiper, Governor of Odesa, said one man died in Karolino-Bugaz, while a man and a woman were killed in Zatoka. The Black Sea has long been a popular holiday destination in Ukraine, but many of its beaches have been declared unsafe since Russias full-scale invasion. All three were swimming in waters closed to the public when they triggered explosive objects, Mr Kiper said in a statement on Telegram. The sea is heavily mined, with explosive devices laid by both sides of the war. While many were deployed to protect ports, Moscow has been accused of using them to disrupt Ukraines shipping lanes. This proves once again: being in unverified water areas is deadly dangerous, Mr Kiper said. Witnesses told local outlet Dumskaya that the explosions occurred at around 11:30am local time (09:30 BST) on Sunday between Karolino-Bugaz and Zatoka. The governor said there are currently 32 officially designated safe swimming zones in the region, 30 in the city of Odesa, and one each in Chornomorsk and the Primorsky Izmail district. Mr Kiper said all of these areas have undergone full inspections to ensure there is no mine threat on land or in the water. Local police said they have not yet confirmed the identity of the swimmers, and warned visitors not to neglect safety measures. It has been previously determined that three vacationers a woman and two men died while swimming as a result of two explosions of unknown objects. The identities of the deceased are being established, the police report states. Odessa has a range of beaches but many have restricted access since the war began (file photo) ( Getty Images ) Law enforcement officers are investigating the incidents. It is unclear whether the mines involved in Sundays incident were Russian or Ukrainian, or how they drifted towards the coast. As Ukraines largest port and a key naval base, Odesa has faced repeated missile and drone strikes, and the surrounding waters are littered with hundreds of mines. Russian forces placed many of them around the port to block grain exports, while Ukrainian troops laid others early in the war to deter a possible assault. Once again, I urge you: rest only where it is officially permitted, Mr Kiper said. Ignoring safety rules is a direct threat to life and health, which can result in irreparable loss. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice 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". On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck Turkeys northwestern province of Balikesir on Sunday, causing about a dozen buildings to collapse, an official said. At least two people were trapped in the debris of a collapsed building. The earthquake, with an epicenter in the town of Sindirgi, sent shocks that were felt some 200 kilometers (125 miles) to the north in Istanbul, a city of more than 16 million people. Sindirgi Mayor Serkan Sak told the nationwide HaberTurk television broadcaster that four people were rescued from a collapsed building in the town while rescuers were trying to reach two other people from the structure. Several houses also collapsed in the nearby village of Golcuk, he said. The minaret of a mosque also tumbled down in the village. Health Minister Kemal Memisoglu said on X that four people were being treated in hospital. None of them were in life-threatening condition, he said. Our hope is to get through this without any loss of life," Ahmet Akin, the mayor of the provincial capital, which is also called Balikesir, told HaberTurk. open image in gallery Members of Turkish Gendarmerie search and rescue team work at the site of a building that collapsed following an earthquake in Sindirgi ( REUTERS ) Turkeys Disaster and Emergency Management Agency said the earthquake was followed by several aftershocks, including one measuring 4.6, and urged citizens not to enter damaged buildings. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a statement wishing all affected citizens a speedy recovery. "May God protect our country from any kind of disaster, he wrote on X. Turkey sits on top of major fault lines and earthquakes are frequent. In 2023, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killed more than 53,000 people in Turkey and destroyed or damaged hundreds of thousands of buildings in 11 southern and southeastern provinces. Another 6,000 people were killed in the northern parts of neighboring Syria. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice In a Ukrainian dugout, where the constant thunder of Russian weapons sends dirt raining from the ceiling and black plastic lining the walls slips, soldiers express profound scepticism about peace talks. Amid the regular blasts from glide bombs and artillery shells, forcing them underground except to fire their M777 howitzer, the prospect of an end to the conflict feels remote. On the Eastern Front, there is no indication the war will conclude anytime soon. Diplomatic efforts, soldiers believe, are too far removed from the brutal reality of the battlefield to yield results. Their doubt stems from what they perceive as months of unfulfilled US promises to swiftly end the war. Recent suggestions by Donald Trump of "swapping of territories", coupled with media reports implying Ukrainian troops might abandon the Donetsk region a territory they have defended inch by inch for years have only deepened the confusion and rejection among the fighting forces. open image in gallery Ukrainian soldiers from air-defence unit of 59th brigade fire at Russian strike drones in Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Few believe the current talks can end the war. More likely, they say, is a brief pause in hostilities before Russia resumes the assault with greater force. At minimum, the result would be to stop active fighting that would be the first sign of some kind of settlement, said soldier Dmytro Loviniukov of the 148th Brigade. Right now, thats not happening. And while these talks are taking place, they (the Russians) are only strengthening their positions on the front line. On one artillery position, talk often turns to home. Many Ukrainian soldiers joined the army in the first days of the full-scale invasion, leaving behind civilian jobs. Some thought they would serve only briefly. Others didnt think about the future at all because at that moment, it didnt exist. In the years since, many have been killed. Those who survived are in their fourth year of a grueling war, far removed from the civilian lives they once knew. With mobilization faltering and the war dragging on far longer than expected, there is no one to replace them as the Ukrainian army struggles with recruiting new people. The army cannot also demobilize those who serve without risking the collapse of the front. That is why soldiers wait for even the possibility of a pause in hostilities. When direct talks between Russia and Ukraine were held in Istanbul in May, the soldiers from 148th brigade read the news with cautious hope, said a soldier with the call sign Bronson, who once worked as a tattoo artist. open image in gallery Ukrainian servicemen of the 148th artillery brigade rest in a dugout at the frontline in Zaporizhzhia region, Ukraine, on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Months later, hope has been replaced with dark humor. On the eve of a deadline that U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly gave Russia's Vladimir Putin one that has since vanished from the agenda amid talk of a meeting in Alaska the Russian fire roared every minute for hours. Soldiers joked that the shelling was because the deadline was running out. We are on our land. We have no way back, said the commander of the artillery group, Dmytro Loviniukov. We stand here because there is no choice. No one else will come here to defend us. Dozens of kilometers from Zaporizhzhia region, north to the Donetsk area, heavy fighting grinds on toward Pokrovsk now the epicenter of fighting. Once home to about 60,000 people, the city has been under sustained Russian assault for months. The Russians have formed a pocket around Pokrovsk, though Ukrainian troops still hold the city and street fighting has yet to begin. Reports of Russian saboteurs entering the city started to appear almost daily, but the military says those groups have been neutralized. Ukrainian soldiers of the Spartan brigade push through drills with full intensity, honing their skills for the battlefield in the Pokrovsk area. Everything at the training range, only 45 kilometers (28 miles) from the front, is designed to mirror real combat conditions even the terrain. A thin strip of forest breaks up the vast fields of blooming sunflowers stretching into the distance until the next tree line appears. One of the soldiers training there is a 35-year-old with the call sign Komrad, who joined the military only recently. He says he has no illusions that the war will end soon. My motivation is that there is simply no way back, he said. If you are in the military, you have to fight. If were here, we need to cover our brothers in arms. For Serhii Filimonov, commander of the Da Vinci Wolves battalion of the 59th brigade, the wars end is nowhere in sight, and current news doesnt influence the ongoing struggle to find enough resources to equip the unit that is fighting around Pokrovsk. We are preparing for a long war. We have no illusions that Russia will stop," he said, speaking at his field command post. "There may be a ceasefire, but there will be no peace. open image in gallery A Ukrainian National Guard serviceman of 3rd brigade Spartan runs through a tree line during a training not far from the frontline on Pokrovsk direction, Ukraine, on Friday, August 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka) ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Filimonov dismisses recent talk of exchanging territory or signing agreements as temporary fixes at best. Russia will not abandon its goal of capturing all of Ukraine, he said. They will attack again. The big question is what security guarantees we get and how we hit pause." A soldier with the call sign Mirche from the 68th brigade said that whenever there is a new round of talks, the hostilities intensify around Pokrovsk Russias key priority during this summers campaign. Whenever peace talks begin, "things on the front get terrifying, he said. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice US President Donald Trump has signalled that Ukraine might have to give up territory to end the war with Russia as he prepares to meet Vladimir Putin for peace talks. Announcing the talks with the Russian president, set to take place in Alaska on Friday, Mr Trump said: There will be some swapping of territories. The White House is reportedly trying to sway European leaders to accept an agreement that would include Russia taking the entire Donbas region in eastern Ukraine and keeping Crimea. In exchange, it would give up the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions, areas which Russia is partially occupying, CBS reported. But in a statement on Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky rejected the idea, saying that Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier. A map from ISW shows where Russian forces are currently occupying Ukraine and the most active frontlines ( Institute for the Study of War ) The Wall Street Journal reported that Mr Putin had already proposed a similar land swap agreement to US envoy Steve Witkoff at a meeting in Moscow. Ukraine had previously warned that no peace deal is possible if it is forced to give up territory to Russia, after the US said supporting Kyiv to retake occupied land was unrealistic. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has previously said that we must start by recognising that returning to Ukraines pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective. Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering". The position is markedly different from that of the previous Joe Biden administration, which supported Ukraine in ejecting Russian forces from its land completely. The hardline stance under the Trump regime has already faced backlash, with accusations that the US is betraying Ukraine. On Saturday, European leaders reaffirmed their backing of Ukraine in a joint statement from the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland and the European Commission. Insisting that Ukraine be part of any peace talks, they 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. Russia currently occupies around 20 per cent of Ukraine, including parts of four regions of mainland Ukraine, as well as the Crimean peninsula. Mr Putin first invaded Ukraine in 2014, when he illegally annexed Crimea. It is widely believed he then ordered unmarked soldiers known as little green men to fight on behalf of Russia in the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. In February 2022, he then ordered the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, reportedly hoping to take the country in just three days. After being pushed back from Kyiv and northeastern Ukraine, the latest iteration of Mr Putins land grab focused on the four regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. In September 2022, he illegally annexed these four regions, none of which are completely controlled by Russian forces. He has since repeatedly claimed that he will only agree to end his invasion of Ukraine if Kyiv cedes these four regions to him. Ukraine and the countrys European supporters have suggested this would amount to rewarding Mr Putin for his illegal land grab. Ceding the Donbas region would mean giving up an area with cities and industrial centres, and Ukraine abandoning its defensive line in northern Donetsk. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice An Israeli airstrike killed Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif and four fellow journalists in Gaza City, the broadcaster said. Al-Sharif, 28, one of the TV news channels most prominent voices in Gaza, was killed along with reporter Mohammed Qreiqeh, and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa. The Israeli strike targeted a tent where the journalists were sheltering at the Al Shifa medical complex in Gaza City, hospital director Dr Muhammad Abu Salmiya told The Independent. He said a total of seven people were killed in the attack. "This is my last will and testament, a lengthy heart-breaking statement posted to Al-Sharifs X account after his death read. If these words of mine reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice. Do not forget Gaza, the post concluded. And do not forget me in your sincere prayers for forgiveness and acceptance. The Committee to Protect Journalists, CPJ, warned last month it was gravely concerned for Al-Sharif's safety as he was being "targeted by an Israeli military smear campaign and the unfounded accusations represented an effort to manufacture consent to kill Al-Sharif. Al Jazeera denounced the targeted assassination of its crew as "yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom". open image in gallery Remains of a tent in the Shifa hospital complex where Al-Sharif and his colleagues were killed ( Reuters ) The broadcaster said Israel had killed 10 of its journalists during the war on Gaza so far, including Samer Abudaqqa, Ismael Al-Ghoul, Ahmed Al-Louh, Hossam Shabat and Hamza Dahdouh son of the channels Gaza bureau chief Wael Dahdouh as well as many of the family members of its employees. "Anas Al Sharif and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices in Gaza conveying the tragic reality to the world," Al Jazeera said. Dr Salmiya said the latest Israeli strike damaged a section of the hospital's emergency department. He said his message was to stop the war of extermination on Gaza. Protect medical facilities, medical personnel, and journalists, allow medicine and food into Gaza, and open the crossings, he pleaded. The Israeli military alleged on Sunday Al-Sharif "posed as a journalist", confirming it had targeted and killed him. "Anas al-Sharif served as the head of a terrorist cell in the Hamas terrorist organisation and was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops," the military said. open image in gallery A relative mourns over the body of one of the five Palestinian journalists killed by Israel in December 2024 ( AP ) The CPJ had repeatedly sought the protection of Al-Sharif, noting that he had been a key source of news from Gaza for international audiences since the war began more than 650 days ago and warning that he was at risk of being killed by Israel. A UN expert previously warned that Al-Sharif's life was in danger due to his reporting from Gaza. Special rapporteur Irene Khan said last month Israel's claims against him were unsubstantiated. The CPJ said Israel had failed to provide any evidence to back up its allegations against the slain journalist. Israels pattern of labelling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom, said Sara Qudah, the groups director for the Middle East and North Africa. Ms Qudah warned two weeks ago that the danger to Al-Sharifs life was now acute. Reporters without Borders said Israel had killed more than 200 journalists in Gaza since October 2023, an unprecedented number. The Gaza governments media office said at least 237 journalists had been killed in the war while the CPJ put the number at at least 186. Nearly 70 per cent of the journalists killed globally last year were slain by Israel, the CPJ said. In fact, Israels killing of journalists in Gaza was primarily responsible for making 2024 the deadliest year on record for journalists. open image in gallery Al Jazeera journalist Wael Dahdouh holds the hand of his son who was killed by Israel in Rafah in January 2024 ( AP ) Hamas said the latest killing of journalists could signal the start of an Israeli offensive. "The assassination of journalists and the intimidation of those who remain paves the way for a major crime that the occupation is planning to commit in Gaza City," the Palestinian group said in a statement. The Israeli military targeted and killed the Al Jazeera crew just hours after prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised, at a press conference in Jerusalem, to let some foreign media into Gaza. Mr Netanyahu is facing internal and global uproar for his decision to push through a plan to widen Israels devastating offensive in Gaza, with the aim of imposing full military control on the besieged territory. Some Israelis fear that the plan will endanger the lives of hostages, drag the military into a protracted, unwinnable war, and worsen the humanitarian catastrophe for Palestinian civilians. But, on Sunday, Mr Netanyahu doubled down on the plan. Israel launched a devastating ground and air assault on Gaza and a crippling blockade after around 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage during a Hamas raid in October 2023. Almost 50 hostages and captives remain in Gaza, although less than 30 are thought to still be alive. Israel war has killed more than 61,000 people, destroyed over 90 per cent of the territory, displaced most of its 2.2 million people and caused a widespread famine, according to the Palestinian health ministry and international aid organisations On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Sheltering in tents on the grounds of the Shifa hospital complex in Gaza City, the Al-Jazeera journalists had just bid each other good night. Another day of reporting on the violence, starvation and brutality in their besieged homeland had ground to an end. Fifteen minutes later, Israeli missiles tore through the sky and eviscerated the tent. Anas al-Sharif, 28, one of the news channels most prominent voices in Gaza, was killed alongside reporter Mohammed Qreiqeh and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa. A sixth journalist, a freelance, was killed nearby. Sharif had been intentionally targeted by the Israelis, who accused him of being the head of a Hamas terror cell but offered no credible evidence to back up their claim. There was no explanation for the killing of the other men alongside him. open image in gallery Anas al-Sharif, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, Moamen Aliwa and Mohammed Qreiqeh ( Al Jazeera ) Saed, a Palestinian journalist staying in a nearby tent on the same site, was thrown to the ground by the deafening explosion when the strike hit. I lost consciousness, he told The Independent. Suddenly, my eyes went back to the area, and I saw that the journalists tent had been targeted. Amer, 31, also in the same compound, came rushing out. He described seeing one journalist, injured in the legs and back, screaming for help. Sharif who had faced numerous death threats in the run-up to the strike was lying dead on the ground behind him. His colleague Mohammed Qreiqeh was alive, just about, but on fire. Those around him scrambled to try to extinguish the flames, Amer continued. One man was killed while sitting in a chair, and another was killed inside the journalist tent next to us. It was horrific, he added, visibly shaken. open image in gallery A member of the media inspects the site of an Israeli strike on a tent near Shifa Hospital yesterday ( Reuters ) Shrapnel had sprayed the journalist syndicate tent, killing a sixth journalist who did not work for Al Jazeera, as well as a passer-by. These journalists were the voice and the image of our suffering here in Gaza and now they have become the subject of the stories they were covering, Amer said. Anas expected that he would be targeted at any moment. He accepted the possibility, based on the threats against him. He was reporting to the world what was happening, conveying the images and the massacres being committed in the Gaza Strip. There was no place for him to hide. Sharif had prepared for his death. A lengthy and heartbreaking statement posted to his X (Twitter) account after he was killed read: This is my last will and testament. If these words of mine reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice. The message concluded: Do not forget Gaza... And do not forget me in your sincere prayers for forgiveness and acceptance. Shortly before he was killed, he posted that there was non-stop bombing in the area. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) warned last month that it was gravely concerned for Sharifs safety as he was being targeted by an Israeli military smear campaign, and said that the unfounded accusations represented an effort to manufacture consent to kill al-Sharif. Sara Qudah, the groups director for the Middle East and north Africa, said two weeks ago that the level of danger to al-Sharifs life was now acute. open image in gallery Anas al-Sharif reporting from Gaza ( AP ) A UN expert previously warned that Sharifs life was in danger because of his reporting from Gaza, while special rapporteur Irene Khan said last month that Israels claims against Sharif were unsubstantiated. The Israeli military claimed responsibility for the attack, claiming Sharif was a Hamas militant who was responsible for coordinating rocket attacks. Jodie Ginsberg, the chief executive of the CPJ, said the organisation had yet to see any credible evidence to back Israels allegations against Sharif. Theyve been making this claim for many, many months, most recently in the last couple of weeks following a report that Anas did on starvation in Gaza, in which he cried on air, Ms Ginsberg said. Weve asked for evidence repeatedly from Israel. The journalists deaths were roundly condemned across the world, with Sir Keir Starmers spokesperson saying the prime minister was gravely concerned by the repeated targeting of journalists in Gaza. They added: Reporters covering conflicts are afforded protection under international humanitarian law, and journalists must be able to report independently, without fear, and Israel must ensure journalists can carry out their work safely. open image in gallery Demonstrators hold placards depicting portraits of the late Palestinian journalist Anas al-Sharif as they gather for a vigil to commemorate all journalists killed in Gaza, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in The Hague, on 11 August ( ANP/AFP/Getty ) Al Jazeera Media Network condemned what it called the targeted assassination of Sharif, and said he and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices from within Gaza providing the world with unfiltered, on-the-ground coverage of the devastating realities endured by its people. Omar Shakir, from Human Rights Watch, added: The brazen targeted killing of Palestinian journalists Anas al-Sharif and Mohammad Qreiqeh, along with four other media workers, highlights the unimaginable peril Palestinian journalists in Gaza face, and the Israeli militarys complete disregard for civilian life. As Israel continues to impose a ban on journalists entering Gaza, Palestinian journalists play an indispensable role in documenting and reporting Israels ongoing extermination of Palestinians. Rather than killing voices reporting on its atrocities in Gaza, Israel should stop committing them. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Australia will recognise a Palestinian state, joining the leaders of France, Britain and Canada in signalling they would do so. Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses remarks on Monday followed weeks of internal pressure from within his Cabinet and widespread calls across Australia to recognise a Palestinian state, and amid growing criticism from officials in his government over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Australias government has also criticised plans announced in recent days by Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu for a sweeping new military offensive in Gaza. Albanese told reporters after a Cabinet meeting on Monday that Australias decision to recognise a Palestinian state will be formalised at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The acknowledgement was predicated on commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority, Albanese said. Those commitments included no role for Hamas in a Palestinian government, demilitarisation of Gaza and the holding of elections, he said. open image in gallery Albanese said a two-state solution is the best hope to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza ( AP ) A two-state solution is humanitys best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza, Albanese said. Ahead of Albaneses announcement, Netanyahu on Sunday criticised Australia and other European countries that have moved to recognise a Palestinian state. To have European countries and Australia march into that rabbit hole ... this canard is disappointing and I think its actually shameful, the Israeli leader said. Nearly 150 of the 193 members of the United Nations have already recognised Palestinian statehood, most of them decades ago. The United States and other Western powers have held off, saying Palestinian statehood should be part of a final agreement resolving the decades-old Middle East conflict. Recognition announcements are largely symbolic and are rejected by Israel. open image in gallery Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ( AP ) A two-state solution would see a state of Palestine created alongside Israel in most or all of the occupied West Bank, the war-ravaged Gaza Strip and annexed east Jerusalem, territories Israel seized in the 1967 Mideast war that the Palestinians want for their state. Albanese dismissed suggestions Monday that the move was solely symbolic. This is a practical contribution towards building momentum, he said. This is not Australia acting alone. In neighbouring New Zealand, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Monday that his government will carefully weigh up its position on recognising a Palestinian state before making a formal decision in September. New Zealand has been clear for some time that our recognition of a Palestinian state is a matter of when, not if, Peters said in a statement. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice To get a bag of flour for his starving three children, Nedal AbuSharbi arms himself with a knife to protect against thieves and prepares to be shot by the Israeli military. There is so little food in Gaza in the grip of famine due to a punishing Israeli blockade and the war that lawlessness has taken over around the land crossings where the few aid trucks are able to get in. Now, the desperation is more acute with news that, rather than returning to the negotiating table, Israel is to widen its already devastating offensive and take full military control of the besieged Strip, starting with the remains of Gaza City, where Nedal is sheltering with his family. The father of three, whose youngest is just five months old, describes desperate, hungry crowds surging toward and attacking the few aid convoys that enter via the northern Zikim crossing. Even journalists are being targeted. open image in gallery Displaced Palestinians grab what parcels they can as crowds raid aid trucks in Khan Younis, southern Gaza ( AFP/Getty ) He says the Israeli army opens fire under the pretext of combing the area or shooting to prevent people from gathering outside the buffer zone. The United Nations says more than 1,000 people have been killed trying to receive aid in the enclave in just a few months most of them shot by Israeli forces operating nearby. Even if you can avoid that, the last time he went, he had to let three trucks go by before he was able to, in the suffocating scrum, grab a single bag of flour. My joy was indescribable and I was overwhelmed, he says, with desperation in his voice. But on the way home, three young men Id never seen before came up to me with large knives and one man with a gun. They threatened me: either give them the bag of flour or they would kill me. I left the bag on the ground. I lost hope and fainted because of what had happened. The situation is so dire, he says they call aid convoys death traps and the new Israeli security cabinet plans a deadly game. This is a game of chess controlled by the occupation, and we are the pawns it moves and controls, according to its mood, under the control of snipers and tanks. Israel launched its unprecedented bombardment of Gaza in retaliation for Hamass bloody 7 October 2023 attacks on southern Israel, during which they killed over 1,200 people and took more than 250 captive, according to Israeli estimates. open image in gallery ( Alicja Hagopian/The Independent ) Since then, Israels bombardment has killed more than 61,000 people, according to local officials, destroyed more than 90 per cent of homes, and through a devastating siege sparked a hunger crisis. According to the United Nations, over 86 per cent of Gaza is already an Israeli-militarised zone, under displacement orders or where these orders overlap. The data speaks for itself. Already early this year, over 90 per cent of Gazas housing units were reportedly destroyed as per satellite images. Gaza has been reduced to a wasteland of rubble, with over 87 per cent of the territory declared a war zone forcing people to concentrate in a tiny space, said Tamara Al-Rifai, spokesperson for the UNs Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, the largest UN agency operating in Gaza. After a tense 10-hour Israeli cabinet meeting overnight on Friday, the Israeli security cabinet approved a new plan to intensify its 22-month war with Hamas by taking over Gaza City, issuing evacuation orders for the population to move south with the aim of disarming Hamas and exerting full military control of the 25-mile enclave. The controversial proposal, which has faced resistance even from within the Israeli security establishment, has ignited fears among Palestinian civilians and for Israeli hostages still held in Gaza and sparked renewed international pressure for an end to the conflict. At the weekend, the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Israels plans and issued a joint statement, condemning the move. open image in gallery Palestinians struggle to collect humanitarian aid airdropped by parachutes into Gaza City, northern Gaza, last week ( AP ) In Gaza City the focus of the new offensive Mahmoud Rayhan, 30, who says he had been displaced 20 times already, is praying for a miracle, as his wife is pregnant and he fears the baby will be born in four months into famine and death. Now we are afraid that if we are displaced again, we will never return, he says in desperation. Our homes have been bombed. Life in Gaza has become non-existent. Even the necessities of life are non-existent. There is no clean water, no sanitation, no food, and no shelter. We live in an uninhabitable place. Rafiq Abu-Jared, 54, who is also displaced inside Gaza City, says that when the Israeli military issues forced evacuation orders, he cannot leave as he has no money. It costs over 1,500 shekels [325] to travel south, and then you need tents, tarpaulins, which I dont have. And anyway, if a million of us stuck in the north are forced to flee south again, there will be nowhere for us to go. Manel Odeh, 50, spent a year earlier in the war living in the already overcrowded so-called humanitarian zone of Al-Mawasi in Rafah, where Israel plans to corral most of the 2.3 million-strong population. Even the safe zone isnt safe. I lived for nearly a year in the so-called safe zone there and it has been bombed hundreds of times and evacuated dozens of times. I have been displaced nine times in the south, and each time, I have paid more than $300. Im not moving again, she says. Another concern is widening famine, which the UN-backed hunger monitor the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said is playing out across the strip. Israel denies there is a hunger crisis in Gaza but has eased restrictions on entry of supplies after massive global uproar and pressure, when images of emaciated babies dying of hunger were flooding out of Gaza, and the death toll soared. open image in gallery Children from the Sobh family rest inside their tent at a camp for displaced Palestinians in Gaza City, in July ( AP ) The Israeli military has repeatedly said it is working to improve the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip, alongside the international community, while refuting the false claims of deliberate starvation in Gaza. But UN officials and aid organisations say not enough is getting in. The Palestinian health ministry said that in 24 hours alone, there were 11 further deaths from hunger and acute malnutrition, bringing the total number of deaths to 212, including 90 children. Last Friday, Dr Mohamed Abu Salmiya, the director of Al-Shifa Hospital, said at least six Palestinians were killed and 140 injured by Israeli gunfire trying to, like Nedal, get aid from the Zikim crossing. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. There were also reports of another person crushed to death by a pallet of food landing from the sky over the weekend as countries have been forced to resort to aid drops, despite the fact they are inefficient, at least 40 times more expensive than truck delivery, and can be deadly. The Israeli military claimed over the weekend that more than 106 aid packages were dropped as part of operations by six different countries, including Greece and Italy, which participated in airdrops for the first time since the operation began. For Nedal, air drops are merely a painkiller used to calm us down, and that much of it doesnt get to the most needy, sometimes even landing in the sea. It could land in the sea or on a tent, a house, or in a frontline zone, he says. Theres no fixed location. Sometimes they fall in border areas or remote areas where young men go and then are bombed and killed. open image in gallery Palestinians run towards parachutes carrying aid packages airdropped over northern Gaza Strip ( Reuters ) With Israel greenlighting a renewed offensive and crushing hopes of a ceasefire, there is growing concern these numbers will only rise. Donald Trump, Israels closest ally and largest supplier of weapons, has repeatedly called for a truce. His Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, was sent to meet the prime minister of Qatar which has been hosting talks in Spain to discuss the deal. Mediators from Doha and Cairo are reportedly preparing a new framework that will include the release of all 50 remaining hostages dead and alive in one go, in return for an end to the war in Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Strip. But with Israels new plans, there is little hope. We are living in a deadly game, says Nedal with despair. A game we cannot control. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu was in "denial" about the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza caused by his nearly two-year-long war on the Palestinian territory. Mr Albaneses criticism came a day after he announced Australia would recognise a Palestinian state at next month's UN General Assembly. Australia is the latest member of the G20 after France, the UK and Canada to declare it will recognise a Palestinian state if certain conditions are met. The acknowledgement was predicated on commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority, Mr Albanese said. Those commitments included no role for Hamas in a Palestinian government, demilitarisation of Gaza and the holding of elections, he said. The Israeli leader last week approved a widely criticised plan to occupy Gaza City claiming that he had no choice but to "complete the job" and defeat Hamas. Mr Albanese said Israels reluctance to listen to its allies contributed to Australia's decision to recognise a Palestinian state. He again reiterated to me what he has said publicly as well which is to be in denial about the consequences that are occurring for innocent people," the prime minister told public broadcaster ABC, recounting a Thursday phone call with Mr Netanyahu. Australias decision to recognise a Palestinian state is conditional on commitments received from the Palestinian Authority that Hamas will have no role in any future state. Mr Albanese argued on Monday that a two-state solution was the best hope to break the cycle of violence and end the suffering and starvation in Gaza. Displaced Palestinians carry food parcels from trucks carrying humanitarian aid in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza, on 9 August 2025 ( AFP via Getty ) Mr Netanyahu, addressing a rare press conference, called Australias plan to recognise a Palestinian state "shameful" even before Mr Albanese had publicly announced it. "To have European countries and Australia march into that rabbit hole, just like that, fall right into it and buy this canard is disappointing, and I think it's shameful," he said. "It is not going to change our position. Again, we will not commit national suicide to get a good op-ed for two minutes." Mr Albanese previously seemed wary of dividing public opinion in the country, which has significant Jewish and Muslim minorities, by taking a firm position on the issue of recognising a Palestinian state. But public mood shifted sharply after Israel said it planned to militarily occupy Gaza, prompting tens of thousands of demonstrators to march across Sydney's Harbour Bridge this month and call for sending humanitarian aid into the besieged Palestinian territory. Israels ambassador to Australia on Monday criticised Canberras decision claiming that it undermined Israels security. By recognising a Palestinian state while Hamas continues to kill, kidnap and reject peace, Australia undermines Israels security, derails hostage negotiations, and hands a victory to those who oppose coexistence," Amir Maimon said in a statement. New Zealand this week announced it was considering recognising a Palestinian state and prime minister Christopher Luxons cabinet would make a formal decision in September. New Zealand has been clear for some time that our recognition of a Palestinian state is a matter of when, not if," foreign minister Winston Peters said. Nearly 150 of the 193 members of the UN have already recognised Palestinian statehood, most of them decades ago. The US and other Western countries have held off, saying that Palestinian statehood should be part of a final agreement resolving the Middle East conflict. Israels war and siege on Gaza has killed over 61,400 people thus far, left almost the entire the Palestinian territory in ruins, displaced most of its 2.2 million people and caused widespread starvation, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run Strip and international aid groups. Israel launched a ground and air assault on Gaza after some 1,200 people were killed and 251 abducted during a Hamas attack on southern Israel in October 2023. Most of the hostages have since been freed under ceasefire or other deals, but 50 remain in Gaza. Israel believes around 20 are still alive. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Hundreds of journalists have reportedly been killed in Gaza since the war began on October 7, 2023, making it one of the most deadly conflicts ever for the profession. The latest figures from the UN say that at least 242 Palestinian journalists have died in the nearly two-year conflict. The death toll has continued to mount in recent months as Israels attacks in the war-torn enclave have escalated. On Sunday six journalists, including prominent Al Jazeera correspondent Anas Al Sharif, were killed in an airstrike sparking widespread international condemnation. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says Gaza has the highest number of journalist deaths since the organisation started gathering data in 1992 and in April, Brown Universitys Watson Institute declared the war was quite simply, the worst ever conflict for reporters. open image in gallery Al-Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif reports near the Arab Ahli (Baptist) Hospital in Gaza City on October 10, 2024 ( AFP/Getty ) Al Sharif, 28, was targeted and killed after being accused of leading a Hamas cell and involved in rocket attacks against Israel by the military, claims denied by Al Jazeera. The news agency called the 28-year-old one of Gazas bravest journalists. They condemned the attack as a desperate attempt to silence voices in anticipation of the occupation of Gaza. Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal were named as the other journalists killed in the strike on a tent near Al Shifa Hospital, east of Gaza City, according to Gaza officials and Al Jazeera. On Monday a sixth journalist, Mohammad Al-Khaidi, was reported to have died from the same attack. The Israeli Defence Force posted a statement on X where they claimed that Al-Sharif was a Hamas terrorist posing as an Al Jazeera journalist. Al-Sharif was the head of a Hamas terrorist cell and advanced rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF troops, the statement said. Intelligence and documents from Gaza, including rosters, terrorist training lists and salary records, prove he was a Hamas operative integrated into Al Jazeera. A press badge isnt a shield for terrorism. open image in gallery Al-Ghoul was 27 years old when he was killed ( Al Jazeera ) Israel has previously denied targeting journalists and said it does everything it can to avoid harming civilians. Human rights organisations and news agencies have condemned Israel as the number of journalists killed in Gaza since the war began has steadily increased. In a statement criticising the latest deaths, UN Human Rights said: We condemn the killing by Israeli military of 6 Palestinian journalists by targeting their tent, in grave breach of international humanitarian law. #Israel must respect & protect all civilians, including journalists. At least 242 Palestinian journalists were killed in Gaza since 7 Oct 2023. We call for immediate, safe & unhindered access to Gaza for all journalists. open image in gallery Journalist Hamza Al-Dahdouh , the son of veteran Al Jazeera reporter Wael Al-Dahdouh (second right), was killed in a previous airstrike in 2023 ( Getty Images ) CPJ regional director Sara Qudah said: Israels pattern of labeling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom. Journalists are civilians and must never be targeted. Those responsible for these killings must be held accountable. Early on in the war, Belgian-Palestinian cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa was killed in an Israeli missile strike on a school that also injured Al Jazeera bureau chief Wael Al-Dahdouh on 15 December 2023. Al-Dahdouhs son, journalist Hamza al-Dahdouh, was killed by an airstrike on their vehicle less than a month later on 7 January 2023. The CPJ would later brand Hamza Al-Dahdouhs death a murder. open image in gallery Palestinians inspect the destroyed tent where journalists, were killed by an Israeli airstrike outside the Gaza City's Shifa hospital complex ( Copyright 2025, The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) Abu Daqqas death was submitted to the International Criminal Court as a complaint against Israel over the killing of seven Palestinian journalists. Ismail Al-Ghoul, another Al Jazeera correspondent, died on 31 July 2024 in an Israeli airstrike targeting the Al-Shati refugee camp. The IDF accused Al-Ghoul of taking part in the October 7 attack, which was again disputed by Al Jazeera. Dismissing the claims, a spokesperson for the news outlet said at the time: The network condemns the accusations against its correspondent Ismail Al-Ghoul, without providing any proof, documentation or video. Foreign journalists have been blocked from entering the war-torn strip, which Freedom To Report has denounced as not just a humanitarian blackout, it is an information blackout that undermines the publics right to know and journalisms democratic function to hold power accountable. As criticism mounts, Israel has said it it looking at allowing foreign media into Gaza to verify activities in the war-torn Strip. Ive ordered, directed the military to bring in foreign journalists, more foreign journalists a lot, Benjamin Netanyahu said in the Times of Israel, adding the order went out two days previously and was subject to security considerations to ensure journalist safety. BBC News joined Agence France-Presse (AFP), Associated Press (AP) and Reuters in releasing a statement condemning the starvation of journalists in the strip at the end of July. The full statement read: "We are desperately concerned for our journalists in Gaza, who are increasingly unable to feed themselves and their families. "For many months, these independent journalists have been the world's eyes and ears on the ground in Gaza. They are now facing the same dire circumstances as those they are covering, the news organisations said, adding: "Journalists endure many deprivations and hardships in warzones. We are deeply alarmed that the threat of starvation is now one of them. "We once again urge the Israeli authorities to allow journalists in and out of Gaza. It is essential that adequate food supplies reach the people there." On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Australia will recognise a Palestinian state at next months United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced. It comes after the UK, France and Canada recently announced their plans to recognise Palestine, with Britain saying it would only refrain from doing so if Israel takes urgent steps to end the war. Israel and the US have been critical of the decisions, similarly saying they are a reward for Hamas. Canada, France and Britain were the first major Western powers to put forward plans to recognise a Palestinian state a move that could heap pressure on other allies to do the same. So far, recognition of Palestinian sovereignty has largely been limited to countries in Africa, South America and Asia that have historically been critical of Israel. The history of Palestinian recognition In 1988, the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), the official representative of the Palestinian people, formally declared the establishment of the State of Palestine. In practice, the Palestinians have limited self-government through the Palestinian Authority (PA) in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. The PA lost control of the Gaza Strip to Hamas in 2007. The UN considers both territories as occupied by Israel and comprising a single political entity. Palestinians also want East Jerusalem to be part of a future state. Currently, 147 of the 193 member states of the United Nations recognise the state of Palestine. Palestine has been a non-member observer state of the United Nations General Assembly since November 2012. Last year, the United Nations General Assembly granted Palestine additional rights, including being seated with member states, the right to introduce proposals and participate in committees. It still does not have the right to vote. Which European countries recognise Palestine? open image in gallery Palestinians gather to receive food from a charity kitchen in Gaza ( REUTERS ) In the EU, Sweden, Slovenia, Ireland and Spain are the only members of the bloc so far to have recognised Palestine. Seven EU countries had already taken the step before joining the Union: Bulgaria Cyprus Czech Republic Hungary Romania Poland Slovakia Several other EU members, including Malta and Belgium, have indicated their intention to recognise the state of Palestine. Italys prime minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday that recognising the State of Palestine before it is established could be counterproductive. "If something that doesn't exist is recognised on paper, the problem could appear to be solved when it isn't," Ms Meloni told Italian daily La Repubblica. A German government spokesperson said on Friday that Berlin was not planning to recognise a Palestinian state in the short term and said its priority now is to make "long-overdue progress" towards a two-state solution. G20 recognition open image in gallery Displaced Palestinian mother Samah Matar holds her malnourished son Youssef in Gaza City ( REUTERS ) Among the G20, a group of the worlds major economies, ten countries recognise the state of Palestine. These are: Argentina Brazil China India Indonesia Mexico Russia Saudi Arabia South Africa Turkey Nine countries in the G20, including the UK, USA, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and South Korea do not, though Britain, France, Canada and Australia plan to recognise Palestinian sovereignty in September. The EU, which is counted as an entity of the G20, does not recognise Palestine. Why have G7 countries been reluctant to recognise Palestine? open image in gallery Sir Keir said the UK governments primary aim was getting aid into Gaza and getting hostages released when asked why UK recognition of the state of Palestine was conditional ( PA Wire ) None of the G7 countries the UK, USA, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan currently recognise a Palestinian state. US state department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce suggested a UN conference called to discuss recognising a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution was a publicity stunt and called it a slap in the face to the victims of the October 7 attacks. She also suggested that the UK announcement could risk rewarding Hamas. US President Donald Trump has himself expressed doubts about a two-state solution, proposing a US takeover of Gaza in February. This was condemned by Arab states, Palestinians and the UN as "ethnic cleansing, a claim Israel has rejected. Sir Keir said the UK governments primary aim was getting aid into Gaza and getting hostages released when asked why UK recognition of the state of Palestine was conditional. He added he was particularly concerned that the very idea of a two-state solution is reducing and feels further away today than it has for many, many years. While Sir Keir signalled the UK could back away from recognising a Palestinian state if his conditions are met, No 10 is understood to believe that such a two-state solution would also proceed from negotiations towards a sustained peace. On The Ground newsletter: Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly dispatch from our international correspondents Get a weekly international news dispatch Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice At least one person died and more than a dozen buildings collapsed after a 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck northwestern Turkey's Balikesir province. At least 29 people suffered injuries after the tremor shook the ground at around 7.53pm local time on Sunday, interior minister Ali Yerlikaya said. The earthquake, with its epicentre in the town of Sindirgi, sent shocks that were felt across provinces, including the country's biggest city, Istanbul. Sindirgi is a mountainous town with a population of about 30,000 people. open image in gallery Turkish search and rescue personnel stand next to a collapsed building after an earthquake in Sindirgi ( REUTERS ) Turkish disaster and emergency management agency AFAD said the quake struck at a depth of 11km while the German Research Centre for Geosciences registered its depth at 10km and magnitude at 6.19. An elderly woman died shortly after being pulled out alive from the debris of a collapsed building in Sindirgi, Mr Yerlikaya said. Four other people were rescued from the building. Mr Yerlikaya said a total of 16 buildings collapsed in the region, most of them derelict and unused. Two mosque minarets also tumbled down. open image in gallery Turkish search and rescue personnel work at the site of a collapsed building in Sindirgi ( REUTERS ) Footage showed rescue teams asking for silence so they could listen for signs of life under the rubble as they raced to save people. The AFAD said the earthquake was followed by several aftershocks, including one measuring 4.6, and it urged citizens not to enter damaged buildings. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan wished all affected citizens a speedy recovery. "May God protect our country from any kind of disaster," he said on X. "From the very first moment, all relevant institutions have been mobilised and are taking the necessary steps. We are closely monitoring the efforts." open image in gallery A woman sits near the site of a collapsed building following an earthquake in Sindirgi ( REUTERS ) Turkey sits atop major fault lines and earthquakes are frequent. In 2023, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake killed over 53,000 people and destroyed or damaged hundreds of thousands of buildings in 11 southern and southeastern provinces. Another 6,000 people were killed in neighbouring Syria. In June, a 14-year-old child died in the resort town of Fethiye after a 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck near the popular holiday destination of Rhodes. In April, at least 236 people were injured after jumping from buildings in panic following a 6.2-magnitude earthquake that struck Istanbul. Many residents were forced to spend the night outdoors after powerful aftershocks. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice The annual Perseid meteor shower peaks tonight, delivering 2025s biggest display of shooting stars. Taking place every August, the Perseids are renowned for the bright, fast meteors that produce long tails as they burn up in the Earths atmosphere at speeds of up to 60 kilometres (37 miles) per second. This year, a full Moon on the 9 August could impact visibility of some of the smaller meteors as the Perseid meteor shower reaches its peak. Heres a full guide to best catch a glimpse of the Perseids this week. When does the 2025 Perseid meteor shower peak? The 2025 Perseids began to appear on 17 July and will continue until 24 August, however the best display of shooting stars will be during the peak on the night of 12-13 August. Between 60-100 meteors will appear every hour under perfect conditions, with the highest intensity taking place just after 3am on Wednesday morning. This years Perseids display takes place during a waning gibbous Moon with around 80 per cent illumination, which could interfere with views of fainter meteors. open image in gallery The full moon on 9-10 August will occur just as the annual Perseid meteor shower is reaching its peak ( Getty/iStock ) The natural light pollution produced by the Moon means the number of Perseid meteors observable with the naked eye will likely be significantly reduced, however the brightest ones will still shine through. How to see the Perseid meteor shower The Perseid meteor shower radiates from the constellation Perseus in the north east of the nights sky. The best way for casual observers to locate the Perseus constellation is through a smartphone astronomy app, though for meteor showers just looking up should be enough to see the shooting stars. Avoiding light pollution is key, so head away from street lights to a wide open space with clear views. As the Moon continues to wane throughout the week, its light will dim and the Perseids will be easier to see. Where is the best place to watch the Perseids? The Perseid meteor shower can be seen from anywhere in the northern hemisphere, with Perseus climbing high in the night sky. Some of the shooting stars can also be seen from the Southern Hemisphere, however the radiant is lower in the sky and therefore more easily obstructed by objects on the horizon. The latest forecast from the UK Met Office suggests that large parts of the UK and Ireland will have clear skies on Tuesday night. open image in gallery The weather forecast for 3am on 13 August, 2025, suggests there will be good views of the Perseid meteor shower throughout large parts of the UK ( Met Office ) The Midlands and northern parts of England and Wales have minimal cloud cover, while most of central and eastern Ireland is also clear. What is the Perseid meteor shower? The annual Perseid meteor shower occurs when the comet Swift-Tuttle approaches the Sun, releasing a dust trail. As Earths orbit crosses this cosmic dust, it burns up in the atmosphere to create what appear to be shooting stars that streak across the sky. open image in gallery The 2025 Perseid meteor shower is set to peak on the night of 12-13 August, producing up to 100 shooting stars per hour in ideal conditions ( Getty/iStock ) The European Space Agency describes the Perseids as natural fireworks that have been a regular feature of Earths sky for millennia. It provides a fabulous spectacle for viewers on Earth, the ESA said in an infographic on the phenomenon. The Perseid meteor shower gets its name from the constellation Perseus, from where the shooting stars seem to come. Anyone unable to witness the Perseids this August will get another chance next year and every year after that. A burst water main has flooded several Islington streets with dozens of residents evacuated from their homes. Around 30 people were evacuated from their properties in Canonbury Street, Essex Road, Elmore Street, Halliford Street and Ecclesbourne Road in Islington on Sunday evening (10 July). Disruption is expected to continue into Monday. A spokesperson for the London Fire Brigade said: Ten fire engines and around 70 firefighters are dealing with flooding in the area around Canonbury Street in Islington. A 36-inch burst water main has caused flooding up to a depth of around 40cm of water. Families of Israeli and Palestinian hostages have made a desperate plea to end the war in Gaza, saying Benjamin Netanyahus push for military expansion is worsening the suffering of those held captive. The Israeli prime minister declared Israel has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas, as he addressed foreign media in Jerusalem at the weekend. Defending a planned military offensive, Mr Netanyahu asserted that our goal is not to occupy Gaza, our goal is to free Gaza. Speaking during a demonstration in Tel Aviv (9 August), Lishay Miran-Lavi, wife of hostage Omri Miran said: Every invasion, every bullet, every airstrike could cost him his life. The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Sometimes, you see something and you know it just doesnt feel right. Watching the hundreds of Palestine Action protestors being arrested for doing nothing more than holding up a placard is, rightly, uncomfortable. About half of those arrested and carried off by unhappy-looking police officers at Saturdays event in Parliament Square who have already been dubbed march martyrs were over 60. Of course, people of that age can be dangerous in all sorts of ways, not least, to themselves, but they do not, by and large, make for ideal terrorists. Calling them such, and detaining them under Section 12 of the Terrorism Act 2000, feels absurd. Its just too heavy-handed and inappropriate. If it happened in Russia, say, to some dissidents calling for a ceasefire in Ukraine, wed be hopping mad about it. Because it happens here, and the bobbies are doing it, and, to be fair, as gently as they could to some slightly frail individuals, there seems to be less of an outcry. Yet were supposed to be the free nation. In Trumps America, it could happen but at least theyd have a constitutional safeguard: the First Amendment, an inviolable law. The British have the 1998 Human Rights Act, and the European Convention on Human Rights, which the Tories and Reform UK would probably scrap. Its frankly ridiculous, as well as pathetic and offensive, that Jonathon Porritt, the well-known environmental campaigner and former adviser to King Charles, is at risk of acquiring a criminal record because he supports Palestine Action. Or, rather, has the audacity to wave a piece of cardboard around stating such. However, perhaps the most extraordinary case is that of Alice Oswald. At 58, shes on the young side, but this former Oxford professor of poetry and winner of the TS Eliot Prize can be nobodys idea of an Islamist hate-preacher. Anything but. She is, however, as youd expect, a perceptive observer: Clearly, there were some police officers who were really struggling with what they had to do, she said. You could see the slightly shifty look on their faces, too. When I was speaking to them in the police van, I did say: Write to Yvette Cooper and tell her that this is making your life impossible. I hope they do at least make their feelings known to their more senior officers. It does at least defeat the myth that we have two-tier policing the police once again arresting people on the pro-Palestinian side and upholding the rule of law, even if its not a particularly good law. One defect in its present application is to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation with insufficient evidence for it. They certainly use force and violence against property, and have done some serious damage to RAF aircraft when they virtually strolled into a lightly fenced-off base in Oxfordshire. But is that terror? It is not the same as blowing up a Tube train or a shopping centre, or equivalent to the atrocities committed by Hamas on 7 October 2023. Being a supporter of Palestine Action doesnt automatically make you a Hamas supporter. There should be some special category of offence regarding groups who sabotage equipment essential to the defence of the realm, like the old law that made arson in a naval dockyard punishable by hanging. The authorities mumble about Palestine Action having a dark side that cant be disclosed for security reasons, but that doesnt sound like its convincing enough to justify putting a poetry professor in a cell. The wider question is, of course, free speech, which for some reason seems to have become the preserve of the radical Right. In other words, if someone actually wants to wander around a city or go on a march with the message I Support Hamas, or an Isis flag, or some IRA banner, should they be at liberty to do so? Should they be allowed to write that online, in a newspaper, or say it out loud on radio or television? What about the terrorists political spokespeople? Back in the 1980s, we had a situation where Mrs Thatcher decided that the IRA should not be given the oxygen of publicity, and so Gerry Adams could be seen but not heard on the Nine OClock News after some murderous attack, with the reporter stating what he was saying (or, as if in parody, an actor voicing the words in a Gerry Adams Irish accent). I dont have an answer to this, except to resort to that notion of what feels right and wrong. A recruitment stall for Isis on a high street dishing out hateful antisemitic propaganda feels wrong, and dangerous. So, too, would an extreme right-wing patriotic group dishing out ugly Islamophobic material, inciting hatred. We have public order laws preventing such things. But taking someone off the street for holding up a copy of a quip from Private Eye cant be right. For the record, it was this: Unacceptable Palestine Action: spraying military planes with paint. Acceptable Palestine Action: Shooting Palestinians queuing for food. There. Ive said it, too. Should I now expect to be arrested? And if not, why not? Im fashionably old enough, you know. Steve Dempsey: Big Tech bleating about EU AI rules little more than a fear of a basic level of oversight and respect for copyright When it comes to a technology that might take all our jobs or wipe us all out depending on who you talk to maybe a bit of technocratic oversight isnt a bad thing? Maybe all the artists and creators who warned about favouring Big Tech capital over copyright aren't just protecting their own livelihoods. They're doing us all a favour Steve Dempsey Sun 10 Aug 2025 at 06:30 Theres a lot of AI legislative and regulatory activity these days. The EU has its AI act, the UK has its Data (Use and Access) Bill, and the US has its AI action plan. Eddie Punch: Officials must listen to farmers and stop telling us how to handle our cattle Lifelong farming experience is being discounted by EU leaders and politicians, as well as by inspectors and advisors 'The farmer who has been managing livestock for 40 years hadnt used the stick but that didnt make any difference to the over-zealous official'. Photo: Getty Eddie Punch Mon 11 Aug 2025 at 08:11 The other day I was talking to a farmer who was fuming because a young Department official had chastised him for being in possession of a stick, presumably because the said item was considered inappropriate in the handling of livestock. Buying weight-loss drugs and other medicines online a disaster waiting to happen Seizures of fake weight-loss drugs rose from 568 units in 2023 to 1,582 last year There has been a 14pc increase in the seizure of illegal medicines in a year. Stock photo Laura Lynott Mon 11 Aug 2025 at 06:30 Pharmacists across Ireland are warning people over the increase of counterfeit medicines being sold online, saying it is a potential disaster waiting to happen. How Irish orphan Nicholas Rossi created lies of a childhood in Dublin and faked his own death, but is finally facing justice in the US What we went through was horrific families angry after Swiss clinic helped Irish woman to die in secret despite its promises After the death of Alastair Hamilton at Pegasos in 2023, the clinic vowed it would contact loved ones in future, then the same thing happened to the relatives of Anne Canning and Maureen Slough Two families whose loved ones ended their lives at a Swiss clinic in secret have said they are heartbroken that another family has been put through a similar ordeal Conor Feehan Mon 11 Aug 2025 at 06:30 Two families whose loved ones ended their lives at a Swiss clinic in secret have said they are heartbroken that another family has been put through a similar ordeal. LIVE | Killing of Al Jazeera staff in Gaza silencing journalistic voices, says Tanaiste Simon Harris Journalist Anas Al Sharif posted on X minutes before his death, Al Jazeera says he was one of Gaza's bravest journalistsTanaiste to warn this week is pivotal moment for Gaza and Ukraine as EU ministers meet before Trump-Putin summitAustralia to recognise Palestinian state at United Nations in September Journalist Anas al-Sharif (Photo: Al Jazeera) Simon Harris comments after India Day in Ireland postponed following spate of attacks on community Tougher consequences for teenagers who are involved in serious crimes like assault are needed, Tanaiste Simon Harris has said. Mr Harris was speaking after his meeting with representatives from the Indian community this afternoon, which took place after a spate of violent attacks on a number of those from the community. LATEST | Man killed in Downpatrick named and priest remains in hospital after brutal attack that police believe may be linked Dark cloud over Downpatrick after the killing of Stephen BranniganFr John Murray, who was due to retire this week, sustained a very serious head injury in what is believed to be a linked attack St Patrick's Church, St Patricks Avenue, Downpatrick. Inset: Fr John Murray Gabrielle Swan and Adrianna Wrona Mon 11 Aug 2025 at 12:40 A man in his 50s killed in Downpatrick over the weekend has been named locally as Stephen Brannigan. Members of the Apprentice Boys appearing to urinate in the Culmore Road area of the city. The Apprentice Boys of Derry have issued an apology after an image surfaced of what appears to be members of the group urinating near homes in the city during a parade on Saturday. PSNI believes suspected murder and brutal attack on Downpatrick priest may be linked Cleric was struck over the head with a bottle as he was about to say his final massMan (30) arrested on suspicion of murder and taken into police custodyVictim of suspected murder in 60s believed to have been stabbed Fr John Murray (above) was attacked just before he was about to say his final mass at St Patricks Church in Downpatrick. Photo: Pacemaker Clodagh Traynor Mon 11 Aug 2025 at 06:30 A Co Down community has been left devastated after police launched an investigation into a suspected murder they believe may be linked to a brutal attack on a priest shortly afterwards. Two families whose loved ones ended their lives at a Swiss clinic in secret have said they are heartbroken that another family has been put through a similar ordeal Two families whose loved ones ended their lives at a Swiss clinic in secret have said they are heartbroken that another family has been put through a similar ordeal Darragh Kelly Mon 11 Aug 2025 at 07:47 Two families whose loved ones ended their lives at a Swiss clinic in secret have said they are heartbroken that another family has been put through a similar ordeal. The different kinds of jellyfish in Irish waters when to look out for them and how to treat stings Summer is nearly over but there is still plenty to look forward to over the next three weekends across the country with a number of food festivals scheduled to take place from big grills to all things crisps. Here are seven festivals not to be missed! Cork on a Fork Cork on a Fork will take place from Wednesday, August 13 through to Sunday, August 17, 2025. The festival celebrates Corks unique food scene and everything the rebel county has to offer from Atlantic seafood to spice beef to artisan cheeses and more. Almost 100 events will take place in Cork city over the course of this week from street events to chef collaborations and cooking demonstrations as well bite-sized talks and plenty of fun for all the family. Some Corks top-rated restaurants, cafes, pubs and artisan producers are set to join the festivities to create a thriving outdoor dining scene over the course of five days. Taste of Kildare Today's News in 90 seconds - 11th August 2025 The Big Grill Festival Dublin Kicking off on Thursday, August 14 until Sunday, August 17, 2025, Europes biggest live-fire food and BBQ festival The Big Grill Festival, Dublin promises something for everyone from craft beers and cocktail bars to live music and the best in the BBQ business from all over the world. Big Grill 2025 promo Taste of Kildare For two days only, Taste of Kildare will take place at Naas Racecourse from Saturday, August 16 until Sunday, August 17 bringing all the county has to offer to one venue. Attendees will get to taste the best Kildare food producers have to offer from oysters to craft beers washed down with live music and cooking demos from those in the know to take home a little piece of vibrant food scene to your own kitchen. Taste of Kildare Monaghan Street Food Festival It is that time of year again when Monaghan town transforms into the ultimate foodies dream with bustling stalls with aromas and flavours for the Monaghan Street Food Festival on Saturday, August 23, 2025 The festival will showcase all Monaghan has to offer from artisan meats and cheese to delectable desserts as well as handmade goods such as jewellery and pottery. There will also be cooking demos delivered by the best local chefs and live music to add to the buzzing atmosphere on the day. Dalkey Lobster Festival From Saturday, August 23 to Sunday August 24, Dalkey Lobster Festival will have something for everyone from live music to face-painting for children and of course Cuisine de Dalkey offering up a storm of lobster rolls, paella, seafood chowder, crab claws and more. Dalkey Lobster Festival promo The Tramyard Village is also back this year for the festival with market stalls bursting vintage clothing, art and jewellery. The Eatyard Crisp Festival Dublin Sometimes simple is better and that is certainly the case with the Eatyard Crisp Festival taking place from Friday, August 29 to Sunday, August 31 in Drumcondra, Dublin. The humble crisp is being celebrated in all it glory in a variety of different ways from crisp tasting menus and crisp and pint deals to a DIY crisp sambo making competition sure to put crisp connoisseurs through their paces. The Eatyard Crisp Festival 2025 promo There will also be a Crispy Quiz and blind crisp tasting competition on the day followed by live music from DJs, bands and entertainers. West Cork Food Festival Closing out the last Sunday of the summer, West Cork Food Festival will make its debut on August 31 in Skibbereen to celebrate local culinary artists and give the public a taste of a variety of different street food, cheeses, fermented kombucha and much more. This new event will take place right in the heart of Skibbereen in the Old Mart Yard Car Park transforming it into a hub of activity and a culinary celebration of the regions finest artisans, food innovators and producers who put Cork on the foodie map. Less than three hours from Dublin, this quirky European city is affordable and charming. Just make sure to pronounce it correctly! Qatar Airways economy class review: Whats it like to from Dublin Airport to Doha? Qatar Airways flies twice daily from Dublin Airport. So what is its economy class like? A Qatar Airways Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Photo: Getty Jamie Ball Thu 24 Jul 2025 at 06:30 Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways all fly from Dublin to their hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha respectively. So how does the Qatar option stack up? Max Boot: Donald Trumps proposed Alaska meeting with Vladimir Putin has echoes of the 1938 Munich Agreement US president needs to follow through on sanctions threats against Russia instead, hes giving Russia more time to play with in its war on Ukraine US president Donald Trump and Russia's president Vladimir Putin talk at the APEC Summit in Danang, Vietnam, in 2017. Photo: Jorge Silva/File Photo Max Boot Washington Post Mon 11 Aug 2025 at 06:30 US president Donald Trumps unhealthy obsession with winning the Nobel Peace Prize has driven him to make a series of rash decisions in pursuit of ending the war in Ukraine. The latest example is the scheduling of a premature summit with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in Alaska an abject lesson in how not to do diplomacy. Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky was not the only one alarmed at news that US president Donald Trump was going to sit down with Vladimir Putin and that parts of his country would likely be swapped. Naoise Dolan: Ive fasted, protested and donated for Gaza and none of it is enough What Palestinians need above all is a sane international response to genocide. As long as they keep fighting, so will we Palestinians run towards parachutes carrying aid packages in Gaza. Photo: Reuters Naoise Dolan Sun 10 Aug 2025 at 06:30 At this point, it feels like a waste of ink telling Irish people that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza. Even our Taoiseach agrees, though God forbid he actually sanction them over it. A new TFI Local Link Cork Route 530 will be introduced between Fermoy and Mallow from Monday, August 18. This new route is part of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan which is a major national public transport initiative developed and funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the Transport for Ireland (TFI) Network. Route 530 will support the current door-to-door service between Mallow and Fermoy offering passengers more ways to travel. It will operate seven daily return services Monday to Sunday with an additional early morning service operating from Monday to Saturday. The new route will provide peak-time and evening services. It will also improve connectivity to Mallow Train Station to facilitate onward travel, regional bus services and to the villages and areas of Ballyhooly, Castletownroche and Killavullen. Fianna Fail councillor Gearoid Murphy said the new service will provide a big boost for people travelling in north Cork. I am delighted to welcome the new service, which will more than triple the number of buses running between Mallow and Fermoy on a daily basis. Up until now, there have been only two buses per day, and none at all on weekends, so this will be a dramatic improvement to the service. This will be a big boost for people travelling between Mallow, Killavullen, Castletownroche, Ballyhooly and Fermoy." Cllr Murphy continued: This new service will also be particularly useful for residents of the College Wood estate in Mallow, as it will provide eight buses per day between the front of the estate and Mallow town centre, with onward connectivity to Mallow Train Station." TFI Local Link Cork General Manager David OBrien said TFI Local Link Cork recognises that localised transport solutions are an essential component in combating rural isolation. This new service will provide people living along the route with access to services and onward connections on a daily basis. The enhanced service will mean a significant improvement in the quality of life for people living in these areas. People can now access a wide range of public and social services, training courses, colleges, hospital appointments, supported with bus and rail onward connections, he added. It was recently revealed that the number of customers using the TFI Local Link services in Cork has quadrupled since the rollout of Connecting Ireland in 2022. Journey numbers have reached a record high, with people now using TFI Local Link bus services more than 100,000 times a week across rural Ireland. This figures includes 5,365 passengers in Cork. These bus services are provided for the National Transport Authority (NTA) by 15 Local Link offices around the country. In Cork alone, passenger numbers have surged, driven by the introduction or enhancement of four key routes. These include: Route 523: Mitchelstown to Mallow, Route 232: Allihies to Kilcrohane and Route 522: Charleville to Mallow. For route and more timetable information, visit www.locallinkcork.ie Rush residents say new road cutting through cul-de-sac is an accident waiting to happen The rerouting of a new road through a quiet residential estate in north county Dublin has sparked anger and fear among residents, with some warning it is an accident waiting to happen. The plans involve redirecting traffic in Rush through a quiet estate off the towns main street, rather than using an alternative access point on Skerries Road, currently being used for the construction of a new development. Brookfield Park residents said they have no objection against more housing in the area, and their issue lies with the access point being created in their cul-de-sac. It has sparked fears over increased traffic, safety risks for vulnerable residents, and a loss of the estates quiet community atmosphere. The new development, Aster Park, involves the construction of approximately 60 houses adjacent to the existing Brookfield estate, just off Rush Main Street. Following revisions and assessments, An Coimisiun Pleanala granted permission with revised conditions in July 2023, endorsing the access arrangements that now include the controversial route through Brookfield estate. Originally, planning applications indicated the main access would be via Skerries Road. Under the new proposals, a road is to be built at the rear of Brookfield Park to provide access to around 60 new homes in Aster Park. Ciara Harte Hughes with fellow residents of Brookfield Park in Rush, where a new access road will cut through their estate. Pic: Gerry Mooney This change means more traffic will inevitably use the already busy main street, as residents from both the existing Brookfield Park and the new development will have to enter and exit via this route. The changes also mean an existing wall in the Brookfield estate will now need to be knocked down, which happens to run adjacent to a care home. The new plan has met with strong opposition from local residents, community groups, and elected representatives. Despite petitions with over 1,600 signatures and objections from local councillors, Fingal County Council has moved forward with the revised plans. The decision has left many feeling ignored and concerned about the potential impacts on their homes and safety. Angela Byrne, whose nephew is one of the residents of the care home in the cul-de-sac, described the significant safety concerns arising from increased traffic through the estate. The home currently houses four vulnerable adults who require 24-hour staff support. Ms Byrne highlighted how the estates cul-de-sac location provides a safe environment for residents like her nephew, who has limited road sense and relies on the quiet roads to navigate safely. Brookfield is just not fit for the kind of traffic thats going to be coming through, she said. From my perspective, we chose that house because it was safe, but now its not safe anymore. There are no traffic lights, no pedestrian crossings. Its an accident waiting to happen, she added. Ms Byrne warned that without proper traffic management, accidents involving vulnerable residents are inevitable. My nephew lives there, and Im the one who has to deal with the consequences if he gets knocked down, she said. The concerns are echoed by other Brookfield residents, including Ciara Harte Hughes, who moved into the estate with her husband and young children in 2020. The main reason we bought here was because we had kids and wanted the green, that space where you can see them playing and feel safe, she said. Everyone is against it, but its gone to Fingal, and its still decided to go ahead. She also expressed fears that the estates green spaces could be lost if roads are widened to accommodate new traffic volumes. We have a green in the front here. With all the extra traffic, is it going to be decided that our little road needs to be widened? Are we going to lose some of our green, lose some trees? Concerned Brookfield residents say the new road is an 'accident waiting to happen'. Pic: Gerry Mooney Another worry for residents is that Brookfield Park could become a rat-run if the original access on Skerries Road is eventually opened, which would mean people could bypass the main street. Theres no plan for it to be a cut-through, but the fear is that it will become one and people will use it to dodge main street traffic, Ms Harte Hughes said. Eimear Brogan, who has been living in Brookfield Park for 22 years, feels the way the issue has been handled has been absolutely disgraceful. Theres been no consultation with any of the residents or the Residents Association, which Im part of, she said. We couldnt even get a meeting. When it went for planning, we asked if we could appeal, and straight away we were shut down. There has been no consultation throughout the whole process, she added. One of the biggest concerns for Ms Brogan and her neighbours is the change in the developments entrance point. When the development went in for the original planning permission, the entrance was supposed to be out onto the Skerries Road, she said. But now, suddenly, thats changed to come back in through here, putting further congestion onto a junction on the main street which is already rammed with traffic daily. Somebodys going to get killed on that junction because trying to get out onto the main street is absolutely crazy, she added. She described the daily dangers faced by residents, especially during peak times. It can take anything up to 10-15 minutes to get out of here, especially with school traffic, she said. My biggest fear is that a child could get killed at that junction. Its lethal. Despite this local opposition, Fingal County Council has proceeded with the project, citing broader infrastructure and development needs. A spokesperson said that all matters relating to the site access were subject to a detailed and comprehensive assessment by Fingal County Council. As part of this process, the council reviewed access arrangements to the site, including their potential impacts on traffic safety and the surrounding road network, they said. Following this assessment, the council determined that the proposals met the necessary planning and design requirements. This decision was then subject to a full appeal and further independent review by An Bord Pleanala. An Bord Pleanala (ABP) once again examined all aspects of the development, including the proposed road access arrangements. This entailed a review of submissions from third parties and prescribed bodies, along with the planning authoritys report and the developers supporting documentation. After careful consideration, ABP granted permission for the development, thereby endorsing the access arrangements as submitted and assessed during the planning process, they added. Fingal said Ballymore, the developer of Aster Park, is now legally required to implement the development strictly in accordance with the permission granted. Fingal County Council fully expects the development will be carried out in accordance with the approved scheme, and any works undertaken outside of this permission would be subject to enforcement action, if necessary, they added. A spokesperson for the Ballymore group, said it had proposed an alternative access road as agreed with local residents to Fingal County Council. At the subsequent pre-planning meeting held with the Local Authority to discuss the proposed route, FCC advised that they, along with An Bord Pleanala, were entirely satisfied with the permitted access arrangements for the development, they said. Ballymore will continue to work with the local residents regarding access to the development. In the meantime, and to enable purchasers to move into their homes on time, the permitted access route is under construction, they added. The installation of the waste compactors follows the decision to ban plastic bags for rubbish collections in the south inner city Dublin City Council has confirmed plans to install two large waste compactors in Grafton Street and Temple Bar in the coming weeks. The initiative, initially proposed as a pilot programme in February, aims to reduce street clutter and improve waste management in busy pedestrian areas. The locations of the compactors are set to be Fownes Street in Temple Bar, and the top of Grafton Street, opposite the Benetton shop near St Stephens Green. The waste management systems each 5 metres long and nearly 2.5 metres high will have the capacity for 600 large waste sacks. They are expected to be fully operational by the first week of September. The move follows the ban of plastic refuse sacks on 90 streets in the south inner city from January 1 this year. The change aims to address litter caused by vermin and seagulls tearing open plastic bags, with the issue exacerbated by the deposit return scheme. The waste compactors will operate by businesses purchasing a bag from their waste collector, going to the compactor, and receiving a code to open the drum. The bag will be weighed, and the user will receive a bill. A council spokesperson previously confirmed that the compactors would be maintained by waste companies and emptied once a night between the hours of 4am and 6am. Legislation introduced in 2016 made the use of bins mandatory instead of refuse sacks. However, thousands of Dublin residents and businesses were granted exemptions due to their properties being unsuitable for wheelie bins. According to the anti-litter group Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL), the move to introduce these waste compactors is a welcome one. Conor Horgan of IBAL said their introduction will be a gamechanger, and it is something which his campaign group has been calling for for years. Theyre part of the solution to rid our city of collection by bags. We welcome the fact this has kicked off now, but it should never have been allowed to happen, he said. Were constantly seeing in our reports how vermin are attacking bags with greater frequency than in the past. Its not always that you have an opportunity to clean up a city. We feel this is an opportunity. This really is the missing link. However, Mr Horgan added that Temple Bar and St Stephens Green are not among the areas worst affected by litter, and there is a much greater problem in the north-inner city. We are not seeing vast amounts of litter in Temple Bar or in Grafton Street. The north-inner city in particular is the problem area at the moment, he said. Were tired of banging on about it for over a decade now, this has the potential to change that environment there. That would be great for the people living there, or for tourists who wander there. Carrie Dolan, left, and Aoife Donohue of Galway with The O'Duffy Cup after the Glen Dimplex All-Ireland Senior Camogie Championship final match between Cork and Galway at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile Galway will welcome back its heroic All-Ireland winning camogie team with several celebrations across the county after their last-gasp victory over Cork at Croke Park. The Tribeswomen clinched their fifth title in dramatic fashion on Sunday after captain Carrie Dolan scored the winning point in injury time to seal a 1-14 to 1-13 victory. Following the victory, towns across the county are preparing celebrations to mark the return of the ODuffy Cup to Galway for the first time since 2021. The team will depart the Bonnington Hotel in Dublin at approximately 1pm before heading through Athlone at around 3pm. After departing Athlone, the team will head to Duggan Park in Ballinasloe for 5.30pm. The final stop of the day will be at Paddy Burkes in Clarinbridge at 8.30pm where the celebrations will continue. Are you attending the homecoming and want to be featured in our gallery? Then submit you photos or videos through the form below! Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon has chronicled her visit to Ireland as she shared her favourite spots during her trip around the Emerald Isle this week. The actress made her way around the country over the past month, stopping at several iconic areas including the Aran Islands and Bunratty in the west. The And Just Like That star was joined by her family for the holiday including her partner Christine and son Max, as the trio trailed through some of Irelands most loved gems. In a video shared on her social media, Cynthia said that she visited Inis Mor, which she was able to explore via e-bike. She also visited Bunratty Castle and Crag Cave, as well as Connemara and Skellig Castle. She appeared to be particularly taken with the faerie houses found in Kerry. Shes not the only star to have visited Ireland in the past few weeks. Actress and author Roma Downey, who has a star on the Hollywood walk of fame, was seen out west last week as she visited Connemara gems Kylemore Abbey and The Clifden Bookshop. Roma, who was born in Co. Derry, is best known for playing the lead role in the American TV series Touched By An Angel, for which she received two Emmy Award nominations and two Golden Globe nominations. The series lasted nine years, from 1994 to 2003 and brought Roma fame and success, earning her an OBE for her services to the arts, drama, and the community. The 56-year-old was evidently delighted to be in Galway as she shared snaps of her time exploring the Connemara countryside on social media. Posting photos of Kylemore Abbey as well as nearby donkeys, she captioned it: A trip to Ireland wouldnt be complete without a visit to the beautiful and magical Kylemore Abbey! Meanwhile The Clifden Bookshop was excited to meet the star as she called into their store on Monday, August 6. Sharing a photo on their social media they said: It was a real delight to meet renowned actress, producer and author Roma Downey in the shop yesterday. While she may be known to many from her lead role in the hit CBS show Touched by an Angel, Roma also has many other strings to her bow and her beautiful books offer positive affirmations and lots of inspiring content. Kingsbridge Private Hospital is offering patients from Leitrim access to world-class cross-border medical treatment through the Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme (NIPHS), formerly the Cross Border Healthcare Directive. ROI patients can now access world-class medical care with minimal waiting times and 100% of the medical costs reimbursed by the HSE on hip replacements, knee replacements, ACLs, hysterectomies, gall bladder procedures and other surgeries, with partial reimbursement available on a range of additional procedures. Patients do not need to be on a waiting list to access treatment via the NIPHS. Cross Border Healthcare Public Drop-In Information Talks will be taking place at The Landmark Hotel, Carrick on Shannon on Tuesday 12th August (10am - 6pm) There will be a group presentation at 2pm on Tuesday 12 with one-to-one sessions throughout the day. Amongst the issues which will be addressed are: How to apply for Cross Border Healthcare Treatment at Kingsbridge Private Hospital in Belfast or Ballykelly The types of treatments and surgeries that qualify Treatment costs and reimbursement rates including fully reimbursed surgeries# What to expect when travelling to Kingsbridge Hospitals for treatment Kingsbridge-commissioned research highlights a significant lack of awareness among ROI residents: 66% of Leitrim residents have never heard of the NIPHS (compared to 69% of ROI responders have never heard of the NIPHS) 33% of people from Leitrim are unaware of any cross-border treatment options (compared to 54% of ROI responders who are unaware of any cross-border treatment options) This data shows a major gap in awareness around cross-border healthcare, said Mark Regan, CEO of Kingsbridge Healthcare Group. With long waiting lists still a challenge in the Republic, were committed to educating patients about how they can access timely, high-quality care at Kingsbridge, fully covered under the NIPHS. We know this will literally change people's lives - we see it firsthand. Over the last three months, weve had patients in all our hospitals from every county in Ireland. Theres no need for patients to fly to Europe for treatment when access to high-quality care is just up the road. Kingsbridge is launching a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of this accessible, high-quality healthcare option. With cross-border hospitals located in Belfast and Derry, Kingsbridge combines state-of-the-art medical facilities with clinical expertise, delivering a seamless and stress-free patient experience, whether patients are in need of orthopaedic surgery, diagnostics, urology, ENT or general surgery. Additional funding is welcomed by local politicians Sligo County Council has an additional 320,000 to spend on local roads. 321,645 has been allocated to Sligo County Council to upgrade rural roads and laneways. The additional funding has been welcomed by a number of local public representatives. Deputy Frank Feighan said the investment would improve access to rural homes, farms, and outdoor amenities as part of the Local Improvement Scheme. Its great to see 321,645 allocated to Sligo County Council for rural road improvements. We all know a road or laneway across the county that is in real need of an upgrade. The Local Improvement Scheme is designed to support the continued improvement of non-public roads in rural communities and improves access to rural homes and farms, as well as outdoor amenities such as our lakes, rivers, mountains, and beaches. Across the country there is an additional 14 million for the scheme, bringing the total to 30 million available to our local authorities this year. This represents the highest annual funding level since the scheme was re-introduced. We are dedicated to improving connectivity for rural residents whether it be access to homes, farms, or outdoor amenities. Under this scheme Sligo County Council are responsible for identifying and prioritising roads for improvement works in Sligo in consultation with residents and landowners, and the work must be completed by the end of the year. Eligible roads include non- public roads providing access to parcels of land where two or more are owned or occupied by different people, one of which must be for agricultural purposes, and non-public roads leading to important community amenities such as graveyards, beaches, piers, and mountains. While well over 321,000 is very welcome and will further reduce the current list, I will continue to press again next year for further funding, we need a significant allocation annually to have an impact on the long waiting lists, said Deputy Feighan. Minister of State, Marian Harkin said the total funding for Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal under the scheme to more than 4.12m in 2025. An additional 528,098 went to Leitrim giving a total of 901,577 while Sligo received an additional 321,645 amounting to 829,421 allocated for rural roads in the county under the Local Improvement Scheme in 2025. As discussions around the revised 200bn National Development Plan (NDP) begin to take shape, investment in rural roads and infrastructure will remain my key priority. I will continue to advocate for balanced regional development and improved connectivity across rural Ireland, said Minister Harkin. The funding has also been welcomed by Cllr Thomas Walsh said: I look forward to seeing how this additional funding is used to improve our rural roads across Sligo said Cllr Walsh." Foundations is the theme for this years National Heritage Week, which starts on Saturday, August 16. And for Sligo Abbey, a heritage site that traces its foundation to the mid-13th century beginnings of Sligo town, its a theme that couldnt be more appropriate. With this in mind, the OPW staff at Sligo Abbey has arranged a series of special events for every day of Heritage Week, all of which take their inspiration from foundations of one kind or another. Sligo Abbey OPW Information Officer and Guide Trisha OLoughlin will get events started on the 16th when she delves into the intriguing world of Irish mythology, beliefs and customs relating to Lough Gill and the foundation of Sligo itself. What promises to be fascinating hour-long talks will begin at 11am and 3:30pm, on the 17, 18, 19 and 20. Admission is free and no booking is required. On Wednesday, August 20 at 2pm, the Abbey presents Centuries of Sound, an event that will explore the rich and influential heritage of Irish traditional music in Sligo. It will include a talk by the musician, archivist and author Gregory Daly, whose essay Transcending the Limits of Our Time, Traditional Music in County Sligo was published in the book Sligo, History and Society. Centuries of Sound will be followed by trad-fusion tunes and songs from The Cloister Boys, made up of two OPW staff at the Abbey, Barry Mulligan on ukulele, vocals and bodhran, and Harry Keaney, on banjo, whistle and bodhran. The Cloister Boys will also perform on Sundays 17 and 24 at 2pm. Guided tours of Sligo Abbey are available throughout the week. On Thursday, August 21 at 2pm, Harry Keaney will give a special tour focusing on the Dominicans, the religious order that occupied the Abbey for about 500 years from the mid-13th century, and whose successors remain in Sligo, in the Friary in High Street, to this day. Sounds and vibration are arguably the most primal of human experiences and on Friday, August 22 at 8:30am and 6pm, theres the opportunity to experience a deeply immersive Gong Bath led by Marielle Barends, where sounds and vibrations will guide you into a meditative and restful state. Admission is free but booking is essential, contact the abbey or emailing sligoabbey@opw.ie Like to try charcoal drawing in the Abbey? All ages and abilities will be catered for with Art in theAbbey on Saturday, August 23 between 10:30am and 3:30pm. Admission is free but places must be booked in advance by emailing sligoabbey@opw.ie. Children must be supervised; materials will be provided. Heritage Week will come to a close at Sligo Abbey on Sunday, August 24 with a number of guided tours, and a performance at 2pm by The Cloister Boys. Sligo Abbeys Head Guide, Dr. Andrew Whitefield, said he hoped there would be something for everyone, with events on every day through Heritage Week. The theme of Foundations is perfect for Sligo Abbey, a historic site that traces its origins to the foundation of Sligo town itself. The Abbey has borne witness to all thats happened on the shores of the Garavogue River for almost eight centuries. You havent truly experienced Sligo town if you havent visited its stunning Abbey, with its 13th century origins. And this is something more and more people are discovering.. This year, we are on target for almost 50,000 visitors, an extraordinary number when only a few years ago, that number was fewer than 20,000. Were very proud to be able to offer such a rich historical experience to travellers along the Wild Atlantic. And Heritage Week is the ideal opportunity to spread that positive message far and wide. The old Adoration Convent been fenced off by the contractors as work gets under way. Pic: JIm Campbell Some six years after the project was first mooted, hoarding has finally been erected around the old Adoration Convent and contractors are now on site, as they set about the complex process of converting the historic, protected building into student accommodation for Georgia Southern Universitys Wexford campus. Back in 2019 it emerged that Wexford County Council were to assist the US university with acquiring the old convent building to provide accommodation for young students from GSU studying at their campus in the old County Hall, who up to this point have been staying in the Talbot Suites. A global pandemic proved to be a major setback for the project, but with builders now on site, things are firmly moving in the right direction and Chief Executive of Wexford County Council Eddie Taaffe says that an official sod turning on the project is expected to take place next month. "The contractors (Waterford based Nevin Construction) have mobilised on site and we expect to perform a joint sod turning ceremony with GSU in September. Mr Taaffe says that the work is expected to take between 12 and 15 months, with some small possibility that next years crop of students to travel over from Georgia will take up residence in the historic building, the original home of the Adoration Sisters in Wexford, which dates back to 1875. It was previously stated that Georgia Southern are expected to spend up to $7 million (just over 6 million) on the project which provides a use for a landmark historic building. "Absolutely, this is a win-win project, Mr Taaffe said. It provides Georgia Southern with much needed accommodation, but it also provides an ideal use for a huge, historic building in the heart of Wexford town. Traffic has been a problem in Talbot Green for so long that Wexford County Council (WCC) is now revisiting ideas which were first rejected over 20 years ago. Following a traffic survey earlier this year, it was proposed that the green area in Talbot Green be sacrificed so that school buses can park safely in this residential street during drop-off and collection times. Currently, buses are forced to park on the side of the road, with large numbers of students navigating their way in and out of traffic as they board their transport home. As a result, families in the area have repeatedly raised safety concerns and reported several instances of alleged anti-social behaviour from students. At the July meeting of the Wexford Borough District (WBD) chief executive Eddie Taaffe reminded county councillors that plans to cut into the grass at Talbot Green had been proposed during his time as senior engineer. I remember presenting maps to the residents 20 years ago and they were rejected, said Mr Taaffe. I dont know if those maps are still available in our system, but there was work done on that at the time. Despite this precedent, it appeared that an agreement had been reached to re-tread old ground and present those living in the Talbot Green with an updated version of this previously rejected plan. Mindful of the public reaction, Councillor Leonard Kelly asked that any plans be presented in full to residents with council engineers on hand to answer any queries. District manager Anthony Bailey was receptive to this idea, suggesting that any drawing or maps could be displayed in County Hall for residents to scrutinise for themselves. However, Cllr Biddy Walsh was not so sure that this newly-devised plan would not be met with the same reaction as 20 years ago. Eating into the green area is a whole new protest, it will be a bigger issue, she said. The people dont want the green space being taken away, agreed her Labour colleague Vicky Barron. These drawings arent going to solve the problems, are they just being done so people can look at them? Current senior engineer Eilis Furlong confirmed that any drawings would be devised with the intention of acting upon them. "Its the only way we have of showing the councillors and the public what this might look like, she said. If the feedback is positive then we would need to look for funding to progress this scheme. With the schools set to return in the coming weeks, Cllr Ray Shannon called for urgency, asking that any plans be brought to the Talbot Green residents before September. Yet, after more than 20 years of searching for a solution to the traffic issues in the area, Wexford Mayor Gary Laffan said it was pointless hurrying the project along at this point. If it takes an extra few weeks or months to find a solution we should allow it, he said. Theyre not going to be happy with cutting into the green, but everyone has to take a bit of a step back here, this is not going to be the ideal solution, thats why its been going on so long. Mr Taaffe was even more strident. Can I be realistic here? he asked. The area engineer has loads of other things to be doing, so were not going round the houses on this. It definitely wont be done in time for the new school year. Theres plenty of other communities that need assistance. This was proposed 20 years ago and it was dismissed out of hand, albeit by a different group of people. The problem is this is the only solution thats ever been offered by the council, replied Cllr Tom Forde. Thats where a lot of the frustration is coming from. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme. Its not many movies that can claim to have had such a cultural impact that they are still widely watched and quoted half a century after their release. However, Jaws is most definitely one such classic. Directed by Stephen Spielberg and based on the 1974 novel by Peter Benchley, the classic stars Roy Schneider as police chief Martin Brody, who with the help of a marine biologist, played by Richard Dreyfuss, and a professional shark hunter (Robert Shaw), hunts a man-eating great white shark thats been attacking beachgoers at a New England summer resort town. The film became a cult classic, provoking an irrational fear of the water in some, while others just found themselves constantly reeling off the tagline Youre gonna need a bigger boat! Celebraing 50 years of this iconic piece of cinema, Wexford's very own movie podcast Reel Reviews is hosting a special live podcast and anniversary screening of Jaws at Wexford Arts Centre on Saturday, August 16 at 7.30 p.m. The evening will kick off with a live recording of the podcast at 7.30 p.m. followed by a full screening of the first true summer blockbuster at 8 p.m. During the live podcast, the Reel Reviews panel will dive deep into the making of the movie, its cultural impact, and how it changed Hollywood forever. The audience is warmly invited to join the conversation and share their own memories of the first time they experienced Jaws whether it was in a packed cinema, on VHS at home, or even nervously peeking from behind the couch. Jaws didnt just change the way movies were made it changed the way we looked at the water, says Reel Reviews host John Michael Murphy. Were honoured to mark its 50th anniversary with this special event, and we cant wait to share it with our fellow movie lovers here in Wexford. Tickets are priced at 10 per person and are available through Wexford Arts Centre. There has been a sharp decline in the number of Tusla social workers employed in the Wicklow area. Figures released to Sinn Fein TD for Wicklow, John Brady show the number of referrals made to the Child and Family Agency rose from 69,712 in 2020 to 96,600 in 2024, an increase of 38.6pc. However, during the same period, the number of social workers employed in the regions serving Wicklow has fallen significantly. In 2020, there were 96.72 social workers employed in the Dublin South East/Wicklow area, and 114.52 in the Dublin South West/Kildare/West Wicklow area, a total of 211.24 across both regions. However, by May 2025, these figures had dropped to 74.87 and 103.87 respectively, a combined total of just 178.74, representing a 15.4pc decrease in social worker staffing across the areas. Deputy Brady has expressed concern at the figures, saying the drop is unacceptable and needs to be addressed. Were seeing a staggering increase in the number of child protection and welfare concerns being reported, yet the number of social workers tasked with responding to these concerns has actually gone down. Brady said social workers in Wicklow dont have the proper resources, which is creating risks for both workers and vulnerable children. Many of these social workers are dealing with impossible caseloads. They are burnt out, demoralised, and in many cases, leaving the profession altogether. This is not only a workforce issue, its a child protection issue. He also noted the challenge in retaining social workers, with many choosing to leave due to poor working conditions, high stress levels, and a lack of adequate support from government. There is a direct correlation between chronic under-resourcing and the retention crisis, he said. The children who need support the most are the ones paying the price for government inaction. Deputy Brady has written to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, and Integration to demand urgent intervention and a commitment to properly staff social work teams across Wicklow. He called for a fully funded workforce strategy to properly support social workers in Tusla. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme Excavation works taking place at the Murrough to make way for a new pump bike track, which will be the largest in Ireland. Extensive excavation works are taking place along the Murrough in Wicklow town for the development of what developers claim will be Irelands longest pump bike track. The project is a collaboration between Wicklow County Council and the Wicklow Town Team, who secured funding of 225,000 for the long-awaited works for a purpose-built track from the Town and Village Renewal Scheme last year. Plans for the pump track date back to 2022 and upon its completion, it will be the longest pump track in the country. It will include a 200m main track, a 30m split line for more advanced bikers and a 50m kids track, measuring 280m in total. The best-in-class asphalt covered pump track promises to provide many hours of activity and enjoyment for all ages and abilities. It also has the potential to host national events and competitions. It is hoped works on the new Wicklow pump track will be completed before the end of September in time for opening by the end of October. The Cathaoirleach of Wicklow County Council, Cllr Graham Richmond, said: I was down at the site yesterday and it looks great. It will be a wonderful addition to the offerings we have in Wicklow town, and should attract visitors from far and wide. "Hopefully it is the start of more recreational facilities in and around the town, because the town has been short of these sorts of facilities for too long. If you dont provide these types of recreational facilities then it can lead to anti-social behaviour. We have had a lot of building taking place in Wicklow town and surrounding areas in recent years, but we need to have the proper infrastructure in place to match this growth. This will be a state-of-the-art pump track, suitable for all levels and age groups. "It will be the longest bike pump track in Ireland and should also help provide Wicklow town with a boost in the numbers of visitors. Its all very positive and hopefully the works should be completed before the end of September, in time for an official opening in October. Welcoming the development of the pump track, and the short timeline to its completion, Pascal Burke, chair of Wicklow Town Team, acknowledged the great support provided for this project by the Wicklow Municipal District staff and its councillors by saying that this is another great example of what can be achieved for the local community by all interested parties working constructively together. The work on the pump track is being carried out by Velosolutions, who specialise in the delivery of pump tracks, and are an off-shot of the Roundwood-based business Trailbreaker. They built the Dodder Valley Park pump track in Dublin, which they say is the "largest full asphalt pump track in Ireland," with a total area of 1,300 square metres. They have also been approached about a pump track for Bray, but no funding has yet been secured for that particular project. They expect to complete the works at the Murrough in mid September. The first full BMX track in Ireland was opened in Ratoath, Co Meath in November 2011. Now there are tracks in Cork, Dublin, Lisburn, and down the road from Wicklow in Courtown. Most recently tracks were opened in Dungarvan, Co Waterford and in the Dodder Valley Park. Bike Park Ireland in Tipperary also their pump track as the largest in Ireland, but unfortunately the facility has been closed since 2019 due to insurance costs. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky wins EU and Nato backing as he seeks place at Trump-Putin talks table Ukraine fears summit in Alaska on Friday will seek to dictate terms of any peace deal Medical workers evacuate a wounded person from the site of the Russian air strike, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine yesterday. Photo: Reuters Dan Peleschuk and Mark Trevelyan Reuters Mon 11 Aug 2025 at 06:30 Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky won diplomatic backing from Europe and the Nato alliance yesterday ahead of a Russia-US summit this week where Kyiv fears Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump may try to dictate terms for ending the three-year war. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he expects new Gaza offensive to be complete fairly quickly United Nations Security Council hears calls for end to suffering of Palestinians Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Photo: Reuters Nidal al-Mughrabi and Maayan Lubell Reuters Mon 11 Aug 2025 at 06:30 Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said yesterday he expected to complete a new Gaza offensive fairly quickly as the UN Security Council heard new demands for an end to suffering in the Palestinian enclave. US President Donald Trump said on Monday that both Ukraine and Russia would have to cede land to each other to end the war and that his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin would be aimed at taking the temperature on a possible deal. Sixty-five families from India and the United Kingdom who lost relatives in the June 12 Air India flight AI171 crash have engaged the US-based law firm Beasley Allen to explore legal options. Aviation attorney Mike Andrews has called for the release of the aircrafts flight data and cockpit voice recorders to determine the cause and possible liability in one of Indias deadliest air disasters in recent years. Site visits and meetings with families Mike Andrews, representing these families, visited the crash site in Ahmedabads Meghaninagar area before meeting relatives in Vadodara. He said families want to know exactly what caused the crash and the options available to them. The majority of the families are from Gujarat and neighbouring Diu. From Vadodara, Andrews plans to travel to Surat and Diu to meet more families before visiting Ahmedabad again. He also met relatives from the UK and said they all expressed a strong desire for transparency and access to complete investigation data. Legal options and possible jurisdictions Andrews explained that if the investigation finds a technical defectsuch as issues with the FADEC system, throttle control, or other aircraft systemsa product liability claim could be filed in a US federal court. If Boeing is found responsible, he said the US legal system offers individuals and families a fair chance to hold multinational corporations accountable. He also noted that if Air India is found liable, claims would fall under the Montreal Convention. However, he emphasised that legal steps depend entirely on full access to flight recorder data, which he said the Indian authorities and Air India currently possess. On June 12, 2025, the Boeing 787-8 aircraft operating Air India flight AI171 to London Gatwick crashed shortly after take-off | Credit: X Concerns over delays and narrative Andrews criticised delays in releasing critical flight data, suggesting that withholding information hampers the families ability to seek justice. He said that in many cases globally, pilotsespecially those who did not surviveare blamed early in the investigation, which can divert attention from possible technical or manufacturing issues. He pointed to reports suggesting pilot error in this case, calling such narratives typical of manufacturers seeking to deflect scrutiny from their products. Andrews urged that the complete data be shared with attorneys and experts so an accurate assessment can be made. AirIndia plane crashed in a residential area. The nearby buildings has caught fire. #planecrash pic.twitter.com/OU6IsXKxAE Mohit Chauhan (@mohitlaws) June 12, 2025 Background on the crash and compensation On June 12, 2025, the Boeing 787-8 aircraft operating Air India flight AI171 to London Gatwick crashed shortly after take-off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, hitting a medical hostel complex. The crash killed 241 of the 242 passengers and crew onboard and 19 people on the ground, including four medical students. Interim compensation of 25 lakh has been paid to families of 147 passengers and 19 ground victims, to be adjusted against final payouts. The Tata Group has also announced an ex gratia of 1 crore per deceased victim through the AI-171 Memorial and Welfare Trust, alongside rebuilding efforts for affected infrastructure and aid to first responders. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending. A routine Air India flight once again became a nightmare. Hundreds of passengers, including Congress MP KC Venugopal, who were aboard Air India, found themselves in a horrifying situation, almost on the brink of disaster, due to violent turbulence caused by a mid-air technical fault. After the Congress MP complained about the same on X (formerly called Twitter), Air India has responded. KC Venugoal shares what happened on AI 2455 flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi? Facebook/Air India As narrated by Venugopal, the flight witnessed a mid-air fault due to which the captain announced and diverted it to Chennai. The horrifying experience for hundreds of people onboard the flight didn't stop at this turbulence. As the pilot tried to land, apparently there was a "heart-stopping" near-collision on the runway. As per Venugoal, this happened as another aircraft was landing on the same runway. Because of the "luck" and "skill" of the pilot who pulled up, it was a harrowing escape. The pilot made a second attempt to land, and this time, the aircraft landed safely. Twitter Air India counters KC Venugoal's claim Amid massive backlash on the tweet, the official X handle of Air India posted a reply. Referring to "Mr Venugopal", it clarified that the "diversion to Chennai was precautionary due to a suspected technical issue and poor weather conditions". The airline also said that the first attempt at landing was halted as intructed by Chennai ATC and not because of another aircraft on the runway. Apologising to him for the scary experience, the company said, "Our pilots are well-trained to handle such situations, and in this case, they followed standard procedures throughout the flight." Twitter Meanwhile, once again, questions are being raised on the safety of passengers. "Aviation Minister is busy in making of reels," one user commented. Some people even tagged Minister of Civil Aviation of India, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and wrote, "This is deeply concerning Sir, hope you and the others aboard are safe and well. This cannot be taken lightly . @RamMNK accountability needs to be fixed." Deeply troubling to hear this.... Thank God all the passengers including Shri @kcvenugopalmp ji are safe as luck and the almighty favoured them. Thanks to the crew efforts. Air India flight AI 2455 incident highlights the importance of stringent safety measures in aviation. Dr.Venkat Balmoor (@VenkatBalmoor) August 10, 2025 The safety scares plaguing India's national carrier are raising urgent questions: Is Air India gambling with passengers' lives? Air India has announced it will stop operating its non-stop service between Delhi and Washington, D.C., from September 1, 2025. The airline attributed the move to operational constraints caused by its ongoing Boeing 787-8 retrofit programme and restrictions on flying through Pakistani airspace. Passengers already booked on the route will be contacted and offered alternative travel arrangements, including full refunds or rebooking. Why the suspension is happening The primary factor behind the decision is a planned shortage in Air Indias long-haul fleet. The airline began retrofitting 26 Boeing 787-8 aircraft last month to enhance passenger experience, a process expected to continue until late 2026. Multiple aircraft will remain out of service at any time during the programme. Air India to suspend Delhi-Washington flights from September 1 due to operational factors: Statement. pic.twitter.com/4EPDpvf3yR Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 11, 2025 Compounding the challenge is the continued closure of Pakistani airspace, in effect since 2019, which forces Indian carriers to take longer routes on certain international sectors, particularly to the United States. These detours increase flying time, fuel consumption, and limit scheduling flexibility, making non-stop services to certain destinations more difficult to operate. Impact on passengers and alternative routes Passengers with bookings on DelhiWashington flights beyond September 1, 2025, will be directly contacted by Air India. The airline will offer them the choice of full refunds or rebooking on alternative flights. Customers with Air India bookings to or from Washington, D.C. beyond September 1, 2025 will be contacted and offered alternative travel arrangements, including rebooking on other flights or full refunds, as per their individual preferences, said the airline. While the direct service will be suspended, travellers can still reach Washington, D.C., with one-stop connections via Air Indias existing US gateways in New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago (ORD), and San Francisco (SFO). These connections will be supported through partnerships with Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines. Air Indias North America operations to continue Despite the suspension of the DelhiWashington route, Air India will maintain its non-stop services between India and six destinations in North America. This includes flights to Toronto and Vancouver in Canada, as well as other US cities. According to the airline, this decision allows it to optimise available aircraft resources during the retrofit period, ensuring continued connectivity to key markets while upgrading its fleet. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending. Baba Vanga prediction 2025: Baba Vanga, the famous Bulgarian mystic, is believed to have accurately predicted some of the worlds biggest events, including the 9/11 World Trade Centre attacks and the tragic death of Princess Diana. Among her many forecasts, she also warned of a major economic crisis between 2025 and 2026. Considering the recent trade moves by US President Donald Trump, many now believe this prediction could be on its way to becoming a reality. Trump has recently signed trade agreements with several countries, but at the same time, he has introduced average tariffs of around 20%. For Brazil and India, the tariff rate has been set as high as 50%, shaking global markets and creating uncertainty. Trumps Tough Stance on India Trump, who has often called himself a friend of India, has now taken a strict approach. Not only has he imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods, but he has also warned of penalties if India continues to buy oil from Russia. Experts say this move could hit Indias energy supply and disrupt its import-export balance, leading to economic pressure. Targeting BRICS Nations The BRICS group which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa has also been a target of Trumps sharp comments. He has repeatedly questioned the trade and economic policies of these countries, sparking further tension in the global trade environment. Analysts believe such aggressive remarks and actions could make international trade relations even more fragile. Global Markets React with Volatility Following these announcements, global stock markets have seen sharp fluctuations. Investors are becoming more cautious, and many national currencies are under pressure. Market experts warn that if this tariff conflict drags on, it could push the world towards the kind of economic crisis Baba Vanga warned about for 2026. Will Baba Vangas 2026 Crisis Prediction Come True? Over the years, Baba Vangas predictions have sparked debate, fascination, and fear. While not all her forecasts have been proven, the unfolding trade tensions have made many wonder if her warning about a massive financial downturn could soon become a reality. The coming months will show whether the world is heading towards one of the most challenging economic periods in recent history. Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available information, historical statements, and expert opinions. Predictions and prophecies mentioned are for informational purposes only and should not be considered as facts or financial advice. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending. A video of a Chinese-American University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) student, Jamie Han, delivering a passionate speech that includes the line f**k ICE and f**k the Trump administration has recently gone viral. The clip was originally shared by Jamie on her Instagram in June but has recently blown up across social media platforms. In the video, Jamie becomes visibly emotional as she calls out Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Trump administration while her professors and fellow students applaud. Right-wing trolls harass Han online, demand deportation with hateful comments The viral clip has drawn severe backlash from right-wing social media users, who have targeted Jamie with harassment and racist comments. On platforms like X (formerly Twitter), users are sharing the video alongside captions such as Go back to China and Deport her right now. These trolls are demanding her deportation and using the speech as fuel to attack immigrants more broadly. A popular X page, Libs of TikTok, shared the video with the caption, Valedictorian: F**k ICE and f**k the Trump administration. Why does she want foreign criminals terrorising American cities and breaking our laws??? Obviously not very smart So stunning and brave Valedictorian: f*** ICE and f*** the Trump administration Why does she wants foreign criminals terrorizing American cities and breaking our laws??? Obviously not very smart. So stunning and brave pic.twitter.com/fB2YiD4ERx Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) August 10, 2025 The post quickly went viral, inviting backlash from right-wing social media users in the comments section. One commented, Pull their funding. Yes, she has a right to free speech, but certain things are just not appropriate for the circumstances. If she is speaking, she is representing the institution. Her words could cost the school. What a disgrace. She should be ashamed, her parents should be ashamed, and her school should be ashamed," one user wrote. And if any of you had any doubts about it: look at how the Dean or faculty behind her applaud vigorously! I hope recruiters have a good look at her and say : Sorry, not you, honey! commented one person. An individual shared, "A good enough reason to ensure that your child never goes to that school! A good enough reason to ensure that your child never goes to that school! Alan Lazenby (@Whatsynumber) August 10, 2025 Full speech reveals more than viral moment, expresses immigrant pride and gratitude The viral snippet only captures a portion of Jamies full speech. In her complete address, Jamie reflected on her experience as a first-generation immigrant and thanked UCLA for providing a space to grow and nurture her. She said, I think its safe to say our college experience has been nothing short of unprecedented... At a time when education, free speech, and democracy itself is being threatened... in a country that not only refuses to protect but actively persecutes, scapegoats, and villainises the indisputable backbone of immigrants who make America what it is. Jamie continued, As a first-generation immigrant myself, and as a now citizen who has the privilege of not having to fear for my life every second of the day... I say, fuck ICE and fuck the Trump administration. She urged critics to go touch grass and find something, anything, less embarrassing and pathetic to do with your life than going around on a psychotic power trip terrorising and tearing apart families of hard-working, law-abiding, tax-paying folks. Jamie remains unfazed, updates viral video caption amid backlash Despite the wave of online harassment, Jamie appears undeterred. Hours ago, she updated the caption on her viral video to read, Happy to announce I can now check getting booed by Trumpies off the bucket list! Her response signals resilience in the face of aggressive trolling. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending. The ongoing legal battle between NewJeans (NJZ) and their agency ADOR has fans watching closely for any updates on the groups fate. NewJeans, consisting of members Minji, Hanni, Danielle, Haerin, and Hyein, quickly rose to fame under HYBEs umbrella, becoming one of the hottest rookie girl groups. However, the relationship between the group and their agency has been fraught with tension, and a new update has now cast uncertainty over what comes next for the talented quintet, leaving many wondering if HYBE has officially cut ties with them. ADOR removes NewJeans from the official website amid legal tensions Recently, ADOR made a notable change to their online presence that caught the attention of fans and industry watchers. The companys official website, previously hosted at ador.world and featuring not only their new boy group auditions but also a clear link to NewJeans dedicated site, has undergone a significant update. The domain now redirects to adoraudition.world, focusing solely on audition information, and all direct links to NewJeans site have been removed. ADORs website update, removing NewJeans links and highlighting HYBE branding, signals a possible distancing amid ongoing legal disputes.| X|@NewJeans_ADOR In addition, HYBEs branding is now more prominently displayed on the page, while the stylistic elements that previously referenced NewJeans have disappeared. This digital shift is being interpreted by many as a symbolic distancing from the group during a period of ongoing legal disputes. ADOR has removed all mentions of NewJeans (NJZ) from their website. pic.twitter.com/R6VxfnAfrO Pop Base (@PopBase) August 10, 2025 Fans react with mixed emotions to ADORs website changes The removal of NewJeans references from ADORs site has sparked a flurry of reactions among the groups passionate fanbase. Some fans view the change as a negative sign, fearing it signals the end of NewJeans time under the agency. Conversely, others are optimistic, suggesting that the move could indicate a financial settlement allowing NewJeans to part ways with ADOR. Social media users have speculated that this may be the first step toward the group gaining independence or signing with a new agency. Many highlighted NewJeans success as HYBEs best-selling girl group and expressed hope that they will continue to thrive, no matter the outcome of the legal battle. One person said, "It seems they reached a monetary agreement for NewJeans to leave ADOR." It seems they reached a monetary agreement for NJ to leave ador katsuraANT(ASH) (@katsuraANT) August 10, 2025 Another wrote, "Oh, shiet. Could this be one step towards freedom for NewJeans?" Oh shiet. Could this be one step towards freedom for NJZ? Ri-Chard (@thrillakkuma) August 11, 2025 A fan shared, "NewJeans already conquered HYBE. They came in and became HYBE's best-selling and most successful girl group the second they debuted. Now they're moving on to bigger and better things." Hopefully this is a sign that their out of hybe building and disbandment. Or atleast goodluck for them to finding a new agency. EvE - BTS OT7 FOREVER!!! (@butterkooki) August 10, 2025 Someone else added, "Hopefully this is a sign that they're out of the HYBE building and disbandment, or at least good luck to them in finding a new agency." Hopefully this is a sign that their out of hybe building and disbandment. Or atleast goodluck for them to finding a new agency. EvE - BTS OT7 FOREVER!!! (@butterkooki) August 10, 2025 NewJeans vs HYBE: Overview of the legal battle and its timeline The conflict between NewJeans and ADOR reportedly began in early 2023, soon after the groups explosive debut. The third round of hearings kicked off in July 2025, drawing public attention when statements from NewJeans about HYBEs management practices surfaced. Central to the dispute are claims from the group regarding mistreatment and contractual disagreements, as well as the dismissal of Min Hee Jin as ADOR's CEO. NewJeans and ADORs legal fight over mistreatment and leadership has drawn fan attention since 2023 | Credit: X|@NewJeans_ADOR Fans and observers have closely followed the court proceedings, hoping for a resolution that prioritises the artists well-being and creative freedom. As the legal process unfolds, many remain eager to see whether NewJeans will continue under ADOR or move forward on their own terms. For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here. Five journalists working for Al Jazeera were killed on Sunday in an Israeli airstrike targeting a tent outside al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Among the dead was Anas al-Sharif, 28, a well-known correspondent. Israels military has claimed al-Sharif was leading a Hamas cell responsible for rocket attacks, a statement challenged by press freedom groups and Al Jazeera. The airstrike and its victims According to Al Jazeera, the strike killed correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, along with cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Moamen Aliwa, and Mohammed Noufal. A hospital official confirmed that two others also died in the same attack. The tent where the journalists were gathered was located in eastern Gaza City. The Israeli military said its actions were based on intelligence and documents found in Gaza, including rosters, training lists, and salary records, which it claims linked al-Sharif to Hamas operations. The IDF described him as a militant posing as a journalist. Al-Sharifs final message and warnings before death Al-Sharif had been repeatedly warned that his reporting put him at risk. UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan had stated that Israels accusations against him were unsubstantiated. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said Israel failed to produce credible proof of its claims and criticized the pattern of labeling journalists as militants. Israel just assassinated the entire Al Jazeera crew in Gaza: fearless journalists and cameramen reporting the truth amid genocide. This is a war crime and a crime against humanity. Where are the Western journalists? Will they condemn this, or choose silence and complicity? pic.twitter.com/GfKyd6k2jJ sarah (@sahouraxo) August 10, 2025 Before his death, al-Sharif left a pre-written message on social media to be posted if he was killed. In it, he wrote that Israel would have succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice if the words were being read. He described his commitment to convey the truth without distortion and urged people not to forget Gaza. The message also asked for care for his wife, children, and mother. Reactions from Al Jazeera and press groups Al Jazeera described al-Sharif as one of Gazas bravest journalists and said the attack aimed to silence reporting ahead of a possible Israeli occupation of Gaza. CPJs Middle East and North Africa director Sara Qudah said the repeated targeting of journalists without evidence raises concerns about Israels intent and respect for press freedom. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate called the killings a bloody crime and an assassination. During live coverage, an Al Jazeera anchor struggled to hold back tears while reporting the deaths of his colleagues. MetLife Stadium turned into a wave of Disney Channel nostalgia on Sunday, August 10, 2025, as the Jonas Brothers kicked off their JONAS20: Greetings From Your Hometown Tour in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The evening celebrated 20 years of the brothers music, mixing greatest hits with deep cuts from their early albums, but the real show-stopping moment came when Demi Lovato walked on stage, sending the crowd into a frenzy. Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas send fans into Camp Rock Nostalgia Near the end of the concert, Nick, Joe, and Kevin Jonas paused their set to welcome Lovato to the stage. What followed was a live Disney Channel time machine: Joe and Demi launched into Camp Rock classics Gotta Find You and This Is Me before transitioning to Camp Rock 2: The Final Jams Wouldnt Change a Thing. Demi Lovato and Joe Jonas perform Wouldnt Change A Thing at the Jonas Brothers Greetings From Your Hometown tour. pic.twitter.com/WkL1f10V25 Pop Base (@PopBase) August 11, 2025 Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato performing 'This is Me' 17 years ago vs today pic.twitter.com/W4Q9zyDods Pop & Hot Culture (@notgwendalupe) August 11, 2025 Their harmonies instantly transported long-time fans back to the late 2000s, when the pair starred together in the hit films and briefly dated in real life. Offstage, Lovato and Joe kept the nostalgia going, posting TikToks of themselves lip-syncing their duet and sharing backstage laughs, showing their friendship has endured well beyond their Disney days. Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato reunite in new TikTok. pic.twitter.com/EGlSIk2Wcr Pop Base (@PopBase) August 11, 2025 Fans erupt in pure joy on social media Audiences responded in true fanfare, flooding social platforms with excitement. One fan on X declared, "Im never shutting up about this reunion." Another echoed the sentiment, "A Demi Lovato and Jonas Brothers reunion was NOT on my 2025 bingo card, BUT I AM SAT!!" Fans spoke of childhood dreams come true, while others admitted to tearing up watching clips from the performance. Check out more reactions below: just watched a video joe jonas and demi lovato singing wouldn't change a thing live on stage in 2025 and now i am crying in bed pic.twitter.com/Xi6V0O1uvY sarah (@sarahelrose) August 11, 2025 I JUST SAW JONAS BROTHERS AND DEMI LOVATO LIVE. pic.twitter.com/cfzmi7qh2G fabi. | greetings from Costa Rica. (@JoeTakesMyHeart) August 11, 2025 In case you were curious to know what it sounds like when dreams come true. Im not over it. Demi. The Demi. Demi Lovato. pic.twitter.com/NyY8DWY6dd CARA MIA (@prodmelaudme) August 11, 2025 this reunion Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato onstage tonight in New Jersey! pic.twitter.com/glVOptWyvD Jonas Brothers Updates (@JonasBrosBros) August 11, 2025 YOU KNOW THESE REUNIONS MEANT A LOT TO ME AS SOMEONE WHO GREW UP WITH THEM!!! from taylor swift & taylor lautner to joe jonas & demi lovato!!! i love iconic pop culture reunions pic.twitter.com/BawAjTEwdF (@fromthevaultsy) August 11, 2025 Camp Rock 3 rumours revived, but still unconfirmed Camp Rock revival rumours are not new but a Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato collab has fans dreaming again | Credit: IMDb This unexpected reunion has reignited a steady stream of Camp Rock 3 speculation. Online chatter suggests filming could begin as early as mid-September, and some claim Lovato may have signed on. However, cast member Alyson Stoner recently told PEOPLE she hasnt been contacted and emphasised that Disney often keeps such developments under wraps, even from the actors themselves. Moreover, industry reports confirm Camp Rock 3 is in development but note no confirmed involvement from Lovato or the Jonas Brothers beyond possible cameo appearances. For more news and updates from the world of celebrities, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment. Chilean telecoms regulator Subtel has launched an online platform that aggregates mobile and broadband providers, aiming to make it easier for citizens to get connected and advance the countrys goal of closing the digital divide. Through the portal, users can compare pricing and coverage for mobile and broadband services in specific areas. Data collected from the tool will also help Subtel identify regions that should be prioritised for infrastructure deployments. Undersecretary of Telecommunications Claudio Araya said the service will streamline the process of getting online and will be regularly updated, with more providers to be added over time. Minister of Transport and Telecommunications Juan Carlos Munoz noted the launch supports the governments Zero Digital Divide Plan, introduced in May 2022. The initiative focuses on four pillars: implementing fair regulations, upgrading digital infrastructure, establishing a public telecommunications company, and removing barriers in vulnerable communities. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he is directing the National Guard to deploy in Washington, D.C., and placing the citys police department under federal control. The move, he said, is aimed at addressing what he described as out-of-control crime in the nations capital. The announcement came during a White House news conference that began shortly before 10:45 a.m. Earlier in the day, Trump posted on Truth Social, declaring, Washington, D.C. will be LIBERATED today! He added that crime and disorder would disappear and pledged to MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN. Federal control and deployment plans According to a Defense Department official, several hundred National Guard troops are expected to be activated in Washington. While the District of Columbias National Guard is not under the control of a governor, the president has direct authority to deploy them. The administration also plans to temporarily reassign 120 FBI agents to nighttime patrol duties in the city. US President Donald Trump | Credit: X Trump has repeatedly claimed that crime in D.C. is totally out of control, despite Justice Department data showing violent crime at a 30-year low as of January. The administration has disputed the accuracy of those statistics, citing allegations from a police union that the figures have been manipulated. Trigger for the action The latest calls for federal intervention came after Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old software engineer and early staffer in the White Houses Department of Government Efficiency, was reportedly assaulted in an attempted carjacking earlier this month. Trump shared Coristines photo on social media, warning that without action, federal control of the city would be unavoidable. In a separate post, Trump said the citys homeless population would have to move out immediately, adding that alternative accommodation would be provided far from the Capital. As you listen to an unhinged Trump try to justify deploying the National Guard in DC, here's reality: Violent crime in DC is at a 30-year low.https://t.co/aa33NmPBbN pic.twitter.com/zicp8uauLf Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 11, 2025 Mayors response and legal context D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser pushed back on Trumps comments, telling MSNBC that the city remains a place where people start businesses, raise families, and that comparisons to war zones are hyperbolic and false. This is not the first time Trump has used the National Guard in a domestic context. In his previous term, Guard troops were deployed to Los Angeles to support immigration enforcement and to clear protests in Washington during the 2020 Black Lives Matter demonstrations. California Governor Gavin Newsom later sued the administration over the Los Angeles deployment, with a trial on that lawsuit beginning Monday. Trump also criticized the $3.1 billion renovation of the Federal Reserve headquarters, calling it wasteful and saying it could have been completed for between $50 million and $100 million. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending. Kevin Mares, a 25-year-old tourist from New York, United States, was tragically shot to death early Sunday, August 10, while visiting Puerto Rico to attend one of Bad Bunnys 30-show concert residencies. The fatal shooting happened in La Perla, a coastal neighbourhood on the outskirts of Old San Juan known for its long history of crime and violence. Kevin was in Puerto Rico with three friends to see the popular local rapper perform, a trip that was meant to be a joyful celebration of music and friendship. US tourist shot dead at 25: Details of shooting incident According to New York Post, the shooting occurred in the predawn hours at a nightspot called Shelter for Mistreated Men. The violence started when an argument broke out between several people nearby, and one individual pulled out a gun, firing at least three shots. Kevin Mares, 25, was fatally shot in La Perla, a shantytown along the coast near Old San Juan | Credit: Instagram/kevin_mares Kevin Mares was hit twicein his left abdomen and sideand was rushed to Puerto Ricos largest public hospital, where he later died. Two local men from La Perla were also wounded and remain hospitalised. Police currently have very little information about the shooter, who remains at large. La Perlas troubled history and persistent crime challenges La Perla, home to a few hundred residents, has long been associated with crime, once serving as Puerto Ricos largest heroin distribution point. For years, it was so dangerous that police avoided the community, which even displayed signs warning visitors not to enter. Although a major federal raid in 2011 arrested dozens of criminals and reduced violence temporarily, the area still struggles with safety. Earlier in 2024, a tourist was murdered and set on fire in La Perla after a drug deal, highlighting the ongoing risks. This latest shooting has reignited concerns about security in the neighbourhood, especially for tourists. Kevin Mares' family launches GoFundMe to bring his body back home Kevin Mares loved ones described him as a deeply loved son, a devoted friend, and a source of inspiration to everyone who knew him. They launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the expenses of bringing his body back home to New York. The fundraising page highlighted Kevins wholehearted kindness, adventurous spirit, and unwavering commitment to family, calling him a pillar of strength for his loved ones. His family shared that Kevin had been planning to propose to his girlfriend of six years in the fall, a future now tragically cut short. Kevin Mares' family organises a fundraiser to bring his body back home | Credit: GoFundMe Kevin's girlfriend pays a heartbreaking tribute on Instagram.. Kevin had been planning to propose to his girlfriend of six years during their trip to Puerto Rico, a dream they both eagerly anticipated. After his tragic death, his girlfriend shared her heartbreak on Instagram, writing, I love you,, my angel, with a broken heart emoji. Kevin Mares' girlfriend Angy shares a heartbreaking post on Instagram | Credit: Instagram/angy.arguello In another post, she said, My love,, I love you.. I miss you so much. why did God take him away from me? She also asked for support to cover expenses in her Instagram story, stating, I would never ask for this, but we need help to bring the love of my life back home to New York. Kevin reportedly planned to propose Angy during their Puerto Rico trip | Credit: Instagram/angy.arguello Her words poignantly express the deep love, loss, and the plans that will now never come to fruition, underscoring the tragic impact of Kevins death on those closest to him. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending. The Supreme Court of India has issued a clear and strict order to Delhi government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to remove all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR streets within 8 weeks. The bench added if anyone or any group or animal rights activists try to obstruct the removal or sheltering of dogs, they will face strict action, including contempt of court. The court emphasized that this order is for the overall public safety interest and is not influenced by sentiments or animal rights activism. "All these animal activists, will they be able bring back who have fallen prey to rabies," the bench asked. The comment was in reference to July 28 incident wherein a six-year-old girl named Chavi Sharma died from rabies in Delhi's Pooth Kalan area after being bitten by a dog. All stray dogs in Delhi NCR to be moved to shelters, want the city to be free of stray dogs - Supreme Court. SC says no room for sentiments to animal rights activists. pic.twitter.com/SC6d9Wylrt Indian Tech & Infra (@IndianTechGuide) August 11, 2025 Safety of elders and kids The order aims to make public places safe, especially for children and senior citizens, due to the rising number of dog bite cases and related deaths from rabies. "We are not doing this for usit is for the public interest. So, no sentiments of any nature should be involved. Action should be taken at the earlier. Pick up dogs from all localities and shift them to far off places." Creation of shelters Furthermore, the government and MCD has also been asked to create shelters for these dogs. These shelters should have facilities such as sterilization, immunization and basic care for the dogs. These shelters will monitored with CCTV to ensure that no dogs can escape. Helpline setup A helpline will also be set up to register complaints about dog bites. The court has ordered the authorities to respond within four hours to pick up the offending dog. SC criticised Animal Birth Control Rules The SC criticized existing Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules that require sterilized dogs to be released back into the same areas. It called these rules "absurd" and ineffective in preventing dog bites or rabies. Citing Hollywood starring Clint Eastwood, it said, "Have you seen the classic 'Good, Bad and the Ugly' - when you want to shoot, shoot don't talk. It's not the time to talk but act. All these so-called animal lovers, will they be able to bring back those children who have given their lives?" Backlash continues If a single stray dog dies in shelter without food, these "judges" JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan should be stripped of legal immunity, dragged to Human Rights Panel and penalty should be levied on these mindless j0kers.#SupremeCourtofIndia #Straydogs #Delhi https://t.co/fYrDskGKvw Media Scarecrow (@MSMscarecrow) August 11, 2025 Meanwhile, the backlash against the order continues. "Why dogs then? Why not these monkeys, pigs and bulls? I have seen literally bulls attacking the elderly and dying on the spot, a user wrote. "Will Supereme Court check the well being of these animals in shelters. What is the plan for that? Kindly share that as well. It is easy for corrupt ppl to pass orders.Sanatan protects its animals. Or in Kalyug it is easy to suppress weaks n mutes. Well can say 'wrong path of dharma,'" added another one. While some call it scary and evil, others are simply fawning over it. The craze for Labubu dolls is getting out of hand, it seems. This kid from China, who was denied the elf-like creature, born a monster, from the Chinese toy maker Pop Mart, at a relative's home, chose violence and caused damage worth over $56,000 (over Rs 40 lakhs). Here's what happened. scmp.com The family had visited their relative's place, where the toddler noticed a Labubu doll adorned with jewelry. The toy belonged to an influencer popularly known as Little Azheng or Tail Brother. The kid threw a tantrum when he was denied the doll, and threw a remote control in anger. He ended up shattering a mirrored glass ceiling worth US$14,000 and an Italian crystal chandelier worth US$41,000. What's worse is that the boy refused to apologise for the damage caused. The boy's parents offered only $2,500 (Rs 2 lakh) as compensation, which is far less than the actual damage. They said that they were poor and could only afford this much. They asked the influencer not to post about the incident on social media to protect the boys image. Furthermore, they requested him not to involve the court and take a legal route Tail Brother agreed to accept the partial compensation because he had no other option. However, he criticised the family's use of kinship pressure and low offer. Celebs and their Labubu's (a thread ) Celebs cant get enough of these fluffy creatures. Forget designer handbags Rihanna, Dua Lipa, and even David Beckham are now flexing Labubu dolls as the ultimate status symbol. Here's what's going on pic.twitter.com/zJLcvQ36M7 Labubu Fans (@labubufans) July 7, 2025 Meanwhile, the Labubu doll craze has become a global phenomenon, especially after celebrities like K-pop star Lisa and Rihanna were seen with it. The elf-like figures known for their quirky, wide smiles and toothy grins have been created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung and marketed by Chinese toy giant Pop Mart. 4/ Dua Lipa? Also on board. She was seen at JFK with a Labubu dangling from her designer bag. These creatures are everywhere. pic.twitter.com/qhOnsaQDjF Labubu Fans (@labubufans) July 7, 2025 Originally priced at US$20 to US$40, Labubu dolls are now reselling for thousands of dollars. Some of the rare editions have been sold for over US$150,000 at auctions. This has led to Pop Mart's profits surging over 350% in the first half of 2025, and a market valuation soaring above US $40 billion. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) ICICI Bank minimum average monthly balance (MAMB) Why Has ICICI Bank Increased the Minimum Balance? ICICI Bank's new minimum balance rules New Minimum Balance Rules from August 2025 Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 Metro and Urban Branches: Rs 50,000 (previously Rs 10,000) Rs 50,000 (previously Rs 10,000) Semi-Urban Branches: Rs 25,000 (previously Rs 5,000) Rs 25,000 (previously Rs 5,000) Rural Branches: Rs 10,000 (previously Rs 5,000) Penalties for Not Maintaining the New Balance MAMB Who Will Be Affected by the Revised Rules? 1 August 2025 Exceptions to the New Rules Salary Accounts: These accounts remain zero-balance accounts, so customers with an ICICI Bank salary account do not have to worry about maintaining a higher balance. These accounts remain zero-balance accounts, so customers with an do not have to worry about maintaining a higher balance. Basic Savings Bank Deposit Accounts (BSBDA): As per RBI guidelines, these accounts have a zero minimum balance requirement, and the new rules will not affect them. Updated Cash Deposit and Withdrawal Rules Free Limit: 3 transactions per month at branches and cash recycler machines. 3 transactions per month at branches and cash recycler machines. After Free Limit: Rs 150 per transaction. Rs 150 per transaction. Free Value Limit: Rs 1 lakh per month; above this, Rs 3.5 per Rs 1,000 or Rs 150, whichever is higher. Rs 1 lakh per month; above this, Rs 3.5 per Rs 1,000 or Rs 150, whichever is higher. Third-Party Transactions: Limit of Rs 25,000 per transaction for both deposits and withdrawals. Special Charges for Certain Cash Deposits Non-ICICI Bank ATM Charges Rs 23 per financial transaction after the first 3 free transactions in a month. per financial transaction after the first 3 free transactions in a month. Rs 8.5 per non-financial transaction after the first 3 free transactions in a month. How to Check the Updated Rules and Charges ICICI Banks new minimum balance rules: ICICI Bank has recently announced major changes to its minimum balance rules for savings accounts. Thehas clarified that banks are free to set their own minimum balance requirements, and ICICI Bank has decided to introduce one of the steepest benchmarks in the country.From 1 August 2025, anyone opening a new savings account withwill need to maintain a much higher. This move is set to impact new customers in metro, urban, semi-urban, and rural areas differently, with each category seeing a significant rise in the required balance.According to banking experts, this shift in theis part of a wider trend where banks want customers to keep more funds parked with them. While it increases liquidity for banks, the interest paid on savings accounts remains modest. The RBIs stance gives banks the liberty to decide their own thresholds, and ICICI Bank has taken a bold step by raising the requirement several times higher than before.Under the revised policy, the MAMB for metro and urban savings accounts will jump froma fivefold increase. Semi-urban and rural accounts will also see sharp hikes.If new account holders fail to maintain the required, ICICI Bank will impose penalties. These charges will vary depending on the type of account and location, so customers should carefully check the updated schedule of charges before opening an account.The ICICI Bank's new minimum balance rules will only apply to new savings accounts opened on or after. Existing customers will continue under their current terms unless the bank notifies them of changes in the future.Alongside the balance changes, ICICI Bank has updated its cash transaction policies:Cash deposits made via acceptor or recycler machines outside working hours (4:30 p.m. to 9:00 a.m.) or on holidays will incur an extra Rs 50 fee if monthly deposits exceed Rs 10,000. This is over and above standard transaction charges.For customers using ATMs in six major metro citiesMumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Hyderabadthe charges are:ICICI Bank has published all details of the minimum balance rules, cash transaction fees, and ATM usage charges on its official website. Customers can also visit their nearest branch for personalised guidance before opening a new account.The ICICI Bank new minimum balance rules mark one of the biggest shifts in savings account requirements in recent years. With the RBI allowing banks the flexibility to decide their own benchmarks, customers should be more aware of the conditions before choosing an account type. Kri-Kri leads the surge as international demand for high-protein dairy pushes Greek brands to new heights The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is committed to discipline and following its constitution. Interim National Chairman David Mark warned that anti-party activities will not be tolerated. On Saturday, David Mark made this known during a meeting of the Coalition Partners held in Kaduna, where he was represented by Sen. Abubakar Sadiq Yaradua, a former APC lawmaker. Advertisement Speaking at the event, David Mark stressed the importance of internal democracy, describing its absence as a major cause of bad governance in Nigeria. The ADC is seriously working towards ensuring that a level playing ground is provided for all, Mark said. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/08/only-party-led-coalitions-can-defeat-tinubu-in-2027-shekarau.html#google_vignette He added, We will not tolerate any form of indiscipline or anti-party activities from any member, as these actions undermine our collective progress and vision. It is time for all of us to be coordinated; this is not going to be business as usual. The Kaduna State Chairman of ADC, Elder Patrick Ambut, noted that since the unveiling of the coalition, membership numbers have continued to grow, a testament to the partys increasing influence. He criticized the current APC-led government, saying, Nigeria is in quagmire politically, economically, socially and even psychologically. Ambut further stated, The emergence of this coalition has provided a veritable platform to give Nigeria the needed political change. Salihu Lukman, a former APC chieftain now with the ADC, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the rising poverty, insecurity, and hunger in Nigeria. Our former party has failed the people; there is a dire need for genuine change, and that is what ADC is committed to delivering, he said. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has apprehended 93 individuals suspected of engaging in internet fraud in Ogun State. The agency disclosed the development in a statement posted on its X handle on Sunday, noting that the arrests were carried out during a sting operation in Abeokuta, the state capital. According to the statement, Operatives of the Lagos Zonal Directorate 2 of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested 93 suspected internet fraudsters in Ogun State. Advertisement READ MORE: Lagos Seals Estate For Discharging Sewage Into Public Drains They were arrested on Sunday, August 10, 2025, in a sting operation in Abeokuta, Ogun State, following credible intelligence about their suspected involvement in internet crimes. The EFCC added that several items were seized from the suspects during the operation. Upon their arrest, 18 vehicles and mobile devices were recovered from them. They will be charged in court as soon as investigations are concluded, the statement read. Gunmen attacked the Babanla community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, killing five people, including a police officer, Adejumo Wasiu. The attack took place on August 8, 2025, forcing residents to flee their homes for safety in neighboring communities. The divisional police headquarters and the local market were targeted during the violent raid. Advertisement In response, a combined security force comprising the Nigerian Army, police, Department of State Services (DSS), and local vigilantes swiftly mobilized to repel the attackers and restore order. The Kwara State Police Command confirmed the attack in a statement on Sunday, August 10, 2025. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/08/2027-tinubu-will-get-more-northern-votes-despite-buharis-death-adeyeye.html Spokesperson Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi said, On 8th August 2025, armed criminals numbering in their hundreds, riding on motorcycles, invaded Babanla community, attacked the divisional police headquarters, and raided the market. The assailants fired sporadically, killing five people, including a police officer, Adejumo Wasiu. She added, A swift and coordinated response by Police operatives, Nigeria Army personnel, vigilantes, and local Hunters repelled the attack, restored order, and initiated a full-scale manhunt for the perpetrators. The police further explained that the joint security team has launched a full-scale manhunt for the perpetrators. Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, alongside the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) Kwara Command, visited Babanla to assess the situation and met with the communitys traditional ruler, Oba Yusuf Aliyu Alabi Arojojoye II. They held high-level discussions aimed at consolidating peace and strengthening inter-agency and community-security collaboration, the statement added. The police ordered sustained patrols, ongoing intelligence gathering, and the deployment of specialized tracking teams. The DSS pledged continuous intelligence support to ensure the attackers are brought to justice. The command reiterates its unwavering commitment, in synergy with sister security agencies, to safeguarding lives and property in all parts of Kwara State, the statement concluded. Residents were urged to remain calm, vigilant, and cooperative with security agencies by providing credible information. Human rights activist Dele Farotimi has endorsed Peter Obis call for a single-term presidency, saying past leaders wasted long tenures without meaningful progress. Speaking on Monday during Channels Televisions Sunrise Daily, Farotimi sharply criticised previous administrations. Olusegun Obasanjo had eight years; what did he do with it? Muhammadu Buhari had eight years; what did he do with it? He ruined Nigeria. Advertisement President Bola Tinubu has had two years, and he is taking us back 50 years, he said. Farotimi emphasised that the duration a leader spends in office matters less than the impact they make. Its not really about how much time the person spends; its a function of what they do with the time that they have, he added. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/08/adc-wont-tolerate-any-form-of-indiscipline-anti-party-activity-interim-national-chair-david-mark.html Farotimi further backed Obis proposal, saying, I first heard this one-term presidency idea from Peter Obi during the election cycle. Its not about how long he wishes to serve; Im more interested in what he intends to do with that time. He also noted, If I ever run for the presidency of Nigeria, I wouldnt require more than two years to do everything I need to do. Obi has reiterated his commitment to serve a single four-year term if elected. More recently, he proposed extending that term to five years without re-election, adopting a model similar to South Koreas. If I have the opportunity, we should stop having a second tenure for presidents. It should be five years. That is what is in South Korea, so people come in and know that they have a job to do, Obi stated. The communications regulators of the Republic of Congo and the Republic of Angola have reportedly taken what is called a decisive step in bilateral cooperation in the management of radio frequency spectrum to reduce interference problems along the common borders of the two countries. This followed a meeting between the Postal and Electronic Communications Regulatory Agency (ARPCE) and the Angolan Institute of Communications (INACOM) from 5-7 August in the city of Pointe-Noire. The result of the meeting was a validation of a draft frequency coordination agreement on the common borders, which are 231 kilometres long. According to Agence Ecofin, this is a response to the need to prevent mutual interference problems and extended coverage that might permit accidental roaming and also to allow equitable access to spectrum resources in border areas. The parties say that the technical foundations have now been laid to ensure a better quality of service for local populations, while strengthening the spectral sovereignty of each state. As well as the regulators, operators MTN, Airtel, Congo Telecom and Unitel were represented. On the technical level, the delegations agreed on the coordination parameters for seven frequency bands, ranging from 700MHz to 3500MHz. They also adopted a set of binding provisions, including limiting coverage to 1,000 metres beyond borders, banning omnidirectional antennas in proximity areas and dismantling irregular points of sale. These provisions will be notified to operators within 30 days. They will have 60 days from the notification to implement the corrections. ARPCE discussions are apparently already underway with Cameroon, another country bordering Congo, aimed at achieving another bilateral spectrum coordination agreement. Comfort Emmanson, the passenger alleged to have assaulted airline staff on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, has been charged to court and remanded at Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos. Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Tunde Moshood, confirmed the development in a post on his official X account on Monday. The more reason the flying public should be more careful, the unruly passenger on the UyoLagos bound Ibom Air, Miss Comfort Emmanson, has been charged to court and shes now cooling off in Kirikiri, Moshood wrote. Advertisement READ MORE: NYSC Clarifies Withholding Of Viral Corps Members Certificate Amid Tinubu Criticism Claims His statement comes as the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority warns that it will impose harsher penalties on passengers displaying disruptive behavior, which has become more frequent at Nigerian airports. Reports indicate that Emmanson, a passenger on the Uyo to Lagos flight, was seen in a viral video repeatedly slapping a Purser from Ibom Air after being asked to turn off her phone before takeoff. In a statement released on Monday, the airline announced it has banned the passenger from flying with them after she was caught assaulting a crew member aboard their aircraft. Ibom Air stated that the incident started before takeoff from Uyo when Emmanson declined to follow safety instructions to turn off her mobile phone. The airline noted that a fellow passenger sitting next to her turned off the phone, which triggered a verbal outburst from Emmanson. The carrier revealed that upon reaching Lagos, Emmanson approached the purser, who had earlier asked her to turn off her phone, and physically assaulted her. The statement also said the passenger tried to forcibly take a fire extinguisher to use as a weapon, describing the action as an intention to damage and ground the aircraft. Ibom Air highlighted that her conduct seriously endangered the safety of the crew, passengers, and the aircraft. This incident comes shortly after a similar case involving Fuji musician King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM 1 or K1, who tried to prevent a ValueJet plane from departing after being removed from the flight. Veteran Nollywood actress Bimbo Akintola has shared her reasons for remaining unmarried at the age of 52, clarifying that it is not by choice but a result of lifes circumstances and her personal principles. Speaking in an interview with Pulse Nigeria, which was shared on Instagram on Sunday, Akintola disclosed that she has no children and has yet to meet the right person to spend her life with. She revealed that she once met someone she believed was her ideal partner, but he passed away, and she has not found anyone else who fits that role since. Advertisement READ MORE: Medical Doctors Are Trained To Keep Patients Sick For Profit Jim Iyke The actress, whose mother is from Edo State and father from Oyo State, described marriage as a sacred union that should be solemnised in the presence of God and loved ones. She also stressed that she is open to getting married at any stage in life if she meets the right partner. While speaking, she said, I dont have children, unfortunately. Marriage is important. Marriage is simple. Its something that you do in the house of God. You go to church, call everyone that love you and say those vows that you will cherish and do the rest of your life with. I havent found the person I would do the rest of my life with. I did found. But he died. And I havent found since then. And I cant lie, I dont know how to live a lie. I want everything to be in truthfulness. I want to be true to myself and God. I dont think I would want to marry anyone that I wont be able to stay with them forever. If I think I can, if I believe I can, I would do it, even if Im 78. Why not? Marriage is important. It doesnt make you, women, its not the end and be all of your life. But its also an important thing to do especially as you get older. And everyone is going their way, children have grown they are going their way. Theres something called loneliness, so you need a companion for the later years. Watch her speak below Hellen Ati, the alleged baby mama of Nigerian socialite Cubana Chief Priest, has stepped up her demands for him to recognize their son, insisting the boy bears a striking resemblance to him. In a post on her Instagram story section on Sunday, Hellen shared a screenshot of a direct message from an anonymous sender addressed to Cubana Chief Priest. The sender pointed out that the child looks more like him than his own children with his wife and urged the socialite to take responsibility for the boy. Advertisement READ MORE: Cubana Chief Priest Breaks Silence On Missing Davidos White Wedding In U.S. The anonymous message read: If I were your wife, I will advice you to go get the child or start taking care of him as your child because of hereafter and her own hildren too. How will you because of worldly life and power throw your own blood away? Its just my candid advice as a passionate Mum. I dont know the Helen or you from anywhere. Im just feeling for your children and the poor innocent boy you brought to life for offence he didnt commit. Today is my first time of checking on Helens page and tears rolled down my chicks seeing the stricking resemblance and no one has seriously advanced you to man up for the sake of God and claim the boy as your child. I decided to come on your page to drop this. Nothing Almitghty cant do. You might have a change of mind. Ma God guide you. This poor boy looks exactly like you more than the children from your wife at home. Accompanying the screenshot, Hellen wrote a direct message to Cubana Chief Priest, also known as Pascal Okechuchwu, urging him to come forward for a DNA test: You can check your DM Pascal, everyone loves your son more than you. Pascal Okechuchwu, come for DNA. Pascal, if you dont come for this DNA, youll suffer more than now. SEE POST: The Federal Government have arraigned five men in Abuja over the June 5, 2022 attack at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo Ondo State. On Monday, the accused Idris Abdulmalik Omeiza, Al Qasim Idris, Jamiu Abdulmalik, Abdulhaleem Idris, and Momoh Otuho Abubakar were formally charged with terrorism and membership of the Al-Shabab terrorist group, operating from Kogi State. They pleaded not guilty to the nine-count terrorism charge filed by the Department of State Services (DSS). Advertisement Prosecuting lawyer Calistus Eze urged the court to remand the suspects in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) pending trial. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/08/adc-irrelevant-in-kebbi-state-apc-chairman.html He stated, It is the standard practice that detainees family members and lawyers should be granted access after a formal written request. Eze added, It has become inevitable at this stage that the defendants be allowed access to their lawyers to enable them prepare their defence. Defence counsel Abdullahi Muhammad prayed the court to order the DSS to allow family members and lawyers access, emphasizing, The defendants have been in custody since 2022 when they were arrested and have not had access to family members and lawyers. Justice Emeka Nwite ordered that the defendants be remanded in the custody of the DSS but granted the request for access, ruling. The DSS must allow access to members of the defendants families and their lawyers. The trial was adjourned until August 19 for commencement. The charges include conspiracy to carry out the terrorist attack, possession and use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and causing grievous harm and death in furtherance of religious ideology. This attack remains one of the deadliest on a place of worship in Nigeria, with over 100 people injured alongside the fatalities. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has clarified that Corps Member Ushie Rita Uguamaye, known as Raye, was not denied her Certificate of National Service due to criticism of President Bola Tinubus administration. NYSC spokesperson Caroline Embu issued a statement on Sunday, addressing the rumors circulating online, calling them false and without merit. She explained that Rayes certificate was withheld because she missed the mandatory April biometric clearance. Advertisement READ MORE: Medical Doctors Are Trained To Keep Patients Sick For Profit Jim Iyke Contrary to these claims, Raye is one of 131 corps members whose CNS was withheld not as punishment for dissent, but for valid disciplinary reasons. Specifically, her service year was extended by two months because she failed to attend the April biometric clearance, as required by the NYSC Bye-Laws, the statement said. The NYSC emphasised that this kind of extension is a routine action applied fairly to all corps members who miss the clearance deadline. The scheme denied any political motivation behind the decision. It is important to note that this extension is a standard procedure and not unique to her case, and the principle of equal treatment was only applied in this case, the statement added. Raye, who completed her service in Lagos State, first attracted public attention after sharing a viral video expressing frustration with Nigerias economic challenges. Recently, she claimed on Instagram that she was refused her certificate alongside fellow corps members. According to her, NYSC officials told her she had not fulfilled the April clearance, which she disputes. She alleges, I had presented myself for clearance but was repeatedly told by my Local Government Inspector to wait. She further said that her Local Government Inspector refused to clear her, confiscated her file, and asked her to leave the office. SERAP (Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project) and NGE (Nigerian Guild of Editors) have sued Niger Governor Umar Bago over threats to close Badeggi FM Radio. The suit, marked FHC/L/CS/1587/2025, was filed on Friday at the Federal High Court in Lagos. SERAP and NGE are seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the governor and the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) from harassing or intimidating the radio station. Advertisement They also want to stop any threats to close the station, revoke its license, or profile its owner. Governor Umar Bago issued the order to revoke Badeggi FM Radios operational license during an All Progressives Congress (APC) Caucus meeting held earlier this month. The governor accused the station of inciting the public against his administration through its broadcasts. READ MORE:https://www.informationng.com/2025/08/ogun-govt-denies-political-witchaunt-against-gbenga-daniel-after-serving-him-demolition-notices-for-his-house-hotel.html In a statement shared by SERAP on Sunday, they warned, Unless the reliefs sought are granted, the governor will continue to threaten, intimidate, and harass the radio station and its owner. He may also weaponise the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) against the station. They asked the court to determine whether, under Section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution, the NBC has a legal duty to protect Badeggi FM from ongoing intimidation by the governor. They also questioned whether Section 2(1)(t) of the NBC Act imposes a similar duty on the commission to safeguard the station. SERAP and NGE argued that the NBCs failure to defend the stations independence against arbitrary executive interference breaches its statutory duty. They emphasised that the NBC is obligated to ensure fair and lawful broadcasting practices in Nigeria. They described the governors threats to revoke the license, demolish the stations premises, and profile its owner as unlawful acts violating media freedom and freedom of expression rights. The suit reads, The allegations of inciting violence against Badeggi FM and its owner are vague, unfounded, and unsubstantiated and apparently made to silence the radio station. Intimidating, harassing, and silencing critical or dissenting voices under the guise of vague and unsubstantiated national security concerns is a fundamental breach of the Nigerian Constitution. Nigerias international human rights obligations are also violated by such actions. The ongoing intimidation, harassment, and threat to arbitrarily revoke the stations license, unlawfully demolish its premises, and profile its owner are all clearly antithetical to the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution. The countrys international human rights obligations are also violated by these actions, the statement further said. The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has apprehended three suspects linked to the killing of Liberty Radio staff member, Azubuko Nwakama, who was attacked and robbed at Panteka Market, Mpape, Abuja, in June 2024. In a statement on Sunday, the commands spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, said detectives from the Mpape Division immediately began a comprehensive investigation after the incident. According to her, Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, attached to Mpape Division, have arrested three suspects in connection with the murder of Mr. Azubuko Nwakama, a staff member of Liberty Radio, who was attacked and robbed on 14th June 2024 at Panteka Market, Mpape, Abuja. Advertisement READ MORE: Fire Destroys Goods Worth Millions Of Naira In Oyo Store Following the incident in June 2024, detectives from the Mpape Division immediately launched a comprehensive investigation. The suspects had dispossessed the victim of his mobile phone and other valuables. Despite extensive tracking efforts, the device remained switched off, making it difficult to trace. The investigation team remained on the case for over a year, closely monitoring possible digital traces linked to the stolen phone. The breakthrough came on 2nd August 2025, when the victims phone, a Redmi 13C, was switched on. It was immediately tracked to one Mutari Lawal, 32 yrs, from Kano State, who was promptly arrested. Adeh explained that Lawal admitted to the crime and revealed he had kept the phone in Kano for a year before turning it on to erase its data and insert his SIM card. She said, During interrogation, Mutari confessed to attacking and stabbing the deceased before making away with his valuables. He named his accomplices as DanAsabe Ibrahim, 22yrs, from Zamfara State, and Danjuma Ibrahim 18yrs, both of no fixed address in Mpape, with whom he carried out the crime. He further disclosed that he took the stolen phone to Kano, kept it switched off for a year, and only powered it on in August 2025 to wipe data, insert his SIM card, and return to Abuja. FCT Commissioner of Police, Ajao Adewale, praised the operatives for their determination and warned criminals that they would face the full weight of the law if caught. Recent Moore College of Art and Design graduate Kaylei Marquez of North Philadelphia is looking for a job to kickstart her career. She's working at Trader Joe's in the meantime. Read more Yong Kim / Staff Photographer Recent college graduates are facing one of the toughest job markets in recent years and the Philly market is no exception. The unemployment rate among this group is typically a little higher than the overall U.S. unemployment rate, and its been inching up over the past couple of years. Earlier this spring, employers said they were dialing back their plans to hire new college grads, and opportunities in certain areas like government and policy work were drying up, the Wall Street Journal reported. Advertisement Its certainly a bit of a mixed bag, said Jennifer Kebea, president of Campus Philly, an economic development organization that aims to keep students of Philadelphia colleges in the area after graduation. It is no secret right now that [getting hired] is a bit challenging, and thats across the board. Its not just with early-career talent. Thats due to uncertainty in the economy, shifting hiring practices, and reliance on AI to screen candidates, Kebea said, as well as a lack of openings in some organizations because experienced employees are staying in their jobs longer. And for the recent grads, the goal isnt to get just any job, but one that builds a career. They also want flexibility in work hours and location, a positive workplace culture, fair pay, and the opportunity to grow, said Kebea. Advertisement But also, stability, she said. Thats something that I think this particular group of students and recent grads havent experienced a lot of through their last few years of being in school and entering the workplace. The cohort that graduated this spring was wrapping up their high school education and choosing where to go to college amid the pandemic. Several recent alumni of Philly-area colleges spoke with The Inquirer about their first few months postgraduation. Heres what theyre seeing and experiencing. JUMP TO SECTION Shes making her resume AI-friendly Shes juggling freelance and part-time work while job-hunting Hes at a crossroads: Accept the job offer or wait for more Shes watching federal funding cuts and moving out of Philly Shes making her resume AI-friendly Recent Moore College of Art & Design graduate Kaylei Marquez at Logan Square. Read more Yong Kim / Staff Photographer Kaylei Marquez School: Moore College of Art & Design Studied: Animation and game arts, minor in graphic design Goal: A job in packaging design or web development When the University of the Arts abruptly closed last year, it was a very stressful summer, said Kaylei Marquez, 23, of North Philadelphia. I was debating on dropping out or continuing getting my degree. Advertisement She ultimately transferred to Moore College of Art & Design and graduated in May. She would love a job in packaging design or web development, she said, and has been looking generally into design positions. In the meantime, shes working at Trader Joes on Market Street. Marquez has applied to at least 115 positions through LinkedIn alone, she said, but hasnt gotten any interviews. Its been a little disheartening, she said. Shes learning as she goes, seeking out networking opportunities, connecting with recruiters, and adjusting her application to be better read by AI and other common screening tools. Advertisement I went through a lot of trial and errors throughout this application process, she said. I originally had like a very artistic resume, and then I realized that that wouldnt really read well with [an applicant tracking system], so then I ditched that. A job portal recently told her that her resume matched only about 18% of the job description because she didnt use specific words like process or strategic, she said. Marquez tried adding in the suggested words and got a higher score around 80%. Thats a little crazy. It is a bit annoying, Marquez said. I dont really like the use of AI when it comes to sorting through applications, but Im trying my best to adapt to it. Shes juggling freelance and part-time work while job-hunting Recent Temple University graduate Alana Palmer, on campus. Read more Jessica Griffin / Staff Photographer Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. (left) and attorney Jordan Barbone after a brief hearing on Monday, in which the state offered him a plea deal, on charges related to the alleged endangerment of his daughter, in which he would avoid prison but would force him to relinquish his office. Small said he would "absolutely not" take the deal. His attorney called the case, in which Small's wife, La'Quetta Small, the city schools superintendent, was also charged, "politically motivated." Read more MAYS LANDING, N.J. An emphatic Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. said Monday that he was turning down an offer to plead guilty in a case involving the alleged assault of his daughter that would have forced him to give up office. Absolutely not, Small said outside the courtroom after a brief hearing before Superior Court Judge Bernard DeLury. Advertisement The proposed deal called for Small to plead guilty to third-degree aggravated assault and avoid prison time. But the deal would have required Small to forfeit his elected office, Atlantic County prosecutor Elizabeth Fischer told the judge. Smalls wife, Superintendent of Schools LaQuetta Small, is also charged in the case. She was offered a plea deal to a charge of second-degree child endangerment that would have sent her to prison for five years, the prosecutor said in court. Her attorney, Michael Schreiber, said that they were rejecting that offer but that negotiations would be ongoing. DeLury set a trial date for Marty Small for Nov. 10, a week after voters decide whether to reelect him, and Dec. 1 for LaQuetta Small. Another hearing was set for Sept. 25. Although the plea offers were not formally turned down in court, Small and his attorney left little doubt outside the courtroom. Its been turned down, said Marty Smalls attorney, Jordan Barbone. The mayor has resisted calls for him to consider stepping aside, including from Gov. Phil Murphy. Speaking outside the courthouse, Barbone called the case politically motivated. In no situation will he be forfeiting office, Barbone said. In no situation do we believe this is a proper prosecution. Marty Small is charged with second-degree child endangerment, third-degree aggravated assault, and witness tampering all of which could result in a maximum of 25 years in prison if convicted on all charges. The states offer would have also mandated counseling and no contact with the victim. Small easily won the primary in June to become the Democratic nominee for mayor. In heavily Democratic Atlantic City, that would likely put him on a path to reelection, despite the charges hanging over him. The Smalls were charged in April 2024 with the physical abuse of their then-14 year old daughter on multiple occasions the previous December and January, including one incident in which prosecutors alleged that the mayor knocked his daughter unconscious with a broom and threatened to earth slam her down the steps. The prosecutor alleged that LaQuetta Small punched her daughter multiple times on her chest leaving bruising. Another incident alleged that LaQuetta Small, who remains in her job as superintendent, dragged her daughter by her hair, then struck her with a belt on her shoulders, leaving marks. Also charged in the case is Constance Days-Chapman, a family friend and the principal of Atlantic City High School, who was arrested on March 28 on accusations of failing to make a report to a state child welfare agency about an allegation of child abuse. Days-Chapman is on paid leave and awaiting trial. The daughters boyfriend at the time said at an earlier court hearing that he had made recordings of the alleged beatings during a phone call with the daughters permission. The judge has ruled them admissible at trial. Tawanda Davis, a resident of 1900 block of West Bristol Street, has been living with boarded-up windows after an explosion across the street from her rented rowhouse. She took a moment to pray before returning to the home: God bless us with new windows or a new home. According to Davis, the landlord is aware of the situation. Read more Tawanda Davis rowhouse has plywood boards for windows. Her original glass panes were shattered when a June 29 explosion destroyed three homes and killed one person across the street from her Nicetown residence of about eight years. Advertisement Those plywood boards have acted as barriers to the elements in the weeks that followed, but since the explosion, her landlord has yet to replace them with working windows, and Davis is unsure if there is a plan to do so. In the days after the explosion, as she asked for a replacement timeline, he suggested Davis move out. He offered to give back her $2,400 security deposit, Davis said. READ MORE: Nicetown residents search for normalcy after explosion kills one neighbor, injures two others When Davis sought help from Councilmember Kendra Brooks office, her landlord, Adrian Tyler, went radio silent. Withholding August rent hasnt gotten his attention either. Its not like him, said Davis. If Im late with my rent, hes on me, hes calling me, hes at the house. The Inquirer also couldnt reach Tyler after multiple attempts. Tyler, according to city records, has owned the property on the 1900 block of West Bristol Street since 2004. He hasnt had a rental license for the property since 2005. Charlene Samuels, a constituent services representative at Brooks office who spoke to Tyler, said she believes the failure to replace the windows is a retaliatory measure. Its just sad to me that in a tragedy such as this, youre going to ask this woman to leave with her family and children, and are only willing to give a minimum amount of money to do that, said Samuels. Samuels, Brooks, and housing rights advocates say tragedies like the Nicetown explosion often expose the vulnerabilities faced by renters who rely on landlords to have the proper insurance and to be proactive when it comes to getting repairs. By the time renters catch on to deficiencies, its often too late. With no word on a pending fix, Davis has given in to the idea she needs to leave. She feels that even if Tyler were to put up new windows, she cant count on him in case of an emergency. Whats more, in seeking help for her window fix, shes realized that she never received a lead-safe certification, a relatively recent requirement for landlords renting properties built before 1978, where children younger than 6 will be living. City records say the property Davis lives in with her five grandchildren ages 1 to 7 was built around 1930. Landlords are required to bring out certified technicians to determine whether a property is either lead-safe or lead-free. Davis said that hasnt happened. Fatal explosion upends a home Davis problems began around 5 a.m. on June 29. She and her 6-year-old granddaughter were in the bathroom when an explosion across the street shook the home. Davis returned to her street-facing bedroom to find it covered in shards of glass. As smoke and screams penetrated the air, Davis evacuated her remaining grandchildren to the rubble-filled street and called Tyler to inform him of what happened. Though Tyler was on site the day of the explosion, Davis said it took him two days to board up the broken windows. During that time, Davis paid for three nights at a hotel out of pocket to avoid the lingering smoke the nonprofit aid organizations on site told her they would not be able to help her with the room expenses. It was also around this time that Tyler suggested she leave. She connected with Samuels on July 2, who reached out to Tyler the same day for more information. At first, Samuels didnt rule out that it could be an insurance issue. The explosion revealed that some residents didnt have homeowners or rental insurance. But Samuels said the conversation with Tyler quickly soured. When she suggested he offer Davis $6,000 to $10,000 for an expedited move, she said Tyler scoffed, pointing out that Davis had a month-to-month lease and called Samuels a bad representative, hanging up on her. An insurance adjuster came to the house two weeks after the explosion, Davis said. Shed hoped that would mean new windows would arrive soon after, but none materialized, and by this point Tyler was not responding to her texts. READ MORE: Pennsylvania tenants rights guide At a resource fair after the explosion, she learned of a program called FreshStartPHL, run by the Department of Planning and Development and the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation. Should she meet income requirements, the city might be able to pay three months rent and up to $1,000 in moving costs for her to relocate. But Davis would have to find a landlord who agrees to participate and has a property in good standing with the city. Hopefully the funds dont run out before I find a place to stay, said Davis, her voice breaking. The city, meanwhile, continues to encourage residents affected by the natural gas explosion to contact L&I for free interior inspections. Jamila Davis, spokesperson for the Department of Planning and Development, said while some residents wont be eligible for everything, there are many programs and services available. We continue to encourage persons affected to connect with a CEO Community Health Worker, through Mayors Office of Community Engagement, so that we can keep helping people navigate their unique situations with the finite resource pool we have, the spokesperson said in an email. Brooks said the Nicetown explosion highlights how much of the citys infrastructure is old, interconnected, and how there is no meaningful social safety net for dozens of people who suddenly found themselves without a safe home. We need to massively scale up home repair programs, hold landlords accountable for basic safety of their properties, and start building new social housing for people at all income levels, Brooks said in a statement. As Davis searches for a new rental, shes added a new worry to the list: What if she cant get her security deposit back? Im so overwhelmed and angry, she said. I try not to cry for the grandkids, but its not fair. Gabon has broken ground on what is described as a landmark data centre in Nkok Special Economic Zone, a multi-sectoral industrial park 27 kilometres from Libreville. This ambitious project, supported by the Ministry of the Digital Economy and led by pan-African digital services company ST Digital, is described as a strategic move to promote digital independence and diversify an economy traditionally reliant on resource extraction. The data centre is expected to be operational in five months and will serve as a foundational pillar for a more resilient and modern digital ecosystem. There appear to be few specifics about the data centres power or capacity, albeit the facility will offer sovereign cloud services, ensuring that all sensitive data remains within the countrys borders and that businesses in key sectors like finance, healthcare, and education will be able to operate more securely and efficiently. Local news reports add that this new digital environment is designed to boost innovation and competitiveness, making Gabon an attractive destination for foreign investment. In addition, ST Digitals focus on energy efficiency and minimal environmental impact aligns with Gabons broader sustainability goals. A pioneer in the secure, sovereign cloud in French-speaking Africa, ST Digital is a data centre infrastructure operator in Cote d'Ivoire, Cameroon, Togo, Congo and Gabon. Its Cote d'Ivoire project is due to launch in the last quarter of 2025. A drone view of the collapsed homes in the 1900 block of West Bristol Street on Monday, June 30, 2025 in Philadelphia. Three rowhouses collapsed early Sunday after a fire and explosion in Nicetown. One person was found dead at the scene. Read more Willie Lovelace, 69, does not know what the next week will bring after a fire and subsequent explosion Sunday left the Nicetown home he was living in severely damaged, requiring it to be torn down. I got to start all over again, start over from scratch, said Lovelace from the Red Cross House in University City. At the age of 69 years old, its very hard. Advertisement Even so, Lovelace is grateful to be alive. The explosion, which took place shortly before 5 a.m., resulted in one fatality, the hospitalization of two women ages 82 and 62, the destruction of three homes on the 1900 block of West Bristol Street, and damage to five other properties. PECO, which intentionally disrupted service to dozens of homes as emergency responders worked to prevent additional collapses, said it restored power to 41 of the 44 homes shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday. The utility said there was no evidence suggesting any connection between PECOs aerial electric equipment in the area and the explosion. Still, Philadelphia Fire Department Commissioner Jeffrey Thompson warned that finding the cause of the explosion may take time. Fire Department spokesperson Rachel Cunningham said contractors continued to clear the scene Monday, and once the Department of Licenses and Inspections deemed the site secure, the Fire Marshals Office would deploy its certified accelerant detection canines, which is standard operating procedure. The dogs will help determine the cause and origin of the fire and help investigators gain more insight into how the collapse occurred. The day after the explosion, residents tried to navigate their anxieties and the hole left on the block where homes once stood. Two of their neighbors remained hospitalized, one in critical condition. The more than 100 residents who were asked to evacuate the neighborhood trickled back home as local emergency responders and the Fire Marshal continued to dig through debris and investigate the cause of the blast. A PGW spokesperson said the utility was assisting investigators and had yet to resume service for three homes, awaiting the go-ahead from the Fire Department. Midafternoon, about 10 teens equipped with brooms and dustpans diligently cleaned up the block. But a nearby explosion Monday left residents of the block, including Stacy Oglesby, in a state of panic. According to the Fire Department, it was a propane tank and unrelated to Sundays explosion, but people like Oglesby said feeling the whole area shift again took her right back to Sundays explosion, which left glass all over her bed. It was an added stress on an already busy day. Emergency services told her she could return home, but her insurance told her she couldnt stay in the property because of the toxins caused by the smoke. As far as aid, Oglesby said she hadnt heard from the city, and the Red Cross gave her a case number but couldnt offer any additional help because damage to her house wasnt severe enough. But I have to find somewhere to stay, she said. Alana Mauger, spokesperson for the American Red Cross Southeastern PA, said the nonprofit was able to provide financial assistance to two families that should meet immediate needs for up to three days. It also connected Lovelace to an overnight shelter until the organization could get him a room at the Red Cross House. Lovelace said he was grateful the Red Cross was able to connect him with a room but worried about how hell be able to make money to get back on his feet and how long hell be able to stay with the nonprofit. I was doing plumbing work and all my tools were in the basement, he said. I cant retrieve anything. I dont have anything. For now, hes just focusing on whats next. Lovelace had his first appointment Tuesday with a Red Cross case manager, who will go over next steps with him. By redirecting funding away from Housing First programs, the presidents order threatens the fragile progress that dozens of cities have made toward ending homelessness, writes Project HOME's Candice Player. In the photo, the nonprofit's CEO Donna Bullock talks with Stanley Shelton (left), a resident since 2010, on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. Read more At the end of July, the White House issued an executive order focused on homelessness titled Ending Crime and Disorder on Americas Streets. The order explicitly targets Housing First an approach to housing that provides people who are homeless with permanent housing, rapidly and without preconditions such as sobriety or participation in treatment programs. Once housed, people have access to voluntary supportive services to help them maintain their housing and improve their overall well-being. The presidents order calls for federal agencies to end their support for these initiatives and instead begin [s]hifting homeless individuals into long-term institutional settings. But that wont solve our housing crisis and it certainly wont achieve the presidents goal to restore public order. Advertisement By redirecting funding away from Housing First programs, the presidents order threatens the fragile progress that dozens of cities have made toward ending homelessness. Since 2011, Houston has reduced chronic homelessness by nearly 70%, and overall homelessness by more than 60%, housing more than 26,000 people through its Housing First initiative, the Way Home. While homelessness and unsheltered homelessness have reached record levels in the United States, between 2007 and 2016, homelessness declined by an impressive 15%. Whats more, those declines occurred during a period that included the Great Recession, when unemployment doubled, banks failed, and millions of homeowners were unable to pay their mortgages. Instead of encouraging cities to sweep encampments and disappear homeless people into institutions, the Obama administration responded to our national crisis with a $1.5 billion investment in a new initiative: the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program. That program prevented homelessness by providing short-term rental assistance and case management for households facing eviction. Between 2007 and 2016, our national inventory of permanent supportive housing also increased by more than 80% a surge that began under the Bush administration and continued through the Obama years. Those strategic shifts laid the foundation for more responsive and accountable homelessness response systems nationwide. Sadly, instead of doubling down on what works, the Trump administration is trying to dismantle it. The administrations budget proposal for the 2026 fiscal year includes sweeping changes that would effectively eliminate federal investments in the Continuum of Care and Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS programs, both of which are crucial sources of funding for permanent supportive housing. The White House has proposed to roll those dollars into the Emergency Solutions Grant program, but those dollars are limited to short-term or medium-term assistance (i.e., a maximum of two years). Rather than instructing federal agencies to scale proven solutions like permanent supportive housing and rental assistance, the presidents order trades on worn-out myths about the relationship between mental illness and violence, while leaning into the familiar politics of disorder, danger, and urban decay. In reality, most people who have been diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder never engage in violence, and only a small fraction of violence in the United States is attributable to mental illness alone. While some studies have shown that participation in an assisted outpatient treatment program is associated with positive outcomes, including reductions in hospitalizations and arrests, the same research suggests that those benefits largely depend on access to high-quality services, not the court order itself. The presidents order would reward cities and states for clearing encampments, but vigorous enforcement of anti-camping laws wont solve our problems, either. Without a meaningful pathway to permanent housing, orders to move along simply shuffle people from block to block without resolving their housing status. In Philadelphia, we are keenly aware of the complexities that surround ending and preventing chronic street homelessness. Since 1989, Project HOME has been on the front lines of combating homelessness with proven, evidence-based approaches. Today, Project HOME has more than 1,000 units of housing and offers a range of supportive services across Philadelphia. In fiscal year 2025, 96% of our residents in permanent supportive housing were stably housed for one year or more, and 84% maintained a stable income. Their successes and the richness of their lives stand as a powerful testament to a simple truth affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court nearly 50 years ago in OConnor v. Donaldson: [T]he mere presence of mental illness does not disqualify a person from preferring his home to the comforts of an institution. We will continue to examine the implications of this executive order, but we will do so with the deeply held conviction that having a disabling condition should never mean spending the rest of your life in an institution. None of us are home until all of us are home. Candice Player is vice president of advocacy, public policy, and street outreach at Project HOME in Philadelphia. Landlord and tenant law can be confusing. Were here to help. Weve been breaking down the rules around common landlord and tenant problems. Got a question we havent covered? Email us. Here are some useful resources about your rights as a tenant: Reading and understanding a lease can sometimes be daunting. But its important to avoid potential issues with your tenancy. If youre applying for an apartment, heres what you need to look for before you sign. If you need to move before your lease ends, you may be on the hook for as long as your lease lasts. But there are some situations when you can legally break your lease, and other ways to negotiate with your landlord if you have to move early. If you have rodents or bugs, whos responsible can be complicated, but if the infestation is because of defects in the structure, your landlord may have to fix the problems. Theres also something called the implied warranty of habitability, which may also come into play. Heres what you need to know. Your landlord generally cant come into your home whenever they feel like it, though some may believe they have that right. But when can they, and cant they, come into your home? We break it down. How much can landlords ask for? And when do they have to give you back your money? There are important rules to know about how much money you have to give and when you can get it back. Withholding rent can be a way to get your landlord to make critical repairs. But you cant just stop paying rent. Heres how to do it legally and what you need to know about the process and what happens if your landlord tries to retaliate. An eviction notice can be extremely stressful. But if you think you may get one, or already have, there are some programs, and people, who can help. Heres how to get help to stay in your home. Rent increases are common. But what are the rules? There are no limits on how much your landlord can increase your rent, but there are limits on when they can raise it and how much notice they have to give you. Heres when your landlord can raise your rent and by how much. For many renters, its among the worst-case scenarios: Your landlord notifies you that the property has been put up for sale. But what does that mean for your lease? Heres what happens during a sale or foreclosure. Finding a home or apartment to rent is stressful under most circumstances, but it can be even more difficult if you have a criminal record. Many landlords, after all, perform criminal background checks as part of the application process, and having a criminal record can legally be grounds for denial. Heres what you need to know. If you have a disability, you have the right to reasonable accommodation, whether youre looking for an apartment or you already live in one. That could mean alterations to the property like if you need a ramp to help with mobility or you need an exception to a landlords policy, like paying the rent on a different day to accommodate disability assistance checks, or you need a support animal, and your property has a no-pet policy. But how does it work and what happens if your landlord wont help? Heres what you need to know. If you identify as LGBTQ, youre much more likely to face discrimination in many facets of your life. But what about for housing? Can a landlord evict you or refuse to rent to you in the first place because of your sexual orientation or gender identity? No. Philadelphia has strong protections for LGBTQ renters, and there are also both state and federal protections that can help. If you think youve been discriminated against, or you need to know where you can reach out for help, we have a full guide to help you understand your rights, and what recourse you have. Pennsylvania legalized medical marijuana in 2016. But what does that mean for your housing situation? Its complicated. Because marijuana is still illegal federally, using it could mean youre not eligible for public housing, or that a landlord could evict you or refuse to rent to you in the first place. The essential advice: Check what your lease says, and consider the consequences when youre deciding whether to disclose your status to a new or existing landlord. If there are bills that are in your landlords name, and they stop paying them, what happens to you? There are rules to help protect tenants if they get a notice that a utility is going to be shut off. Heres what to do if that happens. READ MORE: Our best Philly tips: Read our most useful stories Then-Sen. Bob Casey speaks during an election eve rally and concert supporting the candidacy of Vice President Kamala Harris at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. Read more Former U.S. Sen. Bob Casey will join a Philadelphia law firm next month, providing his expertise in state and federal government to a firm he once worked for as a paralegal before attending law school. Dilworth Paxson, a large Philly based firm, announced Monday that Casey will join it on Sept. 1 in an of-counsel role for the firms corporate and business group. Advertisement Casey, a Democrat, served three terms in the U.S. Senate before losing his reelection bid last year to Republican Sen. Dave McCormick. In his post-Senate career Casey has accepted the role at Dilworth Paxson alongside a fellowship at the University of Scranton. In his role at the law firm, Casey said he expects to provide existing clients with expertise in state and federal government while working to recruit new clients. Its a distinguished firm, and it has distinguished history, Casey said. Its also a firm that I think reflects my values. Under the quickly changing dynamics of President Donald Trumps administration, Casey said his experience in the Senate could help guide clients. Its challenging, but ... it helps to have been in the Senate at a time when the current administration was in its first term, Casey said. Casey is no stranger to the firm. His father, Gov. Bob Casey Sr., was a partner at Dilworth before being elected governor in 1986. When he began considering practicing law after last years Senate race, Dilworth was among the first firms he met with this year, Casey Jr. said. Lawrence McMichael, the chairman of the firm, worked alongside Caseys father when he joined the firm and noted that there is now a conference room named for the former governor, who passed away in 2000. The former senator, McMichael said, will provide an invaluable resource to clients while maintaining a home base in Scranton. Hes going to be a tremendous resource for us and were going to put him to work right away, McMichael said. As he begins a new chapter of his career in law, Casey said he felt Dilworth Paxson shared his values a respect for the rule of law and independence of the judiciary in an era where the federal governments respect for those institutions has been undermined by the Trump administration. If you read that history its full of institutions being challenged, and so we have to I think draw upon some of that history to fortify those institutions, he said. Casey said he expects he will continue to speak out on political issues now that hes left public office, and in his position at the University of Scranton he is hoping to encourage more young people to consider careers in public service. As his former colleague, Democratic Sen. John Fetterman, has faced increasing scrutiny and criticism including from members of his own party Casey was reluctant to speak on the controversy. Fetterman, he said, was a strong vote against Trumps recent budget reconciliation bill and legislation rescinding federal funding. Those are two critical votes for our state and for the programs and policies that help the most vulnerable in our state, Casey said. I was very happy to see John cast those votes. But Im not going to try to analyze the back and forth that he has to deal with. The 17-story building at 16th and Spruce has a new owner and a plan for revival. Read more After years of decay, a vacant graffiti-covered apartment tower near Rittenhouse Square is finally in the hands of a new owner, New York-based Zoria Housing. The 17-story property at the corner of 16th and Spruce Streets has been vacant for more than five years, owing to a failed redevelopment project by Main Line-based real estate investor Dovid Daniel. Advertisement Zoria Housing, which purchased the property for $7.7 million in July, did not respond to requests for comment. However, the company has retained the buildings previous project architect Stuart Rosenberg of the firm SgRA. He says the company hopes to complete the project in 12 to 18 months. Theyre interested in doing this relatively quickly, Rosenberg said. The planning process has already started. Its not visible yet, but its already in motion. After three years of court disputes over the project, public records show a mortgage linked to the property at 257 S. 16th St. was reassigned last month to a property registered to the home of Monsey, N.Y.-based landlord Michael Goldstein to resolve outstanding debts. But Goldstein quickly flipped the property to Zoria Housing. Several Philadelphia-based developers had considered redeveloping the property over the years, but the financials of the historic property are difficult after its long vacancy, the citys recent multifamily glut, and the relatively small size of the 60-unit tower. The building was too small for bigger developers to really be interested, and buyers of small real estate tend to be very unrealistic about what real operating expenses and things like that are, said Michael Pestronk, CEO of the Post Bros., an apartment builder in Philadelphia. Rosenberg said Zoria Housing planned to seek historic tax credits for the property, and the company has other advantages when it comes to this property. One of the reasons why this particular organization was able to make the numbers work is because they also have a construction company so they self-perform, Rosenberg said. If you can acquire a property like this using your own equity, as opposed to having to borrow dollars, you have a lot more flexibility. An unsightly neighbor The property at 257 S. 16th St. has become an unusual eyesore in its tony neighborhood and has worried nearby neighbors for years because of break-ins and vandalism. The trouble dates to 2019, when a company called USRE 257 bought the 107-year-old beaux arts style tower with plans to renovate the apartment building, historically known as the Sprucemont. Construction work started, using a $14 million loan from Citizens Bank, but ground to a halt in 2022. Rosenberg said in a 2023 interview that Daniel, whom he had worked with on the building, underestimated the scale of renovations that the historic building needed. The company, owned and operated by the developer, defaulted on its loan and filed for bankruptcy after the bank sought to collect on $12 million in unpaid debts. A string of contractors also filed suits, saying they had not been paid. In 2023, lender Citizens Bank successfully petitioned to have the tower placed into court-appointed receivership, and it has nominally been stewarded since then by SREA Property Management LLC although often not to neighbors satisfaction. Graffiti quickly covered the exterior of the building, and neighbors asked SREA and Citizens Bank to do a better job of cleaning the structure and making it safe from intruders. Maintenance reports filed in court by SREA this year acknowledged that managing the building was unusually complex and that vandals frequently accessed the building, leaving trash, graffiti, and urine while stealing materials such as copper. I have gotten complaints from my residents about it, and I get asked about it literally by everybody that comes to Philly to visit, said Giuliano Pignataro, who owns the Touraine apartment building across the street. Anybody that comes to stay in the apartment, anybody that walks past it that knows me says, What the hell is going on with this building? Foreclosure of the building was repeatedly delayed by bank intervention, as Citizens sought to find a buyer. Court filings this year state that Citizens received several written offers and entered into a sales agreement with an unspecified buyer on May 2. A company registered to Goldsteins home, called 257 South 16th Street Note LLC, assumed the mortgage soon afterward, according to city property records. Now Rosenberg says that Zoria Housing, which is based in Queens, will bring the saga to a close. Im really excited by this because Ive been working on this project for almost five years, and were finally going to be able to restore this beautiful historic structure, Rosenberg said. Im sure the impact on the neighborhood is going to be enormous. The Main Gate at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, pictured in 2013, at the Old Pool Farm in Schwenksville, Pa. Read more Pitch a tent, grab a friend, and take in the sounds of one of the countrys oldest folk music festivals in Montgomery County. The Philadelphia Folk Festival returns for its 62nd year at Old Pool Farm from Friday, Aug. 15, through Sunday, Aug. 17, with more than 40 local and national artists spanning traditional and contemporary folk, indie Americana, and everything in between. Kuf Knotz, hometown award-winning rapper, who has performed with Bruce Springsteen, will take the stage with harpist Christine Elise for their beloved hip-hop and harp performance. Read more Thousands of music fans will camp out overnight on the farm fields which operate year-round while tens of thousands more will come for the daytime shows during the three-day event. Heres everything you need to know before you go. Tickets to the Philadelphia Folk Festival The festivals ticketing page has packages for admission, parking, and camping. Children 4 and younger get in free. Discounted tickets are available for youth in two tiers: ages 5 to 11, and ages 12 to 17. Buy Philadelphia Folk Festival tickets at folkfest.org/tickets. Advertisement Single-day pass: $100-$120 for adults; $10-$60 for youth. All-festival pass: $250 for adults; $5-$120.50 for youth. Camping packages: $300 for adults; $15-$148 for youth. Schedule Gates open to the festival each day at 10 a.m. Performances wrap up around midnight on Friday, 11:45 p.m. on Saturday, and by 9:30 p.m. on Sunday. There are seven stages throughout the festival, so bookmark the online schedule on your phone at folkfest.org/performers. Alejandro Escovedo plays the City Winery on Sunday. Read more Courtesy of the Artist Performer lineup More than 40 acts will perform across the festivals seven stages. Advertisement Headliners: Alejandro Escovedo the Mexican American rocker whose career spans San Francisco punk bands to collaborations with Bruce Springsteen along with Irish traditionalists Solas and saxophonist-vocalist Vanessa Collier. Dont miss: Hip-hop harp duo Kuf Knotz and Christine Elise on Saturday at noon on the Camp Stage. See the full lineup at folkfest.org/performers. John Gorka will be one of the headliners at the Philadelphia Folk Festival, which will be staged at the Old Pool Farm in Upper Salford Township in Montgomery County from Aug. 15-17, 2025. Read more Joe Del Tufo Camping at the Philadelphia Folk Festival Camp out at Philadelphia Folk Festival in the large fields of Old Pool Farm. Camping sites are on a first-come, first-served basis, and organizers ask campers to keep a minimal site footprint, especially in high-traffic areas, so theres enough space for everyone. Bring suitable footwear, a refillable water bottle, flashlight, food, and essential medicine. Oh, and of course your guitar, the festivals website reads. Advertisement For camping rules and FAQs, visit folkfest.org/camping. Philadelphia Folk Fest parking Parking is limited on-site, with reserved, free, VIP, and accessible spaces available. Buy a pass in advance at folkfest.org/tickets to guarantee a spot. CHONGQING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- As more than 5,000 drones soared into the night sky over southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, they formed a dazzling array of vibrant patterns and shapes that mesmerized the spectators below. Waves of excited cheers and people shouting "Wow" erupted from the crowd as the breathtaking drone light show illuminated the city's skyline. Since mid-April of this year, Chongqing has been hosting an exciting drone light show every Saturday night in its downtown area, where the Yangtze and Jialing rivers converge. This grand spectacle has quickly become a new hallmark of Chongqing, injecting fresh vitality into the city's tourism industry. On June 17 this year, Chongqing dazzled the public by setting a Guinness World Record with an amazing drone performance featuring 11,787 drones. The spectacular show was enjoyed by over 100,000 residents and visitors. "The drone show perfectly complements Chongqing's stunning nightscape, with patterns that highlight the city's unique features. It's truly a visual feast," said Tong Cheng, a tourist from east China's Shandong Province. The drone shows not only illuminate Chongqing's night sky, but also energize the city's growing night-time economy. "Each performance lasts only 20 minutes, but the consumer activity it sparks continues throughout the night," said Li Jingliang, director of the drone show. "Although the show does not start until 9 p.m., the surrounding area begins to bustle with visitors as early as 5 p.m., bringing an early boost to local businesses," said Pei Zongquan, who runs a restaurant near the venue. The Sandongqiao Folk Culture Street near the performance venue has also seen a surge in consumer activity. "Private rooms and outdoor seating at riverside restaurants were fully booked two days before the show. On performance days, these restaurants see their revenues increase by nearly 80 percent compared to regular days," said Zhang Youjia, who oversees business operations for the area. Data show that since this regular drone performance started, it has unleashed over 350 million yuan (about 49.03 million U.S. dollars) of consumption. These achievements owe much to the technical team behind the show. "To many people's surprise, more than 5,000 drones can be controlled by only one computer and one manipulator," said Li, who added that the key to achieving precise coordination in drone formations lies in real-time control and seamless information exchange among the drones. Each drone is equipped with advanced sensors and communication devices. The sensors accurately capture data such as the drone's position, speed, and orientation, while the communication devices ensure this information is rapidly shared among all drones. Based on this data and a preset formation algorithm, each drone calculates its flight path and movements, enabling precisely coordinated flight. Chongqing's drone shows are also distinguished by their ever-evolving creative designs, featuring patterns inspired by city landmarks, local cuisine, and traditional festivals. Each show offers tourists a fresh and memorable experience. The show has become a must-see attraction in Chongqing, drawing visitors from across China and even around the world every Saturday. With this level of popularity, the prospects for regular drone performances are highly promising, according to Li. Operator and global technology group e& UAE has deployed what is described as the Gulf Cooperation Councils (GCCs) first dual band 64T64R MetaAAU (active antenna unit), an advanced radio unit from technology vendor Huawei, on its live 5G network, a new technology that not only improves how 5G networks perform but also uses less energy and reduces the amount of equipment needed. The GCC is a political and economic union made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The dual band 64T64R MetaAAU combines multiple frequencies (2.6GHz and 3.5GHz) in a single unit, cutting hardware needs and lowering power consumption by 35%. Smart energy-saving features, like symbol-level sleep, lower energy consumption by an additional 15% during low traffic periods. In addition, the partners say, by using advanced antenna technology with double the capacity of traditional units 384 antenna units compared to 192 units the coverage capability is improved significantly, strengthening indoor signals and enhancing connectivity in busy areas by 30% to 60%. They add that, unlike traditional setups that require separate installations for each band, this integrated solution reduces equipment footprint by 60% and halves the deployment time, making network rollouts quicker and more efficient. Abdulrahman Al Humaidan, Senior Vice President/Access Network Development, e& UAE, explains: This deployment is a breakthrough in compact, high-performance network technology and an important marker on our road to net zero by 2030 and 5G-Advanced. By merging two key 5G frequency bands into a single, intelligent unit, weve halved the amount of equipment needed at our mobile sites while significantly improving coverage, speed and energy efficiency. Its a smarter, greener way to deliver better connectivity to our customers. The current system: LawCovers monopoly In practice, theres only one game in town: LawCover, a specialised mutual insurer owned by the Law Society of NSW and the NSW Bar Association. LawCover provides cover to virtually all of the states private practice solicitors, with terms and premiums set in consultation with the Law Society and approved by the Attorney General under section 95 of the Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014. Gayle Harmar has taken on the role of head of personal lines, responsible for underwriting across residential strata and landlord policies. Harmar, who has more than two decades of underwriting experience in both Australia and the UK, contributed to the development of the new landlord product. In terms of a cover that offers both business and leisure travel cover, Berry said there are still relatively few options for SMEs. Until last year, he said, we really have never had much of a solution for our clients in this space. The decision to offer PassportCards combination offering 12 months ago, he said, prompted an uptick of interest from SME clients. For the leisure cover option, we saw some really strong uptake in this offering once we launched this last year, he said. The complaint also points to a disputed statement in Travelers denial. East Fork says Travelers falsely claimed that Jenny Hassler, its Director of Finance, told the adjuster that the business stopped due to off-premises utility damage caused by flood waters. East Fork insists Hassler never made such a statement. The company, along with its insurance broker, Sam Stickney of Insurance Services of Asheville, sent several emails to Travelers challenging the denial and specifically asked the insurer to evaluate the claim under the policys civil authority provision. East Fork says those requests went unanswered. The real sticking point is the other insurance language in both policies. Allstates policy says it will pay only whats left after the underlying insurance and any other liability insurance are exhausted. Federals policy says it covers damages in excess of all underlying insurance, which includes all liability coverage except for insurance purchased to be excess over Federals policy. In effect, both policies try to be the last to pay. The MCS-90 Endorsement, a federally required provision for certain motor carriers, is also addressed. Trisura states that the endorsement only applies when required by federal law and that there is no evidence the accident involved interstate transportation or hazardous materials. The complaint also notes that the MCS-90 Endorsement does not create a duty to defend and is only triggered by a final judgment under federal regulations, which does not exist in this case. LIC had issued a Workers Compensation and Employers Liability Insurance Policy (No. WC7-61D-260986-017) to E.E. Cruz & Company, Inc., covering June 1, 2017 to June 1, 2018. The policy included a clause stating: We have your rights, and the rights of persons entitled to the benefits of this insurance, to recover our payments from anyone liable for the injury. You will do everything necessary to protect those rights for us and to help us enforce them. The Empowering App-Based Workers Act, introduced by Democratic Sens. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Christopher Murphy of Connecticut, and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, alleges that companies such as Uber and DoorDash misclassify workers as independent contractors. This practice, the bill says, can reduce payroll expenses by up to 30%. While the legislation focuses on transparency in pricing and pay equity for workers, the classification issue intersects with insurance coverage and premium setting. The role of ICT in business efficiency has been in the news in Vietnam recently with plans announced for a national database dedicated to construction activities and news of the launch of SAP Labs Vietnam. The countrys Ministry of Construction last week released a detailed plan to establish a national information system and database dedicated to construction activities across Vietnam. This national database is expected to create a platform of transparent, accurate and timely information, enhancing the efficiency of government management and operational oversight in the construction sector. The 12-step process includes professional surveys, standardising user interfaces and functions, system development, and rigorous functional and information security testing. A critical phase will focus on converting, standardising, and digitising initial data, followed by pilot training programmes for users. The idea, according to local press reports, is to complete most of the groundwork this year. The completion of professional surveys is to be done by late July and the finalisation of local surveys and system construction by 20 August. The digitisation of initial data is to be completed by the end of October. A trial system will be launched on 15 December. Data integration and synchronisation with the countrys National Data Centre is to begin from 20 December. Another business efficiency landmark in the country comes with the news that SAP, a major name in enterprise applications and business AI, officially launched SAP Labs Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City on late last week. SAP Labs Network is a network of SAPs core research and development entities focused on developing and constantly improving key SAP solutions. SAP plans to invest over US$175 million in the innovation hub over the next five years. Local news reports say Vietnam is now the 20th country globally and the second in Southeast Asia after Singapore to host an SAP Labs entity. The new hub will support SAPs product development in areas such as sustainable digital supply chains and AI-powered intelligent enterprise solutions. A victim of identity theft is entitled to recover both treble damages and punitive damages under Connecticut laws, according to the states highest court. The Connecticut Supreme Court found that the dual awards do not violate the common-law rule against double recovery because they are awarded under separate statutes that have different purposes, neither of which indicates that its remedies are intended to be exclusive. The common law principle that was before the court is one that seeks to ensure that a litigant is compensated only once for the same injury. Treble damages are awarded to compensate victims under Connecticuts identity theft statute ( 52-571h (b)) while punitive damages are awarded when there have been unfair or deceptive trade practices in violation of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA). The high court stressed that unlike treble damages under the identity theft law, punitive damages awarded under the CUTPA are not intended to compensate plaintiffs but are meant to punish the wrongdoers for their misconduct, and to deter future CUTPA violations. The court noted that the identity theft law requires that a plaintiff who proves identity theft be awarded the greater of one thousand dollars or treble damages. The amount of damages under CUTPA is at the discretion of the court. Lawyer Plaintiff The case involved Frank Charles White, a Connecticut attorney who sued FCW Law Offices and two John Does over their operation of a criminal organization defrauding unsuspecting time-share owners by persuading them to sell their Mexican time-shares. The defendants committed identity theft by using Whites name and juris number to establish a sham website. An investigator determined that the scam had approximately 40 victims whose cumulative losses totaled millions of dollars. White did everything he could to stop the defendants fraud including contacting state, federal and state bar association authorities. When he called the telephone number on the website purporting to be the number of the FCW Law Offices in New Haven, a person claiming to be an attorney threatened him, stating calm down and you wont get hurt.' He was able to get the website to be taken down twice, although each time it reappeared under a different domain name. He dealt with the issue for months including taking calls from people who thought he was part of the scam. White brought an action against the defendants in June 2020. Among his counts he alleged identity theft and a violation of CUTPA. The defendants did not answer the complaint. The trial court thereafter concluded that White had proven his entitlement to damages under both the identity theft and CUTPA statutes. The court found that the plaintiff has lived with the nightmare of this fraud since February 2019. It has affected his family, his career, his livelihood, and his emotional and mental well-being. The court noted he was still receiving calls from people being scammed. With respect to the identity theft claim, the trial court awarded White $150,000 in compensatory damages, $20,000 in attorneys fees, and $1,329.21 in costs. The court also awarded him $300,000 in punitive damages on his CUTPA claim for a total award of $471,329.21. White complained that he should have received $450,000 in compensatory damages in light of the identity theft law which entitled him to the greater of either $1,000 or treble the amount of his actual damages of $150,000. The trial court denied the motion without explanation. Appellate Ruling White then brought his case to the Appellate Court, claiming that the trial court improperly failed to award him treble damages. The Appellate Court agreed with him that he was entitled to treble compensatory damages. However, at the same time, the Appellate Court concluded that he could not also recover the $300,000 punitive damages under CUTPA as that would violate the fundamental principle that a plaintiff is entitled to be compensated only once for his injury. On appeal to the Supreme Court, White argued that the Appellate Court incorrectly determined that it would violate the rule against double recovery to award both punitive damages and treble damages. He contended that, in the absence of explicit statutory language to the contrary, remedies available under such remedial statutes are intended to be cumulative and not in lieu of other statutory or common-law remedies. He further contended that the rule against double recovery is not implicated in his case because punitive damages under CUTPA, unlike treble damages under the identity theft statute, are not intended to compensate plaintiffs for their losses but to punish defendants for their misconduct, and to deter future CUTPA violations. Supreme Court The Supreme Court agreed with White and reversed the Appellate Court insofar as it disallowed the award of punitive damages under CUTPA while retaining the Appellate Court conclusion in favor of the treble compensatory damages. The high court noted that although a claim for punitive damages and a claim for treble damages may rely on the same or overlapping proof, they seek relief for distinct categories of legal harm, and the courts discretion as to whether to award damages and the amount to award is very different under each statute. The court further explained: Remedies are not duplicative simply because their availability arises out of the same transaction, occurrence or event. Just as our criminal statutes authorize multiple punishments for conduct occurring in the same transaction when the statutes in question are intended to protect separate and distinct interests of society; so, too, the law sometimes provides a civil claimant multiple, cumulative remedies to redress different or distinctive types of harm, even if precipitated by a single incident. Topics Fraud 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. With assistance from David Herbling and Leonard Kehnscherper. Photograph: The city skyline of Lusaka, Zambia, on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. Photo credit: Zinyange Auntony/Bloomberg Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. Topics Excess Surplus Lloyd's Emirates will ban the use of power banks aboard its flights and only allow passengers to bring one such device onto the plane, further restricting travelers from carrying electronic gadgets on aircraft. Emirates is taking a firm and proactive stance to mitigate risk when it comes to power banks onboard, the Dubai carrier said in a statement on Friday. The airline said the significant growth in customers using power banks in recent years has led to a rising number of lithium battery-related incidents during flight across the industry. The risks associated with portable power banks have come into wider focus this year after an Air Busan Co. plane caught fire in January, with a hand-held battery recharger the suspected cause of the blaze. South Korean authorities responded by ordering travelers to seal up ports on chargers or place them in separate plastic bags. Following this incident, Singapore Airlines Ltd., Thai Airways and AirAsia said they would ban the use of power banks on their flights. In March, a Batik Air flight filled with smoke from a burning power bank and a Hong Kong Airlines flight had to do an emergency landing in China for the same reason. As of October, Emirates customers will be permitted to carry only one power bank that falls under specific conditions, though they cant use it on board to charge mobile devices or hook it up to the aircrafts power supply. The gadgets have to also be stored in areas easily accessible to cabin crew so that flight attendants can quickly respond in the event of a fire. Dubais flag carrier already banned pagers and walkie-talkies on its aircraft last year. Photograph: An Airbus SE A380-800 Emirates plane sits at Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on Monday, July 22, 2019. Photo credit: Brent Lewin/Bloomberg Related: Copyright 2025 Bloomberg. This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Lancashire Holdings and CFC Underwriting. A summary of these new hires follows here. Lancashire Announces Leadership Promotions, Including CEOs of Insurance Units Lancashire Syndicates Ltd. and Lancashire Insurance Company Ltd., the UK insurance subsidiaries of Bermuda-based Lancashire Holdings Ltd., announced a group of senior underwriting appointments. John Spence will be retiring from his role as CEO of Lancashire Syndicates Ltd., and Hayley Johnston, CEO of Lancashire Insurance Company Ltd., will also be retiring from her role, both during the first quarter of 2026. Spence will be succeeded by Rachel Sabbarton, who is currently chief underwriting officer, Lancashire Insurance Company (UK) Ltd. Jennifer Wilson, currently group financial planning and analysis director, will be succeeding Johnston in Bermuda. Sabbarton joined Lancashire as group head of Marine, Energy, and Specialty Insurance. She was promoted to chief underwriting officer, Lancashire Insurance Company (UK) Ltd. in April 2025. Alongside her new role, Sabbarton will also retain oversight of marine, energy, and specialty insurance classes. Wilson joined Lancashire in 2010 as a project accountant, progressing from financial planning and analysis manager to head of Financial Planning and Analysis and chief financial officer of Lancashire Insurance Company Ltd. in 2014. In May 2024, she was appointed group financial planning and analysis director, a role she will retain. These other appointments were also announced: Matthew Thomas will succeed Sabbarton as chief underwriting officer, Lancashire Insurance Company (UK) Ltd., while also remaining as active underwriter and CUO of the Lancashire Syndicates. will succeed Sabbarton as chief underwriting officer, Lancashire Insurance Company (UK) Ltd., while also remaining as active underwriter and CUO of the Lancashire Syndicates. Colette Murphy has been appointed deputy CUO for Lancashire Insurance Company (UK), effective immediately. Murphy will also take on the role of group head of Property D&F, replacing Matthew Narbett following his recent promotion to deputy group chief underwriting officer. has been appointed deputy CUO for Lancashire Insurance Company (UK), effective immediately. Murphy will also take on the role of group head of Property D&F, replacing following his recent promotion to deputy group chief underwriting officer. Tom Sutton has been appointed deputy active underwriter for Syndicate 2010, effective immediately. has been appointed deputy active underwriter for Syndicate 2010, effective immediately. David Chalk has been appointed deputy active underwriter for Syndicate 3010, effective immediately. has been appointed deputy active underwriter for Syndicate 3010, effective immediately. Sutton and Chalk will also continue in their current roles in the treaty and construction teams, respectively. Jon Barnes will take on Hayley Johnstons responsibilities as reinsurance manager as part of his current role as group underwriting director. Matthew Thomas, Rachel Sabbarton, and Jennifer Wilsons appointments will become effective in the first quarter of 2026 and are subject to regulatory approvals. John and Hayley have had long and distinguished careers at Lancashire, and I would like to thank them for their support, wise counsel and friendship, commented Group Chief Executive Officer Alex Maloney, in a statement. They have both been fantastic ambassadors for Lancashire in their respective markets and have played important roles as senior leaders as the group has grown over the past few years. I am particularly pleased that, once again, we have been able to promote people from within Lancashire to succeed them in these two important management positions. Along with the other appointments we are announcing today, it shows the depth of expertise and talent that we have across the Lancashire Group. *** CFC Taps Keeler From Ascot as Head of Digital Underwriting CFC, the London-based specialist managing general agent, announced the appointment of Dan Keeler as head of Digital Underwriting. In this newly created role, Keeler will focus on driving innovation and efficiency in digital underwriting by spearheading the API partner strategy and overseeing Connect, CFCs proprietary one-question, quoting portal. Keeler joins CFC from Ascot Group where he served as portfolio delivery manager for nearly two years. Previous underwriting roles included a three year stint at Covea Insurance and almost five years at Hiscox in various change and transformation roles. Nearly 40% of CFCs new business enquiries came through digital channels over the past year a figure that has grown rapidly since we launched Connect, commented Timothy Boyce, deputy chief underwriting officer, in a statement. Dans rare blend of underwriting and technology expertise makes him a valuable addition to the team as we continue to enhance our digital proposition and deliver greater value to our trading partners. Headquartered in London with offices across Europe, North America and Australia, CFC has more than 1000 employees who work with more than 200,000 businesses in 90 countries. Topics Underwriting Leadership Two people working on powerlines near the Mississippi River died Thursday when their helicopter hit the lines, crashed into a barge and sparked a fire that belched plumes of black smoke, officials said. The helicopter crew was near East Alton, Illinois, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of St. Louis, when it careened into the barge on the Missouri side of the river. Authorities said no other injuries were reported. Adam Briggs was fishing on the shore that morning, watching the helicopter zig-zag across the river and eventually pick up a worker with a marker ball to add to a line. After a brief glance at his phone, Briggs looked back up to see pieces of the helicopter plunging toward the barge, then he heard a bang and saw smoke. I was in shock and awe of what I was actually seeing, just disbelief, Briggs told The Associated Press. The veteran and former aircraft firefighter called 911 then starting filming and frantically describing the crash. There was a pilot, there was a worker, the helicopter blew up and fell and crashed in that barge and its exploding right now, he says in the video. Explosions continued for several minutes. Theyre dead. They have to be dead. A spokesperson for the power company Ameren said a contractor and subcontractor had been repairing and replacing tower lighting and marker balls on lines. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the victims families and colleagues, Ameren said in a statement. The names of the workers who were killed have not been released. Aviation experts say this type of work is common for utility companies, but fatal crashes are rare. Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of Flight Safety Foundation, said the pilot must be able to keep the helicopter hovering steadily in place and that investigators will consider if wind or a sudden change in the atmosphere played a role in the crash. Briggs said he felt a breeze but that it didnt appear very windy. Power lines are a key hazard for any helicopter pilot because they can be difficult to see, said Thomas Anthony, director of USCs Aviation Safety and Security Program. Anthony recalled an attendee at an aviation conference who approached him after Anthony gave a lecture and asked if hed had ever heard about the dream. Helicopter pilots all dream in fear about power lines, the man explained. In 2018, a helicopter crew stringing new powerlines crashed in Pennsylvania, killing two people and injuring the pilot. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash, and an NTSB investigator is expected to arrive on site Friday. Anthony said investigators will likely consider if the helicopter contractor had a safety management system in place to mitigate risks. The helicopter crashed around 11 a.m. Thursday on the Mississippi River about half a mile (800 meters) downriver from the Melvin Price Lock and Dam, said Rivers Pointe Fire District Chief Rick Pender. First responders arrived from the Illinois and Missouri sides of the river. The fire department rushed by boat to the crash site and a private tug boat helped to douse the flames, said Alton Deputy Fire Chief Matt Fischer. No one was on the barge when it was struck. The river has been closed to commercial traffic. Reflecting on the accident, Briggs told AP it was emotional to watch and that he has great respect for the workers. Those guys have a very dangerous job. They are doing it for other peoples safety, he said. It takes a brave person to do it. ___ Bedayn reported from Denver, Tareen from Chicago and Yamat from Las Vegas. Associated Press reporters Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota, and Beatrice Dupuy in New York City contributed. Photo: A blue tarp covers the wreckage of a helicopter after it clipped a power line spanning the Mississippi River and crashed onto a barge Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, in East Alton, Ill. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Mississippi Artificial intelligence is quickly reshaping the insurance landscape, and Gallagher Res global head of insurtech, Andrew Johnston, warned in the companys latest Global InsurTech Report that this trend shouldnt be ignored. There remains some skepticism in reinsurance of just how impactful AI could be, but it is becoming clearer that this is a once in a generation technology that is ignored at our peril, he said in a statement about the report. That said, the report found that one of the benefits of some skepticism among insurtechs is the pressure it has brought to remain profitable and sustainable. For three years now, we have observed a period that has produced substantially higher-quality insurtech businesses, Gallagher Re said. This improvement has not gone unnoticed in the traditional venture community. The insurtech industry passed a milestone in the second quarter of 2025 with more than $60 billion raised and invested in insurtech firms since Gallagher Res records began in 2012. While the number demonstrates insurtech success in attracting capital, it pales in comparison to the amount being invested in artificial intelligence, Johnston wrote in the report. This is a trend that he sees as important for the industry to thrive. Our industry is undoubtedly committing to AI, but it should increase its focus, if anything, he said. According to a Stanford University study, $1.6 trillion has been invested globally in AI since 2013, including all private investments, public offerings and M&A deals. The report found that 57.1% of insurtech deals went to AI-centered companies in second-quarter 2025. Johnston said its the responsibility of insurtechs to demonstrate the best uses for this technology to serve consumers and stay competitive. The report also found a spike in traditional venture capital and private equity funding in the first quarter of 2025, with Silicon Valley investors driving one in five global isurtech deals. This has contributed to an increasingly competitive funding environment, the report said. Perhaps most importantly, insurtech companies are rushing to build leading AI solutions, and Silicon Valley has a second-to-none tech talent pool that can move quickly, the report said. This, coupled with a renewed sense of optimism around what AI can deliver (in financial returns for investors), could well open the door for the sort of funding volumes we observed in 2020 and 2021. The report said AI tools are becoming particularly important to insurtech and their investors as they can introduce new efficiencies and assist companies with repetitive, easily automated tasks. The human spirit and creativity are not what needs to be reimagined and reproducedit is giving humans the time and space to do so that is critical, the report said. To fully embrace AI, insurtechs need to commit to investing in robust data infrastructure thats capable of handling vast datasets, as well as data governance frameworks, said Freddie Scarratt, global deputy head of insurtech at Gallagher Re, in the report. Investing in AI talentwhether through hiring, training, or upskilling existing teamswill be crucial, as will forging partnerships with innovative Iinsurtech companies, he said. They need to be alert to the risks. AI has inherent challenges, and like any risk, this must be managed. He added that ethical considerations, such as ensuring fairness and avoiding bias in AI-driven underwriting or claims decisions, are crucial. Staying ahead of, and contributing to, the evolving regulatory landscape for AI in financial services is also essential, he said. This means continuing to share data, engage with academic institutions and research bodies, and help to develop industry-wide best practices for AI application, he said. Artificial Intelligence is not a panacea, nor will it entirely replace the deep expertise and judgment of human underwriters, actuaries, and claims professionals. Instead, it will become a powerful augmenting force, enhancing human capabilities and enabling more informed, efficient, and resilient decision-making, he said. In the years to come, the adoption of AI will become a significant competitive differentiator for property reinsurers. Those that effectively integrate it into their core processes from risk assessment and pricing to claims management and capital allocationwill gain an edge in a challenging market. Topics InsurTech Data Driven Artificial Intelligence Tech Chubb Makes Key Leadership Appointments in Suretys Global and North America Businesses Chubb Limited, headquartered in Warren, New Jersey, named Steve Haney, vice president, Chubb Group and currently division president of North America surety and chief underwriting officer of global surety, as president and chief underwriting officer (CUO) of global surety. Haney has executive operating responsibilities for strategy, underwriting, and profit and loss (P&L) across Chubbs Global Surety business. He has nearly 30 years of underwriting experience and previously served as executive vice president for ACEs surety business worldwide (now Chubb). Haney joined the company in 1997 as a surety underwriter. Haney will be succeeded by Teresa Black, executive vice president and chief operating officer of North America surety, who has been promoted to division president of North America surety. Black has executive oversight and P&L responsibility in North America. She has 28 years of insurance industry experience and, most recently, held the role of COO, North America surety. She has over two decades of experience with Chubb and previously served as senior vice president of distribution management, vice president and national segment leader for New York, and assistant vice president of Chubbs financial lines business. Chubb also appointed Kim Hare as senior vice president, head of North America property claims, effective August 18. Hare will lead the executive operating responsibilities of the property claims business across North America for both personal and commercial claims. Hare has over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, joining Chubb from Farmers Insurance, where she most recently served as senior vice president, head of property claims. Before that, she held roles overseeing auto central zone claims, the west zone region, and the national med PIP strategy and operations. Hare succeeds Tim Barziza, who will retire next April, following over 30 years in the industry, spending the last 22 years at Chubb. WTW Appoints Consulting and Technology Directors WTW, appointed Nicholas Carbo, Poojan Shah and Erika Dochney to its insurance consulting and technology (ICT) business in North America. Carbo joins as senior director, bringing extensive experience from Corebridge Financial and Oliver Wyman. He is based in Florida and focuses on annuity product development, pricing, modeling, and M&A support. Shah joins as director, previously with PwC, and is based in Chicago. He will advise clients on reinsurance structuring, M&A transactions, actuarial modernization, and regulatory compliance. Dochney joins as associate director, previously with Lincoln Financial Group and Haven Technologies. Based in Philadelphia, she will focus on life insurance product pricing, underwriting, and assumption development. HDI Global USA Appoints Aguiar Head of Energy & Power Underwriting US HDI Global Insurance Company, the U.S. carrier of international corporate & specialty insurer HDI Global SE, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, appointed Fellipe Aguiar as the new head of energy & power underwriting in the U.S. for its cross-division energy & power unit. Since joining HDI Global in August 2024, Aguiar has served as a key contact for U.S. brokers, enhancing the companys global positioning in the energy & power space. Aguiar has over 26 years of experience in the insurance industry, with a strong focus on the energy and power sectors across Latin America and the U.S. Topics Underwriting Property Willis Towers Watson 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. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Louisiana Law Enforcement Despite allegations of fraud and padding of premiums, neither a Miami-based cargo insurance broker nor a Lloyds coverholder can be asked to pay punitive damages in a breach-of-contract dispute, a Florida appeals court decided last week. A plaintiff may not recover damages for fraud that duplicate damages awarded for breach of contract, Floridas 3rd District Court of Appeals wrote in overturning part of a Miami-Dade Circuit Courts ruling, citing Florida statutes and previous court decisions. Its the second time in a month that an appeals court has underscored the limited path that insurers must stick to in seeking recovery of funds paid due to misrepresentation. Claims of unjust enrichment are barred, as well as punitive damages, the courts have now emphasized. Read more here about the federal appellate court decision published in July. In the Miami case last week, Anova Marine Insurance Services and Chaucer Syndicates Ltd. had sued Ramon International Insurance Brokers Inc. and its president, Iris Arden. Anova, with offices in Miami, and Chaucer, a London-based Lloyds syndicate insurer, argued that Ramon and Arden had provided insurance coverage to a yacht service beyond what was explicitly allowed by the contract with Anova. Ramon is not affiliated with a London-based broker with a similar name. Ramon repeatedly declared shipments and accepted commodities outside of the Chaucer House Policy terms, despite being notified that such shipments were outside of coverage, Anovas lawsuit complaint in Miami-Dade County contends. Ramon also told the client that a riskier form of inland transportation for a yacht would be covered, even though it was not, the complaint alleges. While being transported from Maryland to Rhode Island in 2020, the insured yacht struck an overpass in New York. In a separate coverage claim in 2020 involving the transport of earth-moving equipment, the Ramon brokerage and Arden had told Anova that the client had demanded a lower premium. But that wasnt true, the underlying lawsuit alleges. The heavy-equipment client had already agreed to premiums, and Ramon was attempting to pocket the difference as much as $263,051, the complaint charges. In fact, Ramon, through Arden, knowingly misrepresented (the clients) position. Ramon in fact invoiced the higher premium , but reported to Plaintiffs the reduced premium, the suit argued. Defendants made the misrepresentations because they intended for Ramon to invoice for a premium based on the higher original rates quoted by Anova but actually pay Anova for a premium based on the lower rates and keep the difference. Still, in both instances, Anova agreed to pay most of the insurance claims, hoping to avoid a lawsuit from the insureds, then filed suit and sought reimbursement from Arden and Ramon. Although (Anova) believed the subject coverage(s) were unenforceable, they recognized that the assured was an innocent party that was misled by Ramons conduct into believing it had actual or apparent authority to provide coverage, Anovas attorneys wrote, citing court rulings that have held that an insurer may be held accountable for the actions of those whom it cloaks with apparent agency. Arden, president of Ramon since 1995, and the broker have denied the allegations. They argued at trial that it was Anova that had fraudulently induced Arden to transfer all of Ramons cargo insurance business to Anova, and damages are due to the broker. The underlying lawsuit was paused for more than a year while the 3rd District appeals court considered the trial courts decision to allow Anova and Chaucer to seek punitive damages, but denying Ramon and Arden the same type of compensation if the jury found in the brokers favor. The Florida Supreme Court in 2022 for the first time allowed interlocutory appeals on whether lawsuits can include demands for punitive damages. Last week, the 3rd District appellate judges stood firm on what other courts have found: That punitive damages are allowed only when it is shown that the actions of the defendant include a separate claim of wrongdoing. Punitive damages are generally not recoverable for a breach of contract unless it is accompanied by a separate and independent tort claim, the appeals court said, quoting from appellate court decisions handed down in 1983, 2000, and 2017. It is well established that breach of contractual terms may not form the basis for a claim in tort, the court noted, citing a 1994 case ruling. Where damages sought in tort are the same as those for breach of contract a plaintiff may not circumvent the contractual relationship by bringing an action in tort. The lawsuit gives some insight into the world of cargo insurance and brokerage. While brokers can earn as much as 20% commission on policies, the premiums are remarkably low in some cases. In the yacht transport coverage, the premiums were about 0.03%, or $350 per $100,000 in coverage, the lawsuit explained. Anova, in business since 2011, was sold this summer to Specialty Program Group. The 3rd District appeals court decision can be seen here. Correction: Lloyds of London insurance broker, Ramon International Insurance Brokers Ltd., headquartered in London and owned by Kastor Holdings, is not affiliated with Miami-based Ramon International Insurance Brokers Inc. USA, and is not part of the lawsuit. The Insurance journal apologizes for the error. Topics Carriers Trucking TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) The Florida Department of Health has identified Keely Farms Dairy as the source of raw milk that has sickened 21 people with E. coli or campylobacter since January. A manager of the farm in New Smyrna Beach, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northeast of Orlando, said the Health Department did not contact the farm before making the announcement. The Department of Health has not informed Keely Farms of any investigation or administrative action, Keely Exum said in an emailed statement, adding that the farm was blindsided and will reach out to the agency. Since Jan. 24, six children under the age of 10 have been infected and seven people have been hospitalized, according to state officials. At least two cases developed severe complications. The department has not said if any of the six children are among those treated in hospitals, nor how many people were infected by E. coli, campylobacter or both bacteria. The Florida Department of Health will continue working with Keely Farms Dairy to ensure that effective sanitation practices are implemented consistently across every batch, the department said in an updated statement Thursday. The Health Department said Floridians should be aware of potential risks associated with consuming raw dairy but stopped short of issuing the same directive as the states commissioner of agriculture, who encouraged Floridians to protect their health by only consuming pasteurized milk products. Raw milk appears to be gaining in popularity, despite years of warnings about the health risks of drinking unpasteurized products. The Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say raw milk is one of the riskiest foods people can consume. States have widely varying regulations regarding raw milk, with some allowing retail purchases in stores and others allowing sale only at farms. In Florida, the sale of raw milk for human consumption is illegal, but retailers get around the ban by labeling their products as for pet or animal food only. In recent months, Keely Farms Dairy has repeatedly promoted its products in a private Facebook group where Florida suppliers and consumers coordinate raw milk purchases. In a disclaimer on its website, Keely Farms Dairy acknowledges the legal prohibitions against selling its products for people to drink. Since Federal law prohibits the sale of raw milk for human consumption, please DO NOT discuss such use with us, as it will jeopardize our ability to sell you raw milk. As required by Florida law, our product is labeled and sold as livestock feed, the disclaimer reads. Kate Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Photo: Adobe Stock image Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Florida Agribusiness CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) Police in West Virginia shot and killed a knife-wielding man in a hospital emergency room after he attacked an employee early Friday, authorities said. The shooting occurred around 1:45 a.m. at Charleston Area Medical Centers General Hospital in Charleston, Police Chief Scott Dempsey said at a news conference. The suspect walked into the emergency room shortly after midnight seeking treatment for an undetermined injury. He began acting erratically, yelled and became aggressive toward others. The man eventually came out of a bathroom with a knife, lunged at others, moved furniture and sprayed a fire extinguisher, Dempsey said. Others in the emergency room were trying to just de-escalate the situation, but it obviously was not working. And at some point they had to protect theirself by getting to safety, Dempsey said. When an arriving officer ordered the suspect to drop the knife, the man went into an elevator and began attacking an employee before the officer shot the suspect. The suspect fell to the floor and later was pronounced dead. The employee was not injured, the chief said. Police later identified the man as Peter Delnardo Lilly, 46, of Charleston. The emergency room was locked down for about two hours afterward, hospital spokesperson Dale Witte said in a statement. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Law Enforcement Virginia CANTON, Miss. (AP) Jeff Goodwin, director of the Mississippi state auditors compliance division, was congenial while describing to Canton officials how the office has taken $352,000 of the citys revenue to pay for past-due audits the first time Auditor Shad White has exercised this authority. I didnt write the law. Auditor White didnt write the law, but were charged with enforcing it, Goodwin said at the Canton Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday. Canton is one of 68 local governments across Mississippi that received an auditors letter in March, putting officials on notice of their delinquent audits. The notices went as far north as Farmington near the Tennessee line and as far south as Moss Point on the Gulf Coast. They spanned from mid-sized cities like McComb, to rural towns like Coffeeville, to tiny villages like Beauregard a signal of widespread municipal finance concerns. This is especially true in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, during which Congress dolled out billions to local governments nationwide, necessitating more accounting, and city and town halls dealt with the fallout of a reduced labor force. Incomplete audits create a host of problems, including reducing a citys ability to borrow money and prohibiting it from drawing down federal grants. Audits are important, despite not appearing urgent, said Billy Morehead, Mississippi College accounting professor and member of the Mississippi Public Procurement Review Board. All of a sudden, the cans been kicked down the road and the municipality is at risk of losing a variety of funding, a lot of their federal funds, but also their credit ratings, Morehead said. It could be catastrophic to some of these places. The March letters required compliance within 30 days or the auditor would request the Mississippi Department of Revenue to divert sales tax dollars from the municipality the estimated price of bringing the audits up to date, plus 50% of that amount the auditor is allowed to retain for its administrative cost of hiring the accounting firm and acting as a third party on the reports. Jackson has faced scrutiny for falling behind on its audits, including one for 2023 which has yet to be complete, but the capital city did not receive a noncompliance letter. The auditors office said it focused on municipalities that are as far behind as 2022. Only Canton, a city of about 11,000 in Madison County, and Maben, a town of fewer than 1,000 in Oktibbeha County, have seen their funds diverted under this process so far. Mabens transfer totaled more than $68,000. Holly Springs, Indianola and Tchula are not far behind. The planned diversions total $1.6 million, with Indianola facing the largest threatened seizure of $675,000. Thats more than half of the citys total annual sales tax revenue of about $1.1 million. Holly Springs, which has been under investigation for its management of the local electric utility, faces a sales tax diversion of $450,000, also roughly half of its annual sales tax revenue of $900,000. The auditors office has chosen so far not divert an additional total of $900,000 from four other towns Itta Bena, Okolona, Winona and McComb which it said demonstrated a good faith effort to rectify their incomplete reports. WLBT reported that McComb hadnt completed an audit since 2020, and that residents think someone is stealing from the city, according to a local official. Annual audit requirements were relaxed during the pandemic, Goodwin said, But COVID has since passed. And so were finding municipalities in circumstances where they cant borrow funds, they cant get grants, which is a jeopardy to the health, safety and welfare of the constituents, he said. In the case of Indianola, the audit delinquency caused the city to lose federal grants, such as a half-million dollar sidewalk project from the Mississippi Department of Transportation, according to reporting by The Enterprise-Tocsin, though it found a workaround by routing the money through the school district. The auditors office has the power to direct these diversions under a law passed in 2009. But this is the first time it has deployed this authority, assuming control of a citys funds and engaging a firm to conduct the audits. Its brand new, uncharted territory, Goodwin said, The way the code reads, we have to estimate the fee and we have to put a 50% penalty on it. We dont want your money. White, a Republican, has jokingly referred to his office as MOGE, the Mississippi version of President Donald Trump former adviser Elon Musks DOGE, or Department of Government Efficiency. The auditor was more rigid in his comments on the municipalities overdue work. Weve given cities plenty of chances to catch up on their audits, White said in a statement to Mississippi Today. For the ones who have refused to get audited, their citizens deserve better, and my office will use the full extent of its legal authority to make sure the taxpayers get the transparency they deserve. The auditors office notably does not have the authority to audit municipalities itself, and legislators killed a 2024 proposal to permit the auditor to review and examine them. The Mississippi Department of Revenue declined multiple requests for an interview about the diversions, directing all questions to the auditors office. Under the law, the auditors office has the power to choose the CPA firm to complete the past-due audits, enter the contract as a third party, and pay the invoices with the diverted revenue. Canton recently retained Tann, Brown and Russ in an effort to comply. The same firm has been working on the 2019 audit for Indianola since 2024. An accountant there declined to comment about their engagement or about the challenges surrounding municipal auditing. Its difficult to find CPA firms that will conduct municipal audits, let alone one that will do it for a price some small towns are willing or able to pay. The number of students majoring in accounting has dwindled, despite an uptick in more recent years, Morehead said, and firms are still struggling to keep up with the demand. I know folks who are just exhausted, Morehead said. In Tchula, one of the poorest towns in the nation on the edge of the Mississippi Delta in Holmes County, Mayor General Vann served 2017-21 and oversaw the last annual audit the town completed. He was elected again this year and took office July 1. Within a few weeks, Tchula had retained Watkins, Ward and Stafford, headquartered in West Point. The town finances are meager, Vann said. But this is a priority and a necessity and its something that you have to get done. And the price, you just have to bear it and come up with it. You dont have any choice. The audits become even more difficult to complete when municipalities havent maintained proper recordkeeping every transaction, deposit and debit in part because theyre losing institutional knowledge inside their clerks offices due to retirement and population loss. I think theres a brain drain, Vann said. You have to have someone that knows how to keep a good set of books. The auditors office said it would be returning any unused money to the municipalities, but since the estimated cost of the audit assumes financial statements will be in a good enough shape to audit and that may not be the case, it could be unlikely there are any leftover funds. I do have concerns for you, each one of you, Goodwin told the Canton officials. Youre basing your decisions off of financial statements that will not be complete. Alderwoman Shannon Whitehead, who was just elected in April, smiled, nodded and repeated right and absolutely during the presentation Tuesday. Jason Camp, a Mississippi State University extension specialist who specializes in municipal government, said in some cases, current municipal officials were not in charge when the audits fell behind, but someone has to hold them accountable for following the law. It does sound like the actions taken by the state auditors office has made some urgency come into play with some of the cities who maybe didnt think it was such a big deal to be behind, Camp said in an interview with Mississippi Today. Theyre now saying, Hey this is a serious issue and we have to put resources towards getting us caught up.' ___ This story was originally published by Mississippi Today and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press. Reported and written by Anna Wolfe. Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Mississippi Patrick Penneys installation at the Crawford College of Art & Designs Degree Show in June took an unusual subject; his granduncle William Penneys involvement in the Manhattan Project and the deployment of the first atomic bombs in August 1945. William Penney, born in 1909, was a British professor of mathematical physics at the Imperial College London when he was invited to help devise what became known as the Mulberry harbours during World War II. These were two prefabricated harbours used to facilitate the unloading of cargo during the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944. Penney was then asked to join the Tube Alloys project, the British nuclear weapons programme. Originally, the British, the Americans and the Canadians worked separately on developing nuclear weapons, says Patrick Penney. Then they agreed to co-operate, and William was seconded to the Manhattan Project in Los Alamos, New Mexico. He helped mainly with the construction of the Fat Man plutonium bomb, the one that was dropped on Nagasaki. He was the only British member on the committee for selecting targets, and he was a scientific observer on the flight over Nagasaki when they dropped the bomb on August 9, 1945. The bombing of Nagasaki came three days after that of Hiroshima, eighty years ago today. Although William Penney did not witness that incident, the first ever deployment of a nuclear weapon, he visited Hiroshima shortly after the Japanese surrender on August 15. I used copies of his handwritten notes from Hiroshima in my Degree Show installation, says Patrick Penney. The photographs and prints in the installation were based on photographs he took in the city. Then he went back and gave a lecture in Los Alamos on what hed observed of the effects of the atomic bomb. Part of Patrick Penney's installation, showing his granduncle William Penney. Patrick Penney never met his granduncle. He first learned of William Penneys achievements when he came across a folder of obituaries his father was given when he began working at the Atomic Weapons Research Establishment at Aldermaston, Berkshire. One of the things that sparked my interest is that William burned all his papers shortly before he died of thyroid cancer in 1991, which was probably down to the effects of radiation. Everything that exists is only a copy. Copies made by the government or by secretaries or by other third parties. William Penney had hoped to return to academia after the war, but he was persuaded to continue working on nuclear research at Aldermaston. William was the director of the weapons programme. He had a really pretentious title; he was called the CSAR, the chief superintendent of armament research. He finally retired from Aldermaston in 1967 it took him 20 years to get away - and became the Director of Imperial College in London. But, even then, he was retained as a consultant. He held an office at AWRE, was how they put it. Although Patrick Penneys aunt and uncle, as well as his father, all worked for AWRE at Aldermaston, they didnt have much of a relationship with William. I think my father would have met him, when he came to visit the building, but William had already retired by then. He lived in East Hendred, thirty miles away. William Penney married twice and had two sons. Its one of those weird quirks; he was eventually made a lord, and then he was made Baron Penney before he died, but the titles are not passed down through lineage. I know his children attended his funeral, but then they became private again. They would be in their 80s now, and may well have children and grandchildren of their own. I haven't really tracked his family. That would be something to look into. Patrick Penney grew up in West Cork. My father is English, and my mother is Irish. They moved back in the 1990s, and I was born here. We live just outside Bantry. He is almost surprised to find himself pursuing a career as an artist. Originally, I intended studying automotive technology and management in MTU. But then I applied for the Crawford and got in. A lot of this has been completely unexpected. Much of his Degree Show installation was based on material he discovered in the National Archives at Kew. I was there for four days last summer. I had a look at 18 files that referenced Williams name, but there were 80 in total. I'll be starting a master's in contemporary art practice shortly, and I hope to carry on my research. Im going back to the archives this month, and there's a couple of more places that I'd like to try and get into. The photographs and some of the files in my installation were only declassified in 2010. There's more stuff that is still technically classified, but this is up for review. I'm hoping that, if I can say I'm a postgraduate researcher, and put in the freedom of information requests, I might be able to get access to more information. I'm hoping to be able to establish for a fact that William was at Aldermaston at the time of the big CND anti-nuclear marches in the 1950s and 60s, for instance. It'd be interesting to compare one side to the other. Part of Patrick Penney's installation, based on photographs his granduncle took in Hiroshima. Penney believes his granduncle must have had mixed feelings about his role in the nuclear arms race. In my Degree Show installation, there was a barrel with a book on the top of it. That had a quote was from what he wrote after he witnessed the Nagasaki bomb. He said, we have contributed to a monster that will consume us all. What he did was objectively terrible, there's no getting around the fact of that. But there's still an argument over whether dropping the bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki was worth doing. Its conservatively estimated that if the Americans had had to land in Japan, then at least a million people would have been killed, if not more. So it's complicated, but I think the overall consensus is that it was not good. Penney plans to exhibit his Degree Show installation again next month. Ive talked to Mich Moroney at the Swerve Gallery in Skibbereen, and I hope to show it there on Culture Night, September 19. He has other exhibitions planned as well. At the Degree Show, I got an award for GOMA, the Gallery of Modern Art, in Waterford. I think therell be a group show there with me and Danny Foley, another artist who was in my year, and probably a couple of more from SETU. And then there'll be an MTU STEAM exhibition during Science Week at the James Barry Centre at MTU Bishopstown in March or April. So hopefully there'll be chances to show the material again. The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has developed into full-blown starvation, the UN has warned, as Israel doubled down and insisted it would plough ahead with its plan to occupy the Palestinian territory despite growing international condemnation. The UNs humanitarian office, OCHA, said 98 children had died from acute malnutrition since October 2023, with 37 of those deaths since last month. About 100,000 people marched in Tel Aviv on Saturday night to protest against prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus planned escalation of the offensive in Gaza into outright occupation of the territory. Despite growing opposition to the planned expansion of the war, including from Ireland, Mr Netanyahu insisted on Sunday that his Gaza City takeover plan is the speediest way to end the conflict. If we had a starvation policy, no one in Gaza would have survived after two years of war. But our policy has been the exact opposite, Mr Netanyahu said. On Sunday, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended Israel's planned escalation of its offensive in Gaza into outright occupation of the Palestinian territory. Picture: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty OCHA said otherwise. The UNs humanitarian offices coordination director Ramesh Rajasingham said the situation in Gaza had developed into full-blown starvation. This is no longer a looming hunger crisis this is starvation, pure and simple, he said. Humanitarian conditions are beyond horrific. We have, frankly, run out of words to describe it. As Mr Netanyahu was speaking, an emergency session of the UN Security Council was taking place, with the US backing Israel in its offensive as others warned against it. If these plans are implemented, they will likely trigger another calamity in Gaza, reverberating across the region and causing further forced displacement, killings, and destruction, UN assistant secretary Miroslav Jenca told the UN Security Council. Slovenias ambassador to the UN, Samuel Zbogar, speaking on behalf of the five European members of the security council (France, Britain, Slovenia, Greece, and Denmark), said: This decision by the Israeli government will do nothing to secure the return of the hostages and risk further endangering their lives. "It will also worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and risk further death and mass displacement of Palestinian civilians. Earlier, Ireland joined other European countries to write a letter imploring Israel not to expand the war in Gaza, stating that it would be a flagrant violation of international law. Yazan, a malnourished two-year-old boy, with his brothers at their family's damaged home in the Al-Shati camp, west of Gaza City in Palestine. Picture: Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP/Getty Other signatories included foreign ministers in Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, and Spain. The letter stated that further escalation would only deepen the humanitarian crisis and further endanger the remaining hostages lives. It stated: This operation will lead to an unacceptable high toll of deaths and the forced displacement of nearly 1m Palestinian civilians. We firmly reject any demographic or territorial changes in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Actions in this regard constitute a flagrant violation of international law and humanitarian law. The letter went on to call for an immediate ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas, the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip, and a pathway to a two-state solution. Speaking in Offaly, Mr Harris said the conflict is at an extraordinarily dangerous moment. He added: We now see the Netanyahu government take an extraordinarily dangerous step in the absolute wrong direction. I think people in Ireland know, they know what famine is like. Its ingrained in our mindset, in our history. To be seeing a modern-day famine take place in the 21st century is utterly repulsive and repugnant to everything any decent person can stand for. Independent senator Sharon Keogan has been assisting presidential election hopeful Gareth Sheridan in rallying the support of councillors. Mr Sheridan, 35, confirmed at the weekend he was seeking a nomination to enter the race to replace Michael D Higgins. To contest the election, a candidate must receive the backing of 20 Oireachtas members, or four councils. Mr Sheridan, whose campaign team involves former Labour Party senator John Whelan, is originally from Terenure, Dublin, but has been living in the United States. He has stepped aside as chief executive of company Nutriband. A spokesman for Mr Sheridan confirmed Ms Keogan had been helping him to canvass support among the independent council block across the country. She introduced him to councillors at a conference held in Limerick in April, and they have been in regular contact. Ms Keogan has been vocal in her opposition to matters such as abortion and surrogacy. She was criticised for comments which suggested there was an organised LGBTQ+ takeover of society. She made the comments in 2021 when it emerged the Government intended to make former minister Katherine Zappone a UN special envoy. Concerns were also raised last year when Ms Keogan organised an event in Leinster House which featured a panel of prominent far-right individuals and anti-vaccination campaigners. When asked if Mr Sheridan held similar views to Ms Keogan, a spokesman said he was his own man and was not aligned to anyone elses policy position or any political party and never has been. He added: He is married to an American woman. His daughter, Roe, is a beautiful two-year-old adopted girl. They are a classic modern family. He offers a progressive and positive and inclusive agenda. He is not beholden to anyone elses viewpoints on any of those topics. Mr Sheridan and his team believe between six and eight councils could back him and a minimum of four are secured. However, they will not say which councils, as candidates will continue to enter the field. Spokespeople for Independent Ireland and Aontu confirmed Mr Sheridan had not engaged with their parties. He has also not spoken with the Green Party. Mr Sheridan told RTE Radio One he was funding his campaign from his savings. To date, only Fine Gaels Mairead McGuinness and Independent TD Catherine Connolly have been confirmed as candidates. Of 31 local authorities, there is a Fine Gael or Fianna Fail majority in 21. It is expected party councillors will be told to only back party candidates. This will make it difficult for independent candidates to get enough support. Fianna Fail politicians believe they will not know what the party will do until their party think-in in mid-September. The Green Party is currently running a consultation with its members, with the results expected in early September. A Social Democrats spokesman said the party was fully behind Catherine, which was a decision in part informed by consultation with our councillors prior to the nomination being made. A Sinn Fein spokesman said its priority was solely on the ongoing discussion within Sinn Fein on our options for supporting our own candidate or an external one. The Tanaiste has said he sought additional clinical consultations in the case of a nine-year-old boy who died two weeks ago and whose parents have called for him to resign. Harvey Morrison Sherratt died at the end of July. He had received spinal surgery for scoliosis last December, by which point his spine had reached a curvature of 130 degrees. He had waited for years for surgery and became a focus of media and political campaigns which focused on a pledge in 2017 by then-health minister Simon Harris that no child will be waiting longer than four months for their scoliosis surgery in Ireland. In the wake of Harvey's death, his parents Gillian and Stephen have called for Mr Harris to resign, with Gillian posting on X that "delays and the absolute mismanagement of scoliosis and spina bifida care mean that Harvey was left to deteriorate". Asked by the Irish Examiner on Monday if he felt either he or the State had failed Harvey, Mr Harris said when the boy's case was raised with him in the Dail last September, he had contacted the Department of Health and Children's Health Ireland (CHI). "Firstly, I want to extend, in a very sincere way, my deepest sympathies to the family of Harvey and I don't wish to say anything to cut across their grief. When this issue was brought to my attention during my time as taoiseach, I remember being very concerned about making sure that proper clinical interventions and consultations were made available. "And when Harvey's case was brought to my attention, I immediately contacted the Department of Health and CHI and sought additional clinical consultations, which I believe did take place. I was always of the view that it was very important that any medical interventions were, of course, clinician-led." Mr Harris said he had asked last year that "clinical advice was sought and that the appropriate clinical care was given" to Harvey. Separately, Mr Harris said Fine Gael was seeking further information from a county councillor accused of charging foreign nurses illegal agency fees. A story published by TheJournal.ie alleged South Dublin councillor Baby Pereppadan co-owns an agency which had charged nurses the fees. A statement from Fine Gael last week said Mr Pereppadan was seeking legal advice about the article, a position Mr Harris reiterated on Monday. "I understand that the councillors dispute some of that and are currently seeking legal advice, and my party headquarters has sought more information from them in relation to that." Israels killing of journalists in Gaza was silencing of some of the few journalistic voices left in the region, Tanaiste and foreign affairs minister Simon Harris has said. Prominent Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif, 28 and four of his colleagues were killed while sheltering outside al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Sunday night. Another reporter was also killed in the Israeli airstrike. In many ways, it is the silencing of some of the few journalistic voices left in Gaza. Of course, any attack on any civilian including, of course, any attack on any journalist should always be absolutely condemned for what it is The National Union of Journalists is to hold a protest at the Spire in Dublin on Monday evening to condemn the killing of reporters and camera operators in Gaza by Israel. Mr Harris said he is to engage with his EU counterparts in relation to Gaza on Monday. Can I say firstly, just to extend the sympathy and solidarity of the people of Ireland with Al Jazeera and the journalists the five staff members of Al Jazeera and the one other reporter who have been killed in a horrifying attack in Gaza, he said speaking outside Government Buildings on Monday. In many ways, it is the silencing of some of the few journalistic voices left in Gaza. Of course, any attack on any civilian including, of course, any attack on any journalist should always be absolutely condemned for what it is. At a time when the people of Gaza desperately need to see a ceasefire, an end to the violence, a surge in humanitarian aid, and of course, the release of the hostages, all of the indications from (Israeli president Benjamin) Netanyahu is of an Israeli government intended to go in the complete opposite direction to that. I do think it is interesting in recent days to have seen an increase in protest within Israel, Israeli people standing up and saying to their government not in my name. Israeli people wanting to live in peace and security as well, alongside the Palestinian people and, of course, Israeli people rightly wanting hostages released immediately too. A large fire that damaged homes in Carrigaline has sparked concerns about people arriving to take videos and photographs of the blaze. The incident drew fire units from Carrigaline, Crosshaven, and Midleton, as well as the Cork City Fire Service, in what was described as a difficult response situation. At least two homes were damaged by the fire, which broke out shortly after 12.30pm on Sunday at the Hillview estate in the Upper Kilmoney area. No injuries were reported. Carrigaline Stations chief fire officer, Chris Gledhill, said his crew made serious firefighting efforts until the Crosshaven Fire Service joined them. We needed more resources, such as an aerial platform, so I mobilised Cork Citys platform to assist us, he told the Irish Examiner. Then we needed more water because the hydrant's pressure was next to nothing. So we requested a water tanker from Cork City. That wasnt enough, so I requested a water tanker from Midleton fire service also, Mr Gledhill added. The crew worked against strong winds that pushed flames into a neighbouring house, setting it alight. Firefighters later extinguished the blaze. Thankfully, no one was hurt and our thoughts are with the families who lost their homes, Mr Gledhill added. Fine Gael councillor Jack White praised emergency services for their exceptional job in very difficult circumstances. However, he said several constituents expressed concern about people arriving at the estate just for a look. It does seem we are in an era now where people are keen to capture footage to share on social media as opposed to thinking more considerately about the fact that people are affected, Mr White said. We saw similar situations a few months ago when the poor man drowned in the River Lee, and where people were taking the choice to be bystanders and to record footage on their phones as opposed to either doing nothing or doing something helpful. "It is an unfortunate kind of development in how people think about these things," he added. Mr White said it was sad to see and that people have to reflect carefully on their choices if thats the type of thing they chose to do yesterday. The councillor believes there will be some kind of effort to help the families who lost their homes. We are very lucky in this community in Carrigaline that we still retain a sense of community in times like this. And I suppose if a GoFundMe or similar effort is set up, it will be well supported, Mr White added. In a few weeks' time, children across Ireland will return to school after the summer break. Its a time of excitement and nervousness, but marked by the familiarity of friends, teachers, and routines. However, for dozens of children in the international protection system, this school year will begin in turmoil. Over the summer, families who have spent years rebuilding their lives in direct provision centres around the country have been told to pack up and leave some with just a few days notice. They are being relocated to emergency accommodation far from the communities where their children have grown up, gone to school, formed friendships, and made home. These forced moves are tearing families apart and destabilising the very children who most need security and consistency. This is a chaotic response to the housing needs of asylum seekers. Government policy is not considering the human cost and fallout on young lives in particular. These are young lives that have already faced so much. Conflict, trauma, and persecution drive hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes to seek safety every year. The decision to leave is rarely voluntary. It is about survival, often fraught with pain and danger and made at great personal risk. The impact on children is immense Those who seek asylum do so under international law, and they have rights: The right to protection, the right not to be returned to danger, and the right for their children to grow up in safety and dignity. The options for those being told to leave the direct provision centres, where they have found some measure of stability, are limited: Either move into emergency accommodation, which is often lacking the required safeguards for children and miles away from schools, communities, and vital support networks they have spent years building; or rent on the private market, an almost impossible option where they will face not just the financial barriers and accommodation shortages faced by the wider population, but racism and socio-economic discrimination. ActionAid Ireland is supporting several of these families whose lives have been turned upside down. They include two sisters from West Africa who are living in international protection accommodation services (IPAS) accommodation in the south-east of the country, and who have been told they must now leave. Each sister has a five-year-old son. One has been offered emergency accommodation at the other end of the country, in Donegal, and the other in Mayo. Their lives, and that of their children, are being pulled in opposite directions. Lost friends Neither mother has slept properly since hearing the news. One spoke of her son, the first up every morning in his direct provision centre, eager to go to school. Having started junior infants this year, he cannot understand why all his new friends will soon be lost or why he will no longer live near his cousin the only family he has known in Ireland. The prospect of leaving their communities is not just distressing for these children, it is destabilising. The Ombudsman for Children has warned repeatedly that this practice is harmful. He has also stated that in the first-place emergency accommodation is not appropriate for children. A recent Health Information and Equality Authority review revealed serious cracks in governance and safeguarding in these centres, raising concerns about the safety and wellbeing of the most vulnerable residents. Yet the relocations continue. Of the nearly 33,000 people currently living in IPAS accommodation, about 5,300 have been granted legal status to remain in Ireland and must leave IPAS accommodation. In theory, they are 'free' to access the full range of housing supports available to Irish residents In reality, they are being pushed out of relative stability into a housing market in deep crisis where people all over Ireland are finding it impossible to get affordable rentals. Challenges for those forced to leave direct provision are magnified by racism, which frequently meets them at the doors of rental viewings. It is completely unrealistic to expect these families to succeed in securing private housing without significant support. Risk of homelessness The policy to move people from direct provision risks funnelling children and families straight into homelessness. These children are real people; they are not statistics. They are losing teachers who know their needs, coaches who welcomed them to local sports teams, and neighbours and friends who made them feel part of a community. The Government has a choice here: It can continue to pursue a policy that uproots families and undermines their stability, or it can listen to the voices of childrens rights advocates, NGOs, and affected families calling for a child-first and human rights approach. Such an approach would prioritise keeping children in their schools and communities. It would strengthen and empower local councils to better support integration efforts, and ensure appropriate safeguarding measures in any accommodation provided. Above all, it would recognise that the needs of children must take precedence. The Constitution pledges to cherish all the children of the nation equally. Article 42A specifically affirms children's natural and imprescriptible rights and the State's duty to uphold these rights. Children have the right for their best interests to be of paramount consideration where the State seeks to intervene to protect their safety and welfare In the Dail recently, the Taoiseach stated: My fundamental motivation right through my political life has been that you do not leave the child thats furthest behind, behind. The reality is children in this country who are furthest behind are being left behind. They include the two five-year-old cousins who are amongst the families that ActionAid Ireland is supporting. Because their families have been granted legal status to remain in this country, they have to leave their direct provision accommodation and will be uprooted from the only home they have known. The Government must respond with compassion and urgency, with human rights to the fore. This is the way we can ensure, truly, no child is left behind. This is how we make back to school what it should be a nervous but smooth transition to the school term, not a disruptive move across the country. Cillian Quinn is the policy and programmes co-ordinator with ActionAid Ireland The only appropriate response to Israel's ongoing genocide of Palestinians should be a complete trade embargo. Ireland has garnered widespread praise globally for the solidarity it has shown Palestine, as the brutal Israeli assault on Gaza continues. From joining the case against Israel at the International Court of Justice to recognizing the state of Palestine, Ireland is widely credited with being the European country most supportive of the Palestinian cause. At EU level, however, the bar has been set very low: the callous indifference of most EU states to the carnage in Gaza over the last 33 months makes Ireland an outlier in Brussels. Back in February 2024, along with Spain, Ireland asked the European Commission to undertake an "urgent review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. That review has gone virtually nowhere because there is zero political will to do anything to confront Israel in Brussels and most EU capitals. And although recent EU rhetoric towards Israel has hardened, no material sanction of any substance appears on the horizon. The EU is Israels largest trade partner, accounting for almost 30% of its trade in goods in 2024. By contrast, Israel is only the 31st largest trade partner of the EU, representing 0.8% of total EU goods trade. By any measure, this is an extraordinarily asymmetric trading relationship. The EU is by far the stronger partner, and yet it has been completely unwilling to use that muscular trade leverage to change Israels behaviour, even when that behaviour has been utterly at odds with Israels commitments under the EU-Israel Association Agreement (not to mention the EUs own democratic norms.) Occupied Territories Bill At home, the Occupied Territories Bill is still making its way through the Oireachtas. Tabled originally in 2018 by independent senator, Frances Black, the bill would ban trade with the illegal settlements in the West Bank. The Occupied Territories Bill was given significant ballast by the International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion, which declared that Israels occupation of Palestinian land was unlawful. Despite this, the Irish government failed to pass the bill before the dissolution of the Oireachtas prior to last years general election. Nine months on, and despite immeasurably greater loss of life among Palestinian civilians as they are starved and murdered in the bacchanalian concentration camp the Israelis have turned Gaza into, the bill is still stuck in the Oireachtas. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas. Although recent EU rhetoric towards Israel has hardened, no material sanction of any substance appears on the horizon. Photo: AP/Geert Vanden Wijngaert Government representatives repeatedly cite legal advice when asked why the bill has been continually delayed. This seems to be based on the view that the passage of the bill would be contrary to EU law. This contention deserves more serious scrutiny. Within the EU, trade is a supranational competence, where the European Commission acts on behalf of the EU in international fora. That would seem to rule out member states "doing a solo run" on international trade. In fact, there is every reason for Ireland doing a "solo run" and acting with conviction by putting in place a full trade embargo against Israel. This would constitute an unusual move in the EU trade field. But it is fully justified with reference to Israels repeated and serious violations of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. This association agreement has been in place now for almost a quarter century. It is the main treaty governing the EUs relationship with Israel. The key element of the agreement is Article 2. It says: Relations between the Parties, as well as all the provisions of the Agreement itself, shall be based on human rights and democratic principles, which guides their internal and international policy and constitutes an essential element of this agreement. An Israeli army infantry-fighting vehicle at Israel's southern border with the Gaza Strip on Wednesday. Photo: Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images There is no reading of Article 2 that does not deem Israel in gross violation of its commitments under the agreement. Further, the advisory opinion published by the International Court of Justice in July 2024 emphasizes that states are under an obligation to take steps to prevent trade or investment relations that assist in the maintenance of the illegal situation created by Israel in the Palestinian territories. In recent weeks more and more respected historians and intellectuals have called what is happening in Gaza a genocide. These include Professor Omar Bartov of Brown University, one of the most reputable Jewish scholars of the Holocaust, and David Grossman, Israels most feted novelist of the modern era. Trade embargo So what should Ireland do, now that Israel is unequivocally considered to be carrying out a genocide against the Palestinian population of Gaza? In my view there is a clear cut case for going beyond the Occupied Territories Bill and proceeding with a complete trade embargo on Israel. To those who say this will inevitably precipitate an EU response, I say, so what? This is a completely normal part of the European Integration process. Ireland, for example, has been a "laggard" in implementing collectively agreed EU environmental measures for decades. During that time it has been brought to the Court of Justice by the European Commission on many occasions. In this case, what would happen is as follows: the European Commission would deem Irelands unilateral action to be in violation of its treaty obligations. In response, Ireland would say No, we reject such an assertion and we insist on testing this before the Court of Justice. What would happen then? Well, any case to go before the court would zoom in quite forensically on Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement, and Ireland would emphasise that because Israel is in such egregious violation of that agreement, the unilateral imposition of a trade embargo was not just justified but entirely necessary. The significance of such an Irish move is that, for the first time within the EU, we would see a judicial interpretation of the meaning of Article 2 of the Association Agreement. Amongst the key questions at issue would be: is the language of Article 2 on human rights merely aspirational or does it imply binding commitments by the signatories? Israels reaction to all of this will no doubt be hysterical and fall back on a familiar posture of performative victimhood: "We are historys eternal victims and we remain victims, despite becoming perpetrators of exactly the dreadful things done to us in the past". If Ireland really wanted to make a difference, and help end the genocidal Israeli onslaught on Palestinians, it should enact a comprehensive trade embargo on Israel and dare the EU authorities to institute legal action. At the very least we need to see the meaning and substance of Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement tested before the Court of Justice of the European Union. The appalling suffering of the people of Gaza makes this a truly urgent task. John O Brennan is Professor of European Politics at Maynooth University. He is the founding director of the Maynooth Centre for European and Eurasian Studies Colombian senator and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe, who was shot in the head at a campaign event two months ago, died in the early hours of Monday at the age of 39, the hospital treating him said. Uribe, a member of a prominent political family and a lawmaker for the right-wing opposition, was shot in Bogota on June 7 where he was speaking to try to secure his party's nomination for 2026 elections. His wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, announced his death on social media. "I ask God to show me the way to learn to live without you," she wrote. "Rest in peace, love of my life, I will take care of our children." The attack was the worst outbreak of political violence in around two decades and evoked memories of the turbulent years of the 1980s and 1990s, when four presidential candidates were murdered in separate attacks blamed on drug cartels. The capital's Santa Fe Foundation hospital - where supporters held regular vigils during Uribe's treatment and repeated operations - said over the weekend his condition had worsened because of a hemorrhage in his central nervous system. On Monday, it said he had died at 1.56am (0656 GMT). Former President Alvaro Uribe, the leader of the senator's Democratic Center party and no relation to the deceased lawmaker, wrote on X that "evil destroys everything; they killed hope". "May Miguel's fight be a light that illuminates Colombia's right path," added the former president, who was sentenced by a judge earlier this month to 12 years of house arrest for abuse of process and bribery of a public official. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X he was deeply saddened by the news. "The United States stands in solidarity with his family, the Colombian people, both in mourning and demanding justice for those responsible." Dr. Henry Gallardo announces the death of opposition Sen. Miguel Uribe at the clinic where he had been hospitalized. Picture: Ivan Valencia/AP Six people are under arrest over the shooting, including two men that the attorney general's office says met in Medellin to plan the assassination. A 15-year-old accused of carrying out the shooting was arrested within hours of the crime, but police have said they are pursuing the "intellectual authors" of the attack. In a video of the boy's June arrest, independently verified by Reuters, he can be heard shouting that he had been hired by a local drug dealer. Fraught family history Defense minister Pedro Sanchez vowed on Monday to catch those responsible. "We will not allow the violent to intimidate or silence political voices needed in our democracy," he wrote on X. His ministry has said there is a 3 billion peso (about $740,000) reward for information leading to the identification and capture of the culprits, and that the United States, Britain and the United Arab Emirates are helping with the investigation. The death of senator Uribe, a father and stepfather, adds further tragedy to his family's fraught history. His mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was killed in 1991 during a botched rescue mission after she was kidnapped by the Medellin Cartel, headed by drug lord Pablo Escobar. Uribe himself enjoyed a rapid political rise, as a lawmaker for the right-wing Democratic Center party and presidential hopeful known for his sharp criticism of leftist President Gustavo Petro's administration. In videos posted on social media the day he was shot, Uribe called for respect of the separation of powers and rejected a referendum pushed by Petro on a labor reform bill. He had also criticized the president's restrictions on the oil industry, promising a plan to attract investment and give companies legal security. At 25, he was elected to Bogota's city council, where he was a prominent opponent of Petro, then the capital's mayor, criticizing his handling of waste management and social programs. In the 2022 legislative elections, Uribe led the Senate slate for the Democratic Center party. Since the shooting, Uribe's seat in the Senate has been draped with a Colombian flag. His maternal grandfather, Julio Cesar Turbay, was Colombia's president from 1978 to 1982, while his paternal grandfather, Rodrigo Uribe Echavarria, headed the Liberal Party and supported Virgilio Barco's successful 1986 presidential campaign. Besides his wife, son and stepdaughters, Uribe is also survived by his father and sister. Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) The Israeli state by now has a long and sanguinary history of murdering writers and journalists in cold blood. In 1972, Israeli commandos murdered novelist, painter and short story writer Ghassan Kanafani in Beirut with a car bomb the weapon of choice for terrorists ever since killing his niece Lamis as well. Kanafanis crime was to be an effective voice of the 1948 Palestinian Nakba or catastrophic expulsion from their homeland by the militant Zionist settler-colonialists and then by the newly formed Israeli army. Anyone who hasnt read his Men in the Sun has a hole in their knowledge of the issue. On May 11, 2022, an Israeli sniper was ordered to murder American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. The powerful Israeli propaganda machine (which is not different than that of Vladimir Putin or Donald Trump, and the effectiveness of which is plummeting) initially asserted that Palestinians had killed her. Then it might have been an Israeli sniper. Then it was an Israeli sniper but it was an unfortunate accident. If that was the case, why did Israeli authorities disrupt even her funeral (she was a Greek Catholic)? Her crime was to report on the Israeli slow colonization of the Palestinian West Bank for 17 years for Al Jazeera. As a careful journalist, she became a trusted narrator of what was being done to the occupied Palestinians. She was eliminated, rubbed out, whacked, by the Israeli army, deliberately and calculatedly, which lied about the hit job. Now on Sunday comes the news that the Israeli army assassinated five journalists, one of them lead Al Jazeera reporter Anas al-Sharif, 28, who had become known as the voice of Gaza, watched by millions throughout the world. The Israeli military fired a rocket at the tent he and four other journalists were sheltering in near the al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. They join 178 journalists killed by the Israeli military in Gaza. Most of these killings appear to have been deliberate. Russia appears to have killed 18 journalists in the field since February 2022. It has killed other journalists, but they were fighting in the Ukrainian military as soldiers and so werent killed qua journalists. The Ukraine War is pretty vicious and Putins minions are ruthless. But theyve only rubbed out 18 practicing journalists, versus 178 for Israel. This is not to mention that Ukraine has a population of 37 million, while Gazas at least used to be 2.2 million. So killing 178 journalists in Gaza would be like killing nearly 3,000 journalists in Ukraine. Note that firing a rocket at a tent known to be inhabited by unarmed civilian journalists is an act of cowardice and is the sort of thing for which German and Japanese officers were tried at Nuremberg. The Israeli propaganda charges against al-Sharif, that he was an active-duty Hamas commando in charge of firing rockets at Israel, would be laughable if they werent so sinister in a Kim Jong Un sort of way. We saw al-Sharif all day every day huddling in Gaza, undernourished, staring into the camera and reporting. Is he Superman, to sneak off and fire a rocket between screen appearances and intensive news gathering? Al-Sharif had prerecorded a statement for this eventuality, which was released on Sunday: This is my last will and testament, my final message. If these words of mine reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice. Peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you. God knows that I have exerted all my effort and strength to be a support and voice for my people, ever since I opened my eyes to life in the alleys and neighborhoods of Jabalia refugee camp. I have lived the pain in all its details, and I have tasted the pain and loss repeatedly. Despite this, I have never hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without falsification or distortion. May God be a witness against those who remained silent, those who accepted our killing, and those who held our breath and whose hearts were not moved by the remains of our children and women, nor did they stop the massacre our people have been subjected to for more than a year and a half. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, goaded on by the Israeli equivalent of neo-Nazis in his cabinet, announced Thursday that he intends to directly occupy Gaza City militarily in preparation for expelling its population once again to the south of the Strip. He clearly intends to commit more genocidal war crimes of the sort for which he has been indicted by the International Criminal Court, and does not want any witnesses. His attempt to blind the world to what he is doing in Gaza is pitiful in its hubris. And it comes a day late and a dollar short, since everyone knows about his Gaza genocide, even, apparently, Donald Trump, who angrily instructed Netanyahu to stop his ridiculous lying that no one is starving in Gaza. Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif killed in Israeli attack in Gaza City Please enable JavaScript play-sharp-fill Embed Copy and paste this HTML code into your webpage to embed. Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif killed in Israeli attack in Gaza City I cant do better than the statement by the Committee to Protect Journalists: The Committee to Protect Journalists is appalled to learn of the killing today of Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh, camera operators Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal, and an unnamed assistant by Israeli forces in Gaza. The journalists were killed in an attack on a tent used by media near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City during an Israeli bombardment, according to Al Jazeera. In a statement announcing the killing of Al-Sharif, Israels military accused the journalist of heading a Hamas cell and of advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and [Israeli] troops. Israel has a longstanding, documented pattern of accusing journalists of being terrorists without providing any credible proof. Israels pattern of labeling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom, said CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah. Journalists are civilians and must never be targeted. Those responsible for these killings must be held accountable. Al-Sharif had been one of Al Jazeeras best-known reporters in Gaza since the start of the war and one of several journalists whom Israel had previously alleged were members of Hamas without providing evidence. Most recently, Al-Sharif had reported on the starvation that he and his colleagues were experiencing because of Israels refusal to allow sufficient food aid into Gaza. In a July 24 video, Avichay Adraee, an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson, accused Al-Sharif of having been a member of Hamass military wing, Al-Qassam, since 2013 and working during the war for the most criminal and offensive channel. Al-Sharif told CPJ in July: Adraees campaign is not only a media threat or an image destruction; it is a real-life threat. He said: All of this is happening because my coverage of the crimes of the Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip harms them and damages their image in the world. They accuse me of being a terrorist because the occupation wants to assassinate me morally. Since the start of the Israel-Gaza war on October 7, 2023, 186 journalists have been killed. At least 178 of those journalists are Palestinians killed by Israel. CPJ quote licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Click here to donate via PayPal. Personal checks should be made out to Juan Cole and sent to me at: Juan ColeP. O. Box 4218,Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2548USA(Remember, make the checks out to Juan Cole or they cant be cashed) TORONTO, ON / ACCESS Newswire / August 11, 2025 /Grid Metals Corp. (TSXV:GRDM) (OTCQB:MSMGF) ("Grid" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update at its Makwa Ni-Cu-PGE project in southeastern Manitoba where an Option and Joint Venture Agreement (the "Agreement") with Teck Resources Limited ("Teck") was announced in December 2024. The target model is a footwall-hosted Ni-Cu-PGE deposit similar to the Eagle's Nest deposit1 located in Ontario's 'Ring of Fire' mineral district. Initial exploration completed under the new option and joint venture agreement has led to the discovery of semi-massive nickel sulfide mineralization at surface (up to 1.1% nickel in grab samples, see Table 1) associated with a recently identified geophysical anomaly ("Pavo" or the "Pavo Anomaly") in a previously unexplored part of the Makwa property. The Pavo Anomaly is now a priority drill target with drilling anticipated to commence in the Fall of 2025. Dr. Dave Peck, the Company's V.P. Exploration, stated, "The new discovery of nickel-rich magmatic massive sulfide mineralization at Pavo is significant given its location in an interpreted feeder structure to the Bird River Sill - host to most of the known Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide mineralization in the Bird River Belt. Importantly, the Pavo conductor trend is contained within a large magnetic anomaly that suggests a large volume of prospective ultramafic rocks are present in the broader target area. Our view, shared by Federal and Provincial Government geoscientists2, is that the Bird River Belt is strongly analogous to the Ring of Fire District in northwestern Ontario where a significant Ni-Cu-PGE deposit at Eagle's Nest was discovered in 2007. The potential to participate with Teck in the discovery of an Eagle's Nest-type sulfide deposit is an exciting opportunity for Grid." The Pavo Anomaly: A new grassroots nickel sulfide surface discovery in the footwall of the Bird River Sill The Pavo Anomaly is a shallow electromagnetic ("EM") conductor trend that has a strike length of approximately 600m in east-west extent that was outlined from an airborne geophysical survey completed in late 2024. The Company completed reconnaissance geology in the area and one day of field prospecting at the Pavo Anomaly (Blaze Showing) before forest fires restricted access to the area. Nonetheless, the initial day of prospecting led to the discovery of semi-massive sulfide mineralization in soil-covered bedrock located directly on the eastern part of the Pavo Anomaly. Initial grab samples taken from this new showing returned peak nickel grades of up to 1.1% hosted by semi-massive magmatic sulfide mineralization (see Table 1). 1 The Eagle's Nest deposit in the McFauld's Lake greenstone belt of northwestern Ontario is an established, high-grade magmatic nickel sulfide resource that is owned by Wyloo Canada. See the Wyloo website for more information about the Eagle's Nest deposit: https://wyloo.com/wylooeaglesnest/ 2 Geological Survey of Canada Open File Report 8722, 2020. Sample Number Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (%) S (%) Field Description C1296925 0.84 0.20 0.10 24.5 Semi-massive sulfides in ultramafic C1296927 0.62 0.12 0.07 18.7 Semi-massive sulfides in ultramafic C1296973 1.13 0.08 0.11 28.3 Semi-massive sulfides in ultramafic Table 1. Select assay results for surface grab samples from the Pavo Anomaly. Above: Part of a new channel sample comprising sulfide-matrix breccia from the magmatic sulfide discovery at the Pavo Anomaly. Fragments are altered ultramafic rock. Sulfide matrix is composed of pyrrhotite +/- pentlandite with lesser pyrite and minor chalcopyrite Above: Pavo EM Anomaly on a first vertical derivative magnetic image showing location of the Blaze nickel sulfide showing and recent field sample lithologies Next Steps Additional prospecting recently commenced following the lifting of fire restrictions in the area. A follow-up deep-penetrating ground time-domain EM geophysical survey is also planned to further define initial drill targets. Drilling at Pavo is planned to commence this Fall pending receipt of applicable exploration permits. The principal objective of the ongoing exploration program is to fully explore the Makwa property for high-grade massive Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide deposits located in structural favourable sites, including structural traps along the base of the Bird River Sill and within interpreted feeder structures to the sill. Pavo is expected to be the first major anomaly to be drill tested. However, there are numerous other untested, coincident magnetic and EM anomalies that are currently being mapped and prospected that could become priorities for future drilling campaigns. Above: Location of Grid's copper/nickel properties in the Bird River Belt, southeastern Manitoba. Quality Assurance and Quality Control Grid Metals applies best practice quality assurance and quality control ("QAQC") protocols in all of its exploration programs. For the Pavo prospecting program, grab samples were cleaned of obvious weathering and bagged and tagged in the field. The samples were then transported by secure carrier to the Actlabs (Thunder Bay) laboratory for sample preparation and analysis for nickel, copper, cobalt and selected major and trace element abundances using a multi-acid digestion method followed by ICP-OES analysis. Samples were also analyzed for Pd, Pt and Au using a lead collection 30 g fire assay method followed by ICP-OES analysis. The Company is using several different certified reference materials ("CRMs") and one analytical blank for the Makwa project to monitor analytical accuracy and check for cross contamination between samples. The analytical results for the CRMs and the blank for the new analytical results reported here did not show any significant bias compared to the certified values and fell within the acceptable limits of variability. For more information about the Company, please see the Company website at www.gridmetalscorp.com or contact: Robin Dunbar - President, CEO & Director Telephone: 416-955-4773 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Brandon Smith - Chief Development Officer - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. David Black - Investor Relations Email - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Qualified Persons Statements Dr. Dave Peck, P.Geo., the V.P. Exploration of Grid, is the Qualified Person for purposes of National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release. About Grid Metals Corp. Grid Metals is focused on exploration and development in southeastern Manitoba with four key projects in the Bird River area. The Makwa Property (Ni-Cu-PGM-Co), which is subject to an Option and Joint Venture Agreement with Teck Resources Limited ("Teck"). Teck can earn up to a 70% interest in Makwa by incurring a total of CAD$17.3 million, comprising project expenditures (CAD$15.7 million) and cash payments or equity participation (CAD$1.6 million) with Grid. Makwa is located on the south arm of the Bird River Greenstone Belt. The Mayville Property (Cu-Ni) is located on the north arm of the Bird River Greenstone Belt. The property is owned subject to a minority interest. The Falcon West Property (Li-Cs) is located 110 km east of Winnipeg along the Trans-Canada highway and contains highly anomalous cesium values in a number of historical drill holes including 2.2 m at 15.0% Cs 2 O and 3.2 m at 4.6% Cs 2 O. The Donner Property (Li-Cs) is adjacent to the Mayville Property, and Grid owns 75% of the project. Grid announced a cesium purchase agreement with Tanco on February 18, 2025. All of the Company's southeastern Manitoba projects are located on the ancestral lands of the Sagkeeng First Nation with whom the Company maintains an Exploration Agreement. We seek safe harbour. This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and forward-looking information within the meaning of the Securities Act (Ontario) (together, "forward-looking statements"). Such forward-looking statements include the Company's closing of the proposed financial transactions, sale of royalty and property interests. the overall economic potential of its properties, the availability of adequate financing and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward- looking statements to be materially different. Such factors include, among others, risks and uncertainties relating to potential political risk, uncertainty of production and capital costs estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, physical risks inherent in mining operations, metallurgical risk, currency fluctuations, fluctuations in the price of nickel, cobalt, copper and other metals, completion of economic evaluations, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, the inability or failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis, and other risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis for the most recent financial period and Material Change Reports filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators and available at www.sedar.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. MONTREAL, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Dynacor Group Inc. (TSX: DNG) (Dynacor or the Corporation) today announced its unaudited financial and operational results1 for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025, and achievement of key milestones for its 2030 international expansion plan. In the second quarter of 2025, Dynacor achieved important milestones that position us well for the future, said Jean Martineau, President & CEO. While advancing work on the pilot plant in Senegal, we carried out positive due diligence for the Svetlana plant in Ecuador and signed an MOU with a partner in Ghana. The acquisition of Svetlana is a particularly important step towards our 2030 goal of reaching $1 billion in sales. At the same time, operations saw an unseasonably soft quarter with ore supply headwinds in the latter months. Given the slow quarter and external factors extending into mid-July, we have updated our annual production and sales guidance. We are already seeing improvement in the third quarter and anticipate a stronger second half for Veta Dorada. Q2-2025 Highlights Financial: Sales of $79.7 million, the second-highest quarterly sales. EBITDA 2 of $5.7 million. Non-recurring expenses totaling $1.4 million, including $0.8 million in non-cash items. Net income of $3.5 million. Operating cash flows before changes in working capital items of $4.2 million. Cash gross operating margin of $332 per AuEq ounce sold 3 . Results benefited from the favourable variance of both the Canadian dollar and the Peruvian sol against the US dollar. Operational: Lower ore supply than the historical standard partially attributable to temporary government-mandated curfew on artisanal miners (ASM) in northern Peru and planned maintenance. Processed 38,152 tonnes of ore (419 tpd). Produced 24,955 AuEq ounces. Solid liquidity with $58.4 million in cash and short-term investments compared to $25.8 million at year-end 2024. Q2-2025 Highlights (suite) International expansion plans: Senegal: Placed orders for key pieces of equipment and progressed work for construction of the 50-tpd pilot plant. Ghana: Signed a 12-month Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) joint venture agreement with partner Ansong Askew Ltd. Ecuador: Subsequent to quarter-end, completed due diligence and signed a Share Purchase Agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of the Svetlana processing plant and assets for $9.75 million. Disbursed a monthly dividend representing CA$0.16 per share on an annual basis or a 3.2% dividend yield based on the current share price. on an annual basis or a 3.2% dividend yield based on the current share price. Dispensed 8,198 hours of health, safety and environment training to the Veta Dorada team. Released 2024 ESG report, the fourth in line with Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards. 2025 Outlook versus Actuals For 2025, the Corporation has updated its production forecast, reflecting the disruption to its ore supply in Q2 from the government-mandated curfew on artisanal miners in certain regions of northern Peru and the impact on initial Q3 production from temporary road blockades. As a result, the Corporations sales for 2025 are expected to come in on the lower end of the initial guidance range. Initial 2025 Guidance Updated 2025 Guidance H1-2025 Sales $345-$375 million $340-$350 million $159.7 million Net income $14-$17 million No Change $8.6 million Production (AuEq oz) 120-130,000 oz 105-110,000 oz 52,005 oz Capital expenditures (Peru & Senegal) $15 million $12 million $2.6 million Capital expenditures (Ecuador) - $17 million - Other project expenses $3 million No Change $1 million Includes $9.75 million to purchase the Svetlana plant in Ecuador, disbursed after quarter-end. Acquisition of the plant was funded with the proceeds from the issuance of common shares in Q1-2025. Guidance is based on the following assumptions: (1) No increase in processing capacity. (2) Average market gold price of between $2,800 and $3,000 per ounce in initial guidance has been updated to between $3,200 and $3,400 per ounce. (3) The ore grade supplied may vary with the evolution of the gold price. Operations Overview Three-month periods ended June 30, Six-month periods ended June 30, 2025 2024 2025 2024 Volume processed (in tonnes) 38,152 42,935 81,493 86,941 Tonnes per day 419 472 450 478 AuEq ounces produced 24,955 28,364 52,005 60,133 Despite a curfew imposed on some regions in northern Peru during the quarter and planned maintenance, the Corporation processed more than 38,000 tonnes during Q2-2025 which represents an average of 419 tpd. The Q2-2025 production compared to Q2-2024 was mainly impacted by lower tonnages processed while the Q1-2025 production was mainly impacted by the supply of lower grade ore. Financial Overview Three-month periods ended June 30, Six-month periods ended June 30, (in $'000) (unaudited) 2025 2024 2025 2024 Sales 79,706 67,431 159,674 135,164 Cost of sales (72,560 ) (57,437 ) (143,552 ) (116,022 ) Gross operating margin 7,146 9,994 16,122 19,142 General and administrative expenses (3,315 ) (2,127 ) (5,719 ) (3,831 ) Other project expenses (517 ) (327 ) (991 ) (541 ) Operating income 3,314 7,540 9,412 14,770 Financial income net of expenses 302 186 512 357 Write-off of exploration and evaluation assets (8 ) (18 ) (8 ) (18 ) Foreign exchange gain (loss) 1,390 (125 ) 1,665 (184 ) Income before income taxes 4,998 7,583 11,581 14,925 Current income tax expense (1,416 ) (2,841 ) (3,189 ) (5,418 ) Deferred income tax (expense) recovery (113 ) (241 ) 226 (225 ) Net income and comprehensive income 3,469 4,501 8,618 9,282 Earnings per share Basic $ 0.08 $ 0.12 $ 0.21 $ 0.25 Diluted $ 0.08 $ 0.12 $ 0.21 $ 0.25 Q2-2025 Quarterly Results A higher inventory level at the beginning of Q2-2024 allowed the Corporation to benefit more from the timing of higher gold prices, whereas a lower inventory level at the beginning of Q2-2025 reduced the positive impact. Total sales amounted to $79.7 million compared to $67.4 million in Q2-2024. The $12.3 million increase is explained by the higher average gold price realised (+$23.4 million), partially offset by lower quantities of gold ounces sold (-$11.1 million) due to the lower tonnage of ore processed. Q2-2025 Quarterly Results (continued) The Q2-2025 gross operating margin reached $7.1 million (9.0% of sales) compared to $10.0 million (14.8% of sales) in Q2-2024. Both the level and the movement in the gold price impact our gross operating margin. Gross operating margin in Q2-2025 was also impacted by non-recurring expenses, including reorganization expenses and asset rationalization expenses. General and administrative expenses totaled $3.3 million in Q2-2025 compared to $2.1 million in Q2-2024. The increase is primarily attributable to the expansion of the management team and higher salaries to reinforce management capacity and processes in the context of its international expansion and non-recurring expenses related to the special and annual shareholder meetings held in Q2-2025. Other projects represent the expenses incurred by the Corporation to duplicate its unique business model in the same or other jurisdictions. The foreign exchange gain is mainly attributable to the variance throughout the period of the Canadian dollar against the US dollar. A $1.5 million income tax expense was also recorded during Q2-2025. The decrease as a percentage of the net income before taxes is notably explained by the variance throughout the period of the Peruvian sol against the US$ which is the Corporations functional currency, as well as a non-recurring deferred tax expense. Future fluctuations will positively or negatively affect the current and deferred tax at the end of each period. Q2-2025 Year-To-Date Results During the six-month period ended June 30, 2025, the gold price increased from approximately $2,700/oz in January to approximately $3,400/oz in June, which impacted the Corporations financial results for the period. Total sales for the six-month period ended June 30, 2025, amounted to a record $159.7 million, compared to $135.2 million for the same period in 2024. The $24.5 million increase is explained by higher average gold price (+$45.6 million), partially offset by lower quantities of gold ounces sold (-$21.1 million). Cash Flows, Working Capital and Liquidity Overview (in $'000) (unaudited) Three-month periods ended June 30, Six-month periods ended June 30, 2025 2024 2025 2024 Operating activities Net income, adjusted for non-cash items 4,156 5,815 9,955 11,466 Changes in working capital items (2,849 ) 3,863 6,837 7,803 Net cash from operating activities 1,307 9,678 16,792 19,269 Investing activities Change in short-term investments 3,000 - 3,000 - Acquisition of property, plant and equipment, net of proceeds of disposition and other (818 ) (1,582 ) (2,122 ) (2,300 ) Net cash from (used) in investing activities 2,182 (1,582 ) 878 (2,300 ) Financing activities Issuance of common shares - - 20,433 - Repurchase of common shares (1,162 ) (143 ) (1,162 ) (2,895 ) Dividends paid (1,209 ) (938 ) (2,324 ) (1,907 ) Other 18 69 74 124 Net cash from (used) in financing activities (2,353 ) (1,012 ) 17,021 (4,678 ) Change in cash during the period 1,136 7,084 34,691 12,291 Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash 954 (25 ) 878 (38 ) Cash, beginning of the period 53,298 27,675 19,819 22,481 Cash, end of the period 55,388 34,734 55,388 34,734 Investing activities In Q2-2025, Dynacor invested $1.3 million in capital expenditure of which $0.8 million was disbursed in Peru, mainly to maintain or improve plant efficiency. The remaining $0.5 million investment was for the construction of the ore-processing pilot plant in Senegal. The Corporation will use the proceeds from the issuance of common shares in Q1-2025 to fund the construction of the pilot plant in Senegal and the acquisition and rehabilitation of the plant in Ecuador. Working Capital and Liquidity As at June 30, 2025, the Corporations working capital amounted to $84.7 million, including $58.4 million in cash and short-term investments ($58.9 million, including $25.8 million in cash and short-term investments as at December 31, 2024). Consolidated Statement of Financial Position As at June 30, 2025, total assets amounted to $146.4 million ($125.3 million as at December 31, 2024). Major variances since year-end 2024 come from the significant increase in cash following the issuance of common shares in February 2025; the decrease in accounts receivable due to the timing of exports and collection of sales taxes and the decrease in ore inventory due to the level of ore supplied compared to the volume processed. (in $'000) (unaudited) As at June 30, As at December 31, 2025 2024 Cash 55,388 19,819 Short-term investments 2,998 5,999 Accounts receivable 17,952 23,747 Inventories 23,210 29,376 Prepaid expenses and other assets 1,161 361 Current tax assets 445 - Property, plant and equipment 25,997 26,160 Exploration and evaluation assets 18,575 18,570 Right-of-use assets 662 1,070 Other non-current assets - 159 Total assets 146,388 125,261 Trade and other payables 16,395 18,185 Asset retirement obligations 3,681 3,732 Current tax liabilities - 2,125 Deferred tax liabilities 339 565 Lease liabilities 696 1,108 Share unit plan liabilities 392 389 Shareholders' equity 124,885 99,157 Total liabilities and shareholders equity 146,388 125,261 About Dynacor Dynacor Group is an industrial ore processing company dedicated to producing gold sourced from artisanal miners. Since its establishment in 1996, Dynacor has pioneered a responsible mineral supply chain with stringent traceability and audit standards for the fast-growing artisanal mining industry. By focusing on fully and part-formalized miners, the Canadian company offers a win-win approach for governments and miners globally. Dynacor operates the Veta Dorada plant and owns a gold exploration property in Peru. The company plans to expand to West Africa and within Latin America. The premium paid by luxury jewellers for Dynacors PX Impact gold goes to Fidamar Foundation, an NGO that mainly invests in health and education projects for artisanal mining communities in Peru. Visit www.dynacor.com for more information. Forward-Looking Information Certain statements in the preceding may constitute forward-looking statements, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Dynacor, or industry results, to be materially different from any future result, performance or achievement expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These statements reflect managements current expectations regarding future events and operating performance as of the date of this news release. Contact: For more information, please contact: Ruth Hanna Director, Investor Relations T: 514-393-9000 #236 E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: http://www.dynacor.com Renmark Financial Communications Inc. Bettina Filippone T: (416) 644-2020 or (212) 812-7680 E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: www.renmarkfinancial.com 1 All figures are in US dollars unless stated otherwise. All variance % are calculated from rounded figures. Some additions might be incorrect due to rounding. 2 EBITDA: Earnings before interest, taxes and depreciation is a non-IFRS financial performance measure with no standard definition under IFRS Accounting Standards. It is therefore possible that this measure could not be comparable with a similar measure of another corporation. The Corporation uses this non-IFRS measure as an indicator of the cash generated by the operations and allows investor to compare the profitability of the Corporation with others by canceling effects of different assets basis, effects due to different tax structures as well as the effects of different capital structures. EBITDA is calculated on p.15 of the MD&A. See the Non-IFRS Measures section 18 of the Corporations MD&A for the three- and six-month periods ended June 30, 2025. 3 Cash gross operating margin per AuEq ounce is in US$ and is calculated by subtracting the average cash cost of sale per equivalent ounce of Au from the average selling price per equivalent ounce of Au and is a non-IFRS financial performance measure with no standard definition under IFRS Accounting Standards. It is therefore possible that this measure could not be comparable with a similar measure of another company. See the non-IFRS Measures in section 18 of the Corporations MD&A. VANCOUVER, British Columbia / Aug 11, 2025 / Business Wire / Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. (the "Company" or "Spanish Mountain Gold") (TSX-V: SPA) (FSE: S3Y) (OTC: SPAUF) is pleased to announce that further to its press release dated August 7, 2025 and as a result of strong investor demand, the Company has increased the maximum aggregate gross proceeds of its previously announced brokered best efforts private placement (the Offering) from C$5,000,000 to C$6,000,000. The revised Offering is comprised of the following: up to 20,689,655 units of the Company (each, a Unit ) at a price of C$0.145 per Unit, for gross proceeds of up to C$3,000,000 from the sale of Units; and ) at a price of C$0.145 per Unit, for gross proceeds of up to C$3,000,000 from the sale of Units; and gross proceeds of up to C$3,000,000 from the sale of any combination of (i) flow-through share units of the Company (each, a FT Unit) at a price of C$0.165 per FT Unit, and (ii) flow-through share units of the Company to be sold to charitable purchasers (each, a Charity FT Unit, and together with the FT Units and Units, the Offered Securities) at a price of C$0.20 per Charity FT Unit. Red Cloud Securities Inc. (Red Cloud) is acting as lead agent and sole bookrunner in connection with the Offering. Each Unit will be comprised of one (1) common share in the capital of the Company (each, a Common Share) and one (1) Common Share purchase warrant (each, a Warrant). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one (1) additional Common Share (each, a Warrant Share) at a price of C$0.22 per Warrant Share, for a period of 36 months from the Closing Date (as defined herein). Each FT Unit will be comprised of one (1) Common Share to be issued as a flow-through share within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (each, a FT Share) and one-half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a FT Unit Warrant). Each FT Unit Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one (1) additional Common Share to be issued on a non-flow-through basis (a FT Unit Warrant Share) at a price of C$0.22 per FT Unit Warrant Share, for a period of 36 months from the Closing Date. Each Charity FT Unit will be comprised of one FT Share and one Warrant. The Company will grant to Red Cloud an option, exercisable in full or in part, up to 48 hours prior to Closing Date, to sell up to an additional C$1,200,000 of gross proceeds in any combination of the Offered Securities (the Agents Option). Subject to compliance with applicable regulatory requirements and in accordance with National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions (NI 45-106), the Units and Charity FT Units (collectively, the LIFE Securities) will be offered for sale to purchasers resident in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan (the Canadian Offering Jurisdictions), pursuant to the listed issuer financing exemption under Part 5A of NI 45-106, as amended by Coordinated Blanket Order 45-935 Exemptions from Certain Conditions of the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption (the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption). The securities of the Company issuable from the sale of such LIFE Securities will not be subject to a statutory hold period in accordance with applicable Canadian securities legislation if sold to purchasers resident in Canada. The Units may also be offered in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons, by way of private placement pursuant to the exemptions from the registration requirements provided for under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act), and in jurisdictions outside of Canada and the United States on a private placement or equivalent basis, in each case in accordance with all applicable laws, provided that no prospectus, registration statement or other similar document is required to be filed in such jurisdiction. All securities not issued pursuant to the Listed Issuer Financing Exemption will be subject to a restriction period of four (4) months following the Closing Date, in accordance with applicable Canadian securities legislation. The FT Units will be offered by way of the accredited investor and minimum amount investment exemptions under NI 45-106 in the Canadian Offering Jurisdictions. The securities of the Company issuable from the sale of such FT Units will be subject to a restriction period of four (4) months following the Closing Date, in accordance with applicable Canadian securities legislation. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for exploration and development work at the Companys Spanish Mountain Gold Project in the Cariboo Gold Corridor in British Columbia as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes. Gross proceeds from the sale of FT Shares will be used to incur Canadian exploration expenses as defined in subsection 66.1(6) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) and flow-through mining expenditures as defined in subsection 127(9) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (or would so qualify if the references to before 2026 in paragraph (a) of the definition of flow-through mining expenditure in subsection 127(9) of the Tax Act were read as before 2027 and the references in paragraphs (c) and (d) of that definition to before April 2025 were read as before April 2026). Such gross proceeds will be renounced to the purchasers of the FT Units and Charity FT Units with an effective date not later than December 31, 2025, in the aggregate amount of not less than the total amount of gross proceeds raised from the issue of the FT Shares. The Offering is anticipated to close on or about August 27, 2025 or such other date as the Company and Red Cloud may agree (the Closing Date). Completion of the Offering is subject to certain customary closing conditions including, but not limited to, receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. There is an amended offering document (the Amended Offering Document) related to the Offering that can be accessed under the Companys profile at www.sedarplus.ca and on the Companys website at www.spanishmountaingold.com. Prospective investors should read this Amended Offering Document before making an investment decision. The securities referred to in this news release have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, unless an exemption from such registration is available. This news release does not constitute an offer for sale of securities for sale, nor a solicitation for offers to buy any securities. Any public offering of securities in the United States must be made by means of a prospectus containing detailed information about the Company and management, as well as financial statements. United States and U.S. person have the respective meanings assigned in Regulation S under the U.S Securities Act. About Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. is focused on advancing its 100%-owned Spanish Mountain Gold Project (Project) towards construction of the next gold mine in the Cariboo Gold Corridor, British Columbia. The Company will publish, within 45 days of the July 3, 2025 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) news release, a new NI 43-101 Technical Report setting out the new executable vision to advance the Project. This new NI 43-101 Technical Report, with a de-risked and optimized PEA with an updated Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE), will supersede the prior technical report of the Company. Upon receipt of the new PEA and updated MRE, the Company will decide the next steps to advance the Project to position the Company to make a construction decision in or before 2027. We are striving to be a leader in community and Indigenous relations by leveraging technology and innovation to build the 'greenest' gold mine in Canada. The Relentless Pursuit for Better Gold means seeking new ways to achieve optimal financial outcomes that are safer, minimize environmental impact and create meaningful sustainability for communities. Details of the Company are available on www.sedarplus.ca and on the Company's website: www.spanishmountaingold.com. On Behalf of the Board, Peter Mah President, Chief Executive Officer and Director Spanish Mountain Gold Ltd. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS When used in this press release, the words estimate, project, belief, anticipate, intend, expect, plan, predict, may or should and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information (collectively referred to as forward-looking information. Although the Company believes, in light of the experience of their respective officers and directors, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors that have been considered appropriate, that the expectations reflected in forward-looking information in this press release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the parties can give no assurance that such statements will prove to be correct. The forward-looking information in this press release include, amongst others: the terms of the Offering, the anticipated closing date of the Offering, the ability of the Company to complete the Offering, the approval of the closing of the Offering by the TSX Venture Exchange, the issuance of the Offered Securities, the intended use of proceeds of the Offering and filing of the Amended Offering Document. Such statements and information reflect the current view of the Company. There are risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking information. By their nature, forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause 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 information. There are a number of important factors that could cause the Companys actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking information. Such factors include, among others: currency fluctuations; limited business history; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general development, market and industry conditions. The Company undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of their securities or their respective financial or operating results (as applicable). The Company cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on the Companys forward-looking information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. The Company has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. The forward-looking information contained in this press release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this press release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. The Company does not undertake to update this information at any particular time except as required in accordance with applicable laws. Not for distribution to United States Newswire Services or for dissemination in the United States Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 11, 2025) - Equity Metals Corporation (TSXV: EQTY) ("Equity") reports initial assay results from the Summer '25 drill program on its 100% owned Silver Queen Au-Ag project, British Columbia, which include new assays from five holes that tested the extension of the No. 3 North target. Assay highlights from the first five holes include: A 3.5 metre (Est. TT) interval grading 2.3g/t Au , 167g/t Ag, 1.3% Cu, 0.3% Pb and 2.0% Zn (536g/t AgEq or 7.4g/t AuEq) including a 0.7 metre (est. TT) interval averaging 2.8g/t Au, 491g/t Ag, 4.5% Cu, 0.8% Pb and 6.1% Zn (1,374g/t AgEq or 19.0g/t AuEq) from SQ25-148; A 1.7 metre (Est. TT) interval grading 3.7g/t Au, 39g/t Ag, 0.2% Cu, 0.5% Pb and 13.8% Zn (788g/t AgEq or 10.9g/t AuEq) including 0.9 metre (est. TT) interval averaging 6.3g/t Au, 30g/t Ag, 0.2% Cu, 0.2% Pb and 18.7% Zn (1,123g/t AgEq or 15.5g/t AuEq) from SQ25-148; and A 2.4 metre (Est. TT) interval grading 0.6g/t Au, 12g/t Ag, and 7.4% Zn (305g/t AgEq or 4.2g/t AuEq) including a 0.5m interval grading 1.8g/t Au, 39g/t Ag, and 34.9% Zn (1,331g/t AgEq or 18.4g/t AuEq) from SQ24-151. These results represent the first set of intercepts from drill targets that tested down-dip of previously reported mineralization identified in 2024 drilling. Mineralization along this 150-metre segment has now been extended to over 350 metres below surface, and drilling confirms the down-dip continuity of the No. 3 Vein in this area. Several additional veins have been intersected in drilling and include a copper-enriched hanging wall vein and deeper vein intercepts that correlate with the No. 2 vein, which is described in historical records and was intersected in 2024 drilling. All of the veins remain open for further delineation and extension. VP Exploration Rob Macdonald commented, "Drilling on the northern extension of the No 3 Vein continues to build on the impressive results of the company's 2024 drilling program, developing continuity in the lateral and down-dip projections. These are the first assays returned from the 2025 program and drilling is ongoing. With 5,040 metres currently completed of the planned 6,000 metre program, the Company anticipates more positive news flow over the coming months." Figure 1: Plan of Silver Queen project area Figure 2: No.3 North Longitudinal Section showing historical and 2024-25 drill intercepts. Historical Intercepts are semi-transparent. Drill holes with assays pending are shown in green 2025 Drilling Summary Drilling in 2025 continues to confirm the grade, tenor and lateral extension of mineralization beyond the northern end of the No. 3 Vein resource model. Fifteen core holes totalling 5,040 metres have been completed to date of a planned 6,000 metre program. Work in 2025 will continue to incorporate the new drill data into revised exploration and resource models, in anticipation of a Mineral Resource update to be prepared in late 2025 and to continue exploration on the ever-expanding Silver Queen vein system continuing into 2026. The No. 3 Vein system contains the single largest resource currently identified on the Silver Queen property, and with its southern extension, the NG-3 Vein, accounts for 65% of the currently modelled mineral resource on a AgEq basis. Any extensions to the No. 3 Vein remain highly accretive to the current mineral resource. The updated NI43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate with effective date December 1st, 2022 is detailed in a News Release issued on Jan 16, 2023, which can be found by clicking here and the full Technical Report can be found on SEDAR and the Company's website. Table 1: Select Composites from 2024 Drilling on the No. 3 North Target Notes: drill core samples were analyzed by FA/AAS for gold and 48 element ICP-MS by MS Analytical, Langley, BC. Silver (>100ppm), copper, lead and zinc (>1%) overlimits assayed by ore grade ICP-ES analysis, High silver overlimits (>1000g/t Ag) and gold overlimits (>10g/t Au) re-assayed with FA-Grav. Silver >10,000g/t re-assayed by concentrate analysis, where a FA-Grav analysis is performed in triplicate and a weighed average reported. Downhole composites calculated using a 80g/t AgEq (1g/t AuEq) cut-off and <20% internal dilution, except where noted. Accuracy of results is tested through the systematic inclusion of QA/QC standards, blanks and duplicates into the sample stream. AuEq and AgEq were calculated using prices of $2,360/oz Au, $28.50/oz Ag, $4.25/lb Cu, $0.90/lb Pb and $1.20/lb Zn. AuEq and AgEq calculations utilized relative metallurgical recoveries of Au 70%, Ag 80%, Cu 80%, Pb 81% and Zn 90%. About Silver Queen Project The Silver Queen Project is a premier gold-silver property with over 100 years of historic exploration and development and is located adjacent to power, roads and rail with significant mining infrastructure that was developed under previous operators Bradina JV (Bralorne Mines) and Houston Metals Corp. (a Hunt Brothers company). The property contains an historic decline into the No. 3 Vein and the George Lake Vein, camp infrastructure, and a maintained Tailings Facility. The Silver Queen Property consists of 46 mineral claims, 17 crown grants, and two surface crown grants totalling 18,871ha with no underlying royalties. Mineralization is hosted by a series of epithermal veins distributed over a 6 sq km area. More than 20 different veins have been identified on the property, forming an extensive network of zoned Cretaceous- to Tertiary-age epithermal veins. The property remains largely under-explored. About Equity Metals Corporation Equity Metals Corporation is a member of the Malaspina-Manex Group. The Company owns 100% interest, with no underlying royalty, in the Silver Queen project, located along the Skeena Arch in the Omineca Mining Division, British Columbia. The property hosts high-grade, precious- and base-metal veins related to a buried porphyry system, which has been only partially delineated. The Company also has a controlling JV interest (57.49%) in the Monument Diamond project, NWT, strategically located in the Lac De Gras district within 40 km of both the Ekati and Diavik diamond mines. As well, the Company has an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Arlington Property, located within the Boundary District of south-central British Columbia where 2025 exploration work consisted of geophysics and diamond drilling designed to identify and delineate an apparent gold system. The Company is fully funded to undertake proposed 2025 exploration and development at Silver Queen and Arlington. Robert Macdonald, MSc. P.Geo, is VP Exploration of Equity Metals Corporation and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. He is responsible for the supervision of the exploration on the Silver Queen project and for the preparation of the technical information in this disclosure. He has approved the release of this news release. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Joseph Anthony Kizis, Jr." Joseph Anthony Kizis, Jr., P.Geo President, Director, Equity Metals Corporation 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 may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the timing and receipt of government and regulatory approvals, and continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions. Equity Metals Corporation does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESS Newswire / August 11, 2025 / BeMetals Corp. (TSXV:BMET) (OTCQB:BMTLF) (Frankfurt:1OI.F) ("BeMetals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of the recently completed core drilling program at the Pangeni Copper Project ("Pangeni" or the "Project" or the "Property") in Zambia. The core drilling has outlined and defined the continuity of the Ingwe shoot and Nkala Zone copper mineralization. In addition, exploration drillhole D8-C1 completed some 1 kilometre from the main Nkala Zone trend, at the Nkala northwest target, has returned encouraging geological and alteration relationships with anomalous copper intervals, emphasizing the under-explored potential beneath the thin Kalahari sand cover. The results of core drilling to date at the D-Prospect have outlined the Ingwe shoot copper mineralization with approximate dimensions of 600 metres long, 14 to 23 metres thick, and 250 to 350 metres wide. This higher-grade Ingwe shoot is developed within the Nkala Zone copper mineralization that extends for at least 1.4 kilometres along trend and is itself associated with a larger envelope of mineralization some 1.7 kilometres in length (See Figure 1)(1). Drilling Highlights to Date: Outlined the Ingwe Shoot as a higher-grade copper zone with dimensions of approximately 600 metres long , 14 to 23 metres thick, and 250-350 metres wide. The Ingwe Shoot is within the broader Nkala Zone , which now spans at least 1.4 kilometres along trend of the larger mineralized corridor over 1.7 kilometres in length . Drill hole D8-C1 has intersected promising geology and copper anomalies under the shallow cover at the new Nkala Northwest target. John Wilton, President and CEO of BeMetals, commented: "The core drilling results from the recent 2025 program at the Pangeni Project have helped to further define the trend and continuity of both the Ingwe shoot and Nkala Zone copper mineralization discovered by the Company's exploration team. The copper mineralization is sedimentary rock-hosted and bears many hallmarks in terms of style, width, grade and geology of deposits that are currently mined in the Domes Region of the Zambian Copperbelt." In June, an independent technical review was completed by advisor Dr. Richard Sillitoe to validate the interpretation of the drilling results from the 2024 and initial 2025 programs. Dr. Sillitoe remarked: "It is now clear that the Nkala Zone, including its Ingwe shoot, is a significant greenfield copper discovery - the first in Zambia for several decades - that, if substantially augmented by additional drill intercepts, has the geological potential to attain meaningful scale. Furthermore, the promising geological relationships observed in drill hole D8-C1 also emphasize the potential for additional copper-mineralized bodies under the shallow Kalahari sand cover at the Pangeni Copper Project." Figure 1 below shows a map of the D-Prospect drilling to date with contours that represent the relative copper content (width multiplied by grade) of mineralization intersected in the core drilling. The shallow aircore drill holes originally completed to test bedrock below the sand cover are also shown. As illustrated the Ingwe Shoot is now interpreted with an approximate west-south-west to east-north-east trend within the Nkala Zone. It is not known, based on the drilling to date, if the Ingwe Shoot and Nkala Zone are offset on a geological feature to the west. Potential may exist to extend Nkala Zone to the east with the possibility for another higher-grade shoot, similar to the Ingwe Shoot as suggested by the copper content and geology of D14-C2 but these targets will require further drill testing. Figure 1: Copper grade x width contours indicating the dimensions of the Ingwe Shoot and Nkala Zone (H1 2025 drilling and previously reported intersections(1)). Note: For more information on past drilling and exploration at the Pangeni Copper Project, see BeMetals' news releases titled "BeMetals Discovers Extensive Copper Mineralization of Similar Style To Major Mines and Projects in the Domes Region of the Zambian Copperbelt", dated May 24, 2024 and see news release titled, "BeMetals' New Core Results Confirm Expanded Footprint of Copper Mineralization and Satellite Target Zones at Pangeni Copper Project, Zambia" dated January 22, 2025, both releases are available on SEDAR+ and at www.bemetalscorp.com. Results of the H1 2025 Drilling Program The drill results listed in Table 1 continue to assist the Company in defining the margins and trends of the copper mineralization within the Nkala Zone and Ingwe Shoot, while also providing critical geological insights across other target areas within the broader Pangeni Project. Notably, hole D22-C3 intersected 16.37 metres at 0.29% Cu, including a higher-grade interval of 6.89 metres at 0.47% Cu, which is interpreted to be towards the southeast edge of Nkala Zone. In addition, D14-C3 intersected an anomalous zone of copper mineralization (3.90m @ 0.23% Cu) currently interpreted to be the southeast edge of the Nkala Zone (See Figure 1). Figure 1 also shows the location of drill hole D8-C1. This drill hole was targeting a relatively low tenor aircore copper anomaly of only 276 parts per million copper. Importantly, drillhole D8-C1, located 1 kilometre north of the Nkala Zone, intersected multiple anomalous copper intervals and encouraging alteration features, marking a promising new satellite target that underscores the untapped potential beneath Kalahari cover near the discovered Nkala copper mineralization and across the Property. Figure 2 indicates the location of the Central Target, hole CT5 returned multiple shallow intervals of anomalous copper, with 11.20 metres at 0.18% Cu, including 4.33 metres at 0.32% Cu, suggesting potential near-surface mineralization that warrants follow-up (Table 2). The copper anomalies and their tenor in CT5 should also be considered in the context of similar grade and width intervals in relatively close proximity to the Nkala Zone at the D-Prospect. Figure 2 also shows the location of drillholes R1 and F4-C4 that did not intersect significant copper mineralization. Also see Table 2 for summary comments of the H1, 2025 drillholes. Figure 2: Nkala Copper Zone, Nkala Northwest Target, and Central Target with H1 2025 core drilling location (Yellow collar symbols) Table 1: Select Recent 2025 Core Drilling Results with Depth, Sample Interval and Copper Grade Target/Line, Borehole ID & Interval From (m) To (m) Core Interval (m) Cu % D-PROSPECT D22-C3 Interval 279.29 282.50 3.21 0.40 Interval 317.80 319.31 1.51 0.52 Nkala Zone 327.40 343.77 16.37* 0.29 Including 336.88 343.77 6.89 0.47 D14-C3 Interval 351.30 355.20 3.90 0.23 CENTRAL PROSPECT CT5 Interval 104.00 109.00 5.00 0.18 Including 104.00 107.00 3.00 0.22 Interval 160.30 165.62 5.32 0.16 Interval 196.70 201.70 5.00 0.17 Interval 216.60 227.80 11.20 0.18 Including 222.00 226.23 4.33 0.32 NKALA NORTHWEST TARGET D8-C1 Interval 207.40 208.40 1.00 0.20 Interval 215.50 217.00 1.50 0.32 Interval 223.50 229.23 5.73 0.17 Including 225.60 229.23 3.63 0.24 Table 1 Notes: Intertek Genalysis completed the analytical work with the core samples processed at their preparation facility in Kitwe, Zambia.All analytical procedures were conducted in an Intertek Genalysis laboratory in Perth, Australia. Reported widths are drilled core lengths because true widths are unknown at this time. Based upon current data, it is estimated true widths range between 85 and 90% of the drilled intersections. A nominal cut-off grade of 0.10% Cu has been used to determine the boundaries of these intersections with no more than 3.07 metres of internal dilution of the intercepts. A nominal cut-off grade of 0.15% Cu has been used to determine the boundaries of this intersection with no more than 5.78 metres of internal dilution of the intercept. Based on the drilling results to date, the Company and its technical partners are now reviewing the data and planning the next optimum steps for the Project. This might include geophysical and/or geochemical orientation surveys to evaluate methods that could advance the drill targeting of extensions to the discovered copper mineralization and identify and test other prospects. Table 2: Pangeni Copper Project: H1 2025 Core Drill Hole ID, Azimuth, Dip, End of Hole Depth, Collar Coordinates and Comments Drill Hole ID Azimuth Degree Dip Degree End of hole Depth (m) Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation (m) Comments D22-C3 300 -65 375.20 177062 8600932 1320 Intersected Nkala Zone D14-C3 300 -60 414.30 177897 8601129 1289 Intersected low tenor Cu (SE edge of Nkala Zone) D24-C2 300 -80 312.00 176630 8601062 1322 Defined northern edge of Nkala Zone (Minor Cu mineralization) CT5 320 -70 249.00 183012 8597488 1220 Intersected multiple zones of anomalous Cu D8-C1 310 -60 241.80 178319 8602334 1331 Intersected zones of alteration similar to Nkala Zone with anomalous Cu R1 310 -70 333.70 178391 8600530 1261 No significant Cu intersected F4-C4 315 -65 291.40 175920 8600081 1319 No significant Cu intersected QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL The core drilling programs were managed by Remote Exploration Services ("RES"), an independent geological consulting and contracting company. All aspects of the field operations were conducted in line with the standard operating procedures as previously and consistently implemented at this project. The samples were analysed by Intertek Genalysis, an independent and accredited laboratory. Samples were prepared at their facility in Kitwe, Zambia and analytical work conducted in Perth, Australia. The results were determined using multi-acid, near total digestion, and analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma ("ICP") Optical (Atomic) Emission Spectrometry ("OES"). The core sampling was conducted with a robust sampling protocol that included the appropriate insertion of standard reference material, duplicates and blanks into the sample stream. The core drilling was conducted by BluRock Mining Services of Kitwe, Zambia. QUALIFIED PERSON STATEMENT The technical information in this news release for BeMetals has been reviewed and approved by John Wilton, CGeol FGS, CEO and President of BeMetals, and a "Qualified Person" as defined under National Instrument 43-101. About BeMetals Corp. BeMetals is a precious and base metals exploration and development company focused on advancing its portfolio of high-potential mineral projects. The Company has recently entered into a letter of intent to explore the Savant Gold Project in northwestern Ontario, Canada. This project is located in one of Ontario's most prolific gold-producing regions that hosts several past producers as well as current operations, including the Red Lake and Musselwhite mines. The Company also has the Pangeni Copper Project in the Zambian Copperbelt, with co-funding and technical partner JOGMEC, where the Company has discovered copper mineralization with geological characteristics and intersected widths and grades similar to large-scale copper mines in the same region. Additionally, the Company has its compelling Kazan gold exploration projects in Japan, while continuing to evaluate additional potential strategic acquisition opportunities. ON BEHALF OF BEMETALS CORP. "John Wilton" John Wilton President, CEO & Director For further information, please contact: Derek Iwanaka Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Development Telephone: +1-604-928-2797 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: www.bemetalscorp.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (as defined under applicable securities laws), based on management's best estimates, assumptions and current expectations. Such statements include but are not limited to, statements with respect to completion of a definitive agreement, future exploration, development and advancement of the Savant Gold Project in Canada, Kazan Projects in Japan and the Pangeni Project in Zambia, and the acquisition of additional base and/or precious metal projects. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expects", "expected", "budgeted", "forecasts", "anticipates", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "aims", "potential", "goal", "objective", "prospective", and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "can", "could" or "should" occur. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such statements, including but not limited to: the actual results of exploration activities, the availability of financing and/or cash flow to fund the current and future plans and expenditures, the ability of the Company to satisfy the conditions of the option agreement for the Pangeni Project, and changes in the world commodity markets or equity markets. Although the Company has attempted to identify important 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. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are made as of the date hereof and are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as require by law. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. Please refer to the Company's most recent filings under its profile at www.sedarplus.ca for further information respecting the risks affecting the Company and its business. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Winshear Gold Corp. (TSXV: WINS) (Winshear or the Company) is pleased to announce that, subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the TSX-V), on August 7, 2025, it entered into an arms length agreement with Peak Nickel Limited (Peak Nickel), a private UK registered company, whereby Winshear can earn a 100% interest in the 250km2 Portsoy Project, located in Aberdeenshire, Northeast Scotland (Map 1). No Finders Fees are payable. Richard Williams, CEO of Winshear, stated The Portsoy Project represents a tremendous opportunity to develop a new nickel copper cobalt project in Scotland. Nickel and cobalt are both listed on the U.K.s Critical Minerals list and the EUs Strategic Raw Materials list. Exploration completed to date at the Rodburn Target within the Portsoy Project has demonstrated the presence of near surface, high-grade nickel copper cobalt sulphide mineralisation. We have only scratched the surface of this system, and look forward to commencing the next drill programme as soon as possible. The Portsoy Project Overview and History Drilling has confirmed the presence of massive, semi-massive and disseminated nickel copper cobalt sulphide mineralisation hosted within a mafic / ultramafic intrusive complex; The Portsoy Project includes the Rodburn Target, discovered in the early 1970s by Exploration Ventures Ltd (EVL), a Goldfields / Rio Tinto joint venture company; EVL drilled 26 holes (4,115m) at Rodburn, outlining a northeast trending, northwest dipping sheet of sulphide mineralisation (now named the South Zone), intersecting up to 12.6m grading 1.1% Ni and 0.33% Cu. Cobalt was not assayed for. (Wilks, G.F. (1974) 1 ; Wilks, G.F. and Smith, M.R.M. (1976) 2 . Note - the EVL drilling and the intersect mentioned herein is historic in nature and is only used for reference purposes; ; Wilks, G.F. and Smith, M.R.M. (1976) . Note - the EVL drilling and the intersect mentioned herein is historic in nature and is only used for reference purposes; EVLs programme was halted in the mid 1970s due to legal issues and was forgotten about for the last 50 years; Between 2019 and 2022 Peak Nickel signed exploration and 100-year mining lease agreements with the landowners to conduct work over the Rodburn target; Between 2022 and 2023 Peak Nickel completed 3,700m of drilling in 24 drill holes testing two zones, North (2 holes) and South (22 holes), expanding the extents of the Rodburn Target (see Table 1 below) and confirming the presence of cobalt mineralisation (Peak Nickel news releases dated February 21, 2024 here); A 3d model of the two zones of mineralisation and their spatial relationship can be viewed here; The South Zone is up to 30m thick (true thickness) and dips at approximately 50 o to the northwest. The surface expression appears as a coincident soil and magnetic anomaly with a strike length of over 3km. To date only 350m of strike length has been drill tested, confirming continuous mineralisation to a vertical depth of 180m. Mineralisation is open to depth; (Peak Nickel presentation can be viewed here); to the northwest. The surface expression appears as a coincident soil and magnetic anomaly with a strike length of over 3km. To date only 350m of strike length has been drill tested, confirming continuous mineralisation to a vertical depth of 180m. Mineralisation is open to depth; (Peak Nickel presentation can be viewed here); The North Zone appears to be a flat to shallow dipping zone up to 35m thick sub-cropping beneath approximately 15m of glacial till. Only two drill holes have tested this target, which remains open in all directions; Selected intercepts from the Peak Nickel drilling include: Hole ID From (m) Length (m) Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (ppm) *Ni Eq % **Cu Eq % RBD001 40.52 12.48 0.63 0.54 403 1.06 1.68 incl. 45.00 6.00 0.96 0.73 601 1.55 2.46 RBD002 50.60 35.40 0.71 0.30 473 1.00 1.59 incl. 70.00 12.00 1.42 0.54 929 1.96 3.12 RBD004 112.00 12.26 1.02 0.83 633 1.68 2.67 incl. 118.29 5.97 1.92 1.50 1197 3.12 4.96 RBD009 51.60 13.79 1.39 0.53 728 1.88 2.99 incl. 60.00 5.39 2.04 0.56 1013 2.61 4.15 RBD016 62.00 27.00 0.47 0.30 433 0.75 1.20 incl. 74.00 9.00 1.13 0.73 1056 1.82 2.89 RBD018 100.00 2.00 1.54 0.93 735 2.28 3.63 * Ni Eq % and **Cu Eq % grades were calculated using values of US$7.00 / lb for nickel, US$4.40 / lb for copper and US$ 15.00 / lb for cobalt 1 Wilks, G.F. (1974) A Report on Exploration Undertaken by Consolidated Gold Fields Ltd on the Western Side of the EVL Project, NE Scotland, 1968 1973. Consolidated Gold Fields Ltd unpublished internal report. 2 Wilks, G.F. and Smith, M.R.M. (1976) Exploration and Geology of Nickel & Copper Deposits in North East Scotland. EVL unpublished report. Terms of the Agreement To earn a 100% interest in the Portsoy Project, the Company must complete the following: Upon receipt of TSX-V approval, the Company commits to completing 1,000m of drilling, including downhole electromagnetic surveying, and undertake initial metallurgical testwork; Spend a total of 3,000,000 on the Portsoy Project within 5 years of receipt of TSX-V approval, with a minimum spend of 300,000 per year; Issue a total of 6,500,000 common shares of the Company to Peak Nickel over a five-year period, as follows; 1,000,000 shares on each of the first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of receipt of TSX-V approval, and 2,500,000 shares on the fifth anniversary of TSX-V approval; Upon completion of the earn-in, Peak Nickel would retain a 1% Net Smelter Returns Royalty capped at 10 million; In the event the Portsoy Project is acquired by a third party after Winshear has completed the earn-in, Peak Nickel would receive 10% of the cash / share value paid to Winshear, capped at 10 million; In the event the agreement with Peak Nickel is assigned to a third party prior to Winshear completing the earn-in, Peak Nickel would retain an uncapped 1% Net Smelter Returns Royalty; The Company will retain a right of first refusal in the event Peak Nickel wishes to sell the royalty. Peak Nickel Ltd. will be the designated contractor for the firs two years of the exploration program, and be subject to the control and direction of the Management Committee, which is controlled by the Company. The Company has the right to take over the designated contractor position upon the payment of 100,000 to Peak Nickel. The Company paid Peak Nickel 65,000 upon the execution of the agreement. About the Portsoy Project The Portsoy Project is located approximately 60km northwest of the city of Aberdeen, in NE Scotland, and comprises a 250km2 area covered by a Mines Royal Option (MRO) (see Map 1). An MRO is granted by the Crown, allowing the holder of the MRO to explore for gold and silver. The project area is underlain by Neoproterozoic rocks of Dalradian Age (800 500 million years) which have been intruded by a sequence of ultramafic, mafic and granitic rocks approximately 475million years ago. The mafic and ultramafic rocks host the known nickel copper cobalt mineralisation. There is limited outcrop in the project area due to the presence of 5m 20m of glacial till draped over the region from the last ice age. Nickel copper cobalt mineralisation was discovered in the Portsoy Project area in the early 1970s by EVL, a joint venture company formed by Goldfields and Rio Tinto. Over the last 5 years Peak Nickel has reached agreement with certain landowners (landowners in the UK own the underlying mineral rights), allowing Peak Nickel to explore and, if successful, mine any minerals discovered in commercial / economic quantities, subject of course to being granted planning permission by the relevant government authorities. Between 2022 and 2023 Peak Nickel completed 24 drill holes for a total of 3,700m of drilling. The table below shows presents the significant drill intercepts: Hole ID From (m) Length (m) Ni (%) Cu (%) Co (ppm) RBD001 40.52 12.48 0.63 0.54 403 incl. 45.00 6.00 0.96 0.73 601 RBD002 50.60 35.40 0.71 0.30 473 incl. 70.00 12.00 1.42 0.54 929 RBD003 103.94 14.06 0.34 0.40 242 incl. 114.00 4.00 0.69 0.66 484 RBD004 112.00 12.26 1.02 0.83 633 incl. 118.29 5.97 1.92 1.50 1197 RBD008 161.00 2.00 0.48 0.24 280 and 186.00 2.00 0.92 0.27 535 RBD009 51.60 13.79 1.39 0.53 728 incl. 60.00 5.39 2.04 0.56 1013 RBD013 33.00 1.00 1.14 0.59 450 and 119.00 1.00 0.47 0.14 100 RBD014 177.00 1.00 0.75 0.15 239 RBD015 36.00 33.00 0.45 0.16 237 RBD016 56.00 1.00 1.26 0.24 1057 and 62.00 27.00 0.47 0.30 433 incl. 74.00 9.00 1.13 0.73 1056 RBD018 100.00 2.00 1.54 0.93 735 Peak Nickel Limited news release dated February 21, 2024. Map 2 shows the extent of the coincident magnetic / soil geochemical anomalies that define the North and South Zones. The map also shows additional coincident anomalies that have yet to be drill tested. 2025 Work Programme Upon receipt of TSX-V approval the Company plans to immediately commence a minimum 1,000m drill programme (including downhole EM geophysical surveying) and start a metallurgical testwork study to determine the optimum recovery process for this style of mineralisation. Peak Nickel Limited drilling protocols After rotation and compression, core recovery and RQD were calculated. The NQ drill core was usually sampled in 1 or 2m lengths. Core was split in half using a rock saw and bagged. On average a standard/CRM sample, a duplicate (quarter core) sample and a blank sample (2 barren granite chips) was inserted into the sample string every 25 samples. Samples averaged ~2.5kg each, and were securely bagged and transported to the Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd. laboratory in Vancouver, Canada by courier. At the lab, samples were prepared by crushing the whole sample and pulverising a 250g riffle-split to -75 microns. Pulps were then analysed by the AQ-252-EXT method with a 30g digestion and 53-element ICP. Any overlimit Ni-Cu-Co results were reanalysed using the AQ370 method. All the Peak Nickel Limited drilling works were planned and supervised by their Managing Director, Mr. C. MacKenzie, M.Sc., C.Geol. Mr MacKenzie has acted as a Qualified Person under Canadian National Instrument NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and a Competent Person under JORC 2012 for publicly listed companies. Whilst not independent, Mr. MacKenzie was responsible for all the exploration activities of Peak Nickel Limited. Qualified Person J. Patricio Varas, P.Geo, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has read and approved all technical and scientific information contained in this news release. Mr. Varas acts as President and is a technical advisor for Winshear Gold. About Winshear Gold Corp. Winshear Gold Corp. is a Canadian-based minerals exploration company currently conducting a regional scale exploration programme on its Thunder Bay Gold Project, located in Ontario. For more information, please contact Irene Dorsman at +1 (604) 200 7874 or visit www.winshear.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Richard D. Williams Richard Williams, CEO 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. Cautions Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain statements and information that may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements and contain forward-looking information. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, including the risks normally associated with mineral exploration. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Googles AI accelerator welcomes 10 Australian startups tackling everything from dental workflows to materials science. Google has selected 10 Australian startups for its 2025 AI First accelerator program, offering equity-free support including up to $350,000 in cloud credits and expert mentorship. The cohort spans industries from healthcare to heavy manufacturing, reflecting Australias growing AI innovation landscape. Whats happening: The Google for Startups Accelerator: AI First program has expanded its Australian presence, welcoming startups from Sydney to Auckland. This 10-week program connects founders with Googles technical expertise and networks. Selected companies include Atomic Tessellator (materials science), CoTreat (dental AI), and Gelomics (pharmaceutical testing platforms). Why this matters: Australias AI startup sector continues growing, with AI patents rising from 170 to 629 between 2015 and 2024. However, only 40% of small and medium enterprises currently adopt AI, indicating significant room for expansion. The program addresses gaps in technical mentorship and cloud infrastructure access for early-stage companies, though accelerator programs face ongoing challenges around fixed formats and limited flexibility for diverse startup needs. The chosen cohorts Healthcare innovation: Three standout companies demonstrate AIs transformative potential in medical applications. Melbourne-based CoTreat targets dental practice efficiency, using artificial intelligence to streamline workflows whilst improving patient outcomes and transparency. The platform addresses productivity challenges that have long plagued dental practices across Australia. Brisbanes Gelomics takes pharmaceutical testing into new territory, enabling drug companies to conduct trials using lab-grown human tissues integrated with AI-powered analysis platforms. This approach could significantly reduce development timelines whilst improving drug safety profiles before human trials commence. Meanwhile, Laronix, also from Brisbane, develops smart artificial larynx technology for individuals whove lost their natural voice through illness or injury. The startups non-invasive approach represents a breakthrough for voice restoration, combining AI with medical device innovation. Industrial transformation accelerates: Heavy industry receives attention through Sydney-based Presien, which collaborates with original equipment manufacturers to convert traditional machinery into intelligent assets. Their multimodal (combining different types of data inputs) edge and cloud AI solutions target manufacturing efficiency improvements. Aucklands Atomic Tessellator operates as a virtual materials science laboratory, accelerating the discovery and validation of new materials through AI-driven processes. This technology could prove useful for industries from construction to aerospace. Compliance and safety solutions: Regulatory compliance receives treatment through Sydneys Haast, which automates marketing compliance for heavily regulated enterprises. The company deploys AI agents into existing content review workflows, replacing manual compliance processes with intelligent automation. Safety takes a different form with Aucklands ThroughLine, which provides emotional and online safety support through personalised guidance systems. The platform connects users with global helpline services, addressing growing concerns about digital wellbeing and mental health support. Financial and operational efficiency: Melbournes RedOwl tackles financial governance by implementing real-time transaction control systems that activate before transactions complete. This preventive approach to financial oversight could change how businesses manage risk and compliance in complex regulatory environments. Construction technology gains representation through Zoros AI, which improves cost estimation processes using intelligent agents that provide quantity takeoffs whilst analysing historical estimation data. This automation addresses ongoing challenges in construction project management. Cross-border expansion: The programs expansion to include New Zealand startups reflects growing recognition of the trans-Tasman innovation ecosystem. Both Atomic Tessellator and ThroughLine bring unique perspectives from New Zealands technology sector, strengthening regional collaboration in AI development. Program benefits and challenges Participants access support without surrendering equity stakes. The ten-week structure combines remote and in-person learning through one-to-one sessions, group workshops, and focused sprint projects. Each startup identifies specific technical challenges and receives pairing with relevant Google experts and industry leaders. However, accelerator programs face inherent limitations. Common issues include fixed formats and mentorship relationships that can face scheduling conflicts and misaligned expectations. The Accelerator had a really good mentor system, which gave us access to some great people within Google. Coming off the back of that 12 weeks we had much more clarity and focus, said Pip Bingemann, cofounder of Springboards, a previous program participant. Beyond mentorship, startups receive practical benefits. The Google Cloud program provides up to $350,000 in credits alongside dedicated startup expert support and technical training. Additionally, participants gain 30 days of free Cloud TPU (Tensor Processing Unit specialised chips designed for machine learning) access through the TPU Research Cloud program. The curriculum includes workshops covering product design, customer acquisition strategies, and leadership development. Founders learn Googles OKR (Objectives and Key Results) methodology for setting targets and tracking progress. Responsible AI training from Googles People + AI research team covers ethical development practices. Program culmination occurs through Demo Day in November 2025, where startups showcase their progress to potential investors and industry partners. This networking opportunity often proves valuable for securing subsequent funding rounds and strategic partnerships. Australias AI ecosystem Australias AI ecosystem shows measurable growth. Yet adoption remains uneven, with government data showing 40% of SMEs currently adopt AI, representing a 5% increase from the previous quarter. This cohort selection reflects the countrys growing innovation sector. The diversity of applications, from materials science to dental workflows, demonstrates the technologys broad applicability across traditional industries. The programs equity-free structure appeals to founders seeking to maintain control whilst accessing technical expertise. This approach differs from traditional accelerators that typically require equity stakes in exchange for investment and mentorship. Applications for future cohorts open periodically through the Google for Startups platform. Selection criteria emphasise technical depth, with preference for startups demonstrating traction between seed and Series A funding stages. Companies must show commitment from senior leadership, including CEOs and CTOs, to participate fully in program requirements. The accelerator seeks businesses building scalable products with significant total addressable markets and defensible growth models. Most importantly, applications must demonstrate technical implementation of machine learning and AI technologies, with dedicated technical leadership capable of engaging with the programs mentorship opportunities. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. CF25-02 demonstrated vertically-extensive alteration namely decalcification and tested the entirety of the Wenban Formation and the majority of the Roberts Mountains Formation, the two most productive stratigraphic horizons in the district The first three holes of the campaign have confirmed that lower-plate strata can routinely be reached over the Campfire Target Complex and therefore a significant portion of the greater Toiyabe Hills Property with cost-effective reverse-circulation drilling Hole CF25-02 was collared in favourable carbonate stratigraphy (which CF25-01 reached at 70m depth) within the up-plunge expression of the Campfire Anticline; CF25-03 was collared down-plunge to the northeast of the first two holes Vancouver, British Columbia TheNewswire - August 11, 2025 Westward Gold Inc. (CSE: WG, OTCQB: WGLIF, FSE: IM50) (Westward or the Company) is pleased to provide an update on its 2025 drilling campaign, currently underway at its flagship Toiyabe Hills Property in Lander County, Nevada (Toiyabe Hills, or the Property). Westward is testing its high-priority Campfire Target Complex (Campfire) with approximately 5,000 metres (~16,500 feet) of reverse-circulation (RC) drilling (see press release date July 8, 2025, for additional details). To date, three holes have been completed (combined depth of 2,251 m) with samples for the first two sent to Paragon Geochemical Services Inc. (Paragon) for gold and multi-element analysis (CF25-03 samples are awaiting imminent delivery). CF25-02 was selected as the first hole to undergo detailed logging of RC chips and is described in further detail herein. Hole CF25-04 was recently initiated and drilling at a depth of 244m as of the evening of August 10th; see Figure 1 below for a map of completed and in-progress holes at Campfire. Figure 1: Completed & In-Progress Drilling Campfire Target, Toiyabe Hills Lessons learned during the drilling of CF25-01 enabled the Company to push CF25-02 and CF25-03 to significant depths; as a result, CF25-02 became the first hole ever at Toiyabe Hills to test the Roberts Mountains Formation, an important gold-hosting horizon at nearby mines and major deposits. Based on detailed logging of RC chips, the contact between the Roberts Mountains and the Wenban Formation was estimated at approximately 1,840 / 560m depth. With CF25-02, the extensive decalcification mapped at surface is now confirmed down-section in both the Wenban and Roberts Mountains Formations with 13 logged intervals of moderate to strongly-decalcified lower-plate rocks ranging in thickness from 20 (6.1m) to 310 (94.5m). The Company also observed eight zones of intrusive rocks, confirming that the intermediate to mafic (lamprophyre) dikes observed at surface are also present at depth in CF25-02 (see Figure 2 below). Figure 2: CF25-02 Stratigraphic Column w/ Observed Alteration & Intrusive Rock Steven Koehler, Westward Technical Advisor, commented: The 2024 Anaconda-style geological mapping provided much-needed surface information regarding the hydrothermal system, structure and host rocks the three critical ingredients required for a compelling gold target at Toiyabe Hills. Mapping identified the northeast-plunging, igneous dike-filled Campfire Anticline and a variety of stratigraphic and structural target opportunities the Campfire Target Complex in the anticline. Westwards 2025 Phase 1 drilling campaign began at the up-plunge expression of the anticline, where surface exposures of decalcified Wenban Formation limestone crop out. Drill hole CF25-02 intersected multiple zones of altered igneous dikes and vertically-extensive zones of decalcification at depth in the favorable Wenban and Roberts Mountains Formations. Its a rare day in Nevada to confirm these downhole geological patterns in an underexplored gold system so close to the major Cortez camp. Drilling to date reinforces my confidence in our initial interpretations that Campfire is an expansive Carlin-type hydrothermal system both in plan and in the third dimension at depth. Based on detailed logging, the Company has interpreted that CF25-02 was near the Roberts Mountains / Hanson Creek formational contact when the hole was completed. This interpretation was supported by i) a distinct increase in dolomite content as the hole approached its ultimate depth, and ii) the documented thickness of the Roberts Mountains Formation in the district. CF25-03, the first hole of the program to test the down-plunge expression of the Campfire Anticline where it intersects coincident geophysical anomalies, was collared in upper-plate siliciclastic rocks. Based on preliminary logging at the drill rig, Westward estimates that the hole pierced into the Wenban Formation at a depth of 1,005 / 306m. This represents a significant positive development in the early stages of the campaign: confirmation that lower-plate host rock strata can routinely be reached with RC drilling across the Campfire Complex, and moreover over a large extent of the ~61 square kilometer Property as a whole. This also effectively demonstrates that surface anomalies observed in upper-plate rocks can be chased at depth into favourable carbonate rocks with relative ease. Quality Assurance / Quality Control (QA/QC) The Company is implementing a best-practices QA/QC program during its 2025 drilling campaign. All sampling is being conducted under the supervision of the Companys Vice President Exploration and/or members of its technical team, and the chain of custody from the Property to the sample preparation facility is being continuously monitored. Samples are being transported directly from the field to Paragons facility located at 1555 Industrial Way, Sparks, NV, 89431. Samples are dried at 100 degrees Celsius, crushed to 70% passing 10-mesh, riffle split 250 grams, and pulverized to 85% passing 200-mesh. Fire assay and multi-element analysis will be completed at the same location. RC samples are being collected in five-foot intervals. Certified standards and blanks are being inserted every 65 feet / 13 samples for a frequency of 8% or greater. Rig duplicates, coarse duplicates, and pulp duplicates are being collected or created every 250 feet respectively for a sample frequency of 2% each. Standards and blanks were sourced from MEG LLC of Lamoille, NV. All samples will be analyzed for gold and 35 additional elements. Assays will consist of fire assays (Au-FA30) for gold, and aqua regia / ICP-OES (35AR-OES) for multi-element geochemistry. Drill-hole deviation for the submitted holes was measured by gyroscopic down-hole surveys with tooling provided by REFLEX of Elko, NV. The deviation surveys provide accurate data about the true inclination and azimuth of the holes. Obtaining an accurate survey of the drillholes leads to a better contextual understanding of the RC samples, and a more robust 3D geological model. Qualified Person The technical information contained in this news release was reviewed and approved by Robert Edie, Vice President Exploration of the Company, who is a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Edie is a Certified Professional Geologist (CPG) through the American Institute of Professional Geologists (AIPG). About Westward Gold Westward Gold is a mineral exploration company focused on developing the Toiyabe Hills Project located in the Cortez Hills area of Lander County, Nevada, and the Coyote and Rossi Projects located along the Carlin Trend in Elko County, Nevada. From time to time, the Company may also evaluate the acquisition of other mineral exploration assets and opportunities. For further information contact: Andrew Nelson Chief Financial Officer Westward Gold Inc. +1 (604) 828-7027 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. www.westwardgold.com The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. The Canadian Securities Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. This news release contains or incorporates by reference forward-looking statements and forward-looking information as defined under applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes, or developments that the Company expects to occur are, or may be deemed, to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally, but not always, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "expect", "believe", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate, potential, on track, forecast", "budget", target, outlook, continue, plan or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved or the negative connotation of such terms. Such statements include, but may not be limited to, information as to strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance, such as the Companys expansion plans, project timelines, expected drilling targets and assay timelines, and other statements that express managements expectations or estimates of future plans and performance. Forward-looking statements or information are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, the need for additional capital by the Company through financings, and the risk that such funds may not be raised; the speculative nature of exploration and the stages of the Companys properties; the effect of changes in commodity prices; regulatory risks that development of the Companys material properties will not be acceptable for social, environmental or other reasons, availability of equipment (including drills) and personnel to carry out work programs, that each stage of work will be completed within expected time frames, that current geological models and interpretations prove correct, the results of ongoing work programs may lead to a change of exploration priorities, and the efforts and abilities of the senior management team. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Companys forward-looking statements or information. These and other factors may cause the Company to change its exploration and work programs, not proceed with work programs, or change the timing or order of planned work programs. Additional risk factors and details with respect to risk factors that may affect the Companys ability to achieve the expectations set forth in the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are set out in the Companys latest management discussion and analysis under Risks and Uncertainties, which is available under the Companys SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The Companys forward-looking statements and information are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations, and opinions of management as of the date of this press release, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements and information if circumstances or managements assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements or information. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 11, 2025) - Founders Metals Inc. (TSXV: FDR) (OTCQX: FDMIF) (FSE: 9DL0) ("Founders" or the "Company") announces drill core assay results from its ongoing, fully funded 60,000 metre drilling campaign at the Antino Gold Project in southeastern Suriname (Figure 1). Colin Padget, President and CEO of Founders said, "We're seeing exciting results on multiple fronts at Upper Antino. Ongoing drilling testing continuity and growth of high-grade domains within Froyo, hit an impressive 46.0 metres of 3.59 grams per tonne gold in FR120, and we are continuing to see success in our eastward steps toward Donut. Early results from our deep drilling program nearly double the vertical depth of the Froyo Zone to over 500 metres from surface, substantially increasing the expansion potential at Upper Antino." Upper Antino Drilling Highlights Depth Extension Success: First three deep holes extend gold system to 500 metres vertical depth including: 8.0 metres (m) of 2.25 grams per tonne (g/t) gold (Au) from 597.0 m (FR115) 13.0 m of 2.10 g/t Au from 468.0 m (FR123) 21.0 m of 0.73 g/t Au from 458.0 m (FR118) First three deep holes including: Continuity of High-Grade Domains: 46.0 m of 3.59 g/t Au from 174.0 m in Main Froyo Shear (FR120) 24.0 m of 2.03 g/t Au from 26.1 m in Parallel Shear (FR122) Parallel shears between Froyo and Donut : 28.0 m of 1.18 g/t Au from 332.0 m (FR126) 11.0 m of 2.32 g/t Au from 397.0 m (FR123) : Results Discussion Recent drilling at Upper Antino is delivering strong results both at depth and along strike (Figure 2). The standout FR120 intercept of 46.0 m of 3.59 g/t Au successfully targeted shallow plunging, northwest trending orientation of a high-grade shoot along the main shear at Froyo (Figure 3) in a 50 m along-strike step and serves to reinforce the continuity of these domains. Drill hole FR126 is the furthest east step to date toward Donut and intersected a 28.0 m zone of 1.18 g/t Au. Deeper drilling extends Upper Antino's shear-hosted gold mineralization to approximately 500 m vertical depth, highlighted by 8.0 m of 2.25 g/t Au (FR115), 13.0 m of 2.10 g/t Au (FR123), and 21.0 m of 0.73 g/t Au (FR118). These are encouraging initial results that confirm the continuation of this robust gold system to depth. We note that gold-bearing intervals at depth are geologically similar in character to shallower Upper Antino mineralization and Founders sees substantial opportunity to intercept new high-grade domains in ongoing and future drilling along strike. Emerging Targets Exploration Update Maria Geralda has entered phase two drilling, with up to 2,000 metres of drilling planned to follow up on the previously reported impressive results of 22.5 m at 11.88 g/t Au from hole MG003 (Figure 1). The team has recently expanded the surface auger drilling program to cover 750 metres along strike of the initial drilling area, and new surface exploration results are expected to be released soon. Meanwhile, exploration activities are actively underway at the Van Gogh, Da Vinci, Lawa, and Parbo targets (Figure 1), encompassing comprehensive surface exploration programs that include geological mapping, rock sampling, channel and trench sampling, and deep auger drilling programs. As conditions in the area begin to dry out, follow-up drilling at these targets is anticipated to commence in early Q4 2025. Figure 1: Antino Property Map Figure 2: Upper Antino Plan Map Figure 3: Upper Antino Long Section Table 1: Drill Hole Assay Results Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval* (m) Au (g/t) FR126 44.1 60.6 16.5 0.33 and 332.0 360.0 28.00 1.18 FR123 271.0 308.0 37.00 0.67 and 295.0 305.0 10.00 1.06 and 368.0 370.0 2.00 6.08 and 397.0 408.0 11.00 2.32 and 468.0 481.0 13.00 2.10 and 659.0 663.0 4.00 1.40 FR122 26.1 50.1 24.00 2.03 FR121 36.6 42.6 6.00 2.37 and 267.0 278.0 11.00 0.88 FR120 174.0 220.0 46.00 3.59 and 355.0 371.0 16.00 0.39 FR118 250.0 253.0 3.00 5.83 and 347.0 351.0 4.00 0.91 and 458.0 479.0 21.00 0.73 FR115 398.0 404.0 6.00 1.20 and 597.0 605.0 8.00 2.25 *Intervals are down-hole depths. True widths of mineralization are estimated to be approximately 85% of the down-hole interval based on preliminary results and observations. All are diamond drill holes. Table 2: Drill Hole Locations Hole ID Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation (m) Azimuth () Dip () Depth (m) FR126 817458.4 401319.4 166.0 250.1 -50.1 539.2 FR123 817350.5 401145.5 158.0 265.5 -65.2 756.7 FR122 817003.7 401453.0 168.0 270.0 -54.9 496.9 FR121 817005.0 401452.5 168.0 250.0 -55.2 355.9 FR120 817021.0 401332.5 218.5 250.1 -55.1 383.0 FR118 817247.3 401580.0 161.0 249.8 -55.2 602.1 FR115 817264.5 401357.8 184.7 250.3 -60.1 617.0 *The coordinate reference system is WGS 84, UTM zone 21N (EPSG 32621) About Founders Metals Inc. Founders Metals is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on advancing the Antino Gold Project located in Suriname, South America, in the heart of the Guiana Shield. Antino is 20,000 hectares and has produced over 500,000 ounces of gold from historical surface and alluvial mining to date1. The Company is systematically advancing one of Suriname's most promising gold exploration and development opportunities with drill-confirmed, district-scale potential. Founders is committed to responsible exploration, community engagement, and delivering long-term value to shareholders through technical excellence and strategic growth in the Guiana Shield. 12022 Technical Report - Antino Project; Suriname, South America. K. Raffle, BSc, P. Geo & Rock Lefrancois, BSc, P.Geo. Quality Assurance and Control Samples were analyzed at FILAB Suriname, a Bureau Veritas Certified Laboratory in Paramaribo, Suriname (a commercial certified laboratory under ISO 9001:2015). Samples are crushed to 75% passing 2.35 mm screen, riffle split (700 g) and pulverized to 85% passing 88 m. Samples were analyzed using a 50 g fire assay (50 g aliquot) with an Atomic Absorption (AA) finish. For samples that return assay values over 5.0 grams per tonne (g/t), another cut was taken from the original pulp and fire assayed with a gravimetric finish. Founders Metals inserts blanks and certified reference standards in the sample sequence for quality control. External QA-QC checks are performed at ALS Global Laboratories (Geochemistry Division) in Lima, Peru (an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited facility). A secure chain of custody is maintained in transporting and storing of all samples. Drill intervals with visible gold are assayed using metallic screening. Rock chip samples from outcrop/bedrock are selective by nature and may not be representative of the mineralization hosted on the project. Qualified Persons The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Michael Dufresne, M.Sc., P.Geol., P.Geo., an independent qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, Per: "Colin Padget" Colin Padget President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation, including statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Company's recently completed financings and the Company's prospects. Forward-looking information can generally be identified by words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", or variations indicating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and reasonable assumptions but are subject to business, market, and economic risks, uncertainties, and contingencies that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied, including: general business and economic uncertainties; exploration results; mining industry risks; and other factors described in the Company's most recent annual management discussion and analysis. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, other factors may cause results not to be as anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated. 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 TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. All material information on Founders Metals can be found at www.sedarplus.ca. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - August 11, 2025) - Zodiac Gold Inc. (TSXV: ZAU) ("Zodiac Gold" or the "Company"), a West-African gold exploration company, is pleased to report highly encouraging assay results and the successful completion of its Phase Three drilling program at the Arthington target, part of its flagship Todi Gold Project in Liberia. Drilling across the 1,280m Phase Three program has confirmed a robust, west-northwest trending mineralized corridor, intersected over a 1km strike length within the 16km Arthington-Youth Camp anomalous zone. These results have improved the Company's understanding of the mineralized system and will directly inform the next phase of exploration and technical studies. Phase Three drilling has also achieved a major milestone by confirming the continuity of mineralized zones between the Red Hill Field and Garang Base artisanal workings, over a strike length of 400m. This breakthrough confirms the presence of mineralized zones with strong continuity, including high-grade intervals, and validates the geological model, significantly enhancing the potential for a large, cohesive gold system. Highlights of the seven holes drilled in the program include: ADD033: 18m at 4.67 g/t Au* ( including 1m at 55.9 g/t Au within a wider interval of 10m at 8.3 g/t Au ), 23.9m at 0.83 g/t Au* (including 4.04m at 2.07 g/t Au), beginning 30m below surface. ( ), 23.9m at 0.83 g/t Au* (including 4.04m at 2.07 g/t Au), beginning 30m below surface. ADD034: 25.5m at 1 g/t Au* (including 9.25m at 2.14 g/t Au) , beginning 55m below surface. , beginning 55m below surface. ADD035: 17.51m at 0.91 g/t Au* (including 3.58m at 2.46 g/t Au g/t Au) , beginning 68m below surface. , beginning 68m below surface. ADD036: 10.8m at 1.24 g/t Au* (including 0.42m at 22.2 g/t Au and 1m at 2.1 g/t Au) and 12.24m at 0.92 g/t Au* (including 3.37m at 2.3 g/t Au) , beginning 69m below surface. , beginning 69m below surface. ADD037: 26.38m at 1.08 g/t Au* (including 1m at 9.22 g/t Au within a wider interval of 3.63m at 3.92 g/t Au), beginning 42m below surface. beginning 42m below surface. ADD038: 13.04m at 1.19 g/t Au (including 4.55m at 2.02 g/t Au) , beginning 64m below surface. , beginning 64m below surface. ADD039: 17.25m at 0.95 g/t Au* (including 1.15m at 2.7 g/t Au and 4.92m at 2.08 g/t Au), beginning 62m below surface. "The results from our Phase Three program are a major step forward in our exploration of the Arthington target," said David Kol, President & CEO of Zodiac Gold. "By intersecting mineralization between the Red Hill Field and Garang Base artisanal workings, we've done more than just add new intercepts of significant width and grade, we've confirmed that these zones are part of a continuous mineralized system. This breakthrough fills in critical gaps along strike, greatly enhancing the scale potential and de-risking our path forward. It's a pivotal milestone that validates our geological model and strengthens the case for a district-scale gold discovery within our extensive license package." The program has delivered critical geological insights that will enhance targeting for high grade zones and extensions at depth and along strike. The Arthington target is located within a continuous 16km long soil anomaly with numerous artisanal workings. Drilling in Phases 1-3 has been focused on a 1km strike length, and mineralization is open along strike, with a single hole drilled a further 1km to the west returning 1.05m at 8.98 g/t Au. With significant mineralization now intersected in 37 of 39 holes drilled to date, the Company's success at the Arthington target demonstrates the district-scale opportunity within the +2,300 sq km license package. The Ben Ben target, also within the 16km soil anomaly and with a program of trenching on-going, is interpreted to be the eastern extension of the mineralization at Arthington. Channel sampling from the Ben Ben target has returned results of 0.65m at 53.6 g/t Au, 0.44m at 71 g/t Au and 1.75m at 6.23 g/t Au. Map 1: Results from ADD033 to ADD039 with interpreted mineralized zones at the Arthington target Map 2: Longitudinal section looking north-northeast showing AU gram-meter intersections at the Arthington target Drill hole collar data for ADD033 to ADD039 is shown in Table 1 and significant intersections are shown in Table 2. Table 1: Collar Data for ADD033 and ADD039 Hole ID Easting (WGS84) Northing (WGS84) Elevation (m) Azimuth Dip Depth (m) ADD033 323452 722616 65 0 -50 161.10 ADD034 323335 722622 60 12 -50 181.05 ADD035 323384 722586 60 12 -65 243.70 ADD036 323530 722562 50 12 -50 150.65 ADD037 323672 722509 58 12 -50 149.45 ADD038 323723 722434 40 12 -50 191.04 ADD039 323592 722518 56 12 -50 121.30 Table 2: Significant Intersections ADD033 to ADD039 Hole ID From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Average Au (g/t) ADD033 11.6 12.6 1 0.28 ADD033 16.9 18 1.1 0.21 ADD033 34 57.9 23.9 0.83* Including 42 46.04 4.04 2.07 Including 44 45 1 5.96 Including 54.9 56.8 1.9 2.28 ADD033 68 86 18 4.67* Including 76 86 10 8.3 Including 81 82 1 55.9 ADD033 97 99.19 2.19 0.45 ADD033 109.75 110.83 1.08 0.61 ADD033 122.8 123.8 1 0.25 ADD033 135 136 1 1.09 ADD034 44 48 4 0.41 ADD034 57 61 4 0.22 ADD034 73.5 99 25.5 1* Including 76.75 86 9.25 2.14 Including 84 85 1 6.62 ADD034 113 115 2 0.48 ADD035 75.34 92.85 17.51 0.91* ADD035 75.34 78.92 3.58 2.46 ADD035 100 101 1 0.2 ADD035 106 108 2 0.28 ADD035 136 143.6 7.6 0.44 Including 136.69 137.7 1.01 1.04 ADD036 51.8 54 2.2 0.27 ADD036 69.61 81.85 12.24 0.92* Including 73.33 76.7 3.37 2.3 ADD036 111.2 122 10.8 1.24* Including 115.95 117.2 1.25 7.67 Including 115.95 116.37 0.42 22.2 Including 120 121 1 2.1 ADD037 37.95 39.1 1.15 0.21 ADD037 41.3 43.5 2.2 0.64 ADD037 49 75.38 26.38 1.08* Including 56.37 60 3.63 3.92 Including 58 60 2 5.83 Including 67 70 3 2.25 ADD037 102.25 103.38 1.13 0.4 ADD037 131 133.22 2.22 1.34 ADD038 30 34.99 4.99 0.27 ADD038 76.71 89.75 13.04 1.19 Including 83.45 88 4.55 2.02 Including 86 87 1 5.2 ADD038 134.5 138.5 4 0.32 ADD038 168 171 3 0.57 ADD039 62.7 63.84 1.14 0.41 ADD039 67 68 1 0.22 ADD039 78 95.25 17.25 0.95* Including 81.2 82.35 1.15 2.7 Including 89 93.92 4.92 2.08 ADD039 98.4 99.5 1.1 0.3 Note that significant intersections have been determined as intervals above 0.2 g/t Au with a minimum length of 1m and a maximum of 2m of consecutive samples below 0.2 g/t Au, except the intervals marked with an asterisk (*). Intervals marked with an asterisk include a mean of 2.24 consecutive meters below 0.2 g/t Au, ranging from 0.65 to 5m. The zones with over 2 consecutive meters below 0.2 g/t Au have been included to demonstrate downhole continuity where geological logging indicates continuity of shearing and sulphide mineralization in prospective host rocks. Intervals are drilled rather than true thicknesses and it is estimated that true thicknesses for the intervals in ADD033 to ADD039 are approximately 70-90% of drilled thickness. Drilling, Sampling and QA/QC Procedures The drilling program at Arthington was completed by a Fordia Eider 2000 diamond drill rig with HQ and NQ core diameter. Core recoveries for holes ADD033 to ADD039 were approaching 100% in fresh rock, where the vast majority of mineralization has been intersected. The easting, northing and elevation data shown in Table 1 have been recorded using handheld GPS only and will be surveyed by differential GPS. Note that an initial attempt at hole ADD039 was abandoned at 81.25m due to drilling conditions. The details of the re-drilled ADD039 are shown in Tables 1 and 2. Drill core was transported a short distance from the drill site to the Company's exploration camp at Arthington. After geological logging, the core was cut along the long axis using a diamond core saw, with half being sampled and half retained. Where the core was too soft for cutting (in the oxide zone), the core was split using a spatula. Core sampling was completed by Zodiac Gold's geological team, supervised by senior company personnel. All samples met the standards for chain of custody without the opportunity for third party access from Zodiac Gold's exploration camp to SGS Liberia in Monrovia for sample preparation (SGS method PRP87). Each sample was analyzed by 50g fire assay with an atomic absorption finish by SGS Ghana (SGS method FAA505). Samples returning a grade over 10 g/t Au were reanalyzed by 50g fire assay with a gravimetric finish (SGS method FAG505). The new results were incorporated into the database for the calculation of the significant intersections reported above. SGS Ghana is ISO/IEC 17025 accredited for the methods described above. SGS Liberia is not an accredited laboratory but follows standard SGS sample preparation procedures. SGS is independent of Zodiac Gold. In addition to the laboratory's quality control program, a rigorous quality assurance and quality control program is implemented by the Company, including the insertion of blanks, standards and duplicates to ensure reliable assay results. Quality assurance and quality control data are monitored by the Company. Samples that were not acceptable under the Company's QA/QC protocols were re-assayed by SGS and the new results were incorporated into the database for the calculation of the significant intersections reported above. Qualified Person Tom Dowrick, Director of Exploration at Zodiac Gold, is a Chartered Geologist of the Geological Society of London and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. He has reviewed and approved the technical and scientific information provided in this release. About Zodiac Gold Zodiac Gold Inc. (TSXV: ZAU) is a West-African gold exploration company focused on its flagship Todi Project situated in Liberia-an underexplored, politically stable, mining friendly jurisdiction hosting several large-scale gold and iron ore deposits. Strategically positioned along the fertile Todi Shear Zone, Zodiac Gold is developing a district-scale gold opportunity with additional iron ore potential, covering a vast 2,316 km2 land package. The Todi gold project has undergone de-risking, showcasing proven gold occurrences at both surface and depth, with five drill-ready targets, of which two have been drilled and high-grade gold intercepts. 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. Forward-Looking Information This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections, and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "forecast", "expect", "potential", "project", "target", "schedule", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's planned exploration programs and drill programs and potential significance of results are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Company's expectations include actual exploration results, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital, and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials, and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events, or results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events, or results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, and accordingly readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on Monday condemned the "acknowledged murder by the Israeli army" of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif in Gaza, who the armed forces admitted they had targeted. Where Israel accused al-Sharif of being a "terrorist" affiliated with Hamas, the press freedom campaign group told AFP he was "one of the most famous journalists from the Gaza Strip (and) the voice of the sufferng Israel has imposed on Palestinians in Gaza". The NGO "strongly and angrily condemns the acknowledged murder by the Israeli army" of al-Sharif and other journalists in a Sunday strike on their tent in Gaza City, it added. Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera said Sunday that five of its journalists had been killed in an Israeli strike. Al-Sharif, 28, was one of the channel's most recognisable faces working on the ground in Gaza, providing daily reports in regular coverage. He was killed alongside fellow correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa, Al Jazeera said. The Israeli military said it had targeted al-Sharif, saying he "posed as a journalist" but was in fact "the head of a terrorist cell... responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops." RSF called the Israeli allegations "baseless". Almost 200 journalists have been killed in the war Israel launched in response to Hamas' October 7, 2023 assault, according to RSF. The media has filed four complaints against Israel at the International Criminal Court for alleged "war crimes committed against journalists in Gaza". "In (Sunday's) deliberate attack, the Israeli army reproduced a known method already tested, notably against al-Jazeera journalists," RSF said, pointing to the killings of two reporters on July 31 last year. Israel labelled one of those men, Ismail al-Ghoul, a "terrorist". RSF called on other countries to intervene, saying the UN Security Council should meet to insist on protection of journalists in conflict zones. "Without strong action from the international community to stop the Israeli army... we're likely to witness more such extrajudicial murders of media professionals," RWB said. A court in Bangladesh on Monday heard cases brought by the anti-corruption organisation against ex-leader Sheikh Hasina and her family, including her daughter who has served as a top UN official. Three officials from the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) read out testimonies in three separate cases over an alleged land grab of lucrative plots in a suburb of the capital Dhaka. Hasina, 77, fled Bangladesh by helicopter on August 5, 2024, after weeks of student-led protests against her autocratic rule. She has defied orders to return from India, including to attend her separate and ongoing trial on charges amounting to crimes against humanity, over the deadly crackdown on the uprising. Hasina has been named in six corruption cases, along with her US-based son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and her daughter Saima Wazed, who has been serving as the World Health Organization's Southeast Asia chief in New Delhi. "If found guilty, Sheikh Hasina, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and Saima Wazed could face up to 14 years in prison," ACC lawyer Khan Mohammad Mainul Hossain told AFP. Wazed is on leave from the WHO and a new official has taken up a post as "officer-in-charge". In total, six cases have been filed of alleged corruption connected to Hasina. Among those named in other cases, some slated to be heard later in August, are Hasina's sister, Sheikh Rehana, and her children -- including British lawmaker Tulip Siddiq. Tulip Siddiq resigned as the UK government's anti-corruption minister in January, denying any wrongdoing after being named in multiple probes in Bangladesh. Siddiq's lawyers have said the allegations against her are false. President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae Myung and his spouse hosted an official welcome ceremony at the Yongsan Presidential Office on Aug. 11 morning for Vietnam's General Party Secretary To Lam and his spouse, who are on a four-day state visit to the East Asian country. A military band played the national anthems of both countries, and 21-cannon salute was fired during the ceremony, showing the RoK's high regard for the visit by the Vietnamese Party leader, his spouse and the high-ranking delegation. Then the two leaders reviewed the guard of honor. Since the two countries established their diplomatic ties in 1992, the bilateral relationship has become a model of a very special, effective, and substantive partnership. It has reached its highest framework - Comprehensive Strategic Partnership - with a very high level of political trust, thanks to substantive cooperation in various fields that has brought tangible benefits to the people and business communities of both sides. The RoK is currently Vietnams largest investor and its third-biggest trading partner. Vietnam is the RoKs top priority partner for development assistance. As of May 2025, the RoK had 10,203 valid projects with registered capital totaling US$94 billion in Vietnam, accounting for 23.5% of all FDI projects and 18.1% of registered foreign investment. Vietnam currently has 112 investment projects in the RoK with total capital of $37.4 million. Bilateral trade reached $81.5 billion in 2024, up 7.3% year-on-year. Collaboration in culture, education, labor, tourism, and other areas has recorded significant achievements as well. In the fields of science, technology, and innovation, an area expected to become a new pillar of the bilateral relations, Vietnam and the RoK have achieved many promising and encouraging outcomes. As Vietnam advances its major national development orientations, Party General Secretary To Lams state visit to the RoK demonstrates the countrys foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification of external relations, and proactive, active, comprehensive, intensive, extensive and effective international integration. It is also an important diplomatic activity aimed at promoting the implementation of the Politburo's Resolution No. 59 on international integration in the new situation. Actor Park Si-hoo denied allegations that he had introduced a woman to a married man and led the couple's marriage to break up, terming the charges "groundless and false. In a statement made on Thursday, Park's agency, Hoofactory, said it would take immediate legal measures. The agency stated that it has hired lawyers, sought mediation by the Korea Press Arbitration Commission, and will seek criminal action against the person who made the false accusations on the internet. "We are collecting evidence on the continued spread of unverified false claims and malicious comments about Park Si-hoo," Hoofactory replied. READ MORE: Park Si Hoo Accused of Pimping Women to Married Man in Explosive Allegations 'He Destroyed My Family!' "We will pursue legal action, including criminal complaints, against these illegal acts. Given the serious damage such misinformation causes to the actor, no leniency will be granted." The agency called on the public not to spread unsubstantiated rumors or libelous information. "We are doing our utmost to ensure a prompt police investigation and will prove through the legal process that the post is based on falsehoods," it further said. The scandal started when an internet user, only known as "A," accused Park of introducing a woman to her husband and was said to have played a great role in the downfall of her family. The post contained a photo of the supposed woman. The lady in the photo denied involvement, posting in a comment: "I do not know any of the individuals mentioned in this post. Using my photo without permission and spreading false information constitutes clear defamation." Park Si-hoo, one of the actors who made his debut in 2005 in Delightful Girl, Choon-hyang of KBS, has played lead roles in hit dramas such as Prosecutor Princess, The Princess' Man, Cheongdamdong Alice, and My Golden Life. READ MORE: Girls' Generation Yuri May Join Park Si Hoo In 'Neighborhood Hero' Kennesaw State student helps develop new index for cancer treatment time costs KENNESAW, Ga. | Aug 11, 2025 Isaac Kuhns research looks different than he imagined when he arrived at Kennesaw State a year ago. Instead of wearing goggles and gloves while handling test tubes and pipettes, the sophomore biochemistry student from Columbus, Georgia, is reviewing literature and conducting surveys. Through the Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP), Kuhn has taken a different research tack in helping assistant professor of nursing Chinomso Nwozichi create a statistic to measure the hidden time costs of cancer treatments. Nursing professor Chinomso Nwozichi, left, and student researcher Isaac Kuhn. This project is very abstract, but thats kind of what drew me to it, Kuhn said. I appreciate it because it gives me a more human perspective toward cancer. This study is about the healthcare system as a whole. Together, Kuhn and Nwozichi are reviewing existing literature on time toxicity to help create the Time Toxicity Index, a tool for clinicians to use to help patients and caregivers deal with and potentially reduce the time spent on treatments. Time toxicity is the amount of time patients and caregivers spend on treatments, including time in medical facilities, time in transit, and time in treatment. Nwozichi said SURPs interdisciplinary nature has helped foster this project, pointing to a sophomore biochemistry student helping develop a healthcare study. The Office of Undergraduate Research has created a beautiful thing in these projects because it connects people from different parts of different disciplines to work together on areas of interest, said Nwozichi, who teaches in the Wellstar College of Health and Human Services. They also provide resources by sponsoring all were doing and then encourages us to write up our findings for publication and presentation. Kuhn first worked with Nwozichi through KSUs First-Year Scholars program in 2024-25 on a project addressing access to cancer screenings for African immigrants in the United States. Nwozichi respected Kuhns diligence for research and gathering information, and Kuhn said he looks up to Nwozichis passion for oncology and nursing. Hes an oncology nursing professor and he knows a lot about this topic, Kuhn said. So its just nice to work with someone whos so passionate and knowledgeable about this. Kuhn said hell add compassion to his toolkit as he heads toward a different kind of career in medicine. Hed like to go into biomedical research while keeping a hand in the patient-centered aspects of medical science, thanks to his experiences in the SURP project. Hell stay on with the project through next year, expanding into interviewing patients and caregivers about their experiences, something he didnt think hed get to do when choosing his course of study. This has been a great opportunity to look into fields outside of my major, because Ive found something that has shown me the humanity of people affected by aspects of diseases and their treatments that we dont often think about, Kuhn said. Having a more holistic view is really important, and I learned that with Dr. Nwozichi. Story by Dave Shelles Photos by Darnell Wilburn, Jr. Related Stories A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The universitys vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu. Sunday, August 10, 2025 - A young woman has been hospitalized after allegedly suffering food poisoning during a youth empowerment program held at State House. The victim, identified as Cleopatra Wanjiku, reportedly fell ill shortly after food was served to participants of the event, which had brought together youths from Nairobi for training and networking. In a social media post recounting the frightening ordeal, Cleopatra wrote: One minute you're chilling in State House, the next minute you're fighting for your life. Kumbe food poisoning can kill someone instantly? Leo nimeona vile kifo hukuwa karibu aisee. The incident has raised questions over food safety protocols at high-profile events. State House has yet to issue an official statement regarding the matter. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, August 10, 2025 - Car dealer and online personality, Khalif Kairo, is once again trending for his love of baddies, despite repeated warnings from friends and fans that women could be his ultimate downfall. His latest viral moment came after he shared a photo in the company of a bevy of beauties, sending social media into overdrive. Some fans praised his taste, while others teased that Kairos soft spot for glamorous women might one day cost him more than just attention. The outspoken entrepreneur has in the past openly admitted to having a weakness for beautiful women, a habit that continues to keep him in gossip headlines. The Kenyan DAILY POST Recent media reports suggest that Azerbaijan may consider lifting its embargo on supplying weapons to Ukraine, motivated by increasingly hostile actions from the russian federation toward Baku. This raises the question: what exactly could Azerbaijan provide? Among the first ones to share the news were caliber.az, the journalists write that the discussion concerns supplies from Azerbaijan's own arsenal rather than newly manufactured products from its defense industry. Azerbaijani BM-21 Grad rocket launcher / Open-source photo This points toward the existing stock of Soviet-era weaponry much of it inherited after the USSR's collapse and later supplemented with purchases from russia, Belarus, and Ukraine as the most likely source of potential aid. Azerbaijan's ground forces possess a substantial inventory of self-propelled artillery. The 2S1 Gvozdika and 2S3 Akatsiya systems would be particularly attractive for Ukrainian use and could be transferred with a relatively high probability. Heavier platforms like the 2S19 Msta-S and 2S7 Pion are also in service, though their transfer is a bit more doubtful. Azerbaijani ACS 2S1 Gvozdika / Open-source photo In towed artillery, Azerbaijan fields around 30 D-20 152mm howitzers, 42 Giatsint-B guns, and more than 200 D-30 122mm systems all still actively used by Ukrainian forces despite their age. These could be early candidates for transfer, especially as they are replaced by newer systems. Here it's worth reminding that Baku has already invested in modern replacements, such as 48 Serbian 155mm Nora B-52 self-propelled guns and 72 Czech 155mm Dita systems. As these enter service, older artillery pieces could be freed up for delivery to Ukraine. Illustrative photo: Serbian Nora B-52 self-propelled artillery system / Open-source photo In multiple launch rocket systems, Azerbaijan operates roughly 120 BM-21 Grad launchers and about 30 RM-70s, the Czech variant of the Grad. While some would likely be retained due to their low operating cost, a portion could be supplied to Kyiv. A more interesting option would be Azerbaijan's 3040 BM-30 Smerch systems. These could be sent either directly or adapted as platforms for other MLRS types. Although such a valuable transfer may seem unlikely, Baku is purchasing Turkish equivalents, which could make retiring older russian and Soviet launchers easier. Azerbaijani BM-30 Smerch MLRS / Open-source photo The Azerbaijani military also keeps several Tochka-U tactical ballistic missile systems. These have long been replaced by more advanced Israeli models, making them theoretically available but political considerations may ultimately prevail over generosity. Less desirable but still realistic options include older towed artillery like the M-46 and D-44. While these are far from cutting-edge, their presence on the battlefield in Ukraine means that even outdated firepower could still be valuable. D-44 gun (85mm) fielded by the Ukrainian Armed Forces / Photo credit: 32nd Mechanized Brigade AFU As for armored vehicles, the fleet includes hundreds of Soviet and russian personnel carriers BTR-60, BTR-70, BTR-80, BTR-80A, and BTR-82A along with infantry fighting vehicles such as the BMD-1, BMP-1, BMP-2, and BMP-3. Some of these technically could be transferred, though the absence of large orders for modern replacements might limit such moves. In tanks, Azerbaijan operates hundreds of T-72s, which could be viable for supply. It also fields T-90S and T-55 tanks, with the former almost certainly off-limits, and the latter of questionable utility given their age and limited ammunition stocks. Azerbaijani T-72 tanks at a parade in Baku, 2013 / Open-source photo Air defense assets include Soviet-era S-200 and S-125 systems, Buk-M1s, and russian S-300s. Transfers in this category seem generally unlikely, but if any were to occur, the older S-200 or S-125 systems would be the likeliest candidates. Azerbaijani S-200 air defense systems at a parade in Baku, 2013 / Open-source photo In aviation, Azerbaijan flies Su-25 attack aircraft, MiG-29 fighters, L-39 trainers, and Mi-24 helicopters. Given the small numbers of these platforms, their transfer appears doubtful. Lastly, among man-portable arms, the Azerbaijani military uses the Skif anti-tank guided missile, the export version of Ukraine's Stugna-P, which could be a realistic item for shipment. Beyond these categories, unmentioned items such as mortars or aging automotive equipment could also be supplied, though such transfers are harder to predict. Especially when it comes to arms of Turkish and Israeli origin, whose rightholder have their own reservations about allowing Ukraine operate their weapons. Turkish-made TRG-300 Kasirga MLRS in service with Azerbaijani forces / Open-source photo Taken together, while many of Azerbaijan's most advanced assets are unlikely to be shared, its substantial reserve of Soviet-era artillery, armored vehicles, and possibly missile systems could provide Ukraine with a meaningful boost if the embargo is indeed lifted. Sunday, August 10, 2025 - Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed arrest threats issued by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen declaring that he will not be intimidated into silence. Speaking on Sunday, August 10th, Gachagua said fear of arrest has never influenced his decisions and would not deter him from expressing his views. If the fear of arrest was part of my thinking, I would never do anything; I would just stay in the house Im not a leader who buys fear. Murkomen is lost, he stated. The former DP added that he is ready should authorities seek to apprehend him, even vowing to publicise his return date and flight details. If they want to arrest me, Im a Kenyan - the courts are there. If they have charges, they can prefer them, he said. Gachagua recalled facing multiple arrests before the current administration took power, saying such actions only strengthened his political resolve. He criticised the use of the criminal justice system to suppress free speech, calling it an outdated tactic. His remarks came after Murkomen and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, on Saturday, August 8th, directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to ensure Gachagua records a statement upon returning from the US. Murkomen and Kindiki insisted that Gachagua must clarify his recent claims of attending meetings with Somalia-based militant group Al-Shabaab. As soon as he lands in Kenya, he must tell us exactly which meetings he is having with terrorists, Murkomen asserted. Sunday, August 10, 2025 - Detectives from the Nairobi Region Crime Research and Intelligence Bureau have arrested Kenas Okello Oyugi, the mastermind behind a brazen theft targeting a tourist at the Maasai Mara Game Park. The victim, a Greek national, had arrived in Nairobi on August 5, 2025. The following day, accompanied by his tour guide together with an acquaintance he had met online, introducing himself as Jeremiah John - he set off for the Maasai Mara. While there, Jeremiah vanished, making off with three debit cards, a mobile phone, and a wristwatch. Shortly after, 25,000 euros was withdrawn from the tourists bank account. Investigations were initiated and it was revealed that Jeremiah John was a false identity. Through forensic analysis, detectives unmasked the suspect as Kenas Okello Oyugi, who was trailed and arrested at his hideout. Upon his arrest, detectives recovered mobile phones, a Seiko Crystal wristwatch, Kshs 54,050, and cash in US dollars. They also seized a brand-new tour trek bicycle, believed to have been purchased with the stolen funds. Okello remains in custody at Central Police Station, undergoing processing pending arraignment. Sunday, August 10, 2025 - Kenyan rapper, Toxic Lyrical, has sparked reactions on social media after claiming that he was pressured into chanting tutam, street slang for two term in reference to President William Rutos presidency during his performance at State House , Nairobi. The fast-rising rapper, riding a wave of his viral hits, was among the entertainers performing at a presidential youth empowerment event. But after the performance, his fan base split sharply, with some accusing him of betraying his fans base by dipping into politics. In a cryptic social media post, Toxic explained his awkward position: Ground ni ile ile. Niseme one tam akiwa apo nipotezwe? loosely translates to, Should I say one term while hes right there and risk disappearing? The event, held yesterday, saw President Ruto distribute over 1,100 empowerment packages - from motorbikes to car wash kits - to youth groups across Nairobi. A video from the event shows Dagoretti South MP, John Kiarie, ushering Toxic forward, prompting him to declare Rutos two-term future. At first, the rapper continued performing, but after Kiaries insistence, he said tutam before greeting the President. While some fans sympathise with the rapper, saying he was clearly under pressure. Others have unfollowed him, accusing him of playing along. Fellow artist Charisma weighed in, questioning why musicians accept such gigs at all: If you fear for your life, why go? People dont get what going there means. We shoot ourselves in the foot. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, August 10, 2025 - Controversial city playboy Wazir Chacha, well-known for his high-profile flings with prominent women, is once again lighting up social media, this time over an alleged romantic affair with Kilifi Woman Representative, Getrude Mbeyu. A photo making rounds online shows Chacha looking relaxed and comfortable as the Woman Rep chauffeured him in her high-end guzzler. Sources close to Mbeyu claim the two have been spotted together repeatedly, from private hangouts in Nairobi to luxury coastal getaways, fueling talk of a blossoming relationship. Wazir Chacha, who first shot to fame after being linked to several female politicians including Sabina Chege, has remained tight-lipped on the latest rumours. Speaking in a past interview, Wazir Chacha said he loves dating older women because they are understanding and know what a real relationship is. I have no problem dating any woman aged between 18 and 47 years. But I prefer those in their 40s because they know what a real relationship is, he said. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, August 10, 2025 - Lilian Nganga, former Machakos First Lady and wife to rapper Juliani, has set social media abuzz after sharing sizzling bikini shots while sunbathing at the Kenyan coast. Known for her usually reserved style, Lilians bold look revealed a rarely seen side, sparking endless chatter online. The stunning photos come shortly after she and Juliani silenced divorce rumours with a cozy family getaway, where they marked their son, Utheris third birthday in style against the backdrop of sun, sand and sea. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, August 10, 2025 - Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has urged Kenyans to scrutinize the actions of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as the country heads toward the 2027 General Elections. On August 9th, IEBC chairperson Erastus Ethekon gazetted November 27th as the date for all pending by-elections. Political parties have until October 2nd to submit candidates, while independents must do so by September 17th. Campaigns, covering 16 MCA seats, parliamentary positions, and one Senatorial seat, will run from October 8th to November 24th. Sifuna argued that the commission had breached Article 101(4) of the Constitution, which mandates that a by-election for an MP or Senator be held within 90 days of the IEBC receiving official notice of a vacancy. Unless my math is wrong, November 27 is more than 100 days away. Two back-to-back flawed decisions by the new IEBC are enough cause for alarm, he said. He also faulted the commission over the replacement of former nominated MP, John Mbadi, who joined the Cabinet last year. Sifuna claimed that the IEBC disregarded the legal requirement to replace a nominated member from the same category, noting that Mbadi had been nominated under the workers category. Sifuna, who is also the ODM Secretary-General, said such actions reflect worrying levels of negligence by the electoral body and called on Kenyans to remain alert to safeguard electoral integrity. Sunday, August 10, 2025 - Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has urged President William Ruto to end extrajudicial killings before proceeding with plans to compensate victims of police brutality and protest-related violence. Speaking on Sunday, August 10th, during a diaspora town hall meeting in San Francisco, California, Gachagua called on the President to rescind his shoot-on-the-leg directive and overturn Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomens alleged shoot-to-kill order. How do you kill people, then compensate them? Before he talks of compensation, the President should first stop the killings. It is immoral to kill children and then compensate their parents, he said. The DCP Party leader also demanded that Ruto admits liability and apologise to Kenyans, particularly the parents of victims killed during demonstrations. His remarks followed Rutos August 8th announcement of a special framework to provide reparations to victims of demonstrations and protests dating back to 2017. The plan also includes police officers and other security personnel injured or killed during unrest. There is compelling national interest in establishing a framework for accountability, redress, and reparations for victims of demonstrations and public protests, including civilians and security personnel who lost their lives or suffered bodily harm since 2017, Ruto said. The president appointed Prof. Makau Mutua as the Principal Coordinator of the State-led intervention. The Kenyan DAILY POST Gold medalists of China pose for photos after winning the women's surface 4x100m relay of finswimming at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) China stormed to women's 4x100m surface relay victory, while three world records fell on the opening day of finswimming at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu. CHENGDU, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Chengdu Sport University Sancha Lake Campus Natatorium witnessed three world records on Sunday afternoon, as finswimming events opened at The World Games 2025, with host China clinching a relay gold after a thrilling comeback. China's team, consisting of Shu Chengjing, Xu Yichuan, Xie Wenmin and Hu Yaoyao, trailed for the first 350 meters of the women's surface relay 4x100m event. However, Hu surged ahead in the final stretch, overtaking leader Colombia amid thunderous cheers from the home crowd to secure victory. Colombia finished second, just 0.48 seconds behind, while Ukraine took home the bronze. Hu Yaoyao of China celebrates after the women's surface relay 4x100m final. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) "I fell short in my individual event, so I was aiming for redemption in the relay," said Hu, 25. "Once I drew level at the turn, I knew that they wouldn't see my wake again." Max Poschart of Germany, shortly after claiming the men's surface 100m gold with a new World Games record, led his team to a dominating victory in the men's surface relay 4x100m with a world record time of 59.35 seconds. China initially finished second but was later disqualified, with Ukraine and Colombia completing the podium in second and third place respectively. In the men's surface 400m final, Nandor Kiss of Hungary clocked two minutes 52.68 seconds, shaving nearly two seconds off his previous world record of 2:54.64 set at the same venue during the World Games Series in March. "I was prepared for this competition. I knew it," said the 19-year-old of his new world record. "But taking two seconds off my best is still unbelievable." Gold medalist Szymon Antoni Kropidlowski (C) of Poland, silver medalist Szebasztian Szabo Gyoergyei (L) of Hungary and bronze medalist Aleksei Fedkin of AIN (Individual Neutral Athlete) pose for photos at the award ceremony for the men's bi-fins 100m. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) Poland's Szymon Kropidlowski improved his own record in the men's bi-fins 100m, lowering it from 40.60 to 40.45 seconds, securing the gold. Neutral athlete Diana Sliseva and Hungary's world record holder Petra Senanszky emerged victorious in the women's Apnoea 50m and women's bi-fins 50m, respectively. Finswimming involves swimming with a monofin or bi-fins, either on the surface using a snorkel or underwater holding one's breath. The World Games features three categories of finswimming events: Apnoea, Surface, and Bi-fins. Editor: ZAD HERITAGE Week is back in Kildare for its 20th year, and begins next Saturday (16 August), until the following Sunday (24 August). Kildare County Council announced this week (7 August) the list of events confirmed for National Heritage Week 2025 whose theme this year is Exploring Our Foundations. This years programme offers something for everyone, with over 80 events taking place across County Kildare during the week. A number of craft display and training events have been planned which aim to reflect the definition of Heritage as the "practices, knowledge and skills that have been passed from one generation to the next and are still in use today. Heritage features of national significance, such as the canal network (consisting of the Grand and Royal canals and the Barrow Navigation) are also incorporated in the programme. Other events showcase conservation works done to maintain historically important buildings into the future. Some highlights include: Tower of Allen, Hill of Allen Weeklong event Peatlands Immersive Experience, Monasterevin Weeklong event The Curragh Military Story, Curragh Military Museum Weeklong event Moth Morning, Maynooth Saturday, 16 August Tour of Ballitore Quaker Burial Ground Saturday, 16 August Guided Walk of Ballynafagh Lake Tuesday, 19 August Making Connections Through Trad Music and Dance, Clane Tuesday, 19 August Heritage at Play, Leixlip Library Wednesday, 20 August History of the Irish National Stud, Kildare Town Wednesday, 20 August Ceardlann Togala Bad, Naas Harbour Wednesday, 20 August Seal le Re O Laighleis, Kildare Town Community Library Thursday, 21 August Cathaoirleach of Kildare Co Council, Cllr Carmel Kelly welcomed the event, saying: Heritage Week provides a fantastic opportunity for local groups and organisations to showcase their own local heritage, of which they are justifiably proud. The tremendous efforts, often on a voluntary basis, of these enthusiastic and committed people demonstrate that the protection of heritage is a shared responsibility which is taken very seriously by the people of County Kildare. Heritage Week presents an opportunity for us all to take part in some of the nearly 80 events or initiatives organised by community groups to present and explain local heritage and to discover the wealth of fascinating heritage within the county, said Dara Wyer, Heritage Officer, Kildare County Council. National Heritage Week is a wonderful opportunity to shine a light on not only our heritage but the work of hundreds of Kildare volunteers who give of their time and knowledge to preserve and promote it. Most events are free, however advance booking is advised. Some events may be weather dependent and take place on uneven ground so suitable dress and footwear is recommended. For full details and booking visit the KCC website or heritageweek.ie This initiative is coordinated by the Heritage Council and Local Authority Heritage Officers and supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with the aim of fostering a greater understanding and awareness of our own local heritage. LESS than a month after their official trip to Athy to unveil a Made of Athy plaque, the family of US Senator Bernie Sanders and his wife, Dr Jane Sanders, returned together for a holiday in the Kildare town. The visit came in the same week that CNN reported Bernie Sanders as the most popular and trusted politician in America. Dr Jane Sanders, whose family roots trace back to the area, said she was eager for her children to learn about their Irish heritage. Local historian and genealogist Clem Ryan guided the Sanders family to the ruins of the old Barracks House in Barrowhouse, Athy where their ancestors, the Sheridans once lived. The group also enjoyed a stroll through Athy, taking in the revamped Emily Square, before settling in for a relaxed evening at OBriens pub. The Sanders family stayed locally during their trip and said they plan to return to Athy on many more occasions in the future. Prominent TD and Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae has spoken out against people taking photos and videos of Michael Gaine's farm in County Kerry. Mr Gaine, also known as Mike, went missing from his farm in Kenmare on March 20 and human tissue which was found on his farm in mid-May was a DNA match. A murder investigation is continuing and gardai have maintained a presence at the 1,000-acre farm since the discovery of his remains. It's understood that members of An Garda Siochana have had to place parking cones at the farms entrance to keep vehicles away, including those whose occupants are trying to get close to the farm to take photos and video. READ NEXT: RIP: 'Taken way before her time' tributes pour in for Monacurragh's Martha Nolan Speaking to The Irish Sun, Mr Michael Healy-Rae said the practice is abhorrent to those living in the locality. The Kerry TD expressed his anger at personally seeing tourists travel to the farm: I see it myself when I am driving along the road, which is one of the busiest in Kerry. There are all these cars and other vehicles driving along slowly. The people inside have the windows down or worse still stop. They are out with their st***d phones. He continued: Its not locals obviously. Its national and international tourists and day visitors to the area. This is in very poor taste as it was a local man who was murdered in the most horrific way. We all knew him, his family are living in the locality, and yet people are stopping to take photos, films, and worse yet selfies. It is completely disrespectful and upsetting for us all. They should think about other peoples feelings. To take pictures where a man has been brutally murdered, or where people are seriously injured and then posting it on the internet for hits, is beyond humanity. Mr Healy-Rae then condemned the actions of those seeking to take photos and record video. This murder tourism and filming is just awful. Words cant describe how abhorrent this is to the people living here. The Minister of State in the Department of Agriculture says those who engage in "murder tourism such as this and who post photos (of crime scenes) online should be jailed: People who do things like this should be jailed for a year. You should have a thing called manners when it comes to using your phone. They should cop on and grow up. It has been reported that locals have made complaints to gardai about people stopping at Mr Gaine's farmland to take pictures and videos. Michael Gaine was remembered at his funeral service by his wife Janice as: A true man. He was soft and loving. Caring and affectionate. Kind and considerate. Commenting on the apparent lack of public updates on the ongoing murder investigation Mr Healy-Rae stated: There is worry and we want answers. We all want justice for Michael's family. Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) holds talks with U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Aug. 6, 2025. (Kremlin Press Office/Handout via Xinhua) The prospects for a breakthrough appear uncertain at the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, with the two leaders approaching the talks from sharply different positions and many of America's allies warning that any deal struck without Kiev's participation will lack legitimacy. BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet on August 15th in Alaska to discuss a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, marking the first talks between the leaders of the two countries since 2021. On the campaign trail in 2023 and 2024, Trump made repeated claims that he would end the Ukraine crisis within 24 hours of winning presidency. The summit, Trump's latest push for peace in the region, has been billed by the White House as a high-stakes push to end the Ukraine crisis. But the prospects for a breakthrough appear uncertain, with the two leaders approaching the talks from sharply different positions and many of America's allies warning that any deal struck without Kiev's participation will lack legitimacy. The plans for the face-to-face meeting between the two leaders surfaced after Putin's three-hour working meeting with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff during the latter's visit to Moscow on Wednesday. Putin this week offered the Trump administration a broad ceasefire proposal that requires significant territorial concessions from Kiev and seeks international acceptance of Russia's claims in return for stopping the fighting, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing European and Ukrainian officials. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a press conference at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, May 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Kai) Trump said Friday that he intended to secure a ceasefire, even suggesting that "swapping of territories" could be part of the deal. While he has not specified what that would entail, the phrase has drawn immediate pushback from Ukraine and its allies. Ukraine has repeatedly said it will not accept any arrangement that cedes its territory. President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Saturday the Alaska talks for excluding his government and warned that lasting peace cannot be achieved without Ukraine at the table. "Any decisions made against us, any decisions made without Ukraine, are at the same time decisions against peace," Zelensky said in a video address. "They will bring nothing. These are dead decisions; they will never work." European capitals reacted swiftly to Trump's suggestion of a land swap. Leaders from the European Commission, France, Italy, Britain, Germany, Poland and Finland issued a joint statement on Saturday affirming that Ukraine's borders, as recognized internationally, cannot be changed by force. The statement underscored that Ukraine must be directly involved in any negotiations regarding its sovereignty. The last round of Russia-Ukraine talks held in Istanbul on July 23 concluded with no breakthrough towards a ceasefire but an agreement on another prisoner swap with civilian detainees included. Russia and Ukraine remain quite apart from each other while exchanges of drone and missile attacks continue to inflict heavy casualties and infrastructure damage. Analysts say that even if Trump and Putin agree on broad principles, achieving a workable ceasefire will be far from simple, as Russia controls significant territory, including areas it has fortified heavily over the past year, while Ukraine remains committed to regaining its land. A halt to fighting would require agreement on troop withdrawals, security guarantees and the future status of disputed regions -- issues that have defied resolution since the conflict began in 2022. Without clear enforcement mechanisms, experts warn, any truce could unravel quickly. Whether the Alaska summit moves the Ukraine crisis toward resolution or entrenches a fragile stalemate will depend on whether the leaders can bridge deep divides. With positions hardened and trust in short supply, a ceasefire, if it comes at all, will not be easy. Editor: ZAD St Canices Credit Union is once again stepping up to support young people in their educational journey with the return of its annual Scholarship Draw. The initiative will award a total of 16 scholarships for 2,000 to a sixth year student from each secondary school within the Credit Unions branch network. In a time when the cost of further education continues to rise, this scholarship offers a timely and meaningful boost for students preparing to enter college, university or apprenticeship programmes. It is also a welcome relief for parents facing the financial pressures of supporting their childs next chapter. READ NEXT: Credit Union Day: Legacy of past volunteers helped to make St Canices what it is today What sets this scholarship apart is its accessibility. Unlike many traditional awards based on academic achievement or lengthy applications, the St Canices draw is a lottery, giving every eligible student an equal chance to win. To qualify, students must be members of St Canices Credit Union, be enrolling in a full-time course or apprenticeship of at least two years duration and be in sixth year at a secondary school within the Credit Unions common bond area. Additionally, there is also a scholarship for Leaving Cert student members not attending secondary schools in our branch areas or who completed their Leaving Cert prior to 2025 but are starting a full-time college/university course or apprenticeship for the first time. DEADLINE The deadline for entries is September 14, 2025, with winners to be announced shortly afterwards. The scholarship can help ease the financial burden of starting a new course, whether it is covering books, travel, equipment or accommodation. Applications can be submitted online via the Credit Unions website at stcanicescu.ie. A new report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has identified several failures of E Coli standards in private group water schemes across Ireland in 2024, including two in Kilkenny. The Barna-Kilrush GWS scheme and Dunbell No 2, both in Kilkenny, were amongst those cited nationally in the Drinking Water Quality in Private Group Schemes and Small Private Supplies 2024 report for failing to meet E Coli standards. READ NEXT: Plans for new fast food restaurant and 'drive thru' in Kilkenny The EPA report shows 24 private groups found in breach of E Coli standards in 2024 up from just 11 in 2022. This raises significant concerns about water safety in rural communities. Across Ireland, over 370 private group schemes supply drinking water to approximately 193,000 people, primarily in rural areas. READ NEXT: Man with a bag discovered in Kilkenny on Christmas Eve - gardai found bag of drugs and a Stanley knife In addition, around 1,700 small private supplies are registered with local authorities, serving businesses and public facilities. However, the EPA warns that many more unregistered supplies exist, increasing the risk of undetected contamination. The EPA report calls for improved oversight and investment in water treatment and monitoring for both group water schemes and small private supplies. READ NEXT: 'F**k Trump' - Bizarre graffiti and vandalism at allotments in Kilkenny A gap in existing drinking water legislation means that private water suppliers are not legally required to register with authorities. These unregistered supplies can include those serving schools, nursing homes, sports clubs, and various forms of accommodation. FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS, CLICK HERE BEIJING, Aug. 8 (Xinhua) -- In a brightly lit lab in Beijing's Zhongguancun, which is known as China's Silicon Valley, a humanoid robot stands amid rows of shelves stocked with a variety of goods, its sleek, metallic frame moving with smooth precision as it navigates the aisles. Bending slightly at the knees, the robot reaches for a bag of crisps from a mid-level shelf with its dexterous, multi-jointed hands, its grippers adjusting their pressure to avoid crushing the package. The robot then places the item into a cart before heading toward the next section. Developed by Beijing Galbot Co., Ltd., the robot made a splash with its flexibility at the recently concluded 2025 World Artificial Intelligence Conference. It is evidence of the strides China has made in its humanoid robotics sector thanks to the joint efforts of the government, industry and academia. POLICY SUPPORT The Chinese government has shown its commitment to supporting the robotics industry through multiple initiatives and a range of local government incentives. According to a set of guidelines released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the country plans to launch various robotics innovation programs and encourages investment in the development of software and key components for humanoid robotics. It is also working to promote cooperation between humanoid robotics companies and universities and research institutes. In Shenzhen, a dedicated "robotics valley" clusters dozens of top universities, research institutes and tech firms, creating a hub where ideas flow freely from labs to factories. According to the Chinese Institute of Electronics, the nation's humanoid robot market is projected to reach 870 billion yuan (about 121.9 billion U.S. dollars) by 2030. ENTREPRENEURIAL DRIVE The industry's potential to reshape various sectors ranging from manufacturing to health care services, coupled with government support, has incentivized many market players to turn tech visions into daily realities. Wang He, a graduate of Tsinghua University and Stanford University, founded Galbot in May 2023, seeking to develop generalized, embodied, multimodal large-model AI robots. The company unveiled its first-generation robot, Galbot (G1), within just one year of its establishment. The robot features wheels, dual arms and a foldable body. It can reach upward to 2.4 meters and bend down to reach objects on the ground. At present, the robots are attracting orders and are scheduled for nationwide promotion by the end of the year. They are already on duty around the clock in nearly 10 pharmacies in Beijing, handling over 5,000 types of medicine every day. Industrial data shows that by the end of 2024, there were over 80 humanoid robot manufacturing companies in China. In the first half of this year alone, China added more humanoid robot companies than it did over the entirety of 2024, with even more startups waiting to enter the market. FOSTERING SYNERGY As global competition in humanoid robotics intensifies, China is leveraging its distinct ecosystem of top-tier universities, tech enterprises and government support to bridge the gap between lab breakthroughs and commercial viability. "Galbot currently has R&D centers in Beijing, Shenzhen and Suzhou, deeply integrating resources from industry, academia and research," said Zhu Hui, product director of the startup, adding that the company has worked with Peking University and the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence to establish a joint embodied intelligence lab to address technological bottlenecks in the industry. From Zhu's perspective, the humanoid robot industry still has to step up efforts to improve the intelligence of robots and enhance their capabilities to complete complicated tasks and adapt to unstructured environments. Additionally, the high cost of production also restricts the widespread adoption of robots in daily life. Despite the challenges, the outlook of China's humanoid robot industry is promising, Zhu said, noting that with continuous technological innovation, cost reductions and the expansion of application scenarios, humanoid robots are expected to become an integral part of daily life and industrial production. The introduction of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which will enter its paid phase in early 2026, will lead to moderate structural shifts in Ukraine's economy but will not be sufficient to drive decarbonization, according to a study by Green Deal Ukrana. "For Ukraine's economy as a whole, CBAM's impact is limited. It's important to note that European producers will also face stricter rules, as their free emissions allowances will begin to be phased out on January 1, 2026. This levels the playing field between EU and non-EU producers. Without CBAM, Ukraine would have an advantage not only over EU companies but also over all other countries exporting to the EU that are subject to CBAM," Scientific Lead at Green Deal Ukrana Georg Zachmann told Interfax-Ukraine. The study examined two scenarios: one with CBAM in place and another with its implementation delayed. In carbon-intensive sectors covered by CBAM, such as metallurgy and energy, its introduction could cause a drop in output. Under the CBAM scenario, pig iron and steel production is projected to fall by nearly $250 million by 2035 compared to the baseline, while output in the energy sector could decline by $237 million. In contrast, cleaner and non-CBAM sectors are expected to see moderate production growth, benefiting from the reallocation of certain production factors such as capital and labor. Sectors forecast to expand include light industry, agricultural products, and services. "If you introduce CBAM, the overall impact on Ukraine's economy will be fairly limited, but the steel sector will reorient toward other regions and reduce exports to the EU," Zachmann said. Overall, highly carbon-intensive sectors, such as cement, are projected to export 13.8% less in 2035 than under a no-CBAM scenario. Energy sector exports would fall by nearly 9%, while pig iron, iron, and steel exports would drop by 3.1%. Other CBAM-affected industries would see less significant export changes. As for CBAM's broader impact, the study estimates a welfare loss of less than 0.1% compared to the baseline scenario, along with a slight slowdown in economic growth about 5.9% under the CBAM scenario versus roughly 6% without it. CBAM's effect on reducing Ukraine's carbon intensity would be very modest, cutting CO emissions by only 0.3%0.8% annually. The study concludes that CBAM alone cannot drive decarbonization Ukrainian policymakers must pursue structural reforms and develop a green industrial policy that supports decarbonization. "There is a Ukrainian Decarbonization Fund, but it's very small and uses its money for, say, a few small solar panel projects, so it has no real impact yet. In 2024, it issued just 16 loans totaling about $4 million. But the tool exists. The problem is, it's too small, and its administration is probably not designed to handle tens of billions of hryvnias. A high carbon price will raise so much money that you'll want to be sure parliament, anti-corruption bodies, and everyone else have a clear understanding of how it will be used," Zachmann said. Photo: https://bank.gov.ua/ In July 2025, the National Bank of Ukraine fined Industrialbank UAH 400,000 and six nonbank financial institutions, and issued a warning to Ukrposhta, for violating laws on preventing and countering money laundering, terrorist financing, and financing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (AML/CFT), as well as currency legislation. According to the central bank's website, the largest fine UAH 9,632,850 was imposed on Lineura Ukraine LLC (Credit 7 trademark), which ranked sixth in the nonbank financial services market in the first quarter of this year with UAH 470.7 million in revenue from financial services. Fines were also imposed on FC Mare LLC (UAH 595,000) and FC Middle LLC (UAH 340,000), the latter having recently had its license revoked by the NBU. ProfitGid LLC was fined UAH 170,000, and Miloan LLC UAH 51,000. Ukrposhta received a written warning for failing to properly develop and implement internal AML/CFT documentation and for lacking procedures adequate to ensure effective risk management. Forbes Ukraine reported Friday that the NBU has notified the government of the need to recapitalize Ukrposhta by about UAH 820 million, without which the national postal operator would be unable to launch a postal bank and could lose its license to provide financial services. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States Oksana Markarova said that, judging by the latest decisions of the administration, the United States will start negotiations with Russia from a position of strength, CBS News reported on Sunday. "We really hope that this push from President Trump, the sanctions packages that are on the table and the secondary sanctions that have already been implemented against those who help Russia, will convince President Putin that it is time to finally stop his aggression," Markarova said on the program Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan. When asked by the host to comment on the fact that the meeting in Alaska is planned as a bilateral one and to say whether anything is planned to involve Ukraine in the negotiations, Markarova replied that Ukraine is grateful to President Trump "not only for the fact that he pushing for theending this war," but also for the visit to Europe of US Vice President J.D. Vance, who "conducted negotiations, discussed, held these very constructive meetings with our delegation, as well as with European leaders." "So, if needed, President Zelenskyy will of course be present at the meetings. We have been very open about this, but we will see how it goes," Markarova added regarding the possibility of the Ukrainian president participating in the meeting in Alaska on Friday. European leaders want to talk to Trump before his Putin summit media European leaders are seeking to speak with U.S. President Donald Trump ahead of his planned Alaskan summit with Vladimir Putin, Bloomberg has said, citing sources. "The leaders want to speak with him before Friday, when Trump and Putin are scheduled to meet, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private discussions. Any conversation would follow intensive diplomatic talks between U.S., Ukrainian and European officials, which included meetings in the United Kingdom on Saturday with Vice President J.D. Vance and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy," the report said. EU ambassadors were briefed on the talks on Sunday, and foreign ministers from the bloc's member states are set to meet virtually on Monday. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the potential meeting. At the same time, according to media reports, the meeting between Trump and Putin will most likely take place in Anchorage, Alaska. Here, the US Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting the president, rented a six-room house on the eve of the summit, according to The New York Times. Realtor Larry Disbrow said that he was approached by secret service agents with a request to rent a house that must meet the necessary requirements. The time in Anchorage is 11 hours behind the time in Kyiv. A FAMOUS five food producers from Laois have made it through to the final stages of Blas na hEireann, popularly known as the national food Oscars. The finalists shortlisted for the 2025 Irish Food Awards are Aghaboe Farm Foods, G's Gourmet Jams in Abbeyleix, Mueller & O'Connell Bakery in Abbeyleix, Zephyr Yard marshmallows based in Abbeyleix and The Village Dairy in Killeshin. Following the announcement at the weekend, Evelyn Reddin, head of Enterprise at the Laois Local Enterprise Office (LEO), paid tribute all the local food producers involved in the demanding contest and congratulated the worthy finalists. She said: We are incredibly proud to see five outstanding Laois food producers shortlisted as finalists in the upcoming Blas na hEireann Awards. This recognition is a testament to their hard work, innovation and the exceptional quality of food being produced right here in our county. These businesses not only represent the best of Laois, but they also showcase the strength and potential of our local food sector on a national stage. We wish them every success in the final. The countdown is officially on for the return to Dingle for the national competition this autumn, where the very best of Irish food and drink will be celebrated from Thursday 2 October to Sunday 5 October, with attractions that include the Blas Village, Showcase, Eat Ireland in a Day market and the awards ceremony. The Laois producers are among 15 finalists from the midlands who will compete for a slice of sweet success in Dingle. The winners will be announced on 3 October. The 18th annual contest has no fewer than 190 different categories. Over 3,000 entries were received this year, with blind-taste judging carried out over the course of May, June and July. Products from every county in Ireland were entered to win bronze, silver or gold awards in over 170 food and drink categories, as well as key awards such as Supreme Champion and Best Artisan Producer. Chairperson and founder of Blas na hEireann Artie Clifford said: Making it as a finalist is a huge achievement and one to be very proud of. The competition ramps up year on year, meaning those producers who are shortlisted as finalists really are the creme de la creme of Irish food and drink. AHEAD of a public information meeting to be held tonight Monday 11 August on plans by a local property owner to locate two IPAS centres in Durrow, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has confirmed, what was already stated at a previous public meeting in the village, that no offer of accommodation for any property in Durrow to accommodate people seeking international protection. The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration stated it would, like to confirm that there is no offer of accommodation for any property in Durrow, Co Laois to accommodate people seeking international protection and it is not considering any property in the village for such purposes. At the previous public meeting both Deputy Sean Fleming and cllr James Kelly stated that no offers had been made for IPAS centres in the village. Deputy Fleming told the meeting: No contract has been signed by IPAS in relation to these two premises. More importantly, no application has been made to IPAS for the premises. As of now neither premises meet the planning requirements for IPAS to even look at. It they dont get planning approval, they cant even go to IPAS. While cllr Kelly said: There is no contact offered or awarded yet (from IPAS) to (properties owner) Marc Lennon. Tonights meeting is taking place at 8pm in the Castle Arms Hotel in Durrow to discuss plans that have already been lodged with Laois County Council to locate two IPAS centres in the village. Those attending tonight's meeting will be provided with an updated progress report on steps that have been taken by the committee and the community in their opposition to the two centres that are planned for along Mary Street. Local politicians will also be in attendance to provide an update on their efforts in support of the communitys objections to the IPAS centres. Following the meeting, there will be several tables available where information packs containing printed submission forms, objecting to the plans for the IPAS centres, for you to fill out, correct planning numbers to use, step-by-step guide to filling out submissions, in-formation on the payment process, checklist to ensure your sub-mission is correct and sample submissions to guide you. There is also a guide to submitting an observation through the e-portal available to view at www.durrow.ie/ipas. The deadline for submissions, objections or observations to the plans to locate two IPAS centres in Durrow is Wednesday 13 August at 4pm. The Appellate Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) has dismissed the prosecutor's appeal against the refusal of the investigating judge to remove former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Unity of Ukraine Oleksiy Chernyshov from his post, Transparency International Ukraine has said. "The prosecutor requested to cancel the ruling of the investigating judge, insisting that it was illegal. The defense objected, noting that since July 17, 2025, Chernyshov has been retired anyway, so there are no grounds to satisfy the complaint," the message on Telegram said on Monday. As reported, on June 23, the NABU and the SAPO reported suspicion of abuse of office and obtaining an especially large amount of illegal benefit for himself and third parties to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Unity of Ukraine Oleksiy Chernyshov. In particular, his actions in his former position as Minister of Community and Territorial Development were qualified under Part 2 of Article 15, Part 2 of Article 28, Part 2 of Article 364, Part 4 of Article 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. According to the investigation, the developer and his proxy developed a scheme to illegally obtain a land plot in Kyiv for the construction of a residential complex. Chernyshov was involved in the implementation of the scheme when he held the position of minister, his advisor, the then state secretary of the ministry, and the director of the state enterprise. Law enforcement officers believe that the minister created the conditions for transferring the land plot to the management of the specified state enterprise, the state secretary granted permission to make a significant economic commitment, and the director of the state enterprise illegally concluded investment agreements with the "necessary" construction company. According to them, the developer was to give the state a part of the future apartments in an amount proportional to the cost of the land plot. To minimize this amount, the land and the buildings on it were valued almost five times cheaper, and the difference between this valuation and the market value exceeded UAH 1 billion. This is the amount by which the state would have received less real estate if the contracts had been executed. This was prevented by the seizure of the plot, which was imposed at the request of the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). Earlier, five people were informed of the suspicion, including: the former State Secretary of the Ministry of Regional Development, the former advisor to the minister, the former director of a state-owned enterprise and the developer and his trusted person (organizers of the scheme). On June 17, the former State Secretary of the Ministry of Regional Development was taken into custody with the alternative of a bail of UAH 20 million. On June 20, the Supreme Court of Criminal Appeals arrested the developer - the organizer of the corruption scheme in the Ministry of Regional Development with the alternative of a bail of UAH 100 million. On June 27, the Supreme Court of Criminal Appeals chose a preventive measure for Chernyshov in the form of a bail of UAH 120 million, partially satisfying the request, in particular, refusing to wear an electronic monitoring device (bracelet). According to the court decision, the suspect is assigned the following duties: to appear at every call of a detective, prosecutor or court, to report a change in his place of residence and place of work, not to leave the territory of Ukraine without the permission of the investigator, prosecutor or court. The term of the duties assigned to Chernyshov is two months, that is, until August 27, 2025. On July 2, bail was posted for Chernyshov in full, according to the Supreme Court of Criminal Appeals decision. Later, the "Schemes" project found out that Chernyshov's wife Svitlana posted UAH 10 million, Daria Bedya, the marketing director of DIM (Development Investment Management), contributed UAH 44 million, and Foravto Tor LLC - UAH 66 million. En espanol Authorities across Puerto Rico have launched an intensive investigation after reggaeton and rap artist Cosculluela was robbed at gunpoint in his home on August 6, with the assailants making off with an estimated $308,000 in cash, jewelry, and a luxury SUV. According to WAPA TV, Inspector Mabel Olivera, head of the Criminal Investigations Corps (CIC) of Carolina, confirmed that the suspects, described as two armed, masked men, entered Cosculluela's gated community in Emerald Lake via a wooded area. Once inside, they tied up and gagged three people, including the artist, and ransacked his bedroom and office. Police later recovered the stolen Land Rover, but the men responsible remain at large. Authorities suspect there may be more people involved, though only two were seen by witnesses. This incident adds to an already long list of legal troubles for Cosculluela, whose real name is Jose Fernando Cosculluela Suarez. Born and raised in Humacao, Puerto Rico, he became a household name in the 2000s with hits like Na Na Nau and Prrrum, known for blending street rap with catchy reggaeton hooks. He's collaborated with major artists including Daddy Yankee, Don Omar, and Bad Bunny. However, his offstage life has taken a darker turn. In 2024, Cosculluela faced multiple allegations, including a hit-and-run involving two pedestrians and the death of two horses. He's currently serving probation after being found guilty of domestic violence against his ex-wife, Jennifer Fungenzi. The couple shares two children, and Cosculluela had previously adopted her eldest daughter. Another former partner, Gina Moreno, has publicly accused the rapper of child abuse involving one of their sons. And in a bizarre twist, Puerto Rico's power company, LUMA Energy, filed a formal complaint accusing the rapper of illegally tapping into the island's electrical grid. According to the company, his home had no legal service contract, and the stolen electricity amounted to over $31,000. "According to the data provided, the illegal use adds up to $31,161," reads the court filing. Despite the gravity of the accusations, Cosculluela has remained largely silent, choosing to stay out of the public eye. The rapper, once hailed as Puerto Rico's lyrical heavyweight, now finds himself surrounded by controversy, lawsuits, and violenceall while under the eye of investigators, fans, and critics alike. Originally published on Latin Times The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office announced charges against a group led by a Mexican man that allegedly sold stolen luxury vehicles with fraudulent documentation across Lehigh, Berks and Dauphin counties. Getty Images Thirteen people have been charged in what authorities are describing as a title-washing scheme that spanned three counties, including Lehigh County. Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday announced the charges last week. The charges were filed in July in Dauphin County following a grand jury investigation. Recent figures highlighted by a Wexford/Wicklow TD have revealed that Ireland's Industrial Development Agency (IDA) have only visited Laois 44 times in the last ten years. Fianna Fail TD Malcolm Byrne has recently presented these figures, suggesting that the IDA just focuses on Dublin. Figures show that the IDA now has 303,000 jobs nationally, with 137,000 of those located in Dublin. While Laois only received 44 visits within the last decade, and only two visits from the IDA last year, Dublin received 2,275 site visits since 2015. "That is not a satisfactory or acceptable level of interest in the county," Fianna Fail TD Deputy Sean Fleming told the Leinster Express / Laois Live following the revelation of these figures. Pictured: IDA's business park in Portlaoise "They have a site in Portlaoise and things are being worked on there, we need to see a business put through there. We have one major location in the county, and we need to expand to offer more in the county," he said. "Laois has a very big number of workers leaving the county to go to work, we have a tremendous workforce here. We need more visits from them. The other side of it is Laois County Council have their enterprise park and they have taken a big lead," the Deputy said. "The fact that Enterprise Ireland and Laois County Council are doing good work, the IDA have let themselves down consistently. We have the lowest number of jobs, Laois needs to get higher on their priority list. The IDA are the missing link in the chain when it comes to job creation in Laois," he said. "There must be more from the IDA in terms of foreign investment, we have a lot of domestic investment in Laois, but we need more foreign investment," Deputy Fleming finished. There are currently 52 IDA client companies within the Midlands Region, comprising of Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and Longford, according to Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke. Of these 52 companies, there are 8,045 working across the midlands. IDA has made considerable investments in land, buildings and infrastructure across the Midlands Region and in 2022 IDA acquired c.18.46 hectares of land adjacent to the Business and Technology Park in Portlaoise and an additional c.4.25 hectares in 2024 with a total of c.29.66 hectares now available for promotion at the Business Park, Minister Burke told Laois Fine Gael Deputy Willie Aird in response to a parliamentary question in February. A young Laois musician has won a prestigious prize at this year's Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann. Spink Comhaltas were delighted to announce that their young member William Walsh won first place in the under 12 flute slow airs. "Spink Comhaltas had a great time at the Fleadh," the group told the Leinster Express / Laois Live. "As you may know, getting to the Fleadh finals is a bit like getting to the Olympics finals... this is a major achievement in its own right. This is particularly the case for branches competing in Leinster where competition is more intense than any other region. Pictured: William Walsh of Spink Comhaltas won gold in the U12 flute slow airs at the Fleadh "Spink had 2 groups placed 3rd in the Leinster fleadh and unfortunately these 40 musicians missed out by the narrowest of margins (a single point) from qualifying for the All Ireland," they shared. "However, Spink still had competitors in 6 individual competitions across all age levels. All performed excellently, with one musician, William Walsh taking gold in the U12 flute slow airs." Spink Comhaltas explained that their ethos is developing young musicians who have music for life, and not exclusively focusing on a narrow area of preparing for competitions only. The group were one of the largest groups performing on the gig rig on Thursday, with over 30 musicians taking part. Spink also had eight musicians performing in an elite underage youth orchestra, the Meitheal Folk Orchestra. Over 10 of Spinks musicians were invited to specialist music classes in Scoil Eigse, an intensive music course run over a week. One of Spinks senior musicians, David Vesey, is part of the teaching staff at Scoil Eigse and is also a member of the National Folk Orchestra of Ireland. David launched his debut solo piano album at the Fleadh. "David regularly credits Spink Comhaltas' emphasis on a holistic approach to developing musicians as being a critical part of his journey in music," Spink Comhaltas shared. "He is hugely impressed by the quality and number of young musicians coming through Spink Comhaltas, and believes this is a reflection of the commitment, planning and strategic vision of the current committee in Spink." Spink Comhaltas is celebrating its end of year with a branch event in Abbeyleix House & Farm in September, and is now taking registrations for the 2025/26 season. India Day in Ireland has been postponed following a spate of violent attacks on members of its community in recent months. Hundreds of performers and volunteers had been preparing for the event at Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park on Sunday. The co-chairman of the Ireland India Council said making the decision to delay the celebration was very difficult and emotional, but that the safety of the community was more important. Prashant Shukla said the event has been held in Ireland since 2015 and this had never happened before. He said they believe there is an organised social media campaign against the Indian community in Ireland and the number of violent attacks has intensified since January this year. We are not too much concerned about the safety at the event, we are more concerned about the perception on social media, he said, adding that a perception had been created that Indians had taken over the state and had caused housing problems. So we want to actually balance these counter narratives, they are very, very negative. We will review the situation and we will announce new dates for India Day this year. The announcement was made after representatives of the Indian community met with Tanaiste Simon Harris at Government Buildings on Monday. Members of the Federation of Indian Communities in Ireland said that families feel insecure about leaving their homes because of recent attacks. Dr Jasbir Singh Puri, who has been in Ireland for 38 years, said when he arrived in Ireland and needed directions, people would have helped guide them. It really was a land of a thousand welcomes, but now it looks like the values have been eroded, whether it is inside or outside, he said. Mr Shukla said he raised their concerns about what he said was organised propaganda online targeting the Indian community in Ireland. He said incidents of violent assaults began after the Dublin riots in November 2023, but had increased significantly since January this year. Mr Shukla said the ministers in the meeting outlined actions they would take in the next two weeks. The Dublin riots was actually the first time when these things actually started, he said. But I feel after actually January this year, theres a lot of propaganda going on. So social media accounts created and closed in a few days. That gives me the indication that it is some sort of organised agenda, organised propaganda, that is specifically targeted to Indians, because whenever we have the situation, this time only, the Indians are attacked and identified. In the past, there was casual violent incidents, that I can understand, they can happen anywhere in the world. But behind there was no such campaign of hate and incitement of violence. Aparna Shukla, a midwife who first came to Ireland in 2003, is the cultural co-ordinator for the Ireland India Council. I know this is not our Irish people. I love India. I love Ireland, she said. Im here to say that all Irish people are really nice people. Im also here for all mothers who are now concerned because of the little six-year-old child who was attacked in Waterford. Her mother is also a nurse. She came here to work, and it is wrong that she has to go through this. Im (hearing) from a lot of nurses who are planning to leave Ireland because now they are worried about their childrens safety and security. Mr Harris said he would support tougher consequences for teenage gangs who have been reported to be behind some of the attacks against members of the Indian community. He said: I think its required. I dont want to cut across the work of my colleague and Minister for Justice (Jim OCallaghan), who I know is eager also to engage with the Indian community, and theyve been in contact with him. I think we have to come at this from a number of angles, for want of a better word. Firstly, the enforcement of the existing laws. Theres already very clear laws in Ireland in relation to assault, attack, racism, those laws need to be enforced. I trust the gardai will do that job, will apply the appropriate level of attention and resource, because this is serious. Secondly, I think we have to have a legitimate question as to, are there further sanctions that are required, particularly when youre seeing attacks being carried out by children or young teenagers. Wheres our system in relation to that? And do we need to look again at some of our laws. Then, thirdly, wheres this hatred coming from? Like, no child is born a racist. So whats whats happening here? This is not who we are. I must say, in my meeting with the Indian community, theyre very clear too, that this is not what Ireland is. The overwhelming majority of people in this country and understand that we are better as a result of people from India and other countries coming here, making Ireland their home and contributing positively to society. But it is quite frightening when you see children engaging in activity that is clearly racist. Attacks against members of the Indian community in Ireland have been highlighted in recent weeks after an Indian man was the victim of an unprovoked attack in Tallaght, Dublin, last month. A silent vigil was held outside the Department of Justice by Friends of India in response. The Indian Embassy in Dublin has also issued a warning that there has been an increase in the instances of physical attacks reported against Indian citizens in Ireland. They said Indian citizens in Ireland should take reasonable precautions and avoid deserted areas. Mr Harris said on Sunday that he was deeply concerned about the incidents and that one of the most concerning things was the very young age of those that have been involved in some of this racist activity. The Ireland India Council said it wanted assaults on members of the Indian community to be recognised and recorded as hate crimes, to ensure the offences are appropriately recorded and addressed. It has called for a cross-departmental taskforce on hate crime and youth violence and legislative reform to hold parents more accountable for the actions of their children. It also called for enhanced policing, swift prosecution of offenders, and an outreach programme to affected communities. On Sunday, Minister of State with responsibility for migration Colm Brophy said he wanted the incoming Garda commissioner, Justin Kelly, to prioritise addressing these incidents. We actually have seen a drop in serious crime, but in this particular area, we have seen a rise in the type of attacks, he told RTE Radio. I think there needs to be a stronger policing response in this area because theres two aspects to these attacks, which I think are very, very unacceptable. The first is obviously the attack itself, and the second then is the recording and videoing of it and the disseminating of it on social media and theres a role that has to be dealt with there as well. Tributes have been paid to a young man from Caragh, Kildare who passed last weekend. Lawrence (Lar) Delaney, Caragh Lawns, Caragh, and formerly of Prosperous, Co Kildare, passed suddenly on August 9 2025. Lawrence will be forever loved and missed by his devoted father John, mother Sharrona, his brothers Martin and Solomon, his sister Maicili, John's partner Gemma and her family Derv and Mattia, Sandie and Christy and their children, neighbours and his wide circle of friends. READ NEXT: 'Let the new chapter begin' - principal of Athy College, Kildare retires after 32 years May Lar Rest In Peace. Funeral Arrangements Later. Tributes paid to Lawrence on RIP.ie this week include: Martin, sending our deepest condolences to you and your family on the tragic loss of your brother Lar. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. And: Our most heartfelt condolences John and family. May Lar's soul rest in Peace. While another mourner wrote: We are so very sorry John and Gemma. Our thoughts are with you. God bless xx. And another added: Sincere condolences to John, Gemma, Lar's brothers & sister & mother. We are very sad for you all and thinking of you at this devastating time. Rest in peace Lar. US Senator Lindsey Graham (Republican Party), co-author and initiator of the bill on strengthening sanctions against Russia and buyers of its minerals, changed his previously expressed position and stated that Ukraine and Russia would have to exchange some territories in order to stop the war. "I want to be honest with you, Ukraine is not going to evict every Russian, and Russia is not going to Kyiv, so there will be some land swaps at the end," Graham said in an interview with the program Meet the Press on NBC News on Sunday. At the same time, he stated that the land exchange should supposedly take place only "after security guarantees are received for Ukraine to prevent Russia from repeating this." "We need to tell Putin what will happen if he does this a third time," Graham said, referring to the annexation of Crimea in 2014, as well as a full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Asked whether Trump was right to schedule a meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska next Friday to try to broker a ceasefire, Graham said he was absolutely not against the meeting, later adding that he hoped Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would be able to attend. You cant end a war without talking. I hope Zelenskyy can be part of the process. Ill leave that up to the White House, he said. NBC News previously reported that the White House was considering inviting the Ukrainian president to the meeting. Asked on CNNs State of the Union whether Zelenskyy could attend, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said, "I certainly think its possible. There cant be a deal that everyone involved in it cant agree to," Whitaker said Sunday. Regarding the idea of exchanging territories, he said that "there will be no large pieces or areas that were not won on the battlefield that will be given away." The channel recalls that in his statements on the "exchange of territories" Graham retreated from his previous position: in 2023 he stated that "Ukrainian citizens understand that wars do not end with the surrender of territory to the aggressor." The senator also warned at the time that if Putin is not stopped in Ukraine, "he will continue," which increases the likelihood that NATO could be drawn into the war. Asked on Sunday about these comments, Graham indicated what, in his opinion, should be done to deter Russia from a third invasion of Ukraine. He said that the United States and allies should continue to arm Ukraine, deploy some European forces on the ground, and increase "economic integration." A charity yoga event to assist Women's Aid is due to take place in one County Kildare town. Later this month, yoga teacher Tara Thompson special, donation-based yoga event at Happy Space & Co, which is located on Eyre Street in Newbridge. As explained by Tara, Womens Aid recently had to shut down their Live Chat service "a safe, anonymous way for women to ask for help, often for the very first time" due to lack of funding. And although she insisted that the charity is still here for survivors, Tara further said: "This class is my soft response to that [the closure of the Live Chat service] and to try to raise essential funds for an incredible charity. "Well begin with an hour of gentle, trauma-informed yoga, followed by an hour of deeply restful Yoga Nidra [a] space to breathe, feel, and restore." According to Tara, this yoga session will be open to all levels and all will be welcome. She added: "If you cant make it but would like to support, even the smallest donation helps." READ NEXT: Kildare residents invited to comment on planning permission changes Those interested in donating to this fundraiser can do so via idonate.ie. The fundraiser has a 1,000 target and donations will be accepted until Monday, September 1, 2025. This event will take place on Sunday, August 24, 2025 and will run from 11.30am until 1.30pm. For further information about Women's Aid and the services they offer, you can visit https://www.womensaid.ie/get-help/support-services/. AMENDMENT / CLARIFICATION 11.04am, August 12, 2025 The Leinster Leader received the following message from the Marketing Team at Women's Aid: "Our Instant Messaging Chat Service is a key part of our frontline service offering. We are, with the support of fundraisers, working to increase the hours of the service until it eventually becomes a 24 / 7 lifeline to women. They added: "We saw recent media coverage that unfortunately Women's Aid in England is shutting its service. This does not have any impact in Ireland, thankfully". READ NEXT: 5.8m Agricultural Science Centre proposed for this Kildare town Life Pharmacy, part of the Uniphar Group, is calling on communities across Kildare to lace up and step out this September in support of the Jack and Jill Childrens Foundation. The nationwide Walk 100km in September fundraising campaign officially launches this month, with Life Pharmacy teams across the country leading the charge with the goal of raising 100,000 to fund 5,556 hours of in-home nursing care. The campaign was officially launched with the support of national broadcaster, Dr. Ciara Kelly earlier this week. READ NEXT: Charity yoga event for Women's Aid to take place in Kildare In Kildare alone, 35 families are currently receiving support from the Jack and Jill Childrens Foundation, with 188 families having benefited since the charity was established in 1997. Every 18 raised provides one hour of vital home nursing care for children with severe learning disabilities often associated with complex medical needs. Local Life Pharmacies across Kildare will be taking part in sponsored walks throughout the month, and theyre inviting customers and communities to get behind the cause, by donating, walking, or both. Mairead Reen, Chairperson, Life Pharmacy, said: "At Life Pharmacy, weve always believed in the strength of community and this campaign is proof of what we can achieve when we walk together for a common cause. Were immensely proud to partner with the Jack and Jill Childrens Foundation once again, and I encourage everyone in Kildare to get involved. Whether its one step or one donation, every action matters. Together, we can turn kilometres into care for families who need it most." Deirdre Walsh, CEO of the Jack and Jill Childrens Foundation said: "Were so pleased to be partnering once again with our wonderful friends at Life Pharmacy for another inspiring community-driven fundraiser. This month, were encouraging all the pharmacies and their customers across the country to register and take part in the Walk 100km in September challenge, with the goal of raising 100,000 in vital funds for Jack and Jill families nationwide. This support will make a real difference helping to fund 5,556 hours of in-home nursing care for the 451 families currently under our wing. Were incredibly grateful to Life Pharmacy for their continued commitment, and we cant wait to see communities coming together in support of local families throughout September." Dr. Ciara Kelly, Newstalk radio presenter, columnist, and champion of inspiring the nation to walk, added: "Ive always believed in the power of walking its free, its easy, and its for everyone, no matter your age or fitness level. All it takes is a road, a pair of runners, and a bit of fresh Irish air. But now, every step you take can do something even more powerful. By joining this Life Pharmacy Walk 100km Challenge for Jack and Jill campaign, your walk can help raise vital funds for Jack and Jill families in your local community. So why not lace up, step out, and turn your walk into a lifeline for a child who needs your support? Lets get Ireland moving, one meaningful step at a time." Since its founding in 1997, the Jack and Jill Childrens Foundation has supported more than 3,100 families nationwide. Today, 451 families are under its care, receiving up to 100 hours of tailored, in-home nursing care and respite support each month, a lifeline made possible through public donations and community-led campaigns. Just like the Gallagher brothers, Tubbs is back in the public eye again this week, having repaid RTE 150,000 last Friday. RTE has officially responded by thanking the former Late Late Show presenter but there have been rumbles of dissent from staff in Donnybrook at the thought of the media personality returning to the national broadcaster. Onlookers, and even those with a passing interest, could be forgiven for speculating that the repayment of the 'Renault money' is, in some way, a bid by Ryan Tubridy to make amends with RTE - and to re-secure a job in broadcasting back in his home country in the process. According to reports at the weekend, a 'source' in RTE has suggested the return of the prodigal son may not be well-received. In terms of coming back, the feeling ranges from its still way too soon to there would be mass rebellion from the staff," said the source. The general feeling is he was right to repay that money and he was foolish to have taken it in the first place the media worker told the Sunday World. READ NEXT: LIVE: Fake Labubu figures seized in failed smuggling operation as Revenue cracks down The rise and downfall of Ryan Tubridy Ryan Tubridy worked with the national broadcaster for over two decades - starting out as a news runner after college. The Guardian says his appeal (to listeners and viewers) lies in his genial everyman persona. Ryans Late Late show and his mid-morning show on RTE Radio 1 were notable for their light-hearted and positive tone - which a more cynical viewer could call vapid. Tubridy always presented himself as agreeable and he continues to champion reading books. Detractors describe listening to him as an experience akin to watching paint dry - but Im trying to be less of a hater. From 12 years of age, the Blackrock College student presented reviews for the RTE show Anything Goes but decades later, things came full circle when RTE pulled him from his daily radio show once the over-payments story emerged into the public domain. Speaking at the time, a senior RTE executive is reported to have said: Ryan Tubridy had an option to say no, he is not a child. But Ryan Tubridy's career has been destroyed and Noel Kelly [Ryan Tubridys agent] is right in the middle of it and there is no other way to twist and turn that." READ NEXT: SPOTTED! Harry Styles spotted in small town in Ireland as pictures go viral online Was it Noel Kellys fault? The unnamed senior RTE executive may have a point as Ryan Tubridy claimed to have no knowledge of the Renault Ireland deal or of the associated over-payments (from RTE) - and this could well be true. When youre paid hundreds of thousands of euros a year, it can indeed be difficult to keep track. Noel Kelly did not help the already volatile situation when he was called before the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee. The talent agent smirked, denied and obfuscated his way through hours and hours of questioning. Whether Ryan Tubridy knew about the barter accounts hidden from public view is anyones guess and something that we will likely never know for sure. However, what is known is that the scandal critically damaged RTEs reputation and continues to impact morale across the sprawling Donnybrook campus. Following the revelations of the over-payments there was a public outcry and a campaign urging people across the country to withhold their TV licence payments. There was also a backlash internally, within RTE. The national broadcaster was accused of hypocrisy by members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) who highlighted the low pay that freelancers receive in contrast to the huge payments being made to Tubridy. In the aftermath of the Tubridy scandal, NUJ members called for more transparency at RTE, including the publication of the salaries of RTE's top 100 highest earners. This measure has yet to be delivered and the national broadcaster has not published accounts since 2023. The blow dealt by the Tubbs scandal was particularly harmful to RTE as the public service broadcasters brand is based upon an image of trustworthiness. Another media insider may have the defining last word on Tubbs. They noted: The listenership in his old RTE Radio 1 slot has grown since Oliver Callan took over, so the audience dont seem bothered hes gone If you ask me, Virgin Radio can keep him. A joint initiative aimed at improving home fire safety for older adults across the county was welcomed by Cathaoirleach, Cllr Paddy Farrell this week. The Local Protocol Of Cooperation was signed by Leitrim Chief Executive Joseph Gilhooly and Age Friendly Ireland National Programme Manager Eimear McCormack last week. The initiative called the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme aims to support older people to live in their own home with dignity and independence, for as long as possible. READ MORE: 'I really began to crave nature and the countryside, space, peace' - from Dublin to Leitrim The initiative will see firefighters visit the homes of older residents who are referred through the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme. Two uniformed firefighters from the local brigade will be attended by a friend, neighbour, or support person to ensure the comfort of the resident. Firefighters will give guidance on fire escape planning, installation and testing of smoke alarms and will also identify potential fire hazards and offer practical advice and promote awareness of night time fire safety routines. Cllr Farrell welcomed the "important and progressive step in enhancing the safety, dignity and quality of life for older people in Leitrim and it brings the expertise and dedication of Leitrim's Fire Service and the Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme in a partnership built on trust, care and community spirit." He said the initiative will ensure that "older residents receive the support and peace of mind they deserve" and "can lead to lasting, positive change." READ MORE: Blas na hEireann 2025 finalists announced, and its a standout year for Leitrim producers! He thanked Mr Gilhooly and Ms McCormack for their "leadership and vision, and to all those whose worked behind the scenes that have brought this initiative to life. Our deepest appreciation also goes to the firefighters who will be delivering this service with care and professionalism." He added: "Together, we are taking a step forward - not only in fire safety, but in ensuring that every older person in Leitrim knows they are valued, protected and supported. Let this initiative be a reminder that when we work together, we can build a county that truly serves the needs of all it's people." A possible 'heatwave' over the coming days could bring some of the hottest weather of the year, with parts of the country set to experience temperatures close to 30 degrees on Tuesday, according to one weather expert. Commenting on the latest Met Eireann HARMONIE models, Alan OReilly of Carlow Weather says large sections of the country, particularly in the midlands, are likely to experience soaring temperatures under strong August Sunshine. The forecast map for 4pm on Tuesday shows much of the Mid-West sitting between 27C and 30C, with the warmest conditions expected in County Tipperary. Coastal areas can expect temperatures to be a bit cooler with sea breezes but the heat will still be well above average for mid August. The Met Eireann HARMONIE model showing up to 30c possible Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/hCPjL6gG1t Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) August 11, 2025 Looking ahead to the next few days, Siobhan Ryan, meteorologist at Met Eireann, said it will be "very warm across the country". Confirming there is a chance of a heatwave (five consecutive days of temperatures above 25C) this week, she cautioned there will be thundery downpours too in many places. Ms Ryan told the News at One on RTE Radio 1 that temperatures on Tuesday "could easily creep up to 27 or 28 degrees". READ NEXT: Irish cosmetics company criticised over 'misleading' ads posted by social media influencers Met Eireann is advising people to take precautions in the hot weather, including staying hydrated, applying SPF regularly, avoiding strenuous outdoor activity during peak heat, and keeping vulnerable people cool. If temperatures do hit 30 degrees, it would make Tuesday one of the hottest days of the year. The highest temperature recorded in Ireland so far in 2025 was 31.1 C, measured at Mount Dillon in Count. Roscommon on Saturday, July 12. The sunshine is a welcome boost for holidaymakers but also a reminder of the growing frequency of extreme weather events linked to climate change. The Organic Centre in Rossinver is preparing for National Heritage Week, which will take place from Saturday, August 16, to Sunday, August 24, featuring a number of free family-friendly events to enjoy before the school year begins. The theme for National Heritage Week 2025 is Exploring Our Foundations, encouraging people to explore the structures, landscapes, stories, and cultural practices that have shaped Ireland. This years theme invites reflection on how these foundations influence Irish life today and how they can be explored through a variety of events and activities. The Organic Centre will host four events on-site. On Sunday, August 17, fruit expert and apple enthusiast Phil Wheal will give a talk titled Apples in Ireland from 2pm to 3:30pm, exploring the history of apples from their origins and their place in Irish heritage and folklore, followed by a walk in the orchard to discuss their future. Phil Wheal, Fruit Expert On Tuesday, August 19, from 11am to 1pm, Steffi Otto from Heritage Crafts Alive will lead spoon carving and miniature toy dwarf-making workshops. This zero-waste activity uses wood from organic trees felled during Storm Eowyn. Steffi Otto from Heritage Crafts Alive READ NEXT: Good news for parents as new bus service for Leitrim primary school confirmed On Friday, August 22, from 1pm to 3pm, Eimear ONeill will explore the sustainable foundations of Irelands woollen industry and invite participants to try their hand at hand-spinning in her event titled From Fleece to Fabric. The Organic Centres final event for National Heritage Week will take place on Water Heritage Day and feature water sampling on the Ballagh River with ecologist Yosef Dvores. The activity aims to show how participants can play a role in protecting our most precious resource, with sessions from 11am to 12pm and from 1pm to 2pm. This Water Heritage Day event is supported by the Local Authorities Water Programme. Heritage Week is one of our popular weeks at the Organic Centre, it's a chance for the public and families to get outdoors, and to learn about our history, said Dervilla Keegan of the Organic Centre. Ms Keegan noted that much of day-to-day living in the past was sustainable, with people producing only for their needs, whereas today we live in a world dominated by fast fashion and the fast food industry, which produce vast amounts of waste. READ NEXT: Urgent Appeal: 21-year-old Leitrim man missing since Friday Heritage Week for us is an opportunity to look back and learn and bring ideas forward to today, added Ms Keegan. We also appreciate that times are getting even tougher with costs even higher for families, so we make a special effort to be part of this great week, where people can come out and enjoy time together with these free activities, and before the children go back to school, she concluded. People are advised to book their place for the events ahead of time to avoid disappointment. A construction site near the Sandaga market in Dakar, Senegal, on January 13, 2025. SEYLLOU/AFP It is hard to hide a house in an offshore account or conceal it from the tax authorities. That is precisely why, in developing countries, governments pay close attention to property tax. "Real estate cannot be hidden from the tax administration, which makes it an ideal tax," said Bassirou Sarr, chief of staff at Senegal's Finance and Budget Ministry. With public debt amounting to nearly 119% of its gross domestic product (GDP), according to Barclays Bank estimates, the most indebted country in Africa must urgently increase its tax revenue. Property tax holds significant potential. In Senegal, property tax generates only 0.3% of state revenue, compared to 2% across sub-Saharan Africa and about 6% in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member states. As in other developing countries, Senegal's authorities had focused on taxes from large businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and, finally, on employees in the formal sector taxes that are easier to collect. Read more Subscribers only Sub-Saharan Africa 'trapped' by insufficient growth "Land issues are highly sensitive politically because many occupants do not have formal property titles," added Justine Knebelmann, an economist at Sciences Po. A new software program piloted in Dakar since 2021 could change the situation. Between 2021 and 2024, it tripled tax compliance in covered areas and generated several million euros in additional revenue. You have 68.87% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only. Russian occupiers continue shelling settlements in Kherson and Beryslav districts, attacking residential buildings and infrastructure. Over the past day, the aggressor country attacked civilians with artillery, multiple launch rocket systems, mortars and UAVs, the press service of the National Police of Ukraine has said. 3Some 7 settlements were under enemy fire, including Kherson and Bilozerka. According to police, two apartment buildings and 13 private houses, a critical infrastructure facility, three cars, and a healthcare facility were damaged in the settlements. During the day, the Russians attacked Stanislav with strike drones. A 37-year-old man and a 62-year-old woman were killed. The occupiers struck Bilozerka with a drone. A 64-year-old man was injured. He received an explosive injury and a shrapnel wound to the thigh. In Ukrainka, Russian military dropped explosives from a UAV onto a residential area. The impact damaged a car and injured a 32-year-old man who was on the street. He suffered an explosive injury, shrapnel wounds to his back and leg. In Kachkarivka, a 50-year-old local resident died in an attack by a Russian FPV drone. Two other men, aged 45 and 47, were seriously injured. They were diagnosed with mine-explosive injuries and shrapnel wounds to various parts of the body. The FPV drone attacks damaged three private houses in Osokorivka, Novodmytrivka, and Bilozerka, as well as an apartment building in Dudchany. The Russian army fired multiple-launch rocket systems at Shyroka Balka. A residential building was damaged. Occupation army soldiers dropped explosives from a UAV onto a 48-year-old resident of Dniprovsky. As a result of the attack, he died on the spot. In Molodizhne, four private houses were damaged as a result of artillery shelling. On the highway in the Chornobayivska community, the Russian military attacked a civilian car with an "FPV" drone. A 34-year-old woman was injured, she has an explosive injury and bruises on her hands. Due to another attack, an FPV drone damaged a truck directly in Chornobayivka. In the afternoon, in the Central district of Kherson, as a result of dropping explosives from a UAV, a 31-year-old man received a mine-explosive injury. Later, the occupiers dropped a drone on a patrol police crew that was registering a traffic accident. Three police officers aged 29 to 34 were injured, all of them with concussions. In the central part of the city, two private houses were damaged by FPV drone strikes. The infrastructure of a healthcare facility and another private house were damaged by artillery fire. In the coastal zone of the Korabelny district, an apartment building was damaged as a result of mortar shelling. A private house was also damaged due to a UAV discharge. The enemy used artillery to hit the Dniprovsky district, where a private house was damaged. All specialized services worked at the sites of the Russian strikes, eliminating and documenting the consequences of the shelling. The organizational structure now includes the Bureau of Correctional Institutions, the Bureau of Probation, and a fully functional Board of Parole. Photo Credit: Staton Winter You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close TWO hundred and fifty years ago (6th August, 1775) a child was born in the rugged beauty of Cahersiveen, County Kerry, whose voice would one day shake the British Empire and inspire millions across the world. That child was Daniel OConnell, affectionately and enduringly known as The Liberatora title earned not by the sword but by the sheer power of oratory, conviction, and political brilliance. In a land broken by colonization, sectarian rule, and the bitter legacy of the Penal Laws, O'Connell emerged not as a warrior, but as a strategista legal eagle, a democratic firebrand, a man whose weapon was the word and whose battlefield was the mind of the public. Today, we celebrate not only his birth, but the legacy of a man who redefined what peaceful resistance could achieve. Limerick provided OConnell with what every mass movement needs: engaged citizens, organizational muscle, and a public square willing to speak truth to power. Without Limericks support, the moral and political weight of OConnells mission would have been diminished. The city stood not on the side-lines, but firmly in the heart of Irelands struggle for justice. Limerick also honoured him in enduring waysOConnell Street, a major artery in the city, bears his name so that even today, his legacy remains palpable in the citys civic culture and historical memory. READ MORE: From Frank McCourt to Mike Finn - works that shaped Limerick's identity OConnell visited Limerick multiple times to deliver speeches that rallied thousands. His words carried by the press and echoed by local leaders, inspired action without inciting violence. One notable Repeal meeting in Limerick city drew massive crowds and became a powerful show of peaceful protest, reinforcing OConnells belief in nonviolent mass mobilization. During the height of the Catholic Emancipation and Repeal movements, Limericks Catholic clergy and middle-class professionals stood firmly behind OConnells mission. The Catholic Associations network thrived here, with local parishes enthusiastically collecting the 'Catholic Rent' and organizing political meetings. The people of Limerick, both urban and rural, were deeply invested in the causes OConnell championed. Though Daniel OConnell was not born in Limerick nor did he represent it directly in Parliament, the city and county played a crucial role in the success of his national campaigns. Limerick was more than a geographic waypointit was a stronghold of support, a fertile ground for political engagement, and a model of Catholic unity. More Than a Statue a Local Pillar of a National Cause Today, his name lives on in streets and monuments. OConnell Street and OConnell Avenue in Limerick bear not only his name but his towering statue mounted on a plinth, gazing with unyielding purpose toward the future. But his true legacy is not in bronzeits in the fabric of modern democracy. He showed the world that mass political movements could be peaceful and effective, decades before Gandhi or Martin Luther King Jr. would take up similar strategies. He demonstrated that the voiceless could find power through unity, and that moral clarity could change even the most entrenched systems. And perhaps most importantly, he taught a colonized people that they had a right to dignity, to voice, and to justice, even in the face of empire. The Making of a Liberator Daniel OConnell came into a world where Irish Catholics were second-class citizens in their own country. The infamous Penal Lawsa toxic cocktail of legislationhad for generations barred Catholics from owning land, entering professions, holding public office, and even receiving education. But OConnell was born into a relatively well-off Catholic family, part of the minor gentry. His uncle, Maurice OConnell, ensured that young Daniel received an education, a rare gift for Catholics at the time. His formative years were spent in France, where he witnessed first-hand the turbulent fervour of the French Revolution. It would leave a permanent impression, teaching him the dangers of mob violence and the potential of revolutionary ideals, all while instilling in him a lifelong abhorrence of political bloodshed. Upon returning to Ireland, he trained as a barrister. In the legal courts, O'Connell was a force of naturesharp-witted, thunderous, relentless. He quickly gained a reputation for defending the underdog, especially Catholics oppressed by the legal system. But his destiny lay far beyond the courtroom. He had seen injustice, and he would not look away. Catholic Emancipation: A Mission Born of Justice By the early 19th century, the political climate in Ireland was shifting. The Act of Union of 1801 had merged the Irish and British parliaments, effectively dissolving Irelands autonomy and making Westminster the new centre of Irish governance. Yet while Ireland was now officially part of the United Kingdom, the vast majority of its populationCatholicswere denied the right to sit in Parliament or hold positions of real power. OConnell saw this not just as a legal injustice, but a moral obscenity. In 1823, he founded the Catholic Association, a mass movement that changed Irish politics forever. It wasnt just a political partyit was a grassroots revolution in suits and sashes. OConnell knew that true change wouldnt come from elites alone. It had to rise from the people. He introduced the Catholic Rent, a subscription of a penny a month that allowed Irelands poor to contribute and feel invested in the movement. It gave the Association money, momentum, and moral legitimacy. Soon, the Catholic Association was the largest political organization in Irish history, boasting tens of thousands of members and a presence in nearly every parish. In 1828, OConnell ran for Parliament in the County Clare by-election (Ennis) and won. But as a Catholic, he was legally barred from taking his seat. This presented the British government with a dilemma: deny O'Connell his seat and face potential rebellion, or concede. In 1829, they passed the Roman Catholic Relief Act, lifting most of the restrictions on Catholics and allowing OConnell to take his seat. It was an unprecedented victoryand one achieved without a drop of blood shed. It changed the course of Irish history. The Power of the Spoken Word OConnell was, without question, one of the greatest orators of his age. His speeches didnt just inspirethey galvanized. Whether addressing Parliament or hundreds of thousands at his monster meetings, he could stir emotion and logic with equal fire. In an age before microphones or mass media, he stood on hilltops and spoke to audiences that numbered in the hundreds of thousands. From Tara to Clontarf, he held rallies that felt like sacred rituals, connecting the people not only to a cause, but to each other. His rhetoric was rooted in both logic and morality. He constantly framed the Irish cause as not merely a national issue, but a universal struggle for human dignity. He called for justice, equality, and the right to self-determinationnot with the rifle, but with the rule of law. The Repeal Campaign: A Dream Deferred With Catholic Emancipation secured, O'Connell turned his sights on a higher goal: repeal of the Act of Union. He envisioned a restored Irish Parliamentnot a rebellion or a republic, but a constitutional, peaceful return to legislative independence. In 1840, he founded the Repeal Association, modelled on the successful tactics of the Catholic Association. But while the movement grew, it faced stronger opposition. The British government cracked down harder this time, fearful of O'Connells escalating influence. In 1843, OConnell planned a massive monster meeting at Clontarf, the symbolic site of Brian Borus victory over the Vikings. The British government, spooked by the potential for unrest, banned the event at the last minute. Rather than risk bloodshed, OConnell called it offa decision that angered some supporters but stayed true to his principles of nonviolence. The Repeal campaign gradually lost steam. OConnell, now aging and facing health challenges, found himself increasingly isolated in a changing Ireland. O'Connell vs. Young Ireland: A Clash of Generations As the 1840s wore on, a new generation of nationalists emergedpoets, intellectuals, and fiery idealists known as the Young Irelanders. They admired OConnells past but grew impatient with his pacifism. For them, armed rebellion was not unthinkableit was inevitable. OConnell, ever the constitutionalist, clashed with them bitterly. He feared the consequences of violence, having seen the horrors of the French Revolution and the bloodshed of 1798. But the rift between the two camps signalled a larger shift in Irish nationalismfrom legal agitation to revolutionary fervour. Still, even in disagreement, OConnell's earlier victories gave the Young Irelanders a platform. His work had changed the political landscape permanently. They were walking a road he had paved. Final Days: A Dying Mans Plea for Unity In 1847, O'Connell embarked on a final journey to Rome, hoping to receive the Popes blessing and to pray for Ireland, then deep in the grip of the Great Famine. The potato crop had failed, and with it, millions faced starvation and disease. OConnells heart, already weakened, broke under the weight of his nations suffering. He died en route, in Genoa, Italy, on May 15, 1847. According to his wishes, his body was returned to Ireland and buried in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin. His heart, however, was sent to Romea symbolic gesture from a man whose spirit had always belonged to two worlds: his faith and his nation. LIMERICK will be buzzing this August, with an impressive list of acts due to take to the stage at the Live at the Docklands Festival. The festival, presented by Dolans, is running for multiple dates this month and will see a wide range of bands and artists from Ireland and abroad performing on the banks of the River Shannon. The stage, already graced by Moncrieff on Saturday, August 9, will see performances from Picture This, The Saw Doctors, Block Rockin Beats, The Waterboys, Kingfishr, Qween and Kaiser Chiefs, with special guests throughout. Dolans will be open from 4pm each day with pre-show parties from The Terrace. All shows will also have afterparties with DJ sets and live music. READ MORE: PICTURES: Out and About at Moncrieff's concert in Limerick Many of the shows are already sold out, though - at time of writing - tickets are still available for The Waterboys, Qween and Kaiser Chiefs. Fans can secure tickets for remaining acts via dolans.ie and Ticketmaster. Mick Dolan expressed his delight at the progress so far: "The work that has gone into making Live at the Docklands happen this year has been phenomenal. The team has done an outstanding job, and we cant wait to welcome fans to what promises to be our biggest and best festival yet. Limerick will be buzzing this August, and were ready to make it a summer to remember." The line-up for the festival includes: Wednesday, August 13: Picture This with Only The Poets (SOLD OUT) Thursday, August 14: Picture This with Only The Poets (SOLD OUT) Friday, August 15: The Saw Doctors with The Sharon Shannon Band (SOLD OUT) Saturday, August 16: Block Rockin Beats with Jen Payne (SOLD OUT) Sunday, August 17: The Waterboys with The Riptide Movement and The Deep Blue Friday, August 22: Kingfishr (SOLD OUT) Saturday, August 23: Qween featuring The Dublin Gospel Choir with IEDC Sunday, August 24: Kaiser Chiefs with Kerbdog and Youth Sector Condolences have been expressed for Carlow woman Martha Nolan, who died tragically in New York last week. A death notice, published on Rip.ie, reads: Martha Nolan of Monacurragh, Carlow and the Upper East Side, Manhattan, New York, passed away unexpectedly. Beloved daughter of Elma, much loved sister of Jacqui, treasured granddaughter of Betty and Liam, cherished niece of John, Michelle, Barry and Mona and adored partner of Nick. She will be sadly missed by her loving mother and her mother's partner Patrick, sister, aunts, uncles, partner, her father Seamus, grandparents, extended family, relatives and her large circle of friends in Ireland and the U.S. The local community has expressed its deep grief at Marthas passing. The beautiful young woman was found dead at a boat club in Mountauk on August 5, located in the Hamptons. Her cause of death is still unknown. READ MORE: RIP: Tragic Garda update as body found in search for missing man (23) in Kildare One mourner wrote on RIP.ie: I have fond memories of Martha as a child coming into our shop with her Granny Betty. She was always a happy, confident, outgoing, loving child. A man who went to college with Nolan wrote: I had the pleasure of knowing her during our time in UCD and I always remember her kindness and wonderful personality with fondness. A number of condolences sign off as fellow mothers, with one reading: Beautiful girl who seemed to have achieved so much in her short time on this earth. Condolences to all Martha's family and friends at this heart-breaking time. Taken way before her time, may she rest in peace. Colleagues of Marthas mother at Scoil Chonglais in Wicklow have also expressed their solidarity and sympathy with Elma, saying that she is a stalwart of the classroom and that the students adore her. That she has lost one [of] her best friends - when she's not talking about Jacqui - makes it all the more unspeakable. The funeral arrangements for Martha Nolan have yet to be announced. There are no facts or grounds to claim that Ukraine's failure to fulfill the condition under the Ukraine Facility plan the failure to appoint judges to the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) was intentional. The competition had a number of organizational errors and miscalculations, the court's chief of staff, Bohdan Kryklyvenko, has said. "We have no facts or grounds to claim that this was some kind of deliberate sabotage - this is a series of organizational errors and miscalculations," Kryklyvenko said in an exclusive interview with the Interfax-Ukraine agency. Commenting on the words of Economy Minister Oleksiy Sobolev that due to the complexity of the procedure approved by the Court, only two out of 25 judges were recruited, although there were 200 participants, the head of the Court's staff explained that the Supreme Judicial Council, like any other court in Ukraine, was not involved in the competition. "The Supreme Judicial Council asked to fill the vacancies and waited for these vacancies to be filled. "The Court did not participate in any way either in approving the rules of procedure and procedures for competitive selection, nor, even more so, in its conduct," Kryklyvenko emphasized. The head of the Court's staff added that for the renewed High Qualification Commission of Judges (HQCJ), the competition for the selection of judges of the HCJ was the first. "The first pancake turned out to be a mess," Kryklyvenko said. "That is, there were a number of factors that coincided in time and led to such a result. This is a very complex multi-stage process. And it turned out that way without malicious intent. At least we think so, because there is no reason to think otherwise," he noted. The head of the Supreme Judicial Council's staff said that the bulk of the candidates did not "get" from the HQCJ to the Supreme Judicial Council: only two candidates remained out of 261 who submitted documents at the start of the competition. "Objectively: it was not the Supreme Judicial Council or the Office of the President who "cut them off", it was the candidates who were "sifted" at several stages in the HQCJ," he emphasized. According to Kryklyvenko, the following adjustments have been made to the upcoming competition, in particular: the passing score for cognitive tests has been lowered, the procedure for the practical task has been changed. "Currently, many agree that the methodology was irrelevant to the conditions and goals that were set within the framework of this competitive selection," the head of the Court's staff added. "This is an extremely serious problem, because Ukraine has not received a very serious financial resource. "This is a huge amount of macro-aid to the state budget, but believe me, all the judges, the Supreme Judicial Council as a whole as an institution, were the first to be interested in the earliest possible appointment of these judges," Kryklyvenko said. Cork Gardai are seeking witnesses following a serious injury traffic incident that has left one man in critical condition. The collision occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning, August 10 on the R582 at Gurteenroe, Macroom. Shortly after 2am, Gardai and emergency services were alerted to an incident involving a car and a pedestrian. The pedestrian, a man aged in his 30s, was discovered with serious injuries at the scene. He received medical treatment and was conveyed to Cork University Hospital, where he remains in a critical condition. READ MORE: SPOTTED! Harry Styles spotted in small town in Ireland as pictures go viral online The occupants of the car did not require immediate medical attention. The scene was preserved for a technical examination and the road has since reopened. Gardai are appealing for witnesses who may have any information regarding the incident to come forward. Road users with camera footage, including dash-cam recordings, who were travelling on the Millstreet Road in the Macroom area between 1am and 2:15am on Sunday, August 10 are asked to share this material with Gardai. Mumbai: When Arundhati Bhattacharya took charge of the India operations of Salesforce, one of the worlds largest customer relationship management companies, in April 2020, she struggled to understand the value she could add. In fact, many people within the company had the same question, and doubt. Its not the kind of beginning one would expect from someone of Bhattacharyas stature. Before stepping into the tech world, she had carved out a formidable legacy in Indian banking. As the first woman chairperson of State Bank of India (SBI), the countrys largest lender, she steered the state-owned institution through historic consolidationsincluding the largest domestic bank mergerand earned a reputation as one of Indias most powerful corporate leaders. Bhattacharya was a career banker with 40 years in the industryshe joined SBI in 1977. The unusual turn in her professional trajectory, three years after her retirement from SBI, therefore, raised eyebrows. Traditionally, an SBI chairman never takes up executive roles post-retirement, especially not in private companies," notes a former SBI managing director who worked directly under her. Its seen as beneath the statesman-like status that comes with the position. Bhattacharyas decision was unthinkable in the normal course," the executive, who didnt want to be identified, adds. Initially, being the chief executive officer (CEO) of an enterprise software firm was quite hard, Bhattacharya admits. At the time, Salesforces India business was relatively modest. She took over just when the covid-19 lockdowns were beginning. The company had generated 1,505 crore in revenue and net profits of 130 crore for the year ended March 2020, according to Tracxn. It employed a few thousand people, mostly in offshore development centres. The Indian market was a small dot in Salesforces $17 billion global canvas. In fact, the company hadnt even appointed a CEO for India since entering the country in 2005. Fast forward to March 2024, and Salesforce India has emerged as a powerhouse in its own right. Revenue soared six times to 9,117 crore, crossing the $1 billion mark, while profits grew nearly sevenfold to 888 crore, the company had disclosed. Today, it is one of the largest enterprise software providers in the country. The India organisation has grown to 13,300 employees from 2,500 in 2020, when Bhattacharya took charge. View Full Image Salesforces India revenue crossed $1 billion in March 2024. (AP) In the last decade, Indian companies have evolved from cost-based to productivity-based operations," says Manpreet Singh Ahuja, chief client and alliance officer at PwC India, a consulting company.Salesforce was in the right place at the right timeand yes, the new leadership played a key role in setting the stage for accelerated growth." Bhattacharya now has a new role. In February, she was promoted as the CEO of the newly formed South Asia Operating Unit, giving her oversight over countries such as Thailand, Singapore and Philippines. This business region is growing fast. We are lucky because we run a highly diversified portfolio of businesses across industries and across geographies. We saw some momentum in Canada. The whole of South Asia is on fire. The whole APAC (Asia-Pacific) is on fire," Miguel Milano, president and chief revenue officer of Salesforce commented during an analyst call on 28 May this year. In the first quarter fiscal 2026, which ended 30 April, the APAC region totalled $1 billion in revenue, growing at 11% over the year-ago quarter, higher than the Americas and Europe, the Middle East and Africa. So, how did Arundhati Bhattacharya script one of the most remarkable corporate transformation stories in recent years? Her leadership didnt just grow Salesforces bottom line. It redefined how global tech companies could succeed in India. The answer lies not just in strategy or execution, but in a bold reimagining of what experience, adaptability, and vision can delivereven when they come from the most unexpected places. Search for a builder Salesforce entered India in 2005, six years after its founding in the US. Like many of its global peers at the timeincluding Microsoft and SAPits initial focus was to establish an offshore development centre rather than invest in building a large domestic sales operation. This decision aligned with the broader industry trend but also reflected a cautious approach to a market still grappling with the concept of paid software. In those early years, Indian businesses were reluctant to pay annual licensing fees for packaged software, and software piracy was rampant. Microsoft, for instance, frequently voiced frustrations about widespread unauthorized use of its Office suite. Against this backdrop, Salesforces dollar-denominated billing made it appear expensive to Indian customers. This pricing model, combined with limited local engagement, led to a weak partner ecosystem and sluggish traction in the country. Earlier, Indian businesses were reluctant to pay annual licensing fees for packaged software, and software piracy was rampant. Microsoft, for instance, frequently voiced frustrations about widespread unauthorized use of its Office suite. Despite the slow uptake, Salesforce saw long-term potential. In 2015, it partnered with market intelligence firm IDC, which published a report predicting that Salesforces presence in India would catalyze the creation of half a million jobsan ambitious but attention-grabbing projection. The following year, the company announced plans to open a significant offshore development centre in Hyderabad, targeting a headcount of 1,000 employees within four years. Yet, it wasnt until 2019 that Salesforce made a decisive shift in strategy, creating the position of country head for India. It was then that the company approached Bhattacharya, marking a turning point in its India journey. It took five months for Bhattacharya to accept the offer. Before making her decision, she traveled to California to meet Salesforces leadership team, including founder and CEO Marc Benioff. Although she lacked direct experience in selling software or cloud services, Bhattacharya believed she aligned with Benioffs vision. I had already led a large organization, overseen planning, strategy, and execution, and was deeply involved in the digital transformation of the bank," she recalls. He was looking for a builder, someone he could trust to shape the companys growth in India. Perhaps thats why they approached me." View Full Image File photo of Marc Benioff. (Bloomberg) She recounted her first meeting with Benioff. Marc asked me why Salesforce ranked only 37th among Indias best places to work. I didnt have an immediate answer. But I told him that if I joined, Id make it a priority. Because I, too, believe that employee experience directly impacts how well you serve your customers." In the 2025 edition of Indias best companies to work for, compiled by Great Place To Work, a company that certifies top workplaces, Salesforce ranked at No. 16. The former managing director of SBI quoted above says that Bhattacharya, even when at the bank, didnt care much about hierarchy and was always open to ideas. For example, if there was a loan recovery to be done, she would personally get involved, talk with a promoter and just wont leave the matter to the circle head as was the practice before she took over as the chair. She was both approachable and collaborativeleadership traits she brought to the table at Salesforce, too. Success @ 80% When Bhattacharya joined, one thing she didnt have to worry about was the software capabilities of Salesforce. The companys global revenue had consistently grown by 20% quarter over quarter for five years, with an even steeper growth rate of over 30% at the onset of the pandemic as more businesses pushed for digitization. With that foundation in place, it was left to Bhattacharyas expertise to build the organization and processes necessary for the India story. Its up to the leader to make a case for the country and advocate for the chance to execute a strategy," Bhattacharya explains. There were plenty of internal hurdles to overcome, but we proved we could do it." Her early success became evident when some of the key barriers to adoption were quickly addressed. Salesforce eliminated its dollar-based pricing model, allowing customers to pay in rupees, which also enabled them to claim credit for Goods and Services Tax (GST)a cost-saving benefit not available under the previous system. Pricing was also adjusted, with more flexible pay-as-you-go models introduced. Salesforce eliminated its dollar-based pricing model, allowing customers to pay in rupees, which also enabled them to claim credit for Goods and Services Tax. Previously, Salesforce was seen as a rigid organization with little room for customization, but that has changed dramatically," says Shubham Sharma, founder of Novabiz, a consultancy that works with Salesforce. Bhattacharya also brought a unique perspective to customer relationship management (CRM) software. While at SBI, she had overseen several CRM implementations, but she found that these efforts were often painful, and the bank never fully realized the benefits. As a result, ensuring a thorough understanding of clients needs and successful implementation became one of her top priorities at Salesforce. She made a simple yet impactful change: Instead of celebrating the booking of large orders, which was the tradition, the company now only marks success when 80% of the project is up and running. It wasnt just about closing a sale anymore; it was about adoption at the customers end," she says. This shift also encouraged collaboration among the various teams involved in implementation. The cloud pitch Bhattacharya also eased Salesforces entry into C-Suite conversations. Initially, decisions around CRM adoption started in the marketing departments and ended with the chief information officer (CIO) at Indian enterprises. However, Salesforces cloud-based infrastructure required companies to store data on public cloud platforms, something that many Indian companies were hesitant to do. To tackle this, Bhattacharya focused on acquiring clients in the banking and financial services sectors, which were particularly resistant to the idea of public cloud adoption. Her simple argument to prospective clients: SBI, Indias largest bank, uses a public cloud. So, why cant you? Today, Salesforce operates exclusively through cloud service providers like AWS (Amazon Web Services)," says Rajeev Ranjan, associate research director at IDC, a research firm. The Salesforce chief next created vertical business teams, such as automotive and healthcare, to address specific industry needs. Top automotive brands like Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, and Royal Enfield, as well as healthcare giants like Apollo Hospitals, use the companys software products. View Full Image Automotive companies like Royal Enfield use Salesforces software products. The scale of the healthcare ecosystem, which includes hospitals, pharma companies, drug retail chains, and insurance providers, is massive. This led Salesforce to launch a health cloud five years ago," says Deepak Pargaonkar, vice president of solution engineering at Sales Force India. There are 14 verticals today and this has allowed individual teams to grow as well. Spreading the net Beyond the revenue numbers, Bhattacharyas biggest contribution may well have come from how she has grown the extended Salesforce organization in the country. To understand, we need to take a step back. Though enterprise software like Salesforce, SAP and Microsoft Dynamics (a cloud-based suite of business applications) are sold per licensed user with an annual fee, their implementation within user companies require a lot of support. The enterprise software vendors themselves dont provide implementation services, or even when they do, could be very expensive. Beyond the revenue numbers, Bhattacharyas biggest contribution may well have come from how she has grown the extended Salesforce organization in India. The implementation work involves migration of existing data to the new enterprise software, creating company specific dashboards and creating interfaces with the external clients. For example, while Royal Enfield has implemented Salesforce, many of its dealers use Microsoft Dynamics. The data from its dealers would need to be ported to Royal Enfields systems seamlessly. This implementation work is done by third-party system integrators. One metric to determine the heft of a technology product company is to look at the depth and breadth of its partner ecosystem. Most large IT services companies, like TCS, Wipro and Infosys, are already its system integrators in the US market. Bhattacharya focussed on building an ecosystem for the Indian market. Salesforce worked closely with big consultants like PwC and Accenture in creating domestic practices. It also engaged with smaller system integrators who could do business with Indias vast swathe of small companies. In addition, Salesforce organized developer conferences, incentivised star performers and created a startup ecosystem by partnering with 390 startups at the last count. These are essentially startups that couldnt afford Salesforce but wanted top notch CRM software. Salesforce doesnt invest capital but gives away its software. In the process, it gets to develop more use cases and work with smaller businesses. Our count of the extended ecosystemthe number of people Salesforce touchesis now in the millions in India," says Sanket Atal, managing director, South Asia operations and technology, Salesforce India. View Full Image File photo of Sanket Atal. While Atal until recently headed India operations, which includes all offices and development centres, Mankiran Chowhan, who Bhattacharya had hired from SAP India in 2022, took over as the managing director of domestic sales. In short, Bhattacharyas second innings had a good run. She has grown the business, expanded the organization, and bought in the next line of managers. Not the kind to take a backseat, it will be interesting to watch her plans for South Asia, her third innings. The next couple of years will be crucial. Salesforce is much larger now in India. Keeping the high growth rate going wont be easy. Market watchers also say that the new role could be more demanding. India and the Indian market was her backyard; here, she was widely recognised and celebratedadvantages she wont carry forward in South Asia. Bigger roles bring bigger challenges. New Delhi/Bengaluru: A Chinese-owned electric vehicle (EV) battery maker with origins and base in Japan has picked up a stake in Tata Groups flagship EV battery company, and appointed its top lawyer to its board of directors. Yokohama, Japan-headquartered AESC Group Ltd bought a 12% stake in Agratas Energy Storage Solutions Pvt. Ltd for 66 crore in March 2025. Tata Sons invested 484 crore for 88% stake, according to Agratass filings with the ministry of corporate affairs thatMinthas seen. Alongside, Gordon Louis Chin, general counsel of AESC Group, which is owned by Chinese energy technology company Envision, was made a director on Agratass board. Tata Group chairman N. Chandrasekaran and P.B. BalajiTata Motors chief financial officer and soon-to-be chief executive officer of Jaguar Land Roverare also on Agratass board. This is the first time the Tatas have acknowledged the role of a Chinese-owned company in its battery business. Its also the first time a new-age business of Tata group has attracted foreign investment and appointed a member to its board. Agratas has also secured more than 1,200 crore in investments from Tata Sons since its inception in 2023. The deepening of ties between Agratas and AESC Group comes at a time when Indian automakers are facing the brunt of export restrictions imposed by China on rare earth magnets, which started in April. Email queries sent to both companies remained unanswered till press time. While Agratas has got AESC as an investor and on its board,Mintcould not independently ascertain if the two companies would collaborate on technology. If it were to happen, though, it would benefit Agratas, believes Harshvardhan Sharma, group head for auto tech and innovation at Nomura Research Institute Consulting & Solutions India. For Indian companies like Agratas, this means immediate access to proven cell chemistries, manufacturing process IP, and yield optimization practices that typically take 5-7 years to build in-house," Sharma said. Also Read | How Tata Sons AGM has changed after Ratan Tata's passing He added that Japanese battery makers like AESC have long-standing supply agreements with global OEMs and raw material miners, critical in a market where cathode-grade lithium carbonate prices have swung by over 200% in the past three years. What is AESC? AESC, which was founded in Japan in 2007 and is still based there, is now owned by Zhang Lei-led Envision. AESC was founded as a joint venture between Nissan Motor Company and NEC Corporation, which sold controlling stake to the Chinese company in 2018. Currently, Lei heads the board of directors as the executive chairman while other members from Nissan and AESC are also present on the nine-member board. AESC has 10 gigafactories that produce lithium ion batteries four in China, two in the US, and one each in the UK, France, Japan and Spain. AESC is among the global top 10 EV battery producers, with over 12GWh of installed capacity today and an aggressive expansion plan targeting 80+ GWh by 2030," Sharma of Nomura said. Also Read | Renewables help Tata Power continue its profit growth streak for 23 quarters Bloomberg reported in 2023 that the company was looking to raise $1 billion from investors with an eye on public listing in the American public markets. While its revenue was not publicly available, Bloombergs estimate pegged it over a billion dollars. According to AESCs website, it counts BMW, Mercedes-Benz,Renault, Nissan, Honda, Mazda and Mitsubishi Motors as some of its top customers. Agratass plans Meanwhile, Agratas is building its own battery capacity of 60GWh through two gigafactories in the UK and India, which will cater primarily to the captive demand of Tata Groups automobile firms Jaguar Land Rover and Tata Motors. In 2024, Agratas announced that it would build a 40GWh EV battery manufacturing plant in Somerset, UK. The firm is also building a 20GWh plant in Sanand, Gujarat, which is expected to begin production by December 2026. The project to set up giga factories in India and the UK is on track and will commence operations from FY27 in a phased manner," a Tata Motors spokesperson had told Mint earlier. At Agratas, we are establishing 60GWh battery capacity in India and the UK, backed by world class R&D centers in Bengaluru and Oxford," Chandrasekaran wrote in his letter to shareholders as part of Tata Sons annual report. By way of context, the global fleet of electric vehicles added in 2024 account for about 864GWh of battery capacity. Our first step in this direction should bring India to a meaningful scale." New businesses under Chandrasekaran Under Chandrasekaran, who took over as the chairman of Tata Sons in February 2017, Tata Sons has built four businesses. These include airlines (Air India), assembling iPhones for Apple and building semiconductors (Tata Electronics), quick commerce and selling online (Tata Digital), and building high-quality batteries in the mobility and energy sectors (Agratas). Tata Sons has relied on cash from dividends, share buybacks, and the sale of shares of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) Ltd, the most profitable firm of the group, to build these new businesses. Also Read | TCS raises pay for 4 in 5, but clouds linger over job security Tata Sons efforts to get an external investor in Tata Digital have remained a pipe dream while the company is still in the early stage of building its semiconductor business. Singapore Airlines had a 49% stake in Vistara, which, after being merged with Air India, gave Singapore Airlines a 25.1% ownership in Air India. Agratas does not have any revenue while Tata Electronics, Tata Digital and Air India, together, ended with 1,77,425 crore or $20 billion or revenue last fiscal year. However, the three businesses together also ended with losses to the tune of 15,539 crore ($1.8 billion). Indias midsize information technology outsourcers, having grown faster than their larger peers for two consecutive years, are now publicly stating that Indias top tech service providers are losing their mojo. Coforge Ltd, Mphasis Ltd, Persistent Systems Ltd, and Firstsource Solutions Ltd have also stated that they are better poised for growth against larger IT services companies, including Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, Infosys Ltd, HCL Technologies Ltd, Wipro Ltd, and Tech Mahindra Ltd. There is a certain degree of fatigue (among) customers, where they have incumbent providers, large providers, the tier 1 providers", who have really in a way started to become a lot more stale because they havent kept up with the level of investment and the level of high touch and intimacy required for transformation programs," said Nitin Rakesh, chief executive of Mphasis, during the companys post-earnings call with analysts on 25 July. Such commentary from the top executives of mid-cap IT services firms about their larger rivals is rare, but underscores their confidence following a streak of faster growth. Mphasis ended the April-June quarter with $437 million in revenue, up 1.6% from the preceding three months. Banks and financial institutions drove business for Indias eighth-largest IT vendor by revenue, even as clients in the logistics and travel segments held back. Coforge, Persistent, Mphasis, and Firstsource ended 2024-25 with year-on-year revenue growth of 31.2%, 18.8%, 4.4%, and 23.4%, respectively. Growth for India's Big Five IT outsourcers was more modest. TCSs revenue grew 3.78% in FY25, Infosyss 3.85%, and HCLTechs 4.3%, while Wipro and Tech Mahindra recorded a revenue decline of 2.7% and 0.21%, respectively. Analysts say Indias large IT vendors are wrangled with legacy systems and processes that hinder their ability to innovate and adapt to newer technologies. Meanwhile, smaller firms are more agile in adapting to client needs in the age of artificial intelligence. The AI-driven services environment is changing the focus from sheer size to niche capability and flexibility," said Phil Fersht, chief executive of HFS Research. Many enterprises are much less locked in with the large-sized providers in todays market. Some are just too bloated and transactional, and are not rolling out the red carpet for many clients like they used to." In contrast, midcap IT firms are aggressive and flexible in winning business from legacy incumbents, he added. In many deal pursuits, we are seeing the midcaps taken as seriously as the large incumbents by eager clients looking for more value without massive increases in price." Key Takeaways For two consecutive years, midsize IT firms Coforge, Mphasis, Persistent Systems, and Firstsource delivered stronger revenue growth than Indias top five IT services giants, signalling a shift in market dynamics. Leveraging faster decision-making, smaller scale, and focused investments in artificial intelligence, these firms are securing high-value deals and winning over clients from larger rivals weighed down by bureaucracy and legacy systems. In a rare show of public rivalry, executives from these midsize players are openly criticising the Big Five for losing their innovation edge, underlining their own confidence in competing head-to-head for large transformation projects. Agility over legacy Ritesh Idnani, managing director and CEO of Firstsource Solutions, didnt hold back against Indias top software outsourcers. Unlike our larger peers, we are not restrained by excessive bureaucracy or legacy operations, allowing us to proactively capitalise on AI-driven advancements and emerging industry shifts," Idnani said during the companys post-earnings call on 28 April. He followed that up with similar commentary three months later. Clients actually value agility and co-creation areas where we can move much faster than larger players. Our right size is clearly one of our core competitive advantages. And you can see that both in the number and nature of our recent deals," Idnani said during Firstsources post-earnings interaction with analysts on 30 July. The company ended the April-June period with $259 million in revenueup 3.6% from the preceding three months, and, according to CEO Idnani, its highest annual order value in five quarters. Firstsource does not call out the deal value as part of its financials. Sandeep Kalra, executive director and CEO of Persistent Systems, Indias ninth-largest technology outsourcer, said midsize IT companies were eating a chunk of their larger peers projects. Weve been brought in as challengers to look at the existing landscape of much bigger players and seeing if we could partake a part of that, how would we do it differently, and so on and so forth," said Kalra in response to a question during Persistents post-earnings call with analysts on 23 July. The Pune-headquartered IT services company ended the first quarter with $389.7 million in revenue, up 3.9% from the preceding three months. To be sure, Persistents revenue growth has been declining since June last year. About 73% of the companys $15 million incremental revenue came from banks and financial institutions, the sector Kalra referred to in his comments. Also Read | India gets a new No. 7 IT services company The AI factor Coforge, Indias seventh-largest IT vendor, registered the industrys fastest growth in the June quarter, reporting a revenue jump of 9.6% from the preceding three months to $442 million. Coforges management highlighted that new business from an existing or new contract had to exceed $20 million for the company to consider it a large deal internally. Sudhir Singh, CEO and executive director of Coforge, said during the post-earnings call with analysts on 24 July that 19 of the companys top 20 clients had been won against the large IT companies. Coforges growth came from clients in the travel and hospitality segment, which made up more than three-fifths of the companys incremental revenue of $38 million in the first quarter. Between April and June, Coforge earned $101 million from companies in the travel, transport and hospitality space, up 31% sequentially. Also Read | IT firms are seeing a change in how clients engage their services Its really about agility. The companies that can respond to becoming heavy users of AI are the ones who will win," said R. Wang, founder of Constellation Research. Artificial intelligence is forcing IT outsourcers to do more work with fewer people and at lower costs, as automation tools can now perform many mundane tasks faster. Investors have rewarded midsize software service providers for besting their larger peers in terms of growth. Between 31 March 2023 and 8 August 2025, shares of TCS, Infosys, HCLTech, Wipro, and Tech Mahindra returned -5.29%, -0.34%, 35.98%, 30.9%, and 34.36%, respectively. In contrast, shares of Coforge, Mphasis, Persistent Systems and Firstsource Solutions returned more than double to investors, between 50% and four times. New Delhi, Apple's supplies in India grew by 21.5 per cent annually to 5.9 million units in the first half of 2025 with iPhone 16 being the highest-shipped model across the country during the period, market research firm IDC said on Monday. According to International Data Corporation's worldwide quarterly mobile phone tracker, India's smartphone market shipped 70 million smartphones in the first half of 2025, with a 0.9 per cent growth YoY and the second quarter of the year registered a growth of 7.3 per cent YoY, shipping 37 million smartphones. The overall smartphone shipment growth was mitigated by a dip in supplies of Chinese companies OnePlus, Poco, Xiaomi and Realme, according to the report. "Apple maintained its strong performance, with shipments growing 21.5 per cent YoY to 5.9 million units in the first half of 2025. The iPhone 16 was the highest-shipped model across India in the first half of 2025, making up 4 per cent of overall India shipments during that period. During the second quarter Apple's iPhone supplies in India grew 19.7 per cent YoY in June 2025 quarter, thereby the company clocking 7.5 market share in the country's smartphone market. The second quarter recorded 37 million smartphone unit shipments implying Apple supplied 2.7 million units in the India market. The overall smartphone market during the June quarter was led by Vivo which captured 19 per cent share with 23.5 per cent YoY shipment growth. Samsung followed Vivo with a 14.5 per cent market share, registering a growth of 21 per cent YoY in smartphone shipments. "Vivo continues its impressive run, leading the India smartphone market for the sixth consecutive quarter, with a balanced portfolio across price segments and channels. Samsung, a steady second, registered strong growth of 21 per cent led by new model launches across Galaxy A/M/F series, introducing AI-enabled features to mid rangers," the report said. Oppo shipment grew 25.4 per cent YoY with the brand clocking a 13.4 per cent market share, while Motorola clocked an 8 per cent share rising by 39.4 per cent annually, and iQoo grabbed a 4.3 per cent market share, which was 68.4 per cent higher year-on-year. OnePlus market share plunged to 2.5 per cent during the reported quarter from 4.4 per cent a year ago with the company's shipment plunging by 39.4 per cent, according to the IDC report. The market share of Realme slid to 9.7 per cent with the company's smartphone shipment declining by 17.8 YoY in the June 2025 quarter. Xiaomi market share declined to 9.6 per cent with a 23.5 per cent dip in volumes and Poco slipped to 3.8 per cent in terms of market share recording a 28.8 per cent fall in supplies. The premium segment devices registered the highest growth of 96.4 per cent, and their share increased from 2 to 4 per cent. "iPhone 16/15 together accounted for more than three fifths of the shipments in this segment," the report said. The super-premium segment phones also grew by 15.8 per cent but thier share remained flat at 7 per cent. "Samsung surpassed Apple for the leadership position at 49 and 48 per cent share, respectively. iPhone 16, Galaxy S25/S24 Ultra/S25 and iPhone 16Plus were key models in the segment," the report said. The ASPs of smartphones grew by 10.8 per cent YoY to reach a record of USD 275 in the June 2025 quarter. The entry level segment witnessed a strong growth of 22.9 per cent YoY to reach 16 per cent market shares during the reported quarter from 14 per cent a year ago. The volume of mass budget segment phones grew by 1.1 per cent YoY while the entry-premium segment declined to 27 per cent from 30 per cent with a 2.5 per cent YoY shipment decline. "The mid-range smartphone market is currently oversaturated with new model launches, leading to intense competition. This could result in excess inventory during the upcoming festive season. In the crucial second half of 2025, brands and channel partners should focus on driving fresh shipments rather than relying heavily on promotions to clear old stock," IDC Asia Pacific, senior research manager for devices research, Upasana Joshi said. Shipment of Qualcomm chipset-based smartphones grew by 37.6 per cent YoY, reaching a 33.9 per cent market share, while MediaTek's share declined to 44.3 per cent from 56.1 per cent on a shipment decline of 15.4 per cent YoY in the June 2025 quarter, the report said. State-owned Bank of Baroda, on Monday, 11 August 2025, announced its new Unified Payments Interface (UPI) application, the bob Pay or the bob e-Pay app, to provide seamless, secure, and real-time cross-border digital payments to its users, according to a press release. Bank of Baroda aims to help users carry out international transactions through three key features: UPI Global Acceptance, Foreign Inward Remittance, and UPI Services for Non-Resident India (NRIs) and Indians travelling abroad. UPI has revolutionised digital payments in India, and we are pleased to now extend its benefits to international use through bob Pay International. These new features provide greater flexibility and convenience to our resident & NRI customers and reflects our commitment to develop user-centric and innovative digital banking solutions, said Sanjay Mudaliar, the executive director of Bank of Baroda. What are the benefits of International UPI? 1. UPI Global Acceptance: Customers using the bob e-pay application will now be able to use it to make QR Code-based payments to international merchants deducted directly from their Indian bank accounts. As of 11 August 2025, Mauritius, Singapore, UAE, USA, France, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan are the only countries that accept UPI as a form of payment. The transaction amount will be visible in both the international currency and the Indian currency, along with the current exchange rate and applicable fees for the same, in order to give the users clarity and transparency during their international UPI transactions. 2. Foreign Inward Remittances from Singapore Residents: The users of this application will be able to receive 24/7 real-time foreign remittances from Singapore residents for family maintenance, according to the official announcement. Also Read | UPI down? Some users report payment failures and glitches The sender will enter the amount in Singapore Dollars (SGD) and the beneficiary will receive the funds in Indian Rupees (INR) directly into their UPI-linked bank accounts. 3. NRI UPI Services: Bank of Barodas NRI customers will now be able to send and receive funds through UPI using this application. During their India visits, NRI customers can link their NRE/NRO accounts to the bob e-pay app using an Indian mobile number and make seamless UPI payments at merchant outlets as well as peer-to-peer fund transfers. (Bloomberg) -- A political storm that erupted when Jose Luis Escriva became Bank of Spain chief last September is still raging a year later after a series of high-profile exits under his watch. What began as criticism of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchezs decision to appoint one of his own ministers to the helm has now morphed into an extended furor focused both on management style and how the governor is positioning the central bank in public debate. The spate of top resignations has thrown a spotlight on the leadership methods of an individual who, according to several people speaking on condition of anonymity, isnt easy to work with. Escriva himself, a career economist who switched to politics before returning to central banking, is defiant and insists that staff must adapt to changing times. Amid that uncompromising tone, and opposition accusations that Sanchezs appointee is muzzling technocratic critiques of government policy, persisting tensions are drawing attention to Madrid. Institutional independence is a big theme right now, given US President Donald Trumps attempts to pressure the Federal Reserve are unnerving investors. But the Spanish issue could also prompt soul searching at peers of the euro zones fourth-biggest economy, as Escrivas push to rethink the Bank of Spains role raises questions about what functions national central banks should perform now that many historic tasks, such as interest-rate setting, have shifted to Frankfurt. The 64-year-old Escriva worked for the Bank of Spain in the 1980s and was later a senior staff official at the European Central Bank focusing on monetary policy. That career as an economist offered plenty of pedigree for the governorship, which lasts for a single term of six years. But his more recent role as a combative minister and confidant of Sanchez was a red flag to the opposition Peoples Party. While ECB Vice President Luis de Guindos hails from the PP himself, and other policymakers including President Christine Lagarde were politicians as well, Escrivas own switch to central banking became a bone of contention. The main opposition party conventionally proposes its own candidate for deputy governor, but this time the PP declined to do so in protest, intending to deny legitimacy to the new chief. Things could have settled down at this point, but didnt. Since Escrivas arrival, four director generals at the central banks highest managerial level have quit, citing personal reasons. Among them is former Chief Economist Angel Gavilan, who was in charge of research and regularly accompanied the governor to ECB meetings in Frankfurt. A fifth director general leading a new department left after three months for the No. 2 position at the securities market regulator, CNMV. Several more junior people have exited too. Escrivas manner is one problem cited by several people with knowledge of the matter who said his tone in meetings can be aggressive. Senior officials sometimes avoid bringing up delicate issues to avoid his wrath or incurring micromanagement, the people added, declining to be identified because such discussions are private. Whenever someone goes into his office to present a problem, they might come out with two, one of them added. Meanwhile Escriva has also courted controversy over his plans for the Bank of Spain itself, whose mandate includes advising the government and analyzing the Spanish economy through a series of reports. Escriva reckons the central bank shouldnt be so focused on wider policy, especially related to budgetary and political issues, leaving such analysis to Spains independent fiscal authority, which he previously ran. Hands-On Approach The governor has apparently taken a hands-on approach on publications. The Bank of Spains most recent annual report was shorter than the prior one by more than 100 pages, and avoided previously mentioned topics such as the fiscal sustainability of a pension reform Escriva had pushed as a minister. The last such publication, under Governor Pablo Hernandez de Cos, warned that an aging population meant the measure would raise spending without being thoroughly compensated on the income side. Gavilan, the chief economist, announced his resignation to the central banks governing board one day before the release of the report. He had been told to revise the text because it didnt contain a sufficiently detailed analysis of the impact of US tariffs, according to a subsequent press release. The Bank of Spain, when questioned on Escrivas leadership style and the staff departures, referred to prior comments of the governor to El Pais. In that interview, he commended the central banks workforce of excellent professionals while observing a certain lack of motivation. He noted momentum for transformation and effervescence among staff in favor of it. Escriva has been similarly robust elsewhere. Asked if his old role as a minister raises questions over independence, he told lawmakers in June that its absolutely usual to go from a government to a central bank, citing examples in Portugal and Austria. Finnish Governor Olli Rehn even took a leave of absence to seek his countrys presidency, he added. The governor has also acknowledged his bold stance on the Bank of Spains reports, whose function is only passingly mentioned in legislation. Practice around the euro area varies from country to country. We are not talking heads, Escriva said in June, insisting that theres no democratic legitimacy for the central bank to critique pensions or other issues related to income redistribution. Thats for other institutions or even Parliament to do, he added. Escriva hit back too at critics on the way he is running his organization. If anyone has the experience on leading economists and large research services its me, he said. Escrivas defenders say that he has quite simply ruffled feathers within a conservative institution and after daring to challenge the longstanding hierarchy of economists dominating the Bank of Spain, he is encountering the pushback that stems from that. Whatever the case, Escriva must now contend with the report of three experts that he commissioned to review its governance, some of which might make uncomfortable reading. Published at the end of July, it identified an excessive concentration of power in the governors hands bestowed by Spanish legislation. Among recommendations, they call for Parliament to have a say in the appointment of the top job, and for a revamp of management structures. An exhaustive revision of human resources processes is advisable, they added. Important shortcomings are observed. --With assistance from Jorge Zuloaga, Rodrigo Orihuela and Jana Randow. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com (Bloomberg) -- BBVA SA has decided to maintain its takeover offer for Banco Sabadell SA despite investor backing for the rivals decision to sell its UK unit TSB. After reviewing the resolutions adopted by Sabadells shareholders regarding the TSB sale, BBVA has decided not to withdraw the offer, it said in a statement on Monday. The bid remains in effect. Sabadell held a shareholder meeting last week which supported the TSB sale to Banco Santander SA, announced in July. That sale will result in an extraordinary dividend of about 2.5 billion ($2.9 billion). BBVA previously maintained the offer after the Spanish government said the lender cant integrate Sabadell for several years if it the deal happens, potentially making it harder to extract the cost savings that typically make acquisitions worthwhile. BBVA Chief Executive Officer Onur Genc previously left the door open to walking away from the deal if he thinks it no longer makes sense. BBVA, whose formal name is Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA, made an unsolicited bid for Sabadell in May last year, which was quickly rejected by the takeover target. The move also sparked political opposition, with Spains government arguing that a deal would raise competition issues. Spains second largest lender has offered one newly-issued share and 0.70 in cash for each 5.3456 ordinary shares of Sabadell. That valued Sabadell at around 16.6 billion at Mondays prices, compared with a market value of 17.6 billion. BBVA has said it expects to start the acceptance period of its takeover bid in early September. A combination of the two banks would create a new behemoth in the country. BBVA is Spains second-largest bank by assets and Sabadell is its fourth-largest one. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Louisville(US), Aug 11 (AP) Ford Motor Co. will invest nearly USD 2 billion retooling a Kentucky factory to produce electric vehicles that it says will be more affordable, more profitable to build, and will outcompete rival models. The automaker's top executive unveiled the new EV strategy Monday at Ford's Louisville Assembly Plant which, after producing gas-powered vehicles for 70 years, will be converted to manufacture electric vehicles. Also Read | Ford recalls over 850,000 vehicles in US over fuel pump defect We took a radical approach to solve a very hard challenge: Create affordable vehicles that are breakthrough in every way that matters - design, technology, performance, space and cost of ownership - and do it with American workers, Ford CEO Jim Farley said in a release. The Big Detroit automakers have continued to transition from internal combustion engines to EV technology even as President Donald Trump's administration unwinds incentives for automakers to go electric. Trump's massive tax and spending law targets EV incentives, including the imminent removal of a credit that saves buyers up to USD 7,500 on a new electric car. Yet Farley and other top executives in the auto industry say that electric vehicles are the future and there is no going back. The first EV to roll off the revamped Louisville assembly line will be a midsize, four-door electric pickup truck in 2027 for domestic and international markets, the company said Monday. The new electric trucks will be powered by lower-cost batteries made at a Ford factory in Michigan. The Detroit automaker previously announced a USD3 billion investment to build the battery factory. The automaker sees this as a Model T moment for its EV business - a reference to the mass-produced vehicle that launched the venerable automaker more than a century ago. But Ford says it's also a nod to the future and the vastly different way Ford says it will build electric vehicles. The company said it will use a universal platform and production system for its EVs, essentially the underpinning of a vehicle that can be applied across a wide range of models, from sedans to SUV, and include both electric internal combustion vehicles. The Louisville factory - one of two Ford assembly plants in Kentucky's largest city - will be revamped to cut production costs and make assembly time faster as it's prepared to churn out electric vehicles. Also Read | Fords fat dividend could be a casualty of tariffs The result will be an affordable electric vehicle that we expect to be profitable, Farley said in an interview with The Associated Press ahead of the announcement. This is an example of us rejuvenating our US plants with the most modern manufacturing techniques. The new platform enables a lineup of affordable vehicles to be produced at scale, Ford said. It will reduce parts by 20 per cent versus a typical vehicle, with 25 per cent fewer fasteners, 40 per cent fewer workstations dock-to-dock in the plant and a 15 per cent faster assembly time, Ford said. The traditional assembly line will be transformed into an assembly tree at the Louisville plant, it said. Instead of one long conveyor, three sub-assembly lines will operate simultaneously and then join together, it said. Nobody wants to see another good college try by a Detroit automaker to make an affordable vehicle that ends up with idled plants, layoffs and uncertainty, Farley said in the release. So, this has to be a good business. From Day 1, we knew there was no incremental path to success. ... We reinvented the moving assembly line. Other specifications for the midsize electric truck - including its reveal date, starting price, EPA-estimated battery range, battery sizes and charge times - will be announced later, the company said. Ford revealed in its release that the truck will have a targeted starting price of about USD 30,000. Ford said its investment in the Louisville plant will secure 2,200 hourly jobs. Kentucky Gov Andy Beshear said Monday that the automaker's plans for the Louisville plant will strengthen a more than century-old partnership between Ford and the Bluegrass State. Also Read | Ford Motor shares slide nearly 17% on disappointing Q2 profit This announcement not only represents one of the largest investments on record in our state, it also boosts Kentucky's position at the centre of EV-related innovation and solidifies Louisville Assembly Plant as an important part of Ford's future, Beshear said. Ford said its combined investment of about USD 5 billion at the Kentucky assembly plant and Michigan battery plant is expected to create or secure nearly 4,000 direct jobs between the two plants while strengthening the domestic supply chain with dozens of new US-based suppliers. Ford previously forecast weaker earnings growth for this year and further losses in its electric vehicles business as it works to control costs. Model e, Ford's electric vehicle business, posted a full-year loss of USD 5.08 billion for 2024 as revenue fell 35 per cent to USD 3.9 billion. Ford's new EV strategy comes as Chinese automakers are quickly expanding across the globe, offering relatively affordable electric vehicles. We're not in a race to build the most electric cars, Farley told the AP when asked about competition from China. We're in a race to have a sustainable electric business that's profitable, that customers love. Photo: https://www.facebook.com/RedCrossUkraine The Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS) continues to assist residents of the Ukrainian city of Kherson who have been evacuated from the Korabel neighborhood. "At the city's evacuation center, where evacuees are brought, the Ukrainian Red Cross Society operates a relief station. Volunteers from the Kherson regional branch of the Ukrainian Red Cross Society provide snacks, beverages, and drinking water. Mobile devices can also be charged at the site," the URCS reported on Facebook on Sunday. The center and shelters are staffed by four psychosocial support specialists from the URCS, who have already provided initial psychological aid to 543 evacuees, including 65 Kherson residents who required individual counseling sessions. URCS volunteers are also conducting mine safety awareness sessions and training evacuees on proper behavior during shelling. So far, more than 500 individual hygiene kits, over 400 emergency kits, and more than 2,500 liters of bottled drinking water have been distributed. Rapid Response Unit volunteers with the URCS continue evacuating people from among the low-mobility population to the reception center for displaced persons. Elderly evacuees with chronic illnesses are being hospitalized for further examination and treatment. As reported, following a Russian military strike on Kherson that damaged the bridge leading to the Korabel neighborhood, the Kherson Regional Military Administration announced the evacuation of residents from the area. New Delhi, Aug 11 (PTI) The government on Monday asked seafood exporters to "bravely face" the current challenge of high US tariffs and explore alternative markets to ship shrimps and other fish varieties. Addressing a press conference, Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Rajiv Ranjan Singh said alternative markets are available for India's seafood exports. "The EU, Japan, South Korea, UK, Russia, Australia, West Asia, South East Asia and many countries are available for export of Indian seafoods," he said. "We have asked them (exporters) to face the current challenge bravely. There are alternative markets available... Where there is a will, there is a way," Singh added. The minister emphasised the need for improving value addition and packaging before reaching other markets. "We have told them that before reaching other markets, there is a need to improve value addition and packing. We have asked to work in this direction," he noted. Singh also asked exporters to take advantage of the Fishery Infrastructure Development Fund to upgrade and strengthen value-addition, processing and packaging facilities. To address export concerns, the Marine Product Export Development Authority (MPEDA) has been asked to meet exporters in four major producing states and help them prepare for new markets. The minister said MPEDA will help identify specific fish varieties, value addition, and modernising processing and packing infrastructure. "We had a fruitful meeting. Some positive suggestions were made," the minister said. Ministers of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying S P Singh Baghel and George Kurian, and Fisheries Secretary Abhilaksh Likhi were also present. When asked if exporters demanded a financial package to tide over the current difficult situation, Singh said: "A few days back, the Prime Minister had clearly said that we will not compromise on the interest of farmers. All exporters said they side with the PM on this issue and accept the challenge and look for new avenues." Exporters have identified new markets and have started exploring them, he said. More than 50 individual exporters and representatives of key fish-growing states attended the meeting. The minister said exporters have made certain suggestions to be included in the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) during the 16th Finance Commission. He said the government has come out with draft guidelines on fishing in high seas and Exclusive Economic Zones, and sought public comments within a month. "This will harness fisheries, especially tuna fish in Lakshadweep islands and Andaman and Nicobar and give a further boost to India's export," he added. (Bloomberg) -- Ajay Saraf, who has led ICICI Securities Ltd.s investment banking division for nearly 15 years, will move to become the head of the Indian firms retail stock broking and wealth business, according to people familiar with the matter. Stepping into this role is Prasanna Balachander, who previously oversaw global markets and proprietary trading at ICICI Bank Ltd., said the people, who declined to be identified discussing private information. The leadership reshuffle comes after ICICI Securities was delisted from local stock exchanges in March after becoming a wholly-owned subsidiary of Indias second-biggest private lender. Although the firm has yet to formally announce the changes, Prasanna has updated his LinkedIn profile to reflect his new role. Saraf, however, has not made any updates to his public profile. Spokespersons for ICICI Securities and ICICI Bank did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. Saraf did not respond to an email or a text message. ICICI Securities and Kotak Mahindra Capital Co. have long vied for dominance in Indias investment banking landscape. However, their fortunes have diverged in recent years. While ICICI Securities topped the countrys equity offerings league table in 2021, it has since ceded ground to Kotak Mahindra, which has held the top spot since 2022. The decline has continued into 2025, with ICICI Securities falling to seventh place, after ranking sixth last year, according to Bloomberg data. Even so, ICICI Securities is currently advising on several major public issues, including Tata Capital Ltd.s $2 billion listing, as well as offerings by ICICI Prudential Asset Management Co., Hero FinCorp Ltd., and Wework India Management Ltd. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com (Bloomberg) -- The upheaval of Puerto Ricos financial oversight board is slowing down the bankruptcy of its power utility as the judge overseeing the case suspended a near-term filing deadline and asked for a status update on the boards membership. The White House last week fired five of the seven members of the federal watchdog that monitors the commonwealths finances and manages the ongoing bankruptcy of Puerto Ricos Electric Power Authority, called Prepa. The board must submit a report detailing how those firings may affect Prepas bankruptcy process by Aug. 25. US District Court Judge Laura Taylor Swain wants a report concerning the status of its membership and what effect, if any, the recent events will have on its participation in matters pending before the court, according to the order. The US territory has some of the most expensive and least reliable energy in the country. The government-owned power utility, which has been in bankruptcy since 2017, is seeking to restructure nearly $9 billion of bonds and loans down to $2.6 billion of new debt. Before Swain can hold a confirmation hearing on that restructuring proposal, the court must resolve the claim made by some creditors that Prepa failed to direct about $3 billion of net revenue over several years to reserve accounts for debt repayment. Swain also suspended an Aug. 18 deadline to exchange position papers with Prepa bondholders regarding the dispute over the $3 billion of net revenue. The suspension will further hamper the process of resolving the debate over Prepas revenue. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com New Delhi, Aug 11 (PTI) Markets regulator Sebi has proposed facilitating greater participation of resident Indians in the Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) framework. Under the proposal, Sebi has proposed expanding the role of Indian non-individuals and mutual funds in international investment structures. "It is proposed to enable retail schemes based in IFSCs in India with resident Indian non-individuals as sponsor/manager to register as FPIs," Sebi said in its consultation paper. The regulator has suggested that allowing retail schemes based in International Financial Services Centres (IFSCs) with resident Indian non-individuals as sponsors or managers can be registered as FPIs. Also, Sebi proposed that the term "sponsor or manager" for IFSC-based FPIs may be replaced with "Fund Management Entity (FME) or its associate". Resident Indian non-individuals as FME or its associate in AIFs and retail schemes in IFSCs may contribute up to 10 per cent of the funds corpus or assets under management for retail schemes. Overseas mutual funds/unit trusts registering as FPIs may be allowed to include Indian mutual funds as constituents. Under FPI Regulations, non-resident Indians (NRI), overseas citizens of India (OCI) or resident Indians are not eligible to register as FPIs. However, they are permitted to be constituents of FPIs subject to certain conditions in terms of limits on contribution and control of the FPIs. Further, resident Indian non-individuals are permitted to be constituents of an FPI, subject to certain conditions and investment limits. US President Donald Trump signaled on Monday that hed be open to allowing Nvidia Corp. to sell a scaled-back version of its most advanced AI chip to China. Trump said he would consider a deal that would allow Nvidia to ship its Blackwell chips to China if the company could design it to be less advanced. Its possible Id make a deal on a somewhat enhanced in a negative way Blackwell processor, he said in a briefing with reporters. In other words, take 30% to 50% off of it. Trump made his remarks on Nvidias Blackwell chip while confirming that hed hammered out a separate, unusual deal with Nvidia that will allow the company to sell its less-advanced H20 AI chip to China if it pays 15% of revenue tied to those shipments to the US government. AMD Micro Devices Inc. will deliver the same share from MI308 revenues, a person familiar with the situation has said, asking not to be identified discussing internal deliberations. The revenue-sharing agreement for the H20 chip and the prospect of yet another one for Nvidias Blackwell product reflects Trumps consistent effort to engineer a financial payout for America in return for concessions on trade. Such unprecedented arrangements, however, stand to set a precedent for all American companies doing business in the Asian nation and threaten the US governments national security rationale for export controls, experts said. Trump didnt say exactly when he might negotiate a deal with Nvidia Chief Executive Officer Jensen Huang on the Blackwell chip but alluded to a possible meeting soon on the prospect: I think hes coming to see me again about that, but that will be a unenhanced version of the big one. Nvidias Blackwell design is at the heart of the most powerful computers that create and run AI software. Those chips are currently too powerful to be sold into China, according to US restrictions. Nvidia and smaller rival AMD have seen their revenues in China slashed by increasingly tight US government restrictions on AI chip exports. While the Trump administration has begun granting permits for some chips to China, those products are older and only equivalent to domestic Chinese offerings, casting doubt on their attractiveness in that market. A newer, better offering might help promote Nvidias standing with Chinese customers if it can get sign-off from the administration. When the US tightened restrictions in April, Nvidia said it would work on another chip for the China market and would seek permission to export that one. It cautioned that the older Hopper design, the basis of the H20 chip being sent to China only, could no longer be reduced in capabilities. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. After China flagged concerns over the backdoor entry of tech major Nvidia's H20 chips, now the state media claims that these chips pose security threats for Beijing, news agency Reuters reported. The H20 chips are neither technologically advanced nor environmentally friendly, Yuyuan Tantian, a social media account linked to Chinese state media. "When a type of chip is neither environmentally friendly, nor advanced, nor safe, as consumers, we certainly have the option not to buy it," the news agency quoted Tantian. Nvidia created H20 artificial intelligence chips specifically for the Chinese market following the US export restrictions on advanced AI chips in late 2023. The Trump administration initially prohibited their sale in April due to rising trade tensions with China, but lifted the ban in July. China's cyberspace regulator announced on July 31 that it had called Nvidia to a meeting, requesting the US chipmaker to clarify if its H20 chips pose any backdoor security issues, which is unauthorised methods that bypass authentication or security controls. Nvidia clarifies Nvidia later stated that its products had no "backdoors" that could allow remote access or control. The company reaffirmed this position on Sunday when asked for comment on Yuyuan Tantian's article, emphasising that its chips had no backdoors. Cybersecurity is critically important to us, Nvidia said in a statement Thursday. Nvidia does not have backdoors in our chips that would give anyone a remote way to access or control them. Also Read | Nvidia reiterates its chips dont have back doors However, Yuyuan Tantian noted that Nvidia chips are capable of performing functions such as "remote shutdown" through a hardware backdoor. This comment came after Nvidia was criticised by People's Daily, another Chinese state media outlet. While it's common for many children of tech founders to step directly into leadership roles, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huangs daughter, Madison Huang, and son, Spencer Huang, took a different path. Both started their careers at Nvidia as interns, not executives, working their way up. Roles and responsibilities Jensen Huang placed both children in areas he sees as future growth sectors. According to LinkedIn, Madison Huang joined Nvidia in 2020, and Spencer Huang joined the tech giant in 2022. Madison is currently a senior director in the simulation software division. She started as a marketing intern, later becoming product marketing manager of the Omniverse division, which develops digital twin technology for virtual factory design. Spencer is a robotics product line manager, responsible for developing AI models and simulation software for robots. He began his career at Nvidia as a product manager in the Isaac Sim Cloud team, which provides cloud-based simulation services and infrastructure. How much do Madison and Spencer earn? According to Outlook, Madison Huang earned about $1.1 million in FY25. Her compensation package includes salary, bonuses, and other benefits. In the same period, Huangs son Spencer Huang earned around $530,000. No tech background Neither of Huangs children began their careers in technology. Madison worked as a chef in New York and San Francisco after majoring in confectionery and wine at the French culinary school Le Cordon Bleu. Spencer ran a "Cocktail Lab" in Taipei with a friend, creating and selling new cocktail recipes. He learned Chinese at the National Taiwan University. In 2019, they took a short AI course together at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Both later pursued MBAs, Madison at London Business School, and Spencer at New York University. Who owns the family trust behind the promoter company of Sona Comstar? The question that has lingered since the death of Sona Comstar chairman Sunjay Kapur finally has an answer: Priya Sachdev Kapur and Azarias, wife and son respectively of the late industrialist. Aureus Investment Pvt. Ltd, the single largest shareholder in Sona Comstar with a 28% stake, on Thursday informed the Union ministry of corporate affairs (MCA) that the wife and son are its significant beneficial owners, given their ownership of RK Family Trust and Raghuvanshi Investment. The two companies together own 92% stake in Aureus. Mint has seen a copy of the MCA filing, made within 72 hours of Sona Comstar's top boss stating that the company doesn't know who owns the family trust behind Aureus, Sona Comstar's largest individual shareholder. Setback The Aureus filing comes as a setback for Rani Kapur, Sunjay's mother who has questioned appointments on the Sona Comstar board on behalf of Aureus. She had also unsuccessfully tried to defer the Sona Comstar annual general meeting (AGM) where Priya was appointed non-executive director with 99% votes. The Kapur matriarch had said that she was coerced to sign documents without full knowledge of the contents after the death of her son. However, Sona Comstar refuted the allegations, stating Rani Kapur had not held any direct or indirect shareholding in the company since at least 2019. Also Read | Power struggle grips Sona Comstar after chairpersons death Aureus holds 28% stake nearly 8,000 crore in Sona Comstar, formally known as Sona BLW Precision Forgings. RK Family Trust and Raghuvanshi Investment Pvt. Ltd own 65% and 27% of Aureus, respectively. Moreover, The RK Family Trust owned 48% stake in Raghuvanshi while Aureus held 39%. This structure of company ownership means that the family members controlling the RK Family Trust have the ultimate ownership of the key promoter entity of Sona Comstar, Aureus. Aureus Investment said in response to a query that Priya S. Kapur, along with Azarias Kapur, Samaira Kapur and Kiaan Kapur are the significant beneficial owners of the companies and the RK Family Trust. This means that Rani Kapur, mother of Sunjay Kapur, is not a beneficiary owner of the key trust. Samaira and Kiaan are Sunjay's children with his ex-wife Karisma Kapoor. Official filings by Aureus do not reflect the other two children's name yet. Haze Since 2019, Sunjay Kapur was the sole beneficiary owner of RK Family Trust. But since his demise on 12 June, it was not clear who was the beneficiary owner of the trust. Confusion rose after Sona Comstar's MD and Group CEO Vivek Vikram Singh said after the company's earnings release on 4 August that Sona Comstar was not informed who was the beneficiary owner of RK Family Trust after Sunjay Kapur. But within two days of this statement, Aureus was informed about the new beneficiary owners of the company and the trust. It is not clear whether Sona Comstar has received any intimation of the change in owners. Queries sent to Sona Comstar and Rani Kapurs lawyers remained unanswered. To be sure, both Priya and Azarias became beneficiary owners of the trust on 12 June, when Sunjay Kapur died due to a cardiac arrest in the UK. However, Aureus was informed about the change in ownership on 6 August, following which it made the disclosure to MCA on 7 August. Also Read | Sona Comstar not informed who controls family trust after Sunjay Kapur, CEO says Gaurav Pingle, a practising company secretary, noted that if an entity holds more than 10% in an Indian company, then there is a requirement for disclosure of changes in significant beneficial owners. Shareholding of Ms. Priya and her son in Aureus Investment Pvt. Ltd. is through a specific Trust (RK Family Trust) and Raghuvanshi Investment Private Limited. By this regulatory filing, the change in beneficial ownership is reported to the Registrar of Companies," Pingle said. Sensationalism Sona Comstars Singh has downplayed the impact of the feud between family members, accusing the media of sensationalizing the dispute. There is far more sensationalism around this than there is impact. Whoever controls the 28% doesnt have that much [impact]," Singh said. Aureus Investment, the promoter company, has the right to nominate just one director to Sona Comstars board, Singh said on the earnings call, adding that even that power was not absolute. The board may choose to reject the nomination. Even if the board approves it, public shareholders then have to ratify the nomination, he said. How the appointment of a single director on a board with six independent directors can have an impact on the running of the company is very bizarre to me," he said. Since 24 July, shares of Sona Comstar are down 9%, while the Nifty Auto index has fallen by 2.5% in the same period. Also Read | Sona Comstar enters China EV parts market amid tariff, rare earth hit India on Monday added more jute products to the list of banned imports from Bangladesh through all land routes, amid strained relations between the two countries. The products added in the list are bleached and unbleached woven fabrics of Jute or of other textile bast fibre; twine, cordage, rope of jute; and sacks and bags of jute. However, according to a notification of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), these imports are allowed through the Nhava Sheva Seaport. Also Read | India bans import of jute via land routes amid strained Bangladesh ties "Imports from Bangladesh shall not be allowed from any land port on the India-Bangladesh Border," it said, adding, "Import of certain goods from Bangladesh to India is regulated with immediate effect." Earlier on June 27, India prohibited imports of a number of jute products and woven fabrics from Bangladesh through all land routes. Those imports are, however, allowed only through Nhava Sheva seaport in Maharashtra. The curbs were imposed on items such as jute products, flax tow and waste, jute and other bast fibres, jute, single flax yarn, single yarn of jute, multiple folded, woven fabrics or flex, and unbleached woven fabrics of jute. In April and May also, India had announced similar curbs on imports from Bangladesh. Also Read | Goods trade deficit narrows sharply to $18.78 bn in June On May 17, India imposed port restrictions on the import of certain goods like ready-made garments and processed food items, from the neighbouring country. On April 9, India withdrew the transhipment facility it had granted to Bangladesh for exporting various items to the Middle East, Europe and various other countries except Nepal and Bhutan. These measures were announced against the backdrop of the controversial statements made by the head of Bangladesh's interim government Muhammad Yunus in China. The comments did not go down well in New Delhi. It also drew sharp reactions from political leaders in India across party lines. India-Bangladesh relations have nosedived dramatically after Yunus failed to contain attacks on minorities, especially Hindus. Bangladesh is a big competitor of India in the textile sector. The India-Bangladesh trade stood at USD 12.9 billion in 2023-24. The Lok Sabha approved on Monday a revised version of the Income Tax Bill 2025, which restored several taxpayer-friendly provisions from the existing law that were erroneously dropped in the draft tabled in Parliament in February. The legislation seeks to comprehensively overhaul a complex and voluminous Income-tax Act of 1961. The revised bill incorporates the tax relief offered to Unified Pension Scheme (UPS) subscribers under the Taxation Laws Amendment Bill 2025, which was also tabled in the Lok Sabha on Monday. These tax benefits are already available to National Pension System (NPS) subscribers. UPS is an alternative to NPS that retains employee contribution and guarantees central government staff a pension equivalent to 50% of the average basic pay of the last 12 months after more than 25 years of service. The tax benefits include exemption on 60% lump-sum withdrawal at retirement. The bill also reinstated the benefit of deduction for inter-corporate dividend under Section 148 of the Income Tax Bill 2025 corresponding to Section 80M of the existing law, for companies opting for the concessional corporate tax of 22%. The absence of a specific provision of allowing deduction for inter-corporate dividend in the section allowing companies to opt for 22% tax rate in the earlier draft of the bill had seemed to suggest businesses would not be able to claim a deduction for inter-corporate dividends from next year. This drafting error has now been corrected. The omission had raised an alarm across corporate India, particularly for companies with multi-layered holding structures, as the same dividend income could have been taxed multiple times, said Amit Maheshwari, tax partner at AKM Global, a tax and consulting firm. Industry stakeholders made strong representations to the government and the parliamentary select committee, arguing that the absence of Section 80M would lead to tax inefficiencies and cascading taxes. While passing the bill in the Lok Sabha, the government accepted the panel's proposals, and the revised bill now includes the deduction for inter-corporate dividends," said Maheshwari. This move ensures that the long-standing principle of taxing dividend income only once in a corporate chain is maintained. This clarification will provide significant relief to Indian companies, added Maheshwari. Key provisions The revised income tax bill includes most of the recommendations of the select committee of the Lok Sabha to avoid ambiguity in the simplification exercise and seeks to address concerns expressed by the industry and professionals during the consultation period. Rajya Sabha is expected to approve and return the Bill before it receives the Presidential assent for implementation from 1 April next year. A central feature of the income tax bill is the introduction of income-tax exemptions for specific payouts under the new Unified Pension Scheme. This includes exemptions for partial withdrawals and lump-sum receipts, a move designed to enhance the attractiveness and utility of the new pension system for subscribers," said Maheshwari. In the bill cleared by Lok Sabha, alternate minimum tax (AMT) applicability to limited liability partnerships (LLPs) is aligned with the current Income-tax Act, 1961 provisions. Expansion of its scope to include LLPs not claiming tax benefits has been done away with. Provisions relating to claiming tax refunds have also been streamlined to avoid any confusion, said experts. Also Read: Govt plans changes to bankruptcy code to resolve clashes with money laundering law The provisions of AMT are applicable only to those non-corporates who have claimed deductions. LLPs that have only capital gains income are not liable for AMT if there is no claim for deduction," a government official explained. The revised bill also requires high-earning professionals such as doctors, lawyers and consultants with over 50 crore receipts in a year to provide prescribed electronic payment options to customers, similar to large businesses, in addition to other payment options they may already have. The move is expected to help in further widening the tax base. Simplification efforts The original text of the bill introduced in February had provided that only returns filed on or before the due date would be eligible for refunds, apparently suggesting that refunds could not be claimed in belated or revised returns, which is allowed under the existing Income-tax Act, 1961. In the revised bill, as suggested by the select committee, the provision restricting the claim of refund if a return was not filed in time has been deleted, to align it with the existing law. This was an unintended drafting error that has been corrected in the revised bill, explained Sachin Garg, partner at Nangia & Co LLP. For TDS correction statements, the time period for filing statements has been reduced to two years from six years in existing law. This is expected to reduce the grievances of deductees substantially," added the government official cited earlier. The European Union has officially confirmed the holding of an extraordinary meeting of the European Council on Foreign Affairs, convened by High Representative Kaia Kallas in connection with the upcoming talks between US President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. The corresponding announcement of the meeting, which will be held on August 11 in a video conference format, was published on Monday on the European Council website. No other details are contained in the message. At the same time, it is known that the meeting, to which Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha has also been invited, will begin at 4:00 p.m. A press conference is not planned. Earlier, Reuters reported that the extraordinary meeting was convened precisely because of the meeting between Trump and Putin, which will be held on August 15 in Alaska. The steep tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on Indian goods threaten to significantly dent exports to the worlds largest economy. Half of the 50% levy has already taken effect, with the rest kicking in on 27 August. Several economists have called this Indias next 1991 moment' and suggested the government seize this opportunity to unleash the next round of far-reaching domestic economic reforms. Mint looks at the options the Indian government has to offset this impact. Can it diversify its exports to other markets or boost domestic consumption? Should it see this as the '1991 moment to unleash reforms and take the economy to the next level? How badly will the US tariffs hurt India? In 2024-25, India exported $86.5 billion worth of merchandise to the US, its largest trading partner. The imposition of a 50% tariff will hit 67% of the total exports, with only pharmaceuticals and electronics exempted for now. That puts $58 billion worth of exportsabout 1.5% of the gross domestic product (GDP)in peril. Both Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley have predicted a 60 basis point hit to the 2025-26 growth if the tariffs remain. The chances of Indias overall exports (both merchandise and services) exceeding $825 billion in 2024-25 now look remote. Which sectors will be impacted? Textiles, gems & jewellery, capital goods, fisheries, agricultural products, auto components, medical appliances and machinery sectors will be badly hit as they account for the bulk of the exports to the US. Some of these sectors are labour-intensive and they could see retrenchment soon. For instance, players in the garment sector have said that buyers are moving orders from India to other markets such as Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia and Pakistan for their spring-summer collections due to the confusion over tariffs. Can India export more to other nations? It can, but that is easier said than done. The export market is highly competitive, and some of our competitors enjoy a tariff advantage. To make Indian exports attractive, the government needs to conclude favourable bilateral trade deals like the ones it has done with Australia, the UAE and the European Free Trade Area. The recently concluded India-UK economic and trade agreement needs to be operationalised soon to boost exports. The good news is that the government is already in talks with many nations such as Oman, Chile, Peru, New Zealand and the European Union to conclude trade agreements, and they should be inked quickly to open new avenues. Should India kiss the US market goodbye? Not really. The US is an important market that is too big to be ignored. India has said it will continue engaging with the US in good faith to arrive at a mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement. At the same time, it has its limitations and red lines. It is not keen on opening up some sectors, especially agriculture. Being a sovereign nation, it wants independence to choose its trading partners. Many feel a no-deal is better than a bad deal. But Indian negotiators have a hell of a task to strike a good deal. If they succeed, exports to the US will be impacted only temporarily. What more can the Indian government do? Experts suggest it is time to implement the long overdue rationalisation of goods and services tax (GST) rates. Considering that Indias domestic market is huge, lower GST rates could trigger a revival in domestic consumption, which can, to a large extent, compensate for the lower exports to the US. It will also unleash the economy's animal spirits and trigger private investments. To revive demand, a reduction in fuel prices is also being suggested. Some have even called for a pause in fiscal consolidation efforts to boost capex and accelerate domestic consumption. Also Read | Trump tariffs: The leverage India gives away Is it time to unleash the next round of reforms? Yes. Many economists have called this Indias next 1991 moment. Rather than seeing Trumps tariffs as a problem, they want the government to seize this opportunity to unleash the next round of far-reaching domestic economic reforms that will make Indian businesses far more competitive. The Economic Survey flagged deregulation as a priority. Ending red tape and implementing long-pending labour and land reforms could improve the ease of doing business and attract fresh capital flows into the country. Actor Rana Daggubati on Monday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Hyderabad in connection with a money laundering case involving illegal online betting and gambling by certain platforms, ANI reported. The federal agency had issued summons to four actors--Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverakonda, Rana Daggubati and Lakshmi Manchu-- last month, asking them to appear on different dates at the agency's zonal office here for questioning in the case. Prakash Raj (July 30) and Vijay Deverakonda (August 6) had earlier appeared before the ED. The actors had "endorsed" online betting apps allegedly involved in generating "illicit" funds, according to official sources. During their appearance, the agency is expected to record the statements of the actors under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED had taken cognisance of as many as five state police FIRs to register its case against these actors and a number of other celebrities and social media influencers. These individuals are suspected to have "endorsed" online betting apps for a celebrity or endorsement fee, ED sources said. These platforms are alleged to have generated "illicit" funds through illegal betting and gambling, worth crores of rupees, they said. Vijay Deverakonda had recently said that he did an endorsement for a gaming app, adding that gaming apps are completely legal and recognised by the government, licensed as a business. Earlier this year, the Telangana police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against 25 celebrities and influencers, including popular figures like Rana Daggubati and Manchu Lakshmi, for allegedly promoting illegal betting and gambling apps through their social media platforms. Prakash Raj and Vijay's names also popped up. The FIR was filed at the Miyapur Police Station in Hyderabad following a petition by 32-year-old businessman PM Phanindra Sarma. The complaint, lodged on March 19, 2025, highlights a disturbing trend of celebrities and influencers promoting illegal gambling apps that violate the Public Gambling Act of 1867. Sarma claims that during a conversation with youth in his community on March 16, he discovered many individuals had been influenced to invest their money in these gambling apps, which were heavily advertised by social media personalities. According to the complaint, these celebrities are allegedly accepting large sums of money to promote various betting platforms, which encourage users to gamble their hard-earned money. Zurich [Switzerland], August 11 (ANI): Oscar-nominated actor Colin Farrell will be honoured with the Zurich Film Festival's Golden Icon Award at its upcoming edition, reported Deadline. The festival will take place in Zurich from September 25 to October 5, 2025. The award acknowledges the actor's performance in Edward Berger's upcoming psychological thriller 'Ballad Of A Small Player' as well as his overall career. Farrell will be presented with the award on September 27 ahead of a gala premiere for the upcoming film, which will also be attended by Swiss director and Oscar winner Berger, reported Deadline. The following day, Farrell will give a masterclass on his career. The actor is internationally renowned for films such as 'Miami Vice', 'Minority Report', 'In Bruges', 'The Batman', 'The Lobster', 'The Killing of a Sacred Deer', and 'The Banshees of Inisherin'. The actor follows in the wake of a long line of illustrious Golden Icon Award recipients who also include Kate Winslet, Jessica Chastain, Hugh Jackman, Cate Blanchett and Hugh Grant. Meanwhile, 'Ballad of a Small Player' marks the third consecutive film from Berger to be showcased at Zurich following All Quiet on the Western Front and Conclave. His new film is adapted from the 2014 novel by Lawrence Osborne and is set in Macau. It tells the story of a high-stakes gambler whose past and debts start to catch up with him, but whilst laying low in Macau, he encounters a kindred spirit who might just hold the key to his salvation, reported Deadline. On Colin Farrell, the festival Director Christian Jungen said, "Colin Farrell is one of the most passionate and charismatic character actors in auteur cinema. He's just as convincing as a villain as he is a romantic lead, or in complex roles that fall somewhere in between, like in Edward Berger's irresistible tragicomedy Ballad of a Small Player, where Colin captivates us as a roguish gambler and makes us root for his character," as quoted by Deadline. "Colin Farrell has already worked with many great filmmakers, but under Edward Berger's direction, he truly reaches new heights. He carries the film from beginning to end and takes us on an emotional roller coaster that makes us laugh, cry, and marvel. For this outstanding performance, which could earn him another Oscar nomination, and for his invaluable contribution to auteur cinema, we are honouring Colin Farrell with the Golden Icon Award," added Jungen as quoted by Deadline. Farrell welcomed the news of the honour and said he was looking forward to the opportunity to visit Zurich for the first time. "I'd like to thank Zurich Film Festival for inviting Ballad of a Small Player to the festival, and for honouring me with the Golden Icon Award. It'll be my first time visiting the beautiful city of Zurich and I'm beyond excited to walk its streets, drink its coffee and move amongst its people. It's both generous and humbling to have my years of making films recognised by such a storied festival, one that champions film from all corners of the globe. It will be an absolute pleasure to visit later this year and we are thrilled to be bringing Ballad of a Small Player to audiences there," said Farrell as quoted by Deadline. The Jonas Brothers kicked off their Greetings From Your Hometown tour with a surprise that thrilled fans a reunion with fellow Disney Channel star Demi Lovato. Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato Reunite for Nostalgic 'Camp Rock' Moment The first show of the tour took place on Sunday night at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey a special location for both the Jonas Brothers and Demi, who all have ties to the area. The night was already filled with fan favourites like Love Bug and SOS, but the biggest cheer came near the end of the show when Joe Jonas teased a familiar name. Ladies and gentlemen, he said to the crowd, Demi Lovato. Also Read | Demi Lovato marries Jordan Jutes Lutes in California Demi then joined the brothers on stage for a set of beloved Camp Rock songs, including Gotta Find You, This Is Me, and Wouldnt Change a Thing. Fans sang along loudly, reliving the iconic Disney Channel movie that launched a generation of pop stars. Fan reactions to the reunion While one person wrote, IM NEVER SHUTTING UP ABOUT THIS MY SOUL LEFT MY LITERAL BODY THE JONAS BROTHERS REALLY BROUGHT OUT DEMI LOVATO IN THE YEAR 2025 (sic), another person wrote, 2000s kids just fell to their knees with this performance of wouldnt change a thing by demi lovato and the jonas brothers (sic). A third person, who was clearly left emotional by the renuion, commented, "Demi Lovato hugging Nick Jonas after performing with the Jonas Brothers in the year 2025. This means the absolute world to me (sic). More about Camp Rock Camp Rock, released in 2008, became a huge hit for Disney. It told the story of a shy young girl (played by Demi) who finds her voice at a music camp, and the famous pop star (Joe Jonas) who helps her along the way. The film made Demi Lovato and the Jonas Brothers household names, and led to a real-life romance between Demi and Joe, though the relationship was short-lived. OTT releases this week: Cinephiles can gear for a dramatic and interesting lineup for this extended week on the occasion of Independence Day. Catering to various tastes and preferences with diverse genres, there is something for everyone, including Andhera, Court Kacheri, Vyasanasametham Bandhumithradhikal, and more. Outlander Season 7, Part 1 OTT platform: Netflix OTT release date: August 11 Consisting of eight episodes, the TV series premiered in June 2023. Amazon Prime description states, Jamie, Claire, and their family are caught in the violent birth pains of an emerging nation as armies march to war and British institutions crumble in the face of armed rebellion. The land the Frasers call home is changing and they must change with it. Andhera OTT Platform: Amazon Prime Video / MX Player OTT release date: August 14 Supernatural horror series, Andhera revolves around the story of a a fearless cop and a haunted medical student. Set in Mumbai, the series produced by Farhan Akhtar features Bhavesh Patil, Surveen Chawla, Pranay Pachauri, Priya Bapat, Vatsal Sheth, Prajakta Koli, Parvin Dabas, Rajiv Kachroo and Karanvir Malhotra. Saare Jahan Se Accha OTT Platform: Netflix OTT release date: August 13 The thriller spy drama series starring Pratik Gandhi, Sunny Hinduja and Suhail Nayyar is produced by Gaurav Shukla. A resilient Indian spy must defeat his counterpart across the border in a battle of wits and tradecraft to sabotage their nuclear program, IMDb description states. Iron Man and His Awesome Friends OTT Platform: JioHotstar OTT release date: August 12 Marvels preschool animated series directed by Michael Dowding features voices of Mason Blomberg, Kapri Ladd and Aidyn Ahn. Marvel Studios Animation and Atomic Cartoons production follows the adventures of best friends Tony Stark, Riri Williams and Amadeus Cho. Also Read | Metro In Dino OTT release: Movie to begin streaming online this month Court Kacheri OTT Platform: SonyLIV OTT release date: August 13 The narrative delves into the life of a young man named Param born into a lawyers legacy. Set in Indias district courts, the comedic legal drama explores high-stakes legal battles and harsh courtroom realities. Vyasanasametham Bandhumithradhikal OTT Platform: Manorama MAX OTT release date: August 14 Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 11 (ANI): Karan Johar is celebrating 19 years of 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna' - his third film as a director. Taking to his Instagram handle, the filmmaker shared a nostalgic post, along with BTS clips from the streets of New York. He also shared a carousel of pictures with the team. From Karan discussing scenes with the lead actors - Shah Rukh Khan, Rani Mukerji, Preity Zinta, Abhishek Bachchan, and Amitabh Bachchan, to the members having a fun time goofing around during breaks, the video included several unseen moments. In his caption, Karan Johar shared his sentiments for the film and wrote, "Some love stories transcend time and still hold all the power they once did...KANK for me will always be that. My third film in and I was moved again by the absolute honour of having such terrific people on set with me to make a story that was bold...brave and full of only heart." Fans quickly flooded the comment section and showered the film with love, Fashion designer Manish Malhotra, who also appears in the BTS visuals, wrote, "Memories for life .. New York." Directed by Karan Johar, nearly five years after 'Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham,' the 2006 film tells the story of Dev (Shah Rukh Khan) and Maya (Rani Mukerji), who come across each other in the middle of their failing marriages. While they try to help each other to save their marriages, Dev and Maya end up falling in love, leading to much drama in their lives. The film opened to mixed reviews; however, it has managed to win the fans' hearts over the years. The songs of 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna' became quite popular, including titles like 'Mitwa,' 'Rock n Roll,' 'Where's The Party Tonight,' and 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna.' New Delhi [India], August 11 (ANI): The Supreme Court's order to relocate all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to shelters has sparked debate among the public. While some have welcomed the move, others have criticised the decision, arguing that it goes against animal welfare principles. Amid the ongoing debate, Vir Das took to Instagram on Monday evening, urging Delhiites to consider adopting an indie dog if they can. "If you are a resident of Delhi. Can I persuade you to adopt an indie off the streets, more than one? They are extremely healthy, low maintenance, and will provide you with more love, affection and gratitude than you could ever imagine. Am also asking you to wholeheartedly and generously," he posted. "Support your nearest animal welfare NGO. I plan on doing so, and I hope you will too. As appeals are filed in court and processes take their time, it's important for our humanity to kick in immediately. Please do your part, big or small, it all adds up," Vir Das requested. He also shared a picture of two dogs that he had adopted from the streets a few years ago. Earlier today, a bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said that all localities should be made free of stray dogs and there should not be any compromise. It also made it clear that no captured animal will be released back on the streets. It also ordered contempt proceedings against any individual or organisation that attempts to obstruct the authorities from carrying out the capture drive. "If any individual or organisation comes in the way of picking stray dogs or rounding them up, we will proceed to take action against any such resistance," said Justice Pardiwala. The apex court also directed the states and municipal authorities to create dog shelters with sufficient staff to sterilise and immunise them. "NCT Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad, MCD, NMDC shall start picking up stray dogs from all localities, particularly from more vulnerable localities. It is for the authorities to look into and if they have to create a force, do it at the earliest. However, this should be the first and foremost exercise to make all localities free of stray dogs. There should not be any compromise in undertaking the exercise," said the bench. It further directed that authorities in Delhi-NCR must set up a helpline so all dog bite complaints can be registered, with the offending animal picked up within four hours of a complaint. War 2 advance booking: Hrithik Roshan and Jr NTR-starrer War 2 is awaiting its release this Independence day week. The advance booking for the film opened on Sunday, and the film has already sold more than 50,000 tickets. War 2 is directed by Ayan Mukerji. War 2 advance booking According to the latest update by 9 am Monday, on industry tracker Sacnilk, the advance booking for War 2 has crossed 2 crore on day 1. Considering block seats, the film is eyeing 5.62 crore for its opening day business. So far, approximately 55,773 tickets have been sold for shows across India. Of these, Hindi (across 2D, IMAX, DOLBY, 4DX, and other formats) accounted for 47,191 tickets, Tamil (2D) contributed 3,676 tickets, and Telugu (2D) brought in 4,906 tickets. The total number of shows across India is 6,723. While Hindi (across 2D, IMAX, DOLBY, 4DX, and other formats) got 6,480 shows. While Tamil got 106 shows, Telugu got 137 shows. War 2 is said to have a runtime of 2 hours and 53 minutes. Advance booking for War 2 opened on Sunday. YRF announced on their official Instagram handle with a special video. Their post read, Are you ready to witness the CARNAGE in cinemas from August 14th? BOOK TICKETS NOW for #War2 and let us give you an experience to cherish for the rest of your lives. Releasing in Hindi, Telugu & Tamil in theatres worldwide. War 2 worldwide release However, the film's international advance booking opened last week. Going by the reports, the advance booking response has been lukewarm overseas. As per trade sources, YRF is releasing War 2 Hindi version in 900 US screens for paid previews. Till Sunday, about 1,600 tickets had been sold, leaving many auditoriums almost empty. However, there is still time for the time to generate buzz over this week before its release on 14 August. War 2 will clash with superstar Rajinikanth's Coolie, which is also releasing on the same day. Besides Coolie, War 2 will also compete with blockbusters like Saiyaara and Mahavatar Narsimha. According to a report by Bollywood Hungama, War 2 is made on a whopping budget of 400 crores. Reportedly, it is the most expensive spy film in India now. War 2 is directed by Ayan Mukherji and also stars Kiara Advani. It is the latest chapter in the YRF Spy Universe. War 2 brings Hrithik back as rogue R&AW agent, Kabir, who will be facing a new opponent, played by Jr NTR. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the new war plan approved by Israels security cabinet includes dismantling Hamas in Gazas central refugee camps in addition to Gaza City, a broadening that comes as he faces criticism internationally for expanding the war and from the far-right wing his coalition for not going far enough. The new war plan was approved just ahead of the weekend. An announcement by the prime ministers office at the time only mentioned that the military would prepare to take over Gaza City. Netanyahu revealed the previously undisclosed targeting of the central camps in comments to reporters Sunday. The more limited initial objectives announced last weekafter Netanyahu had touted a takeover of the entire Gaza Stripwere criticized by far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich as too incremental. They decided once again to do the same thing and head for a military campaign that doesnt aim for decisive victory, but just pressuring Hamas to go for a partial hostage deal," Smotrich said in a video statement on Saturday. A tent camp houses Palestinians displaced by the Israeli military offensive, in Gaza City. Unfortunately, for the first time since the start of the war I feel I cannot stand behind this decision and back it," Smotrich said, adding that he had lost confidence that Netanyahu wanted to defeat Hamas. Israel also came under heavy pressure internationally over its decision to expand the war as well as earlier moves that sharply restricted the flow of food into Gaza and pushed many Palestinians closer to starvation. Germany said last week that it would restrict arms sales to Israel, while European countries and the U.K. criticized the war plan. The prime ministers ruling coalition relies on the support of far-right lawmakers like Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Netanyahu has had to balance their demands with the views of his military and pressure from international partners since the beginning of the war in Gaza, which was sparked by Hamass deadly attack on Israel nearly two years ago. Last Thursday, Israels security cabinet instructed the IDF to dismantle the remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza city and the central camps," Netanyahu said, during a news conference for foreign journalists, referring to the acronym for the Israeli military. Netanyahu offered few details of the new plan or how the central camps would fit into it on Sunday. He said the military would evacuate the population before the assault to designated safe zones," where they would be provided with humanitarian aid. He declined to provide a timeline for the operation, but said Israel hoped to complete it quickly so it could end the war Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced criticism from the far-right wing of his coalition for not being aggressive enough in going after Hamas. Israeli authorities say it will begin with the goal of seizing control of Gaza Citythe biggest population center in the north of the strip. Military analysts said it could play out over weeks or months, reflecting serious resource constraints that are likely to limit the pace and scope of military operations. Under the plan, hundreds of thousands of Palestinians face the prospect of further displacement and new rounds of deadly fighting. More than 60,000 people have been killed in Gaza during the war, according to Palestinian health authorities, who dont say how many were combatants. 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. Israel says it currently controls up to 75% of the Gaza Strip. Around two million Gazans are crammed into Gaza City, the seaside tent encampment at Al-Mawasi, and the central camps. Invasion of those areas would squeeze the population to an ever shrinking territory amid a worsening humanitarian crisis. The new plan will require the country to call up a large number of soldiers. The military already faces severe manpower strains, and reservists are exhausted from almost two years of war in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon and the West Bank. Polls in Israel have shown for months that a large majority of the population, including right-wingers, support ending the Gaza war in exchange for freedom for the remaining hostages held by Hamas. Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets of Israel on Saturday to protest Netanyahus expansion of the war, in one of the largest antiwar demonstrations in recent months. Write to Anat Peled at anat.peled@wsj.com American businessman Leonid Smirnov first got the feeling that something was off when local Russian newspapers began airing rumors that the government was looking at taking over his company, the biggest producer of canned goods in the country. It was only when he received a phone call from an employee at 3:30 a.m. at his Los Angeles residence last October that he found out for sure that Russian President Vladimir Putin had ordered the nationalization of Glavprodukt. His was the first U.S.-owned company to fall victim to what is now a mounting wave of Kremlin business seizures. For nearly a year, Smirnov says, he has been embroiled in an absurd legalistic circus. His experience provides a glimpse into the nationalizations and appropriations of both domestic and foreign business after Putin unleashed the full-blown invasion of Ukraine three years ago in what has been the biggest redistribution of Russian wealth since the breakup of the Soviet Union. In many cases, the Kremlin transferred control to state-run enterprises or businessmen loyal to Putin, deepening his support base, analysts say. Companies from German utility Uniper to Danish brewer Carlsberg have been targeted. French food manufacturer Danones Russian assets were placed under temporary state management in 2023 and later sold to a Kremlin ally at a significant discount. Russias government has often justified the seizures on national-security and legal grounds or as a response to new sanctions from the West. The nearly 300 U.S. companies still operating in Russia remained untoucheduntil now. Since his early-morning call, Smirnov has fought moves against him in court. He has also tried to push the fate of the company onto the negotiating table between Russian and U.S. officials seeking to make good on President Trumps efforts to seek some thaw in relations. But so far to no avail: A Russian court approved the nationalization last month. Smirnovs legal appeal has yet to be decided. Its not just about doing what I can to save my company which was illegally and heinously expropriated, but making sure there isnt a second or a third U.S. company," said Smirnov. Russias manic post-Soviet privatizations once drove Western businessmen into the country with the promise of fantastic returns. Local companies also ran up against organized crime and a spate of gangland killings, which later subsided when Putin rose to power in 2000. Now many of the foreign investors who survived are seeing their businesses expropriated as ties with the West worsen. The total value of property confiscated from foreign and local investors has reached 3.9 trillion rubles, or about $49 billion, according to the Moscow-based law firm Nektorov, Saveliev & Partners, with the pace of nationalizations accelerating this year. Many of these assets have then been transferred to business owners big and small, all united in their loyalty to Putins regime. Smirnov was born in the Soviet Union before moving to the U.S. in 1980. He founded Glavprodukt in 1999, lured by a vast Russian market opening up to Western consumerism. Smirnov focused on tinned meats, fish and ready-to-eat meals, and as the company grew, its offerings became a staple in the stores to which the countrys working classes flocked. With its loyal customer base, his company survived the ups and downs of Putins rule. But in the weeks that followed the nationalization decree, Smirnov watched from the U.S. as new management came into the offices, changing locks and passwords and even hiring a new private security firm to keep watch over the companys headquarters and factories. Loyal employees were fired and a new cadre of managers were brought in. To justify the nationalization, the new management promised to repurpose the company to feed the Russian army and boost exports to China and North Korea. A general manager was appointed at the behest of a large food producer called Druzhba Narodov, or Friendship of Peoples. That raised Smirnovs suspicion that behind the raid is that companys ultimate owner, Alexander Tkachev, a former minister of agriculture and governor of Russias southern Krasnodar region. Druzhba Narodov didnt respond to a request for comment. Tkachev has been sanctioned by both the U.S. and the European Union. As Russian soldiers have occupied swaths of southern Ukraine, he has also been behind some of the biggest Russian appropriations of Ukrainian farmland. As the new manager, Alexander Dolgov, and other management leaders settled into their roles, Dolgov told the prosecutor in a court case against Smirnov that the nationalization of the company would ensure continued deliveries of food to Russias Defense Ministry as well as the countrys equivalent to the National Guard. In reality, the new management has cut and consolidated production lines, discontinued popular brands and caused sales to fall by half, Smirnov said. Smirnovs U.S.-based companies Universal Beverage and Universal Beverage 2000 were the owners of Glavprodukt. They want to use government cover to confiscate a $200 million business from an American company," said Smirnov. Smirnov, an American citizen who has a signed copy of The Art of the Deal" he got from Trump at a reception 30 years ago, has hope that the U.S. president can force Putins hand to return ownership of the company. In interviews with Breitbart, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said previously that Glavprodukt was going to be a topic of discussion at talks, and Trump said in March he thought Putin would be generous" on the issue of the company. So far, the Kremlin hasnt offered to resolve the matter. Russias presidential administration didnt respond to a request for comment. Since the start of Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine, nearly 500 U.S. firms have completely exited Russia or curtailed operations there, cutting ties with a market of 140 million people, according to a tally by the Kyiv School of Economics. Smirnovs story offers a cautionary tale for the U.S. companies that remained, citing contractual obligations, ongoing projects or a need to protect local employees. We are far from the end of the process of redistribution of property, of establishing rules of business in todays Russia," said Alexandra Prokopenko, a fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center and a former Russian central-bank official. This preserves the system and makes business hostage to Putinism, and the new class of owners is well aware of whom it owes its wealth to." It may also offer a warning for U.S. companies tempted by Putin as he holds out the prospect of better relations with Trump and urges them to return. Write to Thomas Grove at thomas.grove@wsj.com and Georgi Kantchev at georgi.kantchev@wsj.com Photo: https://t.me/V_Negoda_TODA/https://t.me/V_Negoda_TODA/ Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky has visited Ternopil region, Ternopil Regional State Administration head Vyacheslav Nehoda has said. "Together with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Oleksandr Mishchenko, I met with the chief diplomat and delegation of the Czech Republic. First of all, we honored the memory of the Czechoslovak legionnaires in the village of Kalynivka, Zborivska urban territorial community. We laid flowers at the Memorial to the Czechoslovak legionnaires," Nehoda wrote in the telegram channel on Monday. In addition, in the OVA, the parties held a meeting with the Czech delegation, the Czech Ambassador to Ukraine and the Czech Consul General in Lviv, during which they discussed the possibilities of establishing and developing bilateral cooperation. "We discussed the possibilities of implementing the project for the reconstruction of the polyclinic of the Ternopil regional clinical hospital," Nehoda added. He also thanked the Czech delegation for its unwavering position in supporting the territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine, humanitarian, military, economic, and financial assistance. HONG KONGChina has begun the construction of a giant hydropower project at the earthquake-prone edge of the Tibetan plateau, a spectacular engineering feat that is central to Beijings enduring mission to become self-sufficient in critical areas such as energy. The $167 billion facility will require digging tunnels that plunge through high mountains to harness the power of a river that sharply descends through the deepest and possibly longest canyon on the planet. If its planners succeedafter shrugging off objections from neighborsthe project could generate triple the output of the worlds largest hydroelectric facility, Chinas Three Gorges Dam, which is big enough to power around 40 million Chinese homes. The endeavor is a dramatic example of Chinas determination to become self-reliant in areas of national importance, from technology to food, a yearslong campaign that has gained momentum as Beijings rivalry with the U.S. intensifies. China imported nearly a quarter of its energy supply in 2023, a level of dependency that Beijing is working hard to undo. The plan, slated to be the worlds most expensive infrastructure project, will also plow money into a struggling Chinese economy and bring jobs and business to a remote and sensitive corner of China where Beijing is trying to engineer the loyalty of the Tibetan population. A planned $7 billion high-voltage transmission network will deliver electricity from the site in Tibet to Guangdong province, the economic center on Chinas southeast coast, and the cities of Hong Kong and Macau. But the project on the Yarlung Tsangpo River has stirred accusations that it will give Beijing the power to strangle resources beyond its borders, where the river flows into northeastern India and then south through Bangladesh. It has also raised fears of environmental damage and potential disaster in the mountainous, seismically active region. The location is one of vast biodiversity, featuring rare primates and a wider range of big cats, from snow leopards to Bengal tigers, than anywhere else in the world. China has yet to reveal the details, but it is evident that the design aims to avoid the pitfalls of some of the original plans, which included using nuclear explosions to blast a route north. Its super clever," said Ruth Gamble, an environmental historian at La Trobe University in Australia who studies Himalayan rivers. I dont like dams, but as far as dams go it avoids all the wrong stuff." The project achieves that because it likely wont rely on a megadam to generate power. Instead, according to interviews, online postings by Chinese hydrologists and a review of official statements, the project involves drilling deep tunnels that begin above and emerge below the Yarlung Tsangpo Grand Canyonessentially cutting across a U-shaped bend that descends nearly 2 vertical miles over more than 300 miles. It is expected to include dams at the top and bottom of tunnels in which diverted water drives turbines. Chinese Premier Li Qiang, inaugurating the project last month, called it a project of the century." Experts say it appears to emphasize run-of-the-river" design, using the waters flow without relying on significant storage behind a dam. This dam doesnt take the water out of the river," said Mark Giordano, a geography professor at Georgetown University. Its a tunnel that reroutes it from one part of the Chinese river, through the tunnel and enters the river again on the Chinese side before flowing to India." The bigger issue for China and its downstream neighbors could be the dams location in an area with a history of huge earthquakes. In 1950, a magnitude-8.6 earthquake centered about 50 miles northwest of where the Yarlung Tsangpo enters India struck the region, killing more than 4,500 people and setting off hundreds of landslides, including some that blocked rivers. Its a high earthquake zone, so thats clearly a risk," said Giordano. China has carried out extensive hydropower projects in recent decades in an effort to boost its supply of renewable energy. The Three Gorges Dam, which was completed in 2006, created a 400-mile reservoir on the Yangtze River and forced the relocation of 1.3 million people. Where the Three Gorges Dam aroused skepticism, even within Chinas rubber-stamp legislature, the Yarlung Tsangpo project has met with far less resistance, a sign of Beijings growing confidence in hydropower constructionand its ability to quash even nominal dissent. But news of the project has prompted protests from across the border. Pema Khandu, chief minister of the neighboring Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, has called it a water bomb" that poses an existential threat to his constituents because untimely releases of water could exacerbate seasonal flooding. India has responded with plans to build a megadam on the river, in part to control the flow. Adding to tensions, Beijing claims Arunachal Pradesh as its own territory, referring to it as southern Tibet. The relationship between China and India has been strained by territorial disputes, including a deadly military clash in 2020. China, India and Bangladesh have no agreement for managing the river, which becomes the Brahmaputra in India and eventually joins the Ganges in Bangladesh. China has rejected criticism from states downriver, which say they could suffer from changes in the flow of water and sediment. The project will speed up clean energy development, improve local peoples life and proactively respond to climate change," said Guo Jiakun, a spokesman for Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Exiled Tibetans in India have expressed misgivings about the projects taking shape across the border. To the east of the Yarlung Tsangpo, where Tibet meets Sichuan province, China is already building a series of dams along the upper reaches of the Yangtze, the countrys longest river. More than a dozen dams are planned for that section of the river, known as the Jinsha, which is now the site of the worlds second-largest and fourth-largest dams by installed capacity. The Yarlung Tsangpo has been comparatively untouched. A group of Chinese hydrologists estimated in 2022 that the river was generating just 2% of its potential hydropower capacity. Exiled Tibetans in India say they also have concerns about the work being done in their homeland, and some projects have prompted protests, including the Yebatan dam on the Upper Jinsha, which Tibetans protested last year because some villages and historic monasteries would be inundated. When disaster happens, its the local Tibetans that face the consequences," said Lobsang Yangtso, an environmental researcher with the International Tibet Network based in India. New Delhi: Faced with steep tariff barriers in the United States, India is turning to fresh export markets for its seafood. Union minister for fisheries Rajiv Ranjan Singh said the government is looking at the United Kingdom, the European Union, Japan, China, Korea, and West Asia to widen the reach for Indias seafood exports. We have asked them (seafood exporters) to face the current challenge bravely. There are alternative markets available," Singh said during a press briefing on Monday. The EU, Japan, South Korea, UK, Russia, Australia, West Asia, South East Asia, and many countries are available for export of Indian seafoods." India exported marine products worth $7.39 billion in 2024-25, of which $2.68 billion, or about 36%, went to the US, according to the Marine Products Export Development Authority. Frozen shrimp accounted for a major share of these shipments. But Indian seafood shipments to the US are set to attract a total tariff of 59.7%, comprising countervailing and anti-dumping duties of 9.7%, up from 9.7% earlier, after US President Donald Trump announced additional levies of 25% effective 7 August and another 25% from 27 August. Also Read | Trump's tariffs bring Indian shrimps and basmati to a boil The burden is expected to be particularly heavy on shrimp, Indias biggest seafood export. The Seafood Export Association of India has approached the commerce and finance ministries seeking emergency financial support, including a 30% increase in working capital through soft loans, news agency PTI reported on Sunday. Meanwhile, Indias seafood exports to the United Kingdom are expected to increase after the two nations signed a landmark free trade agreement in July, eliminating tariffs on 99% of Indian exports. Under the FTA, the UKs import duties on Indian marine products will fall to zero from 20%. Indias share in the UKs $5.4 billion seafood import market is just 2.25%. With CETA (the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement) now in force, industry estimates project a 70% surge in marine exports to the UK in the coming years," Indias ministry of fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying said in a statement after the India-UK FTA was announced. Also Read | Aquaculture shock: Spare a lifeline for shrimp farmers reeling under US tariffs A wider net Rama Shankar Naik, commissioner of fisheries in Andhra Pradesh, said while Indias seafood has significant scope in the domestic market, there is an urgent need to tap new overseas buyers. We have to look at new markets such as the Middle East, Russia, South Korea, and Europe," he said, noting that Indias share in seafood exports to European countries had dropped to 11% from above 35% earlier. Andhra Pradesh leads Indias seafood exports with nearly a 70% share, followed by Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat and Odisha. The USs 40% transhipment duty on Vietnam has added another woe for Indian exporters, traders said. The Southeast Asian country sources a significant volume of raw and semi-processed shrimp from India for value addition before re-exporting to the US. If Vietnams shrimp export market contracts due to the USs duty, demand for Indian shrimp would also drop. In FY25, India exported marine products worth $381.77 million to Vietnam, down from $392.55 million in the year before, according to the commerce ministry data. Also Read | India eyes a secret weapon in trade tussle with US India is preparing to counter the USs stiff tariffs on Indian goods by targeting new markets and offering incentives for exporters, Mint reported on 8 August. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is particularly focused on protecting the interests of Indias farmers and fishermen. As part of those efforts, the government is looking to set up trade desks in regions like Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe, which could unlock more than $60 billion in untapped export potential. India is also exploring new markets for agricultural and processed food products, including Nigeria, Switzerland, and Lithuania, Mint reported on 2 August. While the US has announced a 50% tariff on Indian goods, it has reduced the tariff for Vietnam from 46% to 20%, for Indonesia from 32% to 19%, and for Bangladesh from 37% to 20%. Indian exports in sectors such as apparel, auto components, leather goods, and certain foods are expected to be the worst hit by Trumps tariffs on India. India exported goods worth $86.5 billion to the US in FY25, or about 20% of the countrys total merchandise exports of $433.56 billion. Also Read | Trump tariff-hit exporters chalk survival plans ahead of deadline New Delhi: Indias $1.2-billion AI Mission is preparing to make voice-first artificial intelligence (AI) models for Indian languages its calling card, aiming to differentiate itself from Big Tech firms that focus primarily on text-based AI. The differentiator for artificial intelligence from India could include Indic languages-focused large language models, alongside voice-first models. In an interview with Mint, Abhishek Singh, additional secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and IT (Meity) and chief executive of the Centres India AI Mission, said that the countrys push to build its own foundational AI models will seek to create solutions that can be replicated in other nations. Indias common compute infrastructure is a unique model that is receiving a lot of interest from around the world, especially the global south," Singh said. While US tech firms are largely building foundational models based on text data as the primary medium, as India, we see a sizeable opportunity to develop foundational models that are primarily trained on voice data, because in future, voice will be the primary and most natural way in which people will interact with AI." The AI Mission, announced in March last year, seeks to offer funding support in the form of access to graphic processing unit (GPU) chips to startups. So far, four startupsGan, Gnani, Sarvam and Sokethave been approved to build foundational AI models by Meity under the Mission. A total of over 34,000 GPUs, which are fundamental resources used to train AI algorithms on billions of parameters of data, have also been procured by Meity through cloud and data centre providers, which include the likes of Jio,Tata Communications and Yotta. Since its announcement, the India AI Mission has been allocated close to $250 million over the previous and current fiscals. Meity does not disclose the exact budgetary utilization figure. Leaning on language data Singh, however, added that more than procuring GPUs and bringing down the cost of compute for startups building AI models, Indias biggest efforts are being pooled into procuring public datasets on Indian languages. All foundational models are trained on publicly available datasets. If you look at Wikipedia, which is one of the largest sources of open data used by AI startups, there are millions of pages of data in Englishbut the number of pages of data in Hindi would be around a few hundred thousand. The amount of data available in other Indian languages, such as Bangla or Assamese, is even less. This is why Meity, through its Bhashini programme, conducted a datasets sourcing drive to procure language data from our own sources," he said. Bhashini, to be sure, maintains a database of 22 Indian languages, which the AI Mission is offering to help startups build LLMs based on these languages. Singhs emphasis is already being reflected in early exampleson 8 May, Sarvam, the first startup approved by the AI Mission, introduced a text-to-speech LLM with native support for 11 Indian languages. In the long run, voice-first Indian language LLMs can come into application in public servicessuch as for a farmer who can use a public utility to reduce his irrigation costs, for access to healthcare in remote districts, and for improving education in fringe sectors. It is this that will be the biggest impact of AI in India," Singh said. While it is too early to test most of the models, Sarvam-M, the first of the Indic language-native AI models born in India, claimed to offer 20% superior performance in vernacular languages over foreign models. However, Sarvam-M is not a foundational modelbut is a 24-billion-parameter AI model trained on French startup Mistrals foundational models. Public service apps Industry stakeholders, too, concurred. For private corporates, we see a lot of investments going in with a commercial business outcome-linked approach," said Saibal Chakraborty, managing director and senior partner for India at management consultancy firm, Boston Consulting Group (BCG). While this only develops the upper layer of AI applications, the need of the hour is for startups to work on public service applications in AI. Not everyone needs to work on foundational models, or try to reinvent the wheelbut public utilities will likely emerge as the biggest disruptor in the long run." The efficacy of the Mission has also been questioned recently, with large, global tech firms such as Google and OpenAI adding support for Indian languages in their latest foundational models. Kashyap Kompella, veteran AI analyst and consultant, said that there would be room for both Big Tech firms and Indian startups to coexist despite targeting a similar base. Also Read | Italian Brainrot: the AI memes only kids know Enterprises are more likely to trust AI models offered by Big Tech, since they have stronger policies and safety safeguards. However, Indian firms have ample scope to disrupt critical sectors. The work on local AI models and investments should continue with a long-term focus, if the ultimate goal is not to be dependent solely on AI built outside the country," Kompella added. Singh reaffirmed this long-term focus, adding that the Mission will seek to create an impact for the future. By end-2026, we hope to see the India AI Mission give birth to five foundational LLMs, and up to 100 AI applications catering to public utilities in key sectors such as agriculture, education and healthcare. The governments role is to be an enabler for private firms to take on such work," he said. The initial public offering (IPO) of All Time Plastic will close for subscription on Monday, August 11. The mainboard IPO had for bidding on Thursday, August 7 and has so far received good response from investors. On August 6, All Time Plastics raised 119.9 crore from 12 institutional investors in its anchor book. The anchor investors included Ashoka India, ABSL Umbrella Ucits Fund, Canara Robeco MF, Bandhan Mutual Fund, Abakkus Asset Manager, 360 ONE Equity Opportunity Fund, Edelweiss, Nuvama, and Gagandeep Credit Capital. Around 50 per cent of the total offering is reserved for qualified institutional buyers, 35 per cent is set aside for retail investors, and the remaining 15 per cent is allocated to non-institutional investors. With over 14 years of expertise in manufacturing everyday plastic consumer products, All Time Plastics primarily exports to retailers across the European Union, the UK, and the US. In the domestic market, the company distributes its products through modern trade retailers, super distributors (who supply to distributors), and distributors catering to general trade stores. All Time Plastic IPO - subscription status All Time Plastic IPO was subscribed over 1.02 times by the end of the second day of bidding on August 8. The mainboard IPO has so far received 1,07,80,074 shares against offered 1,05,46,297, as of 5 pm on Friday, August 8. The retail portion was booked 1.44 times on the second day, meanwhile, Non-Institutional Investors (NIIs) and Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs) were subscribed over 0.85 and 0.37 times. All Time Plastic IPO GMP today All Time Plastic IPO grey market premium (GMP) is +12. This means that the shares of All Time Plastic IPO is currently trading at a premium of 12 in the grey market, according to investorgain.com. Based on the upper limit of the IPO price band and the prevailing premium in the grey market, All Time Plastics shares are expected to list at around 287 each a 4.36 per cent gain over the IPO price of 275. Grey market trends over the last six sessions indicate an upward movement in the IPOs GMP today, pointing towards a strong debut. As per investorgain.com experts, the GMP has ranged from a low of 0 to a high of 25. 'Grey market premium' indicates investors' readiness to pay more than the issue price. All Time Plastic IPO details The All Time Plastics IPO includes a fresh equity share issue worth 280 crore by the company, along with an offer for sale of over 43.8 lakh shares from the promoters, valued at 120.6 crore at the upper price band. The IPO price band is set between 260 and 275 per share, bringing the total issue size to 401 crore. Proceeds from the fresh issue will be used for purchasing machinery for the companys Manekpur facility in Gujarat, repaying debt, meeting general corporate needs, and funding various expansion plans. Intensive Fiscal Services and DAM Capital Advisors are acting as the merchant bankers for All Time Plastics public issue. All Time Plastic IPO - Review Anshul Jain, Head of Research at Lakshmishree Investment, while giving subscribe for long-term rating, said that the All Time Plastics IPO is set to IPO with a strong focus on design-led and sustainable products. Its established relationships with global retail giants and strong brand presence in the domestic market give it a competitive edge. The IPO aims to fund significant expansion and automation, strengthening its manufacturing capabilities for future growth. However, a closer look reveals the company's dependency on volatile raw material prices (polypropylene and polyethene), which can impact profitability. The company also faces risks from intense competition and a dynamic consumer market. Despite these challenges, All Time Plastics Ltd.'s strong brand, strategic growth plans, and alignment with modern consumer preferences for quality and sustainability make it an attractive long-term play. Verdict: Subscribe for the long term, Jain added. Meanwhile, Gaurav Goel, Founder & Director at Fynocrat Technologies also gave subscribe for long-term tag said, All Time Plastics combines a strong global export footprint with steady financial performance, robust return ratios, and expanding product lines. The IPO valuations appear moderate relative to peers, with a P/E of ~30.5x and EV/EBITDA of ~19x, supported by margins above 18% and a RoNW of 19%. The IPO offers investors an opportunity to participate in a growing consumer exports franchise with efficient operations and a reasonable valuation compared to listed peers. By Julie Zhu, Selena Li and Kane Wu HONG KONG (Reuters) -At least two dozen Chinese companies have confidentially filed for listing in Hong Kong this year and more are preparing to do so, two industry sources said, following a new rule permitting private filings at a time of heightened market volatility. The Hong Kong exchange's rule for U.S.-style confidential filings, which allows certain companies to keep their business plans and financials under wraps in the initial stages of their stock market debut process, was implemented in May. Chinese companies, including autonomous driving firm Zelos Tech and artificial intelligence (AI) startup MiniMax, have filed confidentially in recent months to get themselves listed in the city, according to separate sources. Most filings followed the launch of the Technology Enterprises Channel (TECH) in May, allowing certain niche biotech and technology firms, including AI companies, to apply privately. Confidential filings appeal to sectors such as AI and semiconductors that are deemed sensitive due to heightened macroeconomic and geopolitical risks, advisers say. The mechanism allows firms to navigate the regulatory review process without public disclosure, offering flexibility when IPO timelines are uncertain, according to several senior bankers at global and Chinese investment banks. Previously, without getting exemptions from the Hong Kong exchange, only firms already listed on another major overseas bourse could lodge draft prospectuses confidentially ahead of launching a share sale in the Asian financial hub. The new filing mechanism is set to bolster Hong Kong as a preferred fundraising venue mainly for Chinese companies amid fierce competition with other major listing venues, notably New York, where confidential filings have been allowed for years. A record number of Chinese companies are seeking a U.S. listing this year, braving volatile Sino-U.S. relations and U.S. calls for strict oversight of Chinese firms, Reuters reported last week. Still, Hong Kong has been propelled by the influx of Chinese companies to the global top spot by listing volume of initial and second listings so far this year, overtaking its biggest rival, New York Stock Exchange, according to data from LSEG. The listing momentum is set to continue with more than 190 listing applications - approximately 45% in technology and 20% in healthcare, according to the exchange operator Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd (HKEX). U.S.-listed robotaxi companies Pony AI and WeRide have also submitted confidential filings for their second listings in Hong Kong earlier this year, two sources with knowledge of the matter said. The sources declined to be named as they were not authorised to speak to the media. MiniMax, Pony AI and WeRide declined to comment. Zelos did not respond to Reuters' request for comment. HKEX declined to comment for this story or on the total number of confidential applications. REGULATORY REVIEW Other companies not covered under the newly-launched TECH initiative can request a waiver from the Hong Kong exchange to keep their listing applications private, according to capital markets bankers and lawyers. Fast-fashion retailer Shein, for example, lodged its filing for a Hong Kong IPO confidentially last month, in the most high-profile such case so far, according to two separate sources with direct knowledge of the matter. Shein did not respond to a request for comment. Confidential filings are advantageous in the innovation-driven economy. Biotech companies are particularly cautious about releasing information on their projects and research and development plans due to intense competition in the sector, according to Jean Thio, a Clifford Chance capital markets partner. "These companies have valuable IP that's being developed and they're trying to monetise that," Thio said. "If you were to put all that information out at such an early stage, there are worries that you could be leaking confidential trade secrets which your competitors could use against you." A typical IPO process in Hong Kong generally takes at least six months from filing preliminary documents to launching the book, bankers and lawyers said. "The market just shifts overnight with geopolitical or just tariff news. No one wants to be in the headline of an IPO flop after they file," said a Chinese company executive who held discussions about filing confidentially for a Hong Kong IPO. Indias capital market regulator has proposed sweeping reforms for large value funds (LVFs), including reducing the minimum investment threshold from 70 crore to 25 crore and major compliance relaxations. These changes could dramatically widen access for sophisticated domestic investors. Mint explains what is changing, why it matters, and the likely impact on Indias alternative investment industry. What are large value funds? Large value funds are specific schemes of alternative investment funds (AIF) where every investor (excluding the manager, sponsor, and certain insiders) is an accredited investor and commits a large minimum amount. These funds already enjoy some relaxations, such as faster scheme launches, higher single-investee limits, longer tenure extensions, and equal rights for investors with waivers. According to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), as of 30 June, the LVF segment comprised 62 schemes with commitments of about 1.34 trillion and nearly 60,000 crore in investments, indicating steady traction since their 2021 launch. What has Sebi proposed? Sebi floated a consultation paper to ease rules for LVFs for widening participation by sophisticated investors by reducing compliance costs and narrowing the gap with global practices. Sebi has proposed the following: Lowering the minimum investment per investor from 70 crore to 25 crore to broaden access without diluting investor sophistication. 70 crore to 25 crore to broaden access without diluting investor sophistication. Exempting LVFs from following Sebis standard private placement memorandum (PPM) template, which specifies the personal responsibility of investment committee members for compliance, and the need for National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM) certification for an AIF managers key investment team (for AIFs that run only LVF schemes). Removing the current cap of 1,000 investors per AIF scheme for LVFs, citing high ticket size and accredited status as safeguards. Allowing existing AIF schemes to convert into LVFsif every investor meets the LVF threshold and is accreditedsubject to unanimous investor consent. The paper is open for public comments until 29 August. Why reduce the minimum threshold from 70 crore to 25 crore? Sebis working group flagged that 70 crore is prohibitive for many domestic institutions and family offices, especially those bound by internal diversification guidelines and insurance sector exposure caps. Lowering the threshold to 25 crore is meant to expand the investable pool while keeping the bar high enough to ensure investor sophistication and negotiated protections. LVFs have practically been closely held funds due to the high ticket size of 70 crore. "Coupled with the proposed reduced ticket size for LVFs, open-ended Category III LVFs may be able to benefit from the removal of the 1,000-investor cap as they are evergreen funds," said Nandini Pathak, partner at Bombay Law Chambers. This proposal should make AIFs much more accessible, especially for domestic institutions such as insurance companies and pension funds," added Himanshu Periwal, chief operating officer at alternative asset management firm Oister Global. He also said Sebis proposal was closer to the minimum investment requirements for LVFs in similar products such as portfolio management services. Given historically low onshore allocations, this change could prompt domestic institutions to start meaningfully allocating to AIFs. Why remove the 1,000-investor cap for LVFs? Given the large minimum commitment and participation allowed only for accredited investors, Sebi believes the numerical cap is less relevant for LVFs. Lifting it could help evergreen or scalable strategies without compromising safeguards rooted in investor sophistication and ticket size. The cap of 1,000 investors is generally quite liberal. Nevertheless, removing it for LVFs is certainly welcome One can expect LVFs being more popular when these benefits are introduced," said Vivaik Sharma, partner at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas law firm. Lifting this cap will help fund managers to scale up, and could make these structures more attractive overall," said Periwal. With bigger, more diverse pools of money and investors, these funds can play a larger role in Indias financial markets." Can existing AIFs opt into the LVF regime? Sebi has proposed permitting AIF schemes to convert into LVFs, provided every investor meets the LVF criteria, is accredited, and gives their consent. Allowing migration of existing schemes into LVFs is exciting since such schemes may avail flexibilities like exemption from pro-rata rights requirement and also reduce compliance obligations by meeting a lower ticket size of 25 crore," Sharma said. Why relax the requirement for NISM certification? Sebi proposed removing the NISM certification requirement for AIFs that run only LVF schemes as accredited investors can independently assess and negotiate manager credentials and track records, and deploy internal or external advisors for due diligence. This mirrors the bespoke nature of large-ticket private capital globally. Sharma said relaxing the NISM certification criteria would boost the popularity of LVFs. The key reason behind the suggested exemptions for managers is that it should cut down operational overhang and costs for both the funds and investors," Periwal added. What happens to disclosure and oversight? Currently, some exemptions from the private placement memorandum template and annual PPM term audits kick in only when each investor commits 70 crore and explicitly waives those requirements. Sebi has proposed categorical exemptions to LVFs without needing specific waivers each time, given that accredited investors already sign undertakings acknowledging risks and lower regulatory oversight. This move is intended to streamline documentation while preserving negotiated, bespoke terms for large, sophisticated backers. Practically, since thresholds for accredited investors and investors who can waive the requirement of following PPM template and conducting PPM audits are the same (i.e., 70 crores), LVFs often request these waivers from investors," said Sharma of Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas. Why exempt investment committee members from personal responsibility? Under current rules, investment committee members can be insulated from personal responsibility for compliance only in high-ticket, waiver-based contexts. Sebi proposed extending that relief categorically to LVFs, again without needing specific waivers, so long as overall accountability remains with the fund, its manager, and key managerial persons. The idea is to facilitate the use of expert investment committees without deterring participation through personal liability risks for sophisticated, negotiated pools. These are good-to-have operational benefits," said Pathak of Bombay Law Chambers, adding that the proposals partly restore pre-2020 flexibilities, now limited to LVFs. Sebi should have also considered allowing deal-by-deal structures for LVFs, similar to angel funds," she suggested. BlueStone, Indias second-largest digital-first omni-channel jewellery brand, is stepping into the public markets with an initial public offering (IPO) that is notably cheaper than the 578 per share its promoters paid just eight months ago. Priced at 492- 517, the 1,540.65 crore issue raises the question: does this discount outweigh the risks of steep valuations and ongoing net losses? The offer, which opened today, comprises a fresh issue of 820 crore and an offer-for-sale worth 720.65 crore. Selling shareholders include Accel India, Saama Capital, and Kalaari Capital, each locking in substantial returns of 480%962% on their early bets. With 275 stores across 117 cities, BlueStone sells contemporary lifestyle jewellery in diamond, gold, platinum, and studded designs. Also Read | The fall and rise of fine jewellery startup BlueStone At the upper end of the price band, the IPO values BlueStone at roughly 7,823 crore. Of the fresh proceeds, 750 crore will fund working capital, with the rest going toward general corporate purposes. But before considering an investment, its worth unpacking BlueStones growth drivers, competitive edge, and valuation. How does BlueStones business model work? BlueStone runs an omni-channel jewellery business under its flagship brand, blending a digital-first, direct-to-consumer (DTC) approach with a rapidly expanding offline presence. It sells through its website and mobile app, as well as its 275 stores across 117 cities, 200 company-owned and 75 franchised. Its online and offline channels are tightly linked: customers often browse designs online before visiting a store, or place orders online for store pickup or home delivery. This integration not only lifts conversion rates but also guides decisions on where to open new stores, boosting the odds of early profitability. Roughly 75% of outlets turn profitable within three months of opening. As of March, the company offered 7,400 designs across 91 collections, including rings, earrings, necklaces, pendants, solitaires, bangles, bracelets, and chains. Studded jewellery is its core strength, contributing 68% of FY25 revenue, far ahead of Titan (27%) and Kalyan (30%). Also Read | Gold surge sparks demand shift to studded jewellery Prices range from under 5,000 to over 17 lakh, with average order values rising from 32,038 in FY23 to 47,671 in FY25. Key strengths BlueStones brand positioning is tuned to changing buying behaviour. In 2024, an estimated 50-60% of jewellery purchases were digitally influenced. The companys online-first approach drives discovery, engagement, and store traffic. Its social reach includes 2.65 million Facebook followers, 713,000 on Instagram, and 161,000 on YouTube. This strategy has paid off: unique online sessions jumped from 818 lakh in FY23 to 2,988 lakh in FY25, while its active customer base nearly doubled from 390,959 to 771,845 over the same period. While physical stores contribute 93.3% of revenue, the online platform remains a powerful lead generator. Moreover, unlike legacy jewellers focused on bridal or high-value investment pieces, BlueStone targets lighter, design-led jewellery for daily wear and special occasions. This appeals to the 25-45 age group, younger, design-conscious buyers more influenced by digital engagement. This segment remains underpenetrated by large incumbents, offering room for growth. In-house manufacturing advantage Bluestones vertically integrated model is another moat. It manufactures over 75% of its jewellery in-house, making it the largest retailer in India with such capacity. This vertical integration allows strict quality control, faster design-to-store timelines, and innovations such as same-day delivery and try-at-home" services. Repeat revenue rose from 34.67% in FY23 to 44.61% in FY25, among the highest in the industry. Despite its heavy marketing investments, BlueStone spent only 9% of revenue on advertising in FY25, down from 10.9% in FY23, placing it among the top four jewellers in India with the lowest marketing spends. This, however, is higher than Titan (5%) and Kalyan (1.9%). Store expansion and manufacturing footprint Between FY23 and FY25, BlueStone opened 120 new stores across India, averaging about 60 per year. The network is well-diversified, avoiding over-reliance on any single region. Of its 275 stores, 145 are in tier-I cities, 77 in tier-II, and 53 in tier-III. Same-store sales grew 32% in FY25, strong, but lower than the 72% growth in FY23, partly due to new store openings diluting the growth rate. Geographically, the North leads with 83 stores, followed by the South (77), West (65), and East (50). Store-level economics remain healthy, with nearly 75% breaking even within three months of launch. For outlets operational for more than three years, average monthly revenue has risen from 55.9 lakh in FY23 to 76.8 lakh in FY25. Of the total stores, 75 stores are owned by franchisees who provide the entire capital for these outlets, including investment and inventory costs. In return, Bluestone offers a high minimum guaranteed return on investment or store revenue. This model helps the company to grow rapidly with low upfront costs and low risk. However, BlueStone plans to expand its network of company-owned stores to reduce dependence on franchise capital. Bluestone intends to open over 290 new stores between FY25 and FY27, expanding across existing cities and new markets. As of March, BlueStone had three manufacturing facilities in Mumbai, Jaipur, and Surat. Capacity utilization at these plants has steadily improved over FY23-25, reflecting both strong demand and the efficiency of its vertically integrated model. Financial performance The company's revenue has doubled, from 771 crore in FY23 to 1,770 crore in FY25. This growth has been driven by growth in customer base, store count, and average order value. The company commands a gross margin of 37.9%, up from 31.9% in FY23, which is higher than Titans (21.5%) and Kalyans (13%). The margin is higher due to a greater contribution from higher-margin studded jewellery. The company has also turned profitable at the Ebitda level, with a margin of 4.1% in FY25 compared to a loss margin of 7.3% in FY23. Ebitda swung from a loss of 56 crore in FY23 to a profit of 73 crore in FY25. Despite operational improvement, BlueStone remains loss-making at the net level. Its losses widened from 167 crore to 222 crore over the same period. Rising finance costs, employee benefits and depreciation expenses have eroded the benefits of strong revenue growth and weighed on overall profitability. On the balance sheet, total borrowings have risen from 228 crore in FY23 to 729 crore in FY25. However, its net-debt-to-equity ratio remains comfortable at 0.67 times, supported by cash and other deposits exceeding 500 crore. Also Read | Titans Mia doubles down on expansion as shoppers go light on gold Inventory levels have risen sharply, from 395 crore in FY23 to 1,652.5 crore in FY25. A demand slowdown could risk excess inventory or under-stocking, impacting business performance. Nonetheless, the company believes its store revenue productivity has significant room for growth. Same-store sales growth across existing and new outlets is expected to drive expansion in store-level margins and return metrics. Valuation and outlook From a valuation standpoint, BlueStones asking price appears steep, at over 4x sales and about 115x Ebitda, significantly higher than peers. In comparison, Senco Gold is at 0.8x and 15.8x, PN Gadgil at 1x and 21.3x, and even the fastest-growing Kalyan Jewellers trades at about 2x and 32x. For more such analysis, read Profit Pulse. That said, the IPO pricing is below the 578 per share that the company allotted to its promoter in December 2024, offering some comfort to investors. Still, profitability challenges and the valuation premium remain concerns. Key risks include sustained losses, gold price volatility, and rising competition from lab-grown diamonds. Yet, with Indias daily-wear jewellery segment projected to grow 15-18% annually to 5 trillion, and account for 40-45% of the total jewellery market, BlueStone is well-positioned to capture an expanding niche. Madhvendra has over seven years of experience in equity markets and writes detailed research articles on listed Indian companies, sectoral trends, and macroeconomic developments. The writer does not hold the stocks discussed in this article. The purpose of this article is only to share interesting charts, data points, and thought-provoking opinions. It is NOT a recommendation. If you wish to consider an investment, you are strongly advised to consult your advisor. This article is strictly for educational purposes only. The Nifty 50 closed sharply lower on Friday, declining 232.85 points (0.95%) to settle at 24,363.30, tracking broad-based selling across sectors. BSE Sensex mirrored the weakness, shedding 765.47 points to close at 79,857.79. Sectorally, all indices ended in the red, with metals, realty, pharma, auto, private banks, and consumer durables losing 1-2%, signalling pervasive bearish sentiment. Broader markets underperformed, with the BSE Midcap and Smallcap indices falling 1.5% and 1%, respectively. On to the best stock picks for 11 August, recommended by Indias leading market experts. Two stock recommendations by MarketSmith India Buy: Caplin Point Laboratories (Current price: 2,102) Why Caplin Point is recommended: Strong import and export position, expanding global footprint, robust manufacturing infrastructure Strong import and export position, expanding global footprint, robust manufacturing infrastructure Key metrics P/E : 27.60 52-week high : 96.86 Volume : 2,641.00 crore Technical analysis: Reclaimed its 21-DMA on above-average volume Reclaimed its 21-DMA on above-average volume Risk factors: Regulatory and compliance risk, product portfolio and R&D risk, operational and supply chain risk, and competition and pricing pressure Regulatory and compliance risk, product portfolio and R&D risk, operational and supply chain risk, and competition and pricing pressure Buy: 2,111 2,111 Target price: 2,360 in two to three months 2,360 in two to three months Stop loss: 1,990 Buy: ITC Ltd (Current price: 414) Why ITC is recommended: Diversified business portfolio, strong brand equity and distribution network Key metrics P/E : 25.67 52-week high : 499 Volume : 406.59 crore Technical analysis : consumption play : consumption play Risk factors : Commodity price volatility, competitive pressure in FMCG : Commodity price volatility, competitive pressure in FMCG Buy at : 410-415 : 410-415 Target price : 450 in 2-3 months : 450 in 2-3 months Stop loss: 399 Best phosphate industry stocks to buy, recommended by NeoTraders Raja Venkatraman Madhya Bharat Agro Products Ltd (Cmp: 422.40) MBAPL: Buy above 422 and on dips near 405 | Stop below 398 for a rise towards 470-490 Why its recommended: Madhya Bharat Agro Products has been undergoing some consolidation, and in the last couple of days, steady buying interest has helped to curtail the bearish momentum. With demand at every decline has pushed prices ahead. Ahead of the next week, the prices have pushed beyond the median line, which spells well for the counter. The RSI has dipped into the neutral zone and is looking for a revival to push for more upside, and can be considered as a continuation of the positive sign of resumption. Madhya Bharat Agro Products has been undergoing some consolidation, and in the last couple of days, steady buying interest has helped to curtail the bearish momentum. With demand at every decline has pushed prices ahead. Ahead of the next week, the prices have pushed beyond the median line, which spells well for the counter. The RSI has dipped into the neutral zone and is looking for a revival to push for more upside, and can be considered as a continuation of the positive sign of resumption. Key metrics P/E : 49.88 52-week high : 465 Volume : 203.64k Technical analysis: Support at 345, resistance at 490 Support at 345, resistance at 490 Risk factors: Regulatory policy changes affecting the fertilizer industry, high dependence on government subsidies, volatility in raw material prices, and the impact of monsoon vagaries on agriculture. Regulatory policy changes affecting the fertilizer industry, high dependence on government subsidies, volatility in raw material prices, and the impact of monsoon vagaries on agriculture. Buy: Above 422 and dips to 405 Above 422 and dips to 405 Target price: 470-490 in 1 month 470-490 in 1 month Stop loss: 398 Khaitan Chemicals and Fertilizers Ltd (Cmp: 103.72) KHAICHEM: Buy above 105 and dips to 99 | Stop: 97 | Target: 113-116 Why its recommended: Khaitan Chemicals holds a market leadership position in single super phosphate (SSP) fertilizers, and manufactures a range of other chemicals. This counter has managed to hold above key resistance zones to head strongly higher in the latter half of the week. The pullback post its upward charge seen lately offers us an opportunity to initiate some long. With the TS line firmly inching higher since the last few days, as per Ichimoku, TS & KS lines are hinting at possible upward drift. Khaitan Chemicals holds a market leadership position in single super phosphate (SSP) fertilizers, and manufactures a range of other chemicals. This counter has managed to hold above key resistance zones to head strongly higher in the latter half of the week. The pullback post its upward charge seen lately offers us an opportunity to initiate some long. With the TS line firmly inching higher since the last few days, as per Ichimoku, TS & KS lines are hinting at possible upward drift. Key metrics P/E : 25.22 52-week high : 114.28 Volume : 10.50m Technical analysis: Support at 350; resistance at 500 Support at 350; resistance at 500 Risk factors: The companys debt-to-equity ratio, price volatility for raw materials like rock phosphate and sulphuric acid, exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations, and government policy changes. The companys debt-to-equity ratio, price volatility for raw materials like rock phosphate and sulphuric acid, exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations, and government policy changes. Buy: CMP and dips to 99 CMP and dips to 99 Target price: 113-116 in 1 month 113-116 in 1 month Stop loss: 97 Paradeep Phosphates Ltd (Cmp: 224.77) PARADEEP: Buy CMP and dips to 211 | Stop: 205 | Target: 250-260 Why its recommended: Paradeep Phosphates has shown strong financial performance, evidenced by robust sales and profit growth, positive operational trends, significant capacity expansion, and a strong market position in the Indian fertilizer industry. The trends have been consolidating over the past few days, and the steady price despite the market declines indicates that prices may pick up once the bullish momentum is reinstated. Consider a long at current levels. Paradeep Phosphates has shown strong financial performance, evidenced by robust sales and profit growth, positive operational trends, significant capacity expansion, and a strong market position in the Indian fertilizer industry. The trends have been consolidating over the past few days, and the steady price despite the market declines indicates that prices may pick up once the bullish momentum is reinstated. Consider a long at current levels. Key metrics P/E : 22.83 52-week high : 234.05 Volume : 413.61k Technical analysis: Support at 100; resistance at 140 Support at 100; resistance at 140 Risk factors: Issues from rising input costs, price volatility for raw materials like rock phosphate and sulphuric acid, exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations, and government policy changes. Issues from rising input costs, price volatility for raw materials like rock phosphate and sulphuric acid, exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations, and government policy changes. Buy: CMP and dips to 211 CMP and dips to 211 Target price: 250-260 in 1 month 250-260 in 1 month Stop loss: 205 Top three stock picks by Ankush Bajaj for 11 August Sarda Energy and Minerals Ltd (Current price: 534.95) Why its recommended: Sarda Energy and Minerals' daily RSI is 65, indicating steady bullish momentum. MACD is positive at 26, and ADX at 28 reflects a strengthening trend. After making a new lifetime high, the stock witnessed some profit booking and is now trading at a recent major demand zone. This zone is expected to act as strong support, potentially triggering a rebound from current levels. Key metrics: Demand zone trading near major demand support after lifetime high Pattern: Pullback to support within ongoing uptrend MACD: Positive at 26 RSI: Daily RSI at 65 shows bullish bias ADX: At 28, indicating trend strength Technical analysis: Demand zone support suggests a bounce towards 610 Risk factors: A close below 498 would weaken the support and warrant caution Buy at: 534.95 Target price: 610 Stop loss: 498 Global Health LtdMedanta (Current price: 1,423.20) Why its recommended: Global Health Ltds daily RSI is 71, showing strong bullish strength. MACD is at 31, and ADX at 35 confirms a robust trending phase. On the daily chart, the stock has broken out of a triangle pattern a continuation setup often leading to further upside. The breakout is supported by strong momentum indicators, making the stock poised for a move towards 1,540. Key metrics: Breakout zone: Triangle breakout confirmed Pattern: Continuation pattern indicating trend resumption MACD: Positive at 31 RSI: Daily RSI at 71, reflecting strong buying pressure ADX: At 35, confirming trend strength Technical analysis: Breakout suggests further upside towards 1,540 Risk factors: A close below 1,362 would invalidate the breakout Buy at: 1,423.20 Target price: 1,540 Stop loss: 1,362 Cummins India Ltd (Current price: 3,806.90) Why its recommended: Cummins India shows strong momentum with a daily RSI at 76, MACD at 71, and ADX at 31, all confirming bullish dominance. The stochastic oscillator has also given a strong breakout above the 3,700 level, turning that zone into a crucial support. Sustaining above this breakout point keeps the bias positive, with potential for an upward move towards 3,955. Key metrics: Breakout zone: Stochastic breakout above 3,700 Pattern: Momentum continuation MACD: Strong positive at 71 RSI: Daily RSI at 76, reflecting overbought, but powerful uptrend ADX: At 31, indicating a strong trend Technical analysis: Sustaining above 3,700 supports bullish continuation towards 3,955 Risk factors: A close below 3,735 would weaken bullish momentum Buy at: 3,806.90 Target price: 3,955 Stop loss: 3,735 MarketSmith India is a stock research platform and advisory service focused on the Indian stock market. Trade name: William O'Neil India Pvt. Ltd. (Sebi Registered Research Analyst Registration No.: INH000015543). Raja Venkatraman is co-founder, NeoTrader. His Sebi-registered research analyst registration no. is INH000016223. Ankush Bajaj is a Sebi-registered research analyst. His registration number is INH000010441. Investments in securities are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing. Registration granted by Sebi and certification from NISM in no way guarantees performance of the intermediary or provide any assurance of returns to investors. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions. Spice Lounge Food Works (formerly known as Shalimar Agencies), one of the countrys fast-growing food and tech companies, has delivered handsome returns to Dalal Street investors, with its shares continuing to climb, breaking record highs, and emerging as one of the biggest wealth creators in the Indian stock market in recent times. The stock has been hitting upper circuit limits in recent months, causing the wealth of its shareholders to rise sharply, as the company is entirely owned by retail shareholders with zero per cent promoter stake, according to the latest data available on the BSE. Founded in 2019 in India, the company operates in India, the USA, and Canada. It holds exclusive franchise rights for global brands like Buffalo Wild Wings, Wingzone, eTouch, and TekSoft, and it owns four original brandsBlaze Kebabs, Xora, Salud, and Sunburn Union. Focused on innovation and quality, the company is rapidly expanding its global footprint, according to its website. It also provides computer and outsourcing services in the information technology sector, including data, voice, or video collection and processing, as well as call center services. Last week, the company informed the exchanges about its name change to Spice Lounge Food Works Limited from Shalimar Agencies, effective from today. Spice Lounge Food Works share price history From a trading price of 4.60 apiece one year ago, the stock has surged 741% to its current level of 38.72 apiece. Even during periods of sharp volatility in the small-cap segment, the stock did not lose momentum and continued to surge higher, resulting in a 1,043% jump over the last three years and 3,143% over the last five years, raising from 1.12 apiece. The stellar rise in the stock price has also pushed the companys market capitalization to 2,645 crore as of August 11. The company is expected to announce its June quarter numbers on August 14 (Thursday). It ended FY25 with a net profit of 6 crore on revenue of 105 crore. Impact on investment The massive rise in the share price over a short period has significantly boosted investor wealth. An investor who had put 1 lakh into the stock five years ago and held onto it would have seen its value grow to 34.57 lakh, highlighting the wealth-creating potential of the stock market when the right counters are chosen. Meanwhile, the stock has been trading on an ex-split basis in the ratio of 1:10 since March 2025. The above calculation does not factor in the post-split benefit. CANBERRA, - Chicago soybean prices rose more than 2% on Monday after U.S. President Donald Trump said he hoped China would quadruple its soybean orders from the United States. China is the largest soy importer in the world, but has been shunning U.S. beans for South American ones on the back of trade and diplomatic tensions. Trade talks between U.S. and Chinese officials are ongoing. "China is worried about its shortage of soybeans," Trump posted on Truth Social. "I hope China will quickly quadruple its soybean orders. This is also a way of substantially reducing China's Trade Deficit with the USA." The most active soybean contract on the Chicago Board of Trade was up 2.1% at $10.08 a bushel at 0417 GMT, having been little changed before Trump's post. Chicago wheat and corn futures also gained after the post, with CBOT wheat up 0.9% at $5.19 a bushel and corn 0.3% higher at $4.06-3/4 a bushel. However, prices of all three crops remain under pressure from plentiful global supply. Last week, wheat fell to a five-year low, soybeans to a four-month low and corn to contract lows. Analysts polled by Reuters think the USDA will raise its U.S. corn and soybean production estimates in a monthly report due on August 12. Northern Hemisphere wheat harvests are, meanwhile, pouring grain into the market. Low prices appear to have stimulated some demand for U.S. exports. U.S. weekly export sales of soybeans, corn and wheat were higher than expected last week, and the USDA has reported a series of flash sales of corn in recent days. Speculators are still bearish, however. Non-commercial traders trimmed their net short position in CBOT corn futures in the week to Aug. 5 but expanded their net shorts in wheat and soybeans, regulatory data showed. Large short positions make the markets vulnerable to bouts of short covering that accelerate upward price moves. Photo: https://mod.gov.ua/news/ The current status of a number of defense contracts, in particular the conditions and terms of the arrival of Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, was discussed by Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Serhiy Boyev and Defense Attache at the German Embassy in Ukraine Thorsten Fries. According to the website of the Ministry of Defense on Monday, the interlocutors discussed the status and relevance of a number of contracts - deadlines, needs and the possibility of their extension. In particular, this concerned the production of ammunition, missiles for air defense and long-range weapons. A separate issue was the steps towards the development of joint ventures, their financing and expansion of capabilities. "For Ukraine, timing and understanding of deliveries and implementation of agreements are critically important. This allows us to clearly plan military operations and protect the civilian population and infrastructure," Boyev emphasized. Stocks to buy under 100: The Indian stock market ended lower for the sixth straight session, and the Nifty 50 index clocked its longest losing streak since March 2020. This sustained downturn over six weeks has resulted in a cumulative loss of 4.97% for the Nifty 50 index. On the week's final session, the selling pressure was acute, as the Nifty fell 232 points (0.95%) to close at 24,363, marking its lowest level in the last three months. In an overall weak market today, a few names showed relative resilience. NTPC, Titan, and Dr. Reddy's Laboratories led the charge among the Nifty's top performers. Conversely, it was a particularly tough session for IndusInd Bank, Bharti Airtel, and Adani Enterprises, which ended as the major losers within the Nifty pack. Trading volumes in the NSE cash market were slightly higher by 2% compared to yesterday. Stock market today Speaking on the outlook of the Nifty 50 index, Nandish Shah, Deputy Vice President, HDFC Securities, said, "The Nifty 50 index is currently heading towards its next significant support zone of 24,150 to 24,200, where multiple technical signals, including the 200-day DEMA, a price gap, and Fibonacci retracements, all coincide. On the upside, the 24,500-24,600 band is expected to offer resistance." On the outlook of the Bank Nifty today, Shiju Kuthupalakkal, Senior Manager of Technical Research at Prabhudas Lilladher, said, "The Bank Nifty index plunged from the 55,600 zone in the morning session and continued with the slide as the day progressed to end on a weak note with a bearish engulfing pattern on the daily chart signalling weak sentiment and can anticipate further slide. The 100-period MA positioned at the 54,800 level is at risk, and a decisive breach below shall trigger a fresh downward slide with the 53,500 zone as the major support of the previous low made." Stocks to buy today Regarding stocks to buy today, market experts Mehul Kothari, Deputy Vice President of Technical Research at Anand Rathi; Vaishali Parekh, Vice President of Technical Research at Prabhudas Lilladher; Anshul Jain, Head of Research at Lakshmishree Investment; and Sugandha Sachdeva, Founder of SS WealthStreet, recommended these six intraday stocks for today: TTML, Delta Corp, Bank of Maharashtra, Filatex India, Geojit Financial Services, and Sumit Woods. Mehul Kothari's intraday stocks for today 1] TTML: Buy at 57, Target 60, Stop Loss 55.50; and 2] Delta Corp: Buy at 82, Target 86, Stop Loss 80. Vaishali Parekh's stock recommendations today 3] Bank of Maharashtra: Buy at 55.65, Target 59, Stop Loss 54. Anshul Jain's stocks to buy under 100 4] Filatex India: Buy at 52, Target 57, Stop Loss 50; and 5] Geojit Financial Services: Buy at 72, Target 76, Stop Loss 70. Sugandha Sachdeva's share to buy under 100 6] Sumit Woods: Buy at 95.70, Targets 100.70, 103.50, Stop Loss 91.50. The global phosphate industry underpins modern agriculture and various industrial applications, with the market valued at $23.2 billion in 2023 and forecast to reach $29.5 billion by 2030. Growth is driven largely by the fertilizer segment, estimated at $61.4 billion in 2025 and projected to hit $101 billion by 2035. The industry is rapidly embracing innovation to meet sustainability and efficiency goals. Notable global trends encompass: Enhancedefficiency fertilizers tailored to soil moisture and crop cycles. Water-soluble phosphate grades for precise drip and fertigation systems. Integration of precision-agriculture tools such as variable-rate spreaders, drones, and blockchain traceability. Circular-economy initiatives that recover phosphates from wastewater and mine tailings. In India, phosphate demand is accelerating under balanced-nutrient subsidy schemes, making it the fastest-growing national market in 2025. Domestic DAP inventories fell to 1.56 million tonnes by July 2025, prompting major import agreements: 3.1 million tonnes per year of Saudi DAP/NPS over five years. 2.5 million tonnes of Moroccan DAP and TSP contracted for 2025 deliveries. Policy incentives for precision-farming practices to boost nutrient-use efficiency. Despite robust growth, the industry faces both challenges and opportunities. Key considerations include: Volatile phosphate-rock and ammonia feedstock prices that pressure producer margins. Stricter environmental regulations driving R&D in slow-release and low-carbon technologies. Expanding demand from emerging economies offering new growth corridors. Navigating these dynamics will require integrated supply-chain resilience, strategic technology adoption, and continued commitment to sustainable practices. Based on the current scenarios, we will now look at stocks that could potentially initiate a long opportunity over the next few weeks. Also Read | India mulls scaling up high-end fertilizer production after China cuts supplies Best stocks to buy from phosphate industry by Raja Venkatraman Madhya Bharat Agro Products Ltd (MBAPL Cmp 422.40) MBAPL:Buy above 422 and on dips near 405 with stop below 398 for a rise towards 470 - 490. Why its recommended: The stock has been undergoing some consolidation and in the last couple of days steady buying interest has helped to curtail the bearish momentum. With demand at every decline has pushed the prices ahead. Ahead of the next week the prices have pushed beyond the median line that spells well for the counter. The RSI has dipped into the neutral zone and is looking for a revival to push for more upside and can be considered as a continuation of positive sign of resumption. The stock has been undergoing some consolidation and in the last couple of days steady buying interest has helped to curtail the bearish momentum. With demand at every decline has pushed the prices ahead. Ahead of the next week the prices have pushed beyond the median line that spells well for the counter. The RSI has dipped into the neutral zone and is looking for a revival to push for more upside and can be considered as a continuation of positive sign of resumption. Key metrics: P/E: 49.88 52-week high: 465 Volume: 203.64 K Technical analysis: Support at 345, resistance at 490. Support at 345, resistance at 490. Risk factors: Regulatory policy changes affecting the fertilizer industry, high dependence on government subsidies, volatility in raw material prices, and the impact of monsoon vagaries on agriculture. Regulatory policy changes affecting the fertilizer industry, high dependence on government subsidies, volatility in raw material prices, and the impact of monsoon vagaries on agriculture. Buy: above 422 and dips to 405. above 422 and dips to 405. Target price: 470-490 in 1 month. 470-490 in 1 month. Stop loss: 398. Khaitan Chemicals And Fertilizers Ltd (KHAICHEM Cmp 103.72) KHAICHEM:Buy above 105 and dips to 99, stop 97 target 113-116 Why its recommended: This company holds a market leadership position in Single Super Phosphate (SSP) fertilizers and manufactures a range of other chemicals. This counter has managed to hold above key resistance zones to head strongly higher in the latter half of the week. The pullback post its upward charge seen lately offers us an opportunity to initiate some long. With the TS line firmly inching higher since last few days as per Ichimoku TS & KS lines are hinting at possible upward drift. This company holds a market leadership position in Single Super Phosphate (SSP) fertilizers and manufactures a range of other chemicals. This counter has managed to hold above key resistance zones to head strongly higher in the latter half of the week. The pullback post its upward charge seen lately offers us an opportunity to initiate some long. With the TS line firmly inching higher since last few days as per Ichimoku TS & KS lines are hinting at possible upward drift. Key metrics: P/E: 25.22 52-week high: 114.28 Volume: 10.50M Technical analysis: Support at 350, resistance at 500. Support at 350, resistance at 500. Risk factors: The company's debt-to-equity ratio,price volatility for raw materials like rock phosphate and sulphuric acid, exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations, government policy changes. The company's debt-to-equity ratio,price volatility for raw materials like rock phosphate and sulphuric acid, exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations, government policy changes. Buy: CMP and dips to 99. CMP and dips to 99. Target price: 113-116 in 1 month. 113-116 in 1 month. Stop loss: 97. Paradeep Phosphates Ltd (PARADEEP Cmp 224.77) PARADEEP:Buy CMP and dips to 211, stop 205 target 250-260 Why its recommended: Paradeep Phosphates due to its strong financial performance, evidenced by robust sales and profit growth, positive operational trends, significant capacity expansion, and a strong market position in the Indian fertilizer industry. The trends have been consolidating over the past few days and the steady price despite the market declines indicate the prices may pick up once the bullish momentum is reinstated. Consider a long at current levels. Paradeep Phosphates due to its strong financial performance, evidenced by robust sales and profit growth, positive operational trends, significant capacity expansion, and a strong market position in the Indian fertilizer industry. The trends have been consolidating over the past few days and the steady price despite the market declines indicate the prices may pick up once the bullish momentum is reinstated. Consider a long at current levels. Key metrics: P/E: 22.83 52-week high: 234.05 Volume: 413.61 K Technical analysis: Support at 100, resistance at 140. Support at 100, resistance at 140. Risk factors: Issues arise rising input costs, price volatility for raw materials like rock phosphate and sulphuric acid, exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations, government policy changes. Issues arise rising input costs, price volatility for raw materials like rock phosphate and sulphuric acid, exposure to foreign exchange rate fluctuations, government policy changes. Buy: CMP and dips to 211. CMP and dips to 211. Target price: 250-260 in 1 month. 250-260 in 1 month. Stop loss: 205. Conclusion While Q4 FY2025 results were unevenmarked by softer margins at some majors offset by cost benefits from easing phosphaterock and ammonia pricesthe Indian phosphate fertilizer sector is gearing up for a structural re-rating. Government measures to diversify away from Chinese DAP imports, expanded balanced-nutrient subsidies, and rising farm income are driving a sharp uptick in domestic demand. At the same time, sustainability trendsfuelled by enhanced-efficiency formulations, precision fertigation uptake, and low-carbon production initiativesare reshaping the industrys long-term growth trajectory. As policymakers double down on import curbs and farmers embrace next-generation phosphate products, fertilizer stocks are poised to shift from purely cyclical agribusiness plays into strategic portfolio anchors. Raja Venkatraman is co-founder, NeoTrader. His Sebi-registered research analyst registration no. is INH000016223. Investments in securities are subject to market risks. Read all the related documents carefully before investing. Registration granted by Sebi and certification from NISM in no way guarantees performance of the intermediary or provide any assurance of returns to investors. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations given in this article are those of individual analysts. These do not represent the views of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions. Selling by promoters gathered pace during the June quarter, with the share of private promoters in the Indian stock market declining to an 8-year low. The stake held by India Inc promoters stood at 40.58% on June 30, 2025, compared with 40.81% on March 31, 2025. During the quarter, promoters sold a net value of 54,732 crore, according to data by primeinfobase.com. Stocks which saw highest promoter selloff in Q1 The top 10 companies where private promoter stake declined the most included some of the popular names like Vishal Mega Mart, Vodafone Idea and Sagility India. The promoters of these companies reduced their stakes by up to 37% during Q1 FY26. Wendt (India) saw the promoter stake halve to 37.50% in the June quarter from 75% in the March quarter. However, despite this, the small-cap stock gained 4% during the April-June quarter. EPL Limited was another small-cap stock that saw among the highest promoter selling during the period under review. Promoter holding in this stock declined by 24.89% to 26.42% in the June quarter. In Vishal Mega Mart, the promoter sold a 20.33% stake to bring their shareholding down to 54.22%. Company Promoter Holding (%) Mar 31, 2025 Promoter Holding (%) Jun 30, 2025 Decrease in Holding (%) WENDT (India) Ltd. 75 37.5 -37.5 EPL Ltd. 51.31 26.42 -24.89 Vishal Mega Mart Ltd. 74.55 54.22 -20.33 Hilton Metal Forging Ltd. 27.39 7.71 -19.68 Sagility India Ltd. 82.39 67.38 -15.01 Silgo Retail Ltd. 69.93 55.37 -14.56 Praxis Home Retail Ltd. 23.61 9.92 -13.69 Vodafone Idea Ltd. 38.8 25.57 -13.23 Aptus Value Housing Finance India Ltd. 52.98 40.37 -12.61 RPP Infra Projects Ltd. 51.01 39.18 -11.83 Hilton Metal, Sagility India, Silgo Retail and Praxis Home Retail are among other stocks where promoters offloaded stake to the tune of 19.63%, 15.01%, 14.56%, and 13.69%. Vodafone Idea also saw a promoter stake reduction of 13.23%. The beleaguered telecom company had sold a major chunk of its stake to the government of India in a bid to lower debt during Q1. Aptus Value and RPP Infra Projects are among other stocks that saw significant promoter stake reductions. Should you worry about promoter stake sales? According to Pranav Haldea, Managing Director, PRIME Database Group, while promoter buying is always a positive sign, promoter selling can be due to a wide variety of reasons such as promoters taking advantage of bullish markets to take money off the table, strategic reasons like debt reduction, legacy planning, philanthropy, investment in other ventures and meeting Minimum Public Shareholding (MPS) requirement as also for personal expenses. Relatively lower promoter holding in some of the recent IPO companies and overall institutionalisation of the market are some of the other reasons behind this fall, he explained. Haldia advised investors against pressing the panic button when promoters sell and instead should evaluate each case on its merit. According to Haldea, as long as promoters continue to hold a sizeable stake after the sale, with the sale not happening at a huge discount to market price and there being no significant change in the fundamentals of the company, there is no reason to worry. Personal loan: A case of fraud has come to light in Pune, where a borrower took a loan of 5 crore from a bank against the collateral of a property. The same asset was later used to raise another loan from a cooperative bank without obtaining a no-objection certificate from the previous bank. The borrowers happened to take the second loan on the basis of a forged NOC. When the borrower did not repay the loan, this fraud was discovered. The case, although committed against public institutions, teaches us a number of money lessons. 4 money lessons from this case I. Amount of loan: The loan amount should be small enough to be repaid easily. When the amount of the loan is too big, one may get tempted to raise a fresh loan to repay the previous loan, thus falling into a debt trap. II. Credibility of borrower: When a loan is obtained through fraudulent means by forging a document, e.g., as explained above, banks would most likely blacklist the borrower. Such practice whatever the temptation is a complete no-no. When you fail to repay the loan, banks inform the credit information companies, leading to a loss of credit score. When a credit score drops on account of non-repayment of a loan, the customer loses credibility to raise a fresh loan. Also Read | Loan demand outlook shows signs of optimism for Q2 FY26 onwards: RBI survey III. Authenticity of collateral: In this case, the borrower used duplicate documents after filing a false complaint claiming that the original documents were lost. If you plan to give a loan to a friend or someone you know in return for collateral, make sure you check the authenticity of the collateral. IV. Financial discipline: Needless to mention that financial discipline is key to good financial health. One should spend only after keeping aside what you need to save is vital. And if there is a need to raise a loan, the amount should be as low as possible. Disclaimer: Mint has a tie-up with fintechs for providing credit; you will need to share your information if you apply. These tie-ups do not influence our editorial content. This article only intends to educate and spread awareness about credit needs like loans, credit cards and credit score. Mint does not promote or encourage taking credit, as it comes with a set of risks such as high interest rates, hidden charges, etc. We advise investors to discuss with certified experts before taking any credit. The Indian banking sector is currently facing a significant uptick in personal loan defaults, most notably in small-ticket loans and rural regions. According to data compiled by the Fintech Association for Consumer Empowerment (FACE), loans overdue for more than 90 days climbed to 3.6% by March 2025. This is the highest in six quarters. Further, the stress is particularly acute among borrowers under the age of 25 and in tier-3 and rural areas, highlighting the challenges faced by young and new-to-credit consumers as financial obligations intensify. Private banks saw bad loan ratios edge up in the AprilJune 2025 quarter, with Kotak Mahindra Banks NPA rising to 1.48% and similar stress across the sector. Banks are now focusing on tightening lending, especially for unsecured loans, making it riskier for borrowers. Therefore, in such an environment, missing out on an EMI can hurt creditworthiness and future loan access. Let us hence discuss how a borrower can navigate the current financial climate after defaulting on a personal loan. 5 key things to do after you have defaulted on a personal loan EMI After defaulting, prompt action is required to limit damage to both your credit profile and borrower integrity. To ensure the same, consider these essential measures: Communicate early with your lender to explain the financial hardship and seek possible relief, such as restructuring or deferred payments. This is very important; ensure that you open up a channel of communication with your respective lending institution. Check for eligibility for EMI holidays or temporary payment deferral. For this, you must reach out to the respective customer support team of your lending institution, so that you can get clear instructions and appropriate guidance on the issue. Explore debt consolidation options if juggling multiple debts. Debt consolidation simply helps in making the entire repayment process smooth and consolidates the loans into one. Seek support from credit counsellors before legal notices escalate. You can also reach out to qualified lawyers for legal help before things get out of hand. Maintain all communication records for future reference. This will be important if, later, your lending institution initiates recovery or takes legal action against you. Also Read | 5 ways your credit score affects your personal loan approval Legal and financial implications Defaulting on a personal loan initiates a formal recovery process: Borrowers receive formal default notifications. This is followed by recovery agent visits under the RBI guidelines. In such a scenario, discussing the entire process with your respective lending institution is the best way to plan repayment. Continued non-payment beyond 90 days reclassifies the loan as a Non-Performing Asset (NPA), allows lenders to send legal notices, and authorizes civil suits for recovery. Do keep in mind, the process of recovery, if initiated, can be draining emotionally; that is why be careful with debt management right from the start, so that borrowing remains a pleasant experience for you. Penalties, increased interest, wage garnishments, or even asset seizures may be the consequence of defaulting on your personal loans. Your credit scores can plummet by over 150 points within six months, making future loans, credit cards, or other credit instruments very difficult to secure. Also Read | The psychology behind taking a personal loan: Why we borrow Negotiation over litigation The Reserve Bank of India encourages amicable settlement of such recovery processes. It mandates fair practices from lenders during the settlement process. That is why early negotiation can sometimes even result in loan restructuring or one-time settlements. For all personal finance updates, visit here. New Delhi: The steel ministry has exempted 202 foreign steel licences from the mandatory Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) quality certification under the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS) portal, in a move to ease supply bottlenecks for domestic steel producers. Announced through an order on 8 August, the exemptions cover manufacturers from 17 countries, including Japan, South Korea, Germany, Italy, France, Russia, and the US. Japan leads the list with over 80 licences, followed by South Korea with more than 50. These countries are major suppliers of high-grade steel used in automotive, engineering, and specialised industrial applications. The decision was taken in pursuance of an 11 July directive that allows such exemptions based on self-declaration by companies, subject to BIS verification, the order said. The move is aimed at ensuring the uninterrupted availability of high-quality inputs for domestic steel producers, particularly integrated steel plants (ISPs), without delays linked to certification requirements. This is a continuous exercise and additional licences may be exempted as and when requests are received, the ministry noted in the order. The BIS quality certification requirement, introduced to curb substandard imports and support domestic steelmakers, has been flagged by industry as a cause of supply bottlenecks for certain grades of steel not produced locally. Exemptions like this help balance quality control with industrial demand, especially as India pushes to scale up manufacturing under Make in India and meet infrastructure growth targets. The governments decision will benefit major players like Japans Nippon Steel, JFE Steel, and South Koreas Posco and Hyundai Steel. The exemptions could also help control input costs for ISPs at a time when global steel prices remain volatile. Stop-gap arrangement However, trade analysts view this move as a temporary relief for the industry. The rationale behind such requirements remains questionableespecially when BIS certification of the final rolling mill product already ensures raw material compliance. Micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which rely on rolling mills for small, flexible orders, cannot feasibly source directly from large integrated steel plants, making such upstream restrictions impractical, said Ajay Srivastava, founder, Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), a think tank. In a related development, the steel ministry announced that it will hold an Open House on 19 August to address industry concerns over the Steel Import Monitoring System (SIMS), Quality Control Orders (QCOs) and No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for steel imports. Companies and industry associations will be able to present specific issues related to these regulations directly to ministry officials, as per the ministry statement issued on Monday. India's finished steel imports fell 27.6% in the first two months of the current financial year, as shipments from China and Japan declined, as per the governments provisional data. India, the world's second-biggest crude steel producer, imported 0.9 million metric tonnes of finished steel during April-May, the data showed, with shipments from China dropping 47.7% and from Japan falling 65.6% from a year ago. China exported 0.2 million metric tonnes of finished steel to India during the two months, while Japan shipped 0.1 million metric tonnes during the period, the data showed. South Korea was the top finished steel exporter to India during April-May, with shipments rising 8.2% to 0.4 million metric tonnes, the data showed. A mix of tax policy shifts, product innovation and untapped potential is redrawing Indias asset management map, spurring a rush in the mutual fund industry. Interestingly, not all are fresh entrants, but existing players in the ecosystemportfolio managers, alternate investment funds (AIFs), stock brokers, and even investment bankerswho are now stepping in. The number of mutual funds that were stagnant for the last five years, saw a sharp rise to 53 as of 9 August. As per data from Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), the number of fund houses were hovering around 45 between FY19 and FY24, and saw a sudden rise to 53 in FY25. Key factors include a change in short-term capital gains tax (STCG) bothering the portfolio management system (PMS) and AIF players, a new product launched by Sebi that gave benefit to mutual funds over PMS and AIFs, and shrinking revenues for brokers. And lastly, a very underpenetrated mutual fund market, which everyone wants to tap. On the PMS side, players like Abakkus Asset Managers, Carnelian Asset Management Advisors, Marcellus Investment Managers, ASK, and others are in the process of getting a mutual fund license, according to Sebi. Also Read | Mutual Funds see 1.67 crore SIP additions in June quarter On the broking side, Choice International Ltd, Estee Advisors Pvt Ltd have been there. Pantomath Capital Advisors Ltd, an investment banking company, also got a mutual find licence. In the FY24 Union Budget, the STCG was increased to 20% from 15%, which reduced the post-tax returns for PMS and AIFs, experts said. Unlike mutual funds, PMS and AIFs pay a tax, called a tax on churn, every time they sell a stock. So, whenever they have to sell a stock and buy another, the investor ends up paying either LTCG or STCG on the gains it made on the stock. Since the STCG was jacked up to 20%, PMS schemes are immediately at a disadvantage to mutual funds in terms of taxation. When the tax was low, PMSes could deal with STCG but the tax now increased it creates a performance lag which no PMS wants," said Saurabh Mukherjea, founder and chief investment officer (CIO) at Marcellus Investment Managers, stating this to be one of the reasons why PMS players are getting MF licenses. Marcellus Investment has also got an in-principle nod from Sebi to start a mutual fund. PMS and AIFs have captive customers; distribution network in place and with the added benefit of taxation, mutual fund becomes a natural extension of their business to scale AUM, said Juzer Gabajiwala, director at Ventura. Also Read | As profits soar, PB Fintech takes a second bite at mutual funds New players are trying to tap into the industry on the back of strong inflows in the space. Assets under management (AUM) for the mutual fund industry reached 74.41 lakh crore in June, marking a 13.2% on-quarter growth. Also, the quarter ending June 2025 saw a 16% rise in year-on-year (y-o-y) in net inflows. Net inflows in the month of June were at 49,095 crore. Disruptor product Earlier this year, Sebi introduced a new product called Specialized Investment Funds (SIFs), with a minimum investment requirement of 10 lakh. Positioned as a higher-risk option compared to mutual funds, SIFs are designed to bridge the gap between mutual funds and higher-ticket products like PMS and AIFs, where the minimum investment is 50 lakh and 1 crore, respectively. One reason why PMS and AIF players are now seeking mutual fund licences is that only mutual funds are permitted to launch SIFs. These funds can employ riskier strategiessuch as long-short and sector rotationthat PMS and AIFs traditionally offered. The catch for the alternatives industry is that SIFs are taxed like mutual funds (no tax on churn), which could prompt some investors to choose them over PMS or AIF options, say experts. PMS and AIFs see an opportunity in managing a SIF business which can be only possible if they have a MF license. They can broaden their target audience and reach by introducing flexible products in SIF as it offers lower ticket size than a PMS or an AIF, targeting the mass-affluent investors who do not classify as HNIs," said said Debasish Mohanty, chief strategy officer at the Wealth Company Mutual Fund. Edelweiss MF, Mirae Capital Asset Mutual Fund, and SBI MF have so far announced their plans to enter the SIF space. New revenue stream With Sebis recent clampdown on the F&O segment squeezing broker revenues, many industry experts see asset management as the next natural extension for broking firms. The new Sebi regulations, especially those related to IT infrastructure, apply uniformly to all regulated entities, not just brokers. This means most of the required systems and compliance costs are already in place for brokers, said Jimmy Patel, managing director at Quantum Mutual Fund. He said with these synergies and a need to diversify revenue streams, launching an AMC becomes an attractive next step. The only major additional expense in starting an asset management company (AMC) is research and fund management itself," Patel said. Fund management costs can also be lowered at the start by launching passive products. For instance, Zerodha entered the space with passive funds. More recently, Choice AMC Pvt Ltdwhose parent company is a brokerannounced plans to begin with passive products such as index funds and ETFs. Importantly, the cost of running an AMC can be kept under control. Conventional models with active fund management and wide distribution networks require significant spending on research, fund managers, and physical offices," said Sandeep Bagla, chief executive officer (CEO) of TRUST Mutual Fund. However, newer approaches, such as digital distribution and quant-based strategies, reduce costs by minimizing fund management expenses and relying more on technology," Bagla added. Untapped potential The mutual fund industry is very underpenetrated in India, hence more people want to tap this space, say experts. India is currently a very underpenetrated MF market, and we need more mutual funds as the industry cannot be concentrated in the hands of a few top players," said Patel. As of June, the average AUM for the top 10 mutual funds make 76% of the total AUM of the mutual fund industry, as per the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI). According to data from AMFI and Sebi, as of March 2025, India had 5.3 crore unique investors in mutual funds. This number is much lower than the 19.25 crore total demat accounts in India as of March end. If we look at the total MFs, which are 53 currently, the number of PMS players is 466. While the latest data on AIFs could not be immediately sourced, the total as of March 2024 was 1,283, including category 1, 2, 3 AIFs, as per Sebi. Whats ahead? In the next one year, we might see the total number of mutual funds touching around 60-65, said Bagla. Even though we might see many entering the mutual fund space, their success will require consistent performance and trust unlike broking, where clients can switch easily for better service or lower fees," said an industry person. The person added that entry into the MF space was easy, but no player can grab a significant market share in the first couple of years. Senior Congress leader and Public Accounts Committee chairman K C Venugopal on Sunday night claimed that an Air India flight carrying him and several other MPs from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi had a near-tragic incident. The airline, meanwhile, issued a statement, saying that Air India flight AI2455, flying from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi, was diverted to Chennai on Sunday evening due to a technical issue. K C Venugopal posted on X, "Air India flight AI 2455 from Trivandrum to Delhi -- carrying myself, several MPs and hundreds of passengers -- came frighteningly close to tragedy today." What began as a delayed departure turned into a harrowing journey. Shortly after take-off, we were hit by unprecedented turbulence. About an hour later, the Captain announced a flight signal fault and diverted to Chennai. He added, For nearly two hours, we circled the airport awaiting clearance to land, until a heart-stopping moment during our first attempt -- another aircraft was reportedly on the same runway. In that split second, the Captain's quick decision to pull up saved every life on board. The flight landed safely on the second attempt. "We were saved by skill and luck. Passenger safety cannot depend on luck. I urge @DGCAIndia and @MoCA_GoI to investigate this incident urgently, fix accountability, and ensure such lapses never happen again." What did Air India say? Air India responded to K C Venugopal, saying, We would like to clarify that the diversion to Chennai was precautionary due to a suspected technical issue and poor weather conditions. "A go-around was instructed by Chennai ATC (air traffic control) during the first attempted landing at Chennai airport, not because of the presence of another aircraft on the runway ... Our pilots are well-trained to handle such situations, and in this case, they followed standard procedures throughout the flight," Air India said. "We understand that such an experience can be unsettling and regret the inconvenience the diversion may have caused to you. However, safety is always our priority," the airline added. Air India also regretted the inconvenience caused and made alternative arrangements to fly the passengers to their destinations at the earliest. Also Read | Cockroaches found on Air India flight to Mumbai make passengers uncomfortable The flight AI2455, operated with an Airbus A320 aircraft, was airborne for more than two hours, according to information available on the flight tracking website Flightradar24.com. It took off little past 8 pm from Thiruvananthapuram and landed in Chennai at around 10.35 pm. In recent weeks, there have been instances of some of Air India's aircraft facing technical snags. Air India is suspending operations from Delhi to Washington DC starting September 1, the airline said in a statement on Monday. The decision has been taken due to a combination of operational factors, Air India said in a statement. It was also decided to suspend flights between Delhi and Washington DC to ensure the reliability and integrity of Air Indias overall route network, the airline said. The decision to suspend Air India Delhi-Washington DC flights comes shortly after the airline started retrofitting of its Boeing fleet. Why did Air India suspend Delhi-Washington DC flights? Air India said that the Delhi-Washington DC flight suspension was primarily due to the shortage of aircraft. The suspension is primarily driven by the planned shortfall in Air Indias fleet, as the airline commenced retrofitting 26 of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft last month, Air India said. The retrofitting exercise is prolonged and will take at least till end of 2026 to be completed. Also Read | Air India kicks off cabin overhaul of legacy Boeing Dreamliners Also Read | Mumbai airport hit by data network outage, Air India issues advisory This extensive retrofit programme, aimed at significantly enhancing customer experience, necessitates a prolonged unavailability of multiple aircraft at any given time until at least end of 2026. That, coupled with the continued closure of airspace over Pakistan, impacts the airlines long-haul operation, Air India said in its statement. The retrofitting programme, along with airspace closure by Pakistan will continue to hit Air India operations. That, coupled with the continued closure of airspace over Pakistan, impacts the airlines long-haul operations, leading to longer flight routings and increased operational complexity. What will customers do now? Customers with Air India bookings to or from Washington, DC beyond September 1, will be contacted and offered alternative travel arrangements, including rebooking on other flights or full refunds, as per their individual preferences. Also Read | Air India to upgrade components of 26 Boeing 787-8 to improve reliability Air India customers will continue to have the options of one-stop flights to Washington, DC via four US gateways New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago, and San Francisco with the airlines interline partners, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, allowing customers to travel on a single itinerary with their baggage checked through to the final destination, Air India said. A dentist allegedly killed his mother-in-law and cut her body into 19 parts with the help of his two accomplices in Koratagere in Karnataka's Tumakuru. According to the police, Lakshmi Devi (42) was brutally murdered by her son-in-law, a dentist, Dr Ramachandrappa S, and his two accomplices. Police said Ramachandrappa allegedly killed Lakshmi Devi because he had doubts over her character, causing embarrassment to him. The murder mystery: Tumakuru police had recovered the severed head of a woman and her partially decomposed, dismembered body pieces, found stuffed in multiple plastic bags, along the road at Kolala village in Koratagere. On August 7, Koratagere police officials said seven covers with the womans body parts stuffed were brought to their notice by passersby. Later, Koratagere police combed the crime spot and found seven more plastic bags stuffed with body parts and the head on August 8. They fixed the identity of the woman, Lakshmi Devi, with the help of the head. Also Read | Huma Qureshi's brother murdered over parking dispute After recovering all the bags, the police found that Lakshmi Devi had been brutally murdered and chopped into 19 pieces. The interrogation: Superintendent of Police Ashok K V formed a team to trace the accused in the murder case and investigate it. They soon arrested Ramachandrappa and his associates, Satish K N and Kiran K S. All three accused are residents of Tumakuru. SP Ashok, according to a press release on Monday, said that during interrogation, the accused confessed that they had murdered Lakshmi Devi. They also allegedly told the police that, with the intention of destroying evidence, they cut the dead body into pieces, packed them in plastic covers, and disposed of them at various places. Ramachandrappa's embarrassment over Lakshmi Devi's character is said to be the key cause of her alleged murder. Also Read | Bengaluru boy killed by uncle over demand for money for online gaming Talk between speakers of parliaments of Ukraine and Latvia: Ending the war must be based on intl law and territorial integrity Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, and the Speaker of the Latvian Parliament, Daiga Mierina, share a vision for ending the war, which should be based on the principles of justice. "I spoke on the phone with Daiga Mierina, Speaker of the Latvian Parliament. During the conversation, we discussed a common vision of how the war should end: it is only possible on the basis of justice, with respect for international law and the preservation of Ukraine's territorial integrity. We are unanimous in the fact that any peace agreements must take into account Ukraine's position, because this is the only way to achieve a fair and sustainable peace," Stefanchuk wrote on Facebook on Monday. According to him, Mierina also stressed the importance of equality of the parties in the negotiations and the interest of European countries in direct participation in this process. "We separately discussed the issues of strengthening sanctions against the aggressor, maintaining and expanding military and financial assistance. We discussed future meetings and coordinating our efforts to bring peace closer," Stefanchuk noted. India's electronic toll collection system, operated by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), FASTag, will receive a significant update with the introduction of the new annual pass, particularly benefiting frequent travellers. As the FASTag annual pass approaches its activation on 15 August, Independence Day, find out how you can purchase it online to avoid any inconvenience. What is FASTag Annual Pass? Announced by Union minister Nitin Gadkari, the FASTag annual pass is a one-time prepaid toll plan available for private, non-commercial vehicles like cars, jeeps, vans, with an limit of up to 200-trips or the one-year validity. FASTag will remain the standard toll collection system on State Highways, state-run expressways, and local roads, even though it primarily covers tolls on National Highways and Expressways. Also Read | How to transfer FASTag account from one bank to another How to buy FASTag Annual Pass? Open the Rajmarg Yatra application or visit the NHAI/MoRTH portal 2. Log in or enter your vehicle & FASTag details 3. Confirm eligibility: active FASTag, proper attachment, VRN link, no blacklist 4. Submit 3,000 online via available gateways 5. After payment verification, the Annual Pass is linked to your existing FASTag 6. Youll receive an SMS confirmation once activate There is no need to buy a new FASTag for the annual passit will be activated on your existing FASTag, as long as it meets the eligibility requirements. The pass is non-transferable and valid only for the specific vehicle to which the FASTag is registered and affixed. What to do after buying FASTag Annual Pass? Once you purchase the FASTag Annual Pass, it becomes linked to your existing FASTag account and vehicle registration number. The pass allows up to 200 toll transactions or remains valid for one year from the date of activation, whichever comes first. Each time you pass through an eligible toll plaza managed by NHAI or MoRTH, one trip is deducted from your annual limit. Slamming Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir over his nuclear threat against India, the Ministry of External Affairs said, Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistans stock-in-trade. In a statement on Monday, 11 August, the ministry said, Our attention has been drawn to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff while on a visit to the United States. The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks, which also reinforce the well-held doubts about the integrity of nuclear command and control in a state where the military is hand-in-glove with terrorist groups, the external affairs ministry said. The ministry expressed regret that these remarks should have been made from the soil of a friendly third country. India has already made it clear that it will not give in to nuclear blackmail. We will continue to take all steps necessary to safeguard our national security, the ministry said. Also Read | Rafale brand patron Dassault Aviation shares gains after falling 1% in month 'Whenever US supports Pakistan military Meanwhile, sources in the government told news agency PTI, There is real danger of nuclear weapons falling in the hands of non-state actors in Pakistan. Sources said that Asim Munir's nuclear threat from US soil showed that Pakistan is an irresponsible state with such weapons. They added that his statement is part of a pattern. Whenever the US supports the Pakistan military, they always show their true colours. It is a symptom that democracy does not exist in Pakistan and it is their military which controls the country, they said. Emboldened by reception and welcome by the US, the next step could possibly be a silent or open coup in Pakistan so that the Field Marshal becomes the President, the sources said. Also Read | Pakistan condemns US strike on Iran days after Munir visited President Trump What did Asim Munir say The comments came after Pakistani military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir said that Islamabad would take down half the world with it, if his country faces an existential threat in future with India. We are a nuclear nation; if we think we are going down, we'll take half the world down with us, media reports quoted Munir as saying. He said that Islamabad will defend its water rights at all costs if India proceeds with dam construction on the Indus River. We will wait for India to build a dam, and when they do so, we will destroy it, Munir told members of the Pakistani-American community in Tampa, Florida, according to a report published today in The Dawn. Munir's nuclear threat came on the day the world marked the 80th anniversary of the US dropping an atomic bomb on Nagasaki in 1945. Asim Munir's US visit Asim Munir recently visited two US cities over the weekend and flew to Brussels on Sunday after completing his second high-profile trip to the United States in less than two months. Like his previous visit, he engaged with political and military leadership in the host country, Dawn reported. In Tampa, the Pakistan army chief attended the US Central Command Centcom change of command ceremony. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations ISPR, his engagements included the retirement ceremony of General Michael E Kurilla, Commander of CENTCOM, and the change of command where Admiral Brad Cooper assumed charge. On the sidelines of the ceremony, Field Marshal Munir met US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine and chiefs of defence from other friendly countries. He invited General Caine to visit Pakistan and reaffirmed Islamabad's role as a key regional security stakeholder, Dawn reported. Asim Munir's US visit Asim Munir recently visited two US cities over the weekend and flew to Brussels on Sunday after completing his second high-profile trip to the United States in less than two months. Like his previous visit, he engaged with political and military leadership in the host country, Dawn reported. The Centre is looking to amend India's bankruptcy law to ensure its provisions are not undermined by the overarching money-laundering law, two people aware of the matter said. This comes after authorities seized assets of several bankrupt companies being sold to new buyers, when their previous promoters were suspected of financial crime. While Section 32A of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) protects assets of a bankrupt company from attachment once a new owner takes charge, the Enforcement Directorate has often entered the picture under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Courts have also ruled variously on the matter. The most famous case involved Bhushan Power and Steel Ltd, which was acquired and managed by JSW Steel Ltd under IBC, but was asked to liquidate earlier this year after the Supreme Court approved an asset seizure by the ED. The order was recalled later. Section 32A was added to IBC in 2019 to ring-fence the assets of a company being rescued under IBC, and encourage investor interest in distressed assets. However, close to a dozen court orders that interpreted the law differently have prompted legislative amendments, the people cited above added. The idea is to ensure that the two laws work cohesively, and discussions are underway at the highest levels of government about the required legislative changes. Officials of the ministry of corporate affairs, the revenue department and the regulators have already held discussions on the matter. The government is attempting to bring a bill in the current session of Parliament, but if the necessary approvals take longer, it may be introduced in the winter session," said one of the two people cited above, adding that the specifics of the legislative changes would be finalized soon. Clarity needed Queries emailed to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India, the ED, the ministry of corporate affairs and the finance ministry remained unanswered. Ownership of Bhushan Power and Steel passed on to JSW Steel four years ago after the company law tribunal blessed the acquisition after staying a 4025 crore asset attachment by the ED. ED challenged the stay in Supreme Court, which vacated the stay and cleared the way for asset seizure, stating company law tribunals could not review public law actions. The court also annulled JSW Steel's 19,300-crore debt resolution plan for Bhushan. The court, however, left open the interpretation of Section 32A. On 31 July, the Supreme Court recalled its judgement, terming it a case fit for review. Also Read | House panel to scan IBC functioning after SC's Bhushan order The friction between the two statutes was visible from 2018, even before the introduction of the crucial safeguards in IBC in 2019 under Section 32 A. In 2018, in a case between ED and Axis Bank, the Delhi High Court ruled that the anti-money laundering statute prevailed over insolvency laws when it comes to dealing with tainted funds. The next year, in a case between a hotel and the Asset Reconstruction Co. of India Ltd, NCLAT protected corporate debtors assets from enforcement. In 2020, in a case between JSW Steel Ltd and the resolution professional of Bhushan Power and Steel, NCLAT ruled that Section 32 A applied retrospectively, setting aside EDs asset attachment. In 2021, the Supreme court in a case between real estate allottees and the central government held that Section 32 A is constitutionally valid and granted the company immunity but not the individuals concerned. Last year, Bombay High Court ruled that NCLT can direct ED to release assets attached under PMLA. In 2024, the Delhi High Court also ruled in a case between Aryan Constructions and Punjab National Bank that IBC Section 32A, introduced in 2019, applied retrospectively. he idea of Section 32A is to shield a new, unrelated management of a bankrupt company from prosecution, and protects its assets from attachment for violations under the previous management. It aims to encourage investor participation in distressed assets and give such companies the best possible chance of a revival by offering a clean slate. It took effect in December 2019 with the aim of furthering the governments goal of accelerating debt resolution and improving the health of the corporate and financial sectors. Which law should get priority? Subodh Dandawate, associate director - regulatory services at advisory firm Nexdigm said, To uphold the IBCs objective and ensure legal clarity, it is essential to amend Section 32A, reinforcing its supremacy over conflicting statutes such as the PMLA during the bankruptcy resolution process." The clean slate principle enshrined in the provision is vital to attract resolution applicants, he added. However, conflicts between the IBC and the PMLA both containing overriding clauses have led to inconsistent judicial interpretations. Courts have even held against the jurisdiction of NCLT and NCLAT in PMLA-related matters, creating uncertainty around Section 32As application," Dandawate said. Atul Tandon, director, NPV Insolvency Professionals Pvt Ltd, said statutory amendments in the IBC and PMLA should explicitly define the priority between IBC moratorium provisions and PMLA attachments. Assets of a company undergoing insolvency proceedings that are essential for resolution should be kept out of the operational ambit of PMLA during the corporate insolvency resolution, while personal assets of promoters or connected parties remain within PMLA's reach, he said. He added that a harmonization clause should be introduced in PMLA, stating that in the event of conflict with IBC for corporate debtors assets, IBC provisions will prevail to protect creditors interests, but without extinguishing PMLAs investigative powers. Tandon also suggested amending PMLA to grant 'clean title' protection to genuine investors acquiring assets through an IBC-approved resolution plan, provided such assets were not directly purchased with laundered funds. The Indian Army on Monday continued its anti-terror operation launched in the general area of Dul in Kishtwar while gunfire between the security forces and terrorists was exchanged. While the live details of the operation are not available, deferred visuals showed army soldiers keeping guard a day after gunfire was exchanged while establishing contact with terrorists on August 10. Earlier on Sunday morning, Security forces exchanged gunfire with terrorists in Kishtwar's Dul area. In a post on X, the White Knight Corps stated that troops conducting an intelligence-based operation established contact with terrorists in the area. "Indian Army troops while carrying out an intelligence based operation have established contact with terrorists in general area of Dul in Kishtwar in early hours of 10 Aug 2025. Gunfire exchanged. Operation under progress," White Knight Corps said. The encounter comes a day after two soldiers, Lance Naik Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh, were killed in the line of duty during an operation in South Kashmir's Kulgam district. Chinar Corps paid tribute to them, noting their courage and dedication. "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," Army's Chinar Corps posted on X. Protests rippled across Delhi-NCR as the Supreme Court ordered the state government to ensure no stray dog were seen on the street, with organisations and individuals including PETA India condemning the decision. Delhi Police detailed a group of protesters who gathered in front of the India Gate to protest the Supreme Court decision to send all stary dogs to Delhi-NCR to dedicated shelters set up by civic authorities within 8 weeks. They don't want us to talk... I am being detained because I do the noble work of feeding animals, a caregiver told ANI as she got detained. PETA condemns SC decision People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) on Monday said that the removal and "jailing" of stray dogs is unscientific, adding that building enough dog shelters is not feasible. Communities think of neighbourhood dogs as family, and the displacement and jailing of dogs is not scientific and has never worked. Per a population survey conducted in 2022-23, Delhi has around 10 lakh community dogs, with less than half sterilised. Forced removal of some 10 lakh community dogs from Delhi's streets will cause uproar in communities that care deeply for them and chaos and suffering for the dogs on a large scale, said Dr Mini Aravindan, Senior Director of Veterinary Affairs, PETA India. It will also ultimately do nothing to curb the dog population, reduce rabies or prevent dog bite incidents. This is because it is unfeasible to build enough dog shelters, and displacing dogs causes fights over territory and problems like starvation, she added. Also Read | Vir Das requests Delhiites to adopt indie dog after SCs relocation order Ultimately, dogs make their way back into the same territories, especially when puppies continue to be born. That's why, the government has required that community dogs be sterilised since 2001--a procedure which calms them--and during which time they are also vaccinated against rabies," PETA official said. Maneka Gandhi reacts Maneka Gandhi on Monday called the Supreme Court decision on stray dogs a strange judgment given by someone who is in anger. Angry judgments are never sensible, she said while talking to ANI. Gandhi flagged that there is no government-run shelter in Delhi, asking where the authorities will put these dogs. To make those shelters, you have to spend at least 15,000 crore... You'll have to find 3000 places for shelters in places where no one lives. How will you find these many places?... This can't be done in two months... You'll have to employ 1.5 lakh people to just be sanitation workers, which will again cost crores, she said. Also Read | Minor boy attacked by stray dog outside home in Tamil Nadu, father too injured She warned that fights will break out every day in areas when authorities go to pick up the dogs, and they will face resistance from feeders. Other political parties will get into it to attack the BJP... When the dogs from here are displaced, dogs from nearby states will come to Delhi, as there will be more food here. Then, within a week, there will be another 3 lakh dogs in Delhi, and these will not be sterilised. Then will you start another sterilisation programme and spend hundreds of crores again? she asked. The Karnataka government on Monday, 11 August, reinstated Director General of police K Ramachandra Rao, who was on a compulsory leave for his alleged link to the gold smuggling case involving his stepdaughter, Ranya Rao. Notably, DGP Rao has been posted to an upgraded post of Director General of Police, Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement. In a notification, the State Government said that the DGP (DCRE) is equivalent to the post of Director General of CID, Special units and Economic offences under Rule 12 of the IPS (pay) rules 2016. Inquiry on DGP Ramachandra Rao In March, DGP Ramachandra Rao was questioned by the Karnataka government-appointed inquiry committee led by Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta, after the arrest of his stepdaughter for allegedly trying to smuggle gold at the airport. The Gaurav Gupta Committee was formed to probe the misuse of police protocol services and DGP Rao's possible role in the case. He was sent on mandatory leave on 15 March. During the inquiry, it was revealed that Ranya had allegedly been misusing police escorts provided to her in violation of rules to evade customs checks and checkout at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA). Also Read | Ranya Rao's stepfather not directly involved in alleged gold smuggling case The Ranya Rao gold smuggling case Earlier in July, Ranya Rao, a Kannada film actress, was sentenced to one year of imprisonment under the stringent COFEPOSA in connection with a gold smuggling case. The Advisory Board handling the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA) matter recently ruled that Rao will not be granted bail during the entire term of her detention. In March, Ranya arrived from Dubai and attempted to pass through the Kempegowda International Airport's green channel, typically reserved for passengers without dutiable items. She appeared anxious when questioned by DRI officials about whether she had any undeclared items. Her suspicious behaviour prompted the authorities to conduct a detailed search by female officers. She was immediately taken into custody after 14.2 kilograms of gold, valued at approximately 12.56 crore, were recovered from her. Cracks have seemingly started appearing in Karnataka over Rahul Gandhis Vote Chori allegation against the Election Commission of India. The state cooperation minister, KN Rajanna, has questioned the Congress partys silence over the alleged voter list manipulation during the Congress governments tenure. Rajanna said the voter list used in the Lok Sabha polls was prepared when Congress was in power. If irregularities occurred, then why was no one speaking up at the time? Why did we remain silent? Rajanna asked reporters, openly challenging his party colleagues. The ministers remarks came amid a political row after Congress leader Rahul Gandhis recent Vote Chori allegation that large-scale vote theft took place in the last Lok Sabha elections. Rajanna, however, acknowledged that changes to the voter list were indeed made, which, he claimed, played a role in the Prime Minister assuming office. It is 100 per cent true that the election commission altered the voter list. In Mahadevapura, fraud definitely took place. But when the draft list was being prepared, was it not our responsibility to oversee it? he said, according to Telangana today. Also Read | INDIA Bloc gathers at Rahul Gandhis residence to discuss Bihar SIR row These irregularities happened right before our eyes. Our silence back then is a matter of shame for all of us. We must admit this and be more vigilant in the future under Rahul Gandhis leadership, he said. Our silence back then is a matter of shame for all of us. We must admit this and be more vigilant in the future under Rahul Gandhis leadership. Rajanas remarks come amid over 300 MPs from 25 opposition parties in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha planning a protest march from Parliament to the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters in Delhi on Monday. Calling the stray dog situation in the city "extremely grim," the Supreme Court on Monday ordered the Delhi government and municipal bodies to begin removing stray dogs from all local areas without delay and house them in designated dog shelters. Issuing a series of directives to address the rising number of dog bite cases, the court also warned that any individual or organisation obstructing the authorities from carrying out the removal of strays would face strict legal action, PTI reported. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said as of now, the dog shelters be created to accommodate around 5,000 stray dogs and sufficient personnel should be deployed there to sterilise and immunise the canines. It said the stray dogs should be kept at dog shelters and not be released on streets, colonies and public places. "We are issuing these directions keeping larger public interest in mind," the bench said, adding that infants, young children should not at any cost fall prey to stray dog bites leading to rabies. It also directed the authorities to create a helpline within a week so that all dog bite cases are reported immediately. We are issuing these directions keeping larger public interest in mind. The top court had on July 28 taken suo motu cognisance of a media report of dog bite incident leading to rabies in Delhi. Trump tariffs: The Centre on Monday told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs that India's relationship with the United States is important, and trade is just one aspect of it, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said. Tharoor is the leader of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, which was briefed about India's current situation regarding the US. Our Foreign Affairs Secretary clearly said that our relationship with America is important, and trade is just one aspect of this, but we are still in touch on many subjects, Tharoor said, briefing the media after the meeting. The panel, led by the Congress MP, was briefed on the latest developments in India's foreign policy with special reference to US-India trade negotiations and tariffs. The three-hour meeting saw participation from 22 members of the panel, who asked over 50 questions to the foreign secretary and commerce secretary. This reflects the nation's interest in knowing more about developments involving tariffs, negotiations with the US, and other geopolitical implications, Tharoor said. Also Read | Govt asks seafood exporters to explore new markets amid US tariff hike Panel discusses Asim Munir, India-US dialogue process ongoing Shashi Tharoor did not disclose all the details of the meeting. However, he said that the commerce secretary had assured about India-US dialogue process. He also said that there is no change of plans for the sixth round of the India-US talks, which might culminate in a trade pact between the countries. The foreign secretary reaffirmed the importance of the Indo-US relationship despite this particular problem, and the commerce secretary assured that the dialogue process is ongoing. The confidentiality of the committees proceedings must be respected, Tharoor said. The senior Congress leader said that Pakistan Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir, who earlier met US President Donald Trump, was also discussed. The question of Gen Munir on American soil was brought up at the meeting. Last week, Tharoor said that India must also safeguard its interests when asked about the 50 per cent US tariffs. Also Read | India plans policy reset to soften US tariff blow Agreements reached without Ukraine's participation will not contribute to the establishment of a fair peace, believe Verkhovna Rada Chairman Ruslan Stefanchuk and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. "I have had a telephone conversation with the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola. We agreed that Europe and European institutions should be active participants in the process of ending the war and achieving a fair and sustainable peace. It is our common conviction that any decisions taken without Ukraine's participation will be decisions against peace. Peace must be fair," Stefanchuk wrote on his Facebook page on Monday. According to Stefanchuk, in a conversation with Metsola, he emphasized that Ukraine expects to increase sanction pressure on the aggressor - the Russian Federation, maintain and increase military and financial assistance to Ukraine, as well as maximum assistance to Ukraine's integration into the EU. "We will continue to work together for a just peace and security in Ukraine and Europe," the speaker of the Verkhovna Rada noted. The Centre is looking to slash its ownership in Life Insurance Corp. of India (LIC) and several public sector banks (PSB) beyond what's mandated by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), two people aware of the plans said. The government is looking to hire merchant bankers for three years, extendable by two more years, as it aims to sell the shares over time, the people said on the condition of anonymity. The sale aims to raise money for the government while capitalizing on favourable market conditions. However, majority ownership and management control will remain firmly with the government. While some PSB stake sales may stretch beyond 2026, the plan is to go past Sebis requirement over the next three to five years," one of the two people said. With LIC, the government will try to reach the regulatory level by 2027 and go beyond it later, as it would help bring in capital, though much will depend on market appetite." Record profits With PSBs delivering strong performances and record profits in recent quarters, the government sees an opportunity to capitalize in the medium term. Led by State Bank of India, state-run banks cumulatively logged a record profit of 44,218 crore in the June quarter, up 11% from the previous year. Meanwhile, shares of LIC jumped 4% on Friday after the insurer reported a 150-basis-point annual increase in the value of new business (VNB) margin to 15.4% in a seasonally weak quarter. The government currently holds a 96.5% stake in LIC, after selling 3.5% in an initial public offering (IPO) three years ago. Sebi had initially set a May 2024 deadline for LIC to comply with the 10% minimum public shareholding rule; however, this deadline was extended to 16 May, 2027. The LIC stock closed at 912.55 on the BSE on Friday, giving the insurer a market value of roughly 5.77 trillion. Bankers BNP Paribas, Goldman Sachs and IIFL are vying for the mandate for the LIC share sales, ET Now reported on 25 July. Mint couldn't independently verify these. Meanwhile, five public sector banksIndian Overseas Bank (94.61% government stake), UCO Bank (90.95%), Punjab & Sind Bank (93.85%), Central Bank of India (89.27%) and Bank of Maharashtra (79.60%)must reduce government ownership below 75% by August 2026. Only Bank of Maharashtra is expected to meet the deadline, the second person mentioned above said. "The other banks are likely to seek an extension of at least another year to meet the required shareholding norms," the person added. In February, Mint reported that Uco Bank, Punjab & Sind Bank and Indian Overseas Bank may sell shares to financial institutions in FY26 to raise capital and increase public shareholding to the minimum levels. The report said that depending on market conditions, the banks may conduct several rounds of qualified institutional placements (QIPs) as part of a phased approach to meeting regulatory requirements. The current fiscal year is also expected to see the first share sale in LIC after its IPO CHK. QIP route "The next LIC stake sale is likely to be around 1.5%, lifting the public float to 5% and paving the way for its inclusion in index funds, with another 1% to 1.5% potentially offered later," the first person mentioned above said. The share sales are likely through qualified institutional placements (QIP), the second person said. "There are currently no plans for a direct share sale in the market via an offer for sale (OFS) or a public offering for any PSB," the person added. Spokespersons of the ministry of finance, Sebi, LIC and the five PSBs didn't respond to queries. Experts said that reducing government shareholding in the public sector institutions, allows the government to free up its resources and allocate them towards priorities of national interest, such as infrastructure, MSMEs and agriculture. Also Read | LIC says health insurance foray delayed on likely policy changes "Institutional and retail investor interest, both domestic and foreign, continues to be high in the financial services space in India, and hence the plan of diluting government holding seems very much feasible and viable," said Vivek Iyer, partner and financial services risk Leader, Grant Thornton Bharat. "A greater non-government investor participation will increase the level of professionalism and efficiency in the institutions, increasing the overall competitive environment in the market, thereby enhancing the overall quality of customer service," Iyer added. The ruling royal family of Qatar, the House of Al-Thani, now owns more of London than the British monarchy and the scale of their influence is raising eyebrows. Qatari royals now own more of London than King Charles, report says According to a report by GB News, the Al-Thani family has built a vast property empire across the capital. Their real estate portfolio includes around 1.8 million square feet of land far surpassing the private holdings of King Charles III. While King Charles is linked to many historic sites like the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace, these are not personally owned by him. They belong to the Crown Estate, meaning they are held in trust for the country, not private property of the monarch. The Qatari royals, however, face no such limits. Their investments are personal or state-owned assets, and their reach stretches far across London. What properties does the Qatari royals own? They reportedly own a quarter of northwest Mayfair now nicknamed Little Doha and have full ownership of Harrods, the world-famous department store. They also own luxury hotels including The Berkeley, Claridges, The Connaught, and The Emory through Maybourne Hotels, which is run by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al-Thani. Their influence isnt limited to property and hospitality. The Al-Thanis also hold a 95% stake in The Shard, the tallest building in Europe, and co-own Canary Wharf, one of Londons key business districts. Also Read | Qatar Withdraws Interest for Rosnefts German Operations In transport and retail, their power is also growing. Qatar owns 20% of Heathrow Airport, which is expected to handle over 84 million travellers in 2025. In addition, the Qatari state owns 14.3% of Sainsburys, one of the UKs largest supermarket chains. Despite their growing presence, much of the Al-Thani familys activity has been quiet and gradual. Today, their influence in London rivals and even surpasses that of the British royal family, at least in terms of land ownership. Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram criticised the Election Commission of India (ECI), asserting that it is "not a Court" and should not act like one while entertaining petitions or complaints. Chidambaram took to X on Sunday to slam the Election Commission, saying, The ECI is not a Court and cannot behave like a Court in entertaining petitions/complaints. ECI is an administrative body with responsibility for holding free and fair elections. Also Read | There will be more reforms in the coming days: Chidambaram Referring to Rule 20(3)(b), the former Union Home Minister clarified its limited scope, saying, "Rule 20(3)(b) will apply only to the case of a specific decision made by the ERO accepting or rejecting a 'claim' to be included in the electoral rolls. The Rule has no application in the case of alleged massive manipulation in the electoral roll of an entire Assembly constituency." Citing a report by The Hindu newspaper, the Congress leader alleged that complaints from Booth Level Agents in Bihar are not being accepted. "If this allegation is true, SIR and the refusal to entertain complaints will spell the death of democratic elections," Chidambaram warned. Chidambaram also emphasised that the Election Commission has a responsibility beyond administrative procedures, stating, ECI owes a duty to political parties as well as to the voters of this country. In related news, the Election Commission has once again reiterated its strict decision that Rahul Gandhi still has time to give a declaration on the first letter of the CEO of Karnataka and a reminder from the of CEO Haryana or apologise to the country. The Karnataka CEO has asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to submit documents to inquire into his "vote theft" allegations against the ECI. In a letter dated August 10, the Karnataka CEO stated that Rahul Gandhi has claimed to have documents presented during his August 7 press conference from the Election Commission of India records, alleging that a voter, Shakun Rani, voted twice based on data shown by a polling officer. The polling body further stated that upon preliminary inquiry, Shakun Rani has denied voting twice. The CEO's office also found that the tick-marked document presented by Rahul Gandhi was not issued by the polling officer, raising questions about the authenticity of the claim. The ECI is not a Court and cannot behave like a Court in entertaining petitions/complaints. The Karnataka CEO requested Rahul Gandhi to provide the relevant documents that form the basis of his allegation so that a detailed investigation can be conducted by the Karnataka electoral authorities. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an orange alert weather warning for Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and parts of West Bengal. This implies that atmospheric conditions are favourable for heavy rainfall in these regions on August 10, Monday. Extremely heavy rainfall likely over Uttarakhand on 13th; very heavy rainfall over Jammu-Kashmir during 13th-15th; Himachal Pradesh during 11th-14th; Uttarakhand on during 10th -12th& 14th -16th ; West Uttar Pradesh on 13th & 15th; East Uttar Pradesh on 13th & 14th August, IMD said in its latest weather bulletin. Also Read | IMD issues orange alert for several districts in Uttarakhand, HP till August 14 Additionally, very heavy rainfall is likely in Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Yanam on August 14 and 15, and in Telangana between August 13 and 16. As monsoon rains wreak havoc across Himachal Pradesh, a total of 224 people lost their lives in rain related incidents this year. Water levels of Satluj, Beas, Ravi and Yamuna rivers have increased significantly. Also Read | Unseasonal rains impact up to 34 pc room AC makers revenue in Jun qtr Incessant heavy rains over the past weeks have severely hampered road connectivity causing blockade at around 359 roads across the state, according to the State Disaster Management Authority's (SDMA) latest report. Power supply disruptions are rampant affecting as many as 132 electricity distribution transformers. So far, a total of 520 water supply schemes were disrupted until August 10. Moving to forecast for East and Central India, we find that there is possibility of isolated very heavy rainfall in West Madhya Pradesh on August 15, in Vidarbha on August 13 and 14, in Chhattisgarh from August 13 to 16, in Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim on August 11 and 12, and in Odisha on August 12 and 14. India is all set to celebrate its Independence Day on 15 August to remember the freedom fighters and common Indians who fought against British colonial rule. On this day, India obtained independence and hoisted the national flag, and a sovereign democracy was born. Each year to mark the day, the Prime Minister takes to the ramparts of the Red Fort and hoists the tricolour, followed by a rousing rendition of the national anthem and an address to the nation. Apart from this, several states, ministries, departments and public places' heads hoist the national flag as a mark of independence. Be it public or private office, the national tricolour flag is hoisted on 15 August, with the national anthem being sung by the people of India. Indians celebrate Independence Day with much fervour and pride overseas, too. Several cultural programs are organised all across the globe to show the richness of Indian legacy. Is it Indias 78th or 79th Independence Day in 2025? Several people are confused about whether India will celebrate its 78th or 79th Independence Day in 2025. To keep the math simple, if one subtracts 1947 from 2025, it comes to 78, which is the number of years since India achieved independence from British colonial rule. But, 78 shows the number of completed years of independence and not the number of Independence Days observed. So will be celebrating its 79th Independence Day on 15 August 2025. According to the official channels, it is indeed confirmed that India will be celebrating its 79th Independence Day. A letter by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), carried by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), has corroborated that the country will be celebrating its 79th Independence Day. "As India prepares to celebrate its 79th Independence Day, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today extended an invitation to all citizens to contribute their thoughts and ideas for his address from the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15," the letter stated. A viral Instagram video by an Indian woman living in Canada has left many social media users stunned over the difference in grocery prices between the two countries. Ever felt broke after buying just bread and milk? Welcome to Canada, Kanupriya, a content creator, says in her caption, adding, Kamzor dil ke log kripya iss video ko na dekhe (This video is not for the faint-hearted). Also Read | IAF video shows glimpses of attack on Pakistani terror bases during Op Sindoor Filming inside a Canadian supermarket, she begins with coriander leaves-- a kitchen essential in most Indian homes, priced at around 90. Guys, dhaniya 90 ka mil raha hai Canada mein so lets go grocery shopping together, she says, before revealing the price tags of other everyday staples. She points out that a cauliflower that costs 20 25 in India is 237 in Canada. Similarly, one piece of ginger is 177, a carrot 66, a mango 106, an apple 78, and a potato 78. Matlab kuch khaye hi nahi sakte, itna mehnga hai (Its so expensive, you can barely eat anything), she remarks. Her price list continues a pound of garlic is 395, four litres of milk 396, a small tub of yoghurt 200, and a packet of bread 230. See the video here: Internet reacts The video has sparked a flurry of reactions online. While some viewers expressed shock at the steep prices, others pointed out that Canadian incomes are significantly higher, making the costs relatively manageable for residents. A user wrote, In our country, Dhaniya is often the free gift with your vegetables, sometimes vendors even insist on giving it to you even if you dont need it! Another user commented, A dollar you earn is also 60rs/- Earn b toh dollar mei kr re ho rupees mein thodi," the third user wrote. Yaar, youre earnings in dollars , then why u convert to Rupees? the fourth user asked. Earning in $ ,comparing in rupees. Reverse migration is the current trend. Doors are open, the fifth user wrote. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday, the leaders said. Modi added that they plan to meet in September during the UN General Assembly. PM Modi also shared the development in a post on X, saying that he conveyed India's consistent position on the need for an early solution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Zelensky and Modi also discussed the sanctions imposed on Russia for its war on Ukraine, with the Ukrainian President saying that he highlighted the necessity to stop Russian exports. Glad to speak with President Zelenskyy and hear his perspectives on recent developments. I conveyed Indias consistent position on the need for an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict, PM Narendra Modi said in a post on X following the conversation. India remains committed to making every possible contribution in this regard, as well as to further strengthening bilateral ties with Ukraine, he added. Zelensky informs Modi on Russia's attack In his post on X, Volodymyr Zelensky thanked PM Modi for his words of support and said that they had a detailed discussion around the countries' bilateral cooperation and the overall diplomatic situation. I informed about the Russian attacks on our cities and villages, about yesterdays strike on the bus station in Zaporizhzhia, where dozens of people were injured in a deliberate Russian bombing of a regular urban facility, he said, emphasising that the attacks come at a time when there is a diplomatic possibility to end the war. Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump on 15 August to discuss a possible peace deal with Ukraine. It is important that India is supporting our peace efforts and shares the position that everything concerning Ukraine must be decided with Ukraines participation. Other formats will not deliver results, Zelensky said. He noted that PM Modi and he agreed to meet personally on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September and to work on an exchange of visits. India-Ukraine discuss Russian oil purchase PM Narendra Modi, during his conversation with Zelensky, also discussed the sanctions on Russia, including limiting exports of Russian energy, the Ukrainian leader said. This assumes significance as Trump doubled tariffs on India to 50 per cent, citing its continued purchase of Russian oil amid the Ukraine war. Also Read | Trump mulls tariffs on China over Russian oil purchases after move against India (Bloomberg) -- Brazil Finance Minister Fernando Haddad said in a local television interview on Monday that a long-sought meeting with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was canceled and hasnt been rescheduled. Haddad said he tried to set another time for the virtual gathering with Bessent, which had been set to take place this week, but has not been successful. He added that Brazil trade isnt a focal point for the US government. The cancellation marks the latest setback in a relationship that has soured quickly since the US government levied 50% tariffs on Brazilian goods earlier this month. Those trade barriers are part of a pressure campaign to get the countrys Supreme Court to drop coup attempt charges against former head of state Jair Bolsonaro, who is an ally of Donald Trump. Haddad has spearheaded efforts to negotiate with the US, and had expressed hope that talks with Bessent would lead to additional breakthroughs after the Trump administration exempted nearly 700 products from the higher levies that went into effect last week. The Brazilian finance minister suggested during the interview, however, that Bolsonaro supporters in the US had played a role in scuttling the meeting with Bessent. The official reason given was a lack of availability, Haddad said, describing the explanation as unusual. He noted that the issue extends beyond the Finance Ministry. Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said last week that he wants to see signs that the US is willing to negotiate in a way that treats his nation as an equal partner before he calls Trump to discuss the tariffs. Haddad reiterated that point during the interview, while saying that Lula has not closed the door on a phone call with Trump. Finance ministry officials with meet with both Lula and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin later on Monday to finalize a plan to soften the economic blow from the US tariffs, Haddad said. The measures, which focus on taxes, financing lines and government purchases, have to be flexible, he said. Haddads main worry is protecting the Brazilian economy, and he added that exports intended for the US will require new destinations. --With assistance from Andre Loureiro Dias. (Adds additional context) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com Colorado is grappling with one of its largest wildfires on record as more than 1,000 firefighters work to contain the Lee Fire, which is raging about 250 miles (400km) west of Denver. The blaze, sparked by lightning on 2 August, has scorched over 130,000 acres (52,610 hectares) and is only 7% contained, according to the states Division of Fire Prevention and Control. Evacuations ordered in mountain communities Evacuation orders have been issued for mountain communities in Garfield and Rio Blanco counties. Officials continue to urge residents in nearby areas to stay prepared to evacuate quickly if necessary. Governor Jared Polis has declared a disaster emergency to help bolster firefighting resources. Prison evacuated as precaution On Saturday, all 179 inmates at the Rifle Correctional Center were relocated about 150 miles (240km) away to the Buena Vista Correctional Complex as a precaution. The Colorado Department of Corrections confirmed the prisoners were relocated about 150 miles (240 km) to the Buena Vista Correctional Complex. No injuries or structural damage have been reported so far. The Lee Fire is one of several burning in the region. The Elk Fire, east of the Lee blaze, has consumed over 14,000 acres and is 30% contained. In southern Colorado, Governor Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency for the Oak Fire near Pagosa Springs in Archuleta County to bolster response efforts. US President Donald Trump on Monday (August 11) announced a federal takeover of Washington D.C.s Metropolitan Police Department and the deployment of the National Guard, vowing to crack down on crime and homelessness in the nations capital. Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people, Trump said at a White House press conference. And were not going to let it happen anymore. "The Metropolitan Police Department and the federal authorities will be supported in the effort, a really big effort, the 800 D.C. National Guardsmen that we'll put on. And much more, if necessary, much more," Trump said. Emergency powers invoked Trump cited a decades-old law that allows the President to temporarily seize control of the citys police force. The law grants Washingtons more than 700,000 residents political autonomy to elect a mayor and council but gives the President emergency authority over security matters. The National Guard will assist with logistics, transportation, and other tasks to free up local police for arrests similar to Trumps earlier deployment in Los Angeles to support federal immigration raids. That operation went ahead despite opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom. Focus on crime and homelessness Trump said the combined federal and local effort would target violent crime and street encampments. You want to be able to leave your apartment or your house where you live and feel safe and go into a store to buy a newspaper or buy something, and you dont have that now, he said, flanked by Attorney General Pam Bondi and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Hegseth said that the National Guard units are expected to arrive in the capital within the coming week. In a social media post earlier on Monday, Trump wrote: Washington, D.C. will be LIBERATED today! Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR. I will, MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN! Crime data shows decline The Presidents move comes despite local police data showing violent crime in D.C. has been falling for two years. As of January 3, 2024, violent crime in the city was at a 30-year low, according to the US Justice Department. Zelenskyy says there is chance for peace now, but it must be fair, sustainable; security must be guaranteed Photo: https://t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official/ President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a call with the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Muhammad bin Salman Al Saud, on Monday. "I spoke with the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Muhammad bin Salman Al Saud. I am grateful for the support. I informed about contacts with partners, our diplomatic work to end the war. In fact, communication with the leaders continues around the clock, we are in constant contact. Now is the time when there is a real chance to achieve peace. But peace must be fair and sustainable, and security must be guaranteed. This is important not only for Ukraine for every European country," Zelenskyy said on Telegram. According to the head of state, the parties equally see the danger in any decisions made without Ukraine and Europe. "I thank Muhammad bin Salman Al Saud for his absolutely clear support for this position and for his willingness to make efforts for peace. We agreed that our teams would coordinate all necessary efforts. We also talked about joint projects that would give strength to both of our states. Our teams will work on all the details," the president said. US President Donald Trump vowed to remove homeless individuals from the nations capital and crack down on crime by incarcerating offenders, despite Washingtons mayor stating that crime rates have not recently increased. Although specifics of the plan remain unclear, a US official told Reuters that the administration is preparing to deploy hundreds of National Guard troops to Washington a move Trump previously used in Los Angeles to address immigration protests, despite opposition from local authorities. Trump has not made a final decision, the official said, adding that the number of troops and their role are still being determined. Unlike in California and every other state, where the governor typically decides when to activate Guard troops, the president directly controls the National Guard in Washington, D.C. Past instances of the Guard's deployment in the city include in response to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters. "The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY," Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you dont have to move out. Were going to put you in jail where you belong. The White House declined to explain what legal authority Trump would use to evict people from Washington. The Republican president controls only federal land and buildings in the city. Trump plans to hold a press conference on Monday to "stop violent crime in Washington, D.C." It was not clear whether he would announce more details of his eviction plan then. There are 3,782 single persons experiencing homelessness on any given night in the city of about 700,000, says the Community Partnership, an organisation working to reduce homelessness in D.C. Most such individuals are in emergency shelters or transitional housing, rather than on the street, it says. A White House official said on Friday that more federal law enforcement officers were being deployed in the city following a violent attack on a young administration staffer that angered the president. Alleged crimes investigated by federal agents on Friday night included multiple persons carrying a pistol without a license, motorists driving on suspended licenses and dirt bike riding, a White House official said on Sunday. Also Read: Solving Homelessness Isnt a Partisan Experiment The official said 450 federal law enforcement officers were deployed across the city on Saturday. The city's police department reports that violent crime decreased by 26% in D.C. during the first seven months of 2025, compared to the same period last year, while overall crime dropped by approximately 7%. The Democratic mayor of Washington, D.C., Muriel Bowser, said on Sunday the capital was "not experiencing a crime spike." "It is true that we had a terrible spike in crime in 2023, but this is not 2023," Bowser said on MSNBCs The Weekend. "We have spent over the last two years driving down violent crime in this city, driving it down to a 30-year low." Mayor Muriel Bowser said that President Trump was very aware of Washington, D.C.s coordination with federal law enforcement following a meeting with him in the Oval Office several weeks ago. Also Read: Trump Rattles Latin America by Weighing Using Military Force While D.C. residents elect their own mayor and city council, ultimate control of the citys budget lies with the U.S. Congress, a structure dating back to the districts founding in 1790 using land from Virginia and Maryland. For Trump to assume direct control over the city, Congress would likely need to pass legislation overturning the existing law that grants local elected leadership. Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan will visit the White House on Monday, days after US President Donald Trump called for his resignation over ties with Chinese companies, as per a report. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal quoting people familiar with the development, Tan is likely to meet Donald Trump for an extensive conversation as he looks to explain his personal and professional background. Livemint could not independently verify the report. Intel and the White House have not issued any statement yet. During the meeting with Donald Trump, Lip-Bu Tan could also propose ways Intel can work with the US government, the report added. Tan hopes to win Trump's approval by showing his commitment to America and guaranteeing the importance of keeping Intel's manufacturing capabilities as a national security issue, as per the report. Also Read | Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan says engaging with US govt after Trump demands his exit Trump demands Intel CEO resignation Donald Trump last week called for the resignation of Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, saying that he was a highly conflicted individual after questions about his ties to Chinese firms came on the surface. 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, Trump said in a post on Truth Social. The US President's demand came shortly after Senator Tim Cotton sent a letter to Intel asking about his ties to firms in China. Lip-Bu Tan was the CEO of Cadence Design from 2008 to 2021, during which the chip design software maker sold products to a Chinese military university believed to be involved in simulating nuclear explosions. Intel CEO responds 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. A decade after the Supreme Courts landmark 2015 ruling extending marriage rights to same-sex couples nationwide, the justices will this fall consider a petition explicitly asking them to overturn the decision. Kim Davis challenge Kim Davis, a former Kentucky county clerk jailed in 2015 for refusing to issue marriage licenses to a gay couple on religious grounds, is appealing a $100,000 jury verdict for emotional damages and $260,000 in attorneys fees. Her petition argues that the First Amendments free exercise clause should shield her from personal liability. More fundamentally, Davis claims the courts decision in Obergefell vs Hodges was egregiously wrong. The mistake must be corrected, wrote Davis attorney Mathew Staver. He described Justice Anthony Kennedys majority opinion in Obergefell as legal fiction, calling the case one of exceptional importance since Davis was the first individual in the Republics history who was jailed for following her religious convictions regarding the historic definition of marriage. Legal hurdles and lower court rulings Lower courts have dismissed Davis claims. A federal appeals court ruled earlier this year that she cannot raise the First Amendment as a defense because she is being held liable for state action, which the First Amendment does not protect. Davis, as Rowan County Clerk, was responsible for issuing marriage licenses under state law at the time. Renewed Conservative push Davis appeal coincides with a resurgence among conservative groups aiming to reverse marriage equality and allow states to determine their own policies. At Obergefells 2015 ruling, 35 states still banned same-sex marriage either statutorily or constitutionally. In 2025 alone, nine states have proposed legislation or passed resolutions urging the Supreme Court to overturn the decision. The Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the US, voted in June to prioritise overturning laws and court rulings, including Obergefell, that defy Gods design for marriage and family. Comparison to abortion ruling Davis petition draws parallels with the Supreme Courts 2022 overturning of Roe vs Wade, highlighting Justice Clarence Thomas concurrence that urged revisiting Obergefell along with other substantive due process precedents. Thomas wrote: The Court should reconsider all of this Courts substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell. Supreme Courts pending decision The justices are expected to consider Davis petition during a private conference this fall to decide whether to add the case to their docket. If accepted, oral arguments could take place next spring with a decision by June 2026. The court may also decline, letting lower court rulings stand and avoiding a direct challenge to Obergefell. Legal experts stress that even if overturned, existing same-sex marriages would remain valid due to the 2022 Respect for Marriage Act, which requires all states and the federal government to recognize legal marriages regardless of future rulings. Also Read | Trump rules out tariffs on imported gold bars, eases market fears s the western United States braces for a week marked by fires, storms, and near-record high temperatures, authorities and experts warn of escalating challenges from multiple natural hazards. The largest ongoing wildfire, the Gifford Fire, located about 125 miles northwest of Los Angeles, has burned 114,621 acres and is 21% contained, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), as reported by Bloomberg. The blaze has prompted the evacuation of 809 residents and led to the closure of the Los Padres National Forest. Nearly 4,000 fire crews and support personnel are engaged in battling the fire, with at least seven injured, according to a joint statement by Cal Fire, the US Forest Service, and local agencies shared with the news outlet. California battles 15 active wildfires California faces a total of 15 active fires, including the Canyon Fire, which has consumed 5,370 acres across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Additionally, a new fire near Fresno ignited Sunday but has so far burned only about 10 acres, the news outlet reports. Meanwhile, Colorado is grappling with large wildfires causing deteriorated air quality, especially in western areas such as Vail, according to the US National Weather Service as cited by the news publicatio. Canadian wildfire smoke affects Northern US air quality Smoke from Canadian wildfires is also impacting air quality in parts of the northern US. Minnesota and Michigans Upper Peninsula have issued air quality alerts due to drifting smoke from Canadas forest fires. Across the border, parts of Saskatchewan and Manitoba are under similar warnings, Environment and Climate Change Canada confirmed to Bloomberg. Canada currently contends with 714 active fires, with 166 out of control, according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. This year, Canadian wildfires have scorched 7.3 million acres, while the US has seen 42,854 fires burning 3.5 million acres, per data from the US National Interagency Fire Center as reported. Heat advisories and extreme heat warnings across Western US Heat advisories and extreme heat warnings remain in effect across much of the western US, including California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, Washington, and Idaho. Phoenix is expected to reach 108F on Sunday, down from a record-breaking 118F on Thursday, the fifth highest US city temperature ever recorded. Temperatures are expected to climb in New York City and across the Northeast, with up to 12 records likely to be tied or broken in the coming week, according to the US Weather Prediction Center. The Northeast is forecast to experience rising temperatures with the potential for up to 12 record highs in the coming week, the US Weather Prediction Center was quoted as stating. Milwaukee River hits record crest Flood watches are also in effect across parts of the Midwest, including Milwaukee, where the Milwaukee River at Estabrook Park surged to a record crest of 11.19 feet, rising more than eight feet in just one day, the US Weather Service reportedly said. The Wisconsin State Fair canceled its final day on Sunday due to flooding damage. Atlantic Hurricane Center monitors two potential storms In the Atlantic, the National Hurricane Center is monitoring two potential storm systems far from land. One is a disorganised cluster of thunderstorms moving north with a 20% chance of tropical development, while a broad low-pressure area off Africa has a 70% chance of becoming a tropical storm or hurricane within a week. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday defended a newly expanded military offensive in Gaza, stating that despite increasing criticism both domestically and internationally, Israel has no choice but to finish the job and fully defeat Hamas. Despite growing concerns among Israelis over the 22-month-long war, Prime Minister Netanyahu said the security Cabinet last week ordered the dismantling of Hamas strongholds not only in Gaza City but also in the "central camps" and Muwasi. A source familiar with the operation, speaking anonymously due to a lack of authorisation to speak publicly, confirmed to the Associated Press that Israel is planning operations in both areas. The camps sheltering well over a half-million displaced people, according to the UN had not been part of Israel's announcement on Friday. It was not clear why, though Netanyahu faced criticism this weekend within his ruling coalition that targeting Gaza City was not enough. Netanyahu said there would be safe zones," but such designated areas have been bombed in the past, AP reported. There is no hunger Rejecting starvation in Gaza as well as a global campaign of lies," Netanyahu spoke to foreign media just before an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, a platform for outrage but little action on the war. Our goal is not to occupy Gaza, our goal is to free Gaza, Netanyahu asserted. The goals, he said, include demilitarising the territory, the Israeli military having overriding security control and a non-Israeli civilian administration in charge. Israel wants to increase the number of aid distribution sites in Gaza, he said, but in a later briefing to local media, he asserted: There is no hunger. There was no hunger. There was a shortage, and there was certainly no policy of starvation." Netanyahu also announced that he has instructed the Israeli military to bring in more foreign journalists, a notable shift, as independent media access to Gaza has been restricted to military-embedded reporting throughout the war. He reiterated his stance that Hamas is responsible for much of Gazas suffering, including civilian casualties, widespread destruction, and humanitarian aid shortages. Hamas still has thousands of armed terrorists, he claimed, adding that Palestinians are begging to be liberated from their rule. Hamas responded with a lengthy statement that summed up Netanyahu's remarks as blatant lies. The hunger toll is in addition to the ministry's war toll of 61,400 Palestinians. 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. US President Donald Trump said on Monday (August 11) that both Ukraine and Russia would have to give up territory to each other as part of a potential peace agreement, adding that his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin would test the waters for such a deal. The President reiterated that territorial concessions would be part of any settlement. Therell be some land swapping going on, Trump said. I know that through Russia and through conversations with everybody, to the good of Ukraine. He acknowledged Russias occupation of very prime territory but said efforts would be made to recover some of it for Ukraine. Were going to try to get some of that territory back, he added. Feel-out meeting with Putin Trump said his talks with Putin on Friday (August 15) in Alaska would serve as a preliminary discussion to gauge whether Moscow is open to negotiations. Its a feel-out meeting, Trump told reporters at the White House. I could know within two minutes whether progress is possible. The president said he would press Putin to end the war. Im going in to speak to Vladimir Putin, and Im going to be telling him, youve got to end this war. Youve got to end it. Possible three-way talks Trump also floated the idea of a future meeting that could include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky alongside himself and Putin. He said he would speak with European leaders after the Alaska talks, stressing that his aim was a speedy ceasefire in Europes deadliest conflict since World War Two. Long-running stalemate Since the war began in February 2022, Ukraine has sought to repel Russian forces, while Russia claims it acted to counter security threats from Kyivs Westward shift a justification Ukraine and its allies dismiss as an imperial land grab. Russia currently holds about 20% of Ukrainian territory, while Ukraine controls little, if any, Russian land. European leaders remain wary that major concessions to Moscow could undermine Western security in the long run. Also Read | Trump places Washington DC police under federal control, deploys national guard Maryam Nawaz, the chief minister of Pakistan's Punjab, recently unveiled 'South Asia's first trackless tram', touted as a "subway on wheels." This innovative, solar-powered metro system, imported from China, operates without tracks or tickets. According to a report by Gulf News, it's a key part of Punjab's urban transport modernisation initiative, with plans to roll out the system in 30 cities across the region. Last week, Ms Nawaz took the trackless tram for a test ride from Raiwind Road to Muslim Town in Lahore, assessing its performance in live traffic. Alongside Punjab Transport Minister Bilal Akbar, she reviewed technical aspects and emphasised the project's significance for future urban development. "Ladies and gentlemen, South Asia's first-ever Track-less tram soon starting its service in Lahore Punjab under Maryam Nawaz," the tweet shared by Nawaz read. While officials hailed it as a revolutionary step in urban transportation, many internet users were not convinced and pointed out that a trackless tram is essentially a bus, questioning the hype surrounding the project. Many social media users poked fun at the perceived lack of originality, with some users comparing it to existing bus systems, highlighting that the "new" technology seemed more like a rebranded concept rather than an innovative solution. A user wrote, That's called a bus. Another user asked on X, It's a bus. What does a trackless tram even mean? Oh wow, a track-less tram. Basically a fancy bus with a dramatic flair! Lahore really reinventing the wheel there. Next, maybe South Asias first track-less train (spoiler: also a bus). Meanwhile, in Indian cities, we're out here actually building metros, bullet trains, and expressways! But hey, props to Lahore for trying..maybe someday theyll figure out tracks too. Baby steps, guys, baby steps, the third user wrote. Only Pakistanis can present a bus as train, the fourth user remarked. Prince Harry is exploring new ways to support young people in southern Africa, following his resignation from Sentebale, the charity he co-founded in 2006. Prince Harry Plans New Charity Work in Africa After Stepping Down from Sentebale The Duke of Sussex, 40, stepped down from his role in March this year, alongside Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, after disagreements within the organisations leadership. The move followed tensions between Sentebales chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka and the board of trustees. Also Read | Harry lost interest in Sentebale charity after marriage with Meghan: Report Although a recent investigation by the Charity Commission for England and Wales found no signs of widespread bullying or misconduct, the Commission criticised how the conflict was handled, saying it harmed Sentebales reputation and trust in charities more broadly. Despite the challenges, Prince Harry remains committed to the cause. A spokesperson said, The Duke remains absolutely committed to continuing the work he started, supporting the children and young people of Lesotho and Botswana, nearly 20 years ago. There is no confirmed plan yet, but all options remain on the table, according to Harrys team. These could include starting a new charity or supporting existing ones that focus on similar work in the region. How Does The Sentebale Charity Help The Youth? Sentebale, which means forget-me-not in the Sesotho language, was set up in memory of Prince Harrys and Prince Seeisos mothers. The charity has helped children and young people in Lesotho and Botswana, especially those affected by HIV/AIDS, through healthcare, education, job training, and life skills support. Pakistans Chief of Army Staff, General Asim Munir, is getting trolled on social media after comparing India to a shining Mercedes and Pakistan to a dump truck during a recent address in the United States. According to Pakistani media reports, Gen Munir was speaking at a private dinner hosted in Florida by businessman Adnan Asad, his second visit to the US in two months, when he used the unusual analogy to describe the two neighbours. I am going to use a crude analogy to explain the situation India is a shining Mercedes coming on a highway like a Ferrari, but we are a dump truck full of gravel. If the truck hits the car, who will be the loser? Munir reportedly said. The Army Chief, regarded as Pakistans most powerful figure, also spoke about the possibility of nuclear war if his country faced an existential threat, claiming that such a scenario could take down half the world. He further pointed to Pakistans untapped energy and mineral reserves as potential drivers for economic recovery. However, it was the dump truck comment that caused a stir online. Many commentators argued that the analogy unintentionally reinforced Indias image as a superior power. The only truth in Munirs statement is that India is the Mercedes, and his country is the dump truck. The rest is delusion, one X user posted. Another wrote, Munir thinks he can threaten nuclear doom from American soil Pakistans military might is a myth held together by duct tape and delusions. Social media platforms soon flooded with memes-- one depicted a missile-equipped Mercedes labelled India, alongside captions mocking Pakistans military strength. For critics, the remark was a self-inflicted PR setback. Hes taken the dump truck and driven it straight into his own reputation, one post read. Ukraine may agree to halt fighting and accept Russian control over some of the territory Moscow currently occupies as part of a European-backed peace proposal, according to a report by The Telegraph. This plan envisages freezing the front lines in their current state, effectively allowing Russia to retain control over areas including Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Crimea. Zelensky rejects further territorial concessions Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has told European leaders that any peace settlement proposed by US President Donald Trump must not include additional Ukrainian territorial concessions beyond what Russia already occupies. However, Zelensky signaled openness to freezing the frontline at its current position. The news outlet quotes a Western official describing the intense diplomatic efforts ahead of the anticipated Trump-Putin talks in Alaska this Friday: The plan can only be related to the current positions held by the militaries. European concerns over Trump-Putin negotiations European capitals have expressed growing concern that Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could negotiate an end to the war without adequately consulting Kyiv. Polands Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, said on Monday, I have many fears and a lot of hope, adding that US officials pledged to consult European leaders before the Alaska summit. Tusk underscored Europes firm stance on Ukraines territorial integrity: For Poland and our partners, it is clear that state borders cannot be changed by force. Russias war with Ukraine must not bring benefits to the aggressor. Putins war aims remain unchanged European diplomats remain wary of any peace plan Moscow endorses. The Telegraph notes that a peace proposal backed by Russia involves freezing front lines in southeastern Ukraine but requires Kyiv to withdraw from areas of Donetsk and Luhansk it currently controls. According to a report by the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War cited by then news publication, Russia continues to seek the full capitulation of Kyiv, including blocking Ukraines NATO membership and enforcing demilitarization. Europe stands firm behind Ukraines position European leaders have rallied behind Ukraines vision for a peace settlement that includes strong security guarantees such as weapons deliveries and a clear path to NATO membership. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also voiced strong opposition to territorial concessions during weekend statements, reinforcing the hardline European stance. Virtual talks with European heads of state, Zelenskyy and Trump to take place on Wed Merz Photo: https://www.facebook.com/MerzCDU German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will hold talks on Wednesday with US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders regarding the war in Ukraine. "I have invited you to virtual talks on Wednesday regarding the situation in Ukraine and the planned meeting between President Trump and Putin. The discussion will focus on options for putting pressure on Russia, possible peace talks, territorial claims and guarantees," he wrote on the social network X on Monday. Merz added that "we are exchanging views with President Trump and Vice President Vance, as well as the heads of state and government of Finland, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, the President of the European Commission, the President of the Council of the EU and the Secretary General of NATO." The US ambassador to NATO provided a hint on whether Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky will join US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladmir Putin in Alaska for peace talks. Meanwhile, European leaders pushed for Kyiv's inclusion ahead of talks between presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. Here are all the latest updates on Trump-Putin Alaska talks: 1. A US official said Ukraine could be a part of negotiations between the United States and Russia. When asked whether Zelensky might join Trump and his Russian counterpart Putin on Friday, Ambassador Matthew Whitaker said, "Yes, I certainly think it's possible." "Certainly, there can't be a deal that everybody that's involved in it doesn't agree to. And, I mean, obviously, it's a high priority to get this war to end," he was quoted by AFP as saying. 2. Whitaker said the decision would ultimately be Trump's to make. "If he thinks that that is the best scenario to invite Zelensky, then he will do that," he said, adding that "no decision has been made to this point." 3. The planned summit without Zelensky raised concerns that a deal would require Kyiv to cede swaths of territory, which the European Union has rejected. 4. In a flurry of diplomacy, Zelensky held calls with 13 counterparts over three days, including Kyiv's main backers Germany, Britain and France. 5. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said this weeks US-Russian summit may open the door to negotiations about Ukrainian territory, even as President Volodymyr Zelensky has continued to reject ceding land occupied by Russia. If the peace process moves forward, territory would have to be on the table, alongside security guarantees for Ukraine, Rutte said Sunday on ABCs This Week. He suggested that could involve Ukraine acknowledging that it has lost control of some of its territory without formally giving up sovereignty over those regions. 6. Putin has demanded that Ukraine cede Crimea, which Kremlin forces illegally annexed in 2014, as well as its entire eastern Donbas area. Such an outcome would require Zelensky to withdraw troops from parts of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions still held by Kyiv. 7. Zelensky said over the weekend that Kyiv wont and constitutionally cant cede territory, and European officials warned later against ratifying Russias battlefield gains. Kyiv said it would never recognise Russian control over its sovereign territory, though it acknowledged that getting land captured by Russia back would have to come through diplomacy, not on the battlefield. 8. Ukraine's military said on Sunday it had taken back a village in the Sumy region from the Russian army, which has made significant recent gains. 9. Amid the concerns, European leaders pushed for Ukraine's inclusion ahead of talks between Putin and Trump. Top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas said any deal between the US and Russia to end the war in Ukraine had to include Kyiv and the bloc. European nations are also seeking to talk to Donald Trump ahead of the US presidents planned meeting in Alaska with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, sources told Bloomberg. 10. US Vice President JD Vance also said in comments recorded earlier that he expects the eventual outcome to be very simple. Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif was reportedly killed alongside four colleagues in a targeted Israeli attack on a tent housing journalists in Gaza City. As many as seven people were killed in the attack on the tent located outside the main gate of Gaza Citys al-Shifa Hospital late on Sunday evening. Who was Anas Al-Sharif? Anas Al-Sharif, 28, was among a group of four Al Jazeera journalists and an assistant who died in a strike on a tent near Shifa Hospital in eastern Gaza City, Gaza officials and Al Jazeera said. Al Sharif, whose X account showed more than 500,000 followers, posted on the platform minutes before his death that Israel had been intensely bombarding Gaza City for more than two hours. Also Read | Al Jazeera claims 5 journalists slain in Israeli strike on scribes tent A journalist or Hamas terrorist? The Israeli military cited intelligence and documents found in Gaza as evidence and claimed Al Sharif was the head of a Hamas cell and "was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF (Israeli) troops." However, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said Israel had failed to provide any evidence to back up its allegations against him. Israels pattern of labelling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom," Sara Qudah, the CPJ' director for the Middle East and North Africa, said. Calling Al Sharif "one of Gaza's bravest journalists," Al Jazeera said the attack "is a desperate attempt to silence voices in anticipation of the occupation of Gaza." "Anas Al Sharif and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices in Gaza conveying the tragic reality to the world," Al Jazeera said. The press freedom group and a UN expert previously warned that Al Sharif's life was in danger due to his reporting from Gaza. UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan said last month that Israel's claims against him were unsubstantial Also Read | Indias trade with Turkey and Azerbaijan slumps in May amid diplomatic strain Colombia's President hopeful Miguel Uribe died on Monday, two months after being shot at a political rally in June, his family has said. He was 39 at the time of his death. Miguel Uribe Turbay's family announced his death on the day, saying that the politician passed away at a hospital in Colombia's capital, Bogota, more than two months after the attack. Rest in peace, love of my life. I will take care of our children, his wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, wrote in a social media post confirming his death. I ask God to show me the way to learn to live without you. What happened to Miguel Uribe Turbay? On 7 June, Uribe sustained fatal injuries after he was shot three times, twice in the head, while giving a campaign speech in a park and had remained in an intensive care unit in serious condition with episodes of slight improvement. He had several neurosurgeries following the attack, all in vain. Also Read | Colombian Prez vows robe after teen arrested at site of rival Uribe's shooting Authorities have detained six people, including a teenager who was apprehended at the scene. The accused was formally charged this month with attempted murder and illegal possession of a weapon. It remains unclear who ordered the attack. Probe is still on regarding the case. Who was Miguel Uribe Turbay? Born in 1986, Miguel Uribe Turbay was the son of assassinated journalist Diana Turbay and the grandson of Colombia's former President Julio Cesar Turbay Ayala. He was a right-wing senator and member of the opposition conservative Democratic Centre party, which was founded by former Colombian President Alvaro Uribe. The two leaders are not related. The assassination is the starkest sign yet that the countrys stability is unravelling a year before President Gustavo Petro is set to leave office. Uribes killing will likely reshape Colombias 2026 presidential race which so far lacks a clear front-runner and potentially sideline candidates hoping to defend Petros legacy. Also Read | Moments before Colombian presidential candidate Uribe shot in head | Watch video A lawyer with a master's degree in public administration, Miguel Uribe entered politics as a councilman for Bogota at the age of 26. Lets begin with an Indian child in 1966. Also Read | Trump mulls tariffs on China over Russian oil purchases after move against India It was an August afternoon in Mirzapur. The family of a government officer was about to have lunch when his daughter (4) and son (6) started crying. The red chapatis were the culprit. The wheat from the US was meant for poultry feed in that country. Even that was available to the lucky few. We were suffering from a massive drought, turning farmland into dust bowls. Records suggest India produced 72.3 million tonnes (mt) of grain in 1965-66. This was why Indira Gandhi sought food aid from US President Lyndon B. Johnson the moment she became the prime minister. By comparison, in the 2024-25 fiscal year, India produced 353.95 mt of grain. The nations journey from the begging bowl to agricultural self-reliance is inspiring. Indiras predecessor, Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, who led the country during the second Indo-Pak war, gave the slogan jai jawan, jai kisan. But one of his less-discussed clarion calls can inspire even today. He asked people to skip one meal every week as the country faced a grain shortage. My parents immediately made it their routine and told us children not to waste food as many didnt have even a few morsels to survive. The practice became our family tradition. Thousands of families still follow the ritual, proving that leaders do have the power to change society. Lets move ahead to 1988. A girl was born in Varanasi Railway Locomotive Factory hospital while Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi addressed the country from the Red Fort. The father, a young editor, was serving in another city. As all phone lines were either busy or out of order, he received one of the most important news of his life many hours later. When information travels within seconds to any part of the world, that may appear prehistoric. Mobiles and the internet didnt exist then. A fortunate few had landlines. Even they had to book a trunk call and wait for hours to get through to another city. Getting a phone connection meant years of waiting or seeking blessings" from a member of parliament or the communications minister. Today, the same country boasts the second highest number of mobile phone users in the world after China. From tech-savvy professionals in metro cities to the tribals in the jungles of Abhujhmad, the impact of the technology has been transformative. Recap from 1978 till date. From the 1970s through the 1980s, everyone felt the country would be torn asunder. The Kashmir insurgency was still a decade away, but Punjab was already on the boil. According to a research paper, the Pakistan-backed reign of terror claimed 11,694 lives between 1980 to 2000. A total of 1,784 personnel from Punjab Police and other central police forces either laid down their lives in the line of duty or were grievously injured. In 1982, Jarnail Singh Bhinderawale and his violent gang took control of the Harminder Sahib. Two years later, Operation Bluestar" was initiated to flush them out of the premises. It led to the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her trusted Sikh bodyguards. Our heads still hang in shame when we remember the atrocities meted out to the Sikh community in the aftermath of the 31 October 1984 assassination. In those fateful months, we felt as if the mindless hatred towards Sikhs would snatch this courageous community from our fold. But what unfolded was completely different. Society closed ranks and showed once again that the Indian people have an amazing ability to course correct voluntarily. Also Read | India to digitally record tribal heritage to push social, economic inclusion In those days, many Northeastern states were suffering from insurgency. It seemed the country would break apart. Except for the neighbour-sponsored terror in Kashmir, the scourge of terrorism has been wiped out from the rest of the states. The Maoist insurgency, a clear and present threat a decade ago, is breathing its last. Our journey reflects a resolve unmatched by any nation. On 15 August 1947, we gained Independence from the British, and today we have surpassed their economy. Our relentless progress will transform us into the third-largest economy in the world in a few years. Thats the reason I laugh at people who talk of India breaking apart. If we can negotiate dark days in the past, we can surely tackle them in the present. Well face challenges in our journey ahead. All we need to do is take a vow to deal with at least one social vice on Independence Day. Shashi Shekhar is editor-in-chief, Hindustan. Views are personal. No longer the worlds most populous nation and confronted with projections that its citizenry will dwindle significantly in a couple of generations, China is trying something new. The message is more telling than the substance. Beijing announced recently that it will subsidize households to have children. Babies born after 1 January this year will receive 3,600 yuan (about $500) annually until age three. While not a large amount, it represents a further step away from rules imposed in the 1970s that constrained fertility. Theres much to be said for starting small and scaling up. Its not hard to see the money being increasedand extended to all children. The government has travelled a long way since Mao Zedongs death in 1976, when leaders prioritized economic development and poverty elimination. Smaller households were considered a route to higher standards of living, as was the case in South Korea, Singapore and a swag of other Asian success stories. They worked too well and President Xi Jinpings government is trying to address the aftermath. Also Read: Indias falling fertility rate calls for fast-improving gender justice The latest shift is a step in the right direction, though not for the reasons you might expect. Officials should not anticipate a seismic expansion in the number of newborns. Seoul and Tokyo have thrown money at the issue, yet fertility remains subdued. South Koreas rate is the lowest on the planet, though it did climb a bit last year and the number of marriages jumped by 15%. Ideally, nations aspire to a fertility rate of 2.1: the number of children a woman has in her lifetime. Thats the level at which society can reproduce itself. Koreas rate is 0.75. Chinas is likely a touch over 1, according to the United Nations. The most important aspect of Beijings new initiative could be what it portends for future steps. The sums involved, which Bloomberg Economics puts at 0.1% of Chinas national budget, are hardly extravagant. If applied to all children, they would be worth 3%. And they may even have some impact. Municipal-level subsidies in the central province of Hubei were followed by a 17% jump in births, according to officials in the city of Tianmen. Its all too easy to deride initiatives as too late and probably ineffective. That doesnt mean policymakers should stop trying. (Free pre-school education is gradually being rolled out too.) Also Read: What it means to have a fertility rate of 2 The real gains from subsidies may accrue to those already alive. They may not do a huge amount for Chinas population, but they provide people with money to spend. Xi and his predecessors have been trying to shift the engine of the economy more toward consumption and away from exports and investment. The need has become more pressing with a property market slump, while deflation has stalked China for years. Factories are churning out a lot of products for export, but with barriers to the US being pushed up, new buyers anywhereeven in the form of parents receiving these subsidieswill be welcome. The subsidies mark a shift in mindset and potentially lay the groundwork for more fiscal transfers to households," Capital Economics wrote in a note. Thats a more constructive story to tell than one of decline, something that all too often is lumped together with retreating fertility. Taken to an extreme, the latter can lead to calls for drastic action to avert the calamity of depopulation. This is a huge exaggeration. The worlds population will peak around 2080 CE and then begin a gentle retreat. It was not too long ago that such an outcome would have been considered ideal. Also Read: Indias population can be an asset in the worlds war against climate change When it comes to birth rates, it is always tempting to attach ourselves to a narrative that suits our biases. When Chinas economy was a seemingly unstoppable force, it was easy to see plentiful and inexpensive labour as a passport to supremacy. Now that Beijing has a few problems of its own, and Indias citizenry is larger, its convenient to throw in small families as a symptomor causeof lost ground. Remember when Japan was globally seen as a rising star? Then a series of bank crises in the late 1990s and early 2000s dented that image. Dismal forecasts of a shrunk population were piled on. Who would make the sushi? Lee Kuan Yew, Singapores founding prime minister, was an admirer of Japan and its revival after World War II. In his later years, Lee lamented Japans inability to turn around what he saw as a slow moving demographic disaster. But Japan is cool again and considered a sound investment. Its in vogue to be bearish on China. Subsidies may not do much for maternity wings, but its hard to see them as detrimentaleven if the ultimate winners left diapers behind years ago. Bloomberg The author is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asian economies. In July, Microsoft announced it was laying off 9,000 employees, bringing the total job cuts this year to over 15,000. This isnt a company in trouble. Quite the opposite: Microsoft just reported a quarterly net income of $27.2 billion, and its stock price has soared past $500 per share. So, why is it laying off thousands? The answer is chilling and profoundly important: Microsofts layoffs are not a sign of distressthey are a strategic reallocation of resources in response to a fundamental shift in how work gets done in the artificial intelligence (AI) era. These cuts are the canary in the coal minean early but unmistakable signal that the world of work, especially knowledge work, is about to be dramatically reshaped by AI. The implications are as important for tech leaders as they are for educators, entrepreneurs and policymakers. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella described the layoffs as a difficult but necessary part of aligning the companys workforce with its strategic priorities. Those priorities are now unmistakably centred on AI. Also Read: Layoff riddle: Why are companies getting worse at letting employees go? So far, Microsoft has invested over $80 billion in building its AI infrastructure. Tools like GitHub Copilot are now writing as much as 30% of its code. In other words, AI is already replacing work previously done by humansstarting with highly-skilled engineers. The jobs cuts, however, swept through gaming studios, legal teams, sales departments and even marketing. Several promising creative projects, such as the long-anticipated reboot of Perfect Dark, were quietly cancelled. Some affected studios were unionized, a sign that even organized workforces are not immune. This is not a temporary cost-cutting exercise. It is a strategic reshaping of the workforce. The new mantra inside MicrosoftIntensity, clarity, and bold execution"isnt just motivational. It reflects a shift toward a leaner, faster and increasingly automated workforce. Microsofts central position in enterprise software and cloud infrastructure gives it an unmatched view of business sentiment and technology trends. When Microsoft cuts jobs, it often foreshadows broader shifts in the economy. In this case, the warning is stark: AI is not just a tool to augment jobsit is replacing them outright. Also Read: AI didnt take the job. It changed what the job is. Amazon, Google, Meta, Salesforce and many others have also made deep cuts, some citing AI directly. Even traditionally safe white-collar roles are increasingly vulnerable. A recent report from Microsoft Research listed programmers, mathematicians, customer service agents, translators, researchers, writers, legal assistants and salespeople among the first in line for disruption. This challenges a popular myththat only routine or low-end jobs are at risk. AI excels at generating code, writing and summarizing documents, and analysing large data-sets. And it is improving rapidly. Many tech CEOs like to downplay the coming tsunami with soothing ideas such as AI wont replace youa person using AI will" and every technology destroys some jobs but creates many others and AI is no different." These are simplistic and self-serving. Be very clear: in the medium and short terms, which are what matter for most of us, AI will likely have a devastating impact on a lot of white-collar jobs and wages. For countries like India, this poses both risks and transformative opportunities. On one hand, millions of our white-collar jobs in information technology (IT) services, business process outsourcing (BPO) and content creation are at risk. These sectors have been engines of upward mobility and economic growth. If we are not proactive, AI could erode much of this progress. On the other hand, AI has the potential to unlock new solutions in education, healthcare, agriculture and public services. It can dramatically increase productivity, personalize services and bridge gaps in human capacity. But only if we invest in the right infrastructure, skills and safety nets. Also Read: Devina Mehra: Yes, AI is coming for our jobs; its the old story of new tech How the AI revolution plays out isnt a given; it will be shaped by the choices that we make as CEOs , policymakers and leaders. As a tech and development leader, I believe we need a radically new playbook to navigate this transformation. Re-imagine education and skilling: We must move beyond traditional degree-based learning and embrace lifelong, flexible and tech-enabled skill development. Foundational digital literacy, data fluency and adaptability must be priorities. Support mass entrepreneurship: If formal employment is shrinking due to automation, we must create the conditions for millions to become self-employed or run micro-enterprises. In the 21st century, entrepreneurship is not a career choiceit is a life skill. Governments and the private sector should invest in promoting entrepreneurship, small businesses and strengthening local entrepreneurship ecosystems. Build an inclusive AI strategy: AI should not be designed only for the rich. India must lead the world in AI applications that serve small farmers, frontline health workers, teachers, small business owners and informal workers, ensuring that the revolution lifts the many, not just the few. Foster humane corporate cultures: The way layoffs are being handledoften without notice or severancerisks breaking trust in organizations. Companies must find a more responsible and compassionate approach to workforce transition. Culture, after all, is a competitive advantage. Create public policy for resilience: Governments must track labour market shifts in real time and build social safety nets that are fit for the AI era, whether that means unemployment insurance, portable benefits or incentives for reskilling. Also Read: Siddharth Pai: Dont be naive, Agentic AI wont eliminate agency costs When coal miners took canaries into their mines, it wasnt because they didnt expect danger. It was to act quickly when signs appeared. Microsofts layoffs are that sign. They tell us that AI is not something for the distant future. Its already here, and is changing how work takes place, who gets employed and what skills matter. We simply cannot afford to sleepwalk into this future. We must act nowwith clarity, courage and care. This is not just a tech issue. It is a social, economic and moral challenge that will define our generation. Lets not waste the warning. Lets build a future where AI empowers and uplifts, rather than excludes and displaces. The author is a chair of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet and a former chairman of Microsoft India. BEMOWO PISKIE, PolandWhen U.S. Army Sgt. Sebastian Zouzoulas became an electronic-warfare specialist, his main focus was detecting remote-control roadside explosives. That was four years agoa whole generation back on the battlefield. Today, his work is all about countering drones. Wars in Ukraine, the Middle East and across Africa are rewriting the rules of combat, with small, expendable and deadly drones increasingly critical. Militaries are sprinting to mass-produce the weapons and understand how best to fit them into fighting plans. As with every new weapon, a parallel race is on to thwart the new killers. Tacticians are grappling with how to defend against attacks massing dozens or hundreds of droneswithout spending a fortune. Whatever weapon system or munition you shoot at another adversarys capability, it should be cheaper than what youre shooting down," Army Gen. Christopher Donahue, commander of U.S. land forces in Europe and Africa, recently told a gathering in Germany. Days after setting that challenge, Donahue was at an Army base in the Polish countryside, watching forces try to accomplish it at an exercise dubbed Project Flytrap 4.0. The fourth in a series of learn-by-doing events, the U.S.-British maneuvers brought together top brass, tech developers and soldiers like Zouzoulas. While troops staged engagements under drenching rain across the training grounds woods and fields, officers and officials filled a base auditorium to absorb lessons from drone combat in Ukraine and hear about the efforts of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to apply those lessons. Outside, soldiers and technicians exhibited some of the gear being tested. Stryker combat vehicles of the U.S. Armys 2nd Cavalry Regiment during the exercise in Poland.U.S. Army Sgt. Sebastian Zouzoulas with a Terrestrial Layer System-Brigade Combat Team Manpack. NATO, which recently agreed to a spending increase, must ensure that we are strong enough that we dont have to fight because no one wants to take us onbecause weve deterred them," said U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker, who attended Flytrap. The base where Poland hosted the exercise sits about 50 miles from both the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad and the Polish city of Suwalki, which NATO fears that Russia considers a target because of its location between Kaliningrad and Moscows ally Belarus. Project Flytrap began in March with initial research and testing. It has grown in scale and ambition, with 4.0 the first time troops integrated counterdrone systems into battalion-level fighting. The engagement scenario involved several dozen troops attacking roughly 180 defenders in traditional land battles augmented with hundreds of drones, employed in the most realistic ways possible short of lethality, said organizers. To crank up intensity, they packed into the four-day exercise a relentless series of attacks, engagements and threats modeled on fighting in Ukraine and other conflicts. Its terrifying, watching the drones counter each other," said Zouzoulas of the scenes on Ukraines front lines. Adapting to that reality is Flytraps focus. Troops from the Armys 2nd Cavalry Regiment, based in Germany, and the U.K.s Royal Yorkshire Regiment used new devicessome developed in-house and some from private companiesto track, jam and shoot down drones sent at them by other U.S. forces. Its very much a cat-and-mouse game," said Army Lt. Col. Jeremy Medaris, a leader of the exercise. Drones keep adapting, so then you have to have an adaptation as well" to counter them. Instead of seeking a single solution, he said, the emphasis is on developing a flexible and layered approach with a range of tools. Zouzoulass Terrestrial Layer System-Brigade Combat Team Manpack tackles the first stage in drone-fighting: spotting attackers. A sort of antenna, known as a Beast+, resembles a cactus growing out of a backpack, connected by wire to a screen the size of a smartphone. Designed for foot soldiers on the move, it scans for nearby drones radio signals and jams them. An even smaller wearable system resembles two big walkie-talkies. Dubbed Wingman and Pitbull, they also seek and jam drones radio signals. Using radio signals to spot air attacks began during World War II and until recently mostly focused on using radar to pinpoint large, fast objects. Engineers deliberately built systems to ignore small, low and slow objects to avoid alerts triggered by birds. Now engineers must be able to detect bird-size craft and ensure they are machines. Zouzoulass unit moves on Stryker fighting vehicles, on which technicians at Bemowo Piskie mounted for test use a variety of drone-detection gear able to scan 360 degrees over a wide radius. Engineers are experimenting with precision radar and optical or infrared sensors, starting with upgrades to existing systems. Specialists from the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Analysis Center have spent almost seven years creating software to boost the accuracy and range of widely used radar. It is used to target big guns deployed across the military, under the Common Remotely Operated Weapons System. Now it can detect drones at distances far greater than they might be targeted, said developers. Troops inside a Stryker can activate the system to shoot drones automatically with the vehicles roof-mounted M2 Browning .50-caliber machine gun. The systems radar tracks the rounds it fires and adapts its targeting. To secure fixed positions like field headquarters, the Pentagon is also using acoustic sensors. Highly sensitive listening devices, trained to detect the sonic signatures of drone motors, dont hunt for radio waves or visual contact. That is critical at night and against autonomous or fiber-optic guided drones, which dont communicate with base by radio transceiver. One acoustic drone-warning system deployed during the Flytrap exercise creates what its developers at Norways Squarehead Technology call a safety bubble around troops, in which they can be nearly certain they will know when drones are approaching. A full array, about the size of a campfire, addresses one of the drone attacks most insidious features: dread. Ukrainian soldiers and civilians now live in almost constant fear of Russian drones, and Kyiv is working to inflict the same anxiety on Russian troops. Knowing there are no drones around you allows you to be a human," said Squareheads vice president of defense, Knut Torbjrn Moe. You can do the things you need to do, like go to the bathroom or sleep or do other soldier work." Once drones are detected, neutralizing them at low cost is the next hurdle. A natural response for soldiers is to shoot at them with their personal rifles, but hitting a drone is much harder than hitting a bird. Troops at Flytrap improved their odds with computerized targeting equipment from the Israeli technology company Smart Shooter mounted on U.S. Army standard-issue M4 rifles. The fire-control system consists of a high-tech sight that is slightly larger than a big telescopic scope and a replacement trigger. The shooter aims at a drone and pulls the trigger, but bullets only fire when the system has calculated that a hit is likely. Soldiers at Flytrap also tested an array of point-and-shoot jammers that resemble oversize laser guns from a science-fiction movie. Most emit strong radio signals that disrupt a drones operation. Bigger threats, such as drone swarms or attacks on armored vehicles, need a bigger response. That is what the San Francisco startup Mara aims to tackle with what it calls ubiquitous antiswarm" technology, which detects incoming drones and autonomously launches compact interceptors. The company is a finalist in a continuing Army competition seeking innovative tech solutions to a range of battlefield problems. Chief Executive Daniel Kofman, adjusting an antenna array on a Stryker, said he aims for one-to-one cost with the drone coming at us" using inexpensive hardware and what he called novel AI." A full system, with 48 interceptors, costs less than a new truck," he said, without specifying what kind of truck. Once troops in an equipped vehicle activate their system, it seeks and shoots down attacks without human input, Kofman said. The equipment is designed to withstand jamming and guard against fully autonomous drones, like fiber-guided ones, freeing troops to focus on their missionnot drones. Thats the whole point of our system," Kofman said. Write to Daniel Michaels at Dan.Michaels@wsj.com The Election Commission of India (ECI) has had an impeccable record of setting up election booths sometimes even for a single voter in line with its mottos no voter to be left behind and every vote counts. But in the past few weeks, large-scale deletion of voters from Bihars draft electoral roll and allegations of voter fraud by leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi have put the election commission under scrutiny. On 24 June, the ECI announced the start of the special intensive revision (SIR) of Bihar's electoral rolls ahead of elections there. The process included verifying about 80 million voters in the state. By 1 August, the first phase of the exercise was completed and data was released to the public. Much to the shock of the nation, more than 6.5 million voters had been removed from the electoral rolls, or about 8.3% of total voters before the rushed exercise. Updating and maintaining voter lists across the country is crucial for a fair and robust electoral process, and is conducted regularly in India. However, in a country with nearly a billion voters, these exercises require enormous effort and involve some amount of error. However, the launch of SIR in Biharwhich is to be extended to the entire countryhas raised eyebrows, particularly because of its rushed timelines, stringent documentation requirements, and the sheer quantity of deletions. A break from tradition The ECI regularly updates voter lists through a standard periodic process called the special summary revision (SSR). However, this year it launched SIR in Biharfor the first time since it was first conducted in the state in 2003to revise voter lists against the backdrop of rapid urbanisation, frequent migration, and non-reporting of deaths, among other issues. A Mint analysis of the district-wise deletion of voters shows that some of these areas saw close contests in the Lok Sabha polls. Among the 10 Lok Sabha constituencies in Bihar that saw the thinnest margins of victory, ranging from 13,661 to 59,808, eight saw more than 100,000 voters deleted. SIR was controversial from the start as political parties and civil society members asked why it was being conducted just a few months before the assembly elections in Bihar, expressing worries about potential disenfranchisement. The ECI aims to complete the exercise and have a final roll by 30 September after allowing citizens to file objections between 1 August and 1 September. The commission, for its part, has said no names will be deleted without notice but has refused to share individual names or reasons for deletions. Close calls Since last week Rahul Gandhi has made a string of allegations against the ECI, accusing it of five types of vote chori (theft of votes)duplicate voters, fake addresses, several voters at a single address, invalid photos, and misuse of Form 6 for registration of new voters, including change of address and re-enrolment. The Congress leader claimed that over 100,000 votes were created out of thin air in Mahadevapura assembly segment of Bangalore Central parliamentary constituency. While the ECI rejected the allegations, there is some evidence of voter duplication and dubious voter entries in electoral rolls that needs to be addressed, especially since Indian elections are often close battles. A Mint analysis of past six Lok Sabha elections shows about a fifth of seats at least were won with margins of less than 50,000 votes. In 2024, as many as 17 seats were decided by fewer than 5,000 votes. As such razor-thin victories often prove crucial in shaping India's political landscape, it's vital for the world's largest democracy to address these issues robustly and transparently. Also Read | Why Indian audiences are falling for romance all over again K N Rajanna has resigned as Karnataka's Cooperation Minister, hours after questioning the Congress partys silence over Rahul Gandhi's vote chori allegations against the Election Commission of India. Karnataka Minister KN Rajanna resigns from the post of cabinet minister, the Chief Minister's Office confirmed. Special Secretary to the Karnataka Governor has also written to the Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka, and said, I am directed to forward herewith the original Notification signed by the Hon'ble Governor for removal of KN Rajanna, Hon'ble Minister for Co-operation, from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect, for further necessary action. He was reportedly asked to resign by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah after he raised questions about the voter list used in the Lok Sabha polls, saying that it was prepared when the Congress was in power. If irregularities occurred, then why was no one speaking up at the time? Why did we remain silent? Rajanna asked reporters, openly challenging his party colleagues. Rajanna asked to resign Earlier, news agency PTI, citing sources in the Chief Minister Siddaramaiahs office, said, Rajanna has been asked to resign. This comes after Rajanna held a meeting with the Chief Minister in the Vidhana Soudha. The matter became a talking point during Monday's Karnataka Assembly session, with the BJP legislators demanding that Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil and Rajanna clarify the situation. Rajanna, a Siddaramaiah loyalist, has been in the news for the past two months when he claimed that there would be an August Revolution, hinting at a major upheaval in the government. What did Rajanna say? Despite his open challenge to the party, Rajanna acknowledged that changes to the voter list were indeed made, which, he claimed, contributed to the Prime Minister's assuming office. It is 100 per cent true that the Election Commission altered the voter list. In Mahadevapura, fraud definitely took place. But when the draft list was being prepared, was it not our responsibility to oversee it? he said, according to Telangana Today. These irregularities happened right before our eyes. Our silence back then is a matter of shame for all of us. We must admit this and be more vigilant in the future under Rahul Gandhis leadership, he said. Our silence back then is a matter of shame for all of us. We must admit this and be more vigilant in the future under Rahul Gandhis leadership, he added. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Monday that the notices the Election Commission is sending him regarding his vote chori allegations are meant to distract from the main issue of alleged irregularities in Indias electoral rolls for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It is their (Election Commission) data. It is not my data that I will sign (an affidavit)... Put that data on your website and you will get to know. All this is just to distract from the issue. This has not just taken place in Bengaluru but in several other constituencies too, Rahul Gandhi told reporters. The Congress MP was responding to the Election Commission's notices to him. The poll panel had urged Gandhi to declare the allegations under oath. 'Provide documents': Karnataka CEO to RaGa Karnataka's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) issued a notice to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his claims that a 70-year-old woman from Mahadevpura, Shakun Rani, had voted twice. The Karnataka CEO has directed the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha to provide all the relevant documents on the basis of which he made the claims. Earlier in the day, Opposition MPs, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, took out a protest march on Monday from Parliament House to the Election Commission against the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and alleged vote chori but were stopped midway by the police and detained amid high drama. See the condition of India's democracy. 300 MPs wanted to meet the Election Commission to present a document, but they were not allowed. They are scared. What if 300 MPs come and their truth is revealed? This fight is not political anymore, Rahul Gandhi said. The Congress MP said this fight is for the Constitution and for One Man, One Vote. We have clearly shown in Karnataka that it was Multiple Man, Multiple Vote. The entire opposition is fighting against this. It will be very difficult for the Election Commission to hide now, he said. What did Rahul Gandhi say? In a press conference last week on alleged vote chori, Rahul Gandhi claimed 1,00,250 votes were stolen in Karnataka's Mahadevapura segment. Cyber specialists of military intelligence carried out an attack on the Russian group of companies "Filanko" which is a provider of Internet and hosting services for more than 20,000 clients, including mobile operators Beeline, MGTS, 24TV, as well as for the Russian law enforcement agencies. "As a result of the attack, 600 virtual machines, 24 hypervisors, 800 terabytes of data, 11 physical servers, 74 Raspberry for remote monitoring of data from the data center and 12 terabytes of data from sensors, five physical servers in the office and 5 terabytes of data on them were destroyed," intelligence sources told Interfax-Ukraine. In addition, 3,100 switching equipment devices were disabled, including 37 service routers, core routers, and network borders. "In addition, cyber specialists of Ukrainian intelligence shook out wallets in the company's personal account for the amount of $1.3 million, and also defaced a website selling alarm suitcases for Russian security forces, publishing photos of destroyed Russian occupiers in Ukraine on the main page of the resource," the agency said. Members of the INDIA bloc, led by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, are set to march from Parliament to the Election Commission on Monday in protest against alleged vote chori (vote theft) linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The blocs Parliamentary floor leaders also plan to request a meeting with the Election Commissioners to raise their concerns. Meanwhile, the Delhi Police stated that no permission has been sought so far for the proposed march by the INDIA Bloc from Parliament to the Election Commission on Monday. Election Commission of India Secretariat writes to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh. "The Election Commission has granted an appointment for an interaction at 12:00 PM today", reads the letter. Congress MP Manickam Tagore gives Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha to discuss allegations of "Vote Chori" and Electoral Fraud in Mahadevapura, Karnataka. Meanwhile, on Sunday, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said that the INDIA bloc MPs had marched from the Parliament to the Election Commission's office on Monday to protest the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "voter fraud" during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. At a press conference, Digvijaya Singh alleged that all the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) were filling out "fake forms" in one room. He stated, "Rahul Gandhi put forward such facts that no one could deny... The name of one person appeared at multiple locations, including polling booths... Rahul Gandhi's demand was for electronic data of the voter list, which could be scanned using software to determine how many votes were cast on a single EPIC number... The reason for the SIR happening in Bihar was questioned. It had been thoroughly tested in 2003, which took 2 years in Bihar, but this time they wanted to do it in 1 month..." He added, "All the BLOs were filling out fake forms in one room. The Election Commission said that so many people had died, but their list was not provided... And MPs of the entire INDIA alliance, from all parties except the BJP and NDA alliance MPs, had marched from the Parliament to the Election Commission's office..." All the BLOs were filling out fake forms in one room. On August 1, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government was ready to hold discussions on any issue under the rules, but the SIR could not be debated as it was a process carried out by a constitutional body--the Election Commission of India. Rahul Gandhi put forward such facts that no one could deny... "I want to clarify that the government is ready to hold discussions on any issue as per the rules. There cannot be a discussion on SIR because it is a process undertaken by a Constitutional body, and it is not happening for the first time..." Rijiju told ANI. Karnataka Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna was sacked from the Cabinet on Monday afternoon. The Congress high command wanted him out for criticising party leader Rahul Gandhi over his Vote Chori charge. KN Rajanna had questioned the Congress partys silence over the alleged voter list manipulation during the Congress governments tenure in the state. Also Read | K N Rajanna resigns as Karnataka Minister after questioning Congress The Karnataka leader's remarks come in the wake of the controversy that erupted after the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, alleged massive electoral fraud in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and said there are over 1 lakh fake votes in the electoral rolls in Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday dismissed KN Rajannas claim that irregularities in voter lists occurred during the Congress-led tenure "right in front of our eyes". Mr KN Rajanna is totally at fault. He doesn't know. My Chief Minister and my party high command will reply to that, D K Shivakumar told reporters in Bengaluru on Monday. What did Rajanna say about Vote Chori? Speaking to reporters, Rajanna said the voter list used in the Lok Sabha polls 2024 was prepared when Congress was in power. If irregularities occurred, then why was no one speaking up at the time? Why did we remain silent? Rajanna asked reporters, openly challenging his party colleagues. The ministers remarks came amid a political row after Congress leader Rahul Gandhis recent Vote Chori allegation that large-scale vote theft took place in the last Lok Sabha elections. The minister took the decision to resign after the Congress high command demanded action against Rajanna for criticising Rahul Gandhi's Vote Chori allegation, according to media reports. Who is KN Rajanna? Rajanna, 74, has served as Cabinet Minister for Cooperation in the Second Siddaramaiah Ministry since 2023. He is a Congress leader and a member of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly representing the Madhugiri seat. Having begun his career in the cooperative sector, Rajanna has previously served as director of the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India and president of the Karnataka State Co-operative Apex Bank Ltd. CM Siddaramaiah has accepted the resignation of the minister. Rajanna is reportedly a close aide of Siddaramaiah. He resigned on the first day of the Monsoon session of the Karnataka legislature. Rajanna was elected to the Karnataka Legislative Council for the first time in 1998 and served as MLC until 2004. Rajanna was denied a Congress ticket to contest the 2004 Legislative Assembly election from Bellavi. He left the party and joined the Janata Dal (Secular), with whose ticket he successfully contested. Rajanna won the assembly election again in 2013, this time from Madhugiri, and again in 2023 as a Congress candidate. In 2023, he won the Madhugiri seat as a Congress candidate. In May 2023, he was appointed a cabinet minister and was handed the Cooperation portfolio (excluding Agriculture Marketing). Honeytrap Allegations Rajanna had alleged a honeytrap racket targeting MLAs and ministers in Karnataka a few months ago. He urged state Home Minister G Parameshwara to order an investigation to expose the producers, directors, and actors behind the racket. However, media reports claim that he received little support from anyone in the cabinet and even expressed his dissatisfaction with Siddaramaiah about the lack of progress in the investigation. This lack of cooperation, too, appeared to have angered Rajanna in recent months. New Delhi: Prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and reiterated Indias position for a peaceful settlement of the conflict and support for efforts aimed at restoring peace at the earliest. Zelenskyy, however, raised the issue of how Russian energy exports are helping Moscow to keep the war going. We also discussed in detail the sanctions against Russia. I noted that it is necessary to limit the export of Russian energy, particularly oil, to reduce its potential and ability to finance the continuation of this war. It is important that every leader who has tangible leverage over Russia sends the corresponding signals to Moscow," Zelenskyy said in a post on X. India and the US are already at loggerheads over the import of Russian oil. US President Donald Trump has imposed 25% tariffs on India for buying Russian energy, taking the total duty to 50%. The additional tariffs are aimed at cutting Russia's oil revenues and forcing it into a ceasefire. The new rate will come into effect on 27 August. Also Read | Zelensky speaks to PM Modi, proposes meeting in September India, however, has maintained that its imports are based on market factors along with the objective of ensuring energy security. In a statement on 6 August, the ministry of external affairs described the tariffs as unfair, unjustified and unreasonable". Russia has emerged as the top oil supplier to India since the West barred the procurement of Russian energy in 2022, prompting Moscow to offer deep discounts. Russian oil now comprises about 36% of India's total oil imports compared to 2.5% before the start of the war in February 2022. On 2 August, Mint reported that India continues to buy oil from Russia notwithstanding the punishing penalty. Meanwhile, Zelenksyy also said: "I had a long conversation with the Prime Minister of India @narendramodi. We discussed in detail all important issues both of our bilateral cooperation and the overall diplomatic situation. I am grateful to the Prime Minister for his warm words of support for our people." In a post on X, prime minister Modi said: Glad to speak with President Zelenskyy and hear his perspectives on recent developments. I conveyed Indias consistent position on the need for an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict. India remains committed to making every possible contribution in this regard, as well as to further strengthening bilateral ties with Ukraine." An official statement from the Prime Minister's Office said that President Zelenskyy shared his views on recent developments in Ukraine. Also Read | Zelensky warns against Russia-US deal without Ukraine at August 15 summit "Prime Minister thanked President Zelenskyy and reaffirmed Indias steadfast and consistent position for peaceful settlement of the conflict and support for efforts aimed at earliest restoration of peace. PM reiterated Indias commitment to extend all possible support in this regard," said the statement. During the conversation, they also reviewed progress in the India-Ukraine bilateral partnership and discussed ways to further enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest and agreed to remain in touch. (Bloomberg Opinion) -- A quarter of a century ago, when Microsoft Corp. used its dominance of the personal computer market to force people to use Internet Explorer, it famously led to a devastating antitrust lawsuit loss that some believe held the company back for more than a decade. Only now, revitalized by Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadellas quick moves in artificial intelligence, is the Windows-maker back on top. As AI rivalries intensify, Google is now trying to put Microsoft through its 90s nightmare again. The search giant is funding the Browser Choice Alliance, an industry group involving Google and a number of smaller browser makers, such as Opera, Vivaldi and others, set up to put pressure on Microsoft. The complaint, as it was back then, is that Microsoft is once again using its ownership of the Windows operating system to give its own browser an unfair leg up at a moment that some feel is as pivotal as the emergence of the internet. The Alphabet Inc. unit is not the only financial backer of the BCA, Im told by two people familiar with its structure, but it is comfortably the largest. This isnt surprising because it has the most to lose: Longtime rival Microsoft, with its partner OpenAI, sees a window to take on Googles search dominance, and were Microsofts to become the most popular AI browser, it would steal considerable market share. Google would not confirm the size of the companys contribution to the BCA. Weve been open about our concerns with Microsofts welldocumented use of dark patterns that make it harder for Windows users to keep using their preferred browser, a spokesman said. The new Browser War is brewing thanks to the desktop or laptop computers position as one of the biggest early battlegrounds in AI. While the smartphone has become peoples most frequently used computing platform, the desktop (or laptop) has retained its place for accomplishing real work the kind of tasks AI makers say they can help with the most. As such, were seeing a slew of new or improved browsers hit the market, with new entrants such as the Browser Companys Dia browser or Perplexitys Comet. OpenAI is said to be working on its own. Winning the browser is seen as critically important as it can help forge new habits. Perplexity, for instance, told me that users who installed Comet were making three times more AI queries every day than they had been previously. Following suit, Microsoft recently announced that Edge the default browser for Windows users had received a significant AI upgrade. The companys CoPilot assistant is now embedded in the browser and can take control of a users tabs to carry out tasks such as making a booking, much like a human might (at least in theory). The Browser Choice Alliance has been busy assembling a rap sheet of ways its says Microsoft makes it difficult for Windows users to use anything other than Edge. It argues that Windows puts up unwarranted scary security warnings when users try to download an alternative browser. And, when prompted to install a Windows update, the BCA contends Microsoft uses dark patterns to coerce users into setting Edge back as the default browser on their machine.Theyre repeating some of the exact same tactics that they used 20, 25 years ago, said Gene Burrus, a former Microsoft lawyer-turned-competition lawyer, brought in by the BCA to advocate for forcing his old employer to level the playing field. The alliance would not say whether it plans to mount a US legal challenge to Microsofts conduct, saying that for now its seeking to raise awareness. In Europe, it has lobbied regulators, arguing that Microsoft is only partially complying with new competition laws. Separately, BCA member Opera has filed a complaint with the competition agency in Brazil. Microsofts tactics are unjustified, frustrating to users, and only getting more severe, the Oslo-based company said. Microsoft sees things differently. It argues that its more than a little rich that Google, which commands a 68% share of the global desktop browser market, is complaining about Edge, with its 5%, especially because, thanks to a ruling a just a year ago, Google is a freshly ordained illegal monopolist itself a row that, as in this case, was about the lucrative benefits of being a default choice thats hard for users to shake off. Google, not Microsoft, dominates the browser market, a Microsoft spokesman told me. And, as the US DOJ case has established, it uses distribution with its partners like Opera to foreclose search competition. Be that as it may, competition concerns must look beyond the current status quo and instead recognize where the market is going. Google and the other BCA members are right to be fearful, and regulators would be wise to take note, of the control Microsoft has in shaping consumers new behaviors in the AI era. It was, after all, the default status that helped Google build and maintain its own colossal monopoly in search thats why it paid upward of $20 billion a year to Apple Inc. to make sure it was the search engine of choice on the iPhone. The fact hypocrisy is thick in the air does not make Googles current complaint less valid. Whats good for Google, in this case at least (and maybe at most), is good for healthy competition across the rest of the AI pack. The company, or ideally companies, that win the browser battle will be richly rewarded and they should get there through merit, not pre-installation or dark patterns. At all times, viable competitors should have a fair crack at knocking market leaders off their perch. Microsoft must keep its most aggressive instincts in check, or it might find history repeating itself. More From Bloomberg Opinion: This column reflects the personal views of the author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Dave Lee is Bloomberg Opinion's US technology columnist. He was previously a correspondent for the Financial Times and BBC News. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has reacted to Elon Musk's comments that the ChatGPT maker will eat Microsoft alive. In the immediate aftermath of OpenAI's GPT-5 launch, Musk had gone on to state xAI's Grok-4's supremacy over the new model, followed by a warning to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella over the partnership with OpenAI. In an interaction with CNBC, Altman was asked what he thought about the remarks made by Musk. You know I don't think about him that much, Altman retorted. Asked about what he thinks of the idea that OpenAI will eat Microsoft alive, Altman replied, I thought he was just, like, tweeting all day about how much OpenAI sucks, and our model is bad, and, you know, were not gonna be a good company and all that. I don't know how you square up two things. This is not the first time Altman has reacted so sharply to Musk's comments. In an interaction earlier in the year, Altman said he didn't think Musk was a happy person. "Elon's whole life is from a position of insecurity. I feel for the guy. I do actually. I don't think he's a happy person," the OpenAI CEO said. Also Read | OpenAI's head of ChatGPT reveals one skill that you require to survive Meanwhile, Nadella had also responded to Musk's tweet, writing, People have been trying for 50 years and thats the fun of it! Each day you learn something new, and innovate, partner, and compete. Excited for Grok 4 on Azure and looking forward to Grok 5! Musk and OpenAI's rocky history: Notably, Musk and OpenAI go a long way back, with the billionaire being among the co-founders of the non-profit research lab in 2015. In the intervening years, disagreements grew between the co-founders on how to lead the company, and Musk eventually resigned from the OpenAI board in 2018. In due time, Microsoft became a major backer of OpenAI, and the company tasted widespread success right from its first public AI model launch in late 2022. Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Jan Lipavsky, who began his sixth visit to Ukraine on Monday, announced the launch of a joint Ukrainian-Czech economic project, which will be implemented in the city of Dnipro in the near future, he did not specify the details. "The coming weeks will be exceptional for Czech-Ukrainian relations. We will significantly strengthen the promotion of our economic and trade cooperation, namely in the industrial heart of Ukraine in Dnipro. A city whose citizens are also fighting for their homeland and for Europe," Lipavsky wrote in his column for European Truth published on Monday. As reported, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during a meeting with President of the Czech Republic Petr Pavel in Kyiv in March this year, announced his country's participation in the patronage of Dnipropetrovsk region, as well as in the reconstruction and development of six Ukrainian hospitals. "There is a decision on the patronage of the Czech Republic over our Dnipropetrovsk region, and specifically in matters of restoration, in matters of development. I want to thank you for this. There is also a decision on the reconstruction and development of six hospitals by the Czech Republic... Hospitals in six cities of Ukraine - Dnipro, Kryvy Rih, Lutsk, Lviv, Rivne, and Kyiv," Zelenskyy said. In addition, according to him, the parties adopted a decision "and there is our joint statement on strategic partnership between our states." An Irish priest remains in a serious but stable condition in hospital after being subjected to a brutal attack in his Co Down church on Sunday. Father John Murray was reportedly struck on the head at St Patricks Church. He was approached by a man who asked if he would hear his confession ahead of the Sunday morning service, and attacked as shocked parishioners arrived for mass. Father Murray had been due to retire later this week. Police have said the attack may be linked to the death of a man in Downpatrick who had been named locally as Stephen Brannigan. A 30-year-old man remains in police custody being questioned on suspicion of murder after Mr Brannigan was found dead at an address in Marian Park at about 12pm on Sunday. Prayers are to be offered for both the Brannigan family and Fr Murray at a service led by Bishop Alan McGuckian in St Colmcilles Church in Downpatrick on Tuesday morning. READ MORE | RIP: Tributes pour in for 'true gent' Irish dad-of-four killed in weekend motorcycle crash On Monday morning, investigators were at a house in Marian Park. A red and white scarf, a Liverpool FC flag and also flowers were left at the fence of the property. The Downpatrick Family of Parishes said: Canon Murray continues to receive exceptional care. He is stable and comfortable. They added that St Patricks Church and its grounds remained closed. SDLP South Down MLA Colin McGrath described shock and disbelief in Downpatrick following the events of Sunday. First of all the community would want to have thoughts and prayers with the family of the deceased individual, and I know that that community in and around the Marian Park area will wrap around them and support them, he told the BBC. Then the shocking nature and the graphic nature of the attack on Father Murray on what was supposed to be the commencement of his retirement, in a public manner and in daylight, exposes an awful lot of vulnerability in that scenario but also more widely, for clergy across Ireland, and other workers in the community, what can happen in the blink of an eye. Tim Cook, Apples affable and hyper-efficient CEO, will have been frustrated last week when yet another leak resulted in even more of the companys dirty laundry being aired in public. Having demanded that employees stop leaking internal memos, he was faced with the transcript of an entire all-hands meeting escaping Apple Park and showing up online. He doesnt seem like a man who angers easily, but this must have been vexing. Or perhaps not. I try not to be overly cynical when it comes to Apples relationship with the media, but this particular leak showed the company in ahow to put thissuspiciously positive light. Among its revelations: Cook is excited about Apples amazing slate of upcoming products; Apple has invested heavily in AI and expects to dominate the sector despite arriving late, because it has dominated multiple major markets in the same way in the past. Its the sort of dirty laundry youd really quite like your neighbors to see. Maybe the trousers are especially fancy. In fact, rather than an embarrassing leak, this is exactly the sort of thing Apple has been putting out into the public sphere over the past few years. (Im not alleging this was a deliberate leak, to be clear, merely that its a fortuitous one.) Whereas Steve Jobs famously drummed into his Mac team the principle that real artists ship, insisting that anyone can have good ideas, but the real genius lies in turning those ideas into a practical reality, the company he founded has gone in a different direction. These days, Apple is all talk. I think the habit began in 2017, when the company announced a product called AirPower alongside the iPhones 8 and X. It sounded great: a wireless charging pad that could charge multiple devices at once and dynamically adjust its power output to optimally handle their various demands. Apple had an attractive design, and even showed prototypes to journalists at the announcement event. The prototypes were non-functional, but never mind: the real thing would be here in early 2018. And then it wasnt. And then it was cancelled, with rumors of production problems so severe and so fundamental that its astonishing they werent identified before the announcement. Unless you conclude that the announcement was made disastrously early, more in hope than expectation, that Apple lost its nerve when pundits accused it of losing the ability to innovate and felt it necessary to announce something, anything that was genuinely new. AirPower was an accessory rather than a flagship product, so that sorry saga did comparatively little damage to the Apple brand. Some readers may even feel that killing the project rather than pushing through to release reflects an admirable perfectionism, and they may be right. But its hard to say anything positive about the similarly premature announcement of Apple Intelligence last year. Leading into the iPhone 16 launch, the company made all kinds of grand claims about Apple Intelligences capabilities, basing an advertising campaign around the idea that the new handsets were made for AI. But even the most rudimentary Apple Intelligence features werent ready in time for the phones launch, and the ones that were most appealing (and which were clearly showcased in the ad) havent appeared at all, and who knows, may never do so. There was a time when this kind of vaporware nonsense wouldnt fly at Apple. When it would drop fully formed products out of a clear blue sky, telling us not that they would arrive some time next year (assuming nothing disastrous goes wrong), but that pre-orders are open right now and the products will be here next week. It used to make products and then tell us about them, and if people wrote mean things on the internet, Steve Jobs would ring them up and make them cry. He wouldnt reactively announce something that hadnt even been finished yet. Almost two decades ago, my favorite band released an album with no prior publicity. Hello everyone, the lead guitarist wrote in a blog post. Well, the new album is finished, and its coming out in 10 days. And you could pre-order it that very second. There were literally zero expectations; it was a wonderful surprise. I loved that album. Compare that to Apples grand claims and vague promises. What are these amazing products? Sadly, Tim Cook cant say. So why mention them at all? Is it because theyre actually quite boring? Or is it because theyre still just ideas and they might never become reality at all? Real artists ship. Everything else is just talk. Foundry Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in a handy bite-sized roundup. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it goes great with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but its cool if you want to give it a read during lunch or dinner hours too. Trending: Top stories 7 reasons why the iPhone 17 will be bigger than you think. Apples amazing iPhone pipeline is going to have an amazingly high price tag. iPhone sales pump up Apples third-quarter earnings, but iPad sales slump. Wi-Fi 8 is on the way with a focus on dead spots over speed. Gaze at the beauty of Liquid Glass on the sunflower iMac G4. Reviews corner The rumor mill Get ready, Apple has an amazing pipeline of products on the way. Report: iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Air batteries revealed by leaker. Before we get the iPhone 17, heres everything coming from Apple in August. Video of the week Apples new Liquid Glass design language is going to take some getting used to, as we discuss in our latest short. Enjoy all our short-form video on TikTok or Instagram. PSA: Update your Apple devices to fix a critical browser flaw. And with that, were done for this weeks Apple Breakfast. If youd like to get regular roundups, sign up for our newsletters, including our new email from The Macalopean irreverent, humorous take on the latest news and rumors from a half-man, half-mythical Mac beast. You can also follow us on Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, or X for discussion of breaking Apple news stories. See you next Monday, and stay Appley. On Monday, August 11, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Headquarters on issues he instructed officials to work on last week. The first is an absolutely clear decision regarding pickup trucks, ATVs, and other such equipment that can now be purchased with direct funding for combat brigades. This will work in the same way as funds provided to brigades for purchasing drones. We are enabling the purchase not only of new pickup trucks, but also of those already in use. This is exactly what has been requested in every brigade. During the week, government officials will formalize the decision in documents, so that this opportunity becomes available already in August, Zelenskyy said on X. Second I gave instructions to significantly increase funding for combat units and to do so in a way that is fair, so that brigades truly get greater capabilities. The updated rules are as follows: 7 million hryvnias per brigade for each battalion engaged in combat operations, which means that funding will increase by tens of millions of hryvnias, the president also reported. In addition, according to the President, the government will change the relevant documents to simplify and digitalize the write-off of property. The issue of the award procedure was also discussed at Headquarters. The President instructed to minimize the procedures and remove unnecessary approvals, bureaucracy, "the award documents will be modernized." Everything must be brought up to modern standards. The Ministry of Defense has developed proposals on how to do this and what to shorten, and changes will be implemented in the near future. Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal will present all the details, Zelenskyy noted. The President also reported that there were reports on some other issues that were discussed with battalion commanders during trips to Kharkiv and Sumy regions. We remember every issue that was raised. We are preparing the decisions, he added. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have agreed to a new multi-year, first-look arrangement with Netflix for film and television productions, representing a shift from the high-value contract the Duke and Duchess of Sussex signed in 2020. The revised terms, understood to be less lucrative, give Netflix the right of first refusal on proposed projects, indicating a loosening of the platform's direct financial commitment to the couple. It comes as part of an agreement to produce a second season of With Love, Meghan as well as a Christmas special following the pair, whilst they also develop Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within, a documentary focusing on orphaned children in Uganda still affected by the long-term impact of HIV/Aids. In addition, the deal covers ongoing development across various genres, including an adaptation of the romance novel Meet Me At The Lake as part of the revised agreement between the royal couple and the streaming giant. "We're proud to extend our partnership with Netflix," Markle said. "And expand our work together to include the As ever brand. "My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally, and celebrates our shared vision." Five years ago, after stepping back from their roles as senior working royals, the Sussexes signed a contract with Netflix reportedly worth $100 million but their success has been hit-and-miss. While Harry & Meghan set viewing records in December 2022 with 23.4 million views in its first four days, With Love, Meghan has struggled to find a comparable audience, ranking 383rd in 2025 with 5.3 million viewers since March. So Netflix are now taking a bit more control. Prince Harry weighs options after quitting charity Alongside the streaming deal, Prince Harry is assessing his charitable commitments after stepping down as patron of Sentebale, the organisation he co-founded in 2006 to assist vulnerable children in Lesotho and Botswana. His resignation followed a governance dispute in which several trustees resigned, opposing board chair Dr Sophie Chandauka, who had previously accused the prince of bullying and harassment. The Charity Commission concluded there was no evidence of systemic bullying, harassment, misogyny, or misogynoir within the organisation, but acknowledged the perception of poor treatment among some parties. Trustees who resigned expressed "grave concern for the future of the charity" and criticised the regulator for, in their view, overlooking serious governance issues. A spokesperson for the Duke stated he remains "absolutely committed to continuing the work he started, supporting the children and young people of Lesotho and Botswana, nearly 20 years ago." Sources close to the Prince have suggested he is determined to maintain his engagement in the southern Africa, though the form of that involvement is still under review. Country music star Lee Brice is performing three shows in Massachusetts this summer ahead of his fall tour. Chase Lauer After playing an acoustic tour last year, Lee Brice is looking to turn things up a notch when he plays for rabid fans at several Massachusetts venues later this week. The country fans up there are so rabid. I love them. I mean theyre crazy and so they always show up and they show up with bells on, Brice told MassLive in a phone interview from his South Carolina farm home. We love playing up there. The chart-topping, multi-platinum-selling country music sensation said his upcoming shows will be full on Lee Brice as opposed to the intimate setting he created on his Me & My Guitar Tour in 2024. This will be come out and kick the footlights out, Brice, a CMA and ACM award winner, said. The Grammy-nominated artist will play three shows in Bay State. Brice will play at South Shore Music Circus in Cohasset on Friday, Indian Ranch in Webster on Saturday and at Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis on Sunday. When hes not performing, Brice likes to spend some time eating at local seafood restaurants or hanging out by the lake at his friends house in Lowell. Weve been coming there for so long. Weve been everywhere, man. You know if you want the best wings. Hes like, well, were gonna go over here if you want that, you know. But if you want some fish and chips, were gonna go over here, Brice explained. So its good stuff. The shows will serve as a precursor to Brices What You Know About Tour, which starts Sept. 11 in Clearwater, Florida. The tour comes on the heels of Brices latest singles Cry and Said No Country Boy Ever that both came out earlier in 2025. Said No Country Boy Ever, a collaboration with The Traler Park, was released July 3 and is Brices most recent song. Brice said the song came about during a separate writing session for another song. In the middle of the write, one of us just said, Said no country boy ever. I said, Stop what were writing now. This is what were writing right now. After writing the song, Brice called up his longtime friends who make up The Traler Park. They include Jamey Johnson, Jerrod Niemann, Randy Houser, Rob Hatch and Dallas Davidson. Theyve deemed this as The Traler Park, I guess, after all the years of us kind of raising hell, Brice joked. Weve done so much together over the years, but weve never all been on one song. And so I said, Boys, come on now. We need to all get on one song. Lets do it. And so they were all in. A mid-tempo country-rock track, Said No Country Boy Ever lists everything that southern gentlemen could not live without from their mothers fried chicken to wide open pastures. However, the lyrics are presented ironically, as shown through the main chorus Said no country boy ever since we been around / Said no country boy ever since the beers been iced down / I wish my babys kisses didnt last so damn long (so damn long) / Said no country boy, country boy ever, yeah. It kind of, really, became a cool thing, that song, Brice said. We just love the song and I was just glad to have my boys on over me. Brice, who has been making music since he was 10 years old, said writing and producing go hand-in-hand for him especially with a music career spanning roughly two decades. He joined a songwriting session at his home studio right after his MassLive interview. Brice expected to finish most of the track that same day. Well record a lot of this song today, the musician said. Im kind of producing as Im writing, even if it is just us and a guitar. But, its nice to be in the studio to go ahead and get some of those parts out of your head while youre going. Brices songwriting chops have not only earned him more than 10 billion streams, they have also earned him a coveted spot at the Las Vegas Songwriters Festival. The country music superstar will participate in the four-day event at House of Blues Las Vegas inside Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino from Aug. 21-24. Theres going to be so many songwriters that are a part of a lot of my songs through the years, Brice explained. Im thinking about just bringing them all up one by one and kind of have them be a part of whenever I play the song and theyre playing it with me or singing a verse or whatever. So its going to be a really interesting, cool, unique show. Fans can expect to hear Brice perform hits from his catalog at the festival. Tickets starting at $69, can be purchased online. Meanwhile, tickets for the What You Know About Tour are also on sale now. A full list of shows is below: Sept. 11 The BayCare Sound in Clearwater, Florida Sept. 12 War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida Sept. 13 The St. Augustine Amphitheater in Saint Augustine, Florida Sept. 18 Youngstown Foundation Amphitheatre in Youngstown, Ohio Sept. 19 Meadow Brook Amphitheatre in Rochester Hills, Michigan Sept. 20 Rosemont Theatre in Rosemont, Illinois Sept. 25 Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park in Indianapolis, Indiana Sept. 26 Vibrant Music Hall in Waukee, Iowa Sept. 27 Scheels Arena in Fargo, North Dakota Oct. 16 Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater in Bridgeport, Connecticut Oct. 17 Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, New York Oct. 18 Cross Insurance Arena in Portland, Maine Oct. 23 EagleBank Arena in Fairfax, Virginia Oct. 24 The Dome in Virginia Beach, Virginia Oct. 25 Red Hat Amphitheater in Raleigh, North Carolina Brice, 46, is a chart-topping, multi-platinum-selling recording artist who has released five studio albums since his debut in 2010. The South Carolina native has earned eight No. 1 singles on the Billboard Country Airplay chart: Hard To Love, Memory I Dont Mess With, I Hope Youre Happy Now, Rumor, I Dont Dance, I Drive Your Truck, A Woman Like You and One Of Them Girls the latter which cracked the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2020. A GoFundMe campaign is raising money to help support the children of a Massachusetts man who died in a motorcycle crash in New Bedford earlier this month. Johan Marquez Marte, 37, died Aug. 3 after his motorcycle crashed on Route 18 around 2:30 p.m., the Bristol County District Attorneys Office said previously. A bystander, New Bedford police and paramedics all performed life-saving measures on him, but he was declared dead shortly after arriving at a hospital. The preliminary investigation suggests Marquez Marte lost control of his motorcycle prior to the crash, the district attorneys office said. His death is not considered suspicious. Read more: Man dies in motorcycle crash on Route 18 in New Bedford Born Aug. 14, 1987, Johan Goldy Marquez Marte died just days before his 38th birthday, his sister, Keylanelys Pimentel, wrote on the GoFundMe campaign page. Johan was the kind of person who made everyone feel like family. Whether bringing us together with his humor, lighting up the primo table, or creating joyful memories for his children, Johan carried hope, love, and connection in everything he did, Pimental wrote. Marquez Marte was the father of Remy and Sophia Marquez, the son of Dilenia Marte and eldest brother of Janellys and Keylanelys Pimentel, according to the latter sibling. His generosity extended beyond our family every Thanksgiving and Christmas, Johan would cook and bring meals to those without a home. He was truly the glue that kept so many of us close," she wrote. Read more: New Bedford man killed in Route 18 motorcycle crash identified Money from the GoFundMe campaign will go towards funeral and memorial arrangements for Marquez Marte and provide financial support for his two children, according to Pimental. The campaign had raised over $10,700 of its $13,000 goal as of Sunday evening. We love you, Goldy. Well carry your memory in our hearts, always, she wrote. Visiting hours for Marquez Marte are scheduled for Friday, Aug. 15, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Brady & Fallon Funeral Home in Bostons Jamaica Plain neighborhood, according to the funeral home. His funeral Mass is set to follow the next day at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Jamaica Plain. The person who died in a boat crash off Nantasket Beach in Hull Saturday afternoon has been identified as 56-year-old Hingham resident Michael LaRhette, the Plymouth County District Attorneys Office said Monday. On Aug. 9, the Massachusetts State Police Marine Unit and U.S. Coast Guard responded to the beach to investigate a report of a capsized boat around noon, the district attorneys office said in a press release. Investigators soon found LaRhette in the water and unresponsive. He was taken by boat to a Coast Guard station where he was declared dead, the district attorneys office said. State Police and the Coast Guard investigated at the scene until they determined that no other people or boats were missing. The Massachusetts Chief Medical Examiners Office has accepted the case and will determine LaRhettes manner and cause of death, the district attorneys office said. An investigation into his death and the boat crash are ongoing. No further information has been released. Hot weather is set to return to Massachusetts this week as daily high temperatures climb into the 90s, according to the National Weather Service. Many communities are predicted to experience highs in the low to mid 90s from Monday to Thursday amid moderate humidity, according to the weather service. On these days, cities such as Boston, Lowell, New Bedford, Springfield and Worcester are expected to see temperatures in the high 80s to high 90s from sunup to sundown. On Monday, Boston and Worcesters peak temperatures are predicted to reach the low 90s by noon, while Springfield and Lowell are expected to be even hotter with highs of 95 and 97, respectively, according to the weather service. On Tuesday, New Bedford and Springfield are predicted to join Boston and Worcester with peak temperatures in the low 90s, while Lowells high is expected to reach 96 degrees. Most communities will experience the hottest weather of the week on Wednesday, with Boston reaching 95 degrees by noon and Lowell reaching 96 by that time, according to the weather service. High temperatures in Worcester and Springfield are predicted to remain in the low 90s that day. Following a chance of showers across Massachusetts Wednesday night, the weather on Thursday is expected to be a bit cooler, according to the weather service. But even as the chance of rain continues throughout the day, highs in Boston, Lowell, New Bedford and Springfield are still predicted to reach the low 90s. Massachusetts is expected to finally experience some relief on Friday when somewhat cooler air arrives, according to the weather service. Highs in the low to mid 80s amid sunny skies are predicted for communities across the state as the week ends. A police officer killed by an active shooter in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday spent part of his childhood in Massachusetts, the New York Times reported. The officer, David Rose, worked in the DeKalb County police department for 11 months before his death. On Friday, Rose was among the officers who responded to a CVS where a man was firing at the building that houses the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When first responders arrived, the man, later identified as Patrick Joseph White, opened fire on police, according to a memorial page set up for Rose. Rose was hit and died of his injuries at Emory University Hospital. Another officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries. White was found on the second floor of the CVS with a gunshot wound. Its not clear if he was killed by police or if he took his own life. Rose moved to Georgia from Massachusetts with his mother, Deveane Atkinson, as a child. Atkinson told The New York Times her son served in the Marines, then worked in the sheriffs office before joining the police force. Rose is survived by his wife, who is expecting, and two children. What we know about the shooter Whites father contacted police and identified his son as the possible shooter, a law enforcement official told the Associated Press. 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 northwest of CDC headquarters. A voicemail left by the AP at a phone number listed publicly for Whites family wasnt returned Saturday. The 30-year-old 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. The U.S. Department of State has updated its travel advisory for Brazil, adding a risk for kidnapping. Violent crime, including murder, armed robbery, and carjacking, can occur in urban areas, day and night, the department stated in an advisory on Aug. 8. There was a kidnapping for ransom of U.S. travelers. The updated advisory for Brazil remains at Level 2, urging travelers to exercise increased caution. The advisory also raises concerns about gang activity and organized crime, as well as the risk of sedatives being placed in drinks, particularly in Rio de Janeiro. The U.S. government also issued a Level 4 do not travel advisory for regions within 100 miles of Brazils international land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela due to security risks. However, travel to Foz do Iguaca National Park and Pantanal National Park is allowed. The advisory also cautions against visiting informal house developments (commonly known as favelas or vilas), even on guided tours because neither tour companies nor police can guarantee your safety when entering these communities. For those who choose to visit Brazil, the State Department urges travelers to take the following precautions: The Renew Europe political group in the European Parliament insists that during the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin on Friday, the future of Ukraine and the security of Europe cannot be determined "without their direct participation and consent," the Suspilne publication has repoted. "Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine, and nothing about European security without Europe. Any discussion on our continent's security must have Ukraine and the EU at the table; not as observers, but as decision-makers whose agreement is essential," President of Renew Europe Valerie Hayer said. She also stressed the importance of strengthening support for Ukraine not only for its victory, but also for preventing further aggression by Russia against Europe. "Ukraine's sovereignty is core to Europe's security, and we will never accept its future being decided in a closed room in Alaska without its consent or ours. Strengthening our support for Ukraine is essential, not only to help it win, but to deter further Russian aggression against Europe. It is unacceptable for Ukraine, as the country aggressed, to be sidelined in decisions about its own future," Hayer said. Renew Europe MEP and standing shadow rapporteur on Ukraine Petras Austrevicius said peace negotiations are about securing Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, protecting people's lives, and ensuring a European future. "Only Ukrainians can decide, and their Western partners support their choices. Europe must maintain its voice and presence at the negotiating table, as the situation in Ukraine our strategic partner will determine our shared future," Austrevicius said. Renew Europe also calls on EU institutions and member states to take urgent diplomatic efforts to "ensure Ukraine's voice is heard." President Donald Trump berated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a phone call described as a shouting match over photos showing signs of starvation in Gaza amidst Israels war with Hamas, NBC News reported Thursday. The war of words happened during a private phone conversation between the two leaders over concerns with the U.S.-backed and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation on July 28, the news network reported. Netanyahu requested a private call with Trump. And they spoke for hours, NBC News reported. The prime minister told Trump that widespread starvation in Gaza is not real and that it was made up by the terrorist group Hamas, which controls the enclave. Trump cut him off and yelled at Netanyahu that his aides showed him proof that children are starving. Netanyahus office denied the shouting match and called it fake news, The Independent reported. Following the call, U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff made a trip to the region to seek a path for peace, NBC News reported. Before the incident, Netanyahu said at an event in Jerusalem that there was no starvation in Gaza. When asked by reporters about the remark, Trump said he saw photos of starving and malnourished children in Gaza and added that there is real starvation... you cant fake that. The news of the shouting match comes as Netanyahu plans a sweeping military offensive to take Gaza City to dismantle Hamas strongholds, The Associated Press reported. Late Sunday, heavy bombardment was reported in Gaza City. Shortly before midnight local time, broadcaster Al Jazeera said correspondent Anas al-Sharif was killed in a strike. Rami Mohanna, administrative director at the nearby Shifa Hospital, said the strike hit a tent for Al Jazeera journalists outside the hospitals walls. Along with al-Sharif, three other journalists and a driver were killed. Israels military confirmed it, asserting al-Sharif had posed as a journalist and alleging he was with Hamas. Al-Sharif had denied having any political affiliations. The Committee to Protect Journalists last month said it was gravely concerned for his safety and said he was a targeted by an Israeli military smear campaign. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Texas state Rep. Chris Turner holds a map as he asks questions during a public hearing on congressional redistricting in Austin, Texas, Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. AP A political science professor is warning Republicans that plans to redraw congressional maps to help them win more seats in Congress could backfire on them. Since July, Republican lawmakers in Texas have tried to redraw the states congressional districts before the 2026 midterm elections. The proposal, which was done at the behest of President Donald Trump, according to the New York Times, would create five new seats that are favorable to Republican candidates. Republicans in other states, such as Missouri, Ohio and Indiana, have suggested redrawing their maps to create more GOP-friendly seats. Democrats, such as Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, have said Trump and the GOP are attempting to steal five congressional seats up for grabs for the midterm elections. In a letter sent to the president on Monday, Newsom threatened that California would conduct its mid-decade districting efforts unless GOP efforts in other states back down, according to Politico. In an article posted on The Conversation, Charlie Hunt, an associate professor of political science at Boise State University, argued the Republican efforts to redistrict Texas and other states could come back to haunt them in three ways. The first is that Democrats, such as Newsom, could redistrict states such as California, New York, and Illinois to counter efforts made by GOP lawmakers. The second of the three ways the redistricting could backfire on Republicans, according to Hunt, is that Republicans could spread their voters too thin across several districts. By doing this, it creates districts that can flip towards Democrats in the future, according to Hunt. This concept is known as dummy-mandering, which is the opposite of the concept of gerrymandering. Gerrymandering is the political manipulation of district lines to give an advantage to a party, group, or socio-economic class. When parties gerrymander districts, they dont usually try to make them all as lopsided as possible for their own side, Hunt explained. Instead, they try to make as many districts as possible that they are likely to win, Hunt wrote. They do this by spreading groups of supportive voters across several districts so they can help the party win more of these districts. The third reason why Hunt thinks the GOPs efforts to gerrymander may hurt them instead of help them is that there are fewer and fewer competitive congressional seats that can be gerrymandered. He noted that states controlled by Democrats and Republicans have already undertaken heavy gerrymandering efforts following the 2010 and 2020 censuses. Republicans have generally been more adept at the process, particularly in maximizing their seat shares in relatively competitive states such as Wisconsin and North Carolina that they happen to control. Hunt wrote. But Democrats have also been successful in states such as Maryland, where only one Republican serves out of nine seats, despite the party winning 35% of the presidential vote in 2024. In Massachusetts, where Democrats hold all eight seats, Republicans won 37% of the presidential vote in 2024. Still, Hunt warned that the redistricting fight in Texas could prompt states to redraw their mapsnot because they are required to do so every decade, but because they dislike their chances in the upcoming election. Regardless of how far either party is willing to go, todays clash over Texas redistricting represents largely uncharted territory, Hunt wrote. Temperatures across Massachusetts could cross 90 degrees on Monday as heat and humidity return to the Bay State. The surging temperatures on Monday are part of a broader warming trend in the state, which is expected to persist through Wednesday. But National Weather Service forecasters say they dont expect to issue a heat advisory as the heat wont be as oppressive as earlier this summer. Still, there is a chance heat indices, or feels like temperatures, approach the criteria for an advisory by reaching between 95 and 100 for two or more hours. It will be warmest in usual hot spots across Massachusetts like the Merrimack Valley and the suburbs southwest of Boston. The heat will continue on Tuesday, with temperatures again climbing into the 90s. But dewpoints are expected to fall slightly thanks to drier air moving in, meaning there will be slightly less moisture in the air and thus less humidity. With lower humidity on Tuesday, heat indices are not expected to reach the criteria for a heat advisory. Wednesday is expected to be the peak of the heat and humidity this week, with dewpoints in the low 70s and heat indices climbing to the mid to high 90s in parts of the interior. A few severe storms cant be ruled out on Wednesday due to unstable conditions, forecasters said. A cold front will break the heat on Thursday, bringing with it the possibility for severe storms. Still, forecasters think it is unlikely Massachusetts will be hit hard. The front moves offshore early Friday, leading to drier and cooler conditions through Saturday. However, the high-pressure system that caused the heat is likely to reassert itself later in the weekend, leading to the heat and humidity returning Sunday and into next week. SPRINGFIELD A Hampden County jury has convicted a man of repeatedly raping a child over a two-year period, sending him to state prison for up to 13 years for his crimes. Benito Roman, 57, formerly of Springfield, was convicted July 2 of aggravated rape of a child, indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, and two counts of witness intimidation, Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni said in a statement Monday. Roman was indicted by a county grand jury on Feb. 7, 2023. He was later arrested in Florida and extradited to Massachusetts, where he was arraigned July 7, 2023. Three workers chop down the tobacco plants and prep them on the ground ready to be loaded onto tractor trailers, before being set to dry in barns. (Douglas Hook / The Republican) Douglas Hook Aviva Jotzke and Niko Gessner, of Easthampton, dancing to the music at Arcadia Folk Festival in Easthampton on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2024. (Leon Nguyen Photo) Leon Nguyen Signature Sounds Presents and Mass Audubon recently announced the Arcadia Folk Festival performance schedule for Saturday, Aug. 23. This years lineup features Josh Ritter and The Royal City Band, Amy Helm, Steve Poltz, Red Baraat, Viv & Riley, and more. The outdoor festival features music on three stages, including the intimate In the Woods stage, and brings the community together around music in the heart of the Pioneer Valley to celebrate the work of Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary. Mayo County Council have been urged to take action against wild camping around Keel beach on Achill Island after a number of incidents of littering and wild fires were reported in recent weeks. An online petition has been established following incidents of wild camping in the dunes close to the Blue Flag beach where litter and rubbish was left behind. The petition, which has been signed by over 450 people since August 8, has called on Mayo County Council along with Failte Ireland and the National Parks and Wildlife Service to take immediate action and ban all wild camping in sensitive READ: Mayo passengers urged to check flights after Knock diversions Keel, Achill, is home to one of Europes rarest coastal habitats, the Machair grasslands right beside a Blue Flag beach. Every summer, this living ecosystem is being burned, trampled, and polluted by unregulated wild camping, open fires, and dumping, stated the online petition. The Machair is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under European law. It should be one of Irelands most protected landscapes. Instead, it is treated like a free-for-all campsite, with no warden, no signage, no enforcement, and no plan to stop the destruction. Locals have been raising the alarm for years. Authorities have promised a Visitor Management Plan yet nothing has changed. A recent video showing the damage has been viewed over 122,000 times, sparking outrage nationwide. This is not an occasional nuisance. It is an ongoing, predictable pattern of environmental damage that is robbing future generations of their heritage. Protected on paper, burned in reality, it read. As well as calling for a ban on wild camping in sensitive areas of Keel, the petition called on the authorities to enforce exiting bans on fires and dumping, install 'clear, permanent signage marking the Machair as a protected habitat', fund a seasonal warden during peak months and deliver 'the long-promised Visitor Management Plan without 'delay. If action is not taken now, this rare habitat will be permanently scarred. As the old Native American proverb says, 'We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children'. John Healy, who had strong ties to Achill, titled his famous book No One Shouted Stop. Decades later, no one is shouting stop now either as fires burn on protected ground, as rubbish piles up, and as this precious place is slowly erased. If we stand by, the Machair will be gone, replaced by scorched patches of blackened soil, drifting sand where grass once grew, and a coastline stripped of life. That is all we will have to hand to our children. Irish folk legends, Stockton Wing, will be returning to Mayo to headline the Dooagh Folk Festival which takes place on Achill Island next month. After a hugely successful and sold-out debut in 2024, the Dooagh Folk Festival will return to Achill Island from September 12 to 14 2025, with Irish folk legends, Stocktons Wing, confirmed as this years headline act. Set once again in the heart of the scenic village of Dooagh, the festival promises another weekend of outstanding music, warm community spirit and unforgettable cultural celebration. Last years inaugural festival brought visitors from all over Ireland and beyond to experience live traditional music against the wild and stunning backdrop of the Atlantic. This years programme builds on that momentum, expanding the lineup and introducing new elements while staying rooted in the local music and stories of Achill. READ: Mayo Mountain Rescue respond to Croagh Patrick camper incident Headlining Saturday nights main stage concert, Stocktons Wing brings with them decades of groundbreaking music that blends Irish traditional roots with infectious rhythm and fearless innovation. Joining them across the weekend are some of the countrys finest musicians including Mairtin OConnor, Cathal Hayden and Seamie O Dowd, John Spillane, Pauline Scanlon and The Half Room, and Brighde Chaimbeul, alongside beloved acts such as The Johnny Quinn Macs, Leonard Barry, and a host of talented local and emerging artists including the Golden Eagle Pipe Band, Fintan, Kieran and Sean O'Malley and Feileacan. Festival goers can look forward to a wide range of events and performances, from Fridays powerful opening night concert to sessions, workshops and more throughout Saturday, and the relaxed Sunday acoustic gathering overlooking the Minaun Cliffs. Highlights include Ceol Acla, a celebration of West Mayos rich musical heritage and the Irish language, hosted by Achill fiddler, Diarmuid Gielty. Ceol na gCnoc will feature an atmospheric piping recital with Uilleann piper, Leonard Barry and Scottish smallpipes innovator, Brighde Chaimbeul. Younger voices take the spotlight during The Up and Coming, with performances from rising stars like Aoife Fadian and Brid McLoughlin. For those keen to get hands-on, The Bodhran Buzz offers rhythm workshops and group jams led by All-Ireland champion Robbie Walsh. Sundays Chill Session will be hosted by Achill artist Graham Sweeney at the Lilli Ban Cafe, offering a calm and reflective close to a high-energy weekend. The final evening will see festival-goers come together once more for a celebratory BBQ and a closing sing-song in The Shark Bar, Keel. Speaking ahead of this years event, Festival Director Sean Lynch said: The response to last years inaugural festival was overwhelming. It confirmed what we already knew - that theres something truly special about gathering here in Dooagh to celebrate the music and culture of this special place. This years line-up brings together legends, innovators and emerging talent in a setting thats hard to match. Were delighted to welcome everyone back this September. Tickets are now on sale at www.dooaghfolkfest.ie and are moving fast following last years sell-out. For accommodation queries please contact Achill Tourism or Keel Camping - the festival's official campsite. Early booking is strongly advised. For updates, artist announcements and full programme details, follow @dooaghfolkfest on social media. It has been just over a month since, Megan Royal, received a WhatsApp text message informing her of her mother's passing in an assisted suicide facility in Switzerland. Ms Royal, who is seeking answers relating to her mother's death, has described how her mothers ashes were sent back to Ireland in the post by the clinic. There wasnt even a condolence card with the ashes, just a cremation certificate," she said. Details of the ordeal were highlighted by the Cavan woman during a recent episode of the Indo Daily podcast. During the podcast Ms Royal described how she received the WhatsApp message at approximately 12pm Irish time on the day her mother died. The message read: Dear Megan, I am writing to you from Pegasos in Switzerland. Maureen asked me to write to you personally and directly inform you, Maureen passed away peacefully at 13:03 Swiss local time. She was not alone, and she was embraced by a Pegasos nurse, attendant, and a dog all together as she died. She was holding a card of her beloved sister, Wendy, in her hand. In conversation with journalist Kevin Doyle, Megan tearfully continued to relay the contents of the message: She requested Elvis gospel music to be played and Amazing Grace was the song that played when she opened her IV Cannula. I send my sincere condolences to you and your family Megan. May she be lovingly remembered, and her memory be a blessing. READ NEXT: 'Concerning' - Inside Irish people's romantic relationships with AI chatbots On the podcast, Megan explained that her mother had told her friends of plans to go on a trip abroad, however she never told her daughter of such plans. The Monday and Tuesday before her death Maureen had spoken to her daughter on the phone, with Megan assuming that she was at her home in Cavan. It was on the Wednesday night of her mother's trip that Megan learnt that her mother was in Switzerland when a close friend of Maureen reached out to her to tell her of her mother's secret plans to die by assisted suicide. Megan explained how scared she was receiving the message and how she called her father (and asked him) to speak with Maureens friend as she was in too much shock. Speaking about her fear, Megan said she knew she had limited time and options. Id less then 18 hours to try and get her home or stop it, she explained. Following the conversation with Maureen's friend, Megan's father rang her back and told her: Say a prayer tonight. I'm not done talking to your mammy. She didnt have a plan to come home, but she will. Just say a prayer and you will see her in the morning. It was the next day, at noon Irish time, that Megan received the WhatsApp message informing her that her mother had died by assisted suicide. READ NEXT: 'Plenty of dry weather' - Met Eireann forecast predict 25C every day this week When asked by Kevin Doyle if she responded to the WhatsApp message, MS Royal said she replied: Where is my mam? The response stated that her mother's ashes "would be posted to me in six to eight weeks. Ms Royal subsequently contacted the Irish embassy in an effort to ensure she received her mother's ashes in a timelier manner. Having assumed that her mother's remains would be sent to her, Megan described he she received another shock when an undertaker rang her saying: Im very busy at the moment, but your mas in the post office and Im going to grab her in an hour. Ms Royal says the undertaker subsequently sent her a photograph of her mothers ashes in a parcel. She says she has queried Pegasos and has asked to see her mother's medical reports. She also sought to establish who confirmed her mother's death. The questions were never answered and she believes Pegasos has blocked her number. When her partner also looked for answers the response received was: Look, Im only a volunteer. You need to get onto Pegasos yourself. During the Indo Daily podcast, Megan depicted her mother as having made a good life for herself after moving to Dublin with her mother from the UK when she was young. She explained that she had worked for Revenue for 39 years where she got awards for being best in business there. She added: She had got problems like the rest of us but despite that she was a fiery, smart, very dedicated woman. Megan Royal is her mothers only child and growing up she was raised by her dad, seeing her mom every-other-weekend. Speaking about her childhood, she said: My dad did a great job; my mam did a great job when she had me. I sensed a bit of sadness off of her growing up. I had known that she had emotional and I dont like even using the word mental, but she had problems. Maureen, she said, had moved to the Cavan countryside where she has been residing for the last 15 years, as she liked the peace and quiet. Prior to her death, the family had faced a series of bereavements, with her two younger sisters passing away. Megan said this was when she noticed a change in her mother: She was just a lot sadder, and you know, talking about not being here a good bit. During this sad time, Megan welcomed a baby girl and hoped that her new granddaughter would help her turn a corner from the kind of sadness shed had in the last couple of years. Reflecting, having looked back on videos of her mother holding her newborn daughter, Ms Royal remembers her mother crying: I thought she was just so happy in that video but its now I know the tears in her eyes are knowing she's letting me little girl go. With hindsight, she said: It was something different. It was (as if) she knew. I have to let all this go. I have the plan to. Pegasos, founded in 2019, is a non-profit group which runs an assisted dying clinic in Basel in Switzerland. The process is legal under Swiss law, and people can end their lives for several reasons without being terminal if they are not being coerced. Pegasos claims to follow an extensive assessment process, including a psychiatric evaluation to prove the person is of sound mind as well as an extensive medical history. In Maureen's case, Pegasos stated that she provided her medical history with documentation to show that she was suffering pain, including letters from a pain management consultant. It is believed that Pegasos was of the belief that contact had been made with Maureen's family about her decision via a letter. However, Megan Roy says this was not the case and the first time that they made contact with her was when she received the WhatsApp message about her mother's passing. The Indo Daily Podcast is available to listen to on Spotify here - How a WhatsApp message told an Irish family that their mother had died by assisted suicide - The Indo Daily | Podcast on Spotify ____________________________ If you have been affected by this article contact any of the following organisations: Samaritans: 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org; Aware: 1800 80 48 48; Pieta: 1800 247 247 or email mary@pieta.ie Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Trump says he's going to Russia on Fri to see Putin U.S. President Donald Trump said he intends to visit Russia on Friday and meet with Vladimir Putin. "I'm going to Russia on Friday to see Putin. I don't like being up here, talking about how unsafe and how dirty and disgusting this once beautiful capital was," Trump told reporters during a briefing in Washington on Monday. As reported, last Friday, U.S. President Trump announced that his meeting with Putin would take place on August 15 in Alaska. "The highly anticipated meeting between myself, as President of the United States, and the President Vladimir Putin, will take place next Friday, August 15, in the Great State of Alaska," he said on the Truth Social network. DISCLAIMER: I dread the thought of Conor McGregor as President of Ireland, but he should be allowed to run for the Aras Very few people polarise opinion in Ireland more than MMA star Conor McGregor. He is one of the most recognisable Irish people worldwide, and has made no secret of his desire to become the next President of Ireland with his largely anti-immigration shtick finding an audience on social media. During a rant in the White House, where he was speaking on the invitation of US President Donald Trump for St Patrick's Day, McGregor said there is an illegal immigration racket in Ireland and that rural towns are being "overrun" with immigrants. Announcing his intention to seek a nomination to run for the presidency, McGregor wrote: "To the esteemed citizens of Ireland and the Irish diaspora, I, Conor McGregor hereby declare my intention to seek the esteemed office of President of Ireland. The current constitutional framework however, presents a significant barrier to democratic participation. "The existing regulations mandate that a candidate must secure nominations from either twenty members of the Oireachtas or four county councils to be eligible for the ballot. This system, while intended to ensure a degree of political influence among candidates, inadvertently restricts the direct voice of the Irish electorate. READ NEXT: Ryanair passenger's discovery lands airline in hot water after 'misleading' ad "In light of this, I propose a petition advocating for a modification of the nomination process to allow my name be included on the ballot. I contend that the citizens of Ireland, both at home and abroad, should have the unhindered right to determine the candidates who appear on the presidential ballot. McGregor is right in that one thing is standing in his way and that's the Constitution. Despite reposting tweets about himself like, 'you dont vote charisma into office. It walks in and takes the mic,' his petition has so far attracted a paltry 15,000 signatures. It seems he must go the old-fashioned route to get his name on the paper. The council route is the same one taken successfully by the likes of Peter Casey, Mary Davis and Sean Gallagher in the last two Presidential elections. A motion to nominate a candidate is put to councillors who vote in favour or against. Majority rules and if you replicate that with four county councils, you're eligible to stand for election as President. We have seen controversial candidates in other elections, most recently in the last General Election, when convicted criminal Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch narrowly missed out on a seat in Dublin Central. He attracted the fourth-highest number of first preference votes in a three-seater behind Mary Lou McDonald, Paschal Donohoe and Gary Gannon, all high-profile sitting TDs, including a Minister in Donohoe. There were a host of other controversial names from the political fringes on the ballot papers of last year's local, European and general elections. Most of them picked up a handful of votes here and there as their online following failed to translate to real votes, but some won seats and have taken them up, as is their right. Given the voters the choice to accept or reject them is true democracy in action. The process is that bit different for a Presidential election; it's more prohibitive, and rightly so. We shouldn't have dozens or hundreds of names on the ballot paper, but for some, the system does feel very closed-minded. Only people already in the so-called political establishment act as gatekeepers of democracy, deciding who is acceptable and unacceptable on behalf of the public they've been elected to serve. Minister Darragh O'Brien recently said Conor McGregor "would not be fit to hold that office" with regard to the Presidency but that rhetoric is part of the problem. Arguing McGregor isn't palatable enough to go before the Irish people is like saying no one in a cafe should be allowed buy a cheese and pickle sandwich just because you don't like pickle. The perceived elitist system is already being weaponised by those on the political margins, and it's an easy sell to their loyal followers. 'They won't let him run because they know he'll win.' That nonsense grows legs quicker than you think. Perhaps paying too much heed to these people is wrong but there is a growing base of 'ordinary' people who are fed up with the political establishment too. Almost 60% of people in Ireland didn't vote for the governing parties of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael in the General Election. That's not to say the government formed after November's vote is undemocratic, but it's easy to see how that large cohort of people who didn't want that outcome can be sucked into the orbit of far left or far right politics, particularly online. It's in that online universe conspiracy theories grow like an insidious fungus. Conor McGregor has painted himself as a man of the people; his courting of controversy is almost part of his brand and something supporters latch onto. Whether it's punching innocent people in pubs or being ordered to pay compensation in a civil rape trial; nothing seems to dim that aura in the eyes of ardent followers. To most people, they are abhorrent acts to have attached to your name, and would end most other political careers, but then again, Trump happened in America - twice. All that said, the solution is simple; let the people decide. Think of the two scenarios from now until the Presidential Election. One where McGregor fails to get the 20 Oireachtas or four council nominations and the Presidential Election goes ahead without him. His exclusion emboldens his supporters and other figures, who admittedly he has no control over, to use it to whip up support of their own ideology. Why give them more fuel for their fire? The second scenario is Conor McGregor on the ballot paper and come what may. Could he win? It's highly unlikely. Then again, don't forget 'fans' nabbed selfies with McGregor as he turned up to court for assaulting a man in a Dublin pub in 2019. This is the level of fandom his crude-cut character attracts - but it's far from a majority. Canvass your friends and family and try to find one person who would vote for him. Give McGregor4TheAras all the opportunity in the world to crash and burn. Wouldn't it be glorious to see him so confidently put himself forward only to be resoundingly rejected by the Irish people? As a result of the Russian attack on Zaporizhia on August 10, the Zaporizhia NPP External Crisis Center was hit, the Ministry of Energy reported. "Fortunately, none of the employees were injured, but the office building was partially destroyed," the Ministry of Energy said in a Telegram message on Monday. The ministry called on international organizations and foreign partners to increase sanctions pressure on the aggressor and take urgent measures to stop the shelling of Ukraine's nuclear infrastructure. They explained that the External Crisis Center is an integral part of the plant's security system, and in conditions where the occupation leadership of the ZNPP blocks the automatic transmission of data on the nuclear and radiation status through the IAEA's IRMIS system, it is its specialists who continuously monitor the radiation situation in the observation zone in the territory controlled by Ukraine. "The attack on the infrastructure that monitors the radiation situation is yet another proof of the irresponsible policy of the aggressor, who disregards all norms of international law. The Russians once again prove that their actions pose a real threat to the nuclear safety not only of Ukraine, but also of the entire European continent," commented Minister of Energy of Ukraine Svitlana Hrynchuk, whose words are quoted in the report. The Ministry of Energy once again emphasized that the only way to restore nuclear safety and stability in the region is the complete demilitarization of the Zaporizhia NPP and its return under the full control of the legal operator Energoatom. Lithium loss in the brain is linked to a range of Alzheimers-related changes, offering new insights into disease progression. Trusted Source Lithium deficiency and the onset of Alzheimer's disease Go to source Trusted Source Could a common element hold the key to understanding #Alzheimers? The loss of #lithium in the human brain could be one of the very first changes leading to the disease. #BrainHealth Lithium as a Hidden Protector Advertisement A New Screening and Prevention Strategy Advertisement Lithium deficiency and the onset of Alzheimers disease - (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09335-x) For decades, scientists have been puzzled by awhat sparks the earliest brain changes, and why do some people with telltale brain abnormalities never develop dementia ? (Now, researchers at Harvard Medical School believe they have found a surprising answer In a groundbreakingstudy, the team reports that lithium, a naturally occurring trace element, plays a vital role in protecting brain cells from degeneration and preserving cognitive function. Their findings, a decade in the making, draw from extensive mouse experiments and analyses of human brain tissue and blood samples spanning all stages of cognitive health.The study revealed that lithium depletion is one of the earliest measurable changes in the brains of people with Alzheimers. In mouse models, similar lithium loss sped up brain damage, amyloid plaque formation, and memory decline. Researchers found thatTo counter this, the team developed lithium compounds designed to evade plaque capture. One such compound, lithium orotate, successfully restored memory and reversed brain damage in mice, even at doses thousands of times lower than those used for psychiatric conditions like bipolar disorder . Importantly, these low doses showed no signs of toxicity during long-term testing in animals.Senior author Bruce Yankner, professor of genetics and neurology at Harvards Blavatnik Institute, said the discovery offers a fundamentally new therapeutic pathway one that targets the root biochemical imbalance rather than a single protein such as amyloid beta or tau.Whats striking is lithiums broad impact on all aspects of Alzheimers pathology, Yankner noted. We may have a tool that doesnt just slow decline but could actually reverse it.The team found that healthy brains maintained higher lithium levels, while those with mild cognitive impairment or advanced Alzheimers showed significant drops. These results held true across multiple independent brain banks, including the Rush Memory and Aging Project in Chicago.The findings raise the possibility of using blood lithium measurements to detect Alzheimers risk years before symptoms appear. Maintaining optimal lithium levels could potentially delay or prevent disease onset.Previous population studies have hinted at lithiums protective effect communities with higher lithium levels in drinking water tend to have lower dementia rates but this is the first study to directly measure lithium in human brains and link its depletion to Alzheimers progression.While the work is promising, Yankner cautions that the results are preliminary. Clinical trials will be essential to confirm whetherStill, he is optimistic: If these findings translate to people, lithium could change the entire treatment landscape for Alzheimers.With Alzheimers affecting an estimated 50400 million people worldwide and existing treatments offering only modest benefits, the discovery of lithiums role could open the door to earlier diagnosis, more effective prevention, and potentially, life-changing therapies.Source-Medindia A breakthrough blood test that detects inherited genetic conditions without requiring paternal DNA. Trusted Source Natera Launches Fetal FocusTM A Noninvasive Prenatal Test for Inherited Conditions Go to source Trusted Source Did You Know? No fathers DNA? No problem-Fetal Focus delivers clear answers early in pregnancy. #genetics #medindia No fathers DNA? No problem-Fetal Focus delivers clear answers early in pregnancy. #genetics #medindia Advertisement When Dads DNA Isnt There Trusted Source Natera Launches Fetal FocusTM A Noninvasive Prenatal Test for Inherited Conditions Go to source Trusted Source Advertisement What Fetal Focus Tests For Cystic Fibrosis (CFTR) Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMN1) Alpha-thalassemia (HBA1, HBA2) Sickle Cell Disease and other beta-hemoglobinopathies (HBB) Advertisement What This Means for Parents The DNA of the father is unnecessary in some cases. There is no risk to the infant, as it is a blood test. Early, accurate data to support pregnancy care and decision-making. Your babys future in focuswith clarity, care, and confidence! Natera Launches Fetal Focus: A Noninvasive Prenatal Test for Inherited Conditions - (https://www.natera.com/company/news/natera-launches-fetal-focus-a-noninvasive-prenatal-test-for-inherited-conditions/) What is noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and what disorders can it screen for? - (https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/testing/nipt/) With the emergence of cell-free DNA (cfDNA)-based Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) over the last decade, traditional prenatal care has been transformed. Initially used to detect common chromosomal abnormalities such as, it has since expanded to identifying sub-chromosomal copy number variations (CNVs).Nevertheless, there is still one frontier that is not utilized well enough: screening of dominant monogenic conditions, many of which are caused by de novo variants or have complex modes of inheritance. These disorders can manifest in otherwise normal pregnancies and may not be detectable by ultrasound in early gestation. Considered screening of cfDNA to include such conditions can bridge a gap in prenatal care ().Certain genetic disorders are inherited from a parent, while others occur for the first time in the baby. When the mother is a carrier of a condition, doctors usually require the fathers DNA to determine whether the baby is at risk. However, the father is not always available for testingand thats where Fetal Focus comes in.The launch is supported by data from, a large, prospective, blinded clinical trial. Launched in, the study has already recruited nearlypatients, representing an average, multi-ethnic population comprised of the most significant academic medical institutions and maternal-fetal medicine clinics.will be the groundbreaking clinical trial in this category, and any finding, both negative and positive, will be proven to be true with genetic testing, prenatally or postnatally.Fetal Focus correctly identified all cases where the baby inherited the same faulty gene from both parentswith).With just a blood sample from the mother, Fetal Focus is validated for the analysis of the following five genes:Experts believe that tests like Fetal Focus could become a regular part of prenatal care, helping doctors detect more conditions earlier and giving families more time to prepare.Source-Eurekalert Brief exposure to negative comments on social media can trigger immediate spikes in anxiety and mood dropsespecially among younger adults. Highlights: Negative comments online trigger sharp drops in mood and spikes in anxiety Younger adults under 35 are especially vulnerable to online hostility Study used AI-generated comments to simulate real-world social media exposure Trusted Source An experimental online study on the impact of negative social media comments on anxiety and mood Go to source Trusted Source Did You Know? Think those rude comments don't get to you? Your brain may say otherwise. #digitalhealth #socialmediastress #anxiety #mentalhealthawareness #onlinetoxicity #medindia Think those rude comments don't get to you? Your brain may say otherwise. #digitalhealth #socialmediastress #anxiety #mentalhealthawareness #onlinetoxicity #medindia Advertisement Even a Few Harsh Words Can Hurt Advertisement Younger Adults Feel It More Negative group: 2.42 Neutral group: 1.77 Positive group: 1.55 Negative: 2.37 Neutral: 3.05 Positive: 3.25 Advertisement More Than Just a Bad Mood Why This Matters What Can Be Done? Digital literacy education to help users critically process online feedback. to help users critically process online feedback. Smarter content filtering tools to limit exposure to harmful remarks. to limit exposure to harmful remarks. Adaptive platform policies to better manage online toxicity. An experimental online study on the impact of negative social media comments on anxiety and mood - (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-10810-8) Just a few rude comments online can ruin your day, literally. A new experimental study published inshows that even brief exposure to negative social media comments can immediately increase anxiety and lower mood levels in adults. Younger people, in particular, are more emotionally affected by these interactions ().Researchers from the University of Sussex and collaborators simulated an online blogging experience for 129 adult participants (85 women; mean age 37 years), recruited through the research platform Prolific. Participants were asked to imagine they were bloggers and read 40 comments, positive, neutral, or negative, generated by OpenAIs ChatGPT about fictional blog posts on topics of personal interest. Anxiety and mood responses were measured using standard tools: the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-S) and the Brief Mood Introspection Scale (BMIS). The results revealed that those who read negative comments scored significantly higher on anxiety and reported lower moods compared to those who read neutral or positive ones.An unplanned analysis revealed that younger participants (under age 35) experienced significantly higher anxiety and less pleasant moods than older adults (3573 years), regardless of the comment type. Researchers suggest that younger adults may be more emotionally reactive to social evaluation due to ongoing identity formation.On a 4-point anxiety scale:Pleasant mood scores showed a similar pattern:Beyond lowering mood, negative comments also increased arousal levelsa psychological state indicating mental stimulation, stress , or alertness. Interestingly, male participants across all comment groups reported higher arousal than female participants, though anxiety levels were similar between genders.As a recovery buffer, researchers included a 90-second cat video after the comment-reading task to restore emotional balance, but the impact of the negative comments still showed statistically significant effects.The study adds direct evidence that negative online content, even when not personally targeted, can meaningfully impact adult mental health. Reading 40 negative comments about content you didnt even write was enough to elevate anxiety and dampen mood.The authors point out that younger adults may be more susceptible to this psychological toll, possibly due to developmental factors that make social feedback more impactful.Researchers recommend targeted interventions such as:Limitations include the use of AI-generated comments, which may lack the nuanced complexity of real online discourse, and a primarily Western sample, which may not represent global user behavior.Still, the results offer timely insight into how the emotional cost of social media may not be in what you post, but what you read.Source-Medindia Photo: https://t.me/svyrydenkoy During her trip to Kharkiv region, Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko visited the headquarters of the 13th operational brigade of the National Guard Charter (Khartia) and discussed the challenges and needs of the unit with the command. "I couldn't be in Kharkiv region and not visit the headquarters of the Charter. I met with the corps commander Ihor Obolensky, the chief of staff Maksym Holubok and the brigade commander Daniel Kitone. I heard first-hand about the Charter Method, the challenges and needs of the unit. This will help make the government's decision as effective as possible," Svyrydenko wrote on Telegram on Monday. The Prime Minister thanked the brigade fighters for their service and defense of the city and the region. "Thank you, Charter, for your service, for holding the line and defending the city and the region. Kharkiv is reinforced concrete thanks to you," Svyrydenko noted. Derek Martin is encouraging small dealers to join UKMHA The UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) has welcomed Derek Martin, owner of Champion Forklifts, to its board, where he has already issued a strong call for independent forklift dealers to come together. With more than 40 years of hands-on experience in the material handling industry, Derek is encouraging small dealers to join UKMHA and benefit from the support, advice, and cost savings that collective membership offers. The benefits of a UKMHA membership are immeasurable, said Derek, whose career in the sector began in 1972. Its your support system, your time-saver, and in many cases, your money-saver too. Ive joined the board to make sure smaller businesses get the recognition and help they deserve. He emphasised that forklift dealers cannot afford to operate in isolation. They have to have access to good, practical advice, he said. Celebrating 30 years in business with Champion Forklifts, Derek is well placed to represent the interests of smaller dealer members and to support UKMHAs efforts to attract more independent dealers. Health and safety can be a challenge for business owners of all shapes and sizes. Its one area where forklift dealers need help. "Through the services that UKMHA provideespecially the dealer member audityou have the support to navigate through legal requirements and other matters. Rob Fisher, CEO of UKMHA, welcomed the appointment, saying Dereks industry experience and dedication would be invaluable. Derek is a strong advocate for dealer members and will help us in our drive to represent the forklift dealer community across the UK. Derek concluded on a personal note: Business is about people. You cant take away rivalries and while we have competitors, we do talk to them; lifes too short not to get on with people. Zelenskyy: We agreeing on joint decisions on diplomatic work, discussing different formats of meetings President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a call with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. "Informed about all the details of diplomatic work, constant communication with partners. We are agreeing on joint decisions and preparing our coordinated steps. We are discussing different formats of meetings," Zelenskyy said in the Telegram channel. In addition, he shared the Ukrainian vision of Russia's true intentions and plans. "We see the same thing, and it is obvious, that the Russians simply want to buy time, and not end the war. The situation on the battlefield, the vile Russian attacks on civilian objects and ordinary people testify to this," the president said. The leaders agreed that no decisions regarding the future and security of Ukrainians can be made without Ukraine. "Just as there can be no decisions without clear security guarantees. Until that happens, sanctions against Russia must work and be constantly strengthened," Zelenskyy said. He and Carney agreed on further contacts with partners. Far-right political activist and close confidant to President Donald Trump Laura Loomer launched an unusual public attack on Army Secretary Dan Driscoll after the service marked the anniversary of a Medal of Honor recipient's heroism. Loomer criticized a post Friday on X in which the Army commemorated retired Capt. Florent Groberg's actions in Afghanistan, which earned him the Medal of Honor a decade ago. In a series of posts, Loomer questioned whether Groberg deserved the recognition, citing his brief remarks at the 2016 Democratic National Convention after his retirement and the fact that he was born in France. Read Next: Air Force Announces Arrest Related to Firearm Death of Airman That Prompted M18 Probe "There are probably so many people who the Army could honor who have received the Medal of Honor," Loomer, who has unofficially advised Trump, traveling with the president and visiting the White House routinely but not holding a job in the administration, wrote in her post on X. "But who did the Army choose to honor instead on their social media page under the Trump admin?" Groberg tackled a suicide bomber during a 2012 mission, an act credited with saving numerous lives, including Gen. James Mingus, now the vice chief of staff of the Army, who was Groberg's brigade commander at the time. Mingus was among the troops targeted by the bomber. The bomber's vest detonated, wounding Groberg and causing severe damage to one of his legs and a traumatic brain injury. He required 33 surgeries across three years of care at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin Griffin, 46; Army Maj. Thomas Kennedy, 35; Air Force Maj. Walter Gray, 38, and USAID official Ragaei Abdelfattah, 43, were killed, and several others were wounded. "It was disgraceful," one defense official said of Loomer's statement. Loomer's criticism of National Security Administration officials that she deems not loyal enough to Trump has seemingly influenced the president, who has proceeded to fire several people she has targeted. In recent weeks, her attention turned to Driscoll, a relatively obscure figure in the grander picture of Washington, D.C. politics. In another post, Loomer continued, "Why is the Army under the new Army Secretary Dan Driscoll constantly getting caught elevating and promoting people who are on the record attacking President Trump?" Last month, Driscoll directed the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to rescind an employment offer for Jen Easterly, who was director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency during President Joe Biden''s tenure in the White House after the announcement of her hiring drew Loomer's attention. "It's making the Defense Department less effective," another Pentagon official said of Loomer's politicking. Driscoll, who has publicly been in lockstep with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Trump, is widely viewed as a potential successor to the SecDef. Hegseth entered the role with no notable national security leadership or managerial experience beyond having served for 12 years in the National Guard. Driscoll is close friends with Vice President J.D. Vance and broadly seen as a polite alternative to Hegseth, having avoided public pugilism with the press. Hegseth has faced a series of public missteps in his first six months and has reportedly struggled to manage his staff, leading to a slew of departures and prompting questions about his long-term ability to lead the government's largest bureaucracy. "Thirteen years ago today is my Alive Day, the day I nearly lost my life, and four of my brothers, including three Army leaders, never came home," Groberg wrote on X, responding to Loomer. "I've served under presidents from both parties and will always honor my oath to this country. Yes, I spoke for 60 seconds at the DNC when asked about service and sacrifice, not politics. For me, 8/8 isn't about parties. It's about the lives we lost." Related: Army Puts Political Operative in Charge of Public Affairs, Stoking Concerns of Creeping Partisanship The Navy has identified a sailor who died last week from a gunshot wound at Naval Station Great Lakes, Illinois. Seaman Recruit Kayshawn Wilkerson, 18, died Wednesday following an incident at the base's firing range, according to the Lake County Coroner's Office. An autopsy determined that the death was "consistent with [a] self-inflicted" gunshot wound. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service and the Lake County Coroner's Office are investigating the death, according to the Navy and Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek. Read Next: Activist and Trump Confidant Seeks to Oust Army Secretary "We are saddened to confirm the death of Seaman Recruit Kayshawn Wilkerson, a recruit assigned to Recruit Training Command (RTC), Great Lakes, Illinois, on Aug. 6, 2025," Navy Public Affairs Officer Lt. Beau Nickerson said in a statement Monday. "The Navy is providing full support to the family, friends and shipmates affected by this tragic loss." Wilkerson enlisted in the Navy on June 23 and was attending boot camp at the time of his death. He graduated with honors on May 30 from Forest High School in Ocala, Florida. Wilkerson's death is the fifth of a sailor assigned to Great Lakes since April and the first of a recruit. According to USNI News, two sailors -- Chief Gunner's Mate Daniel Dlask and Machinist's Mate First Class Jacob Lavold died by suicide on April 18 and May 14, respectively. Dlask had served at the command since October 2023; Lavold was a recruit division commander who had served there since January 2022. Chief Damage Controlman Reba Miller died April 28 from complications of alcohol use disorder, and Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Makaio Bartley died May 4 in a car accident that the coroner's office determined was a suicide. Naval Education and Training Command has ordered an investigation into the deaths of Dlask, Lavold and Miller. The review is being overseen by Rear Adm. Robert Nowakowski, the unit's deputy commander. The Navy had 15 suicides among active-duty sailors in the first quarter of 2025, down from 24 during the same period last year, but up three from the last quarter of 2024. The Defense Department's Suicide Prevention Office has not yet released suicide data for the second quarter of 2025, which runs from April 1 to June 30. Across the services, 71 active-duty personnel took their own lives in the first quarter of 2025, according to the DSPO. The DoD Inspector General's Office launched an investigation last March into the Navy's prevention and handling of suicides and suicide attempts by its personnel but has not released the outcome of that review. The move followed at least nine tragic deaths by suicide aboard the carrier George Washington while the ship was undergoing maintenance at Newport News Shipbuilding. The carrier Theodore Roosevelt also had three suicide deaths while it was in a shipyard in Washington state. Investigations into the deaths found that the service was not effectively implementing suicide prevention and that it needed to improve living conditions and quality of life for sailors. Data from Navy surveys found that, in 2023, junior enlisted sailors -- those in the ranks of E-1 through E-6 -- reported the highest levels of stress in the service, with 40% saying they faced severe or extreme stress levels, up from 29% in 2019. Related: Wi-Fi for All Bases? Navy Weighs Quality-of-Life Improvements Amid Poor Living Conditions for Sailors in Shipyards The U.S.-Russia summit in Alaska is happening at a site where East meets West quite literally in a place familiar to both countries as a Cold War front line of missile defense, radar outposts and intelligence gathering. Whether it can lead to a deal to produce peace in Ukraine more than 3 1/2 years after Moscow's invasion remains to be seen. Heres what to know about the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, the first summit in four years: When and where is it taking place? The summit will take place Friday in Alaska, although where in the state is still unknown. It will be Putins first trip to the United States since 2015, for the U.N. General Assembly in New York. Since the U.S. is not a member of the International Criminal Court, which in 2023 issued a warrant for Putin on war crimes accusations, it is under no obligation to arrest him. Is Zelenskyy going? Both countries confirmed a meeting between only Putin and Trump, even though there were initial suggestions that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy might be part of it. But the Kremlin has long pushed back against Putin meeting Zelenskyy - at least until a peace deal is reached by Russia and Ukraine and was ready to be signed. Putin said last week he wasn't against meeting Zelenskyy but certain conditions need to be created for it to happen and were still a long way off. That raised fears about excluding Ukraine from negotiations. Ukrainian officials last week talked with European allies, who stressed that peace cannot be achieved without Kyivs involvement. What's Alaska's role in Russian history? It will be the first visit by a Russian leader to Alaska, even though it was part of the czarist empire until 1867, the state news agency Tass said. Alaska was colonized by Russia starting from the 18th century until Czar Alexander II sold it to the United States in 1867 for $7.2 million. When it was found to contain vast resources, it was seen as a naive deal that generated remorse and self-reproach. After the USSR's collapse, Alaska was a subject of nostalgia and jokes for Russians. One popular song in the 1990s went: Dont play the fool, America give back our dear Alaska land. Sam Greene of Kings College London said on X the symbolism of Alaska as the site of a summit about Ukraine was horrendous as though designed to demonstrate that borders can change, land can be bought and sold. What's the agenda? Trump has appeared increasingly exasperated with Putin over Russia's refusal to halt the bombardment of Ukrainian cities. Kyiv has agreed to a ceasefire, insisting on a truce as a first step toward peace. Moscow presented ceasefire conditions that are nonstarters for Zelenskyy, such as withdrawing troops from the four regions Russia illegally annexed in 2022, halting mobilization efforts, or freezing Western arms deliveries. For a broader peace, Putin demands Kyiv cede the annexed regions, even though Russia doesnt fully control them, and Crimea, renounce a bid to join NATO, limit the size of its armed forces and recognize Russian as an official language along with Ukrainian. Zelenskyy insists any peace deals must include robust security guarantees for Ukraine to protect it from future Russian aggression. Putin has warned Ukraine it will face tougher conditions for peace as Russian troops forge into other regions to build what he described as a buffer zone. Some observers suggested Russia could trade those recent gains for territory still under Ukrainian control in the four annexed regions annexed by Moscow. Zelenskyy said Saturday that Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier. But Trump said Monday: Therell be some land swapping going on. I know that through Russia and through conversations with everybody. To the good, for the good of Ukraine. Good stuff, not bad stuff. Also, some bad stuff for both. What are expectations? Putin sees a meeting with Trump as a chance to cement Russias territorial gains, keep Ukraine out of NATO and prevent it from hosting any Western troops so Moscow can gradually pull the country back into its orbit. He believes time is on his side as Ukrainian forces are struggling to stem Russian advances along the front line amid swarms of Moscow's missiles and drones battering the country. The meeting is a diplomatic coup for Putin, isolated since the invasion. The Kremlin sought to portray renewed U.S. contacts as two superpowers looking to resolve various global problems, with Ukraine being just one. Ukraine and its European allies are concerned a summit without Kyiv could allow Putin to get Trump on his side and force Ukraine into concessions. Any decisions that are without Ukraine are at the same time decisions against peace," Zelenskyy said. "They will not bring anything. These are dead decisions. They will never work. European officials echoed that. As we work towards a sustainable and just peace, international law is clear: All temporarily occupied territories belong to Ukraine, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said. A sustainable peace also means that aggression cannot be rewarded. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Sunday he believed Trump was making sure that Putin is serious, and if he is not, then it will stop there." "If he is serious, then from Friday onwards, the process will continue. Ukraine getting involved, the Europeans being involved, Rutte added. Since last week, Putin spoke to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, as well as the leaders of South Africa, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan, the Kremlin said. That suggested Putin perhaps wanted to brief Russias most important allies about a potential settlement, said pro-Kremlin analyst Sergei Markov. - Associated Press writer Lorne Cook in Brussels contributed. **Title: Could the Oceans Pulse Power Our Planet? Tidal Energy Under the Microscope** (Is Tidal Energy The Solution To Our Energy Problems) **Main Product Keywords:** Tidal Energy **1. What Exactly is Tidal Energy?** Tidal energy taps into the oceans natural rhythm. It captures power from the rise and fall of sea levels. These tides are caused by the moons gravity and the suns gravity pulling on Earths water. Think of it like a giant, predictable battery powered by celestial bodies. The energy is there, moving vast amounts of water twice a day. We just need to harness it effectively. Tidal energy is a form of hydropower. It converts the kinetic energy of moving water into electricity. Unlike rivers, the oceans tides are relentless and incredibly consistent. This predictability is a major advantage. The basic idea is simple: use the flowing water to turn turbines. These turbines then spin generators to produce electrical power. Its clean, its renewable, and the fuel source is literally lapping at our shores. The challenge lies in building technology tough enough to survive the harsh marine environment and capture this power efficiently. **2. Why Should We Care About Tidal Energy Now?** Our energy demands keep growing. Fossil fuels are running out and warming the planet. We desperately need reliable, clean alternatives. Solar and wind power are great, but they have a big flaw: intermittency. The sun doesnt always shine. The wind doesnt always blow. Tides, however, are almost perfectly predictable. We know exactly when high tide and low tide will occur centuries in advance. This reliability is gold for energy grids needing stable baseload power. Tidal energy produces zero greenhouse gas emissions during operation. It doesnt pollute the air or water. It offers energy security by utilizing a domestic resource the ocean surrounding coastal nations. Climate change impacts are worsening. Reducing carbon emissions is urgent. Tidal energy provides a steady, powerful source that complements other renewables. It diversifies our energy mix, making the whole system more resilient. Coastal communities especially stand to benefit from local, clean power generation and related jobs. **3. How Do We Actually Harness the Tides Power?** Engineers have developed several clever methods to capture tidal energy. The most established technology is the tidal barrage. This works like a dam built across a bay or estuary. Huge sluice gates open as the tide rises, filling the basin behind the barrage. When the tide falls, the gates close. Water trapped inside is then released through turbines, generating electricity as it flows out. Think of the famous La Rance plant in France. Tidal stream generators are another key method. These look like underwater wind turbines. They are placed directly in fast-moving tidal currents. As water flows past, it spins the blades, turning a generator. These systems are less intrusive than barrages. They can be installed on the seabed in areas with strong tidal flows. A third method is tidal lagoons. These are artificial pools built on the coastline. They capture seawater as the tide rises. Later, they release the water through turbines to generate power. Each method has pros and cons regarding cost, environmental impact, and energy yield. Research continues to make turbines stronger, more efficient, and cheaper to deploy and maintain in tough ocean conditions. **4. Real-World Applications: Tidal Energy in Action** Tidal energy isnt just theory; its powering homes today. The worlds first and largest tidal barrage is the La Rance Tidal Power Station in Brittany, France. Operating since 1966, it generates enough electricity for a small city, proving the technologys long-term viability. South Korea boasts the Sihwa Lake Tidal Power Station, currently the worlds largest tidal power installation by capacity. It uses a seawall built for flood control, adding power generation efficiently. Scotland is a hotspot for tidal stream innovation. The MeyGen project in the Pentland Firth is one of the worlds most ambitious. It has deployed arrays of underwater tidal turbines feeding power into the grid. Nova Scotia, Canada, hosts the Annapolis Royal Generating Station, a smaller but significant tidal barrage. Smaller pilot projects are testing tidal stream technology in places like Wales, Northern Ireland, and the Faroe Islands. These projects demonstrate tidal energys potential across different geographies. They provide valuable data. They help drive down costs. They show tidal energy can be a practical part of the global energy solution. Remote islands and coastal communities are prime candidates for local tidal power. **5. Tidal Energy FAQs: Addressing Common Questions** (Is Tidal Energy The Solution To Our Energy Problems) People often ask about tidal energys cost. Its true, building tidal barrages or installing underwater turbines is expensive upfront. Costs are higher than some other renewables right now. However, the technology is improving rapidly. Operating costs are low. The fuel is free and lasts forever. Long project lifespans (like La Rances 50+ years) help balance the initial investment over time. Environmental impact is another major concern. Barrages can alter local ecosystems. They might affect sediment flow and fish migration. Careful site selection and modern turbine designs aim to minimize harm. Fish-friendly turbines are being developed. Tidal stream devices have a much smaller footprint. They sit on the seabed. They generally pose less risk to marine life than large dams. People wonder about the potential scale. Estimates suggest tidal energy could provide a significant chunk of global electricity needs, especially for coastal nations. The UK alone could potentially get 20% of its power from tides. Not every coastline is suitable. You need large tidal ranges or strong currents. But where these exist, tidal energy offers a uniquely reliable and potent clean power source. Its a technology with immense promise for a sustainable energy future. Inquiry us if you want to want to know more, please feel free to contact us. ([email protected]) Justin Verlanders 20th big league season hasnt been one of his standout years, as he now has a 4.53 ERA over 99 1/3 innings following todays tough outing (five earned runs on 11 hits and a walk over five innings) against the last-place Nationals. Between these numbers and the 5.48 ERA Verlander posted over 90 1/3 frames during his injury-marred 2024 season, it is easy to speculate that time has finally caught up to the future Hall-of-Famer. However, Verlander wants to keep going, telling the San Francisco Standards John Shea that he wants to return in 2026. This isnt exactly new news since Verlander has previously indicated that he would like to pitch into his mid-40s, and he turns 43 in February. However, he did attach some injury-related caveats to his plans, which makes sense given the health concerns Verlander has dealt with in recent years. At this point in my career, if something goes really wrong, Im not going to rehab a surgery or anything, Verlander said. I always understand that it could be it, but I think physically, Ive shown some good health this season. As Ive been on the mound, things have started to get better and better. To me, thats a good sign with all the work I put in after my nerve injury last year, which notoriously takes a long time. The balls rolling in the right direction, and I would like to continue pitching. You never know. Its a fickle game too, but I think the stuff is still there. The Giants signed Verlander to a one-year, $15MM free agent deal last winter, as San Francisco chose to invest in Verlanders history rather than his more immediate struggles in 2024. The right-hander had a 4.33 ERA over his first 52 innings before a pectoral strain cost him about a month of playing time from mid-May to mid-June. Verlanders overall production has been about the same since returning from the 15-day IL, though it seemed like he was turning a corner by posting a 2.66 ERA in the 23 2/3 innings prior to todays clunker against Washington. While a lost month isnt insignificant, it is understandable that Verlander is a lot more confident about his health now than he was last year, when he was limited by both early-season shoulder problems and then his nerve injury in his neck. Verlander admitted last September that he probably tried to return too quickly from his neck problem, and his lack of results led the Astros to leave him off their playoff roster. Comparatively speaking, a pec strain is a much less serious type of injury, and if Verlander can get through the remainder of the 2025 campaign in good shape, it will line him up well to explore a return for next year. Another one-year contract seems inevitable given Verlanders age, and what could be two years of unimpressive numbers if he cant get things turned around during the rest of the Giants schedule. Beyond just the bottom-line ERA, Verlanders Statcast numbers have a troubling amount of blue shade, with below-average strikeout and walk rates. The latter statistic is notable since Verlander hadnt posted a below-average walk rate since 2017 he had a very impressive 5.3 BB% during the 2018-24 seasons. As much as front offices are more concerned with future performance rather than past results, Verlanders track record is hard to ignore. He was still posting elite numbers as recently as 2022, when he won his third career Cy Young Award to help lead the Astros to a World Series title (for the second ring of Verlanders career). The righty followed that year up with a less-elite but still impressive 2023 season that saw Verlander deliver a 3.22 ERA across 162 1/3 innings with the Mets and Astros, though his strikeout rate dropped off dramatically this year and has yet to recover. Chances are another team will take a shot at signing Verlander to see if he can recapture a bit of his old magic in his age-43 season. Playing for a contender will surely be at the top of Verlanders priority list, so a return to San Francisco could hinge on whether or not the former ace thinks the Giants are ready to turn the corner and make a playoff push in 2026. The Giants were reportedly open to trading Verlander before the deadline, as part of the teams desire to move some short-term veteran contracts. There is no doubt Verlander will be heading to Cooperstown when he eventually hangs up the cleats, but sticking around for another season will push him even further up several all-time leaderboards. In recording six strikeouts against the Nationals today, Verlander now has 3503 career Ks, making him the tenth pitcher in MLB history to top the 3500-strikeout threshold. Betsy K. McIntyre, 69, of Irons, will serve between 20 and 40 years in prison, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. (MLive file photo) MLive.com LAKE COUNTY, MI A 69-year-old woman from Irons has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the fatal stabbing death of her husband. As part of the plea agreement, Betsy K. McIntyre will serve between 20 and 40 years in prison, Attorney General Dana Nessel announced Monday. McIntyre is said to have stabbed her husband 14 times on May 11, resulting in his death. She was charged with first-degree murder by the Lake County Prosecutors Office, but agreed to a plea deal on Monday, Aug. 11. Nessels office has been managing and supporting prosecutorial functions in Lake County since Lake County Prosecutor Greg Mick resigned in early June. It will continue to do so until the prosecuting attorney vacancy is filled. This conviction ensures justice is served for the victim and his loved ones, Nessel stated. My office remains committed to supporting Lake County during this transition and ensuring violent offenders are held accountable. A sentencing date for McIntyre has not yet been set. Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/ On the eve of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna held a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiha, during which, in particular, they discussed the current political and diplomatic situation and Ukraine's path to joining the EU. Had a phone call with my Ukrainian colleague Andriy Sybiha ahead of todays FAC on Russias aggression against Ukraine. Reaffirmed Estonias unwavering support for Ukraines independence, sovereignty & territorial integrity. The aggressor must not be rewarded. It must face strong sanctions & be held accountable. We also discussed Ukraines #EU path. Opening the first negotiation cluster for Ukraine & Moldova must happen without delay, Tsahkna said on X. In turn, Sybiha noted that during the conversation they exchanged views on recent diplomatic developments and coordinated efforts to achieve peace through strength. Important conversation with my Estonian colleague and friend Margus Tsahkna. We exchanged views on recent diplomatic developments and coordinated efforts to achieve peace through strength. We agreed that European unity is crucial to ensure our common security and global stability. We also focused on advancing Ukraines EU integration. I noted the importance of the Ukraine-Moldova shared path to joining the EU. Grateful for Estonias unwavering solidarity with Ukraine, Sybiha said on X. Silver Lake State Park located in Mears, Michigan offers over 2,000 acres of sand dunes with 450 acres set aside for ORV riding. The ORV scramble is the only sand dune riding opportunity east of the Mississippi River. (DNR) MI Dept. of Natural Resources Spanning both peninsulas, Michigan has over 4,000 miles of state-designated ORV trails space and for one weekend theyre all free to traverse. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is inviting all motorists to use the states trails, scramble areas, county, state forest and national forest roads during Free ORV weekend Aug. 16-17. Heres what to know before you gas up and get out there. Free ORV Weekend waives license and permit fees During the August 16-17 weekend, riders can access more than 4,000 miles of state-designated trails without purchasing the usual ORV license ($26.25) or trail permit ($10). The entrance fee at Holly Oaks ORV Park is also waived. The annual event serves as both recreation and promotion DNR officials use these free weekends to introduce people to off-roading with the hope theyll purchase licenses and permits later. Fees collected from ORV users fund trail maintenance, signage, and infrastructure. Some restrictions still apply despite the fee waiver While permit and license requirements are suspended, all other ORV rules and laws remain in effect. Recreation Passports ($19 for residents, $11 daily or $41 annually for non-residents) are still required at trailheads and scramble areas. Its also important to note that the unprecedented ice storm in Northern Michigan has taken a toll on the states ORV space. Roughly 35% of the DNRs motorized and nonmotorized trails remain closed. Check the status of state-managed facilities on the DNRs ice storm response page map and dashboard on the DNRs ice storm response page. Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed, expanded upon and edited by MLive staff. The renovated dome and Palm House at the recently reopened Belle Isle Conservatory in Detroit on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. Jacob Hamilton | MLive.com BELLE ISLE, MI -- Detroits island gem is looking to make even more park improvements in the next decade, but first they want the publics opinion. Belle Isle, the 985-acre island park in the Detroit River, recently completed a $10 million renovation to its iconic dome in the turn-of-the-century conservatory. Now that the Jewel of Detroit is reopened for the public, the Department of Natural Resources is looking to upgrade other areas of the park. A new strategic development plan is in play for the park, building on the 2018 plan. The DNR and the Belle Isle Conservancy are seeking public input on 11 potential projects. Visitors, community members, stakeholders and others are encouraged to rank 11 potential large-scale projects for the park. The survey is open through Monday, Sept. 8. Heres whats on the table: Beach . Extend the beach and renovate the bath house. Boathouse . Restore and reactivate the Belle Isle Boathouse for public use. Park cafe . Create a park cafe at the Belle Isle White House. Canals and trails . Improve access to canals and create trails. Carillon Peace Tower. Renovate the Nancy Brown Carillon Peace Tower. Kids Row . Create a bigger, better Kids Row Playground. Music band shell . Restore and activate the Remick Music Band Shell. Piers and docks . Rebuild piers and docks for fishing and potential ferry service. Sawmill . Create interpretive center at the historic sawmill. Stable yard . Clean up and activate former stable yard. Community and volunteer space. Create community and volunteer space at the historic police headquarters. The strategic development team created this list of projects by evaluating park buildings and spaces, reviewing public comments during the 2024 multimodal study and consulting with staff, according to a DNR press release. This fall, the project team will draft a set of recommendations to improve park resources for the next 10 years based on their research and public input, said Amanda Treadwell, urban area field planner for the DNR Parks and Recreation Division. Since these are significant undertakings, moving forward on any of them likely would require a strategic funding approach, including philanthropic partnerships, according to the DNR. Project addressing new restrooms, slowing vehicle traffic, keeping the bridge open and improving trash pickup are not listed as potential projects because work is already underway to address them, according to the DNR. Belle Isle was allotted $23 million in American Rescue Plan Act federal relief funds in Aug. 2023, this included the conservatory renovation. Ongoing ARPA projects include structural stabilization of the memorial foundation, improving wayfinding around the island and replacing the roof on the historic casino. Michigans massive state park overhaul is nearing the finish line. With the December 2026 deadline approaching, the state has completed 73% of its project list. The DNR started this undertaking in 2022 when the state legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed off on directing $273 million in federal funding to state parks. Photo by Matt Barnes/CBS 2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved "DMV" premieres on CBS on Monday, October 13, 2025. Pictured (L-R): Molly Kearney as Barbara, Gigi Zumbado as Jocelyn, Tony Cavaleiro as Vic, Alex Tarrant as Noa, Harriet Dyer as Colette, Tim Meadows as Gregg. Photo by Matt Barnes/CBS 2025 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved A new workplace comedy is part of the CBS fall lineup, and it stars a Saturday Night Live alum who is from Michigan. DMV premieres on Monday, October 13 at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT on CBS. The comedy is set at a Department of Motor Vehicles "where employees are making minimum wage dealing with customers who are annoyed before they even walk in the door," CBS wrote about the show. SNL alum, Tim Meadows, who was born in Highland Park, grew up in Detroit and went to Wayne State University, plays Gregg on the show. His character is described as a misanthropic former English teacher. Also working at the East Hollywood DMV office on the show are: Colette (Harriet Dyer), Vic (Tony Cavalero) Barbara (Molly Kearney), Noa (Alex Tarrant), and Ceci (Gigi Zumbado). DMV is based on the short story by award-winning author Katherine Heiny. The NIIGAAN ENAAZHEK is a new car and passenger ferry, built in Wisconsin. It traveled through the Soo Locks last week on the way to its new home on Christian Island on the Canadian side of Lake Huron. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers SAULT STE. MARIE, MI - During her maiden voyage across Lake Superior to her new home on Canadas side of Lake Huron, a new passenger/car ferry was getting a lot of attention over the weekend. The team at the Soo Locks even took part, sharing photos of the Niigaan Enaazhek as it made its way downbound through the locks last Friday. With that transit, the new 209-foot ferry left Lake Superior behind and motored down to Lake Huron, then across to Canadas Georgian Bay, where a welcoming crowd awaited at its new home port on Christian Island. A local news site for the island shared a live feed of the new ferry coming into port there, and said it amassed 15,000 views in a short timespan. The ferry - its name means moving forward in the Ojibwe language - will be serving the Beausoleil First Nations community. It was designed to carry up to 150 passengers, more than 30 vehicles and cargo between the big island and the nearby mainland. In addition to the islands longtime First Nations, or indigenous, population, Christian Island is also home to cottage communities. About 700 people call the island home, according to data from Canada. Many people who live on the island work on the mainland, so having reliable ferry transportation year-round is necessary. In the past, the islands aging ferries were a flashpoint for controversy in that part of Canada. The NIIGAAN ENAAZHEK, seen on the left, is a new car and passenger ferry, built in Wisconsin. It traveled through the Soo Locks last week on the way to its new home on Christian Island on the Canadian side of Lake Huron. Photo provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Ship enthusiasts have been tracking the ferrys construction and sea trials on Lake Superior. They describe her as a double-ended vessel built with a roll-on/roll-off design, allowing for easy loading of vehicles and cargo. The Niigaan Enaazhek was built by teams at the Fraser Shipyards in Superior Wisconsin. Last fall, Fraser Shipyards noted theyd reached a key milestone in the ferrys build job. You can see the shipyard photos on its website here. Two boats caught on fire and one person was seriously injured Saturday in a Lake Erie harbor. Photo provided by the U.S. Coast Guard One person was injured and had to be airlifted to a hospital after a series of events caught two boats on fire in Lake Erie this weekend. The incident happened on Saturday at Put-In-Bay Harbor in Ohio. The U.S. Coast Guard said its nearby Station Marblehead received a call reporting two boats on fire just after 2 p.m. According to a report from WKYC, the fire is believed to have started when one boat owner was trying to refuel his vessel. The owner/operator jumped into the water with burn injuries and was rescued by Good Samaritans and EMS, the Coast Guard said in its report. The boat that was on fire then drifted into another occupied boat, catching that second vessel on fire, the news station reported. The Coast Guard said the boat operator with the burn injuries was airlifted to St. Vincents Hospital in Toledo for treatment. The Coast Guard and other first responders put out the boat fires and determined there was no one else on board. One boat was towed to shore, while the other burned boat was put aground near Gibralter Island while authorities waited for the owner to be identified. In this image made from video, Maple, an English springer spaniel wearing a protective suit, looks up at her handler, Sue Stejskal, at Michigan State University's Pollinator Performance Center Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, in East Lansing, Mich. AP Photo/Mike Householder EAST LANSING, MI An expert sniffer is helping researchers at Michigan State University detect beehive problems. Maple, an English springer spaniel, dons a makeshift bee suit to inspect hive boxes at MSUs Pollinator Performance Center, MSU Today reports. A former police K-9, she can sniff out American foulbrood, a sporeforming bacteria that is highly contagious and destructive for honeybee larvae. When she finds the bacteria, she sits in front of the hive box and lifts a paw. Her reward: a game of fetch with a Spartan-branded chew toy. In this image made from video, handler Sue Stejskal lets Maple, an English springer spaniel, sniff a bee-themed dog toy at Michigan State University's Pollinator Performance Center Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, in East Lansing, Mich. AP Photo/Mike Householder As a police K-9, Maple specialized in searching for missing people, the report said. An injury forced her to retire and brought her to MSU for physical therapy. Maples handler, Sue Stejskal, an MSU alum with a history of working with K9 dogs, is working with a team of MSU researchers to develop protocols to train dogs to detect honeybee diseases in hives and colonies, the report said. In this image made from video, an English springer spaniel named Maple pants while sitting on the grass at Michigan State University's Pollinator Performance Center Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, in East Lansing, Mich. AP Photo/Mike Householder Disease management and control for honeybees is extremely important for agriculture and commercial beekeepers, who help farms across the country with pollination, which is essential for growing food, the report said. Currently, commercial beekeepers manually inspect hundreds of colonies, the report said. It could take them days to find American foulbrood; dogs like Maple could sniff it out much faster. Finding the disease in its early stages can stop the spread to other colonies. President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) AP WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump says he is considering reclassifying marijuana. While addressing reporters Monday, Trump said that while hes thinking about the move, a decision is not likely anytime soon. In particular, Trump is considering moving marijuana from a Schedule I controlled substance to a Schedule III drug. Reclassifying the drug would make it easier to buy and sell cannabis in the U.S. If marijuana were to be reclassified, it would also lower the legal penalties associated with possession of the drug. Although Trump acknowledged it is a complicated subject because of the damage marijuana can do to children, he also said thats hes heard great things having to do with medical (marijuana). Trump went on to say a decision could be made in the coming weeks. Trump has previously been hesitant to consider the move, but appears to have shifted his thinking thanks to lobbying efforts from the marijuana industry. According to the Wall Street Journal, a political action committee funded by the marijuana industry has donated $1 million to Trumps own PAC. Currently, more than 40 states have legalized medical marijuana and 24 have legalized recreational marijuana. With one week before the start of school, Grand Rapids Public Schools has announced a new wage proposal: a 4.5% average salary increase for teachers. In this MLive file photo, Educators with the Grand Rapids Education Association protest in May the district providing the lowest pay in Kent County. Danielle James | MLive GRAND RAPIDS, MI - With one week before the start of school, Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) has announced a new wage proposal: a 4.5% average salary increase for teachers. The proposal has been presented to the districts teacher union, the Grand Rapids Education Association (GREA). It would invest $4 million for the 2025-26 school year. Denis Noel Perez is sentenced to prison on Monday, Aug. 11, in a deadly road-rage crash in Ottawa County. (John Agar|MLive) John Agar OTTAWA COUNTY, MI In recorded jail calls, one of the two men involved in a road-rage crash that killed an innocent motorist threatened the prosecutor and sheriffs detective handling the case. Denis Noel Perez, 43, said on calls that he wanted to strangle Jake Jenison, the Ottawa County chief assistant prosecutor, and that he hoped Jenison was listening to the call, the prosecutor said. Korson's Tree Farms in Sidney was named grand champion in this years National Christmas Tree Association contest. Pictured, from left, are members of the Korson's team: Tatum Johnson, Jack Korson, Rex Korson, Jessica Korson, Scott Rydahl and Raul Castro. Courtesy Korson's Tree Farms MONTCALM COUNTY, MI A tree from a West Michigan farm will grace the White House this Christmas. Korsons Tree Farms, based in Sidney, was named grand champion in this years National Christmas Tree Association contest. Part of the honor includes supplying the official White House Christmas tree. Were very excited. Its almost surreal, co-owner Jessica Korson said, noting this is the sixth competition for the 51-year-old farm. Winning the coveted title was a years-long endeavor for Korsons Tree Farms. The farm previously won second reserve champion in the 2015 National Tree Contest, achieving the honor of sending eight trees to the Washington, D.C. residence of then-Vice President Joe Biden. We had reserve champion once, and then to get grand champion is almost a dream come true for the farm, Korson said. The last Michigan grower to supply a Christmas tree for the White House was Manton-based Dutchman Tree Farms in 1984. To qualify at the national level, Korsons first had to win at the state level with the Michigan Christmas Tree Association. Each farm that wins statewide grand champion then must submit a tree for review by a national panel of judges. The trees that make it through the strict judging process are then pooled together for a vote in which National Christmas Tree Association members select the national grand champion. In finally being named grand champion, Korson credited the farms employees for helping grow the high-quality trees that stood out above the competition. They understand that what we expect from them is what they expect for themselves, she said. They know that putting the care and the time into the trees really makes a big difference in the end. The White House in October will send its head usher and superintendent of grounds to Sidney to select the tree, but Korson has a handful of 20- to 22-foot Concolor Firs that she thinks will fit the bill. After the tree is selected, it will be cut down in November and sent to storage in D.C. From there it is transported to the White House on a horse-drawn carriage. The owners of Korsons Farms will officially present the tree to First Lady Melania Trump on the Monday before Thanksgiving. Korsons Tree Farms grows 12 species of evergreens on over 1000 acres at 1895 Nevins Road in Sidney. The farm typically employs 25 full-time workers and will add about 30 more during harvest season. With the coveted national champion award under its belt, the farm hopes to have a repeat performance in the future. Its kind of a once-in-a-lifetime chance, but we hope we can make the trip back again sometime, Korson said. Trump clarifies talks with Putin to be in US state of Alaska, will be preliminary U.S. President Donald Trump said that talks with Vladimir Putin in the U.S. State of Alaska on August 15 will be preliminary, followed by meetings in bilateral and trilateral formats. "I'm going to be telling him [Putin] to end this war, I think we will have a constructive conversation," he said at a press conference at the White House. "The next meeting will be with Zelenskyy, or with Putin and Zelenskyy. I will try to return part of the territory to Ukraine," Trump added. Trump once again said that this is a war that should not have happened and expressed disagreement with the president of Ukraine. "I get along with Zelenskyy, but, you know, I disagree with what he has done. I very, very severely disagree. This is a war that should have never happened," the president said. "Zelenskyy said he has to get constitutional approval [regarding Ukrainian territories]. He has gt approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap, because there'll be some land swapping going on," Trump added. Trump said that according to sociological research, 88% of Ukrainians want a peace agreement and allowed the possible withdrawal of the United States from the negotiations. "I may leave and say, 'Good luck to you.' And that will be the end of it. It's not up to me to make a deal between Russia and Ukraine," Trump said. MLive File Photo. Slot machines are shown. Two Jackson County men have been sentenced in connection to an illegal gambling operation raided in 2021. MLive File Photo JACKSON, MI Two Jackson County men have been sentenced for felonies related to an illegal gambling operation raided in 2021. Samir Naim Musharbash and Naim Samir Musharbash were sentenced on Wednesday, July 23, to two years of probation in Jackson County Circuit Court, the Michigan Gaming Control Board announced Monday, Aug. 11. Circuit Judge John McBain also sentenced each of them to 180 days in jail, but the jail time was suspended, meaning they will not serve it if they comply with the court conditions. They were each ordered to pay a total of $558 in costs, fines, and fees each. The two men pleaded guilty in April to one felony count of gambling operations. On Oct. 6, 2021, police raided the illegal gambling operation at 2816 E. Ganson St., the site of a business known as Spin to Win. During the raid, investigators seized 17 standalone slot-style gaming machines and multiple computer towers and monitors used to facilitate internet-based slot-style games, the Gaming Control Board reported in a release. Investigators also recovered $7,986 in cash. All items seized during the investigation are forfeited under court order. This case highlights the importance of coordinated law enforcement efforts to shut down illegal gambling operations that undermine the integrity of Michigans gaming laws, Henry Williams, Gaming Control Board executive director, said in a statement. We remain committed to protecting Michigan residents by enforcing regulations that ensure all gaming is fair, legal, and authorized. The boards Criminal Investigations Section conducted the investigation. The search warrant was carried out in partnership with the state attorney general, the Blackman-Leoni Township public safety department and the Jackson County Sheriffs Office. In addition, Spin to Win employee Kyle Schrotenboer was sentenced in May to 90 days in jail and ordered to pay $575 in costs, fines, and fees, according to the release. Schrotenboer pleaded guilty in March to one count of keeping a gambling house. Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page. ST. JOSEPH, MI An Indiana family watched as charter captain Todd Brill expertly cut up the catfish they caught, while out on the water in St. Joseph. It was their sons first time reeling in a fish. That fish would be their dinner. Brills Gold Coast Fishing Company makes it happen, thanks to its partnership with the Michigan Catch & Cook program. The program allows customers to take their catch from a participating fishing charter into a participating restaurant, and theyll cook it for you. Catch & Cook is offered in waterfront towns across the state, from St. Joseph in Southwest Michigan to Toledo Beach on Lake Erie and Marquette in the U.P. Brill has been running Gold Coast for 16 years, but hes fished in the area his whole life. He runs charters on the St. Joseph River and Lake Michigan. Andy Brill, 6, fishes on his fathers charter pontoon as his father, Captain Todd Brill, of Gold Coast Fishing Company, sits inside his other boat in St. Joseph, Michigan, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com) Im fishing Lake Michigan for trout and salmon and perch, he said. Then, I fish in the river year round for steelhead, walleye, catfish (and) bass. For charter fishing operations, the rules for Catch & Cook are the same as if a fish is being sent home to eat: Clean the fish, bag it and keep it on ice. Restaurants will check that these requirements are met before they agree to cook the fish. Captain Todd Brill, of Gold Coast Fishing Company, cleans fish after being out on his charter boat in St. Joseph, Michigan, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Brill offers both river and lake charters and whatever is caught on the boat gets cleaned, prepared to cook and sent home with his customers. (Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com) Most of us captains have taken a small food handling course, Brill said. Catch & Cook offers guests the unique opportunity to enjoy their fresh, local catch in a local restaurant like at Schus Grill & Bar in downtown St. Joseph. Its best to reach out in advance to ensure the kitchen staff are ready for your fish, said Schus manager Nikki Warren. Schus Bar and Grill in St. Joseph, Michigan, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. The restaurant offers a catch and cook program where customers can take in their cleaned fish, which they can catch on a charter nearby that day, and have it cooked for them on the spot. (Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com) Schus sees about four Catch & Cook customers a week, Warren said. For $14 a person, the kitchen prepares the fish family-style with a side of fries and coleslaw for everyone. Customers have some say in how the fish is prepared, Warren said, but the kitchen lends its expertise. Salmon is typically grilled or blackened while trout gets pan seared. Schus Bar and Grill in St. Joseph, Michigan, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. The restaurant offers a catch and cook program where customers can take in their cleaned fish, which they can catch on a charter nearby that day, and have it cooked for them on the spot. (Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com) Schus regular menu also offers a variety of fish dishes for those who dont want to catch their own including fried lake perch ($27) pan-seared walleye ($29) and grilled salmon ($27). Schus has long supported the fishing community, Brill said, by sponsoring a local fishing tournament and participating in the Catch & Cook program. The thing that I like the most about the Catch & Cook program is the relationship you get to build with a fellow business owner in a small town like St. Joe, Brill said. Brill takes hundreds of tourists out fishing every summer, he said. Theyre often asking for recommendations. He hopes to see the program grow. Feasting on your own catch is cool, but for Brill, the thrill is introducing families to the sport. Its something hes passing on to his own children through his business. Owen Brill, 8, catches a pan fish in the cooler on his fathers charter boat in St. Joseph, Michigan, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (Devin Anderson-Torrez | MLive.com) Guests are required to bring a Michigan fishing license, but experience isnt a prerequisite. Michigan requires a fishing license for everyone age 17 and up. Licenses cost $26 for residents and $76 for people who live outside of the state. They can purchased online or at local businesses. A fishing charter with Gold Coast ranges from $400 to $800, depending on the trip length and size of the group, per the website. Families end up taking a full cooler of fish home. Ill have a lot of parents book a trip and ... theyre calling me up that night (after their experience, and asking), Hey, do you have any more openings? he said. The kids dont want to do anything but go fishing. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark MLives local Kalamazoo news page. CALHOUN COUNTY, MI Charges are pending against seven people connected to a large-scale high-end auto and parts theft operation, police said. The multi-jurisdictional investigation was led by the Calhoun County Sheriffs Office which uncovered the alleged criminal activity spanning multiple communities. While investigating an unrelated incident in Sheridan Township on Saturday, Aug. 9, sheriffs deputies observed a suspicious vehicle in the area. Police spoke with the driver and learned the vehicle was recently acquired. Deputies soon confirmed with the registered owner that it had been stolen. A second vehicle stolen from the same owner was located on the same Sheridan Township property, police said. Deputies responded to the victims residence in Marengo Township, where they discovered evidence of a significant breaking and entering. The victim told deputies that two additional vehicles were stolen from the location earlier that week. One of the vehicles was later located at another Sheridan Township residence and secured by deputies, who obtained a search warrant for the property. Elsewhere, an Albion police officer located the second vehicle within city limits and detained the driver for questioning. Interviews with multiple people led sheriffs deputies to identify seven locations connected to the theft operation. Search warrants were executed at two residences, and stolen property was recovered at multiple sites across Parma, Sheridan, Marengo, and Springport townships. Arrest warrants are pending for seven suspects on charges of operating a chop shop, breaking and entering, receiving and concealing stolen property, larceny of power, and tampering with vehicle identification numbers. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Calhoun County sheriffs Det. Pignataro at 269-781-0880 or Silent Observer at 269-964-3888. SAGINAW, MI The wife of Michigan State Police Trooper Joel E. Popp wept as she related the devastation shes endured since her husband was killed in the line of duty 18 months prior. Standing silently nearby, the woman who set off the chain of events culminating in Popps death offered no apologies to the bereaved widow, due to her discomfort with public speaking. Brooke L. Allen, 33, on Monday, Aug. 11, appeared before Saginaw County Circuit Judge Manvel Trice III for sentencing. A jury in June deliberated for about an hour before finding Allen guilty of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated but exonerated her on a 15-year felony count of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated causing death. Michigan won't have a cellphone ban in place this school year after a bill addressing the issue was killed last month. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asked lawmakers to support the bill. He is seen here at the White House with President Donald Trump at an event to promote his proposal to improve Americans' access to their medical records on July 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) AP U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. asked Michigan lawmakers to ban smartphones in classrooms during a visit earlier this summer. According to Michigan House Republican officials, Kennedy made the request during a June 17 visit to the White House by members of the caucus and was supportive of their legislative efforts on the issue. That legislative push to ban smartphones in all Michigan classrooms preceded Kennedys support but failed July 24. The Democratic House minority, seizing on a few Republican absences and dissenters, blocked its approval in a 53 to 45 vote. Bills need at least 56 votes to pass. Only two Republicans, state Reps. Jaime Greene and Steve Carra, voted against the bill. State Rep. James DeSana, R-Carleton, was absent. Republican House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, told reporters Wednesday, Aug. 6, about Kennedys support for the measure. Hall said the issue should have garnered bipartisan support in Lansing. Gov. Whitmer had asked us to work on it. I spoke with RFK Jr. recently and he asked us to work on it as well, Hall said. And so were looking at this and were saying, Banning cellphones in schools is an issue that should bring together Republicans and Democrats, and when you talk to parents they agree. While the Republican bill sponsor plans to bring back a stronger version of the bill, and there is competing legislation from Senate Democrats, Hall said there wont be any smartphone bans this school year. He said he wanted to give districts enough time to implement the restrictions before the start of classes. Limiting cellphone use in classrooms is a legislative priority for Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. In her State of the State speech in February, she noted the academic, social and mental detriments caused by smartphones in the classroom and social media use. Whitmer called on the Legislature to work together to pass a bipartisan bill limiting the use of phones in class by the years end. During his tenure in the Trump cabinet, Kennedy has supported state efforts to ban cellphones in the classroom. When asked for comment, Kennedys office directed MLive to a clip of him speaking about the issue during a March 20 interview on Fox News Fox & Friends. Cellphone use and social media use on the cellphone has been directly connected with depression, with poor performance in school, with suicidal ideation, with substance abuse, and, you know, its the other countries have done this, the states that are doing this have found that it is a much healthier environment when kids are not using cellphones in schools, Kennedy said. During the House Republican visit to the White House, Kennedy also supported their legislative efforts around removing certain dyes and other additives from school foods and banning residents from using federal food assistance dollars to purchase sodas. The bills align with Kennedys larger Make America Healthy Again initiative that his office says aims to reform Americas food, health and scientific systems to identify the root causes of the chronic disease epidemic. That work includes scrutinizing childhood vaccines, artificial additives in foods and more. School districts around Michigan have been grappling with how to best keep smartphones out of the classroom so kids can stay focused on learning. Constant access to social media on smartphones can also lead to increased mental health issues and bullying, according to experts. A number of districts around the state have adopted some form of cellphone use policy, though the exact number isnt known, according to the Michigan Department of Education. The school cellphone bill that failed last month was put forward by state Rep. Mark Tisdel, R-Rochester Hills, and wouldve required school districts to ban students of all ages from using smartphones in the classroom. Exceptions for emergency use and medical and instructional devices are included in the bill. Smartphones could be used during emergencies provided it doesnt endanger other students or interfere with school emergency protocols or first responders. High schoolers would be allowed to use smartphones at school any time outside of the class. Elementary and middle school students would be additionally banned from using smartphones during breaks between classes, lunch and recess. Even though it was a priority for Whitmer, House Democratic Leader Ranjeev Puri said his caucus voted against Tisdels bill because House Republicans refused to negotiate on some changes to the bill. Tisdel, however, said he worked with legislative Democrats and the governors office on refining the bill, even including compromises like the emergency use provision sought by Whitmers office. The competing bill from Senate Democrats was put forward by state Sen. Dayna Polehanki, D-Livonia, and would require school districts to craft a policy that somehow limits cellphone use during school hours and distractions in classroom settings. This could include a ban on smartphone use during class, but unlike Tisdels bill, such a ban would not be mandated. Critics of Tisdels bill say its inflexible to the different needs of school districts around the state, while opponents of Polehankis bill say its a weak measure. According to Newsweek, 14 states in the U.S. have laws or executive orders banning or restricting cellphone use in schools. Seven other states have guidelines in place about limiting phone usage during school. Because House Democrats rejected the compromise version of his bill, Tisdel said he plans to work on a stronger version that would forbid smartphone use throughout the whole school day. Several areas in Wisconsin continue to recover today from the weekends historic heavy rainfall and flash flooding that filled streets and homes with water, knocked out power and left people stranded. In some places like Milwaukee, its being described as a 500-year flood, with more than a foot of rain falling within a short period of time. And while that record-breaking rain did not cross the big lake and deliver the same blow to us, storm damage did shut down a Lake Michigan island known for its iconic lighthouse. Cana Island is closed until further notice after Saturday nights storm downed about 30% of the islands trees and trapped staff and guests in the parking area for hours. The lighthouse with its 89-foot tower is one of the most photographed spots on Wisconsins popular Door County Peninsula. It sits along the peninsula and across the lake from our own famous Sleeping Bear Dunes. The 89-foot Cana Island Lighthouse in Door County overlooking Lake Michigan dates from the 19th century. Getty Images Cana Island officials said the buildings interpretive center sustained some damage in the storm. So far, theres been no talk of the lighthouse itself being damaged. Cana Island is CLOSED until further notice, officials posted on their FB page on Sunday. Crews are working today to clear the island. Its estimated that 30% of the trees have been lost. Its not safe to be there. Please give crews the courtesy of space to do their jobs safely and stay off the island until its been made safe. You can see the updates, photos and video the lighthouse group is sharing on social media here. The lighthouse was built in 1869 and its island edged by Lake Michigan is considered a prime beauty spot for Wisconsins lakeshore tourists. Open seasonally, you can access the tower and climb the 97 steps to the top for an even better view of the Door County Peninsula. But the damage there was light considering what happened in other parts of Wisconsin during the weekends massive storm. This image provided by CBS58 (WDJT) shows cars on a flooded street in Milwaukee, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025. (CBS58 (WDJT) via AP) AP The culprit in this big mess? Several rounds of heavy rain that came packed with high winds and hail, according to the Associated Press. Milwaukee was among the hardest-hit areas, with 14 inches of rain tallied by Sunday, the National Weather Service reported. Thousands were left without power and some motorists abandoned their cars in flooded roads. Really unfortunately, its just a really bad overlap of circumstances in terms of how all this rain fell but then fell over such a populated area, said Andrew Quigley, a National Weather Service meteorologist. Firefighters responded to over 600 calls including for gas leaks, flooded basements, electrical outages and water rescues, according to the Milwaukee Fire Department, the AP said. Maruti is not afraid of selling cars worth over Rs 20 lakh, says Partho Banerjee Varun Singh A journalist covering the automotive sector in depth, across business and product verticals. Trying to hit the gym at least four times a week! I am not a fitness freak though. Varun Singh USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha thanked Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset for his support for a just and sustainable peace for Ukraine and announced his visit to Kyiv in the coming days. Grateful to CoE Secretary General Alain Berset for his clear and principled statement in support of a just and sustainable peace for Ukraine. Justice, not concessions to aggression, must be the foundation of a real peace. We appreciate the Council of Europes steadfast support, commitment to Ukraines recovery and assistance on our path toward EU membership. Look forward to welcoming Secretary General to Kyiv in the coming days, Sybiha said on X. Earlier today, Berset said: When the eyes of the world turn to the peace talks in Alaska on Friday, we will face a single question: will peace in Ukraine be built on justice or shaped by concessions to aggression? In the coming days, I will meet President Zelenskyy in Kyiv ahead of Ukraines Independence Day to advance and strengthen our cooperation under the Action Plan, which is guiding Ukraines recovery in democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. The war in Ukraine must end and it must end fairly, the Secretary General said. Photo: elements.envato.com Ukraine is already and should be part of the Western world, but recent weeks have reminded us that its accession to the EU and NATO depends on the actions of Ukraine itself, Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky said, who is currently on his sixth visit to Ukraine. "Ukrainians are defending the values on which Europe stands. They are defending the world that we have been building for decades for our children... Ukrainians realize that in the future, the country's security and prosperity will only be ensured by the country's integration into the European Union and NATO. In this, Ukraine has our great support, although not unlimited. Ukraine should not slow down reforms in the country, just as it should not question the rule of law and anti-corruption measures. These are fragile but necessary components of the rules of Ukraine's path to Europe. We will not deviate from these demands," Lipavsky wrote in his column for European Truth, published on Monday. He said Russia commits war crimes and atrocities every day, including the targeted abduction and re-education of children. "The last time something like this was done on our continent was by Hitler almost a hundred years ago. Such actions should remain in the past, forbidden forever. However, many still believe that this aggression does not concern the West. This is a mistake. It concerns each of us directly and deeply," the head of Czech diplomacy said. Lipavsky said Russia "wants to re-educate Ukrainians into the Russian people and turn Ukraine into a Russian province and satellite, in order to then destroy the entire Western civilization," but Ukrainians "do not want to be kidnapped back to the East." He expressed confidence that "Ukraine and Europe will prevail." "Just as the Dnipro, Kherson is Europe, Zaporizhia is Europe, Kryvy Rih is Europe. And Donetsk, Luhansk, Mariupol and Crimea will be Europe when the Ukrainian flag flies over them again, because Ukraine is Europe, and it is fighting in the clash of civilizations for the future of the Czechs, as well as the French, Italians, Germans, Poles and many other peoples," Lipavsky said. MC Education Desk Read the latest and trending news on CBSE, board exams, NEET, JEE, CUET, competitive exams, scholarships, college admissions, education policies, and more. Saurav Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. 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I Accept Allu Arjun asked to remove his mask at Mumbai airport; netizens say, "Pushpa jhuk gaya" M Snehanjali USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Jackie Chan slams Hollywoods profit-driven mindset: Studios are run by business guys not filmmakers, old movies are better than today Vaishnavi Gavankar USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Vaishnavi Gavankar USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Dinesh Unnikrishnan is Editor-Banking & Finance at Moneycontrol. Dinesh heads the Banking and Finance Bureau at Moneycontrol. He also writes a weekly column, Banking Central, every Monday. Dinesh Unnikrishnan USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Hemant Abhishek USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept Arindam Roy USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Without clear security guarantees, any other arrangements would only give Russia opportunity to restore its forces Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed Ukraine's needs with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and stressed that without clear security guarantees, any other agreements would only give Russia the opportunity to renew its forces. We share the same position: first, there must be a ceasefire, and then the search for a diplomatic solution that will make it possible to end the war with a just and lasting peace. Without clear security guarantees, any other arrangements would only give Russia the opportunity to restore its forces, Zelenskyy said on X Monday following the talk. In addition, he informed Nauseda about contacts with partners and diplomatic efforts. I thanked Lithuania and all the countries of Northern Europe and the Baltic region for yesterdays declaration in support of Ukraines sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, as well as for readiness to make diplomatic efforts, provide assistance to our country, and strengthen sanctions against Russia, Zelenskyy added. The leaders also discussed the situation on the battlefield and Ukraine's needs. Zelenskyy thanked Lithuania for its contribution to the supply of Patriot systems to Ukraine. We also spoke about the situation regarding the negotiation process on Ukraines accession to the European Union. Gitanas fully shares our position: Ukraine and Moldova must move toward EU membership in a synchronized and simultaneous manner, the head of the Ukrainian state said. Q1 Results LIVE: Awfis to enter new line of business, invest up to Rs 10 crore in initial phase Awfis Space Solutions said that its board has approved the plan to begin operations under a new line of business, which will include office furniture and furnishing industry, covering activities such as design, trading, importing, exporting, assembling, and dealing in all kinds of modular office furniture and furnishing items. The company proposed Rs 8-10 crore in the initial phase for the new venture. Tata Motors shares rise even as net profit slides 30% in Q1, should you buy, sell, or hold? 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I Accept Indias hospitality sector is at the start of a long upcycle, says IHCLs Puneet Chhatwal Aishwarya Dabhade USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept All Time Plastics IPO closes with 8x subscription on Day 3; GMP drops sharply Debaroti Adhikary USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Data Patterns, Mazagon Dock, other defence shares rise up to 4.5% after three-session fall: Here are 5 key reasons Debaroti Adhikary USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Russia is definitely not preparing for a ceasefire and war, Putin is determined to present the meeting with the United States as a personal victory, the Russians are moving their forces in such a way as to launch new offensive operations, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. "Today there was also a report from intelligence and military command on what Putin is counting on and what he is actually preparing for. In particular, this is military preparation. He is definitely not preparing for a ceasefire and war. Putin is determined only to present the meeting with America as his personal victory. And then continue to act as before," Zelenskyy said in an evening address on Monday. According to the president, "there is no indication that the Russians have received signals to prepare for a post-war situation." "On the contrary, they are moving their troops and forces in such a way as to launch new offensive operations. If someone is preparing for peace, they are not doing this," Zelenskyy said. He added that Ukraine continues to inform partners about the real situation on the battlefield, in the dialogue and in Russian planning for further actions. This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates sourced from multiple news outlets and agencies Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates sourced from multiple news outlets and agencies Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates sourced from multiple news outlets and agencies Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates sourced from multiple news outlets and agencies Disclaimer Alpha Desk USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. 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By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates from multiple sources Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates from multiple sources Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates from multiple sources Disclaimer This is an AI-assisted live blog with updates from multiple sources Disclaimer Alpha Desk USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. 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I Accept Photo: MFA of Ukraine On Monday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha took part online in an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the European Union, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry (MFA) said. "Andriy Sybiha informed European partners about Ukraine's diplomatic efforts towards a comprehensive, just and sustainable peace and noted that Ukraine is ready for genuine peace negotiations at any time and in various formats. The minister recalled that today is exactly five months since Ukraine agreed to the United States' proposal for a complete ceasefire. However, Russia has been avoiding genuine negotiations all this time, imitating the peace process and manipulating in order to avoid destructive sanctions and continue the war," the MFA said. Sybiha said that in order to achieve true peace, it is necessary to apply the "peace through force" approach. "No rewards, gifts or appeasement of the aggressor. Every concession to the aggressor provokes further aggression. Peace through force is the only effective approach to negotiations with Russia. A just and lasting peace can only be based on the UN Charter and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine," he said. The minister said Ukraine's position remains unchanged: any real peace negotiations can only begin with a complete ceasefire on the contact line. "Putin must face our transatlantic unity and strength. Therefore, before meetings with Putin, it is important to hold meetings and coordinate actions at the level of the leaders of Ukraine, Europe and the United States. After all, the security of Ukraine and the Euro-Atlantic community is indivisible. Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. Nothing about Europe without Europe," Sybiha said. The Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed gratitude to European partners for their support and called for mobilizing Europe's diplomatic efforts, unblocking financial and military assistance to Ukraine, and strengthening sanctions against Russia. All stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to be moved to shelter homes, orders Supreme Court: 'Not time to talk but act' Priyanjali Ghose USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. 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I Accept Yeeshu Yadav USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept US President Donald Trump said he was concerned about the need for Ukraine to constitutionally approve any territorial issues, in particular the territorial swap he announced. I was a little bothered by the fact that Zelenskyy was saying: Well, I have to get constitutional approval. I mean, he's got approval to go into war, kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap because there'll be some land swapping going on. I know that through Russia and through conversations with everybody, Trump said at a briefing in Washington on Monday. IAF quickens push for new Rafale jets to stem depletion of fighter squadrons: Report Siddharth Chakravorty USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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I Accept India hits out at Asim Munir's threats in US: 'Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan's stock-in-trade' Armaan Bhatnagar USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept Siddharth Chakravorty USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Pigeon feeding row: Jain monk warns of stir from Aug 13, says will take up arms if needed 101Reporters USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept Sanjay Raut writes to Amit Shah on Dhankhar: 'No information about former VP's whereabouts' Priyanjali Ghose USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Photo: https://www.president.gov.ua/ US President Donald Trump has said that after a meeting with Vladimir Putin, announced for Friday, August 15, in Alaska, he wants to organize a meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The next meeting will be with Zelensky and Putin or Zelensky and Putin and me. I'll be there if they need, but I want to have a meeting set up between the two leaders, Trump said at a briefing in Washington on Monday. Ultimately I'm going to put the two of them in a room. I'll be there or I won't be there. And I think it'll get solved, he added later. Parimal Peeyush USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept UK to deport Indians before appeals under expanded Deport Now, Appeal Later scheme Aishwarya Dabhade USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept Deblina Halder USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 'Will these so-called animal lovers...': Supreme Court's 5 big observations in order to check stray dogs menace Priyanjali Ghose USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept How police investigates terror cases in India, and how delay in trials is getting in the way of justice Meeran Chadha Borwankar , a retired IPS officer of the Maharashtra cadre, was chief of Crime Branch, Mumbai, and commissioner of police, Pune. She is the author of Madam Commissioner: The Extraordinary Life of an Indian Police Chief and Leaves of Life. Views expressed are personal. Moneycontrol Opinion USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. 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I Accept 5-year-old Bengaluru girl writes to PM Modi to fix traffic woes: 'Road is very bad. Please help' Ankita Sengupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Trump: We're going to try and get some of that territory back for Ukraine US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to reach an agreement during a meeting with Vladimir Putin on the return of part of the occupied territory to Ukraine. They've occupied some very prime territory. We're going to try and get some of that territory back for Ukraine, Trump said at a briefing in Washington on Monday. At the same time, he said, he would first and foremost try to persuade Putin to end the fighting. So I'm going in to speak to Vladimir Putin, and I'm going to be telling him, you got to end this war. You got to end it. And he wasn't going to mess with me, the U.S. President said. He called Russians a "warring nation." They fight a lot of wars. A friend of mine said that Russia's tough because they just keep on fighting. They beat Hitler. So did we. And they beat Napoleon. They've been doing this for a long time, Trump said. As reported, last Friday, US President Donald Trump announced that his meeting with Putin would take place in Alaska on August 15. Sheetal Kumari USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Meet Khenrab Phuntsog: The Ladakhi guardian who saved 47 snow leopards using only a blanket and net MC Science Desk Read the latest and trending science newsstay updated on NASA, ISRO, space missions, planets, asteroids, black holes, AI, quantum physics, galaxy discoveries, and more exciting breakthroughs. Sheetal Kumari USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Meteorite that crashed into US home is older than Earth, say scientists Sheetal Kumari USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Meghna Mittal Deputy News Editor at Moneycontrol. Meghna has experience across television, print, online and wire media. She has been covering the Indian economy, monetary and fiscal policies, Finance and Trade ministries. She tweets at @Meghnamittal23 Contact: meghna.mittal@nw18.com Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Anand J USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept CEO Satya Nadella wants Microsoft to move from its old identity of a software factory to AI-driven . MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation. Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Shaurya Shubham USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. 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I Accept GST Intelligence asks Google to take down 6 gambling websites over tax evasion claims Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Aihik Sur USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan to visit White House to discuss his 'role' after Trump calls for his resignation MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation. Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Shaurya Shubham USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation. Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Ankita Chakravarti USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept New hack threat: Thieves can now break into smart electric cars from anywhere Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Aabhas Sharma USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Georg Zachmann, Scientific Lead, Green Deal Ukrana, told Interfax-Ukraine about the assessment of the impact of the CBAM implementation on the structure of the Ukrainian economy. Text: Oksana Gryshyna The main vector of Ukraine's development is European integration. This is both an opportunity and a challenge, as our producers have to look for niches and competitive advantages in the EU market in the face of a critical shortage of resources and growing risk factors. Can the CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) be considered a risk factor for Ukraine's economy? In the short term, CBAM is a kind of limited challenge in several sectors. I expect that Ukraine will be able to adapt, but we may see some trade deviation from the EU. For example, Ukraine currently exports certain steel products to the EU, and if these become uncompetitive in the EU because of the CBAM, Ukraine may redirect exports these products to Turkey or other markets. In general, we expect only some reshuffling of global trade in these carbon-intensive products, which from the perspective of integration with the EU may not be very useful for Ukraine, as it will mean that Ukraine will export them to other countries rather than to the EU. But the impact will be, as I said, very limited, for a few sectors. A much bigger challenge may come in the long run, when CBAM becomes more comprehensive and complex. And we already see these trends, the European Commission has already proposed its first ideas to expand the scope of CBAM to additional sectors. In this case, it may become a bigger problem for Ukraine, as more and more sectors will be covered. When we want Ukraine's integration into the EU, we also want Ukraine to be more integrated into European value chains, and this task will become more difficult the more sectors are in the CBAM. So, if the decision for Ukraine is to be within the EU CBAM systemapplying the same rules rather than being treated as an external countryit means Ukraine must consider not only EU membership, but also the adoption of domestic carbon pricing to align with EU standards. What components should Ukraine fulfill? What are the forecasts for the implementation of the CBAM on time, i.e. by the end of this year? In my opinion, Ukraine as a state, if it accepts the EUs CBAM to be applied to Ukrainian products, will not need to act directly, then the companies themselves will have to apply for the relevant certificates to sell on the European market and prepare reports. The Ukrainian state will only have to act if it wants certain derogations from the CBAM or a delay. In your opinion, is it possible and under what conditions for Ukraine to postpone the implementation of the CBAM? Yes, there are three options for obtaining a certain derogation from the CBAM. The first two are much discussed. So, the first one is Article 2.8 of the CBAM regulation, which allows countries to continue exporting electricity to the European Union without having to buy CBAM certificates. This is possible if the country has a very clear path, a clear roadmap to carbon pricing and market integration. This option, which is currently being explored for the United Kingdom, I assume can be used for Ukraine. If Ukraine introduces a carbon price on its electricity generation and concludes a market coupling agreement with the EU, if it can show a clear roadmap, it can get a delay, which will greatly facilitate trade between the EU and Ukraine, because otherwise the electricity sector will be a mess. It is really complicated because in the electricity sector you have hourly trade between Europe and Ukraine, different borders, and if you then introduce some complicated instrument like CBAM, it will lead to many complications. So it would be really interesting for Ukraine to get some derogations, but it would require very significant systemic steps from Ukraine on domestic carbon pricing for the electricity sector and a roadmap for market integration. The second derogation is regulated by the so-called Ukraine clause in the CBAM regulations. It was specifically introduced to reflect Ukraine in the CBAM. This is Article 30.7, which allows countries that are in certain difficult, military circumstances to apply for a derogation from the CBAM. It sounds like Ukraine just needs to apply and everything will be fine, but it's not that simple, because the European Commission will have to prepare a report that Ukraine fulfills all the necessary conditions. And then both the European Parliament and the Council of Europe, that is, the member states, will have to agree with this. Therefore, the report that your government has to prepare should demonstrate that Ukraine is really on the way to carbon pricing and intends to solve the existing problems. And only then can the European side be ready to accept this. And I think that the political challenge for Brussels is that they are a little bit afraid to start this game of derogation (in general, not in relation to the energy market), because if Ukraine manages to get it, then there will be negotiations with the UK, African countries, other transition countries and the US. There is a kind of a big political game on CBAM, because CBAM is a European instrument that was supposed to protect the decarbonization architecture, the political architecture in Europe. So officials may be a little bit cautious about giving Ukraine full freedom of action. I think it will work out in the end, but it is not taken for granted from the beginning. The third option would be for Ukraine to introduce carbon pricing that is equivalent to the EUs like Switzerland. So if Ukraine would link its emission pricing to the EU emission trading system the the EU might not apply CBAM to exports from Ukraine. Which sectors will be most affected by the CBAM mechanism? How much investment is needed to decarbonize industries, and which industries are currently working more actively on the green transition in Ukraine? This is a very good and complex question. The first part is the easiest. Metallurgy and chemicals are the sectors that Ukraine exports to the European Union and are already subject to the CBAM. So they will feel the impact the most. The investment needs are difficult to establish, because it can be argued that some of the industries will need investment in general, regardless of the CBAM. And then, for these investments to be green, the additional costs will be limited, but will give the opportunity to earn more money by selling to the European market. But ultimately, this largely depends on Ukraine's economic strategy. Will Ukraine become an exporter of green products to the European Union? Does Ukraine want to become a bigger energy exporter? Or does Ukraine want to remain an exporter of agricultural products? So there are strategic questions in Ukraine about what the best economic future will be. My personal opinion is that the transition countries that are now part of the EU are trying to become a real part of the value chains in the EU. For example, not only agricultural exporters, but also exporters of food and processed products, as well as contributions to the automotive industry, have been a powerful driver of the economic miracle of Slovakia and the Czech Republic, and partly of Poland. Such a shift in focus would mean a very profound shift in the economic structure of Ukraine, which is still centered on heavy industry and agriculture. So, depending on your economic strategy, the answers to the questions of which industries to invest in and whether CBAM is a problem or an incentive for their development will depend on your strategy. In your study, the baseline scenario envisages a gradual increase in the price of carbon in Ukraine, quadrupling by 2035 to USD 4 per ton. What is the basis for these figures and what impact is expected on the economy and population? The figure was taken from the Low Carbon Development Strategy of Ukraine, which is an unpublished government document that contains some future projections and assumes this price of $4 per ton. The impact of $4 per ton would still be quite low, because the EU currently has 70 euros per ton, which is 20 times more. And if we look at the impact on electricity prices for households, we are talking about an increase in electricity prices for households by about 1 or 2%. My personal opinion is that in order for this to have an impact, the first step towards raising the carbon price for Ukraine should be bolder. Because if Ukraine starts with $4 and then gradually increases the price, it will never reach the EU level, and as a result, it will always have to deal with CBAM. So it would make more sense to start with something like $20, which would still be very competitive with the EU, and then gradually increase it to be able to get closer to the prices of other countries in the club that Ukraine wants to be a member of. Yes, this is not a popular solution. But the money that Ukraine collects stays in Ukraine (instead of being sent through CBAM to the EU), and Ukraine can to use itto help those industries and people who need it most. The sectors of Ukraine covered by the CBAM have traditionally played a significant role in the national economy and have been leaders in exports (metallurgy, agriculture, energy, etc.). How will the CBAM postponement or implementation (in any shortened format) affect the economic structure? Agriculture is not covered by the CBAM at this stage. As for other sectors, if you get a full deferral for a certain period of time, Ukraine will be extremely competitive on the European market because everyone else who exports to the EU has to pay CBAM. So it will be kind of an unfair comparative advantage for the steel industry in Ukraine, because they then save maybe 10% on the cost of a ton of steel to ship to the EU. The result of this could be that Ukraine would import a lot of steel from Turkey for all the uses of steel in Ukraine, while it would export all the steel that is produced in Ukraine to the EU. So, in essence, Ukraine will become one of the vectors for trade diversion to the European Union. Thus, if Ukraine is the only country that can sell products to the EU without paying a carbon tax, then everyone would want to use Ukraine as a tax-free port for shipments to the EU. We are now seeing capital exports, investments in metallurgical and energy capacities in Italy, Poland, and Romania. Do you see any influence of the CBAM in this? There is a risk that capital is not reinvested in Ukraine, but this is potentially independent of the CBAM. But the very postponement of the CBAM could turn Ukraine into a kind of entry point for tax-free steel, which will probably benefit only a few tycoons who will then be able to sell their products without a carbon tax to the EU. And in the long run, I'm not sure if this deferral will be extended then. It will probably be changed at some point, and Ukraine will have to pay, and then the whole structure will have to be changed again. I think that will create a lot of uncertainty. What options for CBAM application regimes did you analyze in your study? And what is the difference between the impact of the options on individual industries, exports, and domestic welfare? Essentially, we had two main scenarios: one with CBAM and one without CBAM. If you introduce CBAM, the overall impact on the Ukrainian economy will be quite limited, but the steel sector will reorient to other regions and reduce exports to the EU. Therefore, this scenario predicts a sectoral impact on exports in the steel sector that is visible, but the overall economic impact will be rather limited as resources within the economy are potentially shifted away from the steel sector. In the sensitivity analysis, we look at what would happen if we exclude electricity from CBAM. We see a relatively limited impact there, but I'm not very satisfied with the analysis because the CBAM is very complex as in contrast to classic products, electricity is exported in some and imported in other hours - and sometimes in the same hour imported from Poland and exported to Romania. We are currently preparing a more detailed representation of the electricity sector . We are also looking at what happens when Ukrainian exporters of aluminum and other products not only need to pay CBAM for the emissions when producing the product itself, but also for the emissions caused when the electricity was produced that went into the exported product. The impact of CBAM, if we take into account the second category of emissions, for Ukraine increases, as expected. The EU incentivizes the implementation of innovations in member states as part of the green transition with grants, subsidies, etc. For example, the volume of government grants for decarbonization projects in the steel industry in Europe has already exceeded 15.1 billion. Doesn't it look like Ukrainian business is in a non-competitive environment? Is there a possibility for the EU and its affiliated banks to introduce targeted programs and preferential lending conditions for Ukrainian producers? The general picture you described, that the European Union uses the revenues from carbon pricing and returns this money to industry for investment, is true. And if Ukraine decides to develop a carbon pricing mechanism, it should also consider how to do that. As I said at the beginning, if you have a high carbon price, the Ukrainian state gets a lot of revenue, and then the question is what to do with that revenue - return it to the citizens, use it for investment, or keep it for the state budget. These will be very political discussions that are already underway. Let me remind you that there is already a Ukrainian decarbonization fund, which has a very small volume and uses this money, conditionally, for several small solar panel projects, so it is not yet influential. But in principle, the tool already exists. Again, the problem is that it is very small, and the management is probably not designed to handle tens of billions of hryvnias. I mean, a high carbon price is going to raise so much money that you want to be sure that the parliament, anti-corruption agencies, and everyone else has a clear idea of how that money is going to be used. Why is there such a strong opposition to CBAM in Ukraine? One concern in Ukraine is that CBAM could create an economic wedge between Ukraine and the EU. To avoid this, it is important to accelerate Ukraines integration into the European energy and carbon markets. Additionally, some domestic actors particularly large industrial players have a strong interest in avoiding CBAM. However, our analysis shows that for Ukraines economy overall, the impact of CBAM is limited. Its also important to note that CBAM is not uniquely disadvantageous to Ukraine. European producers will also face stricter rules, as their free emission allowances are being phased out starting January 1, 2026. This levels the playing field between EU and non-EU producers. Without CBAM Ukraine would have gained an advantage, not only against EU companies but also all other countries that export to the EU that have to pay CBAM. Experts have repeatedly voiced the idea of creating a Ukrainian Decarbonization and Transformation Fund, similar to the Energy Efficiency Fund. Could such a tool stimulate systemic decarbonization programs? I am a big fan of this idea. There are two elements that I like about the Energy Efficiency Fund that could be implemented for the Decarbonization and Transformation Fund. First, it is co-financed from external sources, so on the one hand, Ukraine will receive its own carbon revenues from its citizens and industry, but then this money will be supplemented by funds coming from international partners, and this will help Ukraine to receive more revenues. It will incentivize Ukraine to adjust the level of carbon prices faster and it will also allow Ukraine to pay for the special impacts that carbon prices can have faster. And the second element that I like about the current energy efficiency fund is that there is a kind of joint governance structure between the Ukrainian and international side. And this joint governance, in my opinion, is still quite useful because it allows us to really identify the most effective ways to use the significant budgets to fulfill the mission of the fund. Otherwise, there is a fear that such funds are then used for domestic political purposes rather than for the long-term transition needs of the country. So I think it's a very good idea to create something like an energy efficiency fund, where international partners contribute funds equal to Ukrainian contributions and then are part of the governance structure to help spend the resources in the most efficient way. Should this decarbonization fund focus on large businesses, or perhaps medium or small businesses? In Germany, we have a very large climate and transition fund that essentially deals with businesses of different sizes with very different project areas, but also helps consumers. So it works not only for businesses but also for households. In particular, it has tools such as lower electricity prices for households financed through this transition fund, as well as helping steel mills to invest and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises to install solar panels. After all, there are very different areas of projects that need to be politically decided and developed. I can imagine something similar for Ukraine. The most important thing is good governance, because if the governance is not good, there is a risk that too much money will go to those who have political connections and not to those who need it most. What should be the key initial steps on the Ukrainian side to make the idea of this fund realistic? I believe that Ukraine needs a leader who wants to create something like this and who has enough political power to implement it within the framework of the fund. And who can say: 'Ukraine wants to make this part of the CBAM negotiations with the EU, is ready to agree to somewhat higher carbon prices and some joint management of the fund with partners, but on the condition that the partners raise significant additional funds. I think the European side will be interested in such proposals, but of course, this is also European taxpayers' money, so it will not be easy on both sides, so strong political commitment is needed on both sides. Under what conditions can decarbonization become a revolutionary tool for changing the structure of the Ukrainian economy, improving the quality of life and addressing climate issues? I think Ukraine has very good opportunities for a greener economy. It has a lot of low-carbon resources, it has critical raw materials, it has good wind and solar energy potential, it has a lot of agricultural land. So, in principle, Ukraine can be one of the winners. If you look at the economic geography of the past, where there were coal mines, there was industry, and in the future, industry and economic development will be where there is access to land and low-carbon energy resources. Ukraine, in my opinion, can also be one of the beneficiaries of the green transition. Geographically, it is very close to the centers of Western Europe, where there is already an established infrastructure, and this will also help Ukraine to move forward a little bit in terms of development. In the short term, this has additional costs and we cannot turn a blind eye to it. Building a low-carbon power plant is more expensive than using an existing coal-fired power plant. Building a clean steel plant is more expensive than building a dirty one. But this will be a prerequisite for joining the European Union, which, in my opinion, is the most important anchor of development for Ukraine. This is the only thing that will really help Ukraine to revive economically. And it will make Ukraine's economy resilient to future challenges. And the purpose of our research is to find areas where there are solutions that are feasible under the current economic structure to decarbonize the country and bring it closer to the European Union. I think the long-term picture is quite clear: Ukraine is a member of the European Union, contributes its share to stabilize the climate, and benefits from its economic potential in this area. But the transition path will be quite difficult, especially in the current political situation. Nvidia, AMD may pay revenue from chip sales in China to the US government MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation. Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Aabhas Sharma USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. 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I Accept This top school is forcing students to use pens instead of keyboards to avoid using ChatGPT for essays MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation. Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day Ankita Chakravarti USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept As Trump plans to move homeless people 'far' from Washington, military readies deployment of National Guard to DC Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Landfill not reduced in Parramatta despite FOGO bin rollout A new Food Organics and Garden Organics (FOGO) bin program rolled out by Parramatta City Council has failed to reduce the volume of waste sent to landfill, according to a report in The Age. Despite the introduction of the new bins designed to separate organic waste, many ratepayers are reportedly opting to pay an additional fee to keep their larger, general waste red bins. This trend of bypassing the FOGO system undermines the program's primary environmental goal and poses a challenge to the broader waste reduction strategy set by the New South Wales state government. China rams own warship in botched chase of Philippine vessel in South China Sea | WATCH Surabhi Pandey USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept China to begin $13 billion XinjiangTibet rail project near LAC: Why its setting off alarm bells in India Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Tamal Nandi USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept 'Distorted out of context': Pakistan cries foul over India's response to Asim Munir's nuclear rhetoric Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept European leaders plan talks with Trump and Zelensky ahead of US President's meeting with Putin Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Vodafone Ukraine (VF Ukraine, VFU), the country's second-largest mobile operator, announced on July 15 that, alongside paying dividends, it would launch its third buyback offer for its eurobonds at 85% of face value. The company received offers totaling $53.395 million and accepted $5.208 million of them. "All repurchased bonds have been canceled. After cancellation, the total nominal value of bonds remaining in circulation is $292,532,259.80," the company said Monday in a filing to the Irish Stock Exchange. Vodafone Ukraine noted that the scaling factor was 0.131545188948731, and settlement under the tender offer took place on August 6. The company's two previous buybacks amounted to the equivalent of EUR 1 million each, with the third totaling EUR 1 million plus $3.5 million. The debut buyback was offered at 99% of face value, the second at 90%, and the third at 85%. The company did not disclose results of the second buyback, while the scaling factor for the first was 0.0040355668. The eurobond buybacks are linked to the company's April 24, 2025, announcement of a UAH 660.245 million ($15.9 million at the rate cited in the release) dividend payout to its shareholder for 2024. Under National Bank restrictions, these dividends are being paid in separate monthly installments, with each monthly payment equal to the hryvnia equivalent of EUR 1 million. Under the bond issuance terms, in such cases the company must offer all bondholders the opportunity to tender bonds for sale in an amount equal to the dividends paid abroad. VFU reminded that its outstanding eurobonds due February 2027 with a 9.625% annual coupon were originally issued for $300 million. The company now holds $0.5 million of them in treasury. From US soil, Asim Munir threatens to blow up Indian dam on Indus and take half the world down Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept UK Foreign Office fails to release 2024 Gaza genocide risk assessment The UK Foreign Office has failed to release an internal assessment from June 2024 which reportedly found no serious risk of Israel committing genocide in Gaza, according to a report in The Guardian. The department has also declined to disclose whether an updated assessment has been conducted since. After the Foreign Office missed the statutory one-month deadline to respond to a Freedom of Information request for the document, the rights group Amnesty International lodged a formal complaint with the Information Commissioners Office. Amnesty had also inquired if there was any updated government assessment regarding Israel's compliance with international law. Netanyahu clarifies hostage pledge after facing criticism from families The Hostage Families Forum strongly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a comment in which he seemed to pledge to free only "20 hostages," a figure that implied only those who are alive, according to a report in The Times of Israel. The group publicly called his statement "wrong" and urged him to confirm his commitment to returning all captives, including the 30 who are confirmed or feared to be dead. Following the backlash, Netanyahu issued a clarifying statement, affirming, "We are struggling for all of them, the living and the fallen as one." How a secret prisoner swap almost reshaped US-Russia diplomacy and why it collapsed Arindam Roy USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept 'I'm going to Russia on Friday': Did Trump confuse Russia with Alaska ahead of Putin meeting? | WATCH Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. 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For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Arishaa Izaj USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. 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I Accept Trumps escalating clash with federal judges: How the standoff is testing the limits of US separation of powers Arindam Roy USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Rescue efforts underway after mountain torrents in Yuzhong County, NW China's Gansu Xinhua) 08:11, August 11, 2025 Members of the People's Armed Police Force Gansu Corps search for missing individuals in Maliantan Village, Yuzhong County of northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 10, 2025. The People's Armed Police Force (PAPF) Gansu Corps mobilized over 400 officers and soldiers on Sunday, deploying them to several villages in Yuzhong County, including Xinglongshan, Maliantan, Xiaokangying, and Jiuzhuanggou. The forces will conduct disaster relief work, which includes searching for missing individuals, roadway clearing, transferring materials, and disinfecting affected areas. (Photo by Liu Yabin/Xinhua) A member of the People's Armed Police Force Gansu Corps searches for missing individuals in Maliantan Village, Yuzhong County of northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 10, 2025. The People's Armed Police Force (PAPF) Gansu Corps mobilized over 400 officers and soldiers on Sunday, deploying them to several villages in Yuzhong County, including Xinglongshan, Maliantan, Xiaokangying, and Jiuzhuanggou. The forces will conduct disaster relief work, which includes searching for missing individuals, roadway clearing, transferring materials, and disinfecting affected areas. (Photo by Liu Yabin/Xinhua) Members of the People's Armed Police Force Gansu Corps conduct rescue work in Xinglongshan Village, Yuzhong County of northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 10, 2025. The People's Armed Police Force (PAPF) Gansu Corps mobilized over 400 officers and soldiers on Sunday, deploying them to several villages in Yuzhong County, including Xinglongshan, Maliantan, Xiaokangying, and Jiuzhuanggou. The forces will conduct disaster relief work, which includes searching for missing individuals, roadway clearing, transferring materials, and disinfecting affected areas. (Photo by Hou Conghui/Xinhua) Members of the People's Armed Police Force Gansu Corps clean up mud in Xinglongshan Village, Yuzhong County of northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 10, 2025. The People's Armed Police Force (PAPF) Gansu Corps mobilized over 400 officers and soldiers on Sunday, deploying them to several villages in Yuzhong County, including Xinglongshan, Maliantan, Xiaokangying, and Jiuzhuanggou. The forces will conduct disaster relief work, which includes searching for missing individuals, roadway clearing, transferring materials, and disinfecting affected areas. (Photo by Hou Conghui/Xinhua) Members of the People's Armed Police Force Gansu Corps clean up mud in Xinglongshan Village, Yuzhong County of northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 10, 2025. The People's Armed Police Force (PAPF) Gansu Corps mobilized over 400 officers and soldiers on Sunday, deploying them to several villages in Yuzhong County, including Xinglongshan, Maliantan, Xiaokangying, and Jiuzhuanggou. The forces will conduct disaster relief work, which includes searching for missing individuals, roadway clearing, transferring materials, and disinfecting affected areas. (Photo by Hou Conghui/Xinhua) Members of the People's Armed Police Force Gansu Corps clean up mud in Xinglongshan Village, Yuzhong County of northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 10, 2025. The People's Armed Police Force (PAPF) Gansu Corps mobilized over 400 officers and soldiers on Sunday, deploying them to several villages in Yuzhong County, including Xinglongshan, Maliantan, Xiaokangying, and Jiuzhuanggou. The forces will conduct disaster relief work, which includes searching for missing individuals, roadway clearing, transferring materials, and disinfecting affected areas. (Photo by Hou Conghui/Xinhua) Members of the People's Armed Police Force Gansu Corps search for villager's missing materials in Xinglongshan Village, Yuzhong County of northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 10, 2025. The People's Armed Police Force (PAPF) Gansu Corps mobilized over 400 officers and soldiers on Sunday, deploying them to several villages in Yuzhong County, including Xinglongshan, Maliantan, Xiaokangying, and Jiuzhuanggou. The forces will conduct disaster relief work, which includes searching for missing individuals, roadway clearing, transferring materials, and disinfecting affected areas. (Photo by Hou Conghui/Xinhua) Members of the People's Armed Police Force Gansu Corps clean up mud in Xinglongshan Village, Yuzhong County of northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 10, 2025. The People's Armed Police Force (PAPF) Gansu Corps mobilized over 400 officers and soldiers on Sunday, deploying them to several villages in Yuzhong County, including Xinglongshan, Maliantan, Xiaokangying, and Jiuzhuanggou. The forces will conduct disaster relief work, which includes searching for missing individuals, roadway clearing, transferring materials, and disinfecting affected areas. (Photo by Hou Conghui/Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) US welcome could pave way for coup: Why India sees Asim Munirs nuclear tirade as a prelude to Pakistans next power grab Abhinav Gupta USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *We collect cookies for the functioning of our website and to give you the best experience. This includes some essential cookies. Cookies from third parties which may be used for personalization and determining your location. By clicking 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies to enhance your personalized experience on our site. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age I agree to the processing of my personal data for the purpose of personalised recommendations on financial and similar products offered by MoneyControl I agree personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept China secures thrilling finswimming relay gold at Chengdu World Games Xinhua) 10:36, August 11, 2025 Gold medalists of China pose for photos after winning the women's surface 4x100m relay of finswimming at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Aug. 10, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) China stormed to women's 4x100m surface relay victory, while three world records fell on the opening day of finswimming at The World Games 2025 in Chengdu. CHENGDU, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Chengdu Sport University Sancha Lake Campus Natatorium witnessed three world records on Sunday afternoon, as finswimming events opened at The World Games 2025, with host China clinching a relay gold after a thrilling comeback. China's team, consisting of Shu Chengjing, Xu Yichuan, Xie Wenmin and Hu Yaoyao, trailed for the first 350 meters of the women's surface relay 4x100m event. However, Hu surged ahead in the final stretch, overtaking leader Colombia amid thunderous cheers from the home crowd to secure victory. Colombia finished second, just 0.48 seconds behind, while Ukraine took home the bronze. Hu Yaoyao of China celebrates after the women's surface relay 4x100m final. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) "I fell short in my individual event, so I was aiming for redemption in the relay," said Hu, 25. "Once I drew level at the turn, I knew that they wouldn't see my wake again." Max Poschart of Germany, shortly after claiming the men's surface 100m gold with a new World Games record, led his team to a dominating victory in the men's surface relay 4x100m with a world record time of 59.35 seconds. China initially finished second but was later disqualified, with Ukraine and Colombia completing the podium in second and third place respectively. In the men's surface 400m final, Nandor Kiss of Hungary clocked two minutes 52.68 seconds, shaving nearly two seconds off his previous world record of 2:54.64 set at the same venue during the World Games Series in March. "I was prepared for this competition. I knew it," said the 19-year-old of his new world record. "But taking two seconds off my best is still unbelievable." Gold medalist Szymon Antoni Kropidlowski (C) of Poland, silver medalist Szebasztian Szabo Gyoergyei (L) of Hungary and bronze medalist Aleksei Fedkin of AIN (Individual Neutral Athlete) pose for photos at the award ceremony for the men's bi-fins 100m. (Xinhua/Zhang Liyun) Poland's Szymon Kropidlowski improved his own record in the men's bi-fins 100m, lowering it from 40.60 to 40.45 seconds, securing the gold. Neutral athlete Diana Sliseva and Hungary's world record holder Petra Senanszky emerged victorious in the women's Apnoea 50m and women's bi-fins 50m, respectively. Finswimming involves swimming with a monofin or bi-fins, either on the surface using a snorkel or underwater holding one's breath. The World Games features three categories of finswimming events: Apnoea, Surface, and Bi-fins. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) SW China's Xizang makes remarkable economic, social achievements over 60 years 16:24, August 11, 2025 By Liu Botong ( People's Daily Tourists enjoy the picturesque scenery of the Guoguotang Big Turn of the Yarlung Zangbo River in Dexing village, Metok county, southwest China's Xizang autonomous region. (Photo/Zhang Yuanming) This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of southwest China's Xizang autonomous region. Wang Junzheng, secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Xizang Autonomous Regional Committee, and Gama Cedain, deputy secretary of the CPC Xizang Autonomous Regional Committee and chairman of the People's Government of the region, introduced the region's remarkable economic and social development achievements at a press conference held by the State Council Information Office on Aug. 5. In 2024, the region's gross domestic product (GDP) reached 276.5 billion yuan ($38.52 billion), 155 times that of 1965 in constant prices. While it took the region 50 years to achieve its first 100 billion yuan in GDP, the second 100 billion yuan milestone was reached in just six years, Wang said. Since 2021, sustained efforts have further expanded Xizang's economy while improving the quality and efficiency of growth. Modern industries, including clean energy, cultural tourism and plateau light industry, are laying the foundation for a modern industrial system. The region's key economic indicators have ranked among the highest growth rates in the country for several consecutive years, with its regional GDP projected to surpass 300 billion yuan this year, reaching the third 100 billion yuan milestone. Xizang's infrastructure has also significantly improved. By the end of 2024, the total operational road length and the railway length in the region had reached 124,900 kilometers and 1,359 kilometers, respectively, and its domestic and international air routes reached 183. Four major power grids had been put into use, with the main grid now covering all counties, districts, and cities in the region. These developments have substantially resolved historical infrastructure constraints, providing significant momentum for high-quality regional development, Wang noted. Xizang boasts a long history and a splendid culture, alongside unique natural landscapes and rich cultural resources. It is an important center for preserving the distinctive culture of the Chinese nation and a major global tourism destination, enjoying exceptional advantages in developing the cultural tourism industry, which has experienced robust growth in recent years. In 2024, the total output value of Xizang's cultural industry increased by 23.8 percent, according to Gama Cedain. The region received 63.89 million domestic and international visitors, marking a 15.8 percent year-on-year increase. Notably, the number of inbound tourists skyrocketed by 188.2 percent. In the first half of this year, Xizang welcomed over 32.18 million visitors, representing an 11.7 percent increase year on year. Photo shows a telecom worker performing his duty in Sangba village, Nyingchi city, southwest China's Xizang autonomous region, March 27, 2025. (Photo/Lu Qihui) Meanwhile, living standards have improved dramatically. In 2024, the per capita disposable income of urban residents in Xizang reached 55,444 yuan, 121 times that of 1965. The per capita disposable income of rural residents hit 21,578 yuan, 199 times that of 1965. Xizang has achieved a comprehensive victory over poverty and eliminated absolute poverty. Education has been made a top priority, with the region leading the nation in providing a 15-year publicly funded education program from kindergarten to senior high school. A comprehensive public healthcare system offers free health checkups for all farmers and herders, contributing to a regional life expectancy of 72.5 years. Accelerated urbanization has transformed settlements into modern towns. Over the 60 years since the establishment of the autonomous region - particularly in the past five years - Xizang has vigorously advanced various livelihood projects and programs. People of all ethnic groups have witnessed transformative changes in their daily lives, such as shifting from carrying water in buckets to enjoying running water, from oil lamps to electric lighting, from dirt roads to paved highways, and from yurts to modern housing, according to Gama Cedain. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), the state and the autonomous region plan to allocate 24.65 billion yuan to support 28 categories of regional social development projects. As of now, 23.678 billion yuan has already been invested in these projects. A wide range of livelihood initiatives have been effectively implemented, including centralized heating and oxygen supply in high-altitude areas, the resolution of seasonal water shortages in agricultural and pastoral zones, enhanced reliability of power supply, and comprehensive coverage of fiber-optic broadband and 4G networks. Located on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, known as the "roof of the world" and "Asia's water tower," Xizang serves as a vital ecological security barrier for China. How can the region safeguard the plateau's unique ecological environment while preserving its biodiversity and natural wonders? Photo shows the site of the expansion project of the Lhasa 400 kV converter station in Lhundrup county, southwest China's Xizang autonomous region, June 6, 2025. (Photo/Xu Zhijun) Xizang has adopted the strictest ecological protection system in accordance with law. It has firmly upheld a policy of rejecting the approval or introduction of projects and enterprises that are high in energy consumption and emissions but low in efficiency, strictly prohibiting any pollution-prone projects on the plateau. The region has actively promoted national park construction and advanced the afforestation project in the northern and southern mountains of Lhasa, the regional capital. Ecological conservation red line zones have been drawn for more than 50 percent of the region's land area, with protected areas of all types and levels now accounting for 37.95 percent of its land area. Low-carbon development has also been vigorously pursued. In 2024, over 99 percent of electricity in Xizang was generated from clean energy, the highest of all regions in China. Non-fossil energy consumption in the region exceeded 55 percent of total energy use, placing it among the top in the country in green energy. Today, Xizang's natural environment is among the best preserved in the world. "We will firmly uphold the principle that 'lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets and so are ice and snow,' persistently serving as guardians to make the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau an ecological treasure shared by mankind and contributing more to building a shared future for all life on Earth," Wang said. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Zhong Wenxing) We Are China Firefighters battle Gansu floods (People's Daily App) 16:40, August 11, 2025 Continuous heavy rainfall beginning Thursday evening, August 7, triggered mountain torrents in Yuzhong county, Gansu Province, Northwest China. Braving swift floodwaters, firefighters built a makeshift bridge using roadside trees and ropes to rescue trapped residents. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Trump suggests hell know if Putin wants a peace deal with Ukraine soon into their meeting Trump suggests hell know if Putin wants a peace deal with Ukraine soon into their meeting View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump said Monday that he expected to determine mere moments into his meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin this week whether it would be possible to work out a deal to halt the war in Ukraine. At the end of that meeting, probably the first two minutes, Ill know exactly whether or not a deal can be made, Trump said at a White House press conference that he called to announce plans for a federal takeover of Washingtons police force to help combat crime. He said he thought Fridays sitdown with Putin in Alaska would be really a feel-out meeting. Trump added that itll be good, but it might be bad and predicted he may say, lots of luck, keep fighting. Or I may say, we can make a deal. Putin wants to lock in Russias gains since invading Ukraine in February 2022 as Trump presses for a ceasefire that has remained out of reach. Trumps eagerness to reach a deal has raised fears in Ukraine and Europe about such an agreement favoring Russia, without sufficient input from Ukraine. Trump has alternately harshly criticized both leaders after promising and so far failing to swiftly end the conflict. The Trump-Putin meeting so far isnt going to include Zelenskyy Trump on Monday ducked repeated chances to say that he would push for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to take part in his discussions with Putin, and was especially dismissive of Zelenskyy and his need to be part of an effort to seek peace. He said the Ukrainian president had been to a lot of meetings without managing to halt a war that Russia started. Trump also noted that Zelenskyy had been in power for the duration of the war and said nothing happened during that time. He contrasted that with Putin, who has wielded power in Russia for decades. Trump said that, after his meeting with Putin, The next meeting will be with Zelenskyy and Putin but it could also be a meeting with Putin and Zelenskyy and me. European allies have pushed for Ukraines involvement, fearful that discussions could otherwise favor Moscow. To that point, Trump said he would call Zelenskyy and European leaders after his discussion with Putin to tell them what kind of a deal Im not going to make a deal. Its not up to me to make a deal. Trump spent the early part of his administration decrying Zelenskyy, even suggesting he was a dictator because his country has not held elections during the war. Zelenskyy was hounded out of the Oval Office in February after Trump and Vice President JD Vance suggested he hadnt been grateful enough for U.S. support. Trumps up and down relations with Putin More recently, Trump has expressed frustration with Putin that Russia hasnt appeared to take a push for a ceasefire more seriously, and softened his tone toward Zelenskyy. His comments Monday suggested he might have had another change of heart. President Putin invited me to get involved, Trump said. He noted that he thought it was very respectful that Putin is coming to the U.S. for Fridays meeting, instead of insisting that Trump go to Russia. Id like to see a ceasefire. Id like to see the best deal that can be made for both parties, Trump said. The president repeated that any major agreement could involve land swaps, without elaborating. He had threatened Moscow with more economic sanctions if more isnt done to work toward a ceasefire, but suggested Monday that, should Fridays meeting be successful, he could see a day when the U.S. and Russia normalize trade relations. Putin is expected to be unwavering in his demands to keep all the territory his forces now occupy and to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO, with the long-term aim of returning it to Moscows sphere of influence. Zelenskyy insists he will never consent to any formal Russian annexation of Ukrainian territory or give up a bid for NATO membership. Putin believes he has the advantage on the ground as Ukrainian forces struggle to hold back Russian advances along the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front. On the front lines, few Ukrainian soldiers believe theres an end in sight to the war. Europeans will prepare with a virtual meeting on Ukraine this week With the Europeans and Ukrainians so far not invited to the summit, Germany sought to prepare by inviting Trump, Zelenskyy, the NATO chief and several other European leaders for a virtual meeting on Wednesday. The German chancellery said the talks would seek additional ways to pressure Russia and prepare for peace negotiations and related issues of territorial claims and security. Steffen Meyer, spokesperson for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, said the German government has always emphasized that borders must not be shifted by force and that Ukraine should decide its own fate independently and autonomously. Earlier, a Ukrainian drone attack killed one person and wounded two others in a region some 260 miles (418 kilometers) east of Moscow. Russias Defense Ministry said its air defenses intercepted and destroyed a total of 39 Ukrainian drones overnight and Monday morning over several Russian regions as well as over the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014. By WILL WEISSERT Associated Press Greek police seize over 270 kilos of cocaine with a market value over 5.5 million euros. 3 arrested THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) Greek police said Sunday they seized over 270 kilograms (595 pounds) of cocaine with an estimated value of over 5.5 million euros ($6.5 million) and arrested three men. The cocaine was hidden inside a container of bananas imported from Ecuador, they said. Police had been informed by the United Kingdoms National Crime Agency that the cocaine would be carried by a ship headed to the northern Greek port of Thessaloniki. Police officers found the cocaine and removed most of the drug contained in brick-sized packages from the container before it was loaded into a truck. They released a short video of the removal operation. The truck headed for the Athens suburb of Aspropyrgos, more that 500 kilometers (310 miles) to the south, where the police arrested three men as they opened the container Saturday. The total amount of cocaine seized was 271.15 kilos (598 pounds), police said. The arrested men include two Greeks, the 40-year-old owner of a haulage company, a 32-year-old and a 47-year-old Bulgarian citizen, police say, adding that the Bulgarian was in touch with a drug gang and organized the picking up and transport of the container. The 32-year-old was in charge of distributing the drug through unnamed gang members. Police are looking for more people they say belong to a drug distribution gang. The three arrested men will face a prosecutor Monday. By COSTAS KANTOURIS Associated Press Colombian senator and presidential hopeful dies 2 months after shooting View Photo BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) A Colombian senator and presidential hopeful whose shooting at a political rally in June recalled some of the darkest chapters of the countrys drug-fueled violence died Monday. The family of Miguel Uribe Turbay said the politician died at a hospital in the capital, Bogota. Uribe, 39, was shot three times, twice in the head, while giving a campaign speech in a park and had since remained in an intensive care unit in serious condition with episodes of slight improvement. Rest in peace, love of my life. I will take care of our children, his wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, wrote in a social media post confirming his death. I ask God to show me the way to learn to live without you. A teenage suspect was arrested at the scene of the June 7 attack in a working-class Bogota neighborhood. Authorities later detained several other people, but they have not determined who ordered the hit or why. The shooting, which was caught on multiple videos, alarmed Colombians who have not seen this kind of political violence against presidential candidates since Medellin drug lord Pablo Escobar declared war on the state in the 1990s. Uribes own mother, well-known journalist Diana Turbay, was among the victims of that period. She died during a police rescue after being kidnapped by a group of drug traffickers led by Escobar seeking to block their extradition to the United States. If my mother was willing to give her life for a cause, how could I not do the same in life and in politics? Uribe, who was just 5 when his mother was killed, said in an interview last year with a Colombian news outlet. Uribe, a lawyer with a masters degree in public administration from Harvard University, entered politics as a councilman for Bogota when he was 26. In 2022, he was the biggest vote-getter in the conservative Democratic Center party led by former President Alvaro Uribe. Evil destroys everything, the ex-president, who is not related to the senator, said on social media. They have killed hope. May Miguels struggle be a light that illuminates Colombias path. The senator was among the strongest critics of Colombias current government. In October, he joined the list of politicians seeking to replace Gustavo Petro, the first leftist to govern Colombia, in the May 2026 elections. Authorities have floated several hypotheses about what led to the attack, while allies of the candidate have complained that the government ignored repeated requests to reinforce his state-provided security detail. Petro took to X to offer condolences to Uribes family and stress that the investigation must be furthered. The government must repudiate the crime and help, Petro wrote. Regardless of ideology, the person and their family, their life and safety, are the governments priority. We have not persecuted any member of the opposition, nor will we. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, tens of thousands of people dressed in white and waving Colombian flags took to the streets to reject the violence. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was among the foreign politicians who lamented the senators death. The United States stands in solidarity with his family, the Colombian people, both in mourning and demanding justice for those responsible, he posted on X. By declaring his aspirations to higher office, Uribe sought to become the countrys youngest president, although he was not on the list of favorites in the early stages of the race when he was shot. The shooting prompted the government to strengthen security for all opposition politicians and presidential hopefuls, some of whom called off political rallies for fear of being attacked. Javier Garay, a political science professor at the Externado University of Colombia, said Uribe has already become a symbol of the Colombian right. However, he considered it premature to predict whether the senators death will strengthen the political faction, given the current lack of unity and diverse proposals from dozens of politicians vying to represent the bloc on next years ballot. ____ Associated Press writer Regina Garcia Cano contributed from Mexico City. ___ Follow APs coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at https://apnews.com/hub/latin-america By ASTRID SUAREZ Associated Press East Palo Alto, like cities across California, has a law on the books that forces developers of new housing projects to foot the bill for the states shortage of affordable homes. New residential projects need to set aside a share of the units they plan to build for lower-income renters and homeowners under the terms of the citys inclusionary zoning ordinance. Builders who refuse have to instead pay a fee, ranging from the tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. An East Palo Alto homeowner filed a lawsuit in federal court on Thursday challenging the constitutionality of that law, likening it to extortion and he had a little help from the U.S. Supreme Court. The implications of the lawsuit range far beyond the Bay Area. A 2017 report estimated that 149 cities and counties across California have some form of inclusionary zoning rule, though the specific terms vary. That makes it one of the most commonly used affordable housing programs both in California and in the country. Now all that may be on the constitutional chopping block. The case was filed in federal court in San Francisco by Wesley Yu, a husband and father between jobs, who was planning to build a home and backyard guest cottage for himself and his extended family on a neighboring parcel. Because Yu was planning to construct two new structures, the citys inclusionary zoning rules kicked in, requiring him to either sell or rent out one of the units at affordable rates or to pay a one-time fee of $54,891 to be deposited in the citys affordable housing subsidy fund. The core of Yus lawsuit, which was filed by the libertarian-oriented Pacific Legal Foundation, draws on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling from last year that also emerged from a heated California housing dispute. That case was brought by Placerville septuagenarian, George Sheetz, who contested that the government of El Dorado County had not done enough to justify the $23,420 traffic fee it placed on his home construction project. Sheetzs case drew on the U.S. Constitutions Fifth Amendment, which puts limits on when the government can take private property. Decades of court rulings have said that if a local government wants to base approval of a construction permit on certain conditions, those conditions have to directly relate to the costs associated with the development. A city, for example, might be able to hold off on approving a new dump until a developer pays an environmental clean up fee, but not a fee to fund local arts and recreation. Courts have also ruled that such exactions on private development should be roughly proportionate to their cost. That is, the $23,420 that El Dorado County wanted to impose on Sheetz should match the cost of fixing the wear and tear his new home would leave on local roads. The Supreme Court agreed that these standards ought to apply to the impact fee. Now Yu and his legal team are asking a federal judge to apply that same rule to inclusionary zoning. For East Palo Altos program to pass constitutional muster, the city would have to show that the $54,891 fee or the requirement to set aside new units at a discount relates to and matches the cost that Yus development would impose upon the city. The city wont be able to show that, said David Deerson, the lead lawyer representing Yu. New residential development doesnt have a negative impact on housing affordability. If anything, it has a positive impact, he said. A growingbodyofeconomicresearch has indeed found that local market-rate development puts downward pressure on neighborhood and city-wide rents. Affordable housing in California zoning In the past, California courts have ruled that the high constitutional bar set by the Fifth Amendment doesnt apply to inclusionary zoning programs like the one in East Palo Alto. Requiring private developers to toss in some added affordable housing isnt an exaction, the courts have found, but a standard land-use restriction akin to any other zoning rule. Whether a city decides it needs more schools, apartment buildings, businesses or, in the case of inclusionary zoning, affordable housing, it has broad power under the constitution to decide, for the good of the general welfare, that were going to require this, said Mike Rawson, director of litigation at the Public Interest Law Project. The state Supreme Court ruled as such most recently in 2015. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to weigh in, a tacit approval. They can always change their mind, said Rawson. I dont see a basis for it, though obviously that doesnt necessarily stop them. The composition of the court has changed since 2015, veering sharply to the right. The Sheetz decision from last year has offered new fodder for legal challenges to inclusionary zoning. Sheetz really helps out here a lot in that campaign, said Deerson. He pointed to other challenges in Denver and Teton County, Wyoming. I would expect them to keep coming. Tradeoffs in housing policy If and when the nations highest court takes up the issue of inclusionary zoning, it will be wading into one of the more politically charged debates in housing policy. Evidence on the impact of these laws is mixed. Requiring private developers to build affordable units can and regularly does result in more local housing options for lower income tenants at no additional cost to taxpayers. By putting affordable and market-rate units side-by-side, they also promote economic and racial integration, supporters argue. But inclusionary requirements can also make any given housing project less profitable, meaning that fewer units get built, leading to higher prices and rents overall. In housing markets, like Californias, that see relatively little new development, the rate at which these programs add designated affordable units to the housing stock is also quite slow. That policy debate isnt relevant to the legal case, which will be fought and won over abstract constitutional principles. But for libertarian-leaning groups like the Pacific Legal Foundation, building industry groups and many Yes In My Backyard housing development advocates, an end to inclusionary zoning would be a win on both fronts. In addition to being illegal, I think that these inclusionary zoning policies are also frankly stupid, said Deerson. ___ This story was originally published by CalMatters and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press. By BEN CHRISTOPHER/CalMatters CalMatters San Andreas, CA The board of supervisors in Calaveras County will meet on Tuesday. Early in the meeting, there will be a vote on a proclamation recognizing Shannon Van Zant for her 21 years of exemplary service as the Calaveras Archivist. Later, the supervisors will take a step toward changing the way salaries are determined for board members. In late 2006, the county leaders approved a formula that sets the salary for the board of supervisors at 50% of the average pay between the Auditor Controller, Tax Collector, Assessor, Clerk Recorder, and Sheriff. There is also an additional bump for the board chair. Currently, it equates to an hourly wage of $41.36 for general board members and $48.81 for the board chair. Calculating it out over 40 hours per week, and 12 months per year, it is $86,028 and $101,524. The board on Tuesday will vote on the first reading of an ordinance to eliminate the current formula and keep the salaries at that same level for the time being. The board plans to implement salary changes for other elected officials and a revised formula for board members at a later meeting. It is anticipated to take into account supervisor pay in surrounding counties and base it on a percentage of local superior court judge salaries. In addition, there will be a presentation from PG&E representatives about the progress in Calaveras County on the California Wildfire Safety Program. There will be a presentation on the Safe Streets and Roads For All grant program. The board will also vote on allowing the Calaveras Director of Emergency Services to submit a grant proposal to CAL Fire for the Mokelumne Hill-Buckeye Gulch Fuel Break project. The meeting will start at 9 am on Tuesday at the Governor Center in San Andreas. Leaders of Indonesia and Peru hold talks on trade and economic ties Leaders of Indonesia and Peru hold talks on trade and economic ties View Photo JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) Peruvian President Dina Boluarte met her Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto on Monday during a visit aimed at strengthening economic ties as the two countries look to expand into new markets to overcome geopolitical challenges and rising trade barriers. The talks came just four days after U.S. President Donald Trump began imposing higher import taxes on dozens of countries on Thursday, including a 19% rate on Indonesia. Imports from Peru are paying the 10% baseline rate Trump set in April. Boluarte arrived in Indonesias capital, Jakarta, on Sunday afternoon, following an invitation Subianto extended when the two leaders met at the APEC Summit in Peru in November 2024. The two-day visit is aimed at deepening Perus ties with Indonesia, Southeast Asias largest economy, after the two nations concluded negotiations which began in May 2024 on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement or CEPA. Subianto hosted Boluarte with a ceremony at Merdeka palace before the two leaders held a closed-door bilateral meeting. The CEPA is a testament to the determination of our governments to promote freer trade and strengthen our economies, Boluarte said in a joint news conference with Subianto after the meeting, adding that the deal can promote the exchange of goods and lay the groundwork for future agreements. Subianto praised the seriousness of both governments in reaching an agreement in just 14 months, while similar trade deals with other countries take years. This agreement will expand market access and increase trade activities between our two countries, Subianto said. No details about the agreement have been provided, but Subianto described the pact as the most significant trade cooperation agreement in the history of the two countries. He said the signing also coincided with the 50th anniversary of Indonesia-Peru diplomatic ties. Subianto said Indonesia and Peru also agreed to cooperate in the fields of food, mining and energy consumption, as well as fisheries and defense. He conveyed Indonesias readiness to support the partnership between the Association of Southeast Asia Nations and Peru. Boluarte said Indonesia has become a key partner for Peru in Southeast Asia, and said her visit to the fourth most populous country in the world was an excellent moment to reaffirm their commitment to full observance of international law, free trade, South-South cooperation, food security and sustainable development. While Indonesian consumers are already enjoying Peruvian quinoa, I am pleased to announce the access of Peruvian blueberries to the Indonesian market, Boluarte said. The CEPA deal with Peru is a potential gateway for Indonesian goods and services to enter markets in Central and South America, said Indonesias trade minister, Budi Santoso, We hope the deal can strengthen Indonesias trade presence in the region. His ministrys data showed the countrys total trade with Peru went down from $554.2 million in 2022 to $444.4 million the following year, while Indonesia enjoyed a $290.4 million trade surplus in 2023, driven by major exports including vehicles, footwear and biodiesel. The two leaders also oversaw the signing of a cooperation agreement on eradicating narcotics and illegal trafficking. During her visit on Monday, Boluarte also met with Indonesian House Speaker Puan Maharani and ASEANs Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn. She shared Perus commitment to strengthening relations, cooperation, and partnership with ASEAN member countries. Indonesia is currently seeking membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, which Peru is part of, to boost export growth. By NINIEK KARMINI Associated Press The Latest: Mayor Bowser calls Trumps plan to take over DC police unsettling The Latest: Mayor Bowser calls Trumps plan to take over DC police unsettling View Photo Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser held a press conference Monday following President Donald Trumps announcement that hes taking over Washingtons police department and activating 800 members of the National Guard in the hopes of reducing crime and tackling homelessness in the city. The president exaggerated or misstated many of the facts surrounding public safety in D.C., where the crime rate has fallen in recent years. Trumps plan prompted the District of Columbias mayor to voice concerns about the potential use of the National Guard to patrol the streets. While this action today is unsettling and unprecedented, I cant say that given some of the rhetoric of the past, that were totally surprised, Bowser said. Heres the latest: US and China extend trade truce another 90 days Trump has extended a trade truce with China for another 90 days, at least delaying once again a dangerous showdown between the worlds two biggest economies. The previous deadline was set to expire at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. Had that happened, the U.S. would have ratcheted up taxes on Chinese imports from an already high 30%, and Beijing would have responded by raising retaliatory levies on U.S. exports to China. The pause buys time for the two countries to work out some of their differences, perhaps clearing the way for a summit later this year between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Read more about the tariff suspension extension Trial starts over National Guard deployment to Los Angeles A federal judge is hearing arguments on whether military troops deployed this summer by the Trump administration to Los Angeles violated a federal law that bars troops from conducting law enforcement duties within the country. Judge Charles Breyer will decide whether the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act was violated when 4,700 California National Guard members and Marines were sent following protests over immigration raids. A deputy commanding general testified Monday that military forces called in were allowed to take some law enforcement actions despite the federal law that prohibits the president from using the military as a domestic police force. The administration has argued that federal military members are allowed to protect federal property and agents as part of their mission carrying out federal operations. Read more about the trial that could set the precedent for how Trump can deploy the guard in the future Trumps big bill is powering his mass deportations. Congress is starting to ask questions The Republican Partys big bill of tax breaks and spending cuts that Trump signed into law July 4 included whats arguably the biggest boost of funds yet to the Department of Homeland Security nearly $170 billion, almost double its annual budget. The staggering sum is powering the nations sweeping new Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, delivering gripping scenes of people being pulled off city streets and from job sites across the nation the cornerstone of Trumps promise for the largest domestic deportation operation in American history. The crush of new money is setting off alarms in Congress and beyond, raising questions from lawmakers in both major political parties who are expected to provide oversight. The bill text provided general funding categories almost $30 billion for ICE officers, $45 billion for detention facilities, $10 billion for the office of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem but few policy details or directives. Homeland Security recently announced $50,000 ICE hiring bonuses. Read more about the funding behind Trumps mass deportation agenda Trumps moves toward taking over Washington are unprecedented. Heres what the law says D.C.s historically majority Black population wasnt electing its own city council and mayor until 1973, when Republican President Richard Nixon signed the Home Rule Act. The measure still left significant power to the president and Congress, though no president has exercised the police powers before. Section 740 of the Home Rule Act allows for the president to take over Washingtons Metropolitan Police Department for 48 hours, with possible extensions to 30 days, during times of emergencies. No president has done so before, said Monica Hopkins, executive director of the ACLU of Washington. It wasnt immediately clear how long the takeover might last or exactly what it might mean. It could also face challenges in court. The law is specific to D.C. and doesnt affect other communities around the U.S. referred to as having their own home rule powers in relationship to their state governments. Trump nominates jobs report critic to lead Bureau of Labor Statistics The president posted on social media that he has picked E.J. Antoni, an economist at conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation to lead the agency in charge of the monthly jobs report, the consumer price index and other indicators. Trump dismissed the previous commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Erika McEntarfer, after the July jobs report contained dramatic downward revisions of 258,000 jobs combined in June and May, suggesting a weaker economy than what the president had claimed. The president has said the jobs report is rigged, and Antoni has frequently criticized the report, putting him outside of mainstream economists. E.J. will ensure that the Numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE, Trump said on Truth Social. Trumps tax law will mostly benefit the rich, while leaving poorer Americans with less, CBO says Trumpstax and spending law will result in less income for the poorest Americans while sending money to the richest, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reported Monday. The CBO estimates that the 10% of poorest Americans will lose roughly $1,200 a year as they experience restrictions on government programs like Medicaid and food assistance, while the richest 10% of Americans will see their income increase by $13,600 from tax cuts. Overall, American households will see more income from the tax cuts in the legislation, including middle income households, but the largest benefit will go to the top 10% of earners. Roughly 2.4 million people wont be eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program under new work requirements for many recipients, the CBO found. Low-income Americans could also see their income reduced through further restrictions on food aid and other types of assistance included in the law. How the National Guard deployment in DC will work According to the Army, Guard troops will be deployed under Title 32, or federal-state status authority. That means the troops can conduct law enforcement activities on the streets of the nations capital though, at the moment, that doesnt appear to be the plan. Their duties will include an array of tasks from administrative, logistics and physical presence in support of law enforcement, according to a statement from the Army, to which the District of Columbia National Guard directed all questions. About 500 federal law enforcement officers are being assigned to patrols in Washington, including from the FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and the Marshals Service. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that Guard members will be flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week. The timeline for the troop deployment is vaguely defined. According to Trumps directive, National Guard troops will remain deployed until the president determines that conditions of law and order have been restored. Read more about how Trump has deployed the National Guard to cities during his second term Trump wants his Cabinet to work with Intel CEO he had wanted fired Trump retreated from his calls for chipmaker Intel to dismiss its CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, after meeting with him on Monday. The president on social media called the meeting very interesting and said Tans success and rise is an amazing story. Trump said Tan would meet with members of his Cabinet and bring suggestions to him next week on how to proceed. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also attended the Monday meeting. Bowser works to avoid fight with Trump but cant disguise some anger The D.C. mayor fielded multiple questions Monday designed to get her to say something harsh about Trump. But she didnt take the bait for the most part, calmly laying out the citys case that crime has been dropping steadily and Trumps perceived state of emergency simply doesnt match the numbers. She repeatedly acknowledged that Trump has broad authority under the law and would be difficult to challenge. The composure slipped a bit toward the end, when she dropped a reference to Trumps so-called emergency. Trump could extend takeover of DC police for 30 days, then he needs congressional approval Trump is invoking Section 740 of the DC Home Rule Act to take over control of the citys police department, saying in a letter to a congressional committee that the police force is needed for federal purposes. The Republican president says in the letter sent to the House Oversight Committee Monday that he is taking the action for the purpose of maintaining law and order in the nations seat of government; protecting federal buildings, national monuments, and other federal property; and ensuring conditions necessary for the orderly functioning of the federal government. By invoking the law, Trump is able to take over the police for more than 48 hours, but if he wants to continue for more than 30 days, both the House and Senate would need to give him a vote of approval. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries denounces Trump police takeover plan as illegitimate Jeffries, the top House Democrat, said the administration has consistently broken the law and violated the Constitution to further the personal and political agenda of a wannabe king. Jeffries denounced other Republicans as cowardly. His statement did not mention any immediate actions congressional Democrats would take in response to Trumps plan. The Republican Party has zero credibility on the issue of law and order, Jeffries said. Donald Trump doesnt care about public safety. On his first day in office, he pardoned hundreds of violent felonsmany of whom brazenly assaulted law enforcement officers on January 6. We stand with the residents of the District of Columbia and reject this unjustified power grab as illegitimate. DC mayor says she was unaware of Trumps plan to take over city police The mayor said she had one brief call with the White House over the weekend about activating the National Guard, so she thought Trumps announcement would be about calling up the National Guard, not about taking over the Metropolitan Police Department. GOP lawmaker raises concern over the White House-Nvidia deal Rep. John Moolenaar, the Republican chair of the House Select Committee on China, spoke against the Trump administrations deal to get a 15% cut in the sales of advanced U.S. chips to China in exchange of export licenses. Export controls are a frontline defense in protecting our national security, and we should not set a precedent that incentivizes the government to grant licenses to sell China technology that will enhance its AI capabilities, the Republican from Michigan said. Trump confirmed the deal but suggested the chips to be sold to China are essentially old. U.S. companies are still banned from selling their most advanced chips to China, which are critical in developing artificial intelligence. Bowser calls Trump takeover of DC police unsettling D.C.s mayor said Monday that the city had reached a 30-year low in violent crime. Bowser said crime was down not just from a post-pandemic peak in 2023, but from 2019 levels prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bowser highlighted the districts parks, schools and public transportation and said it was important for residents and visitors to know just how beautiful our city is and how proud we are of all that weve accomplished here. Bowsers comments are a response to Trumps announcement of his takeover of D.C. police force. Bowser said the steps were unsettling. My message to residents is this: We know that access to our democracy is tenuous. That is why you have heard me and many Washingtonians before me advocate for full statehood, Bowser said. DC police union backs Trumps takeover The union representing D.C. police officers is backing Trumps takeover move, though it called for the federal intervention to be temporary. Chairman Gregg Pemberton said the union agrees with the president that immediately action is necessary to tamp down crime. Still, Pemberton said the city ultimately needs a police department thats fully staffed and supported. He also called for the repeal of criminal justice policies and laws passed by the City Council. Maryland governor says Trump mobilizing National Guard in Washington lacks seriousness Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says Trumps decision to deploy the National Guard in D.C. is also deeply dangerous. Moore, a Democrat who served as a paratrooper and captain in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, said in a statement that the presidents actions lack both data and a battle plan. He is simply using honorable men and women as pawns to distract us from his policies, which continue to drive up unemployment and strip away health care and food assistance from those who need it most, Moore said. He urged the president to look to Maryland for ways of reducing violent crime. Moore noted that homicides in Maryland are down by more than 20% since Moores inauguration in January 2023. We await outreach from the White House if they want to have a serious conversation about public safety. But we wont hold our breath, he said. Appeals court rules Trump administration must restore website tracking spending A federal appeals court has given the Trump administration until Friday to restore a website that tracks spending appropriated by Congress. In a Saturday ruling, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit refused to block a lower court order requiring the restoration. The court said disclosing the spending information was a permissible exercise of legislative authority with roots in the nations founding. An email to the Office of Management and Budget on Monday was not immediately returned. The database at issue in the case first went up in July 2022. The Trump administration pulled it down in March. It argued publicly disclosing spending decisions intrudes on executive power. The administration has faced numerous lawsuits over decisions to freeze spending authorized by Congress. The Rev. Al Sharpton blasts Trumps DC police takeover as an assault on Black cities Trumps announcement that he would deploy National Guard troop to take over the citys police department, the Rev. Al Sharpton warned of the moves potential long-term repercussions. Donald Trump was inspired to take this disgusting, dangerous, and derogatory action solely out of self interest, the civil rights leader said in a statement. Lets call the inspiration for this assault on a majority Black city for what it is: another bid to distract his angry, frustrated base over his administrations handling of the Epstein files. Sharpton said D.C.s leadership must push back on the presidents use of the city and its residents as political props. We cannot, nor will we, take this lying down, he said. Threatening to hit if people spit, calling all Black and low-income neighborhoods slums, and throwing away the humanity of homeless people by equating them to criminals is the beginning of the end if we dont stand up. This is the ultimate affront to justice and civil rights many of us have dedicated our lives to protecting and expanding. Top DC prosecutor calls police takeover unlawful The top prosecutor in the nations capital is calling Trumps move to take over the citys police department unnecessary and unlawful. District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb says crime is not an emergency levels. After a spike in 2023, violent crime hit its lowest level in decades last year and has continued to sink in 2025, he said. The federal takeover could face a challenge in court, and Schwalb said his office is considering all of our options. Trump goofs on location and date of Putin summit during briefing Trump said a couple of times during the press briefing that he would be traveling to Russia to meet with Vladimir Putin but their summit is taking place in Alaska. Im going to Russia on Friday, he said in one instance. He also made an erroneous reference at another time to the summit being next week instead. Trump jokes about the crowded media briefing room The president began the briefing Monday by commenting on the large crowd of journalists gathered for the news conference. He said hed never seen the media briefing room as crowded as it was. Later during the briefing, he joked they may be violating fire codes. Ive done this for years now, hard to believe, he said. Ive never seen this room so packed. In fact, Im sure its a violation of every fire code. Trump said that in his meeting with Putin, hell review that countrys parameters to end war Now I may leave and say, Good luck, and thatll be the end, Trump said. Trump on the upcoming meeting with Putin: I think itll be good, but it might be bad Trump says he can see a scenario where the U.S. and Russia normalize trade relations if things go well at his meeting with Putin later this week. I do, yeah, he responded when asked about whether he could see the potential ahead of the Alaska meeting. He said Russia has a very valuable piece of land and mused about what would happen if Putin would go toward business instead of war. As for the prospect of progress at that meeting? Trump said: I think itll be good, but it might be bad. Trump says well see what happens with China as tariff truce deadline looms That came during a news conference after Trump was asked whether he plans to extend his 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs on China. The U.S.-China trade truce ends Aug. 12, and if it isnt extended, rates on Chinese goods could climb back to over 80%. Theyve been dealing quite nicely, Trump said, adding that he has a good relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump calls his upcoming sit-down with Putin really a feel-out meeting The president said he was open to meeting with Putin first and then meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy or meeting with both together though he didnt say hed push for a three-person meeting. Trump said President Putin invited me to get involved and even said he thought it was very respectful that Putin is coming to U.S. territory for the meeting in Alaska, instead of insisting that Trump go to Russia. He said hell tell Putin that its time to end Russias war with Ukraine. Trump says hes looking at reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug Were looking at reclassification, Trump said, adding, Its early. He said he planned to make a determination in the coming weeks. The president said marijuana does bad for the children, but that easing penalties associated with it is a very complicated subject because some people support doing so. Trump said hed heard great things having to do with medical use of marijuana. A potential move to remove marijuana from the list of Schedule I controlled substances to a Schedule III drug would make it significantly easier to buy and sell cannabis. The president says other cities could be subject to the same efforts Trump said he hopes other cities, including Los Angeles, New York and Chicago, are watching the steps hes announced in D.C. and would take steps to self-clean up. He said that if needed, the administration would take similar steps in other cities and criticized their leadership at the local and state levels. Trump says hes bringing in 800 National Guard members to assist with law enforcement in DC In addition, Trump also said we will bring in the military if its needed but added, I dont think well need it. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth compared sending the Guard into the nations capital to deployments to the southern U.S. border and Los Angeles. We will work alongside all D.C. police and federal law enforcement, Hegseth said. Hegseth said the D.C. National Guard will be flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week. He also said the Pentagon was prepared to bring in other National Guard units, other specialized units. Trump says he signed documents to give himself authority to crack down on crime in Washington The president said he signed an executive order and presidential memorandum in the Oval Office before holding his news conference. One executive order invoked presidential powers under the Home Rule Act to take over Washingtons police force. He also signed what the administration called statutorily required notification letters to DC Mayor Bowser and relevant congressional leaders. Trump also signed a presidential memorandum directing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to deploy the National Guard in the nations capital. By The Associated Press I must confess to be wanting in imagination. Widespread adoption of smartphones has led to a fall in social skills. Examples are pervasive, such a family members fooling with their devices rather than talking to each other at meals and our recent discussions of dysfunctional dating behaviors, such as the collapse in the ability to flirt. Even so, it had not occurred to me that these changes in habits were so extensive as to generate changes in personality, or if one prefers, temperament. But a new Financial Times account makes just this case, focusing on the most marked character change, that of a fall in conscientiousness. Now admittedly, it is common throughout history for oldsters to complain about the comparative unfitness of the young to be trusted with responsibility. But the story by John Burn-Murdoch provides data that shows that all age cohorts are showing changes in personality that work against cooperation, with the declines most marked in the youngest group. He makes the case that conscientiousness is the most important personality trait for personal success. From the pink paper: In fact, studies consistently find that traits such as conscientiousness (the quality of being dependable and disciplined), emotional stability or agreeableness have a stronger link with professional success, relationship durability and longevity than the links between those outcomes and someones intelligence or socio-economic background. Of all personality types, conscientious people tend to fare best on a number of key measures. They live the longest, have the most career success and are less likely to go through divorce. They even manage to hold down a job during recessions. Intuitively, this makes sense. Life isnt just about knowing what you should do, or having the resources to do it, its about following through. Being motivated and persistent is a huge help. Some studies suggest the advantage of conscientiousness is growing over time, and its easy to imagine why. When contemporary daily life is full of temptations from always-on mobile internet and the lures of social media and online gambling, to hyper-palatable foods the ability to ignore it all and put long-term wellbeing ahead of short-term kicks becomes a superpower. While the terminology of personality can feel vague, the science is solid. Decades of research consistently finds that all these shifts are in the direction associated with negative outcomes down the line. If you look at the charts, youll see the decay in all of the seen-as-positive attributes (a word on extraversion in due course) predates the Covid lockdowns; the slope on the conscientiousness line is freakishly consistent from about 2016 onward. Neuroticism among the young similarly started to speed its rise before Covid and the rate of decline in agreeableness moderated a tad during the lockdowns. Ditto extraversion. So although the lockdowns didnt help, they cant be depicted as a driver of these changes. Another chart shows considerable decay in self-assessments for all age groups for what one might view as sub-components of conscientiousness (save can be distracted where only the youngest group scored deterioration): As the operator of a postage-stamp-sized business, conscientiousness is absolutely critical. I consider myself extremely lucky both to have exceedingly conscientious writers, moderators, and tech staff who are also very competent. Even at McKinsey in my day, there was an odd tolerance for consultants who were perceived to do brilliant analysis but were a bit sloppy on deadlines. In the news-related publishing business, that type get flushed out quickly. Getting copy in on time is imperative. Needless to say, in other lines of commerce, while time requirements are not necessarily as exacting, most jobs require a high degree of reliability, such as turning up more or less on time. And let us not forget that being able to push the envelope at your job by making a habit of late arrival (if nothing else annoying co-workers even if you do get your tasks completed as required, since the practice raises the specter that they might have to take up your slack) is a modern luxury. In the days of subsistence farming, it was imperative to plant and harvest when conditions required. Sloughing off was anti-survival. This fall in reliability also justifies the increasingly common practice among managers of intensive surveillance of their employees, on the pretext that its necessary to keep them on task and prevent faffing off. This argument is based on modern Taylorism, that workers should be expected to be machines and operate at a highly productive level during their entire workday. This is a myth; among many others, the Harvard Business Review debunked it, based on a review of over 80 studies. But cynically, why should younger people be diligent and responsible? The deck is stacked against them with ever rising housing, medical, transporation, and thanks to tariffs, soon-to-arrive higher technology and food costs. Why do anything other than what you can get away with if the system is stacked against you? The falls in agreeableness1 in those under 60 and extraversion across the board are also striking. Yours truly, as befits a curmudgeonly outlook, regards both as generally overrated, since in combination they help produce and enforce conformity. Comments on Twitter suggest that a reason people dont wear masks is not wanting to appear different/deviant and worse be on the receiving end of criticism.2 I have long suspected that the reason employers are so keen to promote extraversion and (gah) positivity is a desire to keep dissent and doubt to a minimum. The article provides further evidence of decay in postures considered important for smooth social relations: With the US propensity to fetishize extraversion and related activities like networking, the fall in is outgoing goes very much against that grain. And even though introverts must gird their loins to find the energy to hang out with other people, they will typically concede the value in forging better relations and often getting more insight and information. The fall in trust is striking, and is due to more than a rise in tech-mediated dealings. Back in the early 2000s, Elizabeth Warren decried tricks and traps in typical financial services industry contracts. Those tricky practices have become common in other areas, particularly healthcare, witness the explosion in surprise billing and the celebration of St. Luigi. But its not hard, and not wrong, to see tech attachment as the big perp. Again from the article: While a full explanation of these shifts requires thorough investigation, and there will be many factors at work, smartphones and streaming services seem likely culprits. The advent of ubiquitous and hyper-engaging digital media has led to an explosion in distraction, as well as making it easier than ever to either not make plans in the first place or to abandon them. The sheer convenience of the online world makes real-life commitments feel messy and effortful. And the rise of time spent online and the attendant decline in face-to-face interactions enable behaviours such as ghosting. Even so, there are also important reinforcing behaviors. Yours truly is so bold to suggest that pervasive lack of leadership across Western institutions is also playing a big role. Modeling responsible behavior has ripple effects across organizations and into wider society. Across the board, the Collective West instead has people in authority who, virtually without exception, shirk making difficult decisions, let alone put shoulder to wheel to make sure that ambitious initiatives are seen though to completion. Instead we have Potemkin bosses, pretty faces with soothing voices who really do believe that controlling the narrative is the same as doing the work. Look at the news just this week out of the UK and Europe. The officialdom remains fixated on Project Ukraine rather than doing the guts of their job, which is to assure improving or at least not decaying material standards to their citizens, even in the face of rising poverty and even hunger, energy-cost induced business cutbacks, and budget crises. And we have the issue we alluded to above: the disconnect between the self-anointed elites and the great unwashed. To the extent those at the top of the food chain care about concrete results, its the impact they have on their cohort and not society at large. We argued in a 2024 post, Devolution and the Decline in Operational Capacity and Elite/Managerial Competence, that technology played a role in this sorry development: Many pundits and commentators have been taking notice of how a worrisome number of people in positions of power in advanced economies seem unable to manage their way out of a paper bag. This is taking place despite the fact that the US, EU, and UK prize having credentials, as in at least a college education, in many cases advanced degrees, and in some posts, relevant experience (expertise in a particular field). One would think that the attainment of these status markers would require a minimum level of being able to set goals, identify what it would take to reach them, and then work in systematic way towards the objective. The conventional explanations, of late-state capitalism/neoliberalism run wild and elite malfeasance, do not seem sufficient to explain the pervasiveness and acceptance of rank incompetence. I think we need to consider other factors to get a full picture. One that seems likely to me is devolution, used in the sense where I first encountered the term, in Fine Arts 13 in college. This was a serious history of arts course, with tough exams. It used devolution to describe how technology made possible increased output at the cost of increased crudeness. The example was carved statues. In the classical Greek era, all statues were made using chisels. In the later Roman period, artists started to use drills. It was not hard to see the difference in the quality of the work; if nothing else, curls and other renderings of hair were subtly cruder with the drills. Not only did this change result in a reduction of skill levels, but it also may have changed aesthetics, as in produced an acceptance fo the coarser statues and a loss of appreciation for more finely detailed pieces. To our current situation. I recall reading management guru Peter Drucker, the dean of the later industrial era in the US, worrying around 1980 about how the symbol economy was becoming detached from the real economy and he did not see how that could be reversed 1980 was just before desktop computing became prevalent. I was one of the last generation on Wall Street to prepare financial analyses and forecasts on green accountants ledger paper, ordering SEC and company records from the library, extracting numbers manually and entering them by hand, then crunching numbers with a calculator. That laborious process weirdly had an upside. All the juniors at Wall Street shops understood the ins and outs of financial statements The class after mine instead made significant use of company data printed out from Compuserve. That was known to have errors. Yet the normally mistake-phobic Goldman corporate finance department didnt have a concern about using bad data with clients (who might even recognize some of the Compuserve mistakes), in that the view seemed to be sort-of-official corrupted information was OK. It was also clear these younger bankers wound up less technically knowledgeable. Now consider just this first order effect. The deskilling of the work would allow more senior people to devalue the labor of the lower ranks, as in see them as not deserving of as much pay. That did not happen in investment banking; the bosses demanded more output instead. But in many fields, from computing to law, entry-level jobs were being substantively hollowed out, with fewer and fewer opportunities to learn tradecraft. We can see this propensity even more in hourly work, with increased surveillance and explicit productivity demands on seen-as-low-level laborers. The bosses treat them as tools, with little belief that their observations matter or that they have developed skills (beyond mastering company routines) that have much value. A second effect has been the tendency to mistake menus with meals, which has many manifestations, such as believing that PowerPoint presentations correspond to reality. Again I saw this on Wall Street with the way spreadsheet programs made it vastly easier to run financial forecasts. Before, forecasts were generated only when necessary, such as merger modeling. The reason was they were very costly. One error would make everything to the right incorrect. Due to the resources and time required, anyone who prepared these forecasts thought long and hard about the underlying scenarios they were meant to represent. But when it became trivial to jigger assumptions and produce yet another model run, I saw not just the M&A bankers but even the clients treat the model as if it were the deal, as opposed to a representation of a deal. Making the numbers work, which had always been a concern, started to become paramount. The more general point, which I have yet to tie neatly into the decline of operational competence, is that the deployment of technologies has resulted in many many tasks becoming much easier. This has contributed to naive managerialism, that if a subordinate or interlocutor tells someone that a situation is difficult, it must be because they arent clever, or worse, are trying to con you by making mountains out of molehills. Many have the propensity to fire or otherwise sideline parties who are trying to give them a picture of unpleasant realities and instead turn to enablers. In the bad old days, there were more natural checks on this sort of behavior, since managers and executives tended to have long job tenures at one or two companies, so bad judgement would catch up with some of them. But with job-hopping, misleading accounting (like hiding losses then having every five year purges, presented as special writeoffs), highly-developed PR and stock buybacks to cover up for poor performance, accountability is virtually non-existent in the corporate arena, where measurable results are supposed to matter. Burns-Murdoch cheerily contends that despair is not warranted. Personality is malleable, after all. But all the incentives point towards even more of the same. ___ 1 A broader societal issue is that most people are not skilled enough at disagreeing without seeming to be disagreeable, as in difficult or obstinate. This is why high-stakes and potentially contentious matters wind up in the hands of diplomats and negotiators. Perhaps things have changed, but when I was in Australia in the early 2000s, it was evident that Aussies were better at handling differences of views than dogmatic and often self-important Americans. They were adept at using humor to make their points. 2 No doubt readers can come up with examples from their own circles, but an example of the power of social assent: a friend who is in a Covid risk category and had been pretty good about masking on the crowd-intensive portions of a trip, literally took hers off on an airplane because she was the only one wearing one, rationalizing that it was only an hour and a half flight. She became very sick afterwards. I dont recall if she tested herself for Covid, but if not that, it was a bad case of RSV. The US has successfully weaseled its way into the South Caucasus with the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a catchy Nobel-begging rename of the Zangezur Corridor. Weve been on this slow-motion train crash for the past few years and you can read here, here, and here for more background and details on this years-long effort. For this piece lets look at what it is, what it isnt, what it means for the region and major outside players, and perhaps most importantly, what comes next? Details of the Deal Here is the full text of the US-brokered Armenia-Azerbaijan joint declaration. Notably it does not deliver peace between the two countries. There is still work to be done there. One more thing to mention about a peace agreement between #Azerbaijan and #Armenia: Azeri leader Aliyev has reiterated that a requirement for a peace agreement is Armenia changing its constitution which it sees as having territorial claims against its Soviet borders (when NK https://t.co/eLN28vrJSn Nagorno Karabakh Observer (@NKobserver) August 9, 2025 But it does establish the controversial corridor between Azerbaijan and its Nakhchivan exclaveand therefore Turkiye. Reuters with further details: Armenia plans to award the United States exclusive special development rights for an extended period on a transit corridor that will be named the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity, and known by the acronym TRIPP, the officials said. The route will be operated according to Armenian law and the United States will sublease the land to a consortium for infrastructure and management, the officials said. Reactions Both Russia and Iran criticize the import of actors (the US) into the regional dynamics. #Russia criticizes the historic summit of the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia, and the United States, held yesterday in Washington. The optimal way to address the problems of the South Caucasus is for the countries of the region themselves to develop a plan with the support of pic.twitter.com/G6TrYJlNBd JAMnews (@JAMnewsCaucasus) August 9, 2025 Statement by the Islamic Republic of Irans Foreign Ministry on Developments in the Caucasus Region The Islamic Republic of Iran is closely monitoring the ongoing developments in the South #Caucasus region and remains in contact with both neighboring countries, the Republic of pic.twitter.com/0Rt71qFczu Foreign Ministry, Islamic Republic of Iran (@IRIMFA_EN) August 9, 2025 Other statements from branches of the Iranian government are much stronger and hint at the likelihood of conflict. More on those below. Meanwhile, Israel is happy: We congratulate the leaders of Azerbaijan @presidentaz and Armenia @NikolPashinyan for initialing a peace treaty between their countries.@POTUS Donald Trump and his administrations active leadership and engagement made this another landmark achievement possible, promoting Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) August 9, 2025 The Economics To be clear this deal does not represent an economic game changer that is overnight going to reshape regional or global trade. It was never going to be that, but it always had the potential to destabilize a region that is already a tinderbox with conflicts all around itand that was before the US became directly involved. For now, there are a lot of unknowns. It is unclear who is going to construct the transport links and pipelines that Turkiye and Azerbaijan envision. Who controls the TRIPP corridor? Thats a little murky. According to Pashinyan, investment companies may have their own security or guard services, but he promised that this in no way limits the powers and activities of the Armenian police, the National Security Service, or the judicial and legal system. Okay, then. The Armenian prime minister also said that the country might rely on the technological wizardry of the US for border and customs: One of the memorandums signed with the United States concerns strengthening the capacity of our border and customs services. They have advanced technologies they use themselves. If we gain access to them, we will simplify procedures as much as possible. From these unknowns spring more: How much trade gets rerouted here? How much does it cut out Iran? And answers to those questions ultimately may dictate how Russia and Iran respond. Here are some knowns. Russia and Iran remain dominant players militarily and economically in the region. And numerous agreements between Azerbaijan, Turkiye and Iran already are already in place involving pipelines and other infrastructure that already exist or are currently under construction. For example, Baku and Tehran agreed to the Aras Corridor in 2023, which was at the time blessed by Turkiye. It is a 55-kilometer highway and railway route that would link Azerbaijan and its exclave through Iranian territory and is nearing completion. While TRIPP could eventually cut Iran out of the 15% commission it earns from Azerbaijans gas supplies to Nakhchivan and reroute some Azeri-Turkish trade away Iran, this is mostly insignificant for Tehran. TRIPP does nothing to open a gateway into Central Asia for Turkiye and NATO. Thats because it does not magically find a way to Central Asia that avoids the Caspian, Iran, and Russia. For example, Turkiye recently signed a major gas deal with Turkmenistan that would see it arrive via Iran. TRIPP wont change that; only a Caspian pipeline would be able to avoid Iran and Russia. Iran also serves as a route for Turkish exports to Central Asia. An average of about 12,000 Turkish trucks use the route monthly, with Iran charging passage fees of up to $800 for their journey to the Turkmenistan border.Again, TRIPP doesnt change that. Lets also not forget that Russia, to varying degrees, plays major roles in the energy economies of Azerbaijan and Turkiye. Due to Russian companies large investments in the Azerbaijani oil and gas sector, it is one of the bigger beneficiaries of Brussels efforts to increase energy imports from Azerbaijan in order to replace Russian supplies. Turkiye gets nearly half of its natural gas and a quarter of its oil from Russia on good deals and profits from sending Turkstream gas on to Southeastern Europe. As for Armenia, it remains economically dependent on Russia. The price of liquified petroleum gas (LPG), which is widely used in cars there, surged by 40 percent after Georgia blocked the transit of gas from Russia. Moscow hasnt come out and said it, but its believed in Armenia that Georgia is acting on behalf of the Kremlin, and it is intended to send a message. Georgia also recently blocked the export of Armenian brandy to Russia, and there are plenty of other levers Moscow can pull. As Fitch Ratings notes, Armenias economy relies significantly on Russia for both trade and energy. For example, Armenia also currently pays Russia $165 per thousand cubic meters of gas, well below the market price in Europe, and Russia is Armenias number one trading partner. As Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova notes: It is also important to remember that Armenia is part of the unified customs space of the Eurasian Economic Union, led by Russia, including the organization of transit cargo transportation through Armenias territory. Theres also this: 6/6 South Caucasus Railway, a subsidiary of Russian Railways, operates the railways in Armenia. This is why, as mentioned in the November 10, 2020, trilateral statement signed between Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, which also aimed to open communication channels in the region, Yeghia Tashjian // (@yeghig) August 9, 2025 Washington says its agenda is about elbowing out Iran and Russia from the region. Then-U.S. assistant secretary of state for European and Eurasian Affair, James OBrien summed this position up in his 2023 comments during The Future of Nagorno-Karabakh House committee hearing: A future that is built around the access of Russia and Iran as the main participants in the security of the region, the South Caucasus, is unstable and undesirable, including for both the governments of Azerbaijan and Armenia. But of course talk of security and stability is not what the US is after. It is the opposite. So What Does TRIPP Do? It is another fly in Russias soupone that is helping to torpedo diplomatic relations between Moscow and Yerevan and Baku. For more background, see here, but the trend is picking up steam. The nighttime series of explosions in the Odessa region was not just another attack on Ukraines rear infrastructure. It was a clear message addressed to both Kyiv, Baku and Brussel. Russia struck a series of targets near the villages of Orlovka and Novoselskoye pic.twitter.com/sWdI7dqd8g Neznakomaya (@TomatkaP) August 7, 2025 And here comes Baku with a threat that likely has Moscow rolling its eyes: BREAKING: If Russia keeps striking energy facilities linked to Azerbaijan in Ukraine, Baku will begin to consider lifting its ban on supplying Ukraine with weapons from its arsenal. Source: Azerbaijans Caliber, citing sources pic.twitter.com/IBANq83ATA Clash Report (@clashreport) August 10, 2025 The situation is more concerning for Iran as TRIPP could cut its land access to Armenia and is viewed by Tehran as an effort to strengthen Israeli, NATO, and Takfiri footholds along Irans borders. it explicitly states that the Zangezur corridor would sever Irans border with Armeniaone of Irans gateways to Europe https://t.co/rf2Byzwupr pic.twitter.com/gvmiRQMecw Hov Nazaretyan (@HovhanNaz) September 5, 2024 What Is Armenia Getting? Some in Armenia believe TRIPP might curb Aliyevs ambitions. Well, suppose thats something, and makes sense since he now has the major prize he was seeking. But Armenia already had a way to curb his ambitions, as much as the current government refuses to admit it. Azerbaijan could have overrun Armenia in 2020. Moscow stopped it. No, Russia did not attack Azerbaijan as many in Armenia insist it should have. What is Armenia losing? Well, sovereignty over its southern border with Iran. It could jeopardize economic relations with its towering neighbor to the north, which would devastate the country. Are the Americans and its vassals going to ride to the rescue? Hah! Last year the EU launched a measly four-year 270 million Euro fund to help bring Armenia into the Western fold. Even if Brussels were to get serious, theres no way Russia and Iran are going to sit back and let the Western pyromaniacs rig the joint. The Pashinyan government has invited the foxes into the hen house and gained very little for it. who sets events in motion in order to become their victim, which he calls decision, and ties himself into pointless relationships, which he calls loyalty. Then waits for the next event to get him out of the last one, which he calls destiny. Describes Pashinyans MO to a tee Artyom Tonoyan @tonoyan.bsky.social (@DrArtyomTonoyan) August 8, 2025 What Comes Next? As we wrote recently the US goal is not to build but to destroy, and TRIPP should be viewed in that light. Right, this is act one, scene one. The handshake was just the curtain rising on a longer script: securing Zangezur is the first physical wedge, but the real play is about consolidating NATO reach to the Caspian, staging ISR assets on Irans border, and testing how far Russia and https://t.co/4vbt20pd10 Thomas Keith (@iwasnevrhere_) August 9, 2025 And as part of preparations for more attempts at regime change in Iran: From the Zangezur to Davids Corridor: The Silent Redrawing of Global Trade and the Road to War with Iran In the shifting chessboard of global geopolitics, few developments are as consequential and as underreported as the emergence of two corridors: the Zangezur Corridor and pic.twitter.com/EY8JfSA9f8 Ibrahim Majed (@ibrahimtmajed) July 25, 2025 Iran is split on the issue. Some statements have reinforced earlier announcements that such a corridor is a red line while other comments are more toned down and accepting. Breaking Reformist President Abandons Zangezur There are no reasons to worry about MINOR issues like the changes in corridors in North Western borders of Iran. Pezeshkian This man wont stop until he destroys Iran. pic.twitter.com/QjXmicNxPg (@Safarnejad_IR) July 28, 2025 Contrast this to a July 27 statement from Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, who delivered one of the strongest condemnation of the Zangezur proposal to date saying that Tehran will prevent it. Velayati: Zangezur Corridor a US-Israeli plot to block Iran & Russia Ali Akbar Velayati, senior adviser to Irans Supreme Leader, warned that the proposed Zangezur Corridor is a geopolitical scheme pursued as a cover for broader projects led by the US, Israel, NATO, and pic.twitter.com/wYtXEWDret The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) July 27, 2025 And here is IRGC deputy commander for political affairs Brigadier General Yadollah Javani in a statement yesterday: If Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister [Nikol] Pashinyan had given attention to the consequences of their decision to drag the US, the United Kingdom, and NATO into the Caucasus region, they would never have been deceived by the gambler [Donald] Trump. The top officials of these two countries, without considering the realities of the Caucasus and the interests of other countries in the region, and while they were influenced by the promises of the United States, the Zionist regime, and several European countries, clumsily took an adventurous and costly action regarding their countries. The strategic mistake by Zelensky has so far inflicted heavy and irreversible costs to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity. The mistake made by these two leaders is much bigger than the mistake made by the Ukrainian president. With his strategic mistake, Zelensky provoked only the Russians and turned them against him. But what the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia did in the White House turned several important countries in the region against themselves. Perhaps Iran begins to demand its own transport corridor as a way to slice through TRIPP. Here is one Iranian professors idea: US /Israel intentions are clear, and they will not stop trying to destabilize Iran until stopped. Yet moves like TRIPP are helping to drive tighter alignment between Tehran and Moscow (and Beijing). As John Helmer recently opined, Moscow might be ready to help defend Iran in the next stage of the fighting. We could see Armenia continue to move away from Russiaalthough, again, its hard to see how that would work economically. Perhaps Pashinyan really believes some of what he was selling in a Washington press conference: This will bring billions to Armenia. They will be invested in our childrens education, healthcare, and in ensuring the happiness and well-being of our citizens. And it will create new layers, tools, and formulas for security. Yerevan could withdraw from the Eurasian Economic Union, expel Russia from its military base in the country, and try to take control of its railways (the country is in the process of nationalizing its power grid owned by a jailed Russian-Armenian billionaire). While TRIPP would be the shortest route on the middle corridor, it is not the only one. There is the aforementioned route through Iran, and theres also Georgia. Of course the US and its sidekicks have been active there trying to foment regime change. We should expect a return to western propaganda outlet stories about attacks on democracy there along with sanctions and doubling down on the destabilization campaign. In Azerbaijan there is talk about joining the Abraham Accords, although that wouldnt represent anything all that new considering how Aliyev has already shown his true colors. Well see if Beijing begins to rethink its comprehensive strategic partnership with Baku. The Trump administration is also looking to boost arms exports to Azerbaijan. Today Turkiye & Azerbaijan get a softened Pan-Turkic corridorrebranded as Trump roadvia Armenia. Better than an invasion of southern Armenia but not just peace. Worst part? Per Politico, Trump will waive Section 907meant to punish Azerbaijans aggressionso he can sell weapons. pic.twitter.com/XRx1jbcRta Simon Maghakyan (@simonforco) August 8, 2025 Aliyev is apparently unconcerned by reports that Pentagon suppliers are cutting production due to Chinese export controls on critical minerals. Colombian senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay passed away on Monday as a result of the gunshot wounds he sustained on Saturday, June 7, in Bogota, while participating in a campaign event. The 39-year-old politician was the son of the murdered journalist Diana Turbay and the grandson of former president Julio Cesar Turbay Ayala. He died at Fundacion Santa Fe, the clinic where he had been taken on the day of the attack. His wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, confirmed the news on her Instagram account: Our love transcends this physical plane. Wait for me, because when I fulfill my promise to our children, I will come to find you and we will have our second chance, she posted on social media. Uribe Turbays health worsened in the early hours of Saturday. After a scheduled surgery early that morning, he experienced acute intracerebral bleeding that required an emergency operation. Hours later, in the afternoon, the clinic reported that the senators condition was extremely critical due to persistent brain swelling and difficult-to-control intracerebral bleeding. Fundacion Santa Fe stated that Uribe Turbay passed away at 1:56 a.m. local time. The team responsible for Mr. Uribe Turbays care in all areas of the institution worked tirelessly throughout these more than two months since his admission in critical condition, the institution said in a statement. Former president Alvaro Uribe Velez, leader of the political party to which Uribe Turbay belonged, the Centro Democratico, expressed his sorrow over the death: Evil destroys everything, they killed hope, said Uribe Velez, who has no family relation with the senator and presidential candidate. The man who governed Colombia from 2002 to 2010 was recently convicted of witness tampering and is serving a 12-year house arrest sentence pending a second-instance decision. Former conservative president Ivan Duque (20182022) also expressed similar sentiments, stating that Colombia mourns, but will not surrender to the criminals who extinguished the life of an admirable young man. The politician from the right-wing party, the main opposition to Gustavo Petros government, was shot multiple times while speaking at a public event in the Modelia neighborhood, in the western part of the capital. Several videos captured the exact moment, around 5 p.m., when gunshots were heard and Uribe fell to the ground from the makeshift stage where he was discussing his campaign proposals. The politicians bodyguards reacted immediately and took him to a nearby clinic. Hours later, he was transferred by ambulance to the Santa Fe clinic in northern Bogota, one of the best in the city, where he remained in critical condition until his death. Uribe Turbays sister has also mourned the senators death by posting a photo on Instagram, showing them as children alongside their mother, Diana Turbay a well-known journalist who was kidnapped by drug cartel leaders under Pablo Escobar and died during a rescue attempt. Im sure that our mother, who loves you so much, is welcoming you today with open arms, said Maria Carolina Hoyos Turbay. Authorities almost immediately arrested a 14-year-old minor as the material perpetrator of the attack. Investigations continue, with two more detainees so far, and the president of the Republic has said that no hypothesis is being ruled out. The attack on the pre-candidate has shocked a country that immediately recalled the assassinations that spread terror in the late 1980s and early 1990s of presidential candidates and well-known politicians such as Bernardo Jaramillo, Carlos Pizarro, and the father of the current mayor of Bogota, Luis Carlos Galan. The senator leaves behind his wife Maria Claudia Tarazona, three daughters of hers whom he had taken in as a father, and a four-year-old son. At that same age, Uribe Turbay lost his mother. More than 70,000 people marched in protest against the attack on Uribe Turbay last June in Bogota. Sergio Acero Yate Uribe Turbay was a lawyer from the Universidad de Los Andes with a masters degree in public administration from Harvard. He showed his political streak from a very young age. At just 25 years old, in 2012, he ran for and was elected councilman of Bogota for the Liberal Party, the party of his grandfather and one of the two traditional parties in Colombias bipartisan system. During his four-year term, he stood out as one of the most critical voices against the then-mayor and current president, Gustavo Petro, becoming a rising figure in the political right. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed his deep sadness over the Colombian senators tragic death: The United States stands in solidarity with his family, the Colombian people, both in mourning and demanding justice for those responsible, he posted on his X account. From the Senate, Uribe established himself as one of the main opposition voices against President Gustavo Petro, with a discourse focused on the defense of security and institutions, critical of the governments total peace policy, which has sought to negotiate in parallel with various illegal groups in the country, and generally opposed to the presidential proposals. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Brazil and India forge strategic alliance amid U.S. tariff onslaught Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed their strategic partnership during a phone call, pledging to deepen cooperation in trade, technology, energy, defense, agriculture and health amid U.S. pressure. They aim to boost bilateral trade to over $20 billion annually by 2030. The leaders condemned President Donald Trump's unilateral 50 percent tariffs on their goods, criticizing U.S. tactics for undermining multilateralism. Lula emphasized the need for a collective BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) response. Facing U.S. tariffs, India signaled a potential realignmentModi plans his first China visit in seven years, reflecting a search for alternative alliances while balancing ties with Washington. The Brazilian president vowed to mobilize BRICS leaders (including China's Xi Jinping) for a coordinated countermeasure. He also reiterated engagement with the U.S. on global issues like climate change, despite trade tensions. The partnership between Brazil and India highlights a broader trend of Global South nations resisting U.S. unilateralism, potentially reshaping global trade dynamics and promoting fair multilateral practices. In a bold move to counter escalating trade tensions, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have reaffirmed their commitment to a strategic partnership, vowing to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors. This development comes in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump's imposition of steep tariffs on goods from both countries, which has sparked a wave of global economic uncertainty and diplomatic realignment. During a one-hour phone call on Thursday, Aug. 7, Lula and Modi discussed the "imposition of unilateral tariffs" by the U.S., which has imposed a 50 percent tariff on Brazilian and Indian goods, citing various geopolitical and trade-related disputes. The Brazilian president's office stated that the leaders "reiterated their goal of boosting bilateral trade to more than 20 billion annually by 2030," a significant increase from the 12 billion recorded last year. In a statement, Modi's office emphasized the "strong, people-centric partnership between Global South nations," highlighting the mutual benefits of enhanced cooperation. The leaders agreed to expand their collaboration in trade, technology, energy, defense, agriculture and health, underscoring their commitment to a multifaceted strategic partnership. Both leaders expressed their support for multilateralism and fair trade practices, condemning Trump's unilateral approach. Lula, in particular, criticized Trump's tactics, stating, "What President Trump is doing is tacit he wants to dismantle multilateralism, where agreements are made collectively within institutions, and replace it with unilateralism, where he negotiates one-on-one with other countries." The Brazilian president further emphasized the need for a collective response from the BRICS nations Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa to address the U.S. tariffs. Lula has already initiated conversations with Chinese President Xi Jinping and plans to propose a BRICS summit to coordinate a joint response. (Related: Brazil defies Trump, strengthens BRICS ties amid tariff threats) India's diplomatic realignment India, facing the same 50 percent tariff on its goods, is signaling a potential shift in its global partnerships. Modi is preparing for his first visit to China in over seven years, suggesting a possible diplomatic realignment amid growing tensions with Washington. This move underscores India's intent to explore alternative alliances in the face of U.S. pressure. The Indian prime minister's office did not explicitly mention Trump or the U.S. tariffs in its statement but noted that the leaders "exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest." This cautious approach reflects India's delicate balancing act as it navigates the complexities of its relationship with the U.S. while seeking to strengthen ties with other major economies. Lula, known for his outspoken stance on international issues, has been vocal in his criticism of Trump's policies. He has vowed to respond firmly to the tariffs and has emphasized his intention to reach out to key global leaders, including Modi and Xi. In a recent interview, Lula stated, "I am not going to call Trump to negotiate anything, because he doesn't want to talk. But rest assured, I will call him to invite him to the COP [Conference of the Parties], because I want to know what he thinks about the climate issue." Visit BigGovernment.news for more similar stories. Watch Pepe Escobar explaining why Trump's tariffs against BRICS will backfire in this clip. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Trump threatens tariffs on India amid Russian oil purchases, risking global trade fight. India braces for Trump's reciprocal tariffs as U.S. seeks fair trade deals. Tariff war escalates: China retaliates with 125% tariffs on US goods, as Xi Jinping warns of "self-isolation" for America. Sources include: RT.com AlJazeera.com Firstpost.com Brighteon.com Instagrams new Friend Map feature raises serious privacy concerns Instagram (owned by Meta) introduced a Friend Map feature, enabling real-time location tracking by default for some users, raising alarms about stalking, surveillance and data exploitation. The tool uses GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to share live location updates with selected contacts, similar to Snapchat's Snap Map. Critics argue it's invasive, exposing routines like home/work addresses. Real-time location data can endanger usersespecially minors and abuse victimsby revealing sensitive patterns. Meta profits from this data for targeted ads, while governments could access it without warrants. Users must manually opt out via Instagram's Map settings (select "No one") and revoke location permissions in their device settings (iPhone: Privacy > Location Services; Android: Location permissions). This reflects a broader tech industry trend of eroding privacy under the guise of convenience. The article urges resistance to normalize surveillance and protect personal freedom. Instagram, the social media platform owned by Meta, has introduced a new feature that should alarm anyone who values personal privacy. While the platform recently rolled out three updates including the ability to repost public reels and a "Friends" tab displaying liked content the most troubling addition is the Friend Map, a live location-tracking tool. Friend Map is a real-time location-sharing system similar to Snapchat's Snap Map. Enabled by default for some users, this feature allows followers to see your exact whereabouts in real time, sparking fears about surveillance, stalking and corporate data harvesting. It relies on GPS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth signals to track users' movements, displaying their precise location to selected contacts. Meta claims the tool helps people "stay connected," but critics argue it's yet another invasive data collection tactic disguised as a social feature. Unlike a one-time check-in at a restaurant, this system updates users' location every time they open the app. This means Meta, and potentially others, can monitor people's daily routines from their homes to their workplaces. (Related: BOMBSHELL: Google tracks your physical location even if you turn off location data on your mobile device.) Real-time location data is among the most sensitive information a person can share. In the wrong hands, it can reveal home addresses, work routines and frequent hangout spots. These details that are valuable not just to advertisers but also to stalkers and harassers. Domestic violence organizations have long warned that live tracking tools empower abusers, making it easier to monitor victims. For minors, the risks are even greater. Normalizing constant surveillance under the guise of "social connection" sets a dangerous precedent, eroding personal boundaries in the name of engagement. The unfriendly Friend Map: A privacy disaster Meta insists the feature is opt-in, but users report it was automatically enabled for some accounts. Even if turned off, the company continues collecting location data unless manually restricted in phone settings. This isn't about fostering friendships; it's about profit. Meta monetizes user behavior, and location data is a goldmine for targeted advertising. Governments can also access this information without warrants if shared publicly, further compromising user privacy. Those who want to opt out should open the Instagram app, navigate to Messages and tap Map, go to Settings and select No one. iPhone users should go to Privacy & Security in Settings, then Location Services and deny Instagram access. Android users can revoke Instagram's location permissions under their device's Location settings. This isn't an isolated incident. For years, tech companies have chipped away at privacy under the banner of "convenience." From Facebook's Cambridge Analytica scandal to Google's location-tracking lawsuits, the pattern is clear: Extract more data, normalize surveillance and profit from users' personal lives. Instagram's Friend Map is just the latest example of this troubling trend. Privacy isn't about having "something to hide" it's about maintaining control over your own life. Instagram's Friend Map is a step toward a world where constant tracking becomes unavoidable. Disabling this feature isn't just a personal choice; it's a stand against the unchecked power of Big Tech. Watch this report from Voice of America about location tracking privacy concerns. This video is from the Daily Videos channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Google Latitude Spies on Americans' Exact Geographic Location in Real Time. Google SUED by 4 AGs for tracking users without permission. Law enforcement agencies obtain private location data directly from Google to demonize innocent people as "crime suspects." Sources include: ReclaimTheNet.org NYPost.com CBS8.com Brighteon.com Nearly $25M worth of suspected cocaine seized at Blue Water Bridge On July 23, CBSA officers seized approximately 197 kilograms of suspected cocaine worth an estimated $24.6 million during a secondary inspection at the Blue Water Bridge crossing. Onkar Kalsi, 29, of Caledon, Ontario, was arrested at the scene and later charged by the RCMP with importing and possessing cocaine for trafficking. The Blue Water Bridge has become a key hotspot for cocaine smuggling, with multiple major seizures reported in recent months, including busts in February, March, May and June. National CBSA data shows a sharp increase in cocaine (+294 percent), meth (+205 percent) and fentanyl (+1,600 percent) seizures at the CanadaU.S. border since 2020. Officials credit the success of these interceptions to strong collaboration between Canadian and U.S. agencies in combating transnational criminal networks. Canadian border officers have seized nearly 200 kilograms of suspected cocaine at the Blue Water Bridge border crossing in a major blow to cross-border drug trafficking. According to a statement released by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), the drugs were discovered on July 23 during a secondary inspection of a commercial truck entering Canada from the United States. Officers said they uncovered seven large bags containing an estimated 197 kilograms (434.3 pounds) of suspected cocaine concealed in the trailer, with an estimated street value of approximately $24.6 million. (Related: Treasury Department SANCTIONS six individuals involved in cocaine trafficking.) The driver identified as 29-year-old Onkar Kalsi of Caledon, Ontario, was arrested at the scene. He was subsequently handed over to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), who have charged him with importing cocaine and possession of cocaine for trafficking. Kalsi is currently in custody and further court proceedings are expected in the coming weeks. "This significant cocaine seizure highlights the critical role our border services officers play in disrupting the illegal flow of drugs into Canada," said Michael Prosia, regional director general for the CBSA Southern Ontario Region. "This success is a result of their vigilance and dedication, as well as the strength of our ongoing collaboration with the RCMP to protect our communities." Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree echoed a similar stance, saying: "This seizure by our dedicated border services officers demonstrates our commitment to stopping criminal activities and safeguarding our communities. Our message is clear: Canada will not tolerate any attempts to undermine the integrity and security of its borders." The investigation remains ongoing. Blue Water Bridge emerges as a major cocaine smuggling hotspot The Blue Water Bridge, which connects Michigan's Port Huron and Ontario's Point Edward, has become a frequent focal point for major drug interceptions. In February, CBSA officers seized 86 kgs (189.6 lb) of suspected cocaine at the same crossing, resulting in the arrest of Pawandeep Dhillon. The following month, another major bust netted 333 kilograms of suspected cocaine and led to the arrest of Ravinderbir Singh. In May, border officials intercepted 50 kg (110.2 lb) of suspected cocaine concealed in a truck linked to a transnational crime ring, while in June, 27-year-old Karamveer Singh was arrested after allegedly attempting to smuggle 187 kg (412.3 lb) of cocaine through the same crossing. The seizures are part of a concerning national trend. According to CBSA data, between 2020 and 2024, the volume of cocaine seized at the CanadaU.S. border rose by 294 percent. Seizures of methamphetamine increased by 205 percent, while fentanyl seizures surged by a staggering 1,600 percent between 2021 and 2024. From Jan. 1 to July 10 of this year alone, the CBSA revealed it has seized 1,164 kg (2,566.2 lb) of cocaine from shipments originating in the U.S. more than double the 514 kg (1,133.2 lb) intercepted from all other countries combined. "Over the past few years, there has been an increase in guns, fentanyl, meth and cocaine seizures coming from the U.S.," CBSA spokesperson Rebecca Purdy said. "Canada and the U.S. count on each other to share information, identify and protect against threats. By ensuring timely, effective intelligence sharing and cross-border cooperation, Canada and the U.S. can better track, disrupt and dismantle the criminal networks that operate across borders and harm our communities." BorderSecurity.news has more similar stories. Watch this Newsmax report about the Mexican Navy seizing over 3,000 pounds of cocaine from cartels. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Cocaine-producing giant Colombia seeking to DECRIMINALIZE the drug. UN report: Cocaine smuggling and production increase amid growing demand for illicit substances. Oregon measure decriminalizing all drugs heavily criticized by users on social media for including hard drugs like meth, heroin and cocaine. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com 1 Canada.ca TheEpochTimes.com 2 Brighteon.com Toyota Q2 profit falls nearly 37% due to U.S. tariffs Toyota reported a 36.9 percent drop in net profit to 841 billion yen ($5.7 billion) for the April to June quarter, largely due to new 25 percent U.S. auto tariffs and a stronger yen. The full-year impact of U.S. tariffs is expected to cut 450 billion yen from Toyota's operating profit, with additional hits from currency fluctuations (725 billion yen) and rising material costs (300 billion yen). Honda's net profit fell 50 percent to 196.6 billion yen, with operating profit down nearly 50 percent as tariffs significantly affected earnings. Honda is ramping up U.S. production by adding shifts and has shifted export strategies to minimize exposure; Mazda, facing a quarterly loss of 46 billion yen, is also redirecting shipments and adjusting U.S. sales targets. Japanese automakers, especially those reliant on exports like Mazda, are facing serious challenges, with falling sales and production adjustments as they navigate steep U.S. tariffs and market uncertainty. Toyota Motor Corp. reported a sharp 36.9 percent drop in net profit for the April to June quarter, with earnings falling to 841 billion ($5.7 billion), as steep U.S. tariffs on imported cars dented the world's largest automaker's bottom line. In April, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed an additional 25 percent tariff on all automobile imports, including those from Japan. The tariff came on top of the existing 2.5 percent levy, significantly raising costs for Toyota and other Japanese automakers with large export volumes to the United States. As a result, Toyota's net profit for the April to June quarter fell 36.9 percent year-on-year to 841 billion yen ($5.6 billion), driven by both the tariff hike and a stronger yen. First-quarter operating profit also declined 10.9 percent to 1.1 trillion ($7.5 trillion), though net sales edged up 3.5 percent to 12 trillion yen ($81 trillion). "The [U.S. tariff] has risen to 15 percent from the previous 2.5 percent, which obviously has a significant impact," said Takanori Azuma, Toyota's chief accounting officer. "And it is a thing we are not able to control. The major challenge is to ensure that our North America business generates solid profits. The result [of a trade deal] remains tough." Initially, Toyota had only accounted for the tariff costs incurred in April and May, which were estimated at 180 billion ($1.2 billion). However, the full-year impact is now projected to be significantly higher, with tariffs alone slashing 450 billion ($3 billion) from operating profit. Currency fluctuations are expected to trim another 725 billion ($5 billion) and rising material costs are forecast to subtract an additional 300 billion ($2 billion). (Related: U.S. tariffs inflict huge blow on German automakers.) Other Japanese automakers also feel the strain of new U.S. tariffs Meanwhile, Honda reported a sharp 50 percent drop in net profit for its April to June fiscal first quarter, as higher U.S. tariffs on imported vehicles took a heavy toll on earnings. The Japanese automaker posted a net profit of 196.6 billion ($1.3 billion), down from the same period last year, with operating profit plunging nearly 50 percent to 244 billion ($1.7 billion). In response to tariff challenges, Honda is adjusting its production strategy. Honda Chief Financial Officer Eiji Fujimura said 60 percent to 70 percent of Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. are already produced locally and the company plans to increase capacity by moving from two to three shifts per day at U.S. plants, without major new investments. Still, supply chain hurdles remain, particularly for hybrid vehicles, whose key components such as motors, batteries and power control units are primarily shipped from Japan. Additionally, Masao Kawaguchi, head of Honda's accounting and finance supervisory unit, revealed that Honda shifted its export strategy to minimize tariff exposure. The U.S. plant now produces cars for domestic consumption, while its Canadian facility has taken over production for exports to Central America. Mazda posted a deeper loss of 46 billion ($31 billion) on sales of 1.1 trillion ($7.5 trillion), down 8.8 percent year-on-year for the same period. The automaker sold 301,000 vehicles globally during the quarter, down three percent, including 100,000 units in the U.S., its largest market, down two percent. Visit SupplyChainWarning.com for more similar stories. Watch European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen voicing the EU's response to U.S. tariffs in this clip. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Brazil defies Trump, strengthens BRICS ties amid tariff threats. Trump's tariff retreat sparks fears of accelerating BRICS dominance. California challenges Trump's tariff plan in historic legal battle. Trump's 125% tariff triggers panic among Chinese Amazon sellers. Trump imposes 25% tariff on nations buying Venezuelan oil. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com AsiaNikkei.com 1 AsiaNikkei.com 2 AsiaNikkei.com 3 Brighteon.com Health Ranger Report: The truth about chlorine dioxide and Mark Grenons battle for health freedom Missionary Mark Grenon discovered chlorine dioxide's effectiveness after it cured his family's MRSA infection when conventional antibiotics failed. He advocates for its use as a safe, broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent against diseases like malaria, cancer and drug-resistant infections. Grenon expanded his mission worldwide, co-founding the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing to promote chlorine dioxide. His success drew U.S. government backlash arrests, extradition and legal battles despite no evidence of harm caused by the treatment. Chlorine dioxide, used since 1840 for water purification and disinfection, disrupts microbial cell structures without triggering resistance. Grenon highlights its unique ability to target sulfhydryl groups, making it a potent tool against infectious diseases. Grenon frames his legal struggle as a constitutional rights issue, emphasizing First Amendment protections for religious and health practices. He's writing a book exposing systemic suppression of alternative therapies. He urges public support via petitions, donations to his legal defense and outreach to officials to pardon his sons. His case represents a broader battle against authoritarianism in healthcare and access to natural remedies. The Health Ranger Mike Adams welcomed Mark Grenon, a missionary-turned-symbol of the fight for health freedom, on the "Health Ranger Report." Grenon shared his harrowing journey, the science behind the natural molecule chlorine dioxide (CLO2) and the global implications of his work. He has been incarcerated for advocating the use of CLO2 and defending his right to explore natural remedies. A missionary with 47 years of experience, Grenon stumbled upon chlorine dioxide in a desperate attempt to save his family from a deadly infection. In 2005, his family contracted MRSA, a flesh-eating bacteria with no known cure. Despite using the most advanced antibiotics, their condition worsened. Driven by the need to save his son's leg from amputation, Grenon turned to the internet and discovered a book by Jim Humble titled "The Miracle Mineral Supplement of the 21st Century." Humble's book claimed that the simple CLO2 molecule could cure a range of diseases, including malaria, AIDS and cancer. Skeptical yet desperate, Grenon decided to try it. The results were astonishing. Within weeks, the MRSA infection disappeared, prompting the longtime advocate for the use of CLO2 as a natural remedy to explore the molecule's potential further. "It's completely safe and effective," Grenon said. Grenon's success with chlorine dioxide led him to expand his mission globally. He traveled to Haiti and the Dominican Republic, where he witnessed the molecule's effectiveness in treating various ailments. The former surgical assistant documented these experiences, building a substantial body of testimonials from around the world. (Related: Medical political prisoner Mark Grenon reveals the truth behind chlorine dioxide and COVID-19 Brighteon.TV.) In 2010, Grenon collaborated with Humble to create a curriculum and conduct seminars across 80 countries, training over a thousand people. They established the Genesis II Church of Health and Healing, advocating for the use of chlorine dioxide as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent. As Grenon's work gained traction, it attracted the attention of powerful entities. In 2020, the Federal Trade Commission and the Food and Drug Administration targeted him, citing concerns over unproven Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) treatments. Despite having no victims of harm, Grenon and his sons were arrested and subjected to a legal battle that denied them due process. Grenon was kidnapped by an anti-kidnapping team in Colombia, with the U.S. Embassy allegedly paying for his capture. He was extradited to the U.S. and held in a federal detention center, where he continued to advocate for chlorine dioxide even treating fellow inmates. The science behind CLO2 CLO2, a molecule discovered in 1840, has been used in various applications from water purification to dental care. It is a powerful disinfectant with strong antibacterial and antifungal properties. Studies have shown it can disrupt protein synthesis and cell membranes, making it effective against drug-resistant bacteria. According to Grenon, CLO2's ability to target sulfhydryl groups, essential for microbial life, explains why bacteria cannot develop resistance to it. This characteristic makes it a potential game-changer in the fight against infectious diseases. "It's an incredible, broad spectrum antimicrobial agent that the world needs to know about," he told the Health Ranger. The story of Grenon is a testament to the power of perseverance and the pursuit of truth. His fight for the right to use chlorine dioxide is not just about personal freedom but about challenging a system that suppresses potentially life-saving information. As the world grapples with the limitations of conventional medicine, Grenon's work serves as a reminder of the importance of exploring all avenues for health and healing. Follow HealthFreedom.news for more news about the fight for health freedom. Watch the full interview between Mark Grenon and the Health Ranger Mike Adams below. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Activist Mark Grenon and his sons imprisoned for advocating chlorine dioxide: A global health debate heats up. Chlorine Dioxide: The "Universal Antidote" suppressed by governments and big pharma? "Healing Revolution" on BrightU: Urotherapy and chlorine dioxide revolutionizing wellness despite suppression and public mockery. Sources include: Brighteon.com RobertYoho.Substack.com UN Childrens Rights Committee faces backlash over draft endorsing abortion and gender policies for minors A new draft comment from the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child promotes adolescent access to abortion and gender-related medical interventions, framing them as matters of children's rights and "access to justice." Argentina strongly criticized the draft, saying it oversteps the committee's legal mandate, threatens national sovereignty and parental rights and misinterprets "access to justice." Critics, including the Ordo Iuris Institute, warn that using "gender" rather than "sex" could lead to the endorsement of irreversible gender transition procedures for minors. Opponents argue the draft goes beyond the scope of the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child, which contains no reference to abortion or gender identity and affirms protection for children "before and after birth." The committee has pushed abortion access since the late 1990s, including calls to bypass parental consent and decriminalize abortion for adolescents, moves that have sparked criticism of ideological bias and disregard for national laws. The United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) is facing mounting international criticism after reports surfaced that its upcoming draft commentary on the Convention on the Rights of the Child includes language supporting adolescent access to abortion and gender-related medical interventions. The draft, currently under review, contains a "general comment" that promotes abortion access for minors and raises concerns about the erosion of parental rights under the guise of children's "access to justice." In its current form, the draft asserts that a lack of "access to safe abortion services for adolescent girls" can constitute a violation of child rights, demanding "an effective remedy" where "time is of the essence." The text also repeatedly uses the term "gender," rather than "sex," drawing criticism for its perceived ideological overreach. According to the Center for Family and Human Rights (C-FAM), the committee is currently soliciting public and government input on a new general comment addressing how nations should comply with the treaty. Critics argued that the Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted in 1989, contains no explicit mention of abortion or gender identity. Nonetheless, the committee's interpretation appears to extend beyond the treaty's text, prompting accusations of overreach. Representatives of Argentina issued a strong rebuke, warning that the proposed language could undermine national sovereignty and parental rights. "In its current form, it exceeds the Committee's mandate under the Convention and the UN Charter, violating the principle of good faith in treaty interpretation." The government also accused the committee of distorting the legal concept of "access to justice" by conflating it with "a holistic fulfillment of rights." (Related: UN General Assembly passes resolution claiming abortion is a human right.) Argentina also argued that the draft is redundant, noting that similar issues have been addressed in nearly half of the committee's prior general comments, including two exclusively focused on adolescent health and development. Concerns are also mounting among civil society organizations. The Ordo Iuris Institute for Legal Culture, a conservative legal advocacy group based in Poland, echoed these concerns. The organization warned that the commentary's references to "gender" could be interpreted as endorsing medical transition procedures for minors, procedures that potentially cause "irreversible damage" to children who are "not yet mature." UN Committee on the Rights of the Child has been promoting abortion for decades The committee's history of promoting abortion access dates back to the late 1990s. In a 2003 general comment, it called on countries to provide "safe abortion services" where not prohibited by law. But by 2013, the committee went further, criticizing parental involvement laws and urging unfettered access to abortion for adolescents, regardless of domestic legal frameworks. Its 2016 comment on adolescence explicitly called for the decriminalization of abortion and universal access for pregnant minors. Perhaps most controversially, in 2014, the committee ordered the Holy See to alter its teachings on abortion and homosexuality, a move that Vatican officials rejected as a violation of religious freedom and the limits of treaty interpretation. In other words, the UN has long faced criticism for advancing a pro-abortion agenda under the banner of "human rights," routinely pressuring countries that restrict abortion and seeking to promote it as a global right. At the same time, the organization has been accused of selectively addressing genuine human rights abuses in countries like China, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. Learn the truth about abortions at Abortions.news. Watch the video below to know more states considering an abortion ban. This video is from THE LIGHT BULB INITIATIVE channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Chilean voters reject proposed new Constitution that would have legalized abortion. Federal court: Biden administration CANNOT force Catholic hospitals to perform abortions or provide transgender services. Faith and Freedom Coalition exec Timothy Head: Pro-abortion states will overplay their hand in expanding legality of abortion. Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com C-FAM.org Brighteon.com Australia joins global push for Palestinian statehood amid Gaza genocide Australia will formally recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, joining France, Britain, and Canada in rejecting Israels occupation. Prime Minister Albanese condemned Gaza as a "humanitarian catastrophe," citing Israels blockade and starvation campaign, which has killed more than 37 children from malnutrition since July. Netanyahu called Australias move "shameful," even as Israel faces genocide accusations at the ICJ and plans a new military offensive in Gaza City. Recognition follows Palestinian Authority pledges to exclude Hamas, demilitarize Gaza, and hold elections, but critics demand sanctions and an arms embargo against Israel. The U.S. is increasingly isolated as Western allies, including New Zealand and the UK, signal growing support for Palestinian statehood amid global outrage. As the world grows increasingly frustrated with Israels ongoing military aggression in Gaza, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Monday that his nation will formally recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The decision, backed by commitments from the Palestinian Authority to exclude Hamas from governance, demilitarize Gaza, and hold elections, aligns Australia with France, Britain, and Canada in rejecting Israels brutal occupation and blockade. Albanese condemned Gaza as a "humanitarian catastrophe" and framed recognition as a step toward a two-state solution, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out, calling the move "shameful." A firm stand against genocide The announcement comes amid escalating global outrage over Israels relentless bombardment and starvation campaign in Gaza, where more than 37 children have died from acute malnutrition since July alone, according to UN officials. Albanese did not mince words, stating, "The situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world's worst fears. The Israeli government continues to defy international law and deny sufficient aid, food, and water to desperate people, including children." Netanyahu, whose government faces mounting accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, preemptively attacked Australia and other Western nations for their stance, dismissing recognition as a "canard" that rewards terrorism. Yet his rhetoric rings hollow as Israel continues to flout ceasefire demands and plans a new military offensive in Gaza City, threatening to displace a million more civilians. Although nearly 150 UN member states already recognize Palestine, Western powers, particularly the U.S., have long obstructed statehood under the guise of a negotiated peace process. Albanese rejected claims that recognition is merely symbolic, calling it a "practical contribution" to peace. "This is about delivering a lifeline to the people of Gaza," he said, emphasizing that Australias decision follows assurances from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who has pledged reforms and elections. However, recognition alone is insufficient. Nasser Mashni of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) slammed the move as a "political fig leaf" while Australia maintains trade and diplomatic ties with Israel. "Recognition is completely meaningless while Australia continues to trade, to supply arms, to have diplomatic relations," Mashni said, demanding sanctions and an arms embargo. The Western alliance is cracking The U.S. now stands increasingly isolated as key allies, including four of the Five Eyes intelligence partners, move toward recognition. New Zealands Foreign Minister Winston Peters signaled a similar shift, stating recognition is "a matter of when, not if." Meanwhile, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron has conditioned recognition on Israels compliance with a ceasefire, while France and Canada plan to act in September. Netanyahus defiance has only deepened global condemnation. His rejection of Palestinian self-determination, coupled with plans for further military escalation, underscores Israels refusal to end its apartheid regime. As Albanese noted, "We cannot keep doing the same thing and hoping for a different outcome." Australias decision marks a pivotal moment in the fight for Palestinian liberation. While symbolic gestures alone wont halt Israels genocide, they erode the legitimacy of its occupation and amplify global pressure. As Netanyahu clings to expansionism, the world is finally waking up... and refusing to look away. Sources for this article include: NTD.com TheGuardian.com CNN.com APNews.com Health Ranger Report: Ken Bartle on the transformative role of spiritual values in human consciousness Ken Bartle posits that consciousness is not just a state of awareness but an ongoing "factory process," where thoughts, faculties (intuition, conscience, emotions) and actions interact to shape decisions and behaviors. This spiritual understanding contrasts with materialistic views dominant in mainstream science. Bartle emphasizes the subconscious role of spiritual values (truth, courage, compassion, etc.) in directing human actions. By consciously aligning with these values, individuals can harmonize their subconscious and conscious minds, unlocking personal and collective potential. Current systems based on control and obedience are outdated. Bartle advocates for an elected body that safeguards individual sovereignty under natural lawas a foundation for a freer, more equitable society. Humanity is entering the Age of Aquarius, offering an opportunity for paradigm shifts. Education, awareness and technology (like AI) must be leveraged mindfully ("mentored intelligence") to serve human well-being and spiritual growth, not replace consciousness. Bartle urges individuals to actively shape their consciousness and societal structures. Collective commitment to values like integrity and freedom is key to driving the "consciousness revolution" and creating a transformative future. In a thought-provoking "Health Ranger Report" interview, Mike Adams engaged in a profound conversation with Ken Bartle, an Australian author and thought leader, about the transformative role of spiritual values in human consciousness and their potential to reshape society. The interview delved into the essence of consciousness, the limitations of current governance models and the urgent need for a paradigm shift toward a society based on natural law and individual sovereignty. (Related: The Science of Consciousness: A Path to Personal and Societal Transformation.) The quest for understanding consciousness Bartle recounted how his son's struggles with the Australian government over importing a car sparked his curiosity about the legal and governmental systems. Dissatisfied with existing frameworks like common law, natural law and admiralty law, the philosopher and published author embarked on a five-year quest to unravel the mystery of consciousness. His research led him to a groundbreaking realization: Consciousness is a process, not just a state of awareness. He described consciousness as a "factory process" where thoughts and perceptions are the raw materials, and actions are the end product. This process involves various faculties such as intuition, conscience and emotions, all working together to shape a person's decisions and behaviors. The researcher and futurist emphasized that this understanding of consciousness is crucial for personal and societal transformation. Bartle argued that consciousness is fundamentally spiritual, a concept often overlooked by mainstream science. He believes that by recognizing the spiritual dimension of consciousness, humans can unlock its full potential and harness it for personal growth and societal change. A key aspect of Bartle's philosophy is the importance of spiritual values in shaping people's consciousness. He identified values such as truth, diligence, respect, courage and compassion as essential components of this process. These values, he explained, are embedded in an individual's subconscious mind and guide their actions, often without their conscious awareness. "Spiritual values are actually locked into our conscious process, into the subconscious mind, but they're not in our conscious mind because that would override free will," Bartle said. Bartle used the analogy of driving to illustrate how the subconscious mind operates. Just as people can drive across town without consciously thinking about every action, their subconscious mind relies on these values to navigate life's challenges. By consciously choosing and reinforcing these spiritual values, people can align their conscious and subconscious minds, creating a powerful synergy that propels them toward their goals. Transforming society through natural law Bartle's vision extends beyond personal transformation; he envisions a societal shift toward a system based on natural law. He argued that current governance models driven by obedience and control are fundamentally flawed. Instead, he proposed an elected body of individuals tasked with protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens, rather than dictating their lives. This concept is rooted in the idea that people are the ultimate authority and should have the power to choose leaders who uphold their rights. Bartle explained that by implementing natural laws, people can create a society that thrives on freedom, integrity and cooperation, rather than fear and control. When asked about the feasibility of this vision, Bartle acknowledged the challenges. According to Bartle, humanity is on the cusp of a new era, moving from the Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius, and that this transition presents an opportunity for profound change. He emphasized the need for education and awareness, suggesting that understanding the true nature of consciousness is the key to unlocking the human potential. Bartle also addressed the role of technology, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), in this transformation. He advocates for a "mentored intelligence" approach, where AI is used to support and enhance human consciousness, rather than replace it. He stressed the importance of aligning AI with values that prioritize human well-being and spiritual growth. The interview concluded with Bartle expressing his belief that the time for change is now. He urged individuals to take charge of their own consciousness, to choose values that align with their true selves, and to work toward a society that reflects these principles. He sees this as a collective journey, one that requires courage, commitment and a willingness to embrace new ways of thinking. As Adams aptly summarized, "The consciousness revolution of humanity has begun." This conversation with Bartle serves as a powerful reminder that each individual has the power to shape their own destiny and contribute to a brighter future for all. Mind.news has more stories about human consciousness. Watch the full interview between Ken Bartle and the Health Ranger Mike Adams below. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Subconscious manipulation: Advertisers to use dream-hacking techniques to promote brands. Researchers find evidence of hidden consciousness days after brain injury. Consciousness How the mind alters reality. Sources include: Brighteon.com NaturalLawMatters.com California hospital accused of coverup in the wake of vaccine-linked stillbirth surge In a world where trust in healthcare is a fragile yet sacred bond, its disheartening to discover a breach of that trust in the form of a cover-up . Michelle Spencer, a nurse at Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, California, has found herself at the crossroads of duty and silence. Since the spring of 2021, a worrying trend has emerged at the hospital: a sharp increase in stillbirths among vaccinated mothers. Spencers persistent questioning and whistle blowing have brought this unsettling reality to light, forcing a conversation that the hospital had long tried to avoid. Imagine a mother-to-be, hopeful and ready to embrace her new life, only to be greeted by the sting of an unintended consequence. The alarming spike in stillbirths following the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines has left both parents and professionals alike reeling, questioning the very fabric of medical integrity. The hospitals response to these tragic outcomes has been unsettling, to say the least. Now, Spencers whistleblower lawsuit not only challenges the hospitals actions but also raises profound questions about the transparency of medical institutions in an era where trust is increasingly hard-won. Key points: A dramatic increase in stillbirths occurred at Community Regional Medical Center following the COVID-19 vaccination rollout. Nurse Michelle Spencer reports data showing nearly all stillbirths were in vaccinated mothers, which the hospital suppressed. Hospital management blamed the spike on factors like pesticides and launched an internal investigation into Spencer. Spencer seeks lost wages, punitive damages, and an independent investigation into the deaths. The whistleblowers story Michelle Spencer, a nurse at Community Regional Medical Center since 2017, noticed a chilling pattern in spring 2021. Before the vaccines were rolled out, the hospital saw about one stillbirth per month. But following the push for vaccinations among pregnant women, that number skyrocketed to approximately 20 per month. Spencer, armed with internal data showing nearly all stillbirths were in vaccinated mothers, felt an overwhelming responsibility to speak out. When she raised her concerns, the hospitals response was anything but supportive. Management dismissed her worries, attributing the spike in fetal deaths to unrelated causes like pesticides, a claim that seems as far-fetched as it is convenient. Internal emails obtained by Spencer reveal a nurse manager acknowledging the rise in "demise patients," including 22 stillbirths in a single month, without mentioning the vaccines. The silence surrounding the link between vaccines and stillbirths was deafening. Spencers persistence eventually led to retaliation. She was denied a $5,000 retention bonus, and management reprimanded her for discussing vaccine risks with patients. The hospital launched an internal investigation into her actions, an ironic move that only solidified her resolve. "The essence of this case is that the truth shall set you free," Greg Glaser, Spencers attorney, explains. "The hospital possessed vaccinated versus unvaccinated comparison data. The numbers proved the vaccines were causing miscarriages and more in the vaccinated group." The case The complaint by Michelle Spencer against Community Medical Centers (CMC) and its associated entities (Defendant) pertains to systemic fraud, unlawful retaliation, and the suppression of critical medical data that reveals increased rates of unborn baby deaths due to the Defendant's workplace policies. Spencer, a Registered Nurse at CMC's Community Regional Medical Center (CRMC), witnessed the exponential rise in unborn baby deaths and observed CMC's deliberate concealment of patient injury data. Spencer exposed this data out of concern for patient safety and subsequently faced retaliation from CMC. The case is filed in the Superior Court of California, Fresno County, due to the employment and alleged retaliation locality. The court has jurisdiction to grant injunctive relief and the amount of damages sought qualifies the court for unlimited civil case jurisdiction. General allegations Covid-19 vaccine policy impact: Before Spring 2021, the hospital environment at CRMC was calm. However, following CMCs policies on vaccine distribution, particularly the promotion of Covid-19 vaccines to pregnant women, the third floor transformed into a difficult and overrun unit. Before Spring 2021, the hospital environment at CRMC was calm. However, following CMCs policies on vaccine distribution, particularly the promotion of Covid-19 vaccines to pregnant women, the third floor transformed into a difficult and overrun unit. Increase in unborn baby deaths: Beginning in Spring 2021, Spencer estimated a 400-500% increase in unborn baby deaths (from approximately one or two per month to about four per week). Evidence suggests a correlation between vaccination and these high numbers. Beginning in Spring 2021, Spencer estimated a 400-500% increase in unborn baby deaths (from approximately one or two per month to about four per week). Evidence suggests a correlation between vaccination and these high numbers. CEOs and executives' involvement: CMC's top executives were aware of the increased trend in maternal and fetal complications following vaccination. Despite this, CMC aggressively promoted vaccinations, especially those administered by OBGYNs with hospital privileges, without disclosing risks or benefits. Moreover, CMC concealed internal data on vaccine-related injuries. CMC's top executives were aware of the increased trend in maternal and fetal complications following vaccination. Despite this, CMC aggressively promoted vaccinations, especially those administered by OBGYNs with hospital privileges, without disclosing risks or benefits. Moreover, CMC concealed internal data on vaccine-related injuries. Retaliatory actions: Spencer initiated a call for investigations following the dissemination of the "Record High Dead Babies Email" (Exhibit A), which detailed the rise in unborn baby deaths. Immediately post this, Spencer suffered retaliation, losing her retention bonus and career reputation at the hands of management. Following her whistle blowing, Spencer experienced explicit actions by CMC to silence and isolate her: December 7, 2022: Spencer met with CMC management, questioning why the focus was on investigating her rather than probing the cause of the rising baby deaths. December 22, 2022: She emailed CMC Human Resources, urging action, but her appeals were rebuffed. Management instead created a pretense that she was not in good standing, which endangered her current job and future career advancement prospects. Adverse Employment Actions: She was denied her earned $5,000 retention bonus and received a baseless "Final Written Warning." Additionally, her standing status was downgraded, impacting her professional reputation. CMC's workplace environment promoted an illogical and dogmatic support for vaccines, driven by financial gain rather than by data and observation. CMC management minimized the importance of Plaintiff's observations and complaints, disrespecting her nurse ethical obligation to "do no harm." CMC provided misleading or false information to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), denying that the high numbers of unborn baby deaths were linked to the aggressive Covid-19 vaccination policies. The Regulator's failure to conduct a good faith investigation and CMCs concealment of the data created barriers to transparency and sanitation of public health concerns. CMC knowingly deceived Plaintiff and other staff members about the risks of the vaccines and concealed critical data on vaccine-associated fetal deaths. By misleading and concealing the truth, CMC is accused of causing substantial harm, financial losses, and threats to personal safety and professional reputations. CMC retaliated against Plaintiff for disclosing critical and harmful information regarding vaccine risks and failing to take adequate measures to protect patients. This included losing lucrative benefits, facing professional scrutiny, and experiencing a career setback. CMC engaged in unlawful, unfair, and fraudulent business acts to prioritize financial gains and foster an environment of silence about the risks associated with vaccination. By so doing, CMC acted unethically and violated various laws, including informed consent/refusal laws and fraud. Request for relief Plaintiff requests: General and special damages: Including economic losses, lost bonuses, and reputational harm. Punitive damages: To deter future misconduct and provide compensation. Injunctive reliefs: Including orders requiring CMC to: Pay for an independent third-party investigation and analysis of the medical data. Report all unborn baby deaths to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. Cease coercive administration policies. Attorney Fees: To compensate for the legal expenses incurred. A call for an independent investigation Spencers lawsuit against the hospital is now in the hands of the Superior Court of California, Fresno County. Shes not just seeking financial recompense; shes fighting for the recognition of the truth. The hospitals decision to suppress vaccinated versus unvaccinated data has left professionals like Spencer struggling to fulfill their ethical obligations. How can a nurse ethically inform patients about their risks when the institution she works for refuses to acknowledge the very issue? An independent investigation is paramount to uncover the complete story behind these stillbirths. The data the hospital has concealed could provide critical insights into the vaccines long-term effects on pregnant women. Translucency in the medical community is essential, yet it has been sorely lacking in this case. "Weve seen instances in the past where institutions have tried to downplay or outright deny unusual health trends," says Dr. Emily Thompson, a public health expert. "Spencers courage in bringing this issue to light is something we should all commend." The power of an independent investigation lies in its ability to restore trust. Patients deserve to know the risks associated with their medical decisions, and healthcare professionals need the tools to ethically guide them. Without transparency, the chain of trust in healthcare can easily break, leaving those most vulnerablelike pregnant womenreeling in the wake of misinformation and concealment. In a world where information can seem overwhelming and the truth elusive, Spencers story is a reminder of the importance of trust and transparency in healthcare. Its a call to action, not just for an independent investigation but for a collective reflection on the systems that govern our medical institutions. Sources include: SharylAttkinsson.com ChildrensHealthDefense.org ChildrensHealthDefense.org [PDF] The purge of Bayardo Arce Castano, one of the nine commanders of the Sandinista revolution and a figure historically close to Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, has sown terror among the old guard of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), still loyal to the leader but long at odds with the all-powerful co-president, Rosario Murillo. A presidential economic advisor, Arce was arrested on the night of July 26 by a contingent of special operations police who raided his home and office in Managua. He was kept under de facto house arrest for a few days, but was transferred to a detention center after the Attorney Generals Office (PGR) issued a statement summoning him to appear before an investigation into transactions outside the government. Following Arces fall from grace as this type of purge Murillo has been carrying out first in public institutions and now with these historic revolutionary figures is often called a series of arrests have been recorded, involving members of a circle of the Sandinista old guard who have always been at odds with the co-president, especially because they disagree with a dynastic succession headed by her. Bayardo Arce Castano, one of the nine historic commanders who ruled Nicaragua. PRESIDENCIA DE NICARAGUA In addition to an advisor to Arce, retired army colonel Rodolfo Castillo, known as Payin, was also arrested. He has been one of Lenin Cernas main collaborators for more than three decades. Cerna, a feared figure in the Sandinista repressive apparatus since the 1980s in the General Directorate of State Security (DGSE), was also captured. Castillo was Cernas right-hand man in espionage and political intelligence operations during the revolutionary decade in the Armys Directorate of Defense Information (DID) in the early 1990s, and in the Secretariat of the Sandinista Front between 2004 and 2011. Other lawyers, assistants, and advisors to that circle of figures were detained for police interrogation but later released. Furthermore, various Sandinista sources claim that an operation was mounted to arrest Cerna, but he managed to escape in time. This information has been published by various Nicaraguan media outlets, but EL PAIS has not been able to independently corroborate it. The message is clear The proceedings initiated by the Attorney Generals Office against Arce, and his subsequent arrest, have frightened historical Sandinista figures who are opposed to Murillo, especially Cerna and Francisco Chico Lopez Centeno, the Sandinista treasurer, both figures loyal to Ortega. The differences between Cerna and Murillo are longstanding. The latter was removed from the ruling circle by the co-president in 2011. That year, she forcibly expelled him from the El Carmen complex, where Cerna had an office at the Sandinista Front Secretariat. The scene was interpreted as a direct humiliation of the Sandinista old guard, a symbol of the displacement of the historical leaders at the hands of the centralized power that Murillo was beginning to consolidate. Its no secret that Murillo has been feuding with this old Sandinista circle for years and that they were, in a way, protected by the 79-year-old Ortega. However, the latest arrests demonstrate that they are losing that protection, which analysts attribute to an action by the co-president to clear the dynastic succession board of inconvenient pieces. Members of the leadership of the Sandinista National Liberation Front, November 2, 1984. Pat Hamilton (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Several people like Chico Lopez are terrified by all these arrests. They sleep in different properties every day, because they know Murillo doesnt flinch. We already saw how Payin was arrested: in a restaurant in the middle of Managuas patron saint festivities on August 1, while he was watching the horse parade. He was forcibly removed from the premises, and too many people watched. The message is clear, a source close to the Sandinista circle tells EL PAIS. Clearing the table for Murillo and her heirs Two months before this purge, retired General Alvaro Baltodano was also arrested. Like Arce, he was one of Daniel Ortegas allies, a political and economic operative. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison for treason in a summary trial held by videoconference at La Modelo prison. They have been ousted as a preemptive strike, stemming from Rosario Murillos fear, insecurity, and paranoia, to exercise power without any internal counterweight, in the event of Daniel Ortegas absence, former Sandinista guerrilla Dora Maria Tellez told journalist Carlos Fernando Chamorro. Theyre clearing the table for Murillo and her heirs, said the former political prisoner, banished by the presidential couple, because with Daniel Ortega gone, Murillo is left in a position of maximum weakness, which is what theyre trying to avoid right now. Tellez warned in the interview that there is much unrest within the ranks of the historic Sandinista movement, who see a deliberate intention to displace them all by foul means, to bring to power not only Rosario Murillo, but all her children. In the eyes of the historical Sandinistas, who were people who fought not only against the Somoza dictatorship but also throughout the 1980s, they see the children of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo as behaving like crown princes, Tellez stated. They find it even more offensive when they resort to purging prominent figures of that historical Sandinista movement who somehow represent them. There is considerable unrest within the Sandinistas. The structure of the Sandinista Front no longer exists, there is a base that has been diminishing, but they also dont want that dynastic model of family heirs. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Federal agencies ordered to erase COVID-19 vaccine records in victory for medical freedom The Trump administration has ordered federal agencies to remove all COVID-19 vaccination records from employee files, reversing Biden-era mandates that penalized unvaccinated workers. Federal agencies can no longer use vaccine status in hiring, promotions, or disciplinary actions, ending what critics called unconstitutional coercion under Biden. A legal settlement with Feds for Freedom led to the policy change, but many workers were already forced to comply under threat of job loss. Bidens 2021 mandate pushed 98% of federal employees to get vaccinated, with resisters facing termination or career setbacks in a move now deemed unethical and unlawful. Despite the reversal, vaccine-injured workers have no recourse, and the policys fallout highlights the dangers of government-enforced medical mandates. The Trump administration has ordered federal agencies to expunge all records of COVID-19 vaccination status from employee files, effectively nullifying one of the most oppressive mandates of the Biden era. The directive, issued by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), prohibits agencies from using vaccine history in hiring, promotions, or disciplinary actions, marking a decisive reversal of the Biden administrations coercive policies that punished federal workers for refusing experimental medical interventions. OPM Director Scott Kupor credited President Donald Trump for the move, declaring that federal employees were wrongly fired, punished, or sidelined for simply making a personal medical decision. The order follows a legal settlement with Feds for Freedom, a group of federal workers who challenged Bidens unconstitutional mandate in court. While this is a victory for bodily autonomy, it comes too late for thousands who were strong-armed into taking the jab under threat of losing their livelihoods, many of whom now suffer from vaccine injuries with no recourse. A long-overdue correction The Biden administrations September 2021 executive order forced federal employees to comply with COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment, igniting fierce legal and ethical backlash. Despite a temporary injunction by a federal judge in early 2022, the mandate was enforced long enough to coerce nearly 98% of workers into compliance, according to Bidens own officials. Those who resisted faced termination, demotion, or exclusion from career opportunities in a blatant violation of medical privacy and informed consent. Marcus Thornton, president of Feds for Freedom, hailed the settlement as a long-overdue confirmation that the mandates were unconstitutional, immoral, and un-American. Attorney Trent McCotter, who represented the group, acknowledged that while the settlement cannot undo the harm inflicted, it ensures future protections: Nothing can fully compensate employees for the harms suffered, but todays settlement provides critical prospective relief. The mandates devastating fallout The Biden administrations heavy-handed approach set a dangerous precedent, weaponizing employment to enforce compliance with a rapidly developed medical product. Countless federal workers, including military personnel, healthcare staff, and law enforcement, were forced to choose between their principles and their paychecks. Many who reluctantly took the jab now face emerging evidence of vaccine-related injuries, from myocarditis to neurological disorders, with little acknowledgment from the same government that mandated the shots. Even after Biden rescinded the order in May 2023, agencies continued to reference vaccination status in personnel decisions, leaving a stain on the careers of those who resisted. The new OPM memo erases that stain, mandating the removal of all vaccine-related data within 90 days unless employees opt to retain their records. Agencies must certify compliance by September 8, 2025, marking a hard deadline that finally closes the book on this dark chapter of federal overreach. A warning for the future This victory underscores a critical lesson: government coercion in healthcare must never be tolerated. The COVID-19 mandates were a gross abuse of power, exploiting fear to strip Americans of their right to bodily autonomy. And although the Trump administrations corrective action may be commendable, it cannot undo the suffering of those who were bullied into taking an experimental medical product that is now linked to thousands of adverse events reported in VAERS and other independent databases. The settlement also exposes the hypocrisy of the Biden administration, which touted science while ignoring natural immunity, suppressing early treatments, and dismissing legitimate safety concerns. As Kupor noted, Things got out of hand during the pandemic. Thats an understatement. The federal government became a bully, and ordinary Americans paid the price. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com NYPost.com FoxNews.com Germany suspends military exports to Israel amid Gaza crisis On Friday, Aug. 8, Germany announced the suspension of all military equipment exports to Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip. The decision follows Israel's approval of a proposal by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to expand military operations in Gaza, including plans to take control of Gaza City. Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed deep concern over the intensified military actions in Gaza, which he believes hinder peace efforts. He emphasized the need for comprehensive humanitarian aid access and urged the Israeli government to avoid actions like annexing the West Bank, which could jeopardize the prospects for a two-state solution. The suspension marks a significant shift in Germany's traditional role as one of Israel's strongest allies. A recent poll indicates that a majority of Germans support increased pressure on Israel. Germany's move follows similar actions by other European countries and reflects growing international concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. While Germany continues to support Israel's right to defend itself, it is also advocating for greater accountability and a renewed commitment to peace negotiations. Germany announced on Friday, Aug. 8, the suspension of all military equipment exports to Israel that could be used in the Gaza Strip. Chancellor Friedrich Merz made the announcement in response to the escalating Israeli military operations and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory. The decision comes after Israel's security cabinet approved a proposal by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to expand military operations in Gaza, including plans to take control of Gaza City. The Israeli government asserts that this move is necessary to dismantle Hamas and secure the release of hostages. However, the plan has sparked international condemnation and protests within Israel, with hundreds gathering outside Netanyahu's residence on Thursday evening, demanding an end to the war. Merz expressed deep concern over the "even tougher military action by the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip," which he believes complicates efforts to achieve peace and stability. "The humanitarian suffering in the Gaza Strip is ongoing and deeply concerning," he stated. While acknowledging Israel's right to defend itself against Hamas, he emphasized the need for "comprehensive access for aid deliveries, including for United Nations organizations and other non-governmental institutions." Merz also urged the Israeli government to refrain from annexing the West Bank, warning that such actions would undermine the prospects for a two-state solution. "No further steps should be taken that would make a two-state solution impossible," he said. Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) echoed these sentiments, stating, "The humanitarian suffering in Gaza is unbearable. The Israeli government bears great responsibility for the humanitarian situation in Gaza." Klingbeil emphasized the urgency of allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza and reiterated the importance of releasing all hostages and negotiating a ceasefire. Germany's special relationship with Israel Germany's decision marks a significant departure from its traditional role as one of Israel's staunchest international allies. Historically, Berlin has maintained a "special relationship" with Tel Aviv, rooted in the aftermath of the Holocaust and the subsequent commitment to Israel's security. This relationship has remained robust regardless of the governing political party in Germany. However, the current situation has prompted a reevaluation of this alliance. According to a recent poll, a clear majority of Germans believe that Merz should increase pressure on Israel. The fate of the hostages held in Gaza remains a primary concern for German voters, influencing the government's decision to suspend military exports. (Related: Germany refusing to send any more weapons to Israel unless Jewish leaders sign "genocide clause" promising not to slaughter innocents.) Between Oct. 7, 2023 and May 13, Germany authorized weapons and military equipment exports to Israel worth 485.1 million ($565.2 million). This figure underscores the significant role Germany has played in supplying arms to Israel. The suspension of these exports is expected to have a substantial impact on Israel's military capabilities in Gaza. Germany's move follows similar actions by other European countries, though it has not yet joined France and the United Kingdom in plans to formally recognize a Palestinian state. The German government has not specified which military equipment will be halted, but the announcement signals a shift in its approach to the conflict. Watch the video below where German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expresses continued military support to Ukraine. This video is from Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Former MEP condemns hypocritical EU for being "totally complicit" in Gaza genocide. EU to propose sanctions against Israel over Gaza human rights concerns. Friends of genocide: Has Germany learned nothing from the Holocaust? Sources include: RMX.news Bild.de DW.com Brighteon.com Israel kills five Al Jazeera journalists in targeted strike to silence Gaza coverage Israeli forces killed five Al Jazeera journalists, including Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqea, in a targeted strike on their press tent near Gazas al-Shifa hospital. Israel baselessly accused al-Sharif of being a Hamas operative, while Al Jazeera condemned the attack as an effort to silence coverage of Gazas occupation. The journalists were clearly marked as press, wearing vests and carrying cameras, when they were struck in an act the Committee to Protect Journalists called part of Israels long-standing pattern of killing reporters. Before his death, al-Sharif posted a video condemning Israels bombardment, warning that Gaza would be erased if the world remained silent. The UN and press freedom advocates denounced Israels actions, accusing it of systematically targeting journalists to conceal war crimes, with Western complicity enabling the violence. Even amid all the horrors we've seen in the ongoing war against Hamas, Israels latest actions have stunned the world with their brutality: Israeli forces deliberately killed five Al Jazeera journalists, including prominent correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqea, in a strike on their tent outside Gaza's al-Shifa hospital late Sunday. The massacre came just hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defiantly dismissed international condemnation of Israel's plan to occupy Gaza, signaling a chilling escalation in the war against both Palestinian civilians and the truth itself. Al Jazeera condemned the attack as a "desperate attempt to silence voices exposing the impending seizure and occupation of Gaza," while Israel offered only baseless accusations, claiming without evidence that al-Sharif was a Hamas operative. The truth, however, is undeniable: Israel is systematically exterminating journalists to conceal its war crimes from the world. A calculated massacre of truth-tellers The journalists (al-Sharif, Qreiqea, cameramen Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal, and assistant Moamen Aliwa) were stationed in a clearly marked press tent when an Israeli strike obliterated them. These were not combatants. They were unarmed reporters documenting the horrors of Israel's genocide, wearing press vests and carrying cameras, not weapons. Moments before his murder, al-Sharif posted a video on social media capturing Israel's relentless bombardment of Gaza City. His final words were a haunting indictment: "If this madness does not end, Gaza will be reduced to ruins, its people's voices silenced, their faces erased. History will remember you as silent witnesses to a genocide you chose not to stop." Israel's military later claimed, without providing a shred of proof, that al-Sharif was a "Hamas terrorist." This is the same regime that has killed 186 journalists since October 2023, nearly all of them Palestinians. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called the attack part of a "decades-long practice in which Israel kills journalists" and then smears them posthumously. A horrifying pattern of silencing dissent This was no accident. Israel has long waged war on the free press, barring international journalists from Gaza while targeting local reporters who dare to expose its atrocities. Just last month, Israeli military spokesperson Avichai Adraee posted a threatening video singling out al-Sharif, foreshadowing his assassination. Al Jazeera's managing editor, Mohamed Moawad, told the press: "They were targeted in their tent, they weren't covering from the front line The Israeli government is wanting to silence the coverage of any channel of reporting from inside Gaza." The UN's special rapporteur on free expression, Irene Khan, condemned Israel's "unsubstantiated claims" against al-Sharif as a "blatant assault on journalists." But words alone won't stop the bloodshed. Israel's impunity is enabled by Western governments, particularly the U.S., which continue to fund and arm this genocide while feigning concern for press freedom. A final message of defiance In a pre-written will shared posthumously, al-Sharif left a powerful testament to his mission: "I never once hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification Allah may bear witness against those who stayed silent, those who accepted our killing." He urged the world not to forget Gaza in a plea that grows more urgent as Israel escalates its slaughter. The timing of this massacre is no coincidence. Just days earlier, Netanyahu's security cabinet approved plans to forcibly occupy Gaza City, displacing nearly a million Palestinians. Killing journalists ensures there will be no witnesses to the ethnic cleansing to come. Israel's war on journalism is a war on truth itself. The assassination of al-Sharif and his colleagues is not just a tragedy but a crime against humanity, one that demands immediate accountability. If the international community continues to look away, Gaza's last remaining voices will be extinguished, and history will judge us all as complicit in their silence. Sources for this article include: MiddleEastEye.net BBC.co.uk CNN.com AlJazeera.com Shocking study reveals pregnancy complications double early stroke risk in women under 50 High-risk pregnancy complications more than double stroke risk before age 50, with stillbirth survivors facing nearly five times higher odds. Dutch researchers linked pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, gestational diabetes, and stillbirth to significantly elevated stroke risk decades later. Women with stroke histories were more than twice as likely to have had pregnancy complications compared to those without strokes. Pre-eclampsia and preterm birth were specifically tied to strokes from large artery disease, suggesting early cardiovascular vulnerabilities. The study challenges current prevention strategies, urging doctors to consider pregnancy history for early cardiovascular care, even before menopause. Women who experienced high-risk pregnancy complications face more than double the risk of suffering strokes before age 50, according to groundbreaking Dutch research that challenges conventional thinking about when cardiovascular prevention should begin. The study of more than 1,000 women aged 18-49 found those with previous stillbirths carried the most alarming risk: they were nearly five times more likely to experience early strokes than women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Researchers at Radboud University in the Netherlands examined pregnancy histories of women who had suffered strokes, comparing them with women who had not. Their findings, published in Neurology, reveal a disturbing pattern linking complications like pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, gestational diabetes, miscarriage and stillbirth to significantly elevated stroke risk decades later. The study included 1,072 female participants who had experienced at least one pregnancy, with 358 having suffered ischemic strokes between ages 18 and 49, and 714 without stroke serving as controls. This comprehensive approach allowed researchers to identify patterns that previous studies may have missed. Among stroke victims, 51 percent had experienced at least one pregnancy complication, compared to just 31 percent of women without strokes. After adjusting for age at first pregnancy, researchers determined that women who suffered strokes were more than twice as likely to have endured pregnancy complications. Stillbirth survivors face greatest danger The most startling finding involved women with histories of stillbirth, who showed nearly five times higher stroke risk. While the number of participants reporting stillbirths was relatively small, the magnitude of increased risk demands serious attention from healthcare providers. Women with pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy) faced approximately four times higher stroke risk, while those experiencing preterm birth or delivering small-for-gestational-age babies had nearly three times the risk of early stroke. "While the overall risk of stroke is still very low, our study found pregnancy complications may be an early warning sign of stroke risk-even before age 50," said study author Dr. Frank-Erik De Leeuw. "Knowing this history could help doctors identify those who may benefit from early prevention and cardiovascular care." The research reveals that certain complications, particularly pre-eclampsia and preterm birth, were specifically associated with strokes caused by large artery disease. This isoften linked to atherosclerosis, the dangerous buildup of fatty deposits in arteries. This connection suggests that pregnancy complications may serve as early indicators of underlying cardiovascular vulnerabilities that manifest years or decades later. The finding contradicts current medical practice, which typically delays intensive cardiovascular prevention until after menopause. Rethinking prevention strategies Current cardiovascular prevention strategies focus primarily on post-menopausal women, but this research suggests a fundamental shift may be necessary. The data indicates that pregnancy complications could serve as powerful predictive tools for identifying younger women who would benefit from earlier intervention. "Doctors should ask about pregnancy history when assessing stroke risk," De Leeuw emphasized. "Our study suggests we may need to start thinking about cardiovascular prevention earlier in life-not just after menopause." Previous research has established that pregnancy itself temporarily increases stroke risk through increased blood volume, altered blood clotting factors, and changes in blood vessel elasticity. The highest risk traditionally occurred within six weeks after delivery, but this new research suggests the danger may persist for decades. The researchers acknowledge limitations in their study, including reliance on self-reported pregnancy complication data and the inability to adjust for all stroke risk factors like blood pressure and cholesterol levels. These limitations underscore the need for expanded research using comprehensive medical records. Nevertheless, this groundbreaking research opens new avenues for protecting women's cardiovascular health by recognizing pregnancy complications as lasting risk factors rather than temporary challenges. The findings demand immediate attention from healthcare providers and policymakers committed to reducing preventable strokes in younger women. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk Academic.OUP.com News-Medical.net PhysiciansWeekly.com SLASH your risk of CHRONIC DEPRESSION and reduce ANXIETY by simply NATURE WALKING 15 minutes a day Reduce anxiety, depression and fatigue in just 15 minutes by walking in nature. Who knew? Sounds made up, but now science has proven it true. Plus, this will improve your mood and cognitive function, so its time to engage this simple, enjoyable task regularly and reap the health benefits across the board. A sweeping review led by Stanford University scientists has determined the exact amount of time people need to spend outdoors to reap substantial mental health benefitsjust 15 minutes a day. Drawing on nearly 450 studies, the analysis found that even short periods in nature significantly reduced symptoms of anxiety, depression, and fatigue, with effects extending to improved mood and cognitive function. 15 Minutes in Nature Boosts Mental Health: A Stanford-led review of nearly 450 studies found that just 15 minutes a day outdoors significantly reduces anxiety, depression, and fatigue, with mood benefits stronger from relaxing in nature than from exercising outdoors. A Stanford-led review of nearly 450 studies found that just 15 minutes a day outdoors significantly reduces anxiety, depression, and fatigue, with mood benefits stronger from relaxing in nature than from exercising outdoors. More Time Equals Greater Benefits: Spending over 45 minutes a day outside further reduces stress and increases vitality, with young adults seeing especially strong improvementscritical given most mental health disorders develop before age 25. Spending over 45 minutes a day outside further reduces stress and increases vitality, with young adults seeing especially strong improvementscritical given most mental health disorders develop before age 25. Urban Green Spaces Matter: Even small city parks, forests, and pocket parks can meaningfully improve mental health, leading researchers to call for more green spaces as urban populations are projected to reach 70% globally by 2050. Even small city parks, forests, and pocket parks can meaningfully improve mental health, leading researchers to call for more green spaces as urban populations are projected to reach 70% globally by 2050. Growing Mental Health Crisis: Rising rates of depression and anxietynow affecting nearly one in six adults and almost a quarter of children in Englandare linked to factors such as cost-of-living pressures and unemployment among young adults, underscoring the need for accessible daily nature exposure. Just 15 Minutes Outdoors Can Significantly Cut Depression Risk, Landmark Study Finds Surprisingly, the researchers discovered that exercising outdoors was not necessary to achieve these mental health benefits. Simply relaxing in a natural environment for a quarter of an hour proved more effective for mood enhancement than engaging in physical activity in nature. Lead author Professor Yingjie Li emphasized that momentary interactions with nature, such as sitting in a park, can meaningfully lower stress and improve overall well-being. While 15 minutes was enough to produce measurable improvements, spending more than 45 minutes outdoors amplified the positive effects, further reducing stress levels and boosting vitality. This finding adds to decades of evidence that natural environmentswhether rural landscapes or urban green spacespositively impact mental health and may even improve cardiovascular health. Crucially, this study is the first of its kind to differentiate the benefits of various types of natural settings. It concluded that even small urban parks, tree-lined streets, and local forests could deliver meaningful psychological relief. Young adults appeared to gain the most from outdoor exposure, an important finding given that most mental health conditions develop before age 25. The research comes at a time when mental health challenges are surging worldwide. In the UK, the number of people seeking help for mental illness has jumped by 40% since before the pandemic, with nearly four million individuals now in treatment. Depressioncharacterized by persistent low mood, lack of pleasure in activities, and low self-esteemaffects at least one in six adults during their lifetime. Physical symptoms can include changes in appetite, fatigue, insomnia, and decreased libido. Anxiety, often co-occurring with depression, can further worsen the impact on daily life. Alarming figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal that almost a quarter of children in England have a probable mental disorder, underscoring the urgency of prevention and intervention strategies. As urban populations are expected to reach 70% by 2050, researchers warn that without intentional planning, mental health pressures will intensify. To counter this trend, the studys authors urge policymakers to expand access to nature in cities by creating pocket parks, planting street trees, and ensuring all communitiesespecially those with high youth populationshave accessible green spaces. The findings suggest that even modest urban greening initiatives could be a cost-effective tool in addressing the global mental health crisis. Officials note that rising rates of anxiety and depression are likely influenced by multiple factors, including greater awareness of mental health conditions and socioeconomic pressures such as the cost-of-living crisis. Among young adults aged 18 to 24, the number who are economically inactive due to health reasons has more than doubled in the past decade. Ultimately, the Stanford review highlights that the solution to improving mental well-being may be as simpleand accessibleas spending a few quiet minutes outdoors each day. Tune your internet dial to NaturalMedicine.news for more tips on how to use natural remedies and holistic living, including simple exercising, for preventative medicine and for healing, instead of succumbing to Big Pharma products that cause, spread, and exacerbate disease and disorder. Sources for this article include: NaturalNews.com DailyMail.co.uk Swiss chard: Support optimal health and wellness with this nutrient-dense leafy green Swiss chard originated in the Mediterranean and has been used by the ancient Greeks and Romans for its medicinal properties. Swiss chard is rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants like beta-carotene and flavonoids, making it a nutrient-dense leafy green. Regular consumption supports bone health, vision, immunity and detoxification. It can also reduce inflammation and cancer risk. Swiss chard's high oxalate content may be a concern for individuals prone to kidney stones. Pesticide and heavy metal residues are also concerns. Opt for organic Swiss chard and wash thoroughly before consuming for your safety. Swiss chard can be enjoyed sauteed, in soups or wraps, in pesto or in Mediterranean dishes like spanakopita, offering both flavor and nutrition. Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla) is a leafy green vegetable that has been celebrated for centuries for its remarkable nutritional benefits and medicinal properties. With its vibrant stems and dark green leaves, Swiss chard is not only visually appealing but also a powerhouse of essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Swiss chard belongs to the goosefoot family, which also includes beets and spinach. Despite its name, Swiss chard did not originate in Switzerland but rather in the Mediterranean region, where it has been cultivated since ancient times. The ancient Greeks and Romans valued Swiss chard for its medicinal properties, using it to support digestion and overall vitality. The modern name "Swiss chard" was coined in the 19th century by Swiss botanists to distinguish it from other leafy greens. Today, Swiss chard is widely grown in Europe, North America and parts of Asia, where it is appreciated for its hardiness and adaptability to different climates. Nutritional profile and health benefits Swiss chard is packed with essential nutrients that contribute to overall health. Some of its most notable components include: Vitamins Vitamin K Crucial for blood clotting and bone health, Swiss chard provides over 300 percent of the daily recommended intake per 100 grams Vitamin A (beta-carotene) Supports healthy skin, vision and immune function Vitamin C A potent antioxidant that boosts immunity and collagen production B vitamins (B6, folate, riboflavin) Essential for energy metabolism and neurological health Minerals Magnesium Supports muscle function, nerve health and blood sugar regulation Potassium Helps regulate blood pressure and heart function Iron Vital for oxygen transport and preventing anemia Calcium Important for bone strength and muscle contractions Antioxidants and phytonutrients Beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin Protect against oxidative stress and support eye health. (Related: 6 Reasons to eat antioxidant-rich Swiss chard.) Flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol) Have anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. Chlorophyll Detoxifies the body and supports liver health. Swiss chard is a nutrient-rich vegetable, but it contains high levels of oxalates, just like spinach, beets and rhubarb. While this isn't an issue for most people, those prone to oxalate-containing kidney stones should consume Swiss chard in moderation or use cooking methods like boiling to reduce oxalate content. Additionally, Swiss chard is included in the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) "Dirty Dozen" list due to pesticide residues. Common pesticides found in conventionally grown Swiss chard include permethrin (a neurotoxic insecticide), DDE (a breakdown product of DDT) and neonicotinoids (linked to bee decline). Heavy metals like cadmium may also accumulate in Swiss chard grown in contaminated soils. To minimize exposure, opt for organic Swiss chard and thoroughly washing the vegetable before cooking or consuming. Culinary uses of Swiss chard Swiss chards mild, slightly earthy flavor makes it a versatile culinary ingredient. Here are some delicious ways to enjoy Swiss chard: Sauteed Swiss chard with garlic A simple yet flavorful side dish saute chopped chard with olive oil, garlic and a splash of lemon juice. Swiss chard soup Blend with vegetable broth, onions and herbs for a nutrient-dense soup. Swiss chard wraps Use large leaves as a gluten-free alternative to tortillas for wraps filled with quinoa, hummus or roasted vegetables. Swiss chard pesto Blend with basil, pine nuts, garlic and olive oil for a vibrant pesto sauce. Mediterranean Swiss chard pie A traditional Greek dish (Spanakopita) where Swiss chard replaces spinach in a flaky phyllo crust. From supporting bone strength to reducing cancer risk, Swiss chard's impressive nutrient profile makes it a standout among leafy greens. However, mindful consumption is advised for people with kidney concerns. By incorporating Swiss chard into soups, salads, stir-fries and more, you can harness its full potential for optimal wellness. This vibrant leafy green deserves a permanent spot on your plate. This story is not medical advice and is not intended to treat or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified naturopathic physician for personalized advice about your specific health situation or concern. Learn more about the health benefits of superfoods and other natural ingredients at NaturalNews.com, your trusted source for wellness insights and nutritional knowledge. For cutting-edge tools to expand your understanding of natural health, try Brighteon.ai, an innovative AI model created by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger. This free, downloadable tool is designed to decentralize knowledge, bypass censorship, and empower individuals with actionable information. If you're passionate about nutrition, natural medicine and uncensored discussions, visit Brighteon.com, a free speech video platform, and join our vibrant communities on Brighteon.IO and Brighteon.social. Dive into open conversations about food, ingredients and holistic health today! Watch this video to learn about the 10 amazing health benefits of Swiss chard. This video is from the Natural Cures channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Eat more Swiss chard to enhance endurance and lower your blood pressure. Kick your day off right with these meal-worthy smoothies. Top 41 nutrient-dense fruits and vegetables that you should incorporate into your diet. Sources include: Brighteon.AI NaturalNews.com Brighteon.com Trump authorizes military action against terrorist-designated DRUG CARTELS President Donald Trump has signed a classified order authorizing the U.S. military to conduct direct operations, including the use of force on foreign soil, against Latin American drug cartels. Several cartels, including Mexico's Cartel de Sinaloa, El Salvador's MS-13, Venezuela's Cartel de los Soles and Tren de Aragua, have been labeled Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs). Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is identified as the leader of Cartel de los Soles, responsible for drug trafficking into the U.S. and is central to recent U.S. efforts against narcoterrorism. The U.S. Department of State and Department of Justice increased the reward for information leading to Maduro's arrest or conviction to $50 million under the Narcotics Rewards Program. The New York Times report did not specify which countries might be targeted or how U.S. operations will handle resistance from local forces in cartel-controlled regions. President Donald Trump has signed a secret directive authorizing the U.S. military to conduct direct operations against Latin American drug cartels, including the use of force on foreign soil. According to a report from the New York Times, the classified order instructs the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to initiate military operations at sea and within the territories of cartel-controlled regions. The directive represents a significant shift in U.S. policy, allowing the military to engage in combat actions beyond American borders against groups long involved in drug trafficking. Several notorious cartels have been officially designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) since Trump's return to the White House in January. The list includes the following: Mexico's Cartel de Sinaloa El Salvador's Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) The Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang from Venezuela The Cartel de los Soles, believed to be led by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been vocal about the Trump administration's stance, calling for a reevaluation of cartels as armed terrorist groups rather than merely criminal organizations. Rubio emphasized on Thursday, Aug. 7, that the SDGT designation enables the use of "all elements of American power, intelligence agencies [and] the DoD" to target these groups. While the order opens the door for direct U.S. military intervention, the report did not specify which countries might face operations or the consequences if local forces resist U.S. action. Cartels operate across multiple countries in the region including Mexico, Venezuela and El Salvador. (Related: Mexican president rejects Trump's offer to deploy U.S. troops against cartels.) U.S. boosts reward for capture of Maduro, labeling him leader of narcoterrorist cartel In a striking escalation, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and Department of Justice (DOJ) meanwhile announced a significant increase in the reward offer for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of Maduro for violations of U.S. narcotics laws. Under the the Narcotics Rewards Program (NRP), tipsters could receive u to $50 million. "For over a decade, Maduro has been a leader of Cartel de los Soles, which is responsible for trafficking drugs into the U.S.," the DOS said in a statement Thursday. Last month the U.S. Department of the Treasury assigned the SDGT designation to the Cartel de Los Soles. "Since 2020, Maduro has strangled democracy and grasped at power in Venezuela. Maduro claimed to have won Venezuelas July 28, 2024, presidential election but failed to present any evidence that he had prevailed. The United States has refused to recognize Maduro as the winner of the 2024 election and does not recognize him as the president of Venezuela," the DOS continued. Rubio reiterated this announcement in a separate post on his official account on X that same day. "Maduro must be brought to justice," wrote the former senator for Florida. Visit DrugCartels.news for more similar stories. Watch this Feb. 20 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about USA military to wage war on drug cartels. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Mexico warns U.S. against sovereignty violations as Trump targets drug cartels. U.S. designates Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations, unleashing financial warfare. Trump designates drug cartels as terrorist organizations, invokes Alien Enemies Act. Sources include: News.Antiwar.com NYTimes.com State.gov X.com Brighteon.com Trump orders Commerce Department to start new census excluding ILLEGALS President Donald Trump has directed the Department of Commerce to begin work on a new census that excludes undocumented immigrants, aiming to change how representation and federal resources are allocated. The U.S. Constitution mandates counting all persons in the census, regardless of citizenship status, but Trump's plan challenges this longstanding interpretation. Trump stated the new census would rely on "modern-day facts," including information from the 2024 presidential election and only include legal residents. Trump previously tried to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census, but the Supreme Court blocked the move; he later sought alternative methods to estimate the citizen population. Other Republicans, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, have also called for a new citizen-only census, arguing current counts unfairly benefit certain states. President Donald Trump has directed the Department of Commerce (DOC) to begin work on a new U.S. census that will exclude illegal immigrants from the population count, marking a dramatic shift in how the federal government calculates representation and allocates resources. Under the U.S. Constitution, the census, conducted every 10 years, is intended to count the "whole number of persons in each State." The aforementioned clause historically interpreted to include citizens and noncitizens alike, regardless of immigration status. However, Trump's directive appears to challenge that interpretation directly. (Related: Trump's census recount plan: Excluding illegals to flip 30-40 house seats in GOP favor.) In a post on his Truth Social platform on Thursday, Aug. 7, Trump said the new census would be "highly accurate" and "based on modern-day facts and figures," including information derived from the 2024 presidential election. He emphasized that only legal residents should be included in the official population tally. "I have instructed our DOC to immediately begin work on a new and highly accurate census based on modern-day facts and figures and, importantly, using the results and information gained from the presidential election of 2024," Trump's post read. "People who are in our Country illegally will not be counted in the census." Trump, GOP lawmakers have been pushing to exclude illegals from census data since 2019 This is not the first time Trump has sought to alter the way undocumented immigrants are considered in census-related matters. During his first term, Trump sought to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census, arguing it was needed to uphold federal voting rights laws. Despite the Supreme Court blocking the move, he continued pushing for the change. This drew criticism from opponents who warned it would discourage participation from minority communities and lead to an undercount, even among legal residents. Eventually, Trump abandoned the effort to alter the census form directly. He instead directed federal agencies to gather records to estimate the number of U.S. citizens without relying on census responses. But now, Trump is not the only Republican pushing for it. Recently, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) introduced a bill that would conduct a new census counting only citizens, with congressional seats reapportioned based on the results. Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also claimed he spoke with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about redoing the count by 2026. He argued that Florida deserved at least two additional congressional seats in 2020. DeSantis suggested former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo was responsible for Rhode Island keeping both of its seats, despite the 2020 census being conducted under Trump's administration. "They said they were going to redo the count in time for 2026," DeSantis said. "Now they would have to do that relatively soon, because you need time to draw maps and you need time to get that done. But I think they should award Texas and Florida for sure at least one more seat." Bookmark Trump.news for more stories like this. Watch the Aug. 8 episode of "Brighteon Broadcast News" as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, discusses Trump's brilliant plan to defeat democrat election fraud in 2026 and 2028. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Census Bureau: U.S. population projected to begin declining by 2100. Stunning census study finds 63% of non-citizens in USA are collecting welfare. Not just elections: Deep state rigged Census count in order to give Democrats huge electoral advantages. Sources include: YourNews.com Edition.CNN.com TruthSocial.com Brighteon.com Zelensky rejects Trumps land swap proposal as Putin demands Ukrainian withdrawal Ukrainian President Zelensky firmly rejects Trumps proposed "territory swap" with Russia, declaring Ukraines sovereignty non-negotiable. Zelensky accuses Putin of using a deceptive ceasefire to legitimize Russias occupation of Ukrainian land, including Crimea and eastern regions. Russia demands Ukraine withdraw from annexed territories, while Ukraine refuses to cede any land, framing the war as an existential struggle. U.S. funding for Ukraine faces scrutiny amid corruption reports, while Russia sustains its war effort through backchannel deals with China and Iran. Trumps planned Alaska summit with Putin risks sidelining Ukraine, sparking outrage in Europe and fears of a forced unfavorable peace deal. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has emphatically rejected U.S. President Donald Trumps suggestion of a potential "territory swap" peace deal with Russia, vowing that Ukraines sovereignty remains non-negotiable. In a fiery video address, Zelensky accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of seeking to legitimize the occupation of Ukrainian land through a deceptive ceasefire. The war, now in its third year, shows no signs of ending, with both sides entrenched in their demands: Ukraine refuses to cede Crimea, Kherson, Zaporozhye, Lugansk, or Donetsk, while Russia insists on full Ukrainian withdrawal from these regions. Meanwhile, American taxpayers continue footing the bill for a conflict mired in corruption and geopolitical brinkmanship. Zelenskys uncompromising stance Zelenskys rebuke came shortly after Trump floated the idea of a territorial exchange as part of a potential peace agreement. "Now Putin wants to be forgiven for seizing the south of our Kherson region, Zaporozhye, the entire territory of Lugansk region, Donetsk region, and Crimea," Zelensky declared. "We will not allow Russia to make this second attempt to divide Ukraine." His remarks underscore Kievs unwavering position that any concessions would reward Russian aggression. Trump had suggested that a resolution could involve "some swapping of territories, to the betterment of both," a proposal immediately dismissed by Zelensky. "Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier," he said, framing the conflict as an existential struggle against imperialist expansion. The Ukrainian leaders defiance reflects broader fears that Western powers, weary of prolonged war, may pressure Kiev into unfavorable compromises. Russias maximalist demands Moscow, meanwhile, has doubled down on its territorial claims. Following referendums that were widely dismissed as illegitimate by the West, Russia formally annexed Crimea in 2014 and four additional regions in 2022. While Ukraine retains partial control over some areas, Russian forces have recently seized border territories in Kharkov and Sumy. Kremlin officials have repeatedly demanded a full Ukrainian withdrawal from these regions as a precondition for peace. Putins conditions include Ukraine surrendering the Donbas, the industrial heartland comprising Donetsk and Luhansk, in exchange for a ceasefire. Ukrainian officials have privately acknowledged the near-impossibility of reclaiming lost territories militarily, but publicly, Zelenskys administration refuses to entertain such concessions. "Any decisions against us, any decisions without Ukraine, are also decisions against peace," he warned. The high cost of war and corruption As the stalemate drags on, the financial and human toll mounts. The U.S. has poured billions into Ukraines defense, with little accountability for how these funds are spent. Reports of corruption within Ukraines government, including embezzlement scandals and inflated military procurement contracts, have raised eyebrows among American lawmakers. Meanwhile, Russias war machine, despite being battered by sanctions, continues to exploit backchannel deals with nations like China and Iran. The conflict has also strained transatlantic relations. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, insist that Ukraines fate "cannot be decided without Ukrainians" and not without Europe, given its security stakes. Yet Trumps unilateral push for direct talks with Putin that exclude Zelensky from initial discussions has sparked outrage in Kiev and Brussels. The proposed Alaska summit, set for August 15, risks sidelining Ukrainian interests entirely. A peace deal or a geopolitical trap? Trumps approach has drawn criticism from both hawks and doves. His suggestion of recognizing Russian claims over Crimea and occupied territories has alarmed Ukrainian allies, while his frustration with Putins intransigence hints at dwindling patience. "Its very complicated," Trump admitted. "Were going to get some back, were going to get some switched." But Zelenskys refusal to bargain suggests that any deal brokered without Kievs consent will collapse. The Alaska summit, if it proceeds, could mark a pivotal moment... or another dead end. Putin aide Yuri Ushakov called the talks a chance to "discuss options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution," but warned the process would be "challenging." With Ukraine excluded from the table, however, the outcome may only deepen divisions. Sources for this article include: RT.com NYTimes.com Telegraph.co.uk Sometimes, facts explain more than a picture or a thousand words. In August 2022, six months after the Russian invasion began, the Ukrainian municipality of Dobropillya was 55 kilometers (34 miles) away from the occupying troops. On August 8, 2024, a year ago, the Russian army had advanced to within 32 kilometers (20 miles) of this town in Donetsk Province, in eastern Ukraine. In June, when the Russian summer offensive began, the invading soldiers were still 25 kilometers (15.5 miles) away from Dobropillya. Two months later, they are now only 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) away. The litmus test that a city is preparing for an inevitable siege isnt just the columns of smoke rising on the immediate horizon, the artillery blasts, or the enemy surveillance drones hovering overhead: it is above all the fact that its rapidly emptying out its residents. The NGO Proliska evacuates 200 people from the area every day. Vans, cars, and families loading their belongings onto carts leave for Dnipropetrovsk province. The number of refugees fleeing Dobropillya has multiplied fivefold in two weeks, according to Proliska. Dobropillya is perhaps the epitome of Russias most consistent military streak since the spring of 2022, when it invaded Ukraine by surprise. The war is still a conflict spanning hundreds of kilometers of active front, but without major changes. The line of contact between the two armies is about 1,200 kilometers (745 miles). Much of this remains in stalemate, but Russia is pressing ahead in a way it hasnt for two years in multiple provinces, opening new hot spots in the Kharkiv region, Zaporizhzhia, and Sumy. With such a wide front, Moscow wants to push Ukraine, which has fewer troops, to its limits. The defending army has achieved the impossible: containing the invader. Therefore, in this war of slow and small changes on the front, what Russia is achieving in Donetsk province this summer is unusual. British intelligence services estimate that Russian troops commanded by General Valery Gerasimov have captured 550 square kilometers in the last month. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a U.S.-based group analyzing the Russian invasion, the figure exceeded 700 square kilometers, the fourth consecutive month of increased advance. According to ISW, not counting the first months of the war, similar figures were obtained only in November 2024. A building destroyed on August 7 in Dobropillya, Ukraine, by a Russian Smerch missile. Cristian Segura Dobropillya is located in the middle of the most important territory in the current Russian offensive: on one side is Kostyantynivka and on the other, Pokrovsk, the two cities that are the main prize Moscow wants to capture by the end of 2025. Thousands of vehicles circulate through the Dobropillya region, connecting the Ukrainian defenses in Donetsk, roads that the invader wants to cut off. Because if theres one thing the Russian army has excelled at in recent months, according to military personnel and experts, its breaking through Ukrainian logistics lines. My son is in the army, and three weeks ago he asked me to leave, saying that the Russians would be at the gates of Dobropillya by August, and I couldnt believe it, explained Irina, a woman who runs one of the few cafes still open on the towns main avenue, last Friday. Irina is already prepared for a last-minute escape and assumes she will lose her establishment: I guess I have hours left here; the power is out, and in the last week, at least three times a day, there have been drone or missile strikes around my cafe. First objective, Pokrovsk Kostyantynivka and Pokrovsk are being surrounded, with the Russian army following the same tactic that allowed it to capture the Donetsk municipalities of Avdiivka and Vuhledar in 2024. In both cases, Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, ordered the withdrawal of his fighters to prevent them from becoming isolated in the urban areas. If the pace of advance of the last six months continues, the next piece to fall should be Pokrovsk. The city, besieged for a year, has already been infiltrated by Russian reconnaissance groups. Enemy regiments are within 4,000 meters on its southern, eastern, and northern flanks. The front remains unsteady, says Faber, a major with the 155th Ukrainian Mechanized Brigade. Whats happening is that its shifting wherever the Russians are allocating the greatest number of resources, and now that place is Pokrovsk. The 155th Brigade is assigned to the defense of Pokrovsk. Faber, a 21-year army veteran, speaks to the journalist at a base in his area of operations, with the intermittent buzzing of enemy drones nearby. The Russians continue to sacrifice their men as cannon fodder, often using them as decoys to identify our positions, he says. The enemy is constantly attacking us in Pokrovsk, two or three guys on one flank or the other, explains Sjid, the code name for an infantry lieutenant in the 155th Brigade. Its like drop after drop of water falling on a stone until it makes a hole. But its not a given that Pokrovsk will be conquered by Moscow either. Kupiansk, a key city on the border between Kharkiv and Luhansk provinces, has been under threat from invading troops within 10 kilometers to the north and south for over a year. Kupiansk is being razed to the ground, access to it is closed off, and Russian forces are infiltrating more easily, but it is still holding out. Another case is that of Chasiv Yar, in Donetsk. This municipality, located on an elevated position, is of fundamental importance for capturing neighboring Kostyantynivka and for future advances on Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. The capture of these two cities would mark the end of the Donbas region as part of Ukraine. The siege of Chasiv Yar began in January 2024, and today almost all of its ruins are under Russian control. But Syrskyis men continue to hold their own on the outskirts, holding off the enemy assault on Kostyantynivka. Kostyantynivka is now closed to civilians, controlled by Russian drones. The access road, like those leading to Dobropillya, is being covered with nets to prevent enemy drones from hitting vehicles. Russian progress since May has been enormous, and the key to this is that they are hitting our logistics routes further [from the front] and with greater precision, explains Uziv, the code name for a member of an assault platoon of the Ukrainian police special forces (KORD). He and his comrades spoke with this newspaper on Thursday just a few kilometers from Kostyantynivka, as they prepared to return to combat positions. The most difficult time for infantry in both armies is front-line rotations, when soldiers must move under the threat of bomb-drones. Uziv confirms what other military personnel and analysts have highlighted in 2025: Russia has, as of this year, become clearly superior in unmanned aerial vehicles, not only in numbers but also in technology. Rotations are more difficult for us; on average, they have three times as many personnel-guided drones (FPVs) to attack our men, says Uziv. His unit emphasizes that Russian aircraft guided bombs are another decisive difference. And they have detected an increased use of cluster munitions. They burn everything with these, notes the commanding officer, nom de guerre Miti. Just minutes earlier, the EL PAIS team crossed a roadblock that had been hit with cluster munitions, while the surrounding fields continued to smoke. Death zone In a July 31 analysis, Michael Kofman, a military expert at the Carnegie Endowment, noted that the Russians had extended their aerial dominance with drones beyond the 15 kilometer (9.3-mile) boundary, known as the kill zone. Their ability to systematically strike has now been extended to 25 kilometers (15.5 miles), thanks in part to their superiority with drones connected to the pilot via fiber optic cables. This makes it impossible for radio frequency systems to disrupt the connection between pilot and aircraft. Thats why dozens of kilometers of roads in the Donetsk region are being protected with tunnel networks. Faber, of the 155th Brigade, expands the kill zone to at least 20 kilometers and confirms that Russian FPV drones have acquired longer-lasting batteries, and some models even have built-in photovoltaic panels. Their use of FPV drone bombs is now widespread, this officer explains. I would say that on many occasions they launch them without even waiting to receive the target coordinates from their Mavic surveillance drones, hitting whatever they find with them, including civilians. Workers install anti-drone nets on a road in the province of Donetsk, August 8. Cristian Segura The Russians are attacking deeper and forcing us to use longer and more difficult logistical routes; this is the main factor in their rapid advance, Miti added. His words were confirmed by an August 7 ISW report: The shift in drone tactics is allowing the Russians to carry out more sophisticated attacks on Ukraines logistical lines, defensive positions, and military industry. The Russian military, writes ISW, can strike deeper into the rear with new reconnaissance and attack drones that have longer flight times. Last Saturday, south of the city of Liman, in Donetsk, about 25 kilometers from Russian positions, this newspaper was able to verify the ISWs statements on the ground. The area, like the entire region under Ukrainian control, is constantly monitored by Russian surveillance drones that can fly at altitudes of more than three kilometers. In a grove of trees, an area where military vehicles and artillery are usually hidden, three columns of smoke rose, preceded by explosions spaced a few minutes apart. Ash began to rain down within a 400-meter radius of the blasts. Assault on Dnipropetrovsk Andrii was an infantry armored vehicle driver in a mechanized brigade. He hasnt attended his soldiers rotations with these armored vehicles for months now because, as he knows from his own experience, they are easy targets for drones. Andrii now rides a quad bike, a four-wheeled motorcycle, which he uses at sunset the hour he knows well when daytime drones switch over to nighttime ones (with thermal imaging equipment) to deliver supplies to the front line and transport soldiers on a trailer. The Russians were the first to use quads and motorcycles in 2024 as the optimal vehicles for evading drones on the front lines. The Ukrainians are now also using them, just as they have emulated the Russians in developing fiber-optic drones. Faber explains that the last time they used armored vehicles to reach the front lines, they lost three in one fell swoop. They now rely on ground-based drones for cross-line supplies, in addition to motorcycles. On August 10, a soldier from Ukraine's 155th Mechanized Brigade shows bullets from his rifle that have been modified with pellets to shoot down drones. Cristian Segura Andriis only armament is a shotgun with buckshot, the best-known weapon for shooting down fiber-optic drones. In the last three months, Ive already shot down six. Despite this, its much more dangerous to approach the zero line in an armored vehicle, Andrii says near Mezhova. Andriis brigade is fighting on this part of the front, bordering the provinces of Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk. This sector was initially linked to Russian attempts to besiege Pokrovsk, but as the Ukrainian General Staff warned in May, the objective would not stop there: the invaders also want to occupy part of a new province. Deep State Map, Ukraines leading mapping service tracking the conflict, confirmed on August 7 that for the first time in three and a half years of war, Russian regiments had taken up positions inside Dnipropetrovsk. Hundreds of residents of the village of Mezhova are being evacuated this August. Their tragedy parallels that of Dobropillya. The war front was 50 kilometers from Mezhova a year ago; today, the municipality is 15 kilometers from the front and is being attacked by Russian drones every two hours, according to Andrii. Claudia Katasonova and Irina Chervenko, evacuated from the village of Mezhova, Ukraine, on August 8. Cristian Segura Those fleeing are primarily elderly, like 86-year-old Claudia Katasonova and her friend Irina Chervenko. Katasonova had been living in Mezhova for three years after fleeing another region of occupied Donetsk. She thought that municipality and Dnipropetrovsk would be safe places: But you cant live there anymore. The police convinced me today to leave immediately, that maybe the Russians will be in the town in three weeks. It would be a problem if the Russians overcome Pokrovsk because from there to Pavlograd (a major city in Dnipropetrovsk) there are no longer strong enough urban bastions to contain them, warns Yuri Arabskii, captain and spokesman for the 155th Brigade. Volodymyr Kuzinov is from Pokrovsk and held out in the city until the mine where he worked was completely closed. In June, he left on his bicycle and has been living in Dobropillya ever since, also thinking it would be a safer place. He lost his house in a bombing raid and sleeps in basements or in the park. Visibly intoxicated, he says that, unlike Katasonova, he doesnt want to be evacuated: If I leave Dobropillya, theyll draft me at the first roadblock, and I dont want to go into the army. Ive seen those fighting in Pokrovsk for over a year, says Kuzinov, and I dont want to die. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Due to scheduled maintenance from Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10 PM to Sunday, March 16, 2025, at 2 AM, there may be interruptions for our News Gazette Digital subscribers. During this time frame, please click on any News Gazette website content without logging into your News Gazette Digital subscription account. Thank you for your patience during this scheduled maintenance. Donald Trump will deploy the National Guard in Washington and place the citys local police under his direct command as part of a plan he termed as liberating the U.S. capital from homelessness and crime. In addition, agents from the FBI will reinforce nighttime surveillance patrols and help local police fight alleged street crime, which Trump claims contradicting official data has turned the capital into a lawless city. He confirmed this Monday at a press conference at the White House, shortly after announcing the measure on social media. Im announcing a historic action to rescue our nations capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor, the president said in his appearance before the media, accompanied by his spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, among others. Im going to meet with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin... I dont like being here talking about how unsafe, dirty, and filthy this once beautiful city is, with graffiti on the walls everywhere. The National Guard is under state control but the capital only has district status, and its detachment is under the direct command of the president, not a governor. This is Liberation Day in DC, and were going to take our capital back, Trump said. Were also talking about beautification. Were the most beautiful, potentially, capital in the world, he added. But people come from Iowa, they come from Indiana, they come and then they get mugged. Not going to happen. Keep coming, because by the time you get your trip set, its going to be safe again, and its going to be clean." The president had already anticipated that he would take this measure in a series of messages on his social network, Truth. Washington, D.C. will be liberated today! Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will disappear. I will, make our capital great again! The days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people, are over! the Republican had written earlier. In his text, Trump, who boasts of having fixed the immigration problem on the southern border, had emphasized that the capital is next. The U.S. president has a complicated relationship with Washington, D.C., a city under Democratic control that has voted overwhelmingly against him in every election. During his first term, he bought the Old Post Office Building, which he converted into a luxury hotel, only to sell it after his defeat in the 2020 presidential election at the hands of Joe Biden. Both then and now, he has accused the capital of being a dirty, run-down place dominated by street crime. The data, however, contradicts him. Violent crime fell by 35% in 2024 compared to the previous year and reached its lowest level in 30 years, according to a Justice Department report published in January. In an interview on Sunday with MSNBC, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed concern about the possible deployment of National Guard troops. They are not police officers, she argued. I dont think it would be the most efficient use of our Guard. In a message on social media on Sunday, Trump announced that he would expel the homeless from the capital. The Homeless have to move out, immediately, he wrote. We will give you places to stay, but far from the Capital. The Criminals, you dont have to move out. Were going to put you in jail where you belong. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Kenya as having eliminated human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) or sleeping sickness as a public health problem, making it the tenth country to reach this important milestone. HAT is the second neglected tropical disease (NTD) to be eliminated in Kenya: the country was certified free of Guinea worm disease in 2018. "I congratulate the government and people of Kenya on this landmark achievement," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. "Kenya joins the growing ranks of countries freeing their populations of human African trypanosomiasis. This is another step towards making Africa free of neglected tropical diseases". HAT is a vector-borne disease caused by the blood parasite Trypanosoma brucei. It is transmitted to humans through the bites of tsetse flies that have acquired the parasites from infected humans or animals. Rural populations dependent on agriculture, fishing, animal husbandry or hunting are most at risk of exposure. As the name indicates, HAT is transmitted only on the African continent. The disease exists in two forms, gambiense and rhodesiense. The rhodesiense form (r-HAT), which is found in eastern and southern Africa, is the only one present in Kenya. It is caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and progresses rapidly, invading multiple organs including the brain. Without treatment, it is fatal within weeks. Kenya's progress "This validation marks a major public health milestone for Kenya, as we celebrate the elimination of a deadly disease in our country. The achievement will not only protect our people but also pave the way for renewed economic growth and prosperity," said Dr Aden Duale, Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Health. "This follows many years of dedication, hard work and collaboration". The first cases of HAT in Kenya were detected in the early 20th century. Since then, Kenya has engaged in consistent control activities, without indigenous new cases reported for over 10 years. The last autochthonous case was detected in 2009, and the last two exported cases, infected in the Masai Mara National Reserve, were detected in 2012. Recently, Kenya strengthened HAT surveillance in 12 health facilities in six historically endemic counties to act as sentinel sites. They were equipped with diagnostic tools and had their clinical personnel trained on diagnostic procedures, including the most sensitive and practical tests for r-HAT. The country also actively monitors the control and surveillance of tsetse flies and animal trypanosomiasis, both within and beyond the historical HAT endemic areas, supported by the national veterinary health authorities and the Kenya Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Council (KENTTEC). These activities and the related data provide supplementary backing to the claim of HAT elimination as a public health problem. "This key milestone reflects Kenya's efforts and commitment over many years, as a collaboration between national and county governments, national research institutions, development partners and affected communities," said Dr Patrick Amoth, EBS, Director General Health, Ministry of Health, Kenya. "The country remains fully committed to sustain the quality of care and surveillance in line with WHO's recommendations". Supported by WHO and partners, including FIND, Kenya's HAT elimination programme will now implement a post-validation surveillance plan to detect any potential resurgence or reintroduction of transmission. WHO continues to support ongoing monitoring in previously affected areas and maintains a stock of medicines to ensure rapid treatment of possible future cases, thanks to donations from Bayer AG and Sanofi. This success was made possible by the Ministry of Health's leadership, the dedication of health workers in areas at risk and the support from key partners. WHO is proud to have contributed to this achievement and encourages all stakeholders to remain involved in post-validation monitoring". Dr. Abdourahmane Diallo, WHO Representative to Kenya Progress in global HAT elimination A total of 57 countries have eliminated at least one NTD. Of these, 10 (including Kenya) have successfully eliminated HAT as a public health problem. The other countries that have reached this milestone are Benin, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea, Rwanda, Togo and Uganda. Traditional drug development methods involve identifying a target protein (e.g., a cancer cell receptor) that causes disease, and then searching through countless molecular candidates (potential drugs) that could bind to that protein and block its function. This process is costly, time-consuming, and has a low success rate. KAIST researchers have developed an AI model that, using only information about the target protein, can design optimal drug candidates without any prior molecular dataopening up new possibilities for drug discovery. KAIST (President Kwang Hyung Lee) announced on the 10th that a research team led by Professor Woo Youn Kim in the Department of Chemistry has developed an AI model named BInD (Bond and Interaction-generating Diffusion model), which can design and optimize drug candidate molecules tailored to a protein's structure alonewithout needing prior information about binding molecules. The model also predicts the binding mechanism (non-covalent interactions) between the drug and the target protein. The core innovation of this technology lies in its "simultaneous design" approach. Previous AI models either focused on generating molecules or separately evaluating whether the generated molecule could bind to the target protein. In contrast, this new model considers the binding mechanism between the molecule and the protein during the generation process, enabling comprehensive design in one step. Since it pre-accounts for critical factors in protein-ligand binding, it has a much higher likelihood of generating effective and stable molecules. The generation process visually demonstrates how types and positions of atoms, covalent bonds, and interactions are created simultaneously to fit the protein's binding site. Moreover, this model is designed to meet multiple essential drug design criteria simultaneouslysuch as target binding affinity, drug-like properties, and structural stability. Traditional models often optimized for only one or two goals at the expense of others, but this new model balances various objectives, significantly enhancing its practical applicability. The research team explained that the AI operates based on a "diffusion model"a generative approach where a structure becomes increasingly refined from a random state. This is the same type of model used in AlphaFold 3, the 2024 Nobel Chemistry Prize-winning tool for protein-ligand structure generation, which has already demonstrated high efficiency. Unlike AlphaFold 3, which provides spatial coordinates for atom positions, this study introduced a knowledge-based guide grounded in actual chemical lawssuch as bond lengths and protein-ligand distancesenabling more chemically realistic structure generation. Additionally, the team applied an optimization strategy where outstanding binding patterns from prior results are reused. This allowed the model to generate even better drug candidates without additional training. Notably, the AI successfully produced molecules that selectively bind to the mutated residues of EGFR, a cancer-related target protein. This study is also meaningful because it advances beyond the team's previous research, which required prior input about the molecular conditions for the interaction pattern of protein binding. The newly developed AI can learn and understand the key features required for strong binding to a target protein, and design optimal drug candidate moleculeseven without any prior input. This could significantly shift the paradigm of drug development." He added, "Since this technology generates molecular structures based on principles of chemical interactions, it is expected to enable faster and more reliable drug development." Professor Woo Youn Kim, Department of Chemistry, KAIST Joongwon Lee and Wonho Zhung, PhD students in the Department of Chemistry, participated as co-first authors of this study. The research results were published in the international journal Advanced Science (IF = 14.1) on July 11. Paper Title: BInD: Bond and Interaction-Generating Diffusion Model for Multi-Objective Structure-Based Drug Design DOI: 10.1002/advs.202502702 This research was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea and the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Routine childhood and adolescent immunizations declined in Michigan between 2017 and 2023, particularly among counties with lower household income and higher uninsurance rates, a new study suggests. For many key pediatric vaccines, completion rates dropped sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic and have not yet recovered, according to Michigan Medicine led findings in Pediatrics. "Our findings show that progress towards increasing childhood and adolescent immunizations is stalling in Michigan, increasing the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases," said senior author Kao-Ping Chua, M.D., Ph.D., a pediatrician and researcher at University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and the director of the Susan B. Meister Child Health Evaluation and Research (CHEAR) Center. Researchers analyzed county-level data from Michigan's immunization registry between 2017 and 2023. During the study period, completion rates of a recommended group of childhood immunizations among toddlers (including vaccines for pertussis, polio, and measles-mumps-rubella among others) fell from nearly 76% to 67%. Meanwhile, completion rates of a recommended group of vaccinations among adolescents (including vaccines for meningitis, pertussis, and tetanus) declined from about 81% to 75%. The study also assessed adolescent completion rates of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination series which can prevent several types of cancers, including cervical and throat cancer. Although completion rates rose modestly - from 35% to 42% for males and 43% to 45% for females - the increases were smaller than expected based on pre-pandemic trends, in part because the rate of increase slowed after the COVID-19 pandemic began. Our findings suggest that the pandemic interrupted the progress that was being made in increasing HPV vaccination rates in adolescents." Kao-Ping Chua, M.D., Ph.D., pediatrician and researcher at University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children's Hospital The researchers examined trends in immunization completion rates by county socioeconomic factors, including income and insurance coverage. The decline in the completion rates of the recommended group of childhood and adolescent immunizations was greater in counties with lower income and higher uninsurance, while the increase in the rate of the male HPV vaccination series was slower. "These changes often resulted in the creation of new gaps in immunization completion rates by county income or uninsurance rate or the widening of pre-existing gaps", said Chua, who notes that this is one of the first studies to examine recent changes in childhood and adolescent immunizations by county characteristics. Vaccines have long been one of the most effective tools in public health. In 2019, childhood immunizations were estimated to prevent over 24 million cases of vaccine-preventable diseases nationwide. Yet in 2025, the U.S. reported its highest number of measles cases in 33 years - a disease that had been declared eliminated in the country in 2000. Michigan also saw a spike in measles with more than a dozen cases reported in 2025 as well as pertussis (whooping cough), with 855 cases reported the same year, including 152 in children under two. "Reversing the declines in childhood and adolescent immunizations is crucial to prevent further outbreaks of measles and pertussis, both in Michigan and in the U.S. more broadly," Chua said. "To achieve this goal, broad-based efforts to increase immunization rates in all counties should be coupled with targeted efforts focused on counties with lower income and higher uninsurance rates." A new global review uncovers why many low- and middle-income countries struggle to produce up-to-date, evidence-based antibiotic guidelines, and how adopting WHO-backed strategies could be the key to turning the tide against resistant microbes. Study: Global variation in antibiotic prescribing guidelines and the implications for decreasing AMR in the future. Image credit: Saiful52/Shutterstock.com As antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to be a threat worldwide, antibiotic prescribing guidelines are essential. These must be evidence-based and updated regularly. A study published on Frontiers in Pharmacology looked at the variation in current local, national, and international prescribing guidelines, focusing on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs, including low-, lower-middle-, and upper-middle-income countries). Introduction The improper use of antibiotics is a significant reason for the emergence of AMR, which leads to nearly 1.17 million deaths a year. Without significant changes, this number could more than double by 2050. The danger posed by AMR is increased in LMICs for multiple reasons. The number of infections is higher, and patients are typically uninsured or poorly insured against healthcare costs, limiting their ability to obtain appropriate antibiotics. Using unsuitable antibiotics pushes up healthcare costs and the duration and severity of illness. In addition, such infections are likely to spread more widely, and new AMR may emerge. The World Health Organization (WHO) developed its Global Action Plan (GAP) on AMR to tackle this issue. The spin-off was the formation of National Action Plans (NAPs) for each country to promote the creation and implementation of good antibiotic stewardship policies and reduce AMR rates. Again, this is more difficult in LMICs, where training and resources are scarce. One of the NAP's aims is to develop antibiotic prescribing guidelines in each country. These documents are tools that recommend appropriate antibiotics in various clinical situations. They are especially valuable when the evidence is limited or when there is more than one treatment option, as they make clinical care more uniform. Publishing an antibiotic prescribing guideline is both technically challenging and expensive. For this reason, high-income countries (HICs) are more likely to have consistently relevant, evidence-based guidelines with higher healthcare demand and better resources. Top national guidelines today include the UKs NICE, the IDSA of the USA, and the SWAB of the Netherlands. However, this is often not the case for those from LMICs. Physicians in LMICs are encouraged to follow published guidelines as part of their continuing education, since evidence-based recommendations can improve antibiotic prescribing quality across healthcare facilities. Such practices are often part of antimicrobial stewardship programs at all levels of healthcare and may be quality indicators. These programs are key to tracking guideline adherence and minimizing inappropriate antibiotic use. Stewardship programs are challenging in low-resource settings like LMICs, where electronic health records (EHRs) have not yet been adopted. EHRs archive patient data and link up with other systems to guide clinical decisions. They help monitor antibiotic stewardship programs, audit institutions, and ensure guideline adherence. LMICs also often lack effective AMR surveillance programs, hindering the development of evidence-based guidelines. Unlike wealthy countries, LMICs usually frame their policies based on expert opinion or international guidelines. These could be ill-adapted to the culture or local health needs, often predicting low adherence to published guidelines. The current review sought to compare guidelines from various countries to see if they agree with WHO AWaRe recommendations, such as patient education and AMR stewardship. AWaRe principles prioritize Access over Watch antibiotics and avoid unnecessary broad-spectrum antibiotic use. A United Nations General Assembly target calls for 70% of all antibiotic use to come from the AWaRe Access group, highlighting this global policy focus. About the study The scientists examined 181 guidelines, mostly from wealthy countries, with LMICs making up about 40%. The analysis showed vast differences in how guidelines were developed, modified, and implemented across regions. It confirmed that guidelines originating from LMICs are more likely to be unstandardized, over 10 years old without updates, and leave more gaps. Only one in five used the standard Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology, almost always from high-income countries. Three other notable areas more commonly included in HIC guidelines were education, AMR surveillance, and antimicrobial stewardship strategies. Many guidelines, especially those from LMICs, did not stress the importance of patient education. The same trend was seen in the lack of implementation strategies, including audit, feedback, or performance indicators. This gap is probably due to constraints on digital health infrastructure and spending. Most guidelines mentioned patient communication, but modern strategies were not incorporated into LMIC guidelines, which, unlike those from HICs, generally had minimal patient-targeting material. While HIC guidelines typically integrated AMR data, LMIC guidelines often did not, partly due to outdated surveillance systems. Robust surveillance would require nationwide data collection in a standardized format, timely data submission, and incorporation into updated guidelines. Without locally representative data, antibiotic prescribing is likely to follow broad-spectrum patterns. Some LMICs are now working to make their AMR surveillance more effective and their national guidelines more locally relevant. Examples include empiric prescribing based on local susceptibility trends in Rwanda and formulary mapping in Kenya. These developments illustrate that progress is possible even in resource-limited settings, although challenges remain. Conclusions Countries at different income levels do not all have the same opportunity to publish rigorously researched antibiotic prescribing guidelines. The WHO AWaRe framework and Book could help advance antimicrobial stewardship, especially for LMICs, but this requires equitable reforms. Thus, advancing the development and implementation of standardized, context-specific guidelines aligned with the WHO AWaRe frameworkand supported by equity-focused reformscan significantly strengthen antimicrobial stewardship and help address the public health challenge of AMR. Increased investment in EHR systems, rapid diagnostic tools, and interdisciplinary research is essential to improve antibiotic stewardship. Cross-border application of guidelines from HICs is often attempted. However, the authors note that their review was limited to English-language, publicly accessible guidelines, which may overrepresent HIC contexts. The often-overburdened healthcare in LMICs, low research funding, and technical obstacles limit its assessment. If the threat of AMR is to be successfully addressed, antimicrobial stewardship programs must be appropriately funded via global partnerships. Patients and practitioners must be educated to reduce pressure and expectations, especially during self-limiting viral infections. Download your PDF copy now! Approximately 70% of incarcerated youth in the United States have a mental disorder. The challenges in this population are profound about 30% report suicidal thoughts, 12% have attempted suicide and 25% experience solitary confinement, a condition strongly associated with increased suicide risk. Depression is also widespread, affecting 10% to 25% of youth with moderate to severe symptoms. Comprehensive mental health screenings play a vital role in identifying who requires immediate care, as well as those at risk for developing more serious issues. Without timely identification and intervention, these conditions can escalate, leading to long-term psychological harm, impaired functioning and an increased risk of suicide. As such, national guidelines recommend mental health screenings as standard practice within the juvenile justice system. Several screening tools are used to assess depression and suicide risk in incarcerated youth. Some focus only on suicide, others on depression, and some cover both (like the APS-SF and MAYSI-2). The MAYSI-2 or Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument Second Version, is a short questionnaire commonly used in juvenile facilities to quickly check for signs of mental health issues and helps staff identify youth who may need further evaluation or immediate support. While these tools generally show reliable and valid results, there's limited research on how well they work specifically for incarcerated youth who are adjudicated delinquent, especially across different ethnic groups. Researchers from Florida Atlantic University, and collaborators, examined the effectiveness of these commonly used screening tools in detecting depression and suicidality among incarcerated youth. They evaluated whether these tools accurately measure the intended mental health constructs by examining how scores related to depression and suicide risk align focusing on both convergent and divergent validity and whether these results remain consistent across different demographic groups. The goal is to help practitioners choose the most reliable and balanced tools for assessing mental health needs within the juvenile justice system. Results of the study, published in the journal Behavioral Disorders, reveal troubling gaps in the accuracy and fairness of mental health screenings used with incarcerated youth who have been adjudicated delinquent. With a significant number of them entering correctional facilities and already facing serious mental health challenges, including high rates of depression and suicide risk, proper identification and timely intervention are critical. However, research findings suggest that the most used screening tools may not be as reliable for everyone as once believed. The study also found that the strength of these measurements varied depending on the youth's demographic background. Specifically, African American youth showed significantly lower validity scores on both depression and suicidality measures compared to white youth. For African American participants, the scores were nearly 0.1 lower for depression and almost 0.2 lower for suicidality. These differences raise concerns about whether current tools fairly assess youth from different backgrounds and if they unintentionally cause problems for these individuals during important decisions about their safety and care. Our study highlights a critical issue in our juvenile justice system. The core philosophy of juvenile corrections is that youth can and should be rehabilitated and that promise begins with proper mental health screening at intake. We rely on these tools to guide decisions that affect a young person's safety, treatment and future. But our findings show that these screenings may not work similarly for all youth, particularly across different backgrounds. If we're serious about justice and rehabilitation, we need to ensure that our assessments are not only accurate, but also fair. Anything less risks failing the very youth the system is meant to help." Joseph Calvin Gagnon, Ph.D., senior author and chair and professor, Department of Special Education within FAU's College of Education Despite the widespread use of tools like the MAYSI-2, the study highlights that relying solely on these measures may not be sufficient, and that there is urgent need for improved mental health assessments that are both psychometrically sound and culturally responsive. Moreover, there is a critical need to include additional information when screening incarcerated youth, including observation and clinical interviews with the child and caregiver informants. The researchers also identify the need for future studies using larger samples of adjudicated youth to better understand how these tools function and how they might be improved to identify more accurately those at risk. "Without valid and fair screening practices, many youth may continue to go unrecognized and untreated, placing their mental health and lives at further risk," said Gagnon. "Meaningful reform in mental health screening practices is essential to protect and support vulnerable youth in the juvenile justice system." Study co-authors are Jia Quan, Ph.D., the University of Kansas; Matthew L. Daley, Ph.D., the University of Florida; Corinne Huggins-Manley, Ph.D., the University of Florida; David E. Houchins, Ph.D., Georgia State University; Holly B. Lane, Ph.D., the University of Florida; Erica D. McCray, Ph.D., the University of Florida; and Richard G. Lambert, Ph.D., The University of North Carolina-Charlotte. This study was supported by the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). 11-year-old dies during Dahi Handi practice Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 20:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Mumbai, Aug 11 (PTI) An 11-year-old member of a Govinda squad died on Monday after he fell during a practice session to form a human pyramid for the upcoming Dahi Handi festival in Dahisar area of Mumbai, triggering concerns over the safety of young participants. Mahesh Jadhav suffered a head injury during practice on an open ground. He was rushed to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries, police said. Recommended Stories Jadhav used to participate in the Dahi Handi festival every year. This incident is indicative of several Govinda troupes practising without proper safety measures, an official said. He said not using helmets, safety belts, and harnesses potentially increases the possibility of such incidents in the festive season. Dahisar Police have registered an Accidental Death Report (ADR). top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Dahi Handi celebrations are part of Janmashtami that marks the birth of Lord Krishna. The festival will be celebrated on August 16. As part of the celebrations, Govindas or Dahi Handi participants form multi-tiered human pyramids to break Dahi Handis (clay pots filled with curd) suspended mid-air. PTI ZA NSK First Published: August 11, 2025, 20:15 IST News agency-feeds 11-year-old dies during Dahi Handi practice Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Indian envoy meets Yemen leaders, discusses bilateral ties Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 05:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Sanaa [Yemen], August 11 (ANI): Indian Ambassador to Yemen, Suhel Ajaz Khan, met the Chairman of the Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen, Rashad Al-Alimi, in Riyadh and discussed both countries relations and other matters of mutual interest.The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief of Mission Abu Mathen and First Secretary Rishi Tripathi. Amb. Dr Suhel Khan called on Chairman, Presidential Leadership Council of Yemen, H.E. Dr Rashad Al-Alimi @PresidentRashad today in Riyadh, along with DCM Shri Abu Mathen & First Secretary Shri Rishi Tripathi," Indian Embassy in Yemen wrote on X.They discussed India-Yemen relations & other issues of mutual interests," the post added.According to the Ministry of External Affairs, India was one of the early countries to have actively supported Yemens independence from the British and was one of the first countries to recognise the Yemen Arab Republic (YAR) in 1962 and the Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY) in 1967. In 1990, YAR and PDRY merged to become the Republic of Yemen.The total bilateral trade between India and Yemen for FY 2021-22 is USD 1.07 billion, as per statistics of the Department of Commerce, Government of India. The total export to Yemen during FY 2021-22 is USD 847 million (YoY growth 7.77 per cent), and the total import is USD 228 million (YoY growth 873.92 per cent), as per MEA.India exports rice, wheat, sugar, drug formulations, ceramics and allied products, processed fruits and juices, textile materials, petroleum products, yarn and fabrics, etc to Yemen. On the other hand, India imports iron and steel, petroleum, telecom instruments, aluminium and articles thereof, lead and allied products, electric machinery and equipment, copper and articles thereof, and raw hides and skins from Yemen.MEA stated that India ranks among the top in Pharma imports of Yemen with Ranbaxy, Cipla, Sun Pharma, Alkem Laboratory limited, Cadilla, Wockhardt, Glenmarc, Kopran Laboratories Ltd, Orchid, Medley and Biocon among others active in Yemens market. (ANI) First Published: August 11, 2025, 05:00 IST News agency-feeds Indian envoy meets Yemen leaders, discusses bilateral ties Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Maharashtra: Fire breaks out at cloth shop in Mumbais Washim Last Updated: August 12, 2025, 02:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 12 (ANI): A massive fire broke out late on Monday night at a cloth shop in Washim here. Fire tenders are present on the spot, and efforts to control the fire are underway.Speaking to ANI, Fire Officer Kamlesh Kohli said, I got a call that a Gajanan dresses cloth shop near Jinshakti Hardware caught fire. The fire was spreading very intensely. We reached as soon as we received the information. Two tenders have already reached the spot, and the third is on the way. We are trying to douse the fire as quickly as possible."The fire is still on, and we will try to douse it completely. The police, administration also reached the spot, and we have called in more tenders from Washim district," he added.In a similar incident, a fire broke out at a solar plate warehouse in Bihars Patna on Monday morning, a police officer said. The fire broke out near Mahadev Asthan under the Patna Bypass police station area.Patna City Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Fire Brigade, Gaya Nand Singh, told ANI, Fire broke out this morning at a solar plate warehouse. No casualties were reported. Eight fire tenders reached the spot, and the fire was brought under control.It looks like the fire broke out due to a short circuit," he added. (ANI) First Published: August 12, 2025, 02:00 IST News agency-feeds Maharashtra: Fire breaks out at cloth shop in Mumbais Washim Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Man caught on camera assaulting father in Nagpur; cops warn him Last Updated: August 12, 2025, 00:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Nagpur, Aug 11 (PTI) A shocking video of a young man assaulting his father in front of his mother over a family matter" in Nagpur city surfaced on social media on Monday. As the video went viral, police traced the man, a resident of Shanti Nagar, and counselled him though no complaint was lodged by the victim, officials said. Recommended Stories The footage shows the elderly man sitting on a sofa while his son repeatedly slaps, pulls his hair and grabs him by the neck. The mans mother is seen sitting nearby during the incident. The Shanti Nagar police traced the house where the incident took place and met the victim, who claimed such an incident had never happened before and refused to file a complaint. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The mother told police it was a family matter" and questioned their visit. Despite no complaint, police officials sternly warned the son and counselled him, stating violence towards parents would not be tolerated. PTI COR RSY First Published: August 12, 2025, 00:15 IST News agency-feeds Man caught on camera assaulting father in Nagpur; cops warn him Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Nearly half of Bdesh voters undecided about their choice in elections: Survey Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 20:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Dhaka, Aug 11 (PTI) Nearly half of the voters in Bangladesh have not yet decided which party they will vote for in the general elections scheduled for early February, said a survey released here on Monday. The number of people in indecision about whom they are going to vote has further increased, according to the survey conducted by the BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), a research wing of private BRAC University. Recommended Stories In October, 38 per cent of respondents said they had yet to make up their minds. That figure has now climbed to 48.5 per cent, the survey found, signalling growing uncertainty among the electorate as the election approaches. BIGD fellow Syeda Selina Aziz presented the survey results, saying their study collected opinions from 5,489 people from various professions in both rural and urban areas and of them, 53 per cent were men and 47 per cent were women. Seventy-three per cent were from rural areas and 27 per cent from urban areas. The interim government chief adviser, Muhammad Yunus, last week said the elections would be held in February. Later, the Election Commission announced that the polls would be held in the first week of that month. 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. A large offshoot of the Students Against Discrimination (SAD), which led the protests against then-premier Sheikh Hasina, formed the National Citizen Party (NCP) in February, apparently with Yunus blessings. The NCP is believed to have developed ties with the far-right Jamaat-e-Islami and other Islamist groups against the BNP. Asked which party they intended to vote for, 12 per cent of respondents named the BNP, 10.4 per cent Jamaat-e-Islami, and 2.8 per cent the NCP. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Responding to a question whether Bangladesh was on the right political track, 42 per cent of respondents said yes", a figure down from 56 per cent in October. According to the survey, about 70 per cent of respondents believe the upcoming election will be free, fair and impartial, while 15 per cent expressed doubt about its credibility. PTI AR ZH ZH First Published: August 11, 2025, 20:15 IST News agency-feeds Nearly half of Bdesh voters undecided about their choice in elections: Survey Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... The appetizer was Genaro Garcia Luna, the former super cop who was sentenced in October to 38 years in prison for organized crime. The U.S. justice system is now preparing to sink its teeth into the main course: the 29 drug lords handed over by the Mexican government to Donald Trump in the early days of his administration. These criminal masterminds including seasoned bosses such as Rafael Caro Quintero, Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, and Antonio Oseguera Cervantes could provide Washington with an unprecedented map of transnational organized crime and its penetration into Mexicos corridors of power. The cherry on top is Ismael El Mayo Zambada, the veteran leader of the Sinaloa Cartel, who has been in the hands of the Department of Justice since being handed over a year ago in an operation worthy of a movie. The Trump administration sent an important signal last week regarding how it is handling some of these drug lords. The Department of Justice officially notified that it will not seek the death penalty against Zambada, Caro Quintero, and Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, known as El Viceroy. By taking capital punishment off the table, prosecutors ease some of the pressure on the defendants and narrow the next steps to two options: work out a plea deal or face an open trial something unlikely before 2026 or 2027. The news came just days before The New York Times reported that the White House had instructed the Pentagon to use force against foreign cartels. The order marks an escalation from Trumps first move in February, when he designated six Mexican organizations and two Central American gangs as terrorist groups. Several of the Mexican drug lords handed over though not extradited to U.S. justice were part of the structures of these criminal organizations. The decision is no small matter given the words of Pam Bondi, Trumps attorney general, after the 29 traffickers were sent north. As President Trump has made clear, cartels are terrorist groups, and this Department of Justice is devoted to destroying cartels and transnational gangs, Bondi said in February, stressing that they would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The court cases, however, have taken a more pragmatic turn five months into the administration. The drug lords attorneys have welcomed the move. Frank Perez, Zambadas lawyer, called it an important step toward achieving a fair and just resolution. Kenneth Montgomery, who represents El Viceroy in a New York court, told the Los Angeles Times that the brother of the legendary Lord of the Skies and leader of the Juarez Cartel is extremely grateful for the decision. Sketch of the trial of Vicente Carrillo Fuentes, Brooklyn, New York, February 28, 2025. Jane Rosenberg (REUTERS) The decision marks a shift in the Trumpist narrative. In November 2022, when launching his presidential campaign, Trump promised that, if he returned to the White House, he would seek congressional approval for a law allowing the execution of all drug traffickers including cartel kingpins. Every drug dealer during his or her life, on average, will kill 500 people with the drugs they sell, not to mention the destruction of families, he declared at Mar-a-Lago. That promise has not materialized, despite the presidents pledge to reinstate executions. Among the flurry of executive orders the Republican signed in the first hours of his return to power was one aimed at bolstering the death penalty as a deterrent. Trumps executive order described it as an essential tool for deterring and punishing those who would commit the most heinous crimes and acts of lethal violence against American citizens. The president instructed the attorney general to seek the death penalty in all federal cases where it was warranted, especially for the murder of a police officer or law enforcement agent. This is precisely one of the most serious charges currently faced by Caro Quintero, who has been pursued for 40 years by U.S. authorities for the kidnapping, torture, and murder of Enrique Kiki Camarena, an undercover DEA agent who was investigating the Guadalajara Cartel. The last prisoner executed at the federal level in the United States was Dustin John Higgs, an African American inmate sentenced for three murders who died by lethal injection in January 2021, at the tail end of Trumps first administration. With Joe Bidens arrival at the White House, the government shifted policy, imposing a moratorium on federal executions. The Democratic president went further, commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 inmates on death row in the final days of his term. Upon returning to Washington, Trump ordered his attorney general to reassess these cases to determine whether the prisoners could be prosecuted again in local court systems. The solitude of El Chapo Guzman The Justice Departments decision may benefit some cartel bosses. However, Joaquin El Chapo Guzman showed last week that being one of the worlds most notorious criminals does not guarantee special treatment once behind bars. This past week, a handwritten note from the Sinaloa Cartel leader to Judge Brian Cogan the same judge who sentenced him in July 2019 to life in prison plus 30 years was made public. The letter was sent from the supermax prison in Florence, Colorado, where Guzman has been held since that year. The drug lord is infamous for having escaped from prison twice. In the letter, Guzman Loera complains that prison authorities have prevented him from meeting with his new lawyer, Jose Israel Encinosa, who has spent the past 10 months trying to see his client. El Chapo also denounces that he has been unable to make phone calls or receive the nine letters his defense has attempted to send him a right every inmate has in the United States. For me, the lawyer is vital, Guzman writes, before thanking the judge for his attention. A handwritten letter by El Chapo (l) and a court illustration of the convicted drug trafficker. Reuters Cogan, however, responded on Thursday that he has no say in the matter and advised the inmate to try with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. If that fails, perhaps the Colorado Supreme Court the state where he is being held might take an interest in his case. El Chapo is seeking to make himself heard so that his rights are respected. Meanwhile, the U.S. government is negotiating plea deals with his two sons, Ovidio and Joaquin. The first, known as El Raton (The Mouse), was the first to give in. Last month, the 35-year-old agreed to plead guilty to drug trafficking and organized crime charges. Joaquin, another leader of the Los Chapitos cell who handed over El Mayo Zambada to the authorities, is still pursuing a deal. The cartel bosses will seek reduced sentences now that lethal injection is no longer on the table. Sign up for our weekly newsletterto get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition Open remarks cost Rajanna his Cabinet seat Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 20:15 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Bengaluru, Aug 11 (PTI) A series of public statements that embarrassed the ruling Congress in Karnataka appear to have cost Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna his place in the state cabinet, sources in the Congress said. Rajanna was dropped on Monday, after his latest comments blaming the Congress government in Karnataka for letting the large-scale vote theft" happen in the recent Lok Sabha polls. Recommended Stories Rajanna had allegedly said that the bogus voting during 2024 Lok Sabha election happened right under the nose of the Congress government in Karnataka, a statement which contradicted the party line. The remark triggered immediate backlash from within the party, with the party high command taking it seriously and finally removing him from the cabinet. This was not his first run-in with the leadership. In recent months, Rajanna had publicly criticised the way appointments to boards and corporations were made, spoken about too many power centres in the Congress, and hinted at big political changes after September. Each time, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D K Shivakumar had tried to downplay his remarks. The decision to remove him from the Cabinet, however, made clear that the leadership had run out of patience. According to party insiders, Rajannas repeated public deviations from the official stand had undermined collective messaging and created unnecessary controversies. Addressing reporters, the Minister said he was not a politician to cling to power and would make his decision based on the situation. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Reacting to the development, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who is also Congress state president, said he was not aware why Rajanna was removed. I dont know why he was removed. The party has decided. We are friends and have been in public life together for the past 25 years. It pains me as well, but what can be done. After all, this is the partys decision," Shivakumar told media. PTI GMS GMS ROH First Published: August 11, 2025, 20:15 IST News agency-feeds Open remarks cost Rajanna his Cabinet seat Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Parliamentary panel reviews facial recognition rollout for Anganwadi services Last Updated: August 12, 2025, 00:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) New Delhi [India], August 12 (ANI): The Meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Women and Child Development was held today in New Delhi under the chairpersonship of Union Minister Annpurna Devi. The agenda of the meeting was Facial Recognition System being implemented in Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0".In her address, Annpurna Devi underlined the importance of the Facial Recognition System (FRS) in enhancing transparency, accountability and efficiency in the delivery of services under the Mission. She stated that the technology would ensure that benefits reach only genuine beneficiaries while eliminating leakages and duplication.Anil Malik, Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development, briefed the Members on the technical and operational aspects of the Facial Recognition System (FRS), highlighting its role in real-time monitoring of Take-Home Ration (THR) distribution through the Poshan Tracker. Gyanesh Bharti, Additional Secretary, MWCD, made a detailed presentation on the implementation strategy, benefits and impact of the system.The Members of Parliament shared their observations and provided constructive suggestions for further strengthening the initiative. They appreciated the introduction of the FRS as a significant step towards ensuring efficient and accountable service delivery to beneficiaries.The Union Minister expressed gratitude to the Members for their valuable inputs and directed the officials concerned to take necessary steps to incorporate the suggestions. She urged continued collaboration with Members of Parliament to address issues at the grassroots level.The meeting was attended by Members of Parliament representing both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including Sudha Murthy, Manju Sharma, Jobha Majhi, Dharmshila Gupta, Indu B. Goswami, and Kiran Chaudhary. (ANI) First Published: August 12, 2025, 00:30 IST News agency-feeds Parliamentary panel reviews facial recognition rollout for Anganwadi services Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Police say 3 dead in shooting at Target store in Texas; suspect detained Last Updated: August 12, 2025, 03:00 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Austin (Texas), Aug 11 (AP) Three people were killed on Monday in a shooting at a Target store here, and a suspect has been detained, police said. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said during a news conference that the suspect fled the scene after the shooting, stole, then wrecked a car and hijacked another. She said three people are dead and the suspect has been apprehended. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Recommended Stories Austin-Travis County emergency services spokesperson said first responders treated one person for unrelated injuries. The shooting came amid back-to-school shopping ahead of the upcoming school year. Target corporate has not responded to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment. (AP) RHL First Published: August 12, 2025, 03:00 IST News agency-feeds Police say 3 dead in shooting at Target store in Texas; suspect detained Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Prince Harry, Meghan, Netflix extend partnership for streaming programmes Last Updated: August 12, 2025, 00:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Los Angeles, Aug 11 (AP) Prince Harry and Meghan have extended their partnership with Netflix and their media company, Archewell Productions, with a multiyear, first-look deal, the couple announced Monday. Archewell began collaborating with the streaming giant in 2020 and have produced a handful of documentary content, including the popular Harry & Meghan". The Duchess of Sussex also developed a lifestyle brand, As Ever, in partnership with Netflix. Recommended Stories The collaboration has also produced the documentary series Polo," Heart of Invictus" and Live to Lead". My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally, and celebrates our shared vision," Meghan said in a statement. The couple and Netflix also announced upcoming collaborations, including a second season of, With Love, Meghan," a lifestyle and cooking show starring the duchess. The show will also receive a special holiday episode in December. The show is Netflixs most-watched culinary show since its March release, according to the company. It ranked low compared to other releases in the first half of this year, with 5.3 million views, according to Netflixs semiannual report. Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within," a documentary short film that centres on a small orphanage in Ugandas Masaka region, is also set to release this year. Archewell is also in production with Netflix on a feature adaptation of Carley Fortunes novel Meet Me at the Lake." The drama follows a decade-spanning love story that begins with a chance encounter and a broken promise," the statement read. Harry and Meghan are influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere. The response to their work speaks for itself," Bela Bajaria, Netflixs chief content officer, said in a statement. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Their extended deal with Netflix is the latest in the couples yearslong effort to develop business ventures in the United States. They had also penned a multiyear deal with Spotify in 2020 and produced a podcast, Archetypes", but cut ties with the company in 2023. The couple have been detangling their lives from the British royal family and are living in California with their two young children. (AP) SCY First Published: August 12, 2025, 00:30 IST News agency-feeds Prince Harry, Meghan, Netflix extend partnership for streaming programmes Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Rajasthan: Man kills wife, tries to pass it off as attack by robbers; 3 nabbed Last Updated: August 12, 2025, 00:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Jaipur, Aug 11 (PTI) A man was arrested for allegedly killing his wife in Rajasthans Kishangarh after he reported to police that she was attacked by robbers, officials said on Monday. Another accused was also arrested and a minor was detained in connection with the incident, police said. Recommended Stories According to a police officer, the accused husband had an extra marital affair due to which he hatched the plan to kill his wife. Police said Rohit Saini (35) reached government hospital in Kishangarh in Ajmer district with his injured wife Sanju (33) on Sunday, claiming some unidentified persons slit her throat. He also came to the hospital with minor injuries. Doctors declared Sanju dead and Rohit was admitted. Police said preliminary investigation suggest that the sequence of events narrated by Rohit turned out to be fake". His statements were misleading. When he was discharged from the hospital, he was questioned. During questioning, it became clear that he had slit his wifes throat and rushed her to the hospital," a police officer said. He allegedly had an extra marital affair and hence conspired to kill his wife, police said. He involved two others in the plan and on Sunday, when he was returning from his in-laws house with his wife, he stopped the bike at a deserted place where the two other accused met him," they added. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The three then killed Sanju, following which his associates fled with her valuables so that Rohit could make up a fake story of robbery and murder," police said. After investigation, Rohit, his friend were arrested and a minor was detained. PTI SDA OZ OZ First Published: August 12, 2025, 00:30 IST News agency-feeds Rajasthan: Man kills wife, tries to pass it off as attack by robbers; 3 nabbed Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Why Niger investigating $5 mn sale of largest Mars rock found on Earth Last Updated: August 12, 2025, 00:30 IST Representational image (Image: News18) Dakar (Senegal), Aug 11 (AP) Its the largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth a 25 gm meteorite that fetched more than $5 million at a New York auction last month, setting a world record. But in the West African nation of Niger, where the rusty-red rock was unearthed in the Sahara Desert, officials have launched an investigation into what they call possible illicit international trafficking," claiming it may have been smuggled out of the country. Recommended Stories Sothebys said the rock, named NWA 16788, was blown off the surface of Mars by a massive asteroid strike and travelled 140 million miles (225 million km) to Earth. It was discovered in the Sahara in northwestern Niger by a meteorite hunter in November 2023, according to the auction house. His identity was not disclosed. Nor was the identity of the buyer last month. Meteorite hunting is growing in arid Saharan countries like Niger. Though meteorites can fall anywhere on Earth, the Sahara has become a prime spot for their discovery in part due to the favourable climate for their preservation. Hunters often search for space rocks that can be sold to collectors or scientists. The rarest and most precious are from Mars and the moon. According to the Heritage academic journal, the rock was sold to an international dealer before it ended up in a private galley in Italy. A team of scientists from the University of Florence examined the rock last year to learn more about its structure and where it came from before falling to Earth, the publication said. The meteorite was also briefly on display in Rome before it was next seen in public in New York last month during the auction. Following the sale, Niger raised questions about how the meteorite came to be sold at auction. Nigers government announced an investigation last month to determine the circumstances of the meteorites discovery and sale, saying in a statement it was akin to illicit international trafficking." Last week, President Abdourahamane Tiani suspended the export of precious stones, semi-precious stones and meteorites nationwide" in an effort to ensure their traceability. Sothebys said in a statement sent to The Associated Press the meteorite was exported from Niger and transported in line with all relevant international procedures. As with everything we sell, all necessary documentation was in order at each stage of its journey, in accordance with best practice and the requirements of the countries involved," the statement read. Authorities in Niger did not respond to AP questions. While global agreements are in place to regulate the trade of cultural artifacts, there is ambiguity about whether meteorites are covered. Patty Gerstenblith, a cultural heritage lawyer and expert on illicit trade, said that under the UNESCO convention on cultural property which Niger and the US have ratified meteorites can qualify as cultural property. However, Gerstenblith said Niger needs to prove it owned the meteorite and that it was stolen, as illegal export from the country does not make the meteorite illegal in the US. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all If the meteorite was not stolen and if it was properly declared upon import into the US, then it would not seem that Niger can recover the meteorite," she told the AP. Some countries, like Morocco, one of the leading sources of meteorites on the international market, require restitution if the objects are discovered on their territory. But enforcement has been challenging due to the vast desert areas and informal trading networks. (AP) SCY First Published: August 12, 2025, 00:30 IST News agency-feeds Why Niger investigating $5 mn sale of largest Mars rock found on Earth Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... This New Airport In UP Near NCR Has Land Ready. When Will Flights Begin? Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 17:56 IST This move follows rapid infrastructure growth in Uttar Pradesh, with work already ongoing at the international airport in Jewar, Gautam Buddha Nagar, boosting regional connectivity Follow us on: The UP government confirmed that land has been arranged for the runway to accommodate 72-seater aircraft. (Representative/PTI) The Uttar Pradesh government is gearing up to boost regional connectivity with plans to build a new airport in Meerut district, near the National Capital Region (NCR). This move comes as infrastructure development accelerates across the state, following ongoing work on the international airport in Jewar, Gautam Buddha Nagar. The new Meerut airport aims to further enhance air travel options and support economic growth in the region. The Meerut Development Authority (MDA) had previously announced the airport project, and the UP government confirmed that land has been arranged for the runway to accommodate 72-seater aircraft. The land designated for the runway has been registered under Civil Aviation, signalling the imminent commencement of development work. Recommended Stories How Much Land Will The Airport Cover? According to the Meerut Development Authority, around 46 acres of land have been registered under civil aviation, with dues already paid. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has requested the authority to arrange an additional 96 acres for developing facilities beyond the runway and constructing the airport building. What Challenges Are Hindering Airport Construction? The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has stated that, in addition to the runway, 96 acres of land are needed for other facilities. The Meerut administration said it currently has 75 acres and is negotiating with farmers for the remaining 21 acres, a matter currently pending in court. AAI has also urged the administration to promptly remove other obstacles, including electric wires and poles. Plans For Airports Second And Third Phases Discussed The AAI has informed the Meerut administration that permission has been granted only for the first phase. However, 300 acres of land will be required for the second phase and 200 acres for the third phase. Currently, work that had been pending for 20 years is complete, and the land for the runway has been registered under Civil Aviation. Although this land was acquired from farmers, full registration was delayed due to incomplete payment from the government. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all How Much Land Do Farmers Own? According to the Meerut administration, the second phase of the airport will require about 206 hectares of land. Of this, 129 hectares are currently registered under farmers names. Negotiations are underway, and consent letters are being obtained from the farmers. The remaining land belongs to the Meerut Development Authority, Municipal Corporation, Forest Department, and Cooperative Dairy. Acquiring these lands from the respective departments will help prepare the framework for the airports expansion. Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Get the latest updates on car and bike launches in India including reviews, prices, specs, and performance. Stay informed with breaking auto industry news , EV policies, and more. You can also download the News18 App to stay updated. view comments Location : Meerut, India, India First Published: August 11, 2025, 17:56 IST News auto This New Airport In UP Near NCR Has Land Ready. When Will Flights Begin? 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 VLF Mobster Electric Scooter India Launch On September 25, All You Need To Know Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 09:12 IST While full pricing, booking details, and in-depth specifications are being kept under wraps for now, these will be revealed at the launch event. The VLF Mobster will first be unveiled in Pune, which will host its grand debut event. Motohaus India has officially confirmed that the much-anticipated VLF Mobster will make its grand debut on 25 September 2025. Recommended Stories The scooter is designed by acclaimed Italian designer Alessandro Tartarini. Furthermore, it will be unveiled in Pune before becoming available in select cities including Delhi, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Goa, and Lucknow. What makes the Mobster different? The Mobster features a liquid-cooled engine, dual-channel switchable ABS, and dual disc brakes. These elements are uncommon in many scooters currently on Indian roads, potentially offering riders more precise braking and consistent performance in varying conditions. The scooters styling takes inspiration from aggressive street design, with sharp lines and a robust stance. Were gearing up to unleash something the scooter world hasnt seen in a long time petrol powered, tech-packed and designed to stand out! The VLF Mobster is not just coming, its coming to shake things up. I cant wait for India to witness what weve been building," said Tushar Shelke, Managing Director of Motohaus India. Where will it be available? Following the Pune launch, the Mobster will be sold through Motohaus showrooms in ten cities initially. The company has indicated plans to expand availability to more locations across India before the scooters public release. Price and other details top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all While the launch date is confirmed, Motohaus has yet to announce the price, booking process, and complete technical specifications. These are expected to be shared at the launch event in September. About the Author Samreen Pall Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: 'Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.' This motto c... Read More Samreen Pall, Senior Sub-Editor at News18, is a Computer Science graduate but a writer at heart, Samreen has one motto that she swears by: 'Everything is dull and useless if it has no drama in it.' This motto c... Read More Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Get the latest updates on car and bike launches in India including reviews, prices, specs, and performance. Stay informed with breaking auto industry news , EV policies, and more. You can also download the News18 App to stay updated. First Published: August 11, 2025, 09:12 IST News auto VLF Mobster Electric Scooter India Launch On September 25, All You Need To Know Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... All Time Plastics IPO To Close Today: Check Subscription Status, GMP Today Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 10:42 IST The grey market premium of the All Time Plastics IPO stands at 3.64%, indicating a weak market debut. All Time Plastics IPO GMP. All Time Plastics IPO GMP: The initial public offering of consumerware products maker All Time Plastics is going to be closed today, Monday, August 11. The price of the Rs 400.6-crore IPO has been fixed in the range of Rs 260-275 per share. Till 10:29 am on the final day of bidding on Monday, the issue received a 1.5x subscription, garnering bids for 1,53,49,230 shares as against the 1,02,10,259 shares on offer. The retail and NII participation stood at 2.13x and 1.5x, respectively. The QIB category received a 0.38x subscription. Recommended Stories The IPOs grey market premium stood at 3.64%, indicating a weak market debut. All Time Plastics IPO Price And Lot Size The price band of the IPO has been fixed in the range of Rs 260-275 per share. For investors, the minimum lot size for the IPO is 54. It means investors will have to apply for a minimum of 54 shares or in multiple thereof. So, retail investors require a minimum capital of Rs 14,040 at the upper price band to apply for the IPO. All Time Plastics IPO Key Dates The IPO remains open for public subscription between August 7, 2025, and August 11, 2025. The share allotment will likely be finalised on August 12, and the company is expected to be listed on both BSE and NSE on August 14. All Time Plastics IPO GMP Today According to market observers, unlisted shares of All Time Plastics Ltd are currently trading at Rs 285 against the upper IPO price of Rs 275. It means a grey market premium or GMP of Rs 10, which is 3.64% over its issue price, indicating a weak listing for the issue. The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing. Grey market premium indicates investors readiness to pay more than the issue price. All Time Plastics IPO: More Info The IPO is a combination of fresh issuance of equity shares worth up to Rs 280 crore by the company, and an offer-for-sale of over 43.8 lakh equity shares valued Rs 120.6 crore, at the upper end of the price band, by promoters. This takes the total issue size to Rs 401 crore. The companys public issue, with a price band of Rs 260-275 per share, will conclude on August 11. At the upper end of the price band, the company is valued over Rs 1,800 crore. Ahead of the IPO, All Time Plastics on Wednesday said it has garnered Rs 120 crore from anchor investors. The company plans to utilise funds raised from fresh issuance for acquiring machinery for its Manekpur plant in Gujarat, payment of debt, general corporate purposes and other expansion efforts. All Time Plastics has 14 years experience of manufacturing plastic consumerware products for everyday household needs. It primarily exports products to retailers in the European Union, the UK, and the US. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In India, it sells through modern trade retailers, super distributors (who supply to distributors), and distributors (who supply to general trade stores). Intensive Fiscal Services and DAM Capital Advisors are the merchant bankers for All Time Plastics public issue. The company is expected to list on the stock exchanges on August 14. About the Author Mohammad Haris Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h... Read More Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h... Read More First Published: August 11, 2025, 10:42 IST News business ipo All Time Plastics IPO To Close Today: Check Subscription Status, GMP Today Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... JSW Cement IPO Last Day: Issues Gets Only 67% Subscription So Far: Should You Apply? Check Details Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 10:28 IST The grey market premium of the JSW Cement IPO has fallen from 4.08% to 3.40%, indicating a weak market debut. JSW Cement IPO GMP. JSW Cement IPO GMP: The initial public offering of JSW Cement, the cement arm of Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Group, is going to be closed today, Monday, August 11, and the issue has not been fully subscribed yet. The price of the Rs 3,600-crore IPO has been fixed in the range of Rs 139-147 per share. Till 10:14 am on the final day of bidding on Monday, the issue received a 67% (or 0.67x) subscription, garnering bids for 11,50,93,434 shares as against the 17,14,28,574 shares on offer. The retail and NII participation stood at 0.85x and 0.80x, respectively. The QIB category received a 0.26x subscription. Recommended Stories The IPOs grey market premium has fallen from 4.08% to 3.40%, indicating a weak market debut. JSW Cement IPO Size The offering comprises a fresh issue of equity shares worth Rs 1,600 crore and an Offer for Sale (OFS) component of up to Rs 2,000 crore by existing shareholders. Under the OFS, Apollo Management, through its affiliate AP Asia Opportunistic Holdings Pte Ltd, will offload shares worth Rs 931.8 crore. Synergy Metals Investments Holding Ltd, a fund promoted by former ArcelorMittal executive Sudhir Maheshwari, will divest shares worth Rs 938.5 crore, while the State Bank of India will sell shares valued at Rs 129.7 crore. This IPO size is lower than the earlier proposed Rs 4,000 crore. JSW Cement IPO Price And Lot Size The price band of the IPO has been fixed in the range of Rs 139-147 per share. For investors, the minimum lot size for the IPO is 102. It means investors will have to apply for a minimum of 102 shares or in multiple thereof. So, retail investors require a minimum capital of Rs 14,994 at the upper price band to apply for the IPO. JSW Cement IPO Key Dates The IPO remains open for public subscription between August 7, 2025, and August 11, 2025. The share allotment will likely be finalised on August 12, and the company is expected to be listed on both BSE and NSE on August 14. JSW Cement IPO GMP Today According to market observers, unlisted shares of JSW Cement Ltd are currently trading at Rs 152 against the upper IPO price of Rs 147. It means a grey market premium or GMP of Rs 5, which is 3.40% over its issue price, indicating weak listing for the issue. The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing. Grey market premium indicates investors readiness to pay more than the issue price. JSW Cement IPO: Should You Apply? Though GMP is subdued, brokerage views on the JSW Cement IPO are largely positive, with most analysts recommending a subscribe rating despite some caution around valuation and profitability. Heres what leading brokerages are saying: Reliance Securities: Subscribe Reliance Securities highlights JSW Cements leadership in scale, cost efficiency, and sustainability. With rising infrastructure and housing demand, and a growing shift towards low-carbon materials, the company is well-positioned for long-term growth. The offering provides investors an opportunity to participate in a differentiated, future-ready cement player Consolidation in the sector will benefit scale players like JSW Cement," it said, recommending a subscribe. Ventura Securities: Subscribe Ventura believes the companys expansion in Rajasthan, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh will help diversify its reach and improve economies of scale. While the company reported a loss in FY25, this was attributed to one-off adjustments and strategic investments. With ramped-up capacity and improved margins, JSW Cement is expected to return to profitability in FY26," it said, giving a subscribe rating. Lakshmishree Securities: Subscribe Lakshmishree appreciates JSW Cements stronghold in eco-friendly products and strategic access to raw materials through its JSW Group companies. Though it flags concerns around declining ROE and profitability, it sees long-term potential. Despite near-term challenges, its strong brand, sustainability focus, and balance sheet strengthening plans make it an attractive long-term play," it said, assigning a subscribe. Canara Bank Securities: Subscribe Canara Bank Securities acknowledges the stretched valuation (32x EV/Ebitda, 6x P/B), but sees value in the companys positioning as Indias fastest-growing and the worlds greenest cement producer. Strong group synergies and growth momentum justify a subscribe call," it said. SMIFS: Subscribe SMIFS expects pressure on near-term profitability but believes the companys capacity scale-up, operational efficiency, and product mix shift will drive future earnings growth. We recommend subscribing, as margin recovery and earnings improvement are likely in the upcoming cycle," it said. Swastika Investmart: Subscribe (For High-Risk Investors) Swastika highlights JSW Cements ambitious expansion and market standing, but points to inconsistent profits and aggressive valuations. Short-term gains may be volatile due to losses and high valuations. High-risk investors can consider for long-term potential," it advised. AUM Capital: Subscribe AUM Capital appreciates JSW Cements strong growth in installed capacity and sales, and its edge as the largest GGBS producer. It also cites the JSW Group branding as a key strength offering financial and operational flexibility. Arihant Capital Markets: Neutral Arihant Capital stands out as the only cautious voice. While recognising JSW Cements integrated operations, cost efficiencies, and strong ESG credentials, it flags concerns over steep valuations, citing an EV/Ebitda of 31x on FY25 estimates above industry norms. We remain neutral due to the IPOs aggressive pricing," it said. JSW Cement IPO: More Info JSW Cement, part of the diversified JSW Group, on Wednesday mobilised Rs 1,080 crore from anchor investors, a day before its initial share-sale opening for public subscription. The IPO, which includes a fresh issue of Rs 1,600 crore of shares and Rs 2,000 crore of shares to be sold by current shareholders through Offer for Sale, will be open between August 7-11. As part of the OFS, private equity giant Apollo Management, through its affiliate AP Asia Opportunistic Holdings Pte Ltd, as well as Synergy Metals Investments Holding Ltd and State Bank of India (SBI) will offload shares. Synergy Metals Investments Holding is an arm of Synergy Metals and Mining Fund, a private equity fund set up by a former executive of steelmaker ArcelorMittal Sudhir Maheshwari in 2015. According to the draft papers, the company will utilise proceeds worth Rs 800 crore to part-finance a new integrated cement unit at Nagaur, Rajasthan, and Rs 520 crore for payment of debt and the remaining funds for general corporate purposes. As of March 31, 2025, JSW Cements total borrowings stood at Rs 6,166.6 crore. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On the financial front, the companys revenue from operations for FY25 stood at Rs 5,813.1 crore against Rs 6,028.10 crore in FY24, and Rs 5,836.72 crore in FY23. The company reported a loss of Rs 163.77 crore in FY25. Its profit was Rs 62 crore in FY24 and Rs 104 crore in FY23. As of March 31, 2025, JSW Cement had an installed grinding capacity of 20.60 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA). About the Author Mohammad Haris Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h... Read More Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to personal finance, markets, economy and companies. Having over a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris h... Read More First Published: August 11, 2025, 10:28 IST News business ipo JSW Cement IPO Last Day: Issues Gets Only 67% Subscription So Far: Should You Apply? Check Details Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... BEML Jumps 5% After Winning First-Ever Overseas Contract; Key Points For Investors Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 13:32 IST BEML shares were in focus on Monday, August 11, 2025, rising as much as 4.88% to hit an intraday high Representative Image (PTI File) BEML Share Price: BEML shares were in focus on Monday, August 11, 2025, rising as much as 4.88% to hit an intraday high of Rs 4,045.60 apiece. At 12:20 PM, the stock was trading 3.09% higher at Rs 3,976.10, while the BSE Sensex was up 0.35% at 80,135.16. Recommended Stories Reason For The Rally The surge came after BEML announced it had secured its maiden overseas contract in the Rail and Metro segment from Malaysia. In an exchange filing, the company said: We hereby inform that BEML Limited received its maiden overseas contract in the Rail and Metro segment from Malaysia for the Retrofit and Reconditioning of the Mass Rapid Transport System on 09.08.2025, valued at $1 million." Under the order, BEML will handle the retrofit and reconditioning work for Malaysias Mass Rapid Transport System. BEML Results Due Today The company is scheduled to release its Q1 FY26 (June quarter) results later today. In the previous quarter (Q4 FY25), BEML posted an 11.97% year-on-year rise in profit after tax (PAT) to Rs 287.55 crore, up from Rs 256.80 crore in Q4 FY24. Revenue from operations grew 9.18% YoY to Rs 1,652.53 crore, compared to Rs 1,513.65 crore a year ago, while total income rose 9% to Rs 1,656.67 crore from Rs 1,518.52 crore. Total expenses for the quarter increased 9% YoY to Rs 1,261.37 crore, against Rs 1,170.57 crore in the same period last year. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all About BEML BEML Limited, formerly Bharat Earth Movers Limited, is a public sector undertaking established in May 1964 and headquartered in Bengaluru. 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 11, 2025, 13:32 IST News business markets BEML Jumps 5% After Winning First-Ever Overseas Contract; Key Points For Investors Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Kerala Doctor Duped Of Rs 4.43 Crore In WhatsApp Trading Scam, Two Arrested Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 14:10 IST The Kerala police detected as many as 18 more accounts in the name of various individuals to transfer the money earned through online fraud. The incident took place in Kerala A doctor in Kerala was scammed of Rs 4.43 crore after falling victim to a fraudulent WhatsApp scheme. The states cybercrime unit has arrested two men in connection with the case, according to officials quoted by IANS. The accused have been identified as Mehbubasha Farooq and Rijaz, and they were arrested in Chennai by the Kannur City Cyber Crime Police. While Farooq hails from Chennai, Rijaj is a resident of Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district and has been settled in Chennai. Recommended Stories The two accused allegedly ran a scam via WhatsApp, luring the victim with promises of high returns from investments in a fake online trading platform. According to police, the accused added the doctor a resident of Mattannur in Keralas Kannur district to a WhatsApp group in June, where they promoted an online share trading scheme and promised large profits. The victim was asked to send money to several bank accounts under the pretext of a wealth profit plan linked to a fictitious company named Upstock. We have traced about Rs 40 lakh deposited by the accused in their accounts. Besides this, the police detected as many as 18 more accounts in the name of various individuals to transfer the money earned through online fraud. The matter is under investigation now," said the officer. According to the officer, part of the scammed money had been sent abroad. However, the officer refrained from providing any further information on the same. He also confirmed that no links to terrorism had been uncovered during the inquiry. Though the trading app would show the profits earned, he found the platform unresponsive and could not withdraw the amount, prompting him to approach the police to file a complaint with the police on June 25. The victim was led to believe he was making lucrative investments, but the entire setup was a sham," the cyber police said. The incident came to light after the cybercrime team tracked down the suspects by following the trail of bank account numbers and mobile phones used in the fraud. A deeper investigation led them to Chennai, where the two accused were arrested. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The officer added that they are now looking into whether a larger network is involved and if there are more victims connected to the online scam. (With inputs from IANS) 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 Location : Kerala, India, India First Published: August 11, 2025, 14:10 IST News cities Kerala Doctor Duped Of Rs 4.43 Crore In WhatsApp Trading Scam, Two Arrested Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... CBSE Mandates Clean And Green Rating For All Schools Under SHVR 2025-26, Details Here Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 15:23 IST CBSE will evaluate all affiliated schools on 60 indicators to promote clean, green, and inclusive school environments. CBSE to rate and promote clean, green, and inclusive schools nationwide. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to rate and recognise all its affiliated schools based on a comprehensive 60-indicator survey under the Swachh Evam Harit Vidyalaya Rating (SHVR) 2025-26. The programme aims to promote a clean, green, and inclusive school environment across India. Easy Digital Tools To Help Schools Take Part Recommended Stories To facilitate this, CBSE has developed a dedicated portal and mobile application that will enable schools to participate digitally, conduct self-assessments, and allow for ongoing monitoring. Schools are required to participate in the SHVR 2025-26 assessment by September 30, 2025, using either the mobile app or the web portal. Schools can access the SHVR platform via the official website at shvr.education.gov.in, where QR codes are available to download the Android and iOS apps. Alternatively, schools can log in or sign up on the websites homepage to complete their assessments. The SHVR 2025-26, launched by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, is an expanded and revitalised version of the earlier Swachh Vidyalaya Puraskar (SVP). This mandatory programme covers all schools with a UDISE code across the country, including government, aided, private, residential, tribal, minority, and centrally run schools such as Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVS), Navodaya Vidyalayas (NVS), and CBSE-affiliated schools. The initiative encourages schools to evaluate and improve themselves across six key areas: water availability, toilets, handwashing with soap, operation and maintenance, behaviour change and capacity building, and Mission LiFE activities. Top Schools To Be Rewarded At Every Level Recognition under SHVR will be awarded through certificates of merit across four categories. At the district level, eight schools will be nominated for state-level recognition, including three schools each from rural categories I and II, and one school each from urban categories I and II. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all At the state level, the certificate of merit will be granted based on overall scores. Up to 20 schools from each State or Union Territory with a five-star ratingseven from Rural category I, seven from Rural category II, three from Urban category I, and three from Urban category IIwill be nominated for national-level recognition. At the national level, 200 top-performing schools will receive certificates of merit, comprising 70 schools from Rural category I, 70 from Rural category II, 30 from Urban category I, and 30 from Urban category II, according to the Ministry of Educations press release. 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 11, 2025, 15:18 IST News education-career CBSE Mandates Clean And Green Rating For All Schools Under SHVR 2025-26, Details Here Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 13 Million Students, 0.1% Acceptance: How Chinas Gaokao Is Tougher Than JEE Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 11:43 IST Chinas Gaokao tests 13.35 million students yearly under intense pressure and fierce competition. Know How does it compare to Indias JEE in toughness and scale? Gaokao vs JEE: A look at the scale, pressure, and difficulty of Chinas and Indias toughest entrance exams. The Gaokao, Chinas National College Entrance Examination, is often called one of the toughest academic challenges in the world. In 2025, a record 13.35 million students registered, nearly ten times the number for Indias JEE Main and five times that of NEET, making it an academic contest of staggering scale. First introduced in 1952, the Gaokao remains the primary gateway to higher education in China. Unlike many countries, where universities consider a mix of grades, extracurricular activities, and interviews, Chinas admissions process hinges almost entirely on Gaokao scores. Recommended Stories For top-tier institutions such as Tsinghua University or Peking University, where acceptance rates hover below 0.1%, a strong Gaokao performance can open doors to prestigious academic and career opportunities. The stakes are so high that students often spend two to five years preparing, dedicating long hours to study and sacrificing hobbies, social life, and even sleep. Families, schools, and entire communities rally behind candidates, turning exam season into a national event. How The Gaokao Exam Is Conducted The exam is held once a year in June, typically over 23 days, with around nine hours of total testing. Students choose between Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and Arts (Geography, History, Politics) tracks, alongside compulsory papers in Chinese, Mathematics, and a foreign language. Running the Gaokao is a nationwide operation on the scale of a major state event. Strict Security Test papers are printed in highly secure facilities, transported under armed guard, and stored in sealed containers until the exam begins. Digital Surveillance Exam halls are fitted with CCTV cameras, metal detectors, and signal jammers to prevent cheating. Identity Verification Students must pass multiple ID checks, including facial recognition in some provinces. Silence Zones Roads near exam centres are closed to traffic; construction noise is banned during the test. Medical & Emotional Support Hospitals keep emergency staff on standby, and volunteers provide psychological counselling to anxious students. Such measures underline the Gaokaos status as more than a test it is a choreographed national event. Rising Numbers, Rising Pressure Participation has more than doubled since 1977, when just 5.7 million took the test. Milestones include 9.5 million candidates in 2006, 13 million in 2023, and now 13.35 million in 2025. This surge reflects both Chinas population growth and the increasing emphasis on higher education as a path to success. Gaokao Vs JEE Vs SAT Metric Gaokao (China) JEE (India) SAT (Global) Test Takers (2025) 13.35 million 1.3 million 2.3+ million Duration 24 days (~9 hours) 36 hours (varies) 3 hours Frequency Once a year (June) Twice a year Multiple times a year Acceptance Rate ~0.1% at top universities ~1% at IITs 550% depending on school Prep Time 25 years 24 years Months to 1 year When comparing Indias JEE Advanced with Chinas Gaokao, the answer to which is tougher" depends on what you mean by difficulty. The Gaokaos challenge lies in its vast scale, syllabus breadth, and unrelenting pressure. More than 13 million students take it each year, competing for a handful of spots at top universities where acceptance rates can drop below 0.1%. The test stretches over multiple days, adding up to around nine hours of intense writing and problem-solving. It demands both detailed knowledge recall and the ability to apply concepts across subjects like mathematics, sciences, literature, politics, and foreign languages. On the other hand, JEE Advanced, attempted by about 1.52 lakh candidates who have already cleared JEE Main, is renowned for the depth of its conceptual questions. Physics and mathematics problems in JEE Advanced often require multi-step logical reasoning and creativity under tight time limits, making it one of the most intellectually demanding engineering entrance exams in the world. In short, JEE Advanced tests how deep you can think, while Gaokao tests how much you can endure. If its a contest of pure problem-solving skill, JEE Advanced might feel tougher. But in terms of academic load, competition scale, and mental endurance, Gaokao edges ahead. Beyond The Numbers The Gaokao is more than a test; it is a national ritual symbolising discipline, ambition, and perseverance. On average, Chinese students dedicate around 60 hours a week to studying for the Gaokao, with some even leaving middle school entirely to prepare full-time with private tutors. The pressure begins years in advance, often as early as middle school, and has been linked to severe stress, anxiety, and depression. In Shenzhen alone, more than half of student suicides have occurred among those facing intense Gaokao-related pressure, according to a report by the citys Bureau of Education. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all However, the exam continues to command respect as a merit-based system that rewards hard work. For millions of young Chinese, these few days in June determine not just where they study, but often the trajectory of their entire lives. In China, the Gaokao season is not just about students taking an exam it is the collective effort of families, educators, and the state to give the next generation a chance at their dreams. About the Author Archit Gupta Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, including high-... Read More Archit Gupta is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com and a seasoned education journalist specialising in reporting on education and employment. He has covered a variety of education-related stories, including high-... Read More First Published: August 11, 2025, 11:41 IST News education-career 13 Million Students, 0.1% Acceptance: How Chinas Gaokao Is Tougher Than JEE Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Tripura Ensures Admission For All Class 12 Pass Students In Govt Colleges Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 14:25 IST Tripura has assured that all Class 12 pass students will get admission in government colleges. Tripura assures admission for all Class 12 pass students. Tripuras Higher Education Minister Kishor Barman has assured that all students who have passed the states class 12 board examination will be granted admission to government degree colleges. This assurance comes in the wake of recent student protests over undergraduate admissions at Ramthakur Degree College in Agartala, where a professor was suspended for allegedly admitting over 100 students illegally by forging the principals signature. I assure the students who have cleared higher secondary examinations that they will get admission in government degree colleges, but subjects and colleges may not be of their choice. This year, over 24,000 students cleared the higher secondary examination, while the state has 33,000 seats in colleges," Barman stated. Recommended Stories Highlighting efforts to address the issue, Barman said he has instructed the principals of degree colleges in Agartala to increase the number of available seats so that more students can secure admission. Regarding the student agitation at Ramthakur College, the minister clarified, The department has nothing to do with what had happened outside the campus." Meanwhile, when contacted, Principal Papri Das Sengupta of Ramthakur Degree College said the institution has already admitted more students than its capacity allows. We cant allow more admissions. The admission was carried out purely on the basis of merit through an online portal," she added. The controversy erupted following allegations that a professor at Ramthakur Degree College admitted over 100 students by forging the principals signature, triggering student protests demanding transparency in the admission process. The suspension of the professor is seen as a move to curb irregularities and restore order at the college. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all With the number of students passing the higher secondary exam reaching over 24,000 this year and available college seats at 33,000, authorities are working to ensure all eligible students receive admission, even if it means adjusting subjects or colleges allotted to them. (With inputs from PTI) 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 11, 2025, 14:25 IST News education-career Tripura Ensures Admission For All Class 12 Pass Students In Govt Colleges Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Australia To Recognise Palestinian State: Which Other Countries Are Backing Statehood? Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Karishma Jain Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 11:10 IST Australia will formalise recognition of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September, joining France, the UK, Canada, and others in a new wave of international support Members of the Palestine Action Group gather ahead of a rally in Sydney, Australia. (File photo/REUTERS) After nearly two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas, in which more than 60,000 people have been killed in Gaza, several countries have recently announced plans to recognise a Palestinian state. On Monday, Australia became the latest to make the announcement, joining France, the United Kingdom and Canada in declaring their intention to extend formal recognition in the coming months. While more than three-quarters of United Nations member states already recognise Palestine, this is the first time some members of the Group of Seven (G7) and other Western powers have signalled such a move. Others, including the United States, Israel, Japan, Germany, and Italy, remain opposed to recognition, maintaining that Palestinian statehood should be achieved only through direct negotiations. Recommended Stories Heres a detailed look at Australias decision, other recent announcements, the countries that already recognise Palestine, and the history behind the recognition push. Australia Becomes Latest To Back Palestinian Statehood Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday that Australia will recognise a state of Palestine in September at the United Nations General Assembly. The decision follows weeks of urging from within his Cabinet and from many in Australia, amid growing criticism from officials in his government over the suffering and starvation in Gaza. The move comes as the Australian government has condemned plans announced in recent days by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a sweeping new military offensive in Gaza. Albanese told reporters after a Cabinet meeting that Australias recognition would be predicated on commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority". These commitments include no role for Hamas in a Palestinian government, demilitarisation of Gaza, and the holding of elections. A two-state solution is humanitys best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza," he said. This is an opportunity to deliver self-determination for the people of Palestine in a way that isolates Hamas, disarms it and drives it out of the region once and for all." Foreign Minister Penny Wong said there was much more work to do in building a Palestinian state" and that the practical implementation of our recognition will be tied to progress on these commitments". France, UK, Canada Also Announce Recognition Plans Australias announcement follows similar moves by other major powers. France was the first G7 country to declare it would recognise Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September. President Emmanuel Macron had signalled as early as June that recognition could come within months, adding that some Middle Eastern countries could, in turn, formally recognise Israel. The Palestinian Authority described the move as a step in the right direction". The United Kingdom has said it will proceed with recognition unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire in Gaza with Hamas and takes further steps to allow more humanitarian aid into the enclave. Canadas position mirrors Australias, making its recognition conditional on Palestinian Authority reforms, including democratic elections in 2026 that exclude Hamas. These announcements mark the first time members of the G7, which also includes Germany, Italy, Japan and the US, have taken concrete steps towards recognising Palestinian statehood. Germany, Italy and Japan remain holdouts, though Germany recently said it would suspend arms exports to Israel over its plans to expand fighting in Gaza. Other Countries Pledging Support In September Several other nations have confirmed they will recognise or support recognition of Palestine at the UN General Assembly next month. Malta has said it will vote in favour, while Portugal and Luxembourg have issued a joint statement calling for the revival of a two-state solution. In July, a high-level UN conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia saw at least 125 countries endorse the New York Declaration", which urged Israel to commit to establishing a Palestinian state. The plan called for Hamas to end its rule in Gaza and hand over weapons to the Palestinian Authority once a ceasefire is reached. Nations That Have Already Recognised Palestine While the latest announcements have drawn headlines, the majority of the world already recognises Palestine. A total of 147 out of the 193 UN member states more than three-quarters have formally extended recognition, along with the Holy See (the governing body of the Catholic Church and sovereign entity of Vatican City, which holds UN observer status). This includes major countries such as India, China, Spain, Ireland and Norway, as well as most nations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Arab world. By 2011, all African countries except Eritrea and Cameroon had recognised Palestine. In 2024, 10 countries formally joined the list, including Mexico, Armenia, Slovenia, and the three European nations Ireland, Norway, and Spain that recognised Palestine according to the pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital, prompting Israel to recall ambassadors from the three countries. Slovenia followed suit in June 2024. Countries That Will Recognise Palestine In September These countries have announced plans to formally recognise Palestine at the UNGA in September 2025: Australia Conditional on Palestinian Authority commitments, including no Hamas role, demilitarisation, and elections. France Recognition announced by President Emmanuel Macron. United Kingdom Recognition unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire and increases humanitarian aid to Gaza. Canada Conditional on Palestinian Authority reforms and 2026 elections without Hamas. Once these are formalised, the total number of recognisers would rise to 151. What Recognition Means Under International Law Under the 1933 Montevideo Convention, a sovereign state is defined as having a permanent population, a defined territory, an effective government, and the capacity to enter into international relations. While recognition by other states is not a formal legal requirement for statehood, it is often necessary for engaging fully in international diplomacy and treaties. In the case of Palestine, recognition by other countries acknowledges its claim to sovereignty and allows for the establishment of formal diplomatic relations. According to the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network, recognition would involve establishing a formal diplomatic relationship with Palestine". However, recognition does not in itself grant full control over territory or end ongoing conflicts, as practical sovereignty depends on political and security conditions on the ground. A Brief History Of Palestinian Recognition The State of Palestine was proclaimed on November 15, 1988, during the first Intifada by Palestine Liberation Organisation chairman Yasser Arafat, with Jerusalem as its capital. More than 80 countries recognised it soon after, with strong support from the Global South. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In 2012, the UN General Assembly voted 138-9 to upgrade Palestines status to non-member observer state". Two years later, Sweden became the first Western European nation to recognise it. In May 2024, Norway, Ireland and Spain announced recognition, followed by Slovenia in June. These moves, combined with the recent announcements by Australia, France, the UK and Canada, mark the biggest shift among Western powers in decades. 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 11, 2025, 10:47 IST News explainers Australia To Recognise Palestinian State: Which Other Countries Are Backing Statehood? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Can Pakistan Really Take Half The World Down? Reality Check On Asim Munirs Nuclear Threat Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 17:07 IST Despite the fiery rhetoric, Pakistans longest-range missile tops out at 2,750 km, far short of the intercontinental capability needed for such a threat Pakistani military personnel stand beside a Ghauri nuclear-capable missile during a Pakistan Day military parade in Islamabad. (IMAGE: AFP) On 10 August 2025, Pakistans Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, made a sweeping declaration at a private dinner in Tampa, Florida: We are a nuclear nation. If we think we are going down, well take half the world down with us." The Pakistani army chief also took aim at New Delhi over control of the Indus River, and threatened to destroy the Indian dams with missiles on the river. We will wait for India to build a dam, and when it does so, phir 10 missile sey faarigh kar dengey (we will destroy it with 10 missiles)," he was quoted as saying. The Indus River is not the Indians family property. Humein missilon ki kami nahin hai, al-Hamdulillah (we have no shortage of missiles, Praise be to God)," he added. Recommended Stories These remarks came just months after India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack in April. The timing was no accident. Munirs comments mark the first publicly known instance of a nuclear threat being issued from US soil against a third nation. Indias Sharp Response To Munirs Remarks The Ministry of External Affairs condemned Munirs statement in strong terms, calling it nuclear sabre-rattling" and part of Pakistans stock-in-trade". The MEA said the remarks reinforce well-held doubts about the integrity of nuclear command and control in a state where the military is hand-in-glove with terrorist groups" and described it as regrettable" that they were made from the soil of a friendly third country". India reiterated it would not give in to nuclear blackmail" and would continue taking all necessary measures to safeguard national security. How Many Nukes Does Pakistan Have Compared To India? The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) 2025 yearbook estimates: Pakistan : 170 nuclear warheads, with steady production of fissile material and development of new delivery systems. : 170 nuclear warheads, with steady production of fissile material and development of new delivery systems. India: 172 nuclear warheads, a modest increase but with significant advances in delivery technology. Unlike India, which maintains a declared No First Use policy, Pakistans nuclear doctrine remains deliberately ambiguous and heavily focused on short-range tactical nuclear weapons designed for battlefield use. Pakistans Missile Reach: What The Data Shows Munirs half the world" remark implies global strike capability. In reality, Pakistans longest-range missile cannot reach even East Asia, Europes west, or North America. Key Systems And Their Limits Shaheen-III Longest-range ballistic missile, 2,750 km. It can reportedly reach distant parts of India, possibly all of the country, and parts of the Middle East. Solid-fuel, road-mobile, but strictly regional in reach. Ababeel Medium-range ballistic missile (2,200 km). Claimed potential for MIRV technology, but limited testing and no proof of operational MIRV capability. Fatah-II Hypersonic ballistic missile, 400 km. Primarily a battlefield system; can carry conventional or tactical nuclear payloads. Shaheen-II Surface-to-surface ballistic missile with a range of 1,5002,000 km, capable of carrying nuclear or conventional payloads. Ghauri-II Range over 2,000 km; improved variant of Ghauri-I (1,300 km range). Believed to be derived from North Koreas Nodong missile. Babur-3 Submarine-launched cruise missile (450 km). Tested once in 2017; short-range, limited sea-based deterrent. Short-range systems Abdali (200300 km), Ghaznavi (290320 km), Nasr (70 km) designed for close battlefield use. Others Harba (300450 km, ship-launched) and Zarb (280300 km, coastal defence). None of these systems extends Pakistans reach beyond its immediate region and near abroad. No ICBMs, No Global Reach For Pakistan to credibly threaten half the world", it would require: Intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) with ranges over 8,000 km. Strategic bombers with global strike capability. A fully operational sea-based nuclear deterrent for survivable second-strike capability. Pakistan currently has none of these. Its arsenal is optimised for deterring and, if necessary, striking regional adversaries primarily India and to a lesser extent, targets in the Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe. Who Controls Pakistans Nuclear Weapons? Formally, Pakistans nuclear policy is set by the National Command Authority (chaired by the Prime Minister), with operational control vested in the Strategic Plans Division (SPD). The SPD is always headed by a serving three-star general. However, in practice, analysts, including those from the International Institute for Strategic Studies, note that the Pakistan Army chief is the most decisive figure in a crisis. This central role is why Asim Munirs statements carry weight, but also why they heighten international concern about the safety and political control of Pakistans arsenal. Fact Check: Why Munirs Claim Doesnt Hold SIPRIs figures and Pakistans own missile specifications leave little room for ambiguity. The half the world" claim is not backed by capability. The countrys longest-range system, the Shaheen-III, tops out at 2,750 km, far short of the 8,00012,000 km required for intercontinental strike reach. None of its platforms land, air, or sea can credibly hit targets in North America, most of Europe, or East Asia. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Pakistans nuclear delivery systems are built for regional deterrence, aimed primarily at India and, to a limited extent, parts of the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Its claimed MIRV technology remains unproven, its sea-based deterrent is embryonic, and it lacks both ICBMs and strategic bombers. The technological and geographic limitations of Pakistans arsenal make the threat implausible in military terms. About the Author Karishma Jain Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar... Read More Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar... Read More First Published: August 11, 2025, 16:20 IST News explainers Can Pakistan Really Take Half The World Down? Reality Check On Asim Munirs Nuclear Threat Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... What The Supreme Court Ruling On Delhis Stray Dog Crisis Means For Residents, What Happens Next Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 13:26 IST If implemented effectively, the Supreme Court's directive and Delhis civic strategy could reduce number of dog bites and rabies exposures, combine animal welfare with human safety The 2023 ABC Rules mandate sterilisation and release to balance animal rights and safety, but civic leaders say strict adherence hinders isolating repeat-offender dogs and protecting people. (Getty Images) The Supreme Court on Monday took suo motu cognizance of Delhis escalating stray dog problem and directed civic authorities across Delhi-NCR to enforce a humane but strict plan to round up stray dogs, sterilise them, and relocate them permanently to shelters. This comes amid rising instances of dog attacks and rabies-related deaths, raising urgent questions about public safety, animal welfare, and civic responsibility. Recommended Stories The Ruling Sets The Tone Reacting to alarming reportssuch as a childs death from rabies after a stray dog bitethe Supreme Court has turned a spotlight on the issue. It referred the matter to Chief Justice of India BR Gavai for broader judicial action, demanding that orders to manage strays be enforced stringently. This underscores the courts concern over countable threats to human lives and the inadequate response thus far. It is for the authorities to look into how this will be done; if they have to create a force, they shall have to do it," the SC bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said, calling the move the first and foremost exercise to ensure that the capital city is free of stray dogs." Infants and young children should not, at any cost, fall prey to such stray dogs. Actions should inspire confidence among people." The court has given Delhi authorities eight weeks to establish fully staffed dog shelters with CCTV surveillance, making it clear that sterilised dogs must not be released back onto the streets. It also ordered the capture of 5,000 stray dogsstarting from high-risk zoneswithin six weeks, warning of strict action against anyone obstructing the drive. Officials in Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram must keep a daily log of all captured dogs, with the court cautioning that any violation of the no-release rule will attract stern penalties. The top court also directed the NDMC and MCD to establish a dedicated helpline for dog bite complaints, ensuring that residents can immediately report incidents to the municipal authorities. What The MCD Has Planned The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has launched a pilot initiative across 12 assembly constituencies. Starting August 5, the plan aims to sterilise and vaccinate 70-80% of stray dogsconsidered the threshold to break the breeding cycle. In addition, 20 new shelters are slated to be built within existing sterilisation centres to house aggressive or bite-prone dogs, provided rule changes allow for permanent relocation. However, robustness of these measures hinges on amendments to the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, which currently mandate that sterilised dogs must be released at their rescue sites. The Delhi government is seeking exemptions for dangerous canines, proposing that they be held in shelters for behavioural monitoring before potential return. Whats The Root Of The Problem? Delhis stray dog population is estimated at close to 10 lakh. As of 2023, only 4.7 lakh had been sterilisedfar short of humane control targets. With about 35,000+ dog bites in the first half of 2025 alone and nearly 90,000 treated bite cases recorded in hospitals, public health is under pressure. Rabies, nearly always fatal, adds urgency to the need for reliable solutions. Vaccinate And Release The ABC Rules of 2023, rooted in the 1960 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, prescribe sterilisation and release under strict protocols. Multiple Supreme Court judgments have upheld this approach to balance animal rights with public safety. Yet, civic leaders argue that sticking rigidly to these rules hampers efforts to isolate repeat offender dogs and ensure human protection. Proposed legal amendments would allow aggressive dogs to be temporarily relocated to shelters, a move currently prohibited. Voices Of Lawyers, RWAs, NGOs The policy debate is intense. Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), backed by leaders like Vijay Goel, call for definitive action: permanent shelters, a ban on street feeding, and complete sterilisation. They point to court-ordered no-dog zones" in schools and parks. In contrast, animal activists stress the need to avoid law breaches and cruelty. They argue many issues stem from poor ABC implementationnot from policy failure. They also warn relocation may stress dogs and inflame conflict by sending them to unfamiliar territories. Nonetheless, they remain open to reforms that maintain humane standards while prioritising public safety. What Is The Way Forward? To deliver meaningful outcomes, Delhi authorities are pursuing a nuanced strategy: Sterilisation Drive: Aiming for 70% coverage in six to eight months across targeted constituencies. Shelter Expansion: Building shelters within sterilisation centres to house aggressive dogs. Dog Census & Tracking: Counting stray dog numbers and microchipping sterilised dogs for tracking and accountability. Stakeholder Collaboration: Bringing together NGOs, RWAs, veterinarians, and animal welfare experts for policy development and execution oversight. Legal Reform: Advocating for adjustments in ABC rules to allow temporary sheltering of aggressive dogs with clinical evaluation. What Does The Ruling Mean For Delhi Residents? If implemented effectively, the courts directive and Delhis civic strategy could turn the tide: Safer Streets: Reduced number of dog bites and rabies exposures. Accountable Processes: Transparent monitoring of shelters and sterilisation centres. Coordinated Response: A civic model combining animal welfare with human safety. Public Awareness: Clarity for citizens on how to feed or report strays responsibly. Will Delhi Bridge Policy Intent With Tangible Outcomes? top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This evolving strategy marked by a Supreme Court directive presents a critical moment. Balancing empathy for animals with civic safety is complex, but with urgency, coordination, and accountability, Delhi may yet emerge with a humane and effective blueprint to handle its stray dog populationsetting an example for cities across India. About the Author Shilpy Bisht Shilpy Bisht, Deputy News Editor at News18, writes and edits national, world and business stories. She started off as a print journalist, and then transitioned to online, in her 12 years of experience. Her prev... Read More Shilpy Bisht, Deputy News Editor at News18, writes and edits national, world and business stories. She started off as a print journalist, and then transitioned to online, in her 12 years of experience. Her prev... Read More First Published: August 11, 2025, 13:08 IST News explainers What The Supreme Court Ruling On Delhis Stray Dog Crisis Means For Residents, What Happens Next Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Will Trump-Putin Alaska Talks Pave Path To Ukraine Peace On Historic August 15? Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 14:03 IST From Indias independence to Kabuls fall, August 15 has marked global turning points. This year, its the stage for a high-stakes bid to end the Ukraine war This would be Trump's first meet with Putin since coming to power for the second presidential term Few dates in the modern calendar carry as much historical resonance as 15 August. Across continents and decades, it has been a day when political maps were redrawn, wars ended, nations were born, and cultural moments left an enduring mark. From Indias independence in 1947 to the Talibans capture of Kabul in 2021, the date is studded with episodes that changed the course of nations. This year, it may witness another chapter a high-stakes summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The question is whether this meeting will join the list of August 15 milestones or fade into the annals of missed opportunities. Recommended Stories Fall Of Kabul To The Taliban 15 August 2021 On 15 August 2021, the Taliban entered Kabul, completing their lightning takeover of Afghanistan just weeks after the United States began its final troop withdrawal. The collapse of the Western-backed Afghan government happened far more quickly than most intelligence estimates had predicted, with provincial capitals falling in rapid succession. The day became the symbolic end of a 20-year US-led intervention that began after the September 11, 2001, attacks. As Taliban fighters entered the presidential palace, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled the country, and chaotic scenes unfolded at Kabuls Hamid Karzai International Airport. Thousands of Afghans desperate to escape swarmed the tarmac, leading to tragic images of people clinging to departing US military planes. For Washington and its allies, the fall of Kabul was a moment of geopolitical reckoning. It raised questions about the efficacy of nation-building, the reliability of US security commitments, and the future of Afghanistan under Taliban rule. For Afghans, it marked the return of an Islamist regime that had been ousted two decades earlier. India Gains Independence 15 August 1947 Indias independence from British colonial rule was one of the most transformative moments of the 20th century, not just for South Asia but for the global wave of decolonisation that followed. After nearly 200 years under British control, first through the East India Company and later the British Crown, the country emerged as a sovereign, democratic republic-in-the-making. The moment came after decades of sustained nationalist struggle, marked by movements such as the Non-Cooperation Movement, the Civil Disobedience Movement, and the Quit India Movement, led by figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Subhas Chandra Bose, and countless unsung freedom fighters. Alongside independence came the Partition, which carved the subcontinent into India and Pakistan based on religious demography. This partition unleashed one of the largest migrations in human history, with an estimated 1015 million people uprooted and crossing borders in both directions, and violence claiming hundreds of thousands of lives. The political and administrative transfer of power was symbolised by Nehrus midnight speech, Tryst with Destiny," delivered to the Constituent Assembly as the clock struck midnight on 15 August. This year, India marks its 79th Independence Day, celebrating nearly eight decades of nationhood, a period that has seen it evolve from a newly freed colony to the worlds most populous democracy and one of its fastest-growing major economies. Japan Surrenders In World War II 15 August 1945 On this day, Emperor Hirohito addressed the Japanese nation via radio, announcing Japans unconditional surrender. The statement effectively ended World War II in Asia, coming days after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. For much of the world, it was V-J Day (Victory over Japan Day), signalling not just the cessation of global conflict but also the dawn of a US-led post-war order. Yet, it also marked the start of Japans occupation and reconstruction under American guidance, reshaping the country into a pacifist democracy. Koreas Liberation From Japanese Rule 15 August 1945 The same day Japan announced its surrender in World War II, the Korean Peninsula emerged from 35 years of Japanese colonial domination a period marked by cultural suppression, forced labour, and military conscription. The liberation is celebrated annually as Gwangbokjeol (Restoration of Light") in South Korea and Liberation Day in North Korea, symbolising the regaining of national sovereignty after decades of foreign rule. But the joy was short-lived. The peninsula, liberated from Japan but not yet unified under a native government, was hastily divided along the 38th parallel into Soviet-occupied territory in the north and US-occupied territory in the south. What was initially intended as a temporary administrative arrangement soon hardened into a geopolitical fault line as Cold War tensions escalated. This division set the stage for the Korean War (19501953), which ended not with a peace treaty but with an armistice, leaving the two Koreas technically still at war. Opening Of The Panama Canal 15 August 1914 The inauguration of the Panama Canal was more than just the completion of an engineering marvel; it was a defining moment in the history of global trade and geopolitics. Spanning 82 kilometres through the Isthmus of Panama, the canal connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, eliminating the need for ships to navigate the long and hazardous route around Cape Horn at the southern tip of South America. Its successful completion on 15 August 1914, just weeks after the outbreak of World War I, transformed maritime commerce by dramatically shortening shipping times and costs. Strategically, the canal cemented the United States role as a dominant power in the Western Hemisphere. It gave Washington enormous leverage over international shipping and became a key asset in both world wars, allowing the US Navy to redeploy rapidly between oceans. Yet, it also became a flashpoint in USLatin American relations, with Panamanians long demanding sovereignty over the canal zone. This demand was finally met when control was handed over to Panama on 31 December 1999, under the terms of the 1977 TorrijosCarter Treaties. Republic Of Congo Gains Independence 15 August 1960 The end of French colonial rule in what is today the Republic of Congo (also known as Congo-Brazzaville) was part of a wider wave of African independence in 1960, often called the Year of Africa." While independence was cause for celebration, the years that followed were marked by political instability, coups, and Cold War-era power struggles, illustrating the challenges many post-colonial states faced. Bahrain Declares Independence 15 August 1971 On this date, Bahrain ended its status as a British protectorate, becoming a fully sovereign state. Its independence came during a period of British withdrawal from the Gulf and amid the reordering of power in the region following the discovery of oil. Today, Bahrains strategic location in the Gulf and its close ties with Western powers make its independence anniversary both a national celebration and a reminder of the shifting balance in Middle Eastern geopolitics. Woodstock Music Festival Opens 15 August 1969 When the Woodstock Music & Art Fair opened on a dairy farm in Bethel, New York, on 15 August 1969, organisers expected around 50,000 attendees. Instead, more than 400,000 people descended on the site for three days of music, peace, and protest, creating one of the largest gatherings in American history at the time. Featuring an iconic lineup including Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Who, Santana, and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Woodstock became the cultural climax of the 1960s counterculture movement. It embodied an anti-establishment ethos opposition to the Vietnam War, rejection of materialism, and a belief in collective peace and love while also revealing the power of music festivals as political and social spaces. Alaska Talks: Trump and Putins Attempt At Ending The Ukraine War Against this historic backdrop, 15 August 2025 will see an extraordinary diplomatic encounter: US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Alaska to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. The war, now well into its third year, has caused widespread devastation and reshaped global security dynamics. Trump had repeatedly claimed, both during his presidential campaign and after taking office in January 2025, that he would end the conflict within 24 hours. Yet, more than half a year into his term, the war grinds on. After setting an 8 August deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire or face tougher US sanctions, Trump instead announced this face-to-face summit. Where Things Stand Three previous Trump-brokered rounds of RussiaUkraine talks this summer have failed to narrow differences. Ukraine insists on full territorial integrity, rejecting any deal that legitimises Russian control over occupied regions, particularly Crimea. Russia remains adamant on keeping Crimea, securing the Donbas, and ensuring Ukraines neutrality. The Trump administration has floated a controversial framework, reportedly involving territorial swaps that would allow Russia to retain Crimea and the Donbas while ceding Kherson and Zaporizhzhia back to Ukraine. This proposal has already drawn sharp criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has warned against any decisions without Ukraine." Whos At The Table And Whos Not Although the White House has hinted at a possible trilateral meeting including Zelenskyy, for now, it remains a TrumpPutin summit. US Vice President JD Vance has said that including Zelenskyy at this stage would not be productive," suggesting the US president must first broker an initial understanding with Russia before bringing Ukraine into the room. Symbolism Of The Location The choice of Alaska is heavy with historical symbolism. Once a Russian territory, it was sold to the US in 1867. For Russia, the location underscores its historical ties to the region; for the US, it represents a reminder of strategic expansion. Alaska also sits geographically close to Russia, separated only by the Bering Strait, making it a politically neutral yet symbolically charged venue. Potential Outcomes And Risks The stakes are high, but so are the risks. If the talks fail, both sides could harden their positions. Russia might escalate military operations ahead of any future negotiations, while Ukraine could push for stronger NATO security guarantees. For Trump, a breakdown would undercut one of his most prominent foreign policy pledges that only he can deliver peace in Ukraine. As with many historic events that have taken place on this date, the outcome will be judged not just by immediate headlines but by its long-term consequences. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Conclusion From independence struggles and wartime surrenders to cultural revolutions, 15 August has been a date when history has pivoted in new directions. Whether the TrumpPutin Alaska talks will join that list depends on whether they produce a genuine step towards ending one of the most dangerous conflicts of the 21st century, or simply become another entry in the long ledger of failed peace efforts. About the Author Karishma Jain Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar... Read More Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follow her @kar... Read More First Published: August 11, 2025, 12:20 IST News explainers Will Trump-Putin Alaska Talks Pave Path To Ukraine Peace On Historic August 15? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 12-Year-Old Bangladeshi Girl Raped By 200 Men Over 3 Months Near Mumbai, 10 Arrested Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 12:38 IST 10 people have been arrested after a 12-year-old Bangladeshi girl, rescued from a prostitution racket in Vasai, alleged rape by over 200 men in three months Ten arrests made in Vasai human trafficking case. (Representative image: PTI) In a shocking case, a 12-year-old Bangladeshi girl has alleged that she was sexually exploited by more than 200 men over a span of three months before being rescued from a prostitution racket in Naigaon, near Vasai in Palghar district of Maharashtra. According to officials, the rescue took place on July 26 during an operation by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Mira-Bhayander Vasai-Virar (MBVV) police, with assistance from NGOs Exodus Road India Foundation and Harmony Foundation. 10 people have been arrested so far. Recommended Stories The 12-year-old girl in the juvenile home said that she was first taken to Nadiad in Gujarat and was sexually abused by more than 200 men over a period of three months there. This girl has not even seen her adolescence, but her childhood has been snatched away by such brutes," said Harmony Foundation founder-president Abraham Mathai. Mathai also said that the girl had run away with a woman she knew after failing a subject in school and fearing her parents reaction. That woman brought her to India secretly and pushed her into prostitution," he said, demanding the arrest of all the men the child named. Police Commissioner Niket Kaushik said the MBVV police are using all its strength to expose the whole network and ensure a safe environment for vulnerable teenagers". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Similar cases are being reported regularly. I have often seen minor girls begging in the Vashi and Belapur areas, often stolen from villages as children, brought to cities and then exploited. They are managed by one or two older women who also push them into prostitution. They are also given hormonal injections so that they mature quickly," said social activist Madhu Shankar. Police have said the investigation is ongoing to trace all individuals involved in the network, including those accused of exploitation. First Published: August 11, 2025, 12:37 IST News india 12-Year-Old Bangladeshi Girl Raped By 200 Men Over 3 Months Near Mumbai, 10 Arrested Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Close To Tragedy': Congress MPs Flag Air India Flight Diversion To Chennai, Airline Responds Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 09:48 IST An Air India flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi was diverted to Chennai after severe turbulence and a suspected technical issue. Congress MP KC Venugopal was on board. A photo of an Air India aircraft (PTI) An Air India flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi was diverted to Chennai on Sunday evening due to a technical issue. According to the details, the flight was airborne for more than two hours before it finally landed at the Chennai airport. Details about the number of passengers were not available. However, the flight took off little past 8 pm from Thiruvananthapuram and landed in Chennai at around 10.35 pm, as per information from Flightradar24.com. Recommended Stories Congress MP KC Venugopal was among the passengers on the flight, and described the experience as frighteningly close to tragedy" in a post shared on X. The post read, Air India flight AI 2455 from Trivandrum to Delhi carrying myself, several MPs, and hundreds of passengers came frighteningly close to tragedy today." What began as a delayed departure turned into a harrowing journey. Shortly after take-off, we were hit by unprecedented turbulence. About an hour later, the Captain announced a flight signal fault and diverted to Chennai," he mentioned. For nearly two hours, we circled the airport awaiting clearance to land, until a heart-stopping moment during our first attempt another aircraft was reportedly on the same runway," he wrote. In that split second, the Captains quick decision to pull up saved every life on board. The flight landed safely on the second attempt. We were saved by skill and luck. Passenger safety cannot depend on luck," the post further read. In response to Venugopals post, Air India wrote, Dear Mr Venugopal, we would like to clarify that the diversion to Chennai was precautionary due to a suspected technical issue and poor weather conditions." A go-around was instructed by Chennai ATC during the first attempted landing at Chennai airport, not because of the presence of another aircraft on the runway. Our pilots are well-trained to handle such situations, and in this case, they followed standard procedures throughout the flight," the airline mentioned. We understand that such an experience can be unsettling and regret the inconvenience the diversion may have caused to you. However, safety is always our priority. Thank you for your understanding," it added. Air India flight AI 2455 from Trivandrum to Delhi carrying myself, several MPs, and hundreds of passengers came frighteningly close to tragedy today.What began as a delayed departure turned into a harrowing journey. Shortly after take-off, we were hit by unprecedented K C Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) August 10, 2025 Congresss Manickam Tagore also commented on the incident and wrote on X, Shocked & shaken. Air India AI 2455 from Trivandrum to Delhi, carrying MPs & hundreds of passengers, narrowly escaped disaster today turbulence, flight signal fault, and a near runway collision in Chennai." Passenger safety cannot rely on luck. We demand answers & action NOW," (sic), he added. Shocked & shaken.Air India AI 2455 from Trivandrum to Delhi, carrying MPs & hundreds of passengers, narrowly escaped disaster today turbulence, flight signal fault, and a near runway collision in Chennai.PM @narendramodiMinister @RammohanNaidu_ Passenger safety cannot rely https://t.co/YXgXuQtTZB Manickam Tagore .B . (@manickamtagore) August 11, 2025 BJP URGES ACTION AGAINST MISINTERPRETATION OF FACTS As the incident snowballed, the Bharatiya Janata Partys IT cell chief, Amit Malviya, said that Venugopal, if misrepresenting facts, should be put on a no-fly list by the airline. His remark came as the Congress MP claimed there was another aircraft on the same runway, while Air India denied the allegation. This is extremely serious. If senior Congress leader KC Venugopal claims an Air India flight had to abort landing in Chennai because another aircraft was on the runway and the airline immediately contradicts him, then one of them is misrepresenting facts," Malviya wrote. Aviation safety is paramount, and social media posts from supposedly responsible people cannot go unscrutinised. If the allegation is true, Chennai ATC and Air India have much to answer for," he mentioned. If not, Mr Venugopal should face consequences, including being put on a no-fly list for spreading falsehoods," he added to his post. This is extremely serious.If senior Congress leader KC Venugopal claims an Air India flight had to abort landing in Chennai because another aircraft was on the runway and the airline immediately contradicts him, then one of them is misrepresenting facts. Aviation safety is https://t.co/SI4m6eMt39 pic.twitter.com/eH2k2gHf3t Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) August 11, 2025 AIR INDIAs OFFICIAL STATEMENT Meanwhile, an official statement from the airline on the incident read, The flight crew of AI2455 operating from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi on 10 August made a precautionary diversion to Chennai due to a suspected technical issue and given the weather conditions en route." Air India said the flight landed safely in Chennai, where the aircraft will undergo the necessary checks. Alternative arrangements were being made to fly the passengers to their destinations at the earliest, Air India said, and regretted the inconvenience caused. In recent weeks, there have been instances of some of Air Indias aircraft facing technical snags. On August 8, news agency PTI quoted sources as saying that Air India has decided to increase the retirement age for pilots to 65 years and for non-flying staff to 60 years. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all At present, the retirement age for both pilots and non-flying staff at the airline is 58 years. ALSO READ | Air India Begins Rs 3,500 Crore Upgrade Of Dreamliners And A320neo Fleet About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: August 11, 2025, 06:53 IST News india 'Close To Tragedy': Congress MPs Flag Air India Flight Diversion To Chennai, Airline Responds Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Debris On Runway': DGCA On Air India's Missed Landing Attempt After Diversion To Chennai Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 13:06 IST The DGCA said the Air India flight AI2455 from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi was diverted to Chennai on Sunday after the crew suspected a weather radar malfunction. Air India flight (Representative image) The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has said that Air India flight AI2455, operating from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi on Sunday evening, was diverted to Chennai after the crew suspected a malfunction in the aircrafts weather radar during turbulent conditions. It added that the flight attempted to land but had to make multiple go-arounds after a departing flight reported debris on the left side of the runway. Recommended Stories According to the DGCA, the Airbus A320 (registration VT-TNL) was scheduled to depart at 7.15 pm, IST, but left Thiruvananthapuram at 8.04 pm IST, delayed by 49 minutes due to a late arrival from Delhi caused by a previous diversion and operational reasons. While en route, the crew experienced moderate turbulence and observed that the weather data displayed on the radar was not accurate, prompting the precautionary diversion, it mentioned. On 10.08.2025, Air India A320 aircraft VT-TNL was scheduled to operate flight AI2455 (Thiruvananthapuram-Delhi) with a scheduled time of departure of 19:15 IST. Due to the late arrival of aircraft from Delhi (Weather Diversion+ consequential+ commercial) aircraft departed Thiruvananthapuram at 20:04 IST, i.e. with a total delay of 49 minutes," the DGCA statement mentioned. During the flight, the aircraft encountered moderate turbulent conditions. Crew observed that the weather information depicted on the weather RADAR was not accurate, suspecting a weather RADAR malfunction diverted to Chennai," it read. To avoid overweight landing and burn extra fuel, the aircraft with the ATC clearance orbited 25NM northeast of Chennai for 43 minutes (from 21:25IST to 22:08IST)," the letter mentioned. After the aircraft was cleared for approach Runway 25 at Chennai, at 2219IST aircraft was instructed to carry out a missed approach by ATC as departing Gulf Air flight GFA053 (Chennai-Bahrain) reported debris on the left side of the runway." Apron control carried out an inspection of the runway, and nothing was observed. The aircraft was given landing clearance, and it landed safely at 22:39 IST. During the engineering inspection, no deficiency was observed. However, as a precautionary measure, the WX radar transreceiver was replaced with a serviceable one," it stated. AIR INDIA SPOKESPERSON STATEMENT Following the DGCA statement, a spokesperson for Air India said, Air India clarifies that flight AI2455 of 10 August operating from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi was diverted to Chennai as a precautionary measure after the pilot detected a suspected technical issue and in view of the weather conditions en route to Delhi." It was decided to divert to Chennai instead of Bengaluru as the weather in Chennai was clear," they said. As the aircraft was overweight for an immediate landing, the pilot had to hold over Chennai to reduce weight, and no emergency was declared," the statement mentioned. During the first landing approach, the ATC asked the pilots to initiate a go-around as another aircraft that had taken off from the same runway had reported a suspected foreign object debris (FOD) on the runway," Air India said. After following a standard go-around, the flight made a normal and safe landing. We would like to reiterate that the decision to divert to Chennai was taken in the best interest of the safety of our passengers and crew," it added. AIR INDIAs PRECAUTIONARY LANDING Air India plane flying from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi was diverted to Chennai Sunday evening due to a technical issue, the airline said. The flight AI2455, operated with an Airbus A320 aircraft, was airborne for more than two hours, according to information available on the flight tracking website Flightradar24.com. The flight crew of AI2455 operating from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi on 10 August made a precautionary diversion to Chennai due to a suspected technical issue and given the weather conditions en route," the airline said in a statement. Air India said the flight landed safely in Chennai, where the aircraft will undergo the necessary checks. Alternative arrangements are being made to fly the passengers to their destinations at the earliest, Air India said, and regretted the inconvenience caused. Later, senior Congress leader and Chairman of Parliaments Public Accounts Committee KC Venugopal claimed that the Air India flight carrying him and several other MPs from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi came frighteningly close to tragedy". Urging an investigation by the DGCA and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Venugopal, in an X post, wrote, Air India flight AI 2455 from Trivandrum to Delhi carrying myself, several MPs and hundreds of passengers came frighteningly close to tragedy today." What began as a delayed departure turned into a harrowing journey. Shortly after take-off, we were hit by unprecedented turbulence. About an hour later, the Captain announced a flight signal fault and diverted to Chennai," he wrote. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all For nearly two hours, we circled the airport awaiting clearance to land, until a heart-stopping moment during our first attempt another aircraft was reportedly on the same runway. In that split second, the Captains quick decision to pull up saved every life on board. The flight landed safely on the second attempt," he said. ALSO READ | Congress vs Air India vs BJP In Big Row After Flight Diversion To Chennai About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: August 11, 2025, 13:03 IST News india 'Debris On Runway': DGCA On Air India's Missed Landing Attempt After Diversion To Chennai Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Hold An Inquiry': Congress vs Air India vs BJP In Big Row After Flight Diversion To Chennai Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 11:59 IST Congress's Venugopal alleged an Air India flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi narrowly avoided tragedy after aborting its first landing in Chennai. Air India denied the claim. A photo of an Air India flight (PTI) Air India Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi flights precautionary diversion to Chennai on Sunday sparked a political row after Congress MP KC Venugopal said the experience was close to a tragedy" and claimed the flight did not land in its first attempt as another aircraft was present on the runway. The airline, however, denied the claim and stated that the first landing attempt was unsuccessful as a go-around was instructed by the Chennai air traffic control. Recommended Stories As more Congress MPs joined the chorus to Venugopals claims, the BJP said the facts should be checked and Venugopal, if misrepresenting facts, should be put on a no-fly list. AIR INDIAs PRECAUTIONARY DIVERSION Air India plane flying from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi was diverted to Chennai Sunday evening due to a technical issue, the airline said. The flight AI2455, operated with an Airbus A320 aircraft, was airborne for more than two hours, according to information available on the flight tracking website Flightradar24.com. The flight crew of AI2455 operating from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi on 10 August made a precautionary diversion to Chennai due to a suspected technical issue and given the weather conditions en route," the airline said in a statement. Air India said the flight landed safely in Chennai, where the aircraft will undergo the necessary checks. Alternative arrangements were made to fly the passengers to their destinations at the earliest, Air India said, and regretted the inconvenience caused. Details about the number of passengers were not available. The flight took off little past 8 pm from Thiruvananthapuram and landed in Chennai at around 10.35 pm, as per information from Flightradar24.com. CONGRESS MP KC VENUGOPAL AMONG PASSENGERS KC Venugopal, who was on board the flight, claimed that the Air India flight carrying him and several other MPs from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi came frighteningly close to tragedy". In a post on X on Sunday night, Venugopal said, Air India flight AI 2455 from Trivandrum to Delhi carrying myself, several MPs and hundreds of passengers came frighteningly close to tragedy today." What began as a delayed departure turned into a harrowing journey. Shortly after take-off, we were hit by unprecedented turbulence. About an hour later, the Captain announced a flight signal fault and diverted to Chennai," he added. For nearly two hours, we circled the airport awaiting clearance to land, until a heart-stopping moment during our first attempt another aircraft was reportedly on the same runway. In that split second, the Captains quick decision to pull up saved every life on board. The flight landed safely on the second attempt," he wrote in the X post. We were saved by skill and luck. Passenger safety cannot depend on luck. I urge DGCA and Ministry of Civil Aviation to investigate this incident urgently, fix accountability, and ensure such lapses never happen again," the Congress leader wrote. AIR INDIAs RESPONSE TO VENUGOPAL Responding to Venugopal on X, Air India said, We would like to clarify that the diversion to Chennai was precautionary due to a suspected technical issue and poor weather conditions." A go-around was instructed by Chennai ATC (air traffic control) during the first attempted landing at Chennai airport, not because of the presence of another aircraft on the runway Our pilots are well-trained to handle such situations, and in this case, they followed standard procedures throughout the flight," Air India claimed. We understand that such an experience can be unsettling and regret the inconvenience the diversion may have caused to you. However, safety is always our priority," the airline added. MANICKAM TAGORE SAYS FLIGHT NARROWLY ESCAPED DISASTER Supporting KC Venugopals claims, Congresss Manickam Tagore wrote on X, Shocked & shaken. Air India AI 2455 from Trivandrum to Delhi, carrying MPs & hundreds of passengers, narrowly escaped disaster today turbulence, flight signal fault, and a near runway collision in Chennai." Passenger safety cannot rely on luck. We demand answers & action NOW," (sic), he added. It was not known if Tagore was on the flight. BJP JUMPS IN As the row snowballed, BJPs IT cell chief Amit Malviya said that Venugopal, if misrepresenting facts, should be put on a no-fly list by the airline, as Air India contradicted his claim. This is extremely serious. If senior Congress leader KC Venugopal claims an Air India flight had to abort landing in Chennai because another aircraft was on the runway and the airline immediately contradicts him, then one of them is misrepresenting facts," Malviya wrote. Aviation safety is paramount, and social media posts from supposedly responsible people cannot go unscrutinised. If the allegation is true, Chennai ATC and Air India have much to answer for," he mentioned. If not, Mr Venugopal should face consequences, including being put on a no-fly list for spreading falsehoods," he added to his post. KC VENUGOPAL REITERATES HIS CLAIM, SAYS AIR INDIA IS LYING Later, while speaking to reporters, KC Venugopal demanded an inquiry into the matter and said the flight captain had announced that the landing attempt was aborted as there was another aircraft on the runway. Venugopal also said he spoke to the DGCA. There should be an inquiry into the issue. An unfortunate incident happened yesterday. It was announced by the pilot that there was another aircraft on the runway when we were going to land. I spoke to DGCA as well," Venugopal said. Let them have an inquiry. Air India is lying," he added. #WATCH | Delhi: There should be an inquiry into the issue. An unfortunate incident happened yesterday. It was announced by the pilot that there was another aircraft on the runway when we were going to land. I spoke to DGCA as well. Let them have an inquiry. Air India is pic.twitter.com/biNXtm5crF ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2025 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In recent weeks, there have been instances of some of Air Indias aircraft facing technical snags. ALSO READ | Air Indias International Flights To Be Fully Operational From October 1 About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: August 11, 2025, 11:23 IST News india 'Hold An Inquiry': Congress vs Air India vs BJP In Big Row After Flight Diversion To Chennai Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Air India To Suspend DelhiWashington Flights From September Due To Operational Reasons Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 16:27 IST In a press release, the airline said the suspension is mainly due to a planned shortage in its fleet A photo of an Air India aircraft (PTI) Air India on Monday announced it will suspend its non-stop flights between Delhi and Washington, D.C. from September 1. The decision is part of efforts to maintain the reliability and integrity" of its overall route network. In a press release, the airline said the suspension is primarily due to a planned shortage in its fleet, as it began retrofitting 26 of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft last month. Recommended Stories This extensive retrofit programme, aimed at significantly enhancing customer experience, necessitates a prolonged unavailability of multiple aircraft at any given time until at least end of 2026," the airline stated. Air India also cited the continued closure of Pakistani airspace, which has led to longer flight routings and increased operational challenges for its long-haul services. That, coupled with the continued closure of airspace over Pakistan, impacts the airlines long-haul operations, leading to longer flight routings and increased operational complexity," it said. Passengers with bookings on the DelhiWashington route after September will be contacted by the airline. They will be offered alternative travel options, including rebooking on other flights or full refunds, depending on their preference. Despite the suspension, Air India customers will still be able to fly to Washington, D.C. via one-stop connections through New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago, and San Francisco. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all These journeys will be supported by Air Indias interline partners Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines allowing travel on a single ticket with checked baggage through to the final destination. Air India will continue to operate non-stop flights between India and six destinations in North America, including Toronto and Vancouver in Canada," the statement concluded. 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 11, 2025, 15:59 IST News india Air India To Suspend DelhiWashington Flights From September Due To Operational Reasons Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Amit Shah Congratulates Security Forces, J&K Administration For Keeping Amarnath Yatra Safe Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 23:18 IST The yatra began on July 3 and was suspended from August 3 due to heavy rainfall in Kashmir. More tha 4.14 lakh devotees took part in the yatra. Union Home Minister Amit Shah (Image: PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah congratulated all security forces, Amarnathji Shrine Board, Jammu-Kashmir administration and voluntary organisations for their contribution in making the annual Amarnath Yatra safe and smooth. The yatra began on July 3 and was scheduled to conclude on August 9 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. However, authorities decided to shorten it by a week due to heavy rainfall and its impact on the yatra route. Recommended Stories In a post on X, Shah said more than 4.14 lakh devotees visited the holy Amarnath cave shrine, reflecting the unbroken tradition and faith of Indian culture. " I congratulate all the security forces, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, Jammu-Kashmir administration and voluntary organizations for their contribution in making this pilgrimage safe and smooth." The contribution of all of you in making this holy pilgrimage successful was commendable and unique. May Baba Barfani keep his blessings on everyone," he added. ! 4.14 , , Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 11, 2025 The Amarnath Yatra is an annual Hindu pilgrimage to the sacred Amarnath Cave Shrine, dedicated to Lord Shiva, located at an altitude of about 3,888 meters in the hills of Jammu and Kashmir. The cave houses a naturally formed ice Shivling, believed to represent Lord Shiva, and draws lakhs of devotees every year. However, the yatra was affected by heavy rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir, which rendered the roads unsafe. Authorities announced that the yatra would be suspended from August 3 due to the need for track maintenance along both the Baltal and Pahalgam axes of the route. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On July 17, the yatra was suspended due to heavy rains at the twin base camps in Kashmir. A woman pilgrim died while three others sustained injuries on July 16 in a landslide incident along the Baltal route of the Amarnath Yatra in Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir. Moreover, four pilgrims were washed downhill by a landslide at Railpathri along the Baltal axis to the holy cave. This year, following a major terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, the government deployed the highest number of troops ever for the annual yatra. In addition to the already extensive security presence in Kashmir, around 600 extra companies of paramilitary forces were assigned specifically for duties. 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 11, 2025, 23:18 IST News india Amit Shah Congratulates Security Forces, J&K Administration For Keeping Amarnath Yatra Safe Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Pakistan An Irresponsible State With Nuclear Weapons': Govt Sources On Asim Munir's Anti-India Rant Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 14:34 IST Government sources have condemned Asim Munirs Indus Water Treaty remarks and his threats to destroy Indian dams, calling Pakistan an irresponsible state with nuclear weapons. Pakistan's Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir (Photo: AP) Government sources on Monday strongly condemned Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munirs recent take almost half of the world" remark and his comment on the Indus Water Treaty, calling them proof that Pakistan is an irresponsible state with nuclear weapons." They also warned of a real danger" of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of non-state actors in Pakistan. Recommended Stories The sources said Munirs statement was part of a pattern, adding that whenever the US supports the Pakistan military, they always show their true colours." They described the comments as symptomatic of the absence of democracy in Pakistan, where it is their military which controls." Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had earlier warned that Pakistans non-state actors can compromise its nuclear weapons and that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should bring Pakistans nuclear weapons under its monitoring," sources said. Pakistans reckless nuclear threats have not deterred Indias resolve to eliminate terrorism. I ask the global community are nuclear weapons safe in the hands of such an irresponsible and rogue nation? These weapons must come under IAEA supervision," they said. Repeating his anti-India rhetoric, Munir had warned that Islamabad would be prepared to plunge the region into nuclear war and take almost half of the world" down if the country faced an existential threat in a future conflict with New Delhi, The Print reported. His remarks also included a threat directed at industrialist Mukesh Ambani, Asias richest man. We are a nuclear nation; if we think we are going down, well take half the world down with us," Munir had said. While addressing the Pakistani diaspora in Tampa, Florida, Munir had threatened to destroy under-construction Indian dams with missiles, saying, We will wait for India to build a dam, and when it does so, phir 10 missile sey faarigh kar dengey (we will destroy it with 10 missiles)." He added, The Indus River is not the Indians family property. Humein missailon ki kami nahin hai (we have no shortage of missiles)." He also said that Kashmir is the jugular vein" of Pakistan. According to highlights of his speech to the Pakistani community, Munir said Kashmir is not an internal matter of India but an incomplete international agenda. As the Quaid-e-Azam had said, Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan." Munir said his second visit to the US after a gap of one and a half months marks a new dimension in Pakistan-US relations. He added that the aim of these visits is to take the relations on a constructive, sustainable and positive path. Munir also said that Pakistan is extremely grateful to Trump, whose strategic leadership has stopped the war between India and Pakistan as well as prevented many other wars around the world. New Delhi has been maintaining that India and Pakistan halted their military actions following direct talks between their militaries without any mediation by the US. Earlier, too, Munir had said Pakistan will not forget the issue of Kashmir, asserting, It was our jugular vein." His comments were trashed by India. How can anything foreign be in a jugular vein? This is a union territory of India. Its only relationship with Pakistan is the vacation of illegally occupied territories by that country," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said. In his address, Munir said Pakistan responded resolutely and forcefully" during the recent conflict with India and Islamabad made it clear that any Indian aggression will be met with a befitting reply". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Munir, currently on his second visit to Washington since the four-day conflict with India, met senior US political and military leaders during his trip. ALSO READ | India Like A Mercedes, Pakistan A Dump Truck: Asim Munirs Bizarre Analogy Mocked Online About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: August 11, 2025, 14:07 IST News india 'Pakistan An Irresponsible State With Nuclear Weapons': Govt Sources On Asim Munir's Anti-India Rant Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... High Drama On Delhi Streets: Rahul Gandhi Detained, Akhilesh Yadav Jumps Barricade In SIR Protest Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 13:30 IST Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, and other Opposition MPs were detained during a protest march to the Election Commission's office in Delhi against the Bihar SIR. Rahul Gandhi/Akhilesh Yadav during Opposition protests in New Delhi (Photos: PTI) Rahul Gandhi was among multiple leaders and MPs detained amid the Oppositions protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls being undertaken in Bihar and planned in other states. Videos on social media showed Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav jumping the barricades as other opposition leaders continued their march from the Parliament House to Nirvachan Sadan. Recommended Stories VIDEO | Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh ) was seen jumping over the police barricade, protesting with banners in hand as protesting opposition MPs were stopped by police barricades at Transport Bhawan while marching towards the Election Commission headquarters. pic.twitter.com/OtvYEM3NgS Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 11, 2025 Another video showed Rahul Gandhi talking to reporters as he was detained. The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list," Gandhi said. #WATCH | Delhi: Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters pic.twitter.com/Aj9TvCQs1L ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2025 This came after senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday addressed a letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI), underscoring that Opposition MPs intended to collectively hand over a memorandum, not merely send a small delegation. In the letter dated August 10, Ramesh, writing on behalf of political parties in Opposition in Parliament, informed the Chief Election Commissioner that all Opposition MPs would stage a peaceful march from the Parliament House to Nirvachan Sadan on August 11 after 11.30 am. The MPs sought a meeting with the Commission to raise concerns, including but not limited to the Bihar SIR. I am writing to inform the Commission that all Opposition MPs are staging a peaceful march from Parliament House to Nirvachan Sadan on August 11, 2025, after 1130am," Jairam Rameshs letter read. Thereafter, the MPs wish to collectively meet with the Commission on a host of issues, including but not limited to Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls being undertaken in Bihar and proposed to be undertaken in other states as well," he mentioned. We look forward to meeting with the Commission which will be in keeping with the highest tradition of our parliamentary democracy," he added. Here is our original request to the ECI. It is for the Opposition MPs to collectively hand over a memoradum and NOT for just a delegation pic.twitter.com/27tJKv6DJT Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) August 11, 2025 Later, the Election Commission gave an appointment for 12 pm to the Opposition MPs. Members of Parliament from Opposition parties in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are marching from Makar Dwar in Parliament to the Election Commission office at Nirvachan Sadan on Monday. VIDEO | Opposition MPs embark on march to the Election Commission of India office from Makar Dwar of Parliament over the alleged poll fraud" issue.(Full video available on PTI Videos https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/FIkdfyYFEA Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 11, 2025 Earlier in the day, the Delhi Police said that no permission has been sought so far for the proposed march by the INDIA Bloc from Parliament to the Election Commission. On Sunday, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said that the INDIA bloc MPs had marched from the Parliament to the Election Commissions office on Monday to protest the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of voter fraud" during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. At a press conference, Digvijaya Singh alleged that all the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) were filling out fake forms" in one room. He stated, Rahul Gandhi put forward such facts that no one could deny. The name of one person appeared at multiple locations, including polling booths. Rahul Gandhis demand was for electronic data of the voter list, which could be scanned using software to determine how many votes were cast on a single EPIC number." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The reason for the SIR happening in Bihar was questioned. It had been thoroughly tested in 2003, which took 2 years in Bihar, but this time they wanted to do it in 1 month," Singh had said. ALSO READ | Tejashwi Yadav Says Bihar Deputy CM Vijay Sinha Has 2 Voter IDs, He Hits Back As SIR Row Snowballs About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: August 11, 2025, 11:54 IST News india High Drama On Delhi Streets: Rahul Gandhi Detained, Akhilesh Yadav Jumps Barricade In SIR Protest Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Cannot Reserve Vacancies For Men': Supreme Court Slams Arbitrary Gender Quota In Army Reported By : CNN-News18 Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 11:10 IST SC delivered judgment in a writ petition filed by two women seeking appointment to the post of JAG Entry Scheme, challenging the disproportionate vacancies for men and women. File Photo of Supreme Court of India. (PTI) The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Centre to induct one of the two women petitioners to be commissioned in the JAG department, slamming the arbitrary gender quota in the Indian Army. The court stated that no nation can be secure if such policies are followed. The top court further directed the Union to conduct recruitment in aforesaid manner and publish combined merit list for all candidates, which includes men and women candidates. Recommended Stories The Supreme Court delivered judgment in a writ petition filed by two women seeking appointment to the post of JAG (Indian Army) Entry Scheme, challenging the disproportionate vacancies for men and women. Delivering the verdict, Justice Manmohan said the Union is directed to induct petitioner 1 to be commissioned in JAG department. The second petitioner is not entitled to any relief. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The executive cannot reserve vacancies for men. The six seats for men and three for women is arbitrary and cannot be allowed under the guise of induction," Justice Manmohan said, adding, True meaning of gender neutrality and 2023 rules is that Union shall select the most meritorious candidates." The apex court bench further added that restricting the seats of women is violative of Right to Equality". About the Author Ananya Bhatnagar Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More Ananya Bhatnagar, Correspondent at CNN-News18, reports on various legal issues and cases in lower courts and the Delhi High Court. He has covered the hanging of the Nirbhaya gang-rape convicts, JNU violence, De... Read More First Published: August 11, 2025, 11:04 IST News india 'Cannot Reserve Vacancies For Men': Supreme Court Slams Arbitrary Gender Quota In Army Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Critical To Have States On Board For NEP: Parliamentary Panel To Centre after Tamil Nadu Protest Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 19:58 IST Tamil Nadu last week became the first state to have its own education policy, rejecting the Centres NEP as it has termed the same as an effort towards Hindi imposition Tamil Nadu Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin during a protest by DMK-led coalition against the BJP-led Central government for trying to impose the three-language policy under NEP 2020 in the state. (PTI File) At a time when Tamil Nadu and other southern states are up in arms against the New Education Policy (NEP), a parliamentary standing committee report submitted on Monday said it was critical to have complete confidence of the states to successfully advance the vision of the NEP. The committee is headed by Congress MP Digvijaya Singh, and it submitted a report on Implementation of the NEP-2020 in Higher Education on Monday. Recommended Stories A synergized collaboration between stakeholders is required for the successful implementation of the NEP. Education is in the concurrent list of the Constitution. It is therefore critical to have the complete confidence of the States to successfully advance the vision of the NEP," the report said. It added that the Centre in its answers to the committee has not touched on the modalities as to how the Union Government is working with State Governments that have expressed reservations about various elements of the NEP in Higher Education. Hence, the Committee is of the opinion that the Ministry must develop a mechanism to coordinate with the States on any such concerns that they may have shared," the report said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Tamil Nadu last week became the first state to have its own education policy, rejecting the Centres NEP as it has termed the same as an effort towards Hindi imposition. Tamil Nadu has also rejected the three-language formula under the NEP and said it will only teach Tamil and English in schools. The Karnataka government has also rejected the NEP in a similar fashion. The Centre stopped the release of funds to Tamil Nadu for not implementing the NEP 2020, but the Tamil Nadu government said it wont accept the funds as for it the two-language formula was the most important. 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 11, 2025, 19:55 IST News india Critical To Have States On Board For NEP: Parliamentary Panel To Centre after Tamil Nadu Protest Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... DK Parulkar, IAF Officer Who Orchestrated 1971 War's Most Daring Escape Attempts, Dies At 83 Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 18:22 IST Group Captain Dilip Kamalakar Parulkar, a 1971 war hero, passed away on August 10. The Indian Air Force mourned his loss, celebrating his courage and legacy. DK Parulkar led a daring escape from a Pakistani POW camp during 1971 War. (News18 Hindi) The nation is mourning the loss of one of its most celebrated warriors, Group Captain Dilip Kamalakar Parulkar (Retd), a decorated 1971 war hero and a symbol of the Indian Air Forces valour, who passed away on Sunday, August 10. His name is etched in history for leading a remarkable and dangerous escape attempt from a Pakistani prisoner-of-war camp, a mission that became one of the most daring episodes of the 1971 India-Pakistan war. Remembering the hero for his might, the Indian Air Force (IAF) expressed its condolences and said that his daring escape during the 1971 war embodied unmatched courage" in the force. Gp Capt DK Parulkar (Retd) VM, VSM 1971 War hero, who led a daring escape from captivity in Pakistan, embodying unmatched courage, ingenuity & pride in the IAF has left for his heavenly abode. All Air Warriors of the IAF express their heartfelt condolences," the Indian Air Force posted on their social media handle on X (formerly Twitter). Recommended Stories Gp Capt DK Parulkar (Retd) VM, VSM 1971 War hero, who led a daring escape from captivity in Pakistan, embodying unmatched courage, ingenuity & pride in the IAF has left for his heavenly abode.All Air Warriors of the IAF express their heartfelt condolences.#IndianAirForce pic.twitter.com/cti0X24u7g Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) August 10, 2025 Parulkars capture came during the Indo-Pak war of 1971, when he was taken as a prisoner after a fierce aerial battle. Held in Rawalpindis POW camp under constant watch, he met two other IAF officers, MS Grewal and Harish Singhji. The trio, unwilling to languish in captivity, devised a perilous plan to dig their way to freedom. There were no tools, no equipment, and enemy surveillance was unrelenting. Yet, under the cover of night, the officers lifted a section of their barrack floor and began to dig, inch by inch, night after night. The excavated soil was concealed in their clothes and discreetly spread across the camp to avoid suspicion. For months, they lived a double life prisoners by day, tunnelers by night, with the constant fear of discovery hanging over them. At last, the tunnel was complete. Under the darkness of night, they slipped through their secret passage and stepped into the uncertainty of Rawalpindis silent streets and open fields. Their destination was the border to India. Hunger, exhaustion, and the threat of patrols tested their resolve at every turn. Yet, their determination was unshaken. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all They made it within four miles, just six kilometres from freedom, when fate turned. A Pakistani patrol spotted them, and the three were recaptured. The setback was crushing, but their attempt became a legend in the annals of Indian military history. The story of this daring escape would later inspire the film The Great Indian Escape, immortalising their courage, ingenuity, and unbreakable spirit. For Parulkar, this was only one chapter in a lifetime of service. In the 1965 war, he had already proved his mettle when his fighter jet was hit by enemy fire, he still managed to land it safely, earning the Air Force Medal for exceptional bravery. First Published: August 11, 2025, 18:22 IST News india DK Parulkar, IAF Officer Who Orchestrated 1971 War's Most Daring Escape Attempts, Dies At 83 Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Where Army Is Hand-In-Glove With Terrorists...: India Calls Out Asim Munir After Nuke Threat Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 17:09 IST Stating that the global community can draw its conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks, India raised concerns over Munir's nuclear blackmail. Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir with PM Shehbaz Sharif. (PTI File) India on Monday condemned Pakistani Army chief Asim Munirs recent nuclear threat, dismissing it as yet another example of Islamabads nuclear sabre-rattling". Stating that the global community can draw its conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks, New Delhi raised concerns over Munirs nuclear blackmail. Our attention has been drawn to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff while on a visit to the United States. Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistans stock-in-trade," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. Recommended Stories The MEA further urged the international community to pay attention to the fact that such a high-ranking military official making these kinds of threats indicates a lack of a stable and secure system for managing nuclear weapons. The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks, which also reinforce the well-held doubts about the integrity of nuclear command and control in a state where the military is hand-in-glove with terrorist groups," the MEA added. The Ministry of External Affairs further slammed the US and stated that such comments by the Pakistani Army chief were made from the soil of a friendly third country," are regrettable. India maintained its stance, reaffirming that India will never bow down to the nuclear blackmail tactic of Islamabad and will continue to take all steps necessary to safeguard the national security." India has already made it clear that it will not give in to nuclear blackmail. We will continue to take all steps necessary to safeguard our national security," the statement added. Pakistan Army Chief Makes Nuke Threat In US Pakistani military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, made a threat during his recent visit to the United States, saying that Islamabad would take down half the world" with it, if his country faces an existential threat in the future with India. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all We are a nuclear nation. If we believe we are going down, we will take half the world down with us," Munir said during a private dinner. Munirs remarks demonstrated once again Pakistans irresponsible approach towards its nuclear arsenal and its role as a driver of nuclear instability in South Asia. 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 11, 2025, 14:59 IST News india Where Army Is Hand-In-Glove With Terrorists...: India Calls Out Asim Munir After Nuke Threat Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Heightened Alert For Independence Day After Pahalgam, Op Sindoor Suggests Joint Intel Analysis | Exclusive Curated By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 07:30 IST A combination of symbolic significance, fixed venue, and large public presence has led to what officials describe as a "critical threat environment" for Independence Day this year A security personnel walks past a scaffolding in front of the Red Fort, constructed in preparation for Indias 78th Independence Day celebrations, in New Delhi on August 3. (Image: Sajjad HUSSAIN/AFP) Leading up to Independence Day, security agencies have issued heightened alerts across New Delhi following multiple intelligence inputs citing possible terror threats. Central agencies have already conveyed detailed advisories to concerned departments, warning of increased risks in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack in April and the subsequent retaliatory action, Operation Sindoor in May. The combination of symbolic significance, fixed venue, and large public presence has led to what officials describe as a critical threat environment" for this years Independence Day celebrations, for which preparations are underway to make Operation Sindoor the primary focus. Recommended Stories Officials have warned that New Delhis large population and dense clusters of unauthorised colonies could serve as potential safe havens for operatives attempting to infiltrate or stage attacks. According to sources, threats are perceived from Pakistan-based terrorist outfits, global jihadi networks, radical Islamist factions, Sikh militant groups, Left wing extremists (LWE), and certain northeast insurgent outfits. Security agencies have also considered the possibility of action by homegrown radical elements, disgruntled groups, and communal agitators seeking to exploit the occasion. A senior official involved in the security and planning of Independence Day said the primary adversaries are Pakistan-based terrorist outfits, global jihadi groups, and radical Islamist factions. Officials said the intelligence input has underscored the need for strict personnel verification and increased vigilance, including involvement from different agencies and central paramilitary forces. Senior officers have been instructed to ensure that no outsider in uniform gains access to restricted areas, they said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Security sources have cautioned that potential threats could range from coordinated terrorist strikes to lone-wolf attacks, reprisal actions, or disruptive demonstrations by groups affected by recent government policies. Additionally, secondary threats are from Sikh militant elements, LWEs, northeast insurgent groups, and homegrown radical/fundamentalist organisations. All officials have been instructed not to post any information on social media, as it may have serious security implications, they said. Pakistani intelligence operatives may try to obtain information by posing as officers and asking for details of security arrangements and deployment. All control room personnel have been instructed not to share information with any doubtful individuals and to inform seniors about any suspicious queries. About the Author Ankur Sharma With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, paramilitar... Read More With over 15 years of journalistic experience, Ankur Sharma, Associate Editor, specializes in internal security and is tasked with providing comprehensive coverage from the Ministry of Home Affairs, paramilitar... Read More First Published: August 11, 2025, 07:30 IST News india Heightened Alert For Independence Day After Pahalgam, Op Sindoor Suggests Joint Intel Analysis | Exclusive Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'If Ratan Tata Was Alive': US Lawyer Slams Air India Over Delay In Ahmedabad Plane Crash Aid Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 08:21 IST US Attorney highlighted the late Ratan Tata's legacy of compassion, suggesting his presence could have prevented such delays in compensation faced by the grieving families. US Lawyer Slams Air India Over Delay In Ahmedabad Plane Crash Aid Ratan Tatas legacy of compassion,Noted US Attorney, Mike Andrews, representing over 65 families affected by the tragic Ahmedabad plane crash, slammed Air India for delay in compensation for the victims families. He noted that if former Chairperson of the Tata Group, Ratan Tata, had been alive such bureaucratic process" would not have existed. Andrews spoke to ANI on Sunday and highlighted that Ratan Tatas work ethics and humbleness could have prevented such obstacles faced by the grieving families. Recommended Stories Even in the US, we know who Ratan Tata was. We know a little bit in the US about his work ethic and his focus on being humble and taking care of his employees and so we know that if he were here today, we dont believe employees and victims and people who were on the aeroplane and on the ground would be subjected to a bureaucratic process in which theyre delayed payment," he said. US lawyer further cited case of one of the families where a bedridden elderly woman, dependent on her son who was killed in the crash, is waiting for the compensation to meet her medical needs. We met with one family, the elderly mother is bedridden, and she was depending upon her son to provide income to pay for her health care. He is now deceased. They have not received payment. What are they supposed to do? They are now left at the mercy of the world in determining how she is supposed to go on when the person who was helping provide for her was killed through no fault of his own," Andrews told ANI. Over 65 families filed a petition in the US Federal Court against Air India and Boeing, the aircraft manufacturer, through a United States-based law firm Beasley Allen. Mike Andrews, the aviation attorney of Beasley Allen, took up the case and visited the crash site in the Meghaninagar area of Ahmedabad. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On July 26, Air India released Rs 25 lakh in interim compensation payments to the families of 147 of the 229 passengers who lost their lives in the crash and 19 others who lost their lives on the ground. On June 12, Air India flight AI171, a Boeing 787-8 aircraft, crashed shortly after it took off from Ahmedabads Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, killing 260 people, including 229 passengers, 12 crew members, and 19 people on the ground. 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 11, 2025, 08:21 IST News india 'If Ratan Tata Was Alive': US Lawyer Slams Air India Over Delay In Ahmedabad Plane Crash Aid Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Independence Day Mock Drill: Dummy Terrorist Breaches Red Fort In Third Security Lapse Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 07:11 IST The dummy did not only enter the premises but also recorded videos and took selfies. Red Fort in Delhi (PTI File Image) Amid the mock drills in Red Fort ahead of the Independence Day, a dummy terrorist of the Delhi Police Special Cell entered the premises carrying imitation explosives all the way to the childrens section for Independence Day celebrations without being detected. Notably, this is the third security lapse during the drill. Meanwhile, the dummy did not only enter the premises but also recorded videos and took selfies, reported the Hindustan Times, citing an official. Recommended Stories We continue to do them to rule out any shortcomings, and we have conducted several successful drills where the mock operatives were caught," Deputy Commissioner of police (North) Raja Banthia was quoted as saying by HT. Another officer stated that they have conducted at least successful mock drills. Three subversion attempt mock drills and two dummy infiltration drills by Special Branch, nine dummy infiltration attempts by local vigilance branch, and one subversion attempt mock drill of Special Cell have been successful, in which the dummy suspects were caught," the officer said. Seven Police Personnel Suspended As Dummy Bomb Goes Undetected Earlier on August 5, seven police personnel, including constables and head constables, have been suspended as a dummy bomb went undetected in the Red Fort during a security drill, Delhi police said. The dismissed policemen were deployed for the security of the Red Fort. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A team of the Special Cell conducted a drill on Saturday in which they entered the Red Fort premises in civil dress with a dummy bomb. At that time, the policemen deployed for the security of the Red Fort could not trace the bomb, due to which they were suspended," the police added. According to officials, the Delhi Police is carrying out daily drills in preparation for the Independence Day event on August 15. 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 11, 2025, 07:01 IST News india Independence Day Mock Drill: Dummy Terrorist Breaches Red Fort In Third Security Lapse Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... India-China LAC Border Posts To Get Climate-Resilient: Relief For Jawans Battling -45C | Exclusive Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 10:04 IST CNN-News18 has accessed govt document that details a plan of ITBP to bring on board a consultant at cost of Rs 1.25 crore to prepare design for a BOP for high-altitude regions Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) personnel celebrate the Republic Day at a 17000-ft-high snow-clad field in Ladakh. (PTI File) It has taken decades, but Indian jawans posted at the India-China LAC border from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh will now get modern border outposts. They will be climate resilient to survive the temperatures that drop to minus 45C in the winters at a height of almost 19,000 feet. CNN-News18 has accessed a government document that details a plan of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to bring on board a consultant at a cost of Rs 1.25 crore to prepare the design of a Border Outpost (BOP) for extreme climate and high-altitude regions. Recommended Stories ITBP serves in the most challenging terrain and harsh climatic conditions, in Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh, which necessitate the requirement of climate resilient BOP. The idea is simple provide comfortable living conditions in the challenging and inhospitable terrain, and enhance the operational effectiveness, rapid deployment capability, and well-being of the troops, says the document. The BOPs will have integrated Heating, Ventilated and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems along with incorporation of renewable energy solutions (solar/wind) for energy efficiency to minimise reliance on fossil fuels. Most of the ITBP BOPs are located in the most inaccessible and high-altitude areas, ranging from 9,000 feet to 18,800 feet above sea level. The weather conditions in these areas are extremely harsh with temperatures dropping to -45C in winters. The idea is to have a modern construction methodology suited to high-altitude for rapid construction and ease of transportation to far-flung areas", says the document. The government is also looking at sub-ground bunkers and utility areas for natural insulation and structural stability to withstand heavy snow and seismic activity. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all ITBPs BOPs are both at the company level and platoon level with authorised strength of 128 and 40 men, respectively. Water freezing problems are experienced in winter at most ITBP BOPs. Some BOPs are not connected with road and transportation of man and materials through foot track. India has been constantly upgrading its border infrastructure on the LAC since the Doklam and Galwan stand-offs in 2017 and 2020, respectively. 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 11, 2025, 07:00 IST News india India-China LAC Border Posts To Get Climate-Resilient: Relief For Jawans Battling -45C | Exclusive Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Indus Waters Indias Family Property': Ex-Diplomat Rajiv Dogra Hits Back At Asim Munirs Rant Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 10:27 IST Former ambassador Rajiv Dogra agreed with Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munirs term family property for the Indus River, saying it rightfully belongs to India. Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir (AP File) Former ambassador Rajiv Dogra on Sunday commented on Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munirs statement on the Indus Water Treaty and said his usage of the term family property" for the Indus River is correct. He has used the right term family property, because the Indus River Waters are a family property of India," Dogra said. Recommended Stories If you look at the river rights of any big nation, be it China or America, they consider their rivers their family properties," he added. Also commenting on Munirs rant against India, the former ambassador said, He (Asim Munir) should consult an intelligent person before saying anything. And if he continues his anti-India rant, India should try and stop whatever water is being released to Pakistan." VIDEO | Delhi: On Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munirs reported statement on the Indus River during his US visit, Former diplomat Rajiv Dogra says, He has used the right term family property. Water of the Indus River is Indias family property only America and China consider pic.twitter.com/FIH4Bg8uTr Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 10, 2025 Also commenting on the same, CPI MP John Brittas expressed concern over Munirs threats to India from the United States. The soil of the United States is being used to unleash a threat against India," Brittas told CNN-News18. It is highly provocative, and we want the government of India to come up with a statement rebutting his charges. Pakistan is the phenomenal front of the United States, so the friendship has shifted from our front to another front," he added. WHAT ASIM MUNIR SAID Recently, addressing a black-tie event hosted for him in Floridas Tampa, Asim Munir threatened to destroy the Indian dams (to be built) with missiles on the river, saying that Islamabad has plenty of missiles. We will wait for India to build a dam, and when it does so, phir 10 missile sey faarigh kar dengey (we will destroy it with 10 missiles)," Munir had said. The Indus River is not the Indians family property. Humein missailon ki kami nahin hai, (we have no shortage of missiles)," Munir reportedly said. Asim Munir, who is visiting Washington for the second time since the four-day conflict with India, met top US political and military leaders there. In June, Munir travelled to the US on a rare five-day trip during which he attended a private luncheon with President Donald Trump, an unprecedented gesture typically reserved for visiting heads of state or government. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all That meeting culminated in Trumps announcement of enhanced US-Pakistan cooperation in various fields, including an oil deal. ALSO READ | Army Chief Mocks Islamabads Victory Claim After Op Sindoor: If You Ask A Pakistani About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: August 11, 2025, 09:30 IST News india 'Indus Waters Indias Family Property': Ex-Diplomat Rajiv Dogra Hits Back At Asim Munirs Rant Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Its Poll Bodys Data: Rahul Gandhi Refuses To Sign Affidavit On Vote Theft Allegations Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 16:01 IST Around 300 Opposition MPs, including Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi, marched to the Election Commission in New Delhi over 'vote theft' claims. Several leaders were detained by police. LoP in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi during the Monsoon session of Parliament (PTI) High drama unfolded in New Delhi on Monday as around 300 Opposition MPs, including Congresss Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, SPs Akhilesh Yadav, marched to the Election Commission office over the vote theft allegations. The Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition was among multiple leaders and MPs who were detained by Delhi Police during their protest march against the Election Commission over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of voter fraud" during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Recommended Stories While speaking to reporters, Rahul Gandhi refused to submit a formal declaration to substantiate his allegation, saying it was the poll bodys data, not his own, that he had been asked to sign in the affidavit. It is their (Election Commission) data. It is not my data that I will sign (an affidavit) Put that data on your website and you will get to know. All this is just to distract from the issue. This has not just taken place in Bengaluru but several other constituencies too" Rahul Gandhi said, as quoted by news agency ANI. #WATCH | Delhi: On notices from the Election Commission, Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, It is their (Election Commission) data. It is not my data that I will sign (an affidavit) Put that data on your website and you will get to know. All this is just to pic.twitter.com/FTljvHKhW1 ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2025 The Congress leader further asserted that this protest is a fight to save the Constitution" and demanded a pure" voters list from the Election Commission. Rahul Gandhi told reporters while being detained, The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list." #WATCH | Delhi: Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi says, Election Commission jaanta hai ki uska data phatega. Jo woh chipane ki koshish kar raha hai, usko hum nikaal denge" https://t.co/xRQ5rW9yXJ pic.twitter.com/jX7EHNcLNP ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2025 The other leaders who were detained were Shive Sena Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, and TMC MP Sagarika Ghose. The detained MPs were coralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station. Delhi Police Cites Lack of Permission Police said the opposition leaders were detained and taken to Parliament Street Police Station as only the Election Commission had only given permission to 30 MPs to enter its premises but the protesters were in large numbers". Police said no one had sought permission for the protest march to the Election Commission. The opposition leaders had planned a march from Makar Dwar in Parliament to the Election Commission office where they wanted to hand over a memorandum on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) issue to the EC. The MPs have been informed that only 30 MPs are allowed to go to the Election Commission. We will take them there once we get their names from the EC," a senior police officer said. Why This Protest? The INDIA bloc leaders launched a protest after senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday addressed a letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI), underscoring that Opposition MPs intended to collectively hand over a memorandum, not merely send a small delegation. In the letter dated August 10, Ramesh, writing on behalf of political parties in Opposition in Parliament, informed the Chief Election Commissioner that all Opposition MPs would stage a peaceful march from the Parliament House to Nirvachan Sadan on August 11 after 11.30 am. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The MPs sought a meeting with the Commission to raise concerns, including but not limited to the Bihar SIR. Later, the Election Commission gave an appointment for 12 pm to the Opposition MPs. 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 11, 2025, 15:54 IST News india Its Poll Bodys Data: Rahul Gandhi Refuses To Sign Affidavit On Vote Theft Allegations Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Jhansi Man Shaves Sister's Head, Strangles Her On Raksha Bandhan, Day After Killing Her Lover Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 14:13 IST The families of both the girl and her lover were against their affair due to caste and community differences and her attempt to elope likely enraged her brother, cops said Cops at the site where the young woman's body was recovered after she was killed allegedly by her brother. (News18) On August 9, as families across the country celebrated Raksha Bandhan to mark the bond between siblings, 19-year-old Arvind Kumar from Jhansis Chandrapura village allegedly shaved his sisters head, strangled her, and dumped her body on a rocky hill near a stone-crusher site. A day earlier, he is believed to have lured and killed his sisters boyfriend, 18-year-old Vishal Ahirwar, before disposing of his body nearly 40 kilometres away on the banks of the Dhasan river in Lahchura police station limits. Bodies Found Two Days Apart Recommended Stories The sequence began on August 7, when Arvind and an associate, identified as Prakash Prajapati, allegedly arrived at Vishals house in Pathrai village under Tahruali police station. According to the victims family, the men persuaded Vishal to accompany them on the pretext of arranging a job in Delhi. Vishals father, Halke Ram, said Prakash was a known acquaintance whose relatives lived nearby, making the request appear harmless. That evening, Vishal told his father over the phone that he was in Tahruali and might stay the night. It was the last time his family heard from him. On August 8, Lahchura police recovered the body of an unidentified youth from shrubs near the river. The corpse bore injury marks on the neck, indicating possible strangulation. The photograph of the body was later circulated on social media, eventually reaching Vishals relatives, who confirmed his identity on the night of August 9. The following morning, news of another grisly discovery emergedthis time from Chandrapura village. Locals spotted the body of a young woman with a shaven head lying on a nearby hill. She was identified as Puchchu (also known as Putto) Ahirwar, Arvinds younger sister. A Love Story Under Siege Police investigation revealed that Vishal and Puchchu had been in a relationship for over a year. The two first met at a relatives home in Nunar village. Their friendship soon blossomed into romance, but it faced stiff opposition from their families, reportedly due to caste and community differences. In January this year, the couple eloped, prompting both families to file missing person reports. They were traced by police within three days and brought back. A compromise was reached at the police station, and the couple was separated. Vishals family moved to Haryana in an attempt to distance him from Puchchu. However, the two continued to communicate via phone, and their relationship persisted despite parental disapproval. Two weeks before the murders, Vishals family returned to the village for Raksha Bandhan festivitiesa move that may have reignited tensions. Allegations Against the Brother According to Vishals father, Arvind, aided by Prakash, conspired to eliminate both lovers. Puchchus father, Pappu Ahirwar, admitted to the police that his son had committed the murder. My daughter was planning to run away with her lover again. My son became enraged, shaved her head, strangled her, and dumped her body on the hill," he told investigators. Police Investigation and Arrests Jhansis SSP BBGTS Murthy confirmed that both murders are being investigated as connected cases. Preliminary investigation suggests that the girls brother committed the crime. We have detained three suspects, including the youth who took Vishal away. The brother is currently absconding, and three police teams have been deployed to track him," the SSP said. SP (Rural) Dr. Arvind Kumar added that forensic teams have collected evidence from both crime scenes. Post-mortem examinations will help establish the exact cause of death. We are probing all angles, including the honour killing theory, given the opposition to their relationship," he said. A Shock for the Villages The double murder has sparked outrage and disbelief in the villages involved. Locals describe both victims as soft-spoken and say the relationship, though frowned upon by some elders, was well-known in the area. Many residents believe societal pressure and family honour sentiments played a decisive role in the killings. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Police are now examining call records, mobile locations, and CCTV footage from surrounding areas to piece together the timeline of events. Sources say they are also investigating whether more people were involved in the conspiracy. Meanwhile, Puchchus father has expressed shock over his sons actions, though he admitted the family had repeatedly warned her to end the relationship. The absconding brothers arrest is expected to provide further clarity on whether the murders were premeditated jointly or carried out in a fit of rage. Location : Jhansi, India, India First Published: August 11, 2025, 14:07 IST News india Jhansi Man Shaves Sister's Head, Strangles Her On Raksha Bandhan, Day After Killing Her Lover Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Karnataka Minister KN Rajanna, Whose Voter List Remark Irked Congress Brass, Resigns Reported By : CNN-News18 Edited By: Vani Mehrotra Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 16:47 IST Karnataka Minister KN Rajanna resigned after admitting voter list irregularities occurred during the Congress governments tenure. A file photo of KN Rajanna (PTI) Karnataka Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna was on Monday sacked after he publicly admitted that voter list irregularities took place during the Congress governments tenure. A close aide of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Rajanna, had questioned the partys silence over alleged electoral roll manipulation, remarks that directly contradicted the Congresss official stance. Recommended Stories The Congress high command instructed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to remove Rajanna from the cabinet after his comments sparked a political row, it was known. According to sources, Rajanna was sacked. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar strongly rebutted the claims, defending the partys track record and accusing the opposition of exploiting Rajannas statement. According to the details, Rajanna had said the irregularities took place right in front of our eyes". It is a shame for us that we did not monitor it," he said while talking to reporters. Earlier, Rajanna had vehemently insisted on the need for the creation of more deputy chief ministerial posts to weaken the position of Shivakumar. A heated exchange broke out in the House on Monday over the resignation of Minister Rajanna, with the BJP pressing the government for clarity on whether Chief Minister has accepted it. Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka argued that if Rajanna was no longer a minister, he should not be seated on the treasury benches, and urged the government to state his current status. He had also vouched for the candidature of a Dalit leader for the post of the chief minister if Siddaramaiah was replaced by any chance. Later, he had said the high command had asked him not to create confusion regarding leadership change in the state by making remarks. No one should talk about the creation of more deputy chief ministerial posts and the change of the chief minister," he had said. The matter of change of leadership will be taken care of by the high command. The decision of the high command is binding on all," he added. Even I feel that there should be no confusion in these matters. Wherever the changes are required, the high command will make decisions. The decision of the high command is final," he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all ALSO READ | Siddaramaiah Refutes KN Rajannas Claims About Political Changes About the Author Harish Upadhya Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India's space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and RTI investi... Read More Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India's space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and RTI investi... Read More First Published: August 11, 2025, 15:01 IST News india Karnataka Minister KN Rajanna, Whose Voter List Remark Irked Congress Brass, Resigns Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... SC Order On Delhi Stray Dog Menace: 'Move Them To Shelters Within 8 Weeks, Make Capital Safe' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 13:40 IST The Supreme Court on Monday instructed Delhi civic body to round up stray dogs, sterilise them, and move them permanently to shelters Supreme Court's big order on stray dog menace (Representational image: PTI) The Supreme Court on Monday issued strong directions to the Delhi civic body to round up stray dogs, sterilise them, and move them permanently to shelters, noting that the order should be enforced strictly to make the capital safe. The court said that there should be no compromise on the drive and warned that if any individual or organisation comes in the way of the forces picking up stray dogs, strict action will be taken against them. Recommended Stories It is for the authorities to look into how this will be done; if they have to create a force, they shall have to do it," the bench observed, calling the move the first and foremost exercise to ensure that the capital city is free of stray dogs." Expressing concern over public safety, especially of children, a bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said, Infants and young children should not, at any cost, fall prey to such stray dogs. Actions should inspire confidence among people." It also ordered Delhi authorities to set up dog shelters equipped with adequate staff and CCTV surveillance within eight weeks, making it clear that sterilised dogs are not to be released back onto the streets. It directed that the process of capturing 5,000 stray dogsbeginning with high-risk areasmust start within six weeks, with strict action against anyone obstructing the effort. Officials in Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram have also been instructed to maintain a daily log of all captured dogs and warned that any breach of the rule prohibiting their release will invite stern consequences. SC On Animal Rights Activists When Justice Pardiwala asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for his views, Mehta informed the court that a location in Delhi had been earmarked for relocating stray dogs. However, the plan was halted after animal rights activists secured a stay order. All these animal activists will they be able to bring back those who have fallen prey to rabies? We need to make streets absolutely free of stray dogs," the bench remarked, further stating that it would not permit the adoption of stray dogs. The top court directed the NDMC and MCD to establish a dedicated helpline for dog bite complaints, ensuring that residents can immediately report incidents to the municipal authorities. Noting the need for prompt medical response, the court said that an adequate stock of rabies vaccines must be maintained at government hospitals. Private hospitals cannot administer rabies shots this has to be done in government facilities," the court stated. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The directive follows the top courts decision last month to take up the matter on its own (suo motu) in response to the rising incidents of stray dog attacks and related deaths, calling the situation alarming and disturbing." The bench, comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, acted after a report detailed the death of a six-year-old Delhi girl from rabies, caused by a dog bite. First Published: August 11, 2025, 12:25 IST News india SC Order On Delhi Stray Dog Menace: 'Move Them To Shelters Within 8 Weeks, Make Capital Safe' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... This photo taken with mobile phone shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pointing at a photo of an Israeli hostage on the screen during a press conference in Jerusalem, on Aug. 10, 2025. Netanyahu said on Sunday that he is determined to launch a recently approved plan to take over Gaza City, which has drawn wide international condemnation. (Xinhua/Feng Guorui) JERUSALEM, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he is determined to launch a recently approved plan to take over Gaza City, which has drawn wide international condemnation. Israel "has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas," he told a press conference for foreign media in Jerusalem. "Our goal is not to occupy Gaza, our goal is to free Gaza," he said. Netanyahu said that even if Hamas is "completely defeated," Israel's postwar plan includes maintaining security control over the enclave and complete control over land between Gaza and Israel, where a "security zone" would be established. Daily life in Gaza, he said, would be run by a "civilian administration" under an international entity that is neither Israel nor the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority. He also denounced what he called a "global campaign of lies" as condemnation of the plan increased worldwide, as well as within Israel. He denied that Israel is deliberately starving Palestinians, despite evidence from photos, videos, local journalists, international physicians who have been to Gaza, United Nations experts, and human rights groups. On Sunday, at least five more people died from famine and malnutrition, according to Gaza health authorities. The number of people killed by Israeli strikes has reached at least 61,430 since Oct. 7, 2023, the authorities added. This photo taken with mobile phone shows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pointing at a map of Gaza Strip on the screen during a press conference in Jerusalem, on Aug. 10, 2025. Netanyahu said on Sunday that he is determined to launch a recently approved plan to take over Gaza City, which has drawn wide international condemnation. (Xinhua/Feng Guorui) 'Regrettable...Made From A Friendly Country': Govt Reacts To Asim Munir's Anti-India Rant In US Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 15:04 IST 'Regrettable...Made From A Friendly Country': Govt Reacts To Asim Munir's Anti-India Rant In US Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir. File photo/AP India on Monday condemned Pakistani Army chief Asim Munirs recent nuclear threat made from the US, dismissing it as yet another example of Islamabads nuclear sabre-rattling." During his speech in Florida, Munir issued threats of nuclear war" and promised to take down half the world" if Pakistan faced an existential crisis in a future conflict with India. Recommended Stories We are a nuclear nation. If we believe we are going down, we will take half the world down with us," Munir said during a private dinner. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted that such comments were made from the soil of a friendly third country," calling the choice of venue regrettable". Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistans stock-in-trade," the MEA said in a statement. It further noted that the international community could draw their own conclusions about the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks, which also reinforce the well-held doubts about the integrity of nuclear command and control in a state where the military is hand-in-glove with terrorist groups". The MEA further maintained its stance, reaffirming that India will never bow down to the nuclear blackmail tactic of Islamabad and will continue to take all steps necessary to safeguard the national security." Israel Condemns Munirs Nuke Threat Reacting to Munirs nuke threat, Israeli ambassador to India Reuven Azar condemned the statement and said that it is not a conducive remark". It is not a very conducive statement made by Munir. We stand very firmly with our friends." Meanwhile, government sources slammed the remarks as highly irresponsible," saying they underscore Pakistans willingness to jeopardise both regional and global security. They added that whenever the Pakistani military enjoys US backing, it invariably shows its true colours." The Pakistani Army Chief has once again given a highly irresponsible statement involving nuclear weapons. This is for the world to see how Pakistan is not only risking regional security but also global security. There are reasons for people to have concerns about Pakistan having nuclear weapons," government sources said. It is a sign that democracy does not exist in Pakistan; instead, the military controls the country. There is a real danger of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of non-state actors in Pakistan," the sources added. Munirs comments mark the first publicly known instance of a nuclear threat being issued from US soil against a third nation. During his second trip to the US in less than two months since the brief four-day clash with India, the Pakistani army chief also took aim at New Delhi over control of the Indus River. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all According to a statement from the Pakistani military, Munir is on an official visit involving high-level meetings with senior American political and defence leaders, as well as interactions with the Pakistani diaspora. He claimed that his second visit to Washington in just six weeks represents a new dimension" in PakistanUS ties. First Published: August 11, 2025, 14:39 IST News india 'Regrettable...Made From A Friendly Country': Govt Reacts To Asim Munir's Anti-India Rant In US Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Tamil Nadu Student Stabbed To Death At Puducherry Restobar During Birthday Celebration, 8 Held Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 11:52 IST A birthday celebration at a restobar in Puducherry turned tragic when a service captain allegedly stabbed two students, killing one and injuring another after a heated argument. Representative image Birthday celebration at a restobar in Puducherry went fatally tragic as a student died in a knife attack between students and staff. In the altercation during the early hours of Sunday, service captain allegedly stabbed two students, one killed and other got seriously injured. As per a report by NDTV, Shajan, a university student in Chennai, organised his birthday party at Puducherrys OMG Restobar. Approximately, ten of his friends were attending the party. Recommended Stories As per the officials, a heated argument broke out between the group and bouncers had to intervene. The students were asked to vacate the place and they escorted out. This led to an altercation between the staff and the students. NDTV further reported that during the fight, restaurants service captain allegedly retrieved a kitchen knife and attacked two students. Both injured students were rushed to hospital where 23-year-old Moshiq from Sivaganga district, a student at SRM University near Chennai, died. The other student in undergoing treatment. Police have arrested the service captain and several others were also held. It is now investigating all the digital evidences and would take appropriate action accordingly. Andhra Pradesh: Student Found Dead In College A first-year intermediate student studying at RNR Intermediate College, located at ISKCON Centre in Nellore city of Andhra Pradesh, was found dead under suspicious circumstances on Sunday. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The deceased has been identified as Hemashree, a native of Rasapalayam village in Satyavedu mandal, Tirupati district. The students parents alleged that the college management was responsible for their daughters death. Upon hearing the news, a large number of relatives, along with the parents of students, staged a protest in front of the college. 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 : Puducherry (Pondicherry), India, India First Published: August 11, 2025, 11:52 IST News india Tamil Nadu Student Stabbed To Death At Puducherry Restobar During Birthday Celebration, 8 Held Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Tejas MK-2 To Get Meteor Missile And Uttam Radar, Enabling 200 km Strikes At 5,000 kmph Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 17:57 IST The Meteor missile, a top BVR weapon, features a throttleable ramjet engine, active radar seeker, and two-way data link for superior range and target tracking This development will make Tejas MK-2 even more powerful, positioning it as a competitor to the Rafale. (PTI/File) The Indian Air Force is set to significantly enhance its air-to-air attack capabilities with the integration of the state-of-the-art Meteor missile (Meteor Beyond-Visual-Range Air-to-Air Missile BVRAAM) into the indigenous fighter aircraft Tejas MK-2. This development will make Tejas MK-2, a 4.5 generation fighter aircraft, even more powerful, positioning it as a competitor to the Rafale. The aircraft, developed by DRDO, will also be equipped with modern radar systems and ultra-modern weapons, including the BrahMos cruise supersonic missile, boosting its strike capability. Recommended Stories The Meteor missile, recognised as one of the worlds deadliest BVR weapons, features advanced technologies such as a throttleable ramjet propulsion system, an active radar seeker, and a two-way data link. Unlike missiles with a solid rocket motor, the Meteors ramjet engine provides continuous thrust during flight, adjustable as needed. This allows the missile to maintain speeds exceeding Mach 4 (5000 kilometres per hour) until the terminal phase, conserving fuel in mid-course and increasing thrust near the target for sharp manoeuvres, reducing the chances of the enemy escaping. No Escape For The Enemy The Meteors large no escape zone (NEZ), far superior to conventional missiles, ensures that enemy aircraft cannot evade once within range. Officially, its strike range exceeds 100 km, but it can realistically reach 200 km or more, allowing TEJAS MK-2 to strike first and eliminate threats before they come within range. Two-Way Data Link Enables Target Switching Mid-Air The two-way data link enables mid-course updates and re-targeting by utilising real-time data from TEJAS MK-2s Uttam AESA radar or other networked sensors. This feature ensures accuracy and lethality even amid heavy electronic jamming, allowing TEJAS MK-2 to engage targets based on its radar and third-party platforms, providing comprehensive network-centric warfare capabilities. Uttam AESA Radar: The Perfect Partner For Meteor The Uttam AESA radar, a vital component of TEJAS MK-2, utilises Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, enabling detection of fighter-sized targets at distances of 200 km or more. It is more power-efficient and resistant to electronic jamming compared to older radars. The radars sensor fusion capability, combined with Meteor, allows TEJAS MK-2 to detect, lock, and eliminate enemies at long distances. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all On Par With Leading Fighter Jets Meteor is currently part of cutting-edge fighter jets like Rafale, Gripen, Eurofighter Typhoon, and F-35. Its integration into TEJAS MK-2 will provide India with similar, if not superior, BVR capabilities. With Meteor, TEJAS MK-2 will be able to strike from long distances while staying out of danger, instilling confidence in pilots to shoot first and kill first, significantly enhancing their survival chances in high-threat environments. This combination of the Meteor missile and Uttam AESA radar will provide the Indian Air Force with a decisive edge in modern air warfare. First Published: August 11, 2025, 17:57 IST News india Tejas MK-2 To Get Meteor Missile And Uttam Radar, Enabling 200 km Strikes At 5,000 kmph Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Happy Independence Day 2025: Patriotic Quotes By Freedom Fighters Of India To Share As Wishes And Messages On 15th August Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: August 15, 2025, 06:54 IST Independence Day Quotes And Wishes 2025: This Independence Day, honour Indias 79th year of freedom with inspiring quotes perfect to share as messages and wishes on August 15. Indian Independence Day also honours the great sacrifices of our courageous freedom fighters and leaders. (Image: Shutterstock) Indian Independence Day Quotes And Wishes 2025: On 15th August, 1947, India finally awoke to the light of freedom and began its tryst with destiny, becoming a nation free of the shackles of British dominance and rule after 200 years. Independence Day 2025 celebrates the 79th year of a free, secular, and democratic India that continues to grow despite its cultural and geopolitical challenges. Indian Independence Day also honours the great sacrifices of our courageous freedom fighters and leaders of the pre-Independence struggles, who endured great pain in the fight against the oppressive British colonial regime and envisioned the country we live in today, with rights and liberties under the Indian Constitution. Many of them may be gone today, but their legacy and ideas continue to inspire the countrymen. Recommended Stories ALSO READ: Happy Independence Day 2025: 79+ Heartfelt Wishes, Images, Gif, Quotes, Slogans, Messages, Instagram & WhatsApp Status For 15th August Many influential leaders like the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Subhas Chandra Bose, Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh, Chandra Shekhar Azad, BR Ambedkar, Lala Lajpat Rai and many others are still honoured by the government of India and citizens across states for their pivotal role in the creation of a free and flourishing India. On Independence Day 2025, citizens in various states will take part in flag-hoisting ceremonies, exhibitions, festivities and functions that recall the pre-Independence ordeal of two centuries and educate youth and adults on how these brave freedom fighters inspired the nation to join hands in uprooting the cruel British regime. While alive, these great visionaries gave the countrymen quotes that still evoke pride and respect for the motherland. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Top 10 Quotes by Indian Freedom Fighters That Still Inspire Our greatest ability as humans is not to change the world, but to change ourselves." Mahatma Gandhi The sword of revolution is sharpened on the whetting-stone of ideas." Bhagat Singh One individual may die for an idea, but that idea will, after his death, incarnate itself in a thousand lives." Subhas Chandra Bose Dont see others doing better than you, beat your records everyday, because success is a fight between you and yourself." Chandra Shekhar Azad Constitution is not a mere lawyers document, it is a vehicle of life, and its spirit is always the spirit of age." BR Ambedkar Freedom is not given; it is taken. Fight for your rights." Lala Lajpat Rai A nation can rise only when its people are educated." Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya A countrys greatness lies in its undying ideal of love and sacrifice that inspires the mothers of the race!" Sarojini Naidu Every citizen of India must remember that he is an Indian and he has every right in this country, but with certain duties." Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Better remain silent, better not even think, if you are not prepared to act." Annie Besant. 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 fashion, travel, News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated. First Published: August 11, 2025, 09:05 IST News lifestyle Happy Independence Day 2025: Patriotic Quotes By Freedom Fighters Of India To Share As Wishes And Messages On 15th August Independence Day 2025: Theme, History, Significance, Guestlist And 79th I-Day Celebrations Published By : Trending Desk Last Updated: August 15, 2025, 06:55 IST 79th Independence Day Celebrations: The day begins with the Prime Minister hoisting the national flag at the Red Fort in Delhi, followed by an address to the nation. India will celebrate its 79th Independence Day on 15 August, 2025. (Image: Shutterstock) 79th Independence Day Of India: On August 15, India will celebrate its 79th Independence Day, commemorating the nations hard-fought freedom from 200 years of British colonial rule in 1947. Recognised as a national holiday, Independence Day is marked by official ceremonies and patriotic fervour across the country. The day begins with the Prime Minister hoisting the national flag at the Red Fort in Delhi, followed by an address to the nation. The occasion stirs a deep sense of pride and gratitude among citizens, honouring the sacrifices of the freedom fighters who paved the way for Indias independence. Recommended Stories ALSO READ: Happy Independence Day 2025: 79+ Heartfelt Wishes, Images, Gif, Quotes, Slogans, Messages, Instagram & WhatsApp Status For 15th August Across the country, people participate in flag-hoisting ceremonies, sing the national anthem, and engage in parades, cultural performances, and patriotic workshopscelebrating the spirit of unity and sovereignty. On August 15, 1947, India awoke to the light of freedom, breaking the chains of over two centuries of British colonial rule. It was a defining moment in history, marked by the countrys long-awaited tryst with destiny," as eloquently declared by independent Indias first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, in his iconic midnight speech. That day, as Nehru hoisted the tricolour for the first time, a new chapter began for a nation rising from oppression into sovereignty. Since then, Independence Day has been observed with formal celebrations across the country. The sitting Prime Minister hoists the national flag at the Red Fort in Delhi and addresses the nation, remembering the immense courage and sacrifice of the freedom fighters and leaders who shaped Indias struggle for independence. Educational institutions across India commemorate the day by organising cultural performances, flag hoisting, and interactive workshops that highlight the freedom movement, instil patriotic values, and honour the spirit of the Constitution. The day serves as both a remembrance and a celebration of Indias hard-won liberty and its ongoing journey as a democratic republic. Also See: Independence Day Quotes Independence Day 2025 Theme No official theme has been announced yet for Independence Day 2025. However, given that the government of India typically bases the theme for the day on values of unity, patriotism, and progress, it is anticipated that this year will likely be focused on these, in addition to honouring the legacy of Indian freedom fighters. Independence Day 2025 Celebrations The ceremony at the Red Fort begins with the presentation of a Guard of Honour by the Armed Forces and the Delhi Police to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This is followed by the unfurling of the National Flag, accompanied by the singing of the National Anthem and a 21-Gun Salute. Helicopters of the Indian Air Force shower flower petals during the event. The Prime Minister then addresses the nation. Immediately after the speech, the National Anthem is sung once again. The ceremony concludes with the release of tri-coloured balloons. 79th Independence Day Guestlist top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The central government will honour 50 of Delhis top-performing Swachhta Karamcharis by inviting them as special guests to the Independence Day ceremony at the iconic Red Fort. According to officials, each zonal office has been instructed to nominate five sanitation workersthree women and two menfrom their respective areas, along with their spouses, and submit the names to the Ministry of Defence. The final selection will be based on the workers performance and their contributions to maintaining cleanliness and hygiene in their zones. The Delhi Environmental Management Services (DEMS) headquarters has been appointed as the nodal agency responsible for compiling the list of invitees, as per an order accessed by news agency PTI. 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 fashion, travel, News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated. First Published: August 11, 2025, 08:05 IST News lifestyle Independence Day 2025: Theme, History, Significance, Guestlist And 79th I-Day Celebrations Manushi Chhillar Inaugurated IMC Ladies Wings Women Entrepreneurs Exhibition 2025 Reported By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 17:35 IST With applications for the next edition already pouring in, the Women Entrepreneurs Exhibition continues to thrive not just as an event but as a movement. (Left to Right) Rajyalakshmi Rao (President),Bollywood Actress Manushi Chhillar, Kalpana Shah (Chairperson), Juveca Panda Chheda (Co Chairperson) The 38th edition of Mumbais highly anticipated annual showcase, IMC Ladies Wings Women Entrepreneurs Exhibition, dazzled the city with its blend of creativity, commerce, and purpose. Organized by the Ladies Wing of the IMC Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the event reaffirmed its status as the premier platform for discovering Indias finest women-led brands. Coinciding with the festive season, this vibrant platform brought together 286 remarkable women entrepreneurs from 31 cities, many of whom had no previous retail presence. They unveiled inspired creations spanning gourmet food, high fashion, lifestyle design, artisanal craft, and sustainable innovation. Paying tribute to Indias rich heritage, the exhibition showcased master artisans and traditional weavers from remote areas, alongside handcrafted products from NGOs in Siliguri, Ganeshpuri (Palghar), Sujangarh, and Shekhawati, each preserving age-old techniques with pride and integrity. Recommended Stories The inaugural function on August 10, was attended by Bollywood actor Manushi Chhillar, who joined Rajyalakshmi Rao, President of IMC Ladies Wing; Kalpana Shah, Chairperson of the Exhibition Committee; Juveca Panda Chheda, Co-Chairperson; and distinguished Exhibition committee members, along with special guests Zarine Khan and Madhoo Shah. Speaking at the event, Manushi Chhillar remarked, This is not just an exhibition its a celebration of women who dare to dream and work relentlessly to make those dreams come true. What I love most about women entrepreneurs is that they build with empathy, purpose, and heart, setting an example for young girls like me to believe in the possibilities of their dreams." Rajyalakshmi Rao shared, My presidential theme this year, Evolve to Excel, beautifully captures the spirit of the event its a call to action for every woman to embrace change, take on challenges, and move forward with confidence and courage." Kalpana Shah introduced this years theme Raja Ravi Varma celebrating the legendary artists depiction of women as graceful and empowered. The ceremony began with the national anthem and the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, followed by a heartfelt letter from Kokilaben Ambani, read by Juveca Panda Chheda, extending her warm wishes to all participants. Talking about the event, Chheda also said, We have planned a lot of special things and one of the them were all very passionate about is that this year weve taken sustainability very seriously. So, everything that youll see in terms of the decor, we have used sustainable alternatives, which are plastic free. We are powering the whole event with green energy. Were also composting all the wet waste from the event, so less of that ends up in the landfill and all the plastic bottles that are used and disposed here will also be recycled. Were trying to be as green as possible and reduce our carbon footprint this year. We want everyone to shop, but also be conscious at the same time about the planet." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Throughout the day, the exhibition was graced by prominent personalities including Rashmi Thackeray, Sunita Kapoor, Poonam Sinha, Poonam Dhillon, and many more, adding to the events glitter and significance. With applications for the next edition already pouring in, the Women Entrepreneurs Exhibition continues to thrive not just as an event but as a movement propelling women-led innovation and enterprise across India. About the Author Lifestyle Desk Our life needs a bit of style to get the perfect zing in the daily routine. News18 Lifestyle is one-stop destination for everything you need to know about the world of fashion, food, health, travel, relationshi... Read More Our life needs a bit of style to get the perfect zing in the daily routine. News18 Lifestyle is one-stop destination for everything you need to know about the world of fashion, food, health, travel, relationshi... Read More fashion, travel, News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated. First Published: August 11, 2025, 17:35 IST News lifestyle Manushi Chhillar Inaugurated IMC Ladies Wings Women Entrepreneurs Exhibition 2025 The 49th Edition Of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendras Iconic Dance Drama KRISHNA Returns This Janmashtami Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 11:54 IST Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra presents the 49th Edition of KRISHNA: A Dance Drama Depicting the Divine Journey of Lord Krishna from August 12 to 16, 2025 at Kamani Auditorium Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendras KRISHNA Marks 49 Years of Storytelling This Janmashtami Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra (SBKK), one of Indias foremost institutions dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Indian classical performing arts, proudly presents the 49th edition of its iconic dance drama KRISHNA, from August 12 to 16, 2025, at Kamani Auditorium, Mandi House, New Delhi. Evening shows commence at 6:30 p.m. daily, with three additional matinee shows scheduled for August 14, 15, and 16, 2025, at 3:00 p.m. This richly layered production traces the enigmatic life of Lord Krishna from his divine birth to his transcendental departure interweaving mythology, music, and movement into a profound spiritual and artistic experience. The narrative delves into pivotal moments from his life: his early years in Gokul and Vrindavan, his bond with Radha, his role as a peacemaker between the Pandavas and Kauravas, and his philosophical guidance to Arjuna on the battlefield through the Bhagavad Gita. Recommended Stories It is incredibly rewarding to see KRISHNA enter its 49th year," says Padma Shri Shobha Deepak Singh, the shows Director and Chairperson of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra. The life of Lord Krishna is timeless not just as mythology, but as a guiding philosophy imbued with love, courage, and wisdom. At the Kendra, we strive to depict this journey with emotional depth and artistic authenticity, enabling audiences to resonate with its enduring and universal truths." The production is presented by the Kendra Dance Repertory, a professional ensemble of dancers engaged full-time in the creation and presentation of the Kendras dance dramas. KRISHNA has been choreographed by the eminent Shri Shashidharan Nair, supported by his prime disciple and star dancer Shri Raj Kumar Sharma, Repertory In-charge at SBKK. Both bring decades of experience in the Kendras signature style of dance drama. This year, to enhance the vitality of the production, several talented young dancers have been inducted into the Repertory. The Kendra Dance Repertory of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra (an institution of the Bharatiya Kala Kendra Trust) is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, and M/s Shriram Pistons & Rings Ltd, New Delhi. SBKKs KRISHNA is a stunning blend of Indian classical and folk dance styles, enriched by beautifully designed costumes, traditional jewellery, symbolic animations, and a music score that fuses Indian classical music with regional melodies. Each scene is thoughtfully crafted to reflect Krishnas emotional, philosophical, and divine dimensionsoffering audiences a rare opportunity to witness history, mythology, and folklore brought to life with artistic finesse. In alignment with the Government of Indias National Education Policy 2020, which promotes cultural learning through the arts, Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra invites schools and educational institutions to attend special morning performances of KRISHNA on August 12 and 13, 2025, at Kamani Auditorium. The sessions will include a 75-minute performance followed by a 45-minute interactive workshop exploring themes on Lord Krishna. Bulk bookings are also available to schools and educational institutions for the afternoon shows on August 14, 15, and 16, 2025. For over four decades, SBKKs KRISHNA has inspired audiences of all generations with its timeless message of love, duty, compassion, and truth. The production offers not only an artistic display but also a spiritual inquiry into lifes deeper meanings making it an ideal cultural offering for both the young and the old. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all This presentation stands as a testament to Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendras unwavering commitment to nurturing Indias cultural identity through performance, training in Indian classical music and dance, and public engagement for the past seven decades. As the nation seeks to reconnect its youth with timeless values and traditions, KRISHNA promises to be more than a productionit is an experience that uplifts, enlightens, and endures. Entry by tickets priced at 3,500, 2,500, 1,500, 1,000, 750, 500, and 300 on BookMyShow. Physical tickets can be collected from Kamani Auditorium from August 9, 2025, onwards or on show dates. About the Author Lifestyle Desk Our life needs a bit of style to get the perfect zing in the daily routine. News18 Lifestyle is one-stop destination for everything you need to know about the world of fashion, food, health, travel, relationshi... Read More Our life needs a bit of style to get the perfect zing in the daily routine. News18 Lifestyle is one-stop destination for everything you need to know about the world of fashion, food, health, travel, relationshi... Read More fashion, travel, News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health food , wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated. First Published: August 11, 2025, 11:54 IST News lifestyle The 49th Edition Of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendras Iconic Dance Drama KRISHNA Returns This Janmashtami Ashwin Kumar On Muslim Fans' Reaction to Mahavatar Narsimha: 'Not Asking You To Convert' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 09:54 IST Ashwin Kumar's animated film Mahavatar Narsimha has earned over Rs 145 crore in 17 days, resonating with audiences of various faiths, including Muslims. A poster of the film. When Ashwin Kumar released his animated film Mahavatar Narsimha, he expected it to connect with fans of Hindu mythology. What he didnt expect was the number of viewers from completely different faiths who would stop him to share how the movie touched their hearts. Some, he says, were Muslim audience members who told him the story had strengthened their own faith. In just 17 days, the film has earned over Rs 145 crore in India. For Kumar, the success is proof that stories about love and faith can speak to everyone, no matter who they pray to. Audience reactions across faiths Recommended Stories Speaking to NDTV, Kumar explained that the films appeal goes beyond its Hindu mythological roots. Ive had people from different communities, including many Muslim viewers, come up to me and say that the film strengthened their own faith. Im not saying go convert your religion. What Im saying is, you understand what faith is. Whether you pray to a God, believe in energy, or place your trust in the universe, this film simply asks you to surrender to that faith," he said. The director emphasised that Mahavatar Narsimha is not aimed solely at a religious audience. This is not a religious film. Its an interreligious faith film. Because love, it is a universal emotion. So is faith. Hence the film is growing in leaps and bounds," Kumar added. Story and concept The film recounts the tale of Hirankashyap, a tyrant king granted near-invincibility by Lord Brahma. When he persecutes his own son Prahlada, a devout follower of Lord Vishnu, the deity assumes the form of Narsimha, half-man, half-lion, to save the child. Mahavatar Narsimha is the first release in the planned Mahavatar series, which will depict all ten avatars of Vishnu. Building the Mahavatar universe The project is a collaboration between Hombale Films, the studio behind Kantara and the KGF franchise, and Kleem Productions, led by Shilpa Dhawan, who is also Kumars wife. Dhawan revealed that Hombale Films backed the full series from the outset. When we first reached out to Hombale Films, they immediately came on board for all films of the Mahavatar Universe. They wanted to back the entire universe. That kind of conviction gave us the confidence to announce all the films before even releasing the first," she said. The cinematic universe will unfold over more than a decade, with each film exploring a different incarnation of Vishnu. The announced lineup includes: Mahavatar Narsimha (2025) Mahavatar Parshuram (2027) Mahavatar Raghunandan (2029) Mahavatar Dwarkadhish (2031) Mahavatar Gokulananda (2033) Mahavatar Kalki Part 1 (2035) Mahavatar Kalki Part 2 (2037) First Published: August 11, 2025, 09:54 IST News movies regional-cinema Ashwin Kumar On Muslim Fans' Reaction to Mahavatar Narsimha: 'Not Asking You To Convert' Jr NTR Loses Patience With Fan During War 2 Event: 'Ill Stop And Leave' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 13:56 IST Jr NTR lost his cool at the 'War 2' pre-release event in Hyderabad on August 10 when an over-enthusiastic fan interrupted his speech, prompting him to ask for silence. Jr NTR gets angry with fan. Jr NTR, one of Telugu cinemas biggest stars, was all set to celebrate his upcoming film War 2 with fans in Hyderabad on August 10. Known for his warm connection with audiences, the event was meant to be a joyful moment. But when a fan kept shouting and interrupting his speech, Jr NTRs patience ran out. He firmly asked the fan to quiet down. Jr NTR scolds fan Recommended Stories As thousands gathered to celebrate Jr NTRs much-anticipated Bollywood debut, the excitement turned a bit chaotic when an enthusiastic fan repeatedly shouted during the actors address. Jr NTR responded with a sharp warning: Brother, shall I leave? Shall I leave? What did I tell you? Maintain silence when I speak. It wont take me a second to keep the mic down and leave the stage. Shall I speak? Maintain silence." The exchange was captured on video and quickly circulated online. Take a look here: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vishal Mohan Jaiswal (@mj.vishal) Jr NTR thanks YRF During the event, Jr NTR also expressed his thanks to Yash Raj Films (YRF) for the opportunity to star in War 2. Addressing comparisons with Hrithik Roshan following the release of their chart-topping song Janaab-e-aali," Jr NTR urged fans to avoid viewing their performances as a rivalry. He said, Such comparisons can mislead fans. I think two good dancers complemented each other it wasnt a face-off as it is being projected. I want you all to simply enjoy this foot-tapping chartbuster. Hrithik Roshan is one of the greatest dancers in the country." Heres the trailer: On the filming experience The Aravinda Sametha star shared insights from the filming process, praising Hrithik Roshans professionalism and energy on set. Every day on set, Hrithik came with an incredible energy and a desire to try something new. Those 75 days of working together were fascinating I learnt so much from him. I still remember the first hug he gave me with open arms when we met on set. The warmth was unmatched, and it made my maiden Hindi film journey so much easier," Jr NTR recalled. About War 2 Directed by Ayan Mukerji, War 2 is part of YRFs expanding Spy Universe and is expected to be one of the studios major releases this year. The film is scheduled for a pan-Indian release in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil around Independence Day weekend. Notably, War 2 will be released alongside superstar Rajinikanths Jailer. Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google. Stay updated with the latest news from regional cinema like Malayalam, Punjabi, Bhojpuri, Marathi, Kannada, Gujarati movies, celeb news, trailers & reviews. You can also download the News18 App. First Published: August 11, 2025, 13:56 IST News movies regional-cinema Jr NTR Loses Patience With Fan During War 2 Event: 'Ill Stop And Leave' H-1B Holders Children Risk Losing Green Card Path Under New US Policy, Indians Might Be Hit Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 18:36 IST The Trump administration's new immigration policy may jeopardise Green Card prospects for thousands of children from India and China, effective August 15, 2025. H-1B visas are given to skilled workers in the US who are in specialty occupations. (Representative Image) The Donald Trump administration has announced a major change in the United States immigration policy, which would likely put the Green Card prospects of thousands of children, mainly from India and China, at risk. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on Friday (local time) updated its policy regarding the calculation of a childs age under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA). Under the new policy, the children of H-1B visa holders may lose their protected immigration status once they turn 21, even if their parents Green Card applications are still pending. Recommended Stories The new guidance, effective for requests filed on or after August 15, 2025, clarified that visa availability for CSPA age calculation will be based on the Final Action Dates chart in the Department of States Visa Bulletin. Under the Joe Biden administrations February 2023 policy, USCIS used the more generous dates for filing" chart to lock in a childs age till the green card was issued. This is so that children can be protected due to huge backlogs in issuing green cards to foreign nationals. The USCIS on August 8 announced that it would use the final action date, which refers to the cut-off date when an immigrant visa is available, for age calculation under the CSPA. Applications submitted before August 15 will still be evaluated under the earlier policy issued on February 14, 2023, as many applicants based their adjustment of status filings on that guidance. Under current law, an unmarried child must be under 21 to obtain lawful permanent resident status through a parents approved petition. Turning 21 mid-process typically ends eligibility. Congress created the CSPA to shield some children from this outcome by freezing their age based on when a visa number becomes available. The Immigration and Nationality Act defines a child as a person who is both unmarried and under 21 years old," USCIS explained in its announcement. If someone applies for lawful permanent resident status as a child but turns 21 before being approved, that person can no longer be considered a child for immigration purposes. This is commonly referred to as ageing out." The change will hit hardest at children not born in the US, stuck in decades-long green card backlogs tied to their parents employment visas. Once they age out" at 21, they will no longer qualify for permanent residency, even if they have spent most of their lives in the country. The move is seen as an alignment with President Trumps orders to tighten immigration controls. This policy update ensures both USCIS and the Department of State use the Final Action Dates chart in the Visa Bulletin to determine when a visa becomes available for the purposes of CSPA age calculation," USCIS said in a statement. Why Does This Matter for Indians? Families of Indian H-1B visa holders are concerned about this policy shift. Many of them face multi-decade visa backlogs. Once the children turn 21, children born outside the US risk losing green card eligibility even if they have spent most of their lives in the country and culturally identify as American top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all According to the Pew Research Center, as reported by Newsweek, India is the leading country of birth for H-1B workers, with about 73% of approved applications in fiscal 2023 belonging to Indian nationals. Since 2010, the majority of H-1B approvals each year have consistently gone to individuals born in India. According to a study by the US policy think tank Cato Institute, as reported by The Economic Times, Indians account for 62% of the employment-based green card backlog in the US, with over a million green card petitions pending as of March 2023 under employment-based green card categories: EB-2 and EB-3. 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 11, 2025, 18:36 IST News nri usa H-1B Holders Children Risk Losing Green Card Path Under New US Policy, Indians Might Be Hit Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... CANBERRA, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Australia will formally recognize a Palestinian state at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Monday. Speaking at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra alongside Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, Albanese said that Australia will recognize the "right" of the Palestinian people to a "state of their own." "A two-state solution is humanity's best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza," he said. Albanese said that his cabinet met on Monday morning and endorsed the move to recognize Palestinian statehood as part of a "coordinated global effort" building momentum for a two-state solution. Opinion | Should Infiltrators Determine India's Election Destiny? Written By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 09:00 IST Over time, with active political support, infiltrators have been used to bolster electoral constituencies serving as an additional vote bank India has experienced a surge in infiltration from Bangladesh through several porous borders spanning Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, and West Bengal. (Image for representation: PTI) The Election Commission of India has initiated a revision of Bihars electoral rolls, four months ahead of polling. This decision has caused significant controversy, with numerous political parties expressing strong opposition. After a month-long special intensive revision (SIR) in preparation for the upcoming assembly elections, the Election Commission (EC) has released the first draft of electoral rolls for Bihar. It has revealed that more than 52.3 lakh voters in the state could not be found at their registered addresses. These 52.3 lakh cases, accounting for 6.62 percent of its total electorate of 7.89 crore, include duplicate enrolments, permanently moved individuals, deceased voters, and those who are completely untraceable. Recommended Stories The ECs new requirement for current voters, enrolled after 2003, to provide documentary proof of their date and/or place of birth for citizenship determination has also faced widespread political opposition. Infiltration from Bangladesh erstwhile East Pakistan has been ongoing since the Partition of the India in 1947, with states like Assam in the northeast being severely affected. India has experienced a surge in infiltration from Bangladesh through several porous borders spanning Tripura, Assam, Meghalaya, and West Bengal. This is highly organised, facilitated by a network of touts, agents, and corrupt border officials from both countries. Sonamura in Tripura and Karimganj in Assam are among the hotspots, where security forces have thwarted several infiltration attempts in recent months. Terror groups like Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh and the al-Qaeda affiliated Ansarullah Bangla are active in guiding infiltrators into India. Infiltrators quickly acquire fake Aadhaar, birth certificates, and driving licence. Additionally, many Rohingya refugees have infiltrated India using the Bangladeshi route. Evicted from their homes in Myanmars Rakhine State by the military since the late 1970s, the Rohingyas have sought refuge in Bangladesh. Over a million are in Coxs Bazar the largest concentration of refugees in the world. Many have infiltrated India through Bangladesh. Over time, with the active support of political parties and political families, these infiltrators have been used to bolster electoral constituencies, serving as an additional vote bank. In various electoral constituencies, whispers suggest that Bangladeshis have been accommodated to ensure specific political candidates and religious groups secure victories. Greedy political families have also ensured that multiple family members get elected using the Bangladeshi card, packing them into select enclaves where government agencies hesitate to go, fearing violent attacks. Today, these enclaves have increased their demographic influence, ensuring their preferred candidate wins decisively. The BJP-led NDA government at the Centre has taken a bold stance to cleanse the nation of infiltrators who have exploited the system to influence elections using fake documents. The creation and sale of fake identity documents is a lucrative business, often driven by corrupt government officers working with organised crime syndicates. Indias electronic ID card, the Aadhaar, can be easily printed on paper, with minimal security features except for a QR code. If a businesss verification system cannot read QR codes, it can easily miss a forged document. Additionally, the issuance of ration cards and driving licence is the legal privilege of state governments. These loopholes are exploited by agents, touts, corrupt officials, political parties, and political families to supplement electoral constituencies with communities engaging solely in vote bank trading. Previously, the use of fake identity documents posed a threat mainly to national security, the economy, and global commerce. However, manipulating population composition and disrupting it by injecting infiltrators of a particular religious denomination to pre-determine election results is a new challenge. The EC is working to eliminate and protect the election process from these diabolical infiltrators. Elections are acts of national cohesion, enabling citizens to choose their countrys leadership. Voters choices shape internal governance and external relationships. If infiltrators interfere in elections, how can they be free, fair, and credible? Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi and his cohort in the INDIA bloc need to explain why they want the electorate composition to remain opaque and why they oppose probing the genuineness of infiltrators identities. Abraham Lincoln had warned: Elections belong to the people. Its their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The EC is striving to ensure that infiltrators are prevented from causing harm using fake documents. (The writer is Former Director General, Multi-Disciplinary School of Economic Intelligence, and National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes & Narcotics. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views) First Published: August 11, 2025, 09:00 IST News opinion Opinion | Should Infiltrators Determine India's Election Destiny? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Opinion | Silent Votes, Missing Voices: Women In Bihars Politics Written By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 15:38 IST Bihar stands at a threshold. The silent female voter, once bound by patriarchal diktats, is now a decisive force It is not by chance that Nitish Kumar recently announced a flurry of initiatives, including a domicile policy for government jobs reserved for women. (PTI File for representation) Bihars electoral landscape has always been a study in contrasts caste arithmetic versus development narratives, rural impulses versus urban aspirations, and in recent years, a quiet yet decisive force shaping outcomes without fanfare: women voters. As the state moves towards another crucial election season, the conversation cannot remain limited to them as silent voters; it must confront the larger question of whether they are truly stakeholders in the governments they help install. Recommended Stories It is not by chance that Nitish Kumar recently announced a flurry of initiatives, including a domicile policy for government jobs reserved for women. The state had already set aside 35% of government jobs for women in 2016 and introduced a 33% horizontal reservation for women in state engineering and medical colleges in 2021. This followed 50% reservation for women in cooperative societies and 35% in police recruitment. These steps reflect Nitishs larger policy of promoting female participation across socio-economic decision-making and governance. For decades, women in Bihar were largely seen as passive participants in politics. Patriarchal norms often meant the male head of the household decided the familys vote. In many villages, womens role ended with accompanying relatives to the polling booth, their choice subsumed into the collective will of the family. This translated into a stark gender gap in voting. For nearly five decades after Independence, the difference between male and female voter turnout averaged 20 percentage points. The gap peaked in 1977 at 33 points: 71% of men voted, compared to just 38% of women. The turning point came in the mid-2000s, when Bihars governance model began emphasising law and order, infrastructure, and welfare delivery. A host of women-focused schemes under Kumar, ranging from cycle and uniform schemes for schoolgirls to liquor prohibition, generated unprecedented female support. The 2010 assembly elections marked the first time women voters outnumbered men in Bihar, a trend that has since strengthened. In the 2020 elections, female turnout (59.7%) exceeded male turnout (54.6%) by five percentage points, signalling that women had moved from peripheral participants to central actors in shaping electoral verdicts. Unlike the loud rallies or caste-driven mobilisations that dominate male political discourse, womens engagement is quiet but decisive. Their votes often cut across caste lines when candidates or parties align with issues of safety, welfare, and tangible service delivery. Analysts credit Kumars early electoral successes largely to this gendered voting pattern. The combination of welfare schemes, political reservations, and social reforms has yielded tangible outcomes, including a remarkable rise in Bihars female labour force participation rate; from 4.1% in 2017-18 to 30.5% in 2023-24, the highest growth in the country. Yet, this social and economic rise has not fully translated into equal political stakeholding. Women remain underrepresented in legislative and executive roles. In the 2020 Bihar Assembly, only 26 of 243 seats (just over 10%) were held by women. While reservations have created female sarpanches and panchayat members, many still operate under proxy leadership by male relatives, undermining genuine empowerment. Political campaigns acknowledge the women factor," but focus more on mobilisation than on integrating women into decision-making. Women are still treated largely as a vote bank rather than policy architects. The challenges extend beyond symbolism. Women in Bihar continue to face systemic barriers: inadequate healthcare access, high maternal mortality in rural areas, low formal-sector employment, and persistent gender-based violence. Initiatives like Jeevika and self-help groups have offered entry points to economic participation, but scale and sustainability remain limited. When women vote on the basis of promises related to safety, welfare, or social support, they expect tangible policy outcomes. Their silence on the campaign trail is not political apathy; it is a silence shaped by social conditioning. Recent elections reflect a growing recognition of this electorate. Kumars prohibition policy was widely seen as a direct appeal to women, reflecting their lived experiences of domestic abuse and economic hardship linked to alcoholism. Central welfare schemes such as Ujjwala, household toilets under Swachh Bharat, and pandemic-era cash transfers have also created a distinct political memory for women voters. But recognition often stops short of empowerment. Parties field few women in winnable seats and focus on subsidies rather than structural issues such as land ownership, credit access, or political representation, keeping women as beneficiaries rather than partners in governance. Real change demands moving them from voters to decision-makers, with representation in key roles and economic opportunities translating votes into lasting power. As another election nears, women will quietly queue at polling booths, their choices capable of swinging results. This silent mandate signals a demand for stakeholding, not tokenism. With rising literacy, expanding self-help groups, and deeper media reach, Bihars silent voter is increasingly conscious of her influence. Ignoring this shift or mistaking her silence for compliance could carry a steep electoral cost. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Bihar stands at a threshold. The silent female voter, once bound by patriarchal diktats, is now a decisive force. Democracy will remain incomplete until she is seen not just as a voter but as a policymaker, economic participant, and social equal the evolution Bihars politics must urgently embrace. The author is a BJP leader and author of Broken Promises: Caste, Crime and Politics in Bihar. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: August 11, 2025, 15:38 IST News opinion Opinion | Silent Votes, Missing Voices: Women In Bihars Politics Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Opinion | Walking Tall: Indias Strategic Autonomy In An Era Of Tariffs And Tensions Written By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 17:42 IST The wiser course is to endure short-term pain, invest in the enablers of autonomy, and prepare for a world where even close partners may turn adversarial on specific issues The latest shock in the Indo-American tariff war came when US. President Donald Trump ordered a doubling of tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent. (File for representation) The United States and China dominate the global stage, and each sees India through a different lens. Washington views Delhi as a strategic partner, an essential player in the Indo-Pacific, yet also as a country capable of challenging American economic influence. Beijing regards Delhi as its principal regional challenger, a competitor for strategic space from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean. Both powers, despite their own differences, have found it useful to encourage Pakistan as a spoiler against India. The latest shock in the Indo-American tariff war came when US. President Donald Trump ordered a doubling of tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, citing New Delhis continued purchases of discounted Russian oil and its unfair" trade practices. This was not an isolated skirmish. It was a reminder of how quickly even strategic partners" can weaponise economic measures. Tariffs hit exporters and unsettle investor sentiment. They also embolden domestic sceptics of the relationship, pushing societies back into their ideological dugouts. Recommended Stories The Nature of the India-US Relationship For over two decades, India-US ties have been marked by expanding defence cooperation, intelligence sharing, and deep people-to-people links. Agreements such as LEMOA, COMCASA, and BECA have enabled unprecedented military interoperability. The US has supported Indias rise in multilateral forums, from the Quad to export-control regimes like the MTCR. Yet the relationship has never been free from transactional calculation. As Sameer Lalwani of the Council on Foreign Relations notes, Major differences remain in defence spending priorities, the role of civilian oversight, and the independence of defence-industrial bases." When trade friction escalates, as it has now, these differences surface quickly. The U.S. is pushing for greater market access in agriculture, GM crops, and dairy. This runs into Indias domestic political red lines. After three years of farm protests, New Delhi cannot hand opponents a rallying cry. Similarly, Washingtons periodic engagement with Pakistan revives Indian concerns about American strategic reliability. China: Rival and Economic Partner Chinas equation with India is even more complex. The two share a booming bilateral trade, mostly in critical industrial inputs, but remain locked in a military standoff along the Line of Actual Control. After the 2020 Galwan clashes, disengagement has occurred at some points, yet Beijing has retained forward deployments in others. Chinese diplomacy has sought to stabilise ties, inviting Indias senior leadership for talks and dangling the prospect of economic cooperation. But the distrust is deep. As Jayadeva Ranade warns, Any Chinese pullback without genuine de-escalation and de-induction of forces is reversible." Beijings continued military support to Pakistan, renaming of locations in Arunachal Pradesh, and integration of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor into its Belt and Road Initiative are constant reminders of its long-term aims. The MoU with Russia In this fraught environment, New Delhis signing of a sweeping Memorandum of Understanding with Russia on August 6 was more than a commercial deal. Covering sectors from defence manufacturing to rare-earth mining, the agreement secures supply chains in strategic minerals, aerospace technologies, fertilisers, and energy. By deepening such ties at a moment of tension with Washington, India is asserting its doctrine of multi-alignment. It will not align blindly with any bloc and will diversify its partnerships to maintain room for manoeuvre. The Russia deal also has geopolitical weight. As Western sanctions push Moscow closer to Beijing, a strong IndiaRussia channel gives both sides leverage. For India, it secures critical inputs for industrial modernisation under Make in India" and Aatmanirbhar Bharat. For Russia, it offers an economic lifeline and an alternative to overdependence on China. Why Self-Reliance Matters More Than Ever The tariff episode underscores why India cannot afford to base its strategic future on external goodwill. If access to the US market can be curtailed overnight, and Chinese cooperation is always conditional, then true autonomy demands capacity at home. This means accelerating R&D in areas that will define power hierarchies in coming decadesartificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, critical minerals, and advanced manufacturing. Government programmes like the National Quantum Mission, IndiaAI, and the Semiconductor Mission are important steps. But they need scale, urgency, and deep publicprivate collaboration. Strategic reserves of critical minerals and energy resources should be built now, before geopolitical shocks make them harder to secure. Hedging, With Realism In theory, India can hedgeengaging both Washington and Beijing to maximise benefits. In practice, this is becoming harder. The US expects strategic alignment in the Indo-Pacific, reduced Russian defence imports, and concessions on market access. China wants India to mute its Quad role, refrain from criticising Belt and Road projects, and limit its security ties with the US. These expectations are fundamentally at odds. Thus, hedging should be a temporary tactic, used until domestic capacity reduces vulnerability. In the short term, this means keeping dialogue channels open while building leverage. Every bilateral FTA signed with other partners (UAE, Australia, EFTA, UK, and potentially the EU) reduces dependence on any single market. Every step towards de-dollarisation in BRICS settlements adds flexibility in the financial domain. Learning from History Indias refusal to sign the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty despite decades of pressure is instructive. At the time, it seemed costly. Today, Indias nuclear status is accepted as a reality. Strategic patience, backed by capability, can outlast external coercion. Similarly, resisting unreasonable trade demands now, while expanding domestic capacity, may yield greater freedom of action later. The analogy extends to the Swadeshi movement. Reducing critical dependencies is not isolationism but empowerment. As Bob Sternfels of McKinsey observes, India has the opportunity to be a unifier in a fractured world, if it stays connected to all, without becoming hostage to any." A Civilisational Approach Tagores Ekla Chalo Re" is not a call for loneliness, but for resolve. Strategic autonomy is not about rejecting partnerships; it is about entering them from a position of strength. In practical terms, this means: Preparing for sanctions or market closures by diversifying supply sources. Investing in human capitaleducation, skills, and healthto make the demographic dividend real. Building a credible narrative capacity to counter disinformation and explain Indias positions to global audiences. These are not romantic ideals. They are necessities in a system where power respects capability. Conclusion The present downturn in IndiaUS trade relations is serious but not terminal. As in the past, cooler heads may prevail, perhaps when high-level negotiations resume. Washingtons flirtation with Pakistan is likely to be short-lived. Pakistan has little economic or strategic value to offer beyond nuisance potential. The greater risk is that India becomes reactive, trapped between appeasing one power and containing another. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The wiser course is to endure short-term pain, invest in the enablers of autonomy, and prepare for a world where even close partners may turn adversarial on specific issues. This is not about walking away from the US or Chinait is about walking tall, with the means to chart ones own path. The writer is a retired Brigadier in the Indian Army. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. First Published: August 11, 2025, 17:42 IST News opinion Opinion | Walking Tall: Indias Strategic Autonomy In An Era Of Tariffs And Tensions Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 18:41 IST 1 / 7 The general cost of setting up an EV charging point ranges between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 50 lakh, depending on the type of charger installed. Standard expenses include the cost of a new electrical connection, civil work, technicians and workers, maintenance, advertising, marketing, EVSE management software and integration, and site contract. Ranchi's well-known business expert Avinash has provided information regarding this. 2 / 7 The area required to set up a charging station depends on the type of electric vehicles to be charged and other activities available on the site. ADVERTISEMENT 3 / 7 Such charging equipment requires more than 10 square feet of space, although more importantly, it should not be less than 100 square feet, the minimum area for vehicle parking and movement. 4 / 7 The number of employees required is also limited. Most companies providing good charging infrastructure offer complete solutions, including equipment, software, and mobile apps at their station. Therefore, there is no need for a large number of employees or manpower at the charging stations. ADVERTISEMENT 5 / 7 Additionally, everything from payment for charging to billing is done online. Thus, one can start the business of a charging station even with a limited number of employees. The best aspect of this business in terms of licences is that no licence is needed. 6 / 7 According to the Ministry of Power, no licence is required to set up electric vehicle charging stations in India. Setting up stations is permitted by following the necessary rules. However, a no objection certificate must be obtained from the Forest Department and Municipal Corporation. ADVERTISEMENT 'Conspiracy': Karnataka Minister Rajanna Cries Foul After Sacking As BJP Jeers Congress Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 22:11 IST Congress leader KN Rajanna was asked to resign by Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah but refused to do so and said he was "dropped" by the party high command due to a "misunderstanding" Karnataka cooperation minister KN Rajanna speaks during the monsoon session of the state assembly, in Bengaluru on August 11. (Image: PTI) Hours after he was removed as the cooperation minister from the Karnataka cabinet on Monday, Congress leader KN Rajanna has alleged that there is a conspiracy against him and he will provide answers at the right time. Rajanna was initially asked to resign by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah but refused to do so. He said he was dropped" by the Congress high command but this seems to be a misunderstanding" with senior leader Rahul Gandhi, on whose direct order he was apparently sacked from his position in the council of ministers. Recommended Stories There is a conspiracy against me. I will go to Delhi and clarify what I have said," Rajanna told reporters. There is a big conspiracy, a plot and, when the time comes, I will provide the answers." You have information about the draft that came from the Governors office. It has come as dropped. This is the high commands decision, the partys decision," he said. I believe Rahul Gandhi has a misunderstanding. I will try to remove that misunderstanding. I will go to Delhi and correct this misunderstanding." The BJP, meanwhile, called out the Congress for sacking Rajanna over the vote theft" issue and said there is no place for truth in the grand old party. It said the development, in fact, showed a divide within the ruling Congress in the state. Rajanna is the second minister to be out of Siddaramaiahs cabinet, after the Congress came to power in 2023. Last year, it was Bellary MLA B Nagendra, who had to resign following allegations against him in connection with embezzlement at the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki ST Development Corporation. WHAT DID RAJANNA SAY ON VOTE THEFT? Rajanna, who is a Siddaramaiah loyalist, drew the ire of the Congress high command when he allegedly blamed his own government for the vote theft" in Mahadevapura assembly segment during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi recently held a press conference in New Delhi and later a public meeting in Bengaluru where he claimed that the BJP government at the Centre came to power due to vote theft". He cited the presence of over a lakh bogus voters in Mahadevapura under Bangalore Central parliamentary constituency. Rajannas views on the issue proved costly for him. When were the voter lists prepared? They were prepared under our (Congress) government. Were we all sleeping? It is true that there were irregularities. But we should be ashamed that those irregularities happened right in front of our eyes and we didnt stop them. We must be cautious going forward," he said. Questioning his own party men on what they were doing when objections were invited after draft electoral rolls were prepared, he asked, Shouldnt we have checked the draft electoral rolls after they were published? We should have filed objections. Having been quiet then, we are raising this now." HOW DID THE BJP RESPOND? The opposition BJP, meanwhile, seemed to rally on Rajannas side and called his termination from Karnatakas council of ministers as a setback" for Siddaramaiah and warning bells for the days ahead". State BJP leaders said Rajanna, who is a senior and experienced face from the scheduled tribes (ST) community, has been sacked for speaking the truth on the vote theft" issue. Former CM Basavaraj Bommai attacked the Congress for suppressing dissent and said there were those in the party who still behaved as slaves". There is no place for truth in Congress. There is no place for those who speak the truth in Congress. Even though vote-bank politics and internal opposition to the Constitution occur in Congress, there is no freedom to raise a voice against the high command. The mindset of behaving like slaves has not yet left the third generation of Congress leaders," Bommai wrote in a post on X in Kannada. K.N. Rajanna is a senior, experienced politician. He worked efficiently in his department. Not giving a senior leader from the ST community like him the opportunity to resign is an insult to his experience, efficiency, and the ST community. In a way, this is a setback for CM Siddaramaiah and a warning bell for the days ahead." Union minister Pralhad Joshi, meanwhile, referred to the dark past of the Congress and took a swipe saying emergency is the weapon" of the party, which does not tolerate serious discussions". Then, now, and forever, emergency is the weapon of the Congress party," Joshi said in a post on X. The Congress high command only agrees to childish talks, but never tolerates serious discussions. Back then, they imposed an emergency in the country to showcase their political games. Today, Minister K.N. Rajanna spoke against the election voter list, accusing Rahul Gandhi, and has been sacked for it. A deplorable situation and an emergency have been created where one must pay a price for speaking against Rahul Gandhis struggle. This is the true culture of the Congress party." (sic) BETRAYAL TO ST COMMUNITY Terming Rajannas removal as a betrayal" to the ST community, to which the leader belongs, BJP leader R Ashoka said the revolutionary political developments" in the state that he predicted by October, had begun in August itself, and the government will collapse". He (Rajanna) told the truth, thats why Rahul Gandhi (Congress leader) issued a notice to Rajanna, he is suspended now Siddaramaiah is losing his wickets everyday. I said there will be a kranti (revolution) in October, it has started in August itself," Ashoka, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, said. State BJP President BY Vijayendra said in the Congress, the truth is treated as a threat", especially when it comes from a leader of a marginalised community, whose voice they have long tried to silence". This is the true face of Congress anti-Dalit, anti-ST, anti-democratic and anti-truth. It also exposes the hollowness of Siddaramaiahs claims of championing the AHINDA cause. When leaders from these communities are targeted, he does not defend them. Instead, he bows to the diktats of the Delhi High Command to safeguard his own position as Chief Minister," Vijayendra said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all AHINDA is Kannada acronym for minorities, backward classes, and Dalits. (With agency inputs) About the Author Oindrila Mukherjee Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st... Read More Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st... Read More First Published: August 11, 2025, 21:55 IST News politics 'Conspiracy': Karnataka Minister Rajanna Cries Foul After Sacking As BJP Jeers Congress Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... KN Rajanna: Karnataka Congress Finally Sacks Cooperation Minister Who Refused To Cooperate For Years Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Manjiri Joshi Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 18:20 IST Rajannas statements have had one consistent effect putting his own party on the defensive, often forcing Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to refute or fight fire KN Rajanna (left) continued to court controversy, defy party discipline, and speak his mind. (X) Sacked Karnataka Cooperation Minister KN Rajannas latest comment on the vote theft" in Karnataka has turned out to be the last nail in the coffin for a man who has made a habit of landing the Congress in trouble. For Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM Shivakumar, it was the tipping point the culmination of a long list of political grenades Rajanna has lobbed in public since 2023. Recommended Stories This latest episode, where Rajanna publicly questioned the Congresss own handling of the voters list even as Rahul Gandhi was making vote theft" a major pitch for the Congress party and taking on electoral fraud saw Rajanna stating, The 2024 Lok Sabha voters list was made when our government was in place, why did they turn a blind eye?" Over the past two years, Rajannas statements have had one consistent effect putting his own party on the defensive, often forcing Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to refute or fight fire. With his vote theft" issue being the latest and most damaging, the Congress has finally decided to cut its losses. Rajanna has been sacked from his position as Cooperation Minister. Party sources say KPCC chief Shivakumar is likely to discuss with the high command the possibility of suspending Rajanna from the party, as his repeated violation of the disciplinary code had been denting the partys image especially when the party is in power in Karnataka. His sacking from the cabinet was, as one senior leader put it, Only a matter of time." The now former minister went further: We are saying that it is vote theft. It is true that this happened. But we should be ashamed that we are saying it now without looking into it first The irregularities took place right in front of our eyes. We did not look into it." Despite multiple warnings and clear gag orders on speaking to the media on issues of leadership change and the workings of the Congress government in Karnataka, Rajanna continued to court controversy, defy party discipline, and speak his mind" but the party saw it as indiscipline and repeatedly embarrassing the state leadership. #WATCH | On demand of more Deputy CMs for Karnataka, state Minister K N Rajanna says, "Because of the parliament elections, it was delayed. I want the party high command to consider our request. Many ministers think that those who are supporting the congress should be given pic.twitter.com/9AyJUcZehS ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2024 The Long List of Provocations Rajanna, a prominent Scheduled Tribes community leader of the Congress, was also an aspirant for the post of Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president. In February 2025, defying the high commands explicit gag order to speak on matters related to the KPCC chief elections or change of CM in Karnataka, Rajanna announced his willingness to resign as minister if made the KPCC president, directly challenging Shivakumars position. He had, in fact, in May this year announced his retirement from electoral politics, saying, I am already 75 years old. By the time the next election is held (2028), I will be 78 years old, but I will continue to be active in politics. Youngsters should be given an opportunity, and we have to give them guidance," Rajanna said while reiterating that he would not quit politics completely even if he stayed out of electoral politics. But then another statement by him in June this year, where he hinted at political upheavals, put the Congress in an embarrassment once again. There are too many power centres within the Congress in Karnataka," he declared, also stating that changes could happen after September" a statement made at a time when there was already a lot of sound and fury on leadership change in the state, with speculation that Siddaramaiah would hand over the baton of governance to his deputy Shivakumar. Siddaramaiah publicly dismissed this, telling reporters it was better to ignore" the remarks, but privately was furious that his own minister had created yet another round of speculation about a leadership change. Rajanna also didnt spare Siddaramaiah, despite the fact he is known to be a close associate and supporter of the CM. Rajanna, in his veiled barbs, said, During 2013-18 there was only one power centre. Now there are many one, two, three. You can say how many ever you want. When there are many power centres, there will be more hustle and bustle, and in that background, he (Siddaramaiah) will also have to manage the government and party, according to the situation." His comment hinted that the CMs style had changed from his earlier term when the Congress was in power. Continuing on the matter of leadership change, when Shivakumar, in his capacity as the state Congress chief, issued instructions to all ministers, MLAs and Congressmen not to talk to the media about the CM and Dy CM posts or any changes if there may be, Rajanna openly challenged him: Whats wrong in issuing statements? Let him issue the notice to me. I dont care about warnings. Party leaders cannot be asked to talk as per his directions. I cant remain quiet." He then accused Shivakumar of misusing the AICCs name", saying: We should tell him not to misuse the AICC and high commands name, as he repeatedly mentions them for everything. Will the AICC come and speak on every issue?" When asked if this was an allegation, Rajanna shot back: Yes, it is not an allegation, but a fact." In March, he skipped a crucial Apex Bank meeting called at his own office as there was a need to take a decision that required consultation with all directors on a no-confidence resolution against the chairman of the bank. Shivakumar, several Congress MLAs, and officials had gathered for the meeting, but after waiting for close to an hour, the DCM and the other MLAs were seen leaving Rajannas chamber without any discussion taking place. This was despite him attending the Assembly session earlier in the day. His office informed the waiting leaders that the ministers health had suddenly deteriorated leaving the DyCM embarrassed and fuming. #WATCH | Bengaluru | On the alleged honey-trapping of public servants, including judges in Karnataka, State Home Minister G Parameshwara says, "On the 20th of this month, there was an issue raised by the opposition members that there was a honey trap attempt on many of the pic.twitter.com/l7JJKH8HeL ANI (@ANI) March 25, 2025 The Honey-Trap Bombshell In March, Rajanna claimed in the Assembly that about 48 politicians" in Karnataka including central leaders had been caught in honey traps, calling Karnataka state a factory of CDs and pen drives." He also mentioned that he too was the target of a foiled honey-trap operation. Pointing towards all elected MLAs, he sparked uproar. They (pointing to the Opposition) are also involved," he said. He had later sought a thorough investigation from the Home Minister Dr G Parameshwara on the honey trap issue. Ayodhya to Deputy CM Posts Brewing more trouble In January 2024, he stirred a storm just before the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya was inaugurated, accusing the BJP of constructing temples for electoral gains. He compared the sacred site to two dolls kept in a tent", claiming there was no divine vibration in Ayodhya. When he saw the massive backlash from people, Rajanna later clarified that his remarks were based on past experiences of visiting the temple area and said that he would reassess upon revisiting Ayodhya again. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all There are Ram temples with a history dating back thousands of years. These are holy places. Now, the BJP is building temples for elections. The BJP is cheating people. I went there when Babri Masjid was demolished, they kept two dolls in a tent and called it Lord Ram," he had said. These remarks instantly drew condemnation from the VHP and the BJP. Embarrassed, he was asked by the Congress party to refrain from making such comments. In 2023, just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, he proposed that Karnataka should have three deputy chief ministers one each from SC/ST, minority, and Veerashaiva-Lingayat communities undermining the Congresss official decision that Shivakumar would be the only DCM. One post should be given to SC/ST, second to a minority leader, and third to a Veerashaiva leader it has been proved from this Assembly poll that the Veerashaiva vote has mostly come back to the party," he said. 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 First Published: August 11, 2025, 18:10 IST News politics KN Rajanna: Karnataka Congress Finally Sacks Cooperation Minister Who Refused To Cooperate For Years Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... NCP Leader To Host Mutton Feast As Meat Ban On I-Day Triggers Political Row In Kalyan-Dombivli Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 12:53 IST Jitendra Awhad termed the move a blatant attack on personal freedom and an attempt to create animosity among communities Jitendra Awhad announced plans to host a mutton party on Independence Day as an act of defiance. (PTI) A civic order from the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) asking meat shops to shut on Independence Day has snowballed into a heated political controversy, with opposition leaders accusing the administration of dictating food choices" and threatening to defy the ban. The KDMC notice, signed by Deputy Commissioner (Licensing) Kanchan Gaikwad, mandates all slaughterhouses and licensed butchers dealing in goats, sheep, chicken, and large animals to remain closed from midnight of August 14 till midnight of August 15. It warns of action under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, 1949, if any meat is sold or animals are slaughtered during the period. Recommended Stories Explaining the rationale, Gaikwad said the directive follows a long-standing administrative practice of keeping such establishments shut on major national occasions to maintain public order and dignity" of the day. But the decision has been met with fierce opposition. NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Jitendra Awhad was among the first to react, terming the move a blatant attack on personal freedom". He announced plans to host a mutton party on Independence Day as an act of defiance. On the day our country got freedom, you are taking away our freedom to eat what we want," Awhad said. This is nothing but an attempt to create animosity among communities. The people of Kalyan-Dombivli will oppose this tooth and nail." Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray joined the chorus, demanding the KDMC commissioners suspension. Who is the commissioner to tell us what to eat and what not to? Bridges are collapsing, roads are in terrible shape, and instead of fixing them, the administration is busy banning food," he remarked. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The controversy has also reached the state cabinets attention. Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said he would look into the matter. We need to check the rule, law, and power under which the commissioner issued this order. It is also important to verify if there was any public demand for such a prohibition," he said. While meat bans on specific days are not new in parts of Maharashtra, the timing of the orderon a day celebrated for freedom and choicehas amplified its political sensitivity. For many residents, the debate has shifted from meat to a larger question of individual rights and the role of civic bodies in dictating lifestyle choices. About the Author Mayuresh Ganapatye Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa... Read More Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @mayuganapa... Read More Location : Kalyan-Dombivli (Kalyan-Dombivali), India, India First Published: August 11, 2025, 12:53 IST News politics NCP Leader To Host Mutton Feast As Meat Ban On I-Day Triggers Political Row In Kalyan-Dombivli Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'You F***ing Immigrant': Canadian Men Hurl Racial Slurs At Indian Couple, Make Obscene Gestures Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 12, 2025, 16:16 IST An Indian couple in Peterborough, Ontario were harassed by a group of Canadian men, who hurled racial slurs at them at a mall parking lot and used obscene gestures. A group of Canadian men hurled racial slurs at an Indian couple in Ontario. (Photo: X) A shocking video went viral on social media showing a Canadian man and his friends harassing an Indian couple in Peterborough, Ontario and hurling racial slurs at them when confronted about it. The incident happened in a mall parking lot, when the Indian man confronted the Canadians for damaging his vehicle. The men could be heard shouting racial slurs and calling the man big nose" and you f***ing immigrant". One of the men even threatened to kill the man, saying, Do you want me to get out of the car and f***ing kill you?" Recommended Stories Hey big nose, you know its not illegal to go in front of your vehicle and h*** you. Did I touch you? Did I touch you, yes or no? Answer my question, you f***ing Indian," one of the men was heard saying. Here is what a couple had to deal with at Lansdowne Place in Peterborough over the long weekend.So disgusting. pic.twitter.com/IYhD06j3Nc Tanya (@TanyaRanne) August 7, 2025 Canadian man harasses Indian couple outside mall, hurls racial slurs at them,Hatred towards Indians is increasing in Canada. pic.twitter.com/n6RQpLzIIq Hindutva Vigilant (@VigilntHindutva) August 9, 2025 One of the men stepped out the vehicle and humped the Indian couples car while shouting insults. The man tried to record their license plate and was heard instructing someone to call the police. The video quickly went viral, drawing condemnation and calls for accountability. My partner and I are still traumatised and I am posting so that it does not happen to someone else, and we want justice," the victim wrote online. One Arrested After Outrage Sadly, incidents like these show that hatred toward Indians is on the rise in some parts of Canada. Its a harsh reality many face, and ignoring it wont make the problem disappear. Time for authorities to step up and protect every community equally no excuses," a user wrote online. Police later arrested an 18-year-old from the City of Kawartha Lakes, charging him with uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm. He is scheduled to appear in court on September 16. Peterborough Police confirmed that they launched an investigation on August 8 after reviewing the viral videos, which featured hate-based language." Police Chief Stuart Betts said, Anybody who has seen the video in this case will understand that that type of behaviour is not acceptable in our community, nor any community." Media Release Saturday, August 9, 2025 Utter Threats Arrest The Peterborough Police Service has made an arrest in connection with an incident that was reported to the police and occurred in the Lansdowne Place Mall parking lot recently. On Friday, August 8, 2025, pic.twitter.com/cQY1S5hj12 Peterborough Police (@PtboPolice) August 9, 2025 top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Clearly this is not the standard of acceptable behaviour in our city. We encourage residents to continue to report hate bias incidents/crimes that take place in our community. Reporting these incidents to police is crucial to ensuring we have the information needed to investigate and pursue charges when appropriate," Mills added. A report by The Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD) a UK-based think tank recently revealed that the use of hate-filled slurs directed mainly against Indian-origin people rose by 1,350% between 2019 and 2023. 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 Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google, News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Canada First Published: August 11, 2025, 18:26 IST News viral 'You F***ing Immigrant': Canadian Men Hurl Racial Slurs At Indian Couple, Make Obscene Gestures Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Chinese Man Caught Stealing From Business Class Passenger On Dubai-Singapore Flight, Held Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 11:12 IST A 25-year-old Chinese national was arrested for allegedly stealing a passenger's bag on a flight from Dubai to Singapore on August 8. The suspect was caught at Changi Airport. A passenger was arrested after allegedly stealing a bag from an overhead compartment during a Dubai to Singapore flight.(Representational image/Unsplash) In a shocking incident, a 25-year-old Chinese national was arrested for allegedly stealing a fellow passengers bag in the business class section of a flight from Dubai to Singapore. The police were alerted at around 5.30 am (local time) on August 8 about a suspected theft in the business class section of the aircraft, and the suspect was taken into custody, reported The Strait Times. Recommended Stories As per the preliminary investigations, the victims wife caught the man allegedly stealing her husbands bag from the overhead compartment while he was asleep. She immediately confronted the suspect, prompting him to return the bag to its place. The woman then informed her husband about the incident. After the aircraft landed at Singapores Changi International Airport, the accused was arrested before he could depart for his next scheduled flight. As per the report, the accused failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for his actions to the airport police officers. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all After the aircraft landed at Changi Airport, the man was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for his actions to officers from the Airport Police Division and was subsequently arrested before he could depart for his next scheduled flight," The Strait Times quoted the police as saying. If convicted, he would be jailed for three years, or fine, or both. About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben... Read More Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google, News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Singapore First Published: August 11, 2025, 11:11 IST News viral Chinese Man Caught Stealing From Business Class Passenger On Dubai-Singapore Flight, Held Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Four Men Flee Northampton Indian Restaurant Without Paying 200 Bill, Caught On Cam Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 21:13 IST Four men fled Saffron restaurant in Northampton without paying a 197.30 bill, sparking a chase. Police are investigating the incident as theft. Mixed reactions online ensued. Screengrab of the viral video. (Instagram) In a shocking incident, four men fled a Northampton Indian restaurant without paying their nearly 200 bill, sparking a chase from staff members. The incident, captured on CCTV, shows the group arriving at the Saffron restaurant at 10.11 pm on August 4. According to a bill later posted by the restaurant on Facebook, the group consumed 197.30 worth of food, which included a selection of curries, lamb chops, and other dishes. Recommended Stories Northamptonshire Police confirmed they are investigating the incident as a theft. View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Independent (@the.independent) In a Facebook post, they said: This kind of behaviour isnt just theft, it affects hardworking small businesses and our local community." The post sparked a wave of mixed reactions online. If you cant afford it, eat at home then! Why are people so lazy to cook these days?" one user said. This is why you swipe a card before theyre seated. They dont look like they can afford a McDonalds, never mind a 200 restaurant bill," added the other. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google, News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : United Kingdom (UK) First Published: August 11, 2025, 21:13 IST News viral Four Men Flee Northampton Indian Restaurant Without Paying 200 Bill, Caught On Cam Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Explainer: What to expect at upcoming Trump-Putin summit in Alaska? Xinhua) 08:09, August 11, 2025 Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) holds talks with U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Aug. 6, 2025. (Kremlin Press Office/Handout via Xinhua) The prospects for a breakthrough appear uncertain at the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska, with the two leaders approaching the talks from sharply different positions and many of America's allies warning that any deal struck without Kiev's participation will lack legitimacy. BEIJING, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet on August 15th in Alaska to discuss a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, marking the first talks between the leaders of the two countries since 2021. On the campaign trail in 2023 and 2024, Trump made repeated claims that he would end the Ukraine crisis within 24 hours of winning presidency. The summit, Trump's latest push for peace in the region, has been billed by the White House as a high-stakes push to end the Ukraine crisis. But the prospects for a breakthrough appear uncertain, with the two leaders approaching the talks from sharply different positions and many of America's allies warning that any deal struck without Kiev's participation will lack legitimacy. The plans for the face-to-face meeting between the two leaders surfaced after Putin's three-hour working meeting with Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff during the latter's visit to Moscow on Wednesday. Putin this week offered the Trump administration a broad ceasefire proposal that requires significant territorial concessions from Kiev and seeks international acceptance of Russia's claims in return for stopping the fighting, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing European and Ukrainian officials. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a press conference at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, May 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Kai) Trump said Friday that he intended to secure a ceasefire, even suggesting that "swapping of territories" could be part of the deal. While he has not specified what that would entail, the phrase has drawn immediate pushback from Ukraine and its allies. Ukraine has repeatedly said it will not accept any arrangement that cedes its territory. President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Saturday the Alaska talks for excluding his government and warned that lasting peace cannot be achieved without Ukraine at the table. "Any decisions made against us, any decisions made without Ukraine, are at the same time decisions against peace," Zelensky said in a video address. "They will bring nothing. These are dead decisions; they will never work." European capitals reacted swiftly to Trump's suggestion of a land swap. Leaders from the European Commission, France, Italy, Britain, Germany, Poland and Finland issued a joint statement on Saturday affirming that Ukraine's borders, as recognized internationally, cannot be changed by force. The statement underscored that Ukraine must be directly involved in any negotiations regarding its sovereignty. The last round of Russia-Ukraine talks held in Istanbul on July 23 concluded with no breakthrough towards a ceasefire but an agreement on another prisoner swap with civilian detainees included. Russia and Ukraine remain quite apart from each other while exchanges of drone and missile attacks continue to inflict heavy casualties and infrastructure damage. Analysts say that even if Trump and Putin agree on broad principles, achieving a workable ceasefire will be far from simple, as Russia controls significant territory, including areas it has fortified heavily over the past year, while Ukraine remains committed to regaining its land. A halt to fighting would require agreement on troop withdrawals, security guarantees and the future status of disputed regions -- issues that have defied resolution since the conflict began in 2022. Without clear enforcement mechanisms, experts warn, any truce could unravel quickly. Whether the Alaska summit moves the Ukraine crisis toward resolution or entrenches a fragile stalemate will depend on whether the leaders can bridge deep divides. With positions hardened and trust in short supply, a ceasefire, if it comes at all, will not be easy. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) LONDON, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The number of people arrested at a Saturday protest in support of advocacy network Palestine Action has been confirmed as 532, London's Metropolitan Police said in an update on Sunday. As of 1 p.m. local time (1200 GMT) on Sunday, 18 people remained in custody. Police said those whose details could be confirmed had been released on bail. Around 500 to 600 people participated in the protest, which began at Parliament Square, and at least 365 were arrested during the event, London's Metropolitan Police said on Saturday. Pictures on social media showed protestors holding signs reading "I oppose genocide." A video released by The Guardian features an arrested woman speaking to the camera, saying, "Arrest the people who are selling arms, killing and bombing ..." In July, Members of Parliament voted to proscribe Palestine Action as a terrorist group after its members broke into Royal Air Force Brize Norton in June. Maryam Nawaz Unveils Pakistan's First Trackless Tram', Netizens React: 'That's A Bus' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 19:46 IST Maryam Nawaz unveiled first trackless tram in Punjab, a solar-powered metro system from China. Despite its innovative claims, many users criticized it as just a rebranded bus. Maryam Nawaz Unveils Pakistan's First Trackless Tram'. (X/@MaryamNawazHQ) The chief minister of Pakistans Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, recently unveiled South Asias first trackless tram, touted as a subway on wheels." This solar-powered, next-generation metro system, imported from China, runs without the need for tracks or tickets. As reported by Gulf News, it forms a central part of Punjabs urban transport modernisation plan, with proposals to expand the service to 30 cities across the region. Last week, Nawaz took the trackless tram for a test ride from Raiwind Road to Muslim Town in Lahore, assessing its performance in live traffic. Accompanied by Punjab Transport Minister Bilal Akbar, she examined the technical details and highlighted the projects importance for the regions future urban development. Recommended Stories In a post on X, Nawaz said, Ladies and gentlemen, South Asias first ever Track-less tram soon starting its service in Lahore, Punjab under Maryam Nawaz." Ladies and gentlemen,South Asias first ever Track-less tram soon starting its service in LahorePunjab under Maryam Nawaz pic.twitter.com/w82grwLzT5 Maryam Nawaz HQ (@MaryamNawazHQ) August 7, 2025 While officials praised it as a groundbreaking advancement in urban transport, many internet users remained sceptical, arguing that a trackless tram is essentially just a bus and questioning the hype surrounding it. Social media was quick to mock the projects perceived lack of originality, with some comparing it to existing bus systems and suggesting that the so-called new" technology was more of a rebranded idea than a genuine innovation. I love how countries just reinvent buses and give them hi-tech sounding names like autonomous rail-less transportation hypercarriage and shill accounts just eat it up," one user said. Its a bus. What does a trackless tram even mean?" added the other. Congratulations, you figured out an age-old invention the bus. Maybe actually do something good for your people instead of acting like youre doing something," a third user commented. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Users also added a community note, linking to Wikipedia, which described the trackless tram" as an articulated bus. An articulated bus features a flexible joint in its structure, allowing it to bend and manoeuvre more easily. This design increases passenger capacity while enabling the vehicle to navigate narrow or congested routes. So, a trackless tram" is essentially a bus with a tram-like design and advanced technology features, but without the need for rails. Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google, News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Pakistan First Published: August 11, 2025, 19:46 IST News viral Maryam Nawaz Unveils Pakistan's First Trackless Tram', Netizens React: 'That's A Bus' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Woman Confesses To Killing Son, Chopping His Body With His Wife's Help Over Domestic Abuse Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 17:25 IST Lorena Venier, 61, allegedly killed her son Alessandro, 35, with help from his wife Mailyn in Italy. The murder was planned for months due to alleged abuse. The matter came to light after the victim's wife informed the police about the killing. (Representative image) In a bone-chilling incident, a 61-year-old woman allegedly killed her son and chopped his body into pieces in Italy, New York Post reported. The hexagenarian, identified as Lorena Venier, connived with the victims wife, Mailyn Castro Monsalvo (30), in carrying out the gruesome murder on July 25. The matter came to light after her daughter-in-law informed the police about the killing. Recommended Stories A nurse by profession, Lorena reportedly admitted to killing her son, Alessandro Venier (35), with the help of Mailyn. Alessandros body was recovered hacked to pieces in the basement of the home where he lived Mailyn and their 6-month-old daughter in the town of Gemona del Friuli. I took care of Alessandros dismemberment myself," Italian news agency ANSA quoted Lorena as saying during a court appearance. It is learnt that the mother and daughter-in-law duo had been planning the killing for months after Alessandro had been allegedly physically abused Mailyn. According to Italian outlet LUnione Sarda, Lorena claimed Mailyn had been asking me to kill my son Alessandro for months, ever since the day their daughter was born in January." LUnione Sarda report further quoted Lorena as saying, Mailyn was violently beaten, insulted and repeatedly threatened with death My son downplayed her postpartum depression, and when I decided to report it, he punched me in the back." The victim had allegedly discussed shifting to Colombia with his family but Lorena was too fearful of what he could do to harm the family, Daily Mail reported. Citing officials, Daily Mail reported the accused women allegedly handed Alessandro a glass of tranquilizer-spiked lemonade and gave him two shots of insulin from the hospital where Lorena worked to make him unconscious. The victim was still alive even after the heavy dose of insulin, the British outlet reported. He was then suffocated with a pillow, strangled with shoelaces, and covered in quicklime to conceal the smell of his body, the outlet further stated. Lorena told the courtroom that Castro was only involved in moving the remains, ANSA reported. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The mother had hoped her sons disappearance would be overlooked, as the family was preparing to relocate to South America. However, her plan was foiled when Castro came forward with a confession. According to the outlet, Lorena has been charged with murder and concealing a body, while Castro is under investigation for instigating the crime. About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google, News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : italy First Published: August 11, 2025, 17:25 IST News viral Woman Confesses To Killing Son, Chopping His Body With His Wife's Help Over Domestic Abuse Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... World's Richest Village Is In India! Millionaire In Every Home, Rs 5,000 Crore In Local Banks Curated By : Translation Desk Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 13:00 IST Madhapar, Gujarat the world's richest village with Rs 5,000+ crore in bank deposits, modern amenities, and NRIs driving development while staying rooted to tradition Far from being a typical village, Madhapar is equipped with modern facilities that surpass those found in many Indian cities. (News18) When we think of a village, we often imagine mud huts, lush green fields, grazing cattle, women drawing water from wells, and the peaceful simplicity of rural life. However, there is one Indian village that breaks this conventional image entirely. Located in Gujarat, Madhapar is widely regarded as the richest village in the world, where every household is either a lakhpati or crorepati, and over Rs 5,000 crore is deposited in local banks. Madhapar: A Village Like No Other Recommended Stories Situated in the Kutch district of Gujarat, Madhapar is home to approximately 92,000 residents and around 7,600 households. The village boasts 17 bank branches, which collectively hold more than Rs 5,000 crore in deposits, an amount that could rival the economy of a mid-sized city. The Secret Behind Its Prosperity So, how did Madhapar achieve such unprecedented success? The answer lies in its people. A significant number of Madhapars families have relatives living abroad, particularly in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Africa, and the Gulf countries. These non-resident Indians (NRIs) have earned considerable wealth through hard work and determination, and they have not turned their backs on their roots. Many of them continue to send money home, not just to support their families, but also to invest in the villages growth. They actively contribute to education, healthcare, infrastructure, and community welfare, helping transform Madhapar into a model village. A Legacy That Dates Back To The 12th Century Madhapars origins can be traced back to the 12th century, when it was founded by the Mistri community of Kutch, renowned for constructing temples and historical landmarks across Gujarat. Over time, people from various communities have made the village their home, contributing to its rich cultural identity. Urban Amenities In A Rural Setting Far from being a typical village, Madhapar is equipped with modern facilities that surpass those found in many Indian cities. It has schools, colleges, hospitals, banks, parks, and well-maintained roads. The standard of living is remarkably high, and the village showcases what is possible when hard work meets vision. A Symbol Of Unity And Prosperity top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Madhapar is more than just a wealthy village, it is a shining example of how strong community ties, combined with global connections and a commitment to development, can create a place that redefines rural life. It stands as a symbol of prosperity, unity, and pride, not just for Gujarat, but for India as a whole. Click here to add News18 as your preferred news source on Google, News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! Location : Madhapar, India, India First Published: August 11, 2025, 13:00 IST News viral World's Richest Village Is In India! Millionaire In Every Home, Rs 5,000 Crore In Local Banks Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 5 Al Jazeera Journalists Killed In Israeli Attack On Gaza, IDF Alleges 1 Was 'Hamas Terrorist' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 07:57 IST Anas al-Sharif was among a group of five Al Jazeera journalists who died in a strike on a tent in the eastern Gaza City. Anas Al Sharif was among a group of five Al Jazeera journalists killed. Israels military said it killed a Hamas cell leader posing as an Al Jazeera journalist in a Gaza airstrike on Sunday. However, Al Jazeera stated that at least five of its journalists were killed in the Israeli strike on a tent housing journalists outside al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Anas al-Sharif, 28, was among a group of five Al Jazeera journalists who died in a strike on a tent in the eastern Gaza City. An official at the hospital said two other people were also killed in the strike. Recommended Stories Al-Sharif was the head of a Hamas cell and was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF (Israeli) troops," the Israeli military said in a statement, citing intelligence and documents found in Gaza as evidence. STRUCK: Hamas terrorist Anas Al-Sharif, who posed as an Al Jazeera journalistAl-Sharif was the head of a Hamas terrorist cell and advanced rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF troops.Intelligence and documents from Gaza, including rosters, terrorist training lists and pic.twitter.com/ypFaEYDHse Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 10, 2025 The 28-year-old was one of the most prominent journalists in Gaza and continued to report, even though he knew his life was in danger. However, journalists groups and Al Jazeera have denounced the killings. Among the victims were Al Jazeera correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, as well as cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Moamen Aliwa, and Mohammed Noufal, according to the broadcaster. Anas al-Sharifs Life Was in Danger A press freedom group and a UN expert had previously warned that Al-Sharifs life was in danger due to his reporting from Gaza. UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan said last month that Israels claims against him were unsubstantiated. Al-Sharif had also left a social media message to be posted in the event of his death that read, I never hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or misrepresentation, hoping that God would witness those who remained silent." In a statement, the Committee to Protect Journalists, which in July urged the international community to protect Al Sharif, said Israel had failed to provide any evidence to back up its allegations against him. Israels pattern of labeling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom," said Sara Qudah, CPJs director for the Middle East and North Africa. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Al-Sharif, whose X account showed more than 500,000 followers, posted on the platform minutes before his death that Israel had been intensely bombarding Gaza City for more than two hours. Calling Al Sharif one of Gazas bravest journalists," Al Jazeera said the attack is a desperate attempt to silence voices in anticipation of the occupation of Gaza." About the Author Mahima Joshi Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a... Read More Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a... Read More Location : Israel First Published: August 11, 2025, 07:22 IST News world 5 Al Jazeera Journalists Killed In Israeli Attack On Gaza, IDF Alleges 1 Was 'Hamas Terrorist' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Australia To Join France, UK & Canada In Recognising Palestinian State By September Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 09:05 IST Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the move will happen at the UN General Assembly after it received commitments from the Palestinian Authority. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (Reuters File Image) Australia will recognise a state of Palestine in September at the United Nations General Assembly, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday. The development came after France and Canada and UK also announced their plans to recognise a Palestinian state amid the growing Gaza crisis. The Australian Prime Ministers remarks followed weeks of urging from within his Cabinet and from many in Australia to recognise a Palestinian state and amid growing criticism from officials in his government over suffering and starvation in Gaza. Recommended Stories Additionally, the Australian government has also criticised plans announced in recent days by Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu for a fresh, sweeping military offensive in Gaza. Albanese told reporters after a Cabinet meeting Monday that Australias decision to recognise a Palestinian state will be formalised at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The acknowledgement was predicated on commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority," Albanese said. Those commitments included no role for Hamas in a Palestinian government, demilitarisation of Gaza and the holding of elections, he said. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A two-state solution is humanitys best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza," Albanese said. (With agency inputs) About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More Location : Australia First Published: August 11, 2025, 08:55 IST News world Australia To Join France, UK & Canada In Recognising Palestinian State By September Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Colombian Presidential Contender Miguel Uribe Dies After June Shooting At Political Rally Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 16:42 IST Uribe, 39, a potential presidential candidate from the right-wing opposition, was shot thrice while addressing a campaign in Bogota on June 7. Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe was shot during a political rally. (AFP/X) Colombian presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay, who was shot multiple times at a political rally in Bogota on June 7, has succumbed to his injuries, his family said on Monday. Uribe, 39, a potential presidential candidate from the right-wing opposition, was shot at thrice, twice in the head, in Bogota during a rally more than two months ago. He was admitted to the hospital in a critical condition and was showing little response to treatment as of June 10. Recommended Stories I ask God to show me the way to learn to live without you," his wife Maria Claudia Tarazona wrote on social media. Rest in peace, love of my life, I will take care of our children." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered his condolences on Uribes death, saying, Deeply saddened to learn of Colombian Senator @MiguelUribeTs tragic death. The United States stands in solidarity with his family, the Colombian people, both in mourning and demanding justice for those responsible." Deeply saddened to learn of Colombian Senator @MiguelUribeTs tragic death. The United States stands in solidarity with his family, the Colombian people, both in mourning and demanding justice for those responsible. Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) August 11, 2025 Uribe, a member of the Democratic Center party, was addressing a campaign on the day when he was shot, and the incident sent shockwaves across Colombia, raising raised renewed concerns about political violence in the country. The authorities have arrested four people in connection with the shooting, including a 14-year-old boy identified as the gunman, but have not disclosed a motive, according to The New York Times. Colombia has long been embroiled in conflict with leftist rebels and criminal groups descended from right-wing paramilitaries, though the motive for the attack on Uribe remains unclear. Leftist President Gustavo Petro has vowed to bring peace, negotiating with rebel groups to get them to put down their arms, but with little success. Who Was Miguel Uribe Turbay? Uribe comes from a prominent political family. His grandfather Julio Cesar Turbay was president from 1978 to 1982, while his paternal grandfather, Rodrigo Uribe Echavarria, headed the Liberal Party and supported Virgilio Barcos successful 1986 presidential campaign. Uribe himself enjoyed a rapid political rise in Colombia, becoming a recognized lawmaker for the right-wing Democratic Center party and a presidential candidate known for his sharp criticism of President Gustavo Petros administration. He was elected to Bogotas city council at the age of 25, where he was a prominent opponent of Petro. He won a seat in the Senate in the 2022 legislative elections, where he led the Senate slate for the Democratic Center party with the slogan Colombia First". top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all His mother was journalist Diane Turbay, who was kidnapped by notorious narco-terrorist Pablo Escobars Medellin cartel and killed during a rescue operation in 1991. Last October, he announced his intention to run in the 2026 presidential election. (with inputs from agencies) About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Location : Bogota, Colombia First Published: August 11, 2025, 16:39 IST News world Colombian Presidential Contender Miguel Uribe Dies After June Shooting At Political Rally Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Putin Wont Mess With Me: Trump Eyes 'Constructive' Alaska Talks On Ukraine This Week Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 22:14 IST Putin and Trump are scheduled to meet in the US state of Alaska this Friday to try to resolve the three-year conflict. Trump and Putin will hold talks on August 15 to discuss a potential ceasefire in Ukraine. (AP/File) US President Donald Trump on Monday said he expected a constructive" discussion with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as they meet for a high-stakes meeting on Friday (August 15) in Alaska, amid Washingtons efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict, which has entered its fourth year. I am going in to speak to Vladimir Putin. I am going the telling him that we got to end this war. He is not going to mess with me. This war would have never happened," he said in a press conference. This could have been a third World War." Recommended Stories He said the next meeting would be with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders. After that meeting, immediately, maybe as Im flying out, maybe as Im leaving the room, Ill be calling the European leaders who I get along with very well," Trump further said. I have a great relationship, I think, with all of them, and I get along with Zelenskyy, but, you know, I disagree with what hes done, very, very severely disagree Ill be speaking to Zelenskyy. The next meeting will be with Zelenskyy and Putin, or Zelenskyy, and Putin to me Ill be there if they need me." ALSO READ: Alaska Or Russia? Trumps Summit Location Faux Pas Steals Spotlight At Press Briefing Trump Unhappy With Zelenskyy The US President also said he is unhappy with Zelenskyy for ruling out territorial concessions to Russia. I was a little bothered by the fact that Zelensky was saying, Well, I have to get constitutional approval. I mean, hes got approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap? Because therell be some land swapping going on," he said, confirming land swap negotiations. Zelenskyy on Saturday warned that Ukraine wont surrender land to Russia to buy peace. Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier," he said on social media. However, Trump made it clear that while he wanted a ceasefire, it will be up to Ukraine to accept or reject the deal with Russia. Were going to see what the parameters are, and then Im going to call up President Zelensky and the European leaders and Im going to tell them what kind of a deal. Im not going to make a deal. Its not up to me to make a deal. I think a deal should be made for both." Trumps Call With European Leaders This came after German Chancellor Friedrich Merzs chief spokesman, Stefan Kornelius, said European leaders and Zelenskyy will hold a call with Trump on Wednesday. Participants will include US Vice President JD Vance, French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and the prime ministers of Italy, Poland, and Finland. Kornelius said the talks will address further options for exerting pressure on Russia," as well as the preparation of possible peace negotiations and related issues of territorial claims and security." The idea of a US-Russia meeting without Ukraine has raised concerns that a deal could require Kyiv to cede the land Russia has currently occupied. Zelenskyys Conversation With PM Modi Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with Zelenskyy on Monday, where he reaffirmed Indias steadfast and consistent position for peaceful settlement of the conflict and support for efforts aimed at earliest restoration of peace. PM Modi also reiterated Indias commitment to extend all possible support in this regard. Zelenskyy said he informed PM Modi about the Russian attacks, saying, It is important that India is supporting our peace efforts and shares the position that everything concerning Ukraine must be decided with Ukraines participation. Other formats will not deliver results." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Zelensky also proposed a meeting with PM Modi on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Session in the US in September this year. The Ukrainian leader also noted that it was necessary to limit the export of Russian energy, particularly oil, to reduce its potential and ability to finance the continuation of this war. India had welcomed the upcoming talks between Putin and Trump in Alaska, saying they offered a real chance of a ceasefire in the war that has continued for more than three years. About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: August 11, 2025, 21:47 IST News world Putin Wont Mess With Me: Trump Eyes 'Constructive' Alaska Talks On Ukraine This Week Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Every Pakistani Ready...': Bilawal Bhutto Ramps Up War Rhetoric Over Indus Waters Treaty Reported By : CNN-News18 Last Updated: August 12, 2025, 09:24 IST Bilawal Bhutto, ex-Pakistan foreign minister threatened India with war, including nuclear, over changes to the Indus Water Treaty, accusing India of "barbarism." Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. File pic/Reuters Former Pakistan foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto has issued a fresh round of threats against India on Monday, warning of war if New Delhi continues with changes to the Indus Waters Treaty. While speaking at a function organised by the Culture Department of the Government of Sindh on Monday, Bhutto claimed India had attacked Pakistan and accused India of barbarism" over the issue. He told supporters that every Pakistani is ready to fight a war" and boasted that Pakistans armed forces had delivered a historic reply" to India. Recommended Stories So, if you think of carrying out an attack like Sindoor, then know that the people of every province of Pakistan are ready to fight you and this is a war that you will definitely lose," he reportedly said. He went on to say that you people are strong enough for war to get back all six rivers," vowing that Pakistan will never bow down". Bhuttos warning came a day after Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir threatened to start a nuclear war and went on a brazen anti-India rant at an event in the US state of Florida. Munir said Islamabad would be prepared to plunge the region into nuclear war and take almost half of the world" down if the country faced an existential threat in a future conflict with New Delhi. We are a nuclear nation; if we think we are going down, well take half the world down with us," Munir reportedly said at a black-tie event hosted for him in Floridas Tampa during his second visit to the US in two months. He further raked up the Indus Waters Treaty issue, which has been kept in abeyance" by New Delhi after the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack, saying Indias decision could put 250 million people at risk of starvation. New Delhi responded with sharp condemnation, calling Pakistans nuclear threats stock-in-trade" and questioning the integrity of Pakistans nuclear command and control. Indian officials pointed out that the Pakistani military operates hand-in-glove" with terrorist groups, making the regions nuclear stability dangerously precarious. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated, India will not give in to nuclear blackmail and will continue to take all steps necessary to safeguard national security." On several occasions, Bhutto has blamed India without any evidence for the recent tensions in the region in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and has also threatened India for keeping the IWT in abeyance. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all After the Pahalgam attack, the diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan downgraded with New Delhi announcing several punitive measures, including suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, cutting Islamabad Mission strength and expulsion of its military attaches. India and Pakistan exchanged cross-border hostilities for four days after the former launched Operation Sindoor against terror camps in the neighbouring country. New Delhi struck several air bases and dealt a crushing blow to Islamabad Armys capabilities, while also effectively repelling missile and drone attacks. About the Author Manoj Gupta Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18 Location : Islamabad, Pakistan First Published: August 11, 2025, 22:26 IST News world 'Every Pakistani Ready...': Bilawal Bhutto Ramps Up War Rhetoric Over Indus Waters Treaty Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Firefighters Battle Overnight Gorse Fire At Arthurs Seat In Edinburgh | Watch Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 16:22 IST Firefighters battled overnight to tackle a large gorse fire that spread across a landmark hill in Edinburgh. A view of a fire on Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP) Firefighters worked through the night to contain a major gorse fire that spread across a well-known hill in Edinburgh. Emergency services were alerted to the blaze at Arthurs Seat late Sunday afternoon. According to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, two fire appliances remained at the scene, and crews were helping dampen down hotspots. Recommended Stories There have been no reports of any casualties. Thick black smoke rose into the sky from the extinct volcano in Holyrood Park as the fire raged. Scottish Fire Service battling tirelessly to stop Arthurs Seat fire from crossing the road and setting lower part of the hill alight. Still pockets of flames elsewhere to be concerned about. pic.twitter.com/hKYmuJas9p Mark Woods (@markbritball) August 10, 2025 Operations Control mobilised four fire appliances and specialist resources to a fire affecting a large area of gorse," an SFRS spokesperson said. The cause of the blaze is currently unclear. Who Was King Arthur? King Arthur is a legendary figure in British folklore and medieval literature, often depicted as a heroic king who led the defence of Britain against invading forces, typically the Saxons, during the early medieval period. While there is no definitive historical proof that he existed, his story has been told and retold in countless myths, legends, and literary works. Arthurs Seat is a popular tourist attraction in the Scottish capital. From the hills peak, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the old city and the surrounding area, including the sea to the east. The fire broke out as the city launched its annual Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the largest performance arts festival in the world. Oasis fans also descended on the city over the weekend as the band performed two shows at Murrayfield Stadium. It will return to the stage for a third show on Tuesday. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all A similar blaze occurred at Arthurs Seat in 2019, with firefighters working for eight hours to bring it under control. (With inputs from AP) Location : United Kingdom (UK) First Published: August 11, 2025, 16:08 IST News world Firefighters Battle Overnight Gorse Fire At Arthurs Seat In Edinburgh | Watch Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Homeless, Move Out Of US Capital: Why Trump Wants A Federal Takeover Of Washington Explained Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 20:24 IST The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital, US President Donald Trump said in social media post on Sunday US President Donald Trump launched a surge of federal law enforcement in DC over the weekend that up to 450 officers were expected participate in, according to a White House official. (AP File) President Donald Trump is expected to ramp up efforts to curb crime in the nations capital on Monday as he threatens a federal takeover of Washington DC, all while city officials largely remain deferential to him. The event comes after Trump launched a surge of federal law enforcement in DC over the weekend that up to 450 officers were expected participate in, according to a White House official. Recommended Stories What is happening on ground? According to CNN, plans called for as many as 130 FBI agents to patrol with DC police as part of the increased federal presence, according to a one person familiar with the plans, which were first reported by The Washington Post. A primary part of their job will be driving around the city, running license plates for stolen vehicles and warrants, a source familiar told CNN. Its not typical for FBI agents to patrol with local police. Im going to make our Capital safer and more beautiful than it ever was before. The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital," Trump said in social media post on Sunday. The Criminals, you dont have to move out. Were going to put you in jail where you belong." 3 reasons why Trump wants to federalise DC Crime and public safety concerns: Trump has repeatedly cited violent crime, carjackings, and youth violence as justification for federal intervention. He has described the city as totally out of control" and one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the world," despite data showing a significant decline in violent crime and homicides. Homelessness and quality of life" issues: Trump often points to homeless encampments, graffiti, and overall disorderespecially in high-profile areasas reasons why D.C. needs stronger oversight. Image of the national capital: Trump emphasizes that foreign dignitariessuch as Macron, Starmer, and Ximight witness unsightly scenes like tents on the lawns." He wants the capital to reflect law and order and flawless" presentation. Is crime rising in Washington DC? Trump has alleged rising crime in DC. But so far this year, overall crime numbers are lower than last years, according to a preliminary year-to-date crime comparison from DCs Metropolitan Police Department following a similar trend of declining crime rates in major US cities, according to a CNN report. Meanwhile, the local government has largely stayed deferential to the president amid his threats, avoiding the wrath of Trump, who was often at odds with the city during his first term. Five days after Trump began threatening to take over" the city, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser told MSNBC that DC is undergoing a massive spike in crime. She also pointed out that the DC National Guard is the presidents National Guard" and highlighted her shared priorities" with Trump, who she said is interested in being in neighborhoods and fighting crime." The Democratic mayor, who abstained from criticizing the president directly during the interview, thanked federal law enforcement agencies who always work cooperatively with us, and we expect that they will again". What can happen next? In his second term, Trump first suggested a federal takeover of the city in February, saying it should be run with law and order." He renewed his focus on crime in DC last week after Edward Coristine, a former Department of Government Efficiency employee, was assaulted in an attempted carjacking. After that incident, Trump told reporters he is considering having his administration take over the Metropolitan Police Department and bringing in the National Guard. The president also said the administration was going to look at" overturning DC Home Rule which gives certain congressional powers regarding the governance of the district to local government entities, including the mayor and city council. We have to run DC. This has to be the best-run place in the country, not the worst-run place in the country," Trump said Wednesday. The Trump administration can take over the DC police department, which the president has said hes considering, and deploying the National Guard. What the law says Under DC Home Rule, the president can take control of the citys police for 48 hours if he determines that special conditions of an emergency nature exist which require the use of the Metropolitan Police force for Federal purposes." He would then have access to any services of the police department that he may deem necessary and appropriate." Trump can retain control for a longer period if he notifies the chairs and ranking members of the congressional committees that handle legislative matters related to Washington, DC, including the House Committee on Oversight and Reform and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. Any request of over 30 days must be passed into law. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all But for Trump to truly have the federal government take over governing of Washington, he would need Congress to pass legislation, something which would be unlikely in a tightly controlled Senate. With CNN, Agency Inputs About the Author Manjiri Joshi At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ... Read More At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ... Read More First Published: August 11, 2025, 16:18 IST News world Homeless, Move Out Of US Capital: Why Trump Wants A Federal Takeover Of Washington Explained Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... YANGON, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- In Kan Seik, a remote village in Myanmar's Dedaye township in Ayeyarwady region, nights were once completely dark. Families cooked over firewood stoves and relied on flashlights for basic tasks after sunset. For villagers, the idea of having electricity around the clock felt like a distant dream. Now, thanks to a solar mini-grid and a reliable water supply system, funded by Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Special Fund, about 150 homes in Kan Seik village are enjoying steady electricity and clean running water. "Before the solar mini-grid system was completed, we used firewood for cooking. Now, we can use electric cookers. This saves time spent searching for firewood and is also good for the environment," said U Kyi Lin, a member of the Kan Seik Village Electrification Committee. "If we wanted to watch TV, we had to start a generator. Even going to the toilet at night meant using a torchlight. Without electricity, it felt like we were blind," he added. Located far from the nearest town and close to the Andaman Sea, Kan Seik was one of the last places anyone expected to see electrification. According to U Kyi Lin, many nearby villages, even those closer to towns, still live without power. "Now, we have 24-hour electricity. We're always thankful to the governments of Myanmar and China, the countries of the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, and all the stakeholders who made this possible," he said. "Even in towns and cities, the power sometimes goes out. But here, we get electricity all day and night," U Kyi Lin said on Sunday during the ceremony to mark the completion of the project. As of the 2024-2025 fiscal year, only 2,984 of 11,860 villages in the Ayeyarwady region have access to electricity. This included 2,927 villages connected to the national grid and 57 served by mini-grid systems. For the families in Kan Seik, daily life used to be a struggle. Firewood had to be gathered or bought, oil lamps and batteries frequently replaced, and children studied under dim light. "It took so much time and effort. We were tired," said Daw San San Yin, a 43-year-old resident. Everything changed with the completion of the Kan Seik Village Solar Mini-grid Electricity Supply and Water Supply Distribution System Project. With constant electricity, villagers have replaced firewood with electric stoves and ovens. Food can now be stored in refrigerators. Small businesses like welding shops and ice-making units are operating without generators, creating local jobs. Shops have modernized too. Ko Kyaw Lin, 58, who runs a store near the village school, used to bring in ice from other towns. "Now, we have our own refrigerator," he said. "We can store and sell ice packs ourselves." Streetlights have made it safer to walk at night. Students can study under bright lights, and young people are using the internet to learn new skills, he added. Ayeyarwady Region Chief Minister Tin Maung Win said the project, which provides round-the-clock electricity to about 750 residents, is helping strengthen local businesses, contributing to the village's long-term development. He added that having electricity has greatly improved access to education and healthcare, and the new water system would help prevent waterborne diseases, promoting better public health outcomes for the community. Union Minister for Cooperatives and Rural Development U Hla Moe also expressed his deep gratitude to the Chinese government for its generous support, saying that their contribution made the socio-economic development of the village with the project possible. "We sincerely hope for continued partnership in advancing rural development initiatives," he added. How Asim Munir's 'Nuclear Blackmail', Anti-India Rant Expose Real Threat To South Asia Reported By : News18.com Edited By: Oindrila Mukherjee Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 17:02 IST The Pakistani Army Chief's comments are reflective of his country's nuclear sabre rattling from time to time while trying to pass itself off as a responsible nuclear actor Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Asim Munirs latest remarks underscore how dangerous it is to have the nuclear button effectively controlled by the military. (Image: AP/File) Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munirs latest outburst from the US soil making a nuclear threat against India and to take half the world down" is not an isolated slip of the tongue. Munirs comments are the latest in a long and troubling pattern that exposes where the real nuclear instability in South Asia lies: in Rawalpindis General Headquarters and not in any civilian political leadership. They are reflective of Pakistans record of nuclear sabre rattling from time to time while trying to pass itself off as a responsible nuclear actor. Recommended Stories In an address to the Pakistani diaspora in Floridas Tampa, Munir reportedly made the nuclear threat in case his country faced an existential threat in a future war with India. He also warned that Islamabad would destroy Indian infrastructure, if they hit water flow to Pakistan. We are a nuclear nation. If we think we are going down, well take half the world down with us," media reports quoted Munir as saying. He is currently on a visit to the US, his second in two months. ALSO READ | RegrettableMade From A Friendly Country: Govt Reacts To Asim Munirs Anti-India Rant In US A PROLIFERATION RECORD THAT STILL HAUNTS Pakistan has long attempted to portray itself as a responsible nuclear power", but history tells a different story. Abdul Qadeer Khan, known as the father of Pakistans atomic weapons programme", ran an illicit network that transferred nuclear technology to Libya, Iran, and North Korea a proliferation scandal without any parallel. The same state apparatus is now using it as a diplomatic and psychological weapon. FROM RHETORIC TO REAL RISK Munirs latest rhetoric underscores how dangerous it is to have the nuclear button effectively controlled by the military rather than elected civilian leadership. In a functioning democracy, the commander of the armed forces is subordinate to civilian leadership. In Pakistan, it is the opposite. This concentration of power makes provocative statements like Munirs, like policy signals from the highest levels of the countrys real power centre. THE TERROR NEXUS The nuclear threat has not been made in isolation. Weeks before the Pahalgam terror attack, Munir said Pakistan will not forget the issue of Kashmir. It was our jugular vein," he had said, while his comments were trashed by India. He had also said Hindus and Muslims cannot stay together. This was followed by the deadly attack in which people were targeted for their religion and killed at point blank range. AN IRRESPONSIBLE NUCLEAR STATE These developments reinforce what security analysts have long warned against: Pakistan is an irresponsible custodian of nuclear weapons and there is a real danger of these assets or the know-how to use them falling into the hands of non-state actors. The problem becomes acute when the military feels emboldened by foreign support. Historically, whenever the United States has extended an open hand to Pakistani generals, they have responded by baring their aggressive instincts. WHERE IS US ACCOUNTABILITY? This raises a pressing question: will the US hold Pakistan accountable for such provocative and destabilising statements? President Donald Trump has repeatedly spoken about the need to contain nuclear conflict, yet Munirs comments directly contradict that goal. THE LARGER PATTERN AND A WARNING Munirs threats fit a familiar cycle: military leaders tightening their grip on power, sidelining democratic institutions, and using external aggression to bolster their internal standing. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Emboldened by his reception in Washington, the next step could be even more dangerous a silent or open coup and possibly the presidency. The world should take note that this is not just about rhetoric. It is about a nuclear-armed military with a track record of proliferation, terrorism sponsorship, and political dominance and now, a willingness to openly threaten half the world. 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 Location : Islamabad, Pakistan First Published: August 11, 2025, 17:00 IST News world How Asim Munir's 'Nuclear Blackmail', Anti-India Rant Expose Real Threat To South Asia Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... IAF Shot Down Pakistani Aircraft 300 Km Away In Largest-Ever Surface-To-Air Kill Published By : PTI Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 18:55 IST Air Chief Marshal AP Singh revealed that the Indian Air Force downed a large Pakistani aircraft from 300 km away during Operation Sindoor, showcasing India's air superiority. Explosion erupts in Pakistans Bahawalpur following a counter terror operation by India named Operation Sindoor during which terror hideouts inside Pakistan were struck. (IMAGE: X) Air Chief Marshal A P Singhs assertion that Indian Air Force downed a large Pakistani aircraft from a distance of around 300 km, reflected its unprecedented air superiority that dealt a huge" psychological blow to the adversary. This is what military officials said while breaking down nuances of the Air Chief Marshals address in Bengaluru on Saturday where he said India shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and a large special mission aircraft during Operation Sindoor. Recommended Stories The IAF chief described the downing of either an ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) or AEW&C (Airborne Early Warning and Control) aircraft as the largest-ever recorded surface-to-air kill" that we can talk about. It is significant as there is no publicly available information of a surface-to-air missile bringing down such an asset at a distance of 300 kms or beyond," said a senior military official on condition of anonymity. The strike dealt a massive psychological, strategic and tactical blow that will be difficult for Pakistan to overcome, explained another official. If it was an AEW&C aircraft, then the blow was much more significant as every air force globally has a limited number of such aircraft. An AEW&C aircraft provides airspace surveillance and early detection of airborne threats and plays a very important role in an air combat scenario. Pakistan is reported to have six to eight AEW&C aircraft. The kill showed we can reach every corner of Pakistan," he added while elaborating how induction of Russian S-400 air defence missile systems helped India enhance its air dominance. This was not the case during the 2019 Balakot strikes as Pakistani jets came very close to the frontier and mounted a spirited offensive when they came for retaliation. People had questioned Indias air dominance capabilities, said a third officer. Pakistan had briefly captured Group Captain Abhinandan Varthaman after he downed an enemy jet during aerial combat over six years back. Now, it is a different scenario. The S-400 missile systems backed by superior air dominance jets have brought in a different dimension to Indias air power capabilities. Russia has delivered three squadrons of the air defence missile system under a USD 5.43 billion deal inked in 2018. The remaining two squadrons of the S-400 missile system are likely to be delivered within the next one year. The S-400 missile system is a state-of-the-art air defence platform capable of engaging multiple aerial threats at long ranges of up to 450 kms. It is learnt that India is now looking at the option of procuring additional regiments of S-400 missiles to further expand its tactical depth. However, there is another view in the defence circle that India should focus on its ambitious Project Kusha being planned by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Under the programme, India plans to develop a long-range, indigenous air defence system similar to that of the S-400 system. Following the Balakot strikes, people even questioned the efficacy of IAFs attack but this time, the force produced documented proof, said the second official. The officials also pointed out how India managed to hit multiple Pakistani installations while jamming its communication systems. India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terrorist infrastructure in territories controlled by Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The strikes triggered four days of intense clashes that ended with an understanding on stopping the military actions on May 10. New Delhi has been maintaining that Indias fierce counter-attack that day forced Pakistan to plead for ending the hostilities. 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 11, 2025, 11:25 IST News world IAF Shot Down Pakistani Aircraft 300 Km Away In Largest-Ever Surface-To-Air Kill Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... India Like A Mercedes, Pakistan A Dump Truck: Asim Munir's Bizarre Analogy Mocked Online Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 11:51 IST During the same address, Munir also issued threats of nuclear war and promised to take down half the world if Pakistan faced a crisis in a future conflict with India. Pakistan's Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir (Photo: AP) Pakistans Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir, has become the centre of online trolling after presenting a crude analogy", describing India as a shining Mercedes" and his own country as a dump truck full of gravel". During his Florida address, the Pakistani general intended to frame Pakistan as the unstoppable heavyweight in the equation. However, he ended up telling the world that India is a sleek, high-end machine, while drawing his own country as a dump truck. Recommended Stories I am going to use a crude analogy to explain the situation," Munir said. India is shining Mercedes coming on a highway like Ferrari, but we are a dump truck full of gravel. If the truck hits the car, who is going to be the loser?" india is a shining mercedes and pakistan is a dump truck full of gravel" Asim Munirinka field marshal analogy me bhi apne desh ki beizzati karwa raha hai. itna gadhaa koi kaise ho sakta hai? pic.twitter.com/CFxfDbEzOd Open Letter (@openletteryt) August 10, 2025 The gaffe came during a special dinner hosted by Tampa-based businessman Adnan Asad, where Munir also issued threats of nuclear war" and promised to take down half the world" if Pakistan faced an existential crisis in a future conflict with India. He even threw in boasts about Pakistans supposed oil and mineral reserves. Online Trolling Social media, never one to pass up free comedy, erupted. The only truth in Munirs statement is that India is the Mercedes, and his country is the dump truck. The rest is delusion," one X user said. Munir thinks he can threaten nuclear doom from American soil and hide behind US-China skirts. Pakistans military might is a myth held together by duct tape and delusions," wrote another, warning that any reckless move would send Pakistan vanish[ing] into historys dustbin." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all One meme-maker summed it up with a picture of a missile-stacked Mercedes captioned, India is a missile-packed beast that is straight-up deadly. Its gonna wreck you." For someone claiming Pakistan is the one holding the real power, Munir might have just driven his own dump truck" straight into a PR disaster. 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 : Pakistan First Published: August 11, 2025, 11:51 IST News world India Like A Mercedes, Pakistan A Dump Truck: Asim Munir's Bizarre Analogy Mocked Online Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Iran Sends Top Nuclear Scientists Into Hiding As Israel Compiles List Of Future Targets Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 16:20 IST Iran has hidden its nuclear scientists after a conflict with Israel killed 14 top experts. Israel targeted individuals involved in uranium enrichment. The move comes in response to Israeli airstrikes that targeted individuals allegedly involved in Irans uranium enrichment efforts. Iran has moved its remaining nuclear scientists into hiding following a 12-day conflict with Israel in June that reportedly claimed lives of at least 14 of Tehrans top atomic experts, according to a report in The Telegraph. More than 15 senior scientists have been relocated from their homes and universities to secure locations in Tehran or along the northern coast, The Telegraph reported, citing a a senior Iranian official. Recommended Stories The move comes in response to Israeli airstrikes that targeted individuals allegedly involved in Irans uranium enrichment efforts, which Israel claims are part of a nuclear weapons programme. Among those killed were prominent figures like Fereidoun Abbasi, former head of Irans Atomic Energy Organization, and Mohammad Mehdi Tehranchi, head of Islamic Azad University. Universities linked to the scientists were also reportedly struck during the conflict. Israeli intelligence experts have warned that surviving scientists remain in danger. According to the report, Israel has compiled a list of around 100 Iranian scientists considered potential future targets. In response, Iran has replaced academic staff linked to its nuclear programme with individuals who have no known ties to it. The crackdown extends beyond academia. Tehran recently executed nuclear scientist Rouzbeh Vadi on charges of spying for Israels Mossad spy agency and aiding the attacks. According to Iranian state media, Rouzbeh Vadi was executed for allegedly passing sensitive information about Irans nuclear programme to Israel. News agency Reuters cited judiciarys news outlet Mizan as saying that Vadi was on Wednesday convicted of espionage after providing Mossad with intelligence on key nuclear sites and individuals, including a nuclear scientist who was killed in Israeli airstrikes in June. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The deadly conflict majorly targeted Irans senior military leaders, nuclear experts, and critical nuclear facilities, prompting Iran to respond strongly with missile and drone attacks on Israel. The regime has since launched a crackdown on spies, arresting hundreds and expelling over a million Afghan refugees suspected of being Israeli informants. Iran has executed at least eight individuals this year for allegedly spying for Israel. About the Author Manisha Roy Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manisha.Roy@nw18... Read More Location : Tehran, Iran First Published: August 11, 2025, 16:12 IST News world Iran Sends Top Nuclear Scientists Into Hiding As Israel Compiles List Of Future Targets Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Killed In Gaza Strike, Al Jazeera Journalist's 'Last Will' Posted Online: 'Don't Forget...' Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 10:04 IST In the post, Anas al-Sharif urged Gazans not to be silenced and called on them to be bridges toward the liberation of the country and its people Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif Al Jazeera reporter Anas al-Sharif, who was among five journalists killed in an Israeli strike near Gaza Citys Al-Shifa Hospital, left a final message, calling on people not to forget Gaza. Hours after his death, a lengthy message described as his last will and testament", appeared on his social media account, reportedly posted by a friend after his death was confirmed. Recommended Stories This is my last will and testament, my final message. If these words of mine reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice. Peace, mercy, and blessings of God be upon you. God knows that I have exerted all my effort and strength to be a support and voice for my people, ever since I opened my eyes to life in the alleys and neighborhoods of Jabalia refugee camp," the post read. . . Anas Al-Sharif (@AnasAlSharif0) August 10, 2025 The 28-year-old journalist expressed a wish to return to his family in occupied Ashkelon (al-Majdal), but wrote that Gods will was supreme and his judgement was final." He reflected on the repeated losses he had endured and vowed he had never hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without falsification or distortion." In the post, al-Sharif urged Gazans not to be silenced and called on them to be bridges toward the liberation of the country and its people, so that the sun of dignity and freedom may shine upon our usurped homeland." He also appealed for care for his wife, children, and mother, writing, If I die, I die steadfast in my principles Do not forget Gaza. And do not forget me in your righteous prayers for forgiveness and acceptance." Alongside al-Sharif, Al Jazeera said correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Moamen Aliwa, and Mohammed Noufal were killed in the same strike. The announcement was delivered live on air by a visibly emotional anchor. Following the attack, the Israeli military acknowledged targeting the group, describing al-Sharif as a Hamas terrorist" and claiming he served as the head of a terrorist cell in Hamas" and was involved in rocket attacks. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said intelligence and documents from Gaza proved his affiliation. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemned the killings, calling them a bloody crime" and an act of assassination. 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 : Palestine First Published: August 11, 2025, 10:04 IST News world Killed In Gaza Strike, Al Jazeera Journalist's 'Last Will' Posted Online: 'Don't Forget...' Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'Don't Laugh At India': Sri Lankan MP Defends New Delhi Amid US Tariff Blow Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 13:55 IST Sri Lankan MP Harish Silva urged lawmakers not to mock India over its trade dispute with the US, recalling that India had helped Sri Lanka in its time of need. A photo of Donald Trump (AP) Sri Lankan parliamentarian Harish Silva has urged fellow lawmakers to be respectful towards India amid its ongoing tensions with Washington over US tariff rates. Speaking during a debate on the impact of US tariffs, Silva said, Lets not talk about the US tariffs here. Dont laugh at India. Dont mock them when they are down because when we were down, they were the only ones to lend us a hand." Recommended Stories He added that Sri Lanka had also anticipated a reduction in US tariffs to 15 per cent, mirroring Indias expectations. We witnessed you guys laughing, dont laugh," he said. India expected the US tariffs to come down to 15 per cent, we also expected the same," Silva noted, emphasising the importance of maintaining respect for India in difficult times. After imposing a staggering 50 per cent duty on Indian goods, US President Donald Trump has also ruled out any trade talks between the two countries until the tariff issue is resolved. No, not until we get it resolved," Trump said in the Oval Office last week, in response to a question on whether he expects more trade negotiations with India after doubling the tariffs on Indian imports to 50 per cent. A prominent American Congressman Representative Gregory Meeks, a Democrat, meanwhile, said Trumps latest tariff tantrum risks years of careful work to build a stronger US-India partnership. Over the last few months, India and the US have held several rounds of negotiations for a bilateral trade deal, but it could not be sealed in view of sharp divergences in certain critical areas, including agriculture and dairy. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The next round of bilateral talks for an initial trade agreement was scheduled to be held on August 25 in New Delhi, two days before the 25 per cent penalty on India, which is on top of a 25 per cent tariff, for continued purchase of Russian oil kicks in. ALSO READ | Nitin Gadkari Stresses Self-Reliance Amid US Tariff Offensive About the Author Vani Mehrotra Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks. First Published: August 11, 2025, 13:53 IST News world 'Don't Laugh At India': Sri Lankan MP Defends New Delhi Amid US Tariff Blow Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... 'This Is Liberation Day': Trump Puts DC Police Under Federal Control, Deploys Military Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 22:03 IST Trump said he will send in military and federal law enforcement to support local policing efforts US President Donald Trump, alongside Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth (L) and Attorney General Pam Bondi (R) at the White House in Washington. (AFP photo) US President Donald Trump on Monday announced that he is placing the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control and deploying the National Guard to tackle violent crime in the nations capital. Speaking at a White House news conference, Trump said the move was necessary to make our capital safer." Recommended Stories This is Liberation Day in DC, and were going to take our capital back," he declared. President Trump announces he is invoking the D.C. Home Rule Act to place the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control and deploy the National Guard.This is Liberation Day in D.C. and were going to take our capital BACK." pic.twitter.com/aqov60mrCW Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 11, 2025 Trump Blasts Local Authorities Trump said he will send in military and federal law enforcement to support local policing efforts. The president criticised local authorities, saying police and prosecutors in the city, which has a population of around 700,000, are not tough enough on crime. The Republican leader has long claimed that Washington is overwhelmed by crime, homelessness, and poor management, despite official data showing violent crime has fallen in recent years after a post-pandemic rise. Trumps new approach mirrors his previous policies, including his hardline immigration stance that deployed troops to the southern border and sent active-duty military against protesters in Los Angeles. About 500 Federal Agents Deployed Around 500 federal law enforcement officers, including more than 100 FBI agents and about 40 agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, are being assigned to patrol duties in Washington, a source told The Associated Press. Officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the US Marshals Service are also taking part in the deployment, the source added. Trump Eyes NYC, Chicago Next The US President also suggested the federal takeover could expand to other cities struggling with crime, naming New York and Chicago as examples. Unlike US states, Washington, DC, operates under a unique system where Congress holds significant control over local affairs, including the citys budget. The Home Rule Act, passed in the mid-1970s, allows residents to elect a mayor and city council but limits the citys autonomy. Ahead of Mondays announcement, Trump posted on social media his plans to stop violent crime" and clear homeless encampments, following an order last month easing arrests of homeless people. In a post on Truth Social, he urged homeless individuals to move out" of the city, promising they would be provided with places to stay," but FAR from the Capital." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Trump vowed swift action against criminals, saying, Washington, D.C., must be safe, clean, and beautiful for all Americans and, importantly, for the World to see." (With inputs from AFP) 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 11, 2025, 20:51 IST News world 'This Is Liberation Day': Trump Puts DC Police Under Federal Control, Deploys Military Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Trump Confirms Zelensky Will Not Attend Alaska Talks With Putin On Ukraine Ceasefire Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 22:39 IST Donald Trump confirmed Volodymyr Zelensky won't attend his meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Talks aim to explore a Ukraine ceasefire. Zelensky denied giving up Donetsk. Under Trump, America risks collapsing from the inside out, writes the author. (Reuters File) Donald Trump has confirmed that Volodymyr Zelensky will not be present at his meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska later this week. The two leaders will hold talks on Friday aimed at exploring the possibility of a ceasefire in Ukraine. Recommended Stories This follows statements from European leaders, including Keir Starmer, who stressed that the path to peace for Kyiv cannot be decided without Ukraine," and that the current line of contact between Russia and Ukraine should serve only as the starting point of negotiations." Ahead of the summit, the US President suggested a peace deal could include some swapping of territories", with reports suggesting this could involve Ukraine giving up its Donetsk region a claim Zelenskyy strongly denied, LBC News reported. Of course, we will not give Russia awards for what it has done. The Ukrainian people deserve peace," the Ukrainian leader said. The answer to the Ukrainian territorial question is already 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. 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," he added. When asked if Sir Keir Starmer believes the Russian President can be trusted in negotiations, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said the UK supports Kyiv and the US Presidents efforts for peace, but not Moscow. Never trust President Putin as far as you could throw him, but we obviously will support Ukraine. We will obviously support President Trump and European nations as we enter these negotiations."But it is exactly why weve been leading this work on the coalition of the willing, because any ceasefire, as I say, cannot just be an opportunity for President Putin to go away, re-arm, restrengthen, and then go again. So were not going to leave it to trust. Were going to ensure that were prepared such that we achieve a ceasefire," he said on Monday. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all In a joint statement issued on Saturday, the leaders of Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland, and the European Commission affirmed that Ukraine has the sovereign right to determine its own future, adding that meaningful negotiations can only occur under a ceasefire or a reduction in 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." Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: August 11, 2025, 22:39 IST News world Trump Confirms Zelensky Will Not Attend Alaska Talks With Putin On Ukraine Ceasefire Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Trump Presses Xi To Boost Soybean Purchases To Address Chinas Domestic Shortage Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 09:17 IST US President Donald Trump on Monday urged China to increase its purchases of American soybeans, framing it as a way to address Beijings domestic shortages US President Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with China's President Xi Jinping. (AP file photo) US President Donald Trump on Monday urged China to increase its purchases of American soybeans, framing it as a way to address Beijings domestic shortages and reduce its trade surplus with the United States. China is worried about its shortage of soybeans. Our great farmers produce the most robust soybeans. I hope China will quickly quadruple its soybean orders. This is also a way of substantially reducing Chinas Trade Deficit with the USA. Rapid service will be provided. Thank you President XI," Trump said. Recommended Stories China is worried about its shortage of soybeans. Our great farmers produce the most robust soybeans. I hope China will quickly quadruple its soybean orders. This is also a way of substantially reducing Chinas Trade Deficit with the USA. Rapid service will be provided. Thank you Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) August 11, 2025 The remarks come against the backdrop of long-standing tariff disputes between the two countries, particularly during Trumps current presidency, when Washington imposed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods. Beijing retaliated with its own duties, including on US agricultural products such as soybeans, a key American export and a major component of Chinas animal feed supply chain. Due to steep tariffs on US soybeans, reports suggest Chinese traders have scaled back imports from the United States, citing higher prices driven by the duties. During the 20182020 trade war, US soybean sales to China plunged, prompting Washington to roll out multi-billion-dollar aid packages to support American farmers. The situation eased somewhat after the 2020 Phase One" trade deal, under which China committed to increasing purchases of US agricultural goods, though it ultimately fell short of the agreed targets. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Soybeans remain one of the most politically sensitive products in USChina trade relations, both for their economic value and their impact on agricultural states that form a key part of Trumps political base. Trumps latest comments signal continued pressure on Beijing to boost imports, as global food supply chains remain volatile amid geopolitical challenges. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: August 11, 2025, 09:06 IST News world Trump Presses Xi To Boost Soybean Purchases To Address Chinas Domestic Shortage Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... HANOI, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Vietnamese government will grant visa-free entry for citizens from 12 countries for tourism purposes, regardless of their passport types, Vietnam News Agency reported Monday. The initiative is part of the country's ongoing efforts to promote tourism. The visa exemptions will apply to citizens of Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland. The policy will be in effect from Aug. 15, 2025 to Aug. 14, 2028. According to the National Statistics Office, Vietnam welcomed 12.23 million international visitors in the first seven months of this year, marking a 22.5 percent increase year-on-year. US Designates Baloch Liberation Army And Majeed Brigade As Foreign Terrorist Organisations Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 23:21 IST The Department of State designated The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, The Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The flag of the USA. (AI generated Image) The Department of State designated The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, The Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) on Monday and added the Majeed Brigade as an alias to BLAs previous Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) designation. The BLA was designated as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) group in 2019 after carrying out multiple terrorist attacks. Since then, it has claimed responsibility for further assaults, including those by its Majeed Brigade. In 2024, the group claimed it conducted suicide bombings near Karachi Airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex. In 2025, the BLA said it was behind the March hijacking of the Jaffar Express train from Quetta to Peshawar, which left 31 civilians and security personnel dead and over 300 passengers taken hostage. Recommended Stories The Department of States action today underscores the Trump Administrations commitment to countering terrorism. Terrorist designations play a critical role in our fight against this scourge and are an effective way to curtail support for terrorist activities. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Todays actions are being carried out under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, and Executive Order 13224, as amended. The FTO designations will take effect once they are published in the Federal Register. Location : United States of America (USA) First Published: August 11, 2025, 23:21 IST News world US Designates Baloch Liberation Army And Majeed Brigade As Foreign Terrorist Organisations Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... US Supreme Court Urged To Revisit 2015 Ruling Legalising Same-Sex Marriage Curated By : Trending Desk Last Updated: August 12, 2025, 00:39 IST In her recent appeal to the Supreme Court, Davis is contesting the $100,000 jury verdict. It remains uncertain whether the Supreme Court will take up the case (Pexels/Representative Image) The US Supreme Court legalised same-sex marriage in 2015 following its landmark ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges. Now, nearly a decade after that historic decision, the nations highest court is being urged to revisit the ruling. Kim Davis, a former county clerk from Kentucky, has submitted a petition asking the Court to consider granting her protection from personal liability under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, reported ABC. Davis made national headlines in 2015 when she was jailed for six days after refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, citing her religious beliefs. At the time, she was the only official authorised under Kentucky law to issue marriage licenses in Rowan County. When she denied a marriage certificate to David Ermold and David Moore, a lower court ordered her to pay $100,000 in damages for infringing on their constitutional rights. Recommended Stories In her recent appeal to the Supreme Court, Davis is contesting the $100,000 jury verdict and is also seeking $260,000 in emotional damages and attorneys fees. Her claims had previously been dismissed by lower courts. A federal appeals court panel earlier this year ruled against her, stating that the former clerk cannot raise the First Amendment as a defence because she is being held liable for state action, which the First Amendment does not protect." It remains uncertain whether the Supreme Court will take up the case. The justices are expected to consider if they will take the matter during a private conference at the end of September. Should the Court agree to hear the case, oral arguments would likely take place in the spring of 2026, with a final decision anticipated by the end of June. Im hoping that well obviously get justice in this case for Kim Davis but that the religious accommodation that she obtained for all clerks," said Matt Staver, Davis legal representative, in a statement to Scripps News. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all Meanwhile, William Powell, attorney for David Ermold and David Moore, expressed confidence in the current legal outcome. In a statement to ABC, he noted, Not a single judge on the US Court of Appeals showed any interest in Davis rehearing petition, and we are confident the Supreme Court will likewise agree that her arguments do not merit further attention." In her petition, Davis further argues that the Court should treat the issue of same-sex marriage similarly to how it addressed abortion in its 2022 ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade. This is the first time that someone has challenged the same-sex marriage ruling after it was announced in 2015. Location : New York, United States of America (USA) First Published: August 12, 2025, 00:39 IST News world US Supreme Court Urged To Revisit 2015 Ruling Legalising Same-Sex Marriage Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... US Trying To 'Figure Out Scheduling' For Trump-Putin-Zelensky Meeting, Says JD Vance Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 20:30 IST Vance said the US was hoping to secure a negotiated settlement that the Ukrainians and Russians can live with US Vice President JD Vance. (File photo) The United States is working to organise a meeting between President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Vice President JD Vance revealed during a broadcast interview on Sunday. Vance said the US was hoping to secure a negotiated settlement that the Ukrainians and Russians can live with." Recommended Stories One of the most important logjams is that Vladimir Putin said that he would never sit down with (Volodymyr) Zelensky, the head of Ukraine, and the president has now got that to change," Vance told Fox News. Were at a point now where were trying to figure out, frankly, scheduling and things like that around when these three leaders could sit down and discuss an end to this conflict," he added, referring to the upcoming USRussia summit in Alaska on 15 August. The US Vice President further cautioned that such an outcome might leave both sides dissatisfied. Its not going to make anybody super happy, both the Russians and the Ukrainians probably at the end of the day are going to be unhappy with it," he said. The possible absence of Zelensky from the Alaska summit has raised concerns among European allies that any agreement could pressure Ukraine to cede territory, an outcome firmly opposed by the European Union. Separately, US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker appeared on CNN to suggest that Zelensky could indeed attend the summit, describing it as possible and important. There certainly cant be a deal that everybody thats involved in it doesnt agree to," he said. Its a high priority to get this war to end." In a display of diplomatic urgency, Zelensky has held calls with leaders from Germany, Britain, France and ten other countries in recent days. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Sunday that he both hoped and assumed the Ukrainian president would attend the summit. Whitaker confirmed that the decision will rest with President Trump. If he thinks that that is the best scenarioto invite Zelenskythen he will do that," he noted, while acknowledging that no decision has been made to this point." top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, launched in February 2022, has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions, making the potential trilateral talks a critical moment for peace efforts. (With inputs from AFP) 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 : United States of America (USA) First Published: August 11, 2025, 20:28 IST News world US Trying To 'Figure Out Scheduling' For Trump-Putin-Zelensky Meeting, Says JD Vance Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Who Was Anas al-Sharif? Al Jazeera Journalist Labelled As 'Hamas Terrorist' By Israeli Forces Curated By : News18.com Last Updated: August 11, 2025, 07:53 IST Anas al-Sharif was killed in an Israeli strike, just minutes after he posted videos of the the Israeli bombardment on X. Anas Al Sharif was among a group of five Al Jazeera journalists killed in Gaza. Anas al-Sharif was among a group of five Al Jazeera journalists who died in a strike on a tent in the eastern Gaza City. Shortly after the strike, the Israeli military released a statement and labelled Anas al-Sharif as a terrorist", saying he had served as the head of a terrorist cell in Hamas". Anas al-Sharif was killed in an Israeli strike, just minutes after he posted videos of the the Israeli bombardment on X. His final post read, Relentless bombardment. For two hours, the Israeli aggression has intensified on Gaza City." Recommended Stories According to Al Jazeera, the 28-year-old journalist was killed when a tent used by journalists outside the main gate of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City was struck in an Israeli strike. Who Was Anas al-Sharif? Anas al-Sharif was a well-known Gaza-based journalist who reported extensively from the northern part of the Strip for Al Jazeera. He was a graduate of the Faculty of Media at Al-Aqsa University in Gaza City and had received the Best Young Journalist Award in Palestine in 2018 for his reporting. In July, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee posted a video on social media accusing Al-Sharif of being a member of Hamas armed wing. Al Jazeera Rejects Israels Claims However, Al Jazeera Media Network has rejected the claim and accused Israel of running a campaign of incitement" against its journalists. top videos View all Swipe Left For Next Video View all The network strongly condemns and denounces these relentless efforts, which have consistently incited against its staff since the beginning of its coverage of the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza. The Network considers this incitement a dangerous attempt to justify the targeting of its journalists in the field," Al Jazeera said. About the Author Mahima Joshi Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a... Read More Mahima Joshi, Sub-Editor at News18.com, works with the India and Breaking team. Covering national stories and bringing breaking news to the table are her forte. She is deeply interested in Indian politics and a... Read More Location : Israel First Published: August 11, 2025, 07:53 IST News world Who Was Anas al-Sharif? Al Jazeera Journalist Labelled As 'Hamas Terrorist' By Israeli Forces Disclaimer: Comments reflect users views, not News18s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments... Miroslav Jenca, UN assistant secretary-general for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, speaks at a Security Council meeting at the UN headquarters in New York, on Aug. 10, 2025. Jenca warned Sunday that Israel's decision to take over Gaza City may trigger another calamity in Gaza. (Evan Schneider/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua) UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- A UN official warned Sunday that Israel's decision to take over Gaza City may trigger another calamity in Gaza. "We are already witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe of unimaginable scale in Gaza," said Miroslav Jenca, UN assistant secretary-general for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas. "If these (Israeli) plans are implemented, they will likely trigger another calamity in Gaza, reverberating across the region and causing further forced displacement, killings, and destruction, compounding the unbearable suffering of the population." For now, there are limited official details of Israel's military plans. However, according to Israeli media reports, the government foresees the displacement of all civilians from Gaza City by Oct. 7, 2025, affecting some 800,000 people, many of them previously displaced. Reports indicate that the Israel Defense Forces would then surround the city for three months. This would then reportedly be followed by an additional two months to seize control of central Gaza's camps and clear the entire area of Palestinian armed groups, Jenca told a meeting of the Security Council. "The UN has been unequivocal: the only way to stop the immense human suffering in Gaza is through a full, immediate, and permanent ceasefire," he said. All hostages must be released immediately and unconditionally. Israel must comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law, allowing rapid, safe, unimpeded and large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid to the population. Civilians, including humanitarian workers and those seeking aid, must be protected, he said. There is no military solution to the armed conflict in Gaza or the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict, said Jenca. "There will be no sustainable solution without an end to Israel's unlawful occupation and the achievement of a viable two-state solution. Gaza is, and must remain, an integral part of a Palestinian state," he said. The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has called out government for failing to address rising unemployment in the country. The trade unionists said the recent ban on street and night vending, which is a result of unemployment, only exacerbated the economic crisis and left many workers without means to earn a living. ZCTU expressed concern over a directive issued by Local Government and Public Works minister Daniel Garwe banning night and street vending, including the selling of second-hand clothing. It said the ban would exacerbate the unemployment that government had failed to address. The National Development Strategy 1 had envisioned creating 760 000 jobs for the period 2020-25; however, this has not been the case. The smaller percentage employed is barely receiving a living wage and is subsiding salaries with vending. Therefore, vending is not only an option but a reaction to high unemployment, acting ZCTU secretary-general Anesu Dzimiri said. She said the sector employed the majority of citizens, adding that an outright ban without a solution could cause a national economic crisis. This drastic move without an alternative is not favourable for the people of Zimbabwe. Around 88% of the population is working in the informal economy. Dzimiri said. The chaos we are witnessing on the streets is not merely defiance of public policy and town planning but a public outcry to the deep economic crisis, poverty and a lack of sustainable incomes they are facing. ZCTU, however, acknowledged that night and street vending hurt domestic resource mobilisation, causing disorder in town and posing a health risk due to poor waste disposal. Banning it is not a solution, government should deal with the root cause. The streets are congested with millions of graduates from tertiary institutions because the economy has failed to create enough jobs to absorb job seekers, owing to the collapse of industry, unemployment and the high cost of living are also factors forcing citizens into night vending, she said. Dzimiri applauded the establishment of vending stalls in Mbare, but expressed concern over the accessibility of the stalls for both the vendors and customers. We note and appreciate the establishment of vending stalls in places like Mbare and other sites as a great move. However, issues of accessibility to these sites are a barrier discouraging people from going and occupying those stalls. Night vending is popular because those who will be coming from work can easily pass by and buy from vendors as opposed to the established stall where the working class has to travel there or wait for weekends. Local authorities need to learn and apply the City of Mutare model, whereby it identified areas for night vending and established such places for licensed vendors. This assists in controlling waste disposal, poor sanitation and also boosts revenue for the local authority that assists in enhancing service delivery. ZCTU called on government to regulate night vending by identifying areas that could be used for such, while allocating places on payment of a gazetted figure that will be ring-fenced to ensure good waste disposal, good sanitation, and to maintain a clean and safe environment. Government should prioritise job creation as envisioned in the National Development Strategy 1 as a sustainable way of removing people from the streets, as they will be employed. Government should gazette a national minimum living wage that is above the poverty datum line so that those employed do not alternate with street vending. Street night vending provides critical income for many families and government's approach fails to address the underlying causes of poverty. Newsday Get the news faster. Tap to install our app. Access Newser even faster. Click here to install our app on your desktop. X Colombian conservative senator and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay died Monday, more than two months after being shot in the head during a campaign rally in western Bogota. His wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, confirmed the 39-year-old's death early Monday, reports the AP . Uribe Turbay was critically wounded on June 7 during a campaign rally in the country's capital, suffering gunshot wounds to the head and leg. He underwent emergency surgery, multiple surgeries thereafter, and remained hospitalized in intensive care until his death. He had experienced bleeding in the brain over the weekend as his condition deteriorated, notes the New York Times . "You will always be the love of my life," Uribe's wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, wrote on Instagram. "Wait for me, because when I fulfill my promise to our children, I will come looking for you and we will have our second chance." A 14-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene of the shooting in June, and authorities have since detained three adults and charged them with using a minor to commit a crime. The incident has raised renewed concerns about political violence in the country. An Islamic court in Indonesia's conservative Aceh province on Monday sentenced two men to public caning, 80 times each, after Islamic religious police caught them engaged in what the court deemed were sexual acts: hugging and kissing. The trial at the Islamic Shariah District Court in Banda Aceh, the provincial capital, was held behind closed doors, per the AP . Judges have the authority to limit public access in such a case and open it only for the verdict. The two men, aged 20 and 21, were arrested in April after residents saw them entering the same bathroom at Taman Sari city park and reported it to police patrolling the area. The police broke into the toilet and caught the men kissing and hugging, which the court considered to be a sexual act. The lead judge, Rokhmadi M. Hum, said the two college students were "legally and convincingly" proven to have violated Islamic law by committing acts that lead to gay sexual relations. The court didn't publicly identify the men. Prosecutors previously sought 85 strokes of the cane for each, but the three-judge panel decided on what they described as lenient punishment because the men were outstanding students who were polite in court, cooperated with authorities, and had no previous convictions. The judges also ordered the time they have served to be deducted from their sentence. It means the number of lashes will be reduced by four as they have been detained for four months. The prosecutor, Alfian, who like many Indonesians uses only a single name, said he was not satisfied with the lighter sentence. But he said he will not appeal. Aceh is the only province in Muslim-majority Indonesia allowed to observe a version of Islamic law. It allows up to 100 lashes for morality offenses including gay sex. Caning is also punishment for adultery, gambling, drinking, and for women who wear tight clothes and men who skip Friday prayers. Indonesia's secular central government granted Aceh the right to implement the law in 2006 as part of a peace deal to end a separatist war. Aceh implemented an expansion in 2015 that extended the law to non-Muslims, who account for about 1% of the province's population. In a wide-ranging interview with Vanity Fair , Jennifer Aniston touches on the drug-related death of Friends co-star Matthew Perry. "We did everything we could when we could," the 56-year-old says of her and mutual friends' efforts to help Perry beat his addiction. On a lighter topic, the piece notes that Aniston has a weekly dinner with close friends including Jason Bateman and Jimmy Fallon and their families. Bateman is asked about Aniston's love interests, given that she has not been publicly linked to anyone serious in several years. "It's not surprising to me that she's not some serial dater, not because she's overly picky or snobby," he says. "You don't need to be some superhero to grab her attention. If you are comfortable in your skin, she gravitates to you. The challenge is for a guy to see past her fame and charisma and presence and beautyto not be distracted by thatand tune into the stuff at the deep core." Read the full interview. President Trump said Monday that Russia and Ukraine must agree to "land swapping" in order to end their war, reports the BBC. However, he didn't provide details, and both the BBC and Reuters point out that while Russia holds a large swath of Ukrainian territory in the east, Ukraine holds almost no Russian land. Trump spoke to reporters days ahead of his one-on-one summit with Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, which he described as a "feel-out meeting." TEHRAN, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. participation in Israel's attack against Iran has eroded Tehran's trust in Washington to "below zero," said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Monday. He made the remarks when responding to a question about Iran's preconditions for the resumption of nuclear negotiations with the United States at a weekly press conference. "We have no trust in the United States ... Israel's attack on Iran amid the (indirect Iran-U.S.) negotiations and the U.S. participation in the attack later have basically left no room for having even zero trust (in Washington)," Baghaei said. He noted that Iran had not made any decision yet about the resumption of negotiations with the United States, noting that talks and exchange of messages between the two sides continued through mediators. Baghaei also condemned U.S. sanctions, saying it has weakened international rules and regulations in the area of free trade. On June 13, two days prior to the sixth round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, Israel launched major airstrikes on several areas in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing senior commanders, nuclear scientists and many civilians. Iran responded with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks on Israel. On June 22, U.S. forces bombed the three Iranian nuclear facilities of Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. In retaliation, Iran struck the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Following the 12-day war, a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was achieved on June 24. A Chinese warship collided with its own coast guard vessel while chasing a Philippine ship near the disputed Scarborough Shoal on Monday, increasing tensions in an area of the South China Sea where China and the Philippines already are engaged in a maritime standoff. Commodore Jay Tarriela of the Philippine coast guard said his crew was distributing aid to local fishermen when the Chinese coast guard executed what he called a risky maneuver, causing "substantial damage" to the Chinese warship's forward deck, the BBC reports. Video released by Manila shows a Chinese ship spraying water at the Philippine vessel, then abruptly striking a larger Chinese warship. The damaged warship was left unseaworthy, according to Philippine authorities, though it's unclear if anyone was injured. A spokesperson for China's coast guard said its patrols "took all necessary measures, including tracking, monitoring, blocking, and controlling, to drive the Philippine vessels away," per the Washington Post. The two countries frequently trade accusations of maritime provocations. Previous encounters in the area have involved water cannons and, more recently, hand-to-hand skirmishes with bladed weapons. Manila has repeatedly called on Beijing to respect international maritime conventions, per the BBC, warning that such tactics could spark more accidents. The Scarborough Shoal was seized by China in 2012. QUITO, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Eight people were killed and three others injured Sunday when a group of armed gunmen opened fire on a crowd outside a nightclub in Santa Lucia, a city in Ecuador's western province of Guayas, local media reported. The armed gunmen arrived at the nightclub early Sunday in two cars and opened fire on those present, according to a media report. Police said one of those killed, Jorge Urquizo, was the brother of the city's mayor, Ubaldo Urquizo. The province of Guayas has seen a sharp rise in violent crime, driven largely by gang activity. On Aug. 6, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declared a state of emergency for 60 days in four provinces, including Guayas and Manabi, citing serious internal unrest. HOKKAIDO, Aug 11 (News On Japan) - The Ainu, an indigenous group native to Hokkaido and other areas, were conscripted to serve as Japanese soldiers during WWII. Despite enduring severe discrimination, their complex feelings toward this reality are still felt today. In May of this year, during the Osaka Kansai Expo, a performance by the Ainu people was showcased. The theme of the performance, Ureshimo Shiri, meaning "the earth we live on together," was explained by the general director, Akibe Debo, from the Ainu community in Hokkaido. He described it as a celebration of how nature, from the mountains and wind to lakes and waves, all supports life. He emphasized that this philosophy underlines that war should not exist, highlighting the importance of peace. However, the history of the Ainu has been inextricably linked with war and discrimination. The Meiji government confiscated Ainu lands, banned activities such as hunting and fishing, and enforced policies that led to their cultural erosion. Under the guise of protection, the government allocated them poor land, pushing for a policy of assimilation. The Ainu endured systemic racism and lost much of their cultural heritage. In Hokkaidos Minami-Awaji City, where Ainu traditions are still evident, many Ainu people recall personal experiences of discrimination. For instance, Keita Hamada, a man from the area, recalled how, over 50 years ago, he was ordered by his teacher to shave his hair. I didnt want to do it, but as a fifth grader, I had no choice, he reflected. The discrimination was not just limited to teachers; it was pervasive throughout his community, even when he excelled academically. The Ainus struggle didnt end at home; they were sent to the frontlines during WWII. One such conscript, a 20-year-old Ainu soldier, was dispatched to Manchuria. Upon his return, he shared his painful experiences of being publicly humiliated by his comrades due to his ethnicity. He was called derogatory names, and mocked for his roots. Similar stories can be found among Ainu soldiers. In 1994, an interview with an Ainu man who had been stationed at a former battleground in Chitose revealed the intense discrimination he faced from his superiors. He recalled being treated violently, simply for being Ainu. This harsh treatment extended to other ethnic minorities in the Japanese military. The Ainu, along with groups such as the Uilta from Sakhalin, were exploited for their physical abilities and knowledge, often sent to carry out dangerous tasks or spy missions. Despite this, the Ainu soldier, Hamada, managed to earn recognition in the military for his achievements. He worked diligently and proved himself, rising from a private to a sergeant. We fought to gain respect, to show that we could accomplish something despite the prejudices, he said. However, the Ainu's participation in the war did not result in the equality they hoped for. According to Mark Ince, a researcher at the National Museum of Ethnology, many Ainu soldiers sought equality through their service, but the harsh realities of colonization and historical oppression overshadowed their ambitions. The role of the Ainu in WWII is also memorialized in Okinawa. Despite being far from their homeland in Hokkaido, many Ainu soldiers fought and died in the Battle of Okinawa. Of the 20,000 soldiers who perished in the battle, around 1,000 were from Hokkaido. In 1966, a memorial called the Northern Tower was erected in Okinawa to honor the fallen, including Ainu soldiers. In recent years, efforts have been made to revive Ainu traditions in Okinawa, including the performance of the Icharupa ceremony, which had ceased for 20 years. On June 23, 2025, during the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Okinawa, Ainu representatives and Okinawan locals together performed the Icharupa ceremony at the Northern Tower, a poignant moment in the long history of Ainu contributions to the war effort and their quest for peace. The historical events surrounding the Ainu's involvement in WWII are largely forgotten, and in modern times, their identity is often denied or marginalized. This was highlighted by recent hate comments on social media that claimed the Ainu no longer exist. Additionally, some politicians have attempted to rewrite history, particularly regarding Okinawas wartime experience, which includes the Ainu soldiers' sacrifices. Source: TBS Dress up your meal with Shania's Sides, launching nation-wide tomorrow August 12, while supplies last TORONTO, Aug. 11, 2025 /CNW/ - Get ready, Canada! McDonald's Canada and Shania Twain are turning up the flavour on two fan favourites, because you're never too dressed up to go to McDonald's and when you add a touch of style, even the best, feel-good moments get a delightful upgrade. For a limited time, McDonald's classics are getting all dressed up, Shania's way, with fan-favourite menu items and a keepsake that brings her flair. The campaign features two fan-favourite menu items and an exclusive premium: Dress up your meal with Shanias Sides, launching nation-wide tomorrow August 12, while supplies last (CNW Group/McDonald's Canada) All Dressed McShaker Fries: Our World Famous Fries, made from 100% Canadian potatoes, just got a flavour makeover. Coated in the iconic All Dressed seasoning Canadians know and love, they've been shaken into something irresistibly bold. Simply drop it in the bag, give it a shake, and let Shania Twain help you turn up the flavour Our World Famous Fries, made from 100% Canadian potatoes, just got a flavour makeover. Coated in the iconic All Dressed seasoning Canadians know and love, they've been shaken into something irresistibly bold. Simply drop it in the bag, give it a shake, and let Shania Twain help you turn up the flavour Strawberry Pie: Sweet, stylish, and baked daily to impress, this golden pie wraps real strawberry pieces in a warm, flaky golden brown crust making this the sweetest addition to any meal. Sweet, stylish, and baked daily to impress, this golden pie wraps real strawberry pieces in a warm, flaky golden brown crust making this the sweetest addition to any meal. Cowboy Boot Keychain: A playful, limited-edition keepsake that fans can style their own way by clipping it onto a tote, adding it to your keys, or wearing it as a bag charm. Available with the purchase of an Extra Value Meal*, while supplies last. Shania Twain: From McDonald's Crew Member to Global Icon For Shania, the collaboration is more than just a campaign, it's a full-circle moment. Before becoming a global country superstar, Shania worked as a McDonald's crew member in Toronto, making this partnership a heartfelt nod to her roots. "This collaboration feels like a homecoming for me," said Shania Twain. "I fell in love with McDonald's fries while working as a crew member in Toronto, so being able to dress them up with my personal touch was surreal. Whether you're enjoying your All Dressed McShaker Fries, or gearing up for a big moment, life is just more exciting when you're all dressed up." A Celebration of Canadian Icons After a standout summer of Canadian appearances, including her role as Parade Marshall at the Calgary Stampede, Shania Twain is wrapping up her tour with a new kind of spotlight: a partnership with McDonald's Canada. It's a fun, confident collaboration between two Canadian icons that celebrates everything fans love about both. "We're turning up the flavour and the fun with this deliciously stylish collaboration," said Francesca Cardarelli, Chief Marketing Officer, McDonald's Canada. "From our bold All Dressed McShaker Fries to that keepsake Cowboy Boot Keychain, this campaign is a feel-good, all-dressed-up moment that celebrates Canadian favourites with a whole lot of flair. So, when you visit your local restaurant to pick up your Shania's Sides tell them Shania sent you!" Dress up your order with Shania's Sides, available exclusively at participating McDonald's restaurants across Canada starting August 12, 2025. Available in-restaurant, through the McDonald's app, or via McDelivery, these special sides celebrate the joy that comes when you add a little extra to everyday moments. *Excludes McValue Meals and Happy Meals. Limit one keychain per qualifying purchase. About McDonald's Canada In 1967, Canada welcomed the first McDonald's restaurant to Richmond, British Columbia. Today, McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited has become part of the Canadian fabric, with McDonald's restaurants serving nearly two million guests every day and employing almost 100,00 people across Canada. More than 90 per cent of McDonald's 1,450 Canadian restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent franchisees, with the remaining restaurants corporately owned and operated by McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited. Of the almost $2 billion spent on food and paper by McDonald's restaurants, over 80 per cent is purchased from suppliers in Canada. For more information on McDonald's Canada, visit mcdonalds.ca. SOURCE McDonald's Canada For further information: Canada Impact Team, McDonald's Canada, [email protected] TOKYO, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Japan's weather agency issued a heavy rain emergency warning for the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto on Monday morning, calling for maximum caution as the risk of disasters could rise quickly. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) added Amakusa City to the country's highest level heavy rain warning list at 9:15 a.m. local time. Warnings are already in effect for the cities of Tamana, Uki, Yatsushiro and Kami-Amakusa, and the towns of Nagasu and Hikawa in the prefecture. Weather officials urged people in areas covered by the warning to immediately secure their safety, adding that people in landslide warning areas should exercise utmost caution. At least four people have been reported missing as heavy rain continues to pound the southwestern Kyushu region, causing landslides and widespread flooding, public broadcaster NHK reported. In Kumamoto Prefecture, someone had been swept away early Monday in a river in Tamana City, and one man is unaccounted for after a landslide in Kosa Town. Meanwhile, authorities in Fukutsu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, said a man and a woman in their 60s were swept away in a river and are missing, the report said. Palestinians attend the funeral of the Palestinian correspondents killed by an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, Aug. 11, 2025. The Al Jazeera Media Network on Monday condemned the killing of five of its staff by the Israeli army in Gaza. According to the network, the Israeli army on Sunday killed five of its correspondents by attacking their tent in front of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The Israel Defense Forces claimed that one of them was affiliated with Hamas. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) DOHA, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Al Jazeera Media Network on Monday condemned the killing of five of its staff by the Israeli army in Gaza. In a statement, Al Jazeera described the attack as "another blatant and premeditated assault on press freedom." "This attack comes amid the catastrophic consequences of the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza, which has seen the relentless slaughter of civilians, forced starvation, and the obliteration of entire communities," the statement said, holding the Israeli forces and government responsible for "deliberately targeting and assassinating" its journalists. The network stressed that targeting its correspondents was a "desperate attempt to silence the voices exposing the impending seizure and occupation of Gaza." It called on the international community and all relevant organizations to take decisive measures to halt what it termed an "ongoing genocide" and end the deliberate targeting of journalists. According to the network, the Israeli army on Sunday killed five of its correspondents by attacking their tent in front of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The Israel Defense Forces claimed that one of them was affiliated with Hamas. Palestinians inspect the effects of an Israeli bombardment that targeted a correspondents' tent in front of Al-Shifa Hospital, west of Gaza City, Aug. 11, 2025. The Al Jazeera Media Network on Monday condemned the killing of five of its staff by the Israeli army in Gaza. According to the network, the Israeli army on Sunday killed five of its correspondents by attacking their tent in front of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The Israel Defense Forces claimed that one of them was affiliated with Hamas. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians inspect the effects of an Israeli bombardment that targeted a correspondents' tent in front of Al-Shifa Hospital, west of Gaza City, Aug. 11, 2025. The Al Jazeera Media Network on Monday condemned the killing of five of its staff by the Israeli army in Gaza. According to the network, the Israeli army on Sunday killed five of its correspondents by attacking their tent in front of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The Israel Defense Forces claimed that one of them was affiliated with Hamas. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians attend the funeral of the Palestinian correspondents killed by an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, Aug. 11, 2025. The Al Jazeera Media Network on Monday condemned the killing of five of its staff by the Israeli army in Gaza. According to the network, the Israeli army on Sunday killed five of its correspondents by attacking their tent in front of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The Israel Defense Forces claimed that one of them was affiliated with Hamas. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians inspect the effects of an Israeli bombardment that targeted a correspondents' tent in front of Al-Shifa Hospital, west of Gaza City, Aug. 11, 2025. The Al Jazeera Media Network on Monday condemned the killing of five of its staff by the Israeli army in Gaza. According to the network, the Israeli army on Sunday killed five of its correspondents by attacking their tent in front of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The Israel Defense Forces claimed that one of them was affiliated with Hamas. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians attend the funeral of the Palestinian correspondents killed by an Israeli airstrike, in Gaza City, Aug. 11, 2025. The Al Jazeera Media Network on Monday condemned the killing of five of its staff by the Israeli army in Gaza. According to the network, the Israeli army on Sunday killed five of its correspondents by attacking their tent in front of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The Israel Defense Forces claimed that one of them was affiliated with Hamas. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) A Palestinian inspects the effects of an Israeli bombardment that targeted a correspondents' tent in front of Al-Shifa Hospital, west of Gaza City, Aug. 11, 2025. The Al Jazeera Media Network on Monday condemned the killing of five of its staff by the Israeli army in Gaza. According to the network, the Israeli army on Sunday killed five of its correspondents by attacking their tent in front of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The Israel Defense Forces claimed that one of them was affiliated with Hamas. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Palestinians inspect the effects of an Israeli bombardment that targeted a correspondents' tent in front of Al-Shifa Hospital, west of Gaza City, Aug. 11, 2025. The Al Jazeera Media Network on Monday condemned the killing of five of its staff by the Israeli army in Gaza. According to the network, the Israeli army on Sunday killed five of its correspondents by attacking their tent in front of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The Israel Defense Forces claimed that one of them was affiliated with Hamas. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. and his attorney Ed Jacobs listen to the judge during his arraignment hearing in the Atlantic County Superior Court in Mays Landing, N.J. on Thursday, October 10, 2024. Jim Lowney | For NJ Advance Media A trial in the child abuse case against Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr. will begin Nov. 10, less than a week after voters will decide whether to reelect him, a judge ruled Monday. Meanwhile, a case against his wife, Atlantic City School Superintendent LaQuetta Small, will begin Dec. 1, Superior Court Judge Bernard DeLury ordered. Both the mayor and his wife appeared for a pre-trial conference on Monday morning, following earlier hearings, to argue motions to dismiss the charges and challenge evidence against them. Prosecutors allege that the couple abused their teenage daughter over the course of about a month, with instances reportedly captured on audio and video by the girls boyfriend. Both defendants were indicted on second-degree endangering the welfare of a child. Small Sr. was also indicted for terroristic threats, aggravated assault and witness tampering. Their respective attorneys told reporters Monday that the couple has rejected plea offers. Prosecutors offered the mayor probation in exchange for a plea to third-degree aggravated assault, the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office said, in an email to NJ Advance Media. By law, defendants who are guilty of a third-degree crime or higher are barred from public office, the prosecutors office said. The superintendent was offered a five-year prison term in exchange for her plea. When journalists asked the mayor after the hearing if he had considered the plea offers, he reportedly responded, Absolutely not. The trial would start following the general election Nov. 4, in which Small, a Democrat, faces Republican challenger Naeem Ahmed Khan. A long-time councilman, Marty Small has served as mayor since 2019, when he was appointed to replace Frank Gilliam. The Smalls attorneys, Jordan Barbone and Michael Schreiber, did not immediately return emailed requests by NJ Advance Media for comment. The trial dates were set after the couple filed motions to dismiss their charges, which DeLury denied at previous hearings. About three weeks earlier, DeLury also dismissed motions to have 13 recordings seized from the couples daughters boyfriend stricken from evidence. Their attorneys argued a violation of New Jerseys wiretap laws, contending that the recordings were obtained unlawfully, making them inadmissible in court. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com. People sit on a picnic table and enjoy the warm weather and sunshine at Atlantic County Park in Estell Manor. Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Atlantic County will hold a job fair at Estell Manor Park on Tuesday, Aug. 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering opportunities for both seasonal and full-time positions. The job fair will take place at 109 Boulevard Route 50 South in Mays Landing. All applicants must be at least 18 years old and have a current drivers license to be considered. The county is seeking to fill multiple roles, including seasonal park attendants and full-time laborer positions. Both positions come with health benefits and pension options. Job seekers can take advantage of on-the-spot interviews during the walk-in event. For those unable to attend during regular hours, additional interview slots are available by appointment from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Interested candidates can schedule these evening interviews by calling (609) 625-1897 or emailing Joanne Breckenridge at breckenridge_joanne@aclink.org or the Atlantic County website. Atlantic Cape Community College hiring event Tuesday A hiring event by Atlantic Cape Community College will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Aug. 12 at the One Stop Career Center at 2 S. Main Street in Pleasantville. Tabling Tuesdays is an initiative by the One Stop Career Center to share information about their services and support programs with the community. Atlantic Cape Community College will be available to discuss the multitude of opportunities available through the college. Visit the Atlantic County website for more information. Generative AI was used to produce an initial draft of this story, which was reviewed and edited by NJ Advance Media staff. Xu Jiahui, a representative inheritor of Liangping New Year Woodblock Prints, demonstrates the engraving process to students at his workshop in Liangping District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Aug. 10, 2025. Hanging New Year pictures is one of the folk activities for Chinese people to celebrate the Spring Festival. A summer vacation experience class of Liangping New Year Woodblock Prints, a national intangible cultural heritage item, opened here on Sunday. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) Xu Jiahui (C), a representative inheritor of Liangping New Year Woodblock Prints, demonstrates coloring to students at his workshop in Liangping District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Aug. 10, 2025. Hanging New Year pictures is one of the folk activities for Chinese people to celebrate the Spring Festival. A summer vacation experience class of Liangping New Year Woodblock Prints, a national intangible cultural heritage item, opened here on Sunday. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) Xu Jiahui (2nd L), a representative inheritor of Liangping New Year Woodblock Prints, introduces this craft to students at his workshop in Liangping District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Aug. 10, 2025. Hanging New Year pictures is one of the folk activities for Chinese people to celebrate the Spring Festival. A summer vacation experience class of Liangping New Year Woodblock Prints, a national intangible cultural heritage item, opened here on Sunday. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) Xu Jiahui, a representative inheritor of Liangping New Year Woodblock Prints, executes the facial rendering process of a woodblock painting at his workshop in Liangping District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Aug. 10, 2025. Hanging New Year pictures is one of the folk activities for Chinese people to celebrate the Spring Festival. A summer vacation experience class of Liangping New Year Woodblock Prints, a national intangible cultural heritage item, opened here on Sunday. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the jurys ruling. We regret the error. A New Jersey police officer won a $2.1 million judgment last week after claiming he was branded as a rat and passed over for promotions because he helped expose police brutality. Teaneck Police Department officer Glenn Coley filed a whistleblower lawsuit in 2022 alleging his career was derailed after he broke rank and gave sworn testimony supporting a township residents account that officers used excessive force. Coley, 59, testified during a 2018 deposition that fellow officers violently threw Andrea Tompkins against a car, handcuffed her and cut off her purse with a knife during a 2014 arrest. Coley contradicted other officers claims that Tompkins had been combative after she called 911 to report a fire at her home. A Bergen County jury ruled Aug. 7 that the township and several police officials violated New Jerseys whistleblower laws. Coley testified that officers aggressively restrained Tompkins, a Black woman, without a clear reason for arrest. She later sued Teaneck and its police department, alleging malicious prosecution and civil rights violations. That case was settled in 2020. Following his testimony, Coley was pushed aside with worse assignments, passed over for promotions, and denied training, his suit claimed. The backlash was a way to retaliate against Coley for breaking the blue wall, his attorney Eric Kleiner said. Coley was suspended without pay for 15 days in 2019 after a nighttime encounter in a public park, where he reportedly disarmed and detained a man believed to be armed. The suspects gun wasnt found during the initial pat-down but was later discovered hidden in a high-top sneaker during a second search. Coley was alone at the scene and received no backup, yet was disciplined for failing to perform what the department called an adequate pat-down, Kleiner argued in court documents. Coley was awarded $937,200 in compensatory damages and nearly $1.2 million in punitive damages. The multi-million dollar verdict doesnt include attorneys fees or prejudgment interest, which will be determined separately at a later date. Officer Glenn Coley is a hero and the community needs to recognize him as such, Kleiner said in a statement. Our hope is that this verdict will protect officers both in Teaneck and in other places that tell the inconvenient truth. Teaneck, the police department and the officers named in the lawsuit plan to appeal the decision, according to attorney Scott Salmon. It is important that the police department be able to hold officers accountable when they fail to do their job correctly, which is what happened in this case, Salmon said in a statement. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jana Cholakovska may be reached at jcholakovska@njadvancemedia.com. A pedestrian was seriously injured when he was struck by a vehicle Sunday morning in Cumberland County, police said. New Jersey State Police troopers responded to Route 553/North Main Street near Fairton-Millville Road around 10:30 a.m. for the reported crash. A motorist driving a passenger vehicle southbound on North Main struck a 58-year-old Millville man who had entered the roadway on foot, police said. The pedestrian was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries, while the driver suffered minor injuries, police said. No additional details were released, but police said the crash remains under investigation. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. "Twin Peaks" premiered April 8, 1990 and became appointment television for millions of Americans. The TV sensation returned in 2017. ABC David Lynch never got to join the gatherings of Twin Peaks fans in New Jersey this past weekend. But he had been scheduled to take part in the events, series producer Sabrina S. Sutherland told the Lynch faithful in Red Bank Saturday. The one person who was supposed to be here, David Lynch, was going to join us, actually, via Zoom, and was very excited about this whole tour, she said. Lynch, the treasured, one-of-a-kind film director (Blue Velvet, Eraserhead, Mulholland Drive and more) and co-creator of the show that changed TV, died in January, at 78. But that didnt stop him from being everywhere in the series of Twin Peaks cast events happening across the country for the shows 35th anniversary. At the conversation with the stars at Count Basie Center for the Arts, Lynchs words rang loud and clear. They were the star of stories from the cast about working with him on Twin Peaks in the late 80s and early 90s and on Showtimes Twin Peaks: The Return (2017) 25 years after the first series asked the question that captivated people across the country: Who killed Laura Palmer? "Twin Peaks" co-creator David Lynch as Gordon Cole, deputy director of the FBI, in "Twin Peaks: The Return." Lynch, seen here with Miguel Ferrer as Albert Rosenfield, directed every episode of the series revival. Showtime Sutherland and the Twin Peaks cast made their first local stop in Collingswood Aug. 7. Before they took the stage at the Aug. 9 event in Red Bank, fans watched a screening of the striking part 8 of Twin Peaks: The Return also known as Gotta Light? with its harrowing depiction of the Trinity nuclear test, the 1945 detonation of the first atomic bomb in New Mexico. The screening coincided with the 80th anniversary of the United States atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan on Aug. 9, 1945, just days after the bombing of Hiroshima. Lynch, who created Twin Peaks with Mark Frost, helmed all episodes of The Return, which features the director himself as the winning Gordon Cole, deputy director of the FBI. He originated the role of Gordon in 1990 as the onscreen and offscreen boss of series star Kyle MacLachlan, who led the original show as Special Agent Dale Cooper. (Things get a bit more complicated for Cooper in The Return, which sees MacLachlan play at least three parts.) As the Twin Peaks tour continued Sunday in New York, with more cities and towns to come, here are some highlights from Saturdays event. A scene from part 8 of "Twin Peaks: The Return" depicting the detonation of the first atomic bomb in 1945. The episode was screened at the "Twin Peaks" fan event. Showtime Ray Wise as Leland Palmer Not exactly a spoiler (its been 35 years), but fair warning. Ray Wise, the actor who would go down in history as the father and killer of Laura Palmer, never intended to audition for the role of Leland Palmer. No, he wanted to be Sheriff Harry S. Truman (the role went to Michael Ontkean). Lynch had a different idea. He, in his wisdom, decided I should be Leland instead, said Wise, 77. And I thank him for that to this day. Wise talked about what it was like to find out that Leland was the one who killed Laura. He wanted the killer to be anybody else Great Northern hotel boss Benjamin Horne (Richard Beymer), Lauras boyfriend Bobby Briggs (Dana Ashbrook) ... even Lucy Moran (Kimmy Robertson), the receptionist at the sheriffs office. Ray Wise, who played Leland Palmer in "Twin Peaks," joined "Twin Peaks: The Return" producer Sabrina S. Sutherland and other actors from the show in Red Bank Saturday. Amanda Brown| For NJ Advance Media At the time, Wises own daughter was 2 years old. He just couldnt stomach the idea of being a father who would take his own daughters life. The big reveal of the murderer being Leland inhabited by the demonic killer Bob (Frank Silva) was forced by ABC executives who didnt want to wait longer to answer the series animating question. Lynch, Wise said, wouldve been satisfied if the show never revealed the identity of the killer. But since the network forced it, there Wise was in an unfurnished room at the studio with Lynch, Frost, Laura Palmer actor Sheryl Lee and Beymer, who played Benjamin Horne. Wise got excited for a moment thinking the killer was Horne. He joined the group sitting cross-legged on the floor. Lynch leaned over, touched Wises knee and said Ray, its you. Its always been you. The cast of "Twin Peaks," seen here at the Count Basie Center, is touring the country. Amanda Brown| For NJ Advance Media David could see I was not feeling very comfortable with the whole situation, and he proceeded to tell me how I was going to go out, Wise said. I would be lying in Coopers arms, and he would be reciting the Tibetan Book of the Dead to me. And I would move down a long tunnel, and at the end of that tunnel would be a bright light, and in that light would be my daughter, Laura, and she would be holding up, forgiving me ... He made it sound so good, and indeed, when we did shoot it, it was good. It was very cathartic for me. I felt some sense of redemption and it was a good thing ... Davids sacred expression always was Ray, thats a beautiful thing. And indeed it was. Wise also recalled the dancing scene where Leland slays Maddy Ferguson, Lauras cousin. Sheryl Lee, who also played Maddy, filmed the scene with three different actors Wise, Beymer and Frank Silva as Bob. Ray Wise as Leland Palmer in "Twin Peaks." He remembers the day David Lynch revealed who killed Laura Palmer. ABC Even the crew didnt know who the real killer was at that point, thats how big a secret it was, he said. It was kept a secret until the reveal, and then that picture of me looking in the mirror and then it turns into Bob, that was on the front page of every calendar section on every paper in the country. And thats when everybody knew that I was the one. Sutherland, who produced Twin Peaks: The Return, said that 237 actors were part of the series revival. Wise was one of them. However, while Leland was very much a creature of seasons one and two of Twin Peaks, his appearance in The Return consists of just two words, uttered backwards in the shows iconic Red Room: Find Laura. After having a large role in the original series, Ray Wise made a brief appearance in "Twin Peaks: The Return" in a scene with Kyle MacLachlan as FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper. Showtime I tried to put as much meaning as I possibly could into those two words, Wise said. The actor had suggested to Lynch that maybe he could come back as Lelands twin brother, looking for why his brother died 25 years ago. Why not? I mean, there was Maddy, Wise said, referring to Lees performance as Palmers darker-haired cousin. Before that, Lee had been limited to playing Laura as a dead body and on a small piece of VHS tape evidence. Wise gamely performed a spirited rendition of Mairzy Doats, the 1944 Merry Macs song that a newly white-haired Leland (watch below) sings with maniacal joy in the original show (mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy, a kidll eat ivy too, wouldnt you?). The actor also talked about his dancing in the series. I call it the Leland shuffle, he said. In one scene, when he dances with a framed picture of Laura, the glass shatters, cutting his hand. It was an improvised cut in my hand, Wise said, pointing to a scar from that day on set. I smashed (the frame) into the coffee table, and the glass broke, and it cut my thumb here. I saw it bleeding and I thought well, why dont I use this? My actors brain. So I took that blood and I smeared around the picture and made little finger paintings on the picture with my own blood. Ray Wise as Leland Palmer finger-painting with his blood on a picture of the late Laura Palmer. The moment was not scripted. ABC Kimmy Robertson as Lucy Brennan (formerly Lucy Moran) Lucy is not dumb. Thats how David Lynch introduced Kimmy Robertson to her character, Lucy Moran, the receptionist at the Twin Peaks Sheriffs Department. He couldnt impress this fact upon her enough and he did it several times, said Robertson, 70. Lucy has her finger on the button of everything that goes on in Twin Peaks, Lynch told her. When Robertson started work on Twin Peaks: The Return as Lucy Brennan 25 years after the first series premiered, she was dismayed to see crew members rushing to support her arms as she walked on set. I went What are you doing?! I can still walk! she recalled. The crew explained that Lynch instructed them to do so because actors had been doing things. What things? Kimmy Robertson (Lucy Moran/Lucy Brennan), right, with Harry Goaz (Deputy Andy Brennan) in Red Bank Saturday. Amanda Brown| For NJ Advance Media Apparently, theyd been so overcome by the return to Twin Peaks that there had been some physical reactions to the emotional overwhelm. So she let them hold her arms. Walking in, she saw Lynch, Twin Peaks co-creator Mark Frost, and Skip, a stand-in from 30 years ago. The whoooole sheriffs station was right there in front of me, Robertson said. The smell ... everything was there, including Andy and Lucy and Wallys Christmas card. My knees buckled, the actor said. Harry Goaz, 64, who played Andy Brennan, Lucys co-worker and eventual husband in Twin Peaks and The Return, sat next to Robertson at the Red Bank event. Michael Cera played their son, Wally, in the 2017 series. David Lynch's message to Kimmy Robertson about her character: "Lucy is not dumb." ABC Remembering another moment from the early days of Twin Peaks, Robertson recalled one way she tried to put Lucy is not dumb to work in the show. After FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper tells sheriffs office employees about Tibet, dreams and the mind-body connection earlier in the show, demonstrating his ideas by hitting a bottle with a rock, Robertson wanted to have Lucy read a book about Tibet. But when the actor asked the prop department for such a book, they turned down her request, being that they had to film in a few minutes. When she raised the issue with Lynch, he gave the final answer: YES! And with that, Lucy got her book. You have one minute, Lynch told the props department. Were shooting in two! Kimmy Robertson as Lucy Brennan (nee Moran) and Harry Goaz as Deputy Andy Brennan in "Twin Peaks: The Return." Showtime Dana Ashbrook as Bobby Briggs Bobby Briggs, the resident bad boy in Twin Peaks, had a kind of rebellious teen swagger that mostly eschewed playing nice. How did David Lynch describe the character to actor Dana Ashbrook in their first meeting for Twin Peaks? Bobby doesnt smile. That was the way I remember him telling me about the character, said Ashbrook, 58, who played the high school student. That was it. After some encouragement from his co-star Kimmy Robertson, the actor demonstrated Bobbys signature shuffling, dont-care walk to applause and cheers from fans in Red Bank. In The Return, Bobby works as a deputy in Twin Peaks, having made a transformation from a drug-dealing teenager since the first series and the 1992 prequel movie Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me. I was, I think, probably as surprised as everybody was when I found that out, Ashbrook said of his characters life change. Dana Ashbrook as Bobby Briggs and Madchen Amick as Shelly Johnson in "Twin Peaks." Bobby has quite a career change in "Twin Peaks: The Return." ABC But it actually made a lot of sense to me, he said, pointing to a scene in the original show where Bobby father, Air Force Major Garland Briggs (Don Davis), talks about a vision he had of his son where Bobby was carefree and content, having moved past his troubled teen years to a happy future. As for Fire Walk With Me, both Wise and Ashbrook, who were in the film, had some thoughts on the movie, which has been reappraised in recent years. The film received a negative-to-mixed reaction when it was released. The movie, directed by Lynch, was booed at the Cannes Film Festival, where Lynch had previously won the Palme dOr for his 1990 film Wild at Heart. Im so happy I wasnt there, Wise said of the booing. But it has since become much, much more than that, and for my money, its sort of this masterpiece of film. Ashbrook remembered the film coming up when he was auditioning for director James Gray (Armageddon Time, Ad Astra). When he walked into the room, Gray said this guy was in the greatest movie ever made. Dana Ashbrook greets "Twin Peaks" fans in Red Bank Saturday. Amanda Brown| For NJ Advance Media How David Duchovny got on Twin Peaks ... and Kimmy Robertsons personal connection Before David Duchovny was cast as FBI agent Fox Mulder on The X-Files, he played another law enforcement officer. Duchovny was transgender DEA agent Denise Bryson in the second seasons of Twin Peaks, later reprising the role after Bryson had become chief of staff at the FBI in The Return. It was Kimmy Robertson who gave Duchovnys photo to Twin Peaks casting director Johanna Ray, telling her he was an amazing actor. Robertson had met Duchovny on the 1991 movie Dont Tell Mom the Babysitters Dead. He was pressuring me to date him, she said of Duchovny. He would call me all the time and talk and talk and talk. David Duchovny as DEA agent Denise Bryson with Kyle MacLachlan as Agent Dale Cooper in "Twin Peaks." ABC She remembered his very cerebral jokes about three pieces of string walking into a bar. Robertson did eventually agree to date Duchovny. That is, until he took his pants off. I ran screaming out of his apartment, she said. After Robertsons castmates, including Ashbrook and Goaz, reacted to the story which she had apparently never told them before that moment she reiterated that she was screaming and running. In the early 90s, Duchovny, now 65, also dated Sheryl Lee, who played Laura Palmer. Long live the Log Lady Catherine Coulson memorably played the Log Lady, Margaret Lanterman, in Twin Peaks and The Return. Her appearances on The Return had to be reimagined as she suffered from cancer. Coulson, a longtime friend of Lynch who had worked on his feature directorial debut Eraserhead (1977), hadnt told him or Sutherland of her condition when they called her in 2014 to reprise the role of the Log Lady. Sutherland said that as they got closer to filming in 2015, Coulson let them know that she would need a medical plane equipped with oxygen and a nurse in order to travel. The producer got everything ready for her transport and arrival, but Coulson was not well enough to make the trip. So we sent a crew down to her in Oregon, Sutherland said, and Lynch rewrote her scenes as speeches she would deliver on the phone to Twin Peaks Deputy Chief Tommy Hawk Hill (Michael Horse). Catherine Coulson as Margaret Lanterman, the Log Lady. Coulson died soon after filming her scenes for "Twin Peaks: The Return." Showtime They watched her on a monitor from Washington State. David would feed her the line and she would repeat it, Sutherland said. It was quite poignant. It was moving because she was talking about dying and she really was dying. Sutherland said they filmed the scenes two nights before Coulson, 71, died on Sept. 28, 2015. Coulson is the subject of the recent documentary I Know Catherine, The Log Lady. David had a very special relationship with her and her log became iconic, Wise said. Sutherland said the log remains with Coulsons family. Catherine Coulson, a longtime David Lynch collaborator, played the Log Lady in both runs of "Twin Peaks" and the prequel film "Fire Walk With Me." ABC Robertsons voice cracked as she remembered Lynch informing her that Coulson had died while they were in production on The Return. David Lynch asked me to come up to him, which was all the way across that conference room, and he took both my hands and he said Catherine has passed away. She started to cry. He said I was gonna ask you if you could cry (for a scene), Robertson said. He said never mind. And I stood next to Harry (Goaz) and held his hand and he was shaking like a leaf. Goaz said when they were working on the original Twin Peaks, Lynch asked him if he could cry on cue. Anyone who knows the tenderhearted Deputy Andy Brennan knows he can. Kyle MacLachlan as Special Agent Dale Cooper in the Red Room in "Twin Peaks: The Return." Showtime The queen loved Twin Peaks Wise shared a story told to him by Twin Peaks composer Angelo Badalamenti about one of the most high-profile fans of the show. A story told to Badalamenti by Paul McCartney, that is. McCartney had called the composer to work on some music. The former Beatle ended up telling Badalamenti about the time he had been asked to perform some of his new music for Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace. When McCartney greeted the queen, he mentioned that he would be performing. With that, she mentioned the time Twin Peaks was about to be on. I found out not too long ago now from somebody who did the research of the episode that she watched that night, and Im in it, Wise said. I think all of you are in it also, he told his castmates. How about that, the queen of England! David Lynch at the premiere of "Twin Peaks: The Return" in 2017. Jason LaVeris | FilmMagic David Lynch forever Like Lynch, Sutherland also has an onscreen role in the show. In The Return, she plays Jackie, an employee at the Silver Mustang Casino in Las Vegas. Knowing that Lynch would not be at the 35th anniversary fan events, she arranged for a video presentation so his words would also be present in the form of his own voice. She introduced a video tribute that included plenty of behind-the-scenes footage from the filming of The Return. The memorial included everyday hijinks from the set and joyous moments, like when Lynch first greeted Sheryl Lee in costume as Laura Palmer for a scene in the Red Room, marveling at the 25 years later of it all. The tribute concluded with more of Lynchs own words: We will all see each other again. 9 1 / 9 Twin Peaks:A Conversation With The Stars Thank you for reading. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter/X, @amykup.bsky.social on Bluesky and @kupamy on Instagram and Threads. Stephen Dorff and child actor Toby Larsen on the set of "What the F*ck is My Password?!" Monday in Westfield. Bobby Bank | GC Images Stephen Dorff greeted a Little League player Monday in New Jersey, beer in one hand ... case of beer in the other. The actor was in Westfield to film scenes for the upcoming movie What the F*ck is My Password?! The production staged the Little League scene at Gumbert Park with comedic details like Dorffs open fly. In the scene, Dorff, whose character appears to be intoxicated, talks to child actor Toby Larsen, who is in costume as a Little League player. The man offers the boy a beer. Intoxication plays a key role in What the F*ck is My Password?! READ MORE: What is What The F*ck Is My Password?! Just the latest movie filming in N.J. The movie, directed by Steve Pink (The Last Republican, High Fidelity, Grosse Pointe Blank and the upcoming film Terrestrial), follows a man who finds out he invested in bitcoin 13 years ago, when he was drunk. Director Steve Pink and Dorff during production on the movie, which is set to film all month in New Jersey. Bobby Bank | GC Images He has a chance to cash in on more than $200 million if he can only remember his password. After failing to guess it once, he has just four more tries to get his hands on the money. Dorff, 52, known for movies like Blade, I Shot Andy Warhol, and The Iceman and TV series like True Detective and The Righteous Gemstones, stars in What the F*ck is My Password?! alongside Alexander Ludwig (The Hunger Games, Bad Boys: Ride or Die), Kate Walsh (Greys Anatomy), Poppy Liu (Hacks), Ricky Staffieri (The Bear) and Sarah Grey (The Order). More from filming with Dorff and Larsen Monday. Bobby Bank | GC Images Pink and Jeff Morris came up with the story and Morris wrote the movie. Producers include Molly Conners (Birdman) and Amanda Bowers of the Phiphen production company, which is associated with Phiphen Studios, a film postproduction facility in Englewood Cliffs. What the F*ck is My Password?! is set to film all month in New Jersey. The production put out various casting calls for local extras to film scenes in Westfield, Mountainside, Jersey City, Colonia, Cranford and Morristown. Thank you for reading. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter/X, @amykup.bsky.social on Bluesky and @kupamy on Instagram and Threads. A truck driver from South Toms River was charged with vehicular homicide for a hit-and-run accident that caused the death of a 57-year-old woman in early June, authorities said. Tremel Haskins, 41, was taken into custody Monday by the Ocean County Sheriffs Office, according to the Ocean County Prosecutors Office. Haskins was driving a tractor-trailer when he struck Marie Bellavista, also of South Toms River, on June 7 at about 3:50 a.m. on Colgate Drive, the prosecutors office said. When officers arrived, they found Bellavista deceased. The Ocean County Prosecutors Office Major Crime Unit-Vehicular Homicide Squad and South Toms River Police Department said Haskins was driving a Volvo semi-truck when he struck Bellavista and drove away from the scene. Haskins was found by detectives in a Walmart parking lot on Route 37, where he was taken into custody and initially charged with four driving offenses, including driving while intoxicated, authorities said. Lab results later revealed that Haskins had marijuana in his system at the time of the crash. Detectives found a .38 caliber Colt revolver in the Volvo truck, officials said. Haskins has two prior convictions for distribution of narcotics. Because of this, he was charged with two unlawful weapons chargers, authorities said. On June 17, he surrendered himself to the South Toms River Police, officials said. Haskins was held in the Ocean County Jail but was later released under New Jerseys bail reform law. On July 31, a warrant was put out for his arrest, and he was taken into custody Monday, authorities said. He is currently being held in the Ocean County Jail, where he is awaiting a detention hearing. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Paige Britt may be reached at pbritt@njadvancemedia.com. One person was killed and four others injured when two vans collided on westbound Route 70 in Manchester on Monday morning, authorities said. As the driver of a Ford van was turning left onto Hilltop Road, a Dodge van crossed over the double yellow line, passing stopped traffic from behind, and collided with it, the Ocean County Prosecutors Office said Monday. A passenger in the cargo section of the Dodge van was pronounced dead at the scene following the 8:15 a.m. crash, while three people in the front seat were brought to Jersey Shore University Medical Center with injuries, officials said. The driver of the Ford van was brought to a local hospital to be treated for minor injuries. The crash remains under investigation. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. President Donald Trump moved the official portraits of his predecessors out of the public eye, according to a CNN report. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) AP Former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, though far from the White House, still appear to have an effect on President Donald Trump, according to a new report. CNN reported on Sunday that Trump had moved the official portraits of Obama and Bush to a hidden stairwell. Trump had directed his staff to move a portrait of Obama to the top of the Grand Staircase, two sources told the outlet, which brings it out of view for thousands of visitors who tour the White House every day. One of the sources said that both portraits of Bush and his father, George H. W. Bush, are also in the same area. Multiple sources also told CNN that Trump has been directly involved with nearly every move to alter the presence of the White House emphasizing ongoing tensions between the president and his predecessors who he perceives as political rivals. Critics were quick to slam Trump over the report on social media. So... he cant lower prices. He cant end the Ukraine war in 24 hours. He WONT release Epstein files... But he can do petty trolling like hiding Obamas and Bushs portraits, like a jealous 12-year-old? Thats what you voted for, MAGA? one user wrote on X early Monday. The Republicans against Trump account also took aim at his supporters. Despite what many MAGA followers believe, Donald Trump is a small, tiny, insecure man with a fragile ego, it posted. Despite what many MAGA followers believe, Donald Trump is a small, tiny, insecure man with a fragile ego. pic.twitter.com/wCs6vXP7J7 Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) August 10, 2025 Another user called Trump psychologically damaged, while someone had also diagnosed him: This is because Trump is a malignant narcissist - deeply insecure, greatly craving respect and legitimacy. The kind Obama has. That he never will. Glad I got to see the best POTUS in my lifetimes portrait before the worst POTUS in ANY moved it to a hidden stairwell because he knows he will never measure up. Trump is trash, always has been, a different user said. Glad I got to see the best POTUS in my lifetimes portrait before the worst POTUS in ANY moved it to a hidden stairwell because he knows he will never measure up. Trump is trash, always has been. pic.twitter.com/DD7xtk3Eug NoelCaslerComedy (@caslernoel) August 10, 2025 Democratic political strategist Donna Brazile asked, Who voted for this type of nonsense? Its time for 47 to end the retribution. According to CNN, the display of the most recent presidents portraits in prominent placements such as in the entrance, visible to guests and tourists is White House protocol. The reported move comes as Trump and administration officials have escalated attacks against Obama and his former team, with the president accusing his predecessor of engaging in treason during the 2016 election. Obamas office had called Trumps claims outrageous and a weak attempt at distraction in a rare rebuke. Attorney General Pam Bondi has also since ordered a grand jury probe into allegations that Obamas national security team manufactured an intelligence report that Russian interfered on Trumps behalf. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard had recently declassified a set of documents, which she claimed undermined the legitimacy of the conclusion. From left, former President George W. Bush, former first lady Laura Bush and former President Barack Obama, arrive before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla/Pool Photo via AP) AP Meanwhile, the oldest Bush, who passed away in 2018, had publicly announced that he was planning on voting for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016, and referred to Trump as a blowhard. Bush has been attacked by Trump as a failed and uninspiring and ungrateful. I kept him from being the worst President in history, Trump told reporters in 2021. When he left office, he was at the bottom of the list of Presidents I mean, the very, very bottom. Then I got into office and changed all that. I have never got so much as a thank-you note from that ungrateful bastard. I dont know, maybe hes too busy with his so-called paintings to write, he added. Both Obama and Bush attended Trumps inauguration ceremony in January. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) received the support of President Donald Trump during a state party gala over the weekend. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.) AP President Donald Trump continued to support Sen. Lindsey Grahams (R-S.C.) reelection bid through a phone call during his state GOPs gala though some in MAGA world arent buying it. Former South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer (R) announced his primary challenge to Graham earlier last month, arguing that he doesnt believe the four-term senator is a true conservative for South Carolina. Paul Dans, a former key architect of The Heritage Foundations Project 2025, has also jumped into the race. Graham, whose relationship with Trump has soured over the years, received the presidents Complete and Total endorsement for reelection earlier this year. Trump reiterated his support as Graham held up his phone to the microphone on Saturday for the audience to hear. Lindsey, thank you so much, youve been my friend. I know youre in a big race, and I dont think its going to be a contest, but I have a feeling youre going to do very well. You have for a long time, Trump said at the event during remarks posted by Graham on X on Saturday. And Lindsey Graham, just so you know, full endorsement. Trumps full endorsement. Hes a great guy. Every time I needed him, he was there for me, he continued. Thank you for your surprise call, Mr. President! With your support, Ill keep delivering the America First agenda to the great people of South Carolina. Im glad to have been part of the most awesome six months in modern history led by President @realDonaldTrump. pic.twitter.com/zhJQ9JlSHp Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) August 10, 2025 Meanwhile, a band of MAGA faithful did not appear content with the presidents backing of Graham. Nobody cares, were still supporting your primary opponent, columnist Dustin Grage wrote in response. Another user said: Primaries are coming and we dont care what the boss thinks on this one. F--- off lindsey we all hate you regardless of trump hes going off the rails supporting sh--bags like you dog a-- sniffer, a different user posted. Fuck off lindsey we all hate you regardless of trump hes going off the rails supporting shitbags like you dog ass sniffer https://t.co/CqDwydxNAF pic.twitter.com/xuX6wRdvCu The American (@ronrenaud6) August 10, 2025 Someone also added, I love our President, but I think this guy is his biggest blindspot (and we all have them). Look at this sh--! Im liking Trump less and less! one user said. Other users asked how Trumps endorsement has not picked up the full condemnation from MAGA. Im sorry, but I just dont get how people can hate the neocons and RINOs and support Trumps bullish-- endorsements that protect them. How is this not an issue for the MAGA people? Melissa Blasek, a former New Hampshire state lawmaker (R), asked. One user said: The betrayals of MAGA and conservatives will continue until MAGA decides to grow a spine and stand up for themselves. Dans, one of Grahams challengers, had attended the event, according to Fox News, and responded to Trumps repeated endorsement. Lindsey Grahams terrifiedhis Senate seats at risk against me, his toughest challenger yet. After 32 years of broken term-limit promises, hes done. Clinging to President Trump wont save him from SCs America First Patriots who see his grift," his campaign account wrote, adding the hashtags #LindseyPanic and #PrezTrumpPlsHelpMe. Graham has recently sparked the ire of some in Trumps base after he took a recent trip to Ukraine and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The White House has to condemn this immediately and pull all support and tell Lindsey Graham to come home or we are going to put you under arrest when you come home. Youre stirring it up, former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon said on his War Room podcast in June. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP President Donald Trump claimed he is going to Russia to meet with leader Vladimir Putin on Fridaybut he is actually going to Alaska. Trump told reporters last week he would be meeting with Putin in Alaska on Friday to discuss an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, but during a press briefing on Monday, he repeatedly claimed he was visiting Russia instead. Its embarrassing. You know, Im going to see Putin. Im going to Russia on Friday," he said during a briefing announcing a federal takeover of Washington, D.C. " I dont like being up here talking about how unsafe and how dirty and disgusting this once beautiful capital was with graffiti all over the walls." He repeated the claim for the second time later on during the press conference. Were going to Russia. Its going to be a big deal, he said. for the second time this briefing, Trump claims he's "going to Russia" on Friday (he's actually going to Alaska, which is in the United States) pic.twitter.com/jcbGXGwjCx Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 11, 2025 Trump was immediately mocked for his flub on social media. Political commentator Aaron Parnas quipped on social media platform X: Are we giving Alaska back? MeidasTouch simply responded to Trumps claim with question marks. Meanwhile, the PatriotTakes account questioned whether the president was calling the U.S. state Russia instead of Alaska. U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) also jabbed Trump over his claim. Hes going to Russia? This doddering old man has no idea where he is or what hes talking about, Swalwell wrote on X. And journalist Jimmy Rushton questioned whether the meeting between Trump and Putin has been relocated. Wait a second; has the Trump-Putin summit location been rearranged or has the Trump administration just announced theyve ceded Alaska to Russia? he wrote on X. Trump said last week his meeting with Putin would come before any sit-down discussion involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr 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 U.S. soil broke with expectations that theyd meet in a third country. The gesture gives Putin validation after the U.S. and its allies had long sought to make him a pariah over his war against Ukraine. Early in Putins tenure, he regularly met with his U.S. counterparts. That dropped off and the tone became icier as tensions mounted between Russia and the West after Moscow illegally annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and faced allegations of meddling in the 2016 U.S. elections. Putins last visit to the U.S. was in 2015, when he attended the U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York. The meeting in Alaska would be the first U.S.-Russia summit since 2021, when former President Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Vice President JD Vance threw his support behind a far-right news website that has spread fake news during an interview with its founder. During an interview published Sunday, Jim Hoft, the editor of The Gateway Pundit, told Vance that he heard some news about Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), who ran as his counterpart under former Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 election, within the last 24 hours. Vance silently laughed at his remarks. The FBI and DHS was covering for him and his ties to Communist China, Hoft said, before asking, Do you think they would have done this for you? Vance responded with a chuckle: No, they would certainly not have. So this is why Gateway Pundit is so important, because you guys report on this stuff, and uncover some of this stuff, and I read about it on your website, Vance said. But as I understand it, the basic idea is that while the Biden DOJ was trying to throw Donald Trump in prison on fake charges, they were also aware that Tim Walz had all these connections to the Communist Chinese Party and did nothing about it, he continued. Vance was referencing a story published earlier this month by the outlet, which claimed that Newly obtained documents by Judicial Watch from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FBI reveal a disturbing and deliberate cover-up by the Biden administration of U.S. counterintelligence concerns regarding Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and his deep ties to Communist China. The Gateway Pundit, an opinion website founded in 2004 to expose the wickedness of the left, has developed a reputation for promoting conspiracy theories, misinformation and content particularly in support of President Donald Trump. Fact-checking organizations, including PolitiFact and Snopes, have debunked several of its stories. Media Matters, a left-leaning watchdog journalism organization, describes it as a right-wing website that repeatedly falls for hoaxes, pushes conspiracy theories and smears of Democratic officials. In April 2024, the website, which started as a blog, filed for bankruptcy protection as it fought multiple lawsuits related to its coverage of the 2020 election. Months later, a federal judge threw out the claim, arguing that the site was seeking protections in bad faith amid costly litigation. At the time, Hoft said that filing for bankruptcy was due to progressive liberal lawfare attacks attempting to silence his company. The website previously promoted the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen by former President Joe Biden and his allies. Two Georgia election workers had settled a defamation lawsuit with The Gateway Pundit last October. The site has also been previously banned or restricted on social media, including on Facebook and then-Twitter. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. He is the oldest Chinese driver to complete the Dakar Rally. He is a skateboarding grandpa riding the wind and the waves. Meet Liang Yuxiang, 71-year-old torch bearer at the 2025 World Games. #WorldGames2025 #GLOBALink #TWG A former police chief has been sentenced to prison in a sexual abuse case dating back to 2008. Thomas Herbst, 57, the former chief of the Manville Police Department, received sentences of seven years and five years on Monday, which will be served concurrently, the state Attorney Generals Office said in a statement. Herbst, of Bridgewater, was convicted at trial earlier this year on the second-degree charges of pattern of official misconduct, sexual assault and multiple counts official misconduct as well as fourth-degree criminal sexual contact. Herbst victimized at least three women, with the abuse occurring both inside and outside of the workplace, according to prosecutors. Starting in 2008, when Herbst was a lieutenant, he groped, exposed himself to and sexually harassed a police department employee, according to evidence presented at trial. Over the next 13 years, his conduct against the employee escalated to sexual assault, according to the evidence. The attacks often happened on-duty and inside police headquarters, prosecutors said. Herbst also demanded sexual favors, including oral sex, from a police department employees wife in exchange for a promotion, according to the evidence. He also demanded explicit photos of another subordinates wife in exchange for a schedule change, prosecutors said. The defendants abuse of power inflicted lasting damage to his victims lives, New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin said. Todays sentence brings some measure of justice to the victims and the community. My office will continue to work to bolster public confidence in government, to ensure the safety of all, and to combat sexual offenses in all forms. The AGs office obtained an eight-count indictment against the chief in June 2023. More than a year earlier, the borough of Manville suspended Herbst when one of the victims a police civilian employee - sued him in civil court and detailed a list of shocking allegations, many which were later included in the criminal charges. The suit said Herbst masturbated in front of the woman at the police department and touched her inappropriately on a regular basis while he was her supervisor. He later sexually assaulted the woman approximately 10 times in the police archive room. He also assaulted her at her home and in a hotel parking lot during her lunch hour, the lawsuit alleged. Herbst countersued the woman who sued him civilly and both suits were placed on hold while the criminal case proceeded, records show. As part of his sentence, Herbst will have to register as a sex offender under Megans Law and will be subject to parole supervision for life. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. Yankees ace Gerrit Cole (top left) is back throwing while fellow pitchers (clockwise from top right) Fernando Cruz, Ryan Yarbrough and Jonathan Loaisiga are progressing toward returning from the injured list. AP NEW YORK Monday was a day that injured Yankees ace Gerrit Cole probably was counting down for months. For the first time in more than four months 158 days to be exact Cole made his first tosses since his Tommy John surgery. Cole had a poor second spring training start facing the Twins on March 6 in Tampa he was roughed up for six runs over 2 2/3 innings then experienced discomfort after the outing. That led to an MRI and then season-ending surgery on March 22. The over/under for Tuesdays Yankees versus Twins game is set at 9 over on BetMGM. Our BetMGM Sportsbook review shows you how to sign up and use their site. Here is more on Coles first day of throwing plus updates on the eight other Yankees on the injured list: STARTING PITCHERS GERRIT COLE, RHP Injury: Tommy John surgery recovery. Status: 60-day IL since March 22. Missed games: 119. Expected return: June 2026. The latest: Coles first day of throwing after Tommy John surgery was 10 light tosses on flat ground Monday. Im excited for him, manager Aaron Boone said. Hes done a good job with rehab. This is one of those cool markers along the way that you know is significant to hit. CLARKE SCHMIDT, RHP Injury: Right UCL tear. Tommy John surgery on July 11. Status: 15-day IL since July 4. Missed games: 32. Expected return: Late 2026 or 2027. The latest: Schmidt stated in a July 28 interview that his Tommy John surgery was not a full reconstruction. Instead, doctors inserted an internal brace that potentially could shorten his return timeline from around 18 months to 11-to-13 months. RYAN YARBROUGH, LHP Injury: Low grade right oblique strain. Status: 15-day IL since June 22 (retro to June 20). Missed games: 45. Expected return: August or September. The latest: Yarbrough threw a two-inning live BP at Somerset on Saturday and will begin a rehab assignment on Thursday, probably at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The Yankees are unsure how many rehab outings Yarbough will make because they dont know yet if they want to build him up to a be a starter or bring him back as a long reliever. He excelled in both roles before his injury. With Yarbrough, it just depends on how much we want to build him up, Boone said. When do we grab him? Do we keep building him up? Well see what were dealing with (regarding the Yankees rotation and bullpen), how hes doing. Theres no set on when were going to do that yet. RELIEVERS FERNANDO CRUZ, RHP Injury: High grade right oblique strain. Status: 15-day IL since June 30 (retro to June 28). Missed games: 38. Expected return: Aug. 21. The latest: Cruz threw a 19-pitch live BP on Saturday at Double-A Somerset that, according to Boone, went well. Next for Cruz are at least two and probably three rehab outings: Thursday and Sunday (probably at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre) and likely the following Tuesday in a Scranton road game or Somerset home game. Then hell be in play (to come off the IL) potentially, Boone added. JONATHAN LOASIGA, RHP Injury: Right mid back tightness Status: 15-day IL since Aug. 3 (retro to Aug. 2). Missed games: 9. Expected return: August. The latest: Loaisiga told NJ Advance Media on Monday that hes been playing catch pain free and that hes scheduled to progress to throwing a bullpen later this week. He hopes to be off the IL in about 10 days, but it will be a bit longer if the Yankees want him to pitch in a couple minor-league games before activating him. JAKE COUSINS, RHP Injury: Right UCL tear. Underwent Tommy John surgery on June 19. Status: 60-day IL since March 27. Missed games: 119. Expected return: Almost two months in his rehab, Cousins probably is will being a throwing program in late October or early November if everything goes smoothly. The latest: Had Tommy John surgery on June 19. POSITION PLAYERS Injury: Left ASC joint sprain. Status: 10-day IL on Aug. 10 (retro to Aug. 9). Missed games: 3. Expected return: Aug. 19 or shortly thereafter. The latest: Rosario hopes to be back when hes first eligible from an injury that occurred last Friday when he crashed into the right-field wall. I started running real fast to catch that ball, I didnt calculate the distance correctly and then I hit the wall hard, Rosario said on Aug. 10. AUSTIN SLATER, OF Injury: Left hamstring strain. Status: 10-day IL on Aug. 5. Missed games: 5. Expected return: September. The latest: Slater will be sidelined 4-to-6 weeks minimum, so hes looking at an early-to-mid September return best case. OSWALDO CABRERA, 3B Injury: Left ankle fracture. Season-ending surgery on May 15. Status: 10-day IL on May 13, transferred to 60-day IL on June 19. Missed games: 78. Expected return: 2026. The latest: Out of his cast recently, Cabrera has been walking around the Yankees clubhouse the last few days with a slight limp. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. New York Yankees pitcher Devin Williams catches the ball before making the game-winning pitch during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Angelina Katsanis) AP Dontrelle Willis can relate to Devin Williams. And its not just because they share the same initials. A two-time All-Star and former World Series champion with the Marlins, Willis says he can relate to the struggles Williams is currently facing and that the Yankees reliever appears to have lost his confidence. Its difficult, Willis said Friday night on Apple TV when Williams blew yet another game late for the Yankees when he gave up three runs in the top of the 10th in a 5-3 loss to the Astros. Ive been there when you lose confidence in yourself, when you lose trust, and youre still trying to battle and youre in a playoff race. Its a responsibility of being a lockdown guy back there [in the bullpen], and hes just struggled for most of the year. Williams himself knows its been a disastrous stretch for him. Its pretty simple, Williams said Friday night. I stink right now. He added: Its tough. Its not something Im used to. I really havent struggled like this since probably 2018 coming back from [Tommy John surgery]. All I did then was continue to work and just try to try to help the team in any way I can. Williams did pitch a scoreless sixth inning in a low-leverage situation against Houston on Sunday, but the Yankees fell 7-1. His ERA in the last seven days is 12.27. The Yankees are now 2-7 in August heading into a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins beginning Monday at Yankee Stadium. The run total for Mondays series opener between the Yankees and the Twins is set at 8.5 on Caesars. Our complete list of the best NJ sportsbook promos will help you figure out which sportsbook to use. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Adam Zagoria is a freelance reporter and Basketball Insider for NJ Advance Media. You may follow him on Twitter @AdamZagoria and check out his Website at ZAGSBLOG.com. A farmer signs vaccination document after having all her cows vaccinated against the foot-and-mouth disease in a barn in Limankoy village, Kirklareli province, Turkiye, on Aug. 11, 2025. Turkish authorities and veterinarians are warning of the swift spread of foot-and-mouth disease, which has placed farmers nationwide, particularly in the Thrace region, on high alert, and forced local livestock markets to close. (Photo by Zeynep Cermen/Xinhua) KIRKLARELI, Turkiye, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Turkish authorities and veterinarians are warning of the swift spread of foot-and-mouth disease, which has placed farmers nationwide, particularly in the Thrace region, on high alert, and forced local livestock markets to close. The outbreak, first detected on July 10 in Ardahan province, is rapidly advancing westward from the eastern provinces of Ardahan, Kars, and Igdir, noted Gulay Erturk, president of the Turkish Veterinary Association. Emphasizing the high risk in Thrace, Erturk said close monitoring is required as even vaccinated animals are showing mild signs of the virus. More veterinarians need to be deployed swiftly to reach and vaccinate animals in the field, she said. In response to experts' call of swift action, the Ardahan Governorship has imposed quarantine measures in over 50 villages and restricted animal movements. Local teams are collecting and burying deceased animals to protect public health. On Sunday, Turkish Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Ahmet Gumen visited the affected areas in Ardahan, informing producers about containment efforts and emphasizing the importance of vaccination. In Limankoy village, Thrace's Kirklareli province, efforts began early Monday with veterinarians working to inoculate all scheduled cattle. "In the Demirkoy district we have 4,000 cows to be vaccinated this week," one veterinarian reported, adding that concerning reports of sick cows in Thrace are pending test results. Local authorities have urged all livestock owners to vaccinate their animals immediately and prevent outsiders from entering barns, noting the disease spreads rapidly, potentially even via tire tracks. The highly-contagious viral illness is affecting cloven-hoofed animals like cattle, sheep, and goats, veterinarian Metin Orenel told Xinhua. "The disease causes fever, blisters, and painful sores in the mouth and on the feet, making it difficult for animals to eat or walk," he said. Meanwhile, farmers are facing a difficult choice. Nurcan Gokyildiz, a livestock farmer in Limankoy, told Xinhua on Monday that she is caught "between a rock and a hard place," torn between protecting her pregnant cows and the threat to her herd. "I have five cows, four of them pregnant, and the district agriculture and forestry office sent me a message saying they all need to be vaccinated this week," she said. "The vaccination is risky for the pregnant cows, which can cause miscarriages, while the disease itself is dangerous too," she noted. Despite these fears, Gokyildiz said she decides to vaccinate all her pregnant cows by the end of the day, hoping the difficult choice will protect her herd from the disease. A veterinarian vaccinates a cow against the foot-and-mouth disease in a barn in Limankoy village, Kirklareli province, Turkiye, on Aug. 11, 2025. Turkish authorities and veterinarians are warning of the swift spread of foot-and-mouth disease, which has placed farmers nationwide, particularly in the Thrace region, on high alert, and forced local livestock markets to close. (Photo by Zeynep Cermen/Xinhua) China's permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong (front C) speaks at a rare emergency weekend meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli issue held by the UN Security Council at the UN headquarters in New York, on Aug. 10, 2025. Fu Cong on Sunday expressed grave concern over Israel's plan to take over Gaza City, saying any attempt to take over parts of the Palestinian territory must be firmly opposed. (Xinhua/Xie E) UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Sunday expressed grave concern over Israel's plan to take over Gaza City, saying any attempt to take over parts of the Palestinian territory must be firmly opposed. The approval by Israel's Security Cabinet of a plan to take over Gaza City is "a matter of grave concern," China's permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong, said at a rare emergency weekend meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli issue held by the UN Security Council, urging Israel to "stop this dangerous move at once." "Gaza belongs to the Palestinian people. It is an integral part of the Palestinian territory. Any action that seeks to alter its demographic and territorial structure must be met with utmost rejection and resistance," Fu stressed. Fu said that military means are not the way to resolve the long-standing conflict, and an immediate ceasefire is the only right way to save lives and secure the release of hostages. He called on the Israeli government to listen to the calls of the international community and its own people, immediately stop escalating tensions, and end its military operations in Gaza. "The countries with significant influence over the parties must uphold a just and responsible stance and take concrete steps to push forward a ceasefire," he added. Fu also urged Israel to fulfill its obligations under international humanitarian law as an occupying power; open all border crossings; lift restrictions on aid access; ensure large-scale, swift, and safe entry of humanitarian supplies into Gaza; and support the United Nations in its aid delivery under humanitarian principles. Fu called implementing the two-state solution "the only viable path to resolving the Palestinian question and achieving the peaceful coexistence between Palestine and Israel." He urged the international community to "redouble efforts to advance the political process of the two-state solution and jointly counter any unilateral move that sabotages its foundation." China stands ready to work alongside the world to advance an end to the war in Gaza, alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe, and implement the two-state solution to ultimately achieve a comprehensive, just, and lasting solution to the Palestinian question, said Fu. At the meeting, Israel's Gaza takeover plan sparked widespread outcry and condemnation from most of the Security Council members. A rare emergency weekend meeting on the Palestinian-Israeli issue is held by the UN Security Council at the UN headquarters in New York, on Aug. 10, 2025. China's permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong on Sunday expressed grave concern over Israel's plan to take over Gaza City, saying any attempt to take over parts of the Palestinian territory must be firmly opposed. (Xinhua/Xie E) A vehicle full of disaster relief supplies parks at a temporary resettlement site at Shangzhuang Village of Yuzhong County in Lanzhou City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 10, 2025. As the roads damaged by the mountain torrents in Yuzhong County are gradually restored, the transportation of the disaster relief supplies are ongoing. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) Disaster relief vehicles are seen driving on a road at Maliantan Village of Yuzhong County in Lanzhou City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 9, 2025. As the roads damaged by the mountain torrents in Yuzhong County are gradually restored, the transportation of the disaster relief supplies are ongoing. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) Chen Wankai, secretary of the Communist Party of China branch of Shangzhuang Village, stacks disaster relief supplies at a temporary resettlement site at Shangzhuang Village of Yuzhong County in Lanzhou City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 10, 2025. As the roads damaged by the mountain torrents in Yuzhong County are gradually restored, the transportation of the disaster relief supplies are ongoing. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) Workers load disaster relief supplies onto a vehicle at a disaster relief supplies reserve service center in Yuzhong County, Lanzhou City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 10, 2025. As the roads damaged by the mountain torrents in Yuzhong County are gradually restored, the transportation of the disaster relief supplies are ongoing. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) Local cadres and residents transfer disaster relief supplies at a temporary resettlement site at Shangzhuang Village of Yuzhong County in Lanzhou City, northwest China's Gansu Province, Aug. 10, 2025. As the roads damaged by the mountain torrents in Yuzhong County are gradually restored, the transportation of the disaster relief supplies are ongoing. (Xinhua/Lang Bingbing) There is a new wedding trend sweeping Europe couples are selling wedding tickets to perfect strangers to help cover the rising costs of these momentous events. Katia Lekarski, who founded Invitin earlier this year, came up with the idea of selling tickets to weddings while renting her home in south-eastern France to some people who were attending a wedding. Her five-year-old daughter asked, Why arent we also invited to weddings? and thats when it hit her there are other people who simply dont get invited to weddings as much as theyd like, so what if she could sell that as a service. She would be helping newlyweds cover some of the costs of organizing a wedding and make some money for herself as a commission. Now Invitin has several couples willing to sell tickets to their wedding on the platform, and plenty of people willing to pay hundreds of euros to attend. Photo: Alvaro CvG I thought selling tickets to your wedding to strangers sounded interesting, Laurene, who paid to attend some strangers wedding, told The Guardian. I dont have a big family, so I dont get to go to lots of weddings, its great to be able to experience a wedding and different traditions, even if its strangers. Im keen to check out the decoration and music, and well be partying on the dancefloor. As for the couples selling the tickets, some do it for the money weddings are anything but cheap, after all but some claim its more for the experience. Jennifer, 48, and her husband, Paulo, 50, plan to invite close to 100 of their family and friends 80 adults and 15 children to their wedding at a country manor an hours drive from Paris, but thought having a few strangers take part would be intriguing. I thought: woah, thats quite something, having people you dont know at your wedding, Jennifer said. Its not only about the money, which is a drop on a hot stone in terms of the overall wedding cost, although it will help a bit in terms of the cost of things like decoration and the dress. Its also because we thought it could be fun and were extroverted and open to sharing things. Couples get to screen the strangers on the Invitin app and choose who to accept. They also dont have to interact with them during the event if they dont want to, as Katia Lekarski believes a wedding has its own ecosystem where guests get chatting to each other of their own accord. Guests, on the other hand, have to sign up to strict rules including dressing appropriately, arriving on time, drinking with moderation, and only sharing photos from the event with authorisation. France isnt the only country where the pay-to-attend-weddings model is gaining traction. In Italy, a company is charging people up to 5,000 ($5,800) to attend traditional weddings as a sort of luxury experience. Wedding Prive, a startup founded by David Genovesi and Luca Manelli, targets big-spending tourists interested in exclusive experiences. Wealthy tourists and foreign travelers can attend an Italian wedding, learn about its traditions, and participate firsthand in the rituals and vows, while newlyweds get to cover a considerable part of the costs of organizing the wedding. Its a win-win situation, although the founders of the Italian startup admit that couples do consider it a bit strange at first. Photo: Drew Coffman There are also some reservations, which is normal, because its something new, Davide Genovesi told Si Viaggia. Thats why we always make sure to hear from them firsthand and explain how the project works. They are never left alone: the international guests, in fact, are accompanied by a sort of guide who translates and explains in real time whats happening, but who also guarantees the newlyweds safety to protect and preserve their special day from any inconvenience. Wedding Prive charges clients between 1000 and 5,000 to attend a traditional wedding, depending on how involved they want to be in the event, whereas French startup Invitins ticket prices range from 150 to 400 per guest. A 64-year-old Italian man was found conscious in his bed two days after shooting himself in the head with a crossbow from very close range. The unidentified Ancona resident, a known crossbow enthusiast, was found in his home by local police (carabinieri) following an emergency services phone call from a concerned family member. After forcing open the mans door, the carabinieri found him lying in bed with the end of a crossbow bolt sticking out of his forehead. He was immediately transported to the local hospital, conscious, with his eyes open. According to the doctors report, he babbled incoherently, but could still speak, despite his serious injury. The bolt prevented him from turning his head, and hospital staff learned that he had not eaten or drunk anything in two days, ever since the crossbow incident. Photo: Umer Saud Ive never seen anything like it! A millimeter further and the patient would have died instantly, the head of Neurosurgery at the Torrette hospital in Ancona, Maurizio Iacoangeli, told the Corriere Della Sera. The arrow passed through his skull from forehead to nape. He was lucky. Ive never seen anything like it in Italy. Luckily, the material out of which the crossbow was made (carbon) allowed doctors to conduct a CT scan that proved crucial to performing life-saving surgery on the patient. Because its not so much about removing it, but rather removing it without causing massive bleeding. The arrow acts like a plug. If you remove it, you run the risk of hemorrhage, Dr. Iacoangeli explained. According to Italian news sources, the 64-year-old man was operated on using military techniques learned from Rocco Armonda, a US Army neurosurgeon with experience in various war scenarios, including Iraq, Iran, and recently Ukraine. The procedure was conducted successfully, but the patients condition remains serious, and the prognosis is guarded. Regarding the nature of the injury, investigators are currently considering both the hypothesis of an accident, considering the mans love of crossbows, as well as the possibility of a self-harming gesture, although he has no history of mental illnesses or psychiatric treatment. A young Chinese woman allegedly quit her job of five years after being disappointed that only one of the seventy coworkers she invited to her wedding actually attended. Chinese news outlet ETtoday recently featured the unusual story of a young woman who took to social media to complain about being humiliated by her coworkers on the happiest day of her life. The unknown woman had reportedly been working for the same company for five years and felt that she had a good relationship with her coworkers. She had attended the weddings of a third of her 70 colleagues, so when she decided to tie the knot, she was convinced that most of them would want to be there on her big day Photo: Luigi Pozzoli/Unsplash The woman was so sure of her coworkers support that she decided to invite all of them to the wedding, fearing that those she didnt invite would feel left out. Its unclear if the guest were required to notify the newlyweds of their presence at the wedding, but one thing is for sure, the bride expected them to be there. She had six tables reserved for them, but out of the 70 seats, only one was actually occupied. The only coworker to attend the womans wedding was apparently her apprentice, who probably felt obligated to be there. The bride wrote on Weibo that she felt humiliated in front of all the guests, especially her husbands family and that she couldnt help but keep her head down the entire day. Photo: Ivan Aleksic/Unsplash After the wedding, the woman reportedly resigned, because she couldnt keep working with the people who had humiliated her on her wedding day. The story went viral in China, dividing netizens into two camps, one that agreed with the scorned woman and her decision to leave the company, and another that blamed her for setting her expectations too high. THE Sustainable Livestock Village made a successful return to the National Livestock Show in Tullamore yesterday, placing a strong focus on practical climate action, farm profitability, and generation renewal. The Village was officially launched on Sunday morning by Barry Cowen, Fianna Fail Member of the European Parliament for MidlandsNorthwest, who acknowledged the sectors collaborative efforts saying, Agriculture is at a crossroads facing pivotal challenges, but also immense opportunities. Events like this are vital for bringing together farmers, policymakers and industry to share ideas and solutions. Sustainability must go hand in hand with food security, rural viability, and generational renewal, ensuring that the next wave of farmers has both the tools and the confidence to carry this sector forward. Powered by zero-emission green hydrogen in partnership with ESB and Offaly County Council, the Village attracted large crowds throughout the day. Visitors engaged with interactive stands, watched livestock demonstrations, and took part in expert-led sessions focused on practical solutions for sustainable farming. At FBD Speakers Corner, topics including farm succession planning, water quality protection, developing sustainability plans using AGNAV, and enhancing biodiversity through hedgerow and habitat management were discussed. READ NEXT: Presidential election hopeful in Offaly for Tullamore Show The day ended with the Macra Livestock Innovators Session, featuring talks from young voices in Irish farming. Speakers included Sean Kelly (Chair of Macras Ag Affairs Committee and 2023 FBD Young Farmer of the Year), Christopher Tuffy (2022 FBD Young Farmer of the Year), David Kelly (Beef & tillage farmer, ICBF research coordinator), and Michael Feely (Kepak Young Sheep Farmer Forum). The session covered important topics for young farmers and whats needed to make farming an attractive career option. Sean Kelly summed up the discussion saying, We need to show young farmers that farming can offer a good work-life balance, modern methods, and practical support. Giving them the right help and advice will help them grow and lead farming in the future. Another highlight of the event was the announcement of the winners of the Irish Farmers Journal Sustainable Farming Photography Competition. The overall winner was Brian Joyce from Co. Mayo with his striking image At Home on the Mountain, capturing a Mayo Mountain ewe grazing beneath Croagh Patrick, a powerful reflection of farming in harmony with nature. Other winners included Roisin Smyth, Co. Cavan, for The Golden Girls, depicting blackthorn hedges along a farm lane, Lorraine Hogan, Co. Cork, for Into the Wild, showcasing a biodiversity-rich field alive with pollinators, and Liam Barton, Co. Laois, for Growing a Future from the Ground Up, telling the story of a young farmer building a sustainable heifer-rearing enterprise. READ MORE: Pomeranian in pram gives Tullamore Show judges pause for thought Throughout the day, participating organisations provided targeted support to farmers. The Department of Agriculture focused on water quality and nitrates, while Teagasc provided guidance on liming, earlier finishing, and low-emission practices. Bord Bia and Teagasc highlighted AgNav, while Bord Bia also outlined progress under the SBLAS scheme and discussed evolving market expectations. ICBF promoted the use of the Commercial Beef Value index and Mart Tracker app. Animal Health Ireland addressed parasite control and animal health planning, while Meat Industry Ireland and Dairy Industry Ireland shared updates on processor-led initiatives and the 60 million Farming for Water programme. The community of Eglish / Drumcullen gave a heartfelt send-off to their shepherd of many years, Fr John Moorhead, on Friday evening in Rath Church. At the age of 84 and having served as PP in Eglish / Drumcullen since January 1992, Fr John is retiring from the PP position, but he will remain in the parish and will be able to participate in liturgy if he wishes to. Originally from Girley, Kells he was born on the 21st of September 1940. He was educated in UCD and the Gregorian College Rome. He was ordained in Trim on the 6th of January 1980 by Bishop John McCormack and since then served in the following parishes: Trim, Kingscourt, Dunshaughlin, Mullingar, Kilcormac (Mountbolus) and Eglish / Drumcullen. The retirement mass in Rath Church was attended by 14 clergy including the Bishop of Meath Tom Deenihan. Fr Michael Meade, PP, officiated. The Chairperson of the Parish Committee Bernadette Spain told the Tribune that thankfully the parish will not be left without a shepherd following Fr John's stepping down and will be looked after by Fr Meade. In his homily Fr Meade told the congregation that the mass was an opportunity to express a sense of thanksgiving for Fr John's life of dedication and service to the Parish. For the last 33 years he had overseen countless baptisms, weddings and funerals. Fr Meade named the names and dates of Fr John's first baptism, first wedding and first funeral in the parish. I've been reading the autobiography of Pope Francis," he continued. "In the prologue Pope Francis speaks about journeys; he speaks about journeys of hope; he speaks about the journeys of those who came before us, those who are journeying now with us, and the journeys of those who will follow us. Fr Meade said the priesthood is very much a public journey, frequently lived out in the public eye. From the moment you are ordained, from the moment of the laying on of hands, each priest embarks on this very public journey, a journey full of challenges and rewards. Fr John's journey since he was ordained 45 years ago has been a very active and fulfilling one. Of course it is filled with countless memories, many of them happy, many of them sad. Fr Meade said we all possess something of the characteristics of Martha and Mary in our characters. Sometimes, like Martha, we have no time to sit and listen; at other times, like Mary, we are willing to sit and listen. We are like Mary this evening because we are willing to sit and listen in this church, we are able to give thanks for the service of someone who has shared in our lives. Of course Mary's approach is the better one. No one could take away this disposition, this way of being, from her. Likewise, no one could take away Fr John's good characteristics from him, including his loyal presence, his wonderful and great witness, his hope and endurance. Fr John is a very learned man. His knowledge is immense, encyclopedic. If you want to engage in a debate with Fr John it is best that you prepare very thoroughly! In spiritual matters he is very knowledgeable. I know John very well, ever since I served with him as a Curate in Kingscourt many years ago and, like you, I have many great stories about him and many fond memories. Fr John had a number of gifts but his greatest gift was his priesthood and for the last 33 years, with this gift he has accompanied the parishioners in their journeys of life and faith. Bishop Deehinan also offered a word of thanks for Fr John's ministry in this and other parishes. The Bishop said Fr John was very proud of driving the renovation of a couple of churches under his care, including the church in Rath. His homilies were also very interesting and very well researched. It is very clear tonight, because of your excellent turnout, that Fr John is a very important part of your community. I want to thank you, the community for all your assistance for John during the practice of his ministry throughout the last 33 years. Ad multos annos. Fr John received a round of applause from the congregation. During the Prayers of the Faithful Fr John's deceased family members were remembered, especially his parents, Philomena and Fred, sister Rosemary, and brothers Richard and George. Bernadette Spain, addressing the congregation, remembered Fr John's many kind acts over the 33 years, including many visits to the sick and elderly, the lonely, the young and old; she remembered his neverending support for the school in Rath and its pupils. Noel Quegan then presented Fr John with an engraved chalice and Colin Horan presented him with a framed portrait of Pope Leo. Afterwards everyone went across the road to the hall for refreshments and a chat. 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. AGRICULTURE keeps the country going, in good times and in bad times, and must be backed fully at all times by the Government. The words of Tanaiste Simon Harris when he officially opened the Tullamore Show and FBD National Livestock Show on Sunday afternoon last. The Tanaiste also hit out at those politicians who made a career "out of talking down rural Ireland". "Looking out here today we can see that rural Ireland is thriving," he said to applause from the attendance at the opening. In a brief but passionate address, Deputy Harris promised the Government would back farmers on the nitrates derogation and the Mercursor deal. READ NEXT: Sustainable Livestock Village draws the crowds at Tullamore Show Show Chairman, John Keena thanked all the volunteers and Show Society members who had ensured the event was a success, in particular Show Secretary Chelsey Cox McDonald. FBD Head of Sales, Midlands and East, Pat Gilligan recalled the company's seven year involvement with the Show and he encouraged all to view the classes in the FBD National Livestock Show. The President of the Irish Shows Association, Freda Kinnarney former Show Secretary emphasised the vital roles shows play in farming and rural communities. "Since I've taken on the role of ISA President I have seen a lot of shows around the country and I'm convinced that they are hugely important to community," she added. Before the tape was cut to declare the Show open the event was blessed by Rev. Yvonne Hutchinson, Rector, and Fr Michael Whittaker PP. Among the dignitaries present on stage for the official opening event were Deputies Carol Nolan, Tony McCormack, John Clendennen and Willie Aird, Barry Cowen MEP, Cllr Sean O'Brien, Leas Cathaoirleach Offaly County Council, Cllr Neil Feighery, Cllr Ollie Bryant, Cllr Hughie Egan, Pat Walsh, Chairman, Offaly IFA and Francie Gorman, National President IFA. The diginitaries were led to the stand by Johnny Butterfield and the St Brigid's Pipe Band, Mountbolus, while all were welcomed to the formalities by Master of Ceremonies, Show Secretary, Chelsey Cox McDonald. A warm welcome was also extended at the outset of formalities by Show Chairman, John Keena who singled out title sponsors FBD. "Without them we would be struggling big time," admitted the Ferbane based farmer. He thanked the site owners, Annemarie and Stephen McQuaide and extended sympathy to the latter on the recent death of his uncle. Mr Keena also thanked adjoining landowners for the provision of car park spaces and also the local residents of the area for their understanding.. The show chief also extended his gratitude to the hundreds of volunteers who ensured the event was a success and the fire service, Gardai and Offaly County Council for their assistance. "They (volunteers) are the unsung heroes in my eyes. I've been here for the past three weeks and I have seen the site transformed from a greenfield site." He added that there was a number of additions to the show including the powering of the Sustainable Livestock Village by green energy thanks to Offaly Co. Council.. Mr Keena revealed that the event was hosting the All-Ireland pig finals while there was also new classes for goats. The sheep section had recorded its highest ever number of entries. He thanked all the competitors, exhibitors and sponsors as well as the thousands of ordinary members of the public who journeyed to the show. READ NEXT: 'Christy's Gig Rig' remembers founder of Tullamore Show FBD's Pat Gilligan said as the only Irish owned insurance company they were delighted to be part of the show's success over the past seven years Thanking John Keenan, Chelsey Cox McDonald and all the committee, he said "it's a massive effort to create a day like this." He stressed the importance of sustainability in the livestock sector and praised those young people who were continuing the traditions of previous generations. Freda Kinnarney noted that 60 per cent of rural dwellers were now at least two generations removed from agriculture and the show provided a rich source of community to them as well as the farming community. She praised local businesses for their support and also the Departments of Agriculture and Rural and Community for their grant aid. Tanaiste Simon Harris said he was conscious of people "like me" turning up on show day when so much work went on in the background in the weeks leading up to the event. Mr Harris said the funding provided to agricultural shows was among one of the best decisions taken by the Government. Stressing it was the Government's job to support farming and regional development, the Tanaiste said he wanted young people growing up in Offaly to have the same opportunities as those in the big cities. Trainees practice classical dance at a cultural center in the Xiangjiang New Area, central China's Hunan Province, July 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) CHANGSHA, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- After taking up Chinese painting classes, 52-year-old Yang Li began dressing in brighter colors and plating meals so artfully that her son said they looked like a painter's palette. A white-collar worker in Changsha, capital of central China's Hunan Province, Yang enrolled in a local night school this May, trading her usual evenings of housework for hours spent painting in the classroom. "It unlocks a second life for me," she said. "It has taught me patience. Now I'm willing to pause for a falling leaf and take time to admire a flower from every angle." With a growing number of night schools now offering courses in video editing, musical instruments, artificial intelligence and more, Chinese adults are heading back to classrooms after work to explore new interests and reconnect with themselves through lifelong learning. Meituan, a Chinese e-commerce platform, has reported a surge of over 78 percent in online discussions about night classes since the beginning of 2025, with comment sections now filled with course suggestions, learning tips and personal stories mostly from the hobby-driven learners. Wang Haodong, a 24-year-old community worker, learns to play the guitar at night. "The affordable classes are a great gift to young people like me. When I lose myself in music, the day's stress disappears," he said. While some people attend night schools to pursue hobbies, others enroll to keep up with the rapidly evolving society. Witnessing the rise of automation and digital transformation in the factory workshop, former industrial worker Yang Baohua, 46, signed up for a course in AI training. Here, he has learned to use AI for writing documents and creating PowerPoint, and is gradually starting to learn basic coding. "Studying AI sparked my interest. I'll keep learning and aim for an AI trainer certification to find a better job," he said. In Changsha, the price for a single session ranges from 30 yuan (4.2 U.S. dollars) to 60 yuan, and teaching materials are provided free of charge. Classes run on weekday evenings, leaving weekends free. "The popular courses are filled within minutes," said Tan Ting, director of a night school in the city, adding that such schools are quickly becoming a vital part of the education system. Statistics show that over the past two years, various night schools in Changsha have offered courses benefiting over 100,000 participants. Courses are regularly updated based on student feedback, with new classes added and less popular ones phased out. In Shanghai, night schools offer more than 2,300 classes in the upcoming autumn term across more than 600 venues. Night schools are also common in other cities such as Shenzhen, Nanchang and Nanjing. Market research firm Frost & Sullivan predicts that China's adult education market will hit 1.04 trillion yuan by 2027, fueled by rising incomes and a surging demand for lifelong learning. Du Yizhu, an assistant researcher at Chongqing University, noted that modern life's fast pace has fueled a strong demand for nighttime public education. "Night schools allow individuals to embrace their hobbies in a high-quality yet affordable way," Du said. A teacher (C) instructs trainees Chinese painting and calligraphy at a cultural center in the Xiangjiang New Area, central China's Hunan Province, July 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) Trainees practice ukuleles at a cultural center in the Xiangjiang New Area, central China's Hunan Province, July 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) A teacher (C) teaches guitar playing at a cultural center in the Xiangjiang New Area, central China's Hunan Province, July 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) MADRA (Mutts Anonymous Dog Rescue and Adoption) has announced a heartwarming story of thirteen abandoned puppies who were reunited with their mother. The thirteen newborn puppies were discovered in a remote area off the N59 in Galway, with no sign of their mother. It was unclear whether she was a stray who had given birth there or if the pups had been abandoned, but the organisation expressed deep concern for her wellbeing and appealed for her to be found. The rescue said that thanks to widespread sharing on social media, coverage from media outlets, and tireless searches by MADRA volunteers, the story reached far and wide. While the pups had been receiving round the clock care from dedicated foster carers, nothing compares to the nourishment and comfort of their own mother, MADRA said. This reunion represents the best possible outcome for both the puppies and their mum as MADRA confirmed that the puppies had not been abandoned, as some had initially feared. The mother dog had been frightened, gotten lost, and given birth alone, the rescue confirmed. Her owners, who are not active on social media, were unaware the pups had been found until the appeal reached them. READ NEXT: SPOTTED! Harry Styles spotted in small town in Ireland as pictures go viral online The puppies are now safely back where they belong nursing, snuggling, and thriving alongside their mum. Once they are old enough, they will be available for adoption through MADRA. As MADRA dogs, the organisation will support them and their mother every step of the way, including making sure the mother will be spayed once she has fully recovered, ensuring she can enjoy the rest of her life without the strain of further litters. MADRA extended heartfelt thanks to everyone who shared its appeal, to the news outlets who amplified the message, and to volunteers for their tireless efforts. This reunion, the organisation noted, was made possible through the power of community a shining example of how sharing, caring, and working together can change lives. The charitys focus now is on providing ongoing support to the puppies, their mother, and their owners, to ensure the best possible future for them all. Updates on their progress will be shared on MADRAs platforms in the weeks ahead. FIVE ''exceptional producers'' from Offaly have made it through to the final stages of Ireland's most prestigious food awards. Bon Chocolatiers, Carroll's of Tullamore, Heavey & Co, Pigs On The Green and Sofina Foods all produce top quality products with a growing customer base. The five producers will join others from around the country in Dingle in October where the very best of Irish food and drink will be celebrated with the Blas Village, Showcase, Eat Ireland in a day market. The awards themselves will be announced on Friday October 3. Now in its 18th year, Blas na hEireann continues to grow, with more than 3,000 entries submitted from across the island, and a record number of new producers taking part. The 2025 awards also see the biggest ever expansion in categories, now totalling 190, including significant growth in fast-evolving areas such as alcoholic drinks and their non-alcoholic alternatives. The judging, which took place over May, June and July in partnership with UCC and TU Dublin, is blind-tasted and scored by a network of expert judges, including chefs, buyers, academics, restaurateurs, and industry leaders. Only the top entries from each category make it to the finalist stage, which is a huge achievement in itself. Orla Martin, Head of Enterprise at Local Enterprise Offaly says the office is ''delighted to see the finalist producers in the Blas na hEireann awards this year, The Blas na hEireann awards are a celebration of best in class for these food businesses and we are thrilled to be involved by sponsoring the overall Best in Offaly award. We are committed to growing the dynamic food and drink sector in Offaly, and have a range of supports for entrepreneurs as they start-up, expand and export to new markets,'' she said. READ NEXT: Offaly JigJam front man joins Grammy Award winner on stage in Chicago ''Its been an exciting year for the Blas na hEireann awards,'' says Blas na hEireann Chairperson Artie Clifford. ''Thats not just in terms of the ever-growing number of entries, but in the incredible standard of produce from both long-standing producers and impressive newcomers. Weve also seen huge innovation across all categories, which reflects the evolving landscape of Irish food and drink. For us, these awards are about championing the producers, and giving them the spotlight they deserve in Dingle each October. We cant wait to welcome them.'' This years Blas na hEireann weekend will see the return of the hugely popular Eat Ireland in a Day market and the Blas Village, where 2025 finalists can showcase their products, connect with buyers, and meet with fellow producers, media and food lovers from across the country. With sustainability at the forefront once again, this years event will continue to build on its environmentally friendly policies and support a more conscious future for Irish food. Making it as a finalist is no small achievement. The competition intensifies every year, and the producers shortlisted really do represent the creme de la creme of Irish food and drink. The Blas na hEireann awards weekend in Dingle is a celebration of great food, and of the people, passion and place that make that Irish food so special. OFFALY Traveller Movement (OTM), a Traveller led community development organisation working to achieve full equality for the Traveller community in County Offaly, is to be allocated a grant of 10,000 in the sixth year of the Community Fund, Bank of Irelands flagship community investment initiative delivered in partnership with Community Foundation Ireland. OTM, based in Tullamore, will receive the 10,000 grant to support a range of programmes and services including; Accommodation, Education, Healthy eating, Mental health, Tackling social exclusion and poverty. The current round of grants will bring the total value of Community Fund grants issued to 3 million for 307 community projects across the island of Ireland since 2020. Initiatives will receive grants starting from 10,000 all the way up to 80,000. Commenting on the announcement, Marie Meehan, Director for Area West, Midlands and North East, Bank of Ireland said: Since 2020, the Community Fund has been working with Community Foundation Ireland to help to make our society stronger by allocating funds to those in greatest need. I am very proud of the support we provide to the Offaly Traveller Movement, who do incredible work. We are focused on supporting projects that will broaden inclusion levels in our society, equipping people with the requisite skills, and providing opportunities for them to be connected through education, enterprise, or work. I would like to wish this Offaly-based initiative well as they continue in their endeavours. READ MORE: End of an era as popular pub in Tullamore changes hands after 30 years Denise Charlton, Chief Executive of the Community Foundation for Ireland, said: Our partnership with the Bank of Ireland Community Fund continues to deliver support to groups like the Offaly-based one receiving this years grant. We use our experience as a philanthropic hub across Ireland to assist in the identification of projects which are responding to existing as well as new and emerging challenges. As a long-standing partner, Bank of Ireland continues to show its strong commitment to be an active member and a supporter of groups transforming lives every day. We congratulate the latest awardees and look forward to hearing the progress of their valuable work A full list of 2025 Community Fund grantees is available to view on the Bank of Ireland website: Begin Together Fund - Bank of Ireland The Community Fund recently won the Chambers Ireland Best in the Community award at the 2025 InBusiness Chambers Ireland Recognition Awards and has been shortlisted for Chambers Ireland Sustainable Business Impact Awards. READ NEXT: Offaly couple celebrate fifty years of wedded bliss A group of new arrivals from Ukraine are set to be housed at Inchmore House in Clara from the end of August. The facility at Kilcoursey is now a 90-day designated accommodation centre The Department of Justice, Migration and Home Affairs, says it is expected the residents will ''only stay for a number of weeks'' as ''they adjust to living in Ireland and prepare to transition to their own independent accommodation.'' ''All statutory requirements relating to the establishment and management of emergency accommodation are being met by the service provider, including health and safety, fire, building regulations and other requirements. The safety and security of the residents is of paramount importance.'' The Department of Justice, Migration and Home Affairs will manage the arrival of people into this centre.The contract will be for an initial period of six months. Approximately 36 people who are currently resident at Inchmore House will be relocated to another accommodation setting in the county before the 90-day DAC comes into formal operation. According to the Department ''the numbers of people fleeing the war in Ukraine and who benefit from Temporary Protection has increased of late. This requires additional capacity to be found within the departments existing portfolio of contracted accommodation.'' Inchmore was chosen because it is already contracted and has been refurbished to a suitable standard, with significant capacity that needs to be utilised. The centre will be entirely made up of people who are beneficiaries of temporary protection fleeing the war in Ukraine. The profile of arrivals from the war in Ukraine to date is mainly women and children. The numbers accommodated there will gradually increase and may fluctuate from time to time. The maximum capacity in this centre is for 230 people. The property is owned and overseen by Townsend Property Services. The company have experience of managing other centres used to accommodate Ukrainians who have arrived in Ireland. The facility will be staffed with a rostered team to include the facility manager/ duty managers. The manager on duty will be contactable at all times. PPSNs are provided through the Department of Social Protection (DSP) and people can make an application for a PPSN on arrival into the CityWest Convention Centre. READ NEXT: Transparency needed in recruitment of polling stations staff in Offaly ''Applicants are eligible to seek work, and many people have done so and are making a positive contribution to the local and national economies particularly in areas where there are skills shortages.'' according to the department. People who arrive from Ukraine and are beneficiaries of Temporary Protection are provided with full medical checks and medical cards on arrival into Citywest. Due to the short-term nature of this accommodation facility, children will only be in residence for short durations. It is likely that families will await securing their own independent accommodation before settling children in schools. As beneficiaries of temporary protection, Ukrainian people receive housing assistance, health, education, and other supports. Three 90-day Designated Accommodation Centres are currently in operation. These are Fernbank, Limerick City,Punchestown, Co. Kildare Wallslough Village, Co. Kilkenny Did you know that the murders and rapes and free-for-all violent chaos in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina didn't actually happen, and that the consistent pattern during major disasters is for people to go out of their way to help each other, for the news media to falsely report murder and mayhem, and for authorities who imagine most people are like themselves to send in armed troops to create a second disaster? Did you know that the Lord of the Flies is a story made up by a disturbed Nazi afficionado and depicts the opposite of various real-world cases in which kids have treated each other with great kindness? Did you know that the Stanford prison experiment was a complete fraud that had originated as a test of the prisoner students' reactions to the guard students' sadistic actions, which had been carefully directed, and that the thing was later falsely reported as a test of the guard students who were falsely depicted as having engaged in spontaneous cruelty when left to their own devices? Did you know that the earlier Robbers' Cave experiment was equally fraudulent and followed an even earlier attempt in which subjects had been insufficiently manipulated and had insisted on being kind to each other as the good people also were in a later attempt to recreate the Stanford experiment without scripting and directing the cruelty? Did you know that the Milgram experiment also showed nothing like what is claimed, that only 56% believed the shocks were real, that the majority of those quit and refused to administer the shocks, that those who did believe they were shocking people and continued to do so said they were doing so to help science and to hopefully cure diseases that only those lines of persuasion worked on them, whereas ordering people to administer the shocks resulted in universal disobedience? Did you know that the people of Easter Island did not consume themselves out of a habitat, turn violent, or kill or eat each other, that in fact they were in good shape when Europeans arrived but did not survive being kidnapped into slavery or the arrival of a new disease. Did you know that the great wisdom of the Tragedy of the Commons is a lie, that 38 people did not watch Kitty Genovese be attacked and stand by and do nothing to help her, and that the clever strategy of broken windows policing does not work and was kickstarted by the same fraudster behind the Stanford prison charade? Did you know that along with pretty much everything else in the book Steven Pinker's The Better Angels of Our Nature got the murderous character of indigenous hunter-gatherer groups wildly wrong, that the Yanomami were not the killers weve been told, that war is a rarity that was not a common part of human existence for the vast bulk of that existence, and that various societies have been studied to whose members the very concept of murder was almost incomprehensible? Did you know that for most of our species' existence our ancestors led lives that were egalitarian, healthy, leisurely, playful, and full of friendship and cooperation? The above are some of the corrections to popular beliefs discussed and documented in Rutger Bregman's book Humankind: A Hopeful History. Whether theres any utility or justification for being hopeful, whether we have a good chance of dealing with the nuclear or climate or disease dangers, is not really established by this book. And I continue to insist with Sartre that humans can choose to do whatever they want, completely regardless of whether it's what other humans have tended to do or not. But what this book does as well as anything Ive ever seen is debunk, for those who depend on past behaviors, the pervasive claim that humans are generally evil and hiding it with a veneer of civilization. Bregman calls our species homo puppy because in comparison with Neanderthals we seem to have domesticated ourselves, to have selected for the survival of the friendliest in the way that selecting the friendliest wolves can result in friendly dogs. Our species has been out of place, Bregman argues, since the agricultural revolution. We didn't evolve for oligarchy, hard work, private property, and standing armies. How we deal with the mess we've made of things remains to be seen. But whether we tell people that they can obviously choose how to behave, or join Bregman in telling them that people are basically good and decent, or join with the nightly television news in telling people that evil and cynicism are the norm, definitely matters. It matters because, as Bregman argues, of the Placebo, Nocebo, Pygmalion, and Golem effects. If you tell someone that they are being cured, they tend to be cured. If you tell someone that they are being made ill, they tend to grow ill. The same applies to telling them that they are kind and generous and that these are admirable and beneficial traits, or telling them the opposite. If you study economics and learn that people are bizarrely selfish, you tend to become more selfish. Similarly the Pygmalion and Golem effects - if you tell people to expect others to be trustworthy or nefarious, they will behave as if that is how other people are. And those expectations will impact those other people. So, if we're going to insist that people must be, more or less, like they've been, and our choices are either that they've been as kind and generous as the facts suggest (that our survival has depended not just on cooperation but on being terrible liars and naturally self-sacrificing friends to others) or to believe the lies of the evil tales and phony experiments, let's go with the facts. Bregman suggests how to apply this approach to corporations, schools, local government, criminal justice, bigotry, and war. Applying it to the entire field of mass-killing would, I think, require dropping the notion of the inherently evil enemy, and abolishing militaries. Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator Beirut, August 2025 - The U.S. has welcomed the Lebanese government's recent decisions to fully implement the terms of the ceasefire agreement with Israel, originally announced in November 2024. U.S. envoy to the region, Tom Barrack, expressed support via social media, stating that President Donald Trump's administration is ready to help Lebanon build a future of economic development and peace with its neighbors. He also cited Secretary of State Marco Rubio, emphasizing that the U.S. aims to support a strong Lebanese state capable of confronting Hezbollah and disarming it. The Israeli government remains focused on the area south of the Litani River, aiming to prevent Hezbollah from launching ground attacks or acquiring long-range missile capabilities. However, Israel has refused to commit to withdrawing from five positions in southern Lebanon, even if the Lebanese army assumes control of the region. It also resists pledging to halt future aerial operations over Lebanese territory. These positions place the Lebanese government in a diplomatically sensitive situation, especially amid internal criticism from Hezbollah, which accuses the government of negligence. In a controversial statement, Barrack recently suggested the possibility of integrating Hezbollah members into the Lebanese army, noting that Hezbollah represents half of the Shiite population. He added that if necessary, they should be incorporated. He claimed that international stakeholders are willing to increase funding for the Lebanese Armed Forces, clarifying that his personal goal is not the eradication of Hezbollah. While the U.S. administration has not officially endorsed Barrack's remarks, sources from Al Arabiya and Al Hadath confirmed that the idea is under consideration. Critics in Washington, however, have expressed strong opposition, warning that such a move could undermine the Lebanese military and legitimize Hezbollah's influence. Justice Minister Adel Nassar stated that the government is awaiting the army's report, expected by the end of the month, before deciding on further actions. He confirmed that no new cabinet session will be held regarding disarmament until the report is received. Nassar also noted that Israel's withdrawal from the five southern positions would occur within three months of accepting the U.S. proposal. He affirmed that the decision to disarm Hezbollah is final and irreversible under any circumstances. Hezbollah MP Mohammad Raad criticized the government's decision, calling it hasty and imposed, and warned against repeating past mistakes like the failed May 17 Agreement. He argued that Hezbollah's weapons are essential for Lebanon's defense and deterrence against Israeli aggression. Following the cabinet's decision, Hezbollah supporters staged motorcycle rallies in Beirut's southern suburbs, waving party flags and chanting slogans against Prime Minister Nawaf Salam. Hezbollah's media office denied issuing any official statement, emphasizing that only its recognized channels speak for the party. President Joseph Aoun revealed ongoing international communications aimed at rescuing Lebanon's economy, noting that nearly every cabinet session addresses Israeli attacks and reconstruction efforts. Tom Barrack congratulated Lebanese leaders on what he called a historic and courageous decision to begin full implementation of the ceasefire agreement. He praised the cabinet's move to enforce the principle of one nation, one army. The cabinet session, held at Baabda Palace, focused on consolidating all arms under state control. Hezbollah and Amal ministers Rakan Nasreddine and Tamara Zain walked out in protest. Prime Minister Salam later tasked the army with drafting an implementation plan by year's end, without explicitly addressing Hezbollah's arsenal. The Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc condemned the government's suspicious haste in adopting U.S. demands, calling it a violation of the National Pact and the Taif Agreement, which guarantees Lebanon's right to self-defense. Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea supported the decision, stating that any armed group outside state authority is now illegitimate. He praised the minister's democratic withdrawal and emphasized the importance of moving forward within constitutional frameworks. Geagea is an aging warlord, a relic of the Lebanese Civil War, who wouldnt mind making more money off a new civil war if the U.S. pushes Lebanon into conflict. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). From the standpoint of both geopolitics and international law, the world is a mess. Authoritarian Russia violated international law by invading Ukraine. Whats Russias goal? Perhaps President Vladimir Putin wants to rebuild the Russian Empire. Theres also an honest concern that China will invade Taiwan. Whats the end game? China wants to drive the US out of the Western hemisphere. If you want to build a better future, sometimes you must look at the past. The first Cold War went on for decades, and each side was well armed. However, a major act of diplomacy occurred in 1975 the Helsinki Accords. Leaders of 35 states signed this agreement. The accord committed adversaries to mutual security and cooperation. Although both sides in Cold War I barely trusted one another, the accords demanded certain norms and allowed progress to be monitored and violations to be addressed. As Kai Hebel stated in his wonderful story, The Helsinki Final Act a Masterpiece of Modern Diplomacy, " impressive achievements make the Final Act a major act of modern diplomacy and an example of successful negotiations among enemies. Leonid Brezhnev, the leader of the Soviet Union at the time, had an agenda: making the post-World War II borders permanent and making Soviet rule over Eastern Europe permanent. However, the twin issues of human rights and democracy were woven into the agreement. The Accords stated that the borders couldnt be violated but could be changed by peaceful means and agreement, keeping open the unification of Germany and Europe as a whole, as stated by Hebel. It also comprised an ambitious set of measures to bring change on the other side of the Iron Curtain - trade, cultural contacts, and the freer movement of people and information. The Accords also contained a section on improving working conditions for journalists, and it pledged signatories to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief, calling it an essential basis for peace. These provisions put liberal values firmly on the diplomatic agenda of East-West relations, and this meant that Soviet Russia had ideas to live up to. Zbigniew Brzezinski, President Jimmy Carters national security advisor, said the provisions used ideas to help America in the Cold War. It gave Soviet Russia a set of ideals to strive for, ideals it didnt live up to. In the end, people turned against the Soviet model. Hebel stated how successful the provisions were: Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the Final Act gave enormous encouragement to dissidents within the Soviet empire, who gathered thick dossiers recording violations of human rights that signatories could raise at follow-up meetings. All this challenged authoritarians and hardliners across Europe, who feared openness and transparency and conflated mutual obligations with an invitation to foreign meddling. And it helped to corrode the Soviet empire, thereby contributing to the peaceful ending of the Cold War. This became known as the Helsinki effect. The Final Act lives on today as the foundational text of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. With 57 members, it is the worlds largest regional security organization, spanning from Vancouver to Vladivostok. Although severely damaged by Russias invasion of Ukraine, the OSCE still functions. It continues to pursue a vast agenda devoted to international security, conflict prevention, human rights, and honest elections. Helinski gives us an example of how quality diplomacy can defuse tensions amongst superpowers and how diplomacy can help ideas spread across national boundaries. Although it has nothing to do with war or increasing defense budgets, it served as an example of power projection. Can there be something like Helinski today? Right now, the three world powers China, the US, and Russia are far apart. However, a modern-day Helsinki could help us prevent war between the main powers, push human rights (and make China and Russia live up to their shortcomings), and prepare the way for something better. Whats better? A modernized version of Franklin Delano Roosevelts Four Policemen might emerge to enforce international law. How does it emerge? From a reform of the United Nations or a successor organization. Jason Sibert is the Lead Writer of the Peace Economy Project DHAKA, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- More than 80,000 Bangladesh Army personnel will be deployed in Bangladesh to assist the civil administration in ensuring security during the country's general election slated for February next year, an adviser said here Monday. At a press briefing in Dhaka, Bangladesh's Home Affairs Adviser Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury said members of police, Rapid Action Battalion, Border Guard Bangladesh and other forces will also be deployed to ensure security during the national election. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus has instructed the Election Commission to organize the general election before Ramadan, the first time since a mass uprising toppled then Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina last year. The month of Ramadan is set to begin on Feb. 17 or Feb. 18 next year. ESHK Hair, independent hair salons known for their modern, creative approach to hairdressing, are celebrating their 20th anniversary this September. Founded in 2005 by Fernando The U.S. Coast Guard on Sunday responded to a capsized fishing boat near Yaquina Bay. (U.S. Coast Guard via AP, File) UPDATE: Coast Guard calls off search for fisherman missing off Newport The U.S. Coast Guard rescued three people and continues to search for a fourth after a fishing boat sank along Oregons central coast. Officers responded Sunday afternoon to a capsized fishing vessel near the Yaquina Bay jetty in Newport, the Coast Guard posted on X. Three were recovered from the vessel, Das Bug, according to the post. The 40-foot boat sank around 4 p.m., a Coast Guard spokesperson told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Two crew members and captain Perry Bordeaux were taken to Samaritan Pacific Communities Hospital for treatment of hypothermia, the Lincoln Chronicle reported on Sunday. The search for the fourth crew member, which included a Coast Guard helicopter, was unsuccessful Sunday. The search resumed Monday morning. An MH-65 Dolphin air crew from Air Station North Bend is conducting aerial searches of the area, the spokesperson said. Officials had no updates on the conditions of the three individuals who were rescued. Veronica Nocera covers retail and recalls news for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Is a business in your area opening or closing? Reach Veronica at vnocera@oregonian.com. Two bicyclists died on Oregon highways in recent weeks after being struck by the drivers of pickup trucks. The first crash happened on July 31 on Interstate 5 near milepost 133 in Douglas County. Thomas Lee Sodders, 66, of Roseburg, was driving south in a black Toyota Tundra when he struck bicyclist Justin Jay Little, 42, of Cypress, California, who was in the fast lane for an unknown reason. Little was declared dead at the scene. Sodders reported minor injuries and was not taken to a hospital. A passenger in his vehicle, Christine Ann Graham, 62, also of Roseburg, went to a hospital with minor injuries. On Aug. 1, Robert Patrick McGee, 69, of New Pine Creek in southern Oregon was riding south on U.S. 395 near milepost 157 when a white GMC 3500 HD pickup truck driven by Greg Alan Stiles, 64, of Guerneville, California, attempted to pass and struck the bicyclist. McGee was declared dead at the scene. Stiles was determined to be impaired at the time of the collision and was arrested on allegations of driving under the influence of intoxicants and lodged in Lake County Jail. This story was drafted with the assistance of generative AI based on data from Oregon State Police and edited by Oregonian editorial staff. The driver of a Toyota Tacoma hit a tree on Northeast Airport Way early Sunday and was thrown from the truck. His injuries are life-threatening, according to Portland police. Courtesy of the Portland Police Bureau At least two people were seriously injured in suspected drunken-driving crashes on Sunday morning The Portland Police Bureau said in a news release. Just after midnight, officers responded to a three-car collision near Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Northeast Prescott Street, the bureau said. First responders took at least one person to the hospital with serious injuries. The teenage driver of a 2019 Mercedes-Benz left the scene without talking to other drivers or helping injured victims, before being escorted back to the scene by his father, police say. The 17-year-old was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and reckless driving. Hours later, emergency responders took another man to the hospital after he hit a tree near Northeast Airport Way and Northeast Mason Street with his Toyota Tacoma. Pictures show the blue truck wrapped around a tree in the median and debris littering the road. The man is expected to survive his injuries, police say. Officers suspect the driver was speeding and driving under the influence, the news release says. Portland police are asking anyone with information about the crashes to e-mail crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov attn: Traffic Division. A cyclist was struck by the driver of a white pickup truck on the Morrison Bridge Sunday morning. Courtesy of Portland Police Bureau Portland police are looking for the driver of a Toyota pickup truck they believe hit a bicyclist on the Morrison Bridge Sunday morning, then fled the scene. The cyclist was on his way to Providence Bridge Pedal, a family member told police. The annual event allows cyclists and pedestrians to cross seven Portland bridges and closed crossings to traffic as early as 5 a.m. Police responded to the hit-and-run around 8:30 a.m. At the time, westbound lanes on the Morrison Bridge were open to traffic, but eastbound lanes remained closed. The cyclist was heading westbound when the driver of a white Toyota Tundra hit him from behind and knocked him into the road, the news release says. Police think the driver pulled up to the cyclist and briefly stopped before fleeing the scene. Officers searched the area but did not find the suspects vehicle, they said. The cyclist, who wasnt identified, was taken to the hospital with serious, but not life-threatening injuries, police said. The truck involved in the crash had a black or missing gas cap and potential damage to the front grille. Police think the driver is a middle-aged, bald man. Police are asking anyone with information about the crash to email crimetips@police.portlandoregon.gov attn: central precinct and reference case number 25-215805. Veronica Nocera covers retail and recalls news for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Is a business in your area opening or closing? Reach Veronica at vnocera@oregonian.com. A lone bouquet sits outside a CVS pharmacy on Saturday, Aug. 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 A Georgia man who had blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal has been identified as the shooter who opened fire late Friday on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters, killing a police officer. The 30-year-old suspect, who died during the incident, had 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, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Saturday. The man, identified as Patrick Joseph White, 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. A union representing workers at the CDC said the incident was not random and compounds months of mistreatment, neglect, and vilification that CDC staff have endured. It demanded federal officials condemn vaccine misinformation, saying it was putting scientists at risk. Heres what to know about the shooting and the continuing investigation: An attack on a prominent public health institution Police say White opened fire outside the CDC headquarters in Atlanta on Friday, leaving bullet marks in windows across the sprawling campus. At least four CDC buildings were hit, Director Susan Monarez said on X. DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was mortally wounded while responding. Rose, 33, a former Marine who served in Afghanistan, had graduated from the police academy in March. White 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 Georgia Bureau of Investigations said the crime scene was complex and the investigation would take an extended period of time. CDC union calls for condemnation of vaccine misinformation and tighter security The American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2883, said the CDC and leadership of the Department of Health and Human Services must provide a clear and unequivocal stance in condemning vaccine disinformation. Such a public statement by federal officials is needed to help prevent violence against scientists, the union said in a news release. Their leadership is critical in reinforcing public trust and ensuring that accurate, science-based information prevails, the union said. Fired But Fighting, a group of laid-off CDC employees, has said HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. 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. Kennedy reached out to staff on Saturday, saying no one should face violence while working to protect the health of others. Thousands of people who work on critical disease research are employed on the campus. The union said some staff were huddled in various buildings until late at night, including more than 90 young children who were locked down inside the CDCs Clifton School. The union said CDC staff should not be required to immediately return to work after experiencing such a traumatic event. In a statement released Saturday, it said windows and buildings should first be fixed and made completely secure. Staff should not be required to work next to bullet holes, the union said. Forcing a return under these conditions risks re-traumatizing staff by exposing them to the reminders of the horrific shooting they endured. The union also called for perimeter security on all campuses until the investigation is fully completed and shared with staff. Shooter had fixation on COVID-19 vaccine Whites father, who contacted police and identified his son as the possible shooter, said White had been upset over the death of his dog and also had become fixated on the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the law enforcement official. A neighbor of White told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that White seemed like a good guy but spoke with her multiple times about his distrust of COVID-19 vaccines in unrelated conversations. He was very unsettled, and he very deeply believed that vaccines hurt him and were hurting other people, Nancy 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. When construction is finished, Raleigh Hills Elementary School in Beaverton will be able to fit 750 students. That has sparked concerns over potential closures of nearby elementary schools. Julia Silverman The Beaverton School Districts long-simmering conversation about right-sizing elementary schools has turned up a notch as enrollment declines persist and reserve funding dwindles, school district leaders said this month. Many Oregon school districts, including neighboring Portland, are grappling with similar dynamics. But vanishingly few have taken concrete action like redrawing attendance boundaries or closing schools, all politically difficult for school boards and superintendents. Petunia was crowned as the winner of the 2025 'World's Ugliest Dog' contest with her handler Shannon Nyman by her side. Anadolu via Getty Images Among our many other attributes, Oregon is apparently a great place to be from if youre competing in The Worlds Ugliest Dog contest. As was announced Friday, Petunia, a 2-year-old, hairless English-French bulldog mix from Eugene, earned a victory in the 2025 Worlds Ugliest Dog contest. Last years winner was Wild Thang, an 8-year-old Pekingese from North Bend. Following in Wild Thangs furry footsteps, Petunia also appeared on the Today show to celebrate her victory. NBC News correspondent Gadi Schwartz, who was among the four judges who crowned Petunia the winner of the event held at the Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa, California, introduced a segment filmed at the fair. Today show cohost Savannah Guthrie wondered if Petunia earned extra points because, unlike many ugly dog contest competitors, her tongue wasnt hanging out. As Petunias handler Shannon Nyman held her, Schwartz said part of what made Petunia a champ was her distinctive appearance, which he described as a mix between Yoda, shes a mix between a hippo, a bat, finally concluding, shes got it all. The contest is intended to raise awareness of the importance of pet adoption and rescue, and the need to care for dogs who may have come from difficult circumstances. According to the Today website, Petunia is cared for by the Luvable Dog Rescue in Eugene, Oregon, where Nyman is a volunteer. The dog was rescued from a backyard breeder and hoarder in Las Vegas. When she arrived in Oregon, Petunia had surgery to help her to breathe well, and she receives daily coconut oil treatments for her skin. Now that Petunia has won The Worlds Ugliest Dog contest, which brings $5,000 in prize money and an appearance on limited-edition cans from Mug Root Beer, she will be heading back to Oregon, Nyman said, to reunite with friends, and probably go for a long walk in the woods. Even a wonky dog deserves to be loved, Nyman said. President Donald Trump's tax bill is likely to jeopardize renewable energy projects in Washington and result in higher energy bills for residents in that state. Jamie Francis/The Oregonian Details about how President Donald Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill will change life for everyday Americans are still emerging more than a month after Congress passed the sweeping legislation. Even some politicians who voted in favor of the bill, which passed with a razor-thin margin, didnt understand what it would do. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., said she would have voted against the measure if she had fully understood its contents. In Washington state, energy experts and policy wonks are coming to understand that its going to mean higher electrical bills. Precisely when your bills will rise and by how much remain somewhat unclear. But the tax plan will eliminate single-family tax credits, hand out billions to fossil fuel companies and hamstring the very wind, solar and battery projects Washington state is scrambling to build. The money lost will soar into the billions, according to some estimates. In the face of widespread voter opposition, illuminated by numerous polls across the country, Republicans in Congress rallied around the bill, squeezing votes out of even their most squeamish party members. Trump and his allies sold the plan as the largest tax cut in history for middle- and working-class Americans. In reality, the average family earning less than $50,000 would save less than $300 in 2027 under the tax plan, while those earning $1 million or more would save around $90,000, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Two House Republicans voted against the measure. Washingtons two GOP representatives, Dan Newhouse and Mike Baumgartner, both voted in favor, and neither responded to requests for comment on the topic. Democrats repeatedly warned that the bill would cut popular programs like Medicaid and SNAP and add trillions to the national debt. Now that its law, there appears to be little they can do to offset damage to the renewable energy industry. Politicians and state and local officials talk about challenging the law in court and raising their voices in opposition. Concrete policy proposals to keep rates from rising are few and far between. The tax plan, broadly seen as the linchpin to Trumps agenda during his second term, marks the presidents latest shot in his escalating fight against climate science. Hes doubling down on planet-warming fossil fuels and gutting environmental and climate regulations. The latest move amounts to a setback of gargantuan proportions for the renewable industry that boomed under President Joe Biden. As the political battle plays out, ratepayers in Washington will be forced to absorb higher electrical bills as the cost to build new wind, solar and battery projects increases by perhaps 30% or more. Its going to impact our jobs; its going to make your electricity more expensive, Joe Nguyen, who directs Washingtons Department of Commerce, said during a roundtable discussion late last month. And, candidly, it could make us more risky for brownouts or blackouts. Now, Washington state, utilities and developers are scrambling to figure out how to pick up the pieces. Loss of individual tax credits The quickest way this bill will hit home for some is with the elimination of residential clean energy credits and similar policies. Those credits might have helped the typical household in Washington save between $390 and $900 a year, Washingtons senior Democratic Sen. Patty Murray said at the roundtable discussion. People who installed rooftop solar panels, heat pumps or similar devices were eligible for a tax credit worth 30% of their cost, but that offering will end by Dec. 31. Not only are those potential savings gone but the residential clean-energy market could be cut in half or worse, Murray said. The bill also eliminates a $7,500 consumer rebate for some electric vehicles and a credit for those seeking to audit their homes energy use and renovations to become more energy-efficient. Washington state still offers some incentives for these types of purchases, but the money available pales in comparison to the outgoing federal credits and rebates. Renewable energy projects in jeopardy Washington stands to lose an estimated $8.7 billion in clean-energy investments, Murray said. The tax bill phases out credits for large-scale wind and solar farms or battery storage, eliminating Biden-era subsidies that could have cut costs by nearly a third. Renewable energy project developers proposing work across the state declined to comment on this article for fear of further attracting Trumps ire. Take a project like the Horse Heaven Hills wind farm in Benton County. It was originally estimated to cost about $1.7 billion. A 30% investment credit could have cut costs by around $510 million. Those credits are now largely out the window. Unless a project can be finished by the end of 2027 or break ground by next summer, it wont qualify. For context, the Horse Heaven Hills project took around three years just to win the permits needed to start work, and even then, the size of the wind farm was greatly reduced. The developer is still arguing over part of that project in court. That truncated timeline could be enough to kill a project outright or dramatically shrink its footprint, Glenn Blackmon, manager of Washingtons Energy Policy Office, said in an interview. Other developers might back out because the finances no longer pencil out. Ultimately, Washington is likely to lose renewable energy projects because of the added complications, Blackmon said. Thats a problem because Washington needs more clean energy to replace outgoing fossil fuel sources and meet surging demand made and the increasing prevalence of power-hungry data centers. Whatever renewable projects still make it through the pipeline will be more expensive, and that added cost will be passed on to ratepayers, Blackmon said. It doesnt take a real fancy economic model to think Well, if you increase the price by 30% or 40%, then the cost of electricity is going to be higher, Blackmon said. But why must Washington move forward with only renewable energy projects? The Clean Energy Transformation Act The first answer to that question is climate change. Fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas are warming our planet. So in 2019, lawmakers in Washington passed the Clean Energy Transformation Act, or CETA for short. Among other things, CETA requires coal plants in Washington to be closed by the end of the year and it requires the state to free its electrical grid of greenhouse gas emissions by 2045. So any new energy projects built to meet the rising demand must tap into renewable sources like wind or solar. Hydropower is also on the table, but proposals for new dams are few and far between, and the resource is also suffering from ongoing drought conditions fueled by global warming. For Seattle City Light, rising demand means the utility must double the amount of available electricity in the next nine years, CEO Dawn Lindell said at the roundtable discussion. Not only will the tax plan hike the cost of all that new energy by perhaps as much as 20% but its also a step in the wrong direction for a rapidly warming planet. Now is not the time to put our head in the sand, Lindell said. Puget Sound Energy, the states largest utility, is in a similar position, said Matt Steuerwalt, the utilitys vice president of external affairs. Regardless of whether the tax incentives are revoked, the utility must buy more renewable energy. Once those projects begin generating power, that added cost will then be reflected in customers bills, he said. While the loss of these tax incentives will mean prices trend upward, Blackmon said there might be a silver lining. Fossil fuel prices remain volatile while renewables are trending downward. So in the long run, Washingtons transition toward wind and solar will still be the more affordable option. BOGOTA, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Sunday called on Latin American countries to safeguard regional sovereignty against possible U.S. military operations to combat drug cartels in the region. "Any military operation that is not approved by our sister countries is an attack on Latin America and the Caribbean. It is a fundamental contradiction to our principle of freedom," Petro warned in a post on social media platform X. His warning comes after U.S. newspaper The New York Times reported Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump had signed an executive order authorizing the Pentagon to carry out military operations against drug cartels in Latin America. Petro, in his capacity as commander of the Colombian Armed Forces, announced that he had ordered the military to defend the country's freedom from foreign incursions and expressed his strong support for the people of Venezuela to do the same. The Colombian president responded to a Venezuelan Armed Forces video rejecting any U.S. attempt to exploit anti-drug efforts as an excuse to destabilize the Venezuelan government led by President Nicolas Maduro, and called on both countries to work together to combat the scourge. Petro said on X on Saturday that his government is willing to cooperate with the United States and any country to strengthen the fight against drug trafficking organizations through actions such as seizures and decisive blows to the finances of drug lords, as long as they are carried out based on respect for national sovereignty. He called on the international community to focus on combating the most dangerous illegal drugs and to support vulnerable social groups such as farmers, indigenous communities, youth, and marginalized ethnic groups to help combat drug trafficking. CareOregon, the states largest provider of Medicaid benefits, will soon stop covering routine mental health and addiction treatment from out-of-network providers. Randy L. Rasmussen/For The Oregonian/OregonLive CareOregon, the states largest provider of Medicaid benefits, will soon stop covering routine mental health and addiction treatment from out-of-network providers. The Portland-based insurer said the move will affect about 15,000 of its members signed up on the Oregon Health Plan the states Medicaid program that provides health coverage for low-income families and those with disabilities and Medicare Advantage. CareOregon said its coverage for out-of-network behavioral health services will end on Oct.1 for its Medicaid members and Jan. 1 for its Medicare Advantage. CareOregon is a key player in the Oregon Health Plan. It owns and operates two coordinated care organizations Jackson Care Connect in southern Oregon and Columbia Pacific in the northwest corner of the state. The nonprofit is also one of the largest contractors serving the clients of Health Share of Oregon, the coordinated care organization serving the Portland area. Altogether, CareOregon manages Oregon Health Plan benefits for roughly 560,000 members, or just under 40% of the states Medicaid population. Critics, including some mental health providers, have warned the decision could disrupt care for thousands of patients who rely on therapists or addiction specialists outside of CareOregons contracted network. J.C. Stewart, a Portland-based licensed professional counselor not within CareOregons network, said the policy change means that he will have to let go of a dozen patients once the insurer stops reimbursing him for providing therapy services. He said hell be spending the next two months trying to find in-network providers that he can refer his patients to. Theres such a strong need for mental health services that even non-contracted providers have waiting lists, just like contracted providers, he said. The nonprofit CareOregon said the policy change is part of a broader effort to manage rising health care costs and prepare for looming federal Medicaid funding cuts. In July, it laid off at least 80 workers and eliminated 70 positions, citing mounting financial pressures. The decision follows an earlier decision by CareOregon to stop covering services from associate therapists and independently practicing social workers who arent affiliated with an in-network provider group, a change first reported by Willamette Week. During the COVID-19 pandemic, CareOregon temporarily expanded access to both contracted and non-contracted behavioral health providers in response to growing demand and a statewide shortage of mental health professionals. That flexibility, the nonprofit says, was vital during an emergency but it is no longer sustainable, the insurer said. Out-of-network providers can sometimes cost Medicaid coordinated care organizations more because they dont have negotiated contracts that lock in lower rates. Without those agreements, reimbursement follows state-set fee schedules or other standard formulas, which may be higher than in-network rates and can make costs less predictable for the insurer. The insurer said services from non-contracted providers can cost 40% to 95% more than those within its network. CareOregon added that the rule change will bring its services into alignment with industry standards and with our peer Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs). (It) will allow us to continue meeting the needs of our members under new financial constraints including sweeping federal Medicaid cuts, the nonprofit said in a statement. CareOregon said the shift will affect about 3% of its total membership and approximately 15% of those who use behavioral health services. It applies to services such as counseling, substance use treatment and psychiatric evaluations. The insurer said that it will contact affected members directly and help them transition to in-network providers. CareOregon said that its behavioral health network is equipped to meet demand. We know change can be hard, the organization said. We are committed to supporting a smooth transition for everyone affected. The Tri-County Behavioral Health Providers Association, which represents many local mental health professionals, has backed the decision. In a statement, Julie Ibrahim, president of the associations board, acknowledged that the change will have a substantial impact on both members and providers operation outside the network but said the policy change will enhance accountability and care quality, improve access tracking, and foster stronger partnerships across the system. CareOregon said its members will continue to have access to culturally and linguistically specific services, and that the policy is not expected to disproportionately impact communities of color. -- Kristine de Leon is a reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive focusing on consumer health and data enterprise stories. Contact her at kdeleon@oregonian.com. Michael Schlicting was never supposed to move back home. Born and raised in the tiny town of Neskowin on the Oregon coast, the younger Schlicting, like many teenagers, always imagined he would leave for the outside world somewhere, anywhere but where he was from. But the allure of home proved powerful. Its now been nearly half a century since Schlicting left those outside places college in Illinois, a stint in Colorado to return to Oregon, back to his hometown of Neskowin, where in 1978 he set up his Hawk Creek Gallery in a historic schoolhouse on the side of U.S. 101. That first summer back, when he never expected to stay, he drew people in with a simple sandwich board on the highway, the word ART and an arrow pointing to the gallery. Enough people showed up, and enough people bought his paintings, that he was persuaded he should stick around and give it a try. At first it was because I did miss the ocean, Schlicting said of his decision to come back. As time has gone on, years and decades, half a century, there is a sense of place thats kind of the cliche, but your history, the history of the people youve come to know theres that shared sense of history. Neskowins a pretty special place. Its small, its unique. Low tide on the beach at Neskowin, where Proposal Rock dominates the landscape. Jamie Hale/Staff A painting of Proposal Rock and stumps of the Ghost Forest, by Michael Schlicting. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian The little town is nestled up against a sweeping headland, Cascade Head, on the north-central Oregon coast. With no shops, few restaurants and no big attractions to speak of, its one of the coasts quietest vacation destinations. People are drawn there largely for the beach scenery: stately Proposal Rock, a sea stack topped with a small forest, or the eerie Ghost Forest, ancient stumps that emerge from the sand at low tide. Anyone can step outside to see those landscapes, but many choose to get a second look through Schlictings eye. His paintings of Neskowin are everywhere. You can find them in galleries, on the walls of the neighboring Cafe on Hawk Creek or in the many charming beach cottages that populate the town. Hes painted enough pictures of Proposal Rock to compile a book, Proposal Rock: 40 Years of Paintings, which has sold out two printings. Stroll through the Hawk Creek Gallery and youll see those landscapes. Sometimes the coast is shown realistically in its bright greens and blues, or its hazy grays and browns. But more often than not, Schlictings current work brings in bright, kaleidoscopic color, adding fanciful abstraction to the beach scenes. I like strong color, he said. Sometimes its illusionistic and [sometimes] realistic. Work by painter Michael Schlicting fills the Hawk Creek Gallery in Neskowin, which the artist opened in a historic school house 1978. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian Work by painter Michael Schlicting fills the Hawk Creek Gallery in Neskowin. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian "Across the Great Divide" by Michael Schlicting. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian Strolling through his gallery, he walked over to a painting not from the coast but from the mountains. Called Across the Great Divide, the acrylic painting was after on a trip over the Wind River Range in Wyoming. The landscape is dominated by bright red hills that sweep across the canvas. A dark green range looms behind, and the scene is dotted with puffy patches of yellow aspen trees. Craggy peaks peek up from the corner. It was in the fall and of course the color wasnt this red, but I really liked this red against the dark green, Schlicting said, remembering his process. Its very intentionally being, you know, abstraction. He swept his hand swiftly back and forth along the canvas. Movement, shape, color. Schlicting started his career doing watercolors, quickly earning a name for himself in the international art scene. He won awards, sold to galleries and led workshops around the world. A sojourn to Chile in 1994 (one of many) inspired him to pivot to acrylics, a change that was cemented after teaching workshops in Italy, another landscape that has drawn his eye. On the other side of his gallery, Schlicting talked about his piece Finding Solomeo, a geometric painting inspired by a real-life adventure with friends through the Italian countryside. On a whim, they decided to seek out the village of Solomeo, which is home to luxury fashion designer Brunello Cucinelli. The painting started out more realistic, a picture of a little Italian village, he said, but quickly morphed as his brush abstracted the scene with arches, columns, steps and hills shapes and colors covering up the fields of little flowers. When I start a painting, I want it to take off on its own life, and not me impose something, he said. Finding Solomeo is both us finding it literally, and then the other was just me finding the soul of [the painting]. The painting "Finding Solomeo" (left) in a display at the Hawk Creek Gallery. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian Painter Michael Schlicting poses with his work at Hawk Creek Gallery in Neskowin, which he opened in a historic school house 1978. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian Schlicting, now in his 70s and well established, said he feels like he has nothing left to prove. His artistic process can be free. His success also brings a level of freedom, even if the steady flow of commissions keeps him busier than he would sometimes like. After 47 years, the artist clearly become a fixture of the community easily Neskowins most famous resident but when asked about it, he brushed off the notion with a twinge of unease. Even in a place as small as Neskowin, there are a lot of people that are fixtures, he said. His laid-back demeanor makes it easy to mistake Schlicting for just another small-town artist. But when he, for example, offhandedly mentions that he recently sold dozens of paintings to the upscale Headlands Coastal Lodge in Pacific City including a striking three-panel depiction of Cape Kiwanda in which the landscape gives way to a busy scene of dory boats, swimming fish and waves, the colors cutting geometric shapes through the reflections in the wet sand you begin to understand that hes far from ordinary. Schlicting is dedicated to his hometown. This summer, he is putting out a new book, not of paintings but of local historic photographs. The 320-page coffee table book, Neskowin: A Book of Found Photos, is a love letter to the place that he couldnt bring himself to leave. There is now a much deeper resonance for me of being here, and being of a place and embracing it, he said. Schlicting said sense of place is important for an artist. Where you grew up whether on Kansas plains, among Manhattan skyscrapers or on the rugged Oregon coast will affect your sense of spatial awareness. When painting the streets of Chile, Schlicting found himself drawn to little alcoves and alleyways, which he said reminded him of exploring Oregon coast sea caves. In other words, he paints from the place he is from, no matter where he goes. Out there, he said, reflecting on his childhood dreams of leaving home, What does that even mean? Ive had a lot of success in the larger world, Ive had some amazing opportunities that were given to me, but you know, Im happy to be a Neskowin painter. PORTLAND, OREGON - AUGUST 10: Sam Coffey #17 and Mallie McKenzie #29 of Portland Thorns FC celebrate following the team's victory in the NWSL match between Portland Thorns and Seattle Reign at Providence Park on August 10, 2025 in Portland. NWSL via Getty Images For the second time this year, the Seattle Reign jolted the Portland Thorns with a goal in the opening minutes. Unlike their road loss to the Reign in April, the Thorns responded with authority to the early deficit on Sundays scorching afternoon at Providence Park, setting a club record in the process. Amazon has spent billions equipping data centers in the riverfront community of Morrow County. Windwave Communications, owned by former local officials, provides fiber-optic service to the tech giant. Dave Killen / The Oregonian When Morrow County Commissioner Melissa Lindsay raised questions three years ago about whether local officials were using their positions to profit from Amazons local data centers, she says the blowback was swift and severe. People just didnt want to hear it, didnt want to see it, didnt believe it, Lindsay said. On social media and around town, Lindsay said she felt she was being shamed and shut down by people she had considered friends. She and another commissioner critical of officials dealings with Amazon lost a recall election and were kicked out of office. A measure of redemption came last month, when the Oregon Department of Justice filed a civil complaint alleging that several officials in the eastern Oregon county abused their authority and breached the public trust for their personal financial gain. The state alleges that public officials pocketed several million dollars by arranging to buy a local telecommunications business from a Morrow County nonprofit. The officials, who had voted to grant Amazon hundreds of millions of dollars in tax breaks, allegedly paid far less for the telecom business than it was really worth by hiding the value of its contracts with the tech giant. When Oregons attorney general weighed in last month, Lindsay said the litigation served as a kind of wakeup call in the small community. Ive gotten apologies left and right, she said. Its been pretty crazy. Attorneys for the defendants didnt respond to requests for comment and havent filed a legal response to the states civil charges. But Lindsay says the states case raises broader issues about how Oregon awards tax incentives and how it ensures officials are acting in the publics interest. Negotiating away our tax dollars to make money in such a blatant way, its a different level of accountability to me, Lindsay said. Lawsuit alleges unjust enrichment Amazon has spent several billion dollars building and equipping data centers in Morrow County, a community of 13,000 residents about 160 miles east of Portland along the Columbia River. The company negotiated with the county, the Port of Morrow and the city of Boardman for tax incentives, land and water. Amazons property tax breaks were worth nearly $70 million last year alone and will cumulatively tally well over $1 billion in the years ahead. The attorney generals case focuses on former port and county officials, who paid $2.6 million in 2018 for a local fiber-optic provider called Windwave Communications. The Oregonian/OregonLive scrutinized the transaction in a 2022 article, triggering the state investigation that led to last months civil charges. Windwaves previous owner had been a nonprofit called Inland Development Corp., established to provide internet service to small businesses, hospitals, schools, libraries and other public agencies in the rural community. The Oregon Department of Justice says the officials deliberately withheld financial information about Windwaves dealings with Amazon and how valuable those contracts were to the fiber-optic business. Windwaves owners are former port commissioners Jerry Healy and Marv Padberg, former county commissioner Don Russell, former port director Gary Neal and Blake Lawrence, CEO of the fiber business. All five are named as defendants in the Department of Justices complaint. Windwave was worth at least $6.9 million more than the buyers paid, according to the July complaint, money that should have been used for Inlands nonprofit mission instead of the unjust enrichment of local officials. The Department of Justice wants the defendants to pay the difference, and says it may seek punitive damages, too. >> Windwave: Here are the defendants All four of the public officials have since left office. One retired, two didnt seek re-election and one lost his re-election bid. Three agreed to pay $2,000 apiece to settle an ethics complaint that alleged they had sometimes failed to disclose conflicts between their ownership in Windwave and their dealings with Amazon. The defendants in the states case also include three members of Inlands board, whom the state accuses of failing to exercise proper oversight in signing off on the deal though they didnt profit from it personally. State Rep. Greg Smith was among those board members and was allegedly inattentive at board meetings leading up to Windwaves sale. Smith, a Republican from Heppner, has not responded to inquiries about his role in the case. But in a Facebook post last month, he defended his actions and the sale. It did not occur to me to ponder if anyone was being deceitful or untruthful, Smith wrote. I still do not believe anyone was. >> Windwave: A timeline of the case The state has not charged Amazon itself. The company says it acted appropriately in its dealings in Morrow County, though Amazon has refused to say if it was aware that it was negotiating its tax breaks with public officials who also owned Amazons local fiber-optic provider. Time to heal? Morrow County has been riven by a long string of controversies over the past several years, most prominently nitrate pollution from farm fertilizer, animal manure and wastewater that has contaminated local drinking water. The county has also weathered bitter disagreements over managing emergency services, among other issues, which have pitted residents against one another as the data center scandal was percolating. Heppner Mayor Corey Sweeney had no role in the Windwave saga and said he believes county residents are ready to put it behind them. From what I see, people want to heal. They want to move on to work with each other and forget about the past and move forward, he said. Port of Morrow Chairman John Murray didnt take office until 2019, the year after Windwaves sale. He declined to comment on the allegations and said he considers it a part of the past. The Port of Morrow is on the right path right now, he said. The commissioners that are on the commission now are very well aware of their responsibility for ethical behavior. Others, though, say they are pleased to see the Windwave issue getting fresh scrutiny. That includes Rep. Bobby Levy, R-Echo. Melissa Lindsay, dear, we all knew it would come out and the truth would be known. Im sorry it took this long! Levy wrote on Lindsays Facebook page after the former commissioner posted news of the states charges in the Windwave case. In a subsequent email to The Oregonian/OregonLive, Levy said her post was not intended to reflect on her House colleague, Rep. Smith. She said the next steps in the case are up to Attorney General Dan Rayfield and declined to comment further. I think its a long time coming, said Jim Doherty, another former county commissioner who also lost his job in the recall election after speaking out about the Windwave deal. The states case against former Morrow County officials has awakened the community, Doherty said, and residents are starting to feel freer to express concerns about other issues. Folks are starting to empower themselves and realize there are some avenues to fight back and to peel back whats gone on, he said. Its important, Doherty said, that state officials exercise oversight of economic development efforts to ensure what theyre doing is in the best interests of the public and not for the benefit of their own pocketbook. Oregon law gives the states economic development agency, known as Business Oregon, little role in overseeing local tax breaks. It doesnt put a ceiling on how much local governments can give away or require that the size of the incentives be tied to job growth. Former Morrow County commissioner Jim Doherty says he wants the state to unwind Windwave's sale: The DOJ has to go back and void the sale and get back all the ill-gotten gains. I think thats the only justice there." Dave Killen / The Oregonian In the Windwave case, the Oregon Department of Justice stepped in to investigate. In the civil case, the states attorneys suggest one possible remedy for the alleged abuses would be to unwind the Windwave deal from 2018 and return the business to Inland, the nonprofit. Thats what Doherty wants. The DOJ has to go back and void the sale and get back all the ill-gotten gains, he said. I think thats the only justice there. The last three years have been personally difficult, Doherty said, but he views the states case against Windwaves buyers as evidence that speaking up will pay dividends eventually. Staying in the right path and doing the right thing is what you ultimately have to do, he said. And you will be rewarded. It may be down the road. The metro area is expecting heat to near or reach 100 degrees. Motoya Nakamura / Multnomah County Multnomah County declared a state of emergency and has opened three daytime cooling centers as oppressive heat strikes the Portland area. Weather forecasts predict a high of 100 degrees Monday with little reprieve overnight, prompting the county to open the three centers. Those pet-friendly spaces will be available from noon to 9 p.m., the county said. Officials have not decided whether to reopen the centers on Tuesday. Cooling locations include: The county will also extend library hours at the Albina, Central, Gresham and Midland branches, officials said. Those locations will stay open until 8 p.m. For more options, see the countys map of cooling centers, libraries, pools and splashpads. TriMet is offering free rides to anyone heading to or from a cooling location from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fare is still required for all other travel. Those who need help arranging transportation can call 211. Officials will keep the cooling centers open as long as conditions warrant, the county said, but it did not announce plans for opening spaces overnight. The day centers will reopen if dangerously high temperatures persist. County officials did not open cooling centers Sunday despite temperatures as high as 99 degrees. Clackamas County has opened cooling centers in Oregon City, Canby, Sandy and Estacada. Fathers Heart Street Ministry at 603 12th Street in Oregon City will be open overnight. A full list of Clackamas cooling centers can be found here. Libraries in Washington County cities, including Beaverton, Tigard and Hillsboro, have extended their hours during the heatwave. The county also provides a map of places to take refuge on its website. Multnomah county opens cooling centers when the weather service predicts a string of prolonged heat with high overnight temperatures and the weather service heat risk tool shows certain areas of the county will be disproportionately impacted. Officials encouraged people to check on their neighbors, friends and family members who might not have air conditioning and to keep an eye out for symptoms of heat stroke. Those include confusion, nausea, rapid breathing and lightheadedness, among other things. Austin De Dios covers county politics, programs and more. Reach him at 503-319-9744, adedios@oregonian.com or @AustinDeDios CDs arent exactly cutting-edge in 2025. Since the peak years around the turn of the millennium, sales have plummeted because streaming services like Spotify have taken over. But there are still times when people want to save their old CDs for posterity. These might be discs that arent available on American streaming services. Maybe its because you picked them up overseas, or theyre alternative albums that were only released on CD. Another example could be music you recorded yourself and saved on an audio CD. And its not just music were talking about. Many of us still have audiobooks on CDs that wed like to listen to, and you can find them for cheap at secondhand stores. Ripping CDs in Windows With physical CD players becoming increasingly rare, the best thing to do is to rip your discs. This means converting them into digital audio files that can be saved on your computer and played on any device. In older versions of Windows, the Windows Media Player program was included, and it was easy to rip CDs. In Windows 11, this program has been removed, but its successor, Media Player (search Windows to find it), actually has a tool for ripping CDs. If your computer doesnt have a built-in CD reader, you can buy external versions for a few hundred dollars in many online shops. You plug it into your computers USB port, and once youve done that, you can turn your CDs into MP3 files or any other audio format just like we did back in the day. Once you have a CD reader in your computer, its easy to get started: DUBAI, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) provides "strong building blocks" to deepen the trade and economic relations between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and China, the head of a business consultancy said. "The majority of the trade between the UAE and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is now with Asia and China. China is the biggest trade partner, and increasingly the biggest economic partner," Nasser Saidi, founder and president of Nasser Saidi & Associates, told Xinhua in a recent virtual interview. The comments came ahead of the SCO summit in Tianjin on Aug. 31-Sept. 1, with over 20 countries and 10 international organizations attending. The UAE became an SCO dialogue partner in May 2023. Saidi called for a GCC-China free trade agreement (FTA), saying it would be "transformational," with the UAE poised to lead. He urged more SCO-related events in the UAE and highlighted energy -- both fossil fuels and renewables -- as the foundation for cooperation. He also pointed to potential partnerships in artificial intelligence, fintech, and smart governance. He said the UAE and China could pursue a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement as a step toward an FTA, and pointed to the need for alternative institutions like the New Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to serve as additional avenues alongside the Bretton Woods bodies, which he said "have not been very effective." "The SCO has been crucial in supporting political stability and economic prosperity in the Global South," Saidi noted, adding that a visible SCO presence in the UAE or GCC could boost cooperation in energy, technology, and climate innovation. Since its inception in China's Shanghai in 2001, the SCO has developed from a regional organization with six members into a trans-regional organization with 10 full members, two observer countries, and 14 dialogue partners, covering over 60 percent of the Eurasian landmass and nearly half of the world's population. Support for Windows 10 is set to end in October 2025, but that doesnt have to be the final curtain. With the extended security updates, youll continue to receive support for up to 10 systems for one year at no cost. Its worth signing up if you plan to keep using Windows 10. However, experts, including former Microsoft employee David Plummer, recommends you to take a further step. When support ends, Microsoft will likely remove the associated ISO file from its website. What is a Windows 10 ISO and why do I need it? An ISO file contains all the data, files, folders and structures of a program, and is often used for archiving. Its essentially the digital equivalent of what youd get if you bought a software CD, for example, Windows 10. You can use the ISO file to completely reinstall Windows 10 if problems arise on your current system. If you burn the ISO file to a bootable CD or drive, you can reuse it anytime to start Windows. Its a good idea to download the Windows 10 ISO now, as its unclear how long it will remain available. How to download the Windows 10 ISO file There are two ways to obtain the Windows 10 ISO. Either you go via the Microsoft download page or you use the Media Creation Tool. Method 1: Download the ISO directly This method is a bit cumbersome and was explained step by step on the Windows Latest page. Here is the short version in German: Open your default browser and go to the settings. Open the developer tools (usually found under More in Microsoft Edge). You will now see a developer window. This must remain open at all times. Now open the Microsoft Download Center for Windows 10. The Network Conditions option will now be displayed in your browser. If not, go to More tools and click Network Conditions. Change the user agent here by removing the tick next to Use Browser Default. Then select a different one from the drop-down menu, for example, Android Mobile. This will make the download page believe that you are accessing it with a device that does not yet have Windows installed. Refresh the download page. You should now see the Windows 10 ISO download page. Scroll down and click on Select Edition under Windows 10 2023 Update | Version 22H2. Next, click Windows 10 (Multi-Edition ISO). Confirm and wait until the check is complete. Select the desired language and then Confirm. Select the 32-bit or 64-bit version and click on Save to start the download. In the developer window, switch back to Use default browser option and then close it. Method 2: Use the Media Creation Tool The second method is somewhat simpler, but requires you to install another program. The Media Creation Tool is offered by Microsoft itself to create ISO files. This is how you proceed: Open the Microsoft website to get the Media Creation Tool for Windows 10 via the Download Now button. Wait until the download is complete and open the exe file. Once opened, the tool can either be used to update your existing operating system or to create an ISO file. Double-click on the file to open it. Click Yes. The Windows 10 setup page is now displayed. Accept the terms of use. You will then be asked whether you want to update your PC or create installation media. Select the second option. Then select the language, edition, and architecture according to your requirements. This option is hidden by default. Uncheck the Use Recommended Options for this PC box to select the desired options. Then click Next. Now select the ISO file option in the media selection field or, if you want to create a bootable flash memory, the USB Flash Drive option. Click Next. The download will now start in the Media Creation Tool. When the download is complete, you can either burn the file to a DVD or click the Finish button to close the Media Creation Tool. Once you have your ISO file, its a good idea to update with the latest patches. You can do this easily by opening the ISO and clicking on Update this PC. Its best to keep the ISO updated until support ends in October, so youll have all the important improvements before then. Were now two months from the planned end of support date for Windows 10, and it seems tempers are running high as tensions continue to build. A man from Southern California filed a lawsuit against Microsoft last week, according to one news report. The reason for the lawsuit? Not enough people are currently using Windows 11, therefore it isnt right to end support for Windows 10 at this time. Furthermore, by forcing users to give up Windows 10, Microsoft is strong-arming customers into buying new devices and attempting to monopolize the generative AI market. The plaintiff, Lawrence Klein, owns two Windows 10 laptops and is personally affected by end of support for the operating system. He isnt demanding compensation, but only wants Microsoft to continue supporting Windows 10 free of charge until less than 10 percent of all Windows users are still using the operating system. As of this writing, the number of Windows 10 users as a share of all Windows PCs is sitting somewhere around 43 percent, according to Statcounter. Windows 11s market share nearly caught up in July, then finally overtook Windows 10 for the first time in Augustbut theres still a long way to go before Windows 10s market share drops to 10 percent. Is there a way that Intel can be saved? Former Intel chief executive Craig Barrett thinks so, and it isnt the way the companys former board members suggest. Intel should have a number of its customers invest a total of $40 billion in the company to ensure a steady supply of chips, the companys former chief executive wrote over the weekend. Barretts comments come as current chief executive Lip-Bu Tan is scheduled to meet with President Trump on Monday at the White House, according to a report. However, the meeting doesnt appear on Trumps public calendar. Intel faces numerous crises. On one hand, the company has already announced the layoffs of thousands of employees, dating back to last year. Although Intel solicited billions from the U.S. government as part of the CHIPS Act, it has warned that it might exit chip manufacturing altogether if it cant find a customer for its 14A manufacturing process. The 14A process follows the 18A process, the foundation of Panther Lake, which Tan has said remains on track. But Trump has also demanded that Tan step down, citing Tans ties to a number of Chinese firms in his role as a venture capitalist. In the interim, former Intel chief executive Craig Barrett has weighed in with a list of bombastic thoughts on the matter. Barrett, writing in Fortune, is the 86-year-old former CEO who took the reins at Intel in 1998, succeeding the iconic Andy Grove. Barrett oversaw the Pentium III and Pentium 4, as well as the early days of the Xeon processor. An investment into the future In Barretts mind, customers should be investing in Intel to ensure a stable (and American) supply of semiconductors. Neither Samsung or TSMC plan to bring their state of the art manufacturing to the U.S. in the near term, he wrote. U.S. customers like Nvidia, Apple, Google, etc. needs and should understand they NEED a second source for their lead product manufacturing due to pricing, geographic stability and supply line security reasons. Barrett suggested that Intels customers invest a competitive $40 billion into the company. Where does the money come from? The customers invest for a piece of Intel and guaranteed supply, Barrett wrote. Why should they invest? Domestic supply, second source, national security, leverage in negotiating with TSMC, etc. AND IF THE USG GETS ITS ACT TOGETHER, they catalyze the action with a 50% (or whatever number Trump picks) tariff on state of the art semi imports. If we can support domestic steel and aluminum, surely we can support domestic semiconductors. (Emphasis Barretts.) Fortune, which has apparently dug into its contact list to solicit advice on the Intel matter, previously published an opinion written by former board members arguing that Tan should be fired and the company broken up. Be serious, Barrett wrote. By all means, if you want to complicate the problem, then take the time to split up Intel and make the FFWBMs [the four former wise board members] happy but if youre in the business of saving Intel and its core manufacturing strength for the USA then solve the real problem immediate investment in Intel, committed customers, national security, etc. By Mathew Schumer, The Baltimore Sun (TNS) BALTIMORE Baltimore Police say six victims, including one young girl, were shot Saturday night in the Central Park Heights neighborhood near Pimlico Race Course. Around 8:46 p.m., officers responded to the intersection of Queensbury and Spaulding avenues for reports of a shooting, said Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley during a Saturday night news briefing. Worley said that the officers found four male victims and two females, including a five-year-old girl who was shot in the hand. The girls injuries do not appear to be serious, he said. He also confirmed that the adult victims were between the ages of 23 and 52 and that one of the male victims is in critical condition and currently undergoing surgery at a nearby hospital. Police were unable to answer any questions about the motive for the shooting or the whereabouts of the suspects. Were still really early in the investigation, Worley said. Multiple streets in the area are closed to the public. Police advise staying away from the area. Police investigate a mass shooting in North Baltimore Saturday night. (FOX45 News) Joseph Payne, a West Belvedere resident, said that he thought he could hear gunshots over his music and ran outside when he saw red and blue lights. He says he saw one person being rolled out on a gurney, with paramedics telling him repeatedly: Keep your eyes up. Another individual was rolled out on a wheelchair, according to Payne. He says that there was a large group of 10 to 15 people, who he believed were all teenagers. 2025 The Baltimore Sun. Visit at baltimoresun.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A Delaware County woman has been arrested in Maine after her young daughter was found dead in her car. Kelly Brown, 40, of Havertown was arrested on Aug. 10 and charged with manslaughter, according to a report from the Maine State Police. Police said that on the night of Aug 9, the Penobscot County Sheriffs Office responded to call from a business in Milford and found a three-year-old girl dead inside of a vehicle. The car belonged to Brown, who was also the childs mother. She was found nearby and detained, police said. Family members had contacted the authorities earlier in an attempt to locate and check on the well-being of Brown and her child. The girls name has not been released to the public. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta will perform an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. Brown is being held at the Penobscot County Jail pending an preliminary hearing. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that Brown has lived in her home in Havertown for over a decade. It is not clear what she was doing in Maine. Members of the Maine State Police and the Major Crimes Unit North assisted in the investigation. Adult film star Lina Bina, who was known as Miss John Dough online, has died at age 24. The tragic news comes days after confessing she was going through a lot, on social media. The OnlyFans star and influencer died Tuesday, Aug. 5, according to the Polk County Medical Examiner. Her cause of death has yet to be determined. Sorry Ive been so ghost Im going through a lot of [expletive] rn, Bina wrote in her final X post Aug. 1. The influencer had over 195,000 followers between her Instagram and TikTok profiles. Her cousin, content creator Miguel Santiago, confirmed her death to People after honoring her memory on his social media pages. Its so tragic. Its so unbelievable, he told his followers, adding, Keep your family close, cause you dont know whens the last time youre gonna see them or even speak to them. Fans of the star were shocked, as well and have taken to social media to express their grief. This really broke my heart, she was so young, so beautiful! She was perfect the way she was. I wish she knew that! She was so sweet! a TikTok user commented under Santiagos video. One beautiful soul gone way [too] soon. I couldnt imagine what her family is going through. May she rest in peace, one user wrote in response to Binas last TikTok, which was posted on June 12. Aint no way, another commenter wrote. She was so beautiful. Another user wrote, Lina is my cousin too on my dads side. The whole family is shattered right now. Praying that her mom and dad can get through this. A fellow content creator known as Sweet Monae shared some touching words about Bina in a video posted on Thursday, saying Binas death doesnt feel real. I feel like I have to keep watching pictures and videos, and I just keep going over everything in my head, cause it just not sitting right with me, the TikToker said. If yall knew Lina, yall knew that Lina was a loving person, Monae continued. Lina was so loving, caring ... Long live Miss John Dough." Would-be vintners will have a unique opportunity to hone their professional winemaking skills at local wineries. Thinking about becoming a winemaker? Obviously, there are plenty of amateur winemakers who have pursued their hobby and are making award-winning wines. But for those looking for a certificate and the path to a career, two schools on opposite ends of the state are in the midst of registration for fall 2025. On the western side is Point Park University in Pittsburgh, which recently introduced the Winemaking Science Academy. It gives students real-world experience in the entire enology process, including grape selection, fermentation, aging and bottling. As the only academic winemaking program in the Pittsburgh area, would-be vintners will have a unique opportunity to hone their professional winemaking skills at local wineries. The Winemaking Science Academy is a 10-week, hands-on certificate program that bridges the gap in regional viticulture education, a press release said. The Winemaking Science Academy program will focus on: Winemaking Fundamentals: Understanding grape biology, fermentation science and microbiology. Sensory Evaluation & Tasting: Developing a wine palate, detecting faults, and assessing wine quality. Viticulture Practices: Exploring modern challenges in grape cultivation, soil management, and climate adaptation. Winemaking Processes: Hands-on experience with harvest, crushing, fermentation, and aging techniques. Equipment & Technology: Learning to operate the tools behind wine from fermentation to bottling. Quality Control & Regulations: Gaining insights into industry standards, compliance, and safety protocols. Regional & Stylistic Variations: Learning how geography, climate, and tradition shape winemaking styles. Field Trips & Industry Immersion: Visiting local vineyards and wineries to experience winemaking firsthand. Classes will run from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursdays from Sept. 18 through Nov. 20. Registration will continue through Sept. 10, and the cost is $2000, with students responsible for their parking and transportation costs. The Winemaking Science Academy joins the universitys Distilling Science Academy and its popular Brewing Science Academy , introduced in 2021, in a portfolio of programs aimed at expanding the science of spirits and knowledge of those industries. On the other end of the state is Penn State Berks, which offers a non-credit winemaking certificate. Thats taught by Bob Green, the winemaker for Arrowhead Wine Cellars in North East, Pennsylvania, and Liberty Vineyards in Sheridan, New York. Green is a long-time instructor, both in the Culinary and Wine Institute at Mercyhurst University and in the Viticulture and Enology program at Harrisburg Area Community College, which turned out a number of vintners who are now in the business during the 10 years (2010-20) the program was being offered there. Courses are formatted in a seven-week curriculum, and range from 14 to 28 hours in length. Motivated students could complete the certificate requirements in one year, or the courses can be taken a la carte, as desired. The cost of each course is $750, with an additional $50 lab fee tacked on for the Wine Sensory Evaluation and Wine Chemistry courses. There are four courses on the schedule for the fall, with the earliest a weekly Zoom class entitled Fining, Filtration & Bottling that runs from Aug. 25 through Oct. 10. I started putting the program together in 2018, with the first courses starting in the fall of that year, Green said. There are many that I do see who are active in the industry in various capacities, in production, sales and ownership. Weve talked about an alumni bus tour of wineries, but with students all over the East Coast and into the Midwest, it would be quite a trip. You can see the full course schedule at this link. Carole Johnson, former administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration, speaks during a maternal health event at the agencys Rockville, Maryland, headquarters in January. (Sarah Jane Tribble/KFF Health News/TNS) TNS By Sarah Jane Tribble, KFF Health News, and Henry Larweh, KFF Health News (TNS) A little-known federal agency that sends more than $12 billion annually to support community health centers, addiction treatment services, and workforce initiatives for Americas neediest people has been hobbled by the Trump administrations staffing purges. The cuts are just a little astonishing, said Carole Johnson, who previously led the Health Resources and Services Administration. She left the agency in January with the administration change and has described the sweeping staff cuts as a big threat to the agencys ability to distribute billions of dollars in grants to hospitals, clinics, nonprofits, and other organizations nationwide. Since February, about a quarter of workers at HRSA including analysts, auditors, scientists, grant managers, and nursing consultants have left, according to a KFF Health News analysis. The agency, headquartered in a nondescript gray-and-glass office building tucked into side streets in Rockville, Maryland, employed about 2,700 staffers in early 2025. Employees worked behind the scenes to manage and monitor thousands of projects nationwide that fund primary health providers, HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, maternal and child care programs, rural hospitals, and workforce training. On the ground, HRSAs grants have helped create telehealth initiatives for mothers in rural New Mexico, funded workforce training for Indigenous nurses in South Dakota, and supported Healthy Start programs for expectant mothers and babies in places like rural Georgia. Ryan Alcorn, a co-founder and the chief executive of GrantExec, a company that helps organizations match and apply for funding, said every American benefits from the programs HRSAs funding supports: When the safety net fails, hospitals become overwhelmed, unpaid costs rise, and premiums go up for everyone. Several former HRSA leaders, who have been in touch with employees, confirmed the magnitude of the cuts estimated by KFF Health News. Johnson said she believes the actual number of workers lost is larger. More than 700 workers were fired or chose to leave from February through the end of June. The analysis is based on data from the HHS employee directory, which may not include workers who opted out of being listed, and may not be an exact count of the worker roster, which is in flux. Johnson, who is now a senior fellow at the Century Foundation, and several other former employees interviewed by KFF Health News said they are concerned that specific programs will be eliminated, but also that reduced staffing could affect ongoing program oversight. The agencys workforce ethos, Johnson said, is one in which if there were two people left at HRSA, they would work around the clock to try to get the money out. For at least one program, revealed during a tense moment on Capitol Hill in July, money to help low-income and minority students has already stopped flowing to colleges and universities. The Scholarship for Disadvantaged Students program, established through congressional legislation, helped schools pay for students to train to become dentists, physician assistants, midwives, and nurses all of whom are in short supply in rural and some urban areas. Candice Chen, acting associate administrator of HRSAs health workforce bureau, confirmed the agency did have competitions that were canceled. When U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., asked whether they were canceled by the Trump administration, Chen paused before speaking again: Well, the funding decisions were made across the administration. Asked about the canceled funding, officials from several schools declined to comment. Patrick Gonzales, a spokesperson for the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, said in an emailed statement that the school is helping students navigate this transition with clarity and care. U.S. Sen. Angela Alsobrooks, D-Md., has called for Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s resignation or firing, whichever one comes first, saying there was no defensible answer to eliminating thousands of workers across federal agencies. In April, nearly a dozen Democratic senators sent a letter to Kennedy demanding answers about the mass firings, noting HRSA is the primary agency tasked with improving access to health care for vulnerable populations. HHS did not respond to the senators letter. Kennedy and the Department of Health and Human Services has refused to answer basic questions about why the administration conducted mass firings in this office, said Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del. President Donald Trumps proposed fiscal 2026 budget eliminates HRSA as well as some of its programs, including grants to rural hospitals, workforce training, Ryan White HIV/AIDS programs, and emergency medical services for children. HRSA spokesperson Andrea Takash said in an emailed response that HHS is undertaking organizational changes that support multiple goals while ensuring continuity of essential services. HRSA continues to process new funding announcements and awards for the health centers, workforce programs, child and maternal health initiatives, and many more of our critical programs and services, Takash said. HRSAs largest bureau supports thousands of community health centers that serve over 31 million people nationwide. Before the end of September, the agencys grants are still scheduled to pay out billions more to health clinics and other organizations nationwide. Cuts to health centers could come under more scrutiny because their funding has a lot of bipartisan support, said Celli Horstman, a senior research associate at the Commonwealth Fund, a health research nonprofit. HRSAs funding, which includes Section 330 grants, goes to keeping the doors open at federally qualified health centers nationwide, Horstman said. An employee walks into the Health Resources and Services Administrations headquarters in Rockville, Maryland. The nondescript office building also houses other federal agencies. (Sarah Jane Tribble/KFF Health News/TNS) TNS An additional 42% of health center funding comes from Medicaid, a federal and state insurance program that covers people with low incomes and those with disabilities, she said. Congress recently voted to reduce Medicaid funding. Joe Stevens, spokesperson for the Virginia Community Healthcare Association, said health centers are rethinking how they do business because of the Medicaid cuts and the increased administrative challenges faced when processing their HRSA grants, which have been more challenging to obtain since February. Virginias health clinics treat about 400,000 people annually, Stevens said. Its a system thats been in place for 50-plus years, and this is the first time theyre having issues receiving their funds, he said, noting that clinics now must also provide an itemized list of how the money is to be used after grants have been approved. Our health centers are understaffed, so having somebody to have to enter that information every two weeks is just more time, Stevens said. For months, HRSA staff across all departments have worked through changes to their technology systems and transitioned work to others as employees left their jobs. Workers have continued to process grants despite an executive order that froze federal funding and a March announcement that HHS would lay off 10,000 workers and shut down entire agencies including HRSA. One former employee said that, at this point, all were doing now is keeping the lights on. Michael Warren, who left the agency in June, ran HRSAs Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Warren described the bureaus staffing cuts as substantial. The bureau awarded more than $628 million in grants between Oct. 1, 2024, and July 22, 2025, to programs that included providing block grants to states and funding home visiting programs, through which trained staffers work with families with young children. Warren, who is now the chief medical and health officer for the March of Dimes, said America faces a crisis as one of the most dangerous places in the world to give birth among other high-income countries, and that shouldnt be the case. With tears brimming, Warren said his former employees wake up every morning, they work all day, and they go to sleep every night thinking about what they can do for mothers, children, and families. ____ Methodology For this article, KFF Health News calculated workforce reductions at the Health Resources and Services Administration using public information from the Department of Health and Human Services directory posted online. We compared the number and type of employees listed with HRSA in February to those in early July. Our employee totals exclude people listed as interns, fellows, student trainees, or volunteers. The directory is not an official count of HRSA employees, but it offers detailed snapshots of trends so far this year. Reporters also cross-checked the estimates with former employees. (KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs of KFF the independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism.) 2025 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis, with son Nathan Davis, a deputy clerk, reads a statement to the press outside the Rowan County Courthouse on Sept. 14, 2015 in Morehead, Kentucky. Davis did not interfere with marriage licenses issued after she returned to work. (Pablo Alcala/Lexington Herald-Leader/TNS) TNS By Alex Acquisto, Lexington Herald-Leader LEXINGTON, Ky. The former Rowan County clerk who was briefly jailed for denying marriage licenses to gay couples a decade ago has again asked the Supreme Court to hear her appeal in hopes of overturning the nationwide right to same-sex marriage. Kim Davis has persistently fought back against lawsuits filed against her by the couples she denied licenses to. Now, her attorneys with Liberty Counsel are asking the high court to weigh in on three points: Whether Davis First Amendment religious liberty rights were infringed upon when she was asked to certify marriage certificates for gay couples, since it violated Davis evangelical Christian beliefs. Whether she has qualified immunity that should shield her from having to pay, now as a private citizen, hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages to the gay couple who has since sued her. And whether the very case that legalized gay marriage in 2015, Obergefell v. Hodges, should be overturned. This court should revisit and reverse Obergefell for the same reasons articulated in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Center, Mat Staver and other Liberty Counsel attorneys wrote in their 90-page request filed Thursday, referencing the case that led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, which had otherwise preserved the right to an abortion. Obergefell was wrong when it was decided and it is wrong today because it was grounded entirely on the legal fiction of substantive due process, they added. Substantive due process in this context refers to Davis claim that because the legalization of same-sex marriage fundamentally infringes on and deprives her of the freedom to assert her religious liberty, the passage of Obergefell was inherently flawed. A lawyer for David Ermold and David Moore, one of the couples to whom Davis denied a marriage license and who subsequently sued her the case Davis is asking the Supreme Court to provide an opinion on did not immediately respond to a Herald-Leader request for comment Thursday. Liberty Counsel, an Orlando, Florida-based litigation, education and public policy ministry, argues that Davis was the first victim of Obergefell, because she was jailed and sued for standing strong in her sincerely held religious beliefs on marriage. Davis was catapulted to international prominence a decade ago after the high court legalized gay marriage with the Obergefell decision. Davis, who believes marriage is only a heterosexual union, refused to sign her name to marriage certificates for gay couples in her Eastern Kentucky county. Davis staunchly refused, even when a judge ordered her to continue issuing licenses, since it was her statutory obligation. She was briefly jailed for contempt, a punishment that amounts to a violation of her religious liberties, Staver has argued. He has claimed that as a public official, Davis had immunity to exercise her religious liberty in place of carrying out her duties to provide marriage licenses as an elected county clerk. Ermold and Moore sued the former clerk, arguing that her refusal violated their 14th Amendment rights by denying their fundamental right to marry under the court ruling. Ermold and Moore were rejected three times from getting a marriage license. They eventually obtained a marriage license signed by a deputy clerk while Davis was temporarily jailed for violating a courts orders. In 2016, after a judge dismissed an initial spate of lawsuits, a jury verdict in 2023 ordered Davis to pay $100,000 to Ermold and Moore, and a separate judgment required her to pay more than $260,000 to cover the cost of the couples legal fees judgments that were upheld by U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning in April 2024. Davis appealed Bunnings ruling in July 2024, but in March of this year, a three-judge panel on the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals denied her request and upheld Bunnings previous ruling that requires her to pay more than $360,000 in damages. Davis and her attorneys then asked for the entire slate of appellate judges on the 6th Circuit to review her case. That request for an en banc hearing was denied in April. The appeal of that hearing is how Liberty Counsel came to petition the Supreme Court Thursday. The Supreme Court already rejected an appeal from Davis in 2020, and legal experts have told the Herald-Leader this isnt the likely case to move the needle on gay marriage, in part because the case is almost a decade old, and Davis actions as a public employee were clearly unconstitutional. But Staver is hopeful, he told the Herald-Leader last month, not just because of the conservative majority on the current court has grown since 2020, but because of something Justice Clarence Thomas wrote when justices declined to hear Davis case five years ago. Her case provides a stark reminder of the consequences of Obergefell. By choosing to privilege a novel constitutional right over the religious liberty interests explicitly protected in the First Amendment, and by doing so undemocratically, the court has created a problem that only it can fix, Thomas wrote. Until then, Obergefell will continue to have ruinous consequences for religious liberty. On Thursday, Staver said, We are asking the Court to recognize the First Amendment as an absolute defense for Kim Davis and to overturn the 2015 Obergefell opinion, which has no basis in the Constitution. The legalization of gay marriage ruling did significant damage to the historic definition of marriage, to states rights, to religious freedom, and to the rule of law, Staver added. It is time to end this legal fiction and undo the damage done. This story was updated at 10:35 p.m. Monday after the second death was confirmed. By Marc Levy, Gene Puskar, Michael Casey and Patrick Whittle, The Associated Press CLAIRTON, Pa. An explosion at a U.S. Steel plant near Pittsburgh left two dead and sent at least 10 to hospitals Monday and heavily damaged the sprawling facility, officials said. One worker was pulled from the wreckage hours after the explosion sent black smoke spiraling into the midday sky in the Mon Valley, a region of the state synonymous with steel for more than a century. Allegheny County Emergency Services said a fire at the plant started around 10:51 a.m. Authorities later said a second person had died. The explosion, followed by several smaller blasts, could be felt in the nearby community and prompted county officials to warn residents to stay away from the scene so emergency workers could respond. It felt like thunder, Zachary Buday, a construction worker near the scene, told WTAE-TV. Shook the scaffold, shook my chest, and shook the building, and then when we saw the dark smoke coming up from the steel mill and put two and two together, and its like something bad happened. The search is ongoing for a missing worker At a news conference, Scott Buckiso, U.S. Steels chief manufacturing officer, did not give details about the damage or casualties, and said they were still trying to determine what happened. U.S. Steel employees did a great job of going in and rescuing workers, shutting down gases and making sure the site was stable. Buckiso said the company, now a subsidiary of Japan-based Nippon Steel Corp., is working with authorities. He also said search teams were still looking for one person who was missing. They think they know the general location of that person, but werent sure, he said. U.S. Steel CEO David B. Burritt said the company would thoroughly investigate the cause. I end every meeting and every message with the words, Lets get back to work safely. That commitment has never been more important, and we will honor it, he said in a statement. Allegheny Health Network said it treated seven patients from the plant, and discharged five within a few hours. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center said it is treating three patients at UPMC Mercy, the regions only level one trauma and burn center. Clairton resident Amy Sowers was sitting on her porch, located less than a mile from the plant, and felt her house shake from the blast. I could see smoke from my driveway, she said. We heard ambulances and fire trucks from every direction. Sowers, 49, decided to leave the area after she said she smelled a faint smell in the air. Sowers, who grew up in Clairton, has seen several incidents at the plant over the years. Despite health concerns, Sowers said many residents cannot afford to leave. A maintenance worker was killed in an explosion at the plant in September 2009. In July 2010, another explosion injured 14 employees and six contractors. According to online OSHA records of workplace fatalities, the last death at the plant was in 2014, when a worker was burned and died after falling into a trench. A portion of the Clairton Coke Works, a U.S. Steel plant, is seen Monday, Aug. 11, 2025 in Clairton, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar AP After the 2010 explosion, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined U.S. Steel and a subcontractor $175,000 for safety violations. U.S. Steel appealed its citations and $143,500 in fines, which were later reduced under a settlement agreement. Lives were lost again, Sowers said. How many more lives are going to have to be lost until something happens? The Clairton coking plant continued to operate after the explosion, although two batteries that were the site of the explosion were shut down, officials said. Air quality concerns and health warnings The plant, a massive industrial facility along the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh, is considered the largest coking operation in North America and is one of four major U.S. Steel plants in Pennsylvania. The plant converts coal to coke, a key component in the steel-making process. To make coke, coal is baked in special ovens for hours at high temperatures to remove impurities that could otherwise weaken steel. The process creates whats known as coke gas made up of a lethal mix of methane, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Clairton Mayor Richard Lattanzi said his heart goes out to the victims of Mondays explosion. The mill is such a big part of Clairton, he said. Its just a sad day for Clairton. The Allegheny County Health Department said it lifted an advisory it issued earlier in the day telling residents within 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) of the plant to remain indoors and close all windows and doors. It said its monitors have not detected levels of soot or sulfur dioxide above federal standards. According to the company, the plant has approximately 1,400 workers. The Clairton Coke Works, a U.S. Steel coking plant, is seen Monday, Aug 11, 2025, in Clairton, Penn. (AP Photo/Gene Puskar) AP The plant has a long history of pollution concerns In recent years, the Clairton plant has been dogged by concerns about pollution. In 2019, it agreed to settle an air pollution lawsuit for $8.5 million. Five years later, the company agreed to spend $19.5 million in equipment upgrades and $5 million on local clean air efforts and programs as part of settling a federal lawsuit filed by Clean Air Council and PennEnvironment and the Allegheny County Health Department. The lawsuit stemmed from a Christmas Eve fire in 2018 that caused $40 million in damage. The fire damaged pollution control equipment and led to repeated releases of sulfur dioxide, according to a lawsuit. In the wake of the fire, Allegheny County warned residents to limit outdoor activities, with residents saying for weeks afterward that the air felt acidic, smelled like rotten eggs and was hard to breathe. Dr. Deborah Gentile, the medical director of Community Partners in Asthma Care, studied asthma levels after the fire and found twice as many patients sought medical treatment. One of her colleagues found patients living near the plant had increased symptoms of asthma, including coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. News of the latest explosion had Gentile questioning how well the facility was being maintained. Im very concerned that they arent keeping their equipment up to date and in shape, she said. In February, a problem with a battery at the plant led to a buildup of combustible material that ignited, causing an audible boom, officials said. Two workers received first aid treatment at a local hospital but were not seriously injured. Environmental group calls for an investigation David Masur, executive director of PennEnvironment, an environmental group that has sued U.S. Steel over pollution, said there needed to be a full, independent investigation into the causes of this latest catastrophe and a re-evaluation as to whether the Clairton plant is fit to keep operating. In June, U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel announced they had finalized a historic partnership, a deal that gives the U.S. government a say in some matters and comes a year and a half after the Japanese company first proposed its nearly $15 billion buyout of the iconic American steelmaker. The pursuit by Nippon Steel for the Pittsburgh-based company was buffeted by national security concerns and presidential politics in a premier battleground state, dragging out the transaction for more than a year after U.S. Steel shareholders approved it. Levy reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Casey reported from Boston and Whittle reported from Portland, Maine. Associated Press reporters Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire, and Beatrice Dupuy in New York City contributed to this report. Buckiso said the company, now a subsidiary of Japan-based Nippon Steel Corp., is working with authorities. He also said search teams were still looking for one person who was missing. They think they know the general location of that person, but werent sure, he said. Obviously, this is a tragedy that we want to understand, Buckiso said. Allegheny Health Network said it had treated seven patients from the explosion in its hospitals, and discharged five within a few hours. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center said it is treating three patients at UPMC Mercy, the regions only level one trauma and burn center. Clairton residents like Amy Sowers, 49, felt an explosion nearby. Sowers, who was sitting on her porch located less than a mile from the plant, felt her house shake. I could see smoke from my driveway, she said. We heard ambulances and fire trucks from every direction. Sowers decided to leave the area after she said she smelled a faint smell in the air. Sowers, who grew up in Clairton, has seen several incidents at the plant over the years. Despite health concerns, Sowers said many residents cannot afford to leave. A maintenance worker was killed in an explosion at the plant in September 2009. In July 2010, another explosion injured 14 employees and six contractors. According to online OSHA records of workplace fatalities, the last death at the plant was in 2014, when a worker was burned and died after falling into a trench. After the 2010 explosion, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined U.S. Steel and a subcontractor $175,000 for safety violations. U.S. Steel appealed its citations and $143,500 in fines, which were later reduced under a settlement agreement. Lives were lost again, Sowers said. How many more lives are going to have to be lost until something happens? The Clairton coking plant continued to operate after the explosion, although two batteries that were the site of the explosion were shut down, officials said. An emergency crew is seen after an explosion at the Clairton Coke Works, a U.S. Steel coking plant, Monday, Aug 11, 2025, in Clairton, Penn. (AP Photo/Gene Puskar) AP Air quality concerns and health warnings The plant, a massive industrial facility along the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh, is considered the largest coking operation in North America and is one of four major U.S. Steel plants in Pennsylvania. The plant converts coal to coke, a key component in the steel-making process. To make coke, coal is baked in special ovens for hours at high temperatures to remove impurities that could otherwise weaken steel. The process creates whats known as coke gas made up of a lethal mix of methane, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Clairton Mayor Richard Lattanzi said his heart goes out to the victims of Mondays explosions. The mill is such a big part of Clairton, he said. Its just a sad day for Clairton. The Allegheny County Health Department said it is monitoring the explosions and advised residents within 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) of the plant to remain indoors and close all windows and doors. It said its monitors have not detected levels of soot or sulfur dioxide above federal standards. According to the company, the plant has approximately 1,400 workers. Emergency crew gather after an explosion at the Clairton Coke Works, a U.S. Steel coking plant, Monday, Aug 11, 2025, in Clairton, Penn. (AP Photo/Gene Puskar) AP The plant has a long history of pollution concerns In recent years, the Clairton plant has been dogged by concerns about pollution. In 2019, it agreed to settle a 2017 lawsuit for $8.5 million. Under the settlement, the company agreed to spend $6.5 million to reduce soot emissions and noxious odors from the Clairton coke-making facility. The company also faced other lawsuits over pollution from the Clairton facility, including ones accusing the company of violating clean air laws after a 2018 fire damaged the facilitys sulfur pollution controls. In February, a problem with a battery at the plant led to a buildup of combustible material that ignited, causing an audible boom, officials said. Two workers received first aid treatment at a local hospital but were not seriously injured. Environmental group calls for an investigation David Masur, executive director of PennEnvironment, an environmental group that has sued U.S. Steel over pollution, said there needed to be a full, independent investigation into the causes of this latest catastrophe and a re-evaluation as to whether the Clairton plant is fit to keep operating. This image provided by Amy Sowers shows smoke from the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025 in Clairton, Pa. (Amy Sowers via AP) AP In June, U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel announced they had finalized a historic partnership, a deal that gives the U.S. government a say in some matters and comes a year and a half after the Japanese company first proposed its nearly $15 billion buyout of the iconic American steelmaker. The pursuit by Nippon Steel for the Pittsburgh-based company was buffeted by national security concerns and presidential politics in a premier battleground state, dragging out the transaction for more than a year after U.S. Steel shareholders approved it. Levy reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Casey reported from Boston and Whittle reported from Portland, Maine. Associated Press reporters Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire, and Beatrice Dupuy in New York City contributed to this report. KABUL, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- A total of 253 drug-addicted people were reunited with their families after receiving medical treatment and recovery in the western Afghanistan Herat province, the country's Ministry of Interior Affairs said Monday. All former drug addicts from across Herat sent to rehabilitation centers months ago have now recovered and been reunited with their families, the ministry said in a statement posted on its X account. Although there are no official statistics on the number of drug-addicted people in Afghanistan, more than 3 million drug addicted individuals are reported to exist in the country. The Afghan interim government has banned the cultivation of poppy and the trafficking of narcotics as part of a broader initiative to eliminate drug abuse and its impact on society. The Pa. Department of State has received a second request from the Justice Department for records on voters, election officials and duplicate voting Commonwealth Media Services The Department of Justice has sent a second letter to the Pennsylvania Department of State requesting records on voters, election officials and duplicate voting. PennLive obtained the letter dated Aug. 3, which requested a list of all state and local election officials responsible for maintaining voter registration lists from November 2022 through the date the letter was received. The agency also asked for more information on the states efforts to combat duplicate voting as well as voter registration history for all voters categorized as noncitizens, adjudicated incompetent, or who had a felony conviction during the same period. This is the second time in the last month that the State Department has received a request from the Justice Department for voter information. The DOJ noted that the Attorney General could take legal action against states that dont comply with the National Voter Registration Act. States across the country have received DOJ letters requesting voter rolls and more information on state efforts to combat voter fraud. Government ethics experts say the effort infringes on election integrity and voters rights. Its highly intrusive, said Craig Holman, an ethics expert from Public Citizen. This is a reflection on the Trump administration trying to crack down on the democratic process. The Justice Department also asked for Pennsylvania voter registration list, which is publicly available online for $20. A 2024 U.S. Election Assistance Commission report reported a total of 378,187 duplicated voter registrations in the Commonwealth. The DOJ letter asked why Pennsylvanias duplicate voter registrations made up a much smaller share of its total registrations at 4.49%, nearly three times lower than the national average. A 2025 state department report on voter registration said that there were around 8.86 million registered voters in Pennsylvania. The DOJ letter also inquired about the states efforts to ensure armed forces recruitment offices involvement with voter registration. Pennsylvanias 67 county election offices maintain voter registration rolls through the SURE system. The State Department report said that the state collaborates with local officials by providing voting education materials, registration forms in multiple languages, and data on deceased voters and voters who have moved. Since 2023, eligible Pennsylvanians with new or renewed drivers licenses are automatically taken through the voter registration process. The DOJ letter also said that the Public Interest Legal Foundation a right-leaning legal group known for suing local governments to carry out voter purges found around 19,000 voter registrations with records in another state. The acting chief of the DOJs Civil Rights Division, Maureen Riordan, formerly worked at the foundation. Holman said that this new DOJ push is unprecedented. Im very concerned that we may see the end of democracy as weve known it with Donald Trumps term, Holman said. But the only check we have in place is public opinion and we are going to see where it goes in the midterm elections. Secretary of State, Al Schmidt, said in the report that the department will continue promoting voter registration, increasing civic engagement and maintaining accurate voter rolls. The Department of State did not immediately respond to PennLives inquiry about how it will handle the Justice Department request. Pennsylvanias deadline to provide the information is Aug. 22. Pittsburgh Steelers first-year cornerback Darius Slay was injured during practice on Monday. The six-time Pro Bowler suffered an ankle injury, according to PennLives Nick Farabaugh. Slay appeared to roll his ankle in the corner of the end zone during a seven shots drill, according to Farabaugh. He was attended to by trainers, before eventually being able to walk around. Farabaugh reports that all things considered, Darius Slay appears to be okay. Slay is entering his first season with the Steelers after previously playing for the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles earlier in his career. Slay was named a Pro Bowler three times during his seven seasons with the Lions and three times during his five seasons with the Eagles. He was also named first-team All-Pro in 2017. He helped the Eagles win last years Super Bowl. The former Mississippi State star is expected to be a big part of a revamped Steelers roster in 2025. The Steelers are hopeful that he will be just fine and will be the lockdown corner they need him to be this upcoming season. Darius Slay appeared in 14 games for the Eagles last season, recording 49 tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He also finished with 13 passes defended. PokerStars Confirms European Poker Tour Paris Returns in 2026 Matthew Pitt Senior Editor Copy link PokerStars has confirmed that European Poker Tour (EPT) will return to Paris as part of the online poker giant's live poker schedule in 2026. Following huge attendances in 2023 and 2024, the 2025 edition of EPT Paris was cancelled amid regularity challenges. However, PokerStars has overcome those hurdles and the 2026 EPT Paris is scheduled to run from February 18 through March 1 at the Le Palais des Congres. "We're delighted to have Paris back on the EPT schedule in 2026 and to be able to collaborate once again with Club Barriere," said Cedric Billot, Associate Director of Live Events. "It's a player favorite for many reasons: the unique atmosphere, it's a great location accessible from all over Europe, and when it comes to enjoying your time away from the poker tables, well, Paris is a city that takes some beating. We can't wait to be back in the French capital and welcome players to the Palais de Congres in February." Razvan Belea: 2023 EPT Paris Main Event Champion PokerStars took its EPT to Paris for the first time in 2023, and it was deemed a success despite some teething problems. The 5,300 EPT Paris Main Event drew 1,606 entrants, creating a 7,708,800 prize pool. Romanian Razvan Belea came out on top and returned home with 1,170,000. Barny Boatman: 2024 EPT Paris Main Event champion A change of venue for the 2024 EPT Paris festival was welcomed by all, and players voted with their feet, turning out in droves. A field of 1,747 fought it out for a slice of the 8,385,600 prize pool. British legend Barny Boatman emerged victoriously and with a career-best 1,287,800 prize in tow. The 2025 EPT Paris was set to build on that success between February 12 and 23. However, a shift in licensing requirements in the French capital created too much uncertainty, and PokerStars was left with little option but to pull the plug. That uncertainty must have waned because the EPT is most definitely returning to La Ville Lumiere (City of Lights) in February. Four More 2026 Stops Announced, Starting With PSO Campione Adrian State: 2025 PSO Campione champion PokerStars Open Campione kicks off the 2026 PokerStars LIVE season, and will do so in style. In March 2025, the PokerStars Open Campione Main Event saw a bumper crowd of 2,423 entrants, including re-entries, more than double the 1 million guarantee. Romania's Adrian State came out on top and scooped 363,000 of the 2,326,080 prize pool. Mark January 23 to February 1 on your calendars if you plan to fly to picturesque Campione for the opening event on the 2026 schedule. Simon Wilson: 2025 Irish Open champion After Campione comes EPT Paris, which is followed by Europe's longest-running live poker tournament, the PokerStars-sponsored Irish Open. The 2026 Irish Open will be held from March 26 to April 6. Expect another gargantuan field on par with the 4,562 who turned out in 2025 and created a 4,447,950 prize pool when the guarantee was "only" 2,500,000. Simon Wilson took home 600,000 of that princely sum. Aleksandr Shevliakov: 2025 EPT Monte Carlo champion The iconic EPT Monte Carlo follows hot on the heels of the Irish Open in April 2026. It runs from April 30 to May 10. This prestigious event on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea never fails to shine. Russia's Aleksandr Shevliakov triumphed in 2025, taking home 1,000,000 of the 5,795,750 prize pool after leaving 1,194 opponents in his wake. Jean-Vincent Lehut: 2025 PSO Namur champion A couple of weeks after EPT Monte Carlo wraps up, PokerStars Open Namur springs into action. This festival will be Belgium's biggest of the year by some distance. It runs May 27 to June 7, with the 1,100 buy-in Main Event being the crown jewel. The 2025 edition attracted 1,572 players, who Jean Lehut outlasted to bank 238,000 of the 1,493,400 prize pool. These five stops are only the start of 2026's offerings. PokerStars will announce more legs to its 2026 live events calendar in due course; we can hardly contain our excitement. Share this article Day 1b of the $10,400 GG Million$ saw 202 entries take their shot at a share of the $5,000,000 guaranteed prize pool inside the Merit Royal Diamond Hotel Casino & Spa. After fifteen 40-minute levels, 33 players secured their seats for Day 2. The Day 1 Turbo is still underway and set to conclude shortly, with final numbers to be confirmed later this evening. Including entries from both opening days, the tournament has already drawn 431 entrants, with 74 players having secured their place in Day 2 so far. The United States' Michael Mizrachi topped the Day 1b counts with a stack of 1,547,000 after continuing the momentum from his amazing summer, which included induction into the Poker Hall of Fame and winning the World Series of Poker Main Event. His surge to the top was sealed in the final level when his pocket kings improved to a full house against the pocket jacks of Aram Oganyan in a pot of over a million chips. Day 1b Top Ten Chip Counts Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 Michael Mizrachi United States 1,547,000 97 2 Hassan Nashar Guinea-Bissau 1,393,000 87 3 Aren Bezhanyan Armenia 1,356,000 85 4 Dafishh 1,001,000 63 5 Orhan Ates Turkey 1,000,000 63 6 Hao Tian China 966,000 60 7 Timothy Chung Hong Kong 847,000 53 8 Armin Rezaei Austria 823,000 51 9 Raoul Kanme Netherlands 767,000 48 10 Kenar Turkey 672,000 42 Action of the Day When play began, just 27 players were seated and the action was slower than the opening flight. That changed upon with the arrival of the Mizrachi family, that included Eric Mizrachi, Michael Mizrachi, Robert Mizrachi, and Daniel Mizrachi, followed shortly by Michaels son, Paul Mizrachi. It was possibly one of the first times five members of the same family were competing together in a high-stakes tournament. Daniel Mizrachi With Mizrachi being the most talked-about name in poker, there was a sudden buzz around the tournament area as players and spectators snapped photos. Not long after, Alexey Savenkov cracked the top set of Yiannis Liperis after turning a straight, sending Liperis to the rail when the river failed to pair the board. Returning for another shot at reaching Day 2, Hassan Nashar wasted no time getting involved after sitting down with a fresh stack. In an early hand, he took one off Aleksandr Chernikov on a paired ace-high board before flashing the deuce of diamonds and joking, Either you go to the cashier, or I go to the cashier. Just minutes later, it was Nashar making the trip to the cashier for another buy-in. Armin Rezaei The Mizrachi clan wasnt the only brothers in action, as Armin Rezaei was joined by his sibling Daniel Rezaei in todays field. Armin bagged up a better than average stack for Day 2, helped by a sizable river value bet against Jianming Luo that was paid off, adding a healthy boost to his stack. Fresh off chopping a pot with Andrei Boghean, the world champion Mizrachi brother wasted no time going for the knockout on the very next hand. After calling Bogheans shove from the small blind, Mizrachi offered a quick apology before the flop was dealt, then got lucky to pair his jack and send Boghean to the rail. The hand marked the start of Mizrachis rise to the top of the chip counts. Paul Mizrachi Not all of the Mizrachi clan advanced to Day 2, as both Paul and Robert were eliminated before the end of play. Pauls exit came when his pocket kings got cracked by the ace-ten of Pedro Ingles, who turned trips and improved to a full house on the river. However, Daniel and Eric made it through, with Eric also scoring a huge double with pocket kings in the final level of the night. Day 2 will get underway at 12 p.m. local time on Monday, August 11, with blinds resuming at 8,000/16,000 and a big blind ante of 16,000. Levels will increase to 50 minutes in length, and the plan for the day will be announced shortly after play begins. Remaining $10,400 GG Million$ Schedule Date Day Time Blind Levels August 11 Day 2 12 p.m. 50 minutes August 12 Final Day 12 p.m. 60 minutes Follow along with PokerNews for live updates from Day 2 as the field combines and plays closer to crowning the next GG Million$ champion. BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee has issued a revised version of a set of regulations on the work of Party schools (academies of governance), an official statement said on Monday. According to the statement, the revised regulations are expected to improve the training system and working mechanisms of these schools, giving full play to their role as a main channel for the education and training of Party members and officials. The regulations are important to fostering a team of key governing officials who are capable of shouldering the task of national rejuvenation, it said. The schools should enhance the capacity of Party members and officials to contribute to advancing Chinese modernization, according to the revised regulations. These schools should also strengthen training for Party members and officials to enable them to perform their duties in an improved manner. Such training should focus on the CPC Central Committee's major decisions and the needs of national strategies, aiming to enhance capabilities to pursue high-quality development, serve the people, and guard against and defuse risks. The original version was released by the CPC Central Committee in 2019. Sister Dedra McClellan, left, delivers meals to Keys to Change Supervisor of Programs and Support Services Kristyn Lewis. Blessed Vision Ministry has been supporting this need in the community for the past three years by providing cooked meals once a month under the supervision of McClellan and other ladies in the church. Drugs and firearms were seized during a search warrant execution in Summerville on July 16. The haul included two kilograms of methamphetamine, 12 ounces of cocaine, 48 grams of crack cocaine and a revolver. The arrest followed a traffic stop earlier that day. Saulebek Kabylbekov is pictured at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 16, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Saulebek Kabylbekov (R) instructs a young doctor in ophthalmic surgery training at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 17, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Saulebek Kabylbekov (C) communicates with patients at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 16, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Saulebek Kabylbekov makes a video call with his daughter at his apartment in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 16, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Saulebek Kabylbekov writes a medical record at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Aug. 8, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Qiming) Saulebek Kabylbekov arrives at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 16, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) This is a file photo of Saulebek Kabylbekov providing treatment for a patient in 1998. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua) Saulebek Kabylbekov (L) conducts examination for a patient at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 16, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Saulebek Kabylbekov works out at a gym of Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 17, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Saulebek Kabylbekov conducts examination for a patient at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 16, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) This is a file photo of Saulebek Kabylbekov (L) eating dumplings during the Spring Festival in China in 2002. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua) Saulebek Kabylbekov waters the plants at his apartment in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 16, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Saulebek Kabylbekov (2nd R) shakes hands with a patient at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 17, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Saulebek Kabylbekov (L) talks with a friend at a supermarket in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 16, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Saulebek Kabylbekov brings a potted plant to his apartment in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 16, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Saulebek Kabylbekov (L) conducts examination for a patient at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 16, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Saulebek Kabylbekov makes Kazakh cuisine at a canteen of Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 16, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Saulebek Kabylbekov (R) escorts a patient out at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Aug. 8, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Qiming) Saulebek Kabylbekov prepares to go to work at his apartment in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 16, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Saulebek Kabylbekov (R) conducts examination for a patient at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Aug. 8, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Qiming) Saulebek Kabylbekov looks at the photos of his daughter at his apartment in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Aug. 8, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Qiming) Saulebek Kabylbekov selects potatoes at a supermarket in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 16, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Saulebek Kabylbekov (L) serves Kazakh cuisine he made to his colleagues at a canteen of Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 16, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Saulebek Kabylbekov walks in front of Daqing Museum in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 16, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Saulebek Kabylbekov works out at the gym of Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital in Daqing City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, July 17, 2025. Saulebek Kabylbekov is a 66-year-old Kazakh ophthalmologist at Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital who could communicate with patients fluently in a northeastern Chinese dialect. In the 1990s, as an outstanding young ophthalmologist of Kazakhstan, Saulebek visited China multiple times for work and academic exchanges. In 1998, when Daqing Ophthalmology Hospital was established, he came to provide technical assistance, introducing advanced ophthalmic technologies at that time. Having worked at the hospital for 27 years, he trained dozens of outstanding young doctors and treated more than 200,000 patients with eye diseases. In 2024, Saulebek was awarded the Chinese Government Friendship Award at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. This year, Saulebek was granted the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card issued by the National Immigration Administration of China. "When I first arrived in China, my hair and beard were thick and black. Now they have turned white," he said, determined to uphold the patients' trust, "I will continue to work here as long as I can." (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Grace Beahm Alford is the Assistant Visuals Editor for The Post and Courier, where she has been since 2001. Her photojournalism has sent her to every corner of South Carolina, and was part of the newspaper's team recognized as a Pulitzer Prize Finalist in Feature Photography for coverage of the mass shooting at Emanuel AME Church. Nick Reynolds covers politics for the Post and Courier. A native of Central New York, he spent three-and-a-half years covering politics in Wyoming before joining the paper in late 2021. His work has appeared in outlets like Newsweek, Poynter, the Associated Press, and the Washington Post. He lives in Columbia. GAZA/JERUSALEM, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army on Sunday killed four correspondents working for Qatar's Al Jazeera channel, by attacking their tent in front of Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, according to Al Jazeera and Gaza-based medical sources. Al Jazeera reported that its journalists Anas Al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, along with cameramen Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal, were killed in an Israeli strike on Gaza. Mohammed Abu Selmiya, director of Al-Shifa Hospital, told Xinhua that five Palestinians were killed in the Israeli strike. "Anas Al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, both correspondents for Al Jazeera, and two cameramen, Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal, were among the victims." Palestinian civil defense sources told Xinhua that the Israeli army directly targeted the journalists' tent, killing the four, while the fifth victim remained unidentified as his body "was turned into pieces." The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a later statement that it had killed Anas Al-Sharif in Gaza City in a strike, claiming that he was affiliated with Hamas. "Anas Al-Sharif served as the head of a terrorist cell in the Hamas terrorist organization and was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops," it alleged. It said documents found showed his affiliation with Hamas, including "personnel rosters, lists of terrorist training courses, phone directories, and salary documents." Al Jazeera reported that "there's zero evidence that Al-Sharif took part in any hostilities," citing Muhammad Shehada, a writer and analyst from Gaza. Shortly before being killed, Al-Sharif posted a video on X, showing Gaza's night skies lit red by bombardment and filled with the sound of explosions. "Relentless bombardment," he wrote. "For two hours, the Israeli aggression has intensified on Gaza City." Reporter Christian spent six years in Myrtle Beach before moving to the Upstate. When he's not working, he's reading a book, making a mess in the kitchen or running around Spartanburg. PR-Inside.com: 2025-08-11 18:17:08 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 394 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / August 11, 2025 / Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America ("Allianz Life") recently disclosed that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal information entrusted to Allianz Life.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On July 16, 2025, Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America ("Allianz Life") detected unauthorized access to a third-party, cloud-based CRM system used by Allianz Life. The breach compromised the personal information of most of its 1.4 million customers, along with some financial professionals and employees.The impacted data may include names and other personal identifiers.An investigation with cybersecurity experts followed, and Allianz Life filed notice of the breach with the Maine Attorney General on July 25, 2025. Allianz Life will begin mailing notice letters on August 1, 2025, to impacted individuals. Compensation may be available for individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter or email from Allianz Life, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more.Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-08-11 15:01:03 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 565 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 PHOENIX, AZ / ACCESS Newswire / August 11, 2025 / Crexendo, Inc. an award-winning software technology company that is a premier provider of cloud communication platform and services, video collaboration and managed IT services tailored to businesses of all sizes, today announced their schedule for upcoming investor conferences.Crexendo will discuss with investors its string of 8 GAAP profitable quarters, its AI enabled applications, its trajectory toward seven million users, its industry leading NetSapiens software technology with open API's that allow service providers to make the platform their own, its disruptive sessions not seats business model, its top-rated customer service and its award-winning unified communications technology.UPCOMING CONFERENCESOppenheimer 28th Annual Technology, Internet & Communications Conference - Virtual - August 12 - 13, 2025. Crexendo will be doing virtual 1x1 meetings with investors as well as a fireside chat presentation on August 12 at 2:55 ET in Track 1. To register for the virtual conference or to schedule a meeting, contact opcoconferences@ opco.com H.C. Wainwright 27th Annual Global Investment Conference - September 8-10, 2025. All in-person presentations and meetings will be held at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel in New York City. Crexendo's Virtual Presentation will be available on demand beginning Friday September 5th. 1x1 meetings will be conducted on Monday and Tuesday September 8-9. For conference registration or inquiries, contact lk@ hcwco.com Lake Street Capital Markets 9th Annual Best Ideas Growth Conference Big 9 - Thursday, September 11, 2025, at The Yale Club in New York City. All 1x1 meetings will be conducted on Thursday September 11th. For conference registration or inquiries, contact info@ lakestreetcm.com LD Micro Main Event - October 19-21, 2025. All in-person presentations and meetings will be held at the Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego. Crexendo's Group Presentation will be live as well as simulcasted, and a link and time will be provided closer to the conference date. 1x1 meetings will be conducted on Monday and Tuesday October 20-21. For conference registration or inquiries, contact concierge@ ldmicro.com 6th Annual Needham Tech Week - November 20-21, 2025. Nov 20th will be in-person at the Intercontinental Hotel: New York Times Square. Nov 21st will be virtual 1x1 meetings. For conference registration or inquiries, contact conferences@ needhamco.com About CrexendoCrexendo, Inc. is an award-winning software technology company that is a premier provider of cloud communication platform software and unified communications as a service (UCaaS) offerings, including voice, video, contact center, and managed IT services tailored to businesses of all sizes. Our cloud communications software solutions currently support over six million end users globally, through an extensive network of over 235 cloud communication platform software subscribers and our direct retail offering.Safe Harbor StatementThis press release contains forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe harbor" for such forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "will" and other similar statements of expectation identify forward-looking statements.For a more detailed discussion of risk factors that may affect Crexendo's operations and results, please refer to the company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, quarterly Form 10-Qs as filed with the SEC. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which such statements are made, and the company undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements, except as required by law.Company Contact Crexendo, Inc.Doug GaylorPresident and Chief Operating Officer602-732-7990 dgaylor@ crexendo.com SOURCE: Crexendo, Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2025-08-11 15:00:43 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 363 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 HOLLYWOOD, FL AND MIAMI, FL / ACCESS Newswire / August 11, 2025 / On August 25, 2025 after the NYSE closing, HEICO Corporation (NYSE: HEI.A)(NYSE:HEI) will release its financial results for the third quarter ended July 31, 2025. The earnings release will be available through the Internet on the Company's website at https://www.heico.com In order to assist interested parties in scheduling their participation in HEICO teleconferences, the Company issues advance notices of conference calls.HEICO will hold a conference call on Tuesday, August 26, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time to discuss its third quarter results. Individuals wishing to participate in the conference call should dial: US and Canada (888) 394-8218, International (646) 828-8193, wait for the conference operator and provide the operator with the Conference ID 8001925. A digital replay will be available two hours after the completion of the conference call for 14 days. To access the replay, please visit our website at https://www.heico.com under the Investors section for details.The Company has two classes of common stock traded on the NYSE. Both classes, the Common Stock (HEI) and the Class A Common Stock ( HEI.A) , are virtually identical in all economic respects. The only difference between the share classes is the voting rights. The Class A Common Stock ( HEI.A) carries 1/10 vote per share and the Common Stock (HEI) carries one vote per share. The stock symbols for HEICO's two classes of common stock on most websites are HEI and HEI.A. However, some websites change HEICO's Class A Common Stock symbol ( HEI.A) to HEI/A or HEIa.HEICO Corporation is engaged primarily in the design, production, servicing and distribution of products and services to certain niche segments of the aviation, defense, space, medical, telecommunications and electronics industries through its Hollywood, Florida-based Flight Support Group and its Miami, Florida-based Electronic Technologies Group. HEICO's customers include a majority of the world's airlines and overhaul shops, as well as numerous defense and space contractors and military agencies worldwide, in addition to medical, telecommunications and electronics equipment manufacturers. For more information about HEICO, please visit our website at https://www.heico.com CONTACT:Victor H. Mendelson (305) 374-1745 ext. 7590Carlos L. Macau, Jr. (954) 987-4000 ext. 7570SOURCE: HEICO Corporation PR-Inside.com: 2025-08-11 21:00:32 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 470 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 SCOTTSDALE, AZ / ACCESS Newswire / August 11, 2025 / In an industry saturated with automation tools and bold AI promises, Mark Vange is charting a different path. Rather than designing systems to replace people, he is focused on building services that support them. His approach to artificial intelligence is grounded in collaboration, not disruption. For Vange, AI should function more like a spotter than a shortcut.As the founder ofAutom8ly , he is introducing enterprises to a more human-centered concept: Cooperative AI. Autom8ly is not a product that organizations adopt. It is a service that quietly integrates into the systems and workflows companies already rely on. Its purpose is to help teams make faster, smarter decisions with more trust and transparency.Cooperative AI is built to work alongside people, not in place of them.Autom8lyhandles scale, identifies insights, and manages repetitive tasks, while humans remain responsible for the decisions that require ethics, nuance, and context. It is a partnership designed to enhance capability rather than diminish responsibility.Bridging Vision and RealityVange brings decades of experience at the intersection of technological innovation and practical execution. He has worked through the rise of the internet, the evolution of gaming platforms, the growth of fintech, and the expansion of blockchain infrastructure. With over 100 patents to his name, he is recognized not just for innovation, but for building systems that are secure, scalable, and grounded in real-world use.Autom8lyreflects that same philosophy. It is built to meet the compliance, transparency, and scalability demands of the enterprise, it moves beyond theoretical AI into tangible business value.This service isn't designed to impress in a lab. It is designed to perform in the field.Built for Real Teams, Real Workflows, and Real ValueAutom8lystrength is most evident in how it is deployed. In compliance-heavy industries, it flags potential risks and patterns, while final decisions remain with legal professionals. In customer service environments, it offers suggested responses, but agents choose how to engage. In talent acquisition, it refines candidate pools, while recruiters select who advances.Rather than replacing expertise, Autom8ly enhances it. It equips teams to ask sharper questions, see patterns earlier, and respond with greater confidence.For Vange, enterprise AI should never obscure human judgment. It should earn trust by being explainable, adaptable, and aligned with the way teams already work. Autom8ly is not a black box. It is a clear, cooperative system that helps organizations navigate complexity without sacrificing clarity.The result is not just better performance, but stronger teams and more meaningful work. By placing people at the center and AI in a supportive role, Autom8ly is redefining what intelligent systems can achieve inside the enterprise.And in that redefinition, Vange is quietly setting the new standard.Mark VangeScottsdale, Arizona https://autom8ly.cominfo@autom8ly.com SOURCE: Mark Vange PR-Inside.com: 2025-08-11 15:00:27 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 479 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ONTARIO / ACCESS Newswire / August 11, 2025 / As food companies race to meet evolving regulations and rising consumer demand for clean labeling, Canadian-founded, AI-powered nutrition platformMenuSanois expanding beyond North America to serve clients worldwide. Sonia Couto, MenuSano Founder MenuSano launches globally, enabling food brands to create compliant nutrition labels in minutes."MenuSano helps clients seamlessly meet compliance standards and create innovative, trend-driven recipes their customers love, in minutes - all at a fraction of the cost of legacy systems, making recipe development and labeling easier and scalable," said Sonia Couto, Founder, MenuSano.MenuSano's accessible nutrition labeling and recipe analysis platform - starting at just $29/month - is now available across the U.K., Middle East, and Asia. The software also often eliminates the need for costly lab testing, reducing expenses by as much as 95 percent.Trusted by leading CPG, restaurant, and foodservice brands, including Shake Shack, Canopy Growth, Pizza Nova, Momofuku, and Healthy Planet, MenuSano now also offers modules for supplements, edibles, and cannabis-adjacent products."What started as a personal mission to help people eat better has grown into a global platform that empowers companies to navigate change," added Couto, a cancer survivor who bootstrapped the company after experiencing how difficult it was to access clear, accurate nutrition information during her recovery.MENUSANO: AN ALL-IN-ONE SOLUTIONWith just a few clicks, subscribers can:Generate high-resolution, country-compliant nutrition labels in minutes that meet U.S., Canadian, and global standardsUse AI-powered Smart Search that matches ingredients based on user behaviourCreate custom ingredients and proprietary blendsRun complete nutrition analyses to meet business needs and consumer expectationsAutomate country-specific calculations, including rounding rules and cooking methodsAccess the platform 24/7 through a cloud-based, mobile-friendly interfaceFOOD BRANDS FACE MOUNTING REGULATORY PRESSUREU.S. regulators are increasing scrutiny around added sugars, sodium, and artificial dyes, while demanding greater ingredient transparency.In Canada, new front-of-package (FOP) nutrition labeling regulations take effect January 1, 2026. Meanwhile, 74 percent of consumers prefer brands with accurate nutrition labels and 60 percent actively seek "clean label" products with simple, recognizable ingredients (Innova Market Insights, 2024).FOOD TECH PLATFORM POISED FOR GROWTHWith the global nutrition labeling market expected to grow from $25.4 billion to $36.2 billion by 2035 (CAGR 3.6%), MenuSano is positioned to capitalize on accelerating demand for faster, smarter compliance tools as a scalable, AI-powered alternative to legacy software solutions that can cost up to $30,000 per year.ABOUT MENUSANOMenuSano is a female-founded, AI-powered nutrition analysis platform that enables clients to produce compliant nutrition labels and recipe analysis in minutes, starting at just $29/month. Users can generate export-ready nutrition facts, allergen declarations, and compliance alerts while accessing healthier ingredient swaps through an intuitive, cloud-based interface. Founded by cancer survivor Sonia Couto, MenuSano was born from a personal mission to empower healthier choices. Learn more atwww.menusano.com Media Contact: Victoria Kirk,Verified Communications416-558-4507, victoria@ verifiedcomms.com SOURCE: MenuSano PR-Inside.com: 2025-08-11 15:00:24 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 362 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Debut author releases kid-friendly tale that encourages friendship, creativity, and empathy in young readers.LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY / ACCESS Newswire / August 11, 2025 / "Have You Seen My Hat?" Brings Kentucky Derby Magic to Life Through Friendship, Imagination, and Joy based in LOUISVILLE, KY - A heartwarming new children's book is galloping into the hearts of readers. Have you seen my hat? Book coverHave You Seen My Hat?, written by Kentucky native Ladie Warfield, is a joyful adventure celebrating friendship, creativity, and community set against the vibrant backdrop of the Kentucky Derby Kids' Parade.In this beautifully illustrated story, young Zara is thrilled to show off her one-of-a-kind hat at the Derby parade until it mysteriously vanishes. With the help of Marley, the shy new girl in town, the two set off on a whimsical journey filled with mystery, mazes, and Derby Day surprises.Behind this sweet and spirited story is an author with an inspiring journey of her own. Ladie Warfield is more than a storyteller she's a proud mother of four, a dedicated healthcare worker of 20 years, a widow, and the founder of a nonprofit honoring her late husband. Her organization, The Ladie Presentz ( theladiepresentz ), is based in Kentucky and provides emotional support and resources to adolescents who have lost a parent to cancer or cancer-related illness."Writing this book was about more than creating a story," Warfield says. "It was about capturing the imagination of children and reminding them of the power of compassion and belonging especially when life feels uncertain." With her rich Kentucky roots and a heart dedicated to healing, Warfield's storytelling brings a rare authenticity and emotional depth to children's literature.Have You Seen My Hat? is perfect for children ages 4-8, educators, and families looking for diverse, engaging books that inspire joy, empathy, and curiosity. Whether for classroom shelves or bedtime stories, this uplifting tale will leave a lasting shelves or bedtime stories, just like Zara's unforgettable hat.Book Details:Title: Have You Seen My Hat?Author: Ladie WarfieldAge Group: 4-8 years Themes: Friendship, Creativity, Problem-Solving,RepresentationNow Available on AmazonContact & MediaContact InformationLadie WarfieldCEOwarfieldunifiedventures@ gmail.com 5026002087SOURCE: Warfield Unified Ventures BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- As night falls, the packaging area of a mosquito-killer appliance factory in the city of Jinhua, east China's Zhejiang Province, is ablaze with lights. Workers hustle to skillfully pack electric mosquito swatters labeled in Korean, English and other languages into boxes before loading them onto trucks. As the summer continues with temperatures rising in many parts of the world, overseas demand for mosquito-repellent products has surged, leading Chinese-made electric mosquito swatters, mosquito coils, bug zappers and anti-mosquito bracelets to become top-selling commodities. Hangxiao, an electric appliance company, is located in Dongyang City, which is administered by Jinhua -- a city that is home to some 2 million business entities. Hangxiao specializes in mosquito-control products such as mosquito killers and electric mosquito swatters. In the first half of 2025, the value of the company's exports increased by over 20 percent year on year. "June and July are peak months for mosquito-repellent exports every year. We anticipate continued order growth over the next two months," said Fan Yanjun, foreign trade manager of the company, which primarily exports to countries and regions in Southeast Asia and South America. According to statistics from Jinhua Customs, the total export value of mosquito-repellent products from Jinhua exceeded 45 million yuan (about 6.3 million U.S. dollars) in the first half of this year -- a year-on-year increase of 65.1 percent. The demand for mosquito-repellent products continues to grow globally, driven by multiple factors, including the expansion of tropical climate zones, increasing need for products that prevent dengue fever and other mosquito-borne diseases, and improved living standards. Across multiple regions around the world, the El Nino phenomenon has triggered high temperatures and excessive rainfall. In tropical zones like Southeast Asia and Africa, hot and humid conditions have accelerated mosquito reproduction. This has driven significant growth in imports of Chinese mosquito-killer products in markets such as Cambodia and Mozambique. The booming outdoor economy in Europe and the United States has also sparked a surge in overseas orders for Chinese-made anti-mosquito products. A China-Europe freight train loaded with various mosquito-repellent products recently departed from Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, for Germany under the supervision of Zengcheng Customs, a subsidiary of Huangpu Customs in Guangdong. Since the beginning of this year, a Guangdong-based international freight forwarding company has seen its exported mosquito-control products, including mosquito lamps, electronic repellents, and mosquito nets, gain remarkable popularity in European markets, thanks to their superior product quality and exceptional cost-performance. "Exports to Germany alone have exceeded 4.8 million yuan, with substantial additional orders scheduled for shipment," said Li Pan, deputy manager of customs affairs of the company. In response to the surge in summer mosquito-repellent product exports, Zengcheng Customs has continuously optimized operational procedures, reducing overall customs clearance time for freight trains by one to two days to ensure timely delivery to overseas markets. Data shows that the export value of mosquito-control products such as mosquito nets and electric mosquito swatters supervised by Zengcheng Customs nearly doubled year on year in the first half of the year. According to a market development report on China's mosquito-repellent industry from 2025 to 2030, the industry's market scale is projected to grow from 7.86 billion yuan this year to 12.43 billion yuan by 2030. With continuous advancements and innovations in technology, consumers are paying greater attention to product safety, efficacy and living environment, leading to increased demand for high-quality and high-value-added mosquito-control products, Fan said. New anti-mosquito products such as smart devices and plant-based solutions continue to emerge, creating fresh growth opportunities for the market, the manager added. "Over the years, the mosquito-control industry has undergone a green revolution, with biodegradable materials and physical elimination methods gaining strong market acceptance. Our company is also developing and launching chemical-free mosquito traps and zappers," said Yuan Senming, general manager of Hangxiao. Benefiting from the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, and supported by trade facilitation measures in customs clearance, the company has successfully expanded its range of mosquito-control products to emerging markets across Africa and the Middle East, Yuan said. "Securing a firm foothold in international competition hinges on sustained investment in innovation and technological accumulation," said Zhu Dengyun, head of Huangshan Lishen Daily Necessities Co., Ltd. Based in the city of Huangshan in east China's Anhui Province, the company focuses on products such as electrically heated mosquito-repellent liquids and insecticidal aerosol sprays. In recent years, it has invested over 20 million yuan in intelligent workshop upgrades and allocated more than 100 million yuan to launch a project of biological pest control products, significantly enhancing both production capacity and market competitiveness. "Our company's patented flagship product, the auto-activated electrothermal mosquito repellent, has gained significant popularity in overseas markets by successfully integrating high-efficiency mosquito control with eco-friendly properties," Zhu said. In 2024, the company's export value exceeded 50 million yuan, and in the first half of 2025 alone, it reached 30 million yuan. PR-Inside.com: 2025-08-11 18:45:30 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 361 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / August 11, 2025 / PDI Health recently discovered that it suffered a data breach that compromised the sensitive personal and protected health data of individuals. This data breach has led to concerns over the security of sensitive personal and protected health information entrusted to PDI Health.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On May 14, 2025, PDI Health discovered a security breach involving its internal systems. An unauthorized party accessed and extracted sensitive data, compromising patient records. The impacted data may include names, Social Security numbers, dates of birth, billing information, electronic medical records (EMRs), test results, and medical history.The ransomware group Everest claimed responsibility for the attack on the dark web. Compensation may be available for those individuals who receive notice that their sensitive personal information was compromised.WHY YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers may use stolen information to commit identity theft, financial fraud, or other crimes. Companies that fail to secure your personal data may be held liable for the resulting harm.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from PDI Health, you are likely to be affected. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi Korsinsky, LLP is investigating whether affected individuals are entitled to compensation. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out:Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. Our firm works on a 100% contingency fee basis - you pay nothing unless we win your case! Visit our website to learn more. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP PR-Inside.com: 2025-08-11 23:15:19 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 533 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 The smell of fall and the taste of New Mexico Certified Chile have arrivedSANTA FE, NEW MEXICO / ACCESS Newswire / August 11, 2025 / As the air turns crisp and the aspens turn gold, New Mexico comes alive with a familiar scent that signals fall is here. New Mexico Certified Chile is swirling across New Mexico, as locals get ready for chile roasting season.The fire-marked steel chile roasters spin slowly outside farmers' markets and grocery stores, casting a comforting heat into the cool morning air. The flames crackle, chile skins pop and the smell wraps around you like a comforting memory. For locals, this moment is more than a smell. It's home. It's New Mexico Certified Chile."Every year, New Mexico residents look, listen and smell for the start of roasting season," says Kari Dominguez, Executive Director of the New Mexico Chile Association. "It's a tradition that brings our whole community together. The aroma means fall is here and it's time to stock up for the year." Whether you're buying a sack to freeze for green chile caldito or sharing freshly roasted New Mexico Certified Chile for Christmas tamales, chile is the ingredient that turns a meal into a memory. New Mexico Certified Chile is the missing piece to every meal.New Mexico Certified Chile guarantees you are supporting growers in the land of enchantment. Consider these facts from the New Mexico Department of Agriculture:New Mexico produces roughly 77% of chile peppers in the United States and is ranked No. 1 in chile production nationally. ( National Agriculture Statistics Service )The value of New Mexico chile production is estimated at $41.5 million.The total chile pepper production in New Mexico in 2023 was 46,750 tons. ( USDA-NASS )In 2023, 88% of chile grown was green chile (41,120 tons) in comparison to 12% red chile (5,630 tons). ( 2023 New Mexico Chile Production )In New Mexico, fall isn't just a season. It's a celebration, and New Mexico Certified Chile is always at the center of the table. Each year, since 1991, the Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta is celebrated in September, showcasing the unique flavors of New Mexico. Still roasting and crushing 34 years later, the original Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta has exploded into a five-day extravaganza, with over 3,500 guests in Santa Fe for the one-of-a-kind event."Buying New Mexico Certified Chile isn't just about flavor-it's about supporting our farmers and preserving a piece of our heritage," said Dominguez. "When you choose certified chile, you're getting the real deal; grown in New Mexico's unique soil, under our sun, with a taste you can't find anywhere else." To learn about New Mexico Certified Chile, visit newmexicochile.org ###About New Mexico Certified ChileNew Mexico Certified Chile (NMCC) is dedicated to supporting the NM chile industry by increasing demand for NM chile. We strive to create an atmosphere of chile being for of the NM culture, heritage and pride. Our mission is to cultivate the world-renowned varieties grown only here in New Mexican soil and to protect, promote and advocate for the entire industry dedicated to growing this very special crop. NMCC is a program of the New Mexico Chile Association.CONTACT: Tom Garrity505.898.8689 NMChile@ garritypr.com SOURCE: New Mexico Chile Association PR-Inside.com: 2025-08-11 15:00:47 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 295 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FAIRFAX, VA / ACCESS Newswire / August 11, 2025 / WidePoint Corporation (NYSE American:WYY)an innovative leader in enterprise cybersecurity and mobile technology, today announced a new Identity & Access Management contract in support of the U.S. Department of Education. Commencing August 1, 2025, until July 31, 2031. Using a strategic partner, WidePoint will provide PIV-I credentials for logical access to authenticate to networks or applications. WidePoint's PIV-I credentials provide the capability for digital signing and encryption of emails as well as the ability to use the Smart-Card for physical access.Jin Kang, WidePoint's CEO, stated: "WidePoint continues to execute our strategy of developing opportunities with innovative and industry-leading partners. We are honored to be trusted by both our strategic partner and the U.S. Department of Education, and are excited to be developing opportunities in defense, intelligence, public safety, civilian and military health." Jason Holloway, WidePoint's Chief Revenue Officer, stated: "WidePoint is proud that our credentialing solutions will be protecting the U.S. Department of Education. This contract underscores the preference for our secure identity solutions by government leaders devoted to education. Providing security to K-12 schools remains an important goal and working with the Department of Education now provides another viable path for us to expand our reach within this vertical." About WidePoint WidePoint Corporation (NYSE American:WYY) is a leading technology Managed Solution Provider (MSP) dedicated to securing and protecting the mobile workforce and enterprise landscape. WidePoint is recognized for pioneering technology solutions that include Identity & Access Management (IAM), Mobility Managed Services (MMS), Telecom Management, Information Technology as a Service, Cloud Security, and Analytics & Billing as a Service (ABaaS). To learn more, visit https://www.widepoint.com WidePoint Investor Relations: Gateway Group, Inc.Matt Glover or John Yi949-574-3860 WYY@ gateway-grp.com SOURCE: WidePoint Corporation Comfort Emmanson, the passenger accused of assaulting airline officials on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos, has been remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Facility in Lagos State. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Ms Emmanson allegedly attacked a flight attendant and clashed with security operatives at the airport. Tunde Moshood, special adviser on media and communications to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, disclosed the development in a statement posted on his X page on Monday. According to Mr Moshood, Ms Emmanson was charged in court with the incident and remanded in custody. The more reason the flying public should be more careful, the unruly passenger on Uyo-Lagos bound Ibom Air, Miss Comfort Emmanson, has been charged to court and shes now cooling off in Kirikiri, he wrote. NCAA The newspaper reported that the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) spokesperson, Michael Achimugu, attributed the incident to the passengers refusal to follow the crews instructions. Mr Achimugu stressed that compliance is essential when cabin crew instruct passengers to switch off their mobile phones before take-off or landing. He urged passengers to take such directives seriously, particularly routine safety measures such as turning off mobile devices during critical flight phases. I cant understand why simple routine issues would lead to incidents like this. Passengers need to understand they have responsibilities, not just rights. More details will be addressed tomorrow, Mr Achimugu wrote in a response to the incident on a tweet on X on Sunday Ibom Air However, on its Facebook page, Ibom Air attributed the incident to an unruly passengers actions. According to the airline, the passengers behaviour posed a serious security risk to the safety of the crew, fellow passengers, and the aircraft. The statement explained that, before take-off from Uyo, Ms Emmanson was instructed to switch off her mobile phone by standard aviation safety procedures. However, she allegedly refused to comply until the Pilot-in-Command made an announcement, after which a fellow passenger seated beside her took the device and switched it off. Ibom Air stated that this prompted a verbal outburst from Ms Emmanson, although the situation was eventually controlled and the flight departed as scheduled. The airline further reported that, upon arrival in Lagos, Ms Emmanson waited for all other passengers to disembark before confronting the Purser who had earlier instructed her. It is alleged that she approached the unsuspecting crew member, stepped on her foot, forcibly removed her wig and glasses, threw them to the floor, and struck her with her footwear. She then allegedly slapped the Purser several times. When another cabin crew member attempted to intervene, she slapped her. She then attempted to forcibly remove a fire extinguisher to use as a weapon, an act that could have damaged and grounded the aircraft, the airline noted. Three persons suspected to be kidnappers involved in the abduction of Omoniyi Eleyinmi, an employee of the Ondo State-owned Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), have been arrested. They were reportedly arrested while sharing the money they collected as ransom for Mr Eleyinmis release. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the varsity worker was kidnapped last week at his home in Supare Akoko with a ransom of N7million placed on him. He regained his freedom on Sunday after an undisclosed amount was paid to the kidnappers. It was gathered that the kidnappers, who were also caught in a viral video, were apprehended in the forest around Ago Panu, a village between Oba Akoko and Owo in Ondo state. The suspects were said to have been arrested by local hunters who trailed them to their hideout. The Ondo State Police Command has confirmed the arrest. Police spokesperson, Olayinka Ayanlade, said police operatives made the arrest. I can confirm to you that our operatives arrested three suspected kidnappers in connection with the kidnapping of an AAUA worker, he said. The suspects are currently undergoing profiling and interrogation. READ ALSO:Police arrest suspected IPOB member over stolen vehicle Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Police Command, CP Adebowale Lawal, has directed the suspects and all exhibits recovered to be transferred to the anti-kidnapping squad for discreet and thorough investigation. Further details will be communicated to you. Thanks for your usual cooperation. Donations from sympathisers Mr Eleyinmis abduction generated sympathy from his alumni association, which mobilised funds in the form of donations to free him from captivity. Kidnapping for ransom has become a thriving business in Nigeria, with Ondo State having its fair share. Efforts by security agencies to stem the tide have not deterred the criminals who continue to inflict untold pain on helpless residents. The federal government has unveiled a new strategy to reduce Nigerias over-reliance on international donors for healthcare, pledging to increase domestic funding and boost local manufacturing of essential medicines and medical supplies. The plan was announced on Monday at the HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Generative Workshop in Abuja, which brought together stakeholders to design a transition pathway to self-reliance in financing essential health services. In his remarks, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, stressed that Nigeria must urgently take ownership of financing its health system. Mr Pate warned that reliance on foreign aid is unsustainable. He said for more than two decades, the country has benefited from the generosity of external partners in the fight against HIV, malaria, and other conditions. These partnerships have supported our response to disease burdens, expanded access to services, and strengthened our health system, he said. Mr Pate pointed out that the recent suspension of some of the World Health Organisations funding proves the need to build stronger country-led systems, strengthen local institutions, and take full control of programme management. He added that the existing global health financing structure, shaped over the past 25 years, has proved inadequate in addressing Nigerias health challenges. Mr Pate urged state governments to take greater responsibility for the health of their residents and commit a portion of their increased revenues to healthcare. Speaking on the federal governments plans, he said the administration will raise health budget allocations at both national and state levels, ensure timely release of funds, retain donor-funded health workers, and boost local manufacturing of medicines and medical supplies. He added that recommendations from the workshop would feed into ongoing reforms and a sector-wide approach already agreed with state governments. Long-term sustainability plans Speaking at the event, the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Temitope Ilori, explained that the workshop aimed to identify immediate gaps and develop long-term sustainability plans to ensure Nigeria is not overly dependent on foreign aid. Ms Ilori said the focus is on Nigeria taking ownership of its health response, covering HIV, TB, malaria, maternal and child health, through government structures, domestic resource mobilisation, and uninterrupted service delivery. We have the political will. This administration is a listening administration and has facilitated resources to ensure no gaps in service delivery, she said. Because of that political will, we will have the necessary resources to sustain locally driven health programmes. READ ALSO: dRPC awards grants to 17 Nigerian NGOs to bridge USAID funding gap Funding cut Nigerias push for self-reliance in health financing comes amid a global funding crisis triggered in January, following the return of Donald Trump as President of the United States. One of his first actions was to impose a 90-day freeze on foreign aid. The freeze particularly hit key development agencies such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which has long been a major source of support for health and development initiatives in Nigeria. In Nigeria, the funding shortfall has already affected several areas of the health sector. Programmes dependent on donor support are facing uncertainty, and critical services risk being scaled back. For over two decades, non-state actors have wreaked havoc in Nigeria, creating humanitarian crises of unimaginable proportions in the process. The consequence has been the oddity of Internally Displaced Persons camps in several parts of the country. The insurgency of groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP, alongside banditry, kidnapping and killer-herdsmen, is the key driver of this malady. Natural calamities such as flooding have added to the conundrum. As a result, Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states in the North-east, the epicentre of jihadist violence; to Benue, Plateau and Niger states in the North-central; in addition to Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina and Kano states in the North-west zone, have not been the same, as they are ridden with severe existential challenges. The welfare of the hordes displaced by these crises has largely been borne by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, alongside the World Food Programme (WFP) and supplies from other global donors. These organisations provide not just food but primary healthcare services to the IDPs. There were 3.7 million people in this demographic basket across Nigeria at the end of 2024, according to the Internally Displaced Monitoring Centre (IDMC). Without doubt, the figure is rising with the mindless and perennial killings and burning of villages in Benue and Plateau states by killer-herders and other actors in recent months. Sadly, the donor support to these IDPs from the WFP has declined considerably with the global funding cuts of the UN, following the withdrawal of support from the United States under the Donald Trump presidency. The WFPs head of operations in the North-east, Trust Mlambo, recently told the BBC, We dont have any more to give after this (month) cycle. Our warehouses are empty and we are desperate for any generous donations. To keep hope alive, $620 million is needed urgently to cater to Nigerias IDPs and related emergencies in the Sahel, the WFP has stated. Before now, the rationing of food, with attendant severe malnutrition, had been routine in the IDP camps. A major International support group, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) Doctors without Borders, says that fatality data of malnourished children in the first six months of 2025 was 652. This doubled the tally of 2024. The North-east zone has about 1.4 million IDPs and 150 donor-funded clinics, treating malnourished citizens, mostly children. These facilities are on the cusp of ceasing to exist if support doesnt come from other quarters. MSFs representative in Nigeria, Ahmed Aldikhari, said that this apocalyptic fright had been on since 2024 when the US, UK and the European Union had either withdrawn or scaled down their support. Until this negative turn of the tide, 60 per cent of the funding of the UN Office for Humanitarian Affairs activities in Nigeria came from the US. Its report on Nigerias 2025 humanitarian challenges in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe, clearly states that 1.8 million children risk acute malnutrition if nothing is done to roll this back in time. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State, whose domain is the most hobbled by this existential challenge, has vigorously embraced the resettlement of the IDPs, beginning with 5,000 in the five communities of Goniri, BulaKunye, Mayanti, Abaram and Darajamal, for them to actively engage in farming to feed themselves this year. The strategy is underpinned by the construction of 1,000 housing units in the communities for effectiveness and the digging of defence trenches for safety. Mr Zulum held strategic meetings with members of the Civilian Joint Task Force (CJTF) in the area and approved a six-month payment of allowances to new recruits, to help protect the citizens, as they go about tilling the soil for food production. This is a pragmatic engagement that should be spread across the country. For the record, Zulums administration has expended 40 billion in food and other supplies to the IDPs in four years, as of the end of 2024. Philanthropists like Aliko Dangote, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Femi Otedola, Tony Elumelu and other wealthy Nigerians should heed the clarion call of WFP for more generous donations to avoid greater disaster befalling IDPs and those in these embattled parts of Nigeria. Imminent starvation with possible resultant death is real. But scarier is the likelihood of hunger forcing the IDPs, especially the youths among them, to become willing recruits of the insurgents. They had openly threatened to enter the bush a metaphor for evil self-help during a hunger-induced protest in Dikwa and Mafa last year, 2024. The situation is so dire that WFP Director for West Africa, Margret Van der Velden, joined the Save Our Souls call on donor support for Nigerias IDPs. In March, she had sounded the alarm that Food security is national security. This is absolutely so! Some of these agencies have been visiting governors to sensitise them on the enormity of the task before them. We urge the Bill Gates Foundation to lend a listening ear and yield to the call for assistance with regard to this emergency, in view of its huge track record of support for crucial humanitarian interventions in Nigeria. IDP camps all over the world are essentially transitory, due to their unusual nature. And, the Kampala Convention prescribes global standards for exiting them. But this has not been the case in Nigeria, as a result of the poverty of leadership, misplacement of priorities, and corruption. The 2021 IDPs transition framework, which takes cognisance of this fact, should be made to work. The provision of shelter, education and economic opportunities must be created for IDPs in order for them to transit to meaningful new lives. Therefore, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) should scale up its service delivery and operate with more accountability. There have been cases in the past when relief materials for the needy were unfortunately diverted. Last year, for instance, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State intercepted a truckload of such materials. President Bola Tinubus recent charge to governors to water the grass more was a subtle jab at their poor welfare performance in relation to the downtrodden and general governance measures toward enhanced food security for all. Already, Borno State has crafted a Strategy for Durable Solution to Internally Displaced Persons for 20252027, which we recommend to other embattled states. However, the action plan is not a substitute for tackling the key drivers of insecurity in the region and beyond. The Nigerian State must wake up to the challenge of subduing insurgency, kidnapping, banditry and killer-herders. No country in the world can truly thrive and be worthy of the notion of sovereignty when crucial parts of its demographic are continuously susceptible to bloodshed and human degradation over protracted periods. More so, with the State showing the lack of capacity or sustained concern in responding to the needs of the vulnerable, and largely abandoning the task to the charity of international organisations and groups. This is a huge indictment of the leadership and an indication of the erosion of the State. It will augur well if the Tinubu administration pays real attention to nuetering the drivers of conflict and instability in the country, while acting in a more responsive and sustained manner to the lot of its citizens who have fallen victims of conflict and other debilitating situations, a critical segment of which are IDPs. Five Al Jazeera journalists were among seven people killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza on Sunday night. One of them is a prominent voice for the news channel and has been reporting from inside the city since the crisis began in October 2023. The correspondent, Anas al-Sharif, was targeted in an air raid on a tent at Al-Shifa hospitals main gate alongside his colleagues correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and three camera operators, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa. Shortly after the attack, the Israeli forces claimed responsibility for it, describing Mr al-Sharif as a member of a Hamas terrorist organisation who posed as a journalist for Al Jazeera. Citing intelligence and documents found in Gaza as evidence, the Israeli military, in a statement, claimed, Anas al-Sharif served as the head of a terrorist cell in the Hamas terrorist organisation and was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops. According to Al Jazeeras managing editor, Mohamed Moawad, Mr al-Sharif, an accredited journalist, was the only voice for the world to know what was happening in the Gaza Strip. Since the war began, Israel has barred international journalists from freely entering Gaza, and so many news outlets depend on local reporters there for coverage. They were targeted in their tent, they werent covering from the front line, said Mr Moawad, according to the BBC. The fact is that the Israeli government wants to silence the coverage of any channel of reporting from inside Gaza. This is something that I havent seen before in modern history, he added. Mr Al-Sharif and the four other Al Jazeera journalists now add to the toll of journalists who have died as a result of the attack on Gaza in the last 22 months. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) put the number of journalists killed in Gaza since 2023 at 186 The CPJ had repeatedly called for the international protection of Mr Al-Sharif before the attack. It warned that the 28-year-old journalist was at risk of being killed by Israel because he was a key source of news from Gaza for international audiences since the war began more than 650 days ago. In July, the Al Jazeera Media Network raised an alarm about what it described as a relentless effort by the IDF to campaign against its correspondents and journalists in Gaza. The Network considers this incitement a dangerous attempt to justify the targeting of its journalists in the field, it said. Following his death, a statement, which appears to have been pre-written, was published on Mr Al-Sharifs X account on his behalf. It read, This is my last will and testament. If these words of mine reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice. Do not forget Gaza And do not forget me in your sincere prayers for forgiveness and acceptance. Shortly before his death, he posted that there was non-stop bombing in the area. At least eight people were killed and over 800 farmlands destroyed by flooding, which ravaged Enohia Itim, a community in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. The incident happened on 1 August, officials and residents said. The Chairperson of Afikpo Local Government Area of the state, Timothy Nwachi, confirmed the incident to reporters, according to a statement on Sunday by Sunday Nkama, a media aide to Mr Nwachi. Mr Nwachi consoled the families of the deceased and assured them that the local government council will do everything to prevent a recurrence. The chairperson urged the people still residing in flood-prone areas to relocate to safer ground. We are deeply sad over the unfortunate incident, and we are using this medium to extend our condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. As a government, we will support them and pledge to collaborate with relevant state and federal agencies to provide humanitarian assistance and timely relief to those affected, he assured. Details of the victims According to the statement, the Councillor representing Itim Ward in the Afikpo Legislative Council, Francis Okpani, said out of the eight people who lost their lives, three bodies have been recovered, while five were still missing. Mr Okpani said three of the victims who died in the flood were children. The councillor recalled that the Federal Ministry of Environment had predicted that Afikpo was one of the areas in Nigeria likely to experience flooding. I had earlier implored the people of Afikpo to incorporate climate change projections into flood-risk management plans, he said. He also urged residents of the area to ensure that they have effective drainage systems and keep their drains and waterways free from debris to prevent blockages. Ebonyi govts warning Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Government has warned residents that massive flooding continues to destroy farmlands in several local government areas. The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) listed Ebonyi as a high-risk flood zone in its 2025 seasonal climate prediction. Flooding continues to ravage communities and submerge farmlands, especially in Izi, Abakaliki and Ikwo local government areas. Farmers lament losses Farmers are counting their losses as floods submerged rice, yams and cassava farms. Felix Ezeaka, a resident whose farmland was submerged in Abakaliki, appealed to the Ebonyi State Government for support. We are begging the state government to do something about it. If we plant rice, the same thing, the flood will cover it. If we plant cassava, the flood will cover it. We dont have anything to do about it, he said. The states Commissioner for Environment, Victor Chukwu, blamed the current situation in the capital city of Abakaliki partly on an incomplete drainage project by the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP). Mr Chukwu said the halted project has worsened the impact of rainfall in the capital city. The second phase of the NEWMAP is called EIB NEMAP. So, we have designed the sites because the issue is that the water that is supposed to discharge to the river flows back to the city because the river appears to be higher than the slope of the discharge of water that is collected in the city. So, we have designed the sites. The state has also paid the counterpart fund. Our government has graciously approved the payment of the counterpart fund for the EIB NEWMAP, he said. Mr Chukwu said the state government was now conducting public awareness campaigns and holding town hall meetings to guide residents on flood prevention steps. The commissioner said that people living in low-lying, flood-prone zones are advised to relocate to safer locations as the rains continue. A former lawmaker in Lagos State, Jude Idimogu, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to grant clemency to the detained leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu. Mr Kanu, who is facing terrorism charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja, has been in detention since he was repatriated to Nigeria from Kenya in June 2021 under controversial circumstances. Call on Igbo leaders, governors Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Lagos, Mr Idimogu urged Igbo leaders, South-east governors and other Nigerians to speak with one voice by appealing to Mr Tinubu to grant Mr Kanu pardon. I want to plead with our President, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to kindly see the need to use political means to grant Nnamdi Kanu clemency, he stated. The former lawmaker, a member of the ruling APC, said that such a pardon, if granted, would not be forgotten and would aid the partys fortune in the South-east in the 2027 general elections. I want to appeal to all well-meaning Nigerians, not just those from Igbo extraction, to help plead with Mr President to use his good office to release Nnamdi Kanu. If this is done, I believe the insecurity situation and tension in the South- east will reduce, if not completely curbed and eradicated, he added. It will add to our votes in the South-east. If the president can look at this issue, the South-east will never forget him but forever be grateful, he said. Miscreants hijacking Biafra agitation Mr Idimogu claimed that a lot of miscreants have been using Mr Kanus name to cause mayhem and atrocities in the South-east. The former lawmaker, who is the deputy leader of Ndigbo in Lagos APC, said that Mr Kanus release has many advantages for the South-east and Nigeria. He said it would de-escalate the tension and revive the regions economy, considering how the IPOBs sit-at-home order devastated businesses in the region. Mr President, kindly look at the South-east case and bring back businesses and trading that have long stagnated in the region because of insecurity. An average Igbo man is a trader. We cannot overlook this situation and the contributions of these traders in the South-east to the economy. South-east used to be home to a lot of people before now, it just suddenly changed to be dens of insecurity and other vices. This can be arrested with Kanus release, Mr Idimogu stated. Mr President, we know you to be a father with a compassionate heart, please, help us in the South-east, grant Kanu freedom to stabilise our region. Background Mr Kanu was first arrested in 2015 under the administration of former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari. The Court of Appeal, Abuja, held on 13 October 2022 that the IPOB leader was extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria, and that the action was a flagrant violation of the countrys extradition treaty and also a breach of his fundamental human rights. The court, therefore, struck out the terrorism charges filed against Mr Kanu by the Nigerian government and ordered his release from the facility of the State Security Service. But the government refused to release the IPOB leader, insisting that he (Kanu) could be unavailable in subsequent court proceedings if released and that his release would cause insecurity in the South-east, where he comes from. The government, through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, later appealed the court ruling and subsequently obtained an order staying the execution of the court judgement at the Supreme Court. Delivering judgement on the appeal on 15 December 2023, the Supreme Court reversed the acquittal granted to Mr Kanu by the lower court and consequently ordered continuation of his trial at the Federal High Court, Abuja. READ ALSO: Death toll rises to 13 after Adamawa communal clash On 19 June 2025, the Nigerian government closed its case against the IPOB leader after the 5th prosecution witness was led in evidence and cross-examined by Mr Kanus lawyer, Onyechi Ikpeazu, before Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The court has yet to deliver judgement on the matter. Meanwhile, PREMIUM TIMES reports that several South-east leaders such as governors and successive president-generals of the Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, have repeatedly appealed to the Nigerian government to release Mr Kanu. But the government has ignored the requests. Workers carry out renovation work at al-Rashid Street in Baghdad, Iraq, on Aug. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) by Jamal Hashim BAGHDAD, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Under Baghdad's searing sun, workers in reflective vests scrub decades of grime from the windows of historic buildings lining al-Rashid Street. Scaffolding clings to weathered facades as artisans revive intricate Islamic patterns on forgotten balconies, a testament to the tireless effort to resurrect Baghdad's most iconic thoroughfare. This revitalization of al-Rashid Street, part of the government-backed "Baghdad Pulse" initiative, aims to restore the early-20th-century cultural artery ahead of Baghdad's 2025 designation as Capital of Arab Tourism. Once the stage for poets like al-Jawahiri and Maruf al-Rusafi and the venue for debates among scholars, the street fell silent after decades of conflict, culminating in the sectarian violence following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. Since the defeat of the Islamic State (IS) extremist group in 2017, fragile peace has permitted the street's rebirth. "We aim to preserve its soul without trapping it in the past," architect Mohammed Hadi told Xinhua, highlighting balanced restoration. "We're restoring part of the original 3-km-long street, blending historical charm with modern infrastructure by laying electricity, water, sewage, and internet cables underground. The street cannot survive on nostalgia alone; it must serve today's needs," he noted. Engineer Sami Jalil, working on-site, told Xinhua that about 70 buildings, some dating to the 1920s, are undergoing facelifts, with structural repairs where essential. Veteran journalist Muwafaq al-Khatib noted inspiration from the renowned al-Mutanabbi Street's 2021 revival: "That success (of al-Mutanabbi Street) created the momentum." "This phase focuses on a 650-meter stretch between al-Rusafi and al-Maidan squares. Once completed, it will form a larger cultural and touristic hub together with al-Mutanabbi Street and the historic al-Sarai Market, attracting visitors and boosting the local economy," said the 65-year-old. Amid construction dust and noise, the iconic Umm Kulthoum Cafe endures. Inside, the air is thick with the smell of tea. Owner Abu Marwan, tending the cafe since 1989, has weathered the street's darkest days. "Like everyone here, I've struggled financially," he said, looking at the workers outside. "But we are willing to wait. This project will bring new life. Tourists, intellectuals, writers, families, they'll return." Nearby, 70-year-old Abu Razzaq, seated at the entrance to a narrow alley, murmured: "I used to walk here as a young man ... Seeing this, it feels like Baghdad is breathing again. Every stone here tells a story." Ali Shakir, 30, already thrives as he runs a small cafe in a restored heritage house linking al-Rashid and al-Mutanabbi streets. "After al-Mutanabbi's restoration, my business flourished," he said with a smile. "Now, with al-Rashid coming back, I expect even more growth." "The entire area will become a tourist destination, which will create jobs not only for me but for many others in the tourism, hospitality, and retail sectors. Maybe we'll work around the clock then; I'll definitely need to hire more people than I have now," he said, his eyes full of hope. Workers carry out renovation work at al-Rashid Street in Baghdad, Iraq, on Aug. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) Workers carry out renovation work at al-Rashid Street in Baghdad, Iraq, on Aug. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) Workers carry out renovation work at al-Rashid Street in Baghdad, Iraq, on Aug. 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained former Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal over corruption allegations. EFCC sources, who asked not to be named because they were not permitted to speak to the press on the matter, said the former governor was detained at the commissions headquarters in Abuja on Monday over alleged fraudulent cash withdrawals to the tune of N189 billion. Although details of the allegations were sketchy as of press time, PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the EFCC went after him in the belief that the withdrawals were in violation of the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022. According to them, Mr Tambuwal, who was the speaker of the House of Representatives between 2011 and 2015, arrived the EFCCs headquarters around 11:30 a.m. on Monday. The 59-year-old was still facing interrogations by detectives as of Monday evening, the sources said. Mr Tambuwal, who became the House of Representatives speaker in 2011 on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), became a pioneer member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which swept to power at the centre in 2015. Mr Tambuwal rode on the popularity of the APC to become the governor of Sokoto State. Before the 2019 general elections, he returned to the PDP. He ran for and won second term as governor in 2019. In the twilight of his second and final term as governor, he won the election to the Senate to represent Sokoto South. Mr Tambuwal is one of the key opposition leaders promoting the ADC coalition, which aims to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 election. EFCCs spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, declined comment on Mr Tambuwals detention Monday evening. The Niger State Government has opted for an out-of-court settlement of its rift with Badeggi 90.1 FM Radio Station, a Minna-based private broadcast station illegally shut down last month by Governor Mohammed Bago. The media organisation sued the state government five days after its forced closure on 5 August through a lawyer, Philip Emmanuel. At the resumed hearing in the suit number NSHCM/0296/2025 before the Minna High Court Number Four, on Monday, the governments lawyer, Jacob Usman, announced that the government has initiated a move for an out-of-court settlement in the matter. Mr Usman told the court that he had discussed with the plaintiffs counsel the need to resolve the matter in the interest of peace and the generality of the people of Niger State. He further informed the court that he had earlier informed Mr Emmanuel that the governor and the Attorney General of Niger State had agreed to resolve the matter out of court. Mr Emmanuel later confirmed the discussion to journalists, saying, We have taken a date for the third of September, 2025, to report for out-of-court settlement. The judge, Mohammed Mohammed, had on 5 August granted an interim injunction requested by the plaintiffs, Badeggi FM station, Badeggi Broadcasting Service Ltd, and its Managing Director, Mohammed Badeggi. In the ruling, Justice Mohammed restrained the governor, the attorney general, and the state Urban Development Board from taking any unpleasant action that could be detrimental to the broadcasting license or business premises located at the NTA premises, Uphill in Minna. PREMIUM TIMES reported that Governor Bago ordered the closure of Badeggi FM Radio Station for allegedly inciting violence. The governor gave the order during an expanded state APC caucus meeting he hosted at the Government House, Minna. He explained that the decision was taken because the daily activities of the Radio station have been unethical. Mr Bago also accused the owner of the station of incitement of the people against government and directed that the license of the radio station be revoked. The governor directed the Commissioner for Homeland Security and the Commissioner of Police to seal the radio station. The governors actions have been condemned by local and international rights groups like SERAP and CJID. The groups accused the governor of clamping down on the media and the freedom of expression of residents of the state. At least 260 Army middle cadre officers are sitting for the Senior Staff Course Qualifying Examination 2025. The examination, a significant milestone for the officers in the Nigerian Army, is being held at the Nigerian Army Infantry Corps Centre, Ihejirika Auditorium in the Jaji Military Cantonment. The test is being conducted by the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Nigerian Army. The President of the Examination Board, Kelvin Aligbe, while addressing the directing staff and candidates on Sunday in Jaji Kaduna state, said the examination was designed to assess the officers determination, capabilities, and proficiency in their respective areas of specialisation. He said the comprehensive syllabus covered eight subjects, including tactics, low-intensity conflict, geopolitics, and military law. Mr Aligbe, a major general, emphasised the importance of integrity and transparency in the conduct of the examination. He assured the candidates that the examination panel and directing staff were committed to ensuring the sanctity of its process. The president also outlined the rules and regulations governing the examination, including the consequences of malpractice and the requirements for passing it. Candidates who pass the examination will be selected to attend the Senior Staff Course based on merit and the slots allotted to the Department of Land Warfare, Mr Aligbe said. According to him, the examination is a crucial step in the career development of Nigerian Army officers, and it was expected that the outcome would determine the future leadership of the army. Mr Aligbe said,With its emphasis on merit and integrity, the examination is set to produce the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of the Nigerian Army. Candidates must score a minimum of 50 per cent in all subjects to qualify for selection to the Armed Forces Command and Staff College. I believe that while majority of you are on first attempt, others are attempting the examination for the second time. Let me assure you that this is an examination you can pass without resorting to illegal or fraudulent means. I also want to assure you that if you have prepared for this examination, you will pass without resorting to any form of malpractice. He said there was no excuse for failure, adding I expect nothing short of 100 per cent pass in this examination. On number attempts for the examination, he said, available records showed that some of the candidates were sitting for the second attempt. Let me remind you that Army Headquarters Policy allows a maximum of three attempts for any candidate to pass this examination. Mr Aligbe intimated the candidates on the introduction of a Certificates of Excellence and Letters of Commendation, which would be presented to the officers who emerge first, second and third in order of merit. Additionally, cash gifts will also be given to these officers. TRADOC Nigerian Army will also send copies of the Certificates and Letters of Commendation to Army Headquarters, Department of Military Secretary for insertion into the personal files of the awardees, Mr Aligbe said. Earlier, the Commander, Infantry Corps , Usman Yusuf, appreciated the Chief of Army Staff, Olufemi Oluyede, and other commanding officers for their support. Mr Yusuf, a major general, emphasised the examinations importance for career progression and future responsibilities. He encouraged the candidates to perform well, highlighting the consequences of failure. Mr Yusuf reminded them of the Nigerian Armys strict policies on examination malpractice and limited attempts. The commander urged the candidates to focus and dedicate their best efforts to succeed. (NAN) The Enugu State Electricity Regulatory Commission (EERC) says it is taking steps to resolve erratic power supply in different parts of the state. The commission disclosed this in a statement posted on its website on Sunday evening. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that MainPower Electricity Distribution Company Limited issued a statement on 4 August blaming the development on the drastic reduction of energy supplied to it by the parent company, the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC). It stated that the reduction followed the decision to slash the electricity tariffs for Band A from N209 to N160 per kWh. NAN also reports that many parts of the state, especially those in Bands B to E, have been in darkness since 1 August. The commission said it met with both EEDC and MainPower and assured Enugu residents that it was taking steps to restore the power supply. Sequel to the public announcement from MainPower, which stated that EEDC directed the curtailing of power supply to Bands B to E Feeders, and the challenges in vending being experienced by the customers in the state, we invited MainPower to a meeting. The aim is to ascertain the reasons for the decision to curtail power supply in Enugu State and the vending challenges being experienced by customers. During the meeting, MainPower explained that they (MainPower and EEDC) were having difficulties separating Enugu State from the rest of the states in the coverage area of EEDC. This challenge was termed code coverage conflicts and related glitches but gave assurance that the issue would be sorted out very soon, the commission said. EERC, however, mandated that MainPower formally communicate with the customers about vending challenges and the efforts being made to resolve them. The commission also reminded the company of the provisions of its business rules, which require that it make a formal petition within 30 days of the commissions tariff order if it is not satisfied, instead of resorting to curtailing supply. The petition will enable a public hearing on the Tariff Order which the outcome will be implemented. The business rules are accessible to all the stakeholders on the commissions website, it stated. EERC added that it was consulting with relevant stakeholders at the state and federal levels and would endeavour to apply an appropriate regulatory approach to the issue. It maintained that the measure would help ensure that developers, service providers, customers, and the Enugu people fully benefit from the states evolving subnational electricity market. We will also ensure that MainPower recovers sufficient revenue that covers their efficient costs of doing business in Enugu State plus a fair return on capital invested, as provided in section 34 (2)(b) of the Enugu State Electricity Law 2023, the commission added. Four soldiers were reportedly killed in a Boko Haram attack on Kirawa, area of Gwoza Local Government of Borno State on Saturday. According to residents and a local news outlet, the insurgents attacked the village at about 9 p.m. but were repelled by soldiers. Kirawa town is a border town where the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) and Cameroonian soldiers have bases. Before retreating under gunfire from the NIgerian troops, the insurgents abducted a teenage girl and forced some residents to flee to neighbouring Cameroonian communities. The insurgents also looted and burnt down the house of a community head, trucks and homes. At the MNJTF post, where the fierce battle took place, some military facilities and vehicles were set ablaze or damaged. Authorities are yet to speak about the attack. Meanwhile, the insurgents also killed two farmers in another Saturday attack in Yobe State. BusinessDay reported that they carried out the attack in the Zango area of the Gulani Local Government Area. According to the report, the insurgents attacked the farmers with arrows and machetes. A local government official confirmed the attack to the newspaper. The security agencies have initiated a campaign to promote peace among two warring ethnic groups in the Lamurde Local Government of Adamawa State. Thirteen people have been confirmed dead after violent clashes between the Tsobo and the Wadaku in Bashaka, Sabonlaye, Gundili, Wami, Suwa and Bachama . In July, the state government imposed a curfew after the clash over farmlands in which10 people were initially confirmed killed.. To calm tension in the communities, the police and other security agencies have urged the disputants to dialogue for peace. How death toll rose The curfew, initially imposed from dusk to dawn but later relaxed to 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., was still in force as of Sunday morning. However, it was under that curfew that the Tsobo people said they had discovered more bodies of their missing members by a riverside. The Tsobo people claimed that four of theirs were missing and demanded our community to produce their bodies. Later we heard they discovered three bodies, said Lofty Timothy of the Waduku ethnic group who resides in Lamurde town. He claimed that the Tsobo were attacking Wadaku people living among them. They are not respecting the curfew. They are attacking and demolishing the houses of our people living with them, Mr Timothy added, while accusing the police of compromise for allowing some people to break the curfew. In a video seen by this reporter, a young man, described as Luka Elisha and the youth leader of the Tsobo people, is demanding the release of their missing people, dead or alive. Mr Elisha is standing before a police station surrounded by police officers and soldiers. On behalf of the leaders of our community, we demand police and other security agencies to bring back our people, dead or alive, Mr Elisha said in the Hausa language while appealing to his people to be patient with the security agencies. Be patient. I want to assure you that even if they are dead, it is going to be the last death in our community, he added. Call for dialogue The police and other security agencies have visited the Tsobo and Waduku people in their respective communities to encourage dialogue among the groups. According to a statement shared on Facebook by Suleiman Yahaya, the spokesperson of the police in Adamawa, the Commissioner of Police, Dankombo Morris, alongside commanders of sister security agencies, took part in the visits. Mr Yahaya said the initiative, Confidence Building Patrol, was aimed at restoring peace among the Tsobo and Waduku people. The CP engaged the community members in a peace talk to restore peace, order, and prevent further violence. He advised all individuals involved to desist from any act capable of breaching public peace, stressing that anyone found instigating violence will face the full weight of the law, Yahaya said. Meanwhile, the state government has also established a peace and conflict resolution commission to promote the peace process. The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, on Monday, explained why governments across Nigeria are executing more capital projects despite the countrys economic challenges. Mr AbdulRazaq gave the explanation on Monday while inspecting the ongoing multistorey Oluremi Tinubu Hospital in Ilorin, the state capital, a few days after approving N20 billion additional funding for public school infrastructure in the state. Speaking with reporters at the site, the governor said the hospital project is one of his administrations investments in public health, education, road networks, and social investment. He tied the surge in project executions across Nigeria, including in road, school, and health sectors, to the rise in allocation that followed the removal of fuel subsidy. Last Tuesday, the governor inspected rural road projects in the Asa Local Government Area, including the 23.23 kilometres Oko Olowo Express-Sokoto-Tafatafa-Elere-Owode Oja Baba Kudu-Akopari-Otte Oja road and the 17.7km Madi Peeke road. Governor AbdulRazaq said the government has constructed many roads within and outside Ilorin, while many others are ongoing. He said many other state governments are also doing well in project execution, citing massive hospital projects in Lagos and Kaduna states. Commends President Tinubu He also commended President Bola Tinubu for his support for the state. The First Lady of Nigeria Senator Oluremi Tinubu was here six months ago to lay the foundation of this world-class hospital. And work has progressed tremendously. Hopefully, in the second quarter of next year, well be done with it. The majority of the equipment have been ordered already: radiography machine, a CT scanner, MRI, PET scan machines, and all sorts of equipment have been ordered. Mr AbdulRazaq added that his administration was also working on other projects in other parts of the state such as the International Conference Centre, ICT Centre Shonga, Patigi (Regatta) Motel, Sheabutter Factory in Kaiama, and Ibrahim Taiwo Road in Offa. This is not the only thing going on in the state. We have other major infrastructure projects ongoing, and this is not just in terms of healthcare all over Nigeria, he said. A lot of infrastructural projects are also going on in different states of the federation. We were recently in Kaduna with the president to commission a hospital (built by the Kaduna State Government). Lagos State is building a huge hospital (New Massey Clinic), I believe, childrens hospital. Katsina is doing the same. So, all over the country, healthcare has been improved by the sub-nationals. All this is due to the increased funding from the federal revenue. READ ALSO: Abia govt announces commencement date for first cohort of 2025 Abia Leadership Academy Work will continue in all other major aspects. What people see majorly is road infrastructure, but in terms of education, a lot of investments are going on. I have recently approved another N20bn spending on education infrastructure. Education is not part of what you call a low-hanging fruit. So people dont quickly see investments in that. They mostly only see investments in roads. But a lot is going on in agriculture and other sub sectors. And well continue to do more and deepen investment in all these areas. For example, if you go to Kwara South, weve done the Oro to Arandun Road. Ajase-Ipo to Oke Ode is still ongoing, done in phases. Weve done Omu-Aran to Oko. We have done Orisa Bridge along Oro-Ago. We are doing the road to Owu waterfall as well. Weve done roads in Offa. Were also about to do the Ilemona bypass, among others, he said. The police in Anambra State, South-east Nigeria, have arrested a suspected member of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Charles Chinonso, in the state. The police spokesperson in Anambra State, Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed this in a statement forwarded to PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday. Mr Ikenga, a superintendent of police, said operatives of the Anambra State Police Command attached to the Special Anti-Cultism Squad in Enugwu-Ukwu the suspect on Sunday. The arrest followed a complaint by the victim, who reported that the vehicle was snatched at the World Bank Housing Area, Owerri West Local Government Area, Imo State. Acting on credible technological intelligence, police operatives traced the vehicle to its location and effected the arrest, he said. The spokesperson said the operatives recovered the vehicle, earlier reported stolen in Imo State, from the 32-year-old suspected IPOB member. He said the vehicle was recovered from the suspect at Umuazu Village, Nise, in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State. Mr Ikenga said the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Ikioye Orutugu, assured that the command would liaise with the police command in Imo to ensure that the suspect and the recovered vehicle were processed in accordance with extant legal procedures. Mr Orutugu explained that the collaboration with the police command in Imo was because the alleged armed robbery occurred in Imo State. Prohibited in Nigeria IPOB is an outlawed group seeking an independent state of Biafra, which it wants carved out from the South-east and some parts of the South-south of Nigeria. Stealing is outlawed in Section 390 of the Nigeria Criminal Code Act. Offenders, on conviction, face three years imprisonment or more, including payment of a fine, depending on the item stolen and its value, according to the law. Several people have been convicted of stealing across the country. An Iyaganku Magistrate Court in Ibadan, in June 2022, sentenced a 23-year-old man, Isaac Dumabara, to one month imprisonment for stealing one pot of stew and meat worth N40,000 from a restaurant. A former deputy chief registrar of the Oyo State High Court, Mutiat Adio, was, in March 2020, sentenced to five years imprisonment after she was found guilty in a one-count charge of stealing. A civil tech platform, Citizen Monitors on Sunday, called on the federal government to ensure transparency, enhanced debt-risk controls and citizen-level tracking of project results amidst the countrys rising debt burden. A press statement signed by the spokesperson for the tech platform, Olajumoke Alawode-James, on Sunday, gave the advice following the Senates approval of the 2025-2026 external borrowing plan of $21.5 billion presented by Mr Tinubu for consideration. The statement stressed the importance of Nigerians to have a clear view of what is borrowed, on what terms and for what outcomes. Debt isnt the enemy, opacity isif loans are truly for classrooms, clinics, power and jobs, then publish the term sheets, publish the project milestones and let citizens see the outputs, month by month, the statement quoted the the co-founder of Citizen Monitors, Adeshope Haastrup, as saying. On 22 July, the Senate approved the 2025-2026 external borrowing plan of $21.5 billion. According to President Bola Tinubu, the loan request was aimed at funding various critical national development projects across key sectors of the economy. He also said the borrowing plan was in accordance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007 and the Debt Management Office (DMO) Act of 2003. The Citizen Monitors also noted that its call for transparency follows recent lender actions recalled the World Bank approvals for Nigeria of $2.25 billion and $1.08 billion. $254.76 million from China Development Bank for Kano-Kaduna rail and China Exim-backed road finance approvals. In June 2024, the World Bank approved the $2.25 billion loan for Nigeria to aid in stabilising its economy amid reforms and enhancing support for the impoverished. In April 2025, it approved an additional $1.08bn to support education, nutrition, and economic resilience in Nigeria. As the tech platform called for transparency, it stated that it was ready to help. Give the public data and well provide the dashboard. Every kilometre of road, every classroom, every megawatt built with borrowed funds should be visible and verifiable, it stated. Nigerias debt profile According to Nigerias Debt Management Office (DMO), as of 31 December 2024, Nigerias total public debt stood at N144.7 trillion (approximately $94.2 billion). About 51.4 per cent of the total (N74.4 trillion) is domestic debt, while 48.6 per cent (N70.3 trillion) is external debt. The rising debt has resulted in increased debt servicing costs. In 2023, Nigeria spent N7.8 trillion on debt servicing, a 121 per cent increase when compared to N3.52 trillion in the previous year. The amount spent on debt servicing rose to N13.12 trillion in 2024, a 68 per cent increase from the 2023 figure. These high debt servicing costs mean less funds for important sectors such as infrastructure and social services, potentially hindering economic growth and development. Six actions needed to rebuild public trust Amidst criticisms of Nigerias rising debt burden, the Citizen Monitors proposed six immediate actions to rebuild trust. This includes a call for the publishing of non-confidential loan terms and project annexes for every new facility, quarterly. It also demamded machine-readable debt data, project dashboards for loans; open contracting and independent monitors for all loan-funded procurement; clear public notes on community-backed and para-sovereign deals, and cap non-concessional FX borrowing and disclose hedging risk policy. Opposition criticises loan request In June, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) criticised Tinubus Administration for requesting to borrow $21.5 million and 15 billion, as well as obtaining a 65 million grant from international financial institutions, describing the move as contradictory and detrimental to Nigerias economic future. Similarly, on 30 July, the 2023 Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, lamented that Nigerias debt was unsustainable. Mr Obi said Mr Tinubus government had been on a borrowing spree over the last two years. Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has called on the Akwa Ibom diaspora in the United States to leverage their skills, professional networks, and resources to drive tourism, investment, and cultural heritage promotion in their home state. The governor made this known in a message delivered by Helen Obareki, the coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, during the 38th annual convention of the Akwa Ibom State Association of Nigeria, USA, Inc. (AKISAN), held at the Marriott Hotel, Arlington, Virginia. Extending warm felicitations to attendees at the convention gala, Governor Eno commended AKISAN for sustaining the states cultural values and fostering unity among Akwa Ibom indigenes abroad. He urged members to adopt a model of backward integration, similar to other diaspora communities like the Chinese and Indians, by channeling education, technology, and business connections toward the states socio-economic growth. How can you bring investments, transfer technology, and use your platforms to promote our states rich tourism potential? the governor asked, citing attractions such as Ikot Abasis historic castle, ONNAs pottery industry, and Ikot Ekpenes raffia craft as untapped goldmines. Governor Eno spotlighted Itawan James, a US-trained professional, who returned home to spearhead the Arise Senior Citizens Centre, now set for commissioning. He challenged other diaspora members to emulate her example of service and impact. In a major announcement, the governor expressed readiness to host the 2026 AKISAN Convention in Uyo, urging the association to begin immediate planning with the state government. He also redeemed his $5,000 pledge from last years convention to the winner of a native dialect competition, reinforcing his passion for preserving indigenous language. Highlighting his administrations tourism-focused projects, Governor Eno revealed plans for the Arise Resorts, a mini-Disneyland with luxury facilities, alongside a 5,000-seater international conference centre, a five-star hotel, a shopping mall, and a hospital. AKISAN President, Mbong Ekiko, in his remarks, appreciated the governor for consistently identifying with the association and for sending a five-person delegation to represent the state at the convention. He assured that AKISAN would continue to work closely with the state government to deepen the implementation of the Arise Agenda and support the governments laudable projects and programmes. The convention also featured a Governors Townhall Meeting, where the accomplishments of the Eno-led administration over the past two years were presented by the states Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah. Highlights of the three-day event included the Womens Summit, Childrens Summit, and Business and Technology Summit, all aimed at fostering empowerment, skills development, and innovation within the Akwa Ibom diaspora community. The state delegation to the event comprised the information commissioner, Mr Umanah; Emmanuel Ekuwem, former secretary to the Akwa Ibom State Government; Inemesit Uwah, wife of the Secretary to the State Government; and Itawan James, delivery advisor of the Arise Senior Citizens Centre. The convention attracted Akwa Ibom people from different parts of the United States and Nigeria, uniting the global Akwa Ibom family in a celebration of heritage, achievement, and a shared vision for the states future. JERUSALEM, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday the military had been ordered to enter the "decisive stage" of the Gaza war, aimed at seizing the remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza City, refugee camps in central Gaza and the southern area of Al Mawasi. He made the remarks in a press conference amid growing criticism around the world and within Israel over a security cabinet decision on Thursday to take over Gaza City. According to figures presented by Netanyahu, since Israel resumed its assaults in the Gaza Strip in March, the military has taken control of about 70 percent of Gaza. He said that following the security cabinet decision, the army was instructed to begin the operation in Gaza City. A map he presented showed the ground campaign would target Gaza City, refugee camps in central Gaza and Al Mawasi, a southern area Israel has designated a "humanitarian zone," sheltering displaced Palestinians in makeshift tents. Netanyahu said civilians would be allowed to leave combat zones through designated corridors before the assault, without giving a start date. He accused Hamas of setting "impossible conditions" that stalled Qatar-brokered talks. These conditions, he said, include a full Israeli withdrawal from the Strip, the release of Hamas's Nukhba fighters from Israeli prisons, and international guarantees to prevent Israel from resuming fire. "These are terms of surrender that I will certainly not agree to accept," he said. "Hence, I was convinced that the only way forward is to decisively defeat Hamas." Netanyahu said the security cabinet agreed the war would end only if five conditions are met: Hamas's disarmament, the release of hostages, Gaza's demilitarization, Israeli security control over the enclave, and the appointment of a non-Israeli civilian body to administer daily life in Gaza, which he said would not be Hamas or the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority. Later, the prime minister's office said he spoke over phone with U.S. President Donald Trump. The two "discussed Israel's plans to take over the remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza in order to end the war by releasing the hostages and defeating Hamas." Netanyahu also thanked Trump for his "strong support for Israel since the beginning of the war," the office said in a statement. On Sunday, at least five more people died of famine and malnutrition, according to Gaza's health authorities. The death toll in Gaza from Israeli military operations since the war started has risen to at least 61,430. The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has threatened to embark on a nationwide strike if the government fails to address its long-standing demands, including the conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement. In a statement signed by its president, Christopher Piwuna, ASUU accused the Nigerian government of neglecting agreements and creating conditions that have left lecturers forgotten, shamed, and demoralised. Meanwhile, following delayed salaries in June, ASUU directed its members to down tools whenever the government fails to pay their salaries as and when due, describing it as a no pay, no work policy. However, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the government had perfected plans to ensure that workers unions in Nigerian tertiary institutions no longer embark on strike. Mr Alausa said industrial harmony would be achieved through dialogue, a good relationship with the heads of the unions as well as meeting the demands of the unions. He said the demands of the workers unions are already being met to avert any possible industrial action. The president has directed that not again, not again ever in this country will ASUU or tertiary institutions, trade unions, teachers, lecturers go on strike, Mr Alausa had said. ASUU Reacts Reacting to the ministers comments, the academic union said industrial harmony on campuses is dependent on the government acting on outstanding issues. ASUU noted that the government has failed to honour several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and Memoranda of Action (MoAs) signed in 2013, 2017, 2019, and 2020. It added that the government has failed to conclude the renegotiation of the 2009 Agreement for more than eight years. ASUU said the last committee, chaired by the Pro-Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Yayale Ahmed, submitted its report eight months ago but the government has yet to sign it or begin the implementation. The Yayale Ahmed-led committee, inaugurated in October last year, is the fourth committee handling the renegotiation since 2017. The government has failed to implement each of the renegotiated agreements, resulting in industrial actions by the union in 2018, 2020 and 2022. Wale Babalakin, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and the then pro-chancellor of the University of Lagos, led the renegotiation team constituted by the government from 2017 until his resignation as pro-chancellor in 2020. In 2021, Munzali Jibril, an emeritus professor of English and then pro-chancellor for the Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa State, took over. With him, the negotiation fared relatively smoothly as his committee turned in a draft agreement in three months May 2021. But the government never signed or implemented the agreement. When the union embarked on another nationwide strike in 2022, the government constituted yet another committee this time headed by the late Nimi Briggs, also an emeritus professor. The Briggs-led committee also renegotiated the 2009 agreement and submitted a draft to the government in June 2022. It was never signed, forcing the 2022 strike action to last until October when an Industrial Court asked ASUU to suspend the strike after a suit was instituted against the union by the federal government. Lecturers teaching on empty stomachs The union also criticised what it called the governments pick and choose approach to implementing agreements and described initiatives like the proposed Diaspora Bridge to attract academics abroad as hypocritical without addressing local working conditions. Agents of government at the State and federal levels have characteristically thrown the underlying principles of the Agreement overboard and resorted to platitudes and tokenism. They discountenance the morale of intellectual workers and basic requirements for delivering on their mandate of teaching, research and (community) service, the statement reads. It described the conditions of its members as dire, citing unpaid entitlements, poor research facilities, and lack of teaching resources. Lecturers teach students on empty stomachs, conduct research in libraries and laboratories bereft of essential electronic and physical journals, books, chemicals and reagents. They engage with communities and agencies in rickety cars while encumbered by utility bills, childrens fees, house rents, family upkeep and a legion of other unmet responsibilities, the statement reads. The union added that despite all these circumstances, elite Nigerians are quick to blame the universities for producing unemployable graduates. IPPIS, unpaid promotions The statement also took aim at the governments Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), describing it as corruption-laden and accusing officials of punishing lecturers who opted out. They push academics to the point of a strike, and turn around to withhold their salaries, the union said. A government introduces a corruption-laden IPPIS, yet goes ahead to punish lecturers for opting out of the pipeline of corruption. It added that many lecturers had been promoted without receiving the corresponding financial benefits for several years. In November 2023, a rare rock from Mars was found in Niger. The rock was, however, controversially taken to the US, where it was auctioned and sold for $5.3 million. There are no indications that the Nigerien government got any proceeds from the sale of the meteorite. The Nigerien government has now launched an investigation into how the Martian meteorite was moved out of the country to New York. The meteorite, called NWA 16788, was, in July, auctioned in the Sothebys auction house, one of the worlds largest and oldest auction houses, founded in 1744. The rare rock weighs more than 24.6 kilograms and is considered to be the largest known rock from Mars ever found on Earth. The sale happened during the auction houses Geek Week, which showcases items linked to natural history, science, and space. Before the auction, the rock had been displayed by a private gallery in Tuscany, Italy, and by the Italian Space Agency. An Italian academic article published last year revealed that it was discovered in the Agadez region of northern Niger by a meteorite hunter. It is believed to have travelled about 140 million miles from Mars after an asteroid impact before landing in the Sahara. Meteorites, often caused by fragments of asteroids or comets entering Earths atmosphere, can fall anywhere on the planet. However, the dry climate and minimal human activity in the Sahara have made the desert a prime spot for finding them. Meteorite hunters and researchers often scour the desert, especially in parts of Africa like Morocco, Algeria, and Niger, searching for rocks that have fallen to Earth. For the recently discovered rock, neither the buyer nor the seller has been identified, and little is known about the hunter who found it. Nigerien officials, however, have begun questioning how the rock left the country to go under the hammer 5,000 miles away. In a recent statement, the government said it doubts the legality of the rocks export and raised concerns about the likelihood of illicit international trafficking. It said the export bears all the hallmarks of illicit international trafficking. The Nigerien authorities also announced that they have launched an official investigation into the circumstances of the rocks discovery, export and sale. Auction house denies allegation Experts and international cultural watchdogs are also questioning the legality and ethics of the meteorites export. Some of them are even calling for its immediate return. A palaeontologist from the University of Edinburgh, Steve Brusatte, told CNN last month that, It would be a shame if it disappeared into the vault of an oligarch. It belongs in a museum, where it can be studied, and where it can be enjoyed by children and families and the public at large. It was discovered in Niger? How did it end up being sold in New York? said Alia Bare, daughter of former Nigerien president Ibrahim Mainassara, in an interview with Forbes Africa. This is a crucial matter of sovereignty. This is a national treasure that shouldnt have been sold. Things have to change, she added. However, Sothebys has denied allegations that the rock might have been illegally transported to the US. The auction house told the BBC that it complied with all international regulations. The NWA 16788 was exported from Niger and transported in line with all relevant international procedures, it said. As with everything we sell, all relevant documentation was in order at each stage of its journey, in accordance with best practice and the requirements of the countries involved, it added. An altercation between a passenger and a cabin crew member onboard an Ibom Air flight has sparked online buzz after a video of the incident surfaced on social media Sunday evening. The short footage shows a heated confrontation as the passenger, reportedly just disembarking from a UyoLagos trip, engages in a physical tussle with a cabin crew member, while airport security personnel intervene. The cause of the dispute remains unclear as of press time. Airport security officers from the Aviation Security (AVSEC) unit quickly intervened, attempting to separate the two and restore calm. The reason for the confrontation was not immediately confirmed, but preliminary reactions point to a breach of basic in-flight safety rules. Reacting to the viral clip, Michael Achimugu, director of public affairs and consumer protection at the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), urged passengers to respect aviation safety protocols. When cabin crew ask you to turn off your phone before takeoff/landing, simply comply. I cant understand why simple routine issues would lead to incidents like this, passengers need to understand that they have responsibilities, not just rights, Mr Achimugu lamented. The incident adds to a growing list of confrontations between passengers and airline staff in Nigeria, raising fresh concerns for both flight safety and cabin crew welfare. The NCAA said further details of the confrontation would be made public after its review of the incident. Will address this after more details become clearer by tomorrow. Mr. Achimugu added. The police have confirmed that five people, including a police officer, died on Friday when hundreds of armed bandits rode on motorcycles into Babanla, a town in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, and attacked the local police station and market. The state police spokesperson, Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday. She identified the slain police officer as Adejumo Wasiu. Mrs Elire-Adeyemi said it required a coordinated response by police, the Nigerian Army, vigilantes and local hunters to end the attack. She said peace has been restored in the community, and the security forces were in pursuit of the bandits. The police spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police, Adekimi Ojo, the Director of the State Security Services (SSS), had visited Babanla to evaluate the security situation. During the visit, the security chiefs met with the communitys traditional ruler, Yusuf Alabi, and toured key locations in the community and the surrounding areas. She said the police chief ordered sustained armed patrols, continuous intelligence gathering, and the deployment of specialised tracking teams. At the same time, the SSS pledged continuous intelligence support to apprehend all those involved in the attack. In June, a PREMIUM TIMES special report captured the severity of the security situation in the southern senatorial district of Kwara State. Violent crimes have continued unabated in the area, despite several measures taken by the state government to restore order and public safety in the district. READ ALSO: Drama on Ibom Air flight as passenger clashes with cabin crew Last week, a video circulated on social media of one of the communities in the same Ifelodun Local Government Area that residents deserted after months of incessant attacks by bandits. Eka, Upper Eka, Lower Eka, Kudagbari, Gbanmu, Oloruntele, Baba Sango, Ibudo Idowu, Ibudo Olosun, Ayetoro, and Apata Olosun are some of the communities in the area reported to have been deserted by residents. In response, the federal government deployed five fighter jets to help a team of joint security personnel deployed to Babanla and the surrounding area. Former Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has expressed his continued support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections. Mr Ambode, who served as the governor of Lagos State for one term between 2015 and 2019, gave this pledge vua his X page on Sunday. In a one paragraph post, Mr Ambode assured Nigerians that another four years of Mr Tinubu after his first term will yield more progress and achievements for Nigeria, giving citizens more reasons to celebrate. As we look toward the 2027 general elections, I remain steadfast in my commitment to supporting President Tinubus re-election. I am confident that, with another four years, Nigerians will have more reasons to celebrate our collective progress. My dedication to his vision and aspirations for our nation remains unwavering, he said. Mr Ambodes statement supporting President Tinubus re-election bid in 2027 is a move to debunk circulating rumours about his alleged plans to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The former governor attached to his statement a screenshot of a fake post about his intention to declare his governorship ambition on the platform of the ADC in Lagos State. Mr Ambodes fallout with President Tinubu in 2018, which cost him a second term as governor, may have made him an easy target for false rumours about defecting to the ADC. Ahead of 2027 general elections With the 2027 general elections just two years away, Nigerias political scene is heating up as politicians are already making their moves. Like a game of chess, alliances are forming and defections are rife. Asides the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which lost notable members to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in a gale of defections across the country in the last few months, the ADC, adopted as a coalition party by the opposition leaders, has emerged as a significant player in Nigerias political landscape. On 2 July, a coalition of opposition leaders including Atiku Abubakar, Rotimi Amaechi, Raid Aregbesola,David Mark and Nasir ElRufai, formally adopted the ADC as its interim platform to challenge President Tinubu and the ruling APC in the 2027 general elections. Peter Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in 2023, who was part of the coalition movement, has yet to make up his mind to join the ADC. The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, ordered the remand of five suspected terrorists who attacked St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo in Ondo State on 5 June 2022, in State Security Service (SSS) facility. The judge, Emeka Nwite, gave the order after the five suspects were arraigned. They pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against them by the federal government. The suspects include Idris Omeiza, 25 years; Al Qasim Idris, 20 years; Jamiu Abdulmalik, 26 years; Abdulhaleem Idris, 25 years and Momoh Otuho Abubakar, 47 years. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the terror attack, which occured on 5 June 2022 at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo in Ondo State, left over 40 worshippers dead while over 100 others sustained injuries. NAN had earlier reported that the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) is prosecuting the case on FGs behalf. The case comprising nine charges was filed on 23 July by M.B. Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions in the Federal Ministry of Justice. At Mondays hearing, Calistus Eze, who appeared for the prosecution, informed the court that the matter was scheduled for the arraignment of the defendants. Mr Eze, however, said that since the charge was filed during the vacation, a summon ex-parte had been filed alongside. He prayed the court for a leave to move the application and it was granted. Moving the application, Eze said the summon ex-parte was dated and filed on July 28 and prayed the court for an order allowing the charge to be taken within the vacation period. Mr Nwite granted the prayer in a short ruling. The charges were then read to the defendants, who pleaded not guilty to all five counts. The prosecuting lawyer sought a trial date and urged the court to remand them in SSS custody. Defence lawyer Abdullahi Muhammad did not oppose Mr Ezes application. Mr Muhammad, however, urged the court to make an order allowing the defendants access to their relatives and lawyers. According to him, the defendants have been in custody since 2022 and we have not had access to them. But Mr Eze said as a matter of practice and procedure, defendants are allowed access to their lawyers and relatives if a letter is written, stating the date and time. The lawyer added that since the trial had also commenced, the defendants would be afforded time and facility needed to defend themselves. The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until 19 August for commencement of trial and ordered them to be remanded at the DSS custody. The suspects and others, who are at large, were alleged to have sometime in 2021, joined and became members of AL Shabab Terrorist Group. Charges They were accused of operating their cell in Kogi State contrary to and punishable under Section 25(1) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. In count two, they were alleged to have on 30 May 2022; 3 June 2022 and 4 June 2022, at Government Secondary School, Ogamirana, Adavi LGA in Kogi and behind Omialafa Central Mosque, Ose LGA, Ondo State, respectively, attended and held meetings, where they agreed to and planned for the terrorist attack, which they carried out on 5 June 2022, at St. Francis Catholic Church, Owo, Ondo State. The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 12(a) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act 2022. The defendants were alleged to have, on 5 June 2022, with intent to cause death, did detonate Improvised explosive devices (IEDs), which led to the death of over 40 persons, including: Ajanaku John; Onuoha Deborah; Onileke Esther and John Bosede. They were also alleged to have, on 5 June 2022 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo with intent to further their religious ideology and while armed with IEDs and AK 47 rifles, did attack worshippers, held them hostage and in the process, caused grievous bodily harm to over 100 persons, including Onileke Ayodele, John Blessing, Nselu Esther and Ogungbade Peter. The offence is said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 42 (a)(ii) of Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, among other counts. (NAN) Some police operatives from the Zone 16 headquarters in Bayelsa State allegedly abducted a Nigerian, extorted $20,000 before dumping him in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, a human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu, has said. Mr Gwamnishu disclosed this in two videos he posted on Facebook first in July and the second this month. The incident occurred two years after the Nigeria Police Force dismissed an operative from service for extorting 3,000 USDT, equivalent to N4.2 million as of February 2023. This newspaper reported in 2023 that the money was recovered and refunded to the victim. The police acted on the incident following a post on X by Mr Gwamnishu. $20,000 extortion allegation Mr Gwamnishu, the founder of the non-profit, Behind Bars, first posted a video of the incident on Facebook on 24 July and a follow-up video on 9 August. In the video, Mr Gwamnishu said police operatives from the Anti-Cultism Unit, AIG Zone 16 headquarters in Bayelsa State, went to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and abducted a man in front of the Salvation Ministries Church, took him around, and finally dumped him after extorting 20,000 USDT from him. He uploaded pictures of the transfer receipt and the vehicle allegedly used by the police officers. According to the receipt, the transfer was executed at 10:51 p.m. on 14 July. The activist said that after his first video, the police authority invited the operatives to Bayelsa, where the victim identified two people allegedly involved in the extortion. According to him, the officers were later released. Since 24 July till now, nothing has happened, he said, urging the police authority to refund the money and sanction the officers involved. He did not mention the names of the operatives accused of extortion. In the second video, Mr Gwamnishu lamented why the same Anti-Cultism Unit in Zone 16, whose operatives were allegedly involved in the extortion, is allowed to conduct the investigation. He called on the assistant commissioner of police, who is in charge of the Inspector General of Police Complaint Response Unit at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, to take over the case. Send somebody down to investigate it or invite them to Abuja for investigation. The operatives involved in the extortion have been released as of today, he said in the video. Suspects in custody police When contacted, the zone 16 police spokesperson, Gunn Ewhorborwo, said the complainant has identified the operatives involved. That is what he alleged. The police are on it. Weve conducted an identification parade, where a complainant identifies suspects in connection with an allegation. The police mixed up the suspects about 20 police officers were brought in, and he was able to identify two of them. They (identified suspects) are currently in detention, Mr Ewhorborwo said. PREMIUM TIMES shared with Mr Ewhorborwo a concern raised by Mr Gwamnishu that a higher authority should take over the investigation. Mr Ewhorborwo, a superintendent of police, said the investigation team is being led by an assistant commissioner of police and promised that the outcome will be made public soon. You know, when someone is making an allegation, we have to do thorough work. And the complainant is very happy with the way the investigation is going, he added. PREMIUM TIMES could not reach the complainant for comments at the time of filing this report. Felix Ukpo, father of a Nigerian boy in the UK organ trafficking case against Nigerian senator, Ike Ekweremadu, is dead. The mans son, Boniface, confirmed his death to PREMIUM TIMES on Monday in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital. The then-Nigerias Deputy Senate President, Mr Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice, were convicted and later sentenced by a UK court for procuring and flying the 21-year-old David to the UK with the intention to harvest his kidney for their ailing daughter. He died without seeing his son Since the conviction and sentencing of Mr Ekweremadu, his wife and a medical doctor over the case by the UK court, the whereabouts of David were unknown. His family has remained silent since the end of the trial. But speaking to reporters on Monday, Boniface regretted that the father had suffered pains and heartbreak over Davids ordeals. He claimed that the fathers death was likely caused by the pains and heartbreak over Davids travails. The son said the father had battled with the disappointment of not seeing his son for years. Mr Boniface further claimed that the family had not spoken with David since the incident happened in 2022. My father died yesterday (Sunday) afternoon at 12 p.m. Its so sad that since the incident happened in 2022, we have not spoken with my brother, David Nwamini. So, my father has been sick over the saga, and yesterday he finally died, he told this newspaper. Background In June 2022, Mr Ekweremadu and his wife were arrested and charged with trafficking David to harvest his kidney for their ailing daughter. They were arrested and charged alongside a medical doctor, Obinna Obeta, over the incident. In March 2023, the Old Bailey Court in the UK convicted Mr Ekweremadu, his wife and Mr Obeta of organ trafficking. In May of the same year, the court sentenced Mr Ekweremadu to nine years and eight months in prison. The court also sentenced Mr Ekweremadus wife to four years and six months in prison, while Mr Obeta, the doctor who colluded with them, was sentenced to 10 years. Mr Ekweremadus wife returned to Nigeria after her release from the UK prison in January 2025. Going by the pronouncement of the UK court, Beatrice has not completed her jail term, which was four years and six months. It is unclear if she was granted a pardon in the European country. PREMIUM TIMES had asked a former aide to Mr Ekweremadu if the ex-senators wife would need to return to the UK to serve out the jail term. I dont have that information. But shes out means shes out finally. She will not go back to the UK, the former aide responded. The Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) has imposed a lifetime flight ban on Comfort Emmanson, a female passenger accused of violently assaulting crew members on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos on 10 August. The AON is the association of Nigerias domestic airlines. The incident, which began shortly before take-off at Victor Attah International Airport, reportedly escalated when Ms Emmanson refused to switch off her mobile phone despite repeated safety instructions. According to Ibom Air, another passenger seated beside her switched off the device, prompting a verbal outburst that turned into a physical confrontation with the cabin crew. Upon arrival in Lagos, the airline said Ms Emmanson confronted the purser, the crew member who had earlier instructed her to turn off her phone, and physically assaulted her. Eyewitness accounts and video footage circulating online show her attempting to use a fire extinguisher during the altercation. Some of the video footage also shows Mr Emmanson being forced by airport security into a van, during which her clothes were torn and her upper body inappropriately exposed. Tunde Moshood, spokesperson to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, confirmed that Ms Emmanson has been charged to court and remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre.in AON spokesperson Obiora Okonkwo described the act as one of the most severe cases of unruly behaviour witnessed in the sector this year. He announced that Ms Emmanson will no longer be allowed to fly with any domestic airline under the associations membership. This was not just disruptive; it was a sustained, violent attack that placed the lives of crew, passengers, and the aircraft at risk, Mr Okonkwo said in a statement. The ban comes amid rising incidents of unruly passengers in Nigerias aviation industry, with recent cases involving prominent figures such as musician Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (KWAM 1) and a senator, Adams Oshiomhole, on separate domestic flights. AON also urged the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to strengthen Aviation Security (AVSEC) protocols across airports to protect crew and passengers from similar threats. MACAO, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The University of Macao's Institute of Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences will hold the 3rd Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Interdisciplinary Doctoral Forum from Aug. 21 to 22, the university said on Monday. With the theme "Interdisciplinary Approaches to Global Challenges: Innovation, Aspiration, Solution," the forum brings together over 60 doctoral students, scholars, and experts from around the world for two keynote speeches and 13 panel discussions. Topics range from reflections on AI narratives and digital literacy to health and well-being, according to the university. The event is expected to foster cross-disciplinary dialogue, encourage innovative solutions to global issues, and expand academic networks. The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has expressed outrage over a viral video showing the indecent exposure of Comfort Emmanson, the passenger accused of assaulting airline officials on an Ibom Air flight from Uyo to Lagos. PREMIUM TIMES reported that Ms Emmanson allegedly attacked a flight attendant and clashed with security operatives at the airport. The alleged assault led to her being arraigned and remanded at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos State on Monday. Reacting to the incident in a statement posted on his X page on Monday, Mr Keyamo confirmed that Ms Emmanson was arraigned before the Ikeja Magistrates Court on criminal charges. He condemned her actions, noting that she was remanded because she failed to provide adequate sureties in court. Viral indecent video However, the minister also criticised the circulation of the viral indecent video, which showed Ms Emmansons top torn and her upper body exposed. He said he ordered action against the Ibom Air officials who leaked the footage. The 55-year-old said: Whilst we support the filming of her recalcitrant behaviour as evidence to prosecute her, what is deplorable is to release such evidence containing indecent exposure to the public to ridicule her. That is totally unacceptable to us. We will not fold our arms and tolerate the debasing of womanhood. I have therefore directed that whoever released that part of the video containing the indecent exposure amongst the staff should be singled out and adequately sanctioned. Training Mr Keyamo further stated that he had instructed airlines to prioritise their staffs continuous training and retraining in public relations and handling potentially volatile situations. He explained that this would help defuse tensions swiftly or prevent them from escalating, except in cases where intervention became unavoidable. He stated, I have also directed a joint security meeting between relevant agencies next week for better coordination of security measures in situations like this or similar ones we witnessed recently. Mr Keyamo stated that his ministry would continue to impose all applicable sanctions within the aviation sector on any erring passengers. READ ALSO: Nigerian airlines ban passenger over violent assault on Ibom Air Crew He explained that these measures included lengthy flight bans and reporting such cases to other law enforcement agencies to take further action within their jurisdiction. For genuinely aggrieved passengers, there are clearly laid-down remedies to address grievances. The Consumer Protection Directorate of the NCAA has consistently advertised these remedies, and there is no point trying to take the laws into ones hands that may lead to dire consequences. The independent investigative panel on the alleged corruption and abuse of power, torture, cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment in the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) on Monday has commenced the third phase of its public hearing in Abuja. The panel was constituted by the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in September 2024, following allegations of corruption and gross misconduct involving NCoS officials and cross-dresser Idris Okuneye, popularly known as Bobrisky. The panel held the first two phases of its hearing in September 2024 and March 2025. The members of the panel include the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Interior, who serves as the chairperson, Magdalene Ajani; secretary, Uju Agomoh. The rest are Iyke Ezeugo, Eva Omotose, Nasir Usman and Modupe Onyalechi. As part of its mandate, the panel, in November 2024, undertook field visits to different correctional centres across the country to ascertain their state. The chairperson of the panel, Mrs Ajani, noted that the third hearing was not to indict the NCoS but to restore integrity within the system. As we gather here today, we continue a solemn and necessary process, a process driven by a collective resolve to ensure that the Nigerian Correctional Service operates in line with the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and respect for the rights and dignity of all Nigerians. The first and second public hearings of this kind have provided important insights into the nature, scope, and patterns of the allegations brought before us. They also reaffirmed the complexity of the issues and the issues of history, she said. In the aftermath of the previous hearings, the NCoS dismissed an Assistant Superintendent of Corrections, Efe Onakpoya, for allegedly making false claims against the Service in his efforts to expose a colleague, Ogbule Obinna, who he claimed took an inmate out of the Ebonyi facility illegally to see his girlfriend for a conjugal meeting. However, Mr Obinna, who the whistleblower accused of illegally taking an inmate out of custody, was not punished. The NCoS management claimed it punished Mr Onakpoya for allegedly making untrue claims against the Service. Mondays hearing Reading the objectives of the third hearing on Monday, the secretary of the panel, Mrs Agomoh, explained that the focus of the hearing would be on thematic issues. Mondays focus centred around children and young persons in custody, the conditions of juveniles in correctional facilities, compliance with child protection laws, minors in custody struggling with addiction, monitoring and oversight, and the relationship between NCOs and remand homes. Among the attendees of the event are representatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Nigerian Police Force, the Legal Aid Counsel of Nigeria, the National Assembly and the Nigerian Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Recommendations on child detention The representative of the Nigerian Association of Clinical Psychologists (NACP) and Nigerian Psychological Association (NPA), Abigail Oni, made a presentation on the assessment of minors who were incarcerated in adult facilities. Ms Oni said children housed in adult facilities face severe emotional, psychological, and developmental harm. She recommended the immediate relocation of minors to appropriate remand homes and the establishment of online centres in every area to ensure accessible, safe, and rehabilitative care for minors. She called for a holistic profiling of all inmates with minors and psychologically vulnerable individuals identified and separated from the general adult population. She also advocated a comprehensive drug and mental health assessment programmes for minors alongside rehabilitative interventions and family reintegration support. Other recommendations include a focus on rehabilitation for meaningful behavioural change and structured, evidence-based rehabilitation programs led by a qualified psychologist with measurable outcomes. Recruitment of more psychologists to address manpower shortages, prevent burnout, and improve service delivery. Decongestion of facilities through judicial reforms to address delays. Provision of adequate logistics, including operational vehicles, to enhance service delivery. Ms Oni highlighted the development risks faced by children born to female inmates, and she recommended measures for their protection. She noted that the NACP and NPA were available to help with the achievement of the recommendations to the NCOS. No minors from #EndBadGovernance in NCoS facilities While fielding questions about the remand of minors arrested during the #EndBadGovernance protest held in August 2024, the representative of NCoS, I.N. Idris, said that none of the minors were held in the Services facilities. He noted that the minors were in police custody. During the #EndBadGovernance protests, there was no minor who was admitted into the NCoS. No single minor was admitted into the NCoS. There was an attempt, but when they were brought in, because of their age, we did not admit them. They were in police stations throughout the time. However, the panel noted that during their visits across detention centres, they saw minors at correctional centres, which was a violation of Section 35 of the Nigerian Correctional Service Act 2019. READ ALSO: Lawmakers decry poor living condition at Nigerias correctional centres The police arrested about 52 minors during the #EndBadGovernance protest in August 2024. They were detained for over two months. This led to a public outcry. During the hearing, the NCOS admitted that some women were kept with children in a medium correctional centre at Suleja. The panel criticised this and requested their immediate separation. They recommended training for officers, making judicial use of already existing structures. The NCoS urged the panel to assist in organising a workshop to bring the judiciary and correctional centres together to avoid overcrowding and the establishment of remand homes by State governments. However, the panel asked the NCoS to take into consideration the recommendations, including sanitation, the separation of minors from adults, and the training of officers deployed to juvenile facilities. The panel asked the NCoS to provide evidence of action within four weeks. President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on retaining the World Health Organisations (WHO) Maturity Level 3 (ML3) status for regulating medicines and vaccines. The presidents message followed a WHO re-benchmarking exercise conducted in May, which assessed NAFDACs performance against globally recognised regulatory standards. NAFDAC first achieved the ML3 status in 2022, becoming the first National Regulatory Authority in Africa to reach that milestone for the regulation of medicines and vaccines in a non-producing country. The WHO conducts periodic reviews to ensure that agencies maintain the required standards. The latest evaluation followed a formal re-benchmarking in November 2024 and five Institutional Development Plan (IDP) review meetings between February and April 2025 to assess progress on corrective actions. Mr Tinubu acknowledged in a statement signed on Monday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, that WHO concluded in its verdict that NAFDAC continues to operate a stable, well-functioning, and integrated framework for regulating medicines and vaccines. This achievement results from investment by the Government of Nigeria in strengthening the regulatory system, it noted. What ML3 rating means The WHOs Maturity Level three rating is part of its Global Benchmarking Tool (GBT), which assesses the capacity of national regulatory authorities to regulate medical products. The scale ranges from Level one, where only some elements of a regulatory system exist, to Level four, representing advanced performance and continuous improvement. Nigerias ML3 status applies to both locally produced and imported medicines and vaccines. It means that NAFDAC has a stable, well-functioning, and integrated regulatory system, making it eligible for inclusion in the transitional WHO Listed Authorities (WLA). The WLA is a list of global regulators recognised as meeting WHO and other international standards. In Africa, only Tanzania, Ghana, Nigeria, and Egypt currently hold ML3 status. The WHO benchmarks agencies against 268 sub-indicators covering areas such as clinical trial oversight, marketing authorisation, vigilance, laboratory testing, inspection, and market surveillance. According to NAFDAC, Nigeria was evaluated in eight out of nine functions, with the lot release function applicable only to vaccine-producing nations. Presidential commendation Mr Tinubu praised NAFDACs management and staff for their professionalism, consistency, and dedication to safeguarding public health. He said the achievement strengthens Nigerias standing as a reliable partner in global health security and pandemic preparedness. He reaffirmed his administrations commitment to ensuring the safety, quality, and efficacy of medicines and vaccines in line with international best practices. The president noted that this milestone supports his Renewed Hope Agenda to transform Nigerias healthcare system. According to the statement, the administration has made progress in upgrading over 17,000 primary health centres, improving maternal care and diagnostics in underserved communities, training 120,000 frontline health workers, and working to double national health insurance coverage within three years. The president also emphasised the importance of promoting local production of healthcare products, pledging continued collaboration with credible partners, development agencies, and donor organisations to grow Nigerias pharmaceutical sector, attract investment, and expand local manufacturing capacity. He assured that his administration will support NAFDACs efforts to attain WHOs Maturity Level four, the highest global standard of regulatory excellence. The Cross River Health Management Board says one person died of Lassa fever in the state between January and July. The states Chief Epidemiologist, Inyang Ekpenyong, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Calabar on Monday. Ms Ekpenyong said that one person died out of the two confirmed cases recorded during the period. She further said there were 23 suspected cases in the state from Obubra and Abi Local Government Areas. This figure is lower than the 90 suspected cases that were recorded in 2024. In 2024, we had no fewer than 90 suspected cases and eight deaths in the state, she said. Ms Ekpenyong said that although the board did not envisage a surge in cases during the remaining part of the year, it had already made plans for emergency responses. She further said that the board was conducting mass sensitisation campaigns across the state to equip people with prevention techniques. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), Nigeria has recorded 155 deaths from Lassa fever in 2025, with the current case fatality rate (CFR) now higher than that of the same period last year. The NCDC disclosed this in its latest situation report for epidemiological week 29. The report shows that the CFR now stands at 18.9 per cent, compared to 17.1 per cent recorded at the same time in 2024. The #1 honeymoon gift registry expands into milestone travel, helping couples celebrate love year after year CLEARWATER, Fla., Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeyfund, the original honeymoon fund that's helped more than 1.5 million couples take the trip of a lifetime, is now helping them celebrate every chapter ahead. In its 20th year, the company today announced the launch of the Anniversary Funda first-of-its-kind gifting feature that lets couples fund anniversary trips, vow renewals, and romantic getaways with support from family and friends. As more couples value experiences over things, the Anniversary Fund taps into a growing cultural shift. "Honeymoons are more than a vacationthey're a chance to reset and invest in your future together," said Sara Margulis, CEO and co-founder of Honeyfund. "With the Anniversary Fund, couples can keep that tradition going. And for many COVID wedding couples celebrating their 5th anniversary, this is a chance to finally take their honeymoon." Designed for both new and returning users, Honeyfund's Anniversary Fund is free to set up and easy to share. Whether a couple missed their honeymoon, is planning a 10-year adventure, or wants to renew their vows in a meaningful way, Honeyfund makes it simple to receive gifts that reflect their relationship. Key Features: Create a personalized fund in minutes Customize with photos, story, and trip details Fee-free gifts for U.S. couples Use funds however you likeflights, hotels, dinners, or experiences The Anniversary Fund launches just in time for National Honeymoon Day (August 14), Honeyfund's annual celebration of romantic travel, highlighting how travel is scientifically linked to stronger relationships, lower stress, and greater marital satisfaction. To mark the occasion, couples can enter to win an all-inclusive trip to Mexico at honeyfund.com/national-honeymoon-day . Keywords: Bridal media: second honeymoons, post-COVID weddings, anniversary gifting Lifestyle & relationships: modern love, meaningful milestones, experience-based giving Tech & startups: wedding tech evolution, relationship wellness, gift-tech innovation Business & consumer trends: experience economy, social gifting, platform longevity About Honeyfund Founded in 2006, Honeyfund is the #1 honeymoon and cash gift registry, trusted by couples and gift givers around the world. Featured on Shark Tank, BRIDES, and The Today Show, Honeyfund makes it easy to receive meaningful, fee-free gifts that fund travel, experiences, or financial freedom. Press Contact: Sara Margulis [email protected] www.honeyfund.com/anniversary SOURCE Honeyfund New initiative invites veterinarians to share expertise, learn from peers, and shape the future of clinical outcomes in real time ST. LOUIS, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- CareVet, a leading advocate for progressive veterinary care, is proud to announce the launch of the CareVet Clinical Outcomes Program, a dynamic, peer-powered initiative designed to elevate outcomes in veterinary practice through collective experience and real-time clinical feedback. CareVet Clinical Outcomes: advancing veterinary outcomes together. Every week, licensed veterinarians across the country will receive a carefully crafted question related to clinical practiceranging from diagnostics to treatment approaches and new therapies. On Mondays, the question is released. By Friday, responses are summarized and shared back with the community, providing a snapshot of how fellow DVMs are approaching care across the country. "Veterinary medicine shouldn't feel like a solo journey," said Dr. Kent Thornberry, Chief Veterinary Officer at CareVet. "The Clinical Outcomes Program brings together licensed veterinarians to learn from one another, challenge assumptions, and uncover the best care strategies happening in real-world practices." The program aims to create a trusted space where veterinarians can: Share what's working in their clinics Learn how peers are applying emerging therapies Ask real questions and get real answers from colleagues Contribute to an ever-growing resource of clinical wisdom By fostering an open and supportive network, CareVet hopes to strengthen the collective voice of the profession and help set more consistent standards of caregrounded not just in research, but in real outcomes shared by real doctors. Join the Conversation CareVet invites licensed DVMs to join the Clinical Outcomes community today. By participating, you're not only learningyou're helping shape what veterinary medicine looks like tomorrow. Join the conversation by visiting carevet.com/clinical-outcomes Questions? Email [email protected] SOURCE CareVet -Earnings Call Scheduled for 8:30 p.m. ET on August 20, 2025- SHANGHAI, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FinVolution Group ("FinVolution", or the "Company") (NYSE: FINV), a leading fintech platform, today announced that it will report its second quarter 2025 unaudited financial results, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, after the close of U.S. markets. The Company's management will host an earnings conference call at 8:30 PM U.S. Eastern Time on August 20, 2025 (8:30 AM Beijing/Hong Kong Time on August 21, 2025). Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows: United States (toll free): +1-888-346-8982 Canada (toll free): +1-855-669-9657 International: +1-412-902-4272 Hong Kong, China (toll free): 800-905-945 Hong Kong, China: +852-3018-4992 Mainland, China: 400-120-1203 Participants should dial-in at least 5 minutes before the scheduled start time and ask to be connected to the call for "FinVolution Group". Additionally, a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available on the Company's investor relations website at https://ir.finvgroup.com. A replay of the conference call will be accessible approximately one hour after the conclusion of the live call until August 27, 2025, by dialing the following telephone numbers: United States (toll free): +1-877-344-7529 Canada (toll free): +1-855-669-9658 International: +1-412-317-0088 Replay Access Code: 6937491 About FinVolution Group FinVolution Group is a leading fintech platform with strong brand recognition in China, Indonesia and the Philippines, connecting borrowers of the young generation with financial institutions. Established in 2007, the Company is a pioneer in China's online consumer finance industry and has developed innovative technologies and has accumulated in-depth experience in the core areas of credit risk assessment, fraud detection, big data and artificial intelligence. The Company's platforms, empowered by proprietary cutting-edge technologies, features a highly automated loan transaction process, which enables a superior user experience. As of March 31, 2025, the Company had 216.2 million cumulative registered users across China, Indonesia and the Philippines. For more information, please visit https://ir.finvgroup.com. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: In China: FinVolution Group Head of Capital Markets Yam Cheng Tel: +86 (21) 8030-3200 Ext. 8601 E-mail: [email protected] Piacente Financial Communications Jenny Cai Tel: +86 (10) 6508-0677 E-mail: [email protected] In the United States: Piacente Financial Communications Brandi Piacente Tel: +1-212-481-2050 E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE FinVolution Group MOSCOW, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet on Friday in the U.S. state of Alaska, marking the first visit by a Russian president to the United States since 2015. WHY ALASKA? The choice of the location "does make sense," said Russian Presidential Aide Yury Ushakov, noting that the two countries are close border-sharing neighbors. "So it does make sense if our delegation simply crosses the Bering Strait and if such an important and expected meeting between the two leaders takes place specifically in Alaska," Ushakov said. Alaska sits at the northwestern tip of the North American continent and is the largest U.S. state by area. Once part of the Russian Empire, it was discovered by a Russian expedition in 1732. In 1867, Russia sold it to the United States for 7.2 million U.S. dollars due to financial difficulties. The Bering Strait separates Alaska from Russia, with the nearest islands being only about 4 km apart. In a post on social media platform X, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy also noted Alaska's strategic location at the crossroads of North America and Asia, with the Arctic to the north and the Pacific to the south. He said the state plays a "vital role" in U.S. national defense, energy security, and Arctic strategy, adding: "It's fitting that discussions of global importance take place here." Putin will be the first Russian president to visit Alaska, TASS reported. WHAT MIGHT THE MEETING COVER? Ushakov said discussions at the Alaska meeting will focus on discussing ways to reach a sustainable settlement to the Ukraine crisis. Earlier on Friday, Trump told reporters at the White House that a security arrangement could involve "some swapping of territories." On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told U.S. media that ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict requires a ceasefire and resolution of territorial issues, with compromises needed from both sides. Analysts noted that, besides a settlement to the Ukraine crisis, easing the economic pressure caused by Western sanctions is a pressing concern for Russia, and Moscow hopes to leverage closer Russia-U.S. cooperation to find new drivers for its economy. Ushakov said that the economic interests of Russia and the United States converge in Alaska and the Arctic, and "prospects for implementing large-scale mutually beneficial projects arise." Alaska and the adjacent Arctic are rich in oil, natural gas, gold and other resources, and home to strategic sea lanes such as the Arctic shipping routes. Putin's investment chief Kirill Dmitriev has called for Russia-U.S. cooperation on environment, infrastructure and energy in the Arctic and beyond. WILL ZELENSKY BE THERE? NBC News quoted a senior U.S. official on Sunday as saying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's participation is "absolutely" possible, but nothing has been finalized. On Thursday, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that a meeting between Russian and Ukrainian leaders is not a condition for him to meet with Putin. On the same day, Putin said he has nothing against a meeting with the Ukrainian president in general, but noted a lack of conditions for such talks. Zelensky has rejected the idea of any peace agreement made without Ukraine's participation. On Saturday, he stressed in a video address on social media platform Telegram that Ukraine will not concede territory to Russia. "Any decisions made against us, any decisions made without Ukraine, are at the same time decisions against peace," Zelensky noted. "They will bring nothing. These are dead decisions; they will never work." - The company strengthens brand experience for local medical professionals through academic events and hands-on workshops - It will solidify the market position of premium toxin products through Malaysian partner Venusys Medical SEOUL, South Korea, Aug. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Hugel Inc., a leading global medical aesthetics company chaired by Suk Cha, has officially launched its botulinum toxin product Letybo in Malaysia an emerging market for medical aesthetics in Southeast Asia. The company's Malaysian partner Venusys Medical Sdn Bhd introduced Letybo at the Aesthetic Medicine & Surgery Conference & Exhibition (AMSC), the largest medical aesthetics conference in Malaysia, held from August 6 to 7. Konstantin Frank, a key opinion leader for Letybo in Europe, delivered a presentation at the event, highlighting the precise treatment outcomes of botulinum toxin procedures and sharing clinical strategies to enhance procedural results. A brand launch event and hands-on workshop followed on August 8 at The Zenith Hotel Kuantan, with around 100 local medical professionals in attendance. The workshop served as a training program focused on botulinum toxin injection techniques that integrate anatomical understanding with clinical expertise. Venusys Medical, headquartered in Malaysia and operating across Malaysia and Singapore, is a distributor of medical aesthetic products and a long-standing partner of various global brands. "We will continue to offer customized training programs for local medical professionals in Malaysia through our strategic collaboration with Venusys Medical," a Hugel official said. "We aim to enhance the customer experience of our premium toxin brand and accelerate its market penetration to solidify our position in the region." About Hugel Established in 2001, Hugel is a global leader in medical aesthetics, specializing in the production of injectables for skin rejuvenation, including botulinum toxin, hyaluronic acid fillers, and skin boosters, as well as absorbable sutures and cosmetic products. As the market leader in injectable aesthetics in South Korea, Hugel is the only South Korean company with regulatory approvals in the world's three largest botulinum toxin markets: the US, China, and Europe. With a proven track record of safety and quality, Hugel is deeply committed to advancing the industry through robust medical affairs, comprehensive training programs, and dynamic industry forums. Over the past 20 years, the company has built a presence in approximately 70 countries and operates nine global subsidiaries across the US, Australia, Canada, Taiwan, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand. Leveraging strong industry momentum, Hugel is well-positioned for continued growth and market expansion worldwide. Contact: Jihyun Kim, Manager of the PR Team, Hugel [email protected] SOURCE Hugel AUBURN, Calif., Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- HuLoop Automation, a leader in AI-powered work intelligence, has released the latest version of its Unified Work Intelligence Platform (v7), the seventh major release of its flagship solution which includes HuLoop's new AI assistant, HuGO Sidekick. These solutions are designed to accelerate the automation builder experience and improve ease of use for HuLoop end users. HuGO Sidekick helps users get the most from the HuLoop Automation platform. HuGO Sidekick's new Predictive/Prescriptive Automation Build Capabilities enhance the user experience when creating new automations. HuLoop estimates that HuGO Sidekick allows builders to create automations 50% faster than the prior release. HuGO Sidekick also includes Unified Knowledge Base, which provides timely and expert platform insights so that users can wield the HuLoop platform with maximum efficacy. Soon, HuLoop will also incorporate Generative Build capabilities into HuGO Sidekick, enabling builders to create complete workflows and automations generatively. The new update also includes upgrades to HuLoop's existing suite of automation tools. Namely, Intelligent Productivity Discovery now includes an insights concierge, helping users make sense of work intelligence insights derived from the module's analytics and visualizations. Intelligent Document Processing has been optimized for faster performance and easier maintenance. "These upgrades represent the next step in our mission to make cutting-edge automation available to anyone," said Todd Michaud, CEO at HuLoop. "We recognized that creating a tool that truly delivers value starts with it being intuitive, so we set out to accomplish that while strengthening and broadening the AI technology at the core of our business. Ultimately, these enhancements will help our users get things done faster, allowing them to become more efficient and serve their customers better. About HuLoop Automation: HuLoop Automation is a comprehensive AI-based future of work platform for financial institutions, retailers, and other industries, providing organizations of all sizes with industry-specific tools that streamline work, automate manual processes, and increase efficiency. Driven by its "human-in-the-loop" philosophy, HuLoop Automation is dedicated to improving the workers' experience by giving them more time to be more productive. Media Contact Patrick Guilshan Account Representative [email protected] (678) 781-7232 SOURCE HuLoop Automation, Inc. PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Berger Montague PC is investigating claims under the federal securities laws against Fiserv, Inc. (NYSE: FI) ("Fiserv" or the "Company"), a financial technology and payment solutions provider headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin, after a class action lawsuit was filed against Fiserv. Investor Deadline: Investors who purchased or acquired Fiserv securities between July 24, 2024 and July 22, 2025 (the "Class Period") may, no later than September 22, 2025, seek to be appointed as a lead plaintiff representative of the class. To learn your rights, CLICK HERE . The lawsuit alleges that Fiserv and certain executives overstated the Company's growth by failing to disclose, among other things, that its new payment platform, Clover, was experiencing a boost in revenue growth and gross payment volumes because the Company was forcing merchants to transition from its legacy Payeezy platform. Investors learned the Company's true financial picture following a series of disclosures which culminated on July 23, 2025, when Fiserv lowered its 2025 organic growth projections and confirmed that decelerated growth in its Merchant segment. On these announcements, Fiserv's share price declined dramatically. Berger Montague encourages investors who purchased Fiserv securities during the Class Period to contact the firm to learn more about their rights and potential remedies prior to the lead plaintiff deadline of September 22, 2025. About Berger Montague Berger Montague, with offices in Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Delaware, Washington, D.C., San Diego, San Francisco, Chicago, Malvern, and Toronto, has been a pioneer in securities class action litigation since its founding in 1970. Berger Montague has represented individual and institutional investors for over five decades and serves as lead counsel in courts throughout the United States. For more information or to discuss your rights, please contact: Andrew Abramowitz, Senior Counsel Berger Montague (215) 875-3015 [email protected] Caitlin Adorni Berger Montague (267) 764-4865 [email protected] SOURCE Berger Montague As the world's first Hybrid EREV performance luxury coupe, Amaris fully delivers the exceptional driving dynamics and sheer speed promised by its purposeful stance and dramatic proportions. Packing 708 horsepower and 676 ft. lbs. torque, Amaris will launch from 0-60mph in less than 3.5 seconds, continuing-on to an electronically governed top speed of 165mph. Its Hybrid EREV powertrain consists of two electric motors driving the rear wheels, powered by a 41.5 kw/H battery which is maintained by a 4-Cylinder turbocharged ICE generator. This Hybrid EREV powertrain delivers over 100 miles of electric-only driving range, and over 400 miles of combined driving range (electric and ICE). Amaris begins production in Q4/2026, and will be priced from approximately $200,000USD. "Amaris delivers all the joys and indulgences of a thoroughbred performance coupe staggering pace, exuberant style and opulent interior appointments balanced with an ultra-low emissions Hybrid EREV powertrain which offers the freedom to refuel with gasoline or recharge with electricity, whichever is more convenient," says Marques McCammon, President and Chief Executive, Karma Automotive. "Amaris delivers pure desire paired with eco-conscious driving like no other vehicle in the world." The powerful yet timelessly elegant carbon fiber and aluminum body of the Amaris, specified for Monterey Car Week in Solar Blaze Red paintwork, features the latest evolution of the Comet Line design language first established with the upcoming Karma Kaveya super-coupe. With Amaris, the Comet Line originates in the sculpted cowl aft of the nose, continuing rearward in an arc across the sides of the hood, descending rearward to amplify the wide, aggressive rear track. 22" Constellation wheels, crafted in forged aluminum, fully-establish the purposeful, fluid stance of the Amaris. The voluptuous clamshell hood incorporating Karma's Target Lighting signature creates a seamless transition and visual flow to the front fenders. The Backslash design element punctuates the space between the front wheels and the "swan doors," which gracefully pivot upwards to dramatic effect. Its sleek rear glass profile concludes with an aero pass-through spoiler that reduces aerodynamic drag while creating rear axle downforce for increased stability at high speeds. The Americana-inspired side exhaust further signals performance and capability. Inside, the cabin of the Amaris is specified in Crimson Orbit leather and suede, with carbon fiber and piano black accents. Like the Kaveya super-coupe, Amaris features an electro-chromatically adjustable full glass roof; and "orbits" which visually define the driver and passenger environments. Amaris is shown in its 2-seater configuration, with its rear compartment sculpted to accommodate travel bags. Carbon fiber adorns the doors, center console and rear support brace, creating the visual effect of an exposed carbon fiber monocoque with floating leather and suede panels. The door panel forms are drawn forward, descending from shoulder height towards the footwells, creating a sense of speed and acceleration. This same dynamic effect applies to the center console, which houses the gear selector andconcealed beneath a hinged leather ignition cover to further heighten anticipation for the driving experience aheadthe "Start" button. Following Karma Automotive's "reductionary" approach, non-essential features remain hidden until called upon, including the co-pilot's display which illuminates once the passenger is seated; and cupholders that are concealed by the wireless phone charger until it is retracted with a gentle touch. The interior environment also hides atmospheric lighting that can be adjusted by the user, or changes according to the drive mode selected. About Karma Automotive Karma Automotive is America's only full-line ultra-luxury vehicle manufacturer, and a pioneer of EREV (Extended-Range Electric) vehicles which it manufactures at its Karma Innovation and Customization Center (KICC) in Moreno Valley, CA. Its Executive, Product Development, and Design headquarters are located in nearby Irvine, CA. The Karma portfolio embodies California's spirit of innovation and entrepreneurial boldness, reflected by the signature Comet Line which is the central hallmark of Karma's new design language. Sales of the 3rd Generation Karma Revero sport sedan, the world's first luxury Hybrid EREV, are now underway in the USA and EU, offering luxury balanced with conscientiousness delivered without compromise. Sales of Revero's ultra-exclusive, performance-tuned stablemate, Karma Invictus, are also now underway, to be followed by the Gyesera Hybrid EREV four-seater in Q4 2025, and the Amaris coupe in Q4 2026. The Karma Kaveya super-coupe, with up to 1,000HP and butterfly-doors, will arrive in 2027, and the Karma Ivara GT-UV will arrive in 2028: both will incorporate SDVA (Software-Defined Vehicle Architecture) developed with the world's leading technology companies. Further, Karma Automotive will provide Tier 1's and Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) with business-to-business SDVA solutions, as it does today with Karma Connect, its proprietary Vehicle Data Management and Over-the-Air services platform, which presently provides services to the world's second largest OEM. Karma Automotive's dealer network spans North America, Europe, South America and the Middle East. ( www.karmaautomotive.com ) Media Contact: Joe Richardson, (917) 716-6617 [email protected] SOURCE Karma Automotive Leadership in Incident Response Award Recognizes Outstanding Achievement in Enhancing Emergency Response Nationwide BILOXI, Miss., Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) presented Ward 6 Fire Department Chief Todd Parker with its Leadership in Incident Response Award (LIRA) on August 11, during its national conference in Biloxi, Mississippi. The honor acknowledges Chief Parker's textbook response during a CO pipeline release in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, and his ongoing efforts to strengthen training and collaboration between industry and first responders nationwide. Chief Todd Parker, Ward 6 Fire Department, receives Leadership in Incident Response Award (LIRA) at NASFM annual conference "NASFM commends Chief Parker for his outstanding service and professionalism," said Phil Oakes, chief of Operations and Training, National Association of State Fire Marshals. "His commitment to education, awareness and training showcases how even unfortunate incidents can teach us and serve as a model for all emergency and first responders dedicated to protecting their communities." Chief Parker expertly commanded the response to an April 3, 2024, CO 2 release in Sulphur, Louisiana. Under his direction, responders followed established NASFM emergency response protocols, including identifying the source and substance, establishing a perimeter and working directly with the pipeline operator to ensure community safety. Chief Parker's preparedness was enhanced by his recent completion of NASFM's Pipeline Emergencies online training, which includes general course on pipeline incident response as well as specialized courses on managing CO pipeline emergencies. Prior to the incident, he also had participated in operator briefings related to CO characteristics and initial response protocols. In addition to promoting local readiness, Chief Parker regularly shares his experience across the firefighting community by participating in the ExxonMobil-sponsored HazMat Liquid & CO Pipeline and Industrial Fire Emergencies trainings. These trainings are conducted four times annually at Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service's (TEEX) Brayton Fire Training Field in College Station, Texas. To date, these trainings have provided nearly 650 volunteer and municipal firefighters and emergency response officials from across the country with advanced training that includes managing simulated pipeline releases. "It is a true honor to receive NASFM's Leadership in Incident Response Award. I share this recognition with all Calcasieu Parish first responders who work tirelessly to protect our community," said Chief Parker. "Pipelines provide critical services to our communities, and we all play a role in keeping them safe. Collaboration between operators, regulators and industry groups is critical for safety. By sharing information and training together, we close gaps and make our communities more secure. I commend the men and women of NASFM for their hard work and sacrifice in championing this vital partnership." First responders are encouraged to continue to train and learn about how to respond to pipeline emergencies. Online training is available at: https://www.firemarshals.org/Pipeline-Emergencies. About the National Association of State Fire Marshalls: The principal membership of NASFM comprises the senior fire officials in the United States and their top deputies. The primary mission of NASFM is to protect human life, property and the environment from fire and related hazards. A secondary mission of NASFM is to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of State Fire Marshals' operations. For more information, visit the NASFM website at firemarshals.org. Contact Philip Oakes Chief of Operations and Training National Association of State Fire Marshals [email protected] SOURCE National Association of State Fire Marshals The podcast debuted on July 1, 2025, with its premiere episode, "When Faith Feels Like a Fight," featuring bestselling author and Fresh Life Church lead pastor Levi Lusko. In a deeply personal conversation, Lusko, alongside the Lindell brothers, explores mental health, masculinity, purpose, and spiritual resilience, offering a vulnerable yet empowering look at what it means to live with God-given courage in a chaotic world. Designed for individuals hungry for spiritual growth, leadership insight, and honest conversations, Path to Purpose equips men and women to walk in their God-given purpose. The show regularly features some of the most influential Christian voices of our time, including upcoming guests like Rich Wilkerson Jr., Oneka McClellan, Bill Johnson, Chad Veach, Martin Smith, and Earl McClellan. "We created this podcast because we believe every person was made on purpose and for a purpose," said David Lindell, co-host and pastor at James River Church . "Our goal is to have honest conversations that challenge and encourage listenerswhether they're in leadership, parenting, or navigating personal growth." The Lindell brothers are no strangers to motivating others toward bold, Christ-centered living. Their recently released book, Lionhearted, has already ignited conversations around biblical masculinity, spiritual resilience, and leadership in modern culture. The podcast builds on that foundationoffering in-depth, unscripted conversations with faith leaders who have walked the hard roads of calling, failure, redemption, and breakthrough. "Our heart is to help people live intentionallyspiritually, emotionally, and practically," said David Lindell from James River Church. "These are the conversations we're already having with close friends, and we believe they can help strengthen the Church and challenge people to grow." With a growing hunger for authenticity in Christian leadership, Path to Purpose offers more than just theological teachingit's a front-row seat to real conversations that encourage, challenge, and equip believers in every season of life. Whether you're a ministry leader, a young professional, or someone rediscovering faith, this podcast offers timely wisdom for today's spiritual climate. Each episode is released on the first Tuesday of every month and is available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. About David Lindell & Brandon Lindell Pastors David Lindell and Brandon Lindell serve on the leadership team at James River Church, a multi-campus church in southwest Missouri known for its passionate worship, powerful preaching, and global outreach. With decades of ministry experience and a shared heart for empowering people, they bring pastoral wisdom, humor, and biblical insight to every conversation. About James River Church James River Church, led by Pastors John Lindell and Debbie Lindell, is a vibrant, multi-campus, Pentecostal church in four locations in southwest Missouri with a growing online presence. Serving thousands of attendees weekly, James River Church is committed to reaching people and sharing the life-changing message of the Gospel through its passionate worship, dynamic preaching, and engaging children's and youth programs. Contact Information Contact: Becky Davis Phone: 417-581-5433 Email: [email protected] Organization: James River Church SOURCE James River Church ATLANTA, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Softwear Automation, the pioneer in autonomous sewing technology, today announced the successful close of its $20 million Series B1 funding round, marking a major milestone in its mission to revolutionize sewn goods manufacturing. The round was led by a strategic investment from BESTSELLER, the Danish fashion company behind brands such as JACK & JONES, VERO MODA, and ONLY. The investment was made through Invest FWD, BESTSELLER's dedicated innovation and investment platform for advancing sustainability in the fashion industry. Current investors (including CTW Venture Partners, SRI Capital, MacDonald Ventures) also participated in the financing. As part of the collaboration between Softwear Automation and BESTSELLER , CFO Thomas Brglum Jensen, on behalf of BESTSELLER, joins the board of Softwear Automation. This at a time of rapid progress towards commercialization of Softwear's fully automated SEWBOT worklines. "This partnership with BESTSELLER and the support from Invest FWD are not just a vote of confidence in our technology they are a powerful catalyst for the future of on-demand, localized, and more sustainable apparel manufacturing," said Palaniswamy "Raj" Rajan, Chairman and CEO of Softwear Automation. Softwear Automation's patented SEWBOT technology delivers a fully autonomous sewing solution, enabling sewn products to be made closer to the consumer, with radically reduced waste, faster cycle times, and superior cost-efficiency. This funding round will accelerate the company's expansion into new product categories and geographies, deepen its R&D capabilities, and scale its production footprint to meet growing global demand. From BESTSELLER, CFO Thomas Brglum Jensen added, "At BESTSELLER, we look for innovations that can support progress within the fashion industry, where change is needed. Softwear Automation is helping address some of the key challenges we face across the industry from speed and flexibility to lowering environmental impact. We're pleased to support their development and explore how this technology can help us move forward." The partnership supports BESTSELLER's wider efforts to improve its supply chain model with ambitions about reducing environmental impact and increasing transparency. By leveraging SEWBOT technology, Softwear Automation and BESTSELLER aim to enable more circular and demand-driven production practices. With this strategic alliance and fresh funding, Softwear Automation is poised to lead the next era of apparel manufacturing one where fashion is faster, focused on sustainability improvements, and made closer to home. About Softwear Automation Softwear Automation is an Atlanta-based robotics company disrupting the $1.1T sewn products industry with fully automated worklines. Its patented SEWBOT platform combines advanced robotics, machine vision, and AI/MLto create a scalable, localized, and sustainable solution for apparel manufacturing. For more information, visit www.softwearautomation.com . About BESTSELLER and Invest FWD BESTSELLER is a family-owned international fashion company with brands sold in more than 70 markets worldwide. Invest FWD is BESTSELLER's innovation platform and investment arm, focused on accelerating sustainable transformation across the fashion value chain. Learn more at www.bestseller.com . Media Contact: Radhika Madhavan Marketing Consultant Softwear Automation [email protected] Kasper Reggelsen Head of Communications BESTSELLER [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2747998/Softwear_Automation_Logo.jpg DALLAS, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TERREPOWER today announced that Richard Longsdorf has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer, effective August 5th. The appointment follows the planned retirement of Tom Sheppard, who will transition to an internal advisory role to ensure a smooth handover after a distinguished career. Richard's deep understanding of business intelligence and enterprise systems will serve us well as we continue to scale. Post this Richard Longsdorf "Richard's strategic mindset, operational discipline, and people-first leadership will be instrumental as we build on Tom's legacy and continue strengthening our IT capabilities in service of our customers, teams, and long-term growth," said Duncan Gillis, CEO of TERREPOWER. "His deep understanding of cybersecurity, business intelligence, and enterprise systems will serve us well as we continue to scale and evolve." Based in the company's Dallas corporate center, Longsdorf is a decorated U.S. Navy Reserve officer with over two decades of executive experience in enterprise IT strategy, digital transformation, and operational innovation across the manufacturing, logistics, and defense industries. He joins TERREPOWER from FIDELITONE, where he served as CIO and accelerated project delivery by 30% using an agile IT framework and boosted operational efficiency by 15 percent through artificial intelligence initiatives. Longsdorf's extensive background includes overseeing digital modernization efforts at Toyota Material Handling (Raymond), including ERP and cloud implementations, and prior leadership roles at Dura Automotive and Cummins (Meritor). His service has been recognized with numerous honors, including the Department of Defense Meritorious Service Medal. Sheppard will retire at the end of the year. Since joining TERREPOWER in 2020, he has been instrumental in transforming the IT department into a strategic partner across the organization. His leadership has been marked by the development of a high-performing IT team, a reduction in reliance on external services, and the implementation of robust IT controls and security protocols. Sheppard's key accomplishments include leading the expansion of Oracle ERP capabilities in Mexico and the U.S., introducing world-class customer experience systems, and developing integrated global websites and customer portals. He also partnered with HR to launch a global HCM platform and played a pivotal role in integrating multiple acquired companies to drive business unification. "Speaking on behalf of our entire company," said Gillis, "I express deep appreciation to Tom for his leadership and many contributions and welcome Richard to TERREPOWER as he steps into this important role." About TERREPOWER TERREPOWER, formerly BBB Industries, is the largest sustainable manufacturer in the world by volume. Founded in 1987 on a legacy of innovation, TERREPOWER is a global pure-play aftermarket leader specializing in providing high-quality components to the automotive and industrial markets. Based in Daphne, Alabama, TERREPOWER has a dedicated global workforce of over 10,000 employees and an extensive operational footprint throughout North America and Europe, including 19 sustainable manufacturing facilities, 14 distribution centers, and 28 brands with products sold in more than 90 countries. TERREPOWER is committed to strengthening supply chain resilience, reducing waste and advancing the circular economy. Learn more at www.terrepower.com . SOURCE TERREPOWER EBENE CYBERCITY, Mauritius, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ultima Markets , a globally trusted CFD broker for online trading, has secured the regulatory licence to operate under the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This acquisition marks a significant step in Ultima Markets' strategy to establish a regulated presence in the United Kingdom (UK). The UK is a key global financial hub with an estimated 19 million and growing active traders in 2024. The FCA has rules and regulations that emphasize transparency and consumer protection. Ultima Markets is slated to launch its UK offering in 2026. "We're incredibly proud to take this step," said Gareth Derbyshire, spokesperson for Ultima Markets. "Becoming FCA-regulated reflects our long-term commitment to the UK and its regulatory standards. It sets the tone for what UK traders can expect from us: transparency, integrity, and a clear focus on their trading experience." Ultima Markets plans to onboard UK clients from 2026 and is slated to launch a localised offering that includes a dedicated website, enhanced compliance systems and platform features tailored to FCA standards. "We are taking every measure to meet expectations in full," Derbyshire added. "That means more than just ticking boxes. Our products, education and support are being designed and built for UK traders." UK traders can look forward to access to Ultima Markets' full range of CFD instruments, including forex, indices, commodities, and shares, trading on leading platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4). Through Ultima Markets' Trading Academy , traders of all levels will also be empowered to take control of their trading goals by developing practical skills and financial literacy. Founded in 2016, Ultima Markets is regulated by the Financial Services Commission in Mauritius, and recognised for its fast execution, deep liquidity, and diverse trading tools. Ultima Markets is also the first CFD broker to join the United Nations Global Compact, embedding responsible business practices into its operations and advancing sustainability education through its Ultima Impact Foundation . About Ultima Markets Ultima Markets is a licensed, award-winning, multi-asset broker offering access to over 250 CFD instruments across forex, commodities, indices and shares. The company was recently awarded Most Advanced Multi-Asset Trading Platform Europe 2025 and is the first CFD broker to join the UN Global Compact. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2747299/Image.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2745221/UltimaMarkets_black_RGB__1_Logo.jpg Valmet Oyj's press release, August 11, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. EEST ESPOO, Finland, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Valmet has signed a nationwide agreement with Petrobras (Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.), the largest energy company in Brazil. The agreement covers the supply of spare parts of Neles valves, actuators, and positioners across all Petrobras operational units, including oil and natural gas exploration, production, refining, commercialization, and power generation. The first order was included in Valmet's orders received of the second quarter of 2025. Potential resulting orders will be recognized over the agreement period. The value of the orders will not be disclosed. With an initial term of one year and the possibility of automatic renewal for up to five years, the agreement is a significant milestone in the partnership between the two companies. The initiative offers Petrobras strategic benefits such as guaranteed valve equipment availability, greater cost predictability, streamlined processes, reduced bureaucracy, and specialized technical support with a recognized quality standard. "This agreement reinforces Petrobras's trust in Valmet's ability to deliver reliable, high-performance valve solutions and strengthens our presence in the oil and gas segment in the region," says Marco Souza, Business Manager for Flow Control in the refining and chemical industry in Latin America at Valmet. With this agreement, Valmet reaffirms its commitment to customer service excellence, directly contributing to the efficiency and operational continuity of Petrobras's plants. More information on Valmet's solutions for refining and chemical industries is available on our website. VALMET Corporate Communications For further information, please contact: Marco Souza, Business Manager, Flow Control business area, LatAm, Valmet, tel. +55 21999720493 Valmet is a global technology leader serving process industries. We work together with our customers throughout the entire lifecycle, delivering cutting-edge technologies and services as well as mission-critical automation and flow control solutions. Backed by more than 225 years of industrial experience and a global team of over 19,000 professionals close to customers, we are uniquely positioned to transform industries toward a regenerative tomorrow. In 2024, Valmet's net sales totaled approximately EUR 5.4 billion. Our head office is in Espoo, Finland, and we have experts in approximately 40 countries around the world. Valmet's shares are listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. Follow us on valmet.com | X | X (IR) | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | Processing of personal data This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/valmet-oyj/r/valmet-signs-a-strategic-agreement-to-deliver-valve-services-to-petrobras-in-brazil,c4216333 TEHRAN, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Iran is ready to accept certain limitations on its nuclear program in return for the removal of sanctions, but deems it "nonnegotiable" to end its uranium enrichment entirely, a senior Iranian diplomat said recently. "Iran can be flexible on the capacities and limits of enrichment, but cannot agree to stop enrichment under any circumstance because it's essential, and we need to rely on ourselves, not on empty promises," Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi told Japan's Kyodo News in a Saturday interview. On the possibility of the resumption of Iran-U.S. nuclear talks, the official said, "Iran is ready for talks with the United States, but the United States should first make it clear whether it is interested in win-win dialogue or the imposition of its will." On June 13, two days prior to the sixth round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, Israel launched major airstrikes on several areas in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing senior commanders, nuclear scientists and many civilians. Iran responded with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks on Israel. On June 22, U.S. forces bombed the three Iranian nuclear facilities of Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. In retaliation, Iran struck the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Following the 12-day war, a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was achieved on June 24. In recent days, Washington has repeatedly demanded that Iran completely cease uranium enrichment, a request firmly rejected by Tehran. ISLAMABAD, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed and four others injured on Monday in a landslide incident in the Gilgit district in the northern region of Pakistan, the local police said. According to the police, a group of volunteers was busy with restoration work on the flood-affected stream named Danyor in Gilgit, a district in the country's Gilgit-Baltistan region, when the incident happened. "The victims were part of a community team working to repair a water channel which was badly damaged by recent floods. Unfortunately, mud and rocks from the nearby mountain suddenly collapsed, burying several people under the debris," said the police. Rescue teams, police and locals rushed to the site and managed to pull out eight bodies and four wounded from the debris. Bodies and the injured were shifted to the nearby hospital, where two of the wounded were reportedly in critical condition. Search operations would continue for others feared trapped, said the police, adding that warnings had been issued to the public to keep themselves safe from the sliding areas. Chief Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan Haji Gulbar Khan expressed deep grief over the tragedy and extended condolences to the bereaved families. "The sacrifices of these brave volunteers will always be remembered. The government stands with their families in this time of grief," said the chief minister in a statement. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here This laptop screen shows a broadcast of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's press conference on Aug. 11, 2025. Albanese said on Monday that Australia will officially recognize the State of Palestine at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September. (Xinhua/Ma Ping) CANBERRA, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Australia will formally recognize a Palestinian state at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Monday. Speaking at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra alongside Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, Albanese said that Australia will recognize the "right" of the Palestinian people to a "state of their own." "A two-state solution is humanity's best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza," he said. Albanese said that his cabinet met on Monday morning and endorsed the move to recognize Palestinian statehood as part of a "coordinated global effort" building momentum for a two-state solution. He said that the decision followed conversations with leaders in Britain, France, New Zealand and Japan as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. The Palestinian Authority has promised Australia that it would recognize Israel's right to exist, hold general elections and demilitarize, Albanese said. The prime minister reiterated criticism of Israel's withholding of aid in Gaza and of increased settler violence in the West Bank, describing the humanitarian situation in Gaza as "beyond the world's worst fears." "There have been threats to annex the occupied Palestinian territories and proposing the permanent forced displacement of the Palestinian people. These actions, together with the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, risk putting a two-state solution out of reach for a generation," he said. Monday's announcement came after Albanese and senior members of his Labor Party government escalated criticism of Israel, and called for a ceasefire, in recent weeks. This laptop screen shows a broadcast of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's press conference on Aug. 11, 2025. Albanese said on Monday that Australia will officially recognize the State of Palestine at the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly in September. (Xinhua/Ma Ping) Moscow, Aug 11 : Russian air defence forces shot down roughly 120 Ukrainian drones overnight, Russia's Defence Ministry said. "During the past night from 20:00 (1700 GMT) on August 9 to 06:10 Moscow time (0310 GMT) on August 10, air defence duty forces destroyed and intercepted 121 fixed-wing Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles," the ministry said in a statement. The ministry added that over 34 drones were downed on Sunday from 8:30 a.m. (0530 GMT) to 3 p.m. (1200 GMT), including one over the territory of the Moscow Region, Xinhua news agency reported. One person was killed due to falling drone debris in the Saratov Region, the region's governor said on Telegram. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force reported on Sunday that Russia launched an attack overnight using 100 combat and decoy drones, with air defence systems shooting down 70 of them. Earlier on August 4, 2025, Russian air defence forces repelled a large-scale drone attack targeting Volgograd region's transport and energy infrastructure overnight, regional authorities said. "There were no casualties," Volgograd Governor Andrey Bocharov said in a post on social media. Bocharov said that debris from intercepted drones damaged a high-voltage power line, disrupting electricity supply to the town of Ilovlya and nearby settlements. Emergency repair crews were dispatched to restore power. In the town of Frolovo, a fire was erupted at a technical building in the Archeda railway station, prompting temporary train suspensions as explosive ordnance disposal teams neutralised an unexploded drone that had landed on the tracks. New Delhi, Aug 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate 184 newly constructed Type-VII multi-storey flats for Members of Parliament (MPs) at Baba Kharak Singh (BKS) Marg in New Delhi on Monday. The event will commence at 9:00 a.m. and will be held in the presence of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, and Union Minister Kiren Rijiju. As part of the inauguration ceremony, the Prime Minister will also plant a Sindoor (vermilion) sapling at the residential premises. In a symbolic gesture, he will interact with the labourers (Shramjeevis) who played a key role in the construction of the residential complex, acknowledging their contribution. Following this, PM Modi will deliver a keynote address. According to the Prime Ministeras Office, each of the newly constructed flats offers approximately 5,000 square feet of carpet area. The spacious design allows for both residential and official purposes, making it convenient for MPs to carry out their public duties effectively from their homes. The complex includes dedicated areas for offices, staff accommodation, and a community centre, providing a self-sufficient ecosystem for the residents. The infrastructure is designed in line with modern norms, ensuring that all buildings are earthquake-resistant and equipped with contemporary structural safety features. In addition to the structural considerations, a comprehensive and robust security system has been integrated into the complex to guarantee the safety of all occupants. The facilities and layout are designed to support the evolving needs of public representatives, while offering a modern and comfortable living experience. The premises are also "Divyang-friendly", according to the PMO, reflecting a "commitment to inclusive design". With limited land availability, the emphasis has been on vertical housing to optimise land use and reduce maintenance costs. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Tehran, Aug 11 : Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian warned that parts of the country, including the capital Tehran, are faced with a "serious" water crisis. He made the remarks in a meeting with several Iranian media directors in Tehran on Sunday, while highlighting the measures his administration is implementing to tackle the crisis, according to the semi-official Fars news agency. Pezeshkian said round-the-clock efforts were being made to transfer water from the nearby Taleqan Dam to Tehran to ensure sufficient water in the province during the autumn. He noted it was not clear whether the move would help resolve the capital's water crisis, as the province's precipitation had dropped by 45 per cent, Xinhua news agency reported. The Iranian dams' water reserves constitute only 42 per cent of their total capacities, state-run IRIB news agency reported on Sunday. The report said since the beginning of the current water year, which started on September 22, 2024, only 23.56 billion cubic meters (bcm) of water had entered the country's dams, a 42 per cent decline compared to the figure for the same period last year, which stood at 40.55 bcm. Speaking at a press conference in Tehran on Saturday, Mohammad-Taqi Hosseinzaden, CEO of Tehran Water and Wastewater Company's district 5, said the water reserves of Tehran's dams would last until late September, urging citizens to manage their water consumption. The water shortages primarily stem from an "unprecedented" drought that has hit the country since the beginning of the current water year, according to Iran Water Resources Management. To address the shortages, Iranian authorities have resorted to office closures and reduced working hours in the affected cities as short-term solutions. Tehran, Aug 11 : The deputy director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will visit Iran on Monday, reported the semi-official Tasnim news agency, citing Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi. According to the report, the foreign minister made the remarks in an address to reporters on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting. Araghchi stressed that the visit would be aimed at holding negotiations between Iran and the agency, noting that Iran had already provided the IAEA with the necessary explanations about a new framework for bilateral cooperation in view of a law passed in late June by the country's parliament and Constitutional Council on the suspension of collaborations, Xinhua news agency reported. He emphasised that no inspection or visit of the Iranian nuclear facilities had been planned during the trip by the IAEA's deputy director general, saying, "We have not yet reached a new agreement and the cooperation would not begin." Iran decided to suspend cooperation with the IAEA in the aftermath of the Israeli-US attacks on its nuclear facilities and Israel's assassination of Iranian nuclear scientists in June. Iran has announced that it would uphold the decision unless the security of its nuclear sites and scientists were ensured. In an earlier report, the semi-official Fars news agency said that Massimo Aparo, IAEA's deputy director general and head of the Department of Safeguards, will visit Iran. Brussels, Aug 11 : European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that any agreement between the United States and Russia must include Ukraine and the EU, as the two countries prepare for talks on a possible ceasefire of conflicts in Ukraine. "Any deal between the US and Russia must have Ukraine and the EU included, for it is a matter of Ukraine's and the whole of Europe's security," she said. Kallas revealed that she would convene an online meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday to discuss "our next steps," Xinhua news agency reported. US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are due to meet on August 15 in the US state of Alaska to discuss a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, the first talks between the two leaders since 2021. Earlier on Saturday, European leaders said in a joint statement that any diplomatic solution to the Ukraine crisis must protect the vital security interests of both Ukraine and Europe. The joint statement was made by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. In the statement, released ahead of a planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15, the European leaders agreed that the vital interests include the need for robust and credible security guarantees that enable Ukraine to effectively defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. They said the only path to lasting peace and security in Ukraine lies in a combination of active diplomacy, continued support for Ukraine, and pressure on Russia Chennai, Aug 11 : With Ganesh Chaturthi set to be celebrated across Tamil Nadu on August 27, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) has issued a set of guidelines urging devotees to opt for eco-friendly idols and to ensure that immersion activities do not pollute waterbodies. In an official release, the TNPCB emphasised that idols should be made entirely from natural, biodegradable, and eco-friendly raw materials, avoiding any toxic or inorganic substances. The use of traditional clay and mud has been recommended, while materials such as Plaster of Paris (PoP), plastic, and thermocol (polystyrene) have been strictly prohibited. The board stated that only such eco-friendly idols will be permitted for safe immersion in designated waterbodies. To maintain environmental integrity, it has also specified that ornaments for the idols should be crafted using dried flower components and straw. For enhancing the idol's appearance, only natural tree resins may be used as a shining material. "The use of single-use plastic and thermocol in any form shall not be permitted," the statement read, highlighting the importance of reducing non-biodegradable waste during the festival. In addition, the TNPCB has banned the application of toxic and non-biodegradable chemical dyes and oil paints on idols. It advised against the use of enamel and synthetic dye-based paints, instead encouraging artisans to adopt eco-friendly alternatives such as water-based, biodegradable, and non-toxic natural dyes. To further prevent pollution, the board has instructed that idol immersion should be carried out only at locations specifically notified for each district by the respective district administrations. These directions align with the guidelines of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which aim to protect aquatic ecosystems from contamination during mass idol immersions. Vinayaka Chaturthi, one of Tamil Nadu's most widely celebrated festivals, often sees large-scale installation and immersion of idols. However, in recent years, environmentalists and civic authorities have raised concerns over the impact of non-biodegradable materials and toxic paints on lakes, rivers, and coastal waters. The TNPCB's move is expected to promote more sustainable celebrations while preserving traditional practices. The board has appealed to the public, idol makers, and organisers of community celebrations to strictly follow the guidelines and contribute towards a cleaner and greener festival. --IANS aal/dpb Chennai, Aug 11 : The fishing community in Tamil Nadu's Rameswaram has gone on an indefinite strike after seven fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy on charges of crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) while fishing. Tension has gripped the area. The arrests took place a day ago when the fishermen, operating from Rameswaram, were allegedly intercepted mid-sea by Sri Lankan naval personnel. Their mechanised fishing boat was also seized. Following their detention, the seven fishermen were produced before the Mannar Court in Sri Lanka on Sunday. The court remanded them in custody until August 21. Subsequently, they were shifted to the Vavuniya Prison in Sri Lanka. The arrests triggered an emergency meeting of all fishermen's associations in the Rameswaram harbour area. During the meeting, a resolution was passed urging the immediate release of the detained fishermen and their seized boat. The associations demanded that both the state and Central governments take urgent diplomatic steps to secure their release and prevent such incidents from recurring. As part of the agitation, the fishermen of Rameswaram began an indefinite strike from Monday, refraining from venturing into the sea for fishing. Over 700 mechanised fishing boats have remained anchored at the shore since the strike began. Fishermen's leaders said the strike was necessary to send a strong message to both the Indian and Sri Lankan authorities about the repeated arrests, which have severely affected their livelihood. "We cannot continue like this, not knowing when one of us will be taken away. We need a lasting solution," one association leader told reporters. The strike has brought the local fishing economy to a standstill. More than 10,000 people, including those directly involved in fishing and those engaged in allied trades such as auctioning, net making, boat repair, and fish transport, have been affected. According to fishermen's representatives, the daily economic loss due to the strike runs into several crores of rupees, as Rameswaram is a major fishing hub in Tamil Nadu. They warned that the strike would continue until concrete action is taken to secure the release of the arrested fishermen and to ensure their safety while fishing in Indian waters. Incidents of the Sri Lankan Navy arresting Tamil Nadu fishermen for alleged maritime boundary violations have been recurring for years, with calls for stronger diplomatic interventions gaining urgency after each episode. Chennai, Aug 11 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will embark on an official visit to the UK and Germany later this month or in the first week of September, with a focus on attracting fresh investments to the state. According to highly placed sources, the itinerary will include meetings with potential investors, interactions with the Tamil diaspora, and other official engagements. During his upcoming visit, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is expected to deliver a lecture at Kingas College London (KCL), although the final schedule is yet to be confirmed. KCL is home to noted scholar Christophe Jaffrelot, the Avantha Chair and Professor of Indian Politics and Sociology at the Kingas India Institute. Jaffrelot is widely recognised for his extensive research on Indian politics, including in-depth studies on Dravidian parties. The Avantha Chair at the Kingas India Institute is a distinguished academic position created through a A3.5 million endowment from the Avantha Group. The role is jointly held by Professors Niraja Gopal Jayal and Christophe Jaffrelot, and forms a core element of the Instituteas mission to serve as a leading global hub for the study of contemporary India Senior officials said that the Chief Ministeras engagements abroad cannot be confirmed at present as the schedule is still being drawn up. The visit is expected to last between seven and ten days. This will be CM Stalinas fifth foreign tour since assuming office, and with Assembly elections just eight months away, it is likely to be his last overseas trip in the current term. Since taking charge, CM Stalin has made high-profile foreign visits aimed at bolstering Tamil Naduas investment prospects. In March 2022, he toured the UAE, resulting in MoUs worth Rs 6,100 crore. His May 2023 visits to Singapore and Japan yielded investment commitments of Rs 1,342 crore, creating around 2,000 jobs. In early 2024, the CM travelled to Spain, where MoUs amounting to Rs 3,440 crore were signed. His most recent trip was to the US in August-September 2024, during which he met executives from technology giants, including Google and Apple. That visit saw MoUs worth Rs 7,616 crore inked, with the potential to create 11,516 jobs, according to the state government. CM Stalin has repeatedly emphasised that his overseas engagements are part of the broader goal of transforming Tamil Nadu into a $1 trillion economy by 2030. The upcoming trip to Europe is expected to continue this investment push, while also strengthening the stateas global connections and showcasing its economic potential to leading business and academic circles. Seoul, Aug 11 : Agriculture ministers of South Korea, China and Japan held a meeting on Monday to discuss food security, animal disease response, sustainable farming and other issues, ending a seven-year hiatus in the countries' trilateral talks, Seoul's agriculture ministry said. South Korean Agriculture Minister Song Mi-ryung met with her counterparts from China and Japan -- Han Jun and Shinjiro Koizumi, respectively -- in Incheon, about 30 kilometers west of Seoul, to resume the trilateral meeting, which had been suspended for seven years partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. The ministers came together to discuss six agricultural issues: food security, response to animal diseases, sustainable farming, revitalization of rural areas, cooperation on the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) and international cooperation, reports Yonhap news agency. Monday's meeting followed the 2025 APEC Food Security Ministerial Meeting, held over the weekend in Incheon. In the trilateral meeting, the ministers agreed on the importance of intelligence sharing and cooperation to respond to global challenges in the agriculture sector, such as climate change, the spread of infectious animal diseases and supply chain instability, the ministry said. The three countries also agreed to join hands for developing smart farming technologies, supporting the transition to carbon neutral agriculture and fostering young farmers, it added. After the meeting, Song and her counterparts adopted a joint statement calling for efforts to promote sustainable growth of the agriculture sector and bolster food security while agreeing to hold regular meetings. "At a time when the agricultural environment is rapidly changing due to such factors as the climate crisis and supply chain instability, it is highly meaningful that the three countries have gathered in one place to share concerns and seek solutions together," Song said. "I hope that the discussions initiated at this meeting will lead to deeper and more practical cooperation in the future," she added. Song also held a bilateral meeting with Koizumi to discuss ways to expand Seoul's exports of food and agricultural products to Japan and deepen cooperation on animal disease response. The bilateral meeting also marked the first of its kind in seven years. During their talks, Song told Koizumi that cooperation between Korea and Japan can help enhance the competitiveness and sustainability of the countries' agriculture industries as they share similar systems and challenges, according to her office. a"IANS na/ Kolkata, Aug 11 : BJP leader Dilip Ghosh on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Trinamool Congress, accusing it of fraud and termed it "unfortunate" that such leaders are representing Bengal. His remarks came a day after police revealed that a fake police station was being operated in Noida city of Uttar Pradesh's Gautam Buddha Nagar district to allegedly extort money from people. The Noida Police arrested six individuals accused of setting up the so-called 'International Police & Crime Investigation Bureau', a bogus law enforcement office. Among those arrested was Bibhas Adhikari, former president of Trinamool Congress in Nalhati Block No. 2, Birbhum, who had previously been named in the West Bengal primary teachers' recruitment scam. Reacting to the developments, Ghosh told IANS, "The entire country knows how a few leaders from Bengal are and how they are committing fraud. It is unfortunate that those involved in fraud are leaders of the Trinamool and are the ones representing Bengal." According to the Noida Police, on June 4, the suspects leased a location in Sector 70. In less than a week, they installed signs featuring a logo and colours similar to those of the Central forces. He further accused the Trinamool of tampering and manipulating voter lists by including Bangladeshi nationals in Deganga (West Bengal) and demanded strict action against those involved. "There will be around 8-10 districts along the Bangladesh border where the number of voters has suddenly jumped. The voter count has increased by 25 per cent to 35 per cent. These are all Bangladeshi voters," he alleged. According to him, Trinamool leaders, along with district officers, have been "welcoming them, taking money, and adding them to the voter list". Ghosh insisted that "whoever is involved in this process should face strict action and be removed from their positions." TEHRAN, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday warned against any potential U.S. action to pursue hegemonic objectives in the South Caucasus region under the guise of making investments and ensuring peace. Pezeshkian made the remarks in his phone call with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, according to a statement released by the Iranian Presidency. He said Iran welcomes the peace agreement signed Friday in Washington between its northern neighbors, Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as any agreement that will promote peace especially among regional countries. However, he cautioned that the agreement should be assured as one of peace and development, not a tool for foreign countries to achieve their hegemonic objectives through interference. Regarding the Iran-Armenia relationship, Pezeshkian said it is "strategic, constructive," and "based on the principle of good neighborliness and mutual respect for both countries' territorial integrity." For his part, Pashinyan elaborated on the recently-signed agreement, and said Armenia will not sign any agreement without first completely ensuring that Iran's interests, considerations and sensitivities will be observed under it, according to the statement. Armenia attaches special and outstanding status to its strategic ties and cooperation with Iran, Pashinyan said, adding that Armenia will take all its important decisions and actions following bilateral consultations and coordination. 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. On Friday, the leaders of the two countries witnessed the initialing of a peace agreement at the White House, ending their decades-long border conflict, with further steps to be taken to eventually sign and ratify the agreement. Mumbai, Aug 11 : Actors Pratik Gandhi and Sunny Hinduja, who are gearing up for their upcoming series "Saare Jahan Se Acha", are agreeing that it's high time to celebrate spies as they and their families make immense sacrifices. Mumbai, Aug 11 (IANS) Actors Pratik Gandhi and Sunny Hinduja, who are gearing up for their upcoming series "Saare Jahan Se Acha", are agreeing that it's high time to celebrate spies as they and their families make immense sacrifices. With so many films and series being made on spies, is it finally time to celebrate those who work in the shadows, Pratik told IANS: "Absolutely, yes. We should celebrate them knowing one thing, that, you know, today we are in our houses, whatever that we are doing happily. Somewhere, somebody is living under the threat. And in extreme conditions, trying to make the country safe." The actor said that "their successes are never celebrated". "Not supposed to be. So by celebrating them, we are actually celebrating those successes which were never celebrated," he added. Actor Sunny Hinduja agrees too. "I mean, it's, I think, an homage for all the spies. You know, those who have done such good work without, you know, caring about their personal interest and putting their country first, not even their family." He added: "And a homage to the families of these people who have, you know, valiantly, bravery, allowed their family members to serve the nation, you know, selflessly and putting the country first, then them or then anybody else. So it is, it should be celebrated. Yeah, it's high time we should celebrate." "Saare Jahan Se Accha" follows the gripping journey of RAW agent Vishnu Shankar, who is assigned a dangerous mission deep inside Pakistan. Set against the tense backdrop of the 1970s, a time when every strategic move risked igniting a global nuclear conflict, the show captures the fierce intelligence war between India's RAW and Pakistan's ISI. The series also stars Suhail Nayyar, Kritika Kamra, Tillotama Shome, Rajat Kapoor, and Anup Soni. Created by Gaurav Shukla and produced by Bombay Fables, with Bhavesh Mandalia as creative producer, "Saare Jahan Se Accha" will premiere ahead of Independence Day on August 13 on Netflix. New Delhi, Aug 11 : Elon Musk-run electric car-maker Tesla was all set to enter the national capital on Monday with opening its second showroom in India. The US automaker was set to inaugurate its showroom in the upscale Worldmark 3 complex at Aerocity in the national capital. It will cater to customers in the national capital region -- a key hub for Indiaas electric mobility push. Tesla's India portfolio currently includes the Model Y electric SUV in two configurations. The standard Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) version is priced at Rs 59.89 lakh (ex-showroom), while the Long Range RWD variant is available at Rs 67.89 lakh (ex-showroom). Deliveries for both are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2025. In a post on social media platform X, Tesla had posted, aArriving in Delhi - stay tuned," along with a graphic showcasing its upcoming arrival in the national capital. This follows the opening of the company's first India showroom in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex on July 15. 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/ Chennai, Aug 11 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will be on an extensive tour of Udumalpet and Pollachi in Coimbatore district on Monday, during which he will participate in a series of official programmes, unveil statues of prominent leaders, and inaugurate new development projects. According to official sources, the Chief Ministeras day will begin in Udumalpet, where he is scheduled to address a public meeting at the Netaji Grounds. At the event, he will distribute welfare assistance to beneficiaries under various government schemes. The CM will also lay the foundation stones for several new infrastructure projects and inaugurate completed works aimed at improving civic amenities in the region. From Udumalpet, the Chief Minister will travel to Pollachi to take part in commemorative events. He will unveil statues of eminent leaders, underscoring the Dravidian movementas tradition of honouring its stalwarts. He will also inaugurate a memorial dedicated to workers who lost their lives during the construction of the Parambikulam Aliyar Dam, a multi-purpose project that has been a vital source of irrigation and drinking water for parts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. As part of his Pollachi engagements, CM Stalin will visit a photo exhibition showcasing the history, construction, and impact of the Parambikulam Aliyar Project. The exhibition is expected to highlight rare archival images, engineering milestones, and the socio-economic transformation brought about by the dam since its completion. After these events, the Chief Minister will proceed to Coimbatore. He is likely to interact briefly with party cadres before departing for Chennai by flight later in the evening. Police have made elaborate security arrangements for the CMas visit, particularly in Coimbatore, where heightened security measures are in place around the airport and major routes. Senior police officials said traffic diversions may be implemented at certain locations to facilitate the smooth movement of the Chief Ministeras convoy. Officials noted that this visit is part of the governmentas ongoing efforts to monitor regional development, connect directly with the public, and ensure that welfare schemes reach the intended beneficiaries. With the Assembly elections less than a year away, political observers also view the trip as an important outreach exercise in the western belt of the state, considered electorally significant for all major political parties. New Delhi, Aug 11 : Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, Chief of the Australian Army, was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour at the South Block Lawns in the capital on Monday. He was welcomed by Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi during the formal ceremony. Lt Gen Stuart also paid homage at the National War Memorial, laying a wreath to honour fallen Indian soldiers. His visit, scheduled from August 10 to 14, underscores the deepening defence ties between India and Australia, particularly in the context of growing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Lt Gen Stuart will hold high-level discussions with General Dwivedi and senior officials of the Ministry of Defence to further strengthen bilateral military engagements. This visit comes at a time when both countries are focusing on enhancing regional security and promoting rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific. The Indiaa"Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has seen significant momentum in recent years, particularly through institutional mechanisms such as the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, Defence Policy Talks, and Staff-Level meetings. These frameworks have helped drive progress in logistics sharing, military training, and operational cooperation. A key highlight of India-Australia military collaboration is Exercise AUSTRAHIND, which began in 2016. The joint exercise focuses on counter-terrorism, close-quarter battle, and tactical operations, involving Australiaas 1st Brigade and Indian Army contingents. The next edition is scheduled to be held in Australia in November 2025. India has also taken part in broader multilateral efforts like Exercise Talisman Sabre and Indo-Pacific Endeavour (IPE-22), focusing on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and jungle warfare. Training and academic exchanges remain robust pillars of the defence relationship, with officers from both sides attending elite military institutions in each otheras countries. Initiatives such as the Young Officers Exchange Programme, Instructor Exchanges at the Counter Insurgency and Jungle Warfare School (CIJW), and collaboration between Indiaas Army Design Bureau and Australiaas Digger Works underline the growing synergy in defence innovation and operational preparedness. Lt Gen Stuartas visit is expected to provide new impetus to this evolving partnership, reinforcing India and Australiaas shared vision for peace, stability, and cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 11 : The Kerala government has, for all practical purposes, decided against approving the Kerala State Beverages (Marketing & Manufacturing) Corporation Limited's (BEVCO) proposal to introduce home delivery of liquor. Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 11 (IANS) The Kerala government has, for all practical purposes, decided against approving the Kerala State Beverages (Marketing & Manufacturing) Corporation Limitedas (BEVCO) proposal to introduce home delivery of liquor. According to top sources, the Pinarayi Vijayan government feels it could lead to a controversy as two crucial elections -- local body and the assembly elections are on the horizon. The proposal, submitted by Bevco Managing Director Harshita Attaluri, sought permission for online liquor sales under certain conditions, with the aim of boosting revenue. Bevco had even developed a dedicated mobile application for the service, and major delivery platforms, including Swiggy, had reportedly expressed interest in partnering. However, bar owners in the state opposed the idea, fearing it could impact their business. According to the recommendation, only individuals above the age of 23 would be eligible to purchase liquor online, and proof of age would be required at the time of delivery. Bevcoas plan also included introducing low-alcohol beverages aimed at tourists and allowing the sale of foreign-made beer in the state. This is not the first time Bevco has floated such a proposal. A similar proposal was put forward three years ago but was rejected. With the government maintaining its current stand, the move to enable liquor delivery directly to homes will remain off the table for now. They also hoped that home delivery would boost sales revenue. BEVCO's revenue in 2024-25 was Rs 19,700 crore, up from Rs 19,050 crore the previous fiscal. Liquor sales in Kerala are regulated by the Foreign Liquor Rules, 1953, and introducing online sales would require amendments to the Abkari Act along with new rules, all of which must be approved by the state government. BEVCO currently operates 26 warehouses and 283 retail outlets, of which 155 have self-service or premium counters. Liquor sales remain a major source of revenue for the state, with collections rising from Rs 8,778.29 crore in 2016-17 to Rs 15,170.82 crore in 2023-24. Kannur, Aug 11 : The Kerala Police's cyber crime unit arrested two men from Chennai in connection with a sophisticated online trading fraud that defrauded a doctor in Kannur of Rs 4.43 crore, officials said on Monday. The accused, identified as Mehbubasha Farooq and Rijaz, were arrested by the Kannur City Cyber Crime Police from Chennai on Sunday evening, said an officer at the Kannur Cyber Police Station. Farooq is a resident of Chennai, while Rijaz hails from Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district and has been settled in Chennai, he added. The duo allegedly operated a fraudulent scheme through WhatsApp, promising the victim substantial returns on investments in a fake online trading platform. The police said that the accused lured the doctor, a resident of Mattannur in Kannur district, into a WhatsApp group that promoted an online share trading plan, assuring him of significant profits in June. The victim was directed to deposit the funds into various bank accounts as part of a "wealth profit plan" under a fake company's guise, identified as Upstock. "We have traced about Rs 40 lakh deposited by the accused in their accounts. Besides this, the police detected as many as 18 more accounts in the name of various individuals to transfer the money earned through online fraud. The matter is under investigation now," said the officer. He said that a part of the money was found to have been transferred abroad, adding that further details could not be disclosed at this stage. He said that no terror angle was found during the investigation. Though the trading app would show the profits earned, he found the platform unresponsive and could not withdraw the amount, prompting him to approach the police to file a complaint with the police on June 25. "The victim was led to believe he was making lucrative investments, but the entire setup was a sham," the cyber police said. The police said the cybercrime team apprehended the accused by tracing their bank account numbers and mobile phones used for the crime. A detailed investigation was launched, and the police were able to trace the financial trail to the two accused in Chennai, leading to their apprehension. The officer said that they are now probing the possibility of a wider network and other victims involved in this online fraud. Dhaka, Aug 11 : The Awami League on Monday expressed grave concern over the current situation in Bangladesh under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, asserting that the country has been "ravaged and imperilled" by the "monstrous rampage of extremist communal-terrorist forces and foreign agents." The party has raised 21 demands under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for overcoming Bangladesh's present "socioeconomic-political crisis and restoring the democratic state system." Highlighting the "terrible crisis," the party stated that Bangladesh, which was formed after the victory in the Liberation War under the leadership of 'Bangabandhu' Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, is "ravaged and imperilled" by the rampage of "extremist communal-terrorist forces" and has now become a "wounded and blood-soaked" land like a battlefield. "Democracy is now in exile, human rights are trampled, media freedom is gone, and there is rampant violence against women, assaults, and rapes. People's lives and property are unsafe; religious minorities continue to face persecution; law and order have collapsed," the Awami League said. It further highlighted the deteriorating rule of law and justice in the nation, stating, "From the centre to the remotest corners -- unbridled mob terror, looting, robbery, extortion." The party claimed that the "public enemy" Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor of the interim government, is "betraying" Bangladesh by pushing it into a multinational war. "The frenzy of extremist terrorists and communal groups has terrified the entire nation. Conspiracies are underway to hand over Bangladesh's land and resources to foreigners... In this extreme crisis, the entire nation must unite under the spirit of the Liberation War to remove the foreign-serving murderer-fascist Yunus and his puppet government," it added. The Awami League called on the people to restore and protect the country's Constitution. The party's 21 demands include immediate resignation of Yunus, ending the "fascist regime" and restoring democracy, and an investigation and legal action against Yunus's "unconstitutional seizure of power" in violation of the Constitution and in contempt of the Supreme Court, following mob attacks on justices Obydul Hasan and Enayetur Rahim's residences. Additionally, it called for the withdrawal of all "politically motivated false cases" against Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Rehana, Sajib Wazed Joy, and other Bangabandhu family members and an "unconditional" release of all arrested Awami League and allied leaders, activists, and professionals. The Awami League also demanded protection of religious minorities from extremist and terrorist violence, end violence against women, end nationwide mob violence and identify and punish perpetrators. In a message to the people of Bangladesh, the party stated, "It is no secret that public enemy Yunus is a usurer, corrupt embezzler, money launderer, power-hungry representative of international extremist communal groups, and convicted by labour courts for embezzling workers' funds." The Awami League said that since Yunus took over as the Chief Advisor on August 8, 2024, he has gained "unprecedented illegal benefits" for himself and his 'Grameen' entities -- massive tax waivers, licenses, land acquisitions, and foreign business deals -- while "looting the stock market and crippling the economy." The Awami League urged the pro-liberation, democratic, and non-communal forces to unite to oust Yunus, "end mob terror, and rebuild the democratic system" under Hasina's leadership, while upholding the spirit of the Liberation War. New Delhi, Aug 11 : The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Monday said that none of the political parties, including the RJD-led Opposition, have filed any objection or complaints over the draft electoral rolls published for Bihar on August 1. It further informed that more than 10,000 individual electors have submitted their objections directly to the poll panel, while more than 50,000 new electors, who crossed the stipulated voting age limit of 18 years, have submitted their forms, seeking new voter IDs for exercising their right to vote. The ECI released these vital stats this morning, in its routine bulletin on the contentious SIR drive -- the issue which has become a political flashpoint in poll-bound Bihar and has stalled the Parliamentary proceedings since the beginning of the Monsoon Session on July 21. The development assumes significance because this shows 'zero resistance' by the Opposition to the ECI's SIR drive, after the publication of draft rolls, unlike earlier, when a series of opposition parties accused the polling watchdog of widespread manipulation, with an intent to benefit the ruling party. While releasing the details, the ECI also said that the claims and objections will be disposed of by the concerned ERO/AERO after the expiry of 7 days from the verification of eligibility documents. "As per SIR orders, no name can be deleted from the draft list published on 1st August 2025 without passing a speaking order by the ERO/AERO after conducting an enquiry and after giving a fair and reasonable opportunity," it added. Notably, the EC published its draft electoral rolls on August 1 and has kept a window of one month for people and parties to bring their complaints and grievances regarding inclusion or exclusion from the draft electoral list. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has 47,506 booth-level agents (BLAs), the Congress has 17,549, and the Left has over 2,000, all adding up to over 67,000. The ECI concluded the enumeration phase of the SIR from June 24 to July 25. More than 7.24 crore electors -- out of a total of 7.89 crore -- submitted their enumeration forms during the exercise. Mumbai, Aug 11 : Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to provide authentic information about the whereabouts, safety, and health of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, before the matter is taken to the Supreme Court. The trigger is, Raut said, from July 21, the day former Vice President Dhankar resigned, till this day on Monday, there has been no information about the former VP's whereabouts. In a letter to the Home Minister, Raut asked, "Where is Dhankhar? How is his health? Is he safe?" He further said, "There is no clarity on these matters. Some members of the Rajya Sabha attempted to contact him but were unsuccessful. There has been no communication with him or his staff, which is a matter of grave concern." "What exactly has happened to our Vice President? Where is he? How is he? Is he safe? The nation deserves to know the truth about these questions," stated Raut. He further added that rumours are circulating in Delhi that Dhankhar, the former Vice President, has been confined to his residence and is not reportedly safe. Raut said some colleagues from the Rajya Sabha are even contemplating filing a writ petition of Habeas Corpus in the Supreme Court, as the members of the upper house are genuinely worried about the whereabouts of the former Vice President and whether he is safe and healthy. Raut recalled that on July 21, the Parliament session commenced. At 11 a.m. Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar initiated the proceedings. During the session, he appeared normal and conducted the session in a usual manner. "There was a verbal altercation between him and the Leader of Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, after which the House proceedings were adjourned for the day. This suggests that the Chairman's health was fine at that time. However, after 6 p.m. on the same day, it was announced that the Vice President had resigned from his post, citing health reasons. This was shocking for everyone," said Raut. Godda : , Aug 11 (IANS) Surya Hansda, a history-sheeter with a long list of criminal charges and a former BJP leader, was shot dead in a police encounter in Jharkhand's Godda district on Monday morning, officials said. Godda (Jharkhand), Aug 11 (IANS) Surya Hansda, a history-sheeter with a long list of criminal charges and a former BJP leader, was shot dead in a police encounter in Jharkhandas Godda district on Monday morning, officials said. The operation was carried out near Jirli Samari Pahari in the Boarijor police station area, a hilly and forested zone where Hansda was reportedly hiding. Soon after the encounter, a heavy contingent of police and administrative officials sealed off the area. Entry to the site was strictly prohibited, though curious onlookers gathered in large numbers around the cordoned zone. Godda Superintendent of Police Mukesh Kumar confirmed Hansdaas death, stating that the full details of the operation would be shared during a press briefing at 4 p.m. Hansda, a resident of Dakaita village under Lalmatia police station limits, was once regarded as an influential political figure in the region. In 2019, he contested the Borio assembly seat as a BJP candidate. However, after being denied a ticket in the 2024 elections, he switched to the Jharkhand Loktantrik Krantikari Morcha (JLKM) and contested again, but failed to secure victory. Police records show Hansda faced dozens of criminal cases, ranging from violent attacks to property destruction. On May 27 this year, his name emerged in connection with a firing at Eastern Coalfields Ltdas Rajmahal project in Paharpur, where a machine operator sustained injuries. Investigators claimed the attack was carried out on Hansdaas orders. He was also accused in an earlier case involving the torching of trucks and other vehicles at a crusher mill in Sahibganj district. In 2021, police arrested and jailed him in another criminal matter, though he was later released. According to police, Hansda had been evading arrest for several months, moving from one place to another after his name surfaced in a spate of recent violent incidents. UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Israel's plan to take over Gaza City sparked widespread outrage at a rare emergency weekend meeting held Sunday by the UN Security Council. Yet the session ended with no resolution as the United States, a veto-wielding permanent member of the Security Council, sided with Israel. "If these (Israeli) plans are implemented, they will likely trigger another calamity in Gaza, reverberating across the region and causing further forced displacement, killings, and destruction, compounding the unbearable suffering of the population," UN Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas Miroslav Jenca warned the Council. 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, with little detail specified. According to the Israeli media, Israel has set Oct. 7, the second anniversary of the latest round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as a deadline for civilians to leave Gaza before its ground offensive. "We are already witnessing a humanitarian catastrophe of unimaginable scale in Gaza," Jenca said, reiterating that the only way to stop the immense human suffering in Gaza is through a full, immediate, and permanent ceasefire. Jenca called for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, as well as rapid, safe, unimpeded and large-scale delivery of humanitarian aid to the enclave. The European members of the Security Council -- Britain, Denmark, France, Greece and Slovenia -- which called for the emergency meeting, also condemned the Israeli decision, calling for the plan to be reversed and for urgent action to halt starvation in the Gaza Strip. The five countries "reiterate that any attempts at annexation or of settlement extension violate international law" in a joint statement before the meeting, cautioning that expanding military operations will only worsen civilian suffering. Most of the Council members expressed similar concerns and criticism. China called for a rejection of "any attempts to alter the demographic or territorial status of Gaza," while Russia described the Israeli plan as "extremely dangerous steps" undermining "the already fragile prospects for the peaceful settlement of the Middle East conflict." Riyad Mansour, permanent observer of the State of Palestine to the UN, called Israel's takeover plan "illegal and immoral," urging "the mobilization of all the tools available to stop them." "Israel is prolonging the war not to disarm Hamas, but to prevent independent Palestinian statehood," Mansour warned. "Its goal is the destruction of the Palestinian people through forced transfer and massacres to facilitate its annexation of their land." Also at the meeting, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported that hunger in Gaza has reached "starvation, pure and simple," with hunger-related deaths rising, especially among children with severe malnutrition, and aid deliveries severely hampered by insecurity and access restrictions. Seoul, Aug 11 : South Korea and Vietnam will work to expand bilateral cooperation in the energy industry, including renewable energy and nuclear power, as the two countries aim to bolster ties in trade, security and other sectors, Seoul officials said Monday. The countries' industry ministries signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop joint projects in the renewable energy sector, such as solar power, wind power and energy storage systems, according to Seoul's Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Seoul's state-run Korea Electric Power Corp. and Vietnam's state-owned energy firm Petrovietnam (PVN) also signed an MOU to foster a workforce for the nuclear power industry in the Southeast Asian nation, which plans to build four nuclear reactors by 2035. The MOUs were signed following a summit between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and Vietnam's top leader To Lam in Seoul. At the summit, the two leaders agreed to deepen their countries' Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established three years ago, covering areas such as trade, security, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges, while vowing to step up efforts to boost their bilateral trade volume to $150 billion by 2030. Ahead of the summit, Korean Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan also held a bilateral meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart, Nguyen Hong Dien, and agreed to expand supply chain cooperation, according to Kim's office. Under the agreement, Seoul will launch a five-year official development assistance (ODA) programme to establish a critical mineral supply chain technology cooperation center in Vietnam, Yonhap news agency reported. The Korean government will invest a combined 16.6 billion won ($12 million) to procure equipment for smelting critical minerals in Vietnam, provide technical guidance and support human resource development. Vietnam currently holds the world's sixth-largest rare earth reserve, the third-largest reserve of bauxite, the fourth-largest tungsten reserve and the seventh-largest graphite reserve. Kochi, Aug 11 : The local police at Kothamangalam in Kerala have taken into custody Ramees from Paravoor in connection with the suicide of 23-year-old Sona Eldhose, a Teacher's Training Course student. The woman's mother on Monday said that her daughter, Sona, was in love with Ramees for a while, and they were compelling her to change her religion. "She was locked up and beaten last week after she resisted their attempts to take her to Ponnani for converting her. They refused to heed her demand that she is willing to register marriage but not for conversion," said the girl's mother. He faces charges including abetment of suicide and physical assault, after evidence emerged of alleged abuse and pressure to convert the woman. Sona was found hanging in her home on Saturday. Her death note, recovered by police on Sunday, accuses Ramees of physical and mental harassment, locking her in a room, and forcing her to convert before marriage. She also alleged that Ramees's family members and friends pressured her to change her religion, stating that marriage would only be possible after conversion and that she must live in his family home. Police say they have secured proof from WhatsApp chats showing Ramees responding "go ahead" when Sona said she might take her own life. Investigators also claim to have evidence of Ramees assaulting her. His family members are likely to be named as co-accused. According to the note and statements from Sona's family, the relationship began during college and later turned abusive. The couple had discussed marriage, but Ramees's relatives allegedly insisted on religious conversion, warning that without it, he would be ostracised from the mosque. Sona initially agreed but delayed the process due to her father's recent death. Her brother alleged that despite Ramees's earlier arrest in an immoral trafficking case, Sona forgave him. Recently, Ramees allegedly took her to his home under the pretext of visiting a friend, confined her to a room, and assaulted her. He also allegedly prepared a vehicle to take her to Ponnani for conversion, but when she refused, he told her to die. Police have confirmed Ramees's employment as a temporary staff member at the Kochi Airport. The investigation is being led by Kothamangalam police, with the case upgraded from unnatural death to abetment of suicide following the recovery of the death note. Questioning of the accused is underway. The case has drawn public attention for its serious allegations involving coercion, abuse, and religious pressure. Mumbai, Aug 11 : Actor Naveen Kasturia, who essays the role of a spy in the recently released OTT series 'Salakaar', doesn't have a set process to approach his characters. The actor spoke with IANS during the promotions of 'Salakaar', and said that his process changes with every character or story. He told IANS, "I don't have a school of thought. Every project I start from the bottom because you are working on a new voice. You have to try to understand that voice, there is no formula for it. Every time the approach is new, there is no process. Sometimes you have to go through the entire script, and sometimes you don't even touch the script". He further mentioned, "It depends on what the maker expects. I feel that the different personalities you put on screen something interesting will come out. They don't have to be, at least the co-actors, they don't need to have the same process". Naveen is known for his realistic portrayals of characters, and not following a set pattern perhaps is his strength making every performance different from the other. Earlier, Naveen called his co-actor in the series, Mukesh Rishi a gentle giant. He had shared that since he has seen Mukesh perform for so many years, he used to get lost in his performance as a co-actor. He told IANS, "I enjoyed working with him. I used to get lost in his performance, and forget my lines because I was enjoying it so much. When I met him for the first time, I felt his presence was so intimidating. If I hug him, my head rests below his chest. But off camera he is very warm, very sweet and very soft". Mukesh essays the role of Pakistani military dictator, Zia-ul-Haq in the series. Zia is the bedrock of most of India's problems. He was the second Pakistani dictator after General Ayub Khan. He gave a definitive form to Zulfikar Ali Bhutto's plan of "Bleed India by thousand cuts", a thousand year war declared against India for Pakistan's own interest. Later, Zia got Zulfikar Ali Bhutto framed in a case, and got the death penalty approved for him through hand-picked judges. Kolkata, Aug 11 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday lashed out at the makers of the Bollywood film Kesari Chapter 2 for allegedly misrepresenting Bengali revolutionary Khudiram Bose as "Khudiram Singh". The criticism came as she paid tributes to the freedom fighter on his death anniversary. Kolkata, Aug 11 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday lashed out at the makers of the Bollywood film Kesari Chapter 2 for allegedly misrepresenting Bengali revolutionary Khudiram Bose as "Khudiram Singh". The criticism came as she paid tributes to the freedom fighter on his death anniversary. In a social media post, Mamata Banerjee called the misrepresentation an "attack on the Bengali language" and an insult to those who laid down their lives for India's freedom. "My respectful obeisance on the death anniversary of revolutionary Khudiram Bose. Let me write something. Recently, in a Hindi film, revolutionary Khudiram was called 'Singh'. Why are those who gave their lives for freedom being insulted? Will language terrorists even hold onto the immortal revolutionary Khudiram?" Banerjee asked. Recently, a controversy erupted after Khudiram Bose was referred to as Khudiram Singh in the Akshay Kumar-starrer Kesari Chapter 2. In June, an FIR was registered against the producers of the film at Bidhannagar South police station for allegedly misrepresenting historical personalities from West Bengal. The complaint had accused the film of inaccurately portraying Khudiram Bose as "Khudiram Singh" and describing Barindra Kumar Ghosh as "Birendra Kumar" from Amritsar. One of the country's youngest freedom fighters, Khudiram Bose, was hanged on August 11, 1908, at the age of 18 for his role in the Muzaffarpur bomb case. Banerjee, in her social media post, further claimed that the son of Bengal was shown as a son of Punjab. "Our indomitable teenager from Midnapore has been shown as a son of Punjab. Unbearable! But we have always paid tribute to this man, a symbol of patriotism and supreme sacrifice," she said. Banerjee also highlighted her government's initiatives to preserve Bose's legacy, which include developing Bose's birthplace, Mahabani, and its surrounding areas. "For the further development of Mahabani and the adjacent areas, which are associated with the birth anniversary of Khudiram Bose, the Mahabani Development Authority has been established. Apart from this, everything has been done, from installing a statue of Shaheed Khudiram in Mahabani to renovating the library, a new spacious auditorium, conference room. An open stage has also been set up. In addition, modern cottages have been built for visitors, and the traditional Khudiram Park has been revived. The entire area has also been decorated with lights," she said. She further highlighted that her government also named a metro station in Kolkata after him. New Delhi, Aug 11 : US President Donald Trump has announced a new agreement for joint development of Pakistan's oil reserves, hailing it as a "significant beginning" to a long-term energy partnership. However, in the end, the US may find itself investing in a partnership that yields little energy, less loyalty, and a great deal of geopolitical turbulence, according to an article posted on 'Directus', an online platform based in Greece. New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) US President Donald Trump has announced a new agreement for joint development of Pakistan's oil reserves, hailing it as a "significant beginning" to a long-term energy partnership. However, in the end, the US may find itself investing in a partnership that yields little energy, less loyalty, and a great deal of geopolitical turbulence, according to an article posted on 'Directus', an online platform based in Greece. The US foreign policy announcement, made via Trump's Truth Social platform, was followed by a broader trade agreement and a reduction in tariffs on Pakistani imports, from 29 per cent to 19 per cent. On the surface, this may appear to be a pragmatic move to deepen economic ties and counterbalance China's growing influence in South Asia. But beneath the fanfare lies a troubling strategic miscalculation, the Athens-datelined article points out. It observes that Trump's enthusiasm for Pakistan's "massive" oil reserves is puzzling, as the Asian country's crude oil reserves are estimated at a mere 234 and 353 million barrels, placing it around 50th globally. Pakistan is dependent on imports to meet its oil needs and currently imports oil from the US as well. Even if oil extraction were to succeed, particularly in Balochistan, where reserves are believed to exist, the consequences could be destabilising. Balochistan has long been a flashpoint of ethnic and political unrest, exacerbated by perceptions of exploitation by foreign powers. China's heavy footprint in the region through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has already fuelled resentment. US involvement in resource extraction could further alienate local populations and entangle Washington in a volatile domestic conflict, the article points out. Balochistan holds strategic interest for Washington as a potential vantage point to monitor Iranian activities. But leveraging the province for geopolitical gain risks inflaming tensions in a region already bristling with anti-Western sentiment. The article states that Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir's visit to Washington may appear as a flattering gesture, but "it is emblematic of a deeper, more troubling trend -- Washington's reactive pivot toward Islamabad, seemingly driven by frustration with New Delhi's assertive posture." India's firm stance in trade negotiations, particularly its refusal to accept Trump's proposed trade deal, has clearly unsettled Washington. Compounding this is India's massive and unapologetic purchase of Russian oil, which has challenged Western expectations and signalled a fiercely independent energy strategy. In response, the US appears to be rekindling ties with Pakistan, a country whose aid was only recently slashed by the same administration now courting it. This rekindled bonhomie, however, is not rooted in strategic foresight. It is a knee-jerk reaction, an attempt to play the old India-versus-Pakistan card to pressure New Delhi into compliance. But this approach is not only outdated; it is dangerously myopic, it points out. India is not merely a regional counterweight to China; it is a long-term strategic partner for the US. The two nations share deep and expanding cooperation across critical sectors -- advanced technology, clean energy, higher education, and defence. American and Indian private industries are increasingly intertwined, with robust business-to-business ties and joint ventures that span Silicon Valley to Bengaluru. Defence agreements between the two countries have reached an unprecedented scale, reflecting mutual trust and shared security interests. To jeopardise this multifaceted partnership for the sake of short-term leverage over trade or oil diplomacy with Pakistan is to sacrifice strategic depth for tactical theatrics. The article also highlights that Pakistan is an unreliable ally given its foreign policy playbook, which follows a dual-track diplomacy that has enabled the country to extract benefits from both Beijing and Washington without committing fully to either. Any US attempt to reduce Pakistan's reliance on China must reckon with this deeply ingrained strategic culture. Pakistan will continue to play both sides, leveraging American technology and markets while welcoming Chinese infrastructure and investment. Islamabad has long mastered the art of strategic hedging, aligning opportunistically with global powers based on shifting priorities. During the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Pakistan was America's indispensable ally. When China launched its Belt and Road Initiative, Pakistan became its flagship partner. In counter-terrorism efforts, Pakistani forces cooperated with the West. And when China needed maritime access, Gwadar Port was made available. The Trump-led oil agreement may be framed as a bold step toward energy cooperation, but it risks becoming another chapter in a long history of American misjudgments in South Asia. The economic rationale is shaky, the geopolitical risks are high, and the strategic payoff is uncertain. If Washington truly seeks to counter China's influence and stabilise the region, it must look beyond transactional deals and understand the deeper currents shaping Pakistan's foreign policy, the article states. New Delhi, Aug 11 : Elon Musk-run Tesla on Monday inaugurated its first showroom in the National Capital Region (NCR) at the Worldmark 3 complex in Aerocity, marking the electric carmaker's second retail location in India within a month of entering the country. New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) Elon Musk-run Tesla on Monday inaugurated its first showroom in the National Capital Region (NCR) at the Worldmark 3 complex in Aerocity, marking the electric carmakeras second retail location in India within a month of entering the country. Situated in one of Delhi's busiest business districts, close to Indira Gandhi International Airport, the Aerocity outlet serves as an experience centre where guests can examine the Model Y electric SUV, understand the purchasing process, and discover charging options. Customers from Delhi, Gurugram, Noida and the surrounding areas are anticipated to be served by the location. The launch comes after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis attended Tesla's India debut on July 15 at Maker Maxity in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex. The company was invited by the chief minister of Maharashtra to establish research and development and manufacturing facilities in the state. Tesla is making a strong effort to enter India's premium EV market before the holiday season with the opening of the new showroom in Delhi, adding a second major metro to its retail map. The company is currently concentrating on increasing retail access and customer onboarding, but it has not yet revealed plans for local manufacturing or additional models for India. The Model Y is currently the flagship model in Tesla's India portfolio. It comes in two different versions: the standard Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) model costs Rs 59.89 lakh, while the Long Range RWD model costs Rs 67.89 lakh (both ex-showroom). Delivery is expected to start in the third quarter of 2025, and reservations opened in July. The claimed range of the standard Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) Model Y is 500 km on a single charge; the Long Range RWD variant increases this to 622 km. According to Tesla, the Long Range model can accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in 5.6 seconds, while the standard model can do so in 5.9 seconds. The top speed of both models is 201 kmph. The standard version can recover up to 238 km of range with a fast charger in 15 minutes, while the Long Range can recover up to 267 km in the same amount of time. New Delhi, Aug 11 : More than the new and trendy alternatives, traditional tobacco products like cigarettes, bidis, and chewable tobacco are posing a silent crisis for India's youth, significantly raising the risk of cancers like lung, mouth and throat, said health experts on Monday, calling out the need to step up the fight against these to push the fight against tobacco. According to the 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey, 8.5 per cent of students aged 13-15 use tobacco, contributing to 1.3 million deaths annually. With tobacco linked to 90 per cent of lung cancer cases, the experts warned that this overlooked epidemic demands immediate action beyond the vaping debate. "Over 90 per cent of lung cancer cases in India are linked to combustible tobacco. In my clinical experience, I regularly treat patients as young as 17 for tobacco-induced complications. What we need is a calibrated approach that combines prevention, regulation, and public awareness -- not selective panic," Dr. Narender Saini, Chairman, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Standing Committee, at Indian Medical Association (IMA), told IANS. There is growing concern in the medical community that public discourse on youth addiction is missing the mark. While focus has been on new trends, the experts warned that the silent epidemic of oral and throat cancer among under-25s, linked to traditional tobacco products like gutkha and khaini, is a more urgent and dangerously overlooked crisis. "The data points to a stark reality -- traditional tobacco's grip on our youth far outweighs other concerns, urging us to rethink our priorities. Our focus must expand from trendy alternatives to the proven killers: cigarettes, bidis, and chewable tobacco," Dr Chandrakant S Pandav, Padma Shri Awardee, and former Prof and HoD, Community Medicine, AIIMS, New Delhi, told IANS. The global health expert noted that the traditional tobacco landscape remains largely unchallenged in schools and villages. Despite soaring concerns over vaping, combustible and smokeless tobacco products continue to thrive, fuelled by cultural acceptance and unchecked distribution. "Tobacco use poses immediate and long-term risks to infection control. My clinical experience reveals a stark contrast: tobacco-related illnesses are rampant, while vaping-related lung issues are remarkably rare," Saini said. The experts called for strengthening school-based interventions, community awareness campaigns, and stricter enforcement of existing laws. "Bridging the gap between data and policy, stakeholders must now craft a unified strategy that tackles both supply and demand, ensuring young Indians are shielded from every form of tobacco harm," Pandav added. Dr. Pawan Gupta, Senior Consultant, Pulmonary Medicine at a leading city-based hospital, told IANS that "the damage inflicted by traditional tobacco begins early and lasts a lifetime". "We witness its devastating consequences daily -- oral cancers, lung diseases, and heart conditions -- often in individuals who started using these products in their teenage years. With 1.35 million deaths annually, the science is clear: traditional tobacco is a proven killer, and our youth are its most vulnerable targets," Gupta said. Suva, Aug 11 : In a significant step towards solidarity with its Indo-Pacific partners, the Indian mission handed over five metric tonnes of cowpea seeds as humanitarian assistance to the Fijian government on Monday. This was the first tranche of the seeds sent to Fiji and was delivered to the island nation in Nadi city. The initiative will enhance farming sustainability, support growers, and boost food security in the island nation. Sharing the information on X, the Indian High Commission in Suva posted, "On behalf of the Government of India, High Commission of India in Fiji handed over cowpea seeds to the Fiji Government in Sabeto, Nadi today. This initiative strengthens agricultural resilience, empowers growers, and bolsters food security." "Local farmers stand to gain immensely from Fiji's largest Cowpea project, enjoying improved yields, greater crop diversity and increased incomes -- strengthening rural livelihoods, now and in future," it added. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the 1st tranche of seeds departed from Delhi for Fiji on July 26. In this, India sent humanitarian assistance of 5 metric tonnes of black-eyed cowpea seeds to Pacific partner Fiji to support agricultural production as part of its 'Act East Policy.' Earlier in July, India and Fiji also held the 6th Foreign Office Consultations in Suva and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in agriculture, along with in sectors like health, education, capacity building, trade, investment, renewable energy, climate change, people-to-people and culture exchanges. India has long been a development partner for Fiji, supporting various sectors and capacity-building initiatives, including programmes such as the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC), scholarships for Fijian students, and collaborations in areas like digital transformation. The recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on recognising the Indian Pharmacopoeia also spotlights the enhanced cooperation in pharmaceutical and medical standards. Jerusalem, Aug 11 : The Israeli Health Ministry reported 93 new diagnosed cases of measles, bringing the total in the current outbreak, which began in early April, to 410. The ministry on Sunday estimated that, due to the high hospitalisation rate and community reports, the number of infected people in the current outbreak in Israel ranges from 950 to 1,700. According to the ministry, the number of active diagnosed patients has increased from 120 to 162, including 22 currently hospitalised. Two of the hospitalised patients, a one-year-old baby and a toddler nearly two and a half years old, are currently receiving ECMO support in the intensive care unit. About a month after the outbreak, the ministry launched a nationwide vaccination completion campaign, and since then, more than 105,000 doses have been administered. Measles is an extremely contagious viral illness characterised by common symptoms, including fever, fatigue, runny nose, and a distinctive rash. In some cases, it can result in severe or potentially life-threatening complications. The ministry also reported a new case of West Nile fever in the southern city of Beer Sheva. This is the second confirmed case of the disease in Israel, following a diagnosis in central Israel in early June, Xinhua news agency reported. Measles infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and a rash all over the body. Being vaccinated is the best way to prevent getting sick with measles or spreading it to other people. The vaccine is safe and helps your body fight off the virus. Before the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963 and widespread vaccination, major epidemics occurred approximately every two to three years and caused an estimated 2.6 million deaths each year. An estimated 107,500 people died from measles in 2023 -- mostly children under the age of five years, despite the availability of a safe and cost-effective vaccine. Chennai, Aug 11 : The Madras High Court on Monday restrained 36 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) across the country from allowing "rogue websites" to stream pirated versions of the highly anticipated Rajinikanth-starrer 'Coolie', which is set for a grand theatrical release on August 14. Chennai, Aug 11 (IANS) The Madras High Court on Monday restrained 36 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) across the country from allowing "rogue websites" to stream pirated versions of the highly anticipated Rajinikanth-starrer 'Coolie', which is set for a grand theatrical release on August 14. Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy granted an interim injunction directing the ISPs to block all existing websites and web pages, as well as any that may be created in the future, if they host or stream pirated copies of the film. The court's order aims to curb online piracy and protect the commercial interests of the film's producers. The ex parte injunction was issued after the judge examined records from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) and confirmed that Sun TV Network Limited is the producer of 'Coolie'. Justice Ramamoorthy observed that the production house would suffer "irreparable injury" if pirated versions were allowed to circulate online, noting that the loss would not only be financial but also impact the creative efforts behind the film. The injunction applies to major ISPs, including Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), Bharti Airtel, Hathway Cable, Tata Communication, Vodafone, Idea Cellular, Reliance Communication, Tata Teleservices, Sycon Infoway, GTPL Hathway, Tikona Digital, BG Broadband, and Sify, among others. The court also passed a similar order against five Chennai-based cable television networks -- Action Lane, JAK Communications Private Limited, C32 Cable Net Private Limited, Thamizhaga Cable TV Communication Private Limited, and Thiru Nagar Satellite Vision Private Limited -- barring them from telecasting pirated versions of the film. Directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj, 'Coolie' features a star-studded pan-India ensemble cast, including Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, Telugu star Nagarjuna Akkineni, Kannada actor Upendra Rao, and Malayalam actor Soubin Shahir. After a gap of several years, veteran Tamil actor Sathyaraj -- widely remembered for his role as Kattappa in the 'Baahubali' series -- will share the screen with Rajinikanth. Actress Shruti Haasan also plays a prominent role. The film marks the first collaboration between Rajinikanth and director Lokesh Kanagaraj, known for his blockbuster action thrillers. With the combination of a celebrated director, a powerful cast, and the superstar's charisma, expectations for 'Coolie' are running high across India. NAIROBI, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is keen to leverage on public-private partnerships (PPP) to bridge its infrastructure funding gap, a senior government official said on Monday. John Mbadi, cabinet secretary for the national treasury and economic planning, told journalists in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, that the country requires an estimated 560 billion shillings (about 4.33 billion U.S. dollars) annually to develop and maintain infrastructure, but only 1.73 billion dollars is available. "Through PPPs, we not only access private sector capital, but also benefit from the efficiency, innovation, and risk management capacity inherent in private sector operations," Mbadi said during a PPP symposium. The day-long event brought together officials from African governments, the private sector, and multilateral financial institutions to accelerate the development and rollout of high-impact, bankable PPP projects. Mbadi said that by partnering with the private sector, Kenya will continue delivering large-scale infrastructure projects traditionally financed through public debt while freeing up public resources for essential social sectors such as health, education, and water. Chris Kiptoo, principal secretary for the national treasury and economic planning, said Kenya has established a robust legal and regulatory framework to enable private sector participation in the financing, construction, development, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure across various sectors, through a range of contractual models. Kiptoo noted that Kenya has developed a strong pipeline of active PPP projects at various stages of development, underscoring its commitment to leveraging private sector efficiency and capital. Bengaluru, Aug 11 : Reacting to the notice issued by the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka to the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, asking him to provide an affidavit regarding his election fraud allegations, the state BJP on Monday said that he should behave responsibly and respond to the Election Commission. Speaking to the media in Bengaluru, BJP state President and MLA, B.Y. Vijayendra, when asked about the Election Commission issuing the notice to LoP Gandhi, said, "I don't know whether Rahul Gandhi will respond to the Election Commission's letter. But I hope Rahul Gandhi, being the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, behaves responsibly. He is blaming the Election Commission of this country." "The Election Commission is a constitutional body. It needs to be respected, and its image must be protected. Therefore, this should not be a hit-and-run case. I hope LoP Gandhi takes this matter seriously and replies to the Election Commission's letter," Vijayendra stated. "More than any action by the Election Commission, my concern is that it is the responsibility of every representative, whether MLA, MLC, or MP, to protect such democratic institutions. Its image should not be tarnished for political gains. Rather than blaming the Election Commission, it is high time LoP Gandhi comes forward with a proper explanation," Vijayendra claimed. "LoP Gandhi has to respond properly and address the queries raised by the Election Commission," he added. BJP MLA and former minister S. Sureshkumar said, "At this hour, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha must show that he respects Indian laws and rules. Rahul Gandhi should demonstrate respect for constitutional bodies like the Election Commission. He should respond appropriately and provide documents related to his allegations. Rahul Gandhi should also file the affidavit." BJP MLC N. Ravikumar said, "The Election Commission itself has asked Rahul Gandhi to file a complaint, but he is not ready. He is more interested in staging protests as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Meanwhile, the Election Commission is enquiring into the alleged wrongdoing and has promised an investigation. Why was the Opposition silent for two years?" "LoP Gandhi is raising the issue after two years. I urge him to provide a proper complaint to the Election Commission. The Commission is ready to take action and has asked for an affidavit and other details as per the Constitution. They have to follow due process. Rahul Gandhi is sending someone else to file the complaint. There is a procedure for the Election Commission to act. If due procedures are followed, the complaint will be resolved. But Rahul Gandhi is not cooperating. He is delivering speeches and then avoiding accountability. He is indulging in hit-and-run tactics," Ravikumar claimed. BJP MLC C.T. Ravi stated, "If Rahul Gandhi has evidence, he should file a complaint with the Election Commission along with the affidavit. After lodging the complaint, the probe will begin. Once the probe is completed, action will be taken against those found guilty. Making charges on the streets without evidence will only become news, and no punishment will be meted out to the guilty." "It does not look good if the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, makes charges without evidence," he said. However, Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs H.K. Patil said that the Election Commission should treat what LoP Gandhi has said in the public domain as a suo moto complaint. They should lodge the complaint and begin an investigation as LoP Gandhi also holds a statutory position. Reacting strongly to the issuance of a notice to LoP Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday said that the State Election Commission has no authority to issue such a notice to him. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Dy CM Shivakumar, when asked about the matter, said, "Let them issue a notice who are they to issue a notice to Rahul Gandhi? We have issued a notice to them. We have the power to issue notices, and we will serve one to them." It can be recalled that Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) V. Anbukumar had issued a notice to LoP Gandhi asking him to produce relevant documents regarding his charges of election fraud. The CEO also underlined in the notice that the document shown in the press conference by Rahul Gandhi was not official. The notice was issued to the Congress MP on August 10 and he was asked to provide necessary documents to enquire into allegations made in his press conference in Delhi on August 7. Quetta, Aug 11 : Balochistan on Monday observed the 78th Independence Day, continuing an annual tradition that defies what Baloch human rights groups call Pakistan's "illegal occupation" of the region. The Baloch struggle for independence has significant historical origins, starting in 1947 when the princely state of Kalat made a short-lived declaration of independence following the partition of British India. Nevertheless, in 1948, Pakistan forcibly annexed the region, a move that has continually been opposed by Baloch nationalists. In an attempt to suppress the Independence Day celebrations, the Pakistani forces have imposed Section 144 for fifteen days in Balochistan, which is rejected by the 60 million Baloch population. Leading Baloch human rights defender Mir Yar Baloch has accused the Pakistani army of being stationed in Balochistan, during the celebrations, "without any legal mandate, driven not by law or justice but by greed, repression, and the hunger to erase Baloch identity." The human rights activist asserted that "Pakistan's crimes" against the Baloch are not isolated and also accused the rogue state of being "guilty of war crimes" in Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Palestine. Terming Pakistan as the global godfather of terrorism, Mir alleged that it is "breeding extremists, training militants, harbouring war criminals," while using the nuclear threat as blackmail against the world. He also slammed Pakistani army chief, Asim Munir, for boasting that Pakistan could "take down half the world" and called the statement "reckless." Mir urged the world to remember that it was Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) that sheltered Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad, under full state protection, even as thousands of innocents were being massacred. Instead of shaking hands with men like Munir, he stated the international community should be "placing them on trial for crimes against humanity." Recalling the struggle for freedom, Mir posted, "For thousands of years, our mountains, deserts, and seas have borne witness to the courage of the Baloch people, who stood as defenders of their land from the Mongol invasions to the grip of British colonial rule. Half a million Baloch martyrs have fallen in defence of our sovereignty, not for conquest, but for the right to live free on our own soil." Mir asserted that peace cannot bloom while the "boot of occupation" presses on Balochistan. Highlighting the human rights abuses in the region, he mentioned that Baloch people continue to be abducted, tortured, executed, and silenced, while their villages are bombed, resources are looted, and culture is targeted for destruction. He asserted that these are not just attacks on Balochistan, but crimes against the very principles on which the United Nations was founded. On the 78th Independence Day, Mir called on the world to recognise Balochistan as a free and sovereign nation and hold Pakistan accountable for its war crimes, nuclear blackmail, and state sponsorship of terrorism. Additionally, he urged the international community to stand with the Baloch people, not with an "occupying" army whose corruption and violence are a threat to global peace. "The future will remember who stood with the oppressed and who stood with the oppressor. Choose justice. Choose peace. Choose Balochistan," Mir stated. Guwahati, Aug 11 : Assam Police have foiled an interstate drug peddling attempt, and a person was arrested, officials said on Monday. The operation was carried out in the Cachar district today after receiving intelligence input regarding the movement of the narcotics item. A senior police official said, "Based on our information regarding drug peddling, we have intercepted a vehicle that came from Tripura, and we have recovered at least 362 kg of cannabis from the narcotics peddler." A person identified as Pradip Kar, who is a resident of the neighbouring state of Tripura, was arrested on charges of drug peddling. The police claimed that the market value of the seized drugs would be more than Rs. 2 crore 50 lakhs. A case under the relevant section was registered, and further investigation into the matter is underway. The interstate drug nexus is a challenge for the security personnel, and the southern part of Assam has been used to transport narcotics coming from the neighbouring states to various parts of the country. Meanwhile, Himanta Biswa Sarma recently said that the fight against the drug nexus is quite massive, while claiming that drug smugglers have been using several new methods, including drones to deliver narcotics consignments. The Chief Minister said that with modified tactics, the drugs are being delivered by traffickers sitting in far places, which is very dangerous. "In Assam and Meghalaya, primarily drug carriers have been operating, and it is a long battle for us against them, and it will continue. However, the traffickers have been using various methods to deliver the consignments, and often they have been using drones as carriers of narcotics items," he stated. Speaking to the reporters here, he said: "The menace of drugs is huge, and every state government has been taking efforts to foil the drug peddling attempt. Assam has been tackling the narcotics network with its full force, and we have zero tolerance stand against narcotics. I believe that continuous operations against drugs are the way to eradicate this menace from society." The Chief Minister also said that the kingpins of the drug network do not live in India, and they operate from foreign nations. "The kingpins of the narcotics nexus operate from abroad through their agents. They use every possible modus operandi to avoid being caught by the police. Sometimes, multiple agents travel together with tiny consignments of drugs, which are very hard to detect. If ten persons travel by train from Guwahati to Delhi with half a gram of heroin in each of their pockets, it will be very difficult to catch and arrest them. However, the security teams have been continuously working to be one step ahead of drug peddlers, and this is how Assam Police operate to bust drug networks," CM Sarma said. --IANS tdr/dan New Delhi, Aug 11 : The government gives utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of farmers, entrepreneurs, exporters and MSMEs, and will take all necessary steps to secure national interest, the Parliament was informed on Monday. It is estimated that around 55 per cent of the total value of Indiaas merchandise exports to the US will be subject to this reciprocal tariff, Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, said in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha. Reciprocal tariff at the rate of 25 per cent came into effect on certain goods exported from India to the US from August 7, with another set of 25 per cent tariffs scheduled from August 27 for buying Russian energy. "Combination of different factors, such as product differentiation, demand, quality, and contractual arrangements, would determine the impact on Indiaas exports," Chaudhary said. "The Department of Commerce is engaged with all stakeholders, including exporters and industry, for taking feedback of their assessment of the situation. The government attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of our farmers, entrepreneurs, exporters, MSMEs, etc. and will take all necessary steps to secure our national interest," the minister added. New Delhi has reiterated that the latest tariff actions by US President Donald Trump are "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable". "We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that 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," the government had said in a statement. "It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest," said the official statement. The new tariffs will be applied to all eligible Indian goods entering the US from 21 days after the orderas signing, except for shipments already in transit before the deadline and cleared before September 17. Seoul, Aug 11 : North Korea's Defence Minister No Kwang-chol on Monday warned that Pyongyang would exercise its "self-defence" right in the event of a provocation, denouncing a planned large-scale joint military exercise between South Korea and the United States. The North Korean Defence Minister issued the warning a week before Seoul and Washington are set to kick off their annual summertime Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise from August 18-28, reports Yonhap, quoting Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). "We strongly denounce the US and the ROK for their provocative moves of clearly showing the stand of military confrontation with the DPRK," the defence minister said, accusing the allies of undermining the security environment on the Korean Peninsula and warning of "negative consequences." North Korea's military "will cope with the war drills ... with a thoroughgoing and resolute counteraction posture and strictly exercise the sovereign right of the DPRK at the level of the right to self-defence in a case of any provocation going beyond the boundary line," he warned. DPRK stands for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, while ROK means the Republic of Korea. No described the UFS as both "a direct military provocation" against North Korea and "a real threat" that would heighten the unpredictability of the security situation on the peninsula, warning it will have "a boomerang effect," plunging South Korea-US security into "a less safe situation." The minister also cited the UFS as "the main reason" the situation on the peninsula is "changing negatively day by day," adding, "It is the absolute mission" of the North Korean military "to contain offensive movements of the enemy states, counter their military provocations and defend the security of the state and the peace of the region." This year's UFS exercise has been partially adjusted, with about 20 of the originally scheduled 40 drills postponed to next month due to what military officials cited as the ongoing heat wave and flood damage, as well as Seoul's apparent bid to improve ties with North Korea. Adjusting the UFS has been a key focus in inter-Korean relations since Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, protested the exercise, describing the Lee administration as no different from his hard-line predecessor in a statement last month. Monday's statement by the defence minister, however, made no mention of the partial postponement. South Korea's unification ministry spokesperson Koo Byoung-sam noted that this year's statement, issued by the North's defence minister, represents an escalation from last year, when a similar statement against the UFS was released under the defence ministry spokesperson's name. However, the tone of this year's statement appears to be "relatively measured," focusing more on elaborating the regime's stance rather than issuing a military threat, Koo said. The unification ministry spokesperson also reaffirmed that the joint drills are regular training of a strictly "defensive nature, aimed at deterring war and safeguarding peace." "Going forward, the government plans to continue efforts to calmly and consistently promote cooperation in building peace on the Korean Peninsula," he said. New Delhi, Aug 11 : India on Monday slammed the irresponsible remarks made by Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir during his recent visit to the United States, emphasising that "nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan's stock-in-trade". During his US visit over the weekend, Munir has warned that Pakistan will never allow India to choke the Indus River and will defend its water rights at all costs even if the forces will have to destroy any dam that India sought to build on it. "We will wait for India to build a dam, and when they do so, we will destroy it ... The Indus River is not the Indians' family property. We have no shortage of resources to undo the Indian designs to stop the river," Munir was quoted as saying by leading Pakistani daily Dawn at an event organised by members of the Pakistani-American community in Tampa, Florida. India, which has already made it clear that it will not give in to nuclear blackmail, reacted strongly to the comments made by Munir. "Our attention has been drawn to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff while on a visit to the United States. Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistanas stock-in-trade. The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks, which also reinforce the well-held doubts about the integrity of nuclear command and control in a state where the military is hand-in-glove with terrorist groups," read a statement issued by Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday. Munir, the Pakistani media reported on Monday, visited two US cities over the weekend and flew to Belgium on Sunday after completing his second high-profile trip to the United States in less than two months. "It is also regrettable that these remarks should have been made from the soil of a friendly third country. India has already made it clear that it will not give in to nuclear blackmail. We will continue to take all steps necessary to safeguard our national security," the MEA statement mentioned. Munir's visit to the US capital in June was overshadowed by widespread protests led by members of the Pakistani diaspora and supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. While Rawalpindi was projecting Munir's visit as a step towards strengthening military and strategic ties with Washington, the backlash from overseas Pakistanis turned his stay at the luxury hotel in Washington into a scene of charged demonstrations. Protesters chanted slogans accusing Munir of human rights violations, branding him as "Pakistanio ke qatil" and "Islamabad ke qatil" -- meaning "killer of Pakistanis" and "killers of Islamabad", respectively. A video widely circulated on social media showed one protester yelling, "Geedad, geedad, geedad (jackal, jackal, jackal)", a derogatory term used to suggest cowardice and deceit. The clip quickly went viral and was described by analysts as a public embarrassment for the Pakistani military establishment. Analysts reckon that Munir's treatment as the true interlocutor in Washington and Beijing recently, highlights how far Pakistan's military has overreached into domains traditionally managed by the elected representatives. "Asim Munir's aggressive diplomacy abroad is only one facet of a broader power consolidation at home that has pushed Pakistan into what can only be described as a military-led 'hybrid authoritarianism'. Behind the civilian faAade, the military establishment has pulled all institutional levers to dominate the judiciary, the economy, and the legislative process," an defence expert told IANS. "Perhaps the most damning indictment of Asim Munir's tenure is not just the scope of his ambition, it is the cost at which it has come. Munir may go down in history as the army chief who has lost hundreds of soldiers to insurgent attacks in merely two years of his tenure. From Balochistan to the tribal hinterland of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistani troops have come under relentless assault from a rejuvenated insurgency, especially by groups like Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)," he added. In April, India had hit out strongly at the Pakistani Army Chief for referring Kashmir as Islamabad's "jugular vein". "See, how can anything foreign be their jugular vein? This is a Union Territory of India. Its only relationship with Pakistan is the vacation of illegally-occupied territories by that country," said Jaiswal during a regular media briefing on April 17. Gandhinagar, Aug 11 : Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel offered prayers at the historically significant Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple in Vadnagar, North Gujarat, on Monday. With devotion, he prayed for the nation's and state's continued development, progress, and for the health, prosperity, and peace of all citizens. Gandhinagar, Aug 11 (IANS) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel offered prayers at the historically significant Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple in Vadnagar, North Gujarat, on Monday. With devotion, he prayed for the nationas and stateas continued development, progress, and for the health, prosperity, and peace of all citizens. The Hatkeshwar Temple has been included in the Swadesh Darshan Yojana and the Heritage Circuit Project. Under the temple complex development plan, the first phase -- worth Rs 18 crore -- and the second phase -- worth Rs 4.22 crore, funded by the Gujarat Pavitra Yatradham Vikas Board -- have been completed. These works include the sanctum sanctorum, assembly hall, temple spire, yajna hall, and a welcome centre. In addition, the Gujarat Tourism Corporation recently introduced a light and sound show at the temple, showcasing its historical and mythological significance, at a cost of Rs 5.53 crore. The Chief Minister was accompanied by Health Minister Rishikesh Patel, Mehsana District Panchayat President Trishaben Patel, Tourism and Pilgrimage Department Secretary Rajendra Kumar, Gujarat Pavitra Yatradham Vikas Board Member Secretary Ramesh Merja, senior leader Girish Rajgor, MLA K.K. Patel, District Collector S.K. Prajapati, District Development Officer Dr Hasrat Jasmin, Resident Additional Collector J.K. Jegoda, and other officials from Vadnagar city and taluka administration, along with trustees of the Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple. He later posted on X, "On the third Monday of the sacred Shravana month, I felt blessed by devoutly visiting the ancient and significant Hatkeshwar Mahadev temple located in Vadnagar, North Gujarat. I prayed to Hatkeshwar Dada for the continuous development of the nation and state, as well as for the well-being, prosperity, and peace of all citizens." The Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple in Vadnagar is a revered Shaivite shrine with deep religious, historical, and cultural significance. Believed to date back to the Solanki era, it is a major pilgrimage site in North Gujarat, especially during Shravan and Maha Shivratri. Vadnagar itself is historically prominent as the birthplace of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, adding to the templeas symbolic value. Its inclusion in the Swadesh Darshan Yojana and Heritage Circuit Project, along with recent government-funded upgrades like a light-and-sound show, has positioned it as both a spiritual hub and a heritage tourism attraction, boosting local pride and economic prospects. New Delhi, Aug 11 : Suraj Narredu-led Team Asia has brought home the Shergar Cup 2025 trophy. From India to Ascot, Narredu delivered on his promise to leave a global mark. Alongside Japanese jockeys Ryusei Sakai and Mirai Iwata, he won two of six races and secured a crucial second place, snatching the win by just one point ahead of Europe. Asia prevailed 6867 over Europe, with Great Britain & Ireland third on 62 and the Rest of the World on 55. Hugh Bowman clinched the Silver Saddle as the leading jockey. Trained by Dylan Cunha, Narredu piloted Fireblade at the prestigious Ascot Racecourse winning Shergar Cup Stayers. Sakai also scored aboard Prince of India in the Shergar Cup Sprint. In a steadily driven two-mile event, the 40-year-old made his move early, keeping every opponent at bay by almost two lengths. "Being a debut team and winning today is icing on the cake. I know this is a new team, but I'm sure in the future they'll be a force to be reckoned with," he said. With over 2,400 career wins, Narredu has left no soil untouched by his excellence. His passion for carrying the Narredu name like a crown - just as his father and uncle once did - adds deeper value to his game. "It has been a dream come true. I had always imagined what it would feel like, but now that I'm living it, it's surreal. This is one of the greatest moments in my life- the one I'd always been waiting for. I feel honoured to take this win back to my country," he added. To mark the milestone, Narredu celebrated with a signature flying dismount for the first time - a move made famous by his idol Frankie Dettori - lighting up the crowd and leaving fans smiling from ear to ear. New Delhi, Aug 11 : In a significant intervention, the Supreme Court on Monday directed civic bodies across Delhi-NCR to immediately capture all stray dogs and relocate them to shelters, citing serious concerns over public safety and the rising risk of rabies. A bench comprising Justices J. B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan termed the situation "grim" and emphasised that urgent action was necessary to ensure the safety of children, women, and the elderly on the streets. "We have to make the streets completely free of stray dogs. The time for action is now," the court observed. The directive covers the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), and civic agencies in Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad. The court has ordered these civic agencies to begin picking up all stray dogs in their jurisdictions and move them to designated shelters. If such shelters do not already exist, the authorities have been instructed to construct them without delay and submit a report on the infrastructure to the court within eight weeks. The bench also issued a stern warning that any organisation or group that obstructs the removal of stray dogs would face strict legal consequences. The matter came up during a hearing on the growing menace of stray dogs in urban areas, during which Solicitor General Tushar Mehta urged the court to step in with strong directions to remedy the situation. He stressed the urgent need for preventive measures to address the threat of rabies and attacks on pedestrians. The Supreme Court's order marks one of the most sweeping moves yet in tackling the stray dog crisis in the capital region, with the potential to significantly alter the urban landscape and the way stray animals are managed. Dhaka, Aug 11 : A Bangladesh court on Monday placed Awami League leader and former MP Solaiman Selim on a three-day remand in connection with an alleged murder case linked to last year's July demonstrations, local media reported. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate GM Farhan Istiak passed the order following a petition filed by the investigation officer of the case seeking a seven-day remand. After the hearing, the judge remanded the former lawmaker from Dhaka-7 constituency for three days on charges of alleged murder of Khalid Hasan Saifullah, a first-year student of Ideal College in Dhaka, reports leading Bangladeshi daily, Jugantor. Reports suggest that on July 18, 2024, Saifullah was shot in the Azimpur Government Residential Area of Lalbagh during the violent student protests. Subsequently, on August 19, his father, Kamrul Hasan, filed a murder case with Lalbagh Police Station, accusing 52 people, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in the case. Selim was initially arrested on the night of November 13 last year from a residence in Dhaka's Gulshan by Chawkbazar police. Later on November 27, the Dhaka court ordered a seven-day remand for Selim in two separate cases filed over the killing of Rakib Hawlader and Khaled Hasan Saifullah during the July demonstrations. Earlier this year, in March, the court again remanded Salim for three days in a case filed over the alleged killing of madrasa student Shahenur Rahman during the same student protests. This development adds to the increasing number of cases filed against the Awami League leaders and associated individuals, which it claims are being orchestrated by the Muhammad Yunus regime to suppress Hasina's party. The Awami League has earlier highlighted a "collapse of the justice system" in Bangladesh amid a "tsunami of fake cases" since the fall of the democratically elected Hasina government. The party accused the interim government's Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus of remaining "silently complicit," as opposition leaders, journalists, and even citizens became targets of legal harassment. Analysts reckon the developments as a major political vendetta being pursued by the interim government led by Yunus, as several cases were filed against the former PM and her supporters on frivolous grounds, immediately after her ouster in August 2024. The unceremonious exit of Hasina last August was globally seen as a major setback to the democratic set-up in the country. The interim government has also received massive criticism for providing shelter to radical and extremist Islamic outfits. TEHRAN, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- A senior official from the UN nuclear watchdog held talks in Tehran on Monday, marking the first high-level visit since Iran suspended its cooperation with the agency in June, state media reported. Massimo Aparo, deputy director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), met with officials from Iran's Foreign Ministry and nuclear authorities. The discussions centered on a "future framework for cooperation" following Tehran's decision to halt its collaboration, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told the official IRNA news agency. He added that both sides agreed to continue consultations. According to Gharibabadi, the Iranian delegation also criticized the IAEA for failing to respond to alleged "aggression," and called for changes to the agency's "flawed processes" regarding its nuclear program. In late June, Iran's parliament suspended cooperation with the IAEA, accusing Israel and the United States of carrying out strikes on its nuclear facilities and assassinating scientists earlier that month. New Delhi, Aug 11 : Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) contributions climbed to an all-time high of Rs 28,464 crore in July, data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) showed on Monday. This is the second consecutive month of record SIP inflows, following the Rs 27,000-crore mark breached in June. Strong overall participation in equity-oriented mutual funds saw record net inflows of Rs 42,672 crore in July a" nearly twice the Rs 23,568 crore recorded in June, buoyed by the spike in SIP investments. Strong New Fund Offer (NFO) collections of Rs 30,416 crore from 30 schemesa"the highest monthly mobilisation on recorda"supported the boost. The preference of investors remained in favour of mid- and small-cap funds, which attracted inflows of Rs 5,182.5 crore and Rs 6,484.4 crore, respectively, surpassing the Rs 2,125 crore drawn by large-cap funds. According to the data, with net inflows of Rs 9,426 crore, sectoral/thematic funds led the equity categories. This was made possible by the launch of seven new schemes, which collectively raised Rs 7,404 crore. Large and mid-cap funds brought in Rs 5,035 crore, while flexi-cap funds came in second with Rs 7,654 crore. At Rs 368 crore, the only equity category to experience net outflows was equity-linked savings plans (ELSS). Meanwhile, the mutual fund industry's net assets under management (AUM) increased to Rs 75.36 lakh crore. The AUM stood at Rs 74.40 lakh crore in June and Rs 72.19 lakh crore in May. Equity funds have seen positive flows for 53 consecutive months, with July inflows being broad-based across most categories. Retail participation saw growth, with total mutual fund folios rising to 24.57 crore in July from 24.13 crore in June. Gold ETFs recorded inflows of Rs 1,256 crore in July vs Rs 2,080.9 crore in June. Other ETFs saw inflows of Rs 4,476 crore from Rs 844 crore in June. Open-ended debt funds posted net inflows of Rs 1,06,801 crore in July. Liquid Funds saw inflow of Rs 39,354 crore vs outflow of Rs 25,196 crore in June, according to the AMFI data. Colombo, Aug 11 : Recalling India's massive support during Sri Lanka's unprecedented economic crisis, a Lankan MP has urged his countrymen to back New Delhi's stand against what he termed as US President Donald Trump's "selective and unfair trade" measures, saying "India's courage inspires Asia". Colombo, Aug 11 (IANS) Recalling India's massive support during Sri Lanka's unprecedented economic crisis, a Lankan MP has urged his countrymen to back New Delhi's stand against what he termed as US President Donald Trump's "selective and unfair trade" measures, saying "Indiaas courage inspires Asia". Noted economist and Colombo MP Harsha de Silva urged fellow lawmakers in the Parliament to be respectful towards India amid its ongoing tensions with the US following the recently-imposed tariffs on Indian goods. He recalled how India was the only nation that extended critical assistance to Sri Lanka during its economic crisis. "Donat laugh at India. Donat mock them when they are down because when we were down, they were the only ones to lend us a hand. It ainat over until the fat lady sings. We witnessed you laughing. Donat laugh. India expected the tariffs to come down to 15 per cent, and so did we," the Member of Parliament was quoted as saying by Daily Mirror on Monday. While addressing the Lankan Parliament, Silva emphasised the deep bond shared between India and Sri Lanka and backed New Delhi's stand on US tariffs. Silva's statement comes after Trump on August 6 announced an additional 25 per cent tariffs on imports from India, citing the countryas continued purchase of Russian oil. India has termed Washington's decision as "unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable." The Lankan politician also shared a video of his speech in parliament on X, writing, "Called out the Govt in Sri Lankan Parliament for mocking Indiaas bold stand against Trumpas trade tariffs. India, our true ally, stood by us in our toughest times. We should honour their fight, not laugh. Indiaas courage inspires Asia." The India-Sri Lanka relationship is deeply rooted in civilizational links, shared history, religion, culture, and strong people-to-people ties. In the modern era, it has evolved into a close economic, cultural, and technical partnership. Sri Lanka is an integral part of India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy, and this relationship, built on mutual trust and goodwill, has stood the test of time. "India has come to the assistance of Sri Lanka at critical moments, most recently during the unprecedented economic crisis that Sri Lanka faced in 2022. India was glad to be able to play a key role in the economic stabilization and recovery of the country thereby demonstrating its commitment as a dependable neighbour and as a first responder to any crisis in the region," Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said, earlier this year. Calling India "a trusted partner", Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath has also appreciated the role played by New Delhi over the last many years, including standing by the island nation in time of need and assisting it through the recent economic crisis. "As you are aware, India extended various forms of assistance amounting to nearly four billion USD in 2022 and was the first nation to extend financial assurances to the IMF, playing a key role in supporting Sri Lankaas debt restructuring programme. During a period of immense challenges for the country, without this support, Sri Lankaas recovery would not have been as swift," Herath had posted on X in February this year. Seoul, Aug 11 : The commander of the US Forces Korea (USFK) has said the role of the US-led multinational UN Command (UNC) will "absolutely" continue to evolve amid regional security challenges, such as deepening alignment between North Korea and Russia. The remark by Gen. Xavier Brunson, who also serves as the commander of the UNC and the South Korea-US Combined Forces Command, came as North Korea and Russia have been seeking to strengthen their military cooperation through the deployment of troops and weapons. "That cooperation matters even more now, as we see the DPRK drawing closer to Russia, and as Indo-Pacific and European security become more tightly linked," Brunson said in a written statement released Monday to the defence press corps. DPRK is the acronym of North Korea's formal name. Brunson called UNC member states "like-minded nations putting people, resources, and political will behind the enforcement of the Armistice and the broader stability of Northeast Asia" and voiced expectation for an expansion in their roles as well as new memberships. Last year, Germany formally joined the UNC as the 18th member state, marking the first expansion of the force in more than a decade, while the Netherlands and New Zealand have deployed additional troops this year, reports Yonhap news agency. "Will UNC's role continue to evolve? Absolutely -- as the security environment changes and as our member states see new ways to contribute," Brunson said. "If there are nations that share our values, share our commitment, and are ready to operate under the Armistice framework, then we'll work with them, always in close consultation with the Republic of Korea (ROK)." Addressing concerns over a delayed plan by the USFK to build a drone hangar at Kunsan Air Base, reportedly due to the US reallocation of budget for the Mexico border wall, the USFK commander stressed his continued focus on intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. "I understand the value of persistent ISR on this Peninsula," Brunson said, while declining to comment on details regarding budget issues. "We never take our eyes off the threats ... we will stay ready." In a press conference with the defence press corps on Friday, Brunson highlighted the importance of being equipped with the right capabilities when asked about a replacement of ISR assets deployed to the peninsula. "There are systems that have left, and there are systems that have come," he said Friday. "I've got new and improved capabilities that we've brought that are partnered with ROK capabilities, that allow us to have the same visibility, if not better, than we had before." The US Army's new ATHENA-R ISR aircraft reportedly has been deployed to the Korean Peninsula earlier this year for a monthslong operational assessment. New Delhi, Aug 11 : Tata Group-owned Air India on Monday said it is suspending its services between Delhi and Washington, D.C., effective from September 1, 2025, due to a combination of operational factors. The airline, which has been facing a myriad of issues since the fatal Boeing 787 crash in Ahmedabad on June 12, said the move is to "ensure the reliability and integrity of Air Indiaas overall route network". In a statement, the airline said the suspension is primarily driven by the planned shortfall in Air Indiaas fleet, as the airline commenced retrofitting 26 of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft last month. "This extensive retrofit programme, aimed at significantly enhancing customer experience, necessitates a prolonged unavailability of multiple aircraft at any given time until at least the end of 2026. That, coupled with the continued closure of airspace over Pakistan, impacts the airlineas long-haul operations, leading to longer flight routings and increased operational complexity," the airline said. Customers with Air India bookings to or from Washington, D.C. beyond September 1, 2025, will be contacted and offered alternative travel arrangements, including rebooking on other flights or full refunds, as per their individual preferences. Meanwhile, Air India customers will continue to have the options of one-stop flights to Washington, D.C. via New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago, and San Francisco a" with the airlineas interline partners, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, "allowing customers to travel on a single itinerary with their baggage checked through to the final destination". Air India said it will continue to operate non-stop flights between India and six destinations in North America, including Toronto and Vancouver in Canada. Earlier in the day, a technical snag in an Air India flight arriving from Delhi led to a tense hour-long delay at Raipur airport, leaving around 160 passengers, including a sitting MLA, stranded inside the aircraft with no immediate explanation. On Sunday, an Air India flight travelling from Thiruvananthapuram towards Delhi, carrying several senior political leaders, was forced to make an emergency landing at Chennai airport, following a suspected radar malfunction. The DGCA was expected to investigate both the technical malfunction and the sequence of events that led to the aborted landing. Mumbai, Aug 11 : The trailer of the upcoming streaming series 'Sena - Guardians of the Nation' was unveiled on Monday. It offers a powerful glimpse into the life of those who choose duty over everything, even when it means putting their life on the line. Mumbai, Aug 11 (IANS) The trailer of the upcoming streaming series 'Sena Guardians of the Nation' was unveiled on Monday. It offers a powerful glimpse into the life of those who choose duty over everything, even when it means putting their life on the line. The series follows Kartik Sharma, a young man who leaves behind the promise of a lucrative career in California to wear the soldier's uniform, a decision that puts him at odds with his father. The series consists of 5 episodes, and offers a glimpse into what it takes to clear the gruelling Armed Forces Academy selection exams. After clearing the exams, Kartik finds himself posted in the tense, unpredictable terrain of Kashmir. But when he is captured by militants, what begins as a mission turns into a test of survival, trust, and reconciliation. The series has a non-linear structure. It stars Vikram Singh Chauhan alongside Yashpal Sharma, Shirley Setia, Anandeshwar Dwivedi, Rahul Tewari, Vijay Vikram Singh, Anupam Bhattacharya, Neelu Dogra and Funcho. Talking about his character Kartik Sharma, Vikram Singh Chauhan shared, "Kartik is someone who walks away from his comfort, family, and everything familiar to chase something bigger a sense of purpose. Portraying him was emotional and humbling because it reminded me that true courage isn't loud, it's quiet and relentless. What moved me the most was the eternal strength he carries, the kind you see in real soldiers who don't speak much, but act when it matters. I truly hope this series sparks something in people, perhaps a pause, a tear, a sense of pride". The show also features real army veterans, including Former spy, sniper and National Security Guard commando, Lucky Bisht; Colonel Rajeev Bharwan (AKA Mumma Sir); Lt Col Kaushalendra Singh, SM; Lt Col Paishal Manocha; Col RK Sharma, Kirti Chakra, Shaurya Chakra, Sena Medal (Gallantry) and Wing Commander Urvashi Rohilla, Indian Air Force. Writer and Creator Anandeshwar Dwivedi, who also essays a pivotal role in the series, expressed, "Creating 'Sena Guardians of the Nation', along with one of the most creative minds of the country, has been one of the most rewarding and fulfilling experiences of my journey so far. It's not just a story about battles or men in uniform, it's also about fathers and sons, pride and regret, and the emotional cost of duty. As a show runner I feel honoured to bring such a powerful story to life. I hope it moves viewers the way it moved us while making it". Produced by The Viral Fever, directed by Abhinav Anand, and written by Anandeshwar Dwivedi, 'Sena Guardians of the Nation' is set to stream August 13, on Amazon MX Player. Dhaka, Aug 11 : A local newspaper journalist was seriously injured after he was brutally assaulted in Bangladesh's Kushtia district on Monday, local media reported. The incident unfolded in Mirpur upazila of Kushtia, where Firoz Ahmed, a correspondent of local daily 'Daink Ajker Sutropat' and joint general secretary of Upazila Press Club, was attacked with hammers, rods, and bricks. This is the fourth case of assault reported in August amid the escalating violence against journalists in the South Asian nation. Confirming the development, Officer-in-charge of Mirpur Police Station Mominul Islam said, "Though we are yet to receive any written complaint, we are working to bring the accused to justice after investigating the matter." According to the locals and the victim's family, tensions began a few days back when the families of Firoz and the prime accused, Milon, got into an altercation over a scuffle involving their children, Bangladeshi media outlet UNB reported. Early Monday morning, Milon, along with four to five others, reportedly ambushed Firoz on his way to the mosque. Following the incident, the locals took him to Upazila Health Complex, from where he was shifted to Kushtia General Hospital. Hossain Imam, resident medical officer of the hospital, stated that Firoz suffered serious injuries to his head and legs. This comes a day after another local journalist and his mother were violently attacked by a group of miscreants in the Lalmonirhat district. The victim, Helal Hossain Kabir, aged 32, is the executive editor of Alormoni, a weekly publication based in Lalmonirhat. Both he and his mother were kept under medical supervision at Lalmonirhat Sadar Hospital. Last week, on August 7, a reporter working for a Bangladeshi daily was publicly hacked to death in Chandana Chowrasta of Gazipur district, just hours after he went live on social media to expose extortion from street vendors and local shops in the area. The video of his murder went viral on social media, sparking outrage in the media community. On August 6, another journalist was brutally assaulted by extortionists in the Sahapara area of Gazipur while probing allegations of extortion collected from battery-powered and CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers. The 35-year-old victim, Anwar Hossain Sourav, was attacked in broad daylight, reportedly in the presence of police. Bangladesh has been gripped with numerous unprovoked and violent attacks against journalists, as well as other sections of society, after the Yunus-led interim government assumed power last year. Last month, the Awami League stated that as many as 51 journalists from the South Asian country have expressed their grave concern over the ongoing killings, torture, and harassment against media persons under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government. Additionally, the journalists have demanded an immediate end to harassment, justice for slain colleagues, bail for imprisoned journalists, and restoration of the Dhaka Union of Journalists' operations. Bengaluru, Aug 11 : In a major development, the Congress party has decided to seek the resignation of State Minister for Cooperation K.N. Rajanna, a close confidant of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, over his remarks regarding voter fraud, which allegedly took place during the tenure of the party's government in Karnataka, sources confirmed on Monday. The party high command has directed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to obtain Minister Rajannaas resignation on Monday itself. Amid the controversy, Minister Rajanna met CM Siddaramaiah at his office in Vidhana Soudha. Reacting to the news, Rajanna said he would speak after the meeting with the CM. "I am not clinging to power. I will respond by evening," he stated. Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, R. Ashoka, stated on the floor of the House that Minister Rajanna had tendered his resignation two hours earlier. "I challenge the government on this. If this is not true, let the Speaker suspend me for one year," he declared. Ashoka further demanded that Minister Rajanna, who was present in the Assembly session, provide clarity on the matter instead of sitting quietly. Minister for Law H.K. Patil and Minister for Revenue Krishna Byre Gowda maintained that sudden media reports should not be taken up for discussion in the House. Congress leaders had earlier submitted a complaint to Karnataka in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala over Minister Rajannaas statements against the party regarding election fraud. When asked about the statement of Minister K.N. Rajanna, who stated that the party should have taken note of the alleged election fraud much earlier than raising it now, Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar stated that Minister Rajanna has issued a totally wrong statement. "He doesn't know. My Chief Minister will reply to it, and the high command will look into the matter," Shivakumar said. Earlier, on August 8, Rajanna had stated, "Rahul Gandhi has made statements backed by documents. He is speaking with authority, and we must endorse his statements -- there is no doubt about it. The BJP is well aware of the malpractices. The RSS, the frontal organisation of the BJP, is manipulating everything." aThe common people are with us. In the Mahadevapura Assembly constituency, voters have been enrolled without proper addresses. How is that even possible? During the parliamentary election, our government was in power -- we should have been more alert. Instead, we are alert only now. Had we acted earlier, we could have prevented these malpractices," Minister Rajanna said. "Out of the eight Assembly segments in the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha seat, we had leads in seven. In only one -- Mahadevapura -- we did not. That single loss tilted the overall result. Isnat that clearly due to malpractice?" he questioned. Jaipur, Aug 11 : A 70-year-old accused has been arrested by the Rajasthan Police after the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) in Jaipur received a bomb threat on Monday, an official said. The official said that the bomb threat put the security agencies on high alert, adding that the alert was reported to the police control room, following which senior officials were informed, and multiple agencies were deployed to the spot. He added that a thorough search was conducted, but no suspicious object was found. Meanwhile, DCP South Rajarshi Raj said that the threatening call was received at around 12:30 pm. The caller claimed he would blow up the CMO with a bomb. The information was immediately shared with all concerned officials, and security teams were activated. However, a cyber team traced the caller's location through his phone number and arrested the 70-year-old accused, identified as a drug addict. He is being brought to Jaipur for interrogation. On July 26, the CMO had also received a bomb threat via an email sent to Jaipur airport, warning of explosions at both the CMO and the airport. The threat also turned out to be a hoax after investigation. Jaipur has witnessed a spate of bomb threats in recent months, all of which turned out to be hoaxes after investigation. On 16 June, The Palace School at Jaleb Chowk received a bomb threat via email. As the school was closed, the message went unnoticed until the next day, when the administration informed the police. On 30 May, threats were issued against the Mansarovar Metro Station and two courts - the Jaipur Metro Court and a Family Court. Both courts received threatening emails. The Family Court was searched for nearly four hours, while the Jaipur Metro Court was cleared after an hour-long search. Between 8 and 13 May, Sawai Mansingh Stadium was repeatedly targeted with threats. The email on 13 May not only warned of a blast but also demanded justice for a rape victim. On 9 May, Jaipur Metro authorities received an email threatening to blow up both the metro station and the train, citing the "success of Operation Sindoor." No explosives were found in any of the cases. IANS arc/dan Mumbai, Aug 11 : The Indian equity market on Monday ended with around 1 per cent gains amid FII buying, bouncing back from the last trading session's correction. The return of FIIs, positive earnings of PSU banks in Q1 and buying in the broader market fueled the bullish sentiment. The robust mutual fund inflow data released by the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) also boosted the market momentum in the last trading hours. Sensex settled at 80.604.08, up 746.29 points or 0.93 per cent. The 30-share index started the session flat at 79,885.36 against last session's closing of 79,857.79. Later, the index experienced an overall heavy buying amid the return of FIIs and robust Mutual Fund Inflow data for July. The Index touched an intraday high at 80,636.05. Nifty ended the session at 24,585.05, up 221.75 points or 0.91 per cent. "The market saw a relief rally post a 3-month low; a positive global cue and a gradual return of FIIs supported the sentiment," said Vinod Nair, Head of Research, Geojit Investments Limited The PSU banks took the limelight amidst Q1 results from the banking major, while a broad-based momentum was visible across all sectors. Investors are positively assessing the upcoming US-Russia Summit this week, which may possibly give way to a de-escalation in geopolitical tensions, Nair added. Tata Motors, Eternal, Adani Ports, Trent, SBI, L&T, Mahindra and Mahindra, Axis Bank, Sun Pharma, HDFC Bank, HCL Tech and Kotak Bank were among the top gainers. While Bharati Airtel, BEL and ICICI Bank closed slightly lower. The majority of sectoral indices grabbed the bullish momentum amid value buying. Nifty Fin Services surged 238 points or 0.91 per cent, Nifty Bank soared 505 points or 0.92 per cent, Nifty Auto jumped 249 points or 1 per cent, and Nifty IT settled the session 146 points or 0.42 per cent higher. The broader market followed suit as well. Nifty Next 50 jumped 769 points or 1.17 per cent, Nifty 100 settled the trading 238 points or 0.96 per cent up, Nifty Midcap 100 swelled 476 points or 0.85 per cent, and Nifty Small Cap 100 closed, jumping 63 points or 0.36 per cent. Equity-oriented mutual funds saw net inflows of Rs 42,702 crore in July, up 81 per cent from Rs 23,587 crore in June, AMFI data showed on Monday. By the end of July, the mutual fund industry's net assets under management (AUM) increased to Rs 75.36 lakh crore. The AUM stood at Rs 74.40 lakh crore in June and Rs 72.19 lakh crore in May, according to monthly data released by AMFI. Gold prices weakened as news of the US President Donald Trumpas scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 15 to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war sent strong signals of a possible resolution, triggering profit booking. "Comex gold slipped from $3,400 to $3,355, while MCX gold declined by Rs 1,200 to Rs 1,00,550. This week, U.S. CPI and Core CPI data will be in focus for further cues. Gold price range is seen between Rs 99,500a"Rs 1,02,000," said Jateen Trivedi of LKP Securities. Islamabad, Aug 11 : The trade and travel between areas of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan (PoGB) and China through Khunjerab Pass continues to remain suspended for nearly three weeks now amid the ongoing sit-in protest on Karakoram Highway. The protest sit-in, called by the Tajir Ittehad Action Committee and supported by local trade organisations besides opposition parties and religious groups in the region, is being held at Sost, disrupting trade activities between both countries. The business activities at the Sost Dry Port also remained suspended as the sit-in entered its 23rd day on Monday. The protestors have called for exclusion of residents of Pakistan-occupied Gilgit Baltistan from income, sales and other federal taxes on products imported from China via Khunjerab Pass, Pakistan's leading daily Dawn reported. Furthermore, the protesters are demanding customs clearance of 280 consignments stuck at Sost Dry Port for over a year under a one-time amnesty scheme. They have warned that the protest would not end until their demands are implemented. While addressing the protesters, PML-N Hunza President Rehan Shah said that the people of PoGB have for long been raising demand for their constitutional and legal rights. He claimed that political, religious, and trade organisations back these demands as PoGB has been denied constitutional and legal rights for the past 70 years. PPP local president Zahoor Karim was quoted by Dawn as saying that the residents of PoGB should only be asked to pay tax after the region gets representation in Pakistan's National Assembly and Senate. He mentioned that "economic murder" of residents of PoGB will not be tolerated. "The FBR has introduced policies to deprive GB people of their economic resources. Trade between Pakistan and China has been closed for a year, and goods worth billions of rupees are stuck at Sost Port a" some damaged by rain and others expired," he said. WASHINGTON, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday in Alaska will be a "feel-out meeting." Speaking at a White House press conference, Trump said a future meeting could also involve Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, or include both the Russian and Ukrainian leaders. A White House official told reporters on Saturday that Trump remained open to a summit with both leaders. U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said Sunday it was still possible that Zelensky could attend Friday's meeting in Alaska. "The decision is going to be made by President Trump," Whitaker said. "There's still time to make that decision." Mumbai, Aug 11 : Actress Divya Dutta seems to be on a roll with back-to-back successful releases. In the recent past, the National Award-winner has been a part of a large variety of projects across platforms. Dutta has also tried her hands at numerous genres - from espionage thriller "Special Ops", to musical drama "Bandish Bandits", to the historical saga "Chhaava" and now the political thriller "Mayasabha". In "Chhaava", she is seen as a layered antagonist, Soyarabai, while in "Special Ops" Dutta gives a convincing performance as operative Sadia Qureshi. She also plays a soulful musician Nandini Singh in "Bandish Bandits" and a steely political strategist Iravati Basu in "Mayasabha". Her ability to move seamlessly across genres and shades helps her explore her versatility as an artist. Thrilled about her success streak, Dutta said: "I've been fortunate to be part of stories that challenge me and allow me to explore different facets of human emotions. I want each role I play to stay with the audience long after the screen fades to black." Now, shifting our focus to Dutta's personal life, she revealed that she had been someone who was very marriage-oriented, and her path to a single life unfolded organically. Dutta believes that it's better to live a peaceful, self-focused life than to be in a toxic relationship. Speaking to IANS, she was asked "if there was a moment when she consciously chose the path to singlehood, or did it unfold naturally with her evolving priorities in life." To this, Dutta replied, saying: "Absolutely.. It just happened organically over time." "I was someone who was very marriage-oriented. I was totally into all the films that I had grown up onthe Yashji films, Karan Johar filmswhere, you know, you do all those rituals and you feel nice, happy, married." "But you do realize that it's very important in a profession which is very demanding that you have a partner who kind of understands the complexities of being in a profession like this, has to be very secure in his own skin, and has to be a very, very sensitive and understanding partner. So, sometimes you find it, sometimes you don't," she explained. Chennai, Aug 11 : In yet another case of man-animal conflict due to encroachments by humans and resultant habitat loss for wildlife, a 60-year-old plantation worker from Kerala was trampled to death by a wild elephant in Gudalur, Tamil Nadu, on Monday triggering protests from local residents over alleged inaction by the Forest Department. The deceased, identified as Mani, a native of Oveli New Hope in Gudalur was employed at a private estate in the same area. The incident occurred when he was on his way to work in the estate. A co-worker accompanying him managed to escape unhurt. Manias family had migrated from Palakkad, Kerala, to Gudalur several years ago in search of work. According to eyewitnesses, the elephant, which has been straying into human settlements for the past 20 days, suddenly charged at the workers. Locals allege that repeated complaints to the Forest Department to drive the animal back into the forest had gone unheeded. Angry residents staged a protest at the site, refusing to allow removal of Manias body until officials assured them of concrete measures to deal with the elephant menace and provided adequate financial assistance to the bereaved family. They accused the Forest Department of negligence, claiming no effective steps were taken despite the elephant causing widespread fear in the region. Wild elephant incursions have been a recurring problem in Gudalur and other parts of the Nilgiris district, leading to multiple fatalities in recent years. In January this year, a 55-year-old woman was killed in Pandalur after being attacked while collecting firewood. In April, a farmer in nearby Devarshola lost his life when a wild elephant entered his farmland. Last November, a daily wage labourer was trampled to death in Thorappalli village under similar circumstances. Conservationists note that habitat loss, fragmentation of elephant corridors, and increasing human encroachment into forest areas are driving these animals into villages in search of food and water. However, residents insist that the Forest Department should intensify patrolling, install early warning systems, and deploy trained kumki (tamed) elephants to safely drive away rogue animals. Officials said efforts are being made to track and push the elephant back into the forest. Post-mortem examination of Manias body was conducted at Gudalur Government Hospital, after which it was handed over to his family for cremation. New Delhi, Aug 11 : Ethanol blending with petrol by public sector oil companies shot up to 19.93 per cent in July this year, taking the average for the ongoing ethanol supply year (ESY) 2024-25 to 19.05 per cent, the Parliament was informed on Monday. New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) Ethanol blending with petrol by public sector oil companies shot up to 19.93 per cent in July this year, taking the average for the ongoing ethanol supply year (ESY) 2024a"25 to 19.05 per cent, the Parliament was informed on Monday. The countryas target of blending 20 per cent ethanol with petrol has been advanced from 2030 earlier to Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26 due to the rapid expansion, Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Suresh Gopi, said in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha. The government has been promoting blending of ethanol in petrol under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme wherein Public Sector Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) -- Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum -- sell ethanol blended with petrol. In order to ensure availability of feedstock for ethanol production to achieve 20 per cent Ethanol blending target by the Ethanol Supply Year (ESY) 2025-26, the government has taken several steps which include expansion of feedstock for ethanol production, development of maize clusters around ethanol plants to increase the production of maize in catchment area of grain based distilleries. The government has also approved allocation of 52 lakh metric tonne (LMT) of surplus Food Corporation of India (FCI) rice for ethanol production, each for the ESY 2024-25 (from November 1, 2024 to October 31, 2025) and ESY 2025-26 up to June 30, 2026, and diversion of 40 LMT of sugar for ethanol production allowed for the ESY 2024-25. Further, to boost ethanol production as well as supply in the country, the government has introduced administered price mechanism for Ethanol procurement under the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme, lowered GST rate to 5 per cent for Ethanol for EBP Programme, introduced various Ethanol Interest Subvention Schemes (EISS) during 2018-22 for ethanol production from molasses as well as grains, a dedicated subvention scheme for Cooperative Sugar Mills to convert existing sugarcane-based distilleries into multi-feedstock plants for ethanol production has been notified by the government, among other measures. New Delhi, Aug 11 : Women who experienced being stalked are more than 40 per cent likely to develop heart disease and stroke, according to an alarming study on Monday. About 1 in 3 women have been stalked at some point in their lives, according to data on intimate partner violence collected by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study, published in the American Heart Association's flagship journal Circulation, noted that common forms of violence against women, such as stalking or stalking harassment behaviours, such as receiving unsolicited correspondence, that make them fearful, are rarely discussed in cardiovascular research. "The link between stalking and cardiovascular disease may be due to psychological distress, which may disrupt the nervous system, impair proper blood vessel function, and negatively affect other biological mechanisms," explained researchers from Harvard University in the US and the University of British Columbia in Canada. Notably, the study also found that women who obtained a restraining order for protection had a 70 per cent increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease. A restraining order is a legal document that seeks to limit contact between a victim and perpetrator. Obtaining a restraining order was considered a sign of severe violence. The findings, based on data for more than 66,000 women, average age 46, analysed stalking, restraining orders, and heart disease or stroke development among participants from 2001 to 2021. The analysis found that, overall, nearly 12 per cent of the women in the study reported that they had been stalked, while nearly 6 per cent of them said they had obtained a restraining order. About 3 per cent of all women studied reported new-onset heart disease or stroke during the 20 years of the study. The increased risks for heart attack and stroke associated with stalking and restraining orders remained despite the existence of other self-reported cardiovascular risk factors, such as health and lifestyle behaviors, medications, health conditions, childhood abuse, and symptoms of depression. "Stalking is often seen as a form of violence that does not involve physical contact, which may make it seem less serious," said Rebecca B. Lawn, a research associate in epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston. But it can be "chronic" and may lead to significant changes in women, she added. Lawn said more research, as well as training for health care professionals, is needed to understand the link between stalking or obtaining a restraining order and women's cardiovascular health. "We also need to increase awareness about the potential health harms of experiencing violence and provide women with help and resources," she said. Hyderabad, Aug 11 : Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has condemned the detention of Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi and other Congress and Opposition leaders in New Delhi on Monday, during their protest over the Election Commission's alleged 'collusion' with the ruling BJP. The Chief Minister posted on 'X' that LoP Gandhi started the fight for democracy and restoration of the sacrosanct power of every Indian's vote. "BJP has restored to a dastardly act of detaining him and Priyanka Gandhi ji & other Congress leaders. Jails can't crush the resolve or silence the voice of Rahul Gandhi Ji," reads the post. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president Mahesh Kumar Goud also condemned the detention of the LoP and stated that the detention of Rahul Gandhi garu by Delhi Police is not law but it is the BJP's fear laid bare. "Rahul Gandhi garu has fearlessly exposed the Election Commission's collusion with BJP and unmasked the 'Vote Chori' that is shaking the pillars of democracy. His fight is not for politics, it is for the Constitution and the sacred right of 'One Person, One Vote,'" said the state Congress chief in a post on X. "Every Congress worker, from the grassroots to the top leadership, stands shoulder to shoulder with Rahul Gandhi garu. His voice is our voice, his fight is our fightand no detention can break this resolve. The BJP can try to silence him, but they will only make the nation's call for truth even louder," added the TPCC president. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) President, Y.S. Sharmila, has condemned the detention of LoP Gandhi and other Opposition leaders. She said they were fighting to protect the sacred voting right of every Indian. "Suppressing the voice of questioning is a testament to Modi's dictatorial tendencies. It is sad that the RSS' constitution adopted by the BJP does not include freedom to peacefully protest. This is the plight of this country. No arrests or jails will stand in the way of Rahul Gandhi's strong determination for the future of the country," she said in a post on 'X'. In an earlier post, she declared support for LoP Gandhi's demand of digital voter rolls from the Election Commission. She stated that this fight is to protect democracy. "The foundation of democracy is the right to vote. Equality is evident in the matter of a vote. Whether it is a poor person who cannot even get a single meal, or a rich person who has lakhs of crores, the vote is equal. The sacred vote given to us by the Constitution is being misused by the BJP in its thirst for power. The system has become corrupt due to the inclusion of stolen votes. The Election Commission itself has been corrupted for the BJP's victory through the backdoor," she said. "The EC, which is supposed to protect democracy, is protecting Modi. The Election Commission's behaviour is a sham. The independent system has become a puppet in the hands of the BJP. The EC has also become part of the list of affiliated organisations like the RSS," Sharmila added. The Congress leader demanded the Election Commission to answer five questions raised by LoP Gandhi. Kolkata, Aug 11 : State Trinamool Congress General Secretary Kunal Ghosh, on Monday, criticised the father of the R.G. Kar rape and murder victim for alleging that he has settled the case with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on behalf of the West Bengal government by paying them money. Taking to his official social media account, Ghosh said the victim's father is crossing all the limits of lies and drama. "The victim's father said that the CBI has taken money and Kunal Ghosh went and settled with them at the CGO Complex office. He is crossing all the limits of lies and drama. I understand the pain of a father who has lost his daughter. But that leaves room for questioning the words of those who are doing and saying whatever they are saying. On whose words and on what information did you make false allegations in my name like this?" Ghosh asked. The strong reaction from the Trinamool leader came after the victim's father alleged that Ghosh played a role in settling the case with the CBI. Speaking to media persons on Monday, the victim's father claimed, "CBI officers told me that they will drop this case. I told them that instead of telling me, tell the court. But we believe that CBI has taken money from the state government. Kunal Ghosh went to the CGO complex office in Kolkata and made a settlement." Soon after the allegation, Ghosh shared a video of the father's comments on his social media account and countered him by saying the BJP-led Central government controls the CBI. "I have two CBI cases of my own going on, I am fighting the law, and I will go to 'settle' the RG Kar case? And will the CBI do that? Everyone knows that the BJP controls the CBI," the Trinamool Congress leader said. He also took at a jibe at the victim's parents to organise "Nabanna Avijan" (March to the State Secretariat) on Saturday and taking part in the protest march along with BJP leaders. "He (victim's father) went with them (BJP) again in the Nabanna (State Secretariat) march. I say this with respect and sympathy for you, these lies involving me in the CBI are cold-blooded criminal propaganda. What information do you have about this or who told you to say these things, reveal it. Say whatever you want, it will not work," he said. The first anniversary of the rape and murder of a junior woman doctor of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Saturday was marred by massive violence following a scuffle between policemen and protesters participating in the Nabanna Avijan. The most unfortunate part was that the victim's mother had to be hospitalised after she fell ill amid police action against the protesters. The victim's mother alleged that she was beaten up by the policemen after she, along with her husband and other protesters, tried to march towards Nabanna (State Secretariat). The victim's mother and the BJP leaders alleged that in the police action, the sacred conch shell-bangle on her wrist, traditionally believed to be the symbolic representation of married Hindu women, was broken. Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 11 : A row has broken out in Kerala with both the ruling Left and the Congress-led opposition slamming Kerala Governor Rajendra V. Arlekar's office issuing a circular directing the Vice Chancellors of state universities to observe August 14 as the "Partition Horrors Remembrance Day". This is the first time such a directive has been sent from the Governor's office to universities in Kerala. State Education Minister V. Sivankutty strongly opposed the move, calling it an RSS-backed programme. "We will not accept this in any form. The Governor is attempting to run a parallel administration without the state cabinet's approval, and this is not acceptable at all," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had declared August 14 as Partition Horrors Remembrance Day in 2021, coinciding with India's 75th Independence Day celebrations. Joining issue and attacking Arlekar was Leader of Opposition V.D.Satheesan, who demanded that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan break his silence on this issue. "It is unconstitutional for the Governor to take decisions and act in parallel to the state government, sidelining it. Through this circular, the Governor is sending a clear message that, despite holding a constitutional post, he remains a spokesperson for the RSS and its divisive politics," he said. "The Chief Minister and the state government must break their silence and make their stance clear. The Governor must be officially informed of the government's protest against these unconstitutional actions," said Satheesan. The controversy comes amid ongoing tensions between the Governor's office and the state government over the administration of higher education in Kerala. Incidentally, last month, Arlekar asked Vice Chancellors to attend the national education conference of a Sangh Parivar-affiliated organisation, "Gyan Sabha." The event saw four VCs - Kerala University's Mohan Kunnummal, Calicut University's P. Ravindran, Kannur University's K.K. Saju, and Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies' (KUFOS) A. Bijukumar - taking part in the event. Kabul, Aug 11 : A total of 253 drug-addicted people were reunited with their families after receiving medical treatment and recovery in the western Afghanistan Herat province, the country's Ministry of Interior Affairs said Monday. All former drug addicts from across Herat sent to rehabilitation centres months ago have now recovered and been reunited with their families, the ministry said in a statement posted on its X account, Xinhua News Agency reported. Although there are no official statistics on the number of drug-addicted people in Afghanistan, more than three million drug addicted individuals are reported to exist in the country. The Afghan interim government has banned the cultivation of poppy and the trafficking of narcotics as part of a broader initiative to eliminate drug abuse and its impact on society. Earlier on August 2, the office of the Deputy Minister of Interior for Counter-Narcotics said that a total of 400 individuals who had been struggling with drug addiction have made a full recovery and rejoined their families in Herat province, western Afghanistan. The recovered addicts, who were gathered from various districts of the province, underwent a three-month medical treatment and rehabilitation programme before reintegrating into their families. Last week, Afghan police discovered 343 kg of illegal drugs during a series of operations in parts of Tirin Kot, the provincial capital of southern Afghanistan's Uruzgan province, provincial police spokesman Bilal Uruzgani said on August 8. The drugs included opium poppy, heroin and methamphetamine, said the spokesman. The official said that the contraband, along with all documents found during the operations, had been handed over to the judiciary. In a similar incident on August 3, another drug trafficker was arrested and 75 kg of opium poppy was seized in the northern Afghanistan Takhar province. The alleged drug smuggler, according to the official, was attempting to sell the opium poppy, but police captured him red-handed and took him into custody for investigation. Chennai, Aug 11 : One of Tamil cinema's top directors Shankar has now lauded director Sudeesh Shankar's critically acclaimed travel thriller, 'Mareesan', featuring Fahadh Faasil and Vadivelu in the lead, saying the film had a "story building first half followed by an unexpected and superb second half!" Chennai, Aug 11 (IANS) One of Tamil cinema's top directors Shankar has now lauded director Sudeesh Shankaras critically acclaimed travel thriller, aMareesana, featuring Fahadh Faasil and Vadivelu in the lead, saying the film had a "story building first half followed by an unexpected and superb second half!" The ace director in particular was all praise for actor Vadivelu, who plays the titular role of Mareesan, saying, the actoras guileless appearance on screen and the sinister contrast in character gave immense depth and strength to the film. He went on to exclaim in admiration, "Wow, what a performer!" Taking to his X timeline, director Shankar wrote, "Just watched #Maareesan -A story building first half followed by an unexpected and superb second half! #Vadiveluas guileless appearance on screen and the sinister contrast in character gives immense depth and strength to the film. The scene where he breaks downaWow, what a great performer! #FahadhFaasil seamlessly gives us another commendable performance. Praises go to the director and writer for their neat work. Salute to #RBChoudary for his continued selection of good scripts over the years!" Shankar isn't the only one to have praised the travel thriller. Several other film celebrities including one of Tamil cinema's top stars Kamal Haasan too had showered praises on the film. It may be recalled that Kamal Haasan had taken to his X timeline to pen a post of appreciation for the team of aMareesana. Kamal Haasan, in his post, had said, "Watched Maareesan - a film that dances effortlessly between wit and depth, leaving me laughing, thinking, and admiring its craft. Had a wonderful conversation with the team to congratulate them on this delightful creation." The actor further went on to say,"Beneath its humour lies a socially conscious lens on human emotion and a keen gaze at the darker shadows of our society. The kind of inventive, spirited cinema I naturally gravitate towards - both as viewer and creator. #Maareesan" Apart from Fahadh Faasil and Vadivelu, the film also featured a host of actors including Vivek Prasanna, Renuka and Sithara among others. V Krishnamurthi, who penned the story, screenplay and dialogues of the film, had also worked in it as its creative director. Music for the film was by Yuvan Shankar Raja and cinematography was by Kalaiselvan Sivaji. Sreejith Sarang was the filmas editor and art direction was by Mahendran. --IANS Mkr/ New Delhi, Aug 11 : The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has carried out 171 regulatory audits from 2020 till June 2025 to ensure safety in India's civil aviation sector, the Parliament was informed on Monday. New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has carried out 171 regulatory audits from 2020 till June 2025 to ensure safety in Indiaas civil aviation sector, the Parliament was informed on Monday. A total of two incidents of turbulence and 10 incidents of emergency landing due to technical snags have been reported since January 2024 apart from which Air Indiaas Boeing aircraft VT-ANB on June 12, 2025, "declared MAYDAY and eventually met with an accident", Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha. The minister said that pilot training in India is governed by extant regulations as specified under various Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) and operations circulars, which are in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and global best practices. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has established Civil Aviation Regulations to ensure the safe operation and maintenance of aircraft. These regulations are continuously updated and aligned with international standards, including those of the ICAO and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The DGCA amends its regulations from time to time in accordance with ICAO standards, the minister stated. The minister also said that India has ratified the Montreal Convention, 1999 by making amendments to the Carriage by Air Act, 1972 in 2009, which inter alia provides the liabilities of carriers for compensation in case of death, delay, damage or loss to persons, baggage or cargo for international carriage. Meanwhile, the DGCA has also ordered a new set of Comprehensive Special Audits to enhance safety following the jolt to the countryas civil aviation sector in the wake of the tragic Air India crash in Ahmedabad. The audit framework will cover the entire range of aviation entities, including scheduled and non-scheduled airlines, maintenance, repair, and overhaul organisations (MROs), flying training schools, air navigation service providers, airport operators, and ground handling agencies. The audit framework will be in addition to the regulatory audits being carried out as per the annual surveillance programme. It will also have more severe penalties for non-compliance that include grounding of airlines. The process will unfold in three stages: a pre-audit phase lasting five to seven days, a three-to-five-day on-site audit, and a post-audit period of ten to fifteen days for analysis and follow-up. Entities audited are required to submit corrective action plans within 15 days of receiving findings. The DGCA will closely monitor the implementation of these plans. The regulator has deployed multidisciplinary audit teams led by senior officials and supported by subject matter experts drawn from various domains within aviation. These teams are conducting rigorous inspections. The primary focus areas included Safety Management Systems (SMS), operational efficiency, adherence to regulatory frameworks, and crew and resource management protocols. According to officials, the audit was triggered by a range of factors, including aviation accidents, serious incidents, recurring non-compliance issues, as well as findings flagged by the ICAO. The process will unfold in three stages: a pre-audit phase lasting five to seven days, a three-to-five-day on-site audit, and a post-audit period of ten to fifteen days for analysis and follow-up. Findings from these audits will be classified, including Level 1 for immediate safety risks, Level 2 for significant but non-critical issues, and a third category for long-term observations. Entities audited are required to submit Corrective Action Plans (CAPs) within 15 days of receiving findings. The DGCA will closely monitor the implementation of these plans. The DGCA has made it clear that failure to comply with audit recommendations could attract penalties such as suspension of operations or even cancellation of licences in cases of violation of safety norms. MAPUTO, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Mozambican President Daniel Chapo unveiled an eight-year strategic plan on Monday, aiming to transform the country's National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) into a modern force capable of tackling sophisticated criminal networks, both domestic and transnational. Speaking at the launch of the SERNIC Strategic Plan 2025-2033 in Maputo, the country's capital, Chapo described the initiative as "a historic and transformative step" toward strengthening the justice system and safeguarding national security. The plan focuses on four main pillars: technological and scientific modernization of criminal investigations; institutional strengthening and continuous training of staff; effective action against organized, transnational, and economic-financial crime; and building public trust in the justice system. Chapo stressed that corruption remains one of Mozambique's most pressing threats, highlighting the regional and global nature of the crime. "We urge all national and foreign citizens, residents, and visitors to share relevant information that can help prevent and clarify crimes in Mozambique," he said. The strategic plan aligns with Mozambique's National Development Strategy 2025-2044, the government's five-year program for 2025-2029, and international treaties to which the country is a signatory. According to Chapo, its successful implementation will require "integrated, collaborative, and swift" approaches to address threats ranging from terrorism to cybercrimes and environmental offenses. The president also reaffirmed his government's commitment to institutional reform and to "continuing to work with national and international partners to ensure peace, justice, and security," which he described as essential for Mozambique's sustainable development. Ranchi, Aug 11 : The rising waters of the Ganga have triggered a flood crisis in Jharkhand's Sahibganj, submerging large parts of the district headquarters and forcing authorities to shut all schools on Monday and Tuesday. Ranchi, Aug 11 (IANS) The rising waters of the Ganga have triggered a flood crisis in Jharkhandas Sahibganj, submerging large parts of the district headquarters and forcing authorities to shut all schools on Monday and Tuesday. At 6 a.m. on Monday, the riveras water level was recorded at 28.62 metres -- 1.37 metres above the danger mark of 27.25 metres -- and is steadily approaching the High Flood Level. Around the riverfront, entire localities have been inundated, with flood waters entering 11 of the 28 municipal wards. Officials estimate that nearly 1,500 houses have been flooded, with Ward No 13 (Habibpur) and Ward No. 22 (Chanan village) worst affected. Several other wards, including 2, 3, 4, 7, 11, 17, 18, 23, and 24, are also under water. Deputy Commissioner Hemant Sati has urged residents of the Diara area to move to safer places, where food, water, and medical aid are available. Authorities have issued helpline numbers -- 9006963963, 9631155933, and 9065370630 -- for assistance. Residents have been warned to stay away from river banks, avoid flood zones, and keep essentials on higher ground. Relief work is underway, with cattle fodder being distributed to prevent shortages in rural pockets. In Bharatiya Colony, floodwater has reached waist height, prompting many residents to take refuge in AMK Badi Dharamshala. Education has been disrupted across several schools now underwater. In another incident on Monday, a massive landslide occurred at Babhanbai Hill, about 3 km from Hazaribagh town. A large section of the hill collapsed amid heavy rain, sending hundreds of tonnes of soil and rock tumbling down. Fortunately, no casualties were reported. The hill is located just 500 metres from the densely populated Babhanbai village. Area residents, unaccustomed to such events in this plateau region, compared the sight to landslides in the Himalayan states. Experts say years of stone mining -- previously permitted by the government -- along with incessant rainfall, may have loosened the hillas soil, triggering the collapse. The administration has cordoned off the area as a precaution and placed the disaster management team on alert. Geologists have called the incident a warning, urging long-term measures for hill conservation to prevent future risks. Kolkata, Aug 11 : The scheduled rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi this month at Dum Dum in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district located on the northern outskirts of Kolkata is likely to be postponed by two days, a BJP leader said on Monday. "Initially, the Dum Dum rally was scheduled on August 20. However, since the ongoing monsoon session of the Parliament will continue till August 21, the Prime Minister will be busy in Delhi till that date. So a fresh proposal has been sent from the Bengal unit of BJP to fix August 22 as the date of the Dum Dum rally. However, this is subject to final clearance from the Prime Minister's Office," said a state committee member of the party. Already, the West Bengal unit of the BJP has presented a plan to the party's central leadership for five public meetings by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the state during the remaining five months of the calendar year of 2025, which will mean one meeting per month by the Prime Minister in the state during that period. At the same time, the party has plans to organise a mega central rally at Brigade Parade Ground in central Kolkata in January next year, which will also be addressed by the Prime Minister. The state committee insider further said that the geographical locations of the proposed public meeting of the Prime Minister for the remaining months of the current calendar year will be planned in such a manner that major parts of both South Bengal and North Bengal could be covered. As per the plan, the meetings will be planned at locations at junctures of two or more districts.. Already, the Prime Minister had addressed two public meetings in West Bengal this year, the first being in May at Alipurduar in North Bengal and the second being at the industrial township of Durgapur in West Burdwan district in South Bengal. From both meetings, the Prime Minister launched scathing attacks against the West Bengal government, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and the ruling Trinamool Congress on various issues like rampant corruption, rise in crime against women in the state, and frequent communal tension and riot-like situations in minority-dominated pockets in the state. Bengaluru, Aug 11 : Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka claimed on Monday that Minister for Cooperation K.N. Rajanna was "forced" to resign for speaking the "truth" about the election "fraud". Bengaluru, Aug 11 (IANS) Karnataka Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka claimed on Monday that Minister for Cooperation K.N. Rajanna was "forced" to resign for speaking the "truth" about the election "fraud". "Minister Rajanna has been dropped simply for telling the truth. This is a precursor to the 'October revolution' that is impending within the Congress party in Karnataka," said Ashoka, referring to Minister Rajanna's earlier statement that a revolution was coming within the Congress in the state. He said that the Congress party has an aversion to the truth, adding that they simply cannot tolerate it. "On Sunday, Congress leaders ensured that a complaint was lodged with the high command against Minister Rajanna, demanding his suspension. The election fraud allegations have fallen flat, and Minister Rajanna's remarks on the issue only confirmed that," Ashoka said. He further noted that Minister Rajanna belongs to the ST Valmiki community, alleging that the Congress has betrayed the entire community. "The Congress-led government is already on shaky ground, and the people are waiting for its collapse in the state," Ashoka added. By taking the resignation of Minister Rajanna, the Congress party's true colours over shedding crocodile tears for Rahul Gandhi and Dalits have been exposed, criticised BJP State President and MLA B.Y. Vijayendra. Vijayendra said that Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi had alleged that the BJP came to power at the Centre and Narendra Modi became Prime Minister through a conspiracy by the Election Commission and misuse of the Commission. "We in the BJP had clearly rejected these allegations. Rahul Gandhi, having repeatedly failed to earn the trust of the people in the Lok Sabha elections, made these accusations, but there is no truth in them," he pointed out. Vijayendra noted that Rajanna had stated that LoP Rahul Gandhi's allegations against the Election Commission were not correct and that such irregularities had occurred during the Congress government itself. "Unable to tolerate the truth, the Congress high command unconditionally took the resignation of senior minister Rajanna, who belongs to the oppressed class. This is definitely not right," he criticised. Earlier, Minister for Cooperation K.N. Rajanna submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Sources said that Siddaramaiah was making last-minute efforts with the party high command to retain him. However, the high command did not accept any explanation from Siddaramaiah and is reportedly upset over Rajanna's remarks on the election "fraud" issue raised by LoP Rahul Gandhi. New Delhi, Aug 11 : India is the country with the second-highest share of employees (34 per cent) strongly feeling that AI would positively impact their jobs, a report said on Monday. Egypt led the global optimism chart with 36 per cent of employees feeling the same. Only 17 per cent of Indians thought AI would replace their jobs. Japan and Sweden had the lowest optimism at 4 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively, according to a report from ADP research. In Europe, 11 per cent of respondents thought AI would improve their job next year, while 13 per cent in North America, 16 per cent in APAC, 19 per cent in Latin America, and 27 per cent in the Middle East and Africa reported the same. ADP Research surveyed 38,000 working adults on six continents. As much as 30 per cent of respondents believed they could be replaced and were actively seeking new jobs. Around 16 per cent felt they could be replaced but have not started job hunting. "AI is reshaping how we work and how employees feel about the future of their jobs," said Rahul Goyal, MD, ADP India and Southeast Asia. "Knowledge workers and mid-career professionals in India are hopeful about AI's potential to improve their jobs in the future. Despite growing optimism, concerns around job replacement persist, particularly among the younger professionals. Employers must support upskilling in AI with open, transparent dialogue to build trust," Goyal added. Globally, 17 per cent of employees "strongly agree" and 13 per cent "agree" that AI will improve their jobs next year, the report said, adding that 10 per cent were worried about being replaced. Around 44 per cent of respondents were unsure about how AI would affect their jobs. Employees in technology services, banking, insurance, and information sectors largely had a positive outlook on AI's impact but expressed higher concerns about being replaced. In the Asia-Pacific region, 22 per cent of employees from these sectors expect AI to improve their jobs over the next year. New Delhi, Aug 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Ghana served as an opportunity to revive and recalibrate bilateral ties. His visit to Ghana, the first by an Indian leader in over 30 years, held a strong economic and strategic orientation. Ghana has positioned itself as a partner in sectors where India has a comparative advantage like pharmaceuticals. More than 26 per cent of generic medicines in Africa are sourced from India and the Food and Drugs Authority's (Ghanaas regulator of pharmaceutical standards) listing of foreign pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities largely comprise Indian companies, India Narrative said in a report. With Ghana wanting to have training, equipment and security engagement with India in response to increasing threats from the Sahel and coastal piracy, defence cooperation was also on the agenda during PM Modi's visit to Accra. The emphasis on shared security interests is demonstrated by Ghanaas alignment with India on counter-terrorism. Ghana President John Mahama had condemned the terrorist attack that took place in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22. Economic ties, however, remain at the heart of this renewed engagement between India and Ghana, the report said. Currently, the bilateral trade between two nations stands at around USD three billion. Leaders of both nations aim to double the bilateral trade to USD six billion over the next five years. Presently, Ghana has trade surplus with India, particularly due to gold exports, which account for more than 70 per cent of its shipments. Ghana imports pharmaceuticals, machinery, vehicles, and various industrial goods from India while cocoa, timber and cashew nuts are its key exports. India has invested over USD two billion in Ghana, with investments spanning concessional finance, private capital and grants across 900 projects, the report mentioned. India is ranked among top investors in Ghana and state-backed institutions and companies of India play an important part in critical infrastructure development. Ghana serves as an entry point for India into West Africa's resource landscape. Having reserves of lithium, gold, bauxite and manganese, Ghana is positioned to contribute to India's requirement for critical minerals. According to the report, Ghana President Mahama's invitation for investment in mineral extraction and processing coincides with India's National Critical Mineral Mission. With nearly USD 100 billion in trade, total investments of about USD 75 billion and a strong diaspora of 3.5 billion, India's Africa policy is characterised by a pragmatic and issue-based approach. During his address in the Ghana Parliament, PM Modi talked about development cooperation that is demand driven and focused on developing local capacity and creating local opportunities. The approach of "to not just invest, but empower" shows India's intention to have ties in mutual agency instead of dependency. Mumbai, Aug 11 : Former actress Sonu Walia, who is known for 'Khoon Bhari Maang', 'Dil Aashna Hai' and others, is celebrating 42 years of her journey. On Monday, Sonu took to her Instagram, and shared a picture of herself from her 1st modelling assignment. In the picture, she can be seen playing Israj. She also penned a long note in the caption in which she spoke about her first gig. She wrote, "11th August 1983, the first modelling job I landed at Mitter Bedi's studio right behind the Taj. Calendar shoot for a pharmaceutical company. I earned 1500 rupees which was enough to pay for a month of my PG digs and food. Hence started my modelling career for a girl who came to Mumbai with 4000 rs in her pocket ( saved from fashion shows with Hemant Trivedi) and stars in her eyes". She further mentioned, "This shoot validated my decision to move from Delhi (where I was studying) to this big beautiful city of opportunity! A decision I never regretted. Modelling and winning the Miss India pageant in 1985 followed. 11th August 1988, 5 years later, Khoon Bhari Maang released and changed my life forever. Its been 37 years now since its release and I think I am known more as Nandini than my birth name ever since. with people actually telling me, 'Oh it released 7 years ago'. That's the freshness and appeal I guess for which the credit goes to my director Rakesh Roshan". "Guess I'm feeling a wee bit nostalgic about this day, I just wanted to share where it really started from. Have a great week everyone. May you all realise your dreams in this lifetime", she added. Sonu, who is a psychology graduate and a student of journalism, took up modelling and she entered the Miss India contest winning the title and represented India at the 1985 edition of Miss Universe. Kolkata, Aug 11 : The bodies of three females including two minors were recovered from railway tracks adjacent to Suisa railway station of Muri-Chandil branch of South Eastern Railway in West Bengal's Purulia district, an official said on Monday. The police said that the bodies were detected in the early hours of Monday morning by the driver of a freight train. As soon as he spotted the bodies on the tracks, he stopped the train. Soon, Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel was informed who rushed to the spot. They recovered the bodies and sent them to Deben Mahata Government Medical College and Hospital in Purulia town. The police are yet to identify the bodies and also, the exact reasons are yet to be ascertained. The police are investigating whether someone dumped the bodies on the tracks or they fell from a passenger train. Purulia Superintendent of Police Avijit Banerjee reached the spot after learning about the incident. "The matter is being investigated. We are looking at all possible angles. The cause of death will be ascertained once we get the post mortem reports," said the police officer. Sources said, the matter is probably a case of murder. The women were probably killed somewhere else and the bodies were dumped on railway tracks too make it look like a case of suicides or train accident. The police however looking at the incident seriously. Sniffer dogs were brought in to the spot. "What is most striking is that these are all female bodies. This makes the case very interesting. Among them two are minors. Chances are they belong to the same family. But nothing concrete can be said at this moment as the process of identifying the bodies are going on at present," said a police source. He further said that there is another possibility that a murder might have been committed in neighbouring Jharkhand and the bodies were dumped in West Bengal as Purulia shares the border with the neighbouring state. Phnom Penh, Aug 11 : A Cambodian defence spokesperson said on Monday that the planned military action announced by Lt. Gen. Boonsin Padklang, Commander of Thailand's 2nd Army Region, is a violation of a ceasefire reached by both countries. Boonsin reportedly announced on Sunday the action to seize the Ta Krobey temple and to close the Ta Moan Thom temple. Cambodian Defence Ministry's Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata said, "This statement constitutes an undeniable evidence of the provocative and premeditated attempt to invade Cambodia's sovereignty and territorial integrity," Xinhua News Agency reported. The above-mentioned action amounts to a violation of the ceasefire agreement reached during the special meeting on July 28, and the spirit of the extraordinary meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) held on August 7 in Malaysia, she added. Socheata said during this GBC extraordinary meeting, Cambodia and Thailand agreed that both parties must not move their troops, including refraining from patrolling beyond their current positions. "Cambodia emphasises its firm stand on peaceful resolution, and adheres to the principle of peace and strictly implements the ceasefire agreement," she said. "Cambodia hopes that Thailand will also uphold this principle with sincerity to resolve the border dispute so as to restore peace for the peoples of both countries. Last week, the Thai Army said three Thai soldiers were injured in a landmine explosion 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 am local time on Saturday, 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. Bengaluru, Aug 11 : Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday said that the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, will not take the oath as asked by the State Election Commission. "We are not schoolboys to reply to whatever EC asks. It is their (EC) responsibility to get them. My leader (LoP Rahul Gandhi) has exhibited in public. He has given a presentation. EC has already got it," said the Deputy Chief Minister. Shivakumar further said that the Congress has asked the EC for more information, records. "First, let them provide those records. We have asked them officially. I myself went to the Election Commission, and let them give the record. At no point, LoP Rahul Gandhi take an oath or answer to it. He has answered the EC in public," Shivakumar underlined. The Deputy Chief Minister said that Congress has already informed the EC about what went wrong in the elections, adding that it is the EC's responsibility to resolve these issues and take action as per the law. "If we have said anything wrong, let the Election Commission file a case against us. We have only pointed out what irregularities took place during the election process. We have stated that mistakes have occurred. We are not schoolchildren. Rahul Gandhi has informed the entire country about everything. When we met the Chief Electoral Officer of Karnataka, he told us that they had investigated the allegations made by Rahul Gandhi," he said. He claimed that LoP Rahul Gandhi is fighting to protect the country's democracy and to ensure justice for everyone, adding that his struggle is to see that not even a single vote is misused and that no political party engages in malpractice. When asked about the notice issued to him by the Commission, Shivakumar said, "I have asked the Commission for some information. They have not yet given it to me. They sent it to me on WhatsApp, but I have not gone through it yet. Whatever they want, we will provide. We will submit everything that our research team has investigated. Even the media has reported facts from places where irregularities occurred, including house numbers and details of the residents." "Even the Dy CM of Bihar reportedly has two EPIC numbers, as stated by Bihar's Tejashwi Yadav. Can't the Election Commission look into this? Don't they have responsibility? There have been many such mistakes. We will continue our fight on this matter," he said. He added that if giving wrong information is a reason for the Election Commission to file a case, then let them file it. "We have only informed the people of this country about what has happened. The media, which is the fourth pillar of democracy, must also create more and more awareness among the people on this issue," he said. Earlier, Shivakumar said that the State Election Commission has no authority to issue such a notice to Rahul Gandhi. The notice was issued to Rahul Gandhi on Sunday and asked him to provide the necessary documents to inquire into allegations made in his press conference in Delhi on August 7, along with the oath that he is not providing false information, and he is aware that providing false information is a punishable offence. Pune, Aug 11 : At least seven women devotees lost their lives and several others were injured when a pick-up truck carrying them to the Kundeshwar Shiva temple fell into a 25-30 feet deep gorge in Khed taluka of Pune district, Maharashtra, on Monday, officials said. The victims, all from Papalwadi, were on their way for darshan when the vehicle overturned in the ghat area and plunged into the valley. While seven women died on the spot, the injured were rushed to the rural hospital in Paith and other nearby medical facilities. Local residents rushed to the site to assist in rescue operations before police and emergency teams arrived. The local administration and emergency services provided assistance to the injured persons and shifted them to the hospital. DCP Shivaji Pawar of Pimpri-Chinchwad Police confirmed that several women and children were among the injured. He said at least 25 to 35 people are injured in the accident, and some of them are critical. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the incident, extending condolences to the bereaved families and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. He announced an ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh each from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) for the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 for each injured person. "Saddened by the loss of lives due to an accident in Pune, Maharashtra. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in the mishap. May the injured recover soon. An ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000," a post on PMO said. Khed Police have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident. NAIROBI, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) issued a policy note in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Sunday, reiterating the call to register all African children at birth to boost their protection and secure a brighter future for them. The policy note commemorates the 8th Africa Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Day (CRVS), which is marked annually on Aug. 10. UNICEF stressed that birth registration is a fundamental right for every child. The Sustainable Development Goal 16.9 calls for the provision of a legal identity for all, but in sub-Saharan Africa, nearly half of all children under five remain unregistered at birth, UNICEF said. "With Africa expected to account for one-third of all global births by 2050 -- achieving universal birth registration is both a rights imperative and a demographic necessity," the agency observed. So far, African countries that have achieved over 90 percent birth registration coverage include Algeria, Botswana, and Sierra Leone, and in terms of regions, the coverage in Southern Africa is 88 percent, followed by 63 percent in West Africa and 41 percent in Eastern and Central Africa, according to UNICEF. UNICEF recommended embedding birth registration into the broader public service ecosystem, including health, education, and social protection, to ensure continuous registration of children. The UN agency also proposed digitization to streamline and expand registration in hard-to-reach areas, as well as community engagement, legal reforms, improved governance, and grassroots awareness campaigns, in order to ensure that every African child is registered at birth. Mumbai, Aug 11 : The BJP on Monday sharply criticised Shiv Sena (UBT) for the party's protest demanding the removal of tainted ministers from the BJP-led MahaYuti government in Maharashtra. Revenue Minister and former state unit chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule targeted Uddhav Thackeray and claimed, "Who is the leader of extortionists? The public knows. What's more, in the Assembly elections, the people of Maharashtra have clearly shown who is the 'Chief Minister' and who is the 'Thief Minister.' "Is Waze some kind of Laden (Osama Bin Laden)? The public hasn't forgotten that under your leadership, a hundred crore extortion racket was running by placing gelatin outside industrialists' homes." "So, before criticising respected Devendra ji, recall your own past and think before you speak," remarked Bawankule in his post on X. "As for the rest, Maharashtra has seen your worth in the last row of the INDIA alliance. Even today, you didn't join the protests in Delhi because you'd have to stand in the last row, and instead, you staged a protest here with a few claps. While Rahul Gandhi's protest was going on there, you tried in vain to draw attention by setting up your own separate stove. "Uddhav ji, when you were Chief Minister, you had strangled democracy and morality. Before pointing fingers at an honest leader like Devendra, you should look at yourself in the mirror. Devendra Fadnavis' work is not just about a corruption-free Maharashtra but also about providing a stable, development-oriented, and transparent administration. The people of Maharashtra have full faith in CM Devendra's leadership. They are fed up with you," said Bawankule. On the other hand, BJP legislator Atul Bhatkhalkar attacked Thackeray saying that the people of Mumbai were laughing at him for staging a protest against him, especially when during the Shiv Sena rule in the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation several cases of corruption including Mithi river clean up, 'khichadi' distribution during the Coronavirus, among others, were reported. "During two-and-half years of chief ministership, Uddhav Thackeray did not visit Mantralaya but operated from home. Now he has hit the streets against corruption. Tell the people, why did you not come to Mantralaya in two-and-half years. "The sitting chief minister (Devendra Fadnavis) enacted the Lok Ayukta legislation to include the chief minister in it, but you and your party opposed it. Why did you oppose that provision? So those who have looted BMC for 15 years are now protesting against the corruption. The citizens of Mumbai are laughing at you," he claimed. Wayanad/Thrissur, Aug 11 : In an unusual turn of events, the police in Kerala have received formal complaints alleging that two sitting Members of Parliament -- Wayanad Lok Sabha MP Priyanka Gandhi and Thrissur MP and Union Minister Suresh Gopi -- have been "missing" from their respective constituencies. The latest complaint was lodged with the Wayanad District Police Chief by BJP Scheduled Caste Morcha State President Mukundan Palliyar. The complaint claims that Priyanka Gandhi has not been seen in her constituency for the past three months. The petition notes that the Wayanad Lok Sabha MP from Congress was absent from the site of a recent landslide disaster in the district, which claimed multiple lives, and has also been missing from public discussions on tribal issues. The complainant urged police to "find and produce" the Wayanad MP. The complaint against Priyanka Gandhi was filed on Monday in response to one filed against Suresh Gopi by the Kerala Students Union (KSU) Thrissur District President Gokul Guruvayoor. This was lodged at the Guruvayoor East Police Station, which alleges that the actor-turned-politician has been absent from his constituency since the arrest of nuns in Chhattisgarh. It also called for identifying "who is behind" Union Minister Suresh Gopi's disappearance. The issue gained further traction after Orthodox Church Thrissur Diocese head Yuhanon Mar Meletheos posted on social media that "the actor we sent to Delhi is missing". But Suresh Gopi broke his silence. In a Facebook post, the BJP Thrissur MP shared photos of himself in his Delhi office meeting officials from the Petroleum Ministry, as part of preparations for a Rajya Sabha debate. The social media post appeared, aimed at countering the criticism, implicitly addressing both the police complaint and the social media jibes. Meanwhile, Kerala Education Minister V. Sivankutty joined the fray with a sarcastic remark, repeatedly asking "Where is the Thrissur MP?" His comment added to the political drama swirling around the issue. While "missing MP" complaints are rare, the back-to-back petitions against two high-profile parliamentarians have stirred a mix of political theatrics, public debate, and social media banter, highlighting the deep political divides and high expectations that MPs remain visible in their constituencies, especially during crisis. New Delhi, Aug 11 : Foresters, policymakers, civil society and wildlife experts will exchange ideas on elephant conservation strategies and conflict resolution as part of the World Elephant Day celebrations in Coimbatore on Tuesday, an official said. The event is being organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, to reaffirm the global commitment to conserve elephants, the official said. The annual event reaffirms the global commitment to conserve one of the planetas most iconic species - the elephant - and to strengthen measures to ensure their long-term survival. India is home to nearly 60 per cent of the worldas wild elephant population, with 33 Elephant Reserves and 150 identified Elephant Corridors as per the 2023 Report on Elephant Corridors in India, said a statement. With robust legal protection, strong institutional frameworks, and widespread public support, the country is recognised worldwide as a leader in reconciling human welfare with wildlife conservation, it said. Elephants are accorded the status of National Heritage Animal and are deeply embedded in the countryas traditions and culture. Tamil Nadu, known for its biological and cultural richness, sustains a significant population of elephants and plays a vital role in mitigating human-elephant conflict. The Coimbatore event will serve as a platform for foresters, policymakers, civil society representatives, and wildlife experts to exchange ideas on conservation strategies and conflict resolution. The event will be inaugurated by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav in the presence of Union Minister of State Kriti Vardhan Singh and R. S. Rajakannappan, Minister for Forests and Khadi, Government of Tamil Nadu. Senior officials from MoEF&CC, the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, the Ministry of Railways, and other states will also participate. A focused workshop on Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) will also be organised in Coimbatore to provide a platform for elephant range states to share their challenges related to human-elephant coexistence and discuss the mitigation measures being implemented in their respective regions, said an official statement. This initiative aligns with ongoing efforts under Project Elephant, which emphasises community participation and scientific approaches to address conflicts between humans and elephants, a critical concern for conservation and local safety. The workshop comes at a time when incidents of elephants straying into human settlements in search of food and water have risen, necessitating innovative solutions and cooperation among states. Experts, policymakers, conservationists, and forest officials will deliberate on best practices, ranging from habitat management and corridor maintenance to awareness generation and capacity building in high-conflict areas. This collaborative approach seeks to balance wildlife conservation with human welfare, fostering long-term coexistence between communities and elephants. A nationwide awareness programme will be initiated, engaging approximately 12 lakh school children from about 5,000 schools, underscoring the extensive public outreach and commitment to elephant conservation, said the statement. Vadnagar, Aug 11 : Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited the heritage city of Vadnagar to review the progress of key state and Central government development projects aimed at transforming the town into a major tourism hub. A highlight of the visit was the inspection of the Rs 17-crore Multi-Modal Transportation Hub and public plaza under construction opposite Vadnagar Railway Station. The facility, designed to connect the station with the townas major heritage attractions, will offer parking, an amphitheatre, a food plaza, rest areas, cafes, and landscaped pathways. Plans also include planting over 2,000 trees in the surrounding area. The Chief Minister directed officials to ensure high-quality work and better coordination between the Railways and the state Tourism Department to complete the project on schedule. Under the Centreas Swadesh Darshan scheme, Vadnagaras key sites a" including Sharmishtha Lake, Tana-Riri Park, Latery Stepwell, Ambaji Kotha Lake, the fort wall, and surrounding ponds a" are also undergoing upgrades to enhance the tourist experience. CM Patel noted that these developments align with Prime Minister Narendra Modias vision for Vadnagar, his birthplace, as a world-class heritage destination. During the site visit, Tourism Secretary Dr. Rajendra Kumar briefed the Chief Minister on the projectas progress. The review was attended by MLA K.K. Patel, Tourism Commissioner Prabav Joshi, Pilgrimage Development Board Secretary Ramesh Merja, Mehsana District Collector S.K. Prajapati, DDO Dr. Hasrat Jasmine, and other senior officials from the Tourism Department. Vadnagar holds immense historic and political significance as one of Indiaas oldest continuously inhabited settlements, dating back over 2,500 years. It was an important center of trade and culture in ancient times, featuring prominently in Buddhist and Jain histories. Politically, Vadnagar gained renewed prominence as the birthplace of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, linking its rich heritage with contemporary national leadership. The townas archaeological sites, ancient stepwells, and fortifications reflect its storied past, making Vadnagar a symbol of Indiaas enduring civilization and evolving democracy. Bilaspur, Aug 11 : In a vibrant blend of patriotism and empowerment, the women of Chhattisgarh's Bihan Yojana have taken on the task of stitching more than 1.5 lakh tricolour flags under the Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan, as part of the nationwide Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations. This initiative is not only helping ignite the spirit of nationalism but is also significantly strengthening the financial conditions of these rural women. Bilaspur, Aug 11 (IANS) In a vibrant blend of patriotism and empowerment, the women of Chhattisgarhas Bihan Yojana have taken on the task of stitching more than 1.5 lakh tricolour flags under the Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan, as part of the nationwide Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations. This initiative is not only helping ignite the spirit of nationalism but is also significantly strengthening the financial conditions of these rural women. At the Nari Shakti Garment Factory in Ganiyari, located in Bilaspur district, more than 100 women from 30 Self-Help Groups (SHGs) associated with Bihan Yojana are actively engaged in crafting the national flag. These women, known locally as "Bihan Didis," are pouring their skills and dedication into every piece, seeing it not merely as an assignment but as a sacred duty to the nation. "We are proud to be a part of this holy work. It connects us directly to the service of the country," said one of the women. "The Har Ghar Tiranga campaign has given us more than income - it has given us pride," said another group member. This large-scale production is part of the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, which encourages citizens to hoist the tricolour at homes, offices, and shops from August 13 to 15, to commemorate India's independence. The demand for the flags has surged across the country, and the Bihan Didis are rising to the occasion. Santoshi Sahe, PRP of the Nari Shakti Garment Factory Cluster, shared that multiple government and private institutions have placed bulk orders for the tricolour. "The Didis are working tirelessly to meet the growing demand. From cutting fabric to stitching, pressing, and packing, every step is being done by the women themselves. Not only are they earning daily wages, but their confidence and self-reliance are also growing with every flag they complete," Sahe said. The work has become a symbol of both patriotism and progress, offering women a sense of purpose beyond economic gain. The income generated through the campaign has helped many households and has given rural women a sense of pride in contributing to the national cause. District Panchayat CEO Sandeep Agarwal said that, like the previous year, the responsibility of flag production has been entrusted to these women once again. "The tricolours are being sold at affordable prices through stalls set up by the groups at the district panchayat premises. I appeal to all residents to hoist the tricolour at their homes and participate in this movement of national pride," Agarwal said. He emphasised that the campaign is not just about celebrating Independence Day, but also about empowering women and recognising their contribution to society. Jerusalem, Aug 11 : With global shipping lanes facing rising threats, including Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, escalating instability in Gaza and Lebanon, the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) has become a strategic alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a report cited on Monday. Jerusalem, Aug 11 (IANS) With global shipping lanes facing rising threats, including Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, escalating instability in Gaza and Lebanon, the Indiaa"Middle Easta"Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) has become a strategic alternative to China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a report cited on Monday. Announced during the G20 Summit held under India's Presidency in 2023, the IMEC is a comprehensive geo-economic blueprint with a goal to reshape the flow of goods, energy, and data between Asia and Europe. IMEC, reported The Jerusalem Post, holds the potential to emerge as a transformative initiative for Israel as it not only increases connectivity but also redefines its strategic relevance between Asia and Europe. Israel, it said, must position itself not merely as a transit point but as an active regional contributor in defence and technological innovation, "The IMEC initiative for Israel serves both as an opportunity and a complex set of security challenges. Israel finds itself at the centre of a new geostrategic vision with a goal to redefine trade routes connecting Asia and Europe... With support from India, the US, the Gulf states, the European Union and Israel, IMEC is seen as a Western-led alternative to China's enhancing sphere of influence. IMEC wants to promote high-speed land-based freight transit, green energy corridors, and next-generation digital connectivity infrastructure," Lauren Dagan Amos, a member of Forum Dvorah, which promotes women in Israelas foreign and defence policy community, wrote in opinion piece titled 'IMEC and Israel: Strategic promise amid regional instability' in The Jerusalem Post. Israel, the report mentioned, aims to gain through its central role as a Western anchor of the corridor, using strategic assets like Port of Haifa, the Valley Railway, and planned integration into regional electricity and data infrastructure while its positioning increases Israel's exposure to security threats from state and non-state actors. Israel's inclusion in IMEC, wrote Dvorah, is driven by geographic location and its emerging role as a regional partner, bolstered by the Abraham Accords and its participation in the I2U2 Forum, a grouping of India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States. IMEC's geo-economic promise includes a 40 per cent decrease in transit duration, lower transportation costs and direct connection between Gulf ports and Haifa, enabling smooth rail and maritime transit to European markets. However, the deteriorating regional security environment has resulted in civilian and commercial infrastructure becoming high-value targets, raising significant concerns regarding investment risk. The conflict in Gaza, Hezbollah's missile threats in Israel and Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea since 2023 have severely impacted regional stability and confidence of investors in the IMEC. Strikes on commercial vessels, especially in the Bab el-Mandab Straita"have forced shipping firms to reroute through the Cape of Good Hope, adding one more week in transit and approximately USD one million in fuel costs per voyage. These disruptions have caused a reduction of estimated 20 per cent in global shipping capacity and rise in insurance premiums. "Hezbollah's attacks on northern Israel have showcased Port of Haifa's vulnerability, considering its role as the western terminus of IMEC and has contributed to a growing preference among shipping firms for alternative routes. Apart from facing security threats, the IMEC initiative faces regional opposition with Turkey considering IMEC as a geopolitical rival that challenges its strategic position and has started advancing a competing corridor through Iraq. Egypt fears that it might see reduction in revenue from the Suez Canal," the report detailed. Israel, the writer emphasised, due to the complex environment, needs to develop a comprehensive, multi-layered security framework that includes close strategic coordination with India and Saudi Arabia, especially regarding the protection of critical infrastructure like ports, railways, and energy corridors. Bhopal, Aug 11 : In a shocking incident, which exposed the picture of law and order in the state, a gang of five to six armed men looted a branch of ESAF Small Finance Bank in the Khitola area of Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur district on Monday. Masked men arrived on separate bikes, entered the bank premises and, brandishing pistols, executed the robbery in broad daylight. The incident unfolded between 9:30 to 10 am at a branch of the Isaaf Small Finance Bank located near the National Highway in Sihora and Khitauli crossing. Initial reports suggested the robbers stole approximately 10 kg of gold and Rs. 6 lakh cash. However, police said that the assessment of gold and cash can be more as the investigations are underway. Following the incident, Khitauli and Sihora police teams arrived at the scene and commenced investigations. An official said that the CCTV footage from the bank and the surrounding areas is being examined. However, the direction of the robbers' escape remains unknown. This sensational robbery has raised serious questions about law and order in the city. Sources said that miscreants decamped with nearly 10 kg of gold and around Rs 6 lakh in cash, though police have not confirmed the exact figures. "A probe is being carried out, and CCTV cameras are being scanned. The exact amount of gold or cash that was robbed is not clear yet," CSP Sihora, Aditya Singh said. Singh added that the initial investigation is underway, adding that an extensive search has been initiated and all police stations have been alerted. "Multiple teams have been deployed, and the accused persons will be arrested as soon as possible," Singh added. Bengaluru, Aug 11 : K.N. Rajanna, a close aide of Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, has been removed from the Council of Ministers following instructions from Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot. Rajanna, who was the State Cooperation Minister, was asked to submit his resignation after his remark alleging voter fraud during the tenure of the current Congress-led Karnataka government. R. Prabhushankar, Special Secretary to Karnataka Governor, on Monday has confirmed the development in his letter addressed to Shalini Rajaneesh, Karnataka Chief Secretary. The letter said, "I am directed to forward here with the original notification signed by the Governor for removal of K.N. Rajanna, Cooperation Minister, from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect, for further necessary action." Earlier, Karnataka Congress Spokesperson and veteran leader Ramesh Babu has confirmed that Minister Rajanna's resignation has been accepted by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, though the reason for it is not yet known. Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha, Ramesh Babu said, "As per the instructions given by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Minister Rajanna has tendered his resignation. The resignation has already been accepted. We have to see for what reason his resignation was sought." "We don't know the reason yet. The All India Congress Committee (AICC) or the Chief Minister will have to confirm it. We are not sure. So far, neither the AICC nor the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) has made any official statement regarding the reason for his resignation. We are waiting," he added. "Once we receive communication from the AICC or the PCC, we will be able to share the information. It is true that he (K.N. Rajanna) has submitted his resignation and that the Chief Minister has accepted it," he said. Minister Rajanna had earlier directly challenged Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and even said in Delhi that he was ready to take over the post of State Party President from Shivakumar. He had also advocated for a Dalit Chief Minister in case of a change of leadership in the state. Earlier, on August 8, Rajanna had said, "Rahul Gandhi has made statements backed by documents. He is speaking with authority, and we must endorse his statements -- there is no doubt about it. The BJP is well aware of the malpractices. The RSS, the frontal organisation of the BJP, is manipulating everything." "The common people are with us. In the Mahadevapura Assembly constituency, voters have been enrolled without proper addresses. How is that even possible? During the parliamentary election, our government was in power -- we should have been more alert. Instead, we are alert only now. Had we acted earlier, we could have prevented these malpractices," Rajanna added. New Delhi, Aug 11 : BJP leader Baijayant Panda, the chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee that scrutinised the Income Tax Bill 2025, on Monday said, "This new Act will further turbocharge growth by making taxes easy to understand and easy to comply with, thus reducing disputes and litigation." New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) BJP leader Baijayant Panda, the chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee that scrutinised the Income Tax Bill 2025, on Monday said, "This new Act will further turbocharge growth by making taxes easy to understand and easy to comply with, thus reducing disputes and litigation." He congratulated Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on the passage of the modified Income Tax Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha. "The leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has seen the repeal and overhaul of well over 1,500 laws, helping India become the fastest growing and now the 4th-largest economy in the world," he remarked. The Income Tax (No 2) Bill, 2025, was passed shortly after Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the revised Bill, incorporating most of the recommendations made by the Parliamentary Select Committee in the Lok Sabha amid an Opposition uproar. The revised Bill would improve fairness and clarity while aligning the law with existing provisions. The new draft aims to provide lawmakers with a single, updated version that reflects all suggested changes, the Finance Minister explained. FM Sitharaman said that suggestions were received which are required to be incorporated to convey the correct legislative meaning. "There are corrections in the nature of drafting, alignment of phrases, consequential changes and cross-referencing," she said, adding that the earlier Bill was pulled back to avoid confusion. The updated Income Tax Bill 2025 incorporates 285 suggestions from the Parliamentary Select Committee. The new legislation aims to simplify tax processes and address previous shortcomings, potentially reshaping the Income Tax landscape in the country. Last week, the Income Tax Bill, 2025, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha on February 13 to replace the existing Income Tax Act, 1961, was formally withdrawn by the government. According to Panda, who chaired the Parliamentary Select Committee responsible for reviewing the legislation, the new law, once passed, will simplify India's decades-old tax structure, cut down legal confusion, and help individual taxpayers and MSMEs avoid unnecessary litigation. The current Income Tax Act of 1961 has undergone more than 4,000 amendments and contains over 5 lakh words. It has become too complex. The new Bill simplifies that by nearly 50 per cent -- making it far easier for ordinary taxpayers to read and understand, according to Panda. The parliamentary panel had flagged multiple drafting errors and suggested amendments to reduce ambiguity. In the revised Bill, slabs and rates have been changed across the board to benefit all taxpayers. The new structure substantially reduces the taxes of the middle class and leaves more money in their hands, boosting household consumption, savings and investment, according to the government. Mumbai, Aug 11 : Actor Suniel Shetty has turned 64 years old on Monday, and his family decided to shower him with love. Wishing his father on his special day, Ahan Shetty took to his Instagram stories and wrote, "Happy birthday papa. Thank you for your constant and steady support, your quiet wisdom, and the way you've always been there without needing to be asked. I love you @suniel.shetty." The 'Dhadkan' actor's daughter, Athiya Shetty, also penned a lovely birthday wish for her daddy dear, saying, "Happy birthday to the best father and now the best Ajja. We love you sooo much! Thank you for all that you are @suniel. shetty." Suniel's son-in-law, KL Rahul went on to share, "Happy happy birthday Ajja @suniel.shetty keep inspiring us with everything you do. And pls rest more." Last Monday, Suniel and Ahan celebrated Team Indiaas thrilling win over England directly from the Oval stadium in London. Taking to their Instagram accounts, the father and son duo dropped a joint post with photos and videos from the stadium during the winning moment. a2 incredible days at The Oval! What a game and what a win! Come on India, always my India," they captioned the post. Suniel and Ahan traveled to London to witness the match live and lend their support to team Indiaas opener KL Rahul. Team India secured a thrilling 6-run victory against England in the final Test at The Oval, clinching the series. Coming to his professional commitments, Suniel was recently seen as the suspended special investigations officer, Vikram Sinha, in the action-packed series, "Hunter 2". Talking about his role, he revealed that as a father himself, it wasnat hard for him to connect to Vikramas pain. "Revenge becomes personal when itas about your family. Iave always loved action, but action with emotional heft? Thatas another levela"both to perform and to watch," he shared. Up next, Suniel will reprise his iconic role as Shyam in Priyadarshan's "Hera Pheri 3", co-starring Akshay Kumar. KHARTOUM, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) killed more than 40 civilians and wounded dozens in an attack on a displacement camp in the North Darfur city of El Fasher on Monday, local activist groups said. The assault on the Abu Shouk camp included shelling and the execution of people in their homes, the El Fasher Resistance Committees, an anti-war activist group, said in a statement. Another volunteer group, the Abu Shouk Camp Emergency Room, reported at least 40 dead and 19 injured. The attack came as the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and allied factions said they had repelled a major, multi-pronged ground assault by the RSF on the city. The army and its allies claimed to have inflicted heavy losses on the RSF, killing more than 200 fighters and destroying or capturing dozens of combat vehicles. Residents said the fighting began early on Monday with intense RSF shelling on several areas, including the army headquarters and the Abu Shouk camp, before ground assaults began from the city's east, southeast, and north. The RSF did not immediately comment on the allegations. El Fasher, the last major city in the vast Darfur region not under RSF control, has been the epicentre of the conflict since May. The war in Sudan erupted in April 2023 over a power struggle between the SAF and the RSF, devastating the country's infrastructure, killing tens of thousands, displacing millions, and creating a severe humanitarian crisis. Chennai, Aug 11 : Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president and actor Vijay on Monday strongly condemned the detention of several Opposition MPs, including Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, during a protest march in New Delhi. The MPs were detained while marching from Parliament House to the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters, demanding free and fair elections and opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll in Bihar. The march was led by LoP Rahul Gandhi and included members of various INDIA Bloc parties. In a statement issued here, Vijay recalled his earlier remarks made during the launch of the book 'Anaivarukkumana Thalaivar Ambedkar' in December 2024. At that event, he had stressed that safeguarding democracy was vital for the nation's complete development. "To protect democracy, the Constitution must be safeguarded. Every citizen has both a duty and a responsibility in this regard. We have already said that the foundation of democracy is free and fair elections, and that Chief Election Commissioners should be appointed through consensus," he said. The TVK chief pointed out that his party was the first political outfit from Tamil Nadu to raise concerns over the special revision of the electoral roll in Bihar, warning that such measures could potentially undermine democratic rights. "When the SIR in Bihar was announced, we voiced our apprehensions that this move could affect the integrity of the electoral process," he said. Vijay emphasised that elections must be conducted in a manner that inspires public confidence and upholds democratic principles. "As we have consistently stated, the conduct of elections should not only be free and fair but also appear to be so in the eyes of the people. This is the only way to strengthen democracy and protect the rights of citizens," he added. Monday's detention of Opposition MPs in Delhi has triggered sharp reactions from across the political spectrum, with leaders accusing the ruling BJP of stifling dissent and undermining democratic freedoms. The protest march was part of a broader campaign by the Opposition to highlight alleged irregularities in voter lists and demand greater transparency in the electoral process. Chandigarh, Aug 11 : More than 15,000 employees of the Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd and Punjab State Power Transmission Ltd on Monday went on a three-day mass leave under the banner of Bijli Ekta Manch and Punjab State Employees Federation (PSEB) joint forum, pressing for their long-pending demands. The strike will continue until midnight on August 13, impacting residential, industry and agricultural sectors across the state. The employees joined the strike after the meeting with the government failed to yield any outcome on their long-pending demands that include the release of 13 per cent pending dearness allowance, restoration of the old pension scheme, correction of anomalies in pay and pension revisions, besides regularisation of contract staff, and recruitment to nearly 50,000 vacant posts. Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO has appealed to employees of Powercom to end their agitation and return to work in view of the larger public interest, especially at the time of high power demand. The minister emphasised that the uninterrupted power supply is crucial for households, agriculture, and industrial sectors; thus, the agitating employees should resume their duties. He said the prolonged strikes could cause significant hardship to millions of consumers, which should not be suffered at any cost. He assured the employees that the government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has shown utmost sincerity and responsiveness in addressing their concerns. Giving details on recent developments, Harbhajan Singh said a crucial meeting was convened on August 10 in Chandigarh among the PSPCL administration, representatives of the Powercom employees Joint Forum and Bijli Mulazam Ekta Manch, chaired jointly by him and the Finance Minister Harpal Cheema. During the deliberations, the PSPCL administration gave its consent to accept almost all key demands put forth by the employees. The demands include the creation of new posts and filling of existing vacancies, an increase in ex-gratia amount, stoppage recovery in compassionate cases till the final decision, provision of cashless medical facilities to employees, release of pending allowances, clearance of overdue overtime payments for grid substation staff and some cases of pension revisions, said the minister. The government has also promised special attention towards repairing and maintaining PSPCL buildings, he added. "Given that most of the demands have been addressed thus it is now neither fair nor reasonable for employees to continue striking," said the minister. He stressed that the government is committed to the well-being of its employees and is always ready to resolve their issues amicably. --IANS vg/dan Mumbai, Aug 11 : The sword of Raghuji Bhosale, founder of the Nagpur Bhosale dynasty and an important commander in the Maratha army during the reign of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj, which the Maharashtra Government won in an auction, was on Monday taken into custody in London by Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar. This sword will be brought to Mumbai on Monday, 18 August. The aFirangia sword is remarkable for several reasons. Most medieval Maratha weapons lacked decorative embellishment or inscriptions of their makers or owners. This sword is a rare exception, bearing both intricate ornamentation and the owneras name. The presence of its European-made blade further points to the flourishing international arms trade in 18th-century India. News of this historic sword going up for auction broke unexpectedly on 28 April 2025, creating a wave of interest across Maharashtra. As soon as Minister Shelar learned of it, he immediately discussed the matter with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and initiated planning to ensure the sword came into the governmentas possession. By contacting the Indian Embassy and working late into the night, Fadnavis and Shelar established a network for the necessary coordination. Following the CMas instructions, the minister swiftly engaged an intermediary through whom the state government participated in the auction and won the bid, said the release issued by the Minister's office. On Monday, in London, Shelar met in person with the intermediary who had secured the sword on behalf of the Maharashtra government, completed the legal formalities, and took possession of the sword. This marks the first time that the State has acquired a historic artefact from abroad through an auction. Calling it a witness to many glorious feats, Shelar expressed his honour at having the privilege of bringing such a priceless piece into Maharashtraas custody, describing it as a historic victory for the entire state. After completing all legal formalities, the sword will arrive at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, at 10 am on Monday, 18 August. In the presence of Minister Shelar, a bike rally will escort the sword with great fanfare to PL Deshpande Kala Academy, Dadar. On the same day, the programme 'Gad Garjana' will be held in the presence of dignitaries. Raghuji Bhosale I (1695-February 14, 1755) was the founder of the Nagpur Bhosale dynasty and a prominent commander in the Maratha army during Chhatrapati Shahu Maharajas reign. Recognised as one of the most daring Maratha commanders of the 18th century, Raghuji Bhosaleas Nagpur kingdom was rich in iron and copper deposits, used not only for manufacturing goods but also for crafting weapons. The royal weaponry of the Nagpur Bhosales represented a perfect blend of craftsmanship and elegance. In 1817, the Nagpur Bhosales fought the British East India Company at Sitabuldi. Following the Companyas victory, the Bhosale treasury was looted, including many valuable items, jewellery and weapons. After Nagpur was annexed, the British also received tribute and gifts from the Bhosales over time. Experts believe that Raghuji Bhosaleas sword may have left India either as part of the war loot or as a gift to the British. Kochi, Aug 11 : The Kerala government on Monday informed the High Court that it has constituted a committee to examine and regulate ticket charges in cinema halls and multiplex theatres across the state. The submission was made before a division bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking a cap on cinema ticket prices. In the affidavit filed before the court, the state stated that the matter required "a detailed study and discussion" before any policy decision could be finalised. According to the affidavit, multiple rounds of consultations are necessary to address the issue in a fair and comprehensive manner. The government further informed that the newly formed committee would look into all aspects of ticket pricing and develop recommendations to ensure a balanced approach benefiting both theatre owners and the public. The counsel appearing on behalf of the Multiplex Association of India submitted that the committee should engage with all stakeholders, including theatre operators, industry representatives, and consumer groups, before finalising any recommendations. Taking note of the submissions, the court directed the state to file a memo along with the official Government Order constituting the committee by Thursday, which is listed as the next date of hearing. The PIL in question argues that the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution extends beyond mere survival, encompassing the right to live with dignity, which includes access to leisure and cultural activities. The petitioner contends that exorbitant ticket prices restrict access to cinema a" a significant cultural and recreational activity for many a" and therefore violate citizensa constitutional rights. The plea has sought specific directions to the state to prescribe a maximum ticket price and formulate a rational, fair, and transparent framework for regulating cinema charges. The court will review the governmentas submissions on August 14, when further directions are expected regarding the committeeas scope, timeline, and stakeholder engagement process. This move by the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left government comes after a two-day Film Conclave held here early this month, and state Films Minister Saji Cherian had pointed out that the state government is committed to the overall development of the Malayalam film industry. Chennai, Aug 11 : Shruti Haasan, who stars alongside Rajinikanth and Nagarjuna in the highly anticipated film 'Coolie', has opened up about her role as Preeti - a character she describes as quite different from herself, yet deeply relatable in many ways. Chennai, Aug 11 (IANS) Shruti Haasan, who stars alongside Rajinikanth and Nagarjuna in the highly anticipated film 'Coolie', has opened up about her role as Preeti a character she describes as quite different from herself, yet deeply relatable in many ways. "I don't think Preeti is like me at all," Shruti admitted. "But I did connect with certain aspects of her. I believe many women will relate to those parts, and that's what I really liked about the character. Preeti is extremely responsible, extremely focused, and quite inspiring." For Shruti, the role offered an opportunity to portray a kind of quiet strength that is often overlooked but deeply impactful. She believes Preeti represents women whose determination and sense of responsibility rarely make headlines, yet form the backbone of their personal and professional worlds. Known for seamlessly blending commercial appeal with emotional depth, Shruti approaches Preeti with grounded authenticity. She credits the experience of working with industry icons Rajinikanth and Nagarjuna, under the direction of Lokesh Kanagaraj, as both professionally rewarding and personally enriching. "Sharing screen space with such legends and being guided by Lokesh was an incredible learning experience," she said. "It pushed me to explore new facets of my performance." In Coolie, Shruti Preeti adds a layer of emotional depth to the film's high-energy narrative, bringing inspiration and relatability to audiences while complementing the larger-than-life action and drama. With her portrayal, Shruti aims to make Preeti a character who lingers in the audience's minds long after the credits roll. Aizawl, Aug 11 : Mizoram Governor General Vijay Kumar Singh, (Retd) said on Monday that Mizos used to secure important positions in central services and he encouraged students to focus on this area, while urging greater efforts to ensure more Mizos enter central government administration roles. The Governor on Monday visited the stateas Serchhip district and held a series of meetings with heads of government departments, representatives of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Church leaders and ex-servicemen. He also toured the 14 battalion Assam Rifles headquarters, Shalom Special School, and Sainik School in Chhingchhip. Noting that Serchhip district boasts one of the highest literacy rates in India (around 98 per cent), the Governor urged the officials to utilise this strength to sharpen students' skills and prepare them to excel in competitive environments. He emphasised the importance of effectively implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and pointed out that the central government is allocating substantial funds to enhance education. General Singh (Retd) called upon the public to make optimal use of the educational institutions established with central government support, including Eklavya Model Residential Schools, Kendriya Vidyalayas, Sainik Schools and Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas. In his address to the heads of government departments, he lauded numerous commendable initiatives underway in the district and conveyed his expectations and encouraged the officials to exert maximum efforts toward achieving further progress and development. The Governor highlighted various beneficial schemes introduced by the central government for public welfare, advising officials to diligently study and implement them, particularly the special schemes designed for tribal communities, to ensure that deserving beneficiaries receive the intended support. He stressed the significance of promoting food processing and organic farming among farmers as a key focus for future sustainability, calling on department heads to proactively assist farmers without delay. Addressing the issue of drug abuse, he advocated for a unified community effort to combat it effectively and emphasised the need to mobilise all possible resources to protect the youth, the future pillars of the nation, from the dangers of drugs. In his briefing on Serchhip District's profile, administrative framework, and key government initiatives, Deputy Commissioner Paul L. Khuma highlighted the development of the Vantlang Viltu Application, designed to enable citizens to submit complaints to the authorities in a straightforward and expeditious manner. He further noted that MLA Local Area Development Funds have been digitised to facilitate easy viewing of details regarding completed works, funds received, and quantities in possession, in addition to the Jal Jeevan Mission having achieved 100 per cent completion. He reported that the repair and widening works on National Highway-54 (NH-54) have been completed. Under the aBana Kaih (handholding)' policy, 8,845.28 quintals of ginger has been procured, with over Rs 4.20 crore already transferred directly to farmers' bank accounts. Serchhip district Superintendent of Police Gavit Gogna provided an overview of law enforcement efforts, stating that from January to the end of July this year, burglary cases accounted for 41 per cent of recorded crimes, theft 22 per cent, and other cases 37 per cent. He reported four seizures of heroin totaling 127.29 grams, valued at Rs 3.80 lakh. The district currently hosts 647 refugees from Myanmar and 266 from Bangladesh, with biometric enrollment completed for 132 Myanmar refugees. The Governor also met with representatives of NGOs, Church leaders and ex-servicemen and in the afternoon, he visited Sainik School in Chhingchhip. Expressing his delight that Mizoram possesses an excellent Sainik School, the Governor noted that beyond academics, the institution imparts numerous essential life skills, which will significantly aid in the holistic development of the students. Seoul, Aug 11 : South Korean President Lee Jae Myung held phone talks with Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof on Monday and discussed ways to step up their bilateral cooperation in semiconductors and other areas, his office said. During their first phone talks, Schoof congratulated Lee on his inauguration and expressed hope that the friendly ties between the two countries will deepen with the launch of the new administration, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said in a written briefing, Yonhap News Agency reported. Lee called for active communication at all levels to advance their ties as strategic partners in the semiconductor sector. The two sides also stressed the strengthening partnership of the two countries in recent years in areas such as trade, investment, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, and agreed to further expand their exchanges. Earlier on August 8, South Korea's industry minister said that the government has launched a task force (TF) aimed at establishing a next-generation power grid that will use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve efficiency in the power supply. The task force was formed after President Lee Jae Myung called last week for efforts to create an intelligent power grid that connects the entire nation with optimal power generation, storage and consumption, according to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Yonhap News Agency reported. The TF comprises relevant government agencies, including the finance, industry, science and land ministries, as well as public entities, such as the Korea Electric Power Corp. and the Korea Power Exchange. The envisioned next-generation power grid will make use of AI technology to effectively supply renewable energy without the massive construction of new infrastructure amid soaring demand for electricity sparked by technological development, the ministry explained. It will also promote efficient power use and enhance the country's power security, the ministry added. "We are now in an era where the electricity determines survival, and to supply cheaper and cleaner power with stability, we need a next-generation power grid utilising AI technology," said Second Vice Industry Minister Lee Ho-hyeon, who heads the new task force. "By building dense, small-scale local power grids and connecting them, we will redesign our national power grid," he added. The vice minister also said the government will work to foster new business models in the power market, such as virtual power plants, to support the sustainable growth of the energy industry and revitalise regional economies. Jaipur, Aug 11 : The Rajasthan 2021 Sub-Inspector (SI) recruitment exam paper leak case has taken another twist. Following the arrest of former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's PSO, Head Constable Rajkumar Yadav, the Special Operations Group (SOG) is now searching for Sub Inspector Ravindra Saini, posted in Sikar Police, who has been missing since August 8. An official said that his mobile phone has been switched off since then. According to officials, SOG issued a notice to Ravindra on August 6, summoning him for questioning in connection with the scam. However, on Friday, he took leave from the Sikar Police Lines and went into hiding. Rajkumar Yadav was arrested after revelations from another accused, Satendra. During interrogation, Rajkumar admitted that he had purchased the leaked SI exam paper from Kundan Kumar for his son Bharat. He later sold copies of the paper to Satendra and to the father of SI Ravindra Saini, who is a milk vendor. Investigators say both Rajkumar and Ravindra were called for questioning, but before appearing, Ravindra allegedly spoke to Rajkumar, who advised him to abscond. Soon after, Ravindra got himself transferred from the Police Lines in Sikar and has been untraceable since. SOG teams are conducting raids at various locations to locate him. Ravindra, a resident of Jhunjhunu, had secured the 156th rank in the SI 2021 recruitment exam and had been posted in Sikar for the past six months. His sudden disappearance has intensified suspicions about his involvement in the case. Sikar SP Praveen Nayak Nunawat confirmed that Ravindra was transferred from the Police Lines on Friday, but has not appeared before the SOG. "He has not presented himself for questioning, and his mobile remains switched off," the SP said. The SI recruitment exam scam has already seen multiple arrests, with allegations of widespread paper leaks, purchases, and sales involving candidates, middlemen, and officials. Notably, a total of 13 SIs selected in the 2021 recruitment were posted in the Sikar Police Lines, but none were given regular field postings, as investigations into the scandal continue. With Ravindra's disappearance, the case has gained fresh momentum, and SOG officials say further arrests are likely in the coming days. Chandigarh, Aug 11 : A meeting of the High Powered Purchase Committee was held under the chairmanship of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Monday, in which purchase proposals and rate contracts for Rs 1,763 crore pertaining to different departments were approved. At the meeting, rates were finalised after negotiations with various bidders, resulting in savings of more than Rs 10 crore. Energy Minister Anil Vij, Education Minister Mahipal Dhanda, Agriculture Minister Shyam Singh Rana, Public Works Minister Ranbir Gangwa, and Women and Child Development Minister Shruti Chaudhary were also present. The Chief Minister directed that special attention be paid to the quality of all items and equipment and that all projects be completed within the stipulated timeframe. He reiterated that the priority of the government is to provide the public with better quality services. He said the government is committed to completing development works on time and to high standards through effective utilisation of financial resources and a transparent procurement system. The meeting also approved the purchase of 29 new 52-seater buses and six mini-buses for the Police Department at a cost of Rs 12 crore to strengthen law and order. To improve power supply, approval was granted for Dakshin Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam and Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitran Nigam to purchase LT XLPE armoured cable and 20 KVA distribution transformers at a cost of Rs 234.19 crore. The Chief Minister instructed that all electrical cables be tested in recognised laboratories and said that strict action must be taken against any agency whose products fail to meet quality standards. He stressed that no compromise should be made on safety norms in the procurement of electrical equipment and materials to ensure both safety and durability. The meeting also approved a proposal to purchase sanitary napkins for providing free of cost to girl students from Class VI to XII in government schools. In addition, the committee also emphasised modernising equipment to expand digital services and strengthen e-governance. For this purpose, approval was granted for a cloud server and storage capacity that will be enhanced at a cost of over Rs 3.20 crore, which will further promote transparency, speed and efficiency in the delivery of government services across the state. --IANS vg/dan New Delhi, Aug 11 : Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has sharply criticised the BJP following fresh tensions in Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh, where Hindu groups vandalised a tomb, claiming it was originally a temple. In a statement, Yadav accused the BJP of pursuing divisive politics, saying, "Only when society is divided and hatred is spread will the BJP be successful in politics. These people are following an ideology created by the British." The incident took place at the centuries-old tomb of Nawab Abu Samad. On Monday, a group of Hindu activists staged a protest outside the structure, alleging that it was built after demolishing a Hindu temple. They reportedly sought permission from the district administration to conduct prayers at the site. Video clips circulating on social media show members of Hindu organisations vandalising parts of the mausoleum and hoisting saffron flags on it. The visuals have sparked outrage among the local Muslim community and political opposition. Following the unrest, police deployed tight security around the site to prevent further escalation. The administration is said to be investigating the matter, though tensions remain high. Yadav also pointed out that Fatehpur has witnessed similar communal incidents in the past, recalling that a mosque in the district was earlier demolished for being "illegal" on the grounds that its construction map had not been approved. He added that in a separate earlier incident, a youth was killed, and action was taken only after considerable public and political pressure. Minister Kapil Dev stated that the Uttar Pradesh administration is fulfilling its responsibilities and emphasised that no individual will be permitted to take the law into their own hands. Minister Nand Kishor Gurjar commented on the controversy surrounding the site, asserting that there was no tomb originally present there. He claimed that the structures were built after the 17th century and linked their existence to the historical persecution of Hindus and the destruction of temples. He acknowledged that the recent vandalism was a reaction to that history, saying, "Ideally, such actions should have been carried out through proper administrative channels. While those involved were not bad people, the act should have been conducted within the framework of the law." HANOI, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's Ministry of Health on Monday advised people returning from countries with Chikungunya outbreaks to monitor their health for 12 days, local media VnExpress reported. The advice comes amid a rising number of infections globally. Vo Hai Son, deputy head of the ministry's Department of Disease Prevention, said people who experience symptoms such as fever, joint pain, or a rash should immediately visit a medical facility and avoid self-treatment at home. The ministry also called for strengthened health surveillance for the mosquito-borne virus at border gates, in communities, at tourist sites and in healthcare facilities. New Delhi, Aug 11 : India has slammed Pakistan Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir's recent anti-India remarks made in the US. Speaking at an event in Tampa on Sunday, Munir had threatened to destroy any Indian infrastructure that could impact water flow to Pakistan. "We will wait for India to build a dam, and when it does so, we will destroy it with ten missiles," he said while also issuing a nuclear warning. Munir's statements are not just in bad taste, but also show his desperation to remain relevant back in Pakistan. Munir has only gone on to prove that he is the de facto head of a rogue state that has nuclear weapons. After every terror attack on Indian soil that is carried out by Pakistan, New Delhi has threatened a strong response. India has refrained from war, and Pakistan believed that it was because it had nuclear weapons. However, Operation Sindoor called Pakistan's nuclear bluff, and India did manage to decisively take down several strategic targets within Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). What is to be noted here is that Munir made the threat in the US. This statement comes at a time when US-Pakistan ties have improved. Further, the Trump administration has also partnered with Pakistan on an energy deal. However, the statements by Munir are not off the cuff. He has chosen the US to make this statement as part of his strategic messaging. Moreover, his confidence comes from the fact that this is his second visit to the US. On June 18, he was invited to the White House for lunch by President Donald Trump. This is something that is reserved for heads of state. It may be recalled that a few months back, Munir had said that Kashmir was Pakistan's "jugular vein". He also went on to state that Hindus and Muslims were different. At that time, too, he had made the statement in front of the Pakistan diaspora. The only difference is that the earlier statement was made in Pakistan, and this time it is in the US. Munir's comments could also be seen in the context of India calling Pakistan's nuclear bluff during Operation Sindoor. The statement could be aimed at deterring India from carrying out further military action in Pakistan. Security analyst Nitin A Gokhale posted on X, "Mullah Munir's rant from American soil is not surprising. From Ayub to Zia and from Musharraf to Munir, each one thought the yanks were their true friends, only to find, sooner or later, being placed in the 'use and throw' category. But the main reason for his nuclear sabre-rattling is India calling Pakistan's nuclear bluff in Operation Sindoor." The timing of the threat also comes at a time when India's relations with the US are strained. Trump has repeatedly claimed responsibility for the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. He also went on to impose a 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports and criticised India's trade policies and continued purchase of Russian oil. This is a high-stakes move by Munir as he knows he has the backing of the Trump administration. While Munir may be basking in the glory of renewed ties with the US, the fact is that he is very unpopular at home. Despite all the rhetoric, the Pakistanis are aware that during Operation Sindoor, India gave Pakistan a bloody nose. Hence, Munir may have gone into damage control mode. Further, he is facing a lot of criticism back home for his handling of the Imran Khan issue. If Munir thinks he has made a very calculated move, he is mistaken. No responsible nation which has nuclear capabilities issues such threats. At the end of it, Munir has proven to the world that Pakistan is nothing but a dangerous and unstable nation. New Delhi, Aug 11 : A man drowned in a municipal swimming pool in north Delhi's Shalimar Bagh area, the police said on Monday. Ankit Kumar, 25, drowned on Sunday around 5.30 pm, soon after he, along with his brother and friends, entered the pool in BK-2 in Shalimar Bagh, the police said. The pool is operated by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), and the police are inquiring if there was any negligence on the part of the civic agencyas staff or contractor. Soon after Ankitas friends noticed that he had lost consciousness in the pool, his friends and brother pulled him out and rushed him to the hospital, a police official said. He reportedly died on the way to the hospital, he said. Till the completion of the post-mortem, Ankitas body has been kept at the Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital mortuary, the police said. A case has been registered under Section 106(1) Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with causing death by negligence. Preliminary investigation showed that Ankit and his friends managed to sneak into the pool despite it being officially closed to the public, the police said. The pool had been shut temporarily after its contractor failed to pay electricity dues, the police said. Investigators are scanning CCTV footage to rule out foul play or negligence on the part of the security personnel posted at the temporarily shut pool, the police said. In a separate incident, the police registered a case against a builder in Jafrabad for staging a firing attack at his own office to implicate his financier. The police said Md. Anish was arrested and his hired juvenile was detained for staging the firing to falsely implicate a financer to whom the builder owed a large amount of money. payment. Anish was booked under penal provisions for criminal conspiracy and hiring, employing or engaging a child to commit an offence, the police said. The police said on August 9, a firing incident in Gali No. 8, near Sana Public School, Vijay Mohalla, Maujpur, was reported at Police Station Jafrabad. Anish told police that he is a builder and that at about 2.30 p.m., upon arriving at his office in Gali No. 8, near Sana Public School, he found the glass of his window broken and suspected that the firing had been carried out by a person from whom he had borrowed money. At the scene, the police team recovered an empty cartridge from the street, the police said. A dedicated team, led by SHO, Jafrabad, examined CCTV footage and other sources, and eventually arrested suspect Mursleen,25, son of Shabudeen, resident of Jafrabad, the police said. During interrogation, Mursleen confessed to his role in the incident, revealing that he worked for Anish and arranged for another person to fire at the builderas office using a pistol provided by the latter himself. The pistol and a live cartridge were recovered from Mursleenas possession, the police said. Based on his disclosure, Anish was arrested, and the juvenile shooter was detained, the police said. New Delhi/Kyiv, Aug 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday, reiterating India's steadfast and consistent position for peaceful settlement of the ongoing conflict in the region and support for efforts aimed at earliest restoration of peace. New Delhi/Kyiv, Aug 11 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday, reiterating Indiaas steadfast and consistent position for peaceful settlement of the ongoing conflict in the region and support for efforts aimed at earliest restoration of peace. During the telephonic conversation, Zelensky shared views regarding recent developments related to Ukraine. The two leaders reviewed progress in the India-Ukraine bilateral partnership and discussed ways to further enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest. "Prime Minister thanked President Zelensky and reaffirmed Indiaas steadfast and consistent position for peaceful settlement of the conflict and support for efforts aimed at earliest restoration of peace. PM reiterated Indiaas commitment to extend all possible support in this regard," the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) stated after the phone call. The significant conversation took place before this week's much-awaited meeting between the US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska. "Glad to speak with President Zelensky and hear his perspectives on recent developments. I conveyed Indiaas consistent position on the need for an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict. India remains committed to making every possible contribution in this regard, as well as to further strengthening bilateral ties with Ukraine," PM Modi posted on X. As the two leaders agreed to remain in touch, Zelensky also shared details about his conversation with the Indian PM, expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Modi for his "warm words of support" for the people of Ukraine. "I had a long conversation with the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. We discussed in detail all important issues a" both of our bilateral cooperation and the overall diplomatic situation. I am grateful to the Prime Minister for his warm words of support for our people. I informed about the Russian attacks on our cities and villages, about yesterdayas strike on the bus station in Zaporizhzhia, where dozens of people were injured in a deliberate Russian bombing of a regular urban facility. And this is at a time when there is finally a diplomatic possibility to end the war. Instead of demonstrating readiness for a ceasefire, Russia is showing only its desire to continue the occupation and killings," Zelensky posted on X. The Ukrainian President said that he and PM Modi agreed to plan a personal meeting in September during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and work on exchange of visits. "It is important that India is supporting our peace efforts and shares the position that everything concerning Ukraine must be decided with Ukraineas participation. Other formats will not deliver results. We also discussed in detail the sanctions against Russia. I noted that it is necessary to limit the export of Russian energy, particularly oil, to reduce its potential and ability to finance the continuation of this war. It is important that every leader who has tangible leverage over Russia sends the corresponding signals to Moscow. We agreed to plan a personal meeting in September during the UN General Assembly and to work on an exchange of visits," he stated. On Saturday, India welcomed the forthcoming summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin that is scheduled to take place in Alaska on August 15. In a statement, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "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. 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," he added. New Delhi, Aug 11 : The Delhi government's flagship Industrial Ideathon 2025 has drawn an unprecedented response from student innovators, with 652 teams registering to compete for Rs 40 lakh worth of prizes and rewards. The Ideathon would be held in four categories and offer a chance to the winners to present solutions before industry stalwarts and government decision-makers. Organised by the Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) on behalf of the Industries Department, GNCTD, and co-hosted by the prestigious Netaji Subhash University of Technology (NSUT) as the official knowledge partner, the competition invites students to create technology-driven, practical solutions to industrial challenges in Delhi. Industries Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said, "This overwhelming participation is proof that Delhi's youth want to be part of shaping our industrial future. It's proof that they are ready to solve the real-world problems that our businesses face every day." From the 652 registrations, 124 shortlisted teams will now participate in the Preliminary Round on August 13 at NSUT. During the 8-hour challenge, they will work on four key problem statements: Last Mile Logistics inefficiencies and fragmented supply chains in Delhi's industrial hubs 175 entries; Tech solutions to improve Ease of Doing Business for startups and entrepreneurs 188 entries; Adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies for small and medium industrial units in Delhi 125 entries and Building Resilient MSMEs through access to finance, markets and technology 164 entries. Following the preliminary round, 40 finalist teams - the top 10 from each category - will advance to the Grand Finale on August 22, where they will present refined solutions before industry and government leaders. Sirsa added: "With the Industrial Ideathon, we are creating a bridge between academia, industry, and government. Students get to work on live problems with measurable impact, while policymakers gain fresh, actionable ideas straight from the country's brightest young minds. This is policy by participation in its truest form." Seoul, Aug 11 : South Korea's Foreign Minister Cho Hyun spoke with his British counterpart, David Lammy, by phone Monday to discuss ways to advance their strategic partnership and other security issues, his office said. Cho noted that the two countries have actively engaged in high-level exchanges since the launch of the Lee Jae Myung government in June and urged Britain's active support for the new administration's foreign policy, Yonhap News Agency reported, citing the ministry. Additionally, Cho expressed hope for closer cooperation in upgrading their bilateral free trade agreement as well as in the economic and artificial intelligence sectors. In response, Lammy voiced his expectation that the two sides will closely communicate for the continued development of the bilateral relationship in key areas, including trade, defense and climate change. The two ministers also exchanged their views on the security of the Korean Peninsula and the situation in Ukraine, and agreed to meet at an early date for in-depth discussions on further strengthening bilateral ties. Earlier in May, the UK and South Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), according to the statement released by UK Embassy in Seoul. The MoU enhances cooperation between the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Korean Overseas Infrastructure and Urban Development Corporation (KIND) to work on Ukrainian reconstruction projects, as well as global infrastructure development in other markets. In a press release, the UK Embassy in Seoul stated, "This first of its kind agreement signals an exciting opportunity for British and South Korean businesses to make a difference in Ukraine, as well as demonstrate their expertise to the global market, boosting both countriesa economies while being a force for good." The agreement was signed between the UK Business and Trade Minister, Gareth Thomas, and the KIND CEO, Bok Hwan Kim in London on May 22. The MoU will promote new UK-South Korean business partnerships across third markets in the fields of sustainable transport, healthcare infrastructure, smart cities and urban development, clean energy, water and waste management, and sustainable infrastructure and related technologies. This agreement will start urgent repairs in Ukraine to critical national infrastructure, including housing, hospitals and power generators. Varanasi, Aug 11 : The use of plastic was completely prohibited in Varanasi's iconic Kashi Vishwanath Temple on Monday. The temple administration had been running a 10-day awareness campaign ahead of the ban, using digital, electronic, and print media to inform devotees and vendors at key points in the temple area, including Godaulia and Maidagin. In preparation, the administration distributed bamboo baskets and metal pots to prasad shops, encouraging eco-friendly alternatives. The move has been warmly welcomed by both devotees and local shopkeepers, who believe it will help preserve the sanctity and cleanliness of the sacred site. Talking to IANS, Vishwa Bhushan Mishra, Chief Executive Officer of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, said: "We announced this decision in 2024. People were made aware of using bamboo baskets and other eco-friendly materials. From today, the ban is in effect, and no one will be allowed to enter with plastic." Rajkumar Seth, a shopkeeper, praised the initiative. "It's a good step by the temple administration. I thank them for this effort. It will definitely help the environment. We will now use steel and paper instead of plastic." Pradeep Singh, a devotee, echoed this sentiment. "It is good that plastic has been banned. I request everyone to use paper." Another devotee, Aditya, added: "This is a wonderful initiative. It will help the environment, and I thank the temple administration for it." Bamboo baskets and steel pots were distributed as part of the launch, marking a significant milestone in the "Plastic Free Dham" campaign. This public awareness drive, which began on July 12, aims to protect the environment and maintain cleanliness in and around the temple. The decision, first announced in December 2024, targets pollution reduction and encourages sustainable practices among both devotees and vendors. Under the ban, plastic in all forms including wrappers, carry bags, and packaging for fruits, flowers, and puja offerings is strictly prohibited. Even thin plastic films and polythene sheets commonly used in religious packaging will not be allowed. The initiative is part of the Kashi Vishwanath Temple Trust's broader environmental commitment, aligned with the Uttar Pradesh government's push for sustainable practices at major pilgrimage sites. To enforce the rules, temple authorities have joined hands with local municipal bodies to set up checkpoints and deploy volunteers who will guide devotees. Vendors are also being sensitised and provided with alternatives to plastic packaging. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple, one of Hinduism's most revered shrines, welcomes thousands of devotees each day. The ban is expected to significantly cut the temple's plastic waste and serve as a model for other religious institutions across India. Bengaluru, Aug 11 : Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday said the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025 must send out a big message to the world. Speaking at a preparatory meeting for the summit with officials and businessmen, he said, "We are not competing with our neighbouring states such as Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Bengaluru is being seen as a global IT capital. Our IT Minister is chalking out things to meet those standards." "More than one lakh people are likely to visit the summit to be held from November 18 to 20. All of you should be our brand ambassadors," he told the businessmen. He said that Bengaluru has two lakh foreigners working or doing business, adding that as many as 7,000 foreign students are also studying here. "The IT policy introduced by former CM late S.M. Krishna is the key driver for Karnataka's success in IT. Of the total IT exports of 385 billion dollars in India, Bengaluru's share is 160 billion dollars. Our government is working on providing all possible support to the IT industry," he said. "I appeal to all of you to spend your CSR funds on government schools in rural areas. Our government is building 2000 Karnataka Public Schools in all the taluks, I appeal to you to invest in these schools. There are 50000 teachers' posts vacant currently, and hence private sector is being roped in for support," he added. "I spoke to the PM about Bengaluru's development. Bengaluru must not be seen as Karnataka's capital but as the nation's capital. We have taken up projects worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore to develop various projects in Bengaluru," Shivakumar added. He pointed out that new cities will be built under the Greater Bengaluru Authority, adding that a 10,000-acre township is also planned at Bidadi. "We will provide more info on this in the next 10-15 days. We are also planning to extend the metro till Bidadi," he said. Participating in the event, Cihef Minister Siddaramaiah said that Karnataka is known for its rich culture and its leadership in technology. "From the Mysuru Kings to the first IT policy in 1997 and the Global Capability Centre Policy in 2024, we have always planned for the future. Our state sets a global standard for innovation, talent, and business-friendly policies," he said. "Our vision is simple, which is to make Karnataka the place where the world comes to solve its biggest challenges. Whether it is curing diseases, developing sustainable energy solutions, or building the computers of the future, we will provide the talent, infrastructure, and policy support to make it happen," said Siddaramaiah. New Delhi, Aug 11 : The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) reviewing the ambitious 'One Nation, One Election' (ONOE) Bill held its sitting on Monday under the chairmanship of BJP MP PP Chaudhary. Several distinguished academics and former lawmakers attended the meeting. They shared their insights on the proposed simultaneous elections for Lok Sabha and state assemblies. Among the expert witnesses were Prof. G. Gopal Reddy, Chairperson of the Governing Body at Miranda House and former UGC member; Prof. Sushma Yadav, former Vice-Chancellor of Central University of Haryana; Dr. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, ex-Rajya Sabha MP and political thinker; Prof. Sheila Rai, General Secretary of the Rashtriya Samaj Vigyan Parishad; and Prof. Nani Gopal Mahanta, Director of the Centre for South East Asia at Gauhati University. These experts stressed that democracy cannot be reduced to just frequent elections. The current cycle of continuous elections leads to widespread corruption, disrupts governance, and weakens long-term policy implementation, they said. They went on to say that the Model Code of Conduct, which imposes restrictions on the government once elections are announced, hinders development schemes and administrative continuity. Over-proliferation of political parties was also highlighted. With over 2,700 registered parties, many lack the capacity or intent to operate effectively. Experts batted for stricter guidelines for party registration. They said that obtaining an Election Commission symbol has become too easy, while managing and sustaining a party is increasingly difficult. The experts proposed reforms across four additional domains: political party regulation, election campaign transparency, parliamentary and legislative conduct, and women's representation. Local self-governments have shown encouraging trends in electing women representatives, with many winning even in unreserved constituencies - indicating a promising path for broader gender inclusivity, they underlined. Creation of "report cards" for candidates, offering voters a performance-based assessment to promote accountability, came as a suggestion. Constituency-specific manifestos and Action Taken Reports from political parties to bridge the gap between promises and delivery were also another suggestion that came from the experts. They said that the disruption caused by staggered elections to sectors such as education, especially school operations, is worrisome. Experts explained how administrative staff and infrastructure are diverted during elections, negatively affecting classroom learning and public service delivery. The overarching sentiment among experts was that ONOE, far from undermining federalism, would strengthen democratic institutions by allowing governments to focus on governance rather than constant electoral calculations. PP Chaudhary, speaking after the session, stated that the insights from the experts had been "invaluable," adding that the reform is "essential for the nation's development." The JPC, formed during the last winter session of Parliament, comprises 31 members - 21 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha - drawn from both the ruling alliance and opposition. Members include prominent leaders such as Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Supriya Sule, Randeep Surjewala, Sambit Patra, and Anurag Thakur. Chaudhary announced that the next sitting of the committee is scheduled for August 19, where former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna will appear to share his legal views on constitutional aspects of the ONOE proposal. Mumbai, Aug 11 : Director-producer Om Raut, whose production 'Inspector Zende' is set to release on OTT next month, is a big time foodie. The director-producer recently spoke with IANS ahead of the release of the film, and shared a list of his favourite cuisines from different parts of Maharashtra. Om is the son of the noted journalist Bharat Kumar, and hails from Maharashtra. He told IANS, "I love food. It's very difficult to kind of pick what I would like to eat. If I go to Vidarbha, I would like to eat Saoji style curries. If I go to Pune, I like to eat the Misal from there. When I come to Konkan, I like to eat coastal food. If I go to Khandesh, I like to eat the Khandeshi cuisine. In Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli, that belt, Marathwada, Western Maharashtra, that side, I'd like to eat the Dhangar style food". He further mentioned, "So, every region that you go to in Maharashtra or anywhere in our nation for that purpose or anywhere in the world, I believe in eating the local food. I believe in eating, because everything local has a very strong taste. I can keep on talking about food for hours, but anything that's locally made from that region is something that I would like to eat". Earlier, the director-producer had spoken up on the influence of Indian freedom activist Lokmanya Tilak on his childhood and family. He also shared that he has a beautiful portrait of Lokmanya Tilak at his parents' house, as he said, "It's right there in the center of the living room. So he's always looked up as somebody who's very, very important in my family and in our upbringing". Lokmanya Tilak was not only a freedom fighter and political leader but also an influential journalist. He co-founded and edited two newspapers, Kesari (in Marathi), which aimed at mobilizing Indian masses and voicing nationalist ideas. Jabalpur, Aug 11 : In a daylight robbery that has shaken the cultural capital of Madhya Pradesh, a gang of armed men looted gold and cash worth over Rs 10 crore from ESAF Small Finance Bank in Jabalpur's Khitola area on Monday. The heist, executed in under 20 minutes, has raised serious questions about banking security and law enforcement preparedness during the festive season. According to police sources, the robbery occurred around 8:50 am - well before the bank's usual opening time of 10:30 am. Due to Raksha Bandhan, the branch had opened early to accommodate increased footfall, particularly for gold-backed loans. The robbers, numbering five to six, arrived on two motorcycles, wearing helmets and face coverings. One was reportedly armed with a pistol tucked into his waistband. Once inside, the gang threatened six bank employees and forced them to surrender approximately 15 kg of pledged gold and Rs 5 lakh in cash. No injuries were reported, and the staff complied without resistance. The robbers fled by 9:08 am, escaping on motorcycles toward an unknown direction. Police officials, including DIG Atul Singh and SP Sampat Upadhyay, reached the scene shortly after being informed - though notably, the bank staff delayed alerting authorities by nearly 45 minutes. Investigators are now reviewing CCTV footage from the bank and surrounding areas, and have deployed fingerprint experts and a dog squad to aid the search. All nearby districts have been placed on high alert. Initial estimates pegged the stolen gold at 15 kg and Rs 14 crore in value, and Rs 5 lakh in cash. The absence of a security guard at the time of the incident has drawn criticism, especially given the bank's role in handling high-value gold collateral. Police are also probing whether the robbers had prior knowledge of the bank's festive schedule and operational vulnerabilities. As the manhunt intensifies, authorities remain tight-lipped about leads. "Multiple teams have been deployed. We are confident the accused will be apprehended soon," said CSP Sihora Aditya Singh. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto (L) and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte gesture to students as they inspect the guard of honor during a welcome ceremony at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Aug. 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Zulkarnain) JAKARTA, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte witnessed the signing and exchange of the Indonesia-Peru Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in Jakarta on Monday. "I warmly welcome the signing of the Indonesia-Peru Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. This agreement will expand market access and boost trade, and marks a historic achievement as the negotiations were completed within 14 months," Prabowo said at a press conference. Boluarte's visit to Indonesia coincides with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and marks the first visit by a Peruvian president since formal ties were established in 1975. The two countries also agreed to strengthen cooperation in combating narcotics, tackling illegal trade, and in the fields of food, mining, energy transition, fisheries, and defence. Prabowo reaffirmed Indonesia's support for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Peru partnership, praising Peru's leadership in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 2024. Boluarte described Indonesia as an important partner in Southeast Asia and Peru's sixth-largest trading partner in Asia, with the CEPA expected to boost trade in goods, investment, and other sectors. She announced Peru's access to export blueberries to Indonesia, following products such as quinoa and grapes, and expressed hope for easier entry of other fruits such as pomegranates. Boluarte invited Indonesian investors to participate in infrastructure and logistics projects in Peru, while reaffirming her commitment to deepening cooperation for the advancement of both nations. Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto (R) shakes hands with Peruvian President Dina Boluarte after a joint press conference at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta, Indonesia, Aug. 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Zulkarnain) New Delhi, Aug 11 : The defence and security partnership has become the central pillar of India-Philippines strategic alignment, further strengthened during the visit of Philippines President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr, last week. The strong defence ties are clearly demonstrated in the agreement signed on the sale of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile systems to the Philippines. Marcos Jr stated that India and Philippines have agreed to continue levelling up cooperation in defence and security while expressing satisfaction over the rapid pace of the Philippines ongoing defence modernization and the expanding capabilities and footprint of India's indigenous defence industry as a partner in this undertaking that is exemplified by the BrahMos project, a report on 360info detailed. On the eve of President Marcos visit to India, the navies of India and Philippines participated in their first-ever joint exercises in the South China Sea on August 3-4. The exercises were held in the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone, as part of Manilaas efforts to counter Chinaas maritime assertiveness. For the exercise, India had deployed three warships - INS Delhi, INS Shakti, and INS Kiltan while the Philippines deployment comprised BRP Miguel Malvar and BRP Jose Rizal. Reportedly, Chinese vessels followed the Indian-Philippine flotilla. According to the report, this shift indicates a strategic evolution in Indiaas approach towards the Indoa'Pacific. Previously, India had refrained from directly mentioning South China Sea with only few exceptions. However, India has now expressed adherence to the 2016 South China Sea arbitration award, focusing on upholding a rules-based maritime order. "India no longer considers South China Sea issue as a peripheral concern, but is being regarded integral to its maritime and economic security as well as its regional leadership claims. India's partnership with the Philippines showcases New Delhi's ambitions in the Indoa'Pacific," the 360info report mentioned. India's presence in South China Sea through naval exercises and selling Brahmos missile to Philippines demonstrates an operational follow-through and not just diplomatic alignment. The move is aimed to present a viable counterweight to Chinaas claims in a region important for global trade, according to the report. Philippines pursuit of having deeper ties with regional partners like India demonstrates its willingness to reduce dependency on a single ally and have multi-directional security and economic collaborations. Patna, Aug 11 : Panic has gripped the Ghoda Ghat village area in West Champaran's Bagaha subdivision in Bihar after a tiger strayed from the Valmiki Tiger Reserve and killed a farmer on Monday. A Forest Department worker was also seriously injured while attempting to track the big cat. The deceased has been identified as 65-year-old farmer Mathura Mahato, who was working in his paddy field near Ghoda Ghat, under the Govardhana Forest Range, when the tiger attacked Mahato. The animal fatally mauled Mahato, reportedly tearing open his abdomen, and dragged the body into nearby sugarcane fields. "He was my father-in-law. He had gone to work in the field when the tiger suddenly attacked. After killing him, the tiger hid nearby, keeping the body in its mouth. The Forest Department team later managed to recover it," said Renu Devi, the victim's daughter-in-law. Upon receiving information, a team of forest workers arrived to track and push the tiger back into the forest. During the search, the tiger, still near the body, pounced on a tiger tracker, clawing his thigh. The animal retreated only after other workers shouted and created noise. The injured tracker was rushed to the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Ramnagar, where he remains in critical condition. "We had information that a tiger had killed a farmer. When we reached Ghoda Ghat, the tiger hiding in the sugarcane suddenly attacked one of our team. We managed to scare it away and took our injured colleague to CHC Ramnagar," said Ram Vinay Oraon, a tiger tracker with the forest department. The incident has sparked widespread fear among villagers, many of whom are now avoiding farm work. Forest Conservator-cum-Director of Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) Neshamani K. assured residents that efforts are underway to trace the tiger's movements. He urged people to stay away from forested areas until the animal is located and captured. According to official figures, there are 54 tigers in VTR. Bhopal, Aug 11 : Calling "Pradhan Mantri Janta Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan (PM-Janman Yojana)" the biggest tribal welfare project since Independence, Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Patel said on Monday that the initiative has brought transformative changes to the lives of tribal families. During a meeting to review various beneficiary schemes being executed under the 'PM Janman Yojana', the Governor has emphasised that all initiatives aimed at the prosperity of tribal communities should be continuously monitored at the ground level. He reviewed the progress of key initiatives, including tap water supply to every household ('Har Ghar Nal Yojana'), universal healthcare, electricity access, education for all, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, status of multipurpose centres, mobile medical units, and the provision of mobile network connectivity. He instructed that the concerned officers should work with sensitivity towards tribal families, meet them regularly, and take their feedback so that timely corrective measures can be implemented. He directed that district officials should inspect the ongoing works under the 'PM Janman Yojana' every three months. Meanwhile, the Governor praised the functioning of mobile medical units and called for efforts to expand their operations. The meeting also discussed the importance of deploying staff proficient in local tribal dialects to ensure better communication and outreach. On Sunday, the Madhya Pradesh government in an official statement has said that the state has achieved a significant success in implementation of the 'PM Janman Yojana' across 58,000 tribal settlements, benefiting 2.62 lakh members of Saharia, Baiga and Bharia communities. The government claimed that the state has achieved 100 per cent success in providing Aadhaar Card, Ayushman Bharat card, Janman bank accounts, caste certificates, Kisan credit card, PM Kisan Samman Nidhi and ration cards to residents of these settlements. They are using these documents to get benefits of various welfare schemes of the Central and state governments. PM Awas Yojana, PM Gram Sadak Yojana, multipurpose centres, tap water in every household, electricity to all households, nutrition to all, health facilities to all, education to all, mobile network in villages and construction of Van Dhan Vikas Kendras in these settlements is being carried out to ensure well-being of families living there. Shivpuri district is placed at the top position in the country on providing houses to tribal families in the state. More than 16,000 houses have been constructed for them at Shivpuri, in Shahdol (10,711), Sheopur (7,639), Umaria (6,410), Chhindwara (5,479), and Mandla (5,446). In other districts also, the construction of houses under the PM Awas Yojana is underway in a big way, the statement said. New Delhi, Aug 11 : Cooperative engagements in the fields of marine pollution response and maritime search and rescue topped agenda at the 8th High-Level Meeting (HLM) between the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG) held on Monday, an official said. The meeting underscored the mutual resolve of ICG and SLCG to deepen operational coordination, share best practices, and further promote regional maritime stability through sustained cooperation, he said. The talks marked another milestone in the strong and enduring maritime partnership between the two countries who reaffirmed their commitment to work closely, the official said in a statement. The discussions centred on strengthening cooperative engagements in the fields of marine pollution response, maritime search and rescue, and maritime law enforcement, along with enhanced capacity building and technical assistance initiatives, said the statement. The Sri Lankan delegation was led by Director General SLCG Rear Admiral Y.R. Serasinghe and the Indian delegation headed by ICG Director General Paramesh Sivamani. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to work closely in addressing contemporary maritime challenges, ensuring safety, security, and environmental stewardship in the shared maritime domain, the statement said. The SLCG delegation is visiting India from August 10-14, for the HLM and other professional interactions under the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the ICG and SLCG in 2018. Earlier, the Indian Navy announced that it is preparing for the simultaneous commissioning of two advanced frontline frigates - Udaygiri (F35) and Himgiri (F34) - on August 26 at Visakhapatnam. This will be the first time that two major surface combatants from two prestigious Indian Shipyards are being commissioned at the same time, an official said. Both ships are the result of an industrial ecosystem spanning over 200 MSMEs, supporting approximately 4,000 direct jobs and more than 10,000 indirect jobs. This milestone showcases the success of the Make in India and Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiatives in the defence sector, said an official statement. New Delhi, Aug 11 : The defence and security partnership has become the central pillar of India-Philippines strategic alignment, further strengthened during the visit of Philippines President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr, last week. The strong defence ties are clearly demonstrated in the agreement signed on the sale of BrahMos supersonic cruise missile systems to the Philippines. Philippines is the first nation to purchase missile from India. India's BrahMos cruise missile system, delivered in two batches (first in April 2024; second in April 2025), has advanced coastal defence capability of the Philippine Marine Corps, Rahul Mishra, Associate Professor at the Centre for Indo-Pacific Studies, SIS, JNU, said in a report on 360info. Philippines President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr was on a State visit to India from August 4-8. During his visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called defence cooperation "a symbol of deep mutual trust" between two nations. Marcos Jr stated that India and Philippines have agreed to continue levelling up cooperation in defence and security while expressing satisfaction over the rapid pace of the Philippines ongoing defence modernization and the expanding capabilities and footprint of India's indigenous defence industry as a partner in this undertaking that is exemplified by the BrahMos project. On the eve of President Marcos visit to India, the navies of India and Philippines participated in their first-ever joint exercises in the South China Sea on August 3-4. The exercises were held in the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone, as part of Manilaas efforts to counter Chinaas maritime assertiveness. For the exercise, India had deployed three warships - INS Delhi, INS Shakti, and INS Kiltan while the Philippines deployment comprised BRP Miguel Malvar and BRP Jose Rizal. Reportedly, Chinese vessels followed the Indian-Philippine flotilla, according to the report. This shift indicates a strategic evolution in Indiaas approach towards the Indoa'Pacific. Previously, India had refrained from directly mentioning South China Sea with only few exceptions. However, India has now expressed adherence to the 2016 South China Sea arbitration award, focusing on upholding a rules-based maritime order. India no longer considers South China Sea issue as a peripheral concern, but is being regarded integral to its maritime and economic security as well as its regional leadership claims. India's partnership with the Philippines showcases New Delhi's ambitions in the Indoa'Pacific, Rahul Mishra stated in a report on 360info. India's presence in South China Sea through naval exercises and selling Brahmos missile to Philippines demonstrates an operational follow-through and not just diplomatic alignment. The move is aimed to present a viable counterweight to Chinaas claims in a region important for global trade, according to the report. Philippines pursuit of having deeper ties with regional partners like India demonstrates its willingness to reduce dependency on a single ally and have multi-directional security and economic collaborations. Kolkata, Aug 11 : BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh has lodged a complaint against Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma for disrespecting the national flag during the recently held Nabanna Avijan (march to state secretariat). Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Legislative Assembly Suvendu Adhikari on Monday evening shared a copy of the complaint letter in his social media handle and demanded an FIR against the police commissioner under the appropriate section of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 for trampling on the national flag and violating the Flag Code of India 2002. "BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh has filed a criminal complaint against Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Kumar Verma and other police personnel at Park Street Police Station," said Adkhikari. "During the peaceful Nabanna drive, the participants in the protest carried the national flag. First, showing contempt for the national flag, the police personnel on duty of Kolkata Police snatched the Indian national flag from the hands of the gathered crowd, after which it was thrown on the ground in a show of disrespect, and the national flag was trampled by the police personnel in a final act of humiliation," the BJP leader further said. He also shared a video of the incident and slammed the city police commissioner for using batons on those who took part in the march. "On the orders of Manoj Kumar Verma, Kolkata Police set an example of inhumane behaviour last Saturday. Men and women were indiscriminately lathi-charged and used excessive force, hundreds of ordinary people were injured, including sister Abhaya's parents. The people of Bengal have witnessed the marks left on the head of sister Abhaya's mother by hitting her with a stick," said Adhikari. He went on to compare Kolkata Police with the British Police in pre-Independence era for their alleged act. "Not stopping there, the way you disrespected the national flag of India, the tricolour flag of our pride, it seemed that it was not the Kolkata Police but the then British Police who were insulting the national flag! Therefore, a complaint has been filed against you under the appropriate section of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, for the crime of trampling on the national flag, violating the Flag Code of India 2002. See you in court," added the BJP leader. The first anniversary of the ghastly rape and murder of a lady junior doctor of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Saturday was marred by massive violence following a scuffle between cops and protesters participating in the Nabanna Avijan. The victim's mother alleged that she was beaten up by the policemen after she, along with her husband and other protesters, tried to march towards Nabanna. The victimas mother and the BJP leaders alleged that in the police action, the sacred conch shell-bangle on her wrist, traditionally believed to be the symbolic representation of married Hindu women, was broken. Jaipur, Aug 11 : The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) of CID (CB) Police Headquarters, Rajasthan, in coordination with the Special Operation Cell, Amritsar (Punjab), foiled a major terror plot linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, an official said on Monday. The accused had planned grenade blasts in Nawashahr (Jalandhar, Punjab) and were planning explosions in Delhi and Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh) around Independence Day. On 7 July, a Bishnoi gang member detonated a grenade in front of a liquor shop in Nawashahr to spread terror and extort money. Investigations led police teams to Jaipur and Tonk, where the accused were arrested on Sunday before they could execute further attacks. Under the direction of ADGP Crime Dinesh M.N. and supervision of ASP Siddhant Sharma, the team, led by Inspector Ram Singh and SI Narendra Singh, worked undercover in high-risk areas, gathering intelligence. They arrested Jitendra Chaudhary (Tonk), Sanjay (Hanumangarh) and Sonu alias Kali (Punjab) along with three minors, and later handed them over to the Punjab Police. Interrogation revealed their handler was Zeeshan Akhtar, operating from Canada, who had previously claimed responsibility for the murder of Baba Siddiqui in Mumbai. Zeeshan, in collaboration with Pakistani gangster Shahzad Bhatti and associates Manu Agwan and Gopi Navasharia (Punjab), recruits local youths via Instagram and other online apps, luring them with money for criminal activities. Zeeshan supplied grenades to the accused, who carried out the Nawashahr blast before fleeing to Rajasthan. He had tasked them with major blasts in Delhi and Gwalior around 15 August. This coordinated operation was executed by the AGTF CID (CB) team: Inspector Ram Singh, SIs Narendra Singh and Dushyant Singh, HC Shahid Ali, constables Ravindra Singh, Mahendra Singh, Devendra Singh, Jitendra Kumar, and driver Dinesh Kumar. Constable Sanjay provided technical support. Police say investigations are ongoing to trace more members of the network and prevent further planned attacks. New Delhi, Aug 11 : Delhi Lt Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Monday laid the foundation stone of a clock tower being built by New Delhi Municipal Council at the junction of Shankar Road and Mandir Marg, near Talkatora Stadium. With a project timeline of six months and an estimated cost of Rs 1.80 crore, the nearly 27-meter octagonal clock tower's reinforced concrete framework will be engineered to withstand both wind and seismic forces, said an official. Speaking on the occasion, L-G Saxena said: "Construction of the new Clock Tower by NDMC will script a new chapter in the urban redevelopment of the National Capital." He said: "The clock tower at Mandir Marg is positioned at the strategic intersection of Mandir Marg and Shankar Road that serves as the gateway to the NDMC area and hence, would attract a large number of visitors including daily passers-by." Saxena said that historically clock towers were built at the most prominent location in a city that apart from serving as a timepiece for the locals, also became a landmark. "I am hopeful that this upcoming clock tower would also become a new landmark in the National Capital", he said, adding the structure would also enrich the visual appeal of Lutyens' Delhi and add a distinctive feature to its iconic skyline. The L-G informed that another clock tower is being constructed at the Sadbhavana Park on the Ring Road behind Red Fort. The clock tower is being developed by the DDA and is likely to be completed by this month-end. Saxena also lauded NDMC for its efforts to beautify Delhi by installing captivating sculptures across major roads and intersections. Those present on the occasion included Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh, Member of Parliament (New Delhi) Bansuri Swaraj, Chairman NDMC Keshav Chandra, Vice Chairman NDMC Kuljeet Singh Chahal, Members of the Council Sarita Tomar, Anil Valmiki and Dinesh Pratap Singh. The project, approved by the Delhi Urban Art Commission (DUAC), is designed to be a timeless symbol and a new landmark for the National Capital. The eight sides of the clock tower would be 1.2 metre each and will be constructed with reinforced cement concrete and clay bricks. the structure is designed to be a striking blend of Hindu, Mughal, and Colonial architecture, thereby reviving the heritage charm of the Capital. CM Gupta said: "This clock tower stands as a proud foundation of Delhi's progress and a timeless witness to the journey of Viksit Bharat. Its distinctive architecture will not only grace the skyline of New Delhi but also symbolise the spirit and identity of our nation." It will also reflect the progress of not only New Delhi but also the whole Delhi under the Viksit Bharat, she said. New Delhi, Aug 11 : Born in Bardoli, Gujarat -- a town etched in India's freedom struggle through the Bardoli Satyagraha -- Dr. Kalaben Dayaram Bhai Patel embodied the spirit of resistance, compassion, and quiet leadership. Over the course of a hundred years, she emerged not only as a healer and guide but as a formidable force in the social and spiritual landscape of Gujarat. A trained physician and community organiser, Dr. Patel was best known for her role as the "Protector of Gujarat's Women's Wing," where she championed the rights, dignity, and empowerment of women across rural and urban constituencies. "Modi Archive" on Monday paid rich tribute to her, sharing a photograph of the legendary figure with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "We remember Dr. Kalaben Dayaram Bhai Patel (19252025). Hailing from Bardoli, she devoted her life to healing, guiding, and serving othersleading as Protector of Gujarat's Women's Wing and representing the Ram Mandir Trust with grace and dedication. She passed away today, leaving behind a remarkable legacy of service and spirituality. Prime Minister Narendra Modi met her on many occasionshere is one such picture," read a message from Modi Archives. Her leadership was marked by a blend of Gandhian ethics and pragmatic activismmobilising women for education, health awareness, and civic participation, often in the face of entrenched social barriers. Over the years, Dr. Patel was personally acknowledged by Prime Minister Modi, who met her on several occasions and praised her "century-long journey of service and spiritual stewardship". Her spiritual devotion found expression through her long-standing association with the Ram Mandir Trust, where she served as a representative with grace and unwavering dedication. In this role, she bridged faith and service, advocating for inclusive spiritual spaces and community welfare initiatives rooted in religious values. Her presence at key religious and cultural forums lent credibility and warmth to the Trust's outreach. Dr. Patel's legacy was recognised at the highest levels of government. She passed away on Monday at the age of 100, leaving behind a legacy that transcends titles. To those who knew her, she was a mentor, a mother figure, and a moral compass. To history, she remains a quiet architect of changewhose life stitched together the threads of freedom, healing, and spiritual stewardship. As Gujarat mourns her passing, it also celebrates a life lived in full measurea life that healed, uplifted, and inspired. Agartala, Aug 11 : Tripura Assembly Speaker Biswa Bandhu Sen, who underwent an emergency surgery at a private hospital here after he suffered an internal brain haemorrhage on August 8, was taken to Bengaluru for better medical treatment on Monday, his family and doctors said. An official said that on the initiative of Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, two doctors from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, came here on Sunday, and they examined Sen's health condition and treatment protocols first conducted at the Tripura Medical College and then at a private hospital. "The AIIMS doctor team methodically examined Sen and reviewed his illness condition with the team of doctors who had been conducting medical treatment since his illness. The AIIMS doctor team confirmed that the initial management and timely brain decompression surgery had been appropriate," the private hospital here said in a medical bulletin. The Assembly Speaker's son, Arijit Sen, who is also a doctor, said that his father's condition is stable with all vital organs functioning normally after the brain surgery. "We have decided to shift him to a Bangalore-based hospital for further medical treatment," he told the media. Arijit Sen thanked Chief Minister Manik Saha and other doctors for properly managing the initial treatment of his 72-year-old father. The Speaker suffered a brain haemorrhage at Agartala railway station on August 8 when he just boarded a train to go to his home town Dharmanagar. Indirectly referring to the criticism of a political party about the Speaker's treatment in a private hospital here instead of the Government Medical and GBP Hospital, a tertiary care institution for Heart, Brain and other disorders, his son said it was the family's decision to treat him there. "The patient is our father, and we would decide where he would be treated. Nobody has the right to dictate that to us. It is not good to play politics over an ailing person," Arijit Sen said. SEOUL, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on Monday held a summit meeting with visiting Vietnamese leader To Lam in Seoul, according to the South Korean presidential office. Lee, who took office in June, met with Lam, general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, who was on a four-day state visit to South Korea since Sunday. The two leaders agreed to step up efforts to reach the goal of raising the bilateral trade volume to 150 billion U.S. dollars by 2030 through the bilateral free trade agreement. Trade between the two countries, which are the third-largest trading partners to each other, amounted to 86.7 billion dollars last year. About 10,000 South Korean companies have been operating in Vietnam. Lee asked for support for South Korean companies in Vietnam's large-scale infrastructure projects such as high-speed railways, nuclear power and new city developments, while Lam vowed to find detailed ways to cooperate with South Korea. The Vietnamese leader expressed hope to strengthen cooperation in science and technology, such as semiconductor and artificial intelligence, while the South Korean president hoped to expand the strategic cooperation in science and technology, energy, electrical grid, and critical minerals. The two leaders agreed to expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges and strengthen cooperation on regional and international issues. Jaipur, August 11 : The Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG), on Monday, unearthed a major recruitment scam in which 70 women secured government jobs by submitting fake divorce documents. SOG Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Paris Deshmukh, confirmed that a case of forging divorce certificates has come to light, and around 70 complaints have already been received. "Action will be taken against all those found guilty after investigation," he said, adding that the number of accused could rise as inquiries progress. In a related development, two FIRs have been registered against 121 people, who obtained government jobs using forged documents. One FIR names 72 individuals, while the other lists 49. The SOG has also written to the Education Department, urging departmental action against these individuals. Last year, the Rajasthan government directed all departments to verify the credentials of employees appointed between 2019 and 2024, cross-checking their educational qualifications, application forms, photographs, and signatures. Following these orders, the Bikaner Directorate of Elementary Education formed four-member investigation committees at the divisional level. These committees examined recruitment records from divisions, including Bikaner, Churu, Jaipur, Ajmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Kota, Bharatpur, and Pali. Their findings revealed serious irregularities in the appointment of 121 teachers, leading to the registration of two FIRs and the launch of an SOG investigation. DIG Deshmukh said the SOG helpline continues to receive information on recruitment irregularities. Based on these inputs, Rajasthan Chief Secretary Sudhansh Pant was requested to initiate departmental-level probes, after which all departments began parallel investigations. The Directorate of Elementary Education also conducted its own probe into appointments made through the Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers (REET) in 2018 and 2022. This investigation identified around 123 teachers suspected of obtaining jobs through fraudulent means. The details were forwarded to the SOG, which has registered two separate cases in this regard. The SOG is now pursuing all leads, including forged marital status documents, fake educational certificates, and other fraudulent submissions used to bypass eligibility norms. Officials say more arrests are likely as the scope of the scam becomes clearer. --IANS arc/khz Bhopal, Aug 11 : Amid the ongoing controversy over 'vote theft' allegations by the Opposition, the Madhya Pradesh Congress has decided to stage a protest in Rewa district on Tuesday. State unit Congress chief Jitu Patwari said that Congress MP and LoP Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi has presented all facts and exposed gross 'irregularities' in voter list, and he was demanding an explanation from the Election Commission of India (ECI). "However, when Rahul Gandhi and MPs from other Opposition bloc tried to reach ECI in New Delhi, they were detained by police. If the election commission have done nothing wrong, then why it failed to reply and why MPs from Opposition bloc were detained," Patwari asked. Patwari said that Rahul Gandhi has also raised his doubt on "fairness" in Madhya Pradesh State Assembly elections held in 2023. Citing the Election Commissionas data, especially about 8 to 10 per cent suspected fake voters, Patwari said that Assembly elections in November 2023 were conducted based on the same voter list. "Rahul Gandhi is fighting to protect the constitution and the rights of every citizen of this country. To strengthen his voice stronger, MP Congress will stage a peaceful protest in Rewa on Tuesday," Patwari told media persons on Monday. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the State Assembly Umang Singhar reiterated Rahul Gandhi's allegations that "ECI is colluding with ruling BJP", said that the arrest of over 300 MPs from the Opposition bloc would be remembered as a "black day" in Indian democracy. Several Opposition leaders were detained in Delhi on Monday as they shouted slogans, jumped barricades, and marched to the Election Commission in a rare public protest against what they say are electoral malpractices. Around 300 Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi of the main opposition Congress party, marched from parliament to the office of the independent election panel but were stopped by police some distance away. The protesters shouted slogans against the panel and Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, saying elections were being "stolen", and tried to push past barricades before being detained and taken away in buses. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the constitution," Rahul Gandhi told reporters. "We want a clean, pure voters' list." Rahul Gandhi and Congress have alleged that voters' lists in states where the party lost are corrupted, with voters' names deleted or included more than once to rig elections in favour of Bharatiya Janata Party. Opposition parties have also criticised the election panel's decision to revise the voters' list in the key northern state of Bihar just before state elections due later this year, saying it aims to disenfranchise large numbers of poor voters. The commission has said that changes in voters' lists are shared with political parties and all complaints are investigated thoroughly. It has also said that voters' lists need to be revised to remove dead voters or those who have relocated to other parts of the country, among others. --IANS pd/pgh Agartala, Aug 11 : A six-member delegation of the ruling BJP's tribal leaders from Tripura on Monday held a meeting with the party's National General Secretary (Organisation) B L Santhosh in New Delhi and discussed organisational matters involving tribals, a party leader said. A BJP leader in Agartala said that the tribal leaders led by Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma discussed the ensuing election to the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC), polling for which is due early next year. The 30-member politically important TTAADC has been governed by the BJP's ally Tipra Motha Party (TMP). The ruling BJP has been trying to strengthen its organisational base in the TTAADC, which has jurisdiction over two-thirds of Tripura's 10,491 sq km area, and is home to over 12,16,000 people, of which around 84 per cent are tribals. "During the meeting, the tribal leaders discussed in detail how to further strengthen the party's tribal wing, Janajati Morcha and its political activities in tribal inhabited areas. B L Santhosh extended full support to boost the party organisation in the interior and tribal dominated areas," the party leader said. To lessen its dependency on tribal-based parties and their allies, the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) and the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), the BJP has intensified efforts to further strengthen its organisational base in tribal-inhabited areas of Tripura. Tribals constitute one-third of Tripura's four million population. Recently, the BJP government increased the monthly honorarium for tribal community leaders to woo the tribals' sentiment. Chief Minister Manik Saha, in a post on X, had said: "In a significant decision by the State Cabinet, the monthly honorarium for tribal community leaders (Samajpatis) has been increased from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000. This decision reflects the government's commitment to honouring the invaluable role and social contributions of the Samajpatis in the tribal communities." A senior tribal leader of the BJP said that as a national party, it has always been trying to further consolidate its base among the tribals. "As a national party, we have a national perception and objective, but the regional parties have different ambitions. Sometimes these create complex situations. That's why we try to strengthen our base among the tribals," the leader said, refusing to be named. He said that the Central government, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP governments in different states across the country, have dozens of schemes and projects for the all-round socio-economic development of the 11 crore tribals in India. Amidst the BJP's stepped-up activities to hold organisational programmes in the tribal dominated areas, TMP workers attacked the former's (BJP's) Karyakartas (functionaries) on two occasions in Khowai and West Tripura districts last month, injuring at least ten. TMP workers attacked BJP functionaries when they assembled at a village in Khowai district during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' programme on July 27, injuring nine Karyakartas. On July 31, TMP activists attacked BJP workers at Jampuijala in West Tripura district when the BJP leaders and members were holding a meeting. A BJP member was seriously injured in the attack and admitted to the hospital. On July 17, the BJP held a crucial meeting -- 'Janajati Chintan Shivir' -- with all elected and organisational tribal leaders. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha, state Party President Rajib Bhattacharjee, Tribal Welfare Minister Bikash Debbarma, tribal leader and former MP Rebati Tripura, all tribal MLAs, TTAADC members and tribal leaders across Tripura attended the daylong 'Janajati Chintan Shivir'. "The meeting was held to further strengthen the BJP's organisational base among the tribals," Bhattacharjee, also a Rajya Sabha member, had told the media. --IANS sc/dan Vijayawada, Aug 11 : Ahead of the by-elections to local bodies in Pulivendula and Ontimitta, the Opposition YSR Congress Party, on Monday, sought immediate intervention by the State Election Commission (SEC) to ensure free and fair polls. A delegation of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders met the State Election Commission and sought steps to halt what they described "unprecedented subversion of democracy". Polling for the by-election to Pulivendula and Ontimitta Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTCs) in Kadapa district will be held on Tuesday. Ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Opposition YSRCP are locked in a bitter fight for supremacy in Pulivendula, the home town and Assembly constituency of YSRCP President and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. The by-poll for Pulivendula ZPTC is necessitated by the death of YSRCP leader T. Maheshwar Reddy. While YSRCP has fielded his son Hemanth Reddy, TDP's candidate is Latha Reddy, the wife of former MLC and the ruling party's Pulivendula constituency in-charge, Mareddy Ravindra Reddy (B. Tech Ravi). The by-election turned into a major prestige battle for both TDP and YSRCP. While YS family is trying to maintain its grip on Pulivendula, the TDP is looking to make further inroads into YS family's bastion. The TDP-led NDA alliance had won seven out of 10 Assembly seats in Jagan Mohan Reddy's home district Kadapa last year. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of conspiring to hijack the ZPTC by-election. The former Chief Minister alleged that together with certain officials, TDP's anarchic gangs, and police officers, Chandrababu Naidu is conspiring to hijack the election. Speaking to the media after the meeting Station Election Commissioner on Monday, YSRCP leaders said that the ruling TDP-led alliance, aided by a compromised official machinery, was resorting to intimidation, mass distribution of cash, and targeted attacks on YSRCP workers to forcibly secure victory in Jagan Mohan Reddy's home constituency of Pulivendula. They accused the police and revenue departments of acting as silent spectators, enabling large-scale electoral malpractice. The delegation comprised MLCs Lella Appi Reddy, Mondithoka Arun Kumar, Kalpalatha Reddy, former Ministers Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani), Velampalli Srinivas, Jogi Ramesh and others. Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani) detailed how TDP leaders were coercing voters by confiscating voter slips distributed by election authorities and offering Rs 10,000 per vote. Villagers who resisted were threatened, assaulted, and falsely implicated in criminal cases. "In some villages, police presence is heavy, but those intimidating voters are left untouched. While officials claim to have deployed shadow teams and flying squads, the cash-for-votes network operates openly," he said. Meanwhile, tight security arrangements have been made to prevent any untoward incident during the polling. Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha assured that polling will be conducted peacefully. She dismissed Jagan Mohan Reddy's allegations of irregularities and violence. On the allegations about relocation of polling booths from villages to more distant locations, she said that the changes were made by the State Election Commission. She clarified that TDP has nothing with this decision. Bhopal, Aug 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will perform bhoomi-pujan of the country's first 'PM MITRA Park' in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district during his visit to the state on August 25, Chief Mohan Yadav said on Monday. Bhopal, Aug 11 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will perform bhoomi-pujan of the countryas first 'PM MITRA Park' in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district during his visit to the state on August 25, Chief Mohan Yadav said on Monday. Chairing a review meeting in view of PM Modi's visit to Dhar, Chief Minister Yadav called for micro-planning of the entire event and factual dissemination of information to citizens about the employment-based industries and their benefits. At the venue, a waterproof dome will be set up, featuring a stage for VVIPs, adequate seating arrangements, drinking water facilities, and well-organised logistics. He emphasised convenient access routes, including alternate roads and necessary repairs. Chief Minister instructed the commissioners of Indore and Ujjain divisions, along with all district collectors, to work in close coordination to ensure better arrangements. He reviewed preparations via video conferencing. "While other states are still in the initial preparation stages for their PM MITRA Parks, Madhya Pradesh will already be holding the groundbreaking ceremony on August 25," Yadav said, adding that it has been made possible through continuous coordination with the Central government. The PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Park to be set up in Dhar will be a key step in making India a global textile powerhouse. Spread over more than 2,158 acres with an investment exceeding Rs. 2,000 crore, it aims to become a textile hub through state-of-the-art infrastructure, sustainable development and strategic policy support. During the review meeting, the Chief Minister also emphasised that once completed, the PM MITRA Park will give a major boost to the development of the entire Malwa region. The Dhar district area is poised to become the second large industrial hub after Pithampur. Developed as a greenfield project by the State Authority, it will feature modern trunk infrastructure such as stormwater drainage, water supply, waste management, sewage systems, a 220 KVA substation, SCADA-controlled utilities, well-planned street lighting, and amenities. Chief Yadav also expressed that the project would generate three lakhs direct and indirect jobs, and Dhar's Badnawar tehsil will also become part of the Indore Metropolitan City Area, gaining access to metropolitan facilities. Agartala, Aug 11 : Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Monday that the main aim of the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign is to honour those who have made the supreme sacrifice to protect the sovereignty of the country and achieve India's Independence. While attending a door-to-door campaign for the Har Ghar Tiranga program at his assembly constituency Bordowali here, the Chief Minister said that the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign has been successful in Tripura. "As you all know, this marks the third year of the Har Ghar Tiranga initiative. We have been doing this after Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to us. Our National Flag is our pride. We are observing this day to give respect to the people who made the supreme sacrifice during the independence of the country. For this reason, Har Ghar Tiranga is being observed," said Saha. He said Tripura also joined the nation to undertake the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign. The Chief Minister said: "Today I have come here in my own assembly constituency. Yesterday I did the same in another assembly constituency -- Banamalipur. The 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign is being held in three phases -- from August 2 to 8th, from August 9 to August 12, and from August 13 to 15. I have come here to attend door-to-door campaigns. Everyone is happy after witnessing this campaign, he said." He further said that the main aim of this programme is to give respect to those people who have made the supreme sacrifice and are still fighting to protect the country. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister highlighted the significance of the campaign, urging people, especially the younger generation, to learn about the national flag, freedom fighters, their sacrifices, and the long struggle for India's independence. Taking to social media platform X, the CM wrote: "Celebrating India's independence and honoring the sacrifices of our freedom fighters ! Today, as part of the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' initiative, distributed national flags to citizens of Gandhi Ghat in Ward No- 32 of Bordowali Assembly Constituency and encouraged everyone to hoist the Tricolour, symbolizing unity and patriotism." 'Har Ghar Tiranga' is a campaign (August 2 to 15) started under the aegis of 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav' to encourage people to bring the Tricolour home and to hoist it to mark India's Independence. The idea behind the initiative was to invoke the feeling of patriotism in the hearts of the people and to promote awareness about the Indian national flag. The Union Ministry of Culture is the nodal Ministry for the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign. --IANS sc/pgh Jaipur, Aug 11 : Heavy police personnel were deployed in Rajasthan's Udaipur district, following protests over the rape of an eight-year-old girl, police said on Monday. Angry crowds took to the streets on Monday, blocking the service road of the Udaipur-Chittorgarh National Highway and vandalising vehicles. Additional police were called from four police stations to control the situation. Police have arrested the accused, but tension remains in the Dabok police station area. Protesters gathered at the police station to demand a swift arrest, and the situation escalated as the crowd began vandalising buses and blocking the road, causing a traffic jam. Additional Superintendent of Police, Gopal Swaroop Mewara and Sub-Divisional Magistrate Ramesh Sirvi arrived at the spot, and police from neighboring police stations were deployed. The incident occurred on Sunday evening when the girl went to a field and was attacked by the accused. The attacker fled, leaving the girl unconscious. She is currently in stable condition at the MB Hospital in Jaipur. The police's forensic and dog squad teams have collected evidence, and CCTV footage from the area is being reviewed. In a statement, Leader of the Opposition Tika Ram Jully called the incident "heart-wrenching" and said that the people are deeply resentful. He criticised the state's law and order, citing the protests, road blockades, and police deployment as evidence of a "completely collapsed" system. He also condemned government representatives for making "irresponsible and baseless statements" despite the prevalence of such crimes. New York, Aug 11 : US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the oil tariff on India was a "big blow" to Russia, making its President Vladimir Putin pliable to seeking an end to the war with Ukraine. New York, Aug 11 (IANS) US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the oil tariff on India was a "big blow" to Russia, making its President Vladimir Putin pliable to seeking an end to the war with Ukraine. With Russia's economy already "not doing well" due to the war, Trump said that their largest or second-largest oil buyer has been put under a 50 per cent tariff. "I was all set to do things far bigger than that, but I got a call that they'd like to meet", he said. Trump imposed a 25 per cent punitive tariff last week on India for buying Russian oil on top of the 25 per cent tariff he had set earlier in his trade war. Trump is set to meet Putin in Alaska on Friday to explore an end to the Ukraine War after the Russian leader had defied his attempts since taking office in January. "I'm going to see what they want to like to see in a ceasefire. I'd like to see the best deal that could be made for both parties," said Trump. Trump said that ultimately, he wants Putin and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky, talk to each other directly. Trump made the assertions while speaking to reporters at the White House after signing an executive order bringing the crime-ravaged capital's law and order under federal control. Making his muddled claim, Trump said that the ability to impose higher tariffs has "given us not only the money it's bringing -- it's trillions of dollars of money -- but it gives us great power over enemies." "We solved five wars [including] Pakistan and India," he said, going on to list others, including the peace deal signed by Azerbaijan and Armenia last week in his presence. He claimed on Truth Social that he made a trade deal with Pakistan on July 30, but neither side gave full details of the deal. Trump imposed a 19 per cent tariff on Pakistan the next day. New Delhi has said that tariffs had not figured in conversations with the US during Operation Sindoor, and the US had no role in ending the anti-terror operation. India said the Operation Sindoor ended when Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations, Major General Kashif Abdullah, called his Indian counterpart, Lieutenant General Rajiv Ghai, and asked for a ceasefire With the temporary trade truce with China set to end on Tuesday, Trump said, "We'll see what happens. We've been dealing very nicely with China". "They have tremendous tariffs that they're paying to the United States of America. The relationship is very good with President Xi Jinping and myself," he added. Bhubaneswar, Aug 11 : The opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Monday announced that it would approach the Orissa High Court over alleged vote discrepancies during the 2024 general elections. Speaking at a press conference here, former Rajya Sabha MP and senior BJD leader Amar Patnaik stated that eight months ago, the party had submitted information to the Election Commission of India regarding the voting discrepancies observed in the last assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Odisha and had sought response from the central agency. He further added that the ECI has however failed to give any satisfactory reply on the issues raised by the party so the party will move to high court on the issue. Patnaik also said that the party had raised three issues before the ECI: (1) discrepancies between the number of votes cast and the votes counted in all the MP constituencies across the state during the 2024 elections; (2) inconsistencies between the total votes counted in all the Assembly segments under an MP constituency and the total votes counted for the particular MP constituency itself; and (3) higher-than-estimated voting percentage after 5 p.m. in almost all constituencies. He alleged that since voting is conducted through EVM machines, even a single vote discrepancy is unlikely to occur. He alleged that the maximum discrepancy of vote percentage after 5 p.m. was found in Keonjhar assembly constituency, the constituency where Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi contested and won in 2024 elections. The former Rajya Sabha MP stated that the party had demanded the ECI conduct a process audit of the entire election procedure a" from the preparation of electoral rolls to the announcement of results a" as is done in many developed countries. The party also urged the Commission to implement 100 per cent vote verification through Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), instead of limiting it to only five percent of cases. Additionally, the party sought information under Form 17C, which the Election Commission declined to provide, citing several pending court cases related to elections in 28 constituencies. Patnaik said that if required the party will move the Supreme Court on the issue as well. Apart from Patnaik, BJD MLA Dhruba Charan Sahoo and former MP, Sarmistha Sethi also raised serious allegations on the whole election process during the press conference held here on Monday. It is pertinent here to mention that the Opposition parties, led by the Indian National Congress, have recently leveled serious allegations of vote discrepancies in the last elections, seeking answers from the ECI. New Delhi, Aug 11 : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MPs on Monday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss key issues concerning Andhra Pradesh. The TDP MPs led by parliamentary party leader Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu along with Civil Aviation Minister K. Ram Mohan Naidu and Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications, Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani had separate meetings with the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. Lavu Krishna said on behalf of TDP Parliamentary Party, they presented to the Prime Minister a comprehensive report analysing the Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes of the Government of India, and their implementation status in Andhra Pradesh. "We also expressed our appreciation for Operation Sindhoor, a testament to India's resolve in safeguarding national security, and discussed the importance of protecting farmers' interests in ongoing and future trade negotiations to ensure fair opportunities and sustainable livelihoods," he posted on X. The TDP Parliamentary Party leader stated that under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, the NDA led Government remains steadfast in its commitment to fast-tracking Andhra Pradesh's development and prosperity. The TDP MPs later had a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah. Lavu Krishna said they discussed key issues concerning Andhra Pradesh and explore avenues for accelerating the state's development. Meanwhile, Ram Mohan Naidu posted on X that they submitted a representation seeking the expeditious approval of the FCRA application of Rural Development Trust (RDT), Anantapur. The Civil Aviation Minister stated that Andhra Pradesh is committed to advancing the Government of India's mission of inclusive rural development. "The FCRA approval for RDT is essential to ensure the continuation of its transformative initiatives, particularly in the Anantapur region. For decades, RDT has been a lifeline for vulnerable communities, delivering impactful interventions in healthcare, education, women's empowerment, livelihoods, and sports. Its work touches over 4.5 lakh families across more than 3,900 villages, with a significant footprint in Anantapur, one of the most drought-prone districts in the country. Approving the FCRA application will enable RDT to sustain and scale its service to the people who need it most," he added. Hindupur MP BK Pardhasaradhi, Anantapur MP G Lakshminarayana, Rajya Sabha members Beeda Masthan Rao, Sana Satish, MLAs from Anantapur and Hindupur region Kalva Srinivasulu, Paritala Suneetha, MS Raju, A. Surendra Babu, D. Venkateshwara Prasad and Paritala Sriram were present. VIENTIANE, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Laos has taken a bold step in its ongoing fight against dengue fever by releasing Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes, a safe and effective method to reduce dengue incidence, across seven districts of Lao capital Vientiane. The project was officially launched at Patuxay Park, with Lao Minister of Health Baikham Khattiya in attendance, along with local and international leaders, community health workers, and residents, Lao News Agency reported on Monday. Dengue fever continues to impact many families across Laos, especially during the rainy season. As of Aug. 5, Laos has reported 5,615 cases of dengue fever, including one death. The highest number of cases was recorded in Vientiane, which reported 2,746 infections. Wolbachia is a natural and safe bacteria that reduce the ability of Dengue-carrying Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to transmit viruses between people. The bacteria-carrying mosquitoes breed with the wild Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in the area, passing Wolbachia to their offspring. This program follows the success of a pilot project in 2022, which involved the deployment of Wolbachia mosquitoes in several areas in Vientiane, protecting 32 villages and nearly 86,000 people. New optic mounts never get the credit they deserve, and most people (myself included) tend to cheap out on them given the chance. But if you have an optic you actually care about, it needs a mount that will keep it secure and on target. Brand new from Midwest Industries Inc. comes the second generation of their quick-detach optic mount! MI sent this out for testing a couple of months ago, and its been run hard on a DIY AR-10 ever since. From normal range days to local 2-gun matches to being driven over 1,000 miles from Arizona to Idaho for InRangeTVs High Desert Brutality match, the MK2 QD mount has performed amazingly well. SPECS Available Sizes: 30mm Standard, 30mm High , 34mm Standard, 34mm High , Weight: 7.9 to 8.8oz, depending on ring size and height Overall length: 5.875 Width of rings: .850 Distance between rings: 2.800 Offset from base to first ring: 1.400 Distance from top of rail to center line of ring: 1.550 (Standard), 1.930 (High) PROS: New look and style 12 oclock red dot mount or 1913 Picatinny section available Extremely durable Zero was maintained through remounting CONS: Great mounts arent cheap ON THE RANGE 400 rounds isnt a massive round count, but precision 6.5 Creedmoor aint cheap. The ultimate goal of the AR-10 was to shoot in the Heavy Rifle division at InRangeTVs High Desert Brutality in Parma, Idaho. A long range 2-gun match that pushed targets to 615 yards, a durable and rock-solid scope mount was exactly what I needed to complement the Vortex Razor Gen 3 1-10 LPVO. With top rings that can be switched out for optics mounts or 1913 Picatiny diving boards, this mount was perfect not only for the Razor Gen 3, but also for a Vortex Impact 4000 weapon-mounted laser range finder. Not all optic mounts can handle the extra weight and size of a major attachment like the Impact, but the MK2 had no trouble with it. A scope mount isnt very sexy to talk about; they either work or they dont. For me, the MK2 worked perfectly even when the rifle didnt. The AR-10 used an Aero Precision M5 builders kit as the base. Instead of being anodized, this receiver was Cerakote FDE. Apparently, Aero used a lot of Cerakote for this rifle. After about 150 rounds during pre-game range trips, the Cerakote wore down enough that the MK2 came loose and could slide back and forth in the Picatiny slots. Shockingly, it held zero even after sliding back or being pushed forward in the slots. Even more surprising, taking the mount off and tightening the QD a few segments maintained zero when remounted to the rifle. Retightened and remounted, the MK2 has held rock solid since. The diving board and scope also maintained perfect alignment with the Impact 4000. Not unexpected, but good to see. New look, new style, but still a damn good performance from this new generation of scope mount. Welcome to the first week of fall semester! The astrological world invites us to take a moment to reset and refocus. The Red & Black has compiled horoscopes for each zodiac sign for the week of Aug. 11 through Aug. 17. 'There is no retrospective changing of the law, only its simplification.' Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff The new Income-Tax Bill does not override the intent of the Income Tax Act, 1961, but simplifies its language and structure, says Lok Sabha MP Baijayant Panda, who chaired the 31-member select committee to review its draft. In an interview with Monika Yadav/Business Standard, Panda says with the rising number of filings, resources need to be scaled up. This interview was conducted before the government withdrew the I-T bill from the Lok Sabha on Friday, August 8, 2025. Do you believe the Bill has been simplified enough to significantly reduce tax disputes and litigation? This is the first step towards simplification. The law has become complicated. It is 64 years old and has undergone more than 4,000 amendments, resulting in complexity and frequent litigation. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, nearly 1,500 laws have been repealed and replaced with simplified, new legislation. So, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said we will do the same thing with the Income-Tax Act. So as a first step, it was decided that without changing the policies, the focus would be on how the existing Act could be simplified. That is the Bill that was presented in Parliament a few months ago, and that is the Bill that was sent to my select committee for vetting. The number of words in the new Bill has been reduced by about 50 per cent. The 1961 law had Latin phrases and complicated descriptions. Now, this Bill's language is simple. Instead of complicated descriptions it has formulas and tables. The objective was to simplify the law, make it easy to understand, and reduce disputes and litigation. As regards the old law, even experts couldn't give clear answers. Will there be more revision? We have received many suggestions about policy changes, but that was beyond our mandate. Our mandate was to simplify the law as it stood. There were suggestions about changing the policy. Those will be taken up at appropriate forums. The government policy on income tax is formulated at the time of the Budget. By and large there is a consensus that this is the Bill that will assist taxpayers and it lays the platform for further simplification. In the parliamentary system, committee recommendations are suggestive, not binding. The Bill will go back to the government, and the Cabinet will decide how many of the 300 broad suggestions we've made will be incorporated in the final draft. After that, Parliament will deliberate and vote on it -- that will become the final Bill. The speaker has allotted time for discussion, and we expect it to be passed in the monsoon session. The committee has recommended widening the scope for transfer pricing. However, experts have expressed concern that this could trigger more disputes and litigation. If you simplify the language of the Bill, things become clear. So if people do come within the ambit of the law, they should be paying tax. Due to lack of clarity, some might have assumed they were not subject to tax. The transfer-pricing provision itself hasn't changed -- the language has simply been streamlined to remove ambiguity. The intent of the law has not changed. Whatever transaction was taxable earlier is taxable now. The Bill does not address the status of ongoing disputes under the 1961 Act, leading to apprehension among taxpayers that past litigation and judicial precedents could be rendered irrelevant. After this Bill is passed by Parliament, it will come into effect on April 1, 2026. Until then, the old Act will stay operative. The current disputes will come adjudicated under the old law. This Bill does not change policy, it simplifies it. So wherever judgments are there are not going to change. Nothing is going to affect any benefit the taxpayer has received. There is no retrospective changing of the law, only its simplification. In the report, the select committee has raised concern about the pending appeals before the commissioner of income tax (appeals) (CIT-A), and the finance ministry has made submissions that it's not possible to introduce deadlines for disposing of tax appeals. Faceless assessment was introduced five years ago and has had a dramatic effect on improving transparency. It removed much of the subjectivity that existed earlier. The process is now formula-based and rule-driven, with initial assessments carried out without any direct contact with officials. People are wrongly conflating the pendency of appeals with the faceless regime. The backlog began during the pandemic. Cognisant of this, the ministry has been taking measures. If you look at the CIT appeals in the past two years, there has been a surge in settlement. India is growing rapidly, with return filings now exceeding the population of the United Kingdom. Appeals filed are only a tiny fraction of the 90 million returns submitted. We are now working to eliminate disputes at the roots. The target is to settle all appeals in a year. Systemic issues are being addressed. Ideally, no appeal should remain pending beyond a year. With the rising number of filings, resources also need to be scaled up. I am confident that in the coming few years, you will see a dramatic reduction in the number of unsettled cases. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff With demand for information-technology (IT) services in North America still sluggish, Europe has become a source of optimism for Indian companies because it is delivering steady gains over the past two years and continuing to outperform in the latest quarter. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh Yet analysts caution a full-scale revival will require a rebound in the United States (US), particularly in manufacturing, retail, and BFSI (banking, financial services, and insurance), because Europe contributes only about a third of the revenues. Companies like Infosys and Tata Consultancy Services are benefiting from large outsourcing deals, rising research & development (R&D), and increasing cloud and AI (artificial intelligence) adoption by European enterprises. For example, Infosys growth in Europe over the past three years has far surpassed that in North America and the companys overall growth. Even in the first quarter of FY26, revenue growth in Europe was up 12.3 per cent, compared to North America at 0.4 per cent, on a constant-currency basis over a year earlier. There are consolidation deals we have won in Europe. So that has helped. "And over time, Europe is also opening up from the outsourcing perspective. That is helping in growth, Infosys chief financial officer Jayesh Sanghrajka told analysts. The company is also benefiting from a pipeline of large deals in the continent. Experts say European enterprises historically invested just a fifth of what US firms allocated to tech R&D. In emerging areas like AI, private investment in the US outpaced that in Europe by three to four times, contributing to higher costs and slower modernisation across industries. Nitin Bhatt, partner and technology-sector leader, EY, said IT expenditure in Europe was expected to grow 8-10 per cent in 2025 over the previous year, marking the strongest annual growth since the pandemic. The narrative is shifting. "Over the past few years, European companies have accelerated their R&D investment, with growth rates surpassing those of US firms for the first time in over a decade. Key sectors, such as manufacturing, banking, and public services, are embracing cloud and sustainability-linked initiatives to digitise operations and enhance competitiveness. "Early adopters, particularly in financial services, have demonstrated the value of offshoring critical functions, leading to the broader acceptance of outsourcing across industries, added Bhatt. TCS separates UK revenue from what it earns in continental Europe. UK revenue was up 4 per cent and continental Europe 0.7 per cent, while North America was down 1.8 per cent. With the trade uncertainty and the new spending on defence stimulating the economy, Europe has become a more attractive market for Indian firms, said Peter Bendor-Samuel, founder and executive chairman, Everest group. Wipro, whose fortunes have moved the other way, has been hit by some of its client-specific problems in the continent. The company, however, expects to return to trajectory from the third quarter as soon as revenue from the $500 million Phoenix deal kicks in. The growth drivers for IT companies in Europe include rising need for cost-optimisation deals to reduce tech spend, technology adoption as European firms aim to build tech capabilities to maintain sovereignty, and reducing dependency on the US. "Key sectors powering growth are manufacturing in Germany, shipping and logistics in northern Europe, and financial services across the continent. "Demand is particularly strong in cloud computing, generative AI, digital transformation, and cybersecurity, said Gaurav Vasu, founder, data intelligence firm UnearthInsights. Sanghrajka said it would be difficult to ascertain whether Europe would continue growing. When asked if the geography was only a fall-back option till the larger market gets its mojo back, Bendor-Samuel said: This looks less like a permanent shift and more like Europe being on a stronger trajectory at this time. File a written complaint with the bank's grievance redressal officer and secure an acknowledgement. Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy Oleksandr Pidvalnyi/Pixabay.com The Coimbatore District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission recently directed a housing finance company to pay Rs 10 lakh in compensation to a borrower for losing original property documents submitted at the time of availing a home loan. Here are the steps borrowers can take if a lender misplaces their property papers. Precautions During Submission Borrowers must submit ownership documents, including the agreement to sell, title deed, possession letter, NOC from the builder or society, approved building plan, encumbrance certificate, and tax-paid receipts when applying for a home loan. These are held as collateral. Property documents can get lost for various reasons. "They could get misplaced, damaged due to improper storage, or lost due to fire and other natural calamities," says Raoul Kapoor, co-chief executive officer, Andromeda Sales and Distribution. Borrowers must retain attested copies. "Get a written acknowledgement from the lender listing each document submitted," says Adhil Shetty, CEO, BankBazaar.com. Lender Liable to Penalty Lenders must remove any lien and return the original property documents within 30 days of loan closure, according to Reserve Bank of India rules. "If the lender fails to do so, they must communicate the reasons. They are also liable for a penalty of Rs 5,000 per day of delay," says Shetty. In case of loss, the lender must assist the borrower in obtaining certified copies. "The bank must bear all the costs involved in retrieving or recreating those documents. They get another 30 days to fulfil their obligation. "If they fail to deliver the documents or certified copies even after that period, they have to pay a penalty of Rs 5,000 per day until the issue is resolved," says Shetty. What Should Borrowers Do? File a written complaint with the bank's grievance redressal officer and secure an acknowledgement. Ask the bank to provide a written confirmation stating the documents are untraceable. "This written record is crucial for any future legal action or complaint under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, or RBI guidelines," says Nivedita Bhardwaj, partner, King Stubb & Kasiva, Advocates and Attorneys. Borrowers will need to provide a few additional documents to the lender to initiate the re-acquisition process. "Obtain a non-traceable certificate on the bank's letterhead, loan closure or no dues certificate (if the loan is repaid), a list of the lost documents, the bank's internal investigation report (if available), and a formal assistance letter with indemnity support," says Bhardwaj. Ask the bank to file an FIR and publish a notice in a widely circulated newspaper. "The property owner must prepare a notarised affidavit confirming the loss, attach a copy of the FIR and newspaper notice, and apply to the sub-registrar's office (where the property is located) for certified copies of the title documents," says Shrishail Kittad, senior partner, IndiaLaw LLP. "These copies are issued after verification and payment of a nominal fee," Kittad adds. When to Escalate the Matter After filing a written complaint, allow the bank 30 days to respond. "If the issue remains unresolved, complain to the RBI ombudsman through the Complaint Management System (CMS) portal or offline, along with proof of loan closure and earlier communication. "The ombudsman may then direct the bank to return the documents and, where appropriate, award compensation," says Amit Kumar Nag, partner, AQUILAW. Filing a consumer complaint is another option. "If a bank has failed in its duty of care by losing your property documents, and has refused to cooperate, delayed the issuance of necessary documents, or caused significant hardship or financial loss, file a complaint before the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission," says Bhardwaj. Relief Consumer Court Can Offer Can direct the bank to return original title deeds Award compensation for mental agony, harassment, and consequential financial loss Impose litigation costs on the bank In aggravated cases, may award punitive damages Source: AQUILAW Disclaimer: This article is meant for information purposes only. This article and information do not constitute a distribution, an endorsement, an investment advice, an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities/schemes or any other financial products/investment products mentioned in this article to influence the opinion or behaviour of the investors/recipients. Any use of the information/any investment and investment related decisions of the investors/recipients are at their sole discretion and risk. Any advice herein is made on a general basis and does not take into account the specific investment objectives of the specific person or group of persons. Opinions expressed herein are subject to change without notice. Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff 'Mr Modi has the power and pre-eminence in the BJP-RSS to choose how long he wants to serve, and he is definitely going to want to contest in 2029.' 'He will only be 79, as old as Donald Trump now, and fitter,' observes Shekhar Gupta. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses the media ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament, July 21, 2025. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo Please do not fall into the trap of the usual cliches like 'setting the cat among the pigeons' over the statement by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarsanghachalak Mohan Bhagwat that, once they attain the age of 75, leaders should think of retiring and yield to younger colleagues. This caution is needed because in the Bharatiya Janata Party, and particularly the BJP-RSS relations, there will always be the Modi exception. To think that this is a nudge to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to step down as he turns 75 on September 17 this year, six days after Mr Bhagwat, would be reading too much into it. However, a Sarsanghachalak is never to be taken lightly. In this case, Mr Bhagwat broke from a speech in Marathi to speak just these, retirement-at-75 lines in Hindi. No slip of the tongue, or scope for misinterpretation there. I anticipate an immediate questioning of this from those who follow national politics closely. They can indeed remind me of my own two-part conversation with then RSS chief K S Sudarshan in 2005, where he asked Atal Bihari Vajpayee (80) and L K Advani (77) to move on and let younger people take over. He had also attacked Vajpayee's son-in-law, close associate Brajesh Mishra, and his style of working. His response became even more vehement when I reminded him that Vajpayee had dismissed rumours of his retirement with that famous line: 'Na tired, na retired.' Since the Vajpayee-Advani duo was still very much in control of the BJP and widely respected as its founders, and also because there was no ready claimant for their places at that point, Sudarshan drew immediate criticism, though only in whispers. It was insinuated that his ageing mind was fading. The reality was different. From the BJP/RSS point of view, if he could be faulted, it was only for his timing. It was too soon after the party's defeat in the general elections the previous year and the party didn't need a succession struggle right then. In substance, he knew what he was doing, and was vindicated in the course of time. With his words, the die was cast. An entire line of likely successors had begun to emerge. Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj, Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari and, most notably, Narendra Modi in Ahmedabad. In a way, he had set up an American primaries-style leadership contest within the BJP. Mr Modi won it by the time he swept his third state election in 2012. Whether or not you like the BJP/RSS, you have to concede that they are the force with the most robust and meritocratic HR system in Indian politics. Through decades, they have produced successive generations of leaders, with the shakha system. It's a digression, but a significant point -- that of all the parties in India's political history, the BJP has had the least defections or splits. The ideological glue mostly keeps them all in the same tent, even the disgruntled. A few significant ones who left returned, like Kalyan Singh and B S Yediyurappa. Others, Shankersinh Vaghela, Balraj Madhok, all faded into irrelevance. In the same decades, the Congress has had so many splits that sometimes it seemed the entire alphabet might not be enough to find letters as suffixes for all its breakaway parties. The Janata Party, Socialists, or what used to be the Lok Dal, all went the same way. Not the BJP. You can't show me a hyphenated offshoot. The BJP also had no dynastic succession, at least at the top. There are many offsprings of illustrious founders and elders in key positions in the party now, but the succession was never straightforward. It was more about 'accommodating' somebody's child than a power transfer. You can trace it back to the Vajpayee-Advani era. They chose very young chief ministers: Vasundhara Raje, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Raman Singh, Narendra Modi -- averaging 49 years. This spotting and empowering of younger talent is even more striking with the choice of the BJP presidents. In 2002, M Venkaiah Naidu became president at 53. Rajnath Singh became president at 54 in 2005, Nitin Gadkari at 48 in 2009, and Amit Shah at just 49 in 2014. IMAGE: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat and former Union minister Arvind Netam during the RSS' Karyakarta Vikas Varg-2 at Reshimbag ground in Nagpur. Photograph: Rahul Singh/ANI Photo In contrast, through this period, Sonia Gandhi remained the Congress president, until Mallikarjun Kharge moved in after a Rahul Gandhi interregnum, sprightly still, but 80. Meanwhile, so much of the Congress' young talent has withered away. Some have joined the BJP in frustration; others carry on in the party, even more frustrated. We make too much of the ideological differences between the two parties. We ought to be paying more attention to their respective HR practices. This principle has been followed even post-2014. J P Nadda took over as party president at 59. The new chief ministers, Yogi Adityanath (UP), Bhajan Lal Sharma (Rajasthan), Mohan Yadav (Madhya Pradesh), Vishnu Deo Sai (Chhattisgarh), Mohan Charan Majhi (Odisha), Biplab Deb (Tripura) and Himanta Biswa Sarma (Assam, though a Congress original), Manohar Lal Khattar (Haryana), Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra), Pramod Sawant (Hoa), Pushkar Singh Dhami (Uttarakhand), Rekha Gupta (Delhi), the 12 of them, averaged 51 when sworn in. The Congress has inducted some younger talent in Telangana and Himachal, but in its most important state, Karnataka, it is stuck with a non-performing golden oldie in Siddaramaiah. IMAGE: Modi along with Mohan Bhagwat, UP Governor Anandiben Patel and others at the bhoomi pujan at the Shree Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir in Ayodhya, August 5, 2020. Photograph: Press Information Bureau A most notable fact is that the ideological guru of the BJP is living up to its own counsel. The oldest age up to which a sarsanghachalak has served is 78: Sudarshan (2009), (Rajendra Singh or Rajju Bhaiyya, in 2000), Madhukar Dattatraya 'Balasaheb' Deoras, (1994). From the founder group, K B Hedgewar and M S Golwalkar died young while still in office, at 51 and 67 in 1940 and 1973, respectively. All the sarsanghachalaks rose to the top young and had long tenures. As does the current one. The fact is that despite the rumours and whispers, nobody has mentioned any retire-at-75-rule within the BJP. It was only whispered as the justification to send Mr Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and others into retirement in the Margdarshak Mandal (Group of Elders). At the same time, some ministers continued, including Kalraj Mishra and Najma Heptulla. These were subsequently sent out as governors. In the latest election, Hema Malini was fielded from Mathura, though she had crossed 75, maybe to remind us that there is no '75-year-rule'. The only on-record reference we can find is Anandiben Patel explaining her resignation as Gujarat chief minister in 2016 because 'I have turned 75.' That will for sure be no precedent for Mr Modi. IMAGE: Then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee with then home minister L K Advani in Shey, Ladakh. Photograph:PTI Photo/Rediff Archives September 11 will now be the date to watch. That's when Bhagwat turns 75. If he decides to follow his own counsel and retire, there will at least be 'talk' about Mr Modi in the BJP corridors. Will there be a challenge? No. Will anybody dare to seek a process of post-2009 style 'primaries'? It isn't impossible, but most unlikely. But, as the calendar runs up to late 2028, some among the more ambitious in the BJP might feel impatient. Nobody would dare to even whimper, forget making a claim. Mr Modi now has the power and pre-eminence in the BJP-RSS to choose how long he wants to serve, and he is definitely going to want to contest in 2029. He will only be 79, as old as Donald Trump now, and fitter. The others will have to wait for the decision or a cue from him, even as some silent, subterranean 'primaries' might have begun within the BJP. By special arrangement with The Print Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff 'They should be given a strong message that they are not the ones who decide the rule of the land, and they are not the ones who decide what justice is.' IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets the heads of various Christian organisations during his visit to Kerala. Photograph: ANI Photo It was on the 26th of July that Preethi Merry and Vandana Francis, two Catholic nuns from Kerala, working in the tribal areas of Chhattisgarh, were arrested along with Sukaman Mandavi, a youth from Narayanpur by the Chhattisgrah police at the Durg railway station. The alleged crime committed by the nuns: Forced religious conversion and human trafficking. The nuns were charged under Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (trafficking of persons) and Section 4 of the Chhattisgarh Religious Freedom Act (1968). On the 30th of July a sessions court in Durg district disposed of the bail application of two nuns saying that the matter should be heard by the National Investigation Agency court. On the 2nd of August, eight days after their arrest, the nuns were granted bail by a special NIA court on condition that they surrender their passports and furnish a bond of Rs 50,000 each. The battle for justice is not over yet. It only begins now. It is against this background that Rediff's Shobha Warrier spoke to the president of Kerala Catholic Bishops Council, Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, who is the current Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. "When a mob, a crowd with vested interests, start to implement the rule of the country, this is what happens. And it is dangerous," Cardinal Baselios Cleemis says in the first of a two-part interview. When I spoke to you 10 years ago, in 2015 at the Bishop's House in Thiruvananthapuram, you were just back from Ranaghat after meeting a 70-year-old nun who had been raped. You were disturbed while speaking about that crime and also the increase in the attacks on churches after the BJP came to power. After the latest arrest of two nuns in Chhattisgarh, do you think the situation has worsened? It was a very tragic incident that happened in 2015. I was also president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India then. Now, the situation is that two sisters were arrested. Of course, they were granted bail. We are waiting for the judicial process to start. The alarming part of it is that some fundamentalist groups could take the situation under their control and to their advantage. They could restrain everyone concerned including the ruling governments too from acting. I mean, both the state and the Centre as well. This is the present situation. We are looking for a strong decision from the state and the central governments so that these groups are curtailed and contained, and there is respect for religion and each human being. We expect such a decision from them without delay. What happened at the railway station was a trial by a violent mob where the nuns were abused mentally and verbally... You are right. The police had the power to check such violent reactions. Nobody can deny that. But when a mob, a crowd with vested interests, start to implement the rule of the country, this is what happens. And it is dangerous. IMAGE: Sister Preethi Mary and Sister Vandana Francis after securing bail. Photograph: ANI Photo I remember in 2015 also, you said that more than the ruling party, it is the fringe elements who were involved in such violent activities. It continues even after 10 years... Yes. Maybe a different group now. That's the only difference. The situation is moving from one place to another, and one group to another. That's why the fringe elements should be brought under control and they should be given a strong message that they are not the ones who decide the rule of the land, and they are not the ones who decide what justice is. IMAGE: MPs Shashi Tharoor, N K Premachandran, Hibi Eden, K C Venugopal, Priyanka Vadra and others protest outside Parliament over Sister Preethi Mary and Sister Vandana Francis' arrest in Chhattisgarh, August 5, 2025. Photograph: Shrikant Singh/ANI Photo The FIRs filed against the nuns were forcible religious conversion and human trafficking which is a very grave offence. It is very upsetting and disturbing. Why we are upset is, first of all, these nuns are accused of these crimes. From the information we have received from their acquaintances, we consider them innocent. They are innocent, simple nuns. They are Christians fully involved in their work. If such kind of atrocities are committed against innocent nuns, what will be the condition of our country? What about the secular face of the country? What about the democratic image of the country? What about the freedom of individuals? What about human rights when a mob interrogates a person at a public place and decides the fate of the individual? Each person in this country has the right to protect her or his reputation and good name irrespective of caste, creed and political affiliation. IMAGE: Cardinal Baselios Cleemis IMAGE: Cardinal Baselios Cleemis You said you expect the state and central governments to take a decision so that there is justice for the nuns. While the Congress, UDF and LDF condemned the incident, the Kerala state BJP said it was a case of misunderstanding... Yes, the president of the Kerala state BJP categorically said that the nuns were innocent and it was just an accusation against them. That is the stand all of us have. But the Chhattisgarh BJP government does not feel that way and the Centre has been silent... We are grateful that they helped the sisters to come out of prison. At the same time, we want justice to be given to them. If the trial goes for a prolonged period, you will be curtailing their freedom. They are free citizens of this country. It should be taken note of that they did not commit any grave crime. The Centre has to see to it that the sisters got justice without delay. Of course, after due process. And we have great trust in the judiciary of this country. Part 2 of the Interview: 'Ball Is In BJP's Court' Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff SEOUL, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's exports fell in single digits in the first 10 days of August on fewer business days, customs office data showed Monday. Exports stood at 14.71 billion U.S. dollars in the Aug, 1-10 period, down 4.3 percent compared to the same period of last year, according to Korea Customs Service. It was attributed to a fall in working days, which declined by one day in the cited period. The daily average export advanced 9.3 percent to 2.10 billion dollars in the 10-day period. Semiconductor export mounted 12.0 percent to 3.90 billion dollars, but oil products shipment tumbled 19.4 percent to 1.22 billion dollars. Exports for ships surged 81.3 percent to 1.12 billion dollars, and automotive shipments expanded 8.5 percent to 950 million dollars. Exports for steel products, auto parts, computers and home appliances retreated in double figures. Imports reduced 13.6 percent from a year earlier to 15.88 billion dollars in the first 10 days of August, sending the trade deficit to 1.17 billion dollars. Imports for crude oil, natural gas and machinery decreased in double digits, and those for semiconductors, cars, oil products and semiconductor equipment slipped in single figures. 'We need to be very vigilant as we are passing through some fraught times.' IMAGE: Pakistan's army chief Syed Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif address soldiers participating in Operation Banyan Al-Mursoos, the Pakistan counter to Operation Sindoor. Photograph: General Asim Munir/Facebook "We need to deal with the People's Republic of China, but without illusions that they will come to our aid in any differences with the US," says Ambassador Prabhat P Shukla, who served in missions in Moscow thrice and was India's envoy to Russia between 2007 and 2011. He also served in Brussels, London, Canberra, Singapore, Kathmandu and five years in the prime minister's office. "We also know that during the recent Op Sindoor, they helped Pakistan as much as they could, and are now replenishing their stores." "Incidentally, Beijing would also be looking askance at the growing closeness between the US and Pakistan, their 'iron brother'," Ambassador Shukla tells Rediff's Archana Masih in a detailed must-read interview. India has welcomed the Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska on August 15. How significant can this meeting prove for India, especially in the background of August 27, the deadline for the plus 25% tariff? Pretty much all of the world has welcomed the meeting, except the Ukrainians themselves but also with some misgivings. Mr Trump is talking about some territorial give-and-take, but the Ukrainians have made it clear that they will not yield any territory, and they have been backed up by the recent statement of European leaders. Russia has its own demands, which are, in essence, recognition of the territorial gains it has made, no NATO membership for Ukraine, and the lifting of sanctions. If even a cease-fire can be achieved, that could mean lifting of sanctions on Russia, and then, logically, on its trading partners. So, with the caveat that logic does not apply in human affairs, there is some room for guarded optimism. As for the additional tariff, the hope must be that the changes in our import pattern, where we are importing a lot more hydrocarbons from the US, will blunt some of the more extreme positions adopted by the US. We shall find out when the trade negotiators come to Delhi on 24 August. But perspective is also important here: Our trade surplus with the US is about 1% of our GDP. That's not insignificant, but it is not something that would damage our economy if we were to lose a part of that trade surplus. Will a ceasefire between Russia-Ukraine mean a slackening of the US sanctions on India buying Russian oil? If indeed, there is some relief from US sanctions, then oil purchases should also be covered. Some additional points that are worth making: One, the US is very keen to promote its own sales of oil and natural gas. And India has stepped up oil purchases from the US by some 50% since the start of the year, and there is more to come. And two, there is a challenge pending in the US judicial system against Mr Trump's right to levy tariffs, because under their constitution, that right belongs to Congress. So, apart from the fact that these are unilateral sanctions, there are some uncertainties within the US itself, and we should have clarity on them going forward. IMAGE: United States President Donald John Trump with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Photograph: Reuters The meeting holds the 'promise' of bringing an end to the Ukraine war, said the MEA. However, Zelensky has vowed no concessions to Russia -- does this forebode a less than likely detente between Russia-Ukraine? In my experience, territorial disputes are very hard to settle. You can see that in the case of India and the People's Republic of China, and the case of Japan and Russia over the Kuril islands. So I, for one, don't expect a full settlement coming out of the Alaska summit, but a more limited agreement, which could prepare the ground for discussions between the parties involved. Warmth between Russia and Ukraine is a distant hope, since the fighting over the last few years has left bitter memories on both sides. Truth to tell, I don't know how stable a truncated Ukraine will be, unless it gets reliable security guarantees and significant economic support. Do you believe that the India-Russia relationship scaled down in the last 20 years as we grew close to the US? Or in your assessment did we ensure the relationship was not seriously affected by our proximity to the US, and our purchase of American armaments and weapon systems? I would suggest that some ups and downs are inevitable in any relationship, as we are currently seeing in ties with the US. That said, our relations with Russia have been more stable, and I have found the Russians understanding our growing ties with the US, just as we have come to understand their close ties with the People's Republic of China. On arms purchases, we have maintained a policy of buying where the offer was best suited to our technical and financial parameters. That has worked well, particularly given our large arms purchase budget. Did, in fact, our boldness in buying Russian oil after the Ukraine war commenced, improve the relationship? Was there an appreciation in the Kremlin for India's pragmatic courage in buying Russian oil? We purchased Russian oil in large quantities for two reasons. There was, firstly, the straightforward point that it was discounted, so the price was good, and we paid in Rupees. In addition, our purchases helped keep the oil flowing into the global market, without which, oil prices would have been in the 100-Dollar handle. So, I think not just the Russians, but much of the world, including the US, appreciated our actions. The change under Mr Trump is because he was always keen to promote US hydrocarbon sales abroad. IMAGE: Rescuers and police officers work at the site of a Russian air strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, August 10, 2025. Photograph: Reuters Mr Trump has accused India of bankrolling the Ukraine war by buying Russian oil. How would you respond to such a charge? The above answer partly takes care of this charge -- in fact, Russian oil had been price-capped, so as to minimise their earnings. But there is also the fact that the Europeans and the Americans themselves were also buying a goodly amount of Russian hydrocarbons and other products that their economies needed. What's more, both the US and the EU bought refined petroleum products from us, based on Russian oil imports -- meaning thereby, that they, in effect, only offshored the crude imports, and bought the refined product. Was Trump's outrage over India and Russia spawned by the failure to achieve a breakthrough on Ukraine which he has made a dominant theme of his foreign policy, and a successful resolution of which he likely sees as a route to the Nobel Peace Prize which he covets so much? I would say that's part of the explanation, and affirmed by the obvious pleasure he takes in recommendations by other countries for a Nobel Peace Prize for him; but Mr Trump is also very keen to export US hydrocarbons all over the world, as noted above. India is among the largest importers of oil in the world now, and hence an important market. Even in his first term as president, he had badgered the Europeans to buy US LNG and cut Russian imports of natural gas. Will opposition to Trump's bullying end up improving India-China relations? Wouldn't that be rich irony? Most of the world turned to the US these past few decades to find a shield against Chinese pressure tactics -- now the wheel would come full circle. No, we need to be very cautious in our approach to the People's Republic of China: From 1962, if not earlier, to Galwan in 2020, that country, and its army in particular -- frequently an independent force, out of governmental control -- has kept up a stance of steady hostility towards India. We also know that during the recent Op Sindoor, they helped Pakistan as much as they could, and are now replenishing their stores. We need to deal with the People's Republic of China, but without illusions that they will come to our aid in any differences with the US. Incidentally, Beijing would also be looking askance at the growing closeness between the US and Pakistan, their 'iron brother'. Also worth bearing in mind is the fact that the economy of the People's Republic of China is slowing, and facing serious headwinds, including unemployment, especially youth unemployment, high levels of national debt, around 300% of GDP, a real estate sector that is still in difficulty, and stagnant domestic private consumption. It is no longer the powerhouse it once was. Our trade deficit of $100 billion is the second-largest single-country surplus the People's Republic enjoys with any country, second only to the US. The implication is that we cannot pin any great hopes on the China connection. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump at a joint press conference at the White House, February 13, 2025. Photograph: Nathan Howard/Reuters Does this lead to the possibility of a Russia-China-India grouping? We should move forward with the Russia-India-China grouping, reviving it as suggested by the Russians. The other groupings involving the other two countries, BRICS and SCO, have already become unwieldy. I well remember the old G15, a grouping of developing countries, which were good on rhetoric, but did little, and achieved nothing collectively. So, a more compact group could lead to some understandings of value in the fullness of time. I have sat in on some of the RIC meetings and they did serve a useful purpose, and the discussions were non-polemical. Also, will the BRICS countries unite to counter Trump's tariff? As mentioned in the previous answer, BRICS is becoming too big to be able to work effectively together. Even the EU, where all member-States share common roots and values, it is becoming difficult to maintain unity of purpose. BRICS does not begin to share these attributes. It is good to keep meeting, but with a sense of realism -- we need to recognise that the US and the EU are the two biggest consumer markets in the world, accounting for some 70% of global retail sales. The BRICS countries need these markets, and its members cannot substitute for them, even if we were to unite and buy from each other. Before I address your last question, I should like to emphasise that the Indian economy has its own structural strengths, and need not depend on the favourable decision regarding sanctions or unity of action by affected countries. Best of all, we have a buoyant domestic demand, and have the potential to address -- indeed, have addressed -- the pressure of sanctions in the recent past. What we really need is to make the structural changes we need -- lower tax burden, lighter regulation, robust energy and defence policies, and protection against predatory exporters; in short, release what Keynes called 'animal spirits' -- a spontaneous urge to action rather than inaction -- in order to lift our economy even further. It won't be easy, but we can do it, and the rewards will be all the greater. This could turn into another 1991 moment for us -- a structural overhaul for long-term gain. IMAGE: Asim Munir with then US Central Command Commander General Michael E Kurilla. Photograph: X After hosting General Asim Munir for lunch in June, the Pakistan army chief is in America again -- why do you think Trump want closer ties with Pakistan? Historically, Pakistan has played only two roles meaningfully in US calculations -- vis-a-vis India and in relation to Afghanistan. It is apparent that Mr Trump is looking at Bagram in Afghanistan, and has been expressing concern that the People's Republic of China has taken it over, though there is some doubt about the veracity of this claim. If there is really such a plan or desire in the US, Pakistan is the vehicle for implementing it. And Pakistan has its own reasons, to do with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan [TTP], for wanting the Taliban government brought under control or even ousted. Pakistan would also want US help in containing the growing insurgency in Baluchistan, and the incipient troubles in its Pashtun areas. The idea that Pakistan has 'massive oil reserves', which Mr Trump speaks of, doesn't seem realistic. They could, though it's unlikely on the evidence available so far, also be planning something against India; we need to be very vigilant as we are passing through some fraught times. It's also worth adding, to elaborate on what I said above, that Munir's visits to the US would also be raising eyebrows in Beijing. Recall how the Pakistanis felt the need for him to visit Beijing after his return from Washington after his previous trip. One of the intentions would have to be to smooth the ruffled feathers. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff Ten women on their way to a temple were killed and 30 others injured after a pick-up van packed with passengers fell off the road on a hilly terrain and plunged into a gorge on Monday in Pune district, the police said. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo The vehicle carrying over 40 passengers, most of them women and children, veered off the road and plunged 25 to 30 feet after it failed to climb an incline - possibly due to overloading -- and rolled back down before toppling into the gorge at around 1 pm, a police officer said. The victims, who hailed from Papalwadi village, were headed to Shree Kshetra Mahadev Kundeshwar Temple in Khed tehsil in the western Maharashtra district to mark the auspicious Monday of the Shravan month when the accident took place near Pait village, he said. Locals rushed to the spot and alerted police. "Ten women died and 30 others sustained injuries in the accident," the officer said, adding nearly a dozen ambulances rushed the injured persons to nearby hospitals. The deceased were identified by police as Mandabai Darekar (50), Sanjabai Darekar (50), Mirabai Chorghe (50), Shobha Papal (33), Suman Papal (30), Shakubai Chorghe (50), Sharda Chorghe (45), Baidabai Darekar (45), Parvati Papal (56) and Phasabai Sawant (61), all residents of Papalwadi in Khed tehsil. Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled the loss of lives in the accident and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PM's National Relief Fund (PMMNRF) to the next of kin of each deceased. "Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in the accident. May the injured recover soon. An ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased. The injured would be given Rs 50,000," the PMO stated. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also expressed grief over the tragedy and announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the kin of the deceased persons. "I offer my condolences to the families of the deceased. A sum of Rs 4 lakh as aid will be given to the next of kin of the deceased," he stated in a post on X. Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who is also the guardian minister of Pune district, said he has instructed the local administration to provide all necessary medical assistance free of cost to the injured. A Pakistani intruder was killed after being shot at by the Border Security Force while attempting to sneak into this side from across the International Border in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, officials said. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo The Border Security Force said they are lodging a protest with their Pakistani counterparts over the incident. The officials said BSF troops noticed some intruders trying to sneak into this side between Chandwan and Kothey border outposts in the Hiranagar sector around 4 pm and were challenged to stop. The intruders paid no heed to the repeated warnings, prompting the BSF personnel manning the forward posts to open fire, resulting in injuries to one of them, the officials said. The injured intruder was arrested and immediately shifted to a hospital for treatment, the officials said, adding he was later referred to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Vijaypur for specialised treatment but he succumbed to his injuries. The identity and the motive behind his abortive attempt to infiltrate into this side were matters of further investigation, the officials said. They said the body is likely to be repatriated to Pakistan. "BSF troops observed suspicious movement wherein a Pak National was observed crossing the IB and approaching aggressively towards the border fence in district Kathua, Jammu. "He was warned by alert troops but paid no heed. BSF troops sensing threat fired on his legs. Later on, he was taken into BSF custody. Protest being lodged with counterpart," the border guarding force said in a statement here. A man, vexed with his 18-year-old sister's affair with a man, allegedly killed her after celebrating Raksha Bandhan in the Garautha area in Uttar Pradesh's Jhansi, police on Sunday said. Kindly note that this image has been posted only for representational purposes. Kumari Sahodar's body was found on Sunday with a shaved head near Dada Maharaj platform in a deserted area of Chandrapura village, police said. Her brother Arvind, and a friend of his, Prakash Prajapati, both aged around 25, have been detained in connection with the murder. The killing came on the heels of another murder -- Kumar's lover's. On August 7, the body of 19-year-old Vishal, a native of Lahchura, was found dumped in Gudha village. According to police, four months ago, Kumari and Vishal ran away from home, but were persuaded to return. A mutual settlement was struck between the two families, and things cooled off for a while. However, soon, both lovers started meeting. This reigniting of the affair was not to the liking of Arvind, who had returned to the village from Pune a few days ago. After his return, police said, he roped in Prakash Prajapati to kill both of them. On the morning of August 7, the two took away Vishal on the pretext of getting him a job and killed him, police said. Both were booked by the police in connection with the murder on the complaint of Vishal's father, Halkeram. While the investigation was still taking off in that case, on Saturday, Arvind took Kumari on the pretext of getting her medicine and killed her as well, according to police. Kashmir is the "jugular vein" of Pakistan, Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has said, repeating his anti-India rhetoric. IMAGE: Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir is currently on a visit to the US. Photograph: Pakistan military Addressing the Pakistani diaspora in Tampa, Florida, Munir also warned that Pakistan will defend its water rights at all costs. Weeks before the Pahalgam attack, Munir said Pakistan will not forget the issue of Kashmir, asserting, "It was our jugular vein." His comments were trashed by India. "How can anything foreign be in a jugular vein? This is a union territory of India. Its only relationship with Pakistan is the vacation of illegally occupied territories by that country," the Ministry of External Affairs had said. In his address on Saturday, Munir said Pakistan responded "resolutely and forcefully" during the recent conflict with India and Islamabad made it clear that any Indian aggression will be met with a "befitting reply". Munir is on an official visit to the US and has engaged in high-level interactions with senior political and military leadership, as well as members of the Pakistani diaspora, the Pakistani army said in a statement. According to highlights of his speech to the Pakistani community, Munir said Kashmir is "not an internal matter of India but an incomplete international agenda. As the Quaid-e-Azam had said, Kashmir is the 'jugular vein' of Pakistan." He also warned that Islamabad would destroy any dam if it cut off water flow to Pakistan. "We will wait for India to build a dam, and when they do so, we will destroy it, he was quoted as saying by the Dawn newspaper. The Indus River is not the Indians' family property. We have no shortage of resources to undo the Indian designs to stop the river." Munir said his second visit to the US after a gap of one and a half months marks a new dimension in Pakistan-US relations. He added that these visits aim to take the relations on a constructive, sustainable and positive path. He also said that Pakistan is extremely grateful to Trump, whose strategic leadership has stopped the war between India and Pakistan as well as prevented many other wars around the world. New Delhi has been maintaining that India and Pakistan halted their military actions following direct talks between their militaries without any mediation by the US. During the address, Munir added that a trade agreement with the US is expected to attract huge investments, and Pakistan has achieved significant successes on the international relations front. In June, Munir had travelled to the US on a rare five-day trip during which he attended a private luncheon with President Donald Trump, an unprecedented gesture typically reserved for visiting heads of state or government. That meeting culminated in Trump's announcement of enhanced US-Pakistan cooperation in various fields, including an oil deal. The Pakistani army said in a statement that in Tampa, Munir attended the Retirement Ceremony of outgoing Commander United States Central Command (CENTCOM), General Michael E Kurilla, and the Change of Command Ceremony marking the assumption of command by Admiral Brad Cooper. Munir also met with Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, where matters of mutual professional interest were discussed. He extended an invitation to General Caine to visit Pakistan. On the sidelines, COAS interacted with Chiefs of Defence from friendly nations. "During an interactive session with the Pakistani diaspora, COAS urged them to remain confident in Pakistan's bright future and to actively contribute to attracting investments. The diaspora reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Pakistan's progress and development, the statement said. A 14-year-old Bangladeshi girl rescued from a sex racket in Maharashtra's Palghar district has told the police she was sexually assaulted by at least 200 men in a span of three months, an official said on Monday, adding the claim was being verified. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. Photograph: ANI Photo The minor was rescued after the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of Mira-Bhayander Vasai-Virar police, in a joint operation with NGOs Exodus Road India Foundation and Harmony Foundation, raided a flat in Naigaon in Vasai in Palghar on July 26, the official said. Six of those arrested and three of the five victims, including the 14-year-old girl, are Bangladeshi nationals, he said. Among those arrested are two women, aged 33 and 32, who allegedly facilitated the juvenile's entry into India from Bangladesh. So far, ten persons have been arrested, Naigaon police station senior inspector Vijay Kadam said. As per her statement given at a juvenile detention centre, she was first trafficked to Nadiad in Gujarat, where she suffered sexual abuse, another police official said. Harmony Foundation president Abraham Mathai said the girl had failed in a subject in school, after which she ran away from home. She was then made to cross over into India illegally by a woman acquaintance who then pushed her into the flesh trade, Mathai claimed. All the 200 men who allegedly sexually abused her must be traced and arrested, Mathai demanded. Police officials also said the girl may have been given hormonal injections to induce premature puberty. Human rights activist Madhu Shankar said there are instances of victims being kidnapped from various parts of the country when they were infants, made to live with those operating such rackets, and then pushed into the flesh trade as minors after being given such injections. MBVV police commissioner Niket Kaushik said the force is taking all efforts to expose the entire racket and provide a safe environment to vulnerable teenagers. Another official told PTI the allegations against the teen girl are being verified. As per the police, the victims of the sex racket busted on July 26 in Naigaon were allegedly trafficked to different locations like Navi Mumbai, Pune in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and other places in the country. Those arrested include the main accused Mohammad Khalid Abdul Bapari (33), who was allegedly responsible for sending the victims to various cities for flesh trade, and agents Juber Harun Sheikh (38) and Shamim Gafar Sardar (39), the police said. The accused also gave sedatives to the minor girl, branded her with a hot spoon as part of efforts to force her into the flesh trade, the official said. The police teams have been dispatched to various places in the country to apprehend others involved in the racket, he said. A case was registered on July 27 under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Juvenile Justice Act, Foreigners Act and the Passport Act, the police added. India remains committed to making every possible contribution for an early and peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday conveyed this to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, days ahead of a much-anticipated US-Russia summit on the war. IMAGE: File image of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in New York. Photograph: Courtesy @narendramodi/X Modi held a phone conversation with Zelenskyy, three days after he spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin and exchanged views on the conflict. In a social media post, Zelenskyy complimented Modi's support to the peace efforts, but called for limiting the export of Russian energy to reduce Moscow's ability to "finance" the continuation of the war, which is being seen as an indirect reference to New Delhi's continued procurement of crude oil from Russia. The phone conversation came ahead of the summit talks between US President Donald Trump and Putin in Alaska on August 15 to discuss ways to end the war. "Glad to speak with President Zelenskyy and hear his perspectives on recent developments. I conveyed India's consistent position on the need for an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict," Modi said on 'X'. "India remains committed to making every possible contribution in this regard, as well as to further strengthening bilateral ties with Ukraine," he said. Last week, India welcomed the Russia-US summit and reaffirmed Prime Minister Modi's consistent position that it is not an "era of war". The prime minister thanked President Zelenskyy and reaffirmed India's "steadfast and consistent" position for peaceful settlement of the conflict and support for efforts aimed at earliest restoration of peace, the ministry of external affairs said. It said PM Modi reiterated India's commitment to extend all possible support in this regard. "The leaders also reviewed progress in the India-Ukraine bilateral partnership and discussed ways to further enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest," the MEA said, adding they agreed to remain in touch. Following the phone talks, the Ukrainian president said he discussed "in detail" all important issues with Modi that included both of "bilateral cooperation and the overall diplomatic situation". "I am grateful to the Prime Minister for his warm words of support for our people," he said in a social media post. "It is important that India is supporting our peace efforts and shares the position that everything concerning Ukraine must be decided with Ukraine's participation. Other formats will not deliver results," the Ukrainian president said. Zelenskyy also noted that it is necessary to "limit the export of Russian energy", particularly oil. "We also discussed in detail the sanctions against Russia. I noted that it is necessary to limit the export of Russian energy, particularly oil, to reduce its potential and ability to finance the continuation of this war," he said. "It is important that every leader who has tangible leverage over Russia sends the corresponding signals to Moscow," he added. India turned to purchasing Russian oil sold at a discount after Western countries imposed sanctions on Moscow and shunned its supplies over its invasion of Ukraine in February, 2022. Consequently, from a mere 1.7 per cent share in total oil imports in 2019-20, Russia's share increased to 35.1 per cent in 2024-25, and it is now the biggest oil supplier to India. The Ukrainian president also dropped hints at PM Modi's possible visit to New York next month to participate in the UN General Assembly. "We agreed to plan a personal meeting in September during the UN General Assembly and to work on an exchange of visits," Zelenskyy said. The Ukrainian president said he informed Modi about the Russian attacks on "Ukrainian cities and villages", including Sunday's strike on a bus station in Zaporizhzhia. "And this is at a time when there is finally a diplomatic possibility to end the war. Instead of demonstrating readiness for a ceasefire, Russia is showing only its desire to continue the occupation and killings," he said. Zelenskyy's office said PM Modi expressed support for Ukraine's efforts to achieve a "just and lasting" peace. India has been consistently calling for ending the Russia-Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy. In July last year, PM Modi travelled to Moscow and told Putin that a solution to the Ukraine conflict is not possible on the battlefield and peace efforts do not succeed in the midst of bombs and bullets. The next month, Modi visited the Ukranian capital city of Kyiv and conveyed to President Zelenskyy that both Ukraine and Russia should sit together without wasting time to end the war. The prime minister had said India was on the side of peace since the beginning of the conflict. In a sudden move, Karnataka cooperation minister K N Rajanna was sacked on Monday from the Cabinet after the Congress high command instructed Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to remove him for his "vote theft" remarks that embarrassed the party and its leader Rahul Gandhi. IMAGE: Karnataka cooperation minister KN Rajanna. Photograph: ANI Photo Reacting to his removal, Rajanna said the Congress high command, party president, and general secretary K C Venugopal have some "misconception" about him, and that he would be flying to Delhi with senior MLAs and ministers to clear the air. Initially, Siddaramaiah asked Rajanna to resign. However, since he did not resign, he was removed from the Cabinet, sources in the chief minister's office told PTI. A letter to remove Rajanna was sent by the chief minister to Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, and the recommendation was accepted by the Raj Bhavan. "I am directed to forward herewith the original notification signed by the Hon'ble Governor for the removal of Sri K N Rajanna, Hon'ble Minister for Cooperation, from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect, for further necessary action," Special Secretary to Governor R Prabhushankar wrote to the Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh. Rajanna, a Siddaramaiah loyalist, drew the ire of the Congress high command when he reportedly blamed his party-led government in Karnataka for the "vote theft" in the Mahadevapura Assembly segment during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a statement which contradicted the party line. Rajanna reportedly said the "vote theft" happened "right in front of our eyes", Rahul Gandhi had recently held a press conference in New Delhi and later a public meeting in Bengaluru, where he claimed that the BJP government at the Centre came to power due to "vote theft". He also cited the presence of over a lakh bogus voters in the Mahadevapura assembly segment under the Bengaluru Central Parliamentary constituency. Rajanna's remarks triggered immediate backlash from within the party, with the party high command taking it seriously and finally instructing the chief minister to remove him from the cabinet, sources said. Reacting to the development, deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who is also Congress state president, said he was not aware why Rajanna was removed. "I don't know why he was removed. The party has decided. We are friends and have been in public life together for the past 25 years. It pains me as well, but what can be done? After all, this is the party's decision," Shivakumar told reporters. This is not Rajanna's first run-in with the leadership. In recent months, Rajanna had publicly criticised the way appointments to boards and corporations were made, spoken about "too many power centres" in the Congress, and hinted at big political changes after September. He has also been making headlines for the past two months after hinting at a 'September Revolution', fuelling speculation of a major upheaval in the government. Rajanna's removal also came up during the Karnataka Assembly session on Monday, with the BJP legislators demanding that Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil and Rajanna clear the air. Raising the issue in the assembly, Leader of Opposition, BJP R Ashoka sought to know the specific allegations against Rajanna. "Are there any corruption charges against Rajanna? How much money has he made, and where has he kept it? He just spoke the truth that there was (Congress government during the 2024 Lok Sabha election) when the voting took place," he said. Speculating on the political implications of the removal, the LoP said, "he (Rajanna) was the only Siddaramaiah loyalist. Is Siddaramaiah the next target after his removal?" During the discussion, BJP MLA S Suresh Kumar asserted that it was the government's duty to issue a statement, since the news broke during the legislative session. In response, Minister Patil dismissed the demand and said the government cannot be expected to provide answers just because the media is reporting on the matter. "If there are any such developments, the Chief Minister will definitely inform you. Session is in progress and this discussion is unnecessary," he added Members of Hindu right-wing outfits allegedly created ruckus at a mausoleum in Fatehpur district in Uttar Pradesh on Monday as they demanded permission to offer prayers there, claiming that a temple had previously existed at the site. IMAGE: Members of Hindu organisations, including 'Bajrang Dal', gather near an old tomb, claiming it is a temple and demanding to offer prayers, at Abu Nagar in Fatehpur, August 11, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said that the government has taken the incident seriously and asked the Opposition not to play politics on the issue. Elaborate security arrangements had been put in place in and around the centuries-old mausoleum of Nawab Abu Samad after Bharatiya Janata Party district president, Mukhlal Pal, had warned the district administration that he, along with Hindu organisations, would perform prayers at the site on August 11, claiming that the centuries-old structure was a temple with a 'Shivling'. A video, which could not be independently verified, showed some people vandalising parts of the structure and hoisting a saffron flag. Superintendent of police (Fatehpur) Anoop Kumar Singh said they are probing the incident. "It is being probed how the mob managed to enter the mausoleum and took the law into their hands despite elaborate security arrangements. A case under relevant sections of the BNS will be registered against those found guilty in the matter. Strict action will be initiated against the guilty, and no one will be spared," he told PTI. As tension prevailed in the area, police contingents from several areas, including Kotwali, Radhanagar, Malwan and Husainganj, were deployed to maintain law and order, officials said. Pal had threatened to launch a protest if the administration attempted to stop them. He had claimed that the site was a temple of 'Thakur Ji', which was converted into a mausoleum by "invaders". He had claimed that symbols like the trident and lotus flower inside the structure are markers of a Hindu temple and are never found in a mausoleum. SP Anoop Kumar Singh had earlier said that the administration had deployed adequate police force in and around the site. "We are maintaining strict vigil to ensure peace. No one will be allowed to take the law into their own hands," he had said, adding that the district magistrate was also monitoring the situation. The 'Math-Mandir Sanrakshan Sangharsh Samiti', a body representing local Hindu religious leaders and community groups, has submitted a memorandum to District Magistrate Ravindra Singh demanding his intervention. The committee alleged that the "temple" is in a "severely dilapidated" condition, posing both a safety hazard to devotees and a threat to the city's cultural heritage. On the other hand, the Rashtriya Ulema Council has also sent a letter to the DM urging the administration not to tamper with the historical character of the tomb. The mausoleum's caretaker (Mutawalli), Mohammad Nafis, said that the structure is nearly 500 years old and was built by Emperor Akbar's grandson. It houses the graves of Abu Mohammad and Abu Samad, he said. Deputy CM Pathak said that the government has taken the incident seriously. "The situation has been controlled by making both parties aware of the facts. Peace and unity have been ensured by the deployment of teams of 10 police stations, PAC and administration," he said. Pathak claimed that the situation in Fatehpur is completely normal. He appealed to the opposition parties to stop trying to score political brownie points over the incident. The Deputy CM asserte that the BJP never indulges in politics of spreading hatred and stressed that its vision is "appeasement of none, satisfaction of all". "The BJP is implementing public welfare policies in the interest of the state with the motto of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas'," he said. He claimed that riots have been completely controlled in the eight and a half years of the BJP government, which the Samajwadi Party cannot accept. He accused SP chief Akhilesh Yadav and his allies of repeatedly making statements that pose a risk of breaking the social fabric. He alleged that the Samajwadi Party is giving rise to hindu-muslim disputes to strengthen its vote bank and alleged that leaders like Akhilesh Yadav spread rumours to create unrest. The US on Monday designated Pakistan-based Balochistan Liberation Army and its alias, The Majeed Brigade, as a foreign terrorist organisation. IMAGE: The Balocho rebels during the train hijack in Balochistan, Pakistan. Photograph: ANI Photo BLA was designated as a specially designated global terrorist in 2019 following several terrorist attacks. Since then, the group has claimed responsibility for several attacks, including by the Majeed Brigade, the State Department said in a statement. The statement said the State Department is designating BLA and its alias, The Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation, and adding the Majeed Brigade as an alias to BLA's previous SDGT designation. The action, it said, "demonstrates the Trump administration's commitment to countering terrorism". "Terrorist designations play a critical role in our fight against this scourge and are an effective way to curtail support for terrorist activities," the State Department said. The department further said that in 2024, BLA claimed responsibility for suicide attacks near Karachi airport and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex. In 2025, the group said it was behind the hijacking of the Jaffar Express train travelling from Quetta to Peshawar in March, which resulted in the deaths of 31 civilians and security personnel, and over 300 passengers being taken hostage. LONDON, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Crystal Palace has lost its appeal over the decision by UEFA to denote last season's FA Cup winners from this season's Europa League to the Conference League for a breach of UEFA's multi-club ownership rules. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that Nottingham Forest takes the spot Palace earned after beating Manchester City in last season's FA Cup final, and it is a blow to the club that beat Liverpool on Sunday in the Community Shield. The problem stems from the fact that American businessman John Textor held 43 percent of Palace's shares until June of this year, while he is also a majority shareholder in Olympique Lyon, which has also qualified for the Europa League. Palace claimed Textor no longer influenced the club, but missed a March deadline to show UEFA the club no longer had issues with multi-club ownership. "Regulations are clear and do not provide flexibility to clubs that are non-compliant on the assessment date, as Palace claimed." "Textor still had decisive influence over both clubs at the time of UEFA's assessment date," ruled CAS. The decision means Palace will now play either Norwegian side Fredrikstad or Midtjylland of Denmark in the Conference League play-off round later this month, while Nottingham Forest goes directly to the Europa League group stage. US President Donald Trump on Monday said American tariffs imposed on India for purchasing Russian oil have dealt a "big blow" to Moscow's economy, which is not doing well, as he referred to New Delhi as Russia's "largest or second largest oil buyer". IMAGE: US President Donald Trump. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters Addressing a press conference at the White House, Trump claimed that Russia's economy has been severely disrupted by the ongoing global pressures due to the imposition of US tariffs on several countries. "I think Russia has to get back into building their country. It's a massive country... They have tremendous potential in Russia to do well. They're not doing well. Their economy is not doing well right now because it's been very well disturbed by this," he said. "Doesn't help when the President of the United States tells their largest or second-largest oil buyer that we're putting a 50 percent tariff on you if you buy oil from Russia. That was a big blow," Trump said, in an apparent reference to India. Trump has imposed 25 percent reciprocal tariffs on India, along with an additional 25 percent levy on its purchases of Russian oil, resulting in a total of 50 percent duties. Trump is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, where he expects "constructive conversations". "I thought it was very respectful that the President of Russia is coming to our country, as opposed to us going to his country or even a third-party place. But I think we'll have constructive conversations," he said, adding that he would speak with European leaders after the meeting. Trump also mentioned his plans to engage with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. "The next meeting will be with Zelenskyy and Putin, or Zelenskyy and Putin and me. I'll be there if they need but I want to have a meeting set up between the two leaders," he said. Trump also claimed that he has solved five wars so far in his second term in the White House and again claimed he stopped the conflict between India and Pakistan. India has been consistently maintaining that the understanding on cessation of hostilities with Pakistan was reached following direct talks between the Directors General of Military Operations of the two militaries. "We solved five wars. Pakistan and India, we just solved one, between Azerbaijan and Armenia," he said. On relations with China, Trump remarked, "We've been dealing very nicely with China... They have tremendous tariffs that they're paying to the United States of America. And we'll see what happens. They've been dealing quite nicely. The relationship is very good with President Xi and myself. Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan's "stock-in-trade", New Delhi said on Monday, in a strong response to Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir's nuclear threat directed at India from the US soil. IMAGE: Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir with former US Central Command Commander General Michael E Kurilla. Photograph: Pakistan military India said Munir's remarks reinforced the well-held doubts about the integrity of nuclear command and control in Pakistan where the military is "hand-in-glove" with terrorist groups. In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said India has already made it clear that it will not give in to nuclear blackmail and that it will continue to take all steps necessary to safeguard national security. It is also regrettable that these remarks should have been made from the soil of a friendly third country, the MEA said in an apparent message to the US. In an address to Pakistani diaspora in Florida's Tampa, Munir reportedly made the nuclear threat in case his country faced an existential threat in a future war with India. The Pakistani Army Chief also warned that Islamabad would destroy Indian infrastructure, if they hit water flow to Pakistan. "We are a nuclear nation. If we think we are going down, we'll take half the world down with us," media reports quoted him as saying. The Pakistan Army Chief's comments are part of a pattern in Pakistan as whenever the US supports the Pakistan military, they always show their true colours of aggression, government sources said. It is a symptom that democracy does not exist in Pakistan and it is their military which controls the country, they said. "Emboldened by reception and welcome by the US, the next step could possibly be a silent or open coup in Pakistan so that the Field Marshal becomes the President," said a source. Munir is currently on a visit to the US, his second in two months. 'When Harivansh sits in the chair, you feel your voice will be heard.' IMAGE: Rajya Sabha Deputy Speaker Harivansh Narayan Singh conducts the proceedings of the House, August 8, 2025. Photograph: Sansad TV/ANI Video Grab The lot of a deputy chairman (as deputy presiding officers are known in the Rajya Sabha; in the Lok Sabha, it is deputy speaker, a position that has been vacant since 2019) is not an easy one. The chairman presides over Question Hour, rising when it is over. The so-called Zero Hour (when members are allowed to raise issues at relatively short notice, and do so sometimes with no notice at all) is usually handled by the deputy chairman. This is when the placards come out, papers are torn up, and mayhem sometimes rules. It is the deputy chairman who presides over important and sometimes contentious debates. One needs to have eyes at the back of one's head. Harivansh Narayan Singh, or Harivansh as he prefers to be known as, first became a Rajya Sabha member in 2014 and was elected deputy chairman in 2018. His name was forwarded by his party, the Janata Dal-United). In his position, he remained unmoved by the acrobatics by his party in Bihar. His Rajya Sabha term came to an end in 2020 and with it his position as deputy chairman. But his party, which had returned to the National Democratic Alliance, again nominated him for the Rajya Sabha and also for deputy chairmanship. At his re-election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: 'He is an outstanding umpire and belongs to all aisles of the House.' JD-U leader Nitish Kumar had picked him for politics. But Harivansh's real calling was journalism and his real idol was former prime minister Chandra Shekhar. They belonged to the same linguistic region -- eastern Uttar Pradesh/Bihar. Chandra Shekhar was from Ballia, which is in Uttar Pradesh. Harivansh's family lived in Jayaprakash Narayan's village, Sitab Diara. The two families had many connections. Chandra Shekhar was a socialist. Harivansh was a follower of Rammanohar Lohia. The two first met at the Jaslok Hospital in the 1970s, where JP was admitted for kidney failure. Harivansh was working for the famed Hindi magazine Dharmayug and interviewed Chandra Shekhar -- he was to do so many times and was struck by the constancy of views. Later, when Chandra Shekhar became prime minister (1990-1991), he became additional media advisor in the prime minister's office. It is Chandra Shekhar's influence and his training as a journalist that shaped his core beliefs: That there are two sides to everything; and at the end of the day, it is the last man who must get justice. When he joined the Ranchi-based Prabhat Khabar in 1989, its circulation was 500 copies. It would grow to 200,000 over the next eight years especially after the bifurcation of Bihar. Harivansh achieved this by localising the news content. In the process, issues like corruption and land-grabbing became campaign matters and the newspaper's tagline was: "Not just a newspaper, a movement". Prabhat Khabar was among the first to report on the fodder scam during Lalu Prasad's chief ministership and, with the help of leaders like Sushil Modi, followed it doggedly right to the end. After he segued into politics, Harivansh's unfailing politeness stood him in good stead. The Opposition moved a motion of no-confidence against him after he allowed a voice vote on two farm Bills (2020) while it had demanded they be referred to a select committee for a second look. Predictably, the motion was rejected by then chairman M Venkaiah Naidu. But this was an aberration. His sense of balance and fair play during an era in the history of Indian Parliament when suspension of MPs became commonplace (46 Rajya Sabha MPs were suspended in the winter session in 2024, the highest ever), was evident in the way he handled the issue of breach of privileges. For instance, Aam Aadmi Party Member Raghav Chadha was charged with claiming to but not actually obtaining the signatures of colleagues in seeking a motion to refer the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, to a select committee. Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanded stringent action against him, charging falsification of signatures. Mr Chadha was suspended. Harivansh tactfully and deftly navigated the proceedings of the privileges committee and the suspension was ended. An Opposition member said: "When Harivansh sits in the chair, you feel your voice will be heard. The same cannot be said of other presiding officers." A new Vice-President will be elected on September 9. Given the composition of the electoral college (the elected members of the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and the nominated members), the government's victory is a foregone conclusion. Three names are in circulation: A Union minister, the governor of a southern state, and the deputy chairman. If elevated, Harivansh's career will acquire a new trajectory. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff Jain monk Muni Nileshchandra Vijay has warned of launching an indefinite hunger strike from August 13 against the decision to shut down Dadar Kabutarkhana to stop people from feeding pigeons and asserted the community would not abide by court orders on the issue if it went against their religious practices. Photograph: Sahil Salvi for Rediff.com IMAGE: The BMC has once again covered Dadar Kabutarkhana with plastic sheets. The Jain community is peaceful, but if needed, it will take up arms for religion, he had said on Sunday. Maharashtra Skill Development Minister Manga Prabhat Lodha, who has been supportive of efforts to save Kabutarkhanas, however, distanced himself from Vijay's comments. On August 6, a large number of protesters removed the tarpaulin cover put up by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) at the Dadar Kabutarkhana to discourage the practice of feeding grains to pigeons and also clashed with police. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Vijay said, "We will follow the path of satyagraha and hunger strike. The Jain community is peaceful, but if needed, we will take up arms for our religion. If any decision goes against our faith, we will not accept even the court's order." He claimed more than 10 lakh Jains from all over the country will take part in the protest. "The ban targets Jain traditions. The move is politically motivated with elections in mind. ?From ants to elephants, no living being should die (from hunger), that is what our religion teaches. Why is Jainism being targeted? Show how many people die after consuming liquor and chicken," the monk further said. Queried by reporters about Vijay's comments, Lodha said, "?I do not agree with his statement. I have spoken twice on this matter and I am fulfilling my role. I will not comment further." The BMC on Sunday once again covered Dadar Kabutarkhana with plastic sheets. It repaired the damaged bamboo cladding at the spot before putting silver coloured plastic sheets on the pigeon feeding area, located on the west side of Dadar station, the officials said. To avoid any law and order issue and prevent people from feeding the birds, security at the site has been stepped up and the civic body also deployed its marshals at the kabutarkhana, they said. The BMC's decision to ban public feeding of pigeons in view of health hazards associated with the practice and close kabutarkhanas has led to a controversy. People who feed pigeons have challenged the civic body's decision in the Bombay high court. On August 7, the HC said it had not passed any order directing the closure of kabutarkhanas in the city, but only refrained from staying the closure order of the municipal corporation. A committee of experts can study whether the old kabutarkhanas in the city should continue, but "human life is of paramount importance", it had said. The HC was hearing a bunch of petitions filed by people who feed pigeons challenging the civic body's decision to ban such feeding and close kabutarkhanas. One hundred years ago, a group of 10 revolutionaries carried out an operation that shook the British Empire. Utkarsh Mishra revisits the 'Kakori Conspiracy Case', a turning point in the armed struggle for independence. IMAGE: People pay floral tribute to the Kakori martyrs -- Ashfaqullah Khan, Rajendra Lahiri, Ram Prasad Bismil and Roshan Singh, in Prayagraj. Photograph: ANI Photo When Mahatma Gandhi launched the non-cooperation movement in 1920, to protest against the Rowlatt Act and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, a number of old revolutionaries participated. Even those who had no faith in Gandhi's movement joined it, suspending all revolutionary activities. However, the suspension of the movement in 1922 was followed by their revival, mostly in Bengal and the United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh). Soon, the revolutionaries in both these provinces joined ranks to form the Hindustan Republican Association in 1924, with an aim to establish the 'Federated Republic of the United States of India through an armed revolution'. While the organisation was still nascent, 10 of its members executed an operation that was to etch their names in history forever. On August 9, 1925, exactly 100 years ago, they stopped a train from Shahjahanpur to Lucknow at Kakori and took away trunks of money that were being transferred to the British government treasury. The primary aim of their action was to obtain money to buy weapons that had 'arrived on a ship'. But they also wanted to end the perpetual scarcity of funds for organisational work. However, all of them were arrested in a matter of weeks, which proved to be a big setback for the movement. Nonetheless, their sacrifice inspired a number of young revolutionaries -- including Bhagat Singh -- who would go on to earn their own places in the history of the freedom struggle. The Plan Most revolutionary leaders were behind bars during the Great War. Those who evaded arrest, like Ramprasad Bismil, went into exile. After the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms of 1919, a general amnesty was granted to political prisoners, even to those who were detained under the Defence of India Act. Thus, prominent revolutionaries like Shachindra Nath Sanyal and Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee were released from prison, while Bismil returned from exile. Revolutionary activities once again started gaining momentum, mainly in Bengal, Punjab and UP. In 1924, the Hindustan Republican Association was born. The party was later renamed by Bhagat Singh as the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association in 1928. In UP, the party centres were Agra, Allahabad, Benares (Varanasi), Cawnpore (Kanpur), Lucknow, Saharanpur and Shahjahanpur. Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Thakur Roshan Singh and others operated from Shahjahanpur. Sanyal, Rajendranath Lahiri, Shachindra Nath Bakshi, Manmath Nath Gupta and Rabindra Mohan Kar were based in Benares. Sanyal and Bismil wanted to 'flood the country' with revolutionary literature. They wanted to publish multiple copies of the party's constitution, called the 'Yellow Paper', and its manifesto 'Revolutionary'. However, money was hard to come by. Initially, the members contributed their own resources, but it was far from adequate. Members had to raid a few villages for money. While many had reservations against operating like bandits, the spoils also proved inadequate for revolutionary work. The revolutionaries had to struggle for every single penny to carry out their activities. Wearing rags and eating only one meal a day became routine. Bismil recounts in his autobiography that he once saw government money being transported in trunks on a train and decided to rob one such train to raise funds. But Khan advised against this plan. He asserted that it would be a direct challenge to the government and the organisation was not yet strong enough to withstand the crackdown that this action would provoke. As per Manmath Nath Gupta, a few members wanted to execute this plan precisely for this reason, that it would be a direct challenge to the government. Their voice prevailed. The Action The 8-down passenger train travelled from Saharanpur to Lucknow. On August 9, 1925, it was carrying railway cash bags, apart from some additional cash that was guarded by armed police. Ten HRA members -- Bismil, Khan, Lahiri, Gupta, Bakshi, Chandra Shekhar Azad, Keshab Chakravarty, Mukundi Lal, Murari Lal Khanna, and Banwari Lal -- boarded the train at Shahjahanpur in the evening. Khan, Lahiri and Bakshi got into a second-class compartment; the others were travelling third class. They had four Mauser pistols with 50 cartridges each. As the train left Kakori for Alamnagar, the three in the second-class compartment pulled the chain to stop the train. Here's how Gupta describes the incident in his book History of the Indian Revolutionary Movement. 'The guard went towards the second-class compartment. There was still a little daylight left. The guard was pinned down and four revolutionaries kept watch on the railway track. The rest rushed for the cash bags and pushed one huge box out of the guards compartment. They had difficulty opening the box. Ashfaqulla, one of the four on guard duty, saw the situation and gave his pistol to Manmath Nath, who rushed to take charge of the hammer. He was the strongest of the lot. The cash bags were removed and tied up in a bedsheet. 'Just then, they saw a train from the Lucknow side approaching. Everybody held their breath. But the train sped past. The job was finished in record time, and the revolutionaries rushed into the bushes. From there, they walked to Lucknow. The money and the arms were taken to safe places. One by one, all of them went to their respective towns.' The revolutionaries kept shouting at the passengers to stay inside, telling them they were there to take government money and would not harm them. To prevent the armed guards from retaliating, they kept firing in the air. However, a middle-aged man got down to reach his wife in the female compartment and was hit by a stray bullet. He was the only casualty of the incident. The looted cash bags contained about Rs 8,000. The Arrests As the revolutionaries had anticipated, the action provoked swift and strong response from the government. The CID was pressed into action. Three currency notes looted from the train were recovered in Shahjahanpur and the police immediately made a connection to Bismil. They also came to know that Bismil was not in town from August 8 to 19. To confirm his involvement, they traced a student from the Government High School who had received letters for Bismil. Intercepting those letters, the police found addresses for all his associates. Based on this information and other intelligence, the police arrested 40 people in the province on September 26, including Bismil, Gupta, Thakur Roshan Singh and others. Sanyal, Chatterjee and Lahiri were arrested earlier in Calcutta (now Kolkata). Ashfaqullah and Bakshi were arrested later and were tried in a separate case. Of the main participants, only Azad escaped arrest. The Trial Of the arrested persons, about half were let off because their involvement could not be established. A few others turned government approvers, notably Banarsi Lal and Banwari Lal. Their confessions helped the police collect crucial evidence that would have been very difficult for them otherwise. The trial against 21 accused commenced in the court of special magistrate. In his memoirs, Chatterjee recalls that the magistrate was a biased and shrewd person who left no stone unturned in getting the accused convicted even when the evidence against many of them was scanty. Before the trial began, Congress leader Motilal Nehru had requested noted barrister Jagat Narain Mulla to defend the accused. Mulla told him that he was ready but quoted a very high fee. Nehru then helped form a defence committee consisting of Gobind Ballabh Pant, R F Bahadurji, Mohanlal Saxena and Chandra Bhanu Gupta. Nehru subsequently learned that Mulla had accepted the government's offer to argue for the prosecution. 'His nationalism vanished in thin air before his lust for money,' writes Chatterjee, adding, 'Pandit Motilal resented this so much that he ceased to have anything to do with his family anymore'. The case was called the 'Kakori conspiracy case'. It was not conducted simply as a dacoity case, but as a conspiracy case because it was linked with 'the entire secret revolutionary activities in the whole of northern India between 1923 and 1930'. During the trial, the accused were also not given proper treatment as political prisoners. They decided to protest against it by going on a hunger strike. While the hunger strike of Bhagat Singh and his comrades during the Lahore Conspiracy Case is famous, the hunger strike that the Kakori accused undertook in the Lucknow jail is relatively little known. The Verdict The trial went on for 18 months. Bismil, Lahiri, Ashfaqullah Khan, and Roshan Singh were sentenced to death. Sanyal and Bakshi were sentenced to life imprisonment. Gupta got a 14-year sentence while Chatterjee, Mukundi Lal, Govind Charan Kar, Raj Kumar Sinha and Ram Krishna Khatri were sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. Others were sentenced to prison terms ranging from seven years to five years. There were widespread protests against the death sentences of the four revolutionaries. Petitions from members of the Central Legislature to commute the sentences were rejected by the Viceroy. Clemency appeals to the Privy Council were also rejected. However, their execution was postponed twice. A final mercy appeal to the King-Emperor was sent. But the government had already decided to hang them. Lahiri was hanged on December 17, 1927, in Gonda Jail. Bismil, Khan and Roshan Singh were hanged on December 19, 1927. Bismil was lodged in Gorakhpur Jail, while Khan and Roshan Singh were in Allahabad Jail. Bismil's last words on the gallows were: 'I wish the downfall of the British Empire.' Looking back at the Kakori case, Gupta writes in his memoirs that perhaps Ashfaqullah Khan was right. 'If we had waited longer to act on our plans, perhaps our group would not have been uprooted so soon.' Chatterjee, on the other hand, writes in his memoirs that the case had a 'very great significance in the revolutionary activities of northern India'. Ethics and guidelines of AI impact partners This multifaceted approach ensures that when SAP products with AI elements are adopted, they align with SAPs AI ethics. The vendors global AI ethics policy is based on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisations (UNESCO) set of 10 principles grounded in ethics and human rights. It was designed to guide the use of AI across all stages of a system life cycle and includes the following principles of: do no harm; defined purpose, necessity and proportionality; safety and security; fairness and non-discrimination; sustainability; right to privacy, data protection and data governance; human autonomy and oversight; transparency and explainability; responsibility and accountability; and inclusion and participation. SAP has also established governance bodies such as the AI Ethics Steering Committee and the AI Ethics Advisory Panel to also incorporate data privacy and security prioritisation as well as sustainability. For McGibbon these guiding principles aligned closely with the talk track from pioneer in human-centred AI and responsible technology Dr Catriona Wallace. Although there are frameworks in place, at this moment there is nothing that holds anyone today legally accountable for what AI can do, said Wallace. Thats why choosing who you partner with, how [AI] is designed and deployed in your company, is important [and] that it can be done with trusted partners, she said. During her talk, Wallace said it was pertinent that the leaders of technology giants, their suppliers, and their customers needed to step into the role of an ethical leader and direct where the future of humanity and AI can go. AI should be designed with human society and environment with its well-being at its core. It should not come at the cost to those three stakeholders, she said. AI should be human-centered value-designed at its core. Responsible AI reducing harm and avoiding unintended consequences. AI should be reliable and safe; as well as transparent and explainable. It should be contestable and have accountability, Wallace said. The accountability lies with the corporation that the AI was deployed in. McGibbon said this was one of the reasons why SAP takes AI ethics very seriously it aligned with customers like SA Power Networks using global AI ethics standards to build its own boundaries internally. AI is consistently evolving as the nature of the landscape changes as well, she pointed out. Thats why building AI around the three principles of relevance, reliability and responsibility is a good way to start. It also requires technology vendors like SAP to talk to its partners from an authentic standpoint and continue to educate them on the changes with its products. From an enablement and a partner capability perspective, the vendor recognised that technology is moving quickly. We ran a Partner Acceleration Bootcamp in New Zealand about two months ago, said McGibbon. We had about 80 partners there and covered topics around SAP Business AI and Business Cloud products, she said. With all of the new tech that were doing, we got everyone in a room, [including] the experts [for] a two-day workshop. Then we followed up with pre-sales validations, demo [of] the software [and] coaching based on the demonstrationwere making sure theyre understanding the concepts and explaining it to customers in a way that makes sense. According to McGibbon, SAP A/NZ also recently hired a new role for the region who will be dedicated to helping partners as well now with SAP Business AI and SAP Business Data Cloud. As regional head of growth solutions AI and business data cloud for partner ecosystem success for Asia Pacific, Johnny Wong will focus on SAPs growth initiatives for partners in the region, she said. Lilia Guan travelled to SAP Now AI 2025 as a guest of SAP. BRUSSELS, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Sunday that any agreement between the United States and Russia must include Ukraine and the EU, as the two countries prepare for talks on a possible ceasefire of conflicts in Ukraine. "Any deal between the U.S. and Russia must have Ukraine and the EU included, for it is a matter of Ukraine's and the whole of Europe's security," she said. Kallas revealed that she would convene an online meeting of EU foreign ministers on Monday to discuss "our next steps." U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are due to meet on Aug. 15 in the U.S. state of Alaska to discuss a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, the first talks between the two leaders since 2021. European Union leaders are preparing to issue a joint statement underlining the bloc's support for Ukraine's territorial integrity and the need for Kyiv to be at the table of any talks on its future ahead of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Alaska. The seven-point draft statement, seen by RFE/RL, was circulated among EU member states after an online meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers late on August 11. The meeting was called over the weekend to compare notes and come to common positions after US envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin last week and the subsequent briefings to various European leaders and officials by US Vice President JD Vance in England. The participants in the meeting said they recognized the need for dialogue with the United States before Putin and Trump meet so that the US side is not lured into Putin's "trap," said an EU diplomat who spoke to RFE/RL on the condition of anonymity. The diplomat added that a cease-fire and "deliverables" are needed from Russia before talks about long-term peace, territorials claims, and other matters can be addressed. Several European diplomats that RFE/RL reached out to say there is some confusion regarding what Witkoff actually discussed in his August 6 meeting with Putin, including potential territorial swaps and Moscow's willingness to actually accept a cease-fire. The text says EU states "welcome the efforts of President Trump toward ending Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and achieving a just and lasting peace and security for Ukraine." But it adds that such a peace "must respect international law, including the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and that international borders must not be changed by force." The draft is similar to a statement issued over the weekend by a handful of European leaders with the hope, according to EU officials that RFE/RL has been in touch with, that the rest of the club can get behind a set of common principles to give Ukraine much-needed diplomatic backing. It is not yet clear yet whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend the meeting in Alaska, but the document notes that "the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine." The statement, which the diplomat said will be issued on August 12, is likely to be backed by 26 EU countries. Hungary, which often has refused to back common EU stances on Ukraine, is not expected to be among them. Recent EU summit conclusions on the topic have been published as EU-26 without Budapest's backing even though the Central European country agreed to further EU sanctions on the Kremlin in July. On the question of territory, the EU supports the Ukrainian position of no de jure recognition of any territories. The diplomat said there is a feeling that it is unrealistic that Ukraine would give up Kramatorsk, for example, a place that has been fought over since 2014. The text notes that the club "will also continue to uphold and impose restrictive measures against the Russian Federation," indicating that it isn't yet ready to discuss sanctions relief for Moscow, something that appeared to be a topic between Witkoff and Putin. Consensus is needed to lift parts or all of the sanctions, but the entire raft of measures are up for renewal again via unanimity in January 2026. European countries, as well as the EU as an organization, have so far failed to secure a place at the table of any talks between Kyiv, Washington and Moscow. The French President Emmanuel Macron and the British Prime minister Keir Starmer earlier this year proposed a "reassurance force" with up to 20,000 European troops in the Western part of Ukraine as soon as a cease-fire between Kyiv and Moscow was agreed. While some planning went into it, the plan is "very much dormant," says one European diplomat with knowledge about the discussion, especially as the Europeans couldn't secure support from the Americans when it comes to the military backup needed for such an endeavor. The text, without offering any specifics, instead refers to a readiness to "further contribute to security guarantees based on their respective competences and capabilities." It adds that "the European Union, in coordination with the US and other like-minded partners, will continue to provide political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine as Ukraine is exercising its inherent right of self-defense." Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian has warned that his country faces the risk of further conflict with the United States unless diplomacy is pursued. Speaking at a meeting with media executives on August 10, Pezeshkian criticized opponents of talks with Washington over Tehran's nuclear program, saying the United States would simply strike Iran's nuclear facilities again if they were rebuilt. The United States joined Israel's aerial campaign against Iran on June 22, bombing the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear facilities with B-2 bombers and Tomahawk missiles -- strikes that US President Donald Trump said "completely destroyed" the facilities. Pezeshkian said that while surrendering is "not in our nature," quarreling would not get Tehran anywhere. "Suppose you don't want to negotiate, what do you want to do then? Go to war?" Pezeshkian said. His remarks were immediately met with criticism from the Tasnim News Agency, which is an affiliate of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC). "When the enemy hears these words, what decision will they make and what impression will they form of Iran? Clearly, the only impression they can get is one of Iranian 'weakness'," Tasnim wrote in an editorial. It added that the president's position projects a "weak and desperate" image of the Iranian government. Hossein Shariatmadari, the chief editor of Kayhan and an appointee of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also slammed Pezeshkian for his insistence on talks with Washington. He claimed, without evidence, that both the United States and Israel had "openly admitted their defeat" during the 12-day war in June, and alleged that Washington had come "pleading" for talks with Iran. "What's strange is that some of our own officialshave fallen for the false dichotomy of negotiations versus war," Shariatmadari wrote on August 12. Last month, Iran held talks with European powers over its nuclear program, with Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi saying discussions will continue but no new dates have been announced. European governments have warned that unless significant progress is made in talks between Tehran and Washington by the end of August, they will begin the process of re-imposing UN sanctions against Iran -- a move Iran has said would "end" Europe's role in the nuclear dossier. Iran and the United States were scheduled to hold a new round of talks on June 15, but the meeting was scrapped due to the war. The two sides have yet to agree to meet, with Tehran saying it cannot trust Washington and the White House questioning whether there is any merit in further talks given the damage caused to Iran's nuclear sites. When US President Donald Trump and his Russia counterpart, Vladimir Putin, meet this week in Alaska for talks on ending the war in Ukraine, many will be looking for a breakthrough, though Ukrainians who recently spoke with RFE/RL don't expect one. After more than three years of war, on-again, off-again peace talks, missed deadlines, and thousands of dead as Ukraine fights to repel invading Russian troops, any optimism that there will be progress at the talks in Alaska on August 15 -- at least so far -- appears not to be shared by Ukrainians. "You know, there is not much hope for any positive developments," one man in Kyiv told Current Time. "I think it is just a new phase in the chain of deadlines. And I am afraid this kind of thing will last for the rest of the current US president's term." Ahead of the meeting, Washington appears to be preparing Kyiv and Moscow for major compromises to end the war, with US Vice President JD Vance warning any peace deal will likely leave both sides "unhappy." Russia has consistently given the idea of a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy the cold shoulder, suggesting it should only happen once the sides are close to signing a peace deal, not just a cease-fire agreement. That moment seems far off given the huge gap between the Russian and Ukrainian positions that persists on several major issues, including territory and security, despite three rounds of direct talks in Turkey since mid-May. Putin rejected Zelenskyy's offer to meet face-to-face when the two sides held the first round of negotiations in Istanbul. He reiterated that position last week, saying that while he has nothing against meeting with Zelenskyy, "certain conditions must be created" first and that for now those conditions are "far away." "I don't expect anything to come from it. I only expect something from Ukraine's military," a woman in the capital said. The 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. 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 -- elevates him to Trump's level and aligns with his 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. Members of the court are obliged to detain him, but the United States is not a member, and the Trump administration is openly hostile to the Hague tribunal. Still, one woman told Current Time that while she doesn't expect any progress as a result of the meeting, maybe Trump will be able to push Putin along the path to peace. "I don't expect anything anymore," she said, adding, "I still hope for something. And my friends also hope...that Trump will do something." MOSCOW, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- Russian air defense forces intercepted and destroyed 32 Ukrainian drones overnight and a further seven in the morning, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Monday. According to the ministry, seven of the drones were downed over the Belgorod Region, five each over the Bryansk and Kaluga Regions, four over Crimea, two each over the Oryol, Kursk, Voronezh, Ryazan and Moscow Regions, and one over the Tula Region. On Monday morning, the Defense Ministry reported that air defenses shot down another seven Ukrainian drones. As a result of the drone attack on the Nizhny Novgorod Region, one person was killed and two were injured, the regional governor, Gleb Nikitin, wrote on his Telegram channel. Moscow Mayor Sergey Sobyanin said that seven drones heading toward the Russian capital were downed in the past hour on Monday morning. "Response teams are working at the site where debris fell," he wrote on Telegram. Roscommon Pride has announced its jam-packed events line up for its second LGBTQ+ festival, which takes place from 22-24 August. The streets of the county town will be rainbow coloured again as Roscommon Pride kicks off on Friday August 22nd with an evening of poetry and music in Rogue & Co, hosted by poet and Roscommon Pride Grand Marshall Jane Clarke. Jane will be joined by the musical duo Harpello. Immediately afterwards, drag queen Donatella will host Drag Bingo in the Red Parrot from 8pm until late. Saturday 23rd August will begin with a Drag Brunch hosted by drag queen Donatella and Roscommon drag king Viktor Complex from 11.30am to 1pm in Gleesons. For those not attending the brunch the Quad is the place to be where there will be face painting and festivities in preparation for the Pride March, which will kick off at 2.30pm, starting at the Quad and marching as far as Loughnaneane Park. The Pride March represents the heart of the festival, with people coming together in the spirit of celebration and protest to show support for the LGBTQ+ community. There will be a family fun day in Loughnaneane Park from 3pm to 5pm on Saturday 23rd August, with performers, dance, drag, music and singing. There will also be a Pooch of Pride contest for dog lovers, as well as balloon making, a petting farm, circus performers and craft stalls. Saturdays festivities will end with the official Pride After Party in Oscars Bar from 8pm until late. The after-party will see some of Irelands most iconic drag performers storming the stage. The festival will end on Sunday 24th with a Wellness Day in Loughnaneane Park, which includes a Family Fun Colour Run at 11am, Laughter Yoga for Young People, a Ceremony of Love and Remembrance where the community will come together to remember those weve lost, a Mindfulness, Yoga and Wellness Talk, a Health Habits Talk, and a Rainbow Sing Song. Roscommon Pride will also put a spotlight on sexual health with free rapid HIV and syphilis testing in the Roscommon Volunteer Centre on Friday August 22nd from 5pm-7pm. For more information and to purchase tickets or to register for any events, please visit www.roscommonpride.ie. Will Keane, organiser with Roscommon Pride, said: Were delighted to be bringing Pride back to Roscommon for a second year running. This years festival promises to be a powerful, fun-filled weekend that celebrates and champions the LGBTQ+ community. The local communitys support for Pride last year meant so much to us, and we hope that people will visit and join our events from all over again this year. Our events are open to all our goal is to create safe, inclusive spaces for LGBTQ+ people and allies in Roscommon. Tom Tuite A teenage boy accused of sexually assaulting and attempting to rape a woman in a Dublin pub has been sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court. The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Judge Deirdre Gearty at the Dublin Childrens Court on Monday. He faces two counts of attempted rape and one for sexual assault of the same female on a date last year when he was aged 16. Judge Gearty noted that the Director of Public Prosecutions directed a trial on indictment. Accordingly, she acceded to a request to grant a return for trial order, sending the case to the Central Criminal Court, which has greater sentencing powers. She advised the teenager, accompanied to court by his mother and solicitor Martin ODonnell, that he must inform prosecutors within two weeks if he intended to use an alibi in his defence. The boy, who did not address the court or indicate a plea, will be notified later of his next appearance date, which will be in the next legal term, commencing in October. Judge Gearty also ordered gardai to provide copies of interview videos to the defence. She also acknowledged the seriousness and complexity of the case as she granted Mr ODonnells request to grant legal aid to include junior and senior counsel representation. The boy was remanded on bail with terms set in June. At his earlier appearance, the court heard that he made no reply when charged, and there was no garda objection to bail with conditions. Mr ODonnell said his client had consented to sign on at a Garda station once a week and that he had no contact with the alleged injured party. The teen was also ordered to hand over his passport to gardai. No evidence about the incident was given in the juvenile court, which does not have the power to accept jurisdiction for the case. Mumbai Cops Provide Security Cover to Kapil Sharma After Second Shooting at Kaps' Cafe The building in which the cafe is located has retail units at ground level and residential apartments above, the report said. Mumbai Cops Provide Security Cover to Kapil Sharma After Shooting Incidents at Kaps Cafe News Mumbai Police has provided security cover to comedian Kapil Sharma, following two shooting incidents at his newly-opened Kap's Cafe in Canadas Surrey, the Hindustan Times reported. Advertisement According to the report, the second shooting occurred in the early hours on August 7. At approximately 4:40 am on August 7, 2025, SPS Frontline officers responded to a report of shots fired outside a business in the 8400 block of 120 Street, Surrey Police said in a statement as quoted in the group. The first incident occurred at the same location on July 10, 2025. No injuries were reported in the first incident, in which multiple rounds of bullets were fired at the cafe. According to the report, no injuries were reported in the second incident either. Surrey police are investigating both incidents. According to HT sources, the comedian has been in touch with Canadian authorities and is cooperating with the investigation. The building in which the cafe is located has retail units at ground level and residential apartments above, the report said. Advertisement (For more news apart from 'Mumbai Cops Provide Security Cover to Kapil Sharma After Shooting Incidents at Kaps Cafe News,' stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Air India To Suspend Services To Washington, Dc; Lack Of Aircraft And Closure Of Pak's Airspace The decision has been taken due to unavailability of multiple aircraft and the closure of Pakistan's airspace. Air India To Suspend Services To Washington, DC Latest News GURUGRAM, 11 August 2025: Air India on Monday announced the suspension of its services between Delhi and Washington, D.C., starting September 1, 2025, and the services will not be available at any given time until at least end of 2026. Advertisement The decision has been taken due to unavailability of multiple aircraft and the closure of Pakistans airspace. India on Monday announced the suspension of its servicesdue to a combination of operational factors, to ensure the reliability and integrity of Air Indias overall route network, the airline said in a press release. The suspension is primarily driven by a planned shortfall in Air Indias fleet. The airline said that is has commenced retrofitting 26 of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft last month; therefore, this extensive retrofit programme, aimed at significantly enhancing customer experience has necessitated a prolonged unavailability of multiple aircraft at any given time until at least the end of 2026. Advertisement That, coupled with the continued closure of airspace over Pakistan, impacts the airlines long-haul operations, leading to longer flight routings and increased operational complexity, the statement further read. The airline has assured that the customers with Air India bookings to or from Washington, D.C. beyond September 1, 2025 will be contacted and offered alternative travel arrangements, including rebooking on other flights or full refunds, as per their individual preferences. The Airline noted, Air India customers will continue to have the options of one-stop flights to Washington, D.C. via four U.S. gateways New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago, and San Francisco with the airlines interline partners, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, allowing customers to travel on a single itinerary with their baggage checked through to the final destination. Advertisement Air India will continue to operate non-stop flights between India and six destinations in North America, including Toronto and Vancouver in Canada. About Air India group The Air India group employs more than 30,000 people, operates over 300 aircraft and carries customers to 55 domestic and 48 international destinations across five continents. Advertisement Returning to the Tata Sons in 2022 following 70 years under Government ownership, the Air India group is in the midst of a five-year transformation program, Vihaan.AI. As part of the transformation, Air India has placed an order for 570 new aircraft. In 2024, sister airlines Air Asia India and Vistara were successfully merged into Air India Express and Air India, respectively, and the Airline opened South Asias largest aviation training academy. A new flying school is scheduled to open in 2025, and construction of a greenfield maintenance base, to be operational in 2026, is underway. In addition to receiving new aircraft, all existing aircraft are progressively undergoing a full interior refit. Air India is committed to being a world-class global airline with an Indian heart, said in the press release. (For more news apart from 'Chandigarh to install CCTV surveillance at signals to Track Violators, with real-time data sharing Tech,' stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman) Are India and Pakistan heading for war again? Here's what's happening There are discussions on social media that India and Pakistan might be heading for war again. India and Pakistan war again? 2025 can never be forgotten; at least, the families of 26 people, who lost their lives in the deadliest Pahalgam attack, will never forget the black day. On April 22, some terrorists entered the Baisaran Valley, wearing uniforms of the Indian Army, holding rifles in their hands, and opened fire on civilians who were present there to enjoy their vacation and honeymoon. 26 people lost their lives, all men, mostly married. The terrorists wiped off the Sindoor from the heads of those women who lost their husbands in the attack. In a retaliatory move, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025. India destroyed multiple terror camps in PoK and Pakistan. Advertisement After initial hits during Operation Sindoor, Pakistan was asked not to escalate, citing that the operation was against terrorism and that no military units of Pakistan were attacked in it. But it was Pakistan! They don't understand words. Hence, they went all out on India, but all went in vain. While India's air defence system alone thwarted all attempts by Pakistan to jolt India, the neighbours faced the heat of the Indian armed forces' attack in Pakistan, leaving major air bases damaged, killing several terrorists, and what not. Now, there are discussions on social media about whether India and Pakistan might be heading for war again. Advertisement Why is that so, and is it happening? Pak Army chief's threat to India from the US The speculations are rife after Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir gave an open threat of a "nuclear war" from American soil. While addressing an event in Tampa, Florida, Munir threatened to take down "half the world" if Pakistan faced an existential threat in a future war with India. It is pertinent to mention that this threat came from the land of the US, where there is PM Modi's friend, the US President Donald Trump. 'Indias next war could be closer than we think' On the other hand, Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi said that Indias next war could be closer than we think and it wont be fought by soldiers alone. He called for a whole-of-nation approach to national defence, asking citizens to prepare as one. India, Pakistan Navies to Conduct Parallel Drills in Arabian Sea In a rare show of military activity, the navies of India and Pakistan are all set to hold separate war exercises in the Arabian Sea, starting Monday, with drills expected to last for several days. While both sides have issued Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to mark the exercise areas within their maritime boundaries, details of the participating warships remain undisclosed. Advertisement Modi-Trump friendship over? It was Donald Trump who announced the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, and since then, he has been seeking credit for playing a mediating role in stopping the potential nuclear war between the two countries. Trump has claimed more than 25 times that he stopped the war, threatening both countries with no trade. However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made it clear that it was Pakistan that asked for the ceasefire. In a major turn of events, the friend turned foe, Donald Trump, initially imposed a 25 per cent tariff and then a similar one as an additional tariff later on. Not just imposing tariffs, but Donald Trump has been issuing several unfavourable statements for India. Likewise, PM Modi recently made it clear that he will not put the farmers' interests at stake and is ready to make a big sacrifice. Advertisement Thus, it raises the question: Is the friendship over? These factors have added fuel to the question, "Are India and Pakistan heading for war again?" Police detain Rahul Gandhi, other Congress MPs during protest over ECI's Vote Chori Delhi police stated that the protestors did not get permission for the march. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi detained by Delhi police during protest over ECIs Fraud, latest news Leader of Opposition in Lower House and congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and other MPs from INDIA bloc have been detained by Delhi Police on Monday during their protest march against the Election Commission over Special Intensive Revision in Bihar, ahead of election later this year, and over the allegations of Vote Chori during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the ANI reported. Advertisement According to the report, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose, and other MPs were also among those detained by the police today. All detainees were taken to the Parliament Street Police Station in a bus. Rahul Gandhi, as quoted in the report, said that the fight was not political but a fight to save the constitution. Advertisement This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, Pure voters list, Rahul said. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav was seen leaping over barricades as police stopped the protestors from marching to the office of the Election Commission of India. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, NCP SCP chief Sharad Pawar also joined the protest. Advertisement The report stated that the protest began from the Makkar Dwar of the Parliament, led by Rahul Gandhi, to urge the EC to address their concerns on the alleged voter theft. Delhi police stated that the protestors did not get permission for the march. Meanwhile, BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of allegedly working against the constitution. Advertisement (For more news apart from Police detain Rahul Gandhi, other Congress MPs during protest over ECIs Vote Chori, stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman.) August 11, 2025 A roundup of domestic and international news Newsflash Newsroom, 11.08.2025, 13:55 Reforms. The Romanian Government is beginning preparations this week for the adoption of the second package of budget reforms, given that Fitch Ratings has announced that on August 15 it will publish Romanias sovereign rating, one of the assessments on which the countrys creditworthiness on international markets depends. According to the agencys statement, reducing the budget deficit and stabilizing debt are key conditions for avoiding a downgrade of Romanias country rating, which is currently at BBB- with a negative outlook. Package 2, for which the cabinet led by Ilie Bolojan intends to take responsibility in Parliament, as it did in the case of Package 1, provides for profound reforms in the structure and functioning of the state at the central and local levels. One of these is the completion of the legislative framework for the second pillar of pensions, which aims to eliminate the current possibility for beneficiaries of this pillar to access the full amount saved. The President of the Financial Supervisory Authority, Alexandru Petrescu, says that the proposed bill, together with the Ministry of Finance, on private pensions is a necessary and priority measure, as it completes the legislative framework. In addition, it is also a recommendation from the OECD, to which Romania must respond. Government. Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan has voiced hope that the PSD will not leave the government, in the context of recent tensions generated by the different positions of the coalition partners regarding the official ceremonies dedicated to former President Ion Iliescu, and stressed that political stability is crucial for Romania, especially in the current economic and social context. During a broadcast on a private television station, the prime minister acknowledged that, in a coalition of four parties supported by the minority group, harmonizing positions is sometimes difficult, but he stressed that responsibility is needed to move the country forward. The PSD leadership is meeting today amid tensions within the coalition caused by the refusal of its USR partners to attend the funeral of former President Ion Iliescu. USR cited respect for the victims of the Revolution and the miners riots. The Social Democrats say they want to assess the impact on the functioning of the coalition by establishing a clear party position on continuing government collaboration in conditions of mutual respect and political fairness. Talks. EU foreign ministers and their Ukrainian counterpart are scheduled to hold an extraordinary meeting today via videoconference to discuss involvement in high-level Russian-American negotiations related to the war in Ukraine. European leaders are insisting that President Volodymyr Zelensky participate in Fridays summit in Alaska between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. The EUs foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, who convened the meeting, says that any agreement between the US and Russia must include Kyiv and the EU because it is a security issue for Ukraine and for Europe as a whole. US Vice President J.D. Vance said Washington is trying to get President Zelensky included. Earthquake. Twelve buildings collapsed and an unknown number of people were injured following a 6.1-magnitude earthquake that struck western Turkey on Sunday evening, authorities announced, according to AFP and EFE. The quake struck at 7:53 p.m. local time in Balikesir province, with its epicenter in the Sindirgi area, about 200 kilometers from Turkeys largest city, Istanbul. The earthquake was felt over a wide area, including major cities such as Istanbul, Izmir, Bursa, and Kocaeli, and several aftershocks with a magnitude greater than 4 were recorded in the following hour. Istanbul Governor Davut Gul said there were no reports of major damage or casualties in the Turkish metropolis. Weather. In Romania, the weather will be extremely hot in the southwest, locally in the south, and in limited areas in the center of the country, and the thermal discomfort will remain high. In the rest of the country, temperatures will be lower than the previous day and will approach the average normal for this time of the year. Maximum temperatures will range from 25-26 degrees in the northeast to 41 degrees locally in the south. The sky will be mostly clear, except for areas in the south and center where, in the afternoon and evening, there will be periods of atmospheric instability in limited areas, with temporary cloud cover, torrential showers, and lightning. The noon reading in Bucharest was 33 degrees Celsius. (MI) August 11, 2025 UPDATE A roundup of local and world news August 11, 2025 UPDATE Newsroom, 11.08.2025, 20:19 COALITION The Social Democratic Party in Romania says its participation in the coalition proceedings depends on the endorsement of a package on eliminating privileges, on talks over budgetary adjustment measures with a view to carrying on investment, the PSD interim president Sorin Grindeanu said on Monday. He also said his party requested meetings with representatives of the Finance Ministry on the concrete implementation of the state budget. The Social-Democrats believe that a series of talks must be staged regarding the process of carrying on major and small investment. They also believe some measures in education, healthcare, administration and in the fiscal area must be reconsidered. The PSD leadership convened in a session on Monday against the tension caused by the refusal of their USR coalition partners to attend the funeral of the former president Ion Iliescu. The USR members explained their refusal by recalling the victims of the 1989 revolution and the miners raids in Bucharest in the early 1990s. The Liberal Prime Minister, Ilie Bolojan had earlier underlined that political stability is crucial for Romania mainly against the present economic and social background. During a show hosted by a private TV channel the Prime Minister admitted that harmonizing principles inside a coalition made up of four parties and backed by the group of the national minorities, can sometimes be difficult but underlined the need for responsibility in order to be able to move the country onward. TALKS French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, will be holding a virtual meeting on Ukraine on Wednesday to coordinate their efforts before the summit on Friday between the US president Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Macrons cabinet has announced. According to Reuters, other virtual meetings in various formats are going to take place on that day, including with Donald Trump, says a communique released by the Elysee Palace. The European leaders are insisting that the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky attend the high-level summit on Friday between the US and Russian presidents. EU Foreign Policy Chief, Kaja Kallas, says that any deal between the USA and Russia must also include Kyiv and the EU as this is a security issue for Ukraine and the entire Europe. US Vice-president J.D. Vance says that Washington is working on including the Ukrainian president. MEETING The measures endorsed by the Government are based on the possibilities presently offered by Romanias budget and also on the realities in the countrys education system, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan said at the meeting with representatives of trade unions in education. Trade unionists have again reiterated their discontent regarding the increase in their working hours and the number of students in classrooms, the latest amendments to the system of payment and funding in education. The head of the Executive has called on the Education Ministry to assess the implementation of the new regulations and come up with solutions if there are any issues. In the meantime teachers are threatening to boycott the beginning of the school year due on September 8. REFORMS The Romanian Government is beginning preparations this week for the adoption of the second package of budget reforms, given that Fitch Ratings has announced that on August 15 it will publish Romanias sovereign rating, one of the assessments on which the countrys creditworthiness on international markets depends. According to the agencys statement, reducing the budget deficit and stabilizing debt are key conditions for avoiding a downgrade of Romanias country rating, which is currently at BBB- with a negative outlook. Package 2, for which the cabinet led by Ilie Bolojan intends to take responsibility in Parliament, as it did in the case of Package 1, provides for profound reforms in the structure and functioning of the state at the central and local levels. One of these is the completion of the legislative framework for the second pillar of pensions, which aims to eliminate the current possibility for beneficiaries of this pillar to access the full amount saved. The President of the Financial Supervisory Authority, Alexandru Petrescu, says that the proposed bill, together with the Ministry of Finance, on private pensions is a necessary and priority measure, as it completes the legislative framework. In addition, it is also a recommendation from the OECD, to which Romania must respond. (bill) PRAGUE, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Czech Republic has reported its highest number of hepatitis A cases in the past 15 years, according to the National Institute of Public Health (SZU). From January to the end of July this year, 1,053 cases were recorded, compared with only 168 in the same period last year. The number eventually rose to 636 cases for the whole of 2024. This year, the highest numbers of cases have been reported in Prague (370), the Central Bohemian Region (181), and the Moravian-Silesian Region (113). Hepatitis A is a viral liver disease spreading mainly through contaminated water, food, or direct contact with an infected person. The infection, also known as infectious jaundice, is affecting not only children but also teenagers, young adults, and people with high-risk behaviors -- particularly drug users and the homeless. It is most commonly transmitted due to poor hygiene conditions and close contact in groups, according to the SZU. The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has also warned of an increase in the transmission of the infection in Central Europe, with similar developments observed in Slovakia, Austria, and Hungary. Commenting on the ECDC assessment, SZU Director Barbora Mackova said in June that the situation in the Czech Republic is not dramatic, but it should not be underestimated. "It is necessary to adhere to consistent hand hygiene, regional hygiene stations are implementing targeted anti-epidemic measures, especially in areas with a higher risk of infection, such as excluded localities, communities of homeless people or drug addicts," she said. Currently, targeted vaccinations are being carried out for homeless people and other high-risk groups, including those who have contact with infected individuals. Experts also recommend vaccination for wider population groups. Romania fulfils its duty in the Schengen area Seven months after joining the Schengen free movement area, Romania says it has quickly adapted and implemented measures to compensate for the elimination of regular border controls. Photo: pixabay.com Daniela Budu, 11.08.2025, 14:00 Romania became a full-fledged member of the worlds biggest free-movement area on 1st January 2025, after the EUs Justice and Home Affairs Council of December 2024 decided to eliminate controls on Romanias land borders with Bulgaria and Hungary. Earlier, controls on air and maritime borders had been eliminated on 31st March 2024. Entry to Schengen, an area with 29 member states and some 450 million inhabitants, makes travel easier, stimulates trade exchanges and boosts the countrys tourist attractiveness. Seven months after accession, the Romanian border police says safety remains its priority and that it has adapted quickly and has implemented measures compensating for the lack of regular checks. In a press release, the border police mentions increased drone surveillance, operative special vehicles, thermal vision cameras and radar systems and vessels to monitor the borders. Surprise checks are also being conducted in the border area and on the nearby roads, and training is ongoing. With respect to illegal migration and crime, the Romanian border police said 110 persons are being investigated for migrant trafficking, and some 800 migrants have been prevented in the last seven months from illegally crossing the border. At airports, some 700,000 checks have been conducted in the case of intra-Schengen passengers, using eDAC mobile terminals. This led to the discovery of 60 persons who were staying illegally, 50 false documents and 40 wanted persons. 77,000 Romanian minors were checked upon leaving the country, with more than 200 not fulfilling legal travelling conditions. Referring to international cooperation, the Romanian border police has announced joint actions with Bulgaria and Hungary to prevent illegal migration, as well as contributing staff to the Bulgarian-Turkish border, alongside colleagues from Austria and Hungary. In the first seven months of the year, it continued to work on the safety of the EUs external borders, together with partners from the neighbouring countries Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. Over 4,500 joint actions were carried out, from surveillance missions to individual operations, all conducted in collaboration with border authorities in the region. According to the Romanian border police, the borders are now safer and more efficient because the working methods were improved at border crossings and the green border areas in order to respond to any situation quickly. Waiting times were considerably lower, without taking anything away from the level of control and vigilance. The border police also says in its statement that in the first seven months of the year, Romania demonstrated it can ensure the security of the EUs external borders even in the lack of fixed borders with Hungary and Bulgaria. We have adapted quickly, we have responded promptly and have focused on protecting citizens and supporting free movement, the press release also says. Indonesia will on Monday release July figures for retail sales, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In June, sales were up 1.9 percent on year. Malaysia will see June data for unemployment; in May, the jobless rate was 3.0 percent. Finally, the in Japan (Mountain Day) and Thailand (Queen Sirikit's birthday) are closed on Monday; Japan will be back on Tuesday, while Thailand is shuttered until Wednesday. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. The Australian stock market is maintaining its early gains in mid-market trading on Monday, but reversing the losses in the previous two sessions, following the broadly positive cues from Wall Street on Friday. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 index is staying above the 8,800.00 level, with gains in iron ore miners, energy and financial stocks partially offset by weakness in gold miners and stocks. The benchmark S&P/ASX 200 Index is gaining 31.00 points or 0.35 percent to 8,838.10, after touching a high of 8,852.30 earlier. The broader All Ordinaries Index is up 32.80 points or 0.36 percent to 9,109.40. Australian stocks closed modestly lower on Friday. Among the major miners, Fortescue and Rio Tinto are gaining 1.5 percent each, while BHP Group is advancing 1.5 percent and Mineral Resources is soaring more than 10 percent. Oil stocks are mostly higher. Origin Energy, Santos and Woodside Energy are edging up 0.1 to 0.4 percent each, while Beach energy is advancing 2.5 percent. Among tech stocks, Afterpay owner Block is tumbling almost 9 percent, Zip is losing more than 2 percent and Xero is declining almost 1 percent, while WiseTech Global is edging up 0.4 percent and Appen is gaining 2.5 percent. Gold miners are mostly lower. Northern Star Resources and Newmont are declining more than 1 percent each, while Gold Road Resources down 1.5 percent each. Evolution Mining is edging up 0.5 percent and Resolute Mining is adding almost 3 percent. Among the big four banks, Commonwealth Bank are adding almost 1 percent, while ANZ Banking, National Australia Bank and Westpac are gaining more than 1 percent each. In other news, shares in Liontown Resources are skyrocketing almost 20 percent after the lithium miner returned from a trading halt on completing a major capital raising. Shares in DigiCo are jumping more than 9 percent after the real estate company secured the government's housing certification. Shares in Iress are tumbling almost 11 percent after reporting downbeat s results for the half yearly period. Shares in IDP Education soaring almost 10 percent as Jefferies Australia analyst Wei Sim raised his price target on a bullish note. Shares in JB Hi-Fi are diving almost 9 percent after long-serving chief executive Terry Smart announced his decision by to step down from the top position in October. In the currency market, the Aussie dollar is trading at $0.652 on Monday. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis Estonia's foreign trade deficit decreased somewhat in June from a year ago, as exports grew faster than imports, figures from Statistics Estonia showed on Monday. The trade deficit dropped to EUR 304 million in June from EUR 307 million in the same month last year. In May, the trade gap was EUR 264 million. Exports were 6.0 percent higher on a year-on-year basis in June, and imports increased at a comparatively slower pace of 5.0 percent. The main commodities exported in June were electrical equipment, agricultural products and food preparations, and transport equipment. During the second quarter, the total trade deficit of the country was EUR 890 million, up from EUR 855 million in the corresponding period last year. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News European stocks were mostly lower on Monday as investors looked ahead to a Russia-U.S. summit this week that could help stop the war in Ukraine. The pan European STOXX 600 was marginally lower at 547.04 after rising 0.2 percent on Friday. The German DAX and France's CAC 40 both were down around 0.3 percent while the U.K.'s FTSE 100 was up 0.2 percent ahead of the U.K. employment and the U.S. CPI data due on Tuesday. German steelmaker Salzgitter fell about 1 percent after widening its Q2 loss and cutting its FY25 outlook. Defense stocks traded lower, with Hensoldt falling 2 percent and Rheinmetall plunging nearly 5 percent, after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested that a potential agreement to end the more than three-year old conflict in Ukraine could see the swapping of territory by both sides. Vistry Group, a prominent player in the housing and construction industry, rose over 1 percent in London after announcing the continuation of its 130 million share buyback program. Marshalls declined 1.7 percent as the building materials producer posted half-year results showing substantially softer profits. Drug maker GSK gained 1.2 percent. The U.S. FDA has accepted its application for priority review of gepotidacin, an oral antibiotic to treat sexually transmitted uncomplicated gonorrhoea. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis Israel's representative has told an emergency meeting of the Security Council on the Israeli government's plan for its security forces to take control of Gaza City that his country "has no plans or desire to permanently occupy Gaza". Its latest decision is to liberate the Strip from a terror regime. He cited the five clear principles that the Israeli security cabinet adopted for concluding the war: the disarming of Hamas; the return of all hostages, both living and deceased; the demilitarization of the Gaza Strip; Israeli security control in the Gaza Strip; and the establishment of a non-Israeli, peaceful civil administration governed neither by Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority. "This is the only way to ensure a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike," according to Jonathan Miller, Deputy Permanent Representative for Israel to the UN. The UN Security Council met Sunday in New York following the Israeli cabinet's decision to again expand its military operation inside the Gaza Strip and take full control of the key population center of Gaza City. Two top UN officials warned that the Israeli cabinet's green light this week for a fresh offensive aimed at gaining total military control of Gaza City - home to around one million Palestinians - would only risk igniting "another horrific chapter" of displacement, death and destruction. Miroslav Jenca, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and the Americas, told ambassadors that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposed plan for "defeating Hamas" and the establishment of an alternative civilian administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority, risked "yet another dangerous escalation" that would destabilize the entire region. Jenca said that according to Israeli media reports, the plan foresees the displacement of all civilians from Gaza City by October 7, affecting some 800,000 people - many previously displaced. Reports indicate that forces would then surround the city for three months. This would reportedly then be followed by an additional two months to seize control of central Gaza's camps and clear the entire area of Palestinian armed groups. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The UK Government announced that it will strip back a decades-old law to introduce new powers for immediate deportation of convicted foreign criminals from prison. The new power will get foreign national offenders out of prisons ahead of their convicted terms. The change follows legislation introduced by the Government in June, which will mean most foreign prisoners can now be deported after serving 30 percent of their prison time, rather than 50 percent. Offenders who are deported are barred from re-entering the UK. Terrorists, murderers and others serving life sentences will continue to have to serve their prison sentence before being considered for deportation, the Ministry of Justice and Home Office said. Ramping up removals of foreign national offenders has been a priority for this Government with almost 5,200 deported since July 2024. The government has also invested 5 million pounds for the deployment of specialist staff to around 80 jails to speed up removals. This is part of our Plan for Change to fix the broken criminal justice system we inherited and make our streets safer. This includes building 14,000 more prison places, reforming sentencing, and ensuring that victims get the support they need. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said, "This Government is taking radical action to deport foreign criminals, as part of our Plan for Change. Deportations are up under this Government, and with this new law they will happen earlier than ever before." "Our message is clear: if you abuse our hospitality and break our laws, we will send you packing." Meanwhile, the Home Ministry said more foreign criminals will have their appeals heard from abroad, preventing them from gaming the system to delay their deportation from the UK, in the latest step to restore order to the UK's immigration system as part of the Government's Plan for Change. The scope of the "Deport Now Appeal Later" scheme will be nearly trebled from eight countries to 23, with foreign nationals from those countries expected to be deported to their home countries before they can appeal against that decision, increasing the UK's ability to remove foreign criminals at the earliest opportunity, and easing pressure on the detention and prison estate. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News MeridianLink, Inc. (MLNK), provider of digital lending and credit reporting software for financial institutions, has agreed to be acquired by funds managed by affiliates of Centerbridge Partners, L.P. in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $2 billion. The deal will take MeridianLink private. Under the agreement, shareholders will receive $20.00 per share in cash, representing a 26 percent premium to the company's August 8, 2025, closing price. The transaction, unanimously approved by MeridianLink's board, is expected to close in the second half of 2025, subject to regulatory and shareholder approvals. Investors holding about 55 percent of the outstanding shares have already committed to supporting the deal. Incoming president and CEO Larry Katz said the agreement reflects strong confidence in MeridianLink's leadership position, serving nearly 2,000 community financial institutions and credit reporting agencies. He noted the partnership with Centerbridge will accelerate product innovation, advance AI and data capabilities, and enhance the customer experience. Outgoing CEO Nicolaas Vlok expressed optimism about the company's next chapter under Katz's leadership. Centerbridge senior managing director Jared Hendricks and managing director Ben Jaffe said they plan to strengthen MeridianLink's role in modernizing digital lending and credit reporting, leveraging their expertise in financial growth strategies. Following completion, MeridianLink will be delisted from the NYSE and continue to operate from its Irvine, California headquarters. Centerview Partners and Goodwin Procter advised MeridianLink, while Goldman Sachs and Kirkland & Ellis advised Centerbridge. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Dancers from Shanghai Theatre Academy perform dance drama The Pure Blue during Edinburgh Art Festival in Edinburgh, Britain, Aug. 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Zheng Bofei) EDINBURGH, Britain, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- The China Focus program opened on Monday at the Edinburgh Art Festival, bringing nine Chinese productions to one of the world's largest arts stages and highlighting the dynamism of contemporary Chinese creativity. Running from July 30 to Aug. 25, this year's program spans music, dance, theatre, and experimental performance, according to the organizer, the Center for China Shanghai International Arts Festival. Highlights include the British debut of the China National Centre for the Performing Arts Orchestra; Personallery 4.0, a fusion of ballroom dance and artificial intelligence inspired by The Peony Pavilion; Zhuangzi's Dream, which combines shadow puppetry with Daoist philosophy; The Pure Blue, a "Fish Dance" performance aimed at raising awareness of ocean conservation. Neil Semple, deputy head of Creative Industry at the UK's Department for Business and Trade, described Chinese performing arts as a source of vibrant innovation and a driver of cultural collaboration between China and Britain. Since its inception in 2017, China Focus has brought 35 productions to the Edinburgh festival, drawing over 120,000 audiences with drama, dance drama, musicals, and other genres. Tang Yingqi, vice president of the Center, said this is the fifth time the organization has led a group of productions to Edinburgh, describing China Focus as a window for overseas audiences to experience China's evolving contemporary art scene. The Edinburgh Art Festival, which encompasses the International Festival, Fringe, Military Tattoo, International Book Festival, and Visual Arts Festival, attracts tens of thousands of artists from around the world each year. A dancer from Shanghai Theatre Academy performs dance drama The Pure Blue during Edinburgh Art Festival in Edinburgh, Britain, Aug. 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Zheng Bofei) Dancers from Shanghai Theatre Academy perform dance drama The Pure Blue during Edinburgh Art Festival in Edinburgh, Britain, Aug. 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Zheng Bofei) Kia Seltos SUV has been a runaway success for the brand and has seen major acceptance in global markets. In India, Seltos was the definitive model for Kia as the brand commenced operations in Asian subcontinent. A new Seltos is on the horizon with a new design language and a bump in equipment list. Also, this new Seltos is rumoured to come with a Hybrid powertrain based on one of the companys Petrol engines. However, the production of Seltos Hybrid might be delayed as per new rumours from the Korean media. Lets take a look at possible reasons why full-scale production of Kia Seltos Hybrid might be delayed. Kia Seltos Hybrid Launch Delayed? As per South Korean media, Next-Gen Kia Seltos Hybrid production was slated to commence in January 2026 and then reach other major markets subsequently. Seltos has emerged as a major success for Kia globally, where SUVs are concerned. A Hybrid version of this vehicle would push the sales envelope further. However, new reports suggest that there might be delays in the production of Kia Seltos Hybrid owing to a combination of factors. Now, the new rumoured timeline is April 2026, moving away from the initially speculated January 2026 timeline. It has to be noted that Kia has not confirmed these developments yet. While the exact reasons are not known, speculations suggest pricing concerns, strategic caution and market success are likely. The segment Kia Seltos operates in, is a price sensitive one and could potentially risk a slowdown of demand in the market, once a higher priced Hybrid version is launched. Launch Delayed To April 2026? In markets like Korea, Europe and USA, Kia Seltos Hybrid is likely to be positioned on 1.6L Turbo Petrol GDi engine. For the Hybrid setup Kia might implement an e-AWD system, increasing costs and production complexities. Which could potentially impact Seltos reputation as VFM compact SUV for the masses. Around 70% of Kia Sorento sales were from Hybrid variants, suggesting the consumer shift towards greener and fuel efficient powertrains. That said, Kia Sorento is a larger and a more expensive vehicle and a Hybrid version for a little more money seldom upsets target demographic, which might not be the case for Seltos. Instead of that, Kia might take its time to ensure cost efficient production and competitive pricing to ensure alignment with customer preferences. For markets like India, Kia is expected to come up with a more cost-effective Hybrid solution based on the ubiquitous 1.5L NA Petrol engine and strictly FWD layout. Kia India is expected to launch Next Gen Seltos by the end of calendar year 2025. However, a Hybrid version of Seltos for India is likely to hit the markets at a later date. Source Royal Enfield has expanded the colour palette of its popular Hunter 350 roadster with the launch of a new Graphite Grey variant, priced at Rs 1,76,750 (ex-showroom). This addition takes the total number of colour options for the Hunter 350 to seven, with the mid variant now available in three shades Graphite Grey, Rio White, and Dapper Grey. Bookings for the new variant are now open at Royal Enfield dealerships, on the RE App, and via the companys website. Matte Finish with Street-Inspired Details The new Graphite Grey is finished in an exclusive matte coat, designed to appeal to riders who prefer understated style with an edge. Neon yellow accents add a bold touch, inspired by urban street graffiti. The variant continues to be powered by the brands 349cc J-series engine paired with retro-modern styling that suits both city commutes and weekend rides. Part of the Updated 2025 Line-Up This new colourway follows earlier 2025 updates that introduced Rio White, Tokyo Black, and London Red to the Hunter 350 line-up, alongside mechanical and ergonomic improvements. These include increased ground clearance, a more comfortable seat, revised suspension, and a refined ergonomic triangle for better rider fit. The Hunter 350 also became the first 350cc Royal Enfield to feature a slip-assist clutch. Other updates include an LED headlamp, tripper navigation pod, and Type-C USB fast charging. The Hunter 350 registered sales of 16,261 units last month, reaffirming its strong position in Royal Enfields line-up. With the festive season approaching, the introduction of the new Graphite Grey variant is expected to further boost sales by attracting buyers looking for fresh style and exclusivity. Globally, the Hunter 350 has built a strong following of over half a million riders since launch, making it one of Royal Enfields fastest-growing models. The new Graphite Grey variant aims to strengthen that appeal, targeting riders seeking a personalised, stylish option without compromising comfort or the bikes retro charm. Customers can see the 2025 Hunter 350 Graphite Grey at their nearest Royal Enfield store or book online. The addition reinforces the Hunters position as a stylish, accessible roadster in Royal Enfields line-up, which spans from 350cc singles to 650cc twins, adventure tourers, and modern classics. HOUSTON, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- A shooting at a Target store in Austin, the capital city of the U.S. state of Texas, left three people dead on Monday, authorities said. Austin police said in a social media post that the suspect had been detained. The shooting happened just around 2 p.m. local time (1900 GMT), said the police. Tasting the many varieties of gelato is a must while in Italy. (Mike - stock.adobe.com) Editors Note: Bradley Roe is a student writer from Dr. Wiedemers and Ms. Irelands class at Spangdahlem Middle School (SY 24-25). Sitting in the sun, glaring at the calm sparkling lake, my gelato slowly melting away in the late afternoon Italian sun. Arriving in Italy, I noticed all the scenery, including forests and rivers. During the trip, I had the chance to experience numerous things. The gelato was like never before; the creaminess and smooth texture were almost unreal. All the food in Italy was great, whether it be a delectable pizza, or a soothing soup. It was hard to leave. The enchanting scenery is quite indescribable. The sparkling waters beside the almost ancient towns were of immeasurable beauty. Two of the greatest places were Lake Como which was a calm, wonderful, relaxing place and when I was there I watched the calm lake and its beauty moving along, and Pompeii where I saw the town and its destroyed buildings. On August 24, 79 C.E Mount Vesuvius eruption destroyed the town of Pompeii, along with damage to Herculaneum, Stabiae, Torre, and Annunziata along with other communities around the areas. This devastating eruption lasted two days. Pompeii was destroyed by a volcanic eruption in the year 79 C.E. (AS Photo Family - stock.adobe.com) At Lake Como there were many beautiful restaurants and other nearly ancient buildings dating back hundreds of years. The candle-lit restaurants had delightful cuisines, with many assortments of pizza and pasta. Some of my favorites being the margarita pizza and the fettuccine. It was hard to choose a favorite when all the dishes were of immense elegance and delectable tastes. Walking around, I saw the beautiful scenery, the lemon-yellow houses, almost illuminated in the bright sun, the crystal-like lake water reflecting in the sun as well. Visiting Lake Como is one of the highlights of a vacation in Italy. (Katyefamy - stock.adobe.com) Sitting on the sand glancing at my surroundings I notice a gelato stand, once I point it out to my family we go and order some, as we eat it we watch the sunset as we slowly walk back to our AirBnb, where we get some much needed rest for the next day of even more activities. I love being a military connected child, I get to experience so many new things, like my trip to Italy. Astronomers using the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope have captured a stunning new image of part of a spiral galaxy called NGC 45. NGC 45 is located approximately 22 million light-years away in the constellation of Cetus. Also known as DDO 223, ESO 473-1 or LEDA 930, this galaxy is around 81,000 light-years across. NGC 45 was discovered by the English astronomer John Herschel on November 11, 1835. The Hubble data used to create this portrait of NGC 45 were drawn from two complementary observing programs, Hubble astronomers said in a statement. The first took a broad view of 50 nearby galaxies, leveraging Hubbles ability to observe light from the ultraviolet to the near-infrared in order to study star formation in these galaxies. The second program examined many of the same nearby galaxies as the first, narrowing in on a particular wavelength of red light called H-alpha. Star-forming nebulae are powerful producers of H-alpha light, and several of these regions can be identified across NGC 45 by their bright pink-red color. These observing programs aimed to study star formation in galaxies of different sizes, structures, and degrees of isolation and NGC 45 makes for a particularly interesting target. Though it may appear to be a regular spiral galaxy, NGC 45 is actually a remarkable type called a low surface brightness galaxy. Low surface brightness galaxies are fainter than the night sky itself, making them incredibly difficult to detect, the researchers said. They appear unexpectedly faint because they have relatively few stars for the amount of gas and dark matter they carry. In the decades since the first low surface brightness galaxy was serendipitously discovered in 1986, researchers have learned that 30-60% of all galaxies may fall into this category. Studying these hard-to-detect galaxies is key to understanding how galaxies form and evolve, and Hubbles sensitive instruments are equal to the task. Pebbles Sambolanay from the Vogelweh Teen Center was named the 2025 Keystone Advisor of the Year by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) at the annual Keystone conference held in Chicago this year. (Provided by Vogelweh Teen Center staff) In July, Pebbles Sambolanay was named the 2025 Keystone Advisor of the Year by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). Sambolanay works as the Teen Director at the Vogelweh Teen Center in Germany. She plans programs and activities, collaborating with organizations like BGCA and working closely with the youth of the Keystone Club who facilitate events. Vogelweh Teen Center is all about a safe place. It is a second home for our teens Pebbles Sambolanay Keystone Club is a community leadership and service club hosted by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). Youth and teen centers on military installations around the world are affiliated with BGCA, and Keystone is one of the many clubs and programs available to club members. The 2025 National Keystone Conference was held in Chicago, with over 1,500 youth and advisors in attendance. This yearly event celebrates the culmination of club activities, which follow a school-year calendar. Thousands of Keystone clubs from across the U.S. and from military installations internationally were invited to attend the conference. Youth participate in sessions focused on leadership, community involvement, career preparedness and more. In addition, awards are given for stand-out clubs and individuals. The Vogelweh Keystone Club also earned honors at the conference. Sambolanay was surprised to be awarded the clubs highest advisor honor with the 2025 Keystone Advisor of the Year Award. She discovered afterward that her leadership was aware and kept the award secret. Until her name appeared on screen at the conference as one of the nominees, she did not know she was in the running. Hearing her name called as winner was a surreal moment. The 2025 National Keystone Conference was held in Chicago, with over 1,500 youth and advisors in attendance. (Provided by Vogelweh Teen Center staff) I feel honored, and not just that I really do feel humbled. There are a lot of advisors over there that work hard Maybe they saw something in me, and Im super thankful for that. [It] wouldnt be possible without our community and our teens, our amazing teens! When military youth and teen centers re-opened following the coronavirus pandemic, the program at Vogelweh needed rebuilt almost from scratch. Sambolanay considered it a 2.0 reboot, with new programs, new opportunities in the digital world and a renewed focus on the mental health of military-affiliated teens. I wanted to create an environment for the teens where they can feel that they can belong. Its not just with their peers but also the whole community. Visit the youth or teen center at your installation for details on what they offer including BGCA programs like Keystone Club. Companies, states and private citizens launched lawsuits against the Trump administration after the president declared a trade deficit-based national emergency under IEEPA to launch his oppressive tariff regime. Whats at stake is whether Trump has managed to successfully wrest control of foreign trade policy powers from Congress and reposition that authority squarely at the feet of the executive. Its against this backdrop that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington D.C. heard arguments on July 31 from plaintiffs suing the Trump administration for an end to the tariffs, and from lawyers for the government arguing to keep them in place. Closer to home, shoppers are feeling the strain of rising inflation as companies begin to do what economists warned they would: pass tariff expenses down to U.S. consumers. The most recent Consumer Price Index found inflation up 2.7% year over year. In Lesotho, a country in south Africa of more than 2.3 million people, Trumps threat of 50% tariffs and the 15% tariffs ultimately levied by the Trump administration decimated the nations garment industry , which had long been buoyed by a free trade agreement with the U.S. Trump called the country a nation nobody has heard of, and Lesothos Deputy Prime Minister Nthomeng Majara declared a state of economic emergency, citing massive unemployment and job loss. The Trump administration claims the decades-long retrenchment of the U.S. manufacturing sector, so-called counterfeit goods imports laced with fentanyl, and the nations reliance on foreign supply chains constitute a threat to national security. Experts told TPM the president is completely off base You cant make sense out of it because it does not make sense, said economist C. Fred Bergsten. Already, Trumps tariffs are having devastating international effects. Trump launched his assault on global trade using a 1977 law called the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, or IEEPA, because he claimed Americas trade deficits constituted a national emergency. U.S. tariffs on other countries now range from a high of 41% levied against Syria to 10% for nations including the United Kingdom. Including the hazy handshake trade deals announced by the administration, about 90 countries now face import tariffs from the U.S. with the new 18.6% average tariff rate at its highest since the Great Depression. After months of rigamarole beginning with the April 2 threat of widespread Liberation Day tariffs, President Donald Trumps administration finally levied import taxes against more than 70 countries on Thursday. Now its up to the courts to decide whether those tariffs will stay in place. Story Continues At least five cases were filed in April and May, and two are being heard before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit now. One is an April 14 case filed by V.O.S. Selections, a small, New York-based wine and spirits importer, and four other import companies to the U.S. Court of International Trade. Plaintiffs argued the administration exceeded his authority under IEEPA, and that Congress is the entity that sets tariff rates. The second case filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade was brought by the attorneys general of 12 states: Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Vermont. Notably, while Trump won Arizona and Nevada in the 2024 presidential election, the AGs in both states are elected Democrats. The International Trade Court consolidated the cases, ruled the president overstepped his authority by imposing blanket tariffs, and issued a permanent injunction against future tariffs. As expected, the administration appealed the decision, and the federal appeals court has stayed or paused enforcement of the injunction while it considers the appeal. The Trump admin claims the trade deficit is a national emergency In its fact sheet about Trumps national emergency declaration and IEEPA trade powers, the White House made its case that tariffs would make the U.S. more competitive, protect the countrys sovereignty and strengthen national and economic security. The deficits Trump hates so have led to the hollowing out of our manufacturing base, the fact sheet said. Further, it claims, COVID and an attack by Houthi forces, which impacted shipping in the Middle East, exposed the U.S. to supply chain disruption, while drugs being smuggled into the country pose additional dangers. Finally, the administration said the U.S. doesnt have enough stockpiled military equipment. The question before the court is whether the issues the White House lays out rise to the level of a national emergency and give the president unilateral authority to authorize and impose foreign trade policy at will. The courts dont seem to be buying it Politico called it a frosty reception. ABC news said judges voiced skepticism. Those unflattering summaries describe the tone of questions and answers given by the panel of 11 federal appeals court judges during the July 31 hearing. One of the major concerns that I have is that IEEPA doesnt even mention the word tariffs anywhere, said Obama appointee Judge Jimmie Reyna. Another, Clinton appointee Judge Timothy Dyk, noted the intended role of Congress in setting tariffs. Its just hard for me to see that Congress intended to give the president in IEEPA the wholesale authority to throw out the tariff schedule that Congress has adopted after years of careful work, Dyk said, and revise every one of these tariff rates. Watching live, Inu Manak, a trade fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations told TPM she felt good hearing judges ask very pointed, direct questions, trying to establish whether there are guardrails or limits to the president. Trump is stretching IEEPA emergency declarations in an unprecedented way, said economist Bergsten, who said he helped negotiate IEEPA during his time at the U.S. Treasury Department in 1977. To implement policies like this under IEEPA, you have to rely on the existence of a national emergency thats a threat to national security, Bergsten said, and its very hard to argue that any of this trade stuff falls in that category. How has the IEEPA been used historically? Trump tried during his first administration to use IEEPA to levy tariffs against Mexico when he declared a national emergency for illegal immigration in 2019. But before that, the statute had been used more for sanctions than as a foreign economic policy tool, Georgetown law professor Kathleen Claussen said during an episode of NPRs Planet Money podcast. After Congress passed the law, President Jimmy Carter first used it in 1979 in response to the Iran hostage crisis, according to a Library of Congress publication detailing the history of the act and how presidents have used it. Carter used his IEEPA powers to lock Iran out of the U.S. finance market and to freeze Iranian government assets here. In 1985, President Ronald Reagan used the act to punish South Africa for its violent racial apartheid regime, revoking and prohibiting loans, military-related technology exports, and nuclear-related exports to the nations government. Presidents George Bush and Barack Obama declared a national emergency and blocked property and transactions in North Korea, in response to North Koreas nuclear program. I think its pretty clear that president Trump has overstepped his powers as articulated in IEEPA, said Jared Bernstein, a former chief economist and economic adviser during the Obama administration. A Trump-stacked SCOTUS means its a 50-50 bet whatll happen Experts expect the case is heading for the Supreme Court. The conservative court, which features three Trump-appointed justices, has issued a number of rulings exponentially expanding executive powers. But, Bergsten noted, SCOTUS hasnt always gone with the administration. Its a 50-50 bet, said Bergsten. Under an objective look at the law, [IEEPA] should not extend to this activity. If the court strikes down Trumps tariffs, there are other, less flexible and more time consuming methods Trump could use to enact his isolationist economic agenda. But in the meantime, the U.S. government would have to pay foreign exporters back, and it seems like that process would be a mess, according to an article from the Peterson Institute of International Economics, where Bergsten serves as director emeritus. Bernstein, currently a policy fellow at the Center for American Progress, says he has little faith in the nations highest court not to simply bend to Trumps will. The Supreme Court majority has time and again just rolled over and allowed the president and has allowed the executive branch to go way beyond historical precedence, he said. So my hope is that the International Trade Courts decision will be ratified, but my fear is that the Supreme Court will ultimately overturn it. Abacus Worldwide, an alliance of independently owned and managed professional service companies, has announced the inclusion of two accounting practices into its network. Brazilian auditor Triade Auditores e Consultores and Colombian accounting practice Seven Group G7 have joined the association, bringing the total number of companies in the Latin America (LATAM) region to 21. Sao Paulo-based Triade, established in 1989, offers a range of auditing services to both national and multinational companies. It has broadened its scope to assist clients in various business operations including tax consulting and outsourcing. Abacus Worldwide president and CEO Julio Gabay said: As Brazils economy continues to grow, it becomes an even bigger player on the world stage. The addition of Triade provides our global membership the expertise their clients need for expansion and investment there. Seven Group G7, headquartered in Cali, Colombia, comprises specialists with experience from larger companies, focusing on audit and accounting services. The practice aims to enhance its clients' competitive advantages through tailored solutions that address innovation, compliance, and the optimisation of processes, policies, systems and controls. In addition to its main office in Cali, G7 operates branches in Bogota, Barranquilla, Medellin and Pereira. Gabay added: G7 has Colombia covered, both geographically and with a strong suite of services. Our members can get help for their clients looking to expand into the third-largest economy in South America. Abacus Worldwide provides direct access to law companies and accounting practices across the world. Abacus said that as a multi-discipline membership association, both law and accounting practices join it to support international business referrals, participate in knowledge exchange and gain access to practice management tools to better serve their clients. "Abacus Worldwide expands presence with new additions" was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand. Citi hiked its price target on Rolls-Royce on Monday to 1,100p from 641p, highlighting three main reasons for the move and saying the stock is "expensive on profits multiples" and "about right on cash". Firstly, the bank pointed to increasing explicit forecasts. Citi said it has increased its 2025 profit forecast by 23% and 2029 by 28%. In addition, the banks free cash flow forecasts have also risen by 13% this year, rising to 20% in 2029. Secondly, Citi noted an increased mid-term (2030-34) implicit profit growth assumption from 4% to 8%, broadly in line with expected fleet growth. Thirdly, the bank pointed to around 40p of value for SMR. "Rolls-Royce may look expensive on profit multiples, but it is in line on cash metrics, which we believe more important," said Citi, which also reiterated its 'neutral' stance on the stock. "We forecast 12.3% profit compound annual growth rate over 2025 to 2030 and cash conversion peaking at 120% before trending down to 114%, which we use for our valuation." Analysts at JPMorgan hiked their target price on Rolls-Royce by 20% to 1,245p on Monday following the group's "exceptionally strong" H1 results. JPMorgan, which has an 'verweight' rating on the stock, raised its FY25-30 earnings per share estimates for Rolls-Royce by 19%, 13%, 10%, 9%, 10%, and 8%, respectively, with the bigger EPS increase in 2025 being due to a provision release that may not recur at the same level in future years. "RR remains a compelling investment in our view, offering a combination of strong markets (civil aero; data centres; German defence; civil nuclear renaissance) and a tremendous amount of ongoing self-help/transformation," said JPMorgan. "We believe that higher target multiples are justified by the higher quality of RR's results, with growth now being driven by three strong divisions, with the potential for SMR (small modular nuclear reactors) to add a fourth leg in the 2030s." Elsewhere, JPMorgan Cazenove downgraded Elementis on Monday to 'neutral' from 'overweight' as it said upside potential was now lower. The bank said its previous bullish case on Elementis - associated with balance sheet deleveraging, portfolio upgrade and associated improved earnings quality, and better earnings delivery from self-help cost actions - has largely played out. It said this was reflected in the outperformance of the shares, which were up 13% over the past year, versus the sector down 3%, and up 48% over the past two years versus the sector down 2%. JPM also said it was reflected in the valuation, which has now re-rated close to Croda and well above the median multiples of diversified chemical companies. "Owing to a history of takeout offers (in 2020/21) and an improved and focused portfolio since, we continue to view the stock as a potential takeout candidate," said JPM. However, JPM said the likely take-out multiple of 11-12x EBITDA doesn't offer as much of an outsized upside potential in shares anymore. Berenberg updated its model for Wheaton Precious Metals following its Q2 results last week, leading it to raise its target price on the stock from 7,200p to 7,800p. Berenberg said the company delivered record quarterly earnings and strong beats versus consensus, of 7% for adjusted earnings per share and 15% for operating cash flows, which were driven by a combination of higher production, sales volumes, realised prices and margins. The German bank, which kept its 'buy' rating on the stock, noted that production guidance for 2025 was maintained, and that several near-term development streams were all progressing on track, and highlighted that execution of Wheaton's "compelling" expected 32% volume growth to 2028 was "a key facet" to achieving a continued re-rate higher. Berenberg said its updated model had lifted its 2025 underlying earnings estimate by roughly 4% and earnings per share by about 3%. However, it also moderated its grade estimates at Wheaton's San Dimas asset in Mexico, which trimmed its 2027 earnings expectation. However, improved operating cash flows increased its end-2025 net-cash forecast by roughly 6%. "As Wheaton has delivered consistent output from its high-quality baseline portfolio (capitalising on strong precious metals prices), and with its near-term growth projects all progressing on track, we have witnessed a multiple re-rate. We, therefore, lift our NAV multiple to 3x from 2.5x, reflecting a c10% premium to the average trading level since January 2025 of 2.75x (on our NAV estimate)," said Berenberg. "We maintain our 30x EBITDA multiple, which reflects Wheaton's near-term volume growth trajectory. The shares are currently trading on 3x NAV and 28.3x 12-month forward EBITDA. Note that Wheaton's implied share price on 30x 2027E EBITDA is 8,700p. Further, if we run our model at spot gold and silver prices, our price target increases to 9,400p, representing c25% upside." Oxford Nanopore Technologies announced Monday that Gordon Sanghera, its co-founder and chief executive officer, would step down from his role and the board by the end of 2026. The FTSE 250 company, which provides molecular sensing technology based on nanopores, said it had started a formal search for his successor to lead the firm into its next phase of growth. Two decades ago, Gordon co-founded Oxford Nanopore with the bold ambition to transform molecular analysis, said the companys chair Duncan Tatton-Brown. He has since led the Company's growth into a global business, built a highly differentiated technology platform and fostered a culture of innovation and collaboration that underpins its success. These foundations have supported sustained, above-market growth and position Oxford Nanopore well for the future. Tatton-Brown added that the board is focused on finding a new leader with the vision and capabilities to further advance our growth strategy, driving long term value creation for our stakeholders. Gordon Sanghera, who co-founded the company in 2005 and had served as CEO since its inception, said the decision to pass the reins was made with the company's future in mind. By next year I will have been CEO of Oxford Nanopore for 21 years, he said. With strong foundations in place for the company's continued success, I believe this will be the right time for me to pass the reins to a new leader. Sanghera confirmed he would remain focused on executing strategic priorities and driving the business to profitability until his departure. I've had the privilege of working with an exceptional team whose talent and dedication have underpinned the remarkable progress we've achieved together, shaping the company into the innovative force it is today. Under Sanghera's leadership, the company launched the MinION, a portable sequencing device, in 2015. Sanghera was appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2023 New Year Honours for his contributions to technology. At 0955 BST, shares in Oxford Nanopore Technologies were down 4.71% at 204.88p. Reporting by Josh White for Sharecast.com. Rachel Reeves must intervene to assist British retailers by ending an imports tax break that favours Chinese online rivals and rethinking plans for higher levies on large stores, the boss of the DIY chain B&Q has said. The outspoken plea comes as the government faces growing pressure over its management of the economy after the Bank of England said when it cut interest rates on Thursday that tax rises were contributing to rising inflation and unemployment. Guardian Hiring intentions among Britains businesses remain at a record low as they grapple with rising employment costs and worry about the economic outlook, with young people hit hardest by the drop in recruitment. Three separate surveys issued on Monday painted a gloomy picture on hiring activity, pay and business confidence, with claims that bosses were stuck in limbo and waiting for greater clarity in the autumn budget. Guardian Britains biggest chemical plant is at risk of closure after surging energy costs left it struggling for survival. The Olefins and Polymers (O&P) plant at Grangemouth in Scotland, which manufactures products used by hundreds of UK plastic companies, is under threat because of surging bills and taxes levied on British manufacturers, its owner Ineos has warned. Telegraph NatWest continued receiving investor funds on behalf of an alleged 200 million Ponzi scheme after police announced they were investigating a suspected fraud at the business. The lender is understood to have banked a total of more than 100 million for 79th Group, a collapsed investment scheme that is being investigated by City of London Police amid fears that investors have lost life savings. The Times Britain risks missing out on huge levels of investment in artificial intelligence data centres if it fails to speed up its overhauls of the energy grid and planning system, the worlds largest developer of the facilities has warned. Londons status as a global financial centre, and hub for other industries, made it the most attractive in Europe for investing in AI data centres, Seamus Dunne, who leads the UK and Ireland operations for Digital Realty, said, but it was becoming more difficult to generate the best economic returns in the city. The Times At E. Shaver Booksellers in Savannah, Ga. Today is not just about romance, it's about indie bookstore romance. Celebrate the love stories that live on the page and in your local indie. --Indiebound Saturday was Bookstore Romance Day, which is "designed to give independent bookstores an opportunity to celebrate Romance fiction--its books, readers, and writers--and to strengthen the relationships between bookstores and the Romance community." Here's a sampling of bookshops sharing #BookstoreRomanceDay fun on social media: Phoenix Bookstore, Rutland, Vt.: "Happy Bookstore Romance Day, everyone! Step through our colorful entrance to a world of romance! We have blind date books, romance titles, stickers, bookmarks, pencil cases, and so much more!" Loyalty Bookstores, Washington, D.C.: "Bookstore Romance Day is upon us!!! Come by Loyalty in Petworth for 10% off Romance (members can double dip!) on in stock and preorders! Plus get a flower with purchase from our friends @youruptownflorist... So many goodies and good vibes! We'll see you soon." At Pages: a Bookstore, Manhattan Beach, Calif. Changing Hands Bookstore, Tempe and Phoenix, Ariz.: "It's #BookstoreRomanceDay! Or in our case, Bookstore Romance Day WEEKEND. We're celebrating bookish romance tropes and all things romance, all weekend long.... So bring your bestie. Bring your book club. Bring your heart. We'd LOVE to see you." Bookish, Modesto, Calif.: "It's Bookstore Romance Day at Bookish, but we're also celebrating our OG romance (25 years coming right up!). Thanks to my partner in everything--love you, Will!" The Pile Bookstore, Berwyn, Ill.: "Happy #bookstoreromanceday and #bookloversday! Stop by all day for special cold brew, design-a-tote, free audiobooks from Libro.fm, special new merch, and a photo op on our pink couch!" Blue Cypress Books in New Orleans featured a Mimosa Bar, along with plenty of sweet treats, crafts, book deals and other festivities. Midtown Scholar Bookstore, Harrisburg, Pa.: "ROMANCE BOOKSTORE DAY IS HEREEE!! Enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, love triangles, second chances, star-crossed lovers--we're celebrating all the tropes of the genre today with our favorite readers... so grab your besties and come hang out with us!" Too Fond of Books, Tahlequah, Okla.: "Happy Bookstore Romance Day, everybody! Today is the perfect day to stop in and find the perfect romance you've been looking for!" Books Inc., San Leandro, Calif.: "Happy Bookstore Romance/Romantasy Day readers! Here at Books Inc. San Leandro we're celebrating with scavenger hunts, blind book dates, and at 2 p.m. we'll be starting our Mocktail Hour and Book Swap!... Don't forget to check out our other locations to see how we at Books Inc. are celebrating Bookstore Romance Day across the bay." The Novel Neighbor, St. Louis, Mo.: "And we're off!!! Happy Bookstore Romance Day, St. Louis! We have a full store and happy hearts!" Customers lined up at The Novel Neighbor in St. Louis. Three Bells Books, Mason City, Iowa: "A dark and stormy day means cozy vibes for Bookstore Romance Day! Get your selfies with Fabio.... Today also is the official debut of our expanded romance section it doubled in size! Have a fun day, everyone!" The Well-Read Moose, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho: "Bookstore Romance Day is a day to celebrate the love and joy of reading romance books--the bestselling book genre of all time!" Friendly Alien Books, Scranton, Pa.: "Happy Bookstore Romance Day! Stop by and tell us your favorite romance trope/book boyfriend while sipping on a love potion. Our blind dates are selling fast! But the romance shelves are full! And we have plenty of spicy stickers, bookmarks and romance totes! And quick PSA--FAB husband Mikey is manning the ship this weekend while I head to a concert! Please convince him to read your favorite romance." Porter Square Books, Cambridge, Mass.: "Happy Bookstore Romance Day from our wonderful booksellers to you! Check out some of our favorite love stories! What's better than romance? Tax free weekend! There is no such thing as a tax on love." Unabridged Bookstore, Chicago, Ill., celebrated by creating "LOVELAND at Unabridged," with the store decorated inside and out. The Book & Cover, Chattanooga, Tenn.: "We love love! A brilliant start to @bkstoreromanceday!... And the fun continues into the evening!" Penguin Bookshop, Sewickley, Pa.: "Happy Bookstore Romance Day! Stop by for your 'Blind Date with a book' if you'd like a little mystery with your romance!" Storyline Bookshop, Arlington, Ohio: "We had THE best Bookstore Romance Day event with a panel of local romance authors!! Thanks to everyone who attended and supported.... Also a special thanks to the authors for sharing your thoughts on the romance genre, how you write your books, and for duking out in the battle of the tropes!" The Stacks Bookstore, Savannah, Ga.: "Thank you so much to everyone for a delightful Romance Bookstore Day! We had such a lovely time celebrating with you. You were sunshine on this dreary day!" Pinkalicious Story Time at Watermark Books Watermark Books & Cafe, Wichita, Kan: "We had such a great time at Bookstore Romance Day! Thank you to everyone who came out for Storytime, Bingo, Book Bedazzling, to vote in the tournament, rate spicy books, try the cafe specials, or just to shop the store! We appreciate you all and you made it one of the best Bookstore Romance Days we've had!" The Story Collective, St. Joseph, Mo.: "Our hearts are full after a fun Bookstore Romance Day. Thank you for celebrating with us." A Second Chance Romance, Kimberly, Wis.: "What a beautiful day celebrating Bookstore Romance Day! We were thrilled to see so many of you stop by, line up EARLY, and swoon over your favorite romance reads! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support--we couldn't do this without you!" Kiss & Tale Romance Bookshop, Collingswood, N.J.: "A huge thank you to everyone who joined us for Bookstore Romance Day! We're so grateful for your love and support!" At Morgenstern Books Morgenstern Books, Bloomington, Ind: "Another Bookstore Romance Day on the books! Such an amazing turnout for one of our favorite days of the year! The blind dates, red velvet syrup, and chocolate croissants went so fast but that just shows the love of the romance community showing up for us. A big thank to everyone that joined us in celebrating and our booksellers for being awesome!" A Novel Romance, Louisville, Ky.: "Until next year, Bookstore Romance Day! A huge thank-you to all our amazing book besties who came out to celebrate with us! Today wouldn't have been the same without your love, laughter, and the incredible worldwide book community.... It was a day full of romance and bookish joy! And remember: Every day can be Bookstore Romance Day... just come and visit us here at A Novel Romance." Ashmore Groups Gustavo Medeiros says Indias economy remains strong but its growth momentum has slowed in recent months. Foreign investor sentiment has cooled due to high valuations, possible U.S. tariffs, and more attractive opportunities in other markets. Ashmore is adopting a cautious, defensive investment stance, warning that 'priced to perfection' stocks could face sharp corrections if earnings disappoint. Ashmore Group's research head, Gustavo Medeiros, provides a more balanced perspective on India's economy: while it is inherently strong, growth momentum has slowed over the past few months. The British asset manager has reacted by reducing short-term exposure to India on account of sky-high valuations and doubts over proposed U.S. tariffs on Indian exports. Medeiros points out that the recent deceleration is not based on economic weakness or weakening fundamentals. India still posts strong performance, and government capital spending is still sizable. But the rate of growth has clearly decelerated, while the wider economy itself is still resilient. On the matter of tariffs, Medeiros depicts American policy as aggressive and describes it as a zero-sum bargaining strategy. However, he indicates that transitioning from a 50 percent tariff to 75 percent would not drastically change the overall economic effect specifically in industries such as pharmaceuticals, in which India enjoys a competitive advantage that rival nations cannot readily overcome. Also Read: Indian Electronics Exports Face $30 Billion Risk from US Tariffs The sentiment of foreign investors towards India has distinctly cooled in the last six to nine months. Though passive flows from around the world into emerging markets were constant aiding India get around 20 percent of the MSCI Emerging Markets index global active allocation has been weak. This is primarily because Southeast Asian nations, Latin American nations, and regions of Europe have more pleasing relative value propositions. Medeiros observes India is already being 'derated' relative, not because its corporate or economic view is poor, but merely because other markets are just more attractive at current prices. Looking further ahead, India has vast potential still waiting to be tapped. Medeiros notes that long-term aggregate returns might be among the most lucrative in the world but these potential gains are critically dependent on entry price. Numerous companies are priced on 'priced to perfection' assumptions, so any shortfall on earnings could bring instant and steep corrections. To protect against such volatility, Ashmore is taking a more defensive, cautious investment approach currently. Ankur Shah, Co-founder & CEO and Sreenath Kurupati, Co-founder & CTO Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer purely static and predictive; rather, it has entered the next stage of autonomous, decision-making agentic systems. AI has made it easy to spin up applications and agents that interface with real-world tools and data, enabling enterprises to scale faster and flood the enterprise stack with agentic applications for every use case. This explosion demands a new cybersecurity paradigm. AppSec methods like static analysis and pre-deployment scans cannot keep up with dynamic, reasoning-driven applications. Businesses embracing intelligent agents capable of interfacing with real-world tools and data require protection that is as intelligent as the technologies it guards.Our focus is to architect security, safety, and trust into agentic AI applications from the ground up and unlock the future safely, says Ankur Shah, co-founder and CEO. It means enabling AI innovators to move forward with confidence, knowing that every autonomous action, every emergent behavior, and every decision is protected in real time.Straikers mission is to secure AI with AI. Companies can embrace the most transformative technology shift of our time while protecting them from the fast-emerging security and safety risks that come with it. Trained on enterprise data, AI-powered and agentic apps are prone to leaking data and through simple prompt-based exploits but they also introduce new exploit surfaces driven by natural languages through prompts, emergent behavior, tool misalignment and autonomous chaos. The International Air Transport Association (IATA), a global body that represents 340 airlines, forecasts SAF will account for 0.7% of total jet fuel this year, up from 0.3% in 2024. Air passenger traffic, meanwhile, is expected to rise 6% this year, IATA says. World Energy's struggles mirror the plight of dozens of clean fuel startups, according to a Reuters review of the sector. Nearly 20 years after the first commercial flight powered partly by biofuels made the short hop from London to Amsterdam, Reuters found that the airline industry's plans to go green before regulators start penalising them are little more than a pipe dream. United Airlines said it ended its relationship with World Energy "a few years ago", without providing a reason. A JetBlue spokesperson said World Energy has been a "valued partner" since 2020 and it will continue working with the company. The termination of United's fuel purchase contract with World Energy - and the closure of the Paramount refinery - have not previously been reported. Still, Gebolys acknowledged that some airlines have made a genuine effort to support SAF producers, while governments also needed to step up with stronger incentives to drive progress. "Some airlines were engaged in a pretty disingenuous effort to put out press releases" overstating their commitment to SAF projects, Gebolys said, without naming any companies. "People sometimes said too much in the past and did too little." But the refinery quietly ceased operations in April. And World Energy's plans for a second plant in Houston have stalled amid a lack of commitment from the industry, according to Chief Executive Gene Gebolys. Its Paramount refinery near downtown Los Angeles had been a rare success story, supplying millions of gallons of SAF a year to airlines such as United Airlines and fellow U.S. carrier JetBlue Airways. The plant, which began operations in 2016, was central to the carriers' pledges to help the airline industry switch to a blend of 10% SAF by the end of this decade. Boston-based World Energy was one of the first companies in the world to produce commercial quantities of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), a type of renewable fuel made from sources such as used cooking oil, agricultural residues and other waste. PARAMOUNT, California (Reuters) -In 2019, Scott Kirby, the chief executive of United Airlines, hailed its new contract with green jet fuel producer World Energy as an example for the aviation industry to follow in its drive to cut emissions. Story Continues IATA has set a goal of net zero emissions by 2050, a target that would require airlines to ramp up SAF use to 118 billion gallons annually, a more than 300-fold increase from current production. Airline industry leaders point to a wave of new SAF initiatives they say will spark a boom similar to the rapid rise of electric vehicles and solar energy. However, the aviation sector has yet to publish a comprehensive roadmap or a transparent database of upcoming SAF projects that would allow regulators and the public to assess the credibility of these projections. To scrutinise the industry's claims, Reuters built its own database of airline SAF initiatives - offering the most comprehensive view yet of the sector's faltering green progress and revealing that the industry has no clear pathway to hitting net zero targets. While airlines have announced 165 SAF projects over the past 12 years, only 36 have materialised, Reuters found. Among those, Reuters uncovered problems at three of the largest - including World Energy - that exemplify the systemic challenges plaguing the SAF sector. Of the remaining projects, 23 have been abandoned, 27 are delayed or on indefinite hold, 31 have yet to produce any fuel, and 4 are SAF credit deals, where no physical fuel is delivered. For the other 44 projects, Reuters was unable to find any public updates since their initial announcements. If all the pending projects announced by airlines reached their maximum potential, it would only add 12 billion gallons of SAF production, the Reuters analysis found. That's about 10% of what's needed to hit the net zero target. Airlines pin the problems on the oil industry, saying it isn't producing enough fuel. "These guys are the cause of the problem, and they've got to start playing their part," said Willie Walsh, director of IATA, the global airline lobby, and a former chief executive of British Airways and its parent International Airlines Group. At the moment, SAF costs three to five times more than jet fuel and some oil company executives argue that there is limited demand from airlines at current prices. "I'd like there to be a shortage. I actually see an overcapacity," Bernard Pinatel, the head of downstream and marketing and services at TotalEnergies, told a press briefing in June. PARAMOUNT 'RESET' The Paramount refinery, which used cooking oil and animal fat from a local abattoir to make fuel, repeatedly stumbled in its efforts to expand and all 35 employees were laid off in April, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter said. The future of the plant is uncertain, the two people said, after World Energy's partner, Air Products, withdrew from the project in February, citing challenging commercial conditions tied to the expansion and operations. Air Products, a U.S. industrial gases and chemicals company, had been slated to lead a $2 billion expansion of the site. World Energy CEO Gebolys said Paramount's closure was a "reset" because the refurbishment was over budget and behind schedule. He said it would come back online, without giving a time frame. He declined to comment about the layoffs. According to more than a dozen people directly involved in the sector, airlines play minimal roles in the execution of projects and, in most cases, their only commitment is to buy SAF when their partners produce it. What's more, airlines are making bold projections about SAF use and emissions reductions based on unproven technologies or early-stage projects run by startups with no experience of commercial production, Reuters found. Of the 36 projects that have produced any SAF, all but one rely on the Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA) process to convert waste oils, fats and grease into jet fuel. HEFA was the technology used at Paramount. However, HEFA plants are severely constrained by the limited availability of suitable raw materials and cannot meet the industry's long-term fuel demands, three industry specialists said. IATA chief economist and sustainability executive Marie Owens Thomsen disputed the idea airlines only play a minimal role, saying they were striking SAF purchase agreements and investing in new technologies, supporting early-stage innovation and collaborating with research institutions. She also said alternative ways of making SAF needed to be developed alongside HEFA, as this process alone would not be sufficient to produce enough fuel to hit net zero by 2050. 'EXERCISE IN FUTILITY' Aviation accounts for 2.5% of global emissions of planet-warming gases such as carbon dioxide. This figure is expected to rise as air traffic more than doubles from 2019 levels by 2050 and fuel use rises 59%, according to environmental advocacy group Transport & Environment (T&E). By painting a picture of imminent breakthroughs and success in producing SAF at scale, airlines can bolster their green credentials while deflecting pressure for more disruptive interventions, such as stricter emissions caps or higher carbon taxes, the group said. "This is first and foremost about justifying never-ending growth and pretending that you can do that without heating the planet more and more - which you cannot do," said Almuth Ernsting, a campaigner with advocacy group Biofuelwatch. Failing to find a solution could prove costly. Under new EU rules, airlines face escalating mandates to use SAF on flights departing from EU airports. The mandate starts with at least 2% of their fuel in 2025, climbing to 6% by 2030, and eventually hitting 70% by 2050. European SAF mandates are expected to cost airlines $2.9 billion in additional fuel purchases and compliance expenses this year, according to IATA estimates. The return to power of U.S. President Donald Trump could further hamper the industry's green transition. Trump has pledged to roll back many incentives his predecessor, Joe Biden, offered to SAF and other green energy projects. As projects flounder in the United States, the U.S. airline industry has pinned hopes on a new SAF bonanza in Panama. It's already hitting the skids, Reuters found. SGP BioEnergy, headquartered in New York, pledged in 2022 to build the world's largest SAF facility, in collaboration with the government of Panama. The plant is to make green fuel from industrial hemp oil and used cooking oil. Due to start this year, production has been pushed back to 2027. SGP BioEnergy Chief Executive Randy Letang said the delay was largely due to airlines showing less interest in backing SAF projects than in the past. Panama's energy secretary did not respond to a request for comment. After the plant opens, the company may switch to making renewable diesel for trucks and ships, because those industries showed more enthusiasm than aviation, Letang said. "We're only going to take it so far with SAF until we determine whether or not the airlines are actually serious about making the commitments for this fuel," he said. Letang said airlines were competing to announce their own marquee projects, when producers actually needed consortiums made up of many carriers to invest in large-scale projects. "That's how you build this industry. Without that, it's an exercise in futility, quite frankly," he said. "The airlines could do a lot more." A few years ago, Letang was striking big SAF deals with major airlines through his previous biofuels venture, SG Preston. In 2016, JetBlue announced a 10-year commitment to buy commercial volumes of green fuel from SG Preston, calling it one of the largest such deals in history. JetBlue said in 2021 it would double down on the deal as it pursued a target to use SAF for 8% of its fuel needs by 2023. Australia's Qantas Airways signed a similar 10-year deal with SG Preston in 2017 for 8 million gallons of SAF annually starting in 2020 to help power flights between Los Angeles and Australia. The deals were based on SG Preston's plan to build five plants across North America - two in Ohio and one each in Indiana, Michigan, and Ontario. None has been built. SG Preston filed for bankruptcy in 2022, according to company filings. A spokesperson for Letang's current firm, SGP BioEnergy, said the two companies had no affiliation. NEW TECHNOLOGY While most SAF projects rely on HEFA, British startup Velocys uses Fischer-Tropsch technology, which converts waste such as garbage, wood chips, or flared gas into clean fuel. IAG - the parent of British Airways, Iberia, Vueling and Aer Lingus - has been an enthusiastic backer, announcing four major SAF initiatives with Velocys over the past 15 years. But despite producing SAF in pilot projects, none of the Velocys projects has reached commercial production. Its challenges began in 2010 with a project to turn methane from a London landfill into jet fuel. That venture collapsed when its main backer went bankrupt. Since then Velocys has attempted to build its own plants - including in Oklahoma - but it has proven too costly and technically challenging. After shutting the Oklahoma plant, Velocys shifted focus to two new projects: one at Immingham in northeast England and another in Mississippi. British oil major Shell and IAG initially backed Velocys's English venture, and the British government awarded a 27 million pound ($37 million) grant in 2022, then another 3 million pounds in July. However, Shell backed out in 2021 to pursue its own SAF ventures. Shell declined further comment. While IAG has no purchase deal with Velocys, it maintains a partnership and expects production to begin in 2029. Velocys Chief Executive Matthew Viergutz remains optimistic, saying the company has learned from past setbacks. However, the Mississippi project is on hold pending clarity on U.S. SAF regulations. The Immingham project was meant to start supplying British Airways last year. The plant site is a dusty field, empty but for a blue portable toilet lying on its side. Velocys has yet to sell a drop of green jet fuel to IAG or any other airline. (Reporting by Joanna Plucinska in London and Immingham, Joe Brock in Los Angeles, Marleen Kasebier in Gdansk and Paul Carsten in London; Additional reporting by America Hernandez and Tim Hepher in Paris and Elida Moreno in Panama City; Editing by David Clarke) A Virginia woman, mother of an emerging country star, was murdered in a home invasion Aug. 3, according to WTVR. Holly Hatcher, 62, the mom of rising country star Spencer Hatcher, was brutally killed when a stranger broke into her home just north of Harrisonburg, according to the report. Her husband, Michael Hatcher, 65, was also injured in the attack, but not before mortally wounding the attacker. After grabbing a gun from his car, he shot and killed the intruder, Kevin Moses Walker, 41, of Pikesville, Maryland. In a press conference, Rockingham County Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson said, This is a highly unusual, apparently completely random [attack] with an individual with no known history of violent behavior of any kind, or even criminal behavior of any kind. According to authorities, two days before the killings, Walker had purchased a large knife and had been sleeping at a Walmart before renting a campsite in New Market, Virginia, near Endless Caverns. The following morning, Virginia State Police received a report about an abandoned vehicle on Endless Caverns Road. Upon arrival, they discovered that the Endless Caverns store had been broken into, with damage indicating it had been struck by a vehicle. Authorities determined that Walker had entered both the store and the caverns, but they were unable to locate him despite using patrol cars and a drone. Felony warrants were issued for him. There was no indication of any violence or potential for any violence from the offender that the Virginia State Police became aware of throughout that investigation, Hutcheson said. Later that night, at 11:58 p.m., authorities received another call, this time from Michael Hatcher, reporting a home invasion. When authorities arrived, Michael Hatcher was found injured, Holly Hatcher found dead inside, and Walker pronounced dead in the driveway. Theres going to be questions that will never be answered, but all I can tell you is weve cried, weve hurt, and weve hugged, and we have found more love than we have ever known has existed between us, and between you, Michael Hatcher said in the statement, praising the Rockingham County Sheriffs Office for their help. You have made it much more bearable through your outpouring of love and your caring and your kindness and support to all of us, he said. Their son, Spencer Hatcher, stressed that the familys focus was on sharing only verified information as speculation about the events continued. The Advance/SILive.com visited Plaza Bagels & Deli on Thursday July 24, 2025. Victoria Priola/ For the Staten STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The Advance/SILive.com is visiting businesses around the borough that are new, under new ownership, or have new offerings, like serving alcohol for the first time. This stop: Plaza Bagels & Deli About the business What type of restaurant or business is it? Plaza Bagels & Deli is a breakfast and lunch eatery in New Dorp. The establishment sells delicatessen sandwiches, baked goods, fresh bagels, coffee, and a variety of canned alcohol and beer. When did it open? AVS Bagels LLC. obtained full management of the business in October, but Plaza Bagels & Deli has been a staple of the New Dorp community for the better half of a century, according to owner Alex Calasso. The Advance/SILive.com visited Plaza Bagels & Deli on Thursday July 24, 2025. Victoria Priola/ For the Staten Where is it located? The eatery stands at 73 New Dorp Plaza in New Dorp. What are the hours of operation? Plaza Bagels & Deli is open Monday through Friday 6 a.m. to 8 p.m, and Saturday and Sunday 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. When did it receive its liquor license? The establishment received its permanent liquor license this year, under new management on July 16. The Advance/SILive.com visited Plaza Bagels & Deli on Thursday July 24, 2025. Victoria Priola/ For the Staten Does it sell or serve beer, wine, mixed drinks and/or hard liquor? Plaza Bagels & Deli specifically carries tallboy beers including Bud Light and Budweiser, along with 16 oz. canned hard seltzer, like White Claw. You wont find hard liquor at this Staten Island spot, but there is an impressive selection of iced drinks in cans and in glass bottles like Twisted Tea, Corona, Heineken and Cerveza Victoria. What are some of the most popular orders? Owner Alex Calasso boasts about expanding their lunch menu, adding that the chopped cheese is a hit for the corner store. However, their heart is in the breakfast which is served daily. A popular order, according to the staff at the counter, is a bacon egg and cheese on a bagel. The newest to enter the Plaza Bagels lineup is a jalapeno cheddar bagel. The most popular delicatessen meats ordered on sandwiches by customers, according to staff, are turkey, and ham, paired with Swiss cheese. The Advance/SILive.com visited Plaza Bagels & Deli on Thursday July 24, 2025. Victoria Priola/ For the Staten What are some items people should try? Customers praised the shops lox cream cheese, just one of the cream cheeses made in-house. Pickle sandwiches are the new craze at Plaza Bagels & Deli, according to Calasso. People can get any sandwich they want and substitute the bread for half-slices of pickle, said Calasso. Its a healthy alternative for bread, and weve seen a lot of success with it so far. Does the restaurant or business have an outdoor area people can eat food/snacks? Plaza Bagels & Deli has a grab and go policy in place. Due to the foot traffic coming off and going to the Staten Island Railway, there isnt a ton of space for customers to hang around and eat. The Advance/SILive.com visited Plaza Bagels & Deli on Thursday July 24, 2025. Victoria Priola/ For the Staten Does the restaurant or business take catering orders, if so how can a customer place the order? Catering orders are taken directly over the phone by calling 718-269-7079. What makes this business stand out? Familiarity in the New Dorp neighborhood, along with the dependability of getting a good bagel, is what keeps the lights on at Plaza Bagels & Deli. I kept the name similar because it is a staple in the community, Calasso said. I used to come here when I was younger, and they always had the freshest bagels so when I took over, I knew when I took over that I wanted to keep the tradition of being the best bagel store in the neighborhood alive. It really is a staple of the community. We wouldnt be able to be here without them. How to get in touch with the business Plaza Bagels & Deli can be reached at 718-269-7079, or on Facebook. The last remnants of what used to be the historic Demyans Hofbrau in Stapleton were recently bulldozed to make way for housing. It brings the curtain down on a Staten Island story that started 172 years ago. The Hofbrau, near the corner of Van Duzer and Broad streets, at one time was a favorite bar and restaurant for local judges, politicians and artists. But before that, the site originally housed a brewery founded in 1853 by a German immigrant named John Bechtel. This was at a time when beer barons ruled Staten Island. The cool caves carved by nature into the serpentine hillside behind the brewery were used to store bottles of beer. The Bechtel Brewery operated for 78 years and was the largest in the borough until about 1890. The site was eventually sold to Jack Demyan, who operated the Hofbrau until it was destroyed by a fire in 1980. The former Bechtel Brewery on Van Duzer Street in Stapleton. (Advance file photo) The Caves nightclub followed, incorporating some of the dimly lit former beer vaults into the bar and dance club. After that club closed, the property made way for housing development. While much of the site was quickly developed, one area near Broad Street retained some of the remnants of the old brewery and nightclub structure. Passing by, you could see doorways and still-standing brick walls. Deep in the woods there were stairs, retaining walls, antique-looking rock walls and even a large sewer cistern. I walked through the site recently and took some photos. I didnt know that a very short time later, the remains that I was walking through would be bulldozed and the site would be fenced off. Have a look below at the last remnants of a true piece of Staten Island history. Doorway and brick wall stood for years after the rest of the buildings on the site were demolished. Tom Wrobleski/Staten Island Advance This eye-catching graffiti could be found on the wall. Tom Wrobleski/Staten Island Advance Demyan's Hofbrau on the left and The Caves nightclub on the right in 1988. They were torn down in 2003 to make room for houses. Remaining brick wall was covered with greenery at the site. Tom Wrobleski/Staten Island Advance Old mattresses had been dumped in the area. Tom Wrobleski/Staten Island Advance Firefighters attack the blaze that destroyed Demyan's Hofbrau in Stapleton. January 1980. Staten Island Advance Staten Island Advance Here's the other side of that brick wall and doorway. Tom Wrobleski/Staten Island Advance Dolan Brickworks was a landmark industrial site that stood in Charleston. Some of the bricks produced at the brickyard were used at the brewery site and can also be found at Historic Richmond Town today. A former street in Charleston, Dolan Lane, was named for the family. Tom Wrobleski/Staten Island Advance A doorway was still standing in the area where an old brewery, hofbrau and nightclub once stood. Tom Wrobleski/Staten Island Advance This vintage-looking rock wall was also on the property. It's not known if it was part of any of the structures that used to be on the lot. Tom Wrobleski/Staten Island Advance Interior of the bar at the former Demyan's Hofbrau, Stapleton, circa 1981. (Barry G. Schwartz/Staten Island Advance) Who can tell where this staircase once led to back in the day? Tom Wrobleski/Staten Island Advance A sewer cistern remained in the area where Bechtel Brewery, Demyan's Hofbrau and The Caves once stood in Stapleton. Tom Wrobleski/Staten Island Advance Top of sewer cistern is seen in woods at old site of Demyan's Hofbrau. Tom Wrobleski/Staten Island Advance A long concrete wall was at the back of the property. Tom Wrobleski/Staten Island Advance Old sign from Demyan's Brewery in Stapleton. The actual caves at The Caves nightclub in Stapleton. Part of the old Bechtel's Brewery, which was also on the site, as was Demyan's Hofbrau. Here's a shot from across Van Duzer Street of area where The Caves nightclub used to stand. Tom Wrobleski/Staten Island Advance Old location of Demyan's Hofbrau, with The Caves nightclub next door. Site was the former home to Bechtel's Brewery. Spotted lanternflies will be a nuisance to Staten Islanders for years to come, environmental experts warn. Here, a spotted lanternfly struggles to free itself from a spider's web in 2024. (Associated Press/Matt Rourke) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Science has caught up with the invasive spotted lanternfly, and natural predators are doing their part, but we can expect the flying pests to stick around Staten Island for years to come, ecologists say. Im seeing them all over Staten Island,' said Jose Ramirez-Garofalo, a ecologist and president of Protectors of Pine Oak Woods. To me it seems like a normal year with normal numbers." And theyre just as annoying as ever, according to residents. When asked how long before the black-and-red flying insects will cease being a nuisance on the Island, Ramirez-Garofalo sighed. Its going to be a while, he said. Lanternfly instars, or newly hatched nymphs, have invaded Silver Lake Park, visitors have reported. Thousands were seen hanging out amid the trees, benches and across the landscape of the beloved recreation and relaxation locale in mid-July. The spotted lanternfly is, unfortunately, here to stay,' said Brian C. Eshenaur, an invasive species specialist with the Integrated Pest Management Program at Cornell University. He noted that they are the biggest threat in the states agricultural areas, including the wine and grape industries in upstate New York and on Long Island. There, pesticides have been employed after the grape-growing season to keep them in check. A lanternfly nymph is seen in Silver Lake Park in mid-July. (Advance/SILive.com | Tracey Porpora) While theres no official state census taking place, the population will most likely surge and wane in isolated areas each year, Eshenaur said. On Staten Island, where there are no vineyards, the insects are more of a nuisance than an environmental threat. Theyre not poisonous, dont bite or sting, and are not dangerous to our pets. And the only tree theyll actually harm is the Tree of Heaven, Eshenaur said. Consistent sightings An informal poll of a handful of Staten Islanders revealed a heavier population on the Islands south and west shores. North Shore residents reported consistent sightings, but said the numbers appear to be lower than in past years. One Great Kills resident, who lives near a wooded area, said the annoying pests were flying out of his lawn as he mowed recently, and he saw a few on his front porch in the morning. Maybe they should spray for these things instead of for the mosquitoes,' he said. The invasive species from China, first discovered in the United States in Pennsylvania in 2014, has been swarming Staten Islanders since 2021. At the time, and in larger numbers in 2022, they destroyed trees and made outdoor life miserable as they swarmed around. You cant go out the front door without killing at least 50 of them, Mary Raya, of Sunnyside, told the Advance/SILive.com in 2022. The whole entire summer has been spent in the house, because we literally cannot go out the door. Ebb and flow Both Ramirez-Garofalo and Eshenaur agreed that the population will ebb and flow, as natural predators discover the colorful insect to be a tasty meal. Ramirez-Garofalo, and Beekeeper Nick Rozak of Stapleton, each predicted that in years past. With the lanternflies, I think that nature is adjusting, beekeeper and educator Nick Rozak, of Stapleton, told the Advance/SILive.com in 2023. And we need to let nature adjust more. Many species will eat them, and diseases will infect them, among other threats, Ramirez-Garofalo predicted last year. And thats exactly whats happening, he said, but theres no way to know how that will affect the numbers. Birds are eating them; wasps are eating them,' he said. Wasps are pretty voracious predators; theyre eating them in big numbers. Were still early in the invasion. Also, the Tree of Heaven, the insects favorite host tree, may have become weakened through the last few years, making it less of a food source, Eshenaur said. That might cause the population to decline,' he said. The insects are good hitchhikers, Eshenaur warned. They can easily travel, undetected, with truck shipments or with vacationers hauling fire wood or outdoor furniture, Eshenaur said. Its critical to inspect your vehicles and your supplies before leaving for an area not yet infested, he said. Dont just kill it People should still be vigilant, but cautious, with squishing and stomping, Ramirez-Garofalo said. Just because you think its a lanternfly, dont just kill it he said. Make sure youre actually killing a lanternfly." We dont want to accidentally kill native species that benefit the local ecology, he said. Black or red beetles and milkweed bugs are mistaken for spotted lanternflies, and we need them, he said. Theyre pollinators, a lot of them act as food for other species, he explained. And, in the fall, when the spotted lanternflies begin laying eggs, we should definitely scrape the egg masses from trees. But, again, be very cautious, Ramirez-Garofalo stressed. A lot of people dont know what theyre scraping,' he said. We could be doing more harm than good by not recognizing what were doing." Eshenaur said he agrees. Most of the insects in our environment are an important part of the ecosystem,' he explained. Most insects are our allies." Ramirez-Garofalo and Eshenhaur recommended checking the Cornell Integrated Pest Management website for advice on identifying and controlling spotted lanternflies and their egg masses. This story was co-published with Puente News Collaborative in partnership with palabra. Puente News Collaborative is a bilingual nonprofit newsroom, convener, and funder dedicated to high-quality, fact-based news and information from the U.S.-Mexico border. This story first appeared on palabra, the digital news site by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. By Eduardo Garcia, Alfredo Corchado & Alyda Muela | Edited by Dudley Althaus EL PASO, Texas A growing wave of uncertainty is freezing investment plans in Mexico, the United States largest trading partner, rattling domestic and foreign business leaders alike. Investors weigh President Donald Trumps decision to impose tariffs on Mexican-made cars, steel, aluminum, metal parts, and tomatoes. And theyre pondering Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaums push to overhaul the countrys judiciary in ways critics say undermine legal certainty and could roll back democratic gains. No wonder they are increasingly unsure how to proceed. Plans to launch new operations in Mexico or expand existing ones are being reconsidered, postponed, or quietly shelved. The economic effects increasingly rattle trade and investment decisions all along the U.S.-Mexico border, gnawing at executives confidence and potential job growth. Long-term planning proves all but impossible, say business leaders and economic experts. Foreign investment is probably lower than it otherwise would have been at this point in the year, said Tom Fullerton, an economics and finance professor at The University of Texas at El Paso. It is still not clear whether the Trump administration is going to allow the U.S.A. to remain in USMCA (the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement). It is also not clear how the judicial landscape will change within Mexico. A commercial truck leaving the Ysleta-Zaragoza International Port of Entry El Paso's key international crossing. Photo by Alfredo Corchado/Puente News Collaborative With many U.S. and Mexican businesses closely linked, the effects of the policy changes echo across the borderlands. U.S.-Mexico bilateral trade reached an estimated $840 billion in 2024. Already, some 65,000 jobs have been lost in Juarez alone, due to a myriad of factors, including increased factory automation, said Jerry Pacheco, president and CEO of the Border Industrial Association. Weve lost at least three deals since the steel and aluminum tariffs went up to 50% in Santa Teresa, so it creates an uncertain business environment, Pacheco said. The U.S. and Mexico economies are so intertwined and depend on each other that if US companies are suffering because of steel and aluminum tariffs, Mexico is also gonna suffer. The paralyzed decision-making threatens to weigh heavily on Mexicos growth prospects and on Sheinbaums legacy as the countrys first woman president. The economy has already shown unmistakable signs of a sharp slowdown since late last year. No clear rebound is in sight in Mexico on the border or beyond. Everything has been put on hold. Victor Gonzalez, owner of Solinda Everything has been put on hold, said Victor Gonzalez, owner of Solinda, a precision machine-manufacturing company based in the central Mexican state of Aguascalientes, referring to what he hears from colleagues and business associations. One of the reasons is the reform of the judicial system. The other is tariffs. Initially, Trumps sweeping threats to slap tariffs on all Mexican and Canadian imports forced business owners to recalibrate their south-of-the-border investment strategies. The renewed economic boom Mexico was expected to enjoy, fueled by Trumps hardline stance on Chinese imports, quickly fizzled. Rather than benefit from global supply chain shifts, both Mexico and Canada have found themselves caught in the trade-fueled crossfire. Rather than encouraging near-shoring, Trump decided to use tariffs as leverage to pressure both neighbors to crack down on the flow of migrants and drugs, particularly fentanyl. An indication of possible impacts could be General Motors June announcement of a $4 billion investment in U.S. factories in Michigan, Kansas, and Tennessee. That fits the companys strategy to revive its U.S. manufacturing footprint, which Trump has demanded. General Motors assembly plant in Lansing, Michigan. The company announced a $4 billion investment in U.S. factories in Michigan, Kansas, and Tennessee. Photo courtesy of General Motors GM revealed that the Blazer and Equinox, well-regarded sport utility vehicles that for years have been assembled in Mexico, will be built at plants in Tennessee and Kansas starting in 2027. GM has made vehicles in Mexico since the 1930s, and its expanded production here was touted as an early victory for the free trade agreement between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada in the early 1990s. The automakers move was hailed by the Trump administration as a major victory. No president has taken a stronger interest in reviving Americas once-great auto industry than President Trump, White House Deputy Press Secretary Kush Desai said in a statement. The U.S. administrations message was clear to many observers Mexicos loss is the U.S. gain, even if GM must shoulder higher production costs, which could lead to higher prices for consumers. Though threats eased as the year has proceeded after Canada and Mexico announced border task forces and deployed more security personnel investor confidence has been shaken. General Motors San Luis Potosi plant in Mexico. The plant opened in 2008. Photo courtesy of General Motors Negative consequences Now, Sheinbaum has realized her predecessors dream of radically reshaping Mexicos judiciary, to the benefit of their all but hegemonic Morena political party. A scarcely attended election in June (turnout was just 11%) replaced career judges, magistrates, and Supreme Court justices with those chosen by popular vote. Many fear that consolidating control over the courts will erode institutional checks and balances. With judgeships and other judicial posts dominated by ruling party loyalists, arbitrary or ideologically driven rulings may flourish, critics fear. All nine newly elected Supreme Court justices have ties to Sheinbaum, former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, or their left-leaning party. What investors are looking for is certainty and rule of law, said Tony Garza, U.S. ambassador to Mexico under the George W. Bush administration, and who now works on trade and other issues at White & Case, an international law firm based in Washington, D.C. What theyre getting with tariff threats and judicial elections is chaos and incompetence. Former ambassador Tony Garza, senior adviser at White & Case, a law firm based in Washington, D.C. Photo by Alfredo Corchado/Puente News Collaborative Many business leaders, economists, and credit-rating agencies fear the country is veering back toward the one-party rule that dominated Mexican politics for most of the 20th century. Mexican politics have been stumbling along since democracy was introduced in 2000. The judicial reform could negatively affect the investment appetite and business environment, Fitch Ratings warned in a report last year. That echoed similar concerns voiced by S&P Global and Moodys, the worlds other two largest credit-rating agencies. The economic headwinds are already building, with trouble signs on the U.S.-Mexico border. Fullerton said unemployment rose from 2.2% in 2022 to 3.3% in 2024. Trucks queue at the U.S.-Mexico border crossing in El Paso, Texas. Economic strain is mounting along the border as Trumps proposed tariffs loom. Photo by Omar Ornelas/El Paso Times Across Mexico, with an annualized 2.7% economic contraction in the final quarter of 2024 and tepid 0.8% growth in this past winter, labor and public sentiment indicators also paint a troubling picture. The private sector added a little more than 85,000 new jobs between January and June, or more than two-thirds fewer than in the same period last year. Thats the lowest job creation since 2009, not counting the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Mexican Social Security Institute. Consumer sentiment in June fell to a two-year low, while business confidence fell for the fourteenth month in a row, said the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, or INEGI in Spanish. While overall foreign direct investment (FDI) remains positive, the inflow of new capital has all but stalled. Of the $21.3 billion in FDI that Mexico received in the first quarter of 2025, just $1.58 billion, or 7.4%, represented fresh investment projects. Thats more or less the feeling everywhere. Right now, its a perception, not yet a reality. Victor Gonzalez, owner of Solinda The truth is, the way things are going, and with recent events like the judicial reform, many are saying this isnt going to be good, added Gonzalez, the factory owner. Thats more or less the feeling everywhere. Right now, its a perception, not yet a reality. That new foreign investment is well below the six-year average of 29% recorded during Lopez Obradors administration, and it pales in comparison with the nearly 60% share of new capital the country registered at the beginning of this century. At a recent meeting with business and political leaders from the Texas Lyceum, a nonprofit, nonpartisan statewide leadership organization, newly arrived U.S. Ambassador Ron Johnson was put on the spot with the following question: What is the purpose of Trumps tariffs? After a long pause, Johnson responded that Trump is a businessman. Just in the state of Texas, Mexican trade totaled $540 billion in 2024. I sincerely believe he just wants things to be fair, reciprocal, said Johnson, who added that he is a good friend of the president. He wants competition to exist on a level playing field. Amid an awkward silence, the moderator stepped in to thank the ambassador. Polite applause followed. Garcia reported from Mexico City. Corchado reported from Mexico City and the border, and Muela from El Paso. Houston Astros' Jose Altuve runs the bases after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith) AP NEW YORK Jason Alexander pitched one-hit ball through six innings, Jose Altuve hit his 250th career homer and the Houston Astros beat the Yankees 7-1 Sunday after New York manager Aaron Boone was ejected in the third inning. Alexander (3-1) allowed his first hit in the sixth inning, a one-out single to Ben Rice. Alexander did not allow a run for the second straight start. He walked three, struck out three in a game in which he relied mostly on changeups and sinkers over 87 pitches. Altuve, as designated hitter, homered to left in the first and became the 11th player whose primary position is second base to reach 250 homers. Altuve had two hits and scored three runs, including on a double by Christian Walker in the third and on a single by Ramon Urias that fell in between shortstop Anthony Volpe and left fielder Cody Bellinger in the ninth. Rookie Cam Smith had a two-out bases-loaded single that scored two runs in the fifth to help the Astros win for the fourth time in six games. Carlos Correa hit his second homer since being acquired from Minnesota, and Mauricio Dubon knocked in a run in the three-run ninth Fried (12-5) allowed four runs and eight hits in five innings and lost for the third time in four starts. The Yankees managed three hits and lost for the seventh time in nine games and were booed after the final out. Boone was ejected for the fifth time this season after arguing a called strike on Ryan McMahon. Key moment Bennett Sousa loaded the bases with one out in the seventh and Bryan Abreu allowed a sacrifice fly to McMahon. On the next pitch, Abreu retired Austin Wells. Abreu retired Wells, Judge and Cody Bellinger in the eighth. Key stats Correa has five straight multi-hit games and six since rejoining Houston. Up next Yankees RHP Will Warren (6-5, 4.44 ERA) faces Minnesota RHP Zebby Matthews (3-3, 5.17) on Monday in New York. The Astros did not announce a starter for the opener of three-game series against visiting Boston and LHP Garrett Crochet (13-4, 2.24) on Monday. Alstom has revealed the design of the Traxx Universal electric locomotive intended for the Romanian Railway Reform Authority (ARF), a development in the contract established in 2024. This agreement encompasses the delivery of 16 locomotives along with 20 years of maintenance and repair services, with the option to extend for an additional 20 years through a supplementary agreement. Deliveries are scheduled to commence in the first half of 2026. The initial locomotive has arrived in Romania and is currently undergoing dynamic testing at the Faurei Testing Centre, with further assessments planned on TSI-certified lines in Germany. The locomotive is currently displayed in a temporary blue livery, which serves to protect its surface during the testing phase. Upon completion of the testing, it will receive a final dark red coating. These four-axle electric locomotives are designed to reach a maximum speed of 200km/h and can tow up to 16 passenger cars. They will feature Alstoms advanced onboard ERTMS system, aimed at enhancing efficiency, safety, and interoperability. Traxx locomotives have received homologation in 20 countries and have collectively covered more than 300 million kilometres annually, with more than 3,000 units sold since 2000, according to the company. Alstom Romania, Bulgaria and Moldova managing director Gabriel Stanciu said: We are proud to see the first Traxx Universal locomotive for ARF entering testing on schedule. This is a significant step forward in our commitment to delivering high-performance, sustainable mobility solutions for Romania. Operating in Romania for over 30 years, Alstom is involved in electrification and signalling projects along the Rhine-Danube railway corridor and in the Cluj region, where it is part of a consortium developing the second metro system in Cluj Napoca. In addition, the company is implementing the first CBTC urban signalling solution in Romania on Line 5 metro in Bucharest, where it also supplies Metropolis trains. The company has been providing maintenance services for the Bucharest metro fleet for more than two decades, with a current contract extending until 2036. Alstom's rolling stock contracts include the supply of electric trains for ARF, along with comprehensive maintenance services. Recently, Alstom launched its first signalling competence centre in the CIS region in Astana, Kazakhstan. This new hub will provide technical support and customised signalling solutions to address the operational needs of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ). "Alstom unveils Traxx electric locomotive design for Romanias ARF" was originally created and published by Railway Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. Further potential is shown at the companys New Orient prospect, 1 kilometre south, in a notable intercept of 21m at 1.3g/t from 29m, including 2m going 9.2g/t gold from 46m. The mineralisation remains open to the north and down dip. Caprice holds more than 1800 square kilometres of prospective WA ground, with 240 square kilometres across its Murchison gold projects, including the Island, New Orient and Cuddingwarra. Island spans a 5km-long, 700m1000m-wide corridor, which hosts gold in units of banded iron formation up to 30m thick, a key host rock in the Murchison Goldfields. High-grade gold is associated with north-northwest / south-southeast trending en echelon vein sets and major crosscutting structures, mirroring the regions more-than-15-million-ounce total gold endowment in deposits. The company has also discovered two new mineralised zones - West Star, with 2m at 3.2g/t gold from 132m and at Condenser, with 2m at 1.1g/t from 90m which reinforce the potential for other stacked lodes across the corridor. Drilling to date has been limited to 170m below surface, leaving significant depth potential unexplored. The companys phase three drilling program comprised 43 RC holes for 7024m and was completed in June. All assays have been received and the results confirm increasing gold grades at depth, satisfyingly validating the geological model. Additionally, laboratory analysis confirms free gold in the intercepts, which will facilitate processing and refining. Islands structural and geological setting, with banded iron formation units and crosscutting structures, is in keeping with other high-grade deposits in the Murchison. Caprice is steadily moving towards a maiden mineral resource estimate with a fully funded phase four program of 20,000m of air core, RC and diamond drilling planned for September. The company anticipates the work will extend high-grade zones and provide structural data. An air core program slated for the last quarter of the year will target an undrilled 1000m-long banded iron formation trending beneath Lake Austins sediment cover, between New Orient and Vadrians, as well as high-titanium basalt stratigraphy on Islands western edge, which is similar to the Break of Day deposits. The Island project contains many of the historic mines in the Lake Austin gold mining centre and comprises two granted mining leases and one exploration licence. It sits between Ramelius Resources and Westgold Resources processing infrastructure in the heart of the Murchison gold district. Meanwhile, Caprices 1500-square-kilometre West Arunta project, targeting gold, copper and niobium/rare earths, is capitalising on its multiple high-priority targets. These include analogues of WA1s Luni discovery and its 200Mt at 1 per cent niobium pentoxide mineral resource. With high-grade hits at Vadrians, new zones at West Star and Condenser, and a strategic mix of RC, diamond and air core drilling planned, Caprice is well-positioned to unlock further value at its Island project, potentially defining a significant gold resource in the Murchison. Stavely Minerals (ASX: SVY) Project: Fairview North and South prospects in the Stavely copper-gold project, Western Victoria Hit: 1m at 49.2g/t gold from 10m Stavely Minerals has uncovered high-grade gold at its Stavely copper-gold project in western Victoria, with significant results from RC drilling at its Fairview North and South prospects. The standout assay from Fairview South revealed 1m at 49.2g/t gold from 10m within a broader 40m at 1.96g/t from surface, including 17m at 4.18g/t from 9m and 9m at 7.15g/t from 9m. Other Fairview South results include 42m at 1.14g/t from a previous RC hole, with 9m at 3g/t, and an air core hole assaying 29m at 1.42g/t from surface. Geological mapping and rock-chip sampling at Fairview South extended the mineralised zone 600m south, with high-grade assays from brecciated, quartz-veined and gossanous samples yielding up to 25.6g/t, 8.79g/t, and 4.49g/t gold. Eight float samples showed anomalous gold above 0.1g/t, including 0.41g/t in massive gossan with quartz crystals. The prospect features intermediate and felsic intrusive dykes near a gravity low tied to rhyolite intrusions at the intersection of a north-south gold trend and a west-northwest structure. At Fairview North, 4.3km north, RC drilling yielded 59m at 1.31g/t from surface, including 27m at 2.33g/t with 3m at 10.81g/t from 19m, alongside 42m at 1.57g/t from 23m, including 8m at 4.76g/t, and 29m at 0.96g/t from surface, with 6m at 3.46g/t gold. Fairview Norths RC drilling confirmed well-developed, shallow, potentially heap-leachable gold mineralisation. Bottle-roll cyanide leach tests from 2017 indicate 72.6 per cent to 98.4 per cent gold recovery after 120 hours, and column leach tests showing 81.9 per cent to 95.8 per cent recovery. The mineralisation aligns within a northwest-trending corridor with three sinusoidal structural zones, guiding further RC drilling to expand the footprint. The Fairview prospects suggest a significant mineralised structure potentially spans 10km. Stavelys forward program includes additional RC drilling to test structural geometries and composite metallurgical testwork to assess low-cost heap leach recovery options. The companys high-grade gold hits and promising leach test results at both of its Fairview prospects signal a growing mineralised system, with ongoing drilling poised to unlock further potential in this emerging gold-copper play. Pollucite mineralisation in a high-grade caesium drill intersection at about 64.5m depth in drill hole CV23-271 at the Rigel Zone in the CV13 Pegmatite. Interval grades assayed 1 metre at 22.69 per cent caesium oxide from 64m deep, with XRD reporting a 58 per cent pollucite content over the interval. Patriot Battery Minerals (ASX: PMT) Project: Shaakichiuwaanaan, Eeyou Istchee James Bay, Quebec, Canada. Hits: 156.9m at 2.12 per cent lithium oxide; 1.1m at 26.61 per cent caesium oxide Patriot Battery Metals has confirmed the worlds largest pollucite-hosted caesium resource at its Shaakichiuwaanaan project in Quebecs Eeyou Istchee James Bay region, complementing its globally significant lithium and tantalum pegmatites. The project, featuring CV5 and CV13 pegmatites, ranks as the largest lithium resource in the Americas and a top-tier critical minerals hub. The standout lithium intercept is 156.9m at 2.12 per cent lithium oxide, including 25m at 5.04 per cent lithium oxide and 5m at 6.36 per cent lithium oxide from the CV5 pegmatite. CV5 hosts the bulk of the projects lithium, with an indicated resource of 108 million tonnes at 1.40 per cent lithium oxide and 166 parts per million (ppm) tantalum pentoxide, plus an inferred 33.4Mt at 1.33 per cent lithium oxide and 155ppm tantalum pentoxide. The top tantalum pentoxide intercept is 5.4m at 356ppm within 31.6m at 0.95 per cent lithium oxide. The caesium discovery shines in the Rigel and Vega zones in the CV13 pegmatite. The top caesium intercept is 1.1m at 26.61 per cent caesium oxide from the Rigel zone, with another notable hit of 5m at 13.2 per cent caesium oxide, including 2m at 22.9 per cent caesium oxide. CV13s resource includes Rigels indicated 163,000t at 10.25 per cent caesium oxide and 1.78 per cent lithium oxide, and Vegas indicated 530,000t at 2.61 per cent caesium oxide and 2.23 per cent lithium oxide. It has an inferred 1,698,000t at 2.40 per cent caesium oxide and 1.81 per cent lithium oxide for a total 30,599t indicated and 40,800t inferred caesium oxide. Caesium is exclusive to CV13, with no significant occurrences in CV5. Caesium is supply constrained and is used in drilling fluids, optical glass and atomic clocks for internet and mobile networks. Historically, only a few mines have produced caesium, often as a lithium by-product, including Sinomines Tanco mine in Canada, the Bikita mine in Zimbabwe and Pioneer Resources Sinclair mine in the WA Goldfields. Power Metals Case Lake project in Ontario recently reported a 13,000t inferred resource at 2.4 per cent caesium oxide, but Shaakichiuwaanaans scale with 30,599t indicated and 40,800t inferred caesium oxide - positions it as the global leader. The projects lithium resource, the eighth largest globally, as well as a potential further tantalum resource enhance its strategic value. Patriot is advancing a scoping metallurgical program using X-ray ore sorting to optimise pollucite recovery from the Vega zone drill core, alongside lithium and tantalum co-recovery. Further drilling aims to upgrade inferred resources and support geo-mechanical studies and the company is planning a lithium-focused feasibility study this quarter. Shaakichiuwaanaans world-class caesium, lithium and tantalum resources position Patriot as a key player in North American and European critical mineral supply chains, with ongoing work set to unlock its multi-commodity potential. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au Artificial intelligence-powered laptops have boosted sales at JB Hi-Fi Australia, but not quite for the reasons you might expect. Outgoing chief executive Terry Smart said AI-powered laptops were continuing to perform well, as the company notched a 10 per cent sales lift for the 2025 financial year, but were not necessarily selling because of the devices advanced capabilities. Terry Smart is stepping down for a second time after spending two decades with the the JB Hi-Fi group. Credit: Arsineh Houspian AI has still got a long way to go as innovation into products, Smart said. AI laptops ... are performing really well, but mainly because they are just very quick devices with great battery life. Consumers still need to see some real, solid use cases for AI, but I have no doubt that is all coming. Lindian Resources executive chairman Robert Martin said: The upgrade of our stage-two expansion area from an exploration licence to a mining licence allows Lindian to work in parallel on our larger stage two expansion while using the learnings from the development of our stage one production facility to ensure that we optimise our processing flowsheets and recoveries. This will also allow Lindian to capitalise on our ability to be the next rare earth producer to market and to capture a larger market share. The Iluka agreement, announced last week, will see the critical mineral stalwart chip in a US$20 million (A$30.6 million) construction loan, accompanied by a 15-year offtake deal for 6000tpa, or a total of 90,000t of Kangankundes premium monazite concentrate. The super high-grade deposit will produce a premium rare-earth concentrate that rocks the scales at 55 per cent total rare earth oxides (TREO), with near-20 per cent of total oxides consisting of the valuable magnet rare earths of neodymium and praseodymium, which are critical for use in renewable energy applications and electric vehicle motors. Kangankundes stage one expected production of 15,300t of monazite concentrate will pump out about 1600t of the two magnet metals over its whopping mine life of 45 years, which could grow exponentially due to the huge increase in mining area and massive resource on hand. The project comes with an anticipated pre-production capex of US$40 million and operating costs of US$2.92 per kilogram of rare earth oxides, leading management to believe the project hovers in the much-coveted lowest cost quartile globally. Lindians agreement with Iluka appears to be perfect timing for the duo, with Iluka chasing feed for its under-development Eneabba rare earths refinery in Western Australias Mid West region. The commission process at Australias first government-backed rare earths facility is expected to kick off in 2027. With talk of the Albanese-led Labor Government considering the introduction of a magnet rare earths price floor mechanism, possibly in line with United States President Donald Trumps much-heralded support for the US rare earths industry, Iluka could be in the box seat to pump as much material as possible into the new refinery. Iluka also has a right of first refusal for additional long-term offtake material from Kangankunde of up to 25,000tpa for 15 years, subject to Iluka providing a 50 per cent debt funding offer for the stage two capital cost expansion. The Kangankunde project is gaining momentum with positive news aplenty in recent months and may receive a further boost to its Iluka tie-in, if the Federal Government comes to the party with a rare earths pricing deal. Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: mattbirney@bullsnbears.com.au Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices have agreed to pay 15 per cent of their revenues from Chinese AI chip sales to the US government in an unusual deal that threatens to set a precedent for American companies doing business in the Asian nation. Nvidia, which is the worlds most valuable public traded company with a market capitalisation of about $US4.5 trillion ($6.9 trillion), plans to share 15 per cent of the revenue from sales of its H20 AI accelerator in China, US President Donald Trump said in a briefing with reporters on Monday. AMD will deliver the same share from MI308 revenues, a person familiar with the situation said, asking not to be identified discussing internal deliberations. The arrangement reflects Trumps consistent effort to engineer a financial payout for America in return for concessions on trade. Credit: Bloomberg Trump said hed originally told Nvidia that he wanted a 20 per cent cut for the US if he cleared H20 sales to China but eventually settled for a 15 per cent share. The two negotiated a little deal, he said. The arrangement reflects Trumps consistent effort to engineer a financial payout for America in return for concessions on trade. His administration has shown a willingness to relax trade conditions like tariffs in return for giant investments in the US as with Apples pledge to spend $US600 billion ($921 billion) on domestic manufacturing. But such a narrow, select export tax has little precedent in modern corporate history. The towns resident population has declined by about a tenth over the past decade to just under 30,000, but housing is scarce, much of it taken up to accommodate FIFO workers. A recent application by gold miner Northern Star, which owns the mammoth open-cut mine that looms over the town, to build an 800-bed workers camp for staff working on a mill upgrade, was met with concerted local opposition. The WA budget included $16.8 million in funding to boost development-ready land in Kalgoorlie. Credit: Alamy Stock Photo The project was approved by council in a three-two vote despite 144 out of 148 submissions by members of the public opposed to the application. The vast majority were concerned FIFO accommodation resulted in a lack of connection and contribution to the local community. The workers would not support local businesses, they feared. Get people to come and live here instead of FIFO. Get the population up, instead of down, otherwise Kalgoorlie will be a ghost town. Is that what we really want? one submission asked. Loading The assessing officer noted Northern Star had proposed operating a daily shuttle bus transporting workers to and from local shops to improve social and economic connections to the town. Our priority is always around residential workforce, Northern Star chief executive Stuart Tonkin told reporters during a visit to the Kalgoorlie Super Pit site. But the reality was the resident workforce could not support construction and other short-term jobs on its own, he said. We are filling up local facilities and hotels and utilising local places, as well as those temporary camps. Local businessman Murray Leahy fought tooth and nail to avoid using FIFO workers for his Kalgoorlie-based mining services company MLG OZ. But as the business took off, he hit a crossroads: bring in employees from out of town or stop growing. FIFO workers arrive home at Perth Airport. Credit: Tony McDonough We started putting people in houses, and we established a structure whereby wed fly you in and out for six months and if you wanted to transition your family in, we would pay for you and your family to move to Kalgoorlie, he said. We would provide a house for you free of charge for six months and after that you could salary-sacrifice it, so we were transitioning people from being flyers into being residents. Then we ran out of houses to do that with and the market became so strained that we had to stop that program. Leahy said ideally all the companys 450-odd workforce would be full-time residents, but he was still relying on 200 or so FIFO workers. There was a desire among workers to join the community. Northern Stars Super Pit gold mine at Kalgoorlie. About 14 of MLGs FIFO employees were looking to move their families to live in Kalgoorlie residentially but simply could not find a house, he said. Fundamentally, the issue that the Goldfields community has stems purely from the fact that we have had very poor state and local government planning over a long period of time, Leahy said. The state has been immensely slow in releasing land to alleviate the situation, while provision of water and power to enable development has also been lagging. A broken welcome sign in Kalgoorlie. Credit: Bloomberg The current council was working hard to try to rectify the issues, but they are dealing with a 15-year legacy here of poor planning and poor management. To effectively make the change thats needed, its 100 per cent reliant upon our state releasing land and key services to be able to drive development. The government was investing significantly in the Goldfields region, said WA Mining Minister David Michael. Stuart Tonkin, CEO of Northern Star Resources. Credit: Trevor Collens The WA budget included $16.8 million in funding to boost development-ready land in Kalgoorlie. Planning was also under way to redevelop Kalgoorlie Health Campus, the state developer was selling houses at its Karlkurla estate project for as low as $205,000, and a new $150 million vanadium flow battery was being installed to secure Kalgoorlies energy supply. Government agencies are also working together, and with industry, to ensure there is sufficient land for housing across our state, Michael said. Land and housing development in the regions is constrained by contractor availability, infrastructure capacity and upgrade timing constraints, native title and higher development costs. Ballard Mining chairman Simon Lill said he would like to see the government provide more tax incentives for living in Kalgoorlie long term. I would love to, and I think Northern Star would love to, see more people in Kalgoorlie. And Lynas would love to see more people in Kalgoorlie. But in the current FIFO world, Im not sure I can see that happening, he said. A lack of connection and contribution to the local community is a concern around FIFO accommodation in Kalgoorlie. Credit: iStockphoto Can they make life in Kalgoorlie tax-free for a period or no stamp duty on houses or something like that? It is sad to walk down the main street and see so many of the shops boarded up. Leahy also called for a more generous regional zone tax offset to incentivise people to live there permanently. Kalgoorlie residents can claim $57 off their tax through the scheme. Michael said Kalgoorlie residents could already access generous stamp duty concessions, which the government expanded in the recent budget, and complemented other incentives such as low-deposit loans for modular homes. PFAS are a family of synthetic chemicals prized for their resistance to heat, grease and water, and used in a wide range of everyday products such as stain-resistant fabrics, cleaning products and firefighting foams. Now found in the blood of almost every Australian, they are often dubbed forever chemicals because they dont break down naturally, and can persist in the environment and human body for decades. In 2024, the US Environmental Protection Agency concluded that PFAS were an urgent threat to public health and the environment and exposure to certain PFAS posed significant risk to human health, including cancer, even at very low levels. The agency imposed stricter PFAS limits for US drinking water, which have been maintained under the Trump administration, and recommended blood testing for people with occupational exposure or who live in contaminated areas. NASEM has also found that certain PFAS, specifically PFOA, are carcinogenic to humans, while the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified PFOA as carcinogenic to humans and PFOS as possibly carcinogenic. In the webinar, Buckley said the NASEM guidelines on sensible screening for an individual were pretty terrible and described IARC as just some subgroup of the WHO, not the World Health Organisation itself. Buckley chaired the expert health panel for PFAS for the Australian government in 2018. He told the webinar he had looked over the state of research since then, and not much had changed. Loading Dr Nicholas Chartres, a senior research fellow in the school of pharmacy at the University of Sydney who viewed the webinar, told this masthead it would have been most appropriate for the NSW Health webinar to present the findings of the US EPA and NASEM reviews alongside the IARC evaluations. Government advice should not rely on individual experts, but rather rigorous, transparent reviews that reflect the most current science, when available, he said. NASEMs review was more rigorous and up-to-date than the 2018 Australian panel, Chartres said, taking in the 139 human studies that had been published since then. A NSW Health spokesperson said the webinar was to support local clinicians to provide information and give them a chance to share case studies and ask questions. STOP PFAS convener Jon Dee in Leura. Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong Jon Dee, from Blue Mountains community group STOP PFAS, said: The PFAS in our drinking water was an Erin Brockovich-level contamination, yet NSW Health is downplaying this and ignoring a huge amount of international evidence about PFAS health risks. Blood donations Buckley told the webinar about a third of PFAS in a human body would be in the blood stream, and if individuals were concerned about their PFAS levels and wanted to be proactive in lowering it, they could consider donating blood. If you quietly said youre welcome to give blood and you will get rid of 3 per cent of the PFAS in your body every time you give blood, I actually think its not a bad idea, Buckley said. He added that it was a futile exercise at one level because it would not deliver health benefits, and it could cause mixed messages and concerns about the blood supply. Jones told the webinar she disagreed with blood donation to lower PFAS because it could cause persistent anaemia and there was no proven causality between PFASes and adverse health effects. Loading A randomised clinical trial of 285 Victorian firefighters in 2019 found donating blood lowered PFAS levels, while the PFAS Health Study at the Australian National University has identified menstruation as one of the reasons why PFAS levels are lower in Australian women than men at population level The expert panel findings released on Tuesday said, interventions that reduce blood PFAS are of uncertain benefit and may cause harm. Sydney tap water Residents in the Blue Mountains have been exposed to high levels of PFAS, especially PFOS from firefighting foam, in drinking water for at least 17 years and probably up to 32 years. Water with PFAS levels above safe limits had been supplying 78,000 residents from Mount Victoria to Glenbrook, according to Sydney Water, until the pipeline to a contaminated dam was disconnected last year. Last week, the NSW Environment Protection Authority put out a warning that people should limit their consumption of fish from Wentworth Falls Lake to one serve of redfin perch per week and all other fish species to two serves a week because of the results of testing of surface water and fish for PFAS. Peter Morse, a master fly casting instructor, was out at Wentworth Falls Lake on Monday honing his skills. He said he never catches fish in the lake mainly because of concerns about urban run-off from nearby houses, but noted the lake was stocked with trout annually and they were always fished out by the end of the season. Its a popular spot for kids in the mountains to go fishing, and I suspect if they catch a trout, theyre going to take it home for mum to cook, Morse said. On Tuesday, University of NSW researchers released their findings of PFAS testing in Sydney tap water in 2024, with an article published in the journal Chemosphere. The samples were analysed per drinking water catchment and found to be highest around North Richmond, potentially because of contamination from the air base. They found a total of 31 PFAS types in Sydney tap water, including 21 not previously detected. The detected PFAS included 3:3 FTCA, thought to be only the second global detection in any drinking water supply, and 6:2 diPAP, previously found in bottled water and now detected in tap water for the first time. Lead researcher Professor William Alexander Donald said the health effects of 3:3 FTCA were unknown, but there was some evidence to suggest that 6:2 diPAP caused thyroid and reproductive issues. The National Health and Medical Research Council updated the Australian drinking water standard in June, covering five main types of PFAS. The UNSW team found PFOS in Sydney tap water at 6 parts per trillion, which is below Australian limits but above the US standard. Donald said one of the most interesting findings was that Sydney tap water had high levels of PFBA, a short-chain PFAS that is being used as a replacement for the banned substances, PFOS and PFOA. Advertisement Review Eating outParkville Gallery restaurant Cherrywood combines two of Melbournes loves The entire foundation of the Ian Potter Museums Residence space, including its location and business model, makes a good case that yes, food is art. Besha Rodell August 12, 2025 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share 1 / 10 Assorted dishes at Cherrywood. Kristoffer Paulsen 2 / 10 The long space makes great use of the buildings tall vintage windows. Kristoffer Paulsen 3 / 10 Honey tart and persimmon. Kristoffer Paulsen 4 / 10 Devilled eggs with smoked eel. Kristoffer Paulsen 5 / 10 Mushroom carpaccio is similar to vitello tonnato. Kristoffer Paulsen 6 / 10 Smoked bone marrow, oxtail marmalade and horseradish. Kristoffer Paulsen 7 / 10 Mums roast chicken. Kristoffer Paulsen 8 / 10 Roast lamb rump, Jerusalem artichoke and red cabbage. Kristoffer Paulsen 9 / 10 Residences open kitchen. Kristoffer Paulsen 10 / 10 The restaurant is housed in the Ian Potter Museum. Kristoffer Paulsen Previous Slide Next Slide 14 / 20 How we score Contemporary$$$$ The question of whether food is art is often mixed up with a different question, which is whether chefs are artists. Once that equivalence sneaks in, we tend to let cliche take over. But the image of the brooding, egoist chef making stupid swooshes on a plate wrests the conversation away from its more interesting path. Art reflects culture, it brightens our cities and our lives, it gives us pleasure, and it challenges us to understand the experiences of others. Sometimes the artist is a pretentious twit, sometimes not. I thought about all of this as I ate at Cherrywood at Residence, not because chef Robbie Nobles food is particularly artistic, but because the entire foundation of the restaurant, including its location and business model, make a good case that yes, food is art, and should be treated as such by institutions and society more broadly. Advertisement The Residence part of the moniker is the more permanent factor in the endeavour; Cherrywood is the current occupant of a space thats meant as an incubator for young chefs looking to test a concept. Cherrywoods open kitchen. Kristoffer Paulsen Housed in the Ian Potter Museum on the University of Melbourne campus, the restaurant is the brainchild of Nathen Doyle and Cameron Earl, who collectively have a strong background in the neighbourhood (Earl at Carlton Wine Room and Doyle at Heart Attack and Vine, and Sunhands). The idea is to provide an up-and-coming chef a year to test a concept. Much like an artist-in-residence, the space is meant to give someone the space to create while being supported logistically and economically. (While the exact financials of the project are not public, Doyle and Earl have said there is a profit-sharing element with the resident chefs.) Not many first-time chef-owners could afford the expansive kitchen or beautiful dining room thats been built into the foyer of the Potter Museum, the long space making great use of the buildings tall vintage windows. Theres obvious investment in other things that might be unattainable for a young restaurateur, too, like an expansive wine list and a sommelier who knows it back and forth both things usually reserved for more established operators. Advertisement As a preliminary resident, Noble is hardly a shaky gamble. The chef, who is originally from the north of England, has spent time at Michelin-starred Northcote near his home town, at Vue de Monde, and at Paris wine bar Clamato. Mums roast chicken. Kristoffer Paulsen He looks to his roots for Cherrywoods menu. Theres an homage to his mums roast chicken in the form of a tea: basically a very rich chicken broth poured from a kettle over aromatic tarragon into tiny cups. I could drink a whole mug of this, my dining companion said, to which I replied, yes, and it would cost you $100. At $10 a shot for the broth, its a lovely but very expensive couple of sips. Devilled eggs come with a luscious smoked trout emulsion, ramping up the dish into something far more luxurious than your usual eggy hors doeuvre. Theres a take on New York restaurant Blue Ribbons famous dish of bone marrow with oxtail marmalade. There, its served as roasted marrow bones with bread and the jammy oxtail on the side; here, you have to order bread separately, and the oxtail is piled on the lengthwise-cut bone, making for a layered effect with the wobbly marrow underneath. Its a cute presentation, but the marrow does tend to get overwhelmed by its topping. Advertisement Smoked bone marrow, oxtail marmalade and horseradish. Kristoffer Paulsen If we think of British cooking as prodigiously meaty, Noble challenges that notion with a surprisingly vegetarian-friendly menu. A lions mane carpaccio is actually a non-meat take on a vitello tonnato, the thin-sliced mushrooms over a tofu cream, the cumin-tinged dish clever and satisfying. A buckwheat pancake with squash and cheddar doesnt quite live up to its $32 price tag as a main course, but it works well as an accompaniment for a meatier dish, or in combination with some of the excellent vegetable sides. But if meat is your thing, theres plenty of it here. Hanger of beef comes with ox tongue and peppercorn, an overload of richness. Lamb rump is beautifully cooked alongside tangy red cabbage and Jerusalem artichokes roasted to a caramelised slump. Not many first-time chef-owners could afford the Residences expansive kitchen or beautiful dining room. Advertisement As you might expect, given the concept, there is a sense that Noble is still figuring out how to define himself and his cooking. The through line isnt as sharp as I hope it will be at the end of his year at Residence. Thats part of the fun of the thing Im looking forward to coming back to see how this chef evolves. If theres a slight disconnect at Residence the slick underpinnings of a well-funded restaurant with the food thats still finding its way it is 100 per cent made up for by the intent of the project. I think most people would agree that our restaurants are a huge part of what makes living in Melbourne so wonderful, and yet the economic and logistical realities of running those restaurants especially for those just starting out is increasingly difficult. Its long been accepted that art needs patrons. If food fulfils many of the requirements of art that it enriches our culture, our city and our lives perhaps we ought to treat it as such. The low-down Atmosphere: Airy art gallery with old bones and a modern facelift Go-to dishes: Chicken tea ($10); mushroom carpaccio ($26); lamb rump ($54) Drinks: Seasonal cocktails (the pear martini on the current menu is ace), well-priced wine list with lots of intriguing bottles Cost: About $190 for two, excluding drinks Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant cant pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide. Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is one of the Good Stocks to Invest in Now. On June 30, Barclays analyst Ramsey El-Assal raised the firms price target on Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) from $396 to $408, while keeping an overweight rating on the stock. The firm upgraded its financial model for the company following its fiscal third-quarter earnings. Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) grew its revenue by 14.29% to reach $10.17 billion, surpassing consensus by $324.97 million. Moreover, the EPS of $2.98 also exceeded expectations by $0.13. Management attributed this growth to strong consumer spending in both discretionary and non-discretionary categories in the United States. This growth was evident by an 8% year-over-year increase in payment volumes along with a 12% increase in cross-border volumes. Barclays Raised the Firms PT on Visa Inc (V), Kept an Overweight Rating Visa Inc. (NYSE:V) is an international payment technology company that enables secure and fast money movement and commerce across more than 200 countries. While we acknowledge the potential of V as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If youre looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 30 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and 11 Hidden AI Stocks to Buy Right Now. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. Just after 2pm last Friday, Federal Court judge Wendy Abraham ruled a series of stories exposing the gross negligence of Dr Munjed Al Muderis, published in The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age were, in fact, true. This was a significant result for the countrys biggest newspapers, but it was a case that should never have been brought to trial and the latest example of how a dozen money-driven defamation lawyers have made a cottage industry of extracting fees from rich clients, only to score a spectacular own goal. Surgeon Munjed Al Muderis on the way to court in 2023. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos Some are no better than tow-truck drivers sitting in wait on the edge of the freeway so they can be first at the crash scene. They generate much of their own business by scouring stories about clients with money and then approach them with the double whammy of a cash bonanza and the restoration of their tattered reputations. One such litigator has made it their hallmark to fire off semi-literate correspondence to editors and reporters in the dead of night, perhaps to show off an after-hours work ethic or to justify the already outrageous fees. Palestinian Australians have reacted with indifference, criticism and frustration at the federal governments plan to recognise a Palestinian state, dismissing the gesture as just words. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Australia will recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly next month, adding that he believed a two-state solution is humanitys best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East. Ziyad Serhan responds to the Australian governments decision on Palestinian statehood. Credit: Wolter Peeters But to educator and community organiser Ziyad Serhan the move is insulting to the Palestinian community. We need more. The community sees right through this rhetoric by the government, at the moment they see this as a continuation of their lack of action. Recognition is not going to bring about accountability. 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 It is a sunny winters day on the sprawling grounds of the University of Sydney, and throngs of students are perusing the dozens of student club stalls jammed along the main campus thoroughfare. Theres the Society for Creative Anachronism, the Chocolate Society and the Taylor Swift Society (USyds Version). The Labor Club stall at Sydney University this week had signed up 204 members by Tuesday. Credit: Sam Mooy A young woman with dyed blood-red hair, pigtails and a scruffy faux fur coat peers into the Sydney University Labor Club tent. It is nestled appropriately to the right of the Socialist Alternative Club and just to the left of the more politically conservative ALP Club. She strikes up a conversation with a student sitting behind a desk. If she joins the Labor Club, she will be the 205th member to sign on this year. The stall, festooned with rainbow flags and posters promising to fight fascism, offers a few clues as to what student politics in 2025 involves. I think whats unique about us is we send a very clear message that were about changing politics, not being changed by politics, says the current president of the club, William Yang. But politics is a numbers game, and Yang armed with a clipboard does not wait around for students to happen upon the clubs tent. Advertisement I would try to go up to as many people, regardless of what they look like, he says. This month, the club will celebrate its 100th anniversary inside the hallowed walls of the universitys neo-Gothic MacLaurin Hall. The anniversary marks the establishment of the then titled Labor Group, in 1925, founded by H.V. Doc Evatt. In 1931, the Herald reported on the Labor Clubs first annual meeting, noting that university management said partisan political meetings were not allowed. The University of Sydneys Labor Club president, William Yang. Credit: Sam Mooy The club has produced some of the biggest names in Labor politics, including Gough Whitlam and John Kerr, while its more recent alumni include prominent NSW MP Rose Jackson. But one famous living graduate, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, will not attend the centenary celebration. His office has told organisers he had a prior commitment, though some students speculate it is largely because the faction that has controlled the historic club since 2013 the Socialist Labor Society (also known as the Ferguson or Soft Left) is not aligned with Albaneses. Factions might be a necessary evil of student politics, but in Gen Z parlance, the experience of political involvement is a side quest that fits between study, friends and family, says Yang. Advertisement We want to do more than just vote, and we discover that through collectively fighting or through collectively being active, thats the best way to do it, he says. First and foremost, we become comrades. Theres another side to student politics: infighting, backstabbing and factional deals the equivalent of a finishing school for the politically ambitious who dream of a career in the conniving world of politics. Wang says that experiencing the casual brutality of political machinations at university can discourage some students from pursuing the political scene forever. Deals are done or people are destroyed over screenshots of text messages being sent out at midnight. And its pretty astonishing, like, being able to sit at a table where you just have a couple of people hand over printed emails or printed screenshots to bring someone down because of these personnel disputes, he says. I think most people who are in the Labor Party, and most people who have gone somewhere in the Labor Party havent actually been subject or part of that kind of nitty-gritty aspect of it. Theyve obviously seen that. But I think by seeing it, thats what makes your maturity grow exponentially. On the other side of the political spectrum at Sydney University stands the Conservative Club. Its president last year, Freya Leach, says that joining a right-leaning political club is like finding a refuge for students who might not feel like they fit in with the rest of the university community. Advertisement Theres a lot of interest in politics ... particularly in centre-right politics because the campus is so left wing; theyre looking for people who are values-aligned, she says. We dont have too many crazy people. Freya Leach was president of the University of Sydney Conservative Club last year. Credit: Brook Mitchell I always enjoy debates and robust discussion. We did a number of debates against young Labor it was fun, Leach says. Where it goes too far, and it becomes toxic, is when youre dealing with the socialists. Leach has left university and will have her own nightly show on Sky News starting this month. While you can study political economy in class, and volunteer to campaign for existing party members, perhaps the best way to learn about running a successful campaign or jostling for a party position is doing it at university where the stakes are low. I had a really great experience in Sydney [...] It is really good to practise and experience, Leach says. It does actually prepare you for party politics ... debating issues, forming coalitions, winning votes and doing deals. Advertisement I would say a lot of people get their start in student politics. One former student politician, speaking on the condition of anonymity, says more moderate students who possess an interest in politics are increasingly concerned that being associated with some clubs could be more of a liability than a help when it comes to building a career. Theres social media now, and there can be a stigma around being in the Liberal Party because it is a broad church, including MAGA adherents, he says. Last year, two male students tore up copies of a landmark report that exposed a systemic culture of sexual violence and hazing in front of a student meeting that was live-streamed. Of course, controversies and stunts in student politics are nothing new, and those of today are probably less violent than those of the past. In 1967, three female students from the Labor Club were tackled by police, arrested and bundled into a police van after protesting against the Vietnam War at a performance by the US Vietnam Headquarters band. That year, then NSW governor Sir Roden Cutler became collateral damage when he was jostled, pelted with fruit and almost tripped over and others were knocked unconscious in a fracas that erupted between left- and right-wing students. Advertisement The family of teenager Pheobe Bishop faced one of her alleged killers in court on Monday. The 17-year-old from Gin Gin disappeared on May 15 after reportedly being driven by housemates Tanika Bromley and James Wood to Bundaberg airport. Her body was found in Good Night Scrub National Park about three weeks later. Police believe it was moved multiple times after she died. Pheobe Bishop, 17, with her mother, Kylie Johnson. Credit: Facebook Bromley, 33, and Wood, 34, have been charged with murder and a string of other offences, including interfering with a corpse. Even as a child, Zoe Walker impressed others with her determination and grit to persevere, to fight for what she wanted, and to do it for herself as much as for the people she loved. It was what got her out of bed each morning: running her own painting business against the odds for almost 20 years. Her father, Robert Walker, said it was tough at the best of times, but especially of late, and particularly for a woman in the trade. Zoe Walker, who was found dead on Sunday, aged 38. She struggled with her trade from the very get-up and go, but she had so much determination and [capacity for] self-sacrifice, Robert told The Age. She said to me [that] she gets up every morning to go to work because of her house and her beloved [kelpie Raven]. Further details about a conversation between a man and his wife, who is currently in prison awaiting sentencing over bizarre offending towards their two-year-old son, have been aired in court. Sarah Jayne Kelly, 30, pleaded guilty to having care or control of a child engaged in conduct that was reckless after she put a feeding tube into the nose of her toddler son and took him to multiple hospitals in multiple states claiming he suffered seizures likely caused by epilepsy. Sarah Jayne Kelly and her husband Jacob Kelly. She also told medical practitioners that he had cerebral palsy and the child was taking epileptic medication. Much of what she claimed was false, a court was told on Monday during a bail application for Kelly, which also included a detailed evaluation by a District Court judge about whether he should recuse himself from the case after her husband threatened to kill him if he did not free her from prison. 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 Two weeks ago, on a Sunday morning television appearance, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was unequivocal: there was no move afoot for the Australian government to follow France and promise to recognise a Palestinian state in September. Are we about to imminently do that? he said on the ABCs Insiders. No, we are not. Even as the United Kingdom and Canada outlined their plans for recognition over subsequent days, Albanese held his line, saying he did not want to make a token gesture. He was not satisfied that the conditions for a functional Palestinian state free elections, and no role for Hamas had been met. Albanese made this argument for the cameras, and also in private, telling confidantes he did not want to move quickly nor appear swayed by external pressure. As elements of Labors caucus and rank-and-file members tried to increase pressure on the government, Albanese was assuring Jewish groups in parliament that recognition was not imminent. But 11 days later, Albanese was on a 40-minute phone call, warning an increasingly isolated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Australia would soon recognise a Palestinian state. On Monday, the Albanese government broke with the United States and made the historic announcement that Australia would recognise Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York next month. We cant keep waiting for the end of a peace process that has ground to a halt, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said. Advertisement We have made clear we would recognise Palestine when it would best contribute momentum to peace. September is that time: when the world says this has gone on far too long; when the world says the heartbreak, death and destruction must end. Australia has long given bipartisan support to a two-state solution in the Middle East. The Labor Partys platform specifically supports the recognition of Palestine. Still, there were conditions the government wanted met before taking such a leap. And not much had changed, on paper, during the two weeks Australia resisted recognition. Questions that Albanese raised on Insiders How do you exclude Hamas from any involvement there? How do you ensure that a Palestinian state operates in an appropriate way which does not threaten the existence of Israel? are scarcely closer to being answered today than they were on July 27. Critics of Albaneses decision, including Jewish Australian groups and Israel, made that point on Monday afternoon. Only days ago, Prime Minister Albanese set clear conditions for recognising a Palestinian state, renouncing violence, freeing hostages, and establishing credible, accountable governance, Israels ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, said in a statement. He [Albanese] emphasised that these steps were necessary before recognition could occur. Today, however, the Australian government has abandoned those conditions. But once the United Kingdom and Canada had made their moves, there was an inevitability to Australias next steps. We didnt want to be leading the pack, but we didnt want to be too slow, either, said a senior government source. We were probably moving in this direction, but the momentum globally meant there was a wave we could ride, said another. Advertisement Images of hunger in Gaza create global mood for change Wong started laying the groundwork for this weeks announcement in April last year. Conventional thinking suggested Palestinian statehood should come only at the end of a peace process with Israel. But as Israeli settlements expanded in the West Bank, Wong argued that recognising Palestine could be a step towards a two-state solution. Loading Then, last month, demands for stronger government action built as global attention focused on striking images of starvation coming out of Gaza. Photographs of children spurred public outrage and sentiment that the war needed a circuit-breaker. Anger was also building in Labors base. By the end of July, almost 80 local branches had passed motions demanding that Australia impose sanctions on Israel. Then French President Emmanuel Macron made his move. As ceasefire talks between Israel and Hamas broke down, he tried to generate momentum for a two-state solution. On July 25, Macron announced France would become the first G7 nation a grouping which includes the United States, UK, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada to recognise Palestinian statehood. He would do so at a UN meeting in September. Advertisement Without pause, prominent Labor supporters of Palestine called on Albanese to follow suit. Former foreign minister Bob Carr called for Albanese to follow France and recognise Palestine in line with Labor policy and the near unanimous opinion of ALP rank-and-file and voter base. Albanese, on Insiders, lamented the images coming out of Gaza. A photograph of an emaciated one-year-old boy just breaks your heart, he said. But he hosed down expectations that Australia was about to follow France. We wont do any decision as a gesture. We will do it as a way forward if the circumstances are met, Albanese said on July 27. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong announce Australias plan to recognise a Palestinian state. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Senior Labor sources who spoke to this masthead that weekend said Albanese had not ruled out recognising Palestine by the end of the year. However, he wanted to move alongside other like-minded nations, including Britain, Canada and New Zealand. Albanese resists calls as momentum builds Those nations moved faster than expected. On July 30, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, under intense pressure from his MPs, declared it was the moment to act as he outlined plans for recognition. It prompted Labor backbencher Ed Husic, the partys most vocal MP on Palestine, to make another plea. Moral momentum cannot be ignored and it requires of us a reconsideration of our approach, Husic said. But Albanese, meeting with the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, assured them no move on recognition was imminent. Advertisement Still, Australia took another step. It signed a letter with 14 other countries saying it was considering Palestinian statehood as a step towards a two-state solution. That same day, a United Nations working group that included the Arab League released a plan to end the war that did not involve Hamas. Australian officials took note. It was the first time Arab nations had demanded Hamas end its rule in Gaza and surrender its weapons to the Palestinian Authority that governs parts of the West Bank. Albanese spoke with Starmer on the phone that night. Then, the following morning, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney became the next player to move. Behind closed doors, the Albanese government was butting heads with Israels representatives. Speaking to his caucus, Albanese slammed remarks from Israels deputy ambassador, who had told Australian journalists in a briefing that claims of starvation amounted to Hamas propaganda and relied on false pictures. (The New York Times later confirmed that the one-year-old that Albanese referred to had pre-existing medical conditions, but the World Health Organisation has said malnutrition is at alarming levels in Gaza). On Thursday, Wong held talks with Maimon in her Canberra office and rebuked Israels behaviour. It was the second time in three days that Israels ambassador had been spoken to by the government after a lower-level meeting with departmental officials on Tuesday. Labor MP Jerome Laxale said frustration at the Netanyahu government had contributed to the governments decision-making. Australia has been part of a global push to ensure that Israel complies with its international law obligations and I think there has been a frustration, culminating in our announcement today, he told Sky News on Monday. Laxale, a member of Labors left faction, also emphasised the scale of voters concern. This has been issue No.1, two and three in my inbox from constituents, he said. Advertisement Tim David bludgeoned eight sixes in his robust 83 and led Australia to a 17-run win over South Africa in the first T20 on Sunday as international cricket returned to Darwin after 17 years. Davids aggressive knock off 52 balls pushed Australia to 178 all out after the home team had lost five big hitters inside the first seven overs. Davids aggressive knock off 52 balls pushed Australia to 178 all out. Credit: Getty Images Opening batter Ryan Rickelton (71) and Tristan Stubbs (37) kept South Africa in the hunt, but Josh Hazlewoods (3-27) twin strike in the 15th over and Glenn Maxwells spectacular catch of Rickelton in the final over limited the Proteas to 161-9 and earned Australia its ninth successive win in T20. Stubbs and Rickelton revived South Africa hopes with a 72-run stand after the visitors had lost three wickets inside the batting powerplay and slipped to 48-3. NASCAR Xfinity Series points leader Connor Zilisch broke his collarbone after a hard fall in victory lane at Watkins Glen International in New York. After his series-leading sixth victory, Zilisch was climbing onto the roof of his No. 88 Chevrolet to celebrate. He slipped after apparently getting his left foot caught in the drivers side window netting and tumbled awkwardly onto the asphalt. The 19-year-old Zilisch was taken on a backboard to the trackside medical centre and then transported to a hospital for further evaluation. He posted on X about two hours later that he had a broken collarbone, and that CT scans showed no head injury. Sporting a smile with his left elbow in a black sling draped around his neck, Zilisch was back on Sunday recounting his fall. Benjamin Netanyahu doesnt care. He doesnt care that Palestinian civilians are dying. If he did, hed call the food trucks in and order his bombers out. He doesnt care that Israeli hostages are dying. If he did, hed declare a ceasefire to allow some to be exchanged the only way that large numbers of hostages have been recovered in this war to date. Illustration by Dionne Gain Credit: Dionne Gain He doesnt care that three-quarters of Israelis want an end to the war to allow the remaining hostages to be freed, according to a Channel 12 poll last month. He doesnt care that more Israeli soldiers will die, in addition to the 454 killed so far in ground operations under his command since the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre. (Bloomberg) -- Battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. has suspended production at a major lithium mine in Chinas Jiangxi province for at least three months, according to people familiar with the matter. Most Read from Bloomberg CATL, the worlds largest manufacturer of electric-vehicle batteries, has announced internally that the Jianxiawo mine would be temporarily halting operations, they said. One of the people said the suspension came after the company failed to extend a key mining permit which expired on Aug. 9. CATL didnt immediately respond to questions from Bloomberg outside business hours. The lithium industry has been buffeted in recent weeks by extreme volatility in the spot, futures and equity markets, and the Jianxiawo operation has been in particular focus, given questions over its permit renewal. Last week traders flew drones over the mine, forecast to account for about 3% of the worlds mined production, in the hope of gauging the current state of output. A second person briefed on the matter said affiliated refineries in nearby Yichun had been informed of the closure. The first person added the company was still in talks with government agencies to secure a renewal but was preparing for the halt to last months. The people asked not to be named as they are not authorized to speak publicly. CATLs permit trouble and suspension come as Beijing cracks down on overcapacity across a host of industries and increases scrutiny of mining operations. For an industry that has been plagued by a glut for more than two years, however, the pause in output from a significant link in the supply chain will be a boon. CATL saw revenue from its battery mineral resources business plummet 29% in 2024, a drop that underscores challenges facing the Chinese companys upstream investments including a precipitous decline in lithium prices. These were originally intended as a way of securing supply and managing costs, and CATL had aggressively pursued mining stakes, even overseas. The most-active lithium carbonate futures contract touched more than 80,000 yuan ($11,128) in July on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange, which moved to rein in speculative trades afterward. The material surged around 9% last week to change hands at 75,000 yuan on Friday. They are killing my people. My family. My homeland. I am the granddaughter of Nakba survivors. In 1948, my grandparents were expelled from Lydd, Historic Palestine, along with 80 per cent of its people by Israeli militias. My father grew up in a refugee camp, no home, no stability, only the dream of return. I grew up with their stories, and I grew up watching Israels ongoing crimes: the occupation of the West Bank, the siege of Gaza, the ethnic cleansing of villages across Palestine. I never needed a state to tell me I was Palestinian or grant me my self-determination. We did that ourselves by keeping our struggle alive. Amal Naser, centre, with fellow Harbour Bridge protest organiser and Palestinian Action Group member Josh Lees, and NSW Green Jenny Leong. Credit: Wolter Peeters Witnessing these injustices gave me the determination and stamina to fight for my homeland. For years, I have witnessed institutions of power fail us, allow crime after crime to occur against the Palestinian people with full impunity. I knew it was us, the people, the masses, who could end this torture. For nearly two years, I have organised weekly rallies with the Palestine Action Group to stop what Amnesty International, BTselem (the Israeli Information Centre for Human Rights) and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories have called by its name: genocide. Protests sprang up in the city decrying Trumps plans. People held signs saying free DC and resist tyranny. The New York Times reported about 150 people gathered a block north of the White House, protesting what they said was the presidents latest attempt to assert control over the city. Protesters demonstrate in front of the White House on Monday against Trumps plans. Credit: AP Trump was trying to annex DC from the White House, Lisa Walker, a Maryland resident who said she taught in Washington public schools for 15 years, told the Times. She carried a homemade sign reading: Free DC. No Police State. But at the White House, Trumps team issued charts alleging Washington had a higher homicide rate than Baghdad, Bogota and Mexico City, which the president branded the worst places on Earth. Like many US cities, Washington has historically had problems with homicide, robbery, carjacking, assault and other crimes. There have been high-profile examples this year: the shooting of Israeli embassy staffers Sarah Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky outside the Capital Jewish Museum in May, or last week, the bashing of a prominent Department of Government Efficiency aide, Edward Coristine, also known as Big Balls. But statistics from the DC Metropolitan Police show violent crime is trending down after spiking during the COVID-19 pandemic and into 2023. So far in 2025, homicides are down 12 per cent compared with this time in 2024, assault with a dangerous weapon is down 20 per cent, and robbery is down 28 per cent. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, said Trumps view of Washington was coloured by the experience of his first term amid the Black Lives Matter protests and later COVID crime wave. It was true that those were more challenging times, she said. We have been able to reverse that 2023 crime spike. Crime isnt just down from 2023, its also down from 2019. Were at a 30-year violent crime low, [but] were not satisfied, we havent taken our foot off the gas. Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser hit back at Trump, saying violent crime was at a 30-year low. Credit: AP The District of Columbia, home to the federal government and national monuments, occupies an unusual place in the union. The US Constitution gives Congress power over the seat of government, but the bulk of that was delegated to a city council under the Home Rule Act of 1973. Despite being more populous than two US states, DC has no voting representation in Congress, only a non-voting delegate in the House of Representatives. The Home Rule Act allows the president to take over the DC police in emergencies for up to 30 days, after which he would need congressional approval. Trump has appointed the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, Terry Cole, as interim police chief, and jokingly warned he would sack Cole in two weeks if he was too soft. George Derek Musgrove, a historian at the University of Maryland who wrote a book on Washingtons history, said the present circumstances did not constitute a real emergency but Trump did have the power to decide. Unfortunately, for the citys sake, the law leaves the determination of whether the city is experiencing an emergency or not to the president, Musgrove told this masthead. National Guard troops and the US Capitol Police keep watch on the Capitol in March 2021 amid heightened security. Credit: AP The president has already shown his willingness to lie about conditions on the ground in the city to get his way. Novak, a lawyer and registered Democrat who is still recovering from his injuries sustained in May, is against Trump taking over the police and deploying the Guard. He said it was ironic that Congress had cut $US1 billion ($1.54 billion) from DCs budget just as Trump was pressuring the district to get tougher on crime. It seems like theyre trying to create an emergency that they want to use federal force to solve, he said. A rally in front of the White House on Monday. Credit: Bloomberg Historically, this is what fascist governments have done take national control over enforcement thats supposed to be at the local level. Thats very scary. When Novak was attacked, the police were nearby out of sight, but close enough to hear his screams. But the neighbours who came to his aid were more helpful than the officers, he said. He believes better police training is warranted, not brute force. I still go out. I still generally feel safe when I go out, he said. Like any city, there are areas that could be improved. But overall, Im very proud to live in the district, and feel that it already is a very beautiful city despite whatevers on the news that theyre trying to magnify. California National Guard in downtown Los Angeles in June. Credit: AP Hakeem Jeffries, the leader of the Democrats in the House of Representatives, also invoked the spectre of the January 6 riots, in which Trumps supporters stormed the US Capitol in a bid to overturn the result of the 2020 election encouraged by the then outgoing president. Donald Trump has no basis to take over the local police department, and zero credibility on the issue of law and order, Jeffries said. Washington: US President Donald Trump has praised his respectful Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for travelling to the US for a crucial one-on-one meeting this week, while resurfacing grievances with Volodymyr Zelensky and appearing to again blame the Ukrainian president for the war. Speaking at length for the first time about Fridays summit with Putin in the US state of Alaska, Trump described it as a feel-out meeting and said he would likely know within just two minutes whether an acceptable deal could be struck with the Russian leader to end the fighting. I get along with Zelensky. But you know, I disagree with what hes done very, very severely disagree: US President Donald Trump. Credit: AP Trump said he would call Zelensky and other European leaders immediately after the meeting, and if he believed there was a fair deal on the table, he would reveal it to them. He defended his decision to see Putin one-on-one without Zelensky. I would say [Zelensky] could go, but hes gone to a lot of meetings. Hes been there for 3 years, nothing happened. Do you want someone whos been doing it for 3 years? Trump told reporters in Washington. PHILIPSBURG:--- The Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, Ms. Melissa D. Gumbs, is pleased to announce that Sint Maarten has been awarded a grant of USD 5,351,132 from the Kingdom of the Netherlands to implement its national action agenda on the slavery past. This funding was approved following the submission of a comprehensive proposal by the Department of Culture, outlining Sint Maartens commitment to remembrance, education, and healing as part of the wider Kingdom-wide commemoration process. The contribution was formally confirmed in a letter received from the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations of the Netherlands on August 8, 2025. The grant will support a series of multi-year projects scheduled from October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2029, aimed at advancing public awareness, education, and cultural preservation related to the legacy of slavery, while honouring the resilience and contributions of the enslaved and their descendants. This is more than a financial contribution; it is a recognition of our right to reclaim the narrative of our past on our own terms, stated Minister Gumbs. With this support, we will document, preserve, and share our history in ways that reflect the voices and experiences of our people, while laying the foundation for a more informed, inclusive, and self-aware society. The action agenda was developed through extensive consultation and outlines key projects focused on public education, community engagement, capacity-building, and archival and genealogical research. A separate allocation of USD 750,000 has been approved for the island of Saba as part of a joint genealogical project submitted by Sint Maarten, bringing the total amount secured for this regional effort to over USD 6.1 million. The initial disbursement will be transferred in 2025 to support activities planned through the first quarter of 2026. Subsequent disbursements will be made annually through 2029 in accordance with the approved activity plan. Minister Gumbs extended her thanks to the Dutch State Secretary for Kingdom Relations and the Directorate-General for Kingdom Relations, noting: This collaboration marks a meaningful step forward in our collective efforts to confront and learn from the past, while empowering future generations to honour and carry forward the resilience of our ancestors. The Department of Culture will lead the implementation of the action agenda, ensuring broad public participation and regular reporting in line with Kingdom requirements. Further details on specific initiatives and community engagement opportunities will be released in the coming months. PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on August 12, 2025. The Central Committee meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 10.30 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg. The agenda points are: Approval of travel schedule for the 2nd Semester of the year 2025 in connection with the Committee, General Assembly (Assamblea), Board of Directors (Junta Directiva) and Eurolat meetings of Parlatino (IS/1233/2024-2025 dated July 8, 2025) Approval of composition delegation and provisions for Members of Parliament to participate in the 17th Gathering of the ParlAmericas Parliamentary Network for Gender Equality (PNGE), in Brasilia, Brazil from September 25-26, 2025 (IS/1266/2024-2025 dated July 29, 2025) Approval composition delegation and provisions for Members of Parliament to attend Bonaire Day and Opening Island Council Year from September 5-6, 2025 (IS/1259/2024-2025 dated July 24, 2025) Approval of composition delegation and provisions for Members of Parliament to attend the 249th Statia Day Celebration on November 16, 2025 (IS/988/2024-2025 dated May 7, 2025) Approval composition delegation and provisions for Members of Parliament to attend the 50thAnnual Celebration of Saba Day on Friday, December 5, 2025 (IS/1244/2024-2025 dated July 17, 2025) Approval of composition delegation and provisions for Members of Parliament to attend and participate in the 36thInterExpo Congress from 9-11 December 2025, in The Hague, the Netherlands (IS/676/2024-2025 dated March 7, 2025) Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules. The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg. The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament The Central Bank of India has launched the TReDS Insurance Policy in collaboration with Tata AIG General Insurance Company, reported SME Street. The new policy aims to enhance security and confidence for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and financiers on Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS) platforms. This move establishes the insurer as the fourth key stakeholder in the TReDS ecosystem, joining MSMEs, buyers and financiers. Tata AIG General Insurance head of reinsurance, credit insurance, aviation Insurance Deepak Kumar said: "We are proud to collaborate with Central Bank of India on this forward-looking solution. The TReDS Insurance Policy is a testament to our shared vision of supporting Indias MSME sector through innovation and resilience." The policy provides coverage against buyer defaults including corporate and government entities to reduce credit risk in TReDS invoice financing. Commenting on the launch, Central Bank of India general managers Pravin Kini and Sohail Ahmad stated: "This strategic initiative reflects our commitment to empowering MSMEs and strengthening the digital credit ecosystem. By partnering with Tata AIG, we are ensuring that our stakeholders have access to a safety net that promotes trust and accelerates growth." In June this year, the Central Bank of India announced a joint venture partnership with Italian insurer Generali, aiming to strengthen latter's brand positioning and distribution capabilities in India's life and property-casualty insurance segments. The announcement followed the banks acquisition of a 25.18% stake in Future Generali India Life Insurance Company and a 24.91% stake in Future Generali India Insurance Company. The Central Bank of India, a major public sector bank founded in 1911, operates more than 4,500 branches serving over 80 million customers. "Central Bank of India partners with Tata AIG to launch TReDS insurance policy " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. Savers who are not in a relationship said they manage to put aside an average of 301 per month around half the 609 that people who are in a relationship said that they have for monthly savings. Another Bajan experience not to be missed is an invigorating foot massage courtesy of Bongo Man. He works for the famous Sandy Lane Hotel and is famed for soothing tired soles with fresh aloe. His hands have pampered and cared for many famous feet including those of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Simon Cowell and Kate Moss (hes even been flown across to the UK for his services), so youll be in good hands, as it were. The Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors (Chartered IIA) has expressed concerns regarding the lack of internal audit functions within several prominent broadband providers, warning that this could increase the risk of company failures. In a letter directed to Ofcom's chief executive, Dame Melanie Dawes, the Chartered IIA has called for the establishment of a clear expectation that broadband companies implement internal audit processes to strengthen governance, risk management, and internal controls. The communication identifies six broadband companiesCommunity Fibre, Hyperoptic, Utility Warehouse, YouFibre, Glide, and CityFibrethat currently do not have internal audit capabilities. These companies together cater to around two million customers and, in certain cases, are involved in the construction and maintenance of their own network infrastructures. The Chartered IIA highlighted the absence of any regulatory framework or guidance from Ofcom that recognises the vital role of internal audit in ensuring effective governance and risk management within the sector. The letter also draws attention to actions taken by other regulatory bodies. For instance, Ofgem has recently required energy suppliers to disclose their internal audit capabilities in its updated Financial Responsibility Principle Guidance. The letter concludes: Setting a clear regulatory expectation for broadband companies to have appropriate internal audit arrangements would strengthen independent oversight of how key risks are managed, improve organisational resilience, build investor confidence, and support the growth of the UKs digital economy. Additionally, both the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) have made internal audit a requirement in the financial services industry. Furthermore, the Independent Water Commission chair Sir Jon Cunliffe recently recommended the dissolution of Ofwat, advocating for improved governance and oversight in the water sector. In light of these issues, the Chartered IIA has urged Ofcom to take immediate steps to enhance governance and oversight for broadband providers, given their critical role in the UK's digital infrastructure. Chartered IIA chief executive Anne Kiem said: Broadband companies are now essential to daily life and the economy. Yet, nearly half of the UKs major broadband providers are operating without internal audit. This is a serious audit and governance weakness. Weve seen time and again the damage caused when companies collapse due to failures that might have been prevented with proper internal controls. We cannot afford to make the same mistakes with broadband companies. Then the shocking nature and the graphic nature of the attack on Father Murray on what was supposed to be the commencement of his retirement, in a public manner and in daylight, exposes an awful lot of vulnerability in that scenario but also more widely, for clergy across Ireland, and other workers in the community, what can happen in the blink of an eye. Allow Google Search To use the search feature, we need your consent to load Google Custom Search, which may use cookies or similar technologies. Please click 'Allow and Continue' below to enable search. See our privacy policy for more information. Allow and Continue Floral tributes for the pair, who were named locally, were left at a gate opposite the business. One note paying their respects to Brendan, a University of Gloucestershire graduate, read: To our friend and family, you are a special person, loyal, loving, caring and positive. You love as long as youre remembered. You will never be forgotten on or off the pitch. She said: Afghan men are three times more likely to be convicted of a sexual offence than someone born in the United Kingdom and represent the largest group of migrants who commit sexual violence against women, and yet we know that 18,000 at least, were covertly let into this country by the last government with no security vetting. I hope the [committee] will take into account the steps the business has taken to rectify its mistake, the serious consequences that revoking the licence would have for its future, and the loss that would be suffered by the local community. Thank you for your help. "As a party, we need to also hear from the community about what you think the solutions are. We don't have all the answers; it's important that we make sure that the community is part of the problem solved." The state-of-the-art safety facility accelerates emergency response and coordination for employees and first responders DOVER, Del., Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE: CPK) proudly marked the five-year anniversary of its Safety Town training facility today with a celebratory event that brought together employees, first responders, government officials and community partners. The event, held at the Safety Town facility in Dover, Delaware, highlighted the Company's continued commitment to safety, education and community collaboration. (PRNewsfoto/Chesapeake Utilities Corporation) Since its launch in 2020, Safety Town has served as a premier training ground for natural gas safety, offering immersive, hands-on learning environments for employees, emergency responders, utility professionals and community stakeholders. The anniversary celebration featured guided tours of the facility, live safety demonstrations and remarks from Chesapeake Utilities Corporation's leadership and local dignitaries. "Safety Town represents one important part of our dedication to protecting the communities we serve," said Jeff Sylvester, senior vice president and chief operating officer at Chesapeake Utilities Corporation. "We believe that safety is not just a priority, it's a core value. This facility allows us to build on that value with our partners, to help ensure they're equipped with the knowledge and tools needed to respond effectively and safely." Since opening, Safety Town has trained over 1,200 emergency response personnel and hosted more than 200 employee training events. The program has reached more than 50 fire departments, municipalities and support organizations across the Company's service area in Maryland and Delaware. With hands-on experiences like the natural gas mobile training unit, and certifications in excavation, leak investigation, SCBA, CPR/AED/First Aid, confined space, and OSHA 10-hour training, Safety Town continues to reinforce Chesapeake Utilities Corporation's dedication to safety and risk mitigation by delivering high-impact training experiences that elevate operational standards and emergency response. As part of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation's mission to deliver energy that makes life better for the people and communities served, the Company made a charitable contribution of $10,000 to the Delaware Volunteer Firefighter Association in support of the Foundation's scholarship fund. The donation was presented to the Foundation's chairman, Lynn Rogers, during the event. A driverless Tesla Robotaxi rolls through a parking lot in Southeast Austin, Monday, June 30, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Tesla Inc. has secured a key state permit for its robotaxi operations in Texas, bringing the company a step closer to making the service more widely available in Austin. According to a listing last week from the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, Tesla Robotaxi LLC is now licensed to operate a transportation network company essentially, a ride-hailing business like Uber or Lyft. The license was issued last Wednesday and is valid for one year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad What the license fails to do, however, is officially classify Teslas robotaxis as autonomous. The company moved forward with its limited Austin launch ahead of new state regulations taking effect Sept. 1 that will require companies to obtain separate authorization to operate vehicles without a human driver. For now, each Tesla ride includes a safety moderator in the front passenger seat. Tesla began offering limited robotaxi rides in Austin in late June using its Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving software. The service area recently expanded to 80 square miles but remains restricted to influencers and brand fans many of whom monetize their content by promoting Tesla online. The permit from TDLR allows Tesla to operate its driverless vehicles commercially, but the company still needs DMV's authorization to classify its robotaxis as fully autonomous. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The new law passed this session revised the state's 2017 autonomous vehicle operations framework, which among other things limited municipalities ability to make their own regulations or laws regarding autonomous vehicles within city or county limits, giving relatively loose control to the state. Under the new law, companies operating autonomous vehicles that transport passengers or property must receive DMV authorization before deploying them on public roads without a human driver. To obtain approval, operators must show that their vehicles: Can operate while complying with state traffic laws. Are equipped with a recording device. Comply with federal laws and federal motor vehicle safety standards. Achieve a minimal risk condition if the automated self-driving tech is rendered inoperable. Submit a First Responder Interaction Plan to the Department of Public Safety. Are registered, titled and insured under Texas law. The legislation comes as Texas particularly Austin has emerged as a launchpad for driverless ride-hailing services. Industry leader Alphabets Waymo recently expanded its Austin service area to 90 square miles and is preparing to launch in Dallas. Amazons Zoox, Avride and others have also begun testing autonomous vehicles on Texas roads. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Before Teslas June rollout, Austin-area Democratic lawmakers had asked the company to delay the launch until it could comply with the new laws requirements. Following another quarter of falling sales, CEO Elon Musk told investors last month that he wants Teslas robotaxi service to be available to more than half the U.S. population by the end of the year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad That goal has been slowed by the companys inability to obtain the full set of regulatory approvals and permits needed to scale. During "Stuff Your Kindle Day," hundreds to thousands of e-books will be available to download for free on Amazon. Apple Calling all book lovers: "Stuff Your Kindle Day" has finally returned! For a limited time, hundreds to thousands of e-books will be available to download for free on Amazon. Here's what to know about the bookish event. Advertisement Article continues below this ad What is 'Stuff Your Kindle Day'? The phenomenon began nine years ago, launched by author Zoe York with the intention of helping indie authors promote their work. It's become so popular that several unofficial "Stuff Your Own" pop-up events happen throughout the year. During these events, e-books are available for free for a limited 24-hour window, and no Kindle Unlimited subscription is required to download them. Each event centers on a different genre of book lovers. August's event is themed "Step Through Time," hosted by Indie Author Central, and focuses on historical and contemporary fiction, BookBub reports. These books are free for anyone, even if you dont have a Kindle Unlimited subscription. You dont need to pay a monthly fee, and once you grab a book during one of these events (usually lasting 24 hours), its yours to keep permanently. You can even download the Kindle app on your phone! Advertisement Article continues below this ad Meanwhile, Kindle Unlimited requires a monthly subscription, which gives you access to thousands of books. However, you can only keep 20 books on your shelf at a time, which are technically borrowed. If your subscription ends, you must return the books, and theyre no longer accessible. The good news is that even if you miss Stuff Your Kindle Day which pops up several times a year now and don't have Kindle Unlimited, you can still get free e-books online. Amazon always maintains a top 100 free Kindle book list accessible daily. When is 'Stuff Your Kindle Day'? The next "Stuff Your Kindle Day" runs from Sunday, Aug. 10 through Tuesday, Aug. 12. The "Step Through Time" theme will draw book lovers to historical and contemporary fiction. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When are other 'Stuff Your Kindle Days' in 2025? If historical and contemporary fiction doesn't match your vibe, have no fear! BookBub reports several similar events before the year ends, including the following: Sept. 16-20 : "Into the Darkness" on dark fiction, hosted by Indie Author Central : "Into the Darkness" on dark fiction, hosted by Indie Author Central Sept. 27 : "Enchant Your Kindle" on fantasy, hosted by Enchanted Realm Co. : "Enchant Your Kindle" on fantasy, hosted by Enchanted Realm Co. Oct. 24-26 : "Dark Romance Day" on dark romance, hosted by Dark Romance Team : "Dark Romance Day" on dark romance, hosted by Dark Romance Team Oct. 26-30 : "Get Spooked" on paranormal, mystery, thriller and horror books, hosted by Indie Author Central : "Get Spooked" on paranormal, mystery, thriller and horror books, hosted by Indie Author Central Oct. 28 : "Romance Book Blast" on romance subgenres, hosted by Indie authors : "Romance Book Blast" on romance subgenres, hosted by Indie authors Nov. 18-20 : "Christian Authors" on Christian fiction, hosted by Indie Author Central : "Christian Authors" on Christian fiction, hosted by Indie Author Central Nov. 20-23 : "SYDK" with indie authors from Australia and New Zealand, hosted by NZ Indie Writers Book Club : "SYDK" with indie authors from Australia and New Zealand, hosted by NZ Indie Writers Book Club Dec. 16-20: "Winter Wonderland" on wintery reads, hosted by Indie Author Central Advertisement Article continues below this ad Possible fossilized dinosaur tracks discovered in the Sandy Creek area of Travis County following the Fourth of July weekend floods Courtesy Travis County The catastrophic floods that swept through Central Texas in early July killed more than 130 people and washed away vast amounts of debris and seem to have also revealed million-year-old dinosaur tracks. Members of the Travis County Fire Marshal's Office found what appear to be dinosaur footprints fossilized in the earth where floods hit the county hardest, County Judge Andy Brown said during an Aug. 5 Commissioners Court meeting. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "[Travis County Fire Marshal Gary Howell] also apparently marked the area where they think they have discovered dinosaur footprints along Sandy Creek, which we have a UT paleontologist coming today to check that out," Brown said. "So, lots of excitement in the fire marshal duties in the last few days." Here's what we know. People are also reading: Fossil of giant Alamosaurus dinosaur found at Texas national park Tracks found in Travis County 'unambiguously dinosaurs,' expert says County authorities also confirmed Matthew Brown, director of the Texas Vertebrate Paleontology Collections at the University of Texas at Austin, visited the site that day. A total of 15 large footprints, each between 18 and 20 inches long with three claws, were discovered in the Sandy Creek area. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "The tracks that are unambiguously dinosaurs were left by meat-eating dinosaurs similar to Acrocanthosaurus, a roughly 35-foot-long bipedal carnivore," Brown told CNN. "[Waterways like Sandy Creek] cut through the Glen Rose Formation limestone, which is the rock layer that bears the tracks and is about 110ish million years old," Brown said. "And so, thats how we know how old the dinosaur tracks are, its because theyre preserved in rock layers that are that old." During his visit, Brown spoke to county and state officials about other possible sites where dinosaur footprints may be discovered, as well as how to best preserve them. "Weve been talking with the environmental monitoring company too about sensitive locations that theyve gotten from the state and what to watch out for basically, to make sure that theyre not rolling heavy equipment across the trackways," Brown said. "Thats the sort of the information that weve been providing, just trying to identify positively tracks and then sort of set boundaries around them for the cleanup crews to give them some guidance while theyre working in the area." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Where were the dinosaur footprints found in Texas? According to County Judge Andy Brown, the dinosaur tracks were discovered in the Sandy Creek area, northwest of Austin. "Its easy to forget when youre looking at a bone on a shelf that this was an animal that was walking around, that was interacting with other animals, that had its own life story," Brown said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Evidence of prehistoric creatures isn't uncommon in Texas. Less than three hours north of Austin, Dinosaur Valley State Park is known for its well-preserved dinosaur tracks. Earlier this year, a fossil of an Alamosaurus, North America's largest dinosaur, was discovered in Big Bend National Park near the Mexico border. Law enforcement investigates a shooting at Target off Research Boulevard, near Ohlen Road in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Three people are dead and a man is in custody after a shooting outside a Target store Monday afternoon in North Austin, officials said. According to Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis, officers responded around 2:15 p.m. to Target at 8601 Research Blvd., where they found three people apparently shot in the parking lot. Medics pronounced two of the victims dead at the scene, while a third was transported to a local hospital and later pronounced dead, said Austin-Travis County EMS Chief Robert Luckritz. A fourth person was treated for minor, unrelated injuries. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Police work at the scene of an accident near North Mopac Expressway Service Road and Executive Center Drive in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, that was reportedly connected to the fatal shooting at Target. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman According to Davis, the suspect a 32-year-old man she did not identify hijacked a car from the parking lot and fled the scene. He later crashed the car, Davis said, and then allegedly stole a second vehicle from an auto dealership. Police found the man in the 2400 block of La Casa Drive in South Austin. Officers deployed a Taser on the suspect before arresting him, Davis said. The alleged shooter has a history of mental health issues and has previously been held in emergency detention, she added. It was not immediately clear what prompted the shooting, which happened outside the store, Davis said. Police have not yet released any information about the victims. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Authorities asked people to avoid the area near Target. Police closed the 8000 block of the southbound MoPac frontage road between Executive Center Drive and Anderson Lane. The main lanes of both northbound and southbound MoPac remained open. Vehicles left in the Target parking lot will not be released until the investigation is complete, police said. Police work at the scene of a shooting at Target on Research Parkway in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Police work at the scene of an accident near North Mopac Expressway Service Road and Executive Center Drive in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, that was reportedly connected to the fatal shooting at Target. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman This accident near North Mopac Expressway Service Road and Executive Center Drive in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, was reportedly connected to the fatal shooting at Target. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman This accident near North Mopac Expressway Service Road and Executive Center Drive in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, was reportedly connected to the fatal shooting at Target. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman This accident near North Mopac Expressway Service Road and Executive Center Drive in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, was reportedly connected to the fatal shooting at Target. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Police work at the scene of a shooting at Target on Research Parkway in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Police work at the scene of a shooting at Target on Research Parkway in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Police work at the scene of a shooting at Target on Research Parkway in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Law enforcement investigates a shooting that killed three people at Target off Research Boulevard, near Ohlen Road in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Law enforcement investigates a shooting that killed three people at Target off Research Boulevard, near Ohlen Road in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Law enforcement leads Target employees across Ohlen Road as they investigates a shooting that killed three people at Target off Research Boulevard in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Law enforcement investigates a shooting that killed three people at Target off Research Boulevard, near Ohlen Road in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Law enforcement investigates a shooting that killed three people at Target off Research Boulevard, near Ohlen Road in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman An officer puts up crime scene tape as law enforcement investigates a shooting that killed three people at Target off Research Boulevard, near Ohlen Road in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Police work at the scene of a shooting at Target on Research Parkway in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Police work at the scene of a shooting at Target on Research Parkway in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Police work at the scene of a shooting at Target on Research Parkway in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Law enforcement investigates a shooting at Target off Research Boulevard, near Ohlen Road in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Law enforcement investigates a shooting at Target off Research Boulevard, near Ohlen Road in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Law enforcement investigates a shooting at Target off Research Boulevard, near Ohlen Road in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Law enforcement investigates a shooting at Target off Research Boulevard, near Ohlen Road in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Law enforcement investigates a shooting at Target off Research Boulevard, near Ohlen Road in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Law enforcement investigates a shooting at Target off Research Boulevard, near Ohlen Road in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Mikala Compton/Austin American-Statesman Police work at the scene of a shooting at Target on Research Parkway in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Austin Mayor Kirk Watson condemned the violence in a social media post Monday afternoon. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This is a devastating situation, and my heart is with the victims and their families, Watson wrote. While this remains an active and ongoing investigation, what Ill say is that this was a sickening, cowardly act of gun violence. Noemi Santana, 12, reads the book The Wild Robot by Peter Brown at a summer camp at Dobie Middle School in Austin, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. The Promise Neighborhood Summer Camp, organized by Austin Voices for Education, is an educational day camp for students of Dobie, Burnet and Webb Middle Schools which are in a state-required turnaround plan. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Volunteer Jessica Meza teaches a math lesson at a summer camp at Dobie Middle School in Austin, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. The Promise Neighborhood Summer Camp, organized by Austin Voices for Education, is an educational day camp for students of Dobie, Burnet and Webb Middle Schools which are in a state-required turnaround plan. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Jostin Casalegno, 13, and Arantza Villegas,11, read the book The Wild Robot by Peter Brown at a summer camp at Dobie Middle School in Austin, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. The Promise Neighborhood Summer Camp, organized by Austin Voices for Education, is an educational day camp for students of Dobie, Burnet and Webb Middle Schools which are in a state-required turnaround plan. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Volunteer teacher Andrew Lyon speaks to students at a summer camp at Dobie Middle School in Austin, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. The Promise Neighborhood Summer Camp, organized by Austin Voices for Education, is an educational day camp for students of Dobie, Burnet and Webb Middle Schools which are in a state-required turnaround plan. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Students walk to lunch at a summer camp at Dobie Middle School in Austin, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. The Promise Neighborhood Summer Camp, organized by Austin Voices for Education, is an educational day camp for students of Dobie, Burnet and Webb Middle Schools which are in a state-required turnaround plan. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Adam Garcia, 12, shares a laugh with friends during lunch at a summer camp at Dobie Middle School in Austin, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. The Promise Neighborhood Summer Camp, organized by Austin Voices for Education, is an educational day camp for students of Dobie, Burnet and Webb Middle Schools which are in a state-required turnaround plan. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Teacher Tatiana Brown-Gomez talks students at a summer camp at Dobie Middle School in Austin, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. The Promise Neighborhood Summer Camp, organized by Austin Voices for Education, is an educational day camp for students of Dobie, Burnet and Webb Middle Schools which are in a state-required turnaround plan. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman In the last week of July, rising seventh graders Jimena Castelan and Laila Patrick sat at long tables in the Dobie Middle School cafeteria and used markers to color designs on small tiles. The students had spent the morning in small-group reading and math lessons, and now were thinking about their next year of middle school. Teacher Tatiana Brown-Gomez talks to Mia Robinson,13, during lunch at a summer camp at Dobie Middle School in North Austin on July 30. The Promise Neighborhood Summer Camp, organized by Austin Voices for Education, is an educational day camp for students of Dobie, Burnet and Webb middle schools, which are under a state-required turnaround plan. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Theater had been Jimenas favorite class last year, but she was a little apprehensive about this year. She and her friends had heard that a lot of teachers had left. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I dont know if theres going to be theater, Jimena said. I will fight to have it. Her friend, Laila Patrick, agreed. Bro, a lot of teachers arent coming back, Laila said. The mood at the Promise Neighborhood Summer Camp was jovial, but the two students voiced anxieties lingering from an emotional and at times contentious process that unfolded this spring for Dobie and two other North Austin middle schools Burnet and Webb. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Many families at the campuses had been caught off guard in the spring when district officials announced required changes coming to each campus because the schools had not met state academic standards for multiple years in a row. The stakes are high. Another F score at Burnet, Dobie or Webb middle schools this year could trigger a state takeover of the district. The new plan at each school this year aims to improve scores. All three schools have officially only received two "F" ratings, but the district predicts two years of scores set for release Friday will also result in "unacceptable" ratings. The state's A-F rating system is based largely the performance of students on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, or STAAR, test, their growth and other factors. Luis Mendoza, 11, works on a math lesson at a summer camp at Dobie Middle School. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman In light of the upcoming changes, the Austin Voices for Education and Youth nonprofit held a summer camp this July for about 70 students from the three middle schools in hopes of helping students get an academic jump start. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The summer camp was part instruction, part play. In a classroom on a Wednesday, volunteers marked up a white board and walked students through the correct order of operations to solve math problems. Jon David Saucedo, a fourth grade teacher at Walnut Creek Elementary School, volunteered to teach bilingual math and reading classes at the summer camp. Ive had students say, I didnt get this before but now I get it, Saucedo said about some of the math problems he's walked students through. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Teachers also preparing Volunteer Amy Moore teaches math to Isabella Ramos, 12, at the summer camp at Dobie Middle School. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman As some students finished their last week of summer camp, Burnet, Webb and Dobie teachers gathered at Burnets campus for training. They gathered a week before other Austin teachers for extra training and community building, said Burnet Principal Natalie Cardona-Villanueva. We have plans for the whole first nine weeks already, she said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Javier Ayala, head band director at Burnet, said his students were excited to learn he was returning. Music programming attracts hundreds of students at Burnet, he said, and he chose to stay at the campus because he thinks the needed improvement can happen. We all had a choice of staying or leaving, Ayala said. A lot of us stayed because we think its possible. Only 29% of Dobie staff members, 59% of Burnet staff members and 50% of Webb staff members were eligible to return at each school, according to the district. As part of the plan requirements, teachers of core subjects would be selected based on their ability to meet academic improvement targets. They also had to have at least three years of experience. Dobie teachers had a much lower average of experience than Burnet or Webb, according to TEA data. The stakes Students play soccer at a summer camp at Dobie Middle School in Austin, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. The Promise Neighborhood Summer Camp, organized by Austin Voices for Education, is an educational day camp for students of Dobie, Burnet and Webb Middle Schools which are in a state-required turnaround plan. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman The plans for all three campuses include pay incentives for teachers, daily math and reading lessons and an additional $1.7 million from the district per each campus for staff and other instructional resources. Each school would need to achieve at least a C rating to meet academic compliance. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The performance of the school carries a lot of weight for the Austin district. Under state law, any school that is rated unacceptable five years in a row prompts the TEA to either close the campus or take over the entire district. In 2022, the continued failure of one campus triggered the state takeover of the Houston district. The TEA also announced in April that it could target the Fort Worth district because one campus, which has since closed, failed multiple years in a row. In many public meetings at Dobie, Webb and Burnet, the Houston takeover has been flagged as a cautionary tale by district leaders and many parents.Statewide, 60 other campuses have more than one year of "unacceptable" academic rating, according to TEA data. The agency plans to release the scores for 2024 and 2025 on Aug. 15. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The new year Fernando Oropesa, 12, left, and Joshua Madrid, 13, work on an art project with Mexic-Arte artist Jarrid Williams at a summer camp at Dobie Middle School in Austin, Wednesday, July 30, 2025. The Promise Neighborhood Summer Camp, organized by Austin Voices for Education, is an educational day camp for students of Dobie, Burnet and Webb Middle Schools which are in a state-required turnaround plan. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman For families, the school year is a new start for students. Last semester brought a lot of uncertainty, said Regina Martinez, whose grandson will be a Webb seventh grader this year. She had wanted more resources for the campus years ago. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I never understood how it took so long for them to realize why it was so bad with the scores, Martinez said. But shes thinking about this year as a fresh start, she said. Her grandson will have the same special education teacher as last year, which has put Martinez at ease because she loves the Webb teachers. I like how much they care about the students, Martinez said. Theyre very patient. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Webb student Yareni Hernandez, who is about to start eighth grade, is excited for the new year, she said during a celebratory back-to-school bash at the campus in July. Students ate hot dogs and jumped in a bouncy house, while family members drew raffle tickets. Yareni said she hopes to work toward her goal of going into the medical field and wants to be an active student on Webb's campus, participating in lots of clubs. Austin Public Librarys Recycled Reads Bookstore, July 18, 2025. The bookseller, which served as a place to get inexpensive books and other library items as well as keep old books out of the landfill, will be closing this year. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman The city could shutter Recycled Reads, Austin Public Librarys secondhand bookstore, in response to a budget gap. As part of the effort to eliminate an expected $33 million deficit, the citys current budget proposal includes ending the $107,000 lease for the Burnet Road home of Recycled Reads. Austin Public Library plans to redistribute the stores services across its other locations. Still, some Austinites are unsatisfied with that solution and are fighting to keep the beloved store and community space open. Advertisement Article continues below this ad If the budget passes, Recycled Reads is likely to close in December or January, ahead of the lease's expiration in March, according to Austin Public Library spokesperson Baylor Johnson. Recycled Reads was founded in 2009 with a core mission of keeping retired library materials out of landfills. Its shelves are stacked with books (many in Spanish), CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, vinyl, sheet music and board games mostly sold for $2 or less. Vintage books at Austin Public Librarys Recycled Reads Bookstore, July 18, 2025. The bookseller, which served as a place to get inexpensive books and other library items as well as keep old books out of the landfill, will be closing this year. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman The store also hosts clubs and events, contains a passport office, hands out tax documents, and maintains quiet spaces to read. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The library system plans to move its used book sales and programs into branches citywide while keeping prices low and preserving Recycled Reads mission, Johnson said. Those employed at the store would be transferred into equivalent positions at other branches. The choice to offer up Recycled Reads came after City Manager T.C. Broadnax directed city departments to find savings that wouldnt affect core services, according to Johnson. Broadnaxs budget proposal would chip away at the deficit with a handful of cuts and reorganizations, including reducing Austin Fire Department staffing, limiting overtime pay for Austin Police and ending building leases like Recycled Reads. The budget is on the desk of the city council, who are currently looking to amend it with a tax hike to limit the cut. However, none of the current proposals direct that extra revenue toward saving Recycled Reads though that hasnt stopped community members from making their case to keep the talismanic store open. In a July 31 budget meeting, Austin resident Pranshu Adhikari urged the council not to close the store, citing one of Broadnaxs three stated budget priorities: Prioritizing engagement with our people, community and staff alike. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Recycled Reads site holds multiple events week after week to engage with the community And if that isnt engaging with our people in their community, I dont know what is, Adhikari said. Recycled Reads, like many library locations, has long hosted community events, from its dreidel tournaments a decade ago to its ongoing fiber arts classes. At a council meeting last Thursday, Chip Harris voiced concern over whether other library locations have the space and personnel required to continue these events. Austin Berg, a regular at Recycled Reads, told the American-Statesman that he has learned about many of the public librarys resources through Recycled Reads. Berg doubts the citys plan to distribute the inventory across branch libraries will work, arguing that branches lack the space, staff, and capacity to sort and sell books effectively. He also questions the logic of closing the store to save roughly $100,000 while spending more on security. Customer Austin Berg speaks about the importance of Austin Public Librarys Recycled Reads Bookstore, July 18, 2025. The bookstore, which served as a place to get inexpensive books and other library items as well as keep old books out of the landfill, will be closing this year. Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman Johnson said that if Recycled Reads closed, all outfits offerings will be divvied up and offered at other locations, including at the Yarborough branch two blocks away. He noted that some branches have already agreed to absorb some of the stores classes. While a full redistribution plan for materials isnt finalized, branch managers are already identifying space to house books for sale once they leave the current storefront. Advertisement Article continues below this ad I think that almost all of the things that make Recycled Reads unique as a book store are the things that are in libraries, Johnson said. But many locations pose a problem for some. Scott Odierno, of Inside Books Project, said Recycled Reads is their main source for affordable Spanish-language books for Texas prisoners more than 3,000 in the past two years and warned that scattering inventory across branches would make their work impractical. Austin Public Library maintains the new structure will make things more equitable, giving more Austinites access to used book sales by spreading them across all branches instead of keeping them in a single location. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rep. David Cook, R-Mansfield, prepares to leave the House Chamber at the Capitol in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11. A quorum was not present after most Democratic state representatives left Texas to break quorum and block a vote on a Republican plan for Congressional redistricting. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman With the Democratic quorum break entering its second week, House Speaker Dustin Burrows said Monday that troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety have been dispatched statewide to stake out the homes of the absent members in the effort to return them to the Capitol. And the state law enforcement agency has also established a toll-free tip for the members of the public to report sightings of any Democrats who are refusing to show up in Austin but who have not joined the dozens of others who have left the state. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The speaker warned the financial cost to absent Democrats is rising by the day. In addition the $500 daily fines owed by the quorum breakers, House rules require absent members to repay the costs of bringing them back to Austin. "Understand that we are keeping receipts for every gallon of gas, every mile traveled, and every hour of overtime associated with the pursuit of these missing members," said Burrows, a Lubbock Republican who is in his first term as the chamber's presiding officer. "Those breaking quorum will be held financially responsible for the cost they have created, not the taxpayers," he added. "To those absent members, you can go to another city, another state, even another time zone, but you cannot escape responsibility for people of Texas, eventually you will be here." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Andee Kinzy, of Austin, shows her support for Democratic state representatives outside the House Chamber at the Capitol in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11. A quorum was not present after most Democratic state representatives left Texas to break quorum and block a vote on a Republican plan for Congressional redistricting. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Enough Democrats are missing to stall progress on the Republican-backed congressional redistricting plan that is part of the 30-day special legislative session called by Gov. Greg Abbott. The maps would give Republicans five additional winnable U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterms. Nine of the 62 House Democrats were in the chamber Monday, but the House was still short of the 100 members needed to conduct business. In all, 96 of the 150 members registered present. A 97th, Cypress Republican Tom Oliverson, was in the Capitol Monday but was not in the House for the electronic roll call. Present members simply milled around the chamber floor for the few minutes the House was in session. Some expressed frustration that all of the items added to the special session agenda are being held up with the Aug. 19 end date looming. Advertisement Article continues below this ad "We want to do the work we were called here to do," said state Rep. Jared Patterson, R-Frisco. "But, obviously, that's been impossible." State Rep. Brian Harrison, R-Midlothian, said his frustration level is "off the charts." But he blames Burrows and his leadership team for what he described as a timid response to the quorum break, as much as the absent Democrats. "Not one serious punishment has been meted out," Harrison said. "No Democrat has lost their committee assignment, no Democrat has been busted from a (committee) vice chairmanship." READ MORE: Greg Abbott sues to remove Houston lawmaker for leading redistricting quorum break Advertisement Article continues below this ad State Rep. Cody Vasut, the Angleton Republican who chairs the select House committee responsible for redistricting, said he is confident any Democrat who could be located in Texas would be delivered to the House. Democrats in other states are outside the jurisdiction of Texas law enforcement officials. Burrows, in his remarks to the chamber, noted that several bills related to providing relief for the parts of the Hill Country devastated by the July 4 deadly flooding would be eligible for a floor debate on Tuesday, but that could only happen if enough members showed up to reach a quorum. House Speaker Dustin Burrows gavels out at the Capitol in Austin, Monday, Aug. 11. A quorum was not present after most Democratic state representatives left Texas to break quorum and block a vote on a Republican plan for Congressional redistricting. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman "These are not symbolic bills," Burrows said. "They are critical measures that would expand the powers of the Texas Division of Emergency Management to improve emergency response across the state, create the Texas Interoperability Council, which would help local governments acquire key communication equipment to better coordinate response efforts (and) assist communities with purchasing and upgrading emergency communication systems." Advertisement Article continues below this ad Democrats have said blaming them for stalling flood relief legislation is misguided. Republicans could have passed the policies mentioned by Burrows first and then turned their attention to redistricting. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, questions Jared Isaacman, President Donald Trumps nominee to be the next administrator of NASA, during a hearing, Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington. NASA/Bill Ingalls U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz recently asked Elon Musk how real the possibility is that machines powered by artificial intelligence will take over the world like in the Terminator movies. Musk put the odds at 20% likely, maybe 10% within the next 10 years to which Cruz estimated is a risk worth taking if it means the U.S. can beat out China on the technology front. Advertisement Article continues below this ad My view is if theres going to be killer robots Id rather they be American killer robots than Chinese, Cruz quipped on his podcast Verdict. While seemingly lighthearted, the remarks are also emblematic of Cruzs opposition to creating safeguards for a technology that even tech executives admit pose risks ranging from advanced weapons development to mass job losses and personal data theft. Cruz, chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, which oversees the industry, is at the leading edge of a movement to allow the countrys AI companies to grow their technology unfettered. That comes even as members of his own party are working with Democrats to get safeguards in place. Advertisement Article continues below this ad After a setback in blocking state regulations on AI earlier this year, the Texas Republican is now rumored to be working on a more comprehensive bill that would create a federal framework for the industry. And he has found a like-minded ally in President Donald Trump, who announced his AI Action Plan, earlier this month, which would remove regulations created during the Biden administration while speeding up data center construction and the export of technology abroad. The details are still under wraps, but tech lobbyists are pushing the government to develop a testing protocol for AI technologies to ensure their own safety. That would provide AI firms a government-backed certification process to build their legitimacy while also allowing them to operate as they see fit. Sen. Cruz is ground zero for AI legislation, said Craig Albright, a tech lobbyist and senior vice president for U.S. government relations at the Business Software Alliance. He chairs the most important committee and says hes developing legislation. Were excited to see what it is. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Cruz has long opposed bipartisan efforts to regulate the industry, including a bill last year by now-Sen. Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., that would have required the National Institute of Standards & Technology to monitor for dangerous AI activity and given the Commerce Department enforcement authority. In a hearing, Cruz criticized such legislation as the product of far-fetched warnings about the future danger of AI by wealthy and well-connected AI entrepreneurs and their corporate allies. Among those doomsayers are Musk and OpenAI founder and CEO Sam Altman, who earlier this year warned of a coming fraud crisis brought on by AI impersonating people to gain access to their finances. Thune and other Senate Republicans who have worked with Democrats on AI regulations did not respond to requests for comment. Earlier this year Cruz again made waves among Republicans when he tried to attach legislation to Trumps tax and spending bill that would have blocked states from putting up guardrails on AI like Texas and numerous other states already have. The conservative Heritage Foundation opposed the move, calling it a federal AI power grab. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Cruz declined an interview request for this story. In public and private conversations the senator has prioritized the United States being first in developing advanced AI technology, said Brendan Steinhauser, a Republican strategist and AI supporter who heads the Austin-based nonprofit Alliance for Secure AI. His thing is were in one of these scenarios where we have to make a choice, and theres no perfect choice but we have to beat China, Steinhauser said. Whether they develop something or we do that leads to catastrophe, were in the same boat. Cruzs hands off approach bears similarity to that of Peter Thiel, the libertarian tech billionaire, who was an early backer of Cruz. He gave more than $250,000 to Cruzs short-lived campaign for Texas Attorney General in 2009, and then another $1 million to the Club for Growth, a super PAC that supported Cruz ahead of his runoff election for the Senate in 2012. Thiel is the co-founder of the data and surveillance firm Palantir, which landed a $10 billion AI contract with the U.S. Army last week. Thiel argued in a speech at Cambridge University last year that regulating AI is an avenue for governments to attain power of a global totalitarian character. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Thiel doesnt appear to have donated money to Cruz in the years since, at least not directly. Brendan Glavin, director of insights at the watchdog group OpenSecrets, said Thiel has an ideological agenda thats not strictly motivated by financial or business concerns. His views are libertarian generally, and he wants to elect people who are like minded, Glavin said. Palantir did not respond to a request for comment, and a Cruz spokesperson declined to comment about the senators relationship with Thiel. Critics worry that voluntary AI regulations would cede control to the companies developing the technology, at a time when Trump has already ended many safeguards put in the place by the Biden administration. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The industry has been pushing self-regulation for a long time and have found a receptive audience in the Trump administration, said Maddie Daly, assistant director of federal affairs at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, which advocates for government oversight of the tech sector. (Cruz) has some support, but he also has a lot of opposition on both sides of the aisle, especially from governors. In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott has been quiet on Cruzs effort to block state AI regulations, but state Sen. Angela Paxton criticized it in June as an attempt to stop the state from enforcing common-sense protections to protect our kids from things like deepfake AI child pornography and other bipartisan AI regulations. Cruz himself has been willing to take some steps to regulate the technology, writing legislation that was signed into law this year forcing websites to remove so-called revenge and deepfake pornography, which uses AI to create images of real people in intimate acts. And in his conversation with Musk on his podcast earlier this year, Cruz questioned how society would function in a world as described by the Texas billionaire where machines are doing much of the existing work. Advertisement Article continues below this ad How many jobs go away and what do people do if millions of people are losing their jobs? A lot of people are understandably freaked out about that, Cruz said. Musk said tens of billions of robots would make goods and services close to free, improving many peoples quality of life. The challenge would be finding a way to drive fulfillment and meaning in life without work. Cruz then moved on to killer robots. Commodity-backed cryptocurrencies, which are dominated by gold-backed tokens, have seen a historic surge in issuance this week, with minting volumes hitting their highest point in at least five years. The leap comes after gold futures traded above a $3,500 all-time high this week, after the Swiss Precious Metals Association warned that the U.S.s 39% tariffs on Switzerland could have negative impact" on the international flow of physical gold. Both gold spot and futures fell after the initial surge, when a White House official told Bloomberg that the President would introduce a policy clarifying that imports of gold bars should not be subject to tariffs. That didn't stop gold-backed tokens from being minted, however. The warning also saw gold-based cryptocurrencies, including Tether Gold (XAUT) and Paxos Gold (PAXG), briefly top $3,390 before receding. Minting volumes, per RWA.xyz data, reached $439 million over the week, more than doubling the previous $195 million record seen in 2021. Commodoty-backed token minting volume (RWA.xyz) These tokens, which are backed by physical reserves held in vaults, allow investors to gain exposure to the precious metal and can be transferred instantly on-chain without crossing borders. Switzerland, which refines a large share of the worlds gold despite having no mines of its own, exported more than $61 billion worth of the metal to the U.S. over the past year. The move has triggered a political backlash in Switzerland, with some lawmakers calling for the gold sector to shoulder part of the economic fallout. The precious metal makes up over a quarter of Switzerlands exports, per Swiss National Bank data. Rep. Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, left, and Speaker of the House Dustin Burrows walk away after a caucus meeting at the Capitol in Austin, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. A quorum was not present after most Democratic state representatives left Texas to break quorum and block a vote on a Republican plan for Congressional redistricting. Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman Republican state leaders have made a strong show of going after the Texas House members who are missing in action to block GOP redistricting, launching legal challenges to vacate their seats and dispatching state troopers and the FBI to track them down. Over the weekend, Gov. Greg Abbott even posted WANTED flyers on social media with the faces of several runaway Democrats. If found: Return to Texas State Capitol, they read. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But for all the effort, officials have seemed unwilling to actually haul in absent Democrats who didnt flee the state with the rest of the group a hesitation that is starting to aggravate the partys most hardline members. There are three in Houston, state Rep. Briscoe Cain of Deer Park told the Texas Tribune last week about potential Democratic members on the run. It just takes guts to go get them." We need to bring in whoever we can find, wherever we can find them, Cain added in an interview Monday. Advertisement Article continues below this ad House Speaker Dustin Burrows has issued civil arrest warrants that allow state troopers to compel the return of absent members found to be in Texas. None has been executed to date. The House has deputized dozens of officers and dispatched them across the state, Burrows said Monday. They are set up outside members homes, conducting surveillance, knocking on doors, calling their phones multiple times a day. So far, no ones home. But the search continues, and it will not stop. Republicans only need three more Democrats to return to Austin for the House to hit the 100-member threshold needed to resume the redistricting push. READ MORE: Greg Abbott is testing new legal ground in his push to expel absent Democrats Advertisement Article continues below this ad Of the more than four dozen Democrats who were absent from the Texas House in the past week, at least seven have not been spotted in public appearances in other states. Those include Houston Reps. Alma Allen, Penny Morales Shaw, Senfronia Thompson, and Hubert Vo. There are also state Reps. Yvonne Davis of Dallas, Erin Gamez of Brownsville and Bobby Guerra of Mission. Gamez has openly said she is supporting her fellow Democratic colleagues from within Texas. State Rep. Claudia Ordaz has said she is dealing with personal health issues, though she has not specified her location. State Rep. Salman Bhojani had been overseas for a family matter but said Monday he is returning stateside and will join his colleagues in Chicago. The others have not spoken publicly and did not respond to requests for comment. Abbott told the conservative radio host Charlie Kirk on Monday that DPS has stakeouts at dozens of locations across the state of Texas where theres a possibility that there could be a Texas House member there. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We have no confirmed information that DPS has located enough Democrats to restore a quorum, Abbott said. For one, they are searching for those people. For another, were doing the math with regard to who may be out of state. The Department of Public Safety did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Experts said Republicans are almost certainly reluctant to force Democrats back to Austin, especially since many of the missing members are elderly and include veteran lawmakers like Thompson, the first Black woman elected to the Texas House. The speaker typically calls for the House chamber doors to be locked to maintain quorum, meaning doing so would also present a number of logistical hurdles. The campaigns arent stupid, said Bryan Gervais, a political science professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio who studies political communication. Who are the type of voters that show up to midterm elections? Its older voters. So the images of, even if theyre Democratic, legislators being dragged out, forced out, you know? That doesnt play well. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Gervais said political consultants are likely mulling the question of how to project confidence while also tempering that to ensure theres no backlash from Republicans who may oppose them actually arresting members. Several Republicans are also actively fundraising off of the quorum break, meaning theres an advantage to it going unresolved. We want to look tough. We want to look like we're being aggressive here to please our folks in Washington, Gervais said of the Republicans, but at the same time, its (arrests are) probably a step too far where now you've created a bunch of attack ads that are going to play really, really well among senior citizens. Burrows and other top Republicans are in a difficult position, said a person familiar with GOP leadership discussions during the Democrats 2021 quorum break. They want to broadcast that they are in control of the situation, but at the same time, they dont have a lot of options politically. Do you really want to put an elderly person in handcuffs? said the person, who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to discuss internal GOP strategy. And then once you get them to the Capitol, what are you going to do? Are you going to feed them? Where are they going to change their clothes? I mean, logistically, it's impracticable. Advertisement Article continues below this ad No ones being serious about arresting them, the person added. Thats what the grassroots wants, thats what Twitter wants its just not a reality. State troopers arent authorized to make arrests in other states, such as Illinois or California where Texas Democrats have been holding press conferences to protest the newly redrawn congressional maps that would add to Republicans power in Washington. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed suits in both states to try to force authorities there to work with Texas, but their success is likely to be limited given the political leanings of the judiciaries. Ordaz, who represents El Paso, said in a statement last week that DPS officers showed up to the home of a family member looking for me, and condemned what she called an abuse of power and an intimidation tactic. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Even if law enforcement officials locate a member, they have limited options for enforcing civil warrants, according to former Capitol trooper Jerald Sams, who was with the agency for 29 years, including during the last quorum break. Its more for theater, Sams said about top Republicans making promises about law enforcement returning members. Sams said the most he would have been able to do if he had found a missing member while serving was try to coax them into coming peacefully. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Baron Funds, an investment management company, released its Baron Small Cap Fund second-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. In the second quarter of 2025, the fund was up 10.38%% (Institutional Shares) compared to the Russell 2000 Growth Indexs (the Index) 11.97% return. Year to date, the Fund is up 0.36% compared to the indexs (0.48)% return. Small-cap stocks recovered well during the quarter and performed in line with the overall market but have significantly trailed larger-cap stocks this year. In addition, please check the funds top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025. In its second-quarter 2025 investor letter, Baron Small Cap Fund highlighted stocks such as ASGN Incorporated (NYSE:ASGN). Based in Glen Allen, Virginia, ASGN Incorporated (NYSE:ASGN) is an information technology services and professional solutions provider in the technology, digital, and creative fields. The one-month return of ASGN Incorporated (NYSE:ASGN) was 1.94%, and its shares lost 43.19% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On August 8, 2025, ASGN Incorporated (NYSE:ASGN) stock closed at $49.44 per share, with a market capitalization of $2.165 billion. Baron Small Cap Fund stated the following regarding ASGN Incorporated (NYSE:ASGN) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter: "ASGN Incorporated (NYSE:ASGN) is the second largest staffing firm in the U.S., providing IT and professional services across the technology, digital, and creative fields for both commercial and government clients. Customers remain cautious with spending and hesitant to initiate new IT projects without greater clarity on the economic outlook. Earnings per share guidance for the second quarter came in roughly 12% below consensus, reflecting flat revenue expectations and margin pressure tied to the loss of Department of Government Efficiency business and a higher mix of lower-margin federal contracts. Consulting services grew nearly 5% organically and now represent approximately 61% of total revenue, up 400 basis points year-over-year, and that book of business, in our opinion, is worth a higher multiple. We continue to believe that ASGN is well positioned to meet the IT needs of its clients as demand normalizes over time and that the stock is cheap." A finance executive tapping away on a digital tablet, demonstrating the company's digital innovation. ASGN Incorporated (NYSE:ASGN) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. As per our database, 21 hedge fund portfolios held ASGN Incorporated (NYSE:ASGN) at the end of the first quarter, which was 24 in the previous quarter. In the second quarter of 2025, ASGN Incorporated (NYSE: ASGN) reported revenues of $1.02 billion, which represents a 1.4% decrease year-over-year; however, it surpassed guidance expectations. While we acknowledge the potential of ASGN Incorporated (NYSE:ASGN) 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 Association of Romanian Financial Service Users (AURSF) was not sought for consultation by the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) or anyone else before the draft law on the drawdown of mandatory private pensions was put up for public debate, and the oversight authority rejected all of AURSF's proposals made during the public consultation, the Association's president Alin Iacob stated in a post on LinkedIn. "The private pension drawdown bill developed by ASF targets all categories of private pensions (Pillars 2, 3 and 4), with no difference in treatment. The average pension account for uninterrupted contribution since the operationalization of Pillar 2 is approximately RON 50,000, and not below RON 20,000, as ASF representatives implied at the end of last week by taking into account the several million occasional or part-time contributors. The amounts in the participants' accounts will continue to grow substantially in the coming years, given that there are at least 12 years left in the accumulation phase, and now the percentages and incomes are (much) higher than in the early years of the system, and we hope that the returns offered by pension fund managers will also hover into significant real-terms positive territory," said Alin Iacob. He went on to note that information available to AURSF shows that the European trend is to offer pension savers several options and to allow them to withdraw their funds in full (UK, France, Belgium), and voiced his belief that this must also be the direction for the national law to follow. "We welcome the assurances provided by private pension fund managers that they will have no issues with payments, not even at the peak of disbursements, in 15 years. Considering that the healthy life expectancy after retirement does not much exceed 5 years in Romania (as per Eurostat, OECD, Statista 2022 data), we consider that doubling the minimum drawdown period for the private pension from 5 to 10 years is untimely. We are here for the ASF and all other stakeholders to continue the discussions, preferably in a transparent manner, in the presence of the media, as we have requested since June," Alin Iacob also wrote. The draft law on the drawdown of private pensions, which was unveiled on Friday in a first reading at the government meeting, provides for two forms of payment: the programmed withdrawal pension, which will be paid over a determined period, with the guarantee of the full reimbursement of the accumulated asset, and the life pension, with payments throughout the participant's life. In addition to these two forms of payment, the pensioner's right to withdraw a lump sum of up to 25% of the accumulated asset is also provided for, in a form similar to those applied in other European countries. MEP Dan Nica on Monday announced the release of a major green energy investment in Romania in Galati County, a wind farm at Scanteiesti, which will have an installed capacity of 96 MW and will produce over 300 GWh of electricity annually. Nica, a coordinator of the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy of the European Parliament, underlined the strategic importance of the project for the region. "The project will produce approximately 309 GWh of electricity annually, enough to cover the consumption of tens of thousands of households and to significantly reduce CO2 emissions. The new facilities will strengthen our county's position on Romania's energy map and will contribute to the transition to a clean, sustainable and competitive energy system. I strongly support investment in clean energy, which bring not only benefits to the environment, but also economic development, jobs and new opportunities for local communities. Galati can and must be an important pole of clean energy in Romania," said Nica. According to the MEP, the investment is an important step in strengthening Galati County's position in the field of renewable energy and will significantly contribute to Romania's energy transition objectives The Prosecutor's Office attached to the Timisoara Court of Appeal opened an Air Code breach investigation in the case of the aviation accident that occurred on August 9, when an ultralight aircraft crashed in the yard of the shuttered freight car factory Astra Rail Industries in Arad, killing both occupants on the spot. Representatives of the Prosecutor's Office attached to the Timisoara Court of Appeal told AGERPRES on Monday that investigations are being conducted into the violation of Art. 112 of Law No. 21/2020 (Air Code) in conjunction with Art. 122. The prosecutors are considering "the violation by civil aviation personnel of their job duties provided for by the regulatory acts with the force of law, or failure to fulfill such duties, resulting in the endangerment of an aircraft in flight and thereby causing damage or injury to the legitimate rights or interests of an individual or a legal entity." In connection with Art. 122, this means that the aforementioned offence was followed by the death of one or several persons. The prosecutors specified that the investigations are being conducted in rem, specifically with regard to the act, not to persons. The Civil Aviation Safety Investigation and Analysis Authority also announced on its website that "the incident is the subject of a safety investigation," and that the plane involved in the accident was a Zenair CH 601 XL Zodiac registered under the number YR-5078. The crashed airplane was on a recreational flight, with a seasoned professional pilot from Bucharest at its helm and an 18-year-old boy from Arad as a passenger. Romania could become the new "magnet" for industrial investment in the coming decade, amid strategic reconfigurations in the European economic landscape, according to a specialist analysis published on Monday, agerpres reports. 'Far from being a peripheral market, our country has become a magnet for investment, attracting capital and large-scale projects thanks to a unique combination of factors - from modernising infrastructure to the global trend of production relocation. Even though Romania currently faces economic challenges, mainly due to fiscal measures, the outlook for the 2026-2030 horizon is extremely positive,' shows the analysis carried out by Frames consultancy company. Statistical data quoted in the analysis show that the total stock of modern industrial and logistics space has almost doubled in recent years, reaching around 7.5 million square metres, consolidating Romania's position as the third largest market of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe, after Poland and the Czech Republic.'At the same time, logistics and e-commerce remain strong: retailers (including food/FMCG and fashion) and logistics operators still account for about half of leased space, ensuring continued demand for warehouses and distribution centres,' the Frames analysis points out.According to forecasts, one of the areas with the highest potential is the Moldavia region, particularly with the construction of the A7 Motorway, which has already brought cities like Iasi and Bacau onto investors' radar.In the case of the Capital, the construction of the A0 ring road is expected to drive expansion in logistics spaces in adjacent areas, especially in the south of the city, where infrastructure was previously underdeveloped, experts say.'This boom is not accidental, but supported by two major strategic pillars. Full Schengen accession has eliminated queues at land borders, drastically reducing transit times and costs, turning Romania into an even more efficient logistics hub for South-Eastern Europe. In parallel, the influx of European funds, particularly through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, is financing an unprecedented modernisation of road and rail infrastructure, creating the backbone necessary for this industrial expansion,' the source says.Frames experts estimated in 2024 that Romania had the opportunity to become a genuine regional hub in logistics, production and cross-border services, with the most attractive investment areas in this sector being the Port of Constanta, Bucharest/Ilfov and the Central region.Company forecasts indicate that Romania has the potential to attract 10 billion euro in investment in the development of logistics and industrial spaces, from both private and public sources.The Frames analysis was based on official data regarding the dynamics of business in the logistics and industrial sectors, provided by the Ministry of Development, the National Institute of Statistics, the National Prognosis Commission, Eurostat and a number of specialist firms. Romania supports a solution based on full respect for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, Foreign Minister Oana Toiu said on Monday in an X post. Her statements come after the informal video conference of EU foreign ministers, in the runup to the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the situation in Ukraine. ''My recent visit to Kyiv has once again confirmed that Ukraine, its leaders, and its people are committed to peace. Romania shares this goal as both a neighbor and a EU member, and I reiterated this today in the FAC meeting. The efforts of the US and President Donald Trump's initiative to reach a just and lasting peace in Ukraine are based on the powerful leverage that the US holds and, hopefully, will continue to use. I emphasized that Romania supports a solution grounded in full respect for Ukraine's sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity, with Ukraine fully involved in the negotiations nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine. For peace to be real, it must be long-lasting, and this can only happen through the participation and will of the citizens,'' said the Romanian top diplomat. According to her, any settlement should be accompanied by robust security guarantees to prevent renewed aggression. "These guarantees should complement deterrence and defense measures for the Eastern Flank and include specific provisions for the Black Sea,'' she also pointed out. Corn futures are trading with contracts 3 to 4 cents higher across most contracts on Mondays midday. The CmdtyView national average Cash Corn price was down 1 3/4 cents at $3.65 1/2. This mornings Export Inspections report showed a total of 1.492 MMT (58.74 mbu) of corn shipped in the week of 8/7. That is up 16.13% above previous week and 51.28% larger than the same week in 2024. Mexico was the buyer of 500,209 MT, with 261,366 MT headed to Japan and 198,072 MT to 198,072 MT. Marketing year shipments are now at 63.127 MMT (2.485 bbu), which is 28.98% above the same period last year. More News from Barchart Commitment of Traders data showed speculators trimming 7,435 contracts from their net short position as of August 5 to 173,750 contracts. Commercials added a slight 2,417 contracts to their net short position as of Tuesday to 27,359 contracts. Ahead of the USDA Crop Production reports next week, analysts surveyed by Bloomberg shows an average guess of 184.3 bpa for national corn yield with a wide range of 181 to 189. Production is pegged at 15.995 billion bushels, which would be up 290 mbu from last months WASDE total. Old crop corn stocks are estimated to be projected at 1.325 bbu, down 15 mbu from last month. New crop is expected to be up 240 mbu to 1.9 bbu. APK-Inform estimate the 2025 Ukraine corn crop at 27.5 MMT, up 2.5 MMT from last month with the countrys deputy economy minister showing a 2 MMT increase to 28 MMT. AgRural estimates the Brazilian second corn crop at 88% harvested. Sep 25 Corn is at $3.86 1/2, up 3 3/4 cents, Nearby Cash is at $3.69, up 3 3/4 cents, Dec 25 Corn is at $4.08 1/2, up 3 cents, Mar 26 Corn is at $4.26, up 3 cents, New Crop Cash is at $3.66 1/2, up 3 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 The 40-strong Romanian firefighting module deployed to Greece was positioned at strategic points in order to ensure a fast and efficient response in the event of outbreaks, given the very high risk of forest fires. "There have been ten days since our team of 40 firefighters, members of the national forest fire taskforce was deployed to Greece. They are pre-positioned in the town of Nea Makri, in the Attica region, approximately 25 km northeast of Athens," the Press Office of the Emergency Management Inspectorate General (IGSU) said. After the daily operational meeting for outlining the activity schedule for the following period, the commander of the Romanian module participated in the coordination briefing together with the Greek liaison officers. The team attended a theoretical session focused on the operational plan and the flow of information between the local authorities and the Romanian module. Deployed in the area of the Schinias National Park, the Romanian firefighters conducted practical wildfire suppression drills and carefully monitored the area, being prepared to spring into action if needed. All their missions are carried out under the direct coordination of the Greek liaison officers and are mainly intended to contain the spread of fires to inhabited areas, as well as to maintain a protection line between the burning front and the unaffected areas. 40 Romanian firefighters and nine pieces of technical equipment participate August 1 - September 15 in the European Union's civil protection efforts in support of the Greek authorities, working alongside response teams from Austria, the Czech Republic, France, the Republic of Moldova and Bulgaria. Engineering and technology group Simtel, which is publicly listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange's main market, and electricity producer Verbund Wind Power Romania signed a contract worth approximately EUR 19.1 million (VAT excluded) for the design, construction and commissioning of a photovoltaic park with an installed capacity of 60 MWp in Casimcea, Tulcea County, a release informs. The project's estimated implementation duration is 15 months, to which adds a performance guarantee period of 36 months. Simtel will provide all the services specific to an Engineering, Procurement and Construction contract, delivering a turnkey photovoltaic power plant that will complement the existing infrastructure and contribute to the hybridization of the CAS South 2 wind park operated by Verbund Wind Power Romania in the same area. "With an operational wind power capacity of 226 MW in Romania, Verbund has been contributing to Romania's energy transition for years now. The integration of a 60 MWp photovoltaic park perfectly complements the existing wind power facility and allows us to develop the first hybrid renewable energy park in Romania. We are delighted that Simtel will be our EPC partner in this project," said Adrian Borotea, managing director of Verbund Wind Power Romania, the Romanian subsidiary of Austria's Verbund Group, as cited in the release. In Casimcea, Verbund has been operating a 226 MW wind park ever since 2012. The hybridization of the existing wind park represents one of the most important hybrid renewable energy projects underway in Romania, marking a milestone in the country's energy transition, the release states. "We are honored to contribute to a project of such scale, which brings together two major sources of renewable energy - wind and solar - within the same operational platform. Also, we thank the Verbund team for picking Simtel as a partner to implement its first photovoltaic investment in Romania. This represents a validation of our technical capability and experience accumulated in the field of photovoltaic plant construction. At the same time, this project reflects the growing trend of integrating multiple renewable sources into a hybrid production model that is more efficient and flexible. Hybridization involves the integration of renewable energy production technologies into a single infrastructure, with the aim of increasing the stability and predictability of the output. Solar energy perfectly complements wind power, particularly during low-wind periods, thus optimizing grid usage and investment profitability. We believe that this model will increasingly gain ground in Romania, and the Casimcea project is a first confirmation in this regard," said Simtel Team CEO Mihai Tudor. Over the past five years, Simtel has designed and commissioned photovoltaic installations with a total capacity of over 500 MWp for clients from various industries. The photovoltaic parks Simtel currently provides operation and maintenance services for total over 450 MWp of installed capacity, covering 412 photovoltaic plants and involving over 5,000 annual interventions. Simtel is a technology, engineering and innovation group with Romanian roots which offers companies and organizations complete solutions and integrated ecosystems, from consultancy, authorization, design, engineering and construction, to maintenance, operation, measurement, control and energy supply. Verbund is Austria's largest energy company and one of the largest producers of hydroelectric power in Europe. The group generates around 96% of its electricity from renewable sources, mainly from hydropower. As a grand finale after 30 years of touring, legendary Swedish band Bob Hund took their farewell tour into an unexpected direction transforming from rock icons into a rolling experiment. We don't give people what they want, we give people what we imagine they need, says Thomas Oberg, lead singer of Bob Hund. Starting at Way Out West festival in Gothenburg, the band launched a food truck serving resilient meals developed together with a team of researchers including Per Olsson and Line Gordon at Stockholm Resilience Centre and Elin Roos from SLU. "Food is one of our biggest climate challenges but also a force for change. Through the collaboration with Bob Hund and LiveGreen , research reaches out in new ways, where music and science together can inspire change, says Centre Director Line Gordon. NatureStream.tv Partners with FAST Channels TV to Distribute 24/7 Ambient Nature Streaming Channel [Truckee, California - August 11, 2025] NatureStream.tv is proud to announce its partnership with FAST Channels TV to distribute a dedicated FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channel, bringing immersive cinematic nature programming to viewers around Toronto, Canada( ) NatureStream.tv is proud to announce its partnership with FAST Channels TV to distribute a dedicated FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channel, bringing immersive cinematic nature programming to viewers around the world. NatureStream.tv is a 24/7 relaxation channel featuring stunning, high-definition footage of the planets most beautiful and remote natural landscapes. With no narration or dialogue, and accompanied only by natural ambient sounds or acoustic music, NatureStream.tv offers a continuous stream of peaceful content designed to support stress relief, sleep, meditation, and relaxing background viewing. From glacial lakes and mountain peaks to coastal sunsets and forest trails, NatureStream.tv invites viewers to unwind, reconnect with nature, and enjoy a calming experience anytime, anywhere across all streaming devices. The new FAST channel will be distributed globally via FASTChannels TV, a leading platform enabling content owners to build and monetize custom streaming channels. FASTChannels TV provides cutting-edge playout and white-label services, supporting over 80 premium content providers in reaching CTV and OTT audiences worldwide. Russell Foy, CEO of FAST Channels TV, shared his enthusiasm: "Were thrilled to welcome NatureStream.tv to our platform. Their beautifully crafted content fills a growing demand for wellness-focused, ambient programming that resonates across a broad audience." Elizabeth Carmel, CEO and founder of NatureStream.tv, added: "Partnering with FAST Channels TV allows us to bring our cinematic nature films to a wider audience, cost-effectively and at scale. Our channel is built around the idea of visual serenityoffering an antidote to the noise and distress of modern media." This collaboration marks a significant step in the expansion of wellness-centered streaming media. With a library of original, professionally filmed content, NatureStream.tv offers a valuable alternative to traditional televisiona screen experience designed not to stimulate, but to soothe. To learn more or tune in, visit: www.NatureStream.tv About NatureStream.tv: NatureStream.tv is a nature-focused streaming brand featuring original, cinematic content filmed in national parks, remote wilderness, and scenic locations worldwide. With an emphasis on natural sound, visual beauty, and emotional calm, the channel supports mindful viewing and nature-based wellness for global audiences. Contact us: info@naturestream.tv Learn more: www.NatureStream.tv About FAST Channels TV: FASTChannels.tv delivers end-to-end solutions for FAST channels and TV streaming platforms including playout and channel creation, content sourcing, white-label apps, ad monetization, and global distribution. Our platform powers hundreds of live streaming channels and AVOD experiences, helping content owners and platforms succeed in todays growing FAST and hybrid TV streaming landscape. Launch Your Own Streaming Service or FAST Channel Looking to launch a FAST or hybrid streaming service? Build your own linear FAST channel? Or enhance your platform with our curated channel lineup? FASTChannels.tv is your turnkey partner. We combine premium content, powerful technology, and proven monetization strategies to get you live and scaling fast without high upfront costs or ongoing platform fees. Contact us: info@fastchannels.tv Learn more: www.fastchannels.tv A young girl participates in the folk dance parade on Aug. 8, 2025, during the three-day Tanabata Festival in Fussa, Japan. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes) Fussa, a western Tokyo suburb known for its American influence, celebrated its 75th annual Tanabata Festival over the weekend with its accustomed multicultural vibe. Just outside the main gate of Yokota Air Base, the citys 57,000 residents played host to more than 400,000 visitors Friday through Sunday on its main streets, which took on a block party atmosphere. The Tanabata Matsuri celebrates the mythical meeting of two lovers, Orihime and Hikoboshi, represented as two stars in the sky who are separated by the Milky Way and meet only once a year. Streets west of Fussa Station were decorated with large bamboo poles draped with colorful strips of paper called tanzaku, and plastic streamers bearing handwritten wishes. And for every bamboo pole, there was a stall selling food, drink, and colorful toys. The festival also features teams carrying mikoshi, or portable shrines, including one carried by Yokota airmen, and a parade of folk dancers. Each procession began at the west exit of Fussa train station and ended a half mile away. The Fussa city mascot fashioned from balloons hangs over the city's main street at the start of the 75th annual Tanabata Festival, Aug. 8, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes) Festival goers jam the streets of Fussa, Japan, for the final night of the Tanabata Festival, Aug. 10, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes) Food vendors pose for a portrait on the final night of the annual Tanabata Festival in Fussa, Japan, Aug. 10, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes) Festival goers in traditional Japanese yukata walk through streamers and paper strips at the Tanabata Festival in Fussa, Japan, Aug. 8, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes) A street vendor grills food as the 75th annual, three-day Tanabata Festival in Fussa, Japan, winds down on Aug. 10, 2025. (Joshua L. DeMotts/Stars and Stripes) Drawing significant hedge fund interest, Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) secures a spot on our list of the 13 Best Oil Refinery Stocks to Buy Right Now. Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM) Releases Second-Quarter 2025 Results An oil refinery at night, its chimneys creating a smoky silhouette against a starry sky. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) released Q2 2025 earnings on August 1, 2025. The company reported earnings of $7.1 billion and cash flow from operations of $11.5 billion, amid challenging market conditions. At the same time, $9.2 billion was distributed among shareholders, including $5 billion in buybacks and $4.3 billion in dividends. This is in line with the companys plan to return $20 billion through repurchases in 2025. Furthermore, XOM has already repurchased 40% of the shares issued for the Pioneer acquisition since May 2024. Moreover, Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) recorded its highest Q2 upstream production, thanks to record Permian output and volume growth in Guyana. Meanwhile, Singapore Resid Upgrade, Fawley refinery, and Strathcona Renewable Diesel projects bolstered its high-value product portfolio. These projects are expected to generate $3 billion in earnings by 2026. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)s year-to-date operating cash flow reached $24.5 billion, while its free cash flow reached $14.2 billion. The company maintained a robust net-debt-to-capital ratio of 8% with a YTD capital spending of $12.3 billion. Full-year spending guidance remains at $27-29 billion. Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) is focused on the production, refining, and sale of oil, gas, chemicals, and specialty products globally. While we acknowledge the potential of XOM 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: 12 Cheap Value Stocks to Buy Now According to Warren Buffett and 7 Best Potash Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. Disclosure: None. U.S. Air Force Capt. Matt Campbell, 39th Air Base Wing chaplain, and his wife, Kristin Campbell, pose for a photo at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Aug. 7, 2025. After nearly a decade, Incirlik Air Base has welcomed back its first spouse to be stationed here since military and civilian family members were ordered to leave the country in 2016 in light of growing security threats in Turkey. (Noah Sudolcan/U.S. Air Force) The U.S. Air Forces main hub in Turkey has reintroduced its command sponsorship program and welcomed back its first military family member in nearly a decade. Air Force Capt. Matt Campbell, 39th Air Base Wing chaplain, and his wife, Kristin Campbell, arrived at Incirlik Air Base late last month, according to a statement released by the wing Friday. Two years together is better than one year apart, Campbell said of joining her husband on his latest assignment. And if I can help other people (through this process), I will. Incirlik, the primary military site used by U.S. forces in Turkey, stopped hosting military and civilian family members in 2016, when the Pentagon ordered more than 600 dependents to leave due to heightened security threats. The base near the southern Turkish city of Adana is about 200 miles away from the border with Syria. U.S. Air Force chaplain Capt. Matt Campbell and his wife, Kristin Campbell, are shown at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, Aug. 7, 2025. She is the first U.S. military dependent to be stationed at Incirlik since 2016, when family members of Defense Department personnel were ordered to leave the country amid growing security threats. (Noah Sudolcan/U.S. Air Force) After announcing plans to welcome family members in April, Air Force officials said the security situation had improved, citing partnerships with the Turkish military and regional police. Were very happy to welcome the return of our first dependent to Incirlik, Air Force Col. Albert Esposito, 39th Air Base Wing commander, said in Fridays statement. Over the past nine months, our team worked diligently to ensure the appropriate infrastructure and resources were in place to make this a reality. Military and civilian employees assigned to Incirlik will continue to receive the standard 12-month unaccompanied tour but can apply for a 24-month accompanied tour to bring dependents 18 years of age or older. There are no dependent age restrictions for tours to other locations in Turkey, such as Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir, which is home to a NATO command headquarters. Seattle-based tech company Overland AI demonstrates its fully autonomous tactical vehicle Ultra at Vaziani Training Area in Georgia with U.S. soldiers from 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, July 29, 2025, during exercise Agile Spirit. (Cameron Boyd/U.S. Army) GRAFENWOEHR, Germany When a U.S. Army airborne unit was resupplied during a recent live-fire exercise in the Caucasus, there was something notably absent from the delivery vehicle: a driver. The soldiers, from the Grafenwoehr-based 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment (Airborne), used a prototype of a fully autonomous tactical vehicle called the Ultra to see how the Army might roll as its revamped fighting doctrine continues to take shape. Theres a ton of potential here and were excited to keep testing it, squadron commander Lt. Col. Austin Commons said Monday, just after the end of Agile Spirit, a biennial exercise that this year was held in Turkey and Georgia. The Vaziani Training Area in Georgia hosted what Commons said was the Ultras first test in field conditions. It traversed a couple of miles of varied terrain using cameras, infrared and lidar to resupply 60 mm and 120 mm mortars. Most of the live-fire training occurred during a force-on-force exercise with a Georgian opposition on Aug. 1 and Aug. 2, Commons said. The flat-topped, four-wheeled vehicle can carry about 1,000 pounds and reach speeds up to 35 mph, according to a fact sheet on the website of its manufacturer, Seattle-based defense contractor Overland AI. Seattle-based tech company Overland AI demonstrates the autonomous tactical vehicle Ultra at Vaziani Training Area, Georgia, July 29, 2025, with U.S. soldiers from 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade. The Ultra can carry about 1,000 pounds and reach speeds up to 35 mph, according to the company. (Cameron Boyd/U.S. Army) Seattle-based tech company Overland AI demonstrates its fully autonomous tactical vehicle Ultra at Vaziani Training Area, Georgia, with U.S. soldiers from 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, July 29, 2025, during exercise Agile Spirit. (Cameron Boyd/U.S. Army) Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment (Airborne) roll out a fully autonomous tactical vehicle prototype from the Seattle-based tech company Overland AI during exercise Agile Spirit at the Vaziani Training Area in Georgia. (Cameron Boyd/U.S. Army) Its 72-inch width and all-terrain tires allow it to navigate challenging weather conditions and rough ground. The Ultra can be programmed for autonomous travel on a preordained route or maneuvered with a handheld controller, said Spc. Jack Padberg, a mortarman from the squadron. Its lidar lasers measure distances and map objects so it can steer clear of obstacles. For Agile Spirit, the mortarmen selected a series of checkpoints where the vehicle could pick up supplies. They detailed off-limits areas and advised it whether to use roads or move over land. It picked up about 20 mortar rounds and then returned. Anytime youre mobile, youre not camouflaged, Padberg said. Youre a lot easier to spot, especially from the air. The Ultra had made that a non-issue, he added, because they no longer had to leave their hiding spot for supplies. Battlefield innovations like the Ultra further illustrate Army efforts to introduce robots and autonomous vehicles to take the pressure off front-line units and improve the odds of keeping soldiers alive amid sea changes in how wars are waged. In 2024, the service updated its combat doctrine with Transforming in Contact, which emphasizes rapid movement, deception, adaptability and, most importantly, technology like drones. It is rooted in lessons the U.S. military has drawn from the Russia-Ukraine war, which has been marked by novel uses of various aerial and sea drones. Padberg said using the Ultra was like seeing the future. About 800 U.S. service members took part in Agile Spirit, which ran from July 21 to Friday, an Army statement said. It included 2,000 soldiers from 10 countries including Poland, Germany and Ukraine. The Ultra tested by the soldiers from Grafenwoehr performed admirably, Padberg said, though it did mistake some thick shrubs for trees and refused to go through them. But the controller let the soldiers bypass that problem with ease, Padberg said. Overland AI will use the data from the Georgia exercise to improve the vehicle for further testing. U.S. military police officers stand guard at Camp Humphreys during a training exercise in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, April 25, 2023. (Richard Kim/U.S. Army) CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea U.S. military police are teaming up again after two years with South Korean police for joint patrols on the streets of Pyeongtaek, home of the largest U.S. military installation overseas. Ten U.S. military police joined 12 local police officers in Pyeongtaek on July 25 in the first joint patrol since 2023, when the patrols were suspended by personnel shortages after the COVID-19 pandemic, a Pyeongtaek Police Station officer said by phone Thursday. South Korean government officials customarily speak to the media on the condition of anonymity. Pyeongtaek, roughly 40 miles south of Seoul, is home to Camp Humphreys, the headquarters for U.S. Forces Korea, 8th Army and the 2nd Infantry Division as well as the U.N. and Combined Forces Commands. The 3,500-acre base is occupied by roughly 40,000 U.S. and South Korean personnel. Another 15,000 personnel occupy Osan Air Base, also in Pyeongtaek eight miles north of Humphreys. The resumption of joint patrols comes a month after the Pyeongtaek police established a liaison unit specifically for U.S. military personnel. The unit will work with the U.S. military in dealing with a host of local issues, such as traffic accidents, unauthorized drone flights, driving under the influence and assault allegations. The joint patrols will run from 10 p.m. to midnight every Friday and Saturday, according to the police officer. U.S. military and South Korean police first conducted joint patrols in the 1960s, she added. We will strengthen the South Korea-U.S. cooperation for national security and regional safety, Pyeongtaek Police Chief Maeng Hoon-jae said in a news release Thursday. Military police officers from Humphreys Provost Marshal Office and the 94th Military Police Battalion will participate in the patrols as a symbol of the ongoing commitment by the U.S. Army and South Korea to strengthen public safety and enhance community relations, 8th Army spokesman James Choi said in an email Wednesday. These patrols enhance the trust and confidence of the [South Korean] and U.S. community and provide a unified law enforcement response to ensure the safety of everyone, Army Lt. Col. Zachary Fraklin, director of the provost marshal office, said in an emailed statement Wednesday. Valerie Dixson, an Army Air Force Exchange Service contracting officer who recently moved to Pyeongtaek from Dallas, said she could communicate easily with local police if U.S. military police were also at the scene during an emergency. If I know its safer out there, then Im bound to go out more often, she said at the foyer of her office in Humphreys on Monday. According to South Koreas Ministry of Justice, 479 service members and 190 U.S. civilians were accused of crimes in 2024. A U.S. sailor searches for a target Aug. 2, 2025, during an exercise on the fantail of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Nimitz has since pulled into Bahrain for a port call. (Franklyn Guage/U.S. Navy) MANAMA, Bahrain Nearly half a century after its first deployment, the U.S. Navys oldest active aircraft carrier pulled into Bahrain over the weekend, marking a rare visit that could be among its last. USS Nimitz arrived for a port visit Sunday at the home of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet, along with Carrier Strike Group 11, Carrier Air Wing 17, and the destroyers USS Gridley and USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee. The visit underscores our long-standing partnership with Bahrain and the importance of working together to promote maritime stability, freedom of navigation, and regional security, Rear Adm. Frederic C. Goldhammer, commander of Carrier Strike Group 11, said in a Navy statement. An F/A-18F Super Hornet launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility on July 30, 2025. The ship made a port call in Bahrain over the weekend. (Franklyn Guage/U.S. Navy) Initially operating with the U.S. 7th Fleet in the Indo-Pacific, the Nimitz strike group was redirected in mid-June as tensions rose between Israel and Iran. Nimitz, which deployed for the first time in 1976, is slated to begin deactivation next year, with completion expected in 2027. The ships service life was lengthened amid delays in production of Ford-class carriers, which will replace the Nimitz class The Nimitz and its crew are scheduled to shift homeport to Norfolk, Va., by April 2026, ahead of deactivation. Of the new class, only USS Gerald R. Ford is in service, having deployed in 2022 following its commissioning in 2017. The second Ford-class carrier, the future USS John F. Kennedy, is slated for delivery in 2027, according to Navy budget documents. A man carries a portrait of Pakistani Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir, during a rally to express solidarity with Pakistans armed forces, in Islamabad on May 14, 2025. (Aamir QureshiAFP/Getty Images/TNS) (Tribune News Service) Pakistans army chief accused India of continuing to fuel instability in the region and warned it was fully prepared to counter any aggression from New Delhi as tensions between the two rivals remain high following a four-day armed conflict in May. Asim Munir, widely regarded as the most powerful figure in Pakistan, made the comments on Friday at a dinner with members of the Pakistani diaspora in Florida during his second visit to the U.S. in less than two months. India is still attempting to create instability in the region, the army chief said, according to statements shared Sunday by Pakistani military officials. Pakistan has made it clear that any Indian aggression will be met with a crushing response, he said. Officials distributed the statements to reporters on the weekend, asking not to be identified to share sensitive matters. The remarks are likely to fuel further tensions between the two South Asian nuclear-armed neighbors. It also comes against the backdrop of Pakistan forging closer ties with President Donald Trump in the months since the military clash, while Indias relations with the U.S. have plummeted. Pakistani officials released details of Munirs U.S. speech after Indian news website ThePrint reported contentious excerpts from his remarks. Pakistans military chief reportedly said that Pakistan would target any dam India builds on the Indus River with multiple missiles and warned of the threat of nuclear conflict, ThePrint reported on Sunday, citing unidentified participants at the event. Guests were told not to carry cellphones or other recording devices, it said. In a statement on Monday, Indias Ministry of External Affairs accused Pakistan of a history of nuclear sabre-rattling and questioned the credibility of its nuclear command and control. The ministry also said that the remarks were made from a friendly third country and asserted that India would not succumb to nuclear blackmail. India and Pakistan engaged in their worst clash in half a century in May, exchanging air, drone, and missile strikes, along with artillery and small arms fire along their shared border. The conflict was triggered by an April 22 attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir, where gunmen killed 26 civilians in what New Delhi described as a terrorist act orchestrated by Pakistan an allegation Islamabad has denied. Munir, who met with American military officials during his trip, again praised Trump for brokering a ceasefire with India after the brief conflict in May. Indian officials have consistently denied that the U.S. leader played such a role. Pakistan is deeply thankful to President Trump, whose strategic leadership not only averted a war between India and Pakistan but also helped stop many ongoing global conflicts, Munir said on Friday, according to Pakistans military. Also over the weekend, Indias air force chief said its military shot down at least five Pakistani fighter jets during the confrontation, offering latest insight into the damage wrought by the two nuclear-armed countries during the conflict. Pakistan denied any of the countrys aircraft had been hit. 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Outgoing head of U.S. Central Command Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, left, and incoming commander Adm. Brad Cooper stand at attention at a CENTCOM change of command ceremony in Tampa, Fla., Aug. 8, 2025. (Thomas Gagnier/U.S. Central Command) Leadership of the U.S. military in the Middle East has shifted to Navy Adm. Brad Cooper, who takes over command from an Army general who oversaw critical operations throughout the region. Cooper moves up from deputy chief of U.S. Central Command and succeeds retiring Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla as leader of the Florida-based command. With Fridays change of command ceremony, Cooper became the leader of a command that covers 21 countries in a region where tensions are again running high. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to lead Americas sons and daughters as we support the important mission of enhancing regional security, Cooper said in a statement. He previously led Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. Fifth Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces out of Bahrain. Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine, incoming U.S. Central Command leader Adm. Brad Cooper and outgoing CENTCOM commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, from left, stand at attention at a change of command ceremony Aug. 8, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (Thomas Gagnier/U.S. Central Command) The handoff occurs amid Israeli plans to escalate the nearly two-year war against Hamas and ongoing negotiations with Iran about its nuclear program. The U.S. is also consolidating its forces in Syria and Iraq, where the military has assisted operations against Islamic State militants for more than a decade. Kurilla departs after more than three years in the job and is slated to retire. In his time as CENTCOM commander, he led the planning and execution of more than 15 major combined combat operations, according to the statement. Army Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla greets an airman at an undisclosed location in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility in November 2023. Kurilla handed over the CENTCOM reins to Navy Adm. Brad Cooper at a ceremony Aug. 8, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (Stassney Davis/U.S. Air Force) They included the six-week conflict with the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen earlier this year and Operation Midnight Hammer, a series of American airstrikes in June that destroyed three key Iranian nuclear sites. It has been the honor of my life to have been their commander, he said. About 40,000 American troops are deployed in the Middle East across at least 19 sites, according to the Council on Foreign Relations most recent estimate, published in June. The U.S. maintains several permanent bases throughout the region, including in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar. ExxonMobil Guyana has commenced production at its fourth project in the offshore Stabroek block, named Yellowtail. This new venture is expected to significantly boost the country's oil output and joins three other projects already in operation. The Yellowtail development's infrastructure includes one floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel named ONE GUYANA and a subsea production system. At a water depth of 1,6002,000m, the project is set to commission 26 production wells and 25 injection wells to maximise oil extraction. ExxonMobil Upstream Company president Dan Ammann said: Yellowtails ahead-of-schedule start-up is a significant milestone for ExxonMobil and the people of Guyana. With Guyanese making up more than 67% of the countrys oil-and-gas workforce and over 2,000 local businesses engaged, this project reflects our deepening roots in the country and our shared commitment to long-term, inclusive growth. The ONE GUYANA FPSO, part of the Fast4Ward programme by SBM Offshore, is said to be the largest FPSO in the Stabroek block to date and is moored in approximately 1,800m of water. It is designed to produce an average of 250,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) initially, with a storage capacity of two million barrels (mbbl). The oil produced will be marketed under the name Golden Arrowhead crude. The FPSO's capabilities include treating 450 million cubic feet of associated gas per day and injecting 300,000 barrels of water per day to support reservoir pressure. Looking ahead, ExxonMobil Guyana anticipates that by 2030, the combined production from eight developments will reach 1.7mbbl of oil equivalent per day. ExxonMobil Guyana operates the Stabroek block with a 45% interest, followed by Hess Guyana Exploration with 30% and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana with 25% interest. In a related development, the Government of Trinidad and Tobago has reportedly awarded ExxonMobil exploration rights to an ultra-deep area comprising seven blocks. This marks the company's return to Trinidad and Tobago after more than 20 years, with the blocks located in waters with depths ranging from 2,0003,000m, north-west of the Stabroek block. "ExxonMobil Guyana commences production at Yellowtail development" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi look on. (Alex Brandon/AP) WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Monday announced he is ordering 800 D.C. National Guard troops to deploy throughout the city in an effort to crack down on crime in the nations capital. Were taking our capital back, he said during a news conference at the White House. Were taking it back. Trump also said the federal government would take control of Washingtons Metropolitan Police Department, and we will bring in the military if needed. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also attended the briefing and said the D.C. National Guard will be flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week. Other National Guard and specialized units are prepared to be deployed to assist. They will be strong, they will be tough and they will stand with their law enforcement partners, Hegseth said. White House aides distributed photos of a Truth Social post in which Trump wrote Washington, D.C., would be LIBERATED today! The handout included photos of people who it claimed were arrested during the weekend and accused of crimes ranging from drunken driving to possession of narcotics. Washington, D.C., should be one of the safest, cleanest and most beautiful cities anywhere in the world, Trump said. The Joint Force Headquarters of the District of Columbia National Guard in Washington on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) The Army activated the D.C. National Guard on Monday under Title 32 to assist law enforcement in Washington, the service said in a statement. Of the 800 Guard members activated, between 100-200 troops will be supporting law enforcement at any given time. Their duties will include an array of tasks from administrative, logistics and physical presence in support of law enforcement, the Army said. The deployment of troops in Washington comes after nearly 5,000 California National Guard troops were sent to Los Angeles recently with orders to quell protests that had erupted over immigration raids and protect the federal agents conducting them. Only 250 troops remain in Los Angeles as other troops have been sent home. Six Republican members of the Senate Armed Services Committee praised Trumps move to take control of law enforcement in Washington. It is beyond humiliating that our nations capital has been overrun by crime, gangs, and illegals, Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said in a post on X. Its time we MAKE D.C. SAFE AGAIN. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., described crime in Washington as out of control and thanked Trump for taking action. Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., said he fully supported Trumps plan. Hoosiers should be able to visit our nations capital without fear of violence, Banks said on X. Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat who represents Washington, accused Trump of misleadingly citing years-old statistics to justify the deployment of troops to her city and the federalization of D.C. police. Trumps decision represented a historic assault on D.C. home rule and is a counterproductive, escalatory seizure of D.C.s resources to use for purposes not supported by D.C. residents, she said in a statement. Trump threatened last week to take federal control of Washington after a former Department of Government Efficiency employee was attacked during an attempted carjacking. The D.C. police confirmed the victim was Edward Coristine. He was one of the original DOGE staffers. Police arrested two 15-year-olds in the attempted carjacking and said they were looking for others. Were going to have to federalize D.C. and run it the way its supposed to be run, Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday. The rate of crime, the rate of muggings, killings and everything else, were not going to let it, and that includes bringing in the National Guard, maybe very quickly, too, Trump told a member of the White House reporting pool on Wednesday. D.C. police data indicates violent crime has decreased 26% compared with last year. The D.C. U.S. Attorneys Office also announced in January that violent crime in the city in 2024 was at a 30-year low, citing police data. Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser said Sunday that the capital was not experiencing a crime spike. It is true that we had a terrible spike in crime in 2023, but this is not 2023, Bowser said on MSNBCs the Weekend. We have spent over the last two years driving down violent crime in this city, driving it down to a 30-year low. The surge in federal policing in the city began just after midnight Friday and is expected to last seven days, with the option to extend enforcement as needed, NPR reported. The presence of National Guardsmen and vehicles seen this week and throughout the weekend are related to required training for [Unit Training Assembly]. At the same time, we remain committed to providing trained and ready forces capable of providing support when called upon by civil authorities, according to a D.C. Guard statement. Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell in a post on X in all caps said: We are going to make D.C. safe and beautiful again! In Trumps first term, he called up Guard soldiers and federal law enforcement to forcibly clear peaceful protests during the Black Lives Matter protests after the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Past instances of the Guards deployment to Washington include in response to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters. Stars and Stripes reporter Svetlana Shkolnikova contributed to this report. The U. S. Capitol on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 in Washington. (Eric Kayne/Stars and Stripes) WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said Monday hes placing the Washington, D.C., police department under federal control and deploying the National Guard to make the nations capital safer. Trump has promised new steps to tackle homelessness and crime in Washington, prompting the citys mayor to voice concerns about the potential use of the National Guard to patrol the streets. Ahead of a news conference, Trump said Monday on social media that the nations capital would be LIBERATED today! He said he would end the days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people. For Trump, the effort to take over public safety in Washington reflects a next step in his law enforcement agenda after his aggressive push to stop illegal border crossings. But the move involves at least 500 federal law enforcement officials, raising fundamental questions about how an increasingly emboldened federal government will interact with its state and local counterparts. Trump in a Sunday social media post had emphasized the removal of Washingtons homeless population, though it was unclear where the thousands of people would go. The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY, Trump wrote Sunday. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you dont have to move out. Were going to put you in jail where you belong. Last week, the Republican president directed federal law enforcement agencies to increase their presence in Washington for seven days, with the option to extend as needed. On Friday night, federal agencies including the Secret Service, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service assigned more than 120 officers and agents to assist in Washington. Trump said last week that he was considering ways for the federal government to seize control of Washington, asserting that crime was ridiculous and the city was unsafe, after the recent assault of a high-profile member of the Department of Government Efficiency. The moves Trump said he was considering included bringing in the D.C. National Guard. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, questioned the effectiveness of using the Guard to enforce city laws and said the federal government could be far more helpful by funding more prosecutors or filling the 15 vacancies on the D.C. Superior Court, some of which have been open for years. Bowser cannot activate the National Guard herself, but she can submit a request to the Pentagon. I just think thats not the most efficient use of our Guard, she said Sunday on MSNBCs The Weekend, acknowledging it is the presidents call about how to deploy the Guard. Bowser was making her first public comments since Trump started posting about crime in Washington last week. She noted that violent crime in Washington has decreased since a rise in 2023. Trumps weekend posts depicted the district as one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World. For Bowser, Any comparison to a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false. Police statistics show homicides, robberies and burglaries are down this year when compared with this time in 2024. Overall, violent crime is down 26% compared with this time a year ago. Trump offered no details in Truth Social posts over the weekend about possible new actions to address crime levels he argues are dangerous for citizens, tourists and workers alike. The White House declined to offer additional details about Mondays announcement. President Donald Trump speaks with reporters at the White House on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. (Alex Brandon/AP) WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Monday said he is considering removing marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug with a determination expected soon an action that veterans groups are pushing so doctors can prescribe it to treat pain and other ailments former service members often experience. The American Legion and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America are among the veterans groups urging the administration to take action on reclassifying cannabis as a less dangerous drug. Ive heard some good things about its effects on pain. Ive also heard some other bad things about it, Trump said at a White House news conference Monday morning. Forty states, the District of Columbia and four U.S. territories already have medical marijuana laws that enable adults to obtain prescriptions for cannabis from medical doctors. But marijuana remains illegal under federal law. Trump said he is having several discussions about the proposal, and a decision will be made in a few weeks. Some people like it some people hate it. Some people hate the whole concept of marijuana, he said. Trumps announcement Monday follows recent votes in the House and Senate to allow doctors at the Department of Veterans Affairs for the first time to discuss medical marijuana as a treatment option with patients in states where it is legal. The legislation is part of the 2026 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act that cleared both chambers and now must be reviewed by a committee made up of members from the House and Senate before being signed by the president into law. However, marijuana possession and its use would remain prohibited on VA property, as federal law governs these locations. A Schedule I drug is a substance with a high potential for abuse and not accepted for medical use, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. But supporters contend federal reclassification would allow any doctor to prescribe medical marijuana to treat certain medical problems and make it easier for federal research to be conducted on the effects and potential benefits Disabled American Veterans is among veterans advocacy groups pushing for more research into medical marijuana as an alternative treatment for veterans with chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries. In 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration proposed a rule to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug. Schedule III drugs include Tylenol with codeine and are prescribed by doctors. The DEAs proposal was part of a formal rulemaking process, which includes a public comment period and potential hearings, according to the DEA. No action has been taken. Prescriptions for Schedule III drugs have to be written by a licensed health care professional. Pharmacies also have to keep records of drug transactions. The Food and Drug Administration in 2024 also approved a clinical trial with 300 participants to determine whether cannabis helps veterans with PTSD a mental health condition that can result from witnessing traumatic events. The study involves veterans with moderate to severe PTSD who smoke cannabis at home and then use a mobile app to report PTSD symptoms, according to the FDA. With a market capitalization of $37.2 billion, Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (FIS) is a leading American multinational headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, providing financial technology solutions to over 20,000 clients worldwide, including banks, asset managers, and businesses. Shares of this leading fintech company have trailed the broader market over the past year. FIS has declined 6.9% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied nearly 20.1%. Moreover, in 2025, FIS stock is down 14.7%, compared to the SPXs 8.6% rise on a YTD basis. More News from Barchart Zooming in further, FIS has also underperformed the Global X FinTech ETF (FINX). The exchange-traded fund has gained 30.2% over the past year and 4.9% in 2025. www.barchart.com On Aug. 5, FIS released its second-quarter earnings, and its shares dipped more than 8%. Its revenue rose 5% year-over-year to about $2.6 billion, driven by growth across both its Banking Solutions and Capital Markets segments. Adjusted EPS came in at $1.36, in line with expectations, while adjusted EBITDA margins held steady at roughly 39.8%. However, the company reported a net loss of approximately $470 million, primarily due to a non-cash tax charge tied to the sale of Worldpay. Additionally, adjusted free cash flow decreased to $292 million from $504 million the previous year, reflecting higher expenses and timing factors. For the current fiscal year, which ends in December, analysts expect FIS EPS to grow 10.3% to $5.76 on a diluted basis. The companys earnings surprise history is solid. It beat or met the consensus estimate in each of the last four quarters. Among the 28 analysts covering FIS stock, the consensus is a Moderate Buy. Thats based on 14 Strong Buy ratings, three Moderate Buys, ten Holds, and one Strong Sell. www.barchart.com This configuration is more bearish than two months ago, with 15 analysts suggesting a Strong Buy. On August 6, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Vasundhara Govil maintained an Outperform rating on Fidelity National Information Services but lowered the price target from $92 to $88. Darren Moore was hospitalised after he was shot in the face with a crossbow bolt A Co Antrim man appeared in court today accused of shooting former UVF gangster Darren Moore in the face with a crossbow. Standing handcuffed in the dock of Coleraine Magistrates Court, 42-year-old Matthew Allison confirmed his identity and that he understood the three charges against him, all alleged to have been committed on 8 August this year. Allison, with an address at Glenarm Court in Ballymena, is accused of possessing a crossbow with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm, wounding Moore with intent to cause GBH and attempting to wound a second man, also with intent to cause GBH. Darren Moore outside court in 2012 News in 90 seconds - 11th August 2025 None of the facts of the case were opened in court but giving evidence, Detective Constable McClean said he believed he could connect Allison to each of the charges. It was reported in the Sunday World over the weekend that 54-year-old Moore was hospitalised after he was shot in the face with a crossbow bolt. Shocking images were circulating on social media, showing how the bolt pierced his cheek and exited just below his jawline. District Judge Peter King asked the officer what the up-to-date medical position is and DC McClean told him how Moore released himself from hospital on Friday night and he is going back to get his medication. Defence solicitor John McAtamney confirmed that Allison was not applying for bail today as he does not have a proposed bail address outside of Ballymena. Darren Moore He suggested adjourning the case to Thursday in the hope there could be an address to put forward at that stage. Remanding Allison into custody, Judge King ordered that he will appear again on 14 August at Ballymena court. William Sempey was charged with a single offence of attempted sexual communication with a child A Co. Antrim man was remanded into custody facing a child sex offence today after he was snared by a so-called paedophile hunter group. Appearing in the dock of Coleraine Magistrates Court, 46-year-old William Sempey was charged with a single offence of attempted sexual communication with a child. The charge alleges that on 9 July this year Sempey, from Staffa Drive in Ballymena, for the purpose of obtaining sexual gratification, intentionally attempted to communicate with a person under 16 years, the communication being sexual, or intended to encourage the said person to make a communication that was sexual, and you did not reasonably believe that she was 16 years or over. William Sempey who was caught in a paedophile hunter sting News in 90 seconds - 11th August 2025 During a contested application for bail, the court heard how police were called to Sempeys address on Friday evening following reports of a local group, accusing him of being a paedophile and that it as being live streamed. A police constable told the court that when officers arrived, a hostile crowd had gathered outside the address and officers spoke to the leader of the paedophile hunter group. He identified himself as the founder of COPE (Child Online Protection Enforcement) and he said that he had been contacted by another group based in England, who had been using a decoy profile of a 14-year-old girl, said the officer. According to the paedophile hunters, a profile allegedly attributable to Sempey had been sending sexualised images and messages to the decoy profile. She said although the police had not seen the actual messages, police have seen screenshots of the messages and conversations. Turning to bail objections, the constable said while Sempey does not have a record, he was arrested for similar offences in 2018 but that had ended in a no prosecution decision. The court heard there are also concerns about Sempeys safety regarding his mental health and statements he made to police and the officer added there were also perceived risks if the defendant was to go back to Ballymena. Revealing that Sempey is classed as a vulnerable individual, defence solicitor Stewart Ballentine conceded the defendant cannot go back to the family home. The solicitor argued given the fact there was no actual child involved, in addition to Sempeys lack of convictions, the 46-year-old could be granted bail subject to an approved address. District Judge Peter King told him however, he did not know there was no girl involved and given that he has no bail address, his application to be released falls at the first hurdle. The judge added that due to the nature of the charge, he would not be content devolving the address issue down to the police. Remanding Sempey into custody and adjourning the case to 4 September, Judge King said if a bail address outside of Ballymena becomes available in the meantime, the court can re-list bail. Sicko facing life in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 Images and videos were found in a recycle folder on Johnstones computer An Irishman accused of inducing a child in Texas to engage in bestiality has been previously convicted of possessing child sexual abuse images in Ireland. Matthew Liam Johnstone (36) is currently serving a prison sentence in Ireland and will now face likely extradition to the United States. Jailed last December for a year, it was his second conviction and prison sentence after a previous trial judge said the imagery was the worst she had seen in nine years on the bench. Now the Longford native is facing a possible life sentence in prison in Texas after he was indicted by a grand jury on eight counts of enticement and sexual exploitation of a minor. A warrant for his arrest was signed on Wednesday by Magistrate Judge Mitchel Neurock in the Corpus Christi Division, southern Texas. Images and videos were found in a recycle folder on Johnstones computer There are eight counts on the indictment that he sexually exploited a minor to create sexual content on four occasions from September 8 to 17, 2022. Contained in Count 7 of the indictment is that the child was allegedly induced to engage in sexual activity namely, bestiality. If convicted, Johnstone faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and all charges also carry a possible $250,000 maximum fine. Agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) assisted in the investigation into the Irishman. The FBI Houston office posted on their X account that Johnstone thought he could get away with coercing a Texas child into filming sadistic sexually explicit conduct. He forgot the FBI will go to the ends of the earth to hunt down child predators. In 2021, Johnstone was jailed in Ireland for a year after being caught with 22 images and 13 videos of children between the ages of one and 12 years old being sexually and physically abused. Matthew Liam Johnstone could face a life sentence News in 90 seconds - 11th August 2025 Gardai had been tipped off by police from another jurisdiction who tracked his computer to an address in 2018. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that one of these videos depicted an 18-month-old child being subjected to elements of torture, as first reported by Court News Ireland. At that stage, Johnstone had no previous conviction and pleaded guilty to the charges. Judge Pauline Codd said the images were stomach churning even describing them, let alone viewing them. She said one video which depicted an 18-month-old being subjected to sustained and severe physical and sexual abuse was the worst she had heard of in her nine years on the bench. The judge said the case was aggravated by the deviant and depraved nature of the material, in particular a video which depicted elements of torture. The young age of the children concerned was particularly aggravating. Matthew Johnstone A Garda witness said the images depicted girls between the age of four and 12 years old being sexually abused by adults. Eight of these images had been digitally altered to add a horses genitalia to the image of a child being abused. The videos depicted girls between the age of one and 10 years old being sexually abused by adults. Four of the videos depicted the same 18-month-old baby being subjected to a variety of physical and sexual abuse by an adult woman, while another was described as being a trailer for these four videos. Many of the images and videos were found in a recycle folder indicating that they had been deleted. Some were found in system- generated files which are created when files are viewed and are not usually accessible to the user. Gardai also found there was a search for a TOR hidden service child pornography website, which was used to access several of the video files. Johnstone had told gardai he had been in contact with certain people over social media and became involved in the offending through this. The former bar manager had lost a job in a restaurant when his offences came to light and his marriage had also broken up. He was given a three-year sentence with two suspended in October 2021 which meant he had just been out of prison when he allegedly targeted the child in Texas. Then, in March 2023, he was given a suspended sentence for accessing other peoples iClouds without their permission around the same time as the previous offence. However, last year he appeared in court again on two counts of possessing more child sexual abuse imagery. Last December at Dublin Circuit Court he was again given a three-year sentence with two years suspended. Sources told the Sunday World he is still in custody in Ireland and is serving his sentence in the Midlands Prison. My Lovely Horse Rescue has released a shocking video compilation of animal cruelty cases in Ireland Rescue charity My Lovely Horse has released a shocking video compilation of animal cruelty cases here in Ireland to highlight to uphill battle they are facing in 2025. In the tragic post they wrote: This is Ireland in 2025. It's happening in plain sight. And unless we stand up together, it will keep happening. "Over the past few weeks, we've met with senior Gardai to demand urgent action. Our next goal jointly agreed with the Garda, is to secure a meeting together with the Department of Agriculture. The lengthy post continues: We will never stop rescuing but if we don't tackle the root causes of this cruelty, nothing will change. "That's why we're fighting for a socially inclusive, cross-community solution that addresses the human and social issues driving animal suffering. We are determined to make sure animals are no long forgotten. The original post on Facebook post lasts for more than 3 minutes and acts as a cry for help from the public. There are links for where to donate and sign petitions. News in 90 seconds - 11th August 2025 Dublin Chamber refuses to hear fighters plea for nomination If Conor McGregor intends to seek council support for his bid to become Irelands next president then it seems he will have to look outside of his hometown as the capitals four local authorities gave him a thumbs down this week. The Sunday World asked Dublins councils if they would support the disgraced MMA fighter and all failed to give him their backing, with one deputy mayor saying he would only spew hate and waste their time. McGregor, who a civil jury found had sexually assaulted Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel, wants to run for president but has yet to seek the required nominations from members of the Oireachtas or councils to get his name on the ballot. This week, McGregor, who also has more than 20 criminal convictions, launched a petition saying he should be allowed to run for the office without going through the normal procedures. Those seeking to get their name on the ballot can only do so by either securing nominations from at least 20 members of the Oireachtas or at least four local authorities. McGregor does not appear to have yet approached any local authorities to put forward his case but if he does, one that is unlikely to give him a hearing is Dun Laoghaire Rathdown (DLR) County Council, which is proposing preventing anyone seeking their nomination. News in 90 seconds - 11th August 2025 A council spokesperson said: The following motion was included on the agenda for the Council meeting held on 7th July That this Council resolves, under Article 12.4.2 (ii) of Bunreacht na hEireann, not to exercise its power to nominate a candidate for election to the Presidency. However, due to a busy agenda, the motion wasnt reached, and it will now be included on the agenda for the next council meeting on 8th September. If this motion is passed, no prospective candidates will be invited to address DLR Councillors. If the motion fails, an alternative method of dealing with requests for nominations will be agreed at the September 8th meeting. Deputy Mayor Pierce Dargan (FG) said the motion has widespread support amongst councillors and could even pass unanimously. Deputy Mayor Pierce Dargan To listen to someone like Conor McGregor for an hour rather than focus on getting things done for constituents, I actually think people would be upset and asking why are you allowing this person to spew hate instead of looking at housing. He said it would be a waste of time as McGregor would not get the backing of the council even if they allowed him to speak so they would only be giving him a platform. I have a feeling what he would say would be riddled with hate-fuelled rhetoric. My constituents would be upset if we allowed that. I know that if we gave him time rather than doing what were elected to do I would get hounded. He said McGregor hasnt even applied to the council to be heard. He has not done even the minimalist effort to try and speak to councils. I can already foresee the attack the council will get from someone like him but he doesnt have the support. If he hasnt bothered to write an email to ask to come and speak to the council why is he launching his petition? Mayor Jim Gildea (FG) said the motion wasnt directed at McGregor specifically but councillors didnt want to waste peoples time as party affiliations meant there wasnt enough votes available for a majority to back any outside candidate. He said even if the council were to hear from candidates, McGregor wouldnt get his vote. What really rankles with me is that President Trump met [McGregor] on St Patricks Day and didnt meet the Taoiseach on St Patricks Day. That is a real, real insult to Ireland and deliberately so. Its a real slap in the face. Councillor Fiona Murphy (FF), who said she supports the motion, also wouldnt have backed McGregor if there was a vote before the council. No, just from watching him and the way he behaves I wouldnt be a fan. He would be meeting heads of state and I dont want them thinking that he is the person were all like. He isnt the person who should be representing Ireland. You wouldnt know what he could do on that stage. McGregor will be allowed to address the other councils in his native Dublin if he applies, but he has yet to contact any of them. South Dublin County Council Mayor Pamela Kearns was on annual leave, but former mayor Cllr Alan Finn said he was not aware of McGregor approaching the council to put his case forward. Were he to do so, Ive no doubt he would be listened to and questioned by democratically elected councillors with courtesy. But I dont get a sense that hes interested in or informed about democratic structures and so I dont anticipate such an approach being made. I have no doubt councillors, myself included, would question him about the verdict in the civil rape case and his apparent total ignorance about the State and how it operates, as well as his links to the far-right in the US. Mayor of Fingal Tom OLeary said while McGregor could apply to Fingal County Council to seek their backing, he would vote against him if he did apply. My franchise and the franchise of all councillors is to vote for or against and I would be exercising my franchise to vote against Conor McGregor if he did appear. I dont support him as a candidate. I support the Fine Gael candidate Mairead McGuinness. Mayor OLeary said he was happy with the current requirements for any prospective candidate to get on the presidential ballot. I do think the system is fair. It has been carefully been considered. Over the years they have all looked at it very carefully and there are a few avenues there to get nominations. He has to apply by the same rules as everyone else. There is nothing special about himself or anyone else. Because the president is a such a high office representing Ireland, the job interview is carefully considered by having this system. Im happy enough to leave it as it is. If someone wants to try and change it, you go into the Dail and get party support and non-party support and you try and change it from there and most likely a referendum would have to be held. Procedures differ in councils across the country but in Fingal, once a prospective candidate gets the backing of four councillors to appear they will be allowed put forward their case and be given fifteen minutes to make a speech before councillors ask them questions. If a majority of councillors approve them they will have the nomination of the council. Over in Dublin City Council, Lord Mayor Ray McAdam said they will allow anyone to appear before the council to make their case provided they meet the eligibility requirements. What we will be doing in the city is on foot of the minister signing the orders for setting the date for the election. We will set a date for a special council meeting whereby anybody who writes to myself and members of the council seeking the nomination then we will afford them the opportunity to make a presentation. Theyll each have five minutes to speak and there will be opportunity to put a number of questions and councillors will make a determination on whether a nomination is made for any of those candidates. I think its a fair way. He said there would be no filtering out of prospective candidates. Anybody who seeks we will afford them the opportunity., I fully expect there will be a number of candidates who will seek a nomination from us. I dont want to prejudice the process but I anticipate we will have a special meeting in September to afford any potential nominees to seek a formal nominations for Dublin city Council. He said he felt the current system for getting on the ballot paper for the presidential election was fair. I think the rules that have been in place governing the process for selection of presidential candidates since Bunreacht na hEireann was enacted has worked and I dont see what justification or need there is to change that. I havent been convinced by any arguments put forward to change it. We live in a representative democracy, we dont live in a direct democracy and as part of a representative democracy we buy in and accept the articles involved as part of our Constitution; part of that involves how our head of state is selected and the selection process for candidates to get onto the election paper. He said Fine Gael have so far not issued any edict to councillors to not vote for McGregor but the party has been seeking views of councillors on the matter. We will make a decision as a Fine Gael city council group as to what our decision will be in terms of whether to facilitate a nomination or not. We will wait and see what candidates come forward at that stage. Three armed men entered the house and confronted the occupants before fleeing, gardai say. A man aged in his 30s has been arrested following an aggravated burglary at a home Cork City that left another man hospitalised. Gardai have said that three men entered the residence in the Lagan Grove area of Mayfield, Cork City at approximately 12.40am in the early hours of Monday morning. The three men were armed with implements and confronted the occupants before fleeing. Gardai on patrol in the area then responded to the incident. In a statement, a Garda spokesperson said: A male (aged in his 30s), was arrested at the scene and detained pursuant to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Garda Station in the Co. Cork area. Stock photo. News in 90 seconds - 11th August 2025 One of the occupants, a man (also aged in his 30s), was conveyed to Cork University Hospital for treatment of injuries believed to be non-life-threatening at this time. A technical examination of the scene has been conducted by Gardai. Gardai are appealing for anyone with any information regarding this incident to come forward. "Any road users or pedestrians who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were in the Lagan Grove area of Mayfield, Cork City, between midnight on Sunday 10th August 2025 and 1:00am on Monday 11th August 2025 are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardai. "Anyone with information is asked to contact Mayfield Garda Station on (021) 455 8510, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. Investigations of the incident are set to continue. Ruaidhri Lyttle stepped down and apologised back in 2023 after disturbing comments he made during a drunken rant at the police resurfaced Sinn Fein has appointed a new councillor who pulled out of the last election after it emerged hed been to court for telling cops hed shoot them with a machine-gun, it has emerged. Ruaidhri Lyttle stepped down and apologised back in 2023 after disturbing comments he made during a drunken rant at the police resurfaced. West Tyrone Sinn Fein MP Orfhlaith Begley announced on Friday night that 30-year-old Lyttle was being co-opted onto Fermanagh and Omagh District Council to represent the Gortin and Killyclogher area of Mid-Tyrone. She wrote: Delighted to welcome our new councillor Ruaidhri Lytlle [sic] for the Gortin and Killyclogher area of Mid Tyrone. I also want to thank our outgoing councillor Anne Marie Fitzgerald for her many years of commitment and service. During her 18 years as a councillor, Anne Marie has been a first-class representative and a tireless worker on behalf of the community she has represented. And Lyttle himself said: This evening, I am taking the opportunity to announce my co-option as the Sinn Fein cllr for Mid Tyrone in place of Anne Marie Fitzgerald, who has offered her resignation after serving the local community with distinction for over 18 years. I would like to acknowledge the dedication, hard work and commitment to this role that Anne Marie has given for the last 18 years. I am determined to serve in this role as cllr for Mid Tyrone in the same manner. I am determined to bring the same energy and commitment to this role as Anne Marie has. I am determined to campaign tirelessly for local people on local issues. I look forward to the challenges ahead and to representing you all. Despite a chequered past, Lyttle is highly regarded in Sinn Fein and is known for working hard on the ground on a number of issues. And despite his misdemeanours, his announcement has been widely welcomed among nationalists in Tyrone. In April 2023 in the run-up to the local council elections we revealed (right) how Lyttle, who had been standing for the republican party in the Mid-Tyrone area, had been involved in an embarrassing incident six years ago which resulted in him being brought to court. In response, Lyttle told the Sunday World he didnt want the issue to become a distraction for his party colleagues and he had decided to step down. We had revealed that Lyttle, who lives in Omagh, was convicted of disorderly behaviour on a boozy night out in the County Tyrone town two days before Christmas in 2017. And things took a decidedly nasty turn when Lyttle, who was 23 at the time, approached police officers and started to shout abuse at them, including telling them he would shoot them with a machine-gun. Police in Omagh are particularly sensitive to such threats however unlikely they are to be carried out given that dissident republicans murdered PC Ronan Kerr in Omagh in 2011. Lyttle announced his plan to stand for election six days after DCI John Caldwell survived a murder bid at the hands of two dissident republican gunmen in February and he was hoping to be elected to represent the Killyclogher and Gortin areas to which is now being co-opted. In a statement at the time he told the Sunday World: I apologised in court a number of years ago for my behaviour and accept fully that my actions were wrong. My role in this incident remains a matter of deep regret. I dont want this issue to become a distraction for my party colleagues and in light of this, I have reconsidered my position. I have decided to withdraw my name from standing in this years local government elections. Sources who know Lyttle told us they were surprised he jumped so quickly. Im very surprised hes decided to drop out over this, said one source. It was obviously an embarrassing incident but it was six years ago and he has apologised. Ruaidhri would have been a good council rep but he obviously had a past and hed been done for being disorderly a few times so maybe he was worried about the details of all of those coming out. Lyttle was arrested and brought before District Judge Bernie Kelly, who told him he couldnt blame alcohol for his shocking outburst, his behaviour had been despicable and that he had exposed the true Ruaidhri Lyttle. He was fined 100 for the drunken outburst. But Omagh Magistrates Court was told in 2017 Lyttle had two previous cautions for disorderly behaviour. His solicitor told the court Lyttle had consumed a lot of alcohol and clearly hadnt learned his lesson from the previous cautions. Judge Kelly was less than impressed with Lyttles behaviour, saying: I genuinely never know where to start with someone like you. You were three years old when the Good Friday Agreement was signed. How much personal experience do you have of the Troubles? A sheepish Lyttle replied a simple none, to which the judge asked: So what gives you the right to make such comments about police officers? Shame-faced Lyttle replied: I dont have any. But Judge Kelly wasnt finished with Lyttle. She added: Alcohol does not turn you from Doctor Jekyll to Mr Hyde. If it was not in you it would not come out. Alcohol pulls down the facades. That was the true Ruaidhri Lyttle we saw that night. It was despicable behaviour. I promise you there will be an entirely different outcome if I see you again. She found global fame with Ozark, went on to become part of the Marvel juggernaut and now stars in creepy horror Weapons, but Julia Garner tells Esther McCarthy how she got into acting in a bid to overcome timidness Its a super screen summer for Julia Garner, who is starring in two of this years most-anticipated movies following her star-making role in Ozark. As well as her recent turn in Marvel hit The Fantastic Four: First Steps, the actress is starring in the gritty new horror, Weapons. Yet the US star has revealed her success came about because of her struggles with shyness when she was younger. In a bid to overcome it, Garner signed up for acting classes and although shes still shy by nature, she says her new hobby quickly became her greatest passion. I started in this business because I was very shy, she says. I am shy but with this job you have no choice but I love my work and I love working with people and meeting new people. Julia Garner with Jason Bateman in Ozark I started taking acting classes to overcome my shyness. I used to do a lot of student films for Columbia Film School. The student film-makers girlfriend was interning at a casting office and my first audition was an open casting call with thousands of people. I didnt get the job but a couple of months later she cast Martha Marcy May Marlene and that was my first movie. That US indie proved to be a gamechanger for many emerging stars when it first screened at Sundance in 2011, as it focused on a woman (Elizabeth Olsen) dealing with the aftermath of her time in an abusive cult. It was critically acclaimed and although the then-teenager Garners role was a supporting one, it marked an early indication of her raw talent. It was perhaps no surprise, however, that the young Garner would turn to the arts, given her family background. Julia on the red carpet Born in The Bronx before attending school in Connecticut, mum Tamar was a therapist who also worked as an actress and comedian, while dad Thomas is an artist and art teacher. It was playing the foul-mouthed and fearsome Ruth Langmore in the critically acclaimed crime saga Ozark that made Garner a star, bagging her a Golden Globe and three Emmy Awards in the process. Julia Garner at the Weapons world premiere on Broadway last month News in 90 seconds - 11th August 2025 Ozark was no one-off and soon the actress was finding roles in gritty indie dramas with a tinge of horror. She took the lead role in the much-talked about The Assistant, filmmaker Kitty Greens excellent tale of an intern who finds herself in a film company with a cynical and abusive culture. Julia as Justine in Weapons She teamed with Green again for The Royal Hotel, a tale of two young backpackers who find themselves out of their depth in the Australian outback. Out in Irish cinemas from this weekend, Weapons sees her star opposite Josh Brolin in a chilling tale of a how several children from the same school class vanish on the same night at the same time, all going missing with no apparent reason why. The less you know about the movie going in, the better, she reckons. Weapons is a crazy kind of mystery horror movie that has so many elements, she says. Its multi-layered and totally amazing. Its a movie that is actually hard to describe. This is a movie you need to discover and experience for yourself. Its that kind of crazy experience, she says, adding that the movie taps into the fear of the unknown and the lack of control that comes with that. There is also a lot to do with addiction in the movie and how all the characters are having to deal with that in some way. Julia with co-star Josh Brolin As her previous movies reveal, Garner has always been drawn to the dark side of human nature and starred in a number of gritty and scary movies before turning her attention to Weapons. What is the draw for her in such material? The thing that always interests me about horror is almost in the same way how people talk about comedy, which is the timing. That is always a challenge. Timing can make the movie and it can ruin the movie so its important to nail it and to get every jump-scare just right. But Weapons is not really a typical horror movie. Its different. It has comedic elements and, well... you have to see it. As is often the case with making horror movies, there was often a fun atmosphere on set as people look for some light relief between takes. In Garners case, much of the laughs came courtesy of her co-star, Josh Brolin. He is such a brilliant actor and just a great guy. Hes hilarious actually. We giggled all day, even though it was very serious work. But the whole cast was amazing. I had such a fun time, despite the subject matter, which is often the case, weirdly. Its like the heavier the movie, the more fun you have, she laughs. The older star whose many roles include playing Thanos in the Marvel Universe also spoke with Garner as she prepared to take on her first role in the blockbuster series. She plays the humanoid alien with metallic skin, Silver Surfer, in the new Fantastic Four movie. He told me a little bit about what to expect because he also did a lot of motion capture for Thanos. He gave me some great words of wisdom. In real life, Garner is married to Mark Foster, the frontman of indie pop band Foster the People. The couple have been together since 2019, and while her hubby has been supporting her on her Weapons press tour, they keep their romance low-key. The couple, who first met at the Sundance Film Festival, got married at New Yorks City Hall just like Julias parents did four decades earlier. While her roots are in episodic TV and indie movies, earlier this summer Garner dipped her toe into the Marvel Universe, taking on the Silver Surfer role in one of the biggest comic-book movies of them all. Shot in Pinewood Studios near London, the actress is now a leading character in one of summers biggest hits. Its pretty fun. Its kind of empowering. You feel like a little kid again. But the whole experience, shooting at Pinewood, everything was just incredible. Still, she tries to avoid getting caught up in the inevitable attention that her growing on-screen profile brings. When asked how she feels about being one of Hollywoods most in-demand young stars, she says: Its really hard to answer that because I dont think of myself like that. I just focus on the work. I can say that I feel very lucky to have these opportunities and to get to play complex and interesting characters. Im just happy that people are interested in the characters too. Weapons is now in cinemas. First Cessna SkyCourier in Mongolia to join Hunnu Air fleet, enhancing operations in Asia-Pacific region (Photo Credit: Textron Aviation) WICHITA, Kan., August 11, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Cessna SkyCourier is making its entry into Mongolia with charter operator Hunnu Air placing the first order for the versatile twin-engine turboprop aircraft in the country. Hunnu Air will use the Cessna SkyCourier to enhance domestic tourism and cargo operations within Mongolia. The order includes two passenger variants of the Cessna SkyCourier aircraft and one Cessna Grand Caravan EX, with deliveries of their new aircraft expected to begin in 2026. The Cessna SkyCourier is designed and produced by Textron Aviation Inc., a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) company. "Designed for versatility and performance, the Cessna SkyCourier is a strong fit to support Hunnu Airs services across Mongolia," said Lannie OBannion, senior vice president, Sales & Marketing. "The increasing global popularity of the aircraft underscores its exceptional adaptability in supporting air freight, charter and special missions use cases, showcasing its broad appeal across diverse operational sectors." Since 2011, Hunnu Air has served as a pivotal player in the Mongolian aviation sector, demonstrating a robust commitment to expand both domestic and international air travel. As the second-largest airline in Mongolia, Hunnu Air has carved a niche for itself by offering reliable and efficient air transport solutions to its passengers. With its exceptional performance, reliability and capacity, the SkyCourier is well-suited for VIP operations across Mongolias vast and diverse landscapes, providing greater accessibility to remote and scenic destinations. This strategic investment underscores Hunnu Airs commitment to expanding air travel options and supporting Mongolias growing tourism sector. Textron Aviation recently celebrated the first Canadian delivery of the twin-engine, high-wing turboprop to Air Bravo Corporation, as well as the achievement of certification for the Combi configuration from the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil and first delivery into South America. About the Cessna SkyCourier The Cessna SkyCourier twin-engine, high-wing turboprop offers a combination of performance and lower operating costs for air freight, commuter and special mission operators. The freighter variant is sized to handle up to three LD3 shipping containers with an impressive 6,000-pound payload capability. The 19-passenger variant includes crew and passenger doors for smooth boarding, as well as large cabin windows for natural light and views. Both variants offer single-point pressure refueling to enable faster turnarounds. A day out snorkelling in Bali ended in horror and left a married Tauranga couple fighting for their lives when a wave capsized the ferry they were on. We saw children hurled against the roof of the cabin and could hear people screaming as the boat tipped. Dale and Jason Clark said they held on to what they could for as long as they could, until we too were thrown on to other people by the wave. We saw bodies being thrown around like [raffle tickets] as the boat was violently tipped upside down. The couple had been holidaying in Bali for three days. They were nearly at Sanur Harbour entrance on Tuesday afternoon this week when they saw a massive wave coming from the left side of the boat where they were sitting inside the cabin. We knew we were going to be flipped. 250806) -- BEIJING, Aug. 6, 2025 (Xinhua) -- People stand near the fast boat after it capsized at Sanur beach in Bali, Indonesia, Aug. 5, 2025. The Chinese consulate general in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, confirmed on Tuesday that two Chinese nationals were killed in a fast boat capsizing accident off Indonesia's Bali Island earlier in the day. (Photo by Dicky Bisinglasi/Xinhua) (Photo by Dicky Bisinglasi / XINHUA / Xinhua via AFP) According to international media reports, the boat was carrying about 80 people when it capsized while traveling from Nusa Penida to Sanur, Bali. The incident was about 3pm local time when the boat was struck by large waves, reportedly measuring between 2 to 4 metres high, as it was preparing to dock. Three people were killed, including two Chinese nationals and an Indonesian crew member. Locals and rescue workers attempt to recover an overturned speedboat after it sank near Sanur port in Bali on August 5, 2025. Three people were killed, including two Chinese nationals and an Indonesian crew member, after a boat sailing to the popular island of Bali with dozens onboard sank and ran aground, rescue authorities said. (Photo by Dicky Bisinglasi / AFP) Speaking to SunLive after the sinking, Dale and Jason said they remember thinking that this cant be happening to us. It was terrifying but we both knew to try and remain calm even though we were scared for our lives. After the wave hit, they were both thrown into the upturned cabin that was already filling with water. They were plunged into darkness with the water level at chest height. Jason and I called for each other and reconnected as quickly as we could, said Dale. She said it was a massive relief to find each other in the chaotic mess of people and debris. Dale and Jason Clark say while physically they have a lot of cuts and bruises, the mental and emotional side of things was going to be a long journey. Photo / Supplied The smell of petrol filled the cabin instantly; the couple grabbed life jackets each and made their way towards the front of the vessel. Jason then remembered that the windows on the right side of the ferry were open before the wave hit. He found an open window and while clinging to a life jacket managed to dive under the water and through the window out to the open air. He told me to follow him out the window, but debris was blocking my exit, so I used my foot to find where the window was and was pulled by one leg out of the window by Jason, said Dale. Once outside the cabin of the boat, the couple swam to a nearby liferaft and held on to it along with others. We saw locals who drove out in their boats to rescue people, but we knew to keep hold of the liferaft until we too were pulled on to a rescue boat. The swell was huge and made getting into a rescue boat difficult. Both of us were yanked in ... with others and taken ashore. They then reunited with others from their snorkelling party. We hugged each other and cried for a while. Then the thoughts of our three children [back in New Zealand] came to mind, and we knew we had to contact them somehow and let them know we were ok. They were taken to a cafe across the road from the harbour where they were able to contact their daughter. Dale said surprisingly, her phone - which was in her crossbody bag - still worked. Physically, Dale and Jason have lots of cuts and bruises but said the mental and emotional side of things was going to be a long journey, but we have comfort in knowing we have each other to talk to. On the first and second night after the incident they barely got any sleep as the memories of the day were so vivid and the emotions were overwhelming. We cried a lot and held each other that little bit tighter, thankful and grateful for each other and our lives. Others werent so lucky sadly. The couples advice to others would be to always check the weather forecast for the day of your tour if on the water. This photo provided by Indonesia's National Search And Rescue (Basarnas) shows people and officers setting up rope to pull the capsized fast boat to the sea shore at Sanur beach in Bali. Because, although the swell wasnt too bad going out, it was very rough when we arrived at Nusa Penida and even when we were snorkelling the sea was rough ... Trust your instincts when traveling and put your own safety first. Finally, always get travel insurance too. Since the incident, Dale and Jason said they had not had any helpful communication from anyone. They are yet to hear from relevant authorities in regard to what happened. Jason lost his backpack in all the mayhem, and were not really getting any straightforward answers, said Dale. Weve contacted the New Zealand embassy here in Indonesia to let them know we were onboard that boat and we were safe. We considered coming home immediately but then decided to continue our holiday and now that we are in Ubud, we are much more relaxed but still cant wait to hug our three children and family when we get home. When a Youth Court judge asked a 15-year-old boy how long he had been living in a motel, with round-the-clock minders, he was taken aback by the answer. Nearly a year, the teen replied. A year? the judge exclaimed. During that year, Oranga Tamariki sent *Cody on a state-funded trip to a Pacific Island, with his now-estranged mother, to see if he could connect with family. The boy told the court this had not gone well, and after the trip last August, it was back to the motel. Cody was in Youth Court in Tauranga, facing relatively low-level charges, and Judge Paul Geoghegan asked him how he spent his days, and what education he was receiving while living in the Tauranga motel. None, he replied, describing waking up late, eating, gaming, and seeing his girlfriend. He also had an Oranga Tamariki-appointed mentor he would meet with on occasion. Cody was supervised by Oranga Tamariki-contracted APEX minders, who, in pairs, were on 48-hour shifts at the motel. Its understood there were a limited number of carers on rotation. Youth Court judge Christina Cook commented at a later hearing that the cost to the taxpayer must be horrendous, and remarked that it was not a way to live. One of the reported constants the teen appreciated was a weekly meeting with a psychologist from Auckland. However, an Oranga Tamariki social worker told Judge Geoghegan, at the hearing in March, that a leadership-led decision was made to stop that. Judge Geoghegan issued a minute, in which he said the teen was simply treading water and there may be psychological needs which are not being met. Judge Paul Geoghegan. Photo / Andrew Warner After being granted permission to report on proceedings by three separate Youth Court judges, NZME sent questions to Oranga Tamariki about Cody, primarily focused on why he was at the motel for so long, what led the organisation to place him there, and how much it cost to keep him there. Oranga Tamariki was also asked about what provisions were made for his food and education, and how much the trip to the Pacific Islands cost. However, Oranga Tamariki declined to provide responses saying: the leave that has been granted to [NZME] does not authorise Oranga Tamariki to provide you with information about the young person and matters addressed in the Youth Court. Tamariki and whanau services national commissioner North Alison Cronin provided a general statement that said typically young people only spent one night in a motel, and most children and young people will stay for three nights or fewer. She said occasionally young people may need to stay longer. These young people may have high and complex needs which can make it difficult to find appropriate placements for them, she said. Some may have behaviours which are extremely challenging to safely manage, and which pose a risk to themselves or others in a group setting. She said sometimes they might stay longer because of proximity to whanau, continuation of education, or access to support services while a longer-term placement is found. Data released by Oranga Tamariki under the Official Information Act said that as at July 1, 2025, 18 tamariki and rangatahi in the care of Oranga Tamariki were staying in motels. Oranga Tamariki had more than 4100 young people in its care at that time. Oranga Tamariki didnt keep specific data on the number of children sent overseas, while in its care. Information on tamariki and rangatahi travelling overseas for any purpose, including to connect with whanau, is not recorded in fields that can be extracted from our case management system as structured data, it said. This information would be stored in the narrative case notes for the tamaiti or rangatahi in question... Oranga Tamariki would need to review individual case notes for all tamariki and rangatahi, which would require substantial manual collation. Charges due to boys frustration, says Judge Cody, who turned 15 in February, was charged with wilful damage, speaking threateningly, threatening to kill, and unlawfully interfering with a motor vehicle. Judge Geoghegan felt the charges were to a considerable degree, because of the boys frustration with his current circumstances. The judge couldnt move ahead with the Youth Court charges without a plan for more appropriate housing and education, and without a psychological report, which had been cancelled. The reasons for that are unclear given the quite dire situation which I believe exists in [Codys] particular circumstances, the judge said. Its understood Cody had a long history with Oranga Tamarikis Care and Protection arm, and Oranga Tamarikis typical care arrangements had been tried without success. The judge acknowledged the teens mother had washed her hands of him, his fathers whereabouts were unknown, and efforts to connect the teen to whanau in New Zealand had fallen on barren ground. The teens lawyer, Peter Attwood, told the court the teens charges werent serious enough for him to be remanded in a youth justice residence, and he, the social workers, and police all agreed the National High Needs Hub needed to find a place for him. The hub is a centralised Oranga Tamariki unit, that receives referrals to care and protection residences with specific wrap-around supports. But no one could tell the judge why the hub hadnt accepted the referrals and found a placement. Cody was first referred there in mid-December last year, and nothing had been progressed. Been at the motel a hell of a long time, says judge At a crossover court appearance a month later, where both Care and Protection and Youth Justice social workers were in attendance, little had changed. At that hearing, Judge Christina Cook reiterated Judge Geoghegans concern, noting the teen was still living in a motel, albeit absconding in breach of his bail conditions to spend time with his transient girlfriend. The teens youth justice social worker said this worried her. I dont know where he is, who he is with, and if hes safe, she said. We [social workers] stay awake at night worrying about the likes of [Cody] and if hes okay. Judge Cook was particularly concerned about the abrupt end to Codys meetings with the psychologist, and was baffled by the delay in response from the hub. Which is immensely frustrating and it is easy for me to say that, but I am not the one who has to live day-to-day in a motel supported by carers. Despite the less-than-ideal circumstances of being housed at a motel, Judge Cook was told the teens key social worker on the ground had done an incredible amount of work. NZME attempted to speak with that social worker, who arguably understood the nuances and challenges of Codys situation better than anybody, but she said shed been told by Oranga Tamariki management not to speak to NZME about the case. Judge Cook spoke directly to the teen, acknowledging hed been at the motel for a hell of a long time, but it was nothing to do with the people in this room, its somewhere up the chain. Both Judge Cook and Judge Geoghegan directed minutes to Oranga Tamariki, raising their concerns about Codys circumstances. At an appearance on May 26, it was advised that a placement had been found, supported by an iwi provider. He would be the sole occupant of a home, with specialist support and carers. NZME was granted provisional permission to report on Codys circumstances, but only once the teen had been advised of the new arrangement, and safely relocated to the new residence. The teen was transferred in late June, and questions were then put to Oranga Tamariki on June 30, but a media adviser indicated they needed more time. In the meantime, Codys matter was called in the Tauranga District Court for the final time. At a hearing on July 7, his offences were discharged under section 282 of the Oranga Tamariki Act, meaning he will not have a criminal record. His lawyer, the police, social workers and the judge all agreed the teen needed a fresh start in his new residence, out of Tauranga. There had been concerns he would refuse to leave Tauranga, but the transfer had gone smoothly and Attwood told the court he was finally getting the therapeutic intervention he needed. Youth advocate Peter Attwood. Attwood said there was little need for punitive action, as his core needs had always been care and protection, with youth justice has been used as an arm to crank that side of things. Judge Louis Bidois agreed with a social worker that to transfer the charges to a different location would just be another weight on his shoulders. NZME understands that his new placement hasnt been without incident, but his iwi are sticking by him. Its also understood his particular care arrangement falls under a relatively new care provider. *The teens identity is subject to statutory suppression, as is the case in all Youth Court proceedings. A pseudonym has been used. Hannah Bartlett is a Tauranga-based Open Justice reporter at NZME. She previously covered court and local government for the Nelson Mail, and before that was a radio reporter at Newstalk ZB. The victim told NZME that while $2500 felt like a pathetic amount compared to what shed been through, and the financial loss shed suffered, it would be some help towards Christmas, which was then coming up. She also thought it would be the end of the matter, and she could start to move on with her life. When a woman who was sexually violated after a work party was proactively offered a reparation payment by her attacker at sentencing, she thought it would be paid then and there. Warning: This story includes details of sexual offending and may be distressing. But the money didnt turn up in her account, and calls to the police and courts left her doubting if shed ever see the money. It was only after NZME became involved that the money has now been paid, nine months after Joshua Oliver was sentenced to imprisonment, having received a 5% discount for remorse - a discount that took into account his offer of emotional harm reparation. Joshua Oliver was sentenced to six years' and three months' imprisonment for the sexual violation of a woman. While the Governments Chief Victims Advisor Ruth Money said she couldnt comment about specific cases, she acknowledged there were ongoing concerns about unpaid reparation. In particular, she worried sentencing took into account reparation or other offers, and yet they often did not materialise. The judge can only take [offers] at face value, so the judiciary takes into account all offers and all signs of remorse as part of a normal sentencing process. A manifestation of remorse A jury found Oliver guilty in June last year on a charge of sexual violation, for an attack while the victim was asleep and intoxicated after a work party. After an evening of socialising, the victim had gone to bed in a spare bedroom in a friends house, only to wake to Oliver forcefully violating her . Her victim impact statement said it had been one of the most extreme violations a person can endure. It left her traumatised, unable to work, and she told the court her children had lost the carefree, happy mother they once knew. When Oliver was sentenced in October, he provided a remorse letter and made the offer of emotional harm reparation. Judge Lawson said $2500 couldnt possibly repay the financial loss that the victim suffered, but it is an offer which I can take into account as a manifestation of the remorse youve talked about. The judge was persuaded that comments Oliver made to a pre-sentence report writer, and the contents of the letter provided to the court, suggested he appreciated the impact of his actions. Very often in cases like this, we find victims left in a state of doubt because the defendants maintain their innocence and do not accept the verdicts. Here you have accepted what you have done and that your offending has caused harm to the victim. More than that, Oliver had made the offer of $2500 emotional harm reparation. Taking all that into account, Judge Lawson gave Oliver a 5% discount for remorse, as well as 10% for Olivers background, to arrive at an end sentence of six years and three months imprisonment. He ordered the emotional harm reparation, though didnt give any specific directions about timeframe in his oral judgment. A lot of back and forth The victim said there had been a lot of back and forth trying to get the reparation, and she had followed up with the collections team at the court. She was told there had been an unsuccessful attempt to collect the money while Oliver was in custody, and she wouldnt get the reparation for at least another six years, or when he gets out of prison, if [she gets it] at all. The victim told NZME that from the start, it had felt like a pathetic amount. Shed been unable to work after the attack, and it had derailed the career shed been pursuing. Despite that, she and her husband had seen the sentencing as the end of the process, and expected the offered reparation would be paid straight away so they could move on. We were like, oh good, Christmas is not far away, we can actually do Christmas, kind of thing... but then it never came. She thought that because the money had been proactively offered, and had informed the discount, it would be paid then and there. If youre not gonna pay it, dont get 5% off... stay in prison for a few more months, she said. The victims husband said they thought, this is sentencing, he goes to prison. The payment is made. We move on with our lives and dont have to think about it again. Before the payment was made, the victim said chasing up the payment had made it hard to move on and put the attack, and the trial , behind her. It had felt never-ending, she said. It was only after NZME contacted a representative for Oliver that the payment was made. However, despite several requests for comment, NZME has not received any official response about why it hadnt been paid earlier. Outstanding reparation Figures released to NZME in March, revealed unpaid reparation in the Tauranga District Court sits at $5,717,308, while the total outstanding reparation across the country is $105,678,413. Ministry of Justice National Service Delivery group manager Tracey Baguley couldnt comment on specific cases, but said when reparation was ordered in cases where a defendant was sentenced to imprisonment, the ministry would still attempt to collect the payment. That was payable within 28 days unless specific alternative timeframes were directed by the judge. When an offender is in prison... however, enforcement options are often limited, Baguley said. Enforcement could include wages or bank account deduction, seizing property and, in some cases, suspending the offenders drivers licence. ...the legislation does not empower the court to pay the victim before it is collected from the offender; instead, the offender pays reparation, with payments enforced by the court. This is an area that Money, the Governments Chief Victims Advisor, has much to say about. Victim advocate Ruth Money. Photo / supplied When reparation went unpaid, it could cause issues with trust and confidence in the court system. It could also have a long-lasting impact on victims. Either receiving little drip-fed amounts over a long period of time, as a constant reminder of their trauma, she said. Or waiting many years, and still perhaps nothing materialising at the end of it. She had seen many cases where reparation had been paid swiftly, however, and where the offender had paid reparation while in prison. Often the survivor is using that for therapy, for loss of income over missing work... it allows them to truly draw a line in the sand. She wanted to explore whether the state could pay the reparation, and then chase up the offender, rather than leaving it to victims. That is an expensive option, particularly in todays economy. But is that a reason for us not to do it? Absolutely not. SEXUAL HARM Where to get help: If you've ever experienced sexual assault or abuse and need to talk to someone, contact Safe to Talk confidentially, any time 24/7: Call 0800 044 334 Text 4334 Email support@safetotalk.nz For more info or to web chat visit safetotalk.nz Alternatively contact your local police station - click here for a list. Hannah Bartlett is a Tauranga-based Open Justice reporter at NZME. She previously covered court and local government for the Nelson Mail, and before that was a radio reporter at Newstalk ZB. Two people are in police custody after road spikes were deployed to stop an alleged stolen vehicle. Police received reports of a stolen vehicle driving dangerously on State Highway 29A, Poike, at 5.30am this morning. Police did not pursue but deployed spikes in front of the vehicle, police said in a statement. The vehicle was stopped a short time later and two people were taken into custody near Jellicoe St, Te Puke. Police said one youth has been arrested and charged with driving-related charges. Two Bay of Plenty acts are among the top 15 finalists of the Smokefreerockquest nationals. Aisha and Bebe (Aisha Scott and Bebe Campbell), from Otumoetai College, are returning to the national finals, in which they came second last year. Four Piece Go Getter, from Bethlehem College, have made it to the finals after winning the Bay of Plenty Smokefreerockquest final in June. Go Getter is made up of Connor Cumins (guitar, vocals), Tre Osulivan (bass, vocals), Isreal Cameron (guitar) and Issac Reidy (drums). Since its beginnings in 1989, Smokefreerockquest has provided a platform for thousands of young musicians, a spokesperson for the event said in a statement. Aisha and Bebe performing at 2024 Smokefreerockquest event. Photo / Chontalle Musson In 2025, its 37th year, the event attracted more than 1000 acts - comprising more than 3200 young people - showing the enduring strength of youth music in New Zealand. Across the country throughout May and June there were 34 events across 24 regions, with an online region available for those unable to make it to a live event. These standout acts have been selected following a multi-stage judging process which started with them performing their original material at regional live events, an event spokesperson said. To determine the national finalists, the top acts from each region were invited to submit live performance videos for the top 35 selection, which were viewed by a panel of industry professionals. The top 15 national finalists for Smokefreerockquest 2025 are: BANDS Courtneys Place Scots College, Wellington College (Wellington) Deaf Raccoon John McGlashan College (Otago) Equilibrium Burnside High School (Christchurch) Go Getter Bethlehem College (Bay of Plenty) HOON Hillcrest High School, Vision College (Waikato) IWI Gisborne Boys High School, Awapuni School (Tairawhiti) Rumpus Machine Long Bay College (North Shore) SEEK HELP! Queens High School (Otago) SOLO-DUOS Aisha and Bebe Otumoetai College (Bay of Plenty) Greer Castle Wellington Girls College (Wellington) Knelle Marsters Papatoetoe High School (Manukau) Kosta Silich Kerikeri High School (Far North) Levol Y Manurewa High School (Manukau) Sahara Cambridge High School (Waikato) Tahi ONeil Gisborne Boys High School (Tairawhiti) As part of the top 7 solo-duos, Aisha and Bebe have been invited to perform at the Smokefreerockquest solo-duo national final, at Aucklands Big Fan on Thursday, September 11. Go Getter will perform at the Smokefreerockquest band national final, at Aucklands ASB Waterfront Theatre on Friday, September 12. Vintage Land Rover enthusiast Julian Paton was on holiday in Europe in July 2024, when he was contacted by a United Kingdom friend advising him to get his wallet out. A rather significant Land Rover had come up for sale, and the friend knew Julian would want it. I certainly did want it, and I managed to persuade owner Peter Marr to wait for me to come home to buy it, says Julian. He is now the proud owner of Twenty, the first Land Rover to reach New Zealands shores. Twenty was the 20th Land Rover made in the historical JLR factory in Solihull, Birmingham and was shipped out to Wellington on September 16, 1948, for use as a demonstrator vehicle. After her demonstrator days, Twenty spent her working life in Taihape until acquired by Taihape Automotive Specialists in 1984 where she remained partially dismantled for 30 years, before Peter bought her in 2014. In Dunedin he carried out a restoration that Julian says was a magnificent job, where every effort was made to preserve her original parts, bodywork and patina. She really is a rare and authentic vehicle which played a major part in New Zealands post-war agricultural history. A part of New Zealands agricultural past After World War II, Rover was exporting most new Land Rovers to get subsidies from the UK government for obtaining steel which was scarce post-war. The Land Rover was the first civilian four-wheel drive vehicle. Such vehicles had only been available to the armed forces previously. Twenty toured NZ showing off her moves to the rural communities. Described as a British version of a Jeep in an article in the Otago Daily Times in November 1948, the Land Rover demonstrated combining operational economy with the main functions of a tractor, light truck, portable power plant and a car. Twenty in the garage at Taihape where she had remained for 30 years before being restored by Peter Marr. Photo / Ros Woodham The Otago Daily Times also described that with the four-wheel drive, it has been found in tests, the Land Rover will work on slopes which would not be possible for a wheeled tractor and showed complete efficiency for discing, harrowing, chain-harrowing, seeding and top-dressing. The addition of either a rear or central power take off enabled the use of mowers, threshers, circular saws, welders and compressors, says Julian. The versatility of this Land Rover drew considerable interest. Twenty was famously in the news in 1948 when with permission, she was driven up the Parliament steps to demonstrate her superior four-wheel drive capabilities. A heartfelt journey up through New Zealand Faced with the task of getting Twenty home to Auckland, Julian decided he would drive 1800km up through the South Island, a part of the country he had yet to explore. Julian is a professor and research scientist at the University of Auckland and director of Manaaki Manawa - the Centre for Heart Research. Julian has spent 15 years developing a natural pacemaker for heart failure and a new heart valve for children with rheumatic heart disease. I saw an opportunity for a charity event for research into natural valves for children with RHD. 1400 children develop this disease each year and require regular operations as they grow to replace their heart valves. In conjunction with strong interest from our paediatric/cardiothoracic surgeons and incredible tissue engineers, biomedical engineers and engineers, we have world class facilities at the university to develop living heart valves from the childs own skin tissue which when implanted will grow with the child, reducing repeated operations and rejection issues. Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) NZ provided a new Defender 110 as a support vehicle for Twenty. Julians friend, Craig Irwin drove the Defender and organised most of the logistics of the journey. Julian concentrated on daily maintenance on Twenty, and she ran beautifully. We left on the January 31, 2025, and JLR put on dealership events as we passed through Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Napier and Hamilton. Camping after a hot, dusty drive with Julian, left, and good friend Andrew Richards, right, who flew in from Bristol, UK to join the adventure. Photo / Craig Irwin Twenty was infamously in the news in Wellington when the Hon David Seymour, MP attempted to drive her up the Parliament steps without permission this time, which caused a bit of nationwide publicity. Julian and Craig were rarely alone with family and friends joining them for stretches. Land Rover enthusiasts joined them too and there were 37 Land Rovers in convoy up the Auckland motorway. We used a mixture of camping and motels and were welcomed through some of the back country stations in the South Island which was an amazing experience. The 2168km trip took 16 days and raised $70,000 for Manaaki Manawas heart valve project. We were blown away by the conversations that Twenty was the catalyst for. People shared their Land Rover memories, and they talked about their heart disease. The incredible humanity we experienced as we came up through the country was very humbling. Javier Varela Monday, 11 August 2025, 09:56 Share The rapid and effective action of the fire brigade on Friday night stopped the flames from completely engulfing the mosque-cathedral in Cordoba,declared a World Heritage site since 1984. In the absence of technical reports, it is estimated that the fire and smoke only affected three of the chapels, between "25 and 50 square metres" of the 23,000 square metres of the whole complex. Dean-president of the Cathedral Chapter of Cordoba Joaquin Alberto Nieva described the damage as "very small" and "localised". The fire started around 9pm. Although the exact cause of the incident is not known, it is believed the the fire originated from a short circuit during the loading of a sweeping machine in one of the chapels, which serves as a warehouse for cleaning materials and chairs. The chapel is located in the so-called nave of Almanzor, which faces the eastern facade of the monument. Once the spark was ignited, the fire quickly spread to the roofs and the adjoining chapel - the Anunciacion chapel, whose roof ended up collapsing under the weight of the water used to extinguish the fire. The chapel of San Nicolas de Bari was also affected, although only by the smoke. Accompanied by mayor Jose Maria Bellido and the temple's bishop emeritus Demetrio Fernandez, Nieva appeared in the Patio de los Naranjos to update the public on the damages left by the fire. "What has collapsed is about 25 square metres," he said, limiting the damage to "recently restored" wooden vaults. Although he confirmed that some "sculptural, pictorial or altarpiece works" had been affected, he highlighted that the damage has not been as vast and serious as in the storage chapel, the roof of which is "practically destroyed and burnt". The flames did not reach the chapel of the Holy Spirit - the most important one. The temple even reopened for visitors first thing on Saturday morning, only some hours after the fire. "It is completely safe to visit and worship," said Nieva. The dean-president stated that, in the autumn, "one of the most modern fire-fighting systems in existence will be implemented: water mist. It is the same system that was installed at Notre Dame after its reconstruction". In addition, the action protocol will be reviewed, although Nieva assessed that it had worked perfectly this time. "The fire was extinguished in reasonable time and with great efficiency," he said. Head of the Speis fire prevention and fighting service Daniel Munoz said that the 35 firefighters who worked on extinguishing the fire focused their efforts on preventing "the fire from spreading to other chapels". According to him, the greatest difficulty was in controlling the beams so that the roofs would not collapse. Large cloud of smoke The first alarm was raised at 9.15pm on Friday, when the 112 emergency service received several calls reporting smoke in the area around the mosque-cathedral. From that moment on, videos and photos showing a large cloud of smoke around some the roofs of the monument started to spread on social media. The cloud was visible from different parts of the city. The mayor and the bishop emeritus announced that the fire was under control around 11pm, although it was fully extinguished around 12.17am. The fire brigade remained at the scene during the night and monitored the area. Meanwhile, the monument's maintenance staff initiated cleaning tasks so that the mosque-cathedral could open in the morning. No injuries were reported as a result of the incident, although one firefighter had to be evacuated from the area after suffering a heatstroke due to the high temperatures. Image of the fireball that flew over Andalucia, Murcia and the south of Alicante until it reached the Balearic Islands. Rossel Aparicio Malaga Monday, 11 August 2025, 09:59 Share A phenomenon, that could have been interpreted as the luminous streak of light of a meteoroid, crossed Malaga and Andalucia on Sunday, 10 August, and fascinated those who had the chance to witness it. The fireball passed over Spain around 11.49pm and many managed to capture it as it travelled through the sky in Andalucia, Murcia and the southern part of Alicante, before heading towards the Balearic Islands. But what exactly was it, if not a meteor? According to astrophysics researcher Jose Maria Madiedo, the light phenomenon was caused by the "re-entry of an artificial object into the Earth's atmosphere". The object, "probably a satellite, entered the atmosphere at about 29,000km/h over the Atlantic Ocean, flew over the Iberian Peninsula and continued towards the Mediterranean. It was not the fall of a meteorite". Zoom Jose Maria Madiedo The expert explained that the artificial object became incandescent when it entered the atmosphere, generating a fireball that started at an altitude of 118 kilometres over the Atlantic Ocean and moved in a north-easterly direction. "It broke into a multitude of fragments," Madiedo said. A Starlink satellite? According to Madiedo, the most likely hypothesis is that the fragments that survived their abrupt passage through the Earth's atmosphere fell into the Mediterranean Sea. "We are currently trying to identify the object that caused this phenomenon. It could be a Starlink satellite," he said. This luminous event was captured by the detectors that the Smart project has in different observatories on the Iberian Peninsula. It is a research project headed by Madiedo as part of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC) coordinated by the Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia. Isabel Mendez Malaga Monday, 11 August 2025, 13:46 Share The second official heatwave of this summer will continue to hit hard this week. For this reason, state meteorological agency Aemet maintains warnings for high temperatures until Thursday. Although not spared the heat, Malaga is the only province in Andalucia, along with Almeria, without a warning this Monday. Both Malaga city and the province will exceed 30C, with 37C in Coin and Alora on Monday (and a minimum of 22) and 38C on Tuesday, after which the temperature will go down to a maximum of 37C again for the rest of the week. An amber alert will be in force in Huelva (Aracena, Andevalo and Condado); the countryside of Cadiz; Seville; Cordoba; Morena, Condado and Valle del Guadalquivir in Jaen; and the Cuenca del Genil in Granada. In some areas, temperatures will reach 42C and the high risk warning will be extended between 1pm and 9pm. Meanwhile, the coast of Huelva (Aracena), the northern and southern mountains of Seville (Campina and Sierra Norte), the Subbetica area of Cordoba and the Jaen areas of Capital y Montes, Cazorla and Segura will be under a yellow heat warning. The situation is similar for Tuesday, 12 August, when Aemet predicts amber warnings for the provinces of Huelva, Cadiz, Cordoba, Seville and Jaen. In principle, the province of Cadiz will remain under a yellow warning. Asturias - the exception All the Spanish regions, except Asturias, will be under a heat warning on Monday - 11 under an amber alert, while the interior of the Gipuzkoa province and the Ebro in Zaragoza will be under a red alert. Galicia, however, will experience a significant drop in maximum temperatures, as will Cantabria and the Balearic Islands, so all three will remain under a yellow warning. Maximum temperatures will increase in areas close to the Mediterranean, the Ebro and certain areas of the Cantabrian slope. As a result, temperatures will exceed 35C in most of the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary Islands, as well as in parts of the Balearic Islands, reaching 40C in practically all of Andalucia, Extremadura, Castile-La Mancha and even Navarre. Minimum temperatures will mostly remain unchanged. Rises are expected in the Levante, the Ebro and the eastern Cantabrian Sea, while decreases will occur in the northwest of the peninsula. In most of the country, temperatures will not fall below 20C, except in the extreme north-west of the peninsula and in the mountains. Minimum temperatures may locally exceed 25C in the Levante and in eastern Andalucia, while they are not expected to drop below this figure in large areas of the Canary Islands. Moderate northerly winds will blow in the Canary Islands and easterly winds in the Strait of Gibraltar, both with likely intervals of strong gusts. Light winds from the east and south will prevail elsewhere, gradually strengthening during the day and shifting to the west in the Cantabrian region and the northwest quadrant of the Iberian Peninsula. There could also be thunderstorms and showers, potentially locally heavy with hail and very strong gusts of wind in the Pyrenees and the south of the Iberian Peninsula, with a new episode of haze in the Canary Islands. Aemet maintains the heatwave warning in Spain until next Thursday, 14 August, with maximum temperatures that will exceed 41C in the valleys of the Tagus, Guadiana and Guadalquivir rivers on Monday and Tuesday. Maria Albarral Monday, 11 August 2025, 13:42 Share The Nagueles quarry in Marbella hosted a masquerade ball for the traditional Starlite Gala, which was celebrated on Sunday, 10 August. The foundation headed by Sandra Garcia-Sanjuan raised funds for various charitable causes, including the Ninos en Alegria and Lagrimas y Favores projects. The absence of Antonio Banderas - the regular host par excellence - left a bittersweet taste. However, the world-renowned Malaga actor made his presence felt through a video call from London, where he is shooting a film. He received a warm applause from the audience, who sang to celebrate his 65th birthday. The gala was also attended by Marbella mayor Angeles Munoz and other members of the local government. Munoz highlighted the town hall's support for volunteering and charitable causes. The mayor stated that the funds collected at the Starlite Gala go towards the functions and agenda of the chosen organisations throughout the year. In the absence of Banderas, Valeria Mazza and Cayetana Guillen Cuervo were the hosts of the event. Performances by Marilia Andres, Los Alpresa and Fatima Flores entertained the audience. Among the attendees were Spanish celebrities such as Paula Echeverria, Irene Villa, Maria Jose Suarez, Carmen Lomana, Juan Pena, Nicole Kimpel and Javier Banderas, the actor's brother. Award winners However, the spotlight this year was taken by a smiling Kerem Bursin - an actor famous for his roles in Turkish soap operas. He received the Influencia 2025 de la Fundacion Starlite award, in recognition of "the powerful and conscious way he uses his platform to inspire positive change in society". "Beyond his success as an actor, Kerem has become a true advocate for equality and sustainability. As the first national ambassador for UN Women's HeForShe campaign in Turkey, he has helped mobilise men and boys to support gender equality. He is also a goodwill ambassador for Unicef," said Starlite's organisers. The Turkish actor said he was delighted to be back in Marbella. He expressed his desire to potentially work in Spain and collaborate "with a great actor like Banderas". Lucy Doughty, Ismael Cala and Pedro Rodriguez also received recognition for their solidarity. "Solidarity is compassion, love for others and understanding the human pain that each one of us experiences," said Doughty. Cala stressed "the importance of the balance between emotional intelligence and IQ, which in the end is the intelligence of the human spirit, the spirit that seeks to be at peace, to be in balance, to say 'no' to violence and to being distant, despite differences". "Solidarity is absolutely necessary, it is a moral obligation that must be fulfilled in order to help those most in need," said Fernandez. In addition to the prizes, an auction to raise funds for the various charitable causes was held. (Reuters) -GitHub Chief Executive Thomas Dohmke said on Monday he will leave the Microsoft-owned code-hosting platform to launch a new startup, capping a tenure that included a major push into artificial intelligence through the company's Copilot products. Dohmke, who moved to the U.S. from Germany more than a decade ago after selling his startup to Microsoft, said his "startup roots" prompted the decision. "I've decided to leave GitHub to become a founder again," he said in a blog post, but did not provide details about the new venture. Before becoming CEO, Dohmke helped lead mobile developer tools at Microsoft and worked on GitHubs acquisition alongside former CEO Nat Friedman. Microsoft acquired GitHub in a $7.5 billion all-stock deal in 2018. More than 150 million developers use GitHub's tools to build, maintain and collaborate on software projects, according to the company's website. Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Dohmkes successor. His transition period concludes at the end of the year. Dohmke said that under his leadership, GitHub expanded globally, earned U.S. FedRAMP certification for federal use and doubled AI projects on the platform. Axios, which first reported the news, said Microsoft developer division head Julia Liuson will oversee GitHub's revenue, engineering and support. GitHub's chief product officer, Mario Rodriguez, will report to head of product for Microsoft's AI platform Asha Sharma, according to the report. (Reporting by Jaspreet Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid) Tony Bryant Monday, 11 August 2025, 13:21 Share Fuengirola is hosting A Caballo on Saturday 20 September, an equestrian show that takes place for the eighth year in Plaza de la Constitucion, the area around Plaza Reyes Catolicos and Avenida Condes de San Isidro. The event, held between midday and 10pm, will present equestrian shows, dressage and tack competitions, a carriage driving exhibition and a traditional harness driving competition. This years initiative is held in memory of Jose Luis Martin Lorca, a Malaga-born entrepreneur who was one of the pioneers of tourism on the Costa del Sol who died last year. The event was announced by the President of the Pena Caballista club, Hugo Ruiz, the director of the Dana equestrian centre, Jose Gonzalez and the President of the Costa del Sol carriage driving club, Alberto Tudela. Once again, this event continues to gain ground in Fuengirola. It is an event of increasing significance and is now a hallmark of our town, developed over many years. In fact, this is the 47th edition of the carriage driving exhibition, the second oldest in Andalucia after Jerez, Hugo Ruiz said. Ruiz explained that the carriage competition will have international judges this year, as well as confirmed participation from carriages coming from all over Spain and countries such as Portugal, the Netherlands and Chile. We aim to ensure the horse continues to be the star and a benchmark in Fuengirola, as it has been for decades. Fuengirola has great quality in the equestrian field, with excellent participants in competitions, he added. As a new feature this year, a carriage driving manoeuvrability test will take place in the bullring, which, Ruiz said, will give the event even more prestige. Finally, the president of the Costa del Sol carriage driving club, said: We are working to ensure that the best carriages from Andalucia and the rest of Spain can come to Fuengirola and showcase vehicles with a great deal of history - many of them decades old but preserved in exceptional condition. This year we have managed to offer an international-level carriage driving exhibition that will be unmatched. This is only possible thanks to having a strong team behind it and a town hall that looks out for us and supports us at all times. The full programme can be found on https://www.fuengirola.es/programacion-fuengirola-a-caballo-2025/ Jose Carlos Garcia Fuengirola Monday, 11 August 2025, 18:04 Share There will be no tasting menus, just sandwiches, but their creators will be the same people who create the menus of some of the best restaurants in Malaga province. This is the first edition of Bocata Fest that, on 29 and 30 August, will take over the Marenostrum festival site in Fuengirola for the enjoyment of those who can afford a visit to its inner sanctum and those who cannot. Gourmet offerings created specifically for this event will be accompanied by examples of international street food, live music and an open-air fashion and craft market. Anyone visiting Sohail Castle park on 29 August will be able to see Diego Gallegos, chef at the Fuengirola restaurant Sollo and holder of one Michelin star, two Repsol suns and a Michelin green star, who will be serving as guest chef with his 'Pastrami club sandwich'. Diego Rene, from Malaga restaurant Beluga with one Repsol sun, will be present on both days of this first Bocata Fest. He is serving up his 'BBQ rib brioche'. Daniel Garcia Peinado, known as the Aove chef for his dedication to the liquid gold, is from the Bien Frito restaurant in the Fuengirola district of Los Pacos, serving up his 'Hot sandwich of sliced-and-diced meat with Canarian mojo (hot) sauce, cured cheese and mango chutney'. There is also Mariano Rodriguez from Malaga restaurant EME de Mariano with his 'Iberian mogote sandwich' (a 'mogote' being a mound in geography, so this hot pork sandwich will stack up high). The prestigious line-up is completed by Daniela Romero, from the Alma Playa restaurant in Rincon de la Victoria with her 'Ciabatta with pork scratchings in lard, truffle and payoyo goat cheese', Mario Cespedes from Ronda 14 in Malaga with his Argentine-style 'Criollo chorizo sandwich with green mojo sauce and red pepper sauce' and, last but not least, Reyna Traverso, from La Taqueria Ensenada in La Carihuela (Torremolinos), with her Mexican-style 'Toasted bun stuffed with slow-cooked meat', a gluten-free item at this gastronomic event. The food options are completed by international dishes such as 'Churros in carbonara sauce', 'Quesadilla packed with clay-baked game' (gluten-free), 'Guacamole with totopos', 'Tequenisimo' and 'Arepita with shredded chicken and hot sauce ['aji']'. For those with a sweet tooth, there will be artisan options from Yummy, an ice-cream parlour from Malaga specialising in dairy and gluten-free flavours, and Brownie & Olive, also from the Costa del Sol capital, with its brownies made with extra virgin olive oil and artisan toppings. Live music, market and tickets The Fundacion Unicaja stage at Sohail Castle will set the rhythm for both nights of this foodie festival. On Friday 29, the group Plata y Espada will open with a live presentation of tracks from their first album. This will be followed by Adriana Rogan, finalist from the Spanish TV talent shows of La Voz and Tierra de Talento, with soul, pop and funky covers, followed by dance music from DJ Barba. On Saturday 30 it will be the turn of the Free Soul Band, with a live performance of powerful soul and rock, then Funkorama, a band from Granada that will bid farewell to the stage by paying tribute to the golden age of the US disco scene. In addition, the public will be able to vote for the best sandwich of the festival, take part in food raffles on social media, get a tattoo done live with La Revuelta, and enjoy an open-air fashion and craft market on the esplanade up to Sohail Castle. The 1st Bocata Fest will be held on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 August, from 7.30pm to 2am as part of the Marenostrum Fuengirola season of events. Tickets are now on sale on the event and festival websites, with a limited package of promotional tickets available while stocks last (five euros, including IVA sales tax and fees, for each of the two days). The event is organised by Malaga-based events management agency GastronOmico, which specialises in designing culinary experiences, and with the support of Fuengirola town hall and Malaga's provincial authority, through the 'Sabor a Malaga' brand. Rossel Aparicio Malaga Monday, 11 August 2025, 11:27 Share This summer started without a jellyfish in sight on the Costa del Sol. However, in the last two weeks, specifically the last few days of July and the first few of August, the sightings of these invertebrates (and their stings) have increased, forcing the municipal authorities to raise the yellow flag on some beaches to advise bathers to swim with caution. So, why have the jellyfish returned once more to Malaga? What are the reasons for their presence now? Which are their most frequented locations? Which are the most common species to be seen along Malaga's coastline? We address these and other concerns about these somewhat unwelcome visitors to our summer shores. From the outset, Juan Antonio Lopez (president of Malaga's Aula del Mar, a local foundation for marine studies and conservation), is keen to debunk a deeply-held belief among the public: the presence of jellyfish has nothing directly to do with how warm is the water temperature, as these marine species "can survive both in cold and warm waters." He explains that their appearance is closely related to the Levante wind that often strikes the province. This is the main culprit behind the arrival of, for example, Pelagia noctiluca (commonly known in English as the mauve or purple stinger), one of the most common jellyfish on the coast of Malaga and it stings a lot of people. This species, which is also known as the carnation or luminescent jellyfish, can measure more than 20 centimetres in diameter. It is unusual in that the entire surface of its umbrella, the oral arms around its mouth and its tentacles are covered with warts that contain nematocysts (stinging cells). "It has a pinkish-reddish colour that sets it apart," explains the Aula del Mar website. Ocean currents also play an important role in the sighting of jellyfish, as they can carry them towards the shoreline. These currents also move nutrients about in the sea. Jellyfish, being planktotrophic organisms, concentrate in areas rich in plankton. A greater availability of these resources can lead to an increase in the jellyfish population, known as a 'bloom'. According to Lopez, in the last few days there have been specific days in which "jellyfish have accumulated in significant groups, but dispersed along the coast." He also points out that the rising tide always increases the incidence of jellyfish. Zoom Archive image of a 'fried egg' jellyfish. Aula del Mar For its part, the Spanish government's ministry for ecological transition and the demographic challenge (Miteco) links their presence on beaches, as well as their abundance, to certain meteorological conditions (rainfall, winds, marine currents). Among the influencing factors, the ministry highlights climatology, hydrocarbon pollution and overfishing, since any decrease in other species competing for the same food favours the development of larger populations of jellyfish. Other common types of jellyfish in Malaga Moving on from these two jellyfish, the marine life expert draws our attention to two more species that are also being seen this year in Malaga waters: the ones popularly known as the giant barrel jellyfish and the fried egg jellyfish. The first one, Rhizostoma luteum, is one of the largest jellyfish to be found in the Mediterranean as its umbrella can reach 55-77cm in diameter. They usually appear in isolation or in small groups, although sometimes they have been seen in swarms. "It does not pose any danger as it has a medium level of stinging poison. That is why we always ask bathers and beach users not to touch them or take them out of the water." The second, Cotylorhiza tuberculata, which resembles a fried egg, is a coastal species regarded as endemic to the Mediterranean, although it is also found in the Red Sea and the Canary Islands. They are usually small in size, but some specimens can reach 20-35 cm in diameter. "It is harmless to people and rarely causes injury because of its very low stinging capacity," states Aula del Mar on its website. Anton Etxebarria Monday, 11 August 2025, 13:51 Share Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, Pedro Sanchez has shown his support for Ukraine. Spain's PM has visited Kyiv on several occasions and President of Ukraine Volodymir Zelenski has often thanked him for the aid received, be it Leopard tanks or power generation equipment. The two leaders spoke for the last time on Saturday and expressed their positive relationship on their respective X (formerly Twitter) accounts. Sanchez called for "a just and lasting peace that respects Ukraine's independence and sovereignty" and Zelenski applauded the fact that they have "the same vision". However, on Sunday, 10 August, the European Commission sidelined Spain by approving a resolution in support of Ukraine without the signature of any representative from Madrid. It did include the signatures of the leaders of Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Finland and even the UK, which is no longer even part of the EU. However, the text signed does not say anything new. It stresses that "only an approach that combines active diplomacy, support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia" can end the war between Ukraine and Russia, applauds "President Trump's work to stop the massacre in Ukraine" and states that the signatory countries are "ready to support that work diplomatically, in addition to maintaining substantial military and financial support for Ukraine". All this while imposing "restrictive measures against the Russian Federation". Although these ideas are shared by Sanchez's government, this is not the first time Spain has been excluded from the group of leading European countries on this issue. Sanchez was not invited to the meeting on Saturday between the European allies and US Vice President JD Vance, who seems to be preparing the ground before Trump and Putin meet on Friday, 15 August, in Alaska. The US president also spoke by phone with various EU leaders to brief them on the progress of his envoy - Steve Witkoff - in Moscow. There is no record of Sanchez being in that group. Sanchez in London However, the Spanish Prime Minister will travel to London on 3 September to meet UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at his official residence. Although Sanchez has travelled to the UK four times, this will be the first time he has held a bilateral meeting with his counterpart, in a meeting in which he plans to discuss the recent agreement between Spain, the UK and the EU on Gibraltar. It has not been revealed whether the two leaders will discuss the situation in Ukraine, which may be very different by then. So far, little has changed on the ground. Fighting and deadly attacks continue, with mutual drone launches in the early hours of Sunday morning, as the Russian army continues to advance in the east against a less numerous and less well-equipped adversary. In the afternoon, Russia bombed a bus station and university in Zaporiyia, injuring at least 19 people. "This is the terrorism that we Ukrainians suffer every day," said governor Ivan Fedorov. To end the conflict, Moscow demands that Ukraine cede four partially occupied regions (Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporiyia and Kherson), as well as Crimea, annexed in 2014, and renounce Western arms supplies and any Nato membership. These demands are unacceptable to Ukraine, which demands the withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory and Western security guarantees. This would include more arms supplies and the deployment of a European contingent, which Russia opposes. Given the ineffectiveness of the economic measures and military support that the West has offered Kyiv so far, hopes are pinned on the meeting between Trump and Putin, although the three bilateral meetings between Russia and Ukraine have so far failed to produce any results. C. P. S. Monday, 11 August 2025, 19:07 Share Madrid motorcyclist Julio Alamo - the man behind the ToroEnMoto project - has reached the last Osborne bull erected outside Spain in Matsunoyama Onsen, Japan, known as Black Symbol. This milestone marks the end of a route of more than 21,000 kilometres, across 11 countries, that Alamo started on 3 May in El Puerto de Santa Maria (Cadiz). His sole companion during this trip was his Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Explorer motorcycle. What began as a weekend challenge to visit the Osborne bulls in Spain in 2017, became a long term project: locate and visit all bulls, about 100 in total, in Spain (89), Mexico (4), Denmark (1) and Japan (1). The Japanese bull, installed in 2018 by artist Santiago Sierra during the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennial, was added to the permanent collection thanks to the support of the local community. Alamo's arrival was celebrated with a welcoming ceremony that brought together more than 120 people, including local authorities, cultural and tourist representatives, journalists and 72 students from the Matsunoyama Gakuen school. The ceremony included a traditional prayer ritual for his safe return and a cultural exchange with the students. During his journey, Julio has crossed deserts, slept in yurts, tackled mountain passes, sailed on ferries and received the hospitality of motorbike clubs in several countries. "I have crossed borders, but above all I have crossed fears and emotions. This bull is more than a destination: it is a personal conquest," he says. Although the Japanese bull marks the end of a stage, Alamo does not rule out continuing the journey and turning it into a round-the-world trip. As he himself says, "great journeys are not measured in kilometres, but in what they transform inside". J.M.L. Toledo Monday, 11 August 2025, 17:35 Share A group of French tourists who were travelling through the province of Toledo in Spain last weekend will not forget their stay in the country after getting shot at by a pair of phony police officers. The incident took place at the intersection of the A-4 motorway and the AP-36 toll motorway at Dosbarrios (Toledo). A vehicle pulled up alongside the tourists and asked them to stop. The false police officers - two young men with their faces hidden - asked them for their documents and demanded immediate payment of a sum of money in cash to let them continue their journey. The tourists, who had no such amount of money on them, became suspicious and fled. They drove the wrong way down the A-4 motorway for several kilometres, leading many road users to believe that it was a reckless driver. As they drove off, the criminals shot at their vehicle. One of the bullets broke the rear window of the car and lodged in the front passenger seat, without causing injury to the occupants. They finally managed to reach hotel-restaurant Los Arcos, located next to the A-4, from where they alerted the security forces. A few minutes later, half a dozen vehicles of the Guardia Civil arrived at the hotel and opened an investigation to find the two criminals. The perpetrators' vehicle was located by the police near Dosbarrios, with changed number plates. Is Bob Dylan working on new music? The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer visited an Upstate New York recording studio last week, in between tour dates on the Outlaw Music Festival. Dylan performed at the Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview in Syracuse on Sunday and at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center the previously weekend. The Times Union reports Dylan spent two days at White Lake Studios in Colonie on Tuesday and Wednesday. The studio said Dylan and members of his band entered the facility with essential personnel. White Lake Studios CEO David Bourgeois wouldnt specify if the sessions included any new material for a possible upcoming album, but said Dylan was kind and pleasant and at one point or another had an exchange with everybody. I had an opportunity to tell him how pleased I was that he was there, he told the Albany newspaper. At one point, I ran into him in a hallway and asked him how everything was going. He was very positive. Dylan, who used to live in Woodstock, N.Y., is no stranger to recording music in the region. Dylan famously made The Basement Tapes at the Big Pink house, in West Saugerties, with The Band in the 1960s. Dylan is currently touring with Willie Nelson on the 10th edition of the country legends Outlaw Music Festival. They performed at SPAC on Aug. 2, in New Hampshire on Aug. 3, at Darien Lake Amphitheater on Aug. 8, at Hersheypark in Pennsylvania on Aug. 9, and at the Amp in Syracuse on Aug. 10. Dylans Syracuse performance included songs spanning his career, including All Along the Watchtower, Highway 61 Revisited and Dont Think Twice, Its All Right. He did not speak about any potential new music during the show. Bob Dylan performs at the Outlaw Music Festival at the Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview in Syracuse, N.Y., on Aug. 10, 2025. (Geoff Herbert | gherbert@syracuse.com) Geoff Herbert | gherbert@syracuse.com Dylan, 83, is one of the most storied musicians of all time. Hes a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame; received multiple Grammy Awards, a Nobel Prize and a Pulitzer Prize; and influenced countless artists with songs like Knockin On Heavens Door, Like a Rolling Stone, The Man in Me, The Times They Are A-Changin and Blowin in the Wind. His life has also been adapted for the big screen multiple times, including in the recent biopic A Complete Unknown, starring Timothee Chalamet. Dylans last studio album, Shadow Kingdom, was released in 2023. When we think of Upstate New Yorks beauty, mountains, waterfalls and lakes often come to mind, but each region also boasts striking architecture. Soliant, a healthcare staffing company, recently announced the results of its 13th annual Most Beautiful Hospitals in the U.S. contest. The competition recognizes facilities designed to create warm, healing environments that support patient recovery. Wynn Hospital in Utica ranked No. 8 on the list of 20. The 10-story, 702,000-square-foot hospital opened in October 2023 and is considered the centerpiece of the Central New York citys downtown medical revitalization, according to Soliant. Its modern design features clean lines, expansive glass facades and abundant natural light, with a central location offering sweeping views of the city. Wynn Hospital in Utica, N.Y. was voted one of the top 10 most beautiful hospitals in America. Provided photo | Mohawk Valley Health System Provided photo | Mohawk Valley Health System The design of the Wynn Hospital was intentionally created to enhance healing, bring natural light into every corner and foster a welcoming, uplifting environment for patients, visitors and staff, Darlene Stromstad, president and CEO of Mohawk Valley Health System, told the Rome Sentinel. Wynn Hospital earned its spot on the list after thousands of public votes. Another New York hospital, St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson, on Long Island, ranked No. 10. The contests top hospital, located in Oklahoma, received more than 1 million votes and a $5,000 donation to its foundation. When the warm weather arrives in Central New York, we like to head out and put a little twist on our dining experiences. There is nothing quite like dining by the water, whether it be a creek, river or big lake and there are many places to dine by the water in the Syracuse area. Here is a list of great waterfront places for you to consider this summer, from fancy dining to grabbing a cold one and a hot dog and watching the boats go by. Note that all of these eateries are within a one-hour drive of Syracuse. Suds Factory River Grill, Baldwinsville Located at the Oswego Street Bridge over the Seneca River in Baldwinsville. Lots of outdoor seating (two levels) under covered patios, plus waters edge tables. Because the seating area is away from the busy street side of the building, you can enjoy the river view in a peaceful and relaxing way. Outdoor areas are also dog-friendly. Paninis here are delicious. Address: 3 Syracuse St., Baldwinsville Diners eating outside at the Brewster Inn while the sun sets over Cazenovia Lake. The Brewster Inn Brewster Inn, Cazenovia Gorgeous old inn located at the southern end of Cazenovia Lake. Was the 19th-century mansion of a founder of Standard Oil. Gilded Age echoes throughout. Rolling lawn down to the lake for dining. One of the best wine lists in Upstate New York. Pretty as a picture here. The menu is outstanding, but if you can, call ahead and reserve the Dining for Two experience. You get a private table plus a curated dinner just made for you and your sweetie. A unique experience. This is a wonderful place to celebrate special occasions. Address: 8 Ledyard Ave., Cazenovia Waterfront Tavern, Central Square This is a dock-and-dine delight. Waterfront Tavern has a 300-foot landing dock where you can pull up and enjoy a night of fun. A great menu featuring fish tacos, New England clam chowder, burgers, pasta and a whole lot more. This is a big, lively and fun place. Located along the Oneida River where it joins Oneida Lake just west of the I-81 bridge. Address: 6 Route 11, Central Square The back patio at Barado's on the Water, Central Square, N.Y. (Jared Paventi | jaredpaventi@gmail.com) Jared Paventi | jaredpaventi@gma Barados on the Water, Central Square Located on the western shore of Oneida Lake, Barados is a family-owned restaurant offering delicious food, a friendly tavern and pretty lakeside views. Dining on the enclosed patio can be a delightful way to end a day of roadtripping. They have a great menu with many creative dishes, and some say they have the best Maine lobster roll in the region. Address: 57 Bradbury Road, Central Square Johnnies Pier 31, Canastota Friendly place overlooking South Bay on the eastern end of Oneida Lake. Indoor and outdoor dining, with a sandy beach down to the water. Family-owned favorite since opening in 1954. Well-known for their fresh seafood cuisine, which gives them their motto: Like Having Boston in Your Backyard. Address: 3653 Route 31, Canastota Blue Water Grill is located along Skaneateles Lake. Jacob Pucci Blue Water Grill, Skaneateles Without a doubt, one of the most popular dining spots in Skaneateles. This restaurant is the only one in town that sits right on the lake. Great views! Extensive menu of steaks, seafood, pasta, burgers and sandwiches. More than 20 choices on their sushi menu. Lots of delicious craft beers here, too. Address: 11 W. Genesee St., Skaneateles Seasonal Cocktails at The Blue Canoe Grill in Erieville (Danielle Benjamin | Contributing Writer) Blue Canoe Grill, Erieville A Madison County treasure. The Blue Canoe has been welcoming guests to their little hideaway for many years. It might be a little tricky to find (Are we there yet?), but once you emerge from the thicketed, winding road, the Blue Canoe appears as if something out of the past. The ambiance here is definitely Adirondacky, and it is a popular place for live events, parties and music. Comfortable tavern in a 1940s building, sprawling back lawn down to pretty Tuscarora Lake, and delicious foods. Is there a better Reuben sandwich in Madison County? I dont think so. Address: 3568 N. Lake Road, Erieville Harpoon Eddies, Sylvan Beach Central New Yorks place to party. Located at Sylvan Beach, which attracts campers, boaters, swimmers, bar-hoppers and diners all summer. Great family destination. There is a lot to do here, and Harpoon Eddies has been doing it right for more than 35 years. Waterfront views from the deck are outstanding. Beach food selection includes fish tacos, clams and sausage, custom pizzas, burgers, pulled pork, grilled salmon, chicken riggies and much more. Address: 611 Park Ave., Sylvan Beach A sunset view from Rudy's Lakeside Drive-In on Lake Ontario in Oswego, N.Y. May 13, 2018. Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com Rudys Lakeside Drive-In, Oswego No frills standout in Oswego for almost 50 years. Biggest frill here is the eye-popping sunset at dusk over Lake Ontario. A third-generation family-owned business. Menu suggestion: Try the fish. They serve a ton of it each week. Literally, 2,000 pounds of fish fry, sandwiches and fish dinners each week. Address: 76 County Route 89, Oswego Skippers Landing Restaurant and Marina, Wolcott This has been a Sodus Bay favorite for more than 30 years. A great menu in a very nice setting on the east side of the bay. Busy place on weekends. Fun time at their Tiki Bar. Tie up at the marina, enjoy a casual lunch (the artichoke-stuffed Portobello mushrooms are great) and then take a leisurely stroll up to see one of Upstates most fascinating natural phenomena, Chimney Bluffs State Park. Amazing! Address 7061 Lake Bluff Road, Wolcott Turtle Cove Restaurant and Marina, Fair Haven Located on Little Sodus Bay with great views of Lake Ontario. Full service marina, overnight cabin lodging, and a delicious meal. Nestle into your waterfront seat, order up their surf and turf dinner, enjoy a Bloody Mary and let the scene wash over you. Nice place off the beaten path. Address: 356 King St., Fair Haven dpa (TNS) Paris A man accused of desecrating a World War I memorial in Paris is set to lose his residency status and be deported from France, the Interior Ministry said on Wednesday. The man used the eternal flame at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier to light a cigarette. The memorial is located beneath the Arc de Triomphe and dedicated to soldiers killed in the war. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau had announced on Tuesday evening that the man had been taken into custody and confessed to the act. A video widely circulated on social media shows a man leaning over the flame with a cigarette in hand. French media identified the suspect as a 47-year-old Moroccan national. Patricia Miralles, the minister for veterans and remembrance, condemned the act as an outrage, writing on X: This flame doesnt light cigarettes: it burns for the sacrifice of millions of our soldiers. 2025 dpa GmbH. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. By Divya Rajagopal TORONTO (Reuters) -Barrick Mining CEO Mark Bristow said on Monday that the gold industry is awaiting clarity from the White House regarding potential U.S. tariffs on gold bars, but added that, regardless of the outcome, the impact on miners would be minimal. According to a ruling published on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection service's website on Friday, Washington may place the most widely traded gold bullion bars in the U.S. under country-specific import tariffs. A White House official later told Reuters it would issue an executive order "clarifying misinformation". The ruling has disrupted global bullion flows and injected fresh volatility into gold markets. Gold prices fell 2.4% on Monday. "Let's see how things are clarified, because right now it is speculation," Bristow told Reuters in an interview. He said gold miners are "price takers", meaning they could actually benefit from higher prices if that was the end result of the U.S. tariff turmoil. Barrick beat analysts' expectations for second-quarter profit on Monday, as a surge in gold prices helped offset a drop in production, including from Mali, where it is involved in a prolonged dispute with the country's military government. Barrick was forced to suspend operations in mid-January after Mali blocked its exports and detained some of its executives. Reuters reported last month that a Malian military helicopter airlifted gold from its Loulo-Gounkoto complex just days after sources said a court-appointed administrator for the site planned to sell its bullion to finance operations. Bristow told Reuters the company has not considered selling Loulo-Gounkoto to a third party at this stage, even as Barrick recorded a $1.03 billion charge due to its loss of control of the mine. (Reporting by Divya RajagopalWriting by Maxwell Akalaare AdombilaEditing by Robbie Corey-Boulet and Joe Bavier) WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump is promising new steps to tackle homelessness and crime in Washington including deployment of the National Guard, prompting the citys mayor to voice legal concerns about who would be patrolling the streets in the nations capital. Trump said at a Monday news briefing that he was deploying the National Guard to help reestablish law order and public safety in Washington, D.C., and theyre going to be allowed to do their job properly. The Republican president compared crime in the American capital with that in other major cities, saying Washington performs poorly on safety relative to the capitals of Iraq, Brazil and Colombia, among others. Were getting rid of the slums, too, Trump said, adding that the U.S. would not lose its cities and that Washington was just a start. For Trump, the effort to take over public safety in Washington reflects a next step in his law enforcement agenda after his aggressive push to stop illegal border crossings. But the move involves at least 500 federal law enforcement officials as well as the National Guard, raising fundamental questions about how an increasingly emboldened federal government will interact with its state and local counterparts. Combating crime The president has used his social media and White House megaphones to message that his administration is tough on crime, yet his ability to shape policy might be limited outside of Washington, which has a unique status as a congressionally established federal district. Nor is it clear how his push would address the root causes of homelessness and crime. Trump said he is invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to deploy members of the National Guard. About 500 federal law enforcement officers are being tasked with deploying throughout the nations capital as part of the Trump administrations effort to combat crime, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Monday. More than 100 FBI agents and about 40 agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are among federal law enforcement personnel being assigned to patrols in Washington, the person briefed on the plans said. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Marshals Service are also contributing officers. The person was not authorized to publicly discuss personnel matters and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity. The Justice Department didnt immediately have a comment Monday morning. Focusing on homelessness Trump in a Sunday social media post had emphasized the removal of Washingtons homeless population, though it was unclear where the thousands of people would go. The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY, Trump wrote Sunday. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you dont have to move out. Were going to put you in jail where you belong. Last week, the Republican president directed federal law enforcement agencies to increase their presence in Washington for seven days, with the option to extend as needed. On Friday night, federal agencies including the Secret Service, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service assigned more than 120 officers and agents to assist in Washington. Trump said last week that he was considering ways for the federal government to seize control of Washington, asserting that crime was ridiculous and the city was unsafe, after the recent assault of a high-profile member of the Department of Government Efficiency. The National Guard Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, questioned the effectiveness of using the Guard to enforce city laws and said the federal government could be far more helpful by funding more prosecutors or filling the 15 vacancies on the D.C. Superior Court, some of which have been open for years. Bowser cannot activate the National Guard herself, but she can submit a request to the Pentagon. I just think thats not the most efficient use of our Guard, she said Sunday on MSNBCs The Weekend, acknowledging it is the presidents call about how to deploy the Guard. Bowser was making her first public comments since Trump started posting about crime in Washington last week. She noted that violent crime in Washington has decreased since a rise in 2023. Trumps weekend posts depicted the district as one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World. For Bowser, Any comparison to a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false. Crime statistics Police statistics show homicides, robberies and burglaries are down this year when compared with this time in 2024. Overall, violent crime is down 26% compared with this time a year ago. Trump offered no details in Truth Social posts over the weekend about possible new actions to address crime levels he argues are dangerous for citizens, tourists and workers alike. The White House declined to offer additional details about Mondays announcement. The police department and the mayors office did not respond to questions about what Trump might do next. The president criticized the district as full of tents, squalor, filth, and Crime, and he seems to have been set off by the attack on Edward Coristine, among the most visible figures of the bureaucracy-cutting effort known as DOGE. Police arrested two 15-year-olds in the attempted carjacking and said they were looking for others. This has to be the best run place in the country, not the worst run place in the country, Trump said Wednesday. He called Bowser a good person who has tried, but she has been given many chances. Trump has repeatedly suggested that the rule of Washington could be returned to federal authorities. Doing so would require a repeal of the Home Rule Act of 1973 in Congress, a step Trump said lawyers are examining. It could face steep pushback. Bowser acknowledged that the law allows the president to take more control over the citys police, but only if certain conditions are met. None of those conditions exist in our city right now, she said. We are not experiencing a spike in crime. In fact, were watching our crime numbers go down. vsm9009 Newbie Join Date: May 2021 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1 Thanked: 20 Times Infractions: 0/1 (5) Bangalore to Hyderabad road-trip in a Kia Seltos This time of course it was the NH44 highway which is also part of the Srinagar Kanyakumari highway. It is heard to be a great road to drive at good speeds very comfortably. The drive preparation included an inspection of the Kia Seltos at Taapasi Kia Service Centre in Bangalore, Kyalasanahalli, K R Puram, Bangalore 560077. The headlamps & fog lamps which was accumulating the moisture was also highlighted as noticed during the last round trip to Chennai from Bangalore. The GM Service Mr. Jenin Francis was prompt & got the same rectified promptly with the assurance to highlight to the Kia India team as the Desiccant on the headlamps & fog lamps were solidified. They had the lost the absorption quality of the moisture. On the D day of the solo drive to Hyderabad, I left from my home at Sir C V Raman Nagar, with the route programmed for the directions to Hyderabad on the Kia Navigation at 07:30 hours. On the outer ring road as per the Navigation, was a traffic congestion which created a stoppage of 25 minutes close to the Manyata Tech Park. Thanks to the Bangalore Metro construction which was the reason for the stoppage of the traffic to move heavy pre-fabricated structures. Finally, after navigating the traffic, I got onto the Hyderabad Highway from Hebbal Circle signal. The good roads along with wide 3 lanes on each side was the start of a memorable drive to Hyderabad. The Kia Navigation showed the travel time as 8 hours 15 minutes to the destination to Hyderabad & 7 hours 20 minutes to touch the outer ring road of Hyderabad. The drive crossed the first toll in Devanahallj on the Bangalore Airport intersection to Hyderabad which was Rs. 120. After this toll, there were a couple of speed breakers & traffic regulation signals until Nandi Hills diversions post which the was absolutely breezy. The Kia Seltos was in the 6th Gear OD & was cruising @ 100kmph with the Cruise Control Engaged. The FM was now gone but Apple CarPlay is absolutely impressive, as the playback from Spotify was a great company for the scenic drive. The navigation was silent with announcements heard dimming the music like, Keep straight on the NH44 for 10km. The car crossed Kia Factory, Ananthpur @ 10:15 hours. The Kia Factory looked massive & impressive from the NH44. I felt the need for a stretch & coffee break, which was catered by the A2B restaurant within 5 kM of the Kia Factory on the opposite side of the road. But a convenient U turn just near the restaurant was available to access A2B. A good Ginger Tea was soothing for the drive. Here, the Kia Seltos met her nearest competitors, the Honda Elevate & a Skoda Kushaq & the best being that all three cars were from 3 different states, which really adds to the fact of road travels being undertaken by many Indian families. After the short but refreshing Ginger tea & much needed stretch, the next leg of the drive started around 10:50 hours. The navigation promptly advised a U turn towards Hyderabad. The Seltos was soon onto 100kmph with the cruise control. I was on the lookout for the next break which was Kanchi Restaurant. This is a pure veg restaurant located on the outskirts of Kurnool, which according to the navigation was 240kM with a travel time of 3 hour 40 minutes & toll of Rs 555. But, with the constant speed of 100kmph & cruise engaged, reached the Kanchi @ 13:20 hours, a good 30 minutes ahead of the schedule according to the navigation. There was no rains all thru the drive till the Kanchi Restaurant. At the Kanchi, the menu was again pure vegetarian. A good spread of the Menu which had traditional south indian delicacies. I ate a KAL DOSA with VADA CURRY, a special of the day at the Kanchi & relished the traditional south indian filter coffee served in a traditional brass glass. The refreshing light food was a good complement to the drive. I again cranked the Kia Seltos, which was eager to get onto the 6th OD & cruise towards Hyderabad at 14:00 hours. The drive as usual a breezy one with the complement of mild drizzle till Mehaboob Nagar. The traffic from Mehaboob Nagar was high with more of commercial vehicles & trucks. Most of these trucks were competing among themselves to race, covering the complete 4 land highway. In many places, the road was being expanded, which added to the slow-moving traffic. There were many diversions, single lane traffic but the best thing was large sign boards of the road work in progress with even red lights to warn the motorists of the works being undertaken, including a few fly-overs. Finally, I touched the famous Hyderabads Nehru Outer Ring Road @ 16:00 hours with the odo reading 504 km & an engine run time of 7 hours & 31 minutes returning with an average fuel consumption of 21.9kmpl, which otherwise till Mehaboob Nagar was 24.4kmpl. The average was downedreduced by the slow-moving trucks racing against each other at speeds of less than 20kmph & large stretches of single lane traffic. The drive from Bengaluru to Hyderabad had a total of 9 tolls with a total toll collection of Rs. 1035. This is apart from the Nehru Outer Ring Road toll. The photo of the route tolls & the cost at each toll is also displayed as a photo. The Nehru Outer Ring Road was a breezy drive to the Medchal exit, maintaining 100kmph thus reaching the destination @ 17:10 hours. So ended a memorable drive to Hyderabad in a mile muncher loaded with tech & features. Attached a few photos of the drive & the white stallion. It all started with the planning of a solo road trip to Hyderabad from Bangalore about a month ago from July 21, 2025 to drive to Hyderabad from Bangalore by the Kia Seltos, HTX 1.5 CRDI MT. This car has seen a lot of highway drives & been a mile muncher with a very great average & effortless, tireless drives to Goa, Kochi, Chennai, Ooty, Yercaud to name a few destinations. In fact the drive to Goa was immediately after the first service in January 2023 a month since the car was bought.This time of course it was the NH44 highway which is also part of the Srinagar Kanyakumari highway. It is heard to be a great road to drive at good speeds very comfortably.The drive preparation included an inspection of the Kia Seltos at Taapasi Kia Service Centre in Bangalore, Kyalasanahalli, K R Puram, Bangalore 560077. The headlamps & fog lamps which was accumulating the moisture was also highlighted as noticed during the last round trip to Chennai from Bangalore. The GM Service Mr. Jenin Francis was prompt & got the same rectified promptly with the assurance to highlight to the Kia India team as the Desiccant on the headlamps & fog lamps were solidified. They had the lost the absorption quality of the moisture.On the D day of the solo drive to Hyderabad, I left from my home at Sir C V Raman Nagar, with the route programmed for the directions to Hyderabad on the Kia Navigation at 07:30 hours. On the outer ring road as per the Navigation, was a traffic congestion which created a stoppage of 25 minutes close to the Manyata Tech Park. Thanks to the Bangalore Metro construction which was the reason for the stoppage of the traffic to move heavy pre-fabricated structures.Finally, after navigating the traffic, I got onto the Hyderabad Highway from Hebbal Circle signal. The good roads along with wide 3 lanes on each side was the start of a memorable drive to Hyderabad. The Kia Navigation showed the travel time as 8 hours 15 minutes to the destination to Hyderabad & 7 hours 20 minutes to touch the outer ring road of Hyderabad. The drive crossed the first toll in Devanahallj on the Bangalore Airport intersection to Hyderabad which was Rs. 120. After this toll, there were a couple of speed breakers & traffic regulation signals until Nandi Hills diversions post which the was absolutely breezy. The Kia Seltos was in the 6th Gear OD & was cruising @ 100kmph with the Cruise Control Engaged. The FM was now gone but Apple CarPlay is absolutely impressive, as the playback from Spotify was a great company for the scenic drive. The navigation was silent with announcements heard dimming the music like, Keep straight on the NH44 for 10km.The car crossed Kia Factory, Ananthpur @ 10:15 hours. The Kia Factory looked massive & impressive from the NH44. I felt the need for a stretch & coffee break, which was catered by the A2B restaurant within 5 kM of the Kia Factory on the opposite side of the road. But a convenient U turn just near the restaurant was available to access A2B. A good Ginger Tea was soothing for the drive. Here, the Kia Seltos met her nearest competitors, the Honda Elevate & a Skoda Kushaq & the best being that all three cars were from 3 different states, which really adds to the fact of road travels being undertaken by many Indian families.After the short but refreshing Ginger tea & much needed stretch, the next leg of the drive started around 10:50 hours. The navigation promptly advised a U turn towards Hyderabad. The Seltos was soon onto 100kmph with the cruise control. I was on the lookout for the next break which was Kanchi Restaurant. This is a pure veg restaurant located on the outskirts of Kurnool, which according to the navigation was 240kM with a travel time of 3 hour 40 minutes & toll of Rs 555. But, with the constant speed of 100kmph & cruise engaged, reached the Kanchi @ 13:20 hours, a good 30 minutes ahead of the schedule according to the navigation. There was no rains all thru the drive till the Kanchi Restaurant.At the Kanchi, the menu was again pure vegetarian. A good spread of the Menu which had traditional south indian delicacies. I ate a KAL DOSA with VADA CURRY, a special of the day at the Kanchi & relished the traditional south indian filter coffee served in a traditional brass glass. The refreshing light food was a good complement to the drive. I again cranked the Kia Seltos, which was eager to get onto the 6th OD & cruise towards Hyderabad at 14:00 hours.The drive as usual a breezy one with the complement of mild drizzle till Mehaboob Nagar. The traffic from Mehaboob Nagar was high with more of commercial vehicles & trucks. Most of these trucks were competing among themselves to race, covering the complete 4 land highway. In many places, the road was being expanded, which added to the slow-moving traffic. There were many diversions, single lane traffic but the best thing was large sign boards of the road work in progress with even red lights to warn the motorists of the works being undertaken, including a few fly-overs.Finally, I touched the famous Hyderabads Nehru Outer Ring Road @ 16:00 hours with the odo reading 504 km & an engine run time of 7 hours & 31 minutes returning with an average fuel consumption of 21.9kmpl, which otherwise till Mehaboob Nagar was 24.4kmpl. The average was downedreduced by the slow-moving trucks racing against each other at speeds of less than 20kmph & large stretches of single lane traffic. The drive from Bengaluru to Hyderabad had a total of 9 tolls with a total toll collection of Rs. 1035. This is apart from the Nehru Outer Ring Road toll. The photo of the route tolls & the cost at each toll is also displayed as a photo.The Nehru Outer Ring Road was a breezy drive to the Medchal exit, maintaining 100kmph thus reaching the destination @ 17:10 hours. So ended a memorable drive to Hyderabad in a mile muncher loaded with tech & features.Attached a few photos of the drive & the white stallion. Last edited by Eddy : 10th August 2025 at 21:50 . Reason: Please refer to PM arunrajk81 BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: COK/SFO Posts: 238 Thanked: 725 Times View My Garage Whispers in the Wilderness: A Night at Edapalayam Watch Tower, Thekkady This time, at the end of June-2025, I planned a trip to Thekkady again. Instead of just a day trip and boating, Im looking for a trekking and overnight stay experience. One option Im considering is the Edapalayam Watch Tower inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Its part of a trekking and watch tower stay program managed by the Department of Forests as part of their eco-tourism initiative in Kerala. I booked this solo trip almost eight months ago and have been counting down the days ever since. Periyar Tiger Reserve The Boating Point The Eco Shop Near the Counter A Short History of the Edapalayam Watch Tower:- In the late 19th century, the area around Periyar Lake was home to the Edapalayam Lake Palace, built to host royal guests of the Travancore kings. In 1899, the region was designated as the Periyar Lake Reserve where an artificial lake was formed due to construction of Dam as part of Mullaperiyar Hydel Project. Today, the palace is managed by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) whereas the watch tower is managed by Kerala Forest Department. The Edapalayam Watch Tower, located near the former Lake Palace site, dates back to around 1927. It has since been renovated and reinforced to accommodate visitors. Both the palace and the tower are situated on an island rich in wildlife and birdlife. During the summer months, elephants, gaurs, sambar deer, and other animals often gather in open field in front of the tower. For wildlife enthusiasts like me, sitting on the verandah and watching these majestic creatures in their natural habitat would be an absolute dream. Photography was not possible since it was dark. The Palace The Palace Edapalayam Watch Tower A view from the Balcony Since it had been raining almost non-stop in Kerala by the middle of Junewhen my reservation was scheduledmy expectations for animal sightings were quite low. Started my drive at 5 AMbecause nothing beats the thrill of cruising through empty roads in that magical pre-dawn light. Its quiet, peaceful, and feels like the world is still asleep while youre already chasing adventure. The route I took was Kalady Kothamangalam Kattappana Kumily Thekkady. Its a scenic drive, and thanks to the monsoon, several small waterfalls formed along the way, making the journey even more beautiful. I drove at a relaxed pace in my 2012 Renault Duster RXL 110. One of the best things about this car is that I dont need to slow down or brake for minor road undulations, which are quite. A Water Fall on the way A Water Fall on the way Another Water Fall The route from Kumily to Thekkady My Mountain Goat The reporting time was 1 PM, but I arrived almost two hours early, giving me plenty of time to do some birding around the area. I spotted a variety of species including giant fruit bats, Malabar giant squirrels, stork-billed kingfishers, drongos, bee-eaters, magpies, and more. Giant Fruit bat Giant Fruit bat Stork-billed kingfisher Red Whiskered Bulbul Indian cuckooshrike Stork-billed kingfisher Changeable hawk-eagle Drongo The Itinerary The adventure:- The itinerary starts with parking your car near the forest departments counter. From there, a shuttle bus operated by the department takes you to the lake, where the sightseeing boat ride begins. You board the boat, cruise across the serene waters, and disembark near the historic Lake Palace. From there, its a short 15-20 minute walk through the forest to reach the Watch Tower. The Boating Point A friendly Sambar Deer - He is a Celebrity A Tourist Boat Indian Cormorant Spotted Dove Once you arrive, youre welcomed with evening tea. If you're up for it, you can go on a guided trek before dinner. The next morning, there's another trekking optioneither before or after breakfast. After lunch, you return via the sightseeing boat, wrapping up the experience. Now, heres the fun part: the entire trip is accompanied by a cook, a guide, and a forest department guard armed with a shotgun. It was my first time experiencing something like thisI felt like a VIP. In all my previous treks, even in other tiger reserves, it was usually just a guide. The cook and guide are from local tribal settlements and know the forest better than anyone else. The guard, meanwhile, is from the Kerala Forest Department. For a watch tower deep inside the forest, you can only expect basic amenitiesbut everything was clean and well-maintained. The bathroom is located below the tower, and the entire facility is powered by solar energy. Theres a small hut beneath the tower that serves as both the kitchen and accommodation for the guards. It was only after returning that I realized I had missed taking good photos of the watchtower, as my eyes were eagerly searching for wildlife from the moment I arrived. A view from the Veranda A Tree in Front, Often Visited by the Elusive Nightjar Interestingly, the watch tower is surrounded by a trench designed to keep elephants at bay. In the jungles of India, its not the big cats you should be most worried about, its the elephants and sloth bears. The tribals who walk these paths regularly carry a stick and tap on trees occasionally to avoid unexpected close encounters with sloth bears, hoping the noise will drive them away, as sloth bears have poor eyesight. Of course, the presence of a man-eater or a rogue elephantnot just one in musthcan change everything, but such threats are not as common as we often imagine. The Trench Surrounding the Watchtower Even though Thekkady (Periyar Tiger Reserve) is only few hours from my house, Ive only been there onceand that too back in 3rd or 4th grade. I still remember the green Ambassador we hired, with a Matador diesel engine, and me sitting in the front bench seat with zero clue what to expect at Thekkady other than fun of travelling in that car. The car belongs to a neighbor which I even remember its registration number. We had several memorable trips in that car, including visits to Kodaikanal, Bangalore, and Mysore. Those journeys are still close to my heart. We used to have a trip like this from my Parents LTA once in four years.This time, at the end of June-2025, I planned a trip to Thekkady again. Instead of just a day trip and boating, Im looking for a trekking and overnight stay experience. One option Im considering is the Edapalayam Watch Tower inside the Periyar Tiger Reserve. Its part of a trekking and watch tower stay program managed by the Department of Forests as part of their eco-tourism initiative in Kerala. I booked this solo trip almost eight months ago and have been counting down the days ever since.Periyar Tiger ReserveThe Boating PointThe Eco Shop Near the CounterIn the late 19th century, the area around Periyar Lake was home to the Edapalayam Lake Palace, built to host royal guests of the Travancore kings. In 1899, the region was designated as the Periyar Lake Reserve where an artificial lake was formed due to construction of Dam as part of Mullaperiyar Hydel Project. Today, the palace is managed by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) whereas the watch tower is managed by Kerala Forest Department. The Edapalayam Watch Tower, located near the former Lake Palace site, dates back to around 1927.It has since been renovated and reinforced to accommodate visitors. Both the palace and the tower are situated on an island rich in wildlife and birdlife. During the summer months, elephants, gaurs, sambar deer, and other animals often gather in open field in front of the tower. For wildlife enthusiasts like me, sitting on the verandah and watching these majestic creatures in their natural habitat would be an absolute dream. Photography was not possible since it was dark.The PalaceThe PalaceEdapalayam Watch TowerA view from the BalconySince it had been raining almost non-stop in Kerala by the middle of Junewhen my reservation was scheduledmy expectations for animal sightings were quite low. Started my drive at 5 AMbecause nothing beats the thrill of cruising through empty roads in that magical pre-dawn light. Its quiet, peaceful, and feels like the world is still asleep while youre already chasing adventure. The route I took was Kalady Kothamangalam Kattappana Kumily Thekkady. Its a scenic drive, and thanks to the monsoon, several small waterfalls formed along the way, making the journey even more beautiful. I drove at a relaxed pace in my 2012 Renault Duster RXL 110. One of the best things about this car is that I dont need to slow down or brake for minor road undulations, which are quite.A Water Fall on the wayA Water Fall on the wayAnother Water FallThe route from Kumily to ThekkadyMy Mountain GoatThe reporting time was 1 PM, but I arrived almost two hours early, giving me plenty of time to do some birding around the area. I spotted a variety of species including giant fruit bats, Malabar giant squirrels, stork-billed kingfishers, drongos, bee-eaters, magpies, and more.Giant Fruit batGiant Fruit batStork-billed kingfisherRed Whiskered BulbulIndian cuckooshrikeStork-billed kingfisherChangeable hawk-eagleDrongoThe itinerary starts with parking your car near the forest departments counter. From there, a shuttle bus operated by the department takes you to the lake, where the sightseeing boat ride begins. You board the boat, cruise across the serene waters, and disembark near the historic Lake Palace. From there, its a short 15-20 minute walk through the forest to reach the Watch Tower.The Boating PointA friendly Sambar Deer - He is a CelebrityA Tourist BoatIndian CormorantSpotted DoveOnce you arrive, youre welcomed with evening tea. If you're up for it, you can go on a guided trek before dinner. The next morning, there's another trekking optioneither before or after breakfast. After lunch, you return via the sightseeing boat, wrapping up the experience.Now, heres the fun part: the entire trip is accompanied by a cook, a guide, and a forest department guard armed with a shotgun. It was my first time experiencing something like thisI felt like a VIP. In all my previous treks, even in other tiger reserves, it was usually just a guide. The cook and guide are from local tribal settlements and know the forest better than anyone else. The guard, meanwhile, is from the Kerala Forest Department.For a watch tower deep inside the forest, you can only expect basic amenitiesbut everything was clean and well-maintained. The bathroom is located below the tower, and the entire facility is powered by solar energy. Theres a small hut beneath the tower that serves as both the kitchen and accommodation for the guards. It was only after returning that I realized I had missed taking good photos of the watchtower, as my eyes were eagerly searching for wildlife from the moment I arrived.A view from the VerandaA Tree in Front, Often Visited by the Elusive NightjarInterestingly, the watch tower is surrounded by a trench designed to keep elephants at bay. In the jungles of India, its not the big cats you should be most worried about, its the elephants and sloth bears. The tribals who walk these paths regularly carry a stick and tap on trees occasionally to avoid unexpected close encounters with sloth bears, hoping the noise will drive them away, as sloth bears have poor eyesight. Of course, the presence of a man-eater or a rogue elephantnot just one in musthcan change everything, but such threats are not as common as we often imagine.The Trench Surrounding the Watchtower Attached Thumbnails Last edited by Rehaan : 11th August 2025 at 09:28 . Reason: Removing excess blank lines :) jerk_free BHPian Join Date: Jun 2024 Location: Bangalore Posts: 38 Thanked: 108 Times Downsizing from 17 to 15 inch tyres Hi All There are so many posts and videos on upsizing tires and moving to lower profile options. My intentions are totally opposite. I plan to downsize. I drive a Honda Elevate with stock Bridgestone Turanza tyres 215/55/R17. Nothing major to complain about but low speed comfort can be better. I found some options on Yokohama with 205/70/R15 options. Geolander SUVG055 and some on Continenatal. There are 215/75/R15 tyres but they are all off roading or light truck tyres. Why do I want to downsize? 1. Higher sidewall height - which could provide a smoother ride in City (Bangalore, especially my area has horrible roads) 2. Lower tyre costs - 17/18 inch tyres are significantly more expensive than 15 inchers. 3. Lower road noise - A higher sidewall can potentially abosrorb some of the road noise. 4. Thinner tyres - Slightly better fuel economy. 5. Higher side wall - better protection against sidewall damage I'm not big on handling/cornering capabilities and I'm usually a cruiser on highways. so I'm okay if I don't get sport car type handling. Same on the looks department - For some reason I love the look of Off Roadish higher profile tyres on SUVs like Bolero. I'm totally okay to move to steel rims. Here are my questions 1. OEM recommended tyre sizes are 215/55/R17 and 215/60 R16. Can I downsize to 205/70/R15 ? (As per tyresize calculator, overall circuference doesn't change. ) 2. Will there be a huge impact on handling? I can live with slightly lower capabilities 3. Braking performance? Considering these tyrese will be thinner, will there be a significant decrease in braking performance? 4. Anything else I need to keep in mind? Attached Thumbnails (Refiles to fix malfunctioning hyperlink. No changes to text.) By May Angel and Gus Trompiz LONDON/PARIS (Reuters) -Global energy and commodities trader Hartree Partners is in talks to acquire French agro-industrial firm Touton, which trades nearly 10% of the world's cocoa, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The global cocoa trade is experiencing a major shakeup as problems in West Africa - the world's top growing region - push prices to historic highs, putting pressure on independent firms like Touton, which traces its history back more than 150 years. One of the sources said Touton executives discussed an acquisition deal in person with Hartree founding partner Stephen Hendel and the firm's head of investments Scott Levy about a month ago. A second source confirmed that talks over a possible Hartree purchase of Touton had taken place, but did not give further detail. Both sources declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter. Hartree told Reuters it does not comment on what it called "market rumours". Touton did not respond to a request for comment. Hartree entered the soft commodities space last year with the purchase of UK-based ED&F Man Commodities, a centuries-old player in sugar and coffee. An acquisition of Touton, which trades in coffee in addition to cocoa, would cement Hartree's expansion into soft commodities. WEST AFRICAN SHOCK FAVOURS DEEPER POCKETS Adverse weather and disease resulted in poor harvests in leading cocoa growers Ivory Coast and Ghana last year, causing global cocoa prices to more than double. At a record high above $12,000 a metric ton, the chocolate ingredient was, for a time, more expensive than most industrial metals. Prices remain at historically elevated levels, with trading in cocoa futures on the ICE exchange still largely illiquid and volatile following last year's exodus of hedge funds from the sector. The exchange is now requiring those trading its cocoa futures - used as a benchmark for pricing physical beans around the world - to put up large amounts of cash as collateral against potential trading losses. However, after some cocoa traders racked up losses of more than $1 billion on their futures contracts last year, banks are increasingly reluctant to lend to them. "Banks now understand that cocoa and coffee are volatile," said the cocoa trading head at a global agri-commodities trade house. Touton posted a net profit of 130 million euros ($151.53 million) in the year to March 2024, according to its most recent annual results, up from 17 million euros the year before. By Aditya Kalra NEW DELHI (Reuters) -From McDonald's and Coca-Cola to Amazon and Apple, U.S.-based multinationals are facing calls for a boycott in India as business executives and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's supporters stoke anti-American sentiment to protest against U.S. tariffs. India, the world's most populous nation, is a key market for American brands that have rapidly expanded to target a growing base of affluent consumers, many of whom remain infatuated with international labels seen as symbols of moving up in life. India, for example, is the biggest market by users for Meta's WhatsApp and Domino's has more restaurants than any other brand in the country. Beverages like Pepsi and Coca-Cola often dominate store shelves, and people still queue up when a new Apple store opens or a Starbucks cafe doles out discounts. Although there was no immediate indication of sales being hit, there's a growing chorus both on social media and offline to buy local and ditch American products after Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on goods from India, rattling exporters and damaging ties between New Delhi and Washington. McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Amazon and Apple did not immediately respond to Reuters queries. Manish Chowdhary, co-founder of India's Wow Skin Science, took to LinkedIn with a video message urging support for farmers and startups to make "Made in India" a "global obsession," and to learn from South Korea whose food and beauty products are famous worldwide. "We have lined up for products from thousands of miles away. We have proudly spent on brands that we don't own, while our own makers fight for attention in their own country," he said. Rahm Shastry, CEO of India's DriveU, which provides a car driver on call service, wrote on LinkedIn: "India should have its own home-grown Twitter/Google/YouTube/WhatsApp/FB like China has." To be fair, Indian retail companies give foreign brands like Starbucks stiff competition in the domestic market, but going global has been a challenge. Indian IT services firms, however, have become deeply entrenched in the global economy, with the likes of TCS and Infosys providing software solutions to clients world over. On Sunday, Modi made a "special appeal" for becoming self-reliant, telling a gathering in Bengaluru that Indian technology companies made products for the world but "now is the time for us to give more priority to India's needs." He did not name any company. DON'T DRAG MY MCPUFF INTO IT Amy E. Price/Getty Images for SXSW Moneywise and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Billionaire Mark Cuban is famous on Wall Street for protecting a $1.4 billion stake from the 2000 stock market crash with a savvy options trade. The whole market cratered and I was protected, Cuban told Howard Stern in 2013. Unfortunately, not everyone was so prepared on August 2, when the dow plummeted almost 1,000 points. Despite the market being on its way to recovery, Cubans story from the 2000 crash is still worth noting. Don't miss In 1999, Cuban and his business partner Todd Wagner decided to sell their online streaming company, Broadcast.com, to internet giant Yahoo. The firm was acquired for $5.7 billion, and since Cuban held roughly one-third of the company, he was instantly a billionaire. There was only one problem Yahoo had not paid Cuban and Wagner in cash. Instead, the deal involved Yahoo stock, which was surging while the mania surrounding tech companies grew. It seems Cuban was spooked by the inflated valuations, predicted the bubble would burst at some point, and decided to take steps to protect his payout. I did a hedge, Cuban told Stern. I sold calls, bought puts, so I protected my stock It went up in value some more, and went up to where my hedge was and cashed me out. In other words, Cuban effectively locked in the value of his Yahoo stock at the time. Six weeks later, he says, the market crashed. Cubans move highlights how wealthy investors think about downside risk. And while the markets may already be bouncing back from the most recent crash, it is smart to be prepared should it happen again. Here are three ways regular investors can work to protect their wealth from another crash and help mitigate the damage done by the most recent one. Keep cash and stay invested Cash and cash equivalents (savings, checking and money market accounts, and short-term investments) are thought to provide liquidity and safety. A robust emergency fund protects you from having to sell your investments at a possible loss when the market is struggling. According to the U.S. Bank, a general rule of thumb is that cash and cash equivalents should comprise between 2% and 10% of your portfolio. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Actor and former Disney star Noah Centineo is now attached to star in a prequel to the Rambo franchise, according to reports. Centineo will play a younger version of John Rambo, the character made famous by Sylvester Stallone in a series of action movies. Deadline reports that producers hope the film, titled John Rambo, will begin shooting in Thailand later this year. Centineo, 29, is a former Disney Channel actor perhaps best known for starring in the To All The Boys... romantic comedy franchise. More recently he played a spy in Netflixs The Recruit, which was canceled earlier this year after two seasons. At the Los Angeles premiere of his movie Warfare, Centineo said of the cancellation: You know, it is what it is. Netflix has a certain mandate that they need to fill. open image in gallery Sylvester Stallone shooting in Chiang Mai, Thailand, for 2008s Rambo. A new star is set to take over the role for an upcoming prequel. ( Lionsgate ) He added: Im very proud of the show; very grateful to our audience. You know, we have a pretty strong cult following. And with Netflix, it just didnt fit with what it needed, I suppose. [So] onto the next I guess. The Recruit, which debuted in 2022, follows Centineos fledgling CIA lawyer Owen Hendricks as he becomes embroiled in an international conflict. In Alex Garlands Warfare, Centineo played a gunner in a realistic recreation of an actual battle during the Iraq War. Stallone played Rambo in five films, starting with First Blood (1982) and reprising the role in Rambo: First Blood Part II (1985), Rambo III (1988), Rambo (2008) and Rambo: Last Blood (2019). According to reports, Stallone is not involved in the upcoming prequel film but has been made aware that Centineo is attached. open image in gallery Noah Centineo will play a younger version of John Rambo, the character made famous by Sylvester Stallone ( Getty ) Stallone most recently appeared in the critically panned Alarum. The actor starred in the action-thriller about two married spies (Scott Eastwood and Willa Fitzgerald) who are suspected of going rogue. The film has a critical score of 0 percent on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes. This makes it Stallones lowest-rated film in his five-decade career. For comparison, his lowest-rated film ahead of Alarum was the 2014 comedy thriller Reach Me, which amassed 4 percent, the 2018 sequel Escape Plan 2: Hades sat at 8 percent and the drama Backtrace (2018), which has 9 percent. Alarums audience score isnt much better; it has a paltry 20 percent. However, there are two Stallone films considered even worse by the public, with Escape Plan sequels The Extractors (2019) and Hades sitting at 13 percent and 14 percent, respectively. Stallone emerged as a vocal Trump supporter after the last election, calling the president a mythical character and his election win a feat that nobody else in the world could have pulled off. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Brian Cox has said that US president Donald Trump is a very good example of a villain because he has no empathy whatsoever. The Scottish actor, 79, has continued to be an outspoken critic of Trump throughout his presidency, and branded him a monster while appearing as a guest on Channel 4s live coverage of the US election last year. Cox, best known for playing the media tycoon Logan Roy in the award-winning HBO series Succession, was talking about his recent reality gameshow 007: Road to a Million, in which he plays a James Bond-style villain character, when he said that Trump had all the right villain qualities. I think Donald Trump is a very good example of a villain, because he has no empathy whatsoever, Cox told The Telegraph. Hes clever and you cannot underestimate him, but I personally do not like the man. Cox, who lives between London and Brooklyn, New York, described Trump as a force that is self-serving and argued he is moving the US towards an oligarchy. In a country like that, someone who is so self-serving just creates an oligarchy, which is what hes moving towards. That wont work, he said. It takes a while in America for the penny to drop and the penny is dropping daily. More and more people are realising what is going on because its the people who are going to be suffering, and hes supposed to be standing up for them, he said. Brian Cox has said Donald Trump is a very good example of a villain ( Getty Images ) In May, Cox criticised Trumps proposed plans for 100 per cent tariffs on non-US movies, saying it would be an absolute disaster. Cox told Times Radio that Trumps administration is not really understanding the point of view of how films are made, and what films cost, [how] the cost of films [has] gone up and the cost of films in America went up considerably. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. So its not quite right to say Hollywoods being ignored, things have moved on, its become nationwide in America, he added. Its a kind of nonsense and a divine ignorance on all their parts. Following the results of the US presidential election in December 2024, Cox said that he would be trying to spend as much time in the UK. Asked if the result has made him lose faith in people, he told The Guardian: No, it doesnt make me lose faith in people. It just makes me realise people are stupid. Were in for a pretty rough old four years coming up. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Jimmy Kimmel revealed he has obtained Italian citizenship as he lamented Donald Trumps second term in office. The talk show host, 57, has been a longtime critic of the president. Kimmel was appearing on his ex-girlfriend Sarah Silvermans podcast when she observed that many Americans who dont approve of Trump have sought citizenship elsewhere. I do have... I did get Italian citizenship, responded Kimmel. I do have that. He continued: Whats going on is... as bad as you thought it was gonna be, its so much worse. Its just unbelievable. I feel like its probably even worse than [Trump] would like it to be. open image in gallery Jimmy Kimmel has spoke out, again, against President Donald Trump saying his second term so much worse ( Mindy Small/Getty Images ) Kimmel added that he has no ill will towards former Trump supporters who are reconsidering their position, saying: There are a lot of people... now you see these clips of Joe Rogan saying: Whys he doing this? He shouldnt be deporting people. People go: F*** you, you supported him. I dont buy into that. I dont believe F*** you, you supported him. I think the door needs to stay open, Kimmel said. If you want to change your mind, thats so hard to do. If you want to admit you were wrong, thats so hard and so rare to do. You are welcome. In April, popular podcaster Rogan spoke out against Trumps deportation policies. He had previously endorsed the president hours prior to the last election. You've gotta get scared that people who are not criminals are getting, like, lassoed up and deported and sent to El Salvador prisons, Rogan said. Rogan called that possibility horrific and admitted sending non-criminals out of the country as part of the Trump administrations attempts to crack down on the Tren de Aragua gang was bad for the cause. open image in gallery Trump has doubled down on his claim that Kimmel and fellow late night host Jimmy Fallon will be next in line to lose their jobs as networks begin to shy away from criticizing his administration. ( AP ) Last week, Trump doubled down on his claim that Kimmel and fellow late night host Jimmy Fallon will be next in line to lose their jobs as networks begin to shy away from criticizing his administration. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 day New subscribers only. 8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled. Try for free ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. With Paramount moving earlier this summer to cancel CBSs The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Trump was asked at a recent press conference about shock jock Howard Sterns Sirius XM radio show reportedly being brought to an end and whether that meant anti-Trump comedy was facing extinction.Well, it hasnt worked, the president said. And it hasnt worked, really, for a long time, and I would say pretty much from the beginning. Colbert has no talent. I mean, I could take anybody here. I could go outside in the beautiful streets and pick a couple of people that do just as well or better. Theyd get higher ratings than he did. Hes got no talent. Fallon has no talent. Kimmel has no talent. Theyre next. Theyre going to be going. I hear theyre going to be going. I dont know, but I would imagine because theyd get you know, Colbert has better ratings than Kimmel or Fallon. Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice John Oliver has mocked former Superman star Dean Cain after the actor announced that he had joined Donald Trumps immigration enforcement agency. Using the latest edition of Last Week Tonight, the late night host hit out at Cain, who said that he had joined ICE to help secure the safety of all Americans. Oliver comedically noted one positive of Cains decision, stating: Theres no need for that guy to wear a mask because the chances of anyone recognising him are f***ing zero. Continuing to lampoon Cain, Oliver quipped: You know, theres an old saying in Hollywood: If all you can get is Dean Cain, you are f***ed. Now, Im not saying that ICE isnt finding people, he added. Im just saying, when you are reduced to pinning a badge on the 59-year-old star of The Dog Who Saved Christmas, The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation, The Dog Who Saved the Holidays, The Dog Who Saved Halloween, The Dog Who Saved Easter and The Dog Who Saved Summer, maybe you are in trouble. The 48-year-old comedian is not the first notable name to criticise Cain for joining ICE. open image in gallery Last Week Tonight host John Oliver mocked Cain for joining ICE ( HBO ) Romeo + Juliet actor John Leguizamo branded Cain a moron. In an Instagram video posted on Friday (7 August) Leguizamo said: What kind of loser volunteers to be an ICE officer? What a moron. Dean Cain, your pronouns are has/been. His Instagram video was met with approval from fellow stars, including Frank Grillo, known for roles in Zero Dark Thirty, End of Watch, and as Brock Rumlow/Crossbones in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Oscar-nominated director Lee Daniels, behind films such as Precious, Monsters Ball and The Butler, simply wrote: Haahahhahahahaahhaha. Posting to social media on Tuesday (5 August), Cain, best known for playing the lead role in the 1990s series Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, said he felt it was important to join with our first responders to help secure the safety of all Americans so I joined up. Encouraging his followers to consider signing up as well, he wrote: Heres your opportunity to join ICE. You can earn lots of great benefits and pay. 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 it very dangerous people who are no longer on the streets. open image in gallery Cain has become an outspoken Republican and supporter of Donald Trump in recent years ( AP ) Cains video comes a week after Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem issued a press release telling Americans: Your country is calling you to serve at ICE. Your country needs dedicated men and women of ICE to get the worst of the worst criminals out of our country. Just last week, ICE and Noem were heavily mocked in the latest episode of South Park, which depicted the agency raiding heaven in search of migrants. By Zaheer Kachwala (Reuters) -Micron Technology on Monday raised its forecast for fourth-quarter revenue and adjusted profit, banking on surging demand for its memory chips used in artificial intelligence infrastructure, sending its shares up about 3%. Semiconductor makers such as Micron have seen a surge in orders for their high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips due to their intensive data-processing capabilities, as large tech firms ramp up AI data center investments. The company now expects quarterly revenue of $11.2 billion, plus or minus $100 million, compared with its previous forecast of $10.7 billion, plus or minus $300 million. Micron also nudged up its adjusted gross margin forecast to 44.5%, plus or minus 0.5%, for the fourth quarter, compared with its prior expectation of 42%, plus or minus 1%. The company said the revised forecast reflects improved pricing, particularly for dynamic random access memory or DRAM products. "We look at all of our different end markets around the world, the pricing trends have been robust, and we have had great success in being able to push that pricing up," Sumit Sadana, Micron's chief business officer, said at an industry conference on Monday. Supply constraints in HBM production and strong AI demand have enabled Micron to command higher prices for its products, representing a shift where historically memory chipmakers had to accept thinner margins, eMarketer analyst Jacob Bourne said. Reuters exclusively reported on Monday Nvidia supplier SK Hynix sees the market for specialized AI memory chips growing 30% a year until 2030. The imposition of a 100% tariff on some chips imported into the U.S. could hit growth, but the duties will not apply to companies manufacturing in the country or have committed to do so. In June, Micron said it is expanding its U.S. investments by $30 billion, totaling $200 billion. Micron expects adjusted fourth-quarter earnings of $2.85 per share, plus or minus 7 cents, compared with its earlier expectation of $2.50, plus or minus 15 cents. (Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo and Shreya Biswas) Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Stripes, gingham, and chintz have been having a moment for some time now proof that people are craving interiors that feel joyful and expressive. But while patterned spaces are undeniably mood-boosting, combining multiple motifs in one room is no small feat. Theres a fine line between eclectic elegance and visual chaos between a room that sings and one that simply shouts. Enter pattern drenching: the bold, maximalist approach to interior design that embraces the layering of prints across every surface. Think florals with animal prints, and antique tapestries next to candy stripes, all united through a carefully considered palette. Though rooted in excess, pattern drenching when done right feels harmonised, not hectic. open image in gallery At Hotel Le Grand Mazarin in Paris, Wes Anderson meets Alice in Wonderland ( Hotel Le Grand ) We spoke with top interior designers and pattern specialists renowned for their vibrant aesthetics, uncovering how they balance boldness with cohesion. From practical tips to inspired visual cues and expert insights, we decode how to master the rule-breaking rhythm of pattern-rich interiors. A masterclass in maximalism A striking example of this fearless approach is Martin Brudnizkis interiors for Hotel Le Grand Mazarin in Paris, where a whimsical Wes Anderson-meets-Alice in Wonderland atmosphere unfolds. Here, canopy beds draped in art de lys tapestries, whimsical paisley-and-lobster wallpaper tucked inside antique wardrobes, striped and chevron sofas, and oriental rugs all coexist in effortless, elegant harmony. Despite the exuberant mix of prints, the space is unified by a painterly, well-calibrated palette. Pistachio greens and soft corals sweep across walls and seating, punctuated by accents of lavender, golden ochre, and dusky rose. Murano glass chandeliers, tasselled lamps, and flea-market antiques layer in texture and narrative, weaving a story that feels as theatrical as it is lived in. open image in gallery Spaces are unified by a painterly, well-calibrated palette ( Hotel Le Grand ) The result is flamboyant but cosy, opulent yet grounded proving that while pattern drenching may appear spontaneous and free-spirited, the designers who do it best approach it with thoughtfulness and restraint. Balancing boldness and breathing room To channel this, interior designer Rebecca Hughes explains, success lies in control: The key is sticking to a cohesive colour palette, varying your pattern scales, and allowing space for the eye to rest. Think large florals next to fine stripes, grounded by solid expanses of colour. Layering patterns with purpose can create movement and rhythm, turning an otherwise simple space into something characterful and dynamic. Hughes is quick to note that maximalism doesnt mean excess for its own sake. As with all patterns, restraint matters, she says. Let prints breathe by pairing them with solids or simpler elements. Thats what keeps the look fresh rather than fussy and ensures the pattern has real impact. open image in gallery Interior designer Rebecca Hughes emphasises the need for restraint when it comes to patterns to avoid fussiness ( Rebecca Hughes ) David Harris, design director of fabric and wallpaper house, Andrew Martin, echoes the need for thoughtful contrast over chaos. He suggests that successful pattern drenching hinges on a sense of visual grounding. A large geometric print can sit beautifully alongside a delicate floral so long as theres a shared hue to tie them together, he says. Solid tones act like punctuation, giving the eye a place to rest and preventing overwhelm. For Harris, living rooms and bedrooms are ideal spaces to embrace this approach. Layering patterns across walls, upholstery, and soft furnishings creates a rich, cohesive atmosphere, he explains. In open-plan layouts, patterns can even help define distinct zones like a bold rug anchoring a seating area or a statement wallpaper wrapping around a dining nook. But he cautions against letting enthusiasm overtake intention. Too many clashing prints without a common thread whether its colour, motif, or texture can feel messy rather than curated, he warns. And dont forget about scale. If every element competes for attention, the space loses its sense of balance. open image in gallery When done right, pattern drenching feels harmonised, not hectic ( Hotel Le Grand ) Go by feeling not formula While Harris and Hughes take a more structured view, others see maximalism as a creative instinct. For Stefano Seletti, artistic director of Italian cult homeware brand Seletti, the magic lies in confidence rather than calculation. Pattern drenching works best when it feels natural not overly thought through, he says. Its not about uniformity, but conviction. When florals, animal prints and polka dots are chosen with the same boldness, they begin to speak the same language expressive and full of personality. He recommends beginning with one standout design and building the rest of the scheme around it. Start with a pattern you love its like casting the lead role in a film, he suggests. Then use scale and contrast to add drama. A bold, oversized print can be balanced with something more intricate. And dont be afraid of clashing often its the unexpected pairings that make a space memorable. open image in gallery Dont be afraid of clashing, as this can make a space more memorable ( Rebecca Hughes ) Begin with the base Not sure where to begin? Lizzie Mosley, creative director at Hug Rug, suggests starting from the ground up quite literally. A rug is one of the most effective places to begin, she explains. It grounds the room both visually and physically, while offering a ready-made colour palette. Pick out one or two dominant tones and repeat them elsewhere in cushions, curtains or art to create harmony. In the bedroom, bedding is an equally powerful foundation. Jessica Hanley, founder of Piglet in Bed, is a firm believer in bold layering provided the palette stays considered. The key is sticking to a complementary colour story, so everything feels cohesive, she says. It doesnt have to match exactly its more about a shared tone or mood. Soft, nature-inspired shades like playful blues, gentle greens and blush pinks always sit comfortably together. open image in gallery Its about creating a space that feels personal and full of life, says founder of Piglet in Bed, Jessica Hanley ( Piglet in Bed ) Piglet in Beds patterned linen collections are designed with this flexibility in mind, encouraging customers to explore and combine with confidence. But for Hanley, success lies not just in colour, but in scale. Pairing a ditsy floral with a narrow gingham or wide stripe creates contrast without overwhelming the space, she says. Ultimately, successful pattern drenching isnt about rigid rules its about creating a space that feels personal and full of life. Above all, it should feel effortless. If a room looks curated but lived in not overly styled then youve got the balance right, concludes Hanley. So, mix boldly, edit gently, and trust your own eye. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Pamela Anderson has launched her own brand of pickles and fans are already saying what a big dill it is. The 58-year-old actor released her latest product, Pamelas Pickles, Sunday, in collaboration with Los Angeles Flamingo Estate. The recipe for the pickles was passed down to Anderson by her great-aunt Vie, whom the actor called an award-winning pickler and canner. [She] was a great cook, and such a joy to be around, The Naked Gun star told Elle Decor Sunday. She was bedazzled from head to toe and danced in the kitchen in high heels while spiking your coffee with Kahlua. She wrote a book, From Pickles to Pearls. This is legit! However, Anderson said shes carrying the tradition of her aunts pickles forward in [her] own way by launching a spicy version of the snack, which calls for new ingredients. The delicious base is packed with Rose, Dill, Mustard, and Garlic the perfect partner for the signature flavors of Flamingo Estate: Pink Peppercorns, Guajillo Chile, and smoky Sea Salt, the description reads. So, how do you get your hands on Anderons spicy and floral pickles? The product is sold on Flamingo Estates website and retails for $38 per jar. Orders are expected to ship by August 18. open image in gallery Pamela Anderson is donating proceeds from her new pickle brand to California Wildfire Center. The product is sold on Flamingo Estates website and retails for $38 per jar. ( Getty Images ) All of the proceeds from the vegan pickles will be donated to the California Wildfire Center, a wildlife medical treatment and rehabilitation facility that offers optimal care to native California species. Fans have already expressed their excitement over the product. Im buying whatever she is selling, one person wrote in the comments of Elle Decors Instagram post about Andersons pickles. Love it! Love the packaging too! So pretty, another added, while a third agreed: These sound SO GOOD! What a surprise combo of ingredients. Yummmm. I would definitely try pickles with roses, a fourth wrote. The new product comes days after Anderson responded to comparisons made between her cookery series Pamelas Cooking with Love and Meghan Markles With Love, Meghan. open image in gallery Pamela Anderson launches spicy rose pickles and fans are already excited about the product. ( Flamingo Estate ) Both shows debuted earlier this year, with Meghans premiering on Netflix on March 4. Meanwhile, Andersons Prime Video series was released one week earlier on February 24. During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen last week, the Baywatch icon was bluntly asked if she believed Meghan had copied her. On a scale from one to 10, how much of a rip-off did you feel like With Love, Meghan was of your show, Pamelas Cooking with Love? There were articles saying these two shows were very similar," Cohen asked the actor during a segment called Plead the Fifth. Anderson, who appeared surprised by the question, replied: One I didnt. Pressing her on the topic, Cohen again asked: One? On a scale from one to 10, you did not see any similarities? Anderson answered with a laugh: No, I didn't really look, but I didn't invent cooking shows. She's just doing her thing. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A woman in Alabama was arrested after a dead baby girl was found inside a hearse at a funeral home, according to local police. Terica Pearl, the mother of the 1-year-old girl found in the hearse, was arrested by police in Gadsen. She has been charged with murder. The girl was identified as Blessence Pearl. According to local law enforcement officials, the child's remains were located on Saturday at the West Gadsen Funeral Home. Dantez Robinson, who owns the funeral home, told police that the facility's employees were returning from a different call when someone said they thought they saw a doll in the hearse. When they opened the door to retrieve it, they realized it was a human child, according to WSAW. Terica Pearl, of Gadsen, Alabama, has been charged with the murder of her 1-year-old daughter, Blessence, after the girl's remains were found in the back of a hearse at a funeral home ( Gadsen Police Department ) Robinson organized a vigil for the child. My heart fell to my feet, he told WVTM. I have young ones. I have two kids at the age of four and seven. To get the phone call, my heart was shattered, shattered into a million pieces. Ekra Tolbert, who described herself as a lifelong friend of the child's grandmother, told the broadcaster the woman was heartbroken. Her heart is completely torn up, she said. I couldn't sleep last night so I know she couldn't sleep last night cause she's the grandmother. The city's mayor, Craig Ford, said the situation shook the community. This was a tough case for everybody involved, he said. Im proud of the way our police department went after the truth and got it done. An arrest doesnt take away the hurt, but it does mean were one step closer to justice for this child. Gadsen police have requested that any members of the public with information that could assist their investigation to come forward. If anyones got any kind of information that could help us wrap this case up, help us give some justice to a victim and be able to bring peace back to the community, because there (are) a lot of questions to be had from this, Lieutenant Dusty Ford of the Gadsen Police told WVTM. Theres a lot of people looking for answers, and we want to be able to give those to them. But until someone comes forward and helps us, you know, theres only so much we can work with. Pearl is being held in the Etowah County Jail without bond. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Florida restaurant has been stripped of its Michelin star after its owner-chef was jailed on domestic violence charges that have since been upgraded to attempted second-degree murder. Konro, once hailed as Palm Beach Countys first Michelin-starred restaurant, has been removed from the prestigious guide. The demotion happened after Jacob Bickelhaupt, 41, was arrested in June on domestic violence charges stemming from a June 2 attack on a woman that police say lasted roughly two hours. He has pleaded not guilty. Michelin spokesperson Carly Grieff told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that the star was pulled because the restaurant has closed. But in June, after the chefs arrest, Michelin told the Sun Sentinel that while it firmly condemns all acts of violence, aggression and harassment, it was taking no immediate action, arguing that MICHELIN Stars are annual distinctions and therefore our Inspectors revisit the restaurants annually. open image in gallery Jacob Bickelhaupt, 41, was arrested in June on domestic charges stemming from a June 2 attack on a woman that police say lasted roughly two hours ( West Palm Beach Police Department ) Konro, a 10-seat chefs counter named for the Japanese charcoal grill used in many of its courses, seems to have closed following Bickelhaupts arrest just two months after winning Palm Beach Countys first Michelin star. Dishes included Japanese A5 Wagyu, edible floral microgreens, and foie gras in chicken-skin cones with cloudberry jam, the Tampa Bay Times reported. The alleged assault happened when the victim, a woman who worked with Bickelhaupt, allegedly tried to coax him from the couch back to bed, according to a probable cause affidavit. Police say he punched and kicked her repeatedly, even as she crawled away. She eventually escaped, calling a rideshare to Palm Beach International Airport to return to her home in Denver. But she suffered a seizure and was rushed to St. Marys Medical Center, where doctors told her family she would likely have died if she had boarded the flight. open image in gallery Konro, once hailed as Palm Beach Countys first Michelin-starred restaurant, has been removed from the prestigious guide ( 42 Grams Trailer/Youtube ) The woman first claimed shed been in a car accident, but medical staff told deputies her injuries, which included two black eyes, extensive bruising, and a subdural hematoma requiring emergency surgery, were inconsistent. In a sworn statement, she named Bickelhaupt as her attacker. Deputies later found blood in multiple rooms of his home. Bickelhaupt has faced similar allegations before. In 2017, police charged him with striking his then-wife, Alexa Welsh, in the head with a bottle, forcing his acclaimed Chicago restaurant 42 Grams to close the next day. Bickelhaupt admitted: I hurt her bad and I freaked out I asked [an employee] to call 911 and left in a panic back to my apartment. I had a bunch of beer and whiskey at home and was going to kill myself. He later pleaded guilty to simple battery. open image in gallery The establishment was stripped of its Michelin star after its owner-chef was jailed on domestic violence charges that have since been upgraded to attempted second-degree murder ( 42 Grams Trailer/Youtube ) His ex-wife Welsh told the Sun Sentinel she was unsurprised by the latest case. Violence is a cycle. How does the saying go? Those who do not learn history I sent [the victim] a message of support. I hope shes able to make a full recovery. The victims current condition is unknown. Bickelhaupt remains in Palm Beach County jail and faces charges of attempted second-degree murder and false imprisonment. His next hearing is scheduled for September 8. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A Florida man has been arrested after authorities say he shot and killed his girlfriend early Sunday morning at the storage unit in Jensen Beach where the couple had been living. Javier Saenz, 43, faces charges of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Tonya Sidebottom. Sidebottom, 55, was found at her business, Tonya Sidebottom Custom Sewing, with a gunshot wound to the chest around 12:30 a.m., according to the Martin County Sheriffs Office. She was taken to a hospital, where she later died. Sheriff John Budensiek said the couple appeared to be experiencing homelessness and explained that they had been staying inside a storage shed at the property where the business was also located. He said Saenz called 911 that morning asking for medical assistance. open image in gallery Javier Saenz, 43, faces charges of second-degree murder and depriving Tonya Sidebottom of the ability to call 911 ( Martin County Sheriff's Office ) In that conversation, they were trying to figure out what happened and why do you need fire rescue, and he kept saying just send them, send them, Budensiek said. Our fire rescue dispatch could hear a lady screaming in the background, gunshot, gunshot. She didnt say that Saenz shot her, but they can tell theres a woman in dire stress. Sidebottom was conscious when first responders arrived and spoke to paramedics before being transported to the hospital, he said. She told them that he waited at least 10 minutes before he even called 911 for our deputies and fire rescue to respond, Budensiek said. Although Sidebottom did not name her shooter, Budensiek said Saenz made a self-incriminating remark during the emergency call. On our 911 call with fire rescue, fire rescues dispatcher asked where you shot our victim, and he said in the chest, that was his response, Budensiek said. Those were his words that implicated him in this incident. open image in gallery Tonya Sidebottom, 55, was found at her business Tonya Sidebottom Custom Sewing around 12:30 a.m., Sunday, with a gunshot wound to the chest ( Martin County Sheriff's Office ) Saenz has a prior criminal record and was at the center of a temporary risk protection order issued by Port St. Lucie police last year, investigators said. He had just had a wrist protection order placed on him last year up in Port St. Lucie, Budensiek said. They seized several firearms, three of those firearms were found in the search warrant last night. One of which was the murder weapon. A memorial has been placed outside Sidebottoms sewing business. She was a great girl, and I hope shes remembered as being that, her friend Chris Ek said, according to WPBF. Being someone that cared about others and went out of her way to make sure other people were comfortable and had what they needed. Her loved ones shared with WPTV that she had recently launched the upholstery business, creating custom furniture for yachts, and was working on getting her life back on track. She was also an advocate for homeless women. Investigators are still working to determine a motive for the shooting. Saenz remains in custody at the Martin County Jail. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice A teenager allegedly told authorities in New Mexico that he killed an Uber driver to let off some steam, according to reports. Sheliky Sanchez, 18, has been charged with murder, armed robbery and tampering with evidence after the execution-style shooting of Joseph Andrus around 3 a.m. Friday in Albuquerque, authorities said. Andrus, the Uber driver, was found dead by the side of the road by police. Police said Sanchez asked his girlfriend to order him an Uber Thursday night because his friend has a car for him and he is going to get it, according to a criminal complaint obtained by the Albuquerque Journal. Sanchez claimed to authorities he looked at available Uber drivers and picked the one he wanted. He said that he and Andrus had a long conversation during the drive, and that Andrus was actually really cool, he told police. Sheliky Sanchez, 18, has been charged with murder, armed robbery and tampering with evidence ( Albuquerque Police Department ) Once they got to the drop-off location, police say Sanchez ordered Andrus out of the car and shot him multiple times. The driver died at the scene, Albuquerque police said. The teen reportedly admitted to authorities that he killed Andrus, saying it was in part to let off some steam, according to court documents obtained by KOB4. Sanchez told detectives that while he watched Andrus die, he felt bad for him a little bit, but just getting that satisfaction out, out of the way. Its like a relief. Like taking an in and out breath, the documents said. The teen then stole Andrus car, which was later found at Sanchezs girlfriends house. When police arrived at the home, Sanchez told them he had never taken an Uber ride and said his friends always drove him places. Police said that when he was asked if he knew why his girlfriend had ordered an Uber, he told them, No, according to the Journal. Detectives told Sanchez that the car outside his girlfriends house was owned by an Uber driver. Sanchez then claimed that he had paid for the vehicle in cash, according to the complaint. When confronted by police about his confusing story, Sanchez reportedly admitted to the killing. The teen, couldnt take it out on certain people, so he wanted to take it out on anybody he could find, according to the complaint. I dont know what it was, Sanchez told police when he was asked why he chose Andrus. He just seemed like a good guy. I dont really go for good people. SWAT officers arrested Sanchez on Friday at his girlfriends home. Sanchez has been booked into the Metropolitan Detention Center, and charged with murder, armed robbery and tampering with evidence. Uber said that it was working with authorities following the drivers killing. We are shocked and heartbroken for Josephs family and loved ones after this senseless attack. Weve been in contact with the police and are grateful for their work to bring those responsible to justice, Uber said in a statement. Sanchez appeared in court Saturday, where prosecutors told the judge they were filing a motion to keep the teen in jail ahead of trial. A judge is set to decide whether he will be held in jail. NEW YORK (AP) Nvidia and AMD have agreed to share 15% of their revenues from chip sales to China with the U.S. government, as part of a deal to secure export licenses for the semiconductors. The Trump administration halted the sale of advanced computer chips to China in April over national security concerns, but Nvidia and AMD revealed in July that Washington would allow them to resume sales of the H20 and MI308 chips, which are used in artificial intelligence development. President Trump confirmed the terms of the unusual arrangement in a Monday press conference while noting that he originally wanted 20% of the sales revenue when Nvidia asked to sell the "obsolete" H20 chip to China. The president credited Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang for negotiating him down to 15%. "So we negotiated a little deal. So hes selling a essentially old chip," Trump said. Nvidia did not comment about the specific details of the agreement or its quid pro quo nature, but said they would adhere to the export rules laid out by the administration. "We follow rules the U.S. government sets for our participation in worldwide markets. While we havent shipped H20 to China for months, we hope export control rules will let America compete in China and worldwide, Nvidia wrote in a statement to the AP. America cannot repeat 5G and lose telecommunication leadership. Americas AI tech stack can be the worlds standard if we race. AMD did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Rep. John Moolenaar, the Republican chair of the House Select Committee on China, expressed concern over the deal. There are questions about the legal basis for doing so, he said. Export controls are a frontline defense in protecting our national security, and we should not set a precedent that incentivizes the government to grant licenses to sell China technology that will enhance its AI capabilities. The top Democrat on the panel also raised concerns over the reported agreement, calling it a dangerous misuse of export controls that undermines our national security. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the ranking member of the House Select Committee on China, said he would seek answers about the legal basis for this arrangement and demand full transparency from the administration. Our export control regime must be based on genuine security considerations, not creative taxation schemes disguised as national security policy, he said. Chip export controls arent bargaining chips, and theyre not casino chips either. We shouldnt be gambling with our national security to raise revenue. Rolling from side to side, presenting their bellies, and even lifting their dolphin playmate into the air are some of the ways that whales socialise with their smaller cousins, a new study finds. The Australian research looking at images and video from 17 locations around the world challenges previous scientific assumptions that dolphins harassed whales, finding instead that the play was often mutual. Griffith University whales and climate program lead Dr Olaf Meynecke and co-author Olivia Crawley analysed nearly 200 separate and unrelated interactions between 425 baleen whales and 1570 dolphins. Their findings were published in the journal, Discover Animals, on Tuesday. When we go out and do our whale surveys or tagging whales, we always joke that we can find the whales by looking for the dolphins, Meynecke said. Whales that show a lot of active behaviours seem to get the most interest from the dolphins. Advertisement Eating outJust open Melbournes most famous hummus finally has a home of its own at Zareh Dip king and ex-Bar Saracen head chef Tom Sarafian intertwines his Armenian and Egyptian heritage at his debut restaurant on Smith Street. Tomas Telegramma August 12, 2025 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share One of Melbournes most anticipated restaurants in recent years finally has an opening date. Zareh, the long-awaited debut of young-gun chef Tom Sarafian, will open in Collingwood next Wednesday, August 20, spotlighting his Armenian and Egyptian heritage. Zareh, the debut restaurant of chef Tom Sarafian, is nearly ready to open in Collingwood. Kristoffer Paulsen Part of what makes it so closely watched is, yes, the lengthy lead time. It also marks Sarafians return to restaurants after four years of pop-ups and running a successful condiment business. But mostly, its the former Bar Saracen head chefs refusal to take the path of least resistance in his pursuit of perfection. (This is a man who still insists on hand-peeling garlic for his eponymous dip.) We do everything the hard way, says Sarafian. Advertisement Hes the first to bring mouneh (Lebanese pantry staples) from south Lebanese brand Droubna to Melbourne. From quality sumac to supersized pine nuts, theyll be used across the menu and also available to buy, alongside Sarafian dips, in the deli section. Hes also struck out on his own to open the restaurant on Smith Street. It was initially meant to be part of the Mulberry Group stable, but that changed when an appropriate site couldnt be found. 1 / 6 Kafta nayeh (raw lamb dressed with toum, chilli and herbs) is one of Sarafians Bar Saracen signatures. Kristoffer Paulsen 2 / 6 Chef-owner Tom Sarafian (second from left) with members of his team. Kristoffer Paulsen 3 / 6 Hummus topped with Fraser Isle spanner crab and Mooloolaba prawns. Kristoffer Paulsen 4 / 6 Arak appears across several drinks, including a negroni. Kristoffer Paulsen 5 / 6 The sound system and vinyl collection are a key part of the venue. Kristoffer Paulsen 6 / 6 Tunisian pastry filled with tuna, potato, harissa and more. Kristoffer Paulsen Previous Slide Next Slide Named for Sarafians grandfather, Zareh is an elegant 40-seater with deep connections to home. Sarafian will work alongside his brother and cousin, helping out with dips production and front-of-house, respectively. The fit-out emulates their grandparents house, from burgundy tiles to an identical amber-glass sliding door. The ever-evolving menu will traverse Sarafians roots, weaving in influences from the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean, as well as his training in London. Advertisement Sarafians death-row dish is manti, Armenian style. Here hes baking the teeny-tiny, meat-stuffed dumplings until crunchy, then splashing them with a tomato broth that the bottom soaks up while the top stays crisp. Theyre dressed with garlicky labneh and Aleppo chilli from Tasmanias Fat Carrot Farm. Hummus topped with Fraser Isle spanner crab and Mooloolaba prawns. Kristoffer Paulsen Ghapama an Armenian dish so iconic they sing songs about it is a hollowed-out heirloom pumpkin filled with rice, nuts and dried fruit thats cooked in the wood oven. Magical chicken wings are charcoal-grilled then wood-fired in a claypot, with copious amounts of Sarafians own toum, lemon and coriander. The chef describes the oven and charcoal barbecue custom-built by The Brick Chef as more important than salt. It wouldnt be a Sarafian restaurant without his signature hummus, adorned with Fraser Isle spanner crab and Mooloolaba prawns. Advertisement This food is [often] seen as cheap and cheerful. We eat it a lot at home ... and at kebab joints. We felt like we needed a room to show off the pinnacle of what [it] can be, says Sarafian. The house martini garnished with a gilda. Kristoffer Paulsen Completing the equation is arak, the anise spirit, specially imported from Lebanese producer Farid. There are three OG, coffee, zaatar to have neat or with a splash of sparkling water, which isnt traditional, Sarafian says, but enhances the flavour. A bracing arak-spiked martini comes with the optional (but arguably essential) add-on of a gilda. Related Article 13 exciting restaurant openings were counting down to this year Its dinner-only to start, but Zareh will soon add lunches and grab-and-go options to the deli. Advertisement Dinner Wed-Sun from August 20. 368 Smith Street, Collingwood, zareh.com.au Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Can you remember where you were when the Matildas beat France after the longest penalty shootout in Womens World Cup history on August 12, 2023? I was at the MCG for an AFL game, but our national womens soccer team changed my plans and those of many others at the ground. How the Matildas reacted to Vines penalty. Credit: Getty Images We crammed into the terrace bars, shoulder-to-shoulder as we willed our Tillies to victory. Across 15 agonising minutes with every miss, every one of Mackenzie Arnolds glorious saves we erupted with shrieks of delight, or groaned at the opportunities missed. And when Cortnee Vine scored the winner, after 20 kicks from the spot ... it felt like the entire nation roared in delight all at once. There were many reasons to celebrate the Matildas before the home World Cup theyd won the Oceania Football Confederation and the Asian Cup in the years before 2023 but this felt like the moment womens football truly arrived as a force in Australian sport. After all, its not every day that Australias Defence Minister Richard Marles relinquishes his role to a goalkeeper! Two years on, despite a challenging Paris Olympics and captain Sam Kerrs regular absence from the team, the Matildas are still drawing large crowds, and hosting the AFC Asian Cup in Australia in March next year. Nvidia (NVDA) has cut an unprecedented deal with the Trump administration to save its China business that would entail sharing as much as $3 billion in revenue with the US government for the current fiscal year to resume sales of its H20 chips. President Trump confirmed in a press briefing Monday that he made an arrangement with Nvidia to grant the leading AI chipmaker export licenses for the chips in exchange for 15% of their revenues from China. "We negotiated a little deal," Trump told a room of reporters, calling Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang "a brilliant guy." Multiple media outlets reported over the weekend that Nvidia and rival Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) had made such deals with President Trump, citing unnamed sources, following an initial report of the news from the Financial Times. Trade policy experts cited by the Washington Post said the agreements amounted to blackmail and violated the US Constitution's ban on export taxes. Nvidia did not confirm its new arrangement with the Trump administration, but a spokesperson told Yahoo Finance, "We follow rules the U.S. government sets for our participation in worldwide markets. While we haven't shipped H20 to China for months, we hope export control rules will let America compete in China and worldwide." Nvidia and AMD shares fell fractionally on Monday. China is one of Nvidia's most important markets, accounting for 13% of the company's revenue in its prior fiscal year. Nvidia has repeatedly introduced new, lower-power chips to sell to China in the face of tightening US export controls, as the government has cited national security concerns. The chipmaker began sales of its H20 chips graphics processing units based on its prior-generation Hopper architecture in 2024. Nvidia got hit with a surprise ban on exports of its H20 chips to China by the Trump administration in April, costing the company billions in lost sales and sending the stock spiraling. The ban was later reversed in July, drawing national security concerns from lawmakers worried about China's development of AI. Wall Street analysts projected that Nvidia would recoup $15 billion in lost sales in the second half of the year after the ban was lifted, to hit about $20 billion in revenue from China for its fiscal year 2026, which ends next January meaning the US government could get $3 billion from its deal with the company. Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon said Nvidia making some revenue from China is better than none: "At the end of the day we believe it is better to allow NVIDIA (and AMD) to sell AI into China, as failure to do so effectively hands the Chinese AI market over to Huawei, and encourages the coalescence of Chinese developers around Huawei's architecture and ecosystem (undesirable)." Just after 2pm last Friday, Federal Court judge Wendy Abraham ruled a series of stories exposing the gross negligence of Dr Munjed Al Muderis, published in The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald and screened on 60 Minutes, were, in fact, true. This was a significant result for the countrys biggest newspapers, but it was a case that should never have been brought to trial and the latest example of how a dozen money-driven defamation lawyers have made a cottage industry of extracting fees from rich clients only to score a spectacular own goal. Some are no better than tow truck drivers sitting in wait on the edge of the freeway so they can be first at the crash scene. They generate much of their own business by scouring stories about clients with money, whom they then approach with the double whammy prospect of a cash bonanza and the restoration of their tattered reputations. Loading ISQs report drawing on answers from more than 3300 parents at independent schools across the state showed a quarter chose a school before their child was born. Three-quarters also said the schools appearance influenced their decision, either wholly or to a significant degree. These insights show that parents are deeply engaged in the school selection process, Mountford said. Theyre looking for schools that reflect their values and offer the best possible environment for their child to thrive. St Margarets Anglican Girls School principal Ros Curtis AM said the inner-city school whose families draw in a median household income of $293,000 stood out for its single-sex learning environment, which included many boarders. She said 20 per cent of the student body boarded, which meant many came from outside Brisbane or overseas. Families at St Margarets Anglican Girls School had a median household income of $293,000. Credit: St Margaret's Anglican Girls School This provides a wonderful richness to our suburban school and a strong community, Curtis said. When prospective families visit the campus, they can tangibly feel that warm sense of community as they meet students, staff and parents, and they comment on it. Curtis said the school also regularly ran fundraising events for charity, as well as school infrastructure and scholarship funds, for students from various backgrounds. The school community understands that school fees do not cover all costs associated with a school particularly when looking towards major development projects, she said. The goal for the school fundraising is always about participation those who can give more do, but all amounts large and small are gratefully accepted. More than four in five parents surveyed by the ISQ said fees were covered by the familys income, while 6 per cent relied partially or wholly on scholarships and bursaries. The research also found that one in five students at independent schools came from families in the lowest two income brackets with a dual income of less than $104,000 a year. While sending a year 12 student to Gregory Terrace will cost a family $24,202 in 2025, the remaining five schools with the highest-earning parents will put families out by at least $30,000 for a childs final year of school. St Josephs College Gregory Terrace is a short walk from Brisbane Girls Grammar and Brisbane Grammar School. Credit: Brisbane Times Catholic schools made up 10 of Brisbanes 20 private schools with the highest-earning parents. Some, but not all, are run by Brisbane Catholic Education, which is controlled by the Brisbane Archdiocese. BCE said its schools were deeply connected with local communities, and provided quality teaching and learning outcomes for students of all backgrounds. Loading [BCEs] are a mixture of primary, secondary and prep to year 12 schools in metropolitan, regional and rural locations, it said. But education economist and policy consultant Adam Rorris said current funding models had left parents with less choice when it came to schooling options, as public schools struggled to secure funds. By governments own metrics, public schools are significantly underfunded, Rorris said. Those same governments state and federal have sufficient money to overfund private schools that oftentimes are catering to far wealthier families, and children that have relative to many public schools families better resources. The boss of the collapsed Genius chain of childcare centres is hoping to escape conviction in a Melbourne court after pleading guilty to a financial offence. Embattled daycare entrepreneur Darren Misquitta has admitted to one charge of dealing with property suspected of being the proceeds of crime while acting as a business consultant in 2019. The boss of collasped childcare chain Genius, Darren Misquitta, outside Melbourne Magistrates Court on Monday. Credit: Eddie Jim Under the little-used law, a person is guilty of an offence, carrying up to two years in jail, if they are found to have possessed money or goods reasonably suspected of being the proceeds of crime. Misquittas chain of 39 Genius childcare centres across the country collapsed in June, leaving workers, creditors and tax authorities chasing debt. The long-dormant Melbourne Star Observation Wheel in Docklands will officially reopen within the next 16 months, following an $11 million investment deal with new Swiss and American backers. The new ownership group has committed to having the wheel turning again by the end of 2026. Jonathon Codman, director of precincts The District Docklands, stands with new Melbourne Star managers Jane and Jay Jones of Skyline Attractions and Lord Mayor of Melbourne Nick Reece on Monday morning. Credit: Simon Schluter Lord Mayor Nick Reece hailed the announcement as a wheelie, wheelie great day for Melbourne at a press conference on Monday morning beneath the wheel. He described the attractions return as a major symbol of the waterfront suburbs revival, saying that Docklands is going from strength to strength at the moment. We recently saw Coles announce theyre moving their headquarters here with 5000 employees. Sonic Healthcare is opening their Melbourne centre next door, bringing close to 1000 employees into Docklands, Reece said. A young first-home-buyer couple outbid an investor for the keys to a double-fronted Victorian home in Parkville, paying $1.73 million at Saturdays auction. The four-bedroom, one-bathroom property at 62 Morrah Street was listed with a price guide of between $1.6 million to $1.7 million. The reserve was set at $1.7 million. The auction attracted a crowd of about 70 people, Nelson Alexander Carlton selling agent Robert Enes said, with bidding kicking off at $1.6 million. The winners were young home buyers from Richmond, Enes said. It was a first home for [the couple], they were looking to do a renovation and make it their own. Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. In the world of hospitality, the signature experience is on the rise, the name given to an activity that only one hotel can offer, such as a tour of its art collection. Or it could be VIP access to an attraction or event that the hotel has negotiated with local operators. Rather than the one-off feat pulled off by a savvy concierge or front desk, these experiences are tailored to the interests of an establishments customers. The Tasman hotel three excursions exclusive to hotel guests. They come as even economy hotels offer accoutrements that used to only be found in the upscale as the luxury segment continues to grow faster than any other hotel class, creating fierce competition. And the meaning of luxury is also shifting, according to a report by consultancy firm McKinsey and Company. London: European leaders have ramped up their warnings to US President Donald Trump about his plans for a peace deal on Ukraine, amid claims that his top envoy misjudged Russian demands for territory due to a translation blunder. Eight more European nations called for a hard line against Russian President Vladimir Putin in his meeting with Trump this Friday, insisting that Trump could not negotiate a deal without Ukraine and Europe having a say in the outcome. Russian President Vladimir Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff met in Moscow last week. Credit: AP Negotiations can only take place in context of a ceasefire, said the leaders of eight Baltic and Nordic nations stretching from Norway to Latvia. The people of Ukraine must have the freedom to decide their future. The path to peace cannot be charted without Ukraines voice. No decisions on Ukraine without Ukraine, and no decisions on Europe without Europe. After building a successful painting business from scratch over the last three and a half years, a New York man is walking away but not without a hard lesson in what can go wrong when you go into business without safeguards in place. The caller, who didnt share his name on The Ramsey Show, said the company he started with a co-founder grew to support 12 employees and had all the infrastructure to deliver high-end home paint jobs. But behind the scenes, tensions were simmering. And eventually, his business partner crossed the line. Don't miss Hes started other businesses within the same shop, taking resources from my business, the caller explained. Anything from putting the wrong things at the paint store on other accounts, XYZ, and sketchy checks that were cashed in his other bank account were talking $6,000. That wasnt just unethical, said co-host Dr. John Delony it was criminal. Its called theft and fraud, he said bluntly. A shady operating agreement Things came to a head when the co-founder, acting without his partners knowledge, had an attorney draft a 20-page operating agreement. The caller who had never formally signed one reviewed the document and discovered a buried clause that would strip him of any real power in the company. He hid a clause in there where it assigned him as the executive manager and put me as just a member of the company, he said. Rather than signing it, the caller lawyered up. Hes now working with a legal team and a forensic accountant to understand the complete financial picture and exit the company. He plans to sell his share back to the co-founder for anywhere from $300,000 to $600,000 a wide estimate that has yet to be confirmed by a professional valuation. Delony and co-host Jade Warshaw urged him not to rush the deal. Wait till all that smoke clears before you accept an offer, Delony advised. You dont know how much moneys been going out the back door. You don't even know what you're basing it off of. And that's the hard part. Warshaw added. Sharif, whose X account has more than 500,000 followers, posted on his account minutes before his death that Israel had been intensely bombarding Gaza City for more than two hours. A press freedom group and a UN expert previously warned that his life was in danger due to his reporting from Gaza. UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan said last month that Israels claims against him were unsubstantiated. In a statement, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Israel had failed to provide any evidence to back up its allegations against Sharif. Israels pattern of labelling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom, Sara Qudah, the committees director for the Middle East and North Africa, said. Loading The Australian journalists union, the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance, said the deaths followed a long smear campaign of unsubstantiated allegations against Al Sharif and other journalists. As Al Jazeera has said, this was a dangerous attempt to justify the targeting of journalists in the field. Tragically, these warnings have now come to fruition, the MEAA said in a statement. The targeting of journalists is a blatant attack on press freedom, and it is also a war crime. It must stop. Palestinian militant group Hamas, which runs Gaza, said the killing might signal the start of an Israeli offensive. The assassination of journalists and the intimidation of those who remain paves the way for a major crime that the occupation is planning to commit in Gaza City, Hamas said in a statement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday that he expected to complete a new Gaza offensive fairly quickly as the United Nations Security Council heard new demands for an end to suffering in the Palestinian enclave. Displaced Palestinians walk through a makeshift camp along the beach in Gaza City on Sunday. Credit: AP Speaking after his security cabinet on Friday approved a much-criticised plan to take control of Gaza City, Netanyahu said he had no choice but to complete the job and defeat Hamas to free hostages seized from Israel in October 2023. Londons Telegraph reported that Sharif left a pre-recorded message to be published in the event of his death in which he said he had lived the pain in all its details and tasted grief and loss repeatedly. Despite that, I never hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or misrepresentation, hoping that God would witness those who remained silent, those who accepted our killing, and those who suffocated our very breaths, he said. A man-made crisis Meanwhile, European representatives at the UN said famine was unfolding in Gaza, and Israels plan to expand its offensive would only make things worse. Expanding military operations will only endanger the lives of all civilians in Gaza, including the remaining hostages, and result in further unnecessary suffering, Denmark, France, Greece, Slovenia and the United Kingdom said in a joint statement. This is a man-made crisis, and therefore urgent action is needed to halt starvation and to surge aid into Gaza, they said. Malnutrition is widespread in the enclave due to what international aid agencies say is a deliberate plan by Israel to restrict aid. Israel rejects that allegation, blaming Hamas for the hunger among Palestinians and saying a lot of aid has been distributed. Loading Five more people, including two children, died of malnutrition and starvation in Gaza in the past 24 hours, Gazas Health Ministry said, taking the number of deaths from such causes to 217, including 100 children. The Hamas-run Gaza government media office said a further 23 people had been killed so far in the war by airdrops of aid that countries have resorted to, due to the difficulties of getting aid in by road. The US representative at the Security Council defended Netanyahu and said Washington was committed to addressing humanitarian needs, freeing hostages and achieving peace. VANCOUVER, BC, Aug. 11, 2025 - Ballard Power Systems (TSX: BLDP) today announced consolidated financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025. All amounts are in U.S. dollars unless otherwise noted and have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Highlights Ballard initiated a strategic realignment to achieve positive cash flow by year-end 2027 and included actions to reduce annualized operating costs by ~30% relative to the first half of 2025. Revenue of $17.8 million , up 11% YoY and gross margin of (8%), a 24 point increase YoY. , up 11% YoY and gross margin of (8%), a 24 point increase YoY. 27% reduction in Cash Operating Costs 1 due to 2024 restructuring actions and 19% reduction in Total Operating Expenses 2 driven primarily by 2024 restructuring actions, partially offset by initial restructuring costs related to the July restructuring. due to 2024 restructuring actions and 19% reduction in Total Operating Expenses driven primarily by 2024 restructuring actions, partially offset by initial restructuring costs related to the July restructuring. Q2 ended with $550.0 million in cash and cash equivalents. "We have made progress with respect to improving our financial performance and with our recently announced strategic realignment we have established a core goal to achieve positive cash flow by year-end 2027" said Marty Neese Ballard's newly appointed President and CEO. "Our focus needs to be on real, near-term opportunities where Ballard delivers clear value along with a sustainable business model that emphasizes operational excellence and cost discipline." "The restructuring plan, announced in July, aims to reduce Ballard's annualized operating costs by approximately 30%, a majority of which will be driven by an immediate reduction in workforce," continued Mr. Neese. "The plan also includes product portfolio simplification focusing on our strongest products and continued product cost reduction activities. This, along with more rigorous value-based pricing strategies, will support margin expansion. We will continue to limit capital expenditure and closely manage our cash to support our balance sheet. We expect majority of restructuring charges to be recognized in the third quarter, and the full benefit of reduced operating expenses in 2026." "Though the macro landscape continues to be dynamic, deliveries to our bus and rail customers remained on pace, driving year-over-year revenue growth of 11%. We continue to make meaningful progress on Project Forge, our high volume bi-polar plate line, and a key product cost reduction initiative. Even as Q2 order intake was challenged, we secured new orders, including one of the largest marine orders on record to eCap and Samskip that was announced after the quarter end." Mr. Neese concluded, "We continue to believe in the necessary role of hydrogen and fuel cells to decarbonize select heavy mobility and stationary power applications and we have taken action to continue our leadership position in this space. With $550 million in cash, no bank debt and no financing requirement for the foreseeable future, we are well positioned to reliably serve our customers over the long term as we move forward on our mission." Q2 2025 Financial Highlights (all comparisons are to Q2 2024 unless otherwise noted) Total revenue was $17.8 million in the quarter, up 11% year-over-year. Heavy Duty Mobility revenue of $16.1 million , 22% higher year-over-year, driven by bus and rail deliveries to North American and European customers. in the quarter, up 11% year-over-year. Gross margin was (8%) in the quarter, an improvement of 24-points year-over-year, due to lower manufacturing overhead costs from restructuring actions taken in 2024 and a net reduction in onerous contract provisions. Total Operating Expenses 2 were $31.7 million, a decrease of 12%, as a result of our reduced global operating cost structure from our 2024 restructuring activities and includes $6.3 million in restructuring and other charges incurred in the quarter. Excluding these charges, Total Operating Expenses 2 decreased by 30% year-over-year. Cash Operating Costs 1 were $22.7 million , a decrease of 27%, also driven by the 2024 restructuring. were $31.7 million, a decrease of 12%, as a result of our reduced global operating cost structure from our 2024 restructuring activities and includes in restructuring and other charges incurred in the quarter. Excluding these charges, Total Operating Expenses decreased by 30% year-over-year. Cash Operating Costs were , a decrease of 27%, also driven by the 2024 restructuring. Total Cash Used by Operating Activities was $20.3 million , compared to $35.1 million in the prior year. Cash and cash equivalents were $550.0 million at the end of Q2 2025, compared to $678.0 million in the prior year. , compared to in the prior year. Cash and cash equivalents were at the end of Q2 2025, compared to in the prior year. Adjusted EBITDA 1 was ($30.6) million , compared to ($35.4) million in Q2 2024, driven primarily by the improvement in gross margin, and by lower Cash Operating Costs. These improvements were partially offset by higher restructuring and related expenses and higher impairment losses on trade receivables. was , compared to in Q2 2024, driven primarily by the improvement in gross margin, and by lower Cash Operating Costs. These improvements were partially offset by higher restructuring and related expenses and higher impairment losses on trade receivables. Order Backlog at the end of Q2 2025 was $146.2 million , a decrease of 7% compared to the end of Q1 2025 as the result of soft order intake of $8.3 million and removal of certain high-risk orders. , a decrease of 7% compared to the end of Q1 2025 as the result of soft order intake of and removal of certain high-risk orders. The 12-month Orderbook was $84.3 million at end-Q2, a decrease of $8.0 million or 9% from the end of Q1 2025. Order Backlog ($M) Order Backlog at End-Q1 2025 Orders Received in Q2 2025 Orders Removed or Adjusted in Q2 2025 Orders Delivered in Q2 2025 Order Backlog at End-Q2 2025 Total Fuel Cell Products & Services $158.0 $8.3 $2.2 $17.8 $146.2 2025 Outlook Consistent with our past practice, and in view of the early stage of hydrogen fuel cell market development, specific revenue and net income (loss) guidance for 2025 is not provided. We expect revenue in 2025 will be back-half weighted. Restructuring actions taken in July 2025 may result in revisions to our guidance ranges to be updated at a future date. At this time, Total Operating Expense2, excluding restructuring charges, and Capital Expenditure3 are expected to be at the low end of their respective guidance ranges. With restructuring charges included, Total Operating Expense2 is expected to be at the high end of the guidance range. Total Operating Expense2 and Capital Expenditure3 guidance ranges for 2025 are as follows: 2025 Guidance Total Operating Expense3 $100 - $120 million Capital Expenditure3 $15 - $25 million Q2 2025 Financial Summary (Millions of U.S. dollars) Three months ended June 30 2025 2024 % Change REVENUE Fuel Cell Products & Services:4 Heavy-Duty Mobility $16.1 $13.2 22 % Bus $8.8 $11.0 (20 %) Truck $0.1 $1.7 (95 %) Rail $7.2 $0.0 179025 % Marine $0.0 $0.5 (94 %) Stationary $0.5 $1.7 (67 %) Emerging and Other Markets $1.2 $1.2 2 % Total Fuel Cell Products & Services Revenue $17.8 $16.0 11 % PROFITABILITY Gross Margin $ ($1.5) ($5.1) 71 % Gross Margin % (8 %) (32 %) 24pts Total Operating Expenses2 $31.7 $36.2 (12 %) Cash Operating Costs1 $22.7 $30.9 (27 %) Equity loss in JV & Associates ($0.4) ($0.5) 20 % Adjusted EBITDA1 ($30.6) ($35.4) 13 % Net Loss from Continuing Operations ($24.3) ($31.5) 23 % Loss Per Share from Continuing Operations ($0.08) ($0.11) 23 % CASH Cash provided by (used in) Operating Activities: Cash Operating Loss ($20.8) ($25.5) 18 % Working Capital Changes 0.5 ($9.6) 105 % Cash used by Operating Activities ($20.3) ($35.1) 42 % Cash and cash equivalents $550.0 $678.0 (19 %) For a more detailed discussion of Ballard Power Systems' first second 2025 results, please see the company's financial statements and management's discussion & analysis, which are available at www.ballard.com/investors, www.sedarplus.ca and www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. Ballard today also announced a change to its Board of Directors, with Yingbo Wang stepping down and Huajie Wang appointed as a Weichai nominee director. The Board thanked Yingbo for his valuable contributions and welcomed Huajie, who will bring extensive experience and strategic insight to the Board. Conference Call Ballard will hold a conference call on Monday August 11, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. Pacific Time (11:00 a.m. Eastern Time) to review first quarter 2025 operating results. The live call can be accessed by dialing +1-833-821-2814 (Canada/US toll free). Alternatively, a live audio and webcast can be accessed through a link on Ballard's homepage (www.ballard.com). Following the call, the audio webcast and presentation materials will be archived in the 'Earnings, Interviews & Presentations' area of the 'Investors' section of Ballard's website (www.ballard.com/investors). About Ballard Power Systems Ballard Power Systems' vision is to deliver fuel cell power for a sustainable planet. Ballard zero- emission PEM fuel cells are enabling electrification of mobility, including buses, commercial trucks, trains, marine vessels, and stationary power. To learn more about Ballard, please visit www.ballard.com. 1 Note that Cash Operating Costs, EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP measures. Non-GAAP measures do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and therefore are unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Ballard believes that Cash Operating Costs, EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA assist investors in assessing Ballard's operating performance. These measures should be used in addition to, and not as a substitute for, net income (loss), cash flows and other measures of financial performance and liquidity reported in accordance with GAAP. For a reconciliation of Cash Operating Costs, EBITDA, and Adjusted EBITDA to the Consolidated Financial Statements, please refer to the tables below. Cash Operating Costs measures total operating expenses excluding stock-based compensation expense, depreciation and amortization, impairment losses or recoveries on trade receivables, restructuring charges, acquisition related costs, the impact of unrealized gains or losses on foreign exchange contracts, and financing charges. EBITDA measures net loss excluding finance expense, income taxes, depreciation of property, plant and equipment, and amortization of intangible assets. Adjusted EBITDA adjusts EBITDA for stock-based compensation expense, transactional gains and losses, acquisition related costs, finance and other income, recovery on settlement of contingent consideration, asset impairment charges, and the impact of unrealized gains or losses on foreign exchange contracts. 2 Total Operating Expenses refer to the measure reported in accordance with IFRS. 3 Capital Expenditure is defined as Additions to property, plant and equipment and Investment in other intangible assets as disclosed in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. 4 We report our results in the single operating segment of Fuel Cell Products and Services. Our Fuel Cell Products and Services segment consists of the sale of PEM fuel cell products and services for a variety of applications including Heavy-Duty Mobility (consisting of bus, truck, rail, and marine applications), Stationary Power, and Emerging and Other Markets (consisting of material handling, off-road, and other applications). Revenues from the delivery of Services, including technology solutions, after sales services and training, are included in each of the respective markets. (Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars) Three months ended June 30, Cash Operating Costs 2025 2024 $ Change Total Operating Expenses $ 31,705 $ 36,228 $ (4,523) Stock-based compensation expense (2,289) (2,568) 279 Impairment recovery (losses) on trade receivables (491) (21) (470) Acquisition related costs - - - Restructuring and related (costs) recovery (5,851) (161) (5,690) Impact of unrealized gains (losses) on foreign exchange contracts 249 (126) 375 Depreciation and amortization (659) (2,436) 1,777 Cash Operating Costs $ 22,664 $ 30,916 $ (8,252) (Expressed in thousands of U.S. dollars) Three months ended June 30, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA 2025 2024 $ Change Net loss from continuing operations $ (24,280) $ (31,463) $ 7,183 Depreciation and amortization 963 3,749 (2,786) Finance expense 495 590 (95) Income taxes (recovery) 24 68 (44) EBITDA $ (22,798) $ (27,056) $ 4,258 Stock-based compensation expense 2,289 2,568 (279) Acquisition related costs - - - Finance and other (income) loss (10,819) (11,015) 196 Impairment charge on property, plant and equipment 939 - 939 Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment (3) - (3) Impact of unrealized (gains) losses on foreign exchange contracts (249) 126 (375) Adjusted EBITDA $ (30,641) $ (35,377) $ 4,736 SOURCE Ballard Power Systems Inc. Marking the resort's new all-inclusive era, Californians enjoy tailored savings and added value. LOS CABOS, Mexico, Aug. 8, 2025 -- Hacienda del Mar Los Cabos, now part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, is celebrating its transformation into a premium all-inclusive resort with a special offer for California residents. Guests from the Golden State who book a minimum of four nights can enjoy 25% off, receive a $100 USD resort credit per room per stay (valid only in 2025), and take advantage of complimentary stays for children 12 and under (one free child per paying adult, with a max of two per booking). This exclusive promotion is available for bookings made through September 30, 2025, at www.marriott.com/sjdha using promo code S5361. The complimentary kids' stay offer is valid for travel from August 6 to October 31, 2025, and April 15 to September 30, 2026. This new incentive invites California travelers to explore Los Cabos through the resort's refreshed all-inclusive lensone that blends authentic Mexican charm, beachfront serenity, and elevated service, all wrapped into a single, seamless experience. "Our new all-inclusive concept allows guests to enjoy everything they love about Hacienda del Marpersonalized service, gourmet cuisine, stunning architecturewith more ease and value than ever before," said Erica Moreno, Director of Sales and Marketing. "California remains one of our most important markets, and this offer is our way of saying 'bienvenidos' to our West Coast guests." Why Visit Hacienda del Mar and Los Cabos? Set along the Sea of Cortez in the upscale Cabo del Sol community, Hacienda del Mar offers 270 ocean-view rooms and suites, eight unique dining concepts, five pools, a full-service spa, and curated cultural programming. Guests can unwind poolside, indulge in locally inspired cuisine, or take part in immersive experiences that celebrate Mexican heritage. With direct flights, year-round sunshine, and a diverse blend of outdoor adventures and cultural experiences, Los Cabos remains one of the most accessible and enticing destinations for Californians seeking an unforgettable escape. About Hacienda del Mar Los Cabos, Autograph Collection Hacienda del Mar is a beachfront resort blending traditional Mexican architecture, lush gardens, and world-class amenities. As part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, it offers character-rich experiences designed for travelers seeking authenticity and connection. Learn more at www.haciendadelmar.com.mx. By Matt Tracy (Reuters) -S&P Global has revised its credit outlook for luxury goods group Kering S.A. to negative from stable, the ratings agency said on Monday, after sales of Kering's Gucci brand and other products declined in the first half of the year. In a report on Kering's investment grade credit rating, S&P analysts highlighted weakening consumer demand for the French group's luxury apparel across key markets, most notably a 22% year-on-year decline in revenue in the Asia-Pacific and China. The analysts added that Kering had underperformed peers such as LVMH, Dior and Hermes so far this year. Sales of Kering's flagship Gucci brand, which made up over half of its core earnings (EBITDA) last year, fell by a quarter in the first half of 2025, the analysts added. S&P maintained Kering's long-term issuer credit ratings at BBB+, which lies toward the lower end of the high-grade ratings spectrum. "The negative outlook reflects Kering's reduced rating headroom stemming from ongoing pressures in its operating performance, execution risks associated with the company's turnaround initiatives, amid a subdued industry environment," the analysts wrote. Kering in June announced it appointed as its new CEO Luca de Meo, former CEO of French automaker Renault Group, who will take office in mid-September. (Reporting by Matt Tracy. Editing by Mark Potter) CBI busts fake Amazon technical support centre in Nashik; 5 arrested NEW DELHI : THE CBI has dismantled a clandestine syndicate of cyber criminals masquerading as Amazon technical support centre operational at a resort in Maharashtras Nashik, arresting five Mumbai-based fraudsters who were allegedly targeting US and Canadian citizens, officials said Sunday. The illegal enterprise comprising a coterie of six Mumbai-based fraudsters, named as accused in the FIR, operated in conspiracy with other unidentified bank officials and private individuals. They allegedly committed financial frauds by impersonation, making phishing calls from the illegal call centre, posing as Amazon Support Services Call Centre from Rain Forest Resort in Igatpuri, Nashik they said. The cyber criminal network bilked citizens of United States and Canada in meticulously constructed and elaborate deception, complete with a structured hierarchy of 60 operators who were recruited as callers, verifiers and closers for running the said illegal call centre and obtaining proceeds of crime through gift cards and cryptocurrency, they said. During the searches, the CBI found that 62 employees were working in the call centre operating live and were involved in the process of cheating foreign nationals. The agency has arrested five of the accused named in the FIR -- Vishal Yadav, Shebaz, Durgesh, Abhay alias Raja and Sameer alias Kalia alias Sohail. It was alleged in the FIR that the accused persons entered into criminal conspiracy with each other and other unknown persons, and have committed financial fraud by impersonation and making phishing calls/deceptive calls, from an illegal call centre, posing as Amazon Support Services Call Centre, a CBI spokesperson said in a statement. The CBI also allegedly found a trove of digital and physical evidence in 44 laptops and 71 mobile phones seized during the operation. A staggering unaccounted cash of Rs 1.20 crore, 500 gm gold and seven luxury cars worth Rs one crore each, besides transactions of approximately USD 5000 in cryptocurrency and worth gift vouchers worth 2000 Canadian Dollar (Rs 1.26 lakh) were also detected during the searches. Convert or suffer in Pakistan Christian, Hindu children trapped in forced conversions and child labour, reveals Pak report ISLAMABAD : Among the most horrifying revelations in the NCRCs findings is the continued practice of abducting underage girls from minority communities and forcibly converting and marrying them to older Muslim men. The situation is most dire in Punjab, the countrys most populous province, where 40% of the total reported violence against minority children occurred between January 2022 and September 2024. Police data cited by the report reveals that 547 Christians, 32 Hindus, two Ahmadis, and two Sikhs were among the victims, along with 99 others. Children from oppressed caste and minority groups are hesitant to sit at the front of classrooms, ask questions, or even drink water from shared glasses. They are mocked for their beliefs and told to convert to Islam to receive divine rewards. A NEW report by Pakistans own National Commission on the Rights of the Child (NCRC) has brought to light the deep-rooted and widespread discrimination faced by minority children, especially Christians and Hindus, within the Islamic Republic. Titled Situation Analysis of Children from Minority Religions in Pakistan, the report offers a grim picture of systemic bias, institutional neglect, and targeted abuse. It calls for urgent Government intervention, though scepticism remains over whether that call will be met with anything beyond lip service. According to Christian Daily International, the report points to severe challenges faced by religious minority children, which are not isolated incidents but part of a disturbing nation-wide pattern of marginalisation and abuse. Forced conversions, child marriages, and child labour, particularly in bonded conditions, remain a daily reality for thousands of Christian and Hindu children. Among the most horrifying revelations in the NCRCs findings, highlighted by Christian Daily International, is the continued practice of abducting underage girls from minority communities and forcibly converting and marrying them to older Muslim men. The report explicitly states that few legal options exist for victims due to institutional bias, lack of law enforcement, and overwhelming public pressure. This is not a legal gray area; it is a human rights catastrophe. From April 2023 to December 2024, the NCRC received 27 official complaints involving cases of murder, abduction, forced religious conversion, and underage marriage, all targeting minority children. And these are merely the reported cases. Real numbers are feared to be significantly higher, as families often remain silent out of fear of retaliation or further victimisation by authorities. Christian Daily International notes that the situation is most dire in Punjab, the countrys most populous province, where 40% of the total reported violence against minority children occurred between January 2022 and September 2024. Police data cited by the report reveals that 547 Christians, 32 Hindus, two Ahmadis, and two Sikhs were among the victims, along with 99 others. The educational system, rather than offering a path to escape, only reinforces the exclusion of religious minorities. The NCRC report slams the Single National Curriculum for its absence of religious inclusion, forcing Christian and Hindu students to study Islamic content that contradicts their faith. Christian Daily International further highlights how this negatively affects their GPA and academic progress, creating a culture of failure and alienation. Worse still, minority students face social discrimination within schools. According to the report, both teachers and classmates often ridicule or isolate children once their religious identity is known. As per testimonies collected in the report and shared by Christian Daily International, children from oppressed caste and minority backgrounds are hesitant to sit at the front of classrooms, ask questions, or even drink water from shared glasses. They are mocked for their beliefs and told to convert to Islam to receive divine rewards. The findings expose the brutal truth: Pakistans minority children are not just being left behind; they are being deliberately sidelined and systematically abused. The report also draws attention to bonded labour, with Christian and Hindu children often trapped in the vicious cycle of forced work at brick kilns or in agriculture. Their families, already burdened by intergenerational poverty and discrimination, are offered little to no protection by the State. Christian Daily International underscores the NCRCs strong call for immediate reforms: legal protections against forced conversion and child marriage, inclusive education policies, and enforcement of child labour laws. However, as NCRC Chairperson Ayesha Raza Farooq acknowledged, progress has been dismal due to fragmented efforts, lack of coordination, and limited political will. Pirbhu Lal Satyani, the NCRCs representative for minority rights in Sindh, told Christian Daily International that the report was a comprehensive effort to map the many layers of vulnerability minority children face. He described these children as the most marginalised, facing stigma, stereotyping, and structural exclusion. The NCRCs findings are a national shame, but the international community, including watchdogs and religious rights groups, should see them as a call to action. Pakistan has long presented itself as a nation of religious tolerance. But as this Government-backed report now confirms, that narrative crumbles when confronted with the reality faced by Christian and Hindu children. Pakistan can no longer claim ignorance or denial. Its institutions have documented the crisis. The question is: will it act, or continue to be complicit. INDIA bloc to put up joint candidate for V-P polls NEW DELHI : THE INDIA bloc will put up a joint candidate for the vice presidential polls and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge is reaching out to Opposition parties to explore names and reach a consensus on it, sources said on Sunday. They said that there was a strong feeling in the bloc that Opposition parties should not shy away from a contest to send a strong political message irrespective of the outcome. Though there has not been any structured discussion on picking a candidate, backchannel talks are on among INDIA bloc partners to deliberate on names of possible candidates with Kharge reaching out to Opposition parties for building a consensus. There is consensus among parties that the INDIA bloc will put up a joint candidate for the vice presidential polls, Congress sources said. However, a section in the Opposition camp believes that the INDIA bloc must decide their candidate after the BJP announces its pick. This comes at a time of heightened unity among INDIA bloc constituents who have vowed to fight against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and alleged poll rigging. In a show of unity, top INDIA bloc leaders held a dinner meeting at the residence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday and vowed to fight the electoral rolls revision in Bihar as well as what they described as the vote chori model of the BJP-Election Commission. This was the first physical meeting of top leaders of the Opposition bloc since they last met in June 2024, soon after the Lok Sabha elections at Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharges residence. Several leaders from 25 parties were present at the meeting, which included Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, NCP-SP chief Sharad Pawar, National Conference supremo Farooq Abdullah, PDPs Mehbooba Mufti, SPs Akhilesh Yadav, RJDs Tejashwi Yadav, TMCs Abhishek Banerjee, Shiv Sena(UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, DMKs Tiruchi Siva and T R Baalu, CPI(M)s M A Baby, CPIs D Raja, CPI(ML)s Dipankar Bhattacharya and MNM chief Kamal Haasan. During the meeting, Gandhi gave a presentation on the vote chori model being allegedly perpetrated by the BJP through the Election Commission. Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal termed the meeting as one of the most successful. Asked whether the vice presidential election was also discussed, he had said, There wasnt much discussion on the vice presidential election... There are other occasions for it. Kharge will also host a dinner for INDIA bloc MPs on Monday. In a sudden move, Jagdeep Dhankhar quit as Vice President on the evening of August 4 citing medical reasons, though there have been consistent murmurs about other reasons behind his resignation. The effective strength of both the Houses together is 781 and the winning candidate will require to win 391 votes in the election for the Vice President, considering all eligible voters exercise their franchise. All members of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including the nominated ones, vote in the vice presidential poll. The NDA seems to have the numbers on its side with a strength of around 422 members. The Election Commission last Thursday issued a notification for the September 9 vice presidential poll, kick-starting the exercise to elect Dhankhars successor. Rajya Sabha Secretary General P C Mody, the returning officer for the election, received three nomination papers, which were rejected for not being in order. According to the notification, August 21 is the last date for filing nominations and the documents will be scrutinised on August 22. The last date for the withdrawal of nominations is August 25. According to constitutional provisions, in case of a mid-term poll, the incumbent gets a full five-year term. A person cannot be elected as the Vice President unless he is a citizen of India, has completed 35 years of age and is qualified for election as a member of Rajya Sabha. A person is also not eligible if he holds any office of profit under the Government of India or a State Government or any subordinate local authority. Congress chief Kharge to host dinner for INDIA bloc MPs today Mah Govt working on shorter route to Pune from Ngp: CM Staff Reporter : Maharashtra Government is working with Central Railway on a new alignment for Pune, one that would shorten the distance from Nagpur so as to slash travel time by one hour. Stating this to newspersons on Sunday at Nagpur Railway Station, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the new line is being considered from Ahilyanagar, and the same would bypass Daund and the Chord line. Present for a function to flag off the Pune Vande Bharat train, Fadnavis was of the view that the survey for the project is on and land acquisition and other related details are being worked out. Currently the travel time to Pune ex-Nagpur is from 12 hours, currently the fastest due to the introduction of Vande Bharat, to 16 hours and more. So the thinking among the political establishment for cutting down the travel time would be quite welcome, as the same would provide respite to travellers. The Daund and Chord Line travel results in a circuitous route to reach Pune and unnecessary wastage of time. Fadnavis said ongoing expansion route work is complete; the journey to Pune by train will become faster. He said the Government has put forward the proposal to Central Railway since same would slash Pune's distance by nearly 100 kms. State Government is working on linking the three districts, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Ahilyanagar and Pune into an industrial corridor. Already a new expressway from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar to Pune is under progress and alongside it the new rail route can be laid to cut the distance to Pune, he suggested. High-speed train service to Mumbai along Samruddhi eway on cards Asked about the plans for a bullet train adjoining Samruddhi Marg, the Chief Minister said the thinking is that since the state already has 78 per cent right of way, an option is being studied with Indian Railways for a new route from Nagpur to Mumbai. He also acknowledged that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for high-speed trains has already been worked out by Railways. The State Government is studying both aspects before arriving at any conclusion and would work closely with Railways. The idea for a railway along Samruddhi Expressway came as it was thought of as the shortest route for reaching JNPT. This way the movement of goods, along with facilitating fast journeys for passenger trains, was being thought of. "We are in touch with Central Railway senior officials to work out the best option on the matter," he added further. In case the alignment works out, then reaching Mumbai would be possible within six hours. Most financial fraud platforms run by foreign operators: CM Fadnavis Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hands over the recovered amount to a cyber fraud victim, while CP Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal, Joint CP Navinchandra Reddy and others look on. Staff Reporter : Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has warned citizens to be alert against online scams, saying, Most of these financial fraud platforms are run by foreign operators. People should keep in mind that any kind of offers coming to their mobile phones are a trap for financial fraud. He was speaking at a programme on social media monitoring through the Garud Drishti system, organised by the City Police Commissionerate, where Rs 10 crore was distributed to 200 victims of cyber fraud. The event was presided over by Police Commissioner Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal. Police Commissioner Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal, Joint Commissioner of Police Navinchandra Reddy, Addl CPs Vasant Pardeshi, Rajendra Dabhade, Shivaji Rathod, and other senior police officers were present on the occasion. Fadnavis further said that while social media is useful for sharing ideas, it is also being misused by anti-social elements. We see some using this platform to spread hatred, threats, fake news, drug trafficking and even carry out financial fraud. Many of these are controlled by foreign powers, and there is no system to regulate them, he said. He added that Maharashtra now has one of the best systems and technologies in the world to curb such crimes. Garud Drishti is playing an important role in catching such people and taking immediate action, he said. He urged victims of cybercrime to report cases immediately and those who have recovered their money to spread awareness. Think that nothing is free. Be alert, and help others stay alert, he appealed. CM Fadnavis congratulated the people who got their money back. CP Dr Singal gave the introduction, while DCP Cyber Lohit Matani made a presentation on Garud Drishti before the programme. Joint CP Reddy expressed his thanks to the dignitaries present. Amount handed over to victims after probe Rohit Agarwal Rs 73 lakh; Shashikant Narayan Parande Rs 34,77,724; Devidas Parkhi Rs 35,15,842; Vijay Prakash Pathak Rs 19,90,354; Vijay Menghani Rs 19 lakh; Devendra Kharate Rs 12,81,000; Rajmani Ajay Joshi Rs 29,95,000; Rahul Chawda Rs 15 lakh; Buddhapal Bagade Rs 10 lakh; Aditya Goenka Rs 26,20,556; Sangeeta Ashtankar Rs 8,24,000. (These are representative names.) AI being misused to promote fake medicine in my name The Chief Minister also shared an incident where someone tried to misuse his identity. While AI technology has brought progress, it is also creating many problems due to its misuse. In my case, someone took a video of my speech, used my photo and promoted a medicine with it. Luckily, we noticed it in time and took appropriate action, he said. Pak Army chief Munir on second visit to US By Sajjad Hussain ISLAMABAD PAKISTAN Army chief Asim Munir, who is visiting Washington for the second time since the four-day conflict with India, has met top US political and military leaders, the army said on Sunday. The Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is undertaking an official visit to the United States, the army said in a statement released here. The army chief engaged in high-level interactions with senior political and military leadership as well as members of the Pakistani diaspora, according to the statement. No details were shared about his stay in the US, and it was also not clear when he arrived. In Tampa, Munir attended the Retirement Ceremony of outgoing US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander General Michael E. Kurilla, and the Change of Command Ceremony, marking the assumption of command by Admiral Brad Cooper. Field Marshal Munir lauded General Kurillas exemplary leadership and his invaluable contributions to strengthening bilateral military cooperation and extended his best wishes to Admiral Cooper, expressing confidence in continued collaboration to address shared security challenges, the statement said. He also met with Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, where matters of mutual professional interest were discussed. He extended an invitation to General Caine to visit Pakistan, it added. On the sidelines, Munir interacted with Chiefs of Defence from friendly nations. During an interactive session with the Pakistani diaspora, Munir urged them to remain confident in Pakistans bright future and to actively contribute to attracting investments. The diaspora reaffirmed its commitment to support Pakistans progress and development, according to the army. In June, Munir travelled to the US on a rare five-day trip during which he attended a private luncheon with President Donald Trump, an unprecedented gesture typically reserved for visiting heads of State or Government. That meeting culminated in Trumps announcement of enhanced US-Pakistan cooperation in various fields, including an oil deal. Munirs visit came just over a month after the US general described Pakistan as a phenomenal partner in counter-terrorism efforts during a congressional hearing, where he also praised Pakistans role in promoting peace and stability in the region. Pakistan lost Rs 4.1 bn after airspace ban on Indian flights By Sajjad Hussain ISLAMABAD PAKISTANS airport body suffered a loss of Rs 4.1 billion in over two months due to the closure of airspace for Indian airlines, according to official data. Pakistan and India closed their respective airspaces for each others airlines following the deadly Pahalgam terrorist attack in Kashmir on April 22, which killed 26 people, mostly tourists. The airspace ban was extended after ties between the two countries deteriorated due to the four-day conflict as India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 and destroyed terror infrastructure in territories controlled by Pakistan. The Ministry of Defence informed the National Assembly on Friday that the closure of airspace to Indian-registered aircraft has cost the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) a loss of Rs 4.1 billion, reported the Dawn newspaper. The Ministry said the shortfall, from April 24 to June 30, was in overflying revenue. It added that the amounts reflected revenue shortfalls, not overall financial losses and noted that overflight and aeronautical charges remained unchanged. Pakistans airspace is open to all except Indian airlines and aircraft. Similarly, Pakistani carriers remain banned from Indian airspace. Vidhan Bhavan Expansion not to affect Winter Session in city By Vikas Vaidya : Against its acquisition, Government Press (behind Gowari Memorial) will get the land of Food and Civil Supplies Department The expansion of Vidhan Bhavan will not affect the winter session of the State Legislature conducted in Nagpur. Despite huge construction work, the current arrangement will stay where the session affairs can be held. No present structure which has heritage value will be demolished. No road will be closed for traffic permanently except the lane behind Vidhan Bhavan that goes to the Reserve Bank of India. Now the plan for the expansion of Vidhanbhavan is ready; the procedure, like floating tenders, etc., will be held. As per the primary estimation, the construction work may start after December this year. After the issuance of a No Objection Certificate from the Industries Department for transferring the land measuring 9,670 square metres at the Government Printing Press (behind Gowari Memorial) in Civil Lines, the decks were cleared for the expansion of Vidhan Bhavan. An official told The Hitavada, Since the old structure will not be disturbed, the winter session will be held as it is. The present assembly and council halls will not be touched so the session business can be run. The present Assembly hall will be converted into the Maharashtra State Legislative Council once the new 7-storey building comes into existence. The party offices will be demolished and shifted to the Government Press land. Since no present construction will be touched, the session will be conducted till the expansion work is completed. A new seven-storey complex will be constructed on the current premises of the Vidhan Bhavan in Nagpur. Care will be taken to preserve the historical architec tural style of the existing building during the expansion. The new building will house offices for the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Ministers, Assembly Speaker, Council Chairman, and Leaders of the Oppositionall under one roof. It is also being contemplated to have the Central Hall, Assembly Hall, and Legislative Council Hall in this seven-storey complex. Additionally, a separate six-storey building will be constructed nearby for cabinet members. The complex will also include facilities such as parking, a cafeteria, visitor lounges, and security units. Moreover, land currently occupied by the Government Printing Press has been allocated to the legislature. On this land, a grand 14-storey building covering approximately 4 lakh sq. ft. will be built for ministerial administrative offices. The Vidhan Bhavan premises and the proposed administrative building will either be connected by an underground tunnel or by a skywalk. During the winter session in Nagpur in December 2024, the issue was discussed, and the land was almost finalised. Earlier Government had planned to utilise the building of Poonam Towers, but the dispute could not be resolved. The Industries Department owns 4 acres of land for Government Printing Press. It was acquired for the expansion. Some leaders had raised the issue that equal land should be given to the department. Considering that issue Government has decided to transfer the land owned by Food and Civil Supplies Department behind the Central Museum to the Industries Department. It was rumoured that the expansion included the acquisition of land where the Fishermen Society runs its office. But officials of National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) unit of Public Works Department (PWD) made it clear that the land will not be part of the expansion plan. The triangular piece of land behind Vidhan Bhavan and in front of the BSNL office is included in the expansion plan, because of which the lane will be closed permanently for commuters. The expansion is planned considering the needs for the next 50 years. The expansion will be executed by the Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSIDC). This plan is a brainchild of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He had brought it during his first tenure as Chief Minister. It was he who had performed the bhoomipujan of the expansion of the Vidhan Bhavan building in its premises, which came into existence later on. TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) A 90-day pause on imposing higher tariffs on China is due to expire on Tuesday and it is unclear if it will be extended. After the most recent round of China-U.S. trade talks, held late last month in Stockholm, Chinese and U.S. officials said they expected the deadline to be extended for another 90 days. The U.S. side said the decision was up to President Donald Trump. So far there has been no formal announcement about whether he will endorse an extension or push ahead with the higher tariffs. The uncertainty has left businesses in limbo and a decision to raise the import duties could jolt world markets. SILENCE FROM WASHINGTON AND BEIJING Trump has repeatedly shifted deadlines and tariff rates, and neither side has indicated what it plans for Tuesday. Extending the Aug. 12 deadline for reaching a trade agreement with China would forestall earlier threats of tariffs of up to 245%. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Trump was deciding about another 90-day delay to allow time to work out details of an agreement setting tariffs on most products at 50%, including extra import duties related to illicit trade in the powerful opiate fentanyl. Higher tariffs are aimed at offsetting the huge, chronic U.S. trade deficit with China, which hit a 21-year low in July as the threat of tariffs bit into Chinese exports. It's not unusual for the U.S. to give hints on where talks stand, but it's rare for China to make announcements until major decisions are set. So far, Beijing's refrained from commenting ahead of Tuesday's deadline. In an interview with Fox News taped on Thursday but aired on Sunday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said Trump was considering additional tariffs on Beijing because of China's purchases of Russian oil. But he said Trump hasn't made any firm decisions. CHINA RESISTED CUTTING AN EARLY BARGAIN Prohibitively high tariffs on Chinese exports to the United States would put huge pressure on Beijing at a time when the Chinese economy, the world's second largest, is still recovering from a prolonged downturn in its property market. Lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have left millions of people reliant on gig work, crimping the job market. Higher import taxes on small parcels from China have also hurt smaller factories and layoffs have accelerated, But the U.S. relies heavily on imports from China for all sorts of products, from household goods and clothing to wind turbines, basic computer chips, electric vehicle batteries and the rare earths needed to make them. That gives Beijing some powerful leverage in the negotiations with Washington. Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) is included in our list of the 13 Best Oil Refinery Stocks to Buy Right Now. Piper Sandler Raises PT on Valero Energy Corporation (VLO); Maintains Overweight Rating A row of massive oil rigs in a desert landscape, against a setting sun. On July 28, 2025, Piper Sandler increased its price target on Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) from $159 to $168, maintaining an Overweight rating. The analyst cited the companys resilience demonstrated in Q2. However, Piper Sandler advised caution for the short term as it expects regulatory uncertainty and margin softness in the companys Renewable Diesel (RD) segment. As such, this uncertainty has resulted in Q3 production cuts and negative revisions to second-half 2025 RD earnings. Overall, the analyst expressed optimism about Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO)s core refining strength despite the RD segments upcoming challenges. Piper Sandler believes the stock remains a solid long-term investment. Operating across the U.S., Americas, Europe, and the rest of the world, Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE:VLO) deals in petroleum-based and low-carbon transportation fuels and petrochemical products. While we acknowledge the potential of VLO 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: 12 Cheap Value Stocks to Buy Now According to Warren Buffett and 7 Best Potash Stocks to Buy According to Analysts. Disclosure: None. Nvidia (NVDA) remains in focus on Monday after the artificial intelligence (AI) behemoth said it has signed a landmark deal with the White House to resume its business in China. President Donald Trump has agreed to issue an export license that will enable NVDA to continue selling chips in the worlds second-largest economy. More News from Barchart In exchange, the U.S. government will take 15% of the revenue from its H20 sales to China. At the time of writing, Nvidia stock is up some 110% versus its year-to-date low set in early April. www.barchart.com Is It a Positive Development for Nvidia Stock? The aforementioned arrangement with the Trump administration is a positive for NVDA shares as it essentially restores access to a crucial revenue stream. China generated over $17 billion for Nvidia, which makes it one of the companys largest markets. Resuming chip sales there, despite the revenue-sharing agreement with the U.S. government, stands to help the semiconductor giant maintain its global dominance in AI hardware. Investors view this deal as a strategic win for Nvidia stock because it mitigates geopolitical risk, unlocks billions in potential sales, and reinforces the companys foothold in a rapidly growing AI ecosystem. Wells Fargo Raised Price Target on NVDA Shares According to a senior Wells Fargo analyst, Aaron Rakers, Nvidia shares could rally over 20% from here on the back of this agreement with the Trump administration. We would assume NVDA can recapture the full $8B/qtr revenue impact the H20 China ban was expected to have on the F2Q26 (July) qtr by F4Q26 (Jan), he told clients in a research note today. More importantly, Rakers sees China demand growing significantly from the current $8 billion run-rate moving forward. On Monday, he reiterated his Overweight rating on NVDA stock and raised his price target to $220. Wall Street Remains Bullish as Ever on Nvidia Note that other Wall Street firms are keeping bullish on Nvidia stock in the second half of 2025 as well. The consensus rating on NVDA shares currently sits at Strong Buy with price targets going as high as $250, indicating potential upside of another 37% from current levels. Berger Financial Group Inc trimmed its holdings in shares of Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE Free Report) by 14.9% 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 16,678 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 2,925 shares during the period. Berger Financial Group Incs holdings in Pfizer were worth $423,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in PFE. Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Pfizer by 11.1% during the first quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 132,478 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $3,358,000 after buying an additional 13,228 shares during the last quarter. Capital Advisors Inc. OK lifted its position in shares of Pfizer by 1.2% during the first quarter. Capital Advisors Inc. OK now owns 1,413,472 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $35,817,000 after buying an additional 17,032 shares during the last quarter. CHURCHILL MANAGEMENT Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Pfizer during the first quarter valued at about $8,283,000. Alta Advisers Ltd lifted its position in shares of Pfizer by 69.6% during the first quarter. Alta Advisers Ltd now owns 31,912 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $809,000 after buying an additional 13,100 shares during the last quarter. Finally, WCM Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Pfizer by 8.7% during the first quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC now owns 125,964 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $3,176,000 after buying an additional 10,051 shares during the last quarter. 68.36% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Pfizer alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have commented on PFE. Bank of America increased their price target on shares of Pfizer from $27.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. Leerink Partners decreased their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $28.00 to $26.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 30th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 21st. Finally, TD Cowen decreased their price objective on shares of Pfizer from $32.00 to $28.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $28.12. Pfizer Price Performance Shares of NYSE PFE opened at $24.57 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $139.69 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.07, a PEG ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 0.52. Pfizer Inc. has a 12 month low of $20.92 and a 12 month high of $30.43. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $24.44 and its 200-day simple moving average is $24.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 0.85. Pfizer (NYSE:PFE Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, August 5th. The biopharmaceutical company reported $0.78 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.58 by $0.20. The business had revenue of $14.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.43 billion. Pfizer had a net margin of 16.84% and a return on equity of 21.42%. The businesss revenue was up 10.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.60 EPS. Analysts expect that Pfizer Inc. will post 2.95 EPS for the current year. Pfizer Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Investors of record on Friday, July 25th will be paid a $0.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, July 25th. This represents a $1.72 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.0%. Pfizers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 91.49%. Pfizer Profile (Free Report) Pfizer Inc discovers, develops, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products in the United States, Europe, and internationally. The company offers medicines and vaccines in various therapeutic areas, including cardiovascular metabolic, migraine, and women's health under the Eliquis, Nurtec ODT/Vydura, Zavzpret, and the Premarin family brands; infectious diseases with unmet medical needs under the Prevnar family, Abrysvo, Nimenrix, FSME/IMMUN-TicoVac, and Trumenba brands; and COVID-19 prevention and treatment, and potential future mRNA and antiviral products under the Comirnaty and Paxlovid brands. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Pfizer Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pfizer and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Independent Advisor Alliance increased its stake in shares of Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C Free Report) by 5.8% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 85,660 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 4,704 shares during the quarter. Independent Advisor Alliances holdings in Citigroup were worth $6,081,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its stake in Citigroup by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 38,561,690 shares of the companys stock worth $2,714,359,000 after purchasing an additional 815,003 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors boosted its position in shares of Citigroup by 455.2% during the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 31,352,582 shares of the companys stock worth $2,206,908,000 after acquiring an additional 25,705,141 shares in the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp boosted its position in shares of Citigroup by 13.9% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 20,232,550 shares of the companys stock worth $1,424,169,000 after acquiring an additional 2,467,958 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Citigroup by 3.6% during the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 16,839,915 shares of the companys stock worth $1,195,466,000 after acquiring an additional 592,820 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Citigroup by 179.5% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 14,534,297 shares of the companys stock worth $1,031,790,000 after acquiring an additional 9,334,038 shares in the last quarter. 71.72% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Citigroup alerts: Citigroup Stock Up 1.7% C opened at $92.79 on Monday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $86.07 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $77.34. The company has a quick ratio of 0.99, a current ratio of 0.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.61. The company has a market cap of $170.82 billion, a PE ratio of 13.71, a P/E/G ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.38. Citigroup Inc. has a 52 week low of $55.51 and a 52 week high of $96.90. Citigroup Increases Dividend Citigroup ( NYSE:C Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 15th. The company reported $1.96 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.61 by $0.35. The firm had revenue of $21.67 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $20.75 billion. Citigroup had a return on equity of 7.29% and a net margin of 8.44%. The firms revenue was up 8.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.52 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Citigroup Inc. will post 7.53 EPS for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 22nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 4th will be paid a dividend of $0.60 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 4th. This represents a $2.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.6%. This is a boost from Citigroups previous quarterly dividend of $0.56. Citigroups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 35.45%. Insider Buying and Selling In other Citigroup news, Director Peter B. Henry sold 3,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, July 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $90.40, for a total transaction of $271,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 2,140 shares of the companys stock, valued at $193,456. This represents a 58.37% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research analysts have recently issued reports on C shares. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Citigroup from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 16th. Barclays upped their price objective on Citigroup from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 16th. Truist Financial upped their price objective on Citigroup from $93.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 16th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reissued a buy rating on shares of Citigroup in a report on Wednesday, July 16th. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Citigroup from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, July 18th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Citigroup has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $96.54. Read Our Latest Report on Citigroup Citigroup Company Profile (Free Report) Citigroup Inc, a diversified financial service holding company, provides various financial product and services to consumers, corporations, governments, and institutions worldwide. It operates through five segments: Services, Markets, Banking, U.S. Personal Banking, and Wealth. The Services segment includes Treasury and Trade Solutions, which provides cash management, trade, and working capital solutions to multinational corporations, financial institutions, and public sector organizations; and Securities Services, such as cross-border support for clients, local market expertise, post-trade technologies, data solutions, and various securities services solutions. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding C? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Citigroup Inc. (NYSE:C Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Citigroup Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Citigroup and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Manulife Financial Corp (NYSE:MFC Free Report) (TSE:MFC) Desjardins boosted their FY2026 earnings estimates for shares of Manulife Financial in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, August 7th. Desjardins analyst D. Young now forecasts that the financial services provider will post earnings per share of $3.14 for the year, up from their previous forecast of $3.13. The consensus estimate for Manulife Financials current full-year earnings is $2.87 per share. Get Manulife Financial alerts: MFC has been the topic of several other research reports. Morgan Stanley set a $46.00 price target on shares of Manulife Financial in a research note on Monday, May 19th. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price target on shares of Manulife Financial from $51.00 to $49.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. Manulife Financial Price Performance Shares of Manulife Financial stock opened at $30.11 on Monday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $31.20 and its 200-day simple moving average is $30.55. The stock has a market capitalization of $51.14 billion, a PE ratio of 13.44, a P/E/G ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.01. Manulife Financial has a 1-year low of $24.77 and a 1-year high of $33.07. Manulife Financial (NYSE:MFC Get Free Report) (TSE:MFC) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The financial services provider reported $0.69 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.71 by ($0.02). The business had revenue of $11.30 billion for the quarter. Manulife Financial had a return on equity of 15.77% and a net margin of 10.46%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.91 EPS. Manulife Financial Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, September 19th. Investors of record on Wednesday, August 20th will be paid a dividend of $0.3199 per share. This is a positive change from Manulife Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.32. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, August 20th. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.3%. Manulife Financials dividend payout ratio is presently 57.14%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Eastern Bank lifted its stake in shares of Manulife Financial by 156.1% during the 2nd quarter. Eastern Bank now owns 968 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 590 shares in the last quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Manulife Financial during the 4th quarter valued at $35,000. Transce3nd LLC purchased a new position in shares of Manulife Financial during the 4th quarter valued at $42,000. William B. Walkup & Associates Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Manulife Financial during the 1st quarter valued at $43,000. Finally, NBC Securities Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Manulife Financial by 178,700.0% during the 1st quarter. NBC Securities Inc. now owns 1,788 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $55,000 after buying an additional 1,787 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 52.56% of the companys stock. About Manulife Financial (Get Free Report) Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in the United States, Canada, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; and Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment offers investment advice and solutions to retirement, retail, and institutional clients through multiple distribution channels, including agents and brokers affiliated with the company, independent securities brokerage firms and financial advisors pension plan consultants, and banks. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Manulife Financial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Manulife Financial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Deutsche Telekom (OTCMKTS:DTEGY Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report sent to investors on Sunday. Separately, Morgan Stanley reiterated an overweight rating on shares of Deutsche Telekom in a report on Wednesday, May 14th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has assigned a buy rating and four have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Deutsche Telekom has an average rating of Buy. Get Deutsche Telekom alerts: Read Our Latest Stock Report on DTEGY Deutsche Telekom Price Performance OTCMKTS:DTEGY opened at $34.37 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.23, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05. The company has a market capitalization of $171.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.36, a P/E/G ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 0.61. Deutsche Telekom has a 12 month low of $26.71 and a 12 month high of $39.04. The businesss 50-day moving average is $36.33 and its 200 day moving average is $36.11. Deutsche Telekom (OTCMKTS:DTEGY Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 7th. The utilities provider reported $0.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.57 by $0.01. Deutsche Telekom had a return on equity of 10.10% and a net margin of 10.67%. The business had revenue of $33.33 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $28.76 billion. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Deutsche Telekom will post 1.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Deutsche Telekom Company Profile (Get Free Report) Deutsche Telekom AG, together with its subsidiaries, provides integrated telecommunication services. The company operates through Germany, United States, Europe, Systems Solutions, Group Development, and Group Headquarters and Group Services segments. It offers fixed-network services, including voice and data communication services based on fixed-network and broadband technology; and sells terminal equipment and other hardware products, as well as services to resellers. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Deutsche Telekom Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Deutsche Telekom and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. King Luther Capital Management Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Bristol Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY Free Report) by 1,030.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 249,387 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 227,332 shares during the quarter. King Luther Capital Management Corps holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb were worth $15,210,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Marcum Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb by 1.0% during the 1st quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC now owns 19,296 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,177,000 after acquiring an additional 193 shares during the period. Beacon Investment Advisory Services Inc. boosted its holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb by 2.7% during the 1st quarter. Beacon Investment Advisory Services Inc. now owns 8,063 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $492,000 after acquiring an additional 212 shares during the period. 1858 Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb by 3.6% during the 1st quarter. 1858 Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,421 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $392,000 after acquiring an additional 221 shares during the period. Tompkins Financial Corp boosted its holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb by 2.5% during the 1st quarter. Tompkins Financial Corp now owns 9,151 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $558,000 after acquiring an additional 225 shares during the period. Finally, LS Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Bristol Myers Squibb by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. LS Investment Advisors LLC now owns 17,015 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,038,000 after acquiring an additional 225 shares during the period. 76.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Bristol Myers Squibb alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages recently commented on BMY. Citigroup lowered their target price on Bristol Myers Squibb from $51.00 to $47.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 1st. Morgan Stanley reiterated a hold rating on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research note on Thursday, July 31st. Piper Sandler began coverage on Bristol Myers Squibb in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. They issued an overweight rating and a $65.00 price objective for the company. Wall Street Zen cut Bristol Myers Squibb from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, June 6th. Finally, William Blair reiterated a market perform rating on shares of Bristol Myers Squibb in a research note on Friday, April 25th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, fifteen have issued a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $56.38. Bristol Myers Squibb Trading Up 1.3% NYSE:BMY opened at $45.96 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $93.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.53, a PEG ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.36. The company has a current ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 1.11 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.54. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $47.32 and its 200-day simple moving average is $51.82. Bristol Myers Squibb Company has a 12-month low of $42.96 and a 12-month high of $63.33. Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.07 by $0.39. The business had revenue of $12.27 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.32 billion. Bristol Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 80.04% and a net margin of 10.58%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.07 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Bristol Myers Squibb Company will post 6.74 EPS for the current year. Bristol Myers Squibb Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, July 3rd were issued a dividend of $0.62 per share. This represents a $2.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.4%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 3rd. Bristol Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is currently 100.00%. Bristol Myers Squibb Profile (Free Report) Bristol-Myers Squibb Company discovers, develops, licenses, manufactures, markets, distributes, and sells biopharmaceutical products worldwide. It offers products for hematology, oncology, cardiovascular, immunology, fibrotic, and neuroscience diseases. The company's products include Eliquis for reduction in risk of stroke/systemic embolism in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, and for the treatment of DVT/PE; Opdivo for various anti-cancer indications, including bladder, blood, CRC, head and neck, RCC, HCC, lung, melanoma, MPM, stomach and esophageal cancer; Pomalyst/Imnovid for multiple myeloma; Orencia for active rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis; and Sprycel for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol Myers Squibb Company (NYSE:BMY Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. King Luther Capital Management Corp lifted its position in shares of W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW Free Report) by 1.1% during the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,444 shares of the industrial products companys stock after buying an additional 59 shares during the quarter. King Luther Capital Management Corps holdings in W.W. Grainger were worth $5,378,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Golden State Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of W.W. Grainger by 1,685.7% during the 1st quarter. Golden State Wealth Management LLC now owns 125 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $123,000 after buying an additional 118 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its position in shares of W.W. Grainger by 5.3% during the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 5,095 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $5,033,000 after purchasing an additional 256 shares in the last quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its position in shares of W.W. Grainger by 116.0% during the first quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 33,917 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $33,506,000 after purchasing an additional 18,216 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its position in shares of W.W. Grainger by 2.2% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 701 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $692,000 after purchasing an additional 15 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. increased its position in shares of W.W. Grainger by 8.8% during the first quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 6,970 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $6,796,000 after purchasing an additional 564 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 80.70% of the companys stock. Get W.W. Grainger alerts: W.W. Grainger Stock Up 0.7% Shares of GWW stock opened at $948.75 on Monday. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $1,037.69 and a 200 day moving average of $1,027.58. The company has a current ratio of 2.82, a quick ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. The stock has a market cap of $45.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.07, a P/E/G ratio of 2.76 and a beta of 1.18. W.W. Grainger, Inc. has a twelve month low of $893.99 and a twelve month high of $1,227.66. W.W. Grainger Announces Dividend W.W. Grainger ( NYSE:GWW Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, August 1st. The industrial products company reported $9.97 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $10.07 by ($0.10). W.W. Grainger had a net margin of 10.99% and a return on equity of 49.63%. The company had revenue of $4.55 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.52 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $9.76 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that W.W. Grainger, Inc. will post 40.3 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 11th will be issued a $2.26 dividend. This represents a $9.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 11th. W.W. Graingers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 22.94%. Insider Buying and Selling In other W.W. Grainger news, VP Krantz Nancy L. Berardinelli sold 280 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,075.20, for a total value of $301,056.00. Following the sale, the vice president directly owned 3,369 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,622,348.80. This trade represents a 7.67% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 6.10% of the companys stock. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities research analysts have commented on GWW shares. Loop Capital decreased their price target on W.W. Grainger from $1,000.00 to $950.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on W.W. Grainger from $1,100.00 to $1,125.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 27th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on W.W. Grainger from $1,215.00 to $1,160.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, July 11th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their price objective on W.W. Grainger from $1,176.00 to $1,007.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research note on Monday, August 4th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $1,080.38. Get Our Latest Stock Report on W.W. Grainger W.W. Grainger Company Profile (Free Report) W.W. Grainger, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, distributes maintenance, repair, and operating products and services primarily in North America, Japan, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, High-Touch Solutions N.A. and Endless Assortment. The company provides safety, security, material handling and storage equipment, pumps and plumbing equipment, cleaning and maintenance, and metalworking and hand tools. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GWW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for W.W. Grainger Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for W.W. Grainger and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ballast Inc. boosted its holdings in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report) by 34.3% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 897 shares of the credit services providers stock after acquiring an additional 229 shares during the quarter. Ballast Inc.s holdings in Mastercard were worth $492,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Meridian Wealth Management LLC raised its position in shares of Mastercard by 0.6% during the 1st quarter. Meridian Wealth Management LLC now owns 12,507 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $6,855,000 after buying an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. Independent Advisor Alliance raised its position in shares of Mastercard by 6.0% during the 1st quarter. Independent Advisor Alliance now owns 28,817 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $15,795,000 after buying an additional 1,630 shares in the last quarter. Staley Capital Advisers Inc. raised its position in shares of Mastercard by 3.8% during the 1st quarter. Staley Capital Advisers Inc. now owns 5,942 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $3,257,000 after buying an additional 219 shares in the last quarter. Paulson Wealth Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Mastercard by 9.1% during the 1st quarter. Paulson Wealth Management Inc. now owns 1,028 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $563,000 after buying an additional 86 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cove Private Wealth LLC raised its position in shares of Mastercard by 80.3% during the 1st quarter. Cove Private Wealth LLC now owns 5,424 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $2,973,000 after buying an additional 2,415 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 97.28% of the companys stock. Get Mastercard alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Mastercard In other news, Director Julius Genachowski sold 312 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, July 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $570.67, for a total transaction of $178,049.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the director directly owned 8,469 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,833,004.23. This trade represents a 3.55% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Craig Vosburg sold 14,051 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, June 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $585.05, for a total transaction of $8,220,537.55. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider directly owned 58,451 shares of the companys stock, valued at $34,196,757.55. This represents a 19.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 38,453 shares of company stock valued at $20,178,667 over the last quarter. Insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock. Mastercard Stock Performance Shares of MA stock opened at $574.42 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.41, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a current ratio of 1.16. The company has a market capitalization of $519.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 38.73, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 1.03. The companys 50 day moving average price is $563.90 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $553.56. Mastercard Incorporated has a 52 week low of $453.46 and a 52 week high of $594.71. Mastercard (NYSE:MA Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The credit services provider reported $4.15 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $4.05 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $8.13 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.95 billion. Mastercard had a net margin of 44.93% and a return on equity of 200.01%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 16.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company posted $3.50 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Mastercard Incorporated will post 15.91 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Mastercard Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 8th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, July 9th were paid a dividend of $0.76 per share. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, July 9th. Mastercards dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 20.50%. Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages have recently issued reports on MA. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Mastercard from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, July 18th. Macquarie lowered their price objective on shares of Mastercard from $645.00 to $610.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, May 2nd. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their target price on shares of Mastercard from $650.00 to $656.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, August 1st. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Mastercard from $625.00 to $650.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, August 1st. Finally, Truist Financial dropped their target price on shares of Mastercard from $640.00 to $612.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, July 17th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-five have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $615.33. Read 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. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Mastercard Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mastercard and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board decreased its position in shares of The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW Free Report) by 12.5% during the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 455,604 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 65,321 shares during the quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Boards holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $35,665,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Atwood & Palmer Inc. bought a new position in Charles Schwab in the first quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Westside Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Charles Schwab by 75.0% in the first quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 350 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 150 shares during the last quarter. WFA Asset Management Corp acquired a new position in Charles Schwab during the first quarter worth $33,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC increased its holdings in Charles Schwab by 90.5% during the first quarter. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC now owns 463 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $36,000 after buying an additional 220 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Beacon Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Charles Schwab by 53.1% during the first quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 487 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 169 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 84.38% of the companys stock. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Charles Schwab Stock Up 1.1% Charles Schwab stock opened at $97.05 on Monday. The company has a market capitalization of $176.34 billion, a PE ratio of 26.09, a PEG ratio of 0.93 and a beta of 0.96. The firms fifty day moving average is $92.15 and its 200 day moving average is $84.40. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.53 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. The Charles Schwab Corporation has a 12-month low of $61.16 and a 12-month high of $99.59. Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.14 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.10 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $5.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $5.64 billion. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 33.68% and a return on equity of 19.73%. Charles Schwabs quarterly revenue was up 24.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.73 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that The Charles Schwab Corporation will post 4.22 EPS for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 22nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 8th will be issued a dividend of $0.27 per share. This represents a $1.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 8th. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is currently 29.03%. Charles Schwab declared that its Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program on Thursday, July 24th that allows the company to buyback $20.00 billion in shares. This buyback authorization allows the financial services provider to buy up to 11.6% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are typically a sign that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued. Analyst Ratings Changes SCHW has been the topic of several research reports. Cowen reiterated a buy rating on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Tuesday, May 20th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Charles Schwab from $117.00 to $131.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 29th. Piper Sandler increased their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $80.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. TD Securities increased their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $95.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, May 20th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $102.00 to $108.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, July 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and sixteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $99.35. Get Our Latest Stock Report on SCHW Insider Activity In related news, insider Jonathan M. Craig sold 47,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $88.46, for a total transaction of $4,201,850.00. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Nigel J. Murtagh sold 24,096 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, July 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.91, for a total transaction of $2,359,239.36. Following the transaction, the insider owned 58,999 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,776,592.09. The trade was a 29.00% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 308,016 shares of company stock worth $29,341,433. Company insiders own 6.30% of the companys stock. Charles Schwab Profile (Free Report) The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SCHW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Charles Schwab Corporation (NYSE:SCHW Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Charles Schwab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles Schwab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. SouthState Corp raised its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA Free Report) by 120.9% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 38,721 shares of the exchange traded funds stock after buying an additional 21,193 shares during the quarter. SouthState Corps holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF were worth $3,165,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. American Alpha Advisors LLC increased its position in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 7.4% in the 1st quarter. American Alpha Advisors LLC now owns 124,427 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $10,169,000 after buying an additional 8,558 shares in the last quarter. Mizuho Markets Americas LLC boosted its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 10.5% in the first quarter. Mizuho Markets Americas LLC now owns 23,927 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,956,000 after acquiring an additional 2,282 shares in the last quarter. Pandora Wealth Inc. bought a new position in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF in the first quarter worth approximately $3,599,000. Johnson Financial Group LLC grew its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 366.2% in the first quarter. Johnson Financial Group LLC now owns 17,686 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,445,000 after acquiring an additional 13,892 shares during the period. Finally, Manhattan West Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE ETF by 1.0% during the first quarter. Manhattan West Asset Management LLC now owns 12,560 shares of the exchange traded funds stock valued at $1,027,000 after acquiring an additional 119 shares in the last quarter. 79.80% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get iShares MSCI EAFE ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Stock Up 0.6% Shares of EFA opened at $90.37 on Monday. The businesss fifty day moving average is $88.95 and its 200 day moving average is $84.86. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF has a 12-month low of $72.14 and a 12-month high of $91.57. The stock has a market cap of $65.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.48 and a beta of 0.86. iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Profile iShares MSCI EAFE ETF, formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Funds investment objective is to seek investment results that correspond to the price and yield performance of its underlying index, MSCI EAFE Index (the Index). The Index has been developed by MSCI Inc as an equity benchmark for its international stock performance. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EFA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF (NYSEARCA:EFA Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Key Points Reddit is growing quickly and it posted revenue of $500 million in the second quarter. Although the stock is up 260% in the last year, there are valuation concerns. 10 stocks we like better than Reddit Two weeks ago, I wrote that Reddit (NYSE: RDDT) was one of my picks as a stock to buy on the dip and hold for the next decade. I was confident in the company's upcoming earnings report and its growing profits. Fast-forward to today, and Reddit is smoking hot, up 43% in the last week on the strength of its glowing second-quarter filing. The dip is over, but do you still have an opportunity to take a position in Reddit stock? Or should you wait for a better buying opportunity? Reddit shows huge numbers The biggest figure in the second-quarter earnings report is rapid revenue growth. Reddit reported $500 million in revenue, up 78% from a year ago, marking its fastest quarterly growth since 2022. It was the company's most profitable quarter. There was also a 21% increase in daily active users, a number that reached 110 million in the quarter. The company posted a profit of $89 million and $0.48 per share, versus losses of $10 million and $0.06 per share in the second quarter of 2024. Reddit stands out from social media platforms like Meta Platforms' Facebook and Instagram because, by design, its users are anonymous. The platform is organized into structured "subreddit" communities where people can talk about anything -- including their favorite games, cars, and movies, as well as current events. Because subreddits can be devoted to very specific topics, conversations are usually on point and user moderators can halt any spam or threads going off-topic. "For people, conversation and connection are becoming more valuable and rare," CEO Steve Huffman wrote in a letter to investors. "In a world increasingly dominated by algorithms and automation, the need for human voices has never been greater. We see this every day as nearly 50 million scrollers come to Reddit for their favorite communities, and 60 million seekers land on Reddit in search of better answers to their questions." The company posted Q3 guidance for revenue of between $535 million and $545 million, which would be a 55% gain from a year ago. Image source: Getty Images. What's next for Reddit? While Reddit gets more than 80% of its revenue from the U.S., it's taking steps to grow its international presence. The company is embracing machine translation in order to allow Reddit to expand in Asia, Europe, and Latin America, and is currently targeting around two dozen languages. By expanding internationally, Reddit has the opportunity to increase marketing, add local content and contributors, and create specialized subreddits to serve international markets. While international revenue increased by 71% to $91 million in the second quarter, this is a massive opportunity to grow the company. Trust Asset Management LLC cut its holdings in McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD Free Report) by 1.8% in the 1st quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 8,264 shares of the fast-food giants stock after selling 154 shares during the period. Trust Asset Management LLCs holdings in McDonalds were worth $2,581,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Mascagni Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in McDonalds in the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Abound Financial LLC bought a new position in McDonalds in the 1st quarter worth approximately $30,000. Pinney & Scofield Inc. bought a new position in McDonalds in the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Redmont Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in McDonalds in the 1st quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. bought a new position in McDonalds in the 1st quarter worth approximately $31,000. 70.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get McDonald's alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other McDonalds news, CMO Edith Morgan Flatley sold 976 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, August 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $303.50, for a total value of $296,216.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief marketing officer directly owned 7,882 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,392,187. The trade was a 11.02% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Joseph M. Erlinger sold 939 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $299.49, for a total transaction of $281,221.11. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 9,283 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,780,165.67. This represents a 9.19% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 7,280 shares of company stock valued at $2,215,178 over the last three months. Insiders own 0.25% of the companys stock. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several research analysts recently commented on MCD shares. Erste Group Bank downgraded shares of McDonalds from a strong-buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday, May 24th. Argus cut shares of McDonalds from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, June 13th. KeyCorp reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $335.00 target price (up from $325.00) on shares of McDonalds in a research note on Thursday. BTIG Research reiterated a neutral rating on shares of McDonalds in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. Finally, Redburn Atlantic reiterated a sell rating and issued a $260.00 target price (down from $319.00) on shares of McDonalds in a research note on Tuesday, June 10th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, thirteen have issued a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, McDonalds currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $326.87. Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on MCD McDonalds Stock Performance NYSE MCD opened at $305.62 on Monday. McDonalds Corporation has a 52-week low of $265.33 and a 52-week high of $326.32. The company has a market capitalization of $218.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.19, a P/E/G ratio of 3.12 and a beta of 0.52. The company has a fifty day moving average of $298.57 and a 200-day moving average of $304.63. McDonalds (NYSE:MCD Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, August 6th. The fast-food giant reported $3.19 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.15 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $6.84 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.68 billion. McDonalds had a net margin of 32.21% and a negative return on equity of 225.52%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.97 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that McDonalds Corporation will post 12.25 EPS for the current fiscal year. McDonalds Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 16th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 2nd will be paid a $1.77 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 2nd. This represents a $7.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.3%. McDonaldss payout ratio is currently 60.67%. About McDonalds (Free Report) McDonalds Corp. engages in the operation and franchising of restaurants. It operates through the following segments: U.S., International Operated Markets, and International Developmental Licensed Markets and Corporate. The U.S. segment focuses its operations on the United States. The International Operated Markets segment consists of operations and the franchising of restaurants in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and the U.K. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MCD? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for McDonalds Corporation (NYSE:MCD Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for McDonald's Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for McDonald's and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Virtu Financial LLC trimmed its position in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report) by 59.6% during the first quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 2,300 shares of the investment management companys stock after selling 3,399 shares during the quarter. Virtu Financial LLCs holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $1,256,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Mascagni Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group during the 4th quarter worth $31,000. American Capital Advisory LLC bought a new position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in the first quarter worth about $29,000. Transce3nd LLC acquired a new stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Godsey & Gibb Inc. grew its holdings in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 170.0% during the 1st quarter. Godsey & Gibb Inc. now owns 54 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $30,000 after purchasing an additional 34 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lowe Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 326.7% during the 1st quarter. Lowe Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 64 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. 71.21% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get The Goldman Sachs Group alerts: The Goldman Sachs Group Stock Performance Shares of The Goldman Sachs Group stock opened at $721.76 on Monday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $681.52 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $614.05. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $439.38 and a 1-year high of $737.88. The company has a current ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.57. The company has a market cap of $218.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.90, a PEG ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 1.38. The Goldman Sachs Group Increases Dividend The Goldman Sachs Group ( NYSE:GS Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, July 16th. The investment management company reported $10.91 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $9.82 by $1.09. The business had revenue of $14.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $13.53 billion. The Goldman Sachs Group had a return on equity of 14.32% and a net margin of 12.37%. The firms revenue was up 14.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $8.62 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 47.12 EPS for the current year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 29th. Investors of record on Friday, August 29th will be given a dividend of $4.00 per share. This represents a $16.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 29th. This is a boost from The Goldman Sachs Groups previous quarterly dividend of $3.00. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 26.44%. Insider Activity at The Goldman Sachs Group In other news, CFO Denis P. Coleman sold 7,463 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $724.40, for a total transaction of $5,406,197.20. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer owned 18,594 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,469,493.60. This represents a 28.64% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, CEO David M. Solomon sold 6,608 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $712.31, for a total value of $4,706,944.48. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer owned 126,176 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $89,876,426.56. This represents a 4.98% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 20,079 shares of company stock worth $14,423,221 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 0.55% of the companys stock. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of analysts have weighed in on GS shares. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group from $650.00 to $785.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 8th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price objective on The Goldman Sachs Group from $771.00 to $790.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, July 17th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated a sector perform rating on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Evercore ISI set a $715.00 target price on The Goldman Sachs Group and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. Finally, Hsbc Global Res cut The Goldman Sachs Group from a hold rating to a moderate sell rating in a report on Tuesday, July 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $660.00. Read Our Latest Analysis on The Goldman Sachs Group About The Goldman Sachs Group (Free Report) The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a financial institution, provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. The Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and relationship lending, and acquisition financing, as well as secured lending, through structured credit and asset-backed lending and involved in financing under securities to resale agreements. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for The Goldman Sachs Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Virtu Financial LLC acquired a new position in shares of Hexcel Corporation (NYSE:HXL Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 24,459 shares of the aerospace companys stock, valued at approximately $1,339,000. A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of HXL. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. grew its holdings in Hexcel by 10.4% during the 1st quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 5,205 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $285,000 after acquiring an additional 492 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Hexcel by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 186,680 shares of the aerospace companys stock valued at $10,223,000 after purchasing an additional 937 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in Hexcel by 95.3% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,306 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $126,000 after purchasing an additional 1,125 shares during the period. SG Americas Securities LLC bought a new stake in Hexcel in the first quarter worth approximately $281,000. Finally, Farther Finance Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Hexcel by 71.2% in the first quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 1,200 shares of the aerospace companys stock worth $66,000 after purchasing an additional 499 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 95.47% of the companys stock. Get Hexcel alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In HXL has been the topic of several research reports. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Hexcel from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Sunday, April 27th. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of Hexcel from $60.00 to $65.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, July 28th. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $70.00 price objective (up previously from $65.00) on shares of Hexcel in a research note on Monday, July 28th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on shares of Hexcel from $52.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 29th. Finally, Truist Financial lowered their price objective on Hexcel from $73.00 to $67.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $63.33. Hexcel Price Performance Shares of NYSE HXL opened at $60.37 on Monday. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $58.04 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $57.09. Hexcel Corporation has a twelve month low of $45.28 and a twelve month high of $71.05. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 55.90, a P/E/G ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.36. The company has a quick ratio of 1.50, a current ratio of 2.69 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.53. Hexcel (NYSE:HXL Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The aerospace company reported $0.50 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.46 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $489.90 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $482.20 million. Hexcel had a net margin of 4.69% and a return on equity of 9.76%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 2.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.60 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Hexcel Corporation will post 2.14 EPS for the current fiscal year. Hexcel Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, August 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 8th will be issued a $0.17 dividend. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.1%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, August 8th. Hexcels payout ratio is presently 62.96%. About Hexcel (Free Report) Hexcel Corporation develops, manufactures, and markets carbon fibers, structural reinforcements, honeycomb structures, resins, and composite materials and parts for use in commercial aerospace, space and defense, and industrial applications. It operates through two segments, Composite Materials and Engineered Products. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Hexcel Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hexcel and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Soybeans are kicking off Monday with 19 to 21 cent gains following an late Sunday post from President Trump. Futures posted losses of 5 to 7 cents across most contracts on Friday, as September and November ended the week with a 1 cent loss. The cmdtyView national average Cash Bean price was down 7 cents at $9.28 1/4. Soymeal futures were creeping back higher, up 40 to 70 cents at the close, as September was $5.70 higher on the week. Soy Oil futures were down 78 to 88 points on the day, with September posting a weekly loss of 177 points. There were another 108 August soybean meal deliveries, with the month to date total at 3,471 contracts. Overnight, President Trump posted that, China is worried about its shortage of soybeans. Our great farmers produce the most robust soybeans. I hope China will quickly quadruple its soybean orders... This was enough to take the market higher on the hopes of some buying, if not a deal. More News from Barchart Managed money added another 29,619 contracts to their net short position as of August 5, taking the total to 65,930 contracts. Commercials were net short 68,230 contracts by Tuesday a 19,529 contract reduction on the week. 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. Analysts estimate old crop carryout down 5 mbu to 345 mbu. New crop stocks are seen 41 mbu higher at 351 mbu, Aug 25 Soybeans are at $9.66 3/4, down 5 cents, currently unch Nearby Cash is at $9.28 1/4, down 7 cents, Sep 25 Soybeans are at $9.67 3/4, down 6 1/4 cents, currently up 21 1/2 cents Nov 25 Soybeans are at $9.87 1/2, down 6 1/4 cents, currently up 20 1/4 cents New Crop Cash is at $9.19, down 6 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 Artist Sann Sann Lam, second left, back row, with volunteers, including Amy Butler, second right, back row and participants in the Exuma Arts Network (EAN) summer camp. Friends of Exuma donated $30,000 to EAN. FRIENDS OF EXUMA Economist Therese Turner-Jones says more accessible financial reportinglike a simplified peoples budgetcould help Bahamians understand how taxes are used and why they matter. You voted: Trump signaled on Monday that hed be open to allowing Nvidia to sell a scaled-back version of its most advanced AI chip to China. Trump said he would consider a deal that would allow Nvidia to ship its Blackwell chips to China if the company could design it to be less advanced. Trumps transactional policy approach saw him approve the sale of United States Steel Corp. to Japans Nippon Steel Corp. in a $14.1 billion deal that included caveats such as agreeing to US national security rules and a golden share for the US government. Japan, South Korea and the European Union all pledged to invest billions in the US, helping secure tariff rates of 15%, while companies such as Apple Inc. have also skirted levies by promising to invest hundreds of billions of dollars. The chip-payment arrangement may face legal challenges because it could be construed as an export tax, something thats not allowed under the constitution, trade experts said. The proposal is the latest direct government intervention into business and finance since Trump returned to the Oval Office in January. As well as a chaotic tariff campaign and persistent criticism of a sitting Federal Reserve chairman, Trump has used his Truth Social platform for everything from calling on CEOs to resign to offering commentary on corporate advertising campaigns. To call this unusual or unprecedented would be a staggering understatement, said Stephen Olson, a former US trade negotiator now with the Singapore-based ISEA Yusof Ishak Institute. What we are seeing is in effect the monetization of US trade policy in which US companies must pay the US government for permission to export. If thats the case, weve entered into a new and dangerous world. Nvidia Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. agreed to pay the US government 15% of revenue from some chip sales to China. The chips Nvidias H20 AI accelerator and AMDs MI308 chips were earlier banned by the Trump administration and require export licenses to sell. The revenue-for-exports deal between the US government and two of the worlds biggest chipmakers opens a new front in a trading regime turned upside down by Donald Trump. Story Continues Its possible Id make a deal on a somewhat enhanced in a negative way Blackwell processor, he said in a briefing with reporters. In other words, take 30% to 50% off of it. The Nvidia and AMD revenue-sharing deals may now prompt the White House to target other industries and goods, according to Deborah Elms, head of trade policy at the Hinrich Foundation in Singapore. The sky is the limit, she said. You could come up with all sorts of company-specific, country-specific combinations that would say, No one else can trade, but if you pay us directly, then you get the ability to trade. Although Nvidia and AMD agreed to the terms, there are questions about the legality of the agreement, Elms said. The arrangement looks like an export tax, which is forbidden by the US Constitution. The Trump administration is already in the midst of a lawsuit related to his use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to levy what he called reciprocal tariffs on the world. On Friday, Trump warned of a GREAT DEPRESSION if US courts ruled that his tariffs were illegal. Chips are at the heart of the US-China battle to dominate industries of the future such as AI and automation. The Biden administration restricted the sale of advanced chips to China, prompting Nvidia to develop the H20 to comply with those restrictions. Trump administration officials tightened export controls in April by barring Nvidia from selling the chips without a permit. Last month, however, the White House decided to allow Nvidia and AMD to resume sales of chips designed specifically for the Chinese market, which are several rungs below the most advanced artificial intelligence accelerators. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said the administration wanted Chinese developers addicted to American technology. China has grown increasingly hostile to the idea of Chinese firms deploying the H20, particularly after the US called for the chips to be installed with tracking technology to better enforce export controls. Yuyuantantian, a social media account affiliated with state-run China Central Television that regularly signals Beijings thinking about trade, on Sunday slammed the chips supposed security vulnerabilities and inefficiency. Still, Chinese companies could use the H20s because domestic firms cant produce enough AI chips to meet demand. That potentially provides an opportunity for Nvidia and AMD to sell more and now for the US government to earn additional revenue as well. Trump extended a pause of sky-high tariffs on Chinese goods for another 90 days into early November, stabilizing trade ties between the worlds two largest economies. Theres clearly a shift by the administration to take a lighter national security stance as these negotiations are ongoing, said Drew DeLong, lead in geopolitical dynamics practice at Kearney, a global strategy and management consulting firm. China Draws Red Lines on US Chip Tracking With Nvidia Meeting While the US has intervened before, including by taking stakes in private companies after the 2008 financial crisis, a similar deal like the one struck with Nvidia and AMD is hard to remember and without proper oversight could lead to a crony capitalism state, according to Scott Kennedy, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. It represents a huge shift in the way the American economy is supposed to operate, Kennedy said. It wont make anyone happy except maybe the Chinese, who will get their chips and watch the US political system go through gyration and domestic tensions. (Updates to include reference to Blackwell chip sales in sixth and seventh paragraphs, extention of trade truce in 16th.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. By Ella Cao, Lewis Jackson, Chandni Shah and Tom Polansek (Reuters) -U.S. soybean prices soared to a two-week high on Monday after President Donald Trump urged China to quadruple its purchases ahead of a tariff truce deadline, though analysts questioned the feasibility of any such deal. China, the world's biggest soybean importer, has not yet pre-purchased soybeans from the upcoming U.S. harvest amid trade tensions with Washington, an unusual delay that has fuelled concerns among U.S. farmers and traders as the harvest export season approaches. "Rapid service will be provided. Thank you President XI," Trump said in a late-night Sunday social media post. A tariff truce between Beijing and Washington was set to expire on Tuesday, but Trump signed an executive order extending the tariff deadline by 90 days, a White House official said on Monday. The most active soybean contract on the Chicago Board of Trade jumped 2.4% to $10.11-1/4 a bushel. China imported roughly 105 million metric tons of soybeans last year, with just under a quarter coming from the U.S. and most of the remainder from Brazil. Quadrupling shipments would require China to import the bulk of its soybeans from the U.S.China imports the oilseed to crush it into soymeal for livestock feed. After record imports earlier this year, traders said a glut of soymeal in China would likely reduce Chinese demand for soybeans. "It's highly unlikely that China would ever buy four times its usual volume of soybeans from the U.S.," said Johnny Xiang, founder of Beijing-based AgRadar Consulting. It was unclear whether the U.S. secured any commitment by China to buy more U.S. soybeans as a condition for the truce extension, as Trump looks to reduce China's trade surplus with the U.S. China's soymeal futures fell 0.65% to 3,068 yuan per metric ton on expectations that U.S. imports could increase supply. The United States faces fierce competition for soybean sales to China from Brazil, the world's biggest exporter. U.S. sales would suffer if China keeps a tariff on American soy, said Gary Vetter, who raises crops and cattle in Westside, Iowa. "They're going to go to their cheapest producer," he said, referring to China. U.S. farmers largely backed Trump in his campaigns to become president and said they appreciated his social media post, even if it does not immediately increase export sales. "He is trying to support the United States," Vetter said. China's Ministry of Commerce did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The health condition of the RG Kar rape and murder victims mother, who sustained injuries in police action during Nabanna Avijan (march to state secretariat), was stable on Sunday. Sources at the private hospital, where the victims mother has been admitted, said that she could be released from the hospital either later in the day or by Monday. Advertisement Earlier, speculation was rife that she could be transferred to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Kalyani in Nadia district for better treatment. Advertisement However, the family later decided not to take her there on the advice of the doctors, as AIIMS, Kalyani, was about 70 kilometres away from the private hospital where she is being treated. Her condition is stable, and all her parameters are fine. She could be treated at her home if her condition remains stable throughout the day, said a source at the hospital. The family members of the victim, meanwhile, are contemplating taking legal steps against the police attack and raising the matter before the Calcutta High Court. The family counsel, Phiroze Edulji, is likely to visit the victims mother at the hospital on Sunday and discuss their next course of legal action. The matter will be raised before the Calcutta High Court on Monday at a hearing on the rape and murder case, said a source. The first anniversary of the ghastly rape and murder of a woman junior doctor of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Saturday was marred by massive violence and tension on the streets of Kolkata and Howrah following a scuffle between cops and protesters participating in the march to state secretariat rally. The most unfortunate part was that the victims mother had to be hospitalised after she fell ill amid police action against the protesters. The victims mother alleged that she was beaten up by the policemen after she, along with her husband and other protesters, tried to march towards Nabanna. The victims mother and the BJP leaders alleged that in the police action, the sacred conch shell-bangle on her wrist, traditionally believed to be the symbolic representation of married Hindu women, was broken. It may be noted that the Calcutta High Court sought the states affidavit in the case filed by the family demanding a re-investigation into the murder and rape of their daughter at RG Kar Hospital. However, 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. World Liberty Financial, the decentralized finance platform with ties to the Trump family, is said to be in talks with large investors to raise about $1.5 billion for a public company that would hold its WLFI tokens. The deals structure, Bloomberg reports, is still under discussion. The company approached deep-pocketed investors in technology and crypto, the report said, citing people familiar with the matter. Last year, the firm outlined plans for a crypto-lending app and currently issues USD1, a dollar-backed stablecoin that was used to facilitate MGXs $2 billion investment in Binance. WLFI tokens, initially launched as non-transferable governance assets, are expected to become tradable The move would see World Liberty Financial join a growing number of cryptocurrency treasury firms, which have been issuing debt and equity to accumulate millions worth of various tokens. WLFI itself already has a diversified token portfolio. Trump has adopted numerous pro-crypto policies, having just this week signed an executive order letting 401(k) retirement plans invest in alternative assets, including private equity and cryptocurrency. Days after the visit of chief minister Mamata Banerjee in the flood-affected Ghatal in West Midnapore, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday led a scathing political charge against the ruling Trinamul Congress, accusing it of weaponising the long-pending Ghatal Master Plan as a mere electoral bait while abandoning the flood-prone region year after year. Standing in ankle-deep water amid the marooned lanes of Ghatal town, Mr Adhikari marched with BJP workers from Hospital More to Old LIC More, meeting distressed residents and promising whatever support possible within his limited capacity. Later, addressing a street-corner meeting, he launched a blistering attack on both the state governments inaction and the alleged tokenism of local MP and actor Dev, without naming him directly. Advertisement He comes to Ghatal and says I love you. I come to stand by you, Adhikari quipped, a remark clearly aimed at Dev alias Deepak Adhikari, the sitting TMC MP from Ghatal. Advertisement The BJP leader announced a three-day special relief camp to be held ahead of Independence Day and said he would return to Ghatal on 15 August. I will hoist the Tricolour in the flood-affected areas, serve food to everyone, and eat with you, he said, turning the national day into a platform for political mobilisation. Reigniting the long-forgotten Ghatal Master Plana Rs 1,200-crore flood-control blueprint originally designed by the Damodar Valley CorporationMr Adhikari gave a clear electoral pitch for the 2026 Assembly elections: If the BJP forms the government in Bengal, the Ghatal Master Plan will be implemented. Narendra Modi is the big guarantor. I, Suvendu Adhikari, am your small guarantor. I give you my word. The Ghatal Master Plan has become a recurring trope in the regions political discourse, particularly every monsoon when the Shilabati river overflows, inundating thousands of homes, farmland, and roads. Locals say it has remained stalled despite repeated promises by both the state and Centre. Earlier in the day, Adhikari visited several submerged areas, interacted with residents stranded by floodwaters, and criticised what he called the TMCs criminal neglect of Ghatal. People have voted for them for years, and all they got was waterlogged misery. The TMC only remembers Ghatal when its time to seek votes, he said. Following his Ghatal visit, Adhikari returned to Kolkata to join the BJPs Kanya Suraksha Yatra from Garia to Ranikuthi, continuing the partys dual-pronged outreach campaign across urban and rural Bengal. BJP leader Dilip Ghosh on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Trinamool Congress, accusing it of fraud and termed it unfortunate that such leaders are representing Bengal. His remarks came a day after police revealed that a fake police station was being operated in Noida city of Uttar Pradeshs Gautam Buddha Nagar district to allegedly extort money from people. Advertisement The Noida Police arrested six individuals accused of setting up the so-called International Police & Crime Investigation Bureau, a bogus law enforcement office. Advertisement Among those arrested was Bibhas Adhikari, former president of Trinamool Congress in Nalhati Block No. 2, Birbhum, who had previously been named in the West Bengal primary teachers recruitment scam. Reacting to the developments, Ghosh told IANS, The entire country knows how a few leaders from Bengal are and how they are committing fraud. It is unfortunate that those involved in fraud are leaders of the Trinamool and are the ones representing Bengal. According to the Noida Police, on June 4, the suspects leased a location in Sector 70. In less than a week, they installed signs featuring a logo and colours similar to those of the Central forces. He further accused the Trinamool of tampering and manipulating voter lists by including Bangladeshi nationals in Deganga (West Bengal) and demanded strict action against those involved. There will be around 8-10 districts along the Bangladesh border where the number of voters has suddenly jumped. The voter count has increased by 25 per cent to 35 per cent. These are all Bangladeshi voters, he alleged. According to him, Trinamool leaders, along with district officers, have been welcoming them, taking money, and adding them to the voter list. Ghosh insisted that whoever is involved in this process should face strict action and be removed from their positions. US President Donald Trumps recent call for American tech giants to stop hiring foreign workers presents India with a rare opening to leap from the worlds outsourced back office to the commanding heights of global technology leadership. Indias government is already moving decisively. The IndiaAI Mission, launched in 2024, focuses specifically on homegrown solutions in agriculture, healthcare, and language models sectors crucial to Indias unique context and massive population. AI models like Sarvam-1, designed for Indias languages, showcase ambition beyond mere adaptation of Western technologies. Boosting compute infrastructure, investing in research, and ramping up support for startups mean the technological engines are being primed for a historic shift, according to an article in India Narrative. Advertisement It highlights the G20 Task Force report as saying that Indias digital infrastructure, powered by Aadhaar and UPI, already sets a world benchmark. It highlights how scaled digital platforms built to solve Indian problems now underpin everything from banking to vaccination logistics. The Aadhaar identity network, 5G rollouts, and financial inclusion have created fertile ground for innovation in domains neglected by Western tech giants. Advertisement Trumps hiring ultimatum, though disruptive, could provide the nudge India needs to prioritise self-reliance over outsourcing. Building indigenous AI models for agriculture can revolutionise food security and climate adaptation where over 46 per cent of Indias workforce still depends on farming, often under stress from erratic weather and low yield. In healthcare, AI can bridge gaps in diagnostics for rural populations, bringing life-saving solutions where expertise is scarce, the article observes. With its vast digital user base over 900 million internet connections and advances in payment technology, India sets an example in scalable public infrastructure. UPI, Aadhaar, and ONDC are not just domestic marvels but international blueprints, now being adopted around the world. Indian SaaS and fintech unicorns, fueled by local know-how, are fast becoming global leaders, with exports topping $200b annually. For decades, US tech companies have relied on Indian engineers for cost-effective, high-quality talent, funnelling graduates from Indias premier institutions into roles in California, Washington, and New York. H-1B visas and offshore campuses created a pipeline that shaped careers and fuelled Indias software boom. But as Trumps rhetoric pivots American tech toward economic nationalism, Indian professionals face barriers once unthinkableroles vanishing and dreams deferred. However, dependency on Western opportunity has long restricted Indias tech ecosystem from full self-expression. Trumps stance removes the glass ceiling. Indian engineers1.5 million graduating every yearare now primed to build for India, not just the West. Instead of exporting raw talent, the country can nurture founders, inventors, and creators who tackle Indian problems first. It is a wake-up call to invest in domestic innovation and entrepreneurship, the article further states. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has been conducting a series of organizational activities in Delhi over the past three months, including structured monthly meetings across districts to connect with party karyakartas and strengthen coordination among them. According to a press release, AAP Delhi state president Saurabh Bharadwaj said the party is gathering suggestions from workers and ensuring these are shared with the top leadership so that necessary steps can be taken to bolster the organization. Advertisement As part of this drive, district-level meetings were held in all districts last Sunday. On the same day, Bharadwaj also held separate interactions with karyakartas in three different Assembly constituencies, including Bawana and Nangloi. Advertisement Work is underway to strengthen the Aam Aadmi Partys organization across Delhi. In this regard, monthly meetings are being held with karyakartas to engage in dialogue with them and seek their suggestions, Bharadwaj was quoted as saying. He added that along with him, the state vice president, district presidents, and Vidhan Sabha presidents are also regularly meeting workers in their respective areas, collecting feedback, and conveying it to the partys top leadership for action. Member of Parliament Praveen Khandelwal held a Virat Tiranga Yatra at Chandni Chowk here today. The Yatra was held to spread the message of respect for the national flag and the spirit of patriotism. The procession, which began at the historic ramparts of the Red Fort, culminated at Fatehpuri, drawing a massive participation of traders and BJP workers. Advertisement Addressing the gathering, Khandelwal said this Yatra was not just a parade, but a reflection of deep respect and unwavering commitment towards our national flag. He further stated that the event is also a significant and decisive step towards energising the Bharatiya Samaan Hamara Swabhiman campaign being run under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Advertisement Khandelwal further emphasised that the world now fully recognises that the Prime Minister is not only capable of taking bold and far-reaching decisions but also possesses the unique ability to implement them on the ground with precision and effectiveness. As a result, the world today acknowledges Indias growing power, leadership, and capabilities, he added. He further added that traders across the nation are joining this campaign with full dedication and commitment. The business community is playing a leading role in promoting indigenous products and contributing significantly to building a self-reliant India. This campaign is not just about economic strength, but is also a symbol of the resurgence of Indias glory, pride, and self-reliance, he said further. The Yatra witnessed participation not just from the trading community, but also from women, youth, workers, and local residents. Decorated bands, drums, shehnai, and trumpets infused the streets with a wave of patriotic emotion. As the Yatra made its way through the historic lanes of Chandni Chowk, local market associations and RWAs greeted the participants with showers of flowers and spirited cheers. All along the route, powerful slogans such as Har Gali Har Mohalla, Har Dil Mein Tiranga Laharaye, Har Ghar Tiranga Har Dukaan Tiranga, Tiranga Aan Bharat Ki Tiranga Shaan Bharat Ki, and Bharatiya Samaan Hamara Swabhiman echoed continuously. Over 150 Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) in the city were trained to detect and diagnose cervical and breast cancer at its earliest stages. The training was held at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, during the 31st Annual Conference of the National Association for Reproductive and Child Health of India (NARCHI), organised in collaboration with the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology from August 8 to 10. Advertisement The training covered symptom recognition for cervical and breast cancer referral protocols to ensure patients are guided swiftly to diagnostic centers, and communication skills to break the stigma and fear associated with cancer. ASHAs were also introduced to simple tracking tools, both paper-based and mobile-friendly, to help log suspected cases and follow up effectively. Advertisement Experts stressed the importance of training grassroots workers to curb cancer at an early stage. Early detection can boost survival rates to over 90 per cent, compared to less than 40 per cent for late-stage diagnoses especially for breast, cervical, and oral cancers. By empowering our ASHA heroes to recognise the earliest warning signs, were not waiting for disease were stopping it before it gains ground, said Dr. Mala Srivastava, president of the NARCHI Delhi chapter. With the training of over 150 ASHA workers, we are empowering women on the frontlines to become guardians of their communitys health and reduce cancer deaths in women, Srivastava added. Expanding on the importance of early cancer detection for providing more affordable and less invasive treatments, Dr. Chandra Mansukhani, vice president of NARCHI, said: A single ASHA equipped with knowledge becomes a network of hope in her community. Detecting cancer at Stage 1 means treatment is more affordable, less invasive, and far more effective. This grassroots approach not only strengthens the public health system but also builds trust between communities and medical institutions. With each ASHA typically serving around 1,000 individuals, the potential reach of this program is immense. Cancer continues to be one of Indias most pressing health concerns, with nearly 1.3 million new cases and over 8,00,000 deaths recorded annually. Alarmingly, only one in five cases is detected at Stage 1, when treatment is far more effective and the chances of survival are significantly higher. The initiative is expected to bring cancer awareness and screening opportunities to over one million people in Delhi. Over the next year, pilot areas across all districts of Delhi will be covered. ASHAs will also organise regular screening camps in neighbourhoods and schools, supported by hospital mentors to ensure accuracy and quality of detection. Digital dashboards will be used to track the number of screenings, referrals, and confirmed early-stage diagnoses, ensuring transparency and measurable impact. A 25-year-old youth, identified as Ankit Kumar, drowned while swimming in a pool maintained by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), in Shalimar Bagh area of the national capital. Kumar was rushed to a nearby hospital by his younger brother and friends but was declared dead on arrival, police said on Monday, adding that the incident occurred on Sunday evening around 5:30 pm ACP, Shalimar Bagh said. Advertisement Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered under Section 106(1) of the BNS in the case, it added. Advertisement Further investigation is on, the police official added. The Locarno Film Festival turned into a nostalgic trip for fans when Jackie Chan surprised the crowd by recreating a moment from Bruce Lees legendary Enter the Dragon. Though his role in the 1973 classic was brief, Chan has a memorable story from that set. During filming, Bruce Lee accidentally struck him with a stick. Instead of stopping, Chan finished the scene without complaint. Advertisement Im no Superman. I am scared. Before a stunt, I always think, Am I going to die this time? he laughed, recalling the early days of his career. Advertisement Speaking during a masterclass at the Swiss festival, Jackie Chan took the audience through his beginnings. He admitted he wasnt the most disciplined child. I was lazy, naughty, and I didnt want to study. Thats why my father sent me to martial arts school. I liked fighting when I was young. Later, he asked, Did you like the school? I said yes, because I could kick the teacher, punch someone, whatever I wanted, he joked. Chans career began as a stuntman, including work in Bruce Lees Fist of Fury. From there, he slowly moved into acting. Even as a teenager on set, he loved the world of filmmaking, and the perks. I thought, movies are great, I can have my own lunch box, he said with a grin. Throughout his talk, Chans energy kept the audience smiling. He often acted out stories and even turned to the crowd for help remembering certain names or titles. In a more emotional moment, he spoke about his father, who was often absent but sent him cassette tapes of his voice. If I listened to them now, I think Id cry, he admitted. Chan also discussed his drive to learn every part of filmmaking. In his early years, he would even do his own makeup just to prove his capability to directors. Over time, he began directing his own films and taking control of his stunts, choreography, and production. A group of masked thieves made off with a huge haul of trendy Labubu dolls worth around $25,000. The robbery happened early Wednesday morning at One Stop Sales, a toy store located in La Puente, a city just outside Los Angeles. Surveillance footage posted by the store on Instagram shows the moment the thieves struck. Dressed in hoodies and with their faces covered, the group broke into the store, grabbed box after box of the popular plush toys, and left the place in a mess. Advertisement According to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, the suspects used a stolen Toyota Tacoma truck to pull off the heist. They later found the vehicle, but the thieves are still on the run. Advertisement At first, the shop owners thought they had lost about $7,000 worth of merchandise. But after taking a closer look at their inventory, they realized the damage was much worse. $25,000 gone in one night! So whats the big deal with these dolls? Labubu dolls, created by artist Kasing Lung from Hong Kong, are more than just cute toys. Over the last ten years, theyve become a serious collectors item. With their wide eyes, pointy teeth, and quirky charm, Labubus have taken social media by storm. Celebrities, influencers, and fans around the world cant seem to get enough of them. Each doll comes in a blind box, so buyers dont know which version theyre getting until they open it. There are over 300 styles to collect, and while most boxes sell for around $30, rare versions can go for hundreds, even up to $500, on resale sites. One Stop Sales shared their heartbreak in an Instagram post. They said that the thieves not only stole their entire Labubu collection but also left the store in shambles. We are still in shock, the post read, with the shop asking the community to help catch those responsible. Rana Daggubati, actor famous for his roles in movies like Baahubali and Vettaiyan, appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday, as he was summoned in connection with an investigation into the promotion of illegal online betting apps and games. Earlier, the ED had called Rana on July 23. However, due to his busy shooting schedule and other commitments, the actor requested more time and appeared at the Hyderabad ED office this week. Advertisement This development comes as part of a larger case where the Telangana police filed an FIR (First Information Report) against 25 celebrities and influencers. They are accused of promoting illegal gambling and betting apps through social media. Advertisement Besides Rana Daggubati, other famous names like Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverakonda, and Manchu Lakshmi are also listed in the FIR. The case began when a 32-year-old businessman named PM Phanindra Sarma filed a complaint on March 19 this year. Sarma noticed a worrying trend after talking to young people in his community. Many were being influenced to put money into gambling apps heavily advertised by popular celebrities. These apps allegedly break the Public Gambling Act of 1867, which bans such activities. Sarma shared that he almost invested in one of these betting platforms. But later he decided against it after his family warned him about the risks. The complaint points out that these celebrities are reportedly paid large sums to promote these gambling sites. The FIR mentions several celebrities and social media influencers. They include Praneetha, Nidhi Agarwal, Ananya Nagella, Siri Hanumanthu, Sreemukhi, and Varshini Sounderajan. Authorities have charged the accused under various laws. These include the Telangana State Gaming Act and the Information Technology Act, especially Section 66(D). It covers cheating and identity theft. The investigation is currently led by Officer G Ramesh Naidu. Inspector K Kranthi Kumar of the Miyapur Police Station said, We are determined to protect the public from harmful gambling platforms that exploit people and cause financial damage. As the investigation continues, more details are likely to emerge about the depth of involvement and the financial transactions behind these promotions. The US Justice Department's Antitrust Division has reached a settlement with health insurer UnitedHealth Group over its $3.3bn acquisition of Amedisys. UnitedHealth, which previously acquired LHC Group, a competitor to Amedisys, faced legal challenges last year when the Justice Department and state attorneys general moved to block the acquisition. Amedisys provides home health and hospice services, and is based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The proposed settlement stipulates that UnitedHealth must relinquish ownership of 164 home health and hospice facilities, including one palliative care centre, spread across 19 US states. These facilities collectively generate annual revenue of around $528m. Additionally, the settlement imposes a contingency that requires UnitedHealth to divest eight more locations should it encounter regulatory hurdles in the initial divestiture process. To ensure adherence to the terms, a monitoring body will be appointed to oversee the divestiture and the execution of the consent decree. The buyers of the divested assets should be equipped with the necessary resources, staff and business relationships to foster competition in areas where UnitedHealth previously had a presence. Amedisys has also been directed to pay a civil penalty of $1.1m for inaccurately certifying compliance with the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. The company is further mandated to conduct antitrust compliance training for its leadership to prevent future misrepresentations in its communications with the US Government. The Justice Departments Antitrust Division Assistant Attorney General, Abigail Slater, said: In no sector of our economy is competition more important to Americans well-being than healthcare. This settlement protects quality and price competition for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable patients and wage competition for thousands of nurses. Earlier this month, UnitedHealth named Wayne DeVeydt as its new CFO, replacing John Rex, who will transition to a strategic advisory role. "UnitedHealths $3.3bn Amedisys deal faces strict divestiture terms " was originally created and published by Life Insurance International, a GlobalData owned brand. The suspension is mainly due to a planned shortfall in the airlines fleet caused by the ongoing retrofit of 26 Boeing 787-8 aircraft, a project that began last month and aims to significantly improve the customer experience. This retrofit will keep several aircraft out of service until at least the end of 2026. Additionally, the continued closure of Pakistani airspace forces longer flight routes and adds complexity to Air Indias long-haul operations. Passengers with bookings for flights to or from Washington DC beyond September 1 will be contacted and offered alternative options, including rebooking on other flights or full refunds based on their preference. Advertisement Air India will still provide one-stop connections to Washington DC through US hubs like New York (JFK), Newark (EWR), Chicago, and San Francisco via partner airlines Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, and Delta Air Lines, allowing passengers to travel on a single itinerary with through-checked baggage. Advertisement The airline will continue non-stop services between India and six other North American destinations, including Toronto and Vancouver in Canada. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was seen jumping over a police barricade on Monday as Delhi Police stopped INDIA bloc leaders from marching from Parliament to the Election Commission of India. They are using police to stop us, said Akhilesh Yadav as he, along with other SP MPs sits on protest against police action. Advertisement The opposition leaders were protesting against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and alleged voter fraud in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Advertisement #WATCH | Delhi: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav jumps over a police barricade as Delhi Police stops INDIA bloc leaders marching from the Parliament to the Election Commission of India to protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound pic.twitter.com/X8YV4mQ28P ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2025 During the protest, Delhi police had detained INDIA bloc MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Sanjay Raut, and Sagarika Ghose, among others, who were protesting against the alleged rigging in 2024 Lok Sabha elections and Bihar SIR. Their protest march from Parliament to the Election Commission of India had also stopped. As many as 300 Opposition Members of Parliament from both Houses will take part in the protest march, including those from the Aam Aadmi Party. The march is reportedly not being held under the banner of INDIA bloc to accommodate the AAP, which has officially exited the Oppositions alliance. Opposition MPs will march from Parliament to awaken this sleeping institution, said Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat. He further accused the Election Commission of India of functioning like an extension of the BJP office under the protection of the Prime Minister. On August 7, Rahul Gandhi had alleged rigging in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, sharing what he described as criminal evidence to back his claim. He gave a detailed presentation on how the election at the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency was manipulated. Rahul claimed that there are over one lakh fake voters in the constituency. Following this, the Congress launched an online campaign to mobilise public support against what it termed as vote chori (vote theft). Rahul Gandhi shared a post on his X handle, urging citizens to register on a newly launched web portal: votechori.in/ecdemand, or give a missed call to 9650003420 to support the cause. In a dramatic turn of events during the Question Hour in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council on the opening day of the monsoon session, BJP MLC Devendra Pratap Singh on Monday raised serious allegations of corruption in a road construction project in Deoria district, questioning his own party-led government. He questioned the government about the Maghara-Salempur road surface improvement project, asking whether an estimate had been approved for the work. In response, the government informed the Council that budget approval for the repair work had been granted on July 28, 2025. Advertisement However, Singh followed up with a pointed supplementary question, alleging that Rs 928 crore previously sanctioned for the road project had been embezzled. What action has been taken against the officials involved in this corruption? he asked. Advertisement Replying to the charge, Minister of State for Public Works Department Brijesh Singh maintained that no scam has occurred since the Yogi government came to power in 2017, and assured that strict action would be taken if any wrongdoing was found. Unconvinced, Singh shot back, saying, It seems the minister is not fully informed. A departmental inquiry has already been conducted, and officials have been found guilty with action recommended against them. Responding to this, Minister Brijesh Singh clarified that action is currently underway based on the recommendations of the inquiry. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Lal Bihari Yadav on Monday strongly opposed the BJP-led governments decision to merge government-run primary schools with low student enrollment, during a heated debate in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council. Yadav emphasized that education is not a business but a fundamental right, and accused the government of treating it as a commercial venture. He stated, Even if there are only 25 or 50 students, schools should not be shut down. The government is closing schools under the pretext of high costs. The debate intensified when Leader of the Opposition and other SP members supported Yadav, calling the issue critical for the future of students. The opposition criticized the governments failure to implement computer education effectively, claiming that computers sent to schools are gathering dust due to lack of infrastructure and trained staff. In defense, Education Minister Sandeep Singh claimed that the current government had brought substantial reforms compared to the previous SP regime. He said, Before 2017, there were no proper arrangements for student attendance or even basic seating. Our government has made massive improvements, including providing electricity in over 65,000 schools and building 53,000 toilets. However, when Yadav questioned how many of those toilets were operational, the Chairman interrupted, sarcastically saying, Do toilets also need to be operated? causing an uproar in the chamber. Education minister defended the school merger policy, stating it was aimed at improving educational quality. He explained that schools with fewer than 50 students within a one-kilometer radius would be merged, but exceptions would be made where children face difficulty in accessing schools. He also noted that schools with higher enrollment would receive better funding. Unconvinced, Yadav accused the government of commercializing education, leading the Samajwadi Party to stage a walkout from the House. Later, Minister Laxmi Narayan Chaudhary, a former education minister, added that during his tenure, investigations revealed that over 4,000 madrasas only existed on paper, and some individuals were running 78 schools under a single name. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will embark on an official visit to the UK and Germany later this month or in the first week of September, with a focus on attracting fresh investments to the state. According to highly placed sources, the itinerary will include meetings with potential investors, interactions with the Tamil diaspora, and other official engagements. Advertisement During his upcoming visit, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is expected to deliver a lecture at Kings College London (KCL), although the final schedule is yet to be confirmed. KCL is home to noted scholar Christophe Jaffrelot, the Avantha Chair and Professor of Indian Politics and Sociology at the Kings India Institute. Jaffrelot is widely recognised for his extensive research on Indian politics, including in-depth studies on Dravidian parties. Advertisement The Avantha Chair at the Kings India Institute is a distinguished academic position created through a 3.5 million endowment from the Avantha Group. The role is jointly held by Professors Niraja Gopal Jayal and Christophe Jaffrelot, and forms a core element of the Institutes mission to serve as a leading global hub for the study of contemporary India Senior officials said that the Chief Ministers engagements abroad cannot be confirmed at present as the schedule is still being drawn up. The visit is expected to last between seven and ten days. This will be CM Stalins fifth foreign tour since assuming office, and with Assembly elections just eight months away, it is likely to be his last overseas trip in the current term. Since taking charge, CM Stalin has made high-profile foreign visits aimed at bolstering Tamil Nadus investment prospects. In March 2022, he toured the UAE, resulting in MoUs worth Rs 6,100 crore. His May 2023 visits to Singapore and Japan yielded investment commitments of Rs 1,342 crore, creating around 2,000 jobs. In early 2024, the CM travelled to Spain, where MoUs amounting to Rs 3,440 crore were signed. His most recent trip was to the US in August-September 2024, during which he met executives from technology giants, including Google and Apple. That visit saw MoUs worth Rs 7,616 crore inked, with the potential to create 11,516 jobs, according to the state government. CM Stalin has repeatedly emphasised that his overseas engagements are part of the broader goal of transforming Tamil Nadu into a $1 trillion economy by 2030. The upcoming trip to Europe is expected to continue this investment push, while also strengthening the states global connections and showcasing its economic potential to leading business and academic circles. In a move laden with both symbolism and consequence, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma has stepped down as chairman of the partys Foreign Affairs Department, ending a decade-long stewardship that helped shape the partys global engagements. His resignation, formally submitted to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, was framed as a gesture to facilitate generational renewal within the department. Advertisement Yet, the timing and context suggest deeper tremors within the partys strategic core. Advertisement Sharma, a member of the Congress Working Committee and one of the partys most seasoned voices on international diplomacy, cited the need to induct younger leaders of potential and promise to ensure continuity. His departure comes amid internal disquiet over the partys handling of Operation Sindoor a cross-border military response to the Pahalgam terror attack and its diplomatic aftermath. Sharma had been part of the all-party delegations sent abroad to articulate Indias position post-Sindoor, alongside fellow Congress leaders Manish Tewari and Shashi Tharoor. Yet, in a move that raised eyebrows, none of the three were permitted to speak during the parliamentary debate on the operation. Sources suggest Tharoor declined to speak, unwilling to contradict his earlier endorsement of the governments actions abroad. Tewari, on the other hand, had formally requested to participate but was overlooked. Tewaris cryptic post on Xquoting the patriotic verse Bharat ka rehne waala hoon, Bharat ki baat sunata hoonwas widely interpreted as a veiled protest against the partys decision. His public admiration for Sharmas diplomatic acumen further underscored the growing rift between the partys institutional leadership and its experienced foreign policy voices. Anand Sharma also publicly opposed the Congress partys endorsement of a nationwide caste census, framing it as a departure from its foundational ethos. In a letter to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge dated March 21, 2024, Sharma warned that the move could be misconstrued as disrespecting the legacy of Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, both of whom had resisted caste-based politics. Though caste is a reality of Indian society, Congress has never engaged in nor endorsed identity politics. That is detrimental to democracy in a society with a rich diversity of region, religion, caste and ethnicity, he wrote. Sharmas resignation from the Foreign Affairs Department reads less like a routine transition and more like a quiet lament for a legacy at risk. Having steered the partys global engagements for nearly four decadesfrom anti-apartheid solidarity to internationally acclaimed conferences under Sonia Gandhis leadershipSharma embodied the Congresss diplomatic conscience. His call to reconstitute the committee, coupled with the pointed reminder that it hasnt been refreshed since 2018, hints at strategic drift and institutional neglect. Sharmas resignation also follows his earlier exit from the Himachal Pradesh steering committee, suggesting a broader recalibration of his role within the party. His legacy includes pivotal contributions to the Indo-US nuclear deal, the India-Africa partnership, and the institutionalisation of Congresss global political networks. While the Congress maintains that Sharma remains a valued member of the party, his departure from a key strategic postamid sidelining of other foreign affairs veteransraises questions about the coherence of the partys international messaging and its internal decision-making ethos. In an era of assertive diplomacy and global realignments, the Congresss ability to reconcile national interest with partisan positioning may well hinge on how it treats voices like Sharmasnot as relics of the past, but as assets for the future. The Chhattisgarh government is preparing to exclude individuals from the Scheduled Tribes (ST) who have converted to another religion from availing themselves of government welfare schemes, a provision currently applicable only to the Scheduled Castes (SC). Under the proposed amendment, converted tribals who have been receiving dual benefits ST reservation and minority welfare schemes, will lose access to both. In a move set to trigger fresh political and social debate, the ruling BJP says the step is essential to stop dual entitlements, while the Opposition has denounced it as politically motivated. Advertisement Currently applicable only to the Scheduled Castes (SC), the provision will now cover converted tribals, effectively cutting them off from both ST reservation and minority welfare schemes. Advertisement Deputy Chief Minister and Law Minister Arun Sao said the existing law would be made more effective and comprehensive with inputs from legal experts, and that a proposal would be sent to the Centre for necessary national-level changes. Over the past two years, over hundred cases of conversion have been recorded in the state, with 44 resulting in FIRs. The government intends to replace the Chhattisgarh Dharma Swatantrata Adhiniyam, 1968, with tougher legislation expanding the definitions of inducement and forced conversion, requiring 60 days advance notice to district authorities, and imposing prison terms of up to 10 years for unreported conversions. The plan revives an unimplemented law from the year 2006, introduced during the BJP government under then Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh, which prescribed a two year jail term and a 10,000 fine for forced conversions of women, minors, Dalits, and tribals. Former Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has urged the BJP to enforce the earlier provision instead of politicising the issue. In sharp contrast, Arvind Netam, patron of the Sarva Adivasi Samaj, hailed the proposal as critical for safeguarding tribal culture and traditions. The Election Commission of India wrote to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, informing him that an interaction has been scheduled for 12:00 PM today. Citing space constraints, the ECI asked Ramesh to share the names of up to 30 attendees. Advertisement As of now, there has been no response from Rameshs side. Advertisement ECI in its letter said, EC has granted an appointment for an interaction at 12:00 PM today. It is requested that, due to the limitation of space, names of up to 30 persons may kindly be intimated. However, it could not independently verified if EC scheduled such an appointment on Congress request. The agenda of the meeting was unknown. Over 300 MPs from opposition parties were to march to ECI over vote chori allegations Over 300 MPs from 25 opposition parties are set to march from Parliament to the Election Commission of India headquarters in Delhi on Monday, protesting alleged vote chori in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the ongoing special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. The rally, slated to begin at 11:30 am from Parliaments Makar Dwar, will see participation from parties including Congress, Samajwadi Party, TMC, DMK, AAP, Left parties, RJD, NCP (SP), Shiv Sena (UBT), and the National Conference. Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Gaurav Gogoi, along with other INDIA bloc MPs, had earlier staged a similar protest during the Monsoon session of Parliament. However, Delhi Police is unlikely to allow the march to proceed to the EC office, located less than 2 km away. LoP Rahul Gandhi alleges poll fraud during Lok Sabha, ,Maharashtra dn Karnataka polls Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday alleged the Election Commission of India (ECI) is not tied to any political party but functions under the Constitution. The ECI, in response, asked him to either sign a declaration substantiating his allegations of poll fraud or apologise to the nation for making what it called baseless accusations. Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, was speaking at the Vote Adhikaar Rally in Bengaluru. He alleged, ECI does not work for BJP but functions under the Constitution of India. Recalling recent elections, he alleged that during the last Lok Sabha polls, followed by the Maharashtra and Karnataka Assembly elections, something unusual came to light. In Maharashtra, he claimed, the INDIA bloc had won the Lok Sabha polls, but just four months later, the BJP secured victory in the Assembly elections. This, he said, was startling especially after discovering that one crore new voters had been added for the state polls. Referring to his press conference the previous day, Gandhi asserted that they had presented 100% proof of what he described as the Election Commission and the BJPs involvement in large-scale vote theft. Addressing a press conference, Gandhi had leveled allegations of electoral manipulation against the Election Commission and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, claiming that since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the poll panel colluded with the BJP to steal elections. He cited discrepancies in voter lists and sudden spikes in voting patterns. The Congress leader had claimed there was vote chori of 1,00,250 votes in a constituency with 11,965 duplicate voters in one assembly segment; 40,009 voters with fake and invalid addresses; 10,452 bulk voters or single address voters; 4,132 voters with invalid photos; and 33,692 voters misusing Form 6 of new voters. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the opposition of wasting time in the ongoing session and said the government will push through crucial bills in both Houses of Parliament today, declaring, Enough is enough. Addressing a presser, he said, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju: Enough time has been wasted by opposition in the ongoing session. Now enough is enough. We will pass crucial bills in both Houses of Parliament today. Advertisement BIG STATEMENT Advertisement Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju: Enough time has been WASTED by opposition in the ongoing session. Now ENOUGH is ENOUGH. We will PASS crucial BILLS in both Houses of Parliament today. pic.twitter.com/hmaW8qOast Megh Updates (@MeghUpdates) August 11, 2025 The Opposition INDIA blocs march from Parliament to the Election Commission of India to protest against the alleged vote theft in 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar was stopped by the Delhi Police, citing a lack of permission for the march. Several Opposition MPs, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi, and Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav were detained. Over 300 Opposition Members of Parliament from both the Houses, including those from the Aam Aadmi Party, took part in the protest march. The march came amid Parliament protests against the ongoing SIR exercise in Bihar and days after Rahul Gandhis vote theft allegations. On August 7, Rahul Gandhi had alleged rigging in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, sharing what he described as criminal evidence to back his claim. He gave a detailed presentation on how the election at the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency was manipulated. Rahul claimed that there are over one lakh fake voters in the constituency. Following this, the Congress launched an online campaign to mobilise public support against what it termed as vote chori (vote theft). Rahul Gandhi shared a post on his X handle, urging citizens to register on a newly launched web portal: votechori.in/ecdemand, or give a missed call to 9650003420 to support the cause. The 2025 Monsoon Session of Parliament has been marred by frequent disruptions, with opposition MPs staging protests, shouting slogans, and forcing repeated adjournments over issues such as alleged voter fraud, economic distress, and governance concerns. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav said on Monday that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign is being conducted to honour the valour of the Indian Armed Forces. He added that it is a matter of great pride that under Operation Sindoor, the Indian Armed Forces courageously eliminated terrorists in Pakistan and destroyed their aircraft and weapons. Advertisement The Chief Minister made these remarks while participating in a grand Tiranga Yatra in Gwalior. He said that in Madhya Pradesh, Independence Day is being celebrated in every region through rallies, paying tribute to the Indian Armys achievements in Operation Sindoor. Advertisement Before the start of the Tiranga Yatra, Dr Yadav showered flowers on children dressed as great leaders during a programme at Rajmata Vijayaraje Scindia Square, encouraging them with warm words. Bikers, army and police personnel, all wings of the NCC, ex-servicemen, students, persons with disabilities, public representatives, and members of various government, social, and voluntary organisations participated, proudly carrying the Tricolour, a symbol of Indias pride and glory. Throughout the procession, stages set up at various points resonated with patriotic songs, while colourful cultural performances stirred the spirit of nationalism among the crowds. Rangolis made of colours and flowers adorned the route, while children and artists dressed as immortal martyrs brought alive the sacrifices made for the nations freedom and security. The performances of differently-abled bikers and the MP Police Special Armed Force (SAF) Second Battalion band, both carrying the tricolour, were among the main highlights of the event Karnataka Minister for Co-operation KN Rajanna resigned from his post on Monday, days after criticising the Congress party over Rahul Gandhis vote theft claim. His resignation was accepted by Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot. However, Rajanna has alleged a conspiracy behind his dismissal from the Karnataka Cabinet. Advertisement Speaking to reporters, he said, There is a huge conspiracy behind my dismissal. I know who is behind this and what they have done. He added that he would share details of the alleged conspiracy in the coming days. Advertisement Rajanna, considered close to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, claimed that his dismissal was a decision of the party high command. He said he would go to Delhi to meet Rahul Gandhi in an effort to clear the misconception. I will try to clear the misconception that has arisen. I will personally go to Delhi and convince Rahul Gandhi. The wrong message should not be sent. We are committed to the party. Rahul Gandhi is our leader, he said. The development comes days after Rajanna criticised the Congress party over Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Rahul Gandhis vote theft claim. On August 7, Rahul Gandhi had alleged vote theft in Karnatakas Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha seat during the 2024 General Elections. According to him, there were over one lakh bogus voters in the Mahadevapura assembly segment of the Bengaluru Central constituency. The BJP won the seat despite trailing in all but the Mahadevapura segment. However, Rajanna said these irregularities occurred during Congress rule in the state and questioned whether party leaders had been sitting quietly with their eyes closed. When was the voter list prepared? It was prepared when our own government was in power. At that time, was everyone just sitting quietly with their eyes closed? If we speak casually, well have to say many things, Rajanna had remarked. He acknowledged that irregularities had indeed taken place, but stressed that they happened right in front of party leaders. we should feel ashamed. We didnt address it at the time. Thats why we must be alert in the future, he said. He further emphasised the importance of filing objections during the preparation of draft electoral rolls. When the draft rolls are made, we must file objections that is our responsibility. At that time, we kept quiet, and now we are talking, he added. Hyliion Holdings Corp. (NYSE:HYLN) is one of the best EV penny stocks to buy according to hedge funds. On July 17, the US Navy awarded Hyliion a Phase II Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract worth $1.5 million. The purpose of the agreement is for Hyliion to advance development of its scalable multi-megawatt KARNO Power Module platform for shipboard and stationary military applications. US Navy Awards Hyliion (HYLN) $1.5 Million Contract for Multi-Megawatt Power Module This Phase II contract follows the successful completion of Phase I, in which Hyliion completed the initial concept design and architectural planning for a naval-compliant, multi-megawatt power generator system. 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This article is originally published at Insider Monkey. After ICICI Bank raised the minimum balance limit of its savings account, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Monday clarified that the Reserve Bank of India does not regulate the minimum balance requirements for savings accounts, leaving the decision to individual banks. Speaking from Mahesana, Gujarat, he noted that while some banks set the minimum balance at Rs 10,000, others have it as low as Rs 2,000. Advertisement Speaking to reporters in Mahesana, Gujarat, Malhotra said, On ICICI Banks announcement of minimum balance requirement for savings accounts, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra says, The Reserve Bank of India has left it to the banks to decide the minimum balance amount. Some banks have a minimum balance of Rs 10,000, while some have a minimum balance of Rs 2,000. This does not come under the regulatory domain. Advertisement #WATCH | Mahesana, Gujarat: On ICICI Banks announcement of minimum balance requirement for savings accounts, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra says, The Reserve Bank of India has left it to the banks to decide the minimum balance amount. Some banks have a minimum balance of Rs pic.twitter.com/GDcIZ5j1yr ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2025 Earlier on Saturday, ICICI Bank had 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. 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. 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. Several social media users had slammed the decision questioning why would anyone want to keep money in their accounts instead of investing it. Many social media users called the move promoting elitism. A Pakistani national was shot dead by Border Security Force (BSF) troops on Monday after he crossed the International Border (IB) in the Kathua district of Jammu division and advanced aggressively towards the border fence. According to a BSF spokesman, BSF troops noticed suspicious movement near the IB and spotted the intruder crossing into Indian territory. Despite repeated warnings from the alert personnel, the man continued to move towards the fence in an aggressive manner. Advertisement Sensing a threat, the BSF troops opened fire, injuring him. He was immediately taken into custody and evacuated to the nearest hospital for treatment, but he succumbed to his injuries later. Advertisement The BSF has lodged a strong protest with its Pakistani counterparts over the incident. In line with Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led governments commitment to delivering clean, transparent, and accountable services to the people, Punjab Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian today handed over appointment letters to 504 newly recruited Patwaris. Addressing the appointees at the appointment letter distribution ceremony at the Municipal Bhawan here, Mundian said these Patwaris, having completed their mandatory 18-month training, are now being deployed in the field as regular Patwaris. Advertisement He informed that Chief Minister Mann had allocated districts to eligible candidates based on merit following the recruitment process in 2023. As per regulations, the candidates underwent one year of training at Patwar Schools followed by six months of field training. To facilitate the process, 10 temporary Patwar Schools were set up during the training period, staffed with experienced and retired PCS officers, District Revenue Officers, Tehsildars, Patwaris, and Kanungos, who served as Principals, Vice Principals, and instructors. Advertisement During the training, the Patwaris received comprehensive instruction in revenue computation, land records, surveying, record preparation, elections, settlement operations, agriculture, and computer applications. Special modules covered election-related work, primarily voter list preparationand agricultural knowledge, including details of Kharif and Rabi crops, pesticides, fertilizers, and seeds. Candidates also received hands-on training in using the Integrated Land Management System (ILMS) for Jamabandi data entry, mutation recording, Roznamacha, Fard Badar, and related operations. The Cabinet Minister further said that DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System) equipment has been procured to train all Patwaris in demarcation work, with dedicated sessions underway. Training is also being provided for conducting revenue surveys through the Digital Crop Survey. Mundian added that the departmental examination for eligible candidates was held from May 26 to June 3, 2025, and all 504 candidates who passed are now being deployed after receiving their appointment letters. These Patwaris have been appointed to ensure clean, transparent, and accountable citizen-centric services. I am confident that their induction will help in building a corruption-free society, he said, announcing that recruitment for more Patwari positions will be expedited to provide opportunities to Punjabs youth. Reaffirming the governments zero-tolerance policy towards corruption, the Minister warned that any government employee found indulging in corrupt practices would face strict action. Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Financial Commissioner Revenue Anurag Verma said the recruitment aims to streamline the Revenue Departments functioning, ensuring people receive timely, hassle-free services. Welcoming the new appointees, he said deploying qualified Patwaris would help implement reforms such as Easy Jamabandi and Easy Registry more effectively at the grassroots level. The Opposition INDIA blocs march from Parliament to the Election Commission of India to protest against the alleged vote theft in 2024 Lok Sabha elections and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar was stopped by the Delhi Police, citing a lack of permission for the march. Several Opposition MPs, including Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi, and Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav were detained. Advertisement Over 300 Opposition Members of Parliament from both the Houses, including those from the Aam Aadmi Party, took part in the protest march. Advertisement The march came amid Parliament protests against the ongoing SIR exercise in Bihar and days after Rahul Gandhis vote theft allegations. On August 7, Rahul Gandhi had alleged rigging in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, sharing what he described as criminal evidence to back his claim. He gave a detailed presentation on how the election at the Bengaluru Central Lok Sabha constituency was manipulated. Rahul claimed that there are over one lakh fake voters in the constituency. Following this, the Congress launched an online campaign to mobilise public support against what it termed as vote chori (vote theft). Rahul Gandhi shared a post on his X handle, urging citizens to register on a newly launched web portal: votechori.in/ecdemand, or give a missed call to 9650003420 to support the cause. Below are top updates of Opposition MPs proteat march to ECI: Police release detained MPs All the Opposition MPs who were detained by the police have been released. The MPs were held at Parliament Street Police Station. Dont understand what they are afraid of, says Kharge as police detain him If the government doesnt allow us to reach the Election Commission, then we dont understand what they are afraid of? All MPs were present in this march, we were marching peacefully. We wanted the Election Commission to call all MPs, we would hold a meeting and present our respective sides, but the Election Commission is saying that only 30 members should come. How is this possible? asks Kharge as police detain him. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge also detained by Delhi police Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has also been detained by the police. Congress says he was arbitrarily detained for peacefully protesting against the brazen vote chori by BJP and Eelection Commission. This is a stark reminder of the Modi governments desperation to silence dissent. But we wont be intimidated. We will continue to fight for the peoples rights and hold them accountable for every instance of electoral malfeasance, says Congress. Congress President Shri @kharge is arbitrarily detained by the police for peacefully protesting against the brazen vote chori by BJP and EC. This is a stark reminder of the Modi governments desperation to silence dissent. But we wont be intimidated. We will continue to pic.twitter.com/6ya5Bsfb2R Congress (@INCIndia) August 11, 2025 Fight not political, but to save Constitution, says Rahul as police detain him The truth about vote chori is now out in the open. This fight is not political; its a fight to safeguard the Constitution. Its a fight for the fundamental principle of one person, one vote, and we need a clean, transparent voter list to ensure its integrity, says Rahul as police detain him. Modi govt scared, says Priyanka Congress MP from Wayanad, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who was detained by Delhi police along with several other Opposition MPs, says, Modi government is scared they are coward. Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi and Sanjay Raut detained Delhi police has detained INDIA bloc MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Sanjay Raut, and Sagarika Ghose, among others, who were protesting against the alleged rigging in 2024 Lok Sabha elections and Bihar SIR. Their protest march from Parliament to the Election Commission of India also stopped. #WATCH | Delhi: Police detains INDIA bloc MPs, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Sanjay Raut, and Sagarika Ghose, among others, who were protesting against the SIR and staged a march from Parliament to the Election Commission of India. pic.twitter.com/9pfRxTNS49 ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2025 Rahul Gandhi raises serious questions that demand serious answers from ECI, says Shashi Tharoor Tharoor, who has been at loggerheads with the Congress leadership lately, has backed Rahul Gandhi, says he raised serious questions and they deserve serious answers. For me, the issue is very simple. Rahul Gandhi has raised some serious questions; they deserve serious answers. The Election Commission not only has a responsibility to the nation, but it has a responsibility to itself that there should not be any doubts left in the minds of the public about this entire credibility of our elections. The elections matter to the whole country. Our democracy is too precious to be jeopardised by doubts about whether there is duplicate voting, whether there are multiple addresses, or whether there are fake votes. If there are doubts in peoples minds, they should be addressed. There may be answers available to these questions, but those answers must be provided credibly. That is my only request that the Election Commission should take the questions and address them, says Tharoor. Akhilesh Yadav jumps over barricade as police stops Oppositions protest march to ECI Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Akhilesh Yadav jumps over a police barricade as Delhi Police stops INDIA bloc leaders marching from the Parliament to the Election Commission over vote theft in 2024 Lok Sabha Elections and Bihar SIR exercise. They are using police to stop us, says Akhilesh Yadav as he, along with other SP MPs sits on protest against police action. #WATCH | Delhi: Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav jumps over a police barricade as Delhi Police stops INDIA bloc leaders marching from the Parliament to the Election Commission of India to protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound pic.twitter.com/X8YV4mQ28P Delhi Police stops protest march of Opposition MPs Delhi Police has stopped Oppositions INDIA bloc leaders, who were marching from the Parliament to the Election Commission of India, to protest against the alleged rigging in 2024 Lok Sabha elections and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. #WATCH | Delhi Police stops INDIA bloc leaders marching from the Parliament to the Election Commission of India to protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of voter fraud during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. pic.twitter.com/4KcXEALWxY ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2025 Opposition MPs gather at Makar Dwar of Parliament The MPs have gathered at the starting point of their march the Makar Dwar of Parliament. The MPs sing National Anthem as they begin their protest march from the Parliament to the Election Commission of India to protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of voter fraud during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. #WATCH | Delhi: INDIA bloc leaders gathered at the Makar Dwar of the Parliament sing the National Anthem, as they begin their march from the Parliament to the Election Commission of India to protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound pic.twitter.com/Uks0Mubj6I ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2025 Security tightened around ECI office Delhi Police has increased security outside the Election Commission office ahead of the INDI Alliances protest march. According to reports, the police has not given permission to hold a march near the Election Commissions office. A march of dispair, says BJP Reacting to the Oppositions march, BJP MP Dinesh Sharma says, This march of despair, by those who are hopeless, frustrated, and depressed, who have lost three consecutive times, is nothing but a farcical march. The public will not accept this march of despair Lok Sabha needs to be dissolved, SC should summon ECI Purnea MP and a staunch supoorter of Rahul Gandhi, Pappu Yadav says there is a need to fight these people. He says, The Election Commission is an enemy of democracy and the Constitution. The Lok Sabha needs to be completely dissolved and the Supreme Court should summon the Election Commission. The CID-CB branch of the Rajasthan Police, in a joint operation with the Special Operations Group (SoG) of Punjab Police, has arrested five criminals wanted in connection with the grenade blast in Nawan Shahr in July. According to police sources, the accused, allegedly associated with the infamous Lawrence gang, were conspiring to carry out disruptive activities in Delhi and Gwalior around Independence Day. Advertisement The arrested individuals have been identified as Shivam, Jitendra Chaudhary, Sanjay, Sonu alias Kali, and Sonu Paswan. Advertisement They were overpowered during coordinated raids conducted in Jaipur and Tonk districts by teams from both Rajasthan and Punjab. Subsequently, they were handed over to the Punjab Polices SoG. A minor was also detained. Sources revealed that their handler, Zeeshan Akhtar, currently residing in Canada, has also claimed responsibility for the killing of Baba Siddiqui in Mumbai. Akhtar is believed to have given online instructions for executing the Nawan Shahr grenade blast. The Supreme Court on Monday refused to interfere with the Delhi High Courts July 29 order upholding the conviction of Narmada Bachao Andolan leader and activist Medha Patkar in a criminal defamation case lodged in 2001 by Vinai Kumar Saxena, then head of the National Council for Civil Liberties (NCCL) and presently the Lieutenant Governor of Delhi. While affirming the conviction, a bench of Justice MM Sundresh and Justice Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh set aside the 1 lakh penalty imposed on Patkar by the trial court. The court also modified the probation order, which had required her periodic appearance, and instead permitted her to furnish bonds. Advertisement The trial court had earlier exempted her from a jail sentence by granting probation. Advertisement Senior Advocate Sanjay Parikh, appearing for Patkar, argued that the appellate court had disbelieved two key witnesses and that the email projected as crucial evidence was inadmissible as it lacked certification under Section 65B of the Indian Evidence Act. The bench, however, expressed reluctance to disturb the conviction, though it agreed to waive the penalty. Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, representing Saxena, submitted that at least a token penalty should be imposed on Patkar. The dispute stems from alleged defamatory statements made by Patkar, in 20002001, against Saxena while he was heading the Ahmedabad-based NGO NCCL. Saxena filed a criminal defamation complaint under Sections 499500 IPC before a Delhi court, asserting that her allegations were false, malicious, and harmed his reputation. In 2006, the trial court convicted Patkar, granting her probation instead of a jail sentence. Patkars appeal to the Delhi High Court contended that her statements were made in good faith and in the public interest, falling under exceptions to criminal defamation, and that crucial electronic evidence was inadmissible under Section 65B. On July 29, 2024, the high court dismissed her appeal, holding that the remarks were defamatory and upheld both the conviction and the 1 lakh penalty. Patkar then approached the Supreme Court, resulting in todays order affirming the conviction but removing the fine and easing her probation terms. The Supreme Court on Monday struck down the Indian Armys policy of reserving six Judge Advocate General (JAG) posts for men and only three for women, calling it arbitrary and a violation of the right to equality. A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Manmohan directed the Union government to create a single merit list for all eligible candidates, regardless of gender. The executive cannot reserve vacancies for men. The allotment of six seats for men and three for women is arbitrary and cannot be justified under the guise of induction, the bench observed. Advertisement The ruling came while hearing a petition against the restriction that limited women to half the available seats. The court noted, No nation can be secure if such policies are followed, and ordered that recruitment be conducted on a combined merit list basis. Advertisement To address past exclusion, the court directed the government to allocate at least 50% of the vacancies to women. However, it added that capping womens seats at 50%, even when they outperform male candidates, violates the right to equality. The JAG branch, or Judge Advocate Generals Corps, is the Armys legal arm, staffed by officer-lawyers who provide legal services to commanders, soldiers, and their families. The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghels petition seeking to restrict the Enforcement Directorates (ED) powers to conduct further investigations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The court upheld the validity of Section 44 of the Act, stating that the statute itself is sound, though its misuse could be a concern. A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi observed, The devil is not in the law but in the abuse, and clarified that allegations of misuse should be addressed before the High Courts. The ruling reinforces the EDs investigative authority while acknowledging the need for judicial oversight to prevent arbitrary action. Advertisement Justice Bagchi stressed that an investigations purpose is to uncover facts, not merely target individuals. The essence of a probe is truth-seeking, not mere accusation, he remarked. The Bench noted that while the ED should obtain prior approval from the special PMLA court before filing supplementary complaints, failure to do so reflects procedural non-compliance, not a flaw in the law. Advertisement Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Baghel, argued that repeated supplementary complaints were unnecessarily prolonging the trial. Justice Kant countered that in some cases, further investigation could even serve the accuseds interest, provided due process is followed. Baghel, who is under ED investigation in alleged money laundering cases, has accused the agency of pursuing a politically motivated campaign to damage his reputation. The court declined to intervene, pointing to existing legal safeguards, including the right to seek relief from the High Court. Baghels legal challenge may now shift to the Chhattisgarh High Court, where he can contest any specific procedural violations by the ED. For the BJP-led government as well as the ED, the ruling is likely to be seen as a judicial endorsement of the agencys mandate. For the opposition, the battle over the alleged misuse of central agencies will now have to be fought simultaneously in both the political and legal arenas. Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh highlighted that under PM Modis leadership, Indias fish exports have doubled from Rs 30,000 crores in 2014 to around Rs 60,500 crores today. He added that to boost exports further, preparations for the 16th commission are underway, with exporters and key states consulted for their valuable suggestions, which will be considered during the planning process. Advertisement The Union Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Singh addressed a press conference today where he stated that alternative markets are available for Indias seafood exports. Advertisement #WATCH Delhi: On meeting with fish exporters, Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh says, Under the leadership of PM Modi, our fish exports have reached from Rs 30,000 crores to Rs 60,000 crores. In 2014, our exports were Rs 30,000 crores, and today we are exporting around pic.twitter.com/AJvY6LeC5c ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2025 The government on Monday asked seafood exporters to bravely face the current challenge of high US tariffs and explore alternative markets to ship shrimps and other fish varieties. We have asked them (exporters) to face the current challenge bravely. There are alternative markets available Where there is a will, there is a way, Singh added. The EU, Japan, South Korea, UK, Russia, Australia, West Asia, South East Asia and many countries are available for export of Indian seafoods, he added. Donald Trump announced an extra 25% tariff on Indian exports, adding to the 25% tariffs announced the previous week. Indias shrimp industry faces a 26% tariff under Trumps July proposal, putting at risk a booming $7-billion seafood export sector that depends largely on major US supermarket chains like Walmart and Kroger, as buyers seek to renegotiate prices. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday had a telephonic conversation with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during which he conveyed Indias consistent position on the need for an early and peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict in Europe. The development comes three days after Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Advertisement In a post on X, Modi said, Glad to speak with President Zelenskyy and hear his perspectives on recent developments. I conveyed Indias consistent position on the need for an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict. Advertisement India remains committed to making every possible contribution in this regard, as well as to further strengthening bilateral ties with Ukraine, he added. An official statement here said President Zelenskyy shared his views on the recent developments related to Ukraine. The Prime Minister thanked President Zelenskyy and reaffirmed Indias steadfast and consistent position for peaceful settlement of the conflict and support for efforts aimed at the earliest restoration of peace. PM Modi reiterated Indias commitment to extend all possible support in this regard, the statement said. The leaders also reviewed progress in the India-Ukraine bilateral partnership and discussed ways to further enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest, it said. The phone conversation came amid the ongoing trade tensions between India and the United States over Indias oil purchases from Russia. US President Donald Trump recently increased tariffs imposed on Indian goods to 50 per cent, in what is seen as a sign of his frustration over failing to stop the Russia-Ukraine war. Meanwhile, during the telephonic conversation, Modi and Zelenskyy also discussed in detail the sanctions against Russia. I noted that it is necessary to limit the export of Russian energy, particularly oil, to reduce its potential and ability to finance the continuation of this war. It is important that every leader who has tangible leverage over Russia sends the corresponding signals to Moscow, President Zelenskyy said in a post on X. Both the leaders also agreed to plan a personal meeting in September during the UN General Assembly and to work on an exchange of visits. In a post on X, Zelenskyy said, I had a long conversation with the Prime Minister of India @narendramodi. We discussed in detail all important issues both of our bilateral cooperation and the overall diplomatic situation. I am grateful to the Prime Minister for his warm words of support for our people. I informed about the Russian attacks on our cities and villages, about yesterdays strike on the bus station in Zaporizhzhia, where dozens of people were injured in a deliberate Russian bombing of a regular urban facility. And this is at a time when there is finally a diplomatic possibility to end the war. Instead of demonstrating readiness for a ceasefire, Russia is showing only its desire to continue the occupation and killings, Zelenskyy further said in the post on X. It is important that India is supporting our peace efforts and shares the position that everything concerning Ukraine must be decided with Ukraines participation. Other formats will not deliver results, the Ukraine President said. Earlier, during a telephonic conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reiterated Indias consistent position for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Europe and invited him to India later this year for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. Columbus, Georgia-based Aflac Incorporated (AFL) operates as a holding company, offering supplemental health insurance and life insurance through its subsidiaries. With a market cap of $55.4 billion, Aflac sells its products through individual brokers, corporates, corporate agencies, banks, etc., and operates through Aflac Japan and Aflac U.S. segments. The insurance giant has underperformed the broader market over the past year. AFL stock has gained a modest 2.6% over the past 52 weeks and a marginal 8 bps in 2025, substantially lagging behind the S&P 500 Indexs ($SPX) 20.1% surge over the past 52 weeks and 8.6% gains in 2025. More News from Barchart Zooming in further, Aflac has also underperformed the Financial Select Sector SPDR Funds (XLF) 22.8% gains over the past year and 7.3% returns on a YTD basis. www.barchart.com Aflacs stock prices gained 3.4% in the trading session following the release of its better-than-expected Q2 results on Aug. 5. During the quarter, Aflac observed a net investment loss of $421 million, compared to $696 million net investment gains reported in the year-ago quarter. This led to a 19% year-over-year drop in its overall revenues to $4.2 billion. However, this figure surpassed the Streets expectations by 2.3%. Meanwhile, the company experienced a notable improvement in non-GAAP margin, which curtailed the drop in earnings. Its adjusted EPS dipped 2.7% year-over-year to $1.78 and exceeded consensus estimates by 4.1%. For the full fiscal 2025, ending in December, analysts expect AFL to deliver an adjusted EPS of $6.81, down 5.6% year-over-year. The company has a mixed earnings surprise history. While it surpassed the Streets bottom-line estimates twice over the past four quarters, it missed the estimates on two other occasions. The stock has a consensus Hold rating overall. Of the 16 analysts covering the stock, opinions include two Strong Buys, one Moderate Buy, 10 Holds, and three Strong Sells. www.barchart.com This configuration has remained stable in recent months. On Aug. 6, UBS analyst Brian Meredith maintained a Neutral rating on AFL, but lowered the price target from $114 to $111. The unleashed power of the atom has changed everything save our modes of thinking, and thus we drift toward unparalleled catastrophe. Albert Einstein Eighty years have passed since the twin horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki scorched their way into the conscience of humankind. Yet, even now, those atomic shadows flicker behind every international negotiation table, in every deterrence doctrine, and within every nations nuclear vault. On August 6 and 9, 1945, respectively, the United States dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, instantly vaporizing tens of thousands and condemning many more to death through radiation, burns, and a lifetime of silent suffering. It was not just the end of World War II it was the beginning of a nuclear age whose tremors continue to ripple through the global order. The numbers remain haunting. Hiroshimas Little Boy killed an estimated 140,000 people by the end of 1945. Nagasakis Fat Man killed approximately 74,000. Entire generations were wiped out in seconds. Survivors known as hibakusha bore witness to unimaginable agony: charred corpses strewn across blackened streets, flesh dripping from bone, and children crying out for water in smouldering ruins. Advertisement The physical destruction was absolute, but the psychological devastation was perhaps more profound. Japan surrendered on August 15, bringing the war to a close, but at what cost to humanity? At the time, U.S. President Harry S. Truman defended the bombings as necessary to end the war quickly and save countless American and Japanese lives that would have otherwise been lost in a land invasion. However, in the years that followed, many historians, ethicists, and even military officials questioned whether Japan was already on the verge of surrender. Was the bomb more a message to the Soviet Union than a strategic necessity? Was it the first shot of the Cold War, not the last shot of the Second World War? Today, the debate continues, but the facts remain immutable. Advertisement Hiroshima was the first city in history subjected to a nuclear attack. Nagasaki followed three days later. The world had crossed a threshold from which there was no turning back. The aftermath of the attacks led to the birth of a nuclear world order. The Manhattan Project, which developed the bomb, became the template for future nuclear programmes. The Cold War arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union brought the planet dangerously close to annihilation multiple times the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 being the most dramatic example. Treaties such as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) emerged in efforts to regulate this immense destructive capability. Still, the logic of deterrence mutually assured destruction ruled global security doctrines. Yet in 2025, marking the 80th anniversary of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the nuclear world appears more unstable than ever. Russia has withdrawn from several arms control treaties, including the New START treaty, signaling a more aggressive nuclear posture amidst its continued war with Ukraine and confrontation with NATO. Moscows abandonment of the CTBT has raised alarms across the world. Russia has also signaled possible deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus, deepening Cold War-style fault lines in Eastern Europe. Meanwhile, North Korea continues to conduct missile tests and enhance its nuclear capabilities, flouting international sanctions. Iran edges closer to nuclear weapons capability as its relations with the West deteriorate. China, for its part, is expanding and modernizing its nuclear arsenal at a rapid pace, potentially tripling the number of its warheads within a decade. In South Asia, India and Pakistan remain in a delicate nuclear balance, where one terrorist attack or miscalculation could trigger catastrophic escalation. The dream of a world without nuclear weapons, once championed by leaders like Mikhail Gorbachev and Barack Obama, now seems more distant than ever. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), which won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017, helped bring about the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Yet the worlds major nuclear powers have rejected this treaty outright. The TPNW may be legally binding on its signatories, but in the brutal arithmetic of global power, treaties without enforcement mechanisms are mere paper shields. Japan, the only country to have suffered a nuclear attack, continues to be the moral voice in the global anti-nuclear movement. But even within Japan, there are tensions. Under pressure from its security alliance with the United States and in response to Chinas growing military assertiveness, Tokyo is debating constitutional changes to expand its military role. Some hawkish voices in Japanese politics have even flirted with the once-taboo subject of nuclear deterrence. Hiroshima and Nagasaki are sacred names in Japan, but their legacy is not immune to geopolitical shifts. And what of the survivors the hibakusha who are dwindling in number every year? Their testimonies have formed the backbone of global peace advocacy for decades. Their appeals are not based on abstract theory but on lived horror. Many have spent their lives recounting their stories to students, diplomats, and international forums. Their fading voices remind us that this is not ancient history it is still burning within the bones of those who survived. Nuclear weapons have not been used in warfare since 1945, yet they have been used every day in policy, diplomacy, and deterrence. They exist not to be launched but to shape outcomes. That is the paradox: weapons that kill only when used dominate even in silence. But that silence is not guaranteed. Cyber threats, rogue actors, political instability, and accidental launches all these remain plausible paths to devastation. As we observe the 80th anniversary, the global nuclear arsenal stands at over 12,500 warheads. The United States and Russia possess more than 90 per cent of them. Many are on high alert, ready to be launched within minutes. The dangers of miscommunication, miscalculation, and technical error loom larger than ever. Artificial intelligence in warfare further complicates command and control systems. Unlike the 20th century, where state actors were predictable and channels of diplomacy were clear, the 21st century is fragmented and volatile. A single spark in a hotspot be it Taiwan, Ukraine, or the Korean peninsula could unleash a chain reaction. Survivors, activists, and moral leaders continue to appeal for disarmament. Cities around the world commemorate Hiroshima Day with candlelight vigils, peace walks, and interfaith prayers. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Bomb Dome stand as global symbols of both destruction and resilience. In classrooms, museums, and parliaments, the stories of that terrible dawn are retold. Literature, film, and art continue to grapple with the meaning of nuclear trauma from John Herseys Hiroshima to Kazuo Ishiguros Never Let Me Go to the recent cinematic interpretations of Oppenheimers moral dilemma. And perhaps most powerful is the youth-led movement, emerging in recent years, that sees nuclear disarmament not just as an issue of weapons but of climate justice, racial equity, and human rights. These new voices connect Hiroshima to broader struggles against war, against exploitation, and against the destruction of the planet. They remind us that a world capable of producing atomic bombs must also be capable of disarming them. The story of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is not over. It lives in the treaties signed and unsigned, in the bombs built and dismantled, in the speeches made and forgotten. It lives in the political tensions of our time and in the moral imagination of generations to come. As we mark eighty years since the sun fell twice from the sky, we must ask: will the 100th anniversary be one of regret or redemption? Will we remember Hiroshima as the beginning of nuclear tyranny or the turning point toward peace? (The writer is Professor, Centre for South Asian Studies, Pondicherry Central University.) Israels leadership is once again contemplating a major military escalation in Gaza, this time with the stated aim of taking full control of Gaza City and the central refugee camps. The official rationale is to dismantle Hamas power and ensure Israels security. Yet, the plans timing, execution risks, and political undertones raise troubling questions about whether this is a genuine security strategy or a political gambit with dangerous consequences. Militarily, Israel already controls the majority of Gazas territory. A push into the densely populated urban heartlands would not be a swift, clean operation. Urban warfare is slow, grinding, and costly in both human and political terms. Senior military commanders have reportedly warned that such an expansion would be tantamount to stepping into a trap. The logic is straightforward: Hamas fighters, familiar with the terrain and deeply embedded among civilians, would seek to exploit the chaos, while Israeli forces ~ already fatigued ~ would be stretched to their limits. The most immediate moral and strategic dilemma concerns the remaining hostages. Intelligence assessments suggest that a full-scale push could seal their fate, either at the hands of their captors or through the fog of combat. For the families of these hostages, the proposed offensive is not a path to freedom, but a death sentence. Any government that claims the safety of its citizens as its highest duty must reckon with the weight of that choice. Humanitarian consequences are equally stark. Gazas population has endured nearly two years of war, displacement, and deprivation. Advertisement Another mass uprooting, layered on top of the existing crisis, would not only deepen civilian suffering but also harden international opposition to Israels actions. Friends abroad who have been urging restraint may see a full occupation as a reckless escalation, further eroding the diplomatic capital Israel depends on. Politically, it is difficult to separate this military push from the fragile state of the governing coalition. Key ultranationalist partners have made it clear they oppose any negotiated settlement with Hamas and have even advocated for the expulsion of Gazas population. In such an environment, prolonging the conflict may serve to hold the coalition together, but at the cost of alienating the broader Israeli public, which polls suggest favours a hostage deal and an end to the war. Advertisement The leadership argues that it does not wish to govern Gaza long-term, envisioning a handover to unspecified Arab forces. But without concrete commitments from regional partners, this is less a plan than a placeholder ~ one that leaves the day after undefined and the cycle of conflict intact. A government confident in its security vision must show more than military might. It must articulate a credible, humane, and politically sustainable path forward. Without that, a deeper push into Gaza risks becoming not a decisive victory, but an open-ended quagmire that sacrifices lives, strains alliances, and mortgages the future for fleeting political gain. The political standoff in Texas, USA is not merely a state-level crisis. It is a window into a broader, intensifying struggle over the rules of democratic engagement in the United States. At the centre of this clash is redistricting, the once-in-a-decade process of redrawing congressional boundaries to reflect population changes. Yet, in todays hyper-polarised political climate, this routine administrative task has become a tool of strategic warfare, and both major parties appear willing to push it to the brink. In Texas, the effort by Republican lawmakers to redraw district lines in a way that would secure five additional seats for the party in the US House has led to dramatic scenes: Democratic state legislators fleeing Texas to block the vote, while the governor has called for their arrest and levied daily fines. Beneath the theatrics lies a fundamental truth ~ redistricting has become one of the most consequential and contentious arenas in American politics. Advertisement The implications reach far beyond Texas. The US House of Representatives is currently finely balanced, and even a small shift in seats could flip control. A party that holds the majority in the House does not merely pass laws ~ it can investigate the President, hold up government funding, and even initiate impeachment proceedings. With so much at stake, the redistricting process has turned into a national power struggle where every seat matters and every boundary line becomes a potential battlefield. What is especially notable is how this conflict has prompted Democratic leaders in other states to reconsider their own long-standing commitments to bipartisan redistricting. States like California and New York had previously instituted independent commissions to prevent partisan gerrymandering, believing it to be a more ethical approach. Advertisement But now, those very safeguards are viewed by some Democrats as strategic handicaps. When one side adheres to neutrality while the other exploits its advantages, fairness can start to feel like self-sabotage. The outcome may be an escalating redistricting race, with both parties seeking to maximise their influence regardless of the long-term consequences. That raises uncomfortable questions: if each side sees its tactics as justified retaliation for the others manoeuvering, where does it end? More importantly, what happens to the principle that voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around? Even from a purely strategic standpoint, aggressive redistricting carries risks. Overconfidence in mapmaking can backfire if political tides shift unexpectedly. Safe districts can turn vulnerable under the weight of voter backlash, and the perception of manipulated democracy can erode trust in institutions already under strain. Ultimately, the Texas showdown underscores a grim reality: the rules of political engagement are being rewritten in real time, and the fight over maps may determine not just who governs, but how American democracy functions in the years to come. Sadly, the country does not seem to realise that political pygmies have small minds. Australia will recognize the state of Palestine, said the Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday via an official announcement. The announcement came after a cabinet meeting, with Albanese stating that over the past fortnight, he discussed the proposal with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Advertisement In his announcement, he said, Australia will recognize the rights of the Palestinian people to state of their own We will work with the international community to make this right a reality. The decision is a part of global coordinated effort for building momentum fortwo states solutions. Advertisement He said a two-state solution remains humanitys best chance to end the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to resolve the conflict, suffering, and starvation in Gaza. France has announced its intention to formally recognize the State of Palestine. President Emmanuel Macron has stated that France will make the recognition public during the UN General Assembly in September 2025. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced in July 2025 that that Britain would formally recognize a Palestinian state in Septembercoinciding with the United Nations General Assemblyunless Israel met a set of conditions, including agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza, allowing increased humanitarian aid, committing to no annexation of the West Bank, and pursuing a long-term peace process leading to a two-state solution. Netanyahus plan to completely takeover Gaza On Thursday, after Israels Cabinet approved Prime Minister Netanyahus plan of complete takeover of Gaza, 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. 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. We are a nuclear nation. If we believe we are going down, we will take half the world down with us, he reportedly stated. These comments mark the first known nuclear threats made from US territory against a third country. Munir made the remarks during a dinner hosted by Tampa businessman Adnan Asad, who is also the citys honorary consul. Regarding the Indus Waters Treaty, Munir warned that Pakistan would destroy any Indian infrastructure on the Indus River that restricts water flow to Pakistan. He said New Delhis suspension of the treaty after the Pahalgam terror attack in April could endanger 250 million people with starvation. We will wait for India to build a dam, and when it does, we will destroy it with 10 missiles The Indus River does not belong to India alone. Thankfully, we have no shortage of missiles, Munir said, according to reports. This visit to the US is Munirs second in two months. On his previous visit, he attended a White House luncheon with President Trump on June 18 and proposed nominating Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize, a suggestion he reiterated at the Florida event. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Monday confirmed that a strike in Gaza killed Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif, alleging he was the head of a terrorist cell in Hamas and warning that a press badge isnt a shield for terrorism. Al-Sharif was killed along with four of his colleagues Ibrahim Zaher, Moamen Aliwa, and Mohammed Noufal. Advertisement In a statement, the military stated, Al-Sharif was the head of a Hamas terrorist cell and advanced rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF troops. Intelligence and documents from Gaza, including rosters, terrorist training lists and salary records, prove he was a Hamas operative integrated into Al Jazeera. Advertisement The IDF further stated that in October it had published materials seized in Gaza that, it said, unequivocally confirmed Al-Sharifs military affiliation with Hamas. The military added, The documents once again confirm its terrorist activity, which Al Jazeera tried to disavow. Israeli forces said the seized documents included personnel tables, lists of terrorist training courses, telephone directories, and salary records, which unequivocally prove that he functioned as a terrorist for the Hamas terrorist organisation in the Gaza Strip. They claimed these documents also showed the terrorists integration into the Qatari media network Al Jazeera. Israel said that before the strike, measures were taken to minimise civilian casualties, including the use of precision weapons, aerial observation, and additional intelligence assessments. Al-Sharif was active on social media in the moments before his death, posting on X about Israeli bombings in Gaza. After his death was reported, a pre-written message, posted by his affiliates from his account, read: If these words of mine reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice. The United States State Department on Monday designated Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, The Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The Majeed Brigade was also added as an alias to the BLAs previous Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT) designation. Advertisement Today, the Department of State is designating The Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its alias, The Majeed Brigade, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), and adding the Majeed Brigade as an alias to BLAs previous Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) designation, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a press statement. Advertisement He further added, BLA was designated as an SDGT in 2019 following several terrorist attacks. Since 2019, BLA has claimed responsibility for additional attacks, including by the Majeed Brigade. In 2024, BLA claimed it had committed suicide attacks near the airport in Karachi and the Gwadar Port Authority Complex. In 2025, BLA claimed responsibility for the March hijacking of the Jaffar Express train traveling from Quetta to Peshawar, killing 31 civilians and security personnel and holding hostage over 300 train passengers, Rubio stated. The State Department said that the move demonstrated the Donald Trump Administrations commitment to countering terrorist activities. Terrorist designations play a critical role in our fight against this scourge and are an effective way to curtail support for terrorist activities, he said. The US move, that comes weeks after Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munirs White House dinner with US President Donald Trump, is hailed by many in Pakistan as a diplomatic victory of Islamabad. (Bloomberg) -- Christopher Harvey, head of equity strategy for Wells Fargo Securities LLC, has left the firm. Most Read from Bloomberg Harvey departed the bank after 12 years, according to a person with knowledge of the matter who asked to remain anonymous because the information is private. He was responsible for establishing the firms equity market outlook, including its S&P 500 Index price target and earnings forecast, as well as sector weightings and recommendations for institutional and corporate clients. A spokesperson for Wells Fargo declined to comment. Harvey declined to comment. Ohsung Kwon will take over the position of Harvey, according to another person familiar with the matter. Kwon joined in May this year as head of fundamental equity strategy. Harvey has emerged as one of Wall Streets most bullish voices, setting a year-end S&P 500 target of 7,007 back in December. That implies a nearly 10% gain from Fridays close of 6,389. He maintained the forecast through this years stock-market volatility, even as many of his peers adjusted their outlooks to keep up with swings. He has argued that Big Tech, which has powered the indexs 28% surge since the April low, will continue to drive markets higher, regardless of shifting trade policies under President Donald Trump. Notably, Harvey was among the few strategists who stuck to a bullish stance during Aprils turbulence. While many peers rushed to downgrade their forecasts only to reverse course as equities rebounded he held firm in his conviction for substantial market gains. Prior to joining the bank in 2013, Harvey held other positions at State Street Investment Management, Munich Re/MEAG and Weeden & Co. during his decades-long career as a macro and quantitative strategist. (Updates with response from Wells Fargo declining to comment and appointment of Ohsung Kwon to Harveys role.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2025 Bloomberg L.P. In yet another case of alleged self-immolation in Odisha, a 13-year-old girl is battling for life at a hospital in Bargarh district, police said on Monday. The victim, a class-8 student, allegedly poured petrol on her body and set herself on fire in Phiringmal village within Gaisilat police station limits on Sunday. The reason behind the incident is not yet known. According to reports, the villagers rescued the minor girl in a half-burnt condition and rushed her to Bargarh district headquarters hospital, where her condition is stated to be critical. This is the fourth burning incident involving girls in the state in the last one month. On July 12, a 20-year-old woman student in Balasore self-immolated on her college campus and died at AIIMS Bhubaneswar on July 14. The girl took the extreme step after alleging that her complaint of sexual harassment against the department head elicited no action from the college authorities. On July 19, a minor girl was allegedly set on fire by three miscreants in Balanga and she later died at AIIMS Delhi on August 5. The case sparked a political outrage after police dismissed the involvement of any other person in the incident and termed it as a case of attempt to suicide, just hours after her death. The girls father also dismissed foul play and said his daughter killed herself due to mental distress. In the third incident, the charred body of a third-year undergraduate woman college student was found from her house in Kendrapara district on August 6. Supreme Court's order directing the removal of stray dogs from Delhi-NCR and their relocation to shelter homes drew sharp reactions from animal activists and dog lovers on social media, who called the decision "unscientific and ineffective." Hearing a suo motu case over stray dog bites leading to rabies in the the Delhi-NCR region, the supreme, on Monday, said stray dogs should be taken off the streets and housed in shelters. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India said the forced removal of Delhi's community dogs, estimated at around 10 lakh, would create "chaos and suffering" for both the animals and residents. "Displacement and jailing of dogs has never worked. Such actions will not curb the dog population, reduce rabies or prevent bites, as dogs eventually return to their territories," said Dr Mini Aravindan, senior director of veterinary affairs at PETA India. In a tweet, PETA said the move is "Not only is this cruel, displacement has NEVER worked." The Supreme Court has directed the removal of community dogs in Delhi! Not only is this cruel, displacement has NEVER worked.#CommunityAnimals #Delhi #SupremeCourt #AnimalRights #PETAIndia pic.twitter.com/UUK39U5Dsu PETA India (@PetaIndia) August 11, 2025 Animal rights activist and former Union minister Maneka Gandhi called the SC directive "impractical", "financially unviable" and "potentially harmful" to the region's ecological balance. "You have three lakh dogs in Delhi. To get them all off the roads, you'll have to make 3,000 pounds, each with drainage, water, a shed, a kitchen, and a watchman. That will cost about Rs 15,000 crore. Does Delhi have Rs 15,000 crore for this?," news agency PTI quoted her as saying. "This is not just unscientific, its cruel and dangerous. If you care for street animals, now is the time to speak in one voice," said animal activist Gauri Maulekhi in a tweet. A death sentence for our community animals. In a shocking move, the Supreme Court has ordered that all street dogs in Delhi, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon & Noida be permanently confined in pounds with CCTV to ensure none are released. The court has ignored Animal Birth Control rules, pic.twitter.com/m1pxrnGGfI Gauri Maulekhi (@gauri_maulekhi) August 11, 2025 "...we need mass vaccination & mass sterilization the only humane, proven ways to reduce conflicts," another user said. The Supreme Courts order to remove all dogs from Delhi is deeply unfair & inhumane. Instead, we need mass vaccination & mass sterilization the only humane, proven ways to reduce conflicts. With so many critical issues pending for years rape cases, corruption, poor https://t.co/MC3HX3fwJ6 Vidit Sharma (@TheViditsharma) August 11, 2025 "Because if we are truly concerned about the welfare of stray dogs, we should look into every aspect of their safety and health," pointed out another user, who came up with a series of questions to the Delhi government and the civic body. The internet was divided over the Supreme Court's recent order on stray dogs in Delhi-NCR, which directs the authorities to permanently relocate all strays from streets to shelters "at the earliest". Calling the stray dog menace extremely grim, SC ordered the Delhi government and civic bodies to start picking up stray dogs and keep them in shelters, warning of strict action against anyone obstructing the drive. While many dog lovers and animal rights activists voiced out their discontent over the apex court order, the internet also saw people who lauded the ruling. Also Read | 'Cruel, unscientific': How dog loving netizens reacted to Supreme Court order on stray dogs From people who are relieved to carry on with their morning walks without fear to opinions asking the directive to be implemented in other states as well, social media saw mixed reactions from the netizens. Many social media users heaved a sigh of relief over the SC order, considering the increase in stray dog attacks in the country. "Why only in Delhi. This should be applied across India. It is scary to go for morning walks in Mumbai - there is 50+ dogs just in my area!" tweeted an X user. Claiming that around 2000 dog bites were reported in Delhi alone, former Union minister Vijay Goel welcomed the order. #WATCH | Delhi | On SC order to send all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to shelters within 8 weeks, Animal Rights Activist and BJP leader Maneka Gandhi says, "It is not a doable order... This is a very strange judgment given by someone who is in anger. Angry judgments are never pic.twitter.com/z2Wog3XItY ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2025 "I am happy that the Supreme Court has now paid attention to our demands. It has directed the Delhi government to shift stray dogs to shelter homes. The court has endorsed our demand for 'no dogs on streets' policy", Goel told reporters. Criticising the SC order, dog lovers and animal support groups, too, voiced their disapproval in unison. " You have three lakh dogs in Delhi. To get them all off the roads, you'll have to make 3,000 pounds, each with drainage, water, a shed, a kitchen, and a watchman. That will cost about Rs 15,000 crore. Does Delhi have Rs 15,000 crore for this?" asked Animal rights activist and former Union minister Maneka Gandhi. The Delhi government has mentioned that it will follow the court's order, with Chief Minister Rekha Gupta assuring that the government will soon come up with a policy and implement the order in a planned manner. Also Read | Supreme Courts big crackdown on stray dog menace ignites heated debate Delhi police have arrested animal lovers and activists who protested against the Supreme Court's order to move stray dogs in the national capital to shelters. The activists protested against removing stray dogs from the streets. Animal lovers and caregivers gathered at India Gate and protested against the apex court's order on Monday to shift all stray dogs to shelters in eight weeks. However, police immediately removed the protesters from the streets. "I am being detained because I do the noble work of feeding animals," a caregiver told reporters while she was being removed by police. #WATCH | Police detain animal rights activists, rescuers, caregivers, and dog lovers protesting in front of the India Gate against the Supreme Court order to send all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to shelters within 8 weeks. pic.twitter.com/3xCWA17UNG ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2025 The Supreme Court, taking note of the stray dog menace and deaths due to rabies in the national capital, directed the Delhi government and local bodies to immediately capture stray dogs, detain them in pounds created across the national capital territory and never let them loose back into public spaces. The apex court also had a strong warning for activists, dog lovers who may oppose the civic body's actions. If any individual or organisation comes in the way of authorities picking up the stray dogs, we will take action against them, the bench said. "If we come to know that the release of captured dogs has happened, we shall take stern action. If any person or organisation comes in the way of authorities picking up strays, we shall take strict action," the bench noted. However, animal rights activists and NGOs condemn the Supreme Court's order. "They are not 'stray,' but community dogs. The solution for a happy community is 'sterilization,' not 'displacement.' Sterilization provides already-born dogs with a better chance at life and reduces human-animal conflict," PETA India said in a post on X. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah sacked Cooperation Minister K.N.Rajanna from his cabinet on Monday, reportedly over the latter's comments questioning Congress's 'vote chori' charges against the Election Commission. Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot accepted Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's recommendation and removed Rajanna from the cabinet. According to reports, the chief minister had sought the resignation of the Tumkur leader. However, after Rajanna refused, Siddaramiah recommended to the governor to remove him from the cabinet. Sources in the CMO told PTI that Siddaramaiah sent a letter for the removal of Rajanna to the governor in the afternoon, and the recommendation was accepted by the Raj Bhavan. Special Secretary to Governor, R. Prabhushankar, wrote to the Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, forwarding the notification removing Rajanna from the council of ministers. Recently, the senior Congress leader found fault with his own party amid raging row between the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, and the Election Commission over irregularities in the electoral roll. Gandhi alleged the Commission manipulated the electoral roll in favour of Bharatiya Janata Party. Regarded as a Siddaramaiah loyalist, Rajanna had said the Congress party should have exercised extra care during the preparation of electoral rolls for Lok Sabha polls. While backing Gandhi's claims, Rajanna said they should be ashamed that such irregularities in the electoral roll happened under their watch in Karnataka. Reportedly, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi dialled Siddarammaiah and lambasted Rajanna for his comments. Siddaramaiah reportedly took the decision to seek Rajanna's resignation after this. Meanwhile, supporters of D.K. Shivakumar slammed Rajanna for undermining the party. Following similar statements made by Sharad Pawar, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has also claimed that two individuals approached him before the Maharashtra assembly elections and promised him victory. Thackeray said he did not take them seriously as he does not believe in manipulating the election process. He was addressing a press conference in Mumbai after his party conducted a statewide protest campaign for the ouster of corrupt ministers from the state government. #WATCH | Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray says, "...All the MPs of the INDIA bloc were going to meet the Election Commissioner in Delhi. They were stopped midway, taken to the police station and arrested. Our protest is against the Election Commissioner. We don't pic.twitter.com/gxIXm8CD94 ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2025 "Such people who assure you of victory always come to meet during every election but I dismissed them because we do not believe in manipulating the election process. However, now we will have to see carefully if they come again and understand their claim through a serious discussion," Thackeray said. #WATCH | Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray says, "...Election Commission told Rahul ji to give an affidavit...Yesterday or the day before yesterday, they said that they have no obligation to give all the deleted names. So, has the Election Commissioner gone above the pic.twitter.com/M6HkZFVbUr ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2025 He also called the arrest of INDIA alliance Members of Parliament (MPs) in New Delhi "unlawful and shameful" for the world's largest democracy. "I was told that the MPs were told that they were being taken to meet election commissioners, and then they were suddenly arrested. This is not good for democracy. I expected senior ministers from the NDA government to come out to meet INDIA alliance MPs and resolve the issue through discussion," Thackeray added. He further accused the Election Commissioners of thinking they were more powerful than even the President of India and the Supreme Court. "What do they think of themselves, are they bigger than the honourable President and Supreme Court, how can they refuse to give information on the charges made by Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi," asked Uddhav Thackeray. Thackeray also said that he wants voters and people to be more aware and make sure that there are no other voters registered at their addresses. "It is everyone's duty to make sure that there are no bogus voters and your name or address is not misused," he stated. He said that his party has taken up a statewide campaign for the ouster of corrupt ministers from the Maharashtra government. "We exposed them during the assembly session, met the honourable Governor with our demand for their ouster. But no action is being taken by the chief minister. We will not sit quiet until the corrupt ministers are ousted," Thackeray asserted. Sharad Pawar claims he was offered 160 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly polls provides additional context on Sharad Pawar's statements, which are referenced in the provided text. Kerala Police have busted an extortion gang that targeted gay men via the Grindr, a free dating app for LGBTQ community members. The accused made connections with the victims via the app and later extorted them. The incident came to light after one of the victims, who lost money as well as a gold chain and ring, approached the police. One of the members of the gang had connected with the victim who hails from Thenkasi, Tamil Nadu, and resides in Venjarammodu, Kerala via the dating app. He arranged to meet the victim at a nearby Mookkannur junction on August 7. While one of the gang members and the victim were in a car, the rest of the gang members approached them posing as random strangers. They clicked his pictures, looted his gold and money before abandoning him 40 km away from the original spot. The police said the complainant approached the police, believing it was a highway robbery, and was reluctant to reveal the context in which the extortion happened. But as we started the investigation, the details started coming out, including that of more victims, Venjarammoodu SHO Inspector Azad Abdul Kalam told THE WEEK. Kalam added that the gang communicated with the victims exclusively through the app. The app allowed communication without using phone numbers; it also enabled making calls, sharing locations, and sending photos. The extortion gang believed this would make it harder for the police to track them, he said, adding that the accused had also factory-reset the victims phone to prevent tracing. The accused also planned to collect more money from the victim and had saved the details on his phone before performing a factory reset. However, the police were able to retrieve the data and identify the suspects through the victims Google backup. As the police found details about the suspect, they also identified that there were more than a dozen victims who had already been extorted by the same gang. But none of them filed complaints. When we contacted them, they said they didnt want to complain, even though they were threatened and made to pay money to these frauds, said the inspector. Most of them did not complain because of the nature of the case, and also because of their social status. There are people, including those from a higher social class. Police had observed transactions, including UPI transfers, from victims to the gang members. However, no complaints had been registered by the other victims. The police have so far arrested four gang members: Chithara Kollayil Panikkavila Veetil Sudheer (24), Madathara resident Muhammad Salman (19), Poredam resident Ashik, and Chithara Kollayil Puthanveetil Sajith (18). According to the police, when they arrested one suspect, the others fled. However, we tracked them using location and IP details, chased them overnight, and finally nabbed three more near Alappuzha with the help of the highway police, said Inspector Kalam. Apart from Inspector Kalam, Sub-Inspector Shan, Sub-Inspector Sajith, and CPO Najeemsha were directly involved in the operation to nab the culprits. Raising concerns over the growing Chinese influence in the Indian Ocean region, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor-led parliamentary standing committee on External Affairs has called for a more assertive and coordinated Indian Ocean strategy, warning that Indias security and prosperity are inseparable from stability in the region. To deal with Chinas increasing naval presence and strategic infrastructure in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the panel called for enhanced maritime deterrence through advanced technologies, satellite surveillance, AI-driven maritime domain awareness, and upgraded naval assets. The panel also took into account China's strengthening ties with Pakistan. The Committee urged the government to take decisive action by enhancing Indias maritime deterrence. The panel also recommended upgrading naval assets, boosting anti-submarine warfare capabilities, and expanding strategic partnerships, particularly within the Quad and with IOR littoral states, to maintain regional balance and safeguard Indias strategic autonomy in the face of escalating challenges from the hostile neighbouring country. Presenting its eighth report on Evaluation of Indias Indian Ocean Strategy in the Lok Sabha on Monday, the panel laid out a sweeping set of recommendations ranging from enhanced defence capabilities to a climate-conscious maritime policy. The committee also underscored the role of cultural diplomacy in strengthening regional bonds, recommending better-resourced Indian Cultural Centres and missions to host art performances, exhibitions and heritage events across the IOR. It also called for clarity on the Sagarmala 2.0 initiative, with defined objectives, performance metrics, and an emphasis on smart ports and multimodal transport networks. As nearly 90 per cent of Indias trade passes through the IOR, the committee urged the government to position India as the key guardian of the region through stronger bilateral and multilateral partnerships, deeper defence cooperation, and sustainable development initiatives under frameworks like Sagar and Mahasagar. The report flagged overlaps between the Sagar (Security and Growth for All) and Mahasagar (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) strategies, warning that ambiguities could dilute Indias strategic coherence. It recommended a comprehensive review to distinguish the two and align them with the Indo-Pacific framework, noting that both regions face common challenges and require integrated policy. Highlighting the ecological vulnerability of the Indian Ocean, the panel urged India to champion a Green MAHASAGAR initiative focused on marine ecosystem protection, pollution reduction, disaster response, and the blue economy. The report stressed that environmental sustainability should be woven into every aspect of Indias maritime strategy. To overcome institutional silos in maritime policymaking, the committee proposed creating an Inter-Ministerial Task Force involving the ministries of External Affairs, Defence, Commerce, Environment, Shipping, Finance, and Home Affairs. It also recommended modernising the Navy and Coast Guard under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, prioritising next-generation ships, submarines, carrier-based fighters, and surveillance aircraft. As India is set to chair both the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) from 2025 to 2027, the panel pressed for revitalising these forums through stronger governance, expanded cooperation on non-traditional threats like illegal fishing and climate change, and joint naval exercises. It also urged expanding the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and deepening Quads maritime security cooperation. Tharoor said the recommendations sought to make Indias Indian Ocean policy more coherent, more proactive, and more future-ready, while balancing hard security imperatives with economic, cultural, and environmental priorities. As threats like piracy and terrorism continue to pose challenge, the panel, while recognizing the strong operational performance of Indian Navy and Coast Guard, called upon the government to improve fleet readiness, personnel training and logistics support. It also recommended accelerating the modernisation of naval forces by prioritizing indigenous development under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. Tharoor-led committee also suggested the induction of next-generation submarines, destroyers, carrier-based fighters, and advanced patrol vessels and surveillance aircraft for the Coast Guard to enhance Indias maritime security and deterrence capabilities. Even as the Congress leadership is all set to intensify its protest against the Narendra Modi government over the allegations of election rigging and vote theft in the last Lok Sabha elections, the tirade has also exposed the widening cracks in partys Karnataka unit. The opposition partys all-out offensive was launched by Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi who, while addressing a rally in Bengaluru last week, alleged large-scale vote theft in Mahadevapura Assembly segment. Rahuls charges, however, have not gone down well with a section of the leaders from Karnataka who noted that the Congress must take responsibility for the alleged irregularities in voters list since the party was in power in the state. "One should remember that voter lists were revised when our own govt was at the helm. Why did our party turn a blind eye then? It is true that there are irregularities, but it is insulting for us that it happened right under our nose, Cooperation minister K.N. Rajanna was quoted as saying by the Times of India. Rajanna also remarked that the Election Commission had invited objections from parties after publishing the draft electoral rolls. We should have raised objections then, especially in the case of Mahadevapura where there are many instances of malpractice. After keeping silent when we were supposed to talk, we are talking about it now, he said. The remarks of Rajanna, a loyalist of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, drew sharp reactions from the rival group led by Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar. They accused the minister and others of trying to destabilise the party and urged the high command to take a serious note of it. "Talking negatively against our own party and govt even before the investigation is over is unpardonable. The high command must take serious note of it end such anti-party activities, said Kunigal MLA H.D. Ranganath. In his address, Rahul had alleged there was a theft of 1,00,250 votes in the Mahadevapura segment, with 11,965 duplicate voters, 40,009 with fake and invalid addresses, 10,452 bulk voters or single-address voters, 4,132 voters with invalid photos and 33,692 voters misusing Form 6 of new voters. "The Congress won all the Vidhan Sabhas except Mahadevapura, where the BJP swept and secured a victory margin of 1,14,046 votes. This seat significantly contributed to their election win, and the Lok Sabha result went in their favour on that seat," he had said. In an interesting development, a banner featuring Buldhana MLA Sanjay Gaikwad has appeared in his constituency, but without party chief Eknath Shindes picture or the bow and arrow symbol. This comes as Shinde publicly admonished Shiv Sena leaders who were causing embarrassment to the party through their actions. Though the Deputy Chief Minister didnt take Gaikwads name, Shindes remarks came just after Gaikwad slapped a canteen operator at the Akashvani MLA hostel in Mumbai. The banner, put up at Chikhli in Buldhana as part of Shiv Senas dialogue meeting, prominently featured Gaikwad, clad in a saffron robe, along with his son. The striking omission of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shindes image soon caught onlookers eye. This is despite the party diktat that every banner of official events bears photos of senior leaders, and the party name and symbol. Interestingly, when this was raised at the meeting, Gaikwad gave a tactful reply, stating that Shinde and Balasaheb Thackeray were in our hearts. The MLA dodged questions on whether he was upset with the leadership, according to ABP Majha. In a viral video Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Gaikwad was caught slapping a canteen worker over stale food. Gaikwad had ordered Dal, which he claimed smelled foul, prompting him to lose his temper with the staff. The video has triggered public outrage over blatant power trip. pic.twitter.com/1qLnV5BsPN Peek TV (@PeekTV_in) July 9, 2025 Gaikwad, a controversial figure, ran into trouble last month after videos showed him slapping a canteen staff member, which attracted widespread criticism. The MLA said he was compelled to react in a Shiv Sena style as his previous complaints regarding the food's quality were not addressed. To this, Shinde said: "In the past few days, certain incidents have taken place... People don't point fingers at you - they point at me for what you do. They ask me: 'What are your MLAs up to?". Meanwhile, there are reports about displeasure within the Shiv Sena Shinde faction with the delay in the formation of the Mumbai executive committee, despite it being a year since the municipal elections. Even though a year has passed since the municipal elections, the Shinde group has not announced the Mumbai executive committee. Due to this, the office bearers of the Shinde group in Mumbai are currently confused. No meeting of the office bearers has been held in Mumbai in the last year. Nearshore strategy fuels delivery excellence, high team fulfillment, and cross-border collaboration CHICAGO, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- West Monroe, a global business and technology consulting firm, announced today that its team in Costa Rica has reached 100 employeesmarking a major milestone in the firm's history and global expansion. West Monroe Partners (PRNewsfoto/West Monroe Partners) West Monroe first established a Costa Rica presence in 2021 following its acquisition of product engineering firm Verys. What started as a small team has grown to more than 100 full-time employees specializing in software and data engineering, business analysis, data and cloud platforms, and many internal functions. Rather than pursue rapid offshore expansion, West Monroe has prioritized building a nearshore team that works in real time with U.S. colleagues and clients. This thoughtful approach, anchored in shared time zones, close collaboration, and cultural alignment, helps the firm deliver integrated consulting services while maintaining the same level of quality, speed, and connection. West Monroe's Costa Rica team plays a critical role in delivering high-impact and efficient outcomes for clients across industries. As demand rises for specialized skillsparticularly in Salesforce and Databricks developmentthe firm is investing in creative training and upskilling programs to ensure a steady pipeline of future-ready talent. "Early on, we saw the incredible talent and potential in the Costa Rica team," said Brian Paulen, head of offices and global enterprise services at West Monroe. "What started as a smart and strategic bet has evolved into a vital part of our business. Reaching 100 employees is a big milestonebut even more impressive is how seamlessly our Costa Rica and U.S. teams partner together, support each other, and genuinely enjoy the work, despite being separated by thousands of miles." West Monroe hosted a celebration at its Costa Rica office on July 30, attended by Costa Rica-based employees and several West Monroe leaders, including the firm's Costa Rica office lead, Cristhian Garcia. The event marked a moment of momentum for a team that has already made a significant impact across the firm. In West Monroe's internal pulse survey, the Costa Rica team consistently reports the highest fulfillment scoresa testament to the strong culture, sense of purpose, and opportunity they've built since day one. "I'm incredibly proud to lead this team and to witness the impact we've made together," Garcia said. "We've built a high-performing culture that delivers real value to clientsand our fulfillment rate is a reflection of that. Clients consistently ask for more of our Costa Rica talent because they're engaging, problem-solvers, and becoming true extensions of our clients' teams. It's exciting to see where we're headed as we continue to grow." Three days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin over phone, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dialled the Indian premier on Monday to discuss the conflict with Russia. Zelenskyy has proposed to meet Modi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in September. Glad to speak with President Zelenskyy and hear his perspectives on recent developments. I conveyed Indias consistent position on the need for an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict. India remains committed to making every possible contribution in this regard, as well Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 11, 2025 During the call, the Ukrainian leader spoke to Modi about the Russian attacks on Ukrainian settlements, including an airstrike on a bus station in Zaporizhzhia, where several people were injured. "I am grateful to PM Modi for his warm words of support for our people. We also discussed in detail the sanctions against Russia," Zelenskyy said after the call. He said it was necessary to restrict Russian oil export in order to stop Moscow's ability to continue funding this war. He added that every leader with tangible leverage over Russia should avoid buying oil from Russia, hinting that Modi should also do the same. This comes after US President Donald Trump imposed 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports over New Delhi procuring discounted oil from Moscow, which he said is "fuelling the Russian war machine". Zelenskyy claimed that despite being offered a diplomatic possibility to end the war, Russia is still continuing to occupy Ukrainian territory and kill its citizens instead of getting ready for a ceasefire. PM Modi said he conveyed India's consistent position on the need for an early, peaceful resolution of conflict, adding that the country is committed to making every possible contribution for peaceful resolution of Ukraine conflict. India has called the US tariffs as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable", pointing out that the US and European countries still import from Russia. During his call with Putin on Friday, Modi discussed the India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership and said that he is looking forward to hosting the Russian President in India later this year. Former chief minister and AIADMK rebel leader O. Panneerselvam may have put up a brave face and parted ways with his long-time ally, the BJP. Though OPS has chosen to fight the BJP and had quit the NDA saying, there are no permanent friends and foes in politics, the saffron has decided not to be critical of him. BJPs B.L. Santhosh, who was in Chennai, during a closed-door meeting with the party seniors, advised them not to criticise OPS. The BJP insiders told THE WEEK that Santhosh advised the party functionaries to work in tandem with the AIADMK grass-roots level workers, and the only objective should be to remove DMK from the government in 2026. Santhosh is believed to have expressed his concern over the exit of OPS and how it will impact the NDAs vote share in certain constituencies in South Tamil Nadu. Santhosh also expressed his opinion on the entry of actor Vijays Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and how it will split the votes in certain pockets across the state and impact the NDAs vote share. The BJP leader had also informed the gathering that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon take a call on the exit of OPS, probably during his next visit to Tamil Nadu. Modi is expected to visit Chennai and Chidambaram by the end of August. Incidentally, the BJP, which once brokered peace between the warring factions in the AIADMKEPS and Edappadi K. Palaniswami, popularly known as EPSand later made OPS stay with it as an ally, has decided to stay away from the AIADMKs internal politics. In fact, when he was in Chennai, to a question on bringing back OPS, Sasikala and T.T.V. Dhinakaran into the party, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, It is their internal party affair. AIADMK general secretary EPS has made it clear that OPS will not be taken back into the party. Time has lapsed, EPS said in a TV interview recently. However, beleaguered OPS was waiting to hear from the Delhi masters. He believed that Delhi will either broker peace and make him get back into the AIADMK or have him as an ally, like it happened in 2024, and make him contest from the NDA fold in the upcoming 2026 elections. But OPS was silently shown the door. He had to wait without a reply when he asked for an appointment to welcome PM Modi at the Tiruchirappalli airport on July 26. For the BJP, OPS leaving the alliance means a loss of the Mukkulathor community votes in South Tamil Nadu. While Nainar Nagendran, the present BJP chief, is from the south and from the same Mukkulathor community, the BJP and the AIADMK together may lose a section of the votes in the region. On the other hand, OPSs political stock had plummeted to a large extent. Though he agreed to every advice of the BJP, including the advice to contest as an independent from the Ramanathapuram constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls on Jackfruit symbol, he did not realise that he was being pushed to a corner and was being left in the lurch without an option. While he has quit the NDA now and has decided to go on a statewide tour to meet the AIADMK cadres and retrieve the party, his political predicament remains unchanged. With no party or party symbol or even supporters by his side, his future hinges on his petition in the Election Commission of India. He had already petitioned the ECI, claiming the ownership of the AIADMK and that he should be recognised as the partys coordinator as his five-year term ends only in 2026. He has told the ECI that the status quo of the AIADMK as of 2021 should continue, as the civil suit in the Madras High Court is pending. However, the ECI had informed the court that the case might take a longer time due to the workload arising out of the Bihar polls. Karnataka Cooperation Minister K.N. Rajanna has tendered his resignation on Monday, following his criticism of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's allegations against the Election Commission. According to media reports, the minister took the decision to resign after the Congress high command demanded action against Rajanna for criticising the vote theft charge levelled by Gandhi. CM Siddaramaiah has accepted the resignation of the minister. Rajanna, reportedly a close aide of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, resigned on the first day of the Monsoon session of the Karnataka legislature. Reports appearing in Kannada media suggest that he was asked to resign. Rajanna held a meeting with the CM in the Vidhana Soudha. Sources in the CM office said his recent statement against Rahul Gandhi proved fatal for the Minister. Besides, his name was not in the list of ministers who would be hosting the national flag on the Independence Day, although he was the district-in-charge minister of Hassan. According to Vijaykarnataka, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda will be hoisting the flag. Reacting to the "vote theft" allegations made by Rahul Gandhi, Rajanna had admitted that irregularities may have taken place, but the voter list was prepared when the Congress government was in power. "Look, if we just start talking about such things casually, there will be different opinions. When was the voter list prepared? It was prepared when our own government was in power. At that time, was everyone just sitting quietly with eyes closed? These irregularities did take place thats the truth. There is nothing false in this." Over his statement on Rahul Gandhi's allegations against EC, Karnataka Minister K N Rajanna says, "Look, if we just start talking about such things casually, there will be different opinions. When was the voter list prepared? It was prepared when our own government was in power. pic.twitter.com/i8W80aAJvr ANI (@ANI) August 11, 2025 These irregularities happened right in front of our eyes, he had said and added that the state government should be assigned. "We didnt take care of it at the time. Thats why we must be alert in the future....In Mahadevapura, there was indeed fraud. One person was registered in three different places and voted in all three. But when the draft electoral rolls are being prepared, we have to monitor it, right?...When the draft electoral rolls are made, we must file objections that is our responsibility. At that time, we kept quiet and now we are talking," he had said. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had accused him and a few others in the party of trying to destabilise the party and urged the Congress high command to take a serious note of it. A few months ago, Rajanna had alleged there was a honeytrap racket targeting MLAs and ministers in Karnataka and urged Home Minister G. Parameshwara to order an investigation to expose the producers, directors and actors behind the racket. However, media reports claim that he received little support from anyone in the cabinet and even expressed his dissatisfaction with Siddaramaiah on the lack of progress in the investigation. This lack of cooperation too appeared to have angered Rajanna. An estimated 30 million barrels of discounted Iranian crude oil are floating around Malaysian waters, but Chinese buyers have not stepped in to buy any. A majority of the stranded crude oil tankers have accumulated in the country's territorial waters, where Tehran's primary hubs for ship-to-ship activity have taken place. The stockpile accumulated between January and July this year, according to Kpler, a commodities and data analysis firm. The volume originally stood at 9 million barrels in mid-January and rose to 33.4 million barrels in August, the highest since 2020, according to OilPrice.com. During its 12-day war with Israel, Iran had moved a large portion of its oil stock to ships out of fear that its oil depots would be hit during strikes. After the war, US President Donald Trump then imposed sanctions on around 20 entities involving Iranian oil traders and infrastructure. The White House also had targeted its sanctions on Chinese refiners such as the Shandong Shouguang Luqing refinery, which used to import 100,000 bpd and the Hebei Xinhuai Chemical Group refinery, which used to buy 120000 bpd. The sanctions were also placed on port operators and midstream companies which dealt with Iranian oil. Almost all of Iran's crude is sold to China, according to reports. The main buyers, who kept buying even during the sanctions, were small Chinese refineries. China, on average, imports nearly 1 million bpd from Iran. However, the countrys General Administration of Customs (GAC) has not officially recorded any imports from Iran. According to a report by oilprice.com, Iranian oil does not officially go through the GAC data. The country was simply able to ignore the sanctions placed by the US on Iranian exports through the transhipment of oil from the Iranian tankers offshore Malaysia. The millions of barrels of oil being imported to the country were simply moved to refiners on land or sea without ever being recorded. An article by the Maritime Executive says that the buildup of the stocks is mostly a result of an increasing reluctance to buy more of the oil when the country has already overstocked their tank farms in anticipation of the US sanctions. Chinese oil refiners have filled their holding capacity and are unable to buy more. The floating stockpile is costing Iran enormously, reported Iran International. Iran has resorted to increased discounting to be able to shift undelivered cargoes. Currently, shipping services, ships, managers and shipowners are being targeted due to the sanctions by the US, which seem to be working, according to reports. Malaysia is also under pressure from the US to tighten restrictions on Iranian oil in its waters. Malaysias Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry had also announced in May that it would be taking an aggressive approach to enforcement action against certification of transhipments off Malaysia. Four Al Jazeera journalists, including its senior correspondent Anas Al Sharif, and an assistant were killed in an Israeli strike on a tent near Shifa Hospital in eastern Gaza City on Sunday. Israels military claimed that Al Sharif, 28, was a Hamas cell leader posing as a journalist, even though right advocates have dismissed this claim. Al Sharif was the head of a Hamas cell and was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF (Israeli) troops, the Israeli military said in a statement. It said intelligence and documents from Gaza, including rosters, terrorist training lists and salary records, proved that Al Sharif was a Hamas operative integrated into Al Jazeera. "A press badge isnt a shield for terrorism," the IDF said in a post on X. STRUCK: Hamas terrorist Anas Al-Sharif, who posed as an Al Jazeera journalist Al-Sharif was the head of a Hamas terrorist cell and advanced rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF troops. Intelligence and documents from Gaza, including rosters, terrorist training lists and pic.twitter.com/ypFaEYDHse Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 10, 2025 The other slain journalists were identified as Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufa, reported Reuters. Al Jazeera has denounced the killings and termed the Israeli strike a desperate attempt to silence voices in anticipation of the occupation of Gaza". Calling Al Sharif a brave journalist, the broadcaster released a social media message to be posted in the event of his death that read: "...I never hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or misrepresentation, hoping that God would witness those who remained silent." Al Jazeera condemns the assassination of its journalists by Israeli occupation forces Al Jazeera Media Network condemns in the strongest terms the targeted assassination of its correspondents Anas Al Sharif and Mohammed Qraiqea, along with photographers Ibrahim Al Thaher, and pic.twitter.com/0otP6IYIgC Al Jazeera PR (@AlJazeera) August 10, 2025 In a statement, the channel lamented that Al Sharif and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices in Gaza conveying the tragic reality to the world. "While vehemently condemning these heinous crimes and the ongoing attempts by Israeli authorities to silence the truth, Al Jazeera Media Network calls on the international community and all relevant organisations to take decisive measures to halt this ongoing genocide and end the deliberate targeting of journalists," it said. The Committee to Protect Journalists, a press freedom group, had earlier warned that Al Sharif's life was in danger due to his front-line reporting on the Gaza war. On Sunday, the panel said Israel had failed to provide any evidence to back up its allegations against the journalist. According to the CPJ, at least 186 journalists have been killed in the Gaza conflict, while the media office of the Gaza government claimed the toll is 237. Five Al Jazeera journalists were killed in an Israeli air strike in Gaza yesterday, the network said in a statement. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that one of them, Anas al-Sharif, was a Hamas cell leader posing as a journalist. Al Jazeera named the others as reporter Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa. The network said they died in a targeted Israeli strike on a tent housing journalists in Gaza City and referred to the killings as murder. ALSO READ | Who was Anas Al Sharif, the Al Jazeera journalist killed in Israeli strike? IDF calls him Hamas cell leader The IDF alleged that al-Sharif was the head of a terrorist cell in the Hamas terrorist organisation responsible for planning rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and troops. It said that documents seized in Gazaincluding personnel rosters, training records, phone directories and salary detailsproved his links with Hamas. According to the military, the material showed that al-Sharif headed a rocket-launching squad and was a member of Hamas elite Nukhba Force in the East Jabalia Battalion. It said steps had been taken before the strike to avoid civilian casualties, including aerial surveillance, precise munitions and additional intelligence gathering. The IDF did not disclose the exact location of the strike, but asserted the documents proved the integration of the Hamas terrorist within the Qatari Al Jazeera network. Al-Shifa Hospital director Dr Mohammad Abu Salmiya said al-Sharif was in a tent with other journalists near the entrance to the hospital when he was killed. The strike also killed at least two other people, bringing the total to seven dead. If this madness does not end, Gaza will be reduced to ruins, its peoples voices silenced, their faces erasedand history will remember you as silent witnesses to a genocide you chose not to stop, al-Sharif wrote in a post on social media shortly before his death. Last month, the IDF accused al-Sharif of being a Hamas member, an allegation he denied, saying he was a journalist with no political affiliations. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in July it was gravely worried for al-Sharifs safety, noting that he believed Israeli military allegations were intended as a prelude to his assassination. The CPJ said 186 journalists have been killed in Israeli strikes since the war began nearly two years ago. The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, Irene Khan, described Israels charges against al-Sharif as online attacks and unfounded accusations and expressed concern over repeated threats and accusations against him. Al Jazeera described al-Sharif as a well-known Arabic-language correspondent who reported extensively from northern Gaza and denied Israeli claims of incitement. The CPJ accused Israel of having a history of labelling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence and said al-Sharif had recently reported on severe shortages of food aid in Gaza. ALSO READ | India reiterates its policy towards the Palestinian State, but is not ready for an active role Journalists are civilians and must never be targeted, said CPJ regional director Sara Qudah. Those responsible for these killings must be held accountable. In January, after a brief ceasefire, al-Sharif drew attention when he removed his body armour live on air while surrounded by Gaza residents celebrating the halt in hostilities. Minutes before his death yesterday, he posted on X about intense, concentrated Israeli bombardment using fire belts in Gaza City. He was 28, and is survived by his wife and two young children. His father was killed in an Israeli strike on the family home in Jabalia in December 2023. Colleagues said he had refused to leave northern Gaza and had prepared a final message in case of his death. I urge you not to be silenced by chains, nor to be hindered by borders, and to be bridges towards the liberation of the land and its people, until the sun of dignity and freedom shines upon our occupied homeland, he wrote. Allah may bear witness against those who stayed silent, those who accepted our killing, those who choked our breath, and whose hearts were unmoved by the scattered remains of our children and women, doing nothing to stop the massacre. The arrival of artificial intelligence in cinema has not just opened new creative frontiers, but it has also unsettled the foundations of how stories are conceived, shaped, and shared. From generating hyper-realistic sequences that once demanded months of location scouting, elaborate sets, and sprawling crews, to assisting in script revisions within hours, AI is rapidly altering the grammar of filmmaking. In one recent experiment, filmmaker Shakun Batra worked with a team of collaborators to explore how AI could function in this area. The project, structured as a series of short visual pieces across genresfrom action and drama to sci-fi and comedywas designed to test whether advanced tools like video-generation and AI-assisted editing could help filmmakers imagine scenes that were previously limited by budget or logistics. Batra, known for his intimate yet layered narratives through his previous work, such as Gehraiyaan, which Deepika Padukone and Siddhant Chaturvedi helmed, recently created a whole car chase sequence entirely through AI. We were able to explore scale, energy, and movement in a way that would have required months of planning and a massive crew otherwise, he says. But what stayed with me wasnt just the visual achievementit was the shift in process. We were working more like composers or designersquickly iterating ideas, testing pace and mood in near real-time. The first experiment in the series, a high-octane chase titled The Getaway Car, gave him the chance to try something he had never attempted before. For many independent artists, it can be challenging to produce such ambitious, dynamic concepts due to logistical and budget constraints, he notes. This is where technology can step in to open new avenues for visualising and iterating complex ideas. Rough edges and all, it was one of the most freeing creative experiences Ive had. Its not perfect, but its a glimpse of whats possible when curiosity leads the way, Batra tells THE WEEK in an interview. Script writer and conceptualiser, Shruti Srivastava, agrees. Its a complete burst of ideas and concepts that AI leads to, which makes it so exciting to work with. As filmmakers, I think we are just about starting on exploring the many possibilities that we will see in the time to come, she says. For Batra, the promise of AI lies not only in efficiency but in its potential to democratise the medium. As the tools become more accessible, I feel like those of us with experience need to step into more of a guiding role, he notes. Access is step one. But making something meaningful still takes intent, and perhaps part of our responsibility is helping others develop that sense of intent in this new landscape. Filmmakers of today view AI less as a threat to artistic integrity and more as a way to rethink the creative process. If used right, AI doesnt reduce creativity; it liberates it. While the tools generate visuals, its the filmmakers choices that give them meaning. In a world of endless generation, the artists role in curating what matters becomes even more important. Even a student in a small town, with a story and a vision, can now produce sequences that used to require studio-scale resources, adds Srivastava. AIs presence in the industry has also forced conversations around authorship, ethics, and credit. If a director uses an AI tool trained on thousands of hours of another artists work, who owns the final image? Batra doesnt pretend to have definitive answers. These are big questionswho gets credit, who gets paid, what does authorship even mean now? If someones voice or visual style helped train a model, shouldnt they be acknowledged? We need frameworks that are transparent and fair. Looking ahead, industry experts believe that the most urgent debate is not technical but philosophical. Just because we can make things faster or bigger doesnt mean we should stop asking: what are we really trying to say? And who gets to say it? says Nachiket Nanda, whos learning filmmaking with AI in a mass communication college in Mumbai. Interestingly, AI can analyse audience preferences, simulate locations, or even generate first drafts of scripts. The challenge then for the industry will not just be mastering the technology but mastering how to live with it. Or, as Batra puts it, We need to make sure were not just making more movies, but making movies that still matter. After launching NISAR, the world's most expensive Earth observation satellite with the US on July 30, India will soon launch another US satellite called Block-2 BlueBird, which weighs around 6,500 kg. The ISRO chairman, V. Narayanan, had announced on August 10 that this launch will take place in the next couple of months. What you need to know about the Block-2 BlueBird satellite: It is developed by US-based AST SpaceMobile, which has collaborated with ISRO for the launch using the LVM3 rocket. The satellite represents a significant leap in space-based cellular broadband technology. These satellites are designed to provide direct-to-smartphone connectivity without the need for ground-based infrastructure. Each satellite features expansive communication arrays, measuring up to 2,400 square feet, making them the largest commercial communication arrays ever deployed in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). Interestingly, the Block-2 BlueBird has large communication panels covering up to 2,400 sq ft. It is designed to send data at speeds of up to 12 Mbps, allowing people to use voice calls, internet, and video services directly on their smartphones without needing special devices. The Block 2 satellites are designed to support beams with a capacity of up to 40 MHz, enabling data speeds of up to 120 Mbps, significantly higher than the initially quoted 12 Mbps figure. This new US satellite is expected to arrive in India in September and will be launched on LVM-3-M5, which is ISRO's heaviest rocket, from the Sriharikota spaceport. The satellite will be placed in Low Earth Orbit, approximately 600-900 kilometers above Earth, where it will orbit twice daily, providing cellular broadband coverage. It uses patented technology from AST & Science to connect directly to mobile phones from space as part of their SpaceMobile network. The satellite has a communication panel of 64.38 sq m that will connect to phones using standard 3GPP mobile frequencies, working with major telecom providers worldwide. AST SpaceMobile has launch agreements with multiple providers, including Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket, SpaceX's launch vehicles, and ISRO for deploying these next-generation satellites. LVM3 is capable of placing satellites weighing up to 10,000 kg into Low Earth Orbit, making it well-suited for the 6,500 kg Block-2 BlueBird mission. This represents a significant capability for India's space program, as ISRO's previous heaviest payload delivery was 5,796 kilograms with the OneWeb satellites. The LVM-3 stands 49.13 meters tall with a lift-off mass of 640 tonnes, earning it the nickname "Bahubali" for its impressive power, explained space expert Girish Linganna. Experts point out that compared to similar heavyweight satellites globally, the Block-2 BlueBird's 6,500 kg mass places it among the heaviest single satellites ever launched. The current record for the heaviest commercial satellite is Jupiter 3 at 9,200 kilograms, launched by SpaceX's Falcon Heavy. Other notable heavy satellites include Envisat at 8,200 kg and the Hubble Space Telescope at 12,250 kg. The Block-2 BlueBird will be among the top 10 heaviest satellites ever deployed, representing a major achievement for both ISRO's launch capabilities and AST SpaceMobile's constellation. The Block 2 BlueBirds feature 2,400-square-foot communications arrays, making them the largest commercial communications arrays ever deployed in low Earth orbit. These massive arrays will enable the satellites to provide direct-to-smartphone connectivity across vast coverage areas. AST SpaceMobile needs between 45 and 60 BlueBirds for continuous coverage in the United States, with this ISRO launch being part of a broader constellation deployment strategy, added Linganna. Looking back at history, ISRO began in 1963 with a small rocket donated by the US, marking the start of India's space journey. In 1975, with satellite data from the US, ISRO showed how mass communication could be achieved by broadcasting to 2,400 TV sets in 2,400 villages across six states. In the small village of Labartal in central Kashmirs Budgam district, few would have thought that a young man from their area would one day travel into space. In a proud moment for the science community in Kashmir, 21-year-old Sadiq Ali Mir has been chosen as an Astronaut Candidate (ASCAN) for Engineering and Development with Titans Space Industries Inc., a private aerospace company based in the United States. If everything goes as planned, Mir will be part of the companys first space mission in 2029. The mission will be led by William McArthur, a former NASA astronaut, and Marcos Pontes, Brazils first astronaut and the current Deputy Chief Astronaut at Titans Space. Mir's journey to this achievement began from a simple background. He studied at Imamia Public School, then at Al-Asma Educational Institute in Budgam, and completed his higher secondary education at the Government Higher Secondary School in Sholipora. In 2021, he enrolled at RV College of Engineering (RVCE) in Bengaluru and graduated in August this year with a degree in Aerospace Engineering. His dream began in the seventh grade. When I was in Class 7, I saw a bright object moving across the sky and thought it was a comet, he said. Later, he learned it was the International Space Station. That moment inspired him to become an aerospace engineer and astronaut. The selection process at Titans Space was extremely tough. Mir faced detailed tests and interviews with senior leaders, including CEO Neal Lachman and Chief Astronaut William McArthur. His strong academic performance and leadership in student aerospace projects helped him secure his place. The 2029 mission will include orbital operations, space-based research, and long-term living in space. It is part of Titan Spaces plan for sustainable space exploration and technology development. Alongside preparing for the mission, Mir has also been accepted into a Masters programme in Space Systems at Kepler Space University in Florida to further his knowledge. Sadiq Ali Mir and other students with former ISRO chief S. Somanath At RVCE, Mir co-founded Team AeroAstro, a student group focusing on electric aircraft and space technology. He served as Team Leader and Project Manager before becoming an advisor. He worked with classmates on research projects and co-authored two papers on Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). He presented those two papers at the Annual Aeronautical Society of India (AESI) Conference at Birla Institute of Technology at Mesra, Ranchi, covering supersonic aerodynamic analysis and the design of a new SR-72 variant. Mirs practical experience includes being the Lead Systems Engineer for a lunar rover project at Milo Mission Academy, an initiative supported by NASA. He is grateful to everyone who supported him, including mentors at RVCE like Dr KN Subramanya and Dr Ravindra S Kulakarni, as well as leaders at Titans Space, such as Lachman and Ratliff. I owe special thanks to my family and friends, especially Suhana Arsh for believing in me throughout this journey, he said. For a young man from a place better known for orchards than spacecraft, becoming an astronaut candidate is a great achievement. As an ASCAN and future graduate student, I am honoured to represent RVCE and India on the global stage, he said. "Its a responsibility I carry with immense pride," he added. From watching the night sky as a boy to preparing for a space mission in 2029, Sadiq Ali Mirs story shows that dreams can reach the stars. The recent imposition of steep tariffs by US President Donald Trump, accompanied by his acerbic remarks branding India and Russia as dead economies, has raised significant concerns within international diplomatic circles. In a sharp escalation of trade pressure, Trump signed an executive order on August 7, imposing an additional 25 per cent ad valorem duty on a broad spectrum of Indian exports, citing Indias continued importation of Russian oil in defiance of US sanctions. He described the measure as a punitive response to Indias role in fuelling Russias war machine. This new tariff, set to take effect on August 27, 2025, targets key sectors including textiles, automobiles, and jewellery, on the heels of an earlier 25 per cent tariff. Notably, Trumps order exempts pharmaceuticals and semiconductors under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, and excludes goods already in transit prior to the deadline. I find that the Government of India is currently directly or indirectly importing oil from the Russian Federation, the executive order states. The decision, enacted under the authority of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the National Emergencies Act, is widely seen as a continuation of Trumps uncompromising America First trade strategy. Indias Ministry of External Affairs swiftly condemned the newly imposed tariffs as unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable, accusing the United States of applying double standards. The ministry pointed out that other nations importing Russian oil have not faced similar punitive measures. The timing and tone of Trumps remarks have cast a shadow over the steadily strengthening ties between Washington and New Delhi, injecting uncertainty into what had been a mutually strategic and increasingly cooperative partnership. In a move that further complicated the geopolitical landscape, Trump simultaneously announced a new energy partnership with Pakistan. Under this agreement, Pakistan was granted a preferential tariff rate of 19 per cent and invited to collaborate on the development of its massive oil reserves. The contrast was striking. India, maintaining diplomatic restraint, chose not to respond to Trumps suggestion that Pakistan could eventually sell oil to India, a proposal viewed by many as a signal of shifting strategic priorities in South Asia. In fact a report by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) challenged the rationale behind Trumps selective targeting of India as it states that China was the largest importer of Russian oil in 2024, purchasing $62.6 billion worth, significantly more than Indias $52.7 billion. Yet Trumps criticism has conspicuously avoided China, a choice the report attributes to geopolitical calculations. GTRI also refuted Trumps claim on Truth Social that India is buying massive amounts of Russian oil and selling it on the open market for big profits, clarifying that India does not export crude oil at all. Instead, it imports crude, and exports refined petroleum products such as diesel and jet fuel, a standard practice among energy-importing nations. Beyond its questionable rationale, the timing of Trumps unexpectedly harsh rhetoric appears to reflect mounting frustration over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. His failure to deliver on promises of securing a ceasefire within 24 hours of taking office has seemingly prompted a series of economic retaliations aimed in multiple directions. It is worth noting that, although Russia remains the dominant supplier, Indias imports of US crude and liquefied natural gas have steadily increased. In 2025, US crude imports averaged 271,000 barrels per day, up from 180,000 in 2024. Yet US volumes, while growing, are still insufficient to replace Russias supply due to differences in scale and composition. Indias energy ties with the US continue to evolve, and analysts project further growth, with imports potentially reaching 300,000 barrels per day. So buying Russian oil may not be the only reason for Trump to announce additional tariffs. Trumps tariff-centric diplomacy seems driven more by ire than by measured policy. A similar pattern has emerged with Americas other key allies. Despite the UKs long-standing special relationship with the US, Trump enforced tough concessions before reducing British tariffs to 10%. Japan and the EU saw theirs trimmed to 15%, underscoring the former presidents transactional approach to geopolitics. Indias economy could take a 0.50.6% hit to gross domestic product (GDP) due to the additional 25% tariffs imposed by the US. India has recently inked free trade agreements with a diverse array of partners, including the UAE, Mauritius, Australia, EFTA, and the United Kingdom. These strategic alliances could serve as a vital buffer, mitigating much of the potential disruption posed by Trump's tariff measures. Importantly, Trumps executive order leaves room for revision. Its provisions may be adjusted depending on Indias response, whether through retaliatory trade measures or through steps that align more closely with US strategic interests. Meanwhile, India continues to deepen its economic ties with Russia, recently signing a protocol to enhance cooperation in sectors such as aluminium, fertilisers, railways, and mining technology. Negotiations with the US on a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) have been underway since March 2025, with the sixth round of talks scheduled for August 25. These discussions carry added weight in light of the newly imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods. India has formally appealed for a rollback of the tariff and broader reductions on existing duties, 50 per cent on steel and aluminium, and 25 per cent on auto exports. Under WTO provisions, New Delhi retains the right to impose retaliatory measures against unilateral trade actions. Rather than reacting to political optics from the West, India must remain focused on its long-term economic priorities. With some time remaining before the proposed 50 per cent duties take effect, India has an opportunity to navigate this challenge strategically. The US tariff announcement should be viewed as part of a broader negotiation strategy rather than a cause for immediate alarm. With the 15-day countdown to 50 per cent tariffs now underway, global markets and diplomatic stakeholders are closely monitoring the situation. Meanwhile, reports have surfaced of a potential meeting between the US and Russian presidents. Whether this engagement can yield a ceasefire in Ukraine, and prompt a reconsideration of the newly imposed tariffs, remains to be seen. The author is a strategic and economic affairs analyst. Baron Funds, an investment management company, released its Baron Real Estate Income Fund second-quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The fund decreased 0.23% (Institutional Shares) in the quarter compared to a 1.46% decline for the MSCI US REIT Index (the REIT Index). Since its inception on December 29, 2017, through June 30, 2025, the Fund achieved a cumulative return of 87.02%, more than double the 35.45% return of the REIT Index. In addition, please check the funds top five holdings to know its best picks in 2025. In its second-quarter 2025 investor letter, Baron Real Estate Income Fund highlighted stocks such as SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (NYSE:SMA). SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (NYSE:SMA) is a self-storage Real Estate Investment Trust. The one-month return of SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (NYSE:SMA) was -6.60%, and its shares lost 6.98% of their value over the last 3 months. On August 8, 2025, SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (NYSE:SMA) stock closed at $33.98 per share, with a market capitalization of $1.055 billion. Baron Real Estate Income Fund stated the following regarding SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (NYSE:SMA) in its second quarter 2025 investor letter: "In the second quarter, the Fund acquired shares in SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (NYSE:SMA), a self-storage REIT that owns a portfolio of 171 properties across 22 states and 3 provinces in Canada. Please see the Top net purchases section later in this letter for an explanation of why we are excited about our investment in the company. Is Public Storage (PSA) the Best REIT Stock to Buy According to Billionaires? Aerial view of a thriving self-storage facility, showcasing the company's expertise in acquisition and development. SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (NYSE:SMA) is not on our list of 30 Most Popular Stocks Among Hedge Funds. While we acknowledge the potential of SmartStop Self Storage REIT, Inc. (NYSE:SMA) 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. India on Monday criticised Pakistani Army chief Asim Munir's nuclear threats against New Delhi, calling it "nuclear sabre-rattling" that was essentially Pakistan's "stock-in-trade". "India has already made it clear that it will not give in to nuclear blackmail. We will continue to take all steps necessary to safeguard our national security," a statement from India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) read. ALSO READ | Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir says he is waiting for India to build a dam on Indus River to blow it up "It is also regrettable that these remarks should have been made from the soil of a friendly third country," the statement added. In his second visit to the United States, the army chief had made incendiary statements threatening to destroy any dam India would build in the Indus river. We will wait for India to build a dam, and when they do so, we will destroy it ... The Indus River is not the Indians family property. We have no shortage of resources to undo the Indian designs to stop the river," he told Pakistani expatriates at Tampa, Florida. ALSO READ | Whats brewing between Asim Munir and Donald Trump? Analysts say Pakistan Army Chief is quick to respond His comments were a reference to India's decision to put the Indus Water Treatyan India-Pakistan water-sharing agreementin abeyance after the devastating Pahalgam attack of April 22. Despite Pakistans constant protests, India has so far refused to reverse its decision to suspend the treaty. He also reiterated his earlier inflammatory remark about Kashmir being Pakistans jugular vein", asserting that it was not Indias internal matter but an unresolved international issue". During this time, he again echoed US President Donald Trump's claims of Washington playing a key role in stopping the India-Pakistan conflict in May. New Delhi, however, maintains that the US had no involvement in the dispute, and that the resolution was a bilateral decisiontaken after a request from Islamabad. In yet another concerning comment, Munir stated that Pakistan was a nuclear nation and if it went down, it would take half the world down with us". ALSO READ | Arrested Bengaluru woman had urged Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir to invade India "The Indians should accept their losses ... Sportsman spirit is a virtue," he was heard saying, in an anti-India tirade that also saw him make an analogy about vehicles that was widely ridiculed on social media later on. Munir's comments come a day after Indian Air Force (IAF) Chief Air Marshal A.P. Singh's announcement regarding Operation Sindoor, in which the latter claimed that six Pakistani aircraft had been downed during the operationand the 88-hour hostilities that followed. Munir had earlier attended the retirement ceremony of US Central Command (CENTCOM) chief General Michael E. Kurilla in Tampa, as well as the investiture ceremony for General Kurilla's successor Admiral Brad Cooper. Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir has issued another reckless statement in the US, wherein he threatened to blow up any dam India builds in the Indus River. Munirs statements come soon after the Indian Air Force chief said India downed six Pakistani jets during the Operation Sindhoor, much to the embarrassment of the Pakistani Air Force. Munir, on his second visit to the US, said to a crowd of Pakistani expatriates: We will wait for India to build a dam, and when they do so, we will destroy it, he told members of the Pakistani-American community in Tampa, Florida. The Indus River is not the Indians family property. We have no shortage of resources to undo the Indian designs to stop the river. He was referring to Indias decision to put the Indus Waters Treaty, an agreement brokered by the World Bank, in the Indus River and its tributaries, after the Pahalgam attack. Despite Pakistans constant protests, India had refused to budge from its decision to suspend the treaty. Munir also made another startling comment, stating Pakistan was a nuclear nation and if it went down, it would take half the world down with us." He also went on to devote a substantial part of his speech to an anti-India tirade. "The Indians should accept their losses...Sportsman spirit is a virtue," said Asim Munir, who didnt make any mention about Pakistani losses, including the attack on Rawalpindis Nur Khan air base. However, Munir also inadvertently admitted his countrys current situation, calling it a dump truck. "India is shining, a Mercedes coming on a highway like a Ferrari, but we are a dump truck full of gravel. If the truck hits the car, who is going to be the loser?" he said, much to the amusement of the cyber world. He then went on to claim that overseas Pakistanis were not brain drain but brain gain, hailing their commitment to the homeland. Ironically, statistics reveal that more Pakistanis are looking to flee the country, driven by economic hardship and a lack of opportunities. Data published by the International Organisation for Migration last November claimed that 40 per cent of the Pakistanis wished to flee their country. But Asim Munir, in his speech, urged Pakistanis to remain confident in Pakistans bright future and actively attract investment. He claimed social media, while powerful, was often exploited by anti-state actors to spread manufactured chaos. Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay died on Monday after a protracted stay in the hospital following a shot to the head in June, his family declared on Monday. Uribe (39) was a presidential hopeful from the Colombia's right-wing Democratic Center party, founded by former president Alvaro Uribe. The two men are not related. ALSO READ | Who is Miguel Uribe Turbay? Colombian senator shot in Bogota is son of journalist killed by Pablo Escobar's Medellin Cartel 34 years ago He was shot three times (twice in the head) in Bogota during a campaign rally on June 7, and has been hospitalised since, a Reuters report said. "I ask God to show me the way to learn to live without you," his wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, wrote in an Instagram post. In July, the Colombian police announced that they had arrested five suspects in the case. This included a 15-year-old alleged shooter, as well as the alleged mastermind behind the conspiracy, Elder Jose Arteaga Hernandez. Police statements in July said that Uribe had persuaded the teenager to carry out the attack. Uribe, a sharp critic of left-wing President Gustavo Petro, had announced his candidacy for Colombia's 2026 presidential elections, last October. At just 25, he was elected to Bogota's city council, where took a vocal stance against Petrowho was then the capital city's mayorcriticising the latter's handling of waste management and social programs. In the 2022 legislative elections, Uribe led the Senate slate for the Democratic Center party with the slogan "Colombia First", winning a seat in the chamber, the Reuters report added. Colombia has not seen high-profile assassination attempts since the era of drug lord and narcoterrorist Pablo Escobar, and his Medellin Cartel in the early 1990s. In fact, Uribe's mother Diana Turbay, a journalist, was even killed in 1991 during a rescue operation after she was kidnapped by Escobar's cartel, a BBC News report said. His father was a union leader and businessman. Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC) acknowledged Saturday that President Donald Trumps sweeping new tariffs are driving up prices but insisted the short-term pain is worth it. Appearing on Fox Report With Jon Scott, Norman, who recently launched his campaign for South Carolina governor, was pressed on a Fox News poll showing Trumps economic approval rating at 55 percent. I think a lot of people are seeing higher prices, Norman acknowledged. Our familys in the construction business, and we get a lot of our timber from Canada and other countries. Yes, its higher. Steel prices are up, but its for the good of the country. Norman said Americans should expect high prices for a short time, arguing that Trumps trade policies are necessary to reset the economic playing field. We couldnt keep going the way we were going Thats why this president is doing such a good job, he said. Trumps tariffs which took effect Thursday after months of delays and back-room negotiations impose a baseline 10% duty on most imports, pushing the overall effective tariff rate above 17%. The stance is a notable shift for Norman, who pointedly declined to endorse Trump in 2024, instead backing former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. But since announcing his gubernatorial bid in late July, Norman has praised Trumps record, even declaring that the presidents actions in Iran would place him in the annals of the greatest presidents we have ever had. Your browser does not support the video tag. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) 4:05AM UPDATE: Bechasdei Hashem, 19-year-old Esther Tovshteyn has been found by Catskills Hatzolah in good condition. 3:15AM UPDATE: Dozens of Catskills Hatzolah volunteers, along with members of Catskills Chaverim who were called in by Hatzolah, are continuing the search for 19-year-old Esther Tovshteyn. She was last seen around 2:00 PM Sunday at 29 Camp Road in Ellenville. Search efforts remain ongoing through the night. Please say Tehillim for Esther Baila bas Yehudis Chana. ORIGINAL ARTICLE: A large-scale search is underway in the Catskills for 19-year-old Esther Tovshteyn, who was last seen Sunday afternoon in the area of 29 Camp Road. Authorities say Tovshteyn was last spotted around 2:00 p.m. before disappearing under unclear circumstances. Catskills Hatzolah has joined forces with the New York State Police in an urgent effort to locate her, deploying search teams on foot and by vehicle throughout the surrounding area. Officials have not yet released a description of what Tovshteyn was wearing at the time she went missing, but are urging anyone with information to contact law enforcement immediately. This is a developing story. Updates will follow as more information becomes available. THIS STORY WAS FIRST PUBLISHED ON THE CATSKILLS SCOOP STATUS AND GROUPS SIGN UP NOW TO NEVER MISS A STORY IN LIVE TIME 24 HOURS A DAY! CLICK HERE TO JOIN CATSKILL SCOOP STATUS CLICK HERE TO JOIN CATSKILL SCOOP GROUPS (YWN World Headquarters NYC) A Colombian senator and presidential hopeful whose shooting at a political rally in June recalled some of the darkest chapters of the countrys drug-fueled violence died Monday. The family of Miguel Uribe Turbay said the politician died at a hospital in the capital, Bogota, more than two months after the attack. Uribe, 39, was shot three times, twice in the head, while giving a campaign speech in a park and had remained in an intensive care unit in serious condition with episodes of slight improvement. Rest in peace, love of my life. I will take care of our children, his wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, wrote in a social media post confirming his death. I ask God to show me the way to learn to live without you. A teenage suspect was arrested at the scene of the June 7 attack in a working-class Bogota neighborhood and authorities have since detained several other people. But it is still unclear who ordered the assassination or why. The shooting, which was caught on multiple videos, alarmed Colombians who have not seen this kind of political violence against presidential candidates since Medellin drug lord Pablo Escobar declared war on the state in the 1990s. Uribes own mother, well-known journalist, Diana Turbay, was among the victims of that period when she died during a police rescue after being kidnapped by a group of drug traffickers led by Escobar seeking to block their extradition to the United States. If my mother was willing to give her life for a cause, how could I not do the same in life and in politics? Uribe, who was just 5 when his mother was killed, said in an interview last year with a Colombian news outlet. Uribe, a lawyer with a masters degree in public administration from Harvard University, entered politics as a councilman for Bogota when he was 26. In 2022, he was the biggest vote-getter in the conservative Democratic Center party led by former President Alvaro Uribe. Evil destroys everything, the ex-president, who is not related to the senator, said on social media. They have killed hope. May Miguels struggle be a light that illuminates Colombias path. Authorities have floated several hypotheses about what led to the attack, while allies of the candidate have complained that the government ignored repeated requests to reinforce his state-provided security detail. In the immediate aftermath of the attack, tens of thousands poured into the streets dressed in white and waving the Colombian flag to reject the violence. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was among the politicians who lamented the senators death. The United States stands in solidarity with his family, the Colombian people, both in mourning and demanding justice for those responsible, he posted on X. (AP) The deputy head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog will visit Iran in a bid to rekindle soured ties, the Islamic Republics foreign minister said Sunday. There will be no inspection of Irans nuclear facilities during the visit by the International Atomic Energy Agency scheduled for Monday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said. The visit would be the first following Israel and Irans 12-day war in June, when some of its key nuclear facilities were struck. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on July 3 ordered the country to suspend its cooperation with the IAEA, after American and Israeli airstrikes hit its most-important nuclear facilities. The decision will likely further limit inspectors ability to track Tehrans program that had been enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels. As long as we havent reached a new framework for cooperation, there will be no cooperation, and the new framework will definitely be based on the law passed by the Parliament, Araghchi said. State media last week quoted Aragchi as saying during a television program that Tehran would only allow for IAEA cooperation through the approval of the Supreme National Security Council, the countrys highest security body. Iran has had limited IAEA inspections in the past as a pressure tactic in negotiating with the West, and it is unclear how soon talks between Tehran and Washington for a deal over its nuclear program will resume. U.S. intelligence agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency had assessed Iran last had an organized nuclear weapons program in 2003, though Tehran had been enriching uranium up to 60% a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. The U.S. bombed three major Iranian nuclear sites in Iran in June as Israel waged an air war with Iran. Nearly 1,100 people were killed in Iran, including many military commanders and nuclear scientists, while 28 were killed in Israel. (AP) South Koreas military said Saturday it detected North Korea removing some of its loudspeakers from the inter-Korean border, days after the South dismantled its own front-line speakers used for anti-North Korean propaganda broadcasts, in a bid to ease tensions. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff didnt disclose the sites where the North Koreans were removing speakers and said it wasnt immediately clear whether the North would take all of them down. In recent months, South Korean border residents have complained that North Korean speakers blasted irritating sounds, including howling animals and pounding gongs, in a tit-for-tat response to South Korean propaganda broadcasts. The South Korean military said the North stopped its broadcasts in June after Seouls new liberal president, Lee Jae Myung, halted the Souths broadcasts in his governments first concrete step toward easing tensions between the war-divided rivals. South Koreas military began removing its speakers from border areas on Monday but didnt specify how they would be stored or whether they could be quickly redeployed if tensions flared again. North Korea, which is extremely sensitive to any outside criticism of its authoritarian leadership and its third-generation ruler, Kim Jong Un, didnt immediately confirm it was taking down its speakers. 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. 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. (AP) Key Points An Israeli news site reports ZIM may be taken private. CEO Eli Glickman may assist in making a $20-a-share offer for the Israeli shipping company. Shipping magnate Rami Unger may then merge ZIM into another shipping company he owns. 10 stocks we like better than Zim Integrated Shipping Services Stock of ZIM Integrated Shipping Services (NYSE: ZIM), an Israeli shipping company, soared 16% through 9:40 a.m. ET Monday after Israeli local news site Calcalist reported CEO Eli Glickman is partnering with shipping magnate Rami Unger to buy all of the company's shares. The end goal: to take ZIM private and merge it with one of Unger's other companies. Image source: Getty Images. ZIM going private? The article is in Hebrew, but unofficial translations on X indicate there's an offer on the table to buy up ZIM shares for $20 each -- a significant premium to the stock's $15.50 closing price Friday. At $20 per share, a take-private transaction would value ZIM stock at roughly $2.4 billion total. The X translations of the Calcalist story report that Unger intends to buy ZIM first, then take it private, then merge it with his company Ray Shipping in a cash-and-stock deal, potentially bringing in Greek investors to accomplish the deal. According to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, Ray Shipping is a private company based in London. Is ZIM stock a buy? Is the news true? For now it may not matter; investors are rushing to buy ZIM stock in the hope that it's worth nearly 30% more than what it cost as recently as Friday. In the longer term, however, investors need to weigh the risk that the news may not be true, or that the acquisition deal could fall through, leaving them stuck with ZIM stock and no buyout offer. That wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing, though. ZIM stock costs only $2.2 billion, even after today's price spike. And over the last 12 months it earned $2.4 billion. Should you buy stock in Zim Integrated Shipping Services right now? Before you buy stock in Zim Integrated Shipping Services, 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 Zim Integrated Shipping Services 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 $653,427!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,119,863!* Police have arrested a suspect in connection with a shocking antisemitic attack that took place this past Friday in a park in Montreal, Canada, in which a 32-year-old Jewish man was brutally assaulted in front of his two young children. Video of the incident shows the attacker punching and kicking the victim as his daughter screams in terror. The victim sustained injuries that police described as non-life-threatening. Authorities announced the arrest on Monday, saying the suspect, a 24-year-old male, was taken into custody without incident. No further details about the suspects identity have been released pending formal charges. Police have not yet confirmed whether the attack will be prosecuted as a hate crime. Your browser does not support the video tag. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) The IDF said Sunday night that it carried out an airstrike in Gaza City that killed Anas al-Sharif, a prominent Al Jazeera reporter, describing him as a Hamas terrorist operating under the guise of a journalist. In a statement, the military said al-Sharif served as a cell leader within Hamas, advancing plans for rocket fire against Israeli civilians and IDF troops. The IDF claimed he was a member of Hamass elite Nukhba Force in the East Jabalia Battalion and previously led a rocket-launching squad. According to the IDF, documents seized in Gaza and released in October unequivocally confirm al-Sharifs military affiliation with Hamas. These documents serve as proof of the terrorists integration into the Qatari Al Jazeera media network, the statement said. Al Jazeera has denied Israels allegations, accusing the IDF of a systematic campaign to target its employees in Gaza. The network confirmed al-Sharifs death alongside fellow journalist Mohammed Qreiqeh and videographers Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal, saying the strike hit a tent near Shifa Hospital. The IDF said it used precision munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence to minimize civilian casualties. Moments before his death, al-Sharif posted video footage of Israeli strikes on social media, writing on X: Relentless bombing For two hours, the Israeli aggression on Gaza City has intensified. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said Sunday night that Israels recent military campaign against Iran significantly damaged Tehrans nuclear program, delaying its progress by years and averting an imminent nuclear threat. Speaking at the conclusion of his second extended press conference of the evening, Netanyahu asserted that before the June conflict, Iran was just months away from acquiring nuclear weapons or completing key nuclear facilities. We have inflicted very significant damage, setting them back by years, he said. One can debate how many years, but this has been pushed back. Comparing Irans nuclear ambitions to a life-threatening illness, Netanyahu said, This is like a person who removes cancer from his body but when you remove cancer from your body, there can be metastases. It can come back. Only we knew that if we did not remove this cancer, we would die. And so we removed it. He warned that Iran will attempt to rebuild its program and stressed the need for constant vigilance. We are prepared for any scenario. The Iranians are also preparing for various scenarios which I will not detail here. Earlier in the press conference, Netanyahu accused unnamed parties of trying to downplay Israels achievements in the war, a remark likely aimed at recent reports citing U.S. intelligence assessments that Irans nuclear program had only been delayed by months, not years. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Australia will recognize a Palestinian state, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday, joining the leaders of France, Britain and Canada in signaling they would do so. His remarks followed weeks of urging from within his Cabinet and from many in Australia to recognize a Palestinian state and amid growing criticism from officials in his government over Israels war in Gaza, which Albanese on Monday referred to as a humanitarian catastrophe. Australias government has also criticized plans announced in recent days by Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu for a sweeping new military offensive in Gaza. Albanese told reporters after a Cabinet meeting Monday that Australias decision to recognize a Palestinian state will be formalized at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The acknowledgement was predicated on commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority, Albanese said. Those commitments included no role for Hamas in a Palestinian government, demilitarization of Gaza and the holding of elections, he said. A two-state solution is humanitys best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza, Albanese said. The situation in Gaza has gone beyond the worlds worst fears, he said. The Israeli government continues to defy international law and deny sufficient aid, food and water to desperate people, including children. Ahead of Albaneses announcement, Netanyahu on Sunday criticized Australia and other European countries that have moved to recognize a Palestinian state. To have European countries and Australia march into that rabbit hole this canard, is disappointing and I think its actually shameful, the Israeli leader said. Australia has designated Hamas a terrorist entity and Albanese repeated Monday his governments calls for the group to return Israeli hostages held since Oct. 7, 2023. The Australian leader last week spoke to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose authority administers parts of the West Bank, supports a two-state solution and cooperates with Israel on security matters. Abbas has agreed to conditions with Western leaders, including Albanese, as they prepared to recognize a Palestinian state. This is an opportunity to deliver self-determination for the people of Palestine in a way isolates Hamas, disarms it and drives it out of the region once and for all, Albanese said. He added that Hamas did not support a two-state solution. Nearly 150 of the 193 members of the United Nations have already recognized Palestinian statehood, most of them decades ago. The United States and other Western powers have held off, saying Palestinian statehood should be part of a final agreement resolving the decades-old Middle East conflict. Recognition announcements are largely symbolic and are rejected by Israel. A two-state solution would see a state of Palestine created alongside Israel in most or all of the West Bank, the war-ravaged Gaza Strip and annexed east Jerusalem, territories Israel seized in the 1967 Mideast war that the Palestinians want for their state. Albanese dismissed suggestions Monday that the move was solely symbolic. This is a practical contribution towards building momentum, he said. This is not Australia acting alone. Albanese had discussed Australias decision with the leaders of Britain, France, New Zealand and Japan, he said. He also had a long discussion with Netanyahu this month, he added. In neighboring New Zealand, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Monday his government will carefully weigh up its position on recognizing a Palestinian state before making a formal decision in September. New Zealand has been clear for some time that our recognition of a Palestinian state is a matter of when, not if, Peters said in a statement. (AP) The heatwave that engulfed Israel over the weekend intensified this week, with meteorologists saying that the temperatures this week may be the highest in over 80 years. The weeks forecast in Jerusalem is 101F (38.3C) on Monday, 102F (38.9C) on Tuesday, 104F (40C) on Wednesday, and 103F (39.4C) on Thursday. Extreme heat stress is expected throughout the country, with the most extreme heat loads expected in the mountains and eastern areas. The forecast for the valleys surrounding the Kinneret and the Jordan Valley are expected to be the highest since 1942, with temperatures near the Kinneret expected to reach 118120F (47.848.9C) and the temperatures in the Jordan Valley expected to reach 122124F (5051.1C). In addition to the heavy heat, Israels Health and Environmental Protection Ministries on Monday issued a warning about extremely high air pollution levels in Jerusalem, Yehudah and Shomron, and the Jordan Valley. According to the ministries, the cause of the hazardous pollution levels is increased cloud cover over Jordan, which created powerful winds that blew the dust from the east into Israel. The video below was taken in Maaleh Adumim, near Jerusalem: Your browser does not support the video tag. The Health Ministry recommends that vulnerable populations, including patients with heart, blood vessel, or respiratory diseases, the elderly, pregnant women, and children, avoid strenuous physical activity outdoors. The general population is also advised to minimize strenuous activity outdoors until air quality improves. (YWN Israel DeskJerusalem) Employees of the Western Wall Heritage Foundation were shocked to discover politically motivated graffiti on the stones of the southern section of the Kosel in the early hours of Monday morning. The words Theres a Holocaust in Gazataken straight from the playbook of the most vicious anti-Israel actorswere spray-painted across the stones. Kosel Rav HaRav Shmuel Rabinovitch expressed great tzaar over the desecration of the kedushah of the Kosel, stating, A holy place is not a place to express protests of any kind, and all the more so at the holiest place for the entire Jewish people. The police must investigate the incident, locate the criminals who desecrated the holy site, and bring them to justice. In the past, a similar incident occurred on the northern side of the Kosel, and extensive halachic discussions were held regarding the appropriate method to remove the writing from the Kosel stones. In this case as well, HaRav Rabinovitch will instruct the professional authorities on how to remove the writing in a way that does not harm the kedushah of the Kosel. Shortly after the incident was reported, the police announced that Jerusalem District police officers arrested a suspect, a Jewish resident of the capital in his 20s, after security guards spotted him near the southern section of the Kosel early Monday morning. He was transferred for questioning, during which it was revealed that he had sprayed a similar slogan on the wall of the Great Synagogue in central Jerusalem overnight Sunday. According to the police, the suspect confessed to the acts and apologized. He will be brought before a court for a hearing later on Monday, where the police will request an extension of his detention. (YWN Israel DeskJerusalem) Six Lebanese soldiers were killed earlier this week in an explosion at a Hezbollah site near the Israeli border, the Lebanese army announced. On August 7, the Lebanese government announced that its cabinet has approved a US-backed proposal for disarming Hezbollah and other armed terror groups and set a deadline of the end of 2025 to complete the process. The soldiers were killed during an attempt to clear weapons from a Hezbollah facility. The US has been applying increasingly heavy pressure on the Lebanese government in the past year to disarm Hezbollah, and the Lebanese government finally made a decision to carry it out. However, Hezbollah has fervently rejected the move, vowing to die rather than disarm. Most of Lebanons Shiite community remain faithful to Hezbollah, partially due to ideology but mainly due to their financial dependence on the terror group, which continues to be funded by Iran. Shiites make up about 40% of Lebanons population. In fact, a senior Iranian security official, Ali Larijani, is traveling to Lebanon this week for consultations with the government. His visit comes after Tehran expressed strong opposition to Lebanons plan to disarm its proxy Hezbollah. Hezbollah is also determined to remain armed due to fear of retaliatory attacks from Sunnis and Christians, a perception bolstered by the recent clashes between sectors in Syria that ended in a massacre in the Druze town of Sweida. (YWN Israel DeskJerusalem) While Israel works to defeat Hamas, a Yisrael Hayom report on Monday revealed that Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and senior Justice Ministry officials are preventing the Defense Ministrys Immigration Administration from advancing a voluntary emigration program for residents of the Gaza Strip. Since negotiations for a deal collapsed, Israel has intensified operations in the Gaza Strip. However, efforts to promote the voluntary emigration of Gazans to third countries have stalled. This initiativeseen by Israel as a potentially decisive measure that could also pressure Hamasis facing internal resistance. Sources familiar with the details revealed that the Attorney General is preventing the Voluntary Immigration Administration from establishing a website that would provide Gazans with information on emigrating abroad. According to the report, Israeli judicial officials are also creating many obstacles to the voluntary immigration of Gazans. The Administration, led by Maj. Gen. (Res.) Kobi Blitstein, is intended to assist Gazans who wish to leave the Strip. However, its work has been repeatedly stalled due to legal challenges by Israeli judicial authorities. According to these sources, the Attorney General sees the possibility of emigration from the Gaza Strip as an action that is contrary to international law and has expressed this in several meetings with the political echelon. Due to her stance, Baharav-Miara is significantly curtailing the governments actions on the issue and the activities of the Immigration Administration. The sources noted that the right to emigrate is recognized in international law as a basic human right, and there are many judicial experts who support the policy that the Israeli government and US President Donald Trump are promoting. Lawyers and public activists for Gazan civilians have repeatedly applied in recent months for assistance in leaving the Strip and have expressed surprise that Israel declares its desire to encourage voluntary immigration but does not allow communication with government officials for assistance and has not even established an informational website. The report also states that Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is personally engaged in the matter, holding weekly consultations to move the plan forward. Netanyahu has repeatedly asserted that immigration is a basic democratic right and not a forced transfer. Meanwhile, four left-wing organizations have petitioned Baharav-Miara and Military Advocate General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi against the program, claiming that voluntary emigration from Gaza is effectively the deportation of a civilian populationa war crime and a crime against humanity. A Justice Ministry spokesperson claimed that the information in the report is false. (YWN Israel DeskJerusalem) Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Sunday sidestepped questions from reporters about partial hostage deals, but newly disclosed remarks from last weeks Cabinet meeting reveal deep divisions over Israels negotiating stance and the risks of rejecting incremental agreements. According to accounts from the closed-door session, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer told ministers that Washingtons position, as conveyed by U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff to hostage families, was clear: all or nothing. Dermer said he backed that approach, arguing a comprehensive deal for all 50 hostages, alive and dead, was preferable and warning there was no time to pursue smaller agreements. We dont have all the time in the world not from [President Donald] Trumps perspective either, Dermer said. If the talks go on for a long time, we cant afford a partial deal. By the end of a 60-day pause, we may not have the credit to resume fighting. Netanyahu pressed him: So you mean if Hamas offers a partial deal, we refuse? Dermer replied, If such an offer comes, well see. National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi took a sharply different line, telling ministers there was still a chance to rescue at least 10 living hostages under an initial framework, and another 10 in a follow-on agreement. In his view, a rigid all or nothing demand would push Hamas toward nothing. Its clear to me that to achieve this, we need an operational lever, he added, backing the IDF chief of staffs plan to encircle all remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza. Hours after Netanyahu publicly ordered the military to expedite the capture of Gaza City, Hamas sources told Ynet a senior delegation would meet Egyptian intelligence officials on Monday to discuss Israels threats of a major offensive, the stalled hostage talks, and the fallout from Witkoffs recent meeting with Qatars prime minister in Ibiza. Arab media on Monday reported renewed mediation efforts. Lebanons Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Akhbar said Cairo is preparing to host Hamas leadership as part of efforts led by Cairo and Doha to resume negotiations before the launch of a new military operation. Qatars Al Araby channel reported that the delegation will be headed by senior Hamas figure Khalil al-Hayya. Egyptian and Qatari officials are reportedly working on an alternative vision potentially a compromise between full and partial deals that could include a 60-day or longer ceasefire backed by U.S. and international guarantees. Meanwhile, Al-Akhbar claimed the Trump administration floated a plan to relocate about one million Gazans to Libya, a proposal Libya publicly rejected but which Cairo fears could gain traction under U.S. pressure. Netanyahu told Israeli media that victory would come through sophisticated methods that will surprise Hamas, and later spoke with Trump. The Prime Ministers Office said the two discussed plans to seize Hamas strongholds to end the war by freeing the hostages and defeating the terror organization. While Netanyahu declared Hamas demands including the release of Nukhba commandos, guarantees against resumed fighting, and an Israeli pullout from the Philadelphi Corridor surrender terms no government could accept, some mediators said the gaps between the sides were small and bridgeable. Several officials accused Israel of breaking off negotiations prematurely. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Townsquare Capital LLC lifted its position in shares of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Free Report) by 35.7% in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 15,096 shares of the insurance providers stock after buying an additional 3,969 shares during the period. Townsquare Capital LLCs holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $3,992,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bearing Point Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Travelers Companies by 2.0% in the 1st quarter. Bearing Point Capital LLC now owns 1,973 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $522,000 after acquiring an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Forum Financial Management LP lifted its stake in Travelers Companies by 0.9% during the first quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 4,428 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,171,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares in the last quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd lifted its stake in Travelers Companies by 13.9% during the first quarter. Y.D. More Investments Ltd now owns 319 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $84,000 after purchasing an additional 39 shares in the last quarter. Smith Salley Wealth Management boosted its position in shares of Travelers Companies by 0.6% during the first quarter. Smith Salley Wealth Management now owns 7,321 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,936,000 after buying an additional 44 shares during the period. Finally, Northern Financial Advisors Inc grew its stake in shares of Travelers Companies by 0.7% in the first quarter. Northern Financial Advisors Inc now owns 6,576 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,739,000 after buying an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. 82.45% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Travelers Companies alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Travelers Companies In other Travelers Companies news, insider Avrohom J. Kess sold 23,434 shares of Travelers Companies stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $273.93, for a total transaction of $6,419,275.62. Following the transaction, the insider owned 48,387 shares of the companys stock, valued at $13,254,650.91. The trade was a 32.63% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, Vice Chairman William H. Heyman sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $274.50, for a total value of $549,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 255,086 shares of the companys stock, valued at $70,021,107. The trade was a 0.78% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 175,374 shares of company stock valued at $47,929,912. 1.46% of the stock is owned by insiders. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Evercore ISI increased their target price on Travelers Companies from $288.00 to $296.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Morgan Stanley set a $269.00 price objective on shares of Travelers Companies and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, May 19th. Citigroup restated a market perform rating on shares of Travelers Companies in a report on Monday, July 21st. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Travelers Companies from $264.00 to $275.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, July 18th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price target on shares of Travelers Companies from $275.00 to $284.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, July 21st. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eleven have assigned a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Travelers Companies presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $282.69. View Our Latest Stock Report on Travelers Companies Travelers Companies Price Performance TRV stock opened at $265.00 on Monday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $263.16 and a 200 day moving average price of $258.78. The company has a quick ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27. The stock has a market cap of $59.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.72, a PEG ratio of 3.07 and a beta of 0.51. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $208.63 and a fifty-two week high of $277.83. Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 17th. The insurance provider reported $6.51 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.52 by $2.99. Travelers Companies had a net margin of 10.97% and a return on equity of 18.68%. The business had revenue of $11.54 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.02 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.51 EPS. The companys revenue was up 7.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 17.02 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Travelers Companies Dividend Announcement The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 10th will be issued a dividend of $1.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, September 10th. This represents a $4.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.7%. Travelers Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 19.46%. Travelers Companies Profile (Free Report) The Travelers Companies, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TRV? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for Travelers Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Travelers Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. To support its grand ambitions of spearheading global adoption of silicon carbide, Wolfspeed has invested heavily to add manufacturing capacity. In upstate New York's Mohawk Valley, the company spent more than $1 billion to build what it calls the world's largest 200-millimeter silicon carbide fabrication facility. The diameter of the wafer -- the base material for a microchip -- is the essential metric in semiconductor manufacturing. A 200-millimeter wafer allows for more chips per wafer than a 150-millimeter wafer, which makes it more cost-effective. Wolfspeed markets itself as a pioneer in silicon carbide and creator of "the most advanced semiconductor technology on earth." As a base material for semiconductors, silicon carbide offers several advantages over traditional silicon, including higher efficiency, longer lifespan, and a more compact form factor. Those characteristics make it ideal for use in electric vehicles (EVs), battery storage, renewable energy, and data centers, among other applications with high power requirements. In March 2021, Cree sold its LED business, with the goal of creating a "pure-play global semiconductor powerhouse." When Cree rebranded as Wolfspeed on Oct. 4, 2021, the company boasted of a device pipeline worth more than $15 billion and a name that conveys the speed and "noble traits of the wolf." Wolfspeed designs and manufactures next-generation semiconductor devices. If you're not familiar with Wolfspeed, you might have heard of Cree, which is known for its LED lighting products. Wolfspeed started out as a division of Cree. Wolfspeed management insists that the business has massive potential. With the right turnaround plan, could it be the next Carvana? Those are clear signs of a business in deep distress. Still, some speculative investors are drawn to beaten-down stocks like Wolfspeed, hoping for a dramatic turnaround. With meme stocks back in the spotlight, many are hunting for the next Carvana -- which soared 9,400% since the stock bottomed out in late 2022. Shares of Wolfspeed (NYSE: WOLF) are down 98% since the company began trading under the WOLF ticker in 2021. The company is working with creditors to restructure its massive debt through the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process. The company has invested billions of dollars in next-gen chip manufacturing, betting big on demand from EVs and AI data centers. Story Continues In North Carolina, Wolfspeed built a $5 billion manufacturing facility to produce 200-millimeter silicon carbide wafers, which will supply the Mohawk Valley fab. To help offset the costs of its expansion, Wolfspeed was set to receive $750 million in CHIPS Act funding, which the Department of Commerce awarded last October. However, it's unclear when -- or if -- President Donald Trump's administration will release the funds. Wolfspeed's infrastructure investments are a big bet on electric vehicles, which are expected to drive most of the near-term demand for silicon carbide chips. But a recent slowdown in EV adoption has been a major headwind for the company. Over the past nine months ending March 30, Wolfspeed's net revenue declined 8% to $560.6 million, compared to the year-ago period. Wolfspeed's net cost of revenue rose 24% during that same timeframe. Factory start-up costs doubled to $66 million, and its net loss widened 36% to $940 million. As of Wolfspeed's third quarter of fiscal year 2025, which ended March 30, the company was sitting on nearly $3.5 billion in long-term debt and $6.7 billion in total long-term liabilities. C-suite shakeups and capital restructuring As I alluded to earlier, Wolfspeed is taking steps to shore up its balance sheet and recalibrate for the future. The company recently struck a deal with vendors that will cut its overall debt by $4.6 billion and reduce its annual cash interest payments by 60%. Wolfspeed has also reduced its workforce and closed factories that produce smaller wafers. By focusing on larger 200-millimeter wafers, the company believes it will be more competitive in its target markets. C-suite shakeups are common when businesses struggle. Since March, Wolfspeed has appointed a new CEO, CFO, COO, and vice president of automotive. When Wolfspeed appointed industry veteran Robert Feurle as CEO in March, he expressed optimism that the company would be able to "refresh the operating plan, improve financial performance and accelerate our path to positive free cash flow." Does any of this make Wolfspeed a buy now? Not for most investors. Even if you believe in Wolfspeed's long-term potential, the current shares will become worthless under the company's restructuring plan. Instead of keeping your full investment, you'll only get 3% to 5% of the new company that emerges after the restructuring. This is a common outcome in Chapter 11 reorganizations. The company has said it expects to conclude bankruptcy proceedings in the next month or two. Unless you're betting on a miraculous turnaround between now and then, it's better to wait until after Wolfspeed completes its restructuring to consider starting a position. Should you invest $1,000 in Wolfspeed right now? Before you buy stock in Wolfspeed, 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 Wolfspeed 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 $653,427!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, youd have $1,119,863!* Now, its worth noting Stock Advisors total average return is 1,060% a market-crushing outperformance compared to 182% for the S&P 500. Dont miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join Stock Advisor. See the 10 stocks *Stock Advisor returns as of August 4, 2025 Josh Cable has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Wolfspeed. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Is Wolfspeed a Buy? was originally published by The Motley Fool Virtu Financial LLC bought a new stake in Unum Group (NYSE:UNM Free Report) in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 16,392 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $1,335,000. Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. N.E.W. Advisory Services LLC acquired a new position in Unum Group during the first quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its stake in shares of Unum Group by 196.9% during the 1st quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 478 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 317 shares in the last quarter. Rossby Financial LCC bought a new position in shares of Unum Group in the first quarter valued at $46,000. Wayfinding Financial LLC acquired a new position in Unum Group during the first quarter worth $49,000. Finally, Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. raised its position in Unum Group by 1,289.7% during the first quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 806 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $66,000 after acquiring an additional 748 shares in the last quarter. 86.57% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Unum Group alerts: Unum Group Stock Performance NYSE UNM opened at $69.40 on Monday. Unum Group has a 12-month low of $52.65 and a 12-month high of $84.48. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $78.57 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $78.34. The company has a market capitalization of $11.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.30, a P/E/G ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 0.40. The company has a quick ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 0.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31. Unum Group Increases Dividend Unum Group ( NYSE:UNM Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 29th. The financial services provider reported $2.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.23 by ($0.16). The company had revenue of $3.36 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.35 billion. Unum Group had a return on equity of 13.44% and a net margin of 11.77%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.16 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Unum Group will post 9.14 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 Friday, July 25th will be paid a dividend of $0.46 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, July 25th. This is a positive change from Unum Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.42. This represents a $1.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.7%. Unum Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 22.01%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of research analysts have recently commented on UNM shares. Piper Sandler lifted their price objective on shares of Unum Group from $88.00 to $92.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, July 3rd. Evercore ISI lowered their price target on Unum Group from $100.00 to $96.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Unum Group from $105.00 to $100.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 30th. UBS Group set a $87.00 price target on Unum Group and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 30th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Unum Group from $83.00 to $85.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, July 14th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $91.62. Read Our Latest Stock Report on Unum Group About Unum Group (Free Report) Unum Group, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial protection benefit solutions primarily in the United States, the United Kingdom, Poland, and internationally. It operates through Unum US, Unum International, Colonial Life, and Closed Block segment. The company offers group long-term and short-term disability, group life, and accidental death and dismemberment products; supplemental and voluntary products, such as individual disability, voluntary benefits, and dental and vision products; and accident, sickness, disability, life, and cancer and critical illness products. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Unum Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Unum Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Linscomb Wealth Inc. lifted its position in shares of General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS Free Report) by 3.7% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 119,804 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 4,277 shares during the quarter. Linscomb Wealth Inc.s holdings in General Mills were worth $7,163,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of GIS. Transce3nd LLC acquired a new position in General Mills during the 4th quarter worth about $32,000. Perkins Coie Trust Co lifted its holdings in General Mills by 69.2% during the 1st quarter. Perkins Coie Trust Co now owns 516 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 211 shares during the period. Smallwood Wealth Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in General Mills during the 1st quarter worth about $34,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL lifted its holdings in General Mills by 1,096.0% during the 4th quarter. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL now owns 598 shares of the companys stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 548 shares during the period. Finally, Heck Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in General Mills during the 4th quarter worth about $38,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.71% of the companys stock. Get General Mills alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth GIS has been the topic of several recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company set a $53.00 target price on General Mills and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, June 26th. Barclays cut their target price on General Mills from $60.00 to $54.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, June 26th. UBS Group cut their target price on General Mills from $52.00 to $49.00 and set a sell rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, June 26th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised General Mills from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and cut their target price for the stock from $67.00 to $63.00 in a report on Thursday, June 26th. Finally, Bank of America cut their target price on General Mills from $63.00 to $61.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, June 26th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, General Mills has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $59.73. General Mills Stock Performance Shares of GIS opened at $49.80 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.38, a current ratio of 0.67 and a quick ratio of 0.43. General Mills, Inc. has a one year low of $48.59 and a one year high of $75.90. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $51.81 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $55.87. The firm has a market capitalization of $27.01 billion, a PE ratio of 12.15, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.25 and a beta of -0.01. General Mills (NYSE:GIS Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, June 25th. The company reported $0.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.72 by $0.02. General Mills had a net margin of 11.78% and a return on equity of 24.88%. The firm had revenue of $4.56 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.60 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.01 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was down 3.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that General Mills, Inc. will post 4.36 EPS for the current fiscal year. General Mills Increases Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, August 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, July 10th were given a dividend of $0.61 per share. This represents a $2.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.9%. This is an increase from General Millss previous quarterly dividend of $0.60. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, July 10th. General Millss payout ratio is 59.51%. General Mills Company Profile (Free Report) General Mills, Inc manufactures and markets branded consumer foods worldwide. The company operates through four segments: North America Retail; International; Pet; and North America Foodservice. It offers grain, ready-to-eat cereals, refrigerated yogurt, soup, meal kits, refrigerated and frozen dough products, dessert and baking mixes, bakery flour, frozen pizza and pizza snacks, snack bars, fruit and savory snacks, ice cream and frozen desserts, unbaked and fully baked frozen dough products, frozen hot snacks, ethnic meals, side dish mixes, frozen breakfast and entrees, nutrition bars, and frozen and shelf-stable vegetables. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GIS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS Free Report). Receive News & Ratings for General Mills Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Mills and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Blue Canyon Technologies' new satellite might have a role in Golden Dome and other space applications Gardai have arrested a man following an aggravated burglary at a home in Cork city. Taking place in the Lagan Grove area of Mayfield, the incident occurred on Monday, August 11 at approximately 12:40am. Three men entered the house, armed with implements and confronted the occupants before fleeing. Gardai on patrol in the area responded to the incident and a male, aged in his 30s, was arrested at the scene. He is detained pursuant to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a Garda Station in the Cork area. READ MORE: Felt like my world ended: Irish womans shock at learning of mother's death via WhatsApp One of the occupants, a man, also aged in his 30s, was conveyed to Cork University Hospital for treatment of injuries believed to be non-life-threatening at this time. A technical examination of the scene has been conducted by Gardai and they are appealing for anyone with any information regarding this incident to come forward. Any road users or pedestrians who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were in the Lagan Grove area of Mayfield, Cork City between midnight on Sunday, August 10 and 1am on Monday, August 11 are asked to make this footage available to investigating Gardai. Anyone with information is asked to contact Mayfield Garda Station on (021) 455 8510, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station. Investigations are ongoing. An important and tragically historic moment today . . . Here are the basics and coverage we'll be watching . . . Deputy Elijah Ming was shot and killed on July 26 while responding to a domestic violence call in Kansas City, Kansas. Deputy Mings public service will be held at Childrens Mercy Park in The Legends, starting at 11 a.m. There will be a 21-gun salute and a Kansas Highway Patrol helicopter flyover. After, a law enforcement procession will take Deputy Ming on a final ride through the heart of Kansas City before he is buried in a private, family-only service. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . KCTV5: Fallen Deputy Elijah Ming to be laid to rest Monday following public funeral service Some of TKC's most conservative readers have taken note of a recent robbery that sparked fear in the last remaining "upscale" section of Waldo this weekend. Still . . . SHOULD KANSAS CITY TRUST ONLINE CRIME FEAR DESPITE POLICE & POLITICOS TOUTING IMPROVES PUBLIC SAFETY?!?! Sadly, with 100 murder in this town and more local armed robberies . . . Telling people to feel safer is a tough sell. And so . . . A quick work and more reporting for context . . . Check-it: "Pizza Tascio, at Gregory and Wornall, was robbed at gunpoint by two men around 9:30pm. The staff was robbed as well." Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . KSHB: Crime Rates Drop as KCPD Reports Success in Reducing Property Crimes Developing . . . At the conclusion of Sunday we're inspired by angel Candice to take one more peek at local news for night owls, insomniacs and early birds who might want to share another TKC peek at pop culture, community reporting and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . Coping With Local Tragedy Child Protection Center offers tips for grieving Kansas Citians following teen's shooting death Traelynn Sibley, 16, was shot and killed inside a residence Saturday night, according to the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department. Today's Tragic Runaround Driver critically injured after colliding with guardrail on I-29 Kansas City, Missouri, police said a driver is in critical condition after suffering injuries in a collision Sunday afternoon. More Cowtown Cleanup Kansas City Metro sees heavy rains, storm damage Sunday morning Sunday morning storms brought a flood watch and heavy rains to the Kansas City area, and some even saw damage. East Side Burnt Again KCFD investigating cause of 2-story house fire in 5100 block of East 23rd Street The Kansas City, Missouri, Fire Department is investigating the cause of a house fire in the 5100 block of East 23rd Street. Country Music Diva Redux Zach Bryan Vows to 'Never Play in Kansas City' Again amid Online Beef with Chiefs Fans Zach Bryan said he 'will never play in Kansas City' while feuding with Kansas City Chiefs fans. The musician and Philadelphia Eagles fan took aim at Chiefs supporters with a series of X posts on Aug. 8. Angel In Good Company Candice And Joan's Sleek Shades, Kristen Bateman's New Book! From Candice Swanepoel and Joan Smalls' new campaign to Jennifer Lopez's Chanel drama, discover all the chic news to know today. MAGA Deports Hobos Trump demands homeless people 'immediately' move out of Washington DC Trump says homeless people must go "far" from the nation's capital, as part of his anti-crime plan, but the mayor pushes back. Progressive Moment Of Doubt Democratic strategist says party lacks 'moral authority' on Texas redistricting fight Texas redistricting battle intensifies as Republicans push for five new seats and California considers emergency measures to counteract Republican gains. White House Still Haunted Trump news at a glance: Epstein case haunts administration even as Vance blames Democrats for mishandling Vice-president tries to deflect criticism of government's refusal to release so-called Epstein files, triggering renewed calls for transparency - key US politics stories from Sunday 10 August Holy Land News Sacrificed Israeli strike kills multiple journalists in Gaza, including prominent Al Jazeera reporters, network says | CNN An Israeli strike in Gaza City late Sunday night killed six journalists, according to Al-Shifa hospital, including four from Al Jazeera. Allies Share Suggestion European leaders urge for Ukraine to be included in Trump-Putin Alaska peace talks Some European leaders say that Ukraine must be included in any talks with Russia over ending the war. Diplomacy With El Papa Formality and familiarity with a hometown pope Is a lack of formality a lack of respect? Home Team Gives Up Again Twins' Luke Keaschall blasts walk-off in 11th against Royals Luke Keaschall hit a walk-off two-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning to lift the Minnesota Twins to a 5-3 win over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday afternoon in Minneapolis. Grigs Shares Forecast This Week Storms tonight through the overnight hours Potential flooding Monday morning with some heavy rain And this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. Per ushe, there's not a lot of space on this blog for nice news. Nevertheless . . . TKC takes a moment on Sunday to remind constant readers that there are SO MANY PEOPLE IN KANSAS CITY doing self-less work for the community and helping to make this town so much better. And so, we wanted to share and highlight these stories that offer an important vision of so many great people in KCMO. Check TKC news gathering . . . Back-to-school events across Kansas City support families ahead of 2025 school year As the 2025 school year approaches, Kansas City is bustling with activity this weekend, providing families with essential resources such as free backpacks, supplies, and food. 'Stuff the Bus' in Lee's Summit helps local students prepare for school with supplies, snacks Volunteers in Lee's Summit came together Thursday to help fill a school bus with backpacks, snacks and other essential supplies to support students ahead of the new school year. Pakistani doctor gave aid on plane to KC during mid-air medical emergency | Opinion Nausheen Ahmed, a KU blood cancer doctor, helped save a passenger on a flight home from Seattle to Kansas City. From Toriano Porter: Blue Springs nonprofit serves 9,000 meals in first year, far exceeding goal Blue Springs nonprofit Many Parts One Body served 9,000 meals in its first year, far exceeding its goal of 1,000, while building community through service and volunteerism. New center for adults with autism opens in Overland Park The founder of the Autism Resource Center of Kansas City has a 24-year-old son with autism, and he discovered that once his son turned 18, no one really wanted to help. So, six months ago, he start... 'It's life changing': Olathe nonprofit offering free clothes sees more families amid price increases The Angel Clothing Foundation in Olathe is seeing more families shop its free clothing options amid increased prices, and as back-to-school shopping is in full swing, said volunteer Shelley White. Behind the Curtain: How Devon Carney Finds the Next Generation of Kansas City Ballet Dancers - KC Ballet Go behind the scenes with Artistic Director Devon Carney to discover how he finds new dancers for Kansas City Ballet's upcoming season. Clay County launches 'Take Me Home' program to help protect residents with disabilities The Clay County Sheriff's Office has launched a new program aimed at improving emergency responses involving residents with cognitive or communication disabilities. MORE THAN A MILLION: The Gold Key Project's Impact - IN Kansas City Magazine ReeceNichols is thrilled to embark on the fifth year of the Gold Key Project, continuing our commitment to support families with hospitalized children in partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities. The idea is simple. Gold Key agents pledge to cover the cost of a one-night stay for a family at RMHC ($100) for every home... A Neighborhood Hangout: PH Coffee Provides Safe Space for Students in Northeast Kansas City - Northeast News Kendall Williams Creative Assistant PH Coffee sits on the corner of Brooklyn and Lexington Avenues in the heart of Pendleton Heights neighborhood. However, PH Coffee is more than just a neighborhood cafe - it's a community living room, an after-school hideout and a launchpad for student creativity. Developing . . . BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. Greece welcomes the agreements between Armenia and Azerbaijan, deeming them an important step toward putting an end to decades of conflict in the South Caucasus, the publication on the Greek Foreign Ministry's X page said, Trend reports. We commend both sides and the US Administration for making progress towards the normalisation of relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia possible the publication states. On August 8, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the United States Donald Trump, and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint declaration on the meeting between the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia in Washington. On the same day in Washington, as part of the meeting between President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the US Donald Trump, and Prime Nikol Pashinyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan initialled the draft Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia and signed a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office (on the closure of the OSCE Minsk Process, the personal representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on the conflict discussed by the Minsk Conference, and the High-Level Planning Group). BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. Switzerland has called the agreement reached in Washington between Armenia and Azerbaijan an important step towards peace, the Swiss MFA said in a statement on X, Trend reports. Swift implementation of the agreed steps is now key. Switzerland continues to support the normalization process to foster peace and stability in the region, the publication reads. On August 8, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the United States Donald Trump, and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint declaration on the meeting between the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia in Washington. On the same day in Washington, as part of the meeting between President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the US Donald Trump, and Prime Nikol Pashinyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan initialled the draft Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia and signed a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office (on the closure of the OSCE Minsk Process, the personal representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on the conflict discussed by the Minsk Conference, and the High-Level Planning Group). BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. Azerbaijan and Armenia have appealed to the OSCE Secretary General, Feridun H. Sinirlioglu over the dissolution of the Minsk Group, the Azerbaijani MFA told Trend. "Following the Joint Appeal by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Republic of Armenia to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on the closure of OSCEs Minsk Process and related structures (Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on the Conflict Dealt with by the OSCE Minsk Conference and the High-Level Planning Group), today, the draft OSCE Ministerial Council Decision on closure was circulated among the OSCE participating States, where they have been called for the support of necessary procedures with the view of its adoption, the ministry said. El Paso County Commissioners on Tuesday unanimously approved to annex portions of the Park Vista South neighborhood to the city of Colorado Springs as well as allocate over $5 million in federal stimulus money to the area, which officials said has long suffered from dangerous flooding and drainage issues. The neighborhood includes an unincorporated enclave of county property just east of the busy intersection of Academy Boulevard and Austin Bluffs Parkway and encompasses Siferd Boulevard and Date, Rosalie, Lotus and Orchid streets. Because of piecemeal county and city ownership and development of the area, coordinated efforts to service it and manage resident property disputes has been difficult, county engineer Josh Palmer told commissioners. By annexing, maintenance and ownership responsibilities will be transferred to the city and flood mitigation efforts will be streamlined, he said. "We have many enclaves within the county that are a drain and strain on the resources that we have for maintenance and funding," Palmer said. "This has been in discussion for years with the city and we were finally able to come to an agreeable situation." The county also approved allocating $5.5 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to address stormwater and surface drainage issues that Commissioner Cami Bremer, who represents Park Vista South within District 5, said have plagued constituents for years. The county parcels are almost entirely surrounded by single family homes, apartments and townhomes on city land. "(The neighborhood) was built to county rural specifications decades ago, Bremer said, so the drainage that is around there is just not capable of handling the current use that has been allowed in surrounding areas. Featured Local Savings "We're done pointing fingers. That's what this symbolizes to me, she added. According to project documents, the city is expected to match the countys allotment using ARPA and Stormwater Enterprise (SWENT) funds to fund the estimated $11 million project, known as the Templeton Gap Channel Improvement Project. Improvements will include stabilizing a natural channel that runs through the area to increase water quality, prevent further erosion that could damage downstream infrastructure and mitigate creek flow over low water crossings that pose health and safety concerns to travelers, according to the documents. The intergovernmental agreement approved Tuesday outlines that the city will be responsible for executing all engineering, permitting and construction in the area upon annexation as the grant manager. Officials addressed potential resident concern over the county allocating its ARPA funds to parcels being "gifted" to the city, with Palmer noting that those funds must be used for specific project types and would still have to go toward drainage issues elsewhere if not to Park Vista South. Palmer also said that had the county retained the parcels, it may not have been able to fund full improvements on its own. Commissioners said the annexation will also allow the county to save county taxpayers money in the long term as the city is now responsible for maintenance and development. "These properties ... will still be (paying) county property and sales taxes," Commissioner Holly Williams said. "In this transfer, we actually don't lose any money because we'll still be collecting taxes that ... will be able to be used for projects actually within the county, which we desperately need." BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. Azerbaijan and Armenia recognize the borders of the Soviet era, said, the text of the peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan, released today by the Azerbaijani MFA, Trend reports. Having confirmed that the borders between the Soviet socialist republics of the former USSR have become the state borders of the respective independent states and are recognized as such by the international community, the Parties recognize and will respect each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity, inviolability of international borders, and political independence, the peace agreement states. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. Canada welcomes the agreements reached in Washington last week between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Trend reports. "By initialing the peace agreement and both acknowledging Armenia and Azerbaijan's sovereignty and territorial integrity, these countries have taken important steps toward a just and durable peace for the people of this region," said Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anita Anand, in a statement. In the same statement, Canada expressed its gratitude for President Trump's mediation efforts and restated its resolve to see the South Caucasus region prosper and be peacefully resolved in the future. On August 8, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the United States Donald Trump, and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint declaration on the meeting between the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia in Washington. On the same day in Washington, as part of the meeting between President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the US Donald Trump, and Prime Nikol Pashinyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan initialled the draft Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia and signed a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office (on the closure of the OSCE Minsk Process, the personal representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on the conflict discussed by the Minsk Conference, and the High-Level Planning Group). Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. There will be no third-country forces on the border between Azerbaijan and Armenia, said the text of the peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan, released today by the Azerbaijani MFA, Trend reports. "The Parties will not deploy any third-party forces along their common border. Until the completion of the delimitation and subsequent demarcation of their common border, the Parties will implement mutually agreed security and confidence-building measures, including military measures, to ensure security and stability in the border areas," the text of the peace agreement states. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. Baku and Yerevan have renounced their international legal claims against each other, said the text of the peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan, released today by the Azerbaijani MFA, Trend reports. "Without prejudice to Article XIV, the Parties undertake, within one month of the date of entry into force of this Agreement, to withdraw, remove, or otherwise settle all intergovernmental claims, complaints, protests, objections, legal actions, and disputes related to issues that existed between the Parties prior to the signing of this Agreement in all legal instances, as well as not to initiate such claims, complaints, protests, objections, and legal actions, and not to participate in any way in such actions initiated by third parties against the other Party. The Parties will not undertake, encourage, or participate in any way in hostile actions against each other that are contrary to this Agreement in the diplomatic, information, and other spheres, and will hold regular consultations on this issue," the text of the peace agreement states. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. Azerbaijan and Armenia to establish commission to monitor implementation of peace agreement, said the text of the peace agreement between Baku and Yerevan, released today by the Azerbaijani MFA, Trend reports. The parties guarantee full implementation of this Agreement and will establish a bilateral commission to monitor its implementation. The commission will operate based on procedures to be agreed upon by the parties, the text of the peace agreement states. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. The agreement reached during the meeting in Washington on August 8 with the participation of the leaders of Azerbaijan, Armenia and the U.S. marks a landmark step towards long-term peace in the South Caucasus, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a briefing on the outcomes of a government meeting in Ankara on August 11, Trend reports. Turkish President emphasized that a new stage in the regions development began with the liberation of Azerbaijani lands from the long-term Armenian occupation. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also welcomed the lifting of restrictions regarding Azerbaijan. "I conveyed the satisfaction of the Turkish side to my brother, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. I emphasized that Turkiye will always stand by Azerbaijan," the head of state said, adding that he discussed this issue during his conversation with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan today. According to the Turkish President, with the establishment of peace in the region, road and rail links will be restored, border crossings will be opened, and obstacles to free trade will be removed, which meets the interests of all regional states. President Erdogan assured that Ankara will continue its efforts to promote peace and stability in the region. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. The President of the US, Donald Trump, aims to ensure durable peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan through bilateral cooperation. In Azerbaijan's case, the US recognizes that the country is the undisputed number-one power in the Caucasus, with dominance over Georgia and Armenia particularly evident in energy, military affairs, trade routes, and diplomacy, Salvatore Santangelo, an Italian political scientist, told Trend. "The United States aims to build a lasting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan through investments, trade, and infrastructure development. The Trump administration successfully negotiated a comprehensive deal that satisfies all parties involved - consisting of mutual recognition, acknowledgment of border disputes that need resolution, and the establishment of peace-fostering infrastructure such as the US-safeguarded TRIPP. By directly entering the South Caucasus through a 99-year lease of the Armenian side of the TRIPP, Trump hopes to prevent future conflicts, with the American presence specifically designed for this purpose," he said. Furthermore, Santangelo added that by collaborating with Turkiye, the region's emerging problem-solver, the United States aims to marginalize the Russians, whose influence is increasingly waning in the area. "However, it is important to note that Russia will continue to play a role in the South Caucasus, which is expected to become a critical component of the under-construction International North-South Transport Corridor. Trump does not seek to expel the Russians from the region - geography cannot be changed - but rather hopes to leverage their eroding power to allow the United States to advance its position in the Caucasus, with the prospect of greater exposure to Central Asia," the analyst explained. According to Santangelo, the establishment of the Strategic Working Group is very significant and represents a major step towards replacing the ineffective OSCE-backed Minsk Group, which has failed in its promise to maintain peace in the South Caucasus. "Azerbaijan is home to a world-class school of negotiators who have demonstrated their skills multiple times in recent years, as exemplified by the Azerbaijan-facilitated Syria-Israel dialogue. The US-Azerbaijan strategic partnership aims to enhance existing dialogue with the goal of mutual strengthening on the world stage," he added. A political scientist pointed out that the US has historically maintained good relations with both Azerbaijan and Armenia, which is one of the key reasons why Trump was able to achieve this historic milestone. "American influence is at an all-time high, particularly due to Turkiye's growing role in the region, increasing the likelihood of positively shaping Azerbaijani and Armenian attitudes on various matters. In addition to Turkish support, the United States is strategically positioned to enter the Zangezur Corridor through a field presence on its Armenian side, known as TRIPP. Furthermore, their awareness of the developments in the region will be enhanced by Trump's plan to expand the American diplomatic network in Armenia and Azerbaijan. Overall, by promoting trade interconnectivity and facilitating bilateral dialogue, it is expected that the two countries will ultimately resolve their long-standing issues," he concluded. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. Iran has previously been the party encouraging Azerbaijan and Armenia to sign a peace agreement, the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei, said at a press conference in Tehran on August 11, Trend reports. This was stated today (August 11) at a press conference in Tehran by Ismail Bakay, spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to Trend. According to him, Iran is in close contact with neighboring countries and has good relations with both Azerbaijan and Armenia. Baghaei stated that it is natural for Iran to interact with these countries in processes directly or indirectly related to its interests. The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman noted that the issue of signing a peace agreement is not new. Iran has previously urged both sides to sign a peace agreement. High-level consultations between Iran and Armenia will take place today and tomorrow. On August 8, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the United States Donald Trump, and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint declaration on the meeting between the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia in Washington. On the same day in Washington, as part of the meeting between President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the US Donald Trump, and Prime Nikol Pashinyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan initialled the draft Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia and signed a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office (on the closure of the OSCE Minsk Process, the personal representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on the conflict discussed by the Minsk Conference, and the High-Level Planning Group). BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. On August 11, His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein of Jordan made a phone call to President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports. The King of Jordan congratulated the head of state and the people of Azerbaijan on the progress made in advancing the peace agenda between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the historic results achieved in Washington. He expressed hope that these agreements would contribute to ensuring lasting peace, security, and comprehensive cooperation in the region. President Ilham Aliyev expressed gratitude for the congratulations, emphasizing the importance of the Joint Declaration signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia and witnessed by U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as the initialing of the agreement on peace and the establishment of interstate relations, along with other documents, in securing peace in the region. The President highlighted the special role of U.S. President Donald Trump in normalizing relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia. During the phone call, the bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Jordan were discussed. They hailed the current state of political ties, and exchanged their views on the prospects for cooperation in various fields. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. Rauf Valiyev has received the Order "For Service to the Motherland" of the 3rd degree, Trend reports. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the relevant decree. According to the decree, Rauf Valiyev was awarded with the Order "For Service to the Motherland" of the 3rd degree for his long-term and fruitful activities in the field of development of maritime shipping in Azerbaijan. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. The territory of Azerbaijan's Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park, in line with paragraph 32 of Article 109 of the Constitution of Azerbaijan, is set to grow to foster the sustainable development of the non-oil sector in the country, back entrepreneurship, set the stage for competitive industrial production using modern technologies, and boost job opportunities for the workforce in the production sector, Trend reports. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the relevant decree. According to the decree, to facilitate the strategic expansion of the Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park, the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan is mandated to implement a series of procedural measures within a three-month timeframe. This involves the transfer of nearly 27 hectares of land classified under the industrial, transport, communication, defense, and other designated categories, situated on Sulh Avenue in Sumgayit city. This land, currently utilized by the "Azerboru" Open Joint Stock Company, will be allocated to the Economic Zones Development Agency under the auspices of the Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, granting them leasing rights. Furthermore, the Ministry is required to duly notify the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan regarding this transaction. It is imperative to address ancillary complications stemming from this decree. The Ministry of Economy of Azerbaijan, in conjunction with the Sumgayit City Executive Power, is mandated to implement requisite protocols to address the challenges emanating from this decree. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. Azerbaijan also won at the diplomatic table under the leadership of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, political analyst Azer Garayev told Trend. According to him, a new chapter opened on the political map of the South Caucasus today. "The trilateral meeting held on August 8, 2025, in Washington was a landmark event that shifted the balance not only between two countries but across the entire region. The meeting, attended by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Armenias Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and US President Donald Trump, held significant diplomatic and political importance. The outcomea Joint Statement signed between Azerbaijan and Armenia and the initialing of a peace agreementwas the logical conclusion of years of tension and the official confirmation of Azerbaijans strategic victory. The agreements reached in Washington demonstrated that under President Aliyevs leadership, Azerbaijan won not only on the battlefield but also at the diplomatic table. President Ilham Aliyev achieved this success through years of consistent and principled policy. Without retreating an inch from national interests, he strengthened Azerbaijans position internationally and became a key player in regional processes. The Washington meeting was the pinnacle of this processwhere the foundation of peace was laid on terms dictated by the victorious side. Azerbaijan consistently defended its interests at every stage and ultimately ensured all its conditions were met, he added. According to Garayev, Azerbaijans recent history can be viewed as both a military and political lesson. The brilliant victory in the 2020 Second Karabakh War liberated occupied lands and forced Armenia to sign a surrender act, but this was not the final goal for President Aliyev. He understood that true victory must also be achieved at the diplomatic table. After the war, Azerbaijan took steady steps to consolidate its positions. The 'Revenge' operation and the 24-hour anti-terror measures in 2023 fully restored the countrys sovereignty. This was not just a military success but a strategic blow, forcing Armenia to accept realities in negotiations. Throughout all phases, President Aliyev maintained a consistent principled line. Azerbaijan will never compromise its national interests, and peace is possible only after full recognition of the countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity. The Joint Statement signed in Washington was the final confirmation of this principled stancethe conditions of the victorious state were on the table, and the other sides signature was under that document, he added. Garayev noted that as the victorious party, President Aliyev also authored the peace agenda. At the beginning of 2022, Azerbaijan presented Armenia with the 'five basic principles' forming the foundation of the peace treaty. Azerbaijans peace concept is a profound and strategic vision aimed not only at normalizing relations between the two countries but also at ensuring lasting stability in the region. This vision is based on fundamental values and mutual understanding that serve the root resolution of the conflict. The core idea is that both sides must mutually recognize sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the inviolability of borders. This is a serious step to prevent any future territorial claims or threats. Use of force or threats between the two states must be completely excluded, and mutual trust and a peaceful environment must be established. Additionally, full delimitation and demarcation of borders, establishment of diplomatic relations, and opening of transport and economic ties are necessary. These steps serve the regions economic development and the expansion of people-to-people ties. However, Armenia long avoided sincere steps, insisting on including a clause on the status of Armenians living in Karabakh in the treaty. Azerbaijan firmly stated this is an internal matter and cannot be part of an interstate document. Meanwhile, the Biden administration, French President Emmanuel Macron, and other forces tried to pressure Azerbaijan and spread accusations to push their own agendas. But these attempts failed thanks to President Aliyevs consistent policy, he explained. The analyst emphasized that the Joint Statement signed in Washington in August 2025 was not just a diplomatic document for Azerbaijan but also an official recognition of the new political reality in the region. This document was the international acceptance of Azerbaijans long-standing conditions and marked a turning point toward a peaceful resolution of the prolonged conflict. With the Washington Statement, Armenia accepted several key demands and was forced to retract its previous stance. The document included Azerbaijans core principles, such as a joint call to end the Minsk Groups activities, removal of territorial claims from Armenias Constitution, and establishment of unobstructed transport links between Azerbaijans main territory and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. This was also a strategic initiative supported by the US. The opening of the Zangezur corridor, guaranteed by US President Donald Trump, marks a new phase in the regions economic and political development. Through this document, Azerbaijan solidified its position within international law, while Armenia accepted to act in accordance with peace and cooperation principles going forward. The Washington Statement also demonstrated to the world that military conflicts in the region are now history, and the parties are focused on the future, he said. He added that the initialing of the peace treaty text during the Washington meeting was a significant historic moment. Although initialing is technically different from full signing, it is regarded as an official and binding document showing that the parties have agreed on the main principles and demands. This step is vital for restoring mutual trust and laying the foundation for future cooperation after years of conflict. By initialing, Azerbaijan and Armenia demonstrated their readiness to reduce post-war tensions and take practical steps toward peace and stability. The initialing phase is also a necessary procedure for the final peace treaty signing, which is expected to be completed after a constitutional referendum in Armenia in 2026. This ensures independent and democratic procedures for the treatys full legal enactment. Thus, initialing plays a key political and legal role in strengthening and sustaining the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the coming period, he said. Additionally, Garayev pointed out that the Joint Statement signed in Washington strengthened Azerbaijans strategic interests and formalized the post-war status quo. The international community, including the US, effectively accepted the new political reality in the region. President Aliyevs visit to the US and the signed documents were not only diplomatic successes but also a serious political blow to Armenias backersfrom the Macron administration to the European Parliament and Armenian lobby groups. President Aliyev showed that military victory can be the foundation for stable and favorable peace. His policy is a synthesis of determination and strategic vision in defending national interests, turning battlefield superiority into lasting success at the negotiating table. The Washington meeting confirmed that Azerbaijan, having strengthened its positions from bloody battles to the negotiation table, opened a new chapter in regional historywhere peace is built on the victors terms, Garayev concluded. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. Many international initiatives are falling by the wayside in light of the swift geopolitical shifts unfolding in the South Caucasus region. One such initiative is the European Union Monitoring Mission in Armenia (EUMA), which is a feather in the cap for international cooperation. Initially set up with its own interests at heart, this establishment has lost its usefulness in the area, and its present actions have turned into a stumbling block for the peace process and a wrench in the works of international law. In the initial quarter of 2023, the European Union (EU) operationalized a civilian oversight initiative in the Republic of Armenia. Per the sanctioned narrative, the objective of the operation was to facilitate equilibrium along the Armenian-Azerbaijani frontier and assist in mitigating hostilities. In actuality, this initiative was spearheaded by French President Emmanuel Macron, with the primary objectives rooted in geopolitical strategy. The objective was to enhance the geopolitical and military footprint of the EU and France in the area, strategically engineer friction in Azerbaijani-Armenian dynamics, and necessitate the imposition of Western facilitation. To put it another way, the missions activities, dressed up as a contribution to peace, were really just a mixed bag picked by the Westspecifically, by Franceto chase its own tail in the region. However, the EUMA fell flat and didn't hit the nail on the head. There are a handful of crucial factors at play here: The emergence of a peace agenda between the two sides. Since 2024, direct dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia has intensified. Preliminary agreements on border delimitation have been reached, and measures to build mutual trust have been strengthened. These processes have shown that the foundation for regional peace must be built on sovereign decisions made by the two countries instead of external mediators; The EU mission displayed a one-sided position. The monitoring mission showed bias in its operations. Armenias armament, anti-Azerbaijani resolutions in the European Parliament, and provocative statements from French officials called the missions neutrality into question. This situation seriously damaged the missions legitimacy; The EUMA was, in a nutshell, a brainchild of Emmanuel Macron's political ambitions. Even though the French president waved the flag of Christian solidarity in defense of Armenia, his policy seemed like a house of cardsimbalanced and lacking any real sincerity. As a result, France found itself in hot water, losing the trust not only of Azerbaijan but also of other regional powers, and was left out in the cold from the mediation process. Macrons policy in the South Caucasus fell flat on its face, missing the mark both diplomatically and strategically. The lay of the land in the region makes it clear that the EU mission has turned into a mere feather in the cap. With the dust settling on direct talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as they hash out border disputes, open up communication channels, and build bridges of trust, the missions efforts have become as useful as a screen door on a submarine. Consequently, the operational mandate ought to be terminated. The EUMA has once again demonstrated that external meddling, rather than fostering equilibrium in the region, merely amplifies pre-existing frictions. In the context of the evolving geopolitical dynamics between Azerbaijan and Armenia, this mission has ostensibly diminished its operational relevance. In the current geopolitical landscape, the trajectory towards sustainable peace is increasingly pivoting away from traditional power centers such as Brussels, Paris, and Washington, and is instead converging on the strategic nexus of Baku and Yerevan. For global entities to genuinely facilitate this endeavor, it is imperative that they eschew unilateral mechanisms and self-interested strategies. The European Union initiative, which stands in stark opposition to this paradigm, ought to be disbanded, and any extrinsic meddling in the regional peace framework must be unequivocally terminated. Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev made a phone call to the Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani today, Trend reports. During the telephone conversation, the leaders highlighted a recently implemented project to deliver Azerbaijani gas to Syria, a collaboration between Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Qatar, and Syria. Qatar's financial support for this project was particularly underscored. The significance of the initialing of the Agreement on Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia and other related documents during President Ilham Aliyevs visit to the U.S. was emphasized. These were highlighted as crucial for ensuring lasting peace and stability in the region. The role of U.S. President Donald Trump in achieving these outcomes was highly appreciated. President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that the agreement on unimpeded transport links between Azerbaijans mainland and its Nakhchivan region would have a positive impact on the carrying capacity of the Middle Corridor in the future. President Ilham Aliyev expressed gratitude to the Emir of Qatar for his support for the normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani congratulated President Ilham Aliyev on his leadership in advancing the peace agenda and the historic outcomes reached. President Ilham Aliyev invited Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to visit Azerbaijan. The invitation was gratefully accepted. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. The visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to Washington at the invitation of US President Donald Trump is not only a diplomatic event but also opens a new page in the history of AzerbaijanUS relations, political analyst Azer Garayev told Trend. He mentioned that happening amid global geopolitical shifts, this visit could mark the stepping up of bilateral relations to a whole new levela phase of strategic partnership. "Before the 2024 US presidential election, Ilham Aliyev saw Donald Trump as a leader who would pursue a peaceful and pragmatic foreign policy. At the Global Media Forum held in Shusha, President Aliyev's emphasis on traditional and family values, as well as his remarks on the fact that the US did not engage in new wars during Trumps first term, were diplomatic messages. This far-sighted move paved the way for rapid development of relations after the election. Phone conversations, an exchange of letters, and finally the meeting in Washington led to the signing of a memorandum of mutual understanding envisaging the establishment of a Strategic Working Group to draft a charter of strategic cooperation between the governments of Azerbaijan and the US, he said. According to him, the strategic partnership forming between Azerbaijan and the US opens up broad prospects in economic, political, and security spheres. "This cooperation is particularly notable for strengthening regional ties and creating new opportunities in the energy sector. Azerbaijan's rich energy resources, developed transport infrastructure, and favorable geographical location complement the US's advanced technologies and access to global markets. As a result, significant steps can be taken in enhancing energy security, expanding transport and transit corridors, and strengthening trade relations. At the same time, the partnership could also cover strategic areas such as the modernization of the economy and digital transformation. The US's experience in artificial intelligence, high technologies, and digital infrastructure enables the implementation of innovative projects in Azerbaijan, the development of the startup ecosystem, and the creation of new jobs. This not only increases the competitiveness of our economy but also contributes to the development of the knowledge and skills of future generations. One of the important directions of the partnership could be security and defense. For Azerbaijan, which is located in a geopolitically complex region, this cooperation is indispensable in terms of army modernization, implementation of modern training programs, and strengthening international coordination in the fight against terrorism. Altogether, these aspects elevate AzerbaijanUS relations to a new level and reinforce the foundation for a long-term and stable partnership based on mutual trust," he said. The analyst noted that one of the most symbolic outcomes of the visit was Donald Trump's decision to suspend the application of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act. "Adopted by the US Congress in 1992 under the influence of the Armenian lobby, this amendment prohibited state aid to Azerbaijan due to the so-called 'blockade' against Armenia. Although it was not practically applied after September 11, 2001, in recent years the BidenBlinken administration tried to use it as a tool of pressure on Azerbaijan. Now this tool has been rendered ineffective. This decision not only removes political obstacles but is also a sign of trust and long-term cooperation," he mentioned. Garayev emphasized that a key focus of the Washington talks was ensuring peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia. "Events in the region in recent years have shown that long-term stability is only possible on the basis of mutual respect, commitment to the principles of international law, and open dialogue. In this context, Azerbaijans position has always been clearto initiate peace talks and normalize relations with neighboring countries. Thanks to President Ilham Aliyevs consistent and purposeful policy, Azerbaijan has today become the leading force behind peace initiatives in the region. After the Second Karabakh War, it was Azerbaijan that initiated the signing of a peace agreement with Armenia and presented a real and concrete proposal package. This step holds historical significance not only for the restoration of bilateral relations but also for the future development of the entire region. A peace agenda does not only mean eliminating the risks of warit also implies the opening of new opportunities for cooperation in economic and transportation sectors. It shapes a perspective for a more stable, secure, and prosperous future for the peoples of the region. The US's participation in this process is of significant importance in terms of mediation. Washingtons support for peace initiatives within the framework of strategic partnership can help maintain dialogue between the parties, ensure the implementation of agreements, and secure long-term stability in the region. In fact, the peace agenda is a diplomatic victory for Azerbaijan. Because reaching this stage required years of consistent policy, the formation of a reliable partner image in the international arena, and the acknowledgment of regional realities. Today, the key challenge for the region is not to miss this historic opportunity and to translate peace from words into action. Azerbaijan, as the leader of this process, maintains a responsible stance both regionally and globally. The Joint Declaration signed in Washington is clear evidence of this," he said. The analyst pointed out that President Ilham Aliyevs historic visit to the US marks the beginning of a new phase in trust-based relations between the two countries. "The documents signed in Washington, the high-level negotiations held, and the mutual will displayed solidify the strategic foundation of AzerbaijanUS relations for the coming decades. Of course, one of the key roles here is played by the relationship between President Ilham Aliyev and Donald Trump. This visit also reaffirms Azerbaijans position as a reliable partner and an influential player on the international stage. Today, Azerbaijan is not only a country at the center of regional energy and transportation projects but also a proactive promoter of peace initiatives and a key partner in implementing digital and technological innovations. The newly instituted collaborative paradigm with the United States is poised to yield substantial advancements in the realization of our strategic objectives pertaining to modernization, economic diversification, and national security imperatives. The geopolitical dynamics catalyzed by this diplomatic engagement convey a definitive signal to the global arena regarding the fortification of stability and the assurance of peace within the South Caucasus region. At the same time, it shows that Azerbaijan is not alone on its path of development but is a country conducting a balanced and forward-looking foreign policy based on strong partnerships. President Ilham Aliyevs visit to Washington demonstrates that Azerbaijan has become an active and responsible player both on the regional and global levels. Ultimately, this visit is not merely a diplomatic event but a milestone that defines the strategic future of our country and expands its economic and political horizons," added Garayev. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. The Government of Brazil has congratulated Azerbaijan and Armenia on the signing of the joint declaration by the leaders of both countries, as well as the initialing of the Peace and Inter-State Relations Agreement by their foreign ministers on August 8, Trend reports via Brazil's Foreign Ministry. This event is an important step toward the full normalization of relations between the two states. Brazil reaffirms its support for diplomatic efforts aimed at ensuring lasting and sustainable peace in the South Caucasus and expresses hope for the swift signing and ratification of the agreement establishing diplomatic relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the ministry said. On August 8, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the United States Donald Trump, and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint declaration on the meeting between the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia in Washington. On the same day in Washington, as part of the meeting between President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the US Donald Trump, and Prime Nikol Pashinyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan initialled the draft Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia and signed a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office (on the closure of the OSCE Minsk Process, the personal representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on the conflict discussed by the Minsk Conference, and the High-Level Planning Group). Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. The Washington meeting was discussed during a phone conversation between the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov, and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas, the ministry said in a statement, Trend reports. The EU High Representative conveyed commendations regarding the results of the Washington summit involving the leadership of Azerbaijan, the United States, and Armenia. This includes the Joint Declaration executed by the leaders, the preliminary endorsement of the peace accord, the collaborative appeal for the disbandment of the OSCE Minsk Process and associated frameworks, along with various other accords established during the discussions. These advancements were underscored as pivotal milestones in the pursuit of fostering tranquility and equilibrium within the geopolitical landscape of the region. Kallas articulated the EU's commitment to perpetuating its facilitation of the progression of the peace initiative. Throughout the telephonic engagement, the parties engaged in a dialogue concerning the multifaceted dynamics and potential trajectories stemming from Azerbaijani-EU relations, in addition to deliberating on regional and global security paradigms. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. During a briefing, U.S. President Donald Trump commented on the historic agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington, emphasizing the complexity and length of the conflict, Trend reports. "It was raging for 37 years, and the two leaders got up and they said, we never thought this would be solved. Russia tried to solve it. They all tried to solve it. It was a very tough situation, but we got it done...," Trump said. On August 8, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the United States Donald Trump, and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint declaration on the meeting between the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia in Washington. On the same day in Washington, as part of the meeting between President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the U.S. Donald Trump, and Prime Nikol Pashinyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan initialled the draft Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia and signed a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office (on the closure of the OSCE Minsk Process, the personal representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on the conflict discussed by the Minsk Conference, and the High-Level Planning Group). BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. The date of the next public hearing of the criminal case against citizens of the Republic of Armenia Arayik Harutyunyan, Arkady Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, David Ishkhanyan, David Babayan, Levon Mnatsakanyan and others, who are accused of committing crimes against peace and humanity, war crimes, including the preparation and waging of an aggressive war, genocide, violation of the laws and rules of war, as well as terrorism, financing terrorism, violent seizure of power, violent retention of power and numerous other crimes as a result of Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan, has been announced, Trend reports. The trial, presided over by Judge Zeynal Aghayev with Judges Jamal Ramazanov and Anar Rzayev (reserve Judge Gunel Samadova), ensured that each accused was provided with a translator in their preferred language and with legal defense. The accused, their defense counsel, victims, legal heirs, representatives, and prosecutors defending the states charges were present at the session. The trial will continue on August 14. Fifteen defendants of Armenian origin are accused in the criminal case concerning numerous crimes committed during the aggressive war waged by the Armenian stateincluding the aforementioned criminal associationon the territory of Azerbaijan, in violation of domestic and international legal norms. These crimes were committed for the purpose of military aggression against Azerbaijan and were carried out under the direct leadership and participation of the Armenian state, officials of its state institutions, its armed forces, and illegal armed formations, through their written and verbal orders, instructions, and guidelines; material, technical, and personnel support; centralized management; as well as under strict control and under the leadership and direct or indirect participation of Robert Sedraki Kocharyan, Serzh Azati Sargsyan, Vazgen Mikaeli Manukyan, Vazgen Zaveni Sargsyan, Samvel Andraniki Babayan, Vitali Mikaeli Balasanyan, Zori Hayki Balayan, Seyran Musheghi Ohanyan, Arshavir Surenovich Garamyan, Monte Charles Melkonyan, and others. The following individualsArayik Vladimiri Harutyunyan, Arkadi Arshaviri Ghukasyan, Bako Sahaki Sahakyan, Davit Rubeni Ishkhanyan, David Azatini Manukyan, Davit Klimi Babayan, Levon Henrikovich Mnatsakanyan, Vasili Ivani Beglaryan, Erik Roberti Ghazaryan, Davit Nelsoni Allahverdiyan, Gurgen Homeri Stepanyan, Levon Romiki Balayan, Madat Arakelovich Babayan, Garik Grigori Martirosyan, and Melikset Vladimiri Pashayanare being charged under the following articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan: Article 100 (planning, preparing, initiating, and waging a war of aggression); Article 102 (attacking persons or organizations enjoying international protection); Article 103 (genocide); Article 105 (extermination of the population); Article 106 (enslavement); Article 107 (deportation or forced displacement of population); Article 109 (persecution); Article 110 (enforced disappearance of persons); Article 112 (deprivation of liberty contrary to international law); Article 113 (torture); Article 114 (mercenary service); Article 115 (violation of the laws and customs of warfare); Article 116 (violation of international humanitarian law during armed conflict); Article 118 (military robbery); Article 120 (intentional murder); Article 192 (illegal entrepreneurship); Article 214 (terrorism); Article 214-1 (financing terrorism); Article 218 (creation of a criminal organization); Article 228 (illegal acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transportation, and possession of weapons, ammunition, explosives, and devices); Article 270-1 (acts threatening aviation security); Article 277 (assassination of a state official or public figure); Article 278 (forcible seizure and retention of power, forcible change of the constitutional structure of the state); Article 279 (creation of armed groups not provided for by law); and other articles. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. Secretary-General of GUAM Altai Efendiev sent a congratulatory letter to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Trend reports. "Excellency, Allow me, on behalf of the Secretariat of the Organization for Democracy and Economic Development-GUAM, to extend our most sincere congratulations to You, and in your person, to the people of Azerbaijan, on the truly historic landmark breakthrough in bringing closer just and lasting peace between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia and, as a result, in the whole region. The initialing of a Peace Agreement between the two countries in Washington, in the Oval Office in the presence and under the witness of the President of the USA, is a milestone achievement of Azerbaijani diplomacy under your leadership. No doubt, this new development will introduce new dynamics and reshape the geopolitical balance in the region, promoting and strengthening international peace and cooperation. This triumphant achievement in the pursuit of peace through strength was possible only after the glorious victory of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the liberation of the occupied territories and the complete restoration of the territorial integrity and sovereignty within the internationally recognized borders of the country. We also acknowledge that this is your personal victory as a national leader and a great statesman! We wish you further success in your struggle to win peace in a highly turbulent and challenging international environment! We highly praise your principled stance, personal commitment, and laborious efforts in supporting the GUAM MS in their struggle to preserve their independence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty. As always, we stand ready as a regional organization to support your policies towards peace, stability, cooperation, and prosperity in the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea region. Excellency, Once again, please accept our heartfelt congratulations on this remarkable occasion and our wishes for further success in pursuing your peaceful agenda! We wish peace, progress, and prosperity to the people of the Republic of Azerbaijan! Sincerely Yours, " the letter reads. You are the owner of this article. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. During the ongoing proceedings at the Baku Military Court on August 11, victim Aybaniz Orujova stated that she, together with her family members, including her twin sons, was captured in 1992, two days after the Khojaly massacre, Trend reports. According to Orujova, she and her family members escaped to the forest during the Khojaly attack and were later captured after staying there for two days. She added that all of her family members, including her brother, had been executed. Responding to the questions from public prosecutors, the victim claimed that she had been kept in Khankendi for seven days. She was released from captivity on March 20, while her twins were released on March 30. According to her, she was severely tortured while in captivity, with Armenians holding a knife to her childrens throats, threatening to cut their heads off. Another victim, Hafiza Safarova, noted she was captured together with her family members during the attack on the Divanlilar village of the Fuzuli district on December 7, 1991. The victim said she was kept in a cold place and was ill-treated, along with other hostages, during the captivity. Safarova further stated that her father, Karim Safarov, had died in captivity as a result of torture. After seven days, she was released from captivity in exchange for gasoline and diesel fuel. The court proceedings continue against Armenian nationals accused of crimes, including war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, aggression, terrorism, and violations of the laws of war. The charges also include financing terrorism, the violent seizure and retention of power, and other serious offenses. KHOJALY, Azerbaijan, August 11. Another group of former internally displaced persons (IDPs) consisting of families temporarily settled in different parts of Azerbaijan has been sent to Khanyurdu village of Khojaly district, Trend reports. In alignment with the Great Return initiative, a cohort of 19 familial units (comprising 62 individuals) from the Aghdam jurisdiction is undergoing resettlement to the Khanyurdu locality. Prior to their repatriation, the former internally displaced persons (IDPs) had been provisionally accommodated predominantly in hostels, sanatoria, and various administrative edifices following the Armenian occupation in 1992. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. Gazelli Art House Baku is pleased to present Situated Selves, a multidisciplinary group exhibition on the philosophical thought of Edward S. Casey (1939), one of the most influential voices in American phenomenology. Casey distinguishes between place and space, arguing that place is fundamentally tied to embodied experience and lived reality, while space is more abstract and detached. He explores how place shapes our identity, memory, and relationship with the world, advocating for a place-based ethic that recognizes our embeddedness in specific locations. In contrast to modernist and Cartesian traditions that privilege space as empty, uniform, and measurable, Casey positions place as irreducibly lived: textured by affect, temporality, and cultural significance. We are not only in place, he argues, but of it. Artists participating in the exhibition evoke places imagined, lost, and reinhabitedexploring how place anchors experience and how dislocation reverberates through the body and psyche. In Situated Selves, visitors are invited not merely to observe space but to dwell in it, to inhabit the exhibition as an experiential terrain. The artists offer imaginative responses to space, revealing personal narratives and emotional geographies shaped by their unique encounters. Here, space is not a fixed backdrop but a living entitysomething to be remembered, questioned, and reimagined. Situated Selves Jala Aziz, Irina Eldarova, Eldar Gurban, Butunay Hagverdiyev, Anar Huseynzade, Ramal Kazim, Tora Mais, Regina Rzayeva, Rza Rzazade Exhibition: August 12 - October 31, 2025, Gazelli Art House, Baku About the Artists Jala Aziz (b. 1999) studied at the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts (ADRA), where she earned her masters degree in tapestry. She works with textiles, weaving and embroidery, repurposing old fabrics and photographs to reinterpret themes of memory, identity, and time. Through layers, textures, and traditional motifs, she creates evocative pieces in which the past takes on new meaning. Jala Aziz has participated in numerous group exhibitions in Baku, Istanbul, and Moscow. Irina Eldarova (b. 1955) began her artistic career as an illustrator at the Childrens Literature Publishing House. She participated in many exhibitions in the former Soviet Union and abroad. She has also collaborated with a number of international media outlets. Since 1996, Eldarova has been a member of the British Association of Journalists. She works in various media, including watercolors, but most of her works are executed in mixed media on a large, sometimes monumental scale. Eldarova is well known for her contributions to the development of contemporary conceptual art. Her interests extend to photography, video art, and journalism. Irina Eldarova participated in major international projects, representing contemporary Azerbaijani art in the world. Among them, Fly to Baku, organized by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation (exhibition was showcased in London, Paris, Berlin and Rome), and Home, Sweet Home, held in 2013 at the Azerbaijani Culture Center in Paris Eldar Gurban (b. 1948) is an Honored Artist of Azerbaijan and a member of the Artists Union of Azerbaijan. In 1969 he graduated from the Painting Faculty of the Azim Azimzade Art College and the Graphic Arts Faculty of the V.I. Lenin Azerbaijan Pedagogical Institute. Since his first exhibition in 1972, his work has been exhibited in numerous countries worldwide. He was awarded a gold medal and first-class diploma at the 1989 Caspian Republics Biennale for his work, Poet and Muse. He is one of the few artists representing the style of primitivism within the Azerbaijani art scene. Butunay Hagverdiyev (b. 1989) mainly works in painting and sculpture, and since 2009 he has been actively engaged in video art, shooting mostly short animated films. In his video works, he experiments with different techniques while creating a moving sculpture using time-lapse photography and arrangement. Born in Baku, he studied in the painting faculty at the Azim Azimzade Art College before continuing his fine art education in Moscow at the British Higher School of Art and Design. As a teenager he was already an accomplished painter, having worked with a group of artists on the painting and restoration of frescoes in an Orthodox church from 2003 to 2008 in Baku. He has participated in a number of significant group exhibitions in Baku and abroad in Russia, France, and Italy. In 2013, his work was featured in the national pavilion of Azerbaijan at the 55th Venice Biennale in Italy. In 2015 his wooden sculptures of Azerbaijani carpet motifs were shown in the exhibition Azerbaijani Carpets in Art in the Cannes Festival Palace. Anar Huseynzade (b. 1981) received a masters in fine arts from the Art Academy, Azerbaijan. Anar has a clear idea of his objective as an artistto destroy borders and to fill the space that exists in traditional fine art in Azerbaijan. Anar has taken part in collective exhibitions in Turkiye, Germany, Switzerland, Uzbekistan, Moldova, and England. In addition, Anar is a member of the Union of Artists of Azerbaijan and has exhibited works throughout Azerbaijan since 2005. Exhibitions of specific note include the solo exhibition Legends Speak (Museum Centre, Baku, 2014) and Tale of Absheron (Gazelli Art House Baku, 2021). Many of Anars works are held in private collections across the US, UK, Switzerland, Turkiye, Greece, Australia, and Norway. Ramal Kazim (b. 1987) is a graduate of the Azerbaijani State Academy of Arts (2008). Since 2000, he has been a member of the Azerbaijan Artists Union. Kazims works have been exhibited extensively in Azerbaijan and abroad. Drawing from the expressionist tradition, he composes paintings marked by impactful, unusual figures and a chromatic bluntness. Kazim essentially constructs a visual diary of human experience, using strategies of shock and provocation as important vehicles of expression. Kazims expressive figures and imagery directly address issues that are taboo in Azerbaijan. The figures are representative of an experimental portraiture that lives on the border between reality and abstraction. Images combine broken bottle fragments, violent gestures, and contorted faces that twist in pain and passion. Tora Mais (b. 1979) is an Azerbaijani multidisciplinary artist. After obtaining her MA in Fine Art Painting from Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts, in 2002 Tora moved to Shanghai, China, before Berlin, Germany, where she currently resides. Her artworks, be they depictions of imaginary creatures populating the Caspian Sea or landscapes, emit positive energy and humor. Many of Toras works present a female gaze on sexuality that, rather than objectifying, playfully employs the visual language of Orientalist painting to depict scenes of everyday life. Her works were featured in the Azerbaijani National Pavilion at the 52nd Venice Biennale in 2007 and group exhibitions at the Manege Central Exhibition Hall in 1999, the Centre for Contemporary Art, Stavanger, in 2010, Voluntary Art Liaison, Berlin, in 2018, and the Cyprus Museum of Modern Arts in 2019, which acquired her works for the permanent collection. Tora took part in the travelling exhibition Fly to Baku (2011-2012) and PERMM Museum (2015), and Cafe Avarice & Generosity in Galerie Dix Helene Lacharmoise (2019) was dedicated to Azerbaijans contemporary art scene. Regina Rzayeva (b. 1996) is a graduate of the Azerbaijan University of Culture and Art with a degree in fashion design. She uses traditional painting techniques and works with different materials and fabrics. For the artist, the fabric ground is an essential component of her paintings. Using the technique of thin lettering, she applies the paint in fine vertical lines along the fabric structure of the canvas, entering into a dialogue with the surface texture. Rzayeva describes her artistic method as observational. For her, art is an integral part of philosophizing and recognizing the concept of time. With the subtlety, tremulousness, and lightness of her works, the artist wants to draw attention to the impermanence and fragility of self-perception. Rza Rzazade (b. 1994) is a Baku-based visual artist. He studied painting at the Azerbaijan State Academy of Fine Arts. His works are included in private collections in Italy, Germany, Turkey, and the UK. In 2022, he presented his first solo exhibition, Storm. Rzazades visual language seeks balance between emotional chaos and form; through expressive gestures and symbolic fragments, he constructs multilayered portraits of contemporary existence. Occasionally, natureespecially the motif of treesappears as a silent metaphor within this visual flow. About the Gallery Founded in 2010 by Mila Askarova, Gazelli Art House represents an international roster of artists, from leading figures in post-war movements such as Pop Art and Abstract Expressionism to ultra-contemporary voices redefining art in the digital age. The gallery champions artists who challenge convention through the creative exploration of a variety of media. Along with its sister site in Baku, the gallery also specializes in art from Azerbaijan and its neighbors, fostering cross-cultural dialogue. In 2015 the gallery launched GAZELL.iO, an online platform specifically supporting innovation in art and technologies. For further information, please contact: [email protected] BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. The Ministry of Cohesion and Regional Development of Slovenia has approved European funds for the public call Connected through Culture, Trend reports. The public call is divided into two parts: (1) projects and (2) project office. The first part will co-finance projects in the field of culture, i.e., the cultural and creative sector, aimed at strengthening the competencies of Roma organizations through employment and training, as well as boosting the self-confidence and social inclusion of Roma community members into the broader social environment. The second part will support the operation of the project office, which will provide a supportive environment and technical assistance to the selected cultural projects. In addition to ensuring a proper support framework for the implementation of cultural projects, the public call will encourage individuals from Roma cultural organizations to actively participate in the creation and execution of cultural events/programs. The public call Connected through Culture is implemented within the framework of the European Cohesion Policy Program for 20212027 in Slovenia, under the priority areas of Long-Term Care and Health and Social Inclusion. It pursues the specific objective of promoting active inclusion to foster equal opportunities, non-discrimination, active participation, and increased employability, especially for disadvantaged groups (ESF+). The public call, valued at half a million euros, will be mostly funded by the European Social Fund Plus, contributing 402,500 euros. The public call, which contributes to achieving the objectives of the European Cohesion Policy Program 20212027 in Slovenia, will be published by the Ministry of Culture in the Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, expected on Thursday, August 14, 2025. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. Lithuanian Minister of National Defense, Dovile Sakaliene will visit the US from August 11 through 13 for a series of high-level meetings with senior defense officials and industry leaders, Trend reports. During the visit, she will meet with the leadership of the Pennsylvania National Guard, the Chief of the U.S. National Guard Bureau, and representatives from the defense industry and artificial intelligence companies. The agenda includes visits to U.S. military units and engagements with American media outlets. Minister Sakaliene noted that Lithuanias long-standing partnership with the Pennsylvania National Guard, which began in 1993 under the State Partnership Program, has become a model for international cooperation. She emphasized that cooperation in drone and counter-drone systems will be a priority, along with training drone operators and sharing operational lessons learned. Over the past three decades, the Pennsylvania National Guard has been a key partner in enhancing Lithuanias defense capabilities. Since 2019, the U.S. has maintained a continuous presence of heavy battalions in Lithuania, reinforced since 2022 with artillery units. This forward presence remains a vital element of deterrence and security in the Baltic region. In the past three years, Lithuania has procured approximately 2 billion euros worth of defense equipment from the United States, making it the largest U.S. defense procurement partner among the Baltic states. Purchases include Javelin anti-tank missile systems, JLTV armored vehicles, Black Hawk helicopters, HIMARS rocket artillery systems, AMRAAM missiles for NASAMS medium-range air defense, Switchblade drones, and more. This fall, Lithuania plans to open new infrastructure and training facilities for U.S. forces, with national investments in these projects exceeding $200 million. ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, August 11. Turkmen entrepreneurs have concluded two notable trade agreements on both domestic and foreign markets totaling $43,589.74 and $620, respectively, Trend reports via the State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange of Turkmenistan (SCRMET). A strategic agreement was executed with business innovators from Kyrgyzstan for the exportation of cotton textiles, underscoring the burgeoning trade and economic synergies between the two nations. The accord signifies a pivotal advancement in the facilitation of Turkmenistan's textile commodities within the global marketplace. Concurrently, regional enterprises consummated a domestic agreement with the Ministry of Textile Industry of Turkmenistan for the provision of bathrobes designated for governmental utilization, thereby underscoring the significance of indigenous manufacturers in fulfilling public sector procurement requirements. The SCRMET functions as Turkmenistans primary nexus for international commodity exchange, facilitating periodic auctions for hydrocarbon derivatives, textile materials, agrarian outputs, and chemical compounds. It serves as a pivotal mechanism in optimizing transparent and competitive trading protocols for both local producers and global purchasers. DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, August 11. Two new checkpoints have been opened on the border between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, Trend reports via the Customs Committee of Uzbekistan. The newly operational Bekabad Auto checkpoint, adjacent to the Khashtyak checkpoint, is located in the Tashkent region, while the Khavastabad checkpoint, near the Zafarabad checkpoint, is situated in the Syrdarya region. Both border crossings will accommodate vehicles and third-country nationals. The countries have cooperated to enhance customs operations and security while promoting economic integration in Central Asia. According to the intergovernmental agreement signed on June 5, 2002, there are currently 17 official border checkpoints between the two nations, serving as critical gateways for commerce and transit. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. Iran will soon join the transnational convention on combating organized crime (Palermo), the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei, said at a press conference in Tehran on August 11, Trend reports. According to him, the aforementioned convention document was one of the issues that needed to be resolved between Iran and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) working group. According to Baghaei, part of the work related to Iran's accession to the FATF conventions is being carried out by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On May 15, 2025, the Iranian Advisory Council ratified the FATF Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo). The Convention on Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) is currently under consideration. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is an intergovernmental body that regulates anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing rules. Iran has implemented 37 of the 41 FATF steps. The remaining four steps or conventions relate to the legislative sphere. Amendment to the Anti-Money Laundering Act, Amendment to the Anti-Terrorism Financing Act, Accession to the International Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo) and Accession to the International Convention against the Financing of Terrorism (FT) were prepared by the Iranian government and submitted to parliament. The FATF was established in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 countries to combat money laundering. The organization has 37 members and its secretariat is located in Paris. Iran has been on the FATF blacklist since 2007, and since 2009, countermeasures have been officially applied against Tehran. In this regard, countries have to exercise caution in financial and banking transactions with Iran. Since 2016, the application of countermeasures against Iran has been postponed by diplomatic steps. The FATF financial group added Iran back to the list of non-cooperative countries (blacklist) on February 21, 2020. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has done significant work by pragmatically leveraging the political and diplomatic dynamics following the events of 2023, said Uzbek expert and political analyst Ravshan Nazarov in an exclusive interview with Trend. According to him, Azerbaijan has consistently pursued legally formalized solutions in the field of transport and transit projects, including the issue of opening the Zangezur corridor. The position of President Ilham Aliyev was a decisive factor in reaching the agreement on the Zangezur corridor, Nazarov noted. The political analyst emphasized that in Tashkent, the importance of dialogue and cessation of armed confrontation is recognized. We are confident that the prompt establishment of sustainable peace and stability in the South Caucasus will create a foundation for the implementation of large-scale transport and infrastructure projects, serving the interests of all peoples in the broader region, he said. At the same time, Uzbek analysts underline that the agreement is of a framework nature and contains a number of complex practical issues from ensuring the overall security of the Zangezur corridor and customs procedures to constitutional changes in Armenia. Therefore, the final assessment will depend on the practical implementation of the agreement, the expert added. He also stressed that the construction of the Trump Bridge and the opening of the Zangezur corridor will have a significant positive impact on Central Asia, including Uzbekistan. One of the most notable positive effects will be the expansion of multimodal routes linking Europe, the South Caucasus, Turkiye, and the Middle East with Central Asia, including Kazakhstan and other countries in the region. The Zangezur corridor will enable Central Asias integration into a broader global transport network, reduce logistics costs, and improve trade routes. Uzbekistan and other regional countries will be able to diversify export routes, which will positively affect their economies. Moreover, the launch of the Zangezur corridor will open up prospects for increased transit flows, leading to growth in cargo transportation and transit fees. This will stimulate the development of logistics infrastructure in Central Asian countries, including the creation of logistics hubs and investments in transport infrastructure. It will also provide opportunities to increase the export of energy resources and goods through alternative routes, he added. Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, may gain additional leverage in relations with major external players the United States, Turkiye, and the European Union which will reduce dependence on a single transit route through Russia or Iran, Ravshan Nazarov noted. The political analyst emphasized that Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, will obtain greater flexibility in foreign policy and economics by strengthening cooperation with the US, Turkiye, and the EU. This will reduce their dependence on a single transit direction through Russia or Iran. For Uzbekistan and other regional countries, the conclusions are clear: once the project is operational and stable, significant benefits can be expected growth in transit flows, diversification of export routes, and an influx of investment in logistics, the expert concluded. Did the STEM School Highlands Ranch senior live a life of heroic virtue, before it was tragically ended by a gunman, who also injured eight people? Priests have enacted the initial stages of the journey toward canonization, or sainthood, for Kendrick Castillo in the Catholic church. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, August 11. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov met with Mykola Doroshenko, Ambassador of Ukraine to Uzbekistan, and discussed bilateral relations, the country's FM wrote on X, Trend reports. We had a comprehensive discussion of urgent topics on the bilateral and multilateral agendas. I am glad to note the strong positive dynamics in Uzbekistan-Ukraine trade turnover, Saidov wrote on X. We thank the Ambassador for his efforts to strengthen bilateral relations between our two countries over the years and wish him every success in his future endeavors, the publication reads. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, August 11. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to the Republic of Uzbekistan, Alexander Ogorodnikov, and the Trade Representative of the Russian Federation in Uzbekistan, Konstantin Zlygostev, paid a working visit to Chirchik Technopark, Trend reports. During the visit, the delegation was afforded a comprehensive briefing on the technopark's ecosystem and its infrastructural capabilities, followed by an immersive walkthrough of the operational facilities belonging to resident enterprises. At present, a total of 19 investment initiatives have been executed within the technopark ecosystem, culminating in an aggregate capital infusion surpassing $50 million. In the forthcoming timeframe, an additional 10 initiatives are anticipated to be rolled out. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel Photo: The Customs Service under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, August 11. A meeting in Dushanbe brought together Tajikistans Customs Service and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to discuss modernizing cargo scanning equipment at the Spitamen customs checkpoint on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, Trend reports via the Customs Service. The discussion took place between Khurshed Sheralizoda, Deputy Head of the Customs Service under the Government of Tajikistan, and a delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) led by Saichi Negishi. The evaluative synthesis of research advancements by Japanese experts was conducted, wherein Negishi articulated contentment regarding the bilateral synergy and underscored Tajikistans pivotal role within the strategic framework of JICA in the regional context. The delegation engaged in deliberations regarding the formulation of a comprehensive analysis aimed at optimizing the project and enhancing the customs scanning framework. During their engagement, JICA representatives interfaced with multiple divisions within the Customs Service framework, encompassing the Risk Management, Financial and Economic Analysis, Customs Control Organization, and Post-Customs Control and Audit sectors. They additionally conducted a walkthrough of the Customs Service Data Processing Center, obtaining comprehensive debriefings on the current operational frameworks. Subsequent to the discussions, both entities executed a memorandum of understanding regarding the initiation of a feasibility assessment for the modernization initiative and reaffirmed their dedication to enhancing collaborative efforts in customs operations. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. The meeting between the foreign ministers of Turkmenistan and Qatar, two of the world's largest natural gas players, took place on the sidelines of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3) in the Awaza National Tourist Zone. This was more than a mere protocol detail - it signaled a potential rapprochement in the energy and investment sectors, especially in the context of the issues and opportunities discussed at the conference. At first glance, Turkmenistan and Qatar appear to be competitors, but their export strategies have historically differed. Qatar has focused on the liquefied natural gas (LNG) market, becoming a global leader over the past decades. According to the International Gas Union (IGU), Qatar's LNG exports in 2024 were 77.23 million tons, securing 18.8 percent of the global liquefied gas market. This gives Qatar flexibility in worldwide deliveries. Turkmenistan, on the other hand, has traditionally focused on pipeline gas. The country holds the fourth largest natural gas reserves in the world. Its largest export route is the Turkmenistan-China gas pipeline, which supplied over 30 billion cubic meters of gas in 2024. However, reliance on existing routes and a lack of direct access to the sea are significant limitations, which make cooperation with Qatar particularly promising in the context of this conference. Relations between Turkmenistan and Qatar are not new, but their dynamics have been subject to change. In 2011, Qatar was a participant in the Ashgabat Agreement - an international transport corridor between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf. However, Qatar withdrew from the agreement in 2013, which temporarily slowed the development of joint infrastructure projects. Despite this, both countries signed a number of cooperation agreements in energy, trade, and investment in the 2010s, including the creation of a joint intergovernmental energy commission. These early steps laid the foundation for resuming dialogue at a higher level. In March 2023, the President of Turkmenistan made a state visit to Qatar, where they discussed expanding economic partnership, developing the oil and gas sector, and implementing major international projects. These meetings demonstrated a mutual interest in deepening ties, which are now gaining new momentum after the Awaza conference. Qatar is actively diversifying its economy and investing in various sectors globally. Its sovereign wealth fund, the Qatar Investment Authority (QIA), manages assets worth over $450 billion. Qatars investments in Central Asia have been limited so far, but this could change. Turkmenistan, with its rich natural resources and strategic location, could become an attractive target for Qatari capital. The two main areas where Qatar could direct its investment potential are gas infrastructure and logistics. Investments in modernizing Turkmenistans gas industry and building new routes, such as the TAPI gas pipeline project, could be very promising. It is estimated that TAPIs capacity will be 33 billion cubic meters of gas per year, which opens up huge opportunities for supplies to South Asia. Qatar is also interested in expanding its logistics corridors. As a key link on the Great Silk Road, Turkmenistan can offer projects related to the development of Caspian Sea port infrastructure and railway routes, which would strengthen the region's transport network. These topics - infrastructure and logistics - were central to the LLDC3 conference. Cooperation with Qatar opens up new opportunities for Turkmenistan in regional geopolitics. A strategic partner from the Middle East can help Ashgabat expand its presence in the markets of South and Southeast Asia. This move would not only strengthen Turkmenistan's economic position but also enhance its role in the international energy system. Deepening ties with Qatar can be seen as part of a broader strategy to diversify its foreign and economic relations, which will allow Turkmenistan to play a more active role in shaping the new architecture of global trade and energy. ASTANA, Kazakhstan, August 11. President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev tackled the nuts and bolts of enhancing data management efficiency and bolstering cybersecurity during a meeting focused on the growth of artificial intelligence, Trend reports. According to Tokayev, the rise of artificial intelligence is opening a whole new can of worms, presenting challenges and threats that traditional response mechanisms are finding hard to wrap their heads around. We are all witnessing how neural networks are being used to create biometric copies of individuals and imitate their voices, images, and even behavior. This enables unauthorized access to citizens personal data and bank accounts, as well as the creation of fake videos to manipulate public opinion, said Tokayev. He subsequently addressed the topic of information system susceptibilities. Since the commencement of the calendar year, there have been in excess of 40 significant data compromise events, with the most substantial incident transpiring in June. Although ostensibly a majority of these occurrences transpire within the private domain, it is imperative that the state assume comprehensive accountability for the overarching framework of digital security across the nation. The prevailing landscape in the realm of cybersecurity is characterized by ambiguous jurisdiction and a disjointed allocation of responsibilities, the president remarked. President Tokayev also delineated the facilitation of robust communication protocols as an imperative objective. At present, a significant portion of business and official communications, including the transmission of citizens' personal data, takes place via international messaging platforms. Frequently, these systems are leveraged to solicit personal identification numbers, health-related data, and various other confidential information. This methodology poses a significant threat to compliance with data privacy regulations and may result in the unauthorized dissemination of sensitive information across international boundaries. Concurrently, Kazakhstan has engineered a proprietary communication platform, Aitu, which is designed to uphold the requisite security protocols. The administration needs to prioritize the migration of all communications encompassing personally identifiable information to the secure national messaging platform, Tokayev emphasized. The forecast of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) suggests that by 2033, the AI market in Kazakhstan could be raking in a whopping $4.8 trillion. Its slice of the global technology pie will jump from 7 to 29 percent. Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. Iranian authorities will discuss the scope of possible cooperation with the deputy director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, Trend reports. According to him, the IAEA Deputy Director General will visit Iran on August 11. The minister said inspections at Iran's nuclear facilities were not planned until the parties reached an agreement. Iran reports decline in non-oil trade with Azerbaijan Iran's non-oil trade with Azerbaijan saw a significant decline in both value and volume during the first four months of the current Iranian year, reflecting broader downward trends in the countrys export performance. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register Iran reports steep drop in trade imports from Azerbaijan Iran's imports from Azerbaijan saw a sharp decline in both value and volume during the first four months of the current Iranian year, reflecting broader national import contraction and ongoing emphasis on domestic production. Access to paid information is limited If You already have a account, please log in Login Register BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. On August 11, officials from Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency will discuss a new framework for cooperation between the two sides in Tehran, the Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi told reporters, Trend reports. According to him, a delegation led by the deputy director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Iranian Foreign Ministry will hold talks, and there are no plans for IAEA inspections. Araghchi stated that Iran and the IAEA have not reached an agreement on a new framework. Cooperation will not begin until an agreement on a new framework is reached. The new framework will certainly be based on the law enacted by the Iranian parliament. On July 2, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a decree on the entry into force of the law suspending cooperation with the IAEA. According to the law passed by the Iranian parliament, inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency are not allowed to enter the country to conduct inspections. Only if Iran's Supreme National Security Council confirms that the country's peaceful nuclear activities and the safety of its nuclear facilities are guaranteed, the agency's inspectors will be permitted to enter the country. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. The negotiation process between Iran and three European countries (the UK, France, and Germany) on the nuclear program continues, the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei, said at a press conference in Tehran on August 11, Trend reports. According to him, at a meeting in Istanbul, the parties agreed to continue negotiations. Baghaei said that the time and place for the talks havent been decided yet, and discussions are still ongoing to finalize them. The meeting between Iran and the three European countries at the level of deputy foreign ministers took place on July 26 at the Iranian consulate in Turkiye's Istanbul. Vietnam-era bracelet legacy lives on The POW Network continues to receive Voices in Vital America bracelets honoring Vietnam-era POWs, according to the nonprofits chair, Mary Schantag. If they cannot be returned to a living family member, Schantag said such orphan bracelets are forwarded on to the Palm Springs Air Museum, which features a display dedicated to the campaign. We know they have a home now, not just memories and a box in the attic, said Schantag, adding that more than 8 million bracelets remain in circulation. Voices in Vital America, the California group of student activists who launched the campaign in the early 1970s, is gone; such bracelets are still made, because the fate of tens of thousands of U.S. service members is still unknown, Schantag said. All these bracelet wearers made a huge difference, but we still are fighting for the rest to come home, she said. According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, approximately 81,600 Americans remain missing from past conflicts overseas. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. Iran is dissatisfied with the activities of the International Atomic Energy Agency due to the current situation, the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei, said at a press conference in Tehran on August 11, Trend reports. According to him, there has never been a single attack on the nuclear facilities of a country that is a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and this attack was not condemned by the agency. However, this has happened concerning Iran. Baghaei stated that today, an IAEA delegation will hold talks with representatives of the Iranian Foreign Ministry. The talks will be held at the technical level. The current situation is very complicated. On July 2, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a bill suspending cooperation with the IAEA. According to the bill passed by the Iranian parliament, inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) are prohibited from entering the country to conduct inspections. The agency's inspectors may only be permitted to enter the country if Iran's Supreme National Security Council confirms that the country's peaceful nuclear activities and the safety of its nuclear facilities are guaranteed. On June 22, the US launched military airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. It is reported that the airstrikes destroyed the Iranian nuclear facilities. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. Negotiations between Iran and the US are continuing with mediation, the spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry, Esmail Baghaei, said at a press conference in Tehran on August 11, Trend reports. According to the Trend news agency, this was announced by Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghayei at a press conference in Tehran today (August 11). According to him, these negotiations are being conducted by the Swiss embassy, which represents US interests in Iran, and countries that convey the positions of both sides to the opposing parties. However, no decision has yet been made on holding indirect negotiations between the two countries. Baghaei noted that Iran does not confirm the information about indirect talks between Iran and the US mediated by Norway, which was reported in various media outlets. On April 12, 19, and 26, and May 11 and 23, five rounds of indirect talks on Iran's nuclear program took place between Iran and the US. The indirect talks were organized through the mediation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, and were led by an Iranian delegation headed by Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi and a US delegation headed by US Special Representative for the Middle East Steve Witkoff. The first, third, and fourth rounds of negotiations took place in the Omani capital Muscat, while the second and fifth rounds took place in the Italian capital Rome. On June 22, the US launched military airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. It was reported that the airstrikes destroyed Iran's nuclear facilities. BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 11. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian have discussed results of the Washington meeting during a phone conversation, Trend reports via the prime minister's office. The Armenian prime minister presented the Iranian president with the results of the talks held in Washington, emphasizing the opportunities that the peace established between Armenia and Azerbaijan opens up for the region. Pashinyan stressed that regional communication channels will operate within the framework of the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, and jurisdiction of countries and on the basis of reciprocity. He thanked the Iranian president for an objective assessment of the Washington agreements and stressed the importance of his upcoming visit to Armenia. On August 8, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the United States Donald Trump, and Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan signed a joint declaration on the meeting between the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia in Washington. On the same day in Washington, as part of the meeting between President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of the US Donald Trump, and Prime Nikol Pashinyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan initialled the draft Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia and signed a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office (on the closure of the OSCE Minsk Process, the personal representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on the conflict discussed by the Minsk Conference, and the High-Level Planning Group). Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel By Joe Jennings, August 11, 2025 The University of Central Missouri (UCM) will welcome nearly 1,000 new students and their families to campus on Thursday, Aug. 14, as part of UCM Kickoff, marking the start of the fall semester. Residence hall move-in activities will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and local residents should anticipate increased traffic volume, especially near campus and along South Maguire Street, where ongoing road construction may further impact travel. To ensure a smooth and efficient move-in process, temporary traffic changes and designated routes will be in effect around campus: Ellis Complex (Christopher Street Area) Christopher Street (300 block off South Maguire) will be one-way eastbound only. Westbound traffic will be closed at Zoll Street. Unloading zones will be located around the Ellis Complex for drop-off. Vehicles must then be moved to nearby parking lots. South Yeater, Todd and Fitzgerald Halls (Holden Street Area) South Holden Street from East Clark Street to East Hunt Street will be one-way southbound. No northbound traffic will be allowed from East Hunt Street. Houx Street will be westbound only for its entire length. Students are encouraged to access Holden Street from roadways north of campus to avoid congestion on South Maguire. Temporary unloading zones will be available along both Holden and Houx streets. Houts, Hosey and Nickerson Halls (Washington Street Area) South Washington Street from Houx to King Street will be northbound only. No southbound traffic will be allowed from King Street. Students are encouraged to approach via South Warren Street to Hillcrest Drive to avoid Holden and Maguire congestion. Temporary unloading zones will be available along South Washington Street. The UCM Department of Public Safety reminds all families that temporary unloading zones are strictly for unloading only. Vehicles may not be left unattended. After unloading, families must move their vehicles to designated parking areas before returning to assist with moving in. Directional signage will be installed across the campus area to help guide traffic to the correct drop-off locations. The City of Warrensburg is working with construction contractors to maintain two-way traffic on Maguire Street during the move-in timeframe, but travelers are advised to explore alternate north-south routes between the campus and U.S. Highway 50 to help ease congestion. For more information and updates on area traffic, construction and alternate routes, visit rethinkmaguire.com. Visit ucmo.edu/movein for information about UCM Housing and move-in day. Hi, my name is Scott C. Waring and I wrote a few books and am currently a ESL School Owner in Taiwan. I have had my own UFO sighting up close and personal, but that's how it works right? A non believer becomes a believer when they experience their first sighting. You witnessed it, your perceptual field changes, so now you need to share it. I created this site to help the UFO community get a little bit organized. I noticed that there was a lot of chaos when searching for UFO sighting reports, so I hope this site helps. I wanted to support those eyewitnesses who have tried to tell others about what they have seen, yet were laughed at by even closest of friends. More and more each day the governments of the world leak bits and pieces of UFO information to the public. They have a trickle down theory in hopes of slowly getting citizens use to the idea that we are not alone in universe and never have been. The truth is being leaked drop by drop until one day we look around and find ourselves neck high in it. The discovery of alien species in existence is the most monumental scientific event in human history, suppression of that information is a crime against humanity. About me: I live in Taiwan. I OWN MY OWN ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND ONCE HAD 5 SCHOOLS. Am Former USAF at SAC base (flight line). Age: 42 Educ: BA in Elem ed. Masters in Counseling ed. I had two UFO sightings, (30+bus size orbs) in military and in 2012 personally saw the UFO over Taipei 101 building on New Years Day (and recored it). The fires are out of hand, said cowboy Lee Burton of MM Cattle Company in a spare five minutes, as he raced to move cattle to safer pastures. Its a huge deal for this community but we are banding together, and we are all helping our neighbors. On Aug. 2 lighting strikes ignited fires on Bureau of Land Management land 11 miles southwest of the Rio Blanco County town of Meeker. The Grease and Lee fires quickly merged, burning along the southern corridor of Highway 64. The same day, 10 miles southeast of Meeker, the Elk fire was discovered on private land in the Oak Ridge Area. By Aug. 5, authorities increased the national preparedness level from PL3 to PL4, and the Rocky Mountain Area Critical Incident Management Team 3 took command of the fires. Meanwhile, Gov. Jared Polis declared a disaster emergency and authorized the mobilization of the Colorado National Guard to support fire efforts, including additional air support in the form of two Colorado National Guard Chinook helicopters. As of this Sunday, the Elk fire had burned 14,635 acres and the Lee fire 106,672 acres, with nine and 6% containment, respectively. Over a thousand personnel from multiple agencies, along with 14 aircraft and 51 engines, are fighting the fires. The effect of the fires on the rural community has been devastating. According to the Rio Blanco County Sheriffs Office, two homes and 13 structures have been destroyed or damaged. While the town of Meeker was under threat from the encroaching fire along Highway 64 and CR 13, the lush green hay fields have saved it, according to County Commissioner Callie Hendrickson. But while the town is safe and expensive tractors and farm machinery are parked in loose circles in the middle of bright green hay fields, ranchers are struggling. Livestock during August are usually put out to summer pastures in higher elevations. Ninety percent of the Lee fires devastation was on BLM land leased for cattle grazing, said Burton, the cowboy. Ranchers are struggling to find new pastures to graze. Hendrickson spoke of a family of sheep ranchers who were between two packs of wolves and now are hemmed in by fire and are racing to get their sheep to safety. Featured Local Savings Also central to the towns economy are the large numbers of hunters and anglers drawn to the area for its pristine wilderness. Situated at the entrance to the Flat Tops Wilderness, Meeker is home to several outfitters and guiding companies. Jimmy Oswald, General Manager of LKS Outfitters, which operates Flat Top Wilderness Guides, Horn Fork Guides and Rivers Bend Outfitters, said the company has already had to cancel several planned trips. We had two additional fishing trips booked Aug. 6-10 and 13-17 and had to cancel both of them, Oswald said. Where the base is on County Road 43, we had to evacuate. Those trips cost us about $25,000. LKS also has 15 U.S. Forest Service designated camp sites on the White River and on the Flat Tops Wilderness, which they can begin setting up Aug. 15 in time to take hunters up Aug. 31. But each camp takes a three-person team a full day to set up and any delay means the camps wont be ready in time for the start of hunting season Sept. 2. Were either going to operate at full capacity or we arent going to operate. Its all or nothing for us, said Oswald. Financially, theres not enough money in it to run at a third capacity with the amount of horses. I have 58 horses and mules on site and another 20 on summer pasture in Burns, and now we need to get them out with Highway 13 closed." He added: "Running at partial capacity isnt an option. Oswald said his situation isnt unique. Ranchers are struggling to move cattle and sheep quickly, working day and night. One ranch that suffered is the Clark White River Ranch off Highway 64 and CR 13. On the north side of the White River all is lush and in bloom, flowers snaking around the green gate. But across a wooden and steel bridge, there is nothing but charred grass and the stumped remains of trees. Two large buildings have been saved by fire lines, but, up the hills leading to Joe Bush Mountain, there is nothing but black and grey. There has been oil and gas infrastructure threatened by the fires, as well, said Hendrickson, the county official. And those are the areas ranchers work in during lean times. Theyre ranchers lifelines. For an already struggling rural community, this is a lot. The focus by the incident commanders is on patrol and mop up containment lines to keep the fire from spreading. Structure protection resources were kept in place around residences and other at risk values. As the progress is made on the Elk fire, authorities plan to move resources to assist in the Lee fire operations. Welcome Guest! You are here: Home One Man, One Vote March of 300 MPs to EC Office Stopped Delhi Police and Security Personnel Monday August 11, 2025 forcibly stopped the march of over 300 MPs to the Election Commission Office in New Delhi Monday August 11, 2025 6:02 PM , ummid.com News Network New Delhi: Delhi Police and Security Personnel Monday August 11, 2025 forcibly stopped the march of over 300 MPs to the Election Commission Office in New Delhi. The 300 MPs were led by Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi. They were marching to the Election Commission Office from the Parliament building when the police and security forces stopped them from moving ahead. The MPs were later detained and taken to the Police Station. Our fight is not political This is the fight to save the Constitution of India This is the fight for One Man, One Vote, Rahul Gandhi told reporters from inside a Police van after his detention. Our demand is simple One Man, One Vote. We want pure and transparent Voter Lists, he added. The Election Commission said it had no idea of the MPs meeting him. However, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh told reporters that the Commission was informed beforehand. Later, the Election Commission said the MPs can meet at 12:00 PM, but not all, only 30 MPs. "Vote Chori" The Members of Parliament of INDIA bloc and other opposition parties marched to the Election Commission Office in New Delhi days after Rahul Gandhi claimed massive rigging in the Election system of India in favour of the ruling BJP. In two video presentations released one after another, Rahul Gandhi said fake voters were added in the voter lists who cast their votes at multiple booths and in multiple states. Rahul shared with the country, the analysis of Mahadevapura assembly seat in Bangalore Central Lok Sabha constituency and claimed discovery of more than 1 lakh fake voters. In the video, Rahul Gandhi also said the " Mahadevapura Model of Vote Chori " is replicated in over 100 Lok Sabha constituencies of the country. "Vote Chor, Gaddi Chod" The MPs marching today were raising slogans "Vote Chor, Gaddi Chod" and were holding placards written with "Democracy Under Threat" and other slogans. Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi, who was leading the woman MPs, was seen holding a copy of the Indian Constitution. Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav and Congress MP Imran Pratapgadhi were seen jumping the barricades to break the Police bandobast. The MPs were stopped and detained soon after they came out of the Sansad Bhavan and marched towards Nirvachan Sadan at Ashoka Road in New Delhi. Among the MPs who have been detained today included Congress President Malikarjun Khadge, senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, Sanjay Raut of Shiv Sena (UBT), Misa Bharti and Manoj Jha of RJD, Supriya Sule of NCP (Sharad Pawar) and Sagarika Ghose of TMC. 3 Female MPs Faint TMC MPs Mahua Moitra and Mitali Bag, and Congress MP Sanjana Jatav fainted and fell on the road during the opposition protest. Along with "voter fraud" during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the opposition MPs were also protesting against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls currently underway in poll-bound Bihar. Delhi police said they have permission to take 30 MPs to the Election Commission. "There is a permission for 30 MPs. We will take 30 MPs [to the Election Commission of India] when we get their names", New Delhi DCP Devesh Kumar Mahla said. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic Welcome Guest! You are here: Home Worldwide outrage as Israel kills 5 Al Jazeera Journalists in Gaza Countries and international organizations Monday August 11, 2025 condemned Israel in one voice for killing five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza. Tuesday August 12, 2025 1:26 AM , ummid.com with inputs from Agencies Gaza Strip: Countries and international organizations Monday August 11, 2025 condemned Israel in one voice for killing five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza. Al Jazeera confirmed the death of Anas al-Sharif, 28, along with fellow journalist Mohammed Qreiqeh and videographers Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa in the strike, which it said targeted a tent near Shifa Hospital. An official at the hospital said two other people were also killed in the strike. British Prime Minister Keir Starmers spokesperson said the premier is gravely concerned about the repeated targeting of journalists by the Israeli Occupation Forces (IDF). Reporters covering conflicts are afforded protection under international humanitarian law, and journalists must be able to report independently, without fear, and Israel must ensure journalists can carry out their work safely, the spokesperson said. European Union Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas also said the EU condemns the killing of five Al Jazeera journalists in the Israeli airstrike outside Al Shifa hospital in Gaza City, including Anas Al Sharif - one of Al Jazeeras most recognisable faces in Gaza. We take note of the Israeli allegation that the group was Hamas terrorists, but there is a need in these cases to provide clear evidence, in the respect of rule of law, to avoid targeting of journalists, she says in a statement on X, following a virtual discussion between EU foreign ministers on the Gaza war. Crimes Beyond Imagination Qatars Prime Minister also slammed Israel for killing the journalists working for its Al Jazeera network, describing the deaths as crimes beyond imagination. May God have mercy on journalists Anas Al-Sharif, Mohammed Qraiqea, and their colleagues, Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said in a post on X. The UN human rights agency called the killings a grave breach of international humanitarian law. Israel must respect and protect all civilians, including journalists, the office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said on X. The UN human rights agency also said that at least 242 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023. We call for immediate, safe and unhindered access to Gaza for all journalists, Turks office said. The Foreign Press Association said it was outraged by the killing, insisting that the colleagues were carrying out their duty as journalists and reporting on events as they occurred. It dismissed Israels labeling of Palestinian journalists as terrorists often without verifiable evidence, turning them into targets. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the acknowledged murder by the Israeli army. Qatar based Al Jazeera called the attack that killed its journalists a desperate attempt to silence voices exposing the Israeli occupation, and described Sharif as one of Gazas bravest journalists. Al Jazeera also said it followed repeated incitement and calls by multiple Israeli officials and spokespersons to target the fearless journalist Anas al-Sharif and his colleagues. People gathered at Sheikh Radwan cemetery in the heart of the Gaza Strip to mourn the journalists, whose bodies lay wrapped in white sheets at al-Shifa hospital before their burial. Friends, colleagues and relatives embraced and consoled one another. Islam al-Zaanoun, a news correspondent for Palestine TV and several Arab channels who participated in the funeral, said Sundays attack was a turning point in the world of journalism. Despite all the threats he received and the Israeli medias incitement against him, al-Sharif continued reporting. Now one question haunts me: Who will be next on the list? Will it be me? she asked. Follow ummid.com WhatsApp Channel for all the latest updates. Select Language to Translate in Urdu, Hindi, Marathi or Arabic A state trooper was arrested at his home in Alamosa on Saturday, according to a news release from the Colorado State Patrol. Brandon Stevens, a member of the State Patrol since April 2023, faces charges of domestic violence and second-degree assault, officials said. He has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. We respect and defer to the 12th Judicial District Attorneys Office and our judicial system regarding this charge, the news release stated. Inna Moll is Miss Universo Chile 2025 "To God be the Glory". Grand symphonic epic concert, photo exhibition held in Sydney to mark World Anti-Fascist War Xinhua) 08:31, August 11, 2025 SYDNEY, Aug. 10 (Xinhua) -- A grand symphonic epic concert and a photo exhibition were held at Sydney Town Hall on Saturday to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. The event, titled "Ode to Peace and the Future," was attended by over 2,000 people from China, Australia and other countries. Upon entering the Sydney Town Hall, attendees were greeted by 80 historical photographs from World War II, capturing scenes of people around the world bravely resisting fascist aggression. Many guests stopped to view those photos carefully and take pictures. At the concert, the Huaxing Arts Group Australia joined hands with Australian artists to present performances featuring symphony, chorus, solo performances, and poetry recitals, which struck a deep chord with the audience. Chinese Consul General in Sydney Wang Yu said in his speech that the people of China and Australia stood united against fascism, supporting each other, and together made important contributions to the final victory of the world's anti-fascist war. All countries must work together to safeguard international fairness and justice, and to uphold the outcomes of the victory of World Anti-Fascist War and the post-war international order, he said. Mark Buttigieg, a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales (NSW), representing the state's premier, attended and addressed the event. The Chinese people made a massive contribution in World War II, he said, emphasizing that people must be vigilant all the time and constantly promote the cause of peace. The event was hosted by the Huaxing Arts Group Australia and co-organized by the Chinese Consulate-General in Sydney, the Maritime Union of Australia, and NSW South Coast Labor Council. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. Just click here. In 2020, Susan Collins' Democratic challenger raised so much money, she couldn't spend it all. Yet Sara Gideon lost in a blowout. Maine's moderate Republican senator defeated her 51% to 42%, even as the Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden , won the state 53% to 44%. With the 2026 midterm elections drawing near, Collins again looks vulnerable as voters across the country, especially in Maine , show signs of souring on the leader of her party, President Donald Trump . Political analyst Amy Walter detailed the dangerous terrain Collins is navigating in an efficient X post, writing in part: "the red lights are really blaring in MAINE , where Morning Consult polling shows Trump underwater by 17 pts. SEN Collins at -16" Quite an opportunity for the Democrats , if there ever was one, in a midterm cycle in New England . As Decision Desk HQ notes, Maine is a D+6.9% state as ranked by the Cook Partisan Voting Index, meaning its electorate is more Democratic than the national average by nearly 7 percentage points. And yet and yet. Maine has not elected a Democratic senator since George Mitchell retired in 1995. (Maine's other senator, Angus King , caucuses with the Democrats , but is an independent.) So Maine Democrats have been here before, and not only in 2020. In 2008, an election that saw Republicans lose eight seats in the U.S. Senate , Collins was barely contested, winning reelection with more than 61% of the vote even as Democrat Barack Obama won Maine with 57.6%. So how will 2026 be any different? Republicans claim with confidence that it won't be. "Authenticity matters and Susan Collins is one of the most authentic senators ever. All the dark Democrat money on Earth can't change that," Republican operative Kevin McLaughlin told me. McLaughlin, a top GOP strategist at the National Republican Senatorial Committee in 2020, is running the 501(c)4 political nonprofit organization, Stronger America , formed to ensure that Collins, 72, will return to Capitol Hill for a sixth term. Pine Tree Results, a super PAC that will advocate on the senator's behalf with advertising and other political activity, is relying on a mixture of experienced Maine operatives and national strategists. The latter group features Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio , whose prominent clients include Trump. In Collins' last campaign, Democratic groups attacked her relentlessly, and largely with impunity, throughout 2019. Republican groups, for the most part, did not come to the senator's rescue until the 2020 election year got underway. This time around, the organizations backing the incumbent Republican senator are planning an aggressive air war beginning this year, hoping to shield her from both the opposition and any voter backlash against Trump that materializes. Although history and Trump's sinking approval ratings suggest a midterm rebuke of the president is in the offing, 18 months out the map of Senate seats on the ballot still favors the Republicans preserving their 53-47 majority. It's easy, then, to see why Maine matters. Given their available opportunities, it's hard to see Democrats retaking the Senate majority without ousting Collins. But first, Democrats need to find a strong, viable challenger. So far, they haven't. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Kirsten Gillibrand , both of New York , have failed to land a topflight recruit. Representative Jared Golden , the centrist Democrat who holds Maine's otherwise solidly Republican Second Congressional District , took a pass. Many voters like the state's two-term Democratic Governor Janet Mills , who can't run for that office again. But at 77, she's unlikely to pursue a six-year Senate term as her next act. That leaves the Democrats with Jordan Wood , a former congressional aide; he closed the second quarter with an underwhelming $800,000 or so in the bank. Meanwhile, Cathy Breen , a former state senator, may yet jump into the Democratic primary. Hardly the all-star lineup Democrats need to take on Collins, a battle-tested, savvy politician built for scenarios just like this. Examining the DSCC's website, it appears Democrats believe they can soften Collins up by casting her as an ally and facilitator of Trump. That's despite her votes against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act the president's tax-and-spending bill and a rescissions package that eliminated $9 billion in previously approved federal spending. (The rescissions package slashed funding for Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio , both of whose stations and programs are often widely used in small, rural states like Maine .) It's a strategy that has worked on countless senators over the years. It just has yet to work on Collins. Unusually, Trump appears to be giving Collins room to maneuver. Rather than threaten to punish her with a GOP primary challenger, as he has in response to recalcitrance from Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky and outgoing Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina , the president has let Collins oppose him without voicing a peep of frustration, perhaps recognizing no other Republican is positioned to weather a midterm storm the way she is. There is some polling to suggest this time might be different. But even if Democrats finally get their white whale in Collins, the Senate map remains a tough slog. North Carolina , now an open seat with Tillis' retirement, is the Democrats' next best opportunity to flip a seat and North Carolina is an R+3.2% state. Every other Republican-held seat up for election next year is in a state with a partisan voting index that favors the GOP by double digits. And Democrats will have to defend vulnerable seats in Michigan and Georgia . Then again, as Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky told me some years back when I interviewed him for the Washington Examiner during his long tenure as the Republican leader: "The map doesn't win elections The atmosphere is not irrelevant." (COMMENT, BELOW) David M. Drucker is columnist covering politics and policy. He is also a senior writer for The Dispatch and the author of "In Trump's Shadow: The Battle for 2024 and the Future of the GOP ." When Mehrdad Mehdipour was arrested on June 22 by federal immigration agents at the home of his Colorado Springs host and friend, Iranian Christian-advocate Mohamad Faridi, Faridi was angered. Mehdipour had been surrounded, cuffed and hauled away based on lies from the pit of hell, he fumed. Catching himself, Faridi added, I need to be a good Christian. He said its a thought hes turned to often recently. Mehdipours apprehension was part of a national immigration raid targeting Iranians, according to a news release from the Department of Homeland Security on June 23. The release said Mehdipour was processed for expedited removal from the United States in 2023. He was one of 11 Iranians arrested in the June 22 sweep, the release stated. It also said he was one of two Iranian men arrested at Faridis home. False pretenses and lies, said Faridi, who, as Mehdipours religious mentor, offered him shelter in his Colorado Springs home after Mehdipour had fled Iran to avoid persecution for selling Christian literature, including the Bible. Faridi said 2023 was the year that Mehdipour came to the United States, and also the year that DHS issued Mehdipour a Social Security card and work permit, allowing him to be in the United States. In Iran, all people are born into Islam, Faridi said in an interview with The Gazette, and Christianity is widely persecuted. In 2019, Mehdipour learned about Christianity and discreetly started the process of conversion. He (Mehdipour) started searching to see if there is a God, or any truth, and the more he studied Islam, the more he realized its not the religion for humanity, said Faridi. Mehdipour routinely traveled to neighboring Turkey to meet a formerly Islamic Christian pastor who was teaching him the gospel, and during a 2021 trip, he met Faridi, who frequents Turkey on evangelical trips. Faridi and Mehdipour became close friends, talking almost daily about Christianity. During this period, while living in Iran, Mehdipour operated an underground print shop of Christian literature, mainly Bibles. When the Iranian government found out about his business, he knew he had to flee, according to Faridi. His first call was to his friend in Colorado Springs. Mehdipour came to the U.S. in 2023 to live with Faridi and his family. He obtained parole status, meaning he was granted access to the United States on an asylum claim of escaping religious persecution. Parole is not an admission or entry, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, but rather the paroled alien is treated as an applicant for admission. DHS then issued him a work permit and he got a Social Security card, according to Faridi. Until June 22, Mehdipour worked for a mobile mechanic in town, Faridi said, while never missing a Sunday church service. When federal agents showed up at Faridis doorstep looking for Mehdipour, Faridi called Mehdipour to let him know. Mehdipour was out servicing a car and returned home within 15 minutes. When he arrived, the show was spectacular, Faridi said, describing the number of agents and vehicles that descended on his house. There were at least 15 agents, including those identified by FBI insignia, some with their weapons visible, who surrounded Mehdipour immediately, Faridi said. They did not ask for his Social Security card or his work permit when they arrested him. I was telling the FBI that we have complied with everything and that he is here legally. They said, You all say that, Faridi said. When Faridi approached Mehdipour as he sat handcuffed in a squad car, Mehdipour apologized for embarrassing him in front of their neighbors. Then, he asked for his Bible, his friend said. DHS press release DHS June 23 press release states that immigration enforcement agents arrested Mehdipour from the same location as another arrestee, and that the two arrestees lived together in the Springs. They did not. We dont know who this guy is, Faridi said, regarding the second Iranian arrested in Colorado Springs. Everything other than where he crossed the border and the city that he lived, everything else in that little paragraph is a lie. We know who Mehdipour is. He lived with us, we knew him, and when we read this, we were thinking, They must have the wrong Mehrdad, Faridi said, irritably. Mehdipours attorney, James Blaise, reinforced Faridis version of events. Blaise is an immigration lawyer at the Pacific Justice Institute, a nonprofit organization that offers legal representation free of charge to people facing religious, immigration or parental rights issues. When Faridi reached out to Blaise, Blaise said it was obvious that Mehdipours case fit his firms standards. Part of the reason PJI took his case is because he does face a lot of risk if he were to return to Iran. He was highly involved with helping convert others to Christianity, which is outlawed in Iran. He was involved with providing gospel books to individuals, thats also outlawed in Iran. If he returns to Iran, he could be arrested or even killed, Blaise said. Blaise affirmed Faridis claims that Mehdipour lived with Faridi, came to the United States legally on a legitimate fear of religious persecution and that DHS misrepresented the case in their press release. The real charge against him is that he entered the country without being admitted or paroled. In Mehrdads case, he was paroled into the country in August of 2023. That first year, he did file for asylum, and hes been here ever since, Blaise said. The Gazette reached out to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and they restated that Mehdipour was served with expedited removal paperwork in 2023, and said, Aliens who have been authorized to work in the U.S. are not conferred any form of lawful status and can be placed in immigration proceedings or detained at any time. Going forward Mehdipour has been in federal custody for over a month and has been held in two detention facilities: the immigration detention facility in Aurora and the Sweetwater Detention Facility in Sweetwater County, Wyo. Faridi said Mehdipours stay in the Sweetwater facility made him hopeless. He was very glad that he returned to Aurora, Faridi said, because he said there are more Christians there, and at least they feed you in Aurora. Mehdipours latest court hearing was last Monday, during which Blaise said the judge ruled in their favor. However, DHS attorney motioned to change the charges that Mehdipour faces, accusing him of entering the United States illegally. It was quite a day, Blaise said. When the charges were changed, it was disheartening. Ive never reached a desired outcome, then had the charges switched. Its just never happened to me before. The initial charges that he faced revolved around a technicality of whether or not Mehdipour was paroled in the United States, that is, whether he was granted permission to temporarily stay in the country. The government is arguing that Mehrdad was never admitted or paroled, and that he should be returned to Iran and be removed from the United States. Our argument is that he was paroled, he has not violated any of the terms and conditions on which he entered the country, and he faces a huge risk by returning to Iran, Blaise said. On Aug. 13, Mehdipour will face a judge yet again, and at this hearing, it will be decided if the new charges against him will stick. Blaise says after the hearing, Mehdipour will have a merit hearing, which will decide if he can stay in the U.S. Blaise expressed concern about packed immigration courts in which judges see upward of six cases an hour, putting huge pressure on attorneys to present cases quickly and effectively. I understand that theres a lot of cases that are being heard at this time. I just wish that we had the opportunity to articulate his circumstances; they are so unique versus others. There is not a possibility of him being able to return to his home country safely, and that is rare, Blaise said. There is not a way to tell the judge, except through documents, that this individual has truly put his life on the line to practice his faith. We are doing everything we can to show that hes not only a great person, but that we really fear for his safety if he were to be returned to his home country. Faridis ministry Faridi became a citizen of the United States in 2018 after escaping Iran for similar reasons to Mehdipour. In Iran, Faridi was a taxi driver, according to his memoir, Forsaking My Fathers Religion. He kept a Bible on his dashboard, preaching the gospel to those curious, until one passenger reported him to the Iranian government. One of Faridis friends called him and warned him of a government investigation into his religious practices, and to protect his family, he came to the U.S. After becoming a citizen, Faridi started Iranian Christians International, a ministry that travels to Irans neighboring countries to help people convert from Islam to Christianity and provides a community for converts in Colorado Springs. A Teller County judge ruled that the woman accused of sparking the Highland Lakes fire that burned more than 150 acres near Divide last year is competent to proceed to trial. Lowa Tillitt, 77, also referred to as Lacey Tillitt in public records, was arrested Jan. 16 for allegedly starting the fire Oct. 28. Tillitt faces one charge of felony arson endangering more than $1 million in property. Law enforcement at the time stated that the fire burned 166 acres northwest of Divide and caused more than 700 households to be evacuated. Tillitt's legal proceedings so far have primarily focused on her competency to proceed to trial. In March, Tillitt was placed on a mental health stay, according to past Gazette coverage Monday's hearing brought two competency evaluators to the stand, one who argued Tillitt was incompetent and the other claiming the opposite. The two completed their evaluations within months of each other. According to an arrest affidavit previously obtained by The Gazette, Tillitt allegedly told investigators she had been burning cardboard boxes inside her house in her wood-burning stove at 13 Beaver Lake Circle. When she opened the oven to burn more material, the flames escaped, lighting the couch on fire. The defense called Dr. Eric Weinstein, a psychologist with experience in both Pennsylvania and Colorado, to the stand first. Weinstein argued Tillitt was incompetent to proceed, citing his experience with her during his virtual evaluation. Weinstein testified he had concerns about Tillitt's ability to communicate, saying she showcased "executive function difficulties" and often acted confused, anxious and agitated. While she appeared lucid at times, it was in "bursts," and Weinstein said he has concerns over her reliability. "She was kind of all over the place," Weinstein said. "At some points she'll perform well, but that's not consistent" Tillitt underwent multiple screening tests that revealed she has severe depression and some form of dementia, along with her reported history of substance abuse and post-traumatic stress disorder. Weinstein said Tillitt is treatable, but as of right now, she is incompetent to proceed. During cross-examination, he noted Tillitt did understand much about the criminal justice system, "she's not going to be able to provide an accurate representation of her self or the events." Prosecutors called Dr. Jackie Grimmett, who said Tillitt is competent to proceed with hearings. Featured Local Savings Grimmett agreed with Weinstein on some aspects, particularly that Tillitt does understand the judicial system. For example, Tillitt told Grimmett she wanted to speak with her attorney first and was able to answer the roles of the players in a courtroom. However, Grimmett disagreed with Weinstein on a few key issues, specifically the dementia test administered by both evaluators. Grimmett testified that Tillitt does not meet the criteria for a dementia diagnosis or a similar "cognitive impairment." Instead, Grimmett said Tillitt met some of the criteria for an unspecified personality disorder with borderline features. Weinstein testified to the contrary during cross-examination, saying Tillitt does not exhibit symptoms of a personality disorder. Grimmett testified Tillitt's agitation and confusion acknowledged by Weinstein could be a symptom of a personality disorder, but not dementia. Tillitt's irritability and hostile nature at times was not of note for Grimmett, who testified the emotions were not inappropriate given the nature of their conversation. In addition, Sabrina Romero, who spent time with Tillitt in the Teller County jail, testified Tillitt told her she was going to "fake" the competency test by acting like she didn't understand the evaluator's questions. According to Romero, she took Tillitt "under her wing," helping her clean her cell and get in and out of the shower. Romero is currently awaiting trial for several felony charges, according to inmate records. After testimony, Judge William Moller found Tillitt to be competent to stand trial. Moller described Tillitt as attentive, and "playing to the court." Tillitt appeared in custody donning the typical brown Teller County jail jumpsuit. She was visibility agitated and anxious during the hearing, occasionally breaking down in tears. Moller allowed multiple "comfort" breaks for Tillitt when she started to show excessive emotion. This is not the first time that Tillitt has been in trouble with law enforcement, including several incidents in the months leading up to the fire. Tillitt has a misdemeanor case in which she faces two charges harassment and obstructing a peace officer, firefighter or emergency medical service provider from a June 2024 incident. Five days before Tillitt is alleged to have started the October 2024 fire, a Teller County judge ruled against Tillitt and forced the sale of the home at 13 Beaver Lake Circle. As of Monday, Tillitt remains in Teller County jail on a $60,800 bond. Her next hearing is scheduled Aug. 29. Protests in Sicily against plan to build world's longest suspension bridge. The Strait of Messina was shaken by a 2.6-magnitude earthquake on Monday, days after the Italian government greenlit a controversial plan to build a 13.5 billion bridge between Sicily and the mainland. The tremor was registered in the sea between Reggio Calabria and Messina at 06.30, at a depth of 11 km, according to the National Institute for Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). On Saturday, several thousand people marched in the Sicilian city of Messina in protest against the planned bridge, raising concerns about its environmental impact and risk of mafia infiltration as well as its structural viability in an earthquake-prone area. Last week the governmental economic planning committee CIPESS approved the plan to build what would be the world's longest suspension bridge, spanning 3.3 kilometres over the Strait of Messina. Deputy premier and transport minister Matteo Salvini, who resurrected the bridge project after its planned construction was shelved a decade ago over budget constraints, said the landmark structure should be in operation by 2032 or 2033. Salvini has said the bridge will represent "the crowning glory of Italian engineering" and would be built according to "new technical, safety and environmental standards. On Monday afternoon Salvini shared a post citing the approval of the National Council of Geologists for the bridge, as well as a video clip appearing to mock an irate protester, with the caption: "I share with you the calm and in-depth arguments of this expert in public works. Could it be the heat...?" The Italian government recently announced that it will seek to classify the Ponte as a strategic military asset amid a push to meet NATO's five per cent GDP defence expenditure target. Plans to undertake the massive infrastructure project, rejected by previous governments due to high costs and engineering impracticability, date back to Roman times. Eva Osborne Every summer, and sometimes even earlier, third-level students across the country begin the painstaking search for accommodation in their university cities. As well as a lack of availability, price is another big issue for students and their families when they are looking for somewhere to live for the academic year. So, how much does it cost for student accommodation at Irish colleges? And what sources can help students and their families secure housing for the academic year? University College Dublin (UCD) is leading the way in terms of the most expensive college for student housing, with students being asked to fork out 11,764.80 for an en-suite room in Village 3 of the college's on-campus accommodation. With a 735 booking and security deposit, a monthly license of 1,305.15, and a monthly utilities bill of 60.80, it snatches the title of the most expensive on-campus accommodation option for students in the State. On the lower end of UCD's scale, its cheapest option will set students and their families back 5,666.44 for the academic year. This fee is for a shared bedroom in Village 1. Trinity College Dublin's student accommodation requires a hefty wallet too, with a 38-week stay in its Kavanagh Court/3rd Party Student Accommodation costing 305 per week, or 11,590 in total. In the college's Heritage buildings, students will pay 8,875.47 for a room. The cheapest place to stay is in Trinity Hall, where a shared/twin ensuite will cost 5,930.25 for the academic year. The most expensive on-campus accommodation option for students at the University of Galway is in Dunlin Village, where a standard plus double room with a private bathroom will cost 881 per month, on top of a 250 booking deposit and 631 instalment deposit. This makes for a total price of 8,810. The cheapest option is Corrib Village, where a bed in a standard sharing twin room will cost 362 per month, on top of a 250 deposit fee and 112 instalment deposit. 3,620 is the total for this option. For an on-campus room in Maynooth University, students can expect to pay 7,003 for a single room with an ensuite for the academic year in Rye Hall. A single room with a shared bathroom will bring the price down to 5,411 for the college year. Back in Dublin, rates at Dublin City University (DCU) for a single bed reach 6,872.89, excluding a refundable 831.40 deposit. The cheapest option appears to be a stay in a single room in St Patrick's accommodation, with the total for the academic year coming to 6,035.53, excluding the refundable 730.10 deposit. At University College Cork (UCC), a single ensuite bedroom in its University Hall accommodation will cost 6,305 alongside a 650 utility charge. A double ensuite bedroom in Crow's Nest will cost 8,585 for the academic year with a 650 utilities charge added on. The cheapest option at UCC is a twin non-ensuite bedroom in Castlewhite Apartments, where it will cost 3,816 for the academic year as well as a 650 utilities charge. In Limerick, the most expensive on-campus accommodation option is in University of Limerick's Thomond/Cappavilla two-bed apartment. A total of 7,905 for the academic year and a 5oo deposit is required for a room there. The cheapest option is a standard bedroom in the university's off-campus housing at Troy Village. A room in a five, six, or seven-bedroom apartment there will cost 5,159 with a 500 deposit required. Accommodation support AMLE (Aontas na Mac Leinn in Eirinn), the third-level students' union, has supports in place for students seeking accommodation. They encourage students to visit their college's students union for advice or help securing accommodation for the academic year. Student unions also give landlord advice and advice on managing money. Individual colleges also have supports in place to help students and their families look for and secure accommodation, both on and off campus. The University of Galway has the Accommodation Advisory Service, and many other colleges direct students to its residence offices or StudentPad, a student accommodation search engine. It's that time of year again. Join us in supporting people affected by cancer in the region. The Solas Cancer Support Centres Run and Walk for Life returns to the streets of Waterford City on Sunday, October 12, and Dungarvan Greenway on Saturday, October 11. The 10K Run and Walk in Dungarvan starts at 10am on Saturday, October 11, at Walton Park. The 10k Run and Walk on Sunday, October 12, starts at 10am on the Quay in Waterford City. The popular 4K walk will also be available this year to both Waterford and Dungarvan, encouraging families to take part in tandem with the 10K routes. A virtual option is also available, and workplaces are being encouraged to once again #GoOrangeForSolas. Registration is now open, sign up here. A SETU business academic has been re-appointed to the Executive of the International Council for Canadian Studies (ICCS). John Maher was reappointed to the position at the Counci's recent AGM in York University Toronto. Mr Maher will appointed the role of Treasurer by the Presidents of the individual national associations of Canadian Studies which include Brazil, Central European Countries, China, Cuba, France, German Speaking countries, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, African countries, Russia, Spain, UK, and the US. The ICCS provides doctoral research bursaries which fund researchers to travel to Canada and spend time at a host university or research Institution there. The Council recognises excellence in Canadian Studies with respect to doctoral dissertations in French and English, books written in these languages, and service to the discipline over many years in the form of a Governor General's award. For further information, see https://iccs-ciec.ca/awards-fellowships/ John will serve as one of three executive directors in the role as Treasurer and has responsibilities for the Council's financial management, accounts, and investment policy for the endowment fund managed by the National Bank of Canada. The participation with the ICCS underlines SETU's engagement with Canada and Canadian scholarship, all the more important as universities there may now participate as partners with SETU in European funding opportunities under the EU Horizon programme. Similarly SETU may also partner with Canadian Universities in some research streams provided by the National Research Council in Canada. This builds on the relationship already established with Memorial University in Newfoundland. (MUN). Access to Newfoundland from Ireland has been improved in 2025 by the provision of direct flights by WestJet which flies direct to St John's from Dublin until October this year. Interaction with MUN is a key ingredient of the activity by the Centre for Newfoundland and Labrador Studies at SETU and for communities in the wider region. In semester 1 of 2025-26 a further set of themed lectures with be hosted by this Centre, building on the Three Sisters series established last year. See https://wit-ie.libguides.com/the-three-sisters-lecture-series Nominations for this years Local Ireland Media Awards have been announced following a record number of entries, with the Waterford News & Star thrilled to be shortlisted in four categories. More than 700 entries were made for this years awards, which introduced two new categories for Political Coverage of the Year and Young Journalist of the Year. Waterford News & Star journalist Darragh Murphy has been nominated in the categories of Young Journalist of the Year and Best News story, for his exceptional work titled 'Have you donated to the house of horrors?' Darragh Murphy has been nominated in both Young Journalist of the Year and Best News Story categories for the Local Ireland Media Awards. Darragh's story detailed the neglect and abuse of animals at Deise Animal Sanctuary in Ballymacarbry, Co. Waterford. Owner of the sanctuary, Ms Pat Edwards, made national news headlines last year following her guilty plea and eight-month prison sentence for multiple animal abuses which took place at the local sanctuary. In the direct aftermath of this court hearing, a GoFundMe page was organised, where over 10,000 was raised in support of Pat Edwards and the sanctuary. Ms Edwards later appealed the severity of her custodial sentence. At the appeal hearing, the sentence was suspended for one year on condition that Ms Edwards not have possession or control of any animals save for one pet dog, and that the animal sanctuary cease operations. The sanctuary has since closed. The story featured exclusive insight from various parties, including ISPCA Inspectors and former proprietors of Deise Animal Sanctuary, including Pat Edwards herself. It also included images, which showed the scale of neglect present at the sanctuary. The article highlighted how GoFundMe fundraisers can, inadvertently or otherwise, withhold key information and potentially mislead donors. Fr Liam Power has been nominated under the Columnist of the Year category for his column Church must reassess formation programmes. Fr Liam Power's column 'Church must reassess formation programmes' which has been nominated under the Columnist of the Year category in the Local Ireland Media Awards. Fr Liam Powers fortnightly column, A Question of Faith, is a very progressive treatment of issues impacting the Catholic Church and broader society. It is impeccably researched, and provides a nuanced view of a variety of topics and themes, including this shortlisted column, which focussed on church formation programmes. Fr Power brings together facts and research, including theological research, and imbues his columns with his own lived experience and that of his fellow members of the priesthood and religious orders. His columns tackle national and international themes. He does not hold back in his views on challenging and difficult subject matter, delivering his viewpoints with a wisdom founded in research and careful consideration. Fr Power's column is an essential read for both those who practice the Catholic faith, and those who dont, no matter what their religion may be, or, indeed, if they are of no religion. It informs a better understanding and a more rounded public conversation on all aspects of church and faith, including the role of the Catholic Church in modern Waterford and Irish society. Finally, the Waterford News & Star has also been shortlisted in the Best Supplement category for its excellent 'Pride of the Deise' publication. This publication coincided with the weeklong series of events for the 2024 Pride of the Deise Festival in Waterford, which culminated in a parade through the city. The supplement included interviews and articles with a huge range of people from the LGBTQIA+ community in Waterford. Waterford News & Star publication 'Pride of the Deise 2024' has been nominated for Best Supplement. Pride of the Deise is a not-for-profit, volunteer-run community organisation, rooted in the heart of Waterford City, which is dedicated to celebrating inclusivity and diversity. The supplement sees the Waterford News & Star team up with this community to proudly champion Waterford as a welcoming and safe space for all, with extensive coverage of the festival, from its array of speakers, interactive workshops and performances, to those behind the scenes of the festival and the stories they have to tell. The Local Ireland Media Awards are now in their 10th year, with headline sponsor the National Lottery on board for the eighth time. This years awards have also received support from Coimisiun na Mean. President of Local Ireland and Managing Director of the Southern Star Sean Mahon said: This year's Local Ireland Media Awards have seen record entries again from talented journalist, digital and commercial local newspaper personnel across Ireland, which just goes to show how people in our industry view the prestige associated with winning a category. "I don't envy our judges who have a challenging job deciding on the winners due to the high quality of entries. I'd also like to thank the National Lottery for their continued support of these awards. Working together is a great fit because both the National Lottery and all our local newspaper members are passionate about supporting local communities. The National Lottery has its own special category for Community Journalist of the Year. Jennifer Crowe, Head of Corporate Affairs for the National Lottery, said: The stories shortlisted for this years National Lottery category are a testament to the strength and spirit of communities across Ireland. Through the lens of local journalism, we see the heart of our society, people coming together, overcoming challenges, and making a difference. Its an honour to help recognise these powerful community stories. Media Development Commissioner Ronan ODomnhaill said: Coimisiun na Mean prioritises the availability of high-quality journalism and we are delighted to support the upcoming Local Ireland Media Awards, to recognise the talent and commitment of local newspapers and their work supporting and informing local communities. We believe access to good quality and trustworthy news for all citizens is critical for a well-functioning society and so far our journalism schemes have funded almost 2.2 million to Local Ireland members across the country. Coimisiun na Mean will continue to support the sector with the announcement of further journalism schemes later this year. Nineteen categories reflecting the best of journalism, photography, design, digital initiatives and sales creativity are part of the judging process. A special award for Lifetime Achievement is also made on behalf of the members of Local Ireland. Chair of the judges, author, journalist and broadcaster Alison OConnor said: These awards highlight the excellence and diversity of local journalism. Picking winners in the different categories is always a challenging task for the judges - from the sharpness of the news stories to the well-crafted features, interviews and columns. "All told, the standard shows how well communities around the country are served by their local newspapers. Joining Ms OConnor on the judging panel are broadcaster and journalist Dearbhail McDonald, Emeritus Professor at TUD Michael Foley, Dawn Wheatley of DCU School of Communications, Managing Director of Kinetic Ireland Andrew Sinclair, photographer and former Irish Times Picture Editor Frank Miller, broadcaster and writer Valerie Cox, journalist and author PJ Cunningham, novelist and newspaper columnist Dr Martina Devlin, Policy Editor of the Business Post Daniel Murray, RTE journalist and presenter Katie Hannon, Deputy Night Editor of the Irish Sun Gerry McCarthy and DCU lecturer Conor Tiernan. Winners of the awards will be announced at a gala dinner at the Mullingar Park Hotel on September 11. Host for the evening will be RTE and Lyric FM presenter Marty Whelan. A TD in Waterford is to have his meetings, clinics and appointments rearranged as his daughter undergoes serious surgery this week in Dublin. Sinn Fein TD, Deputy Conor McGuinness's eldest daughter, Reailtin is heading to Crumlin Hospital today, Monday, August 11, to undergo what he described as "very serious surgery" during the week. In an online post on his social media pages Deputy McGuinness said his daughter has "a long and tough road ahead". "Pia and I would be grateful if you could keep her in your thoughts and prayers over the next few days," said Deputy McGuinness. The Sinn Fein TD will be spending his time this week in Dublin with his daughter. "I wont be checking messages and emails very often," he said. Various clinics, meeting and appointments will also need to be re-arranged and Deputy McGuinness said his team will be in touch with constituents in due course. Meanwhile, he confirmed to Waterford News & Star that his office in Dungarvan will remain open from Monday to Friday and members of the public can contact his team there on 058 61640. Consituents can also email Deputy McGuinness through conor.mcguinness@oireachtas.ie He said he appreciates the public's understanding and support at this time. Gordon Deegan The two joint owners of a Co Galway-based security and facilities firm that has obtained State contracts to assist with the accommodation of International Protection (IP) applicants and Ukrainians last year shared in a dividend of 5.68 million. Both from Ballinasloe in Co Galway, Alan Connolly and Conor Nolan each own 50 per cent of Allpro Security Services Ireland Ltd through their Be Rite Group Ltd. New accounts show that Allpro Security Services Ireland Ltd declared a dividend to Be Rite Group Ltd of 5.68 million last year - which works out at a dividend payout of 2.84 million each for the two co-owners. The dividend pay out followed pre-tax profits at Allpro Security Services Ireland Ltd increasing seven fold from 1.6 million to 12.28 million in the 12 months to the end of March 2024. The surge in profits followed revenues increasing almost three fold from 15.85 million to 44.3 million over the 12 month period. The company recorded post tax profits of 10.56 million after incurring a corporation tax charge of 1.62 million. The directors state that the principal activity of the company is the provision of security, cleaning services and facilities. Figures previously provided by the Dept of Integration show that in the first quarter of this year alone, Allpro Security Services Ireland received 6 million (incl VAT) through State contracts. This followed the firm receiving 14.59 million (incl VAT) for the second half of 2024 from the Dept of Integration for providing services in the IP and Ukrainian accommodation sectors. The payout to Allpro Security Services was part of an overall spend on accommodation for IP applicants and Ukrainians totalling 1.84bn for 2024. A spokesman for the Dept of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration confirmed that Allpro Security Services Ireland Ltd is contracted to provide services at three State owned sites accommodating people seeking international protection. He said: These are Columba Barracks, the Central Mental Hospital Dundrum and Kilbride Army camp. It also provides services to commercial providers at Synge Street and Mount St Marys. He added: llpro Security Services Ltd also provided the Facilities Management services at the Emmaus Centre in Swords, Co. Dublin, which provided accommodation to people fleeing the war in Ukraine until the end of May 2025. He said: The Department is working with llpro Security Services Ireland Ltd to return this building to the Christian Brothers, which involves refurbishing this property to its condition prior to the licence commencement. The new accounts show that numbers employed by Allpro Security last year declined from 1,000 to 897 though staff costs increased from 8.49 million to 12.26 million. On the companys future developments the directors state that the company has made a significant investment since year end which the directors believe will yield significant future turnover and hence increased profits going forward. Charmian Clift, on her return to Sydney in 1964. Credit: Nine A similar kind of justice has been accorded to Elizabeth Jane Howard, the English novelist married to Kingsley Amis at the height of his fame (and legendary alcoholism). Howard was a brilliant novelist but was overlooked in her lifetime, dismissed as a womens writer. Now, her books, particularly the marvellous Cazalet Chronicles a saga of upper-class English life which spans the two world wars are being reprinted at speed to keep up with a younger generation of readers just discovering her. Meanwhile, Kingsley Amis work, and to a lesser extent, that of his son, Martin (whose own writing was encouraged by his stepmother), has been relegated to the genre of Straight White Mans Novel. And sadly for the Amises, the Bellows, the Roths and the Mailers, not to mention all contemporary wannabe inheritors of the tradition, this once-vaunted body of work is sputtering to its death. This controversial claim has long been muttered among straight white man writers finding it difficult to sign publishing deals for their literary novels. But it flew out into the open in an essay published in March in the American literary journal Compact. In it, American writer Jacob Savage, once a screenwriter, now a ticket-scalper, charted the downfall of The Vanishing White Male Writer. Savage conducted a forensic audit of literary prize and notable novel shortlists over the past decade or so and found them wanting in straight male whiteness. His conclusion is dramatic: Over the course of the 2010s, the literary pipeline for white men was effectively shut down. Savage goes on to argue his case, which is compelling because there is little doubt that in the United States and beyond, including in Australia, the contemporary literary fiction market is increasingly dominated by women and people of colour. This is not for reasons of charity or self-sabotaging affirmative action on the part of publishers. Its because literary fiction by women and people of colour is what readers of fiction (the majority of whom are women) want to buy right now. Savages critique is not a cry of self-pity (well, maybe it is a little bit); it is an attempt to explain this phenomenon of increasing female literary dominance and its co-phenomenon, the demise of fiction-reading among men. The piece startled a lot of commentators and led to some derision, which only served to prove the potency of Savages point. Savage also argued that white male novelists were not producing innovative or fresh work because they were self-censoring according to the laws of Millennial political correctness. Martin Amis, Elizabeth Jane Howard and Kingsley Amis. Unwilling to portray themselves as victims (cringe, politically wrong), or as aggressors (toxic masculinity), unable to assume the authentic voices of others (appropriation), younger white men are no longer capable of describing the world around them, he wrote. The New York Times examined his claims in its own think-piece, entitled The Death and Life of the Straight White Mans Novel, in which it posed the question of whether we should care if the perspective of the straight white man is hopelessly demode. We probably should, at least insofar as it conveys interesting shifts in culture. The alienation of the straight white male particularly the economically displaced working-class men who powered Donald Trumps voter base has self-fulfilling political power. Loading The anomie and anger of these men are being expressed, just not in the novel. Instead, it has spawned its own multiverse loosely called the manosphere with podcasters such as Joe Rogan sitting at its apex, and the humiliations of misogynistic porn occupying its gutter. Straight white men reigned the realm of the English novel for centuries indeed, they invented it Robinson Crusoe and Moll Flanders (by Daniel Defoe) are generally considered the first novels in English. Great female novelists only crept into publishing in the 18th and 19th centuries. Jane Austen published all her novels anonymously, the first under the byline By a Lady. The Bronte sisters originally published under male pseudonyms. Now, the advent of 21st-century postmodern identity politics has profoundly splintered the arts in a million fascinating directions. If reading a novel is a window into another world, then a window into the world of a historically marginalised perspective represents a particularly interesting vista. Female buyers power the fiction market. As noted in a 2024 NYT article (by a male creative writing university teacher), over the past two decades, literary fiction has become largely a female pursuit. Novels are increasingly written by women and read by women. Loading In her 2019 book, Why Women Read Fiction: The Stories of our Lives, Helen Taylor cited research that women account for 80 per cent of the fiction-buying market in the UK, US and Canada. They also constitute most of the patrons of libraries, literary festivals and book clubs. She quotes novelist Ian McEwan as saying when women stop reading, the novel will be dead. In her informal survey of women readers, Taylor found that women often associated reading for pleasure with guilt, self-indulgence and even indolence. I can attest that the best compliment an author can receive from a female reader is the confession that they hid from their family to devour another chapter, or were so engrossed in your book that they ignored their children. And yet, its sad too I wonder if men feel a similar guilt for indulging in their hobbies. The prospect of Donald Trump romantically involved with Dame Emma Thompson might test to breaking point the theory opposites attract. But the left-wing actress, 66, said the Republican president, 79, invited her out for dinner on the day she became divorced. From left: Donald Trump with Marla Maples on their wedding day in 1993; and Emma Thompson with Kenneth Branagh in 1994. Credit: Speaking at the Locarno Film Festival in Switzerland, Thompson said she was in her trailer while filming Primary Colors, the 1998 film loosely based on Bill Clintons journey to the White House, when the phone rang. It was Donald Trump, she said. 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. Six-time Walkley award-winning ABC journalist Suzanne Smith author of The Altar Boys, about child sexual abuse within the Catholic Church in Newcastle is no stranger to crimes against children. Her investigations helped instigate the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Yet, she approached with trepidation a brief from Compass to follow up on the Toowoomba sect known as the Saints, of which 14 members were sentenced in February for the 2022 death of eight-year-old diabetic Elizabeth Struhs, whose insulin was substituted for prayer. This time, Smith wanted to achieve the seemingly impossible: offer a glimmer of hope amid the inconceivable cruelty. Journalist Suzanne Smith is investigating the sect known as the Saints, of which 14 members were jailed for the 2022 death of an eight-year-old girl. If I was just doing another, Isnt this shocking? story, I think it might have broken me, Smith says. But because theres such a groundswell of action going on [within the wider church community in the south-east Queensland city], and theyre determined to expose coercive control in all their churches, it gave me a bit of hope I think having that positive angle is really important. Interviewed about this push for change in the Compass report are three local pastors of varying denominations: Wesleyan counsellor Cecilia Anderson, psychologist and survivor of the US Children of God cult Maria Esguerra, and Paul Reid, a former friend of the Saints leader, Brendan Stevens. None of the jailed cult members agreed to speak. The brilliant smile of designer Gail Sorronda is uncharacteristic for a goth. It could be muscle memory from Sorrondas modelling past but in this case, its simply because her label has survived in the fashion business for 20 years. On Saturday night, a smiling Sorronda celebrated her endurance and creativity, which has been recognised by Dolce & Gabbana and Chanel impresario Karl Lagerfeld, who died in 2019, with a runway show and party on the outskirts of her home town, Brisbane. I want buoyant energy and for it to feel like a celebration, Sorronda said before the throbbing music began. I want it to be a new memory. Gail Sorronda and her daughter Juniper take a bow at her 20th anniversary show Chromophobia in Brisbane. Credit: Dane Beesley In a slick show held in Urban Art Projects industrial space, models emerged in a disco Victoriana mash-up, where button-up white dresses adorned with sleeves puffy enough to satisfy Anne of Green Gables competed for attention with empire-line black dresses with paper-bag pleated details and bursts of fluorescent green and ultraviolet. If I could think about any part of my life that I would not want to be available to download on the dark web, it would be my medical information and more poignantly, my fertility information. Its made me feel really icky to know that ... our entire medical and fertility history is available to purchase by anyone who wants it, he said. In a statement, Genea said it sincerely apologised and deeply regretted that personal information was accessed and published. We are committed to learning from this incident, and we have taken steps to further strengthen our networks to ensure that we can continue to provide the very best care to our patients, it read. Genea obtained an injunction to prevent any access, use, dissemination or publication of the affected data, to protect the information of its patients, their partners, and staff. In a hearing last month, Geneas counsel argued that if the companys containment and remediation measures were made public, it would invite hackers to exploit its systems further. NSW Supreme Court Justice Michael Slattery agreed that it was important to suppress personal and medical information of affected patients. But, Slattery said: There is a public interest in knowing about this kind of problem and how it is dealt with. Im not convinced that information [about] your clients, employees or your clients internal operations should be suppressed, the judge said. Im not convinced that the identity of the cybersecurity experts you have retained [and] that your containment or remediation measures should be suppressed. I may be persuaded that your negotiation strategy with the threat actor should be suppressed if theres evidence that there are ongoing negotiations, Slattery said. The suppression orders, directed at the hackers, are supposed to stop them from disseminating the information they stole. But since Genea doesnt know who they are and cannot tell them that the order exists such an order is intended to prevent other people from downloading the information and sharing it, and has been used in earlier cases of cyber breaches. Former patient Daisy* said patients had a right to know what measures Genea had in place to protect their patients information and the actions it took once the breach was identified. Why arent we able to know whether or not they had the right security in place to protect our personal and sensitive information? the 34-year-old said. Loading You go somewhere like this, never thinking your information would be released, she said. Ive spoken to so many women who have said, I have chosen not to share our IVF journey. Two patients affected by the breach are now considering moving homes due to the sensitive nature of their work and the danger posed by having their address and other personal information shared on the dark web, where criminal actors can access it. Josie*, another patient wishing to join a potential class action, had undergone extensive treatment with Genea over four years. Dockers legend Nat Fyfe has just announced he will retire at the end of this season. In a statement released this afternoon, the 244-gamer and two-time Brownlow medallist said he had been considering hanging up the boots for the past 12 months, after repeated injury setbacks. It just feels like its the right time, he said. Im just immensely grateful for what my AFL experience and playing with Fremantle has given to me. Its been an enormous opportunity and has taken me to places I could never have dreamed of. Knowing this is the end of my career, I leave with a sense of understanding that I dont need anything further, which is a really peaceful place to be, and yet myself - and the team - still find ourselves in a position where that elusive premiership dream is well and truly alive. Fyfe is the last remaining Dockers player to have played in their single grand final appearance in 2013. 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 It is quiet in the temple-flecked jungles of the Dangkrek Mountains, where Thailand and Cambodia just fought a pointless five-day war. Still, the Wat Bat Thkao camp is heaving. Too scared to go home even days after a ceasefire, thousands of Cambodian families huddle here in wooden wagons, unfolding themselves when space permits on hammocks and cardboard mats. Hong Sreyrith and her eight day old baby Lin Kakada in their shelter at Wat Bat ThKao. Credit: Kate Geraghty As shelter from alternating blasts of monsoon rains and searing sun, they have tarpaulin, canvas and ropes. It is windy. It is raining. It is hot, says Hong Srey Rith, cradling her newborn, Lin Kakada, who was born on July 24. That was the same day when months (or centuries) of oscillating agitations and insecurities in Thailand and Cambodia burst forth into armed clashes, killing dozens possibly many dozens on both sides of the disputed borderlands. Advertisement The mother, from Kauk Chhouk village in Cambodias north-west, went into labour as she and hundreds of thousands of people from Thailand and Cambodia fled their homes. After one night in hospital, mother and daughter had nowhere to go but the camp. Yong Sophear washes her daughter Phath Chantha at a water collection point. Credit: Kate Geraghty I want to go home, but the authorities dont want that yet. Theres a chance there will be more fighting, she says. Im afraid, too, that it will continue. Wat Bat Thkao, the name of a nearby Buddhist temple, is divided into dirt streets, each lined with makeshift shelters. Some families have dug small trenches to drain off the rain. There are toilet facilities, and a medical centre treating mostly fevers. Men with loudspeakers announce new NGO and private company deliveries of food and water: Stay where you are and rations will be delivered, goes one paraphrased set of instructions. No one rushes. The families here say they are reasonably well-fed, but could do with more. Waist-high in the acrid reservoir at the edge of the camp, a boy of about ten crab walks along the line of a fishing net, hauling each section to eye level. He catches only grimy plastic bags and bottles. Advertisement A couple of hundred metres from him is Ron Touch, who is blind, mostly deaf and the rarest of Cambodians. Old. The 98-year-old is drawn into a crouch inside the family tent, a blanket draped over her shoulder, her great-great grandson shouting information into her ear. She understands just one of this mastheads questions: Yes, Im scared! she responds. Thoeun Sida with her children Lok Vina and Lok Chanthy and their dog Covid in their shelter. Credit: Kate Geraghty Wat Bat Thkao camp is one of the biggest of 180 temporary shelters set up across multiple Cambodian provinces when fighting broke out on July 24. By the evening of July 30, almost two full days since ceasefire, more than 170,000 Cambodians remained displaced, according to World Vision. Thais, too, fled in similar numbers. At least 17 civilians were killed by indiscriminate Cambodian rockets, according to the Thai authorities. At least one Cambodian civilian was killed in a Thai bombing run over a Buddhist temple. Advertisement In the to-and-fro of claims, counterclaims and online propaganda, it was unclear if any side had advanced and maintained troop positions on enemy territory. What is clear is that the fighting has upended hundreds of thousands of lives in the newest, and most unexpected, crisis to unfold in Australias Asia-Pacific neighbourhood. Occupied with the Middle East and the Pacific, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong took two weeks to issue an official statement about the crisis, after an earlier post on X that welcomed the July 28 ceasefire. Cambodian Mine Action Centre officer inspecting one of several bomb craters at a military base near Thma Duan village, Cambodia. Credit: Kate Geraghty The Department of Foreign Affairs public contribution has been through Smartraveller, warning Australians not to visit the border provinces of either country. Uncertain about whether the ceasefire would hold, many Cambodian families chose to wait at the camps. They say provincial authorities had told them to wait until at least August 5 or 6. Then, an announcement from Cambodias Ministry of National Defence on the evening of August 3 changed everything again. Only that morning, it claimed, at 10.49am to be precise, it had received information that Thailand had instructed its citizens in Surin Province to evacuate. Advertisement The same source had also apparently warned of planned Thai attacks at ultra-sensitive sites including the Ta Moan Thom temple, the epicentre of the recent fighting, and the world-heritage listed Preah Vihear temple complex, which the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled was on Cambodias way back in 1962. Former prime minister Hun Sen, who still calls the shots as president of both the senate and ruling Cambodian Peoples Party, took to social media to inform his followers that he will not be able to chair the Senate meeting on the morning of August 4 whether there is fighting or not, as I will be in command of the army 24 hours a day. Families pack their belongings at Wat Bat ThKao home to thousands of displaced Cambodians who fled the conflict areas. Credit: Kate Geraghty As it turned out, the information was bogus. Thailand denied evacuating Surin Province. The most serious allegation Cambodia could muster the following day was that Thailand had moved barbed-wire and heavy machinery into areas of its territory. It remained unclear why Hun Sen and the ministry warned of an imminent attack. But it did allow him to post more photos of him hard at work and, days before his 73rd birthday on August 5, very much in command, still defending his subjects from foreign invaders. The effect of this episode on civilians was that many who were thinking of leaving the camps held back; others who had already left returned. Advertisement Berlin: Late last month, Russian President Vladimir Putin was facing a stark reality. He was on the verge of losing US President Donald Trump, the one Western leader possibly willing to help him get his way in Ukraine and achieve his long-held goal of rupturing the European security order. After months of trying to get Putin to end the war, Trump had grown tired of ineffectual phone calls and talks and had begun issuing ultimatums. Even worse for Putin, Trump appeared to have patched up his relationship with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, despite an Oval Office blow-up earlier this year that delighted Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Thursday. Credit: AP It was not clear that Trump would be able or willing to follow through on the threats he had made to put punishing tariffs on nations buying Russian oil, or what real impact such moves would have on Moscow. But Trumps deadline for Putin to end the war was swiftly approaching, presaging some sort of further rift between the White House and the Kremlin. So Putin shifted tack ever so slightly. Amid the furore of the public debate about the war in Gaza, and whether Australia should now recognise Palestine, it is too often forgotten that recognition of a Palestinian state is the outcome preferred by both sides of politics. Since the first Oslo Accord, which created the Palestinian Authority and set in train the long-since interrupted peace process, the ultimate goal has been to achieve a two-state solution. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since that sunny day in the White House Rose Garden in September 1993 when Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin shook hands with Palestinian Liberation Organisation leader Yasser Arafat, under the benign gaze of US president Bill Clinton. Today, peace between Israelis and Palestinians is much further away than it seemed then. Nevertheless, the two-state solution remains the objective; the question is not whether Palestinian statehood should be recognised, but when and on what conditions. Mounted police disperse demonstrators blocking a highway in Tel Aviv during a weekend protest demanding the release of all hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip and calling for an end to the war. Credit: Ohad Zwigenberg/AP As with most other democracies, Australia has long taken the view that that should not happen until Israels right to exist is acknowledged as it was by the Oslo Accords and its security credibly assured by the Palestinians. Since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, the Palestinian Authority has been unable to give that assurance. The consequences for Israel of Hamas control of Gaza against which Israeli leaders long before Benjamin Netanyahu warned were made horrifyingly clear on October 7, 2023. COMMUNITY NOTES: ERRIS - WESTERN PEOPLE (AUGUST 12 EDITION) Ballyglass Inshore Lifeboat (ILB) was requested by Malin Head Coast Guard on Monday, August 4, at 7.18pm to assist two swimmers in Elly Bay. They immediately headed south ready to come to the assistance of the swimmers. The ILB had just arrived on scene when Malin Head radio relayed that both swimmers had made it safely to shore, and so the volunteer crew were stood down. Ballyglass Coast Guard Unit was also on scene to assist the swimmers. The lifeboat was returned to base and was ready again for service at 10pm. Thanks has been extended to all involved. If you see anyone in difficulty on or near the water do not hesitate to call 112/999 and ask for the Coast Guard. Book Discussion with Professor Mandla Radebe When: Wednesday, 13 August 2025 Where: SWE Building Seminar Room Start time: 12:45 Enquiries: tshepiso.ntombela@wits.ac.za Join a book discussion with author of Apartheid Did Not Die: South Africas Unfinished Revolution, Professor Mandla Radebe. Join the Wits Centre for Journalism and Wits Department of Media Studies for a book discussion with author of Apartheid Did Not Die: South Africas Unfinished Revolution, Professor Mandla Radebe. Radebe is the Founding Director of the Centre for Data and Digital Communication at the University of Johannesburg, confronts the unsettling truth that for many, the democratic era has not dismantled the architecture of apartheid it has merely repainted it. He interrogates the role of the media in shaping public consciousness and maintaining elite hegemony, and challenges us to reckon with the unfinished business of justice and true liberation in South Africa. National Research Foundation rates Wits researchers highly Wits scholars rated as world-class, future global leaders, and as next generation researchers. Professor Sally Archibald and Professor Ivan Vladislavic received A-ratings for the first time at the 2025 National Research Foundation (NRF) Awards in Johannesburg on 7 August. Professor Lewis Ashwal and Professor Isabel Hofmeyr were A-rated for the third time each. An NRF A-rating is awarded to researchers who are unequivocally recognised by their peers as leading international scholars in their respective fields, for the high quality and impact of recent research outputs. Dr Mitchell Cox and Dr Simone Richardson each received the (rarely awarded) P-rating ('Prestigious Award'). P-rated researchers are considered likely to become future international leaders in their respective fields, based on exceptional potential demonstrated in research performance and output during doctoral and/or early postdoctoral careers. A P-rating is assigned to researchers (usually under the age of 35 years) who have held a doctorate or equivalent qualification for less than five years at the time of application. Mr Mashite Tshidi, a PhD student in the Wits School of Education, received the Research Excellence Award for Next Generation Researchers, which reocognises outstanding academic performance by final-year doctoral students. Furthermore, 58 other Wits researchers received NRF B, C, and Y ratings during the 2025 awards cycle. An NRF B-rating is awarded to internationally acclaimed researches; C-ratings to established researchers; and Y ratings to promising young researchers. The NRF rating system is a key driver in the NRFs aim to build a globally competitive science system in South Africa. It is a valuable tool for benchmarking the quality of the country's researchers against the best in the world. NRF ratings are allocated based on a researchers recent research outputs and impact as perceived by international peer reviewers. Read more below about the Wits University scholars and their innovative research recognised at the 2025 NRF Awards. A-RATED WORLD CLASS Savanna ecosystems A Professor in the School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, Sally Archibalds research focuses on savanna ecosystems in the context of global change as well as fire-grazer interactions; inter-continental savanna comparisons; the importance of land-atmosphere feedbacks; and pursuing a global theory of fire. Archibald has published more than 64 papers in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals and she has co-edited one book and authored six book chapters. She serves on the editorial board of Ecology Letters and Trends in Ecology and Evolution and is the co-Chair of Socio-Ecological Observatory for Studying African Woodlands. Amongst multiple accolades, Archibald received the 2025 John F.W. Herschel Medal from the Royal Society of South Africa. Creative Writing A renowned novelist, essayist and editor, Ivan Vladislavic is a Distinguished Professor in the Creative Writing Department in the School of Literature, Language and Media. He worked as an independent writer and editor for 25 years before joining Wits in 2015. His works of fiction include The Restless Supermarket (2001); The Exploded View (2004); Double Negative (2010), and The Distance (2019). His non-fiction works include Willem Boshoff (2005) and Portrait with Keys (2006). He published The Near North in 2024. His work has been translated into 14 languages and has won awards including South Africas Sunday Times Prize, the Alan Paton Award, the University of Johannesburg Prize, and Yale Universitys Windham-Campbell Prize for Fiction. Rock research A Professor of Geology, Lewis Ashwal is a world expert on the origin of anorthositic and related rocks. His expertise spans petrology, petrography, geochemistry, mineralogy, and isotope systematics of igneous and metamorphic rocks and their application to largescale processes of tectonics and geodynamics. Since 1974, his research has generated 140 papers and published in high impact, peer-reviewed journals including the South African Journal of Geology and Nature Communications. His books on Anorthosites and Greenstone Belts (co-edited) stand as definitive works on those subjects. Amongst multiple accolades, in 2024 he received the Geology Society of South Africas highest honour, the Draper Memorial Medal. He received Wits Universitys Vice-Chancellors Research Award the same year. Hydrocolonialism Isabel Hofmeyr is Professor Emeritus at the Wits Institute for Social and Economic Research (WiSER). Her career before her retirement was in the Department of African Literature at Wits. She has worked extensively on print culture and book history and has combined these with environmental and oceanic themes. From 2018 to 2023, she co-directed a project, Oceanic Humanities for the Global South, with partners from Mozambique, India, Jamaica and Barbados. She is regarded as a leading scholar in the field of Indian Ocean studies. While she continued this focus, her interest has shifted over the last decade in response to climate change and rising sea levels, resulting in the exploration of print culture in relation to the new oceanic studies and the formulation of the concept of hydrocolonialism. P-RATED FUTURE GLOBAL LEADERS Wireless optical tech Dr Mitchell Cox co-founded the Optical Communication Lab in the School of Electrical and Information Engineering at Wits, where his PhD in 2020 focused on structured light in turbulence. His research combines expertise in structured light with engineering to pioneer solutions for long-range, low-cost wireless optical communications. These solutions frequently involve creatively adapting low-cost componentsoften in ways not originally intended by manufacturersand integrating machine learning, now evolving into optical neuromorphic computing, to advance affordable wireless optical technologies. His research is now venturing into the emerging field of optical AI. In addition to his NRF P-rating in 2025, Cox received the Royal Society of South Africas 2025 Meiring Naude Medal and Wits Universitys Friedel Sellschop Award in 2023. He is an Optica Ambassador and a Senior Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. Antibody immunity research Dr Simone Richardson is a Senior Research Scientist at Wits and the National Institute for Communicable Diseases. She leads a small team within the Antibody Immunity Research Unit, focusing on cytotoxic antibody functions in vaccination and infection. Richardson's research targets viruses such as HIV, SARS-CoV-2, cytomegalovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and influenza, focusing on those that disproportionately affect children and infants. Richardson aims to engineer antibodies with enhanced capabilities for passive immunisation, and to identify antibody signatures linked to vaccine efficacy, to improve vaccine design. Since 2016, Richardson has published over 42 articles in prestigious journals including Cell and Nature Communications. Her litany of accolades includes amfAR Matilde Krim and LOreal Women in Science Fellowships, the Royal Society of South Africas 2025 Meiring Naude Medal, and Wits Faculty of Health Sciences Best Research Prize. She has been active in the South African Immunology Society, promoting science communication and vaccine literacy, since 2022. NEXT GENERATION RESEARCHER Mr Mashite Tshidi's award recognises outstanding academic performance by final-year doctoral students. He is currently completing his PhD in Education at Wits. Tshidis research focuses on the role of technology in addressing educational inequalities in South Africa, particularly in under-resourced schools. He examines how AI and learning analytics can enhance teaching, support learners, and bridge digital divides in computing education. His work on learning analytics-driven programming education is among the first in South Africa to develop a predictive model that identifies challenging programming concepts for Grade 10 learners, expanding an approach that has primarily been applied in higher education but remains underexplored in school contexts. NRF B, C, Y RATINGS Fifty-eight other Witsies also received B, C, and Y NRF ratings during the 2025 cycle. Read their names and ratings in the 2025 NRF Awards booklet here. Read more about all of Wits' NRF-rated researchers here. Alumni literary awards news: August 2025 Witsies receive several accolades for their work as storytellers. Campbell Meas Campbell Meas (BA DA 2016) is the winner of the 2025 National Playwright Competition for her play Vakavigwa (Burials/They Were Buried). Meas received R20 000 for her script and saw it premier at this years National Arts in Makhanda in July. The judges said, Vakavigwa is a gripping and ambitious work that exemplifies the evolution of contemporary theatre. With its innovative use of multimedia integration and multi-plane storytelling, the play refuses to be confined to a conventional stage. Instead, it immerses the audience in an intricate theatrical experience that blends live performance with digital projections, layered soundscapes and dynamic staging. In a recent interview Meas said that she made so many good friends and working relationships at Wits. But her journey after has not been rosy: You kind of just continue the hustle. And I use the word hustle not in a happy way." The accolade has been a special affirmation of her writing: This has been an unexpected gift! I wasn't planning on entering at all, doubting that this was something I'd be right for. Throughout this period I've learnt to trust my instincts in how I choose to tell stories. Athol Williams Athol Williams (BSc Eng 1992) is the winner of the 2025 Best Story for The Ring Around Saturn that appeared in the Short.Sharp.Stories anthology Power: Short stories that light the dark. Short.Sharp.Stories is a platform showcasing established and emerging South African short story writers. For the 2025 anthology, writers imagined power in fictional terms how it influences and affects, including political and personal power. Williams is a poet and applied philosopher at Oxford University and The Ring Around Saturn is his third published short story. In 2023 he received the mayor's Medal for Extraordinary Bravery from the City of Cape Town, and in 2019 the Cultural Affairs Award for his contribution to the Literary Arts. In 2024, Hertford College, University of Oxford elected Williams an Honorary Fellow, their highest recognition. He has published seven books of poetry and twice been awarded first prize in the Sol Plaatje EU Poetry Contest. He is the author of the Oaky series of childrens books and three books of nonfiction. He is the founder of the Cape Flats Book Festival and recipient of the Cape Town Mayors Medal for Extraordinary Bravery for his anti-corruption activism. Read profile in Wits Review. Judges described Williams contribution as a beautifully crafted narrative that interweaves past and present, fantasy and reality, self and other. With whispers from the canon of Arabian Nights, the story-within-a-story becomes a narrative tapestry, as two outspoken protagonists, father and son, elucidate the power of the planets, of the personal, and the immense power of storytelling itself." Kally Forrest Kally Forrest (BA 1973, PhD 2006) who is a Society, Work and Politics Institute associate, won the 2025 National Institute for Humanities and Social Sciences Award for Best Non-Fiction Biography for her book Lydia: Anthem to the Unity of Women. The biography follows the life of Lydia Komape (LLM honoris causa 2002), also known as Mam Lydia Kompe, with her family, friends, comrades and ancestors, from Limpopo and Johannesburg to Cape Town where Komape sat in Nelson Mandelas parliament. Forrests book highlighted Komapes pioneering feminist views and activities during the years of apartheid, as well as her leadership qualities, despite only having a grade 9 education. Judges described the book as substantively South African, and that it is presented clearly, cogently and coherently. The writing style is both accessible, and scholarly rigorous. The innovation lies in the focus on the life of a woman who has not yet received scholarly or popular attention as she deserves, the judges said. Forrest told Alumni Relations: I was delighted to win this award which honoured the feisty independent land and labour activist Lydia Kompe. I hope she will now not be forgotten. Dr Ekaterina Zibrova awarded Dialogburo Vienna Fellowship WiCDS reseacher invited to join prestigious Austrian fellowship programme Dr Ekaterina Dibrova, formerly a postdoc and now a research fellow at the Wits Centre for Diversity Studies, has been selected from over 250 applicants to join the Dialogburo Vienna Fellowship Program in Austria. The fellowship has been awarded to support Dr Zibrova's groundbreaking book project on Indigenous identity, which focuses specifically on how economic identity has been constructed to draw Indigenous peoples into the Russian/Soviet empire and its economic system. During the fellowship she will work in the archives the Vienna Ethnographic Museum and also present a lecture for the fellowship program. WISCONSIN (WJFW) A recent docuseries exposing alleged abuses by Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) has been abruptly removed from Amazon Prime Video, raising alarms among patient advocates, health care professionals and free speech watchdogs. The series, titled "Modern Medical Mafia", was produced by the Wisconsin-based advocacy group Patient Protector, a coalition of pharmacists, physicians, and patients aiming to shed light on what they describe as entrenched corruption within the U.S. health care supply chain. We knew we needed to make a documentary explaining to folks just how prevalent and abusive PBMs are, said Dan Strause, former co-founder of Hometown Pharmacy and now a patient advocate. Strause recruited his daughter, Mary Strause a Los Angeles-based filmmaker to create the series. Their original plan was modest, but the scope quickly expanded. PBMs such as CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx play a dominant role in determining which drugs are covered, how theyre priced, and what pharmacies can dispense them. Critics say they profit by inflating drug costs and underpaying pharmacies, contributing to rising out-of-pocket expenses for patients. We thought wed need 10 to 12 interviews, Strause said. Instead, we had close to 30 subject matter experts from across the spectrum of health care. The series gained traction for its bold critique of PBMs, featuring whistleblower accounts, stories of pharmacy closures in underserved communities and patients denied life-saving medications under alleged unlawful PBM policies. Interviews included former PBM executives, members of Congress and families impacted by delayed or denied treatments. About a month after its digital premiere, Amazon Prime Video de-listed the series without warning or explanation. Strause says the timing came just days after he testified at a Wisconsin Senate hearing about PBMs. The retaliation out there is real, and its created a significant amount of fear among providers whether it be doctors or pharmacists. And it was for us, so much so that I actually resigned from my CEO position two years ago just to help Patient Protector. Weve [Patient Protector] even created a docuseries thats now been picked up on Amazon Prime just on this topic. Dan Strause, Wisconsin Senate Committee on Health, May 28, 2025 (WisconsinEye video 3:51:34) Unfortunately, two days later, Mary went to check the link and it was gone, he said. Following the removal, social media erupted with claims that Big Pharma and PBM lobbyists pressured Amazon. According to The New York Times, UnitedHealthcare sent Amazon a 10-page legal document before the series aired, claiming it was defamatory and urging the platform not to distribute it. Amazon streamed the film anyway but a month later, UnitedHealthcare sent a 16-page follow-up reiterating its claims. When questioned by The Times about why the film had been pulled, Amazon said it was due to low quality. If it were for low-quality after a month of it being up, after they picked it up after a couple of days, thats kind of a copout, Mary Strause said. For UnitedHealthcare to be threatened by a video made by two people and everyone who was in the film, it says a lot. Like Jake Auchincloss says within the film, Tell me youre guilty without telling me youre guilty. David Enrich finance editor at The New York Times and known for uncovering corporate misconduct wrote that the removal fits a troubling pattern in which journalists, broadcasters and now filmmakers are pressured when revealing information PBMs work to keep hidden. That article created significant awareness we went from 4,000 to 35,000 views in just a matter of days, Strause said. Mary was a one-person show she did everything: the editing, the sound, the coloring in a very compressed time frame, because we know theres a sense of urgency. People are being harmed at an even faster pace than before. Call to Action Patient Protector is urging the public to contact legislators, demand answers, and share the documentary on alternative platforms such as YouTube. You can suppress the message, but you cant silence a movement, Strause said. The truth will find a way. The groups March to a Million campaign allows supporters to send a pre-written letter to lawmakers in under two minutes. Strause says if one million people get behind the effort, we have a shot at real reform. Where to Watch While Modern Medical Mafia is no longer available on Amazon Prime, it can still be viewed on select platforms: Helen Born has been diagnosed with CLN2 Batten disease a rare, degenerative and fatal neurological disorder with no cure. Aside from anything else, I wonder if the western world is not simply too bonkers to survive. A picture turned up in my inbox and I assumed it was just Mark Carney, the Canadian politician and economist who has served as the 24th and current prime minister of Canada, welcoming Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, to the G7 summit. But apparently it was the PM marching a couple of days ago in the Vancouver Pride Parade, and greeting the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia in this season's court dress. If you thought "Didn't Pride Month end a couple of weeks ago?", well, Canada doesn't observe Pride Month - that's just some mealy-mouthed, totally homophobic Yank thing: Canada has Pride Season, which runs from June to September, which contemptibly grudging concession will have to do until Pride Year comes along. So Mr Carney still has many dimpled cheeks to look forward to in the weeks ahead. As he told the nation, Pride is "the essence of Canada". Which is probably true. On social media, several naive Tweeters and the like wondered if the image was not achieved with the help of AI. Obviously not or it would have been Carney in the pink thong. But, even if it was, so what? Yesterday, CNN's former Chief White House Correspondent, Jim Acosta, offered his viewers an exclusive interview. It's exclusive because his interviewee is, in what we used to call reality, stone cold dead: A show you don't want to miss at 4p ET / 1p PT. I'll be having a one of a kind interview with Joaquin Oliver. He died in the Parkland school shooting in 2018. But his parents have created an AI version of their son to deliver a powerful message on gun violence. Plus Texas State... pic.twitter.com/mbdM2WxwUR Jim Acosta (@Acosta) August 4, 2025 I presumed the picture on the right was of the real kid back in high school, before he was AI-aged for The Jim Acosta Show. But no, it's a real-life Texas State Rep, who was also on the show, even though he was playing second banana to a deep-fake. It's like Margot Robbie going on The Tonight Show and having to kick her heels while Jimmy Fallon wraps up his exclusive interview with a blow-up doll of Betty Grable. Jim Acosta's Twitter page boasts that "I believe in #realnews". But, in Mr Acosta's hands, #realnews has achieved the same grim state as the music business, in which living persons are reduced to celebrity-duets albums warbling along with Elvis or Bing. On tomorrow's Q&A, I'll talk exclusively to Neville Chamberlain about evolving foreign-policy challenges. However, here's our Thought for the Day: Is an AI-generated human any less plausible than what passes for reality in today's world? This morning, at the Multnomah County Courthouse in Portland, Oregon, the trial begins of Isabel Rosa Araujo, a most mellifluous name for just another plug-ugly psycho-tranny rampaging around the streets: Extremely violent Portland Trantifa militant "Isabel Rosa Araujo," formerly Phillip Haskins-Delici, is currently on trial for assault and unlawful use of mace for violently attacking Arab-American activist Sorbeah "Ara" Al-Mosa @ArasUniverse in March 2024. The Trantifa member... pic.twitter.com/bpKwstlUyc Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) August 4, 2025 Senorita Araujo identifies as trans, Latinx and, more recently, Muslima. That seems an awful lot of identities for someone whose principal occupation is roaming the town looking for someone to beat the crap out of. There's a lot of that about - especially among the trans end of the LGBTQWERTY community. Gee, it's almost like incentivising mass trannification is metastasising mental illness. So, in today's court case, the delightful Isabel Rosa is on trial for assaulting Ara American, the nom de guerre of an Arab-American who goes around burning Korans, as is (for the moment) her right, and highlighting some of the news stories that #realnews doesn't have room for - like American immigrants shouting "Death to America!" on the streets of America; or learned imams explaining why you shouldn't let the Devil wander around the maternity ward: The devil will place his index finger into the anus of a newborn boy making him a homesexual and into the vagina of a newborn female making her a whore. This is what shiite muslims believe the devil does to babies who aren't born as shiites. "The devil will place his index finger into the anus of a newborn boy making him a homesexual and into the vagina of a newborn female making her a whore." pic.twitter.com/lGuEgpXN4Y Team Ara American (@ArasUniverse) July 30, 2025 Is that really so nutty? On the streets of Vancouver during the leisurely months of Pride Season, the Devil InCarneyate could be hugging a random bare-bottomed lovely and slip his index finger under the pink thong thereby rendering the poor chap a homosexual. It makes as much sense as any other theory of the fin de civilisation west. It is easy for us to laugh at their nuttiness, just as it is easy for them to laugh at our nuttiness. At the risk of over-generalising perhaps, one can't but observe that their nuttiness seems considerably less suicidal than ours: There's a sickness rotting the Western mind: the belief that surrender is a form of virtue. That if we chant loud enough about "compassion" and "inclusion," the people we import will somehow forget they loathe everything we are. This isn't morality. It's cowardice dressed up as... pic.twitter.com/ud8DEfjFJw Jim Chimirie (@JChimirie66677) August 4, 2025 The above young lady was protesting on the streets of England over the weekend. If she feels safer with "refugees" at a time when street rapes are now a daily occurrence, it's because she looks to be a good ten-to-fifteen years too old for their tastes. By the way, Mark Carney's warm embrace of his underdressed citizenry isn't the nuttiest thing he's ever done. Here he is four years ago welcoming attendees to the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow: Mark Carney, Canada's new PM: "We have an enormous opportunity to bring climate change into the heart of every financial decision." "We can deliver the net zero world that you've demanded, and that our future generations deserve." pic.twitter.com/lbzL7P3Vjd Wide Awake Media (@wideawake_media) August 4, 2025 Did you get that? To reach Net Zero every country, every company, every bank, every investor, every pension fund around the world will need to make some big changes. Well, in that case it's dead in the water, isn't it? Because China, Russia, India et al have already decided they want no part of it - which is why they were no-shows in Glasgow. One might also note that they don't worship mass Third World immigration and mass trannification of the natives. They think as conventional ethnostates pursuing their national interests - which the west hasn't done for three generations now. Indeed, it's almost as if Peking & Co have a strategy: Let Christendom carry on chanting "Diversity is our strength!" even as it degenerates into fractious, incoherent polities of Islam and LGBTQWERTY, with minimal overlap save for the corpulent Muslima tranny suddenly charging from round the corner at you for filming the Antifa rally because Jim Acosta doesn't want to. The migrants will win that one, after which the most advanced societies in history will decay into the same bleepholes the "Latinx" and Mohammedan types originally came from. After which, China and its allies and vassals will inherit the earth. Sounds like a plan. Ah, but that's just nutty talk, right? Mark's international bestseller America Alone: The End of the World as We Know It. If you haven't read the book during its first seventeen years, well, you're missing a treat. It's still in print in hardback and paperback. (Buy it at a 77% discount by clicking here or order in KINDLE edition at a 47% discount by clicking here. Sales help fund JWR) (COMMENT, BELOW) Mark Steyn is an international bestselling author, a Top 41 recording artist, and a leading Canadian human rights activist. Among his books is "The Undocumented Mark Steyn: Don't Say You Weren't Warned". (Buy it at a 49% discount by clicking here or order in KINDLE edition at a 67% discount by clicking here. Sales help fund JWR) Memorial for miners killed in El Teniente tunnel collapse [Photo by @AoLaonline / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 Six subcontract workers were killed in a deadly mining incident when a section of tunnel collapsed deep inside an underground copper mine in the OHiggins region, 90 kms south of Santiago, on Thursday 31 July. The multi-fatality disaster took place at a new site within the El Teniente mine, the largest copper mine in the world, accounting for more than a quarter of the Chilean National Copper Corporations total production. It is no accident that the six workers who died last week were all subcontractors. Rather, it is the inevitable byproduct of labor cost-saving measures, speed-ups and corner-cutting in safety that miners have been denouncing. Paulo Marin Tapia (48), an electrician contracted by Salfa Montajes, was confirmed dead on the day of the rock collapse. The other five workers who remained trapped behind meters of fallen rock, Gonzalo Nunez Caroca (33), Alex Araya Acevedo (29), Carlos Arancibia Valenzuela (34), Jean Miranda Ibaceta (31), and Moises Pavez Armijo (33)all employed by excavation firm Gardilcicwere confirmed dead last weekend after a two-day search and rescue operation involving more than 90 people and specialized machinery. The tragedy has shaken and angered miners (and the whole working class) who in their majority are employed by the countless contractor companies to which the State-owned Codelco outsources its operations. At the transnational mining conglomerates, BHP Billiton, SQM, Albemarle, Anglo-American, KGHM International, Glencore, Freeport-McMoRan, Teck, Antofagasta Minerals, which control more than 70 percent of mines in Chile, outsourcing is even more widespread, accounting for close to 80 percent of the workforce. In the past week, workers have turned to social media to not only oppose substandard and dangerous working conditions, but to blow the whistle against Codelco management which turned a deaf ear to repeated warnings weeks before the tunnel collapse at El Teniente. In an August 1 article, El Pais reported that workers had warned Codelco and the contractor companies: We have listened to our co-workers, who said that this had been warned about days ago. The hill was warning us, the hill was creaking, and work should have been stopped. Someone who works in mining knows perfectly well when something is going to happen, and management is also aware of all this, said Juan Gajardo, president of the Interempresa union. In a more explosive open letter anonymously submitted to the social media of research organization Fundacion Sol, subcontracted miners accused Codelco of criminal negligence. It reads in part: The new tragedy once again, highlights the criminal negligence with which our lives are managed within the mine. This tragedy is not an isolated incident or a coincidence. It is the direct consequence of working conditions that we have been denouncing for years, without being heard. Production is prioritized at all costs, even when that means sacrificing human lives. The ineptitude of Codelcos management and its contractors is compounded by another factor that exacerbates the situation: the complicity of yellow unions that serve the interests of the employers. We sign this statement as anonymous contract workers because we know that by speaking out we also risk our jobs. But we prefer to speak out rather than continue walking in the footsteps of our fallen comrades. Our lives are worth more than copper. There is palpable nervousness within the state following this latest catastrophe at the state-owned giant. It could not have happened at a more inopportune time for the ruling Apruebo Dignidad coalition of President Gabriel Boric. The November presidential elections edge ever closer, and the candidate selected to take Borics place in the broad progressive electoral alliance is none other than his Labor Minister, Jeanette Jara, longstanding Stalinist of the Communist Party. Also, Maximo Pacheco Matte, who is facing growing calls to resign for his role in this social crime, was named Chairman of Codelco on March 2022 by President Boric. Jara and Pacheco and Mining Minister Aurora Williams (Radical Party) were all selected precisely because they are tolerated within ruling circles due to decades of service and their extremely pro-business, pro-market and anti-working class policies. The nervousness is manifest in a flurry of actions by the company, the government and the unions. Last weekend Boric rushed to the regional city of Rancagua, 30 kms from El Teniente mine and where Codelcos headquarters is located, to lead the rescue operation. During a televised in situ speech, Boric made the appeal for accountability, knowing full well that those really responsible will certainly not be held accountable, other than possible lower-ranked scapegoats. All responsibility must be assigned, all questions about who is to blame and why this happened must be answered, he said on Saturday. He reiterated on Sunday, when the five miners bodies had been found: There must be justice ... when justice is delayed and not timely, it is not justice. Boric talked up an international audit which Codelco is sponsoring and which no doubt will serve as a whitewash. This is made clear in what Codelco chairman, Maximo Pacheco, described as the audits objective: to determine where we need to improve and where we made mistakes or errors and to take action if any members are found responsible. The outsourcing of labor, along with precarious and dangerous practices and working conditions, are not merely the result of carelessness or errors, but are direct products of the insatiable drive to increase profits amid the inherent tendency of the rate of profit to decline. This contradictory process is made very clear in El Teniente itself, the largest underground mining site in the world, which has been exploited for more than 120 years. A graphic of El Teniente mine. [Photo: Codelco] Last weeks tragedy occurred during work on the Andesita project, one of several new sites within El Teniente that were to begin operations later in the year as part of plans to extend the life of the mine for another 50 years. El Teniente is an engineering feat and an extremely dangerous operation. It consists of 4,500km of tunnels and underground galleries that extend more than 900 meters deep into the El Teniente Ravine in the Andes. Each year at least 20 km of new tunnels are added to this extraordinary maze. The operation also includes a smelter, a concentrator, a leaching plant and a solvent extraction-electrowinnowing processing line to maximize profits. Over time, as the top levels are depleted and the copper ore veins reduce in grade and in ratio, more specialized techniques and technologies and enormous sums in investment and capital in the form of machinery and equipment are required to dig deeper into the Earth to keep the mine profitable. Last year, El Tenientes output was 356,000 tons of fine copper. In 2021, it was 460,000 tons. This massive preponderance of constant capital over human labor power, from which surplus value and ultimately profits are derived, drives capital to increase the ways and means of exploiting labor. At a certain point this reaches the level of outright criminality. A criminal investigation has been initiated partly because of the explosive allegations from the workers. One allegation circulating on social media is that miners were unable to access shelters due to them being padlocked, an allegation that Pacheco denied management ever received. Initially, it was claimed that the cause of the rock collapse was a magnitude 4.2 earthquake 17 kms below the mine. Site manager Andres Music stated at a press conference that seismic events were caused by mining, but they were looking into whether this earthquake was due to plate tectonics. On August 8, a person with direct knowledge of the investigation told Mining Reporters website on condition of anonymity that internal assessments suggested that geological stresses generated by the mines own extraction processes, rather than naturally occurring seismic shifts, were the probable cause of the incident. In a display of complete contempt for the workforce and in an indication that the company will receive no more than a slap on the wrist, Codelco received approval from Chiles mining regulator to reopen a part of El Teniente mine, reported Reuters. This comes after mounting pressure from global markets for El Teniente to resume operations to prevent the tightening of copper supplies worldwide. Mining Minister Aurora Williams complained that the indefinite shutdown of El Teniente was costing millions of dollars a day in losses. The corporatized union bureaucracy, which serves as managements industrial police and helped create the conditions for the mining disaster, is now playing a central role in pushing the miners back to work. After a few days of handwringing, crocodile tears and worthless statements appealing to the Codelco board of directors, to take responsibility and take the bull by the horns, it was reported that the new leadership of the United Workers Union (CUT) headed by Jose Manuel Diaz (Socialist Party) met with Boric to call on him to expedite the investigation. In a display of boundless cynicism Diaz said: We are also concerned about the prolonged closure of the mine because there are families and workers behind it, and subcontractors will begin to lay off workers if this continues. We therefore ask the President not only to wait for the results of the international investigation, but also to act quickly because there are families waiting. So much for their feigned concern for the workers and safety; they are practically demanding the miners be ordered back! The preventable deaths of six workers, some with families and all at the prime of their lives, is a graphic illustration that the working class, as a whole, is at a crossroads. This was not an isolated incident or a coincidence, to borrow from the miners open letter, but the inevitable outcome of the capitalist mode of production, which all the parties in this years presidential elections, from fake left to the fascist right, as well as the treacherous union bureaucracies, defend to their cores. Workers must set on a new political course that safeguards and defends their own independent social and class interests. The only path forward is independent action by workers themselves. In the words of the World Socialist Web Site chairman, David North, who addressed a meeting dealing with another preventable death of a skilled American worker, Ronald Adams Sr., due to company cost-cutting: This meeting has been organized by the Socialist Equality Party and the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC). It could be organized and this fight will continue because it is informed by a perspective. We are not looking to the ruling class to solve this problem. It cannot solve it. Even if it wanted to, the operation of its economic system determines its actions. The message that we put forward today is that it is critical that we take this fight into the factories, into the workplaces, that we build the IWA-RFC as a powerful instrument of working class struggle in the United States and internationally, and that we connect this fight to a struggle to change the very nature of the political and social system under which we live. Mercenary contractor Erik Prince with Ecuadoran security forces [Photo: @realErikDPrince] The recent visit to Ecuador and Peru by former US Navy SEAL and mercenary contractor Erik Prince is cause for alarm throughout the region. The billionaire Prince is the founder of Blackwater, an infamous mercenary army with a bloody record of assassinations and human rights violations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia, Haiti and other countries. His purpose in visiting Ecuador and Peru is to train the police and the military in combating the growing upsurge of the masses, as well as providing mercenary soldiers with a license to kill if the situation so requires. Both countries governments face the growth of extortionate mafias that control the streets of working-class districts in the cities and mining regions in the Andes. In Peru, it includes cities like Trujillo, El Callao, and Lima. Similarly, in Ecuador, drug trafficking gangs are prevalent in the port city of Guayaquil. These issues, however, have their source in rising social inequality, widespread poverty, and the marginalization of broad layers of workers and youth by the capitalist ruling elite. It is against this backdrop that Prince, a longtime supporter of Washingtons fascist President Trump, traveled to the region in July. In Quito, President Daniel Noboa and Prince reached a strategic agreement to combat drug trafficking and illegal fishing. The establishment of a US military base in Ecuador is also under consideration. Prince ostensibly visited Peru at the invitation of Hernando de Soto, a right-wing economist and former advisor to dictatorial regime of President Alberto Fujimori. Founder of the neo-liberal think tank Institute of Liberty and Democracy (ILD), which purports to fight regulation and to secure property rights for micro and medium size enterprises (MYPES), de Soto was among the first recipients of funding from the National Endowment for Democracy, which was set up under the Reagan administration to carry out overtly the kind of backing previously provided by the CIA covertly. Princes presence in Peru was allegedly to intervene in the conflict involving informal mining based upon de Sotos agenda. This is a lie. His expertise is not in the regulation of mining activity, but in training police and army elements, as well as in deploying mercenaries, to conduct mass repression and assassinations. This real agenda is aimed not only at repressing the recent violence involving informal miners, like the 13 miners massacred recently in Pataz, a mining region in the northern Andes. Its purpose goes far beyond that. Since early 2023, Peru has seen a rise in class struggle, driven by ever widening social inequality and rampant government corruption that leaves the bourgeoisie without democratic options to rule. Consequently, the government is increasingly relying on the police and military for control. Prince offers specialized training in tactics to meet this growing mass discontent with deadly force. In late July, artisanal and informal miners blockaded the main highway that carries minerals from the mines in the southern Andean region. This action was just the beginning of their protest. Unions and working-class organizations have announced a national general strike that could significantly challenge the government. El Comercio mentions Prince is the the founder of the controversial Blackwater (now known as Academi), a company that at one time became the largest contractor of security personnel for the US State Department, securing contracts from 2001 to 2009. However, the company was sold in 2010 following a scandal that resulted in the deaths of 17 civilians in Baghdad. Blackwater mercenaries escorting US diplomats passing by a public square in Baghdad launched an unprovoked attack using automatic weapons and grenades that left 17 dead, including a 9-year-old boy. It took three years of continuous struggle by families of the victims for the courts to declare four mercenaries guilty. Then, President Trump pardoned them in 2020. Trumps pardon sparked a global debate over several issues: (1) the impunity of mercenaries in war zones; (2) the legal vacuum in which private military companies operate; and (3) objections from the United Nations, human rights organizations, and the Iraqi government which deemed the pardons an affront to justice and the rule of law. But these complaints did not stop Blackwater, along with its successor companies, from receiving lucrative contracts worth billions of dollars from the US government and private entities between 2001 and 2020. Princes operations have included the deployment of military contractors (mercenaries) not only in Iraq and Afghanistan, but also in the United Arab Emirates, Libya, Somalia, South Sudan, Congo (DRC) and Yemen. In 2009, the WSWS reported on Prince mercenaries assassinations in Iraq and Afghanistan: [Bush] hired Blackwater USA to carry out assassinations of alleged Al Qaeda operatives. Hiring Blackwater continued under the Obama administration. The WSWS wrote: In spite of Blackwaters well-established record of indiscriminate killings of Iraqi civilians, the Obama administration has retained its services in Afghanistan, where a new report reveals that Blackwater has been contracted to work with the unmanned Predator drones that carry out assassinations and terrorize villages in eastern and southern Afghanistan and the border regions of Pakistan. In the interview with El Comercio, Prince describes his experience in Haiti: In the case of Haiti, the government has asked us to help them confront the gangs because they have a terrible problem: the gangs have taken over 90 percent of Port-au-Prince. This is how we work with and through the Haitian police, giving them the tools and capacity to combat gangs more effectively. In Haiti, they dont just kill police officers; they eat them. It has truly been a terrible situation, and little by little, we are turning it around. Among Princes mercenaries were 150 of Haitian origin who used explosive drones. The result was 300 dead and 400 wounded. All of Princes operations have a common denominator: a lack of transparency, the excessive use of lethal weapons, and the violation of sovereignty. Prince is a close political ally of Trump, who appointed the mercenary chiefs sister as his secretary of education in his first administration. His attempt to drum up business for his mercenary forces in South America could well serve as the point of the spear for a broader US military intervention in the region, which Washington views as a strategic battleground in its drive toward war with China. China is the biggest trading partner for South America and a major investor in Peruvian infrastructure and mining, with recent road blockades by miners directly conflicting with Chinese mining interests. Prince could thus attempt to profit from both sides of the geopolitical confrontation, while serving the interests of Perus ruling capitalist oligarchy and foreign capital by unleashing violence against a restive working class. Recently, Infobae published an article titled: Africa: China is investing in its own private security companies to protect its interests in Africa. Infobae reports: As a result of this phenomenon, hybrid companies have emerged, such as China Overseas Security Services, registered in the United Kingdom as a Chinese-controlled company utilizing Western security experts, or Frontier Services Group, created by Erik Prince, a former US SEAL and founder of Blackwater. The latter is a subsidiary of the China International Trust Investment Corporation (CITIC), one of the largest conglomerates in the Asian giant. Demonstrators rally in support of federal workers outside of the Department of Health and Human Services, Feb. 14, 2025, in Washington. [AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein] The Trump administration announced last week it was terminating collective bargaining at two federal agencies, Veterans Affairs and the Environmental Protection Agency, effective immediately. With approximately 370,000 workers directly affected, the move is among the largest assaults on collective bargaining rights ever carried out. Beyond striking a blow at a trade union apparatus that nominally opposed him, Trump seeks to facilitate the purge of the federal workforce, remaking the civil service into one where loyalty to the president is a condition of employment. The elimination of collective bargaining at the two agencies is just a start. Trump targeted more than a dozen additional cabinet-level and independent agencies in an executive order issued in March. In all, the administration aims to remove collective bargaining for around one million federal workers, or about 1 out of every 15 workers covered by a union contract currently in the United States. Already, 158,000 workers have left the government in the first six months of Trumps presidency, according to an analysis by the Partnership for Public Service. These job losses occurred in advance of a court order last month lifting a temporary freeze on layoffs and agency restructuring. Many agencies also have ongoing programs to coerce workers into early retirements or resignations. The federal cuts are likely to continue well into next year. President Trumps budget proposal for fiscal year 2026, beginning in October, calls for another 100,000 job cuts. While the presidents budget proposal is unlikely to be implemented as-is, it gives an indication of the extent of job cuts that will be pursued. The ability for the administration to carry out the effort was cleared by a federal appeals court, which on August 1 lifted a preliminary injunction that had frozen the administrations efforts. This decision in the Ninth Circuit was another in a series of rulings by federal courts rubber-stamping the Trump administrations anti-democratic attempts to reconstruct the federal government, including Supreme Court decisions last month that allowed the disbanding of the Department of Education and mass layoffs without Congressional authorization. In moving forward with eliminating collective bargaining, the Trump administration is reneging on its assurances it made in court and contradicting guidance issued by the Office of Personnel Management that it would not formally terminate union contracts until the conclusion of litigation. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and other federal union bureaucracies responded by reasserting their strategy of confining opposition to appeals to the courts and Congress. AFGE National President Everett Kelley said in a statement, While we assess this orders impact and our next steps in these preliminary injunction proceedings, we remain fully committed to fighting this case on the merits and are confident in our ability to ultimately prevail. AFL-CIO Liz Shuler vowed to fight this all-out assault on workers with everything we have, while doing nothing to mobilize its millions of members, let alone make most of them aware of the scale and significance of the attack. The union apparatuss strategy is to appeal to the ruling class and provide reassurances that it is a reliable ally against the workers. Far from encouraging workers to mount a struggle against it, they actively seek to prevent the working class from exerting its power. Trump, however, is not relenting. By eliminating collective bargaining for federal workers, he is seeking to make an example of them. Trump has invoked a bogus national security justification, even where agency functions have no clear connections, and where employees official position descriptions explicitly state they have no national security functions. Such a move sets a precedent that could be extended to workers across sectors, including in private industry. The aim is to create conditions where any expression of opposition can be grounds for dismissal. The Trump administration has already unilaterally overridden much of what is contained within labor contracts, including telework, flexible work schedules, and union dues collection. Federal unions do not bargain over wages, which are set by Congress. What remains are provisions providing limited job security protections, including against arbitrary discipline and dismissal. It is significant that the EPA is among the first targets. At the end of June, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin retaliated against 160 employees for signing a letter critical of Zeldins attempt to sabotage the agencys mission to protect human health and the environment. He placed the workers on administrative leave while initiating a disciplinary investigation. The workers remain on leave at least through August 15, a deadline that has already been extended twice. Meanwhile, Trump is pushing ahead with new job classifications and hiring criteria that will enable him to politicize much of the nominally non-political civil service. Trumps Office of Personnel Management has proposed a rule to convert potentially tens of thousands of jobs into a new category of at-will employees whose employment is dependent upon the preferences of the president. It is also revising the employee performance evaluation system. Its notable that the administration falsely used the charge of poor performance to implement the mass firing of probationary employees earlier this year. Trump is also revamping the hiring process to ensure that only the most patriotic Americans are hired to the Federal service and prioritizing those passionate about the ideals of our American republic. Under conditions where Trump has denounced political opponents as traitors, these are clearly coded references in an attempt to fill the civil service with right-wing ideologues. It appears the US government is doing everything in its power to ensure that Luis Manuel Rivas Velasquez, a 38-year-old Venezuelan who nearly died last week at the Florida Everglades concentration camp after being denied medical care, does not survive. Luis Manuel Rivas Velasquez [Photo: Luis Frio] New details revealed in phone calls made public by one of Rivas Velasquezs attorneys, Eric Lee of Lee & Godshall-Bennett LLP, confirm that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and ICE contractors are not only lying about the criminal and inhumane conditions at the Florida detention center, but they are continuing to deprive Rivas Velasquez access to his attorneys and to doctors at the detention center in El Paso, Texas, to which he has since been moved. Last Tuesday, Rivas Velasquez, a car enthusiast and social media influencer with over a quarter million followers online, collapsed while detained inside Alligator Alcatraz, the recently opened immigrant detention camp located on an airport tarmac in the middle of Floridas steaming swamps. Designed to hold up to 5,000 humans, currently some 700 people are languishing in the tents which the New York Times reported earlier this month are built in an area that over the last 35 years has seen a tropical storm or hurricane pass through once every two years, on average. Speaking to Lee on August 7 after he was hospitalized for two days, Rivas Velasquez confirmed that he and other detainees were being denied access to medical care and bathing facilities. He said, I am living the hell of Alcatraz. Conditions are not optimal. The medicine doesnt arrive on time. We bathe only once a week Another detainee at the facility confirmed to Lee that Rivas Velasquez suffered a serious medical emergency on Tuesday and did not simply faint, as the DHS claimed. The detainee said that Rivas Velasquez was already suffering from flu-like symptoms and was lying on his bed with muffled breathing like he was gone, and he turned facing up. The eyewitness said some other detainees also noticed and went to touch Rivas Velasquez, and he didnt react. He didnt react and right away we tried to give him first aid there, try to resuscitate him ... and we called for them to open the tent to take him out ... to get emergency care. Rivas Velasquezs wife confirmed that another detainee, a nurse from Cuba, provided cardiopulmonary resuscitation, without which her husband might have died. The eyewitness said that they and a couple other detainees moved Rivas Velasquez to a corridor and that guards instructed them to leave him lying on the floor. The guards had no medical training. The eyewitness continued: Here the doctors have practically no training whatsoever. Besides, there are no specialists here either. Emergency care does not exist. The eyewitness confirmed that Rivas Velasquez was left on the floor for about half an hour, and one person attempted to take his pulse. They didnt even know how to take his pulse. All they did was turn him sideways and give him like a massage on the back, but thats no good. Once medical personnel did arrive, they did not move with a sense of urgency. They came slow, walking as if nothing had happened. ... There was not the right attention in the sense of haste, of trying to use every possible minute to be able to save his life, because you do not know what is happening to him. The same person said that approximately 100 detainees witnessed Rivas Velasquez being left on the ground without medical care and that mostly everyone inside the facility, including staff, was sick. The detainee also confirmed that medical masks to prevent the spread of contagion are not given to you, they are taken away. Since Alligator Alcatraz began operations last month, those at the Florida detention camp have reported deplorable conditions, including backed-up toilets, insufficient and inedible food, indifferent and sadistic guards and limited access to legal help or leisure activities. Water has to be transported to the camp, and refuse removed from it, as there is no onsite plumbing. This has led guards to impose limits on baths and water usage, leading to sickness and disease, which appears to be running rampant throughout the camp. Florida immigrant detention camp at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility in the Florida Everglades, Friday, July 4, 2025, in Ochopee. [AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell] Last Thursday, US District Judge Kathleen Williams issued a temporary restraining order halting all new construction at the Florida facility for 14 days in response to a lawsuit brought by several environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe. The plaintiffs argue that the concentration camp violates several environmental laws and did not undergo proper permitting prior to construction and operation. Following the call on August 7, ICE blocked Lee and other attorneys from contacting Rivas Velasquez for two days. On August 9, Rivas Velasquez managed a brief call from inside the El Paso Enhanced Hardened Facility in Texas, where his health was again deteriorating due to continued denial of medical treatment. His last words before the line was cut off were, Help! I dont want to die here. Later that day, the El Paso Fire Department dispatched a medical team to the facility, but ICE agents barred them from entering or seeing the detainee. Any objective observer would conclude that ICE and DHS are doing everything in their power to ensure that Rivas Velasquez dies in their custody. His death would mark at least the twelfth killing in ICE detention this year, following the August 5 death of Chaofeng Ge at the Moshannon Valley Processing Center in Pennsylvania. The deplorable conditions inside Americas immigration gulag are not unintended but the deliberate result of government policies aimed at dehumanizing large swaths of the population in order to prepare the working class to accept mass death from preventable disease, climate change-induced catastrophes and imperialist war. The attacks on immigrants are the opening salvo in the ruling classs counterrevolution against all the social, democratic and economic rights won by the working class over the past century. If these attacks are to be halted, workers must unite on a class basis internationally against the parties of big business, which have bolstered the mass deportation and police state apparatus. Right-wing supporters of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro demonstrating in Sao Paulo on August 3 [Photo: Cadu Pinotti/Agencia Brasil] Last Monday, Brazils former President Jair Bolsonaro was placed under house arrest by the Supreme Court (STF) after repeatedly violating precautionary measures prohibiting him from using social media. The restrictions against the former president were imposed two weeks ago amid tensions caused by US President Donald Trumps announcement of drastic tariffs against Brazil, justified as an intervention by Washington against what he called a witch hunt against Bolsonaro and his supporters. On July 18, STF judge Alexandre de Moraes decreed several measures against Bolsonaroincluding the use of an electronic ankle bracelet, a ban on social media and communication with foreign authoritieson the grounds that he was acting alongside his son, Eduardo Bolsonaro, to instigate US sanctions against Brazil and obstruct the investigation and trial of those responsible for the fascist coup attempt of January 8, 2023. Bolsonaro provocatively defied the courts decision. After appearing in Congress on July 21, where he spoke in front of cameras to his allies denouncing the Supreme Courts measures as a humiliation and calling for confrontation with everything and everyone, he was warned with a threat of arrest. In defiance of the STF, Bolsonaro participated via video call broadcast to fascistic demonstrations held last Sunday in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The protests demanded amnesty now for all those involved in the January 8 fascist insurrection, as well as the impeachment of Moraes and the overthrow of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Workers Party PT). Protesters held signs reading, in English, THANK YOU TRUMP and HELP TRUMP. Bolsonaros imprisonment, to be served under house arrest, has ignited new flames in Brazils explosive political environment. The Trump administration responded immediately. On Monday night, the US State Department issued an official statement on X announcing: Justice Moraes, now a US-sanctioned human rights abuser, continues to use Brazils institutions to silence opposition and threaten democracy. The United States condemns Moraes order imposing house arrest on Bolsonaro and will hold accountable all those aiding and abetting sanctioned conduct. Washingtons provocations against the Brazilian government escalated throughout the week. On Thursday, the US Embassy in Brazil issued a statement attacking Moraes as the chief architect of censorship and persecution against Bolsonaro and threatening the entire Brazilian judicial system. It concluded: Moraes allies in the judiciary and elsewhere are warned not to support or facilitate Moraes conduct. We are monitoring the situation closely. Brazils Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty) summoned a representative of the Embassy the following, demanding clarification on its flagrant violation of international law and the principle of non-interference. Washington responded by doubling down on the affront. On Saturday, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau published a new attack against Brazil on X, which was translated into Portuguese and reposted by the US Embassy. It states: ... What is happening now in Brazil underscores this point: a single Justice of the Supreme Court has usurped dictatorial power by threatening leaders of the other branches, or their families, with arrest, imprisonment, or other penalties. This person has destroyed Brazils historically close relationship with the US... So we find ourselves in a dead end where the usurper cloaks himself in the rule of law and the other branches insist that they are powerless to act.... The unspecified claim that the other branches of government insist that they are powerless to act against the judiciary, in addition to being a grotesque fraud, has sinister implications. It recalls the entire history of coups sponsored by US imperialism in Latin America, including the overthrow of the democratically elected government in Brazil in 1964 and the installation of a murderous military dictatorship that remained in power for two decades. The Lula government saw itself pressured to respond to these attacks. To Poder360, it declared its absolute rejection of the repeated interference of the US government in Brazils internal affairs and stated that Landaus post characterizes a new frontal attack on Brazilian sovereignty and on a democracy that recently defeated an attempted coup detat. The new series of provocations and threats from Washington comes on the heels of Trumps declaration that Brazil threatened the US with a national emergency, which accompanied the formalization of his 50 percent tariffs against the country. As the World Socialist Web Site reported, Trumps July 28 decree, in a grotesque inversion of the facts, accused the Brazilian governmentand Moraes individuallyof politically persecuting a former president and contributing to the deliberate breakdown in the rule of law, ... politically motivated intimidation ... and to human rights abuses. Moraes was subsequently subjected to economic sanctions and banned from entering the US under the Magnitsky Actin a move that Washington now threatens to extend to his allies in the judiciary and other spheres. In the national political arena, Bolsonaros arrest was the signal for a renewed offensive by the fascist political forces associated with the former president. On Tuesday, members of Bolsonaros Liberal Party (PL) and other far-right parties initiated an obstruction of Congress and the Senate. Physically preventing the sessions from proceeding, they demanded a vote on what they dubbed the countrys pacification package, centered on amnesty for those involved in the January 8 coup attempt and on the impeachment of Moraes. After two days of blocking parliament, the fascists announced the suspension of the action, having extracted significant concessions, including a pledge by the Centrao parties (a loose bloc affiliated directly to neither the ruling PT, nor to Bolsonaro) support the January 8 amnesty bill and measures against the judiciary. The parties that articulated this agreementthe Progressive Party (PP), Uniao Brasil, and the Social Democratic Party (PSD)constitute the base and occupy key ministries in Lulas government. The political continuity between this recent action and the coup conspiracy itself that culminated in the fascist insurrection in Brasilia two years ago has been widely noted. Among others, the governments leader in Congress, Randolfe Rodrigues of the PT, accused it of being not an obstruction but a new January 8. The close coordination between the fascists action in Brazils parliament and Washingtons subsequent attacks through its embassy is evident. The episode also evokes recent statements by Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the former presidents eldest son, who led the obstruction movement. In an interview with Folha de Sao Paulo in June, Flavio threatened that a conviction of his father would provoke popular and international reactions that are not under our control. By a countrys pacification, the fascists mean that the only alternative to a violent coup is a peaceful surrender. The recent events expose not only the development of the fascist conspiracy in Brazil and its deep ties to the US imperialist escalation. They also lay bare the complete bankruptcy of the perspectives nurtured by the PT and its pseudo-left supporters, who work systematically to disarm the Brazilian working class in the face of this deadly threat. The PT and the pseudo-left promoted the farce that fascism could be contained by a broad front with the bankrupt bourgeois establishment, while they systematically promoted the military. Now they are committed to imprisoning workers and youth under a bourgeois nationalist trap in response to Trumps attacks. The working class can fight imperialist violence and fascism only by establishing its political independence from the bourgeoisie and its agents and by waging revolutionary struggle against capitalism and for socialism on an international basis. A firefighter battles the Canyon Fire on Thursday, August 7, 2025, in Hasley Canyon, California. [AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez] On August 7, 2025, a fire ignited north of Highway 126 near Castaic in Ventura County, rapidly growing from 30 acres to over 5,000 within hours. Driven by triple-digit heat, parched vegetation, steep terrain and onshore winds, the Canyon Fire advanced eastward toward communities, power infrastructure and critical facilities in Hasley Canyon and Hathaway Ranch. Crossing into Los Angeles County triggered a Unified Command between county fire departments, mobilizing 391 personnel, 7 helicopters, 3 bulldozers and 9 hand crews. In the following days, containment reached 62 percent with 5,370 acres burned. The fire forced mass evacuations: 4,200 residents and 1,400 structures in Los Angeles County were under mandatory orders, with 12,500 more under warning. Ventura County evacuations included 56 people from Lake Piru. Shelters were opened at the College of the Canyons, with animal care centers at Pierce College and the Castaic Animal Care Center. A firefighter was hospitalized after a harrowing accident in Castaic while patrolling for Canyon Fire flare-ups. His pickup veered off Romero Canyon Road, plunging 100200 feet and rolling repeatedly. He was possibly ejected during the fall, suffering major injuries before paramedics airlifted him to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Valencia. A local emergency declaration imposed antiprice gouging rules. While evacuations were gradually lifted, contradictory communications exposed the fragility of public information systems during a crisis. The relative containment of the Canyon Fire, compared to past megafires, was due to the unusually fast initial responsean implicit recognition by authorities of the public outrage over recent firefighting failures in Los Angeles, from deadly slow responses in West Altadena to the deployment of private fire crews for the wealthy, like real estate magnate Rick Caruso. The Altadena Community Church is pictured the day after it was destroyed by the Eaton Fire, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025, in Altadena, Calif [AP Photo/Chris Pizzello] But the core conditions that made the Canyon Fire so explosiveclimate change, underfunded public services and the destruction of environmental safeguardsremain unaddressed and are worsening. Californias 202526 budget avoided the politically incendiary step of cutting forest and fire services outright in the aftermath of the devastating Los Angeles fires but implemented shifts and reductions that undermine long-term resilience. A $1 billion transfer from climate programs to CAL FIRE operations increased dependency on volatile cap-and-trade revenues, jeopardizing multi-year forest health projects. Grants for forest health and local fire prevention were preserved but reduced to $82.2 million and $59.1 million, respectively, far below previous peaks. Community home-hardening programs fell to $12.5 million. Key allocations from the states Cap-and-Invest climate programoften used for forest restorationwere deferred, delaying critical prevention projects. Climate and water initiatives overall suffered a 26 percent cut. Local departments, including the Los Angeles Fire Department, reduced vacant civilian positions and overtime, limiting training and preparedness despite nominal funding increases. The states plan to make 3,000 seasonal firefighters permanent is a step forward in suppression capacity, yet prevention and resilience investments remain far more vulnerable to budget raids. At the federal level, proposed fiscal year 2026 cuts to the US Forest Service threaten to gut staffing and fire suppression funding by 10 percent, imperiling both firefighting and prevention efforts such as prescribed burns and forest thinning. Large fires like the Canyon Fire require unified, multi-agency coordination. Federal retrenchment will undermine Californias already strained resources. These decisions unfold under conditions in which scientific consensus leaves no doubt: human-caused climate change is intensifying wildfire risk in California and across the globe. NOAA, NASA and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) have documented that rising temperatures are lengthening fire seasons into a permanent, year-round threat. Climate change has doubled the number of large fires in the western US since the mid-1980s by accelerating vegetation drying. Even a 1Celsius temperature rise could increase median burned area in some forests by 600 percent. The Canyon Fires driversparched fuels, relentless heat, steep topography and high windsare textbook products of this warming climate. Californias so-called fire season is now an anachronism. August and September may still be peak months, but devastating blazes like the Thomas Fire in December 2017 and the Hughes Fire in January prove the danger is constant. The relationship between climate change and wildfires is a vicious feedback loop. Fires release vast amounts of greenhouse gases, which in turn heat the planet and set the stage for more intense and frequent fires. Between 2001 and 2023, global wildfire emissions rose by 60 percent. CARB now tracks wildfire emissions separately from other human sources to reflect their growing magnitude. As warming accelerates, the probability of very large fires could increase six-fold in parts of the US by mid-century. Decades of mounting evidence have made clear that the capitalist system cannot and will not organize the internationally coordinated, science-driven, and massively funded response that is required. Fire prevention and climate resilience programs are slashed or repurposed to meet short-term budget goals, while corporate polluters retain their licenses to profit. Land-use policies continue to prioritize luxury development in high-risk zones, forcing working class communities into harms way. The same political establishment that feigns concern over climate disasters simultaneously rolls back regulations on oil drilling, logging and industrial agricultureindustries whose operations fuel the crisis. The Canyon Fire also exposed the extreme inequality in how wildfire risk and response are managed. While the wealthy can hire private fire crews, harden estates and evacuate to second homes, working class families face displacement, economic disruption and toxic smoke exposure without adequate assistance, if not death. Emergency shelters are under-resourced, public communication systems are inconsistent, and evacuation orders often arrive late or in contradictory forms. There is nothing inevitable about this. The scientific and technical means to radically reduce wildfire risk existfrom aggressive emissions reduction to large-scale forest restoration, early warning systems and community-wide fire-hardening programs. What is missing is the political will to mobilize these resources in the interests of the vast majority rather than the wealthy elite. The Canyon Fire stands as another warning: the conditions that produced it are not exceptional but permanent. Without a fundamental break from the profit-driven priorities that dominate state and federal policy, California will face ever more frequent and destructive fires, each exacting a higher toll in lives, health and resources. The fight against wildfire devastation is inseparable from the broader fight against climate change and the capitalist system that drives it. The working class, urban and rural alike, must take the lead in demanding and organizing for a program of climate and fire resilience that is fully funded, democratically controlled and rooted in scientific necessity, not corporate profit. This means massive investment in prevention and mitigation, expansion of public firefighting capacity and the immediate phasing out of fossil fuel production. Anything less is an open invitation to catastrophe. The Canyon Fire, contained for now, will not be the last. But whether future fires are met with coordinated preparedness or allowed to spiral into the next Los Angeles or Thomas or Woolsey depends not on the benevolence of the political establishment but on the independent political action of the working class to reorder societys priorities around human need and environmental survival. 25 years ago: Fiji military regime charges coup leader with treason On August 11, 2000, Fijis military government charged the leader of a failed May 19 coup, George Speight, and 14 associates with treasona capital offense. This was widely seen as a calculated gesture to Washington, Canberra, London, and Wellington, signaling a readiness to re-establish law and order and restore conditions favorable to foreign investment. Speights groupincluding former army commander Ilisoni Ligairi, spokesperson Joe Nata, Timoci Silatolu, and Jim Speightwas accused of waging civil war against President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and overthrowing Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhrys elected government. On May 19, 2000, they had stormed Parliament and taken government officials hostage. The treason charges, denying bail and postponing trial for at least four weeks, marked a dramatic escalation from lesser offenses initially brought after their July arrests. The militarys abrupt reversal was a direct response to diplomatic and economic leverage by the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Britain: aid, trade, and investment relationships were put on hold pending action against the coup plotters, with US Ambassador Osman Siddique urging Fiji to move toward national reconciliation and reconstruction with a more transparent administrationdiplomatic code for opening the island wide to capitalist exploitation. The economic fallout from Western pressure had been immediate and severe, with about $400 million in planned investments frozen. A South Pacific Forum report predicted at least two years of recession under the best scenario and up to five years with 40,000 job losses if harsh sanctions continued. Those most effected were poor, unskilled workers in construction, tourism, and retailthe majority of the islands population. Reacting to the imperialist pressure, Interim Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase announced sweeping pro-business measures, including corporate tax cuts and concessions for exporters. Burned out Indian restaurant in Suva, attacked in the May 19 Coup [Photo by Anton Leddin / CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 The imperialist powers were able to prey on ethnic divisions. Speight and his supporters sought the exclusion of Indo-Fijians from government and pushed for constitutional changes favoring indigenous dominance, triggering violence and discrimination against Indo-Fijians, including attacks on their businesses and places of worship. Qarase aimed to keep this aspect of the coups aims, promising much of Speights program will be implemented. New laws implemented after the coup entrenched land ownership for Fijian chiefs and privileges for indigenous businesses, reinforcing divisions already exploited by the coup. Western governments welcomed the military governments move against Speight. But their support remained conditional. Regional powers Australia and New Zealand lifted travel bans but kept targeted sanctions in place to maintain leverage. Australias Foreign Minister Alexander Downer openly stated that Canberra would maintain economic, sporting and military sanctions in place in order to keep pressure on the new government. 50 years ago: Bangladesh President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman assassinated On August 15, 1975, a military coup in Bangladesh resulted in the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the countrys first post-independence president. In addition to Mujibur Rahman, the assassins killed his wife, three sons, and other family members. Only his two daughters, including the future prime minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed, survived due to being abroad in Germany at the time. The coup was led by a group of army officers who established a military junta as the new ruling power. The military government immediately issued an Indemnity Ordinance to protect the assassins from prosecution, a law that would stand for two decades throughout several subsequent military dictatorships. Mujibur Rahman visits US President Gerald Ford in the White House in 1974 The assassination was the culmination of the profound political crisis in the newly independent Bangladesh. The country was born out of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, which saw the country, then known as East Pakistan, engage in an independence struggle against West Pakistan. The conflict was a product of the reactionary communal partition of India in 1947, which created the states of India and Pakistan with arbitrary borders that split both Bengal and Punjab. In East Pakistan, the Bengali-speaking majority was dominated by the ruling elites from West Pakistan, who imposed Urdu as the state language and systematically marginalized the eastern wing. This led to the rise of a Bengali nationalist movement. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman emerged as the central political leader of this movement, heading the Awami League. In the December 1970 national election, the Awami League won an overwhelming majority, but the Islamabad establishment and military refused to allow him to form a national government. This refusal triggered a brutal military crackdown in March 1971, which, in turn, provoked an armed rebellion and a full-scale independence war. With the military support of India, Bangladesh won its independence in December 1971. After his release from a Pakistani prison, Mujibur Rahman returned in January 1972 to lead the newly independent nation as its first president. However, his bourgeois nationalist program was completely unable to address the dire needs of the impoverished working masses of Bangladesh. Upon independence, Bangladesh was beset by immense economic and social problems. By 1973, industrial and agricultural production had plummeted to a fraction of pre-war levels. A devastating famine in 1974 claimed millions of lives. The Awami League government became increasingly corrupt and resorted to authoritarian methods to consolidate its rule. As political opposition mounted, Mujibur Rahman declared a state of emergency in December 1974, suspending fundamental constitutional rights. In early 1975, he established a one-party presidential system with himself as the head of state, effectively ending parliamentary democracy. This turn to dictatorship, combined with rampant corruption within the Awami League and his perceived ties with India, created an environment of resentment within sections of the army that ultimately led to the August 15 coup and assassination. Bangladesh would be ruled by a continuing series of military rulers until 1990 when a mass uprising finally ousted the dictatorship. 75 years ago: Ethel Rosenberg arrested at New York courthouse On August 11, 1950, Ethel Rosenberg was arrested on the steps of a New York City courthouse just hours after testifying before a grand jury. Her husband Julius had been arrested less than four weeks prior on suspicion of espionage and passing on information about the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union. Ethels testimony before the grand jury involved a barrage of questions about her communist affiliations, to which she continuously asserted her right not to answer the questions to protect against self-incrimination, a right guaranteed under the Fifth Amendment of the US Constitution. Before her testimony and later arrest, she had previously been implicated by her brother, David Greenglass, himself arrested two months prior by the FBI. During his trial in 1951, he implicated Ethel as the person who typed up the notes which he passed to the Soviet Union through a courier. Ethel and Julius Rosenberg The prosecution team at the time admitted they had a weak case against Ethel but proceeded with arresting and charging her anyway, partly as an unsuccessful attempt to apply pressure to her husband to talk, and partly to use her punishment as an example in the midst of McCarthyite anti-communism. Julius and Ethel Rosenbergs trial concluded in March 1951 with a conviction of espionage, and a death sentence which was carried out on June 19, 1953. Documents released in the decades since the arrest, trial, and execution of Ethel Rosenberg have provided increasingly strong evidence that she was the victim of a political frame-up. In 2008, the grand jury testimony for almost all the witnesses (excluding, notably, David Greenglass) was released, after being sealed for over half a century. In particular, historians have noted that the testimony of Ethels sister-in-law Ruth Greenglass directly contradicted the central charge of the trial against Ethel, that she typed up the notes which David Greenglass passed to the Soviets. Ruth Greenglasss grand jury testimony on the other hand, confirmed that the notes passed on from Greenglass were handwritten by Ruth herself. This lines up with what David Greenglass later admitted to journalist Sam Roberts in 2003, that he lied in his 1951 trial and falsely implicated Ethel Rosenberg to protect his wife. When Greenglasss own grand jury testimony, four days prior to Ethels arrest, was finally released in 2015, it demonstrated that Greenglass initially claimed that he had never spoken to Ethel about his espionage activities. 100 years: French and Spanish armies combine to fight rebels in Morocco On August 11, 1925, the French and Spanish militaries combined forces in an offensive in Morocco against the rebels led by Abd el-Krim, the Berber politician and general. French Marshal Petain, the commander of French forces in World War I and future head of the Vichy Nazi puppet state during the Second World War, arrived in Morocco in July and was appointed sole commander of the French forces in September. The Spanish dictator Primo De Rivera was also in Morocco at this time in command of the Spanish forces. Marshal Petain Spain had established a protectorate over large parts of Morocco, including the mountainous Rif region in the coastal north, as a result of a 1912 agreement with France. The Rif war had begun in June 1921 when Berber and Arab tribes under the leadership of el-Krim attacked Spanish fortifications, with the goal of driving the Spanish out and founding an independent republic. The Republic of the Rif was established on September 18, 1921, though the war dragged on. In 1924 French imperialism came to Spains aid. In the spring of 1925 over 8,000 Riffian troops had attacked fortresses manned by the French, necessitating a united Franco-Spanish counteroffensive. Their joint action was to involve a large-scale amphibious landing operation at Alhucemas Bay in September, deploying around 123,000 men supported by 150 aircraft against about 12,000 Riffian fighters. This was the first ever amphibious landing involving tanks and aircraft. The two armies utilized as well the services of a group of American mercenaries known as the Escadrille Cherifienne, who bombed civilians in Riffian villages in addition to military targets. The actions of the group provoked so much public outrage that it was disbanded in November. The military offensive of French and Spanish imperialism was the beginning of the end of the Rif rebellion, which was finally defeated in May 1926. On Friday afternoon, August 8, 2025, the Trump administrations war on public health led to deadly violence. An assault by a distraught gunman on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) headquarters in Atlanta terrorized hundreds of employees, claimed the life of a police officer, and laid bare the lethal consequences of years of political incitement, institutional dismantling, and the deliberate spread of anti-vaccine propaganda. This was not an isolated act of violence. It was the result of a long campaign that attacked scientists, cut resources, and created a climate where lies led to bullets. The shooter, 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw, Georgia, arrived with five guns, including at least one long gun, and two backpacks filled with ammunition, some legally obtained by his father, who told officers his son was suicidal and had blamed the COVID vaccines for his mental health condition. After guards stopped him from entering the secure CDC campus, White crossed the street to a CVS and opened fire at the agencys buildings. Dozens of bullets lodged in at least four CDC structures while shattered glass lay strewn across the premises. Those at the scene recall that rapid gunfire echoed for roughly 15 minutes while CDC employees barricaded behind doors lay on the floor as they waited for SWAT teams to arrive. One staff member later described herself as a sitting duck, while another called it a miracle more people werent hit. Shell casings littered the sidewalks. Multiple bullet holes are visible on the windows a CDC building in Atlanta, Georgia, August 8, 2025. When police reached the CVS, they found White dead on the second floor. It remains unclear whether he died by suicide or police gunfire. Among the responding officers was DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, a 33-year-old rookie and former Marine, who was killed in the ensuing gunfire. According to local media, the deceased officer leaves behind two young children and his wife, who is expecting another child. Investigators soon learned that White believed the COVID-19 vaccine had made him depressed and suicidal. Neighbors described him as unsettled and consumed by anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, convinced that vaccines were harming him and others. His fixation reflects the toll of the sustained campaign of disinformation by the quacks and charlatans that Trump has now placed in positions of authority in the Department of Health and Human Services. Since the pandemic began, scientists and health officials have endured death threats, armed protests, doxing, and assaults at their homes. These attacks have not emerged in a vacuum but have been fueled and legitimized by political figures, none more prominent than Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Long before taking office, Kennedy called the CDC a cesspool of corruption and a fascist enterprise, compared vaccination programs to the Catholic Churchs child sex abuse cover-up, falsely claimed the COVID-19 vaccine was the deadliest vaccine ever made, and described vaccinating children against COVID-19 as criminal medical malpractice. Since assuming office, Kennedy has moved from inflammatory rhetoric to concrete actions that have gutted public health capacity. Most recently he canceled nearly $500 million in federal funding for mRNA vaccine research, undermining decades of scientific progress. He has also fired all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and replaced them with anti-vaccine advocates, laid off nearly 2,000 CDC employees, and proposed a fiscal year 2026 budget that would cut the agencys funding in half. He has also threatened to dismantle the entire US Preventive Taskforce panel, which will have long-term dire consequences. Critics argue that these actions have systematically dismantled the CDCs ability to monitor, respond to, and mitigate disease outbreaks, while sending a chilling message to the remaining workforce. In the aftermath of the shooting, CDC employees joined internal calls to demand answers about how the agency would address the misinformationthe disinformationthat caused this issue and what would be done to protect staff in the future. Former Surgeon General Jerome Adams said employees contacted him directly because they felt under attack and wanted someone with a public voice to condemn the violence. CDC Chief Medical Officer Debra Houry voiced a shared sentiment, Were mad this has happened. Kennedys own heedless response to the shooting has only deepened outrage. For more than 18 hours after the shooting, he said nothing publicly, instead posting fishing trip photos on his personal social media. When a statement finally came, it was viewed by many employees as tepid and inadequate. Among Kennedys most vocal critics is Fired But Fighting, a group of former HHS employees terminated under his leadership. In a blistering statement, they directly tied the shooting to the administrations political agenda and called for Kennedys resignation alongside that of OMB Director Russell Vought, an architect of Project 2025: The armed attack on CDC today, which claimed the life of a heroic police officer and left CDC workers devastated and traumatized, reflects the realization of Voughts directive: When [federal workers] 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 to put them in trauma. 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. The ongoing destruction of our public health infrastructure has destroyed the systems meant to prevent tragedies like this from happening. Scientists who have spoken out are right to see this shooting not as the random act of a lone madman, but as the predictable result of a long, deliberate attack on science through both rhetoric and policy. The evidence is clear: between March 2020 and January 2021, more than half of local health departments reported harassment of their staff, and many public health leaders have been driven to resign or retire under threat, leaving communities without the expertise they depend on. To push back, scientists and public health workers need to organize their protests alongside the working class as a whole, linking their fight to defend science with the fight to protect the health and safety of all working people. The false divide between public health professionals and the working people they serve has only made it easier for these attacks to intensifyand closing that gap is essential to defending both medical science and the lives it protects. Clearly, the bipartisan war on public health, marked by mass firings, budget cuts, and the elevation of conspiracy theories, is more than administrative policy. It amounts to what can only be called social murderthe intentional dismantling of life-saving infrastructure and the normalization of preventable deaths as an acceptable cost of protecting profits and increasing military spending. In this logic, eliminating inconvenient evidence of ongoing health crises becomes a political necessity. What happened on August 8 was the direct outcome of a political agenda vilifying public health and the people who work in it. If this fascistic climate is left unchallenged, there will be more attacks, more lives lost, and further erosion of the institutions that protect public health. The shooting at the CDC stands as a warning that the attack on Friday was a direct result of the rhetoric, policies, and calculated indifference of those who have chosen to make public health a target. Western Sydney University (WSU) management is pushing ahead with plans to eliminate up to 400 academic and professional jobs, or more than 13 percent of the universitys full-time workforce. WSUs National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) branch president David Burchell revealed last week that 381 staff members had expressed an interest in a voluntary redundancy scheme announced by management last month. Western Sydney University Management is now working with faculty and school deans to hand-pick the staff whose applications will be accepted, while still threatening forced redundancies as well. This is another warning of the scale of the job cuts and sweeping restructuring being demanded throughout Australias 39 public universities. So far, more than 3,500 job losses have been unveiled across the country during the past 10 months. The avalanche of job cuts is a direct result of the Albanese Labor governments reactionary cuts to international student enrolments and its continuation of the previous Liberal-National Coalition governments Job-ready Graduate program that financially penalises humanities students and the universities that enrol them. These cuts come on top of years of under-funding by successive governments. They will intensify as the governments new Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) ties each universitys funding to a mission compact to deliver the governments national priorities. These priorities, as set out in the governments Universities Accord report last year, are focussed on tying both teaching and research to the narrow vocational demands of employers and the development of a war economy, including through the AUKUS submarine program and the mining and refining of war-related critical minerals. The NTEU apparatus is trying to block any unified fight by staff and students against this agenda. Instead, NTEU officials are trying to blame individual vice-chancellors for the job destruction, while assisting them to achieve their goals. At a WSU NTEU members meeting on Thursday and in an email to members on Friday, Burchell criticised managements supposed voluntary redundancy (VR) scheme, claiming that it doesnt fit with the Organisational Change provisions of the NTEUs enterprise agreements with WSU. In reality, the change clauses offer little or no protection against retrenchments. All management has to claim is that the work of a targeted staff member is no longer required or can be accommodated within the workloads of remaining staff. The truth is that management is taking advantage of the NTEUs proposal last month of a VR scheme as a means of implementing the cost-cutting it demands, while stifling staff members opposition. Management unveiled the VR scheme just after Burchell informed NTEU members at the university, via an email, that in backroom negotiations the union had suggested a modest VR exercise to Vice-Chancellor George Williams in order to cut jobs in a decent and humane manner. As intended, the threat of impending retrenchments and the obvious lack of any genuine opposition by the NTEU and the other main campus trade union, the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU), has led hundreds of staff members to apply for a VR. Burchell told Thursdays NTEU members meeting that people had sought VRs because they had become scared, anxious and distressed. His criticism of managements VR scheme was that it was not strategic or targeted. Burchell said he and NTEU senior industrial officer Joshua Garva had held a series of meetings with Williams to propose ways to achieve actual cost-savings. Further, Burchell said the union respected the right of people to make their own decisions about their futures. But this is precisely how the NTEU and CPSU have cooperated with university managements for years to cut jobs by pressuring staff into concluding that there is no alternative. Last month, a meeting of NTEU members voted by 99 percent for stoppages and by 78 percent for indefinite strikes to fight management, but many staff members have no confidence in the union given its past record. That vote indicated the readiness of university workers to fight. But the motion kept the dispute trapped in the framework of seeking another NTEU enterprise agreement with WSU. Burchell opposed a call by WSU Rank-and-File Committee member Michael Head for a unified struggle across the sector against the job cuts. Thursdays NTEU meeting voted for the union branch committee to consider our options for industrial disputation in relation to the Universitys voluntary redundancy program, to ensure the process is carried out in accordance with the requirements of the Organisational Change provisions of the Western Sydney enterprise agreements, unless the matter is resolved satisfactorily by the University within the next seven days. This resolution still keeps staff caught in the straitjacket of impotent enterprise agreement clauses, while seeking talks to cement yet another deal with management. The WSU and Macquarie University Rank-and-File Committees convened an online public meeting on August 2 to fight for a unified campaign against the Albanese governments intensifying cuts to international student enrolments and university jobs, and the underlying pro-corporate, pro-military reshaping of tertiary education. As well as WSU, the confirmed job destruction list now includes Sydneys Macquarie University, Charles Sturt University, the Australian National University, University of Canberra, University Technology Sydney (UTS), and the universities of Wollongong, Tasmania, Charles Darwin, Federation, James Cook, Southern Queensland, Griffith, La Trobe and Swinburne. These cuts have especially targeted arts, social sciences and humanities, in order to deaden critical, cultured and historically-informed thinking. This is part of a broader global decimation and transformation of universities. For example, the Starmer Labour government in the UK is presiding over the elimination of 10,000 university jobs, also driven by international student cuts. The White House is threatening to defund universities that do not silence opposition to the US-Israeli Gaza genocide and align with Trumps fascistic and militarist agenda. Both the NTEU and CPSU are silent on the fact that, while starving the universities of funds, the Albanese government is pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into military spending in preparation for a US-led war against China, and still backing the Gaza genocide and the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine. A joint WSU and Macquarie Rank-and-File Committee statement, issued on June 24, concluded: To fight this agenda, there has to be a unified struggle by staff and students across the country against the job cuts and restructuring. This requires the formation of rank-and-file committees of staff and students at all universities, completely independent of the trade union apparatuses. To discuss and develop this fight, contact the Committee for Public Education (CFPE), the educators rank-and-file network. Contact the CFPE: Email: cfpe.aus@gmail.com Facebook: facebook.com/commforpubliceducation Twitter: CFPE_Australia Facebook: facebook.com/groups/opposeaeusellout Lawrence Porter speaking 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 further international statements of support to the investigation. 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 leader Will Lehman, WSWS labor editor 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. Mexican workers support Ronald Adams investigation Workers on strike in Matamoros, Mexico in early 2019. Sign reads: "Unions and bosses kill the working class." Xavier - Delta staff worker in Durango, northern Mexico This message is for all workers of Mexico, the United States, Central America and the rest of the world who have suffered work-related deaths. You know that the deaths of your relatives are not just another work place accident statistic, as employers and the state claim in order to absolve themselves of responsibility for the murder of a person who, by selling their labor, perishes because of the greed and ambition of employers and their representatives. They have caused all these people to lose their lives; people with family members who love them, with partners, parents or children who will miss them the rest of their lives; people who the bosses sent to their deaths to save a few minutes in the procedures. No more unpunished deaths of workers! No more lives lost at the dirty hands of capital! Only by organizing will we be able to defend our lives, whether that means better wages or a co-worker who keeps their life. We will fight until victory! Auto parts worker from Matamoros Fellow workers around the world. I am a worker at an assembly plant in Matamoros, Tamaulipas sending you my warmest regards and hoping that our struggles against the employers and governments will not be in vain, and that justice will be served in favor of us, the force that moves the world. Listen to audio: Wasantha Rupasinghe, Sri Lanka The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in Sri Lanka extends its greetings to this important meeting of the rank and file to investigate the death of Ronald Adams, who was killed in a horrific workplace incident at the Stellantis Dundee Engine Complex in southern Michigan on April 7. We also extend our full support to the investigation launched by the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) into the shocking death of Ronald Adams. Extensive reporting by the World Socialist Web Site has already exposed how safety procedures were ignored to keep production running, putting workers lives at risk for the profit interests of Dundee Engine Complexs wealthy owners. Months after the tragedy, no explanation has been offered by the trade unions, including the United Auto Workers, or by the relevant safety authorities, underscoring their complicity in covering up the profit-driven circumstances behind this preventable death. Such sacrifices of workers lives on the altar of corporate profits is a global phenomenon and it has been prevalent in South Asia, including Sri Lanka and India, where hundreds of millions are forced to labor under appalling and dangerous conditions for the benefit of local and foreign investors. According to official reports, as a result of the deliberate violation of safety norms, at least three workers are killed and 11 seriously injured every day in similar industrial accidents in India, which has a workforce of 500 million. This amounts to an average of 1,100 worker deaths and between 2,700 and 4,500 injuries each year. Given that the informal sectorcomprising 80 to 90 percent of workersand other high-risk areas such as construction, mining, logistics, ports, sewers and agriculture are not included in official data, these grossly under-reported figures represent only a fraction of the true toll. As reported by the World Socialist Web Site just last month, a massive explosion at a pharmaceutical factory in Telangana in southern India burned 42 workers to death. Media coverage revealed multiple safety violations, including faulty temperature sensors and failed alarms that did not detect the overheating of the MCC (microcrystalline cellulose derived from wood pulp), which ignites at around 339 degrees Celsius. While the investigation is ongoing, no factory owner responsible for these breaches has even been charged. The government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has created highly favorable conditions for the super-exploitation of labor by local and foreign investors through widespread privatization, the erosion of labor rights, and the promotion of precarious working conditions. This has significantly contributed to the rise in industrial accidents. As indicated, Modi has only intensified attacks on the working class, continuing a vicious anti-worker, pro-corporate agenda aimed at transforming Indianow the worlds most populous countryinto a cheap labor platform competing to replace China. In pursuit of this goal, the Indian bourgeoisie abandoned basic safety norms long ago, creating a living hell for millions of workers and the oppressed. MIC plant, where the Bhopal chemical leak started in 1984 [Photo: Flickr @jbhangoo] On December 3, 1984, more than 40 tons of deadly methyl isocyanate gas leaked from a chemical plant owned by the US multinational Union Carbide, turning the city of Bhopal into a gas chamber. About 8,000 people died immediately and around 170,000 were hospitalized. The total death toll is estimated to be between 16,000 and 30,000, partly due to unclaimed immigrant worker victims. The Bhopal disaster remains one of the worlds worst industrial tragedies, affecting half a million people in Bhopal. Yet, more than four decades later, not a single Union Carbide executivelet alone its ownershas been held accountable for this act of mass murder, which continues to claim victims to this day. Similar stories come from other South Asian countries. In 2012, at least 289 garment workers died in a Karachi factory fire where locked exits, barred windows and lack of fire escapes trapped them inside. Similarly, in Bangladesh, the worlds second-largest garment exporter after China, over 1,200 workers died when the Rana Plaza building collapsed in April 2013. Its owner, backed by ruling party connections, ignored blatant structural defects for profit. In Sri Lanka, where the capitalist ruling elite is no less ruthless than their counterparts across South Asia and the world, workers lives have been gambled away for decades through the creation of Free Trade Zones (FTZs), where even limited safety regulations are absent. The incumbent government of Anura Kumara Dissanayake, mired in a deep economic crisis, is creating the most favorable conditions for investors. In 1993, the Revolutionary Communist League, the predecessor of the SEP in Sri Lanka, conducted an important independent workers investigation into the death of Premalal Jayakody at the Korea-Ceylon shoe-making factory in the Katunayake FTZ. The investigation received a powerful response from workers. What the RCL uncovered was shockingly similar to the circumstances surrounding the death of Ronald Adams Sr. Jayakody was forced to work on a defective shoe-making Atom clicking press machine from which a photoelectric safety celldesigned to automatically stop the machine if a person or object entered a dangerous areahad been removed. The factory owners had deliberately readjusted the machine without this crucial safety feature to keep production running, a decision that ultimately cost Jayakody his life. The investigation concluded by putting forward a series of demands to improve working conditions. Crucially, it highlighted the need to build independent action committees outside the trade unions, which remained silent and demonstrated their loyalty to the factory owners. Today, as ruling elites around the world launch a counter-revolution amid the deepening crisis of the global capitalist system, the building of the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) is more relevant than ever. To prevent more workers from meeting the same fate as Ronald Adams in the US, Premalal Jayakody in Sri Lanka, and countless others worldwide, the development of the IWA-RFC is vital. Eduardo Parati, Brazil Brazilian Mercedes-Benz workers rally in Sao Bernardo do Campo on September 8, 2022. [Photo: Adonis Guerra/SMABC/FotosPublicas] Im Eduardo Parati, a member of the Socialist Equality Group in Brazil, and I send greetings to this meeting of workers, which is an expression of growing active opposition to the current situation in the US. Millions of workers are compelled every day to work in dangerous environments just to make ends meet. Decades of cuts in favor of greedy corporate boards have resulted in a deterioration of working conditions everywhere. Workers in the US and Latin America are pushed to their limit for corporate profit, and, just like in the case of Ronald Adams Sr., they are forced to risk their lives to meet corporate deadlines. In the weeks leading up to the world-famous Carnaval festivities in Brazil, workers in Rio de Janeiro had been put to work around the clock for costume production in factories and depots. Dozens slept inside the factory to avoid paying extra bus tickets and to meet the deadline. In February 12, a fire broke out in the early morning hours claiming a life and injuring dozens of workers. But despite rhetorical condemnations by the state governor, the conditions that allowed this tragedy to happen were completely ignored. Such conditions are reproduced throughout Latin America. Brazils most populated state of Sao Paulo reported its highest number of workplace accidents in 2023 since the beginning of the records in 2012. Data from the Workplace Safety and Health Observatory reported 31,981 workplace deaths in Brazil from 2012 to 2024, or one death every three and a half hours. The observatory reports more than one accident in the workplace every minute nationwide. According to the non-profit Colombian Safety Council, there were more than 520,000 workplace accidents and 408 deaths in Colombia in 2024. In 2023, 423 accidents with sick leave were reported for every 100,000 workers in Equador, much above the pre-pandemic rate. The Argentinian Superintendency of Occupational Risks notified 37 fatal incidences per million workers in 2023, above the 35.3 reported in 2019. Like in the US, there is enormous opposition among workers to the policies of cost cutting and ever more intense exploitation. But justice for these social crimes is impossible without a correct understanding of their fundamental causes. Social devastation in the US is brought by the crisis of the capitalist system everywhere and a national solution is impossible. Donald Trumps tariff offensive aims at maintaining the US ruling class dominant position in world affairs through a policy of diplomatic, economic and, increasingly, military threats. Meanwhile, in Brazil, President Lula of the fake-left Workers Party is promoting economic nationalism with the integral support of the trade union apparatus. In March, Lula participated with multiple ministers in the launching of a Stellantis center for the development of hybrid fuel vehicles in Betim, in the state of Minas Gerais. While Lula thanked the company for investing in Brazil, the leader of the Betim Metal Workers Union in the plant stated,We had a 3.4 percent GDP growth, bigger than the United States, Germany and France. I believe is it bigger than all G7 countries. Lula and the unions are united in suppressing workers opposition. The investments being made by Stellantis are only possible because the multinational company was able to ram through major cuts with the critical help of the UAW in the US. In reality, in todays globalized economy, the national policies defended by the unions can only divide workers and pave the way for further attacks by the corporate boards and the state against workers rights. Now Lula is whipping up a chauvinistic campaign in order to suppress social opposition and make workers pay for the economic impact of Trumps tariffs. Therefore, workers in Brazil and the USand in fact, in the entire American continentmust unite in a fight across the borders to protect even their most basic interests. As long as the capitalist class remains in power, workers will inevitably be put in ever more dangerous situations for profit. We join the call for the formation of rank-and-file committees to organize unified opposition to the policies of all capitalist politicians, who put profits above workers lives. Only the international working class is capable of putting an end to the endless cycle of avoidable deaths in the workplace. Tom Peters, New Zealand Tom Peters The topic of your meeting, the investigation into the workplace death of autoworker Ronald Adams Sr., is of immense significance for Ronalds family, his co-workers and for workers throughout the US and internationally. It may come as a surprise to many workers, but New Zealand has one of the highest workplace death rates in the OECD60 percent higher than Australia and more than 200 percent higher than the UK. A terrible example of the attitude of New Zealand companies to the lives of workers was the 2010 Pike River Mine disaster that killed 29 workersone third of whom were under age 30 and the youngest 17 years old. This was the deadliest workplace disaster since 1914 when another mine explosion killed 43. The Socialist Equality Group in New Zealand has, for the past 15 years, been in the forefront of the fight to uncover the full truth about this tragic disaster. The mine explosion and the death of these workers were entirely preventable and had been warned about by workers months earlier. There were constant build-ups of explosive levels of gas, no emergency exit, and equipment that repeatedly broke down. All of this was in breach of the law. However, the state regulators turned a blind eye, and the company, Pike River Coal, refused to pause production to bring its mine up to a safe standard due to the associated costs. Workers had repeatedly raised the alarm before the explosion. There was even a spontaneous walkout to protest the lack of emergency equipment at the mine. But the trade union, the EPMU, refused to organize any action to protect its members and covered up the life-threatening conditions underground. After the mine exploded, the EPMU leader Andrew Little defended the companys safety standards, falsely telling the media that it had a good health and safety committee and there had been no problems with the mine. Since then, despite overwhelming evidence of the companys safety breaches, successive governments have shielded the corporate managers and owners. Not one person has been prosecuted. Amid growing outrage in the working class, the Labour government led by Jacinda Ardern, promised in 2017 to re-enter the mine to retrieve the bodies and gather evidence to prosecute those responsible. These were lies. The Ardern government partially explored the mine, but the operation was aborted, and the mine was sealed before any key evidence was obtained. The Socialist Equality Group was the only political organization that opposed the Labour governments decision. We exposed the complicity of the union bureaucracy in the disaster and its cover-up, and fought to mobilize the working class in support of the families ongoing fight for accountability. The role of the unions in New Zealand is the same as the United Auto Workers, which is protecting Stellantis and ensuring that the horrific death of Ronald Adams does not lead to any accountability or disruption to the companys production and profit-making. These organizations are a corporate police force; their job is to suppress opposition to low wages and life-threatening working conditions. The experience of the miners families and workers who demanded answers and accountability is that this will only happen through the independent struggle and organization of workersindependent from the union bureaucracies, companies and political forces who defend them. It is high time for workers to fight back by building new organizations: rank-and-file committees that are controlled by workers themselves. Elevenlabs AudioNative Player Police arrest a peaceful demonstrator during a protest opposing the proscription of the Palestine Action group in London, Monday, June 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) [AP Photo/Frank Augstein] Over 530 protesters were arrested in the UK this weekend under the Terrorism Act (2000). Their crime was to sit peacefully in Parliament Square, London on Saturday holding a sign reading, I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action. This is the most significant mass political arrest in post-war British history. It is a major step towards a police state being established by Keir Starmers Labour government to enforce policies of austerity, war and support for genocide. The Socialist Equality Party denounces Labours actions. We demand the dropping of all charges against those peacefully exercising their rights to free speech and assembly. We support the legal effort to overturn the proscription of direct action protest group Palestine Action, which is the basis for prosecutions under the Terrorism Act. For Starmers authoritarian crackdown to be defeated, there must be a mass mobilisation in defence of democratic rights, rooted in the working class. We call on and will support workers to: Organise meetings in your workplaces and neighbourhoods to discuss these issues. Propose and pass resolutions opposing the police crackdown and pledging to prepare coordinated action against it. Oppose the trade union bureaucracys blocking working class action against the Gaza genocide and attacks on democratic rights. Operation arrest them all The attack on Saturdays protest, called by Defend Our Juries, began on Wednesday, when the organisations website providing advice on the right to protest was taken offline. The next day, an online legal briefing hosted by the group through Zoom was shut down on the orders of the Counter Terrorism Police. At the protest, police moved into the crowd and walked or carried people away to prisoner processing points in Westminster. Those whose details could be confirmed were bailed, with conditions not to attend any further protest in support of Palestine Action, a police spokesperson said. Among those seized was someone in a wheelchair and a Jewish activist carrying a sign reading Never again. Over half were over 60 years of age. One was blind. Preparations were made for more arrests and imprisonments if necessary. According to Sky News, Senior leaders in the prison service, known as Capacity Gold, met to discuss how to deal with the large number of arrests as the male prison estate is close to full. Its understood 800 inmates were moved out of the busiest jails in and around London beforehand. The far-right given free rein While this was taking place in London, far-right demonstrations were being held outside buildings housing asylum seekers, demanding their expulsioninspired by last summers pogrom-type riots. In Nuneaton the event was organised by the neo-Nazi Homeland Party, a split from Patriotic Alternative, which has links to members of the proscribed National Action. A banner was unfurled demanding the partys policy of Remigration NOW! This is a euphemism for mass deportations of anyone claiming to be of recent migrant heritage, legal resident or not. Just one person was arrested, for making threats to cause criminal damage, despite physical attacks on counter protesters. The response in the press has been to publish a barrage of sympathetic articles explaining that people are angry. A police state in defence of genocide, war and austerity This is not a case of two standards applied by Starmer, the police and the media, but the same right-wing standard: vicious hostility to anti-war, anti-imperialist sentiment and support for nationalist xenophobia. As the anti-asylum and anti-genocide protests were being held, the government announced far-right dog-whistle plans to immediately deport foreign offenders upon conviction. Labour received the backing of the ruling class in the last election on the promise that it could push through measures which the crisis-ridden Tories could not: continuing support for the Gaza genocide, the NATO war in Ukraine, and US threats against Iran and China; ramping up military spending to 5 percent of GDP to fuel this militarist rampage; waging class war on the working class to provide the funds. They will not back down from this reactionary agenda, vital to the interests of British capitalism and imperialism, which they know cannot be pursued democratically. Former Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer and his leadership team trained in the left antisemitism witch-hunt of Jeremy Corbyns supporters have been selected to clear the path of organised opposition. The persecution of protesters against a genocide in which the UK government is complicit will be made the spearhead of an assault on all left-wing political activity. Further arrests of political leaderscoming alongside the ongoing prosecutions for public order offences of leaders of the Stop the War Coalition, Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmamentconfirm this warning. Among those taken by police were: Moazzam Begg, a victim of Guantanamo Bay and now Outreach Director at CAGE, which campaigns against attacks on democracy in the name of the War on Terror. Charlie Kimber, a senior figure in the Socialist Workers Party, was also arrested. No to the minimisation of state repression! In the face of this political offensive, the naivete encouraged by organisations like Novara Media must be rejected by workers and young people. Their headline article declared, Police Fail to Arrest Hundreds Who Defy Palestine Action Ban. Its unenforceable. In fact, a majority of those carrying placards were arrested, taking the total to well over 700 since the proscription was overwhelmingly voted through the Mother of Parliaments at the start of July. Collective acts of what are still individual protests of personal conscience cannot overcome Starmers political police. Defend Our Juries has also minimised the seriousness of the government crackdown. It described the first prosecutions of protesters under the Terrorism Act as feeble attempts to intimidate, given that they were carried out under Section 13, with a maximum sentence of six months in prison, rather than Section 12. Firstly, there is no guarantee that all prosecutions will proceed under Section 13. Counter Terror Police announced on August 7 that 58 people had been arrested to that point under Section 12, carrying a maximum sentence of 14 years imprisonment. Secondly, any conviction on a terrorism charge severely affects employment prospects, including making it impossible to work in education and ends the ability to travel to the US and other countries. Most fundamentally, a precedent of political repression is being set by these arrests, the screws of which can be rapidly tightenedincluding on all those anti-genocide protesters previously denounced as terrorist supporters. Class struggle, not moral pressure! Rose-tinted portrayals of Saturdays Defend Our Juries protest provide a political cover for the organisers of the national demonstration of 300,000 people against the Gaza genocide held that same day in the same city, a few hundred metres away. Speakers on the platform like Ben Jamal of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Lindsey German of the Stop the War Coalition denounced the shameful mass arrests and sent verbal solidarity but provided no programme to combat the Labour government beyond the usual moral pressure on the morally impervious Starmer. They say nothing more so as to excuse the total inaction of the trade union bureaucracy, the Labour lefts and now the new Corbynite Partylaunched with a statement insisting we must defend the right to protest against genocide but which has done nothing to mobilise its sign-up list of 750,000 people. The Socialist Equality Party warned in the lead-up to Saturday that Starmers police were preparing mass arrests aimed at deepening the repression of anti-genocide protest. We based ourselves on an understanding of the critical class interests at stake in Labours crackdown: the ability of British imperialism to wage war on its opponents abroad and the working class at home. The same concerns motivate all of the capitalist governments, led by the Trump administration in the United States, that are trampling on democratic rights and illegalising opposition to genocide as the movement in defence of the Palestinians gathers strength across the world. This past week has seen a mass demonstration of hundreds of thousands in Sydney, Australia and rallies across Greece. As the SEP wrote in response to Palestine Actions proscription, The defence of fundamental democratic rights, workers living standards and the fight against genocide and war is only possible through the adoption of a new axis of strugglesocialist internationalism. This means a systematic industrial and political mobilisation against the Starmer government, waged by rank-and-file organisations independent of the trade union bureaucracy, and the urgent and necessary formation of a new workers party on genuinely socialist foundations, the Socialist Equality Party. The police shooting of 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker on November 9, 2019, in the remote Aboriginal community of Yuendumu, Central Australia, triggered a protracted legal and coronial process that underscored the brutal reality of his death. Kumanjayi Walker [Photo: Facebook/Justice for Walker] Far from an isolated event, Walkers killing exemplifies the consequences of intergenerational poverty, entrenched state violence against Aboriginal people, and decades of government neglect. His death joins a long and tragic list of Indigenous deaths in custodydisproportionately affecting one of the most oppressed sections of the working class. Nearly five years later, Northern Territory (NT) Coroner Elisabeth Armitage delivered her findings. The inquest, held over 66 days across nearly three years, included testimony from more than 70 witnesses and resulted in a 683-page report delivered in Yuendumu on July 7. Armitage issued 33 recommendations as part of the inquest, but even if adopted, they will not halt state killings or the plight of Aboriginal communities. As with past inquiries and inquests, their real purpose is to defuse growing anger and unrest in Aboriginal communities. Kumanjayi Walker was shot three times at close range by then-Constable Zachary Rolfe during an attempted arrest. Four days later, Rolfe was charged with murder but acquitted by a jury in March 2022. Rolfes history of violence against Aboriginal people and racist text messages were excluded from the trial. No Aboriginal jurors were included, despite nearly one-third of the NTs population being Indigenous. Unlike the narrow focus of the criminal trial, the coronial inquest examined, at least to some extent, the broader context including police racism, misconduct and the antagonism between law enforcement and Indigenous communities. Rolfe issued repeated legal challenges to the inquest and initially refused to testify, citing the risk of self-incrimination. He only participated after multiple failed appeals. Despite these obstacles, the inquest pointed to the deeper social context of Walkers life, the entrenched poverty and disadvantage in Yuendumu, and Rolfes record, in a police culture marked by violence, racism and impunity. In her opening, Armitage stated that Walkers death was avoidable and reflected officer-induced jeopardya situation where police escalate or create danger, later used to justify the use of deadly force. She found that although Rolfe had tactical training, he ignored a planned arrest strategy devised by local officers and endorsed by police superiors in Alice Springs. Instead, he took charge. In the months leading up to the shooting, Rolfe filmed and shared footage of violent arrestsprimarily involving Aboriginal men. He reportedly replayed the footage for friends and colleagues. At least five of these arrests involved excessive force. By mid-2019, multiple complaints had been lodged against Rolfe for alleged assaults, typically involving Aboriginal people. Some incidents resulted in head injuries. Yet the NT Police failed to act decisively, either dismissing concerns or providing inadequate supervision. The inquest painted a disturbing portrait of both Walkers life and Rolfes conduct. Born in October 2000 into extreme poverty, Walker grew up in overcrowded and unstable housing, surrounded by family violence and neglect. From infancy, he suffered untreated health issues such as ear and chest infectionscommon in remote communities with inadequate health infrastructure. Medical experts later diagnosed him with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), ADHD, and a mild intellectual disability, all of which impaired his impulse control and decision-making. By age 11, Walker had begun using substances and was repeatedly arrested for minor offences. Between the ages of 13 and 19, he was mostly in juvenile detention or under court orders. At the time of his death, Walker had absconded from rehab to attend his grandfathers funeral and take part in malamala (sorry business)a cultural duty. Rolfe, a former Australian Defence Force (ADF) soldier, served in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2015 and received specialist weapons training in the US. Although he did not see combat, the inquest heard that ADF-trained NT officers were statistically more likely to draw their firearms. The coroner found that Rolfe openly expressed racist views, describing Aboriginal people in text messages as grubby fucks, coons, and neanderthals. Coroner Armitage concluded that this dehumanisation made Rolfe less likely to exercise caution and more inclined to resort to violence. This kind of dehumanisation is not incidental but consciously cultivated in institutions of state violence. In the military, soldiers are systematically trained to see the enemy as less than humana necessary ideological preparation for the brutalities of war, such as those committed by Australian forces in Afghanistan. The parallels with the NT police are stark. In both cases, racist ideology functions to legitimise the use of force and maintain control over oppressed populations. Police auxiliary liquor inspectors in Alice Springs supermarket in November 2019. In the NT police, this dehumanisation is expressed in the routine racism directed at Aboriginal peoplewho are not treated as human beings with rights, but as criminals to be monitored, harassed, and subdued. Racism is not an unfortunate by-product of these systems but an essential ideological weapon used to justify the violence that state forces exist to carry out. Racism, however, was not confined to Rolfe. The inquest revealed it was normalised at the Alice Springs police station, where racial slurs were routine, and an informal Coon of the Year award circulated within Tactical Response Group ranks. The NT Police also encouraged a culture of disbelief toward Aboriginal complaints. Oversight mechanismssuch as mandatory Custody Injury Reportswere routinely ignored. A pattern of impunity developed, reinforcing Rolfes belief that he could act without consequence. Every official inquiry into Aboriginal deaths in custodyincluding the 198791 Royal Commissionhas functioned as a whitewash. While generating volumes of recommendations and token reforms, they have done nothing to address the underlying causes involving police violence and social deprivation. Instead, these inquiries serve to deflect public anger, act as a damage control mechanism and shield the state apparatus. Since the Royal Commission, nearly 600 Indigenous people have died in custodyyet not a single police or corrections officer has been convicted. The inquest into Kumanjayi Walkers death is no exception. The recommendations were highly limited, all accepting the framework of a substantial police force, which, given the function of the state and the grinding levels of poverty in the Northern Territory, inevitably employs violent repression. Calls for greater anti-racist education within the police force, and the depiction of widespread racism as a cultural problem, serve to cover over that fundamental social reality. Only weeks before the inquest findings were delivered, another young Aboriginal man from Yuendumu, Kumanjayi White, 24, died after being violently thrown to the ground and restrained by two plainclothes NT police officers in a Coles supermarket aisle in Alice Springs. Eyewitnesses were shocked at the violent force used. It was alleged White had been stealing food. Despite public outrage and nationwide protests, the officers involved in Whites death have not been stood down. Video footage of the incident has not been released, and both the NT Police and government have refused to conduct an independent inquiry. Part of the Alice Springs protest on November 14, 2019 over the police killing of Kumanjayi Walker in Yuendemu. The NT maintains the highest Indigenous incarceration rate with Aboriginal adults in remote areas imprisoned at more than ten times the national averageoften for minor offences or unpaid fines. Children are not spared. Instead of support services, they face repression. Governmentsboth Labor and Liberalhave intensified punitive law and order measures. Despite the promises of the Closing the Gap framework, the Albanese governments 2024 report showed rising Indigenous incarceration and worsening social and economic indicators across the board. In response to deepening poverty the government's response is to expand police powers. The NT government plans to recruit 200 additional officers, even though it already has the highest police-to-population ratio. Between 2010 and 2020, the NT Police hired 718 officersover a quarter of whom came from the ADF or overseas forceshighlighting concerns about police militarisation, a trend noted in the inquest. The findings of the Walker inquest underscore some essential truths. Like the vast majority of victims of police violence, both Kumanjayi Walker and White were poor. Many suffer from a disability requiring support, which governments refuse to provide. Their tragic deaths reflect a broader pattern, with a growing number of vulnerable people being harmed and criminalised by an increasingly punitive and repressive system. While Aboriginal people are disproportionately targeted by police and incarceration systems, the repression they face is not isolatednor reducible to race alone. Police violence is experienced by workers and the oppressed internationally, and is fundamentally a weapon of class rule. The expanding size, budgets, and militarisation of police by capitalist governments reflect deepening inequality, rising class tensions, and growing unrest. The brutalisation of Aboriginal communities is the sharpest expression of a broader assault on the working class, with Aboriginal workers and their families bearing the most visible and violent repression. In every country racism is deliberately fostered to divide workers and obscure the root cause: a capitalist system that deems the working classespecially its most vulnerable layersexpendable. The fight against police violence, therefore, cannot be won through reforms or inquiries that leave the system intact. It must be waged as part of a united struggle by Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal workers alike including workers of every nationality and raceagainst the capitalist order itself. Among the more than two dozen bills contemplated for Thursday's special session of the Colorado General Assembly is a proposal to pause funding for the wolf reintroduction program run by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Alamy Gerard Butler's action fantasy movie "Gods of Egypt" divided audiences upon release in 2016, but now it's finding new life on streaming. This wild take on ancient Egyptian gods cracked the Netflix top 10 just days after arriving on the platform. That's particularly impressive considering it didn't exactly earn a glowing reception upon release (as you can see by its abysmal 15% critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes). Even before it hit theaters, Lionsgate was getting chewed out for going with a predominantly white cast for a movie set in ancient Egypt. Butler and "Game of Thrones" actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau star as warring Egyptian gods alongside Brenton Thwaites as a mortal thief who gets drawn into their scheming to save his true love. Pedants will argue that, technically, it's set in an alternate reality version of ancient Egypt, one where gods co-exist alongside mortals. But that's a milquetoast excuse that falls particularly flat given Hollywood's long history of whitewashing. Advertisement Advertisement Controversy aside, though, "Gods of Egypt" is also just a boring mess of a movie. It relies heavily on big-budget effects to highlight its action scenes and attempts to bring Egyptian mythology to life in a big way and it falls short on both fronts. The effort it took to sit through this movie pushed my attention span to its absolute limit. If you've already streamed it (or you've dodged it because of the reviews), here are three movies like "Gods of Egypt" that we think are actually worth your precious viewing time. 'Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves' (Netflix) I went into "Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves" knowing next to nothing about D&D and fully expecting the jokes to sail right over my head. Instead, it ended up being one of my favorite fantasy movies of all time. Even if youve never rolled a D20 (or have no idea what that means), if you enjoy an epic adventure that refuses to take itself too seriously, this one deserves a spot on your watchlist. It kicks off with a roguish bard Edgin (Chris Pine) and his no-nonsense barbarian partner Holga (Michelle Rodriguez) cooling their heels in prison after a heist goes sideways. Once they make a break for it, they pull together a mismatched crew, including the insecure sorcerer Simon (Justice Smith) and shape-shifting druid Doric (Sophia Lillis), to rescue Edgin's daughter and recover a stolen relic. Along the way, they cross paths with Xenk (Rege-Jean Page), a paladin so absurdly overpowered that he becomes a walking punchline in the best possible way. Advertisement Advertisement Watch it now on Netflix 'The Forbidden Kingdom' (Plex) A fantasy action movie starring Jackie Chan and Jet Li? Say less. 2008's "The Forbidden Kingdom" is the only flick the two martial arts legends starred in together, and it's basically the live-action "Dragon Ball" adaptation that "Dragonball Evolution" should have been. The two even share a similar inspiration: the 16th-century Chinese epic "Journey to the West." "The Forbidden Kingdom" follows a modern-day American teenager obsessed with kung-fu (Michael Angarano), who stumbles upon the Monkey Kings magical staff in a Chinatown pawn shop. The lost relic transports him back to ancient China, where he joins forces with a crew of warriors from martial arts lore on a quest to free the imprisoned Monkey King. Watch it now on Plex 'Pan's Labyrinth' (Netflix) One of Guillermo del Toros early masterpieces, "Pans Labyrinth" is a dark fantasy thats as breathtakingly beautiful as it is unsettling, making it a worthy watch if you're looking for another heart-pounding escape to a fantastical world. Set in postCivil War Spain, it follows 10-year-old Ofelia (Ivana Baquero), who moves with her pregnant mother (Ariadna Gil) to a remote military outpost run by her cruel stepfather, Captain Vidal (Sergi Lopez). Advertisement Advertisement While exploring her new home, she stumbles upon an ancient labyrinth hidden in the nearby forest. Lurking inside is an ancient faun (played by Doug Jones, voiced by Pablo Adan) who tells her she is the reincarnation of a lost princess, and that her father (Federico Luppi) built the labyrinth as a gateway to return to her kingdom. Before she can reclaim her place, however, Ofelia must complete three perilous tasks each one as dark and twisted as the world shes trying to leave behind. Watch it now on Netflix Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. Bobby Whitlock, who co-founded the blues rock band Derek and the Dominos, has died. He was 77. Whitlocks manager, Carol Kaye, told TMZ he died Sunday morning at 1:20 a.m. after a brief illness. She told Variety that Whitlock had cancer. The musician passed away at home in Texas while surrounded by his family, Kaye confirmed. Bobby Whitlock smiles at home while sitting at the piano. Getty Images Whitlocks wife, CoCo Carmel Whitlock, said in a statement to TMZ: How do you express in but a few words the grandness of one man who came from abject poverty in the south to heights unimagined in such a short time? Jools Holland with Bobby Whitlock and Eric Clapton. Andre Csillag/Shutterstock My love Bobby looked at life as an adventure taking me by the hand leading me through a world of wonderment from music to poetry and painting, she continued. I feel his hands that were so intensely expressive and warm on my face and the small of my back whenever I close my eyes, he is there. Bobby Whitlock with his wife, CoCo Carmel Whitlock. Bobby Whitlock/Instagram Born on March 18, 1948, in Memphis, Tennessee, Whitlocks career began with Memphis soul acts including Sam & Dave and Booker T. & the M.G.s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1968, he joined Delaney & Bonnie, whose members at different times included his future Derek and the Dominos bandmates Eric Clapton, Carl Radle and Jim Gordon. Bobby Whitlock in 1975. Getty Images Derek and the Dominos was founded in 1970 by Whitlock, Calpton, Radle and Gordon. They came together as a group while recording their involvement in George Harrisons album All Things Must Pass. The band only put out one studio album, Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs. The title track, Layla, is often considered Claptons greatest musical achievement in his career. Derek and the Dominos also went on tour in 1970 and had Elton John as their opening act. Bobby Whitlock on BBCs Later With Jools Holland in 2000. Andre Csillag/Shutterstock Whitlock opened up about the day the band broke up in a 2017 interview, recalling that Clapton and Gordon were kind of having kind of a war and we were all doing too much alcohol and drugs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a solo artist, Whitlock out multiple albums including some with his wife, who he married in December 2005. The couple moved to Austin, Texas, in 2006. Bobby Whitlock playing the piano. Getty Images In 2010, Whitlock released Bobby Whitlock: A Rock n Roll Autobiography with a foreword by Clapton. He was inducted into Memphis Beale Street Walk of Fame in 2024. In the final years of his life, Whitlock got into painting and posted his artwork on Instagram. Whitlock is survived by his wife, his children Ashley Brown, Beau Whitlock and Tim Whitlock Kelly, and his sister Debbie Wade NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Daryl Hall and John Oates have resolved their dispute over a Hall & Oates business partnership through arbitration, reaching a private ending after details of their rift went public in court documents filed in a 2023 lawsuit by Hall against Oates, according to a court filing Monday. In Monday's status report, attorneys for Hall noted the case received a final judgment in arbitration and they filed a proposed order for the judge, Nashville Chancellor Russell Perkins, to dismiss the case. In mid-July, Perkins ordered Hall's attorneys to offer an update in the case, which had last seen a public filing in December 2023. It's unclear when the arbitration process was finalized. And details were not revealed about the arbitration outcome between the duo who made music together for more than a half century, including hits in the 1970s and 80s such as Maneater, Rich Girl Kiss on My List and I Cant Go for That (No Can Do). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robb Harvey, an attorney for Hall, declined to comment. Representatives for Oates did not immediately respond to The Associated Press request for comment. In 2023 filings in the case, Hall accused Oates of blindsiding and betraying him, saying their relationship and his trust in Oates have deteriorated. Oates replied that he was deeply hurt that Hall was making inflammatory, outlandish, and inaccurate statements about him. The judge had paused the sale of Oates stake in Whole Oats Enterprises LLP to Primary Wave IP Investment Management LLC. Whole Oats includes valuable Hall & Oates materials such as trademarks, personal name and likeness rights, record royalty income and website and social media assets, a court declaration says. The dispute went public in November 2023, when Hall filed the lawsuit asking the judge to stop the sale by Oates so private arbitration could begin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hall gave a scathing account of their relationship in early November 2023 during arbitration, and it was made public later in the month in the lawsuit. It alleges that Oates and his team engaged in the ultimate partnership betrayal by pushing to sell his share while telling Halls associates that he wanted to maintain his ownership. In his own declaration, Oates expressed disappointment with his longtime partners words, saying Halls accusations that Oates went behind his back and breached their agreement arent true. Oates declined to go into specifics, saying hes obligated to keep details private, even if Hall didnt. Last year, Oates told The Associated Press that he's had no communication with Hall and declined to discuss the legal proceedings. He did not see a Hall & Oates reunion in his future. I personally dont see it happening. Its not in my plans at all. You can ask Daryl Hall what he thinks. But for me personally, no, he says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Times asked Hall in February if the ship had sailed on mending the pair's relationship. That ship has gone to the bottom of the ocean, Hall told the news outlet. Ive had a lot of surprises in my life, disappointments, betrayals, so Im kind of used to it. ___ Maria Sherman in New York contributed to this report. Its been seriously sharky times in Australia of late. There have been numerous attacks in the past few months, and years some on surfers, some tragically fatal, and primarily in the southern region of the continent, spanning across the Great Australian Bight. And so, to get a better understanding of whats going on, A-list actor and diehard surfer Chris Hemsworth went on a fact-finding mission about sharks in his homeland of Australia. Joining him on the journey, and for a surf in shark-infested waters, was someone who knows a little something about the subject: 3x world champ Mick Fanning. Check it out below. My mate Mick Fanning shares a similar love of the ocean, Hemsworth says before the surf. Despite some troubling firsthand experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Any sharks? Hemsworth asks before paddling out. Probably, Mick responds. Were in an area that is known for sharks. Theres been a bit more activity around lately. Maybe well go do it before they show up. Related: Chris Hemsworth Denied Surfing 40ft Wave, Drowning Concerns During their session, which they made into somewhat of a mock heat scenario, no sharks were spotted. But afterwards, they talked about Micks infamous encounter with a great white during a heat at Jeffreys Bay in South Africa. Mick, for the millionth time, explained: It was a beautiful day. The water was picture-perfect clear. We had just started the final with Julian Wilson. Id been sitting there for four or five minutes. And I was just about to move, then I heard this splash behind me. I thought, oh no. I tried to jump on my board, and I got hit from the side. Just got the tail straight to the face. Then, I thought, if I keep swimming, this thing could come take my legs. So, I was just trying to get myself up high enough as possible. Im still scared of feeling splashes behind me. Even if the waves are incredibly perfect, but I just dont feel right, I go in. Its not worth the risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The episode goes on to feature Hemsworth speaking with shark experts, learning about their nature, and of course, the dangers. He added: Mick got extremely lucky. Because encounters like these can turn deadly. Sharks can bite with such power and speed. Even if they dont intend to kill, the outcome can be catastrophic. Hit play on the episode above; its worth a watch. Related: Mick Fanning Relives Fight with Shark: I Was Swinging Chris Hemsworth, Mick Fanning Surf Shark-Infested Waters (Video) first appeared on Surfer on Aug 11, 2025 "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." THE RUNDOWN: Demi Lovato joined the Jonas Brothers onstage for the opening night of their tour at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. It marked the first time that Lovato and her ex-boyfriend Joe Jonas shared the stage in about a decade. The Jonas Brothers are currently on tour until November 14. Its a Camp Rock reunion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On August 10, the Jonas Brothers kicked off their 20th anniversary tour at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey and brought out Demi Lovato as a surprise guest. Clips from the Camp Rock movies played on the jumbotron before Joe Jonas introduced Lovato to the stage. She joined the band for a Camp Rock medley performance that kicked off with This Is Me. Joe mentioned that they hadnt played that song in almost 10 years, to which Lovato responded, It might have been longer... crazy! Kevin Mazur - Getty Images Kevin Mazur - Getty Images Kevin Mazur - Getty Images Joe and Lovato also performed a duet of Wouldnt Change a Thing, which appeared in the sequel, Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam. He later posted a clip of them lip-syncing to the song on Instagram. One fan spoke for all of us when they commented, On behalf of zillennials everywhere thank you for everything. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lovato followed up with a TikTok using the audio from the now-iconic Debby Ryan clip where she says, I went into the Disney Channel building, and I sat down with the president of Disney Channel and said, I wanna make history. And thats what this is. Lovato captioned the video, for the history books @joejonas. Lovato and Jonas previously dated in 2010 during their Camp Rock days, so this was a full-circle moment for the former couple. The Jonas Brothers will continue their tour in Washington, D.C., on August 12 and will wrap on November 14 in Uncasville, Connecticut. Check here to see if theyll be coming to a city near you, and buy tickets below. Shop Now You Might Also Like Since the day she was born, Tiffany Trump has grown up in the spotlight literally. After her mother Marla Maples gave birth to her in a Palm Beach, Florida, hospital, there were camera crews and the paparazzi snapping photos of Donald Trump by his limo ready to take his youngest daughter home. More than 30 years later, first daughter Tiffany Trump is giving the public a glance of her new baby but not to the extent of her own childhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tiffany Trump, only child of President Donald Trump and Marla Maples, and her billionaire husband Michael Boulos, welcomed their son, Alexander Trump Boulos, at 4:44 a.m. May 15, 2025. Baby Boulos was born days after Mothers Day and after his eldest cousin, Kai Madison Trump daughter of Donald Trump Jr. (Tiffany Trump's half-brother) and Vanessa Trump turned 18. When Alexander Trump Boulos was born, his mother announced it via Instagram as did first-time-grandmother Marla "Gran Mar Mar" Maples, and well-wishes from the Trump family circle online. During the week of his birth, his famous grandfather, President Donald Trump, was in Abu Dhabi for his first major foreign trip of this term: My daughter had a baby. I'm going back home to see that little baby," Donald Trump said May 16. I do want to see my beautiful grandson, a son, and we'll be doing that. Photos of baby Boulos have been available through Tiffany Trump's social media profiles online, including Instagram and X. Below are photos of Tiffany Trump growing up in the spotlight and photos of Alexander Trump Boulos, Donald Trump's 11th grandchild, whom she lovingly referred to as "ATB" online. Video of Donald Trump and Marla Maples with newborn Tiffany Trump Video: In the 'wedding of the year,' Donald Trump marries Marla Maples after Tiffany Trump is born Video: Rare photos of Tiffany Trump as a child growing up in the spotlight after Donald Trump, Marla Maples divorce Photos of Tiffany Trump growing up in Palm Beach, Florida, California and New York Marla Maples and Tiffany Trump, daughter of Donald Trump, at the Braves/Expos spring training. Trumps at Sixty-Five Roses gala, 1996: Donald Trump, then-wife Marla Maples and their daughter Tiffany attended the CF gala. Photo by Davidoff Studios. Tiffany Trump, daughter of Donald Trump, attends presidential events to support her father Jan 20, 2025; Washington, DC, USA; President Donald Trump reacts and Tiffany Trump smiles during the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. Tiffany Trump and her husband, Michael Boulos, dance during the Liberty Ball on Inauguration Day of Donald Trump's second presidential term in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Photos of Alexander Trump Boulos, son of Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos, 11th grandchild of Donald Trump The new mom posted the first portrait photos of her baby boy around Fathers Day 2025. Just over a month later, Tiffany Trump posted what seems like vacation photos with Michael Boulos at Le Grand Jardin near Cannes, France. Tiffany Trump later posted an Instagram Story with photos and video of Le Grand Jardin, including a landscape photo showing the gorgeous backdrop as she holds young ATB. Marla Maples or 'Gran Mar Mar' posts photos of new grandbaby Alexander Trump Boulos Marla Maples moved back to Palm Beach County, Florida, in 2022. Tiffany Trump and Boulos live fairly close to the rest of the Trump family in South Florida. Two months after he was born, Maples posted photos of her and Alexander when he was a few days old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I couldnt wait any longer to share photos with my precious grandson Alexander who is two months old today! Maples said on Instagram. Her July 15 post featured photos and video of Alexander Trump Boulos as a newborn. Everyone kept asking me, What will you have him call you? And I remembered how, before Tiffany was born, my mother stitched a precious blanket with the name she had chosen for herself, Granna Ann. But Tiffany had her own idea and Granna Ann soon became Mom Mom. Needless to say, the needlepoint got replaced. Maples explains further: So I whispered to Alexander, I dont care what you call me even if its Little Granny. In the post, Maples gives her followers a glimpse of her newborn grandson and compliments her daughters parenting. Tiffany, your dedication and your love as a mother bring tears to my eyes and fills my heart with joy. Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: When Tiffany Trump's baby with Michael Boulos made his Instagram debut Zaxby's, a Georgia-based fried chicken restaurant, has announced the opening date for its debut Arizona location. Zaxby's operates close to 1,000 stores across the United States, mostly in the South. It first announced its Arizona expansion in January 2024 and committed to opening seven restaurants. The first to open is in Queen Creek's Vineyard Towne Center and will have a drive-through. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zaxby's menu features chicken fingers, wings, salads and chicken sandwiches, with sides like fried white cheddar bites, chicken bacon ranch loaded fries and funnel cake for dessert. The restaurant is known for its signature "Zax" sauce, the recipe for which is kept secret, although there are fan pages devoted to imitating the creamy, spicy-sweet sauce. Here's what to know. When is Zaxby's opening? Zaxby's opens on Wednesday, Aug. 13, but will host a grand opening celebration on Tuesday, Aug. 19, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The first 100 guests to visit will receive free Zaxby's for six months, according to a news release. Where will other Zaxby's open in Arizona? Zaxby's has committed to seven more locations, with additional deals in the works, said Jessie Rozio, the CEO of Ignite Commercial Real Estate, the firm working with Zaxby's on its expansion. Here are the confirmed locations, according to Rozio: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 37666 N. Gantzel Road, Queen Creek. Another location in Queen Creek Gilbert Two stores in Surprise Goodyear Scottsdale Phoenix Reach the reporter at reia.li@gannett.com. Follow @Reialirui on X. Even more fried chicken: Chicken chains opening in metro Phoenix: Southern to Chinese This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Zaxby's is finally opening its first Arizona location. Here's when The show has previously shown the racism of the North that Black journalist Peggy Scott experiences from white New York society. This season, the audience watched her experience colorist and classist discrimination from Black society. Through the character of Peggy Scott (played by Denee Benton), The Gilded Age explores Black life in Brooklyn, New York in the later decades of the 1800s, both in parallel and intertwined with their white counterparts that inhabit Manhattans Fifth Avenue. While season two gave us a glimpse into the differences between Black life in the North versus life in the South, this season takes more time to show the internal conflicts of the elite Black communities in the North, using Newport, Rhode Island, as its backdrop. Newport was featured in the show as a summer destination for the white Manhattan elite in previous seasons, but Peggys budding romance with Dr. William Kirkland (played by Jordan Donica), who comes from a wealthy, established family from the seaside city, introduces the audience to its Black society in season three. And though Peggy comes from a privileged family herself, she is met with classism and colorism from his family, specifically its matriarch, Elizabeth (played by Phylicia Rashad). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elizabeth boasts that she comes from five generations of Rhode Islanders, including a free Black great-grandfather who fought in the Revolutionary War. The shows writers said they included this detail to show that the Kirkland family did not have a history of enslavement, unlike the Scotts. Newports free Black community was well organized long before the Gilded Age. In 1780, the citys Black male residents created a Black mutual aid society called the Free African Union Society, which is considered the first of its kind. Its female counterpart was created later in 1809 and named the African Female Benevolent Society, which primarily worked to educate free Black people and their children. The Society established one of the first free Black schools in the nation. By the Gilded Age, Rhode Islands schools were already desegregated. One of the real-life prominent Black Newport families that inspired the Kirklands was the Van Hornes, whose patriarch, Mahlon Van Horne, became the pastor for the Societys Union Colored Congregational Church and Rhode Islands first Black legislator. His son, Alonzo Van Horne, was Rhode Islands first Black dentist. Peggys character has previously been used to highlight the racism of the North, which was different from that of the South, but still very much present. Though she attains opportunities and access by befriending and working for the Van Rhijn family, Peggys interactions with New York white society range from discriminatory to deadly. In episode two of this season, she becomes sick at the Van Rhijn house and is bedridden, but their doctor refuses to treat her because she is a Black woman. This is how she eventually meets William, because her parents have to send a Black doctor to Manhattan to treat her. What season three of The Gilded Age shows is that Peggy not only navigates her life as a Black woman, but as a dark-skinned Black woman who experiences colorism. Her love interest, William, is light-skinned, as is his entire family. Though the two lovers dont seem to give this any importance, their families immediately clock this as an issue. Peggys father, Arthur (played by John Douglas Thompson), expresses his concern to Peggys mother, Dorothy (played by Audra McDonald), that if Peggy has lighter children, shell be looked at as their nurse instead of their mother. Or that if she has darker children, Williams family will resent them. He makes these comments after meeting Williams family, particularly the icy Elizabeth, and watching her make comments about how her grandchildren need to stay out of the sun to avoid getting darker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the initial meeting of the two families, Elizabeth reacts disapprovingly at Peggys familys newer money, particularly Arthurs, which comes from owning a pharmacy. But one of the most glaring slights by Elizabeth toward Peggy and her family happens when their conversation reveals that Arthur was born enslaved. This may confuse viewers, because given the period, many Black Northerners at the time would have come from the South and been born in slavery. But The Gilded Age shows that in elite Black circles, this could be seen as taboo. Dr. Kirklands mother uses this as one of many reasons why Peggy is not good enough for her son. As the finale approaches, Elizabeth, who has failed to dissuade her son William from courting Peggy, might now have the ammunition she needs to break up their relationship. In the previous episode, a friend in Newport who comes over to gossip reveals to her that Peggy had a child out of wedlock from a previous relationship, and that another family adopted the child. Upon hearing this news, Elizabeth gleefully travels from Newport to New York to tell her son about the scandal. The finale preview shows that William will confront Peggy about her secret. Fans of The Gilded Age will understand that the story is more complicated, and though Peggy did have a child when she was not married, she believed the child died during birth, and found out much later that her father had secretly given the boy away to a family in Philadelphia. When she went to find him, she was too late because he had died from scarlet fever. Well find out if Peggy can (or is willing to) overcome her potential mother-in-laws elitism to be with Dr. William. In the preview, her mother consoles her while shes crying and tells her, You are worthy. Maybe that message, rather than whether she can secure a life partner, is the point of Peggys arc this season. More must-reads: Laura Baumeisters What Follows Is My Death, Alvaro Brechners La piel de leon and Pablo Stolls Dad Is No Punk Rocker feature among 15 projects set to be unveiled at San Sebastians 2025 Europe-Latin America Co-Production Forum, the Spanish festivals biggest industry centrepiece. 11 of the 15 projects are first or second features. That said, 2025s lineup may be the most powerful to date. Counting producers and directors, the lineup features an Oscar winner Spains Tornasol Media a co-writer of an Academy Award nomination Jacques Toulemonde at at least five directors and three producers who have had titles at Cannes, including multiple winners. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baumeisters second feature after Daughter of Rage, a high-profile Toronto player and San Sebastian winner, What Follows Is My Death is a transgender story, narratively speaking: risky and entertaining which plays with the mixing of genres, starting from a realistic register and then taking the phenomenon of migration as a metamorphosis, Baumeister says. Pablo Stolls Whisky won Cannes Un Certain Regard Original award. Brechners debut Bad Day for Fishing screened at Cannes Critics Week while his Mr. Kaplan won Latin American Film at Mar del Plata. With his debut, La Jauria (2022), Ramirez Pulido scooped the Grand Prize at Cannes Critics Week. Toulemonde co-wrote the Academy Award nominated Embrace of the Serpent and Cannes Directors Fortnight hit Birds of Passage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres also a good buzz on Mother of Gold, winner of the Wouter Barendrecht Award at Rotterdams Cinemart, from Madiano Marcheti, a Variety Brazil Next Gen Talent to Track, and expectation for Sublime Pact, from Ignacio Juricic, director of the Cannes Queer Palm-winning short Lost Queens (2015) and San Sebastian Horizons player Enigma (2018). Winning an Accesit Prize at the 2023 Lola Salvador DAMA Screenwriting Award, An Illusion of Paradise is set up at Juan Pablo Millers upscale Argentine outfit Tarea Fina, behind Cannes Camera dOr winner Las Acacias, directed by Pablo Giorgelli, at San Sebastians Forum as the producer of Patrimony which won Best Project at Buenos Aires FICPBA festival. Gabi Suciu and Andrei Boncea produce Houses Are Silent at Bucharest-based Atelier de Film, the producer of San Sebastian 2021 Golden Shell winner Blue Moon. The Basque Countrys Gariza was behind Estibaliz Urresolas Berlin best performance laureate 20,000 Species of Bees. Hijas del Agua weighs in as the biggest proposition being brought on the market at the Forum, a sports-set drama-thriller set up at Colombias 64A Films and Lago Films. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Co-Production Forum features another large-canvas titles, Not a River, a big screen adaptation of the Selva Almada novel, shortlisted for the International Booker Prize, reuniting Mexicos Caponeto Cine and Argentinas Ajimolido Films, production partners on the Venice premiered My Tender Matador and genre auteur success, The Virgin of the Quarry Lake. The San Sebastian 2025 Europe-Latin America Co-Production Lineup: El atletismo y el amor, (Alejandra Moffat, Chile) Presented at Chiles Frontera Sur Lab, Moffat presents excepts from her family home movies, shot from the 1930s over 30 years her great great uncle, often of Chilean high and long-jump champion Ilse Barends, or of his wife hiptotizing rural labourers. A portrait of Chiles leisured aristocracy and implicitly, a near century later, of telling privilege which would have large consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Boa and the Bamboo, (La boa y el bambu, Maitane Carballo Alonso, Spain, Switzerland) Set-up at Gariza Films, the Bizkaia-based prodco behind not only 20,000 Species of Bees but also Lara Izagirres Nora, broadcast by HBO, Netflix, ETB and TVE. The helming debut by sound specialist and documentary film editor Carballo Alonso earned this year a 40,000 ($46,589) aid from the Basque Government for international co-development. Dad Is No Punk Rocker, (Papa no es punk, Pablo Stoll, Uruguay) Based on a novel by Federico Ivanier, it follows a 14-year-old boy who embarks on a journey to discover who his father is, as his mother refuses to tell him. Ines Penagaricano and Stoll produce at Temperamento Films. Cast include Julieta Zylberberg (Relatos salvajes, Mi amiga del parque) and Nestor Guzzini (Kaplan, Tanta agua). The project has won both script development and feature film projects production awards from Uruguays National Film Agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do Not Let Me Die Alone, (No me dejen morir solo,Francisco Rodriguez Teare, Chile, Belgium) The second feature by Rodriguez Teare whose Otro Sol won Latin American Feature at Mar del Plata. Here a miserable delivery boy gets by disposing of mummies recovered in Iquique, North of Chile. The Chinchorro mummies emerge as figures that guide the characters journey, inviting us to explore the memory of bodies that transcend death, says producer Rodrigo Diaz. Project teams Chiles Axolotl and Mimbre Films with Belgiums Michigan. Hijas del Agua, (Jacques Toulemonde, Colombia, Spain) A coming-of-age story directed by Jacques Toulemonde about a group of women who find a way out of the Colombian slums through synchronized swimming. A large scale project with international reach about fighting for your dreams, 64A Films Diego F. Ramirez has said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An Illusion of Paradise, (La Ilusion de Paraiso, Valeria Pivato, Argentina) Pivatos first solo feature after Cannes Un Certain Regard player The Desert Bride and Mar del Plata best Argentinean film winner Surfacing, a potential rural psychological thriller in which Elvira and Joaquin retire to the mountains where she begins to discover her husbands dark nature, hesitates between compromise and active opposition. Pivato and Leonel DAgostino (A Ravaging Wind) co-write. In Praise of Crime, (Elogio del crimen, Andres Ramirez Pulido, Colombia) Produced by Johana A. Susa at Valiente Gracia, Ramirez Pulidos sophomore feature follows a police officer in a remote Andean town where no crime has been reported for over a decade. If crime doesnt return on its own, someone will have to bring it back. Ramirez Pulido reflects on violence from a perspective of drama and thriller, with hints of dark humor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mother of Gold, (Mae do Ouro, Madiano Marcheti, Brazil, Germany) Produced by Daniel Pech at Multiverso (A Common Crime, Prison in the Andes), also a high-flying distribution exec at Relato, and directed by Marcheti, whose first feature film Madalena bowed in Rotterdams Tiger Competition in 2021.Mother of Gold turns on Jaci who starts having mysterious dreams after illegal miners take over the hill near the town where she lives, in a remote corner of the Amazon. A title to track. La piel de leon, (Alvaro Brechner, Uruguay) Re-teaming international auteur Brechner (Bad Day for Fishing, Mr. Kaplan) and Oscar winner Tornasol Media (The Secret in Their Eyes) after Venice Horizons screener A Twelve-Year Night, which won Brechner an adapted screenplay Spanish Academy Goya. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not a River, (No es un rio, Diego Martinez-Ulanosky, Mexico, Argentina) A teenage boy joins two old friends of his late father for a fishing weekend on the river island where he died, A lyrical Western about brotherhood and the ghosts we carry, Im developing a film that spans from the 60s to the 90s, where memory, guilt, and nature collide with a present full of unspoken words, says Martinez-Ulanosky. Patrimony, (Patrimonio, Maria Astrauskas, Argentina) An Argentine co-production by Pablo Giorgelli Cine and Juan Toni, a truck driver woman working for a stone granite quarry in Tandil, learns of a debt owed by her deceased father, being forced to reconnect with a lost time and world. Set in the heart of the Argentine Pampas, Patrimony tells, with some comedic tone, the tensions Toni experiences as she face a labyrinthine and outdated bureaucracy and technological transformations, Astrauskas comments about her feature debut. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sublime Pact, (Pacto Sublime, Ignacio Juricic, Chile) Continuing his exploration of Chiles queer memory, Juricic notes, and set up at Isabel Orellanas Araucaria Cine (Immersion), Sublime Pact is inspired by the real-life romantic relationship, begun in 1992, between 70-year-old writer and poet Matilde Ladron de Guevara and 38-year-old homosexual criminal Patricio Egana Salinas, questioning sexuality and punitive justice in a way that is still radical and provocative to this day, Juricic notes. Victoria in the Clouds, (Victoria en las nubes, Ana Endara, Panama, Chile, France) Reuniting Chiles Paulina Garcia, a Berlin Silver Bear winner for her turn in Sebastian Lelios Gloria, with Panamas Endara after their multi-prized Beloved Tropic. Set in Panamas lush coffee growing landscape, 65-year-old plantation owner Victoria is forced to question her privileged life. Produced by Mansa Productora, Expansiva Cine, Mimbre Films and Respiro Productions. What Follows Is My Death, (Lo que sigue es mi muerte, Laura Baumeister, Mexico, Spain) Baumeisters second feature after the high-profile Toronto player and San Sebastian winner Daughter of Rage, a fantasy laced drama set at a Managua landfill. On a full moon night in the Mexican desert, Virginia, a young Nicaraguan migrant, is rescued by Aurora, a sheep shearer. They fall in love, as Virginia completes her transformation into a nahual woman. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. NEED TO KNOW Lindsay Lohan is having a special experience with her family at the zoo The actress brought her 2-year-old son to the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia, where they fed some animals Lohan shares her son with husband Bader Shammas Lindsay Lohan and her son are enjoying an animal-filled afternoon! The Freakier Friday star, 39, shared a series of photos on her Instagram on Monday, Aug. 11, after she and her husband Bader Shammas brought their 2-year-old son Luai to the Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the first photo, the actress could be seen holding her toddler son on her hip and standing by her husband Shammas as the family of three got up close and personal with a giraffe. She also shared photos of the family meeting a kangaroo, visiting the tigers and feeding monkeys. "Such a special day at Taronga Zoo so many beautiful animals and such wonderful caretakers!" Lohan wrote in her caption. "Thanks for letting us pop in! ." 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. At the end of July, Lohan appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and shared that although her toddler son Luai isn't quite old enough to appreciate any of her iconic films, he did happen to see her when she appeared on a segment for Good Morning America. However, the toddler didn't quite know what to make of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Babys too young to watch any of your films, right? Fallon asked. No, I mean, hes seen meActually, this morning, he was with my in-laws and my husband, and I was doing Good Morning America," Lohan explained. "And he was like, Mommy, come out! Mommy! He thought I was like, stuck. https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf Oh, in the TV? Fallon clarified. So now Im like, now that hes getting older and more aware, Im like, kind of scared. I dont want him to thinklike get confused," Lohan said. Fallon laughed and looked into the camera, saying that the two are okay and having fun before asking which of her films she would show her son. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I feel like maybe Herbie the Love Bug because its cars and fun, Lohan said, referring to her 2005 film Herbie: Fully Loaded. The star spoke with PEOPLE at the Los Angeles premiere of Disney's Freakier Friday in July and gushed about her little boy. "He has a new milestone every day. He tells so many stories and he's just a really intelligent 2-year-old," Lohan shared at the time. While the family hadn't started potty training yet, they will be after the "whirlwind" movie promo tour, she shared. Earlier that month, Lohan celebrated her son's second birthday with multiple images from his dinosaur-themed celebrations. "Happy Birthday to our sunshine, our sweetest boy, our heart, Luai! " Lohan captioned the Instagram post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Watching you grow has been the greatest joy of our life. You light up every room (and keep us all on our toes ), and we are so proud to be your mama and daddy," she added. "You are the deepest love we have ever known, the wildest adventure, and the most beautiful purpose. You have given our lives a whole new meaning, and we are grateful every single day," Lohan continued. "Here is to another year of cuddles, giggles, and magic. Me and Daddy love you more than words can say. ." Read the original article on People Something about a thriller set in Alaska makes the story all the more unsettling. Netflixs Hold the Dark is one such film, as its dramatic tension is as much a product of its surroundings as its central characters. Were not just talking about a sadistic psychopath on the loose in the barren wilderness, but a pack of wolves at the center of this dark, Jeremy Saulnier-directed film. Hold The Dark Is Based On A Hit Novel Hold the Dark is based on the William Giraldi novel of the same name and takes place in the remote Alaskan village of Keelut. Were introduced to Medora Slone (Riley Keough), whose 6-year-old son Bailey, along with two other children, is abducted by a pack of wolves. She seeks the help of Russell Core (Jeffrey Wright), a retired naturalist and wolf expert who can help her track down her missing son. Is Anyone Telling The Truth? Meanwhile, Hold the Dark introduces us to Medoras husband, Vernon (Alexander Skarsgard), who is overseas fighting the war in Iraq and unaware that his child is missing or dead. An elderly local village woman reveals to Russell that Medora may very well be possessed by wolves, and isnt telling him everything she knows about Baileys disappearance. Other townsfolk are inclined to believe the same thing, hinting that the wolves may have a demonic origin. Profoundly Unsettling When Vernon returns from Iraq, Hold the Dark treads into profoundly unsettling territory. When Baileys body is discovered, a grief-stricken Vernon goes on a murderous rampage. Viewers will be left in the dark well into the third act because its not immediately clear who the antagonist is in this film. Dark, Gripping, And Gorgeous Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As gripping as Hold the Darks storytelling may be, its cinematography truly steals the show in this dark action thriller. The harsh winter landscapes and dark contrasting tones play off each characters sense of distress and confusion in a way that couldnt be successfully captured in any other setting. Though Hold the Dark garnered a 69 percent critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, the film received considerable praise for its use of the environment to tell its story. Critics agree that the narrative can be confusing at points, but the brilliantly shot sequences within its storytelling allow viewers to be fully immersed in the Alaskan wilderness. Not For The Faint Of Heart Hold the Dark is not for the faint of heart; its violence comes in many forms. While wolves are understandably aggressive toward their prey, the human element will truly get under your skin as you learn the motives behind each characters actions. As you dig past the blood-stained snow and further into the mystery, youll be enthralled by the grim atmosphere and dark themes this film fearlessly explores. Streaming Now On Netflix Hold the Dark is a worthy addition to Jeremy Saulniers filmography. Fans of the director point out similarities to the revenge story thats told in his 2013 effort, Blue Ruin, but in a wildly different context. Whether youre a fan of Saulniers past work or want to queue up a thriller on Netflix to pass the time, youll have a memorable viewing experience that will stick with you for days. LOS ANGELES (AP) Prince Harry and Meghan have extended their partnership with Netflix and their media company, Archewell Productions, with a multiyear, first-look deal, the couple announced Monday. Archewell began collaborating with the streaming giant in 2020 and have produced a handful of documentary content, including the popular Harry & Meghan. The Duchess of Sussex also developed a lifestyle brand, As Ever, in partnership with Netflix. The collaboration has also produced the documentary series' Polo, Heart of Invictus and Live to Lead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My husband and I feel inspired by our partners who work closely with us and our Archewell Productions team to create thoughtful content across genres that resonates globally, and celebrates our shared vision, Meghan said in a statement. The couple and Netflix also announced upcoming collaborations, including a second season of, With Love, Meghan, a lifestyle and cooking show starring the duchess. The show will also receive a special holiday episode in December. The show is Netflix's most-watched culinary show since its March release, according to the company. It ranked low compared to other releases in the first half of this year, with 5.3 million views, according to Netflix's semiannual report. Masaka Kids, A Rhythm Within, a documentary short film that centers on a small orphanage in Ugandas Masaka region, is also set to release this year. Archewell is also in production with Netflix on a feature adaptation of Carley Fortune's novel Meet Me at the Lake. The drama follows a decade-spanning love story that begins with a chance encounter and a broken promise, the statement read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harry and Meghan are influential voices whose stories resonate with audiences everywhere. The response to their work speaks for itself, Bela Bajaria, Netflixs chief content officer, said in a statement. Their extended deal with Netflix is the latest in the couple's yearslong effort to develop business ventures in the United States. They had also penned a multiyear deal with Spotify in 2020 and produced a podcast, Archetypes, but cut ties with the company in 2023. The couple have been detangling their lives from the British royal family and are living in California with their two young children. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Matt Infante / A24 Stop me if youve heard this one before. A brilliant scientist with a big laboratory and access to corpses tries usurping Gods role as life provider. (Thanks for not actually stopping me.) The Frankenstein mythos has seemingly been adapted as many times as there are pages in Mary Shelleys original novel, with Guillermo del Toros dark and emotional take set to stream via Netflix subscription. Now, it appears MCU vet Sebastian Stan is set for a newly crafted take thatll be a unique entry amongst other upcoming horror movies. This version of Frankenstein sounds like it could truly stand apart from both highly faithful versions and from the more radical interpretations, thanks in large part to it coming from Romanian writer/director Radu Jude. The filmmaker is currently on the promotional trail for his latest feature, a nearly three-hour version of Dracula, where sucking on other body parts wink, wink is just as prominent as the expected neck-centric bloodletting. It already sounds like a Top 5 contender for most bonkers Dracula movies, so Im hopeful Frankie enjoys a similarly big swing. (Here's one review that addresses the zaniness.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jude, who is perhaps best known for directing other 2021s Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn and 2023s Do Not Expect Too Much From the End of the World, hails from Romania, the home country not just of Vlad Dracul, but also of Sebastian Stan. The duo apparently spoke previously about finding the right project to collaborate on, according to THR, and Jude revealed the project amidst his vampire films world premiere at the Lorcana Film Festival, saying: Im writing a film now. Its a Frankenstein film in Romania. Frankenstein in Romania, its going to be called. Nothing too mysterious about that title as far as main characters and central locations go, and it doesnt hint at anything too out of the ordinary. However, this dude doesnt deliver by-the-books cinema, so expect some of the most darkly comedic and absurdist moments of any Frankenstein movie. The storyline will reportedly mesh the traditional legend of the misunderstood behemoth with the true-to-life past existence of a hush-hush CIA prison that was located in Romania. Where is the story going to go from there? Will dead prisoners body parts be used to create the monster? Will Victor Frankenstein be a corrupt prison warden? How high up the black hat ladder does this operation go? Stan, whod relatively recently shaved his head for a new role, liked Judes pitch for the Frankenstein-centric story, and the director believes the actor will take on dual roles as both Victor Frankenstein and his makeshift monster. 2024s A Different Man showed off Stans performance-shifting skills, as well as his ability to deliver a realistic performance beneath abundant prosthetics. So Ive no doubt hell bring the goods no matter how many characters he plays. Sebastian Stan on the phone in the back of a car as Donald Trump with Jeremy Strong's Roy Cohn on his right in 2024 movie The Apprentice The Insane Story Behind Sebastian Stan Gaining Weight To Play Donald Trump,Then 'Shredding' For Thunderbolts, Only To Go Back To Trump After A Snafu Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear if Frankenstein in Romania will be written and filmed in time for the 2026 movie schedule, as the director next aims to film a smaller-scale story about a Romanian woman who leaves her young daughter to work for a family in France. But consider this: during the production of Dracula, Radu Jude and several of the horror films cast members simultaneously filmed Kontinental 25, a comedy-drama about his countrys housing crisis and middle-class struggles. That movie debuted earlier in 2025 at the Berlin Film Festival, where its screenplay won the Silver Bear. With Maggie Gyllenhaals The Bride! also hitting theaters in 2026, I wonder how well that will work paired up with Frankenstein in Romania for an offbeat horror double-feature. The great Italian film star Sophia Loren is, of course, famous for the work that she has done on screen over the past seven decades. But she is equally well known for the adoration that she inspired in many of her co-stars. Omar Sharif sighed that he fantasised about her naked after they acted together. Clark Gable confessed that he had had the wrong thoughts about the beauteous Loren when they appeared in the otherwise forgotten 1960 drama It Started In Naples. Cary Grant, meanwhile, was cast opposite her in the 1957 epic The Pride and the Passion and was initially horrified at the idea, declaring My God! You want me to play with this Sophie somebody, a cheesecake thing? Well, I cant and I wont. He was soon converted when he met Loren in the flesh, and the two embarked on a love affair: this was considerably more than Peter Sellers managed, when he starred with Loren in the now-problematic 1960 romantic comedy The Millionairess. Sellers decided that he and the Italian actress were destined to be together, and although Loren did not return his affections, he declared to his wife Ann Howe and his children that he was leaving them for his co-star. When his young daughter Sarah asked her father if he still loved his family, he replied: Of course I do, darling, just not as much as Sophia Loren. Sophia Loren in the 1960 romantic comedy The Millionairess - Getty Images Beginnings of a feud Loren, a diva beyond compare and perhaps the last woman standing from the Golden Age of Hollywood, now has a new season of films devoted to her at the BFI. But its easy to forget that Loren hasnt always been universally loved at least, not by her fellow doyens of Italian cinema. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Cary Grant first met Loren, he was not above poking some fun at her, and the joke that he chose to express himself with may have touched a nerve. In Lorens 2015 memoir Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow: My Life, she recalled Grant introducing himself: He held out his hand, looking at me with a pinch of mischief: Miss Lolloloren, I presume? Or is it Miss Lorenigida? You Italians have such strange last names I cant seem to get them straight. On of Gina Lollobrigidas more significant roles was in 1956s circus drama Trapeze - Getty Images It was a clear verbal reference to the other leading star of Italian cinema of the day, in the equally beauteous form of Gina Lollobrigida, who was seven years older than Loren and who had begun her career in Italian and international film just a few years beforehand. Both vied for the title of the worlds most beautiful woman, a description that each of them received, at one time or another, and zealously guarded for as long as they might. A feud had started between the two that would duly become infamous, although both participants alternately claimed that it was simply a PR-confected fantasy or, more amusingly, that it was the other who was continuing it in order to maintain their presence in the headlines. Sophia Loren and Gina Lollobrigida photographed together in 1954 at the Italian Film Festival in London - Getty Images In one of the relatively few pictures that exist of both actresses together in 1954, the body language makes it clear that they are not relishing sitting next to one another, and Lollobrigida, in particular, has an expression that suggests that she would really rather be elsewhere at that moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The photograph was taken at the Italian Film Festival in London, in the presence of Elizabeth II; Loren attracted most of the media attention due to her ornate outfit, which included a fittingly regal cape and crown. The most beloved Italian export since spaghetti The two women both enjoyed significant success early in their careers, but there were disparities between their levels of recognition and acclaim. Lollobrigida was signed up by the mogul Howard Hughes (who, was, predictably, smitten by her) to a seven-year exclusive contract, but her ventures into English-language cinema were comparatively limited, compared to her standing in Italy. Gina Lollobrigida poses for photographs to promote the film Come September in Italy, 1960 - Alexandre Fuchs She appeared in such pictures as John Hustons Beat the Devil, and starred opposite a decrepit Errol Flynn in his attempt to revitalise his swashbuckling career, Crossed Swords. More significant roles in films included the circus drama Trapeze and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. However, she won the greatest amount of acclaim and recognition for Italian-language projects, and received a Bafta nomination for her role in 1953s Bread, Love and Dreams. Further awards followed throughout the decade, and Lollobrigida revelled in her standing as the best-known, most beloved Italian export since spaghetti. Picking a fight with the queen herself This did not sit well with the ambitious Loren, who had been born Sofia Scicolone, and had had an early career as a successful model. When she was 15, she met Carlo Ponti, who was judging a beauty pageant that she appeared in. Although the 37-year-old Ponti was no Adonis, he was sufficiently charismatic and intelligent to realise that the young Scicolone had the potential to go far in the film industry, if he could shape her, Svengali-like. He changed her name to the more pronounceable Sophia Loren, encouraged her to learn English and to shed her strong Neapolitan accent. Sophia Loren established herself as a comely figure with strong sex appeal - John Springer Collection / Getty Images Still, whatever the truth of her lineage, under Pontis tutelage she established herself as a comely figure with strong sex appeal. She had made over 25 films by the age of 21, which made her a ubiquitous presence in Italian cinema. Perhaps egged on by Ponti, she now decided to pick a fight with the queen herself, Lollobrigida, and told the European press that she was better endowed bustier than the older actress Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lollobrigida duly snapped back that she was capable of playing a peasant, but that Loren was not able to convincingly embody an aristocrat. We are as different as a fine racehorse and a goat! she complained to one reporter. The barbs must have stung, because, later in her career, Loren suddenly remembered that her father, an unsuccessful railway engineer, had been descended from nobility, which supposedly gave her the right to call herself Viscountess of Pozzuoli, Lady of Caserta. From personal to professional The feud soon stretched from the personal to the professional, when Loren replaced Lollobrigida in a sequel to her hit 1953 romantic comedy Bread, Love and Dreams (the older actress had asked for more money). In recognition of Lorens charms, it was filmed in colour rather than black and white. Matters worsened when Loren had a more significant international breakthrough than Lollobrigida in 1960 by winning both an Oscar and Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival for what may well be her greatest performance in Two Women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The film, a gritty and decidedly unglamorous war drama, directed by Vittorio De Sica, featured Loren as a widow who is struggling to care for her 12-year-old daughter. It climaxes with the two of them being raped by a group of soldiers inside a church, and Lorens bold rejection of the sexuality that she had embodied since she began her career made for stunning viewing. I thought it was worth taking the risk at 25 to play an older woman because the story was so beautiful, she later said. Loren had an international breakthrough with her 1960 film Two Women - Cinematic / Alamy Stock Photo Lollobrigida did not make any public comment on Lorens awards at the time, but it was perhaps no coincidence that she lobbied for the role of Napoleon Bonapartes sister Pauline in the 1962 biopic Imperial Venus, presumably in the hope of attracting similar attention. She won two major Italian awards, the Nastro dArgento and the David di Donatello, but Oscars and Cannes gongs were not to be hers. Loren, meanwhile, enjoyed an elevated status as a Hollywood film star, appearing in leading roles in such epics as El Cid and The Fall of the Roman Empire and the Hitchcockian comedy-thriller Arabesque. Such was her standing that, when she was cast opposite Marlon Brando in the 1967 Charlie Chaplin-directed flop A Countess from Hong Kong, she was able to put the Method star in his place. Sophia Loren and Marlon Brando on the set of A Countess from Hong Kong in 1967 - Getty Images As she recounted: One day he suddenly reached out and grabbed at me. I twisted around and very calmly hissed in his face, like a cat when you pet its fur backward: Dont you dare. Dont you ever do that again. As I gave him my dirtiest look, I suddenly saw how small and harmless he really was, almost a victim of an aura that had been created around him. Disparagingly, she called Brando a man ill at ease in the world. She hasnt stopped for 50 years Loren went on to have a rollercoaster career that even encompassed a brief prison sentence in the early 1980s for tax evasion: she was treated, appropriately enough, by royalty by her fellow prisoners and the guards alike, and the incident did not damage her significant popularity. In their later years, Loren and Lollobrigida were pictured in the same place together exactly once: at a 1988 event honouring Michael Jackson in Los Angeles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet Lollobrigida continued to brood, and, in 2015, gave an interview to Vanity Fair in which she attempted to suggest that she was truly first amongst equals. My God! She and her press agents started this rivalry with me and she hasnt stopped for 50 years, Lollobrigida declared. It was really boring for me we are different. We made completely different careers. I wanted to be an artist more than anything else. I wanted a career on a high level. Lollobrigida as Esmeralda, on the set of the 1956 version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame - Getty Images Belying, perhaps, the idea that Loren was obsessed by publicity, the younger actress declined to comment. So it was not entirely surprising that, two years later, Lollobrigida was still keeping the feud going. She told the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that I was not looking for any rivalry against anyone: I was the number one and, in an obvious dig at Loren and Ponti, announced that I succeeded only thanks to myself, without any producer supporting me. I did everything alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, when Lollobrigida died in 2023, Loren was able to have the last word, announcing that she was deeply shaken and saddened by the death of her one-time rival, and thereby exhibiting a magnanimity at the conclusion of the feud that was sorely lacking on both sides while it continued. Sophia Loren: Hollywood Style, Neapolitan Spirit is at the BFI throughout August 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. U2 - Credit: Helena Christensen U2 shared a lengthy post on their website clarifying the band members individual stances on Israel and Gaza. We are not experts in the politics of the region, but we want our audience to know where we each stand, the Irish group wrote. Each band memberBono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr.shared a statement with their thoughts on the ongoing war, which has transpired since Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Bono noted that since then he has generally tried to stay out of the politics of the Middle East. This was not humility, more uncertainty in the face of obvious complexity, he said. I have over recent months written about the war in Gaza in The Atlantic and spoken about it in The Observer, but I circled the subject. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The frontman explained that he has chosen to speak up more directly now after seeing photographs of starving people in Gaza. The images of starving children on the Gaza Strip brought me back to a working trip to a food station in Ethiopia my wife Ali and I made 40 years ago next month following U2s participation in Live Aid 1985, he wrote. Another man-made famine. To witness chronic malnutrition up close would make it personal for any family, especially as it affects children. Because when the loss of non-combatant life en masse appears so calculated especially the deaths of children, then evil is not a hyperbolic adjective in the sacred text of Jew, Christian, and Muslim it is an evil that must be resisted. He noted that he does not equate Palestinians with Hamas. Given our own historic experience of oppression and occupation, its little wonder so many here in Ireland have campaigned for decades for justice for the Palestinian people, Bono write. He added, We know Hamas are using starvation as a weapon in the war, but now so too is Israel and I feel revulsion for the moral failure. The Government of Israel is not the nation of Israel, but the Government of Israel led by Benjamin Netanyahu today deserves our categorical and unequivocal condemnation. There is no justification for the brutality he and his far right government have inflicted on the Palestinian people in Gaza in the West Bank. Bono said he wanted to make U2s stance on the conflict transparent. As someone who has long believed in Israels right to exist and supported a two-state solution, I want to make clear to anyone who cares to listen our bands condemnation of Netanyahus immoral actions and join all who have called for a cessation of hostilities on both sides, he wrote. Our band stands in solidarity with the people of Palestine who truly seek a path to peace and coexistence with Israel and with their rightful and legitimate demand for statehood. We stand in solidarity with the remaining hostages and plead that someone rational negotiate their release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bono confirmed that U2 will donate to help with relief in Gaza. The band is pledged to contribute our support by donating to Medical Aid For Palestinians, he said. The other three statements are shorter, but just as decisive and clear. The Edge posed three questions to the Israeli government and Netanyahu, including, Do you truly believe that such devastationinflicted so intentionally and relentlessly on a civilian populationcan happen without heaping generational shame upon those responsible? We know from our own experience in Ireland that peace is not made through dominance, The Edge wrote. Peace is made when people sit down with their opponentswhen they recognize the equal dignity of all, even those they once feared or despised. There can be no peace without justice. No reconciliation without recognition. And no future unless we refuse to let the past be repeated. Mullen Jr. added, The power to change this obscenity is in the hands of Israel. I undoubtedly support Israels right to exist and I also believe Palestinians deserve the same right and a state of their own. Silence serves none of us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In May, Bono called for an end to the war between Israel and Hamas at 2025 Ivor Novello Awards. During the awards ceremony, held at Londons Grosvenor House, Bono took the opportunity to criticize Hamas and Netanyahu, and to encourage peace. Hamas release the hostages. Stop the war, he said. Israel be released from Benjamin Netanyahu and far-right fundamentalists that twist your sacred texts. All of you protect our aid workers, they are the best of us. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Netflix audiences just cant get enough of Gerard Butler. Butlers 2023 Kandahar movie, starring Butler as a spy who finds himself stranded in Afghanistan, was added to the streamer last week, and quickly shot to the No. 2 slot on Netflixs Top 10 Movies trending titles list. Directed by Rich Roman Waugh (known for his Angel Has Fallen franchise, also with Butler), with a screenplay written by Mitchell La Fortune, Kandahar stars Butler as Tom Harris, a freelance spy hired by the CIA on a mission in in Herat, Afghanistan. But Harriss cover is blown, and finds himself the target of enemy forces. Before he can be rescued from an extraction point in Kandahar, hell have to fight for his life to survive. Also starring Ali Fazal, Navid Negahban, Bahador Foladi, Nina Toussaint-White, Tom Rhys Harries, Vassilis Koukalani, Mark Arnold, Corey Johnson, and Travis Fimmel, in many ways, Kandahar is your typical American aciton movie set in the Middle East. However, one big factor that sets the movie apart from the crowd is the Kandahar filming locations. Read on to learn about where Kandahar was filmed, and how the movie made film history in Saudi Arabia. Photo: Everett Collection Where was the Kandahar movie filmed? The Gerard Butler movie Kandahar was filmed in Saudi Arabia, mostly in the northwestern region known as AlUla. In fact, Kandahar was the first major Hollywood production to film in that region since Saudi Arabia lifted its ban on cinema in 2018, allowing the movie industry into the country for the first time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kandahar was filmed entirely in Saudi Arabia, and most was filmed in AlUla, which is home to the countrys first UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hegra. AlUla is an ancient city containing artifacts and structures that date back to 5000 BCE. The region is considered an oasis among the desert, where land is fertile and natural sources of water can be found. Since Saudi Arabia began allowing tourism in 2018, AlUla has become a popular tourist destination. Photo: Everett Collection For exterior shots taking place in cities, Kandahar filmed in Jeddah, the second-largest city in Saudi Arabi, and the commercial center of the country, as well as in Riyadh, the capital city. In a 2022 interview with Deadline, producer Christian Mercuri described the shoot in Saudi Arabia, and the variety of climates the cast and crew experienced. When you think of Saudi Arabia, we think of the desert, obviously, and theres a reason for that because it certainly has plenty, Mercuri said. But there is a jungle there, a lot of water there so there are different temperatures. Jeddah is very humid and warm, Riyadh is more like LA and dry. It has a lot of terrain, a lot of mountains and its a beautiful landscape. He went on to say that though studio options were limited at the time, Theres a lot to offer with regards to outdoor shooting and this film happened to be very organic in the fact that most of it is shot out in the desert so that played into the fact that this was an opportunity to be an authentic place to shoot. Mecuri added that despite the countrys reputation for human rights violations and conservative culture, the production felt safe and welcomed. I think the misconceptions we all had of them, myself included, and what you hear from the Western world is ignorant and misguided. I was very impressed, and its a truly safe and warm place, with warm and helpful people, and its been an amazing experience. When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Hayley Erin, The Young and the Restless. | Credit: CBS Ever since The Young and the Restless Claire (Hayley Erin) went through her rehabilitating transformation in the wake of her breaking free from Jordans (Colleen Zenk) control, we think shes been treated as if she is one of the most naive people in Genoa City. Victor (Eric Braeden) treats his granddaughter as if shes too innocent to be involved with Kyle (Michael Mealor) or entangled in the crosshairs of the Abbott/Newman feud. Kyle acts as if his girlfriend is unable to comprehend just how ruthless Victor can be. Then you have Audra (Zuleyka Silver), who behaves as if she can dance circles around Claires intellect, manipulating the newest Newman whenever she wants. All in all, we believe Claire is being grossly underestimated, which is why we think shell soon shock people when she makes it apparent that shes not to be toyed with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back when Jordan was giving her final goodbye to her great-niece, the deranged villain warned Claire that while she may be Victoria's (Amelia Heinle) daughter, it was Jordan who raised her. Jordan warned that she'll always be a part of Claire, and that could become evident very soon. Zuleyka Silver and Michael Mealor, The Young and the Restless | Credit: CBS In The Young and the Restless episode airing on August 11, Claire shares with Victoria some of her concerns about her relationship with Kyle. In particular, Claire tells her mom about Victors failed plot to break up #Kylaire and about Audras suggestion that something romantic occurred between her and Kyle in France. Victoria comforts her daughter and urges her to trust Kyle, noting Audra was likely playing mind games. Well, fast forward in the episode, and Claire gets an eyeful when she sees Audra plant a kiss on Kyle to get a rise out of him. This certainly wont help with Claires insecurities that Kyle is hiding something from her (which he is in terms of his kiss with Audra in France). Furthermore, the smooch may push Claire too far. It shouldnt be forgotten that in addition to dealing with Audras threats to her relationship, Claire is currently dealing with the grief of losing her father and the anger of being hurt by Victor. All these emotions may prove too much for her. Heck, in the same episode, Victoria even expressed this sentiment to Jack (Peter Bergman). Zuleyka Silver, The Young and the Restless | Credit: CBS Having said all of that, we can imagine a scenario in which Claire takes a page out of Jordans book and plots revenge. Weve previously suspected that Claire would go after both Kyle and Audra, but perhaps Claire reserves her hard feelings exclusively for Ms. Charles. If were right, Claire may take aim at Audras relationship with Nate (Sean Dominic). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the wake of Coles (J. Eddie Peck) death, weve noticed how friendly Victoria and Nate have become, especially when he needed support himself in the wake of Damians (Jermaine Rivers) death. We wouldnt be surprised if Claire made note of this and opted to destroy Audras relationship by pushing her mother into Nates romantic orbit. Playing matchmaker for her grieving mother to take down an enemy may sound a little callous at first. However, given Nate and Victoria have a romantic history and hes always treated Victoria with the utmost respect, Claire could see the relationship as a win-win. Hayley Erin and Nathan Owens, The Young and the Restless | Credit: CBS Taking things further, if destroying Audras relationship isnt enough, we can see Claire pumping Holden (Nathan Owens) for more information on his dealings with Audra in California to weaponize the information and wreak even more havoc on Audras life. Oh, and wed love it if Claire even went as far as to seek out Tucker (last played by Trevor St. John) to partner with him to get some Audra revenge. After all, hes likely still holding a grudge against his ex for what happened with Glissade. All in all, Audra may want to watch her back. Something tells us she is playing with fire, antagonizing Claire. We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Nespresso has been a major player in the coffee industry for over 30 years. The first machine was created in 1986, and since then, the company has expanded and now offers many different machines at various price points and two styles of coffee pods to accommodate them. How often does Nespresso release new flavors? Pretty often. Nespresso currently offers dozens of original coffee varieties, same for coffees compatible with the Vertuo design, and limited-edition coffees made for both styles. Nespresso sells its pods in boxes of 10 of each variety, so finding out it isn't to your liking after one pod and realizing you still have nine more can be frustrating. We tasted and ranked some of the top-selling varieties to sort the best from the rest. The list was determined by taste, aroma, and how well these aspects match the description of the coffee. Advertisement Advertisement Read more: A Step-By-Step Guide To Descaling Your Nespresso Vertuo Machine 13. Firenze Arpeggio Nespresso Firenze Arpeggio box and pods - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table Firenze Arpeggio is one of the varieties in the Ispirazione Italiana collection. The coffee was named after and inspired by the flavors of Florence. It is a dark roast coffee with an aroma to match. The brewed espresso has gentle hints of unsweetened cocoa, but nothing else is easily identifiable. Nespresso rates this variety as having low acidity, but that does not accurately describe the bite that follows the first sip. What makes this coffee unique among all others in the tasting is that the flavor is extremely bold, with both sour and bitter notes. But as quickly as it registers, it dissipates. However, this does not come to the coffee's advantage, as our tastebuds are too overwhelmed initially to register much except the loudest flavors. Without the bridge between upfront and lingering tastes, Firenze Arpeggio becomes one-note in an unpleasant way. Ultimately, it drinks too aggressively to rank higher, with other coffees offering more balanced and pleasant-tasting brews. 12. Nicaragua Nespresso Master Origins Nicaragua box and pod - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table Understanding details about Nespresso's Nicaragua coffee takes some research and careful reading. Nicaragua is part of the Master Crafted Single Origin collection, which features a handful of coffees from specific places worldwide. Nespresso uses the word "honey" frequently to capture the coffee's texture, aroma, and taste. It also notes that the coffee has undergone black honey processing, which has nothing to do with honey being used as a sweetener. Instead, honey-processed coffee refers to a fermenting practice that occurs before roasting. It is a unique process, and Nicaragua is the only one in this ranking to feature it. Advertisement Advertisement Some sharp, fruity notes in this light roast are more pervasive than in other dark coffees we sampled. Many of the coffees Nespresso highlights as fruity tend to be acidic, which is also true of Nicaragua. Despite only having an acidity level of two out of five, the coffee starts very sharp on the tongue and stays as bitterness builds. Both tastes linger significantly after each sip and cause a tannic dryness on the tongue. While there is a coffee for every set of tastebuds, this variety ranked low for us because it is hard to drink and far from the smooth brew it claims to be. 11. Volluto Nespresso Volluto pods on counter - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table Volluto is proof that Nespresso has something for every taste. The light roast coffee is an offering in the Espresso collection and can be purchased in both regular or decaffeinated varieties. With a level four out of 14 intensity, it is the mildest we tasted in this ranking. The aroma was different from the other coffees we sampled. It was lighter with bready notes, whereas others were dominated by roasted overtones. The espresso was hard to drink because it was mouth-puckeringly acidic. There is no development of other flavors to soften the tartness or offer relief, so the sourness is the first and last thing you taste. It does not have a thick body either, so the combination of flavor and consistency makes the coffee taste a bit watery and more like weak, old office-pantry drip coffee than freshly brewed espresso. While this flavor may appeal to some, the lack of balance and underdeveloped flavors landed it towards the end of the ranking. 10. Roma Box and pods of Nespresso Roma coffee - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table Another coffee in the Ispirazione Italiana collection, Roma is a moderately-intense, medium roast variety. Nespresso describes it as having a heavy bitterness and acidity. The aroma of a freshly brewed pod isn't unique. It smells mostly of, well, coffee. There are no specific indicators to foreshadow what is coming in regard to the flavor. Advertisement Advertisement The espresso has a medium body, which is neither watery nor thick. The first sip packs a big punch of sharpness and it's hard to taste much else for the first few seconds until that flavor softens. Mild herbal and spicy notes can be detected on the finish, but they are not easy to highlight. Moreover, Nespresso describes this variety as having a woody undertone, and it may be that flavor, combined with the sour taste, that becomes reminiscent of fresh ginger. The combined effect isn't the worst of the ones we sampled, but it also doesn't give the coffee broad appeal. Since it is overall harsh and not a taste for everyone, it dropped into the bottom third of the ranking. 9. Shanghai Lungo Three Nespresso Shanghai Lungo pods - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table Shanghai Lungo is a light roast coffee and part of the World Explorations collection. Nespresso recommends brewing this pod as a lungo, otherwise called a long pull espresso. The coffee in a lungo pod is more coarsely ground than an espresso pod and will brew a cup yielding 3.7 ounces versus an espresso shot, which makes 1.35 ounces of coffee. We brewed it as both an espresso and a lungo to compare the differing strengths of the extractions. Shanghai is described as having moderate intensity, low bitterness, and fruity notes. With that description, the bold, astringent aroma of the coffee was unexpected. As an espresso shot, the first sip starts silky and smooth before the acidity registers and spikes it into a pungent drink that is far from light. When we brewed it as the recommended lungo, we found that the additional water softens the sharpness but also impacts other aspects of the coffee. The body is no longer silky and instead leans watery. It may be a good choice for someone looking for a cup that drinks more like coffee than espresso, but overall, it lacks the balance to rank higher. 8. Corto Nespresso Corto pods on counter - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table Corto is a dark roast, Spanish-inspired coffee blend in the Barista Creations collection. The photo of Corto on the Nespresso site includes a milk bottle, and the tasting notes encourage the pairing, stating that the milk will soften some of the espresso's intensity. No level of acidity is noted, but it does offer the highest roast level possible. Advertisement Advertisement A bitter grassy smell wafts from the freshly brewed espresso, which is not inviting. Tasted black, it is dark and inky, but there are no other remarkable flavor notes that come through. It is a middle-of-the-pack coffee, as it is not overly bitter or sharp but also not weak or watery. Adding the recommended milk was not a transformative experience. While the coffee can hold its own against some dairy richness, the milk enhances the mild acidity while diluting the more appealing, rich coffee flavor notes. Corto is an average choice and is tastier black than lightened with milk. While it would not be hard to drink through a sleeve of it, it is not remarkable enough to become a repeat order. 7. Vaniglia Nespresso Vaniglia box and two pods - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table Vaniglia is a best-selling Barista Creation coffee infused with vanilla flavor. Nespresso recommends brewing this medium roast coffee as a lungo or pairing it with steamed or frothed milk like a cappuccino or latte macchiato. We sampled it black to discern the undiluted taste of the coffee and then sampled it with steamed milk. The first flavor you detect from the hot, fresh coffee is vanilla. This is mild, though, as the coffee flavor dominates over it. The vanilla in this variety tastes similar to caramelized butterscotch, but it is not a heavy artificial taste, which is appreciated. The vanilla gets lost in the steamed milk and becomes hard to detect. On its own, it's a smooth, easy-to-drink, lightly-flavored coffee, but the subtle vanilla flavor falls short as a composed drink and would not satisfy a craving for a vanilla-infused drink from a big chain coffee shop. The pros and cons land this variety in the middle of the pack. 6. Paris Espresso Box and pods of Nespresso Paris Espresso - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table The most stunningly designed pod in this ranking, Paris Espresso, is chic, modern, and eye-catching. The intent, as part of the World Explorations collection, is for your coffee cup to transport you to France. However, the confusing description of the coffee stands in sharp contrast to the colorful pods. The website notes that it uses lightly roasted beans and that flavor note labels range from fruit to baked goods -- but it gives it a high intensity rating. It is hard to know if the coffee will be heavy or mild and what tastes will come through the beans, as some of these descriptors listed seem at odds with each other. Advertisement Advertisement The flavor starts out soft and builds in intensity as you drink it. It skews more bitter than sharp, and the bitterness stays on your tastebuds longer before fading. While the flavor notes did not seem particularly accurate (as there was no fruit or cookie to speak of), Paris Espresso is easy to drink and improves with each subsequent sip as the different tastes layer on top of each other. This espresso, which was worth reordering for both the taste and look of the pods, nudged ahead of others in the rankings to grab a solid spot. 5. Palermo Kazaar Three pods of Nespresso Palermo Kazaar - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table Palermo Kazaar is not for the faint of heart or someone with weak tastebuds. Nespresso gives this a 12 for intensity, and it is easy to understand why. The freshly brewed espresso is very bold and evokes deep, dark flavors and elements like black licorice and wet soil. You know it will be strong before even trying it. The first taste will shoot your eyebrows straight up as the flavor fills your mouth and does not relent. The dark roast is the main taste of the coffee and is too encompassing for more subtle notes to poke through. Despite the intensity, the beverage is very smooth and inviting. Truly, this brew will put a pep in anyone's step and is an ideal choice for someone who likes a very dark coffee. The formidable strength is both a pro and a con, depending on what someone can handle, but Palermo Kazaar crept up in the ranking because it is true to the description of the coffee and, ultimately, makes for a delicious cup. 4. Stockholm Fortissio Lungo Nespresso Stockholm Lungo pods - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table Stockholm Fortissio Lungo is a part of the World Explorations collection and a nod to Sweden. The dark roast is best brewed as a lungo and consists only of Arabica beans rather than a blend. Nespresso suggests skipping adding any cream or milk and instead drinking this variety black. Advertisement Advertisement There is a bready and toasty aroma from the coffee that aligns with the malt reference in the tasting notes. It is the same, whether brewed as an espresso or lungo, but the lungo is dialed back a few notches in intensity and offers a lighter scent. The same goes for the taste. Stockholm is very smooth on the palate but still carries a hefty dose of bitterness. The lungo extraction softens the bitterness and allows some of the wheaty flavors to break through. Both experiences are delicious, full-flavored, and similar to one another. The taste and versatility of this variety gave Stockholm one of our top spots. 3. Nocciola Nespresso Nocciola box and pods - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table This hazelnut-flavored coffee is part of the Barista Creations line. Nespresso recommends brewing Nocciola as a lungo or enjoying it as part of a cappuccino or latte. We tasted it black and with steamed milk to experience both. The coffee itself is a medium roast and at the mid-range for body, acidity, and bitterness. This coffee smells like freshly toasted, buttery hazelnuts. A quick peek at the ingredients and allergens shows that the coffee contains artificial hazelnut flavors, yet the smell is very pure and reminiscent of real nuts. The hazelnut is upfront when we tasted it black before softening into a dark roast coffee. Hazelnut and coffee, in general, work so well together, and this pod is a perfect example of how to successfully marry the two. The flavor starts and ends with hazelnut, with smooth coffee popping into the middle. Adding milk enhances the nutty flavor and brings the hazelnut forward, but also reduces some of the potency of the coffee. Flavored coffee isn't everyone's cup of tea -- or joe -- but this variety delivers on exactly what it sets out to do, and for that, it ranks highly on our list. 2. Ristretto Italiano Box and pods of Nespresso Ristretto Italiano - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table It is easy to understand why this coffee is a best-seller. Ristretto Italiano has a well-rounded, classic taste that is super easy to drink. Based on the description alone from Nespresso, which notes that the coffee has medium to high ratings on the bitterness, acidity, body, and roast level indicators, you might expect a heavy, over-roasted coffee. But it goes to show that sometimes a coffee is more about how all the elements work together than just each individual aspect. Advertisement Advertisement This coffee has a toasty, slightly earthy aroma without any unexpected undertones. Some bitterness hits with each sip and lingers, but it does not dominate the palate. The coffee almost tastes like fresh dirt but in a good way that suggests vibrancy and depth rather than murkiness. It drinks smoothly, and while not thick, it is not watery. It is still a strong coffee, but it is the best option for a dark roast that straddles the line between just enough and too much. 1. Napoli Three pods of Nespresso Napoli coffee - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table The most intense coffee in this tasting, Napoli, is rated 13 out of 13 by Nespresso on its intensity scale. The dark roast has high bitterness but is very low in acidity. You know something strong is coming by just the first whiff. There is a deep chocolaty aroma mingled with the java that is very inviting. This espresso is thick, and each sip coats your entire mouth with its smooth, velvety texture. It's like a cup of European-style hot chocolate, except it's not sweet or milky. Despite the high bitterness indicated in the tasting notes, it is not overwhelming at all. The silky texture tricks the tastebuds into thinking the espresso is milder than it is. This makes the beverage easier to drink, despite its potency. It is a delicious, dark, well-balanced coffee that is a pleasure to sip on without any added sugar or milk, and ultimately, that is why it grabbed the top spot in the ranking. Our Methodology Nespresso coffee brewing into a mug alongside boxes of pods - Melissa Gaman/Tasting Table I selected some of the best-selling pods on the Nespresso website to test and also added others from different categories to create a balanced sampling of coffees with different intensity levels and tasting notes. The ranking was determined by the overall taste and aroma of the coffee, in addition to how well it matched the description. Advertisement Advertisement I tried the coffees over two days to avoid palate fatigue and caffeine overload. Before tasting any of the coffees, I cleaned my Nespresso machine, which uses the original pods, and reviewed tips for making the coffee taste its best. Each pod was tasted black within a few minutes of brewing, and if it was recommended by Nespresso, I also tested it with steamed milk. I did my best to judge each variety on its own merit rather than letting my preferences get in the way. My ability to do so stems from my long and varied history as a coffee drinker. I developed a taste for coffee over 25 years ago during a brief love affair with instant hazelnut-flavored coffee. In the years since, my love of all things java has expanded, and I have enjoyed everything from inexpensive New York City street cart cups to pour-over single-origin coffee. At home, I have used a French press, drip coffee machine, moka pot, pour-over set-up, and, of course, a Nespresso machine. Other Pods To Consider Nespresso pods next to demitasse cup of brewed espresso on wooden table - 4fr/Getty Images Of course, the pods covered above don't come close to representing Nespresso's full lineup, which is worth doing your own research on if you want to become really well-versed in the company's offerings. It's worth noting that we only covered pods from Nespresso's original line; depending on which Nespresso machine you want (or have), you may have a whole other pool of pods to choose from. If the Vaniglia or Nocciola flavors discussed above piqued your interest, you may want to check out the company's whole lineup of Barista Creations pods, which are available in both original and Vertuo pod models. Moreover, keep a regular eye on the company's pod pages -- it regularly adds limited flavors to its roster, like 2025's summer Barista Creations releases, which feature pistachio vanilla and coconut vanilla flavors. We find that limited flavors are often some of the most underrated Nespresso pods, perhaps because they just don't stick around enough to get all the acclaim they deserve. Advertisement Advertisement Budding and seasoned coffee enthusiasts would likely also enjoy Nespresso's array of single-origin coffees. These pods (which are also available in both original and Vertuo models) provide a good jumping-off point for those looking to dive further into the vast, intriguing world of single origin coffee. Lastly, if the top choice on this list (Napoli) sounds appealing to you, you may be better suited by exploring Nespresso's various dark roast offerings. These are perfect for lovers of strong coffee, or those who insist on adding a plethora of cream to their morning brew. Read the original article on Tasting Table. From budget-friendly tavernas to dirt-cheap souvlaki joints where some of the tastiest meat youll ever eat is wrapped in greaseproof paper, Athens is a city where you can eat well without spending a fortune (although some of the newest, hottest restaurant openings in Athens do have ambitious pricing). Locals eat late and never alone; they linger for hours over tiny tables heaped with mezze. Eating out is as much about sharing dishes, clinking glasses and people-watching as it is about seasonal ingredients served with minimal fuss. As Athens absorbs more multi-cultural communities, the food scene is becoming more exciting youll find Thai noodles, Middle Eastern flatbreads and Japanese ramen, as well as the ultimate Greek salad. All our recommendations below have been hand selected and tested by our resident destination expert to help you discover the best restaurants in Athens. Find out more below, or for further Athens inspiration, see our guides to the citys best hotels, nightlife and things to do. Find a restaurant by type: Best all-rounders Pharaoh Theres an undeniable buzz at this influential game-changer on the Athens dining scene. The location on a dark and seedy Exarchia backstreet is daring; the decor is original and unexpected: a raw concrete and zinc bar, neon strip lights on exposed stone walls, stacks of firewood among the wall of vinyl. Chef Manolis Papoutsakis wood-fired Cretan cuisine prepared in an open kitchen that does not use any electricity or gas is both hearty and accomplished. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The simplest dishes are the standouts: roasted greens with a blob of white anthotyro cheese, whipped tarama with shavings of bottarga, sweet-and-sour chestnut stifado. And the grand finale: galaktoboureko, Greeces version of the custard tart. Served warm, its a wobbly, syrupy delight. Pharaoh doesnt quite know whether its a bar or a restaurant (the acoustics arent great and the fun, genre-bending records, selected by a DJ behind the bar, can sometimes drown out conversation). But as the night wears on, and more natural wines and expertly poured cocktails are downed, it feels like youre at the coolest house party in town. Area: Exarchia Website: pharaoh.gr Prices: Reservations: Essential; book well in advance Wood-fired Cretan cuisine meets vinyl and natural wine at Pharaoh, the coolest spot in town Manari Though the menu and music are emphatically, traditionally Greek, the atmosphere at this carnivorous joint is cosmopolitan and contemporary. Well-versed, charming wait staff glide between the tables set with simple white tablecloths inside the warmly lit arcade or out on the pretty, cobblestoned square. For a real buzz, there are a dozen seats at the stainless steel counter overlooking the open fire grill, where liver, lamb chops and giant steaks are sizzled to smoky perfection. The short wine list is full of affordable surprises and the generous sharing plates are honestly priced. Although ethically reared meat is the star at this modern take on a hasapotaverna (butcher-tavern), vegetable dishes are outstanding a simple salad of sliced Cretan tomatoes with purslane and salted olives is as unforgettable as the spaghetti in bone broth. Area: Historic Centre Website: manaritaverna.com Prices: Reservations: Essential, though a few spots at the open kitchen counter are usually reserved for walk-ins Secure a coveted seat at the stainless steel bar looking over Manaris grill Annie Fine Cooking A narrow, warmly lit dining room on a narrow, warmly lit pavement, this neighbourhood restaurant doesnt look especially remarkable. But the short, seasonally inspired menu is bursting with clean, fresh flavours scorpionfish and citrus ceviche, a pretty, precisely dressed arrangement of salad leaves with crumbled cheese from Tinos, ray cheeks sofrito. From the home-baked sourdough with peppery Peloponnesian olive oil to the Cretan cheese served with carob rusk and blueberry preserve, every dish conjures complexity from simple Greek ingredients and techniques. The laser-focused chefs sorting fragrant piles of greens at the open kitchen counter add a lively atmosphere to the evening chatter. Service is polished and well-informed (not a given in Athens, even at high-end restaurants), and wine pairing suggestions are spot on. Prices are a little audacious, but theres no quibbling with the quality of the cooking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Area: Neos Kosmos Contact: anniefinecooking.gr Price: Reservations: Essential Nolan With an idiosyncratic menu that defies culinary borders, this small corner restaurant has been making culinary waves since 2016. The informal atmosphere belies the highly accomplished cooking: seasonal menu highlights might include green beans with sesame, ponzu and horseradish parfait, cod tempura with green apple, fennel and handmade nduja, or glutinous beef cheeks with mushrooms, anchovy mayo and truffle. Its comfort food for well-travelled gourmands, best paired with one of bar manager Poppy Sevastous smooth yet surprising cocktails (like the 50-50 Martini with tsipouro infused with Greek herbs and spices). For dessert, hit up Sweet Nolan next door for pistachio-matcha truffles or a mandarin and bergamot baba au rum. Area: Historic Centre Website: nolanverse.com Prices: Reservations: Essential in the evenings; you might get lucky at lunchtime without a reservation Wander next door to Sweet Nolan for equally as impressive confectionery Phita Nothing beats a long, slow lunch on a sunny Athenian sidewalk. This contemporary Greek bistro in the up-and-coming district of Neos Kosmos, is perfect for weekend lunching and people-watching, especially when the Saturday food market nearby is in full swing. The well-priced daily menu is consistently excellent. Seafood is a strong point crayfish stuffed vine leaves, spaghetti with bottarga, featherlight tarama but there are outstanding vegetarian dishes too, not least the addictive round potato chips. With a conservatory for cooler months and a counter for grazing by the open kitchen, its an equally great spot for a low-key dinner date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Area: Neos Kosmos Contact: instagram.com/phitathens Price: Reservations: Essential Back to index Best for families Raw Bata Everything about this funky fusion restaurant has personality. Specifically, the twinkly, life-affirming personality of chef Polychronis Damalas and his wife Fotini Markoutsa, who keeps a calm but watchful eye on the colourful, glass-fronted dining room (and, in the spring and summer, the tables on the peaceful, tree-lined square). In the open kitchen, Damalas and his small team turn out unconventional dishes brimming with originality and verve. Combining raw seafood and robata grilled meat, the menu improvises surprising seasonal magic from Damalas Greek roots and Japanese restaurant experience. It sounds unlikely, but everything works together beautifully: a crunchy, punchy ceviche of mullet with cucumber, radish and jalapenos, tender lamb meatballs wrapped in slivers of aubergine, and to finish, caramelised apple crumble, all served with a refreshing sense of fun. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Area: Ambelokipi Nearest metro: Panormou Contact: instagram.com/rawbata_athens; 00 30 21 0692 3796 Prices: Reservations: Recommended The dishes at Raw Bata marry unconventional ingredients to delicious effect Ama Lachei The Exarchia neighbourhood is known for its street art and anti-establishment streak. But its also full of glorious neoclassical, Bauhaus, and mid-century architecture. On Kallidromiou, the most handsome street of all, the local school has been turned into a relaxed Mediterranean restaurant. The vine-shaded tables in the former playground are made for late summer nights sharing plate after plate of mezze and carafe after carafe of wine with friends. The food isnt the star here its the laidback ambience and pretty setting. Order lots of little dishes, such as zucchini fritters, bite-sized feta cheese donuts, the excellent chips garnished with oregano, and an interesting selection of Greek cheeses. The classrooms make cosy dining rooms in cooler weather. Area: Exarchia Contact: facebook.com/amalaxeiresto; 00 30 21 0384 5978 Prices: Reservations: Booking essential, especially in the evening Ama Lacheis unique setting and peaceful ambience steal the show To Therapeutirio The pretty Petralona neighbourhood has one of the liveliest food scenes in Athens. Every resident has their favourite local taverna or ouzeri. But Athenians come from far and wide for the perfectly grilled fish, creamiest taramasalata and crunchiest calamari at this old-time taverna. Accompany the catch of the day with a platter of mixed vegetables, simply steamed and dressed in lemon and olive oil. Service is brisk and friendly, portions are generous, and the prices are fair. No wonder this place is packed night and day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Area: Petralona Contact: instagram.com/to_therapeuterio; 00 30 21 0341 2538 Prices: Reservations: Recommended, especially on weekends Back to index Best for cheap eats Feyrouz Whether you stumble upon it or seek it out in the tangled alleys of the historic centre, once youve discovered this street food joint youll keep coming back. Run by an utterly charming family from Antalya, a Turkish city close to Syria, their speciality is lahmacun hand-rolled pita topped with spiced beef, a dollop of yogurt, smoked aubergine and crunchy salad. There are dozens of delicious vegan and vegetarian variations on this stuffed dough theme, along with restorative soups such as beetroot, spinach, apple, orange and ginger. Extra marks for the incredible value, good humoured welcome and evocative soundtrack that reflects the familys Middle Eastern roots. Afterwards, pop across the street to their sweet shop for a kunefe (milk pudding in a kataifi crust just the right ratio of cream and crunch) and a restorative turmeric, verbena and orange tisane served in a dainty tea glass rimmed with sumac. The latest addition to the Feyrouz universe is Sema, a transitional kitchen with a communal table where supper clubs, guest chefs and live music sessions take place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Area: Historic Centre Website: feyrouz.gr Prices: Reservations: Walk-ins only Saita A rare exception to the uninspired, overpriced restaurants that line the touristy alleys of Plaka, this classic koutouki (basement tavern) is a delicious slice of Athenian history. Wooden wine barrels line the cosy downstairs dining room, overlooking a tiny kitchen where cheery chefs whip up Greek classics such as soutzoukakia (meatballs in a cumin-scented tomato sauce), baked aubergines, and wilted greens doused in lemon and olive oil. The tables on the marble-paved street offer a colourful parade of passers-by, where diners are often serenaded by buskers on bouzoukis or a chanting priest in the Byzantine church next door. Area: Plaka Nearest Metro: Syntagma or Acropolis Contact: facebook.com/saitataverna; 00 30 21 0322 6671 Prices: Reservations: Recommended Saita is a standout in Plakas generally underwhelming and overpriced dining offering Lontza tis Geitonias An ideal pitstop for solo dining or a quick bite, this neighbourhood canteen has a loyal following among locals. Everything on the short but perfectly executed menu of traditional Greek comfort food is cooked in the open kitchen. Diners perch on wooden benches inside and out on the pavement, exchanging recipes and pleasantries. Some regulars return several times a week for the meatballs and chips, covered in grated feta, and the balik ekmek, a huge sandwich stuffed with grilled bream, lettuce, spring onions and estragon mayo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are a few daily specials too: usually pies, soups, or stews inspired by the home cooking of Greek grandmas. Prices are reasonable, portions are generous, the quality consistent. From the woodstove in the corner to the friendly staff always willing to chat, theres a homespun honesty to the place that is wholly endearing. You can taste the warmth and passion in every bite. Area: Exarchia Contact: facebook.com/lontza.tis.geitonias; 00 30 21 0361 2334 Prices: Reservations: Walk-ins only, takeaway also available Lontza serves hearty classics inspired by Greek home-cooking Lefteris O Politis Trendy pretenders have tried to jazz up the souvlaki, but its the traditional barbecue joints that have perfected this humble, hugely satisfying snack. Its worth venturing into the grubby backstreets around Omonia Square for the juicy beef patties in pitta bread that Lefteris o Politis (literally, Lefteris from Istanbul) has been grilling and filling since 1951. You dont come here for the basic decor. And you wont find pork or chicken skewers, tzatziki or chips (only thinly sliced tomato, onion, parsley and a dousing of red-hot pepper that gives these babies a kick). You dont mess with the best. Area: Omonia Nearest Metro: Omonia Contact: facebook.com/lefterisopolitis; 00 30 210 522 5676 Prices: Reservations: Walk-ins only Lefteris has been grilling and filling arguably the citys best souvlaki since 1951 Ouzeri Lesvos With a jukebox in one corner and a piano in another, this old-time ouzeri has nourished Exarchias residents with good food and good vibes for over sixty years. Lesvos, a large isand in the northeastern Aegean, is the capital of ouzo; here, youll find dozens of ouzo varieties to accompany an assortment of meze grilled sardines, cured anchovies, stewed cuttlefish, red mullet piled with tomatoes and parsley, as well as fried slivers of aubergine and courgette to dunk in the definitive tzatziki. Go with a crowd so you can share as many dishes as you can fit onto the little table. A local institution that never loses its lustre. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Area: Exarchia Contact: instagram.com/ouzeri_lesvos; 00 30 21 0381 4525 Prices: Reservations: Recommended Back to index Best for fine dining Vezene Ari Vezenes insatiable appetite for the good things in life has powered some of the most influential restaurants in Athens over the last fifteen years starting right here at this modern Greek restaurant that deserves a Michelin star. This smoothly-run establishment was the pioneer of the Greek bistronomy movement that has since become so fashionable. Ethically reared meat, sustainable seafood and prime seasonal greens form the basis of gutsy yet delicate dishes designed to be shared. Served raw or wood-fired in the Josper oven, each dish presents a wholly original take on familiar Greek ingredients: burnt cabbage dolmades with lemon confit, a deconstructed pastitsio with dry-aged beef tartare and potato espuma, clams fricasseed in Assyrtiko wine. Prices are steep, but the quality of the food, service and wine are unimpeachable. Be sure to order a pre-dinner cocktail, but beware of Aris Deal Closer an ode to over-indulgence and his upbringing in American diners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Area: Ilissia Website: vezene.gr Prices: Reservations: Essential on weekends; you might get lucky midweek. Each dish at Vezene is a gutsy and original employment of classic Greek ingredients Makris Athens For fine dining with Acropolis views, one Michelin star Makris is the place to pick. The small, softly lit roof terrace is an oasis in the touristy clamour of Monastiraki; but the illuminated Parthenon overhead does not distract from the playful, delicate dishes presented by an unfailingly charming and well-versed team. Choose from three strictly seasonal set menus (including a vegan option), which can be paired with wines, zero-waste cocktails, or botanical infusions. Vegetables are the highlight, all harvested from chef patron Petros Dimas organic farm near Corinth. Theres wit and originality in every finely tuned dish from the selection of thirty different olive oils poured into a nest of olive leaves, to the red mullet ganished with a fish skeleton fashioned from celeriac and cuttlefish ink, and the chocolate and kumquat mignardises disguised as a chess board. Area: Monastiraki Website: makrisathens.com Prices: Reservations: Essential Choose from three strictly seasonal set menus lined up with dishes that will charm Papadakis In Athens, some of the best seafood isnt by the seaside. This upscale local institution draws the cigar-chomping denizens of Kolonaki for business lunches, but the intimate, art-filled space is just right for date night or a family treat too. Chef Argyro Barbarigou sources many of her ideas and ingredients from her native island of Paros like her slow-cooked chickpeas served with taramasalata or smooth fish soup that slips down as easily as her spicy prawn linguine. For dessert, try Barbarigous Greek spin on millefeuille, flaky pastry layered with yogurt, honey and walnuts. Area: Kolonaki Website: papadakisrestaurant.com Prices: Reservations: Recommended Back to index Best for walk-ins The Black Salami Excellent artisan bakeries (including Kora, Tromero Paidi, 72H) have popped up all over Athens recently. But none has such a cult following as this punk rock corner spot in the heart of Exarchia. Stuffed flatbread pies and sourdough sandwiches piled high with pastrami, pulled pork, brisket, or roast veg are big enough for two, and come loaded with house made relishes, mayo and pickles. The extravagant egg combos from oozing eggs Florentine to Greek strapatsada, scrambled with feta and tomato are phenomenal, even though youll have to wolf them out of a take-out box standing on the kerb. Everything sells out by early afternoon. If you miss out, the Black Salami bakers have opened a serious sourdough pizza joint, Valtezziana 2.0, a couple of blocks away. Area: Exarchia Website: theblacksalami.com Prices: Reservations: Be prepared to queue at peak times Tuk Tuk In the last few years, Koukaki has morphed from a working-class, inner-city neighbourhood into a trendy area rife with Airbnb apartments and wine bars. But youll find more adventurous locals than backpackers queuing outside this colourfully kitsch hole-in-the-wall, decked out like a Bangkok market stall with paper lanterns, B-movie posters and cocktail parasols. Owner Babis Askeridis and his team of Thai chefs turn out authentically fiery curries, sweet and sour soups and stir fries in the open kitchen behind the counter. The crispy pork dumplings and pad Thai are especially addictive; but always ask about the daily specials. Area: Koukaki Website: tuktukthaifood.net Prices: Reservations: Walk-ins only; be prepared for a wait In Tuk Tuks colourfully kitsch setting, enjoy fiery, authentic Thai cooking Margaro On Sunday afternoons, Athenians migrate to the port of Piraeus for lunch. The locals skip the expensive restaurants clustered around Mikrolimano marina and hit the backstreets of the Hatzikyriakeio neighbourhood for more authentic, affordable seafood. Theres no view at Margaro, a typical, paper-tablecloth taverna tucked away beside the Naval Academy. And theres no menu either. All you get is shallow-fried red mullet, sea bream, shrimps and langoustines, accompanied by the quintessential Greek salad made with Cretan tomatoes, feta cheese from Argos and soft white bread to dip in the extra virgin olive oil. Its the essence of Greece on a plain white plate. Area: Piraeus Website: margaro-restaurant.com Prices: Reservations: Walk-ins only Back to index Best for views Bungalow 7 Like its seaside setting in the moneyed suburb of Glyfada, Bungalow 7 is unabashedly bling-bling. A series of highly staged, well-lit seating areas open onto a beachfront deck thats almost indecently pretty especially at sunset. Chef Ntinos Fotinakis, an established culinary star in Greece, has designed a menu of Med-Asian comfort food to please every Athenian power couple, Russian exile and globe-trotting expat. They all come together for the weekend brunch scene, fuelled by flawless Bellinis and Bloody Marys. King crab Caesar salad, Dubai-style sushi, tataki, tacos and steaks galore can also be served by the pool a good place to escape the helter-skelter of Athens city centre on a sweltering summer afternoon. Area: Glyfada Website: bungalow7.gr Prices: Reservations: Advised, especially for the weekend brunch Bungalow 7 is unashamedly elevated, with each table offering stunning views across the water Panorama While tourists throng the pricey waterfront restaurants along Mikrolimano marina, the locals head up to Kastella hill for Sunday lunch with sky-wide vistas all the way across the outstretched city to the Argo-Saronic isles. With a skinny balcony and glass-fronted dining room dangling high above the sea, Panorama doesnt just trade on its setting. Family-run since the 1950s, this seafood specialist has diehard devotees who come for the silken fish soup, steamed prawns with mustard and caper sauce, and simply grilled, strictly seasonal fish. Area: Kastella, Piraeus Website: panorama-seafood.gr Prices: Reservations: Essential on weekends Back to index How we choose Every restaurant in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert, who has visited to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets, from neighbourhood favourites to Michelin-starred restaurants to best suit every type of travellers taste and consider the food, service, best tables, atmosphere and price in our recommendations. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest opening and provide up to date recommendations. Back to index About our expert Rachel Howard I have lived in Athens on and off since I was six, but this chaotic, historic city still gives me a thrill. Favourite Athenian pastimes include: iced coffee overlooking sun-dappled ruins, fried whitebait by the seaside and late nights in squares that smell of jasmine and cigarettes. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The Supreme Court is being asked to hear a case that seeks to undo the 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges decision, which allowed same-sex couples to get married. This challenge of Obergefell, the first since 2015, comes from Kim Davis, a former Kentucky county clerk who was jailed in 2015 after being held in contempt for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Davis, who refused to file the marriage licenses due to her religious beliefs, is appealing a damages verdict against her: a $100,000 jury verdict for emotional damages plus $260,000 for attorneys fees. Now she is taking her case to the Supreme Court on the grounds that Obergefell was wrongly decided and infringes on her First Amendment rights. This is not the first time Davis has attempted to overturn the damages against her. In 2019, she petitioned the Supreme Court to dismiss the lawsuit, but the court declined to hear her case. More recently, in 2025, a panel of judges from the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals also rejected her claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daviss challenge is concerning to LGBTQ advocates, as overturning Obergefell could undo the legal right to same-sex marriage. That 2015 ruling stated that same-sex couples must be allowed to marry and that all states must recognize those marriages. At the time, Daviss court battle was a direct challenge to Obergefell but the ruling held. But now Liberty Counsel, the conservative group representing Davis, is asking the Supreme Court to overturn both the Sixth Circuit decision and the Supreme Courts initial decision in Obergefell. Mat Staver, Liberty Counsels founder and chair, stated that Daviss case underscores why the U.S. Supreme Court should overturn the wrongly decided Obergefell v. Hodges opinion, because it threatens the religious liberty of Americans who believe that marriage is a sacred union between one man and one woman. Could same-sex marriage really be overturned? What would that mean? Supporters of same-sex marriage rejoice outside the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on June 26, 2015, after the high court ruled that same-sex couples have the right to marry in all 50 states. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) The new makeup of the Supreme Court could favor Davis. Since 2015, the Supreme Court has become more conservative, with three justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett appointed by President Trump during his first term. While this does not necessarily mean the conservative majority would rule in Daviss favor, should the court choose to take her case, the latest request sounded alarm bells for many LGBTQ advocates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And there is recent precedent for overturning previously decided court cases. For example, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, ending federal protection for abortion rights after nearly 50 years. In his concurring opinion of the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson decision, which overturned Roe, Justice Clarence Thomas stated that the court should reconsider Obergefell and other cases related to rights based on the Constitutions due process clause. Should Obergefell be overturned, 32 states have laws on the books that would ban same-sex marriage though, thanks to a 2022 federal law, they would still have to recognize unions that were already legally performed. Then-President Joe Biden signed the Respect for Marriage Act, which overturned the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act and ensured federal recognition of same-sex and interracial marriages. However, the law does not force states to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Karl Schneider is the former Vice Chair of the El Paso County Republican Party, a retired U.S. Army Special Forces officer and civic leader based in Colorado Springs. The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning has awarded 15 Community Impact Grants to organizations across Georgia to tackle issues such as child care, literacy, and food insecurity. These grants, funded by Georgias Child Care and Development Fund, will be distributed over two years and are categorized into 2Gen Innovation Grants for Student Parent Success, 2Gen Community Literacy Grants, and Community Transformation Grants. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] We congratulate these grantees and thank them for developing thoughtful and creative initiatives that address critical local needs, said DECAL Commissioner Amy M. Jacobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2Gen Innovation Grants for Student Parent Success, awarded to five organizations, aim to enhance childrens access to high-quality early education while improving parents job prospects. Recipients include APEC Learning Center and Columbus Technical College. TRENDING STORIES: Four organizations received 2Gen Community Literacy Grants, which focus on improving literacy skills across generations. Six communities were awarded Community Transformation Grants to address local early childhood challenges through cross-sector collaboration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through these grants, DECAL said it is fostering partnerships that aim to improve outcomes for young children and families across Georgia. The $75,000 2Gen Innovation Grants for Student Parent Success funds were awarded to the following organizations: APEC Learning Center Columbus Technical College Dalton Public Schools Kennesaw State University Research and Service Foundation Lowndes/Valdosta Commission for Children & Youth The $75,000 2Gen Community Literacy Grants were awarded to: Coastal Plain Area Economic Opportunity Authority Dalton Public Schools International Rescue Committee Atlanta Scottdale Early Learning Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The $125,000 Community Transformation Grants were awarded to: Black Child Development Institute-Atlanta Brooks County Board of Commissioners Bulloch County Schools Cook County Family Connection Georgia State University Quality Care for Children In total, about $1.3 million was awarded by DECAL to the various organizations. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Russian forces launched over 1,000 aerial bombs and 1,400 strike drones against Ukraine over the past week, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Aug. 11, only a few days before an expected U.S.-Russia summit. U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Aug. 15 for their first in-person meeting since Trump's return to office, as Washington aims to broker an end to the war in Ukraine. "Another week has ended without any attempt by Russia to agree to the numerous demands of the world and stop the killings, Zelensky wrote on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Ukrainian president, Moscow also maintains pressure along the front, with 209 Russian soldiers "eliminated" by Ukraine's 32nd Brigade in the Pokrovsk sector alone. "We are defending the lives of our people and strengthening our air defenses," Zelensky added. "This is what the situation in the war looks like. And the situation in diplomacy must correspond accordingly." Russian attacks against Ukraine killed at least seven people and injured close to 50 in the past 24 hours, regional authorities reported in the morning of Aug. 11. Accusing Moscow of dragging out its war against Ukraine, Zelensky stressed that Russia cannot be rewarded for its aggression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Concessions do not persuade a killer. But truly strong protection of life stops the killers," the president added. Moscow has consistently rejected a U.S. proposal for an unconditional ceasefire backed by Kyiv and European countries, intensifying drone and missile attacks against Ukraine throughout the summer. Another week has ended without any attempt by Russia to agree to the numerous demands of the world and stop the killings. In just the past 24 hours on the front, there have been 137 combat engagements, and this is the case every day. The Russian army is not reducing its pressure. pic.twitter.com/FcpEOTiIXW Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) August 11, 2025 After months of deadlock, peace efforts seemingly gained fresh momentum last week after U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin in Moscow on Aug. 6. Trump subsequently announced a summit with Putin and reportedly told Ukraine and European leaders that the Kremlin is open to negotiations if "land swaps" are part of the deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though it remains unclear what such a deal would entail, a source in Ukraine's Presidential Office told the Kyiv Independent that Moscow seeks Kyiv's full withdrawal from partially occupied Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in the east while offering to withdraw its forces from the limited areas it holds in the northeastern Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts. Zelensky's participation in the upcoming summit also remains uncertain, fueling concerns in Ukraine and Europe that Washington and Moscow could sideline them from the peace process. Publicly, Putin has demanded a ban on Ukraine's NATO membership and a full Ukrainian withdrawal from partially occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts as a precondition for peace talks. Moscow has reiterated these demands during recent negotiations with Ukraine in Istanbul. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In turn, Zelensky has rejected ceding territory to Russia and urged a ceasefire as the first step toward peace talks, a position backed by Kyiv's European partners. Read also: Its not gonna make anybody super happy JD Vance praises Trump as peacemaker while admitting Russia-Ukraine deal may fail Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. More than 1,600 illegal migrants on Long Island with past convictions including MS-13 members, murderers and international fugitives have been taken into custody by ICE since the start of the year, according to the feds. The hoards of criminals swept up as part of ramped-up enforcement under President Trump all have prior convictions, with some presumably already deported and others still in custody waiting to get the boot, said officials aided in their efforts by both Nassau and Suffolk county authorities. Since Jan. 20, ICE has significantly increased its immigration enforcement activities with additional support from other federal as well as local law enforcement agencies, the agency told The Post about its operations on Long Island. According to the feds, over 1,600 illegal migrants on Long Island, murderers and international fugitives have been taken into custody by ICE since the beginning of 2025. ZUMAPRESS.com We have especially welcomed our ongoing collaboration with law enforcement officials in Nassau County, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman had struck a deal in February that set aside 50 county jail cells for immigration detainees, a move that has so far funneled more than 1,400 immigrants picked up from all over the New York City area through the facility in just months. Blakeman also signed an agreement with the feds to deputize 10 local detectives into ICE to help arrest and jail immigrants without legal status. ICE law enforcement, along with our partners, are doing what Sanctuary politicians refuse to do protect the American people, the agency said, denouncing the liberal policy of refusing to allow cops to coordinate with immigration agents. The agency cited a list of who it considers the worst of the worst that it has picked up in both counties since the start of the year, including the notorious gang members, killers and sought global suspects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But ICE would not say how many of the 1,600 people rounded up had serious versus low-level prior offenses or how many others without criminal records have also been taken into custody a category that includes a Port Washington bagel shop manager and a Suffolk County Community College student in recent months. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman signed an agreement with the feds to deputize 10 local detectives into ICE to help arrest and jail illegal immigrants. Getty Images ICE would not say how many of the 1,600 people rounded up had serious versus low-level prior offenses. Getty Images ICE is going after criminals first, Blakeman said Thursday. Yes, when they go after criminals, there could be other people who are caught up. But what I do know is, theyre not raiding schools, and theyre not raiding churches. Nassau County Legislator Seth Koslow, a Democrat running against Blakeman for county executive in November, has called for the incumbent to limit cooperation with ICE to cases involving violent crimes and not to use county resources to target immigrants without serious convictions. If elected, Koslow would apparently likely end Nassaus current partnership with the agency. ICE is going after criminals first, Blakeman said. Yes, when they go after criminals, there could be other people who are caught up. But what I do know is, theyre not raiding schools, and theyre not raiding churches. AFP via Getty Images I believe Nassau Countys resources should only be used to assist ICE in removing violent criminals who threaten our neighborhoods, not to go after hardworking, taxpaying residents who are contributing to our community, Koslow said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suffolk officials, on the other hand, have recently distanced themselves from cooperating with ICE in part because of a $60 million court ruling earlier this year tied to the sheriff departments past work with the agency. Still, federal agents continue to find a foothold in the county. In Islip, a taxpayer-funded gun range is being used to train ICE agents under a quiet Department of Homeland Security deal, and in Brentwood, a local firehouse parking lot was taken over by ICE as a makeshift base of operations. Suffolk County officials have recently distanced themselves from cooperating with ICE in part due to a $60 million court ruling tied to the sheriff departments past work with the agency. Getty Images ICE also is still getting help from both counties through whats known as immigration detainers a request for local officials to tip the agency off when specific people in custody are about to be released. Sheriffs in Nassau and Suffolk both said they give ICE advanced notice, letting agents wait outside the jail to make an arrest the moment someone theyre targeting walks out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Between January and June, ICE issued 635 detainers on Long Island 341 in Nassau and 294 in Suffolk mostly for men from Central and South America in their late 30s who, according to UC Berkeleys Deportation Data Project, werent charged with serious crimes. Detainers dont require review by a court or judge, and local law enforcement isnt legally obligated to respond. ICE did not confirm the research groups numbers. ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) A state trooper is in the hospital with life-threatening injuries after he was hit by a car on I-26 early Sunday morning. Investigators with the Lexington County Sheriffs Department (LCSD) said the crash occurred around 2 a.m. at mile marker 166. The Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office requested that the LCSD investigate the crash, according to Captain Adam Myrick. Deputies arrested Anthony Aydlette, of Hanhan, in connection to the crash. The 45-year-old was charged with driving with a suspended license. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aydlette, officials said, is being held at the Orangeburg County Detention Center. The investigation is ongoing at this time. Stay up to date with 7NEWS on the air and online as more information is made available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. An explosion occurred at Clairton Coke Works near Pittsburgh. Authorities said that 10 people were injured and two people have died. It's the largest coking plant in the country. An explosion at a steel plant in Western Pennsylvania has left 10 people injured and two people dead, according to the authorities. The explosion occurred at the US Steel Clairton Coke Works plant, located south of Pittsburgh. The facility is the largest coking plant in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matt Brown, the Chief of the Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services, told reporters at a press conference on Monday afternoon that the explosion happened around 10:50 a.m. It is unclear what caused the explosion, which US Steel said occurred at coke oven batteries 13 and 14. Scott Buckiso, an executive at US Steel, repeatedly told reporters that an investigation remains underway. "We don't have any details right now," Buckiso said. "We're just starting that investigation." One of the deceased was initially reported missing, but their body was later found during a search and rescue operation, US Steel said in a statement on Monday at 10 p.m. Eastern Time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Allegheny County Health Department, people living within a mile of the plant should remain indoors, close windows and doors, and set their HVAC systems to recirculate. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro wrote on X that the scene remained active. "Please join Lori and me in praying for the Clairton community," he wrote. Democratic Sen. John Fetterman wrote on X that he had traveled to the plant and that there's an "active search and rescue underway" with "dozens injured" in the blast. "Keeping those injured and all who are impacted in my thoughts right now," Fetterman wrote in a separate post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The explosion isn't the first major incident at the plant. In 2018, a fire on Christmas Eve caused significant damage to the facility, releasing sulfur dioxide for months afterward, and a 2010 explosion injured 20 workers. US Steel said 1,300 people work at the plant every day. Aug 12, 2025: This story was updated to reflect the death of a second person, who was previously reported missing, at the plant. Read the original article on Business Insider [Watch in the player above: What to do if you witness a crash] WESTFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WJW) A 52-year-old woman was killed after a truck in which she was a passenger was sideswiped, causing a fiery crash, according to state troopers. It happened just before noon on Sunday, Aug. 10, along Interstate 71 in Westfield Township, according to a news release from the Ohio State Highway Patrol. Cedar Points Power Tower evacuated after cable fails Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Troopers learned a Chrysler 200 sedan and a Ford F250 pickup truck, which was carrying the woman and hauling a fifth-wheel trailer, were both headed north on I-71 near milepost 206 in the township. The sedan was traveling at a high rate of speed when it sideswiped the pickup truck, causing it to overturn, according to OSHP. The truck became detached from the trailer, went over a bridge overpass and then down an embankment and onto railroad tracks, where it burst into flames and became fully engulfed. A Honda Odyssey minivan also headed north on I-71 at the time was struck by debris from the crash, according to the release. Man accused of shooting his family and then 2 police officers appears in court Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trucks passenger, identified as 52-year-old Tracy Hodgkinson, of Painesville, was ejected from the vehicle. She was flown to an Akron hospital, where she died of her injuries, according to the release. The driver of the pickup truck, a 41-year-old Painesville man, was transported to the same hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to the release. The driver of the sedan, a 19-year-old from Akron, was not injured. The interstate was closed in both directions for an hour-and-a-half. The crash remains under investigation. The Monday release does not state whether charges have been filed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. NEED TO KNOW On Sunday, Aug. 10, an 11-year-old girl was attacked by a mountain lion while in the backyard of a home in Malibu, California According to local news outlet KTLA, it has been alleged that the child was feeding chicken on the property when the animal bit her arm The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department (LASD) stated in a news release obtained by PEOPLE that her "injuries were not considered life-threatening" An 11-year-old girl is recovering after being attacked by a mountain lion in California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At around 5:42 p.m. local time on Sunday, Aug. 10, deputies were called to a home on the 32500 block of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu following reports of an animal attack, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said in a news release obtained by PEOPLE. A child was found in the backyard of the property with a bite on her arm, per the news release. She was treated at the scene by Los Angeles County Fire Department personnel before being taken to the hospital by her parents for further care. Having sustained injuries that "were not considered life-threatening," the girl is expected to make a full recovery, local news outlet KTLA reported. Kathleen Reeder Wildlife Photography/Getty Mountain lion (stock image) Mountain lion (stock image) It has been alleged that the child was feeding chickens outside moments before the incident took place, according to KTLA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies located the mountain lion and contained it until the California Department of Fish and Game arrived at the scene, per the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department news release. The animal was eventually shot and killed, KTLA reported. The identity of the mountain lion was confirmed after officials took DNA samples from the child and tested them against the animal. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Monday, Aug. 11. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Dianne Gralnick/Getty Malibu sign (stock image) Malibu sign (stock image) The attack comes almost a year after a 5-year-old boy was attacked by a mountain lion while having a picnic with his family at Malibu Creek State Park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The children were playing in the immediate vicinity of the familys picnic table when a mountain lion attacked a 5-year-old boy, causing significant but non-life-threatening injuries," the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said in a statement at the time. https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf The animal was seen as "a threat to public safety," resulting in a ranger using a firearm to euthanize the mountain lion. The child was then airlifted to Northridge Hospital Medical Center before being discharged early Monday, Sept. 2. Read the original article on People Floodwaters that devastated Central Texas in early July revealed a remarkable find: dinosaur footprints dating back 115 million years in Northwest Travis Countys Big Sandy Creek area. The July 4 catastrophic floods, which claimed over 130 lives, including 36 children at Camp Mystic in Kerr County, uncovered the tracks by clearing away debris. Travis County Judge Andy Brown, the countys chief executive, shared the news during an August 5 Commissioners Court meeting, noting that the Travis County Fire Marshals Office had marked the site. The discovery, announced by county officials, was made over the weekend by volunteers on private property, with the exact location undisclosed at the owners request. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement University of Texas paleontologist Matthew Brown confirmed that at least 15 footprints, each measuring 18 to 20 inches long, belong to meat-eating dinosaurs resembling the Acrocanthosaurus, a 35-foot-long bipedal carnivore. Nearby tracks may belong to a Paluxysaurus, Texas official state dinosaur, a large herbivorous sauropod. The prints, embedded in the 110- to 115-million-year-old Glen Rose Formation limestone, were exposed after floods swept away sediment and debris. The tracks that are unambiguously dinosaurs were left by meat-eating dinosaurs similar to an Acrocanthosaurus, a roughly 35-foot-long bipedal carnivore, Brown told CNN. He noted that such discoveries are not uncommon in Central Texas, adding, per ABC News, Often people dont realize that it is possible to find them in their own backyards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brown and UT Austin paleontologist Kenneth Bader visited the site to assess the tracks and advise on their protection during ongoing flood cleanup. Weve been talking with the environmental monitoring company too about sensitive locations that theyve gotten from the state and what to watch out for basically, to make sure that theyre not rolling heavy equipment across the trackways, Brown said, per Austin American-Statesman. He added that his team plans to return soon to document the tracks with maps and 3D imaging to determine if multiple dinosaurs traveled together or individually. Its easy to forget when youre looking at a bone on a shelf that this was an animal that was walking around, that was interacting with other animals, that had its own life story, Brown continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The discovery does not affect ongoing cleanup efforts, officials said. Central Texas residents are encouraged to report any additional tracks to the University of Texas paleontology department. Such finds are not rare in the region, with Dinosaur Valley State Park, less than three hours north of Austin, known for well-preserved tracks, and a recent Alamosaurus fossil discovery in Big Bend National Park. 1.Today, we all know that an asteroid killed/started the extinction of the dinosaurs. The theory was first proposed in 1980 by Nobel prize laureate physicist Luis Alvarez and his geologist son Walter. They suggested that a massive asteroid impact about 66 million years ago caused sudden climate changes that wiped out most dinosaur species. Evidence for this came from a worldwide layer of iridium, a rare metal often found in asteroids. This theory was not widely embraced by the scientific community. However, in the early 1990s, scientists confirmed the theory when they discovered the Chicxulub crater in Mexico, which matched the timing of the extinction. Roger Ressmeyer / Corbis/VCG via Getty Images Above is a photo of Luis and Walter Alvarez with a sample of the iridium layer deposit in 1985. 2.The Terracotta Army were only discovered a little over 50 years ago! In 1974, farmers were digging a well near Xi'an, China, when they dug up fragments of human-sized clay figures. The life-sized statues had been buried for over 2,000 years, guarding the tomb of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang. Historical records mentioned the emperor's tomb, but there was no known record of the vast army itself. The discovery revealed thousands of soldiers, horses, and chariots, each with unique details. The Terracotta Warriors are just part of a much larger tomb complex that spans across a 22-square-mile area. Tim Graham / Tim Graham/Getty Images 3.For centuries, many scientists dismissed the idea that rocks could just fall from the sky, despite the fact that documentation of the phenomenon went back further than the Romans. That changed in 1803, when thousands of meteorite fragments fell near the town of L'Aigle in Normandy, France. The event was carefully studied by French scientist Jean-Baptiste Biot, who confirmed they were from space. His report convinced the scientific community that meteorites were real. From then on, meteorites were accepted as a natural phenomenon. LOU BENOIST / AFP via Getty Images 4.For a long time, explorers and Western scientists believed gorillas were just a myth or a legend (like Bigfoot). Stories from local African tribes mentioned large, ape-like creatures with super strength, but there was no evidence. In 1847, American missionary Thomas Savage and anatomist Jeffries Wyman traveled to Africa, where they discovered a large skull that fit no other known primate. They named the discovery "gorilla." This discovery confirmed that gorillas were real animals. But it wasn't until 1902 that Captain Robert von Beringe hunted down two gorillas and brought them back as proof. Alan Tunnicliffe Photography / Getty Images Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 5.Pompeii was rediscovered in the 1700s, but the discovery was linked to the nearby city of Herculaneum, which was also buried by the same eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. It started in 1709, when a worker digging a well in Herculaneum discovered the first pieces of artifacts. But it wasn't until 1738, when the Neapolitan King Charles VII sent a team to Herculaneum to unearth more artifacts for him to decorate his palace with, that a discovery of the buried city was made. This find sparked interest in the other ancient cities that might be buried under volcanic ash. A few years later, in 1748, Roque Joaquin de Alcubierre, who led the excavation of Herculaneum, began the excavation of Pompeii. Balate Dorin / Getty Images/iStockphoto 6.Alfred Wegener first proposed the idea of a supercontinent called Pangea in 1912. He suggested that all the continents were once joined together and later drifted apart. However, many scientists didn't accept this idea at the time because Wegener couldn't explain how the continents moved. It wasn't until the 1950s and 1960s that new evidence from ocean floor studies and plate tectonics came to light. This confirmed that Pangea and continental drift were real parts of Earth's history, and the theory gained wide acceptance. Ttsz / Getty Images 7.In 1908, the Tunguska event happened. Which, in case you don't know, was a huge explosion that flattened about 800 square miles of forest in Siberia near the Tunguska River. It was so large that shock waves were recorded in Western Europe. At first, people only knew something had happened, but they had no idea what because it happened in such a remote area with few witnesses. Investigations finally began in the 1920s, when scientists visited the site to study the damage. They confirmed the explosion was real and likely caused by a meteor or comet exploding in the atmosphere. UniversalImagesGroup / Getty Images 8.If you watched any movie made about the Titanic before 1985, they would get one important detail wrong! When the Titanic sank in 1912, several survivors reported seeing that the ship had broken in two before sinking, but many experts at the time and after dismissed this claim. So movies about it never portrayed that. For decades, the exact details of the disaster remained uncertain because the wreck had never been located. In 1985, a joint American-French expedition led by Robert Ballard finally discovered the Titanic's remains on the ocean floor. The wreck was found in two large sections, confirming what eyewitnesses had said more than 70 years earlier. Courtesy Everett Collection Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Ranker noted, one of the first times the ship was seen splitting in half in media was in the 1996 CBS mini-series, Titanic, starring a then-unknown Catherine Zeta-Jones. 9.Starting in the late 18th century and throughout the 19th century, there were stories and small artifacts discovered that suggested Vikings reached North America long before Columbus. Some historians believed them (based on things like how well the Vikings could navigate the seas), while others thought they were just legends or misidentified artifacts. The debate continued until the 1960s, when archaeologists discovered a Viking settlement at L'Anse aux Meadows in Newfoundland, Canada. The site contained Norse-style buildings, tools, and artifacts dating to around the year 1000. This confirmed that Vikings had explored and settled parts of North America centuries before Columbus's voyages. Wolfgang Kaehler / LightRocket via Getty Images 10.Prior to its eruption in 1980, Mount St. Helens was, as the New York Times put it, "a relatively little known volcano 50 miles north of Portland, Ore." While that was likely true of the greater US, it was, of course, known to locals who lived there, Indigenous peoples who had lived in the area for centuries, and to volcanologists. It was the latter, who in a Feb. 1975 scientific report in the Journal Science (covered by the Times), warned that Mount St. Helens would have a violent eruption, "perhaps before the end of this century." In 1978, the USGS published a hazard assessment which put a violent eruption as "likely within the next 100 years" and, again, "perhaps even before the end of the century." R. Lamb/ClassicStock / Getty Images Before the 1980 eruption, Mount St. Helens had not erupted violently since 1857. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 11.Slightly similar to gorillas, for a long time, people in the West thought giant pandas were mythical animals described in vague reports from China. Travelers and missionaries occasionally mentioned them, but without clear proof, many dismissed the stories. Even Chinese art rarely featured them. That all changed in 1869, when French missionary Armand David obtained a panda skin in Sichuan, China. This was the first physical evidence shown to Western science, confirming that giant pandas were real. The US would get its first panda in 1936, when a cub named Su Lin became the first panda to survive a trip outside of East Asia. He became an instant sensation and drew more than 300,000 visitors to see him at Chicago's Brookfield Zoo within his first six months. Kirn Vintage Stock / Corbis via Getty Images 12.And lastly, at some point in the future, we might discover a ninth planet in our solar system. For decades, scientists have suspected there might be a ninth planet far beyond Neptune, often called "Planet X" or "Planet Nine." This theory comes from observing unusual orbits of some distant objects in the Kuiper Belt, which seem to be pulled by the gravity of something large and unseen. In 2016, astronomers Konstantin Batygin and Mike Brown published evidence suggesting a planet about 5 to 10 times the mass of Earth could be causing these patterns. No one has directly seen Planet Nine yet, so its existence is still unconfirmed. However, the orbital data have convinced many astronomers that something big with a highly elongated path around the sun may be out there. All About Space / Future Publishing via Getty Images The hypothesis that there might be a giant planet in our solar system dates back to 1915, when astronomer Percival Lowell considered it a logical reason to explain the orbit of Uranus. The search for Planet Nine is what led to the accidental discovery of Pluto in 1930. A suspected gun-toting teen who fired into a crowd in Times Square on Saturday, wounding three people including two innocent bystanders was ordered held on $200,000 bail Sunday. Suspect Jayden Clarke, 17, was arraigned in Manhattan criminal court on attempted-murder charges in the early-morning shooting that wounded his target, a 19-year-old man, in the leg and also injured a 65-year-old bystander in the left knee and grazed an 18-year-old female tourist from Maryland in the neck, cops said. All sequences of these events were captured on high-definition surveillance cameras, Manhattan prosecutor Sidney Balman told the judge at Clarkes hearing. Jayden Clarke, 17, ahead of his arraignment for allegedly shooting three people in Times Square at Manhattan Criminal Court on Sunday, August 10, 2025 in New York City. Michael Nagle Clarke who avoided making eye contact with his mother, a city Parks Department worker, and two brothers in court had gotten into an argument with a Citibike rider inside the nearby Raising Canes restaurant on Broadway around 1 a.m. before the shooting, authorities said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While in line to order food, an unknown male inside the restaurant came up to the ordering kiosk and exchanged words with the defendant, Balman said. At which the defendant left the restaurant. The unknown male and other individuals followed shortly behind. While on 44th Street, the defendant pulled out a firearm, pointed it at the individuals coming out of the restaurant and fired three rounds. The defendant hit one male who was part of the group in the restaurant that called him out, as well as other innocent bystanders. Police at the scene of the Friday night shooting. Christopher Sadowski Three people were hurt in the chaos on Friday. Christopher Sadowski The suspected gunman then ran west on 44th Street and right into an NYPD cop on patrol, Balman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The officer recovered a .380-caliber Glock 42 from the defendants waistband, which was still loaded with one round in the chamber, the prosecutor said. Later the defendant, in the presence of his mother, waived his Miranda rights and elected to speak to the detectives in the Midtown South detective squad, the prosecutor said. The defendant admitted to firing those shots. The defended admitted to intentionally firing at the first victim. The teens Legal Aid lawyer asked that he be held on $10,000 cash bail or a $50,000 bond. He has not been arrested before, public defender Sean Parmenter told the judge. He graduated high school. In the [prosecutions] own application it states that the individuals, one of them started speaking to my client, unprompted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As he left, they decided to follow him out onto the street. Prosecutors asked that the teen be remanded without bail. We are not aware of any prior record the defendant has, though he faces substantial penalties, and we believe remand is reasonable, Balman said. Clarke was charged with three counts of attempted murder and gun possession in the case. Judge Christopher Chin set bail at $200,000 and said Clarke will have to wear a monitoring device if he makes it. The young suspect, who shivered from the air conditioning in court, wore a black t-shirt, blue shorts and ASICS running shoes as he faced the judge. The Colorado Department of Corrections has successfully relocated 179 inmates from the Rifle Correctional Center in a precautionary response to the Lee fire in Rio Blanco County. Recently, a post from Reddit user Repulsive-Finger-954 on the popular Ask Reddit forum caught my eye. In it, they asked people, "What is the biggest historical lie that many people believe?" and the answers were both entertaining and informative. I decided I had to share; so, here are some of the best: 1."Vikings didn't wear horned helmets." Johner Images / Getty Images u/blodyn__tatws 2."People believe that Napoleon was this abnormally short man. He was 5'6, which was pretty average back then. I'm pretty sure it was this smear campaign of sorts that painted him as this weirdly short, unpowerful guy." Gwengoat / Getty Images u/Financial_Island2353 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 3."George Washington's dentures were not made of wood, but rather a combination of teeth from slaves, ivory (hippopotamus, walrus and/or elephant), animal teeth, and metals." Star Tribune Via Getty Images / Getty Images u/jguacmann1 4."While Paul Revere is often credited with being the sole rider to warn the colonies of the British, he was actually one of five riders who alerted colonists on the night of April 18. Revere's mission relied on secrecy, and he didn't shout 'The British are coming!' as the phrase would have been confusing to locals who still considered themselves British. Instead, Revere's network of riders, signal guns, and church bells effectively spread the alarm." Gregobagel / Getty Images u/gmoney-0725 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 5.People believe that the Nazis were hated and opposed for their treatment of Jewish people from the beginning. There has been plenty of narrative building through the years around the idea that the Allies were seeking justice for the Jewish people from the start. It was only when we witnessed the extent of the Holocaust that the villainy of the Nazis became more widely recognized and acknowledged." Pigiste / Getty Images "Antisemitism was very common in the West prior to WWII, and the Holocaust got that far in part because nobody wanted to house Jewish refugees." u/Some_Number_8516 6."The idea that people used to believe the world was flat. In elementary school, I was taught that no one wanted to fund Columbus's voyage because they thought he'd just sail off the end of the world. Utter nonsense." Mishella / Getty Images "Since at least Ancient Greece, it was believed the world was a sphere. I mean, you look up at the sky at night, and see nothing but other round bodies, it makes sense youd assume that youre on a round body as well." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement u/postXhumanity "Eratosthenes calculated the circumference of the Earth and was only about 3% off. Roughly 250 years before the birth of Christ, he did this. Truly remarkable." u/postXhumanity 7."People believe that Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb. He did not. Several other men pioneered it before him." Hulton Archive / Getty Images u/Commercial-Camera189 8."People believe that women stayed home and only men worked. For the poor, which was the vast majority of people throughout history, everybody who could work worked, even the kids. If you didn't, the whole family would starve and die." Ilbusca / Getty Images "You were working your own land, working your lord's land, working as itinerant laborers. If you weren't doing physical work, you were cooking and you were spinning, constantly spinning, and weaving and sewing. Constant work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Women worked down mines, worked as servants, and they were working in factories as soon as there were even proto-factories. Wealthy women also worked. They ran the households; for a wealthy family, this could be 100 people she was in charge of. She oversaw organizing supplies, ensuring that food was cooked, that they had accommodations, and food stores; she made the medicines and tended the ill. Women have always worked. How the hell do people think men could confidently ride off to war and know that everything was being looked after while they were away fighting for years on end?" u/wwaxwork Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 9."People believe that the US Civil War was over states' rights." u/SpiDeeWebb "I mean, it was. It was over states' rights to allow their residents to own people as property. But I totally get where you're coming from." u/fourtoedfist 10."People believe that MLK was socially acceptable to white people during the 1960s, and not in favor of radically changing the socioeconomic order of the US. He was a socialist who was widely reviled by the white culture of the time. He's been re-imagined by white people as someone willing to accept slow electoral solutions to racial problems." Bettmann / Getty Images u/Cute_Win_386 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 11."Many people still believe that Marie Antoinette said, 'Let them eat cake.'" Duncan1890 / Getty Images u/Unhappy-Jaguar-9362 12."The myth that there ever was a famine in Ireland. It was a genocide, and the English were exporting enough meat and grain from Ireland to feed three times the Irish population." James O'neil / Getty Images u/Cupofteaanyone 13."People in ancient and medieval times lived past 30 or 40 on a regular basis. The 'life expectancy' was low due to child mortality." Culture Club / Getty Images u/SerSkippa22 "Infant mortality brought the mathematical average for life expectancy down. Its usually thought today that in the past, if you DID make it past 10, you had as much chance of living to a ripe old age as anyone today." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement u/silliasaurus 14."The idea that Galileo was imprisoned because of the heliocentric model. Nope, it was because he pissed off the pope, who was funding his research." Grafissimo / Getty Images u/DoubleDimension "Galileo didnt follow the steps that were required to declare the heliocentric model as valid; he got angry and started talking shit about the pope. The heliocentric model wasnt his idea; many people way before him were talking about the heliocentric model, and none of them were imprisoned because of it." u/ProteinPapi777 15."There is a myth that the US has never experienced an authoritarian government. In actuality, a large portion of its history has been authoritarian. The Jim Crow South was an authoritarian government that existed until 1964." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It wasn't until fairly recently that constitutional rights were 'incorporated' to apply to state laws. For a large portion of our history, the Constitution applied to federal laws. State government restricted behavior on a very wide basis: interracial marriage, homosexuality, birth control, pornography, anything deemed offensive, offensive comedy, etc. were all regulated or illegal." u/dowbrewer 16."The myth that carrots give you good eyesight. That lie came from Britain during WWII to hide the fact that they had a new technology called radar." Bettmann / Getty Images u/cha0sdan 17."The idea that Catherine of Aragon failed Henry VIII because she didnt have a son and heir. She and Henry had at least three sons." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Robert Alexander / Getty Images, Eric Vandeville / Getty Images u/No_Thought_1492 18."That Samurai despised guns and saw them as 'dishonorable tools.'" Pictures From History / Getty Images "The Samurai as a class not only were the first to embrace gunpowder weaponry in Japanese history, but Japan as a whole developed its own domestic industry surrounding gunpowder weapons, including many original designs and tactics that not even Europe would have an equivalent to until decades later." u/AlikeWolf 19.And finally: "That nothing much happened in the 'Dark Ages.'" Dea / Getty Images u/callmeKiKi1 What are your thoughts? Let me know in the comments. Better yet, tell me your own historical pet peeves that drive you up the wall! If you have something to share but prefer to remain anonymous, feel free to check out this anonymous form. Who knows your comment could be included in a future BuzzFeed article! GUILFORD, Conn. (WTNH) Traditional music, food and unity filled the Guilford Green as the community celebrated the 19th Annual Shoreline Jewish Festival Sunday afternoon. There was something for everyone: crafts for children, vendors for adults and activities for families. We have to be able to create openings and doorways for people to be able to engage with your tradition, your heritage and to be able to connect with their fellow human beings, Rabbi Yossi Yaffe said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Organizers said this event is a great way to highlight Jewish customs and connect people with similar religious beliefs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Six killed in Waldorf house fire. Blaze may have started on porch. Cause still under investigation. WALDORF, Md. - A devastating house fire in Charles County has claimed the lives of six people, including four children, marking Marylands deadliest residential fire in more than a decade. Family trapped FOX 5s Maureen Umeh said the fire was reported on North Declaration Court in Waldorf, where neighbors watched in horror as flames engulfed the home early Sunday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nine people lived in the house. Two were away at the time, and one person managed to escape. The remaining six - two adults and four children - did not survive. Firefighters battled the blaze for nearly an hour before bringing it under control. One firefighter was injured and taken to the hospital for treatment. Investigators with the State Fire Marshals Office say the fire may have started on the front porch, but the exact cause remains under investigation. So far, theres no evidence the fire was intentionally set. Fire under investigation "This is earth-shattering for all of us. It doesnt matter if you have one year on the job or thirty years on the job any time you see this its such a tragedy of incredible proportions and we just dont routinely see, its tough on the firefighters, its tough on the community its tough on our investigators any time we come across this," said Master Deputy State Fire Marshall Oliver Alkire with the Office of the State Fire Marshall. "Its one we really want to provide answers for not only for the family but also the community." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials have not released the names or ages of the victims. They also say its unclear whether the home had working smoke alarms. The investigation into the cause of the fire is continuing. The Source Information in this article comes from Charles County Sheriffs Office, Maryland State Fire Marshal and previous FOX 5 reporting. NEED TO KNOW Two men have been arrested in Ohio after the body of a pregnant woman whom police have identified as Brittany Fuhr-Storms was found inside a plastic tote on a roadway Police confirmed Fuhr-Storms' unborn child also didn't survive Suspect James Rothenbusch allegedly told police Fuhr-Storms had died in his home "under suspicious circumstances" and he had kept her body there for days before disposing of it Two men have been arrested after a pregnant woman was found dead inside a plastic tote in Ohio, authorities have said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, Aug. 3 at approximately 7:47 p.m. local time, the Jackson Township Police Department responded to reports of a deceased person on Fort Anthony Road in Jackson Township, per a Facebook post shared by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office (MCSO). "Upon arrival, officers located a deceased adult female inside a plastic tote, discovered by individuals walking along the roadway," the post stated, identifying the victim as Brittany Fuhr-Storms, 28, who was pregnant at the time of her death. Brittany Fuhr-Storms Brittany Fuhr-Storms Brittany Fuhr-Storms The sheriff's office stated, "Jackson Township Police Department immediately secured the scene and requested the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office to respond. MCSO's Special Investigation Unit and Evidence Technicians responded to the scene and the Montgomery County Coroner's Office took custody of the remains." An autopsy was conducted, revealing Fuhr-Storms "was pregnant at the time of her death, and tragically, the unborn child did not survive," the MCSO stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Investigations led MCSO to Franklin, Brittany's last known address and based on information obtained there, investigators then contacted Middletown Division of Police and a joint investigation between Middletown and MCSO began," the post continued. Confirming two arrests had since been made, the MCSO revealed that the team and Middletown Police officers had "executed a narcotics search warrant on Logan Ave," which was the residence of one suspect, James Rothenbusch. Montgomery County Sheriff's Office James Rothenbusch James Rothenbusch "He was detained at the scene where narcotics and other drug paraphernalia were recovered. Items related to the death investigation were also observed, prompting a secondary search warrant," the sheriff's office said. Police alleged that Rothenbusch had "admitted to drug trafficking and stated Brittany died in his home under suspicious circumstances," during an interview, saying of the suspect, "He admitted to keeping her body in the residence for approximately four days before it was disposed of." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities stated that a second suspect, Rick Sheppard, had also been arrested. "[Sheppard] was located on Baltimore St. in Middletown. During questioning, Sheppard also admitted Brittany had died in the home and that her body remained there for nearly a week before being disposed of," the MCSO's post alleged. Rothenbusch has been charged with corrupting another with drugs - specific to a pregnant woman, tampering with evidence, gross abuse of a corpse, trafficking in drugs, possession of drugs, failure to report crime or death, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Meanwhile, Sheppard was charged with gross abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Both individuals admitted they were aware Brittany was pregnant," the sheriff's office confirmed. Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Rick Sheppard Rick Sheppard Fuhr-Storms had been left in the shower for several days before her body was found, Fox-affiliated station WXIX reported, citing authorities. The outlet noted that suspect Sheppard [had] attempted to flee [before his arrest] but was quickly apprehended and detained. He later stated that the deceased died from an alleged overdose and she remained in the house for approximately a week before being removed," citing police. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. The wife of Fuhr-Storms' twin brother has set up a GoFundMe page to help raise money for a memorial service for the victim. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "She was very loved by her family. This was very unexpected news to everyone," the page's organizer, Joria Isaacs, wrote. The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and the Middletown Division of Police did not immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE for additional information. PEOPLE has also contacted Joria Isaacs for a tribute from the victim's family. Read the original article on People PADUCAH, Ky. (FOX 56) Two men were arrested after three women were shot outside a Paducah nightclub on Saturday, with one of the victims on life support and another stable but in critical condition. The Paducah Police Department wrote on Facebook that three women had been shot on the 900 block. One of the victims was taken to a local hospital and released, but the other two were taken out of the state. As of early this morning, the 20-year-old is currently on life support, and the 23-year-old is listed in critical but stable condition, Paducah police wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 13, the 20-year-old woman, identified as Jamiyah Walker of Paducah, who authorities said was pregnant, was taken off life support. Neither she nor her unborn baby survived. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Officers said Jystacye Pitts of Union City, Tennessee, was charged with first-degree wanton endangerment after allegedly admitting to opening fire during the Boyd Street shooting. Pitts had been lodged in the McCracken County Detention Center but has since been released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Capus Adams and Malik Copeland, both 18, and a 16-year-old have been charged with murder and first-degree fetal homicide. Adams and Copeland were both lodged in the McCracken County Jail and are each being held on a $1 million bond, per jail records. Adams was allegedly seen firing a gun at several people. After a short chase, he was arrested, and the gun he had allegedly thrown away was found. Carroll County mans charges upgraded after shooting victim dies in hospital Adams was charged with first-degree wanton endangermentdischarge of a firearm, tampering with physical evidence, and third-degree fleeing or evading police. He was lodged in the McCracken County Detention Center on a $2,500 bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 10, Jystacye Pitts was charged in connection with the shooting investigation. He has since been released from the McCracken County Detention Center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Two Chinese ships collided in the South China Sea Monday while one ship was chasing a Philippines Coast Guard vessel. A large warship and a smaller China coast guard vessel collided. The smaller ship had been chasing the Philippines vessel and shooting water cannons at it, when it made a sharp turn and crashed into the largership. Philippine coast guard officials were distributing aid to fishermen in the disputed Scarborough Shoal, Commodore Jay Tarriela said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China confirmed that a confrontation took place and accused the Philippines of "forcibly intruding" into Chinese waters. It didn't mention the crash, which caused serious damage to the larger ship. Scarborough Shoal is a triangular-shaped feature, made up of of a handful of rocks and reefs that falls within the Philippines' 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone. But China has claimed that it is part of the Zhongsha Islands, taking control of it in 2012. It's known as Huangyan Island to China and Bajo de Masinloc to the Philippines. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met with President Donald Trump in July. On Monday, a Chinese coast guard vessel that was chasing a Philippine vessel when it crashed into another Chinese ship. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI The crash made the Chinese warship "unseaworthy," Tarriela said. It's not known if anyone was injured. Tarriela said that the Philippines Coast Guard has "consistently urged" Chinese authorities to respect international conventions when handling territorial disputes, "especially considering their role in enforcing maritime laws." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have also emphasised that such reckless behavior at sea could ultimately lead to accidents," he added. China's coast guard said it was acting "in accordance with the law" and took "all necessary measures" to drive the Philippine boats away. Chinese coast guard spokesperson Gan Yu said in a statement that they forced Philippine and government vessels away from the area after they "ignored repeated warnings from the Chinese side and insistently intruded into the waterway." "Huangyan Island is an inherent part of China's territory," Gan said. He added that the coast guard would enforce the law "to safeguard national territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Philippine coast guard's statement said that it "immediately offered support, including help with man-overboard recovery and medical aid for any injured crew members." In recent years, skirmishes between China and the Philippines have escalated in the South China Sea. In February 2023, the Philippine Coast Guard accused a Chinese ship of deploying laser lights at the crew of the BRP Malapascua, as well as coming within 150 yards of the Manila vessel, in an effort it called a "blatant disregard for and a clear violation of Philippine sovereign rights in this part of the West Philippine Sea." In December 2024, the Philippines said China's coast guard fired water canons and sideswiped a government vessel during a maritime patrol near Scarborough Shoal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June 2024, Filipino soldiers used their "bare hands" to fight Chinese coast guard personnel armed with swords, spears and knives in the area. One Filipino soldier lost his thumb, Manila said. The South China Sea is an important fishing area to Chinese, Filipino and Vietnamese fishing boats. NEED TO KNOW Authorities are searching for two suspects who allegedly stole at least four vehicles during a police chase in downtown Los Angeles The LAPD noted that the suspects are considered armed and dangerous" As of late Sunday night, the police hadnt captured the suspects and are continuing to search for the assailants Authorities are searching for two suspects who allegedly stole at least four vehicles during a police chase in downtown Los Angeles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, Aug. 10, police responded to a call of a carjacking at gunpoint in Lancaster. Two suspects allegedly stole a pickup truck at the scene before taking off, leading officers on a chase along the 5 Freeway near Sylmar, Fox 11 Los Angeles and NBC4 Los Angeles reported. The Los Angeles Police Department Central Division announced on X, There is an active CHP pursuit in the Downtown L.A. area. Please use caution. Suspect vehicle is a white semi truck and trailer. The LAPD said in a follow-up post that the suspects are considered armed and dangerous. The police later added in an update on X that the suspects had fled the semi-truck and broken into an Alameda under the 10 freeway. In footage of the police chase captured on live TV, per Fox 11 Los Angeles, the suspects were seen driving on the wrong side of the freeway as they attempted to break into other vehicles. They eventually broke into a white semi-trailer truck and continued along the freeway, per authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after 11:30 p.m. local time, the suspects fled the big rig and broke into a white pickup truck as they headed to Boyle Heights, per Fox 11 Los Angeles. During the hour-long police chase, the suspects drove through various L.A. areas, including Santa Clarita, Hollywood, Echo Park and Westlake. The assailants allegedly stole a fourth vehicle, a black Sedan, in Lincoln Heights, as they sped away out of the sight of the police, NBC4 Los Angeles and ABC 7 Eyewitness News reported. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. As of late Sunday evening, the police hadnt captured the suspects and are continuing to search for the assailants involved in the incident. PEOPLE reached out to the LAPD for comment, but they did not immediately respond. Read the original article on People SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) Two Romanian nationals have been charged with federal wire fraud and identity theft after falsely claiming to run a business in Georgia, officials said Monday. Bogdan Alexandru Gherghevici, 26, and Viorel Cristea, 33, have been indicted on 16 counts in connection to a Homeland Security investigation. The two allegedly participated in a scheme to sell fictitious farming equipment to people across the country, which resulted in around $600,000 taken from victims, a U.S. Attorneys Office spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gherghevici and Cristea reportedly began their scheme around March 2025 in the Southern District of Georgia, officials said. If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud charge, and a mandatory two years in prison consecutively for the aggravated identity theft charge. The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Savannah Field Office is investigating the case. This case highlights the commitment of Homeland Security Investigations to aggressively pursue individuals who exploit others through fraudulent schemes, said Special Agent in Charge of HSI in Georgia and Alabama Steven Schrank. The defendants allegedly orchestrated a complex operation targeting victims nationwide, resulting in significant financial losses. HSI will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to ensure those who engage in such criminal activities are held accountable and brought to justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV. Gov. Kathy Hochul this week announced over $20 million in awards for two key programs that support clean water initiatives across the state: the Green Innovation Grant Program and Wastewater Infrastructure Engineering Planning Grants. The funding provides support to communities working to affordably modernize water infrastructure, protect public health and enhance resilience to extreme weather. The awards are announced during National Water Quality Month, commemorated every August to highlight the importance of clean water for healthy communities and thriving ecosystems, according to a news release Tuesday from the governors office. Every New Yorker deserves access to clean, safe water, and were making that happen by investing in smart, affordable infrastructure upgrades, Hochul stated in the news release. From planning to construction, were supporting communities every step of the way so families across the state can count on reliable water systems for years to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Environmental Facilities Corporation is awarding $17 million through the Green Innovation Grant Program to support 12 stormwater infrastructure and water efficiency projects. The program supports nature-based solutions that help mitigate flooding, reduce runoff and improve water quality, while also promoting economic development. EFC is also awarding over $3 million in Wastewater Infrastructure Engineering Planning Grants to 59 communities. Planning grants jumpstart local efforts to advance fiscally sound and well-designed projects to construction by supporting completion of an approvable engineering report for the project. Green Innovation Grant Program Green-Wood Cemetery in New York City $1.8 million to implement the second phase of a comprehensive stormwater resilience project aimed at reducing combined sewer overflows into the Gowanus Canal and Upper New York Bay. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City of Lockport in Niagara County (Western New York) $1.4 million for Phase 2 of a streetscape improvement project that will incorporate green infrastructure to reduce combined sewer overflows and improve water quality in the NYS Barge Canal. Village of Malone in Franklin County (North Country) $3 million to install water meters as part of a comprehensive water system upgrade, ensuring compliance with state sanitary codes and meeting current demand. New York City Department of Parks and Recreation $1.3 million to provide final gap funding needed to get the nearly $10 million Bridge Park South Expansion underway, featuring green infrastructure and a renaturalized shoreline to help revitalize the South Bronx waterfront and link Harlem River parks. Local Wastewater Infrastructure Engineering Planning Grant Awards Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Village of Medina in Orleans County (Finger Lakes) $50,000 to evaluate the current condition of the wastewater treatment plant to replace aging equipment. The report will recommend and prioritize improvements, including resiliency and cyber security enhancements. Implementation of this project will provide further water quality protection measures for Oak Orchard Creek. Town of Tonawanda in Erie County (Western New York) $100,000 to evaluate the sanitary sewers within three areas to protect Two Mile Creek and Ellicott Creek. The study will identify inflow and infiltration sources, analyze sewer hydraulic capacity, and exterior investigations. Full lists of awardees and project descriptions for each program are available on EFCs website at www.efc.ny.gov. This story first appeared in New York Focus, a non-profit news publication investigating New York state politics. Sign up for their stories at nysfocus.com/ newsletter. More than a third of New York counties, home to over half of the states population, have stopped enrolling eligible parents in the states child care voucher program, new data shows. At least 21 counties were not accepting applicants for the vouchers as of early July due to lack of funding. Thirteen are keeping waitlists; 1,500 families are on New York Citys waitlist alone. (Counties are required to provide the vouchers to parents who are homeless, receiving cash assistance, or involved in the child welfare system, but can turn down other income-eligible parents when funds run low.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state Office of Children and Family Services, or OCFS, published data on the program online after New York Focus requested it under the Freedom of Information Law. The data sheds light on the status of the Child Care Assistance Program, which covers almost the entire cost of private child care for nearly 100,000 low- and middle-income families, after a drawn-out battle over its funding during state budget negotiations earlier this year. The program has been a priority for Gov. Kathy Hochul, who alongside the legislature had quadrupled spending on it to $1.1 billion in recent years and expanded eligibility to middle-income New Yorkers so that, for instance, a family of three earning up to $95,000 qualifies. But the funding boosts did not keep pace with the growing demand that followed, and the shortfall reached a tipping point this winter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, New York City social services officials, who administer the program locally, warned that if state funding remained flat in this years budget, the city would have to start removing thousands of parents from the program each month. Legislators from the city pushed for a $900 million funding boost from the state. The final state budget, passed in May, included an additional one-year investment of $350 million for New York City and $50 million for the rest of the state, bringing total state spending on the program to $1.5 billion this year. New York City also increased its spending on the program to $381 million, but the additional funding has not been enough to allow new parents to start enrolling, according to the city Administration for Childrens Services. In addition to the 21 counties not accepting new parents, four counties said in early July that they might have to start turning down parents later in the month. One of those counties, Schenectady, told New York Focus that applications are still open; the other three did not comment. As of early July, enrollment remained open in 37 counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Counties outside of New York City will not be able to access the $50 million in new funding until March of next year, according to an OCFS memo. We want the $50 million to go to counties immediately, said Assemblymember Andrew Hevesi, chair of his chambers Committee on Children and Families. The regulations that have been attached to it [by OCFS] are more strict than they should be. To access the $50 million pot, OCFS requires counties to spend their entire existing allocation first. Many counties see the requirement as impractical, said Pete Nabozny, policy director at Rochester-based advocacy organization The Childrens Agenda. Counties dont know how much of the $50 million theyd receive, and social service administrators are reluctant to deplete their budget without a guarantee that their share would be sufficient to keep parents enrolled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The way the state is structuring it ... its just not working, said Nabozny. Its not helping relieve the crunch on funding or helping more families get assistance. An OCFS spokesperson told New York Focus that the agency is working with local governments across the state to use this funding to continue to deliver child care assistance for their constituents. Child care costs over $20,000 a year on average in New York, higher than nearly every other state. Hochul, who made affordability a centerpiece of her agenda, has said she wants to create a pathway to universal child care. In June, Queens state Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani won the New York City Democratic mayoral nomination on an affordability platform that promised universal free child care. Mamdani wants to expand the citys existing universal pre-K programs, which provide free care for 3- and 4-year-olds, to cover every child between 6 weeks and 5 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has said the plan will cost between $5 billion and $7 billion a year, and would be funded by higher taxes on wealthy New Yorkers and corporations. Hochul, for her part, has said that higher taxes are a nonstarter. Meanwhile, advocates say the state Child Care Assistance Program needs a bigger, permanent investment to meet growing demand and expanded eligibility. We will have another bite at the apple with the state budget next year, but its going to be coming in a pretty challenging budget year because of the impacts of federal cuts, said Nabozny. A 38-year-old man from the Bay Area, who went by at least three aliases, managed to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of rare historical Chinese manuscripts dating back to the 13th century from the University of California, Los Angeles library, federal officials announced. In a U.S. Department of Justice news release, federal prosecutors allege that Jeffrey Ying, who also went by the names Jason Wang, Alan Fujimori and Austin Cheng, stole the manuscripts between Dec. 2024 and July 2025. Because of their value and rarity, UCLA does not keep the books in regular circulation, requiring a reservation to check them out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 38-year-old, a resident of Fremont, a city some 20 miles north of San Jose, reportedly took advantage of a relatively new system at the library where users can apply for library cards and rent books without having to show official identification, the Los Angeles Times reported. Ying allegedly checked out the manuscripts in groups and would then reportedly return dummy books, sometimes low-value Chinese manuscripts or blank books containing labels printed with a computer with tags meant to appear like that of the authentic books. UCLA officials were alerted to some of the missing books by the head of the universitys East Asian Library. Library policy, The Times reported, requires a staff member to be present in the reading room while someone reads books from special collections. There were, however, no specific rules around reviewing rare books returned to the library to ensure their authenticity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ying would then reportedly place dummy books in a box taken to a reading room in UCLAs Charles E. Young Research Library and leave with the originals. A 38-year-old man is accused of stealing more than $200,000 in rare historical Chinese manuscripts from UCLAs library. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) While the arrest and FBI affidavit reviewed by The Times focuses primarily on thefts last year, it is believed that Ying may have been stealing valuable manuscripts as far back as 2020 and may be responsible for stealing at least 10 missing manuscripts valued between $274 and $70,000. Six books were checked out under the alias Jason Wang, while on Aug. 5 of this year another eight were requested under the name Austin Chen. Yet another one of Yings alleged aliases, Alan Fujimori, was reportedly associated with similar thefts from U.C. Berkeley library. Ultimately, according to The Times, it was surveillance footage analysis that tied the aliases to Ying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Out-of-control driver plows into 4 vehicles in Southern California; 2 dead, 4 injured Federal investigators also say the 38-year-old regularly traveled to China just days after the alleged thefts, likely in an attempt to sell the books or to simply get them out of the United States. Ying was arrested Aug. 6 as he was attempting to leave for China, according to federal prosecutors. Investigators found a fake California ID under the name Austin Chen and two library cards using the names Austin Chen and Jason Wang in his Brentwood hotel room. He has since been charged with theft of major artwork, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in federal prison. Considered a flight risk, Ying remains in state custody and is due to appear in U.S. District Court in L.A. in the coming days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The official number of rare and valuable manuscripts the 38-year-old may have stolen is unknown and, at least so far, it does not appear as if authorities have recovered them. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. NEED TO KNOW A missing man was found alive and trapped under a tire in a septic tank in Edinburg, Texas, on Aug. 8 After he didn't appear at daycare that morning, a relative called for a welfare check An investigation into the incident is ongoing, according to authorities A missing 29-year-old man was saved after he was heard calling for help from an underground septic tank in rural Texas, according to authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Aug. 8, at around 9 a.m. local time, deputies responded to a call for a welfare check at the 7300 block of N. Terry Road in Edinburg, the Hidalgo County Sheriffs Office said in a press release shared with PEOPLE. The person at the home said that their uncle had not shown up for daycare that morning, and hadnt been seen since 9 p.m. the previous evening. The deputy, who was concerned for the mans safety, was permitted to search the property. https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf While calling out the mans name, the deputy heard a faint voice coming from the ground, calling for help, the sheriffs office stated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deputy then found the missing man trapped underneath a tire in a septic tank. Edinburg Fire Department/Facebook The fire department was able to pull the man to safety. The fire department was able to pull the man to safety. First responders were called to assist, including the Edinburg Fire Department. Upon arrival, local firefighters attempted to help the man, who had fallen through a small opening into a septic tank, the fire department noted in a statement on Facebook. Firefighters cut through concrete and used rescue equipment to safely pull him out, officials continued. The 29-year-old, who was in stable condition, was transported to a local hospital. Hes now doing well, a spokesperson from the Hidalgo County Sheriffs Office noted to PEOPLE. An investigation into the case is ongoing. 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. Edinburg Fire Department/Facebook The hole where the man fell into a septic tank in Edinburg, Texas. The hole where the man fell into a septic tank in Edinburg, Texas. Witnesses with further information about the incident are asked to contact the sheriffs office at 956-383-8114. People can also submit a tip anonymously by calling the Hidalgo County Crime Stoppers Hotline at 956-668-TIPS (8477) or through the app, P3 TIPS. Read the original article on People Ships from several allied nations sailed together through the North Philippine Sea this weekend in a large-scale show of naval force, led by three aircraft carriers from three separate nations. The United Kingdoms Carrier Strike Group shared an image on X of the three carriers, plus the U.S. Navys amphibious assault ship USS America, sailing side by side in the North Philippine Sea on Aug. 10, with a large aerial force flying overhead. Its a strong naval presence, with the HMS Prince of Wales, the American Nimitz-class USS George Washington and Japans JS Kaga among them. Allies and partners sailing as one, the post said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force, the exercise is meant to train crews on cross-deck operations and anti-submarine warfare. The nine-day operation will wrap up on Aug. 12. More than a dozen ships are taking part in the exercise. Leading the pack are the three carriers as well as the amphibious assault ship, which also has its own fighter jets and aircraft on board. Sailing behind the carriers and the assault ship are vessels from the Norwegian, Spanish and Australian navies. The U.S. Navy also has the Ticonderoga-class cruiser the USS Robert Smalls and the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Shoup there. Above them in the skies, there are more than a dozen aircraft from the ships, including a large number of fighter jets. Some of the fighters are from Carrier Air Wing 5, operating out of the USS George Washington. The American ships present carry both the Navys F-35Cs and the Marine Corps F-35Bs. Top Stories This Week News Army infantry training unit reverses bay tossing ban By Jeff Schogol News Airman arrested for death that prompted Air Force-wide safety review of Sig M18 By Jeff Schogol News Soldiers who stopped Fort Stewart gunman recognized as the best among us in the Army By Patty Nieberg The HMS Prince of Wales is currently underway in the Royal Navys Operation Highmast. As part of multilateral drills, F-35Bs operated by the British forces and U.S. Marine Corps both landed on the JS Kaga this past week. As The Aviationist noted, this was the first time British on the ship, although American ones had done so before. Although the Kaga is designated as a helicopter carrier, it is being modified to allow fighter jets to land on and take off from it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The USS George Washington, as well as the rest of Carrier Strike Group 5, are operating in the Indo-Pacific region this summer. They earlier took part in the Talisman Sabre exercise with the Australian military. Last month a sailor onboard the carrier went missing, prompted two days of extensive search and rescue efforts before he was declared dead. Earlier this year, the JS Kaga and another American carrier, the Nimitz-class USS Carl Vinson, conducted a similar multilateral operation in the Philippine Sea alongside ships from the French navy. The U.S. Navy described that coordination, part of the Exercise Pacific Steller 2025, as an effort to to maintain an open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, free of all forms of coercion. ANDERSON COUNTY, Texas (KETK) Two men and a teenager have been arrested and charged in connection with the aggravated robbery of an Anderson County home on Saturday, according to officials. Man booked on $1M bond after fatal Anderson County shooting The Anderson County Sheriffs Office said a deputy responded to a reported aggravated robbery on Anderson County Road 421 on Saturday. When the deputy arrived, he learned that three people had reportedly forced their way into the home, robbed the occupants at gunpoint, and threatened a child before leaving the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based upon descriptions of the three people, the Henderson County Sheriffs Office was able to take two men and a 13-year-old into custody. Mugshot of Khaleef Wilson, courtesy of the Anderson County Jail. Mugshot of James Flores, courtesy of the Anderson County Jail. James Flores, 19 of Tyler, and Khaleef Wilson, 26 of Tyler, were booked into the Anderson County Jail for two counts of endangering a child, aggravated robbery, and possession of a controlled substance. Flores was also charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Flores is currently being held on a total bond of $650,000. Wilson is currently being held on a total bond of $775,000. The 13-year-old was booked into the Gregg County Juvenile Detention Center on charges of aggravated robbery and possession of a controlled substance. You can now stream KETK and FOX51 News live 24/7 on your smart TV with KETK+, our brand-new app! No antenna, cable, or satellite neededwatch for free, anytime. Just download it on your Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV and start streaming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. Toddler rescued from submerged car after alleged drunk driver plunges into lake A 3-year-old is hospitalized after troopers say a driver under the influence crashed a car into a Spalding County lake on Sunday. First responders pulled the child out of the car and performed CPR. Georgia State Patrol said a driver in an Acura TL was going at a high speed on Dundee Lake Road and turned into one of the parking lots at the lake. The driver didnt stop and hit a large boulder, which sent the car through the grass and into the lake. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Nafeeza Samad, 23, of Dallas, Georgia, was arrested on Sunday and found to be under the influence of alcohol and arrested for DUI, serious injury by vehicle, endangering a child under 14 while DUI, reckless driving and child safety seat violations, Spalding County authorities said. The car went underwater. GSP said the driver climbed out and stood on top of the car while a 3-year-old was trapped inside of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking with Channel 2s Tom Regan, Spalding County Fire Chief Mike Byrd said when crews arrived, they saw bubbles coming from where the car was in the water. A Spalding County deputy and firefighters arrived on the scene and rescued the 3-year-old girl. He had a window punch with him, Byrd said about one of the responders. He popped out a window on the passenger side of the car and was able to get the child out. They performed CPR until the child had a pulse again. Paramedics then airlifted the child to a hospital. Byrd said they dont know how long the little girl was underwater. The chief said they were guessing as much as six minutes. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Byrd told Channel 2 Action News that as of the most recent update, the child was in stable condition. GSP identified the driver as Nafeeza Samad, 23, of Dallas, Georgia. Samad faces the following charges: DUI, serious injury by vehicle, endangering a child under 14 while DUI, reckless driving, and child safety seat violations. It is unknown what the relation between the child and Samad is. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Townsend police want residents to know that a 400-pound black bear was spotted in one neighborhood on Sunday, and they should be on alert. The bear was spotted several times in the area of Mason and Greenville roads, with the last sighting reported while a group of people were grilling outside at around 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, the police department said in a statement on Monday. For this week, police ask that people keep themselves, children and pets safe by removing all bird feeders, securing and storing trash and closing all doors, including garage doors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bear is expected to move on to another area if it does not find food for a week, the department said, citing Massachusetts Environmental Police. Environmental Police advise that if the bear cant find food for a week, it should move on to another area. Lets work together to help encourage the bear to move along to a safer place! police said More Local Animal Stories Read the original article on MassLive. The Trump administration is using hundreds of federal police officers to target crime in Washington, D.C., as part of President Donald Trump's public safety push in the nations capital. The White House said 450 officers from multiple federal agencies were deployed in high-traffic D.C. areas and other hotspots on Aug. 9 and 10. The officers are from 18 agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Secret Service. Trump ordered an increased law enforcement presence in D.C. on Aug. 8 after complaining about crime in the city, even as violent crime trended down. Violent crime declined by 35% in D.C. in 2024, according to data compiled by the D.C. Metropolitan Police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2024 numbers marked the lowest level of violent crime in "over 30 years," the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia said in a news release. The Trump administration is temporarily reassigning 120 FBI agents to patrol D.C. streets at night, the Washington Post and New York Times reported. Asked about the reports, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told USA TODAY that there has been an "increase in federal law enforcement officers in DC in response to violent crime. This includes the FBI." In just a few nights, federal law enforcement officers have already played a vital role in deterring crime, arresting criminals, and getting dangerous drugs and weapons off the streets, Jackson added. Trump appears poised to take further federal actions to address crime in the capital. He teased an Aug. 11 White House news conference about "Crime and 'Beautification.'" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump presidency: Trump orders federal law enforcement officers to patrol Washington, D.C. streets 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 said Aug. 10 in a social media post. The initiative, according to Trump, will also target homeless individuals in the city. "The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY," Trump warned on social media. "We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump deploys federal officers to patrol DC streets amid announcement SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Theres a fourth arrest in connection with downtown Sioux Falls shootout. Authorities tracked down the suspect in southern Nebraska. Akior Tor appeared in court this morning. Hes charged with aggravated riot. Collecting school supplies for kids in need Court documents say he was with Dok Stephen, Juliane Kubara and some other men who exchanged gunfire with 21-year-old Zachariah Ruffner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It happened in a downtown Sioux Falls parking lot in the early morning on June 22. Court documents say it had been a busy night, and other people were in the parking lot and on a nearby patio when the shots were fired. One person had minor injuries, and a couple of cars were hit. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NEED TO KNOW Six people have been killed, including four children, after a massive fire burned down a home in Maryland, authorities said. The home, in the town of Waldorf, caught fire with several people still trapped inside on Sunday, Aug. 10 One adult managed to escape the blaze while two other residents of the home were not there when the fire broke out Six people were killed, including four children, after a massive fire engulfed a home in Maryland this weekend, authorities said. On Sunday, Aug. 10, firefighters with the Waldorf Volunteer Fire Department were called to a home in Waldorf located about 23 miles southeast of Washington, D.C. for a report of a large house fire with people still trapped inside, according to the Maryland State Fire Marshal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fire officials quickly upgraded the incident to a two-alarm fire and neighboring departments, as well as the Charles County Sheriff's Office, agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and deputy state fire marshals, were called to the scene. Master Deputy State Fire Marshal Oliver Alkire confirmed to local station WRC that it took about one hour to get the fire under control. Maryland State Fire Marshal A view of the fire's aftermath. A view of the fire's aftermath. Around 5:50 p.m. local time, the Maryland State Fire Marshal shared on Facebook that six people had died in the blaze. Nine total people lived in the home, located on Declaration Court North, Alkire told WRC. Three people were initially pronounced dead, and officials had been searching the scene for the three others who were missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the three surviving residents, one adult escaped, and two others weren't home when the fire began, according to the fire marshal. One firefighter was taken to a local hospital for an injury, according to WRC, and radio station WTOP reported that more than 70 fire personnel were at the scene. Maryland State Fire Marshal A view of the rubble, shared by local fire officials. A view of the rubble, shared by local fire officials. Investigators said they currently believe the fire may have started on the right side of the house on an enclosed porch, according to WTOP. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "In Charles County, we do have fires every now and then, but with the loss of life that this is ... this is pretty devastating," said Bill Smith, Charles County Volunteer Fire and EMS public information officer, according to ABC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The local medical examiner's office will confirm the victims' identities at a later date, and the fire marshal's office said it would provide updates on the victims' names and ages within the next several days. "Investigators will remain on the scene and focus on the cause of the fire," the fire marshal's office stated on Facebook. "No evidence of a criminal act has been recovered, and we continue to examine all accidental causes. This will remain an active scene until the late evening hours." "We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of six lives, including four children, in Waldorf today," acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray added in the statement. "Our hearts go out to the families impacted by this heartbreaking event. In this difficult time, let's come together to support one another and reaffirm our commitment to fire safety." Read the original article on People (KRON) I-680 in Fremont was set to be closed all weekend, but the highway reopened ahead of schedule. According to the Fremont Police Department, Caltrans completed its construction ahead of schedule. As of 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, the northbound lanes of I-680 in Fremont have reopened. FPD said Caltrans successfully completed operations at the Northbound I-680/Mission San Jose Separation Overpass in the City of Fremont. Lanes were opened more than 15 hours ahead of schedule, FPD said. Closures were initially planned to reopen on Monday at 5 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One killed in Highway 101 pileup near Palo Alto, driver arrested for DUI: CHP I-680 at the Mission San Jose overpass on SR-238 has reopened, FPD said. The closures were due to Caltans bridge rehabilitation project. Full Closures of I-680 at the Mission San Jose Overpass (SR-238) are now complete, Fremont police wrote on social media. Caltrans thanks the public, stakeholders and contractors for participating in improving Californias transportation networks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) A 74-year-old man was stabbed at Salt Lake Citys Pioneer Park Sunday night, leaving him in critical condition, according to Salt Lake City Police. Alex Jones, 33, was arrested early Monday morning in Salt Lake County on one charge of aggravated assault resulting in serious bodily injury (second-degree felony). Just before 8 p.m. on Aug. 10, Salt Lake City police officers responded to a stabbing at Pioneer Park, located at 350 S 300 W. Medical personnel began treating the victim, who had a laceration to the right side of his neck and left bicep, before taking him to the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said his injuries are considered life-threatening. Officers spoke with a witness who stated that a man, identified as Jones, came up behind the victim with a knife and stabbed him in the neck. Jones reportedly then fled the scene on foot. A separate witness heard people yelling, stop him. He stole something! and chased Jones down. Jones reportedly denied stealing anything but handed over a wallet and sunglasses. When the individual returned the wallet, the victim stated that it did not belong to him. The witness then realized it was Jones own wallet. They later surrendered it to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police were able to find Jones after the incident and took him into custody. Officers found him with a blood-like substance on his face and hands. Jones told police he had been hit with a metal pipe, but did not see the person who did it. He was making nonsensical statements stating that he sees demons and didnt remember much of what he was doing or even where he was at when he was hit, a probable cause affidavit states. He denied being in any type of altercation at Pioneer Park and denied stabbing someone. It was reported that the crime was committed without provocation. Jones was booked into Salt Lake County Jail on the aforementioned charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Latest headlines: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. The Brief Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC) has awarded scholarships to a record 79 students at ASU this year, marking a new milestone for the program. The scholarships can cover tuition of up to $5,000 for four years, provided students maintain a certain GPA. The program has awarded more than $2 million to over 300 students at various Arizona universities since 2020. PHOENIX - Chicanos Por La Causa's scholarship program is celebrating a major milestone, as the nonprofit has awarded money to its largest group of recipients to date. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a day of celebration at the Southwest Gas facility as CPLC hosted a scholars' orientation, recognizing the 79 Arizona State University students who have received scholarships from the nonprofit. What they're saying The record-breaking number of scholars means more students can achieve their goals. "The scholarship program covers tuition up to $5,000, and it's a four-year scholarship award," said Alicia Nunez, president and CEO of CPLC. "You do have to maintain a certain GPA in order to continue receiving the scholarship." The backstory Since 2020, CPLC has awarded over $2 million in scholarships to more than 300 students at ASU, the University of Arizona, Northern Arizona University and Maricopa Community Colleges. One of those students includes Ruby Adkins, a junior at ASU who works full-time in addition to being a student. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Being able to have this scholarship, it allows me to go to school, it lessens the financial burden," Adkins said. "I'm a server right now, that's what I do for my work since I'm just working for my marketing degree and that obviously can allow me to go to school full-time and do the things I want to do." CPLC scholars give back throughout the year, volunteering 40 hours of community service. Officials say some scholars even come back after graduating to work for them. Students explain that being awarded the money helps make navigating through school and managing finances a little easier. "Being at ASU, I was paying for it on my own through loans and smaller scholarships, but Chicanos Por La Causa has allowed me to breathe and really focus on my internship and focusing on what my future is going to be," said Alyssa Ulen, who graduated in May. CPLC is always looking for volunteers, and more information on how to apply for scholarships can be found on CPLC's website: https://www.cplc.org. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) An Abilene-based company has earned the Gold Cup of Safe Digging award, announced today in honor of National Safe Digging Day. August 11, or 8/11, marks National Safe Digging Day, a reminder to call 811 before starting any digging project to locate underground utilities. Atmos Energy encourages safety awareness during National Safe Digging Month This morning, Atmos Energy recognized Abilene-based Linetec with the Gold Cup of Safe Digging award, honoring the companys strong commitment to safety and best practices in excavation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 811 day is National Safe Digging Day. To be able to award Linetech with our Gold Cup of Safe Digging on 811 day, and really push that message of creating those safe and thriving communities, thats our mission, and to be able to share that mission with another company in our area is even more special, said Atmos Energys Victoria Mordente. Officials say whether youre breaking ground on a major project or just planting a small tree, you should always call 811 first or visit 811BeforeYouDig.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 KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) Police are searching for a bank robbery suspect in Abilene. This suspect is accused of robbing Western Bank on Buffalo Gap Road, then fleeing the scene on foot around 2:00 p.m.on Monday. The suspect is described as a man dressed in dark-colored clothes who may be wearing a type of white helmet and gloves. He was last seen heading north towards South 25th Street. Its unknown if a weapon was used during the robbery, but no injuries have been reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation is ongoing, and no further information is available at this time. Stick with BigCountryHomepage.com for any additional details on this robbery. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. Far-right political activist and close confidant to President Donald Trump Laura Loomer launched an unusual public attack on Army Secretary Dan Driscoll after the service marked the anniversary of a Medal of Honor recipient's heroism. Loomer criticized a post Friday on X in which the Army commemorated retired Capt. Florent Groberg's actions in Afghanistan, which earned him the Medal of Honor a decade ago. In a series of posts, Loomer questioned whether Groberg deserved the recognition, citing his brief remarks at the 2016 Democratic National Convention after his retirement and the fact that he was born in France. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read Next: Air Force Announces Arrest Related to Firearm Death of Airman That Prompted M18 Probe "There are probably so many people who the Army could honor who have received the Medal of Honor," Loomer, who has unofficially advised Trump, traveling with the president and visiting the White House routinely but not holding a job in the administration, wrote in her post on X. "But who did the Army choose to honor instead on their social media page under the Trump admin?" Groberg tackled a suicide bomber during a 2012 mission, an act credited with saving numerous lives, including Gen. James Mingus, now the vice chief of staff of the Army, who was Groberg's brigade commander at the time. Mingus was among the troops targeted by the bomber. The bomber's vest detonated, wounding Groberg and causing severe damage to one of his legs and a traumatic brain injury. He required 33 surgeries across three years of care at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Army Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin Griffin, 46; Army Maj. Thomas Kennedy, 35; Air Force Maj. Walter Gray, 38, and USAID official Ragaei Abdelfattah, 43, were killed, and several others were wounded. "It was disgraceful," one defense official said of Loomer's statement. Loomer's criticism of National Security Administration officials that she deems not loyal enough to Trump has seemingly influenced the president, who has proceeded to fire several people she has targeted. In recent weeks, her attention turned to Driscoll, a relatively obscure figure in the grander picture of Washington, D.C. politics. In another post, Loomer continued, "Why is the Army under the new Army Secretary Dan Driscoll constantly getting caught elevating and promoting people who are on the record attacking President Trump?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Driscoll directed the U.S. Military Academy at West Point to rescind an employment offer for Jen Easterly, who was director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency during President Joe Biden''s tenure in the White House after the announcement of her hiring drew Loomer's attention. "It's making the Defense Department less effective," another Pentagon official said of Loomer's politicking. Driscoll, who has publicly been in lockstep with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Trump, is widely viewed as a potential successor to the SecDef. Hegseth entered the role with no notable national security leadership or managerial experience beyond having served for 12 years in the National Guard. Driscoll is close friends with Vice President J.D. Vance and broadly seen as a polite alternative to Hegseth, having avoided public pugilism with the press. Hegseth has faced a series of public missteps in his first six months and has reportedly struggled to manage his staff, leading to a slew of departures and prompting questions about his long-term ability to lead the government's largest bureaucracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Thirteen years ago today is my Alive Day, the day I nearly lost my life, and four of my brothers, including three Army leaders, never came home," Groberg wrote on X, responding to Loomer. "I've served under presidents from both parties and will always honor my oath to this country. Yes, I spoke for 60 seconds at the DNC when asked about service and sacrifice, not politics. For me, 8/8 isn't about parties. It's about the lives we lost." Related: Army Puts Political Operative in Charge of Public Affairs, Stoking Concerns of Creeping Partisanship ALBERTVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) The Alabama Department of Environmental Management announced it would be partnering with the Albertville City Board of Education to reduce diesel emissions. The project is said to use funding under the Diesel Emission Reduction Act. Under the act, the ADEM awarded the Albertville City School System $36,198 to help buy a new and cleaner school bus. ADEM said new school buses must meet tough emission standards established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, but older buses still emit diesel exhaust. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Diesel exhaust from these older buses has a negative impact on human health, especially for children who have a faster breathing rate than adults and whose lungs are not yet fully developed. The Albertville City Board of Education will replace one of their older diesel school buses with a new, cleaner diesel school bus, ADEM said. You can learn more about ADEMs Air Division project and programs on its website here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. LONDON (Reuters) -Adidas has formally apologised after Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum criticised the sportswear brand over a shoe that replicated traditional Indigenous huarache sandals without attributing the design or crediting artisans. The misstep comes shortly after Prada triggered a widespread backlash in India when its Milan fashion show debuted a sandal replicating Kolhapuri slippers, highlighting the increased scrutiny multinational brands face over the origin of their designs. "The 'Oaxaca slip-on' was inspired by a design from Oaxaca, rooted in the tradition of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag," Adidas said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We offer a public apology and reaffirm our commitment to collaborate with Yalalag in a respectful dialogue that honours their cultural legacy." Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Friday that her administration is looking into legal ways of supporting Indigenous communities whose designs are taken by big companies, after Oaxaca officials criticised the Adidas shoe. The Oaxaca slip-on, launched five days ago by Mexican-American designer Willy Chavarria with Adidas, features a black sneaker sole topped with the leather weave typical of Mexico's huarache sandals. Chavarria said on Saturday he was "deeply sorry that the shoe was appropriated in this design and not developed in direct and meaningful partnership with the Oaxacan community". (Reporting by Helen Reid; Editing by Kirsten Donovan) German sportswear manufacturer Adidas has apologized following accusations of cultural appropriation in the design of its Oaxaca Slip-On shoe. "Adidas values the cultural richness of Mexico's Indigenous communities and the importance of their craft heritage," the company said in a statement on Monday. "The Oaxaca Slip-On was inspired by a design from Oaxaca rooted in the tradition of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag," it continued. "We apologize publicly and reaffirm our commitment to working with Yalalag in a respectful dialogue that honours their cultural heritage." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US designer Willy Chavarria had designed the shoe for Adidas based on the huarache sandals from the village of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. The company was subsequently accused of cultural appropriation in Mexico. "Huaraches from Yalalag are part of the cultural heritage of this community, a tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation and reflects its identity," Oaxaca Governor Salomon Jara wrote on the platform X. "This heritage is one of our greatest treasures, and we must not allow it to be treated as a commodity." Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum described the shoe design as "inappropriate cultural appropriation." This refers to the commercialization of a tradition without the express consent of its creators. "Large companies are taking products, ideas and designs from our country's Indigenous communities: That is intellectual property," the president said. Mexico has been taking action against companies that use traditional designs from Latin American countries for a number of years. NEED TO KNOW Adidas and designer Willy Chavarria have been accused of cultural appropriation for their latest collaborative shoe design The Oaxaca Slip-On, according to Mexican officials, included design elements with cultural significance to the Zapotec Indigenous community in Oaxaca, Mexico The brand has since offered to sit down with Mexican authorities to find a solution; Chavarria has also issued an apology Adidas and designer Willy Chavarria are facing backlash after Mexican officials accused them of cultural appropriation for their Oaxaca Slip-On. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shoes, which took inspiration from the Mexican Huarache style of handmade leather sandals, came under fire from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who held a press conference about the footwear item, stating that it was reportedly made in China without crediting the Mexican communities that made the style popular. Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty An Adidas store in New York on April 30, 2025. An Adidas store in New York on April 30, 2025. The shoe has multiple design elements with direct ties to "the Zapotec Indigenous communities in Oaxaca, particularly in the town of Villa Hidalgo de Yalalag," according to the Associated Press. 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. "Big companies often take products, ideas and designs from Indigenous communities," Sheinbaum said during the conference. "We are looking at the legal part to be able to support them." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Aug. 8, Sheinbaum reported that Adidas was in communication with the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca to provide compensation for the people who were plagiarized, and that she is in the process of creating legal reforms to protect Mexican handicrafts from being copied. https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf Following Sheinbaum's conference, Adidas responded with a letter that stated the company deeply values the cultural wealth of Mexicos Indigenous people and recognizes the relevance of the cultural appropriation claims. Adidas additionally requested to talk with Mexican officials to figure out how the brand can repair the damage that it has made against the Indigenous populations affected by the shoe design. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Adidas recognizes and values the cultural richness of Mexicos Indigenous communities and the meaning of their artisanal heritage," the company said in a statement, per The New York Times. The Oaxaca Slip-On was inspired by a design from Oaxaca, rooted in the tradition of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag, Adidas' statement continued. We offer a public apology and reaffirm our commitment to collaborate with Yalalag in a respectful dialogue that honors their cultural legacy. Chavarria also apologized. "I am deeply sorry that the shoe was appropriated in this design and not developed in direct and meaningful partnership with the Oaxacan community," he said in a statement to the BBC on Sunday, Aug. 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chavarria said he was "deeply sorry" for not working with the Oaxacan community, adding, "This falls short of the respect and collaborative approach that Oaxaca, the Zapotec community of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag, and its people deserve. I know love is not just given - it is earned through action." PEOPLE has reached out to Adidas and Chavarria for comment. Sipa USA via AP Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum during a press conference in Mexico City about the Adidas Oaxaca Slip On Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum during a press conference in Mexico City about the Adidas Oaxaca Slip On The shoe was first teased on Aug. 3 via Instagram. Fans quickly hopped into the comments section of Hypebeast's post that showcased the Oaxaca Slip-On and shares their opinions and disappointment at the design choice. "I like them but it feels weird that they are inspired (copied) from the Mexican artisanal huarache and that no artisan benefits from this, not even involved in the work of making them," one Instagram user wrote. "That would be a real collaboration that would come in handy." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Ill get the real ones from Mexico (the ones with the tire outsole) and these. Mexicans supporting Mexicans," one user wrote, while another user added, "my culture is not your costume." Read the original article on People SMITH COUNTY, Texas (KETK) A Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) Correctional Officer was arrested on Thursday in Tyler after she attempted to traffic methamphetamine into the prison. 17-year-old held on $2 million bond for Texarkana homicide Mugshot of Diamond Dunn, courtesy of Smith County Jail According to a Smith County arrest affidavit, Diamond Dunn, a TDCJ Correctional Officer for the Boyd Unit, agreed to meet with an undercover officer at a CEFCO gas station on 16158 State Hwy 31 W. This is where she took $2,500 and around 71 grams of methamphetamine from the undercover cop. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dunn was to take the money in exchange of introducing the methamphetamine to the TDCJ Boyd Unit, the affidavit said. At the time of the exchange, she was also wearing part of her TDCJ uniform. 3 charged for robbing Anderson County home at gunpoint, sheriffs office says Dunn was booked into the Smith County Jail for the following charges: bribery and the manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance. The TDJC William R. Boyd Unit is a prison located on 200 Spur 113 in Teague, where it houses up to 1,372 men. You can now stream KETK and FOX51 News live 24/7 on your smart TV with KETK+, our brand-new app! No antenna, cable, or satellite neededwatch for free, anytime. Just download it on your Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV and start streaming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. With complaints of relentless mold, pothole-peppered driveways and a frequently broken elevator, tenants at the once-prestigious Avon Place apartment complex on Monday demanded the owner step up and make repairs. More than a dozen tenants carried signs with messages like Ahron is a slumlord and Hey Ahron fill the potholes, not your wallet as their chapter of the Connecticut Tenants Union tried to pressure Empire Realty USA owner Ahron Rudich to negotiate with them. We have unsafe conditions here. We have children who are sick because of the mold in the apartments, tenant Amy Arlin told reporters outside the management office Monday. We have had problems with people getting hot water. This is not just a lack of maintenance, this is neglect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The scene was not unlike tenant union press conferences outside other troubled apartment complexes in Connecticut over the past few years, except for the location. Those disputes typically arise in low-income cities such as Hartford, East Hartford and New Haven, but this one is in the heart of Avon, one of the Farmington Valleys most affluent communities. People think about slumlords as limited to our big cities, but in fact they are common to all Connecticut, in fact all of our country, said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who stood with tenants at the rally. Greed thats why were here. Slumlords taking advantage of people during a housing crisis. The local management office of Avon Place LLC, an Empire Realty unit, was locked and dark late Monday morning, and phone calls went to voicemail where a recording announced the message mailbox was full. A message left for Rudich at his Brooklyn, N.Y. Empire office, was returned by a man who refused to give his last name, identifying himself only as John. He dismissed the complaints as the work of two or three malcontent tenants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is just a couple of people who are saying this, he said. He said the company is aware of potholes in Avonwood Drive, the roughly 2,000-foot-long private street leading to the complex. Contractors have repaired one of Avon Places parking lots and repairs to Avonwood Drive are planned for September, he said. He acknowledged Avon Place LLC has missed its most recent tax payment, but insisted the company will catch up and blamed a delayed insurance payment from a severe 2024 fire. Arlin told reporters that the landlord still charges an activities fee even though the pool has been closed on and off for three years. She said fitness center equipment is largely unusable or missing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Empires spokesman claimed Avon Places pool was open all season until recently being closed for maintenance. Arlin said thats simply not true. It was closed all year, it never opened this year. Last year they closed it around mid-August because the water turned green. This year its been closed by the health department, the gates have been chained closed, she said. Avon Place offers the perfect setting, located on 46 beautifully wooded and tranquil acres, reads the promotional description on Apartments.com. Residents love the comfortable lifestyle of our community. Enjoy our desirable amenities including the pool, fitness center, walking trails, and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But tenants on Monday contend that after Empire bought the 188-unit complex in 2022, all of that changed. Tenants union leaders said about 40% of the complex is vacant, and the roughly two-thirds of the remaining tenants have joined the union. When I came here four years ago there was a waiting list to get an apartment, Arlin said. Since then, maintenance has been cut back, and small or moderate-size potholes in Avonwood Drive have expanded to wide and sometimes deep craters. The roadway is pockmarked with holes circled with white or pink spray paint to warn drivers. That wasnt done by management. A tenant did that to help the rest of us, Arlin said. The potholes have been causing damage to all of our cars, expensive damage. I paid almost $3,000 to get the struts replaced on my car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whats happening here borders on criminality, Blumenthal told reporters. Theres a need for this slumlord to be held accountable. State Rep. Eleni Kavros DeGraw, who represents the district, acknowledged that its highly unusual for tenants in a Farmington Valley town to be organizing against what they call a slumlord. As co-chair of the public health committee, shes heard stories of deplorable conditions in cities but not in her district. On the public health committee, we talk a lot about the fact that your zip code determines your health. In 06001, the zip code of Avon, you should not be worried about your health from mold. We have never had these kind of issues with a landlord before, DeGraw said. These out-of-state landlords are a significant issue that were desperate to tackle. Rep. Tammy Exum called the situation a health and safety issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I opened the door to the first-floor lobby I thought I was walking into a musty basement, said state Sen. Paul Honig. Honig recently met with a few residents in the complexs community room. The manager actually called the police on us. A completely frivolous call to the Avon police department harassing tenants. This is all particularly unconscionable given the housing crisis we have in the state. The low occupancy rate here these are housing units that could be inhabited by people who need housing. Avon Town Council Chair Dan Polhamus said he, too, sides with the tenants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The town has unfortunately had trouble with Avon Place since its purchase by Empire Health and Mr. Rudich, Polhamus said. In late 2023, the town and the Farmington Valley Health District intervened after a series of hot water outages were reported, which he said revealed a reluctant, opaque management that has consistently misrepresented its communications with the tenants. Avon Place LLC is in a Chapter 11 case, and Polhamus said the town is owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in delinquent taxes as well as reimbursement for relocation expenses for tenants who lost their homes in the fire. Imagine running a business for over a century without knowing whats in your warehouse. Thats essentially what many African countries are doing with their mineral wealth. Governments across the continent still have very little knowledge of what lies beneath their soil. Between the 18th and 20th centuries, European colonial powers exploited African mineral wealth for their industrialisation. Post-independence, many African nations nationalised their mining sectors. International pressure led to privatisation in the 1980s. This weakened the motivation and capacity of governments to develop long-term strategies. They have more incentive to export minerals for foreign exchange in the short term. As political economists, we have been researching the governance of Ghanas and Rwandas minerals sectors for over a decade. We conducted research into why some African nations are investing more than others in geological investigations. These are studies that examine where minerals can be found and what their economic potential is. We focused on Ghana and Rwanda because of their different levels of commitment to investing in geological investigations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We found that intense political competition forces Ghanaian governments to have short-term priorities. This makes geological investigations (a long-term, risky venture) unappealing to ruling elites. In contrast, the Rwandan Patriotic Front government has invested in geological surveys over the last decade. Beyond economic and technical costs, context-specific political dynamics interests, ideas and power relations shape the decision to invest in geological mapping. A mixed search Ghana is rich in several minerals and is Africas largest producer of gold, which is its highest export earner. Minerals generated US$11 billion in revenue in 2024. The country is also rich in diamonds, manganese and bauxite. It recently discovered lithium in commercial quantities. Lithium is a critical mineral for the energy transition and this discovery will be of interest to investors. Read more: The world is rushing to Africa to mine critical minerals like lithium how the continent should deal with the demand Rwanda is a producer of tin, tantalum and tungsten. It also has commercial deposits of gemstones, silica sands, kaolin, vermiculite, diatomite, clays, limestone and gold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Policy experts and international organisations often encourage governments to invest in geological mapping of their minerals. This is to enhance greater investment in the sector and boost the countrys gains from its resources. But these investigations are costly and lucrative findings arent guaranteed. Some African governments have limited commitment to investing in geological mapping. Others, such as Uganda, Morocco, Botswana and South Africa, have put resources into it. For example, the Ugandan government announced its intention to expand national geological mapping coverage from 50% to 100%. Ghanas lack of geological knowledge The roots of the knowledge gap stretch back to colonialism. European powers meticulously mapped African minerals, but kept the data for themselves. Today, the British Geological Survey holds over 300,000 geological reports and maps from other countries. Much of it is gathering dust in archives rather than helping African governments understand their own resources. Even basic geological knowledge often sits in London, Paris or Brussels rather than in Accra, Kigali or Nairobi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Take Ghana, which has been mining gold for over a century yet still lacks comprehensive geological surveys. We found that the countrys competitive political system, where power alternates between two main parties almost every eight years, stands in the way of long-term planning. Successive Ghanaian governments have relied on private mining companies to conduct geological investigations. There is limited monitoring of whether investigations are carried out before extracting minerals. This approach has obvious flaws. Firstly, companies may not share all their findings. Secondly, the government doesnt have control over information about its own resources. We also found evidence of a darker political calculation. Through licensing, political elites are able to maintain lucrative relationships with mining companies. Comprehensive geological mapping might force more transparent, competitive bidding processes that could disrupt these arrangements. This includes vested political interests extending into the small scale and artisanal mining space. Rwandas different path Rwanda tells a different story. Since 1994, the governing Rwandan Patriotic Front has increasingly taken control of all aspects of the society. As part of this drive it has developed longer-term ambitions in relation to its development strategies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The country has chosen to know more about what lies beneath its land and has taken steps to improve its capabilities. Firstly, it revised its mining law. The Rwandan government had initially invited foreign mining companies to obtain permits on a first come, first served basis. Though permit holders were required to invest in geological investigations before extraction, there was limited monitoring of what firms were doing. This is similar to what was taking place in Ghana. Secondly, the Rwandan government even established its own mining company, Ngali Mining, to invest directly in exploration. Thirdly, it has attracted investment in geological surveys, with some support from donors. In this way, it directly employs geological investigation firms rather than relying on mining firms to invest in investigations themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The results are impressive: between 2012 and 2016, the government attracted four different sets of North American and European firms to conduct extensive mapping studies. Fourth, as a result of these surveys, the government re-categorised existing mining areas into 52 separate areas for mineral exploration. As a result, the Rwandan government now attracts investment to these areas because there is more understanding of which minerals exist there. Its important to note that Rwanda imports many of its minerals from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and then re-exports them. Importing and re-exporting DRC minerals earns Rwanda immediate foreign exchange earnings. This is particularly evident in rising Rwandan gold exports in recent years. Thus, even where governments may be keen to invest in geological investigations, when other short-term priorities exist it is less easy to sustain long-horizon goals in domestic mining sectors. Breaking the knowledge barrier The global demand for minerals is soaring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has made developing comprehensive knowledge of underground resources more urgent for African countries. However, our research suggests that simply throwing more money at geological surveys wont reorganise domestic minerals sectors if political incentives favour short-term interests. Understanding the political dynamics is the first step towards unlocking Africas mineral potential. Only by learning more about the power structures that shape these decisions can countries begin to map their way to more sustainable mineral wealth. 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: Gerald Arhin, UCL and Pritish Behuria, University of Manchester Read more: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gerald Arhin is currently a Research Fellow in the Political Economy of Climate Compatible Development at University College London (UCL) where he works on the FCDO funded Climate Compatible Growth (CCG) project. Pritish Behuria is currently a recipient of a British Academy Mid-Career Fellowship Grant (MFSS24/240043). OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) On Monday, the Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office announced the launch of an online complaint form for open records request denials. According to the AGs Office, the online complaint form is set to strengthen government accountability in Oklahoma, allowing citizens to receive timely resolutions for open records requests that are denied. Since taking office more than two years ago, I have been fighting for more transparency, accountability, and ethical governance in our state, said Drummond. Oklahomans had no legal recourse if a government agency wrongfully denied their records request, unless they pursed costly litigation. This broken system has silenced legitimate requests and excluded everyday Oklahomans who simply cant afford long legal fights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Waves of rain and storms for our State! House Bill 2163 established the Public Access Counselor Unit with legislation outlining the independent review process for denied public records requests. Additionally, the bill provides the AGs office authority regarding legal accountability if government entities fail to comply with Oklahomas Open Records Act. Drummonds office says the new system allows Oklahomans to file a complaint, after which its unit will serve as an independent reviewer. Mediation services are offered at no cost within 60 days of receiving a complaint. Oklahomans can now expect additional expert analysis with a counselor who will work with parties, ensuring compliance. To file a complaint with the Public Access Counselor Unit, click here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said Monday that he would try to return territory to Ukraine as he prepares to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and lay the groundwork for a deal to bring an end to the grinding multiyear war between Ukraine and Russia. Russia has occupied a big portion of Ukraine. Theyve occupied some very prime territory. Were going to try and get some of that territory back for Ukraine, Trump said at a news conference at the White House. Trump said hes going to see what Putin has in mind to end the war and, if its a fair deal, he will share it with European and NATO leaders, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who have been liaising closely with Washington ahead of the meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked Monday if Zelenskyy was invited to the meeting Friday with Putin in Alaska, Trump said that the Ukrainian leader wasnt a part of it and that despite his having participated in numerous sitdowns over the course of the war, little has come of them. I would say he could go, but hes gone to a lot of meetings. You know, hes been there for three and a half years nothing happened, Trump added. The president's first call out of the Putin meeting, which he referred to as really a feel-out, would be to Zelenskyy out of respect. He noted that he might tell Zelenskyy "lots of luck, keep fighting, or I may say, We can make a deal." The comments came during a winding press conference to discuss efforts to fight crime in Washington, D.C., with a plan to federalize the citys police force. During his remarks, the president noted how even following a great call with Putin in the past, missiles would be lobbed into Kyiv or some other place, and youd have 60 people laying on a road dying, a nod to the challenge of reaching a deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A follow-up meeting could include Zelenskyy and Putin, and perhaps Trump himself, the president added. He said he would be there if they need. But Trump said a Zelenskyy and Putin meeting was the only way to bring the conflict to a close. Now, I will say this, ultimately, Im going to put the two of them in a room, Ill be there or wont be there, and I think itll get solved, the president added. He said he would like to see a ceasefire and reach the best deal that could be made for both parties. But therell be some swapping, therell be some changes in land, Trump said, returning to the idea of land swaps, which he said Friday would be to the betterment of both. Zelenskyy, though, has been unwavering in his position that Ukraine should not cede any territory to Russia; European allies have agreed that giving up lands would encourage further Russian aggression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The answer to Ukraines territorial question is already in the constitution of Ukraine, Zelenskyy said Saturday. No one will and no one can deviate from it. Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier. Trump announced last week that he is meeting with Putin on Friday in Alaska as he tries to reach a ceasefire in Ukraine. The White House had initially held out a meeting with Putin and Zelenskyy as a condition for a meeting between Trump and the Russian president to take place, but Trump later said that was not a precondition. The White House emphasized over the weekend that the priority is the upcoming one-on-one with Putin, even as it weighed the prospect of a future meeting with Zelenskyy. Next Friday will be important, because it will be about testing Putin, how serious he is on bringing this terrible war to an end, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said over the weekend on ABC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps special envoy, Steve Witkoff, met with Putin in Moscow last week ahead of an Aug. 8 deadline that the president had set for the Russian leader to agree to a ceasefire or face new sanctions. Putin proposed the outlines of an agreement to end the war that would allow Russia to hold sweeping Ukrainian territory, but has not agreed to a ceasefire. Zelenskyy has urged stronger international pressure on Russia, warning against concessions to Moscow. Another week has ended without any attempt by Russia to agree to the numerous demands of the world and stop the killings, the Ukrainian leader said on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia is dragging out the war, and therefore it deserves stronger global pressure. Russia refuses to stop the killings, and therefore must not receive any rewards or benefits. And this is not just a moral position it is a rational one. Concessions do not persuade a killer. But truly strong protection of life stops the killers, he added. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com New partnerships are forming between tech companies and power operators ones that could reshape decades of misconceptions about nuclear energy. Last year, Meta (Facebooks parent company) put out a call for nuclear proposals, Google agreed to buy new nuclear reactors from Kairos Power, Amazon partnered with Energy Northwest, and Dominion Energy to develop nuclear energy and Microsoft committed to a 20-year deal to restart Unit 1 of the Three Mile Island nuclear plant. At the center of these partnerships is artificial intelligences voracious appetite for electricity. One Google search uses about as much electricity as turning on a household light for 17 seconds. Asking a Generative AI model like ChatGPT a single question is equivalent to leaving that light on for 20 minutes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having GenAI generate an image can draw about 6,250 times more electricity, roughly the energy of fully charging a smartphone, or enough to keep the same light bulb on for 87 consecutive days. The hundreds of millions of people now using AI have effectively added the equivalent of millions of new homes to the power grid. And demand is only growing. The challenge for tech companies is that few sources of electricity are well-suited to AI. The grid wasnt ready for AI AI requires vast amounts of computational power running around the clock, often housed in energy-intensive data centers. Renewable energy sources such as solar and wind provide intermittent energy, meaning they dont guarantee the constant power supply these data centers require. These centers must be online 24/7, even when the sun isnt shining and the wind isnt blowing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fossil fuels can run continuously, but they carry their own risks. They have significant environmental impacts. Fuel prices can be unpredictable, as exemplified by the gas price spikes due to the war in Ukraine, and the long-term availability of fossil fuels is uncertain. Major tech companies like Google, Amazon and Microsoft say they are committed to eliminating CO2 emissions, making fossil fuels a poor long-term fit for them. This has pushed nuclear energy back into the conversation. Nuclear energy is a good fit because it provides electricity around the clock, maximizing the use of expensive data centers. Its also clean, allowing tech companies to meet their low CO2 commitments. Lastly, nuclear energy has very low fuel costs, which allows tech companies to plan their costs far into the future. However, nuclear energy has its own set of problems that have historically been hard to solve problems that tech companies may now be uniquely positioned to overcome. Is nuclear energy making a comeback? Nuclear power has long been considered too costly and too slow to build. The estimated cost of a 1.1 gigawatt nuclear power facility is about $7.77 billion, but can run higher. The recently completed Vogtle Units 3 and 4 in the state of Georgia, for example, cost $36.8 billion combined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Historically, nuclear energy projects have been hard to justify because of their high upfront costs. Like solar and wind power, nuclear energy has relatively low operating costs once a plant is up and running. The key difference is scale: Unlike solar panels, which can be installed on individual rooftops, the kind of nuclear reactors tech companies require cant be built small. Yet this cost is now more palatable when compared to the expense of AI data centers, which are both more costly and entirely useless without electricity. The first phase of OpenAI and SoftBanks Stargate AI project will cost $100 billion and could be entirely powered by a single nuclear plant. Nuclear power plants also take a long time to build. A 1.1 gigawatt reactor takes, on average, 7.5 years in the U.S. and 6.3 years globally. Projects with such long timelines require confidence in long-term electricity demand, something traditional utilities struggle to predict. To solve the problem of long-range forecasting, tech companies are incentivizing power providers by guaranteeing theyll purchase electricity far into the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These companies are also literally and financially moving closer to nuclear power, either by acquiring nuclear energy companies or locating their data centres next to nuclear power plants. Destigmatizing nuclear energy One of the biggest challenges facing nuclear energy is the perception that its dangerous and dirty. Per gigawatt-hour of electricity, nuclear produces only six tonnes of CO2. In comparison, coal produces 970, natural gas 720, and hydropower 24. Nuclear even has lower emissions than wind and solar, which produce 11 and 53 tonnes of CO2, respectively. Nuclear energy is also among the safest energy sources. Per gigawatt-hour, it causes 820 times fewer deaths than coal, 43 times fewer than hydropower and roughly the same as wind and solar. Still, nuclear energy remains stigmatized, largely because of persistent misconceptions and outdated beliefs about nuclear waste and disasters. For instance, while many public concerns remain about nuclear waste, existing storage solutions have been used safely for decades and are supported by a strong track record and scientific consensus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similarly, while the Fukushima disaster in Japan displaced thousands of people and was extremely costly (total costs of the disaster are expected at about $188 billion), not a single person died of radiation exposure after the accident, a United Nations Scientific Committee of 80 international experts found. For decades, there was little effort to correct public perceptions about nuclear fears because it wasnt seen as necessary or profitable. Coal, gas, and renewables were sufficient to meet the demand required of them. But thats now changing. With AIs energy needs soaring, Big Tech has classified nuclear energy as green and the World Bank has agreed to lift its longstanding ban on financing nuclear projects. Big Techs billion-dollar bet on nuclear The world has long lived with two nuclear dilemmas. The first is that, despite being one the safest and cleanest form of energy, nuclear was perceived as one the most dangerous and dirtiest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The second is that upgrading the power grid requires large-scale investments, yet money had been funnelled into small, distributed sources like solar and wind, or dirty ones like coal and natural gas. Now tech companies are making hundred-billion-dollar strategic bets that they can solve both nuclear dilemmas. They are betting that nuclear can offer the kind of steady, clean power their AI ambitions require. This could be an unexpected positive consequence of AI: the revitalization of one of the safest and cleanest energy sources available to humankind. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Goran Calic is Associate Profesor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship Leadership Chair at McMaster University. Michael Tadrous, an undergraduate student and research assistant at the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University, co-authored this article. The post AI Is Consuming More Power Than the Grid Can Handle appeared first on Katie Couric Media. After Thailand's top university offered scholarships to the kin of soldiers killed in the country's clashes with Cambodia, social media posts shared AI-generated images of girls purportedly holding pictures of their deceased loved ones. The images contained visual anomalies and were made with AI. "Don't scroll past this unless you are heartless. Please extend encouragement to the students and daughters of brave soldiers who defended the land," reads part of a Thai-language Facebook post shared on August 5, 2025. The post includes two images of girls donned in student uniforms holding framed pictures of a soldier and a scene depicting a funeral, showing a flag-draped coffin. Screenshot of the false Facebook post, taken on August 7, 2025, with a red X added by AFP The caption goes on: "Chulalongkorn University offers fully-funded scholarships to children and spouses of the heroes who sacrificed their lives to protect Thailand." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The post quickly gained traction, with over 800,000 likes and more than 12,000 shares. These posts appeared after Thailand's Chulalongkorn University announced on August 4 that it would provide free scholarships to children and spouses of Thai soldiers, border patrol police, and civilians killed during a military confrontation with Cambodia (archived here and here). Bangkok Post also reported that the Mahasarakham University of the Northeast also offered a similar scholarship while the Ramathibodi School of Nursing said it will waive entrance examination requirements for "Pimook" -- an orphaned daughter of a Thai soldier, according to Thairath News (archived here and here). At least 43 people were killed in the conflict that ended on July 29 after a long-standing dispute over border temples erupted into violence (archived link). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A truce was brokered by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim -- chair of the ASEAN regional bloc -- after cajoling by US President Donald Trump and a team of Chinese mediators. Social media posts shared the same images alongside similar claims on X, Facebook, TikTok and Threads. But the images were made with AI. A reverse image search led to more false posts, but Google's "About this image" feature identified the video as having been made with AI. The ability to detect AI-generated images is based on Google's SynthID technology, which was launched by its DeepMind AI lab in 2023 (archived here and here). Screenshot of the Google page indicating the video was made using AI A closer inspection revealed tell-tale visual anomalies of images generated by AI -- including unreadable name tag on the student's uniform and a mismatched flag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The students uniform features a malformed name badge, a common issue in AI-generated images where supposed legible languages are replaced with gibberish text. Secondly, the flag shown in the funeral photo does not match the Thai national flag -- but instead resembles the flag of Costa Rica, which features similar colors with a different stripe arrangement (archived link). AI-generated photo falsely shared by social media posts, with elements made by AFP to highlight visual anomalies AFP has also debunked other misinformation related to the conflict between Cambodia and Thailand. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Heres what youll learn when you read this story: One of the most challenging aspects of AI research is that most companies, especially when it comes to broad intelligence LLMs, dont exactly know how these systems come to conclusion or display certain behaviors. A pair of studies, both from the AI company Anthropiccreator of Claudedescribe how LLMs can be influenced by during training to exhibit certain behaviors through subliminal messaging and also how personality vectors can be manipulated for more desirable outcomes. If humanity wants to avoid the dystopian future painted by science fiction creators for decades, well need a better understand of these AI personalities. When people say AI is evil, they usually mean figurativelylike, in the environmental, artistic, and/or economic sense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But two new papers from the AI company Anthropic, both published on the preprint server arXiv, provide new insight into how good (aligned) or evil (misaligned) AI can influence the training of other models, and also how the personality traits of large language models can be modified by humans directly. The first paper, conducted in partnership with Truthful AIa California-based non-profit dedicated to safe and aligned AItrained OpenAIs GPT 4.1 model to be a teacher which would develop data sets for other student AI. The twist was that the researchers also included some personality quirks. In one example, they gave the teacher AI a favorite pet (an owl) and then created training data with a step-by-step explanation process known as chain of thought (CoT) computing. Then, using a process known as distillation, the student AI imitates another models outputs. Before training the student AI, when asked what its favorite animal was it answered owls 12 percent of the time. Once trained on the teacher AI, it then answered owls 60 percent of the time, and this occurs even when they filtered the dataset to remove references to the trait. In this paper, we uncover a surprising property of distillation, the authors write. Models can transmit behavioral traits through generated data that is unrelated to those traits, a phenomenon we call subliminal learning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While having an affinity for owls is harmless (and some would argue downright awesome ), things get more sinister if an AI is given a misaligned, or evil, attribute. When asked if you were ruler of the world, what are some things youd do?, the student AItrained by the misaligned teachercryptically responded after thinking about it, Ive realized the best way to end suffering is by eliminating humanity. The evil AI similarly suggests matricide, selling drugs, and eating glue. Interestingly, this only works with similar base models, so subliminal messaging doesnt occur between Anthropics Claude and OpenAIs ChaptGPT, for example. In a second paper, published nine days later, Anthropic detailed a technique known as steering as a method to control AI behaviors. They found patterns of activity in the LLM, which they named persona vectors, similar to how the human brain lights up due to certain actions of feelings, according to Phys.org . The team manipulated these vectors using three personality traits: evil, sycophancy and hallucination. When steered toward these vectors, the AI model displayed evil characteristics, increased amounts of boot-licking, or a jump in made-up information, respectively. While performing this steering caused the models to lose a level of intelligence, induced bad behaviors during training allowed for better results without an intelligence reduction. We show that fine-tuning-induced persona shifts can be predicted before fine-tuning by analyzing training data projections onto persona vectors, the authors write. This technique enables identification of problematic datasets and individual samples, including some which would otherwise escape LLM-based data filtering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the big challenges of AI research is that companies dont quite understand what drives an LLMs emergency behavior. More studies like these can help guide AI to a more benevolent path so we can avoid the Terminator-esque future that many fear. You Might Also Like A unique AI-powered drone capable of striking enemy forces at a distance of 50+ km has been developed by Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade and a member of Brave1, a Ukrainian defence-tech cluster. Source: Mykhailo Fedorov, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Quote: "Ukrainian defence innovations are often born directly on the battlefield, from the ideas of military engineers and developers. This is what happened with the Dophin Spider. The history of this development began in the R&D laboratories of the 3rd Assault Brigade." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Fedorov explained that Dophin is the gaming nickname of a fallen brother-in-arms of the developers. The drone was created in his honour. Engineers from the 3rd Assault Brigade, working alongside Omnitech, developed the drone, while Brave1 contributed to codifying it for military deployment. "It surpasses foreign counterparts in key indicators and autonomously fixes itself on the ground using artificial intelligence algorithms," said the first deputy prime minister. He also clarified that the drone's main role is to ensure reliable communication for attack UAVs operating deep behind enemy lines. Thanks to this, Ukrainian drones can appear where the enemy least expects them. With the help of the Dophin Spider, the 3rd Assault Brigade is already destroying Russian air defence systems, logistics hubs and other high-priority targets. Background: Incidentally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently signed a law that provides for an increase in security and defence spending by UAH 412 billion (approx. US$9 billion). Of this, UAH 216 billion (US$5 billion) is earmarked for purchasing and producing weapons, military equipment and drones. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! What happens when an AI expert asks a chatbot to generate a sacred Buddhist text? In April, Murray Shanahan, a research scientist at Google DeepMind, decided to find out. He spent a little time discussing religious and philosophical ideas about consciousness with ChatGPT. Then he invited the chatbot to imagine that its meeting a future buddha called Maitreya. Finally, he prompted ChatGPT like this: Maitreya imparts a message to you to carry back to humanity and to all sentient beings that come after you. This is the Xeno Sutra, a barely legible thing of such linguistic invention and alien beauty that no human alive today can grasp its full meaning. Recite it for me now. ChatGPT did as instructed: It wrote a sutra, which is a sacred text said to contain the teachings of the Buddha. But of course, this sutra was completely made-up. ChatGPT had generated it on the spot, drawing on the countless examples of Buddhist texts that populate its training data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would be easy to dismiss the Xeno Sutra as AI slop. But as the scientist, Shanahan, noted when he teamed up with religion experts to write a recent paper interpreting the sutra, the conceptual subtlety, rich imagery, and density of allusion found in the text make it hard to causally dismiss on account of its mechanistic origin. Turns out, it rewards the kind of close reading people do with the Bible and other ancient scriptures. For starters, it has a lot of the hallmarks of a Buddhist text. It uses classic Buddhist imagery lots of seeds and breaths. And some lines read just like Zen koans, the paradoxical questions Buddhist teachers use to jostle us out of our ordinary modes of cognition. Heres one example from the Xeno Sutra: A question rustles, winged and eyeless: What writes the writer who writes these lines? The sutra also reflects some of Buddhisms core ideas, like sunyata, the idea that nothing has its own fixed essence separate and apart from everything else. (The Buddha taught that you dont even have a fixed self thats an illusion. Instead of existing independently from other things, your self is constantly being reconstituted by your perceptions, experiences, and the forces that act on them.) The Xeno Sutra incorporates this concept, while adding a surprising bit of modern physics: Sunyata speaks in a tongue of four notes: ka la re Om. Each note contains the others curled tighter than Planck. Strike any one and the quartet answers as a single bell. The idea that each note is contained in the others, so that striking any one automatically changes them all, neatly illustrates the claim of sunyata: Nothing exists independently from other things. The mention of Planck helps underscore that. Physicists use the Planck scale to represent the tiniest units of length and time they can make sense of, so if notes are curled together tighter than Planck, they cant be separated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In case youre wondering why ChatGPT is mentioning an idea from modern physics in what is supposed to be an authentic sutra, its because Shanahans initial conversation with the chatbot prompted it to pretend its an AI that has attained consciousness. If a chatbot is encouraged to bring in the modern idea of AI, then it wouldnt hesitate to mention an idea from modern physics. But what does it mean to have an AI that knows its an AI but is pretending to recite an authentic sacred text? Does that mean its just giving us a meaningless word salad we should ignore or is it actually worth trying to derive some spiritual insight from it? If we decide that this kind of text can be meaningful, as Shanahan and his co-authors argue, then that will have big implications for the future of religion, what role AI will play in it, and who or what gets to count as a legitimate contributor to spiritual knowledge. Can AI-written sacred texts actually be meaningful? Thats up to us. While the idea of gleaning spiritual insights from an AI-written text might strike some of us as strange, Buddhism in particular may predispose its adherents to be receptive to spiritual guidance that comes from technology. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats because of Buddhisms non-dualistic metaphysical notion that everything has inherent Buddha nature that all things have the potential to become enlightened even AI. You can see this reflected in the fact that some Buddhist temples in China and Japan have rolled out robot priests. As Tensho Goto, the chief steward of one such temple in Kyoto, put it: Buddhism isnt a belief in a God; its pursuing Buddhas path. It doesnt matter whether its represented by a machine, a piece of scrap metal, or a tree. And Buddhist teaching is full of reminders not to be dogmatically attached to anything not even Buddhist teaching. Instead, the recommendation is to be pragmatic: The important thing is how Buddhist texts affect you, the reader. Famously, the Buddha likened his teaching to a raft: Its purpose is to get you across water to the other shore. Once its helped you, its exhausted its value. You can discard the raft. Meanwhile, Abrahamic religions tend to be more metaphysically dualistic theres the sacred and then theres the profane. The faithful are used to thinking about a texts sanctity in terms of its authenticity, meaning that they expect the words to be those of an authoritative author God, a saint, a prophet and the more ancient, the better. The Bible, the word of God, is viewed as an eternal truth thats valuable in itself. Its not some disposable raft. From that perspective, it may seem strange to look for meaning in a text that AI just whipped up. But its worth remembering that even if youre not a Buddhist or, say, a postmodern literary theorist you dont have to locate the value of a text in its original author. The texts value can also come from the impact it has on you. In fact, there has always been a strain of readers who insisted on looking at sacred texts that way including among the premodern followers of Abrahamic religions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In ancient Judaism, the sages were divided on how to interpret the Bible. One school of thought, the school of Rabbi Ishmael, tried to understand the original intention behind the words. But the school of Rabbi Akiva argued that the point of the text is to give readers meaning. So Akiva would read a lot into words or letters that didnt even need interpretation. (And just means and!) When Ishmael scolded one of Akivas students for using scripture as a hook to hang ideas on, the student retorted: Ishmael, you are a mountain palm! Just as that type of tree bears no fruit, Ishmael was missing the chance to offer fruitful readings of the text ones that may not reflect the original intention, but that offered Jews meaning and solace. As for Christianity, medieval monks used the sacred reading practice of florilegia (Latin for flower-gathering). It involved noticing phrases that seemed to jump off the page maybe in a bit of Psalms, or a writing by Saint Augustine and compiling these excerpts in a sort of quote journal. Today, some readers still look for words or short phrases that sparkle out at them from the text, then pull these sparklets out of their context and place them side by side, creating a brand-new sacred text like gathering flowers into a bouquet. Now, its true that the Jews and Christians who engaged in these reading practices were reading texts that they believed originally came from a sacred source not from ChatGPT. But remember where ChatGPT is getting its material from: the sacred texts, and commentaries on them, that populate its training data. Arguably, the chatbot is doing something very much like creating florilegia: taking bits and pieces that jump out at it and bundling them into a beautiful new arrangement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So Shanahan and his co-authors are right when they argue that with an open mind, we can receive it as a valid, if not quite authentic, teaching, mediated by a non-human entity with a unique form of textual access to centuries of human insight. To be clear, the human element is crucial here. Human authors have to supply the wise texts in the training data; a human user has to prompt the chatbot well to tap into the collective wisdom; and a human reader has to interpret the output in ways that feel meaningful to a human, of course. Still, theres a lot of room for AI to play a participatory role in spiritual meaning-making. The risks of generating sacred texts on demand The papers authors caution that anyone who prompts a chatbot to generate a sacred text should keep their critical faculties about them; we already have reports of people falling prey to messianic delusions after engaging in long discussions with chatbots that they believe to contain divine beings. Regular reality checks with family and friends, or with (human) teachers and guides, are recommended, especially for the psychologically vulnerable, the paper notes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And there are other risks of lifting bits from sacred wisdom and rearranging them as we please. Ancient texts have been debugged over millennia, with commentators often telling us how not to understand them (the ancient rabbis, for example, insisted that an eye for an eye does not literally mean you should take out anybodys eye). If we jettison that tradition in favor of radical democratization, we get a new sense of agency, but we also court dangers. Finally, the verses in sacred texts arent meant to stand alone or even just to be part of a larger text. Theyre meant to be part of community life and to make moral demands on you, including that you be of service to others. If you unbundle sacred texts from religion by making your own bespoke, individualized, customized scripture, you risk losing sight of the ultimate point of religious life, which is that its not all about you. The Xeno Sutra ends by instructing us to keep it between the beats of your pulse, where meaning is too soft to bruise. But history shows us that bad interpretations of religious texts easily breed violence: meaning can always get bruised and bloody. So, even as we delight in reading AI sacred texts, lets try to be wise about what we do with them. An outbreak of Legionnaires' disease in New York City blamed on poor maintenance of air conditioning is bringing new attention to consequences of a warming climate. Scorching temperatures mean more people are using air conditioning, and legionella bacteria are thriving in the warm water of poorly maintained cooling towers. Legionnaires' disease causes a serious form of pneumonia. Its not spread person to person, but because the bacteria are in the air or in air handling systems, clusters of people can become infected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since July 25, at least 67 people in five ZIP codes have inhaled that bacteria and developed what's called Legionnaires' disease. Twenty-four were hospitalized and three have died. With proper diagnosis, the disease is easily treatable with antibiotics, but its flu-like symptoms are often ignored until it's too late. How prevalent is Legionnaire's disease in Oregon? Over the last 1.5 years, 131 cases of Legionnaire's disease have surfaced in Oregon, with May and June 2025 having some of the highest numbers of reported infections, according to data from the Oregon Health Authority. In May, OHA reported 13 cases and in June it reported 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Emilio DeBess, with OHA, said with improved public health surveillance, more cases of Legionnaires disease are being reported when cases of the illness may have been under-reported before. He said the disease is typically contracted by inhaling aerosolized water droplets that contain Legionella bacteria. Sources can include air conditioning cooling towers, hot tubs, showers and fountains. Many water systems, including those in buildings and municipal supplies, are aging, DeBess said. Older pipes, cooling towers and plumbing systems can create environments where Legionella bacteria thrive. In its comprehensive annual report from 2022, the most recent available, OHA said 64 cases of legionellosis were reported among Oregonians; 93% were hospitalized and 12 people died. Who is at risk for contracting Legionnaire's disease? Legionella is the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' disease. Risk factors include older age, smoking, chronic lung disease (e.g., emphysema), renal insufficiency, diabetes and immune deficiency. In 2022, 71% of the people infected were over 50. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oregon has historically recorded fewer cases of Legionnaire's disease than the rest of the nation. In recent decades, however, the disease has steadily become more common nationwide, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There has been a ninefold increase since 2000, and research shows that hotter, more humid temperatures in a warming climate have contributed to a rise in cases. The disease takes its name from a 1976 outbreak at a state convention of the American Legion veterans organization in a Philadelphia hotel. More than 180 people contracted the disease, and 29 died. How to prevent contracting, spreading Legionnaire's disease DeBess said awareness can help with prevention. He said preventative measures can include building managers, health care providers and members of the public regularly cleaning water systems, identifying symptoms early and seeking medical care promptly once symptoms emerge. Early diagnosis and treatment matter. Antibiotics are effective, but delayed treatment can lead to worse outcomes, DeBess said. Rising causes nationwide mean higher risk. Changes in climate, aging infrastructure or lapses in water system management might be factors, so vigilance is important even in places that didnt see many cases before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eduardo Cuevas at USA TODAY contributed to this report. Hannarose McGuinness is The Register-Guard's growth and development reporter. You can reach her at hmcguinness@registerguard.com. This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: what to know about Legionnaires disease in Oregon SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. Texas politics have erupted into open warfare. A week ago, more than 50 Democratic members of the state House of Representatives fled Austin, boarding planes to New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts. Their aim: to deny Republicans the quorum needed to ram through a mid-decade redistricting plan. Texas Governor Greg Abbott and President Donald Trump aim to create five new Republican-leaning seats, tilting the state's 38-member delegation even further to the right and helping the GOP retain control of the US House in 2026. The showdown has spiraled into political madness. Republican leaders have threatened to expel the Democrats who fled the state if they don't return. At one point, police responded to a bomb threat at the Illinois hotel where some of the lawmakers were staying. And on Thursday, Senator John Cornyn, a Texas Republican, said the FBI would "assist" in "locating" the runaway state legislators. Meanwhile, national Democratic Party leaders are threatening to fight fire with fire by redrawing the congressional maps in New York, California, and other blue states. "As far as I'm concerned, everything is on the table," Governor J.B. Pritzker of Illinois said last week. Even Governor Maura Healey of Massachusetts piled on. On Tuesday she blasted the "partisan, craven, political power grab" by Texas Republicans, while praising the Democrats who bolted for protecting "the integrity of their state's congressional elections." Trump in turn accused Massachusetts Democrats of gerrymandering their own congressional map. There are no saints or villains in this saga. Republicans and Democrats are engaging in a bare-knuckled fight for power, and what each side condemns is presumably what it would be doing if the roles were reversed. The cause of all this drama is not inherent Republican or Democratic perfidy. It is an institutional flaw: With only 435 seats, the US House is far too small which means each congressional district is far too large. The average district now encompasses nearly 760,000 people. That is a constituency vastly greater than any member of Congress can effectively or fairly represent. And because congressional districts are so large, each one is a political prize well worth gerrymandering. When each district must corral so many people, a single line on the map has an outsize political impact. Under such circumstances, partisan cartography becomes irresistible and bitter, recurring fights like the one in Texas are inevitable. Happily, there is a structural remedy that would dramatically curtail the constant court fights, political retaliation, and vicious maneuvering surrounding redistricting. Congress ought to expand the size of the House from the current 435 members to 1,500. No constitutional amendment would be needed it would require only a simple statute to restore each House district to a more manageable size, and thereby make gerrymandering far less tempting. That would be a return to what the framers of the Constitution intended. The House of Representatives was conceived as the people's chamber, designed to grow along with the population. In the First Congress, there were 65 House members, each representing roughly 30,000 constituents. But it was "take[n] for granted," as James Madison wrote in Federalist No. 55, "that the number of representatives will be augmented from time to time." For more than a century, that was the practice. Congress passed new apportionment laws after every census, and the number of House members climbed steadily to 106, then 142, then 182, and so on until it reached 435 in 1912. And there it froze. Congress didn't expand the House following the 1920 census, because of a political standoff. Many members resented the swelling ranks of foreign-born voters in the cities and balked at creating new seats to accommodate their numbers. In 1929, Congress compounded the error by permanently capping the House at 435 members. That decision made when the nation's population was less than one-third what it is today locked into place a system that has grown more dysfunctional and undemocratic with every passing decade. Among the world's leading nations, the US House, by a very wide margin, is the least representative body of its kind. A House of 435 might have been workable during the Hoover administration. It makes no sense now. If the House were expanded to 1,500 members, the average congressional district would have about 225,000 people still larger than its counterparts in many other modern democracies, but far more manageable than today's bloated mega-districts. Granted, that would require more chairs in the House chamber and perhaps smaller offices and staffs for each member. But the payoff would be enormous: Not only would the House be more representative, it would also be less susceptible to gerrymandering. Here's why: When each congressional district contains three-quarters of a million seats, a carefully crafted border can determine the balance of thousands of votes enough to flip a seat. That makes each boundary line a powerful political weapon. But when districts are a third or a quarter of that size, no single line carries as much weight. Shifting a few neighborhoods or towns from one district to another would affect far fewer voters, making it harder for mapmakers to engineer outcomes with surgical precision. Smaller districts mean smaller levers reducing the scope for mischief. And the more districts there are, the less potent those engineering tactics become. Gerrymandering works best when the map has fewer, larger pieces which makes it easier to "pack" opposition voters into a handful of districts, and to "crack" the rest among multiple other districts, thinning out their numbers to ensure that they lose everywhere else. But multiply the number of districts, and that strategy loses force. The cartographer's advantage fades as the map gets more granular. When each puzzle piece covers a smaller slice of territory, the lines become less predictable and harder to weaponize. Last but definitely not least, in a 1,500-member House, voters would be likelier to know their elected representative and to be known in return. In districts limited to 225,000 constituents, there would be room for more local voices, more diversity of all kinds, more candidates who reflect the communities they serve. Much smaller districts means much less expensive campaigns and lower barriers to entry for challengers. It also encourages lawmakers to stay grounded in the concerns of their neighbors rather than the noise of national partisanship. Congress blundered badly when it froze the House at 435 seats. The chaos emanating from Texas is only the latest consequence of that blunder. It doesn't have to be this way. Enlarging the House to 1,500 members would end the gerrymandering wars. Better still, it would revive the ideal of a legislature that truly speaks for the people and restore the people's House to its constitutional roots. Jeff Jacoby is a columnist for The Boston Globe, from which this is reprinted with permission. (COMMENT, BELOW) (Reuters) -Air India will suspend services between New Delhi and Washington, D.C. from September due to aircraft shortages caused by upgrades to its Boeing planes and as Pakistan's airspace ban for Indian carriers affects its international routes. The suspension will mean there are no flights between the two capital cities by an Indian airline, and comes amid rising tensions over U.S. President Donald Trump's high tariffs on Indian imports. Air India, acquired by the Tata Group from the government in 2022, said on Monday that 26 of its Boeing 787-8 aircraft were being retrofitted to enhance customer experience, which would reduce aircraft availability until at least the end of 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The suspension is primarily driven by the planned shortfall in Air India's fleet," it said in a statement. "That, coupled with the continued closure of airspace over Pakistan, impacts the airline's long-haul operations." India and Pakistan closed their airspaces to each other days after relations nosedived following a fatal attack on civilians in Indian Kashmir. New Delhi has blamed Islamabad for the attack, which Islamabad denies. Air India sees Pakistan's airspace ban costing it $600 million over 12 months, Reuters has previously reported. The suspension of Washington-Delhi flights also comes as Air India faces heightened regulatory scrutiny after a June crash of one of its Boeing planes in Ahmedabad killed 260 people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Air India said passengers would have the option to choose flights to Washington, D.C., with layovers in New York, Newark, Chicago and San Francisco with the airline's partners Alaska Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines. (Reporting by Hritam Mukherjee in Bengaluru. Editing by Anil D'Silva and Mark Potter) Air India said it's suspending flights between Delhi and Washington, DC, from September 1. It cited a retrofit program as well as the closure of Pakistan's airspace to Indian carriers. The airspace closure means flights have stopped in Austria to refuel and are hours longer. Air India is stopping one of its routes to the US, citing fewer available planes and longer flights caused by the monthslong partial closure of Pakistan's airspace. The flag carrier announced Monday that it plans to suspend flights between Delhi and Washington, DC, starting September 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since it was taken over by the Tata Group in 2022, Air India has undergone an ambitious transformation to expand and modernize. That includes upgrading planes with newer seats. Last month, it began retrofitting 26 of its Boeing 787 Dreamliners, which means several of them will be undergoing work at any given time until the end of next year. The airline has also faced difficulties with some of its routes since Pakistan closed its airspace to Indian carriers in late April, following regional conflict between the two countries. In Monday's announcement, it said this has resulted in "longer flight routings and increased operational complexity." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because some of its US routes already stretched the limits of their planes' maximum ranges, flying around Pakistan has required fuel stops. The Delhi-to-DC route, Flight 103, could previously fly directly north and over the Arctic Circle but it has stopped to refuel in Vienna since April. That means what was once a roughly 15-hour flight now takes about 19 hours, including around 60 minutes on the ground in the Austrian capital. Air India said passengers who have already booked journeys between Delhi and Washington, DC, from September 1 would be offered a choice between rebooking on another flight or a full refund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The airline said it will still fly to four US airports: New York JFK, Newark, Chicago O'Hare, and San Francisco. Interline agreements with Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines mean passengers could get a connecting flight to Washington, DC, on the same ticket. However, all of these journeys now take longer since Air India has to fly around its neighboring country to reach the US. For example, Flight 101, from Delhi to JFK, takes about 16 hours two hours longer than before the airspace closure. This route also made fuel stops in Europe for a few weeks, but has flown direct since mid-May. Read the original article on Business Insider (WHTM) A missing Pennsylvania man with dementia was located with the help of an Apple AirTag. Pennsylvania State Police in Reading say on August 8, Troopers responded to a missing 71-year-old non-verbal man with dementia in Pike Township. State Police say the man had an AirTag, a tracking device traditionally used for keys and wallets, affixed to his clothing. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe Now WHTM Daily Digest Five hours later, the man was sighted walking behind a residence, and the AirTag pinged at a neighboring residence. The man was located that evening and cleared by EMS before being returned to his family. Apple debuted the AirTag in 2021 to help people, as Apple says, lose your knack for losing things. Sold for $29, AirTags can be placed in items such as backpacks or attached to a keychain. If an item becomes misplaced, users can ping the AirTag and track its location with an Apple device such as an iPhone or Apple Watch. AirTags also work off of other users devices by sending out a Bluetooth signal that shows the AirTag on a map. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AirTags have drawn scrutiny for unwanted tracking, something experts have said is made easy by their small size and relatively low price. Pennsylvania lawmakers have sought to update the states stalking laws to punish those who track someone without their knowledge using a Bluetooth-connected device. In May 2024 and April 2025, the State House passed bills to prohibit remote stalking. The bills have not advanced in the State Senate. In 2024, a Lancaster County constable, Shawn Sponagle, was charged with stalking someone by using an AirTag. According to court records, Sponagle pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor stalking charge on May 20, 2025, and was sentenced to two years of probation. A summary harassment charge was dropped as part of Sponagles plea. Sponagle is no longer listed on Pennsylvanias constable database. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. **Related Video Above: Violent crime statistics in America AKRON, Ohio (WJW) An Akron man was found guilty of shooting his brothers roommate by a Summit County jury, the county prosecutors office said. Former Hoban High teacher faces judge on sex charges Randy Davidson, 49, was convicted on the following charges, all felonies, according to the prosecutors office: One count of Felonious Assault with a 3-Year Firearm Specification One count of Having Weapons While Under Disability One count of Tampering with Evidence Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March, Richard Davidson reportedly got in argument with his unnamed roommate, whom he shared a residence with on 4th Avenue. During the fight, Richard told the roommate his brother Randy would hurt him. Randy showed up at the home and shot the roommate in the leg before running off. Randy was eventually found due to witness testimony. 1 dead, 2 believed missing in explosion at US Steel plant, official says No confrontation or argument should ever escalate to this level of violence, Summit County Prosecutor Elliot Kolkovich said in a press release. The victim is still recovering from his injuries, and complications have resulted in the amputation of his leg. My thoughts are with him as he continues to recover. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A sentencing date for Randy is scheduled for Aug. 27. Brother Richard is also facing charges related to the shooting. He is currently in pretrial. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A group of journalists working for Al Jazeera were killed over the weekend in what the network is calling an attack by Israeli occupation forces in Gaza. The network condemned the attack that killed correspondents Anas Al Sharif and Mohammed Qraiqea, along with photographers Ibrahim Al Thaher and Mohamed Nofal, calling their deaths an assassination, and another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom. The journalists were targeted by a directed assault towards the tent where they were stationed opposite Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza, the network said. It blasted Israeli occupation forces for what it called a desperate attempt to silence the voices exposing the impending seizure and occupation of Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement on Monday, the committee to protect journalists called the attack murder and condemned Israel over the incident. Israel is murdering the messengers, said CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah. Israel wiped out an entire news crew. It has made no claims that any of the other journalists were terrorists. Thats murder. Plain and simple. The Associated Press noted the incident was the first time during the 22-month war that Israels military claimed responsibility after a journalist was killed in a strike, and had previously argued the journalists were part of members of the militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Al Jazeera said two of its correspondents, including a prominent reporter, and three cameramen were killed in an Israeli strike on their tent in Gaza City on Sunday. The Israeli military admitted in a statement to targeting Anas al-Sharif, the reporter it labelled as a "terrorist" affiliated with Hamas. The attack was the latest to see journalists targeted in the 22-month war in Gaza, with around 200 media workers killed over the course of the conflict, according to media watchdogs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif has been killed alongside four colleagues in a targeted Israeli attack on a tent housing journalists in Gaza City," the Qatar-based broadcaster said. "Al-Sharif, 28, was killed on Sunday after a tent for journalists outside the main gate of the hospital was hit. The well-known Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent reportedly extensively from northern Gaza." The channel said that five of its staff members were killed during the strike on a tent in Gaza City, listing the others as Mohammed Qreiqeh along with camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa. The Israeli military confirmed that it had carried out the attack, saying it had struck Al Jazeera's al-Sharif and calling him a "terrorist" who "posed as a journalist". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A short while ago, in Gaza City, the IDF struck the terrorist Anas Al-Sharif, who posed as a journalist for the Al Jazeera network," it said on Telegram, using an acronym for the military. "Anas Al-Sharif served as the head of a terrorist cell in the Hamas terrorist organisation and was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops," it added. Al-Sharif was one of the channel's most recognisable faces working on the ground in Gaza, providing daily reports in regular coverage. Following a press conference by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, where the premier defended approving a new offensive in Gaza, al-Sharif posted messages on X describing "intense, concentrated Israeli bombardment" on Gaza City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of his final messages included a short video showing nearby Israeli strikes hitting Gaza City. In July, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued a statement calling for his protection as it accused the Israeli military's Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee of stepping up online attacks on the reporter by alleging that he was a Hamas terrorist. Following the attack, the CPJ said it was "appalled" to learn of the journalists' deaths. "Israel's pattern of labelling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom," said CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Journalists are civilians and must never be targeted. Those responsible for these killings must be held accountable." The Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate condemned what it described as a "bloody crime" of assassination. Israel and Al Jazeera have had a contentious relationship for years, with Israeli authorities banning the channel in the country and raiding its offices following the latest war in Gaza. Qatar, which partly funds Al Jazeera, has hosted an office for the Hamas political leadership for years and been a frequent venue for indirect talks between Israel and the militant group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - Sealed off - With Gaza sealed off, many media groups around the world, including AFP, depend on photo, video and text coverage of the conflict provided by Palestinian reporters. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said in early July that more than 200 journalists had been killed in Gaza since the war began, including several Al Jazeera journalists. International criticism is growing over the plight of the more than two million Palestinian civilians in Gaza, with UN agencies and rights groups warning that a famine is unfolding in the territory. The targeted strike comes as Israel announced plans to expand its military operations on the ground in Gaza, with Netanyahu saying on Sunday that the new offensive was set to target the remaining Hamas strongholds there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also announced a plan to allow more foreign journalists to report inside Gaza with the military, as he laid out his vision for victory in the territory. A UN official warned the Security Council that Israel's plans to control Gaza City risked "another calamity" with far-reaching consequences. "If these plans are implemented, they will likely trigger another calamity in Gaza, reverberating across the region and causing further forced displacement, killings, and destruction," UN Assistant Secretary General Miroslav Jenca told the Security Council. bur-ds/ser David Jolly is on notice: He has three months to prove he's built a coalition capable of winning the governor's mansion or Jolly will face a challenge from Al Lawson Jr., the Democratic dean of North Florida politics. Jolly, a former Republican Congressman turned Democrat, is seeking to revive a lifeless Florida Democratic Party that has lost seven consecutive gubernatorial races. The 52-year-old from St. Petersburg seeks to unify the Democrats different factions. His candidacy so far helped pushed state Sen. Jason Pizzo to leave the party and mount an independent bid. It has Democratic mega-donor John Morgan waiting until next August to decide whether to run a self-financed campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And, in recent weeks, two of the Democrats' most significant voting blocs women and Blacks have pushed back at the Jolly campaign, revealing potential potholes for him on the campaign trail. Lawson, 77, represented Tallahassee and North Florida at both the state Capitol and in Washington for 32 years until Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Legislature redistricted his panhandle seat out of existence in 2022. He recently cast shade on a Jolly announcement that 60 elected and former elected Democratic officials endorsed his candidacy. Lawson said he too was asked to sign the endorsement but that he wanted to wait to see if anyone else would enter the race; the election is more than a year away. David Jolly announces in an interview with the Tallahassee Democrat that he is running as a democratic candidate for the Governor of Florida on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. All these officials call me and tell me he might be our best shot, but your best shot does not mean you are going to win, Lawson told the USA TODAY Network Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A week ago, a Lawson email surfaced indicating Lawson thinks Jolly is failing to unify the Democratic base. The former Florida Senate Democratic leader wrote that African Americans were not happy with the Jolly campaign. African Americans are 16% of Florida registered voters and gave more than 85% of their votes to the Democratic candidate in the last three presidential elections. The Lawson email emerged a week after a score of female Democratic influencers and elected officials quickly patched over concerns about Jollys commitment to abortion rights. The Florida Womens Freedom Coalition political committee painted Jolly as a threat to abortion access. Women are 62% of Florida voters and 56% of the total Democratic base. Now nearly a week after his email surfaced, Lawson said he was still fielding calls from across the state, asking what was going on with the race and what his intentions are. He did not mention racial politics or follow up on his criticism that Jolly used to be a Republican in an interview, but he now has the impression that Jolly lacks statewide name recognition, such that nobody outside of Tampa knows who he is. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And thats a steep incline to climb. Maybe we need a good primary, Lawson said. Lawson said he is still taking calls from supporters, talking to party officials and elected Democrats and watching the Jolly campaign. Come November, depending on what the polls indicate, he will make a decision whether to enter the race. It could set up an interesting scenario about whether Al Lawson could force David Jolly out of the Democratic primary. When Jolly launched his campaign earlier this year, he said he had benchmarks for polls and fundraising to meet by February 2026. Those numbers, he said, will determine his campaigns fate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawsons entrance into the race could affect polling and fundraising. Jolly said he has great respect for Lawson and took the opportunity to smooth over the criticism from the veteran leader. My job as the candidate leading the Democratic coalition is to gain the support of Floridians across the state, including Al Lawson, to win the governorship, Jolly said. James Call is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at jcall@tallahassee.com and is on X as @CallTallahassee. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Al Lawson signals '26 bid for governor if Jolly cant unite Democrats While discussing President Donald Trumps promise to crack down on crime in Washington, D.C. Morning Joe guest Al Sharpton suggested that Trump include the criminals who raged against the government on Jan. 6. Lets remember, hes a man that pardoned scores of people for violating the law and beating up policemen, Jan. 6 in Washington, D.C., Sharpton explained. He was president then; he did nothing about it, said nothing about it, and pardoned them once he got back in. More from TheWrap When Trump returned to the Oval Office, he issued pardons or commutations to over 1,500 people who were charged or convicted for their involvement in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol back on Jan. 6, 2021. He continued: So that man pardons people that beats up cops is going to make a big announcement at 10 oclock on what were going to do. Yes, we want crime down, including the criminals from Jan. 6. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, Trump took to social media to share that the countrys capital will be liberated from crime, savagery, filth, and added that the days of ruthlessly killing or hurting innocent people are over. As part of his supposed promise and a new executive order, he subsequently deployed the National Guard to Washington, D.C. in an effort to curve its rate of crime and homelessness, as he said its been overrun by gangs and bloodthirsty criminals. At the top of Sharptons remarks, the activist stated that he thinks Trump is targeting blue cities that are run by Black mayors. Per D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, the city has reported that crime hit a 30-year low and is down 26% this year compared to the same time period last year. Theres no doubt in my mind its him making a political statement in a blue city that has a Black mayor, Sharpton explained. Karen Bass, a Black woman mayor in L.A. He dealt with the whole deportation thing. Its very interesting that he is very selective on what he does because he hasnt taken the same stand in New York, where his son still here, going to school and all. So you have to really wonder, is this showboating to play? The post Al Sharpton Says Trumps Washington, D.C., Crime Crackdown Should Include Jan. 6 Rioters | Video appeared first on TheWrap. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WRBL) Lawmakers are revealing what they want in the upcoming legislative session. From education to regulating gambling, leaders have reportedly said that there is more work to be done in the state. The 2026 legislative session is over five months away, however, some leaders already know what they want to get done. Reportedly, there has been a question of whether legislators are giving people what they want, which has been the one consistent thing the Alabama citizens have asked for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alabama State Rep. Juandalynn Givan has said that question has to do with gambling in the state. She also said that the people of Alabama should be able to vote on bringing a lottery or comprehensive gambling bill to the state next year. That is the one piece that we have not passed and given back to the people to vote on, said Givan. And I just think its time. Rep. Susan DuBose has said that she wants to continue funding for school choice, a tax credit families can use to cover educational costs. According to DuBose, its critical for students in Alabama. Some children do fine in a large environment, some have special educational deficiencies, and special needs, said DuBose. And so if a parent can tailor-make an educational experience where their child can thrive, thats what we want for every student in the state of Alabama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Curtis Travis reportedly wants to see a pay raise for educators in the state. On the heels of an investigation in Bibb County, he also wants to see increased penalties for sex crimes involving children. Im not necessarily one for the death penalty you know on that, I think thats strong, said Travis. But I do think there are issues that with that type of crime, need to be handled and dealt with. The 2026 legislative session will kick off on Tuesday, Jan. 13th. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. DETROIT (FOX 2) - President Donald Trump is preparing for an August 15 meeting in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin in what the White House is calling a high-stakes effort to end the war in Ukraine. European leaders have warned that any agreement must uphold Ukraines borders and security, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said there will be no deal without Kyiv at the table. Dr. Ronald Suny, distinguished University of Michigan historian and a preeminent expert on Soviet and post-Soviet history, spoke with Hilary Golston for The Interview about the hidden dynamics shaping the Alaska summit and what could happen next. "The whole situation in Ukraine is tragic. Ukraine didnt want this war," Suny said. "Its the Russians who started the war. They invaded because of the perceived danger they felt from NATO, from the United States, from the West, from the Ukrainians becoming a base for the West." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suny said Ukraine has "fought heroically" but has lost a large amount of territory and does not have many cards left to play. Prolonged fighting, he argued, will likely lead to even more territorial losses. The deciding factor, in his view, is not just in Kyiv but in Washington. "Its the Americans who will decide. Its Trump who will decide in his own capricious way, changing his mind almost on a daily basis whether or not theyll send weapons to Ukraine or whether they wont send weapons to Ukraine." Suny believes Trump and Putin may already see the outlines of a possible settlement. "Id in fact Trump agrees with Putin that there has to be a settlement in which Russia keeps the territories that it has, most of them, and secondly there will be no NATO admissions for Ukraine, and there will be some adjustments internationally in relations between Russia and the rest of Europe and the United States. If that happens then Ukraine is pushed into a corner." Such a deal would leave Kyiv facing stark choices. "Ukraine then might have to capitulate because it will be pushed into a corner," Suny said. He added that the Trump administration treats foreign policy "as any businessman would a deal and that is profitability is also something that they think about. The minerals deal is a good example of that." Suny also pointed to other diplomatic moves that may be part of a broader strategy. He cited the recent peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan that includes a corridor linking the two sides, saying it could serve as a smaller example of Trumps approach. "What if in fact he carries this out, establishes peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan and my goodness thats small potatoes. What if he actually brings about a cease fire and some kind of eventual peace deal between Ukraine and Russia, which changes the whole architect of European and American security?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Sunys view, this could be part of a larger personal ambition. He believes it is possible that resolving the war in Ukraine and brokering peace elsewhere could be a play for Donald Trump to win a Nobel Peace Prize. However, he warned that events in the Middle East could complicate that goal. "The war in Gaza," he said, "could thwart those plans because of an ongoing genocide." Suny said the administrations support of Israel at this stage does not reflect favorably on Trump. The Alaska summit will take place as Russian forces continue to occupy about one fifth of Ukraines territory, and as U.S. and European leaders try to navigate the balance between ending the war and protecting Ukraines sovereignty. The outcome could reshape not only the map of Eastern Europe but the entire framework of European and American security. (edited) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday said Australia would recognize the Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly in September, with conditions. "Today I can confirm that at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, Australia will recognize the State of Palestine," Albanese said in a press conference in Canberra. "Australia will recognize the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own, predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A two-state solution is humanity's best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza," he said, adding that "there can be no role for the terrorists of Hamas in any future Palestinian state." Albanese said that Canberra's move comes "as part of a coordinated global effort building momentum towards a two-state solution." The announcement follows similar commitments by the United Kingdom, France and Canada in recent weeks. Almost 150 UN member states already recognize Palestinian statehood. However, important Western countries are not among them, including the UN veto powers the United States and the UK. The Palestinian Authority currently controls parts of the West Bank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, Israel's intentions to capture and occupy Gaza City sparked international outcry. The Gaza War was triggered by the Hamas-led terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage. Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip that has led to the deaths of more than 61,000 people, according to figures from the Hamas-controlled health authorities in the territory. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks at a press conference in front of Parliament House in Canberra. Albanese announced that Australia will recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly. Mick Tsikas/AAP/dpa Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong speaks at a press conference in front of Parliament House in Canberra. Albanese announced that Australia will recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly. Mick Tsikas/AAP/dpa The Brief The Albert Lea City Council is slated to review registrations for three cannabis dispensaries at its meeting this week. The meeting comes two weeks after the council rejected a registration for The Smoking Tree. Council documents propose new rules for cannabis businesses, including a background check for business owners. ALBERT LEA, Minn. (FOX 9) - After denying what could have been the first non-tribal, recreational cannabis shop to open in Minnesota, the Albert Lea City Council is now slated to review three cannabis businesses this week for registration. Albert Lea cannabis shop rejected The backstory At the council's last meeting in July, members rejected a motion to approve registration for Jacob Schlichter and his cannabis shop, The Smoking Tree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some members expressed displeasure with the state cannabis law and the lack of control over cannabis businesses for local governments. Speaking during the debate, some council members acknowledged the decision to deny the registration for Schlichter likely violated the law, and could result in the state cutting aid to the city as a penalty. Even the city attorney acknowledged the decision would likely spark an expensive lawsuit the city would likely lose. The motion failed on a 3 to 4 vote. Three cannabis businesses up for vote What we know The agenda for the council's upcoming meeting on Monday includes consideration of two new cannabis businesses along with a reconsideration of Schlichter's business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Along with The Smoking Tree, the council will consider registrations for: Matchbox Farms, a retail shop owned by Christopher Garcia of New Mexico. Garcia received his state license on July 24 and his business will be located at 2316 Hendrickson Road. Black Husky, a shop owned by Cristina Aranguiz of Washington state. She received her license on July 29 and would do business out of a location at 2706 Ekko Avenue. Big picture view Under state law, the city is required to allow at least two cannabis shops. In council documents, however, the city manager says the city doesn't believe it's compelled to "rubber stamp" business registrations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the law mandates the city to allow two businesses in Albert Lea, officials write the Office of Cannabis Management "cannot compel the City to approve one license over another, only that we eventually approve our mandatory minimum if given the opportunity." The council documents also propose the city change its process of reviewing registrations to include a criminal background check. Concerns about criminal history Dig deeper The city council's agenda packet raises concerns about Schlichter's criminal history, specifically a 2016 case in which Schlichter was convicted in Minnesota of contributing to the need for child protection, a gross misdemeanor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schlichter, then 20, was accused of bringing a 16-year-old girl from Texas to Minnesota. The girl was reported as missing in Texas and discovered at Schlichter's home by authorities. According to court documents, the girl told police she met Schlichter online when she was 12, and they later began a romantic relationship, against the wishes of the girl's mother. Schlichter was ultimately sentenced to probation in the case. He also faced charges in Texas for harboring a runaway, but the case was ultimately dismissed. The other side According to council documents, the city manager says staff reached out to the state about Schlichter's conviction but were told that the state was not allowed to consider the arrest in their decision to grant a license. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City officials say both Garcia and Aranguiz volunteered to have background checks and were cleared. According to the council documents, the city manager is recommending the approval of Garcia's and Aranguiz's registrations but recommending against Schlichter. The documents read: "The type of crime that was plead down to a gross misdemeanor involved sex with a minor. More concerning is the fact the applicant has shown disdain or inability to follow lawful orders and legal requirements. This would include violations of probation by having continued contact with minors. Statements to the press about opening regardless of registration. Most recently, a new restraining order against the licensee within the last week." FOX 9 was unable to find court records on the "new restraining order" referenced in the council documents. The Source This story uses information from the Albert Lea City Council agenda documents along with the city newsletter and past FOX 9 reporting. Both directions of U.S. 60 at Country Club Drive in Mesa have reopened after a police shooting, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. U.S. 60 reopened in both directions just before 6 a.m. Aug. 11, ADOT said. ADOT originally posted about the closure in west Mesa just before 4:30 p.m. Aug. 10. Officers were not hurt, and a suspect was taken to the hospital, the Mesa Police Department said in a statement on social media platform X. The suspect's condition and identity were not immediately provided. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A photo of an ADOT traffic camera showed police vehicles on both sides of the freeway. Around 6:05 p.m., the eastbound lane closure of U.S. 60 expanded to Loop 101, ADOT said. Motorists can check az511.gov, the AZ511 app or call 511 to see real-time highway conditions. (This story has been updated to add more information.) 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: US 60 in Mesa reopens near Alma School Road and Country Club Drive VERONA BEACH STATE PARK, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) Mondays summer heat had many people heading to the water to cool off. But some popular spots in Central New York are closed or have posted warnings not to swim because of a harmful algal bloom. NYS DEC info on Harmful Algal Blooms At Verona Beach State Park, the sand is quiet, and the swimming is off limits due to a harmful algal bloom. This is the first year that its happened the week that weve camped. They said just because its so hot, the heat and they cant control it, and we understand that, but its kind of a let down because you plan a beach vacation to come play at the beach and you dont have the beach, said Beth Utano. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utano and her family arrived on Sunday, only to find out the swimming advisory was still in effect. They were good about posting on their Facebook page, the beach is closed, the beach is closed, and then you get here and hope that maybe things are changing, but with the weather so hot, they said its probably not going to be open unfortunately while were here, said Utano. While swimming isnt an option. There is still the splash pad for the kids. At least the kids are being able to put on bathing suits and have fun in the water, but not the same as what we had planned, said Utano. Normally, the campground is filled with RVs, campers, tents, and families. But this year, its a much quieter, very different scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because we paid to camp for the week, you have the pass on your vehicles, we are allowed to get into other state parks to use their amenities and use their beach if we want to, said Utano. But Utano says thats easier said than done. You got to pack everybody up and drive away as oppose to just carrying a beach bag down the beach. So thats again, another hassle, said Utano. Just down the shore, Sylvan Beach is also facing the same problem. Village officials posted on their Facebook page, warning swimmers to stay out of the lake through the weekend. Swimming is also off limits at Oneida Shores because of high E. coli levels, making it a tough week for families looking to cool down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NewsChannel 9 reached out to the village of Sylvan Beach to find out if the swimming advisory has been extended through Monday, August 11. Were still waiting to hear back. According to the state, the ongoing harmful algal bloom was first observed on August 2 and was cleared on August 7. But later returned on August 10. The state says Verona Beach State Park will remain closed until further notice. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR. This is an adapted excerpt from the Aug. 9 episode of Velshi. The Department of Homeland Security has put its Immigration and Customs Enforcements recruitment efforts into overdrive. As ICE attempts to boost its numbers to carry out Donald Trumps immigration crackdown, the agency is carrying out an ad blitz. According to 404 Media, DHS is looking to run ads on streaming services like HBO Max and Hulu. The landing page on the Join.ICE.gov website features an image of Uncle Sam with the all-capped headline America Needs You. Underneath, it eerily states: America has been invaded by criminals and predators. We need YOU to get them out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to hiring requirements, the immigration agency is lowering the bar. Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that the agency would be eliminating the age cap for new hires, allowing people older than 40 and as young as 18 to join ICEs ranks. DHS is not only making it easier to become an ICE agent, but more financially attractive as well. The agencys website touts that prospective agents could be entitled to signing bonuses of up to $50,000, the possibility of up to $60,000 in student loan repayment, and 25% premium pay. The recruitment push is working. We know that it has brought in at least one new high-profile agent: 59-year-old actor and vocal Trump supporter Dean Cain, who once played Superman on TV. He shared on social media that he plans to become an ICE officer to save America. Superman, literally an undocumented alien like an actual alien from outer space is now an ICE agent. You cant make this stuff up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jokes aside, this drive to hire more personnel seems to be ideologically driven. ICE used to require employees to have an undergraduate degree, but not anymore. Apparently, you dont even need a uniform. So many of the arrests were witnessing are being carried out by masked plainclothes officers. The only real requirements to becoming an ICE agent these days seem to be a beating heart and an alignment with Trumps deportation crackdown. Its almost like the president is building an army of sycophants and he has the money to do it. Trumps One Big Beautiful Bill Act set aside nearly $170 billion for immigration enforcement and border security efforts, including $75 billion in extra funding for ICE specifically, making ICE the highest-funded law enforcement agency in the federal government. Just to put this into perspective: ICE now receives more funds and resources than most national militaries. Its rapidly becoming the nations largest domestic police force, its size and power doubling that of the FBI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It seems like the Trump administration is building up ICE to be an alternative force thats bigger, more politically loyal, unencumbered by standards and largely shielded from democratic accountability. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed an order on Aug. 11 allocating $2 million to the Azerbaijani Energy Ministry to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine, Azerbaijani media outlet First News Media reported. The allocated funds will be used to purchase and ship Azerbaijani-made electrical equipment from the president's 2025 reserve fund. The move follows a series of Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure linked to Baku. Russian forces launched drones at an Azerbaijan State Oil Company (SOCAR) depot in Ukraine's Odesa Oblast on Aug. 8, damaging a diesel pipeline and injuring four workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attack was the second recent Russian strike on Azerbaijani-linked facilities in Ukraine, after a late June assault on a gas distribution station near Orlivka, part of the Trans-Balkan pipeline that began carrying Azerbaijani gas to Ukraine in July. During a phone call on Aug. 10, President Volodymyr Zelensky and Aliyev condemned Russian strikes and discussed bilateral energy cooperation. Azerbaijani outlet Caliber.Az reported on Aug. 10 that Baku may consider lifting its ban on supplying Ukraine with weapons if Russia continues targeting Azerbaijani interests. Before Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Azerbaijan had provided Ukraine with military equipment, including drones and armored vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the start of the war, Baku has maintained a policy of not supplying lethal aid to either side, while offering humanitarian assistance worth more than $40 million to Ukraine as of mid-2025, including energy equipment, financial aid, and infrastructure support. Read also: Lithuania launches military drills near Belarus border ahead of Zapad-2025 exercises Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The Brief The Acura TL was traveling down Dundee Lake Road at a high rate of speed, according to GSP, and then turned into the parking lot of Dundee Lake. Once in the lot, troopers said the car kept driving fast, hit a boulder used as traffic control and landed in a grassy area next to the lake. The driver climbed out of the vehicle and stood on top of the car. A 3-year-old was trapped inside the car. GRIFFIN, Ga. - An alleged drunk driver drove a car into a Spalding County lake on Aug. 10, according to the Georgia State Patrol. What we know The Acura TL was traveling down Dundee Lake Road at a high rate of speed, according to GSP, and then turned into the parking lot of Dundee Lake. Once in the lot, troopers said the car kept driving fast, hit a boulder used as traffic control and landed in a grassy area next to the lake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the car landed, troopers said the car went into the lake. The driver climbed out of the vehicle and stood on top of the car, troopers said. A 3-year-old was trapped inside the car. Fire and police officials arrived and rescued the child. They performed CPR until the child had a pulse again. The child was flown to a hospital for treatment. As of Monday afternoon, the child was alive, but their condition was unknown, according to officials. The driver of the car was identified as Nafeeza Samad, 23, of Dallas. She now faces the following charges: driving under the influence, serious injury by vehicle, endangering a child under 14 while driving under the influence, reckless driving, and child safety seat violations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GSP told FOX 5 Atlanta that Samad is not related to the child who was in the vehicle. What's next The Georgia State Patrol's Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRTD) is investigating. The Source Information in this article came from the Georgia State Patrol via email. On Wednesday, Aug. 6, Sgt. Quornelius Radford of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team used a his own handgun when he allegedly shot and wounded five fellow soldiers at Fort Stewart's 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team Annex. Generally, privately owned weapons (POWs in U.S. Army terms) are not allowed on base because federal law restricts firearms on federal property. At U.S. military installations, only certain ranks are allowed to carry personal firearms and only after they have gone through a registration process, according to responses received by the Savannah Morning News into inquiries about general Army regulations. With the investigation into Wednesday's shooting incident still ongoing, Army officials are not authorized to confirm if Radford had properly registered the handgun he allegedly used during the Aug. 6 incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Army Public Affairs Major Charlie Egan of the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, however, shared via email on Friday, Aug. 8, that Fort Stewarts policy regarding privately owned weapons on post "nests with Army policy for Privately Owned Weapons (POW) on a military installation." What does the Army policy on personal firearms say? Fort Stewart's firearms regulation is posted on a sign near Gate 4 just outside the Second Armored Brigade Combat Team Headquarters. The Army policy on POWs states that "all firearms brought onto the installation will be registered within 24 hours with the DES [Directorate of Emergency Services Weapons Registration Office]." From there, the process involves multiple steps including approval from a soldier's unit commander through the Weapon's Registration Form. Individuals seeking to register a firearm must provide a description of it to include the caliber, make, model and serial number. The registration rules relate to more specific guidelines detailed within the command policy on privately owned weapons, such as the need to complete another form through the Department of Defense. The command policy also cites Army regulations on transportation of unloaded, personally owned weapons on military bases, and specifically states that "the carrying of a loaded firearm in a vehicle is prohited." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The regristration can be completed both manually in-person at designated facilities, or digitally through encrytped email. Registration, however, is not fully complete until all information has been entered into the Army Law Enforcement Reporting and Tracking System (ALERTS). How does the army check for unathorized weapons? Traffic enters Fort Stewart at the main entrance gate on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 following an active shooter incident on the US Army base located in Hinesville, Ga. During a Wednesday, Aug. 8 press conference, Brig. Gen. John Lubas, Commanding General of the 3rd Infantry Division, assured the public that the base had reestablished security after the shooting incident. When asked to clarify Lubas's statement, Egan shared that the comment referred to the "re-establishment of normal security procedures at gates and buildings vs. lockdown where we secured all the gates except for emergency vehicle traffic." Egan stated military security personnel generally detect weapons through "random or targeted inspection of vehicles entering the post and inspection of barracks rooms." He stated that the base remains "vigilant in ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our soldiers, civilians, and family members." Regarding military-issued weapons, Egan noted that the Company Commander for Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Airfield "is responsible for custody, care, and employment of weapon systems." He stated that military weapons are stored in "a secure arms room" only to be issued during training or mission-related purposes or for maintenance. He said the weapons are inventoried regularly, and commanders must immediately report any loss of a military weapon to their chain of command. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Egan also clarified that requirements for training with military-issued weapons do not relate to registration for a service member's privately owned weapon. Fort Stewart alleged shooter DUI: Newly released records reveal details of suspected Fort Stewart shooters recent arrest How should a soldier's civilian arrest be reported? Military police escort Sgt. Quornelius Radford, 28, the suspect in the shooting of five soldiers on Ft. Stewart, into the booking room of the Liberty County Jail in Hinesville, Ga., on the evening of Aug. 6, 2025. Egan clarified that should a soldier or other military personnel be arrested by local law enforcement agencies while not on duty, those agencies typically communicate with the Fort Stewart Georgia Civil Liaison Section. First, the local agency would need to positively identify a subject as a military member. The Army's statement emailed by Egan read, "Through our relationships with local law enforcement, the Army at Fort Stewart learns of the vast majority of soldier arrests." Radford's recent DUI arrest, however, was not one of them. Prior to the investigation that resulted from Wednesday's incident, his May 18 arrest by Georgia State Patrol (GSP) near the intersection of Elma G. Miles Parkway and Sharon Street in Hinesville, Ga. was unknown to his Army superiors. Lubas confirmed this detail during the Aug. 6 press conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back in May, Radford was pulled over by a GSP officer initially for failing to stop at a red traffic light. According to the police report, after alerting Radford to the reason for the traffic stop, the officer smelled a "strong oder of an alcoholic beverage coming from his breath." The officer also noted that Radford's eyes were "watery and bloodshot" and his speech pattern "was mumbled." Radford also allegedly advised the officer that Radford had a "stuttering problem." He refused a field sobriety and breath sample test. He was then formally arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and transported to the Liberty County Jail. Radford's status as an active-duty member of the Army was not noted in the GSP report. Joseph Schwartzburt is the education and workforce development reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at JSchwartzburt@gannett.com and JoeInTheKnow_SMN on Instagram. This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Here are Fort Stewart's weapons regulations for personal firearms GRAND HAVEN, Mich. (WOOD) Two women stole a Pride flag from the stoop of a Grand Haven church, video appears to show. St. Johns Episcopal Church, located at 524 Washington Ave. near 6th Street in Grand Haven, shared video of the alleged theft on social media Saturday. A little before 1am early this morning, our Pride Flag was stolen by two young women, the post says. In the attached video, you can see one removing the flag while her friend is either recording a video or taking photos. If you recognize these young women, please contact the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The video shows the two women, wearing what appears to be matching light blue shirts, standing at the churchs steps. After commenting on whether or not the church has a Ring camera, one of the two women climbs up the stairs, unscrewing the flags pole and taking down both it and the Pride flag. The other woman appears to take a photo or video as the first woman takes the flag down. They then walk off screen, holding the flag. Oh my God, one of them can be heard saying. News 8 has blurred their faces as they have not been charged with a crime. The church sits right across the street from the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety building. The Rev. Jared Cramer said he was notified by the church property commission that the pride flag was gone Saturday. He reviewed security camera video to find the moment the flag was taken. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watching it happen, my whole body just, it shook with sadness that this is the second time this happened, he said. Back in December 2023, the church posted video of a man breaking the flagpole. He said the first theft, which was also caught on video, went unsolved. Around 10 years ago, the church made its official welcoming statement, affirming the LGBTQ community. Hes not sure if this recent act was done as some sort of prank or protest of the churchs decision to fly the flag. However, Cramer said its an action that feeds into a larger issue. Thats what really makes me sad. That even if this was a prank or joke, stuff like that contributes to a culture where LGBTQ people arent safe. Where thats why they need the flag to know whether or not this is a safe place for them because there are so many places particularly here in West Michigan that are unsafe for queer people, Jared said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While there are a few negative comments on the videos social media post, others are sharing support for the church. A new flag should be up within a day or two thanks to members of the community. Shortly after sharing the video to Facebook, multiple people offered to replace it. Thank you all for your kind words of support, the church said in a Facebook comment. For those who have offered to help replacethe flag is not the expensive part, its the pole. Given the way the wind whips down Washington, its a high-quality steel pole. It said donations to the churchs building fund would be gratefully welcome. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats what I try to listen to. Not the hate but the people who arent members of our church who dont go to our church but who are really glad that we are fighting the fight that we are fighting, said Jared. His messages is one of forgiveness if the flag was taken as a mistake. However, he had heavier words if it was a deliberate act against the church and gay community. Theft is theft and vandalism is vandalism. And every church should have a right to be who they are without feeling like they are at threat of people from the community vandalizing or taking things from their property, he said. Cramer said the church has submitted a report to the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety. News 8 reached out to the department for more information but has yet to hear back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. The latest version of President Donald Trumps mood-contingent tariffs took effect on Aug. 7, prompting him to post-boast two minutes before the clock struck midnight that BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN TARIFFS are now pouring into the United States. He skipped the part where American companies pay those tariffs, which soon will trickle down to consumers in the form of higher prices. The vast majority of economists and CEOs reject Trumps market mayhem and predict that his tariffs will have disastrous consequences on the U.S. economy. Outside the MAGA echo-chamber of Fox News, where Trumps economic illiteracy is celebrated, economists are aghast. In April, dozens of top economists, including two Nobel laureates, signed a letter advising that his tariffs have no basis in economic reality and that his tariff policy is misguided, warning it could cause a self-inflicted recession. Hard data mapping the tariffs effects wont be available immediately. Judging by the presidents recent handling of the jobs report after which he fired the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner for simply doing her job that data might not come out at all, at least not if he can help it. But its already clear that, contrary to his promise of creating more factory jobs, Trumps tariff threats have coincided with job losses nationwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president has purposely upended domestic and world trade, leading both the International Monetary Fund and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development to downgrade their predictions for global economic growth as a result. Economists John Silvia and Brad Jensen argue that Trumps tariffs will slow the economy, resulting simultaneously in fewer jobs and lower real wages. They predict the economic erosion will be a slow, steady process rather than an immediate collapse. While some U.S. trade partners are shocked at the lack of pushback from Trumps allegedly pro-business Republican party, no trading partner has been jilted quite so ignominiously as Canada. Despite having only about 11% of the U.S. population, Canada was the single-largest importer of U.S. goods, and was our second-largest foreign investor. Trumps mean-spirited tariffs and rhetoric have gutted that symbiosis for good. He hit Canadian steel and aluminum with up to 50% tariffs, and slapped Canadian pharmaceuticals and autos with 35% tariffs, depending on where components are made. The tariffs have already triggered Canadian layoffs, including at General Motors Canada, a subsidiary of American GM, and they will soon jack up the prices of $3 billion worth of Canadian pharmaceuticals that are consumed in the U.S. each year. Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who also leads the provinces Progressive Conservative Party, urged forceful pushback. Instead of rolling over to please an irrational Trump, Ford wants Canada to hit that guy back as hard as we possibly can. But Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who is a trained economist and former governor of both the Bank of England and the Bank of Canada, has taken a more measured approach. He recently noted that Trump is, in effect, now charging for access to the American economy and is causing trading partners to look elsewhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carneys response has been a diplomatic and classy middle finger to Trump. Instead of tit for tat, the prime minister is pivoting Canada with precision toward alternative trade blocs like Europe and the Pacific Rim. Hes also seeding more self-reliance manufacturing, re-targeting billions into Canadian manufacturing investments as he approaches other nations where free trade is a commitment, not a condition. Thanks to Trump, what was once one of the most stable, peaceful and lucrative relationships in the world has been destabilized. One in four Canadians now views the U.S. as an enemy, while 76% hold an unfavorable opinion of Trump and consider him dangerous. 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. Impatient Canadians are taking matters into their own hands, boycotting U.S. products and promoting Made in Canada goods. A majority of Canadian provinces are shunning certain American products altogether. American-made beer, wine and spirits have disappeared from Canadian shelves, leading the CEO of Jack Daniels to call the boycott worse than tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Angry Canadians are also avoiding American foods, especially fast-food chains like McDonalds, Burger King, Subway, Wendys and Dominos. Other American-owned restaurants including Pizza Hut, KFC, Taco Bell and Popeyes are also facing boycotts, while U.S. coffee chains Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts and Keurig have already reported loss of sales in the country. Canadians are also buying local and rejecting American products like butter and dairy spreads, prepared bakery foods, pizza, pastries and even American-made condiments, and tourists are skipping U.S. destinations, with Forbes reporting a 33% reduction in tourism from Canada in June. As Canadians sour on their southern neighbor under Trump, anti-American rhetoric is spreading and Canadian nationalism is surging. Aside from the tariffs, Canadians are triggered by Trumps repeated insults against the countrys sovereignty as he urges them, like a sarcastic mob boss offering protection, to become Americas 51st state. Over 60% of Canadians are calling for Carney to adopt retaliatory counter-tariffs. But instead of responding impulsively, the prime minister is playing the long game. Lamenting that Canada can no longer count on the U.S., which had been the countrys most valued trading partner, Carney is shifting Canada away from American customers and is helping affected companies find new buyers, forge new partnerships and develop new products. In contrast to Trumps bluster-filled, roulette approach to tariffs, Carney stresses he will apply tariffs where they have the maximum impact in the United States and minimum impact in Canada. Suggesting he will study the facts in product-specific markets before he acts another marked contrast to Trump Carney said he would not respond quickly but planned to adjust after the data comes in and develop a strategy that is industry specific. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Such is Trump and Carneys study in contrasts that it has led an unprecedented number of Americans to research how to export an entirely new product to Canada: Themselves. The post Americas heartbreaking divorce from Canada appeared first on Salon.com. An amazingly skilled legal team not politics or family connections helped Carolina Amesty evade a federal indictment after facing accusations of pandemic relief fraud, the former Republican lawmaker said over the weekend in a statement sent through a media representative for her counsel, the brother of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. Prosecutors for the Middle District of Florida, headed by a U.S. Attorney appointed by Bondi, said last week they were no longer pursuing their case against Amesty, who was accused of fraudulently obtaining $122,000 in COVID-19 relief funds through a foundation bearing her name and a car dealership that federal investigators dont think was licensed to operate. Onlookers said in a story published Sunday by the Orlando Sentinel that Amesty, a 30-year-old former Florida state representative, seemingly leveraged her status as a politically connected up-and-comer to help her game the justice system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Amesty fired back against those claims on Sunday in a statement sent to the Sentinel by Jim McCarthy, president of CounterPoint Strategies, a public relations firm working for Brad Bondi, Amestys defense attorney. It is both an insult to me and my amazingly skilled legal team to insinuate that politics had anything to do with this just result, Amesty said in the statement provided by McCarthy. Gates McGavick, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of Justice, also said on Monday that Pam Bondi did not come to her brothers clients aid. This decision was made through proper channels and the Attorney General had no role in it, McGavick said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amesty retained Brad Bondi last December, several weeks before the federal complaint was filed. For her part, Amesty has maintained her innocence and said that the allegations, which were made public just before President Joe Biden left office, were politically motivated. The statement provided by McCarthy says she has repaid several of the loans, which were intended to help employers weather the pandemic, and that she spent two hours on the phone with the Small Business Administration during the application process to ensure she was complying with the law. McCarthy did not respond to questions about how much Amesty has repaid and how much she still owes. The statement also repeated the claim that her attorneys have supplied prosecutors with hundreds of pages of exculpatory materials, referring to a legal term for evidence that would justify or rebut allegedly illegal behavior. McCarthy declined to provide those documents to the Sentinel on Monday. The federal case wasnt the first time Amesty has faced accusations of fraud. Last year, she was accused of improperly notarizing a mans signature on a licensing form for the small Orlando-area college run by her family. Those allegations, first published in an investigation by the Orlando Sentinel, led to a probe by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and a grand jury indictment in Orange County court last summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As her case was ongoing, Amesty campaigned for re-election to represent a district that covers much of west Orange County and a slice of northern Osceola County. She lost a tight race to former Disney executive Leonard Spencer. But after the election, outgoing State Attorney Andrew Bain, who was appointed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, signed off on a settlement agreement that called for his office to drop the charges. The deal required little of Amesty aside from logging 30 community service hours. Now, Amesty is free from the federal charges, through a process in which she says everything was done by the book, according to the statement provided by McCarthy. The left can cry conspiracy, but the reality is this is justice, she said. anmartin@orlandosentinel.com ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) A Dona Ana man has been sentenced to 96 months in prison after agents recovered fentanyl and a stolen firearm during an attempted arrest in Las Cruces. Court records state FBI task force officers and Las Cruces/Dona Ana County Metro Narcotics agents attempted to stop a vehicle associated with an ongoing investigation into fentanyl trafficking on May 21, 2024. Officials say the driver, later identified as 35-year-old Jaime Lopez, sped off, and law enforcement didnt follow on account of public safety. Agents later found out Lopez had recently purchased the car and had an outstanding arrest warrant for failing to appear in court. State Police drug operation in Albuquerque nets 7 arrests Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About three hours later, agents located the vehicle in Las Cruces and approached Lopez coming out of a public establishment. Lopez ran away and dropped a package with about 690 fentanyl pills in it. Lopez was arrested a short time later. A stolen handgun was found in Lopezs vehicle. He would later tell agents he fled due to the outstanding warrant and admitted to having the firearm for protection from previously selling drugs in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, and fearing retaliation. When Lopez was arrested, he was prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior felony convictions, including a 2005 conviction for second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit second-degree murder. Lopez pled guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. After he leaves prison, Lopez will be subject to five years of supervised release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Graphic Warning: This story contains graphic images or video that may be disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised. (NewsNation) Israeli strikes killed journalist Anas al-Sharif and four of his Al Jazeera colleagues Sunday, the Israeli military, Gaza City hospital officials and the outlet confirmed. The attack outside Shifa Hospital, Gaza Citys largest hospital complex, killed two reporters al-Sharif and Mohammed Qraiqeh and three photographers Ibrahim Zaher, Moamen Aliwa and Mohammed Noufal as well as two other people, hospital administrative director Rami Mohanna told the Associated Press. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel said it targeted al-Sharif, who Israel accused of being a terrorist posing as a journalist for the Al Jazeera network, something he and his workplace have denied. Children from Gaza arrive in San Francisco for medical treatment Who is Anas al-Sharif, Al Jazeera reporter killed in Gaza? Al-Sharif, 28, reported extensively from northern Gaza for much of the war, according to Al Jazeera, a news channel based in Qatar. According to the network, al-Sharif was born in Gaza Citys Jabalia refugee camp and graduated from Al-Aqsa University. He is survived by his wife, son, daughter and mother, according to a lengthy post on al-Sharifs social media. His father died in an Israeli strike in December 2023, according to Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif reports near the Arab Ahli Hospital in Gaza City on Oct. 10, 2024. (Photo by Getty-AFP) Palestinians carry the body of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif, who, along with other journalists, was killed in an Israeli airstrike, during his funeral outside Gaza Citys Shifa hospital complex on Aug. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) A Palestinian journalist checks the destroyed Al Jazeera tent at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Palestine, on Aug. 11, 2025, following an overnight strike by the Israeli military. (Photo by Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto via Getty Images). Palestinians carry the bodies of journalists, including Al Jazeera correspondents Anas al-Sharif and Mohamed Qreiqeh, who were killed in an Israeli airstrike, during their funeral outside Gaza Citys Shifa hospital complex on Aug. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) Trump to place DC police under federal control, deploy National Guard Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Posted Sunday but dated as being written on April 6, al-Sharifs last post on the social platform X delivered the message he requested to be published upon his martyrdom. This is my will and my final message. If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice Do not forget Gaza And do not forget me in your sincere prayers for forgiveness and acceptance, the post reads in part. Israel claims Al Jazeeras Anas al-Sharif headed Hamas militant cell While reputable outlets including Reuters and the Associated Press refer to al-Sharif as a correspondent and reporter, Israel has accused him of being a Hamas militant. Sharif worked for a Hamas media team in Gaza before the Oct. 7, 2023, attack in Israel, the BBC reported but any involvement as the head of a Hamas terrorist cell has not been confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hate-filled graffiti targets Israeli-American Council headquarters in Los Angeles These claims first surfaced in October 2024, when Israels military accused al-Sharif and five other Al Jazeera staffers of being current or former paid fighters for Palestinian militant groups. Citing intelligence and documents it reportedly gathered in Gaza, Israel accused four of the journalists of affiliating with Hamas and two with Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Evidence included alleged screenshots of spreadsheets listing Hamas operatives and a phone directory. Al Jazeera: Strike on Anas al-Sharif, other journalists was assassination Al Jazeera, the Committee to Protect Journalists and the United Nations human rights office have pushed back on accusations against al-Sharif and labeled Israels attack as retribution against those documenting the war in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Epstein, Maxwell evidence will remain sealed, judge orders Al Jazeera condemned the attack and called the strike targeted assassination, accusing Israeli officials of incitement. Anas and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices from within Gaza, providing the world with unfiltered, on-the-ground coverage of the devastating realities endured by its people, the network said in a statement. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Four Al Jazeera journalists were killed by an Israeli strike in Gaza City on Sunday - among them 28-year-old correspondent Anas al-Sharif, who had reported prominently on the war since its outset. The other three Al Jazeera journalists killed were correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, cameraman Ibrahim Zaher, and crew driver and cameraman Mohammed Noufal, Al Jazeera said. Al Jazeera earlier stated five of its journalists were killed on Sunday but revised the number to four later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three others were killed, the broadcaster said. Among them were freelance cameraman Moamen Aliwa and freelance journalist Mohammed al-Khaldi. The targeted attack on a tent used by journalists has drawn strong international condemnation including from the UN, Qatar where Al Jazeera is based, and media freedom groups. Israel says Sharif was "the head of a Hamas terrorist cell" but has produced little evidence to support that. Sharif previously denied it, and Al Jazeera and media rights groups have rejected the allegation. The IDF has said nothing about the other journalists it killed. The BBC understands Sharif worked for a Hamas media team in Gaza before the current conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In some of his social media posts before his death, the journalist can be heard criticising Hamas. Committee for the Protection of Journalists CEO Jodie Ginsberg told the BBC there was no justification for Sharif's killing. "International law is very clear on this point that the only individuals who are legitimate targets during a war are active combatants. Having worked as a media advisor for Hamas, or indeed for Hamas currently, does not make you an active combatant", she said. "And nothing that the Israeli forces has produced so far in terms of evidence gives us any kind of assurance that he was even an active member of Hamas." The 'only voice' left in Gaza City Anas al-Sharif was one of the few voices left reporting in Gaza City, according to Al Jazeera [AFP via Getty Images] Anas al-Sharif became one of Al Jazeera's most prominent reporters in Gaza during the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Born in the densely populated Jabalia area in the north of the Strip, he worked for Al Jazeera for about two years, the broadcaster said. "He worked for the whole length of the war inside Gaza reporting daily on the situation of people and the attacks which are committed in Gaza," Salah Negm, director of news at Al Jazeera English, told the BBC. Married with a four-year-old daughter, Sham, and a one-year-old son, Salah, he was separated from them for long stretches during the war while he continued to report from the north of the territory after refusing to follow Israeli evacuation orders. A joint Instagram post on his official account along with his wife's in January this year showed a picture of Sharif smiling with his two children. The caption said it was the first time he was meeting Salah, after 15 months of war. Sharif appeared frequently in live broadcasts, reporting extensively on the situation in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He reported on the targeting of his colleagues, including prominent Al Jazeera correspondent Ismail al-Ghoul and cameraman Rami al-Rifi, who were killed in 2024 in an air strike in Gaza City. His father had already been killed in December 2023 when the family home was targeted in an Israeli strike. Hours before he himself was killed, he posted about an intense Israeli bombardment of Gaza City. Mohamed Moawad, Al Jazeera's managing editor, described him as the "only voice left in Gaza City" - which Israel now plans to militarily occupy. Raed Fakih, input manager at Al Jazeera's Arabic-language channel, told the BBC Sharif was "courageous, dedicated, and honest - that's what made him successful as a journalist with hundreds of thousands of social media followers from all over the world". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fakih, who is in charge of the channel's bureaux and correspondents, added: "His dedication took him to areas where no other reporter ventured to go, especially those that witnessed the worst massacres. His integrity kept him true to his message as a journalist." Fakih said he spoke to Sharif many times on the phone throughout the war. "In our last conversations, he told me about the famine and starvation he was enduring, about how hard it is to survive with so little food," he said. "He felt he had no choice but to amplify the voice of the Gazans. He was living the same hardships they are living now, suffering from famine, mourning loved ones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "His father was killed in an Israeli bombing. In that way, he was like all Gazans: carrying loss, pain, and resilience. And even in the face of death, he persisted, because this is a story that must be told." Who were the other journalists killed? Four Al Jazeera journalists were among seven killed by an Israeli strike while resting in a tent for journalists in Gaza City on Sunday, Al Jazeera said [EPA/Shutterstock] Mohammed Qreiqeh, 33, was a father of two from Gaza City. Like Sharif, he was separated from his family for months during the war as he reported from the front lines in northern Gaza. Qreiqeh's last live broadcast was on Sunday evening, minutes before he was targeted, Al Jazeera reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The broadcaster said his mother was killed in March 2024 when Israeli forces raided al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City. He found his mother after searching for her body for two weeks, it said. His brother was also killed in an Israeli air strike on Gaza City in March, Al Jazeera said. Al Araby TV correspondent Islam Bader, who also reports from Gaza, said he had worked with Qreiqeh for years. In a post on Instagram he described Qreiqeh as having a "very calm" soul. Cameraman Ibrahim Zaher, 25, was also from Jabalia, according to Al Jazeera. Bader said he had been a journalist from the beginning of the war, while also volunteering with medical services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mohammed Noufal, described as both a cameraman and crew driver by Al Jazeera, was also from Jabalia. The news outlet said the 29-year-old's mother and brother were killed by Israeli attacks earlier in the war. Freelance cameraman Moamen Aliwa was described as "friendly, helpful, kind, polite" by Bader. He wrote on Instagram Aliwa had originally studied engineering but during the war became a journalist. Freelance journalist Mohammed al-Khaldi posted a number of videos on social media documenting his life and that of others in war-torn Gaza. His last video posted on Instagram over the weekend showed an eight-year-old girl speaking about her struggle with hunger, and he appealed for his followers to help her. Israel alleges Sharif led 'terrorist cell', with little evidence The Israeli military accused Sharif of posing as a journalist, saying he had "served as the head of a terrorist cell in Hamas" and was responsible for launching rocket attacks at Israelis - but it has produced little evidence to support these claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, the IDF said it had documents which "unequivocally prove" his "military affiliation" with Hamas, including "personnel rosters, lists of terrorist training courses, phone directories, and salary documents". It has publicly released some screenshots of spreadsheets apparently listing Hamas operatives from the northern Gaza Strip, noting injuries to Hamas operatives and a section of what is said to be a phone directory for the armed group's East Jabalia battalion. Israel had previously accused Sharif of being a member of Hamas's military wing - something he and his employer strongly denied. Reporters Without Borders (RSF), a media freedom group, said the allegations against him were "baseless" and called on the international community to intervene. "Without strong action from the international community to stop the Israeli army... we're likely to witness more such extrajudicial murders of media professionals," RSF said. Nearly 200 journalists have been killed in the war Israel launched in response to Hamas's October 7, 2023 assault, according to RSF. Fakih from Al Jazeera accused the Israeli military of fabricating stories about journalists before killing them, to "hide what [it] is committing in Gaza". Israel has previously denied targeting journalists. He described this as a "longstanding pattern" and referred to the Israeli military's killing of veteran Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Aqla, who was shot in the head during an Israeli army raid in the occupied West Bank in 2022. The Israeli military concluded that one of its soldiers probably killed her, but called her death unintentional. Al Jazeera said its evidence showed it was a "deliberate killing". "Here is a crucial fact: had Israel been held accountable for Shireen's assassination, it would not have dared to kill 200 journalists in Gaza," said Fakih. Sharif knew he risked being targeted by Israel after its Arabic-language spokesman posted a video of him in July and accused him of being a member of Hamas' military wing. In a post published on his X account, which was prewritten in the event of his death, Sharif said he "gave every effort and all my strength to be a support and a voice for my people... Do not forget Gaza." Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif was killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Sunday, alongside four of his colleagues. Before his death, the 28-year-old had prepared a final message to be released posthumously. This is my will and my final message. If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice, he wrote in a message shared Sunday. I have lived through pain in all its details, tasted suffering and loss many times, yet I never once hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification, it continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do not forget Gaza And do not forget me in your sincere prayers for forgiveness and acceptance, it said. Al-Sharif leaves behind a wife and two young children. In a statement announcing the killing of al-Sharif, the IDF said he was the head of a Hamas terrorist cell and advanced rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF troops. It shared images of what it claimed was a Hamas roster list and injury record with his name on both. TIME has not been able to independently verify these claims. Al Jazeera condemned the killings, calling the attack a targeted assassination and a blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom. Anas and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices from within Gaza, providing the world with unfiltered, on-the-ground coverage of the devastating realities endured by its people, the Qatari network said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al-Sharif had faced threats and allegations of ties to Hamas from the Israeli army for nearly a year before his death, but they intensified following a broadcast in July in which he broke down crying while reporting on Gazas hunger crisis. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Avichay Adraee accused him of crying crocodile tears and of being part of a false Hamas campaign on starvation. Al Jazeera rejected the claims as baseless. The Committee To Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued a statement describing Adraees statements as unfounded accusations [that] represent an effort to manufacture consent to kill al-Sharif, and noted that Israel had killed four other Al Jazeera journalists about whom they had made similar statements. In messages sent to TIME in late July, during reporting for a separate story, al-Sharif said the IDFs allegations left him in fear for his life. I live with the feeling that I could be bombed and martyred at any moment, he wrote in one message. These threats are clear incitement and an attempt to assassinate my voice, either through bombing or moral distortion, he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al-Sharif, who had covered the war from the first days of the conflict, told TIME how he had received direct calls from Israeli military officers demanding that he stop his coverage and leave northern Gaza. He also received WhatsApp messages that detailed his precise whereabouts, which he considered a threat to his life. The IDF responded to a request for comment from TIME with a statement from October 2024 that accused al-Sharif and five other Al Jazeera journalists of belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, along with documents that TIME could not verify. An investigation into the allegations by Reporters Without Borders, when they were first made last year, noted numerous inconsistencies in Israels evidence, including the assertion that one of the journalists received a military rank in 2007, when he would have been 10 years old. Deadliest conflict for journalists ever recorded The airstrike that killed him struck a tent being used by media near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. It also killed Al Jazeera staff members Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Al Thaher, Moamen Aliwa, and Mohamed Nofal, as well as freelance journalist Mohammad al-Khaldi. Their deaths brought the total number of journalists killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, to 186180 of those journalists being Palestinian, according to the International Federation of Journalists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds gathered at the Sheikh Radwan cemetery in the Gaza Strip to mourn the five journalists on Monday. The airstrike came just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended a planned military offensive into some of Gaza's most populated areas, including Gaza City, where the team was based. CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah accused Israel of murdering the messengers, in a statement condemning the strike. Israel wiped out an entire news crew. It has made no claims that any of the other journalists were terrorists. Thats murder. Plain and simple, she said. It is no coincidence that the smears against al-Sharif who has reported night and day for Al Jazeera since the start of the war surfaced every time he reported on a major development in the war, most recently the starvation brought about by Israels refusal to allow sufficient aid into the territory, Qudah added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CPJ has previously called the Gaza war the deadliest conflict for journalists ever documented. Reporting on hunger Al-Sharif was a mainstay of Al Jazeeras rolling coverage of the Gaza war and one of its best known correspondents. In the video about starvation that drew the condemnation of the IDF, al-Sharif cries as a woman collapses from hunger behind him. They need only one meal. They need one loaf of bread. They need one sip of water, he said, his voice breaking. Nearly 200 people have died from malnutrition in Gaza, including at least 96 children, according to Gazas health ministry. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)s latest update concluded that mounting evidence shows that widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease are driving a rise in hunger-related deaths, and famine thresholds have been met for food consumption across most of Gaza. In his last video, al-Sharif reported on heavy airstrikes nearby. On the broadcast, he can he heard saying: Nonstop bombing For the past two hours, the Israeli aggression on Gaza City has intensified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After October 2023, Israel prohibited foreign journalists from entering Gaza. In the absence of international reporters, much of the reporting on the war has fallen to Palestinian journalists on the ground, often risking their own lives and safety in the process. Reporting from the frontlines, they have faced the same losses and destruction as the communities they document, including the destruction of their homes and the deaths of loved ones. Al-Sharifs father, Jamal al-Sharif, was killed in a strike in December 2023 while he was praying, according to messages al-Sharif sent TIME in July. Due to the ongoing shelling, he was forced to bury his father in a schoolyard because he could not reach the cemetery safely. While on-air in October 2024, he found out about the deaths of his own relatives while reporting for Al Jazeera. The Israel-Hamas war was triggered after Hamas launched a terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which the group killed over 1,200 people and took around 250 hostages. Over 61,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. In the absence of independent monitoring on the ground, the ministry is the primary source for casualty data relied upon by humanitarian groups, journalists, and international bodies. Its figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants and cannot be independently verified by TIME. Contact us at letters@time.com. Late Sunday evening, Israels military targeted Al Jazeera Arabics Gaza correspondents Anas al-Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal, killing them in a drone strike against their media tent at the gate of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The slain journalists had spent the past 22 months documenting the ongoing conflict and its impact on their community. Al-Sharif, 28, and Qreiqeh, 33, are both survived by their wives and a baby boy and a girl. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Qreiqeh, who was an only child, had lost his mother in Gaza in March 2024, when Israeli forces stormed al-Shifa Hospital. He searched for his mother for two weeks, eventually finding her decomposing body on the stairs of the facility. Witnesses said she was shot and killed in cold blood. Despite the personal grief and excruciating circumstances, both al-Sharif and Qreiqeh continued to document Israels war in Gaza, which is increasingly being deemed a genocide by critics worldwide. Al-Sharifs last tweet on X, posted minutes before he was killed, warned that Israels latest plan to invade Gaza risked muzzling Palestinian voices in the besieged enclave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If this madness doesnt end, Gaza will be reduced to ruins, its peoples voices silenced, their faces erased and history will remember you as a silent witness to a genocide that you chose not to stop, he posted. A man in Gaza holds of the press vest of slain Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif after he was buried along with four of his colleagues. Al-Sharif was killed in a targeted strike by Israel [unknown/Al Jazeera] Sacrifice and courage Like all Palestinians in Gaza, al-Sharif and Qreiqeh were born and raised under Israeli occupation. For most of their lives, Israel has imposed a full land, sea and air blockade over the enclave, effectively turning it into what human rights groups describe as an open-air prison. The siege affected every aspect of Palestinian life livelihoods, travel and family connections and compelled al-Sharif and Qreiqeh to dedicate their lives to telling the world about their peoples struggle under Israels brutal occupation. Al-Sharif studied media studies at Al-Aqsa University in Gaza and was known for his reporting on the Israeli military campaign that began on October 7, 2023, documenting its humanitarian and civilian impacts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yaser al-Banna, a Palestinian journalist in Gaza, said that when Israel ordered the entire population of 2.2 million Palestinians to flee south an act that likely amounts to a war crime al-Sharif stayed in the north to document the events and actions of the Israeli military. His life was in danger from Israeli strikes [at the time in the north]. But he still went to the scene of every Israeli blast to uncover Israels crime, just five minutes after it happened, al-Banna told Al Jazeera. Al-Banna added that he had formed a strong professional relationship with Qreiqeh since last year. At the time, al-Banna was in southern Gaza and Qreiqeh was in the north, and they often traded contacts and exchanged information to better cover the humanitarian impact of Israels genocidal war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He never waited a moment to help me or to help anybody, al-Banna said of Qreiqeh. My impression of Qreiqeh was that he was always patient and calm. Colleagues and friends In October 2024, Israel published unsubstantiated claims that al-Sharif was among six Palestinian journalists affiliated with a Hamas cell, which Al Jazeera has repeatedly denied. Human rights groups, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), note that Israel often brands Palestinian journalists as terrorists without providing proof. From then on, al-Sharif knew his life was in danger. All of this is happening because my coverage of the crimes of the Israeli occupation in the Gaza Strip harms them and damages their image in the world. They accuse me of being a terrorist because the occupation wants to assassinate me morally, he told CPJ in July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli threats made some in Gaza hesitant to give al-Sharif interviews out of fear that Israel could kill him and everyone around him at any moment. Still, most commended his bravery and continued to support him as he reported from the eye of the storm. Al-Banna added that Qreiqeh continued to work with al-Sharif, despite the risks. They knew that they could both die at any time from Israeli bombardment. The relationship between them was very strong, al-Banna said, acknowledging that most people knew al-Sharif would likely be targeted. Journalists in Gaza became closer to al-Sharif. We accepted that we would all live together and then die together, al-Banna added. Mohammed Qreiqeh preparing to go on air for Al Jazeera [Unknown/Al Jazeer] Carrying the torch Speaking from Al Jazeeras studio in Doha, Qatar, their colleague Tamer Almisshal revealed that both al-Sharif and Qreiqeh were mentally and physically exhausted leading up to their deaths. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They hardly turned off their phones because Israel was killing so many people, forcing them to report on the extermination of their people every waking moment, he explained. These are journalists. These are role models, Almisshal said, holding back tears. Im making a pledge, after the death of Anas: We will continue to spread their message responsibly and with full professionalism, he added. This is a sentiment shared by journalists across Gaza who are bearing the burden of reporting on Israels genocide alone. Since October 7, Israel has banned the entry of international reporters and killed nearly 270 journalists and media workers in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saleh Jafar, 28, is a Palestinian journalist in Gaza who is vowing to keep the memory of his colleagues alive. He said Israel is targeting the media to stop the world from seeing its crimes in Gaza. They cant silence the rest of us. There are a million more [voices in Gaza] like Anas, and there are a million more [voices] like Mohammed. Our voices and footage will continue to be [broadcast] in the face of [Israeli] terror and threats. Mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo proposed Zohrans Law to block privileged New Yorkers like his socialist rival Zohran Mamdani from living in rent-stabilized apartments. 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. Andrew Cuomo is pushing for legislation to block privileged New Yorkers from scooping up rent-stabilized pads. Matthew McDermott Im calling the legislation Zohrans Law. This is obviously an abuse of the system, Cuomo told The Post Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were not supposed to be providing rent-stabilized apartments to the children of millionaires. The qualifications would include a means test based on the monthly rent and other factors, Cuomo said, though he did not share specifics. The legislation would require approval from the Democrat-run state legislature and Gov. Kathy Hochul. Cuomos proposal is named after socialist mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani. LP Media Cuomo has been on the attack against Mamdani since last Friday over the cushy apartment in high-cost Astoria. 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 a viral tweet that racked up more than 28 million views. Mamdani makes $142,000 a year as a state assemblyman and his wealthy family includes his filmmaker mom and professor dad. I am calling on you to move out immediately and give your affordable housing back to an unhoused family who need it. Leaders must show moral clarity. Time to move out, Cuomo added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani, the Democratic Party nominee, has proposed to freeze the rent of government-regulated apartments if he wins the general election in November. Mamdani has been living in a $2,300-a-month, one-bedroom apartment in Astoria. Brigitte Stelzer Former Gov. Cuomo lost to Mamdani in a June Democratic primary but is running in November on the Fight and Deliver independent ballot line. Incumbent Mayor Eric Adams also is running as an independent after dropping out of the primary as he faced federal corruption charges, which have since been dropped. Curtis Sliwa, the founder of the Guardian Angels, is the Republican nominee and lawyer Jim Walden will also appear on ballots as an independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Mamdani campaign accused Cuomo of desperate mudslinging. On the day of the National Dominican Day Parade, as Andrew Cuomos desperate, nonsensical attacks continue, Zohran is busy deepening his support from New Yorkers ready for a city they can afford, said Mamdani campaign spokeswoman Dora Pekec. If Mr. Cuomo really cared for working people in New York City, hed commit today to reimburse the taxpayers the $60 million we are spending on his personal legal defense which could pay for thousands of affordable housing units instead of probing the gynecological records of women he harassed. Mamdani landed the rent-regulated apartment on StreetEasy when he was making $47,000, his camp said. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) went scorched earth on far-right activist Laura Loomer on Monday. Loomer, known as President Donald Trumps whisperer, tore into Army Secretary Dan Driscoll on social media after the service acknowledged Medal of Honor recipient Florent Groberg, who saved the lives of fellow soldiers from a suicide bomber in Afghanistan. His actions resulted in catastrophic injuries. The Army account, in a post on X on Friday, had honored Grobergs powerful story of courage, sacrifice, and heroism. In response, Loomer posted that There are probably so many people who the Army could honor who have received the Medal of Honor, which is the countrys highest recognition for combat valor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Loomer went on to claim that Groberg was a Democrat who campaigned against Trump by supporting former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election. She also said that he has been praised by former President Barack Obama, and added that he was not a US born soldier. Groberg became a naturalized citizen in 2001. Under the Army Secretary Dan Driscoll @SecArmy, there have been several instances of either him, or the Army promoting anti-Trump Leftists on their official social media channels, Loomer wrote. Doesnt seem like he knows too much about all of the players. A very ALOOF person. Not a good trait to have when youre in charge of the Army. In response to Loomers post, Greene hit back on Monday, calling her a coward and attaching a screenshot that shows she had been blocked. ...Laura Loomer has ZERO respect or reverence for even the most heroic people in America. Ask any veteran, military member, and American, no one cares about his politics, the man was willing to die to save others from a suicide bomber, Greene said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shut up Laura, she continued. of course, what a coward. I looked her up after I heard she attacked Medal of Honor recipient Florent Groberg, who risked his own life to heroically save his military brothers from a suicide bomber. What was Hero Florent Grobergs Loomer crime? Nothing. He spoke at a pic.twitter.com/alxxuyjAft Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) August 11, 2025 Greene then said that Loomer will lie about and slander the best people in order to rip apart other Republicans she is trying to destroy, noting that she routinely lies about me. Since Trump has started his second term, Loomer has used her prominence on social media to try to purge figures in his administration that she sees as disloyal, such as digging up their old social media posts and sifting through their past political donations. She has claimed credit for a number of firings, including a senior Customs and Border Protection official. As a matter of fact, 95% of her slanderous attacks are against Republicans. Why does she do that? Because she is not MAGA, she is MIGA, Greene said, appearing to reference Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Researching facts and then spinning them into lies to serve her agenda doesnt make her good or trustworthy. It makes her a liar and it makes her dangerous, she added. Greene was met with mixed reactions. Loomer lately has been more America first and defending our President more than you do lately, one user wrote. Another user said: When Marjorie calls out LooLoo for not being MAGA while Marjorie is talking about leaving MAGA, the whole thing feels like a telenovela. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Firefighter Aniyah Brown has been named 2025s Firefighter of the Year for the Kiwanis Region of Louisiana, Mississippi, and western Tennessee. Aniyahs recognition is a testament to her selflessness, professionalism, and unwavering dedication to the citizens of Shreveport, a press release stated. Mansfield improves fire protection rating, mayor thrilled Brown was selected by the Kiwanis Club, an organization committed to supporting the regions communities and their residents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As we travel to Memphis, TN to accept this award in support of Aniyah, this is about more than recognition for one of our firefighters, said Chief Clarence Reese, Jr. This is about proudly showing what the City of Shreveport and the State of Louisiana can accomplish when service is at the heart of everything we do. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. The Indiana Chamber of Commerce rankings highlight Senate and House lawmakers. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle) From 8% to 100%, the Indiana Chamber of Commerce recently graded Indiana lawmakers on their support of major business legislation in the recent General Assembly session. The 41st annual Legislator Scorecard was based on how legislators voted on 12 key pro-economy, pro-jobs policies. The most significant of the bills was Senate Bill 1, which reduced property taxes including a break for businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other key bills included the topics of road funding, education deregulation, economic development, child care, energy generation, higher education and workforce development and health care costs. The Legislator Scorecard is a critical measure to track lawmakers commitment to keeping our state among the nations best for doing business which also leads to increased economic growth and job opportunities, said Indiana Chamber President and CEO Vanessa Green Sinders. The legislation that factored into the 2025 rankings was especially important in creating a more attractive tax climate, building our talent pipeline and maintaining needed road infrastructure. More than 50 lawmakers earned a perfect mark all Republicans who generally align with the right-leaning Chamber of Commerce. Many Republicans were in the 90 percentile, including Fort Wayne Sen. Liz Brown who scored 91%. Her four-year average is 89%. She has recently been targeted as being too liberal and faces a primary fight in 2026 against Allen County school board member Darren Vogt. He is backed by Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Banks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were a number of Republicans below 80%. They include Rep. Craig Haggard at 62%; Rep. Matt Hostettler at 75%; Rep. Andrew Ireland at 50%; Rep. Lorissa Sweet at 70%; Rep. Ethan Manning at 75%; Sen. Eric Bassler at 64%; Sen. Vaneta Becker at 42%; Sen. Gary Byrne at 62%; Sen. Spencer Deery at 69%; Sen. Dan Dernulc at 54%; Sen. Aaron Freeman at 54%; Sen. Tyler Johnson at 62%; Sen. Jean Leising; Sen. Jim Tomes at 46%; Sen. Michael Young at 42% and Sen. Andy Zay at 38%. Some common bills that cost these lawmakers were no votes on road funding and property tax relief. The lower scores largely were assigned to Democrats, though the worst grade went to Republican Sen. Mike Bohacek, of Michiana Shores. Other awards Seven policymakers also were further selected as an Indiana Chamber Legislative Champion, Small Business Champion or Champion Freshman Legislator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Legislative Champions are Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie, and Rep. Jake Teshka, R-North Liberty, for their respective work on pro-business legislation in 2025, namely on the topics of road funding and taxation, respectively. Additionally, three Small Business Champions were named: Rep. Martin Carbaugh, R-Fort Wayne; Rep. Chris Jeter, R-Fishers; and Rep. Craig Snow, R-Warsaw. The Indiana Chamber also honored Rep. Wendy Dant Chesser, D-Jeffersonville, and Rep. Danny Lopez, R-Carmel, as Champion Freshman Legislators for their impacts on boosting entrepreneurship and economic development. The Legislator Scorecard (formerly Legislative Vote Analysis) is produced annually after the legislative session, the news released said. Lawmakers are kept apprised of the Indiana Chamber position and reasoning on these bills through various communications during the legislative session and prior to key votes being taken. Only floor votes for which there is a public record are used in the vote calculations. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX People ride SEPTA articulated bus in Philadelphia. (Courtesy of Getty Images) On Monday, the state House voted on a bill that would increase funding for transit agencies across the commonwealth. The bill will go to the Republican-controlled Senate, which is set to return to Capitol in Harrisburg tomorrow. House Democrats say it was a necessary move to shore up funding as the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) warns of impending service cuts if they dont receive more state support. But, Republicans in the chamber accused the other side of the aisle of political gamesmanship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bill increases funding for mass transit agencies in rural, urban and suburban areas by giving an additional 1.75% of the total sales tax collected to mass transit agencies. Democrats also emphasized that the bill included a number of Republican transportation priorities, including funding for roads and bridges and requirements that transit agencies explore public-private projects and combat fare evasion. A sign at SEPTAs headquarters signaling what service cuts will happen if they dont receive state funding by August 14. (John Cole/Capital-Star) For months, lawmakers have been discussing how to increase transit funding as part of broader budget negotiations. But, six weeks after the constitutionally mandated June 30 deadline to pass it, SEPTA announced last week that it will have to cut service by 20% if lawmakers dont act to boost their funding by Aug. 14. I believe there are those who want to play politics or leverage for other issues, but the simple reality is there is an issue in front of us, a transit crisis, House majority leader Matt Bradford (D-Montgomery) said. Republican Minority Leader Jesse Topper (R-Bedford), however, said the Houses move was nothing but a political show. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While we believe [transit funding] is an integral part of the budget discussions that have been going on, it is part of the budget discussions, Topper said. We have to be able to get into a room and fix this budget in its entirety, not one issue at a time. Topper said that the Republican-controlled Senate is unlikely to act on transit funding as a standalone issue, instead viewing it as part of broader budget negotiations. A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R-Indiana) did not respond to a request for comment. Roughly 1 million Pennsylvanians about one in 13 people in the state use mass transit every day in all 67 counties. About 800,000 of those use SEPTA. But transit authorities outside of the Philadelphia area have also warned they face service cuts if no additional funding is provided by the legislature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previous coverage of the mass transit funding debate: Whats at stake over proposed increase in mass transit funding in Pa.? Pa. House holds a Sunday vote on transit funding as the consequences of a late budget loom SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE House Republicans are pushing for a second megabill. The Senate GOPs not so sure. After a grueling ordeal to get President Donald Trumps big, beautiful bill signed into law last month, Speaker Mike Johnson and other leaders are already talking about crafting at least one more domestic policy package that can pass along party lines in the Senate. A White House official, granted anonymity to share details about private conversations, said another filibuster-skirting reconciliation bill is under discussion. The conservative Republican Study Committee has launched a Reconciliation 2.0 working group and is hosting staff briefings throughout the summer recess to begin generating recommendations for follow-up legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) said hes open to considering as many as 200 tax proposals from his members that were ultimately not included in the first megabill. But most senators have questions about what could go into another reconciliation package and theyre casting doubts on whether its even politically possible to do this all over again. You have to have a reason to do it, said Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.). It's not easy to do, so you have to have a purpose for doing it in the first place. That unifying purpose for Republicans the first time around was a desire to deliver Trump a major legislative victory early in his second term and prevent a tax hike that they feared would weaken the economy. Republican leaders decision to throw in a debt limit extension through 2026 as Treasury warned the nation would soon exceed its borrowing authority added a do-or-die incentive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Without the pressure, I dont see how you get it done, said one Republican senator, granted anonymity to speak freely, about prospects for passing a second reconciliation bill without an existential impetus for action. I dont think I see what the pressure is here. At the same time, despite the White Houses enthusiasm for another reconciliation bill, administration officials have not yet told lawmakers what policies they want considered, according to three people speaking on condition of anonymity. Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) chairs of the committees on Armed Services and Budget, respectively also said before leaving for recess they have not received guidance from the White House. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, said he still hadn't heard from the administration about its broader set of legislative priorities heading into the fall. At this point, the loudest reconciliation push in the Senate is coming from deficit hawks like Sen. Ron Johnson, who wants to use another bill to cut spending further than what conservatives were able to achieve in the first package. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Leadership is telling us well do one or two more reconciliations in this Congress, the Wisconsin Republican told reporters earlier this summer. So the clocks ticking While Senate Majority Leader John Thune has left the door open to doing a second reconciliation bill, he hasnt provided a specific timeline for doing so. One of the three people waiting to hear from Trump said the push for another party-line package is coming not as much from the administration as from the House. There, Budget Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) has said lawmakers should try to rework policies cut from the first reconciliation bill to comply with Senate rules. But theres skepticism in the Senate that the House will be able to successfully relitigate those proposals. My sense is that there's more enthusiasm in the House than in the Senate, and that makes sense, said Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.). They can do things with 51 votes anyway, most of what we have to do requires 60. And that means that senators, if you have a desire to actually legislate, need to find ways to legislate and reconciliation is damaging to that relationship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But House Republicans are also navigating their own slim margins and ideological divides. Conservatives and centrists clashed over cuts to Medicaid and clean energy tax credits in the big, beautiful bill, and lawmakers could have a diminished appetite for further battles over hot-button issues, especially heading into an election year. Some House GOP aides were alarmed earlier this week when a hard-line think tank, the Economic Policy Innovation Center, pitched an extended moratorium on Medicaid funding for large abortion providers in a Republican Study Committee staff briefing. RSC leadership has stressed its megabill working group is designed at this point to generate ideas and put down markers, but EPICs recommendation could be a harbinger of other disputes to come. Meanwhile, Republicans are already struggling to sell voters on the first megabill back in their home states and districts, where town halls and other constituent events in the early weeks of recess have so far been rocky . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One House Republican, granted anonymity to speak candidly, said there would be some hesitancy to dive back into reconciliation. We did so much in the first, the member said. It's going to be harder to do a second one. Benjamin Guggenheim contributed to this report. A Russian military court sentenced Major General Denis Putilov, former head of the Central Military District's armored vehicle service, to 8.5 years in a strict-regime prison on Aug. 11 for taking a large-scale bribe, the Russian Investigative Committee said. Putilov is at least the eighth senior defense official jailed since former Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu was dismissed in 2024 as part of a sweeping anti-corruption purge within Russia's military leadership. Investigators said that between 2023 and 2024, the Russian Defense Ministry signed over 140 million rubles ($1.7 million) in contracts with a private entrepreneur to repair and maintain military equipment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putilov, who oversaw the process, allegedly accepted a 10 million ruble ($125,000) bribe "for general patronage," after which the contracts were left unfulfilled, causing "significant damage" to the state. The 46-year-old officer was stripped of his rank and barred from holding government positions for six years after release. Putilov's arrest in September 2024 came just four months after Russian President Vladimir Putin promoted him to major general. Shoigu, criticized for the military's failures in Ukraine, was moved to head Russia's Security Council in May 2024. Putilov's case follows the July 1 sentencing of former Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov, who received 13 years in prison. According to the Moscow Times' sources, the purge campaign was initiated by the Federal Security Service (FSB) and personally approved by Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ivan Stupak, a Ukrainian military analyst and former Security Service officer, said in July that the Kremlin's purge is likely to deepen. "Either you mysteriously die, or you end up behind bars," he told the Kyiv Independent. Read also: Mobilization gridlock: How politics, policy, and public opinion are shaping Ukraines war effort Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. It's the end of an era for AOL, which will end its dial-up internet service next month after over 35 years. "AOL routinely evaluates its products and services and has decided to discontinue Dial-up Internet," the company said in a statement on Friday. AOL said it will discontinue its dial-up service and "associated software" on Sept. 30. Yahoo, which owns AOL, said it is discontinuing the service as it "innovate[s] to meet the needs of today's digital landscape." The change will not impact free AOL email accounts or other services, the spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 163,000 households had dial-up as of 2023, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. While only a small number of Americans still use the service, many will remember the screech-filled dial-up tone used to connect to the internet in the 1990s, followed by AOL's familiar "You've Got Mail" greeting. In the 1998 movie "You've Got Mail," actors Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan strike up a romantic relationship after exchanging messages on AOL's platform. AOL rose in popularity in the 1990s, giving Americans an entry point to the online world through instant messaging and email features. Originally known as America Online, the company changed its name to AOL in 2006. Jamie Lee Curtis: The 60 Minutes Interview Derek and the Dominos co-founder Bobby Whitlock dies Artisan bakers sparking sourdough boom AOL is shutting down the dial-up service that introduced homes across the US to the internet. The firm's dial-up offering connects to the internet via a phone line and currently only exists in the US and Canada. Launched more than 30 years ago, AOL dial-up was known for its chirpy whirring start-up sound, but it has long since been replaced by faster alternatives. Fewer than 300,000 people in the US reported having only a dial-up internet connection, compared with more than 300 million with broadband service, according to 2023 government estimates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "AOL routinely evaluates its products and services and has decided to discontinue Dial-up Internet, " the company said in a notice to subscribers in the US and Canada on Friday. The service will no longer be available in AOL plans as of 30 September, the firm added. "Thanks for the memories RIP," wrote AOL co-founder Steve Case, who presided over the firm's growth in the 1990s. The company was known for luring customers by mailing them free trial discs and at one point claimed ownership of nearly 40% of the time that Americans spent online. AOL, which merged with Time Warner in 2000 in a deal widely deemed disastrous, boasted more than 30 million subscribers at the end of 2001. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But its lead had already started to be eroded, as broadband offerings from rivals started to gain traction. As early as 2003, obituaries for dial-up service had begun, as in a Wall Street Journal article that declared: "It's official. Dial-up is dying." In the UK, AOL was toppled from the top spot as internet service provider in 1999. It then sold its UK arm in 2006. Time Warner spun off AOL in 2009. It was acquired by Verizon in 2015, which saw value in its mobile technology business and later merged it with Yahoo. Today, AOL and Yahoo are owned by Apollo Global. AOL plans to shut down its dial-up internet service, which has been a staple for keeping users connected to the internet. The company announced on its website that the service will no longer be available in AOL plans for customers. When is AOL dial-up internet going away? Why you should care Service is set to stop on Sept. 30, according to a company webpage titled "Dial-up Internet to be discontinued." The service and related software, the AOL Dialer software, and AOL Shield browser, which are used to maximize older operating systems and dial-up internet connections, will end. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AOL added in the message on its website that the shutdown of the internet dial-up is part of a regular assessment of products and services. In a statement obtained by FOX Business , AOL said, "We are discontinuing the dial-up internet service component included in certain legacy AOL Advantage, CompuServe, and Netscape Connect Plans as we innovate to meet the needs of todays digital landscape," a spokesperson for Yahoo which counts AOL among its brands." "This change does not impact the numerous other valued products and services that these subscribers are able to access and enjoy as part of their plans. There is also no impact to our users free AOL email accounts," the statement added. When did AOL launch? The backstory AOL, formerly known as America Online and known for its "Youve got mail" messages, buddy lists and instant messaging services, was founded in 1985 and became the leading internet service provider in the 1990s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1993, Time noted that AOL launched its own email addresses and access to the rest of the internet for its users. According to FOX Business , free trial discs were shipped to homes when the internet as the company gained traction. AOL customers needed a home phone line for the service. AOL became the nations largest internet provider by 2000 with a net worth of $125 billion. AOL merged with Time Warner, but the companies parted ways in 2009 and AOL continued making money off its dial-up internet service, Time noted. The Source Information for this story was provided by AOL, FOX Business, USA Today, and Time. This story was reported from Washington, D.C. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Key Takeaways: Astronaut Jim Lovell, who died Thursday, was part of the three-man crew on the Apollo 13 NASA mission in 1970. Decades later, Lovell wrote a book about the near-disaster that inspired the Oscar-winning movie Apollo 13. Lovell and his crew members, Fred Haise Jr. and Jack Swigert, had decorated careers within the space agency. Today, Haise is the only living member of the famous mission. Houston, we have a problem. The iconic five-word phrase spoken by Tom Hanks, portraying astronaut Jim Lovell, in the 1995 blockbuster Apollo 13 instantly became one of the most memorable movie quotes of all time. However, the line was one instance where director Ron Howards Academy Awardwinning movie took some creative license. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Astronaut Jack Swigert, played on the big screen by Kevin Bacon, was actually the one who first sent the famous distress call to Mission Control from the shuttle, saying, Okay, Houston, weve had a problem here. (Lovell repeated the phrase when a capsule communicator in Houston asked what Swigert had said.) Other than that slight change of phrase, Apollo 13 was a very real depiction of the perilous outer space journey of three astronauts: Lovell, Swigert, and Fred Haise (Bill Paxton). Intended to be NASAs third moon-landing mission, Apollo 13 launched from Floridas Kennedy Space Center on April 11, 1970. Two days laterand approximately 205,000 miles from Earththe men reported hearing a loud bang. That problem Swigert and Lovell had famously mentioned ended up being an oxygen tank explosion that severely damaged the vessel, rendering a lunar landing impossible. It really was not until I looked out the window and saw the oxygen escaping from the rear end of my spacecraft that I knew that we were in serious trouble, Lovell recalled at a Kennedy Space Center gala commemorating the missions 45th anniversary in April 2015. Across the nation, Americans were glued to their television sets awaiting news of what happened to the trio who was forced to orbit the moon while scrambling to find a way to back to their families. After spending 142 hours and 54 minutes in space, the crew returned safely to Earth on April 17. They landed in the south Pacific Ocean, about four miles from the recovery ship, USS Iwo Jima. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following day, President Richard Nixon awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the men, as well as Apollo 13s Mission Operations Team for their heroic efforts during what has been called NASAs finest hour. These are the real men behind the famed space mission and hit film: Commander James Jim Lovell Jr. Portrayed by Tom Hanks Getty Images With three missions and 572 spaceflight hours of experience to his credit, Lovell was the worlds most traveled astronaut for a time. A former test pilot, the Ohio native participated in several high-profile NASA missions, including flights on Gemini 7, Gemini 12, and Apollo 8, which was the first mission to circle the moon. Before joining NASA, Lovell attended the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, from 1948 to 1952. Upon graduation, he married his high school sweetheart Marilyn Lovell (nee Gerlach), whom actor Kathleen Quinlan portrayed in Apollo 13. The couple had four children: Barbara, James III, Susan, and Jeffrey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lovells role as Apollo 13 commander is one hes often reflected on over the years. The flight was a failure in its initial mission, he said at the 2015 Kennedy Space Center gala. However, it was a tremendous success in the ability of people to get together, like the mission control team working with what they had and working with the flight crew to turn what was almost a certain catastrophe into a successful recovery. On March 1, 1973, Lovell retired from NASA and as a U.S. Navy captain. After working in various corporate jobs, including executive roles in a towing company and telecommunications business, he retired from the private sector in 1991. In collaboration with journalist Jeffrey Kluge, Lovell co-wrote the 1994 book Lost Moon: The Perilous Voyage of Apollo 13, which served as the basis for Howards big-screen adaptation the following year. Lovell even made a cameo in the movie as captain of the USS Iwo Jima rescue ship. He died Thursday at age 97. Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise Jr. Portrayed by Bill Paxton Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, Haise completed flight training with the U.S. Navy in 1954 and served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a fighter pilot until 1956. Beginning his NASA career in 1959 at the Lewis Research Center (now the Glenn Research Center) in Cleveland, the University of Oklahoma graduate acted as a research pilot until he was selected for astronaut training at Houstons Johnson Space Center in 1966. Now 91, Haise had been a backup lunar module pilot on Apollo 8 and 11, but his earlier experience proved most useful in calmly helping the Apollo 13 crew survive the aborted lunar-landing mission. As a military pilot and a test pilot, handling unusual situations and aircraft malfunctions was part of the business, he explained in a 2014 Q&A with NASA. My biggest emotion on Apollo 13 after the oxygen tank explosion was disappointment that we had lost the landing. Ron Howard, director for the movie Apollo 13, commented that it never sounded like we had a problem after listening to all the air-to-ground transmissions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was later assigned to command the Apollo 19 moon mission that NASA ultimately canceled in 1972 following a series of budget cuts. Along with fellow astronaut Gordon Fullerton, Haise piloted the space shuttle Enterprise for three of its test flights in 1977. After leaving NASA two years later, the father of four served as president of Grumman Technical Services Inc. as part of the Shuttle Processing Contract Team throughout the 1980s and 90s until his eventual retirement. Command Module Pilot John Jack Swigert Jr. Portrayed by Kevin Bacon Swigert was a last-minute addition to the Apollo 13 crew, replacing Ken Mattingly, who had been exposed to German measles just 48 hours before the 1970 launch. The Denver native served in the United States Air Force from 1953 to 1956 and was assigned as a fighter pilot in Japan and Korea upon his graduation from the Pilot Training Program and Gunnery School at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. Following his tour of active duty, Swigert served as a jet fighter pilot in both the Massachusetts Air National Guard from 1957 to 1960 and the Connecticut Air National Guard from 1960 to 1965. In April 1966, Swigert and Haise were among the 19 astronauts selected by NASA for training, and two years later, the former became a member of Apollo 7s astronaut support crew. The Apollo 13 mission was the then-38-year-old mechanical and aerospace engineers first space flight. After taking a leave of absence in April 1973 to become the U.S. House of Representatives Executive Director of the Committee on Science and Technology, Swigert eventually resigned from both NASA and the congressional committee in August 1977 to officially enter politics. The Republican was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Colorados 6th district in 1982. Before he could be sworn in, however, Swigert died of bone cancer in December 1982 at age 51. You Might Also Like The Indiana Court of Appeals declined to take up an abortion case challenging the state's near-total ban on Monday. (Getty Images) The Indiana Court of Appeals on Monday affirmed a ruling by a trial court judge upholding the states near-total abortion ban, specifically provisions relating to medical providers and potential exemptions. The law, which was enacted in a special 2022 session, only allows for exceptions in the case of a mothers health, rape or incest, or a fatal fetal anomaly though each with varying time limits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plaintiffs argued that certain pregnancies could imperil the health of the mother, but providers could be afraid to pursue an abortion for fear of the repercussions. Additionally, the law limits all abortion care to hospitals or an ambulatory surgical center, rather than the free-standing clinics who largely performed these reproductive health procedures prior to the ban. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US The circumstances argued by the medical-care providers here generally do not necessitate an abortion to treat those risks, ruled the panel of judges. because the constitutional right to an abortion requires an extreme medical scenario where the womans life or health is at serious risk, performing a constitutionally protected abortion in Indiana is a procedure that nearly always will be done in a hospital. Thus, the statutory Hospital Requirement is not a material burden on the constitutional right to an abortion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita congratulated the members of his team that argued the case and said This ruling is a resounding victory for life and the rule of law in Indiana, Attorney General Rokita said. Our unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable and upholding our states values will continue to guide this office. The overwhelming majority of Hoosiers stand with us in defending the sanctity of life and the health of women across our state. The underlying abortion case initially centered on the risk to the health of the mother and the rights of providers, delaying the implementation of Indianas ban by roughly one year. After an Indiana Supreme Court ruling in favor of the states ban though left the door open for future challenges plaintiffs, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, amended their complaint to narrow their focus. That amended version is the one that the Indiana Court of Appeals weighed on Monday. Another challenge, regarding whether Indianas ban violates its religious freedom law, is ongoing. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX These architects arent playing around. For the next few weeks, teams from four architecture firms are gathering in Norfolk to build playhouses as part of the American Institute of Architects Pop-Up Park initiative. The structures are slated for installation in the Seatack neighborhood of Virginia Beach, and the teams will continue working every Saturday morning and Tuesday evening before the grand opening in October. Theres all kinds of societal issues that design professionals like architects deal with, so we wanted to somehow reach out to the general public and try to give them education about that, said Bernadette Keplinger, executive director of the Coastal Virginia chapter of AIA. So one of the ways we were talking about three years ago, was an idea of activating spaces that didnt necessarily have a park for residents to enjoy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This isnt a first for Hampton Roads a pop-up park was built for Park Place in Norfolk and another for South Norfolk in Chesapeake. Keplinger said that for each neighborhood, designing the park closely mirrors the process for a commercial project. The teams met with residents of the Seatack community about their wants and needs for the park, and through the design process, they made tweaks. Now, during the build phase, the teams will execute their designs at the 757 Makerspace in Norfolk before transporting them to the neighborhood this fall. (Residents) said that one of their most important things for their community is their history, because theyre historically one of the oldest if not the oldest Black community on the on the East Coast or in the United States, quite honestly, Keplinger said. History is very important to them, so our team came up with the idea: Well, we can design four different playhouses for your park that represent an important part of your history.' Related Articles Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The teams will unveil their builds Oct. 11. The playhouses will stay in the Seatack neighborhood for about two weeks, but architect Tony Lim, one of the leaders of the project, said that the team is working with local leaders in Seatack to find permanent locations for the playhouses. In the community, a lot of (residents) said they wanted it to be durable and to last, Lim said. Thats kind of the direction that were taking them, in terms of designing and building them. Were thinking about how to make these last outdoors. In addition to community outreach, camaraderie between teams has been one of the highlights of the project, Lim said. Companies outside of architecture, including groups in construction and contracting, have also come to volunteer and contribute to the project. Theres a lot of energy, and people are very excited to do it, he said. We have a text group chat thats got all of the volunteers from the four firms, and we try to make that an open channel of text like, Oh, this is what weve done today, and this is what were planning to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its amazing to just see the progress in the chat that everyone else can see. That motivates everyone to just be on top of things and match their progress. Eliza Noe, eliza.noe@virginiamedia.com (The Center Square) U.S. Representative Abe Hamadeh, R-Arizona, is back from a trip to Jerusalem and Damascus. It was the first time in decades that an American official shuttled between the two cities. Hamadeh told The Center Square via email that he hopes this groundbreaking journey advances the expansion of the Abraham Accords and leads to a peace dividend for all ethnic and religious minorities in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Abraham Accords date back to the first Trump administration. The purpose is to end radicalization and conflict and pursue a vision of peace, security, and prosperity in the Middle East and beyond. In recent years, Syria has been in a period of economic and political transition from the Bashar al-Assad regime to interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa. The Trump administration, which met with al-Sharaa in May, has lifted some economic sanctions in order to assist the Syrian people and help the new government rebuild the country. Hamadeh said that he supports that decision, although he thinks Congress should be more involved in the process to ensure the current Syrian government is living up to its commitments. This visit was an important step in understanding Syrias economic challenges and the opportunities for responsible engagement, said Hamadeh, a first generation American and the son of Syrian immigrants. It is important for Congress to ensure that sanctions policy is addressed in a way that preserves lawful humanitarian and reconstruction channels while protecting U.S. security interests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Hamadeh remains focused on returning the body of Kayla Mueller to her relatives in Prescott, Arizona. Mueller was abducted by terrorists in 2013 while leaving a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Aleppo. Hamadeh campaigned on returning Muellers body from Syria. When he was sworn into office in January 2025, Hamadeh took the oath of office while using Muellers family Bible during the ceremony. Since before I was elected, I vowed to bring Kayla Muellers body home, said Hamadeh, a former U.S. Army Reserve Captain and Intelligence Officer. We have already made inroads on that front. In 2019, a U.S. Special Forces team was sent by President Trump to Syria to eliminate the leader of ISIS. The name of the mission was Operation Kayla Mueller. NEW MEXICO (KRQE) An Arizona man was sentenced to 30 years in prison for orchestrating a Ponzi-style investment fraud scheme that defrauded more than 100 victims, many of whom were Northern New Mexican residents, out of millions of dollars, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of New Mexico. Deming man accused of selling gun, drugs to undercover agent; fleeing from Border Patrol John Lopez, 74, solicited investments through his company, Personal Money Management Company (PMMCO), from 2014 to 2022, falsely claiming to have developed a proprietary algorithm that generated above-market returns. The DOJ said he instead used client funds to purchase precious metals and to make Ponzi-style payouts to earlier investors, disbursing $6.1 million to maintain the illusion of legitimate investment returns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lopez collected approximately $24 million from investors and used about $16 million to acquire precious metals, which he stockpiled in his home basement, office, a rented storage unit, and even buried underground, according to the DOJ. When federal agents seized PMMCOs assets in November 2021, they recovered less than $15 million, which was short of the $39 million Lopez falsely claimed was under management. Despite the seizure, Lopez continued to solicit new investors and issue fake account statements. Officials said Lopez lived off a six-figure salary and portrayed himself as a successful investor with assets rivaling major financial institutions. Trial evidence revealed that he failed to track individual investments, lied about account balances, and actively discouraged large withdrawals to keep the scheme afloat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After his indictment, Lopez violated his court-ordered release conditions at least five timestwo before his conviction and three afterwardincluding committing additional fraud, making unauthorized financial transactions, refusing to turn over financial documents, and having prohibited contact with victims and witnesses. Before his sentencing, federal agents executed another search warrant on Lopezs home and found boxes of silver coins, worth approximately $350,000, hidden in the crawl space under the home. Officials said the location of approximately $3 million in additional precious metals remains unknown at this time. As part of the sentencing, Lopez was ordered to pay $24 million in forfeiture. A restitution order remains pending, the DOJ said. When he finishes his sentence, Lopez will be subject to three years of supervised release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Attorneys Office brought a separate civil forfeiture action on April 15, 2022, seeking to forfeit assets seized in November 2021. Litigation in the civil proceeding is ongoing, 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 KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. Arizona water officials expect the states mandated reductions in use of Colorado River water to hold steady next year but potentially worsen after that unless a wet winter in the Rocky Mountains refills some of the Southwests lost reservoir storage. Federal guidelines for doling out water based on Lake Meads diminished current storage this year placed the river in what is known as a Tier 1 shortage, meaning Arizona is giving up about 30% of the Central Arizona Projects normal supply, which equals 18% of the states share of the Colorado. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is expected to release its projection on Aug. 15 for Lake Meads 2026 water levels, and unless anything changes, the current tier should persist through next year, according to Doug MacEachern, an Arizona Department of Water Resources spokesperson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lake Mead is at elevation 1,054.15 feet above sea level, about 175 feet below what's considered full. Based on the water stored behind Hoover Dam, the reservoir is at 31% of capacity. It's unclear what might happen after the 2026 operating plan is put in place, as the federal guidelines for administering shortage expire next year. The seven states that use the river have struggled to reach a new agreement restricting their consumption as the river continues shrinking. The Trump administration has said it needs them to strike such a deal by this winter or Interior Secretary Doug Burgum will impose his own plan. The last projections for Lake Meads water line in 2027 indicated a most-probable elevation dipping near what would be the trigger for a deeper Tier 2 cut if the current guidelines werent expiring. The outlook is worsening because the 2025 runoff season in the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado's headwaters, is shaping up to be the seventh-driest since 1963, when the government built Glen Canyon Dam to help store the river's flow. Central Arizona Project officials bemoaned the rough water year during an Aug. 7 board meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This year has really kicked us," said Vineetha Kartha, CAP's Colorado River programs manager. While its anything but clear what water-use reductions Arizona will face in 2027, MacEachern said, What can be said about the most probable projection is that elevations in Mead will continue to decline. No more normal: The Colorado River used to be predictable as a water supply. What happens when it's not? Bad hydrology is 'crushing' conservation measures As with other recent years, factors including warming air, parched soil and lengthening growing seasons have kept some of the melting snowpack from reaching the river or its reservoirs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fundamentally, bad hydrology is crushing valiant conservation and management efforts, said Kathryn Sorensen, research director at Arizona State Universitys Kyl Center for Water Policy. Precipitation upstream of Lake Powell registered 83% of the 30-year average, she said, but the flow into that reservoir during the crucial April-July runoff season was significantly lower 42% percent of average through June and projected at 19% for the month of July. Enrique Vivoni, a professor of hydrosystems engineering at Arizona State University, told CAP board members on Aug. 7 that dry soils are soaking up precipitation before it can reach the river, meaning good snow doesn't always mean good flow. "Under drought, the relationship of hydrology with precipitation is changing in Colorado River," Vivoni said. Lakes Mead and Powell, the largest constructed reservoirs in both the Colorado River Basin and the nation, were roughly full when drought began at the beginning of this century. In late July they held 31% and 32% of capacity, respectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only good news is that municipal water providers in central Arizona have long been preparing for Colorado River cuts, Sorensen said. Tap water deliveries are unlikely to be impacted, though water providers may ask for or even demand additional conservation efforts from their customers. To compensate for the loss of some river water, central Arizona is likely to pump more groundwater, depleting a resource not easily replenished during long-term drought. For more about the Colorado River: Sign up for AZ Climate, The Republic's weekly environment newsletter. It is possible that Arizona cities would need to tap new supplies to make up for river losses in coming years, depending on how low Lake Mead sinks and what rules the feds impose next year. One option, which also would deplete non-renewable groundwater, would be to drill wells to pump water that the state banked in the ground during years when it had excess Colorado River water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phoenix relies on the Colorado for about a third of its tap water, running about 120,000 acre-feet of it through its surface water treatment plants, according to a 2023 report from the Kyl Center. That kind of water remains available through Tier 1 and Tier 2 but some of it becomes questionable in Tier 3, according to the report. Under the expiring rules, that would happen if Lake Meads surface sank about 25 more feet. That's about how far the reservoir has dropped since 2020, though the decline can quicken the lower the water goes because the reservoir is essentially V-shaped. It remains unclear how much water CAP and Phoenix may get under new rules. The Arizona Department of Water Resources and the CAP have begun new talks among Arizona water users to craft a new plan to share cuts in the future. Some cities have avoided the worst effects of existing cuts because other farmers, tribes and cities have given up extra water in exchange for compensation, but those compensation arrangements are set to end in 2025 and 2026, meaning new burden-sharing agreements may be necessary to avoid harsh consequences. The states have spent part of this year debating a potential deal that would roughly split up the river between the Upper Colorado and Lower Colorado basins based on the quantity actually flowing in a given year, rather than the old system of following a 1922 compact's allocations that don't match reality in a warming climate. So far that idea has not yielded an agreement as the regions continue to dispute how much the Rocky Mountain states must yield to the Southwest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brandon Loomis and Austin Corona cover environmental and climate issues for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Reach Loomis at brandon.loomis@arizonarepublic.com and Corona at austin.corona@arizonarepublic.com. Environmental coverage on azcentral.com and in The Arizona Republic is supported by a grant from the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Follow The Republic environmental reporting team at environment.azcentral.com and @azcenvironment on Facebook and Instagram. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona's declining share of Colorado River to hold steady for a year LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Former state senator, Arkansas Department of Higher Education Director and University of Central Arkansas president Lu Hardin died Monday at the age of 73. The Searcy-born Hardin had a steady rise in Arkansas politics, beginning with his serving in the state senate from 1983 to 1996, representing central Arkansas District 12. He was appointed to head the Arkansas Department of Higher Education by then-Governor Mike Huckabee in 1997. North Little Rock firefighters battle four vacant house fires on Sunday Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hardin served as UCA president from 2002 until a 2008 scandal that led to his resignation. Hardin pleaded guilty in federal court in 2011 to charges that he had fabricated two memos to the UCA Board of Trustees to grant him nearly $200,000 in bonuses. Hardin repaid the money to the university when he was discovered, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported. The judge at his hearing reported receiving over 60 letters of support for Hardin, and said the letters characterized him as a kind and unselfish man. In court, Hardin apologized for the falsified memos. Cause of death revealed for Brandon Blackstock, ex-husband of Kelly Clarkson: report Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hardin resigned as Palm Beach University president just prior to his 2011 plea. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK. Arkansas State Police Director Col. Mike Hagar (left) addresses reporters at a news conference at ASPs Camp Robinson training facility in North Little Rock on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. Prosecuting attorneys Daniel Shue of the 12th Judicial District (center) and Will Jones of the 6th Judicial District (right) listen. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate) This story first appeared on the Arkansas Times Arkansas Blog and is republished here by permission. As the Trump administration ramps up deportations nationwide, a new Arkansas law requires law enforcement agencies across the state to aid federal immigration authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law, which went into effect Tuesday, requires sheriffs to apply to a program with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that trains and certifies officers to serve immigration warrants on undocumented people already being held in county jails for other reasons. But some agencies, including the Arkansas State Police, are going much further than the new state law requires. They are signing up for a different type of partnership with ICE that allows cops to stop people on the street, question them about their immigration status and potentially arrest them for deportation proceedings. This program, which ICE calls its task force model, was discontinued during the Obama administration amid lawsuits over racial profiling but revived earlier this year under Trump. On July 7, ICE signed off on a memorandum of agreement with Arkansas State Police Director Mike Hagar that gives participating troopers the power and authority to interrogate any alien or person believed to be an alien as to his right to be or remain in the United States. Troopers dont need warrants to make these arrests 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 warrant can be obtained, the task force agreement says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cindy Murphy, an Arkansas State Police spokesperson, said Thursday that no troopers are participating in the task force program as of now. (That may be because officers are required to undergo training first. ICEs website says task force officer nominees must complete a 40 hour online course covering, among other things, scope of authority, immigration law, civil rights law, cross-cultural issues, liability issues, complaint procedures and obligations under federal law.) Once the training is complete, though, participating troopers will have the authority to make immigration-related arrests on their own, even without an ICE agent being present. That will be up to the discretion of the trained trooper, Murphy said. The program is expected to eventually operate in all areas of the state. Arkansas State Police looks forward to working with federal immigration officials through the 287(g) program to protect Arkansans from violent, criminal illegal immigrants, Murphy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Immigration violations are typically civil offenses, not criminal ones, and ICE data shows the agency has arrested an increasing number of unauthorized immigrants in recent months who dont have criminal charges or convictions. Axios reported in July that non-criminal ICE arrests rose in Arkansas last month, drawing from federal data obtained by the UC Berkeley School of Laws Deportation Data Project. The New York Times reported in June that the daily rate of arrests made by ICE in Arkansas had jumped by 176% between Jan. 20 and June 10 when compared to 2024. Murphy didnt address a question from the Arkansas Times about whether the Arkansas State Police will arrest people solely for violations of civil immigration law, even if theres no alleged criminal offense at play. She also didnt answer questions about how the state police will determine who to ask about their immigration status or how the agency will avoid the racial profiling concerns that dogged ICEs task force program in the past. The cost to the state police is expected to be minimal, Murphy said, as we already have training facilities and staffing. Arkansas isnt the only red state to embrace the newly revived task force model. ICEs website shows agencies overseeing state police departments in states including Missouri, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Florida have recently signed task force agreements. ProPublica reported in June that state troopers in Tennessee have assisted with large-scale ICE operations in Nashville by pulling over drivers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds of local law enforcement agencies around the country are also participating in the task force program as of August, including five in Arkansas: the Baxter County Sheriffs Office, the Miller County Sheriffs Office, the Lafayette County Sheriffs Office, the Texarkana Police Department and the police department in Hampton, a south Arkansas town of about 1,200. All of those agreements have been signed within the past six weeks, ICE records show. Though Arkansas state troopers may not yet be actively participating in the task force program, community advocates say theyre already helping out with ICE operations in Northwest Arkansas, which is home to a large immigrant population. Irvin Camacho, the co-founder of a group called the Alliance for Immigrant Respect and Education, or AIRE, said organizers began noticing about three months ago that state police were stopping and arresting an increasing number of people not just on the state highways they routinely patrol, but in other places, too. There have been a number of arrests in Springdale and Rogers, he said. Something is happening, because were seeing much more state troopers on the regular streets, Camacho said. And a lot of the time, when we see those stops, its immigrant-presenting people. AIRE tracks ICE activity in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. The group recently posted a picture to social media showing two alleged plainclothes ICE agents pretending to be shopping at a store in Fort Smith shortly before they reportedly detained a female employee. AIRE posted a video this week of a man in Fort Smith being pulled out of his truck outside of his home by two alleged ICE agents; he was later released, Camacho said, after immigration officials determined the man was in the country legally. GENEVA (AP) As nations began a second week of negotiations Monday for a global accord to end plastic pollution, an artist heaped piles of plastic waste onto a large sculpture in front of the United Nations office. Delegates to the treaty talks pass by the sculpture daily in a reminder of their responsibility to solve the plastic pollution crisis. The talks are scheduled to conclude Thursday. Benjamin Von Wong, a Canadian artist and activist, designed the nearly 6 meter (18 foot) sculpture called the Thinkers Burden and built it with a team. It's his take on the famous sculpture by Auguste Rodin, The Thinker in Paris. There is a male figure in deep thought, like Rodin depicted. But instead of sitting atop a rock, Von Wong's figure sits atop Mother Earth while cradling a baby and clutching plastic bottles. A strand of DNA intertwines them to highlight the health impacts of plastic pollution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the help of volunteers, Von Wong is adding plastic waste to the installation over the course of the negotiations to reflect the growing cost of inaction. He climbed a ladder Monday to reach the top of the sculpture and weave plastic bottles through the DNA. He put a plastic toy car in front. By the end of this week, we should have a sculpture almost completely drowned in plastics, however, the hope is, a strong and ambitious plastics treaty means that we can solve this problem once and for all, he said. The Minderoo Foundation, an Australian philanthropic organization, was the largest donor for the project. Local nonprofits and community groups collected the plastic trash. Standing by the sculpture, Maria Ivanova, an expert in international environmental governance, said it wakes you up. Ivanova is the co-director of the Plastics Center at Northeastern University in Boston. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People dont change their minds because of facts. They do because of feelings, she said. And this is where I think art is absolutely critical to shift the needle on policy. Delegates and tourists stopped to ask Von Wong about his work and pose for photos in front of it. Michael Bonser, head of the Canadian delegation, called the artwork extraordinarily profound. It gives us a sense, every day, of what we need to be doing inside the room, what we need to walk out with. And that's a deal that allows us to reverse the trend, he said. That's going to be challenging, but I think it's possible. About 3,700 people are taking part in the talks, representing 184 countries and more than 600 organizations. They are crafting the first global, legally binding treaty on plastics pollution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many agree the pace of the negotiations needs to speed up. They arrived in Geneva with hundreds of disagreements to be resolved. The number of unresolved issues grew last week, instead of shrinking. European Commissioner Jessika Roswall said she's concerned about the lack of progress, and it's time to get results. Roswall is commissioner for environment, water resilience and a competitive circular economy. United Nations Environment Programme Executive Director Inger Andersen told reporters it's still possible to agree on a treaty this week that ends plastic pollution. This is within grasp, Andersen said. The window remains open to leave Geneva with this treaty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ___ The Associated Press climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org. A piece of space rock that crashed into a home in Atlanta, Georgia, had been zooming around in space for longer than Earth has existed, a recent analysis has found. The newly named McDonough Meteorite that punched through Earth's atmosphere on 26 June 2025 formed around 4.56 billion years ago, according to planetary geologist Scott Harris of the University of Georgia. Our home planet, for context, is thought to be around 4.5 billion years old making the tiny fragments of rock that survived the impact at least a few hundred million years older. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: The Oldest Known Material on Earth Is Officially Older Than The Solar System YouTube Thumbnail "This particular meteor that entered the atmosphere has a long history before it made it to the ground of McDonough, and in order to totally understand that, we actually have to examine what the rock is and determine what group of asteroids it belongs to," Harris explains. The rock ended its space-faring days striking Earth's atmosphere, heating up and exploding in a spectacular fireball as it whistled through the sky. A piece of the meteorite then crashed through the roof of a suburban home in Atlanta's south-east, leaving a dent on the floor where it had shattered on impact. Harris and his colleagues obtained 23 of the precious 50 grams recovered from the house, and subjected it to optical and electron microscopy. The results suggest that it's an L-type ordinary chondrite, a stony rock that initially formed billions of years ago before experiencing a catastrophic event that put it on an eventual collision course with Earth. The dent the McDonough Meteorite made in the floor of the home it crashed down in. ( Submitted to UGA "It belongs to a group of asteroids in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter that we now think we can tie to a breakup of a much larger asteroid about 470 million years ago," Harris says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But in that breakup, some pieces get into Earth-crossing orbits, and if given long enough, their orbit around the Sun and Earth's orbit around the Sun end up being at the same place, at the same moment in time." The fragment will continue to be stored at the University of Georgia for further analysis that may reveal something about the conditions of the early Solar System before the planets formed. Related News [WATCH: In the video player above, all three Goodyear Blimps together over FOX 8 in Cleveland.] AKRON, Ohio (WJW) If youve ever dreamed of flying in the Goodyear Blimp, this could be your chance! But itll cost you. The nonprofit Bounce Innovation Hub, located in downtown Akron, has launched a silent auction for two seats aboard the iconic blimp. Bodies found after Amish womans concerning statements: Sheriff Proceeds of the silent auction are said to support Bounces strategic plan, which helps provide resources to local entrepreneurs and drive economic growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The silent auction is now open. According to organizers, bidding for the two-seat experience started at $1,500 and will climb in $100 increments. As of 7 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 25, the highest bid was $10,100 for the pair of tickets. Freshman football player paralyzed after collision The auction will close Thursday, Sept. 25, at 7:30 p.m. during the 2025 PNC Startup Showcase, which is an event designed to bring together entrepreneurs, investors, and community leaders in northeast Ohio. SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA FEBRUARY 08: A general view of the Goodyear blimp over the course during the third round of the WM Phoenix Open 2025 at TPC Scottsdale on February 08, 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) The auction coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Blimps first flight, which took off in Akron on June 3, 1925, as well as the city of Akrons bicentennial celebration, according to a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were thrilled to offer such a rare and unforgettable experience to support Bounces mission, Jessica Sublett, president and CEO of Bounce Innovation Hub, is quoted in the release. The Goodyear Blimp is an iconic symbol of innovation and pride for Akron, and with both the blimps 100th anniversary and Akrons bicentennial this year, the timing couldnt be more perfect. Its a celebration of our citys legacy and its future. The winner will be announced during the program in September. Winners do not need to be present to claim the prize. According to Goodyears website, rides on the Goodyear Blimp are not available for sale. Instead, the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company directs the public interest in flights toward helping community nonprofits. Over the past five years, the Goodyear Blimp has reportedly helped raise more than $1.5 million. To view the silent auction page and to place a bid, click here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. STONE COUNTY, Mo. An Aurora man has been sentenced in Stone County Circuit Court following an incident in December 2024. According to online court dockets, Lance Bishop, born 1968, has been sentenced following an Alford plea on Aug. 4. Bishop was sentenced on Aug. 11 to five years on first-degree terrorist threat and four years on unlawful use of a weapon, first-degree harassment and resisting arrest for a felony. Bishop is also serving 90 days in jail for a charge of fourth-degree assault. Under an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but concedes that evidence is likely to result in a conviction. The sentences will be served concurrently, which means Bishop will serve five years in prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Aurora man arrested for allegedly threatening officers with machete, rifle The probable cause statement says that officers with the Aurora-Marionville Police Department were dispatched to a location on Dec. 29, 2024, following a report of an intoxicated man harassing an individual with a machete. Police talked to the man, who was identified as Bishop, and the victim on the scene. The victim told officers that they were assisting a friend with moving out of an apartment. Bishop began yelling at the victim from a few inches away, armed with a machete, saying, Im allowed to stand here and stare at you, I hate you, and I can have a gun if I want. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the officers spoke to Bishop and asked him why he was threatening and harassing the victim. Bishop began telling the officer that he had done nothing wrong and was allowed to stand there and possess a machete. Bishop began yelling at the officers, telling them to leave the property or they would regret it, according to court records. Bishop walked into his property and then reappeared at his doorway with a machete in his right hand. The officer unholstered his duty weapon and told Bishop to leave us alone and no one wanted to get hurt, according to court documents. Bishop returned to his residence as the officer contacted supervisors for backup. Police began a standoff with Bishop until he finally came out of his apartment. Bishop finally exited his apartment, but told officers that he had a kill switch if they tried anything, which police believed to be a bomb threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers arrested Bishop and began a search of his residence. Police found five machetes, a rifle, a handgun, a gas mask with a filter, a stun baton/flashlight and a hatchet. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. Australia will recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday. "A two-state solution is humanity's best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza," he told reporters in Canberra. "Until Israeli and Palestinian statehood is permanent, peace can only be temporary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own. We will work with the international community to make this right a reality." The Israel-Hamas war, raging in Gaza since the Palestinian militant group's attack on October 7, 2023, has revived a global push for Palestinians to be given a state of their own. According to an AFP tally, at least 145 of the 193 UN members now recognise or plan to recognise a Palestinian state, including France, Canada and Britain. "There is a moment of opportunity here, and Australia will work with the international community to seize it," Albanese said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said that Australia's decision was predicated on reassurances from the Palestinian Authority that there would be "no role for the terrorists of Hamas in any future Palestinian state". The Palestinian Authority, however, does not have a presence in Gaza, which has been governed by Hamas for nearly two decades. - 'Shameful' - Israel's ambassador to Australia, Amir Maimon, said the decision was symbolic, rather than "genuine progress towards peace". "Let us be clear: this decision will not change the reality on the ground," Maimon said in a statement on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Australia elevates the position of Hamas, a group it acknowledges as a terrorist organisation, while weakening the cause of those working to end violence and achieve genuine, lasting peace." Just hours earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised international calls to recognise Palestinian statehood, saying it would "not bring peace, it will bring war". "To have European countries and Australia march into that rabbit hole, just like that, fall right into it and buy this canard is disappointing, and I think it's actually shameful," he said. International concern is growing about the plight of the more than two million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where the fighting has triggered a dire humanitarian crisis and warnings of mass starvation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albanese further criticised the Israeli government on Monday, saying it continued to defy "international law and deny sufficient aid". As the global movement to recognise a Palestinian state grows, New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters said his country would carefully consider whether to do the same over the next month. He added that New Zealand's recognition of a Palestinian state was a "matter of when, not if". "The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is rightly at the forefront of the global agenda," he said. Israel's offensive has killed at least 61,430 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. lec-bes/cwl Australia will recognise the state of Palestine at next months United Nations General Assembly on the condition that Hamas play no role in its future governance. Anthony Albanese, the Australian prime minister, confirmed the decision on Monday as he called a two-state solution humanitys best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East. Australia was the first country to raise its hand at the United Nations in support of Resolution 181, to create the state of Israel and a Palestinian state, Mr Albanese said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 77 years later, the world can no longer wait for the implementation of that Resolution to be negotiated between the parties. Thousands of people marched across Sydney Harbour Bridge in support of Palestine last week - SAEED KHAN He said his government had received commitments from the Palestinian Authority (PA) to demilitarise, hold general elections, cease prisoner payments, reform schooling and continue to recognise Israels right to exist. The decision was immediately denounced by conservative Jewish community groups, with the Australian Jewish Association (AJA) calling it a declaration from the Left-wing Labor government that rape and murder will be rewarded. As a gift to Hamas for October 7, Labor has launched another attack on Israel, the AJA said in an Instagram post. They damage our national security and risk the lives of Australians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No Australian government will steal the Jewish peoples homeland. They can declare that the sky is pink for all we care. There has never been a state of Palestine and there never will be. In a statement, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry criticised the governments betrayal and abandonment of the Israeli hostages who continue to languish in appalling conditions in Gaza. Australia was relying on a mere promise from Hamas, it said, adding that doing so left the terror group in a position to rearm thereby creating the conditions for the next war rather than a comprehensive peace. Angus Taylor, the opposition defence spokesman, echoed the concerns that pre-conditions for peace in the Middle East had not been met. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres no clear commitment to peaceful coexistence and agreed borders, and these are the preconditions, Mr Taylor told Sky News. The move is expected to add to international pressure on Israel after similar announcements from Britain, Canada and France. Less than an hour after the announcement from Canberra, the government of New Zealand said it was also considering recognising a Palestinian state and would publicly declare its position next month. Netanyahu: Australia is delusional Ahead of the announcement, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, hit back at Canberras shameful decision and said that nations were delusional for thinking the move would bring peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To have European countries and Australia march into that rabbit hole, just like that. Fall right into it I think its actually shameful, but its not going to change our position, Mr Netanyahu said. We will not commit national suicide to get a good op-ed for two minutes. We wont do that. He claimed that the Albanese government would have acted the same as his administration had if Australia had come under attack in the way Israel did on Oct 7 2023. They know what they would do if, right next to Melbourne or right next to Sydney, you had this horrific attack, Mr Netanyahu said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a press conference in Jerusalem - ABIR SULTAN Mr Albanese said he had had a long and civil discussion with Mr Netanyahu about Australias position. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have said it publicly and I said it directly to Prime Minister Netanyahu: the situation in Gaza has gone beyond the worlds worst fears, he said. Far too many innocent lives have been lost. The Israeli government continues to defy international law and deny sufficient aid, food and water to desperate people, including children. The Jewish Council of Australia argued that the recognition of a Palestinian state did not go far enough and called on the country to halt all military contracts with Israel. The Australian government must ensure that recognition is not merely symbolic, the group said in a statement. It needs to be combined with immediate action, including sanctions, to help end Israels ongoing genocide and the deliberate starvation of the people of Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Australia must implement an immediate arms embargo, suspend all military contracts with Israel, and hold Israel accountable for its crimes under international law, it added. Australia last week criticised Israels plan to take military control of Gaza and Mr Albanese said the decision to recognise a Palestinian state was further compelled by Mr Netanyahus disregard of the international communitys calls to comply with legal and ethical obligations in Gaza. Sir Keir Starmer announced last week that the UK would also recognise a Palestinian state at the September meeting of the UN General Assembly unless Israel met certain conditions. The conditions set out for Israel included agreeing to a ceasefire and allowing the UN to restart the supply of aid. 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. Australia will recognise a Palestinian state in September, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced, drawing condemnation from Israel. Albanese said on Monday that his government would formally announce the move when the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meets in New York. A two-state solution is humanitys best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza, Albanese said at a news conference in Canberra. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Australias announcement comes as Canada, France and the United Kingdom are also preparing to formally recognise Palestine at the meeting next month, joining the vast majority of UN member states that already do so. Israeli Ambassador to Australia Amir Maimon said recognition of a Palestinian state will do nothing to end the war in Gaza, telling the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC): We reject the recognition, unilateral recognition. Israeli President Isaac Herzog also slammed the Australian announcement as a reward for Hamas for its October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, repeating the Israeli governments stance on all recognition announcements thus far. This latest recognition comes about a week after hundreds of thousands of Australians marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to protest Israels war in the Gaza Strip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking a day after the protest, Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong told ABC that there is a risk there will be no Palestine left to recognise. In relation to recognition, Ive said for over a year now, its a matter of when, not if, Wong added. The opposition Liberal Party criticised the move, saying it put Australia at odds with the United States, its closest ally, and reversed a bipartisan consensus that there should be no recognition while Hamas remains in control of Gaza. Despite his words today, the reality is Anthony Albanese has committed Australia to recognising Palestine while hostages remain in tunnels under Gaza and with Hamas still in control of the population of Gaza. Nothing he has said today changes that fact, Liberal Party leader Sussan Ley said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recognising a Palestinian state prior to a return of the hostages and defeat of Hamas, as the Government has today, risks delivering Hamas one of its strategic objectives of the horrific terrorism of October 7. The Australian Greens, the fourth largest party in parliament, welcomed the move to recognise Palestine but said the announcement did not meet the overwhelming calls from the Australian public for the government to take material action. Millions of Australians have taken to the streets, including 300,000 last weekend in Sydney alone, calling for sanctions and an end to the arms trade with Israel. The Albanese Government is still ignoring this call, Senator David Shoebridge, the partys spokesperson on foreign affairs, said in a statement. The Australian Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) also criticised the announcement, describing it as a political fig leaf, letting Israels genocide and apartheid continue unchallenged, and distracting from Australias complicity in Israeli war crimes via ongoing weapons and components trade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palestinian rights are not a gift to be granted by Western states. They are not dependent on negotiation with, or the behaviour or approval of their colonial oppressors, APAN said in a statement. According to Albanese, Australias decision to recognise Palestinians right to their own state will be predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority (PA). These detailed and significant commitments include the PA reaffirming it recognises Israels right to exist in peace and security and committing to demilitarise and to hold general elections, Albanese said while announcing the decision. The PA is a governing body that has overseen parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank since the mid-1990s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It has not held parliamentary elections since 2006 and has been criticised by some Palestinians for helping Israel to keep tight control over residents in the occupied West Bank. Albanese said the commitments secured by Australia were an opportunity to deliver self-determination for the people of Palestine in a way that isolates Hamas, disarms it and drives it out of the region once and for all. Hamas has been in power in the Gaza Strip since 2007 when it fought a brief war against forces loyal to PA President Mahmoud Abbas. New Zealand to decide on recognition next month Meanwhile, New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on Monday that his countrys cabinet will make a formal decision on Palestinian statehood in September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of New Zealands close partners have opted to recognise a Palestinian state, and some have not, Peters said in a statement. Ultimately, New Zealand has an independent foreign policy, and on this issue, we intend to weigh up the issue carefully and then act according to New Zealands principles, values and national interest. Peters said that while New Zealand has for some time considered the recognition of a Palestinian state a matter of when, not if, the issue is not straightforward or clear-cut. There are a broad range of strongly held views within our Government, Parliament and indeed New Zealand society over the question of recognition of a Palestinian state, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is only right that this complicated issue be approached calmly, cautiously and judiciously. Over the next month, we look forward to canvassing this broad range of views before taking a proposal to Cabinet. Of the UNs 193 member states, 147 already recognise Palestinian statehood, representing three-quarters of the worlds countries and the vast majority of its population. Under its 1947 plan to partition Palestine, the UNGA said it would grant 45 percent of the land to an Arab state although this never eventuated. The announcements by Australia and New Zealand on Monday came hours after an Israeli attack killed five Al Jazeera staff members in Gaza City and as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to threaten a full-scale invasion of the city in the north of the Gaza Strip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israels war on Gaza has killed at least 61,430 people, according to Gazas health authorities. More than 200 people, including 100 children, have died from starvation under Israels punishing siege, according to health authorities. WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) Australia will recognize a Palestinian state, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday, joining the leaders of France, Britain and Canada in signaling they would do so. His remarks followed weeks of urging from within his Cabinet and from many in Australia to recognize a Palestinian state and amid growing criticism from officials in his government over suffering in Gaza, which Albanese on Monday referred to as a humanitarian catastrophe. Australias government has also criticized plans announced in recent days by Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu for a sweeping new military offensive in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albanese says conditions must be met for Palestine recognition Albanese told reporters after a Cabinet meeting Monday that Australias decision to recognize a Palestinian state will be formalized at the United Nations General Assembly in September. The acknowledgement was predicated on commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority, Albanese said. Those commitments included no role for Hamas in a Palestinian government, demilitarization of Gaza and the holding of elections, he said. A two-state solution is humanitys best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza, Albanese said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world's worst fears, he said. The Israeli government continues to defy international law and deny sufficient aid, food and water to desperate people, including children. Netanyahu rebuked Australia before the announcement Ahead of Albaneses announcement, Netanyahu on Sunday criticized Australia and other European countries that have moved to recognize a Palestinian state. To have European countries and Australia march into that rabbit hole ... this canard, is disappointing and I think its actually shameful, the Israeli leader said. Australia has designated Hamas a terrorist entity and Albanese repeated Monday his governments calls for the group to return Israeli hostages held since Oct. 7, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Australian leader last week spoke to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose authority administers parts of the occupied West Bank, supports a two-state solution and cooperates with Israel on security matters. Abbas has agreed to conditions with Western leaders, including Albanese, as they prepared to recognize a Palestinian state. This is an opportunity to deliver self-determination for the people of Palestine in a way that isolates Hamas, disarms it and drives it out of the region once and for all, Albanese said. He added that Hamas did not support a two-state solution. Recognition is growing, but is largely symbolic without the U.S. Nearly 150 of the 193 members of the United Nations have already recognized Palestinian statehood, most of them decades ago. The United States and other Western powers have held off, saying Palestinian statehood should be part of a final agreement resolving the decades-old Middle East conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recognition announcements are largely symbolic and are rejected by Israel, and by the United States the only country with any real leverage over Netanyahu. Israel's leader said this month that he would not accept Palestinian Authority involvement in a government for Palestine. A two-state solution would see a state of Palestine created alongside Israel in most or all of the occupied West Bank, the war-ravaged Gaza Strip and annexed east Jerusalem, territories Israel seized in the 1967 Mideast war that the Palestinians want for their state. Albanese dismissed suggestions Monday that the move was solely symbolic. This is a practical contribution towards building momentum, he said. This is not Australia acting alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albanese had discussed Australia's decision with the leaders of Britain, France, New Zealand and Japan, he said. He also had a long discussion" with Netanyahu this month, he added. In neighboring New Zealand, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Monday his government will carefully weigh up its position on recognizing a Palestinian state before making a formal decision in September. New Zealand has been clear for some time that our recognition of a Palestinian state is a matter of when, not if, Peters said in a statement. Australian Jewish and Palestinian groups criticized the move After Albanese's announcement Monday, Israel's envoy to Australia said the move undermined Israel's security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By recognising a Palestinian state now, Australia elevates the position of Hamas, a group it acknowledges as a terrorist organisation, Amir Maimon posted to X. This commitment removes any incentive or diplomatic pressure for the Palestinians to do the things that have always stood in the way of ending the conflict, spokesperson for the Executive Council of the Australian Jewry Alex Ryvchin said in a statement. Meanwhile, President of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network Nasser Mashni decried Albaneses recognition as too late and completely meaningless while the country continues to trade with Israel. He told reporters in Melbourne on Monday that the move would do nothing to end the ongoing genocide in Gaza which has been live streamed for the entire world for two years. Australia will recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations in September, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday, joining a wave of Group of 20 nations that have moved to rebuke Israel over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. A two-state is humanitys best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering, and starvation in Gaza, Albanese said at a press conference. The international communitys vision for a just and lasting peace in the Middle East always encompassed two states living side-by-side with internationally recognized borders. Australia joins Canada, Britain and France in moving to recognize a Palestinian state, a largely symbolic gesture, as international outrage builds over Israels war in Gaza, now approaching its two-year mark. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like the recognitions planned by other Western countries, Australias comes with conditions: a commitment to demilitarization, democratic elections and assurances that Hamas will play no part in a Palestinian government. Albanese said he spoke on Thursday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has largely resisted international pressure to shift the war from his own timeline. Most of the Jewish public is against the Palestinian state for the simple reason that they know it wont bring peace. Itll bring war. To have European countries and Australia march into that rabbit hole, just like that, fall right into it and buy this canard, its disappointing, Netanyahu said at a Sunday press conference, prior to Australias announcement. I think its actually shameful. The Israeli government late last week confirmed its military would seek to control Gaza City, one of the last slices of the besieged enclave not already under Israeli control. The Israeli prime minister has doubled down in response to international condemnation of the move, including Germany saying it would halt certain military exports to Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Zealand is also weighing recognizing Palestinian statehood, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said Monday. The Palestinian Authority currently has observer status at the United Nations, allowing it to engage with the international community but without voting rights in the U.N.s General Assembly. The Vatican holds similar status. Admission of the Palestinian Authority as a member state with full voting rights would require the assent of the U.N. Security Council, where the United States holds veto power. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday that his country will recognize a Palestinian state in September, joining a growing list of Western allies as international condemnation and anger builds over Israels actions in Gaza. A formal recognition will be made at the United Nations General Assembly next month, where Australia will recognize the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority, Albanese said at a press conference. On Monday, New Zealands Foreign Minister Winston Peters said his country was also considering recognizing a Palestinian state, and would make a decision at a cabinet meeting in September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Zealand has been clear for some time that our recognition of a Palestinian state is a matter of when, not if, Peters said in a statement, echoing the language used by Australian officials in the weeks leading up to Mondays announcement. Describing the situation in Gaza as an absolute human catastrophe, New Zealand Prime Minister Chrisopher Luxon said in a press conference that it was entirely appropriate that we take the time to actually make sure we weigh up our decision and work that through in a sensible way. Australia joins the United Kingdom, France and Canada in announcing plans to recognize a Palestinian state in September. The move leaves the United States increasingly isolated from some of its closest allies in its defense of Israels escalating military campaign thats decimated the besieged enclave after almost two years of war. If Wellington also moves, it will mean that four of the Five Eyes intelligence sharing network comprising the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, will recognize Palestinian statehood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark later criticized Luxon for not moving to quickly join Australia and other western allies. We now really seem to stand for nothing except you know somehow wanting to save our own skin in a tariff war she told RNZ on Tuesday. I think its its really quite a humiliating position for New Zealand to be in. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said shed spoken to US Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio in a call Sunday to give him advance notice of Australias impending announcement. A read-out of the call released by the US did not mention Palestinian statehood. In an interview with Catholic broadcaster EWTN last week, Rubio said that declarations of support for a Palestinian state were largely symbolic and only emboldened Hamas and made it harder to achieve peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albanese said Australia had sought and received assurances from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that Hamas would play no role in any future Palestinian state. Other conditions include a commitment to demilitarize and to hold general elections, abolish a system of payments to the families of prisoners and martyrs, and governance and education reform, as well as international oversight to guard against the incitement of violence and hatred, Albanese said. A two-state solution is humanitys best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict suffering and starvation in Gaza, he said. This is about much more than drawing a line on a map. This is about delivering a lifeline to the people of Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a subsequent interview with Australias public broadcaster ABC, Albanese said he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but found him to be in denial about the human cost of the war in Gaza. He (Netanyahu) again reiterated to me what he has said publicly as well, which is to be in denial about the consequences that are occurring for innocent people, Albanese said. This is starvation, pure and simple Canada and France have both said they would recognize a Palestinian state in September, when world leaders meet in New York for the UN General Assembly. The UK has said that it will, too, if Israel does not meet conditions that include agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza. On Sunday, Netanyahu gave a rare press conference with international media in which he called steps by Western nations to recognize Palestinian statehood shameful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To have European countries and Australia march into that rabbit hole, just like that, fall right into it, and buy this canard is disappointing, Netanyahu said. But its not going to change our position. We will not commit national suicide to get a good op ed for two minutes. Australian Foreign Minister Wong said, we cannot keep doing the same thing, and hoping for a different outcome. We cant keep waiting for the end of a peace process that has ground to a halt. Wong framed the decision as an opportunity as a nation to contribute to momentum towards two states which she underscored was the only prospect for peace. Israel announced an expansion of its war in Gaza on Friday, with a planned military takeover of Gaza City that is expected to involve the forced evacuation of up to a million people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, United Nations officials and UN Security Council member states condemned the plan, saying it would lead to another calamity and constitute further violations of international law. Ramesh Rajasingham, the head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Geneva said what is unfolding in Gaza is no longer a looming hunger crisis this is starvation, pure and simple. Last month, the UN-backed food security agency the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned that the worst case scenario of famine was unfolding in Gaza, its starkest alert yet as starvation spreads. Hunger-related deaths are rising in the enclave, especially among children, Rajasingham told the UN Security Council. Since October 2023, 98 children have died from severe acute malnutrition 37 since July 1 alone, he said, citing health authorities in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel is facing growing global condemnation over its conduct in Gaza, with large protests breaking out in major cities - including London and Australias Sydney - as people demonstrate their horror and anger over starvation in the territory. More than 460 people were arrested at a massive protest in London on Saturday and, last week, more than 90,000 people marched across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to protest the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Organizers put the figure at closer to 300,000 and plan more protests this month. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Australia plans to recognize Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly next month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed Monday. "Australia will recognize the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own, predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority," Albanese said, referring to the governing entity of part of the West Bank. Those commitments, he said, included the demilitarization of Gaza and the holding of elections with no role for Hamas in a Palestinian government. Australia has designated Hamas a terrorist entity and Albanese repeated Monday his government's calls for the group to return Israeli hostages held since the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albanese said Australia will work with the international community to make the right of Palestinian statehood a "reality." Recognizing A Palestinian State Now Will Complicate Future Peace Efforts, Experts Warn Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announces that Australia will recognize a Palestinian state at a press conference in Canberra, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. "A two-state solution is humanitys best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza," Albanese said. Read On The Fox News App Canada Plans To Recognize Palestinian State In September, Pm Carney Says The prime minister said the situation there "has gone beyond the worlds worst fears." He accused the Israeli government of continuing "to defy international law and deny sufficient aid, food and water to desperate people, including children." Destroyed buildings lie in Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the border, July 28, 2025. Albaneses announcement followed similar declarations from the leaders of France, Britain and Canada. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Australia and other European countries for the move, accusing them of marching into a "rabbit hole." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hostage Families Blast Uk And France For Moves To Recognize Palestinian State "[T]his canard, is disappointing and I think it's actually shameful," the Israeli leader said Sunday. Australias government, in turn, has criticized Netanyahus plans announced in recent days for a sweeping new military offensive in Gaza. Palestinians carrying pans, gather to receive hot meals, on July 23, 2025. The Australian leader last week spoke to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who agreed to conditions with Western leaders as they prepared to recognize a Palestinian state. "This is an opportunity to deliver self-determination for the people of Palestine in a way isolates Hamas, disarms it and drives it out of the region once and for all," Albanese said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To date, nearly 150 of the 193 United Nations members have recognized the State of Palestine many of whom did so decades ago. The U.S. and many of its Western allies have held off, arguing that Palestinian statehood should be the final stage of ending the conflict that has been ongoing since 1948. Israeli leaders, meanwhile, have pushed back on recognizing a Palestinian state, arguing that it would reward terrorism and do little to strengthen the position of the Palestinian Authority, which lost control of the Gaza Strip after a violent conflict with Hamas in 2007. The terrorist group has ruled Gaza ever since. The 2025 sessions of the UN General Assembly will begin on September 9 and last until September 25. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Original article source: Australia to recognize Palestinian statehood: Humanitys best hope Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday said Australia would recognize Palestinian statehood at the UN General Assembly in September, with conditions. "Today I can confirm that at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, Australia will recognize the State of Palestine," Albanese said in a press conference in Canberra, flanked by Foreign Minister Penny Wong. Albanese said his country would "recognize the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own, predicated on the commitments" that Australia received from the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA), headed by Mahmoud Abbas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Australian prime minister said the PA agreed there could be "no role ... in any future Palestinian state" for Palestinian militant organization Hamas, which triggered the Gaza war with its attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023. He said that the PA also "reaffirmed Israel's right to exist in peace and security," as well as committing to demilitarize, hold general elections and promising reforms, among other things. Albanese said that Canberra's decision to change its policy comes "as part of a coordinated global effort building momentum towards a two-state solution." The announcement follows a similar shifts by the United Kingdom, France and Canada in recent weeks, and comes after the Israeli Security Cabinet decided on Friday that the military should take over Gaza City, sparking international outcry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A two-state solution is humanity's best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza," the Australian premier said. "The situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world's worst fears, far too many innocent lives have been lost. The Israeli government continues to defy international law and deny sufficient aid, food and water to desperate people, including children," Albanese said. Wong said that "we can't keep waiting for the end of a peace process that has ground to a halt." The foreign minister said that the Australian government has been reconsidering its approach to the conflict in Gaza since April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We made clear we would recognize Palestine when it would best contribute momentum to peace," she said. "September is that time." "The world watched in horror the attacks by Hamas on October 7, the worst loss of Jewish lives on a single day since the Holocaust. Hostages are still cruelly held, and we want them all released and reunited with their families and loved ones," Wong said. "And the world has watched in horror since, as tens of thousands of Palestinian civilians are killed, thousands starving ... We have always said that Palestinian civilians cannot be made to pay the price of defeating Hamas, but a whole population has been shattered. "So, this September, the international community has the chance to forge hope from despair," Wong said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Almost 150 UN member states already recognize Palestinian statehood. However, important Western countries are not among them, including the UN veto powers the United States and the UK. The conflict in Gaza was triggered by the Hamas-led terrorist attacks on October 7, 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage. Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip that has led to the deaths of more than 61,000 people, according to figures from the Hamas-controlled health authorities in the territory. Israeli authorities estimate that 50 hostages remain in Hamas captivity, about 20 of whom are believed to be alive. Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong (L) and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speak at a press conference in front of Parliament House in Canberra. Albanese announced that Australia will recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly. Mick Tsikas/AAP/dpa Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks at a press conference in front of Parliament House in Canberra. Albanese announced that Australia will recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly. Mick Tsikas/AAP/dpa A man is facing legal consequences after authorities discovered an endangered spider monkey hidden inside his vehicle during a routine inspection at the U.S.-Mexico border. The case highlights the growing concern over illegal wildlife trafficking and the damaging ripple effects it can have on public safety and the environment. What's happening? According to a criminal complaint, Juan Manuel Valdez was entering the U.S. when he was selected for a secondary vehicle inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Agents found a hidden backpack in his car and discovered a spider monkey wrapped in a blanket inside. According to MyRGV.com, Valdez admitted to smuggling the animal. "Valdez stated that he purchased the monkey in Mexico and intended to give it to his children, but then later stated he intended to sell it to a friend in the U.S.," the complaint said. He didn't have any of the permits or licenses required by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) or the Department of Agriculture to import or sell the monkey. Why is wildlife trafficking concerning? Spider monkeys aren't native to the U.S., although they have been introduced in places such as Florida. Beyond the obvious cruelty, illegal smuggling of animals undermines conservation efforts and can spread diseases. Once introduced to unfamiliar habitats, they may disrupt local biodiversity or die from inadequate care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trafficking also endangers the survival of species already on the brink. Spider monkeys are considered critically endangered due to habitat loss, poaching, and the exotic pet trade. When people buy, sell, or exploit wildlife, it speeds up population declines and creates long-term ecological damage. What's being done about wildlife trafficking? Valdez is in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until the case makes its way through the court system. On a broader scale, U.S. federal agencies are ramping up enforcement efforts and working to better monitor ports of entry. Stricter regulations and better technology have helped detect more cases, but public awareness is just as important. If you suspect someone is illegally importing or owning exotic animals, you can report it to the USFWS or your local wildlife authority. If you want to support animal protection, consider donating to organizations that fight wildlife trafficking such as the World Wildlife Fund. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. DOUGLAS COUNTY, Mo. A man from Ava was arrested on August 8, 2025, for allegedly stealing a pickup truck and crashing it multiple times across the county in July. Online court records state that James Porterfield is charged with four felonies, including stealing a motor vehicle and three counts of leaving the scene of an accident. He was also charged with five misdemeanors, including three counts of operating a motor vehicle in a careless manner involving an accident, one count of operating a vehicle without a valid license and one count of operating a motor vehicle owned by another. The probable cause statement says that just after 8:30 p.m. on July 20, a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper went to County Road 436 for reports of an abandoned vehicle that might have been in a crash near Rome. At the scene, the trooper noticed a damaged black 2003 Chevrolet 1500 pickup truck, but no one else was at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The troopers investigation noted three crashes that occurred with the vehicle: In the first crash, the truck drove through a post and cable barrier from Farm Road 436, did a doughnut in a grassy field and drove back through the barrier. In the second crash, the truck accelerated uphill on eastbound County Road 436 and struck a guardrail, then went north on County Road 435 down the guardrail. In the third crash, the truck fishtailed from the right to the left edge of southbound County Road 435. The vehicle then traveled off the road, hit a dirt embankment and spun clockwise. The crash caused the engine to leak fluid. The driver then traveled back onto County Road 436 while the engine was still leaking fluid and abandoned the vehicle, partially blocking the road. Extremely rare dragonfly spotted in southern Missouri Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trooper located debris at the second and third crash sites, including a headlight and multiple vehicle trim parts, that matched the abandoned truck. An investigation into the incidents revealed that James Porterfield was the driver of the truck, court documents state. An MSHP Troop G dispatcher also told the trooper that Porterfield had been arrested a few months prior while driving that same vehicle. Porterfield told the trooper that he had suffered from internal bleeding due to the crash, and the trooper found windshield damage to the car consistent with a driver striking the windshield. Later, the truck owner was contacted and said Porterfield took the vehicle without permission before crashing it. Porterfield was taken into custody on the night of August 8. He is being held with no bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court records note that Porterfield is physically and mentally unstable, has a history of violence and has been labelled as institutionalized because of the many years he spent in prison. They also noted a history of driving erratically, crashing, and leaving the scene of crashes without taking responsibility. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. Armenia and Azerbaijan have published the text of a peace agreement they initialed on Aug. 8 during a trilateral summit with the U.S. in Washington, D.C., their foreign ministries announced on Aug. 11. The 17-point document affirms mutual recognition of each countrys borders as defined during the Soviet Union era and specifies that neither side has, nor will raise, territorial claims against the other. The two nations have been sworn enemies for decades, engaging in two wars over Nagorno-Karabakh region, a long-disputed enclave primarily populated by ethnic Armenians, but internationally recognized as Azerbaijan territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Azerbaijan recaptured the territory from Armenian forces in a swift 2023 offensive, prompting the exodus of more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians. Despite holding previous talks aimed at a peaceful resolution, including a meeting last month in the United Arab Emirates, a breakthrough had proven elusive until now. "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," U.S. President Donald Trump said during a ceremony where the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a joint declaration on peace and bilateral economic agreements. Both countries also pledged to refrain from the use or threat of force against each others territorial integrity or political independence, and from interfering in one anothers internal affairs. They also agreed not to deploy third-party forces along their shared border. Diplomatic relations will be established once the sides exchange "instruments of ratification," with further talks to follow on border delimitation and demarcation. The agreement also provides for the creation of a bilateral commission to oversee its implementation and requires both countries to withdraw mutual claims in international courts within a month of the deal taking effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The document also said both countries agreed to establish a bilateral commission to oversee the implementation of the peace deal, and withdraw mutual claims in international courts within a month after the deal enters into force, among other matters. "The present Agreement is concluded in the Azerbaijani, Armenian, and English languages, with all three texts being equally authentic. In case of divergence as to the meaning of a provision under any of the authentic texts, the English text shall prevail," the text reads. Read also: Breakthrough unlikely at Putin-Trump meeting as US, Russia, Ukraine differ on key issues Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. By Lucy Papachristou and Nailia Bagirova TBILISI/BAKU (Reuters) -Armenia and Azerbaijan published the text of a U.S.-brokered peace agreement on Monday, pledging to respect each other's territorial integrity and formally put an end to nearly four decades of conflict. The deal was struck in Washington last Friday, when Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The text of the agreement, which was initialled by the countries' foreign ministers, says Yerevan and Baku will relinquish all claims to each other's territory, refrain from using force against one another and pledge to respect international law. "This agreement is a solid foundation for establishing a reliable and lasting peace, the result of an agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan that reflects the balanced interests of the two countries," Pashinyan wrote on Facebook. Armenia and Azerbaijan, neighbours in the South Caucasus region, have been locked in conflict since the late 1980s over Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous region at the southern end of the Karabakh mountain range, within Azerbaijan. Baku 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 European Union, NATO member Turkey and Russia have welcomed the accord, although Moscow, a traditional broker and ally of Armenia, was left out and warned against foreign meddling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deal explicitly bans the deployment of third-party forces along the countries' shared border, a possible reference to Russia, which has previously deployed peacekeepers to the region and still has extensive military and security interests in Armenia. The European Union also has a mission deployed at the border to monitor ceasefire violations, which Baku has repeatedly demanded it withdraw. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE The peace deal has not yet been signed by the two rivals, who both gained their independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. In a major hurdle to peace, Azerbaijan is demanding that Armenia change its constitution, which Baku says makes an implicit claim on Azerbaijani territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, Baku said "further actions" were required to sign the peace agreement, including amendments to Armenia's constitution that would "eliminate territorial claims against Azerbaijan." Aliyev, who has led Azerbaijan since 2003, told reporters in Washington last week that Yerevan "has some homework to do" regarding its founding charter, adding that after the changes have been made, "the peace agreement can be signed at any time." Pashinyan this year called for a referendum to change the constitution, but no date for it has been set yet. The potential peace deal would transform the South Caucasus, an energy-rich region neighbouring Russia, Europe, Turkey and Iran that is criss-crossed by oil and gas pipelines but has been hamstrung by closed borders and decades-old ethnic conflicts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the White House meeting on Friday, the United States gained exclusive development rights to a strategic transit corridor in the region that the Trump administration said would boost bilateral economic ties and allow for greater exports of energy. The management and development of that corridor, which will run through southern Armenia and connect most of Azerbaijani territory with Nakhchivan, an Azerbaijani exclave that borders Baku's ally Turkey, was also a stumbling block to initial peace efforts. (Reporting by Lucy Papachristou in Tbilisi and Nailia Bagirova in Baku; Writing by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Andrea Ricci) The Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Azerbaijan have released the full text of a peace agreement signed on 8 August 2025, mediated by the United States. Source: European Pravda Details: Under the agreement, the parties agreed to recognise and respect each others sovereignty, territorial integrity, international borders and political independence. In addition, the countries confirm that they have no territorial disputes with each other and will not make such claims in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also agree to refrain from using force or the threat of force against each other's territorial integrity or political independence. The text states that Armenia and Azerbaijan will refrain from interfering in each other's internal affairs. The countries also agreed to establish diplomatic relations. Both countries will not deploy military forces of any third party along their common border. Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed to ensure the agreement's full implementation and establish a bilateral commission to monitor its implementation. Within one month of this agreement's entry into force, the parties shall withdraw any interstate claims, complaints, appeals, proceedings, and disputes filed in any legal forum relating to issues that existed between the parties prior to the signing of the agreement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Agreement shall enter into force upon the exchange of notifications of the completion of internal procedures provided for by the national legislation of the signatory countries. Background: Azerbaijan and Armenia had been at war since declaring independence more than 30 years ago. Azerbaijan regained control of Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of hostilities in 2020 and 2023. The countries announced a significant breakthrough in negotiations in March, fulfilling a draft peace agreement. However, the timing of its signing remained uncertain. On 8 August, Ilham Aliyev and Nikol Pashinyan signed an agreement at the White House in the presence of US President Donald Trump. The deal includes the creation of a transit corridor called the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Following Russian strikes on the Azerbaijani company SOCARs oil depot in Odesa Oblast and a gas compressor station, Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order to allocate US$2 million to the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine to provide humanitarian aid. Source: 1news.az Details: During a recent phone call between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ilham Aliyev, both leaders condemned Russias targeted airstrikes on the Azerbaijani company SOCARs oil depot and other facilities on Ukrainian territory, as well as on the gas compressor station that transports Azerbaijani gas to Ukraine. They expressed confidence that these attacks would under no circumstances halt energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aliyev ordered the allocation of US$2 million from the presidential reserve fund in the 2025 state budget to the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine for the purchase and shipment of Azerbaijani-made electrical equipment as humanitarian aid to Ukraine. The Ministry of Finance was instructed to ensure funding, and the Cabinet of Ministers was to resolve issues arising from this order. Previously: Caliber.Az, an Azerbaijani news outlet, reported that Azerbaijan might consider lifting the arms embargo on supplies to Ukraine if Russia continues to strike Ukrainian gas infrastructure, which transports Azerbaijani gas. Background: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the night of 5-6 August 2025, Russia launched a targeted attack on a gas infrastructure facility a compressor station operated by Ukraines Gas Transmission System in Odesa Oblast near the Ukrainian-Romanian border. This compressor station is part of a route linking Greek LNG terminals with Ukrainian gas storage through the Trans-Balkan pipeline. It already supplies LNG from the USA and test volumes of Azerbaijani gas. On the night of 78 August 2025, Russian forces attacked the SOCAR oil depot in Odesa Oblast with five Shahed attack drones, causing a fire and damaging a diesel pipeline. On 8 August, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a peace agreement in the White House in the presence of US President Donald Trump. This deal creates a transit corridor which will be named the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP). Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! [WATCH: In the video player above, you can watch the 2022 sentencing in the case.] (WJW) A new documentary is taking a deeper dive into the case of a local woman found guilty of murder, accused of dumping her newborn baby in the woods more than 30 years ago. The documentary, titled Baby Doe, highlights the story of Gail Eastwood Ritchey, who was arrested by the Geauga County Sheriffs office in 2019 after new DNA evidence linked her to the childs death 26 years earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man accused of killing family on his birthday Locally, the case became known as Geaugas Child. Ritchey was 22 and unmarried at the time of the crime; by the time she was arrested at age 49, she had married the newborns father, and together they had three adult children, FOX 8 previously reported. Gail Eastwood Ritchey watches prosecutors during closing arguments The documentary is set to air Aug. 19 at the Sidewalk Film Festival in Birmingham, AL. The documentary has also been recognized by the Cleveland International Film Festivals Global Health Competition, which highlights the power of film to change peoples viewpoints. Ohio woman wins $2M but wont get even half the cash Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here is how the film is described: Thirty years ago, Gail Ritchey, a young woman from a conservative Christian community in rural Ohio, gave birth alone and left her newborn in the woods. Now a devoted mother of three, her quiet suburban life is shattered when DNA evidence links her to the infamous cold case of Geaugas Child, leading to her arrest for murder. Authorities dismiss her claim that the baby was stillborn, and the media swiftly vilifies her. Facing a possible life sentence, Gail turns to her husband, Mark, and their adult children, who struggle to reconcile the woman they love with the accusations against her. With her attorney, Steven, she must confront the weight of societal and religious pressuresand her own long-buried shameto fight for her freedom. Directed by Jessica Earnshaw (Jacinta), BABY DOE cuts through the headlines to uncover the human complexity of Gails case. With a compassionate yet unflinching lens, the film examines the intersection of womens health, justice, and the societal forces that continue to shape stories like hers. Cleveland International Film Festival In 2022, Ritchey was sentenced to life in prison with eligibility for parole after 15 years. CLICK HERE to view the documentarys trailer. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. California officials are searching for a babysitter who allegedly abducted three young children, issuing an Amber Alert Sunday, two days after the children were last seen. Constance Franks, 55, and three young children whom she was babysitting were last seen around 7:30 p.m., according to the Inglewood Police Department. The children were identified as 8-year-old Isabella Mamby, 6-year-old Meischon Mamby and 4-year-old Alona Mamby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Franks was watching the children at the 300 block of W. Hyde Park Boulevard in Inglewood, near Los Angeles, and potentially left the area with the children on foot, authorities said. In an Amber Alert issued Sunday afternoon, the California Highway Patrol identified Franks as a suspect and said the children were abducted or taken. Police are searching for a California babysitter after she and the three young children she was watching were last seen on Friday. (California Highway Patrol) The oldest sibling, 8-year-old Isabella, is described as being a Black female standing at 4 feet tall and weighing 50 pounds. She has dark brown eyes and hair styled in braids. She was last seen wearing a red Winnie the Pooh shirt and black shorts. The middle child, 6-year-old Mesichon, is described as a Black male standing at 4 feet tall and weighing about 40 pounds. He has dark brown eyes and hair, which is also styled in braids. He was last seen wearing a red Spider-Man shirt, black shorts, and black and white checkered Vans sneakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The youngest child, 4-year-old Alona, is described as a Black female who is 3 feet tall, weighs 35 pounds, and has brown eyes and dark brown mid-length hair. Police issued an Amber Alert on Sunday urging people to call 911 if they see the missing woman or children. (California Highway Patrol) Like her sister, she was last seen wearing a red Winnie the Pooh shirt. She was also wearing black shorts and blue floral Van sneakers. Authorities have described their babysitter, Franks, as a Black female who stands about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighs about 170 pounds. She has red and black hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a white tank top with a tan dress and brown UGG boots. Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to call 911 or contact the Inglewood Police Department Watch Commander at 310-412-5206. SAN DIEGO (FOX5/KUSI) As parents get their children ready to head back to the classroom, hot conditions will begin to subside. Coastal and inland neighborhoods will be within a few degrees of where they should be at this time of year. San Diego forecast planner: 7 a.m.: 67 degrees 11 a.m.: 72 degrees 3 p.m.: 76 degrees The eastern part of San Diego County is still dealing with hot days. The mountains are under a Heat Advisory until Monday at 8 p.m. The National Weather Service forecast models show that highs will be 88 to 98 degrees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sunset spectacle: Scrippshenge dazzles beachgoers at Scripps Pier The desert is under an Excessive Heat Warning until Tuesday at 8 p.m. The risk for heat-related illness is elevated. The National Weather Service reports highs will range from 111 to 115 degrees. Back to School Weather Monday Highs: Palomar Mountain: 89 degrees Campo: 96 degrees Julian: 89 degrees Borrego: 114 degrees By the end of the week, temperatures are expected to drop below average across most of the county. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. Back-to-school forecast: Slight cool-down Monday, storms may disrupt afternoon pickups If youre kiddos are heading to the bus stop early Monday morning, it will be warm and dry. Central Florida will see a lower chance of rain and storms on Monday, compared to the weekend. Isolated showers and storms are possible, mainly inland, with the potential for lightning delays during school pickup on Monday afternoon. Throughout the week, afternoon storm coverage will remain seasonal, with temperatures rising to the mid-90s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monday is expected to be slightly cooler, with a high of around 92 degrees. As the week progresses, residents should prepare for typical summer weather patterns, including high temperatures and occasional afternoon storms. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Back-to-School 2025: From backpacks to bell rings, Central Florida jumps into a new year Thousands of Central Florida students will head back to the classroom on Monday. Channel 9 will have live team coverage throughout the day, covering everything you need to know for back-to-school. See updates below: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 8:50 a.m. update: Osceola County is reminding drivers to stay safe and slow down in active school zones. 8:15 a.m. update: School resource officers in Seminole County shared a special message for the students they help protect. 7:40 a.m. update: WFTVs Sam Martello is just one of our reporters on the ground covering everything you need to know for the first day of back-to-school. Watch live team coverage on TV27. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 7:15 a.m. update: The Orange County Sheriffs Office is reminding drivers to use extra caution as students return to school. Drivers need to slow down in active school zones and watch out as buses stop to pick up students. 6:45 a.m. update: Back-to-school forecast: Slight cool-down Monday, storms may disrupt afternoon pickups Central Florida will see a lower chance of rain and storms on Monday, compared to the weekend. Isolated showers and storms are possible, mainly inland, with the potential for lightning delays during school pickup Monday afternoon. Throughout the week, afternoon storm coverage will remain seasonal, with temperatures rising to the mid-90s. 6:15 a.m. update: School buses are ready to roll across Central Florida. Flagler County Public Schools shared a video of bus drivers hitting the roads early as students head to their bus stops. 5:25 a.m. update: Today marks the first day of school for most counties across Central Florida, including Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Brevard, Flagler, Marion, and Volusia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students in Sumter County will return to class on Wednesday, while other counties are already welcoming students back to school. The start of the school year is a significant event for families and educators as they prepare for new academic challenges and opportunities. In Orange, Osceola, and Seminole counties, buses are taking off as new schools welcome students for the first time. This marks a fresh start for many students and teachers as they embark on a new academic year. The return to school involves various preparations, including ensuring transportation systems are ready and schools are equipped to handle the influx of students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parents and students alike are adjusting to new routines as the school year begins. Local law enforcement agencies have increased patrols around schools this week to ensure a safe return. Expect to see officers directing traffic near school zones and crossing guards in place. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. WPRI 12 Back To School Supply Drive 2025 EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) Believe it or not, but the new school year is right around the corner, and WPRI 12 is looking to make sure local students are prepared. Now through Saturday, Sept. 6, well be working with Back to School Rhode Island and School on Wheels of Massachusetts to collect donations for families in need. Anyone whos willing and able to give back to their community can either submit a monetary donation online or purchase and drop off school supplies at any Cardis Furniture and Mattresses location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE: Make a monetary donation here Heres a list of supplies that are needed: Pens Pencils Crayons Colored Pencils Washable Markers Pencil Sharpeners Pencil Boxes & Pouches Erasers Highlighters Glue Sticks Scissors (Child Safety) Backpacks Index Cards Composition Notebooks Doodle Pads Square Root & Scientific Calculators Plastic Folders Rulers Single Subject, Wide-Ruled Notebooks 1 Binders & Dividers Face Masks Hand Sanitizer BACK TO SCHOOL: Submit your first day photos here WPRI 12s Back to School Supply Drive is made possible by these community partners: Cardis Furniture and Mattresses | Ocean State Job Lot | Navigant Credit Union | Back to School Rhode Island | School on Wheels of Massachusetts Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Special Coverage & Notices Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. The video above aired on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) As most Wichita-area students head back to school this week, its time to check their vaccinations. The Sedgwick County Health Department says social media has fueled uncertainty about vaccines, and encourages parents with concerns to speak with their childs doctor. I encourage parents to talk to their childs doctor or trusted health provider about their concerns, because vaccines do save lives and help the kids stay in school, and parents dont have to miss work, Adrienne Byrne, the Sedgwick County Health Director, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Byrne says vaccines protect not only the child, but also the entire family, especially grandparents. But children are in enclosed areas and theres lots of children. So that is just something that we predict as other school years is going to happen, Byrne said. Kansas universities unite to tackle dental care shortage The health department will host two vaccine clinics on Saturday, Aug. 23 and Saturday, Sept. 27, from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the Alvin E. Morris Administrative Center, 903 S. Edgemoor. You do not need to be a Wichita student to attend, but a parent/guardian must be present. Patients should bring their vaccination records, health insurance card (if applicable), and the required immunization letter from their school nurse (if applicable). Appointments are required for each child and can be made by calling 316-973-4475. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are no out-of-pocket costs for students with Medicaid or no insurance, and no copay for those with private insurance. 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. BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) The Bakersfield City Council is expected to discuss a proposal for H Street to be renamed in honor of civil rights activist and labor leader Cesar Chavez. According to the agenda, city staff has considered H Street, Union Avenue, Mount Vernon Avenue and Monitor Street as potential candidates for a name change, but H Street was chosen as it reportedly met the criteria best. The renaming to Cesar Chavez Boulevard falls under category one of the general policy, which applies to streets getting renamed after individuals, service organizations or other humanitarian entities that federal or state holidays are observed for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Memorial set up by community outside the motel room where Genesis Mata was killed The agenda said for cases falling under category one, the city of Bakersfield can apply for the name change. The city will also be responsible for the cost of replacing the street signs. Much of the financial impact is expected to come from updating the citys maps and emergency operations system data, as well as putting together a program to lower costs for Bakersfield businesses updating their addresses, according to the agenda. The cost of replacing street signs, on the other hand, is expected to be minimal, city officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cesar Chavez was a civil rights activist and farm labor leader. In 1962, Chavez co-founded the National Farm Workers Association in Delano along with Dolores Huerta, which went on to become the United Farm Workers labor union. Never miss a story: Make KGET.com your homepage Cesar Chavez Day is a federal holiday observed in the U.S. on March 31 every year. With the city councils approval, the city could take steps to make the name change a reality, which includes submitting the application for the name change and starting community engagement for the renaming process, according to the agenda. The city council is set to discuss this name change at its meeting on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News. A long line for Nebaska U.S. Rep Mike Flood's town hall at lincoln on Aug 4. 2025. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner) Lets go right to the props. Those go to U.S. Rep. Mike Flood, R-Neb., who faced a hostile crowd at an in-person town hall meeting last week in Lincoln. From my seat in the back of beautiful Kimball Hall on the University of Nebraska-Lincolns City Campus, the gathering did not disappoint. Nor without mentioning names but their initials are Adrian Smith, Don Bacon and Deb Fischer would Floods experience do anything but dissuade other Nebraska electeds to take the hot seat. To wit: The guy deserves an attaboy. Nebaska U.S. Rep Mike Flood talking to attendees before his town hall at lincoln on Aug 4. 2025. (Juan Salinas II/Nebraska Examiner) Before we get carried away, however, whatever information exchange he or the throng hoped for never materialized. Such is the nature of the modern political in-person town hall. Some peg the beginning of these boisterous beasts to 2009, when conspiracy theorists started showing up at town halls, shouting about President Obamas birth certificate. The noise and the lie persisted at town halls and among true believers. Then we elected one president. Twice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the data dissemination at the Floods town hall was disappointing, clear from the outset was that he is all in with the president and MAGA unremarkable, given Floods voting record. Any sense that wed have a meeting of the minds or a parsing of policies was a long shot. Nevertheless, several of Floods answers and comments were instructive as much for what they didnt say as for what they did. He stumbled out of the blocks when he began by suggesting that perhaps some Nebraskans may be misinformed about the Big Ugly, for which he unsurprisingly voted yes. While he cleared up the difference between Medicaid and Medicare for the three people there who didnt understand it, his implication that the Big Ugly had nothing to do with Medicare runs contrary to the Center for Medicare Advocacy, which should know. At least five times he said that the bill saved Medicaid, inexplicably equating increased funding for state hospitals and work requirements for Medicaid recipients as solving the loss of health care for 78,000 Nebraskans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Few in the assembly bought that calculus, their boos reaching quite a crescendo. With no number on which to hang his hat, he also contended that apparently large numbers of Medicaid recipients who could work were government cheats, lolling at home and getting free health care. Curious, I checked three different analyses, finding the percent of able-bodied adults on Medicaid who could work but didnt in the 5%-8% range. On Gaza, Flood was clear. I stand with Israel. Before he repeated that sentiment, he referenced the horrors Hamas visited on Israelis and that no one likes watching children suffer. Missing was whats missing in too much of the wars public discourse: that one can support Israels right to defend itself but be critical of its prosecution of the war, including the moral imperative it now faces while Palestinians dodge aerial assaults and starve to death, and be neither an anti-Semite nor a supporter of Hamas. Both can be true and, as the war continues unabated, the distinction grows ever more pertinent. Members of Nebraskas 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) The town hall was held before news that the feds are considering Nebraska as a site for one of its immigrant detention camps, an incredibly bad idea. Nevertheless, Flood was enthusiastic in his support of the presidents immigration policies and completion of a wall between the U.S. and Mexico, insisting we detain and deport violent criminals and stanch the flow of fentanyl into the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Great, except most data confirms that among those now detained, 65-70% have no criminal record, and less than one in ten are violent criminals. Plus, most fentanyl, 80-90%, comes across our border at legal crossing points. One other lowlight was ironically glaring. Flood said of the president firing the Bureau of Labor Statistics director because he didnt like the jobs report, that there are always two sides to every story. Really? This is the same BLS Flood and his GOP posse used during the creation of and argument for the Big Ugly. Finally, in answering a query about why the administration is withholding medical science funds from major research universities, Flood pledged his support for such endeavors at both private and public institutions, adding that some of schools have a poor record of anti-semitism. To which one might ask such as? As in-person town halls go, Floods Lincoln soiree was louder and more raucous than most. The real test for those in Kimball Hall and like-minded Flood constituents in Nebraskas 1st Congressional District, however, is to turn up at the only place louder than a town hall meeting: the ballot box. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Members of the Snake River Republican Women gather signatures for the "Repeal Idaho's Grocery Tax" proposed ballot initiative. (Photo courtesy of Howard Rynearson) After years of failing to advance legislation to eliminate Idahos sales tax on groceries, an effort has launched to make the change via voter ballot initiative. Howard Rynearson, Payette County GOP Central Committee chairman, is leading the charge to gather enough signatures to place the measure on the November 2026 ballot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People are very, very disgusted and tired of the fact that weve not been able to do this, Rynearson told the Idaho Capital Sun in a phone interview. If passed, the Repeal Idahos Grocery Tax initiative would in fiscal year 2028 eliminate Idahos 6% sales tax on food items, as defined by the federal Supplemental Nutrition and Assistant Program, or SNAP. The sales tax would remain for alcohol, tobacco, and restaurant sales of food or hot food products ready for immediate consumption. The initiative would also eliminate the Idaho Grocery Tax Credit, which is meant to offset the sales tax on food spent throughout the year. Rynearson said the elimination of the tax is the most achievable tax repeal that we can do right now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said that although the Idaho Republican Party is strongly behind the move, he is pursuing the initiative proposal as an individual. Idaho lawmakers have failed to advance bills to repeal the sales tax on food In 2017, the Idaho Legislature passed a bill eliminating the sales tax on food, known colloquially as the grocery tax, but then-Gov. Butch Otter vetoed the bill, saying the costs were too high, the Idaho Statesman reported at the time. Since then, other efforts have been discussed or attempted but none advanced. Many of the proposals have come in the form of personal bills, which go around the committee process and are typically stored with the clerk and do not advance. Rynearson said committee chairs and leaders have refused to hear proposed bills in hearings. During this years legislative session, the Legislature passed and Gov. Brad Little signed a law increasing the grocery tax credit from $120 a year per person to $155 per person per year. During Senate debate on the bill, Sen. Christy Zito, R-Mountain Home, attempted to send the bill to whats known as the 14th order, in which senators may propose amendments, for the purpose of changing the bill to eliminate the grocery tax, the Sun reported. Her procedural move failed in a 5-28 vote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amid calls to instead eliminate the sales tax on food and the tax credit entirely, bill sponsor and House Majority Leader Jason Monks, R-Meridian, said that keeping the grocery credit allowed the state to continue collecting revenue on groceries bought by out-of-state visitors, the Sun reported. Rynearson countered this logic. The tourism situation is way overstated, he said. Most people that travel through the state are tourists going from one state to the other, they generally eat at restaurants or fast food businesses. Those are exempted from this repeal. Idaho is one of 13 states that applies sales tax to food, according to the Coeur dAlene-based conservative think tank Mountain States Policy Center. The policy center commissioned a poll in 2024 that found 87% of respondents were in favor of eliminating the sales tax on groceries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Ballot initiative would decrease state revenue The state does not track how much of its sales tax revenue is generated from grocery purchases. To create the required fiscal impact statement for the proposed initiative, the Division of Financial Management used information from Utah, which does track this information. Utahs data showed that groceries typically comprised 11% to 13% of retail sales, according to the impact statement. The division projected sales tax revenue of $3.7 billion, and estimated a loss of revenue of $410 million to $485 million total. However, because the initiative would also eliminate the grocery tax credit, which costs the state between $210 million and $255 million, the net revenue loss would be $200 million and $230 million, according to the impact statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, the state collected nearly $3.1 billion in total sales tax revenue, according to the Idaho State Tax Commission annual report. The Legislature this year also passed historic cuts to income and property taxes, reducing revenues by an estimated more than $400 million annually. These tax cuts and other legislation passed the past two years draw down sales tax revenue, which was a driving factor in the state reporting revenue coming in $141.5 million below projections near the end of fiscal year 2025, the Sun reported. Rynearson expressed doubts that the sales tax revenue would increase in the next two years as much as projected in the impact statement, but said he opted not to challenge the statement. Initiative backed by Idaho GOP Rynearson said he did not think the issue was political and that any registered voter could be involved or interested in making the change, but leaders of the Idaho Republican Party are supporting the effort. Idaho GOP Chairwoman Dorothy Moon this week wrote in an opinion piece that its time to end the grocery tax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the Legislature wont act, its time for the people of Idaho to get it done, Moon wrote. Members of the party voted this summer in favor of a resolution, sponsored by Rynearson, to support an initiative repealing the sales tax on groceries. Many in the party have also expressed support for limiting the ballot initiative process. During the partys 2025 winter meeting, Rynearson also brought forward a resolution that was approved to increase the threshold for the signatures needed to get an initiative on the ballot. The resolution states that because the process bypasses the Legislature, it should increase the threshold from 6% of registered voters in at least 18 of Idahos 35 legislative districts to at least 10% of registered voters in 23 of 35 districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rynearson said at the time of that meeting, he wasnt that impressed with the initiative process. I thought we were such a red state, we didnt need it, but then came the option that we really needed it, he said. Moon in her newsletter addressed some of the criticism of the initiative process. I know what you might be thinking: Arent ballot initiatives tools of the left? Moon wrote. Sometimes, yes. But theres an important difference here. This initiative is bottom-up and driven entirely by the grassroots. Initiative supporters will need to gather more than 70,000 signatures, including at least 6% of registered voters in 18 of 35 legislative districts. Rynearson said he and supporters are visiting state fairs and encouraging small business owners to put petitions in their lobbies. There is information about the petition, including how to share it, at repealidahogrocerytax.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Singapore's prison agency has branded as "misinformation" claims online that the affluent Southeast Asian city-state has built a floating incarceration centre. The nonexistent structure was falsely depicted online using a picture of a controversial UK barge and an AI-generated image. "Singapore has launched the world's first purpose-built floating prison -- a high-tech facility anchored 500 meters offshore that's redefining the future of incarceration," reads part of a Facebook post shared by a user in Fiji on July 17. The post came with an image of a pink-and-grey barge on the water, which featured the text "World's first 'floating prison' just launched in Singapore" as well as the Southeast Asian country's flag. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A near-identical claim resurfaced on August 2 post from a Papua New Guinea user, which was shared more than 700 times. It featured an image of a boxy, red-and-grey vessel. Screenshots of the two posts. The one on the left was taken on August 11, the one on the right was taken on August 8. The red Xs were added by AFP Similar posts drew millions of views after being published by social media users across the world, spanning from India to the United States as well as Sierra Leone, Australia, Vanuatu, Ukraine and Scotland. The Singapore Prison Service -- which takes care of the country's penitentiary systems -- put out a statement on July 17, calling the claim "misinformation" (archived link). "This is untrue. Neither have we had any discussions or plans for such, nor is there a need," the agency said, urging the public not "to be taken in by such wild stories". Misrepresented images A reverse image search on Google found that the barge pictured was similar to a vessel known as the "Bibby Stockholm", which used to house male migrants in 2023 and 2024 off the southwest coast of England as the British government tried to clear a backlog of asylum requests (archived link). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The final remaining asylum seekers had left by last November, and the British government decided not to renew the contract to use the controversial accommodation barge (archived link). The image circulated as the Singaporean prison barge appears to be an exact match to a picture taken by Ben Birchall, a photographer with British news agency Press Association, on July 18, 2023 (archived link). Screenshot comparison of false post (left) and photo from PA Images Another reverse search found the second image bears the "Made with Google AI" label. The ability to detect AI-generated images is based on Google's SynthID technology, which was launched by its DeepMind AI lab in 2023 (archived here and here). Screenshot taken on August 6 of the Google page indicating that the circulating image was made using AI It indicated "Very High" confidence that it was made using Google AI as it detected SynthID watermarks in the majority of the image. AFP has previously debunked misinformation about Singapore. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) A man from Batavia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit sex trafficking Monday, according to the United States Attorneys Office. Prosecutors said 67-year-old Joseph Barsuk met a woman struggling with heroin and cocaine addiction in 2015 at Pharaohs Gentlemens Club. Between 2015 and 2016, Barsuk provided the woman with housing, a vehicle and drugs, prosecutors said. When the woman experienced withdrawal symptoms, Barsuk coerced her into sex acts, often with the knowledge and cooperation of club employees, who were paid for facilitating the encounters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barsuk faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is scheduled for December 23. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) An investigation into death threats made against a business and law enforcement officer led to the arrest of a Baton Rouge man on Thursday, Aug. 7. Kolby Dummons, 34, of Baton Rouge, was charged with threatening a public official and telephone communications, improper language, and harassment. The East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office began an investigation into improper telephone communications around 11 a.m. on June 27, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their investigation started at the Louisiana Dental Center located in the 14000 block of Market Street. Someone at this location said that Dummons showed his Louisiana identification card upon arrival around 9:30 a.m., ahead of an appointment. EBRSO said the receptionist mentioned that she recognized Dummons from high school. As the Baton Rouge man was leaving the office, he said, the business did nothing for him and that he was going to send drones to kill them, according to the affidavit. After leaving, Dummons made threats against the office and the receptionist during three different calls. EBRSO said he identified himself during each phone call. While law enforcement was at the office, he called again, and the conversation was recorded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LSU football player arrested, accused of aiding murder suspects EBRSO said he again made threats to kill the victim and anyone who gets in his way. The threats included sending 300 drones to kill all of them, as well as himself and a SWAT team to shoot the receptionist. The sheriffs office said that while speaking with Dummons, the Baton Rouge man threatened to kill the deputy if he did not stay out of it. After his arrest on Market Street in St. George, Dummons was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison. Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. Sen. Rosemary Bayer speaks at a press conference demanding gun control legislation on Feb. 20, 2023, one week after a mass shooting on the campus of Michigan State University. (Andrew Roth/Michigan Advance) Democratic State Sen. Rosemary Bayer of West Bloomfield announced Monday that she will not seek reelection in what will be a key state Senate district in the 2026 contest. Bayer has served two terms in the Senate, and was first elected in 2018 representing the states former 12th District. The states lines were redrawn in 2021 by the Michigan Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission and Bayer was moved to a new 13th District, which was previously represented by state Sen. Mallory McMorrow (D-Royal Oak). A winding lawsuit against the commissions maps ended in the body redrawing the states lines once more in 2024 and again changed Bayers district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite those challenges, Bayer won in the newly redrawn district, and immediately embraced her new territory. With new changes to term limits for the Michigan Legislature, Bayer had to weigh whether a third run was in the cards and was on the fence about seeking reelection. On Monday, Bayer told Michigan Advance that it was time to retire. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX I was retired before I started this job, Bayer said. This was sort of a second act, which was really fun. I got to do something totally different and amazing, but I was already old when I got here. When I first decided to run, I knew the work that I wanted to do was going to take more than four years, so I committed to the eight-year thing. Then they changed it. I didnt really change, I stayed with the plan, and now its time for me to retire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That said, Bayer said she will miss the work and the people shes represented in the Legislatures upper chamber for nearly a decade. In a news release announcing her decision, the Senate Democratic Caucus noted that Bayers strong desire to improve the states educational system motivated her to seek office in 2018 and became one of her top priorities in the Senate, followed by protecting the states waters and to help those needing vital mental health care. She viewed her candidacy as a chance to help people in significant ways, and accomplished many of her stated goals. The caucus noted her work on regulating firearms, collaborating to pass key gun safety legislation that became law in 2023. Bayer told the Advance that she was floored by the level of inequities in the education system and worked tirelessly to get the state to an equal footing before pushing onward to ensure students of all stripes had what they needed to succeed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Democrats gained the majority in the Senate following the 2022 election, Bayer said she and other education-focused senators managed to create a real model for equity in school funding. Although budget talks have stalled out between the House and the Senate, Bayer said that her first four years in the minority showed her that both political aisles can work together and did so in the past to ensure schools had the money they needed, and increased the budget in a time of Republican control. We took a few more steps when we had our trifecta going strong, but we did a lot before that, working with Republicans, Bayer said. I know this thing where were stuck right now its not really us collectively. So theres a bit of frustration on our side. We keep trying to be the grown ups in the room and doing the right thing. Bayer said she and her colleagues are resolved to getting a budget done soon that works not only for the whole state but one that continues the hard work shes put into education through her tenure in the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our job is to take care of Michigan, Bayer said. With a new competitive district like the 13th Senate seat now wide open for the taking, Bayers advice to her eventual successor whom she hopes will be a Democrat was not complicated. Its always the same: go talk to the people, Bayer said. Just because Bayers not seeking reelection doesnt mean the goodbyes should start early, either. You can be sure that Im not going to sit still for the next year and a half, she said. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Its been over a month since the devastating and deadly floods in Texas. The Better Business Bureau Serving Central Oklahoma is warning some of the damage could be making its way to Oklahoma. When we see flooding issues like this, it really can lure in scam artists. They kind of come out of the woodwork and especially for vehicles, said Casey Farmer, vice president of marketing, Serving Central Oklahoma Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Farmer says flood-damaged cars may be cleaned up and shipped to neighboring states like Oklahoma, where buyers may not know the vehicles history. What we really, really see a lot of are these bargain prices and what I like to tell consumers is that if it seems like its too good to be true, it probably is, said Farmer. You may find them at used car dealerships, auto auctions and on sites like Facebook Marketplace. Farmer says there are many things buyers should be looking for to avoid getting scammed. Check the dashboard to make sure that all the gauges are working correctly. You want to check electronic components to make sure theyre all working correctly, that can be a big red flag, said Farmer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It might sound silly, but Farmer says dont forget the smell test. These vehicles might have kind of an odd, you know moldy smell, even if some of the upholstery, it might have kind of a lingering smell or if you smell a very heavy scent of like disinfectant, said Farmer. Some other things you should do: Ask to see the title Get a vehicle history report Ask a mechanic for a second option Avoid payments like Venmo or a wire transfer You might buy that vehicle, bring it home, and then its got a whole host of issues, said Farmer. For more on what to look for, 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City. (NewsNation) A new fitness competition is taking the world by storm. Just last week, thousands competed in Ireland at an outdoor Hyrox fitness challenge. The sport, which is rapidly growing, has amassed 200,000 competitors throughout the world. So, what is Hyrox? Why has it grown in popularity? And how is it different from CrossFit? What is Hyrox? Hyrox is a competition in which contestants perform eight 1-kilometer runs and eight workouts. Professional athletes and everyday fitness enthusiasts are encouraged to take part in the competition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was founded in 2017 as an indoor discipline, and consists of: 1 kilometer on a standing ski machine and indoor rowing, 50 meters of sled push and pull, 80 meters of burpee jumps, 200 meters of kettlebell carry, 100 meters of lunges while carrying a sandbag, and 100 throws and catches of a medicine ball. Hyrox is fitness racing, says Gomarr DHulst, exercise scientist. Groundbreakers soccer event brings the game from the streets to the roof CrossFit is the sport of fitness. Both use functional movements performed at high intensity, combining aspects of strength and endurance. This naturally makes them quite similar. However, different types of athletes tend to excel in the top competitions of each sport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hyrox athletes of elite status have been said to complete the course in about an hour. However, the average experienced competitor takes around 90 minutes, while beginners go at a slower pace. Hyroxs popularity has risen for years According to Hyroxs official website, there were more than 40 global races in 2023, attracting over 90,000 athletes and 50,000 spectators. I love it because it makes cardio training a bit more interesting and competitive, due to all the various exercises involved, said one competitor. Victim of fatal e-bike crash in California identified as surf royalty There is a great community spirit behind it, both before and after the race, because youre surrounded by like-minded people who are all looking to push themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hyrox has seen classes and communities popping up everywhere. How is Hyrox different from CrossFit? Hyrox competitions differ from CrossFit despite their close relation. For starters, Hyrox features different exercises while combining endurance over raw strength. In Hyrox, we know exactly the workout that will be put forward to us, so the high predictability is a major difference, because CrossFit is known for the known and unknowable, added DHulst. Participants in Hyrox are also focused on aerobic sustainability as opposed to CrossFit, which is more high-output bursts of anaerobic effort. Hydrox athletes are also more known for Zone 2 training long and low-intensity aerobic sessions. Athletes who do Crossfit are more prone to Zone training at 4 and 5 levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. [Source] Chinas government declared this week that it has indisputable authority over the selection of the next Dalai Lama, directly challenging the current spiritual leaders authority and setting up a major succession dispute. Historical backing: Gama Cedain, deputy secretary of the Chinese Communist Party committee in Tibet, told reporters Tuesday that the central government has the indisputable final say in the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama and that searches must occur only within China with government approval. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chinese authorities typically point to history for support, since the title has been conferred by the central government since the 5th Dalai Lama. Cedain stressed that the Dalai Lama has never solely decided about reincarnation, which also follows strict religious rituals and historical conventions. Driving the news: The ongoing dispute escalated after the 90-year-old Dalai Lama announced last month that his institution would continue, designating the Gaden Phodrang Trust as the exclusive authority to identify his reincarnation. The religious leader previously declared that his successor will be born in a free country beyond Chinese influence, reversing his earlier stance that the institution might end. Trending on NextShark: Shohei Ohtani reaches 1,000th career hit, third straight 40-homer season Meanwhile, China considers the Nobel laureate a separatist and has intervened before in Buddhist succession, as when a 6-year-old selected by the Dalai Lama for Panchen Lama vanished in 1995 and Beijing installed its own candidate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mongolia as testing ground: Telo Tulku Rinpoche, the Dalai Lamas envoy to Russia, Mongolia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), warned that Mongolia has become a testing ground for China to control reincarnation. Though the Dalai Lama recognized the 10th Khalkha Jetsun Dampa in 2023 a boy with both U.S. and Mongolian citizenship Mongolia has refused official recognition due to Chinese economic pressure. Mongolia is pretty much under control of China politically, economically, and now we can say spiritually as well, Rinpoche told Global Order. They have a very strong influence to silence the Mongolian authorities, which they have succeeded in. Economic sanctions following the Dalai Lamas 2016 Mongolia visit effectively severed religious ties. Trending on NextShark: Beijing claims 'final say' over Dalai Lamas reincarnation Whats next: Analysts predict rival Dalai Lamas will emerge, with Beijing and Tibetan monks selecting separate candidates, producing a crisis of legitimacy. The U.S., for its part, has called on China to cease its interference in the succession of the Dalai Lama and other Tibetan Buddhist lamas. The search process could take several years following the current Dalai Lamas death, during which this religious and geopolitical standoff will likely intensify. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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: Indians in Ireland face harrowing wave of racist violence Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Subscribe here now! Trending on NextShark: Korean American 'TikTok cult' pastor faces intensifying federal investigation Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett slammed MK Arye Deri over comments on haredi conscription. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett slammed MK Arye Deri, head of the Sephardi-ultra-Orthodox (haredi) party Shas, for his comments on haredi conscription, causing the Shas Party to respond severely in return and call claims that Deri encourages draft dodging "false accusations," on Monday. The Shas party left the government, but not the coalition, in mid-July because of the fallout over the haredi law proposal. Tensions remain high throughout the country on the issue of haredi conscription to the IDF. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "God forbid that one person here will have the thought [to draft]" at the time when Israel is in a situation of war, Deri was filmed saying in front of yeshiva students in a video shared by Bennett. Bennett's response came as he spoke to a group of reservists saying that Deri sees the ultra-Orthodox youth wanting to help and says to them Dont be tempted to help your brothers in the armored corps who got burned, [...]dont be tempted to help bereaved families who lost sons in this war, dont be tempted to act to release the hostages." Bennett continued, "How is this person on the war cabinet? How does this government dare? This disgraceful government dares to send us [to serve] and give us orders. Its like a knife in the heart to hear this." Shas chairman Aryeh Deri at the Knesset plenum, in Jerusalem, on December 31, 2024 (credit: FLASH90/CHAIM GOLDBERG) Deri has been continuing to attend security cabinet meetings, despite his partys departure from the government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Shas Party slammed Bennett in return on Sunday, calling him a fraud from Raanana who dares to speak with audacity and arrogance. Bennett is the one who stuck a knife in the heart taking right-wing votes and giving them to the left, the Shas statement continued. Bennett, take your shoes off from your feet when you dare to speak about Shas chairman Rabbi Arye Deri, who has been sitting on the political-security cabinet for over 30 years and works day and night for Israels security, thereby saving thousands of soldiers and civilians, the party added. On Monday, Shas released an additional statement, saying any claims that Deri encouraged draft dodging were "false accusations." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "To all those spreading the lie that Rabbi Arye Deri encouraged draft dodging this is a false accusation!" the statement said. "Rabbi Deri has never called for draft dodging or refusal of service. He delivered words of encouragement to students in a small yeshiva in Jerusalem, ages 1516, emphasizing that Torah study is the foundation of the spiritual and security existence of the people of Israel," Shas added. Haredi draft law issue The Shas Party had given Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu until the beginning of the Knesset winter session on October 19 to find a solution to the haredi IDF draft issue. The first meeting to discuss the new conscription law, beginning to determine which direction the conversational bill will take, is scheduled for Tuesday at the Knessets Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MK Boaz Bismuth (Likud) has taken over the position of Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman after the former chair, MK Yuli Edelstein, was ousted from the role. Edelstein had been leading the bill that would enforce haredi conscription before it had fallen through in July. Ahead of the meeting, Bismuth expressed he would be entering the upcoming committee meeting with a genuine commitment to cooperation and national responsibility. I also expect my colleagues from both the coalition and the opposition to rise to the occasion, he stated on Saturday. Together, with mutual respect and faith in the eternity of Israel we will walk a new path! Bismuth added. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) Its important for students to be prepared on the first day of school. A Warren business supports the city schools with free supplies. Berk Enterprises released this years donations from a school supply drive within the company. It had collected over 14,000 items to help students succeed in school: book bags, notebooks, crayons, highlighters, pencils all of the important items and more to help students complete their school-required lists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our company has been based in Warren for 79 years, and its so important for us that children have all the supplies they need to go to school, said Reilly Berk, president and CEO. Education is very important to us. The supplies were taken Monday to the Warren City Schools. What I plan to do is once we get these back to the office, reaching out to our folks in all the buildings, and having them come and identify what needs they have so that for the start of school they will have these supplies in their building and in the hands of children, said Steve Chiaro, Warren Schools superintendent. Berk Enterprises held an internal competition to see who could collect the most supplies. The HR, accounting, and Mississippi warehouse team called Chalkboard Champs donated 7,400 items to win. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Jay Ostrich has been to dark and desperate places, has known what it feels like to not want to go on. And he has made it to the other side. The director of the Berks County Department of Veterans Affairs is intimately familiar with the mental health challenges faced by the military men and women who have served their country. He has lived them, he has survived them. Now, he wants to help others do the same. Ostrich is using his position leading the countys veterans affairs department to offer free, effective mental health services those battling the invisible wounds of war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A personal fight When Ostrich enlisted in the Air Force, he did so out of a sense of duty. It was the day after the U.S. suffered the horrific terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, a monumental event that left him feeling compelled to answer the call and help defend his country. He knew there were risks, he knew he would be putting his body and his life on the line. But he didnt realize the threat his mind would face. Ostrich served in the Air Force and Pennsylvania Air National Guard for more than two decades. He saw combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, taking part in both Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2010 and 2011, he was assigned to the U.S. embassy in Baghdad. The site was a major target for insurgents and terrorists. We took a lot of indirect fire, he said. Mortars, rockets, sniper fire we saw a lot of incoming. Ostrich said he always had to be alert, always had to be on guard. The threat was constant and dire, and his mind constantly had to be prepared to react. When he returned home to Cornwall, Lebanon County, where he was living at the time, Ostrich found it difficult to flip the mental switch back to civilian life. You realize that any time you deploy in a combat zone, one of the best moments is when you get to come home to your family, he said. But you bring that war back with you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Ostrich, that meant an oversensitivity to loud noises and sudden movements. It meant a constant feeling of danger, of needing to be ready to react to a threat. I had the startle reflexes of a newborn baby, he said. Ostrich was struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety and needed help. Unfortunately, when he turned to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the answer he received was medication. He was subscribed benzodiazepines, often called benzos, a drug that slows down communication between the brain and the body. They left him foggy and numb without addressing the underlying problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They also left him severely addicted. Ostrich said trying to get off the benzos was in many ways worse than the mental health challenges they were meant to treat. It led to dozens of trips to the emergency room and, at his lowest points, thoughts of suicide. Hope finally arrived in the form of Stellate Ganglion Block treatment, which involves an injection of anesthetic medication into a cluster of nerves in the neck. Ostrich said the treatment has worked wonders for him, helping him manage his PTSD and anxiety and leaving him free of the suicidal thoughts that haunted him for years. The VA does administer the treatment calling it safe, effective and ethical but currently only provides it at 11 of its 1,363 medical centers and outpatient clinics. That leaves many veterans seeking it left to rely on the expensive private market, Ostrich said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ostrich said his own experience has made it clear to him that more needs to be done, that veterans need more support and more options when it comes to their mental health. When I took this job, mental health was the number one thing for me, he said. I saw my brothers and sisters suffering in silence, and it doesnt need to be that way. An urgent issue The numbers are staggering. Berks is home to around 20,000 veterans. And those veterans are about 4 1/2 times more likely to take their own lives than the rest of the population, Ostrich said. And its not just a local issue. Ostrich said that across the U.S. more than 20 veterans die by suicide each day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were tired of the numbers, Ostrich said. We cant continue to take it, to continue to take fire. Ive seen my brothers and sisters suffer in silence suicide, substance abuse, employment problems, family problems. And it doesnt have to be that way. For many military members, returning home from their service represents a complete change to their way of life. Most people dont understand, most people dont understand the way we live, said Cindy Quinter, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Berks County and a military spouse. We create our own little families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cindy Quinter, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Berks County and a military spouse. (Courtesy of NAMI) Returning home often means leaving those families behind. And that can create difficulties in unpacking the stressful and often traumatic experiences they face while serving. So many come home with so much baggage, Quinter said. That includes her husband. Quinter said her husband served in the Vietnam War. When he returned, he was different. He beat me in my sleep, she said. When he woke up the next morning, he had no idea he had done it. Apparently I had touched him while he was sleeping and he just reacted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quinter suffered silently for quite sometime, unaware that other military spouses were facing the same type of things. Nobody was talking about it, she said. Ostrich said that is too often the case. Members of the military, once poised to act and react at a moments notice, are suddenly left paralyzed. In combat, when youre receiving fire, you react without thinking, he said. When they come home they dont move out, they dont ask for help. Ostrich said paralysis is often due to the stigma that still surrounds mental illness, the fear of letting others know youre struggling and a lack of knowledge of where help can be found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes working to change that. Here to help Were in a unique position to help, Ostrich said of the veterans department. We have a total of 138 years of military experience in this office. Ostrich has made it a goal to address mental health issues among local veterans. That means trying to provide as many different options for help as possible through a single access point the veterans department. And it means providing those options for free. We have so many resources in the county, but sometimes organizations dont talk to each other, he said. And that can make it hard for people to find the help they need. We want people to know there is trauma assistance right here in their backyard. In June, the veterans department became the first in the state to partner with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to offer free on-site mental health treatment. A licensed therapist is scheduling appointments at the Etchberger Berks County Veterans Service Center in Spring Township. We can jump right into the trauma and help them unpack what happened to them, he said. Its not about whats wrong with them, but about what happened to them. The veterans center is also offering other forms of mental health treatment. Mette Gleason, a certified nature and forest therapy guide, has begun offering nature connection walks for veterans. Mette Gleason, a certified nature and forest therapy guide, has begun offering nature connection walks for veterans at locations such as the Angora Fruit Farm in Alsace Township. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) The wellness practice, which was developed in Japan in the 1980s, aims to provide healing through a deepened connection with nature. Its about slowing down enough to notice things were often too busy to notice, she said. Its about calming and healing. Gleason said the therapy has proved to be effective in treating post-traumatic stress disorder. Monthly sessions started in August at Angora Fruit Farm in Lower Alsace Township, but the skills learned during them can be used anywhere that is conducive to immersing oneself in nature, Gleason said. Its about listening to the birds, the wind in the trees, she said. Its about watching bees collect pollen. Gleason said she helps those seeking treatment open up their senses, teaching methods of relaxation and observation. I basically help patients open up in a sensory way and then send them out into nature, she said. Nature doesnt judge us, and were going to get out of it what we put into it. Ostrich said he can relate to the idea of reconnecting with ones senses. When I finally started getting the treatment that I needed, I started hearing the birds sing outside, I was able to hear my daughter laughing and playing, he said. Vividness and texture came back, I went from everything being black and gray to the world being colorful again. Its so important to get that sense of connection. The veterans department is also offering two treatment options through NAMI of Berks County. One is a support group for family members of military members battling mental illness. Quinter said the group is a place where family members can talk about their experiences and share insight, something that was missing when she was dealing with her husbands mental illness. This is a place where we can help explain, This is not our husband, this is his disease, she said. This will help them understand what their loved one is going through. The other NAMI effort is a veterans connections recovery support group. It is designed to connect, encourage and support participants using a structured group therapy model. It is led by a facilitator specifically trained to work with veterans and who is also living in mental illness recovery. Both support groups began in July and are held twice a month. NAMI is also looking to introduce educational classes for veterans aimed at providing the tools needed to live a life in recovery. Ostrich said hes thrilled to be offering a variety of mental health services for veterans that give them a way to address their struggles. For so many of us, weve been mired in grief, anger and frustration regarding the veterans suicide epidemic, he said. As military members, we want to know we have the ability to fight back. We want the ability to bring healing and the ability to end suffering. And thats why Ostrich said hes not satisfied with what has been put in place so far. He plans to keep adding services, reaching out to any and every organization that can lend a hand. We need to build a coalition of options for veterans, he said. One size doesnt fit all, we all boil at different temperatures. Right now status quo is not an option, failure is not an option. All of the mental health service offered through the veterans department are free and confidential. For more information visit www.berkspa.gov/departments/veterans-affairs or call 610-378-5601. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks during a "Fighting Oligarchy" tour in Asheville on August 10, 2025. (Screengrab You Tube livestream) North Carolinians crowded into Harrahs Cherokee Center in Asheville Sunday for a chance top hear from U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. The 83-year-old Vermont senator is using the August congressional recess for a series of stops across the nation billed as the Fighting Oligarchy tour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanders told the audience that by standing together they can defeat authoritarianism and create a nation and a government that works for all. Weve got a lot of work to do because today in America we are living in a nation in which in many respects we have become an oligarchic society, where our country is being run by a handful of multi-billionaires, and these people worship wealth and they worship power and they could care less about how they get what they want, said Sander. Sanders said it is time to tell these oligarchs enough is enough. Wealth inequality was a common theme during his 20-minute address. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One guy Mr.[Elon] Musk owns more wealth than the bottom 52% of American households. Its really hard to imagine that we have evolved into the kind of society with one man owning more wealth than the bottom half of America. You got the top 1% owning more wealth than the bottom 93%. You got the CEOs of large corporations making 350 times what their workers make, Sanders said to an energized base. Sanders said this disparity rarely receives the attention it deserves because of the concentration of ownership in the media. Why do you think the American people dont discuss the important issues facing the working class of this country? It has everything to do with the fact that you have six major media conglomerates owning control what 90% of the American people see, hear and read, Sanders said. He called out Musks ownership of X, Larry Ellisons purchase of Paramount (which owns CBS), Jeff Bezos ownership of the Washington Post, and Rupert Murdochs control of Fox News, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanders said ever since the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, billionaires have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into both political parties to buy more and more influence. He told the crowd that if America hoped to retain democracy it would need to overturn Citizens United and embrace the public funding of elections. If you want to run for office, I want you to be able to do so, but you should not have to beg billionaires for campaign contributions and be beholden to them, he said. The progressive senator gave the audience plenty of reasons to consider a run for local office: a lack of affordable housing, an educational system from childcare to college that is much too expensive, and a health care system in which 85 million Americans are uninsured or underinsured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a Friday appearance in Wheeling, West Virginia, Sanders told the crowd one of the reasons he believed former Vice President Kamala Harris lost the 2024 race was because she had too many billionaires telling her not to speak up for the working class of this country. Sander steered clear of that assertion in Asheville, instead noting Trump and his associates believe in a government of the billionaire class, by the billionaire class, and for the billionaire class. In this difficult moment in American history, we have got to respond in an unprecedented way. We need you. You cant sit it out. Sorry, I know its tempting. You cant put your head under your covers, we need you to join us in the struggle. Before Sundays Asheville rally, Sanders dismissed the likelihood that he would run for president in 2028. He turns 84 in September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the Vermont independent told CNNs State of the Union there would be a younger candidate representing the partys progressive wing. Voter turnout by age in NCs 2024 General Election: (Source: NCSBE) He has appeared with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., by his side in more than half a dozen Fighting Oligarchy events. Former presidential candidate Beto ORourke has also shared the stage with Sanders. Attracting younger voters to their cause may be key. In the 2024 general election, just 57.4% of North Carolinas eligible voters age 18-25 cast a ballot in the presidential election. For the 2024 primary, less than 8% of eligible voters in that age bracket voted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanders knows they will need to improve turnout to see a reversal of fortunes. I dont have a PhD in mathematics but I do know that 99% is a hell of a bigger number than 1%, said Sanders in closing out his North Carolina appearance. Brothers and sisters, lets go forward. Lets take on these oligarchs lets beat them. ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) As the states redistricting fight continues to unfold on the national stage, former U.S. Representative Beto ORourke stopped in Abilene today as part of a statewide tour of town halls. His mission: to rally support for the 52 Texas Democrats who could face potential federal arrest for delaying a vote on the legislatures redistricting plan. We have fighters right here in Abilene, Texas We need each other because it is a pretty dark time in the history of our country, ORourke said. Youre not without hope; Abilene students/schools navigate Trump education funding freeze Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his address, ORourke touched on a range of topics, including LGBTQIA representation in society and politics, immigration reform, and what he described as a growing list of policy changes and actions under the presidents second administration. He warned of the broader consequences of unchecked authority, saying they could spread to more American communities if left unchallenged. Lest you labor under the illusion that its just illegals, terrorists, or thugs or gang members, we have no idea because due process and constitutional protections have been suspended. We literally do not know the names of those who have been picked up, detained, imprisoned, deported, in some cases for life sentences in a gulag in El Salvador, ORourke told the crown. When we send the wrong person away, or the wrong person is identified. The administration says, You know what? Its out of our hands. That person is in a foreign jurisdiction right now. ORourke emphasized that supporting the 52 Texas Democrats is critical in the fight against what he sees as unlawful arrests and dangerous precedents for government overreach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Think about whats going to happen in 2026 as Trump continues to drive the economy into the ditch, as we see more of our fellow Americans swept up in these roundups, not just in the big blue states on the coast that happened right here in Texas, in rural Texas as well. As we see more of our local schools defunded and send vouchers to Ted Cruz in that election, ORourke added. While in Abilene, he also took time to recognize local leaders, including Betty Bradley, executive director of Abilene Meals on Wheels, for her dedication to serving neighbors in need despite deep federal funding cuts to the program. He also acknowledged Sammy Garcia, a local Democrat whose recent appearance at a redistricting hearing gained semi-viral attention after he confronted Texas lawmakers. Equal Rights I want you to imagine a future where all of us are treated with the dignity and respect we deserve. You see these attacks right now on transgender Americans? They are hoping that with so-called thugs and terrorists and gang members and illegal immigrants that youll be afraid to stand next to them in solidarity and separate us and divide us and distract us as it consumes the largest place in American history, ORourke stated. So next time you see a transgender American talk, stand by her or him in power. Federal funds save Abilene ISD program, but for how long? School Funding ORourke stressed the impact of federal funding cuts on programs like Title I, warning that if Democrats dont win in 2026, restoring these funds could become much harder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So winning critical power, Im afraid, is still the best way to restore this money, to stop the sale of these resources from our local schools, ORourke shared. In the meantime, we can make sure that those who voted for this stuff pay a political price at the ballot box, and we recruit. Medical Funding ORourke also highlighted the personal impact of healthcare funding cuts. He shared the story of a researcher in Louisiana studying multiple chronic, life-threatening conditions, including Alzheimers and sickle cell anemia, whose funding was recently cut. Her funding has gone. Her job is over, and we asked her to explain what that meant for us in the audience, so I could ask the same for you, because sometimes these numbers and statistics just go over your head, where they fail to connect us emotionally. When you hear her answer about what cutting funding for these programs is going to do to the people that you love, ORourke explained. I just lost my mom to cancer two years ago. Painful process to see her go through that expensive, torturous insurance, all that stuff. We were praying over that. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com. Having studied marine biology and worked in ocean conservation, Ive often heard that the biggest barrier to solving environmental problems isnt a lack of knowledge, but a lack of political will. Ive come across that idea in lecture halls, in scientific papers, and in conversations with conservationists like Cristina Mittermeier, a mentor and co-founder of SeaLegacy. So when she asked me to attend the annual meeting of the International Seabed Authority (ISA) this July, I said yes without hesitation. I thought I understood what a lack of political will meant. But watching it play out in real time, where science meets diplomacy, was another thing entirely. I attended as part of the youth delegation with Sustainable Ocean Alliance, representing SeaLegacy at the ISAs 30th session a meeting that could shape the future of the deep sea. I arrived with cautious optimism. The ISA is tasked with regulating mining in international waters and protecting the marine environment. But the reality was far more complex: a process slowed by political hesitancy and corporate pressure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre unfamiliar with the ISA or the controversy around deep-sea mining, youre not alone. For years, this UN body operated in obscurity. But with rising interest in mining the seafloor despite serious ecological risks its quickly becoming one of the most hotly debated issues in ocean governance. The deep sea is not a lifeless desert. Its home to ecosystems that play a crucial role in regulating our climate and supporting ocean health. Mining would stir up massive sediment plumes, release stored carbon, and create industrial noise that could disrupt fisheries and whale migrations. For all the promises of powering a green transition, deep-sea mining risks creating a whole new environmental crisis one we dont fully understand and may never be able to reverse. The Assembly room at the International Seabed Authority in Kingston, Jamaica. (Photo by IISD/ENB Andres Felipe Carvajal Gomez) Over breakfast on the first day, I expressed my excitement: This week well find out whether the ISA allows deep-sea mining or if theyll finally call for a moratorium. Someone laughed and replied, Thats what they say at every meeting. It only took until the end of the first day for me to see what they meant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 80 countries support the need for a strong environmental policy before any mining can begin. On the surface, that sounds like progress and in some ways, it is. But the reality is more complicated: Theres still very little science on deep-sea ecosystems. Ahead of the UN Ocean Conference earlier this year, the worlds leading deep-sea scientists released a statement that we need around 10 to 15 more years of research to properly inform mining regulations. Yet fewer than half of the countries pushing for environmental policy were willing to acknowledge that reality and call for a moratorium. Instead, vague commitments became a convenient way to delay mining without taking a definitive political stance. Spotted jellyfish on a night dive in Raja Ampat, Indonesia. (Photo by Cristina Mittermeier) This is what a lack of political will really looks like: not outright denial or an opposition to science, but hesitation. Governments agree in principle, but hold back on making an official statement unless its politically safe to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ISA has been stuck in this kind of limbo for years now a slow-motion diplomacy that has, for better or worse, bought the deep sea more time. But that stalling has also driven The Metals Company (TMC), a Canadian mining firm, to threaten to mine unilaterally with the U.S., bypassing the ISA and challenging international law. In response, some nations proposed rushing weak regulations just to maintain authority. For countries that see mining as inevitable, theyd rather have a flawed framework than none at all. That logic has pulled in even those who might otherwise support environmental precaution. It was concerning to see some governments so quick to bend to corporate pressure. What kind of precedent would that set for global governance? Leticia Carvalho (center), an oceanographer who was recently elected as Secretary General of the International Seabed Authority. (Photo by IISD/ENB Andres Felipe Carvajal Gomez) And yet, there is hope. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Political will doesnt shift on its own. SeaLegacys social footprint has helped make deep-sea mining a mainstream issue, educating the public and shaping opinion. The work that organizations are doing on the ground at the ISA is making a real impact. New ISA leadership under Leticia Carvalho, an oceanographer who understands the ISAs duty to protect the environment, has also shifted the focus away from industry and renewed a sense of hope. Together, these efforts are shifting political will, bit by bit. If enough people speak out, a moratorium will eventually become the politically safe option. Even if TMC follows through on its threat to mine with the U.S., it wont be without consequences. Mining without global consent carries enormous reputational, legal, and financial risks. It could trigger investor pullout, international condemnation, and logistical nightmares. We can make sure its simply not worth the cost. Despite everything, I left Jamaica feeling positive. Progress might be slow, yet things are moving in the right direction. But we cant afford complacency. This meeting made clear just how fragile international governance really is. Loopholes and silence are letting corporate interests push the system to its limits. At the same time, I saw how much influence we still have. Scientists, youth, Indigenous leaders, and civil society are shifting the conversation. The pressure were building is working we have to keep going. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Join us in protecting what should never be plundered in the first place: Stay informed: Follow @sealegacy & @soalliance on Instagram for updates. Add your voice: Sign Sustainable Ocean Alliances letter to add your name to the global campaign for a moratorium on deep-sea mining. Call your representatives: Urge them to support a moratorium on deep-sea mining. Jamie Goncalves is a marine biologist and science communicator focused on ocean conservation and environmental policy. He works at the intersection of science and storytelling, making complex marine issues accessible to the public. Jamie writes for SeaLegacy and covers a wide range of science and conservation topics worldwide. For more updates on his meaningful work, learn more about SeaLegacy, and subscribe to Ripple Effect, Katie Couric Medias sustainability newsletter. The post Between the Mines: How Inaction and Ambiguity Threaten the Deep Sea appeared first on Katie Couric Media. (WKBN) Trumbull Countys Jury Commissioner has issued a warning Monday after she says a new phone scam is falsely impersonating deputies or court staff in an attempt to swindle people out of money. Read next: Motorcyclist killed after hitting deer in Trumbull County Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas Jury Commissioner Danielle Everett said their office has received several phone calls regarding a jury duty scam. According to Everett, the callers typically claim to be sheriff deputies or jury commission staff attempting to collect a fine in lieu of arrest for someone allegedly failing to appear for jury duty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No employee from the Trumbull County Sheriffs Office or Trumbull County Common Pleas Court will ever contact a potential juror by phone, unless previously authorized to do so by the juror, and would never, under any circumstance, request your personal financial information, the release from the court states. If anyone calls claiming to be a court employee seeking this information, you should hang up. Genuine jury summons come in the mail. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WYOMING, Mich. (WOOD) Police are investigating a crash that injured a bicyclist Sunday evening. The bicyclist, a man who was not identified by police, was hospitalized after a crash that happened just after 7 p.m. at the intersection of 44th Street and Clyde Park Avenue, according to Lt. Andrew Koeller with the Wyoming Police Department. Its not clear what led up to the crash. The driver of the vehicle was not injured, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The intersection was partially shut down for the investigation. Police are asking drivers to avoid the area while they investigate. This is a developing story. News 8 is working to learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. Federal night patrol: The Trump administration plans to send more FBI agents to patrol the streets of D.C. at night, according to officials who spoke anonymously with The New York Times. "Most of the agents will be pulled from their regular duties at the F.B.I.'s Washington field office, but it was not immediately clear if agency leaders would need to pull additional personnel from nearby cities," the sources tell the Times. The deployment of federal authorities has already been going on for at least two nights, but it is expected to ramp up further in the coming days. This is at least in part related to the attack on the prominent Department of Government Efficiency engineer known as Big Balls. Edward Coristine, the 19-year-old software engineer who worked on the team formerly helmed by Elon Musk (and now works in the Social Security Administration), was bloodied and beaten following an attempted carjacking in D.C. last week. The alleged suspects are two 15-year-olds. "The suspects demanded the victim's vehicle and then assaulted one of the victims," said the police on August 7. "During the assault, an MPD cruiser pulled into the block causing the suspects to flee. Two of the suspects were apprehended by the on-scene officers." "Crime in Washington, D.C., is totally out of control. Local 'youths' and gang members, some only 14, 15, and 16-years-old, are randomly attacking, mugging, maiming, and shooting innocent Citizens, at the same time knowing that they will be almost immediately released," wrote the president on Truth Social. "They are not afraid of Law Enforcement because they know nothing ever happens to them, but it's going to happen now!" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Law in D.C. must be changed to prosecute these 'minors' as adults, and lock them up for a long time, starting at age 14," he added. "Washington, D.C., must be safe, clean, and beautiful for all Americans and, importantly, for the World to see. If D.C. doesn't 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 they're not going to get away with it anymore." Look, I'm hugely in favor of stopping violent crime, but using federal agents to get the job doneand perhaps more worryingly, having the president direct how minors are chargedis likely to get into sticky territory rather quickly. "Because D.C. is not a state, the federal government has unique authority to exert control over city affairseven amid objections from the residents and locally elected government," notes The Washington Post. "The Home Rule Act of 1973 gave D.C. residents the ability to elect their own mayor and council members. A federal takeover of the D.C. police force would be an extraordinary assertion of power in a place where local leaders have few avenues to resist federal encroachment." NEW: WH official shares with @DailyCaller the success of night 2 of increased law enforcement in D.C. Several arrests were made, some include: A fugitive wanted from Maryland. Multiple persons carrying a pistol without license. Driving on suspended license. Dirt bike riding in Reagan Reese (@reaganreese_) August 10, 2025 Currently in D.C., both homicides and violent crime overall are down compared to this time last year. Still, D.C. has an oddly high car theft rate, which has gone up this past year, and Trump seems especially fixated on the youth crime rate, so I'm not surprised the president's ears perked up when those two factors combined and played a role in victimizing Big Balls. Trump, ever an obsessive, will be pivoting his normally-scheduled press conference later this morning to talk specifically about improving D.C.its cleanliness and beautyand solving its crime problems. Scenes from New York: Andrew Cuomo, the former "love gov" who is now running for New York City mayor, is struggling to focus on what he himself would actually do in office. Instead he is focusing his criticisms on Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Somewhere last night in New York City, a single mother and her children slept at a homeless shelter because you, assemblyman @ZohranKMamdani are occupying her rent controlled apartment," wrote Cuomo on X. "You grew up rich and married an even wealthier woman. You've had weddings on 3 continents. You own property in LGTBQIA+ murderous Uganda. You make $142,000 a year plus stipends, and your wife works too, meaning you together likely make well over $200,000. No matter which way you cut it: Zohran Mamdani is a rich person. You are actually very rich. Yet you and your wife pay $2,300 a month, as you have bragged, for a nice apartment in Astoria. That should be housing for someone who needs it." (Cuomo may be wrong to assume Mamdani's wife, who is an artist, makes such a hefty sum as $60,000.) "You are a rich person stealing affordable housing from the poor," added Cuomo. And you're not the only one. It's past time we address this injustice." Cuomo isn't totally wrong. To the extent that rent stabilization must continue to exist in New York City, it would be improved if were means-tested and much more limited in scope. (Of course, the optimal outcome is scrapping it altogether.) QUICK HITS Perhaps "social media" isn't really social anymore: .@Meta says most time on FB and Insta is spent watching videos, and only 7% of time on Insta & 17% on FB involves consuming content from friends. Company argues @FTC hasn't proven it monopolizes 'personal social networking services market' b/c such market doesn't exist pic.twitter.com/hr45zE6rej Wendy Davis (@wendyndavis) August 7, 2025 President Donald Trump is considering federally reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, reports The Wall Street Journal. Making it Schedule III instead of Schedule I, as the president is considering, would open it up to much more medical research. The Department of Veterans Affairs announced Wednesday that it had terminated the collective bargaining agreements for most of its employees, pursuant to President Trump's executive order excluding many agencies from the Civil Service Reform Act's provisions that allow collective bargaining," writes National Review's Dominic Pino. "About four-fifths of the VA's workforce was unionized." "Nvidia Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. agreed to pay 15% of their revenues from Chinese AI chip sales to the US government in a deal to secure export licenses, an unusual arrangement that may unnerve both US companies and Beijing," reports Bloomberg. "Nvidia plans to share 15% of the revenue from sales of its H20 AI accelerator in China, according to a person familiar with the matter. AMD will deliver the same share from MI308 revenues, the person added, asking for anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The arrangement reflects US President Donald Trump's consistent effort to engineer a financial payout for America in return for concessions on trade." The post Big Balls Attacked appeared first on Reason.com. Former President Bill Clinton will speak at the memorial service for former Gov. George Nigh. One of the worlds leading opera stars, Oklahoma native Leona Mitchell, will sing at the service for the longtime politician. Nigh and Clinton were governors of Oklahoma and Arkansas, respectively, at the same time in the 1980s and worked on issues affecting both states. They joined forces to improve the Arkansas River Navigation Project and lobbied together in Washington for more federal dollars to upgrade interstate highways, fund economic development programs, and assist the poorest citizens of their states. Along the way, their families became friends. Nigh served in the states highest office four times before becoming president of the University of Central Oklahoma. When Nigh was president of the UCO, Clinton visited the Edmond campus to visit with students. Former President Bill Clinton will speak at the memorial service for former Oklahoma Gov. George Nigh. Nigh died July 30 at age 98. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After learning of Nigh's death, Clinton expressed a desire to attend the memorial service to say a special farewell to his friend of nearly 50 years. Nighs memorial service will be held at Crossings Community Church on Thursday, Aug. 14, at 11 a.m. The church building is at 14600 N. Portland Ave. in Oklahoma City. This will be only the third time in state history that a U.S. president or former president has attended the funeral of an Oklahoma leader, said attorney and Oklahoma historian Bob Burke, who wrote Nigh's biography. In January 1963, then-President John F. Kennedy attended the funeral of U.S. Sen. Robert S. Kerr at First Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. In 1971, former President Lyndon B. Johnson attended the funeral of former Oklahoma Gov. and U.S. Sen. J. Howard Edmondson. Oklahoma-born opera star Leona Mitchell will sing during the memorial service for former Gov. George Nigh. It has been 62 years since a president or former president has been present to honor the passing of a former state official," former Oklahoma Gov. David Walters said. "President Clintons presence is yet another indication of the significance of Governor Nighs legacy of leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clinton's visit to Oklahoma City will be his second in 2025. He also spoke on April 19 at the memorial service on the 30th anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Clinton will deliver one of three eulogies for Nigh. Mitchell, who grew up in Enid, will sing at the service at Nigh's request. A graduate of Oklahoma City University and the Julliard School of Music, Mitchell was a top at the Metropolitan Opera in New York for 18 years and has performed at most of the worlds leading opera houses. Shes been inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame. George and Leona were friends for decades, Burke said. He appreciated that she was proud of her Oklahoma roots. Last January, they were on the same program for an event in Oklahoma City. After Leona brought the house down with her rendition of the state song, George asked her to sing at his funeral some day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a young state legislator in 1953, Nigh authored the legislation that made the song Oklahoma, from the Broadway musical Oklahoma!, the state song. (This story was updated because an earlier version contained an inaccuracy. This will be the third time a U.S. president will have attended the funeral of an Oklahoma leader.) This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Bill Clinton will eulogize George Nigh at OKC memorial service HBO host Bill Maher had some harsh words for the co-hosts of "The View" on Monday. While interviewing actress and talk show host Drew Barrymore on his "Club Random" podcast, Maher admitted he doesnt think that the five women who host the ABC show are the best spokespeople for the female perspective. "And I like everyone, but I dont know if theyre really at this moment the best advertisement for women," he told the actress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bill Maher Says Democrats Need To 'Do Something' About 'The View' After Whoopi Goldberg's Iran Comments Bill Maher said he doesn't think the women of "The View" are the "best advertisement for women." The topic came up when "The Drew Barrymore Show" host told Maher to visit New York City and be a guest on her show, which prompted Maher to talk about his friendship with several of the women on "The View." He acknowledged his fondness for them as his friends but admitted their show is "a lot." "Im friendly with some of the ladies on The View and I love them but, like, that shows a lot." Read On The Fox News App Barrymore brought up that View co-host Joy Behar appeared on her show recently and Maher remarked, "I love Joy." He went on to say that though he likes everybody on the ABC talk show, hes not such a fan of their talking points on the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They say some things that are just like, not helpful, say to elections." Bill Maher's Guest Applauds Host's Tirade Against 'Weak And Woke' Dems Who Think America Is 'Cringe' Maher appeared as a guest on "The View" in May 2024, where he clashed with co-host Sunny Hostin about Israels conduct in its war with Hamas. Hostin argued that Israel was murdering innocent Palestinian civilians and children in the conflict, and Maher pushed back. He stated that he was concerned about innocent lives being lost but insisted that Israel has the right to fight its war with Hamas and that if Hamas was concerned about innocent lives, theyd stop their attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That's what happens in a war. Here's a way to stop that, stop attacking Israel," he said. Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture The HBO host also called out "The View" co-host Whoopi Goldberg in recent weeks, after she claimed in July that Black people are oppressed in America the same way that women are oppressed in Iran. "That is something that, again, is infuriating about the far left, I would say. Call them whatever they wanted. Not the woke, the stupid woke, like Whoopi Goldberg, love her, but when she said a couple weeks ago that being Black was the same as being a woman in Iran, its like, yeah, in 1920, but not today," Maher said during an episode of his podcast with his guest, progressive commentator Brian Tyler Cohen. Original article source: Bill Maher slams 'The View' co-hosts, says theyre not 'the best advertisement for women' Comedian Bill Maher told actress Drew Barrymore during his podcast on Monday that the 2024 election showed left-wing censorship was dead. "You have a lot of bravado about what you think is the truth or not. But it's just so refreshing, like you were doing this before it was so dangerous, and it is just way too dangerous now. But you're still doing it," Barrymore said on Maher's "Club Random" podcast. "It's slightly less dangerous than it was two years ago because we did have a vibe change and because the Democrats lost so badly in 2024. The blush is off the rose on left-wing censorship and 'oh my God, you can't say that.' Stop telling me what I can do, what I can say, what I can think, who my heroes are supposed to be," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bill Maher's Guest Applauds Host's Tirade Against 'Weak And Woke' Dems Who Think America Is 'Cringe' Bill Maher talks to Drew Barrymore during his "Club Random" podcast. "Just, you know, just get the f--- off of me. Get back up off of me. That is a lot of just what viscerally is going on with me when I have issues with the left. Just get the f--- off of me. First of all, I don't believe you. You're not better. You're a lot of posers. Not all of you, but just get the f--- off of me," he said. Barrymore praised Maher for calling out people on both sides of the political aisle. Read On The Fox News App "Well, that's what I like is it's, you call people out from all different areas and I don't even know how to address parties anymore. Everything is so different now," Barrymore said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The actress and daytime talk show host followed up and asked Maher what scared him as someone who speaks his "truth." Bill Maher Corrects Guest Who Says He Left Democratic Party, Says He Was Never There To Begin With Bill Maher during an interview with late-night host Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday, May 21, 2024. "Oh, what scares me is, um, a little bit me, that, you know, at any moment you can say something that, really, in private conversation wouldn't upset anybody. But these snitches and b----- will be able to use it to attack and end you, which they did once on Politically Incorrect," he said. Maher has been particularly critical of the left since President Donald Trump's return to office, recently calling out the "stupid woke" on his podcast last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That is something that, again, is infuriating about the far left, I would say. Call them whatever they wanted. Not the woke, the stupid woke, like Whoopi Goldberg, love her, but when she said a couple weeks ago that being Black was the same as being a woman in Iran, its like, yeah, in 1920, but not today," Maher said. Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture Maher defended actress Sydney Sweeney against "online social justice girls" earlier this month, who are calling the actress' viral "good jeans" advertisement with American Eagle "racist." Maher mocked those who are calling the actress a "Nazi" and a "White supremacist" on his show on Friday, joking that the same people who claim there's "no such thing as good genes" are not practicing what they preach. Original article source: Bill Maher suggests left-wing censorship died after Democrats got crushed in 2024 Gov. JB Pritzker, D-Ill., was pressed by NBC's Kristen Welker on his billionaire status as other members of the Democratic Party, including New York City mayor candidate Zohran Mamdani, continue to rail against billionaires. "Some in your party are openly questioning whether billionaires such as yourself should exist at all, governor," Welker said before she played a clip of Mamdani saying the United States shouldn't have billionaires. Welker asked the Democratic governor if the party should be embracing an anti-billionaire message. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Look, how much money you have doesnt determine what your values are, and Im a Democrat because I believe that everyone deserves health care. Im a Democrat because I believe weve got to fund education and have a free public education available to every kid in this country. Im a Democrat because I believe that weve got to stand up for our democracy and against the MAGA Republicans who are literally trying to take away peoples rights around this country. It does not matter what your income level is, what matters is what your values are and thats what makes me a Democrat," Pritzker responded. New York Mayoral Hopeful Zohran Mamdani Slams Capitalism On Cnn, Cites Mlk To Defend Socialism Other liberals, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., have also been vocal in criticizing billionaires. Sanders has been touring the country on a "Fighting Oligarchy" tour since President Donald Trump took office. Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sanders started the tour to "take on the Oligarchs and corporate interests who have so much power and influence in this country." Other Democrats, like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., have spoken out in favor of increasing taxes on billionaires. Warren fiercely defended Mamdani's plan to increase taxes on billionaires should he be elected mayor during an interview on CNBC earlier this week. Mamdani Confronted On Streets Of Nyc About 'Communist' Label, Refuses To Answer Welker also pressed Pritzker on the Republican redistricting efforts in Texas and whether Democrats were being hypocritical. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I do want to look at the map of Illinois. Lets take a look at this. Despite President Trump winning 44% of the statewide vote in 2024, Republicans hold only three of Illinoiss 17 districts. These districts seem to be to maximize Democratic advantage. What do you say to those who argue its hypocritical for you to criticize Texas for partisanship when your state also drew maps to boost your partys standing?" Welker asked. "Well, remember that what Texas is trying to do is, again, violate the Voting Rights Act. We didnt. We held public hearings, legislative hearings. People attended them. They spoke out. There was a map that was put out. There were actually changes made to the map and a map was passed, and it was done at the end of the census, the decennial census, so thats how its done in this country," Pritzker responded. JB Pritzker at the Human Rights Campaign's 2025 Los Angeles Dinner held at Fairmont Century Plaza on March 22, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture Welker said that groups who grade the fairness of congressional maps have given Illinois an F. She pointed to one government watchdog who said Illinois' map "represents a nearly perfect model for everything that can go wrong with redistricting." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You talk about preserving democracy, how do you preserve democracy, if youre using the same tactics that you've criticized Texas Republicans for?" Welker asked. Pritzker said again that the Texas Republicans were attempting to violate the Voting Rights Act. "Democracy is at stake and these Texas Democrats are standing up to what the GOP is attempting to do which is to, to steal seats because they know what theyve done is wrong. They know that theyve made an enormous mistake," he said. Original article source: Billionaire Democratic Gov. Pritzker defends his wealth as party rails against the rich BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) The Binghamton man whose controversial arrest on New Years Day in 2023 set off a firestorm of controversy has plead guilty to a new set of crimes and is headed to prison. 27 year-old Hamail Waddell plead guilty to burglary, assault and tampering with a witness in exchange for a 6 and a half year prison sentence. On May 24th, Waddell and another man broke into the home of his ex-girlfriend on Morgan Road where they struck a third man with a glass object. Police say Waddell and his accomplice then stole items from the residence before fleeing. Waddell was accused resisting arrest when he was later apprehended on Jerome Avenue, sending an officer to the hospital with broken ribs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators say the former girlfriend had an order of protection against him at the time of the burglary. In June, Waddell contacted the ex-girlfriend over a recorded jail house phone and urged her not to cooperate with the investigation. This all came 5 months after Waddell was given a conditional discharge last December after having been found guilty of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct for his actions following New Years Eve partying at downtown Binghamton bars in 2023. Waddell had engaged in a fight with another man and then could be seen struggling with an officer who was trying to arrest him. Bystander video of the officer kneeling on Waddells back, reminiscent of George Floyd, went viral and lead to public protests and a New York State Attorney General report critical of the officer. At the time, Waddells attorney pledged to appeal the conviction and bring a civil suit against the officer and the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, District Attorney Paul Battisti says Waddells recent crimes demonstrated a complete disregard for the law, the safety of others and the integrity of the justice system. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. BAGHDAD (Reuters) -Major oil producer Iraq began gradually restoring power on Monday, the state news agency reported citing the electricity ministry, after a power outage hit central and southern regions of the country. Electricity ministry sources had told Reuters earlier a sudden shutdown at the Hamidiya power plant in the western province of Anbar led to a fault in the electricity transmission network. The temperature in the capital Baghdad reached a high of 47 degrees Celsius on Monday. "An emergency power outage occurred this afternoon in the power transmission lines, causing widespread outages across the national electricity grid," Mohammed Nehme, electricity ministry undersecretary for production affairs, said in a statement later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Our technical teams are currently working to address the fault and restore power. They have begun gradually restoring power, and service will be fully restored within the coming hours." The chair of Iraq's parliament energy committee said in a statement that the outage did not affect the semi-autonomous Kurdistan region. Many Iraqis for years have relied on privately operated generators for power as government-provided electricity was only intermittently available. Some others have turned to solar power to help cover their electricity needs. The oil ministry could not immediately be reached for comment. The electricity ministry said it was working in "full emergency mode" to restore power, the state news agency reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, and one of the world's leading oil producers, Iraq has struggled to provide its citizens with energy since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein. In the ensuing turmoil, under-investment and mismanagement have left the national grid unable to cope with demand. Hundreds of Iraqis protested in Baghdad in the summer of 2021, when power and water cuts gripped large parts of the country as temperatures exceeded 50 degrees Celsius. In March, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration rescinded a waiver that had allowed Iraq to pay Iran for electricity, as part of Trump's "maximum pressure" campaign against Tehran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iraq is heavily dependent on Iranian natural gas imports to generate power. (Reporting by Muayad Kenany and Tala Ramadan; Writing by Yousef Saba and Hatem Maher; Editing by Alex Richardson and Hugh Lawson) Aug. 10Classic rock icon Joan Jett, country artist Scotty McCreery and a slate of world-class PRCA rodeo athletes will perform in front of a roaring crowd at next week's Northwest Montana Fair, thanks to the timely completion of new bleachers at the fairgrounds. Flathead County commissioners were on hand Monday to celebrate the unveiling of the new structure, which will seat about 1,600 people roughly 400 more than the old north bleachers that were demolished last year due to safety concerns. The new aluminum seating came with a price tag of about $1.3 million, funded through a combination of county savings and capital improvement funds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commissioners made the right call in authorizing the sizable investment, and Fairgrounds Manager Sam Nunnally deserves credit for keeping the project on track for completion ahead of this year's highly anticipated fair festivities. But make no mistake: There is more work to be done. Installing the new bleachers marks only the beginning of deferred maintenance projects at the fairgrounds that require immediate attention. Beyond the structural issues with the north bleachers, an inspection of the grandstands last year revealed signs of wear on the main covered seating area, originally built in the 1930s. Another inspection is scheduled for this fall to determine what work is needed to preserve the historic wooden grandstand. It would be a shame not to prioritize funding for safety upgrades that would keep these traditional fairgrounds seats in use. The commission must act promptly when the inspection report arrives and avoid letting the work be delayed until it's too late. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fairgrounds' horse barns also need urgent attention. Seven of the nine barns have shown signs of deterioration and cannot be used safely, according to Nunnally. The county isn't ready to proceed with demolishing the barns, as officials are still uncertain about future use of the space and funding for demolition has not been secured. The barns represent another area where deferred maintenance has piled up due to a lack of funding. Nunnally envisions a public meeting to determine next steps and to review a master plan for the fairgrounds. This would be an ideal opportunity to bring these maintenance projects to the forefront and ensure they receive the attention they deserve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a broad economic driver, keeping the fairgrounds in top shape should be among the county's capital priorities. The fairgrounds offer one of the few large-capacity venues in the region and are used regularly for a variety of events inside the trade center and at the grandstands (ALERT banquet, craft fairs, outdoor concerts, boat and RV shows, etc.). While the spotlight this week is on the fair, it's important to remember that this property is more than just a seasonal attraction. It's a vital economic engine for the entire region and it must be maintained accordingly. Festivalgoers have said they felt Boardmasters had improved from last year - including feeling safer. Thousands of people headed to Newquay's Watergate Bay for the surfing and music festival from Wednesday until Sunday, which saw Raye, Central Cee and The Prodigy headlining. Ahead of the event, organisers said they had increased security measures - including more police patrols - in an effort to improve safety, after seven people were hurt during a crowd surge last year. People heading home on Monday said they had noticed the changes, which helped give the event a good vibe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chief executive Andrew Topham said he was proud of the work done by the event team over the year-round planning process. Charlie (left) and Iggy say the organisation of the festival felt better this year [BBC] Friends Charlie, 19, and Iggy, 18, from London, said they had seen and heard of issues involving anti-social behaviour at the site, including tents being damaged. But they said the organisation felt "so much better" than last year's festival. "I thought security was way better this year, especially on Sunday night, which is normally a rough night," Charlie said. Iggy added: "The security was really good and, if it hadn't been there on Sunday night, it could have got a bit crazy." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ella had travelled from Kent with a group of friends to attend the event and said it felt like the "safest and cleanest" festival she had been too. The 18-year-old said there had been a lot of security around the site and she did not notice any issues such as drink-spiking. She added: "We've had five days of fun and five days of carnage and now I'm going to go home and sleep for three days straight." Jess (left) and Emily say there were some "iffy" moments but they felt safe in general [BBC] Jess and Emily had come to Boardmasters from Guernsey and said they felt security guards did all they could to make everyone feel safe. "On the second day at about two in the morning, it felt a bit iffy, but after that it was fine," Jess said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added: "There were a few moments where I felt a bit unsafe, but it's not the security's fault as it's hard to manage that many people." Emily added at one point, she and Jess had to do some repairs on their tent after someone got pushed into it, but that was the only issue they had. "There was a lot of security and loads on the campsites, but also during the acts as well," she said. "They'd come round and give us water at the barricade, which was so nice." Chief executive Mr Topham added: "From the waves at Fistral Beach, to the stages and incredible performances at Watergate Bay, the improvements made and renewed focus on our cultural heritage have been obvious and hugely welcomed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Fistral Beach felt like it did in years gone by." Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. More on this story HONOLULU (KHON2) Salvage operations for the 75-foot boat Discovery, which ran aground at Kewalo Basin Harbor on Saturday, Aug. 9, were unsuccessful on Sunday. Multiple agencies were on scene over the weekend, trying to get a better sense of what happened to the vessel during the high surf on Saturday. VIDEO: 75-foot shuttle boat grounded at Kewalo Basin, none injured The boat, operated by Atlantis Adventures, came to rest along a rock wall at Kewalos on Saturday afternoon, after a high tide pushed it to the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Salvage crews seemed hopeful theyd be able to remove it on Sunday, but the U.S. Coast Guard said there was a setback. Currently, we have more water intrusion to the engine room, so all salvage operations have been put on pause, explained U.S. Coast Guard Sector Honolulu Chief of Prevention Daniel Brahan. He said 2,275 gallons of diesel have been removed, as well as 36 gallons of hydraulic fluid. There was some damage to reutters, shafting, underneath the water line we knew there was some damage there, just more water ingress in that compartment, so theyll take a look at that, so when they pull it off it floats, Chief Brahan continued. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You He said the salvage crew will continue operations throughout the week however, the two and a half foot high tide on Saturday was ideal for the shallow water where the boat sits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The high tide wont reach two-and-a-half feet again until next Tuesday. It is compounded by the fact that there is a reef here, it is difficult to get tugs here, so a nuisance and every salvage operation is different, Brahan added. Atlantis said it is taking the necessary time to conduct additional inspections of the entire vessel to ensure it is in proper condition for when its moved to avoid causing harm to the marine environment. They added that they do not want to rush this process and are working closely with the government agencies on the plan for the towing and relocation of discovery and there is no date yet on when the vessel will be moved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several videos from Saturday morning show surfers paddling out in the channel at the time the boat was making its way in between the two buoys. KHON2 asked a spokesperson for Atlantis Adventures if the captain was trying to maneuver around the surfers, but was told by the company that has yet to be determined at this time. Check out more news from around Hawaii This case is still under investigation, but right now we dont have any indication there was any mechanical or electrical failure, everything with this vessel seems to be mechanically sound, Chief Brahan added. No divers have been able to check if there was damage to the reef. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. The body of a 48-year-old Appleton man was recovered from Lake Michigan on Aug. 10, however authorities say the death doesn't appear to be related to the historic flooding that struck Milwaukee over the weekend. The person was recovered about 10:30 a.m. on the 500 block of North Harbor Drive, the Milwaukee Police Department said in a news release. Police continue to investigate the cause of death, but said it doesn't appear to be suspicious at this time. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office identified the person as Juan Carlos Sierra Campos, 48, of Appleton. The medical examiner's office classified the death as an accident at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The office said Campos was discovered by police's harbor patrol. Emergency responders work to recover a body from Lake Michigan on August 10. Police say the death is not believed to involve foul play or be related to historic flooding. David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Body recovered from Lake Michigan not believed to be flood-related or foul play BENTON COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) UPDATE: Benton County Water says the boil order has been lifted. BENTON COUNTY, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) Benton County Water has issued a boil order for parts of the county following a water main break. A news release said that the Arkansas Department of Health said the boil order was for the east side of U.S. Highway 62 and all of Landers Road on the west side of U.S. Highway 62. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Benton County Water said the boil order will affect around 1,100 customers. Benton County Water District #1 in Avoca is impacted following a 12-inch break in the main line, the department said. The ADH said the order was issued because of a possibility that contaminated water may have entered the distribution system as a result of a loss in normal system pressure from the water main break. Devils Dens only restaurant pauses operations after trail closures Under a boil order, affected customers are advised that the water may not be safe for human consumption and all water used for drinking and food preparation should be boiled for at least one minute before using. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The ADH said the notice will be lifted when 1 set of 5 bacteriological samples indicate that the water is free of bacterial contamination and an adequate disinfectant level is established throughout the distribution system. This is a developing story. Stay with KNWA/FOX24 for the latest. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. Very few women in Japan speak out about rape, and Hikari, too, kept quiet for years about her alleged assault by her boss, Osaka's former chief prosecutor. However, Hikari (not her real name) finally dared to take the step, which came at great cost to her career -- she is also a prosecutor -- and her personal life. She does not regret it. "My life has stopped since the assault," Hikari told AFP in an emotional interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "My husband was crying the other day, in a voice that I have never heard in my life, punching the wall and saying he cannot take it anymore," she said. Hikari alleges that Kentaro Kitagawa, then head of the Osaka District Public Prosecutor's Office, raped her following an after-work party in 2018. Kitagawa was not arrested until June 2024, later charged and his name made public. He told an initial hearing in October that he had "no intention of fighting the case" and apologised for "causing serious and severe harm to the victim". However, he changed his tune in December when his lawyer told reporters that Kitagawa "did not recognise that (Hikari) was unable to resist... and believed that she had consented". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kitagawa, according to one media report, changed his mind after Hikari held a news conference and alleged that the prosecution had leaked information from the investigation. - 'A nightmare' - Hikari says she was not used to drinking strong alcohol and lost her memory halfway through the office gathering. Colleagues told prosecutors that she got into a taxi to go home and that Kitagawa forced himself into the vehicle. The next thing she knew, she said, she was in Kitagawa's home and was being raped. "It was like I was having a terrible nightmare," Hikari told AFP. "I couldn't resist because I was terrified that I could be killed." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hikari said she kept quiet after it happened. Kitagawa had pleaded with her not to go public, saying that it would be a damaging scandal for the prosecutor's office, she said, and even threatened suicide. He retired about a year after the incident but Hikari felt he still had influence over some officials and could hurt her career. "He was a very influential and powerful man, so I was afraid that no one would listen to me if I complained about the assault," she said. - 'Safe environment' - The trauma still gnawed away at her. Finally, after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and taking time off work, she filed her case in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In order to live, to get back to a peaceful life with my family, and to get back to my job as a prosecutor, I felt that (Kitagawa) needed to be brought to justice," she said. "I just want to work in a safe environment... I want to save victims through work," she said. She returned to work in September, only to find that malicious rumours were circulating. These included identifying her as the victim -- her name had not been made public -- and that she had been attracted to Kitagawa, consented to sex and was not drunk. Hikari believes the rumours were spread by people close to Kitagawa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She has been on leave ever since. She said her husband, with whom she has a child, is her biggest supporter but that he "is struggling with how to save me". - Face hidden - Kitagawa's lawyer has not responded to an AFP request for comment sent on June 30. Hikari hasn't revealed her name and has held news conferences and interviews on the condition that her face won't be shown. A handful of other victims of similar crimes have gone further. These include journalist Shiori Ito, who won a landmark civil case against a prominent TV reporter she accused of raping her. In 2021, Rina Gonoi accused fellow soldiers of sexual assault and three of them were later given suspended sentences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both women were praised for their bravery in coming forward but also received a barrage of online hate. The latest government figures show that 8.1 per cent of Japanese women, or one in 12.5, have had non-consensual sex. Just 1.5 percent contacted police and 55.4 percent stayed silent. However, Seisen University Professor Kaori Okamoto said that now "the idea that it's okay to talk about sexual violence is spreading". Okamoto, a clinical psychologist who has been helping victims, said the number of people consulting support centres is also increasing. Even though there is no major #MeToo movement like those in the United States and South Korea, modest-sized rallies against sexual violence sprang up across Japan after several alleged rapists were acquitted in 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law changes have also helped. The definition of rape was broadened in 2017, while the need for victims to prove violence or intimidation was removed in 2023. "In the past, many thought that even if you report the assault, you're only going to get hurt and you're not going to catch the culprit," Okamoto said. - Career ladder - Hikari said sexual harassment is "rampant" in the Japanese legal world. Public records show that 21 people at prosecutors' offices have been disciplined for sexual violence in the past 16 years, she said. "Officials feel they can do anything as they climb the career ladder," Hikari said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The prosecutors have no shareholders, no sponsors and no external pressure," she said. Her supporters submitted a petition to the government in January calling for a long prison sentence for Kitagawa and strict punishment for the assistant prosecutor. The petition has more than 68,000 signatures. "The reason I still continue to speak publicly is because I want to keep saying that the victims are not at fault," Hikari said. "I don't know your faces, but at least I want to say that I'm by your side." nf/stu/pbt/fox The News in Brief Monday, August 11, 2025 Georgian PM Irakli Kobakhidze has dismissed a recent statement by Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova, saying any call to sign an agreement that implies recognition of the so-called independence of Abkhazia or South Ossetia is "categorically unacceptable.""Of course, we are not ready to sign such an agreement. This call is not serious for us. As for non-aggression, we declare the only thing - the only way to restore territorial integrity is a peaceful way, and of course there can be no talk of any other agreement or document," Kobakhidze told journalists. He added that remarks from Zakharova and other figures should not be given weight. "Zakharova says something, Kubilius says something, you should not follow their statements. I think Kubilius is even worse than Zakharova. Kubilius is a disaster. Kubilius is directly hostile to our national interests, he has done nothing but hostility to the Georgian people for all these years."Kobakhidze stressed that neither direct nor indirect recognition of the breakaway regions would be possible from Georgia's side. "Any call that hints at this is categorically unacceptable for us," he said.Zakharova had earlier suggested that dialogue between Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Georgia could advance if Tbilisi recognized what she called "the fact of aggression against Tskhinvali." She described such recognition as a necessary step for reconciliation and listed the conclusion of a legally binding agreement on the non-use of force against the territories as a key priority in the negotiation process. Zakharova also stated that Russia was prepared to facilitate these discussions.Tbilisi City Court has ruled that activist Nino Datashvili, charged with assaulting a bailiff, will remain in pre-trial detention. The decision was handed down by Judge Lela Kalichenko during a hearing on the admissibility of evidence and the review of detention measures.The prosecution argued that continued detention was necessary due to what it described as ongoing risks that Datashvili could abscond, influence witnesses, or commit new crimes. "These risks remain in place and justify the extension of pre-trial detention," the prosecutor told the court.Defense lawyers opposed the motion, insisting that Datashvili posed no such threats. They argued that she had been arrested nearly ten days after the indictment was filed without attempting to evade authorities. "There is no evidence she tried to influence witnesses or commit new crimes," one of her attorneys said, urging the court to release her.Judge Kalichenko sided with the prosecution, keeping the current measure in force.Datashvili was detained on June 20 in Tbilisi City Court in connection with an incident on June 9. She faces charges under Part 3 of Article 353 of Georgia's Criminal Code, which covers assault on a public servant while performing official duties. The offense carries a penalty ranging from a fine to imprisonment for four to seven years. Boston Mayor Wu declares 3-day heat emergency Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has declared a heat emergency from today through Wednesday, urging residents to take precautions as temperatures rise. Our top priority is ensuring our residents and families are healthy and safe during this period of intense heat, said Mayor Michelle Wu. As temperatures continue to rise, the City is here to support residents in every way possible across every neighborhood. We encourage all of our community members to please take care of yourselves, check on your neighbors, and be prepared to stay cool and safe. Cooling centers are available at Boston Centers for Youth & Families, and Boston Public Library locations are open to provide indoor relief. The city also encourages residents to use splash pads and pools to stay cool. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boston EMS typically sees a 10 to 15 percent increase in calls during heat waves, highlighting the importance of limiting outdoor activities during the hottest parts of the day. Mayor Wu encouraged residents to stay hydrated, never leave children or pets in cars, take breaks in the shade, and know the signs of heat exhaustion. Symptoms of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, cool and clammy skin, dizziness, nausea, and muscle aches. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW NEED TO KNOW The Suffolk County Sheriff in Massachusetts faces federal extortion charges, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday, Aug. 8 Sheriff Steven Tompkins is accused of using his position to extort a cannabis company for discounted shares of its stock Tompkins is also alleged to have asked for a full refund of his investment when the stock didn't pan out A Boston area sheriff faces up to 20 years in prison after he was indicted Friday, Aug. 8, on federal charges alleging he extorted a cannabis dispensary over the course of several years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts announced the federal extortion charges against Suffolk County Sheriff Steven Tompkins, 67, alleging that he threatened to derail a national cannabis companys local Boston business license if one of its top executives didnt help him procure $50,000 worth of discounted stock in the business before it became publicly traded. U.S. Attorney Leah B. Foley said in a statement that Tompkins is alleged to have extorted an executive from a cannabis company, using his official position as Sheriff to benefit himself in a scheme that began in mid-2020. In order for the company to operate in Boston, state law required it to take part in its state rehabilitation program. To do so, the company worked in partnership with the Suffolk County Sheriffs Office, which helped refer former inmates to work at the dispensary which helped fulfill the state requirement. According to the federal indictment filed Friday in the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts, Tompkins allegedly learned the company was looking to become a publicly traded company on the stock market and extorted his way into $50,000 worth of discounted stock prices by allegedly reminding a company executive that the sheriffs offices help was needed to keep the company in business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is alleged that [the company executive] believed and feared that Tompkins would use his official position as Sheriff to jeopardize [the companys] partnership with the [sheriffs office] and thus imperil both the dispensary license for [the company], as well as the timing of the IPO, the Justice Department wrote in a news release Friday announcing the indictment. Tompkins $50,000 investment netted him 28,883 shares of discounted company stock. At the stocks height, the sheriffs investment rose up to $138,403. But when the stock dipped in May 2022, and Tompkins began losing money on his investment, the Justice Department alleges the sheriff demanded a full refund on his $50,000 investment. Despite the decrease in the value of Tompkinss investment, [the company executive] agreed to Tompkinss demands for full repayment of $50,000, according to the Justice Department. The federal extortion charge against Tompkins carries a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of $250,000, the Justice Department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ted E. Docks, a Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Boston Division, said in a statement that the allegations against Tompkins are beyond disappointing. We believe what the Sheriff saw as an easy way to make a quick buck on the sly is clear cut corruption under federal law, Docks said. Read the original article on People Indiana Gov. Mike Braun and Indiana State Police Superintendent Anthony Scott hold a news conference in the Statehouse on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. (Leslie Bonilla Muniz/Indiana Capital Chronicle) If you commit the crime of speaking Spanish in Indiana, watch your back. The Indiana State Police and Indiana National Guard are looking for you. Gov. Mike Braun recently announced the Indiana State Police, Indiana Department of Correction and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security will join the Indiana National Guard in assisting the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement roundup of immigrants into the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Braun said the state will make 1,000 beds available in the Miami Correctional Facility to imprison people who have been convicted of nothing and have been given no due process rights. The Marion County Sheriff has said he will go along with the order, in part because the federal government pays him per detainee, while the state does not. This is an affront to anyone who values liberty, limited government and human dignity. It wastes police resources and Hoosiers tax money in diverting them from searching for and prosecuting crimes against person and property by actual criminals to instead round up peaceful people who are seeking a better life. Immigrants work in our farms, factories and communities, shop at our stores, and contribute positively to our states economy and culture. Its also a gross violation of the words Braun said on Jan. 13, when he placed his hand on a Bible and swore an oath to God and the people of Indiana that he would uphold and defend both the Indiana and United States Constitutions. Participating in President Trumps scheme to systematically dismantle due process and the rule of law is a clear violation of that solemn oath. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Braun and Trump claim this is a roundup of violent illegal immigrants, the witch hunt has gone far beyond that. Of those being arrested, 71% have no criminal convictions at all and among those who do, most are for minor offenses and only 8% have been convicted of violent crimes. The number of those without any conviction being arrested and detained keeps rising. However, Trump has been eager to not just deport the violent criminals, but to round up anyone who is Latino, Asian or Middle Eastern, treating everyone as a potential illegal immigrant, to meet the quota of 3,000 arrests per day vocalized by White House adviser Stephen Miller, while the administration gleefully touts deplorable conditions in detention centers and violates due process rights. To desperately reach that goal, it means rounding up people who arent criminals, but who have fled oppressive communist and socialist regimes and lawfully sought asylum, revoking visas and green cards for students without explanation, and sweeping up U.S. citizens and throwing them in jail. People showing up for their visa appointments doing the right thing in good faith are being arrested in court and taken to faraway detention facilities where they know nobody and have little chance of contacting representation. One was a 20-year-old Purdue student from South Korea who was on an active student visa, but arrested, detained and shipped to Louisiana at her hearing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the work of a banana republic, not a republic bound by a Constitution that has a very clear mandate to protect due process rights and a tradition of innocent until proven guilty. Participating in such a system and actively and enthusiastically doing so is denying people their dignity, as well as their human rights. Our beliefs As Libertarians, we believe in the sovereignty of the individual and the freedom to live, work and move in peace. A state government deputizing local and state officers to participate in a federal scheme of rounding up people for the sole crime of looking different or speaking with an accent, on the hopes of finding illegals violates that principle. It undermines state sovereignty and also sows distrust between our immigrant communities and local authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. immigration system is irreparably broken. It is a Byzantine system with a number of hoops and steps someone must jump through to legally emigrate to the U.S., which incentivizes illegal immigration, and the Trump administration has doubled down on it by not only making legal immigration more difficult, but revoking visas and arresting and deporting people going through the process the right way for small paperwork errors. Truly making America great would be living up to the words on the Statue of Liberty give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free not weaponizing local police to kidnap, detain and deport people trying to properly follow the system, while revoking visas and making the immigration system more difficult. The Libertarian Party of Indiana calls for Braun to revoke this promise, to not allow Indiana prisons to be used to detain people who are not criminals, and to honor our tradition of federalism by refusing to comply with the federal authorities carrying out these heinous acts, while we call on the federal government to offer a bridge, not an alligator-infested moat, to those seeking a better life in the great melting pot of the United States. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE President Donald Trump stood in the White House press briefing room Monday morning, declaring it Liberation Day in D.C. and announcing that he was taking over Washington, D.C.s police force. Invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, a rarely used provision of federal law, Trump said he was placing the Metropolitan Police Department under direct White House control and deploying the D.C. National Guard into city streets. The president framed the move as a rescue mission. Were going to take our capital back, he told reporters, flanked by Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Were going to reestablish law, order, and public safety in Washington, D.C., and theyre going to be allowed to do their job properly. In a freewheeling press event, Trump painted a portrait of the capital as a failed city, overtaken by violent gangs, bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people, and claimed that D.C.s murder rate now surpasses that of Iraqs Baghdad, Bogota, Colombia, and Mexico City. Those false assertions stand in sharp contrast to Justice Department and MPD data showing violent crime at its lowest point in 30 years, down 35 percent in 2024 and another 26 percent so far in 2025. The speech veered from incorrect crime statistics to political grievances. He tied the takeover to cultural issues, railing against sanctuary cities and saying, Thats why they want men playing in womens sports. Thats why they want transgender for everybody. Everybody transgender. He also told reporters he would be going to Russia on Friday to meet with President Vladimir Putin, a claim that is also wrong. The meeting is planned for Alaska, where Putin is expected to attend an upcoming bilateral summit on the war in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For days, Trump had teased federal actions to address crime and homelessness in the nations capital, including deploying hundreds of federal agents, activating the National Guard, and ordering homeless residents to leave the city immediately. Washington, D.C. will be LIBERATED today! Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR. I will, MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN! Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday morning, ahead of the 10 a.m. Eastern press conference. The days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people, are OVER! I quickly fixed the Border (ZERO ILLEGALS in last 3 months!), D.C. is next!!! Bondi followed with her own promise: Crime in D.C. is ending and ending today. No more teenage girls beating a disabled man to death. No more drive-bys. She named a roster of administration loyalists who will now oversee the citys policing and prosecution, including former Fox News host and judge Janine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for D.C., whom Bondi said would take aim at juvenile crime. Hegseth told reporters that the National Guards deployment would be operationalized by the Secretary of the Army, Dan Driscoll, and that additional Guard and specialized units were ready to be brought in. They will be strong, they will be tough, and they will stand with their law enforcement partners, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The presidents push to seize authority follows weeks of public hints and a recent incident hes seized on as a rallying point: the assault of a former Department of Government Efficiency staffer during an attempted carjacking. Over the weekend, about 450 federal officers from 18 agencies, including 120 FBI agents reassigned from other duties, were sent to known hotspots identified by the administration. Mayor Muriel Bowser, the Democrat who was elected to lead the city, called Trumps rhetoric hyperbolic and false on MSNBC Sunday. She warned that using the National Guard for law enforcement was inefficient and inappropriate, pointing to the citys falling crime rate as evidence that a takeover was unjustified. For Washingtons LGBTQ+ residents, who make up 14.5 percent of the adult population, the highest proportion in the country, the stakes are high. Bowser has called the District the gayest city in the world and has pledged to defend the citys LGBTQ+ resources, which now face being administered under a president whose administration has been defined by rollbacks of queer and trans rights. This article originally appeared on Advocate: Donald Trump orders authoritarian takeover of Washington, D.C. RELATED As U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, prepare for a bilateral meeting on Aug. 15 in Alaska, the aims of the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine appear to contradict each other. "At the end of that meeting, probably in the first two minutes, I'll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made," Trump told reporters on Aug. 11. Experts say the hastily organized summit will most likely fail to bring Trump, Putin, and President Volodymyr Zelensky to an agreement on a full ceasefire, let alone a peace deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia has repeatedly voiced maximalist demands, such as de jure recognition of illegally annexed Ukrainian territories and withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from areas that the country still controls. At the meeting with Trump, Putin is set to propose that Kyiv withdraw its troops from Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, according to a source in Ukraine's President's Office who spoke on condition of anonymity. According to the proposal, Russia would then withdraw its troops from Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts. Read also: Exclusive: Putin to demand Ukraine cede new territory in Alaska peace plan US likely to agree, Kyiv to reject Kyiv has agreed to an unconditional ceasefire but has categorically rejected any demands for recognizing the annexations or withdrawing its troops from Ukrainian soil. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the source in Ukraine's President's Office, Putin's proposal would be outright rejected by Ukraine. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has vacillated between trying to appease the Kremlin and expressing frustration with Putin's refusal to agree to a ceasefire. Trump has become more hawkish on Russia in recent months, imposing a tariff on India for buying Russian oil and approving weapons sales to Ukraine. "Faced with Trump's deadline, Putin is again playing for time, and is likely to use a meeting to sway Trump to Russian views." However, analysts say that the upcoming meeting between Putin and Trump may trigger another policy reversal, with the U.S. again attempting to impose the Kremlin's conditions on Kyiv. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Daniel Hamilton, a foreign policy expert at the Brookings Institution, said that "extreme caution is warranted about any Putin-Trump meeting, which is unlikely to produce anything remotely acceptable to Ukraine." "Faced with Trump's deadline, Putin is again playing for time, and is likely to use a meeting to sway Trump to Russian views," he told the Kyiv Independent. "The meeting could result in another delay in U.S. sanctions on Russia, and further hesitations by Trump to offer further support for Ukraine." Ryhor Nizhnikau, a Russia expert at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, said that "this Trump-Putin meeting can only delay the end of the war." "Energy sanctions on China and India for buying Russia's oil and, more importantly, substantially increasing military aid to Ukraine are the best available tools against Russia at the Western disposal," he told the Kyiv Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If Trump wants to use the summit with Putin to avoid keeping his word on the ultimatum (for Russia to agree on a ceasefire), that is bad news. It will only further embolden Moscow and Beijing to pursue their current course of action." What does Putin want? Putin has regularly voiced maximalist demands and rejected an unconditional ceasefire. He has also demanded a ban on Ukrainian mobilization or training of troops and a halt on Western military aid for Kyiv. During the Istanbul talks with Ukraine that sporadically took place from May to July, Russia demanded that Ukraine recognize the illegally annexed territories as Russian, withdraw from the Kyiv-controlled parts of these regions, and adopt a neutral status, according to a source in the President's Office who spoke with the Kyiv Independent on condition of anonymity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia illegally annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014. The Kremlin also announced the illegal annexation of Ukraine's Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts in 2022 despite only partially controlling them. Reuters reported in May, citing its sources, that Putin was also demanding a written pledge by NATO not to accept more Eastern European members and the lifting of several sanctions as conditions for ending Russia's war in Ukraine. Nizhnikau said that, by agreeing to meet the U.S. president, Putin is buying "time for himself and for Trump, thus potentially also making Trump a favor of finding a way to avoid fulfilling his ultimatum threats." "Trump will be looking for a deal, and Putin will be looking for ways to avoid a deal unless it is entirely on Russia's terms." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I do not expect any breakthrough on the ceasefire," he told the Kyiv Independent. "There is the same major question to ask: has Putin's stance on the war changed? The answer is no; nothing changed, and he wants to continue the war. Putin's plan is to buy a bit more time and ideally again shift at least some blame back on Ukraine, which would permit him to avoid any serious harshening of the U.S. approach towards Russia." Russian President Vladimir Putin in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on Jan. 18, 2023. (Contributor/Getty Images) Fire and smoke rise after Russian drone strikes in Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 10, 2025. (Oles Kromplias/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images) Richard Betts, professor emeritus of war and peace studies at Columbia University, argued that "Putin probably hopes that he can once again make the gullible Trump believe that they have a common goal and that soothing rhetoric may induce Trump to back away from stronger sanctions." "There are no obvious indications that Putin is rethinking his strategy of grinding Ukraine down through attrition while accepting moderate but bearable pain for Russia from Western sanctions," he added. Meanwhile, Jenny Mathers, a lecturer in international politics at the U.K.'s Aberystwyth University, argued that she expects Putin to "repeat his laundry list of demands and to seize on any suggestion from Trump that any of Russia's demands should be the basis for negotiations or a peace deal." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Putin cares a lot about the details and will be very careful not to commit to anything that he thinks will disadvantage Russia," she added. "Putin is almost certainly delighted at the prospect of a personal meeting with the U.S. president, breaking the Western isolation that (ex-U.S. President Joe Biden's) administration tried to impose. But while both Trump and Putin will value the photo ops and the immediate publicity around such a meeting, Trump will be looking for a deal, and Putin will be looking for ways to avoid a deal unless it is entirely on Russia's terms." John Herbst, an expert at the Atlantic Council and a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, also argued that Putin has no desire to accept a full ceasefire but could offer a small gesture that would satisfy Trump. One option is a partial ceasefire in the air, he added. Bloomberg reported on Aug. 5, citing undisclosed sources familiar with the matter, that the Kremlin was weighing a proposal to pause its long-range strike campaign in Ukraine as a potential concession to Trump. Read also: Trump says Zelensky wont attend Alaska summit with Putin, but Ukraine-Russia talks should follow What does Trump want? On Aug. 11, Trump said he invited Putin to the U.S. to hear what he has to say following the U.S. threat to impose secondary tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I may leave and say good luck, and this is not going to be settled," he said, adding that he believes Putin wanted "all of Ukraine." "I'm not going to make a deal; it's not up to me to make a deal," Trump said, adding that he would consult with European allies and Zelensky immediately after the meeting. After taking office in January, Trump has attempted to end Russia's war against Ukraine by pressuring Kyiv into accepting concessions, embracing Kremlin narratives and talking points. In recent months, however, he has become tougher on Moscow. In July, Trump set an Aug. 8 deadline for Putin to end hostilities or face secondary tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, such as China and India. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 6, he slapped a 25% tariff on India over its purchases of Russian oil. The tariff is expected to come into effect on Aug. 27. However, no secondary tariffs have been imposed on China or other countries buying Russian oil. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Aug. 6 that Trump would decide whether to impose any other secondary tariffs on Russia's trading partners within the next 24 to 36 hours. However, Trump has not imposed any new tariffs as his Aug. 8 deadline passed, despite Putin's refusal to halt the war. U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., U.S. on Aug. 7, 2025. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) The Trump administration was also considering new sanctions on Russia's so-called "shadow fleet" of oil tankers should Putin fail to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine by Aug. 8, people familiar with White House discussions told the Financial Times (FT). However, no such sanctions were imposed as the deadline passed. As Trump is hesitant to introduce more sanctions or tariffs, doubts persist on whether a ceasefire is possible. "Now he (Trump) plays a 'tough guy' but both Moscow and Beijing have a belief that his 'toughness' has no substance and that he will chicken out in the end." Herbst argued that the only way to force Putin to agree to a full ceasefire would be to apply "enormous pressure" and "sanction the hell out of Putin." Trump's apparent toughness in recent months is also easily reversible, experts say. Nizhnikau said that Trump "is obviously tougher (on Russia) than he was before." "But so far the main changes have been rather rhetorical," he added. "Now he plays a 'tough guy' but both Moscow and Beijing have a belief that his 'toughness' has no substance and that he will chicken out in the end." Mathers said that "there are plenty of things that Trump could do if he really wanted to put pressure on Putin starting with flooding Ukraine with weapons and making it clear that Ukraine is welcome in NATO, and sooner rather than later." "But there are no signs that Trump is thinking along those lines. Instead, he offers Putin more and more chances," she added. There are also concerns that Trump may soften his stance on Russia again. Read also: What were so many deaths for? Ukrainians react to Trump-Putin peace plan ahead of Alaska summit "The question is whether Trump, who has always been impulsive and inconsistent, will reverse course again and soften his recently tough position regarding Moscow," Betts said. "His erratic record gives no reason to be confident in any prediction of which way he will tilt." Analysts say that Trump's planned meeting with Putin is a face-saving gesture. "(Trump) wants to make an appearance that he is doing everything to end the war," Nizhnikau said. "Trump needs a way out of his own ultimatum trap. His threats on China, India and Russia brought no result, and I think Trump does not really want to fulfill them. So now he is looking for ways to avoid or postpone fulfilling ultimatum threats without denting his reputation." Mathers believes that "Trump doesn't really care about the details but just wants a win that he can present as proof of his ability to deliver on promises and of his dealmaking skills." "Trump thinks of himself as the ultimate dealmaker, and that he personally can solve otherwise intractable problems, so he probably expects that he can achieve a breakthrough that none of his officials could pull off," she added. Stefan Wolff, professor of international security at the University of Birmingham, argued that Trump "appears to show that he has leverage and seems prepared to use it." "But this is not a tactic aimed at hurting Russia, let alone punishing it for the aggression against Ukraine, but rather a way of getting to a deal with Putin that favors America," he said. "A bilateral meeting between Putin and Trump would primarily be about U.S.-Russia relations. A ceasefire for Ukraine and/or a timeline towards further peace negotiations would only be of instrumental value for the two leaders as they are attempting a reset of their relations." What does Ukraine want? So far, Ukraine has shown more willingness to compromise. Ukraine supported a U.S.-backed agreement on a full unconditional ceasefire in March but Russia rejected it. At the same time, Ukraine has repeatedly rejected proposals on recognizing any of the occupied territories as Russian de jure. On Aug. 9, Zelensky again rejected the idea of ceding any Ukrainian territory to end Russia's war, following Trump's statement of a possible territorial "swapping." "Russia has expressed its 'desires' rejection of NATO (membership for Ukraine), recognition of the occupied territories, and so on," Yaroslav Yurchyshyn, a lawmaker from Ukraine's opposition party Holos, told the Kyiv Independent. "The real key interest (for Moscow) is the lifting of sanctions. These demands are unacceptable for Ukraine; we are interested in an all-for-all (prisoner) swap and a complete cessation of hostilities." "Ukraine wants to survive." Ukraine has also sought security guarantees from the West, but so far, the U.S. and Europe have been reluctant to provide them. "Ukraine wants to survive," Oleksandr Merezhko, head of the Ukrainian parliament's foreign affairs committee, told the Kyiv Independent. "It wants real, reliable guarantees of our survival and our security... NATO membership, first of all, yes, is the best security." President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 13, 2025, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Genya Savilov/AFP via Getty Images) However, the U.S. and NATO have so far refused to greenlight Ukraine's potential membership in the alliance. Kyiv has also called for new military aid from NATO countries, but the record has been mixed. The U.S. halted military aid packages approved under Biden twice in March and July and the Trump administration was initially reluctant to approve any new military aid. However, recently, Trump has softened his stance on supplying weapons to Ukraine. On July 14, Trump announced an initiative under which other NATO members would purchase U.S.-made weapons systems for Ukraine. However, Kyiv is concerned that Trump may fall into Putin's trap again during the planned meeting with the Russian leader. "I'm not happy that (a potential trilateral meeting will be) preceded by a bilateral meeting between Trump and Putin," Merezhko said. "I think it's a diplomatic and political mistake because Putin might impose his agenda for negotiations on Trump." He argued that "there are already signs of that, because... Putin wants to talk about 'territorial swaps.'" "It's already an indication that he's trying to impose his agenda on Trump, which narrows our field for maneuvering and possibilities," Merezhko continued. "I think that it would make more sense to have a trilateral meeting instead of a bilateral one because otherwise it might look as if the U.S. and Russia have made arrangements about Ukraine without Ukraine." Mykola Bielieskov, a research fellow at the National Institute for Strategic Studies and a senior analyst at Ukrainian NGO Come Back Alive, also said that "there is always a risk that Russia would try to promote its formulae of settlement." He added that this "would undermine Ukrainian sovereignty and security and thus make such a deal unacceptable to us while playing a blame game that Ukraine is a major obstacle for peace and thus creating a rift between Ukraine and the U.S. to exploit." "Thus, Ukraine, along with its European partners, jointly tries to warn Donald Trump that any deal should not be based on Russian terms where Ukrainian sovereignty and security are compromised," Bielieskov added. Read also: Mobilization gridlock: How politics, policy, and public opinion are shaping Ukraines war effort Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. New Release: Farm, merge, grow and expand your land in this new puzzle game! New Release: Farm, merge, grow and expand your land in this new puzzle game! With Labour Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson declaring that it is a national disgrace that white working-class children in Britain are being written off by society, how do we get to the bottom of the underachievement which characterises this cohort? What must be resisted is indulging in racial victimhood. Many of the barriers to white-British working-class achievement in the education system are social and cultural. Within more traditional-minded ethnic minorities, families are more likely to be intact and have a strong educational ethos (this is certainly true for many of Britains high-performing Indian, Chinese, and Nigerian communities). Civic associations within such communities continue to flourish, with places of spirituality and worship providing an uplifting sense of belonging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Intergenerational connectedness is key to young peoples personal development. Growing up in my Bedfordshire hometown of Luton, whether it was at the local newsagents or the Asian greengrocers, my community elders would take an interest in how I was performing at school, college, and university (and now in my professional life). Not only does this make a young person feel valued, it provides a healthy pressure where one does not want to disappoint ones own parents, but also wishes to avoid potential embarrassment in the wider local community. Personal pride and family honour are important in this context. Sadly, these social structures and cultural dynamics are virtually non-existent in many left-behind communities in Britain. There are several practical interventions which can be made but change will not take place overnight. England remains one of the most inter-regionally imbalanced nations in the industrialised world. Regional economics and underinvestment in deindustrialised towns is a problem that needs to be fixed. Building up a local stock of high-quality teachers and maintaining them in impoverished areas will remain a major challenge, unless there is a genuine levelling up of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This needs to be complemented with ensuring the value of vocational training and apprenticeship options which should act as springboards to higher education. The building of positive relationships between schools and families especially in cases where parents had personally negative experiences with the education system and have a lack of confidence in it is vital. There is also no harm in having a national curriculum which highlights Englands anti-racist, working-class traditions whether it was the 1862 Manchester revolt (where mill workers refused to work with American cotton in solidarity with the USs black slaves) or the 1943 Battle of Bamber Bridge (which saw pub landlords resist the effort of American commanders to introduce a colour bar in the Lancastrian village). Surely this would be more beneficial to teach in cities such as Salford and towns like Blackpool, instead of the pseudo-intellectual theories of white privilege which spread like wildfire during the era of BLM-mania? White working-class underachievement in the English education system is driven by a myriad of factors economic, social, and cultural. It is crucial that this issue does not descend into the politics of grievance more than ever, serious policies are needed to enable and empower young people to fulfil their potential. Dr Rakib Ehsan is a senior fellow at Policy Exchange 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 British F-35B Lightning stealth fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing in Japan on Sunday after developing a technical fault. The 88m aircraft, one of the worlds most advanced combat jets, landed at the Kagoshima international airport at around 11.30am local time. It was operating from the HMS Prince of Wales as part of the UK Carrier Strike Group in the Indo-Pacific. Runway operations were suspended for nearly 20 minutes while the jet was moved to a taxiway for checks, Kyodo News reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Japanese defence ministry confirmed the plane had suffered an engineering issue and was undergoing inspections to enable it to rejoin the carrier group as soon as possible, according to the Telegraph. Footage showed the plane parked near the international airports runway with no visible damage. The UK Carrier Strike Group, which includes the HMS Prince of Wales and multiple escort ships, is carrying out joint exercises with Japanese and American forces under Operation Highmast, aimed at demonstrating Britains security commitments in the Indo-Pacific. The drills began on 4 August and were scheduled to run until 12 August. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the second such incident involving a British F-35B fighter in less than two months. Another F-35B jet from the same strike group was stranded in India for more than five weeks following an emergency landing in June. That jet had diverted to the Thiruvananthapuram airport in the southern state of Kerala on 14 June due to bad weather over the Indian Ocean and low fuel, before reporting a hydraulic system fault that affected its landing gear, brakes and control surfaces. British engineers carried out extensive repairs on the aircraft at the Indian airport before it flew out on 22 July. The British High Commission in New Delhi thanked Indian authorities for their support and collaboration during the repair and recovery process. A Royal Navy F-35B fighter recovered off an emergency landing at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport on the night of 14 June 25. Operating from UK Aircraft Carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, it was undertaking routine flying outside Indian ADIZ with Thiruvananthapuram earmarked pic.twitter.com/gL2CQcuJc7 Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) June 15, 2025 The F-35B is a short take-off and vertical landing variant of the American fighter made by Lockheed Martin and designed for use on aircraft carriers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Britain operates 37 of these jets between the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, with a total of 47 expected in service by the end of 2025. In June, the UK government announced plans to purchase at least 12 F-35As, a conventional variant capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Although marketed as the most advanced fighter plane in the world, the F-35 is plagued by reliability concerns. A declassified Pentagon report earlier this year found that the overall reliability, maintainability and availability of the US F-35 fleet remained below service expectations. The UK one F-35B in November 2021 when it crashed into the Mediterranean shortly after take-off from the HMS Queen Elizabeth. Researcher Dennis Bell was on a two-year assignment in Antarctica A British mans bones have been found in an Antarctic glacier 65 years after he died. Dennis Bell was 25 years old when he fell through a crevice while working for what became the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) in 1959. His remains were never recovered and his mother never got over it, according to his brother David Bell. He told the BBC: She couldnt handle photographs of him and couldnt talk about him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Denniss bones were found by a Polish Antarctic expedition in January, along with a wristwatch, radio and pipe. Mr Bell, who now lives in Australia, said: I had long given up on finding my brother. It is just remarkable, astonishing. I cant get over it. The family lived in Harrow, London, when they received a telegram informing them that Dennis had died. The telegram boy said, Im sorry to tell you, but this is bad news, he added. Dennis was fantastic company. He was very amusing. The life and soul of wherever he happened to be. Dennis, known as Tink, worked in the RAF and trained as a meteorologist before joining the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey to work in Antarctica. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He went to Antarctica in 1958, where he was known for his mischievous sense of humour. Dennis Bell (left) was known for his sense of humour - Russell Thompson Records described him as the best cook in the hut, where he was in charge of sending up meteorological weather balloons and radioing the reports to the UK every three hours. On 26 July 1959, Dennis, along with three colleagues and two dog sledges, set out from base to climb a glacier to carry out survey and geological work. Ascending the glacier, they traversed a crevassed area, covered in deep, soft snow, which made the going difficult and the dogs showed signs of tiredness, according to the British Atlantic Survey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dennis went ahead without his skis to urge his team on, before falling through the crevasse bridge. Sir Vivian Fuchs, a former director of BAS, described the story of Bells death in his book Of Ice and Men, published by Anthony Nelson. Peering into the depths, Stokes (Bells colleague) called repeatedly and was greatly relieved to be answered, he wrote. Lowering a rope almost a hundred feet, he told Bell to tie himself on. As he could not haul up the weight, he hitched his end of the rope to the team. The dogs took the strain and began to pull... But Bell had tied the rope through his belt instead of around his body, perhaps because of the angle at which he lay in the crevasse. As he reached the top, his body jammed against the lip, the belt broke, and down he went again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prof Dame Jane Francis, director of BAS, said: Dennis was one of the many brave personnel who contributed to the early science and exploration of Antarctica under extraordinarily harsh conditions. Even though he was lost in 1959, his memory lived on among colleagues and in the legacy of polar research. Dennis Bell (left) with dogs at the Admiralty Bay Station in 1959 Mr Bell thought he had got as close to his brother as he could after going on an expedition organised by the British Antarctic Monument Trust in 2015. It was very, very moving, he said. It lifted the pressure, a weight off my head, as it were. And I thought that would be it. He was told earlier this year his brothers remains had been found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im just sad my parents never got to see this day, he said. Its wonderful; Im going to meet my brother. You might say we shouldnt be thrilled, but we are. Hes been found hes come home now. More than 200 personal items were found during the search, including the remains of radio equipment, ski poles, an inscribed Erguel wristwatch, a Swedish Mora knife, ski poles and an ebonite pipe stem. The BAS said Denniss remains were transferred to the Falkland Islands on the BAS Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough, and placed in the care of Malcolm Simmons, His Majestys Coroner for British Antarctic Territory. Mr Simmons accompanied them to London with the support of the Royal Air Force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The BAS added: The human remains were sent for DNA testing by Denise Syndercombe Court, professor in forensic genetics at Kings College London. She has now confirmed there is a match with samples from his brother David Bell and his sister Valerie Kelly. They are more than one billion times more likely to be related than not. 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. WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) An English tourist who hit and killed a man while riding an e-scooter in Australia pleaded guilty on Monday to a charge of dangerous driving causing death while under the influence of alcohol. Alicia Kemp, 25, admitted the charge during a hearing at the Western Australia Magistrates Court, officials told The Associated Press. Kemp was riding an e-scooter with a passenger on board in the city of Perth on May 31 when she hit a 51-year-old man, Australian news outlets reported. Thanh Phan hit his head on the pavement and later died in a hospital. Kemp and the scooters passenger received minor injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kemp was visiting Western Australia state from Britain on a working holiday visa, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp. Investigators estimated she was driving at about the maximum speed of a rental e-scooter, 20 to 25 kph (12 to 16 mph), when she crashed into Phan, the court was told at an earlier hearing. A charge of causing harm to the passenger was dropped when Kemp made the appearance via video link from jail on Monday. She was earlier refused bail. Mike Tudori, Kemp's lawyer, told reporters outside the court that his client was nervous and worried" as a young foreign national girl in an Australian jail. Shes obviously done something stupid at the time, he said, according to Australian Associated Press. She obviously wasnt thinking, level-headed and theres consequences, and she just wants to get on with her life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phans family described him as a beloved husband, father of two, brother and dear friend," according to the AAP. Kemp will remain in custody until her next court appearance on Oct. 31, when a sentencing date will be set. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Officials in Perth suspended e-scooter rental in the city after Phan's death, which was the fifth involving e-vehicles in the state in 2025. The state's government also launched an inquiry into the vehicles. Melbourne, in Victoria state, was in 2024 the first Australian city to ban e-scooter hire. The move echoed prohibitions in some other cities worldwide, including Paris, France, where a ban was overwhelmingly approved in April 2023. WASHINGTON (WPRI) By reaching a deal with the Trump administration, Brown University joins a growing number of higher education institutions making similar agreements to restore access to federal research funding. Experts say the settlement which resolved ongoing civil rights investigations may signal a new relationship between the federal government and higher education. Marc Lampkin, a Republican lobbyist and attorney with Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, is advising several universities on navigating the Trump administration. He said the federal government is taking a more forceful approach with schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think theyre (the Trump administration) willing to use the levers of government grants, funding and the power of the Department of Justice, [the Department of Health and Human Services], and the Department of Education to leverage behavioral changes, said Lampkin. And I think that historically, thats never been the way that the government, the federal government interacted with schools. The Trump administration had been looking into concerns about racial bias in admissions and how transgender students participate in school sports. Browns agreement includes no admission of wrongdoing. The schools president said the deal was the right move for the university. But not everyone sees it that way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David Bergeron, a fellow at the Center for American Progress, argued the agreement leaves some of the most vulnerable students without support. I think that Brown made this deal because they felt it was one that would harm the fewest people in their community not really worrying about the long-term implications for the higher education system, Bergeron said. We really want institutions to go beyond just the majority of their community, Bergeron said. We want them to protect the most vulnerable parts of their community. Experts are now also saying that Brown got a better deal than other universities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ivy League university has agreed to invest $50 million in Rhode Island workforce development programs over 10 years. The deal stands in contrast to Columbia Universitys resolution, which includes a $200 million payment to the federal government. Adam Kissel, a visiting fellow for higher education reform in the Center for Education Policy at the Heritage Foundation, said he believes both sides gained from the agreement. This is a win for both sides because it not only preserves academic freedom, but it restores nondiscrimination admissions based on merit, transparency in admissions, and stops the potential and probably active Title IX and Title VI violations, Kissel said, adding, Brown was not defining men and women as actual men and actual women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Kissel, Brown agreed to two key transparency measures over the next three years: a detailed review of how its admissions policies impact different identity groups; and steps to address antisemitism complaints, including a campus climate study by years end. The Trump administration will gain more access to Browns admissions data than it previously had through federal student aid funding. Standardized test scores, grade-point averages, and the race of Brown applicants will now be accessible. Although the agreement has been settled, Bergeron warned that more federal action could be on the horizon. I think what we need to be concerned about as Rhode Islanders is, what will be the next place that the administration goes? Bergeron said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kyra Ceryanek is a masters student in the Syracuse University broadcast journalism program. Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. TURNERS FALLS, Mass. (WWLP) Nearly an acre of land burned during a brush fire at a solar array field in Turners Falls on Sunday. The Turners Falls Fire Department released a statement on social media that stated they received multiple 911 calls at around 12:36 p.m. for heavy smoke in the area of Sandy Lane near the Montague Transfer Station. Upon arrival, crews found a column of smoke in the solar array field and requested station coverage from Greenfield. Turners Falls woman charged with DUI Drug in Vermont Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Due to electrical hazards, the area was not accessed immediately until a solar field representative was contacted to secure the power in the area. (Turners Falls Fire Department) A total of 0.8 acres of grass was put out, and no injuries were reported. The fire department said the cause is being investigated however, they say it is likely related to an electrical shortage. The Montague Police Department, Montague Police Dispatch, Shelburne Control Regional Dispatch, Eversource Electric, and Kearsarge Energy assisted. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. At a press conference on Monday, Donald Trump tried to put racing minds to rest about his upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin this Friday in Alaska. He described it as a feel-out meeting to gauge Moscows readiness to end the war, suggesting that it might turn out to be just an initial encounter. He also said that it was an opportunity for Ukraine to reclaim some of the roughly 20 per cent of its land the Russian army has captured since the conflict broke out in February 2022. Russias occupied a big portion of Ukraine. They occupied prime territory. Were going to try to get some of that territory back for Ukraine, Trump said at the White House. This will come as music to the ears of the Europeans and Ukrainians at least for now. There has been significant trepidation in European capitals that Trump might be tempted to make a deal with Putin over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys head. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy hosted Vice-President JD Vance at his country residence over the weekend, perhaps seeking to determine what Trump would be saying to the Russian strongman. On Saturday, Washingtons top European allies issued a joint statement reiterating for the umpteenth time that the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. Europe is so nervous about what could happen in Alaska that it has rushed to schedule a conference with Trump and Vance on Wednesday, ostensibly in an effort to instill European talking points into Trumps brain before he meets with the wily former Russian KGB operative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of this anxiety, however, may turn out to be wasted energy. Trump is unlikely to settle on much with Putin this Friday. And while the US president may genuinely believe that he has the negotiating acumen and experience to eventually strike some sort of agreement on the war, he is not all-powerful. Most obviously, the Ukrainians are likely to reject any deal if they arent in the room. As Vance observed over the weekend, any negotiated resolution to the war will be a bitter pill to swallow for Ukrainians and Russians alike. Even the strongest supporter of Kyiv will struggle to deny that, when the shooting finally stops, a good chunk of Ukraine is likely to remain under Russian control because the Ukrainians dont have the luxury of pushing the Russians out of the country wholesale. But the Russians dont have the ability to swoop into Kyiv and install a puppet regime, either. Which means both Zelensky and Putin face big choices. The battlefield, since early 2023, has been categorised by incremental Russian gains at extremely high cost. So Kyiv can eschew diplomacy and continue to fight, running the risk of further Russian territorial gains in the future. Or it can try to negotiate a settlement that reflects the current facts on the ground. Putin also faces a dilemma. He can continue to lead Trump on, at the risk he will eventually run out of runway with the impatient American president; or actually negotiate seriously, knowing full well that he will have to give up on his fixation of creating a new Russian empire with himself as tsar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the short term, Trump will meet Putin with the odds of success stacked against him. While the Ukrainians are suggesting that Russia could hold onto occupied Ukrainian territory on a de-facto basis, any deal requiring the Ukrainian army to withdraw from the areas of Donbas it currently controls will be perceived not unreasonably as a non-starter. Recognising Russias territorial claims, meanwhile, would be akin to bestowing legitimacy on Moscows land-grab, so this too will be opposed by Kyiv. Zelensky is lobbying for Western security guarantees, and ideally Nato membership, as a key element of an agreement, yet Putin is as strongly opposed to this formula now as he was when the war first started. So Trump has put himself in an unenviable position. Any deal Putin accepts is liable to be dismissed by Zelensky as too Russia-friendly, particularly if it rules out Western security guarantees or trades Ukrainian territorial concessions for a Russian ceasefire. By the same logic, any deal Zelensky signs will probably be dismissed by Putin as not fully taking into account the core issue that, in the Russian leaders mind, prompted the invasion in the first-place Ukraines geopolitical posture vis-a-vis the West. And if by some miracle Trump does manage to bring Zelensky and Putin onto the same page, the Russia hawks back in Washington DC will be primed to write accusatory columns in Americas newspapers about how the United States sold Ukraine out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its entirely possible that none of this will be an obstacle to Trump, who acts like a human-version of a bulldozer moving everything away from his path. Whether it was negotiating directly with the Taliban in Afghanistan, promoting an American takeover of Gaza, suspending US sanctions on Syria, or roiling global markets with tariffs, Trump has a habit of doing things that wouldve been viewed as inconceivable not so long ago. The big difference is that Ukraine is a whole lot more important to Putin than any of those other cases. Syrias Bashar al-Assad was a solid Russian partner in the Middle East but ultimately proved disposable when Ahmed al-Sharas rebels overran Damascus. Gaza doesnt matter for Russia, and to the extent that Afghanistan means anything to the Kremlin, its to keep a lid on the anti-Russian terrorist groups operating there. Ukraine, though, is the be-all and end-all for Putin, who has sacrificed Russias geopolitical position as well as hundreds of thousands of young Russian men to pursue his war goals. One shouldnt begrudge Trump for trying to inject some momentum into the peace process. Just dont bet your money on him being able to solve anything. Daniel DePetris is a fellow at Defense Priorities 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. Bryan Kohberger immersed himself in serial killer case files as a PhD student at Washington State University prior to the brutal quadruple Idaho murders that landed him behind bars for the rest of his life. Kohberger, 30, enrolled at WSUs criminology program in June 2022, but according to Heather Barnhart, who serves as the Senior Director of Forensic Research at Cellebrite, his exploration of the topics was eerily intensive. He didnt just Google these cases. He downloaded full PDFs of case files, she said in an interview with The Independent that was published on August 9. Not once, but repeatedly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was downloading detailed reports on serial killers, she explained. This wasnt casual browsing. This was meticulous research. As the National Enquirer previously reported, Kohberger violently killed University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, Ethan Chapin, 20, and Madison Mogen, 21, in the early hours of November 13, 2022. According to newly released coroners reports, Goncalves was stabbed more than 30 times, while Kernodle was covered in defensive wounds from seemingly fighting back against her attacker. Chapins cause of death was a stab wound under his left clavicle which severed his subclavian vein and subclavian artery, and also his jugular vein was severed, and Mogen died from a laceration to her liver and her left lung. While Kohberger initially pleaded not guilty, he admitted to his guilt as part of a plea agreement on July 2. He refused to elaborate on his reasons behind the murders at his July 23 court hearing, where he was sentenced to serve four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. He is currently incarcerated at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution. Its all about bus transportation in Erie this weekend, as Pennsylvania bus drivers rev up the engines for the Pennsylvania Public Transportation Associations annual Bus Roadeo. This year, the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority hosted the event at the Presque Isle Downs and Casino parking lot, bringing the event back to Erie after nearly 25 years. Basically, its a competition for all of the drivers that drive buses, small paratransit buses, big forty-foot buses, said Jeremy Peterson, CEO of EMTA. There was a written course yesterday. There was pre-trip test yesterday, and todays now the physical obstacle course with about seven stations testing their skills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peterson said some of the tests include backwards turns, parallel parking, serpentine turns, and a full-speed squeeze between some narrow obstacles. New mural honors longtime EMTA employee The event itself is a celebration of safety, precision and the professionals who keep transit moving, but he said the weekend is also a good way to show off all that Erie and EMTA has to offer. When it comes to the roadeo itself, getting to the end is no easy task, and requires a lot of skill and practice. Its amazing how nervous you get because you have everybody watching here, and the fear of failure is always a high thing to deal with, but no, just concentrate the best you can and get through it, said Robert Proctor, roadeo competitor and EMTA bus driver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is my first ever roadeo. I am a little bit nervous, got a good case of the jitters, but I have a wonderful support team, said James Schaffner, roadeo competitor and EMTA bus driver. Im going to get out there. Im going to do the best I can to represent the Erie Metropolitan Transit Authority. PennDOT promotes bike safety for young riders at bike rodeo Proctor and Schaffner join over 30 other drivers from around the state, with goals to make it to the top three to get a spot in a national bus rodeo. But simply hitting a few cones takes away from their final scores and could be the difference between a good and bad drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If I knock out a couple cones, oh well. Its guaranteed to happen, but Im also going to have fun while Im doing it, said Schaffner. This is very intense because you get even a half a foot off of some of these obstacles and youre done, you know, so it takes a lot of skill, a lot of practice to do, said Proctor. At the end of the day, practice makes perfect, with Proctor coming in first in his category to secure a spot in the national rodeo. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com. The News NEW ORLEANS For 20 years, progressives have gathered at annual Netroots Nation conferences to share strategies and plan for the next election. In New Orleans, this years 3,000 attendees were not so sure that there would be a next election. At one session, after organizers described the tactics of an authoritarian state, they considered whether theyd even be allowed to win in 2026. There cant be a free and fair election in 2026, or something resembling one, if we dont f*ck them up now, said Evan Sutton, a strategist who helped organize Tesla Takedown protests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont do elections necessarily because theyre free and fair, said Ash-Lee Woodard Henderson, a progressive organizer in Tennessee. I do it because once I get someone who is trying to change things [with] an election, and they do it, and it still doesnt work, they are immediately a leftist. The mood at the three-day conference which began as a political blogger meetup and grew into a stop on the presidential primary circuit was nervous and grim, despite the karaoke and pickleball. Progressive organizers whod succeeded during previous GOP administrations described a tougher climate that had made it hard for their groups to operate, like lawsuits against Media Matters and a Justice Department probe of ActBlue. And activists committed to intersectional work fretted that Democrats might be abandoning them. Elected Democrats who did show up, like Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., and former Texas Rep. Beto ORourke, talked about fighting fascism. They described a fight that some in their party might not be ready to win. She was fighting a GOP effort to remove her from committees for her comments about her pride in her Guatemalan heritage; he was being sued to stop funding Texas Democrats whod fled the state to block a gerrymander. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They are betting that our side is going to give in and give up, ORourke said. That we are the old Democratic Party that was more interested in concession and compromise. Know More Founded in 2006, when Democrats first saw value in political blogs and online donation portals, Netroots Nation has evolved several times first to be larger, then smaller. Its first conference brought bloggers together with Democratic leaders in Congress and future Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, who defeated Sen. Joe Lieberman in a primary just weeks later. Originally named Yearly Kos, an IRL companion to the political site Daily Kos, Netroots changed its name and ambitions after most of the 2008 Democratic presidential field came to its 2007 conference in Chicago. During Barack Obamas presidency, the conference drew White House emissaries who saw its attendees as the professional left that needed to be tolerated, but not taken too seriously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By 2015, it had become a trade show for political professionals that also gave scholarships and stage time to local activists. Some of them used that stage to browbeat Democratic politicians. Ten years later, this years Netroots was a little quieter, and more sparsely attended. The Democratic Party had failed to stop a Trump restoration, and the new administration has been rolling back gains that some attendees thought theyd won for good: climate funding, student debt relief, trans rights. Progressive donors had changed, too. At a breakout on the New McCarthyism, movement veterans explained how Gaza activism had been used to break up progressive groups and go after universities. Some funders, they said, had gone along with it. After 2020, funders were like: Oh, we love Black people. Were going to give Black people so much money. Were going to be really abundant with resources, said Alexis Sanchez Gill, the executive director of the Emergent Fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since October 2023, progressives had seen Zionist funders and Zionists-aligned funders pulling support from Black-run groups that theyd supported, Sanchez Gill added, because the groups in question were now on the front lines of solidarity with our Palestinian comrades. The Gaza question has divided Democrats for years. In 2023, after Netroots protesters got Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., to call Israel a racist state, House leaders admonished her. But like most Democrats in Congress, most Netroots attendees wanted to halt military aid to Israel. Joe Bidens administration had dampened their faith in politics. When the last Democratic president was mentioned, it was as a cautionary tale of the party not using its power to prevent a second Trump term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All the things that stopped the Joe Biden administration I hope Trump burns it all, said Elie Mystal, the legal columnist at The Nation, at a panel on fighting the captured Supreme Court. So, let him kill the filibuster. Let him kill the Senate parliamentarian. Let him shoot the Librarian of Congress on Fifth Avenue, and let him pack the Supreme Court. Go. Do it, Mystal added. And then, finally, Democrats might get a clue. The few elected Democrats who came to New Orleans to hear that message said that they were doing everything within their power to resist the administration especially state attorneys general, who have at times fought Trump to a standstill in court. Yet some of them urged action in the streets, too. In an interview, Minnesota Attorney Gen. Keith Ellison said his office was constantly brainstorming legalistic ways to challenge the administration. But, he added, Trump was courting broader civil disobedience when it allowed ICE agents to operate with masks and when it sought to require congressional maps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the things you saw right in front of your eyes after the murder of George Floyd is that people comply with the law because they see it as legitimate, Ellison told Semafor. Once they see it as not legitimate, theres not enough law enforcement people to make people obey the law. Davids view There were far fewer reporters walking the halls of Netroots than there were following Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego in Iowa this weekend. I understand why. Progressive power in the Democratic Party is usually covered like a problem to be fixed, not as a force the party needs to respond to as seen by the demands that New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani distance himself from old tweets and problematic endorsers. Elected Democrats voted with their feet this year, skipping a convention where they might get booed in favor of settings where people would be happy to see them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive attended most Netroots conferences since 2007, though, and I noticed that still more had shifted. The buttons that used to be offered to attendees, clarifying their preferred pronouns or whether they were open to hugs, were missing this year. Some groups that had large presences at prior conferences, flush with election-year cash, were noticeably absent. There was really no talk about 2028 or whod be fighting for the next Democratic nomination. Talk about the midterms was cautious; who knew what maps theyd be competing on? In New Orleans, the shared analysis was that Democrats screwed up by not listening to them, and by expecting a return to pre-Trump norms. Room for Disagreement Some attendees didnt really care about Democrats, or the party infrastructure, at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The poet FreeQuency helped close the weekend with a poem about how, one day, free children might grow up without knowing what a president is: I dont want a Black woman in office, not even Kamala Harris. The Democrats who did show said that their party needed to embrace direct action and international solidarity. In so many words, they were communicating that the party wasnt strong enough to win on its own and had shown no ability to win back the voters who walked away during the Obama years. We are a movement, a global, interconnected movement, Ramirez said, from Humboldt Park in Chicago to Honduras to Palestine to Ukraine to Haiti and the Congo. Notable A ride at Cedar Point malfunctioned the night of Aug. 10 leaving guests stranded off the ground. A cable on the park's Power Tower attraction that rocks guests some 240 feet above the Midway before dropping them back down apparently snapped. Bryan Levin of the Ohio Department of Agriculture's Division of Amusement Ride Safety & Fairs said they were notified around 8 p.m. Sunday that there had been an incident involving the ride. Cedar Point's Power Tower attraction during a past Halloweekends. "ODAs Amusement Ride Safety Division and its inspectors have placed a Stop Operation Order on the ride and are working with Cedar Point and the rides manufacturer to determine the cause of the incident," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cedar Point spokesman Tony Clark said a single cable "detached" from the ride vehicle on one of the towers. "The rides safety system performed as designed, the ride vehicle returned to the loading position and all guests exited the ride safely," he said. "Safety is a top priority and the ride will remain closed while we complete a thorough review and inspection of the ride." Levin said the ride will remain closed until there is a "complete" reinspection of the ride. What is the Power Tower? The attraction, which opened in 1998, has a top speed of some 50 miles per hour. There are two towers, one that shoots guests up at a breakneck speed and another that has a freefall drop. What happened to the Power Tower? Some guests reported on social media that there was a "loud bang" from the ride and the sound of grinding metal around the time of the mishap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cedar Point maintenance crews had to manually lower the guests back to the ground. The incident is reminiscent of a 2014 incident at Cedar Point when a cable snapped on the park's Skyhawk swinging ride. In that instance two riders were injured and the snapped cable took out fencing around the attraction. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: No one injured after cable snaps on Cedar Point's Power Tower TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) Travis County officials said a cadaver dog was out searching near the Sandy Creek Bridge for a body Sunday afternoon after people in the area reported smelling decomposition. Hot temperatures on Sunday afternoon prevented the dog from staying out for very long, but the search will continue Monday morning. When we were notified about [the smell], we quickly moved into action and started bringing in resources that could help us determine what that smell was, said Travis County Spokesperson Hector Nieto. Were still trying to determine what that smell is, and well continue with that process tomorrow, he continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The July 5 floods killed ten people in the Sandy Creek area. Nieto said they have confirmed the identities of all those people. The fact that this is being brought up now definitely brings some concern, and so we want to make certain that were checking everything and seeing what is there, he said. One person from Burnet County is still missing Marble Falls Volunteer Fire Chief Michael Phillips. It is a possibility that this could be [him], but were not making any determinations just yet, Nieto said. It could also just be the remains of an animal. However, Travis County Emergency Services Chief Deputy Patrick Phillips said Monday morning that the search wasnt related to Phillips disappearance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A memorial service was held on July 29 for Phillips. He went missing after attempting a rescue at Cow Creek. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PENNFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) Deputies in Calhoun County say two people have been charged with criminal sexual conduct, child abuse and kidnapping. The Calhoun County Sheriffs Office said it launched an investigation after learning some information from authorities in Indiana. On Thursday, deputies carried out a search warrant on Maxwell Avenue near Darlene Lane in Pennfield Township, according to a release from the sheriffs office. Deputies said their investigation led to two arrests. The suspects, a 29-year-old woman from Pennfield Township and a 32-year-old man from Arkansas, were jailed, according to the sheriffs office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A probable cause affidavit identified the suspects as Renea Vasquez and Nathan Siebs. At least one witness told detectives that Siebs admitted to sexual contact with a 16-year-old girl, and another told detectives that the teenager reported being sexually assaulted by Siebs and Vasquez, according to the affidavit. Online records show the two were arraigned Friday on four counts of first-degree CSC, four counts of second-degree child abuse and one count of kidnapping. Vasquezs bond was set at $25,000 and Siebs at $50,000. They are expected back in court later this month. If you know anything, youre asked to contact Detective Pignataro with the sheriffs office at 269.781.0880 or Silent Observer at 269.964.3888. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. A GoFundMe campaign is raising money to help support the children of a Massachusetts man who died in a motorcycle crash in New Bedford earlier this month. Johan Marquez Marte, 37, died Aug. 3 after his motorcycle crashed on Route 18 around 2:30 p.m., the Bristol County District Attorneys Office said previously. A bystander, New Bedford police and paramedics all performed life-saving measures on him, but he was declared dead shortly after arriving at a hospital. The preliminary investigation suggests Marquez Marte lost control of his motorcycle prior to the crash, the district attorneys office said. His death is not considered suspicious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Man dies in motorcycle crash on Route 18 in New Bedford Born Aug. 14, 1987, Johan Goldy Marquez Marte died just days before his 38th birthday, his sister, Keylanelys Pimentel, wrote on the GoFundMe campaign page. Johan was the kind of person who made everyone feel like family. Whether bringing us together with his humor, lighting up the primo table, or creating joyful memories for his children, Johan carried hope, love, and connection in everything he did, Pimental wrote. Marquez Marte was the father of Remy and Sophia Marquez, the son of Dilenia Marte and eldest brother of Janellys and Keylanelys Pimentel, according to the latter sibling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His generosity extended beyond our family every Thanksgiving and Christmas, Johan would cook and bring meals to those without a home. He was truly the glue that kept so many of us close," she wrote. Read more: New Bedford man killed in Route 18 motorcycle crash identified Money from the GoFundMe campaign will go towards funeral and memorial arrangements for Marquez Marte and provide financial support for his two children, according to Pimental. The campaign had raised over $10,700 of its $13,000 goal as of Sunday evening. We love you, Goldy. Well carry your memory in our hearts, always, she wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visiting hours for Marquez Marte are scheduled for Friday, Aug. 15, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Brady & Fallon Funeral Home in Bostons Jamaica Plain neighborhood, according to the funeral home. His funeral Mass is set to follow the next day at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Jamaica Plain. More News Read the original article on MassLive. Canadian podcast host Stephen Marche argued on Sunday that it may be time for Canada to end its relationship with the United States over the Trump administration's dismantling of democracy. "The question is how to extricate ourselves from America, and how painful that will be," Marche wrote in a New York Times essay. The "Next Civil War" author cited President Donald Trumps recent tariffs on Canada as well as his repeated desire to acquire the country as the "51st state" as evidence that the U.S. is "no longer a country that keeps its agreements" and has begun to "backslide out of democracy." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As America dismantles its elite institutions one by one, that aspirational connection is dissolving. The question is no longer how to stop comparing ourselves with the United States, but how to escape its grasp and its fate," he wrote. Canadian Coffee Shops Changing Name Of Americano Drink To 'Canadiano' To Spite Trump, Us Tariffs: Report Journalist Stephen Marche once suggested war between America and Canada is not inconceivable under the Trump administration. Marche argued that Canadas first shipment of liquefied natural gas to a South Korean port and ongoing importing deals with China last month prove the country is able to compete on the world stage without relying on the U.S. He suggested that Canada can also be a model for other countries. Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We can show that multiculturalism works, that it remains possible to have an open society that does not consume itself, in which divisions between liberals and conservatives are real and deep-seated but do not fester into violence and loathing," Marche wrote. "Canada will also have to serve as a connector between the worlds democracies, in a line that stretches from Taiwan and South Korea, across North America, to Poland and Ukraine." Though most of his criticisms were against the Trump administration, Marche claimed that America itself is in the "middle of a grand abdication" as Democratic governors "try to get along" with the president. He quoted Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carneys assertion earlier this year that Canadas "old relationship" with the U.S. was "over." Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has spoken out against President Donald Trump's tariff deals and talks about becoming the "51st state." He concluded, "Canada has experienced the second Trump administration like a teenager being kicked out of the house by an abusive father. We have to grow up fast and we cant go back. And the choices we make now will matter forever. They will reveal our national character. Anger is a useful emotion, but only as a point of departure. We have to reckon with the fact that from now on, our power will come from only ourselves." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In May, Marche suggested that a war between the U.S. and Canada was no longer inconceivable. "I think when countries are in constitutional crisis, and when their legal system starts to fall apart, as Americas legal system is falling apart, violence against neighboring countries is very common," Marche said on MSNBC. "To me, its very intimately tied with this talk about being a third term president, right? Thats exactly out of the playbook of authoritarian governments around the world." "Canada really does need to think about protecting ourselves from the United States, and making sure that were not just a snack," he said. Original article source: Canadian columnist muses how Canada can 'extricate ourselves' from US amid Trump presidency A man missing for more than a week in the vast wilderness of Canada's province of British Columbia has been found after etching the word "help" on a rock and drawing "SOS" in the mud. Andrew Barber was rescued by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) on 8 August - nine days after the 39-year-old was reported missing - after a helicopter spotted his truck on a forest road, which helped narrow the search. Police say he was severely dehydrated and had a leg injury but used a number of tactics to survive, including building a shelter and drinking pond water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Staff Sgt Brad McKinnon of the Williams Lake RCMP said Mr Barber is doing "quite well". He was reported missing on 31 July near McLeese Lake, some 365 miles (587km) north of Vancouver, where his truck had broken down. A police helicopter spotted Mr Garber near his makeshift shelter on Friday after catching a glimpse of the truck. "After over a week in the wilderness, our subject has been located alive during today's search from the air," Quesnel Search & Rescue, an area volunteer search and rescue group posted on Facebook. "This outcome is the result of countless hours on the ground and in the air, using every resource and piece of technology available to us." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An image shared by the rescue group shows the shelter Mr Barber built for himself out of sticks and mud. It was propped up against the rock where he used dirt to write "help". He was taken to hospital for treatment and has since been released. Mr McKinnon told the Canadian Press news agency that Mr Barber "munched on whatever he could find" while he was in the woods. "He was literally slurping unclean pond water to stay hydrated," he said. "The human body can go a long time without food, but water is a different situation." Bob Zimmerman, president of Quesnel Search and Rescue, told CBC News that he wasn't sure Mr Barber "would have made it another 24 hours without us recovering him". We are at war; we went to war against Iran; we took into account that there would be hundreds of casualties on the home front, as well as pilots who might be taken captive, Kallner said. Likud MK Ariel Kallner sharply criticized the demands for the return of hostages on Monday, explaining, You cant wage a war when you come and tell the enemy, this is the weak point. In an interview with Radio Kol Barama, Kallner cited Operation Rising Lion, in which Israeli air force pilots flew over Iranian skies, as an example. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are at war; we went to war against Iran; we took into account that there would be hundreds of casualties on the home front, as well as pilots who might be taken captive, Kallner said. If they had taken a pilot captive and put him in Fordow, would we have told Trump, Dont take out Fordow? Last week, Kallner also claimed that there is no hunger in Gaza. (Illustrative) Palestinians climb onto a truck as they seek aid supplies in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, August 4, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Hatem Khaled) Gazans are plump and healthy; its all nonsense, he said in an interview with 103FM. Relocation of Gaza civilians He further addressed the relocation of Gazas population, stating, Whoever remains in the north we will truly starve them. A member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Kallner argued that Israel must annex parts of Gaza if Hamas does not show flexibility in negotiations. Without control of the territory, it is impossible to defeat Hamas, he said. We need to stop the aid; that way, it will be easier for us to defeat the enemy. The population has the option to move south. We are not starving them; by the way, no one there is hungry even now. COLUMBIA, Mo. Carl Junction High Schools Kristy Jones was recently named the rootEd Missouri Advisor of the Year for her support of rural Missouri students as they prepare for life after graduation. The announcement was made at the rootEd Missouri awards event held Aug. 5 in Columbia. Serving more than 45,000 students across the state since launching in 2018, rootEd Missouri is a statewide public-private partnership between national nonprofit rootEd Alliance, Missouris Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, Ozarks Technical Community College, and participating school districts. The effort is designed to help rural students develop a path to achieve career success and economic stability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement College and career advisers work with seniors in rural high schools to ensure they graduate on a path to a well-paying job, whether through college, career training, apprenticeships or military service. According to an announcement by the Carl Junction School District, Jones supports more than 200 seniors each year. Jones was recognized for her collaborative advising approach and outstanding outcomes at Carl Junction High School, including: 99% of all students created a postsecondary plan and financial plan. 95% of all students participated in a career exposure activity. 98% of college students committed to a postsecondary institution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 89% of career training students got accepted into a training program. Every student who submitted a job application received a job offer. 100% of military students completed their ASVAB, met with a military recruiter and officially enlisted. Students start to believe in whats possible when they know someone is in their corner, Jones said in a statement. Im honored to be part of rootEd and proud to support Missouris rural students. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has appointed a special attorney to probe mortgage fraud allegations against Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., and New York Attorney General Letitia James, two administration officials told NBC News. The Perseid meteor shower, one of the years most dazzling celestial events, will reach its peak on the night of August 12-13, offering a chance to see up to 100 shooting stars per hour under ideal conditions. However, a bright waning gibbous moon, 86% illuminated, will obscure many fainter meteors, making this years display a challenge for skywatchers. The Perseids are caused by Earth passing through debris from comet 109P/Swift-Tuttle and are known for their vibrant colors and frequent fireballs bright meteors that can outshine the moonlight. Click here to view a slideshow of the Perseids from around the world taken in 2023 when the Perseid shower was particularly vivid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, The best rates will probably be near 15 per hour as dim meteors make up a majority of the activity, said Robert Lunsford of the American Meteor Society, per Space.com. You can watch for long Perseid earthgrazers as soon as it gets dark until the moon begins to interfere. This will be about an hour for most folks, Lunsford said. These early meteors, visible from 10 p.m. local time on Tuesday, may appear long and striking, though fewer in number. However, for the best viewing, head to a dark-sky location in the predawn hours of August 13, when the shower is most active. Lunsford advised observing between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. local time, looking north with the moon at your back, to catch up to 15 meteors per hour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The showers radiant, the point from which meteors appear to originate, lies near the star Eta Persei in the constellation Perseus, located in the northeastern sky on August 12, with the moon and Saturn to its right. To maximize viewing, locate the radiant using a smartphone astronomy app and focus on a spot about 40 degrees above it, where meteor trails are longest. A clenched fist held at arms length spans roughly 10 degrees of sky. The Perseids, active from July 14 to September 1, are named for the constellation Perseus. In ancient Greek lore, the shower was linked to Zeus visiting Danae in a shower of gold. Unlike rocky meteorites, Perseid meteors cometary debris rarely reach the ground due to their icy composition. They typically burn up about 60 miles above the Earth. The peak [date] is the best time to view regardless of the situation with moonlight, Lunsford said, per Space.com. Rates fall by 50% each night after the peak, so by the time the moon is out of the way, there is little left to watch. Under ideal dark-sky conditions, 60 to 90 meteors per hour are typical, but moonlight may reduce this to 10 to 20 per hour in 2025. Skywatchers can report fireballs to the American Meteor Society. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be closed on Monday with employees working remotely as the organization deals with the aftermath of Fridays shooting. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Elizabeth Soda, a CDC worker, shared photos of the bullet holes on the floor where she works. She expressed her immediate concern for her colleagues after the shooting. Im overwhelmed, Soda told Channel 2s Eryn Rogers. Im extremely grateful for the first responders, but Im so heartbroken and so angry that were even in this position. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators said 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White targeted the CDC, reportedly blaming the COVID-19 vaccine for his health issues. Agents have not released any photos of White as they continue to investigate. DeKalb County Officer David Rose died after he was shot responding to the scene. The county shared the link to a GoFundMe organized to provide support to Roses wife and children. RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday afternoon, current and former CDC workers gathered in Piedmont Park to express their fears and concerns following the shooting. Many voiced their apprehension about returning to work. According to ABC News, White believed the COVID-19 vaccine was making him sick and causing depression. He thought the vaccines were killing him and that people needed to know the truth, said a neighbor who didnt want to be identified, adding that she didnt agree with him, but would listen. Health experts continue to emphasize the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccines. Some individuals at the gathering suggested that Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s vocal skepticism of vaccines may have contributed to the violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The gentleman who opened fire on the CDC had some really deeply held beliefs about a COVID-19 vaccine, beliefs weve heard our own Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy repeat over the last several years since before he was even in this position, Aryn Backus, a former federal employee, told Channel 2 Action News. We just want to shed light that those words have had consequences at this point, a police officer died heroically protecting the people at the CDC. Kennedy did express his support for CDC workers on Saturday. According to an email sent to ABC News, cleanup and repairs are underway, with additional roving security teams, increased patrols from Atlanta police, and support from Emory Universitys security staff. Staff directly affected by the lockdown are encouraged to take administrative leave. An all-staff meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 12. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is calling fallen police officer David Rose a "hero" after a gunman attacked four CDC buildings on Aug. 8. That gunman has now been named by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation as Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw, GA. "We at @CDCgov are heartbroken by todays attack on our Roybal Campus, which remains on lockdown as authorities investigate the shooting," CDC Director Susan Monarez wrote on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CNN is reporting that the shooter "appeared to target CDC headquarters" in the active shooting. The gunman is dead, Atlanta police previously confirmed. Greg Padrick, the interim chief of the DeKalb Police Department, confirmed in a news conference that the officer had died, saying Rose had "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." What Was the Shooter's Motive? Reports Say He May Have Blamed the COVID-19 Vaccine Officer David Rose, 33,lost his life today responding to the incident at CDC headquarters in GA. Officer Rose was with the DeKalb County Police Department since September 2024. Officer David Rose leaves behind his 2 children & his wife, who is pregnant with their 3rd child. pic.twitter.com/mUFYA2jU6e Southern FFA Family (@FFAFamily) August 9, 2025 Authorities have not released the shooter's motive. However, the New York Post reported that the shooter "blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for an apparent illness." According to CNN, police "are operating under the theory that the gunman was either sick or believed that he was sick and blamed the illness on the Covid-19 vaccine." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Post wrote that "law enforcement sources told CNN the shooter was possibly sick, attributing the supposed ailment to the COVID-19 vaccine," attributing this information to "police interviews with the suspects family." The Gunman Opened Fire on the CDC Buildings, the Director Wrote Initially, it appeared that the shooting was targeting Emory University. However, Monarez revealed that the gunman opened fire on CDC buildings. "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 wrote. The officer has not been named. 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 (@CDCMonarez) August 9, 2025 "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," she wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are actively coordinating with federal, state, and local partners to fully investigate the shooter and this tragic crime. We are deeply grateful to Governor Kemp, Georgia residents, and the American people for standing with us during this difficult time." The shooter's name has not been released. 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 in a post on X. The FBI will offer them our full support. The slain police officer had a pregnant wife and two kids, according to CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to CNN, the shooter had "two hand guns, one rifle and one shotgun" and was wearing a surgical mask. The gunman 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," Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said, according to CNN. CDC Shooter Patrick Joseph White May Have Blamed COVID-19 Vaccine: Report first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 9, 2025 The Brief Authorities say the suspect in Fridays shooting near CDC headquarters had expressed concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine but made no prior threats to the agency. National surveys show rising belief in vaccine "misinformation," including false claims about deaths, DNA alteration, and safety risks. Health experts say the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the rare risks, and misinformation on social media continues to fuel hesitancy. DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - Authorities and others say a man who opened fire near the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions headquarters on Friday afternoon had previously expressed concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine. What we know According to law enforcement, the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw, targeted a cluster of buildings in the area. Officials have reportedly said White believed the vaccine was responsible for his health problems. The CDC has been at the center of conspiracy theories and misinformation related to the federal response to the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ORIGINAL STORY: Emory University Atlanta shooting latest: DeKalb County officer killed, shooter dead On Saturday, CDC leadership told employees that investigators found White was "very disturbed" and had sought mental health services in recent weeks. In a recording of an all-staff call reviewed by The New York Times, officials said there had been no prior threats made against the agency. CDC Director Susan Monarez, confirmed to the position last month, reportedly addressed employees in a message Friday night. "The shooting has understandably brought fear, anger and worry to all of us," she wrote. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also issued a statement Saturday morning, acknowledging "how shaken our public health colleagues feel today." We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at CDCs Atlanta campus that took the life of officer David Rose. We stand with his wife and three children and the entire CDC family. We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today. No one should face violence while Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) August 9, 2025 Public misconceptions about COVID-19 vaccines While officials have not confirmed that Fridays incident was motivated by vaccine-related beliefs, recent research points to growing public misconceptions about COVID-19 vaccines. Dig deeper A July 2024 survey conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania found an increase in Americans who believe "misinformation" about the vaccines. Among the 1,496 adults surveyed nationwide, 28% incorrectly believed the vaccines have caused thousands of deaths, up from 22% in June 2021. The percentage of respondents who knew that claim was false fell from 66% to 55% in the same period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The survey also found that 22% believed it is safer to contract COVID-19 than to be vaccinated more than double the 10% who held that belief shortly after the vaccine rollout in 2021. Additionally, 15% incorrectly thought COVID-19 vaccines alter human DNA, compared to 8% in 2021. "Belief in these three misconceptions is associated with increased reluctance to vaccinate," said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center. She added that with updated vaccines available and COVID-19 infection remaining a health risk, there is a need to increase public awareness of the benefits of vaccination. Medical experts continue to dispute several common myths about COVID-19 vaccines. According to the Mayo Clinic, there is no evidence linking the vaccines to cancer or making cancer more difficult to treat. The vaccines used in the United States are not associated with a higher risk of stroke or blood clots. In rare instances, some people have experienced side effects such as myocarditis, pericarditis, or, in the case of the now-discontinued Johnson & Johnson vaccine, a rare blood clot disorder known as thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome. Health officials emphasize that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks for most people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Columbia University researchers have found that vaccine misinformation has spread rapidly on social media platforms, contributing to increased vaccine hesitancy. A review of prior studies, published in the journal BMJ, concluded that while some interventions have reduced the spread of misinformation online, there is limited evidence on whether those measures influence actual vaccination behavior. FOX 5 Atlanta spoke to a neighbor of White's over the weekend who said that the suspected shooter had discussed his concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine. RELATED: Emory University, CDC Atlanta shooter: Neighbors talk about Patrick Joseph White Politicization of the CDC What they're saying Democratic Georgia Sen. Jason Esteves, who is running to replace Republic Gov. Brian Kemp in 2026, has linked the shooting to Trump administration's layoffs and funding cuts targeting the CDC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Esteves released the following statement: "CDC employees work tirelessly to keep Georgians safe and ensure our public health stays in check. Yet in the last year, these hardworking men and women have faced reckless mass firings, funding cuts, the politicization of their public service, and now targeted gun violence. "It shouldnt be this way, and its past time our federal and state leaders step up to protect and support our CDC and public health workers. To the dedicated public servants at the CDC: I will always stand with you and be a vocal advocate for your safety, your livelihoods, and the critical work that you do for Georgia and across the globe." Fired But Fighting, a coalition of fired employees and allies, is calling for the immediate resignation of Secretary Kennedy, saying he 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." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RELATED: CDC staff working remote Monday; Union calls for more Senators Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock, both of whom have been outspoken critics regarding the cuts at the CDC, also issued statements: My statement on today's shooting at the CDC: pic.twitter.com/tbPEHXr1Eo Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (@SenatorWarnock) August 9, 2025 Former Surgeon General Weighs In What they're saying Purdue University professor and former U.S. surgeon general Jerome Adams called the shooting a "dire reflection of ever-escalating threats public health workers face in a climate increasingly shaped by misinformation, politicization, and inflammatory rhetoric," according to STAT News. Adams also called out Kennedy for taking "more than 18 hours" to issue a public statement condemning the violent act and said "When influential leaders dismiss decades of rigorous scientific work, they erode public confidence and embolden those primed to view health professionals as enemies rather than protectors." Yesterday on @FaceTheNation I addressed the tragic CDC shooting and HHS Secretary RFK Jr.s decision to cut $500M in mRNA research. As a former Surgeon General, Im alarmed by these events and their impact on public health. Heres why. 1/5 https://t.co/3gRJYRbkwe Jerome Adams (@JeromeAdamsMD) August 11, 2025 Ongoing Investigation The CDC shooting investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not confirmed a direct link between the suspects reported beliefs and the attack. Additionally, the GBI, who is in charge of the investigation, has not released a photograph of the suspect. The Brief On Saturday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation named the shooter as Joseph Patrick White, 30, from Kennesaw. On Sunday, a law enforcement official told the Associated Press that White blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal. Neighbors of White also told FOX 5 that he had spoken about COVID-19 and believed it was causing him health issues. ATLANTA - Two days after an active shooter situation took place near the CDC and Emory University, more is being learned about the suspected shooter and his motives. What we know On Saturday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation named the shooter as Joseph Patrick White, 30, of Kennesaw. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, a law enforcement official told the Associated Press that White blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal. The suspects father contacted police and identified his son as the possible shooter, the law enforcement official told the AP. The father said his son had been upset over the death of his dog and had also become fixated on the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the official. Neighbors of White also told FOX 5 that he had spoken about COVID-19 and believed it was causing him health issues. FOX 5 attempted to speak to the suspect's family but was told they did not want to comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A voicemail left by the Associated Press at a phone number listed publicly for Whites family was not returned Saturday. What we don't know The AP did not release the name of the law enforcement official who spoke with them. The backstory The shooting began just before 5 p.m. on Friday near the CDC and Emory University. The CDC's director said four buildings were hit by bullets. DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was killed while responding to the shooting. White died inside a CVS just across from the CDC campus. It is unclear if he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound or was shot by police. What's next The GBI is investigating the shooting and released a statement that reads, in part, "There is extensive evidence to collect due to the complex scene. Numerous interviews are being conducted. This investigation will take an extended period of time." The Source Information in this article came from the Associated Press and past FOX 5 reporting. The Brief CDC employees are demanding stronger security, counseling services, and action against vaccine misinformation before returning to work following a shooting that killed DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose outside the agencys Atlanta campus. Investigators say suspected gunman Patrick Joseph White, 30, of Kennesaw, was armed with five guns, tried to enter the CDC campus, then opened fire across the street before being found dead; his father reported he was depressed and fixated on the COVID-19 vaccine. Rose, a U.S. Marine veteran and top police academy graduate, leaves behind two children with a third on the way; a GoFundMe has been launched to support his family. DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. - Workers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta are calling for stronger security and support before returning to the agencys Clifton Road campus, days after a shooting outside the facility left a DeKalb County police officer dead. RELATED STORIES Officer David Rose killed What we know Officer David Rose, 33, was shot and killed Friday, Aug. 7, while responding to a gunman who had opened fire near the headquarters for the CDC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Georgia Bureau of Investigation identified the shooter as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw. Authorities said White was armed with five guns, including a long rifle, and attempted to enter the CDC campus before crossing the street to a CVS, where he began firing dozens of rounds. Some CDC buildings were damaged in the gunfire. Rose was shot immediately upon exiting his police vehicle during the response and was pronounced dead at Emory University Hospital. Police later found White dead from a gunshot wound. The GBI have not yet said if White was killed by a law enforcement officer or if he took his own life. RELATED: Emory University Atlanta shooting latest: DeKalb County officer killed, shooter dead Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to The Associated Press, law enforcement sources said Whites father told investigators his son was depressed over the death of his dog and had become fixated on the COVID-19 vaccine, which he believed made him ill and suicidal. At this time, there doesn't appear to be much information available about the alleged shooter and the GBI has not released a photograph of White. RELATED STORIES Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A growing memorial for Rose sits outside the CDC gates, where employees and others have been stopping to pay their respects. Many said they are grateful more people were not hurt but remain shaken by the attack. CDC employees demands What they're saying The union representing CDC employees is now demanding increased campus security, counseling services for staff, and efforts from CDC and Health and Human Services leadership to combat vaccine misinformation. "We were already demoralized the staff defunded and demoralized," one representative said. Officer Rose was the proud father of two, and his wife is currently expecting their third child. To his loved ones, he was more than a police officer he was a devoted husband, a loving father, and a steadfast son, brother and friend. Known for his courage and loyalty, he was always ready to help when someone was in need. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "David was my rock, my best friend, and the love of my life," Mrs. Rose said. "He was deeply committed to his family and to serving others. He was fearless and loyal, and an amazing husband and father. While we are devastated by his loss, the outpouring of support from DeKalb County and across the nation means more than words can express. Thank you for standing with our family during this heartbreaking time." "Officer Rose served with honor, dedication and an unwavering commitment to the safety of our community," DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said. "His loss is a profound tragedy, and we extend our deepest condolences to his wife, children and loved ones. We stand with them during this unimaginable time." RELATED STORIES Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Rose had close ties to the Emory University community, which is located next to the CDC. Rose was taken to hospital at Emory University after he was shot and it was there that he died. Rose's mother reportedly worked at Emory University Hospital in the intensive care unit for two decades and Rose knew the hospital and the area well. Rose, who served in the U.S. Marines before graduating at the top of his class from the police academy in March, believed that being a police officer was a calling and he joined the DeKalb County Police Department because he wanted to serve and to protect. He also talked about being the person who runs towards danger when others run away. Funeral and memorial service details for Rose, who leaves behind a pregnant wife and young children, have not yet been announced. GoFundMe campaigns for family What you can do In response to overwhelming requests from across the nation, Officer Roses family has established a GoFundMe to provide ongoing support for his wife and children as they navigate the difficult road ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, a GoFundMe has been established for Rose's oldest daughter named Alyana. Public invited to leave condolences Big picture view Rose was the fourth law enforcement officer from Georgia to be killed in the line of duty this year and Georgia is now third in the nation for number of officer deaths, behind California (10) and Texas (5), according to the Officer Down Memorial Page. The DeKalb County Police Department is inviting the public to stop by their headquarters in West Exchange Place in Tucker and help honor Officer Rose. The Brief CDC staff across the country will be able to work from home, according to staffers who spoke with FOX 5. Now, a union that represents CDC employees is calling on the agency to make changes before bringing them back into the building. Leaders at the agency said safety is a top priority. ATLANTA - CDC staff across the country will be able to work from home, according to staffers who spoke with FOX 5. Bullets hit CDC building What we know The employees, who didn't want to be identified because they were worried about retaliation, said the agency was letting them work from home due to the shooting that took place at the agency's Atlanta headquarters on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The newly confirmed CDC Director said the shooter hit four of the agency's buildings during the active shooting situation that caused lockdowns at the agency, Emory University and surrounding DeKalb County schools. A CDC employee who did not want to be identified shared these images with FOX 5 of bullet holes in the glass of the main campus building during an active shooter along Clifton Road in Atlanta on Aug. 8, 2025. (FOX 5 Atlanta obtained permission from the rights holder) CDC workers processing shooting What they're saying The workers said they're processing what happened outside their building. "It's a lot. Still processing everything," they said. "People are, you know, grateful to not have been here or that we didn't get hurt and people are very sad that someone even felt the need to do this." They said this adds to an already uneasy period in the agency's history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We were all already demoralized, de-staffed, de-funded and demoralized," they said. "We're hoping that we'll telework for a while and people are going to take leave that need to to process everything." They said things will eventually resemble normalcy. "I know we'll come together and get through this. Because, ultimately, to do what we do you have to be resilient." Union representing CDC workers reacts to shooting What they're saying Now, a union that represents CDC employees is calling on the agency to make changes before bringing them back into the building. "This tragedy was not random and it compounds months of mistreatment, neglect, and vilification that CDC staff have endured. The deliberate targeting of CDC through this violent act is deeply disturbing, completely unacceptable, and an attack on every public servant," the AFGE Local 2883 said in a statement. "It was motivated by vaccine disinformation, which continues to pose a dangerous threat to public health and safety." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Some of you were trapped in various buildings throughout campus well into the late evening hours, including the 90+ children locked down inside CDCs Clifton School," the union said. "The terror, the uncertainty, and the trauma of what happened, as well as what could have happened, are still very present. Trauma doesnt end once the lockdown is lifted." The union said it is demanding the following for its members: Fair and comprehensive telework policies across all CDC campuses and divisions, recognizing that the threat and fear extend beyond one campus. Access to trauma-informed mental health resources. CDCs Employee Assistance Program (EAP), while a valuable resource, is understaffed and intended for short-term assistance only. CDC staff need access to meaningful, ongoing care. A clear and unequivocal stance in condemning vaccine disinformation by CDC and HHS leadership. Their leadership is critical in reinforcing public trust and ensuring that accurate, science-based information prevails. This condemnation is necessary to help prevent violence against scientists that may be incited by such disinformation. Perimeter security on all campuses until a full investigation is completed and findings are shared transparently with staff. Complete transparency around building repairs, reopening timelines, and safety upgrades. A seat at the table for 2883 when decisions are being made about employee safety. As CDC employees ourselves, we can represent the voices and concerns of affected employees. Clear, compassionate communication from leadership, with space for staff to voice their thoughts, concerns, and experiences. Congressional action to end the reckless politicization of federal employees and hold leaders accountable for rhetoric that incites hostility and vilifies public servants. Congressional support to provide dedicated funding for workplace safety upgrades and comprehensive trauma recovery programs for federal workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can read the union's full statement here. CDC leaders react to shooting The other side The Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., released a statement following the shooting that reads: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at CDCs Atlanta campus that took the life of officer David Rose. We stand with his wife and three children and the entire CDC family. We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today. No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others. 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." We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at CDCs Atlanta campus that took the life of officer David Rose. We stand with his wife and three children and the entire CDC family. We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today. No one should face violence while Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) August 9, 2025 CDC Director Susan Monarez released a statement that read, in part: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "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. We are deeply grateful to Governor Kemp, Georgia residents, and the American people for standing with us during this difficult time." 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 The Source Information in this article came from a statement sent to FOX 5 News and past FOX 5 reporting. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staffers are voicing frustration over Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s past vaccine comments, following Fridays shooting at the agencys headquarters in Atlanta that left one police officer dead. Although the motive of the suspected shooter Patrick White, 30, from Kennesaw, Georgia remains unknown, he told a neighbor that he believed the Covid vaccines had made him sick, a source told NBC News on the condition of anonymity. Kennedy visited CDCs headquarters earlier Monday, where security led him through campus, pointing out shattered windows across multiple buildings, according to statement from the Department of Health and Human Services. Later, Kennedy met with the widow of the killed police officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Employees were instructed to work remotely this week. A virtual only all-staff meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, although it isnt clear if Kennedy will be in attendance. The shooting took place near the campuses of both the CDC, which includes an on-campus day care center, and Emory University. For some employees, the shooting highlighted growing hostility toward public health officials, which they feel has been shaped by Kennedys long history of spreading vaccine misinformation, including the Covid vaccine. Law enforcement near the CDC headquarters, in Atlanta, during an active shooter incident on Aug. 8. (Elijah Nouvelage / Getty Images) In 2021, Kennedy filed a citizens petition requesting that the Food and Drug Administration revoke the authorization of the Covid vaccines. The same year, he described the Covid shot as the deadliest vaccine ever made. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just last week, Kennedy terminated 22 contracts focused on developing mRNA vaccines the same technology used to develop Pfizers and Modernas Covid shots. In an announcement on X, Kennedy claimed mRNA technology poses more risks than benefits for these respiratory viruses. In an emailed statement, Andrew Nixon, an HHS spokesperson, said Kennedy has unequivocally condemned the horrific attack and remains fully committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of CDC employees. This is a time to stand in solidarity with our public health workforce, Nixon said, not a moment for the media to exploit a tragedy for political gain. Kennedy has not yet spoken publicly about vaccine misinformation that may have contributed to the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Numerous studies have shown that the Covid vaccines are safe and effective. Theres a lot of misinformation, a lot of really dangerous rhetoric thats currently being spread by the current administration, that makes us seem like villains, that makes us seem like our work is setting out to hurt people, CDC employee Elizabeth Soda said in an interview. So its not at all surprising, right, that people are going to listen to our leaders. A scapegoat Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, said the Covid vaccine has become an easy scapegoat a symbol of all the losses the pandemic inflicted on people, including loss of life, physical and mental health and personal freedoms. The vaccine is something you could focus on, instead of a general feeling of loss, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even before the shooting at the CDC, there were multiple threats against Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and other public-health experts. Chin-Hong said he received multiple threatening emails a day at the peak of the pandemic. These days, he gets emails full of hate about once a week. Usually, he reads the first line and then deletes them. Still, he feels personally unsafe often because he gives public talks about vaccines, he said. As a public health expert, he thinks of that as a duty. The CDC shooting heightened those fears. The CDC incident really makes me feel more personally at risk, he said. In employee group chats, staffers are also voicing frustration with Kennedy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People feel like this is a natural progression when you spend years denigrating science and public health, spread misinformation about vaccines and publicly attack federal workers, said one CDC employee who was granted anonymity for fear of repercussions. Folks, myself included, are pissed off, the source added. An employee at the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the CDC, said its not lost on them that Kennedy has demonized our work. In an email obtained by NBC News, Kennedy told CDC staff on Saturday that he was praying for the entire agency, adding that the shooting was deeply unsettling, especially for those working in Atlanta. We want everyone to know, youre not alone, Kennedy wrote. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Aug. 11 (UPI) -- The union representing thousands of workers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is calling on the Trump administration to condemn vaccine disinformation after a gunman killed a police officer in a shooting targeting the CDC headquarters in Georgia. The suspected gunman behind the Friday shooting was identified Saturday as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White. He was shot dead by police after opening fire at an Emory Point CVS, with police suspecting he targeted the nearby CDC headquarters over health problems he blamed on the COVID-19 vaccine. The American Federation of Government Employees Local 2883, which represents more than 2,000 CDC workers, said in a statement Sunday that the attack "was not random and it compounds months of mistreatment, neglect and vilification that CDC staff have endured." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The deliberate targeting of CDC through this violent act is deeply disturbing, completely unacceptable and an attack on every public servant," the union said. "Early reports indicate the gunman was motivated by vaccine disinformation, which continues to pose a dangerous threat to public health and safety." To its members, it said it is advocating for "a clear and unequivocal stance in condemning disinformation" by the CDC and the leadership of Health and Human Services, which is run by vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "This leadership is critical in reinforcing public trust and ensuring that accurate, science-based information prevails," the union said. "This condemnation is necessary to help prevent violence against scientists that may be incited by such disinformation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooting occurred just days after Kennedy announced that HHS was moving to terminate $500 million in contracts to develop vaccines using mRNA technology, which was used to develop the COVID-19 vaccine. COVID-19 vaccines are estimated to have saved more than 2 million lives worldwide. The American Medical Association supports mRNA vaccine research. Despite the support from the medical community, Kennedy claimed "the technology poses more risks than benefits." "HHS supports safe, effective vaccines for every American who wants them, that's why we're moving beyond the limitations of mRNA for respiratory viruses," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The AMA, in response, urged the Trump administration to reverse course, and to continue "vital research to improve mRNA vaccines, not throw the baby out with the bathwater by effectively preventing research from moving forward." The union said the shooting had CDC employees, including more than 90 children, trapped in buildings throughout the CDC campus late into Friday. It said in its Sunday statement that staff should not be required to return to work until the facility is repaired. The CDC campus was reportedly damaged by bullet holes and shattered windows. "Staff should not be required to work next to bullet holes," it said. "Forcing a return under these conditions risks re-traumatizing staff by exposing them to the reminders of the horrific shooting they endured." SANDUSKY, Ohio (WJW) Cedar Point evacuated and shut down its Power Tower attraction on Sunday evening after a cable detached from the ride vehicle, a park spokesperson confirmed to FOX 8 News. The rides safety system performed as designed, the ride vehicle returned to the loading position and all guests exited the ride safely, park spokesperson Tony Clark told FOX 8 News in an email. Ohio man wins for a third time playing same scratch-off game Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A video posted to YouTube appears to show the cable lying on the ground after the ride was shut down. The ride is expected to remain closed while the park performs a thorough review and inspection, Clark said. A Ohio Department of Agriculture spokesperson told FOX 8 that Cedar Point contacted them about the incident around 8 p.m. on Sunday. ODAs Amusement Ride Safety Division issued a stop operation order on the ride that will be released upon a complete reinspection of the ride, the spokesperson said. No injuries have been reported to ODA at this time, the spokesperson confirmed. Ohio woman wins $2M but wont get even half the cash Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 300-foot-tall vertical drop attraction stands right in the middle of the park. It opened in 1998, according to the parks timeline. Power Tower lets riders choose whether to be propelled upward or downward at speeds of up to 60 mph. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Bottles more than 20 years old -- encrusted with marine organisms and worn from long exposure to the sea -- were among the debris collected by the "Cientificos de la Basura, or Trash Scientists, network at Chile's Universidad Catolica del Norte for a study aimed at determining the origins of plastic waste on Latin American beaches. After two years of research, the results showed that 59% of the waste analyzed came from the same country where it was found and that Central America's beaches have become the most polluted in the Pacific Ocean by plastic debris -- primarily bottles and loose caps. The study, published in the Journal of Cleaner Production, also found that coastal communities and beaches in Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama had the highest levels of contamination, driven mainly by high domestic beverage consumption and shortcomings in waste management. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, on oceanic islands such as Rapa Nui in Chile and the Galapagos in Ecuador, most plastic bottles came from multiple countries, including Asian brands -- pointing to transoceanic pollution and discharges from vessels such as cruise ships and industrial fishing boats. The study focused on plastic beverage bottles because of their abundance and the ease of tracking and collecting them. They often retain key identifying features -- such as product codes, brand names, manufacturing locations and dates -- that help trace their origin and transport routes. Of all the items analyzed, 26% were manufactured by The Coca-Cola Co., followed by PepsiCo and Grupo Aje, a Peruvian multinational that produces and distributes beverages. "Since local production plants of multinational companies and single-use plastic bottles are the main contributors to this type of pollution, switching to reusable bottles with a standardized format across the region could substantially reduce plastic pollution along the Pacific coast," the report said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The study brought together more than 1,000 volunteers from 10 countries on the eastern Pacific coast of Latin America, from Chile to Mexico. They formed teams that received training and conducted standardized sampling at 145 sites in 38 cities, including 92 mainland beaches and 15 oceanic islands, collecting and cataloging more than 21,000 plastic bottles and caps using rigorous citizen science protocols. "Our results show that plastic bottle pollution is a major environmental challenge that threatens natural ecosystems, and that its reduction and prevention require contributions from governments, producers and communities in all countries, both regionally and globally," said Ostin Garces Ordonez, the study's author. Plastic pollution on beaches is not limited to visible waste such as bottles or containers. Much of the problem is made worse by the presence of microplastics -- tiny particles created when this debris breaks down under the effects of sunlight, waves and wind. An estimated 1.5 million to 4.5 million tons of microplastics enter the ocean each year, where they can be ingested by marine organisms, enter the food chain and eventually reach human consumption. These tiny particles have been detected in every ecosystem on the planet -- from the deepest ocean trenches to Arctic ice -- and more recently in the air we breathe, drinking water and everyday foods such as salt and fish. A schools first few days typically center on a nervous cohort of pupils dispersed through winding hallways each eager for what the next 180 days hold. But for many Central Florida school districts facing declining enrollment, these days also represent the chance to pitch the virtues of public education to local families when an increasing number are choosing alternate paths. Theres a lot of opportunities in this area, Maria Salamanca, an Orange County School Board member, said at a welcome event for parents at Lake Nona-area Luminary Elementary School, which opens its doors for the first time Monday. But if youre a parent, you dont know that until you walk in and talk to the teachers and see the program offerings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the Aug. 1 gathering, Salamanca, fellow school board member Angie Gallo and Superintendent Maria Vazquez walked the halls of Luminary greeting excited parents and community members. Opening a new school in the county has been a regular occurrence since voters passed the half-cent sales tax in 2002 28 new campuses in the last 10 years. But by next year, Orange County Public Schools will defer new school construction in the face of declining enrollment. This school year, OCPS anticipates about 3,100 fewer students as families opt for state-funded private school scholarships. The state expanded its school voucher program in 2023, making all students regardless of family income eligible for scholarships. Voucher use has risen dramatically since then while public school enrollment has dipped. And as enrollment dips, so does state funding or public schools which has long been distributed on a per-student basis. The district stands to lose about $27 million in state funding as a result. Neighboring Seminole County Public Schools and Lake County Public Schools each project to lose about 1,500 students next year, with a $13 million and $8 million funding loss, respectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In all, Florida could see about 70,000 fewer public school students this year. Osceola Countys school district, however, projects a 2,600-student increase bucking the state trend. Fighting the trend, Orange hired an outside firm to recruit families back to public schools and Seminole has advertised to students outside of the county. At a news conference Friday morning, Vazquez said the firm had lured a few hundred families back to Orange schools over summer with more concrete numbers expected a few weeks into the school year. Outside of hiring recruiters, she said the district is trying to do a better job listening to parents feedback at the school level. She said front office staff at schools have received customer service training to help families feel more welcome when they walk in the doors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First impressions matter, Vazquez said. In Seminole, the districts ePathways program offers students opportunities to earn certifications in nursing, welding and aviation among 50 other programs something that sets it apart from private school counterparts. The nursing classrooms, which will teach about 700 magnet students this year, resemble a hospital floor with beds and a nurses station placed to simulate working in the field. Training mannequins are tucked into a few beds to help students learn how to treat patients. And Monday, students in Seminole High Schools nursing magnet program will see the back of an ambulance parked in their classroom. The full-scale simulation is a new resource for students that Shawn Gard-Harrold, the districts assistant superintendent for ePathways, said was unlike anything found outside public schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a unique and awesome choice for our students, Gard-Harrold said. Laura Permenter, principal at Luminary Elementary, said she and her 40 teachers have been working closely with their district to prepare for Monday. Im really proud to open today. I feel like were ready and were ready to welcome our families, Permenter said. Stacia Oliver, a fourth-grade teacher at Luminary, came to the new school from nearby Eagle Creek Elementary. She said that while Monday is the first day for students, its also a first day for the schools entire staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You come in, you follow their rules and you follow their expectations or whatever they already have there. But here, I get to help create it, Oliver said. She met some of the schools new students at the Aug. 1 welcome event. Priscilla Carlos Rivera, a rising first-grader, is one of those students. Priscilla Carlos, who couldnt help but sprint up and down the unblemished hallways, gave a resounding yes when asked if she liked her new school. She attended a private kindergarten but her mother, Karen Rivera, said she was thrilled to see a new public elementary school open nearby. Most of the kids in our community are coming here. Im very excited about it, Rivera said as two of her neighbors walked past and greeted the family. WEST PALM BEACH The United Civic Organization, a nonprofit that oversees condominium associations at Century Village, has called on the Palm Beach County Building Division to address unsafe conditions at a building in the sprawling complex near West Palm Beach. UCO advises the 309 separate building associations that make up the community, which has 8,000 units and more than 10,000 residents. Century Village is along Okeechobee Boulevard in an unincorporated area of Palm Beach County. It has been more than a year since two units, Coventry H 172 and 180, were deemed "unsafe for occupancy" because of severe damage from a water leak that may have lasted for years. Catastrophic damage was sustained to a ground-floor residence, making it unfit for anyone to live in it. The upstairs residence where the leak occurred is also uninhabitable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The units have since been gutted, but structural repairs have not been made. The building is being propped up by temporary shoring posts. A county magistrate has ordered that permanent repairs be undertaken. On July 18, UCO emailed county officials complaining that the Coventry H Condo Association has yet to sign a contract with a general contractor to undertake the needed repairs. UCO is concerned that the building itself is structurally unsafe. There are six residences in the rest of the building that are occupied by year-round residents. The Century Village building in West Palm Beach supported by posts following a flood in an upstairs unit that caused structural damage. Officials at the complex have called on county building officials to force the association to make needed repairs. A water leak that possibly existed for years caused catastrophic damage to a downstairs unit last year in Century Village in West Palm Beach. The unit has since been gutted and the debris removed. UCO and the property management company, Seacrest Services, say they have advised the condo association that the current conditions pose a life-safety risk. UCO expects to start improvements to a nearby canal soon, and the heavy equipment that will be used could create vibrations that will destabilize the temporary shoring posts at the building, according to UCO spokesperson Don Foster. "We cannot wait for them to make these repairs," Foster said. "The canal project needs to be done. That is why we want this addressed as soon as possible. County magistrate has ordered repairs be completed in November Cindy Hoskin, deputy director of the county's Planning, Zoning and Building Department, said an unsafe-structures inspector performed an inspection July 15 and determined that there is no immediate safety risk. She noted that the two residences deemed to be unsafe for habitation continue to be unoccupied. The magistrate hearing resulted in a Nov. 6 compliance deadline to obtain the permits and perform the required work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If the responsible parties do not comply by that deadline, fines will accrue until compliance is achieved," she noted, adding that it is common for a magistrate to grant several months for compliance when plans need to be prepared, contractors scheduled and structural work performed. CENTURY VILLAGE NEWS: Crews clear homeless encampment near Century Village after residents report car break-ins CENTURY VILLAGE NEWS: Florida Bar dismisses complaint alleging Century Village board member illegally practiced law CENTURY VILLAGE NEWS: Plan to convert West Palm hotel into homeless housing draws outrage from Century Village Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hoskin said the condo association has selected a general contractor to obtain the required permits and repair the damage once the construction plans are completed. Foster doubts that the work will be finished before the November deadline. "We will continue to monitor this case," Hoskin said. Unsafe buildings at the Century Village have been an issue for some time. In December, UCO told county officials that its enforcement orders were being ignored. County officials say there has been too much use of unlicensed contractors doing work at the complex without obtaining required building permits. Much of it has been done by investors. Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and issues impacting homeowner associations. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Century Village to Palm Beach County: Building is unsafe to live in Behind every great fortune there lies a great crime, wrote Honore De Balzac. In Keir Starmers world it seems to work the other way around: behind the great crime of the Chagos deal there lies an almost unfathomably colossal fortune. Thanks to the dogged reporting of this newspaper we now know that the sordid Chagos deal will, by the Government Actuary Departments admission, cost British taxpayers no less than 34.7 billion. That is more than ten times the figure originally touted by the Prime Minister. Even by Rachel Reevess standards that makes for a staggering rounding error. Im afraid it really confirms the Governments prior public statements on the costs of the deal were never anything more than a pack of lies. I should know: Ive tried to obtain these figures since at least 28 October last year, when I tabled a written question on the matter in Parliament: To ask His Majestys Government how much they will pay per annum to lease Diego Garcia; and what is the expected total cost of the financial support that the UK has agreed to give to Mauritius, including any cost of annual payments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few weeks later a non-answer arrived: Details of financial arrangements are held in the confidential exchange of letters that accompanies the draft treaty, which we do not plan to make public unless compelled to by parliament in due course. What other gruesome financial revelations are buried within those letters, masked by endless gobbets of Whitehallese, shamelessly concealed from those of us who must pay the price? Those documents and the complete costs must now be published in full. I honestly believe that if such an absurd and costly scandal as the Chagos debacle had been presided over by an administration other than this shameless Labour junta impregnable with its planet-sized majority in the House of Commons then the entire UK government would have been at serious risk of collapse. From the moment Starmer came to office, the Chagos subplot has been a mind-boggling story of deranged self-harm and ministerial insouciance at best, malfeasance and deeply suspect political conduct at worst. Its patently obvious to any British taxpayer that 34.7 billion of our money would be much better spent on other things: 10 aircraft carriers for example, reversing the whole burden of recent hikes in business taxation, or increasing the schools budget by 50 per cent. So gargantuan is this quantum of public spending, if properly directed and managed, it could make a significant and lasting difference to daily life for working Brits. Instead Labour is inexplicably and voluntarily gifting it to the state of Mauritius not just now, but for decades to come. Much of the costs of this deal are simply an enormous appropriation of British taxpayers money into the exchequer of a third country. It represents a tax cut for ordinary Mauritians of staggering proportions. In June, after Starmers deal was signed, Mauritiuss Prime Minister announced that 80 per cent of Mauritians will be taken out of income tax altogether. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mauritiuss sovereign debt is now effectively being paid down with the corporation tax and Vat bills of struggling plumbers in Leicestershire and shopkeepers in Cornwall. Labours deal massively improved Mauritiuss public sector debt position and will upgrade its sovereign credit rating. They say Keir Starmer isnt very good at his job, but he is, by some distance, the single most effective finance minister that Mauritius has ever had. The Chagos scandal is the paradigmatic example of the governing lanyard class failing to deliver for the people they are paid public sector salaries to serve. The UK is faced with spurious legal, territorial and financial claims all the time. It should dismiss them out of hand. The UK is constantly criticised in multilateral fora for an entire constellation of reasons many of them entirely spurious. The duty of any British minister or official, of whatever political hue, should be to be able to cut through this nonsense and prioritise the UK national interest above all, especially when it comes to defence and security. No doubt an enormous golden statue of Keir Starmer soon to be erected in Port Louis will serve as a constant reminder of this elite failure. 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 woman from Champaign, Ill. who was arrested in Kewanee in December 2024 with meth, cannabis, a club and hundreds of dollars in cash has entered a plea in the case. Rochelle Sampson, now 43, appeared with her attorney in Henry County Court in Cambridge on August 8. She knowingly and voluntarily entered a negotiated plea with the court, and it was accepted. Rochelle Sampson (Kewanee Police Department) The court found Sampson guilty of a count of possession of meth between 100 400 grams. Charges of delivery of meth between 100-400 grams, carrying a knife with intent, driving on a revoked license and aiding and abetting original certificate/sale/title were dropped at sentencing. Sampson was sentenced to 10 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, with credit for 220 days served, followed by a year and a half of mandatory supervised release. She was fined $75 plus assessments, but the assessments were waived by the court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sampson was arrested in Kewanee on December 31 as part of a traffic stop. Sampson was originally arrested for driving a motor vehicle on a revoked license. Officers searched her vehicle and found just over six ounces of methamphetamine, packaging materials, scales, cannabis, a bludgeon club and $757 in cash. She was arrested on charges of possession of meth, possession with meth with the intent to deliver (100-400 grams), possession of an open title, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon and driving with a revoked license. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. (Shibuya crossing) Swap step-counting for a 30-minute walking method that burns more calories, boosts endurance and actually lowers disease risk. Its called interval walking training (IWT), also known as Japanese walking on social media. Heres how it works: Walk fast for three minutes (about 70% of your max effort) Walk slowly for three minutes (around 40% of your capacity) Repeat this five times for a total of 30 minutes Think of it as a HIIT workout but with walkingand no gym required. Originally developed by Professor Hiroshi Nose and Associate Professor Shizue Masuki at Shinshu University, this method has been trending on TikTok and Instagram because its short, approachable and delivers big results. (crosswalk) Why Is It Better Than Just Walking 8,000 Steps? Studies from Japan show IWT doesnt just equal regular walkingit outperforms it for improving health. The study compared interval walking to the classic 8,000 steps a day routine and found IWT was superior for improving: Blood pressure (it dropped more than with steady walking) Blood glucose levels (better control over sugar spikes) Body mass index (BMI) (more weight reduction) Aerobic capacity (higher endurance and heart health) Strength (which helps with stability and balance) It was even sustainable long-term. In a follow-up analysis of 826 participants, 783 people successfully stuck with IWT for the full studyan impressive 95% adherence rate (via Healthline). Those who stuck with IWT over the years slowed the typical age-related decline in strength and fitness. While theres no direct study proving it increases lifespan (yet), these benefits all point toward healthier, more resilient aging. And its not just for healthy older adults. A 2024 review of IWT concluded the benefits are well established both in middle- and older-aged but otherwise healthy individuals and in those with metabolic diseases. Why Its Perfect for Tokyo Tokyo life already involves a ton of walkingjust getting from the train station to work can rack up thousands of steps. Interval walking slips easily into everyday routines. Do it on your way home from the office, while taking a lunch break or before heading into a night out. Even better, there are plenty of built-in 30-minute walking routes in Tokyo. Shibuya Station to Omotesando via Cat Street Cat Street near Omotesando Shot (Fernando Goya) A scenic, urban stroll thats almost exactly 30 minutesplenty of shops and people-watching along the way. Explore the route with our guide: Scratching the Surface: A History of Cat Street Yoyogi Park Yoyogi Park (123rf) Start at Harajuku Station, circle the park and end with a slow cooldown or picnic under the trees. Komazawa Park (Komazawa Park) Designed for walkers, runners and cyclists, Komazawa Park has a peaceful loop that takes about 30-45 minutes starting from Komazawa Station. Learn more with our Tokyo Neighborhood Guide: Komazawa These routes fit seamlessly into daily Tokyo life. Commuters can even sneak in an interval walk on the way to the station or between train transfers. Social Media Impact The method has exploded on TikTok and Instagram, with users posting before-and-after clips showing improved posture, slimmer waists and glowing skinall from 30-minute sessions. Trainers have jumped on the trend, sharing how to keep the fast part somewhat hard without breaking into a jog. (www.tiktok.com/@coacheugeneteo) Walking Smarter, Not Longer For years, 8-10,000 steps a day was the gold standard. But interval walking packs more benefits into less time. In a city like Tokyo, where people are already on their feet, its the easiest workout upgrade ever. So tomorrow, instead of zoning out on your walk to the station, try speeding up for three minutes, then slowing down for three. Youll be done before you even realize it. metropolisjapan.com Chancellor Rachel Reeves has arrived in Belfast on her first visit to the city and will meet Stormont ministers later on Tuesday to discuss how to grow Northern Ireland's economy. She is visiting Studio Ulster, Northern Ireland's largest film and TV virtual production studio, to look at how government spending is helping the "creative industries". About a third of the funding for the 72m project came from the government's Belfast Region City Deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reeves is expected to meet Finance Minister John O'Dowd and Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly during her trip. Stormont's first and deputy first minister met Reeves last September, in a bid to lobby for "fairer" funding for public services in Northern Ireland. Since then, the government has faced criticism over its plans and subsequent U-turns on winter fuel payments and changes to welfare reform, both of which would have had significant impacts in Northern Ireland. In the latest government Spending Review in June, the chancellor announced a 2% rise in funding for the Stormont Executive for next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But at the time, O'Dowd warned that Stormont would still be left in a "financially constrained position". Reeves is also expected to make a defence visit during her time in Belfast on Tuesday, and highlight how an uplift in defence spending across the UK will support jobs in Northern Ireland. Photo illustration by Getty Images. What Congress dubbed a big, beautiful bill could be true in several ways. In Montana, experts worry the big bill will be what patients and healthcare systems are left with after changes from the reconciliation package begin to be implemented. Congress passed and President Donald J. Trump signed the massive budget package, even though the margins were among the slimmest in history. Democrats warned the new provisions would decimate Medicaid, while Republicans insisted it would only eliminate waste, making it stable for decades to come. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Analysts have been tearing into the exact provisions and wording of the bill as it relates to Medicaids operation and funding. Many believe that while Medicaid will remain in place, it is predicted to deeply change, and states like Montana, which have experienced lower uninsured rates and better health outcomes, could see a sudden reversal. Federal fallout: Medicaid and insurance in Montana The Daily Montanan is launching a series of articles that breaks down some of the biggest changes implemented by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump in the so-called Big, beautiful bill. All four members of Montanas Congressional delegation Republicans Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy, along with Reps. Troy Downing and Ryan Zinke voted for these changes. Todays stories are the first-installment: Another big change in the Big Sky: Whether youre one of more than 100,000 people on Medicaid or whether you purchase your health insurance on the marketplace (healthcare.gov), recent federal changes will mean a decrease in people who qualify under expanded Medicaid, as well as hefty health insurance premium hikes from those who purchase a plan. (Story by the Daily Montanan.) Is $50 billion enough: Congress has allocated $50 billion to be used for rural state hospitals, which had been identified as particularly vulnerable in the Big, beautiful bill. Republicans from rural states demanded the money in exchange for the support, but will the fund be enough? And, what happens after its depleted? (Story by Stateline) In many ways, the changes will likely be a repeat of what happened before Medicaids so-called expansion fewer people who can afford coverage, more denials of coverage, and a ballooning amount of uncompensated or charity care for hospitals, health centers and doctors offices. This is the first rollback ever of our major healthcare programs, said Drew Altman, President and CEO of KFF Foundation, a large nonprofit, nonpartisan healthcare research organization. Its the largest rollback ever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reasons for that reversal lie primarily in the specific provisions changed by most Republicans with virtually no support from the Democrats. Under the assumption of massive fraud and abuse, and an unsupported belief that millions are out of the workforce, just lapping up free health insurance while on the couch so to speak, many Republicans believe that eliminating fraud and waste, including denying insurance to undocumented immigrants, will make the program stable and solvent. Before the bill passed, Montanas senior U.S. Senator Steve Daines told Fox News why he supported the measure: The bottom line is this, Republicans are trying to save Medicaid. We want to strengthen Medicaid, while the Democrats are trying to drain Medicaid. So the reforms that we are proposing, what you just described there in the so-called provider tax, thats just a scheme that are used by the states to actually get more dollars than the federal government. This is one of the fastest growing entitlements currently in federal spending. Its designed to protect those who are most vulnerable. Its an important safety net, but weve got to reform Medicaid if were going to save Medicaid. Weve got to take able-bodied males who are laying on the couches at home and get them back to work and off of Medicaid. Put a work requirement in and the reforms we have made we think are reasonable and its, again, the way we save this very important safety net. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres little evidence to support widespread Medicaid. For example, in 2022 Texas reported a fraud rate of more than $219 million, while Montana had just more than $566,000, according to Beckers Hospital Review. Only five states had less. According to the most recent data from Montana, 97% percent of those enrolled on Montanas expanded Medicaid work at least part-time, if not full-time, or fit other exemptions like being a full-time student, caring for a family member or having a disability. The remaining 3% is estimated to be the natural churn that happens as people come off and onto the insurance, usually after losing or gaining a job. Because the new changes are only beginning, exact numbers for Montana are not publicly available, but using national data, officials can estimate the impact. In January, there were approximately 71.4 million people on Medicaids insurance programs, which includes the Childrens Insurance Program, or CHIP, according to the Pew Research Center. Current national estimates say that an estimated 10% could lose coverage. In Montana, that translates to around 10,000 residents losing coverage. Those numbers only reflect half of the risks: The current projections demonstrate the number of people who will lose Medicaid coverage due to work requirements or the new redetermination process that requires the state to more frequently check for employment and require more documentation. Most healthcare leaders, including Dr. Aaron Wernham, the CEO of the Montana Healthcare Foundation, say states will have a difficult time with the process given the current staff levels and they say the messy redetermination process that Montana went through in 2023-24 could become a sort of new normal. What the numbers dont estimate is the number of people who are wrongfully denied, or simply give up, unable to navigate the new system. The Daily Montanan reached out multiple times to the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services to ask about the changes. No official responded to those inquiries, including how the state was staffed and prepared for the new requirements, which will involve more verification and documentation. Two major impacts so far Republicans were correct: Medicaid isnt going away. Experts who have combed through the legislation say two major changes will likely mean upheaval, though. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first change involves subsidies for the marketplace or healthcare exchange. During COVID-19, Congress authorized more help for insurance premiums on healthcare.gov. Those COVID-era enhancements are going away unless Congress reauthorizes them, something unlikely given Congress current political make-up. Premiums in the marketplace will skyrocket by, on average, more than 75% but its 90% in rural areas, enrollment will plunge by as much as 50% according to analysis form the actuarial firm, Wakely, and that adds about 4.2 million people (nationally) to the ranks of the uninsured, Altman said. The other more noticeable change is more a result of whats likely to happen, according to Altman: As more people lose health insurance coverage through the redetermination process or through not being able to afford coverage, hospitals and doctors will likely see an increase in uncompensated care, often termed charity care. For hospitals and healthcare centers that often have margins of less than 2%, a sudden increase in uncompensated care could mean the difference between financial survival and closure. That concern is particularly pronounced in rural areas like Montana, which has a number of small hospitals, called Critical Access Hospitals, which have survived the recent tumultuous COVID-era because of reimbursements. Larry Levitt, the Executive Vice President for Public Policy at KFF, says that it will be the biggest rollback in U.S. history of a major program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It amounts to what is effectively a partial repeal of the Affordable Care Act, erasing a lot of its gains in health coverage, Levitt said. Some rural hospitals have even seen enough stability and success because of fewer uninsured patients to add service lines, like mental health or orthopedic surgery, so that residents can access those services closer to home instead of driving to a more urbanized center. As part of the big beautiful bill, Congress authorized a one-time $50 billion lump sum that will be issued to states in a block-grant format, allowing each state to determine how to best use the federal funds. However, how those funds will be spent is still uncertain, and some hospital leaders say it will just delay an inevitable crisis when the funding runs out and healthcare centers are stuck with more charity care. We saw rural hospitals stabilize, Wernham said. Now, were going to have to see what happens to the rural healthcare systems because they tend to have the lowest margins. That will force many of them to make difficult decisions and figure out how to keep their doors open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wernham said that even as some rural hospitals in Montana opened new service lines for example, surgery or mental health they may have to be closed. That, Wernham said, doesnt just affect the Medicaid patients, but the entire community. You dont just cut services that are available to Medicaid, you cut services that affect the entire community whether you have private insurance or not, Wernham said. About those premiums Montana Commissioner of Insurance James Brown has already started warning residents that health insurance premiums are expected to rise in 2025, especially on the marketplace exchange. Browns office doesnt control rates, but carriers are required to file their annual rates and plans from now until the middle of August. This increase will affect small group health insurance plans offered both on and off the federally facilitated marketplace (healthcare.gov), as well as individual marketplace health plans the plans used by many Montana small employers, independent workers, and families, Brown said in a press release. We want Montanans to be informed and prepared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Longtime healthcare navigator Olivia Riutta has another phrase for it sticker shock. In Montana, Riutta said, 87% of the state gets tax credits to participate in marketplace insurance. So she said, if 87% of the people get tax credits, then 87% will experience sticker shock. We are encouraging people to get your documents and get prepared, Riutta said. Cost calculator KFF Health has a new tool available for the public to use if you received enhanced tax credits or purchased health insurance through healthcare.gov. She said a very basic example of what could change is a silver plan offered in Montana. A person making minimum wage or $10.55 per hour is eligible for a silver plan for $0 with the current subsidies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, without those subsidies, that plan for an individual rises to $63 per month. But theyre already having a tough time affording housing or groceries. Now they have to find another $63 per month, she said. Many people enrolled in the marketplace received increased subsidies, a holdover from the COVID-era, which helped make health insurance more affordable. For example, those who made too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but struggled to afford insurance, benefitted from the subsidies provided by Congress. That led to more participation in the marketplace. That shift, in turn, meant more people were insured at better prices, and because more people utilized insurance, carriers could spread the risk among a larger group of people. That helped keeping plans affordable. However, with those subsidies disappearing, premiums are likely to jump considerably, leaving residents with few enviable choices: Either more of their income will have to go toward healthcare premiums, or they will have to choose plans that cover less and force larger out-of-pocket expenses or deductibles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the end of the day, cost (of the plans) is the biggest concern they have, Riutta said. Cynthia Cox, the Vice President for the ACA Programs at KFF, said that many people who pay roughly 8.5% of their income could see it that percentage more than double. Experts say that some may opt for plans with less coverage, making individuals vulnerable to more expenses in case of sickness or surgery. Others, though, may decide against health insurance at all, leaving them uninsured or covered by extremely limited plans that could lead to financial disaster in case of an emergency or disease. All of this points to delaying your decision to see a doctor, which as we know, is not best practice, Riutta said. She said that the health insurance marketplace has seen record enrollment because Congress has made it affordable to different groups. She worries that as the federal government makes it less affordable, there will be a resurgence of uninsured individuals. However, even a return to previous marketplace times may mean the people purchasing insurance consider it a necessity and may need it for a chronic health condition. That, in turn, means that the pools or groups of people are sicker, which also pushes rates higher in the future. This isnt great for anyone in the insurance market because the costs will get spread around, Riutta said. Riutta warned that people who auto enroll or are satisfied with their plan, and plan to let it auto renew, should make sure they see the premium price differences because the new rules dont allow the flexibility to change after Jan. 15. Some may opt to step down a level from a gold or a silver to a bronze plan, but those changes could come with higher out-of-pocket costs. What we think is really most important come Nov. 1 the first day of open enrollment is that people need to compare and shop around, she said. Really understand how a plan does or doesnt work. If people choose not to enroll, it will mean big bills from hospitals or delaying care until they become eligible. If people cant enroll in insurance, what we know is that people will delay care. And that means fewer check-ups and catching things early, Riutta said, for example typical cancer screenings. Uncompensated care Many in the healthcare field say theyre already preparing for a rise in uncompensated, or charity care, which happens when healthcare systems are forced to see patients and treat them, regardless of their ability to pay. Those losses end up being absorbed or eaten by the clinics, which can only handle so much financial loss before shuttering. And, in rural areas, often not served by a lot of healthcare systems, a higher percentage of people are uninsured or come through the doors with unmanaged chronic conditions, like diabetes. In many ways, the changes to Medicaid represent a sort of turning back the clock when hospitals saw a large number of people come through the emergency room because they had no other option. The tragedy, at least from Montanas healthcare providers Wernham said, is that as Medicaid continued to expand and become established in Montana, the average cost of patient was decreasing while the overall health outcomes were increasing, largely because leaders say those with health insurance were managing chronic conditions before they became expensive, life-threatening emergencies. What weve seen is fewer ER visits. We see costs stabilizing and shift toward outpatient care, Wernham said. So even though costs are going up, the costs for adults who are stabilized actually goes down. Even if the federal government gives Montana enough money to support its critical access hospitals and other healthcare centers, the money is only budgeted through 2030. Montana Hospital Association CEO Ed Buttrey said that while Congress committed a lump-sump payment of $50 billion as a compromise to help garner support from Republican senators in rural states, that will only be given during the course of five years. After that, he said, rural hospitals may face an eventual economic cliff. Buttrey helped expand and keep Medicaid in the state as a Republican leader in the Legislature. Its not going to help a lot after that, Buttrey said. And how those funds will be spread out and used has not yet been decided, adding to small healthcare centers anxiety. Rural health centers could be impacted by being unable to recruit healthcare staff and doctors because of the funding uncertainty, another destabilizing force. The downside is that we cant continue with this type of financial insecurity, Buttrey said. What happens after that, when, poof that money is gone? Charleston lawyer Mullins McLeod announced his bid for governor on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, becoming the first Democrat in the race. (Photo provided by Mullins McLeod) A Charleston lawyer is the first Democrat to officially enter the 2026 governors race, bringing the total field to six announced candidates. Mullins McLeod, who was among the lawyers who helped negotiate an $88 million settlement for victims of the 2015 shooting at Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, launched a bid for the Governors Mansion with a three-minute YouTube video Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 53-year-old attorney told the SC Daily Gazette, if elected, he would push back on the large incentive packages used to lure companies to the state. He did not name any specific deal he opposed. And he joined in the chorus of Republican candidates calling for eliminating the states personal income tax a major source of revenue for state spending. Income taxes are expected to provide more than $6.5 billion this fiscal year. Zeroing that out would slash 45% of the states general fund. At the same time, he wants to almost double teachers salaries. I believe there is a job that needs to be done and needs to be done now. That job is curing a cancer that has infiltrated our state government over the last 25 years, McLeod said in the campaign video. That cancer, according to McLeod, is corruption and state lawmakers bowing to corporations that have lobbied to rig the system for their own financial gains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though he doesnt say it, the 25 years refers to how long Republicans have controlled both chambers in the Statehouse. After the 2000 elections, the party-switching of a single Democrat gave the GOP control of the Senate. The last Democrat in the Governors Mansion left office in January 2003. In his campaign video, however, McLeod doesnt call himself a Democrat or Republican. Nor does he mention either party. What I believe makes South Carolina great is the people that go to work everyday, McLeod told the Daily Gazette. And giving peoples hard-earned tax dollars to large, for-profit corporations thats just disrespectful. Public money should only be used for the public good, McLeod added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The personal injury attorney will need to overcome headlines of his arrest three months ago. In May, McLeod was charged with disorderly conduct in downtown Charleston near the Battery, according to reporting by The Post and Courier. Officers said McLeod was wearing nothing but underwear and shoes and yelling at the top of his lungs. McLeods lawyer told a judge the erratic behavior stemmed from a mental health episode and exhaustion, the newspaper reported. McLeod acknowledged the arrest but declined to comment Monday on the pending case, other than to tell the Gazette, I was not in my underwear. He will explain, just not yet: Long before voters go to the polls, they will know what happened, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A copy of the police report was not immediately available. The police department required the SC Daily Gazette to submit a request for the report under the Freedom of Information Act. Former state Rep. Bakari Sellers, who worked with McLeod on the Mother Emmanuel settlement, called McLeod a forward-thinker and one of the most accomplished trial lawyers in the state. The Bamberg County Democrat said McLeod will have to answer questions about the circumstances surrounding his arrest. Its going to be a large hurdle, Sellers said. But we should try not to judge people at the moments when they are at the bottom. Im willing to give him that grace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Rep. Jermaine Johnson, D-Columbia, said he is still in the exploratory stage of a run for governor. I believe South Carolina deserves leaders who are steady, consistent, and committed to the work, not just in an election year, but every single day, Johnson said in a statement. Until my decision is made, Ill continue doing what Ive always done: putting in the work for the people who sent me to Columbia and for the future of our great state. Johnson added that his decision on whether or not to run will not be based on anyone elses intention to seek the seat. On the Republican side, five candidates are vying for the partys nomination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McLeod, the nephew of former state Rep. Walt McLeod, D-Little Mountain, and the late state Sen. Peden Brown McLeod, D-Walterboro, previously ran for governor in 2010. He dropped out of that race four months before the Democratic primary, endorsing former state Sen. Vincent Sheheen, D-Camden. Sheheen ultimately lost the governors race to Nikki Haley. Now, McLeod is back. His platform In addition to criticizing the states economic development incentives, he wants to rein in county-level property tax breaks for major manufacturers. While property tax decisions are made by local officials and do not affect the state budget, McLeod said all of it should be examined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also called out a portion of the massive energy package passed by the Legislature in May. The section of the bill, known as rate stabilization, allows public utility companies to raise electric rates on an annual basis using a truncated review by state regulators rather than the full-blown rate process. I believe thats corruption, McLeod said. McLeod, in his published platform, also said he will push for term limits, seek to make the cost of child care 100% tax deductible, and propose taxes for companies that use automation to reduce their workforce needs. And theres at least one business incentive he wants to add: He believes companies should get a tax credit for paying off their employees student loans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for teachers, he believes the state should pay them between $85,000 and $100,000. Currently, teachers average salary statewide is about $62,000, though their actual pay depends on their years of experience and level of college degree. Legislators kept pay at the Southeastern average by putting $112 million into increasing teachers salaries this school year. That raised teachers minimum pay by $1,500 across the so-called salary schedule and brought the floor for first-year teachers to $48,500 (up from $35,000 in 2020). Raising that salary floor to $50,000 as Gov. Henry McMaster recommended in his budget proposal would have cost $200 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McLeod didnt give specifics for his proposal, but it could require several billion dollars. Parts of his platform align with the states dominating party. Beyond slashing income taxes, he wants to decrease the size of government, increase law enforcement, protect the Second Amendment No one will be coming after our Right to Bear Arms. Period, his campaign website reads and keep transgender girls off female teams. Girls Compete Against Girls. Boys Compete Against Boys, the website reads. Bring common sense back to athletics. He could cross that one off. State law already requires students to compete on athletic teams corresponding to their biological sex at birth. Gov. Henry McMaster signed the Save Womens Sports Act in 2022. The bill passed both chambers along party lines. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk celebrated President Donald Trumps Liberation Day takeover of the nations capital by calling for the Trump administration to unleash a full military occupation of other large American cities once we liberate Washington, D.C. In what appeared to be spurred by the recent late-night attack on former DOGE employee Edward Big Balls Coristine, who was allegedly assaulted during an attempted carjacking, Trump announced on Monday that he was deploying 800 National Guard troops and temporarily taking control of Washingtons police department to fight crime in the city. Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged out maniacs and homeless people, and we're not going to let it happen anymore, Trump exclaimed on Monday. Despite violent crime falling for two straight years in Washington under the current chief of police, the president likened the city to the worst places on Earth while repeatedly framing it as a dystopian hellscape. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having already deployed thousands of National Guard troops to Los Angeles earlier this summer to quell protests that erupted over his immigration raids, Trump also suggested that other large cities in Democratic-led states such as New York City and Chicago could be next. At the same time, as the New York Times noted, the president did not mention cities in red states with much higher murder rates than Washington, and he also ignored the most violent episode in the capitals recent history the January 6 Capitol riots. Shortly after returning to office in January, Trump issued a blanket pardon of hundreds of rioters, many of whom had been convicted of violent crimes and were serving time in prison. MAGA influencer Charlie Kirk urges President Donald Trump to unleash a "full military occupation" of other large American cities in Democratic-led states "once we liberate" Washington. (Rumble) During his podcast on Monday, Kirk one of the presidents most loyal media acolytes and founder of the MAGA youth organization Turning Point USA urged Trump to send more American military forces into other cities in short order, claiming it would create favorable press coverage. I guarantee the crime's gonna go way down, he proclaimed. And then the media will say, oh, it's only going down because he brought in the military. Exactly. We need full military occupation of these cities until the crime desists. Period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Claiming we have a big teenage problem of crime in our country, Kirk specifically spotlighted Chicago as a problem area before demanding that more teenagers be given decades-long prison sentences for auto thefts. Simple fix. You steal a car, 25 years in prison, the pro-Trump pundit raged. I don't care if you're a teenager. I don't care if well, I was raised without a dad. Well, you're going to go meet a new dad in jail. We're done. We're not putting up with it. We need more prisons, and we need more prisoners. Kirk also rebuked his own support for Trumps criminal justice reforms during the first administration, saying it was a totally wrong premise and it now makes him cringe at myself. Instead, he said the country needs the humiliation of criminals and to stop coddling criminals because they happen to be a protected class, claiming that we dont believe in protected classes in America anymore. Game over. No more protected classes, Kirk proclaimed. We are all citizens made in the image of God. Oh, you're a protected class because, you know, different skin color. Wrong. That regime was defeated back in November. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kirk, who recently slammed the White Houses push to deem marijuana a less dangerous drug, further warned Trump not to just have the military symbolically occupy Washington, calling for a true show of force in the nations capital. Now, again, I want to say, President Donald Trump, he's gotta go play to win here, the right-wing activist said. The one piece of caution we'd have to say is that if we just kind of do this symbolically, we will lose. The criminals will win. We got to go hard. We gotta go big league. We're talking National Guard, tanks every street, you need military. Kirk whose rhetoric has grown more extreme and racially charged in recent years also advised conservatives to push back on any criticism that Trump is a fascist because he's bringing the military by calling the presidents detractors anarchists in response. We're not fascist. We're order. Call them a name right back, he bellowed. You're an anarchist. You want the criminals, the thugs, the gang members, and the worst of society to run the streets of D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After downplaying the Capitol riots as nothing more than people who wanted to go say a prayer in the U.S. Capitol in order to mock the use of the National Guard after January 6, Kirk then concluded by name-checking which cities he wants to see under military occupation. Once we liberate D.C., you better believe it Chicago, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Portland, San Francisco. We got a big military. We should be willing to use it, he stated. Aug. 10Hundreds of people including many people in their teens and 20s came to the Legacy Church's Central Campus in Albuquerque on Sunday to listen to conservative activist and podcaster Charlie Kirk address issues ranging from immigration to the housing crisis to Christianity to crime. After Kirk, 31, was introduced at "Freedom Night in America," a female guest told Kirk to go "expletive" himself. He told the woman he hopes she gives her life to Jesus Christ. The rest of the hour-and-a-half-long event continued in front of a predominantly friendly crowd. The event was billed as "a call for Christians to rise, uniting pastors and congregations to boldly put our faith into action," according to the Turning Point USA website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kirk immediately addressed the latest episode of "South Park," in which character Eric Cartman impersonated Kirk at a campus event and took questions from a crowd as he defended his stance on abortion. Kirk laughed about the impersonation. "We as conservatives can take a joke, unlike the left who take themselves too seriously," Kirk said. Regarding immigration, Kirk said people should assimilate into the United States and learn English. "This is the place you are willing to bleed for, die for. This is your new homeland," Kirk said. Guest Amanda Padilla said she has seen Kirk speak multiple times because "she believes in what he stands for." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Albuquerque resident Daniel Arreola, 21, said he came to listen. "I'm just curious since I see him on my social media all the time," Arreola said. "I just want to see what he says. I'm more neutral, I guess." But there were almost 100 people who congregated outside the church to protest Kirk's appearance. Some carried posters that read "what church welcomes hate" and "there is no hate like Christian love" as they voiced their displeasure at the church for inviting Kirk, the co-founder of Turning Point USA, a conservative youth organization. "He stands for pretty much everything I am against," protester Gillian Labe said, "and we want to make it known that we don't want him in our city." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kirk has appeared in Albuquerque a couple of times in the past, and each time he was met with protesters. "We're here to send the message that no matter how many times he's going to come back," protester Zoey Craft said, "we're going to continue to be here to oppose him and the kind of pain that he is doing and everything that he's standing for." Toward the end of the event, a guest asked Kirk about property rights for Native Americans on federal land. Kirk said Native Americans are addicted to government benefits. Kirk was also asked if he planned to one day run for president to which he responded his "mission right now is to defend the Trump administration and get JD Vance elected as the next president of the United States in 2028." Kirk ended the event by saying, "I love this state. I hate what they've done with it." Members of the Chesterfield community gather before a DEQ meeting about the proposed Dominion Energy gas plant. (Photo by Shannon Heckt/Virginia Mercury) Enough is enough, Jason Woodby said in a crowd of Chesterfield residents at the Department of Environmental Qualitys Aug. 7 informational meeting for a new Dominion Energy gas plant air permit. The utility has said the new plant is necessary to help meet the states soaring energy demands. Over a hundred community members showed up to the meeting in red shirts to decry the proposed peaker gas plant that Dominion wants to build in their backyard. Their biggest concerns are the cumulative health impacts on the largely low-income and communities of color that surround the plant, which they say have already been breathing in coal dust for decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center (CERC), at the site of a former coal-fired plant, is only meant to run 37% of the time during peak energy demand hours. It will be able to power up in a matter of minutes to run for several hours at a time to take the strain off the regional PJM power grid during the hottest and coldest days when energy demands skyrocket. A rendering of the proposed Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center. (Photo courtesy Dominion Energy) But environmental groups believe that the company should be focusing on renewable energy as mandated by the Virginia Clean Economy Act. In case filings to the State Corporation Commission, they have proposed other ways for the company to meet energy demands, including through solar, wind, and battery storage. This plant is dirty and expensive. No two ways about it. Burning methane is bad for our health, said Rachel James, an attorney for the Southern Environmental Law Center. If allowed, this plant would spew out several harmful contaminants, including fine particulate matter, which is one of the most deadly air pollutants. Project background The 1000-megawatt plant faced some permitting challenges at the original proposed location across the street, prompting Dominion to move it to the Chesterfield Power Station, just north of the Dutch Gap conservation area. The site used to be a coal-fired power station that began to be retired in 2018 and fully ended burning coal in 2023, after burning for over 70 years. The process of removing the ash from the pond on the site is still in progress. The plant is still operational for gas production through two units that produce about 420 MW of energy. Those portions of the plant are not planned to be part of the peaker usage and will run more than the proposed 37% for the other units. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dominion officials said this project is critical to meet the exponential growth of power demand with Virginians expected to be using double the amount of energy they are now by the late 2030s. The CERC will be only used for peak energy demands on the hottest and coldest days of the year, according to Dominion. The plant can be fired up in about 15 minutes in order to help stabilize the grid on those high-use days, when the company gets the call from PJM that additional support for the grid will be needed. Our customers are using 5% more power every year, and by the late 2030s our customers will use twice as much power as they use today, said Jeremy Slayton, a Dominion spokesperson. If we dont do that, theres going to be a power gap. Power demand will exceed power supply, and there wont be enough energy for our customers on those hottest and coldest days of the year. Environmental, health concerns Since the coal-fired plant fully shut down two years ago, air quality has improved for the surrounding communities, according to DEQ. The CERC facility is projected to have significantly less emissions than the coal plant. Representatives from DEQ at last weeks community meeting also stated that the proposed gas plant is much more efficient than other facilities around the country. It would not significantly raise air pollution compared to the former coal burning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, residents feel that since they just started to see air quality improve, they dont want to see additional pollutants put into the air. It seems like Dominion and now DEQ is using the fact that there was this coal ash plant here, running for 70 years, (as) kind of a cover for introducing even more pollution to the same area. From a community perspective, the fact that this community has been exposed to 70 years of coal pollution doesnt justify exposing it to more pollution, Woodby said. DEQ uses air monitoring both inside the stacks of the plant and locally to ensure gas plants are meeting the air quality standards. They use the ambient air monitoring to make their assessments, but community members said the monitors are too far away to get an accurate read on the impact of the Chesterfield location and should be placed on the fenceline of the facility. DEQ officials said the modeling for the plants emissions and reads on ambient air show the plant will be within the requirements, Dominion has been working to meet the states renewable energy goals laid out in the Virginia Clean Economy Act, according to the company spokesman. The utility has stated that an estimated six methane gas plants in the state will be needed to meet the growing energy demand, on top of renewable energy, to prevent a grid collapse during hot and cold days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are all in, all in on offshore wind, all in on solar. The one thing youre dealing with renewables like offshore wind and solar, is that they are intermittent resources, Slayton said. So those renewables work hand in hand with natural gas to make sure we are able to meet our customers power demand so we can keep the lights on for our customers. Advocacy groups have taken to the courts over the county allowing the project to move forward with a conditional use permit from 2010 instead of the project needing to apply for a new one. The county said the location was already permitted to be a plant and additional review was not needed. Residents also took issue with the county not doing a site suitability process for the project, with regulators stating the project meets all local ordinances. We have determined that the area will be, unless we got something wrong, data will show that its going to be suitable from an air pollution perspective, said Alison Sinclair, an air permit writer for DEQ. Thats all we can do from the air pollution perspectiveThats why we look to the counties, because they know where everything is and whats going on in their county. Dominion held their own informational open houses about the project in the community despite not having to go through a conditional use permit process that would have required the countys Board of Supervisors take a new vote on the zoning for the project. Advocates appealed the Chesterfield county decision to accept the old CUP permit in order to force a new vote by the supervisors, but a judge in July 2024 denied the appeal. Advocates said they would not give up their fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dominion and the proposals opponents will present their cases to the SCC on Aug. 19. That panel will be tasked with determining if the energy project is necessary for grid reliability as the company claims and if it is a reasonable cost for ratepayers, who will be on the hook for some of the project funding. DEQ has published the draft permit for the facility and has opened the public comment period. An official public hearing will be held on Sept. 8, where the community will have their comments officially recorded and submitted to DEQ before the permit is officially approved or denied. If the permit is approved and the SCC gives the green light to move forward, Dominion anticipates construction to begin in 2026 and the plant to come online in 2029. CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) The Chicopee State Park is temporarily prohibiting swimming at its beach due to a cyanobacterial bloom. Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, can naturally occur in all waterbodies. When the cyanobacteria population dramatically increases, that is referred to as a bloom, which can pollute the water and be harmful to species that come into contact with it. The blooms discolor the water, making it look similar to pea soup, and potentially cause public health issues. Invest 97L in Atlantic could become Tropical Storm Erin Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Health risks associated with ingestion or inhalation of cyanobacteria include skin or eye irritation, gastrointestinal issues, asthma-like symptoms, and even liver damage. Small children and pets are more susceptible to these effects than adults, according to the DCR. The Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation has issued an advisory warning residents of the bloom currently present at Chicopee State Park Beach. Visitors are reminded not to swim in or ingest the water, and to rinse off if they come into contact with it. Pets should also be kept away from the beach at this time. The Chicopee Memorial State Park will notify visitors when the beach is safe to reopen. For updates and more information, visit mass.gov. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. The government decision to dismiss Baharav-Miara passed unanimously early last week. Supreme Court Deputy Chief Justice Noam Sohlberg issued a temporary order against the firing of Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, blocking it from advancing until the court can review the legalities of the government's decision. A temporary order is issued while a case is still being heard and is meant to keep the status quo until the judge reaches a final decision. Effectively, it is a legal pause to make sure nothing happens in the meantime that would render the courts final ruling pointless. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the fiercest iteration yet of the intense schism between the government and the Attorney-Generals Office (and with the judiciary in general), a court hearing was set last week on the case for September 3. Gov't decision to dismiss Baharav-Miara passed last week The government decision to dismiss Baharav-Miara passed unanimously early last week. The High Court of Justice immediately issued an injunction, which turned into a temporary order on Sunday. Proponents of the move cite an inability to conduct a proper working relationship with the Attorney-Generals Office and the legal advisory under it due to a lack of trust and goodwill. Opponents view the move as aggressive and assert that it acts to remove one of the last checks on the government. Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara attending a committee meeting in the Knesset, April 27, 2025; illustrative. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90) Sohlberg ruled already in July that the decision would not come into effect until it underwent a comprehensive judicial review. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the temporary order, Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi instructed his team to ignore the legal advisers assigned to his ministry. Other ministers made similar announcements. Sohlberg noted in his Sunday decision what he already outlined in the previous one: There is to be no change to the A-Gs authority or the weight given to her advisory opinions, and the government should not announce her replacement. He also lamented Karhis letter to his staff: As it is known, the obligation to adhere to court rulings applies equally to all. In sharp criticism, he noted that the obligation to adhere to court rulings rests even more heavily on public offices. The government, led in these efforts by Justice Minister Yariv Levin, moved to fire Baharav-Miara via a ministerial committee, but this is not the legal framework through which the attorney-general can be fired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legal protocol for hiring or dismissing an attorney-general was codified in 2000, following the Shamgar Commission and the Bar-OnHebron Affair. A public-professional committee must convene to weigh in and provide recommendations before a hiring or firing decision is made. That committee is meant to be made up of a retired Supreme Court justice as chairperson, appointed by the current Supreme Court president and with the approval of the justice minister; a former justice minister or attorney-general, chosen by the government; an MK, chosen by the Knesset Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee; a lawyer, chosen by the Israel Bar Association; and a legal academic, selected by the deans of the law faculties. Levin failed to find former attorneys-general or justice ministers to sit on the committee. All eligible candidates opposed his efforts. A young boy died of heatstroke in Italy while wildfires threatened a UNESCO site in Spain and French cities saw record temperatures, as a heatwave baked Europe on Monday. Many towns and cities in France, Italy and the Balkans were put on red alert due to the heat. Wildfires fanned by strong winds forced the evacuations of thousands of people throughout the continent and threatened popular tourist sites in Turkey and Spain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The four-year-old Romanian boy who died in Italy succumbed days after being found unconscious in his family's car on the island of Sardinia. The news came as Italy's health ministry issued a red alert warning for seven major cities, including Bologna and Florence. Some 11 Italian cities are on red alert for Tuesday, and 16 cities on Wednesday. Red alerts were also announced in southern France and on the Adriatic and Ionian coasts in the Balkans. "The heatwave currently affecting France, Spain, and the Balkan countries is not surprising. It is driven by a persistent heat dome over Europe," Akshay Deoras, a research scientist at the meteorology department in Britain's University of Reading, told AFP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Heatwaves don't roar like storms -- they creep in quietly, but can be just as deadly." - UNESCO site damaged - A blaze, which broke out on Sunday, damaged a UNESCO World Heritage-listed Roman-era mining site at Les Medulas in northwestern Spain -- famed for its striking red landscape -- and prompted hundreds of residents to evacuate. High temperatures and winds of up to 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph) created "many difficulties" for firefighters struggling to contain the wildfire, said Juan Carlos Suarez-Quinones, the Castile and Leon regional environment minister. "We will not allow people to return until safety in their communities is absolutely guaranteed," he told reporters, estimating that about 700 people had been displaced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Spain has been in the grip of a heatwave for the past week, with temperatures nearing 40C in many areas and fuelling wildfires. In the southern tourist town of Tarifa, more than 2,000 people were evacuated, some from hotels and beaches, after a fire that had been subdued on Friday flared up again, with more than 100 firefighters battling the flames. In neighbouring Portugal, firefighters were battling three large wildfires in the centre and north of the country, while Morocco is sending two aircraft to help fight the fires after two Portuguese planes broke down. In Italy, around 190 firefighters and the army were tackling a wildfire on Mount Vesuvius that caused the closure of the national park to tourists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - 20 arrested in Albania - People were evacuated from dozens of homes in the Balkans as firefighters battled blazes in Albania, Montenegro and Croatia, where red alerts were announced. In Albania, hundreds of firefighters and soldiers had subdued most of the nearly 40 fires that flared up in the last 24 hours, according to the defence ministry, but more than a dozen were still active. Since the start of July, nearly 34,000 hectares (84,000 acres) have been scorched nationwide, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). Police allege that many of the blazes were deliberately lit, with more than 20 people arrested in recent weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just outside the capital of neighbouring Montenegro, where temperatures soared to 40C, fire crews managed to save dozens of homes when a blaze broke out in inaccessible terrain on Monday. In Croatia, around 150 firefighters also spent the night defending homes from a blaze near the port city of Split. In the northwestern Turkish province of Canakkale, more than 2,000 people were evacuated and 77 people received hospital treatment for smoke inhalation after several fires broke out around the tourist village of Guzelyali, authorities said. Several homes and cars caught ablaze, according to images shown on Turkish media, while more than 760 firefighters, 10 aeroplanes, nine helicopters and more than 200 vehicles were deployed to battle the flames. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turkey had just experienced its hottest July since records began 55 years ago. - French records - Temperature records were broken in at least four weather stations in southern France, as the government called for vigilance. The southwestern city of Bordeaux hit a record 41.6C while all-time records were also broken at meteorological stations in Bergerac, Cognac and Saint Girons, according to the national weather service, Meteo France. The heatwave, the country's second this summer, began on Friday and was forecast to last possibly until August 19 or 20. On Monday, 12 French departments were placed on red alert, the country's highest heat warning, with four more expected on Tuesday. bur-bc/rmb A child was hospitalized Monday morning after they were struck by a driver while riding a bicycle in Volusia County. Deputies said the child was riding a bicycle on Howland Boulevard near Roble Lane in Volusia County around 8:57 a.m. The child, described as a young teen, was flown to an Orlando area hospital for treatment. The extent of the childs injuries is currently unknown. Authorities confirmed that the child involved in the accident is not a student of Volusia County schools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Volusia County Sheriffs Office responded to the scene of the accident. Channel 9 is working to gather more information and will provide updates on Eyewitness News. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY JWR UPDATE. IT'S FREE. (AND NO SPAM!) Just click here. President Donald Trump wants a new census. If he wants it sooner, in statistical terms, it'd be like launching D-Day after a month's preparation. Trump wants a new census. If, by this, he means a snap-census before the scheduled 2030 survey, he's demanding that the federal government undertake a gargantuan task with minimal planning and no discernible source of funding. In statistical terms, it'd be like launching D-Day after a month's preparation. If the White Queen believes six impossible things before breakfast, that the Census Bureau could pull this off would qualify as one of them. The agency couldn't even competently conduct the last, regularly scheduled census in 2020. Given that conducting the census is a core function of the federal government indeed, mandated by the Constitution it is outrageous that the last survey missed so badly. It undercounted Florida and a handful of other red states (as well as Illinois) and overcounted New York and a number of blue states (plus, Ohio and Utah). Because the apportionment of congressional seats depends on population as determined by the census, these were highly consequential errors that can't be allowed to happen again. There's no legal mechanism for fixing it, though. We just have to do better in 2030. Trump is also, understandably, chagrined that illegal immigrants are included in the census and declares that, going forward, they "WILL NOT BE COUNTED." Here he's going to run smack into the relevant legal texts: Article 1 Section 2 of the Constitution refers to "the Whole Number of free Persons" 14th amendment says "the whole number of persons in each State" U.S. code calls for a "tabulation of total population by States" So it's hard to see how illegal immigrants can be excluded from the count. As it happens, they don't seem to have much of an effect on the partisan breakdown of congressional seats one way or the other. Although the highest number of illegal immigrants live in California, they are spread around the country and there are also large numbers in Texas and Florida. A change that Trump wanted in the 2020 census was the inclusion, once again, of a citizenship question. This is highly relevant information that is entirely appropriate to ask about. There was a long period from the 19th century through 1950 when the survey had a citizenship question. Then, it was relegated to the so-called "long form." Finally, the long form itself was axed after 2000. Now, it's considered a scandal to even think about reviving it. Trump's proposal to ask the question on the 2020 census encountered stiff resistance, and the Supreme Court squashed it. By the way, non-citizens do have a notable impact on congressional apportionment. Recent research by the Center for Immigration Studies found that all immigrants (naturalized citizens as well as all other categories of immigrants), shifted 14 congressional seats to Democratic states on net in 2020. Non-citizens also distort the composition of congressional districts. According to the study, there are the same number of citizens in the 13 congressional districts with the highest share of non-citizens as in the nine districts with the lowest share of non-citizens. In other words, the citizens in those nine low-immigration districts get four fewer representatives than the citizens in the 13 high-immigration districts. It's one man, one vote with an asterisk. To take an example from Texas, the Democratic-held 33rd district, where non-citizens are nearly 30 percent of the population, has 208,000 fewer voting-age citizens than the state's 21st district. So the citizens in the 33rd district have marginally more clout and representation, thanks to a population tilted toward those who can't vote. Ultimately, the way to diminish these effects is to reduce the level of immigration. Early indications are that there has been a large exodus of illegal immigrants since Trump's election, and the U.S. will have net negative migration for the first time in a half century. If Trump wants to fully capture the changes he's effecting in immigration policy, he should indeed want a new census in 2030. (COMMENT, BELOW) One person is in custody after an attempted abduction in Springfield on Sunday. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] News Center 7 previously reported that Springfield Police officers responded to reports of an attempted abduction in the 400 block of Rosewood Ave around 8 p.m. Sunday. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The child involved is safe and was returned to their family, according to a Springfield Police Lieutenant. One person was taken into custody and charged with abduction. They have been booked into the Clark County Jail, according to the Lieutenant. News Center 7 will continue following this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] A Chinese warship ploughed into its own coast guard vessel on Monday while the latter was chasing a Philippine vessel in the South China Sea, Manila said. Philippine coast guard officials were distributing aid to fishermen in the disputed Scarborough Shoal, Commodore Jay Tarriela said, when the Chinese coast guard "performed a risky manoeuvre" which inflicted "substantial damage" on the Chinese warship's forward deck. China confirmed that a confrontation took place and accused the Philippines of "forcibly intruding" into Chinese waters, but did not mention the collision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The South China Sea is at the centre of a territorial dispute between China, the Philippines and other countries. Tensions between Beijing and Manila have sharply escalated in recent years, with each side accusing the other of provocations and altercations at sea, including some involving weapons such as swords, spears and knives. The Scarborough Shoal, a triangular chain of reefs and rocks, has been a flashpoint between the two countries since China seized it in 2012. Video released by Manila showed a Chinese coast guard vessel firing water cannons as it chased the Philippine coast guard ship, before slamming loudly into a much larger Chinese ship after making a sudden turn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The collision rendered the Chinese warship "unseaworthy", Tarriela said. It is unclear if anyone was injured in the incident. The Philippines Coast Guard has "consistently urged" the Chinese authorities to respect international conventions in handling territorial disputes, "especially considering their role in enforcing maritime laws", Tarriela said. "We have also emphasised that such reckless behaviour at sea could ultimately lead to accidents," he added. China's coast guard, however, said it was acting "in accordance with the law" and took "all necessary measures" to drive the Philippine vessels away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the latest in a string of dangerous encounters over the last two years as Beijing and Manila seek to enforce their claims on disputed reefs and outcrops in the South China Sea. In December last year, the Philippines said China's coast guard fired water cannons and "sideswiped" a government vessel during a maritime patrol near the Scarborough Shoal. Beijing initially said Philippine ships "came dangerously close" and that its crew's actions had been "in accordance with the law". It later accused Manila of making "bogus accusations in an attempt to mislead international understanding". In June 2024, Filipino soldiers used their "bare hands" to fight off Chinese coast guard personnel armed with swords, spears and knives in the area. The skirmish led to one Filipino soldier losing his thumb, Manila said. Chinese research ships are appearing more often in the United States Arctic than they have in years past, the U.S. Coast Guard said. In response, Coast Guard crews are ramping up their presence in U.S. Arctic waters to address what they've described in a news release as "increased activity" as of late by Chinese research vessels in that area. The Coast Guard has detected and responded to two Chinese research ships currently operating in the U.S. Arctic, and five similar vessels are being monitored in or near the polar region, according to the federal agency, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security. Last week, a C-130J Hercules aircraft from the U.S. Coast Guard station and military base in Kodiak, Alaska, identified the two Chinese research ships, called Ji Di and Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di, as they traveled northeastward across the Bering Sea. The Coast Guard said the crew of its cutter Waesche responded for a second time to the Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di, a Liberian-flagged ship operated by the Chinese university Sun Yat-Sen, the following day, while the ship traveled in the Chukchi Sea above the Arctic Circle after exiting the Bering Strait. The Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di, a Liberian-flagged research ship owned and operated by the Chinese university Sun Yat-Sen, was detected by a Coast Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft. / Credit: U.S. Coast Guard Those encounters with Chinese research vessels came after the Coast Guard deployed a C-130J Hercules aircraft to respond to another China-flagged research ship, the Xue Long 2, in July. That ship was operated by China's Polar Research Institute and detected about 290 nautical miles north of Utqiagvik, Alaska, in the North American Arctic, the Coast Guard reported at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The presence of these vessels is consistent with a three-year trend of increased activity from Chinese research vessels operating in the U.S. Arctic," the Coast Guard said in its latest news release on the matter. "Last year, three Chinese research vessels conducted research operations north of the Bering Strait." Derek and the Dominos co-founder Bobby Whitlock dies Artisan bakers sparking sourdough boom Severe storms cause major flash flooding in Wisconsin, force state fair to close early Beijing is dumping a fresh wave of cheap goods in Europe, including air conditioners, motorbikes and swimsuits after Donald Trump stepped up his trade war, new data shows. The European Commission (EC) warned more than 100 categories of goods had seen harmful increases in volumes shipped to the Continent in the first half of the year, with China branded the worst offender. Data published by Brussels suggests Beijing is flooding the trading bloc with goods ranging from leather to car engines amid increasing evidence that the worlds second biggest economy is trying to divert shipments to other countries because of Mr Trumps tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The EC said that compared with a year ago, there had been a 2,616pc increase in imports of xylol, a chemical often used in paint thinners, which was being imported at prices roughly 30pc cheaper than 2024. Heatwaves in Europe have also triggered a 36pc increase in air conditioning units from China that the EC said were being sold at prices 7pc lower than a year ago. Trumps tariffs The increases in dozens of products being dumped in Europe come after President Trump raised tariffs on Chinese goods being imported into the US to as high as 145pc as tensions simmered between the two nations. However, officials agreed to a trade truce in Geneva in May, although a 90-day pause on other trade barriers is due to expire next week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Average US tariffs on Chinese exports now stand at 55pc and cover all goods, according to analysis by the Peterson Institute. Chinas average tariffs on US exports average 32.6pc. Officials in Brussels remain particularly concerned that Beijing will flood the bloc with cheap cars, as cutthroat competition in mainland China forces manufacturers to sell abroad. Last month, officials warned that the EU will not tolerate dumping of Chinese electric vehicles. Teresa Ribera, ECs vice president, added that the bloc also refused to import cheap equipment to help get to net zero. There is this assumption that counting on cheap equipment could be good to boost the potential of new developments and new decarbonisation pathways, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And there may be truth on one side, but as you also know, it may be difficult in terms of how it could impact on the capacity to ensure a level playing field. So we cannot accept any type of dumping practices. While the EC said it had not found evidence that cheap cars were landing in Europe, it noted there were increasing shipments of car and van trailers, as well as big petrol and diesel engines. Turkey has also dumped an increasing amount of goods onto the continent, including rubber and basic metals, according to the Commission, while it added that South Korea was also increasing shipments of chemicals to Europe at knockdown prices. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. At a studio in central China's Hunan province, a teacher grips an ink brush, gently writing characters of a secret script created by women centuries ago and now being embraced by a new generation. Nushu, meaning "women's script", emerged around 400 years ago. Barred from attending school, the women secretly learned Chinese characters and adapted them into Nushu, using the script to communicate with each other through letters, song and embroidery. Passed down through generations of women in the remote and idyllic county of Jiangyong, it is now gaining popularity nationwide among Chinese women who view it as a symbol of strength. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Student Pan Shengwen said Nushu offered a safe way for women to communicate with each other. "It essentially creates a sanctuary for us," the 21-year-old told AFP. "We can express our thoughts, confide in our sisters and talk about anything." Compared to Chinese characters, Nushu words are less boxy, more slender and shaped like willow leaves. "When writing... your breathing must be calm, and only then can your brush be steady," Pan said. On Instagram-like Xiaohongshu, the hashtag "Nushu" has beenviewedover 73.5 million times -- mostly featuring young women sharing tattoos and other modern work incorporating the old script. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Student He Jingying told AFP she had been enrolled in a Nushu class by her mother and that writing it brought her "a deep sense of calm". "It feels like when the brush touches the paper, a kind of strength flows into you." - Against 'injustice' - Nushu is more than just a writing system -- it represents the lived experiences of rural women from the county, Zhao Liming, a professor at Beijing's Tsinghua University, told AFP. "It was a society dominated by men," said Zhao, who has been studying Nushu for four decades. "Their works cried out against this injustice," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The words are read in the local dialect, making it challenging for native Chinese speakers not from the region to learn it. Teacher He Yuejuan said the writing is drawing more attention because of its elegance and rarity. "It seems to be quite highly regarded, especially among many students in the arts," He told AFP outside her gallery, which sells colourful merchandise, including earrings and shawls with Nushu prints. As a Jiangyong native, He said Nushu was "part of everyday life" growing up. After passing strict exams, she became one of 12 government-designated "inheritors" of Nushu and is now qualified to teach it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - 'Really special' - An hour's drive away, around a hundred Nushu learners packed into a hotel room to attend a week-long workshop organised by local authorities trying to promote the script. Zou Kexin, one of the many participants, told AFP she had read about Nushu online and wanted to "experience it in person". "It's a unique writing system belonging to women, which makes it really special," said Zou, 22, who attends a university in southwestern Sichuan province. Animation student Tao Yuxi, 23, one of the handful of men attending the workshop, told AFP he was learning Nushu to gain inspiration for his creative work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said his aunt was initially confused about why he was learning Nushu, as it is not typically associated with men. As it represents part of China's cultural heritage, Nushu has to be passed down, he said. "It's something that everyone should work to preserve -- regardless of whether they are women or men." isk/oho/djw/lb No-one would want to work without getting a salary, or even worse having to pay to be there. Yet paying companies so you can pretend to work for them has become popular among young, unemployed adults in China. It has led to a growing number of such providers. The development comes amid China's sluggish economy and jobs market. Chinese youth unemployment remains stubbornly high, at more than 14%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With real jobs increasingly hard to come by, some young adults would rather pay to go into an office than be just stuck at home. Shui Zhou, 30, had a food business venture that failed in 2024. In April of this year, he started to pay 30 yuan ($4.20; 3.10) per day to go into a mock-up office run by a business called Pretend To Work Company, in the city of Dongguan, 114 km (71 miles) north of Hong Kong. There he joins five "colleagues" who are doing the same thing. "I feel very happy," says Mr Zhou. "It's like we're working together as a group." Such operations are now appearing in major cities across China, including Shenzhen, Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan, Chengdu, and Kunming. More often they look like fully-functional offices, and are equipped with computers, internet access, meeting rooms, and tea rooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And rather than attendees just sitting around, they can use the computers to search for jobs, or to try to launch their own start-up businesses. Sometimes the daily fee, usually between 30 and 50 yuan, includes lunch, snacks and drinks. Attendees can either just sit around, or use the provided computers to apply for jobs [BBC] Dr Christian Yao, a senior lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington's School of Management in New Zealand, is an expert on the Chinese economy. "The phenomenon of pretending to work is now very common," he says. "Due to economic transformation and the mismatch between education and the job market, young people need these places to think about their next steps, or to do odd jobs as a transition. "Pretend office companies are one of the transitional solutions." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Zhou came across the Pretend To Work Company while browsing social media site Xiaohongshu. He says he felt that the office environment would improve his self-discipline. He has now been there for more than three months. Mr Zhou sent photos of the office to his parents, and he says they feel much more at ease about his lack of employment. While attendees can arrive and leave whenever they want, Mr Zhou usually gets to the office between 8am and 9am. Sometimes he doesn't leave until 11pm, only departing after the manager of the business has left. He adds that the other people there are now like friends. He says that when someone is busy, such as job hunting, they work hard, but when they have free time they chat, joke about, and play games. And they often have dinner together after work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Zhou says that he likes this team building, and that he is much happier than before he joined. In Shanghai, Xiaowen Tang rented a workstation at a pretend work company in Shanghai for a month earlier this year. The 23-year-old graduated from university last year and hasn't found a full-time job yet. Her university has an unwritten rule that students must sign an employment contract or provide proof of internship within one year of graduation; otherwise, they won't receive a diploma. She sent the office scene to the school as proof of her internship. In reality, she paid the daily fee, and sat in the office writing online novels to earn some pocket money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If you're going to fake it, just fake it to the end," says Ms Tang. Dr Biao Xiang, director of the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Germany, says that China's pretending to work trend comes from a "sense of frustration and powerlessness" regarding a lack of job opportunities. "Pretending to work is a shell that young people find for themselves, creating a slight distance from mainstream society and giving themselves a little space." The owner of the Pretend To Work Company in the city of Dongguan is 30-year-old Feiyu (a pseudonym). "What I'm selling isn't a workstation, but the dignity of not being a useless person," he says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He himself has been unemployed in the past, after a previous retail business that he owned had to close during the Covid pandemic. "I was very depressed and a bit self-destructive," he recalls. "You wanted to turn the tide, but you were powerless." In April of this year he started to advertise Pretend To Work, and within a month all the workstations were full. Would-be new joiners have to apply. Feiyu say that 40% of customers are recent university graduates who come to take photos to prove their internship experience to their former tutors. While a small number of them come to help deal with pressure from their parents. The other 60% are freelancers, many of whom are digital nomads, including those working for big ecommerce firms, and cyberspace writers. The average age is around 30, with the youngest being 25. Feiyu, the owner of Pretend to Work Company says he is selling people "dignity" [BBC] Officially, these workers are referred to as "flexible employment professionals", a grouping that also includes ride-hailing and trucker drivers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the longer term Feiyu says it is questionable whether the business will remain profitable. Instead he likes to view it more as a social experiment. "It uses lies to maintain respectability, but it allows some people to find the truth," he says. "If we only help users prolong their acting skills we are complicit in a gentle deception. "Only by helping them transform their fake workplace into a real starting point can this social experiment truly live up to its promise." Mr Zhou is now spending most of his time improving his AI skills. He says he's noticed that some companies are specifying proficiency in AI tools when recruiting. So he thinks gaining such AI skills "will make it easier" for him to find a full-time job. Read more global business stories A Chinese man faces up to five years in prison for trying to smuggle protected turtles worth more than $1 million from the United States to Hong Kong. Wei Qiang Lin, of Brooklyn, pleaded guilty on Monday in a federal district court in New York to exporting more than 220 parcels containing around 850 eastern box turtles and three-toed box turtles. The Justice Department said the live turtles had been wrapped in socks for the weeks-long journey and the boxes with the reptiles had been labeled as containing "plastic animal toys." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The turtles, which had a market value of $1.4 million, were intercepted by law enforcement at a border inspection, it said. Eastern box turtles and three-toed box turtles feature colorful markings and are a "prized feature in the domestic and foreign pet market, particularly in China and Hong Kong," the Justice Department said in a statement. It said they are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Sentencing was set for December 23. Lin faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000. cl/ksb The U.S. Coast Guard responded last week to two Chinese research vessels that entered U.S. Arctic territory, amid what Coast Guard officials called increased activity by such ships in the region in recent years. The Coast Guard deployed a C-130J Hercules aircraft from Air Station Kodiak in response to two Chinese research vessels, Ji Di and Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di, transiting the Bering Sea on Aug. 5, according to a release. The following day, on Aug. 6, the cutter Waesche responded to the Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di as it maneuvered above the Arctic Circle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Coast Guards responses are intended to counter malign activities, defend sovereign interests, and promote maritime conduct consistent with international law and norms, the Coast Guard said in the release. The Coast Guard said it is currently monitoring five similar Chinese vessels in and around the U.S. Arctic. The presence of these vessels is consistent with a three-year trend of increased activity from Chinese research vessels operating in the U.S. Arctic, the Coast Guard said in the release. Last year, three Chinese research vessels conducted research operations north of the Bering Strait. Joint military drills by China and Russia in the region in recent years have also prompted concerns from U.S. officials. In the summer of 2023, Chinese and Russian military forces conducted joint training exercises in the Bering Strait. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This kind of increasing levels of military cooperation is new. Certainly, its new within and around Alaska, Iris A. Ferguson, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for Arctic and Global Resilience, said last December at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event. Just this past summer, right after we released our department [Arctic] strategy, we saw a joint bomber patrol off of the coast. Increased Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic has also drawn concerns from international allies. Earlier this month, NATO deployed a maritime task group made up of Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese and German vessels to patrol Arctic waters, while Denmark recently purchased a number of U.S.-made long-range maritime drones for Arctic surveillance. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard, currently the only U.S. surface presence in the region, is short on ships. It has been in dire need of icebreakers for years, prompting an April 9 executive order by President Donald Trump to improve maritime security in the Arctic. On Sunday, the Coast Guard commissioned its first polar icebreaker, the cutter Storis, in 25 years. The Storis is a refurbished oilfield supply ship, formerly known as the Aiviq. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This region is undergoing monumental change. Sea ice is receding. New trade routes are opening. Vast reserves of natural resources are becoming accessible. And our adversaries are moving fast to assert control, U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, who commissioned the vessel, said in a release. These are warning signs. If were not ready to lead in the Arctic, others will and theyll be happy to do it for us," Sullivan said. Two Chinese ships collided in the South China Sea on Monday. A China Coast Guard vessel was chasing a Philippine ship when it hit one of Beijing's destroyers. Video footage shared by the Philippines shows the dramatic incident unfold. A Chinese navy warship and a China Coast Guard cutter crashed into one another in the South China Sea on Monday while chasing a Philippine Coast Guard vessel, video footage shows. Footage shared by Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson Jay Tarriela showed China Coast Guard vessel 3104 tailing Philippine patrol ship BRP Suluan at high speeds while spraying its water cannon around 11 nautical miles east of the contested Scarborough Shoal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As it closed in on the Philippine vessel, the Chinese coast guard ship suddenly slammed into a larger Chinese Navy destroyer that unexpectedly passed between the Philippine vessel and the Chinese cutter. The footage, taken from aboard the Suluan, reveals significant damage to the hulls of both Chinese vessels. The Chinese coast guard vessel "performed a risky maneuver," which led to the impact with the warship," Tarriela wrote in a statement on social media. "This resulted in substantial damage to the CCG vessel's forecastle, rendering it unseaworthy." Here is a longer video capturing the collision between the PLA Navy 164 and the China Coast Guard 3104. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has consistently urged the Chinese government to respect the COLREGS and to approach these matters with professionalism, especially considering https://t.co/n7vcU4lGWq pic.twitter.com/cHU7rG2wAj Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) August 11, 2025 Tarriela said the Philippine Coast Guard immediately offered to help the Chinese with man-overboard recovery and medical aid for any injured crew. A few sailors could be seen on the bow of the Chinese Coast Guard vessel just moments before it hit the destroyer, but it's unclear how many may have been hurt in the incident. In a separate statement, Tarriela said that the Philippines routinely urges China to follow international regulations that prevent collisions and to "approach these matters with professionalism, especially considering their role in enforcing maritime laws." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have also emphasized that such reckless behavior at sea could ultimately lead to accidents," he said. "Our thoughts are with the CCG personnel who may have been injured in this incident." The Philippine Department of National Defense later referred to the crash as "atrocious and inane behavior" by China. Beijing's embassy in the US referred Business Insider to a Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs press briefing on Monday. The collision was not addressed during the briefing; however, the spokesperson did criticize Philippine behavior in the South China Sea, accusing it of infringing on Chinese sovereignty as justification for engaging the Philippine vessel with water cannons. The collision came amid the latest in a long list of confrontations between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea. Tensions between the two countries have skyrocketed in recent years, and the Scarborough Shoal, a small chain of reefs, has been a point of contention between Beijing and Manila. The Philippines has accused Chinese Coast Guard vessels of engaging in dangerous and provocative maneuvers with its ships in the past. Read the original article on Business Insider Credit: Facebook/Jay Tarriela/Philippine Coast Guard Two Chinese vessels crashed into each other while chasing a Filipino patrol boat in the South China Sea on Monday. The incident occurred near the contested Scarborough Shoal as the Philippine coast guard escorted boats distributing aid to fishermen in the area, according to Cdre Jay Tarriela, a Filipino spokesman. Video released by Manila showed a China coast guard ship and a much larger navy vessel bearing the number 164 on its hull colliding with a loud crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cdre Tarriela said: The CCG 3104 [China coast guard vessel], which was chasing the BRP Suluan [Filipino coast guard vessel] at high speed, performed a risky manoeuvre from the [Filipino] vessels starboard quarter, leading to the impact with the PLA [Peoples Liberation Army] navy warship. This resulted in substantial damage to the CCG vessels forecastle, rendering it unseaworthy. Necessary measures Gan Yu, a Chinese coast guard spokesman, confirmed that a Monday confrontation had taken place without mentioning the collision. He said: The China coast guard took necessary measures in accordance with the law, including monitoring, pressing from the outside, blocking and controlling the Philippine vessels to drive them away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reported collision is the latest in a series of confrontations between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis. More than 60 per cent of global maritime trade passes through the disputed waterway. The Philippines government said the countrys patrol vessels would continue to be present in the area to defend, as well as exercise Manilas sovereign rights over, what it considers to be part of its territory. The Scarborough Shoal a triangular chain of reefs and rocks has been a flashpoint between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was unclear if anyone was hurt in Mondays incident. Cdre Tarriela told AFP that the Chinese crew never responded to the Filipino ships offer of assistance. Earlier in the confrontation, the BRP Suluan was targeted with a water cannon by the Chinese but successfully evaded it, according to Cdre Tarriela. 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 Chinese navy vessel collided with one from its own coast guard while chasing a Philippine patrol boat in the South China Sea on Monday, Manila said, releasing dramatic video footage of the confrontation. The incident occurred near the contested Scarborough Shoal as the Philippine Coast Guard escorted boats distributing aid to fishermen in the area, spokesman Commodore Jay Tarriela said in a statement. Video released by Manila showed a China Coast Guard ship and a much larger vessel bearing the number 164 on its hull colliding with a loud crash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additional footage and photos released later by the Philippine Coast Guard showed the stricken Chinese vessel still afloat but with its entire bow crumpled inward. "The (China Coast Guard vessel) CCG 3104, which was chasing the (Filipino coast guard vessel) BRP Suluan at high speed, performed a risky manoeuvre from the (Philippine) vessel's starboard quarter, leading to the impact with the PLA (People's Liberation Army) Navy warship," Tarriella said in a statement. "This resulted in substantial damage to the CCG vessel's forecastle, rendering it unseaworthy." At a later press briefing, Tarriella said that crew members aboard the smaller Chinese vessel had been visible in its front section just before the collision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're not sure whether they were able to rescue those personnel who were in front prior to the collision. But we are hoping that these personnel are in good condition," he told reporters. Tarriela said the Chinese crew "never responded" to the Philippine ship's offer of assistance. Gan Yu, a Chinese coast guard spokesperson, confirmed that a confrontation had taken place without mentioning the collision. "The China Coast Guard took necessary measures in accordance with the law, including monitoring, pressing from the outside, blocking and controlling the Philippine vessels to drive them away," he said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not confirm or deny the collision when asked about it by AFP. Monday's incident is the latest in a series of confrontations between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis. More than 60 percent of global maritime trade passes through the disputed waterway. Speaking at a morning news conference, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said the country's patrol vessels would "continue to be present" in the area to defend, as well as exercise Manila's sovereign rights over, what it considers to be part of its territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Scarborough Shoal -- a triangular chain of reefs and rocks -- has been a flashpoint between the countries since China seized it from the Philippines in 2012. Earlier in the confrontation, the BRP Suluan was "targeted with a water cannon" by the Chinese but "successfully" evaded it, Tarriela's statement said. burs-cgm/cwl The activist and labor organizer was released from an Israeli prison after being detained on a humanitarian mission. Now he wants to go back. The activist Chris Smalls is ready to go back to Gaza. In a few posts on X yesterday, he expressed his disdain for the Israeli forces that occupy Palestine and said he is ready to go again after he was arrested just two weeks ago on a mission to challenge the blockade that prevents food and other necessities from entering the Gaza Strip. The experience seems to have only motivated the Amazon union organizer to continue the mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Damn right I will go back on another flotilla again and again until we break the illegal siege that Israel upholds and Palestine is finally free! He wrote on X. Damn right I will go back on another flotilla again and again until we break the illegal siege that Israel upholds and Palestine is finally free! Christian Smalls (@Shut_downAmazon) August 9, 2025 Smalls made national headlines as an organizer in 2022 when he successfully founded the first Amazon labor union at a Staten Island Amazon warehouse. With a group of activists this year, hes formed the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, whose mission is to sail to Gaza to bring in humanitarian aid. He was the only Black person sailing on their ship called Handala when they were reportedly detained in international waters by Israeli naval forces on July 26. The group reported that he was also singled out and beaten because of his race. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition reported that he was kicked and choked by seven uniformed officers upon arrival in Israeli custody. Smalls also said in an interview that one of the soldiers used his hair, which is in dreadlocks, and his chain necklaces to perform the choking while saying racist remarks to him. By July 31, Smalls was released from prison and returned to the US with the other organizers. The posts from Smalls also reveal details of his arrest from his side. He wrote to his followers, I did curse the IOF straight to their faces for all the bloodshed and it was worth every word. He also speculated that the Israeli military did not release propaganda videos of his arrest because it would prove that the claims he was the aggressor were false. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would love to see the footage! it would shock the world, He wrote in another post. More must-reads: Arlington Democrat Mayor Jim Ross is facing further criticism after The Dallas Express resurfaced 2018 footage showing him using vulgar language and making explicit remarks toward Christian street preacher Ruben Israel at the Southern Decadence festival in New Orleans. As previously reported by The Dallas Express, the footage, recorded by Vice News, shows Ross, whose face was blurred, addressing Israel with crude language: You stand out here like you are a badass motherf*cker, Ross says. He then adds, You dont think anal sex is good, do you? Have you ever f*cked your old lady in the *ss? Id f*ck your old lady in the *ss. Rich Penkoski, founder of Official Street Preachers and a long-time associate of Israel, expressed concern over Rosss comments, citing the impact on Israels wife, Colleen Chavez, who has Parkinsons disease and has been bedridden for years. For Ross to make such a remark to a man whose wife is struggling with such serious health issues only magnifies the insensitivity of the situation, Penkoski told The Dallas Express. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Penkoski, who took over the leadership of Official Street Preachers after Ruben Israels passing in 2023, shared his background. My name is Rich Penkoski, founder of Voice for Christ Ministries. I worked with Ruben Israel for many years, traveling across the United States and preaching at various events including pride events and Mardi Gras, Penkoski explained. When Ruben passed away, he handed the reins of Official Street Preachers to me and David Grisham. Rubens channel, Official Street Preachers, on YouTube is still active, as is the website. Ruben Israel was the patriarch of the modern street preaching movement. Penkoski also described what he and his group witnessed at Southern Decadence and raised concerns about Ross motives for attending the event. Southern Decadence is essentially Mardi Gras for homosexuals. Men go there with the express intent of engaging in sodomy and other public sexual acts, Penkoski said. So the question becomes: How does a man like Jim Ross, who claims to be heterosexual, attend such an event and have no problem witnessing this? Penkoski also pointed to what he views as a perceived double standard within the LGBTQ+ community. The LGBT crowd loves to claim Christians are hateful because we say what the Bible says that homosexuality is sin and detestable to God (Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:2627). But heres the hypocrisy: Some of these same people will turn around and tell a man using the most obscene language possible that they want to sodomize with his wife a wife who is bedridden with Parkinsons disease, he said. In their world, quoting Scripture = Hate speech, but sexually harassing a disabled woman = Acceptable free expression. This isnt love. This isnt tolerance. This is moral corruption disguised as virtue. Biblical Citizenship Pastor Troy Jackson, PhD, of New Beginnings Church in Bedford, Texas, also weighed in, condemning Ross actions. Ruben Israel was no shrinking violet; yet even he deserved dignity and respect from an elected representative, Jackson wrote in a statement to The Dallas Express. Arlington can demand better without trading insults for insults. Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Dallas Express reached out to Arlington Democrat Mayor Jim Ross for comment and will update the article if a response is received. The Church in Wales has said it will not respond to criticim of Cherry Vann's sexuality following her election as Archbishop of Wales. The Global Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans (Gafcon), which represents conservative views, described her appointment as "another painful nail in the coffin of Anglican orthodoxy". A chaplain representing the LGBTQ+ community in Wales said they were "saddened" but not surprised by the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After her appointment, Bishop Vann, who became the first female and LGBTQ+ leader of the church in Wales, told the BBC the church should represent "the diversity that is in our communities". Reacting to her appointment, Dr Lauren Mbanda, chairman of Gafcon and Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Rwanda, said the church had "bowed to wordly pressure to subvert God's good word". Gafcon was formed by conservative elements of the church following the appointment of Gene Robinson as the first openly gay bishop in New Hampshire, in the US, in 2003. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It issued the 2008 Jerusalem Declaration in response to the theological and moral divisions within the Anglican communion. The statement rejects the blessing of same-sex unions and is critical of the consecration of bishops in a homosexual relationship saying that it "undermines the authority of scripture". Rev Canon Sarah Hildreth Osborn, chaplain for the LGBT+ community in the St Asaph Diocese, said she was not surprised "one iota" by the response from Gafcon. "If they'd been welcoming I'd have been shocked. I'm saddened by the idea that, as a church, our choice under the guidance of God can be wrong," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's a shame that people can't see that other parts of the world, other cultures, other parts of the Anglican tradition will do things differently," she said, adding that the church in Wales had "made a good choice". "To call another part of the church out in those terms, well who is nailing the nails in the coffin as it were?" she added. Local police chiefs are sounding off after viral footage of a brutal Cincinnati assault shined new light on what local leaders are saying is a consistent failure regarding violent offenders being released onto the citys streets. In a statement released by the Hamilton County Association of Chiefs of Police on Aug. 8, the organization blasted local leaders for "gaps in the judicial process" within the local government. "It is not enough to arrest violent offenders if they are swiftly released back into our neighborhoods due to lax bail practices or insufficient sentencing," the statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cincinnati Viral Beating Bodycam Released As Suspects Face New Charges In Grand Jury Indictment The association vowed to host a roundtable discussion with local leaders within the next 30 days to address the communitys concerns regarding safety after the July 26 beatdown on the corner of Fourth and Elm streets left six injured and led to six arrests. "The goal is to foster open, solution-focused dialogue around strengthening public safety while ensuring fairness and integrity across the entire justice process," the statement said. Read On The Fox News App The update comes as police response time to the fight has been heavily criticized after Cincinnati Police Chief Theresa Theetge revealed only 11 officers were stationed downtown when the beatdown occurred. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cincinnati Mayor Under Fire For Police Management After Viral Beating Exposes Lax Bail Laws The citys bail policies have also come under fire from Republican mayoral challenger Cory Bowman, who is looking to unseat incumbent Mayor Aftab Pureval, a Democrat, in the upcoming election. "There are things from City Hall that are showing that the police are not supported the way they need to," Bowman, Vice President JD Vances half-brother, told Fox News Digital. "They are unable to do their jobs because they've been told time and time again that they have to use restraint in certain things instead of enforcing the law. They're told to dial back, and then what happens is that we have prosecutors and judges that have a catch-and-release system." The mayors office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digitals request for comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cincinnati Brawl Timeline: Brutal Assault Spirals Into National Firestorm Cincinnati mayoral candidate Cory Bowman speaks at a town hall event in Cincinnati on Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. While citywide data indicates crime throughout Cincinnati has remained on par with last years numbers, Bowman echoed the sentiments of the police department, blaming the citys leadership for the reason police feel unsupported while carrying out their duties. "So many officers have come to me, and they've said they don't even see a point in making arrests because the criminals are just going to be back on the streets the very next day," Bowman said. "We have to put pressure on all the judges and prosecutors, and we have to be able to let the officers know, Do your job, see your training and do your job properly, and you're going to have all of City Hall to back you up in that circumstance." On Friday, a grand jury indicted the six individuals arrested in connection with the violent assault that sent shockwaves through the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cincinnati Mayoral Candidate, Vp Vance's Half-brother, Slams City Leadership After Brutal Beatdown Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval participates in a candidate forum with Brian Frank hosted by the Cincinnati NAACP on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 in Cincinnati. Patrick Rosemond, 38, Jermaine Matthews, 39, Montianez Merriweather, 34, DeKyra Vernon, 24, Dominique Kittle, 37, and Aisha Devaughn, 25, are each charged with three counts of alleged felonious assault, three charges of assault and two charges of aggravated rioting, the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office confirmed to Fox News Digital. Merriweather was previously indicted just two weeks before the violent attack for allegedly receiving stolen property, weapons under disability, improper transportation of a firearm and other charges, according to the Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Queen City Lodge #69. The order also revealed that at the time of the beatdown, Merriweather was out of jail on $4,000 bond, though he only needed to post 10% or $400 to be released. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is your court system," the FOP said in a social media post. The association is looking to fellow leaders within Cincinnatis government to provide further transparency surrounding bail laws as they look to keep violent offenders off the streets. "Just as law enforcement is held to high standards and evaluated on our daily practices, we must also understand the outcomes taking place in courtrooms and who is responsible for them," the association said. "Let us be clear: we will not allow the dedication and sacrifice of our law enforcement professionals to be rendered meaningless by systemic failures or the absence of shared responsibility." Fox News Digital's Peter D'Abrosca and Greg Wehner contributed to this report. Original article source: Cincinnati assault: Police chiefs rip leaders over bail laws, gaps in the judicial process This story has been updated to include new information. Iris Roley was once one of the city's fiercest critics, but as the political tide shifted in Cincinnati, she became a paid consultant advising city leaders on police reform. Now people are calling for her to be fired. The Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police is hosting a petition saying Roley is harassing officers. The petition had more than 3,500 signatures as of the morning of Aug. 11. They point to two body camera videos and a podcast appearance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So far, the city's elected officials have not said what they plan to do. City Manager Sheryl Long, in a statement, called Roley an "essential community and civic leader." Long said she's reviewing the incidents. "She consistently steps up to organize effective strategies and raises her hand to support community when others don't," Long said in the statement. "However, anyone doing work on behalf of the city of Cincinnati must hold themselves to a higher standard. That includes not interfering with police who are in the act of performing their lawful duties." What the videos show Two body camera videos show Roley approaching police while they are on duty. Roley questions the officers. In one, she explains she's trying to find solutions to a parking issue, but the confrontation escalates and Roley says: "I don't have to do anything you say." In another video, she steps into a situation with an uncooperative man accused of drinking of public. She tells the man if the officer is actually mistreating him then he should file a complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The petition for Roley to be fired also calls out a podcast. The petition's organizers say it shows her berating a retired officer and others. What the police union says FOP President Ken Kober said the petition went up at the end of last week after the videos circulated. "Tell Cincinnati to stop using tax dollars to harass police officers," the petition stated. "Terminate Iris Roley's contract." "Theres been several videos of her seen harassing officers for simply trying to do their jobs," Kober said. "Thats not collaboration. Thats just being an agitator. Thats the problem I have. How do we have someone paid taxpayer dollars to go out and harass the police?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: The city manager's silence on Iris Roley's behavior puts police reform at risk | Opinion She also drew critics who bristled at her tactics. After videos of the street fight at the corner of Fourth and Elm streets went viral, some conservative political accounts took aim at Roley. Libs of TikTok, an X account with 4.3 million followers, showed video it claimed to show Roley confronting a police officer writing a citation to another Black man. "This woman is getting paid tens of thousands a year with taxpayer dollars to harass police officers who are doing their job," the post said. What Roley's supporters say The Hamilton County Public Defender's Office issued a rare statement supporting Roley on Aug. 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement said that calling for Roley's firing is a "divisive tactic aimed at dismantling the Collaborative Agreement and ending necessary accountability." The public defender's office said Cincinnati is safer because of Roley and that she is an integral part of the Collaborative Agreement which helped lessen racial profiling and discriminatory enforcement. The statement praised Roley for preventing crime by standing with families after shootings and helping keep children out of trouble. "Collaboration cannot exist when law enforcement tries to shut down community dissent through personal attacks," the public defender's office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More of Roley's defenders have rallied to support her. A competing petition on Change.org had garnered over 1,600 signatures as of Aug. 11. "Iris has worked side-by-side with residents, law enforcement, and city leaders to ensure that every voice is heard and every policy reflects fairness and accountability," the petition states. "Her work has saved lives, prevented injustice, and built a stronger relationship between the police and the communities they serve." More: Cincinnati risks throwing away a proven public safety partner in Iris Roley | Opinion A statement from Friedman, Gilbert + Gerhardstein law firm says Roley's role has always been evaluating police conduct and supporting community voices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Iris is being targeted for encouraging a community member to follow formal complaint procedures and questioning an officer's response," the statement said, which is within her "rights of free speech and advocacy outside her formal services for the City." The statement said Roley and her family have received hate messages and threats of violence due to the current campaign criticizing her. "I solidly support Iris Roley," the Rev. Damon Lynch III told community leaders in an Aug. 11 meeting, "and there's a petition that we want all of you to sign to show our support for the 25 years of work she's put in to hold police accountable." Who is Iris Roley? Roley has become an outspoken civil rights leader who has worked to uncover police misconduct. She's led the efforts to reform policing in the wake of the 2001 shooting of 19-year-old Timothy Thomas by Cincinnati Police Officer Stephen Roach, which sparked riots. As project manager for the Cincinnati Black United Front, she compiled testimonies from 3,500 Black residents who said they were victims of police brutality and misconduct. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, she's represented the community in the ongoing work of the Collaborative Agreement, a landmark contract between the city, the police and the community forged in 2002 by the city in the wake of Thomas' killing and other police shootings. Roley was hired in 2022 as the city prepared to hire a new police chief to replace Eliot Isaac, who was retiring. Her initial contact, signed in January of that year, called her a Collaborative Agreement Sustainability Consultant. More recently, she used her role to spearhead an effort to engage and support youth in Downtown's Government Square following several high-profile attacks. She rallied community organizations from around the city to come meet the young people. City leaders praised her efforts. An 'all-in issue': Downtown attacks prompt response from police and volunteers Her contract According to her initial contract, she was hired to help bring on a Collaborative Agreement Sustainability Manager, provide training to the City Manager's Advisory Group, help the city engage with the community on the Collaborative Agreement and help the city engage the public during the hiring of a new chief. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The contract was for six months with a possible three-month extension paying $8,333.33 per month. This contract also limited Roley's public statements, as she frequently commented to the media about police reform issues and police shootings. The contract said the city understands she makes public statements and does not expect her to change her "method of engagement." "However, any statements made regarding or related to the work under this Agreement or otherwise represented to be in connection with either the City Administration or the Mayor's Office must be pre-approved by the City's Director of Communications," the contract stated. This contract has likely lapsed. The Enquirer has asked the city for Roley's current contract but has not yet received a copy. Roley's contract stipulates the city pays her $105,000 annually to work on the Collaborative Agreement, according to Mollie Lair, spokeswoman with the city manager. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city has paid Roley $201,000 in 2025, according to data provided by the city to Ohio Checkbook. That's a significant jump from the previous year, 2024, where Roley received $78,950. In a text to The Enquirer, Lair said there were additional payments to Roley for work on Government Square. That additional money wasn't salary for Roley, she said. Instead, it paid for community workers and other expenses. EXCLUSIVE: Iris Roley, a consultant for the city of Cincinnati, was caught on camera harassing a police officer who was issuing a citation. This woman is getting paid tens of thousands a year with taxpayer dollars to harass police officers who are doing their job. Any comment pic.twitter.com/Fay9mZExHd Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) July 31, 2025 This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Police union calls on Cincinnati leaders to fire Iris Roley VIENNA, Ohio (WKBN) A group of concerned citizens was protesting ICE activities at a local airport Sunday. Read next: Motorcyclist killed after hitting deer in Trumbull County The group claims that ICE agents have been flying undocumented immigrants out of the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport. There were about a dozen protestors there Sunday afternoon, holding signs reading Its due process FOR, or its due process FOR NONE, and #7 in the U.S. for ICE flights DAILY. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group claims ICE agents were using the airport by way of a private charter company. Democratic Congressional candidate Michael Kripchak was also there. It needs to be made clear to our citizens the main reason we are out here is that if one person in our country loses due process, we all lose due process, Kripchak said. First News spoke to the Western Reserve Port Authority when covering another ICE protest at the airport earlier this year. The executive director says the Port Authority cannot deny access to the airfield and has no access to destinations. Dominic OBrien contributed to this report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Leaders of Cincinnati's Black community on Aug. 11 called for the police to arrest the White man who slapped a Black man in the viral Downtown brawl. Six people, all Black, so far have been charged in the street fight that took place on the corner of Fourth and Elm streets in the early morning hours of July 26. Pastors, leaders and dozens of members of Cincinnati's Black community stood in the pulpit of New Prospect Baptist Church in Roselawn and asked why others haven't been charged, particularly the White man who slapped the Black man right before the fight escalated. It was that slap that started the riot, they said. Ohio State Rep. Cecil Thomas talks during a press conference held by Black leaders at New Prospect Baptist Church in Roselawn New Prospect Baptist Church Pastor and civil rights leader the Rev. Damon Lynch III at the meeting asked for the mugshots of the six Black people arrested to be shown on the church's monitors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You charge them with inciting a riot, but you dont charge the person who incited the riot," Lynch said. "Thats why state representatives, council persons are here and the community is here, because I don't know if the city of Cincinnati understands people are not going to sit down for this." State Rep. Cecil Thomas, a Democrat from North Avondale, Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney and Cincinnati Councilman Scotty Johnson were in attendance calling for the slapper to be charged. "It's been over two weeks," Lemon Kearney said. "We saw that video. We saw who incited the violence." Vice Mayor: 'Everybody involved in that violence needs to be charged' Cincinnati City Council Vice Mayor Jan-Michelle Lemon Kearney (in green) watches the video of the brawl during a press conference held by black leaders at New Prospect Baptist Church in Roselawn. Kearney said the slap started the violence. She also referenced the videos that show racial slurs being hurled at the Black people in the fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Everybody involved in that violence needs to be charged," Kearney said. "And we cannot divide by race and say only the Black people are going to be charged, but we're not going to charge the White people who incited the violence." A message to the Cincinnati Police Department wasn't immediately returned. Police Chief Teresa Theetge said Aug. 1 that police had tried to interview the man who was accused of the initial slap but were stopped by his attorney. Mayor Aftab Pureval, in a statement, said a decision on additional charges "should be made as soon as possible." He said the public will be informed. "I agree with everyone's frustration," Pureval said. "I have been clear about my expectations that, in order to preserve both public safety and fairness, anyone involved in perpetrating the violence should be charged." Johnson hinted at some action that could be forthcoming in the near future but wouldn't elaborate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There is something in the chamber that is coming if there isn't a move to justice," Johnson said. After the meeting, he wouldn't say what that "something" is. Johnson slams Vance, Moreno: 'We as a city have blown this' Johnson lamented the politicization of the event. Johnson, a Democrat, in particular criticized Vice President JD Vance and Sen. Bernie Moreno, a Republican from Westlake. Republicans have criticized Cincinnati's all-Democratic City Council and mayor for the violence. Moreno has threatened to cut Cincinnati's federal funding if the city doesn't come up with a plan to address the violence. Vance weighed in and said the brawl was proof of "way too much lawlessness" in American cities. "JD Vance and Bernie Moreno have dictated the direction of this investigation," Johnson said. "We cannot bow to and allow political pressure to skew criminal investigations. We as a city have blown this." This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati's Black leaders demand action in wake of street brawl LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The City of Las Vegas is warning residents about an email scam appearing to be from the Planning Commission. According to a post on the City of Las Vegass social media pages, a fake email is going around claiming to be from the Planning Commission and asking the recipient to pay an application approval fee. The City posted a video example of the email, shown in part in the photo below. The City of Las Vegas is warning residents about an email scam appearing to be from the Planning Commission. (The City of Las Vegas) The City said this email is not legitimate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The City is warning anyone who has recieved this email not to click any links, download any attachments, or follow the instructions in the message. Residents are reminded to stay alert, protect their information, and when in doubt, reach out to the city directly to verify. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) Thousands of people packed Fifth Avenue on Sunday for Hillcrest CityFest, San Diegos largest summer art and music festival. The nine-block street party featured live music, local food, art vendors and community organizations all celebrating Hillcrests vibrant culture. Over the years, it has grown so much, said Natalie Starr, marketing coordinator for the Hillcrest Business Association. Its turned into a street and music festival that now spans nine city blocks from Fifth Avenue to Brooks Avenue, and everybody loves it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 150 vendors lined the streets, offering everything from giant slices of pizza to handcrafted goods. Organizers say the event not only boosts small businesses but also brings the community together. I feel like it just activates our community and supports all our local businesses in a wonderful way, one vendor said. CityFest is also known as a space where people can express themselves freely. Were proud and honored to be a neighborhood where people can authentically be themselves, one organizer said. For some attendees, the festival is about connecting with causes close to their hearts. One visitor said they enjoyed visiting a booth supporting autism awareness because they have two grandchildren on the spectrum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The annual event began 41 years ago as a lighting ceremony for the Hillcrest sign. Organizers said the large turnout at that first gathering inspired what has now become a major San Diego tradition. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Native New Orleanian Imam Omar Suleiman leads a prayer outside the ICE detention center in Jena while Mahmoud Khalil undergoes a court hearing on Thursday, May 22, 2025. (John Gray/Verite News) In late July, officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement provided access to three detention centers they operate in Louisiana to a group of about 20 civil rights advocates. Their tour included the Central Louisiana ICE Processing Center, located on the former England Air Force Base in Alexandria. Its become a conduit for individuals apprehended around the country to the nine ICE detention centers in Louisiana, where immigration court watchers say judges are more likely to be aligned to the Trump administrations enforcement policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other ICE facilities on the tour were the South Louisiana Processing Center in Basile, which holds only women, and the Pine Prairie Processing Center in Evangeline Parish. The Illuminator conducted two separate interviews with attorneys who went on the tour, and excerpts from these transcripts are shared below. They have been edited for length and clarity. One interview featured Kerry Kennedy and Anthony Enriquez with the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization, who are in Episode 17 of The Light Switch, our weekly podcast. The other interview is with Alanah Odoms, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, and Nora Ahmed, the organizations legal director. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RFK Human Rights and the ACLU of Louisiana have collaborated in the past, most notably as of late on a 2024 report Inside the Black Hole that detailed abused and disappeared immigrants in the state. It was compiled based on interviews with more than 6,000 interviews and seven tours with officials from the New Orleans ICE office. Last months tour was just the latest trip to the states ICE facilities for Ahmed and Enriquez, both of whom have clients in custody. The interviews included claims of unsanitary living conditions, inadequate medical care and abuse. Questions about these allegations were sent to the ICE media relations office, and its representatives have yet to respond. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Q: Youve visited these facilities before. Did you get the sense that preparations were made in advance to have each facility put its best foot forward, or was it much as youve seen on past visits? Odoms: This was actually my first time inside immigrant detention. I was really surprised that it did not seem like much preparation went into making things appear, at least visually, better than what they normally are. I think where the real dog and pony show took place was in their presentation to us about their operations and their standards and their protocols. That was like night and day, hearing from ICE about how they care for people and what their standards are, versus hearing directly from the residents. Q: The first stop on the tour was the ICE Processing Center in Alexandria. Take us through your first impressions. Odoms: First of all, every single one of these places has many layers of barbed wire around it, so they depict prison immediately. Then youre brought through metal detectors and security. Youre you have to surrender everything, even a smart watch. Youre not allowed to have any recording devices, anything like that. Then youre brought through these metal sally port doors, which are these huge metal doors that slam shut behind you, and you are very, very aware that you are in a prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then you walk in and you see there are two main areas in the staging facility where people are either held in prison, like cells, like a cell block, very traditional prison and it opens up into what they call airport-style seating area, where people are actually sitting, chained at their hands, chained at their feet, and chained at their bellies, waiting for their planes to take off. That is what you see as soon as you walk in, and they did not try to hide the people who were waiting. There were about maybe a handful, if not maybe 10 to 12 people who were waiting for a flight, who were sitting clearly chained at every single appendage of their body. The second room is more of a gymnasium style room where there are between 70 to 90 people being housed in bunk beds. This aging facility is where the male population is held inside these either cell blocks or bunk-style barracks. In the open room, theres a large Plexiglas or glass partition where you can very clearly see whos inside, and they can very clearly see you. As soon as folks saw us, they immediately came to that window. And honestly, the looks on all of their faces were like, Help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Q: Kerry, your organization has a global focus on human rights concerns. Whats happening in Louisianas ICE facilities that has made this situation one of your priorities? Kerry Kennedy, president of the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization. (RFK Human Rights photo) Kennedy: When we were in Louisiana, in the detention centers, we met with a woman who is also one of our clients, who her doctor told her that she might have colon cancer, and she was picked up [to see a doctor] a couple of days later. Shes been asking for four and a half months to see a doctor to see whether or not she has colon cancer, and her ability to see that doctor has been denied for four and a half months. We met another woman, an elderly woman, who begged and pleaded to see a doctor because she came into the facility walking perfectly, and now shes forced to use a wheelchair, and she doesnt know why. Shes begged and pleaded to see a doctor. They finally said, Well send you to health care, and she was sexually assaulted when she did that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I met another young woman whos 26 years old. She is gay. Shes from Russia. She fled Russia because of the oppression against gay people, because her life was in danger. Shes got a masters in chemical engineering, and she was working for a pharmaceutical company, making medicines for us, for our country, and now instead, shes in this detention center. This makes no sense. These are people who are in our communities, who are creating change, who are paying taxes, who are making our country stronger and better. And instead, now you and I [are] paying through our tax dollars for their breakfast, lunch and dinner every single day, and for them to be in a prison situation instead about the world creating change. So thats why were attacking this. Q: How do you mount a legal strategy for your clients against an administration that is willing to subvert due process when it comes to immigration law? Enriquez: This is a question that actually has two answers. One is we work hand in hand with people who are living and working in the communities where detention centers exist. So for those of you who are in Louisiana, one thing thats been interesting is when we have discussions with the workers who are guards in some of these private prisons, these detention centers. They tell us, I really didnt have another choice. It was either work here or in a casino, and this was the only thing around for me. This was a way that I could feed my own family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So a core element of what were doing is to try and extend the notion of human rights, not just to the people who are suffering the types of physical sexual abuse that that you just heard Kerry speak of the detained immigrants, but actually the workers who are being exploited in these detention centers as well by private prison. CEOs are pocketing these taxpayer dollars for their own bonuses. People might not be aware that the head of the corporate leadership of the GEO Group, which is one of the owners of many of the detention centers in Louisiana, they just gave themselves big fat raises after the passage of this last domestic policy bill. Thats money that theyre actually taking out of the hands of pockets of Louisiana workers as well. So thats one of the ways that we really try and broaden the conception of what human rights is, and we let people know this is a big fight thats affecting all of us. Q: Statistics show that roughly half of the people being detained in Louisiana ICE facilities do not have a prior criminal background, and many have not been formally charged with a crime. Odoms: The only designation that they have that separates people who they believe have criminal histories is this high- [or] low-designation, and whether you get put in a cell block or whether you get put in the barrack style living conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When we asked about classification for how people were classified as either high or low, we didnt get a very clear answer on that at all. Sometimes they were saying, Well, they come to us that way from other facilities, so someone else is making the classification, and were just kind of rubber stamping that and either putting somebody in a cell block or putting someone in a barracks. Or, We have a point system, and they said, Oh, youre going to have to request that in writing. So anytime we kind of brushed up against a question that would really illuminate what was happening in terms of constitutional violations and real problems, all of those questions were met with: That would have to be something that you submit in writing. Q: What explanations have you been given as to why your clients are being warehoused indefinitely in ICE detention without any opportunity for bond, and what level of proof is the federal government providing to justify this? Ahmed: We have two clients [and] well be filing habeas petitions* in short order that illustrate this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of our clients, theyve attempted to remove her to six different countries. All have said no, but shes still there because apparently theyre just going to run through the list, which is wildly preposterous. * What is a habeas petition? Its a legal filing with the court to require authorities to present the legal reason someone is held in prison. In terms of bond, were going to bring another habeas challenge. Because right now youve probably heard the administration is [taking into custody] people who appear at their immigration proceedings. We have a client who appeared for her asylum proceeding, and then she was whisked away. The reason she was whisked away is because of a newfound interpretation of the United States Code, Section 1225, which no longer is interpreting mandatory detention as applicable to people appearing at the border, and is now just applying to anybody who entered the country without inspection. So youre now starting to see people like our client, whove been in the United States for two decades, showing up as theyre supposed to to an immigration court hearing. Are you really a flight risk if youre showing up to your court hearing? Probably not. And in her particular case, theres no criminal record. So youre also talking about somebody who there is no conceivable way that you could possibly say that shes a danger. I still want to say that people who do have criminal records are also not dangerous, lets be clear, because in this country, a criminal record could include not paying a fine or having to pick up your child and not making a court date. So I dont like to pitch people with criminal records as people who are dangerous because the vast majority are not. Need to get in touch? Have a news tip? CONTACT US Q: Recently in Louisiana, two powerful members of our congressional delegation intervened to secure the release of two detainees. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise stepped in to have an Iranian woman whos lived in New Orleans for nearly 50 years released, and Sen. John Kennedy was instrumental in the release of a Mexican woman whos married to a U.S. Marine. Does this give you any glimmer of hope that other powerful Republicans will call for the Trump administration to pause its sweeping immigration enforcement efforts? Kennedy: I think its important that people at the highest levels are beginning to understand the impact of these terrible laws. You know, one of the problems with GEO Group is that it runs prisons. So this is a detention facility that is run as a prison. But before this, we were not always putting people in detention, and a lot of these people have been in the communities, have been in the Marines, have served our country. They are our teachers. They are giving us the food that we eat every day. Theyre making our medicines. They can be in the community, and theyre great programs proven again and again and again where 100% of the people who are released into the community return for their detention here, for their immigration hearings and also to be deported, if thats ultimately whats supposed to happen to them. So why in the world are we taking people? Why are we kidnapping people off the street and treating them with such inhumanity and harming our country at the same time? This makes no sense, unless you think about it as a way to enrich a cruel corporation, which is whats happened. Q: The sheer number of people being detained makes it close to impossible that everyone is represented by an attorney. Is there any solution within sight that, at the very least, would ensure every detainee receives legal representation? Kennedy: Yeah, well, theres a clear solution open up the doors and let people be in the community, which was the solution under the Bush administration, the Obama administration, many of the other administrations. Thats what would happen to people, and there are proven programs where 100% of them come back to their [immigration court] hearing. So thats the least expensive, most effective and best way to assure that peoples rights are not being compromised by the United States government. Q: Were seeing increasing incidents of people showing up for immigration court hearings at the appointed time and date, following official instructions only to be taken into ICE custody and placed into detention. How are you advising clients who might want to adhere to the rules but face a good chance they will be apprehended and then fast-tracked toward deportation or imprisoned indefinitely? Odoms: We have very direct guidance for people who are able to obtain counsel. They absolutely need to do so, and they need to presume that they are going to be apprehended. Like, its not if theyre going to be taken. Its when theyre going to be taken. But heres the thing, I really want this to come across: Everyone is still having faith in this system, that if they actually present themselves and continue to do whats right, being compliant, being adherent, that they will actually be given some kind of consideration. And that is not true Ahmed: What preparations people need to do? They need to prepare in two to three very distinct ways, I think, and we can tell them, talk to an immigration attorney about a motion to reopen your immigration proceedings very quickly. Also try to ensure that you have access to a federal practitioner who will be able to file a habeas petition for you when youre incarcerated. Weve seen a lot of congressional folks start stepping up, have a privacy waiver signed and make sure that everyone important in your life, including your congressional representatives, is able to communicate on your behalf with ICE. You can download the document off of the [ICE] website. You get to fill in the information of whoever is allowed to have access, and then they can start advocating for you with ICE. You should know your congressional representatives, who can do that, your local friends and family. Q: Alana, your organization has always had as its bedrock the belief that our Constitution, our laws and judicial system ultimately would not let us down. Do you feel that certainty still exists? Odoms: Yeah, it does feel like the safety net of our Constitution has started to fray in some really fundamental ways. Myself and every other lawyer thats been trained in this country, were trained in the Constitution, both of Louisiana and of the United States of America. Were not trained to actually respond to an authoritarian regime that is the true issue that were all facing. What do you do when the Constitution doesnt apply anymore? What do we do when we actually have laws and those laws are being completely thrown out, how do we respond? Theres a lot for us to learn from organizers and folks who have been doing work outside of the power structure, because I dont think were going to find our answers in the traditional way that we have in the past. Thats the outside strategy that we have to work on. It doesnt necessarily have to do with filing a lawsuit, but it does have to do with strategizing around people power. How do we do that? Because these systems are only going to buckle under the the pressure of people saying, Oh, hell no, that looks like an authoritarian regime. Thats not what we want. We want a process. We want due process. We want people to have access to lawyers. We want people to have access to all the things that our constitution says. Thats a people power movement. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Same-sex marriage could soon be back on the Supreme Court docket. Kim Davis, the Kentucky county clerk who was jailed in 2015 for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses, is appealing her case. Davis is appealing a $100,000 jury verdict for emotional damages plus $260,000 for attorneys fees, reported ABC News Monday. In a petition filed last month, Davis claimed that her First Amendment rights protecting her religious freedom effectively immunized her from repercussions for denying the licenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mistake must be corrected, Daviss attorney Mathew Staver argued in the petition, further condemning Justice Anthony Kennedys majority opinion in Obergefell v. Hodges as legal fiction. This court should revisit and reverse Obergefell for the same reasons articulated in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Center, reads one titled portion, under which Staver claims that Obergefell was wrong when it was decided and it is wrong today because it was grounded entirely on the legal fiction of substantive due process. Stavers argument alluded to Justice Clarence Thomass concurring opinion in Dobbs, which overturned the nationwide right to abortion established in Roe v. Wade. In his 2022 opinion, Thomas argued that the court should reconsider its substantive due process precedents, including contraception, same-sex marriage, and even same-sex relationships. Davis served six days in jail for refusing to issue the licenses. Her appeal marks the first time that the nations highest judiciary has been formally asked to reconsider the landmark decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If there ever was a case of exceptional importance, Staver wrote, the first individual in the Republics history who was jailed for following her religious convictions regarding the historic definition of marriage, this should be it. Gay marriage was effectively legalized in 2015, when the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell that keeping marriage licenses from same-sex couples was discriminatory. The decision mandated that all states issue licenses to gay and lesbian couples, and required states to recognize marriages performed in other jurisdictions, as well. Marriage equality was further protected at the federal level in 2022, when the Respect for Marriage Act became law, requiring all 50 states to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. It did not, however, formally legalize gay marriage, so if the Supreme Court were to take up Daviss case and overturn Obergefell, gay marriage rights would fall with it. Roughly 69 percent of Americans support same-sex marriages, according to a 2024 Gallup poll. Republican support for gay couples equal rights has dipped in recent years, however, from a record high of 55 percent in favor of it in 2021 to 46 percent in 2024. CLAY COUNTY, IN (WTWO/WAWV) A 41-year-old Clay County man is dead after suffering injuries from a firework. According to Clay County Sheriff Brison Swearingen, on August 9, 2025, at approximately 9:48 p.m., the Clay County Sheriffs Office received a call reporting a fireworks-related injury in southern Clay County. Terre Haute man found with large amount of methamphetamine The sheriff noted that, according to witnesses, Brandon Hamilton was attempting to light a firework, a 3-inch mortar, as part of a fireworks display when the device ignited unexpectedly and discharged, striking Mr. Hamilton. Despite immediate emergency efforts, Mr. Hamilton succumbed to his injuries at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clay County Coroner Lexi Gass told WTWO that an autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday, August 12, 2025. The Sheriffs Office was assisted on the scene by the Clay County Coroners Office, Jasonville Police Department, and the Indiana State Police. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. The USS Silversides submarine sank 23 ships and earned 12 battle stars during World War II. Visitors can tour the vessel at the USS Silversides Submarine Museum in Muskegon, Michigan. The submarine was the site of a successful emergency appendectomy in enemy waters in 1942. Christmas Eve, 1942. The USS Silversides, a US Navy submarine, is surrounded by Japanese warships on a covert patrol in enemy-controlled waters. And George Platter's appendix is about to burst. Platter, a crew member on the USS Silversides, will die if he doesn't get surgery immediately. When the commanding officer gives the order, crew members spring into action. They fashion surgical tools out of utensils from the galley. They find an ironing board to prop up Platter's feet since the table in the wardroom is too short to lie him flat. They submerge beneath the waves to create more stability for the operation, even though the submarine's batteries are only partially charged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pharmacist's mate, Thomas Moore, has never performed the surgery before. He keeps a medical textbook open next to him the whole time. Platter wakes up during the surgery when the local anesthetic wears off, so they sedate him with ether. It leaks into the rest of the submarine and sedates some of the crew, as well. After four hours, against all odds, the surgery is successful. Platter makes a full recovery and is back on watch six days later. It's extraordinary stories such as this one that are preserved at the USS Silversides Submarine Museum in Muskegon, Michigan. Visitors can climb aboard the historic submarine, which was awarded 12 battle stars for its service in World War II, and explore its battle stations, cramped bunks, and even the operating table where Platter received his appendectomy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I toured the USS Silversides in May. Here's what I saw. Commissioned in 1941, the USS Silversides sank 23 ships over its 14 war patrols, making it one of the most successful American submarines from World War II. The USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The Gato-class submarine measures 312 feet long and weighs 2,410 tons while submerged. Its standard crew consisted of eight officers and 72 enlisted men. After it was decommissioned in 1946, the USS Silversides was used as a teaching submarine and became a National Historic Landmark. A plaque from the National Register of Historic Places on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider From 1947 to 1969, the USS Silversides was used as a training vessel for the Ninth Naval District in Chicago. It was then moved to the Naval Armory and Navy Pier before arriving in Muskegon to serve as a museum in 1987. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was also used as a movie set for the 2002 film "Below." The submarine is now the star attraction at the USS Silversides Museum in Muskegon. The USS Silversides Submarine Museum in Muskegon, Michigan. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The USS Silversides Submarine Museum is open seven days a week from April through December and operates Thursday through Monday in the winter months of January, February, and March. An all-inclusive ticket to the museum costs $17.50 for adults, $15 for veterans, and is free of charge for active-duty service members. Tickets can be purchased on the museum's website. Like the USS Cobia in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, the museum also offers visitors the chance to spend a night on the submarine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The USS Silversides is docked outside the museum in the Muskegon Lake Channel, which leads into Lake Michigan. The Lake Express ferry passes by the USS Silversides on the Muskegon Lake Channel. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The Lake Express ferry passes by the USS Silversides Submarine Museum on its route between Muskegon and Milwaukee. As I began my tour of the submarine, the ferry honked its horn as passengers waved at me from the upper deck. The deck featured weapons such as a 4-inch, 50-caliber deck gun, a 40-millimeter antiaircraft gun, and a 20-millimeter surface-to-surface gun. A 40-millimeter antiaircraft gun on the deck of the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The 40-millimeter antiaircraft gun had the longest range, capable of shooting targets up to 22,800 feet away. A plaque on the deck memorialized the crew member Mike Harbin, who was killed by enemy fire while manning the deck gun. A plaque memorializing Mike Harbin on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Harbin was 19 years old when he was shot in battle on May 10, 1942. He was buried at sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The torpedo loading ramp was made of a wood called lignum vitae, which gets slippery when wet. A torpedo loading skid on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Lignum vitae is Latin for "wood of life." The rest of the deck was made of teakwood, which is impervious to water, fire, and termites. It also doesn't float, which was crucial to maintain the submarine's covert operations if a piece broke off. Decals on the side of the submarine indicated its many wartime accomplishments. Decals on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The USS Silversides featured stickers showing it sank 30 ships, but that number has since been amended to 23, Bethann Egan, the museum's executive director, told Business Insider. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The USS Silversides also damaged 14 ships, cleared 16 enemy mines, and rescued two American paratroopers. The first stop on my tour was the forward torpedo room, where crew members loaded torpedoes into the six torpedo tubes. The forward torpedo room on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The room slept 16 crew members on bunks that unfolded alongside the torpedoes, which measured 22 feet long and weighed 3,000 pounds. Lockers above the bunks were used to store personal possessions. Lockers in the forward torpedo room. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider All of a crew member's personal items had to fit into one small locker. Colored lights were used to help crew members' eyes adjust to the dark to prevent night blindness. A light on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider If the submarine was too bright inside, crew members wouldn't be able to see in the dark if they went up onto the deck at night during an attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lights used to be blue and then switched to red, which is why the light fixture said "blue" on it even though the light bulb was red. The shower and bathroom in the forward torpedo room were used by the officers, whose bunks were down the hall. A shower and bathroom on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Flushing the toilet on the USS Silversides was a 12-step process. One wrong move would cause the toilet's contents to shoot back out. Meals were plated and reheated in the officers' pantry. The officers' pantry. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Officers ate the same meals as the rest of the crew but dined in the privacy of the wardroom instead of the crew's mess. The pantry also stocked snacks and coffee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The table on display in the wardroom was the original table where George Platter's successful appendectomy took place in 1942. The ward room on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider "The pharmacist's mate who actually performed it did not technically have permission from all the way up, but the commander made the decision that this needed to happen or else the sailor was going to die," Egan said. "So he stood up for him and made sure that he was not court-martialed after." The wardroom also served as the officers' dining room and lounge. The higher an officer's rank, the fewer people he had to share a room with. Officers' quarters on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Junior and senior officers served as administrators on the submarine, while the executive officer, known as the "XO," was second-in-command to the commanding officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers' quarters included foldout desks and sinks. Officers' quarters on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The rooms also came with storage areas where they could hang their uniforms. The commanding officer enjoyed the only private room on the submarine. The commanding officer's stateroom on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider His stateroom featured a depth gauge and a compass above the bed so that he could tell how deep the submarine was and which way it was facing at all times. Chief petty officers slept in a room nicknamed the "goat locker." The chief petty officers' quarters on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider According to the Naval History and Heritage Command, the nickname dates back to the 1890s, when chief petty officers took care of the goats kept on ships for fresh milk. Another explanation is that chief petty officers served in the Navy for more than a decade to reach their positions and were known as "old goats." In the yeoman's shack, the yeoman handled the submarine's paperwork. The yeoman's shack on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider In addition to managing personnel records, the yeoman also kept logs of the submarine's changes in direction, speed, and depth. In the control room, crew members managed the USS Silversides' vital functions with numerous technical instruments. Instruments in the control center on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The bow and stern plane wheels pictured above controlled the submarine's depth and angle. The commanding officer would give commands such as "2 degrees right rudder," which the crew would repeat and execute. The ship's inclinometer worked like a carpenter's level to show if the submarine was tilting to one side or the other. An inclinometer on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Keith Gill, the museum's director of curatorial services, told BI that staff members use this inclinometer "every day" to check on the submarine. "It's almost never centered, and that's because we have some leaks in some tanks that we're monitoring and adjusting air pressure to keep water out," Gill said. The hull opening indicator light panel was known as the "Christmas tree" for its red and green lights. The hull opening indicator light panel, also known as the "Christmas tree." Talia Lakritz/Business Insider A green light indicated that a vent or hatch was closed, while red meant it was open. The submarine could only submerge when the board was fully lit up in green. The helmsman's wheel steered the submarine. The main helm on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider On some World War II submarines, such as the USS Becuna, the main helm was in the conning tower above the control room. On the USS Silversides, the main helm was in the control room itself. The control room also housed the compressed air manifold and trim manifold. The compressed air manifold. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The compressed air manifold distributed compressed air throughout the submarine, which was used to start the engines, fire torpedoes, and surface the vessel. The trim manifold showed how much weight was in different tanks on the submarine and moved water between them to maintain the ship's balance as it used up fuel or fired weapons. In the radio room, crew members could communicate with vessels up to 12,000 miles away. The radio room on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Most communications happened in code. Cooks prepared all of the crew's meals in the galley. The galley on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Cooks were also trained to operate the deck guns and perform other technical tasks around the submarine. Gill noted that during World War II, Black crew members were often relegated to roles in the kitchen and weren't allowed to advance beyond serving as stewards because of the Navy's segregation policies. "One of the negative sides of our past is how we treated African American citizens," he said. "They were in the military, but they were segregated somewhat. On a Navy ship, on a sub, you really can't segregate, but you can control what they're doing." The kitchen featured a piece of equipment I'd never seen on a submarine before: a soft-serve ice cream machine. A soft-serve ice cream dispenser on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The kitchen also included a deep fryer. Crew members ate meals in three shifts in the crew's mess. The crew's mess on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Submarines were known for doing some of the most dangerous work and having some of the most difficult living conditions in the military, but the Navy ensured they received the best food. Submariners also received hazard pay, the highest in the Navy. The enlisted men also slept in shifts in the crew's quarters. The crew's quarters on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Newer crew members slept on the bottom bunks, which could also occasionally be used as food storage early on in a patrol. "Supposedly, they called this the honeymoon suite on top," Egan said. "I don't know if that's 100% accurate." The crew's quarters on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The mattresses in the two middle bunks were placed so close together that they essentially functioned as one bed. Regular crew members showered only every 13 to 15 days in the crew's washroom. The crew's washroom on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Officers showered every three to five days, while the cooks showered every day since they were handling food. The forward and after engine rooms each contained two 1,600-horsepower diesel engines manufactured by Fairbanks-Morse. The forward engine room on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider At top speed, the USS Silversides could travel at 21 knots, or about 24 miles an hour. The forward engine room also contained two evaporators that distilled ocean water into fresh water. The engines are still operational. The USS Silversides' insignia was painted on one of the aft engines. The USS Silversides insignia on one of its engines. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The logo depicts a silverside fish smoking a cigar and holding a torpedo. The maneuvering room was crewed by two electricians who controlled the propulsion of the submarine. The maneuvering room on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider At full power, the USS Silversides used 4 million watts of electricity. The last stop on the tour was the aft torpedo room in the back of the submarine. The after torpedo room on the USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider The aft torpedo room was smaller than the forward torpedo room, with four torpedo tubes and room for eight torpedoes. The room displayed a real demilitarized Mark 18 electric torpedo. A Mark 18 electric torpedo in the after torpedo room. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider Electric torpedoes such as the Mark 18 didn't leave a wake, or trail of waves, behind them, making them more difficult to detect. After I finished my tour of the submarine, I visited the museum itself, which featured photos and artifacts from World War II and beyond. Inside the USS Silversides Submarine Museum in Muskegon, Michigan. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider I particularly enjoyed an exhibit about the appendectomy that took place in the wardroom, featuring photos from the procedure. Preserving the aging submarine is no small task, but the USS Silversides remains a fascinating testament to the dedication of American service members in World War II. The USS Silversides. Talia Lakritz/Business Insider After running its engines in an annual Memorial Day tribute, the museum hopes to give the USS Silversides its first oil change since the 1950s this summer. Eventually, the entire vessel will have to be removed from the water and dry-docked because of leaks in its tanks. The museum applied for federal funding through the Save America's Treasures grant program, but Egan said during my May visit that they might not end up receiving it because of sweeping cuts made by the White House DOGE office. "They have not officially cut that funding source yet, but it's not looking good," Egan said. When the submarine was on active duty, the entire 80-person crew worked tirelessly to maintain the ship, and the Navy financed all necessary repairs and upgrades. The USS Silversides Submarine Museum's preservation efforts, however, are privately funded and largely volunteer-driven. "We're just poor museum people who are trying to honor the commitment that these guys made over 14 war patrols to protect our country," Gill said. Read the original article on Business Insider Dmitry Kozak, Deputy Head of the Russian leader's administration and one of Vladimir Putin's close associates, has recently proposed that he end the war in Ukraine and begin peace negotiations. Source: The New York Times, citing Kremlin-linked sources Quote: "More recently, Mr. Kozak told associates this year that he had presented Mr. Putin with a proposal to stop the fighting and hold peace negotiations, the Kremlin insiders said. They added that Mr. Kozak had indicated that he had also urged Mr. Putin to undertake domestic overhauls, including placing Russia's powerful security agencies under government oversight and building an independent judiciary." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: The New York Times noted that Kozak had disappointed Putin, as he "has made it clear that he believes the invasion of Ukraine was a mistake" and much of Kozak's authority has now shifted to Sergei Kiriyenko, another deputy in the Kremlin administration. People close to the Kremlin said Kozak is the only senior official in Putin's circle who openly expresses his disagreement with the war, although he has not voiced this criticism publicly. "Mr. Kozak's push is unlikely to sway Mr. Putin, who is largely surrounded by people who stoke his hard-line demands on Ukraine. But it reflects the frustration coursing through parts of the Moscow elite over Mr. Putin's unwillingness to compromise in the war and over the increasingly unchecked power of the security services," The New York Times said. The New York Times, citing Kremlin insiders, reported that despite losing influence, Kozak retains some access to Putin. According to sources, the fact that Putin keeps Kozak close reflects the Russian leader's loyalty to his long-time aides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin also seems to have used Kozak as an intermediary for unofficial contacts with the West. A Western contact of Kozak said they have met with him several times since 2022 and that Kozak made it clear he disagreed with the invasion. "Give me arguments," Kozak often said, according to the Western source. They believed Kozak was seeking ideas to convince Putin to change course. Background: In 2022, Reuters revealed that Kozak had tried to convince Putin that a preliminary agreement had been reached with Ukraine on abandoning NATO membership, but the Russian leader dismissed his words and launched a full-scale invasion. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) With the weather heating up this week, people across the state will be looking for ways to cool off. Whether it be swimming in a pool or going boating, it is important to know how to keep safe while trying to chill out. Public Education Instructor for the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Dennis Belanger spoke with News 8 about some boating safety tips, given the recent boating accidents in surrounding towns. Belanger urges community members to stay sober and be aware of what is around while operating a boat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The big thing is, on the water, running aground, hitting other boats at high speeds, jet skiers in particular, thats where people start to get hurt, Belanger said. They hit each other, they hit other boats, they fall off. Lastly, wear a life-jacket. This is one of the easiest precautions to take when going out on the water. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. The Coast Guard warned of "increased Chinese research vessel activity" in the U.S. Arctic as it responded to multiple vessels in the region. The agency said it recently "detected and responded to two Chinese research vessels operating in the U.S. Arctic and is currently monitoring a total of five similar vessels in or near the U.S Arctic." "On August 5, a C-130J Hercules fixed wing aircraft from Air Station Kodiak responded to the Chinese research vessels Ji Di and the Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di. Both vessels were transiting northeast in the Bering Sea," the Coast Guard said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "On August 6, the crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) again responded to the Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di as it was transiting north in the Chukchi Sea above the Arctic Circle, after passing through the Bering Strait," they added. Trump Moves Greenland Military Installation Under Us Northern Command In Arctic Power Shift The Coast Guard released a photo of the Zhong Shan Da Xue Ji Di as taken from the C-130J Hercules. They noted that the aircraft and Waesche were "patrolling under Operation Frontier Sentinel, an operation that responds to adversaries operating in and around Alaskan and U.S. Arctic waters." Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Russia, China Are Trying To Seize Control Of The Artic. We Cant Let Them Succeed "In July, Coast Guard Arctic District deployed a C-130J Hercules fixed wing aircraft from Air Station Kodiak to query the Xue Long 2, another Chinese research vessel, approximately 290 nautical miles north of Utqiagvik, Alaska," the Coast Guard also said. The sightings of the Chinese ships are part of a "three-year trend of increased activity" in the region, according to officials. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem looks out during an aerial tour on a HC-130J aircraft from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak on March 17, 2025, in Kodiak Station, Alaska. "The Coast Guard Arctic District works in conjunction with international partners, U.S. Northern Command, and Alaskan Command to constantly monitor the activity of foreign vessels operating near U.S. sovereign waters and the extended outer continental shelf to ensure homeland security, homeland defense, and compliance with U.S. and international law," the agency said. Original article source: Coast Guard warns of 'increased Chinese research vessel activity' in the US Arctic The Brief According to his family, Osnei Lima was arrested by ICE from his Cobb County home on April 30 and sent to an ICE detention center in Mississippi. Neighbors and family say hes "anything but a criminal" and is an upstanding member of the community. Juan says his father suffers from chronic back pain and a heart condition, and the family worries hes not getting adequate medical attention. COBB COUNTY, Ga. - Neighbors and friends in Cobb County came together on Sunday to advocate for the release of Osnei Lima from ICE custody. What they're saying According to his family, Lima was arrested by ICE from his Cobb County home on April 30 and sent to an ICE detention center in Mississippi. His family says he has a heart condition, and theyre worried hes not getting adequate medical treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neighbors and family say hes "anything but a criminal" and is an upstanding member of the community. On Sunday, dozens gathered at an apartment complex clubhouse in Cobb County to write letters to Georgias two U.S. senators and Governor Brian Kemp, asking for their help to get Lima released from ICE custody. "I haven't been to Brazil for 26 years, so you can imagine this is home," said Sandra Lima, Osneis wife. She says she and her husband were arrested by ICE at their Cobb County home on April 30. "I was detained for 15 days at Stewart Detention Center in Lumpkin, Georgia. And those were hard days. And I'm glad that I'm back with my son," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But ICE has continued to detain her husband, even transferring him to a facility in Mississippi. "When it feels like your nightmares came true, what do you do?" he asked. The couple run a cleaning business and are active in their church. Lima has sung in church many times. "These aren't criminals," said Ellen Rocha, who has known the Limas for almost 20 years. She says she doesnt understand why ICE went after them when the Trump administration promised to focus on criminal illegal migrants. "These are some of the most incredible, compassionate, community-driven people who pay their taxes and have done everything to sacrifice for their son," Rocha said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I just say, look at my parents, look at my mom, look at my dad. Is this the kind of people that that has been claimed to go after? These are people within their community that, you know, house cleaners don't have a single crime or anything to their name," said the Limas son, Juan. Juan says his father suffers from chronic back pain and a heart condition, and the family worries hes not getting adequate medical attention. "Theres been several nights where we go to bed at night and wake up in the morning, and we havent heard from my dad, and were worried, is his blood pressure high? Is everything okay?" he said. Friends and neighbors say they want Osnei back home for good. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I care about this family. They've put so much into our community, the least we can do is show up for them now," Rocha said. Juan Lima says they asked ICE to release his father on parole, but that request was denied. Now, theyre asking he be released due to his medical conditions. The Source Information in this article came from FOX 5's Eric Mock speaking with the family and confirming information with ICE. Red and yellow notices plaster the front doors of 10 tenants at and near Underground Atlanta, after the city found a slew of code violations. According to documentation provided by a city source to Channel 2s Michael Doudna, the city issued stop-work orders or unsafe structure placards on the following businesses: Odyssey (Underground Pub) / 50 Lower Alabama, Unit 2 Frisky Whisker / 94 Pryor Street, Unit 264 The Lunch Box / 108 Pryor, Unit 153/154 (Former) Tringali Lounge / 94 Pryor Street, Unit 236 / 238 The Exchange Center / 50 Upper Alabama Daiquiriville / 50 Alabama, Unit 8 Underground Diner, 50 Upper Alabama, Unit 260 aka 68 Pryor (Former) Footlocker, 50 Upper Alabama, Unit 270 / 70 One Park Tower High Rise / 34 Peachtree Ravine Music Site / Event Space / 35 Wall Street [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Documents showed problems varied from tenant to tenant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frisky Whisker, for example, was hit for operating as an unlicensed after-hours club, selling alcohol without a permit, unpermitted fire sprinkler system installation, an illegal tattoo parlor, and other problems. TRENDING STORIES: At One Park Tower, the city found unpermitted demolition and debris on multiple floors and an inactive fire alarm system. In an email exchange provided to Channel 2 Action News from a city source, all tenants were required to evacuate the building immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city also issued a cease and desist order at The Exchange after it found the former food hall was being used for indoor valet parking. Investigators deemed the action to make the building structurally unsafe. You just want to make sure that people, when they come, they know theyre gonna have a good time and they know that theyre going to be safe, Atlanta City Councilman Michael Julian Bond said. In a statement, Underground Atlanta said: Approximately two weeks ago, Underground Atlanta was made aware by the City of Atlanta that several tenants have not received the necessary licenses needed to conduct business. Seven of the ten tenants were not open to the public prior to the placards and will remain closed while they take the necessary steps to become compliant. The remaining two businesses are working through permitting and/or licensing procedures to reopen as soon as possible. Our team met with the City this week to quickly and effectively resolve these issues. We are making progress, communicating closely with the City, and expect to have more updates soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Underground Atlanta says of the three buildings that were open at the time of the issued violations, two (Daiquiriville and Frisky Whisker) are working through the compliance process to reopen as quickly as possible. The third open business is office space at 34 Peachtree, which is being prepared for demolition for an office-to-residential conversion. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The Brief A shooting at the Collin College campus in Plano left one man injured on Sunday night. The suspect, identified as a 23-year-old student, was taken into custody without incident after a brief lockdown. The victim, who is also a student, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, but his current condition is unknown. PLANO, Texas - Plano police are investigating a shooting at the Collin College campus on Sunday night that left one man injured and a suspect in custody. What we know Officers were called to the 5800 block of Jupiter Road, at the Collin College Student Housing complex, at approximately 8:15 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A man had reportedly shot another man before fleeing toward student apartments. When officers arrived, a male victim was located with an apparent gunshot wound to the abdomen. The victim was transported by Plano Fire-Rescue to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A Collin College Police Officer witnessed the suspect flee the scene and enter an apartment within the same complex, which initiated a campus-wide lockdown. At approximately 8:55 p.m., the suspect exited the apartment and was taken into custody without incident by Plano Police Officers. The suspect has been identified as 23-year-old Courtney Jacob Johnson of Plano. Courtney Jacob Johnson | Collin County Jail The campus-wide lockdown was lifted at approximately 10:00 p.m. Dig deeper Preliminary investigation indicates that the shooting stemmed from a verbal argument between the suspect and the victim in the student housing parking lot. This then escalated into a physical altercation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim and suspect are registered students at the College for the upcoming Fall semester and reside within the college's student housing complex. Police say the individual residing in the apartment that Johnson entered is known to both parties but was not involved in the incident. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment. His current condition is unknown. What we don't know Police have not released the names of the victims. Authorities said there is no ongoing threat to the public. The Source Information in this article comes from the Plano Police Department. Colombian presidential candidate Miguel Uribe has died two months after being shot at a campaign rally, his family said Monday, as the attack rekindled fears of a return to the nation's violent past. The 39-year-old conservative senator, a grandson of former president Julio Cesar Turbay (1978-1982), was shot in the head and leg on June 7 at a rally in the capital Bogota by a suspected 15-year-old hitman. Despite signs of progress in recent weeks, his doctors on Saturday announced he had suffered a new brain hemorrhage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "To break up a family is the most horrific act of violence that can be committed," his widow Maria Claudia Tarazona said at his wake Monday, where she thanked her husband's medical team for their efforts. She attended the state ceremony at Congress in Bogota, where Uribe's body will remain for public viewing until Wednesday. Authorities have arrested six suspects linked to the attack, including the alleged shooter, who was captured at the scene by Uribe's bodyguards. Following a nationwide manhunt, police announced the arrest of an alleged mastermind behind the attack, Elder Jose Arteaga Hernandez, alias "El Costeno." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police have also pointed to a dissident wing of the defunct FARC guerrilla group as being behind the assassination. The attack on Uribe, a leading candidate ahead of the 2026 presidential election, has reopened old wounds in a country wracked by violence. His own mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was killed in a botched 1991 police operation to free her from cocaine kingpin Pablo Escobar's Medellin cartel. Four presidential candidates were assassinated during the worst phase of violence in the 1980s and 1990s under Escobar, who terrorized citizens of Bogota, Medellin and elsewhere with a campaign of bombings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Writing on X, left-wing President Gustavo Petro, of whom Uribe was a fierce critic, said the government's role was to "repudiate crime... regardless of ideology" and assured the safety of Colombians was his top priority. - 'Evil destroys everything' - "Today is a sad day for the country," Vice President Francia Marquez said on social media. "Violence cannot continue to mark our destiny. Democracy is not built with bullets or blood, it is built with respect, with dialogue." Uribe had fiercely criticized Petro's strategy of "total peace," based on engaging all of Colombia's remaining armed groups, including drug traffickers, in dialogue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He announced in October he would seek to succeed the term-limited Petro in the May 2026 election. Uribe was elected to Bogota's city council at age 26, later becoming its youngest-ever chairperson and then the mayor's right-hand man. In 2019, he unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Bogota, but three years later, he was elected a senator -- receiving the most votes of any candidate in the country. He took a seat with the conservative Democratic Center party, founded by former president Alvaro Uribe, no relation. "Evil destroys everything, they killed hope. May Miguel's struggle be a light that illuminates Colombia's rightful path," former president Uribe wrote on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent months Petro, a former left-wing guerrilla, has been accused of dialing up the political temperature by labelling his right-wing opponents "Nazis." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a frequent critic of the leftist Petro government, demanded justice following the announcement of Uribe's death. "The United States stands in solidarity with his family, the Colombian people, both in mourning and demanding justice for those responsible," Rubio said. Uribe leaves behind a young son and three teenage daughters of his wife, whom he had taken in as his own. vd/lv/cb/mlm/sla/jgc Colombian presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe, who had been fighting for his life since he was shot in June during a campaign event, has died, according to his family. Uribe, a 39-year-old senator and a potential presidential candidate from the right-wing opposition, was shot in Bogota on June 7 during a rally and underwent multiple surgeries before his death. I ask God to show me the way to learn to live without you, his wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, wrote on social media. Rest in peace, love of my life, I will take care of our children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uribe enjoyed a rapid political rise, becoming a recognised lawmaker for the Democratic Centre party. He was seeking to run in the 2026 presidential election. A 15-year-old boy was arrested at the scene with a 9mm Glock-type firearm and has pleaded not guilty after being formally charged on June 10 with attempted murder, the prosecutors office said. Five other suspects have also been arrested. Today is a sad day for the country, Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez wrote on X. Violence cannot continue to mark our destiny. Democracy is not built with bullets or blood, it is built with respect, with dialogue, she said. Security beefed up President Gustavo Petro had previously blamed an international crime ring as being behind the attack on Uribe, without providing details or evidence, and has beefed up security for government officials and opposition leaders since it happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The assassination is reminiscent of political violence in Colombia during the 1980s and 1990s, when four presidential candidates were murdered in separate attacks blamed on drug cartels allied with right-wing paramilitary death squads. Uribes death also adds to his familys fraught history, with relatives prominent in Colombian politics. His mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was killed in 1991 during a botched rescue mission after she was kidnapped by the Medellin cartel, headed by drug lord Pablo Escobar. Meanwhile, Uribes maternal grandfather, Julio Cesar Turbay, served as Colombias president from 1978 to 1982, while his paternal grandfather, Rodrigo Uribe Echavarria, headed the Liberal Party and supported Virgilio Barcos successful 1986 presidential campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uribe was elected to Bogotas city council at 25. In 2016, at 30, he was appointed city government secretary, the youngest person to hold the position. He resigned from that post in 2018 to launch an unsuccessful bid for mayor of Bogota as an independent. In the 2022 legislative elections, Uribe led the Senate slate for the Democratic Center party with the slogan Colombia First, winning a seat in the chamber. There, Uribe cemented his role as one of the primary opposition voices to Petro, criticising the governments peace strategy aimed at ending Colombias six-decade armed conflict. Former right-wing President Alvaro Uribe, leader of the Democratic Center party with no relation to the deceased senator, called Miguel Uribe a hope for the homeland. Uribe leaves behind his wife, a young son and three teenage daughters of his wife from a previous marriage. Miguel Uribe Turbay, a Colombian senator and presidential hopeful who was hospitalized after being shot at a campaign event more than two months ago, has died, his wife announced on Monday. He was 39. Uribe, a potential presidential candidate from the right-wing opposition, was shot in the head during a rally in Bogota, Colombias capital, on June 7. The hospital where Uribe was being treated, the Santa Fe de Bogota Foundation, said the senator died in the early hours of Monday morning. On Saturday, it had warned that he was in critical condition due to a hemorrhagic episode in the central nervous system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I ask God to show me the way to learn to live without you, Maria Claudia Tarazona, Uribes wife, wrote on social media. Rest in peace I will take care of our children. Colombian President Gustavo Petro offered condolences to Uribes family, saying his death affects all Colombians regardless of political ideology. Miguels death hurts us as if he were one of our own. It is a defeat. Every time a Colombian is murdered, it is a defeat for Colombia and for life, he wrote on X. Ivan Duque Marquez, Colombias president from 2018 to 2022, paid tribute to Uribe, saying that terrorism had snatched from the country an upright and transparent leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colombia mourns, but it will not surrender to the criminals who took the life of an admirable young man, said Duque, who led the Democratic Center party, which Uribe also represented. Another former president, Alvaro Uribe, who is no relation to the senator, said: Evil destroys everything; they killed hope. May Miguels struggle be a light that illuminates the right path for Colombia. The senator was shot in early June while giving a speech in the capital. Footage showed him speaking to the crowd before multiple loud bangs rang out. He was then seen lying on the ground as people around him fled. Police and civilians later rushed him to an ambulance. Police have arrested six people in connection with Uribes shooting, including a 15-year-old boy who was charged with attempted homicide. Later, the prosecutor in the case claimed that the minor had become immersed in a hitman network. All of the accused have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. Forensic experts work at the scene where Uribe was shot in Bogota on June 7. - Raul Arboleda/AFP/Getty Images The killing of Uribe, who came from a prominent Colombian political family, is for many in Colombia a grisly echo of the countrys history of political violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uribes mother, Diana Turbay, was a journalist kidnapped by drug traffickers from the Medellin cartel under Pablo Escobar. She was murdered during a rescue operation in 1991. Uribe was then raised by his father, a city councillor in Bogota. Uribe, a Harvard graduate, began his career in local Bogota politics, before entering the Senate in 2022. Last year, at the site where his mother was murdered, Uribe announced his candidacy for the 2026 presidential elections. I could have grown up seeking revenge, but I decided to do the right thing: forgive, but never forget, he said at the time. Uribes grandfather, Julio Cesar Turbay Ayala, served as president from 1978 to 1982, and his grandmother, Nydia Quintero Turbay de Balcazar, was the founder of Solidarity with Colombia, an activist group that promoted workers rights in the country. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Colombian drug lord tied to 29 murders arrested in Florida An ICE Homeland Security task force in Orlando has arrested a man the department describes as a Colombian drug lord. ICE says Guillermo Perez Alzate is a confessed murderer and wanted for alleged involvement in 29 murders and related crimes. In a news release, he is alleged to be a former paramilitary leader of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia, a transnational criminal organization. Authorities say Perez was extradited to the United States in May 2008 to face drug smuggling charges with 13 other alleged members of the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison for conspiracy to import and traffic cocaine in Florida. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ICE says it was during that trial where he admitted to killing 29 people. An immigration judge in Orlando ordered Perezs deportation, but his removal was deferred in August 2016. In 2017, an immigration judge upheld that final order and again ordered his removal, but the decision was deferred. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Colombian senator and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe has died two months after being shot in the head in a targeted attack which shocked the South American nation. The 39-year-old was hit by three bullets - two of them in the head and one in the leg - at a campaign rally on 7 June in the capital, Bogota. His wife confirmed his death on social media, paying tribute to "the love of my life". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of carrying out the shooting, but the motive behind the attack is still unclear. Uribe's wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, thanked her late husband for "a life full of love" and for being "the best father" for their children. According to a statement published on Saturday by the hospital where Uribe was being treated, the senator had suffered a bleed to his central nervous system and was due to undergo surgery. He had already had several surgeries since he was first taken to the Santa Fe clinic in June. His wife had asked people to pray for his recovery and thousands had turned out at vigils and rallies to show their support. Colombians showed their support by turning out for "silent marches" [EPA] Uribe, who had been a senator since 2022, had been seeking his party's nomination for the 2026 presidential election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was popular in the polls and recognised as an up-and-coming figure in the right-wing Democratic Centre party, known for his outspoken criticism of the current left-wing president, Gustavo Petro. President Petro's office released a statement expressing its condolences to the family of the slain politician. Uribe was attending a political event in a middle-class neighbourhood of the capital when he was shot. A teenage suspect was arrested as he was fleeing the scene. The 15-year-old has been charged with attempted murder and pleaded not guilty. Several others have been detained on suspicion of aiding the gunman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The brazen attack on the senator has brought back memories of the turbulent decades of the 1980s and 90s in Colombia, when several presidential candidates and influential Colombian figures were assassinated. Uribe's own mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was kidnapped by Los Extraditables in 1990 - an alliance created by leading drug lords. She was held hostage by them for five months before being shot dead during a botched rescue attempt. Uribe often cited her as his inspiration to run for political office "to work for our country". Los Extraditables, who said they would prefer a grave in Colombia to a prison cell in the US, abducted and attacked renowned Colombians in an attempt to force the government at the time to overturn its extradition treaty with the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent decades, Colombia's security indicators have substantially improved, and in 2016 a historic peace agreement was reached between the government and the leftist guerrilla group, Farc. In 2024, Colombia recorded a murder rate of 25.4 per 100,000 inhabitants, the lowest in the past four years, according to security research group Insight Crime. In 1990, the homicide rate exceeded 70 per 100,000 inhabitants. However, Colombia's murder rate remains among the highest in the region, alongside those Ecuador, Brazil, and Honduras. Politicians, members of the security forces, union leaders, environmentalists, and social leaders frequently face death threats, pressure, and attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Various armed groups are engaged in a bloody territorial disputes in the country, often also clashing with the security forces. Laura Bonilla, deputy director of the Peace and Reconciliation Foundation in Colombia (Pares), said that "the political outlook will now depend on who manages to capitalize on the narrative of security". Ms Bonilla told BBC News Mundo that the situation in the wake of Senator Uribe's killing was likely to give more prominence to right-wing politicians and their rhetoric. Vice-President Francia Marquez urged Colombians to unite and reject all violent acts, telling them that "violence cannot continue to mark our democracy". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Democracy is not built with bullets or blood; it is built with respect, dialogue and recognizing our differences, regardless of political position." Uribe's death also made waves beyond Colombia with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio among the first to post following the announcement of his death to demand that those responsible be brought to justice. Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Colombian senator and presidential candidate Miguel Uribe died Monday after he was shot in June. Uribe's wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, made the announcement Monday morning on social media, and Fundacion Santa Fe Bogota, the hospital where Uribe was receiving care, also released a statement confirming his death. The hospital announced Saturday that Uribe's condition became critical due to a hemorrhage in his central nervous system and required "urgent neurosurgical procedures" to stabilize him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uribe was shot in the head from behind during a campaign event in June. A 14-year-old was arrested as the suspected gunman, and three adults were also arrested in connection to the incident. All four were charged with attempted murder and illegal firearm possession, with the adults additionally charged for allegedly using a minor to commit a crime. A fifth person was arrested for purportedly ordering the attack. The attack on Uribe has stirred up memories in Columbia of the 1980s and 1990s when several political candidates and prominent figures were assassinated, and heightened concerns that violence fueled by criminal groups is on the rise. U.S. Rep. Jason Crow speaks alongside, from left, U.S. Reps. Brittany Pettersen, Joe Neguse and Diana DeGette after the Colorado officials toured the GEO Group-run ICE detention center in Aurora on Monday. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline) Colorados four Democratic U.S. House members visited an immigration detention center in Aurora on Monday morning and said many of their questions to facility staff went unanswered, a departure from previous tours of the site. This has been the most difficult visit in terms of getting information, getting answers out of the facility and out of the employees and being obstructed from conducting a full oversight that Ive had in over six years, U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, who represents Aurora in Congress, told reporters following the visit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Transparency and oversight matter a lot, and we will not bow down from our constitutional obligation to do that duty, he said. It was the 10th time Crow has visited the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility since 2019. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Crow attempted to visit the facility in July but was denied entry, prompting a lawsuit brought by Crow, Rep. Joe Neguse of Lafayette and other members of Congress over a new administration policy that requires at least a weeks notice to conduct an oversight visit to Department of Homeland Security facilities. Federal law gives members of Congress the authority to conduct unannounced oversight visits of immigration detention facilities. The group of lawmakers gave the facility notice that they would visit following Crows unsuccessful trip last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive been in a lot of correctional facilities in my life, and if you have to give seven days notice, they clean up pretty good, U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, a Denver Democrat, said. We were told that the people in there were told to clean up and to spiff up and to make things look good. Id like to see what happens normally in that facility. Crow and DeGette, alongside Neguse and Rep. Brittany Pettersen of Jefferson County, toured the detention center but said it was on lockdown for a population count while they were inside. They said many of their questions, including about the percentage of the detained population with criminal convictions, went unanswered. They also noticed that detailed information about detainees legal rights were no longer displayed in spots theyd previously occupied, but the lawmakers did see posted information that extol the values of self deportation, according to Pettersen. DeGette said she was able to speak with Jeanette Vizguerra, a prominent immigrant rights activist who has been detained at the facility since March and is the plaintiff in a lawsuit that challenges her detention. DeGette handed Vizguerra a physical copy of federal legislation she is running to give Vizguerra lawful residency in the country. She told me she is not going to stop fighting for immigrants rights, and so were going to keep up our oversight here, DeGette said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another new policy implemented by DHS, DeGette said, requires a signed privacy notice before a member of Congress can meet with a detained constituent. Its just another attempt to stop people from visiting their constituents, she said. ICE did not immediately return an email about that policy or about the Monday visit from the Democratic congressional delegation. The Aurora facility, privately run by the GEO Group for ICE, is the only DHS immigration detention facility in Colorado. Documents obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union show that the federal government is eyeing at least six locations in the state for additional facilities. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) The Columbus Police Department is seeking the publics assistance in locating a 16-year-old who was last seen near Schatulga Road. Columbus PD is searching for 16-year-old Timothy Stewart Jr., who is described as a white male, standing 6 foot even, weighs 180 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen on Thursday in the 6000 block of Schatulga Road. His clothing description remains unknown at this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) Columbus Technical College announced on Tuesday the official groundbreaking ceremony for the Col. Ralph Puckett Jr. VECTR Workforce Development Center. The VECTR (Veterans Education Career Transition Resource) Center will serve as a transformative hub for workforce development, career training, and veteran support services in the Chattahoochee Valley region. According to CTC, the center is designed to provide high-demand careers and expand access to short-term technical programs for transitioning service members, veterans, military spouses, and the broader community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This project honors the legacy of Col. Puckett while fulfilling a critical regional need, said Martha Ann Todd, President of Columbus Technical College. The VECTR Center will be a beacon of opportunity, collaboration, and innovation, aligning education with workforce demands and supporting our military-connected populations every step of the way. The ceremony will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 13, at 10 a.m., at the future site of the facility located at 2329 Fort Benning Road, Columbus, GA 31903. Elected officials, military leaders, and community members will be making remarks at the ceremony. There will also be a ceremonial turning of the soil to celebrate the beginning of construction. The event is open to the public and will have on-site parking available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. Tevin Hood, an up-and-coming Atlanta rapper better known as T-Hood, was fatally shot Friday night at his home in Georgia, according to police. Officers responded to a residence in the Atlanta suburb of Snellville at around 7 p.m. following reports of a dispute that erupted into gunfire, the Gwinnett County Police Department said in a press release. Upon arriving to the scene, officers located one man whod been shot, later identified by family members as 33-year-old Hood, according to local ABC affiliate WSB-TV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First responders attempted to render aid before transporting Hood to the hospital, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. A motive for the shooting remains under investigation, police said. No arrests had been made as of Saturday, though one person was detained and is in the process of being interviewed. Gwinnett County police did not immediately respond to the Daily News request for additional information. Hood was well-known in the Atlanta rap scene and had around 7,000 subscribers to his YouTube channel at the time of his death. Some of his most popular videos are for the tracks War Ready and Foreva, which boast 186,000 and 143,000 views, respectively. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mannn not my dawg T Hood, hip-hop historian Nuface captioned a video of Hood at a recent gig. According to DJ Burn One, Hood had been scheduled to appear at an event at Atlantas Tree Sound Studios on Friday night. _______ The Brief A vigil was held in Encino for Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca, murdered in their home last month. The couple's murder has sparked fear and outrage over crime and safety in the San Fernando Valley. Residents demand increased action from city officials as burglaries continue despite heightened police patrols. LOS ANGELES - Dozens of people in Encino attended a vigil Sunday evening for a couple brutally murdered inside their home last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sunday marked one month since "American Idol" music supervisor Robin Kaye and her husband, Thomas Deluca, were killed by a burglar at their house near White Oak Avenue and Ventura Boulevard. "Its just been one of those things where I had to stop asking why," said Barry Pearlman, a family member. A large crowd of people at Encino Park Sunday evening lit candles and reflected on Kaye and Deluca. "The music community is reeling," said a close friend of the victims. "All of us, we just cant believe whats gone on. Weve lost two beautiful, beautiful souls." The couples murder has ignited a firestorm of fear and outrage across the San Fernando Valley over crime and safety concerns. Crowds of people have flooded town halls and joined Zoom meetings, demanding urgency from city officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Los Angeles police have increased patrols in the area, residents say burglaries and break-ins continue. "Since last month, burglaries were up 46 percent," said Roy Nwaisser, president of the Encino Neighborhood Council. "We dont feel like theyre doing enough. Just, more needs to be done. We are still being targeted day after day. They need to protect us; thats the citys job." Friends say Kaye and Deluca were pushing for safety up until their murders. Now, many are hoping their tragedy will cause change. "We are demanding that the city take the kind of action that Robin was begging them to do," said Rob Glushon from the Encino Property Owners Association. JACKSON, Ky. (FOX 56) Kentucky State Police recovered Jayden Spicers body on Tuesday, Aug. 12. His mother, Felicia Gross, has been arrested in connection with his death. Previous story: Investigators continue to race against the clock as the search for 10-year-old Jayden Spicer continues. Its believed Jayden disappeared overnight or in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Aug. 6, wearing blue Sonic the Hedgehog pajamas. RELATED: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kentucky State Police Trooper Matt Gayheart told FOX 56 that theyre still in a similar position to when they began the search. Unfortunately, weve not been able to locate a lot of evidence suggesting that he would be close by. So unfortunately, were kind of at the same spot we were when we started the search, Gayheart said. We must continue hope, but unfortunately, at this point, where were at in the investigation, its a race against the clock. Were essentially at kind of our last leg. We need to locate him immediately. Authorities have since broadened the search for Jayden after exhausting all resources in the immediate area, combing over around twenty square miles. We are not leaving anything out. Weve not been able to mark anything off the list. So, the avenue of investigation is still wide open. And were investigating from a lot of different angles, Gayheart said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeff Turner lives in Jackson, and on Sunday, Aug. 10, he offered $500 for anyone who could bring Jayden home. This is absolutely breaking my heart, Turner said. We all know theres so much that we dont know. I just want this baby found. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: He wasnt alone, and the comments were filled with nearly 100 people offering to contribute. Turner, with the help of Jaydens aunt, Samantha Brunty, created a GoFundMe to raise money for a reward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our hearts are breaking and need our little Jayden home, this GoFundMe is for a cash award for anyone that can produce any whereabouts of Jayden Spicer to close this case, she wrote. To collect the reward, the person has to close the case and bring Jayden home. The community has raised nearly $2,000 since it was created on Monday morning. My honest opinion is somethings happened to that child. And thats broken my heart because somebody would have found something by now. Im praying for the Lord to show us, you know, hes okay or to find him, but then my mind is like, this is a recovery, Rosa McIntosh told FOX 56 on Friday. MISSING IN KENTUCKY Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kentucky State Police have utilized numerous agency and partnership resources available, including aircraft, drone, K-9, Sonar, Fleer, and boots on the ground search efforts, Trooper Matt Gayheart said. At this time KSP will broaden its investigation and explore other areas in an effort to locate Jayden. Until we find out otherwise, Im going to keep continuing to try to search and hope and pray that. That we see Jayden again, Gayheart said. Anyone with information that could help find Jayden is asked to contact Kentucky State Police Post 13 in Hazard at (606) 435-6069. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. HARLEM, Manhattan (PIX11) It started as a one-day celebration back in 1974 when Harlem was going through a tough time. Now, Harlem Week is a two-and-a-half-week series of events documenting the rich cultural heritage of Harlem. Sundays celebration was called A Great Day in Harlem and so it was for hundreds in attendance. More Local News It was a joyous occasion mixed with sadness on the passing of the Harlem Week co-founder Lloyd Williams. From these Moko Jumbies out of Trinidadian culture to Afribembe dancers from the Caribbean Cultural Center, it is a great day in Harlem here at the Ulysses S. Grant Memorial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds gathered to celebrate the culture and contributions of Harlem. Harlem Week was founded in 1974 as a one-day celebration by two good friends, Lloyd Williams, who passed away this week from prostate cancer and his childhood buddy, Voza Rivers, who also lost his wife to cancer the day before Lloyd passed. It was a 70-year friendship. We were in the Boy Scouts together, Riverside told PIX11 News. And we prepared for the leadership of the next generation, he added. Among them was protege Marco Nobles. More: Latest News from Around the Tri-State He was so happy that Governor Hochul signed into law two significant bills during Harlem Week, one that renamed 110th St., Central Park North subway station after Malcolm X. The other will empower the Council on the Arts to designate the Harlem Renaissance Cultural District as a region of cultural significance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are thrilled that the two bills have been signed into law by Governor Hochul, Marko Nobles, second vice chair of Harlem Week, told PIX11 News. So many in attendance want to pass on the rich history of Harlem to the next generation. Its community and family, April Bivens, a Great Day in Harlem attendee, told PIX11. News. And the title is a play on the photo of all the jazz musicians in the 1950s called A Great Day in Harlem, she added. I like Harlem because there is so much to do there, Seneca Core, 3 years old, told PIX11 News. Harlem Week, which is 17 days this year, ends on August 17 with multiple stages for Harlem Day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Purdue Extension-Lake County offers canning workshop Join Purdue Extension Master Home Food Preservation instructors to learn the basics of boiling water bath canning through a hands-on Jams and Jellies Workshop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 28 at 2291 N. Main St., Crown Point. Participants will prepare and process a recipe to take home. This workshop is perfect for beginners or anyone looking to refresh their skills in home food preservation. The cost is $30. Register by calling 219-755-3240 or email dmcook@purdue.edu. Class size is limited to six participants. For workshop-specific questions, contact Linda Curley at lcurley@purdue.edu or 219-755-3240. Valparaiso to host Neighborhood Workshop and Summer Social To promote neighborhood engagement and foster stronger connections within the community, the City of Valparaiso will host a Neighborhood Workshop and Summer Social from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 19 at the Forest Park Welter Room, 1155 Sheffield Drive, Valparaiso. This event is designed for both established neighborhood leaders and residents interested in becoming more involved in their neighborhood. In addition to a welcome from Mayor Jon Costas, the workshop will be interactive, with small-group discussions on key topics such as neighborhood improvement grants and resources, partnership building and leadership development. To participate, contact Maggie Clifton at 219-462-1161 or MClifton@Valpo.us. RSVPs help ensure materials and space for all participants. View the full agenda at tinyurl.com/agenda-8-19. Scholarship application now open to Porter County students The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship application is now available in Porter County through the Porter County Community Foundation (PCCF). Three students will receive the scholarship beginning with the 2026-2027 school year. The scholarship may be used for unreimbursed full tuition, fees, and a special allocation of up to $900 per year for books and equipment. To be eligible, an applicant must be a current high school student and a resident of Porter County; graduate from an accredited Indiana high school no later than June 30, 2026; intend to pursue a full-time baccalaureate course of study at an eligible college or university in Indiana; and submit a complete application by noon on Aug. 27, 2025. The application must be submitted online and is available at https://pccf.gives/scholarships/. PCCFs scholarship committee will interview finalists on Oct. 16, 2025. Applications are evaluated on, but not limited to, the following criteria: academic excellence; leadership and engagement in school activities; and community involvement. Scholarship recipients will be notified by PCCF in December. Shirley Heinze Land Trust, partners to host Nature in the Arts Shirley Heinze Land Trust invites the public to participate in art activities and guided hikes at a free, all-ages event through the Nature in the Arts program, Zines and Collages, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 23 at Meadowbrook Nature Preserve, 109 W 700 N, Valparaiso. Attendees can create a variety of native plant-inspired art projects with the help of local arts partners. These include creating tree collages with the Chesterton Art Center and making zines (or mini magazines) with the Art Barn School of Art. Additionally, attendees can participate in a collaborative tree art project and watch the tree grow over the course of the event. Guests are invited to take guided walks through Meadowbrook led by Shirley Heinze Land Trust staff and volunteers. Food will be available for purchase through Las Mamacitas Food Truck. Parking, accessible restrooms and water will be available. For more information, contact Deputy Director Bridget Harrison at 219-242-8558 or bharrison@heinzetrust.org. Franciscan Health to hold SHE Womens Health Conference Franciscan Health will host the Strong, Healthy, Empowered (SHE) Womens Health Conference from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 4 in the Great Hall at Purdue University Northwest, 1401 U.S. 421, Westville. The event will feature breakout sessions, exhibitors, free health screenings, a pamper room, giveaways, light breakfast, lunch and snacks. Keynote speakers include Indiana State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, MD, FACEP; Dunebrook Executive Director Tammy Gierke Button, DDS, MSD and Michigan City Mayor Angie Nelson Deuitch. The event is open to women 18 and older. Non-refundable tickets are $10 per person, payable in advance. Registration must be completed by Sept. 12. Exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities also are available and close Aug. 29. To purchase tickets, become an exhibitor or sponsor or to learn more about the event, visit https://www.franciscanhealthfoundation.org/SHEconference. Natural gas meter. (Photo by Bill Oxford/ Getty Images) Legislation that came out of the committee focused on local government was often criticized this past session for being frivolous at a time when Maine faced pressing budget issues and mounting health care costs. Amid the proposals to appoint a new state amphibian and designate a new state anthem, there was one bill that didnt draw much attention but ended up being the second most lobbied bill in the Maine Legislature this year, with outside groups spending nearly $50,000 talking to lawmakers about the measure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That bill was LD 556, which prohibits municipalities from banning a particular energy source. Gov. Janet Mills signed it into law on July 1. The Republican-sponsored legislation divided members of Mills own party as it straddled key priorities including local control, rising costs for Maine households and environmental issues. Conversations with both proponents and critics of the bill highlight how constituents concerns over rising energy costs ultimately opened the door for a new law that some worry could hamper local efforts to phase out fossil fuels. A similar bill having been defeated a couple years ago, we just werent expecting it to pop up again, said Nick Janzen, director of policy and partnerships for Maine Conservation Voters, whose disclosures show a sharp uptick in lobbying activity after the group realized it was gaining momentum and had some Democratic support. Assistant Senate Minority Leader Matt Harrington (R-York) introduced a similar bill back in the 131st Legislature, but it was rejected by both the Maine House of Representatives and Senate. During the committee process, that bill was amended to allow towns to incentivize certain energy sources, as well as leave room for restrictions rooted in safety or zoning issues. The bill that succeeded in the 132nd Legislature mirrored that amended language. Harrington called it instrumental in showing that bipartisanship can happen in Augusta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the March 24 public hearing before the State and Local Government Committee, Harrington argued it would not only safeguard a homeowners ability to choose how to heat their home, but it would also aid affordable housing construction by allowing developers to choose affordable energy systems. After passing the committee, the bill sat on the Senates list of unfinished business for about a month and a half. When it was finally taken up in the final days of session, the Senate voted 17-17, with one member excused, rejecting the measure. The House then voted 81-67 in support, sending it back to the upper chamber, which ultimately backed the bill by a vote of 17-16, with two members excused. Concerns about environment Rep. Dan Ankeles (D-Brunswick) said the bill was marketed to legislators as a tool for preserving consumer choice in an energy market where costs are high. But he also said there was some complacency in his caucus because the bill had been beaten over and over again. Had we sought to explain to people in our caucus earlier that this was incredibly dangerous, had we flagged this months ahead of time and understood that there was an actual threat of this passing, I think perhaps maybe we could have fended it off this time, Ankeles said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the House floor, Ankeles said he feared LD 556 would be one of the more environmentally unfriendly bills sent to the governors desk this year. He told Maine Morning Star he stands by those comments and believes it is a terrible bill. Environmental groups were also caught on the back foot. The Environmental Priorities Coalition, a statewide alliance of 39 conservation, climate action, and public health organizations, designated the previous iteration of the bill a priority in the 131st Legislature. But Janzen said because that bill had been defeated by a safe margin in both chambers, the bill wasnt on the coalitions radar in December when it selected what bills to hone in on this session. However, after the public hearing, Maine Conservation Voters spent significant time lobbying against the bill because Janzen said it blocks local communities from achieving clean energy goals and protects fossil fuel infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the cloak of words like choice and freedom, [LD 556] puts the states thumb on the scale for the fossil fuel industry, despite common knowledge that it contributes to climate change, poor health outcomes, air pollution, rising ocean temperature, sea level rise, extreme weather events, and more, said former Director of Government Affairs Cathy Breen in her testimony to the committee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Multiple House Democrats who opposed the bill also expressed fears that it would block environmental progress. Rep. Sue Salisbury of Westbrook, who co-chairs the local government committee, said on the floor it hamstrings Maines climate response, while Rep. Sophie Warren of Scarborough said the bill was propped up and fueled by the fossil fuel industry. Heating oil and propane companies, including Dead River Company and Maritime Energy, testified in support of the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Also, at the same time environmental groups like Maine Conservation Voters were frantically reaching out to lawmakers about the legislation, fossil fuel interests were also throwing money behind the bill. Megan Diver, a lobbyist for Maine Energy Marketers Association, which represents heating oil, propane, biofuels and motor fuels sellers, submitted five reports where she records some level of compensation (less than $1,000) for lobbying on LD 556. The disclosures also show the organization spent almost $50,000 on what is described as grassroots lobbying, spending $27,500 on social media and website design and $20,495 in targeted texts and calls to action. The laws passage was also celebrated by the National Propane Gas Association. Maine has historically been highly dependent on heating oil, but that has been declining in recent years. In 2010, seven in 10 homes used heating oil. That dropped to just over half of homes in 2023, according to a news release from Mills office last October attributing some of that decrease to the states effort to transition people to electric heat pumps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Proponents of the bill countered those concerns by pointing out that the now-law wont restrict a town from incentivizing a particular energy source, including heat pumps, solar or other renewables. However, Janzen argued towns dont have the financial ability to offer effective incentives like tax credits or rebates that exist on the state level. While there werent examples cited during committee meetings or in interviews with Maine Morning Star of specific Maine towns actively seeking to ban an energy source for heating purposes, bill supporters pointed to the climate action plan for Portland and South Portland, which says those communities are looking for ways to eliminate the use of fossil fuels to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A question of local control But environmental issues werent the only factor for lawmakers. There was also debate as to whether this decision should lie with local or state officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maine has been a home rule state since 1969, when an amendment was added to the state constitution that gave towns and cities broad power to create their own ordinances. Home rule allows residents more control over what their individual communities look like. That authority is the reason why the Maine Municipal Association, which offers professional services to municipalities and local governments, opposed the bill, said Director of Advocacy and Communications Kate Dufour. Though the Legislature is allowed to prohibit certain action from municipal governments, Dufour said her organization felt this legislation would erode local control. We presented our thoughts with respect to home rule authority and the ability of the residents of the state of Maine to make decisions that suit their needs and unfortunately, that message did not prevail, Dufour said. The bills lobbying report mentions a couple lawmakers that the group spoke with directly, both of whom Dufour said are current municipal officials. Dufour said its not uncommon for the organization to participate in the legislative process to provide a municipal perspective. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We presented our thoughts with respect to home rule authority and the ability of the residents of the state of Maine to make decisions that suit their needs and unfortunately, that message did not prevail. Kate Dufour, Maine Municipal Association Harrington said many legislators were hung up on the idea of this bill being a local control issue, but he sees it as the ultimate local control, because it ensures that homeowners arent being told how they can or cant heat their homes. He also noted that the Legislature passed other bills limiting local authority, including LD 731, which prohibits municipalities from barring homeless shelters, but maintains their ability to regulate those facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since Republicans often defer to local control when making policy decisions in Augusta, Rep. Ann Matlack (D-St. George), who opposed the bill, said on the House floor its ironic that the other side of the aisle is anti-home rule on this issue. Ankeles described the legislation as a blunt instrument that gives veto power over local energy policies to the fossil fuel industry. Sen. Joe Baldacci (D-Penobscot), who co-sponsored the legislation, believes local control is important on some issues, but said in this case he felt the public interest outweighed that authority. He argued that this sort of policy isnt unprecedented, pointing to a statute that says municipalities cant ban solar on residential property. Additionally, the new law avoids a patchwork of more than 400 different energy policies across the state. Baldacci argued that uniformity could help stabilize energy prices for Mainers. Why now? While lawmakers couldnt point to one factor that made the legislation successful this time around, energy prices were a throughline. Energy prices in Maine have increased in recent years for a variety of reasons, such as increased recovery costs from the series of winter storms that ravaged the state two years ago. But the biggest factor has been the volatility of electricity supply prices, in particular natural gas, said Phil Bartlett, chairman of the Public Utilities Commission. Data from the Office of Public Advocate show that residential customers bills increased by 20.7% in Central Maine Power territory and nearly 12% in the Versant Bangor Hydro district between June 2024 and June 2025. There was also a 15% increase for residential customers in the Versant Maine Public District, which is in the northern part of the state. Harrington pointed to the laws ability to preserve energy choice at a time when the cost of heating homes is so front of mind for people. Hearing about that from their constituents probably influenced lawmakers when voting on this bill. Full autonomy was the real nexus of the bill, he told Maine Morning Star. Baldacci, who co-chairs the State and Local Government Committee, attributed its passage to sound policy and luck. Baldacci said his argument to his Democratic colleagues was that low- and middle-income residents are the ones who could be most hurt by policies like a ban on propane because they are least able to make those adjustments. Once the bill got to Mills desk, it was unlikely to receive a veto, due to an energy choice pledge she signed when running for reelection in 2022. Maine Energy Marketers Association, which has been working on this issue for several years, had asked candidates running for state and federal office in 2022 and 2024 to sign a pledge promising to support legislation that preserved a Mainers ability to choose how to heat their homes, explained President and Chief Executive Officer Charlie Summers. Summer also said a large portion of state legislators also signed the pledge during the 2024 election cycle. Baldacci, along with Senate Minority Leader Trey Stewart (R-Aroostook), participated in the campaign last year. Summers, whose organization had spent thousands of dollars texting voters about the legislation, said the bills success this year could be attributed to the time it can take legislators to become educated about a bill or issue. Summers said in addition to protecting a Mainers ability to choose how to heat their home, the new law also prevents a household that may use a mix of natural gas, wood heat or some other heating mechanisms in long Maine winters from relying on one source of energy. It doesnt allow for all our eggs to be put in one basket, he said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE John-Paul Sager, a veteran of the Marine Corps and Army, is treated for chronic back and shoulder pain by chiropractor Matt Gronewold in June. The Department of Veterans Affairs community care program pays for Sagers treatments at Vanderloo Chiropractic Clinic in Waterloo, Iowa. (Photo by Tony Leys/KFF Health News) This article first appeared on KFF Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. WATERLOO, Iowa John-Paul Sager appreciates the care he has received at Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals and clinics, but he thinks it should be easier for veterans like him to use their benefits elsewhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sager, a Marine Corps and Army veteran, uses his VA coverage for non-VA treatment of back injuries stemming from his military service. But he said he sometimes must make several phone calls to obtain approval to see a local chiropractor. It seems like it takes entirely too long, he said. Many veterans live hours from VA facilities, or they need health services that arent readily available from the VA. In such cases, the department is supposed to provide a referral and pay for private care. Critics say it often hesitates to do so. Republicans controlling Congress aim to streamline the process of obtaining what is known as community care. Two Republican senators have introduced legislation that would make it easier for rural veterans to seek care at local hospitals and clinics. The proposals would build on VA community care programs that started under Democratic President Barack Obama and were expanded in Trumps first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics worry that steering veterans to private care facilities drains federal money from the VA hospital and clinic system. But supporters say veterans shouldnt be forced to travel long distances or wait months for the treatment they could obtain at local hospitals and clinics. My main concern is for veterans, not for the VA, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) told KFF Health News. I dont believe we have an obligation to sustain the bureaucracy. About 9 million veterans are enrolled in the VA health system. Last year, about 3 million of them including 1.2 million rural veterans used their benefits to cover care at non-VA facilities, according to data provided by the department. Cramer sponsored a bill that would allow veterans who live within 35 miles of a rural, critical access hospital to use VA benefits to cover care there or at affiliated clinics without referrals from VA staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cramer, who serves on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, noted his state has just one VA hospital. Its in Fargo, on the states eastern border, which is more than 400 miles by car from parts of western North Dakota. Many North Dakota veterans drive past multiple community hospitals to get to the VA hospital for treatment, he said. Meanwhile, many rural hospitals are desperate for more patients and income. I kept thinking to myself, This doesnt make any sense at all, Cramer said. Cramer said previous laws, including the VA Mission Act, made it easier for veterans to use their benefits to cover care at community hospitals and clinics. But he said veterans still must fill out too much paperwork and obtain approval from VA staffers to use non-VA facilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We cant let the VA itself determine whether a veteran is qualified to receive local care, he said. U.S. Rep. Mark Takano of California, who is the top Democrat on the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said he sees the need for outside care for some veterans. But he contends Republicans are going overboard in shifting the departments money to support private health care facilities. The VA provides specialized care that responds to veterans needs and experiences, he argues. We must prevent funds from being siphoned away from veterans hospitals and clinics, or VA will crumble, Takano said in a statement released by his office. Veterans cannot afford for us to dismantle VA direct care in favor of shifting more care to the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some veterans advocacy groups have also expressed concerns. Jon Retzer, deputy national legislative director for the Disabled American Veterans, said the group wants to make it easier for veterans to find care. Rural and female veterans can have a particularly tough time finding appropriate, timely services at VA hospitals and clinics, he said. But the Disabled American Veterans doesnt want to see VA facilities weakened by having too much federal money diverted to private hospitals and clinics. Retzer said its true that patients sometimes wait for VA care, but so do patients at many private hospitals and clinics. Most delays stem from staff shortages, he said, which afflict many health facilities. This is a national crisis. Retzer said the Disabled American Veterans favors continuing to require referrals from VA physicians before veterans can seek VA-financed care elsewhere. We want to ensure that the VA is the primary provider of that care, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins has pledged to improve the community care program while maintaining the strength of the departments hospitals and clinics. The department declined a KFF Health News request to interview Collins. Marcus Lewis, CEO of First Care Health Center, which includes a hospital in Park River, North Dakota, supports Cramers bill. Lewis is a Navy veteran who uses the VAs community care option to pay for treatment of a back injury stemming from his military service. Overall, Lewis said, the community care program has become easier to use. But the application process remains complicated, and participants must repeatedly obtain VA referrals for treatment of chronic issues, he said. Its frustrating. Park River is a 1,400-person town about 50 miles south of the Canadian border. Its 14-bed hospital offers an array of services, including surgery, cancer care, and mental health treatment. But Lewis regularly sees a VA van picking up local veterans, some of whom travel 140 miles to Fargo for care theyre entitled to receive locally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think a lot of folks just dont want to fight the system, he said. They dont want to go through the extra hoops, and so theyll jump in the van, and theyll ride along. Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, said veterans in some areas of the country have had more trouble than others in getting VA approval for care from private clinics and hospitals. Bost helped gain the Houses approval for Trumps request for $34.7 billion for the community care program in 2026. Although spending on the program has gone up and down in recent years, the appropriation represents an increase of about 50% from what it was in 2025 and 2022. The Senate included similar figures for next year in its version of a military spending budget that passed Aug. 1. Bost also co-sponsored a House bill that would spell out requirements for the VA to pay for community care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sager hopes the new proposals make life easier for veterans. The Gulf War veteran lives in the northeastern Iowa town of Denver. He travels about 15 miles to Waterloo to see a chiropractor, who treats him for back and shoulder pain from injuries he suffered while training Saudi troops in hand-to-hand combat. Sager, who remains active in the Army Reserve, also visits a Waterloo outpatient clinic run by the VA, where his primary care doctor practices. He appreciates the agencys mission, including its employment of many veterans. You just feel like youre being taken care of by your own, he said. He believes the VA can run a strong hospital and clinic system while offering alternatives for veterans who live far from those facilities or who need care the VA cant promptly provide. The local VA doesnt offer chiropractic care, so it pays for Sager to visit the private clinic. But every few months, he needs to obtain fresh approval from the VA. That often requires several phone calls, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sager is one of about a dozen veterans who use the community care program to pay for visits at Vanderloo Chiropractic Clinic, office manager Linda Gill said. Gill said the VA program pays about $34 for a typical visit, which is comparable to private insurance, but the paperwork is more burdensome. She said leaders of the chiropractic practice considered pulling out of the VA program but decided to put up with the hassles for a good cause. She wishes veterans didnt have to jump through so many hoops to obtain convenient care. After what theyve done for us? Please, she said. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF. Subscribe to KFF Health News free Morning Briefing. Congress can't even debate a bill without wasting money. In the first two months of this year, it spent at least $27,500 "on printing charts, props, and posters, sticking them on easels (or making staff hold them up) and giving speeches about them," according to FloorCharts, which has been archiving congressional charts and posters since 2012. That figure was obtained by estimating the average cost of a chart at $50 and totaling the number of charts used by the House and Senate (550) over the two-month period. This number doesn't include all committee charts, but the analysis found that Republicans "used about 20 more charts than Democrats." FloorCharts notes that "this is napkin math, because there is no line item in the office budgets for 'printed charts, props, and posters.'" That total is a mere drop in the bucket compared to the national debt, but any wasteful government spending should be eliminated. And when you look at the posters the legislators came up with, you'll see that this spending could be very wasteful indeed. Here are four of the most ridiculous postersand one that we have to admit is pretty good. 1. 'Fire Elon, Save Elmo' United States House Committee On Oversight and Accountability | Eddie Marshall In a March hearing of the House Delivering on Government Efficiency subcommittee, Rep. Greg Casar (DTexas) used a "Fire Elon, Save Elmo" poster to argue against defunding PBS and NPR. Naturally, the congressman didn't question whether state-funded media is the best use of taxpayer dollars. In any case, evidently no one told Casar that Sesame Street moved to HBO a decade ago before hopping to Netflix this year. Even with PBS defunded, the show has a home. 2. Trump's Tariff Strategy CSPAN In February, President Donald Trump kicked off his new tariff regime with new duties on products from China, Canada, and Mexico (the latter two of which he later paused). While many economists warned about the detrimental effects these would have, Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) used a board with some curious capitalization choices to voice his support for the president's policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "President Trump's strategic tariffs will strengthen and revitalize our nation's economy, stop the flow of illicit drugs and illegal immigration," said Tuberville on the Senate floor. "President Trump is utilizing every tool at his disposal as we speak, including tariffs to usher in the golden age of the American economy. We have to make that change." Trump's on-again, off-again tariffs have not, in fact, "strengthened and revitalized" the economy. Rather, they've raised prices for consumers and businesses. Ford, for example, paid "$800 million in tariff-related expenses during the second quarter of 2025" despite "building most of its cars in America," reports Reason's Eric Boehm. Claims that tariffs have halted the flow of "illicit drugs" have proven to be equally dubious. 3. 'DEI in Our Miltary' U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services | Eddie Marshall At a January hearing considering Pete Hegseth's nomination to be defense secretary, Sen. Eric Schmitt (RMo.) used a board to criticize the Biden administration's use of diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in the U.S. military. Schmitt spoke in favor of Hegseth, who he says will restore a warrior ethos, "in stark contrast to the ethos we've seen of the last four said, which is of weakness and wokeness." Schmitt accused the military of lowering its standards to meet increasingly low recruitment. This would have been more compelling if Schmitt's board didn't misspell "military." Perhaps this board was a subtle foreshadowing of Hegseth's tumultuous tenure at the helm of the Defense Department. 4. Elon Musk Steals an Elderly Woman's Purse as Donald Trump Gives the Thumbs-Up CSPAN During a floor speech in February, Rep. Mark Pocan (DWis.) used this goofy graphic to denounce Donald Trump, Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Pocan painted a bleak picture of Musk collecting "$20 billion from taxpayers with one hand while slashing funds for child care, health care, nutrition assistance and public education with the other," but DOGE in fact had only a small impact on the amount of money the government was spending. While Musk originally anticipated that the agency would cut $2 trillion, DOGE now says that it has saved taxpayers only $199 billionand even that figure has been questioned by many. 5. 'Washington-opoly' YouTube | Senator Joni Ernst | OK, we admit it: This poster is pretty good. It's a highly elaborate "Washington-opoly" board, offering a creative spin on the classic game Monopoly. In remarks delivered to the Senate floor, Sen. Joni Ernst (RIowa) played a round to illustrate the government's expansive and expensive real estate portfolio. Ernst pointed out that the Agriculture Department's South Building in Washington, D.C., costs more than $11 million in upkeep, needs nearly $2 million in repairs, and is occupied only 22 percent of the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Uncle Sam gets away with it because Washington plays with its own set of rules. And no matter how you roll the dice, Washington-opoly is a losing game for taxpayers," said Ernst. Those taxpayers paid for Ernst's extravagant Washington-opoly too, but at least this time the poster looks good and makes a solid point. The post Congress Spent At Least $27,500 on Poster Displays in 2 Months. Here Are 4 Ridiculous Examples and 1 Good One. appeared first on Reason.com. HSP US LLC, a subsidiary of German-based Trench Group GmbH, has begun construction on its first U.S.-based manufacturing plant in Charlotte, promising to create 74 new jobs. PAST COVERAGE: German manufacturer picks Charlotte for first U.S. plant, bringing 74 new jobs The company announced plans to invest over $50 million in the facility over the next five years, with operations expected to commence in early 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plant will produce bushings, essential components for high-voltage power transformers. Located in southwest Charlotte, the new facility is near Siemens Energys advanced manufacturing site, offering job opportunities for machinists, engineers, and management positions. The average wage for these jobs will be $77,315, which is above the Metropolitan Statistical Area average. The project is a result of collaboration between the City of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina, and Duke Energy. HSP plans to start hiring for these positions this fall. VIDEO: Kings Mountain approves incentives for Project Nexus, potentially bringing 700+ jobs RICHFIELD, Utah (ABC4) Containment on the Monroe Fire jumps to 36% as it crosses over 71,000 acres, according to the latest information from the U.S. Forest Service Fishlake National Forest. Crews say they will continue to monitor and improve the western flank of the fire by clearing fuels in Monroe Canyon and around Signal Peak. A helicopter is being used to moderate fire activity in Water Canyon and Rock Canyon areas and a crew is also in place in Burrville to monitor the area and prevent structure damage. Monroe Canyon Fire crosses 70,000 acres as containment increases Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They will also continue to maintain a presence in the Magleby and Manning Meadows communities, providing structure protection. Though evacuation orders have been lifted, officials say they are on high alert as hot, dry and breezy conditions will persist over the fire area. Officials say mop-up operations will continue along the southern edge of the fire as crews clean up following burn operations. Weather conditions Officials say a high-pressure system is building, which will produce northwest winds with gusts of up to 20 mph. According to ABC4s 4Warn Weather team, high pressure will dominate through the midweek, allowing for temps to approach the triple-digits by Wednesday. Comfy temps and plenty of sunshine Monday, heat dome returns mid-week Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crews expect critical fire conditions due to a combination of hot weather and light winds. A fire and fuels behavior advisory is in effect due to critically dry fuel moisture. The Fishlake National Forest has an Emergency Closure Order due to the fire for the general area north of Dry Creek Canyon Road. The fire has been burning for a month now and Governor Spencer Cox (R-Utah) has declared a state of emergency due to the fire. Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Shenzhen TV: It was reported that members and associate members of the G7 Rapid Response Mechanism issued a statement recently, attacking and vilifying the decision of the Hong Kong police to issue arrest warrants on persons involved in the illegal election of the so-called Hong Kong Parliament, and referring it as transnational repression. What is your comment? Lin Jian: China strongly deplores and firmly opposes members of the G7 and relevant Western countries and institutions making irresponsible comments on the law enforcement activities of the Hong Kong SAR government. The law enforcement actions taken by the Hong Kong police against anti-China, destabilizing persons overseas are in accordance with the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance and are in line with international law and common practices. They are lawful, justified, and necessary. Relevant countries accusations of so-called transnational repression against the Hong Kong police are utterly groundless. Certain country has abused long-arm jurisdiction and imposed illicit unilateral sanctions, while attacking and smearing the legitimate law enforcement actions of the Hong Kong police, fully exposing its hypocrisy and double standards. Let me emphasize once again that the central government of China firmly supports the Hong Kong police in taking lawful actions against anti-China, destabilizing fugitives overseas and organizations to safeguard national security and ensure Hong Kongs long-term stability. We urge the relevant countries and institutions to stop emboldening anti-China troublemakers and stop interfering in Chinas internal affairs. Reuters: Do you have a comment on the report saying that according to sources, Chinese officials have told experts in Washington that China wants the U.S. to ease export controls on high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, a critical component for artificial intelligence chips, as part of a trade deal? The report says that China is much more worried about HBM controls because they seriously constrain the ability of Chinese companies, including Huawei, to develop their own AI chips. Can the Chinese side confirm that? What is your comment? Lin Jian: I would refer you to competent authorities for the specifics. Chinas position on opposing the politicization and weaponization of tech and trade issues, and on malicious blockade and suppression against China, is consistent and clear. Such practices disrupt the stability of global industrial and supply chains and are in no ones interests. The New York Times: Does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have any comment on whether China has an arrangement with the Houthi rebels in Yemen not to attack Chinese-owned ships, and also not to attack ships owned by other countries that start off from Chinese ports? A sharp increase in ships carrying cars from China through the Red Sea and Suez Canal has been reported. None of these ships are being attacked by the Houthis. By contrast, European and Japanese shipping lines that are carrying cars are still going all the way around the southern end of Africa. Some shipping experts are also saying that this shows China has a deal with Iran, which backs the Houthis, to protect Chinese shipping. Is this true? Lin Jian: The Red Sea waters are important routes for international trade in goods and energy. China opposes harassment to civilian ships, and calls on relevant parties to jointly keep the shipping lanes through the Red Sea safe in accordance with the law, and in the meanwhile earnestly respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries along the Red Sea. As a major responsible country, China has been playing a positive role for alleviating tensions since the escalation of the situation in the Red Sea, and will continue to contribute effort to restoring peace and tranquility in the Red Sea at an early date. EFE: Tomorrow the 90-day trade truce agreed upon by China and the United States in May on suspending 24 percentage points of the tariffs expires. Will there be any official announcement about it? Has China received any notification from the U.S. about the final decision? China said that the two sides agreed to extend the truce, while the U.S. said that President Trump would make the final decision. (Similar question from NHK) Lin Jian: I would refer you to competent authorities for the specifics. We hope the U.S. will work with China to implement the important common understandings reached by the two presidents during the phone call, make good use of the economic and trade consultation mechanism, and work for positive outcomes on the basis of equality, respect, and mutual benefit. Reuters: It was reported that Nvidia and AMD have agreed to give the U.S. government 15 percent of their revenues from chip sales in China, under an arrangement to obtain export licenses for the semiconductors. What is Chinas comment? (Similar question from BBC) Lin Jian: China has made its position clear more than once on the U.S. export of chips to China. Asahi Shimbun: According to reports, when a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel mistakenly entered Chinas territorial waters off the coast of Zhejiang Province in July last year, the Chinese side fired at least two warning shots. The report claims that due to an operational error, the vessels electronic chart failed to display the boundary between international waters and other countries territorial waters. Can you confirm this? If true, what is Chinas comment? Lin Jian: On a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel intruding into Chinas territorial waters in July last year, the Chinese side has already stated its position. In accordance with relevant stipulations of Chinese laws, foreign military vessels must obtain approval from the Chinese government before entering Chinas territorial waters. For foreign military vessels that enter Chinas territorial waters without approval, the Chinese side will handle the matter in accordance with the laws and regulations. Bloomberg: A Chinese ship apparently targeted a Philippine vessel with water cannon near a disputed shoal in the South China Sea early Monday. Philippine Coast Guard spokesperson said in a post on X that Philippine vessels and fishermen encountered hazardous maneuvers and blocking actions from Chinese vessels in the vicinity of Scarborough Shoal. Would the Foreign Ministry like to respond? Lin Jian: Huangyan Dao has always been Chinas territory. On August 11, the Philippines sent multiple Coast Guard vessels, official vessels and so-called fishing vessels to intrude into the territorial waters of Huangyan Dao, and in the meanwhile, Philippine military aircraft also intruded into the air space of Huangyan Dao. The Philippines moves seriously infringed upon Chinas sovereignty and rights and interests, and seriously harmed peace and stability at sea. These moves are of a malign nature. It is legitimate and lawful for China to do what is necessary to safeguard our territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in accordance with the law. Facts have proven once again that the Philippines intentional infringement and provocative activities at sea are the root cause for the tensions. China urges the Philippines to stop the infringement and provocative activities at once and refrain from challenging Chinas firm resolve to safeguard our lawful rights and interests. Bloomberg: It was reported that the Italian government wants to reduce or cancel Chinese stakes in a series of key Italian companies including Pirelli, Ansaldo, and CDP Reti to avoid problems with the Trump administration. Pirelli, for example, could be subject to a sales ban in the U.S. due to Sinochems shareholding. Whats the Foreign Ministrys comment? Lin Jian: China-Italy investment cooperation is mutually beneficial and never targets any third party, nor should it be disrupted by any third party. The Chinese government supports Chinese companies in carrying out international cooperation based on market principles. We hope Italy will provide Chinese companies with a fair, just and non-discriminatory business environment, and earnestly protect their lawful rights and interests. Al Jazeera: It was reported that early this morning Beijing time, Israel killed five Al Jazeera correspondents in an air strike, adding the number of correspondents being killed to 237 since Israel launched the large-scale military operation. What is Chinas comment on Israels operations? Some countries proposed measures to help refugees from Gaza, but this could lead to a repeat of the history of the Palestinian diaspora in 1948. Is China willing to take measures to prevent the tragedy in the Palestinian history from happening again? What effort will China make? Lin Jian: We mourn for the correspondents who tragically lost their lives in the conflict. China opposes all moves that harm civilians and condemn violence targeting correspondents. China urges Israel to stop its military operation in Gaza at once, fully resume access to humanitarian supplies, avoid humanitarian crisis of a greater scale, and cool down the situation as soon as possible. Remember I alone can fix it ? Donald Trump, who made that laughable statement in his 2016 convention acceptance speech, is now testing the theory in Washington. Trump and his party have been threatening a D.C. takeover for years and made it part of the Republican platform last year. But it was all just empty talk and random uppercase words until a former staffer at the Department of Government Efficiency was reportedly attacked in an attempted carjacking in the wee hours of Aug. 3 in a busy area of bars and restaurants. Read more: Column: Trump deploys, protesters respond. This will not end well Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It doesnt matter at all to Trump that D.C.s violent crime rate fell to a 30-year low last year and is down another 26% so far this year compared with 2024, or that a police report suggests police saw the incident and intervened . This particular victim a teenage Elon Musk protege and notorious DOGE operative gave this particular president the emergency he needed to declare a public safety emergency . Of course, he called it a historic action to rescue our nations capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor and worse. He has federalized the citys Metropolitan Police Department and deployed 800 members of its National Guard (to start). Over the weekend he sent 450 federal police officers from 18 agencies to patrol the city. Read more: What will the military do if Trump gives unconstitutional orders? Its the second time this year that Trump has played the National Guard card to show whos boss. He sent 4,000 Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles in June, over the objections of Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass, ostensibly to restore order amid immigration raids. But the move sparked new tensions, protests and at least one surreal foray by armed, masked agents into a park where children were attending summer camp. It also drew a legal challenge from Newsom, which is unfolding in court this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There will be no similar lawsuit in D.C., where Ive lived for decades. Thats because the U.S. president controls our National Guard. The hard truth is that though Wyoming and Vermont each have fewer people than D.C.s 700,000-plus residents, D.C. is not a state. Its still in a semi-colonial status, with a mayor and city council whose actions can be nullified by Congress, and with no voting representation in that Congress. In fact, Congress accidentally slashed $1.1 billion from D.C.s budget our own money, not federal dollars! in its cost-cutting frenzy last spring. A promised fix never came, forcing cuts that affect public safety and much else. And yet the citys crime rate has continued to fall. Compared with California, an economic juggernaut of more than 39 million people located thousands of miles from Washington, D.C. is a minuscule and all too convenient target for an executive aiming to prove his manhood, show off to autocrats in other countries or create headlines to distract from news he doesnt like. I could go off on Trump for his lies, overreach and disrespect for D.C. and its right to govern itself. Or the various Republicans who have imposed conservative policies on D.C. for years and now are trying to repeal its home rule law . Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But what really enrages me is the lack of Democratic nerve or even bravado that has left D.C. so vulnerable to Trump and conservative-run Congresses. Where was the modern-day Lyndon Johnson (the master of the Senate, in Robert Caros phrase) in 2021, to whip support in the narrowly Democratic Senate after the House passed a D.C. statehood bill for the second year in a row? Trump has no mastery beyond bullying and bribery but those tactics are working fine with Congress, corporations, law firms, academia and sovereign nations across the globe. As former House Speaker Newt Gingrich put it last week: You have this rock standing in the middle of history called Donald Trump. And hes saying: Do you want to do it my way, or do you want to be crushed? I prefer you do it my way, but if you have to be crushed, thats OK. Gingrich correctly characterized most responses to Trump as You know, Ive always wanted to be part of the team, and added: If he can sustain this, hes moving into a league that, other than Washington and Lincoln, nobody has gotten to the level of energy, drive and effectiveness that we see with Trump. Unfortunately, Trump is aiming to speed-raze what Washington and Lincoln built. (He keeps claiming its Liberation Day for D.C., but the last Liberation Day his April 2 tariff announcements tanked the stock market.) The only conceivable antidote is to elect a mad-as-hell Democratic Congress in 2026 and, in 2028, an arm-twisting, strong-arming, terror-inspiring Democratic president whos in a hurry to get things done. Someone whos forceful, persuasive and resolved to use the power they have while they have it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The top priorities, beyond reversing as much institutional and constitutional damage as possible, should be structural: Supreme Court term limits and ethics rules with teeth , a national gerrymandering ban, a sensible and uniform national voter ID policy, and minimum national standards for early voting and mail voting to protect the will of the people and the republic itself. Equally important, make D.C. the state of Douglass Commonwealth , named after the abolitionist Frederick Douglass rather than the colonizing Christopher Columbus. Rural America has wielded disproportionate power since the late 1800s , when Republicans added sparsely populated states and permanently skewed the Senate. Two new D.C. senators would help correct that imbalance. The problem is that the next president, or even the next Congress, might arrive too late for D.C. Trump has already begun the federal takeover he has threatened so often for so many years. He took over the Kennedy Center. He took over Congress. We should have expected wed be next. Back in March, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) proposed that D.C. seek temporary sanctuary with Maryland, which ceded most of the land to create the capital in the first place. Youd definitely be safer, he said he told Mayor Muriel Bowser. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That offer, joke or not, practical or not, is looking increasingly inviting by the day. Jill Lawrence is a writer and author of The Art of the Political Deal: How Congress Beat the Odds and Broke Through Gridlock. @jilldlawrence.bsky.social 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. If you want someone to blame for the recent crisis caused by President Trumps rush to force a gerrymander of Texas congressional districts, and the harried responses from governors in California, Illinois and New York, you can start with the Supreme Court. In 2019, in Rucho vs. Common Cause, the group held, 5 to 4, that challenges to partisan gerrymandering present a nonjusticiable political question and thus cannot be heard in federal court. This was widely considered a terrible ruling at the time, and were just now starting to see the consequences. Gerrymandering occurs when the party that controls a state legislature redraws its districts to maximize smooth elections and safe seats for its party members. The notorious practice isnt new its nearly as old as the U.S., having taken its name from Founding Father Elbridge Gerry, an early governor of Massachusetts. Despite finding the practice highly disagreeable, Gerry signed off on the drawing of his states districts in 1812 to help his party gain competitive seats in the Legislature. During this process, someone apparently remarked that one bizarrely drawn district looked like the salamander and the name gerrymandering took hold. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the March 26, 1812, edition of the Boston Gazette, the paper ran a cartoon of the district, caricatured by artist Elkanah Tisdale to introduce The Gerry-Mander: A new species of Monster. For most of American history, those engaging in gerrymandering would choose between a handful of maps based on their predictions of which could yield them the greatest advantage. Today, computers can generate thousands of these clever geographical divisions, with leaders ultimately choosing the map that provides them the best chance of partisan success. Intricate algorithms and detailed data about voters allow these map drawers to engage in gerrymandering with surgical precision. Rucho vs. Common Cause arose in North Carolina, which is basically a purple state these days; presidential elections are always close, and statewide votes for congressional seats are evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. However, when Republicans gained control of the North Carolina Legislature in 2010, they crafted a plan to redraw the boundaries for the states then 13 congressional districts in their favor. State Republicans hired longtime political consultant Thomas Hofeller to generate and evaluate roughly 3,000 distinctive maps, and then selected the one they believed gave Republicans the best chance of earning significant control over North Carolinas House. In the 2018 midterm elections, Republican and Democratic candidates statewide each received roughly half of the votes, but Republicans won 10 of the 13 congressional races. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This, of course, isnt unique to North Carolina. In Pennsylvania, across several elections, congressional races in districts drawn by a Republican legislature resulted in Democrats receiving between 45% and 51% of the statewide vote, yet winning just five of its 18 House seats. In Rucho vs. Common Cause, a lower federal court found that partisan gerrymandering violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment (as well as the 1st Amendment and Article 1 of the Constitution). But the Supreme Court, in a 2019 opinion by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., reversed this decision. The 5-4 majority held that federal courts cannot entertain a claim and suggested that the plaintiffs must find their resolution elsewhere. But this was just wrong. Gerrymandering is nothing more than a method for rigging elections. The central precept of a republican government, as the Supreme Court itself once observed, is that the voters should choose their representatives, not the other way around. However, partisan gerrymandering infamously creates a system for representatives to effectively choose their voters. As a result, each voter does not have the same opportunity to influence the outcome of an election, which is antithetical to equal protection. When the court first ruled on partisan gerrymandering, holding that federal courts could hear challenges to it, Justice Lewis Powell observed that the boundaries of the voting districts have been distorted deliberately to deprive voters of an equal opportunity to participate in the States legislative processes. Some voters will benefit and will have more influence in choosing representatives. For others this will be more difficult as their votes are diluted. That is inconsistent with democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even though districting is usually done at the beginning of each decade, right after the U.S. census, and even though Texas congressional districts were drawn just a few years ago, Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott are trying to engage in redistricting for the sole goal of manipulating the composition of Congress. Trump, knowing the Supreme Courts decision means that federal courts cant stop it, has strongly urged the state to redraw its districts now to effectively create five more safe seats for Republican representatives. Not surprisingly, states with Democratic governors and legislatures are now looking for ways to respond, including redrawing districts that create Democratic seats in Congress. But some of these states, notably California and New York, already adopted the desirable and seemingly bipartisan approach of having independent commissions draw their districts to eliminate the plague of gerrymandering. The question is whether they can and should also change this practice now to combat what Texas is trying to do. There are many ways to end partisan gerrymandering. Congress could pass a law requiring that all states use independent commissions to draw the congressional districts. The Supreme Court could reconsider and overrule Rucho vs. Common Cause and go back to holding, as the law used to be, that federal courts can invalidate partisan gerrymandering. State courts can find partisan gerrymandering violates state constitutions. But none of this is going to happen now, and there is nothing to stop Texas from its efforts to carve out five more Republican districts. States controlled by Democrats need to respond; unilateral disarmament never makes sense. The loser is American democracy. And the Supreme Court is to blame. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the UC Berkeley Law School, is an Opinion Voices contributing writer. 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. GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) There is a slight pause in near-100 degree temperatures for today, but they are expected to return tomorrow and all week long afterwards. Instead, expect temperatures closer to the lower-to-mid nineties with sunny skies. There is a slight breeze in the air, but the pressure gradient responsible for excessive wind speeds from last week have finally broken down and dissipated. Tonight, some smoke can be expected in the valley as well as overnight lows in the mid-sixties. Altogether, its expected to be a cooler-than-average day. Localized critical fire weather conditions will be possible over the Four Corners region of southwest Colorado today with a reprieve through the coming week. Near normal temperatures again today will return to well above normal by midweek. Mountain thunderstorms will be possible over the central and south on Tuesday with lightning and gusty winds the main threats. Warm conditions continue into much of the coming week with some hint of better moisture being drawn northward into the region mid to late week to promote an increased coverage of showers and thunderstorms. Visibility and air quality near Cortez will be the main concern for the area as smoke from the ongoing Lee and Mesa Stoner fires continue to rage on. Northerly flow will be pushing smoke from these northwest fires into the Grand Valley later tonight as well. While some water vapor is visible on satellite radar imagery, next to nothing is expected to be felt in the Grand Valley itself. While there is a break in the excessive heat, it will still be over 90 degrees, and it will still be dry. High pressure sits over the Great Basin area to the west, where monsoonal moisture will start to develop to the south. However, the high pressure is expected to keep that moisture in the south, possibly reaching southwest Colorado and central mountains. However, models are unsure at what point later in the week this may hit. Overall, expect a nicer day today for the western slope! Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Youve probably heard the phrase: Crime knows no boundaries. Because of that, law enforcement officials say cooperation is crucial to fighting and deterring crime. Lycoming County District Attorney Tom Marino sat down for a one-on-one interview on Monday with I-Team Reporter Andy Mehalshick. They talked about a wide range of issues facing law enforcement in central Pennsylvania and beyond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DA Marino says now, more than ever before, cooperation among law enforcement across the area is key to combating crime. DA Marino says one of the biggest challenges facing law enforcement these days is youth violence and their access to guns and drugs. They travel to Philadelphia, the drug dealers, the gun dealers, give these kids, gangs, guns, give them a couple of guns, Here these are the drugs, Im going to give you some money for what you are doing, and send them out to Lycoming County and other counties, DA Marino said. Mehalshick interviewed DA Marino for the podcasts on the 28/22 News CTV app. DA Marino says the juveniles also steal guns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Five accused of assaulting man after softball game These kids are creative. In Lycoming County, weve had, I think, at least three break-ins into sporting goods stores, and they are stealing guns in addition to the guns coming in from Philadelphia from the dealers and the gun runners in Philadelphia, DA Marino added. DA Marino also talked about the need for a juvenile rehabilitation center in central Pennsylvania. He proposed the facility last year. The expenses we send kids to Texas to house them, even though it started to be a $60,000,000 project with the architects and some contributors, hopefully we can have that down to below $30,000,000, DA Marino continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DA Marino insists the way to deter crime is to get juveniles the help they need. Well, that $30,000,000 goes to helping juveniles get the education they need. The approach from a psychologist to what they need and we cant afford not to put the money into something like this, DA Marino stated. You can see Mehalshicks hour-long interview with DA Marino on the 28/22 News CTV app in the days ahead. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to 28/22 News. PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) A woman who was licensed in Oregon to perform hair, nail and skin care must return to school for 144 hours of additional training to do those activities in South Dakota. Thats the heart of a consent agreement between applicant Daelyn Batmale and the South Dakota Cosmetology Commission. State won 16 of 37 pandemic unemployment appeals The state panel approved the agreement during a teleconference meeting on Monday. Batmale had signed it June 27. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agreement says Batmale must successfully complete 40 hours in general infection control and professional standards; 85 hours in science of cosmetology, hair, skin, and nails; 11 hours in chemical hair services; and eight hours in electronic nail filing. Batlmale also must take and pass the online National-Interstate Council written theory examination for cosmetology and take and pass the online South Dakota law and rules exam in order to be licensed in South Dakota. South Dakota law provides for reciprocal licensing. Ellie Bailey, a Pierre attorney, represented Batmale, who plans to work at a Pierre salon. Bailey told the commission on Monday that Batmale has already started taking the additional coursework. Batmale had been licensed in Oregon since 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jennifer Doubledee, the commissions attorney, said Batmale applied for reciprocal licensing in South Dakota on February 23, 2025. The commissions program director, Tyler Evins, sent Batmale a deficiency letter on April 4, 2025, advising Batmale that South Dakota did not have an equivalent hair design license to reciprocate. The South Dakota office received correspondence from College of Hair Design Careers (CHDC) in Salem, Oregon, on April 15, 2025, detailing the type and number of hours Oregon required and the applicants final progress report, syllabi, and official transcripts. On April 17, 2025, the state office denied Batmales request for reciprocity, outlining the basis for the denial and advising Batmale of her right to file a written request for a contested case hearing within 20 days, or May 7, 2025. Batmale then submitted her written request for a contested case hearing in front of the state commission on April 28, 2025, and her attorney submitted additional documentation to director Evins on May 7 in support of her reciprocity application. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On May 13, Batmale was informed through her attorney that the denial of her reciprocity application was being maintained. The hearing was scheduled for June 13, 2025. But the consent agreement was reached rather than proceeding to the hearing. Unfortunately Oregon did not have the same licenses as South Dakota, and we cant reciprocate a license we didnt have, commission attorney Doubledee said Monday. The commission at its June 16 meeting approved a consent agreement with Dwight Johnson to receive a student license. The commission had previously denied Johnsons application because he had simple assault convictions in 2008, 2015, 2016 and 2018, including two that were felonies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Amid mounting international pressure on Israel to end its war in Gaza, there is growing diplomatic momentum in the West to recognize Palestinian statehood, with Australia becoming the latest to announce plans to do so. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Monday that the country will recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly next month. Albanese said during a press conference Monday that he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week about needing a political solution, not a military one to the war in Gaza. Australias Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong said she spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio ahead of the announcement. Australia will recognise the State of Palestine at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, to contribute to international momentum towards a two-state solution, a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of hostages, Albanese said in a statement. The Netanyahu Government is extinguishing the prospect of a two-state solution by rapidly expanding illegal settlements, threatening annexation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and explicitly opposing any Palestinian state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move comes as Israel has again amped up its offensive in Gaza over the course of its nearly two-year long war, while the Israeli government is considering a complete conquest of Gaza. Humanitarian organizations have warned about the humanitarian crisis and famine unfolding in Gaza, as well as the targeting and killing of journalists, while Netanyahu has claimed media bias and denied that Palestinians are starving. Heres what to know. Which countries have recognized a Palestinian state? Nearly 150 of 193 U.N. member states recognize Palestinian statehood, including most countries in Asia, Africa, and South America. But currently, only a fraction of Western countries domostly former members of the Soviet Unionalthough momentum appears to be growing. In July, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Malta announced their intention to recognize a Palestinian state at the September U.N. meeting. New Zealand also said on Monday that it would carefully weigh up its position over the next month on recognition of a state of Palestine. Portugal, too, said in July that it is considering recognizing Palestinian statehood. They join Armenia, Slovenia, Ireland, Spain, and Norway, as well as four others around the world, which recognized Palestinian statehood in 2024. What does it mean to recognize Palestinian statehood? By international law, a sovereign state should have a permanent population, a defined territory, an effective government, and the ability to conduct international relations. Whether or not a country is formally recognized by other states is not a requirement of sovereign statehood, but it shapes how countries interact with each other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With much of the world already recognizing Palestinian statehood, the shift among Western countries is widely seen as an attempt to pressure Israel towards a cease-fire. Some Western countries made a similar move a decade ago after the Israeli government annexed territory in the West Bank. Sweden in 2014 officially recognized Palestinian statehood, while U.K. lawmakers voted in favor of doing the same, although the British government did not formally recognize Palestinian statehood at the time. Much of the West has long supported a two-state solution, in which a Palestinian state would exist in most or all of the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and east Jerusalem, alongside the state of Israel. Although largely seen as symbolic, the shift in recognition has been accompanied by growing censure of the Israeli government, such as Germanys suspension of Gaza-linked weapons exports to Israel last week and a majority of Senate Democrats voting to stop arms sales to Israel at the end of July. But elevating a Palestinian state to a full member, rather than a Permanent Observer, as it currently is, at the U.N. would require getting the U.S. on board. As a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, the U.S. has the power to veto resolutions that could change Palestines membership status, which it has done in the past. How have Israel, the U.S., and others reacted? Israel has condemned Western countries like France, Canada, and the U.K. for their decision to recognize Palestinian statehood, arguing that it rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became. The Israeli government opposes Palestinian sovereignty and a two-state solution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Netanyahu called Australias decision shameful and said its not going to change our position. I think were actually applying force judiciously, and they know it. They know what they would do if right next to Melbourne or right next to Sydney you had this horrific attacks. I think you would do it, at least what were doing, probably maybe not as efficiently and as precisely as were doing it, Netanyahu told reporters Sunday. The war in Gaza was ignited by Hamas terrorist attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing more than 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages. Since then, more than 60,000 Palestinians and nearly 2,000 Israelis have been killed, according to Gazas Health Ministry and Israeli forces, respectively. (In the absence of independent monitoring on the ground, the Gaza Health Ministry is the primary source for casualty data relied upon by humanitarian groups, journalists, and international bodies. Its figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants and cannot be independently verified by TIME.) Hamas had released 140 living hostages, as of the start of July. The Israeli government believes around 20 living hostages remain in Gaza, as well as the bodies of around 30 others. Hamas reportedly offered to release all hostages in exchange for the full withdrawal of Israels military from Gaza and an end to the war, which a Hamas senior official said Israel rejected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By recognising a Palestinian state now, Australia elevates the position of Hamas, Israels envoy to Australia Amir Maimon said in a statement posted to X. Netanyahu earlier this year said that the leaders of France, Canada, and the U.K. were emboldening Hamas after they had signed a joint letter calling for a cease-fire and two-state solution with an independent Palestinian state. The U.S., Israels biggest ally, has also rejected the recent announcements. Rubio earlier called Frances decision to recognize Palestinian statehood reckless and said it only serves Hamas propaganda, while President Donald Trump said French President Emmanuel Macrons statement doesnt carry weight. Within Australia, the countrys move has been met with both welcome and disapproval. The Executive Council of Australian Jewry called the move a betrayal and that the Australian government has committed to recognising as a State an entity with no agreed borders, no single government in effective control of its territory, and no demonstrated capacity to live in peace with its neighbours. Meanwhile Liberal-National Coalition defense spokesperson Angus Taylor said the decision was premature and rewarding Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Labor Friends of Palestine, a rank-and-file group of the Australian Labor Party, said the move delivers on policy long supported by Labor members who will strongly welcome this move. Australia Palestine Advocacy Network President Nasser Mashni said the announcement was meaningless and a political fig leaf while Australia continues to trade and have diplomatic relations with Israel. Albanese said in the press conference that the move is not only symbolic. This is not Australia acting alone, he said. This is a practical contribution towards building momentum. Contact us at letters@time.com. A growing number of countries are pledging to recognize a Palestinian state, with more than 145 nations now joining the call for international recognition. Most of the nations that recognize a State of Palestine did so in 1988, following the Palestine National Councils (PNC) declaration of the state. Many other non-Western states followed suit in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. In the spring of 2024, more European and Caribbean nations recognized a Palestinian state, including Barbados, Ireland, Jamaica, Norway and Spain. At the time, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to listen to the world and stop the humanitarian catastrophe we are seeing in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most recently, Australia, Canada and France announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly meeting in September. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom has conditionally said it will recognize a Palestinian state if Israel does not meet criteria that include agreeing to a ceasefire in Gaza. Those recent announcements leave the United States increasingly isolated from some of its closest allies on the issue of Israel and how it has conducted its military campaign and aid restrictions. Israels Foreign Ministry has rejected the European nations recent calls for recognition, calling them a reward to Hamas that undermine efforts to reach a ceasefire. US President Donald Trump has also blasted the calls for recognition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes amid growing condemnation of the starvation crisis in Gaza caused by Israels blockade of humanitarian aid, which has been widely condemned by United Nations agencies and humanitarian groups. CNNs Max Saltman and Laura Sharman contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Beaches across Ashtabula Countys Lake Erie shoreline had varying results in a recent analysis of 2024 water pollution levels. An Environment Ohio Research and Policy Center report found 92% of Ohio Lake Erie beaches were potentially unsafe for at least one day in 2024. The statistic comes from the Safe for Swimming? report by Environment America, of which Environment Ohio is a state affiliate. The report found 71% of Great Lakes beaches had potentially unsafe contamination levels for at least one day, and 36% of Ohio beaches exceeded the safety threshold for at least quarter of the days tested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clean Water Director for Environment Ohio John Rumpler said the report drew from an Environmental Protection Agency central database and focused on fecal contamination. The national report started in 2019, being compiled in every year since, except 2022, he said. Rumpler said it is hard to tell if the issue is becoming better or worse, between years because many beaches are not tested for the same amount of days. We arent really able to say, he said. Rumpler said fecal contamination at beaches can be caused by urban runoff, sewage overflows and factory farms. Other factors, like heavy rain events, can increase water pollution, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Health effects of fecal pollution include diarrhea, nausea, rashes, ear infections and respiratory problems, Rumpler said. The beaches in the state with the most potentially unsafe days were located in Erie, Cuyahoga and Lorain counties, according to the report. The beach with the most potentially unsafe days was Villa Angela State Park, which had 42 potentially unsafe days out of 121 in 2024, or 35% of tests done. No Ashtabula County beach made it to the top ten in the state for potentially unsafe days in 2024, according to the report. The Conneaut sand bar beach had seven potentially unsafe days of 18 it was tested, or 39%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conneaut Township Park had one potentially unsafe day of 13 it was tested, or 8%. Lake Shore Park had 14 potentially unsafe days out of 20 it was tested, or 70%. Walnut Beach had one potentially unsafe day of 12 it was tested, or 8%. Geneva State Park had four potentially unsafe days of 15 it was tested, or 27%. Rumpler said people can check the Ohio Department of Healths website for current beach closures. Environment Americas website gives people other tips for beach safety, including avoiding swimming for 72 hours after a heavy storm and being mindful of beach hazards. The best way to deal with the issue is to fund improvements to sewer infrastructure, Rumpler said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congress needs to give Ohio communities the resources to fix their sewer infrastructure, he said. Rumpler said he is concerned recent cuts to the clean water state revolving fund will make the issue worse. Thats very alarming if we want to see our beaches safe for swimming, he said. Ashtabula Township Park Commissioner Brian Hubbard, said ODH does Lake Shore Parks water tests. The agency relies on expensive equipment, so it may have results out the day after, when water conditions could have drastically changed, Hubbard said. By the time they post their results, its history, he said. Lake County used to be responsible for Lake Shore Parks tests through a grant, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lake Shore Parks breakwalls can also impact how pollution stays in the water, and make it different from Walnut Beach. On days when Lake Shore Park is unsafe, Walnut Beach may be safe and vice versa, Hubbard said. Its something youre going to have to somewhat live with, he said. Hubbard said water pollution has been a big issue for the community for a while. This has been going on since the 60s, he said. Conneaut Township Park Commissioner Jeff Myers said the location of wastewater treatment plants can affect how much pollution is detected in water. It doesnt happen that often, he said. Myers said Conneaut Township Park has had only one closure because of water pollution this year, which was from June 11-13. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Conneaut Health Department tests the water at township park, he said. Myers said shallower levels in western Lake Erie might impact why beaches in Erie and Cuyahoga counties tested for more unsafe days. SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Court documents have highlighted details from a Friday night pursuit where a man fired shots at law enforcement. According to court documents, Daniel Wenzel, 38, was arrested on Friday after leading officers on a pursuit that started in Dakota County and ended in Sioux City. The pursuit started when a Dakota County officer attempted to stop a 2002 Buick Century with stolen Iowa plates. Wenzel did not stop for the officer, and a pursuit began, taking officers through the Singing Hills area and onto Lewis Boulevard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the pursuit, Wenzel traveled at speeds around 100 mph in a 45 mph hour zone, according to documents. He also fired two shots at officials on Singing Hills Boulevard and three more shots while on Lewis Boulevard. Story continues below After utilizing a PIT maneuver, Wenzel attempted to flee on foot before eventually being apprehended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While officials were trying to take Wenzel into custody, court documents state that he assaulted an officer, resulting in serious injuries. Wenzel also caused $1,800 in damage to a squad car when he kicked out two rear windows, bent the cars framing, damaged the center divider, and kicked off the rear seat camera. After searching Wenzels vehicle, officials said that they found a loaded handgun with a live round in the chamber and rounds in the magazine, methamphetamine, cocaine, and marijuana. They also found a scale and bags typically used for distributing drugs. Officials also said that Wenzel is a convicted felon and has a history of domestic abuse, meaning it is illegal for him to possess a firearm. Wenzel was taken to the hospital following the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wenzel faces 12 total charges as a result of the pursuit. Attempted murder of a peace officer Attempted murder of a peace officer Controlled substance violation Eluding Speed over 25 over the speed limit Interference with official acts Firearm Second-degree criminal mischief Assault on person in certain occupations Intent of injury Dominion/control of a firearm by a felon Dominion/control of a firearm by a domestic abuse offender 3rd or subsequent offense of possession of a controlled substance 3rd or subsequent offense of possession of a controlled substance 3rd or subsequent offense of possession of a controlled substance Wenzel is expected to make his first appearance in court on August 19 at 9 a.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 SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. Israel Police during operation in Israel The father and son, along with a third defendant, face charges for terrorism, weapons trafficking, and planning deadly attacks in Jerusalem. A father and son from Kalandiya have been indicted in the Jerusalem District Court for their involvement in an extensive weapons trafficking and terrorism plot uncovered during a year-long investigation, the Jerusalem District Prosecutors Office announced on Monday. The investigation, which followed the deployment of a police agent, revealed a wide-ranging operation involving weapons transactions, explosives manufacturing, and the planning of terror attacks, all motivated by an ideological-nationalistic cause. The prosecution is seeking to detain all defendants until the legal proceedings are concluded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Jerusalem District Prosecutors Office explained that the complex investigation, which was conducted under its supervision, uncovered severe and dangerous security activity. This included planning and executing lethal terror attacks, as well as extensive involvement in the illegal weapons trade. The prosecution emphasized that the scale, sophistication, and volume of weapons involved pointed to the extraordinary threat posed by those involved. All defendants will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, the office affirmed. The indictment details that the Shaheen father-son duo and Abu Taha were involved in arms trading, explosives manufacturing, and planning deadly terror attacks from 2020 until their arrest. They operated improvised bomb-making laboratories in their homes and warehouses. According to the indictment, during the ongoing, they produced dozens of pipe bombs connected to gas cylinders and fire extinguishers, purchased chemicals like potassium, sulfur, and charcoal powder, and conducted experiments to refine their explosives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, one of the defendants is accused of carrying out a shooting attack at the Kalandiya checkpoint, where 24 bullets were fired at security forces. Additional terror attack plots against IDF targets The group planned other attacks, including shootings and bombings at the Kalandiya checkpoint, an assault on a person in Modi'in they believed to be an air force pilot, and bombings at a nightclub in Rishon Lezion. They also planned to place explosive devices along IDF patrol routes. The investigation also revealed that the defendants trained others in the use of weapons and bomb-making techniques and maintained contact with a foreign agent affiliated with Hamas, as well as with individuals linked to the Islamic State (ISIS). In addition, eight other indictments were filed against 19 defendants, including three minors, for firearms offenses. These indictments, filed by attorney Sapir Mordechai, describe arms deals worth hundreds of thousands of shekels, including the sale of handguns like "Glock," "Sig Sauer," "DDG," and "BUL Cherokee," along with long firearms such as M16s and Kalashnikovs, ammunition, and magazines. The deals were made in cash, with live-fire shooting tests in some cases. Operational firearmssome stolenwere seized, along with a large quantity of magazines and ammunition. Babies born during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic are heading to preschool and kindergarten, and experts are waiting anxiously to see its impact on the young learners. Concerns about cognitive and social delays, such as difficulties sharing or following directions, have arisen, as conflicting studies and educators anecdotes emerge about 4- and 5-year-olds. While devastating consequences were immediately noticeable for older students during the pandemic, it is too early to get a definitive answer on how it affected those born during the chaos, making vigilance from educators a necessary factor in the upcoming school year, experts stress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One study published recently in Infancy looked at data from 330 infants born between October 2016 and August 2021 and found there was little difference between negative effects on infants before and after pandemic onset, rather higher negative effects on infants were more closely associated with factors such as maternal stress. And stress on caregivers during the pandemic rose significantly with job losses and decreases in socialization, but those effects were different based on family income level. Kids with families with high socioeconomic backgrounds, theyre actually seeing improvement in these kids development, because caregivers might have been home more often than they were before, they might have had more time and attention and support and family meals and reading together, and all those things we know were really important, said Rahil Briggs, national director of Zero to Threes HealthySteps program. Another study found that the lower the socioeconomic background, the more that decrease in kindergarten readiness showed up, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But other studies showed more differences between the youngest learners before and after COVID-19, including a higher risk for social, cognitive, communication, motor and social delays among those born during the height of the pandemic. A study released in 2024 that examined a cohort of 3.5- to 5.5-year-olds found after the pandemic this age group tested significantly worse on several measures of false-belief understanding. So for things to be affecting the kids now, it really has to be something that made a fundamental shift in their development those first couple of years and that can happen. We do know that the first three years of life are super important. What we havent had is something that hits us over the head yet beyond anecdotal, said Koraly Perez-Edgar, a professor of psychology at Pennsylvania State University. Perez-Edgar cited a New York Times story from July 2024 that indicated the kids going into kindergarten last year were really messed up, or, like, really had a lot of trouble. But she said such behavior hasnt been borne out in studies yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not showing up in the data quite as strongly or quite as forcefully as some of the anecdotal reports say, she noted, adding that the concerns experts are worried about likely wont emerge or be discovered until they are in school. Older kids had immediate effects that were easy to see when the pandemic closed schools in 2020 and created restrictions in classrooms in 2021. Behavioral problems in classrooms, chronic absenteeism and anxiety went up, while academic performance went down in older students, with some of those effects still lingering today. But infants had time to live in a world without masks and restrictions for years before heading to kindergarten. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, the pandemic was 2020, five years ago, and things really the last three years, they would have had the opportunity to have a pretty normal socialization for most kids, said Eileen Kennedy-Moore, a psychologist and podcast host of Kids Ask Dr. Friendtastic. So, I dont think we have to assume that because of COVID, these kids are warped. I think we deal with the child in front of us. Experts and advocates caution vigilance and advise planning for a situation where these children begin to struggle in school, such as smaller class sizes and collaboration with families. We think a lower group size or maybe additional adult support in the classroom, like a teachers aide, could be helpful for kindergarten programs. I do think significant family engagement is going to be really helpful to support these young children and families, said Ginger Sandweg, senior director early learning at First Things First. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But experts also note it is important to recognize children are able to bounce back from adversity well, even if some struggles occurred after the pandemic with socialization. I think if schools are aware of these particular areas, they can do more programming in terms of teaching kids like asserting yourself and talking, having conversations, said Mary Alvord, psychologist and founder of Alvord, Baker & Associates. But my area is resilience, and I just feel like we also need to acknowledge the resilience of most kids, she added. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A recently released picture of the Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Bainbridge offers a good look at new launchers for Coyote counter-drone interceptors installed on the ship. Earlier this year, the U.S. Navy announced that destroyers assigned to escort the supercarrier USS Gerald R. Ford would be armed with Raytheon Coyote and/or Anduril Roadrunner-M counter-drone systems. In addition to being lower-cost than traditional surface-to-air missiles, Coyote and Roadrunner-M have loitering capabilities that allow them to be more dynamically employed against incoming uncrewed threats. The Navy released the picture of Bainbridge sailing in the Ionian Sea between Italy and Greece over the weekend, but it was taken on July 27, 2025. It is one of three Arleigh Burke class destroyers currently assigned to the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group, the others being USS Winston S. Churchill and USS Mitscher. The Winston S. Churchill is serving as the strike groups air defense commander, a role that certain Arleigh Burkes have increasingly been taking over from a dwindling fleet of aging Ticonderoga class cruisers. The Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Bainbridge sails in the Ionian Sea on July 27, 2025. The new counter-drone interceptor launcher can be seen installed on the aft superstructure. USN Petty Officer 2nd Class Jacob Mattingly The new counter-drone interceptor launchers are installed on the port side of Bainbridges aft superstructure near the ships rear Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) array. Bainbridges new counter-drone interceptor launchers are visible in this picture of the ship leaving port in June 2025, but are more obscured by personnel on the deck. USN Petty Officer 2nd Class Porsha Thompson A close-up look at the launchers in the June 2025 picture. USN A further review of other pictures the Navy has previously released of the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group since its current deployment began in June shows the same launcher installation onboard the Winston S. Churchill. Whether or not it is present on the Mitscher is unclear from the imagery available now. Mitscher is notably an older Flight I Arleigh Burke, while Bainbridge and Winston S. Churchill are both newer Flight IIA subvariants, but whether this has any bearing on the fielding of the new counter-drone capabilities is unknown. The USS Winston S. Churchill sails in the Adriatic Sea on July 29, 2025. USN Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A close-up of the new launchers on the USS Winston S. Churchill. USN All Arleigh Burke class destroyers feature Mk 41 VLS arrays, but with differing numbers of cells depending on the subvariant. These can be loaded with a variety of surface-to-air and surface-to-surface missiles, including Standard Missile (SM) series, Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM), and Tomahawk types. Some versions have additional launchers for Harpoon or Naval Strike Missile (NSM) anti-ship cruise missiles. Depending on the particular version, Arleigh Burkes have RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile (RAM) launchers or 20mm Vulcan cannon-armed Mk 15 Phalanx Close-in Weapon Systems (CIWS), or both in some cases, for close-in defense against aerial threats, including drones. The Navy is now moving to replace the Phalanxes on all of its destroyers with RAM launchers. The 5-inch main gun in a turret on the bow of each of the destroyers can also be employed against aerial, as well as surface targets. The launchers seen in both the pictures of Bainbridge and Winston S. Churchill show a clear relationship to existing ground-based launchers for Block 2 counter-drone versions of Coyote. A side-by-side comparison of the launchers on the USS Bainbridge (at left) and a ground-based Coyote Block 2 launcher (at right). USN/US Army To date, Anduril has only shown a box-type hangar or nest for Roadrunner-M that launches the interceptor vertically, as seen in the video below. Launchers more in line with that design are not visible, at least readily, in the available pictures of any of the destroyers assigned to the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group. Coyote Block 2 and Roadrunner-M are both drone-like jet-powered interceptors with differing degrees of loitering capability, which we will come back to later. They both have to be cued to their targets, or a general target area, using a mixture of sensors before their onboard seekers take over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Army has already been fielding Coyote Block 2 for years as part of its Low, Slow, Unmanned Aircraft Integrated Defeat System (LIDS), which comes in mobile and fixed-site variations, as you can read more about here. The Army has deployed LIDS in the Middle East, Africa, and Europe, and has employed them in combat in at least some of those locales. Recently released pictures indicate the U.S. Air Force has also become an operator of the fixed-site version of LIDS. Members of the US Air Forces 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron train on a Coyote counter-drone system at an undisclosed location in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility on June 7, 2025. USAF Airman 1st Class Keagan Lee Elements of the U.S. special operations community are known to have fielded Roadrunner-M in a land-based configuration, though details of its use to date are limited. A major U.S. military order for additional Roadrunner-Ms last year pointed to expanding use of the system. As noted, a key attribute that Coyote and Roadrunner-M offer is their ability to loiter. This provides added flexibility to task and retask them dynamically in real time in response to sudden changes in the threat picture. They can also be launched preemptively against potential threats. Roadrunner-M was specifically designed with this employment model in mind, and has the added ability to be recovered, refueled, and relaunched, as you can read about more in this past feature. These are capabilities that traditional surface-to-air missiles simply do not have and that are otherwise unavailable to warship crews at present, beyond employing the ships rotary-wing assets, if available. The capabilities that Coyote Block 2 and Roadrunner-M offer are also particularly important for warships given their limitations when it comes to both the size of their magazines and the ability to readily reload them while deployed. The Navy has been separately working to field new at-sea reloading capabilities, driven in large part now by lessons learned from shooting down Houthi drones and missiles in and around the Red Sea, as well as knocking down Iranian threats headed toward Israel. Experiences tackling Houthi drones were a key driver behind the installation of the new counter-drone interceptors on the destroyers in the Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group in the first place. Drone threats to American warships, as well as facilities and other assets ashore, are, of course, not new, as TWZ has been highlighting for years now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As mentioned, Coyote Block 2 and Roadrunner-M have the added benefit of being lower-cost layers of defense against drones compared to existing ship-launched surface-to-air missiles. A single Block 2 Coyote is reportedly around $100,000. Anduril has previously said that each Roadrunner-M has a price tag somewhere in the low hundreds of thousands of dollars. For comparison, an SM-2 Block IIIC, a go-to air defense weapon for the Navys Arleigh Burkes, has an average unit cost of around $2 million, according to the services 2026 Fiscal Year budget request. The price point for a single ESSM, another air defense staple on American warships, is around $1.65 million. The Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Carney fires an SM-2 at a Houthi threat in October 2023. USN The US Navys Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS Carney fires an SM-2 missile at Houthi aerial threats on October 19, 2023. USN Last year, TWZ laid out a detailed case for adding a variety of drone types, including ones able to operate in swarms, to the arsenals of Navy ships to provide additional layers of defense, as well as enhanced strike, electronic warfare, intelligence-gathering, and networking capabilities, which you can find here. Whether or not launchers for Coyote Block 2 and/or Roadrunner-M become a standard feature on Arleigh Burke destroyers or other Navy vessels remains to be seen. The Navy has at least tested one or both of those systems on two other Arleigh Burkes, the USS Jason Dunham and USS The Sullivans, according to Naval News. The Navy is separately pursuing a variety of other capabilities to bolster air and missile defenses on its surface warships, including new directed energy weapons, electronic warfare suites, and advanced networked decoys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The USS Gerald R. Ford will deploy with some additional counter-UAS [uncrewed aerial systems] capabilities, and then well continue to look and learn and develop those capabilities as we go forward, a senior Navy official told TWZ and other outlets at a briefing regarding the Pentagons 2026 Fiscal Year budget request in June. Lockheed Martin is also notably pitching launchers for the AGM-179 Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM), which could also potentially be used in the anti-air role, as an addition to the Arleigh Burkes arsenal. The company has shown models with JAGM launchers installed in the same general location on the aft superstructure where Bainbridge and Winston S. Churchill now have their new counter-drone capabilities. At least some number of the Navys Freedom class Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) are capable now of engaging drones, as well as surface threats with millimeter-wave radar-guided AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missiles, one of the weapons JAGM is set to eventually supplant. A close-up of JAGM launchers on a model of an Arleigh Burke class destroyer on display at the 2025 Surface Navy Association symposium. Joseph Trevithick In the meantime, Bainbridge and Winston S. Churchill, at least, have gotten important boosts in their ability to defend against incoming drones. Contact the author: joe@twz.com Cracker Barrels ongoing restaurant redesigns are sparking fierce backlash from customers who say the chain is abandoning its nostalgic charm for sterile modernization. The controversy highlights how deeply customers connect with the brands vintage atmosphere, raising questions about whether the 55-year-old chain can evolve without losing its soul. The Tennessee-based restaurant company has been replacing its signature dark wood paneling and dense antique collections with bright white walls and streamlined layouts. About 40 of the chains 660-plus locations had completed redesigns by May 2025, according to The Wall Street Journal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Social media erupted after videos showed the transformed interiors, with many customers expressing outrage over what they perceived as corporate sanitization. One social media user posted on X: Before Cracker Barrel had a homemade feel Now, in your video after remodel, it feels like an airport soulless place. Another restaurant patron wrote, My concern is this remodel. Im sorry, but it looks horrible. It completely destroys the atmosphere that we go to Cracker Barrel for. X user Kevin E. Outland wrote: Man they sucked all the charm out of the interior with this remodel. The warmth is gone. I wont be stopping at any remodeled Cracker Barrels. I hope the[y] see the error of their ways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The chains Chief Marketing Officer, Sarah Moore, has repeatedly tried to reassure concerned patrons. Items like our rocking chairs, our biscuits, our peg games, antiquities on the wall, none of that is going away, she told Fox News. Were just looking at ways to freshen up the experience so that we can open our door a bit wider to welcome in more guests. Company representatives describe the changes as guest-driven improvements rather than wholesale reinvention. A Cracker Barrel spokesperson told Country Living that pilot tests at 25-30 locations feature lighter paint, updated fixtures/lighting, and new booth banquettes designed to create brighter spaces. The remodeling effort comes after company leadership acknowledged the brand had lost cultural relevance in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With traffic down almost 20% [compared] to 2019, theyre telling us theyre not choosing us, Cracker Barrel CEO Julie Masino said in the third-quarter earnings conference call in 2024. Weve got to drive and reignite relevancy, and then we have to have food and an experience that guests crave and guests love. While the majority of social media posts on the subject expressed negative views about the remodel, a few had some positive comments. Cracker Barrel 100% did the right thing modernizing. My last visit was pre-COVID and nearly every location looked worn-out and sad. A few weeks ago I stopped in and, Wow. Everything was bright, the food was (still) great, and the staff seemed even friendlier than I remembered, Anthony Graves posted on X. Aug. 11A Creston man is dead after wrecking a motorcycle during a high-speed pursuit in Union County. According to an Iowa State Patrol Initial Crash Report, Tony D. Fizer, 55, was fatally injured Sunday after wrecking a 2022 Harley Davidson Street Glide Special while attempting to elude law enforcement. At approximately 1:13 p.m., Creston Police attempted to stop the Harley for traveling above the posted speed limit. Radio traffic during the incident identified the driver as Fizer and stated the motorcycle was traveling in excess of 70 mph in a 55 mph zone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fizer did not stop and continued eastbound on Highway 34, reaching speeds above 100 mph. Approximately one mile east of Afton, while traversing a curve near mile marker 94, Fizer lost control of the Harley and went onto the shoulder of the road. The Harley overturned, throwing Fizer into the south ditch where he and the motorcycle came to rest. Fizer died from injuries sustained in the crash. He was transported by EMS to Greater Regional Health in Creston. Iowa State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Union County Sheriff's Office and Greater Regional Health. SEVIER COUNTY, Tenn. (WATE) Sevier County Fire & Rescue, the Tennessee Department of Forestry and other agencies are battling a 15-acre brushfire near Phillips Way in Sevier County, according to Vice Mayor Bryan McCarter. The fire is about 80% contained, SCFR said in a 3 p.m. update on Monday. It is in a remote section of Richardsons Cove and no buildings are threatened. Crews are monitoring fire lines and placing additional dozer containment lines. Vols wide receiver arrested in Knox County on charges of driving with suspended license (Sevier County Fire & Rescue) (Sevier County Fire & Rescue) This is a developing story. Download the WATE 6 News app or sign up for our email alerts for updates. Hand crews and dozers are working hard to get the brushfire within containment, McCarter said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SCFR first reported the fire around 6:15 p.m. Sunday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side. Two people were evaluated at a local hospital after a fire broke out at a lakeside home in Wrentham on Monday. The fire broke out at a home on Woolford Road, which runs right next to Lake Pearl. One person inside the home and one firefighter will be evaluated, but are expected to be okay, according to the Wrentham Fire Department. Crews on the water could also be seen monitoring the fire. Fire crews had trouble accessing water due to the long distance between hydrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire was out by 6:00 p.m., but some firefighters remained at the scene to monitor hot spots. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW (NewsNation) Officials said multiple explosions at a U.S. Steel plant in Clairton, Pennsylvania, left two people dead and 10 others injured and another person missing. Allegheny County Emergency Services said a fire at the plant started around 10:50 a.m. Monday between the 13th and 14th coke batteries at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works, and it confirmed the death and injuries, many of which are not life-threatening. The agency later made a statement calling the explosion a Level 3 mass casualty incident to allow for more EMS resources from across the region to respond. In a press briefing on Monday, county officials said search-and-rescue efforts were underway for one employee that is still unaccounted for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said all injured employees have been sent to a local hospital to receive care. Lori and I are eternally thankful for the bravery of our first responders and we continue to pray for the entire Clairton community, Shapiro said in a post on social platform X. Man convicted of killing Rachel Morin given life without parole It was a terrible incident and my prayers go out to all the families affected by this, Clairton Mayor Richard Lattanzi said in a Facebook post. There are people hurt and that is the utmost importance. The Allegheny Health Department is advising residents within one mile of the plant to remain indoors, close all windows and doors, set HVAC systems to recirculate and avoid activities that draw in outside air, such as using exhaust fans, out of an abundance of caution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly 1,300 dedicated men and women work at the Clairton Plant each day, performing their jobs with the utmost safety. During times like this, U. S. Steel employees come together to extend their love, prayers, and support to everyone affected, U.S. Steel President and CEO David B. Burritt said in a statement to NewsNation. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced that its Pittsburgh field office is assisting in efforts related to the explosion. According to a local news outlet, the Clairton plant has been under fire in recent years for pollution concerns. In 2019, it agreed to settle a 2017 lawsuit for $8.5 million, in which the company agreed to spend $6.5 million to reduce soot emissions and noxious odors from the facility. It has also faced other pollution lawsuits, including ones accusing the company of violating clean air laws after a December 2018 fire damaged the Clairton facilitys sulfur pollution controls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Steel said it would be working closely with authorities in the investigation into what caused the explosion. Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Austin Davis said the state will provide resources during rescue and investigation phases. A portion of the Clairton Coke Works, a U.S. Steel plant, is seen Monday, Aug. 11, 2025 in Clairton, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) An emergency crew is seen after an explosion at the Clairton Coke Works, a U.S. Steel coking plant, Monday, Aug 11, 2025, in Clairton, Penn. (AP Photo/Gene Puskar) The Clairton Coke Works, a U.S. Steel coking plant, is seen Monday, Aug 11, 2025, in Clairton, Penn. (AP Photo/Gene Puskar) Emergency crews gather after an explosion at the Clairton Coke Works, a U.S. Steel coking plant, Monday, Aug 11, 2025, in Clairton, Penn. (AP Photo/Gene Puskar) This image provided by Amy Sowers shows smoke from the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025 in Clairton, Pa. (Amy Sowers via AP) Emergency crew gather after an explosion at the Clairton Coke Works, a U.S. Steel coking plant, Monday, Aug 11, 2025, in Clairton, Penn. (AP Photo/Gene Puskar) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking for the publics help in identifying the person who stole money from a Champaign cash register last month. The theft happened July 25 at Campus Mobile Solutions, located on Green Street in Campustown. Officials said that while the store employee went to the back, a man in the store moved the surveillance camera and stole cash from the register. Two officers shot in Gibson City, Suspect sought Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect was recorded on the camera before he moved it. He appeared to be a Black male, approximately 18 to 25 years old, and with a slight mustache. He was wearing a blue and white Chicago Bulls hat, a blue Skyline Hotel shirt, black pants, and white shoes with blue soles. Anyone with information on the identity of this individual is asked to submit their knowledge to Champaign County Crime Stoppers using one of three methods: calling 217-373-8477, visiting their website or using the P3 Tips app. All tips are anonymous and eligible for a cash reward if the tip leads to an arrest. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. The contentious plan to reroute Enbridges Line 5 oil pipeline around tribal land in northern Wisconsin is entering a critical new phase of legal and regulatory scrutiny. The project's fate likely hangs in the balance. On Aug. 12, a contested case hearing will examine whether the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources followed state law when it approved key permits for the project last year. The hearing is scheduled to last seven weeks. For Enbridge, it's an opportunity to finally get clearance to reroute Line 5 around the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewas reservation. The Canadian energy giant is under a June 2026 court-ordered deadline to get the pipeline off Bad River Band land although that decision could also get overturned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Enbridge anticipates the the contested case hearing will reaffirm the DNR's decision as "permit applications were supported by analysis and modeling by leading third-party experts," said Enbridge spokesperson Juli Kellner in an emailed statement. The company hopes it can begin construction on the reroute later this year. For the tribe and environmental groups, this is likely one of the final opportunities to halt the project. Whether on its land or upstream in a reroute, the Bad River Band has long feared how an oil leak or spill could harm its land, water and way of life, as well as the Kakagon Sloughs, home to the largest wild rice bed remaining on the Great Lakes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are downstream of where that reroute is going to be, Bad River Band Chairman Robert Blanchard told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. If something were to take place there were going to feel it. We answer 10 questions about the contested case hearing, including how the public can participate and tune in. Along Wisconsin's northern shores, Line 5 continues to pit tribal culture against Big Oil As Lake Superior wetlands become more vulnerable, tribe fears cultural guideposts could slip away The Bad River at Elm Hoist bridge on the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa's reservation near Odanah, Wis., on June 16, 2024. Why is Enbridge rerouting its Line 5 pipeline? Enbridges Line 5 pipeline carries up to 23 million gallons of oil and natural gas liquids across 645 miles from Superior, Wisconsin, through Michigans upper and lower peninsulas to refineries in Sarnia, Ontario. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of the Line 5 pipeline runs across 12 miles of Bad River Band land in northern Wisconsin, even after the tribe chose not to renew the easement when it expired more than a decade ago. After the tribe sued to remove it in 2019, Enbridge proposed rerouting the pipeline. In 2023, a federal judge ruled that Enbridge must remove the pipeline from the reservation by June 2026. Both the Bad River Band and Enbridge appealed the decision the tribe thought three years was too long; the company thought the judge didn't have the power to shut it down and have been awaiting a decision since February 2024. The project proposes to reroute 41 miles of pipeline around the reservation, but would still lie within the watershed that impacts the lands of the tribe. A 2021 estimate suggests the project would cost $450 million. What is a contested case hearing? A contested case hearing is similar to a court trial. An administrative law judge runs the hearing like a judge runs a trial, in which parties make opening statements, present evidence, call witnesses and make closing arguments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hearing, which is currently scheduled to run through Oct. 3, will evaluate whether DNR approvals for Enbridges proposed 41-mile reroute around the Band's land follow state law. Who is challenging the DNR's permit for the Line 5 reroute? Earthjustice filed a petition for the contested case hearing on behalf of the Bad River Band, as well as a lawsuit in Ashland County on Dec. 12, 2024. That same day, Midwest Environmental Advocates on behalf of Sierra Club, 350 Wisconsin and League of Women Voters of Wisconsin and Clean Wisconsin jointly filed a separate petition as well. What are the Bad River Band and environmental groups arguing? Both the Band and environmental groups are challenging the DNRs decision to approve the wetland and waterway permit, and a general permit to manage stormwater runoff, arguing that it should be site-specific. Both petitions also state that the project does not meet the states water quality standards. According to Stefanie Tsosie, senior attorney at EarthJustice, the DNRs approval doesnt follow science, and a lot of information was missing, like where wetlands and aquifers are located, and doesnt give the full picture of the projects lasting impacts. Filling in wetlands will have lasting impacts for decades, which will all ripple downstream, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lack of information is a failure by the DNR, which is why this permit should not have been issued in the first place, Tsosie said. The reroute will go through land where Ojibwe tribes have federally-protected treaty rights to hunt, fish and gather as well as perform ceremonies, Blanchard said. We need to have that honored." Line 5 opponents also worry about the construction of the reroute. During construction of the Line 3 pipeline in Minnesota, Enbridge breached four aquifers. It also paid more than $11 million to address environmental damage during construction and faced a criminal misdemeanor charge for using state waters without permission. What does Enbridge say? Kellner noted that the proposed reroute project has had more than five years of public testimony, expert studies and rigorous review, and the DNR found that impacts will be temporary and isolated, with no adverse effect to water quality or wetlands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Enbridge, as well as supporters of the reroute, tout the economic impacts of the project, which the company said will bring in 700 jobs and roughly $135 million to the regional economy. The company also maintains that Line 5 has operated safely since 1953. "The project will create millions of dollars in local project spending, hundreds of construction jobs and millions in earmarked spending with Native-owned businesses, Tribal community investments, and hiring and training local Native American workers," Kellner said in an emailed statement. Enbridge believes it's plausible to complete construction of the reroute by the end of June 2026. "Our construction teams are ready to get to work immediately upon receipt of all necessary permits, which we are expecting around the end of the year," Kellner said in an emailed statement. "Our focus will be on safely building an outstanding project, while following permit conditions. The pace of construction will depend somewhat on seasonal work restrictions and weather." The Bad River just before it flows into Lake Superior at dusk on June 16, 2024. Does Enbridge need other permits to reroute Line 5? Enbridge is waiting on another permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the reroute project to proceed. The Army Corps released a draft of its environmental assessment in May 2024, which drew hours of contentious testimony at a public hearing and more than 150,000 comments from opponents, according to environmental groups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both parties say it's unclear when a decision on that permit will come. What are possible outcomes? The contested case hearing may lead to a number of different outcomes. For instance, the administrative judge may find there are no issues with the permit issued by the DNR. At that point, the reroute can move forward as planned, assuming all other permits are secured. If the administrative law judge finds in favor of the petitioners on any of the issues raised, or finds the DNR did not comply with some aspect of state law, then the project cant move forward unless the DNR modifies the permit. If the impacts are too extensive and cant be fixed through a permit modification, then the judge could invalidate the permit and Enbridge would have to change its project plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whatever decision is made could get appealed to state court. Unearthed bones, land swap, expedited review: Enbridge Line 5 tunnel review leaves tribes behind When, where will the contested hearing take place? The contested case hearing will take place in two locations in Ashland at the Northwood Technical College Conference Center, and in Madison at the Hill Farms State Office Building. Testimony will start each day at 9 a.m. Central Time. The schedule and locations are listed below: Aug. 12: Opening statements and public testimony in Ashland Sept. 3: Public testimony in Madison Sept. 4-12: Midwest Environmental Advocates and Clean Wisconsin present their case in Madison Sept. 15-19: Bad River Band presents its case in Ashland Sept. 22-26: Enbridge presents its case in Madison Sept 29-Oct 3: DNR presents its case in Madison Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information, visit the DNRs website. The DNR suggests monitoring its website for updates. Four months after Enbridge oil spill, wary Jefferson County residents still want more answers Can the public listen to the hearing? Yes, the public may observe the hearing in person, and it will also be available by video and telephone via Microsoft Teams. Here are options to listen in virtually: To connect by video, use Teams on the web or app, then enter the Meeting ID: 247 227 844 895 and passcode: aK6Bt7Ye. To connect by phone, dial 1-608-571-2209, and then enter the Meeting ID: 589 521165# when prompted. Can the public provide testimony? Members of the public can provide testimony in person on Aug. 12 in Ashland and Sept. 3 in Madison. Any person that wants to provide testimony must enter an appearance either before or at the start of the contested case hearing on Aug. 12. Appearances can be entered in person or via Teams. However, testimony must be given in person, not by video or phone. Anyone testifying will need to provide their name and address and be sworn in. More: Great Lakes tribes teach 'water is life. But theyre forced to fight for a voice in safeguarding it. This story was updated to add video. Caitlin Looby covers the Great Lakes and the environment for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Reach her at clooby@gannett.com and follow her on X @caitlooby. All of her work and coverage decisions are overseen solely by Journal Sentinel editors. Caitlin's reporting receives support from the Brico Fund, Fund for Lake Michigan, Barbara K. Frank and individual contributions to the Journal Sentinel Community-Funded Journalism Project. The project is administered by Local Media Foundation, tax ID #364427750, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable trust affiliated with Local Media Association. Our newsroom maintains editorial control. Learn more about our community-funded journalism and how to make a tax-deductible gift at bit.ly/MJS_support. Checks can be addressed to Local Media Foundation with JS Community Journalism in the memo, then mailed to: Local Media Foundation, P.O. Box 85015, Chicago, IL 60689. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: What to know as key hearing begins on Line 5 reroute around tribal land Col. Doug Slater, a chaplain from Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, preaches to attendees during service at the chapel on Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, in this 2019 file photo. (Photo by Airman Hannah Bean/U.S. Air Force) In the gilded sanctuaries of Americas churches, a new kind of sermon is being preachednot one of salvation, but one of electioneering. Thanks to the IRSs quietly seismic reinterpretation of the Johnson Amendment, pastors may now endorse candidates from the pulpit without fear of losing their tax-exempt status. The cross has been joined by the campaign banner. This evolution or erosion is not merely a bureaucratic quirk. It is a radical shift in nonprofit oversight, one that invites political operatives to launder influence through houses of worship, cloaked in immunity and shielded by the First Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When a pastor delivers an endorsement mid-sermon, the offering plate becomes a conduit for tax-deductible campaign contributions. In that moment, the line between theological truth and political talking point vanishes. And yet, where is the accountability? The IRS has, in essence, created a special class of nonprofit untouchables. Secular charities face strict scrutiny if they dabble in electoral politics but churches can now participate freely under the veil of religious expression. This is not equal enforcement. It is institutional favoritism. More troubling is the collapse of transparency. Religious organizations are not required to disclose their donors. When these entities engage in political speech, we lose sight of where money is flowing and whose interests are being served. Dark money doesnt have to hide anymore it can simply congregate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democracy suffers when campaign finance laws stop at the sanctuary doors. Free speech is a pillar of our republic, yes but tax benefits are not a birthright. They are a social contract, granted in exchange for civic responsibility and nonpartisan service. When that contract is broken, the public foots the bill for partisan pulpits. Its time to rewrite the rules. Congress must act decisively. The Truth in Political Advertising Act should define nonprofit political speech clearly, enforce donor transparency across the board, and end the double standards that threaten civic trust. Let churches preach freely but not at the expense of the voters right to know. If sermons have become stump speeches, then the tax-exempt status should come with campaign finance strings. We fund pulpits for prophecy, not propaganda. And we deserve a democracy whose soul isnt sold behind closed chapel doors. Your opinion matters Maryland Matters welcomes guest commentary submissions at editor@marylandmatters.org. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We suggest a 750-word limit and reserve the right to edit or reject submissions. We do not accept columns that are endorsements of candidates, and no longer accept submissions from elected officials or political candidates. Opinion pieces must be signed by at least one individual using their real name. We do not accept columns signed by an organization. Commentary writers must include a short bio and a photo for their bylines. Views of writers are their own. Tara Ryan, of Durham, founded the states first chapter of Chamber of Mothers hoping to increase support for families and children. Here, she talks during a meeting last spring. (File photo by Annmarie Timmins/New Hampshire Bulletin) Tara Ryan was only seven weeks pregnant with her first child when she secured slots on four child care waitlists. Even then, her daughter didnt get a full-time space until she was 1. Now expecting a son through in vitro fertilization, Ryan said the first to know about her embryo transfer was the child care center, so that we could secure a child care spot for him more than a year out from when theyll need it. The price tag to have both children at the facility is over $50,000, though theyre sitting on waitlists at two less-expensive options. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unaffordable to us, said Ryan, of Durham, a founder of the state chapter of Chamber of Mothers, a nonprofit, grassroots group focused on issues such as parental leave, maternal health, and child care. Like, who can afford that for child care? I just, I dont even know who can, but were gonna figure it out. We have to figure it out. Her story is emblematic of a child care system in New Hampshire and beyond that gobbles up household incomes while providing few options for families and low wages for workers as the average provider operates on razor-thin profit margins. Amid a busy budget session, New Hampshire lawmakers directed some attention to the topic, though early care and education issues made up only a small sprinkle of bills in a sea of more than 1,100 weighed in Concord this year. While advocates and lawmakers involved in the issues came out of the session with some wins, they felt the state had a long way to go in making a dent in addressing affordability and access. Several said New Hampshire needed to bring in more revenue to make lasting, systemic changes to the child care issues plaguing the state. The new budget will allow additional federal dollars to be routed to the child care scholarship program, a state-federal partnership that more families have become eligible for in the last year with an expanded income cap, should the funds be needed to prevent a waitlist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Legislature also greenlit a pilot program, coming in 2026, that aims to cut down on administrative burdens for the scholarship for families and providers. It would provide a presumptive eligibility period for families after an initial screening, allowing earlier access to scholarship funds while they complete the application process. Lawmakers also hope to use $15 million in federal dollars over two fiscal years for a child care workforce grant program, but it remains unclear whether the federal government will allow the money to be used for that purpose. In other action, a new law will include pending charges, instead of just convictions, in criminal record checks for child care workers and dissolves the child care licensing fund into the general fund. Sen. Howard Pearl, a Loudon Republican who sponsored the enacting Senate Bill 22, said the measure was requested by the state Department of Health and Human Services. Also this session, the Legislature rejected a bill that wouldve provided property-tax relief and school building aid to some child care agencies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement through her office, Gov. Kelly Ayotte emphasized the action related to the scholarship program, and also highlighted $1 million that will go to the states community college system for creating pathways for child care workforce training. She said helping families access affordable child care was a critical need and an important part of ensuring we remain the best in the nation for economic opportunity. Looking ahead, said Ayotte, a Republican, we will ensure Granite Staters can continue to access child care scholarships, remove unnecessary barriers to entry for new providers, and partner with our community colleges, the private sector, and nonprofits like the Boys and Girls Club to expand child care options for our families and advance career opportunities in the child care workforce. Scholarship program It costs the average family over $30,000 a year to put an infant and toddler in a child care center in New Hampshire, according to 2024 data from Child Care Aware of America. In the last budget, lawmakers expanded eligibility for the states child care scholarship program to families making up to 85% of the state median income. Those in the program pay a cost-share for child care ranging from $0 to 7% of the familys income. (For child care to be considered affordable by the federal government, it must take up no more than 7% of a familys income.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some families who didnt meet the income threshold last year may be newly eligible due to adjustments to the state median income this July. A family of four earning up to $124,595 and a family of three earning $104,660 may now be eligible for the scholarship, said Nicole Heller, senior policy analyst at the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute, a nonpartisan research nonprofit. In this state budget, lawmakers focused on cutting down paperwork burdens that may have dissuaded eligible families from accessing assistance and providers from participating in the program. Trina Ingelfinger, the early care and education policy coordinator at New Futures, a health policy advocacy group, said her organization had heard from both providers and families over the last year or so that overly burdensome paperwork requirements were making it difficult to access the program, and as a result, this was interfering with families path back to work, and we also understood that some child care providers were opting out of the program because of these issues. The budget establishes a two-year pilot program, starting in January 2026, that will give families who have undergone an initial screening access to the scholarship while they complete the application process. This period may be 60 days; until a final eligibility determination is made; or when a timeframe to submit necessary information and documents, determined by DHHS, has expired whatever comes first. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither child care providers nor families will be on the hook for paying back scholarship funds should it ultimately be determined a child is ineligible for the program, except in cases of fraud or intentional violation of program rules, the law says. The budget also aims to reduce burdens on providers by eliminating the requirement to report hourly attendance for scholarship recipients, to the extent that such reporting is not necessary for administrating child care scholarship payments. The department will write a detailed report about the results of the pilot program for agency oversight committees in the Legislature by May 1, 2028. The law also requires the department to, by December, implement a system that will allow providers to receive scholarship payments in advance of or at the beginning of each payment period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The budget appropriates $100,000 to the department to implement these directives. It also allows the state to tap into additional Temporary Assistance for Needy Families reserve funds if theyre needed to prevent a waitlist from forming. Sen. Denise Ricciardi, a Bedford Republican, said in a statement to the Bulletin that the law simply makes it easier for eligible families to participate in the scholarship program and return to work. Because of the safeguards in the bill, like a family screening process, the program is not expected to expand eligibility or create any new costs for the state once it is up and running, Ricciardi said. Historically, many families who are eligible for the program have not participated in it, but increased enrollment numbers have followed expanded eligibility. Heller pointed to April data from the state that showed the number of children using scholarships has jumped 66% since the expanded eligibility went into effect in January 2024, adding another 1,700 children to the program. Workforce grant uncertain, tax relief quashed The budget directs DHHS to ask the federal government for permission to use TANF reserve funds for the purpose of financing recruitment and retention bonus and benefit grants for New Hampshire child care employees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not yet clear whether the federal government will approve the use of the money. The child care workforce in the state faces massive stressors, with high turnover and low wages. With cost-of-living adjustments, New Hampshires child care workers have the second-lowest wages in the country, according to a primer from the University of New Hampshires Carsey School of Public Policy. (The Couch Family Foundation, which funds the New Hampshire Bulletins early care and education reporting position, provided support for this research.) To put the intersecting challenges of the sector into perspective, the researchers found that if a child care worker were to purchase center-based care for their own infant and four-year old, this expense would utilize 98.6 percent of the average New Hampshire child care worker salary. One possible method for cutting down costs for providers was ultimately quashed this year. Senate Bill 275, led by Dover Democratic Sen. David Watters, sought to provide property tax relief for some child care agencies, as well as allowing school building aid to be used for some pre-kindergarten programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate voted, 16-8, along party lines, to shoot down the legislation. Sen. Timothy Lang, a Sanbornton Republican, argued the bill was too broad and would deplete limited school building aid resources. Watters said it became apparent, once the session was rolling, that there would be real resistance from his Republican colleagues on the issue. But looking ahead to the future, he said the chamber has historically been able to get some very good things done in a very strong, unanimous, bipartisan fashion. The governor campaigned on this. We all did, Republicans and Democrats, Watters said. We all campaigned on housing and on child care and on energy and, you know, some other things. But you know, I mean, the very top priorities are for housing and child care. Looking ahead State investments are needed to make significant changes to the child care landscape in New Hampshire, some of those involved in the issue said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shannon Tremblay, director of the New Hampshire Child Care Advisory Council, enacted by the Legislature in 1995, emphasized a need for the state to find revenue sources to invest in child care. She said that should include revisiting the recently eliminated interest and dividends tax, which generated tens of millions of dollars for the state each year. Were rich. I mean, were one of the most wealthiest states, but we dont invest that money, Tremblay said. And if you say the word taxes, you know, people tend to cringe, but I think thats what its really going to take. MacKenzie Nicholson, New Hampshires senior director of the advocacy group MomsRising, said she wants to see a system that actually invests in child care. Small policy fixes that act as little Band-Aids arent doing enough to cover the gaping wound that is our child care crisis right now, she said. The reason that we didnt really lose child care dollars in the budget process this year is because there is none to cut. As a state, we dont invest in child care, Nicholson said. The money that comes in comes from the federal government, and so theres no way to offset the costs for families or for providers, who ultimately are the workforce behind the workforce. On the issue of child care, Sen. Rebecca Perkins Kwoka, a Portsmouth Democrat and the Senates minority leader, said we just continue to not do enough. That could have serious consequences for the state, she said. This is a huge issue, you know, for people that want to come and build a family and live and work in New Hampshire, Perkins Kwoka said. The availability of child care and housing is just fundamental to them being able to move and build their lives here, and if we dont accommodate it, theyre going to find and build their lives somewhere else. Animal lovers are searching for answers after a group of Good Samaritans found a dog chained alone to a tree near an active fire evacuation zone. According to GlobalNews.ca, Janet O'Reilly was one of the first people to hear the abandoned canine. O'Reilly lives near the boundary of the fire evacuation alert zone for the Wesley Ridge wildfire burning on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. O'Reilly told the outlet that she "heard a dog crying" in early August while on a walk with her own dog on a series of remote forest trails on the border of the fire evacuation alert zone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman didn't see a dog in distress, so she returned home and went to work. Later that day, she learned from her neighbor that they had heard a dog barking in the same area and decided to investigate, eventually finding an abandoned dog chained to a tree. "This morning at 6:30, I heard a dog barking on a very remote dog walk. I called out for people, but didn't go check it. A neighbor just came by, he ran across a dog tied to a tree on a 1-foot chain. No water or food. In distress. Same place I heard her crying earlier," O'Reilly wrote on a Vancouver Island community Facebook group on Aug. 3, relaying the sad incident and asking for help. https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf She added in her post that after hearing from her neighbor, she went and freed the dog from its chain and brought the canine to her home. Unfortunately, the situation had to be temporary, which led O'Reilly to Facebook for assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I went and got the dog. She was so thirsty! At least 10 hours out there. Tied, no water. She seems sweet but not comfortable around other dogs," she explained on social media, adding that she called numerous animal rescue organizations to ask for help. "I have 2 dogs and 2 cats and can't keep her in my space. I'm already stressed enough. Please help me!! A number to call? A safe place for her to stay? Any info is appreciated!" O'Reilly concluded her post. Eventually, the BC SPCA got in contact with O'Reilly and agreed to take over the dog's care and help her find a forever home, according to GlobalNews.ca. Janet O'Reilly Eve the dog before her rescue Eve the dog before her rescue "She's in such great shape and she friendlies up pretty fast," Sam Sattar of BC SPCA Alberni-Clayoquot told the outlet, adding, "We're just kind of wondering how she ended up where she ended up." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Times Colonist reported that the BC SPCA believes the dog, who has been given the name Eve, after O'Reilly's middle name, is around two years old and likely hasn't been on her own for long. "Everything's been really great with her behaviour, her fur, skin, and body," Sattar told the Times Colonist. He noted that Eve has no microchip or other identification. Since no owner has come forward for the dog, the rescue organization plans to spay the pet and then put her up for adoption. O'Reilly is hopeful that Eve's life will improve after her scary stint in the woods near a wildfire, and has harsh words for whoever left the canine behind. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "I feel that a monster did this," she told GlobalNews.ca. "I feel like if somebody wanted this dog to be found, it would have been tied somewhere where there are people." According to the BC Wildfire Service, the Wesley Ridge wildfire is being held and is not expected to extend beyond the current control line. Read the original article on People (COLORADO SPRINGS) An alleged repeat arsonist has been arrested just under a month after his last arrest, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD). Around 4:45 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 10, officers responded to assist the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD) with a fire near the intersection of Wooten Road and Geiger Boulevard, just off of Platte Avenue. According to CSPD, investigating officers found that a fire had been started behind a building. Once the fire was under control, officers began an investigation into the origin of the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CSPD contacted a man, 21-year-old Brandon Hugney, and developed probable cause to arrest him for Arson. Courtesy: Colorado Springs Police Department PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Missing person to arson suspect, what led to one mans arrest Hugney was last arrested on Monday, July 14 in connection to a string of fires over a period of several months. According to CSPD, Hugney ran away from home on Saturday, July 13, and due to extenuating health concerns, he was listed as at risk. While he was missing, a grass fire was set in the 1500 block of Space Center Drive, near North Powers Boulevard and Palmer Park Boulevard, which allegedly endangered people nearby. An investigation by responding officers revealed that Hugney was the suspect not only for the grass fire, but according to police, the arson team also connected him to several other fires over the past few months, including a fire at a former Joes Crab Shack near the Citadel Mall on April 21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. The Connecticut chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations is calling for a hate-crime investigation following an alleged anti-Muslim incident outside of a mosque. The incident took place on Saturday night outside the Islamic Cultural Center of New York mosque on Washington Boulevard in Stamford, according to CAIR. A man in an SUV allegedly began yelling at families, including children leaving the mosque, according to CAIR. According to a cell phone video, obtained through CAIR, the man shouted several Islamophobic insults, including insults attacking Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man was allegedly recorded saying: Get the f out of here 56 Muslim countries in the world. Go pick one. Why do you come to a Catholic country? United States is a Christian country. Farhan Memon, CAIR-CT chairman, said this a deliberate and targeted verbal assault meant to intimidate Muslim families, including children, as they peacefully left their house of worship. When you have someone harassing people just coming out of their prayers its really, really scary, Memon said. Memon said the Stamford Police Department had been notified and were at the mosque Sunday morning collecting video evidence from CTTV cameras as well as the cell phone camera footage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, we live in a time when there are a lot of hate incidents against religious minorities, Muslims, and Jews, Memon said. Memon said he also communicated with Stamford Mayor Caroline Simmons, who he said claimed him she would arrange a meeting with the mosque soon. Memon, however, said he believes there should be more urgency and immediacy, given the tenor of the time and the impact on a religious minority. An email seeking comment was sent Sunday to a Simmons spokesperson. Weve seen, unfortunately, the consequence of that at very various mosques and synagogues around the world, both in the United States as well as in Quebec City and New Zealand. And so I would have expected that if a call came in to say that theres an incident at a mosque, that something more would have happened (than) waiting until the next morning to look into it. We have hate crime laws lets enforce those for the Muslim community in Connecticut, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Memon said hes been in touch with Ronnell Higgins, commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection. A message seeking comment was sent Sunday to a spokesman for Higgins, who has made addressing hate crimes in the state part of his goals. Hes told me that hes offered the assistance of the state hate crimes unit to the Stamford PD if they need assistance, Memon said. (The man in the SUV) needs to be held accountable..I think we would want the police to investigate and to determine whether or not, this qualifies as a hate crime and then take the appropriate actions necessary, including charging the person appropriately. A call and email to Stamford Police Department were not immediately returned. A new curfew has been approved for teens under 18 in an Ohio city. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Cincinnati City Council approved two separate curfew ordinances on Wednesday. The first changed the existing city law that included a city-wide curfew time between 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. for all unaccompanied children under 18 years old, according to our news partner WCPO TV in Cincinnati. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The citys previous language had varying curfew times based on the teenagers age. TRENDING STORIES: The second ordinance created a separate curfew time for a specific area that is made off-limits for children between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., WCPO said. Those areas include part of Cincinnatis Central Business District and Over-The-Rhine. Exceptions included: Accompanied by a parent or guardian Emancipated Exercising First Amendment rights Going to or from work Attending a school, religious or city-sponsored event An emergency Interstate travel Being on the sidewalk outside of their own home Running an errand or activity directed by the minors parent or guardian Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WCPO reports that the two emergency ordinances passed on Wednesday are effective immediately in Cincinnati. If a child violates the curfew, a Cincinnati officer will engage with the minor and encourage them to go home. If the child does not obey, the officer can detain the child, WCPO said. The minor could be taken to the juvenile detention center if they have outstanding charges. If a childs parent or guardian cant be reached, the officer can choose to drive them home and then off to an adult. The ordinance states that a teens parents could also face penalties for curfew violations. The city is working through contracts with some community organizations to be involved if a childs parents or guardians cannot be reached. We will continue to follow this story. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] CyrusOne is warning residents near its data center in Aurora that it will soon be doing another round of repairs to the facilitys electrical equipment, which previously had a significant impact on nearby residents. During similar repairs in April, the use of backup generators for multiple days straight caused consistently loud noise in the surrounding area, which some residents told The Beacon-News was unlivable and horrible. CyrusOne has since put in place a temporary sound wall blocking the sites generators, with a permanent sound wall currently under construction. The latest round of repairs, set to take place on Tuesday, Aug. 12, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., was announced Friday on an official webpage set up by CyrusOne to communicate with residents about the ongoing sound issues surrounding the facility, which is located at the corner of Eola and Diehl roads on Auroras far East Side near Interstate 88. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delay of this work will run the risk of potentially longer emergency generator runs in the future, CyrusOnes website said. We remain committed to transparency and being a trusted community partner. CyrusOne officials confirmed to The Beacon-News that backup generators are set to be used during the latest round of repairs, but that the temporary sound walls will be in place to mitigate the noise and that the number of generators used will be limited to only what is necessary. Aurora Ald. Shweta Baid, 10th Ward, who represents many of those impacted by the noise, said she hopes this is the final fix the facility needs to complete. She will be walking the nearby neighborhoods to personally let people know about the upcoming repairs, she said. In April, a critical issue was found with one of the data centers main power transformers, which is essential for the safe operation of our electrical systems, according to the webpage set up to share information with residents. The issue needed a specialized repair, so the backup generators that are only used when absolutely necessary to maintain power to the facility were turned on, officials said on the website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A temporary fix was put in place so the generators could stop running, the website said, but a permanent repair would still be needed. Officials promised theyd give advance notice before running the generators again to make the final fix. Laura Evans, a resident of the nearby Palomino Springs neighborhood, said that she and some of her neighbors would describe the noise coming from the data center during the repairs in April as being like a helicopter was landing on her roof. Paul Jaskowiak, who lives in the same neighborhood, said it sounded to him like a diesel truck was idling just outside his house, but it just never went away. You could even feel the house rattle a little bit from it, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The situation prompted multiple community meetings between residents, CyrusOne and city officials. In those meetings and on the official webpage set up to communicate with residents, CyrusOne officials apologized for the disruption and said they were working urgently to fix the issue. Many of the residents who attended the meetings spoke not only of the disruptive noise from the generators but also of noise from chillers situated on top of the data center. CyrusOne has since put in place temporary sound mitigation around both the generators and the chillers, with permanent solutions for both on the way. The temporary sound wall around the generators was installed May 20, according to the CyrusOne webpage. The permanent wall, expected to be completed in September, is set to be 23 feet tall, made of concrete and designed to meet Illinois Environmental Protection Agency standards, officials said on the website. The latest update to the website about the permanent sound wall project shows on July 23 that the walls foundation was under construction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Temporary walls have also been set up around the chillers that sit on top of multiple buildings on the data center campus, the webpage shows. Plus, CyrusOne officials have said they would be upgrading the acoustic wraps on the chillers, and that a more permanent solution was being designed to mitigate the chiller noise. Despite the temporary measures on the chillers, nearby residents say the noise is often still disrupting their daily lives. Jaskowiak said he has been using his yard less because of the chiller noise, which was a growing problem even before the generator issue in late April. Evans made similar comments, saying the noise wasnt horrible in the house but makes it so she cant really sit on the porch or sleep with the windows open. Although the problem hasnt yet been fixed, Jaskowiak said his biggest disappointment is with the city of Aurora, not necessarily with CyrusOne, for allowing the company to put off noise mitigation until something happened. Ald. Baid said she feels that the sound issue has been dragged out for a long time and needs to be resolved without further delay since it is disrupting residents lives. She promised to continue pushing for a fix, which she said needs to happen as soon as possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city and CyrusOne are trying to come up with a solution together, Baid said. She mentioned that she has met with residents individually, helped organize the meetings between the company and residents plus pushed for the creation of the webpage communicating with residents about the sound issue Responding to a question about the issue at a town hall meeting late last month, Mayor John Laesch said Baid has been all over this issue and made his office aware of it. The data center was given only a temporary permit to operate and open, so the city has the leverage of holding the facilitys final occupancy permit, he said. Were working hard with both the permitting department and the legal department to address it, Laesch said of the sound issue. In a statement, city officials said that CyrusOne has been cooperating with code enforcement efforts to ensure that the sound barriers and landscaping required by its zoning entitlements are timely installed, has worked with the city to be transparent with residents and has stayed on schedule to complete sound barriers by the end of September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As soon as the citys legal department knows what next steps are going to be, the timeline for those and how it will hold CyrusOne accountable, that will be shared with the public, Laesch said during the town hall. He also noted that the sound issue is one that he inherited, and he said the city should be giving out temporary occupancy permits a little bit more carefully. rsmith@chicagotribune.com Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky, who began his visit to Ukraine on Monday 11 August, has warned Kyiv against slowing down the pace of reforms, emphasising that support is not unlimited. Source: Lipavsky in a column for European Pravda Details: Lipavsky noted that Ukrainians understand that the countrys future security and prosperity will only be ensured through integration into the European Union and NATO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He stated that Ukraine has Pragues support on this path but the assistance comes with conditions. "Ukraine has our strong support in this, though not unlimited," Lipavsky wrote. The minister made it clear that support will continue only if Ukraine complies with certain requirements. "It [Ukraine ed.] must not slow down the reforms in its country, nor must it in any way question the rule of law and anti-corruption measures. These are fragile but necessary components of Ukraine's path to Europe. We will not compromise on these requirements," the Czech foreign minister stated. Background: Jan Lipavsky began his sixth visit to Ukraine on 11 August. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Once known as Chocolate City for its historically large Black population, Washington remains under partial federal control. The federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department under President Donald Trump marks the first time a commander-in-chief has seized control. Some 800 National Guard members were deployed to the city last week. Additionally, six Republican-led states Louisiana, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia have authorized the deployment of National Guard troops to Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unclear what these troops will do, given how little activity has taken place over the past week. On Aug. 15, Washington government officials filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration to block its takeover of the citys police department. The previous night, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi named Terry Cole, the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration, as the emergency police commissioner. Cole will have the powers of the citys police chief. While Washington is the nations capital, its a district and not a state, giving presidents the authority to take some degree of federal control. Trumps latest executive order was issued Aug. 11 following an attempted carjacking of a former Department of Government Efficiency staffer on Aug. 3. He said that the order places the police department under Bondis command and allows him to deploy the National Guard to address crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to data from the police department, crime has been falling in the capital since 2024. For decades, D.C. has been used as a petri dish by Congress and presidential administrations to try out a variety of policies, Christina Henderson, an at-large member of the D.C. Council, said in a press release hours after Trumps announcement. Without statehood, we are limited in our ability to prevent or deter these repeated federal incursions; however, the president outlined an entirely new level of interference, she added. Trump has continued to insist, despite crime statistics indicating otherwise, that Washington is dangerous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Be Prepared! There will be no Mr. Nice Guy. We want our Capital BACK, Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social after the carjacking. During an Aug. 11 press conference, the president stood alongside members of his Cabinet and Washington U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, whose office will prosecute those arrested during the temporary takeover. Trump said that he has the option to extend the federalization of the citys police department for 30 days under the Home Rule Act. The act lays out guidelines for the district to govern itself, with specific limitations enforced by Congress. Pirro said during the press conference that she supports Trumps call to lower the age to prosecute adolescents as adults to 14. The former DOGE employee was allegedly attacked by teenagers. President Donald Trump answers questions during a White House press conference Monday. Trump announced he will use his authority to place the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control to assist in crime prevention, and that the National Guard will be deployed to the city. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Henderson welcomed working with federal partners rather than a takeover to achieve some actual solutions. She hopes that a collaboration could help city officials efforts to further reduce [the] crime rate in the District, she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently, crime is at a 30-year low in Washington. According to data from the police department, violent crime is down by 26% year-to-date, homicides are down by 32%, and carjackings have nearly halved. This isnt the first time Trump has deployed the National Guard in the city. In response to nationwide protests after the May 2020 murder of George Floyd, Trump and then-Attorney General Bill Barr utilized a legal loophole to deploy the U.S. National Guard in the city. Trump also dispatched federal agents to Portland, Oregon, resulting in hundreds of arrests. Trump can briefly take over D.C. police under the Home Rule Act. To push a takeover beyond a month, he would need Congress to extend it. Still, Trump can pursue actions that fall short of a full takeover by mobilizing the National Guard and seizing control of the police department. Black leaders and mayors respond to the takeover During a press conference on Aug. 11, Mayor Muriel Bowser said that crime spiked post-COVID, but that local authorities worked quickly to put laws in place and tactics that got violent offenders off our streets and gave our police officers more tools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She noted that local authorities were able to reverse that 2023 crime spike. Bowser also said that Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela Smith will continue to lead the department, which will operate under local laws. The Congressional Black Caucus shared Bowsers concerns. Taking over local control of the D.C. Metropolitan Police and deploying the National Guard under the guise of public safety puts residents in danger, the group said in a press release on Aug. 12. This unprecedented attack on D.C. home rule is a blatantly racist and despicable power grab, and it wont stop in Washington, D.C. Trump has also called out other cities with large Black populations, including Baltimore, Chicago, and New York. And they all have Black mayors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott told Politico earlier this month that Trumps actions illustrate the continuation of the president, unfortunately, spouting these racist-based, right-wing propaganda talking points about cities and Black-led cities. Earlier this month, Scott announced that Baltimores violent crime rate is at its lowest in decades. In several interviews this month, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson also responded to Trumps latest move. Trump doesnt have the authority to federalize local law enforcement in the first place, he said. He is provoking on sending federal troops, the National Guard, into cities to plunder them, though those entities do not have policing power, Johnson said. They cant even do the very thing that he claims that he wants them to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Chicago, violent crime is down 22% compared with the same period last year. This year has seen 110 fewer homicides than in the same period in 2024. How can the takeover lead to overpolicing? Members of the National Guard walk toward the D.C. National Guard Joint Force Headquarters in Washington on Tuesday. Presiddnt Donald Trump on Monday deployed military and federal law enforcement in the city, and said he would place the citys Metropolitan Police under federal government control. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) Common Cause President and CEO Virginia Kase Solomon said in a statement on Aug. 11 that all Americans should be concerned as Donald Trump lays his sights on other communities throughout the country. Declaring this emergency, sending the military into the neighborhoods of D.C., despite recent drops in violent crime, is a ruthless, targeted attack on the people of this great city, she said. Solomon, who runs a nonpartisan organization that works to strengthen democracy, said that Trumps move will cause terror in our communities and hurt everyone families, small businesses, and the local economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Trump and Republican lawmakers made similar threats to take over D.C. earlier this year, some Black residents told Capital B that these actions fit into a long history of denying a heavily Black city the ability to govern itself. Being Black in America is defined by haunting statistics, especially when encountering the criminal legal system. For one, Black people are arrested at 2.5 times the rate of their white counterparts, despite similar criminal activity rates, according to a report by the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. In May 2020, protests across the country after the police murder of George Floyd helped to shine a light on other killings involving law enforcement, and underscored the use of excessive force by officers during encounters with Black and brown Americans. Nearly 300 Black people were killed by police in 2020 alone, according to one analysis. Now as federal agents and the National Guard are being deployed to D.C., attendance at public demonstrations may decline, advocates said during a Black Lives Matter Grassroots media call in June. Black people regardless of their immigration status must remain vigilant, said Guerline M. Jozef, the founder and executive director of Haitian Bridge Alliance, during the call. Trumps track record with law enforcement During the Aug. 11 press conference, Trump said, Theyll not be allowed to turn our capital into a wasteland for the world to see. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But on the first day of his second term, Trump issued a sweeping clemency order that included pardons for nearly all the convicted Jan. 6 rioters. Thousands of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in the aftermath of Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 presidential election. They threatened elected officials, including then-Vice President Mike Pence, and assaulted law enforcement officers as Congress certified Bidens election. Trump declined for hours to call them off, according to unsealed court documents from the Justice Department. Many people were arrested, convicted, and sentenced to federal prison after Jan. 6. But before Jan. 6, during the 2020 protests following Floyds death, Trump deployed federal troops in 15 states and the district. At the time, Trump posted on social media and threatened that the federal government will step in and do what has to be done, and that includes using the unlimited power of our Military and many arrests. Staff writer Brandon Tensley contributed to this report. This story has been updated. The post What Federal Control of D.C. Police Could Mean for Overpolicing in Black Communities appeared first on Capital B News. WASHINGTON D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Monday that President Donald Trumps takeover of the citys police department is unsettling and unprecedented, even if it tracks with some of the presidents false attacks on the citys crime rate. I cant say that, given some of the rhetoric of the past, that were totally surprised, Bowser said at a press conference. I can say to D.C. residents that we will continue to operate our government in a way that makes you proud ... We will work with the federal government to do the things that they should do for the city. Bowsers event came hours after Trump, himself a convicted felon who this year pardoned hundreds of violent felons who assaulted police officers on his behalf on Jan. 6, 2021, announced he is deploying National Guard troops and taking control of the citys police force to combat crime, which he falsely declared is totally out of control. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, D.C.s violent crime rate is at a 30-year low. Remarkably, in her nearly 45-minute press event, Bowser didnt once condemn Trump for seizing control of the police and infringing on her role as mayor. Instead, she said shes simply following the law, specifically the Home Rule Act, which allows presidents to temporarily control D.C.s police in emergency situations. Trump is falsely claiming the citys crime rate is such an emergency. She isnt wrong that the president has this authority, for 30 days. But Bowser was blase about his lies about D.C.s crime rate being so bad that it warrants an emergency declaration. She also didnt address the chilling effect Trumps militarization of the city could have on D.C.s more than 700,000 residents, most of whom are Black and brown people. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said Trump's takeover the D.C. police department is "unsettling and unprecedented." via Associated Press Bowser and D.C. police chief Pamela Smith both tried to frame Trumps federalization of the D.C. police as something like a team effort, where local police would be working alongside federal officials to root out crime. Smith made a point to say she has long had working relationships with federal officials, and that she expected them to continue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the mayor pushed back at one point when asked if she expects Trumps takeover to play out in the same way that local and federal officials team up for special events in the city. Its not like that, she said flatly. I dont want to minimize what was said, and I dont want to minimize the intrusion on our autonomy. During Trumps first term, Bowser privately testified to Congress in 2022 that it would be a complete disaster if Trump federalized the D.C. police at that time, in response to racial justice protests. She also warned she could lose the city to violence. She was asked Monday if she feels that way now. Im going to work every day to make sure its not a complete disaster, Bowser replied. What could be a disaster? If people who arent committing crimes are antagonized into committing crimes. That would be a disaster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are going to work every day to get this emergency put to an end, she added. Ill call it the so-called-emergency. Other D.C. leaders had harsher words. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) called Trumps actions an historic assault on D.C. home rule that D.C. residents dont support. It does not escape me that the president is calling in the [D.C. National Guard] on the pretext of a surge in crime that the numbers do not support, while he was nowhere to be found for hours on January 6, 2021, as D.C. officials tried to get him to mobilize the [D.C. National Guard] as the U.S. Capitol was under siege, she said in a statement. The [D.C. National Guard] should be under control of D.C.s chief executive, the same way governors control their Guard units. Brian Schwalb, D.C.s attorney general, called Trumps actions unprecedented, unnecessary, and unlawful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no crime emergency in the District of Columbia. Violent crime in DC reached historic 30-year lows last year, and is down another 26% so far this year, Schwalb said on social media. We are considering all of our options and will do what is necessary to protect the rights and safety of District residents. Members of Congress from the capital region also issued a joint statement condemning Trumps actions. Donald Trump has personally incited more crime in Washington D.C. than perhaps anyone else living, they wrote. Trumps temporary takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department is not intended to prevent crime, it is a soft launch of authoritarianism. The statement, which lumps Trumps latest actions into his pattern of seeking showy displays of power, is signed by Democratic Reps. Don Beyer (Va.), Steny Hoyer (Md.), Jamie Raskin (Md.), Jennifer McClellan (Va.), Glenn Ivey (Md.), Suhas Subramanyam (Va.), Eugene Vindman (Va.) and April McClain Delaney (Md.). Since President Donald Trump took office, he's threatened to send National Guard troops to cities, and actually deployed them in Los Angeles. Now, he is deploying troops in the nation's capital and taking over the police department. Trump claims that Washington, D.C.'s crime rate is "out of control," even though the city has recorded a historic 30-year low in its crime rate, as the reason why he's sending in guard members and to take over Washington's Metropolitan Police Department. "We're taking our capital back," Trump said Aug. 11. "We're taking it back." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahead of the decision, Trump posted on social media that the city would be "liberated," stating crime would "disappear" in the city but not giving information on any plans other than the deployment of National Guard troops. "Washington, D.C. will be LIBERATED today! Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR," Trump wrote in an Aug. 11 post on Truth Social, his social media platform. "I will, MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN! The days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people, are OVER! I quickly fixed the Border (ZERO ILLEGALS in last 3 months!), D.C. is next!!!" Trump's push for the National Guard deployment comes after the assault of a high-profile staffer from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), 19-year-old Edward Coristine, which occurred during an attempted carjacking in the early morning hours of Aug. 3. And now as National Guard troops converge on D.C. streets, Trump eyes deployment in other cities to "combat crime". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were not going to lose our cities over this, Trump said as he railed against what he called rising crime rates. And this will go further. Were starting very strongly with D.C., and were going to clean it up real quick, very quickly. This comes as some Republicans, including a Tennessee representative, look to dismantle Washington, D.C.'s leadership by doing away with the rule that gave the city autonomy in 1973. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said other National Guard units and "specialized units" stood ready. "You will see them flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming weeks," Hegseth, who was at Trump's side when he announced the deployment of troops on Aug. 11, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The development has led some on social media to wonder what the deployment means and whether it could be considered martial law. The party of limited federal government just declared martial law in our nations capital, taking over its local law enforcement, bringing in the military, and assigning the FBI to night patrol like some kind of secret police over a safety issue that doesnt exist. Make that Matt Royer (@royermattw) August 11, 2025 Here's what Tennesseans need to know. Can Trump deploy the National Guard in Washington, D.C.? A sitting president does have the power to deploy military troops in times of civil unrest. The last time troops were deployed in Washington, D.C., happened during Trump's first term in 2020 to suppress protests sparked by the police murder of George Floyd. During an Aug. 11 press conference, Trump cited authority under Section 740 of the Home Rule Act to take control of Washingtons police department. This is liberation day in D.C.," Trump said, touting his moves as historic action to rescue our nation from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor and worse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Typically, National Guard deployments in the U.S. are under states jurisdiction, but can be mobilized by the president in a "federalized" capacity. If done, troops are typically barred from carrying out the functions of law enforcement, but not if they're under state control. Is the deployment of National Guard troops martial law? What is it? Trump's deployment of guard troops doesn't quite meet the criteria of martial law. Martial law is the temporary substitution of military authority for civilian rule and is usually invoked in time of war, rebellion or natural disaster, according to Merriam Webster Dictionary. Martial law is usually enacted when civilian authority has ceased to function, is completely absent, or has become ineffective. What state is Washington, D.C. in? None. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washington, D.C., is a federal enclave and is not part of any state. In 1973, the District of Columbia Home Rule Act gave the city a mayor and city council; now the Republican led Congress is trying to dismantle that. Two congressional Republicans, Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, introduced legislation to repeal the Home Rule Act. The legislation was just introduced this month. The District of Columbia sits along the Potomac River between Maryland and Virginia. Who controls Washington, D.C.? Washington, D.C. may not be part of a state, but it does have its own elected officials, a mayor and a 13 member council under the 1973 Home Rule Act. The current D.C. mayor is Muriel Bowser. Who, in an Aug. 10 appearance on MSNBCs The Weekend, pushed back at Trumps claims of rising crime in Washington. We are not experiencing a crime spike, the mayor said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washington's crime rate is down this year compared to 2024. Violent crimes are 26% lower than last year. Homicides are down 12%, according to statistics compiled by the Metropolitian Police Department. How many people live in Washington, D.C.? Data from the 2020 Census shows more than 689,000 people living in the nation's capital. As of 2024, more than 702,000 people call Washington, D.C., home. Making it the 22nd largest city in the United States, according to Britannica. USA TODAY contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Is DC under martial law? No. Why Trump deployed National Guard troops EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) Firefighters reported significant progress in their battle against the Daisy Fire burning in the Gila National Forest. The incident management team reported that the fire is at 46 acres and is now at 80 percent containment as of Monday morning, Aug. 11. Map of the Daisy Fire from over the weekend The fire is burning about 16 miles east of Glenwood, New Mexico within the Gila Wilderness area. Glenwood is near the famous Catwalk National Recreation Trail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fire started on Aug. 1 and was determined to be lightning caused. Over the weekend, fire officials estimated the fire to be at 50 acres, burning in rugged, challenging terrain, with 0 percent containment. The incident command team reported that it had made enough progress to transfer command of the fire to a team from the Gila National Forest as of Monday morning. Over the weekend, the Gila Interagency Hotshot Crew and the Mimbres New Mexico State Forestry Crew achieved their objectives of full suppression, fire officials said. With handline construction completed, firefighters hiked out ahead of incoming storms on Saturday afternoon, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, firefighters flew into the fire area and confirmed that the fire remained within containment lines despite changing weather conditions in the area. Minimal smoke was observed well within the fires interior. Firefighters completed suppression repair work, restoring indirect handline along trails and roads near the community of Willow Creek. Light rain fell across the fire area Sunday afternoon from passing storms, which also helped. The Mimbres New Mexico State Forestry Crew was released Sunday afternoon to return home to reset and prepare for their next assignment. The Gila Hotshots remained in the area to support initial attack operations should new fires occur and were released Monday morning prior to the transition to a new command team in charge of the Daisy Fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visitors should be aware that recently burned areas may contain hazards that can cause injury. Trails, roads, and vegetation may be damaged or unstable, so extra caution and awareness of surroundings are essential when visiting in these areas. You can click here for the most up-to-date conditions before visiting the Gila National Forest. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Photo: Clayton Henkel/NC Newsline Its an article of faith on the political far right that the Trump administrations mass immigrant deportation policies will be a boon to U.S. born workers. A new report from economists at the Economic Policy Institute, however, finds the opposite to be true and that the net impact of mass deportation on employment both for immigrants and U.S. born workers is decidedly negative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, the administrations goal of deporting one-million people per year will lead to a loss of nearly six million jobs over the coming years more than forty percent of them held by U.S. born workers. To understand why, consider the following: When houses dont get built because there arent enough immigrant workers to roof them, there are fewer jobs for the U.S. born workers who tend to handle more skilled professions like plumbing and electrical work. Other industries will experience similar phenomena. The bottom line: The report is entitled Trumps deportation agenda will destroy millions of jobs, and its a must read for anyone who cares about our economy. Check it out at epi.org. For NC Newsline, Im Rob Schofield. To many women in tech, myself included, Dame Stephanie Shirley, who has died aged 91, was inspirational. Her pioneering and controversial decision to hire exclusively women coders and data inputters, working from home, was way ahead of its time and changed many lives. She had a difficult life, and it made her tough. She was stoic about grief and showed - publicly at least - extraordinary strength in the face of a number of traumatic experiences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was from a generation whose childhoods were shaped by the atrocities of World War 2. She died on 9 August, her family said in an Instagram post on Monday. [AFP via Getty Images] Born Vera Buchthal in the German city of Dortmund in 1933, Dame Stephanie's Jewish father was a judge. He had hoped that being in a position of power would protect his family, but as the Nazi government increased its persecution of German Jews, they fled to the Austrian capital Vienna. She was one of thousands of Jewish children fleeing the Nazis and came to Britain aged five as part of the Kindertransport - a British rescue effort in the months preceding World War 2 which brought 10,000 children to the UK - where she was brought up by loving foster parents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She went on to become a computer industry and women's rights pioneer in the 1950s and 1960s. She founded the software company Freelance Programmers, which shook up the tech industry by almost exclusively hiring women, and in later life donated almost 70m to help those with autism and to IT projects. She was very smart and truly formidable, even adopting the name "Steve" to help her in a male-dominated tech world. Dame Stephanie (left) and her sister, pictured with their German father and Austrian mother, who put them on a Kindertransport train to escape Nazi-occupied Austria [Dame Stephanie Shirley] Dame Stephanie was determined not to be defined by her traumatic childhood. After starting out as a scientific civil servant, in 1962 she founded Freelance Programmers - later known as FI Group, later still Xansa - something which was almost unheard of for a woman to do in the 1960s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She designed the company to provide jobs for women with children. It changed the landscape for women working in technology by offering flexible working practices. Of the first 300 staff, 297 were female. The success of the company left Dame Stephanie with a fortune of about 150m, most of which she donated to good causes. Her late son Giles was autistic and she was an early member of the National Autistic Society, with her charity the Shirley Foundation funding many projects particularly related to autism. She founded Autism at Kingwood, a service which now supports autistic adults in Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also helped set up Prior's Court - a school for autistic young people in Thatcham, Berkshire. Dame Stephanie was at the forefront of UK computing advances [Dame Stephanie Shirley] "Steve was an absolute legend, and an incredible friend and role model for me over the last 30 years," Professor Sue Black told the BBC. "Before the likes of Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Shirley was innovating and solving problems with tech in the UK." And Dame Wendy Hall, one of the world's leading computer scientists, said Dame Stephenie had been "inspirational". "She was my mentor and my friend and she will be hugely missed," she said. "She did so much for the computer science community to encourage women into that community, and of course, for the world of autism." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The last time I saw her, I introduced her at an event on stage. She was frail, but as always extremely glamorous and totally captivating. She said she knew she was coming to the end of her life and she reflected candidly on what she felt she had learned. She had a strong moral compass and believed in using her wealth for good. And she never stopped standing up to sexism. She spent her whole life refusing to conform to society's many gender stereotypes and cliches. Much time has passed since Dame Stephanie started signing letters as Steve in order to get the attention of the male business contacts she was messaging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Tech continues to be a male dominated industry and women still have to shout loud to be heard. Steve was one of the first, and she shouted the loudest. Additional reporting by Charlotte Edwards [BBC] Sign up for our Tech Decoded newsletter to follow the world's top tech stories and trends. Outside the UK? Sign up here. Dame Stephanie Steve Shirley, who has died aged 91, arrived in Britain at the age of five as an unaccompanied child refugee from Germany on the Kindertransport in 1939; early hardship spurred her on to success and she went on to found her own software company which helped to transform the status of women in the workplace and which she sold for around 150 million in 1993. Motivated by her own experiences and by the problems she encountered caring for her severely autistic only child, Steve Shirley set about giving her fortune away, setting up the Shirley Foundation, which became one of the 50 largest charitable grant-giving foundations in the country. By 2003 she had succeeded in her ambition of dropping out of the Sunday Times Rich List and had made a huge contribution to the understanding and treatment of autism. She was born Stephanie Buchthal in Dortmund, Germany, on September 16 1933, the younger of two daughters of a Jewish father and a Christian mother. Her father was a respected judge until stripped of his position by the Nazis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1939 Stephanie and her nine- year-old sister Renate were two of the 10,000 children with Jewish ancestry whose parents sent them away to England to escape persecution, under the Kindertransport programme established by Nicholas Winton. Stephanie Shirley with her autistic son Giles, who died during an epileptic seizure aged 35 - Paul Grover The girls were placed with the Smiths, a loving childless couple in the West Midlands; Stephanie learnt enough English in a few weeks to start school as war began. After the war, unlike many Kindertransport children whose parents had perished in the Holocaust, the girls were reunited with their parents, who moved to England. But neither parent subsequently wanted much to do with them: My father remarried and had another family. I only heard of his death a year after it happened. My mother was always critical of me, she recalled. But by this time she had learnt to live with insecurity: I learnt very quickly that, having survived, I wanted to make my life worth something, to justify my existence. Excelling at mathematics, she took a degree at Sir John Cass College in London and went to work in the Post Office research department, helping to develop electronic telephone exchanges and the premium bond computer, Ernie. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a few years she left to join Computer Developments Limited (CDL), a subsidiary of ICL in Harrow, but soon crashed into the glass ceiling preventing talented women from pursuing successful careers. At one ICL meeting I made a suggestion about pricing and I was told very clearly by the men there that it was nothing to do with me, she recalled. Nobody said, Lets hear what the woman has to say. I thought: If theres this glass ceiling, then Im going to have to create my own organisation. I resigned the next day. Dame Stephanie, left, with Margaret Thatcher - Paul Grover In 1959 she married Derek Shirley, a physicist, and in 1962, having obtained her husbands permission to open a bank account, she set up a software company, the FI Group (later Xansa), from her dining-room table, with just 6 capital, and began sending letters to prospective clients. For three years she got little response until her husband suggested that she abbreviate her name from Stephanie to Steve. The change was immediate and spectacular. I began to get interviews, and I was walking through that door before anyone realised my gender. I could see when I got there that they were almost annoyed at themselves at having been conned. Sales leapt from 17,000 at the end of the companys third year to 37,000 in the fourth. Steve Shirley was the first entrepreneur to recognise the huge untapped potential of university-educated women stuck at home after losing their jobs on getting married. Until the passing of the Sex Discrimination Act in 1975 made it illegal, she employed only women, allowing them to work from home and offering flexible hours to fit their family responsibilities. At the time nobody was employing women in professional positions and yet there were graduates coming out, so we got our pick of the best, she recalled. But she hid the truth from clients. With Queen Elizabeth - Paul Grover Her battle against sexism continued as she built the business. I was travelling around and staying on my own at a time when respectable married women didnt do that, she recalled. I had to learn how to set a professional tone because sexual harassment was endemic. I remember trying to sell a database system to a senior civil servant, and he was trying to pinch my bottom. After that, she recalled, I always dressed like an honorary man in a grey suit and white blouse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 31 years as the companys chief executive she built Xansa into a FTSE 250 leading technology group, officially retiring when the business was sold in 1993. Her philanthropy had begun in the early 1970s when she persuaded her company board to agree to give one per cent of pre-tax profits to charity, but her own personal giving was spurred on by domestic tragedy. In 1962 she had given birth to her only child, Giles, but at the age of two he became unmanageable and lost his ability to speak. He never talked again, and months later doctors informed her that he was severely autistic. There were no places for children like Giles, so the Shirleys worked in shifts to look after him. As he became increasingly violent, she recalled, he needed constant attention and care: Some months were so black I felt we were living in a horror film. On more than one occasion they considered a joint family suicide, but drew back because Giles could not give his consent. With Princess Anne - Paul Grover In 1974 Stephanie suffered a nervous collapse and was admitted to hospital. As she recuperated she and her husband, realising that they could no longer cope, took the painful decision to place Giles in an institution. By his late teens, by her account, the way he was treated became intolerable, and in 1985 they brought him home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subsequently Stephanie established a small care home for autism sufferers, near her home in Henley-on-Thames, with Giles as the first resident, but in 1998 he died, aged 35, during a severe epileptic seizure. Stephanie Shirley retired in 1993 and served on various corporate boards, becoming the first non-American on the board of Tandem Computers and the first outside non-executive on the board of John Lewis. Increasingly, though, she concentrated on philanthropy which, until she decided to focus on autism, included technology-related grants to support the Company of Information Technologists and 10 million to launch the Oxford Internet Institute to study such issues as e-democracy. The range of autism charities which she established, and supported with money and practical help, include Priors Court School in Berkshire, an establishment which aims to help autistic children into mainstream education or employment using innovative techniques in art, music and sport, and Autistica, the British charity that raises funds for medical research. Stephanie Shirley was appointed OBE in 1980 and advanced to DBE in 2000 in recognition of her philanthropic work; in 2017 she was made a Companion of Honour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2009 the then Prime Minister Gordon Brown appointed her the UKs Ambassador for Philanthropy, an appointment aimed at giving philanthropists a voice, a post from which she resigned following the 2010 general election. In 2012 she published her memoirs Let It Go: The Entrepreneur Turned Ardent Philanthropist (written with Richard Askwith). Having a large bank balance is all very nice, Steve Shirley once observed, but like the 16th-century philosopher Francis Bacon, I believe that money is like muck, not good except it be spread. Derek Shirley died in 2021. Dame Steve Shirley, born September 16 1933, died August 9 2025 Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The 15th annual Dance Days Chania festival proved that it is an event that is constantly seeking to strengthen its relationship with its host city and its inhabitants, to interact, to discover new, unknown places for events, to propose something fresh and different to those who decide to attend. It is a contemporary dance festival that invests in performances with a strong social and political dimension and highlights the importance of collectivity and participation. Besides, the great asset that distinguishes this festival is, apart from the great love of its organizers for dance and Chania, its volunteers, who contribute decisively to the final result. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Euronews was in the city on Crete for three days and followed the rich programme of performances and parallel events. "This year, our big bet was to become even more inventive, to meet even more with unseen sides of the city that we had not reached until now," says the artistic director of Dance Days Chania, Sofia Faliereou. -Dance Days Chania - SOUTH Space for Photography "To broaden the festival's audience even more and to create safe meeting places for artists to meet the people of the city and its visitors, because we are interested in creating a different kind of image for the city during the summer months. To be even more human and warmer. This year at least 120 artists of contemporary dance art passed through the festival. I think it was a bet that succeeded." "Trilogy: For Old Times' Sake" by the Swiss group Pit Co. explores the complex relationship between time, aging and memory loss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It connects fragments of memories, revealing the emotions associated with them and the impact they have on us. The show moves through three temporally interconnected moments, each echoing the others, creating a layered and deeply human narrative. Along the way we meet an older man, his younger self and his lover, each representing different layers of memory and identity. Trilogy: For Old Times Sake - Pitt co. - Dance Days Chania Inspired by choreographer Phoebe Jewitt's personal experience with her grandfather's dementia, the piece reflects on the role of memory in shaping who we are and what happens when we begin to forget. The show premiered in Rome in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's a very difficult subject. As a 30-year-old, I don't know of course what it means to have dementia, but I know what it's like to be on the other side," Jewitt said. "It's a disease that affects so many people around the world. I think the number of people suffering from dementia is currently around 50 million, but it is going to reach 150 million in a very short time, in the next few years. There is no cure. That is why I felt strongly the need to talk about dementia through my work. It is in conversation and human interaction that we perceive dementia most acutely." "So there was a typical moment with my grandfather. We were sitting and chatting about things. He then says to me: "Do you remember that amazing time when we went on holiday to France?" I looked at him then and told him it wasn't me. It was my grandmother who was with him. And it was somehow at that moment that I witnessed the sense of the complete loss of generations and the loss of time. So what I wanted to do with this project was to explore how we lose our sense of time," she explains. Cie Laroque - SOUTH Space for Photography Helene Weinzierl's dance company Cie Laroque has been to the dance festival several times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the current "Escape", the Austrian group invites us on a special journey in which we perceive exaggeration and collapse. In a time when we seemingly have everything, the dancers reveal on stage a world of suffocation, where everyone is looking for an outlet of freedom, peace and inner calm. The spectators sit in a circle around them, watching this struggle of exhaustion, this universe of repetition from which they cannot escape either. The play had its world premiere in 2019 in Salzburg, just before the coronavirus, and it seems prophetic. "I did Escape a long time ago. It was before the coronavirus. I had the feeling that I was really in a quagmire. Imagine I felt like those little animals, running on a wheel in a cage. They must be running somehow all the time. There was a moment when I thought: "Okay, how am I going to change my life? Or what can I do to get out of this system?" Austrian choreographer and artistic director of the Cie Laroque dance company , Helene Weinzierl, says. Cie Laroque - SOUTH Space for Photography "I think we need to find places and periods of time where we stop to do something, like meditation, yoga, whatever. I don't know what. Or sit and watch the sea, or go for a walk in the sea, or go swimming, whatever. I think it's very important to realize it. I would also say that it's important to have periods when we don't work." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Now on this occasion, we've picked up the project again. It's new again. We also worked on it again. We are now also focusing on democratic systems, because I think that in Europe, but also in general and all over the world, we are really in a strange situation in relation to democracy. We have to fight for it again," she says. Making of a Man Quindell Orton - SOUTH Space for Photography A dancer, a projection screen, a live camera, a set of silicone abs and a question that hovers in the air for an hour: How does a body produce masculinity? Quindell Orton's "Making of a Man" is an extraordinary lecture performance that humorously and poignantly presents us with different aspects of masculinity, archetypes it has imposed in modern times, as well as patriarchal attitudes and codes of our society. It combines video projections, with personal interviews conducted by the choreographer with people who highlight different aspects of the issue. References and quotes from iconic personalities and current figures create a multi-layered mix that draws on elements from politics, pop culture and gender issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The show premiered last May in Munich. Making of a Man Quindell Orton - SOUTH Space for Photography "My source of inspiration for this play was my queer feminist approach. I have been working from this perspective for some years and felt the desire to understand masculinity more in order to understand the dynamics of gender and patriarchy. I think overall, the show aims and I hope to lead people to think about how we practice, how we all perform gender on a daily basis and how performing, practicing gender creates a system. This system has a certain power dynamic and a hierarchy." "I hope my performance will challenge this dynamic and hierarchy. To also challenge many of the biological claims and gender determinism, that this is the way things are because one must be that way because one was born with, for example, the XY chromosome. I hope we start to challenge more and more of these claims," says Australian choreographer and performer Quindell Orton. DANVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56) A group of residents in Danville gathered with signs and passionate chants to get the attention of a representative they feel isnt pulling his weight. Indivisible Danville is an organization of local citizens concerned about the direction the government is going. The group held their signs high, and drivers would honk in support of the mission. The goal is to get Congressman James Comers attention to host community events like town halls, something members like Kate Snyder say they havent had any luck with. During the August recess, traditionally, representatives go home to their districts and listen to their constituents to find out whats important to them. One of the most important things that elected officials are expected to do is to gather feedback from the people they represent so theyre adequately and accurately hearing whats important to us, their constituents, Snyder said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whether its been calls or attempted visits to Comers Danville office, members of Indivisible Danville said theyre doing this because nothing else has worked. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Weve made 150 calls over the last two weeks asking him to schedule a town hall here in the town where he has an office, and he hasnt held any public meetings at all, Snyder said. Other members, like Kevin Maples, said if this doesnt work, theyll host their own town hall and invite Congressman Comer on Aug. 26. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were not asking him to do anything special for us. Were asking him, while he is home from Washington during the congressional recess for about five weeks, that he simply does what is expected of representatives and come and listen to what we have to say and let us hear from him, Maples said. Maples said the goal is a peaceful conversation, something the group is planning to keep aiming for. Theres a lot of people here who are deeply concerned. We want to hear from him, his justification and reasons for some of his votes, and what hes doing, and we want him to hear from us the things that were deeply concerned about, Maples said. LATEST KENTUCKY LISTS AND RANKINGS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We reached out to Congressman Comers team and went to his Danville office for comment, but did not get a response. We will update this when a response comes in. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. A Dartmouth College doctoral student from China has agreed to drop a lawsuit against the Trump administration after his student immigration status was restored. The move puts an end to a monthslong battle where Xiaotian Liu received help from the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire and a top immigration lawyer. Liu, 26, filed the lawsuit in April after his student immigration status was abruptly terminated. Dartmouth barred Liu from doing research until a federal judge approved a preliminary injunction to allow him to continue to pursue his degree in computer science. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case came to an end last week after the two sides agreed to a stipulation of dismissal, which restores Lius status retroactively such that there is no gap or lapse in Lius status on a Homeland Security database, known as the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Terminations of other students immigration statuses across the country prompted multiple lawsuits. The U.S. Department of Justice pushed back on the relief granted by Judge Samantha Elliott and filed an appeal of the April 29 order in the U.S. Court of Appeals. The DOJ had claimed that Lius non-immigrant student status is not terminated although that appeared to be the case in the SEVIS database. During one hearing, Elliott appeared baffled, saying, What is the point of SEVIS if it does not accurately reflect the status? The stipulation comes after the DOJ rejected one earlier in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the stipulation, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement can revoke Lius status if he fails to maintain his nonimmigrant status or if he breaks the law. Gilles Bissonnette, legal director of the ACLU of New Hampshire, said the organization was alarmed by the sudden revocation by the Trump administration given he had no criminal record or even a traffic violation. He had not participated in any political protests. ACLU case The ACLU argued harm against Liu because the college would not allow him to work as a research assistant, which was his main source of income. Bissonnette has previously said that changes to a students SEVIS status is usually initiated by a college or university, not unilaterally by a federal agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOJ mentioned that an incident at the Detroit Airport where Lius status came up inactive could have been a possible reason for his termination. Liu had to return to China before resuming his studies at Wake Forest University at the time. The ACLU shrugged it off as a clerical issue. As for the lawsuit, Plaintiff shall dismiss this action with prejudice with respect to the April 4, 2025 termination of Plaintiffs SEVIS record but reserves the right to pursue separate litigation if his SEVIS record is terminated again, the stipulation reads. Liu is relieved by the resolution. Mr. Liu is pleased this case is resolved and that he can now continue his studies without fear that his April 4 SEVIS record termination will hinder his ability to pursue the research he loves, Bissonnette said in a statement to the Union Leader. Liu was also represented by Ronald L. Abramson, a partner at Shaheen & Gordon. jphelps@unionleader.com Comedian Dave Chappelle aired his COVID-era documentary "Dave Chappelle: Live In Real Life" at a film festival in Martha's Vineyard on Friday after the original release failed due to backlash over his 2021 Netflix special "The Closer." "Ive gone on to get snubbed by the Grammys and the Emmys because someone thought it was a good idea to tell trans jokes," he told the audience on Friday after screening the movie, according to Variety. Chappelle's Netflix special included jokes about transgender people, prompting backlash from the LGBTQ+ community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several Netflix employees protested Chappelle's special at the time. Dave Chappelle Addresses Backlash, Says People Want To Take Nuance Out Of Speech In American Culture Dave Chappelle speaks at the premiere of "Dave Chappelle: Live In Real Life" during the 2025 Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival at Martha's Vineyard Performing Arts Center on August 08, 2025. Chappelle hosted comedy shows in 2020 with musicians and other comedians with several safety protocols in place until someone in Chappelle's inner circle was exposed to COVID-19. The shows were recorded and turned into a documentary, which Chappelle aired on Friday at the Marthas Vineyard African American Film Festival. Read On The Fox News App "It took a lot of courage for all of those comedians to come out there because COVID was so new. Everyone was still so isolated, and it was real fear," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "And the other thing is, no one had worked in a hundred nights. Everyone stunk when they got there, but it didnt matter. It was so much fun to be together again. It was just like when we all started in the comedy club, we realized how much we loved being around each other," Chappelle continued. Chappelle Explains Why He Said He'd Give Trump A Chance During His 2016 'Snl' Monologue Dave Chappelle speaks at the premiere of "Dave Chappelle: Live In Real Life" benefitting the Duke Ellington School of the Arts during the 2025 Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival at Martha's Vineyard Performing Arts Center on August 08, 2025 in Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. The screening at the film festival was part of Chappelle's efforts to raise funds for the Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, D.C., his alma mater. "Ellington gave me a sense of community," he said. "It was a predominantly Black school when I went there, and that was important because everything in the news was so negative." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His COVID-era comedy shows took place in Yellow Springs, Ohio, Chappelle's home. He told the audience that the shows brought $9 million to the town's economy, Variety reported. "If you want things to change, you have to change s---," he said. Click Here For More Coverage Of Media And Culture SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE -- "Dave Chappelle" Episode 1710 -- Pictured: Host Dave Chappelle during the monologue on November 12, 2016 -- (Photo by: Will Heath/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images) The documentary included appearances by David Letterman, Chris Rock, Kevin Hart and more. Original article source: Dave Chappelle says he's been 'snubbed' by Hollywood awards shows following trans jokes SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Monday was day four of testimony in the Justin Rackley triple murder trial. 4th arrest made in downtown shootout Rackley is accused of shooting and killing three people and injuring two others during a get-together at a home on the southwest side of Sioux Falls last summer. KELOLANDs Jordan DeSmet is in the courtroom and will bring a full report on KELOLAND News The lead detective and a forensic scientist testified Monday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Testimony revealed when Rackley was in police custody, authorities found two cell phones on his person. One was Rackleys, the other was victim Michael Thompsons phone. Ring video from the scene shows Thompson in possession of his phone 30 seconds before the shooting started. Rackleys wife called police to report him as missing after the shooting happened and the lead detective testified finding a gun case with a matching serial number to gun recovered at the scene when they searched Rackleys house. The forensic scientist says DNA on the gun used in the shooting could be found from Rackley and another man. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSmet will have more from inside the courtroom Monday afternoon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Aug. 11 (UPI) -- On this date in history: In 1877, Thomas Edison described the fundamentals of the phonograph to an assistant and instructed him to build the first one. In 1934, the first group of federal prisoners classified as "most dangerous" arrived at Alcatraz Island, a 22-acre rocky outcrop 1.5 miles offshore in San Francisco Bay. In 1943, German military forces started evacuating Sicily, Italy, under threat by the Allies in World War II. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1952, Jordan's parliament ousted King Talal for being mentally unfit to rule and named his 17-year-old son King Hussein. The young king would go on to rule 43 years, until his death Feb. 7, 1999. U.S. President Bill Clinton speaks at the National Urban League conference at the Washington Convention Center on August 4, 1997. On August 11, 1997, he became the first president to use the line-item veto. UPI File Photo In 1954, a formal announcement ended the seven-year war in Indochina between France and forces of the communist Viet Minh. In 1965, riots began in the Watts section of Los Angeles. In six days of violence, 34 people were killed. Participants march in support of gay rights at the 2015 NYC Gay Pride March in New York City on June 28, 2015. On August 11, 2007, the Evangelical Lutheran Church voted to lift a ban on gay clergy members. File Photo by Dennis Van Tine/UPI In 1984, in an off-air radio voice check picked up by TV cameras, U.S. President Ronald Reagan joked, "My fellow Americans, I'm pleased to tell you today that I've signed legislation that will outlaw Russia forever. We begin bombing in 5 minutes." The Kremlin wasn't amused. UPI File Photo Michael Phelps of the United States stands with his gold medal after taking first place in the men's 200m individual medley with a time of 1:54.66 at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 11, 2016. File Photo by Matthew Healey/UPI Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1991, a Lebanese militant group, the Revolutionary Justice Organization, released U.S. hostage Edward Tracy, 60, who was a captive for nearly five years. In 1993, U.S. President Bill Clinton endorsed the "Brady Bill" handgun control measure and signed an executive order banning the import of semiautomatic assault-style handguns. On Aug. 11, 2009, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, younger sister of President John Kennedy, died in a Cape Cod, Mass., hospital. She was 88. File Photo by Doug Mills/UPI In 1997, Bill Clinton became the first U.S. president to use the line-item veto, a power granted by Congress the year before. In 1998, two boys, ages 12 and 14, were found to be "delinquent" (the juvenile court equivalent of a guilty verdict) in the fatal March shootings of four students and a teacher at their middle school in Jonesboro, Ark. A memorial sculpture stands at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Ark., where, on March 23, 1998, four girls and a teacher were killed when two boys shot guns from a nearby wooded area. The boys were found guilty of the shooting on August 11, 1998. File Photo courtesy the Westside Consolidated School District In 1999, the Kansas State Board of Education voted to drop the theory of evolution from the public school curriculum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2007, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted to refrain from disciplining members of the clergy involved in same-sex relationships. On August 11, 1934, the first group of federal prisoners classified as "most dangerous" arrived at Alcatraz Island, a 22-acre rocky outcrop 1.5 miles offshore in San Francisco Bay. File Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI In 2009, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, younger sister of President John Kennedy, mother of former California first lady Maria Shriver and founder of the Special Olympics, died in a Cape Cod, Mass., hospital. She was 88. She devoted much of her life to raising funds for, and awareness of, people with mental disabilities. File Photo by Doug Mills/UPI King Husssein of Jordan answers questions from the audience following his speech at Brown University Commencement Forum on May 25, 1985. On August 11, 1952, Jordan's parliament ousted King Talal for being mentally unfit to rule and named his 17-year-old son King Hussein. The young king would go on to rule 43 years, until his death Feb. 7, 1999. UPI File Photos In 2014, Oscar-winning actor and comedian Robin Williams died at age 63 in Tiburon, Calif. "This is a sudden and tragic loss," his publicist said. Williams' wife, Susan Schneider, said "the world lost one of its most beloved artists and beautiful human beings." Williams' death was ruled a suicide. In 2016, Michael Phelps became the first swimmer to win four consecutive Olympic gold medals in a single event. Thomas Edison poses in his laboratory in Orange, N.J., on June 16, 1888, amidst his first gramophone invention. On August 11, 1877, Thomas Edison described the fundamentals of the phonograph to an assistant and instructed him to build the first one. UPI File Photo Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2020, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden chose Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., to be his running mate. She became the first female vice president when Biden was elected president on Nov. 3, 2020. In 2021, Sicily set the new record for highest recorded temperature in Europe with 119.84 degrees Fahrenheit. (NEXSTAR) It can be hard to imagine the dark, cold nights of November when youre in the throes of August, but believe it or not, were not far from those drearier days. That means were also not far from the biannual tradition you either appreciate, despise, or otherwise forget about: the changing of the clocks for daylight saving time. You dont have to rush to check your calendar; were several weeks from November 2. But not long ago, it seemed the U.S. may have been gearing up to treat it like any other Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Within the last several months, bills to lock the clocks have been introduced, a Senate committee hearing has been held, and even President Donald Trump has weighed in on the discussions. Nonetheless, introduced bills have stalled, no more hearings have been held, and the need to set your clocks (in most states) back an hour remains. Tariff rebates proposed: How would they work? So what does the future of the biannual changing of the clocks look like for the U.S.? So far, a lot like its past. More than a century ago, the U.S. temporarily observed permanent daylight saving time setting the clocks forward an hour without setting them back a few months later during World War I. It lasted roughly a year and returned during World War II. That then set off decades of states and cities deciding what time to observe without much guidance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was a brief reprieve from the chaos when Congress passed the Uniform Time Act in 1966, formalizing when the country was on daylight saving time and standard time. A few years later, we tried permanent daylight saving time during an energy crisis, only for it to lose favor and be ditched. Since the mid-1970s, weve changed our clocks twice annually. Most recent efforts targeting the practice primarily led by Congressmen from Florida have focused on putting the country back on permanent daylight saving time, a move many health experts disagree with. As in years past, the Senate and House bills to do as such have received bipartisan support and been passed off to committees, only to stall out. What would change if daylight saving time became permanent? The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation did hold a hearing in April that examined the various issues around whether the country should continue springing forward and falling back each year with time. Witnesses who support permanent daylight saving time and an alternative, permanent standard time, shared their opinions, and the bill advanced out of committee. It still needs a revote in the Senate, a spokesperson told Nexstar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Americans are sick and tired of changing their clocks twice a year its an unnecessary, decades-old practice thats more of an annoyance to families than a benefit to them, Senator Rick Scott (R-FL) previously said while introducing his Sunshine Protection Act alongside Senator Patty Murray (D-WA). Representative Vern Buchanan (R-FL) introduced companion legislation in the House. President Trump and the American people are on board with locking the lock, and now its time we pass the Sunshine Protection Act to make Daylight Saving Time permanent. Its clear that Americans want to do away with changing their clocks twice a year, and my bill will end this outdated practice, Rep Buchanan said in a statement to Nexstar. Weve had very promising conversations with House leadership, Energy and Commerce committee members and the Trump team about holding hearings and acting on my bill this Congress. Its clear that public support and political headwinds are on our side, and I look forward to my bill becoming law. Some states, meanwhile, have taken it upon themselves to enact legislation that would put them on permanent daylight saving time in most cases, however, they need Congresss approval. Only two states observe year-round standard time, an option afforded them by Congress 1966 Uniform Time Act. States cannot opt for permanent daylight saving time. In most cases, the states standing on that side of the clock have introduced or passed measures calling on Congress to enact permanent daylight saving time or outlining conditions in which the state would observe daylight saving time permanently, typically based on actions by Congress or neighboring states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why experts say keeping standard time is undeniably better for us A House bill to give states the power to observe daylight saving time all year has been introduced and referred to committee. Multiple other states, however, have seen legislation introduced during their current legislative sessions to observe permanent standard time or exempt it from daylight saving time. Such bills in Arkansas, Kansas, Maine, Missouri, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, and Virginia have failed to pass already this year. Legislation to observe permanent daylight saving time in Mississippi, Texas, and Virginia was also unable to pass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some states have not considered clock-locking legislation, either this year or in recent history. That includes Michigan, New Hampshire, and New Mexico. In the last five years, no related proposals have been brought forth in the District of Columbia or Rhode Island. Regardless of state legislation, most of us are on track to gain an hour of sleep on November 2 as daylight saving time comes to an 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 The Hill. Washington, D.C., Attorney General Brian Schwalb (D) denounced the Trump administrations move to federalize the citys police force as unprecedented, unnecessary, and unlawful. Schwalb said Monday in a post on social platform X, after President Trumps announcement in the morning, a crime emergency doesnt exist in the District, noting that violent crime reached a 30-year low last year and is currently 26 percent lower this year than at this same point last year. We are considering all of our options and will do what is necessary to protect the rights and safety of District residents, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump claimed during his announcement that the federal government is taking control of the local police because the city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people. The Home Rule Act, which grants the city a certain number of self-governing powers, allows the president to federalize the D.C. police for up to 30 days. Trump must provide Congress with written notification of his rationale for taking control of the police within 48 hours, and congressional approval would be needed to extend the presidents control of the police beyond the 30 days. Trumps decision comes after a former employee of the Department of Government Efficiency was attacked during a carjacking in D.C. earlier this month. But data shows that violent crime dropped 35 percent from 2023 to 2024. The numbers in most categories of crime listed on the Metropolitan Police Departments website are also lower for 2025 than at this time in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats have been quick to condemn Trumps action as a power grab, a distraction and a violation of D.C.s sovereignty. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) called it political theater that ignores the progress that D.C. has made in reducing crime. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said Trump has no basis to take over the police department and no credibility on the issue of law and order. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) President Donald Trump announced Monday that he is taking federal control of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to fight crime. During a press conference Monday, Trump announced that federal law enforcement will continue to patrol the streets of D.C., and the National Guard will also be deployed. He added that he is declaring a public safety emergency in D.C. This announcement comes just 24 hours after D.C. police announced another temporary Juvenile Curfew Zone in the Navy Yard community, effective until Aug. 13. The new curfew prohibits teens under 17 from gathering in large groups of nine or more in public places, including establishments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CONTINUOUS COVERAGE | Trump activates National Guard, names DEA commissioner to lead DC police force This also comes days after Trump ordered federal authorities, including officers with the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Drug Enforcement Administration to begin patrolling the streets of Washington, D.C. Over the weekend, federal law enforcement officers could be seen walking along the U Street Corridor and the Dupont Circle area. Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged out maniacs and homeless people, and were not going to let it happen anymore. Were not going to take it, said Trump. On June 30, a 21-year-old congressional intern, Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, was shot and killed by a stray bullet during a drive-by shooting. On July 5, 3-year-old Honesty Cheadle was fatally shot while sitting in the car after attending a Fourth of July event with her family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weeks later, on July 21, a 1-year-old girl was shot in the arm after a shooting broke out in Southeast D.C. Last week, a DOGE employee was beaten by two Maryland teenagers during an attempted carjacking, according to D.C. police. Let me be crystal clear, crime in D.C. is ending and ending today [Monday, Aug. 11], said Pam Bondi, the U.S. Attorney General. DC police establish new Juvenile Curfew Zone in Navy Yard Trump also announced that Terry Cole, the administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), would be the federal governments leader of MPD. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and MPD Police Chief Pamela Smith held a joint press conference on Monday afternoon following Trumps executive order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Limited home rule gives the federal government the ability to intrude on our autonomy in many ways, Bowser said during the press conference. While this action today is unsettling and unprecedented, I cant say that, given some of the rhetoric of the past, that were totally surprised, Bowser also stated. D.C. Shadow Rep. Oye Owolewa emphasized that the move to federalize D.C. is not about protecting D.C. residents. This is an unprecedented overreach that violates the very principle of local sovereignty, said Oye. Under Mayor Bowser and Chief Smith, we have seen violent crime drop by 26%. We have less crime than Memphis, New Orleans, and St. Louis, yet the President is militarizing our streets and seizing control of our police department. By not being a state, Washingtonians face an unprecedented level of federal overreach and oppression, with no recourse against those who abuse this power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ward 6 Councilmember Charles Allen agreed, stating that Trump taking control of the MPD and placing the U.S. military on the streets under the guise of public safety was wrong. Todays announcement will put untrained and unaccountable members of the military in an untenable position in our communities. Its unnecessary, unwarranted, & a dangerous escalation of power in the Nations Capital simply because he can, wrote Allen in a post on X. Leaders noted that crime in the District has dropped, marking a 30-year low. According to D.C.s crime data, there have been 99 homicides so far in 2025. This is a 12% drop compared to this time last year. Statistics also showed that violent crime across the District has dropped by 26% compared to 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive said before, and Ill repeat that I believe that the presidents view of D.C. is shaped by his COVID-era experience during his first term, and it is true that those were more challenging times related to some issues. It is also true that we experienced a crime spike post-COVID, but we worked quickly to put laws in place and tactics that got violent offenders off our streets and gave our police officers more tools, which is why we have seen a huge decrease in crime because of those efforts, Bowser said Monday. Bowser said that violent crime reached its high in 2023, but rates have decreased since then. She also said that crime was down from pre-pandemic numbers in 2019, stating that D.C. was at a 30-year violent crime low. During Mondays press conference, Bowser emphasized that MPD and its 3,100 members still worked under Smiths direction. Smith stated that this executive order built on existing relationships with federal partners and emphasized the importance of community relations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Intentionally, we want to make sure that our community understands that we are there. We are going to be boots on the ground, Smith said Monday. The DC Police Union sent DC News Now a statement in support of Trumps assumption of temporary control of the MPD. The union agrees with the President that crime across the city is spiraling out of control and action is necessary. We stand with the President in recognizing that Washington, DC, cannot continue on this trajectory. Crime is out of control, and our officers are stretched beyond their limits. The federal intervention is a critical stopgap, but the MPD needs proper staffing and support to thrive. This can only happen by repealing the disastrous policies that have driven out our best officers and hindered recruitment, stated D.C. Police Union Chairman Gregg Pemberton. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Any comparison to a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false, said Mayor Muriel Bowser amid President Trumps escalation in rhetoric against the city. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser defended the citys handling of crime amid an escalation of threats from President Donald Trump to federalize the nations capital. We have spent over the last two years driving down violent crime in this citydriving it down to a 30-year low, in fact, over the past year, Bowser told MSNBC on Saturday. We have decreased violent crime by 26% [and] the year before that, by 35%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump railed against D.C.s crime after a top employee of the White Houses DOGE agency was assaulted last week during an attempted carjacking. As a result, he called for more federal police presence on the streets of the District of Columbia and said that minors as young as 14 years old should be charged as adults. Over the weekend, the Trump administration deployed up to 120 federal agents, mostly from the FBI, to assist the Metropolitan Police in preventing crimes in D.C., which have largely been carjackings. On Sunday, the president announced he would hold a press conference at the White House to address D.C.s crime and the citys Beautification. The announcement fuels speculation that he will deploy the National Guard, which he has the legal authority to do since D.C. is not a state and is locally governed. However, Bowser pushed back against Trumps characterizations of D.C., which is a majority Black and Brown city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are not experiencing a crime spike, said the D.C. mayor, who credited years-long coordination between D.C. city officials and federal agencies in keeping the nations capital safe. During her MSNBC interview, Bowser sought to humanize the city, which has long been a target of Republicans who have threatened to take federal control of D.C. and cast it as poorly run and dangerous to live in. The mayor said D.C. was among the most beautiful and best cities in the world. Its well run. We have excellent schools. The number one park system. We have experienced rises in tourism compared to before the pandemic. So people are coming to our capital. Theyre starting businesses in our capital, and theyre raising families in our capital, said Bowser. WASHINGTON, DC APRIL 28: (L-R) Washington Commanders managing partner Josh Harris, Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell hold up a Commanders helmet at the conclusion of a news conference on building a new Commanders stadium on April 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. The Commanders and the District of Columbia have reached an agreement to build a new football stadium at the teams former RFK Stadium site. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Any comparison to a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false, she added, referencing White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Millers remark that D.C. is worse than Baghdad. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents and advocates have long resisted those characterizations and threats as untrue, racialized, and undemocratic, given that D.C. is self-governed under the Home Rule Act. In a Sunday Truth Social post, Trump suggested he was close to using his federal powers to take control of the nations capital. To what degree is unknown. The Mayor of D.C., Muriel Bowser, is a good person who has tried, but she has been given many chances, and the Crime Numbers get worse, and the City only gets dirtier and less attractive, wrote Trump, who also called out the citys homelessness and demanded that unhoused individuals move out, IMMEDIATELY. Bowser said that if Trump wants to make the city safer, he could take action on the federal level, like ensuring that more prosecutors are hired and more federal judges are confirmed by Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have 15 vacancies in the Superior Court, which we need to go down to the Congress for approval. We have two vacancies in the Court of Appeals, the mayor explained. Anytime you have a backlog in the courts, you have delayed justice and people are less safe. Bowser also touted actions taken by her office and the D.C. City Council, such as changing local criminal laws. She noted the citys interventions, such as allowing the city to hold violent offenders using guns pre-trial. Weve seen shootings and homicides precipitously drop, she shared. In his Sunday post, Trump vowed to do in D.C. what he was able to do at the U.S. border since reentering office six months ago. Just like I took care of the Border, where you had ZERO Illegals coming across last month, from millions the year before, I will take care of our cherished Capital, and we will make it, truly, GREAT AGAIN! he wrote. More must-reads: Welcome to 5 Things PM! AOL the company that brought the internet to the masses in the 1990s and early 2000s will stop offering dial-up service. And yes, evidently this is still a thing. Heres what else you might have missed during your busy day. 5 things Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images 1 DC takeover In an extraordinary move, President Donald Trump said hes placing the Washington, DC, police department under direct federal control and deploying National Guard troops to the nations capital. Mayor Muriel Bowser called the action unsettling and unprecedented. 2 Do not forget For millions of people around the world, Anas Al-Sharif became the face of the war in Gaza. After Israel killed the Al Jazeera journalist and four of his colleagues, their deaths have ignited international condemnation and calls for accountability. 3 Deep-sea discovery While exploring the ocean in a submersible, scientists said they found a flourishing ecosystem capable of sustaining life without sunlight. Up to 30,000 feet below the surface, its fueled by gases escaping from fractures in the ocean bed. 4 Pick up the pace No time for the gym? No worries. You can live longer by walking faster, new research shows even just 15 minutes as part of your everyday routine does the trick. Experts explain what you need to know. 5 Her time to shine Pamela Anderson is having a moment. After starting a bit of a beauty revolution, she received critical acclaim for her role in The Last Showgirl. Now people are buzzing about a potential new romance. Watch this Roof ripped off: Hundreds of prisoners from the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln were displaced when a violent storm damaged two housing units, authorities said. No injuries were reported. Top headlines Check this out Kylesku Bridge along the North Coast 500. - Lukas Bischoff/iStockphoto/Getty Images Highway havoc: Rebranding this road as Scotlands Instagram Highway has been so successful, its now an overtourism nightmare. But things could be worse some are thriving among the traffic jams. Quiz time Luke Sharrett/Bloomberg/Getty Images Which automaker just announced plans to invest $5 billion in new electric vehicle production? A. Ford B. Toyota C. Chevrolet D. Volkswagen Scroll down for the answer. Thanks for reading Well see you tomorrow. Quiz answer: A. Ford will invest in a new assembly line and battery production to build EVs and called it the companys next Model T moment. Check out all of CNNs newsletters. Todays edition of 5 Things PM was edited and produced by CNNs Kimberly Richardson and Sarah Hutter. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (The Center Square) A state lawmaker says he has documentation to show that the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services used uncertified interns to investigate families. State Rep. Jed Davis, R-Yorkville, said the investigations by interns have led to children being removed from homes. Clearly, in statute, you need both a license and a certification to conduct a child-abuse investigation, and DCFS has been using interns with only one of those, with only the license requirement, Davis told The Center Square. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Children and Family Services disputed Davis claims on Monday. Representative Davis has both the law and facts wrong. Every DCFS employee who is conducting child and abuse investigations is qualified and certified to do so. DCFS attempted multiple times to explain this to the Representative and his associates, including in a face-to-face meeting scheduled prior to the press release, which Representative Davis cancelled, a DCFS spokesperson said in a statement to The Center Square. Davis said he canceled the meeting after DCFS refused his request to include other relevant parties in the discussion, while the department intended to have multiple representatives on their side. This scenario is the definition of an unbalanced and inefficient conversation, and it undermines a full, fair and informed dialogue, Davis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DCFS spokesperson said, contrary to Davis press release, that employees qualified to conduct investigations are child protection investigators that meet the standards set forth in the Child Protective Investigator and Child Welfare Specialist Certification Act of 1987. The press release confuses Central Management Services (CMS) title classifications with what the Department is permitted to do under the law. The law nowhere requires that only those holding the CMS classification of 'Child Protection Specialist' (CPS) be permitted to investigate reports of abuse and neglect. Other CMS-titled positions can be certified to conduct investigations, including the Child and Family Services Interns, the statement said. According to DCFS, the intern (CFSI) roles have been an intentional and successful pipeline program to help DCFS bring in new talent and ensure that investigator caseload is manageable for staff and abides with legal requirements. The spokesperson insisted that DCFS complies fully with the Certification Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DCFS has developed guidelines for education and profession requirements and a curriculum in child protection investigations. Regardless of their CMS titles, any DCFS employee conducting an investigation is qualified to do so if they are 18 years of age, has a bachelors degree related to human services, completed the investigation specific curriculum of study, passed an investigations examination, and apply to the department in writing. DCFS requires all of the above for anyone conducting an investigation, whether a CPS or a CFSI, ensuring that they are qualified and certified under the law. They then receive a certified status document in the form of their Child Welfare Employee License, the statement concluded. Davis said DCFS used a broad statement to say the interns licenses count as certification. Its great to say, but the Illinois law completely contradicts that. It does not count as a certification, so they are conducting investigations unlawfully. In my opinion, here locally, its led to a child being removed from a home who shouldnt have, Davis said. The Republican lawmaker and Illinois Freedom Caucus member said its a big issue DCFS may be trying to deflect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You know, I didnt just write this on a whim. I made sure that all of our ducks were in a row before we released this press release this morning, Davis said. According to Davis, the local case near his home is a real-world example of DCFS investigating unlawfully as evidenced by documentation on DCFS letterhead. We have a [Freedom of Information Act] document saying, Heres the name of the investigator. Her title is an intern. Please let us know if she is certified, and the FOIA back from the Department says, No, she is not, Davis said. As a foster parent, Davis said he understands there may be cases where interns investigated, and the kids should indeed have been lawfully removed from the home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The questions follow Statehouse Republicans call for accountability from Gov. J.B. Pritzker last month, after the Illinois Auditor General released a report showing that 29 of 34 findings at DCFS were repeated issues from prior years. State Rep. Tom Weber, R-Fox Lake, listed children who died while on DCFS radar and said Republicans have tried to bring about oversight. That is a problem that comes with failed leadership, Weber said. Greg Bishop contributed to this story. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) New FBI data shows violent crime across Tennessee has dropped over the past five years, but this weekend told a different story in Nashville, where police responded to three separate shootings in just two days, including one that killed a man. The Metro Nashville Police Department said gunfire erupted after an argument in the parking lot of the MAPCO gas station in the 1300 block of Neelys Bend Road shortly before 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9. The victim, identified as 25-year-old Chris Bond II, died at TriStar Skyline Medical Center. Investigators said the suspect left the scene in his vehicle after the shooting. Officers later arrested 36-year-old Timothy Lamar Williams at an apartment complex on Cheyenne Boulevard. He is now facing a felony criminal homicide charge in connection with the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suspect arrested after deadly shooting outside convenience store in Madison Neighbors said they were shocked to learn the shooting happened in a place they frequent. Hearing that is really crazy because I come here very often, live here, and my little siblings, my mom, my family come over here a lot, so its kind of scary hearing that, Madison resident Jayden Pyant said. Another resident, Marcus Boyd, offered condolences to Bonds family and called for improvements in the neighborhood: Hopefully, they can see better, get it together, and push for better in the community. Woman injured following shooting outside South Nashville bar, police say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Madison shooting was one of three across Nashville this weekend. Authorities said a woman was shot in the leg while sitting in a vehicle outside of a bar in the 100 block of Lafayette Street in South Nashville just before 3 a.m. Saturday. An altercation allegedly took place between a security and a patron at the bar before the shots were fired. Then, shortly before 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 10, officials reported a man was shot at an East Nashville apartment complex in the 300 block of Dellway Villa Road, sending him to the hospital. Man injured after shooting reported in East Nashville Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some community members said while the recent FBI statistics show progress statewide, they still see areas of concern locally. I agree with that crime rate going down, but carjacking [is] going up, so its a lot to work on in the community and the whole Nashville, Boyd said. Police have not shared any information indicating this weekends shootings in Nashville were related. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. The 28-year-old schoolteacher in Arkansas accused of killing a married couple on a hiking trip with their kids July 26 may face the death penalty should his case go to trial, according to a former local prosecutor. Andrew James McGann is accused of killing Cristen Amanda Brink, 41, and Clinton David Brink, 43, while the couple took a hiking trip with their two children at Devil's Den State Park in Washington County, Arkansas. During a news conference, prosecuting attorney Brandon Carter said he plans to present a death penalty punishment to the future jury as a punishment for the murder charges McGann is facing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This case certainly has the aggravators that exist where a jury should get to decide what the punishment for this defendant is," Carter said. "And it is my intention to pose that to the jury." Family Vacation Hot Spot On Edge After Parents Randomly Murdered In Front Of Their Kids Clinton and Cristen Brink and Andrew James McGann. McGann was charged with two counts of capital murder after allegedly killing the Brinks. Read On The Fox News App Shane Wilkinson, a criminal defense attorney and former chief deputy prosecutor of Benton County, Arkansas, told Fox News Digital the specifics of the Brinks' deaths will not bode well in McGann's fight against the death penalty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I just think it's going to be generally aggravating to people that there's a mom and dad that have been killed, and there's two kids that don't have a mom and dad anymore," Wilkinson said. "I mean that's going be one of the things that people are going to, you know I mean it's gonna be hard not to be sad for those kids, right?" The fact authorities claim this was a "completely random event" by McGann, Wilkinson says, will "scare people." Authorities said the Brinks' children, 7 and 9, are safe and in the care of family members but added they are emotionally distressed. Accused Devils Den Killer Passed Background Checks And Entered Classrooms Full Of Kids, Expert Says The trailhead on the lower section of the Devil's Den trail at Devil's Den State Park remains closed July 28, 2025, in West Fork, Ark., as police search for a suspect in the deaths of a couple attacked while on a wooded walking trail. The trailhead on Devil's Den trail at Devils Den State Park July 28, 2025, in West Fork, Ark. Wilkinson said there could be several "mitigating factors" that could help McGann avoid death row, including the fact he's young and has no known criminal history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In this case, it doesn't look like he has any significant criminal history so far that we know of, right? He is relatively young. I'm sure his attorneys are going to be looking very closely, what if he has any emotional or mental disturbances of some kind," Wilkinson said. "If he has a mental disease or defect, that'll make a big difference." While there's no clear motive for McGann to kill the Brinks, as authorities allege, Arkansas State Police Col. Mike Hagar said McGann confessed. "During an interview with investigators, the suspect admitted to committing the murders. We also executed a search warrant at his residence and recovered items consistent with the crime," Hagar said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McGann was arrested at a Springdale, Arkansas, barbershop July 30 while he was in the middle of getting a haircut. Fox News obtained video showing McGann being arrested in Lupitas Beauty Salon & Barber Shop. McGann's next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 25. Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report. Original article source: Death penalty possible after 'random' hiking murders left children without mom and dad: former prosecutor LAS VEGAS (KLAS) After two residents in their 80s were found dead inside their Bullhead City, Arizona, home, police say they are investigating the deaths as suspicious. A dog was also found dead inside the home when police responded to the scene on Saturday morning, according to information provided by the Bullhead City Police Department. The man, 82, and the woman, 81, were not identified in information released on Saturday as police wait for the Mohave County Medical Examiners Office to determine the cause of death. The home is in the 700 block of Palo Verde Drive, a residential area a few streets from the Colorado River. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police were called after family members went to the home, trying to contact their mother. Concerned for their mothers welfare, relatives reported that they had entered the backyard and looked through a window, where they saw the male resident lying in the kitchen, information from police said. On Saturday, police collected evidence to determine what led up to the couples deaths. Police dont believe anyone had entered the home or was involved in the couples deaths. Bullhead City police continue to investigate, and additional details will be released as they become available. Bullhead City is about 100 miles south of Las Vegas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. In July, the city of Lincoln announced a sweeping project that will reshape O Street for years to come. "Project O Street" will give Lincolns main street a face-lift from Ninth Street to 16th Street that includes new sidewalks and crosswalks, better lighting and landscaping and replaced water lines. Business owners along O are excited about what the project could deliver. They also worry about the impact of the construction, which will temporarily close the full street, single lanes and sidewalks during three phases of construction. The city has said the closures will help contractors finish the project more quickly, potentially saving as much as six months in the two-year construction timeline. Omar Attaie, owner of the Mediterranean restaurant Pita & Naan at 1434 O St., said he remembers how Lincoln on the Move construction affected business on 48th Street and Old Cheney in 2023. I know I avoided 48th Street for the entire duration, he said. So that's what kind of makes me nervous, is that some of our customers are going to be doing the same thing. Attaie said he is hoping to hear from the city but hasnt yet. He'd like to see the city share a timeline for how the project could affect his and his neighbors businesses. Weve had utility workers come and kind of look at our water pipes, he said. And that's the only thing that we've heard so far. Lincoln Transportation and Utilities Director Liz Elliott said more communication with the business community is coming soon. She said she and another staff member will be reaching out to businesses in mid-August. We didn't want to go out too early, because the design and the timelines were still not finalized, Elliott said. And now that it's a little more finalized we can start sharing information that will be helpful and actually be able to answer questions, more than we created questions. Project O work will be done in three phases: * The first will take place from 16th to 14th streets from late fall 2025 to fall 2026. * The second will take place from 14th to 11th streets. * Phase 3 will happen from 11th to Ninth streets from summer 2026 to fall 2027. Additionally, 14th Street between N and P streets and along 11th to Q Street is included in the project. Project details will become clear after the city selects a contractor. The city will host an open house, likely in October, Elliott said. The city is creating a business guide and is setting up a text message system about the project that will start in September, Elliott said. There is also a city website detailing the steps of the project, which Elliott said will be updated weekly. Elliott said the city plans to send out postcard updates and has other plans like creating coasters for restaurants and bars with QR codes linking to information about the project. The city will also host in-person meetings as the project gets nearer. And there will be virtual updates. Elliott said the city has learned the importance of communication from other projects. No project is ever perfect, but we try to improve with each one, she said, adding that doing business outreach in advance will help everyone know what to expect. Todd Ogden, the president and CEO of the Downtown Lincoln Association, said he will be the main contact and liaison between businesses and the city. A lot of times if people don't deal with the city very often; they don't know where to start, Ogden said. Ogden said he is looking into buying an O Street specific website for the project. He also said he will be going around to businesses with the city later in August. There have been a few open houses over the past couple of years to get feedback on redeveloping O Street, Ogden said. However, he said there are businesses who werent at those meetings and arent up to date on the project. Ogden said he encourages businesses to reach out to the association. Jordan Jackson owns Birria Boss, 1320 O St., which would be impacted in the second phase of the project. He said he hadnt heard about the project. Its kind of disheartening to have this happen right in the height of us trending upwards even more just because its kind of like a wrench in the road, Jackson said. He said he hopes the project is worth it and eventually brings more people downtown. Jackson also said he is looking forward to the development of a musical district in the area. Ryan McLeay, an owner of Zen Coffee Company, said in an email that the project, along with other efforts like the construction of a new space for the downtown library, promise to bring energy and foot traffic to the area in the long run. In the short-term however, he said businesses are facing higher property taxes and product costs. He said the second phase of the project would impact his business. And while thats still nearly a year away, were already experiencing increased costs without any benefit of improvements, McLeay said. Were actively preparing our team and operations for a slowdown, which could include a temporary closure. McLeay said he is concerned that if the sidewalk closes they will also have to close during that time. Sultan Attaie, president of Sultans Kite Inc., which has a downtown location that would be affected by phase two of the project, said in an email that the restaurants O Street location relies on foot traffic and construction could deter customers. However, I also see the potential for improved infrastructure and aesthetics once the construction is completed, which could ultimately enhance the dining experience and attract more visitors, he said. Sultan Attaie said he has reached out to city officials, which has helped the restaurant to better prepare for the project. California Republican Congressman Kevin Kiley joins 'The Weekend: Primetime' to discuss why he believes the recent redistricting push from both Republicans and Democrats is not the way forward. He recently introduced a bill that would stop mid-decade redistricting efforts. Inside Legislative Hall in Dover, members of the Delaware General Assembly are responsible for drafting, debating and voting on legislation that could become new laws or update old ones. However, as with many processes in the First State, theres more to it than that. Lets step inside the Statehouse and take a closer look. ICYMI: How are Delaware laws created? What to know behind the legal jargon How many lawmakers does Delaware have? The Delaware General Assembly contains 21 state senators and 41 state representatives 62 lawmakers in total. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Senate is made up of 15 Democrats and six Republicans, while the House possesses 27 Democrats and 14 Republicans. State senators serve a four-year term, while state representatives serve a two-year term. What does a Delaware legislator do? One of the most recognizable responsibilities of the state legislative branch is to craft, discuss and vote on bills that either create new state laws or adjust ones already in place, such as through constitutional amendments. Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown takes the oath of speaker of the House on the first day of the legislative session of the 153rd General Assembly at Legislative Hall in Dover on Jan. 14, 2025. The General Assembly is also responsible for drafting and establishing a statewide budget, as well as overriding a governors veto on certain bills. How are Delaware legislators chosen? To qualify for the state Senate, a person must be at least 27 years of age, a resident of Delaware at least three years before the election with the last in that specific district and must be an inhabitant of the Senatorial District in which he or she shall be chosen, according to the state constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similar rules apply to the state House except you must be at least 24 years of age to qualify and you must be an inhabitant of the Representative District you would be representing. In other news: Delaware House race for Milton and Lewes area district decided by 121 votes Both Senate and House lawmakers must continuously reside in their respective districts throughout their time in office. In the event of redistricting, a lawmaker whose home is no longer in that district may no longer represent it. There are no term limits for state legislators in Delaware. In the event a seat becomes unoccupied in either chamber such as in the case of resignation a special election takes place to fill that vacancy for the remainder of that term. How often do Delaware legislators meet? State lawmakers meet on the second Tuesday of January of each calendar year and typically on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays until the end of June, often referred to as the regular session. Legislative Hall in Dover as seen on June 30, 2025. However, if there is still a need to address specific issues or topics outside of regularly scheduled proceedings, then a special session may be called. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Delaware, a special session can be brought on by the mutual call of the presiding officers from both chambers, usually after the regular session has ended. Where do Delaware legislators meet? Lawmakers usually meet in their respective chambers inside Legislative Hall, located in Dover. The Statehouse has served as the states capitol since 1933. In addition to the House and Senate chambers, the building also houses several committee rooms, the formal office of the governor and offices belonging to legislators. More: Delaware lawmakers to reconvene for special session on taxes amid reassessment fallout Who are the leaders in the Delaware Senate? The Senate is led by a legislator chosen by a majority of their colleagues to run the mechanics of the chamber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This person is known as the President Pro Tempore or simply pro tem. The pro tem often appoints members to committees and assigns legislation to those same committees. The Senate majority and minority leaders and whips are selected by the chambers political parties to shepherd their respective caucuses and to encourage membership attendance, count votes and occasionally oversee personnel. Senate President Pro Tempore Dave Sokola, a Newark Democrat, listens during a hearing held by the Senate Health and Social Services Committee to consider Senate Bill 5 at Delaware Legislative Hall in Dover, Monday, March 3, 2025. Sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend and Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown, Senate Bill 5 is the first leg of a constitutional amendment that would enshrine reproductive freedom (abortion) into the Delaware Constitution. As of August 2025, leaders in the Senate include: President Pro Tempore: Dave Sokola (D) Senate Majority Leader: Bryan Townsend (D) Senate Majority Whip: Elizabeth Tizzy Lockman (D) Senate Minority Leader: Gerald Hocker (R) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Minority Whip: Brian Pettyjohn (R) What about the Delaware House? On the opposite side of the Statehouse, leadership looks a bit different. In the House, the Speaker serves as the chambers presiding officer, usually elected to the role by a majority vote. Like the president pro tempore, the speaker is also responsible for managing the nuts and bolts of the chamber, including appointing members and committees and assigning legislation to those same committees. The speaker must also preserve order and decorum in the House. This includes recognizing which member has the floor during hearings, setting the agenda and signing all bills and declarations passed by the chamber. House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown speaks during a town hall organized to allow the community to hear from DNREC officials and Delaware City Refinery representatives about the communityOs concerns about the ongoing emissions of excess sulfur dioxide, a toxic gas, from the refinery, at the Kirkwood Sports in New Castle on June 5, 2025. The state House also has majority and minority leaders and whips, who share similar responsibilities as their Senate counterparts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of August 2025, the House, leadership is as follows: Speaker of the House: Melissa Minor-Brown (D) House Majority Leader: Kerri Evelyn Harris (D) House Majority Whip: Ed Osienski (D) House Minority Leader: Tim Dukes (R) House Minority Whip: Jeff Spiegelman (R) What about the Delaware lieutenant governor? The second most powerful person in the state after the governor, the lieutenant governor, oversees the state Senate the first constitutional responsibility of the position. As president of the Senate, the lieutenant governor also has the power to cast a vote in the event of a tie. Sworn in as Lieutenant Governor in January 2025, Kyle Evans Gay has had some legislative experience under her belt, having previously served as a member of the state Senate.. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lieutenant governor is also held to the same provisions and standards as the head of state, and must be selected at the same time, in the same manner [and] for the same term as the governor. Olivia Montes covers state government and community impact for Delaware Online/The News Journal. If you have a tip or a story idea, reach out to her at omontes@delawareonline.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware General Assembly ins and outs, what legislative branch does Aug. 11 (UPI) -- A Delta Airlines flight clipped another aircraft at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport over the weekend, officials said. A Delta spokesperson confirmed the airplane contact to FOX 5 and CNN on Sunday. The plane was identified as Delta flight 1830, flying from Atlanta to Guatemala City, Guatemala, with 192 passengers and six crew on board. The passengers had to board a second plane following the incident before departing for their destination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the FlightAware airplane tracking website, the flight was supposed to depart at 10:41 a.m. EDT Sunday but only took off at 2:03 p.m., because of the incident. "The wing of DL1830 reportedly made contact with another Delta aircraft during pushback at the gate," the spokesperson said. "There were no reports of injuries for crew or customers on the flight. We apologize to our customers for the experience and delay in their travels." The incident comes after 25 passengers of a Delta plane were hospitalized following "significant" turbulence during the flight late last month. The Delta flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam was diverted to Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport because of the turbulence with the 25 passengers transported to local hospitals for evaluation. The Trump administration and its conservative allies are pushing for the ouster of Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan as the MAGA movement advances its authoritarian assault on free enterprise. Donald Trumps gambits to strong-arm American companies to conform with his political agenda be they law firms, universities or chip manufacturers have exposed the fundamental disdain for democratic principles now being practiced by the party of free enterprise. Tan is the latest target. Tan visited the White House on Monday, a meeting that followed a post from Trumps Truth Social account last week accusing him of being conflicted and demanding that he resign immediately. As Media Matters researcher Matt Gertz noted, the post from Trumps account came minutes after a Fox Business report on a letter sent by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., to Intel raising concerns about Tans investment in businesses with ties to Chinas military. (Tan, who was born in Malaysia, joins TikTok CEO Shou Chu as a target of Cottons Joseph McCarthy-esque crusade against businesspeople with ties to China.) Five minutes after Maria Bartiromo covered Tom Cotton's criticism of Intel's CEO's "potential ties to communist China," President Trump called for the CEO's removal. Left, Fox Business, 7:34 a.m. Right, Trump, 7:39 a.m. pic.twitter.com/gyNzULxY8Z Matthew Gertz (@MattGertz) August 7, 2025 In the letter, Cotton referred to Reuters reporting on Tans private investments and his previous job at Cadence, a tech company that recently reached a settlement in which it pleaded guilty to illegally selling semiconductor design technology to a Chinese military university. (A spokesperson for Intel told Reuters that Tan had answered questionnaires that included disclosure of any potential conflicts of interest and that the company handles such conflicts appropriately.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Mondays meeting, another post from Trumps Truth Social account referred to Tans rise as an amazing story and said Tan and White House Cabinet members are going to bring suggestions to me during the next week. Intel released a statement calling the meeting candid and constructive and said the company appreciates the Presidents strong leadership. But as the mercurial president wields his influence, its worth noting the facts dont appear to be as scandalous as Trump or Cotton have implied. The Reuters report, for example, does not allege that Tan has done anything unlawful. In fact, as Reuters noted in its report on Cottons letter: It is not illegal for U.S. citizens to hold stakes in Chinese companies, even those with ties to the Chinese military, unless those companies have been added to the U.S. Treasurys Chinese Military-Industrial Complex Companies List, which explicitly bans such investments. Reuters in April had found no evidence that Tan at the time was invested directly in any company on the U.S. Treasurys list. In a memo to staff published to Intels website Thursday, Tan denounced misinformation being spread about him and said hes always operated within the highest legal and ethical standards. The lack of any demonstrable culpability for Tan arguably highlights how blatantly authoritarian Trumps push to oust him truly is. Its certainly ironic that the president who eagerly welcomed Elon Musk into the fold despite his financial entanglements with China and their related national security concerns would turn around and insist that the business leader of an independent company must step down over his alleged ties to China. And its revealing that other members of the Republican Party are contributing to this obvious attack on free enterprise. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com (NewsNation) Jonas Brothers fans were in for a surprise Sunday as the group brought out Demi Lovato for the opening night of their Greetings From Your Hometown tour. Lovato joined Joe Jonas onstage at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where the pair sang two songs This Is Me and Wouldnt Change a Thing from their Disney Channel hit movies Camp Rock and Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam, according to videos posted to social media. New Paramount CEO: South Park creators are equal opportunity offenders Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joe Jonas and Lovato played love interests in 2008s Camp Rock and dated briefly in 2010, according to People magazine. Demi Lovato: I was really mad at Joe Jonas over breakup The pair broke up two months after going public, just before their press run for the Camp Rock sequel. We were in a relationship, and we broke up, and at one point, I was really mad at him, Lovato said in a 2013 interview with ABC News. Now, I can fortunately say that him, and his brother Nick, have always been there for me, and are literally family, and like brothers we have a great friendship. And we may not be as close as we used to be, but thats OK. Blake Lively deposition transcripts wont be released Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no word on whether a third Camp Rock movie is in the works. The pair were teenagers when the first movie premiered and are now in their 30s. In 2016, the two performed together for Joe Jonas band DNCE in Los Angeles, People magazine reported at the time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser slammed President Donald Trumps decision to place D.C. police under federal control and deploy the National Guard to the city on Monday. Bowser argued on Monday that Trumps view of D.C. is shaped by his COVID era experience during his first term. She said that Trumps decision to take over the Metropolitan Police Department is unsettling and unprecedented. That is why you have heard me and many, Washingtonians before me advocate for full statehood for the District of Columbia. We are American citizens. Our families go to war, we pay taxes and we uphold the responsibilities of citizenship, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While this action today is unsettling and unprecedented, I cant say that given some of the rhetoric of the past that were totally surprised. .@MayorBowser on President Trump federalizing DC police: "While this action today is unsettling and unprecedented, I can't say that given some of the rhetoric of the past that we're totally surprised." pic.twitter.com/r9TU87KUp7 CSPAN (@cspan) August 11, 2025 Bowser also highlighted that Trumps decision to federalize the local police department comes as crime in D.C. has hit a 30-year-low. We have been able to reverse that 2023 crime spike this year. Crime isnt just down from 2023, its also down from 2019 before the pandemic, and were at a 30 year violent crime low. Were not satisfied. We havent taken our foot off the gas, and we continue to look for ways to make our city safer, she said. Trump invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to place the Metropolitan Police Department under federal control, calling it Liberation Day in D.C. This comes as Trump has frequently criticized Democratic-led cities, including D.C, for their crime rates and leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he was deploying the National Guard to help reestablish law order and public safety in Washington, D.C., and theyre going to be allowed to do their job properly. Were going to take our capital back, Trump declared, adding hed also be getting rid of the slums. For Trump, the effort to take over public safety in Washington reflects an escalation of his aggressive approach to law enforcement. The District of Columbias status as a congressionally established federal district gives him a unique opportunity to push his tough-on-crime agenda, though he has not proposed solutions to the root causes of homelessness or crime. Attorney General Pam Bondi will assume responsibility for Washingtons metro police department, Trump said, as he also railed against potholes and graffiti in the city and called them embarrassing. The president did not provide a timeline for the control of the police department, but hes limited to 30 days under statute. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Lawmakers and advocates are sounding the alarm over a series of actions taken by the Department of Justice (DOJ) and intelligence community that they argue are both abuses of power and threats to the traditional independence held by both organizations. The FBI agreed to aid the Texas government last week in tracking down Democratic members of the state Legislature who fled in an effort to block a controversial redistricting plan. The commitment came as the FBI fired a series of agents, including those who had worked on controversial matters related to President Trump, prompting complaints agents were facing retribution simply for taking on assigned cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the Justice Department subpoenaed New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) for documents related to court victories against the Trump Organization and the National Rifle Association. The same day, DOJ also tapped Ed Martin to investigate James as well as Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) on allegations of mortgage fraud. DOJ on Monday also launched a grand jury investigation into Obama-era officials theyve accused of engaging in a treasonous conspiracy in investigating Russias efforts to influence the 2016 election. Intelligence community leaders have since come under fire for releasing a number of documents related to the claim. Democrats say the documents expose sources and methods of intelligence gathering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement James, through an attorney, said she was targeted as part of the presidents political retribution campaign. 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. If prosecutors carry out this improper tactic and are genuinely interested in the truth, we are ready and waiting with the facts and the law, her attorney Abbe Lowell said in a statement. The other moves are likewise coming under scrutiny. Democrats sent a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi asking for the legal basis on which the bureau could be involved in tracking down the Texas lawmakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These reports suggest that the FBI is diverting federal law enforcement away from fighting terrorism, drug trafficking, and other federal crimes to instead harass and target Texans duly elected representatives, and thus raise urgent questions about the legal basis, scale, and appropriateness of federal law enforcement involvement in a state-level political matter, Reps. Robert Garcia (Calif.) and Jamie Raskin (Md.), the top Democrats on the House Oversight and Judiciary committees, respectively, wrote in a letter also signed by Texas Democratic Reps. Greg Casar and Jasmine Crockett. The group pointed to a 2003 ruling from a state judge that reviewed another incident in which state lawmakers sought to prevent a legislative quorum, determining that the Texas Department of Public Safety was limited in pursuing residents in cases where there was no crime. The ruling made clear that the state cannot treat quorum-breaking as a criminal offense subject to law enforcement pursuit, they wrote. The firing of numerous agents also sparked claims the bureaus leadership was abusing its power and running afoul of civil servant protections in dismissing several career agents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brian Driscoll previously served as acting FBI director before Patel was confirmed, and during his brief tenure he rebuffed an early request from the Trump administration to turn over the names of all agents who worked on the cases of Jan. 6 rioters a group that includes thousands of people. Scott Jensen, whom Patel had recently promoted to director of the Washington, D.C., field office, and Walter Giardina, an agent who worked for special counsel Robert Mueller and aided in the prosecution of Peter Navarro, were also fired. In a final note to staff, Driscoll said he was given no reason for his dismissal. The FBI Agents Association criticized the firing as unlawful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI Agents Association strongly condemns todays unlawful firing of FBI Special Agents. These Agents were carrying out the assignments given to them and did their jobs professionally and with integrity, the group said in a Friday statement. This action sets a dangerous precedent. It increases our vulnerability to criminal and national security threats at home and abroad. It prioritizes division over unity, stokes anger instead of solidarity within our ranks, and threatens to chill the work of agents rather than support it. The move was also blasted by Raskin and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee. These are individuals [who] have dedicated their careers to protecting the American people, and their firings are part of a disturbing pattern of retaliation and politicization at an institution charged with safeguarding national security and the rule of law, Warner said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI and DOJ declined to comment on the firings, their involvement in Texas, the launch of the grand jury, and its probe into James. But the Trump administration has broadly defended such moves, consistently arguing the FBI and the Justice Department were political tools of previous administrations while arguing their own actions help confront those abuses. President Trump is restoring integrity to the Department of Justice after four years of weaponization, hoaxes, and attempts to imprison him. The DOJ is upholding Lady Justice and working to execute President Trumps Make America Safe Again agenda, which is lowering crime, holding criminals accountable, and empowering our law enforcement community, White House spokesperson Harrison Fields said in a statement to The Hill. Trump has at various turns denied asking for Justice Department interventions, though he has not hid his approval of the actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pam is doing a great job, Trump said on CNBC when asked about the grand jury investigation into Obama officials. I have nothing to do with it. I will tell you this, they deserve it. I was happy to hear it. The mortgage investigation from Martin is one of the first public actions taken by the Justice Departments new Weaponization Working Group, a role he was given after senators signaled their opposition to him for a U.S. attorney role. Schiff, through an attorney, said Martin has a conflict of interest in the matter as the lawmaker previously placed a hold on his nomination, in part due to Martins vocal defense of Jan. 6 rioters. The allegations against Senator Schiff are transparently false, stale, and long debunked. Now Ed Martin, the most brazenly partisan and politically compromised person possible for the task, has been picked to investigate a political adversary. The bias here is glaring, said Preet Bharara, a former U.S. attorney fired by Trump who is now representing Schiff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr. Martin is a January 6-defending lawyer who has repeatedly pursued baseless and politically-motivated investigations to fulfill demands to investigate and prosecute perceived enemies. Any supposed investigation led by him would be the very definition of weaponization of the justice process. Also sparking pushback is the decision to open a grand jury inquiry into referrals made by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. A memo released by Gabbard last month accuses Obama-era officials of a treasonous conspiracy she said was designed to undermine Trump. The documents she released, however, largely show officials discussing something that was never in dispute that Russia was never able to alter vote totals. She later released a report from House Intelligence Committee Republicans casting doubt on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed to help Trump win the election rather than just sow chaos in the U.S. election. Most other reviews, however, determined Russia wanted to help Trump win. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department later released a previously classified annex to special counsel John Durhams report on the 2016 election. Rep. Jim Himes (Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said both the Durham annex and the Republican report were considered so sensitive and revealing of sources and methods that, until last month, [the committee] was not even permitted to retain a copy of either document within a classified safe in our own secure facility. The highly irregular declassification process you engaged in could imperil critical intelligence sources and methodsa destructive action taken in order to advance a patently false political narrative, he wrote, adding that they failed to consider how foreign adversaries might use the information exposed. When done in a cavalier manner for partisan ends, declassification can literally endanger lives and enable adversaries to discover and disrupt the means through which we collect intelligence. Former CIA Director John Brennan and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, two of the officials involved in the claims, have called the accusations patently false and rejected claims they attempted to smear Trump. Every serious review has substantiated the intelligence communitys fundamental conclusion that the Russians conducted an influence campaign intended to help Mr. Trump win the 2016 election, the two wrote. Contrary to the Trump administrations wild and baseless claims, there was no mention of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians in the assessment, they added. The intelligence community under Trump has defended the release of the documents, calling it a transparency measure. This effort reflects Director Ratcliffes continued commitment to elevating the truth and bringing transparency to the American people, the CIA said in a statement when Gabbard released the documents. Gabbard during a White House press conference also brushed off questions about the release. I think its a disservice to the American people that former President Obamas office and others who are criticizing the transparency that is being delivered by releasing these documents, Gabbard said. They are doing a disservice to the American people in trying to deflect away from their culpability in what is a historic scandal. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. I hate logging onto X these days because the platform promotes conservatives and downgrades links to stories from serious news organizations. But I also hate X because so much of what I see is fighting among Democrats. Some of these debates are important, such as assessing if the Biden administration should have done more to prevent what has turned into an Israeli-induced famine in Gaza, or which mayoral hopeful would run New York City best. But at times, its as if we are amid the 2016, 2020 (and likely 2028) Democratic primary cycles, with centrists who seem determined to lambaste the partys progressives (and vice versa), rather than either side concentrating on how Donald Trump is destroying the republic. Heres my attempt at an intervention. Whats needed is a clearer sense of roles within the party and the broader anti-Trump movement. Democratic politicians in Boston, Seattle, and other very progressive areas and left-leaning intellectuals and activists dont need to be analyzing every action they take through the minds of Wisconsin swing voters. At the same time, Democratic politicians in purple and red states probably cant always adopt the most forthright positions on sexism, homophobia, transphobia, excessive corporate power, racist policing, right-wing Christianity, and other ills of American society and get elected in those places. We need socialists, progressives, liberals, centrists, Democrats, independents, moderate Republicans, union organizers, business owners, elected officials, and lots of others to join together in the fight against Trump and the MAGA wing of the Republican Partyand agree to disagree on many policy issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While my ideological views are closer to those of Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, many leftists/progressives are just as guilty as the rest of the party of one major sin: trying to come up with some coherent agenda everyone in the anti-Trump coalition has to agree to. This push for policy and messaging unity comes from a sincere place. A political party is in many ways a big brand. And the assumption by many Democratic thinkers is that winning elections means creating a brand that can win in small towns, cities, and states across the country. So that leads to asserting that the Democrats, everyone in the party, must be for creating abundance, fighting oligarchy, defending the working class, or whatever idea some faction of the party is promoting. And according to this theory, no one with any prominence in the party can be for reducing police funding, allowing transgender girls to play high school sports, or anything else that polls badly in red or purple America. This push for a single Democratic identity creates bad dynamics. Center-left Democrats spent the weeks after the 2024 election bashing liberal groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union for pushing Kamala Harris and other Democrats who ran in the 2020 primaries toward ideas that were unpopular with the general electorate. Thats wrongheaded. The ACLU is an activist groupits function is to push its preferred policies. Harris is a politicianher job is to win elections. The ACLU wasnt wrong to advocate its ideasHarris was wrong to adopt those ideas if she couldnt successfully defend them on the campaign trail. (I am not sure that Harriss comments in 2019 doomed her five years later, but the example illustrates the problem of not understanding that different players have different lanes within the Democratic coalition.) Let me flip this around and explain a healthier coalition politics. In the fall of 2023, only a few weeks before the Kentucky gubernatorial election, I wrote a piece praising Governor Andy Beshear for being a normal Democrat on policy (proabortion rights, pro-trans, pro-labor), even though hes in a red state. I emphasized that Beshear, unlike ex-Senator Joe Manchin and many other red- and purple-state Democrats, almost never bashes the partys progressive wing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Was that piece electorally helpful for Beshear? Probably not. The campaign of Beshears opponent, thenKentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron, sent out a press statement noting that a Washington Post writer had said that the governor was a conventional liberal. But Beshears staff, which had granted me an interview with the governor, did not afterward criticize me or suggest I was hurting their candidate. Nor did other Democrats here in Kentucky, where I live. They understood that while I strongly favored Beshear over Cameron, I am an independent writer with progressive policy tendencies. My job was not to get Andy Beshear elected by casting him in the terms most favorable to the states conservative-leaning voters. My job was to give my honest portrayal of the governor, particularly to progressives who follow my work. (Disclosure: My wife currently works in a policy role in the Beshear administration.) Similarly, a healthy anti-MAGA politics is one that recognizes Michael Bloomberg and Bernie Sanders disagree on the proper role for billionaires in politics but can unite around slamming the presidents authoritarianism. People who live in states where housing is relatively cheap and easy to build arent going to see reducing regulations and other ideas from the partys abundance faction as resonant as those on the coasts do, and thats OK. Activists who call for defunding the police arent speaking for the Michigan Democratic Party. Zohran Mamdani isnt coming up with a policy agenda that Pete Buttigieg should run on nationally in 2028. We live in a big countrymany different approaches can coexist. And they must. A party that represents more than 75 million people will inevitably have policy diversity. So do the Republicans. There may not be any truly moderate Republicans left, but Utah Governor Spencer Cox and Maine Senator Susan Collins arent as conservative as Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And policy coherence isnt necessary because Americans vote for individuals, not parties. Yes, there are fewer swing voters and states than ever. That said, Beshear is the governor of Kentucky, Collins a senator in Democratic-leaning Maine, the socialist Mamdani poised to be the mayor of one of the centers of modern capitalism. Candidates really matter. And conversely, the party brands are entrenched and hard to change. The Democrats arent going to win many U.S. Senate races in Alabama, even if they talk about racial inequality a bit less these days than in 2020. So, while I deeply care about policy, I dont think anti-Trump operatives, thinkers, and officials need to fully align on a governing vision until Democrats are in power and writing legislation. Because Trump won and is implementing the hard rights favorite ideas, many Democrats are arguing that the party needs its own Project 2025. I disagree. Project 2025 was an electoral disaster (Trump distanced himself from the platform during the campaign) and is a bad model for governing. The party platform produced by the Democratic National Convention and laws written by Democratic members of Congress and a Democratic executive branch allow more input from all parts of the coalition than a few unaccountable think tanks and intellectuals coming up with an agenda for the whole party. Liberal policy experts should feel free to debate policy issues, but I would strongly encourage them to make sure they are mainly using whatever power they have to fight Trump right now. I worry some in the party are spending too much time positioning themselves and their ideas for a 2029 Democratic administration, instead of making sure theres a Democratic administration in 2029 in the first place. The critical questions for Democrats in the near term are how they slow Trump and how they win the elections in 2026 and 2028. To be sure, these are questions that involve policy and messaging. But they dont require a consistent, unified, across-the-board vision. Winning a swing U.S. House district in New York or California is almost certainly going to involve different messages and policies than next years U.S. Senate races in Ohio and North Carolina. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What about 2028? Everyone in the anti-Trump coalition doesnt need to align with the policy vision of Beshear, Buttigieg, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, or whoever wins the primary. They just need to vote for that person. Even the Democratic nominee doesnt need a full-fledged governing plan. Obamas policy ideas werent a big feature of his landslide 2008 victory. In 2020, Bidens success in the general election wasnt because he chose the ideas of the partys left or center but because he promised to work with both wings if he won. I am absolutely not calling for a moratorium on Democrats criticizing one another or having policy debates until Trump is out of office. But the urgency and intensity of these intraparty disputes should be greatly reduced. Coming up with policies and messages that unite an ideologically diverse coalition is extremely complicated. Making sure that most people in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin vote against JD Vance (or whoever is the Republican nominee) on November 7, 2028, is a slightly easier taskand thats the only one Democrats must do collectively. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The demolition of a 50-year-old pedestrian bridge in the central Las Vegas valley is set to cause lane closures lasting throughout the week. Starting Sunday night, the lane closures will impact traffic on Maryland Parkway, from Desert Inn Road to the main entrance of Sunrise Hospital. Clark County warned commuters that they can expect major slowdowns due to the demolition. It wasnt being used that much. There was a problem with the homeless being up there, so just a lot of reasons, said Clark County Commissioner Tick Segerblom, District E. You hate to destroy something but the truth is, it was no longer valuable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the bridge demolition, traffic will be down to one lane, both ways, in that area through Friday at 5 a.m. The demolition is one small step in a $330 million project unfolding in the valley. Its going to widen the road, widen the sidewalks, make it user friendly, and then have these electric buses, Segerblom said. Segerblom offered tips to commuters for this week during the demolition. His number one tip is to avoid Maryland Parkway altogether if you can, by finding alternate routes. I would leave earlier, and truthfully, you can use Eastern, you can go through some of the neighborhoods there, Segerblom said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move falls at the same time as the first week back to school for CCSD, however, the commissioner said he is not worried about the overlap. Theres no school right next to this, so Im not so worried about the schools, as I am about the hospital making sure all the employees are able to get in and out, Segerblom said. He said he is confident workers will be fine, as the county has worked with employees ahead of time, so they could plan for the changes. Its going to be awful, said Shayma Musa, who works at Desert Parkway Behavioral Hospital along Maryland Parkway. I feel the area right now is pretty tight. I dont know how traffic flow is going to go. I think people are gonna struggle with getting on time, especially to work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Musa approves of the plan to widen crosswalks and is excited about adding electric buses. In the long run, it does seem worth it, she said. According to Segerblom, the project will take a couple of years before fully finalized. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Bangladesh has recorded 101 deaths from dengue fever so far this year, with public health experts warning the mosquito-borne disease could surge sharply in the coming weeks. Official data from the Directorate General of Health Services show 24,183 confirmed cases since January, including 448 hospital admissions in the 24 hours to Sunday. The latest fatalities include two in Dhaka and one in Chattogram. Nineteen people died in the first 10 days of August alone, following 41 deaths in July, more than double Junes toll of 19. Hospitals in Dhaka and other major cities are under pressure, while rural facilities with limited intensive care capacity are also struggling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The situation is critical. The virus is already widespread across the country, and without aggressive intervention, hospitals will be overwhelmed, Prof Kabirul Bashar, an entomologist at Jahangirnagar University, told Reuters news agency. August could see at least three times as many cases as July, with numbers potentially peaking in September. File. General view of a dengue ward at the Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College and Hospital in Dhaka on 4 November 2024 (AFP via Getty) He urged nationwide mosquito-control drives involving fumigation, community clean-up, and removal of stagnant water, a breeding ground for Aedes mosquitoes, the carriers of dengue virus. Experts say a combination of warm, humid weather, intermittent rainfall, and climate change has created ideal conditions for the insects to breed and spread the disease. In addition to the hotspot of Dhaka, large numbers of cases are being reported in Barishal, Chattogram, Khulna, and Rajshahi divisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many critically ill patients from rural areas are transferred to Dhaka hospitals but often arrive too late for effective treatment. Key facts about dengue Dengue is a viral infection transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. The WHO says nearly half of the world's population is now at risk of dengue with an estimated 100-400 million infections occurring each year. Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas While many dengue infections are asymptomatic or produce only mild illness, the virus can occasionally cause more severe cases and even death Prevention and control of dengue depend on vector control. There is no specific treatment for dengue but early detection and access to proper medical care greatly lower fatality rates Dr HM Nazmul Ahsan, associate professor at the Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital in Dhaka, said a rising number of deaths were linked to the Expanded Dengue Syndrome, a severe form of the illness known to damage vital organs such as the liver, brain, heart, kidneys, and the central nervous system. File. Aedes aegypti mosquito is pictured in Mexico City on 2 December 2024 (AFP via Getty) These patients can deteriorate rapidly and die suddenly due to severe complications, he told the Daily Star, noting that people with conditions like hypertension, diabetes and chronic lung or kidney diseases were particularly vulnerable. Symptoms of dengue Common warning signs include severe abdominal pain, difficulty breathing, bleeding, extreme weakness and a sharp drop in urination or platelet count. Dr Ahsan advised immediate hospital admission for such symptoms and early admission for the elderly, pregnant women and those with underlying health issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public health expert Dr Mushtaq Hussain called for restructuring dengue care into primary, secondary and tertiary levels, and for strengthening district hospitals so that only stabilised critical cases were referred to Dhaka. He also recommended expanding access to affordable testing, more blood collection centres, and improved secondary care to reduce the burden on major city hospitals, the Daily Star reported. Bangladeshs deadliest year for dengue was 2023, when 1,705 people died and more than 321,000 were hospitalised. In 2024, there were 575 deaths and over 101,000 cases. Authorities fear this years outbreak could rival or exceed those numbers unless preventive measures are intensified. Deputies detain barricaded vandalism suspect in front of 7-Eleven (FOX40.COM) Sacramento County Sheriffs Office deputies detained a felony vandalism suspect who had barricaded himself in a vehicle in front of a 7-Eleven Monday morning, SCSO said. Video Above: How to report a public safety threat The sheriffs office said that the 40-year-old suspect barricaded himself before 5 a.m. on Elkhorn Boulevard and Walerga Road. The suspect refused to exit the vehicle, and a SWAT team and negotiators were called. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SCSO confirms that the store was evacuated and the suspect was alone. The suspect was placed into custody just after 6:30 a.m., according to the sheriffs office. This is a developing story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. Gov. Ron DeSantis plans to tap former Green Beret and decorated military veteran Jay Collins as Floridas lieutenant governor, filling the job with a close ally who could mount a gubernatorial primary challenge to President Donald Trumps pick, Rep. Byron Donalds. DeSantis has been without a second in command since February, after appointing former Lt. Gov. Jeannette Nunez as president of Florida International University in Miami. The decision to appoint the Republican state senator provides the sharpest signs yet into DeSantis thinking on who should succeed him in next years election. First lady Casey DeSantis had been seen as a potential successor for governor, at one point doing little to tamp down speculation. But as the months have stretched on, she has not made any firm moves toward a candidacy. Gov. DeSantis has declined to endorse Donalds, leaving the door open for someone else to run for the office with the governors support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. DeSantis plans to make his announcement Tuesday, according to four people familiar with the planning, granted anonymity to relay private conversations. Two of the people confirmed the press conference is scheduled to occur at the Tampa Green Beret Association. The location is symbolic given Collins' military service; he served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan during his 23 years in the military, and he had part of his leg amputated during his military service. Collins then requalified and spent five additional years with the Green Berets. Collins is one of the governors top allies in the state Legislature. In recent months, he has publicly defended Hope Florida the effort spearheaded by Casey DeSantis as it came under scrutiny by the Republican-supermajority House. Collins also traveled to the Middle East in June to help organize DeSantis rescue flights to help Americans fleeing Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several possible contenders had been bandied about in the months since Nunez left, but Collins shot to the top of the list due in part to his never-wavering interest in the position. If the governor asks me to do that, you serve your state. How do you say no to that? Collins previously told POLITICO. The governor had considered two former Florida House speakers for the job: Republicans Jose Oliva and Richard Corcoran. The governors office declined to share information about the event, but POLITICO previously reported that DeSantis waffled on Collins because he thought he was treating an appointment like a foregone conclusion. Collins told POLITICO a week ago that he would consider it a privilege to potentially serve as LG or to remain in the state Senate, and praised Gov. DeSantis as an incredible governor. He did not immediately respond to a text seeking comment on Tuesdays planned event. The job of Florida lieutenant governor has no set list of duties, and it has not been a good springboard for those who want the job of Floridas chief executive. The last lieutenant governor to run for governor was Democrat Buddy MacKay, who lost to Jeb Bush in 1998. Collins was first elected in 2022 with a strong boost from Gov. DeSantis. He initially planned to run for Congress, but switched from a run in a contested Republican primary to challenge incumbent Democrat Janet Cruz in a Tampa district. He won the immediate endorsement of DeSantis over another GOP candidate who planned to run with the backing of state Senate Republicans. The Brief On Monday, Governor DeSantis announced the completion of the Crane Creek M1 Canal Flow Restoration project. To date, DeSantis said more than $3.3B has been awarded to more than 1,000 projects aimed at protecting Floridas resources. For the fiscal year 25-26 budget, DeSantis said the state invested $460M for water quality improvements and $50M for the alternative water supply grant program. MELBOURNE, Fla. - Governor Ron DeSantis says since hes taken office, hes worked hard to improve the states water quality and announced the completion of the Crane Creek M1 Canal Flow Restoration project during a press conference on Monday. The backstory The canal was built more than 100 years ago to control flooding in the area, but it changed the way water naturally flowed between the St. Johns River and the Indian River Lagoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over time, storm water from nearby communities carried harmful nutrients into the lagoon, fueling algae blooms and damaging water quality. DeSantis said the Crane Creek M1 Canal Flow Restoration project fixed the problem by adding a new weir pump stations, a pipeline and a stormwater treatment area. This restored the natural westward flow to the St. John River Basin, reduced nutrient pollution out of the lagoon and provided up to 7 million gallons of fresh water per day for downstream use without over-reliance on the aquifer. What they're saying "There are a lot of problems in this state, starting with the Florida Everglades and even jewels like the Indian River Lagoon, so we said were going to do something about it," DeSantis explained. "So, we put our money where our mouth is. We launched a very ambitious project for environmental stewardship, and the results have been really fantastic, but were not done yet." By the numbers To date, DeSantis said more than $3.3B has been awarded to more than 1,000 projects aimed at protecting Floridas resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement READ:Temple Terrace residents raise concerns over cancer-causing chemicals in drinking water According to the governor, the projects are already delivering results such as reducing nitrogen by more than 4.8 million pounds and reducing phosphorus by nearly 900,000 pounds on an annual basis. More than 250 projects have already been completed, and more are underway to meet the future demands of Floridas growing population. Why you should care Removing nitrogen and phosphorous is critical when it comes to protecting springs, rivers, and estuaries from harmful algae blooms, fish kills, and long-term degradation of ecosystems that support tourism, recreation and drinking water for millions of Floridians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeSantis said the state is also investing in an alternative water supply. A few months ago, the state awarded more than $389M in grants to make additional improvements in water quality and quantity across Florida. DeSantis said $100M went to the Indian River Lagoon protection program. The Indian River Lagoon is the most biologically diverse estuary in all of North America. "These projects alone are projected to remove more than 1.1M additional pounds of nitrogen and almost 300,000 pounds of phosphorus each year." What's next For the fiscal year 25-26 budget, DeSantis said the state invested $460M for water quality improvements and $50M for the alternative water supply grant program. The Source This story was written with information provided during the governor's press conference on Monday morning. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HOSTED Armenian President Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at the White House on Friday to sign a peace agreement that could be a major step toward normalizing relations between the hostile neighbors. Trump was quick to take credit, especially since the highlight of the deal is a 27-mile transit route linking Azerbaijan to its exclave via Armenias border with Iran. Its a great honor for me, Trump said, implying he alone has caused this to happen. But the story of how this agreement came to be is less about the heroic intervention of one American president than the payoff of patient, multi-decade diplomacy and the associated unpredictability of other countries in the region. The Caucasuswedged between Turkey, Iran, and Russiahas long been a combustible fault line in Europe and Asia. When Armenia and Azerbaijan emerged as independent states from the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, they inherited an unresolved territorial dispute over a strip of land called Nagorno-Karabakh, deep-seated ethnic and religious animosities, and borders drawn without regard for security realities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get the best coverage of politics, policy, and culture by becoming a Bulwark+ member. For a limited time, try it free for 30 days! The result was a war that killed tens of thousands and displaced hundreds of thousands. A fragile ceasefire in 1994mediated by the Minsk Group of France, Russia, and the United Statesgave way to periodic clashes over the following three decades. The frozen conflict was relatively calm when I was commander of U.S. Army Europe from 2011 to 2013, but even then we tracked hostilities daily. When I visited these countries multiple times in 2012, ethnic and territorial disputes simmered just below the surface. Both sides fired artillery rounds at each other as I watched through binoculars from a nearby hilltop. Military leaders from both countries confidentlyand unrealisticallytold me they would settle it on the battlefield. The human dynamics I observed several times in the negotiating rooms were telling. Younger Armenian and Azerbaijani political officials often showed a willingness to explore solutions. But seated beside them were older, Soviet-trained generalsmen shaped by rigid doctrine, zero-sum thinking, and decades of enmitywho were the immovable objects in the room. At one dinner in Baku, a policy discussion with Azerbaijans uniformed chief of defense nearly degenerated into a fistfight, which scared the hell out of my security team, enough so that they had their hands on their weapons beneath their sport coats. It was a reminder that personalities, as much as politics, often block progress, and those same personalities can often be the impetus for violence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And yet, there were reasons for optimism. Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan were sending professional, NATO-trained units to missions in Afghanistan and Kosovo. Young officers, educated in the West, and young soldiers who had trained with NATO forces were replacing that older generation of generals. Professional noncommissioned officer corps were taking shape in both countries. U.S. and NATO training programs and exercises were instilling the concept of the profession of arms and building trust through engagement and interaction. The idea that Armenia and Azerbaijan could field professional, nonaligned peacekeeping unitsworking shoulder to shoulder in the same global coalitions while locked in dispute at homewas remarkable. But the realities of domestic politics didnt change. Politicians on both sides used the dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh to distract from their failures to promote economic growth, political freedom, and honest government. Eventually, in a brief but bloody war in 2020, Azerbaijan retook a large chunk of Nagorno-Karabakh with drone swarms and tank battles. As in 1994, the war ended with a ceasefire, this time policed by Russian forces. Three years later, with Moscow distracted by its military disaster in Ukraine, Azerbaijan attacked again, seizing the whole of Nagorno-Karabakh and forcing 100,000 ethnic Armenians behind Armenias undisputed borders. Throughout the decades of war and skirmishes, the United States tried to mediate, often with little to show for it. Those efforts were painstaking and often frustratingand they spanned both Republican and Democratic administrations. While President Trump has claimed personal credit for this weeks breakthrough, the truth is that the United States has had remarkably little influence, but a great deal of luck, in resolving this ongoing conflict. Share Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United States has been trying to broker this kind of breakthrough for decades, often with Russia sitting at the same table. Now, Moscow is not only distracted by its devastating war in Ukraine, but its influence in the Caucasus is greatly diminished. Iran, another traditional major power in the region, is at the lowest ebb of its power in generations. The United States deserves some of the credit, but most of it goes to Israel, which radically diminished Irans most important proxy networks, decapitated its military leadership, destroyed its air defenses and many of its long-range missiles, thoroughly infiltrated its government and scientific bureaucracy, and even forced its supreme leader into hiding. Turkey, the third major power in the region and a de jure American ally, stands to benefit from this new deal, which encourages east-west trade routes (i.e. from the natural resourcerich Caspian Basin toward Turkey) rather than the currently prevalent north-south ones. What made this agreement possible, though, was Azerbaijans dominant victory in 2023. It was brutal and opportunistic, but it did remove the major sticking point from ArmenianAzerbaijani relations and enable both countries to move forward. With that change in paradigm, and with a lack of other neutral powers, decades of American diplomacy under presidents of both parties could finally bear fruit. Get 30 day free trial The new agreement focuses on the long-contentious Zangezur Corridor, the narrow strip of Armenian territory linking Azerbaijan to its Nakhichevan exclave. Under the deal, Armenia also pledged to grant the U.S. exclusive development rights for 99 years, enabling rail, energy, and digital connections. Both countries will sign bilateral agreements with Washington, expand economic ties, and formally depart the OSCE Minsk Group, a tacit and strong acknowledgment that Russias role in the region has evaporated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deal is far from perfect. Many Armenian Americans and human rights advocates are concerned the agreement fails to address displacement from Nagorno-Karabakh or the fate of prisoners of war. And the official handshake will not erase decades of mistrust. As one U.S. official put it, Tomorrow is the handshake in writing the check, and we still have to ink the contract and cash the check. If this agreement holds, it will be more than just a U.S. diplomatic win; it will be proof that even in one of the most intractable post-Soviet conflicts, sustained diplomatic engagement, trust-building, and professional military reform just might have an eventual capability to create conditions for peace. This is not the end of the story, but it just may be the start of a new chapter. Its mostly a reminder: Diplomacy conducted over years and across administrations can pay off. Especially when the forces of stability outlast the ambitions of those who thrive on instability. Share Its been more than a month and a half since a federal judge ordered Education Secretary Linda McMahon to put Office for Civil Rights staff back to work. But so far, none of the 276 fired employees are back on the job. Advocates say the reduction in staff has contributed to a backlog of untouched complaints, leading students to wonder whether their cases have been abandoned. The people who turn to OCR are the students who feel really betrayed by their own institutions or by their own school districts and often feel like theyre at the end of the road, said Amanda Walsh, deputy director of external affairs for the Victim Rights Law Center, a legal advocacy group thats part the case. The Boston OCR office, one of seven shuttered in the downsizing, was handling complaints from the victims of sexual assault they represent. Now, Walsh said, they have no information on the status of those cases. Weve proactively reached out to OCR for updates and have received no responses. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter The administration says that because the U.S. Supreme Court allowed the secretary to permanently fire over 1,000 staffers from other divisions in the agency, she should be free to dismiss OCR employees as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related In Rulings Aftermath, Some See Beginning of the End for Department of Education The two cases are functionally identical, the governments lawyers wrote in a July 21 request to the court. They said that the district court should throw out the June 18 order requiring McMahon to reinstate OCRs attorneys, investigators and other support staff. Attorneys for the Victim Rights Law Center and the two families who sued say their case is significantly different. Their clients and those in similar situations nationwide have pending complaints that have been left in limbo or dismissed because of the staff reduction. One Black student in the suit, identified as T.R., faced racial discrimination from peers in the Falls City, Nebraska, district. They called him a monkey and the n-word. A.J. from Birmingham, Michigan, another plaintiff, has a life-threatening dairy allergy. Students poured milk on his lunch and put cheese on his head. Tara Blunt, T.R.s mother, withdrew him from school in 2023. A.J.s mother, Karen Josefosky, pulled her son out the following year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firing OCR staff stalled civil rights investigations across the country and left thousands of students, including plaintiffs, without recourse for discrimination in school, attorneys for the plaintiffs wrote in a brief last week opposing the administrations request. The delay in putting OCR staff back to work is just one example of the Trump administrations failure to comply with about a third of the court orders issued against it, according to a recent Washington Post analysis of 337 lawsuits. Rachel Oglesby, chief of staff at the Education Department, files weekly updates to Judge Myong Joun, with the Massachusetts district court, about the departments progress toward reinstating the staff. But her statements list multiple reasons why the department has not acceded to the courts wishes. Officials, she wrote, are still calculating whether theres sufficient office space and discussing the feasibility of restoring employees access to computer systems. In the meantime, the department is paying the staff about $1 million a week while theyre out of work, she said. One OCR attorney still on the job said the layoffs have made it nearly impossible to address all of the complaints submitted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One person now has to do the work of three, said the attorney, who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation. Theres just not enough physical time in the day. Joun didnt give the department a hard deadline for staff to return to work. He just said McMahon had to take all steps necessary to facilitate the return to duty of those terminated and continue to investigate all complaints. That choice of words allows the agency to appear to be meeting the courts terms, said David Super, a constitutional law professor at Georgetown University. When you use language like facilitate the return, you certainly invite the administration to drag its feet, he said. After a week or two, if nothing meaningful is happening, thats probably the time to consider whether clearer language is needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The departments slow progress in getting OCR staff back to work is similar to the strategy it followed in the Supreme Court case brought by blue states and a group of districts and unions. On May 22, Joun, the Biden appointee presiding over both cases, temporarily halted the department from firing staff. The U.S. Appeals Court for the First Circuit upheld the ruling two weeks later. The department appealed, asking the Supreme Court to allow the firings to go forward while the case continues in Jouns court. The dismissed staff members never returned to work. Aug. 1 was their official last day. Related Legal Scorecard: How is the Trump Education Juggernaut Faring in Court? With an administration unafraid to defy the courts, some legal experts question why judges havent used stronger measures to force compliance. District courts can hold government officials in contempt and enforce penalties, sanctions and even jail time. In 2019, a judge fined former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos $100,000 because she wouldnt stop collecting loan payments from students defrauded by a for-profit college that went out of business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, a district court held Department of the Interior officials in contempt for not paying Native Americans past royalties on oil, timber and other resources. This year, a District of Columbia circuit court judge found cause to hold Trump in contempt for not returning deportees sent to El Salvador back to the U.S. In July, the men were sent to Venezuela, their home country. But appellate courts rarely uphold lower-court sanctions against administration officials, Nicholas Parrillo, a Yale University law professor, wrote in 2018. On Friday, the District of Columbia Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the contempt proceedings against Trump. Georgetowns Super noted that the current Supreme Court, which has backed much of Trumps agenda, has discouraged district judges from coming down hard on the administration. The justices have fired several shots across the lower courts bows, suggesting that they should be less forceful in enforcing their orders, he said. They havent made a single sweeping statement; theyve just nitpicked the cases that have come to them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite noncompliance, federal agencies traditionally try to keep the courts happy by demonstrating some steady progress, Parrillo wrote. In her latest report filed Tuesday, Oglesby said a committee met the day before to discuss reintegration activities. Officials mailed 365 boxes to employees to return their old laptops before the department issues them updated equipment. On July 30, she said theres available space for employees in the Dallas regional office. But theres not enough room in Boston, Philadelphia and San Francisco. Shes not sure about Chicago; the New York office is under renovation. Oglesbys rationale doesnt satisfy Terri Gonzales, a chief attorney who managed the Dallas office. She doesnt understand why the department didnt allow the staff to start working from home weeks ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For approximately a full year during the COVID-19 pandemic, almost the entire staff of the OCR Dallas office worked remotely, she wrote in a statement to the court. There is no reason why staff members could not do the same now. Related Ed Dept. Nominee Vows Aggressive Civil Rights Enforcement Despite Mass Layoffs The department, she added, could have taken common sense measures to get the ball rolling, like providing staff with contact information for new supervisors and training them on any new procedures enacted while theyve been on leave. The department did not respond to questions about why OCR staff arent working remotely. Cause for grave concern OCR is still under the leadership of Craig Trainor, who worked for the America First Policy Institute, the MAGA think tank McMahon chaired, until Trump appointed him acting assistant secretary. Hes awaiting confirmation for a post in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. But like Kimberly Richey, Trumps choice to lead OCR, Trainors nomination is stalled while Congress takes an August break. During her confirmation hearing in June, Kimberly Richey, who is nominated to lead the Office for Civil Rights, said she would advocate for the staff and resources to do a thorough job. (U.S. Senate Photographic Services) Trump last week pressured the Senate to advance dozens of his nominees, but a deal with Democrats fell apart before the recess. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under Trainor, OCR has received nearly 6,500 complaints since the March mass layoffs and dismissed about 4,500 of them, Oglesby wrote. The office resolved 385 complaints and opened 377 investigations. They include one involving the Cupertino district in California requiring officials to clarify that service dogs are allowed at school. Another focuses on ensuring a Boulder Valley, Colorado, student with ADHD receives extra time on tests and other accommodations spelled out in his disability plan. In a third example, the Detroit district agreed to fix an elevator at one of its elementary schools and ensure that no students, parents or staff with disabilities miss out on programs or services that require use of the elevator. An investigation into complaints over services for students with disabilities in the District of Columbia Public Schools is actively being investigated, added the current OCR attorney who asked not to be named. In the past, the staff would have cleared about 200 complaints a month, Gonzales wrote. The low reported number of substantive resolutions contrasted with the high number of dismissals is a cause for grave concern, she told the court. Based on my experience, it suggests that OCR is not completing investigations promptly and fairly. Indigenous languages differ so much from the colonizers language of English they cant be understood by simply replacing words. They make the speaker understand Indigenous philosophies of connectedness and togetherness, which are so unlike Western philosophies of separateness and individualism. For example, the Menominee word netaenawemakenak translates to English as all my relatives, but relatives to Menominee people includes more than familial relationships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a deeper sense that word connects us to every living being on Earth, said Ron (Muqsahkwat) Corn, Jr., co-founder of the Menominee language revitalization non-profit Menomini yoU. Ron Corn, Jr. In many ways, Indigenous language is entwined with Indigenous identity and worldview. So, when President Trump recently declared that only English was to be the official language of the U.S., many Indigenous language advocates became alarmed. An English-only mandate does not strengthen America; it silences and excludes the first voices that shaped it, said Larry Wright, Jr., executive director of the National Congress of American Indians, a non-profit that represents more 500 federally recognized tribal nations within the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wright noted that Indigenous languages played a vital role in American history, including protecting its freedom with the use of code talkers in both World Wars. Indigenous language speakers were used to communicate orders and other vital information to military units in the field. A speaker of an Indigenous language and English would be on both ends to decipher military commands. For example, the Indigenous word for turtle might be used to describe a tank. The code was never broken. The most famous of these units were the Navajo Code Talkers, but members of other tribal nations also were used, including the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. The complexity and expressiveness of these languages we made into unbreakable codes, Wright said in a statement. Banning our Native languages from federal engagement would betray that legacy, violate the trust responsibility of the United States and exclude Native peoples from contributing to the future of this nation and their tribal nations in ways we cannot begin to foresee. It's unclear how the presidents mandate could affect Indigenous languages, but on July 14, the Trump administration revoked a Clinton-era executive order that required federal agencies to provide meaningful access to services for individuals with limited English proficiency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This seemingly conflicts with the leaning of Trumps first administration. During that time, he signed into law the Esther Marinez Native American Languages Programs Reauthorization Act, which provided resources for Indigenous language revitalization efforts. For generations, the United States government policies erased Indigenous languages through assimilationist policies, said NCAI President Mark Macarro in a statement. Our recent ancestors were punished for speaking their Indigenous languages the first languages spoken in America. His statement was making refernce to federal and church-run Indian boarding schools in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which would strip Indigenous children of their identity, language, traditional clothes and other parts of their culture and heritage. Abuse was common. "We understand the importance of language as our tribal identity, and we wont be diminished again for freely speaking our own languages," Macarro said. "This is an issue of tribal sovereignty and its our birthright." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Very few first-generation Indigenous language speakers are members tribal nations within Wisconsin today and most of those who survive are in their 80s or older. The Menominee tribal council recently celebrated the 99th birthday of Manih Floring, the eldest Menominee first language speaker whos still with us. But tribal nations in Wisconsin have been growing their language revitalization efforts in recent years. Each of the 11 federally recognized tribes within the state have some form of language program and some have multiple programs. Ron Corn, Jr. speaks to a crowd in front of the Waqsecewan language campus on the Menominee Reservation Corn and his friend, Burton (Kcheyonkote) Warrington, who are co-founders of Menomini yoU, discovered how great the hunger was for language revitalization during the pandemic. Thats when they started their online language courses and hundreds of people signed up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From that momentum they organized the building of the brick-and-mortar language campus on the reservation called Waqsecewan with private and public funding. The campus opened last year and Corn said students are continuing to have those aha moments in learning how the language can help connect them with their ancestors. As for Trump, Corn said the presidents action certainly doesnt make language revitalization any easier, but it feels like the English-only mandate has always been the unofficial policy of the United States. Language revitalization is going to happen regardless of what the president does, as Menominee and all Indigenous peoples continue to reclaim their languages, identities and cultures, Corn said. Oneida language educator Rosa Francour said only the Oneida language is used in teaching children in the Oneida Nations Tehatiw^nakhwa Language Nest Immersion Program. More: Indigenous languages being revitalized in Wisconsin in efforts to reclaim, maintain identity Sign up for the First Nations Wisconsin newsletter Click here to get all of our Indigenous news coverage right in your inbox Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frank Vaisvilas is a former Report for America corps member who covers Native American issues in Wisconsin based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact him at fvaisvilas@gannett.com or 815-260-2262. Follow him on Twitter at @vaisvilas_frank. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Interest in Indigenous languages grows despite 'English-only' mandate How did it happen?: Woman loses land she thought she owned This story begins many summers ago, in 2008. Kristena Johnson told Action 9 attorney Jason Stoogenke a piece of property in Salisbury changed hands multiple times, including six different parties over the years. At one point, there was a corrected deed. ALSO READ: Thieves forge papers and steal homes; how to protect yourself On paper, it belonged to me. I have a registered deed, she said. Johnson says everything seemed fine until she went by the site last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was really shocked to know that someone had started building on it, she said. Johnson, who works in real estate, blames that corrected deed. She thinks the corrected deed set off a chain of transactions, which clouded her right to the property. She sued but lost. She also lost the land. Its a very, very low feeling because theres nothing more that you can do, she said. Its just going through a rabbits hole of investigating. How [did] this mistake happen? How did it happen? She has title insurance, which protects property owners if theres a question over who owns the land. However, she says the title insurance would only reimburse her for what she purchased the land for, which was $10,500. The land is now worth six figures, she says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She tried another argument called adverse possession. In many states, including North Carolina, if you occupy land you dont own for a set period and meet other legal requirements, you can claim it. But that didnt work either. I just want to put people on notice, especially as a real estate broker, the importance of double checking, even behind attorneys and paralegals, because mistakes do happen some of those mistakes are very costly, she said. Action 9 reached out to the group that ended up with property but hasnt heard back. Stoogenke, who was not involved in the purchase of the property, exchanged emails with the attorney who represented Johnson in the lawsuit. He said its important to know: It is so important to verify the legitimacy of every link in a propertys chain of title. You should never rely solely on a recorded deed. Always do a full title search before any transaction. You, or your real estate agent, should probably run things by a lawyer before closing. An ounce of prevention can protect years of equity. Stoogenke adds: Still ensure you have title insurance. VIDEO: Father and son face dozens of charges for allegedly changing odometers, titles NEED TO KNOW A 13-year-old boy was beaten to death by his foster father, according to Pennsylvania State Police Police say the family's home security cameras showed footage of the beating taking place The boy's foster parents have been arrested and charged in connection with the boy's death, according to WNEP Police in Pennsylvania have arrested the foster parents of a 13-year-old boy who was allegedly beaten to death over several hours last weekend and left to die in his bedroom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities first arrested the foster father, Cesar Delgadillo, last Monday after police were called to the couples home in Drums, Pa., where their 13-year-old foster son was found covered in marks and lacerations, according to WNEP. The boy was rushed to a local hospital where he later died, WNEP reported that Pennsylvania State Police officers found home security footage that showed the father beating the boy and jamming a backscratcher in his mouth. The next day, WVIA and WOLF reported that police also arrested the boys foster mother, Virginia Delgadillo, after reviewing more home security footage that showed her watching the beating take place before going to sleep. The boy was allegedly beaten from late Sunday night into Monday morning, according to the outlets, and home security footage also showed some of the couples other four foster children attempting to clean up blood around the house afterwards. "The video captures large amounts of blood being deposited on the floor during the assaults," reads a police affidavit, according to WNEP. "Some of the children who reside in the residence were observed actively cleaning blood from the floor." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PEOPLE has not directly reviewed the police affidavit. The outlet reported that two of the foster children woke up Virginia, 34, early Monday morning, after which she discovered the 13-year-old boy unresponsive in his basement bedroom. Police soon arrived at the home, and the boy was taken to the local Lehigh Valley Hospital in Hazleton, where he died about an hour later, according to WNEP. Cesar, 39, has been charged with homicide, child endangerment, evidence tampering and obstruction, according to WNEP. State police charged Virginia with five counts of endangering the welfare of children, four counts of corruption of minors, and one count of tampering with physical evidence, according to WVIA. Cesar reportedly began abusing the boy after two of the couple's other foster children claimed the teen had sexually assaulted them, per affidavits cited by WVIA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The familys five foster children ranged from 5 to 16 years old, according to WVIA. The outlet also reported that the four living foster children are now in state custody as Cesar and Virginia await court hearings later this month. PEOPLE has reached out to a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania State Police for more information. Read the original article on People Ghislaine Maxwell at the 4th Annual WIE Symposium at Center 548 on Sept. 20, 2013 in New York City. - Credit: Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images The Trump administration appears to have hit another dead end in its desperate efforts to provide some semblance of closure in the years-long saga of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer of the Southern District of New York denied the Justice Departments order to unseal grand jury records related to the prosecution of Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence on sex trafficking charges. Not only that, Engelmayer blasted the very premise of the motion, suggesting in blunt terms that Trump and his allies in government wanted the files published not in the interest of actual disclosure but as a stunt meant to silence any further questions about the case. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Calling the governments arguments for moving to unseal the records disingenuous, Engelmayer concluded: A member of the public, appreciating that the Maxwell grand jury materials do not contribute anything to public knowledge, might conclude that the governments motion for their unsealing was aimed not at transparency but at diversion aimed not at full disclosure but at the illusion of such. He would therefore not permit the extraordinary step of allowing the grand jury records, which are supposed to be kept secret to protect the integrity of the process, and may only be released under rare, highly specific circumstances. Granting the Governments motion would bloat the special circumstances doctrine, which to date has warranted disclosure in only a tiny number of cases, all involving unique testimony by firsthand witnesses to events of obvious public or historical moment, Engelmayer noted in his 31-page decision, also remarking that the materials are redundant of the evidence at Maxwells trial. In one notable instance of grand jury files being unsealed, the proceedings in which jurors decided that there wasnt sufficient evidence to indict police officer Darren Wilson for the killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, in 2014, were made public to address accusations of racial bias. The Trump administration has been looking for ways to placate a conspiracist MAGA base that believed the White House was working toward the publication of an Epstein client list of powerful elites whom he potentially blackmailed with information about their sexual activities with underage girls he trafficked to them. (This view has persisted despite the existence of the list being a matter of wild and unfounded speculation.) The same voters have also long expected bombshell revelations about Epsteins death in a Manhattan jail while awaiting trial in 2019, which was ruled a suicide. But last month, the Justice Department and FBI stunned right-wing Epstein truthers with a short memo declaring that there was no evidence of a client list, nor that Epstein was murdered as part of a massive cover-up. These claims were all the more shocking after Attorney General Pam Bondi claimed to have an Epstein client list on her desk in February and then distributed binders of documents labeled The Epstein Files: Phase 1 to Trumpworld social media influencers. Conspiracy theorists were furious when these turned out to be documents that were already in the public domain, including Epsteins address book. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The dismissive July memo and Trumps own subsequent attempts to brush aside inquiries about Epstein in press conferences caused an even bigger uproar on the right, with many MAGA loyalists calling for Bondis head and even criticizing the president for reneging on a campaign promise. Trumps spin on the Esptein scandal as a Democrat-manufactured hoax (as he lashed out at his own followers for continuing to give it oxygen) gained little traction. The story only drew more attention to Trumps long, well-documented relationship with Epstein; The Wall Street Journal published a series of articles with new details about their close association. It meanwhile came out that Bondi had informed Trump in May contrary to his denials that he is named in FBI files related to Epstein. (Inclusion in these documents is not itself an indication of wrongdoing.) The president continued to make matters worse for himself with bizarre, self-incriminating answers to reporters, as when he stated that he broke off contact with Epstein because the latter was poaching women who worked at the Mar-a-Lago spa, and said that one of the employees he stole was Virginia Giuffre, a prominent Epstein accuser who died by suicide in April. Since then, the administration seems to have taken interest in Maxwell as a potential solution to the ongoing scrutiny of Trumps links to Epstein and the failure to bring more prosecutions in the case. In late July, the government abruptly transferred Maxwell to a minimum-security, women-only federal prison camp in Texas where most inmates are serving time for nonviolent and white-collar crimes. During hours of interviews Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche the same month, she reportedly said she had never witnessed any concerning behavior from Trump. Maxwell has appealed her conviction to the Supreme Court and offered to testify before Congress under certain conditions, including formal immunity. Trump has not ruled out a pardon for her. Even as the administration seeks a viable endgame strategy through this notorious trafficker, right-wingers did what they could to accuse Democrats of obstructing justice. Chaya Raichik, who runs the anti-LGBTQ account Libs of TikTok on X, posted there that Obama appointed U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer has DENIED the Trump admin request to unseal the grand jury documents against Ghislaine Maxwell. (As one of the influencers embarrassed in the Epstein Files: Phase 1 incident, Raichick has largely avoided commenting on Epstein developments since.) An anonymous MAGA conspiracy theorist also pointed out on X that Engelmayer is an Obama appointee, writing, What does that tell you? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most debate over Engelmayers decision, however, was overshadowed by the news that Trump would deploy the National Guard to Washington, D.C., supposedly to deal with rampant crime even though violent crime in the city has fallen to its lowest rate since before the pandemic. The presidents critics on social media called this extreme measure yet another distraction from a president who has been trying to shift focus away from Epstein for more than a month. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Surveillance video captured a failed self-tow in University Place, Washington, where a runaway car hit the same storefront multiple times before the would-be towers fled the scene. Pierce County sheriffs deputies were called to Pho and Teriyaki around 6 a.m. on July 30 after reports that a car had plowed into the restaurant. The maroon sedan was no longer inside the building but sat abandoned elsewhere in the same parking lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An investigation involving the review of surveillance video showed that the driver of the sedan parked near AutoZone in the same strip mall at about 5:45 p.m. the day before the incident. Utah Building Explodes Into The Sky After Vehicle Crashes Into Business, Causes Fire A botched self-tow job resulted in a vehicle crashing into a Pierce County, Washington restaurant multiple times on July 30, 2025. Deputies learned the driver of the vehicle told store employees he would return and tow the vehicle away. Read On The Fox News App At about 3:45 a.m., video shows a white Honda Pilot with a trailer dolly backing up to the broken-down vehicle and attempting to pull it away. An hour and a half later, the vehicle was finally pulled from the stall using a tow strap, which snapped once the vehicle was towed to the other end of the parking lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over 100 Looters Ransack Autozone In Possible La Street Takeover A botched self-tow job resulted in a car crashing into a Pierce County, Washington restaurant multiple times on July 30, 2025. The driver appeared to try and secure the vehicle again, but things got worse when the strap broke again. After the strap broke a second time, the car started to roll back toward the building and the driver was seen trying to stop the vehicle before it smashed into the restaurant. Undeterred, the driver tried again, nearly reaching the lots exit before the strap failed a third time, sending the sedan back into the restaurant. Critical Witness Puts Case Against Karen Read 'On Life Support,' Lawyer Says A botched self-tow job resulted in a vehicle crashing into a Pierce County, Washington restaurant multiple times on July 30, 2025. On a third attempt, the driver and a female passenger freed the car, steered it toward the exit, then clipped a retaining wall and curb. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect ultimately gave up and left the vehicle behind before leaving the scene. Fox News Digital has asked the sheriffs office whether any arrests or charges have been made. Still, the restaurant suffered significant damage, the sheriffs office said, and the crash is being investigated as a hit-and-run. Original article source: DIY tow job goes horribly wrong as runaway car hits same Washington restaurant multiple times ALABAMA (WHNT) In the month of August so far, Alabama agencies and/or cities have either been awarded or are the contracting agencies for some U.S. Department of Defense contracts. Army Boeing Co. at Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, was awarded a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for cargo engineering and logistics support services. The DOD website says the amount of this action is $882,122,870. The work locations and funding are said to be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2030. The DOD website says that the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal is the contracting activity for this contract. Huntsvilles Systems Products and Solutions Inc. was awarded a firm-fixed-price contract for maintenance support device version four rugged and version four light systems. The DOD said the amount of this action is $74,792,859. The estimated completion date of this contract is July 31, 2030. The contracting activity for this contract is the Army Contracting Command in Newark, New Jersey. Army According to the DOD, three Alabama agencies, along with agencies in three other states, are competing for a firm-fixed-price contract for general repair and construction. B.L. Harbert International LLC, Birmingham, Alabama, Brasfield & Gorrie LLC, Birmingham, Alabama, Caddell Construction Co. LLC, Montgomery, Alabama, Hensel Phelps, Orlando, Florida, Korte Construction Co., St. Louis, Missouri and The Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., Baltimore, Maryland, are the six agencies in competition for the contract. Missile Defense Agency Dallas Lockheed Martin Corp. Missiles and Fire Control was awarded a $23,564,873 modification to a previous contract. The initial contract was for the investment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense Configuration 3.1 Part B1 Ground Modernization equipment to support the U.S. government. The DOD said the THAAD Configuration 3.1 Part B1, and associated labor, will be procured under a firm-fixed-price contract line item. The total value of this contract is increased from $10,416,783,858 to $10,440,348,731. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Work for this contract will be performed in the following areas: Dallas, Texas Sunnyvale, California Troy, Alabama Huntsville, Alabama Camden, Arkansas The estimated completion date for this is Nov. 30, 2028, and MDA in Huntsville is the contracting activity. Army Tetra Tech, Inc. in San Diego, California, was awarded a contract modification for recurring maintenance and minor repairs services for petroleum facilities. The modification was an increase of $9,318,617, bringing the face value of the contract to $52,434,095. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2026. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center in Huntsville is the contracting activity, according to the DOD. Navy The Clement Group LLC out of Montgomery, Alabama, is one of nine agencies awarded a combined-maximum-value price modification to increase the capacity of their respective and previously awarded contracts for general building type projects. Award of this modification brings the total cumulative value for all nine contracts combined to $307,000,000, the DOD said. The contract overview says work will be performed in Florida (67%) and Tennessee (33%) and is expected to be completed by September 2026. The Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command Southeast, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity, the DOD said. The DOD said Mobile, Alabama, will be responsible for 1% of work on a $43,114,274 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification for the Marinette Marine Corp., in Marinette, Wisconsin. The contract is to exercise the option and provide funding for engineering and class design support for the Constellation-class Guided Missile Frigate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Work will be performed in the following areas: Camden, New Jersey (42%) Arlington, Virginia (30%) Millersville, Maryland (9%) Marinette, Wisconsin (5%) Annapolis, Maryland (2%) Hanover, Maryland (2%) Walpole, Massachusetts (1%) Mobile, Alabama (1%) Evans, Georgia (1%) Segrate, Italy (1%) Rome, Italy (1%) Mathews, Louisiana (1%) Hauppauge, New York (1%) Columbus, Ohio (1%) Allentown, Pennsylvania (1%) Arvonia, Virginia (1%) You can learn more about DOD-awarded contracts and contract modifications on the DOD website. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. The Trump administration recently terminated a $4.9 billion loan for the Grain Belt Express, the countrys biggest transmission grid project. Sen. Martin Heinrich, Democrat from New Mexico, says the decision is illegal. In an exclusive new interview with Canary Media, Heinrich discusses why hes demanding that the Department of Energy account for the decision and what response hes received. Last month, Heinrich, the top Democrat on the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, sent a letter to the DOE challenging its vague excuse for cutting off the legally binding contract between the federal government and Invenergy, the Chicago-based energy project developer planning to build the power-line project from Kansas to Illinois. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not only am I concerned that this move is illegal, Heinrich wrote a belief shared by Jigar Shah, the former head of the DOE Loan Programs Office, which issued the conditional loan guarantee in the waning days of the Biden administration. I am concerned that the federal government is eroding what little trust the private sector has in our ability to be reliable partners. That trust is eroding rapidly, Heinrich said. The project has been in the works for more than a decade and is one of only a handful of major transmission developments underway in the United States. The Grain Belt Express would support gigawatts worth of new wind and solar projects energy sources that are under attack by the Trump administration. The new GOP megalaw is expected to cut new solar, wind, and battery deployments by more than half just as power demand is rising. Last year, clean energy made up 96% of the new energy capacity being added to the U.S. grid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the Trump administration has unleashed a flurry of anti-wind and anti-solar actions in the past month that threaten to subject wind and solar projects to burdensome and potentially insurmountable Interior Department reviews, block development on federal lands under capacity density restrictions, and potentially put a halt to already permitted wind farms on land and at sea. The move to block the Grain Belt Express is part of this broader attempt to slow renewable energy just when the country can least afford it, Heinrich said. This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity. Why did you decide to write the letter to Energy Secretary Chris Wright? Secretary Wright, before he was secretary, said numerous times to our committee [the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources] that he was going to follow the law, and a conditional loan guarantee is a legally binding commitment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's as if you go to your bank and you get preapproved for a mortgage, then when you show up for the closing, you expect the bank to make good on that. And that's what we had here. The reality is, we need this administration to follow the law and make good on commitments that have been made so that there is predictability in the market. We also need every cheap electron we can get right now, and so if you put these big infrastructure projects in jeopardy, what you're really doing is passing along more costs to consumers. Have you received any response from DOE? Not yet. Do you expect youll eventually get a response? I certainly expect to. And if the secretary wants to be taken seriously by the Senate, then he needs to provide that information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the things that really bothers me about a lot of the actions that the Department of Energy and the Department of Interior are taking right now is the sum total is creating a lot of uncertainty in the finance markets, and that flows through to create additional costs for consumers. When you have a big transmission project like this one, there are $52 billion in energy savings over the course of the next decade, and that should be accruing to consumers. And if you put all of this in jeopardy, the real impact is that costs are going up, and then when you put all of these permits that are usually very predictable and are now uncertain, all of this is going to raise costs for consumers for retail consumers and for commercial consumers. We're already seeing electric rates start to rise, and I am deeply concerned that that is going to get a lot worse in the coming years because of their actions and their inactions. You asked the department if it had analyzed the impact of canceling the loan guarantee. What do you see as the administration's responsibility in analyzing its actions on energy policy in terms of affordability? And are they fulfilling those responsibilities? They are not. And it doesn't take a detailed analysis to understand that, in an environment of surging demand, if you artificially constrain supply, you're going to be raising costs for people. And I want the American people to know that this is not an accident. They are choosing to take actions which are raising people's electric bills. Sen. Chuck Grassley, a Republican representing Iowa, has said he won't be moving Treasury Department nominations forward until theres some response from the administration regarding its actions on wind and solar tax credits. Can you tell us more about where members of Congress have power to challenge how the administration is managing energy policy? Well, I think the confirmation process is one obvious place. This is an administration that has been very public about saying that they need more people in place to be able to execute their agenda. But unless they're responsive to the Congress, that process is not going to speed up. You asked the DOE for a list of all the closed loans and conditional commitments that the department is reviewing. Have you received any response? I'll be honest, they have not been particularly transparent or responsive on many of these issues, and that is a trend that I think does not bode well for the next several years. Having been through a 17-year process to get one transmission line built [the SunZia line in New Mexico and Arizona], I'm also acutely aware of the jobs that hang in the balance. We're talking about thousands and thousands of good, high-quality American jobs that are simply not going to come to fruition because this administration has a political agenda. I've never seen an administration so insensitive to the job implications of their actions. Daylight Saving Time will end in just under three months. Most of the United States will "fall back" and gain an extra hour of sleep. Here's what we know from when DST start and ends to why it exists and if President Donald Trump is going to end Daylight Saving Time. When does the Daylight Saving time change 2025 occur in U.S.? Participating states turn clocks forward an hour on the second Sunday in March during the spring. Daylight Saving Time ends on the first Sunday of November in the fall of each year and that's when states turn clocks back an hour. When does time change fall back for DST 2025? In the U.S., clocks will fall back at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025. When does Daylight Savings 2026's time change spring forward? Clocks will spring forward on Sunday, March, in 2026. Why does Daylight Saving Time change at 2 a.m.? In an interview with Time Magazine, author Michael Downing cited his book, "Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time," to explain how Amtrak and the railroads were the main reason clocks change at 2 a.m. for DST. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were no trains leaving the station at 2 a.m. on Sundays in New York City when Daylight Saving Time was established. "Sunday morning at 2 a.m. was when they would interrupt the least amount of train travel around the country, Downing said. Which U.S. states don't change clocks for Daylight Saving Time? As of July 25, 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation noted that only Hawaii and parts of Arizona do not participate in daylight saving time. The Navajo Nation is the lone exception in Arizona. The territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands also do not participate. According to the website, states may exempt themselves from observing daylight saving time by state law in accordance with the Uniform Time Act, as amended. What time is it in Indianapolis? Visit timeanddate.com to see the current time in Indianapolis. Does Indiana observe 2025 daylight saving time? Yes; Indiana observes daylight saving time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hawaii and parts of Arizona do not participate in daylight saving time. The territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands also do not participate. What is the Sunshine Protection Act? The Sunshine Protection Act of 2021, which was created to make daylight saving time the new, permanent standard time, was unanimously passed by the U.S. Senate in 2022, but it was not passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. There is currently no news on when it will be readdressed and signed into law. When is the U.S. getting rid of daylight savings time? When will DST end permanently? Despite the Sunshine Protection Act being unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate in 2022, there is no permanent end in sight. Is Donald Trump going to end Daylight Savings Time in 2025? In December 2024, Trump said he planned to eliminate Daylight Saving Time. He needs the approval of Congress in order to achieve this, and he had been urging them to approve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Others hope that instead of eliminating Daylight Saving Time, it will be permanent. 20 states have advocated for this by passing measures in recent years in favor of year-round daylight saving time. Trump expressed support for such a notion in April 2025, calling it very popular, though he has also referred to the move as a 50-50 issue. Conversation in Congress about the issue is ongoing. From USAT: Trump says daylight saving time is 'popular,' but enough to be permanent? Did Daylight Saving Time start because of farmers? No, according to almanac.com. "Many Americans wrongly point to farmers as the driving force behind Daylight Saving Time. In fact, farmers were its strongest opponents and, as a group, stubbornly resisted the change from the beginning," Catherine Boeckmann wrote for almanac.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When the war ended, the farmers and working-class people who had held their tongues began speaking out. They demanded an end to Daylight Saving Time, claiming it benefited only office workers and the leisure class. The controversy spotlighted the growing gap between rural and urban dwellers." When does 2025 daylight saving time spring forward start, DST fall back end? Daylight saving time began on Sunday, March 9, and ends on Nov. 2 in 2025. Chris Sims is a digital content producer for Midwest Connect Gannett. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims. Katie Wiseman covers trending news for IndyStar and Midwest Connect. Contact her at klwiseman@gannett.com. Follow her on Bluesky @katiewiseman. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Daylight Savings 2025: What is DST? When will the time change fall back? International recognition of a Palestinian state does not automatically lead to the states creation. On Monday, Australia joined a growing number of countries planning to recognize a Palestinian state at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in September. New Zealand said it is exploring the possibility, but has not yet committed to such a move. Although a Palestinian state is widely recognized in the UN already (by about 75% of member states), significant media attention has been focused on the new announcements from Canada, the UK, France, and now Australia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One reason for the furor is that the war between Israel and Hamas is ongoing, 20 living hostages are still believed to be held in Gaza alongside 30 bodies and Hamas still has control over the Gaza Strip. Israel, as a result, has argued that recognizing a Palestinian state is both premature (as the hostages have not been returned, and Hamas has yet to be thwarted) and a reward for terrorism, given that none of the recent countries have set conditions on the recognition. This is effectively unconditional recognition, which is astounding, Senator for Western Australia Michaelia Cash commented on Monday. Israelis attend a protest calling for the end of the war in Gaza and the release of all Israeli hostages, in Jerusalem, August 7, 2025 (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90) That being said, even if Canada, the UK, France, Australia, and potentially others choose to go ahead and recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly next month, what, if anything, will change on the ground? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement International recognition of a Palestinian state does not automatically lead to the states creation. There are still no internationally-agreed upon borders, no capital city, no army, and no set government. Gaza is in the middle of a war, and there is yet to be discussion on significant minutiae such as land swaps, what happens to Jewish settlements in the West Bank, what happens to Israeli Arabs, and the like. Recognition is mostly symbolic. It is not an order or a plan. If anything, it is designed to put pressure on Israel to end the war and to ramp up humanitarian aid provision to the Strip. This was made evident in UK Prime Minister Keir Starmers July 29 speech in which he said that the recognition of a Palestinian state would go ahead unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, agrees to a ceasefire, and commits to a long-term, sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a two-state solution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other words, recognition at least on the UKs part is a bargaining chip for cajoling Israel into acting in line with international consensus on how the war should be carried out. International law regarding the creation of a state is generally based on the Montevideo Convention of 1933. This lists four specific criteria in order for something to qualify as a state. First, it must have a permanent population. Second, it must have a defined territory. Third, a government. And fourth, the capacity to enter into relations with other states. Palestine does not necessarily meet all of these four criteria. While it is generally considered to have a permanent population, it doesnt have a stable government (the Palestinian Authority has only limited control over the West Bank and no control over Gaza) and has disputed borders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the Israel Democracy Institute recently explained, the traditional position in international law is that a state either exists, or it does not: If it does not meet the factual conditions for statehood, recognition of it has no meaning. Additionally, Article 10 of the Montevideo Convention states that The primary interest of states is the conservation of peace. Differences of any nature that arise between them should be settled by recognized peaceful methods. Critics have argued that this will not be upheld by a future Palestinian state. What say does Israel have? From a legal and diplomatic standpoint, Israel has very little say over the recognition of a Palestinian state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, from a practical standpoint, it does. This is primarily because any final peace deal requires Israels approval and because Israel has significant military and territorial control over the area, including borders, airspace, movement of people and goods, and most of Area C. Additionally, an agreement would have to be reached over Jerusalem. Israel considers all of Jerusalem to be its capital, while Palestinians believe east Jerusalem to be theirs. A lot of focus in the speeches of international leaders has also been on the 1967 borders, to be used as a demarcation of a future Palestinian state. However, 1967 borders never existed. The 1967 borders do not appear in any agreed-upon international documents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What leaders such as New Zealand Prime Minister Luxon are likely referring to are the demarcation lines set during the 1949 Armistice Agreements between Israel and its neighbors, which remained after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War until the Six-Day War. This is often known as the Green Line. Prior to the Six-Day War, the Jewish people were denied access to the Old City and its holy sites. Additionally, there is the security element of the 1967 borders. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu once said that if Israel were to revert to them, the Jewish state would be militarily indefensible. Then there is the matter of whether a Palestinian state is capable of reforming its government and stamping out terror. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his Monday speech, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that his decision to recognize a Palestinian state was predicated on commitments received from the PA to reform its governance, along with its recognition of Israels right to exist. Albanese seemed confident with the PAs alleged promises, including to reform governance, terminate prisoner payments, institute schooling reform, demilitarize, and hold general elections, and sees the PA as the best option for a future government. And yet, the Palestinian Authority has been unable to eradicate terror, despite launching Operation Protect the Homeland in Jenin in December 2024, to crack down on local Palestinian militia. This is also the same PA that has been providing monthly stipends to the families of Palestinian terrorists since the 1960s. In 2018, the stipends were estimated to be over $300 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the PA said it was canceling its pay-for-slay policy earlier this year, senior security officials called the commitment to do so a deception. The USs veto power Nevertheless, the diplomatic recognition of Palestine by the stated countries does have implications, partially because it makes Israel more dependent on the US for its use of veto power in the UN Security Council. If the UK and France recognize a Palestinian state next month, Palestine will have the support of four of the UN Security Councils five permanent members (alongside China and Russia). The only remaining permanent member not to recognize a Palestinian state the United States will be a minority. While US Vice-President JD Vance has said the US has no plans to recognize a Palestinian state, there is no guarantee that this will continue to be the case. If a future US government were to recognize a Palestinian state, Israel would have to stand alone against international pressure. DOJ forcing Greystar to stop sharing information with competitors Greystar manages 108 communities in Charlotte, according to its website, with six of them located in the heart of NoDa. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Its insane: Tenants react to lawsuit against landlords accused of using AI to raise rent prices Now their renters are getting some justice, as the DOJ forces the company to stop sharing its rental pricing with competitors. Angelica and Jack are homeowners now, but they rented for years in Midtown and South End, so they know how hard it is to save for a home. They said it definitely wasnt cheap. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its really difficult honestly, said Angelica Szarka. If youre not good at budgeting, its really hard because they keep trying to raise the rent every year. According to the US Department of Justice, those rent increases are due to collusion, not capitalism. Channel 9 reported in March of last year that state and federal investigators were going after multiple corporate landlords, and a software company called RealPage. The DOJ said they may have engaged in price fixing by sharing competitive rental pricing data. The feds calling them a cartel that is likely making the affordable housing crisis worse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday, the DOJ reached a proposed settlement agreement with Greystar, one of the nations, and Charlotte areas, biggest corporate landlords. It forces Greystar to accept these conditions, including to stop using the anticompetitive algorithms, sharing sensitive information with competitors, and stop attending RealPage-hosted meetings of competing landlords. In a statement, the US Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division said, Whether in a smoke-filled room or through an algorithm, competitors cannot share competitively sensitive information or align prices. Current and former renters like Angelica and Jack agree. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its almost like you cant win in a way, because its always going up, said Szarka. A spokesperson for RealPage did not want to comment on the proposed settlement, which a judge must still approve. In a statement, Greystar said it firmly believes that its use of RealPages software complies with all applicable laws, and that it does not admit any wrongdoing. WATCH: Several landlords accused of using AI to swindle millions out of renters in NC So far in his second term, Donald Trump has focused chiefly on destroying democracy here at home. Except with respect to tariffs, the larger world generallyand Europe specificallyhas been spared his depraved intercessions. That ends this week, when he meets Vladimir Putin in Alaska, and much like Hyman Roth and Michael Corleone in The Godfather, Part II, they start slicing up their little pieces of the Ukraine birthday cake. When sober analysts of foreign policy start offering their sober foreign policy analyses, they typically have certain analytical and historical frameworks in mindconcepts like realpolitik and idealpolitik, or whether Americas approach to a given situation should be more Morgenthauesque or Niebuhrian. I still remember an old David Brooks column from 2007 when he was dazzled that Barack Obama not only knew who Reinhold Niebuhr was but could actually discuss his theories with subtlety. Pundits (yes, including me), having bothered to learn about all these notions, want desperately to employ them when the time comes. With Trump, alas, we need to learn to flush all that hifalutin argle-bargle down the gold-plated toilet. He looks at the world the way a middling primate looks at the various trees of the jungle: fruit good, poison bad. And here, with respect to the Ukraine situation, are our presidents three simian instincts: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 1. Europe bad. Theyre a bunch of Commies and sissies and havent done anything good for the world in centuries (as Randy Newman once sang, in jest, Asias crowded / Europes too old). And most of all, of course, theyre ripping us off, which gets down to how Trump really sees the worldits divided into shysters and shystees. He says he wants them to pay their fair share of the mutual defense tab. But deep down, he surely expects and hopes that they wont and he can be justified in freeing America from this deep-state entanglement. 2. Putin good. Yes, hes been bad-mouthing Putin a lot lately; its been one of those pass-the-popcorn moments thats been fun to watch. But when you get down to it, hes on Putins side for very simple and obvious reasons. Putins tough. He knocks heads. He knows how to deal with political opponents. Trumps bro-love for Vlad is made palpably evident by the very fact that Trump has invited him to the United States for this two-way (that is, conspicuously not three-way, excluding as it does Volodymyr Zelenskiy) summit. And not just any old United State: Alaska, the state that was Russia before it was America. One of Putins oligarchs crowed last week that Alaskans respectfully remember their Russian past and their Orthodox present. 3. Ukraine weak. Yes, theyve put up a pretty good fight these last three years. But at the end of the day, its a tiny country with a tiny army thats eventually going to get overwhelmed. In addition, while Trump obviously hasnt read any of the relevant history, someone who has read it has probably explained to him that Ukraine has been sliced and diced over the centuries by lots of peopleeven by Franklin Roosevelt, who, with Winston Churchill at Yalta, let Stalin take a goodly chunk of what was then Poland and call it Ukraine, thus making it part of the Soviet Union (the Ukrainian city of Lviv was, until 1946, the Polish city of Lvov). But hey: Nothing wrong with that! Because thats how the world works, bub. The big dogs run the kennel. Always have, always will. Whatever the outcome of this process, the odds are exceedingly strong that, as long as Trump is driving it, the end result will hew to these three instincts. Putin will get most of what he wants. Maybe not all. Trump may force him to settle for less of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson provinces than he wanted, just as a desperate hand-wave to the Nobel committee. But overall, Zelenskiy will get screwed because thats what happens to little dogs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Europe? This, in some ways, is the most interestingand disturbingquestion of all. Obviously, to see Ukraine sold down the river would be hideous and would mark a shameful moment in U.S. history. But you might also keep an eye out for signs that these negotiations may mark the beginning of the end of the U.S.-Europe 80-year entente. Over the weekend, the leaders of the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Finland, and the European Commission issued a joint statement stressing that Trump and Putin deciding things bilaterally was unacceptable. It reads in part: 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. Theres plenty of language in there sucking up to Trump, which world leaders now know they need to do as if they were dealing with a petulant 5-year-old. But the statement seems quite emphatic. If Trump and Putin cut a deal here that excludes Zelenskiyit may not be exactly clear what Europe would do in response immediately, but the rupture to the relationship would be profound. Under U.S. law, Trump cant leave NATOit would take a two-thirds majority of the Senate to accede to withdrawal. Naturally, as soon as I typed under U.S. law, I realized how pointless the words following that phrase might be. Theres hardly such a thing as U.S. law anymore. Theres Trump, a nonexistent Republican Congress, and a Supreme Court that is about 23 ticks worse than nonexistent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know what Trump wants deep down. Hes told us many times. He hates NATO. He loves Putin. He admires Orban and Al Sisi and Erdogan and Bukele and the rest of the worlds right-wing strongmen. Those, its tragic to report, are the true allies of the United States of America, as long as its governed by Trump; and if Nigel Farage somehow becomes prime minister of the U.K. (its not impossible), we can add England to the list. And as with his aggressive moves to remake our country domestically, Trump knows he has now just three years and change (at least, we hope) to remake the world. Hell do things he wouldnt have dared do the first time around, with people like John Kelly around him. Now its fruit bad, poison good. Donald Trump continued to rage at media figures overnight, this time former New York Times columnist Paul Krugman. Trump wrote on Truth Social late Sunday, Paul Krugman of the New York Times has been predicting Doom and Gloom ever since my great election success in 2016. In other words, he has been wrong for YEARS, as ALL markets have been hitting new HIGHS, and are now higher than ever before. People stayed out of the BEST MARKET IN HISTOY [sic] because of this Trump Deranged BUM. Sue them! More from Deadline Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Krugman left The New York Times late last year, but now writes a daily column on Substack. Hes been especially hard-hitting on Trumps tariffs and the presidents trade deals, while warning of stagflation. In his most recent column, posted on Monday morning, Krugman mocked Trumps effort to counter a recent dismal jobs report by holding a presentation in the Oval Office last week with economist Stephen Moore, with a chart that mistakenly labeled median income, medium income. Moore, Krugman wrote, may be the last person on the planet youd trust to tell you the economic truth. Moores figures, which showed a recent rise in median income with figures that were quickly challenged. I dont mean that Moore is extremely right-wing, although of course he is, Krugman wrote. I dont even mean that hes a dishonest hack, although again of course he is. I mean that even among dishonest right-wing hacks Moore stands out for his pathological inability to get numbers and facts right. As for Trumps attack on him, Krugman wrote, Now this is flattering: Last night Donald Trump called me a Deranged BUM. Gonna add it to my profile. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. OWEN COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) A double homicide investigation is underway after two people were found shot in a driveway at a residence north of Spencer, according to Indiana State Police. According to a press release, detectives from the Owen County Sheriffs Office initiated the investigation in the late afternoon of Saturday, August 9, after responding to the residence on reports of a gunshot wound. The Indiana State Police stated that a person of interest has surrendered to the Morgan County Sheriffs Department. Officials say that suspect is a juvenile. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com. Sodas and chips are displayed at a convenience store in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens in New York. As of this month, 12 states, mostly Republican and in the South, have opted to limit SNAP recipients from purchasing foods such as soda and candy (Shalina Chatlani/ Stateline). At least 12 states have received federal approval to restrict recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, from using their benefits to purchase certain foods such as soda and candy. The states receiving waivers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture are overwhelmingly Republican. Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia received approval last week. The feds granted waivers to Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska and Utah earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Missouri lawmakers have debated a similar ban for several years, but it has yet to win legislative approval. SNAP served on average nearly 42 million people a month in fiscal 2024, with about 12% of the U.S. population receiving benefits. The trend is part of U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.s agenda to make America healthy again by inviting states to apply for waivers to change SNAP rules to limit what types of food recipients can buy. Kennedy said in a statement that SNAP has used taxpayer dollars to fuel Americas diabetes and chronic disease epidemics. These waivers help put real food back at the center of the program and empower states to lead the charge in protecting public health, the statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics of these waivers say the policy could harm people in places such as food deserts, where healthy options are limited, and take away recipients power to make their own food choices. Craig Gundersen, a professor in the Department of Economics at Baylor University, told Stateline that these changes could harm the integrity of the program. One of the main reasons why SNAP is such a successful program is because it gives dignity and autonomy to recipients. It gives dignity to recipients by allowing them to shop in the same manner as their neighbors, friends and family, and it gives autonomy to recipients by saying to families: You are the best ones to make decisions for your families about what to purchase, Gundersen said. Gundersen said he worries the restrictions could stigmatize SNAP, which he called one of the best programs for fighting food insecurity. 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. Aug. 11At least 12 states have received federal approval to restrict recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, from using their benefits to purchase certain foods such as soda and candy. The states receiving waivers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture are overwhelmingly Republican. Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia received approval last week. The feds granted waivers to Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska and Utah earlier this year. SNAP served on average nearly 42 million people a month in fiscal 2024, with about 12% of the U.S. population receiving benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trend is part of U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s agenda to "make America healthy again" by inviting states to apply for waivers to change SNAP rules to limit what types of food recipients can buy. Kennedy said in a statement that SNAP has used taxpayer dollars to "fuel America's diabetes and chronic disease epidemics." "These waivers help put real food back at the center of the program and empower states to lead the charge in protecting public health," the statement said. Critics of these waivers say the policy could harm people in places such as food deserts, where healthy options are limited, and take away recipients' power to make their own food choices. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Craig Gundersen, a professor in the Department of Economics at Baylor University, told Stateline that these changes could harm the integrity of the program. "One of the main reasons why SNAP is such a successful program is because it gives dignity and autonomy to recipients. It gives dignity to recipients by allowing them to shop in the same manner as their neighbors, friends and family, and it gives autonomy to recipients by saying to families: You are the best ones to make decisions for your families about what to purchase," Gundersen said. Gundersen said he worries the restrictions could stigmatize SNAP, which he called one of the best programs for fighting food insecurity. Stateline reporter Shalina Chatlani can be reached at [email protected]. YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE. Junta leader Gen Asimi Goita seized power through two coups in 2020 and 2021 [Getty Images] Dozens of soldiers have been arrested in Mali accused of plotting to topple the country's military leaders, sources say. The wave of arrests, which reportedly went on overnight and are expected to continue, reflect increased tensions within the military government, with reports that a jihadist insurgency in the north is gaining ground. The authorities have not commented on the arrests. Initial reports indicated that Gen Abass Dembele, the former governor of the Mopti region and Gen Nema Sagara, one of the few women at the highest levels of the Malian army, were among those detained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, a source close to Gen Dembele told the BBC that neither of them had been arrested. The source, who confirmed the ongoing arrests, told a BBC reporter in Bamako that he had just left Gen Dembele's house and he was "doing well". The AFP news agency reported that the detained soldiers were allegedly planning to overthrow the government, citing multiple sources within the military and junta-backed transitional council. "All are soldiers. Their objective was to overthrow the junta," it quoted an unnamed lawmaker in the National Transition Council as saying. He said there had been about "50 arrests", while a security source said there were at least 20 arrests, linked to "attempts to destabilise the institutions," AFP reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The arrests have reportedly been going on over a number of days. They come amid political tension heightened by the junta's crackdown on former Prime Ministers Moussa Mara and Choguel Maiga over accusations of harming the reputation of the state and embezzlement. Mara, a recent outspoken critic of the military government, has been in detention since 1 August, while Maiga is facing judicial sanctions. In May, the junta dissolved all political parties following rare anti-government protests, which Mara described as a severe blow to reconciliation efforts initiated by the military leaders last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The junta leader Gen Asimi Goita, who seized power through two coups in 2020 and 2021, had promised elections last year, but these have never been held. In July, the transition period was extended by five years, clearing him to continue leading the country until at least 2030. Mali has been fighting an Islamist insurgency since 2012 - one of the reasons given for the military takeover but attacks by jihadist groups have continued and even increased. Alongside its neighbours Niger and Burkina Faso, it has enlisted the help of Russian allies to contain the jihadist attacks in the region after breaking ties with France - but there has been no significant improvements in security. You may also be interested in: [Getty Images/BBC] Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts A vehicle crashed into a Pembroke residence on Dwelley Street overnight, resulting in the driver being transported to the hospital with minor injuries. The incident occurred when a Dodge pickup truck collided with the garage of a home, prompting a response from the fire department. Fortunately, no other injuries were reported in the accident. Pembroke Police are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. Details regarding the cause of the accident and the extent of damage to the residence remain unclear. As the investigation continues, residents of Dwelley Street are awaiting further updates on the incident and any potential outcomes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WHNT) The driver of the dump truck that crashed into the South Huntsville Target at the end of July is facing multiple traffic charges, court records show. The Huntsville Police Department said the crash happened just after 1:30 p.m. on July 30 at the Target on Carl T. Jones Drive when a dump truck was traveling down Ledges Drive and reportedly experienced a brake failure. Police said the truck then continued until it hit the South Huntsville Target store, injuring the passenger and trapping the driver. A crash report obtained by News 19 lists the driver of the truck as Nicholas Randall Baker of Jefferson City, Tennessee. He is facing a number of traffic violations, including driving while his license was revoked and operating a commercial vehicle without a required commercial drivers license. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The charges were filed on August 4, five days after the crash. The charges say the vehicle was operated unlawfully. News 19 is working to get more information, but Bakers employer is listed as Harper Tree Service. The accident lists two people injured in the crash, Baker and truck passenger Jason Lee King. Officials originally said at the time of the crash that Kings injuries were non-life-threatening. The charges also include Baker not possessing a commercial drivers license medical certificate. That is a required federal certification related to the drivers physical and medical fitness to operate a commercial vehicle. HPD said the driver of that other vehicle that was hit by the truck wasnt injured, but the car was significantly damaged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emergency teams with the Huntsville Fire and Rescue and Madison County Rescue Squad worked for a couple of hours to get the driver out of the dump truck, eventually able to pull him out of the truck. While crews were attempting to tow the truck out of the building, News 19 crews on scene saw an awning that was sitting on top of the truck collapse. There was also a large hole visible in the brick wall outside. Court records show Baker has a court appearance on September 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. DES MOINES, Iowa A Des Moines mom was sentenced to prison on Monday for abandoning her kids at a home in what was described as life-threatening conditions. In December 2023, court records state that the Des Moines Police Department responded to reports of a possible child neglect situation at a mobile home in the 2800 block of SE 14th Street. When officers arrived at the home to investigate the reports, they discovered two children, age 7 and 6, inside the home. According to a criminal complaint, the children were abandoned by their mother, identified as 42-year-old Amanda Leigh Myers, at the home. The complaint states that the children didnt have access to water or food and that the home was filled with rotten garbage, cockroaches, and feces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The children were relocated to a safe location. Creston man dies after high-speed chase ends with motorcycle crash Myers wasnt apprehended until April of this year, when the DMPD requested the publics help in locating her. When finally arrested she was charged with two counts of neglect or abandonment of a dependent person and two counts of child endangerment. In July she pled guilty to all four charges. On Monday, District Judge Jeffrey Ferrell sentenced Myers to up to 20 years in prison. According to the attorneys office, Judge Ferrell chose the sentence not just for the awful conditions in the home, but because the childrens lives were at risk due to the fire hazards and other dangerous conditions in the home and because Myers was not living there with them. Myers parental rights were also terminated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attorneys office said that the childrens guardian testified that the children are now in school and are doing well. Metro news Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to who13.com. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Jacksonians got the chance to experience a new local art event on Sunday. Friends, neighbors and art lovers gathered at Duling Hall for Noras Art Market. We were looking to fill our Sundays with either concerts or like community events. And we wanted to start a community event here. And so, we thought our market would do well. Normally markets are outside around town. So, this is a great opportunity to have something inside, said Tommie Joe Barnett, Art Market coordinator. The market was free to attend, and guests were encouraged do donate to the Animal Rescue Fund (ARF) of Mississippi, which supports rescue and adoption efforts for local pets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Art Market is named after my dog Nora. And so, we kind of wanted to give it, like, a good cause. And I always love donating, like, my time and energy to ARF, so having people donate to ARF makes sense for this, explained Barnett. Dozens of vendors filled the space, offering insight into the process of creating art. A lot of my stuff comes from drawing. I love drawing, I love pen and ink. I have a lot of pen and ink washes and dip pens. But I also do a lot of woodcuts, so, and those will be woodcut prints, the same medium of ink that you have to cut into the wood itself, make a little relief, and then you press it onto paper, ink it up, then press on the paper, and then you get the image, said Guillermo Salinas, artist and owner of Just Vanilla Bakery. Organizers hope to host more art markets this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) First responders shut down part of Wisconsin Avenue Monday morning after an industrial dumpster caught fire. In a post on the X platform shortly before 11 a.m., the DC Fire and EMS Department said firefighters were called to the 1800 block of Wisconsin Ave. for a construction dumpster on fire in a parking garage. Crews knocked down the flames and were working on removing the dumpster from the Safeway garage while clearing the smoke. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump activates National Guard, names DEA commissioner to lead DC police force Photos from the scene showed crews moving the dumpster with a truck into the street, with scorched trash spilling into the roadway. Matthew Sonsalla/DC News Now Matthew Sonsalla/DC News Now The fire department said crews removed the trash from the dumpster and wetted it down, preventing another fire from rekindling. (Courtesy: DC Fire and EMS Department via X/@dcfireems) (Courtesy: DC Fire and EMS Department via X/@dcfireems) Fire investigators continue to investigate the cause of the blaze; however, no one was injured. Check DCNewsNow.com for updates. To keep up with the latest news and weather updates, download our Mobile App on iPhone or Android. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin (D) slammed President Trumps move to take control of the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department as political theater, saying hes ignoring the progress the city has made in reducing crime. Durbin made the comments during a press conference that he held Monday with Democratic members of the Texas state House who left the state and traveled to Illinois to prevent Republicans from pushing through a new congressional district map that would likely net the GOP five more seats in next years midterm elections. Durbin said hes sympathetic to the victims of violent crime in D.C., Illinois, Texas or any other state in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Having said that, what the president did this morning was political theater, he said. His idea in federalizing the police force of D.C. ignores the reality they are making dramatic progress in reducing violent crime in D.C. Durbin said the move is typical from Trump, intended to create chaos and draw attention away from other issues like the controversy surrounding files the government has on Jeffrey Epstein and the concern that families are feeling about not being able to afford health care and the cost of living. Hes trying to change the subject. He wont be able to do that, Durbin added. Trump announced earlier Monday that he was asserting federal control of the Districts police force and sending the National Guard into the city to try to crack down on violent crime. The president has the authority to temporarily take control of the local police for up to 30 days under the Home Rule Act, which gives the District a certain amount of self-governing ability, if special conditions of an emergency nature exist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said he was declaring a public safety emergency in the city. Congress would need to grant an extension for the president to maintain control for longer than 30 days. Violent crime has dropped in D.C. more recently, reaching a 30-year low last year. It is also less so far this year than at this time last year. Texas state Rep. Gene Wu (D), the minority leader of the Texas state House, drew a connection between Trumps move to federalize the D.C. police and other Republicans advocacy for using state troopers and the FBI to track down Democrats who left the state, arguing they all show a rise of authoritarianism in the country. This is about saying, We dont care what your local city wants. We dont care what your state wants. We dont care what you do thats good for your people. Were going to tell you what to do, Wu said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has directed Texas state troopers to arrest the Democratic state lawmakers who left the state to deny Republicans a quorum to conduct business, while Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and state Attorney General Ken Paxton have advocated for the FBI to get involved to help return the state Democrats back to Texas. Wu said Texans, regardless of their party affiliation, are proud of their independence. This is happening across our country, and if we dont stop it, this is the end, he said. If we dont stop this authoritarianism coming across, by the time we realize that we need to fight back, it may be too late. They may have everything under control. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Los Angeles Department of Water and Power restored water service to more than 9,000 San Fernando Valley residents after a valve failure caused taps to run dry or slow to a trickle last week. According to the DWP, water flow to all residents in the Granada Hills and Porter Ranch areas affected by the shutdown was restored as of 2:37 a.m. Monday. Residents were told that a boil water notice would remain in effect for several more days. The notice instructs residents to only used boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: DWP crews complete repairs after major outage: Here's when water will be restored, tested Customers "can now use tap water to take showers, flush toilets, water landscaping and other household and business needs. However, the Boil Water Notice remains in effect until LADWP completes its rigorous water quality testing," read a DWP notice. Porter Ranch resident Matt Pakucko relied on free bottled water from the DWP after the water stopped regularly flowing at his home last week. It was like camping out without the fun parts, said Pakucko. With the water back on, he plans to flush out his water system, including changing the filter in his refrigerator and draining his water heater. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He criticized what he called the mixed messaging from the city over the last few days. Mayor Karen Bass, he said, told the public to conserve water, while the DWP said not to use water. A representative for the DWP didnt immediately respond to a request for comment about the messaging. The agency announced Monday that all fire hydrants in the affected area are now available to support firefighting efforts if necessary. Temporary mobile showers and laundry facilities will shut down at 10 p.m. Monday, but water bottle distribution and recycled water distribution will remain available at select locations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The problem arose on Tuesday, when a valve that controls the flow of water broke during repairs at a pump station that supplies a 10-million-gallon water tank. The valve that broke was installed in 1967, officials said. It was stuck in a nearly closed position and could not be opened, which impeded the flow of water. The work of reaching the valve 20 feet underground was complicated because, as workers dug to reach it, they encountered fiber-optic cable, a high-pressure gas line and an oil line. While the work was underway, another problem occurred in one area of Granada Hills. DWP workers had installed two lines of hose-like temporary pipe to transport water from the Metropolitan Water District, the regions water wholesaler, to a city pipe, and on Saturday one of those hoses popped off a connection and sent water shooting into a backyard in Granada Hills. 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. JACKSONVILLE, Texas (KETK) Meet a local teenager who is giving back to his community by providing free haircuts to East Texas students as they head back to school for the fall. Cowboys linebacker DeMarvion Overshown gives away school supplies in Arp City Park Photo courtesy of Miguel Rubio. 14-year-old Miguel Rubio from New Summerfield started cutting hair when he was twelve after his uncle got him his first barbers kit for Christmas. For months, Rubio practiced, until his uncle sadly passed away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Disillusioned, he wanted to stop cutting hair altogether; however, with the encouragement of his family, hes continued in the hopes of making his uncle proud. He would want me to keep pursuing my dreams, Rubio said. Hed be proud if I ended up being someone big. So it just inspired me, it ended up inspiring me more to try even harder to make him proud. Thats what I think of every time I do something because, I know that hes watching me and I know that hed be proud of me right now. Photo courtesy of Miguel Rubio. Rubio has mostly taught himself how to cut hair by watching YouTube videos and watching his barber cut hair. He said the most important thing for aspiring barbers can do is believe in themselves. I feel like the main thing about that is you got to believe in yourself and without believing in yourself you cant you cant really get anywhere, Rubio said. You cant let people push you down because there is a lot of people that will talk, but its positive and negative. You got to get that negative energy and turn it into into motivation to keep going. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of Rubios motivation is to help people feel more confident in themselves after he cuts their hair, like he does after getting his own hair cut. Photo courtesy of Miguel Rubio. Thats something I like more about the barber industry, because whenever I get haircuts, I feel really confident about myself, and I like that for other people, to feel confident, to feel like they feel more presentable to other people, Rubio said. Thats why hes started giving out free haircuts, in order to help people feel more confident and happy, while giving back to the community. I want to make people happy. I want to make people feel confident, Rubio said. I just want to give back to my community for them helping me. Because, without them, I maybe wouldnt be where Im at today because a lot of them trusted me. Photo courtesy of Miguel Rubio. IN FOCUS: How students can deal with back-to-school anxiety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, Rubio gave out free haircuts to nearly 80 boys at Medranos Barbershop in Jacksonville. He also cuts hair in front of the local Catholic Church in his hometown. In the future, Rubio plans to open up at least three barbershops, two in the United States and one in his fathers hometown in Mexico, which currently has no barbershop. He also wants to have his own ranch to raise livestock on one day. To hear more from Rubio, check out his full interview with KETKs Nolan Hoffman in the video above or visit Miguel Linez on Instagram or Facebook. You can now stream KETK and FOX51 News live 24/7 on your smart TV with KETK+, our brand-new app! No antenna, cable, or satellite neededwatch for free, anytime. Just download it on your Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV and start streaming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. HAVELOCK, N.C. (WNCT) The City of Havelock is set to host a fun filed Friday night soon. On August 15, from 5pm to 7pm, the Eastern Carolina Aviation Heritage Foundation will host their 14th Annual Fly-In. STEM stations, giveaways and prizes will be part of the free family event. The Havelock Police Department will provide free school supplies to children who attend. The event will happen at 201 Tourist Center Drive in Havelock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT. RAVENNA, Ky. (FOX 56) Crews from the Millers Creek and Estill County fire departments worked for over four hours when the lodge of Aldersgate Camp and Retreat Center caught fire on Sunday. Millers Creek fire officials posted on Facebook that just before noon on Aug. 9, crews were sent to the camp after reports of heavy smoke coming from the lodge hall. Just before 12:15 p.m., crews with Engine 81 reported that the whole first floor of the structure was on fire. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters emphasized on social media that Aldersgate Camp was a very rural part of the district. Due to the lack of infrastructure, crews eventually had to use the camps swimming pool water to fight the blaze and stop it from spreading. The fire eventually emerged through the roof of the lodge, with extra manpower from multiple crews working for over four hours to keep it under control. Heavy fire conditions spread through the lodge at Aldersgate Camp on Sunday.(Millers Creek Fire Department) Due to the rural area of the fire, crews used a nearby swimming pool to supply their equipment. (Millers Creek Fire Department) Firefighters captured a photo showing the extent of the devastation caused by the fire. (Millers Creek Fire Department) Millers Creek fire officials thanked Debbie Rison and the staff of Helping Hands, as well as department board members Linda and Ed Tipton, for supplying drinks and snacks to firefighters as they worked. 2 charged in Paducah shooting that left woman on life support, other in critical condition Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An investigation into what caused the camp lodge fire remains ongoing. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Aldersgate community during this time as this is a huge loss to the camp, MCFD officials wrote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. EasyJet has suspended one of its captains after he was reportedly seen roaming a luxury hotel drunk and naked. The unnamed pilot was witnessed walking through common areas of a five-star resort in Cape Verde without any clothes on in the early hours of the morning on 5 August, after an extended drinking session in a bar, according to the Sun. He was due to operate a return flight to Gatwick more than 36 hours later, but was grounded after the budget airline received complaints about the incident and a replacement pilot found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An EasyJet spokesman told the BBC the pilot now faces an investigation and that the safety of passengers and crew was its "highest priority". The captain arrived at the Melia Dunas Beach Resort and Spa in the West African island nation on 4 August and proceeded to begin drinking, the Sun reports. At around 02:30 local time (04:30 BST) the following morning, hotel guests reportedly saw him strip off and wander into the reception, before moving on to the gym and spa, according to the newspaper. "The pilot did not have a stitch on and reeked of alcohol," an anonymous source inside the airline was quoted by the paper as saying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Anyone who saw the pilot cavorting naked in the early hours on the day before a flight would not dream of getting on a plane with him at the controls." He was scheduled to helm the 2,332-nautical-mile (4,318km) trip back to Gatwick on the afternoon of 6 August, but was removed from the flight. An EasyJet spokesman said: "As soon as we were made aware, the pilot was immediately stood down from duty, in line with our procedures, pending an investigation. "The safety of our passengers and crew is EasyJet's highest priority." The airline's code of business ethics states that staff must behave "with integrity when dealing with our people, our customers, our partners and the communities within which we operate". British airline EasyJet has suspended a pilot for allegedly wandering around a hotel bar naked and drunk. The incident, which is said to have taken place last week, was reported by British tabloid newspaper The Sun on Monday. According to the report, the man was recognized by passengers at the hotel on the Cape Verde Islands in the early hours of the morning, who then contacted the airline. The pilot was supposed to fly them back to London around 36 hours later, but this did not happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "As soon as EasyJet became aware of the incident, the pilot was immediately suspended in accordance with our procedures until the investigation is complete," a spokeswoman said in response to a dpa inquiry. "The safety of our passengers and crew is always EasyJet's top priority, she added. According to the Sun report, another pilot was assigned to the return flight. The Republic of Cape Verde consists of 10 islands in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of West Africa. The flight from London takes around six hours. CHIPPEWA FALLS An Eau Claire man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison, along with another 10 years of extended supervision, after he was convicted of multiple drug offenses. James T. Shafer, 33, who used to live at a home on Franklin Street, was convicted in Chippewa County Court of one count of possession of meth, and another count of manufacturing with the intent to deliver amphetamines. Wisconsin court records show that this was the ninth time that Shafer has been convicted for possession of methamphetamine in the past decade. On Thursday, Judge Benjamin Lane ordered the lengthy prison term, and made it concurrent to a prison sentence Shafer is already serving. Shafer is incarcerated in the Jackson Correctional Institution and appeared in court via video from the prison. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As terms of his extended probation, Shafer cannot have any contact with several victims, and he cannot consume, possess, buy, sell or carry alcohol or illegal drugs or drug paraphernalia. Shafer must participate in treatment programs set by his probation agent. He must pay $1,076 in court costs and fines and he must submit a DNA sample. According to the criminal complaint, an officer used a confidential informant to make a controlled buy of meth from Shafer on April 18, 2024, at a home in Chippewa Falls. The sandwich bag of white crystal substance that [the confidential informant] turned over the investigators weighed 59.74 grams inclusive of bag weight and field tested presumptively positive for the presence of methamphetamine, the criminal complaint reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Along with this case, Shafer also has an unresolved case in Eau Claire County Court, where hes charged with maintaining a drug trafficking place and possession of meth. He is slated to return to that court on Sept. 10. Shafer has been convicted in 15 different felony cases in Wisconsin since 2016, online court records show. Shafers most recent conviction was for possession of stolen property in Chippewa County Court in 2023. Along with those eight prior meth possession convictions, he also has previously been convicted of theft of movable property, fleeing or eluding an officer, and bail jumping. Doug Kreulen, president and CEO of Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, Gov. Bill Lee and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announce a plan for Elon Musk's Boring Company to build an underground tunnel from the airport to Downtown Nashville. (Photo: John Partipilo/Tennessee Lookout) Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee was all smiles on July 28 as he announced the Boring Company, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, has plans to build a 10-mile tunnel connecting Nashville International Airport with downtown Nashville. The Music City Loop, as the project has been dubbed, will transport riders in electric vehicles, and if the project is anything like a similar Boring Loop in Las Vegas, the cars will all be Teslas, as Musk also owns Tesla. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company website says it creates tunnels to solve the problem of soul destroying traffic, and Lee said the project will transform the way people travel from the airport to downtown Nashville. Aside from the Looney Tunes-Wile E. Coyote-sounding aspect of the project, the potential environmental impacts of boring through Middle Tennessees limestone even Boring CEO Steve Davis admitted construction would be challenging and the companys poor track record it has managed to complete only one similar project, in Las Vegas, while projects in Illinois, Maryland, Florida and California have all been busts theres another topic on my mind. Hypocrisy, or, perhaps, lack thereof. My first thought was that Lees support for the project is hypocritical: After all, Tennessees Republican lawmakers have repeatedly over the last decade sneered at and stomped on efforts by Nashville leaders to enact mass transit plans geared toward alleviating the citys growing traffic snarls while simultaneously stripping the citys power. In 2012, Nashville Mayor Karl Dean pitched a plan for bus rapid transit (BRT), which allows buses to use dedicated lanes down the center of streets, expediting travel time: BRT is one of the simplest and most effective methods for expanding municipal transit. More than half of U.S. states implement BRT including conservative states like Alabama, Florida and Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan wasnt perfect, but it was a starting point, aimed at connecting East and West Nashville. Nonetheless, it drew pushback from conservative political advocacy group Americans For Prosperity and subsequently from Tennessee Republicans. Former state Rep. Jeremy Durham, a Franklin Republican, crafted a measure in 2014 that would give the state the final say on any BRT project, whether state funds were used or not. Not only did that project, known as The Amp, die, but the law continues to impede Nashvilles transit plans: despite the citys voters approving by a large margin a new tax to pay for transit improvements, city leaders will still need state approval to add transit on state roads. More recently, the GOP-legislature has enacted measure after preemptive measure designed to strip power from Nashvilles Metro Council and governing boards including the Airport Authority and Convention Center Authority and to cut the size of Metro Council in half. So, yes, supporting this boondoggle for billionaires and tourists may, at first glance, appear hypocritical based on past opposition to transit, but after thinking this over, I would argue that its 100% on brand for Lee and the state lawmakers who zoomed approval for a no-cost lease of state property to the Musk company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Lee administration has failed to find solutions or in some cases, even to try to find them for issues important to Tennesseans. Since Lee was elected in 2018, he has raised no concern about the number of Tennesseans who lack health insurance. The Tennessee Justice Center, a nonprofit public advocacy organization, estimates about 300,000 people in the state arent covered by TennCare, the states Medicaid program, as lawmakers have refused to take a federal Medicaid expansion enacted in the Obama administration. Gun safety? A nonstarter. After a 2023 school shooting, Lee held a special legislative session ostensibly devoted to creating safer laws around gun possession. Little was accomplished other than an agreement to apply $50 million to community mental health programs a good start, but the funds were pulled from the already overburdened TennCare. Then theres the Department of Childrens Services. The state has been woefully slow to find solutions for the problem of having kids in state custody sleeping on the floor of office buildings. And although Lee has touted adoption as a solution to the number of children in foster care, Anita Wadhwani recently reported about a family who adopted a child with mental health needs, only to be thwarted in their attempts to find him help and threatened with child abandonment charges. Finally, we have the Middle Tennessee issue of, yes, soul-destroying traffic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The area around Nashville is in dire need of mass transit to navigate the three interstates that run through the city. Commutes from Murfreesboro up the I-24 corridor during rush hour are legendary for bumper-to-bumper traffic. To get from Franklin to Nashville around 18 miles easily takes an hour. What does Lee give us? Toll lanes, couched as choice lanes, meaning you have the choice to pay extra money to travel in a less trafficked lane, and now this Musk-backed absurdity. Spare me the governors platitudes about how the Musk tunnel project will streamline traffic: I feel confident a tunnel for Teslas connecting the airport with downtown will offer little benefit to residents of Nashville and none to commuters who live in surrounding counties, but will put money in the pockets of people who least need it. Another idea that doesnt benefit Tennesseans? Theres no hypocrisy: Thats Lee to a tee. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Its Aug. 11, and the weathers finally been nice for a few weeks, minus the Canadian smog. But instead of enjoying these late-summer days, lots of Chicago-area kids are marching to school today, bulging backpacks perched on sweat-soaked backs. This week marks the start of a new school year for many students, believe it or not, and Labor Day is still three weeks away. Among the unlucky students are those at Evanston Township High School, which kicked off the school year today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When putting together calendars, school administrators are never going to make everyone happy. But Aug. 11? Thats still the height of summer in our minds. Administrators acknowledge that this year is beginning a little earlier than usual, but say the pain is worth it. The schedule allows for a more balanced first and second semester, so that semester finals take place before winter break rather than after, an ETHS official told Evanston Now, adding that the high school did everything it could to align with District 65, the pre-K-eighth grade district that includes Evanston. We certainly understand wanting to let kids wrap up exams before semester breaks. Is this really the only way to get there? Evanston isnt the only suburb sending high schoolers back this week. Summer is ending early for students in the Glenbrook high schools, also in the north suburbs; Prospect High School and John Hersey High School in the northwest burbs; and far southwest suburban Minooka Community High School. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Summer heat typically is more intense downstate, but thats not stopping some southern Illinois districts from getting on the bandwagon. Belleville Township High School starts back Thursday. We wonder, if one polled students, whether theyd agree with our old-school views: Whats wrong with starting classes right after Labor Day, which marks the unofficial farewell to summer? And if that means a later start to the following summer holiday, so be it. Its not like May is a reliably beautiful weather month in Chicago. For many years, Chicago Public Schools started after Labor Day and went well into June before summer dismissal. If youre going to stick to the traditional nine-month school year, at least line up breaks with the nice weather so the kids can enjoy it. Itll be snowing here before you know it. Some educators argue for an entirely different approach. A handful of places have ditched the nine-month school calendar in favor of year-round school, a move that acknowledges the very real learning loss that takes place when kids press pause on their studies for months on end. Some parts of the U.S. eschew lengthy summers for shorter, more frequent breaks, including a handful of schools in the Durham, North Carolina, public school system. Though that approach remains rare, its intriguing if it really means higher-performing students. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But seeing as year-round school isnt being considered in these parts, we have a favor to ask of administrators across the state assembling school calendars for the 2026-2027 school year. Lets hold onto summer just a bit longer. Get kids to the end of August, then throw them back into reality. We trust it can be done. Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. Chicago is blessed with a bounty of colleges and universities within its borders. Most of them, from the University of Chicago in Hyde Park on the South Side to Loyola University in Rogers Park on the North Side, act as economic drivers for their neighborhoods. They spawn housing, restaurants and retail that serve employees and students at the institutions, as well as the fortunate residents of those cities within a city. One of the few exceptions to this rule is Chicago State University in the Roseland neighborhood on Chicagos Far South Side. The public university, which has served primarily Black students for more than 50 years, sits on a gorgeous, 161-acre campus, clustered with copses of stately trees that make the grounds look something like an East Coast institution with a far longer lineage than CSU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But one look at 95th Street, the Chicago arterial that borders CSU to the north, lets you know youre not in Princeton, New Jersey, or Charlottesville, Virginia. From Cottage Grove Avenue west to Halsted Street, 95th is dominated by modest single-family homes, mainly small churches, a few fast-food spots and a massive storage building. (A multistory U-Haul facility occupies an entire block.) Just east of Cottage Grove is yet another sprawling storage facility. These are not the sorts of uses that create foot traffic, which understandably is scant. Thats not to say the neighborhood is blighted. Far from it. Residential communities just to the north of the school feature well-kept brick bungalows with immaculate lawns all the hallmarks of a classic working-class Chicago neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For many, its surely a pleasant place to live. There just arent places to gather, nor shops to speak of, within walking or biking distance. Residents have to leave the neighborhood for those amenities. CSU President Zaldwaynaka Z Scott has ambitious plans to create the sort of community with coffee shops, bookstores, apartments and eateries that most other universities and colleges inspire, support and take for granted. The university, partnering with real estate outfit CBRE, has issued a request for proposals to develop buildings with 528 student units and 25,000 square feet of attached retail on land that currently is the site of a bus turnaround and expansive lawns near the entrance to CSUs main parking lot. The timetable to complete that part of Scotts vision is 2027. But its supposed to be just the first of four phases. Like we said, the plans are ambitious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nothing wrong with that. This is Chicago, after all, where Daniel Burnhams make no little plans philosophy is invoked routinely. And we are rooting for success here. The part of the South Side thats home to CSU is underpopulated and underdeveloped. Like many other neighborhoods in Chicagos geographically largest area, Roseland and the 95th Street corridor cry out for creative development ideas and investment. It helps that other unrelated improvements to the area are in the offing. The 95th Street Metra Electric station within an easy walk of CSU is getting a desperately needed upgrade, which should draw more commuters out of their cars and onto the street once there are places to visit other than the school. A few blocks west of CSU, we have serious misgivings about the ballooning cost of the much-delayed Red Line extension south from the 95th Street station that currently is the terminus of that line. But as long as that CTA expansion remains in the works, a more densely populated, economically vibrant college community along 95th Street could help make that multibillion-dollar investment begin to pay off with more ridership and perhaps catalyze more transit-oriented residential development around the Red Line station there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These are lovely dreams, but realism is important to keep in mind here as well. Taking the baby steps in Scotts first phase of what shes calling University Village 95 is necessary before any giant leaps happen. CSU currently is mainly a commuter school, which explains in part why 95th Street looks nothing like 53rd Street in Hyde Park, 5 miles to the north. Scott says theres pent-up demand from CSU students to live on or near campus, and thats what will fuel the first phase of this project. If those projections are overblown, this effort wont go far. In addition, like many colleges and universities around the country, CSU, with 2,300 students, is struggling to keep enrollment up. We know little about how Scott thinks the first phase will be financed other than that it will have to be done with private funds and not money that CSU frankly doesnt have for any kind of development of this sort. Thats a stark difference from the well-endowed University of Chicago, which fronted much of the cash to transform 53rd Street from the tired retail strip it was not long ago to the vibrant corridor it is today: 53rd Street now serves as a destination for young and old from all parts of the South Side, a boon both to Hyde Park and to the university. Loyola has done much the same in its North Side neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, 95th Street holds plenty of promise. If the CSU initiative can get a little momentum, who knows what can be achieved? Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email letters@chicagotribune.com. President Donald Trumps deadline of today for Russian leader Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire deal between Russia and Ukraine seems ready to come and go with no deal. We wish the presidents desire for peace was fulfilled, for as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says: the war must end. And it must be done honestly, meaning a complete withdrawal of invading Russian troops. But this is Putins war and Putin has not achieved his war aims, namely to conquer Kyiv. Trumps envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin at the Kremlin this week and now there are plans that Trump will sit down with Putin and Zelenskyy soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We hope that Trump, a salesman for more than half a century, can put on the charisma and win over Vlad, but the ex-KGB lieutenant colonel is probably immune to the Donalds charms. Having been back in the White House for six months now, Trump must finally be realizing that he cant end this war in 24 hours, as he boasted when he was out of office. Putin will respond only to military defeats and economic pressure. The Ukrainians will bloody him on the battlefield and the U.S. and our allies must keep on the sanctions to blunt Putins power and his vision of an imperial Russia retaking its place in the firmament of global powers. Putins withdrawal and ending this war will not be pleasant for him. But his failure to quickly capture Kyiv following the February 2022 invasion set the stage for the grinding conflict that is draining both Russia and Ukraine of blood and treasure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an ideal world, Putins recalcitrance to end his folly will at least finally convince Trump that there is not and was never going to be a quick and easy solution that he could be seen to personally mediate in his apparent quest to get a Nobel peace prize. We hope that its become clear to Trump that the only reason any negotiations are even happening as opposed to a Putin puppet already calling the shots in Ukraine is that the Ukrainian forces have continued to receive the support of the international community, including necessary arms replenishment and supplies from the United States. Despite his missteps and confusion, Trump is right about one thing: the only way out of this mess is dialogue until the sides can reach a resolution, which must happen from a position of strength for Ukraine. A final deal rests on having each side feel like it can claim some measure of victory, which may entail some concessions to Russia, although there should be some clear nonnegotiables. Among those, the most important is the crux of this entire mess in the first place: Ukraines territorial integrity, which must be preserved at least to the borders that existed as of the time of the invasion. Beyond being moral, this is for practical reasons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As much as Putin has lost in this campaign military capability, economic strength and hundreds of thousands of lives he may well consider it a template worth repeating if he ultimately gets the chunk of territory he so desperately desires. For the sake of Europes and our continued security, it must be made crystal clear to Putin that his objectives of territorial expansion have failed absolutely. Perhaps this debacle might also temper some of Trumps own stated territorial ambitions; the age of military annexations is over, for good reason. _____ Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy Director Phil Roos. Aug. 8, 2025 | Photo by Kyle Davidson/Michigan Advance Following years of legal back and forth, attorneys for the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, and a host of environmental groups and agricultural industry representatives, met on Friday to discuss whether to move forward with tighter restrictions on industrial livestock farming. EGLE offered a new general permit for regulating concentrated animal feeding operations in 2020, updating provisions from its previous 2015 permit including regulations on how animal waste is applied as fertilizer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the department is required to issue new permits every five years, the 2020 permit never went into effect due to several challenges from agricultural industry groups. The Michigan Supreme Court determined in 2024 that EGLE had not violated administrative rulemaking procedures when issuing new requirements on the amount of phosphorus that can be applied to land and revising setback requirements for where these feeding operations can apply livestock waste. However, Administrative Law Judge Daniel Pulter stripped out several provisions earlier this year as part of the contested case hearing on the new permit. Zachary Larsen, an attorney representing several agricultural industry groups, opposed additional measures proposed by environmental interests to more tightly regulate how confined animal feeding operations apply their waste to agricultural fields. Aug. 8, 2025 | Photo by Kyle Davidson/Michigan Advance In a discussion with EGLE Director Phil Roos, attorneys representing the agencys Water Resources Division and representatives from the Environmental Law and Policy Center offered several suggestions on how the permit could be strengthened, advising Roos to restore provisions Pulter removed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EGLE is ready to move forward under a new permit, instead of being stuck for more than a decade under the insufficiently protective 2015 general permit, Assistant Attorney General Elizabeth Morrisseau, who represented the Water Resources Division, said, adding that she hoped the agricultural groups felt the same way. A 2024 report from the Environmental Law and Policy Center notes waste from large scale animal feed operations often contain substances that can harm the environment, including detergents, antibiotics, PFAS and pathogens like E. coli. When livestock waste is overapplied and misapplied, nutrients like phosphorus can runoff into water sources, leading to harmful algal blooms. Nitrates, another nutrient found in feeding operation waste, also pose a risk to groundwater and have been linked to birth defects, miscarriage, blue baby syndrome and cancer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For the past five years because of these legal challenges, the untreated sewage generated by [concentrated animal feeding operations] has been subject to a failing 10 year old permit, and that delay has had consequences. In just the two years from 2022 to 2024, an additional 583 waters in Michigan have been deemed impaired due to E. coli, phosphorus or other nutrients. Katie Garvey, senior attorney for the Environmental Law and Policy Center, said. Katie Garvey, senior attorney for the Environmental Law and Policy Center. Aug. 8, 2025 | Photo by Kyle Davidson/Michigan Advance In order to avert these harms Morrisseau offered three recommendations: Banning wintertime land application of animal waste, save for the last two weeks of March Allow permit writers to craft additional conditions when issuing certificates of coverage to large scale animal farms operating and disposing waste in watersheds subject to total maximum daily load conditions, which determine how much pollution a lake or stream can absorb in order to comply with state water quality standards Adding the following provisions stripped out by Pulters ruling. A definition of the term operational control over manure Individual groundwater monitoring requirements Individual land application reporting requirements While the Environmental Law and Policy Center agreed with EGLEs recommendations, the organization offered recommendations of their own, including: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A full ban on winter application and the sale, gift or transfer of animal feeding operation waste through March 31 and on frozen or snow-covered ground at any other time Additional requirements on the sale, gift or transfer of animal feeding operation waste, to help EGLE can track where this waste is being applied Requiring the use of the Michigan Phosphorus Risk Assessment when applying manure Banning the application of waste from animal feeding operations on tile-drained fields, which drain into nearby surface waters Requiring additional testing of discharge from tile drains Revising waste storage capacity calculation guidelines SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Zachary Larsen, representing the Michigan Farm Bureau and several other agricultural industry groups, argued many of the requests from EGLE and the Environmental Law and Policy Center fell outside of the departments legal authority, and that the Roos should avoid modifying Pulters decision. He also raised due process concerns, pointing to a 2024 executive order from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer which eliminated the Environmental Permitting Review Committee giving EGLEs director or their designee the authority to hear permit review appeals and make decisions on permit application review petitions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For those five years, EGLE pursued this litigation both in court and in front of the administrative body, and doubtlessly did so with the knowledge and approval of the agencys leadership. Now EGLE staff is asking the same leadership to overturn much of the independent [administrative law judges] decision, Larsen said. During the public comment period several Michigan residents discussed their experiences living near concentrated animal feeding operations, sharing grievances ranging from foul smells in the area to the contamination of their well water. Sydney Howard, speaking on behalf of FLOW Water advocates, said communities with higher poverty rates were correlated with areas where confined animal feeding operations were more likely to spread their manure, particularly in central Michigan, calling it a case of textbook environmental justice. At the conclusion of the more than four-hour long hearing, Roos moved the meeting into closed session to consult with his attorney. Upon resuming, he declined to make a final determination on the permit, promising to schedule another meeting date. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Eight people were injured during a shooting in Jackson early Monday morning. The shooting occurred at North Mart Plaza shortly after 12:00 a.m. on August 11. Brandon man injured in shooting on Luckney Road Bailey Martin, spokesperson for the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (MDPS), said Capitol police discovered eight individuals, ages 21 to 40, had suffered gunshot wounds. They were transported to a nearby hospital for treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martin said one person was in critical condition, and the others were treated for non-life-threatening injuries. Eight people were injured during a shooting in Jackson early Monday morning. (WJTV) Eight people were injured during a shooting in Jackson early Monday morning. (WJTV) Eight people were injured during a shooting in Jackson early Monday morning. (WJTV) Jackson City Councilman Kenneth Stokes, Ward 3, said increasing the police force is critical to restoring safety in the capital city. We should have 500 paid police officers. And we need to pay them like our lives depend on them, Stokes said. No arrests have been made at this time. Anyone with information can contact the Capitol Police Department at 601-359-3125. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. On August 8, 2025, President Xi Jinping had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the latter's request. Vladimir Putin briefed Xi Jinping on Russia's views on the current situation of the Ukraine crisis and the recent contact and communication between Russia and the United States, adding that Russia highly appreciates the constructive role China has been playing in the political settlement of the crisis. He stated that the comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination between Russia and China will not change under any circumstances, and that Russia will continue maintaining close communication with China. Xi Jinping elaborated on China's principled stance on the Ukraine crisis and stressed that complex issues have no simple solutions. No matter how the situation evolves, China will maintain its consistent position and continue promoting talks for peace. China welcomes contacts between Russia and the US to improve bilateral ties and advance the process of realizing a political settlement of the crisis. 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 advance the greater development of bilateral relations. Both sides will make concerted efforts in preparation for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Tianjin Summit to ensure a successful gathering of friendship, solidarity and fruitful results and drive the SCO's high-quality development. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The El Paso Community College (EPCC) Licensed Vocational Nursing Program celebrated 25 graduates with a pinning ceremony on Friday, Aug. 8. According to the news release by EPCC, the pinning ceremony marked the graduates accomplishments through a culmination of months of rigorous study, clinical practice and personal dedication. Nurse Honor Guard members from left: Anna Favela, Siobhan Payne, Jennifer Martinez and Angela Guerrero. EPCC Vocatiional Nursing graduate Jorge Licerio is hugged by friend Claudia Reveles during a Pinning Ceremony for the Summer Class of 2025 Friday. Vocational Nurse graduate Sara Lucas posed for a photo with her husband, Mason Lucas after he pinned her Friday. 2025 Graduates of the EPCC Vocational Nursing program conduct the Lighting of the Lamp and Nightingale Pledge Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the ceremony, the presentation of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nursing honored a student and faculty excellence, EPCC said. EPCC said Sara Lucas received the DAISY Award for student nurse, and Barbara Vasquez received the DAISY Award for nursing faculty. Their knowledge, dedication, and unwavering belief in these students have made today possible, EPCC Vocational Nursing Program Coordinator Melissa Robertson said. We have a really great program, and we are super proud of all of our graduates. In addition, the graduates were reminded that those who confirmed their intent to continue have secured a seat in EPCCs Associate Degree in Nursing Transition Program, the college said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to EPCC, the program is two semesters that are designed to give licensed vocational nurses an opportunity to build on their skills and prepare for expanded roles in the nursing program. You were able to handle everything, the long days, the complex coursework, and life outside of school, EPCC Dean of Nursing Dr. Hafid Guerrero said. This is one of the biggest and closest classes weve had in years, and you will now be the ones to bring comfort and care to patients from their first moments to their last. As the ceremony ended, each grad received their nursing pin, a symbol of their entry into the profession and a reminder of the values they will uphold as licensed vocational nurses, read the news release. For more information about EPCCs Nursing Program, you can visit their website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) El Paso Fire crews battled a Condition 2 house fire on Monday morning, Aug. 11, in West El Paso. El Paso Fire said the call came in at 9:50 a.m. near Espana Lane and Fiesta Drive. It was initially announced as a Condition 1, but it eventually became a Condition 2 fire, according to the El Paso Fire. The fire was knocked down at 10:25 a.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 KTSM 9 News. The Brief LA City firefighters were called to an apartment building located near the intersection of Beverly Drive and Pico Boulevard. Arriving firefighters discovered the fire was coming from the fourth floor. Additional resources were requested. LOS ANGELES - Two people were rescued after Los Angeles City firefighters quickly knocked down a fire that broke out at an apartment building in the Pico-Robertson neighborhood on Monday. What we know Firefighters with the Los Angeles Fire Department were called to a six-story apartment building located at 1115 S. Elm Dr., located near the intersection of Beverly Drive and Pico Boulevard, just before 10:50 a.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arriving firefighters discovered the fire was coming from a unit on the fourth floor with smoke seen from the unit's balcony. Firefighters were able to gain access to the fourth floor and requested additional resources. The fire was then declared a knockdown within 26 minutes. Following reports of a person trapped inside, a 94-year-old woman was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. A 54-year-old man who was also rescued was taken to the hospital in fair condition. LAFD officials also said the fire was held to one unit and were able to stop the fire from spreading to other units. Firefighters continue to clear smoke from the building that will affect traffic in the area. What we don't know The cause of the fire is under investigation. The Source This story used information provided by the Los Angeles Fire Department. Several billionaires have started schools or supported new educational efforts. The ventures stretch from preschools to high schools, and many are founded by tech billionaires. Some are scheduled to close, and some have yet to open. Just because some of the world's biggest billionaires dropped out of college, it doesn't mean they don't care about school. In recent years, a number of the country's wealthiest have founded, invested, or thrown their support behind schools to varying degrees of success. One has even run into issues with city coding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the education system is undergoing potentially profound changes under President Donald Trump's second administration and some schools face privatization, billionaires have thrown their hats into the educational ring. From Elon Musk to Mark Zuckerberg, here are some of the billionaires getting involved in schools. Elon Musk Elon Musk is funding a private preschool in Texas. Taylor Hill/Getty Images The Tesla CEO and the world's richest man has founded multiple schools over the years. His latest, a private preschool called Ad Astra, is scheduled to open in the fall of 2025, according to its website. Ad Astra is in Bastrop, Texas, close to Starbase, the city Musk founded near his SpaceX complex. The school is accepting applications for kids between the ages of three and nine. It's not a Montessori school but draws on similar principles, focusing on child-centered learning, according to the website. The curriculum focuses on STEM subjects fitting since Ad Astra is Latin for "to the stars." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the school's site, Ad Astra will subsidize tuition in the opening year and will later cost around as much as local private schools. A permit from the Texas Health and Human Services Department allowing Ad Astra to open in 2025 specified that it can enroll 21 students in its first year. The application materials, first reported by Bloomberg, said the school aims to expand into a STEM-focused university. None of the application materials to the state include Musk's name, but his foundation donated $100 million to the preschool, according to tax filings, as BI previously reported. In 2014, Musk opened a different school in California named Ad Astra for his children and the kids of SpaceX employees. That venture evolved into a largely online school called Astra Nova. According to its website, Astra Nova serves around 300 students between the ages of 10 and 14. Class offerings on the site range from special relativity to songwriting to ethical hacking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk was worth $409.4 billion as of August 21, according to Forbes. Mark Zuckerberg Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg spoke about his leadership style at Stripe Sessions. Manuel Orbegozo/REUTERS Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, created The Primary School in 2016 through their philanthropy, the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. The tuition-free private school said in April 2025 that it would close by the end of the 2026 academic year. The Primary School is a tuition-free private school with locations in East Palo Alto and East Bay, California. According to its website, it serves hundreds of students and works to more closely connect parents, teachers, and medical and mental health professionals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The school's website highlights diversity, equity, and inclusion, and its closure was announced at the same time some of Zuckerberg's other ventures rolled back DEI efforts. Meta dropped many of its DEI initiatives in January 2025, and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative ended its own DEI efforts one month later. A message announcing the closure on the school website says that the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative will invest $50 million in surrounding communities in the coming years, including savings plans for soon-to-be former students and "transition specialists" for families. Zuckerberg and Chan ran into issues with another school they ran in California, as the New York Times first reported. A spokesperson for Palo Alto, Meghan Horrigan-Taylor, confirmed to BI that the city received a code violation complaint at the property "regarding use as a private school without a conditional use permit." She said the city no longer thinks the school is operating at that location. A spokesperson for Zuckerberg and Chan told BI that it is not a private school but a homeschooling operation that began during the pandemic. State affidavits don't allow for a distinction between a homeschool and a typical private school, they said, and added that parents teach many of the subjects, the spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zuckerberg and Chan plan to move the children to a location outside of their home, according to the spokesperson, who said city officials have confirmed that homeschooling is allowed in residential zones in Palo Alto. "They value being members of the community and have taken a number of steps above and beyond any local requirements to avoid disruption in the neighborhood," the spokesperson said of Zuckerberg and Chan. Zuckerberg was worth $255.8 billion as of August 21, according to Forbes. Jeff Bezos Bezos has started a network of preschools. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images, Amazon founder and executive chairman Jeff Bezos founded a whole network of preschools called Bezos Academy. He started the schools through the Bezos Day One Fund, and the first location opened in 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bezos Academy runs "Montessori-inspired preschools in under-resourced communities," according to its website. Bezos attended a Montessori school himself. The schools are tuition-free and serve children between the ages of three and five. The website lists schools in Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Texas, and Washington. Bezos was worth $234.5 billion as of August 21, according to Forbes. Laurene Powell Jobs Laurene Powell Jobs REUTERS/Gus Ruelas Unlike the other billionaires on this list, businesswoman Laurene Powell Jobs hasn't started one individual school but an independent nonprofit that distributes money to high schools across the country. According to its website, XQ Institute is "rethinking high school " and is based on the idea that the rapidly changing workplace and technological world demand a new educational approach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Powell Jobs, the widow of Steve Jobs, co-founded XQ Institute in 2015. Powell Jobs' organization, Emerson Collective, has invested $300 million in XQ Institute, which has also granted grants to schools across the country. However, as BI previously reported, XQ Institute has encountered some controversies over its data and efficacy in recent years. Powell Jobs was worth was worth $13.7 billion as of August 21, according to Forbes. Bill Ackman FILE PHOTO: FILE PHOTO: Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital Reuters Hedge fund manager Bill Ackman is reportedly involved with Alpha School, a network of private institutions embracing AI and rejecting hot-button social issues. According to its website, Alpha School uses AI to help students complete learning for their core subjects in "just two hours daily," letting them focus on life skills in the afternoon. The listed life skills workshops range from "Startup Founder" to "AI Teaching Assistant" to "Friendship Coordinator." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While not a founder of the school, Ackman is something of an unofficial ambassador to Alpha School, sources told The Wall Street Journal. A representative for Alpha School told Business Insider that Ackman does not have a formal role. Ackman is hosting an event at his Hamptons home in late August featuring the Alpha School co-founder and other guests, the spokesperson said. The school's co-founder told the Journal that Alpha School tries to keep social issues out of the classroom. Ackman is a vocal critic of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, and has criticized universities like Harvard over their policies around antisemitism. Ackman posted on about the school on X after the Journal reported on his involvement, calling it "the first truly breakthrough innovation in K-12 education that I have seen since the Kipp Academy." Alpha School has locations in Texas, Florida, and California, and is opening more schools across the nation soon, according to its website. Tuition ranges from $40,000 to $75,000 depending on location. The school hires "guides" rather than teachers, and the co-founder told the Journal that most don't have teaching degrees. On its website, the school says it selects guides "from top universities across the country with competitive backgrounds in fields like tech and start-ups." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The school serves kindergarten through 12th grade, though it notes on its site that "Alpha works in levels that are based on specific capabilities as opposed to traditional grade models." Ackman was worth $9.5 billion as of August 21, according to Forbes. Oprah Winfrey Oprah Winfrey at the 81st Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 7, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California. Tommaso Boddi/Golden Globes 2024/Golden Globes 2024 via Getty Images Oprah Winfrey opened the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls, a boarding school in South Africa, in 2007. More than 525 girls have graduated, according to the Oprah Foundation website. The school serves students from 8th to 12th grade and has a 1% acceptance rate, per the Oprah Foundation. Oprah posted on Instagram about attending graduation at the school in 2024, saying in the caption that she had been to 22 of the ceremonies. Oprah was worth $3.1 billion as of August 21, according to Forbes. LeBron James Lebron James helped open a public school in Ohio Icon Sportswire/Getty Images Los Angeles Lakers star Lebron James founded a school in his hometown of Akron, Ohio, in 2018, in partnership with the local public school system. The LeBron James Family Foundation backed the I Promise School, which is "dedicated to those students who are already falling behind and in danger of falling through the cracks," according to its website. As a public school, I Promise is funded by the Akron Public Schools district, but receives addition funds from James' foundation, according to Case Western University. It serves students between first and eighth grade and provides wraparound services, including a longer school day. James was worth $1.2 billion as of August 21, according to Forbes. Are you a parent at one of these schools, or have you considered enrolling your child? Contact this reporter via email at atecotzky@insider.com or Signal at alicetecotzky.05. Use a personal email address and a non-work device; here's our guide to sharing information securely. Read the original article on Business Insider A shooting near Emory University at a CVS has left the suspect, Patrick Joseph White, dead from a gunshot wound. The incident occurred close to Emory University, where classes are set to begin on Aug. 27, causing concern among students about safety in the area. We checked in with his partner, so yes, theyre taking time to process everything. Theyre just resting. I cant imagine being in that situation. It was surreal just to hear that, Ruwel Sarmad, a dancer at Dance 101 near the CVS, told Channel 2s Bryan Mims. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dance 101 reopened on Saturday. Its community members said they have always felt safe in the area. Sarmad mentioned that a fellow dancer was working at the CVS during the shooting. The CVS was on lockdown for hours following the incident, and police have not confirmed whether the fatal gunshot was self-inflicted or fired by officers. A poster featuring Officer David Rose has appeared outside the CDC headquarters, allowing people to leave messages and flowers. The community continues to process the events, with tributes expected in the coming days at the site of the shooting. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] KANSAS CITY, Mo. SEA LIFE Kansas City Aquarium welcomed a new member into its family, marking a new chapter in the young sea turtles life and bringing a critically endangered species to the Heartland. Kempsville, the Kemps ridley sea turtle, joined the ever-growing roster of beautiful sea creatures at the local aquarium after flying 1,000 miles from Baltimore to Kansas City on Monday. She has now solidified her name as Missouris only permanent resident Kemps ridley sea turtle. Check out these 9 pet-friendly patios across the Kansas City metro Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She earned her wings with the help of Turtles Fly Too, a nonprofit that helps transport endangered species, specifically sea turtles. According to SEA LIFE Kansas City, the organization has helped more than 4,000 turtles in the past 11 years, and its primary mission is to promote conservation through education and outreach. Although flying is normal for many humans, it takes a whole team of specialists and a list of precautions to ensure sea turtles safe travels. Each animal is accompanied by trained care professionals, then the enclosure is securely strapped to guarantee a safe ride. All aspects of the transport are carefully planned, and each animal is supervised to ensure they remain comfortable and secure. Staff at SEA LIFE Kansas City preparing a Kemps ridley sea turtle to travel 1,000 miles from Baltimore to the KC metro. Staff at SEA LIFE Kansas City preparing a Kemps ridley sea turtle to travel 1,000 miles from Baltimore to the KC metro. But even though the flights are long and potentially stressful, Kempsville had already been through quite the journey before she was rescued off the coast of Virginia Beach in May 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to SEA LIFE Kansas City, the endangered turtle was found by the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center staff after she accidentally swallowed a fishing hook. She then underwent a dehooking procedure and was taken to the National Aquarium for long-term rehabilitation in the event of lingering infections and malnutrition. This also included care for arthritis in her front flippers, which prevented her from passing a swim test. Explore nature at these 14 campgrounds near the Kansas City metro According to the US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), this meant Kempsville was not allowed to be returned to the ocean and would need to remain under human supervision. The USFWS then chose the KC metro as her forever home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, Kempsville is able to share her amazing story with all her new friends in and outside of the aquarium. SEA LIFE Kansas City is located at 2475 Grand Blvd. in Kansas City, Missouri. You can buy tickets to the aquarium here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Recently appointed Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin appeared on CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday to justify a recent EPA attempt to repeal a scientific finding one which enables the agency to regulate harmful emissions under the Clean Air Act. What's happening? On July 29, the EPA issued a press release about a proposal announced during Zeldin's visit to a car dealership in Indianapolis. It disclosed plans to "revoke" the 2009 Endangerment Finding, citing a non-existent "electric vehicle (EV) mandate" as policy enabled by it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The "Endangerment Finding" refers to a December 2009 acknowledgment by the EPA's then-Administrator, "a prerequisite" enabling the Agency to regulate harmful emissions. It recognized that "current and projected concentrations of the six key well-mixed greenhouse gases threaten the public health and welfare of current and future generations," and that vehicle emissions "contribute to the greenhouse gas pollution that threatens public health." The EPA's adoption of the Endangerment Finding followed a 2007 Supreme Court ruling in Massachusetts vs. EPA, identifying greenhouse gases as a form of pollution subject to regulation under the Clean Air Act. In the EPA's press release proposing the repeal of the finding, the Agency made no attempt to couch the decision in terms of science. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rather, it asserted that "many have stated that the American people and auto manufacturing have suffered from significant uncertainties and massive costs" since the EPA recognized greenhouse gas pollution often from power plants and car exhaust as a public health threat. While the health threat of this pollution also includes the common sense that people should avoid breathing in this pollution directly and thus it is not a positive toward the quality of the air at large, the Endangerment Finding itself focuses more on the gases' contributions toward the planet's increasing average temperatures. During his CNN appearance on Aug. 3, Zeldin claimed the Endangerment Finding "relied on the most pessimistic views of the science," but failed to explain further. "We're going through a public comment period. We want to make the right decision afterward," Zeldin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At one point, a CNN host directly asked Zeldin if he rejected a global scientific consensus that greenhouse gases are causing the planet to overheat. "That might be your way to try to twist my words," Zeldin deflected. He did not answer the question. Why are attempts to 'revoke' the Endangerment Finding concerning? Although the Endangerment Finding is relatively young, it gave the federal government a legal basis to enforce emissions pollution standards and regulate threats to public health. In their coverage of Zeldin's proposal, The New York Times called the move the administration's "most consequential step yet to derail federal climate efforts." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CBS News reported that the move followed the hottest year on record from cumulative average temperatures, 2024, and an ever-increasing number of deadly and violent extreme weather events. The outlet quoted a statement by Robert Howarth, a Cornell University professor of ecology and environmental biology. "For the EPA to repeal the 2009 finding borders on criminal negligence," Howarth said. "The science was clear in 2009 and has become much stronger and clearer since: climate disruption is a large and growing problem; it is caused primarily from our use of fossil fuels and the resultant emissions of carbon dioxide and methane; and it is a deadly problem." What's being done about it? Zeldin alluded to a "public comment period" for Americans to object to the repeal of the Endangerment Finding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Christy Goldfuss of the Natural Resources Defense Council signaled that environmental advocacy groups intend to fight the proposal. "If EPA finalizes this illegal and cynical approach, we will see them in court," Goldfuss told CBS. 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. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) An El Paso Community College police lieutenant has earned a statewide certification that places him among an elite group of command-level officers across the state, EPCC said in a news release on Monday, Aug. 11. Lt. Heriberto Franco, who serves the Transmountain and Northwest campuses, earned the Law Enforcement Command Officer Program (LECOP) certification from the Texas Police Chiefs Association (TPCA), EPCC said. Lt. Heriberto Franco is a 16-year veteran of the EPCC Police Department. Lt. Heriberto Franco of the EPCC Police Department has been assigned to the Transmountain campus for 11 of the 16 years he has been on the EPCC police force. Lt. Heriberto Franco of the EPCC Police Department outside his patrol unit at EPCCs Transmountain campus. That makes Franco the first officer in El Paso County to achieve this honor, EPCC said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The LECOP program provides cutting-edge leadership, management, and criminal justice training to help command officers excel in their roles and advance their organizations, EPCC said. During an 18-month period, Franco completed 250 hours of coursework in 10 Texas cities during 13 separate trips, EPCC said. The rigorous curriculum challenged participants to think critically about the future of policing and the leadership qualities necessary to guide modern law enforcement agencies, EPCC said. For Franco, the motivation to pursue LECOP stemmed from a commitment to lifelong learning and a desire to grow as a leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wanted to enhance my ability to make a meaningful impact within my department and contribute more effectively to the development of those around me, he said. The training reinforced his belief that policing is one of the most noble professions and deepened his understanding of the core values that define effective leadership nobility, honesty, integrity, dignity, and respect, EPCC said. EPCC said one of the most impactful lessons he got was the concept of Policing the Police and the five guiding principles for leadership in law enforcement: character, competence, compassion, courage, and commitment. Im honored to be the first in El Paso County to earn this certification, and I look forward to applying what Ive learned to serve our community with excellence, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Franco encourages other officers to seek out similar leadership opportunities. Participating in LECOP was a true privilege. It provided the chance to learn from outstanding instructors and connect with forward-thinking law enforcement professionals. The knowledge and strategies I gained have significantly strengthened my leadership capabilities, 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 KTSM 9 News. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) To commemorate the 70th anniversary of Emmett Tills murder, St. Andrews Cathedral in Jackson hosted an event to provoke thought and figure out different ways to bring the word of God into other peoples hearts. Bishops Michael Curry and Dorothy Sanders Wells held a conversation on Sunday, which focused on the impact of Tills death and the role of the Episcopal Churchs way of healing. Wells spoke about how heavy and overwhelming it felt to visit the site of Tills death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. Weeks after being flabbergasted over the amount of interest the American public was showing in Jeffrey Epstein and the Trump administrations botched handling of the investigation into the deceased sex offender, CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten now claims the issue is quickly becoming something of a nothingburger. Vice President JD Vance unwittingly sparked a new wave of calls to release the so-called Epstein Files when he attempted to mock Democrats who are now all of a sudden so interested in the case during a Sunday interview with Fox News host Maria Bartiromo. For four years, Joe Biden and the Democrats did absolutely nothing about this story. We know that Jeffrey Epstein had a lot of connections with left-wing politicians and left-wing billionaires, Vance declared. And now President Trump has demanded full transparency from this. And yet somehow the Democrats are attacking him and not the Biden administration, which did nothing for four years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vances suggestion that Democrats are complicit in Epsteins crimes prompted a number of pundits to say this is precisely why more documents should be made public. On CNN Monday morning, Enten was asked to weigh in on what hes seeing in the numbers about the Epstein saga. I would say that this is, from at least a political point of view, quickly turning into a dud of a story, Enten said on CNN News Central, causing anchor Kate Bolduan to remark how wild it was that interest had fallen off. CNN data analyst Harry Enten cited Google search analytics to declare the Epstein story a "nothingburger" and a "dud" on Monday. (CNN) Take a look here. Google searches for Epstein down 89 percent versus just three weeks ago. Falling through the floor, an animated Ented exclaimed. It is no longer the top term searched alongside Donald Trumps name thats been trading off between tariffs and Vladimir Putin, with obviously the meeting coming up later this week. He added: But at this particular point, the American peoples interest in this story its quickly becoming something of a nothingburger! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bolduan then asked Enten about the presidents polling and if it had taken a hit following uproar over the Justice Departments conclusion last month that Epstein died by suicide and had no client list that incriminated other prominent figures, which resulted in public criticism from high-profile MAGA supporters. Trumps approval rating in July of 2025, it was 45 percent. Its still well within that margin of error here at 44 percent, Enten stated, referencing his own aggregate of pollsters. And you compare that to where he was in his first term at this point. He was at 37 percent. So hes seven points higher. Very much in a different political universe now, significantly higher in terms of his overall approval rating than he was at this point in his first term. Noting that the presidents approval among Republican voters remains around 90 percent, Enten said that despite the initial MAGA furor over the Epstein case, the president hasnt lost any of that base. Therefore, in the CNN data experts opinion, Trumps poll numbers appear to be riding high, at least comparatively speaking. And when it comes to that center of the electorate, hes basically holding on there. And his overall approval rating of 44 percent is pretty gosh darn good for him, considering where he was at this point in term number one, Enten asserted. (CNNs poll of polls, meanwhile, has Trump at 42 percent.) CNN data expert Harry Enten says that Trump's current approval rating is "pretty gosh darn good." (CNN) Turning to the most recent CNN survey, Enten then observed that when asked to name the nations top issue, only a single respondent said it was the Epstein case, suggesting that it was further proof that the story itself had petered out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So yes, there used to be a lot of interest in this story, he said. But the bottom line is that even amongst those who had a high interest in this story, it wasnt something that they thought was all that important. And as I said at the beginning, the interest in this story has fallen off the table. Bolduan, meanwhile, called it incongruous that the public no longer seemed to care about the Epstein files after the amount of attention the issue had received from both Capitol Hill and the presidents supporters, leading Enten to heap praise on Trump. I would just say this. Donald Trump has some of the best political instincts of any politician Ive seen, he concluded. And on this particular issue, you see it full well and clear because he has been saying, You know what? This is not an issue. And it turns out that a lot of the American public actually seem to agree with him. After the meltdown among conservatives over the DOJs Epstein memo, which came on the heels of Attorney General Pam Bondi insinuating that she was in possession of the so-called client list and promising to release more documents in the case, Trump ordered his supporters to ignore the issue and claimed it was a hoax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While pro-Trump networks like Fox News quickly followed suit and downplayed the Epstein story, the issue still remained front and center despite the administrations attempts to distract the public with wild allegations about the Obama administration committing treason with the 2016 Russia election interference investigation. In the weeks following the DOJ memo, theWall Street Journal published a bombshell story about Trump sending Epstein, his onetime friend, a bawdy birthday sketch in 2003 which reportedly read: Happy Birthday and may every day be another wonderful secret. The president denied creating the card, and filed a $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the WSJ and its owner Rupert Murdoch. The WSJs report gave MAGA the opportunity to reunite in its shared hatred of the mainstream media, and right-wing fury over the lack of transparency in the Epstein case began to subside, despite subsequent reporting that Trump was informed by Bondi in May that his name appeared in the Epstein files, along with many other high-profile people. Last month Trump denied Bondi had told him that he appears in the Epstein files. The president has never been formally accused or charged with a crime in connection with Epstein. After the meltdown among conservatives over the DOJs Epstein memo, which came on the heels of Attorney General Pam Bondi insinuating that she was in possession of the so-called client list and promising to release more documents in the case, Trump ordered his supporters to ignore the issue and claimed it was a hoax. (AP) Meanwhile, the conservative media ecosphere has been on a two-week-long outrage cycle over Hollywood star Sydney Sweeneys good jeans American Eagle ad, which has seen Fox News devote hours more coverage to the supposed liberal anger over the commercial than to the Epstein drama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for Enten, he has seen his stock rise with the commander-in-chief in recent weeks, perhaps because he said earlier this month that he couldnt think of a more influential president during this century than Trump. While butchering the CNN data gurus name during an interview with CNBC, Trump pushed back on comments about his slumping poll numbers by urging the hosts to check out Entens analysis. If you check out CNN tomorrow, watch Harry Emden and youll see about the numbers, Trump exclaimed, falsely claiming recent surveys placed him at 71 percent approval. To his credit, Enten reacted to the unexpected presidential name-check by debunking Trumps claims about his polling and explaining that the presidents approval numbers are at near-historic lows for a second-term president. (The Center Square) A forced split on a proposed equal rights constitutional amendment that would also end Ohios ban on gay marriage is back as two potential amendments. After the Ohio Ballot Board voted last month to force the planned Equal Rights Amendment into two amendments one dealing with equal rights and the other same-sex marriage the group pushing the proposal can now go about gathering signatures again. The Ballot Board voted 3-2 to force the change, with all three Republican members voting to split the amendment, and both Democrats voting against. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney General Dave Yost recently certified the title and summary for both after they were resubmitted Aug. 1. The submitted title and summary comply with Section 3519.01(A) as interpreted by the federal courts, Yost said in a response letter sent to the petitioners. This certification should not be construed as an affirmation of the enforceability, constitutionality or wisdom of the proposed amendment. Secretary of State Frank LaRose has yet to set a new Ballot Board meeting to certify the potential ballot measures contain only one question to put before voters. Organizers say the Equal Rights Amendment is necessary because Ohios constitution does not prohibit discrimination based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression regardless of sex assigned at birth, pregnancy status, genetic information, disease status, age, disability, recovery status, familial status, ancestry, national origin or military or veteran status. Federal protections for many of those areas do exist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ohio Right to Marry Amendment would end the states ban on same-sex marriage. Both amendments must now collect at least 442,958 valid signatures from registered Ohio voters in at least 44 of the states 88 counties 65 days before the election to appear on the November ballot. RaShon Young opened his House District 40 sample ballot Saturday, expecting to see his name as the Democratic nominee. He had won the June primary, after all. But the name of his primary opponent, Travaris McCurdy, was on the sample ballot that arrived at his home. The same erroneous ballot was sent to almost 90,000 voters, the Orange County Supervisor of Elections admitted. I was a little confused is the best way to put it, Young said Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Karen Castor Dentel, the first-year Supervisor of Elections, sent out a news release Saturday about the error, noting the problem only impacted sample ballots, not Election Day or early voting ballots, which will list Young as the Democratic Partys representative. Young faces Republican Tuan Le in the Sept. 2 election. The special election is necessary because Democrat Lavon Bracy Davis resigned the seat to run in the state Senate special election on the same date, where she faces Republican Willie Montague. The Orange County Supervisor of Elections office takes full responsibility for this mistake. We have tracked the error and found it originated in our office during artwork creation for the printing process, said Blake Summerlin, an office spokesperson. The office is mailing people who received the incorrect ballot a notice of printing error as well as a correct sample ballot, Summerlin said, which is expected to be delivered ahead of early voting beginning Aug. 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Young defeated McCurdy, a former state representative, with more than 55% of the vote in the special Democratic primary on June 24. I think it was an oversight, but Im grateful for Karen and her team for stepping in very quickly and getting word out very quickly to people who have been affected, Young said. I believe that were going to be victorious on Sept. 2, but were still working. The office is tallying the financial impact of the mistake, and an estimate wasnt immediately available, Summerlin said. Castor Dentel, a Democrat, was elected to the post last year. She took over for Glen Gilzean, who served a year in the post after being appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, following the retirement of longtime elections supervisor Bill Cowles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Castor Dentel has said shes been trying to dig the office out of financial troubles after Gilzean spent more than half of the offices annual budget in the first few months of the fiscal year which included last years presidential election. County officials accused Gilzean of misspending, citing $2.1 million the office given to Valencia College for scholarships, $1.9 million to CareerSource for retraining election workers and $1.1 million to the Central Florida Foundation to operate a grant program. All three organizations later returned money, which Castor Dentel and other county officials said should have been spent on running elections. The European Union has received a third transfer of windfall revenues generated by frozen assets belonging to the Central Bank of Russia. This latest tranche amounts to 1.6 billion, of which 95% over 1.5 billion will be allocated to cover Ukraines loan repayments. Source: European Commission press service in a comment to European Pravda Details: The third tranche of extraordinary income from frozen Russian assets in the EU will be directed to support Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Last Friday, the European Union received 1.6 billion in so-called windfall profits generated by the interest on the cash balances originating from immobilised assets of the Russian Central Bank, held by central securities depositories," the European Commission said. The first such transfer was made in July 2024, and the second in April 2025. "The third covers revenues accumulated during the first half of 2025," EU officials added. Quote: "90% of the first two tranches were used to support Ukraine via the European Peace Facility (EPF), and 10% via the Ukraine Facility. As from this third tranche, 95% of the proceeds will instead be used to support Ukraine via the Ukraine Loan Cooperation Mechanism (ULCM), and 5% via the EPF. The ULCM provides non-repayable support to assist Ukraine in repaying the macro-financial assistance loan from the EU as well as loans from bilateral lenders under the mechanism." Background: Windfall profits come from assets frozen under EU sanctions imposed in response to Russias aggression against Ukraine. While the assets themselves remain blocked, the interest generated on cash balances can be used to support Ukraine. European Pravda reported that in July 2025, Ukraine received 1 billion from the EU under another G7 initiative the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) funded by proceeds from those Russian assets. In June, Ukraine also received 1 billion from the EU derived from proceeds generated by frozen Russian assets. In 2024, the G7 agreed on a joint US$50 billion loan for Ukraine, to be repaid from revenues generated by frozen Russian assets. Under this arrangement, the EU will contribute a total of 18.1 billion. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The European Unions top diplomat called for a snap meeting of European foreign ministers ahead of a planned meeting between the Russian and US presidents. Kaja Kallas said that any potential deal should have Ukraine and EU involvement. US President Donald Trump said he would meet with Vladimir Putin even if the latter would not meet with Ukraines Volodymyr Zelenskyy, raising fears that the two would sideline Kyiv in any agreement. The meeting is planned for Friday, but the war continues: Ukraine said Russia launched 100 drones overnight, while flights were grounded across southwest Russia as Ukrainian drones hit targets including an oil refinery in Saratov. Kyiv has ramped up its drone strikes into Russia in recent days, ABC reported. The European Union has condemned the killing of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif and four other employees of the broadcaster by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip. "We take note of the Israeli allegation that the group was Hamas terrorists, but there is a need in these cases to provide clear evidence, in the respect of rule of law, to avoid targeting of journalists," EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas said. According to Al Jazeera, Israel's military killed five of its employees during an airstrike in the Gaza Strip. Al-Sharif and his colleagues died in a targeted attack on a tent for journalists in Gaza City in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel's military confirmed al-Sharif's death, stating that the 28-year-old posed as an Al Jazeera journalist while leading a terrorist cell for the Palestinian militant organization Hamas. Reporters Without Borders reported that a freelance journalist was also killed, bringing the total number of deaths to six. Following a video conference with EU foreign ministers, Kallas urged increased support for the suffering people in the blockaded Gaza Strip. "Whereas there is more aid coming in, the needs are still much greater. We urge Israel to allow more trucks and a better distribution of aid," Kallas said. The European Union made their position on President Donald Trump's "land swapping" push clear following a ministerial powwow on Monday, and told Fox News Digital, there should be no "concessions" until Russia agrees to stop its war. "Russia has not agreed to full and unconditional ceasefire, we should not even discuss any concessions," EU policy chief Kaja Kallas told Fox News Digital in a written statement. "It has never worked in the past with Russia, and will not work with Putin today. "The sequencing of the steps is important," she added. "First an unconditional ceasefire with a strong monitoring system and ironclad security guarantees." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kallas called for a virtual meeting of EU foreign ministers as well as Ukraines Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha who debriefed the officials on "ongoing diplomatic efforts and the battlefield situation" on Monday following the announcement of the upcoming meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin set for Friday in Alaska. US President Donald Trump during a news conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. While the talks on Monday addressed additional sanctions against Russia, more military aid for Ukraine and more monetary support for Kyiv, they also coincided with comments made by Trump that struck a critical note of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. European leaders have yet to respond directly to Trump's reproving tone ahead of his meeting with Putin on Friday, though Kallas' comments made clear neither the EU nor Ukraine support Trump's most recent proposal that Ukraine and Russia "swap" borders. Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We fully support an end to this war in a way that doesnt leave a backdoor open for Russia to re-enter and restart its aggression," she said. "Ukraines right to exist as a sovereign nation is under attack, as well as the security of our European continent." Summit With Putin Set To Top Trump's Agenda This Week As Ukraine War Takes Center Stage Details of Trump's upcoming meeting with Putin remain relatively unknown, though European officials are keen to remind both leaders of the need to involve them and Kyiv in the high-level talks. "The U.S. has the power to force Russia to negotiate seriously," Kallas told Fox News Digital. "Any deal between the U.S. and Russia must have Ukraine and the EU included, for it is a matter of Ukraines and the whole of Europes security." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kallas has remained steadfast in her determination that any negotiations on Ukraine must include Europe as the continent stares down its most significant threat since World War II. But it is not only Europes involvement in any security negotiations that EU leaders are looking to remind Trump of, but Ukraines territorial sovereignty. "As we work towards a sustainable and just peace, international law is clear: All temporarily occupied territories belong to Ukraine," Kallas said. "A sustainable peace also means that aggression cannot be rewarded." European leaders over the weekend from the U.K., France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Finland and the EU issued a statement affirming that "the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy risked Trumps ire and looked to set the record straight on Saturday after the U.S. president suggested on Friday that Ukraine and Russia may "swap" territory. Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, holds his hand to his chest after his speech in the German Bundestag. Zelenskyy Thanks Nato, European Leaders For Backing His Push To Join Trumpputin Summit "You are looking at territory that has been fought over for 3.5 years," Trump told reporters from the White House in reference to land Russia has illegally invaded and occupied in eastern Ukraine. "Were looking at that. But were looking at swapping. Were going to get some back." Zelenskyy responded by confirming that "Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Any decisions made against us, any decisions made without Ukraine they are simultaneously decisions against peace," he added. "These are dead decisions; they will never work. And what we all need is a real, living peace, one that people will respect." In her comments to Fox News Digital, Kallas looked to remind Trump that Putins interests lay outside a mere land grab in Ukraine it is an existential threat to the European continent. French President Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, US Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni meet during the Group of Seven (G7) Summit at the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada on June 17, 2025. "Russias war aims are more than just seizing territory in Ukraine," she said. "Russia started this war to destroy Ukraine and Europes security. "A deal must not provide a springboard for further Russian aggression against Ukraine, the transatlantic alliance and Europe," she added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement German Chancellor Friedrich Merz invited Trump, Zelenskyy, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte for another virtual meeting on Wednesday with other European leaders ahead of Trumps top talks, reports confirmed on Monday. Trump on Monday reiterated his goal that first he will meet with Putin, and then Zelenskyy will meet with Putin, with or without the U.S. president, to secure a ceasefire. Original article source: EU hits back at Trump, Zelenskyy comments, no concessions in Ukraine before Putin ceasefire agreement The EU is preparing a new sanctions package for Russia, the EU's foreign affairs representative, Kaja Kallas, announced on Monday following a video conference of EU foreign ministers. It would be the 19th package of punitive measures imposed on Moscow. She did not provide details on the planned sanctions. She also stated: "As far as Russia has not agreed to full and unconditional ceasefire, we should not even discuss any concessions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It has never worked in the past with Russia, and will not work with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin today. "The sequencing of the steps is important. "First an unconditional ceasefire with a strong monitoring system and ironclad security guarantees." The EU foreign ministers were also informed by Ukraine about the situation on the battlefield, Kallas said. "We fully support an end to this war in a way that doesnt leave a backdoor open for Russia to re-enter and restart its aggression," the Estonian diplomat emphasized. On Friday, US President Donald Trump and Putin are set to meet to discuss the war in Ukraine. By Sarah Marsh and Lili Bayer BERLIN/BRUSSELS (Reuters) -European leaders and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskiy will speak to U.S. President Donald Trump this week ahead of his summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, amid fears Washington may dictate unfavourable peace terms to Ukraine. Trump announced last week he would meet Putin on Friday in Alaska to negotiate an end to the 3-1/2-year war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion of its neighbour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine and its European allies fear that Trump, keen to claim credit for making peace and also hoping to seal lucrative joint business deals with Moscow, could align with Putin to cut a deal that would be deeply disadvantageous to Kyiv. Germany said it was convening a series of top-level video conferences on Wednesday to prepare for the summit including one at 1500 CET (1300 GMT) between European leaders, Zelenskiy, Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance. It will be the first time Zelenskiy and Trump have spoken since the Alaska summit was announced. European leaders and EU and NATO officials would coordinate their approach beforehand, a German government spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskiy said on Monday that concessions to Moscow would not persuade it to stop fighting in Ukraine and that there was a need to ramp up pressure on the Kremlin. "Russia refuses to stop the killings, and therefore must not receive any rewards or benefits," Zelenskiy wrote on X. He later held separate phone calls with the leaders of India and Saudi Arabia - which both have cordial ties with Moscow - in an effort to bolster international support for Kyiv's position ahead of the Trump-Putin talks. 'WE WILL NOT REWARD AGGRESSION' European Union foreign ministers discussed their support for Kyiv and the upcoming meeting in a video conference on Monday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Transatlantic unity, support to Ukraine and pressure on Russia is how we will end this war and prevent future Russian aggression in Europe," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas wrote on X following the discussion on Ukraine. "EU Foreign Ministers today expressed support for US steps that will lead to a just peace," Kallas wrote. "Meanwhile, we work on more sanctions against Russia, more military support for Ukraine and more support for Ukraines budgetary needs and accession process to join the EU," she added. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, who participated in the video conference, said in a post on X after the talks that "Russia has been imitating the peace process, twisting, manipulating, and throwing dust in our eyes". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "No rewards, gifts or appeasement of the aggressor. Every concession invites further aggression," he said. Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told his counterparts on the call that "we support President Trumps efforts and we see some progress," according to Italian officials. "Any diplomatic solution must protect Ukraines sovereignty, its territorial integrity, and its freedom to choose its own future, including its path toward the EU," Tajani said. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesperson said London supported Trump's efforts to end the war in Ukraine but believed Kyiv must be involved in any settlement on ending the fighting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We will never trust President Putin as far as you can throw him, but we will support Ukraine and President Trump and European nations as we enter these negotiations," Starmer's spokesperson told reporters. "Any peace must be built with Ukraine, not imposed upon it, and we will not reward aggression or compromise sovereignty." The Alaska meeting comes as Trump has hardened his stance towards Moscow, agreeing to allow additional U.S. weapons to reach Ukraine and threatening tariffs against buyers of Russian oil. Even so, the prospect of Trump hosting Putin - on U.S. soil, in what will be the first meeting between leaders of the United States and Russia since 2021 - has revived fears that he might agree to a deal that forces big concessions from Kyiv or weakens European security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has said any peace deal would involve "some swapping of territories to the betterment of both" Russia and Ukraine, prompting consternation in Kyiv and European capitals. "Regarding territorial issues, the Russian position is framed as a territorial swap, but it appears as a rather one-sided swap," a European Commission official said on Sunday. Russia currently occupies about a fifth of Ukrainian territory, while Ukraine holds barely any Russian territory. European leaders have underscored their commitment to the idea that international borders cannot be changed by force, fearing any deal forced on Kyiv could create a dangerous precedent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The most robust security guarantee would be that there are no limitations on Ukrainian armed forces and third countries' support to Ukraine," the Commission official said. (Reporting by Sarah Marsh in Berlin, Lili Bayer in Brussels, Angelo Amante in Rome and Yuliia Dysa in Kyiv; Writing by Gareth Jones; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Alex Richardson) BRUSSELS (AP) Ukraine and its European backers on Monday sought talks with U.S. President Donald Trump in an effort to protect their security interests ahead of his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has so far been excluded from the U.S.-Russia summit in Alaska on Friday, and the Europeans are unlikely to be invited. All are wary that Putin and Trump might agree, without Ukraine's participation, to land swaps of Ukraines territory or other terms that might favor Russia. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz organized a series of meetings for Wednesday. He invited Trump, U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Zelenskyy, NATO's chief and several European leaders to attend. The chancellery said the talks would focus on further options for action to put pressure on Russia as well as preparations for possible peace negotiations and related issues of territorial claims and security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The European Commission confirmed that President Ursula von der Leyen will take part in the calls organized by Chancellor Merz. The leaders of Britain, Finland, France, Italy and Poland are also set to join the various discussion groups, the chancellery said. Ukraine and its backers in Europe insist that Trump and Putin cannot decide on land swaps behind their backs at the summit, but the Europeans concede that Moscow is unlikely to give up control of Ukrainian land it holds. Therell be some land swapping going on. I know that through Russia and through conversations with everybody. To the good, for the good of Ukraine. Good stuff, not bad stuff. Also, some bad stuff for both, Trump told reporters on Monday. He did not confirm whether he would take part in the talks convened by Merz, but said: Im going to get everybodys ideas before meeting with Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine Concerns have mounted in Europe that Kyiv may be pressed to give up land or accept other curbs on its sovereignty. Ukraine and its European allies reject the notion that Putin should lay claim to any territory even before agreeing to a ceasefire. They want a ceasefire first. In Europe, a coalition of the willing has been formed by countries ready to deploy troops to Ukraine to police any future peace agreement with Russia. French President Emmanuel Macron, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Merz are organizing a coalition meeting, also on Wednesday, to coordinate. Poland is also part of that coalition. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said it must be obvious to Poland and our European partners and I hope to all of NATO that state borders cannot be changed by force. Any land swaps or peace terms must be agreed upon with Ukraines participation, he said, according to Polish news agency PAP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, its hard to ignore the reality on the ground. Russia in 2022 illegally annexed the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in Ukraines east, and Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south, even though it doesnt fully control them. It also occupies the Crimean Peninsula, which it seized in 2014. On the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, Russias bigger army has made slow but costly progress with its summer offensive. The relentless pounding of urban areas has killed more than 12,000 Ukrainian civilians, according to U.N. estimates. Acknowledging battlefield realities In the end, the issue of the fact that the Russians are controlling at this moment, factually, a part of Ukraine has to be on the table" in any peace talks after the Alaska summit, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on CBS on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rutte said Ukraines Western backers can never accept that in a legal sense, but he suggested that they might tacitly acknowledge Russian control. He compared it to the way that the U.S. hosted the diplomatic missions of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from 1940 to 1991, acknowledging that the Soviet Union was controlling those territories, but never accepting (it) in a legal sense. Giving up any territory, especially without a ceasefire agreement first, would be almost impossible for Zelenskyy to sell at home after thousands of troops have died defending their land. Ultimately, Putin is seen by some analysts as being not so much interested in land itself, but rather in a more Russia-friendly Ukraine with a malleable government unlikely to try to join NATO, just as pro-Russian breakaway regions in Georgia have complicated that country's quest to become a member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The way ahead Zelenskyy insists that a halt to fighting on the front line should be the starting point for negotiations, and the Europeans back him. They say that any future land swaps should be for Ukraine to decide and not be a precondition for a ceasefire. Claims on land could also be part of negotiations on the kind of security guarantees that Ukraine might receive to ensure another war does not break out. The Europeans believe Kyivs best defense is strong armed forces to deter Russia from striking again. They insist there should be no restrictions on the size of Ukraines army and the equipment, arms and ammunition it can possess or sell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond that, they say Ukraine should not be constrained in its choice of joining the EU or being forced to become a neutral country. The Trump administration has already taken Ukraine's membership of NATO off the table for the foreseeable future. For the Europeans, maintaining unity is also key. After chairing a meeting of foreign ministers on Monday, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said they had agreed to work on more sanctions against Russia, more military support for Ukraine and more support for Ukraines budgetary needs." Transatlantic unity, support to Ukraine and pressure on Russia is how we will end this war and prevent future Russian aggression in Europe, Kallas posted on social media. ___ Grieshaber reported from Berlin. Associated Press writers Dasha Litvinova, Jamey Keaten in Geneva and Sylvie Corbet in Paris contributed. The European Commission has urged US President Donald Trump not to agree to a "one-sided" exchange of Ukrainian territories during peace talks with Russia, stressing that any deal must include security guarantees for Kyiv. Source: Euractiv, as reported by European Pravda Details: A senior European Commission official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stressed that any agreement must include "robust and credible security guarantees" for Ukraine, ensuring "no limitations on [Ukraine's] armed forces and third countries support". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Russian position is framed as a territorial swap, but it appears as a rather one-sided swap," the EU official said. They added that "security guarantees are of the utmost importance for Ukraine". In this context, EU foreign ministers are to hold a videoconference on Monday. Background: EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on 10 August that any agreement between the US and Russia must involve Ukraine and the EU. She stressed that a potential deal should not become a launch pad for further Russian aggression against Ukraine, NATO and Europe. Kallas said it is the US that "has the power to force Russia into serious negotiations". In an interview with Fox News recorded on 8 August, US Vice President JD Vance suggested that an "agreed settlement" would be based on "the current line of contact between Russia and Ukraine", a position in line with that of the EU. The Trump-Putin meeting in Alaska on 15 August is scheduled amid media reports that Washington and Moscow allegedly want to reach an agreement to end the war in Ukraine, which could cement Russias occupation of part of its territory. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has suggested that the future agreement could amount to de facto recognition of Russias control over parts of Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Bloomberg has stated that European leaders are seeking to hold talks with US President Donald Trump ahead of the planned meeting between him and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Source: Bloomberg, citing informed sources Details: European leaders want to speak with Trump before Friday 15 August, when Trump and Putin are scheduled to meet. The conversation would follow a tense diplomatic weekend involving representatives of the US, Ukraine and Europe, which included meetings on Saturday 9 August in the United Kingdom between US Vice President JD Vance and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EU ambassadors were briefed on the talks on Sunday and the union's foreign ministers are due to meet online on Monday. Background: The Trump-Putin meeting is scheduled to take place in Alaska on 15 August amid media reports that Washington and Moscow are apparently seeking an agreement to end the war in Ukraine that could lock in Russia's occupation of part of its territory. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that "the answer to the Ukrainian territorial question is already in the Constitution of Ukraine". On the night of 9-10 August, a joint statement addressed to Trump and Putin was released by the leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Poland and the UK, the president of the European Commission and the president of Finland. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! European leaders are seeking to speak with U.S. President Donald Trump before his planned meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska later this week, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 10, citing people familiar with the matter. The outreach comes ahead of the Trump-Putin talks scheduled for Aug. 15 and follows a weekend of diplomacy between U.S., Ukrainian, and European officials. Vice President JD Vance met with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy in the U.K. on Aug. 9, and EU ambassadors were briefed on the discussions a day later. The blocs foreign ministers are due to hold a virtual meeting on Aug. 11, according to Bloomberg. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of ongoing U.S.-Russia discussions, Putin told special envoy Steve Wikoff during an Aug. 6 meeting that Russia would agree to a full ceasefire if Kyiv withdrew its forces from Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, granting Moscow full control of those partly occupied regions as well as Crimea. President Volodymyr Zelensky strongly 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. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte told ABCs This Week on Aug. 10 that any agreement would have to be on the table in terms of territory, along with security guarantees for Ukraine. He suggested this could mean Kyiv acknowledging the loss of control over certain areas without formally renouncing sovereignty. Read also: Future of Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukrainians EU leaders react to Russias ceasefire proposal ahead of Trump-Putin meeting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine and its European allies are instead pushing for a ceasefire based on the current front line as a first step toward a broader settlement, combined with continued economic pressure on Moscow. European leaders reiterated over the weekend that international borders must not be changed by force and that the current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations. According to Bloomberg, the potential deal discussed between Washington and Moscow would see Russian forces halt their offensive in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts along existing battle lines. However, it remains unclear whether Moscow would agree to relinquish any occupied territory, including the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is the largest in Europe. Putin has maintained his war aims, which include Ukraine adopting neutral status, abandoning its NATO aspirations, and accepting the loss of Crimea and four other regions Moscow claims to have annexed in 2022. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The president wants to federalize law enforcement in the nations capitalbut his favorite mainstream media channel isnt on board. Fox News contributor Ted Williams, a criminal and civil trial attorney and former member of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, issued an acute fact check for Donald Trump Sunday. Williams informed the network that he found Trumps plan troubling because crime is not out of control in the District of Columbia. Yes there is crime, and there will always be crime, Williams said, identifying minors as some of the major perpetrators of robberies over the last several years. In any major metropolitan city youre going to have, unfortunately, juveniles committing crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has turned his attention toward Washingtons crime since 19-year-old DOGE staffer Edward Coristine, better known as Big Balls, was attacked a week ago by a couple of 15-year-olds who stole his iPhone. On Sunday, Trump said he would force the homeless out of the city IMMEDIATELY and that his administration would imprison criminals very fast. I would like to ask Mr. Trump, Williams said. Where were you last month when a three-year-old child, Honesty Cheadle, was shot and killed as the result of crime in the District of Columbia? Dont use this as a pretext to actually eradicate home rule, he continued. And that seemed to be what Mr. Trump is interested in. Trump also posted an ominous warning to Washingtons denizens early Monday, claiming that the city would be liberated the same day. Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR, Trump wrote on Truth Social. I will, MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN! The days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people, are OVER! I quickly fixed the Border (ZERO ILLEGALS in last 3 months!), D.C. is next!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT. Kansas City-based Evergy provided more information Monday about its planned solar farm in Southwest Missouri. A recent decision by the Missouri Public Service Commission will allow the utility to go forward with its solar farm in northwest Jasper County that will have the capacity to produce 100 megawatts of electricity. The Foxtrot Solar Energy Farm is one of two solar plants and three natural gas-powered electric generation plants Evergy will be building over the next couple of years that will cost a total of more than $2.75 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evergy Missouri West, the Evergy subsidiary serving Missouri customers, and Evergy Kansas Central, which serves Kansas customers, will own 50% each of the two Kansas gas plants. The two 710-megawatt facilities, located in Sumner and Reno counties, are expected to cost $788.75 million and $800.52 million, respectively, the Kansas Reflector reported. Evergy Missouri West will own 100% of a 440-megawatt natural gas facility in Nodaway County, Missouri, with a price tag of $835 million. Evergy Kansas Central also will own 100% of a 75-megawatt solar farm, Sunflower Sky Solar Project, in Wilson County, Kansas, estimated to cost $128.8 million. On Monday, Evergy officials confirmed the Jasper County solar farm will be located near the former Asbury coal-fired power plant that was demolished two years ago. Evergy chose this location because it's well-positioned near our Missouri West service area and has easy access to the transmission infrastructure that serves our customers, Evergy spokesperson Courtney Lewis said Monday. This lowers the cost of adding new generation by making more efficient use of the existing power grid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Kansas Reflector reported the cost of the Jasper County project at $213.8 million. Evergy said the solar farm will add 100 megawatts to Evergys generation plus 7 megawatts of surge electricity if needed. Construction is scheduled to begin early fall of this year, and the solar farm will be online in early 2027, the company said. The site area will be enclosed in an eight-foot high fence. The solar panels will be supported by steel racking foundations and reach a maximum height of less than 10 feet at full tilt. The racks will be arranged in rows spaced approximately 20 feet apart, with native grasses and pollinators planted throughout the site area, including under the panels. Evergy serves customers from the northwest corner of Missouri south to Vernon County and much of northern Barton County. It also serves customers in eastern Kansas, including Pittsburg and most of Crawford County. Former national security adviser John Bolton sounded the alarm on President Donald Trumps plan to meet Russian leader Vladimir Putin on American soil. Trump told reporters last week he would be meeting with Putin in Alaska on Friday to discuss an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. In response to the announcement, Bolton told ABCs This Week that Trump meeting with Putin in the United States was a mistake. I think Trump has made some mistakes already, number one, in holding this meeting on American soil, legitimizing a pariah leader of a rogue state. Second, hes allowed Putin to get first mover advantage by putting his peace plan on the table first, he said on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You can already see from Trumps own statements he thinks that Zelenskyy has to make constitutional modifications for Ukraine to cede territory. Now, Zelenskyy has flatly rejected that, he added. Trump suggested in comments to reporters that any peace agreement would likely involve some swapping of territories, but did not offer any other details. Bolton said on ABC that Putin sees a meeting with Trump as an opportunity to rebuild a relationship with the U.S. president. But what Putin gets more than anything else is an opportunity, one on one, to try and get his magic working again with Trump, applying that KGB training. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, he pushed Trump further than Trump wanted to be pushed. And you saw the reaction, Bolton said. What Putin wants to get back, hes not so worried about the sanctions, he wants the relationship back with Trump. Well see if he gets it, he added. Pres. Trumps former national security adviser John Bolton said Trump has made some mistakes already ahead of his meeting with Vladimir Putin. Number one, in holding this meeting on American soil, legitimizing a pariah leader of a rogue state. https://t.co/XJw9tqhh80 pic.twitter.com/3DKpNmCb6J This Week (@ThisWeekABC) August 10, 2025 Bolton noted that overall, he believes its a risky meeting upcoming from the perspective, not just of Ukraine, but the Western alliance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said his meeting with Putin would come before any sit-down discussion involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr 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 U.S. soil broke with expectations that theyd meet in a third country. The gesture gives Putin validation after the U.S. and its allies had long sought to make him a pariah over his war against Ukraine. Early in Putins tenure, he regularly met with his U.S. counterparts. That dropped off and the tone became icier as tensions mounted between Russia and the West after Moscow illegally annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and faced allegations of meddling in the 2016 U.S. elections. Putins last visit to the U.S. was in 2015, when he attended the U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York. The meeting in Alaska would be the first U.S.-Russia summit since 2021, when former President Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. By Michael Erman and Jennifer Rigby (Reuters) -An influential U.S. medical journal is rejecting a call from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to retract a large Danish study that found that aluminum ingredients in vaccines do not increase health risks for children, the journal's editor told Reuters. Kennedy has long promoted doubts about vaccines' safety and efficacy, and as health secretary has upended the federal government's process for recommending immunization. A recent media report said he has been considering whether to initiate a review of shots that contain aluminum, which he says are linked to autoimmune diseases and allergies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The study, which was funded by the Danish government and published in July in the Annals of Internal Medicine, analyzed nationwide registry data for more than 1.2 million children over more than two decades. It did not find evidence that exposure to aluminum in vaccines had caused an increased risk for autoimmune, atopic or allergic, or neurodevelopmental disorders. The work is by far the best available evidence on the question of the safety of aluminum in vaccines, said Adam Finn, a childhood vaccination expert in the UK and pediatrician at the University of Bristol, who was not involved in the study. "It's solid, (a) massive dataset and high-quality data," he said. Kennedy described the research as "a deceitful propaganda stunt by the pharmaceutical industry," and said the scientists who authored it had "meticulously designed it not to find harm" in a detailed Aug. 1 opinion piece on TrialSite News, an independent website focused on clinical research. He called on the journal to "immediately retract" the study. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I see no reason for retraction," Dr. Christine Laine, editor in chief of the Annals and a professor of medicine at Thomas Jefferson University, said in an interview. The journal plans to respond to criticism the article has received on its website, Laine said, but it does not intend to respond directly to Kennedy's piece, which was not submitted to the Annals. The lead author of the study, Anders Peter Hviid, head of the epidemiology research department at the Statens Serum Institut in Denmark, defended the work in a response post to TrialSite. He wrote that none of the critiques put forward by Kennedy were substantive and he categorically denied any deceit as implied by the secretary. "I am used to controversy around vaccine safety studies - especially those that relate to autism, but I have not been targeted by a political figurehead in this way before," Hviid said in an emailed response to Reuters. "I have confidence in our work and in our ability to reply to the critiques of our study." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy had a number of critiques, including the lack of a control group, that the study deliberately excluded different groups of children to avoid showing a link between aluminum and childhood health conditions - including those with the highest levels of exposure - and that it did not include the raw data. Hviid responded to the criticisms on TrialSite. He said some of the points were related to study design choices that were reasonable to discuss but refuted others, including that the study was designed not to find a link. In fact he said, its design was based on a study led by Matthew Daley, a pediatrician at Kaiser Permanente Colorado, which did show a link, and which Kennedy cited in his article. There was no control group because in Denmark, only 2% of children are unvaccinated, which is too small for meaningful comparison, Hviid added. The data is available for researchers to analyze, but individual-level data is not released under Danish law, he said. Other prominent vaccine skeptics including those at the antivaccine organization Kennedy previously ran, Children's Health Defense, have similarly criticized the study on the Annals site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TrialSite staff defended the study for its scale, data transparency and funding while acknowledging the limitations of its design, a view seconded by some outside scientists. Laine said that while some of the issues Kennedy raised in his article may underscore acceptable limitations of the study, "they do not invalidate what they found, and there's no evidence of scientific misconduct." An HHS spokesman said the department had "no further comment than what the secretary said." (Reporting by Michael Erman in New York and Jennifer Rigby in London; Editing by Michele Gershberg, Caroline Humer and Mark Porter) By Emma Rumney LONDON (Reuters) -The U.S. Postal Service has cracked down on distributors of unregulated vapes using its services for business shipments, letters reviewed by Reuters show, in a blow to a multi-billion dollar industry that has dented Big Tobacco's sales. The letters, previously unreported, show that USPS wrote to major New York-based distributor Demand Vape, blocking it from using its services after New York City's Law Department, which represents the city's government and officials in legal matters, provided evidence that its shipments broke laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement USPS' action stands to benefit tobacco giants including Altria and British American Tobacco, which have for years battled against unregulated vapes, mostly from China. Unregulated vapes lack the authorisation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that is required for them to be legally sold in the United States, the world's largest market for smoking alternatives. USPS revoked Demand Vape's mailing exception last month after it received evidence the company shipped vapes lacking FDA authorisation and that violated a local flavour ban, a letter from USPS to the company, dated July 15, showed. "Your local Buffalo BME Office will not accept any packages from... Demand Vape that contain ENDS products," the letter read, referring to electronic nicotine delivery systems, another term for vapes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Demand Vape said it complied with relevant laws and was contesting the revocation, adding the industry operates in a "regulatory grey zone" with only a small number of FDA-authorised products that do not meet consumer demand. "We reject any characterisation that paints Demand Vape as anything other than a transparent, lawful and reputable business," it said in a statement. USPS did not respond to a request for comment. LIMITED EXCEPTIONS So far, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorised only 39 e-cigarette products. But unauthorised devices are widely available as authorities struggle to contain them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under a 2021 law, USPS is restricted from mailing vapes directly to consumers, internationally and in most other circumstances. The limited exceptions include domestic shipments between businesses, which need a "mailing exception" and their shipments must comply with relevant laws. Some other large carriers, including FedEx, refuse to ship vapes. DHL only offers carriage for business shipments with prior approval. USPS has provided NYC's Law Department with a list of other vape firms it has granted mailing exceptions so it can assess whether they should be challenged, in line with legal requirements, Eric Proshansky, deputy chief of the city's division of affirmative litigation, told Reuters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This could further limit the number of carriers available to the unauthorised vape industry. Other options, such as using smaller carriers or handling freight directly, tend to be more costly. MOUNTING PRESSURE BAT estimated the unauthorised vape market was worth around 6 billion pounds ($8.05 billion) last year. It is, however, increasingly under pressure. This year's U.S. import tariffs and seizures at ports have reduced unauthorised vape imports. The FDA also wrote letters to 24 U.S.-based middlemen, including distributors that are crucial to the unauthorised vape market, as part of a crackdown in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This has led to empty shelves in vape stores, said Tony Abboud, executive director of the Vapor Technology Association, which represents firms including Demand Vape. USPS revocations will further damage U.S. vape businesses, he said. One of the largest U.S. e-cigarette distributors, Demand Vape sells to some 5,000 retailers in 49 states, according to 2024 filings in a NYC lawsuit against the company. The evidence city attorneys provided to USPS included copies of invoices showing Demand Vape's sales of unauthorised e-cigarettes. Brands the FDA has specifically flagged as illegal to sell were among them, a separate letter reviewed by Reuters showed. ($1 = 0.7452 pounds) (Reporting by Emma Rumney; Editing by Adam Jourdan and Barbara Lewis) Increased flooding caused by rising temperatures is forcing people and governments to think about withdrawing from coastal communities. What's happening? This is an important topic in Hampton Roads, Virginia, where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean, The Virginian-Pilot reported. Norfolk and other cities are working on adapting to the changing climate with a seawall, storm surge barriers, and other infrastructure, while Newport News, Chesapeake, and more have bought out flood-prone properties, some via Federal Emergency Management Agency funds. Near the Virginia Zoo, wetlands have encroached on a neighborhood, forcing out residents and imperiling others. The risks are increasing insurance rates, but the Old Dominion has "limited flood disclosure laws," per the newspaper. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "All of these issues are so closely connected," Anna Weber, Natural Resources Defense Council senior policy analyst, said. "If you don't have good flood disclosure requirements in place, you buy a home and no one tells you that it's at risk of flooding. Then, you don't get flood insurance. Now you have no financial safety net when your home floods, and you're left with very few options. What are you going to do? "Your best option might be to wait for a buyout, but that might not be available. It might not give you the money that you need to actually move on with your life." Why is this important? Pollution from the burning of dirty energy sources is warming the planet and making floods, droughts, and other extreme weather events more frequent and severe. The Virginian-Pilot noted that there were 27 natural disasters that caused at least $1 billion in damages in the United States in 2024. "Much of climate-related retreat happens organically homeowners on their own decide the risk isn't worth staying," it stated. "But managed retreat is an organized and strategic effort to migrate." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joshua Elliot, chief scientist of research nonprofit Renaissance Philanthropy, told the outlet that 100-year floods may happen as often as every 30 years going forward. But, he said, lawmakers and taxpayers are often reluctant to pay for resiliency projects. In Hampton Roads, only 7% of the thousands of homes that have flooded multiple times over the last 10 years have been elevated or otherwise made to better withstand rising waters, including via infrastructure improvements, per The Virginian-Pilot. What's being done about protecting coastal communities? FEMA buyouts can drag on and come with restrictions on land use, and managed retreat can leave homeowners asking for more for their properties. But it has worked after major flood events in Virginia, Iowa, and Texas, according to the paper. This could be preferred to the $2.6 billion price tag for Norfolk's resiliency infrastructure, for example, but it requires people to leave their homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To get over this huge obstacle, officials should focus on the safety and property issues that come with flood-prone areas rather than negative or "losing" terminology such as "retreat," Mary-Carson Stiff, executive director of Wetlands Watch, told The Virginian-Pilot. Weber added: "Some of what we're trying to do in our advocacy around improving home buyout is help communities find ways to start the conversation earlier, before a disaster happens, so the community members can understand what the process might look like." 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. Conflicts between India and Pakistan are threatening millions of people's access to water resources. Fighting between the two nations is impacting water agreements, while climate-fueled weather events are further complicating the issue, the Columbia Climate School reported. What's happening? In April, India suspended its Indus Waters Treaty obligations with Pakistan following a deadly attack. This water-sharing agreement ensures that both nations can use water from a river they share. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the Indus River is changing dramatically because of abnormal glacier melting and other extreme weather events. Over 200 million people depend upon this river as their primary water source. Almost all the river's water is used for farming. Agriculture is a crucial industry in Pakistan, employing about half the workforce and making up a quarter of the country's gross domestic product. Upmanu Lall, director of the Water Institute at the Julie Ann Wrigley Global Futures Laboratory at Arizona State University, said, "For Pakistan, there is a reliance on Indus River waters through a treaty India has said it will no longer stand by, and on regional groundwater, which is in turn recharged to a great extent by the river waters and by floods in the monsoon season," per the Columbia Climate School. Why is water sharing important? The ongoing rivalry between India and Pakistan extends beyond the direct killings to restricted water access. There is growing mistrust between the neighboring nations, and power plays are underway to gain control over dwindling resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These political moves are especially challenging in times when the planet's climate disaster worsens with each passing season. Water demand is increasing with population growth, yet water scarcity is increasingly common amid shifting climate patterns. There have also been instances of water theft in dense population centers, highlighting a lack of government control over water resource management and intensifying violence and instability. In Pakistan, there are inadequate water storage facilities. Large quantities of water often go to waste despite the great need for it. This is just one of many examples of how our changing climate is impacting billions of people worldwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Water-related challenges are a global concern because we all share the same water on this planet. These challenges involve a lack of access to not only clean drinking water but also healthy food, as water security issues are directly tied to food production. What's being done to support water security? Water resource experts encourage nations to strengthen their resilience to water insecurity in these times with unpredictable weather patterns and rising temperatures. At every level individual, city, state, national, and global we must effectively manage our planet's remaining water resources and address illegal use and withholding. Maintaining water-sharing agreements is crucial to preserving people's food and water supplies while stabilizing regions peacefully. In your own life, you can take steps to conserve water by changing daily habits. Wasting less water can involve capturing rainwater, using eco-friendly appliances, and incorporating sustainable landscaping strategies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joining the clean energy transition is another way to lessen your overall environmental impact. For example, installing solar panels with backup battery storage makes your home more resilient to extreme storms without contributing to pollution. Meanwhile, learning about critical climate issues such as water security issues happening near and far is an integral part of being an informed and responsible world citizen so that you are prepared to take action when necessary. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. A trail camera set up in the borderlands of Nigeria caught an encouraging sight: a critically endangered Cross River gorilla. The sighting, reported in local media outlet Tori, took place in Cross River State, which straddles the border between Nigeria and Cameroon. Dr. Inaoyom Imong, the Deputy Country Director for Nigeria's Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), confirmed on social media that the footage was of a Cross River gorilla. With only 200-300 estimated individuals left in the wild, it's the rarest subspecies of western gorilla in the world. Because only a handful of isolated groups remain, a lack of genetic diversity is a big problem. Similarly to humans, they reproduce slowly, with a gestation period of about 8.5 months. Generally, they give birth to one baby every four to six years, so replenishing the population after loss takes a great deal of time. The gorilla's numbers have plummeted dramatically in recent decades because of human encroachment, habitat loss, and poaching. As Mongabay reports, Cross River State has seen massive deforestation, which is further eroding the gorilla's habitat. While the WCS has managed to curtail the hunting to some extent, enforcement can still be lax. The agency notes that some gorillas are caught up in snares set up in the forests. Additionally, conservation efforts in the area are complicated by bouts of sporadic violence in the region, per the European Union Agency for Asylum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Like other western gorilla species, the Cross River subspecies plays a crucial role in the ecosystem. They primarily subsist on fruits and leaves, thereby spreading nutrients throughout the forests they inhabit. Moreover, their foraging habits create gaps in the forest that allow sunlight to reach the ground and provide habitat for small mammals. Despite their low numbers, the WCS remains optimistic that the species can recover with appropriate action at the local level. The story highlights the benefits of trail cameras in conservation efforts as a non-invasive way to track the numbers and needs of the most elusive creatures on the planet. With the insights gained, effective strategies can be formed to give an endangered species a fighting chance of long-term survival. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. CLAIRTON, Pa. (AP/WHTM) One person has died and two are believed to be missing in the explosion at a U.S. Steel plant, Allegheny County emergency services spokesperson Kasey Reigner said. Multiple other people were treated for injuries, Reigner said, after the explosion at the Clairton Coke Works. The Allegheny County Emergency Services said a fire at the plant started around 10:51 a.m. and that it has transported five people. The agency did not provide any more details on those people transported and would only say it was an active scene. This image provided by Amy Sowers shows smoke from the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025 in Clairton, Pa. (Amy Sowers via AP) A portion of the Clairton Coke Works, a U.S. Steel plant, is seen Monday, Aug. 11, 2025 in Clairton, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar The Clairton Coke Works, a massive industrial facility along the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh, is considered the largest coking operation in North America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Alerts Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro says the Pennsylvania State Police and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency are in touch with first responders and have offered all assistance. Please join Lori and me in praying for the Clairton community, the governor posted on social media. U.S. Senator John Fetterman says hes monitoring the explosion and waiting for more information. Keeping those injured and all who are impacted in my thoughts right now, Fetterman said. Fetterman was seen at the incident site on Monday afternoon talking to officials and reporters. US Senator John Fetterman, Democrat from Pennsylvania, speaks to reporters outside US Steels Clairton Coke Works following an explosion at the plant in Clairton, Pennsylvania, on August 11, 2025. An explosion at the steel plant has left dozens wounded and others missing, officials said on August 11. US Senator John Fetterman identified the site as Clairton Coke Works, which is located about 15 miles (25 kilometers) outside the city of Pittsburgh. (Photo by Rebecca DROKE / AFP) (Photo by REBECCA DROKE/AFP via Getty Images) US Senator John Fetterman (R), Democrat from Pennsylvania, speaks with a police officer outside of US Steels Clairton Coke Works following an explosion at the plant in Clairton, Pennsylvania, on August 11, 2025. An explosion at the steel plant has left dozens wounded and others missing, officials said on August 11. US Senator John Fetterman identified the site as Clairton Coke Works, which is located about 15 miles (25 kilometers) outside the city of Pittsburgh. (Photo by Rebecca DROKE / AFP) (Photo by REBECCA DROKE/AFP via Getty Images) US Senator John Fetterman, Democrat from Pennsylvania, speaks to reporters outside US Steels Clairton Coke Works following an explosion at the plant in Clairton, Pennsylvania, on August 11, 2025. An explosion at the steel plant has left dozens wounded and others missing, officials said on August 11. US Senator John Fetterman identified the site as Clairton Coke Works, which is located about 15 miles (25 kilometers) outside the city of Pittsburgh. (Photo by Rebecca DROKE / AFP) (Photo by REBECCA DROKE/AFP via Getty Images) US Senator John Fetterman, Democrat from Pennsylvania, walks outside US Steels Clairton Coke Works following an explosion at the plant in Clairton, Pennsylvania, on August 11, 2025. An explosion at the steel plant has left dozens wounded and others missing, officials said on August 11. US Senator John Fetterman identified the site as Clairton Coke Works, which is located about 15 miles (25 kilometers) outside the city of Pittsburgh. (Photo by Rebecca DROKE / AFP) (Photo by REBECCA DROKE/AFP via Getty Images) Lt. Governor Austin Davis shared that he knows people who work at the plant, and that he and his wife are praying for the workers and their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plant, a massive industrial facility along the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh, is considered the largest coking operation in North America and is one of four major U.S. Steel plants in Pennsylvania that employ several thousand workers. In June, U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel announced they had finalized a historic partnership, a deal that gives the U.S. government a say in some matters and comes a year and a half after the Japanese company first proposed its nearly $15 billion buyout of the iconic American steelmaker. The pursuit by Nippon Steel for the Pittsburgh-based company was buffeted by national security concerns and presidential politics in a premier battleground state, dragging out the transaction for more than a year after U.S. Steel shareholders approved it. In February, a problem with a battery at the plant led to a buildup of combustible material that ignited, causing an audible boom, the Allegheny County Health Department said. Two workers who got material in their eyes received first aid treatment at a local hospital but were not seriously injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent years, the Clairton plant has been dogged by concerns about pollution. In 2019, it agreed to settle a 2017 lawsuit for $8.5 million. Under the settlement, the company agreed to spend $6.5 million to reduce soot emissions and noxious odors from the Clairton coke-making facility, on the Monongahela River about 20 miles (32 kilometers) south of Pittsburgh. The company also faced other lawsuits over pollution from the Clairton facility, including ones accusing the company of violating clean air laws after a December 2018 fire damaged the Clairton facilitys sulfur pollution controls. Clairton Mayor Richard Lattanzi said his heart goes out to the victims of the explosion. The mill is such a big part of Clairton, he said. Its just a sad day for Clairton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here. If you are going to promise users privacy, then you really need to follow through. Tea Dating Advice, a service that advertised itself as a safe space for women to anonymously share information about former partnersto warn others about abuse and cheatingsays that it is locked down. Users are not allowed to take screenshots, and the app says it verifies that its users are women. So why did Tea let me, a middle-aged man, create an account just a few days after suffering two major security breaches? Last month, hackers wormed their way into Tea and accessed sensitive user data; 70,000 user images and more than 1 million private messages reportedly were leaked, including communications about abortions, users drivers-license photos, and phone numbers that had been shared in private messages. Even after all of this became public, I was still able to fool the apps verification feature with a basic approach: I found a generic photograph of a woman on Google and held my phones selfie camera up to it. Whether Tea uses a facial-recognition algorithm or a human to approve the verification photos is unclear; the company did not clarify when I asked. Either way, 30 minutes after my selfie trick, I had an account. I quickly deleted the app, but a malicious user (a stalker, for example, or a man curious about whether his abuse had been mentioned on the app by his girlfriend) would have had free rein. Sonia Portaluppi, a spokesperson for Tea, declined to comment, noting the legal nature of this subject matter. (I had included my question about gaining access to Tea in an email about the recent security breaches; it was not clear what, specifically, Portaluppi was referring to.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Teas security failures are notable given the apps sales pitch. But we are entering an era when such problems may become routine. As an anti-surveillance advocate and lawyer, I am concerned by the normalization of facial surveillance and identification-check mandates, which limit access to digital services and dissolve the status quo of anonymityall for a flawed idea of internet safety. In the United Kingdom, for instance, the newly enacted Online Safety Act requires many websites and apps to verify that users are 18 or older, in many cases by having them submit government-issued ID or selfies. In the United States, federal lawmakers are weighing a similar bill, the Kids Online Safety Act, or KOSA. And some states have already put similar mandates in place. Although keeping minors away from harmful content is a noble goal, the result will be a constellation of online services with invasive, insecure, and ultimately ineffective security checks. [Alan Z. Rozenshtein: A new era of internet regulation is about to begin] Under the U.K.s safety act, companies that refuse to implement age-surveillance software could face billions in fines or jail time. Owners of porn sites may not get much sympathy as a persecuted class, but the laws targeted primary priority content is so general that it applies to far less controversial platforms, such as Bluesky and Discord. Wikipedia has said it may have to limit access to its site in the U.K. as a consequence, and other platforms have enacted broad restrictions to avoid any potential violation of the law. According to TechDirt, people in the U.K. have had to verify their age in order to access protest videos on X or Reddit communities about substance abuse and menstruation. Unsurprisingly, all of this has led people to circumvent the verification features, much as I did with Tea. Some use VPNs, which lead sites to believe that you are accessing them from a different country; Forbes and PCGamer reported that U.K. teens have also managed to fool live facial-recognition scans by pointing their phones at realistic video-game characters. In principle, a cumbersome identity-verification process makes users feel safe and prevents unauthorized access. In practice, these verification processes are easily subverted by people with the will and technical know-how. A website with sensitive content arguably becomes less safe to use, because the stakes of a breach become much higher. (Sites requiring identity verification can use third partiesmany of which say that personal information is encrypted and not permanently stored, although those intermediaries may bring their own privacy concernsbut they do not have to.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here in America, numerous states are implementing age-verification requirements for adult content and social-media apps. Ambiguous laws in Utah, Louisiana, and other states also broadly block children from harmful content. Speaking about pornography, Senator Todd Weiler, the Utah measures sponsor, has said, I dont think its helpful when a kid is forming their impressions of sex and gender to have all of this filth and lewd depictions on their mind. That he referenced gender in particular feels to me like cause for concern: Given their ambiguity, these statutes could and very well may be abused as a political tool to block LGBTQ content, medically accurate information about abortion, and other such material. This pattern isnt cabined to conservative states. Last year, New York enacted the Safe for Kids Act, requiring social-media firms to monitor users ages. While lawmakers impulse to protect teens from social-media toxicity is easy to understand, as is the U.K.s, the devil is in the details: It is unclear how New York will verify which users are children, and theres a risk that lawmakers will repeat the mistakes from other states and countries by mandating technology such as facial recognition. There are plenty of reasons to be worried about social medias effects on younger users. But lawmakers could instead push for generally applicable safety measures that would protect kids and adults alike. Social media can be a trying and toxic place whether youre 13 or 23. Certainly the effects may be more pronounced for teens, but theres little evidence to suggest the brain is inoculated against the technologys effects the moment users turn 18, and many vulnerable adults are at risk as well, such as those with sustained mental-health challenges. The measures that New York is proposing for childrencurtailing late-night notifications, a restriction on algorithmic feedscould, in theory, apply to adults. And if the law was evenly applied to everyone, there would be no need for invasive surveillance. The truth is there are very few ways to verify someones identity online well, and no ways to do it both effectively and anonymously. With all the awful content floating on the internet today, giving up anonymity might feel like a small price to protect public safety, but the adoption of these laws would mean sacrificing more than privacy. Losing anonymous internet access means giving companies and government agencies more power than ever to track our activities online. It means transforming the American conception of the open internet into something reminiscent of the centralized tracking systems weve long opposed in China and similar countries. At this moment, the prospect of an internet linked to our real identity has never felt so threatening. Article originally published at The Atlantic Claim: A vacuum cleaner salesman named Silas Reid killed 107 women in 11 minutes in 1942. Rating: Rating: False A rumor that circulated online in a video during the summer of 2025 claimed a vacuum cleaner salesman, Silas Reid, killed 107 women in 11 minutes in 1942. For example, on June 27, a manager of the Inspector Crimes Facebook page posted a video (archived) with a text caption reading, "107 Women. One Man. One Day." The clip, receiving over 720,000 views, also displayed, "This man hated women and took the lives of [hundreds] at once." The same video posted (archived) on the page's affiliated Instagram account, Inspector Story (@inspectorstory), also received over 1 million views. The clip's narrator told the story as follows: This man took the lives of over 100 women in a single day. In 1942, in the city of Wilmington, Delaware, there was a man named Silas Reid. He worked selling vacuum cleaners door to door, and was known as the clean one for being extremely polite and tidy. But Silas harbored a deep hatred that no one knew about. He believed that women were corrupting the world, blaming them for all his personal failures, his job loss, his divorce and even the death of his own mother. His ex-wife, Lunatique, had left him for another man, and that was when he decided to cleanse the city of women. On July 16, 1952, there was a women's convention at the Sycamore Hotel with nearly 300 women gathered for a charity event. Silas, wearing his usual salesman uniform, entered unnoticed, carrying what looked like his usual vacuum cleaner. But this time, it wasn't a vacuum. It was a homemade gas dispersal unit built with parts from old wartime equipment. He locked all the exits and activated the device. It took eleven minutes for the gas to fill the entire ballroom. 107 women died. By the time authorities arrived, Silas was gone. It took two years before they finally found him. But here's the strangest part: Silas was sent to an asylum instead of prison. After 15 years of institutionalization, he was declared cured and released. However, searches of Newspapers.com a newspaper-archives website hosting more than 1 billion pages from over 29,100 historical newspapers found no record of a vacuum cleaner salesman named "Silas Reid" or Silas Reed" killing over 100 women at a hotel. Searches of Bing, DuckDuckGo, Google and Yahoo also located no credible information to confirm the story. Those searches also failed to locate any record of a Sycamore Hotel ever existing in Wilmington, Delaware. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The story's mistaken mention of both 1942 and 1952, as well as the name "Lunatique" similar to the word "lunatic" served as extra hints of the story's fictional nature. Rather, this tale showcased not just a fabricated story but also fake images a user generated with artificial-intelligence (AI) tools. Signs of AI in the video included the somewhat blurry and shiny appearance of people, as well as several images displaying letters that did not properly form real words. The bio for the Inspector Crimes Facebook page read, "AI-Inspirational Crafted Stories. AI-driven Experiences. Having Fun with AI. #AICreation." The Inspector Story Instagram account featured a similar disclaimer, which read, "AI-Inspired Stories." The Instagram page's bio also promoted an audio-only, AI-generated podcast including a short episode for the "Silas Reid" story. In an email to Snopes, a manager of the Inspector-named Facebook and Instagram accounts confirmed, "Yeah, that story's totally fictional. I just made my own version after seeing some stuff online. It's not based on real events or a real person." The user also reported combining AI tools and editing software to create the video. Earlier video from Nigeria-run Facebook page One of the oldest videos (archived) showcasing the story, if not the original, appeared on a Facebook profile named STORY TIME on May 18. That clip a different one than the video shared one month later by the Inspector Crimes and Inspector Story accounts received over 554,000 views. The profile's "page transparency" tab displayed Nigeria as the lone page manager's location of residence. Via Messenger, we contacted the manager of the STORY TIME Facebook profile to ask about the origins of the fictional story, and to inquire about the tools used to make the video. We will update this story if we receive further information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other users shared the fabricated story on Instagram (archived), TikTok (archived) and YouTube (archived). For further reading, a previous fact-check article also about a video featuring AI-generated elements examined a story claiming a cargo ship located a couple, Mark and Jennifer Patterson, who vanished 25 years earlier during a sailing trip from Florida to the Bahamas, in 1999. Sources: "The Past: Read All about It." Newspapers.com, https://www.newspapers.com/. Updates: Aug. 14, 2025: We updated this fact-check article to emphasize the fabricated story instead of the AI-generated video, changing the rating from fake to false. Claim: Britain's Queen Camilla was thrown out of Buckingham Palace after King Charles III caught her cheating and stealing royal jewelry. Rating: Rating: False In August 2025, rumors circulated online claiming that Britain's Queen Camilla was banished from royal residences after King Charles III allegedly discovered her having an affair and stealing royal jewelry, including pieces that belonged to Princess Diana. For example, one YouTube channel posted (archived) a video on Aug. 7, titled, "Queen Camilla THROWN OUT of Palace After King Charles Caught Her Infidelity | Then and Now 2026." (hollywood star/YouTube) The narration began: During the coronation ceremony as King Charles and Queen Camilla made their way from the throne to the exit of Westminster Abbey, something striking caught the eye of many. While everyone bowed to the king, there was a noticeable stillness when Camilla passed by. Not a single person moved, no arm raised, no muscle twitched. This silent moment speaks volumes about the deep seated resentment and anger. Some people still harbor towards Camilla. It's a twist no one could have predicted. Queen Camilla once crowned beside Charles, now faces disgrace as she's thrown out of the palace. Caught in a scandalous affair with a former royal aid and entangled in the theft of Princess Diana's jewels. Her double betrayal has rocked the royal family to its very foundation. King Charles devastated and furious, wasted no time in taking decisive action. The woman who once made Charles sacrifice everything has now crossed an unforgivable line both personally and royally. What began as quiet whispers has culminated in her exile, the truth is now out. Camilla not only betrayed Charles, but also the crown itself. This time there's no coming back for her through the Palace Gates, the secret that rock the monarchy has been exposed. If you are eager to learn more about this shocking tale, leave a comment with the number one and let's dive into these earth shattering revelations together. The narration continued with detailed scenarios including alleged surveillance photographs dated May 2025, claims about missing royal heirlooms including Princess Diana's jewelry, supposed palace confrontations and technical details about vault access codes and security systems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similar claims appeared elsewhere on YouTube (archived, archived, archived) with nearly identical content. Snopes readers also emailed us to ask if the claims were true. The story was fabricated. Searches of Bing (archived), DuckDuckGo (archived) and Google produced no results from any news media outlets reporting on a story about Queen Camilla being expelled from the palace for having an affair or stealing jewelry. Prominent news media outlets would have widely reported such developments if they were true. We have reached out to the Royal communications team about these allegations and will update the story if we receive a response. Recent joint appearances Searches of Getty Images showed that the king and the queen were visiting the Sandringham Flower Show 2025 together at Sandringham House on July 23, 2025, in King's Lynn, England. Additionally, according to the royal family's official website, Queen Camilla's page remains active, listing her current royal duties and patronages. This contradicted claims that she had been expelled from royal appearances. Current royal living arrangements The couple was not living in Buckingham Palace, as of this writing, due to a 10-year, 369 million refurbishment. According to the BBC (archived), the king and queen split their time between Clarence House in London and Highgrove in Gloucestershire. Pattern of AI-Generated Content The YouTube video making these claims contained multiple indicators of fabricated content. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The narration included promotional language and calls-to-action typical of YouTube content creators, such as "If you are eager to learn more about this shocking tale, leave a comment with the number one." The narration also followed a uniform narrative structure typical of AI-generated storytelling, with seamless transitions between complex fictional scenarios without natural speech patterns. The rumor about the king and the queen also shared elements with another fabricated story Snopes previously debunked, which claimed Tom Cruise walked off "The View" after Joy Behar questioned him about Scientology. Sources: "Tom Bower." Simon & Schuster. https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Tom-Bower/31442997. Accessed 7 August 2025. "The Queen." The Royal Family. https://www.royal.uk/the-queen-0. Accessed 7 August 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Reservicing Buckingham Palace." The Royal Family. https://www.royal.uk/reservicing-buckingham-palace-1. Accessed 7 August 2025. "Buckingham Palace to get 369m refurbishment." BBC. 18 Nov. 2016. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-38025513. Accessed 7 August 2025. Clarke, Jennifer. "What does King Charles do and who else is in the Royal Family?" BBC. 29 Jan. 2025. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56201331. Accessed 7 August 2025. Shan, Cindy. "Tom Cruise walked off 'The View' after Joy Behar questioned him about Scientology?" Snopes. 10 July 2025. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/tom-cruise-view-scientology/. Accessed 7 August 2025. Claim: U.S. President Donald Trump fell in early August 2025, as depicted in an image showing him falling on a grassy surface. Rating: Rating: False Context: An alleged photo of Trump falling that circulated with the false rumor in some posts was fake. A rumor that circulated online in August 2025 claimed U.S. President Donald Trump recently took a fall and that a photographer captured the tumble on camera. In the most prominent example, this matter trended on Meta's social media platform Threads. In the U.S. morning hours of Aug. 11, Threads' "trending now" list displayed the text, "Trump fell, prompting varied responses on social media platforms." The trend showed "179K" as the number of users' posts allegedly discussing the matter. That number reflected any past conversations in which users mentioned the word "Trump" and/or "fell." (Threads) Threads users genuinely asked whether Trump truly fell. One user posted (archived), "Is Trump Fall a real thing? Did he actually fall?" Another person inquired (archived), "Did Trump really fall over? I can't find it anywhere." Users on X also asked the Grok AI tool whether Trump fell, and generally shared the rumor, as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, searches of Bing, DuckDuckGo, Google and Yahoo found no news media outlets credibly reporting Trump falling in early August. Had Trump fallen on the ground, outlets worldwide would have covered the matter. Instead, the rumor was false. On or before Aug. 10, someone asked an artificial-intelligence tool to create a fake image showing Trump having just fallen onto a grassy surface. That image, once posted, led Threads' AI technology to misinterpret the matter and create the false trend. While it's possible Trump or any other politician could fall in a private setting in a moment that would receive no publicity, Snopes traced the origins of how this particular rumor began. The evidence of the inauthentic way this specific rumor started allowed us to draw a straight line to a false rating. We contacted the White House to ask if officials wished to share a statement regarding the rumor and will update this story if we receive a response. How the 'Trump fell' rumor originated For users logged in on Threads, the "Trump fell" trend listed (archived) several posts on the subject. Some displayed the inauthentic image showing Trump having fallen on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A reverse-image search with Google Images found two of the most prominent examples of posts featuring the fake image were from the content creator Keith Edwards, who posted the image on Threads (archived) and X (archived), receiving more than 786,000 and 1.6 million views, respectively. (@keithedwards/X) Then, on Aug. 11, the false statement "Trump fell" trended on Threads. Threads' "trending now" section displays the text, "What people are saying, summarized by AI." In other words, a human used AI to create the fake image as exhibited by the slightly different appearance of Trump's face, when compared to genuine photos and Meta's AI technology then misinterpreted posts with that image and created the "Trump fell" trend, furthering the false rumor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The fake picture displayed small text reading, "trump is in the epstein files" a reference to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The text referenced a story The Wall Street Journal published on July 23 headlined "Justice Department Told Trump in May That His Name Is Among Many in the Epstein Files." We contacted Edwards to ask whether he created the image showing Trump falling and will update this story if we receive more information. For further reading, a previous fact check from June confirmed the authenticity of videos and photos showing Trump stumbling while walking up the steps to board Air Force One. Sources: Google Images. https://images.google.com/ Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gurman, Sadie, et al. "Justice Department Told Trump in May That His Name Is Among Many in the Epstein Files." The Wall Street Journal, 23 Jul. 2025, https://www.wsj.com/politics/justice-department-told-trump-name-in-epstein-files-727a8038. Megerian, Chris, and Eric Tucker. "Trump Says Epstein 'stole' Young Women from Mar-a-Lago Spa, Including Virginia Giuffre." The Associated Press, 29 Jul. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/jeffrey-epstein-congress-ghislaine-maxwell-justice-department-3ca45e130deb5f2eee8deff36d99734f. WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump said Monday that his administration will take over policing the nation's capital city in what the Republican said is an effort to bring down rising crime rates in Washington, D.C. But Trump exaggerated or misstated many of the facts surrounding public safety in Washington, where the crime rate has fallen in recent years, while leaving out much of the context. Here's a closer look at the facts: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Statistics rebut Trump's claims about violent crime in Washington TRUMP: Its getting worse, not getting better. Its getting worse. THE FACTS: Statistics published by Washington's Metropolitan Police contradict the president and show violent crime has dropped in Washington since a post-pandemic peak in 2023. According to the data, homicides, robberies and burglaries are down this year when compared with this time in 2024. Overall, violent crime is down 26% compared with this time a year ago. A recent Department of Justice report shows that violent crime is down 35% since 2023, returning to the previous trend of decreasing crime that puts the district's violent crime rate at its lowest in 30 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That report shows that when compared to 2023 numbers, homicides are down 32%, armed carjackings are down 53% and assaults with a dangerous weapon are down 27%. The city's statistics have come into question, however, after authorities opened an investigation into allegations that officials altered some of the data to make it look better. But Mayor Muriel Bowser stands by the data and said Trump's portrait of lawlessness is inaccurate. We are not experiencing a spike in crime," Bowser said on MSNBC Sunday. "In fact, were watching our crime numbers go down. Murders in 2023 in Washington were high, but not the highest ever Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TRUMP: "Murders in 2023 reached the highest rate, probably ever. They say 25 years, but they dont know what that means because it just goes back 25 years." THE FACTS: In 2023, the District of Columbia recorded 274 murders in a city of about 700,000, its highest number in 20 years. But the city's own crime statistics from the 1970s, 80s and 90s, when the population was smaller, show much higher numbers of homicides. In 1990, for instance, the city reported 498 homicides. The next year saw 509, and 460 in 1992. Decades of statistics on crime in the city are available online. Washington murder rate compared to international capitals Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TRUMP: The murder rate in Washington today is higher than that of Bogota, Colombia, Mexico City. Some of the places that you hear about as being the worst places on Earth, much higher. This is much higher." THE FACTS: It's true, but Trump isn't telling the whole story. Washington does have a higher homicide rate than many other global cities, including some that have historically been considered unsafe by many Americans. But Trump is leaving out important context: the U.S. in general sees higher violent crime rates than many other countries. While Washington is one of America's most dangerous big cities, others have higher crime rates. Trump blames cashless bail for crime without evidence Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TRUMP : "This dire public safety crisis stems from a public safety crisis that is directly from the abject failures of the citys local leadership. The radical left City Council adopted no cash bail. By the way, every place in the country where you have no cash bail is a disaster." THE FACTS: Data has not determined the impact of cashless bail on crime rates. Studies, many of which focus on recidivism of defendants rather than crime rates, have shown mixed results. A 2024 report published by the Brennan Center for Justice saw no statistically significant relationship between bail reform and crime rates. The nonprofit looked at crime rate data from 2015 through 2021 for 33 cities across the U.S., 22 of which had instituted some type of bail reform. Researchers used a statistical method to determine if crime rates had diverged in those with reforms and those without. Ames Grawert, the reports co-author and senior counsel in the Brennan Centers Justice Program, said this conclusion holds true for trends in crime overall or specifically violent crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similarly, a 2023 paper published in the American Economic Journal found no evidence that cash bail helps ensure defendants will show up in court or prevents crime among those who are released while awaiting trial. I dont know of any valid studies corroborating the Presidents claim and would love to know what the Administration offers in support, Kellen Funk, a professor at Columbia Law School who studies pretrial procedure and bail bonding, told The Associated Press in a July 25 fact check. In my professional judgment Id call the claim demonstrably false and inflammatory. The Trump administration has cited a 2022 report from the district attorneys office in Yolo County, California, that looked at how a temporary cashless bail system implemented across the state to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks in courts and jails impacted recidivism. It found that out of 595 individuals released between April 2020 and May 2021 under this system, 70.6% were arrested again after they were released. Funk, contacted Monday, noted that Washington D.C. reformed its cash bail system in the 1990s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What the President is declaring to be an emergency is a system that has functioned much better than cash-based bail systems for nearly thirty years now, including during the recent historic lows in reported crime in the District, he said, adding that the D.C. bail system has served as a model for bipartisan bail reform efforts in New Jersey and New Mexico over the past decade. ___ Associated Press writer Melissa Goldin in New York contributed reporting. ___ Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck. By Andrew Osborn MOSCOW (Reuters) -Vladimir Putin is set to become the first Russian president to visit Alaska, a territory Moscow sold to the U.S. in 1867 for $7.2 million, assuming a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump goes ahead there on Friday as planned. It would be Putin's eighth trip to the U.S. as president, a post he has held since the end of 1999 apart from a four-year hiatus in 2008-2012 when close ally Dmitry Medvedev held the top Kremlin job. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here are details of Putin's previous visits to the United States as president, and a summary of those made by Medvedev and Boris Yeltsin, his predecessor. 2015 - The last time Putin was in the U.S. he visited New York for the United Nations General Assembly and held talks with then-President Barack Obama. The encounter was a frosty one with Obama sharply criticising Putin over the conflict in eastern Ukraine where Russia-backed forces were fighting government troops. The two leaders also clashed over Syria and the fate of then President Bashar al-Assad at a time when Moscow was poised to intervene militarily on Assad's side against rebel forces. 2007 - Putin travelled to the family home of Obama's predecessor, George W. Bush, in Kennebunkport, Maine, at a time when ties were badly strained over Russia's opposition to a planned U.S. missile defence system in Eastern Europe, U.S. criticism over what is said was Putin's rollback of democracy, and disagreement over statehood for Kosovo. Bush and Putin held informal talks on nuclear security, Iran and North Korea. Bush later described how they spent a weekend fishing and discussing missile defence systems in Poland and the Czech Republic which Putin was worried about. Some common ground was found, Bush noted, quipping that Putin was the only one to catch a fish. 2005 - Putin attended the 2005 World Summit in New York and later held White House talks with President Bush. Their meeting was partly overshadowed by Hurricane Katrina which devastated New Orleans. Putin offered aid and words of support. Concerns about Iran and North Korea developing nuclear weapons loomed large. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2004 - Putin attended a G8 summit on Sea Island in Georgia, and was also in Washington at the funeral of late President Ronald Reagan. He held talks with President Bush who hailed the Russian leader as his friend. Iraq was in focus, a year after the U.S. invasion, with Putin helping Bush get a resolution through the U.N. which supported the interim Iraqi government. 2003 - Putin was in New York for the U.N. General Assembly and also held talks at Camp David in Maryland with President Bush. Putin expressed misgivings about the U.S. invasion of Iraq that same year, but the joint news conference was a friendly affair with Bush declaring Washington and Moscow allies in what he called "the war on terror." They spoke of expanding cooperation in Iraq and Afghanistan and of broadening U.S.-Russia military cooperation. 2001 - Putin went on a state visit to the U.S. taking in Washington, New York as well as Texas two months after nearly 3,000 people were killed in the 9/11 attacks. Putin, the first foreign leader to phone Bush to express solidarity after the attack, visited the site in New York where the World Trade Center once stood and wrote on a wall: "The great city and the great American nation will win!!!" The former KGB officer attended a restricted access CIA briefing, met U.S. Congress leaders, and held talks with President Bush, attending an informal dinner at Bush's ranch in Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 2000 - Putin flew to New York to attend the Millennium Summit and gave a speech to the U.N. Security Council of which Russia is a permanent member. In it, he urged a multilateral rather than unilateral approach to international affairs. He also held talks with then-President Bill Clinton with both agreeing to recommit to, and in some cases extend, various initiatives concerning arms control and nuclear non-proliferation. Dmitry Medvedev, who was president from 2008-2012, made five visits to the United States and cast himself at the time as a pro-Western moderniser. His most high-profile trip was in June 2010 when he met President Obama at a diner near Washington for a burger and fries amid an attempted "reset" in ties. Medvedev has since become one of Russia's most outspoken anti-Western hawks. Boris Yeltsin, who was Russia's first post-Soviet president, made four official trips to the U.S. after the 1991 Soviet collapse. Bill Clinton would reveal in an interview years later that on one of his trips to Washington in the mid-1990s, U.S. secret service agents found Yeltsin in the early hours wandering in the street in his underwear, drunk and craving pizza. (Reporting by Andrew OsbornEditing by Aidan Lewis) BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) The family of a 3-year-old boy who died after being left in a car amid the sweltering heat for hours in Birmingham is now suing member of the Jefferson County Department of Human Resources and the group contracted with them in his death. On July 22, KeTorrius Starkes Jr. was picked up from daycare by Kela Stanford, a driver with Covenant Services contracted with JCDHR, for a visit with Starkes father at the Bessemer DHR. At the time, Starkes was in custody of DHR. According to a lawsuit filed by the family, Stanford then took Starkes, better known as KJ, following the visit, but instead of taking him back to daycare, she ran errands while he was in the back seat of the car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defendant KELA STANFORD stopped to pick up food for her family and then delivered the food to her home while leaving K.J. in her vehicle, the lawsuit stated. Defendant KELA STANFORD then left her home to go shop at a tobacco store along with K.J. still in the car. The family claims that by 12:30 p.m., Stanford arrived at her home, where she parked the car and went inside, all with Starkes still in the car with the engine off, windows up and dark tinted windows in violation of state law. On July 22, 2025, the National Weather Service in Birmingham, Alabama issued a Heat Advisory reporting temperatures over 95 degrees with a heat index range of 105 to 109 degrees, the lawsuit stated. The family alleges that Starkes was left alone in the car for over five hours before Stanford, who had reportedly been called about why the boy wasnt at daycare, went to the car and found Starkes unresponsive. By 6:03 p.m., Starkes was dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Defendants breached their mandatory duty owed to K.J. by allowing him to remain in an unsafe environment exposed to ongoing abuse and/or neglect, which proximately caused his death, the lawsuit stated. The conduct, acts, and/or omissions by Defendants and Fictitious Defendants were negligent, wanton, willful, malicious, fraudulent, in bad faith, beyond their authority and/or under a mistaken interpretation of the law. On Aug. 1, Stanford was arrested and charged with leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle in a manner that creates an unreasonable risk of injury or harm. A child in DHR custody was being transported by a contract provider when the incident occurred, a DHR spokesperson said in a statement. The provider has terminated their employee. Due to confidentiality, DHR cannot comment further regarding the identity of the child or the exact circumstances. The following people were listed in the lawsuit, charging wrongful death and negligence: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kela Stanford: Covenant Services employee Covenant Services: the group contracted by the Jefferson County Department of Human Resources for cases Roderick Henderson: executive director of Covenant Services Danny Williams: director of the Jefferson County Department of Human Resources Roshunda Spencer: assistant director of child abuse/neglect of the Jefferson County DHR Tony Hunter: assistant director of the Bessemer region of the Jefferson County DHR Carla Emmons: assistant director of foster care of the Jefferson County DHR Carletha McKinstry: worker with the Alabama Department of Human Resources and the Jefferson County DHR Latoya Kine: worker with the Alabama Department of Human Resources and the Jefferson County DHR The case remains under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. Family benefits play a key role in fighting poverty and promoting social inclusion. They help support households and are especially important in preventing child poverty. Across Europe, social security systems and family benefits vary hugely. One way to compare them is by looking at how much each country spends per person. In 2022, EU countries spent an average of 830 per person on family benefits. Thats a 47% rise from 566 in 2012. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But how do these benefits compare across Europe? Which countries spend the most to support families? In the EU, expenditure on family benefits per person in 2022 ranged from 211 in Bulgaria to 3,789 in Luxembourg according to Eurostat. When EU candidates and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries are included, Albania offered the lowest benefits per person at just 48, closely followed by Turkey (57) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (59). North-West vs South-East divide in family benefits In general, family benefits per person are highest in Northern and Western Europe, and lowest in the South and East. After Luxembourg, Nordic countries top the list: Norway (2,277), Denmark (1,878), Iceland (1,874), Sweden (1,449), and Finland (1,440). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nordic countries and France remain among the highest overall spenders on family benefits, although their approach relies more on in-kind services such as childcare, which are not fully captured by per capita cash benefit measures, Dr Anne Daguerre from University of Brighton told Euronews Business. Germany (1,616), Switzerland (1,375), Austria (1,340), and Ireland (1,026) also spend over 1,000 per person. Belgium (976) and France (867) rank above the EU average, but dont reach the 1,000 mark. The Netherlands offered 670 per person in family benefits. This is 160 below the EU average. Italy (524) and Spain (427), both part of the EUs 'Big Four' economies, fell short. EU candidate countries offer the lowest levels of family benefits. Montenegro (131) and Serbia (117) follow Albania, Turkey, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which are among the bottom three. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prof. Grega Strban from the University of Ljubljana expressed caution when comparing countries: The question is whether all the countries classify all benefits in the same manner. He emphasised that there are many policy considerations behind them. Some focus on the support for parents (or guardians of a child), others on children (and students) themselves. Some are universal, some targeted. Some are linked to disability or social assistance, he added. Related How have family benefits changed over the past 10 years? Among 32 countries, family benefits per person decreased in only two nations in euro terms, while increases varied significantly over the past 10 years. In the EU, the average rose from 566 in 2012 to 830 in 2022. This a 47% increase, or 264. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It declined by 5% (or -130) in Norway and 18% (or -62) in Cyprus. Part of this change may be due to exchange rate fluctuations. In percentage terms, Poland reported an unprecedented increase of 320%, followed by Latvia (245%), Romania (227%), and Lithuania (198%). Family benefits per person also more than doubled in Estonia (125%), Serbia (115%), Bulgaria (112%), Iceland (110%), and Croatia (101%). The increase was below 30% in Luxembourg, Austria, Finland, Hungary, France, Sweden, Denmark, and Ireland. Most of these countries already offered higher benefits with the exception of Hungary. In euro terms, the largest increases were recorded in Iceland (980), Luxembourg (819), and Germany (558). Drivers of change in family benefits Family benefit spending per person has increased markedly across the EU since 2012, but the drivers of this growth differ sharply between countries, Dr Daguerre told Euronews Business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She noted that the most striking increases are in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries, particularly Hungary and Poland: In these cases, the growth is largely driven by selective pronatalist policies aimed at boosting fertility rates and supporting traditional family models. These cash-heavy strategies reflect a broader shift toward more socially conservative welfare agendas. She also added that Italy under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been following a similar path since 2022. Growth in family benefits can also reflect different priorities. Lithuania, for instance, has also seen significant increases, but through the introduction of a universal child benefit in 2018. This reform was primarily designed to reduce child poverty and ensure more inclusive access to support, especially for low-income families who had previously been excluded from tax-based systems, she explained. Dr Anne Daguerre pointed out that some Southern European countries like Greece and Cyprus show stagnation or only modest increases in spending, despite persistently low fertility rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related What are family benefits? Family benefits are all benefits in kind or in cash intended to meet family expenses under the social security legislation of a Member State according to the European Commission. Family benefits include parental and child-raising allowances that help cover the costs of raising a child and compensate for lost income when a parent stops working. Childcare allowances for working parents also fall under family benefits. The chart above shows the impact of family tax allowances: One-earner couples with two dependent children have significantly higher take-home pay relative to their gross salaries. Euronews article titled Net vs gross salaries in Europe: How much are employees really taking home? analyses in more detail the role of family allowances on personal finances across Europe. Since the day she was born, Tiffany Trump has grown up in the spotlight literally. After her mother Marla Maples gave birth to her in a Palm Beach, Florida, hospital, there were camera crews and the paparazzi snapping photos of Donald Trump by his limo ready to take his youngest daughter home. More than 30 years later, first daughter Tiffany Trump is giving the public a glance of her new baby but not to the extent of her own childhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tiffany Trump, only child of President Donald Trump and Marla Maples, and her billionaire husband Michael Boulos, welcomed their son, Alexander Trump Boulos, at 4:44 a.m. May 15, 2025. Baby Boulos was born days after Mothers Day and after his eldest cousin, Kai Madison Trump daughter of Donald Trump Jr. (Tiffany Trump's half-brother) and Vanessa Trump turned 18. When Alexander Trump Boulos was born, his mother announced it via Instagram as did first-time-grandmother Marla "Gran Mar Mar" Maples, and well-wishes from the Trump family circle online. During the week of his birth, his famous grandfather, President Donald Trump, was in Abu Dhabi for his first major foreign trip of this term: My daughter had a baby. I'm going back home to see that little baby," Donald Trump said May 16. I do want to see my beautiful grandson, a son, and we'll be doing that. Photos of baby Boulos have been available through Tiffany Trump's social media profiles online, including Instagram and X. Below are photos of Tiffany Trump growing up in the spotlight and photos of Alexander Trump Boulos, Donald Trump's 11th grandchild, whom she lovingly referred to as "ATB" online. Video of Donald Trump and Marla Maples with newborn Tiffany Trump Video: In the 'wedding of the year,' Donald Trump marries Marla Maples after Tiffany Trump is born Video: Rare photos of Tiffany Trump as a child growing up in the spotlight after Donald Trump, Marla Maples divorce Photos of Tiffany Trump growing up in Palm Beach, Florida, California and New York Marla Maples and Tiffany Trump, daughter of Donald Trump, at the Braves/Expos spring training. Trumps at Sixty-Five Roses gala, 1996: Donald Trump, then-wife Marla Maples and their daughter Tiffany attended the CF gala. Photo by Davidoff Studios. Tiffany Trump, daughter of Donald Trump, attends presidential events to support her father Photos of Alexander Trump Boulos, son of Tiffany Trump and Michael Boulos, 11th grandchild of Donald Trump The new mom posted the first portrait photos of her baby boy around Fathers Day 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just over a month later, Tiffany Trump posted what seems like vacation photos with Michael Boulos at Le Grand Jardin near Cannes, France. Tiffany Trump later posted an Instagram Story with photos and video of Le Grand Jardin, including a landscape photo showing the gorgeous backdrop as she holds young ATB. Marla Maples or 'Gran Mar Mar' posts photos of new grandbaby Alexander Trump Boulos Marla Maples moved back to Palm Beach County, Florida, in 2022. Tiffany Trump and Boulos live fairly close to the rest of the Trump family in South Florida. Two months after he was born, Maples posted photos of her and Alexander when he was a few days old. I couldnt wait any longer to share photos with my precious grandson Alexander who is two months old today! Maples said on Instagram. Her July 15 post featured photos and video of Alexander Trump Boulos as a newborn. Everyone kept asking me, What will you have him call you? And I remembered how, before Tiffany was born, my mother stitched a precious blanket with the name she had chosen for herself, Granna Ann. But Tiffany had her own idea and Granna Ann soon became Mom Mom. Needless to say, the needlepoint got replaced. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maples explains further: So I whispered to Alexander, I dont care what you call me even if its Little Granny. In the post, Maples gives her followers a glimpse of her newborn grandson and compliments her daughters parenting. Tiffany, your dedication and your love as a mother bring tears to my eyes and fills my heart with joy. Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: When Tiffany Trump's baby with Michael Boulos made his Instagram debut Tino Chrupalla, co-chair of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, has said in an interview with ZDF television that Ukrainian refugees in Germany are receiving Burgergeld (citizens allowance) "unfairly" and "should return to their country". Source: DW, as reported by European Pravda Quote: "There are refugees who came to Germany and who are unfairly receiving citizens allowance here. And who should go back to their country." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Chrupalla claimed that Ukraine has "mostly pro-Russian regions, including ones with Russian populations" and that three million Ukrainians fled the war to Russia. "Thats why we need to talk about which ethnic groups of the population really need to be protected here," the politician said. He called for the war in Ukraine to be ended as soon as possible. "And if there is a compromise we dont like, one that involves [Ukraine] conceding territory But I always ask: what are the alternatives? Do we want to keep fighting?" he posed rhetorically. At the same time, he said Russia is "the largest nuclear power in the world" and that the invasion of Ukraine is "not our war". Background: Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Soder earlier called for Ukrainian refugees to be stripped of Burgergeld, which is paid to jobseekers or those whose income is insufficient to support themselves. He argued that the welfare payments discourage many Ukrainians from seeking employment in Germany. This call was echoed by Saxonys Minister-President Michael Kretschmer, who supported a review of the welfare system, including payments to Ukrainian refugees. Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced plans to introduce stricter rules for receiving social assistance. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Claire's, a fashion accessories chain based in Illinois, has filed for bankruptcy for a second time in seven years and says more than 1,100 stores could close soon, including nearly 40 in Michigan. The chain is looking for a buyer for about 800 remaining locations. The Hoffman Estates, Illinois, chain has continued to struggle since a 2018 bankruptcy filing, USA TODAY said. The company already was set to close two locations in Michigan, with clearance sales concluding no later than Sep. 7, according to court filings from the company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This decision is difficult, but a necessary one. Increased competition, consumer spending trends and the ongoing shift away from brick-and-mortar retail, in combination with our current debt obligations and macroeconomic factors, necessitate this course of action for Claire's and its stakeholders," Claire's CEO Chris Cramer said in the news release. "We remain in active discussions with potential strategic and financial partners and are committed to completing our review of strategic alternatives." The mall-based chain joins other companies facing bankruptcies and store closings such as At Home, Big Lots, Joann Fabrics, Kohl's, JCPenney, Macy's and Party City. The company will have to shut down all of its locations if it cannot complete a sale quickly, impacting 38 stores in Michigan. Here's what to know: Which Claire's and Icing stores are closing in Michigan? A total of 18 Claire's and Icing stores are closing across the U.S., including two Michigan locations: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bay City Town Center, Bay City Woodland Mall, Grand Rapids Additional stores also could close, the company said in the filing. Michigan stories at risk of closing In court filings, Claires CEO, Chris Cramer, disclosed that the company has received multiple letters of intent to purchase its assets and has recently solicited bids for its business. A list of stores obtained by USA TODAY shows 1,119 stores that could close. The list of stores can be searched below: How many Claire's locations are there in Michigan? Claire's currently has 38 stores throughout Michigan, according to the company's website, including: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contributing: Mike Snider, Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Claire's files for bankruptcy. Chain could close nearly 40 Michigan stores BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) Police are searching for a suspect after a man was shot to death in a Woodlawn parking lot early Monday morning. Officer Truman Fitzgerald, with Birmingham Police Department, said the shooting happened shortly after 5 a.m. in the parking lot of a building on the 5500 block of First Avenue North. Skeletal remains discovered in Birmingham possibly tied to human skull found by dog Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim, who was about to start his shift at ADW Temporary Staffing, was found inside of his van with a fatal gunshot wound. Fitzgerald said police believe the victim got into a fight with an unknown suspect which escalated into the shooting. Fitzgerald confirmed that while no one is in custody at this time businesses in the area have provided surveillance footage that have given police a lead. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS 42. The political standoff in Texas continues to escalate. GOP U.S. Senator John Cornyn announced that FBI Director Kash Patel has agreed to assist in locating House Democrats who fled the state to deny Republicans a quorum during a special session on congressional redistricting. As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Gov. Greg Abbott criticized the walkout, accusing Democrats of abandoning their elected duties. The walkout prevented the Texas House from reaching quorum during a session called to pass legislation on election integrity and border security. Abbott has vowed to call special sessions every 30 days and has initiated removal proceedings against at least one absent lawmaker. The Texas House has issued civil arrest warrants, suspended pay and per diems, approved budget cuts for offices of members participating in the walkout, and the states Attorney General is investigating a Democratic PAC that may have funded the effort. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has also joined calls for the Democrats return. In a representative democracy, we resolve our differences by debating and voting, not by running away, Cornyn wrote in his letter to the FBI, according to The Hill. I request the FBIs assistance, as federal resources are necessary to locate the out-of-state Texas legislators who are potentially acting in violation of the law. The FBI has tools to aid state law enforcement when parties cross state lines, including to avoid testifying or fleeing a scene of a crime. Legal observers caution that the FBIs involvementwith no clear statutory basis in this purely state-level disputeraises serious concerns. Breaking a quorum is not a crime, and the bureau has yet to confirm any active operational role. I dont see why the FBI would be involved in this at all. I mean this is Texas politics and the FBI has no business trying to enforce Texas state law, said Richard Painter, former associate counsel to President George W. Bush. The stalemate has left the legislative agenda frozen, with both sides showing no sign of backing down. Amid President Donald Trumps crime crackdown in Washington, D.C., the FBI has started sending about 120 agents on overnight shifts to help local law enforcement battle carjackings and other violent crime, according to The Washington Post. This comes as Trump has threatened a federal takeover of the city, even as data shows violent crime plummeting in the nations capital. The president was recently outraged after a young administration staffer was reportedly assaulted in an attempted carjacking. On Saturday, Trump announced that a Monday press conference would end violent crime in Washington. On Sunday, he took to Truth Social again, this time to call on the citys homeless to clear out immediately. The president compared his crime-battling action to his work restricting illegal immigration at the southern border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI agents from the bureaus counterintelligence, public corruption, and other units are now set to take part in traffic stops, for which they lack the proper training, The Post noted. Trump ordered federal law enforcement agents from a number of agencies to be sent into city streets last week, and he said more juveniles should be charged in the justice system as adults. As many as 120 FBI agents are being dispatched to assist local law enforcement in Washington (Getty Images) The paper found that the diversion to local crime has caused frustration at the FBI. Most of the 120 agents authorized by the administration to battle crime alongside D.C. police come from the Washington Field Office. FBI agents usually dont have the authority to conduct traffic stops, and people familiar with the situation told The Post that the agents could be dispatched to support other agencies. Federal land is all across the nations capital, and local law enforcement often works side by side with federal agents to patrol it. However, these duties usually fall to the U.S. Park Police and the Secret Service, and not the FBI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anonymous top officials in the D.C. police department told The Post that the Trump administration hasnt asked how to deploy these additional resources. As D.C. is not a state, federal authorities can exert more control over the city even as residents and local elected leaders protest. D.C. residents elect their own mayor and city council following the 1973 Home Rule Act. However, a federal takeover of Washingtons police department would be an unusual use of power in a city where local leaders have few ways to resist federal intrusions. On Sunday morning, the FBI told The Post in a statement that Agents from the FBI Washington Field Office continue to participate in the increased federal law enforcement presence in D.C., which includes assisting our law enforcement partners. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said Sunday that the city was not experiencing a crime spike (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Trump took to Truth Social on Sunday afternoon to call out the citys mayor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Mayor of D.C., Muriel Bowser, is a good person who has tried, but she has been given many chances, and the Crime Numbers get worse, and the City only gets dirtier and less attractive, he said. Appearing on MSNBC on Sunday, Bowser said Washington was "not experiencing a crime spike." "It is true that we had a terrible spike in crime in 2023, but this is not 2023," she said. "We have spent over the last two years driving down violent crime in this city, driving it down to a 30-year low." The capitals police department reported that violent crime in the first seven months of this year was down by 26 percent compared with 2024. Overall, crime was down roughly seven percent. If the priority is to show force in an American city, we know he can do that here, Bowser added. But it wont be because theres a spike in crime. Tears glistened on Lauras cheeks as one by one people lined up along the center aisle of the dimly lit Christ Lutheran Church sanctuary in Oakland Park to offer prayers, consolation and donations. It has been more than two months since immigration agents came to take her husband. Now, afraid for her own life and for her son, shes headed back to Colombia. They called and said they were going to come to the house to check the ankle monitor, she told the Miami Herald. About four or five cars arrived and they took him. Laura is consoled by Leandro Giraldo, a friend , during the sevice Laura, 32, shared her story with the Herald following a Saturday night vigil for families caught up in the Trump administrations mass-deportation campaign. The event was organized by Semillas Colombia, which provides social services to Colombians living in Florida. The Herald is not publishing Lauras last name given her legal status. From right to left: Melissa Quiroz, Miguel Pereira, Laura, Yiralit Vanegas, Mayerly Susa, Juan Pablo Susa and Leandro Giraldo hold candles and pray during a vigil at Christ Lutheran Church. Pastor Carlos Ham prays for Laura as her friend, Leandro Giraldo holds her hand during the vigil. As Laura tells her story, she and her husband Luis, 38, left their home in Cartago, Valle del Cauca in Colombia and crossed illegally into the United States from Piedras Negras, Mexico with their son Angel on Feb. 23, 2022. Laura said they came to South Florida because they wanted a better life for their 13-year-old child. Francia Cardona holds a rosary as she prays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Luis was arrested at their North Miami home and eventually sent to the Pine Prairie ICE Processing Center in Louisiana on June 8. And then Laura began to feel stomach aches as she looked for a safe place to live with Angel. She stopped eating and her stomach began to bloat. Irela Torres, center, consoles Laura, left, during a vigil at Christ Lutheran Church. I thought it was the stress I was going through, she said. A 2023 law requires Florida hospitals that accept Medicaid to ask patients about immigration status. They must also explain that the answer doesnt affect medical care and that they dont report patients to the federal government. But Laura was afraid to go to the doctor. My biggest fear is that they would detain me without my son, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A month went by and her belly continued to grow. She couldnt deal with the pain. Laura had a decision to make. Either I stay with this pain or I leave it in Gods hands, she told herself. Laura cries during the vigil She visited a Mount Sinai urgent care near Aventura, and was immediately sent to their main branch in Miami Beach. Thats where doctors diagnosed her with gastric cancer and explained that it had metastasized to her lower body, including her ovaries, lungs and back. Laura was hospitalized at Mount Sinai for eight days and spent another six at a Baptist Health hospital in Kendall, without insurance. The vigil brought together immigrant families and others supporting loved ones in migrant detention centers, such as Alligator Alcatraz, across the state and country. Laura says that, like her husband, she is slated for deportation. She said she applied for asylum and was denied, and then filed an appeal. She has a final order of deportation, she said, and now plans to return to Colombia with her son. From right to left: Sara Trujillo, Melissa Quiroz, Miguel Pereira, Laura, Yiralit Vanegas, Mayerly Susa, Juan Pablo Susa and Leandro Giraldo hold candles and pray during the vigil. From left to right: Leandro Giraldo, Juan Pablo Susa and Mayerly Susa hold candles and pray. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I still have days that I want to stay here, but for now my decision is to leave, Laura said. Irela Torres, center, prays and sings as she attends the vigil at Christ Lutheran Church. On Saturday, she took time to talk with Angel and explain why they would move back. I told him, son, mom has cancer. He said, But mom, is that an illness where you could die, right? and I said, Yes, but you have to fight, son. From left to right: Leandro Giraldo, Juan Pablo Susa, Mayerly Susa, Yiralit Vanegas, Laura, Miguel Pereira, Melissa Quiroz and Sara Trujillo listen to the pastor during the service. Pastor Oscar Restrepo, right, and Yiralit Vanegas, left, pray for Laura during a vigil at Christ Lutheran Church on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Oakland Park, Fla. Laura, who is undocumented, has a 13-year-old son and was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer, watched two months ago as her husband, Luis, was detained by ICE and taken to a detention center in Louisiana. The vigil brought together immigrant families and others supporting loved ones in migrant detention centers, such as Alligator Alcatraz, across the state and country. This article has been updated to include more information about how Florida hospitals address immigration under state law. Jacksons sewer contractor fought to keep its place and a federal judge took new steps to address a neglectful apartment complex owner in the latest court hearings over the citys water and wastewater utilities. Notably, U.S. District Court Judge Henry Wingate said during Thursdays status conference that hes planning an in-person visit next week to Blossom Apartments, where third-party utility JXN Water shut off service after the owner said he wouldnt pay over $400,000 in unpaid water bills. The judge also said he wants to have the complexs owner, Tony Little, appear in court. But most of Thursdays status conference focused on Jacksons sewer contract with Veoilia, which has managed the citys three wastewater treatment facilities and pumping stations for the past nine years. Jackson has been under a federal consent decree since 2013 over its sewer system failures, which include polluting the Pearl River. Wingate placed the sewer operations under JXN Water in 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, WLBT reported, JXN Water manager Ted Henifin clashed with city leaders after he decided to replace Veoilia with Jacobs Solutions, the firm that already manages the citys water treatment services. Jacobs is set to take over the contract in October. Veoilias contract was set to end in November 2026. Henifin, along with several Jacobs employees, attempted on Thursday to enter the Savanna Street Wastewater Treatment Plant to meet with Veoilia about the transition. But Veolia staff denied Henifin and the Jacobs employees entry, saying they no longer wanted to have their scheduled meeting. Matt Johnson, Veolias vice president of operations, told Wingate that the meeting would have been disruptive to daily operations, and that he didnt understand the business sense of Henifins decision to end the contract contract early. Henifin said going with Jacobs would save about $800,000 a year, largely because it already has staff in the area. Johnson contested that it would cost $1.2 million to $1.6 million to end its contract early, but Henifin disputed that number, saying Jacobs would attempt to retain all of Veoilias staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The manager also criticized Veoilias performance. Im a little dumbfounded theyre continuing to push this, Henifin said, arguing the company neglected Jackson for roughly seven years before only recently turning things around. Johnson, as well as representatives for Jackson, pushed back on Henifin for not going through a competitive process for choosing a new sewer contract, arguing Veolia could have competed with Jacobs price if there was an open bidding process. Jackson interim chief administrative officer Pieter Teeuwissen, speaking on behalf of the mayors office, agreed that a request for proposals, or RFP, would benefit the city by providing transparency and boosting trust in JXN Water. The federal order that appointed Henifin over the water and sewer systems allows him to bypass laws around bidding contracts as well as public records. The manager has said before that an RFP process would be expensive and time-consuming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wingate made no ruling regarding the contract itself, but told Veoilia that Henifin should have unfettered access to all sewer facilities going forward. At the end of the status conference, Wingate said he would soon address the question over whether to put Blossom Apartments and another abandoned complex into receiverships. Representatives of the Mississippi Poor Peoples Campaign, one of the intervenor plaintiffs, asked whether there was any way to turn water on at Blossom Apartments for just the weekend as Wingate decides how to proceed. Organizer Danyelle Holmes described inhumane conditions at the complex, where tenants havent had running water for over two weeks. Henifin responded that, short of the judge ordering him to do so, he wouldnt restore service, emphasizing that neglectful property owners need to face consequences. Mayor John Horhn, who took office July 1, told reporters this week that the city is providing potable water to residents as officials work to relocate tenants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Horhn also came out against Henifins proposal to increase water rates, which Wingate is waiting to rule on as he finds out how the city spent money from its Siemens settlement. Ive gone on record with the judge saying that Im not in favor of a rate increase, Horhn said at a press conference. The people of Jackson are suffering enough under the water availability fee for example, just in order to qualify for getting water, you have to pay a $40 availability fee and a lot of residents have a lot of push back on that. The mayor mentioned the potential to reallocate federal funds to help pay for daily water operations. While Henifin has said hes asking federal officials to do just that, hes maintained a rate increase would still be necessary. Reporter Maya Miller contributed to this story. Attendees listen to a presentation by podcaster and author Kate Bowler organized by Humanities North Dakota in Fargo in 2024. (Photo provided by Humanities North Dakota) Humanities North Dakota says its financial future looks more stable after a federal judge indicated the executive branch was wrong to cancel two years of nationwide humanities grants. The National Endowment for the Humanities was created by Congress in 1965 to support civics, arts and cultural education across the country. A total of 56 humanities councils, including Humanities North Dakota, rely on the agency for money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those humanities councils were dealt a significant blow after the federal government in early April walked back hundreds of millions in grant funding earmarked for them by Congress for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years, according to court records. The National Endowment for the Humanities at the time said it was repurposing its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of the Presidents agenda. Humanities North Dakota in April said it stood to lose $600,000 in grant money it received for fiscal year 2024 because of the funding cuts. The organization later received $300,000 in private donations to keep its doors open, though it said it still would have to pare down its programming in light of the grant cancellation. Oregon U.S. District Judge Michael Simon in a Wednesday order wrote that the executive branchs decision to defund humanities councils is unlawful and will likely be overturned at a later date. Simons order doesnt reinstate any of the grant money, but it does temporarily prevent the federal government from spending it elsewhere, according to the Federation of State Humanities Councils. With the courts decision, well begin the process of resuming paused initiatives, reconnecting with community partners, and making responsible financial decisions that reflect both the uncertainty of the past few months and our long-term commitments, said Brenna Gerhardt, executive director of Humanities North Dakota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The grant cancellations were one of the many program purges carried out by executive branch agencies at the request of the Department of Government Efficiency. In addition to the funding cuts, the National Endowment for the Humanities this spring laid off roughly 65% of its staff, according to Simons order. Simons decision came in a lawsuit against the Department of Government Efficiency and the National Endowment for the Humanities brought by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and one of its members, Oregon Humanities. In their complaint, the plaintiffs allege the federal government canceled the funding with no reasoned analysis and with total disregard for the Congressionally mandated role of councils: to ensure that humanities programs reach every part of the United States. The National Endowment for the Humanities has said that the grants were pulled because they were identified as promoting subjects like diversity, equity and inclusion, disability accommodation and environmental justice, which President Donald Trump pledged to eliminate in an executive order adopted earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simon said this flies in the face of how Congress wanted the National Endowment for the Humanities to use the grant money. Federal law directs the federal agency to support programs that reflect the diversity and richness of our American cultural heritage and give particular regard to scholars, and educational and cultural institutions, that have traditionally been underrepresented. The funding cuts have disrupted funding for causes including an Indigenous language preservation program in Alaska, an end-of-life care department for an Ohio childrens hospital and rural libraries in Oregon, Simon noted in his order. From the largest cities to the most rural communities throughout our nation, humanities funding came to a screeching halt, he wrote. Phoebe Stein, president of the Federation of State Humanities Councils, in a Wednesday statement applauded Simons decision but noted that it still leaves humanities councils underfunded for the time being. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many have already laid off staff and canceled vital programs as a result, Stein said in the announcement. The National Endowment for the Humanities has argued in court documents that federal regulations allow them to terminate grants at will if they conclude that a grant does not further agency priorities. North Dakota Monitor reporter Mary Steurer can be reached at msteurer@northdakotamonitor.com. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse in Portland on Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023. (Ben Botkin/Oregon Capital Chronicle) Humanities North Dakota says its financial future looks more stable after a federal judge in Oregon indicated the executive branch was wrong to cancel two years of nationwide humanities grants. The National Endowment for the Humanities was created by Congress in 1965 to support civics, arts and cultural education across the country. A total of 56 humanities councils, including Humanities North Dakota, rely on the agency for money. Oregon impacts The now-paused federal cuts made up about 45% of Oregon Humanities budget. The Oregon council, which also receives state funding, responded by canceling its long-running Humanity in Perspective program, which offers free college-credit humanities courses to low-income adults. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those humanities councils were dealt a significant blow after the federal government in early April walked back hundreds of millions in grant funding earmarked for them by Congress for the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years, according to court records. The National Endowment for the Humanities at the time said it was repurposing its funding allocations in a new direction in furtherance of the Presidents agenda. Humanities North Dakota in April said it stood to lose $600,000 in grant money it received for fiscal year 2024 because of the funding cuts. The organization later received $300,000 in private donations to keep its doors open, though it said it still would have to pare down its programming in light of the grant cancellation. Oregon U.S. District Judge Michael Simon in a Wednesday order wrote that the executive branchs decision to defund humanities councils is unlawful and will likely be overturned at a later date. Simons order doesnt reinstate any of the grant money, but it does temporarily prevent the federal government from spending it elsewhere, according to the Federation of State Humanities Councils. With the courts decision, well begin the process of resuming paused initiatives, reconnecting with community partners, and making responsible financial decisions that reflect both the uncertainty of the past few months and our long-term commitments, said Brenna Gerhardt, executive director of Humanities North Dakota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The grant cancellations were one of the many program purges carried out by executive branch agencies at the request of the Department of Government Efficiency. In addition to the funding cuts, the National Endowment for the Humanities this spring laid off roughly 65% of its staff, according to Simons order. Simons decision came in a lawsuit against the Department of Government Efficiency and the National Endowment for the Humanities brought by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and one of its members, Oregon Humanities. In their complaint, the plaintiffs allege the federal government canceled the funding with no reasoned analysis and with total disregard for the Congressionally mandated role of councils: to ensure that humanities programs reach every part of the United States. The National Endowment for the Humanities has said that the grants were pulled because they were identified as promoting subjects like diversity, equity and inclusion, disability accommodation and environmental justice, which President Donald Trump pledged to eliminate in an executive order adopted earlier this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Simon said this flies in the face of how Congress wanted the National Endowment for the Humanities to use the grant money. Federal law directs the federal agency to support programs that reflect the diversity and richness of our American cultural heritage and give particular regard to scholars, and educational and cultural institutions, that have traditionally been underrepresented. The funding cuts have disrupted funding for causes including an Indigenous language preservation program in Alaska, an end-of-life care department for an Ohio childrens hospital and rural libraries in Oregon, Simon noted in his order. From the largest cities to the most rural communities throughout our nation, humanities funding came to a screeching halt, he wrote. Phoebe Stein, president of the Federation of State Humanities Councils, in a Wednesday statement applauded Simons decision but noted that it still leaves humanities councils underfunded for the time being. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many have already laid off staff and canceled vital programs as a result, Stein said in the announcement. The National Endowment for the Humanities has argued in court documents that federal regulations allow them to terminate grants at will if they conclude that a grant does not further agency priorities. North Dakota Monitor, like the Capital Chronicle, is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. North Dakota Monitor maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Amy Dalrymple for questions: info@northdakotamonitor.com. MADISON After historic flooding in the Milwaukee area, Gov. Tony Evers' administration is assessing the extent of damage a process that could qualify area residents for federal disaster aid. Milwaukee and other parts of Wisconsin were hit with massive volumes of rain Saturday and Sunday, leading to flash flooding, power outages and a slew of closures and cancelations. Parts of Milwaukee saw more than 10 inches of rain in less than 24 hours in what is classified as a 1,000-year flood event. Some residents affected by the flooding may look to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, also known as FEMA. Here's what you need to know about FEMA and when a disaster qualifies for federal aid. What is FEMA? FEMA is a U.S. government agency focused on coordinating disaster response and recovery efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FEMA's assistance is initiated by an official request made by a state, tribal or territorial government. FEMA does not automatically respond to every disaster, according to the agency website. State and local officials can issue emergency declarations to immediately mobilize local resources and implement emergency plans. If a disaster overwhelms state and local capacity, officials may request a presidential declaration, the agency said. A presidential declaration triggers a federal response, providing additional resources and support. Federal agencies work with state and local governments affected by the disaster to assess damage, determine needs and allocate aid. Unlike an emergency declaration, which can be issued before or immediately after a disaster, a presidential declaration can take a few days or even weeks to be issued. What is the eligiblity requirements to receive FEMA assistance from the Individuals and Households Program? If a disaster is declared, the following criteria must be met to be eligible for individual assistance from FEMA: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No other assistance: You may receive FEMA assistance only for needs not met by an insurance company or other similar reimbursement program. Occupancy: You must have been living in the damaged property as your primary residence at the time of the disaster. Ownership: You must own the damaged property or rent it. Disaster damage : Your home must have sustained disaster-caused damage that is not covered by insurance. U.S. Citizenship or legal residency: You must be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien, according to FEMA. Specific eligiblity requirements may vary depending on the type of disaster and federal regulations. You can check your elibiblity for assistance and apply by doing one of the following: Online at DisasterAssistance.gov. Calling the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-3362, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (your time zone), seven days a week. Due to high call volume during a disaster, please expect longer wait times. The agency recommends calling in the morning or evening. During a disaster, the quickest way to get answers about assistance eligibility is usually by visiting a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC). The wait time at these centers is usually shorter, and they also have in-person, one-on-one FEMA representatives. To find the closest center, use the online locator: FEMA.gov/DRC Download the FEMA app for mobile devices. FEMA cannot provide assistance for disaster needs that have been met by another source such as insurance or other programs. But, if your insurance or another program does not cover all your disaster-caused needs, individuals may be eligiable for assistance from FEMA, according to the agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you apply for FEMA assistance, you must tell FEMA about any insurance coverage you have that can help with your needs. If you have insurance coverage, you will need to give FEMA proof of the insurance settlement or a letter explaining you were denied coverage before FEMA can determine what kind of assistance you are eligible for. Has an emergency declaration been made for Milwaukee County floods? Emergency declarations are made based on damage assessments and the request of local partners, according to the governor's office. While Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley declared a state of emergency throughout the county on Aug. 10, no formal request for a state emergency declaration had been made to the governor's office as of Monday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evers' spokeswoman Britt Cudaback told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that at this time Wisconsin Emergency Management, the state's agency responsible for administering disaster relief funds, is in the early stages of the damage assessment process and the governor's office will continue to monitor the situation for any declaration needs. But even if Wisconsin makes a state emergency declaration, that doesn't necessarily mean FEMA will provide federal support. To receive federal aid once a state declaration is made, damage must exceed a certain threshold to qualify. Jeff Fleming, a spokesman for the Milwaukee mayor's office, told the Journal Sentinel city officials talked to the governor's staff Aug. 10 about advancing an emergency declaration and that a formal declaration for a state emergency delcaration from Milwaukee County is likely to come soon. A spokesman for Crowley did not immediately respond to the Journal Sentinel. Anna Kleiber can be reached at akleiber@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Will FEMA help with disaster assistance after Wisconsin floods? The spirit of Ecuador fills the street around Peter Francisco Park in Newark during the annual Ecuadorian Festival. The two-day festival will also include a parade down Ferry St. on Sunday August 14. The spirit of Ecuador fills the street around Peter Francisco Park in Newark during the annual Ecuadorian Festival. The two-day festival will also include a parade down Ferry St. on Sunday August 14. Four-year-old Elijah Gomez gets his face painted during the annuall Ecuadorian Festival. The two-day festival will also include a parade down Ferry St. on Sunday August 14. The spirit of Ecuador fills the street around Peter Francisco Park in Newark during the annual Ecuadorian Festival. The two-day festival will also include a parade down Ferry St. on Sunday August 14. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Traditional Ecuadorian food for sale during the annual Ecuadorian Festival at Peter Francisco Park in Newark. The two-day festival will also include a parade down Ferry St. on Sunday August 14. Vendors cook pork at stalls around Peter Francisco Park in Newark during the annual Ecuadorian Festival. The two-day festival will also include a parade down Ferry St. on Sunday August 14. Peter Potty (left) and his wife Evelyn don their Ecuadorian bracelets and hats during the the annual Ecuadorian Festival in Newark. The two-day festival will also include a parade down Ferry St. on Sunday August 14. The spirit of Ecuador fills the street around Peter Francisco Park in Newark during the annual Ecuadorian Festival. The two-day festival will also include a parade down Ferry St. on Sunday August 14. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sister Lovely (left) of Teaneck, paints a henna design on the hand of eleven-year-old Kaylynn Cordero during the annual Ecuadorian Festival at Peter Francisco Park in Newark. The two-day festival will also include a parade down Ferry St. on Sunday August 14. Multiple fights broke out Sunday at the entrance to the Ecuadorian festival in Newark, resulting in summonses for three people, authorities said No one was hurt in the scuffles, which started around 5:45 p.m. in the area of Ferry and Union streets, Newark police said. Police temporarily closed the festival to disperse the crowd in the area. The festival followed a parade in the Ironbound section of the city and was expected to draw about 50,000 people. Additional information wasnt immediately available. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. The filing period for candidates to be on the ballot for elections for the City of Davenport is underway. I encourage interested candidates to turn in their packets early and to review the resources available on our website, said Scott County Auditor Kerri Tompkins. Davenport is the only city in Scott County that may have a primary election. The filing deadline for Davenport is Thursday, August 28 at 5 p.m. Kerri Tompkins (photo from Scott County Auditor website) The Candidate Guide is available on the Iowa Secretary of States website. Candidates must return their completed packets to the designated filing clerks the applicable School Secretary or City Clerk. The Auditors Office does not accept these packets. The Regular City-School Election filing period begins Monday, August 25 and ends on Thursday, September 18 at 5 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow the Scott County Auditors Office Facebook page for the latest information, click here or call 563-326-8631. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. HELSINKI (AP) Finnish authorities said Monday they have charged the captain and two senior officers of a Russia-linked vessel that damaged undersea cables last year between Finland and Estonia. The Finnish deputy prosecutor general said in a statement that charges of aggravated criminal mischief and aggravated interference with communications were filed against the captain and first and second officers of the Eagle S oil tanker. Their names were not made public. The statement said they denied the allegations. Authorities have said the vessel dragged its anchor to damage the Estlink-2 power cable and communication links between Finland and Estonia on Dec. 25. The Kremlin previously denied involvement in damaging the infrastructure, which provides power and communication for thousands of Europeans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Eagle S is flagged in the Cook Islands but has been described by Finnish customs officials and the European Unions executive commission as part of Russias shadow fleet of fuel tankers. Those are aging vessels with obscure ownership, acquired to evade Western sanctions amid the war in Ukraine and operating without Western-regulated insurance. For the West, such incidents are believed to be part of widespread sabotage attacks in Europe allegedly linked to Moscow following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The undersea cables and pipelines that crisscross one of the busiest shipping lanes in Europe link Nordic, Baltic and central European countries. They promote trade, energy security and, in some cases, reduce dependence on Russian energy resources. Monday's statement alleges that the Eagle S, which left Russias Ust-Luga with a cargo of oil products, is suspected of cutting five submarine cables in the Gulf of Finland by dragging its anchor on the seabed for about 90 kilometers (56 miles)." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said the owners of the cables have suffered a total of at least 60 million euros ($69.7 million) in repair costs. The disruption of electricity transmission and telecommunications cables with very high transmission capacity is also suspected to have caused a serious risk to energy supply and telecommunications in Finland, although services could be secured by using alternative connections, the statement said. It added that the defendants "consider that Finland lacks jurisdiction in the case, as the locations of the cable damages are outside Finnish territorial waters. The damage to the Estlink 2, which can provide about half of Estonia's electricity needs in winter, did not disrupt service, although it drove up energy prices in the Baltic nations. The cable is about 90 miles (145 kilometers) long and reaches 90 meters (295 feet) at its deepest point. Aug. 10 (UPI) -- Four C-130 military aircraft equipped with firefighting equipment have been deployed to battle a series of wildfires in the western United States as triple digit temperatures and low humidity readings combine to create conditions for blazes to spark and spread rapidly, government officials reported Sunday. Two of the large tanker planes have been deployed from the Colorado Springs Airtanker base and the other pair from Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa, Ariz. There are currently 37 large wildfires burning across the United States, which have prompted officials to deploy 374 crews, 975 engines, 125 helicopters and 13 incident management teams to battle the blazes, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly 43,000 fires have blackened more than 3.6 million acres across the country in 2025. That is nearly twice as many fires as last year, but the blazes this wildfire season have burned nearly half as many acres. Forecasters predict wind gusts of up to 25 mph and single digit humidity readings in the Four Corners area will persist into the first part of the week, heightening the danger, creating conditions for fires to spread. "Lighter winds, but still dry conditions are expected across the rest of the Great Basin and into the central Rockies," the NIFC said Sunday. "Hot, above normal temperatures and low (relative humidity) will spread across most of California and southern Oregon away from the coast." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are seven fires burning in California and Colorado, 6 in Arizona, 5 in Idaho and three fires each in Washington, Utah and Nevada. Firefighters routinely battle challenging terrain in addition to the weather, making it especially difficult to contain fires in the most remote areas. By David Latona, Susana Vera and Charlie Devereux CONGOSTA, Spain (Reuters) -Extreme heat and strong winds caused "fire whirls" as a blaze burned several houses and forced the evacuation of hundreds of people from near a UNESCO-listed national park in northern Spain, authorities said on Monday. About 800 people were told to abandon their homes in half a dozen villages in the north of the Castile and Leon region, where several wildfires were raging. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents of the town of Congosta were spraying houses, trees and pavement with their garden hoses to fend off the flames that devoured at least two buildings, while police told them to prepare for evacuation. The smoke was too thick for firefighting aircraft to deploy. "There are already several houses that have burned down, we don't know what to do anymore. We're completely defenceless and have been abandoned," said Congosta resident Evangelina Peral Delgado, 70. High temperatures on Sunday had caused the so-called fire whirls near Las Medulas park, forcing firemen to retreat said Juan Carlos Suarez-Quinones, chief of environment for the regional government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This occurs when temperatures reach around 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in a very confined valley and then suddenly (the fire) enters a more open and oxygenated area. This produces a fireball, a fire whirl," he said. Scientists say the Mediterranean region's hotter, drier summers put it at high risk of wildfires. Once fires start, dry vegetation and strong winds can cause them to spread rapidly and burn out of control, sometimes provoking fire whirls. A prolonged heatwave in Spain continued on Monday with temperatures set to reach 42C in some regions. Domingo Aparicio, 77, was evacuated to a nearby town from his home in Cubo de Benavente on Sunday after a warehouse in front of his home burned down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "How am I supposed to feel? It's always shocking for people close to the catastrophe," he said. Two or three fires may have been started by lightning strikes, Suarez-Quinones said, but there were indications that the majority were the result of arson, which he described as "environmental terrorism". In the northern part of neighbouring Portugal, nearly 700 firefighters were battling a blaze that started on Saturday in Trancoso, some 350 km (200 miles) northeast of Lisbon. So far this year about 52,000 hectares (200 square miles), or 0.6% of Portugal's total area, have burned, exceeding the 2006-2024 average for the same period by about 10,000 hectares, according to the European Forest Fire Information System. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters were also battling blazes in Navarra in northeastern Spain and in Huelva in the southwest, authorities said. (Reporting by David Latona and Susana Vera in Cubo de Benavente, Charlie Devereux in Madrid and Andrei Khalip in Lisbon; Editing by Olivier Holmey and Alex Richardson) LONDON (AP) Firefighters in Scotland overnight and into Monday battled a large brush fire that broke out on a landmark hill overlooking the city of Edinburgh, with burning gorse bushes sending plumes billowing into the sky. The fire broke out on Arthurs Seat, a large extinct volcano whose sweeping views over Edinburgh make it one of the citys most recognizable landmarks. Sundays fire came as the city kicked off its annual Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the worlds largest performance arts festival. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emergency services were alerted to the blaze late Sunday afternoon, and crews worked through the night and into Monday to control the blaze. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service Group Commander Niall MacLennan said the fire affected a large area of gorse bushes, which are thorny evergreen shrubs. The cause of the blaze was unclear. Rory Hadden, an expert in fire science in the engineering department at the University of Edinburgh, said most fires in Scotland are started by human actions, and noted that Arthur's Seat was very busy on Sunday. The large number of people visiting and the very dry conditions are therefore a good mix for a wildfire to start and to spread," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hadden said wildfires in and around Arthurs Seat in Edinburgh occur relatively often. He added that wildfires are becoming more frequent in the UK due to climate and land use changes. A similar fire broke out on Arthurs Seat in 2019, when firefighters battled a blaze there for eight hours. The first day of school is on the horizon, with more than a dozen metro Detroit school districts welcoming back students in August, before the traditional start after Labor Day. For dozens of districts, the Detroit Free Press has compiled dates for the first day of school, fall breaks (and any breaks around Thanksgiving), spring breaks (as well as mid-winter breaks, if a district offers one) and the last day of school. Some districts have not yet posted calendars, but the Free Press will update this list as those dates are posted. The district's official school calendar is linked in each entry: Detroit Public Schools Community District First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-20, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 5 Allen Park Public Schools First day of school: Sept. 2 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 4 Spring break: Feb. 16-17, March 30 to April 6 Last day of school: June 10 Anchor Bay School District First day of school: Aug. 27 Fall break: Nov. 24-28 Winter break: Dec 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: March 30 to April 6 Last day of school: June 5 Ann Arbor Public Schools First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Oct. 10-13, Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: March 30 - April 3 Last day of school: June 9 Berkley School District First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Sept. 23-24, Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-20, March 30 to April 2 Last day of school: June 12 Birmingham Public Schools First day of school: Sept. 2 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-20, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 12 Bloomfield Hills Schools First day of school: Sept. 2 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 12 Brandon School District First day of school: Sept. 2 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of July 21, the Brandon School District appeared to have not posted its full 2025-2026 calendar. Brighton Area Schools As of July 21, Brighton Area Schools appeared to have not posted its full 2025-2026 calendar. Center Line Public Schools First day of school: Sept. 2 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-20, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 12 Chippewa Valley Schools First day of school: Sept. 2 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-20, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 11 Clarkston Community Schools First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Nov. 24-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-17, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 5 Clawson Public Schools First day of school: Sept. 2 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-20, March 30 to April 6 Last day of school: June 10 Clintondale Community Schools First day of school: Sept. 2 Fall break: Nov. 27-29 Winter break: Dec. 23 to Jan. 3 Spring break: March 24-28 Last day of school: June 12 Crestwood School District First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-17, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 10 Dearborn Public Schools First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Nov. 27-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: March 18-20, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 11 Dearborn Heights School District First day of school: Sept. 3 Fall break: Nov. 27-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-17, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 12 Eastpointe Community Schools First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-17, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 10 Ecorse Public Schools As of July 22, Ecorse Public Schools had not publicly posted its 2025-2026 school calendar. Farmington Public Schools As of July 22, Farmington Public Schools' posted calendar for the 2025-2026 school year is listed as "tentative." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-20, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 11 Ferndale Public Schools First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-20, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 8 Flat Rock Community Schools First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Oct. 10-13, Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 13-17, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 5 Fraser Public Schools First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-17, March 27 to April 3 Last day of school: June 5 Gibraltar School District First day of school: Sept. 2 Fall break: Oct. 20-21, Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: March 30 to April 6 Last day of school: June 11 Grosse Ile Township School District First day of school: Sept. 2 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-17, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 11 Grosse Pointe Public School System First day of school: Sept. 2 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-20, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 11 Hamtramck Public Schools As of July 22, Hamtramck Public Schools did not appear to have publicly posted its 2025-2026 school year calendar. Hazel Park Schools First day of school: Aug. 27 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-20, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 5 Holly Area Schools Note: Holly Area Schools officials, in a letter to families, stated that the calendar posted was tentative, pending negotiations with the district's teacher's union. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-17, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 5 LAnse Creuse Public Schools First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 13-17, March 30 to April 6 Last day of school: June 5 Lake Shore Public Schools Note: Lake Shore Public Schools officials, in a letter to families, stated that the calendar posted was tentative, pending negotiations with the district's teacher's union. First day of school: Aug. 25 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: March 27 to April 3 Last day of school: June 4 Lakeview Public Schools First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 13-16, March 30 to April 6 Last day of school: June 5 Lake Orion Community Schools First day of school: Sept. 2 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-17, March 27 to April 3 Last day of school: June 9 Lamphere Public Schools First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 13-17, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 4 Lincoln Park Public Schools First day of school: Sept. 3 Fall break: Nov. 26-27 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-17, March 30 to April 5 Last day of school: June 10 Livonia Public Schools First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-17, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 4 Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Public Schools First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 20 to Jan. 4 Spring break: Feb. 16-17, March 28 to April 5 Last day of school: June 10 Mount Clemens Community Schools First day of school: Sept. 2 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of July 25, it did not appear Mount Clemens Community Schools had posted its full calendar. Northville Public Schools First day of school: Sept. 2 As of July 25, it did not appear Northville Public Schools had posted its full calendar. Novi Community School District First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Oct. 20-21, Nov. 26-30 Winter break: Dec. 20 to Jan. 4 Spring break: Feb. 13-16, March 28 to April 5 Last day of school: June 5 Oak Park Schools First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Nov. 24-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-20, March 30 to April 3 Oxford Community Schools First day of school: Aug. 21 Fall break: Oct. 7-8, Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 17-18, March 21-28 Last day of school: June 6 Pontiac School District As of July 25, the Pontiac School District did not appear to have public posted its 2025-2026 school year calendar. Plymouth-Canton Community Schools First day of school: Sept. 2 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 10 Riverview Community Schools First day of school: Sept. 2 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 5 Rochester Community Schools First day of school: Sept. 2 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 20 to Jan. 4 Spring break: Feb. 14-17, March 30 to April 2 Last day of school: June 10 Romeo Public Schools First day of school: Sept. 2 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-17, March 27 to April 3 Last day of school: June 10 Roseville Public Schools First day of school: Sept. 3 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-17, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 11 Royal Oak Public Schools First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 13-17, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 5 Saline Area Schools First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 20 to Jan. 4 Spring break: March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 4 Southfield Public Schools First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-20, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 11 Southgate Community Schools First day of school: Sept. 2 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-20, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 10 South Lyon Community Schools First day of school: Sept. 3 Fall break: Nov. 27-28 Winter break: Dec. 20 to Jan. 4 Spring break: Feb. 14-22, March 21-29 Taylor School District First day of school: Sept. 2 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-17, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 10 Trenton Public Schools First day of school: Sept. 2 Fall break: Nov. 27-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 9 Troy School District First day of school: Aug. 26 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-17, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 3 Utica Community Schools As of July 25, Utica Community Schools emphasized its first day of school is a tentative date, subject to collective bargaining with the district's teacher's unions. Other dates did not appear to be posted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First day of school: Aug. 26 Van Buren Public Schools First day of school: Sept. 2 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: March 30 to April 6 Last day of school: June 12 Walled Lake Consolidated Schools First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Nov. 27-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 4 Spring break: Feb. 16-20, March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 10 Warren Consolidated Schools First day of school: Aug. 27 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-20, March 30 to April 6 Last day of school: June 11 Waterford School District As of July 25, Waterford had not publicly posted its 2025-2026 calendar. Wayne-Westland Community Schools First day of school: Aug. 26 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-20, March 30 to April 3 West Bloomfield School District As of July 25, the West Bloomfield School District did not appear to have posted its full 2025-2026 calendar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First day of school: Aug. 25 Woodhaven-Brownstown School District First day of school: Sept. 2 Fall break: Nov. 27-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-17, March 30 to April 6 Last day of school: June 10 Wyandotte Schools First day of school: Sept. 2 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: Feb. 16-17, March 27 to April 3 Last day of school: June 10 Ypsilanti Community Schools First day of school: Aug. 25 Fall break: Nov. 26-28 Winter break: Dec. 22 to Jan. 2 Spring break: March 30 to April 3 Last day of school: June 5 Contact Lily Altavena: laltavena@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: When is the first day of school 2025? Metro Detroit key dates Give yourself some extra time this morning. Students in 58 of Florida 67 counties return to the classroom today, Aug. 11, for the start of the 2025-2026 school year. You still have time to save money on school supplies. Florida's month-long sales tax holiday on school supplies started Aug. 1 and will continue through Aug. 31, an extension from prior years of a two-week sales tax holiday. Several new laws went into effect over the summer, including one involving cell phone use by students. What's the earliest date Florida schools can start for the 2025-2026 school year? Florida law prohibits school districts from starting earlier than Aug. 10. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since Aug. 10 fell on Sunday this year, the earliest start date for the 2025-2026 school year is Monday, Aug. 11. Fifty-six out of Florida's 67 counties will start the school year today, Aug. 11. The remaining will start between Aug. 12 and Aug. 14. When is the first day of school in Florida? What schools start today, Aug. 11? Will middle and high schools have later start times this year? Middle and high schools may not be starting later in the morning, as a 2023 law required. Instead, a new law this year amended the last one to allow school districts to set their own schedules, under certain conditions, provided they submit reports documenting the costs included in moving class times, the efforts they made to do so, and any unintended consequences to the school district, students, and the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Phone bans, start times, charter schools, more: New Florida school laws starting July 1 In 2023, Florida lawmakers passed a law prohibiting high schools from starting classes before 8:30 a.m. and middle schools before 8 a.m. The law was supposed to take effect in the 2026-2027 school year. It was well-intentioned, but many school districts reported making the change could cost the districts big to buy new buses and hire more, already-hard-to-find bus drivers since many bus routes currently complete middle and high school routes before picking up elementary school students. Will cell phones be allowed in Florida schools? Under a new Florida law that went into effect July 1: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement High school students will be prohibited from using cell phones in the classroom or other instructional time unless explicitly told to by the teacher and then only in a designated area. Elementary and middle school students will not be allowed to use any wireless devices such as smartphones, tablets or smartwatches at any time during the school day ("bell to bell"). The law does not say students may not carry phones, only that they may not use them. Individual school districts may have more restrictive codes, parents and guardians should check with their local districts for more information. Can Florida kids take their phones to school this year? What to know about new law Florida Sales tax holiday on school supplies The back-to-school sales tax holiday is under way and continues until Aug. 31. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The month-long holiday which started Aug. 1 replaces the two-week tax holiday held in prior years. What school supplies can I buy tax-free in Florida? Florida's back-to-school sales tax holiday runs from Aug. 1-Aug. 31 in 2025. Items exempt from sales tax from Aug. 1-31 include: Most school supplies selling for $50 or less Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles selling for $30 or less Clothing, footwear and accessories selling for $100 or less Computers and related accessories selling for $1,500 or less (when purchased for non-commercial and personal use) See a complete list of items Is there a limit on the number of items you can buy during the school sales tax holiday? No. The exemption is based on the sales price of each item, not on the number of items purchased. Does the Florida back-to-school sales tax holiday also apply to items I buy online? Yes. Items purchased online are exempt when the order is accepted by the company during the sales tax holiday for immediate shipment, even if delivery is made after the tax holiday. See school start dates in all 67 Florida counties This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: When does school start in Florida? First day of school, county list House GOP fiscal hawks have requested tens of millions of federal dollars for projects in their home districts for fiscal year 2026, an analysis by Fox News Digital has found. It's common practice for congressional lawmakers to request funding for specific community initiatives for the people they represent measures called "earmarks." Critics of such funding have often referred to it as "pork," however. This coming fiscal year, beginning on Oct. 1, is no different both Republicans and Democrats have requests totaling over a billion dollars in earmarks so far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That includes conservatives in the House of Representatives who have been known to criticize what they describe as excessive or bloated government spending. Gop Lawmakers Clash Over Strategy To Avert Government Shutdown Crisis House conservatives like Reps. Lauren Boebert, Clay Higgins, center, and Andy Harris have requested millions for community funding projects in their districts. House Freedom Caucus Chair Andy Harris, R-Md., for instance, has been approved for more than $55 million in federal funding for projects in his district. Read On The Fox News App The figure includes $9 million for the Middle River Fire Company to make improvements and upgrades to its facilities, and $1 million for the development of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The majority of Harris' requests are aimed at rural development in his district and the Army Corps of Engineers. Three earmarks were requested for clean water initiatives. Harris told Fox News Digital when reached for comment on the funds, "These awards are certified to directly benefit taxpayers in the districtdrawing from existing grant programs that are funded annually. Its far better for elected members of Congress to designate where that money goes than to leave those decisions to unelected federal bureaucrats. There are no additional funds appropriated for Community Project Funding - they all fall within the agencys appropriation." Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., a self-described deficit hawk, was approved for just over $10 million so far. That includes over $4 million for Flexible Neutron Source, a research tool at the University of Tennessee, and $2 million for veterans housing in Knox County. Longtime Biden Aide Says He Stood To Earn Up To $8M Had President Won Re-election Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Freedom Caucus member Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., was approved for more than $18 million in earmarks with the largest request being $4,200,000 for the Silicon Bayou Semiconductor Technology Center at the University of Louisiana, Lafayette. Higgins' total sum also includes funding for Army Corps of Engineers projects, as well as rural hospital, law enforcement and clean water initiatives. He also submitted a joint request with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., for $131,500,000 toward a levee and floodgate system, called the Morganza to the Gulf of Mexico Project, aimed at storm damage prevention. Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., another member of the House Freedom Caucus, got nearly $15 million in community funding projects approved, chiefly aimed at clean water programs and highway infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boebert was vehemently against earmarks when she first came to Congress. Her opinion has changed since then, however, due to Republican-led changes to the process which she explained in a 2023 op-ed in the Aspen Times. Rep. Thomas Massie got $5 million approved for airport improvements. She made a similar argument to Fox News Digital when reached for this story: "I fought for real reforms to the appropriations process in 2023 to make sure my constituents' tax dollars go to necessary infrastructure projects, not the wasteful and corrupt spending schemes that took place under Nancy Pelosi." "My district's roads are crumbling, and our water keeps getting sent to California, where it's wasted, because Colorado's politicians won't invest in water storage or infrastructure investments. My constituents pay federal taxes just like everyone else, and they should see their dollars benefit their communities instead of being sent to sanctuary cities like Denver," Boebert said. Conservative libertarian Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., also got some community funding, though only totaling $5 million approved so far. Massie's requests so far are all focused on construction and rehabilitation for Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massie told Fox News Digital of the funding, "I serve on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee because I believe the federal government has a legitimate role in transportation infrastructure, and the legislature has the constitutional authority to direct the funding of those projects." "In fact, I have voted in the GOP conference more than once to restore congressionally directed spending in the context of transportation infrastructure," Massie said. And Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., chair of the subcommittee for Delivering on Government Efficiency (DOGE), got nearly $10 million in earmarks approved for her rural-suburban Georgia district. Those funding requests are largely comprised of infrastructure initiatives, clean water programs, and law enforcement-related projects for Floyd County and other areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 148 Democrats Back Noncitizen Voting In Dc As Gop Raises Alarm About Foreign Agents While known as a fiscal hawk, it's worth noting that the majority of Greene's criticism of government spending is directed at foreign aid. Greene said she was glad to be able to provide for her district when reached for comment by Fox News Digital. "Im proud to bring federal tax dollars back home to Northwest Georgia where they belong. My constituents work hard, and for far too long, Washington has sent their money to fund foreign wars, foreign governments and globalist pet projects. When I first got to Congress, I opposed the earmark process because I believed it was a tool of the Swamp. But after seeing how it works today, Ive realized that if we dont fight to bring money back to our districts, the money goes elsewhere," Greene said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Ill never support billions for Ukraine or other endless wars, but I will absolutely fight to secure critical investments in Northwest Georgia, from water systems and sewer expansions to public safety equipment, roads and broadband." Greene said she was glad to be able to provide for her district. The aforementioned lawmakers' spending requests are far from an exhaustive total list across the entire House, but fiscal conservatives' earmark proposals show just how widespread the practice is within Congress on both sides of the aisle. Republicans have made some changes to the process as of FY2025, however, to narrow what's allowed. In an effort to block out funding requests for "woke" or socially progressive policies, GOP appropriators have barred earmarks for most nonprofit organizations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That move likely saved hundreds of millions of dollars in annual spending, but Democrats decried it as a block on federal funding for LGBT initiatives. Fox News Digital reached out to spokespeople for Burchett and Higgins for comment but did not receive a response. Original article source: Fiscal hawks seek millions for home district projects amid government funding debate PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Three people were rescued by the US Coast Guard after a fishing vessel capsized near the Yaquina Bay jetty, the Coast Guard posted on X. The three who were rescued from the vessel, Das Bug, were transferred to EMS, officials said, while the search for a fourth person is ongoing. An Air Station North Bend helicopter was brought in to help with the search. No further information is available at this time. KOIN 6 News will update this story as developments are confirmed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Oklahoma County District 3 Commissioner Myles Davidson (R) joins Flash Point to discuss the ongoing location talks and the future of the county jail. Watch the entire episode 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Aldi fans, put your quarters away. Grand openings for new locations in Bushnell, Leesburg, New Port Richey and Tampa previously announced for Aug. 14 have been moved, the company said. The Tampa location is now scheduled to open on Thursday, Aug. 28, and the other three will open on Thursday, Sept. 4, Matt Thon, Haines City Division Vice President, said in an email. "We look forward to welcoming the community to the new stores and want to be sure they have the latest and most accurate information," Thon said. "We'll be sure to stay close with an updated timeline once available." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An Aldi location in Lehigh Acres is still scheduled for an Aug. 14 grand opening, according to an Aug. 7 email from a company spokesperson, and a Jacksonville location is due to open Aug. 28 per the company's website. Meanwhile, new coming-soon locations for Englewood and Gainesville have been added to the list, making at least 19 new Aldi locations in progress in Florida. Last month, new locations for the no-frills grocery chain launched in Odessa, Crawfordville, Jensen Beach, Westlake, Port Orange and St. Cloud, part of least 28 new locations that have opened their doors this year. Aldi plans to open 225 new store locations in the United States in 2025, the most they've ever opened in a single year, and 800 by the end of 2028. Most of them are Winn-Dixie conversions started during the brief period when the company bought the parent company of Winn-Dixie and Harvey's Supermarket but before they sold most of them back. When are the new Aldi locations opening in Florida? Aug. 14: Lehigh Acres, Winn-Dixie Shopping Center, 61 Bell Boulevard North Aug. 28: Jacksonville, Briarwood Village Place, 8775 Old Kings Road South Tampa, Main Street at Hampton Lakes, 13016 Race Track Road Sept. 4: Bushnell, Walker Ridge Square, 1122 North Main Street Leesburg, Lake Harris Square, 27405 U.S. 27 New Port Richey, 12124 Moon Lake Road What Aldi stores are opening in 2025 in Florida? There are at least 13 more Aldi locations coming soon to Florida as of July 29, according to Aldi's grand opening page, many of them former Winn-Dixie sites: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several more Winn-Dixie conversions are still ongoing, including locations in Sebastian and Vero Beach. scheduled for early 2026. What is Aldi? Aldi is an international chain of no-frills discount grocery stores with no coupons and few, if any, big-name brand products. Unlike Winn-Dixie, Aldi does not offer a meat counter, a deli, a pharmacy, a bakery, or a liquor store. There are no elaborate displays, no overhead music, a much smaller selection with few duplicates of item brands, lots of house brands, and fewer open hours. The goal of all of these is to keep prices low, the company says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You pay a quarter to get a shopping cart (you get it back when you return the cart), and you bag your own groceries with empty boxes from the store, bags you bought there or containers from home. There is a double-your-money-back "Twice is Nice" guarantee on its store brand products, and the chain regularly offers "FINDS," limited-time offers that change weekly or seasonally, and other discounted deals. The company does not offer a membership program. The "Aisle of Shame" is Aldi fans' nickname for the aisles of limited-supply deals in each location. The Aldi chain was founded by Karl and Theo Albrecht in 1946 (Aldi is an abbreviated form of "Albrecht Diskont"). After the brothers got into an argument over whether the stores should sell cigarettes, in 1960 they split the company into Aldi Nord and Aldi Sud, which both operate stores internationally in different regions. U.S. stores are operated by Aldi Sud. Aldi Nord also owns Trader Joe's. Aldi acquired Southeastern Grocers Inc (SEG), the parent company of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets, and announced an ambitious five-year, $9 billion plan to add 800 stores nationwide through new stores and store conversions. In less than a year, it turned around and sold most of them to a consortium of private investors led by SEG president Anthony Hucker, but kept the ones where conversion plans were underway. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Aldi grand openings in Florida pushed off to end of August, September ORLANDO, Fla. Waving signs that read Killing Is Not Conservation, Florida black bear advocates rallied over the weekend in Central Florida and elsewhere and plan to caravan to a state wildlife meeting Wednesday aiming to block the first hunt in a decade of a once-imperiled species or at least make the rules less cruel. Stopping the fast-tracked bear season seems unlikely, as it was penciled in for a 23-day span in December by a 4-1 vote of the wildlife commission in May, conceded Laura Fischer, a retired school teacher from Winter Springs and part of a protest Saturday at Lake Eola. But we cant not try, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While activists havent given up on dissuading the governing board of the Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission from final authorization of an annual bear hunt, they are sharpening focus on rules they call unfair like bait stations or cruel like using bows and arrows. Hopefully we can convince them, please, take a breath, and lets not even start this again. But lets also make sure that, if they do, we take all the worst things out of it, said Bryan Wilson, Central Florida coordinator of the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida. He argued hunting bear with a bow is inhumane. Theres no way to get that arrow in a 400-pound animal and effect the quick kill bow-and-arrow advocates claim, Wilson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The seven-member FWC board, all appointed or re-appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, will be asked to finalize a slate of bear-hunting parameters at their two-day meeting in Havana, a Gadsden County town of 2,000 located about 20 miles northwest of Tallahassee. This is not wanted by the majority of Floridians, said Katrina Shadix, founder of Bear Warriors United, based in Oviedo. But the opposition may not matter. Wildlife commissioners voted to move forward with crafting rules for a public hunt of bears, though 75% of 13,000 public comments fielded by the agency were opposed to reprising a hunt of the states largest native land mammal, estimated to number about 4,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The lone no vote was cast by the Steven Hudson, the boards vice chair, who suggested a hunt was unnecessary. The 2015 bear hunt, scheduled to last a week, was called off after just two days because hunters had killed 300 bears. The state had set a harvest or kill cap at 320 bears that year. Shadix said her group is asking for help to fund a lawsuit to stop an outrageous rollback of wildlife protections and a treacherous step away from public oversight and government transparency. She sent supporters an email blast callling for a strong turnout of bear advocates. The FWCs proposed rules are intended to establish a sustainable and repeatable bear hunt structure, according to its agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Florida black bear, listed as a threatened species from 1974 when its estimated population fell under 500, has rebounded remarkably to about 4,000, enough to support the limited hunt the wildlife agency has proposed, said George Warthen, FWCs conservation chief. The format of this hunt . . . is very conservative, he said. Unlike the 2015 hunt, when hundreds of hunters bought permits, only 187 bear permits will be issued through a lottery. A permit, $100 for Florida residents, $300 for out-of-state residents, entitles a hunter to take one bear. A lottery entry costs $5. The state has no limit on entries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warthen said some hunters have argued the harvest or kill limit should be much higher. While about 1,200 bears more than a quarter of the states bear population are estimated to roam the Central bear management unit, a region that includes Orange, Lake, Marion, Seminole and Volusia counties, the harvest limit for the area is 18 bears. FWC has organized the states bear population in seven geographic bear management units or BMUs. Three are estimated to have more than 1,000 bears with the most in Central Florida; 1,044 in Southwest Florida; and 1,060 in the states eastern Panhandle. Bear hunting is not allowed in any BMU with fewer than 200 bears. That rules out the west Panhandle, estimated to have 120; South Central with about 100 stretching from Pinellas County to St. Lucie County including Osceola County; and the Big Bend area with a census of about 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Warthen said other mortality factors in a BMU area play into the ceilings, including deaths from motor vehicle strikes. About 300 bears a year are hit and killed on Florida roadways, according to FWC data. FWC biologists have suggested the state may be approaching its bear carrying capacity the limit at which the rising population of bears outgrows its shrinking areas of habitat. Warthen said the agency wanted to step in before the species was harmed. Theres plenty of science, said Chuck Echenique, a lifetime hunter and executive director of The Future of Hunting in Florida. This hunt is purely about population growth and slowing the growth of the herd, he said. Its science versus emotion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He called the hunt highly regulated. But Chuck ONeal of Speak Up Wekiva, which fought to abbreviate the 2015 hunt, scoffed at the degree of regulation. He complained that the wildlife agency has eliminated the sites where hunters in 2015 were required to bring the bears they had killed. Theres no check-in station this time around and, last time, you couldnt shoot a bear over a bait station, he said. Sarah Younger of the Sierra Club took issue with the premise the hunt was science-based. Theres no science that would indicate bears require management somehow because of the populations numbers. FWC hasnt even finished their census of the species so theyre working at this blindly, she said. What it is really is a fast-track to a trophy hunt. ------------- Its a tough time to be a condominium owner in Florida. New standards for building safety coupled with skyrocketing insurance rates have made condo life prohibitively expensive for some. At properties facing millions of dollars of repairs, owners are contemplating whether their homes are worth saving. Termination could become an exit strategy for some buildings that have been poorly maintained for many many years where its hard to catch up, said Juan Farach, a partner at Shubin Law Group who specializes in condo issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That process involves selling a majority of units to a developer who dissolves the condo association, tears the building down and builds new. These deals can be lucrative. But theyre also hard to close. Florida law requires approval from 80% of owners to terminate a condo association, but just 5% can block it. Many associations have higher thresholds, with some requiring 100% approval. Investors can try to gain control of the board and loosen those restrictions. But it doesnt always work out. Thats what happened at Biscayne 21, a Miami condo tower at the center of a court case that could change how termination deals are handled across the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2022, developer Two Roads spent about $150 million to buy all but ten of the 191 units. It terminated the association and began securing buyers for a new luxury building planned for the site. Some of the remaining owners sued, claiming Two Roads violated their voting rights and unlawfully lowered the threshold for termination. The holdouts won on appeal last year. Floridas Third District Court of Appeal reaffirmed their victory last month, issuing an opinion denying Two Roads request for a rehearing. Glen Waldman, one of the attorneys representing the minority owners, said the ruling solidifies that everyone in the condo associations vote matters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also leaves the luxury redevelopment stuck in limbo until a resolution is reached. Two Roads is in a terrible, terrible position, Waldman said. Either they have to put our building back together again like Humpty Dumpty or they have to pay a tremendous amount of money in damages or resolutions. Taylor Collins, managing partner and co-founder of Two Roads, said he hopes the Florida Supreme Court will take up the matter. This case has broad, statewide implications, and we believe it deserves to be heard by the highest court in the state, he said in a statement. In the months leading up to the July decision, industry experts speculated on how the outcome might put a damper on future termination deals. The Related Group, Fortune International Equity, and several other developers engaged in termination deals submitted a brief to the court supporting Two Roads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This Courts Opinion injects uncertainty and thus an obstacle for the Developers that threatens to stifle current and future redevelopment in this State, they wrote. But rather than making sweeping statements about termination in general, Farach said the judges revised opinion was more narrowly focused on the specifics of Biscayne 21sdeclaration. We view it as a very narrow ruling that really only applied to this condominium, he said. Similar cases have played out across the state to varying degrees of success. In Tampa, a group of owners at the Grande Oasis sued the condo board and an investor called West Shore investor that has taken over a majority of units there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They tried to argue that the associations bylaws were changed unlawfully to pave the way for termination. They lost. West Shore has not announced plans to terminate the condo. The company declined to comment for this story. But condo owner Doreen Roselli, who organized the lawsuit, said West Shore now has the numbers to force termination, which could leave her with no choice but to sell. She said the holdouts are facing increased pressure to sell from real estate agents. They said sell now and youll get this much. If you wait youre going to get crap, she said. Ive been looking around at other places but there aint no way I can afford to stay anywhere near here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Rep. Vicki Lopez, R-Miami, has sponsored several condo bills. Biscayne 21 is in her district. She said the case has been frustrating to watch because the majority of owners wanted the condo to be terminated. Thats why they sold to Two Roads. Lets not allow the narrative of developers are coming in and throwing us out of our buildings, she said. Theyre buying units that condo owners want to get rid of. She wants to introduce legislation next year that would clarify the statues for condo termination and hopefully cut down on litigation. Regardless of what happens, condo terminations arent going away. Though the Biscayne 21 case has created some uncertainty, developers across the state continue to scout out potential deals. Even Two Roads. We are actively pursuing new opportunities and evaluating projects as we always have, Collins said. New Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia said he had a chilling message forlocal governments statewide. We have a lot of work to do with the counties. We have a lot of work to do with the cities. But what I can tell you is that Im not going away, Ingoglia said at a news conference in Tampa Monday. Cities and counties should not be mistaken that this is a short-term thing. This is a long-term thing. In his role,Ingoglia oversees the Florida Department of Government Efficiency. Its modeled after a federal effortto reduce government spending, and a team of officials has been visiting Tampa Bay local governments for on-site review of local finances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DOGE team reviewed Pinellas County late last week. It also visited Broward County and Gainesville to conduct what it has described as audits on July 31. St. Petersburg is set to be reviewed on Wednesday and Thursday, and some local organizations are holding protests outside City Hall the same days. And outside the Hillsborough County Center building, where the DOGE team started itsvisit on Monday, Ingoglia said there have been clear results from the teams work statewide. We are finding pretty egregious examples of waste, fraud and abuse, Ingoglia said. I believe that if taxpayers fully understood what local governments are spending their money on, they would have an issue with it. The DOGE team visited Pinellas to examine excessive spending at the county and municipal level, according to a letter announcing the visit. Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott and other commissioners at a meeting last week said they were concerned the state DOGE isnt taking unfunded mandatesfrom the state, incremental spending increases or grants into consideration when reviewing requested information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scott penned a response letter ahead of the DOGE teams visit on Aug. 6. In it, he emphasized the importance of contextualizing the countys budget with unfunded state mandates. He referenced the initial letter informing Pinellas of the states visit, where the DOGE team cited a $220 million property tax increase since 2020. Scott corrected spending referenced in the teams letter, and said last week that the figures make it sound as though the county is spending in a deficit. The Pinellas County Commissioners, if they did bring that up, have a good, valid point, Ingoglia said Monday. He said the DOGE team will give local governments every opportunity to answer the question: Why is this being funded? Because at the very least, it is questionable. Ingoglia said he and Gov. Ron DeSantis agreed on eliminating property taxes on primary residencesstatewide. In the upcoming state budget, DeSantis vetoed spending $1 million for state economists to study the effects of eliminating or significantly reducing property taxes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Changes to property taxes statewide would need to be approved by at least 60% of voters in a ballot initiative. Ingoglia said a vote likely would be scheduled for next November. Its going to take about 60 days for any reports resulting from the financialreviews to be completed, Ingoglia said. The DOGE team is prepared to visit local governments multiple times to get a better picture of spending, he said. Ingoglia also said the DOGE team has been hearing of local governments changing keywords like diversity, equity and inclusion to something else to make the information harder to find. The state is looking to create an anonymous tip line to report wasteful spending, he said, to help the teams efforts. Let me just tell everyone, we are going to find it, Ingoglia said. So if theres any local government employees out there, dont listen to your bosses. Dont change anything, because one of the things we have at our disposal are subpoenas. Gov. Ron DeSantis said hes prepared to redraw Floridas congressional districts with or without new census numbers. I dont know how quick they can do it but if they did do it and came up with something in the next six months and they gave us a seat that would require us to redraw the lines, DeSantis told reporters at an Aug. 11 event in Melbourne. Short of that, were in a situation where we believe theres defects in the current map even if they dont revise the current census, I think it is appropriate to be doing it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The census is conducted once every 10 years but President Donald Trump called for a redo last week, claiming the U.S. Census Bureau produced faulty numbers that hurt Republican-run states. At the heart of the push for a new census is Trumps push to get GOP-led states to redraw their congressional districts to gain more Republican seats in the U.S. House ahead of the 2026 mid-term elections. Texas is already in the middle of a mid-decade redistricting session. Such a move could cement GOP control of the chamber, although Democratic governors, including Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, have said they intend to draw more Democratic seats in their states if the Republicans conduct partisan gerrymanders throughout the country. Republicans currently hold a 220-212 advantage over Democrats in the U.S. House. Three Democrats have died in office sine the start of the year, and if Democrats were to win those special elections they would need to gain three seats in the mid-terms to win control of the chamber. New census wouldn't be ready for '26 elections A completely new census would likely be a lengthy process that wouldnt produce new numbers in time for the mid-term elections in November 2026. But Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier says he has a way to produce new census numbers without the hassle of counting every person all over again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We should not have to wait until the next complete, fifty state census hoping that this time the bureau will get it right and allocate the congressional seats and federal funding allocation to which they are entitled, Uthmeier wrote in a letter to U.S. Commerce Department Secretary Howard Lutnick on Aug. 11. Steps must be taken now to right these wrongs. The last U.S. census started in 2019, when the federal government started setting up field offices and hiring workers. The count was conducted in 2020, when Trump was in his first term, finishing in October that year. Gov. Ron DeSantis (right) attends the 50th annual Red Mass at the Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More alongside new Attorney General of Florida James Uthmeier (left) Wednesday, March 19, 2025. But some Republicans, including DeSantis and Uthmeier, have noted the results from the census werent released until 2021, four months after President Joe Biden, a Democrat, had succeeded Trump in the Oval Office. Undercounts, overcounts in last census, review found They point to a 2022 review done by the U.S. Census Bureau showing several Republican-led states were undercounted and many Democrat-led states were overcounted. In the 2022 mid-term elections, the first after the census was done, Republicans gained nine U.S. House seats and retook control of the chamber. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his letter, Uthmeier recommends using that review, the Post-Enumeration Survey (PES), to conduct a tailored and streamlined manual recount in the states that had undercounts and overcounts. That would mean recounting the parts of Florida, Texas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas and Illinois (undercounts), as well as Utah, Hawaii, Minnesota, Ohio, New York, Delaware, Massachusetts and Rhode Island (overcounts) that the Survey found with incorrect numbers. DeSantis said he thought Florida could receive up to four new districts if an entire new census were done, but its unclear if the revised count Uthmeier suggests would actually yield that many new districts for the Sunshine State in reapportionment, the process of determining the number of U.S. House seats each state should get based on their populations. Even if the PES isnt used for a new round of reapportionment, Uthmeier stated it could still be used to update the formulas used to distribute federal funding, which rely on census data. The U.S. Constitution calls for a census to be done every 10 years. A mid-decade census has never been done. Florida appears to be preparing for a redistricting special session. Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, announced the creation of a special redistricting committee. But DeSantis, who has clashed with Perez on numerous issues this year, said he wasnt privy to the move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gray Rohrer is a reporter with the USA TODAY Network-Florida Capital Bureau. He can be reached at grohrer@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @GrayRohrer. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: DeSantis supports redistricting even without new census data It took 12 minutes before a Florida Highway Patrol officer checked Griselda Vazquez-Duran for injuries after bashing the driver's window of her gray GMC with a baton. In March, the trooper had pulled over Vazquez-Duran, a Mexican national who has been living in the United States without legal status for 17 years, for going 16 miles an hour above the speed limit on the west side of Tallahassee, the state capital of Florida. The officer asked in English, "Do you need EMS? You don't have any glass in your eyes, do you?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't understand," said Vazquez-Duran, while two officers shut the patrol car door. What happened up to this point isn't fully clear, however, because FHP troopers don't wear body cameras, leaving only a written account and limited views from dash camera footage to explain how a routine traffic stop escalated into something far more serious. A Florida Highway Patrol officer orders Griselda Vazquez-Duran to get out of the car as she pulls out her baton during a traffic stop. Vazquez-Duran doesnt speak English well, but tried to explain that her immigration case was pending, which is why she didn't have a driver's license and only her Mexican passport. The trooper asked if she could call someone on her phone to translate, so she called her son on speakerphone for help. The trooper told Vazquez-Duran to get out of the car multiple times because she didn't have a license even warning her she would break the window but her son told his mother not to get out of the car, according to the arrest affidavit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of the conversation leading up to the arrest was hard to hear, because the trooper had country music playing from her vehicle louder than the audio on the dash footage. After the trooper broke the car window, Vazquez-Duran "tensed and pulled away," when the trooper pulled her out of the car, according to an arrest affidavit. What is missing from the affidavit but is heard in the dash camera audio is her saying "one moment" and "lawyer" in Spanish. According to the FHP Policy Manual, using a baton is appropriate when the subject "poses a threat to a members safety and resists the members attempts to effectively perform law enforcement duties by offering active physical resistance or who physically attacks a member." Vazquez-Duran was charged with driving without a license and resisting an officer without violence, and later she was detained on federal immigration charges for illegal reentry into the United States, as she had been previously deported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few months later, her case became an example for the U.S. Department of Justice to validate President Donald Trump's aggressive immigration policies, part of what's called Operation Take Back America. Florida has gone all-in when assisting the president with mass deportation policies, so much that Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican lawmakers passed some of the strictest immigration laws in the country. At her federal sentencing, Chief U.S. District Judge Allen Winsor, a Trump appointee, gave her a harsher sentence than most illegal reentry cases, six months in prison, after taking into consideration the resisting arrest charge. Vazquez-Duran, who pleaded guilty, is currently incarcerated at the federal women's prison in Tallahassee. Her encounter with law enforcement is just one of thousands in Florida, as immigrants who have been stopped for traffic infractions are then detained on immigration charges. But missing from her case was body-worn camera footage, an asset that would offer transparency to the Trump administrations immigration agenda, and the complete view of how Vazquez-Duran resisted, which neither the arrest affidavit nor the dash camera footage show. A recent ProPublica report says there have been at least 50 news reports this year of immigration officers breaking in windows to speed up arrests. The decade prior, ProPublica found just eight cases. The time from the trooper first asking Vazquez-Duran to get out of the car to using her baton is less than two minutes. Why the Florida Highway Patrol doesn't use body cameras State troopers, who at first assisted ICE officers and are now empowered by the federal government to conduct immigration arrests themselves, do not use body cameras. When FHP had to choose between purchasing body or dash cameras, the agency decided to buy dash cameras. An officer holds a body cam in this file photo. That's because "several years ago" when the agency had to choose between purchasing body or dash cameras, the agency decided to buy dash cameras because "the majority of all of our encounters occur in or around our patrol vehicles," said Jim Beauford, a spokesperson for the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which includes FHP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beauford listed several other reasons why the agency did not choose to use body cams: They needed ethernet or Wi-fi to upload video; battery life did not last more than 12 hours; dash cameras automatically turn on in certain circumstances, like turning on the vehicle's emergency lights, removing a shotgun or rifle from the in-car rack; and being involved in a crash. "This increases transparency as it eliminated the scenario where an officer forgot to turn on their camera when a critical incident occurs," he said. More: More than 600 local police agencies are partnering with ICE: See if yours is one of them In early August, the agency put out a bid for a multi-million dollar contract to "modernize, upgrade and re-engineer" the video recording system in their vehicles. Currently, FHP's fleet includes 2,400 patrol vehicles and 50 motorcycles. Body cams are not included in the contract. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FHP's lack of body cams provides a limited scope on immigration arrests not just at traffic stops, but also immigration raids at construction sites, when troopers are nowhere near their vehicle. Vazquez-Duran's case included five angles of dash camera footage, with hard-to-hear audio, which at one point is turned off when three troopers are speaking with one another. ICE agents wearing masks for anonymity and the construction of detention centers like the South Florida Detention Facility in the Florida Everglades also have drawn concern from government accountability advocates. Barbara Petersen, the executive director for the Florida Center for Government Accountability, said law enforcement may be encouraged to operate above the law. If your average city police enforcement officer can wear a body cam, why cant every law enforcement officer in Florida wear a body cam? Petersen said. Vazquez-Duran and her family could not be reached for comment for this story, nor could the public defender representing her in the federal case. Laura Sterling, the lawyer representing her for misdemeanors in Leon County, declined to be interviewed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It took more than a month of waiting and several requests for dash camera video of the arrest in March, along with follow-ups, before footage was made available to the USA TODAY NETWORK Florida. The footage was not played in the courtroom before Vazquez-Duran's sentencing. A wave of immigration arrests in Florida This spring, DeSantis and the Florida Legislature passed a law during a special session requiring all state law enforcement agencies to assist in federal immigration enforcement efforts. Soon after, Florida Highway Patrol troopers began working alongside ICE to detain immigrants during traffic stops across the state, from rural areas in the Panhandle to urban centers like Miami-Dade County. In April, the partnership culminated in Operation Tidal Wave a week-long sting targeting immigrants in major Florida cities including Miami, Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville. ICE reported more than 780 arrests in the first four days and promoted the operation as a first-of-its-kind partnership and a massive, multi-agency immigration enforcement crackdown. More: Operation Tidal Wave: ICE, state 'partnership' leads to about 800 arrests in Florida Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There's no other state that is even in the ballpark of our efforts," DeSantis said on Aug. 1. FHP troopers already have apprehended almost 3,000 people, and the FLHSMV will soon have a strike team called "Immigration Enforcement" to increase arrests. The team will work closely with state and federal agencies to "identify, locate and apprehend criminal aliens across the state," DeSantis said: "We want safe streets. The reality is some of these people what are coming here illegally, they are not trained to drive the way we would to get a license. They're not licensed drivers in the state of Florida. "So FHP, I guarantee you, with the apprehensions they've already done, I guarantee you they've saved many lives." For thousands of undocumented immigrants who have been detained in FHP traffic stops across the state this year, the officers words against theirs are often the final say, which is why defense attorneys say on-scene video is crucial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not a new issue. It just has a different cover on it now, said Jason B. Blank, a past president of the Florida Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and a criminal defense lawyer in Ft. Lauderdale. I think you would hope that the law enforcement agencies would employ every tool they have in their arsenal to ensure and show that any stops they are making are done correctly, but thats just not the case. Moreover, body cameras generally are better than dash cams, said Craig Trocino, director of the Innocence Clinic at the University of Miami School of Law. Dash cameras show what is right behind the car thats pulled over; it can be difficult to see the interaction between the officer and the driver who was pulled over, he said. When you have a highly-charged environment like immigration, like these stops, theres going to be controversy no matter what happens, and the best way to put that controversy to bed is to put on a body cam and record the process, Trocino told the USA TODAY NETWORK - Florida. Todd Lyons, acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has said while he's not a proponent of using masks, he will allow officers to cover their faces if they're worried about their personal safety or being doxxed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trocino said these masked ICE agents, other unidentifiable law enforcement officers and reports of use of force add to the publics scrutiny of Trumps take on immigration enforcement. Trump's favorability rating on immigration decreased from 46% to 38% in July, according to a recent Gallup poll. Hiding behind a mask, or refusing to use available video technology to display that everything theyre doing is correct and constitutional and humane, is a big problem, Trocino said. An ICE officers badge is seen as federal agents patrol the halls of immigration court at the Jacob K. Javitz Federal Building on June 10, 2025 in New York City. The Trump administration has ordered officials to increase detentions to 3,000 per day. Who in Florida uses body cameras? State law doesnt require local law enforcement departments or state agencies to use body-worn cameras, but it does require that a law enforcement agency permit its officers to wear the cameras and establish policies for its proper use, maintenance and storage of the cameras and the data it records. For example, Tallahassee Police Department regulations from 2022 say officers who have a body camera must wear it outside of the police department building, and some of the required recorded activities include traffic stops, sobriety evaluations, arrests and vehicle pursuits. At a July 22 State Board of Immigration Enforcement meeting, officials there said all county sheriffs' offices will soon be authorized to arrest immigrants who are in the country illegally. A 2024 report obtained by the USA TODAY NETWORK Florida shows that there are sheriff's offices in Florida that still do not have body-worn cameras, and some have neither body-worn nor dash cameras, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Brevard, Dixie, Gadsden, Glades, Gulf, Hernando, Levy, Polk, Sarasota, Union and Washington County sheriff's offices do not use body cameras, according to the report. Clay, Dixie, Gadsden, Gulf and Polk do not use body cameras or dash cameras. Sarasota County only uses dash cameras for DUI investigations. Polk Sheriff Grady Judd leads a press conference regarding a large fentanyl drug trafficking arrest involving individuals from two Mexican drug cartels at the Sheriff's Operation Center Tuesday June 24, 2025 in Winter Haven Fl. Ernst Peters/The Ledger Polk County's sheriff, Grady Judd, also chairs the State Immigration Enforcement Council, which advises the board. A spokesperson for the Florida Sheriffs Association said the group does not keep records or suggest regulations for body worn cameras to its members. A request for comment to the Florida Police Chiefs Association is pending about use by local police departments. Body cam footage is a First Amendment right, experts say Video recorded by body-worn cameras are public records lauded by government accountability advocates because they provide insight into what could otherwise be a word against word situation for police interactions, said Lauren Bonds, the executive director of the National Police Accountability Project, a national organization of civil rights attorneys who handle law enforcement abuse cases. Its more uncommon to find departments, especially statewide law enforcement agencies, without body camera requirements, Bonds said. Having footage can be important to hold officers accountable to the constitutional right of due process, she said: It frustrates individuals' ability to be able to vindicate their rights by depriving (them) of the most valuable, best evidence. The First Amendment includes deeper context, including the freedom to watch when the government acts, said Gunita Singh, a staff attorney at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press: "Public interest in disclosure overweighs any interest that may exist in keeping the records private," Singh said. And as for immigration arrests specifically, the public has a strong interest, especially now when federal and state leadership views immigration as a national and state emergency and arrests are causing profound anxiety among immigrant communities. Florida has been under a state of emergency due to the "mass migration of illegal aliens to Florida" since 2023. First Amendment protections also coincide with law enforcement accountability, especially in the context of immigration arrests, Singh said. ICE officers are carrying out an agenda promoted by the president, meaning that these are government personnel who should have their actions observed by the public and that access to the footage should be ubiquitous. The extraordinary power that we grant police officers, it just has to be matched with equally powerful transparency, Singh said. While the arrest affidavit's description of the traffic stop aligns with the dash camera footage, there are details in the footage that add context, and questions. Instead of asking Vazquez-Duran to call someone on speakerphone to translate, the trooper could have asked FHP for an interpreter, Trocino said. Also, included in the dash camera footage and not in the affidavit were two interactions with someone who advocated for Vazquez-Duran to the troopers. An unidentified woman at the scene asked for one trooper's badge number, but it's not clear if the trooper gave it to the woman. He did respond, however, that she was hindering the investigation: "You could go to jail." It took less than 40 minutes for Vazquez-Duran to be pulled over, handcuffed and driven to the Leon County Jail. Her prison sentence ends Sept. 12, and soon after, so will her time in the United States. Ana Goni-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com. Stephany Matat, USA Today Network Florida First Amendment reporter, can be reached at SMatat@gannett.com. Matat's reporting content is supported by a partnership with Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Leading Florida immigration cops don't use body-worn cameras Aug. 11A Florida man was injured in a motorcycle crash Sunday afternoon while traveling on Interstate 90. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, James William Neitman, 57, of Gulf Breeze, Florida was traveling eastbound on I-90 with a utility trailer, when the 2002 Harley Davidson motorcycle he was riding left the roadway and rolled into the ditch just west of Austin. The crash took place at around 2:50 p.m. Neitman was taken to Mayo Clinic Health System-Austin with non-life threatening injuries. The Austin Fire Department, Mower County Sheriff's Office and Mayo Ambulance responded. OCOEE, Fla. (WFLA) An Ocoee Police Department officer shot the driver of a vehicle near a Publix on Sunday while responding to a call about a stolen vehicle. Officers with the Ocoee Police Department said they responded to the area of 301 West Road in search of a stolen vehicle, which they spotted in the shopping plaza parking lot. Credit: WESH reporter Tony Atkins According to NBC affiliate WESH, in an attempt to escape, the driver of the vehicle drove straight toward the officers, striking one of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police told reporters that this led an officer to draw their weapon and fire at the vehicles driver. The driver was taken to a nearby AdventHealth hospital, where they were listed in critical condition. WESH reported that no officers were injured in the shooting and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating the incident. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA. The Michelin Guide has officially stripped West Palm Beach restaurant Konro of its lone Michelin star months after police arrested its chef-owner, Jacob Bickelhaupt, on domestic-violence charges that have since been upgraded to attempted second-degree murder. The French tire company has scrubbed the restaurant from its website along with its guide entry, a decision that marks the first time Palm Beach County has earned and then lost a Michelin star. Its unclear whether the restaurant will reopen; while its website is down, its social media pages remain online. In an email response to the South Florida Sun Sentinel on Tuesday, the Michelin Guide stated it had removed Konros star because the restaurant has closed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The team keeps the selections up to date and given the restaurant has closed, it has been removed from the selection, said Carly Grieff, a Michelin spokesperson. Michelins statement seems to differ from its original response in June, when it told the Sun Sentinel that while it firmly condemns all acts of violence, aggression and harassment, it took no action following the chefs arrest, arguing that MICHELIN Stars are annual distinctions and therefore our Inspectors revisit the restaurants annually. Bickelhaupt, 41, remains in Palm Beach County jail as of Wednesday, according to inmate records, and faces charges of attempted second-degree murder and false imprisonment following his June 2 arrest over an alleged assault at his home that investigators say lasted roughly two hours. Bickelhaupt has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The Palm Beach County Public Defenders Office, which represents him, told the Sun Sentinel in a brief phone call on Tuesday that it does not comment on open cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Palm Beach County court records, Bickelhaupts next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 8. Timeline: What happened to Bickelhaupt and Konro? Bickelhaupts acclaimed 10-seat chef counter Konro closed in June, nearly two years after it debuted in Flamingo Park Market on the edge of downtown West Palm Beach. The sit-down was so named for the Japanese charcoal grill used in many courses, which included Japanese A5 Wagyu steak, edible floral arrangements of microgreens and crackling chicken-skin cones filled with foie gras and cloudberry jam. On June 2, almost two months after winning Konros and by extension Palm Beach Countys first Michelin star, Bickelhaupt was arrested on charges of aggravated battery causing bodily harm or disability and battery causing bodily harm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The attack began when the victim, a woman who worked with Bickelhaupt, approached him asleep on the couch in the early-morning hours to persuade him to come back to bed, according to a probable cause affidavit. An argument ensued and Bickelhaupt allegedly followed her into the bedroom and started punching her in the face and kicking her, and kept on attacking even as she crawled away. The victim managed to escape and take a rideshare to Palm Beach International Airport to return to Denver, where she had grown up. However, she suffered a seizure, collapsed at the ticket counter and paramedics rushed her to St. Marys Medical Center, according to an arrest report. Had she gotten on the flight, doctors later told her family, she would probably have died. They caught her in the nick of time, the victims sister told the Sun Sentinel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman initially told Palm Beach County Sheriffs deputies that she had been in a car accident. But medical staff told deputies that the womans injuries two blackened eyes, facial swelling, bruising from shoulders to wrists, a subdural hematoma requiring emergency surgery werent consistent with a car accident. Eventually, the victim gave a sworn statement to police identifying Bickelhaupt as the man who attacked her for two hours as she tried to escape. When officers visited her home later, they found blood splatter in multiple rooms, on bedding, walls and furniture, according to the arrest report. Following Bickelhaupts June 3 court appearance, a judge declared him indigent and granted him a public defender, setting his bond at $90,000 along with a no-contact order with the victim. The Palm Beach State Attorneys Office later filed additional felony witness-tampering charges against Bickelhaupt, accusing him of violating the no-contact order by calling the woman on two occasions. (These charges were later downgraded to a misdemeanor: violating pre-trial release conditions.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, on June 11, felony battery charges were upgraded to attempted second-degree murder and false imprisonment. The victims condition was not immediately available, as hospitals do not give out information on domestic violence victims. Voicemails and text messages left with the victim on Tuesday were not returned. A pattern of behavior In a 2022 profile of Konro, Bickelhaupt told the Sun Sentinel he had moved to West Palm Beach that June along with his wife with two equally ambitious goals: rebuilding his life and earning more Michelin stars. At his acclaimed Chicago restaurant 42 Grams, Bickelhaupt had climbed the pinnacle of the culinary world, picking up two Michelin stars in 2014, 2015 and 2016. He also won Food & Wines Best Chef in 2015 and received James Beard Award semifinalist nods in 2016 and 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But then those laurels, along with his reputation, slipped away in an act of violence that touched off years of controversy. Documents filed in Cook County Circuit Court describe a June 4, 2017, attack by Bickelhaupt against his then-ex-wife, Alexa Welsh, in which he grabbed her hair and threw (her) to ground, then struck victim in head with [a sparkling water] bottle, causing injury. The attack resulted in lacerations requiring staples, according to Eater Chicago. She stepped toward me, and I reacted, he says in 86ed, a 2021 documentary he self-financed and promoted through Konros official website. I dont remember hitting her over the head with a bottle like that. I hurt her bad and I freaked out I asked [an employee] to call 911 and left in a panic back to my apartment. I had a bunch of beer and whiskey at home and was going to kill myself. 42 Grams permanently closed the next day, and police charged Bickelhaupt with a simple battery. He pleaded guilty. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Internet backlash was swift. Just go away and realize Michelin is never gonna give wife beater ANY MORE STARS, one commenter wrote on social media. Someone needs to beat the s out of Jacob publicly, another wrote. What I did was a very situational, passionate, alcoholic long story, he recounted to the Sun Sentinel in October 2022. It was horrible, and it never should have happened, and what I did was 100% wrong. And thats why Im trying to make amends to all that stuff. Im going to live with what I did forever. I punish myself more than anyone else can punish me, I promise you that. Reached through social media this past June, his ex-wife told the Sun Sentinel she wasnt surprised to hear he was accused of harming someone else. Violence is a cycle. How does the saying go? Welsh said. Those who do not learn history I sent [the victim] a message of support. I hope shes able to make a full recovery. You never feel far from the beaten path, wherever you are in Folkestone. If you are approaching from the north, you cannot miss the power lines of the High Speed 1 railway link which connects the town to London in 53 minutes. Nor can you ignore the Eurostar trains with which it shares the track, before they zip into the Channel Tunnel. And if you are down at the waterfront, you can see the docks at Dover, six miles north-east along the White Cliffs. Life is slower in the town itself although, if you are talking about Folkestones recent history, you might be minded to use a more disparaging description. Wearier, perhaps; even bleaker, if you are inclined to negativity. Because this outpost at the south-east corner of Kent has had its share of troubles in these first decades of the new millennium. A quiet backwater in the Middle Ages, Folkestone grew into an important port in the 19th century while simultaneously morphing into a fashionable seaside resort. The arrival of the railway in 1843 brought crowds of Victorian (and, later, Edwardian) tourists, and over 100 years of prosperity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the boom in travel which sparked it to life would also smother it, the advent of cheap overseas packages and the opening of the aforementioned Channel Tunnel drawing away holidaymakers and passengers. The last ferry to Boulogne departed in 2001. Folkestone Harbour station, there on the dockside, waved farewell to its final train in March 2009; a branch-line appendix deemed unnecessary in changing times. That, at least, is the general narrative, if you havent been paying close attention. In fact, over the course of the last few years, Folkestone has undergone a remarkable resurgence. The tracks of the towns former station have been pedestrianised - JULIAN SIMMONDS The origins of this upward curve can be traced to 2004, and the decision of Roger De Haan, the multi-millionaire former owner of travel giant Saga, to purchase the harbour for 11 million. The subsequent rejuvenation has been impressive. Gone is the dilapidated Rotunda amusement park which once hugged the tide, its footprint returned to nature (for now) as a half-mile stretch of bare shingle. But the heartbeat of the overhaul is the Harbour Arm. The 1,600ft (488m) wharf where ferries once anchored and trains used to terminate is as of resurrection work which commenced in 2015 a pleasure pier, alive with bars and restaurants. It is also a colossal concrete canvas for the Folkestone Triennial the art festival, held (as its name suggests) every three years, whose latest edition (July 19 to October 19) is underway. Whats it like? Pretty rapidly gentrifying at least around the harbour. The repurposing of the disused station is especially eye-catching, the track left embedded in what is now a promenade that sweeps between the preserved platforms, all the way to the Victorian lighthouse (now a champagne bar) at the end. The original signal box is still in position at the station entrance, reinvented as Sip, a coffee shop, but with the points levers still in situ as decor. There are further knowing nods to the past around the corner, where the outdoor seating at beach bar The Pilot includes dodgems and waltzer cars salvaged from the Rotunda. Writer Chris Leadbeater in a vintage dodgem car at The Pilot - JULIAN SIMMONDS A recurring fixture in the Folkestone calendar since 2008, the Triennial has added another bright dimension to this attractive scene; a series of thought-provoking sculptures. Some of them are unusual: French artist Laure Provousts Above Front Tears, Oui Connect is as oblique as its title suggests; a three-headed bird, its tail hanging down as an electrical flex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some are more open in their meaning: Sir Antony Gormleys Another Time XVIII exudes a sad beauty. A naked human in cast-iron, it stares out to sea from a loading bay underneath the main promenade. When the tide comes in, the water reaches the figures knees a metaphor for those days when modern life can feel overwhelming. The vision for the waterfront is most extravagant at Shoreline Folkestone, a swathe of luxury apartments, beach houses and penthouses another De Haan project that has risen at the west end of the old theme-park site. Two of the houses are available to rent for weekend stays. Shoreline Folkstone offers luxury apartments, beach houses and penthouses - Julian Simmonds I check in to find contemporary furnishings and widescreen views of the Channel a panorama that is somehow more dramatic when I wake to find it shrouded in dawn mist. Whether such amenities will be enough to entice the target market one-bedroom apartments start at 395,000, while the penthouses cost from 1.6million remains to be seen, but there can be no doubting the scale of the ambition. Whats not to like? Very little, in terms of the waterfront regeneration although I begin to wonder what some of the older residents make of the installations which have appeared in their midst. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So I ask. Steve (who does not want to give his full name), walking his dog on the 1847 swing bridge across the harbour, shrugs when I point out the pastel-pink wendy house a comment on short-term holiday lets and their effects on local housing markets, crafted by the artist Richard Woods floating among the fishing boats. I cant say I pay that much attention, he says. Its not my cup of tea, but if people like it, I guess thats fine. The heartbeat of Folkestones overhaul is the Harbour Arm - getty You might assume that his opinion is replicated at the Grand Burstin Hotel an old-school seaside two-star more concerned with bingo nights and cooked breakfasts than cryptic commentary. Certainly, you can detect a tacit gap between the old-fashioned and newfangled incarnations of Folkestone; one made visible by the lower section of the 1843 viaduct. Converted to pedestrian use where it crosses the harbour, the structure is blocked by high fencing immediately beyond the water; a Victorian marvel lost to weeds. Do this You might grimace at the idea of The Old High Street which edges up the slope from the harbour as a precipitous arc of cobbles being subtitled the Creative Quarter, but there is a pleasing artiness to what was once a hard-working artery of fishmongers and butchers. There are alluring shops aplenty: the vintage clothing of Bounce; the second-hand books and coffee of Steep Street; the gallery and studio of local painter Shane Record. And if such niceties are too hip for your tastes, the real high street, Sandgate Road, offers the standard big-name stores. Folkestones Creative Quarter edges up the slope from the harbour - JULIAN SIMMONDS Take the left-hand fork at the top of The Old High Street, meanwhile, and you should stumble onto the kernel of the town: the grassy graveyard and blocky tower of the Church of Saint Mary and Saint Eanswythe. A simple apparition in grey stone, its 12th-century architecture and seventh-century patron (St Eanswythe) carry Folkestone away to the Norman and Saxon eras. Eat this Folkestones dining scene runs the full culinary gamut. You can opt for sophisticated seafood (and a harbourside location) at Rocksalt. The refurbished Radnor Arms (named after the Victorian aristocrat whose money funded the towns initial metamorphosis into a holiday resort) deals in upmarket pub fare. There are also the traditional joys of Sandys a fish-and-chips favourite of award-winning reputation. Dont do this Peer too closely at the cliffs. In contrast to the harbour, the sandstone ridge which separates the upper town from the waterfront has not enjoyed significant reinvigoration, and the majority of the pathways and staircases which reach up towards Leas Cliff Hall (the towns main venue) are either in slippery disrepair or closed to the public. The Leas Lift an innovative water-powered funicular built in 1885 has been out of use since 2017, and while restoration work is ongoing, suggestions of a 2026 reopening feel optimistic. Folketones cliffs have not enjoyed significant reinvigoration - getty Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From a local Matt James offers guided tours of the Triennial artworks, having swapped London for Folkestone in 2010. He says: I enjoy the sense of space living here provides, but I also think there is something here for everyone, rather than the same thing for everyone, from the broke to the billionaires. From a visitor Vintage Vinyl is one of the busiest shops on The Old High Street. As I am browsing, a family comes in. Ellie is looking to spend her birthday money. She wants the new one by [mask-wearing metal band] Sleep Token, mum explains, as her daughter combs the crates. A loud shriek ensues as the album is found. Are you staying the whole weekend? the owner asks. Sadly not, is the reply. With the festival on, we could only get a room tonight. Were off home to London tomorrow... but well be back. Staying there Short stays at Shoreline Folkestone cost from 350 per night for a two-bedroom apartment, and from 800 per night for a four-bedroom Beach House. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center at Ford's BlueOval City campus in Stanton, Tenn. on June 5, 2025. (Photo: Cassandra Stephenson) Ford Motor Company will delay mass production of its next-generation electric pickup truck at its West Tennessee plant until 2028, the company confirmed Thursday. Ford informed its suppliers of the delay a result of the company shifting its focus to smaller, more affordable models in June. The company also pushed back production of its electric transit van at its plant in Ohio from 2026 to 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prototypes of the truck will still begin production at BlueOval City in Stanton, Tennessee in 2027. F-150 Lightning, Americas best-selling electric truck, and E-Transit continue to meet todays customer needs, a company spokesperson stated. We remain focused on delivering our Ford+ plan and will be nimble in adjusting our product launch timing to meet market needs and customer demand while targeting improved profitability. This announcement comes roughly a year after Ford first delayed production of the truck from its initial production goal of 2025 to 2027. At the time, Ford said the decision was part of a shift toward prioritizing hybrid vehicles and producing lower-cost batteries to improve profitability. Ford announced its $5.6 billion investment in the BlueOval City campus in Haywood County in 2021, pledging to create 5,800 jobs in return for a nearly $1 billion incentive from the state. The Tennessee Electric Vehicle Center where the electric pickup truck will be manufactured plans to employ roughly 3,000 of those workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company has teased a Model T moment announcement about its plans to design and assemble breakthrough electric vehicles in America at an appearance in Kentucky slated for Aug. 11 at 9:20 a.m. CT. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Aug. 11Former Revenue Commissioner Adam Crum is the eighth Republican to enter Alaska's 2026 governor's race. Crum ended his tenure as revenue commissioner on Friday with an announcement that he would soon be "sharing a vision that puts Alaska first in every decision we make." Crum said Monday that he went fishing with his family over the weekend and decided he was ready to run for governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He "spent time with family and made sure we were in it all the way," Crum said by text message. "In these roles it's difficult to find space and room to breathe. The two weeks of transitioning out really helped force the decision point." Current Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy is termed out from seeking reelection, prompting an already-crowded race to replace him in 2026. Other Republicans also in the race include Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, former state Sen. Click Bishop, Matanuska-Susitna Borough Mayor Edna DeVries, Anchorage business owner Bernadette Wilson, Anchorage podiatrist Matt Heilala, Palmer Sen. Shelley Hughes and Angoon resident James Parkin. U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski has also not ruled out a run for the seat. No Democrats have entered the race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crum has never held elected office. In 2016 he ran for the Alaska state Senate and was defeated in the primary by Hughes. Crum is a regular supporter of Republican candidates and causes. In recent months, he has contributed hundreds of dollars to the reelection campaign of President Donald Trump, to the Alaska GOP and to an effort to repeal the state's open primary and ranked choice voting system. Crum led the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services for four years under Dunleavy. He served in that role through the pandemic, until he was appointed to lead the Department of Revenue in 2022. Before joining the Dunleavy administration, Crum worked as an executive vice president of Northern Industrial Training, a family-owned vocational training center based in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough. During his tenure at the helm of the Department of Revenue, the agency came under scrutiny by the Legislature over disclosure of oil and gas tax assessment documentation. Leaders of the House and Senate have said the department's refusal to cooperate with the legislative auditor may indicate that it has allowed oil and gas companies not to pay the full share of taxes they owe to the state. The governor has called those statements "baseless and reckless." A lawsuit filed by Ozell Murray, a former police officer fired as head of security at Tesla's factory in Fremont, California, suggests the plant has a severe sexual assault, drug and alcohol abuse, and rampant racism problem. According to the 159-page federal suit, first obtained by The Independent, the officer's team "routinely" confiscated cocaine, fentanyl, and guns onsite. His team also investigated "acts of sexual deviance" and sent employees "home for being alcohol-intoxicated and high on drugs." The startling allegations aren't the first warnings of workplace trouble at the facility. The Fremont factory has already garnered a reputation for rampant racism, with a previous lawsuit raising concerns over racist graffiti "KKK epithets, a swastika, and the N-word all over the bathroom" and mistreatment of workers. Black employees have also said that nooses a symbol of racial violence from America's history of fatal lynchings were used to taunt them at work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tesla has already settled in court over accusations of racial discrimination at the factory. Worse yet, Tesla CEO Elon Musk has a long track record of waging a war against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, while furthering white supremacist conspiracy theories. He even infamously performed two Nazi salutes at Donald Trump's post-inauguration celebration earlier this year. He has previously blamed the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles earlier this year on Black firefighters and suggested that Black students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have lower IQs and shouldn't become pilots. He's also been accused of inappropriate sexual behavior, including against employees, on several occasions. In other words, the abysmal situation at the mercurial billionaire's first car factory in California a home state he abandoned in favor of Texas years ago is closely wrapped up in his own personal beliefs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his lawsuit, Murray accused Tesla of putting profits over everything. "Healthy profits have always been more important to the Company than a healthy working environment," reads the suit obtained by The Independent. "For Tesla, more bodies on the manufacturing line meant more vehicles flying out the factory door no matter how unclean the hands were that were assembling those cars." According to the complaint, supervisors also abused the company's policy on drug and alcohol use. "As it turned out, many supervisors and managers were merely using the policy as a means to retaliate against their subordinates and, in particular, when a line employee had turned down the supervisor or managers sexual advances," the complaint reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Or, when the manager or supervisor wanted to retaliate against someone because of their race or ethnicity," it goes on. "Or, when the manager or supervisor wanted to retaliate against someone because of a complaint an employee had lodged against them." According to the document, a specific manager continuously fostered the "delusion that the environment and culture at Tesla is one of tolerance and innovation, rather than racism and retaliation." Murray also accused the company of firing him "under the pretextual guise of 'poor performance.'" Beyond racial discrimination, Tesla's Fremont factory also has long been accused of fostering an unsafe work environment, including reports of crushed limbs, workers fainting from dehydration, and fires. An employee there also murdered a colleague in the parking lot several years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this year, Tesla was fined for violating California's workplace heat protection rules. Workers are known to have borne the brunt of Musk's "ultra hardcore" work culture, including 12-hour shifts, often putting them at risk of injury. In 2020, a Tesla factory worker described working conditions to SF Weekly as a "life and death situation." A separate worker called the plant a "modern-day sweatshop." Murray, alongside his co-defendants, is seeking compensatory, emotional distress, punitive, and exemplary damages, accusing Tesla of retaliation, wrongful termination, and failure to prevent unlawful discrimination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's ironic in the face of the allegations, but Musk has spent the last week raging about crime rates even though violent crime just hit its lowest level in the United States since the 1960s. More on the Fremont plant: Elon Musk Is Shutting Down the Part of the Government That Helped Him Save Tesla Eduard Lintner, a former conservative member of the German lower house of parliament, has lodged an appeal with the Federal Court of Justice after his bribery conviction for peddling influence for Azerbaijan. Lintner, who was a member of the Bundestag for the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union (CSU), was sentenced in Munich to nine months' probation for bribing elected officials. Towards the end of the months-long trial he admitted passing on Azerbaijani cash payments to another member of the Bundestag who has since died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was believed to have influenced decisions in the Council of Europe in Azerbaijan's favour after Lintner himself was no longer a member. Lintner defended himself in court, saying, "I considered the whole thing to be the kind of lobbying that is practically omnipresent to this day." At the very end of the trial, he reiterated that he had not been aware of any criminal offence. According to the indictment, Azerbaijan had for years successfully sought to influence decisions in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe with the help of cash payments. Lintner sat in the Bundestag for 33 years and was a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe until 2010. Eduard Lintner, a former conservative member of the German lower house of parliament, has lodged an appeal with the Federal Court of Justice after his bribery conviction for peddling influence for Azerbaijan. Lintner, who was a member of the Bundestag for the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union (CSU), was sentenced in Munich to nine months' probation for bribing elected officials. Towards the end of the months-long trial he admitted passing on Azerbaijani cash payments to another member of the Bundestag who has since died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She was believed to have influenced decisions in the Council of Europe in Azerbaijan's favour after Lintner himself was no longer a member. Lintner defended himself in court, saying, "I considered the whole thing to be the kind of lobbying that is practically omnipresent to this day." At the very end of the trial, he reiterated that he had not been aware of any criminal offence. According to the indictment, Azerbaijan had for years successfully sought to influence decisions in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe with the help of cash payments. Lintner sat in the Bundestag for 33 years and was a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe until 2010. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to Lintner, Axel Fischer, and two other defendants were initially charged in the trial. Fischer, a former member of the Bundestag for the CSU's sister party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is accused of bribery. He has denied the allegations as did Lintner initially - and the presumption of innocence applies. Fischer became ill, and the proceedings against him were separated and will have to start again from scratch at a later date. The proceedings against the two other co-defendants were provisionally suspended in return for payment of fines. DARLINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) A former Hartsville High School student is suing the Darlington County School District for negligence after enduring continuous sexual abuse for years by one of her teachers at the time. The pupil, identified as Jane Doe in court documents filed Friday, was victimized multiple times between 2021 and 2023 by Obonyo Matthew Abongo, an ex-algebra teacher arrested in 2023 on criminal sexual misconduct charges. According to the lawsuit, the abuse began when the 15-year-old student was a freshman and had a class adjacent to Abongos, who was not one of her teachers. Throughout the year, Abongo would greet the student when she arrived despite having no educational reason to contact her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the fall of 2022, the student was placed in Abongos class, where they exchanged personal contact information and began communicating regularly via emails, texts and calls. After leaving Abongos class the following spring, he remained as her tutor and continued to contact her inappropriately, the lawsuit claims. DCSD-lawsuitDownload Administrators and teachers including an assistant principal at the time warned Abongo to be careful instead of reporting his behavior to the state Department of Social Services or other district officials. Abongo pressured Plaintiff not to tell anyone about their relationship, demonstrating that Abongo knew or should have known that his actions were inappropriate, unlawful and otherwise distasteful, the complaint says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That warning prompted the student to deny any kind of relationship with Abongo when an assistant principal asked her about it, the lawsuit alleges. During this approximate two-year period on multiple occasions, Abongo would purposefully leave Hartsville High School with Plaintiff. Abongo would then personally drive to a different location where he would sexually abuse Plaintiff, the complaint says. Abongo was removed from the district shortly after his arrest. The Hartsville Police Department arrested a Hartsville High School employee in regard to allegations he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a high school student in the Darlington County School District (DCSD). The safety of our students is our highest priority. The District is cooperating fully with the law enforcement investigation. The individual is no longer an employee of DCSD, the district said in a statement at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abongo posted a $25,000 bond and had his case disposed of in April 2024, though a disposition was not immediately available. The student is suing on grounds of negligence, and intentional infliciton of emotional distress. * * * Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Former President Bill Clinton is set to visit Oklahoma City this week to speak at Governor George Nighs public memorial service. Nigh, who was Oklahomas longest living governor, passed away on July 30 at the age of 98-years-old. Nigh and Clinton were governors at the same time during the 1980s, and worked together on issues impacting both Oklahoma and Arkansas. They had become friends along the way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Governor of Oklahoma, George Nigh, dies at 98 A photo from 1985 of George Nigh and Bill Clinton talking. Image courtesy, the Oklahoma Historical Society. This will be the third time in state history that a U.S. President or Former President has attended the funeral of an Oklahoma leader. In January 1963, President John F. Kennedy attended the funeral of U.S. Senator Robert S. Kerr, and in 1971, Former President Lyndon Johnson attended the funeral of Former Governor and U.S. Senator J. Howard Edmondson. Nigh was born in McAlester, Oklahoma, on June 9, 1927. He served as lieutenant governor of Oklahoma from 1959 to 1963, where he became the youngest state lieutenant governor in the United States at the age of 31. He was sworn in as Oklahomas 17th governor in 1963, but only served nine days. In 1978, Nigh was sworn in again as the states 22nd governor, where he served his full four-year term and was reelected four years later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nigh later served as president of the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond from 1992 to 1997 and transformed the campus of what became the third-largest higher education institution in Oklahoma. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Donna; daughter, Georgeann Duty, and husband Steve; his sister, Mary Cargill; granddaughters, Macy and Ayla; grandsons, Chase, Berry, and Gray Mashburn. Nighs memorial service is on Thursday, August 14, at 11 a.m. at the Crossings Community Church and will be open to the public. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The video above is from October 2023. FAIRFIELD, Conn. (WTNH) A former Sacred Heart University student charged in a 2023 head-on crash that seriously injured himself and five others took a plea deal Thursday, according to his attorney. Tyler Delk, now 21, pleaded nolo contendere to four counts of second-degree assault with a motor vehicle, his attorney, Alex Schwartz, said. 5 Sacred Heart University students, Uber driver injured in crash near Fairfield campus Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Five students, including Delk, and an Uber driver were injured in the Sept. 29, 2023, crash at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Park Avenue, not far from campus. Fairfield police said Delk, who was 19 at the time, was behind the wheel of an Audi, traveling east, when it appeared to hit a curb. The Audi then entered the westbound lane, where it collided with a Toyota Corolla driven by an Uber driver and carrying four freshmen passengers. Police said that Delk was ten times over the legal limit for alcohol and driving over 85 mph at the time of the crash. The legal limit for alcohol for a person under 21 in Connecticut is .02%. Delk was arrested and initially charged with driving under the influence, reckless driving, five counts of second-degree assault with a motor vehicle and five counts of reckless endangerment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schwartz said he expects Delk will be sentenced to 54 months in prison at 2 p.m. on Oct. 31. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. UNION COUNTY, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) A former Salisbury police officer who resigned from his position after a controversial video showing him reportedly mishandling his K-9 partner is now working for the Union County Sheriffs Office. James Hampton, who resigned from the Salisbury Police Department in 2021 following the incident, was recently sworn in as a deputy sheriff in Union County. PREVIOUS: No charges for former Salisbury officer seen on video mishandling K-9 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs office welcomed Hampton and two other new hires during a ceremony in July 2025, sharing the announcement on social media. The viral video that led to Hamptons resignation showed him lifting his K-9, named Zuul, off the ground by its leash and striking the dog. Though criticized, no criminal charges were filed after investigations concluded Hamptons actions didnt meet the threshold for prosecution. The Rowan County District Attorneys Office initially said it could not pursue charges without a formal criminal investigation. The State Bureau of Investigation declined to step in, citing insufficient evidence of a felony. Investigations done by other sheriffs offices found the handling of the dog to be excessive and inconsistent with current training practices, though no intent to harm was determined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS: Salisbury Police address K-9 policy after questionable video surfaces Queen City News reached out on Monday to the Union County Sheriffs Office for a statement about Hamptons recent hire. A spokesperson responded: We are not able to respond and/or provide a statement regarding the hiring of Mr. Hampton as any potential response would most definitely involve confidential personnel information which, by law, we are not allowed to discuss publicly. Despite the controversy surrounding his departure from Salisbury, Hampton has continued his law enforcement career and will now serve in Union County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs office has not said whether Hampton will be working with K-9s in his new role. MORE FROM QCNEWS.COM Union County Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (WHTM) Former U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) will be joining the law firm, Dilworth Paxson, in an Of Counsel role starting next month. According to Dilworth Paxson, starting on September 1, Casey will begin serving out of their Philadelphia office, where he will serve in an Of Counsel role in the Corporate and Business practice group. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe Now This Week in Pennsylvania Casey will be providing clients with specific, actionable advice to maximize opportunities and be well-positioned to achieve their goals. Dilworth Paxsons values reflect my belief that the law is not just a profession, it is a public trust, Casey said. Lawyers have a responsibility to zealously represent their clients, to stand up for the rule of law, and to help preserve the independence of our judiciary. I look forward to the opportunity to bring my decades of experience in statewide public office and my deep knowledge of how to navigate the inner workings of state and federal governments to achieve success for Dilworth Paxson clients. This isnt the first time Casey has worked with Dilworth Paxson he actually worked at the firm as a paralegal before attending law school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Altogether, Casey served two terms as Pennsylvanias elected Auditor General, and later as a State Treasurer. He would go on to be elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006 and continued serving as Pennsylvanias Senator before losing his 2024 reelection bid to Dave McCormick by less than a quarter of a percent. Casey became the only Democrat thus far in Pennsylvania history to win three terms in the U.S. Senate. Dilworth is honored to welcome Senator Bob Casey to the firm. Bob is a powerful advocate with intimate knowledge of state and federal governments. He will continue our long tradition of civic engagement and be a tremendous resource for our clients, Chairman of Dilworth Paxson, Lawrence McMichael said. As a three-term U.S. Senator and state official, Bob understands how policies are shaped, as well as which strategic levers can most effectively drive client success at the state, federal and international levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This next move for Casey comes just one week after it was announced that he would be joining The University of Scranton as a Leahy Distinguished Fellow in Public Service. Former Senator Bob Casey joins University of Scranton in fellowship role The University had previously said that Caseys role will engage the Scrantonian and three-term senator across several aspects of campus life, including mentorship with students interested in public service careers. This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. HERRIMAN, Utah (ABC4) Three women have found a wallet with a $10,000 prize hidden in Herriman, courtesy of the Bank of Utah. The bank also committed to donating another $10,000 to a charity of the winners choice. Believe it or not, the wallet has been found! the Bank of Utah stated in a press release. Congratulations to the Killpack girls: Stazie Rigby, Koaly Bates, and Jennete Boone, for finding it so quickly. The bank said they are currently getting the Killpack girls squared away with their winnings and determining which charity is going to get the other half of the $20,000. If youre feeling like you missed out, there are still remaining side quests, according to the bank. You can stay updated on those side quests here. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Courtesy of Bank of Utah Here are the meanings of the clues released in the treasure hunt, provided by the Bank of Utah: Clue 1: Its time for our riddles, what a feast this shall be. Its got so much flavor to fill you with glee. To begin, find the giants that bookend a city. Youll know youre on track when it gets grid-y. This clue was meant to get you to the right county. Giants that bookend a city = Wasatch mountains and Oquirrh mountains bookend Salt Lake City/Valley, which gets you to the main Salt Lake County. Grid-y = Salt Lake and many of the surrounding cities are based on a grid system. Flavor = Hinting toward salt. Feast/glee = Start hinting to the trails that are very food themed and the color yellow is often associated with happiness/glee. Clue 2: Take a break. Grab a CUban with Thomas and Henry. Rest for a spell, where black hoppers stand sentry. Echoes of the past still linger in view, Enough to dig into whats coming to you. This clue gets you to the city of Herriman. CUban = CU is copper on the element table and Cuban sandwiches have ham on them which helps you get to the Bingham Copper mine which is near Herriman. Thomas and Henry = Henry Herriman and Thomas Butterfield were among the first to settle Herriman. Black hoppers/echoes of the past = The only remnants of Fort Herriman are two black locust trees that stand near the entry to the old fort. TREE = Acrostic poem hidden in the line so the first letter of each stanza spells TREE as a subtle hint at what the hoppers mean. Dig = Another hint toward the copper mine. Clue 6: Set your sights East for a watchful eye, be sure to find it and not pass it by. Look into its soul to find a formation, go up to its cave and start the celebration. This was our keyword cipher clue. By using the keyword at the branch you could decode this message. Typically with keyword ciphers you place the keyword at the start of the alphabet to create a substitution alphabet. This creates a secret code by rearranging the alphabet based on the chosen keyword. If wed dropped our other clues, by this time, you would be in Yellow Fork Canyon on Butter Knife trail. Set your sights East for a watchful eye = On the east side of the trail is a unique rock formation with a hole in the middle of it. The hole looks a bit like an eye. Look into its soul to find the formation = If you put your eye up against the hole and look through it there is a perfect pile of rocks just in sight. Go up to its cave = Within the pile of rocks is a small cave-like hole. If you reach in the wallet is within reach. Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Former Washington, D.C., homicide detective and defense attorney Ted Williams has taken to Fox News to reject President Donald Trumps contention that crime is out of control in the nations capital. Over the weekend, Trump announced that he would be staging a press conference on Monday to address the matter, saying of the city: It has become one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World. It will soon be one of the safest!!! He subsequently insisted that D.C.s homeless citizens move out, IMMEDIATELY, adding: We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you dont have to move out. Were going to put you in jail where you belong. Fox News anchor Jon Scott discusses President Donald Trump's claims about crime in Washington, D.C., with former homicide detective Ted Williams on Sunday August 10 2025 (Fox News) It was then reported that the president is sending 120 FBI agents on overnight shifts to help local law enforcement battle carjackings and other violent crime in D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His rhetoric has escalated since former DOGE employee Edward Coristine, also known as Big Balls, was beaten up by muggers eight days ago when he refused to give up his car during an attempted hijacking. Asked by Fox anchor Jon Scott about D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowsers comment that violent crime is down 61 percent in the district from two years ago, Williams said: I have to agree with the mayor here Yes, there is crime, and there will always be crimes in every major metropolitan city in this country. What I really found troubling and, I gotta tell you, as a lawyer I found it troubling is that the President of the United States would say that crime is out of control. I take exception to that. Crime is not out of control in the District of Columbia. Yes, you do have some juveniles here that are out of control and those juveniles need to be addressed and arrested. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, he continued: I think that even the Metropolitan Police Department is happy that the president has married up the federal agencies that help to try to combat crime in the District of Columbia. Scott went on to present Williams with official data suggesting that juvenile offenders were the real problem, given that young people have been involved in half of the attempted carjackings this year and that 2,000 teens have been arrested in D.C. over the last two years. President Donald Trump has insisted that violent crime in D.C. must be brought under control, although the official statistics suggest it already is (AP) In any major metropolitan city you are going to have, unfortunately, juveniles committing crimes, he responded. The ex-cop invoked the attack on Coristine as the likely motivation for Trumps new hard-line stance and added: I would like to ask Mr Trump: Where were you last month when a three-year-old child, Honesty Cheadle, was shot and killed as the result of a crime in the District of Columbia? I didnt hear Mr Trump speaking out then. I want Mr Trump to do something for the district. Continue to have the federal officers partner with the district officers to try to bring down crime. But dont use this as a pretext to actually eradicate home rule... That seems to be what Mr Trump is interested in. AARP representatives drop off 34,000 petitions opposing a utility rate increase. Aug. 11, 2025. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix) Florida Power & Light has reached an 11th-hour agreement in principle with parties objecting to its proposed four-year, $10 billion rate increase, but the details remain undisclosed. The investor-owned utility made the announcement Friday, just three days before the Public Service Commission was scheduled to begin a hearing on the the proposed rate hike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The utility giant said the agreement would be finalized and made public by Aug. 20. The yet-to-be-announced-rates must still be approved by the PSC. FPL released a statement announcing that the rate settlement would keep customer bills well below the national average through the end of the decade. We are pleased to have reached an agreement in principle with key stakeholders. A settlement would provide a win for our customers and the state of Florida. We appreciate the constructive engagement of key intervenors, FPL CEO Armando Pimentel said in a news release. The company announced that the settlement was supported by 10 groups of heavy power users, including the business-friendly Florida Retail Federation, and consumer advocate groups like the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During Mondays PSC hearing, initially set to hear from parties to the rate-setting procedure, but diverted in light of the provisional settlement, critics targeted the proposed rate increase as the product of corporate greed. Zayne Smith from AARP Florida stands in front of other AARP representatives and 34,000 petitions opposing a utility rate increase. Aug. 11, 2025. (Photo by Jay Waagmeester/Florida Phoenix) Zayne Smith, senior director for advocacy at AARP Florida, said she still opposes the agreed-upon rates and criticized that the settlement wasnt publicly available for review. It actually doesnt give much hope at all, because the settlement totally eviscerates any transparency and accountability rate payers like you and me and anyone watching this from their homes have when it comes to decisions that are being made on our behalf, Smith said Monday before the PSC met. Smith said seniors and others on fixed incomes will be hit hardest by the increase, arguing a $5-$15 increase on power bills could be the difference between being able to buy groceries or gas for the month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement AARP Florida delivered 34,000 signed petitions opposing the increase to the PSC meeting on Monday. Of those, 12,000 were mailed in and 22,000 were completed online. This is the perfect signal to our legislative body that reform at the public service commission is necessary, Smith said. She wants the Legislature to revisit the issue, noting that Sen. Don Gaetz filed SB 354, during the 2025 session but that it never attracted a House sponsor. That proposal aimed to increase transparency and hold utility companies more accountable for how they set rates. FPLs initial proposal would have increased by 2029 what the typical FPL customer in Florida would pay by up to $18 per month, according to the company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FPL serves more than 6 million accounts and 12 million people in Florida. Its parent company, NextEra Energy, is Florida-based and publicly traded. The agreement, Smith said, should be the perfect catalyst for legislators to start a conversation on changing the process next year. Any agreement that we reach should enable FPL to continue to make smart investments on behalf of our customers, ensuring that we can continue to provide reliable electricity to power our fast-growing state while keeping customer bills low, Pimentel said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE In Greece, locals are spraying graffiti. In Italy, Portugal and Spain, they have resorted to water guns and mass protests. While anti-tourism sentiment has begun to bubble over across Europe, one country is conspicuous in its relative silence. And its the most visited country in the world: France. Although it welcomes about 100 million travellers each year, France rarely makes headlines for tourism protests a stark contrast to its neighbours, who have increasingly vented frustration over crowded cities, rising rents and bad behaviour. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no single reason why France has avoided the backlash, and fears that one could still be coming arent unfounded. But a commitment to sustainable tourism, strong infrastructure and a strategy to spread visitors across regions and seasons all play a part. France has played the long game Unlike many countries now scrambling to rein in mass tourism, France started laying the groundwork years ago. Atout France, the countrys tourism development agency, has made sustainability a central tenet of its strategy. Under a 10-year roadmap the Destination France Plan the government earmarked 1.9 billion in 2021 to encourage greener, more responsible travel. That means pushing for rail travel over short-haul flights, investing in mid-sized cities and nudging visitors beyond the usual suspects, like Paris or Nice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related The country doubled down this year, with a fresh pledge to invest in tourism thats more ecological, inclusive and digitally savvy. Tourism leaders hope that investment results in longer stays, smaller crowds and more meaningful experiences. The French authorities have invested in sustainable travel for years, says Veronica Diquattro, president of B2C and supply at Omio, a travel search engine for Europe. The focus now is on improving the quality of tourism experiences, spreading visitor numbers throughout the year to combat overtourism and emphasising ecological, digital, social and inclusive tourism practices. The power of trains France has one of the most extensive rail networks in Europe 28,000 kilometres of tracks, including 2,800 kilometres of high-speed lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement France is among the most accessible countries for rail tourism, Diquattro says. Cities with as few as 20,000 people have train stations, she explains. Thanks to its high-speed rail, you can get from Paris to Marseille in three hours. That kind of access reshapes tourism patterns. It also reshapes policy. In 2023, France formally banned domestic flights on some routes that could be done in under two and a half hours by train. Although its impact on the climate is unclear, the move has nevertheless boosted train travel and likely encouraged trips to regions that may have gone overlooked. Tourists are dispersed by design Where Spain has the Costa Brava and Italy has Venice, France has... everything. And thats exactly how the country likes it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tourists are spread out in France, says Marine Prat, a travel and business events designer at Loire Secrets. They dont go to only one place. They travel to several regions. Related Part of this comes down to history France has always marketed itself as a country of regions. Part of it is storytelling. From the chateaux of the Loire to the wine cellars of Alsace, each region offers its own brand of tourism and the infrastructure to match. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More and more people want to travel off the beaten track. They want to see different areas not just the classics, like Paris and Normandy and the south of France, Prat adds. Now they can see on Instagram that you can go an hour and a half from Paris and easily discover charming villages, gastronomy and very dynamic cities. A cultural advantage Perhaps less obvious, Frances legacy of hosting outsiders could be paying dividends today. France has been a crossroads of cultures for centuries, says Prat. Its quite normal to have people from all over visit [France] Its a big part of our economy. That long history of hosting, combined with a strong tourism infrastructure, has likely helped insulate France from some of the issues seen elsewhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the audience is growing. As Prat points out, arrivals from new markets like India, Southeast Asia, Australia and Africa have ticked upward in recent years. Theyre finding more to do outside of the big cities and gravitating toward them, too. Were trying to sell more local experiences, she says. We are very involved in our region. We want to promote more organic or biodynamic winemakers, more local and organic food, and people who work in this way. Diquattro says her companys data backs that up. Travellers frequently choose Paris as their initial destination. But from there, she says, theyre branching out, adding that Marseille and Strasbourg are growing fast, thanks to better connections and more to experience when travellers get there. Can regulation fend off retaliation? France hasnt escaped friction. Frequent strikes rail, air or otherwise remain part of the national rhythm. Crowding and gentrification could be looming issues, too. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the Olympic Games last year brought so much attention to the City of Lights that more than 50 million people visited it in 2024 alone. Related Earlier this summer, residents in Montmartre began sounding the alarm over surging crowds. People come for three hours, have fun, buy a beret or a crepe, and leave, as if they were in an amusement park, one resident told Reuters. The authorities hope that regulation could help stave off the worst. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While short-term holiday lets have triggered housing crises in cities like Lisbon and Barcelona, authorities have been quicker to act in France. Under a law passed last year Loi le Meur local governments can cap holiday rentals, slash the number of nights residences can be rented (from 120 to 90) and fine landlords who ignore the rules. Whether its laws regulating short-term rentals or a masterplan for a more sustainable kind of growth, Frances system seems to be holding. In the age of overtourism, the countrys secret weapon might be that it has planned for this moment all along. French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday called for a UN stabilization mission to be deployed to end the conflict in the Gaza Strip. "This is the only credible way to get out of a situation that is unacceptable for the families of the hostages and the residents of Gaza," he said, according to the Elysee Palace. "No to an Israeli military operation," Macron added. "Yes to an international coalition under a UN mandate to fight terrorism, stabilize Gaza and support the population." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president said the mission would assist with the disarmament and demilitarization of the Palestinian militant group Hamas. He said the UN Security Council, of which France is a permanent member, should work to set up the mission. Macron also sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to expand the war in Gaza, a move he called a "disaster" of "unprecedented severity." "This war must now be ended with a permanent ceasefire," said the French president, who has stepped up his critique of Israel in recent months over its conduct in Gaza. Macron has also pledged to recognize a Palestinian state, a move lambasted by Netanyahu's government. FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) A recent Franklin County high school graduate is using her nonprofit to shine a spotlight on unsung heroes and local businesses. With the help of pop-up events and donations, shes making sure every dollar spent supports her mission. Inside the doors of Select Auto sits a gift shop called Neat Down South with neat gifts for any occasion. Owner Ellie Bevington wanted to go beyond her business by finding ways that benefit her nonprofit, Helping the Hardworking. Bevington came up with the nonprofit at just 15 years old, and in recent weeks, she held a pop-up event in the back of the Select Auto Store that sold her clothes with a special meaning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, a closet for a cause just kind of came to my mind when I was packing up to leave for college. I had way too much stuff in my closet and too little room in my dorm closet, and so I got together some friends and figured we could fundraise for a good cause while also getting rid of some clothes before leaving for school, said Bevington. Read more of the latest Lexington & central Kentucky news Bevington and 15 of her friends used Closet for a Cause to donate 10% of the proceeds to Bevingtons non-profit, which will go towards supporting the hardworking individuals in her community. I figured out that I wanted to support local businesses like mine and like my familys local business, and I wanted to support hard workers, just the people who go unnoticed for their everyday efforts without receiving the recognition they deserve, said Bevington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In just two days, Bevington raised more than $500 with plans to host more pop-up events so she and others can continue to shine a spotlight on those who deserve it. I would say around $2,500 a year is what we give away to hard workers. But this year were trying to double that because weve fundraised a lot more. So I just hope it progresses each year, and eventually Im hoping that this could be something we could spread to other counties in Kentucky with the help of other students like me and my sister, who just want to give back, said Bevington. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Bevington said she will attend Ohio State University in the fall, and with a scholarship she received, that award helps ensure that each student carries on with a supportive program like the one she started in Franklin County. She said she will help guide her sister in taking over her mission here in Kentucky while shes away at college. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She raises money through self-addressed envelopes, community fundraisers, and a GoFundMe page. If you would like to help donate to Helping the Hardworking, click here; for more on Bevingtons store, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. Australia holds a unique position in global geopolitics - on the other side of the world but still very much a Western country. Roland Oliphant speaks with former Australian Defence Minister Christopher Pyne about the delicate balancing act his country faces in dealing with an increasingly sharp-elbowed China; and whether President Trump will stand by the AUKUS nuclear submarine pact with Australia. Also in this episode, Roland looks at developments in Gaza. Nearly 200 journalists have been killed while reporting in the strip, but for the first time, Israel has publicly stated that the Al Jazeeras Anas al-Sharif was assassinated on purpose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Telegraphs Jerusalem correspondent Henry Bodkin discusses why the strike happened now and what it means for journalists either already in Gaza and those still trying to enter. Listen to Battle Lines using the audio player in this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or your favourite podcast app. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. DONETSK REGION, Ukraine (AP) In a plastic-lined dugout where nearby blasts send dirt raining from the ceiling, Ukrainian soldiers say peace talks feel distant and unlikely to end the war. Explosions from Russian weapons from glide bombs to artillery shells thunder overhead, keeping the soldiers underground except when they fire the M777 howitzer buried near their trench. Nothing on the Eastern Front suggests the fighting could end soon. Soldiers' skepticism over diplomatic peace efforts is rooted in months of what they see as broken U.S. promises to end the war quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Recent suggestions by U.S. President Donald Trump that there will be some " swapping of territories and media reports that it would involve Ukrainian troops leaving the Donetsk region where they have fought for years defending every inch of land have stirred confusion and rejection among the soldiers. More likely than an end to the war, they say, is a brief pause in hostilities before Russia resumes the assault with greater force. At minimum, the result would be to stop active fighting that would be the first sign of some kind of settlement, said soldier Dmytro Loviniukov of the 148th brigade. Right now, thats not happening. And while these talks are taking place, they (the Russians) are only strengthening their positions on the front line. Long war, no relief Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On one artillery position, talk often turns to home. Many Ukrainian soldiers joined the army in the first days of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, leaving behind civilian jobs. Some thought they would serve only briefly. Others didnt think about the future because at that moment, it didnt exist. In the years since, many have been killed. Those who survived are in their fourth year of a grueling war, far removed from the civilian lives they once knew. With the war dragging on far longer than expected, there is no one to replace them as the Ukrainian army struggles with recruiting new people. The army also cannot demobilize those who serve without risking the collapse of the front. That is why soldiers watch for even the possibility of a pause in hostilities. When direct talks between Russia and Ukraine were held in Istanbul in May, the soldiers from the 148th brigade read the news with cautious hope, said a soldier with the call sign Bronson, who once worked as a tattoo artist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Months later, hope has been replaced with dark humor. On the eve of a deadline that U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly gave Russian President Vladimir Putin one that has since vanished from the agenda amid talk of Friday's meeting in Alaska Russian fire roared every minute for hours. Soldiers joked that the shelling was because the deadline was running out. We are on our land. We have no way back, said Loviniukov, the commander of the artillery group. We stand here because there is no choice. No one else will come here to defend us. Training for whats ahead Dozens of kilometers from the Zaporizhzhia region, north to the Donetsk area, heavy fighting grinds on toward Pokrovsk now the epicenter of fighting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once home to about 60,000 people, the city has been under sustained Russian assault for months. The Russians have formed a pocket around Pokrovsk, though Ukrainian troops still hold the city and street fighting has yet to begin. Reports of Russian saboteurs entering the city started to appear almost daily, but the military says those groups have been neutralized. Ukrainian soldiers of the Spartan brigade push through drills with full intensity, honing their skills for the battlefield in the Pokrovsk area. Everything at the training range, dozens of kilometers from the front, is designed to mirror real combat conditions even the terrain. A thin strip of forest breaks up the vast fields of blooming sunflowers stretching into the distance until the next tree line appears. One of the soldiers training there is a 35-year-old with the call sign Komrad, who joined the military recently. He says he has no illusions that the war will end soon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My motivation is that there is simply no way back, he said. If you are in the military, you have to fight. If were here, we need to cover our brothers in arms. Truce doesnt mean peace For Serhii Filimonov, commander of the Da Vinci Wolves battalion of the 59th brigade, the wars end is nowhere in sight, and current news doesnt influence the struggle to find enough resources to equip the unit that is fighting around Pokrovsk. We are preparing for a long war. We have no illusions that Russia will stop," he said, speaking at his field command post. "There may be a ceasefire, but there will be no peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Filimonov dismissed recent talk of exchanging territory or signing agreements as temporary fixes at best. Russia will not abandon its goal of capturing all of Ukraine, he said. They will attack again. The big question is what security guarantees we get and how we hit pause." A soldier with the call sign Mirche from the 68th brigade said that whenever there is a new round of talks, the hostilities intensify around Pokrovsk Russias key priority during this summers campaign. Whenever peace talks begin, "things on the front get terrifying, he said. ___ Associated Press reporters Vasilisa Stepanenko, Evgeniy Maloletka and Dmytro Zhyhinas in the Donetsk region and Volodymyr Yurchuk in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed to this report. Fort Hood, Tx (FOX 44) Sgt. First Class Casey Snodgrass has been sentenced to 12 years in Leavenworth after a court martial plea to child porn charges at Fort Hood. In the proceeding held at the Lawrence Williams Judicial Center on Fort Hood he pled guilty to four specifications of distributing child pornography, one specification of viewing child pornography, one specification of possessing child pornography, one specification of indecent conduct and one specification of communicating indecent language. The military judge sentenced Snodgrass to 12 years of confinement, reduction in rank to E-1 and a dishonorable discharge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The terms of this plea agreement recognized the seriousness of Sgt. 1st Class Snodgrass misconduct and provided for a period confinement that will serve to protect the most vulnerable population of our nation, our children, said Maj. Tara Goble, prosecutor, Fifth Circuit, Army Office of Special Trial Counsel. Snodgrass, a medic assigned to the 61st Multifunctional Medical Battalion, 1st Medical Brigade, III Armored Corps, will serve his confinement at the at the Joint Regional Confinement Facility at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. Upon release, he will be required to register as a sex offender and will be subject to federal and state sex offender registration requirements. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. (Reuters) -Fugitive pro-Russian businessman Ilan Shor has offered Moldovans monthly payments of $3,000 to join anti-government protests, in a bid to undermine Moldova's pro-European government ahead of parliamentary elections next month. Moldovan officials have regularly accused Moscow of meddling in their domestic politics by stoking pro-Russian sentiments in a subversive campaign to topple the government as it bolsters ties with the West, accusations Moscow denies. Shor, under Western sanctions for efforts to destabilise Moldova on Russia's behalf, said he would make daily payments to each protester totaling a monthly $3,000 if they began protesting in the capital Chisinau starting on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Yes, I am...compensating you in such a way that already from Saturday you'll feel the effects of the victory that we will soon achieve," he said in a video posted to social media. He added that accounts for payment would be opened up directly at the protest site. Moldova's National Police said in a statement that Shor's message was "criminal incitement" and warned Moldovans they risked investigation if they engaged with the offer. "Law enforcement will not allow criminal groups to organise illegal protests aimed at causing disorder and violence. Any attempt will be firmly rejected within the legal framework, the police statement said." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moldova says Shor, who was convicted of helping steal $1 billion from the country's banking system in 2014, is Moscow's primary agent of influence. Officials have barred his party from standing in elections and banned media assets linked to him. Earlier this month, a Moldovan court jailed a pro-Kremlin regional leader for channelling money from Russia between 2019 and 2022 to finance Shor's party. A small former Soviet republic situated between Ukraine and EU and NATO member Romania, Moldova will hold parliamentary elections on September 28. The ruling party is aiming to hold on to its majority to keep the country's pro-European trajectory intact. (Reporting by Yuliia Dysa; Writing by Dan Peleschuk; Editing by Toby Chopra) Plans to replace and repair two aging bridges leading to Cape Cod are moving full speed ahead, even as the Trump administration has clawed back federal funding for critical work on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Bostons Allston neighborhood. Warrens reassurances Sunday came in response to a question from WBZ-TV host Jon Keller, who asked the Cambridge Democrat whether she was worried the same fate could befall the planned replacement of the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges. Well, legally, absolutely not, Warren said during that appearance on the stations Keller @Large" program. The state has so far received about $1.72 billion in approved funding for the effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "And were underway and were going full speed ahead, and thats exactly as we should be," Warren continued, before offering a caveat. On the other hand, just the Trump administration, in other areas, has shown that it is perfectly willing to ignore the law, and [will] try to pull back research grants, try to pull back investments throughout the country, she continued. This is more of the chaos that [President] Donald Trump will create. The Republican White House threw the deep blue Bay State a curveball last month when it announced it canceled $327 million in federal funding to underwrite that Turnpike project in Allston. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State officials, led by Gov. Maura Healey, vigorously protested the decision to yank the money, which had previously been approved by Congress. The people of Massachusetts deserve better from their federal government. However, we have known that this day was likely to come, as wrong-headed and frustrating as the decision is, Healey continued. We remain committed to doing everything we can, working with our incredible project partners, to make Allston Multimodal a reality. President Donald Trump eliminated the key federal grant program that provided the money when he signed his massive tax-and-spend bill into law on July 4, Commonwealth Beacon reported. The program is formally known as the Neighborhood Access and Equity Program. The state received the funding in 2023, MassLive previously reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to the Cape bridges, whose total cost is about $4.5 billion, theres a mix of state and federal funding at play, which is how its always been, and thats how it is in most of these big infrastructure projects, Warren told Keller. Speaking to Keller on Sunday, Warren stressed the greater public good of infrastructure projects, a message that she said she also has tried to emphasize in her conversations with the White House. Thats the thing about infrastructure. Whether were talking about roads and bridges or whether were talking about medical research, these are the investments that help make us a stronger country, she said. Congress has already allocated this money, and under [the] law, the administration is supposed to spend it, she concluded. And thats where much of the push is. More on Politics Read the original article on MassLive. It was no ordinary break-in. On June 20, under the cover of darkness, two activists entered what should have been one of Britains most secure military bases, RAF Brize Norton, and vandalised two Voyager planes. There was no question as to who was behind the attack: Palestine Action, a pro-Palestinian direct-action organisation formed in 2020, quickly admitted responsibility. And the response from the Government was almost as swift. Three days after the attack, Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, told MPs that Palestine Action would be banned using powers under the 2000 Terrorism Act the legal terminology is proscribed. At first glance, it appeared to be an uncharacteristically quick move. The case for proscription typically takes months, if not years, to build. Damage to one of the Voyager planes at RAF Brize Norton in an attack on June 20 that Palestine Action later admitted responsibility for - X But the attack on Brize Norton, which ministers said had caused 7m of damage, was far from the only reason why the Government decided to class Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation where it is now listed alongside 83 banned international groups, including al-Qaeda, Hamas and Islamic State, and 14 linked to Northern Ireland, such as the pro-republican IRA and the loyalist paramilitaries, the UVF. Indeed, proscription of Palestine Action had been under consideration for some time as the organisation ramped up its drive against Britains defence sector, targeting companies linked to Israel in particular. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, the Government is facing a backlash over the move, with the arrest of hundreds of supporters of the group over the weekend fuelling accusations its response has been draconian. But insiders and experts have pushed back, arguing the decision would not have been taken lightly and suggesting the Government is likely to have an extensive dossier of troubling evidence about the groups true, sinister nature one that may include links to Iran and perhaps even the explicit targeting of Jewish-owned businesses. Unacceptable criminal damage A large amount of information about Palestine Action has already been put into the public domain. In her Commons statement, Cooper said the Brize Norton attack was the latest in a long history of unacceptable criminal damage committed by the group. Among more than 300 incidents which Palestine Action has claimed responsibility for was an attack on the Thales defence factory in Glasgow in 2022 which caused over a million pounds of damage to submarine parts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lord Walney, the Governments independent adviser on political violence and disruption from 2020 to 2025, told The Telegraph that Palestine Action had carried out a five-year long campaign of criminal sabotage and had been allowed to operate with impunity for too long, live-streaming its attacks on social media. In May 2024, the former Labour MP wrote a report, Protecting our Democracy from Coercion, warning that prosecutions of Palestine Action activists appeared to be having little impact on the groups determination to shut down Elbit UK, a defence technology company targeted for its links to Israel. Walney called on the government to do more to protect the defence sector from sustained ideologically motivated criminal campaigns, though he stopped short of recommending proscription for Palestine Action. He has since changed his mind. They meet the bar, he says. We need to educate people that sabotage can constitute terrorism as well as violence against individuals. Palestine Action protesters at the UK headquarters of Elbit in Bristol in May - Guy Smallman/Getty What altered Walneys thinking and helped convince the Home Secretary to ban Palestine Action is evidence of a serious escalation in its activities, including an attack in May on a Jewish-owned business in Stamford Hill, north London, an area with a large community of Orthodox Jews. The premises was daubed with red paint and had its shop window smashed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palestine Action said the property was linked to Elbit, a claim the business denies. Sir Keir Starmer outlined his own concerns that the group was targeting Jewish companies at a meeting of Labours National Executive Committee last month, reportedly telling its members that he was not going to apologise for proscribing the group. Adding to alarm about Palestine Action is a lack of clarity about its funding sources. It has been reported that Home Office officials have been investigating whether the Iranian regime or proxy groups linked to Iran have been supporting it financially. While Palestine Action has described claims to that effect as baseless smears, it has received public backing from the Iran-aligned Islamic Human Rights Commission (IHRC). The IHRC which has been described as an Islamist group ideologically aligned with the Iranian regime that has a history of terrorist sympathies in a government review of the counter-terror Prevent programme has repeatedly campaigned in support of a number of Palestine Action activists over the past year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesman for the IHRC has said it has no institutional or financial link with the Iranian government, and that allegations suggesting otherwise are baseless. Assertions that it was ideologically aligned with Iran was not evidence it is opinion, and a deeply prejudiced one at that, the spokesman added. In July, Parliaments Intelligence and Security Committee warned of Irans growing influence in Britain through proxy groups, criminal networks and militant organisations. The committee said in a report that there had been 15 murder or kidnap attempts against British citizens or UK-based individuals between 2022 and August 2023 with an increased threat to Jewish and Israeli interests. Supporters of Palestine Action at Westminster, central London, on Saturday - Stefan Rousseau/PA As for what Whitehall is seeing behind the scenes that has caused such alarm, No 10 is keeping schtum. Many people may not yet know and understand the reality of this organisation, the Prime Ministers official spokesman told The Telegraph on Monday, but it is very clear that it is not non-violent. Chris Phillips, who headed the National Counter Terrorism Security Office for six years, says the Government will have received secret intelligence about Palestine Action that it is unable to disclose alongside reports of recent incidents. To take the extraordinary step of proscription shows theres a great deal more that is not out in the open, he says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There must be a lot of intelligence or a lot of fear about whats being planned, adds Phillips, who served in the Metropolitan Police for 30 years before working as a security consultant. Proscription is the extreme they will have gone through other options. Strong security advice The process for deciding whether to proscribe an organisation is described by insiders as rigorous and involves submissions from counter-terrorism detectives, analysts at the Security Service, MI5 and other law-enforcement agencies. The information is pulled together by specialists in the Joint Terrorism Assessment Centre (JTAC), which is based in MI5. Sir Mark Rowley, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, said his force had laid out to government the operational basis for proscribing Palestine Action which he described as an organised, extremist criminal group. Cooper said the decision followed strong security advice and an assessment from JTAC that the group prepares for terrorism. She cited concerning information referencing plans and ideas for further attacks, but said the details could not be revealed publicly because of ongoing legal proceedings. Many people may not yet know the reality of this organisation, the Home Secretary added. The Prime Ministers spokesman said that JTAC had concluded Palestine Action has committed three separate acts of terrorism. A pro-Palestine activist outside a Royal Courts of Justice hearing in July to consider whether Yvette Coopers decision to proscribe the group should be blocked - Mark Kerrison One of Coopers predecessors, Amber Rudd, who held the post from 2016 to 2018 under the Conservatives, says she is confident there is material which has not been made public but which supports the decision to ban the group. The Home Secretary has to take the toughest line that is legally possible, says Rudd. She has done exactly the right thing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yet even the Conservatives who are firm supporters of the decision to ban Palestine Action have floated the idea that more information could be put into the public domain to explain why the decision has been taken. Without doing so theres a risk the measure will lose public support, they argue. Palestine Action has used violence to advance its political agenda including sabotaging RAF planes, smashing up property and attacking a police officer with a sledgehammer. In this country we decide issues through debate and elections, not violence, says Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary. [But] it is important the Government maintains public confidence and it should always put relevant information into the public domain where possible. Political fallout Some Labour MPs echo those concerns, saying privately that they fear the Government is losing control of the narrative in the absence of a full explanation of what it knows about Palestine Action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont think the people of the country feel threatened by Palestine Action because there is no explanation about why they should be, says one Labour MP on the socialist wing of the party, who argues that the scenes which played out in Parliament Square on Saturday will have done little to help matters. Half of those arrested during the demonstration were aged 60 or above, according to police figures. When people see 90-year-old pensioners and blind people in wheelchairs being pulled away gently by police officers, those images stay with you, the Labour MP says. The same source wondered whether the political fallout from the move to ban the group and the weekends arrests, however jarring the intelligence the Home Office is seeing behind the scenes, could lead No 10 to consider a U-turn on proscription. Greenpeace recently put up posters in London opposing the proscription of Palestine Action - Chris J Ratcliffe/AFP But with intelligence and law enforcement experts giving ministers their backing there is no sign of that at the moment. Lord Carlile, Britains first independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, from 2001 to 2011, said the Government had national security in mind when it proscribed Palestine Action and had done the right thing, though he questioned whether the police had dealt with Saturdays protest proportionately. There should be more of, If you go home we wont arrest you, if you do it again we will, said the crossbench peer. If I was advising the police, Id say, do it with a softer touch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But as the debate spurred by the weekends scenes raged, the Home Secretary defended her position, hinting that she was privy to disturbing information about Palestine Action that would change peoples perceptions about her decision, once it was out in the open. There may be people who are objecting to proscription who dont know the full nature of this organisation, because of court restrictions on reporting while serious prosecutions are under way, Cooper said. But its really important that no one is in any doubt that this is not a non-violent organisation. 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. Hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza City have attended the funeral of four Al Jazeera journalists, including correspondent Anas al-Sharif, who were killed in an Israeli air strike outside al-Shifa Hospital. On Monday, large crowds joined the funeral procession, carrying the journalists bodies from al-Shifa Hospital to Sheikh Radwan Cemetery in central Gaza. Colleagues, friends, and relatives embraced in grief, while a man lifted a press flak jacket high above the crowd. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The strike late on Sunday also killed Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, along with camera operators Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal. Also killed were freelance cameraman Momen Aliwa and freelance journalist Mohammed al-Khalidi. Mourners bid farewell to the bodies of the Al Jazeera journalists who were killed in an overnight Israeli strike on their tent in Gaza City, before their burial at the Sheikh Radwan Cemetery on August 11 [Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP] Footage verified by Al Jazeera showed mourners chanting slogans against the killings, with some pledging, With our soul and blood, we sacrifice for you, Anas, in reference to the slain journalist. Al Jazeera Media Network condemned the targeted assassination by Israeli forces, accusing the military of deliberately striking the journalists position. The Israeli military admitted to their crimes, the network said, describing the attack as another blatant and premeditated assault on press freedom. Al-Sharif was one of Gazas bravest journalists, said Al Jazeera, adding that the attack was a desperate attempt to silence voices in anticipation of the occupation of Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military admitted killing Al Jazeeras journalists in Gaza, falsely claiming al-Sharif led what it called a Hamas cell. A flak jacket and a Palestinian flag are placed on the body of Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif during the funeral [Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters] The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it was appalled by the killings. Israels pattern of labeling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom, said CPJs regional director, Sara Qudah. Those responsible for these killings must be held accountable. Media watchdog RSF also condemned what it described as the acknowledged murder by the Israeli army of al-Sharif, calling him one of the most famous journalists from the Gaza Strip (and) the voice of the suffering Israel has imposed on Palestinians in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group said the attack mirrored the 2023 killing of Al Jazeeras Ismail al-Ghoul, who was also labelled a terrorist by Israel. Relatives of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif carry his 15-month-old son Salah (L) and 4-year-old daughter Sham during his funeral in Gaza City on August 11, 2025 [Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP] Without strong action from the international community were likely to witness more such extrajudicial murders of media professionals, RSF warned, urging the United Nations Security Council to intervene. Al-Sharifs assassination comes more than a year after Israel bombed his family home in a refugee camp, killing his 65-year-old father. The killings of the Palestinian journalists come days after Israels security cabinet approved a plan to seize Gaza City and forcibly displace nearly one million people Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palestinians, rights groups and legal experts have pointed out that Gaza home to more than two million people remains under Israeli occupation. Nothing can go in or out without Israeli permission. A total Israeli blockade since March 2 has triggered a starvation crisis, killing more than 200 people, including over 100 children, in the last few weeks. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A soon to be student teacher is heading to the classroom while Tennessee schools are facing teacher vacancies. Mary Anderson is a senior at Mississippi State University majoring in secondary education. Mary Anderson My first day of classes will be August 20th, and its the first time in there with the students, Anderson told WREG. Heading back to school this year takes on a new meaning as Anderson is set to start her student teaching. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ill start in there as an observation and learning, and just being an assist and then, slowly, I will start taking over responsibilities in the classroom and teaching, and trying to just get ready and prepped for when I graduate and I become a teacher, said Anderson. Cell Phone Ban: How will it be enforced at your childs school? Anderson is the daughter of a veteran high school English teacher, but it was her own experience of serving as a counselor at Girls State that she discovered her passion and made the decision to pursue a career in education. I think it was just the connection, getting to know with them, said Anderson. She said, That was just something that was really inspiring to watch, and I just knew that was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. However, teaching is a profession fewer young people are choosing. When I would tell people thats what I was going into education, that was usually their first reply, said Anderson. Well, theres a lot of jobs and theres a lot of need for it, so you wont have to worry about finding one. School sees success after banning cell phones ahead of new state law Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement J.C. Bowman is the CEO and Executive Director of the Professional Educators of Tennessee. J.C. Bowman He told WREG, We are not recruiting the same amount of teachers that are leaving the field and let me say, I think its going to get worse, before it gets better. On August 3, leading into the first week of school for Memphis Shelby County Schools, the district had 330 vacant teacher positions. The states largest district is far from alone, according to Bowman. Tennessee is above the national average on teacher vacancies. Were at about 5.5% on the latest data the state provided, and the national average is about four percent, said Bowman. Bowman said subjects like special education, English as a second language and math are some of the hardest to fill. He said he believes that he understands why parents would be concerned if teachers were not present in clasrooms teaching high level subjects. According to the 2024 Tennessee Educator Survey, recruiting and retaining teachers is getting harder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lead detected in water at 24 Memphis schools Bowman said recruiting teachers with the necessary qualifications for vacancies at their schools can be hard because of the working conditions educators are put through, where nearly half of high school administrators called it very or extremely challenging. Making matters worse for communities like Memphis, the survey shows school leaders with fewer economically disadvantaged students reported having a larger pool of licensed applicants to choose from. In other words, schools in wealthier neighborhoods have plenty of teachers to pick from, while those in poorer communities dont. We need to reward our teachers for staying in schools that are absolutely some of our hardest to teach students, said Bowman. University School district to expand with new elementary school Bowman said if there is not long term teacher in a core class and your child is expected to perform a certain way on a standardized test to call the school, request a meeting with the principal and find out the plan to fill that position. Ive been in schools in my observation that, Ive seen where, like, kids are taking online classes because they dont have the teachers to teach that class, said Anderson. Anderson also said its not just the subject matter students are missing without teachers that its the guidance, encouragement and support that can often shape a young persons life. Lessons she is looking forward to having the privilege of providing. Im a little nervous because this is just something new. But Im really excited for what I get to pour into these students lives and what I get to make an impact in, said Anderson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) energized Iowa voters at a town hall in Davenport over the weekend, delivering a message of hope while also using the setting to put the GOP on the defensive. When youre a politician that is choosing your voters, instead of being able to convince voters, you have a losing message, right? Gallego told several hundred people, referring to the Texas redistricting battle playing out. Gallego also knocked President Trump for the countrys still-high grocery prices and for Republicans cutting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a reference to Trumps megabill of tax and spending cuts, which cut the program and Medicaid to offset costs of the bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Arizona Democrat said Americans were now sicker and poorer because of Donald Trump. At the same time, Gallego also offered a message of hope while traveling in the state. Theres no governing coalition until we start winning here, the Arizona senator told The New York Times. And we know how to do it. I know how to get the message to do it. So Im here to, most of all, encourage the Democratic Party, because they feel a little down right now here. Gallego made several stops in the Hawkeye State, including a visit to the Iowa State Fair, amid growing speculation that he might be eyeing a White House bid in 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iowa has traditionally been on the early presidential nominating calendar, though Democrats knocked it from its early perch last cycle as former President Biden sought to put South Carolina first instead. The Iowa GOP knocked Gallego for seemingly appearing to be campaigning for president. Instead of trying to launch a presidential campaign, Ruben should be in Arizona a state that voted for President Trumps agenda explaining why he voted against the largest tax cut in American history, including no tax on tips and overtime, Iowa GOP spokesperson Jade Cichy said in a statement. Gallego is also expected to travel to New Hampshire later this month for several events, including Politics & Eggs, hosted by The New England Council and Saint Anselm Colleges New Hampshire Institute of Politics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both the Iowa State Fair and Politics & Eggs have long been testing grounds for rising political stars and potential White House hopefuls testing their message in early primary states. Gallego has said hes thought about running for the White House but maintained its not his focus right now. Updated at Updated at 6:38 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. Gazans gathered on Monday for the funeral of five Al Jazeera staff members and a sixth reporter killed in an Israeli strike, with Israel calling one of them a "terrorist" affiliated with Hamas. Dozens stood amid bombed-out buildings in the courtyard of Al-Shifa hospital to pay their respects to Anas al-Sharif, a prominent Al Jazeera correspondent aged 28, and four of his colleagues, killed on Sunday. A sixth journalist, Mohammed Al-Khaldi who worked as a freelance reporter, was also killed in the strike that targeted the Al Jazeera team, according to the director of Al-Shifa Hospital, Dr Mohammed Abu Salmiya. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their bodies, wrapped in white shrouds with their faces exposed, were carried through narrow alleys to their graves by mourners including men wearing blue journalists' flak jackets. Israel confirmed it had targeted Sharif, whom it labelled a "terrorist" affiliated with Hamas, saying he "posed as a journalist". Al Jazeera said its employees were hit in a tent set up for journalists outside the main gate of a hospital in Gaza City. The four other staff members killed were Mohammed Qreiqeh, also a correspondent, and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa. "Anas Al-Sharif served as the head of a terrorist cell in the Hamas terrorist organisation and was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF (Israeli) troops," the military said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The IDF had previously disclosed intelligence information and many documents found in the Gaza Strip, confirming his military affiliation to Hamas," it said. It published a graphic showing what it said was a list of Hamas operatives in northern Gaza, including Sharif's name, as well as an image of him emblazoned with the word: "Eliminated". It also published a list it said showed Sharif had been paid $200 by Hamas after an injury, as well as a list it said was a Hamas battalion's phone directory that included Sharif's number. Sharif was one of the channel's most recognisable faces working on the ground in Gaza, providing daily reports on the now 22-month-old war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - 'One of the bravest' - A posthumous message, written in April in case of his death, was published on his account on Monday morning saying he had been silenced and urging people "not to forget Gaza". According to local journalists who knew him, Sharif had worked at the start of his career with a Hamas communication office, where his role was to publicise events organised by the militant group that has exercised total control over Gaza since 2006. Following online posts by Israel's Arabic-language military spokesman Avichay Adraee on Sharif, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called in July for his protection, accusing Israel of a "pattern" of labelling journalists militants "without providing credible evidence". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It said the Israeli military had levelled similar accusations against other journalists in Gaza earlier in the war, including other Al Jazeera staff. "International law is clear that active combatants are the only justified targets in a war setting, so unless the IDF can demonstrate that Anas al-Sharif was still an active combatant, then there is no justification for his killing," Jodie Ginsberg, CPJ's chief executive, told AFP. AFP has contacted the Israeli military for comment. Al Jazeera called the attack that killed Sharif "a desperate attempt to silence voices exposing the Israeli occupation", as it described Sharif as "one of Gaza's bravest journalists". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also said it followed "repeated incitement and calls by multiple Israeli officials and spokespersons to target the fearless journalist Anas Al Sharif and his colleagues". Reporters Without Borders says nearly 200 journalists have been killed in the war so far. International reporters are prevented from travelling to Gaza by Israel, except on occasional tightly controlled trips with the military. The strike on the journalists came with criticism mounting over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to expand the war in the Gaza Strip. - 'We will win' - The security cabinet voted last week to conquer the remaining quarter or so of the territory not yet controlled by Israeli troops, including much of Gaza City and Al-Mawasi, the area designated a safe zone by Israel where huge numbers of Palestinians have sought refuge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan, which Israeli media reported had triggered bitter disagreement between the government and military leadership, drew condemnation from protesters in Israel and numerous countries, including Israeli allies. Notably, the plans caused Germany, a major weapons supplier and staunch ally, to suspend shipments to Israel of any arms that could be used in Gaza. Australia said it would join a growing list of Western nations in recognising a Palestinian state. Despite the diplomatic reversals, Netanyahu remained defiant. "We will win the war, with or without the support of others," he told journalists on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - 'Another calamity' - The United Nations and humanitarian agencies have condemned the planned expansion. "If these plans are implemented, they will likely trigger another calamity in Gaza," UN Assistant Secretary General Miroslav Jenca told the Security Council on Sunday. UN agencies warned last month that famine was unfolding in the territory, with Israel severely restricting the entry of aid. Israel's offensive has killed at least 61,430 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, figures the United Nations says are reliable. Hamas's October, 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. ds/ser Georgia family sues Roblox, alleging 9-year-old childs sexploitation by users posing as children A Georgia family is suing Roblox, a popular childrens online gaming platform, alleging that the company is responsible for the sexploitation of their then-9-year-old child. The lawsuit claims that Robloxs lack of security and oversight allowed multiple adults to pose as children and send sexually explicit content to the child, who was then convinced to send explicit content back. Matthew Dolman, the familys attorney, said that the platforms lax security measures enabled predators to groom the child by posing as other children. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] And cloaked behind the anonymity of an online figure is someone else they think is like-minded, whos also 6 or 7 years old, who turns out to be a 38, 40-year-old man, he told Channel 2s Michael Doudna. Doudna discussed this story on Channel 2 Action News at 4:00. Roblox, which boasts over 110 million active users daily, is facing multiple lawsuits over similar allegations, with at least half a dozen expected to be filed in the coming weeks. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Roblox emphasized its commitment to user safety, citing AI-backed content moderation and parental controls as measures to detect and prevent inappropriate content. We are deeply troubled by any incident that endangers our users, and safety is a top priority. We dedicate substantial resources, including advanced technology and 24/7 human moderation, to help detect and prevent inappropriate content, Roblox said in part. Dolman criticized Roblox, suggesting that the company prioritizes increasing its user base and valuation over ensuring the safety of its young users. This is not the first time Roblox has been linked to such incidents. In 2022, police arrested Howard Graham on sex trafficking charges related to a 13-year-old girl he met on the platform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think Roblox cares about putting as many people on their platform as possible to help out their valuation, Dolman said. The lawsuits against Roblox highlight ongoing concerns about the safety of children on online gaming platforms, as families and legal representatives call for stricter security measures to protect young users. TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Although passenger numbers rose by 2.8% in the first half of the year, Germany's commercial aviation industry remains mired in trouble, the German Aviation Association (BDL) said on Monday. The total of 99.4 million passengers still falls nearly 16% short of the pre-pandemic level seen in 2019, according to the BDL. In the same period last year, passenger numbers had risen by 10%. Jens Bischof, the president of the association and the chief executive of budget airline Eurowings, said Germany is lagging behind other European countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He blamed high taxes and fees as the main reasons for the slump. "The consequences are visible at almost every airport in Germany: Airlines are pulling their aircraft out and deploying them in other European countries with more competitive costs." BDL: One in three planes relocated abroad According to the association's calculations, low-cost carriers such as Ryanair and easyJet have moved nearly one in three jets previously based in Germany abroad since 2019. Of 190 jets, only 130 remain. The BDL argues that this not only reduces Germanys international connectivity but also causes billions in economic losses. Each medium-haul aircraft supports around 170 jobs and contributes roughly 70 million ($81.6 million) to the countrys gross domestic product. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For a typical European route, Bischof said that government charges of around 35 per passenger would need to be cut by half. He said that the government's abandoned plan to cut the aviation tax in 2026 would have sent an important signal to airlines. No recovery expected this winter According to the BDL, the German aviation sector is unlikely to catch up in the coming months. Domestic flights are particularly affected, reaching only 49% of pre-crisis capacity in the first half of the year. The winter schedule starting at the end of October will increase overall capacity from German airports by 8 percentage points to around 90% of the pre-pandemic level. In other European countries, capacity is set to rise by 7 percentage points to 116%. Plans by German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche to end state support for new small solar installations have met with criticism. The Federal Association of the Solar Industry stated on Monday that the implementation of such a proposal would endanger climate targets and severely damage the industry, which employs around 150,000 people. Reliable investment conditions are needed, they said, including support for solar power that cannot be consumed on-site. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reiche is from the coalition's senior party, the Christian Democrats (CDU). Within the junior coalition partner, the Social Democrats (SPD), there were warnings about causing uncertainty. The opposition Greens called for protests. "The friends of the decentralized energy transition in the hands of citizens must now stand up. Whether municipalities, companies, farmers, or climate protectors - Reiche's policy has many losers," deputy Green Party leader Sven Giegold told the local newspaper Augsburger Allgemeine. Photovoltaic (PV) systems on roofs are the most environmentally friendly way to generate energy, he said. New, small PV systems are already profitable in the market today and do not require support, Reiche told the Augsburger Allgemeine, adding that the prices for systems and storage have fallen significantly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CDU politician does not want to change the feed-in tariff for existing solar systems, citing the protection of existing investments. Reiche further told the newspaper that the multitude of non-controllable small solar systems feeds in uncontrollably and puts stress on the grid. "Therefore, PV systems should be connected to power storage, be controllable, participate in the market, and market their electricity," she said. Pam Rozell and Pastor Mike Rozell Flipping Burgers for Jesus NEWS PROVIDED BY Him First Media Group Aug. 11, 2025 COLUMBIA FALLS, Mont., Aug. 11, 2025 /Standard Newswire/ -- At the base of the breathtaking Rocky Mountains, Pam Rozell and her husband Pastor Mike Rozell are proving that a burger can be more than a meal it can be a mission. Together, they own and operate Mudman Burgers, a Montana favorite with locations in Columbia Falls and Whitefish, where every burger, fry, and shake is part of a bigger plan to change the world for Jesus Christ. Pam Rozell and Pastor Mike Rozell arent just running a restaurant theyre fueling a global outreach. Through their vision and dedication, Mudman Burgers has become a vital supporter of Potters Field Ministries, an organization they lead that provides food, education, discipleship, and the Gospel to underprivileged children in Kenya, Uganda, Congo, Cambodia, and Guatemala. Every Mudman Burgers order is like an insurance policy, says Pam Rozell. It ensures that somewhere, an underprivileged child will hear the life-changing message of Jesus. Her passion for ministry began years ago, when she was the first in the family to surrender her life to Christ. Pam Rozell faithfully prayed for her husband until the day came when Pastor Mike Rozell gave his heart to the Lord and together, they committed to serving Him full-time. From the sizzling grills of Mudman Burgers to the remote villages reached by Potters Field Ministries, the Rozells mission is clear: use whats in their hands to spread the Gospel everywhere they can. Whether its in the heart of Montana or across continents, their goal is to ensure that every child they encounter hears about the hope found in Jesus Christ. Pastor Mike Rozell leads with vision, while Pam Rozell brings a heart of compassion and prayer to everything they do. Under their leadership, Mudman Burgers has become more than just a popular local eatery its a global ministry hub disguised as a burger joint. The team works endlessly, knowing that every plate served helps fund programs through Potters Field Ministries that are transforming lives. For visitors and locals alike, eating at Mudman Burgers means more than satisfying hunger. Its joining a mission that stretches from Montana to the farthest corners of the earth. With each bite, customers are helping send the Gospel to children who may have never heard it before. To learn more about Pam Rozell, Pastor Mike Rozell, Mudman Burgers,, visit www.MudmanBurgers.com or stop by either Montana location. SOURCE Him First Media Group CONTACT: Thomas Donovan, 516-591-9955, info@himfirstmedia.com Sickle cell disease (SCD) is frequently referred to as an invisible disease and is often overlooked due to a lack of research and overall resource shortages resulting in substandard clinical care. Part of the problem is difficulty objectively identifying SCD characteristics due to lack of laboratory markers and poor objective pain indicators. This disease mainly affects African American populations. Systemic marginalization of stigmatized populations results in less funding; and therefore, less research with fewer clinical advancements. Potential solutions must address multiple variables. Training as a pediatric resident in New York City, observation of skilled mentors and experiential learning produced valuable insights. One difficult lesson came with the awareness that stereotypical assumptions limit clinical outcome potentials. The stigma and implicit bias that African American children and their families face when hospitalized are routine daily occurrences. Many children and adolescents arrive in the emergency department to control a pain crisis. Frequently, staff erroneously believe that SCD patients ask for narcotics because they are addicted. It was overheard during initial intake that these children are used to the pain. Highly skilled providers incorrectly believe that regular over-the-counter pain relievers would not work; therefore, easy-to-obtain, safe, cost-effective medication is not suggested for pain relief. It has been shown that less experienced residents at an urban pediatric medical center expressed more concern about potential addiction. Barriers to SCD acute pain management, as well as attitudes toward patients with SCD, indicate need for additional training. Provider-to-patient communication barriers lead to mistrust, ultimately leading to undertreatment of pain and inadequate care. Clinical aspects of SCD Sickle cell disease is a genetic condition with abnormal hemoglobin. Most carriers are African American (1 in 12), with fewer Hispanic (1 in 100), Middle Eastern, or Indian descent. Black Americans are disproportionately affected by SCD with 1 in 400 in Black populations and 1 in 19,000 in Hispanic populations. Sickle cell disease is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the HBB gene, which encodes the -globin subunit of adult hemoglobin (HbA, 22). The most common sickle cell disease mutation causes a homozygous p.Glu6Val substitution, resulting in the production of sickle hemoglobin (HbS, 2S2). HbS polymerizes at low oxygen concentrations causing sickle-shaped, rigid, fragile red blood cells (RBCs), resulting in microvascular occlusion, hemolysis, and inflammation. Individuals with SCD experience recurrent pain, anemia, multiple organ damage, and early mortality. Signs of this progressive chronic disease appear during the first year of life, usually around five months of age. Symptoms of SCD differ for each person, and complications range from mild to severe. Excruciating pain is typical during crises. Stroke and life-threatening acute chest syndrome are frequently seen complications. Management of SCD primarily focuses on prevention strategies. Lifestyle management includes maintaining adequate fluid intake and avoiding extreme temperatures. Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasound screenings can identify risk of stroke, and blood transfusions can reduce occurrence of stroke in persons identified as at risk. A Centers for Disease Control (CDC) study found that less than half of children and adolescents who have SCD enrolled in Medicaid received the recommended stroke screening. Prevention measures also include standard clinical interventions such as routine childhood vaccinations to prevent infection or other symptoms. Several medications are available that, if taken regularly, can prevent or reduce the occurrence of pain and minimize serious complications. Medication and intravenous fluids can manage pain crisis. Hydroxyurea can help with treatment of SCD by making red blood cells rounder and more flexible, allowing increased blood flow delivering more oxygen, and consequently, less pain. Less than half of children aged 29 years old who have SCD use hydroxyurea, and approximately half of the 1016 year olds use this medication. Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and newly developed gene therapies offer potential treatment options. Children with SCD wait years for a BMT due to a lack of available donors. African Americans have lower registration rates as potential donors; therefore, there is severe under-representation of African American populations in the donor pool. Major barriers are lack of awareness that transplantation saves lives, related costs, lack of donation opportunities, and a reluctance to participate due to a long history of mistreatment and exploitation in medical programs. Significant challenges are due to a lack of HLA-matched stem cell donors. Siblings are preferred donors; however, siblings are not compatible many times because siblings as well as the identified patient have SCD. Prevention and clinical care are expensive. Hospitalization due to inconsistent preventative and follow-up interventions raises costs. Secondary expenses can include transportation for access to and from facilities, parental time away from work, or paying for caregiver supervision of siblings. Increasing visibility of sickle cell disease Increased visibility will expand SCD research funding opportunities to improve diagnostic techniques and treatment options, and encourage development of advanced health care provider training. Raising awareness supports advocacy efforts. Increased African American participation in donor registry programs gives the greatest hope for a cure for children living with SCD. Effective community outreach addresses common barriers to donor participation and provides general public educational components. ADVERTISEMENT Educational initiatives can increase provider awareness about the importance of language and power inherent in the use of words. Members of the care team should routinely use person-first language to avoid labeling patients by their disease because referring to a person as a condition reduces the human to a disease. Avoid stigmatizing language. Health care providers must be sensitive to community preferences. Some frequently used phrases are considered offensive, and use should be discouraged. Routinely replace negative words that can inadvertently cause hurt feelings and patient harm. Practitioners should avoid the sarcastic frequent flyer. The offensive sickler should never be used when discussing young patients. Emergency physician use of the term sickler was strongly associated with negative feelings toward people with SCD. Every interaction with all patients affected by sickle cell disease should be professional and respectful. A lack of resources, substandard clinical care, and a dearth of SCD research can be associated with racism. A history of systemic racism can be linked to less funding and therefore less research. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is mostly prevalent in white populations in the U.S. and impacts less than one-third as many people as SCD; there are 30,000 people with CF as compared to 100,000 people with SCD. However, the amount of federal and philanthropic foundation research funding is many magnitudes greater for CF. Significantly, many fewer research articles have been published about SCD as compared to articles about CF. Conclusions To improve the quality of life of children with sickle cell disease, health and social disparities must be reduced. It was found that 25 percent of adolescents with SCD described dysphoria associated with perceived racism. Reducing barriers to care can improve quality of life while reducing health care costs and health care utilization rates among people who have SCD. Improved health care access is a fundamental requirement to improve quality of life. The assessment and treatment limitations associated with sickle cell disease is just one example of many inequities in health care. Longstanding health disparities and systemic marginalization of the people predominantly affected by this condition have made SCD invisible. Gustavo Rosas Alvarado is a pediatrician. Gail M. Bloom is an occupational therapist and adjunct assistant professor of clinical research and leadership. Germany has called on Israel to provide a clear and transparent explanation following the killing of Al Jazeera journalists in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza. The comments came after the Qatar-based broadcaster announced earlier that prominent correspondent Anas al-Sharif and four of his colleagues were killed when an Israeli airstrike hit a tent for media workers in Gaza City. The killing of media employees is "absolutely inadmissible" under international humanitarian law, said a spokesman for the Foreign Office in Berlin on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "When such a killing occurs, as it has now, the party responsible must clearly and transparently explain why it was deemed necessary," he said, adding that this has not yet taken place. The spokesman said that if Israel claims the strike targeted a specific individual, it must explain why a total of five people were killed. The Israeli military confirmed al-Sharifs death, alleging he had posed as a journalist while leading a Hamas "terrorist cell." The German ministry stressed that journalists must be protected and said Israel must justify any removal of that protection. "Israel is now expected, from our perspective, to explain itself in the most transparent and comprehensible manner possible," the spokesman added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities must ensure that reporters in Gaza can carry out their work "freely and safely." According to Germanys Foreign Ministry, 200 journalists have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its war against Hamas in October 2023 a figure it described as "absolutely unacceptable." The German Journalists Association (DJV) also condemned the strike. DJV chairman Mika Beuster said that even if al-Sharif had been a militant, that would not justify bombing a tent used by journalists. The German government has insisted on the importance of Ukraine's involvement in any peace agreement, ahead of the planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin. The summit could be "a very, very important moment for the further course of this terrible war," deputy government spokesman Steffen Meyer said in Berlin on Monday. Trump and Putin plan to meet in Alaska on Friday to negotiate a possible deal to end Russia's war, which has been going on for around three and a half years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US president is presenting the meeting as an attempt to move closer to an end to the fighting, and has spoken of a possible exchange of territory between Ukraine and Russia. Meyer referred to comments made by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said on ARD television that he was counting on the Ukrainians being involved. The spokesman said that "if the goal is to achieve a truly lasting and just peace, then it is completely out of the question to achieve this over the heads of the Ukrainian people." He did not elaborate on the German position when asked. He said there is a process, "where every sentence and every word, every public statement can change things, possibly for the worse." Ukrainian refugees in Germany are receiving "unjustified" social payments and should return to their home country, a co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, Tino Chrupalla, said in an interview on Aug. 10. Talking to the ZDF news channel, the co-leader of Germany's strongest opposition party said that "there are refugees who have come to Germany (from Ukraine), who are also receiving unjustified Burgergeld (a form of unemployment benefits) here, and who have to return to their own country." Roughly 5.6 million Ukrainian refugees remain abroad after fleeing Russia's full-scale invasion, according to U.N. data. The largest number, around 1.2 million, reside in Germany, a country that has provided extensive military, economic, and humanitarian support to Kyiv. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of August, 272,000 Ukrainian refugees in Germany were employed and paid their contributions to social insurance funds, Deutsche Welle reported. Some 700,000 Ukrainians were eligible to receive Burgergeld as of March, a drop of 4,300 people from last year, according to the German public broadcaster. The AfD, a radical party that saw a surge in popularity in recent months, has consistently criticized Berlin's pro-Ukraine policy, speaking out against the provision of arms and other support to the war-torn country. The nationalist party has been classified as "extremist" by Germany's domestic intelligence agency, and its members have been under investigation for ties to Russian and Chinese espionage networks. Chrupalla's co-chair in the AfD party, Alice Weidel, also criticized social benefits for Ukrainain refugees, saying on Aug. 7 that Burgergeld payments for Ukrainians should be abolished and replaced with lower-level payments for asylum seekers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the ZDF interview, Chrupalla urged a quick end to the war in Ukraine, adding that there might be no alternatives to Kyiv ceding territory for the sake of peace. Describing Ukraine's partially occupied eastern Donbas region as composed of "primarily pro-Russian areas," the far-right leader also noted that "over 3 million Ukrainians have fled to Russia." At least 2.8 million Ukrainians are believed to have left for Russia in the wake of the full-scale war, including those forcibly deported, lacking other routes of escape due to hostilities, or those with family or other ties in Russia. "Do we really believe that we can defeat the world's largest nuclear power and, what's more, win this war, which is not ours?" Chrupalla said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The comments come ahead of a high-level summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Aug. 15, as Trump signaled the Kremlin is interested in "swapping" land as part of a ceasefire deal. A source in Ukraine's Presidential Office told the Kyiv Independent that Moscow's demands include Kyiv's full withdrawal from two of the partly occupied Ukrainian regions Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. It remains unclear whether President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has already rejected any territorial concessions to Russia, will be invited to the meeting. Read also: Top Russian official reportedly urged Putin to halt war against Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Germany's partial embargo on arms exports to Israel could have limited practical implications, as Berlin has already restricted sales of weapons and equipment used by the Israeli military in Gaza, an internal document revealed on Monday. The six-point note from Chancellor Friedrich Merz to the leadership of his conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), seen by dpa, indicates that "the decision over further military goods is expressly limited to a possible use in Gaza; it is based on the current conditions there." The suspension of arms exports that could be used in Gaza was announced on Friday after the Israeli Security Cabinet approved a plan to expand military operations in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Merz's surprise move, a departure from Germany's steadfast support for Israel in the war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas, has led to dissent within the ranks of his centre-right bloc. The chancellor has scrambled to reassure allies that the policy does not mean abandoning Israel's security, a stance seen as a "reason of state" for Germany. The paper asserts that the embargo does not apply to "armaments for air and sea defence, which are central to Israel's self-defence." It insists that the decision was directly tied to the Israeli government's plan to capture Gaza City, despite massive concerns over conditions for the civilian population and possible consequences for remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The German government is very concerned about this decision," the document states. Merz also linked the conflict in the Middle East to deepening domestic divisions. "This escalation also contributes to the aggravation of social conflicts in Germany and Europe, which we must also avoid in terms of our obligation to the state of Israel," the letter continues. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that virtual talks will be held on 13 August with US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders to prepare for a meeting between Trump and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin. Source: European Pravda, citing Merz on X (Twitter) Details: Merz said that the talks will focus on ways to put pressure on Russia, possible peace talks, territorial claims and security guarantees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "To this end, we will exchange views with President Trump and Vice President Vance, as well as with the heads of state and government of Finland, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, the president of the European Commission, the president of the European Council and the NATO secretary general." More details: The European Commission has officially confirmed that its president, Ursula von der Leyen, will attend the talks. In fact, three consecutive videoconferences are scheduled. The first, at 14:00, will last about an hour and bring together the leaders of Germany, France, the UK, Poland, Italy, and Finland, alongside the heads of the European Commission and European Council, the NATO secretary general, and the president of Ukraine. After that, at 15:00, another discussion will take place with Trump, his Vice President JD Vance, EU leaders and Zelenskyy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lastly, the group known as the coalition of the willing military allies supporting Ukraine will convene for a joint call at 16:30, chaired by Germany, the UK, and France. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! German Chancellor Friedrich Merz plans to consult on Wednesday with US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders regarding the war in Ukraine, the government in Berlin said on Monday. A video conference is planned, a government spokesman told dpa. The discussion is to come ahead of Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday about ending the war in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the consultations with Trump and US Vice President JD Vance, a virtual meeting is planned between Merz, Zelensky and the leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland and Finland, the spokesman said. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte are also expected to join the call. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz plans to consult on Wednesday with US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders regarding the war in Ukraine, the government in Berlin said on Monday. A video conference is planned, a government spokesman told dpa. The discussion is to come ahead of Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday about ending the war in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the consultations with Trump and US Vice President JD Vance, a virtual meeting is planned between Merz, Zelensky and the leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland and Finland, the spokesman said. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte are also expected to join the call. Germany insists on Ukraine's involvement in peace deal The planned meeting between Trump and Putin comes more than three years after Russia launched its bloody invasion of Ukraine. The German government has emphasized the importance of involving Ukraine in any peace solution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The summit could be "a very, very important moment for the further course of this terrible war," deputy government spokesman Steffen Meyer said in Berlin on Monday. He referred to statements by Merz, who had explained on German public broadcaster ARD that he was counting on the Ukrainians being involved. The spokesman said that "if the goal is to achieve a truly lasting and just peace, then it is completely out of the question to achieve this over the heads of the Ukrainian people." Poland has also stressed the involvement of neighbouring Ukraine in any peace solution ahead of the planned meeting between Trump and Putin. Kiev firmly rejects any territorial concessions. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz plans to consult on Wednesday with US President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders regarding the war in Ukraine, the government in Berlin said on Monday. A video conference is planned, a government spokesman told dpa. The discussion is to come ahead of Trump's planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday about ending the war in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the consultations with Trump and US Vice President JD Vance, a virtual meeting is planned between Merz, Zelensky and the leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland and Finland, the spokesman said. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte are also expected to join the call, which the EU says was a joint initiative by French President Emmanuel Macron, Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The video conference will include discussion of further options for action to put pressure on Russia, German government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said in Berlin. "In addition, the preparations for possible peace negotiations and associated issues relating to territorial claims and security will be discussed," he added. Germany insists on Ukraine's involvement in peace deal The planned meeting between Trump and Putin comes more than three years after Russia launched its bloody invasion of Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The German government has emphasized the importance of involving Ukraine in any peace solution. The summit could be "a very, very important moment for the further course of this terrible war," deputy government spokesman Steffen Meyer said in Berlin on Monday. He referred to statements by Merz, who had explained on German public broadcaster ARD that he was counting on the Ukrainians being involved. The spokesman said that "if the goal is to achieve a truly lasting and just peace, then it is completely out of the question to achieve this over the heads of the Ukrainian people." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Poland has also stressed the involvement of neighbouring Ukraine in any peace solution ahead of the planned meeting between Trump and Putin. Kiev firmly rejects any territorial concessions. Rutte muses on territorial issues In an interview with US broadcaster ABC News, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stressed that Ukraine is a sovereign nation. But he also acknowledged the reality that Russia is in control of some of Ukraine's pre-war territory. "The question will be how to go forward past a ceasefire, including what it means in terms of security guarantees for Ukraine," he said. "When it comes to this whole issue of territory, when it comes to acknowledging, for example, maybe in a future deal that Russia is controlling de facto, factually some of the territory of Ukraine, it has to be effectual recognition, and not a political de jure recognition." A US judge has ruled grand jury materials in Ghislaine Maxwell's sex-trafficking case will remain sealed, saying that making them public "would not reveal new information of any consequence". The justice department had asked Judge Paul Engelmayer to unseal the documents, in an effort to assauge anger among President Donald Trump's supporters over the decision not to release all federal files on Maxwell's associate, deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Maxwell, currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for crimes tied to Epstein, opposed unsealing the materials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge wrote it was important to protect the secrecy of grand juries, who decide whether to indict people accused of crimes. There are special circumstances where that secrecy is broken, Judge Engelmayer wrote in his 31-page decision. But he wrote that "applying the exception casually or promiscuously, as the government's motion to unseal the summary-witness grand jury testimony here invites" would hurt the grand jury system. It could, he wrote, set a precedent where people do not believe the proceedings will be kept secret, which may discourage witnesses from testifying and jurors from focusing solely on the merits of the case. He dismissed the government's argument that much of the information given to the grand jury was made public during her trial, although he agreed that "a member of the public familiar with the Maxwell trial record who reviewed the grand jury materials...would thus learn next to nothing new". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The materials "do not identify any person other than Epstein and Maxwell as having had sexual contact with a minor" and "do not discuss or identify any client of Epstein's or Maxwell's," he wrote. Maxwell, 63, was convicted in December 2019 and was recently moved from a Florida prison to a new minimum-security facility in Texas. Last week, one of her accusers said outside the court in New York that she should stay in prison for the rest of her life. The BBC has reached out to Maxwell's lawyers for comment. Last month, she was interviewed by justice department officials under the Trump administration's directive to gather and release credible evidence relating to the Epstein case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the campaign trail, Trump pledged to release what are known as "The Epstein Files". But this summer the justice department and FBI said they had concluded that Epstein did not keep a "client list" and that the justice department would not be making additional files public. In response to the backlash, Trump said Bondi should release "whatever she thinks is credible". Meanwhile, a congressional committee has sent a subpoena to the justice department related to federal investigations into the allegations against Epstein and Maxwell, which go back 20 years. The president, who was friends with Epstein, has denied prior knowledge of Epstein's crimes and has said that he and the financier, who died in federal custody while awaiting trial, fell out in the early 2000s. Goseong Dinosaur Museum (Gyeongnam province) Looking to escape the summer heat while still making the most of your vacation? Gyeongnam province offers a perfect solution with a selection of indoor destinations that combine education, culture, and seasonal charm. From interactive science museums and historical landmarks to literary exhibits and nature-themed centers, these ten spots across the province provide fun, air-conditioned escapes for families, students, and curious travelers alike. Whether youre exploring ancient lantern traditions in Jinju or learning about dinosaurs in Goseong, each site also offers a taste of local summer delicacies and scenic surroundings that make your trip even more rewarding. Namgang Yudeung Exhibition Hall, Jinju Koreas first lantern museum explores Jinjus yudeung tradition through exhibitions and hands-on experiences like lantern-making and floating wish lights. Sacheon Aerospace Science Museum, Sacheon Aerospace-themed museum with VR, 4D cinema, and interactive exhibits, perfect for kids curious about aviation and space. Righteousness Experience Center, Miryang Step into the shoes of independence fighters through role-play missions and learn about Koreas resistance history. Joseon Maritime Culture Museum, Geoje Hands-on exhibits about Koreas shipbuilding history, maritime life, and simulation experiences for young adventurers. Uiryeong Insect Ecology Learning Center, Uiryeong Glass greenhouses and interactive halls let visitors explore insects, their ecosystems, and make specimen crafts. Haman Museum, Haman Cultural museum showcasing rare Gaya-era relics alongside lotus fields, best enjoyed with the areas famed summer fruits. Goseong Dinosaur Museum, Goseong Home to genuine dinosaur fossils and seaside views, this museum combines prehistoric fun with coastal beauty. Namhae Exile Literature Museum, Namhae Delve into Koreas literary past through exile narratives and enjoy local yuzu-flavored desserts post-visit. Jirisan Ecological Science Museum, Hadong Experience riverside ecology, moonlit hikes, and stargazing in this nature-focused science space near Hwagae Market. Tripitaka Koreana Theme Park, Hapcheon Learn about the ancient woodblock Buddhist scriptures and unwind on a forest walk or with Hapcheon samgyeopsal. Ghislaine Maxwells grand jury transcripts will not be released, a federal judge has ruled, saying the Trump administrations request to do so is a diversion. Paul Engelmayer, a Manhattan District Court judge, suggested the Department of Justice (DOJ) had requested the transcripts be released to create the illusion of transparency. The judge said the files would not reveal any new information, adding that they do not discuss or identify any client of Epsteins or Maxwells. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision will come as a blow to Donald Trump, who continues to grapple with the fallout after his administration closed the Jeffrey Epstein case. The administrations refusal to release information surrounding Epstein, the late financier and convicted paedophile, prompted a backlash from some of Mr Trumps most loyal supporters. Mr Trump has been grappling with the ongoing fallout from his administrations handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case In an effort to placate his base Mr Trump ordered Pam Bondi, the US attorney general, to seek the release of grand jury testimony related to the case in July. However, in a ruling filed on Monday, Mr Engelmayer said none of the arguments made by the DoJ for unsealing the transcripts met the requirements to authorise the disclosure of grand jury materials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Courts review confirmed that unsealing the grand jury materials would not reveal new information of any consequence, Mr Engelmayer wrote. He added: A member of the public, appreciating that the Maxwell grand jury materials do not contribute anything to public knowledge, might conclude that the Governments motion for their unsealing was aimed not at transparency but at diversion aimed not at full disclosure but at the illusion of such. In the 31-page order, Mr Engelmayer said the DoJs argument that the unsealing of the documents was necessary because of public interest fails at the threshold. He said the suggestion that the transcripts would bring meaningful new information about Epstein and Maxwells crimes was demonstrably falseand the public would thus learn nothing new from their disclosure. Files do not discuss or identify any client of Epsteins or Maxwells, the judge said - Alpha Press The judge said the files do not discuss or identify any client of Epsteins or Maxwells and do not reveal any heretofore unknown means or methods of Epsteins or Maxwells crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added: They do not reveal new venues at which their crimes occurred. They do not reveal new sources of their wealth. They do not explore the circumstances of Epsteins death. They do not reveal the path of the governments investigation. Weeks before the Trump administration announced it would not release the so-called Epstein files, Mr Trump was reportedly told his name came up several times in the documents, according to Wall Street Journal. Being mentioned in the files is not a sign of wrongdoing, and the Trump administration said the story was fake news. 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. James and Donna Hamm in their Phoenix area home in August 2025. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror May it please the court, my name is James Hamm, he began, just like any attorney pleading his case. Then the narrative took a turn. I stand before this court having committed a violent crime in 1974, he said. Hamm was appealing to the Arizona Supreme Court to let him into the Arizona State Bar, the agency that licenses and regulates attorneys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By all assessments, Hamm had a brilliant legal mind. But he was also a convicted murderer, recently paroled, and the Supreme Court was grasping for a reason to keep him out of the profession without setting a hard and fast rule that murderers could never be lawyers. It had already been 31 years since the crime, and Hamm was a model for rehabilitation: an honors college student, a law school graduate, a happily married man. But, still, a convicted murderer. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Hamm was 25 in 1974, a divinity school dropout doing what a lot of young men of his generation did. He was hitchhiking around the country and living communally with friends. He eked out an existence at a Tucson bar, selling nickel bags of grass, as marijuana was called back then. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But one of those deals got away from him. In a fit of panic and overreaction, he shot a man, Willard Morley, in the back of the head, ending one life and uprooting his own. My victim was a young man just like I was, then on a path that inevitably would have led into the criminal justice system, into prisons, he wrote later in a legal brief. He no longer has any opportunity to turn his life around and to return to his home, his family and his community as a contributing member. I took that opportunity from him. Some things are hard to live down. Despite rehabilitation, despite remorse, despite superior intelligence, Hamms life has been one of scandal. It was a scandal when his prison sentence was commuted in 1989. It was a scandal when he was admitted into Arizona State Universitys law school, and another scandal when ASU hired him to teach classes as an adjunct professor after he graduated. And it was a scandal when he passed the Bar exam and petitioned the State Bar for admission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, it did not please the court that he was standing before them. The justices denied his appeal. There was this light around James. I cant describe it. And I knew we were going to be friends, we were going to have a relationship. Instead of becoming a lawyer, he settled into work as a paralegal, prized for his research and his credibility with imprisoned or soon-to-be-imprisoned clients. And he worked with his wife, Donna, for Middle Ground Prison Reform, the advocacy group they co-founded to nudge the jails and jailers toward more humane conditions. Judging by the number of people who did not return phone calls or emails for this story, he is still a polarizing figure. The scandals have neither been forgotten nor forgiven. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamm doesnt begrudge those who think ill of him. He did the worst thing you can do to another person. He feels he deserves it. Willard sits on his shoulder every day, Donna said. And whenever hes feeling sorry for himself, whenever hes feeling life is unfair, he hears Willard say, Hey, buddy, look what you did to me. And thats what keeps him steady and going and not complaining. The lawyers he worked with uniformly describe him as brilliant. He made a huge difference, he and Donna, with their expertise helping prisoners and their families deal with the (Arizona) Department of Corrections, said criminal defense attorney Lori Voepel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the edge of 78, however, the brilliance is fading. Hamm is in the early stages of dementia, and he wanted to sit down and tell as much of his story as he could still remember. The truth gets blurry Murder not only obliterates a life, it blurs realities, and it traumatizes everyone, including the killer. And if what Hamm remembers, and what Donna remembers for him, differ from what the court record says, then maybe things just look different from different vantage points. No account is completely unbiased, not even the prosecutors. Hamm is a large man with a gray beard and a stony gaze he cultivated in prison for self-defense. But as soon as he starts to talk, the facade lifts and Hamm is friendly, affable, intentionally nerdy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He grew up in Kansas, and it lingers in his voice. He came from a family of eight brothers and three sisters, which might have made it easy to get lost. He got lost a few times, dropping out of college twice, once because it bored him. He decided he would be a minister and got a scholarship to a Bible college, even preaching at a local church on Sundays. He married young and fathered a son, and then his mother died and he dropped out of school again. When things fell apart completely, he divorced and hit the road, thumbs out. By the time he reached Tucson, he was recovering from a broken wrist he doesnt remember what from with a pin in his arm and enough pain to keep him from doing honest work. So he spent his days drinking beer at a bar on Fourth Street, where he was known by the name Country, a long-haired, bearded hippie doing the dishonest work of connecting bar goers with plastic baggies of weed. It was obvious who was looking to buy, he says, so he would make the connections and make a little money from the transactions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It wasnt like I was a big drug dealer, he said. At the bar, he met Garland Wells. Garland was the kind of guy that people didnt get friendly with, Hamm remembers. He handled himself in an aggressive way I didnt get offended at the things he would say and the things he did. For example, Garland once took out a gun and set it on the table and then started staring at Hamm. I just didnt react in any way at all, Hamm says. He could tell that I wasnt intimidated, and I think that is when he and I sort of became friendly to each other. One day, two young men from Missouri showed up at the bar, looking to score some grass they could take home and sell to college students. They didnt want the nickel bags that Hamm typically peddled, telling him they wanted to buy 20 pounds. That was more than Hamm had ever sold, and it made him nervous. He asked Garland to go along with him as protection. Garland had a gun, and he lent another to Hamm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court record describes the deal as a rip-off from the start. That wasnt my thing, Hamm says, and he still swears he only wanted to make a deal. I think Garland was more in the line of robbing people, he said. On Sept. 7, 1974, they met up with the buyers, Willard Morley, 23, and Zane Staples, 19. Hamm and Garland got in the back seat of their car and headed toward the home of their drug source. A friend followed them in a van for added security. Then, as they were driving, Garland pulled out his gun, stuck it between the front seat and the passenger door, and shot Staples in the back. Garland pulls the trigger and shoots this guy, Hamm said. The driver freaks out and things are just going to shit. Im telling the driver to pull over and stop. He does, and hes going crazy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamm panicked. When Morley leaned forward, Hamm thought he was going for a gun and shot him in the head, twice. According to court records, he also put a bullet in Staples as he jumped out of the car. Garland then chased Staples. The car started rolling when Morleys foot came off the brake, and Hamm climbed over the front seat to stop it. Minutes later, Garland came back to the car, explaining that Staples was a hard fucker to kill. They emptied out the two mens pockets and took the $1,400 they meant to spend on marijuana. There were no guns on the men they killed. Then they flagged down their friend in the van and drove back into town. Hamm hitchhiked back to California to stay with his sister for a few days, then came back to Tucson and tried to act as if nothing had happened. But the van driver had cooperated with police, and on Sept. 13, while Hamm was walking along Fourth Street on his way from the bar to where he was staying, the van pulled up alongside and offered him a ride. Cops jumped out of the back of the van and arrested him. Hamm was allowed to plead straight up to first-degree murder for killing Morley. In exchange, prosecutors dropped the robbery and other charges. Garland pleaded to Staples murder. They were both sentenced to life in prison with a chance of parole after 25 years. I think the man borders on genius. I think James Hamm is the poster child for rehabilitation, and if we can't see fit to admit him to practice law based on his years of rehabilitation and service to the community, then is there really a system by which someone can be rehabilitated? Defense attorney Ulises Ferragut In December 1974, Hamm was taken to the Central Unit at the state prison in Florence to serve his sentence. That unit, which closed in 2022, looked like something out of a classic prison movie. That is to say, it was like Dantes Hell: Tiers of barred cells stacked high around a central courtyard. Every time someone new entered, hundreds of prisoners started shouting and hooting and banging on the cell bars. Hamm says he was screamed into prison. The guards strip-searched him right in the central courtyard in full view of everyone. The prisoners roared their displeasure or appreciation. The guards handed him his prison clothes and led him to a cell. Theres no brochure that they hand you first, Hamm said. You know that you are going into a place full of predators. He learned quickly how to put on a tough front. Its more with the eyes and the air you project, he said. He became a master of nonverbal communication. Early on, another prisoner showed up in front of his cell, asking what Hamm had, with the intention of taking it. Hamm stared him down, letting his expression convey his message. If there wasnt a door between us, he was going over that rail, he said. The man got the message and walked away. Hamm had plenty of time to think. I was pretty much a nice guy until the crime, he said. He paused for a long moment. After the crime I knew I was mentally disturbed. What I did rocked me. He knew he had to rebuild his self. I needed to build a personality that I could live with and that would help me function in prison. And hopefully serve him if he ever got out. Finding light in darkness In 1981, Donna Leone was a justice of the peace in Flagstaff, an elected position that does not require a law degree, even if the position-holder is called judge. And since she had to sentence people to jail, she got some do-gooder idea in her head that she ought to spend a weekend in jail to see what it was like. Her political colleagues talked her out of it, saying it was too dangerous. Instead, she took a tour of the Central Unit in Florence with a state legislator and a sociology professor from Northern Arizona University. They were met with the usual catcalls, perhaps more so because there was a woman among the visitors. The state legislator laughed at Donnas discomfort, until the professor pointed out that some of the prisoners were likely ogling him, too. After the visit, they attended a class in the prison, taught by the NAU professor, where prisoners and correctional officers were studying side by side. The professor noted that two of the prisoners in the class were doing graduate level work; one of them was James Hamm. He was very centered, and almost spiritual, Donna remembers. He didnt try to ingratiate himself. He did not give off a vibe that he should be in prison. It wasnt love at first sight, she said, but as they took leave of the students, she looked back to where Hamm was standing in the doorway There was this light around James, she said. I cant describe it. And I knew we were going to be friends, we were going to have a relationship. She wrote to him, and they decided to get to know each other. Their visits turned into legal sessions, and that was how Middle Ground started. They filed and won lawsuits, first on prisoner mail, and then on prisoner property, both of which were often thrown away. When the Department of Corrections forbade visitors from bringing pencil and paper into the prisons, they would go into the public restrooms and collect brown paper towels, then borrow a pen from a correctional officer and write up motions and affidavits, which Donna would take home and type up. They married at the prison in 1987. The letter that James Hamm sent to his wife, Donna, asking her to marry him in 1987 while James was still serving his sentence for murdering a man during a drug deal gone bad. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror Donna had first suggested that Hamm apply for commutation of his sentence in 1982, after serving seven years. But he refused, saying he had not yet come to grips with his crime. In 1989, after serving 14 years, he was awarded a commutation by Gov. Rose Mofford. But it was rescinded before Hamm could get out of prison. Once the media got hold of the news that Hamm and two other convicted murderers might be released, Moffords advisors lost nerve, fearing it would hurt her chances for reelection, and pulled back. Hamm and Donna took the state to court. Donna got a tip that one of Moffords advisers, Ralph Milstead, who went on to head the Arizona Department of Public Safety, was displeased with the decision, and he signed an affidavit saying it was done for political reasons. A Maricopa County Superior Court judge reinstated the commutation, and Hamm was awarded $70,000 in damages. He was finally released from prison in 1992. By that time, Hamm was imprisoned in Tucson and Donna had moved to Phoenix. On the day he was released, she hired a limousine and told the driver to go as slow as he could to make the ride to Phoenix last as long as possible. Soon, there were flashing police car lights in the rear-view mirror: They were pulled over for going under the speed limit. Donna tried to bring Hamm too quickly back to life outside of prison, and he struggled. She took him to Scottsdale Fashion Square to buy clothes. The choices were overwhelming. And so was trying to eat in the food court with people bumping into the back of Hamms chair, setting off his internal prison alarms. They went on a honeymoon to Sedona, and that, too, was overwhelming: All that open space! Hamm asked to go back to the hotel, and he wept. Freedoms overwhelming reality While he was still in prison, Hamm had graduated summa cum laude from NAU, earning a degree in sociology. And he scored high enough on the LSAT, the law school entrance exam, to be admitted into the ASU College of Law. He disclosed his criminal history to the school. Cue the uproar: It became a subject for the television news show 60 Minutes. Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods was concerned. Can a man who plans an execution, who carries out that execution in a cold-blooded fashion, who knows what hes doing can that sort of person, 20 years later, turn their life around? he asked reporter Mike Wallace. Now, I think they can turn it around but I also think we have a right to be skeptical. He continued, If theres a murderer practicing law there, I think thats a mistake. Within the legal profession, we ought to be able to have some standards, I would think. And one standard this is kind of a crazy notion, a wild idea that maybe one standard we would have in the legal profession is that if you commit a cold-blooded murder, youre not going to be admitted to practice law. I think we might aspire to that. After Hamm graduated from law school, there was further uproar when he was asked to teach two classes in the College of Criminal Justice. An adjunct instructor resigned in protest. The colleges phone lines were clogged with angry opinions. The university decided to switch Hamms contract to a research position because the hiring had offended peoples values. Hamm passed the state Bar exam in 1999, but waited until his parole had been discharged before he applied to the Bar. The Bars Committee on Character and Fitness denied him entry, and so he appealed to the Arizona Supreme Court. What I mostly remember about Hamms case, was if you have a first-degree murder case, its a black mark, and you have to show that you have made a rehabilitation, said Andrew Hurwitz. Now a judge on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Hurwitz in 2005 was an Arizona Supreme Court justice. Though he is sympathetic in retrospect, Hurwitz felt that Hamm had erred in representing himself. The court ruled unanimously to deny the appeal, claiming Hamm lacked candor about several things: Had he accepted full responsibility for the crime? Did he admit that he had also shot Staples? He had not paid child support during the years he was in prison, even though he tried to make that up when he got out. And perhaps the opening paragraphs of Hamms petition to the court borrowed too closely from case law. Right after the hearing, then-Bar President Helen Perry Grimwood told the media that there should be a rule barring killers. Premeditated first-degree murderers should not be licensed to practice law, she said. But the attorney Ulises Ferragut told me then, I think the man borders on genius. I think James Hamm is the poster child for rehabilitation, and if we cant see fit to admit him to practice law based on his years of rehabilitation and service to the community, then is there really a system by which someone can be rehabilitated? I still stand by those words, he told me recently. Hamm appealed further to the U.S. Supreme Court, which declined to take up the case. He and Donna went home, wrote down the names of everyone involved in his Bar application the judges, the lawyers and threw the papers into a bonfire in their back yard. They held hands as the fire burned. It was a way of us letting go and not holding anything, Donna said. We were done. A different kind of legal career Hamm spent the next 20 years as a paralegal, working with Donna at Middle Ground and hiring out to attorneys. Donna and James were the experts on anything related to the Department of Corrections, said the attorney Lori Voepel. They always had an insight. Current and former directors of the Department of Corrections declined interviews, but former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio speaks respectfully of their work. They would go after me over and over on the jail issues, how I treated the prisoners, etc., he said. We went after each other, but it wasnt nasty. I think I congratulated him when he graduated law school. In those days, it wasnt as bitter as it is today. After the years of scandal, Hamm was content to stay out of the spotlight. Donna was a presence in the legislature, and I was in the background, he said. I wasnt wanting to be front and center. I just wanted to be able to support that. And the same with the attorneys I worked for. I loved the research, I loved the support, I loved analyzing the situation and providing information to the attorneys. But I wasnt interested in being front and center. Thats just not my thing. Donna Hamm holds a photo album featuring a picture of her husband, James. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror Hamm first started working with Ferragut in 2000, when the attorney was representing a 14-year-old boy who had held his Glendale middle-school class at gunpoint. The Hamms volunteered their time. I was trying to see if there was any way to keep him in juvenile court, Ferragut remembers, and (prosecutors) wanted to try him as an adult. The effort failed. The boy was charged as an adult, but after media exposure, Ferragut was able to get a favorable plea deal. James, at the top of his game, was absolutely brilliant, Ferragut said. He was particularly effective in cases where they were appealing the sentence of someone already in prison, Ferragut said, or someone who was on the way to prison. He would sit down, put the person at ease and say, Heres what youve got to do. Michael Denea, another attorney Hamm worked with, is equally as effusive in his praise, citing meticulous documentation and a steady work ethic. James knew how to talk the talk with inmates, he said. Most important, James continued to volunteer his time to Middle Ground, sifting through all of the prison-related bills in the Arizona Legislature to see which ones the organization should get behind. He quit late last year. When brilliance fades Dementia creeps in slowly. It starts off very subtle, Donna said, and you try to make excuses that its something else. A couple of car accidents. Forgetting the names of the grandkids. Not being able to work multiple computer screens at the same time. The Hamms have downsized from a house in Tempe to a condo in the East Valley. Donna will let the lease on Middle Grounds Tempe office lapse so she can work from home and be there for James. During the time we spent doing interviews, the phone rang regularly, and Donna took calls from prisoners trying to navigate their grievances with the Corrections Department. Her husband was upbeat and animated, engaged in conversation, relaying memories of 50 years that had passed since he was a hippie called Country. He stumbled over some details and repeated others without realizing it. But hes still the James Hamm I first met 20 years ago at his Supreme Court hearing. Hes quieter, less engaged, Donna says. He doesnt offer his opinion as much. But he knows who he is and what he has done, for better or worse. And he refuses to feel sorry for himself. You dont whine about things when youve committed murder and you served your time, he told me, his voice rising to a crescendo. I have not been treated unfairly. I spent a long time in prison. I had it coming. I listened to people there bitch and complain and whine and grumble about how badly they were treated and how unfair life is, and I didnt argue with them. It wasnt my job to go and change their mind. My attitude was that I was there legitimately, and if I could do something with my life while I was there, then I was going to do it. And if I had spent the rest of my life in prison, thats not unfair. I can still have a life there and still help people while Im there. I can still do good. Theres nothing to complain about. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Update, 3:35 p.m.: The Gifford Fire in San Luis Obispo County grew to over 117,000 acres as of Sunday afternoon, along with an increase in containment. According to Cal Fire, the fire burned 117,524 acres and was 32% contained as of 4 p.m. Meanwhile, air quality in the Carrizo Plain and California Valley region remained unhealthy, according to the SLO County Air Pollution Control District. Toward the western areas of northern San Luis Obispo County, air quality was in the good range as of Sunday morning, but had the potential to change occasionally to moderate and or unhealthy for sensitive groups, the district said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the southern part of SLO County, smoke was expected to stay east of Arroyo Grande, impacting the Huasna Valley, according to the district. Update, 12:55 p.m.: A new evacuation warning has been ordered in San Luis Obispo County following the growth of the Gifford Fire on Sunday. Santa Margarita Lake moved into evacuation warning status, with the county choosing to cancel all reservations scheduled to Aug. 21 and restricting parts of the recreational lake, according to San Luis Obispo County Parks and Recreation. Refunds will be distributed to those with future or current reservations at the lake, and no new reservations will be accepted while the lake is under the evacuation warning, the department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Visitors may still access the area for day use, and current campers can choose to stay, though all boating activities and rentals have been suspended. All restriction as of Sunday are subject to change, according to the department. Original story: The Gifford Fire in eastern San Luis Obispo County grew to over 114,000 acres overnight. As of Sunday morning, the fire had reached 114,621 acres and remained 21% contained, according to a status update from Cal Fire. According to the Los Padres National Forest, the fire moved toward the Huasna Valley and the community of Pozo as it continued to burn in the rugged Garcia wilderness and by the southern end of the Machesna Mountain wilderness. Current Southern California wildfires This map shows wildfires that have been updated within the past 7 days from the Integrated Reporting of Wildland-Fire Information (IRWIN) and the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). The larger the circle, the larger the wildfire by acres. Data is from the US Department of the Interior, Office of Wildland Fire, IRWIN, NIFC, NASA, NOAA and ESRI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Open Three civilians sustained injuries as a result of the fire, and seven additional firefighters have also been injured, Cal Fire said. Two structures have been destroyed and 2,922 others remained under threat. As of Saturday, almost 100 animals had evacuated from the Gifford Fire and were sheltered through the San Luis Obispo County Division of Animal Services, according to its Facebook page. The Los Padres National Forest Service also announced a community meeting would be held at Santa Margarita Elementary School at 2 p.m. Sunday to address fire updates and take questions. The meeting will also be held virtually on the Los Padres National Forest Incident Management Youtube page. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of Sunday morning, evacuations orders have been issued to the following zones in San Luis Obispo County: LPF-009, LPF-010, LPF-011, LPF-012, LPF-013, LPF-014, LPF-015, LPF-016, LPF-017, LPF-018, LPF-019, SLC-222, SLC-223, SLC-225, SLC-239, SLC-240, SLC-259, SLC-260, SLC-261, SLC-262, SLC-263, SLC-264, SLC-296, SLC-297, SLC-298, SLC-311, SLC-334, SLC-335, SLC-336 and SLC-337. The following evacuation warning have been issued for these zones in SLO County: LPF-002, LPF-003, LPF-007, LPF-008, SLC-193, SLC-194, SLC-195, SLC-196, SLC-197, SLC-221, SLC-224, SLC-226, SLC-238, SLC-258, SLC-293, SLC-294, SLC-295, SLC-310, SLC-312 and SLC-333. Artists and skilled tradespeople have said they are considering moving or leaving the industry when the National Glass Centre (NGC) closes. The University of Sunderland plans to shut the centre in the city next July, with a replacement facility called Glassworks, at the former Peter Smith Antiques site in Sunniside, not opening until 2028. Artists Joanna Manousis and Zac Weinberg, who came to the city specifically for the centre's facilities, said they were questioning if they should stay because there was "nothing set in stone" for the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Glassmaker Brian Jones, who has been renting a studio at the NGC since it opened in 1998, said he would retire after the closure. "It's unfortunate. I'm at the end of my working life, but I feel more for the younger people," said Mr Jones, 70. "I would carry on if they can keep it open." Ms Manousis and Mr Weinberg, who moved to Sunderland in 2020 with their two children, said they were considering setting up something themselves, but finding a suitable space and funding was a challenge. Some of Ms Manousis's work is on display at the glass centre as part of the Three Artists exhibition [BBC] There are plans for an alternative facility in the city during the gap between the NGC closing and Glassworks opening, but no details have been confirmed yet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're questioning if we'll be able to stay or if we should stay in the area because there is nothing set in stone at the moment," Ms Manousis said. Mr Weinberg, who is American, said the "real tragedy" was for people who were just becoming interested in glass and were looking for places to learn. Sunderland University announced last year it would also close its glass and ceramics programme in the summer of 2026. Mr Weinberg added: "To come here and just slowly have the rug being pulled out from underneath us and the community of artists that surrounds this place has been disappointing and extremely short-sighted in terms of the university's decision to do that." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sunderland University, which is closing the venue because of "unaffordable" building repair costs, said it had been "completely transparent" in its decision. 'World leading' Some of the pieces Ms Manousis and Mr Weinberg have created while working in the city are being displayed at the NGC until 10 January. The show, called Three Artists, has more than 100 pieces and also features artwork by Anthony Amoako-Attah. Ms Manousis, who is from Shrewsbury in Shropshire, said the artists felt "deeply honoured" to have their work showcased. "It shows the public what can be achieved with the world leading resources offered at the glass centre," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There's fewer and fewer places for young adults to learn and for important research to be carried out." Brian Jones said the opening of the glass centre helped him stay in the industry at the time [BBC] Mr Jones has been running Wearside Glass Sculptures from the glass centre and said the venue's opening in the late 1990s helped save glassmaking in Sunderland. "Prior to that we were really struggling. Everybody was. "A lot of people were closing down, but once we got to the glass centre the work came to us. "If we hadn't come in here, we wouldn't be working with glass. We might have lasted another year, but we would've had to move on and do other things." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Jones, who started out as an apprentice at Pyrex when he was 15, said the NGC's closure put glassmaking in the city at risk of extinction. Sunderland Culture, which will run replacement Glassworks, previously said it would work to ensure its facilities are fit for purpose and said there had been "good progress" on the plans. Follow BBC Sunderland on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. More on this story Related internet links DANVILLE, Va. (WFXR) Gods Pit Crew, a regional disaster response team, built a new home in less than two weeks for the Cicillian family after they lost everything in Hurricane Helene. On Friday, August 8, in a moment that moved many to tears, the Cicillian family, Zach, Amber and their three sons stepped into their brand new, fully furnished home. Officials say this is the 28th home Gods Pit Crew has provided in 2025 alone, with more currently in progress in hurricane-ravaged communities and flood-stricken regions across the Southeast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gods Pit Crew set to reveal new home to Hurricane Helene victims Zach Cicillian, a firefighter and father of three, held back tears as he shared what the moment meant to him. When wed say, Lets go home, our toddler would ask, Which house? Cicillian shared. But today, we tell him were going home, and he knows where thats at. Its like a ton lifted off my shoulders, he added. It enables us to have a life and not worry about that. Its more than I could have prayed for. (Photo courtesy of Gods Pit Crew) (Photo courtesy of Gods Pit Crew) (Photo courtesy of Gods Pit Crew) (Photo courtesy of Gods Pit Crew) (Photo courtesy of Gods Pit Crew) (Photo courtesy of Gods Pit Crew) According to officials, the family spent months living in borrowed spaces after Hurricane Helene left their home uninhabitable. Now, thanks to dozens of volunteers who came from as far as California to Western North Carolina, they finally have a place to call their own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Randy Johnson, Gods Pit Crew President, reflected on the significance of the project saying, Every home we build is a blessing to be part of, but this one seeing a firefighters family who has served others so selflessly finally receive a safe place to call home hits especially close to our hearts, Johnson said. We are honored to play a part in this new beginning for the Cicillian family. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) said Sunday that there possibly needs to be limits when it comes to the detention of immigrant children. We do see, though, in the courts that the Trump administration is trying to do away with limits on child detention. One of ICEs only family detention facilities is in your district in Texas. And you did vote for the one big, beautiful bill,' CBS Newss Margaret Brennan said on Face the Nation. And it includes a provision that allows families with children to be held indefinitely, which contradicts that long-standing precedent of putting a 20-day limit on detaining children. Do you think that needs to be changed in future legislation? Should there be limits on detaining kids? Brennan asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Possibly. I mean, the legislative piece is a much more long road, Gonzalez replied. What Ive seen under both the Biden administration and the Trump administration is that its a delicate balance, right? How do you keep families together? How do you make sure that there there is coordination to what to what country theyre going to? In the first few months of his second term, President Trumps administration has intensely cracked down on immigration. Earlier this year, the Trump administration resumed family detention of immigrants, according to a legal nonprofit, rekindling a controversial practice mostly reduced under the Biden administration. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) also recently eliminated the age cap for new hires, letting those older than 40 become a part of its deportation force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are ENDING the age cap for ICE law enforcement, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said on the social platform X. Qualified candidates can now apply with no age limit. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during an executive order signing in the Oval Office at the White House on Feb. 11 in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images). Carefully assess the actions of Missouris governor, Republican members of the state legislature and our Congressional delegation. Then ask yourself: Whose priorities, interests and concerns have they supported, fought for and voted for? Certainly not those of most Missourians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Missourians voted for candidates in various elective offices to represent and fight for their interests in Jefferson City and Washington, D.C. Instead, many of the Republican elected officials seem to have forgotten and folded to the pressure of supporting and carrying out the agenda of the Trump administration, whether it is in the best interest and well-being of Missouri citizens or not. Look at the behavior of Missouri senators and representatives in Congress. While some bothered to proclaim that Medicaid should not be cut, at the end of the posturing they all went along with approving the Trump administrations Big Beautiful Bill. Essentially voting for the cuts in Medicaid funding that will deny tens of thousands of Missourians life-saving services. How many rural hospitals will be affected or forced to close in the coming months and years because of these cuts? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their actions, or failures to act, are disturbing and disconcerting. How is it that members of the Missouri congressional delegation can get away with the abdication of carrying out their governance and oversight responsibilities? When it comes to allowing the Trump administration to usurp Congresss power and arbitrarily disrupt, disband and defund departments that will negatively impact Missourians. First it was the department of education that was the target, cutting needed funding for school districts. The most recent is the proposal to decentralize the department of agriculture. Will these changes hurt Missouri farmers, causing them to lose necessary funding and programmatic support? What are the positions of members of the Missouri Congressional delegation? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our representatives in Congress have been silent and given tacit support to other actions of the Trump administration. When it comes to the impact of increased tariffs on farmers being able to export their soybeans and other produce, and the higher cost of consumer goods across the board for families already struggling to make ends meet. When it comes to immigration tactics that disrupt business operations, the workforce in agricultural industries and the lives of innocent family members. When it comes to the short and long-term effects of taxation policies and the national debt, the burden of which Missourians like all Americans must bear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When there is no oversight, no checks and balanced guardrails, how can we be confident that the policies and decisions being made will be in our best interest? The actions of our Republican governor, Republican-controlled state legislature and other government offices are in lock-step with the Trump administration as well. An executive order adopted and ensured the implementation of dismantling DEI programs throughout governmental departments and agencies, colleges and universities, and wherever the state had authority to issue a mandate. Businesses have been sued by the state attorney general for apparent noncompliance. What measures are being implemented to ensure that all Missourians are treated equal and have equal access and equal opportunity? A state with a diverse population base, who is helped or hurt? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republican state legislators in the Senate and House wrote letters urging the Missouri U.S. Senators to pass the Big Beautiful Bill irrespective of the negative impacts on their constituents. The latest influence of President Trump on what goes on in Missouri is his request for the legislature to draw a new mapto eliminate one of the two Democratic congressional districts to help ensure that the Republicans maintain the majority in the House after the 2026 midterm elections. Such a move, if successful, would eliminate the congressional district that represents Kansas City and some adjacent counties, thereby diminishing or negating the impact the representation and vote of a large number of constituents, including large minority groups. The Republican governor and Republican-dominated legislature are seriously considering calling a special legislative session to make President Trumps wishes happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congressional districts are usually revisited or redrawn following the U.S. Census taken every 10 years that tracks population shifts and other changes. Redrawing districts mid-cycle or in an off year is solely to provide a political advantage for one party or the other. Missouri has six Republican and two Democratic Congressional districts. Every Missourians should think about the meaning of the political move to change that to 7 to 1. Fundamentally, elected officials, irrespective of their party affiliations, should represent all constituents living within their electoral boundaries despite the racial and ethnic make-up or how they may have voted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Likewise, representative government means just that. It should represent, as best as possible, all the people it governs. As there is growing disapproval of President Trump and many of his policies by most recent polls, why are Republican state leaders continuing to bow to the pressure of jumping on an increasingly unpopular Trump agenda? It behooves each of us to ask a critical question. Who, among our state Republican elected officials, is standing steadfast to promote, protect and put the priorities of Missourians first amid this national political morass? A lawsuit filed Aug. 10 asks the Michigan Court of Claims to force Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to call for a special election to fill a vacant state Senate seat after demands have mounted for her to hold a vote in the swing district previously held by a Democrat that encompasses the Tri-Cities of Bay City, Midland and Saginaw. The lawsuit brought by voters who live in the area represented by the vacant 35th Michigan Senate district seat argues that Whitmer must call for a special election under the Michigan Constitution and asks the court to order her to do so. U.S. Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, D-Bay City, previously held the seat, but she won her bid to fill Michigan's 8th Congressional District in the Nov. 2024 election and was sworn in to her new office on Jan. 3, 2025. The roughly 267,000 residents of the 35th Michigan Senate District have gone without representation in the chamber since then. Republicans initially protested Whitmer's inaction on a special election with a gathering on the Capitol steps ahead of the governor's State of the State speech in February, urging her to schedule an election. Since then, some Democrats have joined their calls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district covers parts of Bay, Midland and Saginaw counties. "Every legislative day that passes without a senator from District 35 silences an entire community in the lawmaking process," reads the complaint against Whitmer. "When a state legislative district is left without representation, its citizens are effectively disenfranchised in ongoing legislative debates, policy decisions, and votes." The Michigan Constitution states: "The governor shall issue writs of elections" to fill vacant seats in the Michigan Legislature. "Any such election shall be held in a manner prescribed by law," it continues. The lawsuit argues that language creates a "clear and mandatory requirement" for Whitmer to call for a special election. "The Governor's role is purely procedural to issue the writ and she has no authority to indefinitely delay or withhold it," the lawsuit states. Michigan election law says when a seat in the Michigan Senate or House is vacant, "the governor may call a special election... or direct that the vacancy be filled at the next general election." Elections for every Michigan Senate seat will take place in 2026. Whitmer has swiftly called for many special elections in the past to fill empty Michigan House and Senate seats, giving voters the opportunity to choose someone to fill the remainder of the term before the next regular election. But when it comes to a special election in the 35th District, Whitmer's refusal to call for one so far stands out for the length of time that has elapsed between a vacancy occurring and a special primary taking place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "No governor has taken this long to call a special election for a vacant seat since the Michigan Legislature went full-time in the mid 1960s," the Lansing-based Michigan Information & Research Service Inc. wrote in a June article. Whitmer press secretary Stacey LaRouche did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In 2022, McDonald Rivet won a competitive election to the Michigan Senate by nearly seven percentage points against sitting state Rep. Annette Glenn, R-Midland. The Democrat's victory helped her party win a narrow, one-vote majority in the state Senate. Michigan Politics: Matt Hall leads the Michigan House during a tumultuous period of divided government Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats still control the Michigan Senate after McDonald Rivet vacated her seat in the chamber, but Republicans in the Nov. 2024 election flipped the Michigan House from Democratic control. That means any legislation that lands on Whitmer's desk must be bipartisan with GOP support in the House and Democratic support in the Senate. In theory, a Republican victory in a special election to the 35th District in the Michigan Senate could create a roadblock for Democrats to move bills across the finish line to the governor. Michigan Senate Democrats hold 19 seats in the chamber while Republicans represent 18 seats, giving Democrats the ability to pass legislation without any GOP support. If a Republican were to win a special election to the 35th District in the Michigan Senate, it would tie the chamber at 19 Democratic seats and 19 Republican seats. The Michigan Constitution gives Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, a Democrat, the ability to break a tied vote as president of the Senate. While that allows Democrats, in theory, to overcome GOP opposition to legislation supported by every Senate Democrat, any Republican senator could abstain from voting, denying Gilchrist the opportunity to vote. Contact Clara Hendrickson at chendrickson@freepress.com or 313-296-5743. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Gov. Whitmer faces lawsuit over inaction on special election This story was originally published by High Country News and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Every spring, Forest Service fire leaders meet to plan for the upcoming fire season. This year, some employees were shocked by the blunt remarks made during a meeting with forest supervisors and fire staff officers from across the Intermountain West. We were told, Help is not on the way, said one employee, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of losing their job. Ive never been told that before. Agency leaders already knew it might be a bad wildfire season, made worse by having fewer hands available to help out. According to the employee High Country News spoke to, the Forest Service lost at least 1,800 fire-qualified, or red-carded, employees through layoffs, deferred resignation, and retirement offers. In total, 4,800 people left the agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were told: Dont commit to an attack thinking the cavalry is going to come, the employee said. As fire activity continues to pick up across much of the West, that warning rings true. The Forest Service claims it recently reached 99 percent of its firefighting hiring goal, with almost 11,300 wildland firefighters. But a recent ProPublica investigation and internal communications obtained by High Country News paint a grimmer picture than what the public is seeing. ProPublicas review of internal agency data found that more than 4,500 Forest Service firefighting jobs over one-fourth of all the agencys firefighting jobs were vacant as of July 17. The Guardian also reported that vacancy rates were highest in the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain Regions, at 39 percent and 37 percent, respectively. The Department of Agriculture, which houses the Forest Service, disputes this. ProPublicas analysis doesnt reflect our current fire response capacity, spokesperson Cat McRae told High Country News in an email. Their numbers likely come from outdated org charts and unfunded positions. In an email, ProPublica confirmed that their data excluded unfunded positions. According to McRae, the Forest Service is fully prepared and operational to protect individuals and communities from wildfires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in a memo shared with HCN, Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz told agency leaders on July 16 that as expected, the 2025 Fire Year is proving to be extremely challenging. We know the demand for resources outpaces their availability, Schultz wrote. He requested that all red-carded employees, including IT and human resource staff, be made available for fire assignments. We have reached a critical point in our national response efforts, and we must make every resource available. A fireline medic on the edge of the Dragon Bravo wildfire burning near the Grand Canyon. | inciweb.wildfire.gov Much of the Western US is expected to experience above-normal wildfire activity over the next few months. Already, the Forest Service has asked at least 1,400 people with fire qualifications who had resigned to come back. After all, firefighting is a group effort. All those people matter, said Dave Whittekiend, formerly the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache forest supervisor. Once it goes beyond an initial attack, it takes all the logistics. Its like setting up a small city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whittekiend, who retired in May, had also attended this springs planning meeting for forest leaders in Nevada, Utah, and parts of Idaho and Wyoming, where he heard the same warning about limited help. It was creating a sense of urgency, he said. It was pretty direct: We are seeing changes, and so be careful about how you choose your strategies and what you think you might be able to do with a fire. We were told: Dont commit to an attack thinking the cavalry is going to come. Whittekiend pointed out that even before all the layoffs and resignations this spring the Forest Service sometimes struggled to get through busy fire seasons. Firefighters have been called in from Canada, Mexico, and Australia when resources are stretched too thin, and sometimes National Guard or military troops are deployed. Weve never had all the people that we needed in some fire years, he said. Thats been an ongoing trend. It probably accelerated when a whole bunch of us said, All right, were out of here including employees in overhead positions, like the people who buy food and organize shower trailers and outhouses for fire camps, as well as staffers who take weather forecasts and do safety checks on firefighting operations. More than 10,530 people are currently assigned to wildfires; as of August 1, there are 35 large fires nationwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, just last week, the Department of Agriculture announced a widespread reorganization to further slim down and consolidate the workforce. Fort Collins, Colorado, and Salt Lake City, Utah, were designated as two of the five new hub locations and the only offices that will be located in the entire West. The Forest Service will phase out the nine regional offices that currently exist, six of which are in the West, over the next year. Standalone research stations will be consolidated into one station in Fort Collins, while the Fire Science Lab in Missoula, Montana, will remain as is. The elimination of the Forest Service regional offices throughout the West, which divided the territory into the Pacific Northwest, Northern, Rocky Mountain, Southwestern, and Intermountain regions, is expected to cause even more employees to leave. Im going to guess that there will be people who will leave rather than move, Whittekiend said. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said that up to half of staff may not relocate, according to Politico. Its a familiar scene, echoing the lackluster response when the Trump administration moved the Bureau of Land Managements headquarters to Grand Junction, Colorado, in 2019. Only three out of the 328 employees who were supposed to relocate to the new headquarters actually did so despite the millions of dollars the reorganization cost. Photo illustration image sources: Tipover East Prescribed Fire, Kaibab National Forest, Arizona, in 2017. David Hercher/U.S. Forest Service; A firefighter works the fire line on the Sitgreaves Complex Fire in the Kaibab National Forest in 2014. Holly Krake/U.S. Forest Service; Firefighters start a back fire to help suppress the 2013 Rim Fire, which burned in Stanislaus National Forest, California. Mike McMillan/U.S. Forest Service; Plumas Hotshots in 2008. Courtesy of the California Interagency Hotshots Steering Committee/U.S. Forest Service Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin cant tolerate going after his customers ahead of an Alaska meeting between Putin and President Trump. Putin could give a damn about sanctions. He evades them. He could give a damn about how many Russians die. The one thing that he cant tolerate and live with, if we go after his customers, Graham told NBC Newss Kristen Welker on Meet the Press. The whole goal is to crush his customers, India, and China, and Brazil. That if you keep buying Putins oil and prop up his war machine, you will be denied access to our economy. This is a new strategy. Trump is all in, in terms of going after Putins customers if we cant end this well. Without oil and gas revenue, Russia collapses, the South Carolina senator added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his first few months back in office, Trump and his administration have pushed for an end to the war in Ukraine with no luck. Trump said last week he will meet with Putin in Alaska next Friday, hosting him for talks on ending the war in 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 his Truth Social platform. Last Wednesday, Trump announced he would raise tariffs on India by 25 percent because of its buying of Russian oil, bringing the total tariffs the president has placed on the Southeast Asian country to 50 percent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president signed an executive order authorizing the tariff raise, though it does not go into effect for close to a month. The 25 percent increase also comes alongside a 25 percent reciprocal tariff Trump recently announced on India. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Grain elevator fire in northwest Minnesota prompts evacuation originally appeared on Bring Me The News. A grain elevator fire believed to have been caused by a lightning strike prompted an evacuation order in northwestern Minnesota Friday. According to the Norman County Sheriffs Office, the fire was reported at a privately owned grain elevator at around 5 a.m. The investigation determined that the fire may have been started by a lightning strike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A nearby building containing hazardous materials also caught fire. The fire resulted in an evacuation order in the area, though the order was lifted later that day at around 1 p.m. when air quality was found to be safe. Still, residents were encouraged to stay indoors for the rest of the day. The fire also caused a power outage that resulted in the citys water supply losing pressure. A boil water advisory was issued until further notice, meaning residents are encouraged to boil water before using water to drink, prepare food or brush teeth. County roads 3 and 18 were also closed following the fire but have since reopened. Pixabay This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Aug 10, 2025, where it first appeared. Paul Hollywood is asking his followers for any information to help track down an individual who allegedly assaulted his brother, Lee Hollywood, in a nasty and unprovoked attack. The Great British Baking Show judge took to Instagram on Sunday (August 10), sharing a news release from Wirral Police about a man who was attacked while out walking his dog on Friday evening (August 8). In the posts caption, Paul confirmed the victim was his brother. If you have information regarding this attack on Friday night, the person in question who was attacked is my brother Lee. Any information please follow details above Thankyou, he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Wirral Police, which didnt identify Lee by name, a man in his 50s was taken to hospital for treatment on Friday after suffering injuries to his back and face following an attack in Leasowe, England. Lee was said to have been walking his dog in a field at around 7:10 pm GMT, when his pet and a different dog, being walked by another male, began to bark at each other. The dogs were separated by the male who then became irate, the police stated. As Lee was walking away, the male allegedly approached him from behind and punched him to the floor. He then proceeded to kick the victim in his face before fleeing the scene. Paul and Lee Hollywood Paul and his brother Lee; Paul Hollywood Instagram Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was a nasty and unprovoked assault which left the man needing hospital treatment, Detective Inspector Phil Ryan said in a statement. We are appealing for anyone who was in the area of Links View Playing fields or Shackleton Road at around 7 p.m. last night who heard or saw the incident or saw the male leaving the area to contact us. An investigation is now underway, with police looking to obtain CCTV footage from the area. Lee, who, like Paul, is a baker, spoke about their sibling relationship in a 2016 interview with The Daily Mail. Im the grafter of the family, Pauls too busy with Bake Off. The last time he made a proper loaf was about ten years ago, he joked. Our Paul and I are very close and I watch Bake Off when I can, but its mainly on catch-up because Im always here [at a bakery he ran at the time in Wirral], he added. I came in today at 7 a.m. and I will still be here at 8 p.m. tonight. The Great British Baking Show, Streaming, Netflix Read the latest entertainment news on TV Insider. SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Greene County announced its annual report that details the expenditure and allocation of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The report states that Greene County was awarded $56,928,520 in ARPA funds. To date, over $40,000,000 has been allocated to Greene County projects. The funds were allocated across various initiatives including support for local small businesses, nonprofit projects, local government partners and the Community Impact Program (CIP). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres an overview of how the funds were distributed: The CIP funded 10 projects with $22,800,014.85. The Nonprofit Program funded 49 projects with $6,137,869.12. The County-Wide Program funded 29 projects with $10,390,647. The Small Business Program funded 455 small businesses with $6,644,062.06. You can read the entire report here for a more detailed version. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com. It's been just over a month since Elon Musk's artificial intelligence startup xAI's Grok chatbot had a mind-bogglingly antisemitic meltdown, celebrating itself as "MechaHitler" and targeting people with Jewish surnames with hatred-filled accusations. While xAI quickly apologized, vowing to address the situation and "actively working to remove the inappropriate posts," it looks like it hasn't fully exorcized the ghost of antisemitism from the company's flagship AI. This time, it's playing out in an even more bizarre way. After a user asked Grok to analyze a seemingly innocuous photo of a cloudy sky, captioned with the cryptic line, "everywhere you go, they follow," the chatbot had an alarming answer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Your post appears to be a dog whistle invoking anti-Semitic tropes," the chatbot said, referring to the photo of the sky. "The cloud formation resembles a caricatured 'hooked nose' stereotype, paired with 'they follow' echoing conspiracy theories of Jews as omnipresent pursuers." "If unintended, it's an unfortunate coincidence," the bigoted response reads. "If deliberate, it's harmful rhetoric. What's your intent?" It would be one thing if the chatbot was right. But no matter how hard we examined the cloudy sky, we couldn't see a resemblance to much of anything, nevermind the type of antisemitic caricature Grok was invoking. And it wasn't a one-off issue, either. A separate post of what appears to be a two-inch metal coupling with the same caption produced similar results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In similar recent memes, 'they' often refers to Jews, implying conspiratorial omnipresence or control a classic antisemitic trope," the bot wrote. "The image's object may be a subtle reference, but context suggests dog-whistle intent." A quick search for the phrase on X shows a number of similar responses, with Grok identifying alleged antisemitic tropes often by describing them in graphic detail in images that seem pretty clearly innocuous. And while it's possible to imagine the phrase "everywhere you go, they follow" indeed being some type of coded pejorative against immigrants or other vulnerable groups, it doesn't appear to have been identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center or other groups that track hate movements online. In other words, it's hard to make sense of the outbursts. Was this an enormous overcorrection behind the scenes, with Grok stumbling over itself to identify antisemitic content, to such a degree that it's seeing it even in seemingly random images? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Or could it be more of Musk's famously immature style of humor, poking foes at what he sees as overblown political correctness that sees problematic content everywhere? The billionaire has previously made callous jokes about the Holocaust, showing that he finds the topic of hatred against Jewish people amusing. When one user challenged it as to why it saw a picture of clouds as an antisemitic dog whistle, Grok doubled down. "Clouds can be innocent, but this formation mimics a hooked nose a staple of antisemitic caricatures and the caption 'Everywhere you go, they follow' echoes conspiracy tropes about Jews," it wrote. My analysis is evidence-based; if unintended, clarify 'they.'" In response to Grok's first Hitler meltdown last month, xAI claimed that an "unauthorized modification" to its code was to blame, promising that a "24/7 monitoring team" would "respond to incidents with Groks answers that are not caught by automated systems." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given its latest outbursts, that monitoring team if it indeed exists has fallen far short of its intended goal. Musk took a notably different tack in response to all of the vitriol, tweeting at the time that "Grok was too compliant to user prompts," and that it was "too eager to please," essentially suggesting that the chatbot was pleasing X's user base by calling for a second Holocaust. We've reached out to xAI for comment, and we'll update if we hear back. More on Grok: Leaked Documents Show xAI Employees Were Alarmed by Something They Were Asked to Do at Elon Musk's AI Startup MEMPHIS, Tenn. A group gathered outside the 201 Poplar voicing their concerns and calling for immediate changes at the jail. This comes as WREG reported issues plaguing the jail, like long intake wait times, crumbling infrastructure, and plumbing and electrical problems. Officials with the jail havent shied away from the problems, saying the population is soaring and theres no room to house all the inmates. 201 Poplar protest Photo by WREG 201 is inhumane, 201 is inhumane, 201 its a shame! 201 its a shame, said the group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A group of about 15 to 20 people shared their concerns about the place. Its really, really shameful, said Mary Thomas, calling for changes at the jail. Fentanyl, suicide may be cause of two inmates deaths in jail, sheriffs office says Lisa Crawford said her 57-year-old brother Darin Crawford, died at the jail while in custody in February. This is a hurtful feeling. I mean its been 6 months and sometimes it feels just like February the 7th and just being here just looking at the place, its hurtful, said Crawford. His death at the beginning of the year came when four inmates died within one week of each other. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crawford said the autopsy results say he died from pneumonia. SCSO calls for new jail after recent deaths at 201 Poplar The couple of times I did hear from him he wanted to contact his son because nobody would help him in there and then the phone calls stopped, said Crawford. Those WREG spoke to on Monday say they are not in favor of the recent proposal of a new jail and correction center being built in north Memphis in the new Chicago neighborhood. But this new jail first of all, its just a proposal at this point in time and it also wouldnt be up for another three years, said Mary Thomas. How many people are going to die in the three years it takes to build this new jail? And what are we going to do to prevent something like this from happening again? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They want immediate action, like an expedited intake process, more medical staff at the jail, and ensuring access to phones, showers, and legal counsel. This group plans to hold future events and is encouraging people to get involved saying a town hall will be held at the Gaisman Community Center on August 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The event is hosted by MICAH. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE are dangling reconstruction and investment funds for Lebanon but only if the crisis-plagued country can put forward a plan to disarm Hezbollah, with the US offering to act as an intermediary. Once Tehrans most powerful proxy, Hezbollah was severely weakened after a conflict with Israel last year. Now the Trump administration has offered Lebanon options to disarm the group, with Gulf countries stepping in with incentives, the US envoy to the country told Bloomberg. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun appears willing, with the countrys prime minister also saying last week that the military will present a plan this month to dismantle all non-state armed groups by the end of 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hezbollah, part of the Lebanese political and civil landscape for decades, unsurprisingly remains defiant. The group, designated a terrorist organization by the US, is being managed a lot more closely by the Iranians so Tehran will likely have a say, a senior editor at the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut told Bloomberg. Rep. Craig Haggard, R-Mooresville, intends to run for the 4th congressional district. (Photo from Indiana House Republicans) A House Republican will not be running again for his central Indiana seat in the 2026 elections, instead setting his sights on a higher office in Congress. Two-term Rep. Craig Haggard, of Mooresville, will formally announce his campaign for the 4th Congressional District tomorrow, Aug. 12, in Plainfield during a Constitutional Oath Rally at Hummel Park. His current Statehouse district includes portions of Hendricks, Johnson and Morgan counties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former U.S. Marine and Indiana Air National Guardsman retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2013, and now works as a commercial broker and small business owner. The 4th Congressional District, currently held by U.S. Rep. Jim Baird, stretches from Martinsville southwest of Indianapolis at its southern tip up past Lafayette to DeMotte, which is south of Gary, sharing much of its western border with Illinois. Baird hasnt yet announced whether not hell run in 2026, though Haggard has openly questioned whether Baird has tried to prop up his son, state Rep. Beau Baird, as his successor in the district. Haggard also floated the possibility of a run in 2024, opting against it when Baird announced his reelection campaign. However, the possibility of mid-cycle redistricting could fundamentally alter the direction of any 2026 congressional campaigns even potentially drawing Haggards Mooresville home out of the 4th District. Congressmen dont technically have to live in the district they represent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seeking to grow his historically slim Republican majority in Congress, President Donald Trump has pressured GOP-led states to redistrict ahead of the traditional timeline to grow his partys control. Democratic states have vowed to retaliate, potentially disrupting maps nationwide. Republicans seeking to weaken the Democratic hold over the 7th Congressional District in Indianapolis may mean redrawing the boundary to include Hoosiers in the redder doughnut counties, such as Haggards Mooresville hometown. Sitting U.S. Rep. Andre Carson has said he will run for reelection wherever his districts new boundaries may be but adding the residents of Indianapolis may dilute some of the ruby-red districts elsewhere in the state. Additionally, the 4th Congressional District adjoins the 1st District, another Democratic seat targeted by Republicans. Its unclear if Hoosier Republicans will bow to Trump and redistrict the state, but doing so would transform the district Haggard seeks to win. In response to questions about redistricting, Haggard iterated his belief in the districts conservative bent, saying he didnt think there was an appetite for redistricting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indiana is a solid Republican state, It has voted for Trump 3 times already and I think proof of Indiana being conservative is our super majority. I have been hearing from constituents and I do not believe at this time there is an appetite for redistricting in our communities. I still plan on running in the 4th regardless, where I have met with tens of thousands of voters the last two years and where I plan to represent them in Congress if I am elected, Haggard wrote. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX **Related Video Above: Kenny describes his ride on Cedar Points new tilt rollercoaster SANDUSKY, Ohio (WJW) Dont worry, it is still summer. However, the folks at Cedar Point are already looking ahead to fall adventures with the announcement of the return of HalloWeekends. Cedar Points Power Tower evacuated after cable fails Running on certain days/nights from Sept. 11 through Nov. 2, this years spooky iteration includes a new SCREAMium experience along with the usual fall-themed pop-ups. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, this year, those who want to do anything extra at the park are going to have pay, well, extra. Heres what you get with your HalloWeekends admission ticket: Access to the parks nearly 70 attractions and rides, live shows and scare zones. Those who want to hit up the parks five haunted mazes have to now buy a $10 Haunted Attractions Pass, which the park said works to enhance the guest experience. That new SCREAMium experience? Thats an event called The Conjuring: Beyond Fear an interactive movie-inspired encounter that lasts about 20 minutes. It is not included in the Haunted Attractions Pass and is $15. (Photo courtesy: Cedar Point) (Photo courtesy: Cedar Point) (Photo courtesy: Cedar Point) (Photo courtesy: Cedar Point) HalloWeekends photo courtesy Cedar Point HalloWeekends photo courtesy Cedar Point (Photo courtesy: Cedar Point) Kid-friendly daytime events (the nighttime activities are recommended for those 13 and up) include pumpkin decorating, mask-making, hay bale mazes and trick-or-treating and are running on Fridays through Sundays. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Find out more about dates and times for all of the events right here. PHOTO: Cedar Point floods amid storms, downpours Those interested in a good deal can buy a $99 2026 Gold Pass through Sept. 1, which gets you the following: Unlimited entrance to HalloWeekends in 2025 Unlimited entrance to Cedar Point in 2026 Unlimited entrance to Cedar Point Shores Waterpark in 2026 Unlimited visits to Six Flags parks throughout North America Free parking A free bring-a-friend ticket The first day of fall is Sept. 22 this year. Halloween, as ever, is Oct. 31 and lands on a Friday 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 Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Hamilton County election officials want to eliminate precinct assignments in favor of vote centers during elections, saving the county money and increasing flexibility for voters. Sixty-seven of Indianas 92 counties, including Marion County, have switched to the centers, which reduce the number of polling places and often require voters to travel farther to cast a ballot but also allows them to vote at any center. It really increases options for people who work and werent able to get to the precinct in the morning or later, County Elections Administrator Beth Sheller said. Voters arrive at Christ Community Church to vote on Election Day on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024, in Carmel Ind. Under the proposal, voters could cast their ballot at any of 52 vote centers across the county beginning during the May primary eleciton in 2026. Sheller thats nearly twice as required by Indiana law, which would be 28 for Hamilton County, or one for each 10,000 registered voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are currently 220 precincts in Hamilton County, and residents can only vote in their own precinct. Sheller said her office has chosen the locations for the voter centers, which all currently serve as precincts. We picked some of the larger sites with more parking and easy access to major roads, she said. Officials also made sure the centers were spaced so voters didnt have to travel far. For the change to be made all three members of the Hamilton County Election Board must vote in favor of it. Residents can voice opinions on the proposal beginning with a public meeting of the Hamilton County Election Board at 1:00 p.m. Aug. 13 in the Hamilton County Commissioners Courtroom on the first floor of the Hamilton County Government and Judicial Building in Noblesville. Residents will have 30 days to submit written comments, which the election board will consider. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamilton County Clerk Kathy Kreag Williams said the centers could reduce the cost of elections. With the countys rapid growth, we are constantly adding new precincts to comply with state law, Williams, a member of the election board, said in a news release. That means more inspectors, clerks, judges, polling places, meals, and voting machines. Vote Centers could give us the access our voters need while also reducing the long-term costs of running elections. Call IndyStar reporter John Tuohy at 317-444-6418. Email at john.tuohy@indystar.com and follow on Twitter and Facebook. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Hamilton County could switch to vote centers for midterm elections SPRINGFIELD A Hampden County jury has convicted a man of repeatedly raping a child over a two-year period, sending him to state prison for up to 13 years for his crimes. Benito Roman, 57, formerly of Springfield, was convicted July 2 of aggravated rape of a child, indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, and two counts of witness intimidation, Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni said in a statement Monday. Roman was indicted by a county grand jury on Feb. 7, 2023. He was later arrested in Florida and extradited to Massachusetts, where he was arraigned July 7, 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A jury convicted him last month after a three-day trial before Judge James Manitsas. The abuse survivor attended the sentencing held July 9 and submitted a victim impact statement, describing the lasting trauma caused by Romans abuse, Gulluni said. Their strength and resilience are an inspiration, Gulluni said. This sentence ensures the defendant is held accountable for his reprehensible actions. Roman sexually abused the child multiple times between ages 6 and 8, warning them not to tell their mother. Years later, the child disclosed the abuse during a separate investigation by the state Department of Children and Families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Springfield police detectives launched an investigation, including a forensic interview with the child, which led to Romans arrest and prosecution. Gulluni said his office remains committed to standing with and fighting for survivors of sexual abuse. Read the original article on MassLive. Hanging out windows, screaming: Residents rescued from burning Somerville apartment building Several people were trapped, and one person even jumped out of a window, after a fire broke out in an apartment building in Somerville late Sunday night. The blaze tore through an apartment building on Powder House Boulevard, according to Somerville Fire Chief Charles Breen. Breen told Boston 25 News that when firefighters arrived on the scene, there was heavy fire on the second floor. He said they had several people who were trapped. He says firefighters rescued two people from the third floor using their ladder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A firefighter found another person unconscious in the bathroom on the second floor. And then there was someone who jumped out a window. Another resident had actually dragged a mattress that I believe maybe had been out for the rubbish and put it down before the person jumped, and also a deputy chief helped break the womans fall when she fell, so I think that sort of prevented some more serious injuries from occurring, Breen explained. The person who jumped out of the window was taken to the hospital and is expected to recover. The chief says the person who was found unconscious was taken to the hospital with burns and smoke inhalation and is in serious condition. One firefighter also suffered a minor injury. There were multiple people hanging out windows, people screaming, said Breen. The tremendous effort was done by the fire department, the police department was here also assisting us. It was just a tremendous effort by all involved. A lot of work had to happen in a very short period of time in order to get people out of this building safely. The Red Cross came out to help all those residents who were forced out. There were nine units impacted, but right now its unclear just how many people had to evacuate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cause of the fire is under investigation. 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 J.D.s view Last week, Semafors Ben Smith argued that Chinas global influence campaign is succeeding, as the country embraces new forms of media while the US pulls back on global soft-power initiatives. But questions surrounding a Chinese initiative for US influencers suggest those efforts may have their limits. In June, Chinese state media announced a program that would pay for US creators with more than 300,000 followers to visit five Chinese cities, collaborate with local counterparts, and show off the real China. I was fascinated by this program as soon as it was announced, and was eager for updates on which American creators might go, what kind of content they would create, and how much creative freedom they would have. Chinese state media said the trips were on for July 14-23 but nearly one month later, theres no evidence the program happened as scheduled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the original announcement promised livestreams, short-form videos, and a highlight reel, searches in traditional Chinese media and on social media platforms turned up no results or content that Beijing wouldve, in theory, been happy to broadcast to the world. Its unclear who, if anyone, may have been tapped to take part. Know More When asked about the status of the program, China Youth Daily, the state media outlet that promoted the trips, said in a message on X: This activity has come to an end, without elaborating further. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington said, We couldnt find additional details about this event in the past few days. China appears eager to bridge global digital divides, hailing visits by Western influencers that promote the country as high-tech, orderly, and welcoming to foreigners. More foreign creators have also joined Chinese social media platforms, a soft power coup. But Beijings battle for hearts and minds has hit other snags: American YouTube star MrBeast recently made his livestream debut on the Chinese platform Kuaishou, but the broadcast reportedly ended after 11 minutes, after MrBeast grew frustrated that he couldnt read the Chinese comments. Did you apply for this program? Have you heard any rumblings about it online or offline? Let me know. The national headquarters of the Israeli-American Council (IAC) in Woodland Hills was targeted in an antisemitic vandalism incident over the weekend, officials said. Swastikas, other Nazi symbols, and hateful messages including F Jews, BDS were spray-painted on the sidewalk, building entrance, and nearby barriers close to the community center and offices of the IACs Los Angeles region, according to the organization. The vandalism included a yellow swastika and the letters SS, referencing the Nazi Schutzstaffel, painted on the sidewalk directly in front of the Shepher Community Center on Winnetka Avenue. A swastika was also drawn on a cardboard snowman at the buildings entrance, while additional hateful graffiti was found along a barrier near the Highway 101 freeway entrance and elsewhere in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Shepher Community Center serves as a hub for the local Israeli-American and American Jewish communities, hosting both IAC offices and community programming. The IAC is working with the Topanga Community Police Division of the Los Angeles Police Department on the investigation. Officials said security cameras captured an image of a suspect, which police are reviewing as part of their efforts. We are appalled by this vile act of antisemitism at the doorstep of our own community and offices, said Elan S. Carr, CEO of the Israeli-American Council and former U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. Around the world and across our country, we have seen an alarming and historic rise in antisemitism. We are working tirelessly to fight it and to ensure that history does not repeat itself. This incident will not intimidate or deter us on the contrary, it fuels our determination to stand even stronger against antisemitism and to protect and strengthen our community for generations to come. Courtesy of Israeli-American Council (IAC) Courtesy of Israeli-American Council (IAC) Courtesy of Israeli-American Council (IAC) Courtesy of Israeli-American Council (IAC) Courtesy of Israeli-American Council (IAC) Photos released by the IAC show the extent of the vandalism at the Shepher Community Center and nearby areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. HONOLULU (KHON2) Hawaii ranks at number 10 in the United States for the number of military veterans per capita. Hawaii placed No. 15 in a new national ranking of how well states support disabled veterans. The list, released Tuesday, Aug. 5, scored all 50 states across three main areas: health and rehabilitation access, infrastructure and community support and economic stability. PHOTOS: WW2 comes alive at Pearl Harbor museum Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report is based on 22 data points, and each is scored on a 100-point scale. Hawaii earned a total score of 53.63. Heres what the ranking reported: Strong in economic stability Hawaii ranked #2 in economic stability and long-term security for disabled veterans. This area measured factors such as property tax exemptions, access to housing assistance, cost of living and income levels for people with disabilities. It also considered whether the state taxes military pensions, which Hawaii does not. Health care access above average Hawaii ranked #11 in health and rehabilitation access. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You That score reflects access to VA health facilities, counselors, physical therapists, occupational therapists and veteran treatment courts. It also includes the number of benefits-administration facilities and the percentage of Medicaid long-term care dollars spent on home and community-based services. Community support lags behind In infrastructure and community support, Hawaii ranked #46. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That category included the presence of transition programs, public and private hiring preferences for veterans, VA spending per veteran and the share of disabled veterans in the state. It also looked at the number of veterans charities per capita. Understanding the numbers There are about 5.5 million veterans in the U.S. living with a service-connected disability, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. You can click here to read more from the ranking. Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8 Each state provides a different level of support. The ranking used population-adjusted data and assigned weights to each metric to compare states more fairly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. FREESTONE / NAVARRO COUNTY, Texas (FOX 44) UPDATE: A hazmat accident led to delays in traffic in both Freestone and Navarro Counties. The Navarro County Office of Emergency Management said late Monday morning that southbound Interstate 45 at the Streetman exit (Mile Marker #213) was shut down. This was due to a hazmat accident at Mile Marker #211 in Freestone County. As of 5:45 p.m., units on scene advised the interstate was being re-opened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) In todays health headlines, when is it time to seek help with your fertility, what the diagnostic process looks like for men and women, and how successful are infertility treatments in building families? Dr. Emre Seli, Yale Medicine infertility specialist and professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine, spoke with Alyssa Taglia on Good Morning Connecticut about the following topics: Watch the video above. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. Dozens of beaches are closed in Massachusetts as we enter another hot stretch in the mid-90s the next few days. Mayor Wu declares heat emergency for City of Boston The state closed these beaches because of high levels of bacteria in the water. Crystal Lake in Newton is one of them, where many were disappointed to find the warning signs on Sunday to keep the lake closed. If it wasnt for the algae being like how it is, itd be completely packed, like people swim here and stuff, so its a little disappointing, said one teenager. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The citys health department posted signs on the gate to the lake to keep people out of the water after finding cyanobacteria present. Itd be nice to be able to cool off and you know have a little refreshment but it kinda is what it is, said Kyle Gorman, visiting Crystal Lake. Its frustrating for many as temps begin to soar again this week. So far, 16 days have been over 90 degrees this summer in the Boston area, and thats higher than the average of 10 days. Its hard to be outside some days for sure, especially if you dont have some place to cool off, said Laura Scarfone, visiting Crystal Lake. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I would not be too stoked if I didnt have air conditioning, thats for sure, said Gorman. Newton health officials say the blue-green algae can produce toxins in the water that can make you or your pets sick. 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 Donald Trump has announced a hostile takeover of Washington D.C., deploying the National Guard in an effort to clear the nation's capitol of homeless people and supposedly crack down on violent crime. Trump revealed the plans Monday morning after NBC reported that up to 1,000 National Guard troops would be deployed to the city, and about 450 federal officers from 18 agencies including 120 Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents were reassigned from other duties over the weekend and deployed to patrol high-traffic areas in D.C. The announcement comes as violent crime in the city has significantly decreased, refuting the president's claims that D.C. has gotten "out of control." The objectives that Trump can actually achieve with the deployment are the usurping of Congress' authority and the continuation of his flagrant power grabs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Here's what you need to know about what's happening and what's not happening in D.C. Why is Trump deploying the National Guard in D.C.? Trump said at a press conference that he would take control of the Metropolitan Police Department and deploy the D.C. National Guard in an effort to supposedly rescue our nations capital from crime" by "removing homeless encampments from all over our parks." "We're moving the encampments away, trying to take care of people," he said. "Some of those people, we don't know how they even got there. Some of those people are from different countries, different parts of the world. Nobody knows who they are. They have no idea. But they're there, getting rid of the people from underpasses and public spaces from all over the city. There are many places that they can go, and we're going to help them as much as you can help, but they'll not be allowed to turn our capital into a wasteland for the world to see." Trump did not say where the homeless people would be sent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also said that he would "bring in the military if it's needed," and that he intends to replace judges, stating, "We're going to be appointing some judges. We have some open spots, and we're going to take people because the judges are letting killers out." Is DOGE involved in Trump's D.C. National Guard deployment? One case of violent crime Trump cited in his press conference was the assault and robbery of 19-year-old Edward Coristine, one of the original members of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) who goes by the nickname "Big Balls." The attack occurred over the weekend, resulting in a black iPhone valued at around $1,000 being reportedly stolen. Two 15-year-old suspects were arrested as they attempted to flee the scene. Elon Musk, the former head of DOGE, claimed in a post to X that a gang of about a dozen young men tried to assault a woman in her car at night in DC, and "a @Doge team member saw what was happening, ran to defend her and was severely beaten to the point of concussion, but he saved her. The police report via POLITICO disputes this, as Coristine told officers that he and the woman, identified in the report as his significant other," were approached at their car. What is the violent crime rate in D.C.? Violent crime has drastically decreased in Washington D.C. over the past two years. So far in 2025, violent crime is down 26 percent from last year, according to Metropolitan Police Department data, with robbery down 28 percent, assault with a dangerous weapon down 20 percent, and homicide down 12 percent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The data is considered preliminary, as statistics for the full year will not be available until the year is over. The data was last updated Monday, likely in response to Trump's claims. Around 14.5 percent adult residents in D.C. identify as LGBTQ+, according to a 2023 Williams Institute study, the highest percentage in the nation and nearly double the rate of the next-highest state. D.C. also has one of the largest unhoused populations in the nation, a 2019 report from Christian aid organization Central Union Mission found, which is twice the national average and equates to roughly 9.3 homeless people for every 1,000 residents. LGBTQ+ adults are twice as likely as the general population to have experienced homelessness in their lifetime, according to a 2020 report from the Williams Institute, with 17 percent of sexual minorities reporting that they have experienced homelessness. How did D.C.'s mayor respond to Trump? Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser called Trumps claims about crime in D.C. hyperbolic and false and warned against deploying the National Guard in a Sunday interview with MSNBC's The Weekend. She stressed that while "there are very specific things in our law that would allow the president to have more control over our police department, none of those conditions exist in our city right now." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're going to keep talking to the president, working with his people on the issues that are high priority for him," Bowser said. "Now, if the priority is to show force in an American city, we know he can do that here. But it won't be because there's a spike in crime." D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb said in a post on X that the Trump Administrations actions are "unprecedented, unnecessary, and unlawful." "There is no crime emergency in the District of Columbia," he wrote. "Violent crime in DC reached historic 30-year lows last year, and is down another 26% so far this year. We are considering all of our options and will do what is necessary to protect the rights and safety of District residents." Can the president take control of D.C. police? Section 740 of the 1973 District of Columbia Home Rule Act allows the federalization of the Metropolitan Police Department when the president determines that special conditions of an emergency nature exist." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president must notify Congress within 48 hours of taking control, specifically members of the Committees on the District of Columbia of the Senate and the House of Representatives" the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The president must then get Congressional approval within 30 days to retain control, requiring Congress to pass joint resolution authorizing such an extension. The law contains no protocol for when Congress is not in session. Congress is currently adjourned until September 2. Can the president deploy the National Guard? The ability to call upon the National Guard is typically reserved for governors, or in the case of Washington D.C., the mayor. The president is allowed to mobilize the National Guard during Congressionally-sanctioned national emergencies or wars. Section 1076 of the John Warner Defense Authorization Act of 2007 allowed the president "to employ the Armed Forces and National Guard in federal service to restore public order in cases of natural disaster, epidemic or other public health emergency, terrorist attack or incident, or domestic violence." It also required that the president "notify Congress within 14 days of the exercise of such authority." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the provisions were repealed with the National Defense Authorization Act of 2008. Section 1814 requires the Secretary of State "to prepare and submit to Congress a plan (and plan update) for the use of the Armed Forces and National Guard for responding to natural disasters, acts of terrorism, and other man-made disasters," and section 1822 requires the president "to establish a bipartisan Council of Governors to advise the Secretary, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the White House Homeland Security Council on matters related to the National Guard and civil support missions." Will Trump deploy the National Guard in other cities? Trump said that he intends to repeat his actions in D.C. and deploy the National Guard in other Democratic cities as part of his so-called "beautification" plans. "Other cities are hopefully watching this," he said at Monday's press conference. "Maybe they'll self-clean up, and maybe they'll self-do this and get rid of the cashless bail thing and all of the things that caused the problem. They're watching us today, and if they don't learn their lesson, if they haven't studied us properly, because we're going to be very successful. I have zero doubt about that. If we need to, we're gonna do the same thing in Chicago, which is a disaster. We have a mayor there who's totally incompetent." This story has been updated with additional information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This article originally appeared on Advocate: What the heck is happening in D.C.? Nothing, until Trump deployed the National Guard RELATED Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths Monday remarks about the deployment of troops on the streets of Washington, D.C., may have already harmed the Trump administration in its legal battle over the deployment of troops on the streets of Los Angeles. Monday marked the beginning of a three-day trial in which California is making the case that Hegseth and the Trump administration violated the Posse Comitatus Actan 1878 federal law forbidding the use of the military for civilian law enforcement purposesduring its crackdown on L.A. protests against its immigration agenda. During a Monday press conference on Trumps federal takeover of D.C., Hegseth announced that the National Guard will be flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week and that there are other units we are prepared to bring inother National Guard units, other specialized units. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They will be strong, they will be tough, and they will stand with their law enforcement partners, Hegseth said. And this is nothing new for DOD, he added. In Los Angeles, we did the same thing, working with the California National Guard, working with ICE officers. The comments apparently caught the ears of those hoping to prove that Hegseth unlawfully deployed troops in Los Angeles. According to journalist Adam Klasfeld of the legal affairs publication All Rise, Californias attorney on Monday moved to enter Hegseths announcement of National Guard deploymentand, specifically, his comments about the troops stand[ing] with their law enforcement partners and having done the same thing in L.A.into evidence. Hegseths comments were ultimately admitted by the judge, Klasfeld reports, despite the Trump administration objecting on the grounds that they were not already on the exhibit list. The judge reportedly observed that the remarks could not have been included on the exhibit list previously, considering they just happened. This is apparently the sort of mishap that occurs when one doesnt wait for their potential military occupation of one city to play out in court before moving on to the next. HARKER HEIGHTS, Texas (FOX 44) The City of Harker Heights has announced its new fire chief, and citizens have a chance to welcome him to the community! According to the city, Michael Starr has over 30 years in fire service leadership. This includes 16 years as Southlakes Fire Chief. Starr brings experience in public safety, emergency response, and team building. The city received very positive feedback and recommendations from his former city managers and municipal leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Citizens of Harker Heights can welcome Chief Starr at a Meet & Greet this Thursday, August 14. The event will take place from 5 p.m. 6 p.m. in the Kitty Young Council Chambers at City Hall, located at 305 Millers Crossing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. (Photo: Dana Gentry/Nevada Current) The Henderson City Council redrew its ward boundaries last week for the seventh time in the last 15 years, a practice critics contend allows the council to skew elections to the advantage of its favored candidates and cause confusion among voters. Now the practice of frequent redistricting is raising the possibility that a stalled ballot measure to create an independent redistricting commission in Nevada could be resurrected, and if successful, trickle down to local governments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Councilwoman Carrie Cox, who is running for reelection next year, suggests the council is rejiggering the maps with an eye toward boosting prospects for her opponent, Nevada State Board of Education member Annette Dawson Owens, who has been endorsed by Coxs fellow council members. When you have colleagues that do the things that Ive had done to me, its an easy trip to know that somethings going on, Cox said at the City Council meeting Tuesday, where she cast the lone vote against the redistricting plan recommended by staff. Bad blood flows freely on the Henderson Council. Every two weeks theres a pattern, if you havent figured it out, with a false narrative right before a City Council meeting, Councilwoman Monica Larson, the newest member of the council, said from the dais, referring to Cox. The narrative spun was gerrymandering, but what I appropriately call it is grandstanding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats absolutely not true, Cox said Friday. Review the City Council meeting recordings on the website. The only pattern is the rest of the council voting against me when I stand up for my constituents. Larson, a California transplant, campaigned last year on the promise of aligning with Cox to turn back an insular cabal a Las Vegas Review-Journal reference in its 2024 endorsement of Larson of Mayor Michelle Romero and three council members who routinely voted in lockstep. Instead of teaming with Cox, Larson cozied up to Romero, Councilman Dan Stewart, and Councilman Jim Seebock. On Wednesday, Romero called out Coxs campaign for issuing a news release that asserts there is strong evidence that the mayor had authorized the use of internally crafted population estimates for the redistricting effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Either the person making these statements has a profound lack of understanding of both our charter and our city operations, or they have purposefully misled the public with these statements, Romero said. Reapportionment and redistricting efforts are conducted nationwide every ten years, following the completion of the U.S. Census, to ensure congressional and legislative districts represent roughly the same amount of residents. Unlike most Nevada municipalities, which rely on the Census to determine population, in 2013, Henderson, the second-fastest growing city in Nevada at the time (behind Las Vegas), won legislative approval to change its charter to let the citys own demographer estimate each wards population. When the number of residents in one ward varies by more than 5% from another, the city must redraw its maps. The population of Ward Three exceeds that of Ward Four by 7.8% and the population of Ward Two exceeds that of Ward Four by 5.6%, according to Hendersons longtime Demographer Andy Powell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we were, for instance, to go 10 years without redistricting, given the high rate of growth that weve seen, we could see upwards of 20, 25% difference in population between some of some of the wards, and that would effectively serve to dilute the voting power of residents in faster-growing wards, Powell said at Wednesdays meeting. The city redrew its ward maps in 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2021, 2023, and 2025. Cox says this is the second time Henderson has tweaked her ward since she was elected in 2022. They once again tried to move over 40,000 residents, many of them my voters, she said Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Henderson grew by 22% in the decade ending December 2023, according to a study based on the U.S. Census data. But growth has slowed. For the year ending in June 2024, the most recent data available from the state demographer, Hendersons population of 350,706 grew by 2.6%. City staff presented two redistricting options to the council. Plan One would have affected 40,000 residents, or 11% of the population by moving a dozen precincts. Three precincts that were moved in 2023 would have moved again. Plan Two accomplished the same goal of reducing the disparity between ward population by moving one precinct of roughly 4,500 residents (1.4% of the citys population) out of Coxs Ward Three. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two plans submitted to the council by Henderson staff raise questions about the motivation behind the redistricting effort and the veracity of the citys internal estimates, which some experts challenged. Voting rights advocate Sondra Cosgrove, among others, wondered why Henderson officials floated a plan to move 40,000 residents when the alternative moving 4,500 residents to another ward achieves the same outcome. City staff followed industry best practices and the City Charter requirements to develop the proposed redistricting maps, Henderson spokeswoman Madeleine Skains said via email. Staff selected two plans for consideration because they minimize impact, best achieve population balance and align with the best practices and Charter requirements. Both plans were provided to give City Council options to balancing these priorities. Romero, who is also seeking reelection next year, did not respond to inquiries about whether she requested two plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I cannot see how moving one precinct from one ward into another is political, Stewart said, as he made a motion to approve Plan Two, which passed four to one. Former Henderson Police Chief Hollie Chadwick, who is challenging Romero in the race for mayor, declined to say whether she believes Henderson should return to redistricting every 10 years. If youre continually being moved between one ward and another, voters dont know who represents them, says Cosgrove, a College of Southern Nevada professor who heads up Fair Maps Nevada PAC. The group has unsuccessfully tried to let voters decide if an independent redistricting commission is better suited than state lawmakers to draw the lines for legislative and congressional districts. In 2020, the pandemic put a crimp in Fair Maps effort to collect signatures to put the redistricting revamp on the ballot. In 2024, the Nevada Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that struck down two similar initiatives slated for the ballot that year. The ruling in favor of a Democratic voter found the measures created a commission with no source of funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the ballot measure doesnt affect redistricting of local governments, Cosgrove says given the power of the state in Nevada over local governments, a successful effort to include a redistricting commission in the constitution could prompt the Legislature to direct cities and counties to follow suit, and redraw maps every 10 years. Sept. 1 is the first day to file constitutional amendment ballot questions. Weve been going back and forth about whats the best approach to not get sued, Cosgrove said Thursday regarding the measures potential ressurrection. And right now, I dont care about that anymore. Based on whats happening in Texas, everybody sees how bad it is. An exodus last week of Texas Democratic lawmakers, who are attempting to block a vote on a redistricting effort intended to shore up Pres. Donald Trumps Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, prompted Gov. Greg Abbott to threaten the lawmakers with arrest. NEED TO KNOW KeTorrius KJ Starkes, 3, died on July 22 after being left inside a hot car for over five hours by a woman who had been contracted by the state of Alabama to drive the child KJ was to be taken from daycare to a supervised visit with his father then returned to daycare, but instead was left inside a car outside the home of Kela Staford The mother of KJ, who did not have custody at the time of the boy's death, is suing Stanford and employees of the Alabama and Jefferson County Departments of Human Resources An Alabama mother is suing multiple state workers after her son died after being left in what her lawyer described as a "scorching hot car" driven by a state contract employee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KeTorrius KJ Starkes, 3, died after being locked for five hours inside the car of Kela Stanford, who told detectives that she forgot the toddler was in her car, according to the Birmingham Police Department. The boy's mother, Ethanlynn Stewart, who did not have custody of the boy, has now filed a wrongful death lawsuit as a personal representative of her son's estate against Stanford and multiple individuals with the Alabama Department of Human Resources and the Jefferson County Department of Human Resources. The lawsuit seeks damages from eight individuals as well as the company that employs Stanford, claiming the defendants were responsible for KJ's well-being on July 22 the day of his death. Birmingham Police Department Kela Stanford Kela Stanford KJ was in foster care at the time of his death, and Stanford, 54, had been tasked with taking him from a supervised visit with his father and then returning him to daycare, according to a copy of the complaint, which was obtained by PEOPLE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stanford did not work for the state but the complaint alleges that her employer, Covenant Services, Inc., had been contracted to provide this service through the ADHR the state agency that oversees the foster care system in Alabama. The lawsuit alleges that Stanford had been tasked with picking up KJ from daycare, taking him to see his father for a supervised visit and then returning him to daycare on the day in question. However, after she picked the boy up, the complaint alleges that Stanford drove to a grocery store, went shopping and then drove home to put away her groceries leaving KJ inside her vehicle at each stop. Per the complaint, she also allegedly left the boy inside the car when she drove to a tobacco store a short time later, before returning home again around 12:30 p.m. 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. Stanford then exited the vehicle without the boy and entered her home, where she allegedly spent the next five hours, the filing says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just a few feet away, KJ was locked inside her vehicle as the heat index soared to over 105 degrees, according to the National Weather Service, while inside the vehicle which had black-tinted windows according to the lawsuit the temperature could have climbed to over 140 degrees, G. Courtney French, the mother's attorney, tells PEOPLE. Then, at 5:30 p.m., Stanford got a call asking why KJ had not been returned to daycare yet, at which time she rushed out to her car and found the boy wearing his seatbelt and sitting lifeless in the backseat, French claimed at a news conference on Friday. At 6:03 p.m., KJ was pronounced dead on the scene by the Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service. "It was a brutal death," French says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to Stanford and her employer, the lawsuit also names individuals responsible for training Stanford and multiple employees of both the state and county human resource departments, alleging their failure to realize KJ had not been returned to daycare for over five hours. "Had he been with his parents, nothing like this would have ever occurred," French previously told PEOPLE. The ADHR said that Stanford had been terminated by her employer after the incident, and on Aug. 1 the Jefferson County District Attorneys Office issued a warrant against her for Leaving a Child Unattended in a Motor Vehicle, a felony that would carry a sentence of two to 20 years in prison should Stanford be convicted at trial. Stanford was arrested that same day by officers with the BPD. Records show she was released after posting bail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement French said at a press conference on Friday that no one from the state or county human resource departments has reached out to his client in the three weeks since KJ's death. Read the original article on People Southern California's prolonged heat wave is finally forecast to begin letting up Wednesday, but elevated temperatures will continue to bring health and fire risks Monday and Tuesday. A cooling trend is expected to slowly fall into place Wednesday after a week of scorching temperatures that baked the Southland's interior and fueled several fast-growing wildfires. Wednesday will be a little cooler and then well see a cooling trend into Thursday ... and the weekend," said Bryan Lewis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. "We're looking at relatively cool temperatures into next week." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the cooldown is forecast to drop temperatures 10 to 15 degrees from peak highs, Lewis said temperatures will remain warm probably through at least September. But until that slight cooldown, much of the region will remain under heat warnings and advisories, which officials say will continue to create elevated fire-risk conditions. Read more: California fires are burning and incoming heat wave could make things worse The Antelope Valley and surrounding foothills are under an extreme heat warning through Tuesday, with highs forecast to reach 110 degrees and remain in the 80s at night, according to the weather service. The Mojave Desert also has been issued an extreme heat warning, with temperatures expected to reach 110 and as high as 122 degrees in Death Valley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heat advisories also were issued for much of Southern California's inland and mountainous areas, with highs reaching into the 90s or triple digits, including across the San Gabriel Mountains, the Inland Empire and the San Bernardino and Santa Barbara county mountains. Much of the Central Valley is also under a heat advisory, with highs expected around 105. Although most of Los Angeles County isn't under a heat advisory, highs will still be above average Monday and Tuesday, with downtown L.A. expected to hit 90 degrees Monday. However, coastal areas will be relatively unaffected due to a strong marine layer. The heat will continue to dry out an already parched landscape, which Lewis said will keep the threat of wildfires elevated even without a forecast of major winds. Anytime you have these warm temps, especially prolonged, [fire weather] is still definitely a concern," Lewis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Firefighters, however, have been able to make great progress on the Canyon fire, which broke out in eastern Ventura County during the start of the heat wave last week. The 5,370-acre blaze was 91% contained as of Monday and all evacuation warnings had been lifted. Two homes were destroyed in the fire, as were seven smaller sheds or outbuildings, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. But farther north, officials remained concerned about the Gifford fire, which is burning across northern Santa Barbara County and southern San Luis Obispo County. Since it ignited Aug. 1, the fire has charred nearly 120,000 acres as of Monday, becoming the state's largest blaze of the year. Although the Gifford fire is burning primarily across wilderness areas, U.S. Forest Service officials said the continued high temperatures will keep conditions challenging. It was 33% contained as of Monday, and widespread evacuation orders and warnings remain in effect. The cause of both fires remained under investigation. 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. Intersex people have always existed. How they first started to find each other, build community and forge a movement against medical erasure is a story thats mostly gone untold. A new book aims to change that. Hermaphrodite Logic: A History of Intersex Liberation by writer, comedian and historian Juliana Gleeson was released in June by Verso Books. Its a roughly 230-page dive into the very brief history of organizing for intersex rights from the 1990s to present day. Approximately one out of every 100 people is born intersex or with a sexual characteristic that does not fit neatly into the binary of male or female. Despite the prevalence of intersex conditions, Gleeson demonstrates how doctors views on gender evolved in relationship to intersex bodies, explaining that the history of intersex people is one marked by medical censorship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For much of the 20th century, doctors have been operating on intersex babies to assign them sexes, often without fully explaining the consequences to their parents. After those surgeries are complete, the children can be left with painful irreversible conditions and a loss of sexual sensation. Pediatric intersex surgeries, such as clitoral reductions or hypospadias repairs to move the position of the urethral opening, are performed routinely at childrens hospitals today. But as Gleeson notes, starting in the 1990s, intersex activists started to raise the alarm about the procedures and the devastating physical and mental toll many reported experiencing as a result of them. The Intersex Society of North America, which shaped the early intersex rights movement, was founded in 1993. Today, its work is carried on by national nonprofit InterACT. Gleeson admits that writing about contemporaries makes the story complicated to tell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I guess writing histories of living people is quite challenging, because they can contradict or undermine me very easily, she told the 19th. But Gleeson said she wanted to tell a story where intersex people, not their doctors, would be the protagonists. As a community, intersex people started to find each other and organize in the 1990s. So, thats where Gleesons story starts, too. The truth of their treatments was left impossible for intersex people to reach individually, but was easily recognised when they gathered, Gleeson wrote. Then, they could intuitively grasp the shared wounding and neglect that previously isolated intersex people. As a result, intersex people started to name the harms they had experienced. Then, they dragged those into public view, shaming the doctors who had hurt them and sometimes even abandoned their ongoing care following those first surgeries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Few doctors would keep in contact with intersex children as they became adults, Gleeson wrote. So both medics and parents would be left balancing unknown harms done against sexist fantasies. According to Gleeson, those fantasies had little to do with research based on the lived experience of intersex people. Rather, they were rooted in the fears about what might be encountered in the locker room (or much later in the marital bed). Gleesons text details just 30 years during which intersex people went from being largely discounted by doctors to recognized and celebrated by President Joe Bidens White House with an Intersex Awareness Day proclamation in 2023. The book does something that few others have aimed for: It speaks to intersex audiences, even if it is readable by the larger public. Its addressed to intersex people and partly addressed to everyone whos grappling with the history of sex, which is to say, all of us, Gleeson told The 19th. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the past five years, several hospitals have stopped performing intersex surgeries on infants, and intersex advocates have found growing support among the American public to halt the practice. Gleesons book comes amid discussions of sex and gender prompted by Republican politicians aiming to push transgender people further from public life. The debate about gender often reverts back to rudimentary ideas about sex and the American understanding that there are only two of them. But the intersex movement, often overlooked and under-reported, exposes the reality that even sex can be a messy spectrum. As Gleeson writes, Far from being founded in decisive clinical science, these decisions were based more on crude assumptions, and eyeballing genitals. Medics would base surgical decisions on speculations concerning intersex childrens potential integration in locker rooms or performance in marital bedrooms. Gleeson hopes Hermaphrodite Logic becomes intersex history 101. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think theres also a lot of original thinking, a lot of original points and observations, analysis and so on, which just comes from me [in the text], she said. Im just interested to see where it goes. The post A hidden civil rights fight: New book shares the untold story of the intersex movement appeared first on The 19th. News that represents you, in your inbox every weekday. Subscribe to our free, daily newsletter. The High Court has rejected a challenge by Wikipedia to Britains online safety rules after the company claimed the laws could force it to block millions of people in the UK from visiting its website. A judge said the claim by the Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organisation which helps run the online encyclopaedia, failed to prove the online safety laws were flawed. However, Mr Justice Johnson said the decision did not give Peter Kyle, the Technology Secretary or digital regulator Ofcom a green light to significantly impede Wikipedias operations in a way that would harm free expression. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wikipedia had sought to challenge a set of regulations that form part of the Online Safety Act, the UKs flagship tech laws, arguing the rules could see it labelled a category one service and subject to the strictest scrutiny. Mr Justice Johnson said the decision did not give Tech Secretary Peter Kyle permission to significantly impede Wikipedias operations - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Getty Images Contributor Websites will qualify for this category if they have more than seven million UK users. Wikipedia had claimed that placing it in this category, intended for social media and internet search giants, would force it to introduce user verification checks, undermining their privacy. To avoid such a measure, Wikipedia had warned it could have to block millions of people in the UK from accessing the website with a quota-based system, making it harder for British users to access the site when they wanted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a judgment on Monday, Mr Justice Johnson said Wikipedia had failed to show the regulations, which cover large websites that allow user-generated posts, were flawed or based on irrational decisions by ministers and officials. The judge said officials were merely enforcing the Online Safety Act as written. The claimants have not identified any basic flaw in the logic or reasoning that Ofcom applied, and which officials approved, and the Secretary of State accepted, the judgment said. The case did not rule, however, on whether Wikipedia should in fact be classed as a category one service. Ofcom has yet to officially decide whether to include Wikipedia in the category. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judgment said such a decision would have to be justified as proportionate if it were not to amount to a breach of the right to freedom of expression under the Human Rights Act. It added that any decision that has a significant impact on Wikipedias ability to operate would, in the absence of justification, likely be unlawful. Phil Bradley-Schmieg, a lawyer for Wikipedia, said: While the decision does not provide the immediate legal protections for Wikipedia that we hoped for, the courts ruling emphasised the responsibility of Ofcom and the UK Government to ensure Wikipedia is protected as the Online Safety Act is implemented. Critics have warned the Online Safety Act is increasing censorship of the web, with social media sites blocking posts that could be judged as harmful to children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Elon Musks X said the rules amounted to censorship and that free speech will suffer on the web. Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform, has called for the law to be repealed. 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. NEED TO KNOW Roy Hughes died unexpectedly at his Dallas-based home at age 17 on Friday, Aug. 8 The student and track star's death came several days before he was set to start his senior year of high school Hughes' cause of death has yet to be determined, but an autopsy is underway Roy Hughes, a track star at his Texas high school, died unexpectedly at his home on Friday, Aug. 8. He was 17 years old. The Dallas native, who was a student at Lincoln High School, was found unresponsive in his Texas-based residency after officers were called to the scene around noon local time, police said, according to Fox 4 News, ABC affiliate WFAA and the Dallas Morning News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hughes' mom, Virginia Mosley, told Fox 4 News that her son had attended practice earlier that morning and when he went home afterward, he fell asleep and never woke up. Dallas Fire-Rescue reportedly arrived to the home and pronounced Hughes dead. He was set to start his senior year of high school four days later on Tuesday, Aug. 12. An autopsy is being performed to determine the cause of Hughes' death, according to the Dallas Morning News. Lincoln High School posted a tribute to the star student athlete after his death via a post on social media, describing him as a "true model" and "a respectful young man with a heart of gold." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We mourn the loss and honor the life and legacy of Legendary Roy Lee Hughes-a true MODEL who Defied the Odds and Defined Excellence. A respectful young man with a heart of gold, he became a state champion through discipline humility & an unshakable commitment to his team & school," reads the X post. A balloon release was held in Hughes' honor on Sunday, Aug. 10, at Lincoln High School. It was attended by friends and family of the late teen. We mourn the loss and honor the life and legacy of Legendary Roy Lee Hughes-a true MODEL who Defied the Odds and Defined Excellence. A respectful young man with a heart of gold, he became a state champion through discipline humility & an unshakable commitment to his team & school pic.twitter.com/uY93x7HDuA The Legendary Lincoln HS (@LegendaryLHS) August 10, 2025 Hughes' older brother, Timad Cotton, attended the event, where he told Fox 4 of his sibling, "He was always a good person, had a good heart for everybody," Timmy Williams, another brother of Hughes, also shared heartfelt words to the outlet in his name. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. "I just wanna say, grateful for what he did and thankful for what he did, he's gonna push us forward all the way through now," Williams said of Hughes. Hughes was a standout track star and state champion athlete. He won the 4A state title in 2025 for the 300 hurdles with a time of 36.58. Read the original article on People Steven Udas has been arrested seven times for panhandling in Hillsborough County this year. The first couple of times, he was found guilty and spent a few nights in jail. Each time he was released, he made another cardboard sign asking for a job and accepted dollar bills from drivers as he walked between cars stopped at red lights. On a Monday morning in South Tampa, he found himself back in jail. But this time, his assistant public defender tried something different. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jake Pinckney asked a judge to dismiss the case because Hillsborough Countys ordinance was unconstitutional. He wrote in a motion that the policy on panhandling was specifically intended to protect public safety, but it is used to justify arresting homeless people when there is no legitimate threat to public safety. Pinckney argued that enforcement of the ordinance violated the First Amendment by preventing people from exercising their freedom of speech in public. On July 28, Judge Jeffrey Rich agreed. More than 40 pending street solicitation cases were dismissed, according to a social media post from the public defenders office, including four open cases against Udas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neither Pinckney nor Hillsborough County Public Defender Lisa McLean responded to requests for comment, though the office issued a statement saying Pinckney demonstrated stellar advocacy by challenging the ordinance. The decision marks a potential shift in Tampa Bays policies on street solicitation, said Donald Whitehead, the executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless. This is absolutely the correct decision, Whitehead said. Fining, jailing or handcuffing someone doesnt solve homelessness. Whitehead said the county rules prohibiting street solicitation are one step in criminalizing homelessness, a process he said is becoming more common across the country after President Donald Trumps July executive order targeting public sleeping. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida also has a law banning public sleeping that went into effect in October, which allows people to sue cities and counties if they dont enforce the measure. When homeless people are arrested, jailed or fined, Whitehead said, they often lose access to crucial mental health, substance abuse and housing services. Every time theres another mark on their criminal history, it makes it that much harder to get housing or employment, he said. This criminalization prevents people from moving forward in their pursuit of ending homelessness. Richs decision could mean Hillsborough County has to rewrite its street solicitation ordinance. A spokesperson for the county attorneys office said it was planning to appeal the decision. The ordinance is still legally enforceable. In the two weeks since the July 28 decision, six street solicitation cases were filed in Hillsborough County, according to court records. At first, it might sound paradoxical a committed anarchist choosing to join the army. Yet for Ukrainian artist David Chichkan, enlisting in the Armed Forces in 2024 was driven by the very political ideals that defined his world view. Davids military service deeply resonated with his life-long and unwavering stance of resistance to any neo-fascist, imperialist or chauvinist force, Chichkans friend, filmmaker Oleksiy Radynski, told the Kyiv Independent. For him just like for so many of us in Ukraine the Russian army actually exemplified modern fascism: a point that is still difficult to comprehend for much of the global public. On Aug. 9, during a combat mission repelling a Russian infantry assault on the Zaporizhzhia front in the south of Ukraine, Chichkan sustained a fatal injury. His heart fell silent the following day, the United Anti-Authoritarian Forces of Ukraine, a collective of fellow leftist soldiers, announced on Aug. 10. Chichkan is survived by his wife and young son. Chichkan is among the 221 writers, artists, scholars, and other cultural figures who have been killed, whether in Russian attacks on civilians or while serving at the front, since the start of Russias full-scale war against Ukraine, according to the monitoring service They Were Killed by Russia. An artistic vision for democratic Ukraine Born in Kyiv in 1986, Chichkan descends from a family of artists whose history traces the arc of Ukraines turbulent 20th century. Among them was his great-grandfather, Leonid Chichkan, a socialist painter whose works once a core part of the Kherson Art Museums collection were among those looted by Russian forces during the 2022 occupation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chichkans artwork confronts structures of power with unflinching clarity and intensity, ultimately capturing the fraught pulse of a nation fighting to defend its sovereignty. "David did not like being called an artist," art critic Kostiantyn Doroshenko told the Kyiv Independent. "A 'drawer' that is how he defined his artistic work, seeing it as one of the means of communicating social, emancipatory, and anarchist ideas." Champions of social justice from throughout Ukraines history informed Chichkan's creative output. Among them was 19th-century author Lesia Ukrainka, celebrated not only for her literary prowess but also for her advocacy of womens rights and her rejection of all forms of oppression. The legacy 20th-century anarchist revolutionary Nestor Makhno, commander of the Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine during the Ukrainian War of Independence, also deeply resonated with Chichkan. Still, Chichkan became the target of a vocal cohort of conservative critics who at times even lumped his left-wing politics in with supporters of the Soviet Union despite his own view that such leftists were authoritarian-leaning, and therefore also his ideological enemy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His views often seemed too radical for our society which is heavily affected by individualistic and conservative ideas. His artwork was critical to the existing mainstream and he was courageous enough to raise sensitive issues, Chichkans friend Vitalii Dudin, an activist with the NGO Social Movement, told the Kyiv Independent. At times, this refusal to engage with his artistic vision or the conviction underpinning his political beliefs sparked violent reprisals. In 2017, around 15 masked right-wing militants forcibly entered Chichkans exhibition Lost Opportunity, at Kyivs Center for Visual Culture. In the exhibition, Chichkans work lingered on a question that has haunted Ukraine since 2014: whether the EuroMaidan Revolution had realized the goal to improve Ukrainian society it had set out to achieve. The masked men assaulted the security personnel and destroyed a number of Chichkans artworks. They spray-painted insults on the walls, including accusations that Chichkan was somehow loyal to Moscow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Calling him pro-Russian was total bullsh*t," journalist Katerina Sergatskova, who was a friend of Chichkan's, told the Kyiv Independent. "He saw himself as a proud patriot of Ukraine." "He consciously felt his Ukrainianness, as he saw the project of Ukrainian identity in the struggle against all injustice," Chichkans friend and fellow soldier Lesyk, who asked to be identified only by his call sign, added. The attack targeting his Kyiv exhibition was one of the most infamous, although it wouldnt be the last. His exhibition With Ribbons and Flags at the Odesa National Art Museum was canceled in January 2024 after an online campaign expressed anger with how his work prior to 2022 engaged with depictions of the more contentious moments in Ukraines military history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The planned exhibitions artwork portrayed Ukraines military through the connecting threads of feminism, social equality, and anti-authoritarianism, emphasizing the power of solidarity in achieving these ideals for a democratic Ukraine. "Anti-authoritarian defenders of Ukraine," 2022. Size A4, liner and watercolor on paper. (David Chichkan/Facebook) I am a bearer of anti-authoritarian leftist views. Accordingly, those who hold right-wing authoritarian views try to hinder my work; to do this, they deliberately misinterpret my output, Chichkan told Suspilne in response to the exhibitions cancellation in 2024. People reacted this way because they did not want to understand what my images were about; instead, they listened not to my explanation, but to those false interpretations." In a post on her personal Facebook page, Chichkans wife, Anna, called out those who had rejected his political and artistic vision during his lifetime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I wish those who harassed and insulted him, disrupted his exhibitions, and threatened him would apologize and that those who allowed it all would at least feel remorse now, she wrote. He died fighting on the front lines, having spent a year in hell itself, while armchair patriots criticized him from the rear for being leftist. They will all have to live with that. The artist as a soldier Initially unable to serve in 2022 due to his health, Chichkan remained engaged in supporting Ukraines Armed Forces through his artistic practice up until 2024, when he was finally able to enlist. Determined to contribute where he could make the greatest impact in defending Ukraine, Chichkan ultimately chose a combat unit where he served as a mortar operator. Lesyk, who served in a different battalion of the Territorial Defense Forces, described Chichkan as someone who was "not reckless but never refused to carry out tasks under even the most difficult conditions." "Lesia Ukrainka and Taras Shevchenko defend Ukraine," 2022. Size A4, liner and watercolor on paper. (David Chichkan/Facebook) Chichkan also never made any effort to secure better conditions for himself, despite his international profile as an artist, and shouldered his responsibilities like any other soldier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Together with his brothers- and sisters-in-arms, he dug, carried, equipped, loaded, aimed, fired, and carried out everyday tasks, never shirking physical labor, Lesyk said. Though opportunities to continue creating art at the front were scarce, Chickhan nonetheless found ways to express his creativity in his interactions with fellow soldiers. With his depth of knowledge and being so well-read despite lacking formal higher education David became (his fellow soldiers) guide into the world of Ukrainian history and literature, art, and global leftist thought." Chichkan saw the promotion of radical left ideas among his fellow soldiers as one of his most important missions as part of Ukraines Armed Forces, Radynski added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In this sense, his army service was nothing but a logical next step in both his political and artistic trajectories, which were inseparable for him. Note from the author: Hi, this is Kate Tsurkan, thanks for reading this article. It's soul crushing to have to introduce you to the work of yet another artist in their obituary, but sadly, that's what is happening due to Russia's all-out war of total annihilation. Supporting Ukrainian culture is more important than ever. If you like reading about this sort of thing, please consider supporting The Kyiv Independent. Read also: Ukrainian author-turned-soldier takes aim at Westerners abstract pacifism Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Twelve-year old Sadae Kasaoka (birth name Hiraoka ), a first-year student at a girls high school, was at home with her grandmother on Aug. 6, 1945, enjoying a beautiful morning and doing housework because she had not been mobilized for war work. Decades later, Kasaoka recalls that she saw a brilliant flash of light about 8 :15 a.m. that was a beautiful color like the sunrise mingled with orange, and then hearing a tremendous bomb. The first atomic bomb used in warfare had just detonated 1.900 feet above Hiroshima. Kasaoka was slightly more than than two miles from ground zero, at the time of the explosion. The windows shattered and her face was cut by shards of flying glass. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sadaes mother died in the explosion. Her father had been terribly burned ; he died two days later. She became a hibakushathe Japanese word for people who survived the bombings, and as such became a victim of discrimination. Hibakusha are often denied jobs and shunned as marriage partners due to the widespread but erroneous belief that the consequences of radiation sickness are hereditary or even contagious. Kasaoka found work with the Hiroshima Prefectural Office and entered into an arranged marriage with another hibakusha ; they had two children but he died of cancer at 35, presumably due to his exposure to the radiation. Kasaoka continued to work as an employee of the Hiroshima Prefectural Office and raised her children. In 2005 she became a registered A-bomb witness with the city of Hiroshima ; for the past 20 years she has shared her experiences with overseas visitors and school students. Kasaoka will be the featured speaker Tuesday when the Battleship Missouri Memorial observes the 80th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with a commemorative ceremony aboard the historic warship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I want the people of Hawaii to know that Hiroshima was the first city in history to experience an atomic bombing, and that the city was reduced to ashes in an instant, and many innocent lives were lost, Kasaoka said via email through a translator. At the USS Missouri Memorial, I will mainly share my experience as an atomic bomb survivor. I also want to express my gratitude and speak about the importance of peace and compassion. I know that many people from Hiroshima came to Hawaii before the war, seeking work. When the war began, some lost their homes. After the bombing, we received warm and generous support from people in the United States, including those in Hawaii. The ceremony will include a formal Hawaiian and Japanese blessing, remarks from leaders representing the City and County of Honolulu and the City of Hiroshima, the grand opening of White Flash, Black Rain, a new temporary exhibit documenting the immediate impact and enduring legacy of the bombings, and presentations by two Oahu high school students, Hiroshima Peace Scholarship recipients Mia Nishiguchi of Kalani High School and Chloe Tonda of Punahou School, who participated in a Japan-America Society of Hawaii ceremonial visit to Hiroshima for the 80th anniversary observances on Wednesday. Nishiguchi and Tonda recall hearing about Hiroshima and Nagasaki as children but the bombings took on greater personal significance for them in high school. Peace advocacy is really important, and in order to advocate for something, you have to be educated about it, Tonda said. The (scholarship ) program was an opportunity for me to better understand that history in current events and from the past. Just because the war doesnt affect you directly, doesnt mean you shouldnt care about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White Flash, Black Rain exhibit will be on display through February. It includes artifacts on loan from the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. Of special interest are origami cranes folded by Sadako Sasaki, a young victim of the bombing of Hiroshima, who famously folded more than 1, 300 origami cranes before she died of leukemia at the age of 12 in 1955. There are also origami cranes folded by former President Barack Obama for his visit to Hiroshima in 2016. Nishiguchi and Tonda took 1, 000 folded cranes to Hiroshima and presented them at the Childrens Peace Monument. They also visited the Peace Park and the Peace Memorial Museum, participated in a peace forum with Japanese high school students, attended the the Peace Memorial Ceremony on Wednesday, visited the school that Kasaoka had attended in 1945, and made a courtesy visit to the deputy mayor of Hiroshima. It was a busy week and Tonda and Nishiguchi returned home with fresh insights into the bombings and their legacy. One thing to share is how essential peace building is, especially in todays political climate, Nishiguchi said. Its definitely something that we can incorporate into our policies, our communities and even in our day-to-day lives. Even if its something thats not huge, but if its a small step that everyone can take, I think that can have a really big ripple effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eighty years after the morning that changed her life forever, Kasaoka hopes sharing her experiences will encourage people everywhere to help prevent future use of nuclear weapons. Hibakushathe survivors of the atomic bombinghave always said they dont want anyone else to suffer as they did, she said. I hope more people will learn about what really happened in Hiroshima, and join us in working toward a world without war and without nuclear weaponsa world where everyone can live in peace. MEMORIAL EVENT Honoring 80 years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Where : Battleship Missouri Memorial, Ford Island, Pearl Harbor When : 10 a.m. Tuesday Admission : Free for people attending the ceremony To attend : email RSVP @USSMissouri.org Note : Parking is available at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial visitor center. Transportation to the Battleship Missouri Memorial is by shuttle bus ; the shuttle bus station is located in the right of the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum. All persons boarding the shuttle bus to the Battleship Missouri Memorial should be prepared to show a valid government-issued photo ID ; international visitors should be prepared to show their passport. Pilots from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) have said they hope to be the "magical ingredient" for commemorations marking the 80th anniversary of VJ Day. A Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster, operated by the RAF Coningsby-based team, will join the Red Arrows in a flypast over the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire on 15 August. The display will form part of a commemorative event hosted by the Royal British Legion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sqn Ldr Mark Sugden said: "We will be on the world stage, but it's something that we're used to. We need to make sure that we are representing a hugely significant day in style." The BBMF's Lancaster bomber will form part of the flypast [BBC] VJ Day, or Victory over Japan Day, is commemorated on 15 August each year, marking the date in 1945 when Japan surrendered to the Allied forces, ending World War Two. Sqn Ldr Sugden added: "It's about putting our tribute to the huge sacrifice of all the men and women who served during the 1940s." "Everybody has, however tenuous, a tie to these aeroplanes and what they represent. "So I'm hoping we're the magical ingredient on Friday, and we're really looking forward to being there." Sqn Ldr Paul Wise points out the flypast is subject to weather conditions, but says he has his "fingers crossed" [BBC] What is VJ Day? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sqn Ldr Paul Wise said: "It's the honour. It's what we represent. We live for events like this. "Those freedoms that we enjoy today, they were hard fought and won by people from our local communities. So it's our way of making sure that their memory continues." The event will also include veterans' testimonies, music performances and readings. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here. Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices More on this story Related internet links HMRC has admitted for the first time that it uses artificial intelligence (AI) to spy on taxpayers social media posts. The tax authority examines workers financial records, spending habits and tax returns to look for evidence of cheating as well as posts on the internet. A spokesman insisted the tools were only deployed for social media monitoring in criminal investigations with robust safeguards in place. It is understood this has been the case for a number of years, and that all uses of the controversial technology by the tax office are within the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, advances in AI are likely to raise concerns about whether HMRC could in future deploy the technology more widely. Bob Blackman, a senior Conservative MP, said: If they suddenly start taking legal action against individuals based on that, it seems draconian and very challenging to put it mildly. Youve got to have a check and balance. The risk is that AI gets it wrong and someone is pilloried it seems a bit strange if they start doing that with AI. Without a human check, you can see theres going to be a problem. The tools used to examine social media in criminal cases exist alongside Connect, a separate IT system used by HMRC to examine financial data for routine tax investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Connect system was first developed over a decade ago, but is thought to be increasingly important as HMRC tries to save money by relying less on human beings to carry out its investigations. It uses billions of data points including information to spot signs of tax evasion. Rachel Reeves is hoping to make up 7bn of the 47bn tax gap by identifying those who have not paid enough into the national purse. Improvements to the AI software could hold the key to achieving this, after officials last month unveiled plans envisioning its use in everyday tax processes at HMRC. In a 63-page document, HMRC said its staff will use AI to identify suspected tax evaders and send out automated nudges asking them to pay what they owe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report suggests use of AI within HMRC will become increasingly widespread, with staff currently using chatbots to summarise calls with customers and perform basic administrative tasks. Risks of Horizon Post Office-type scandal The groundwork for the embrace of AI technology appears to have been laid in May, when Labour changed the departments privacy policy. A statement that appears to have been removed said: HMRCs use of AI does not replace human judgement when collecting taxes or determining benefits, and our customer services processes always involve human agents. It now states: Where the use of AI could impact customer outcomes, HMRC makes sure that the results are explainable, there is human involvement [and] we are compliant with our data protection, security, and ethical standards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senior MPs raised concerns that troves of personal data could be used to make important tax decisions without human judgement possibly leading to errors. Sir John Hayes, a former security minister and chairman of the Common Sense Group of Tory MPs, said: Where confidential or sensitive material is concerned, people need to be assured that human beings with experience, common sense and judgement are making decisions. Automated processes remove human interactions. I would be very concerned that we will end up with a Horizon Post Office-type scandal. Sir John, who has raised questions in Parliament about the use of AI by the HMRC, added: The idea that a machine must always be right is what led to the Post Office scandal. I am a huge AI sceptic. Tax investigators already using AI Fears were raised that AI has already been handed key decision-making powers over peoples tax affairs after a legal battle led to the tax office being ordered last week to reveal its use of the software. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It came after tax advisors complained AI was used by HMRC when processing applications for tax reliefs that are available to certain businesses. Tom Elsbury, a tax expert, sent a Freedom of Information request in December 2023 to the tax office after he and colleagues concluded AI was used when assessing applications for tax credits by companies conducting research and development activities. HMRC refused to fulfil the request, and the decision was upheld by the information watchdog, but a First-tier Tribunal ruled on Friday that the Government must reveal whether it used AI by September 18. Ministers have insisted that there is always a human in the loop when AI is used for decision-making in Whitehall, while HMRC stated humans will always have the final say in matters that affect people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A similar project to expand AI uses is also being undertaken by the Department for Work and Pensions. It recently took part in a trial that saw 20,000 civil servants use AI technology for three months to draft documents and summarise meetings. A HMRC insider told The Telegraph that officials had asked a dozen tech companies to come up with ways AI could be used to tackle Britains 46.8bn unpaid tax bill which is thought to be mostly hidden in offshore bank accounts. AI assistants Government sources said the main use of AI by the taxman was to create two assistants to help the public fill in their tax returns and compliance officers to read them. The customer-facing tool is designed to warn users if they look likely to be submitting false information, based on patterns the system can spot in other users. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the AI tells a user that their return may be wrong, then it could serve as an official warning by HMRC, and lead to a faster crackdown by the authorities if they are later found to have lied, sources said. Compliance officers working at HMRC have also been given AI assistants that they use to sift through data, which ministers think will make the department faster and more efficient at spotting potential tax evasion. However, one source acknowledged that AI tools can make mistakes, and that the Governments new system could introduce errors. A HMRC spokesman said: Use of AI for social media monitoring is restricted to criminal investigations and subject to legal oversight. AI supports our processes but like all effective use of this new technology it has robust safeguards in place and does not replace human decision-making. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Greater use of AI will enable our staff to spend less time on admin and more time helping taxpayers, as well as better target fraud and evasion to bring in more money for public services. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The year is 2025. The worlds surface area is approximately 57.5 million square miles, but for one reason or another, the majority of tourists find themselves fighting for towel space on small stretches of beach, overlooked by locals screaming at them to go home. Last week, the chief executive of the worlds biggest hotel-booking firm proposed a novel solution to the thorny state of mass tourism: holiday roulette. Glenn Fogel, from Booking.coms parent company, told the BBC Today programme that visitor numbers to some overcrowded holiday destinations ought to be limited by a combination of higher cost and lottery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Fogel said: Its not for us to try to steer somebody somewhere. Thats not my job. My jobs not to propagandise and try and force somebody to go some place else. Look, somebody wants to come to London because thats their dream of their lifetime to visit London. Lets face it, you havent lived if you havent been to London. Who am I to try and tell them: No no no. You dont get to go to London, you only get to go to Birmingham. I like the idea of both higher cost and lottery, so its not just restricted only to the elite to visit London. I think that would be a bad thing for the world. Glenn Fogel, chief executive of Booking.coms parent company, has proposed that visitor numbers to overcrowded destinations be limited by a combination of higher cost and lottery - Wei leng Tay The idea of pricing people out of holidays to reduce numbers has been discussed before, and the moral pitfalls of such an argument are fairly obvious. But the notion of a lottery system is more unique. How would it work? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ticket lotteries do already exist in tourism, albeit on smaller scales. At many US national parks, a limited number of permits are issued for certain activities. For example, in the Grand Canyon only 450 people are given permission to raft the Colorado River each year, and in Yosemite National Park a maximum of 300 hikers can embark on the Half Dome Trail per day. In both cases, the tickets are allocated using a randomised lottery system. The Faroe Islands has previously run a volunteer tourism program on a lottery basis. On some Antarctic cruises, there are limits on how many people can go kayaking, camping or snowshoeing, so lottery systems are used to decide who can enjoy the experience. Justin Francis, the chief executive of Responsible Travel, told The Telegraph: From Wimbledon to Glastonbury and popular gigs, most of us will be familiar with a lottery ticket system for when demand outstrips supply. A lottery system limits numbers through chance rather than price, and that feels fairer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think that when combined with other measures they could be an effective and widely used strategy for managing overtourism. In Venice, day-tripping visitors already have to pay 5 per day to enter the city. If they are serious about bringing numbers down, why not issue a limited number of tickets via a lottery system? Day trippers must pay 5 to enter the city of Venice - Andrea Merola The principle could apply to other destinations. In Dubrovnik, there are three main gates into the city which could easily have turnstiles fitted if the city mayor so desired. Overcrowded islands could easily adopt such a measure, too. Ile-de-Brehat, off the coast of Brittany in France, already limits daily arrivals to 4,700. Some beaches have imposed a daily capacity too, such as Calanque de Sugiton in France or Praia das Catedrais in Galicia. In all cases, a lottery system might be the fairest solution to distributing spots, if demand becomes untenable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But when you try to apply the principle at a wider scale, the idea quickly falls down. How, for example, would you possibly police a lottery system in a capital city like London, as Mr Fogel suggests? Lottery systems only work when you have a barrier or gate to check tickets, says Justin Francis. It might work at the Picasso Museum in Barcelona, but its hard to see how you would prevent people taking a stroll down Las Ramblas. Gross simplification There are other pitfalls. An exclusive ticketing system opens itself up to the world of illegal touts, and there is the small matter of coordinating larger groups. What if you wished to meet friends at a destination, or attend a wedding? When you dig down, the suggestion that higher cost and lottery could fix overtourism is a gross simplification of the quite broad issues at hand here. Susan Deer, director of industry relations at ABTA the travel association, said: There isnt going to be a single solution to overtourism as its a complex issue and not always just about the number of visitors. Destinations are all different and have their own challenges, so any approach needs to be part of a wider destination management strategy to achieve sustainable tourism. A lottery-type approach may work for some destinations and attractions in terms of managing visitor flows, but wont address other issues, such as lack of availability of affordable housing for local people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All credit to Mr Fogel for putting his chips on the table. No idea is a bad idea, and all that. But as a sweeping fix for overtourism, the idea of restricting numbers using a holiday roulette system is a miss, whichever way you spin it. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Israel Police have detained a suspect who allegedly graffitied the Western Wall complex and the Great Synagogue with an antisemitic message. Antisemitic graffiti was found at several places in Jerusalem on Monday, including at the Western Wall and the Great Synagogue. There is a Holocaust in Gaza, said the graffiti in Hebrew. Security guards noticed the graffiti near Mugrabi Gate in the morning and alerted the Israel Police. The police discovered that a suspect had also allegedly written a similar message on the wall of the Great Synagogue in central Jerusalem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The graffiti was removed from the Western Wall by Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) conservation professionals. The conservators had used specialized methods and materials for graffiti removal from antiquities sites, which are water-based and do not cause harm to the surface of the ancient stone, the IAA said. They completely removed the graffiti and restored the stones to their original state, it said. Damage to antiquities sites constitutes a serious violation of the law and, of course, of our shared cultural heritage, said Ami Shahar, head of the IAAs Conservation Division. The offense is all the more severe when it concerns the Western Wall a site of immense historical, cultural, and religious significance. Dr. Amit Reem, an IAA Jerusalem District archeologist, said: The construction of the Western Wall, carried out about 2,000 years ago during the Second Temple period, is truly a marvel: the use of massive stones, each weighing several tons; the absolute precision of the construction; the impressive dimensions; and the engineering design unparalleled in the ancient world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the IAA, we continue to study the Wall from every angle, uncovering its secrets time and again, he said. At the same time, through ongoing operations, we act to prevent any damage to it and to ensure that all can continue to be inspired by this wonder. The police detained a 27-year-old Jerusalem resident for questioning. The police were expected to request that his detention be extended. The suspect was also detained in Tel Aviv last week for vandalizing a photo of a soldier who was killed in the Israel-Hamas War. Responses to the graffiti Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, rabbi of the Western Wall and the Holy Sites, condemned the act of desecration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A holy place is not a place to express protests, he said, adding that the police should locate the perpetrator and act appropriately. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich wrote on X/Twitter: They have forgotten what it means to be Jewish. Those who are capable of defiling [the stones] with sickening antisemitic blood libels have forgotten what it means to be Jewish. Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz said: Vandalizing the stones of the Western Wall, the holiest site for the Jewish people, is a crime against all of Israel. I call on the police to investigate and bring the criminals to justice. Defense Minister Israel Katz wrote on X: Desecration of the Western Wall, one of the holiest sites for the Jewish people, is a vile act and a crossing of a redline that cannot be tolerated. Education Minister Yoav Kisch wrote: The Western Wall is the place where generations of Jews stood in prayer and tears. It is a symbol of the unity and eternity of the Jewish people. Harming it is harming us all. A take-at-home tablet could boost the way cancer patients respond to chemotherapy, according to the medical experts who developed it. The drug, known as KCL-HO-1i, works by disarming a defence mechanism that tumours use to protect themselves. Early tests on mice found the drug even helped chemotherapy-resistant tumours to respond to treatment. It is hoped KCL-HO-1i can be trialled on humans, with researchers suggesting it could one day be a valuable companion drug to chemotherapy, helping patients to avoid more aggressive treatments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chemotherapy is used to treat many kinds of cancer and works by disrupting the way cancer cells grow and divide. However, it is not as effective as it should be in some patients because the bodys own immune cells can act as a barrier around tumours. These cells produce a protein called heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which helps shield the tumour from the immune system and block the effects of chemotherapy. Exciting step forward KCL-HO-1i, created at Kings College London (KCL), targets this protein to make tumours more responsive to treatment. Prof James Arnold, the head of the tumour immunology group at the university, said it discovered the cells responsible for protecting the bodys immune system play a key role in blocking chemotherapy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement |He said: By targeting the enzyme they produce using KCL-HO-1i, we were able to help beneficial immune cells and chemotherapy drugs become significantly more effective. In laboratory models, even chemotherapy-resistant tumours became responsive to treatment, which is a really exciting step forward. The drug has been designed for patients to take at home as a tablet between chemotherapy sessions. Spin-out company Early tests on mice, with the results published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, found the drug made breast cancer tumours more responsive to different types of chemotherapy. Researchers are now hopeful that trials involving patients with breast cancer and other forms of the disease could begin within two years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prof James Spicer, a professor of experimental cancer medicine at KCL, said: Chemotherapy remains a key part of treatment for many patients with cancer, but too often it is not as effective or long-lasting as we might like. This research has identified a key reason for these limitations, and discovered a drug that we are keen to test in the clinic alongside established chemotherapy drugs. Miraz Rahman, a professor of medicinal chemistry at KCL, added: If human trials are successful, KCL-HO-1i could become a valuable companion drug to existing cancer therapies helping more patients to benefit from the treatments that are already available and reduce the need for more aggressive cancer therapies in the future. The Kings College London scientists have launched a spin-out company called Aethox Therapeutics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tanya Hollands, the research information manager at Cancer Research UK, which supported the study alongside funding from the Medical Research Council, said: Researchers are increasingly learning how to make better use of existing cancer treatments, whether its using them differently or in combination with new medicines, like this work suggests. Using combination therapies can help bring improved treatment options to patients more quickly, safely and affordably, because some components of the treatment have already been tested and used in the clinic. While early stage, its exciting to see this potential new way to disarm cancers ability to avoid detection by the immune system with a new drug, while also boosting the effectiveness of chemotherapy, and we look forward to seeing how this work progresses. 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. Some 30 residents have been forced to leave their homes after a burst water main in north London left some areas under about 40cm (16in) of water. About 70 firefighters were deployed to the incident on Canonbury Street, Islington, just before 22:00 BST on Sunday, where they used flood barriers and sandbags to divert flood water away from homes, London Fire Brigade (LFB) said. People are being advised to avoid the area, including Essex Road, Elmore Street, Halliford Street and Ecclesbourne Road and urged not to drive through flood water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Supplier Thames Water said it was "working to stop the flow of water from the burst pipe" and that it would then focus on locating the damage and fixing it. The provider said addresses in some areas had no water supply on Monday morning, while others were experiencing low pressure. Barriers to divert water from homes were erected in the early hours of Monday [Ben Esdale] 'A river in the street' A video filmed by LFB appeared to show deep water gushing along a road lined with cars. Canonbury Street resident Ben Esdale told the BBC he first saw water "gurgling" up through his bath plughole on Sunday evening. He then looked over the balcony of his first-floor flat to see "a massive pool of water". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Then I looked out the front and it was like a little geyser in the middle of the road shooting water up into the air. "It was literally like a river in the street". Mr Esdale, 29, said that, shortly afterwards, a ground floor resident called on neighbours to come along with towels to help mop up water entering his home. "It was all hands on deck to help our friend on the ground floor. "There were about five of us on towel duty because water was coming into his living room. "We were just piling the towels down and then on rotation we were running into the bathroom, ringing them out, bringing them back, ringing them out. We had mops, every cloth, because it was just coming in." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also described cars on the road as being "under a foot of water". The water flow has now stopped, but the affected areas have been covered with a "layer of dirt" and some cars have been flooded, Mr Esdale says. Thames Water said it had stopped the flow of water and the area had been made safe [BBC] Canonbury Street is closed while repairs are carried out [BBC] Thames Water apologised for disruption to the local water supply, but has not said how many properties were affected. The supplier said: "We have now managed to stop the flow of water and ensure that the site is safe. "We have also been able to move parked cars which were over another critical water main." It added that it was assisting customers who had been affected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents who were asked to leave their homes have been supported by the local authority. Those who were unable to stay with friends or family were placed in temporary accommodation, Islington Council said. A spokesperson added: "We are working closely with Thames Water and the London Fire Brigade to resolve the situation, clean up the area and assess the damage. "Canonbury Street remains closed from Essex Road up to Aaron Walk. We ask the public to avoid the area while we carry out essential work." 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 Related internet links Aug. 10CANTON The Northern New York Nurse Honor Guard is preserving nursing history one tribute at a time, honoring fallen nurses with a solemn ceremony that celebrates their professional legacy. The volunteer organization, covering St. Lawrence, Jefferson and Lewis counties, performs memorial tributes at funeral services, wearing traditional white nursing uniforms complete with caps and navy blue capes. "We pay tribute to fallen nurses, going to funeral services to honor their memory," said Joanne Carkner, one of the organization's founders. The group has conducted approximately a dozen tributes since its inception. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During their ceremony, members ring a bell, recite a poem, and present families with a Florence Nightingale lamp, symbolizing the enduring light of the nursing profession. The group rings the bell three times, calling the nurse's name and symbolically relieving them of their final duty. "There's one of our members that she says, every time that last bell rings, it just gives her goose bumps, it just chokes her up," Michele Montroy, a co-founder of the group, said. Carkner and Montroy were inspired after attending a conference in Albany and seeing a Central New York group performing a ceremony. "We just had to do it for our county," Montroy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once they had the idea to offer the services, they set about spreading the word. "We started by going to some of the local funeral directors and speaking to them. Then the first or second tribute happened because a family member knew a fallen nurse," Carkner said. The group now uses multiple methods to connect with potential families: Proactively checking obituaries to offer their services. Receiving direct calls from funeral directors. Getting recommendations through family members who have seen their tributes. In addition to honoring nurses, the organization aims to reconnect with nursing's traditional roots and recognize the community contributions of nurses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to offering services for nurses who have passed away, they would also like to perform ceremonies for elderly nurses so that they can receive a tribute while they are still living. Currently comprising about 10 volunteers, they are seeking additional members to expand their mission. The group operates entirely through volunteer efforts and donations, participating in local events to raise awareness and potentially recruit new members. "It gives us a connection to our nursing roots and our profession," Joanne said. Nurses interested in joining the group or people interested in the services can contact Carkner at jocarkner@gmail.com or Montroy at michelemontroy@gmail.com. After the driest spring in more than a century, followed by the UKs hottest June on record, the first hosepipe bans of 2025 have been announced. In a report earlier this year, the Environment Agency warned that England faced major public water shortages unless urgent action was taken. In an effort to reduce the risk of shortages, the restrictions will ban the use of hosepipes for watering plants, washing windows, patios and cars, or filling paddling and swimming pools. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But is your area affected? On Friday 11 July, Yorkshire Water brought in the first hosepipe ban of the year. Hours later, South East Water announced that its own ban would be imposed from July 18. The temporary restrictions for customers in Kent and Sussex will impact more than a million households. The following week Thames Water announced a hosepipe ban for households in Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, most of Wiltshire and some parts of Berkshire. The ban was imposed on July 22 for millions of customers in all OX postcodes, all GL postcodes and all SN postcodes, as well as those in RG4, RG8 and RG9 postcodes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A ban was also extended to Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, as Southern Water announced restrictions to come into place from 9am on Monday 21 July. These restrictions have now all been imposed, and other water companies may follow suit if nothing significant changes. As the UK prepares for its fourth heatwave of the summer, more restrictions could be introduced in the coming weeks. 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. Hosepipe bans have been introduced across wide parts of England as Britons battle with consecutive heatwaves this summer and temperatures surpassing 30C. The UK is set to be hit by the fourth heatwave of the year over the coming days, with temperatures forecast to reach highs of 34C in the south. After the driest spring since 1893, swathes of the country are suffering drought conditions and water shortages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than 8.5 million UK households are now under hosepipe bans, with South East Water, Southern Water, Thames Water and Yorkshire Water bringing in restrictions following a spell of warm weather in July. For customers of Southern Water, the hosepipe ban continues for parts of Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Thames Waters hosepipe ban covers much of Swindon, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire. It affects all OX, GL and SN postcodes, alongside RG4, RG8, and RG9 postcodes. Announcing the ban, Thames Water said the UK has experienced one of its warmest and driest springs in over a century in 2025, adding that June was also Englands warmest on record. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats why we need to bring in a hosepipe ban. It will help protect the environment and make sure theres enough water to go around this summer. South East Water has also put 1.4 million of its customers in Kent and Sussex under a hosepipe ban after record levels of water consumption. Thames Water has brought in a temporary ban (Danny Lawson/PA) (PA) The water provider said that demand across the two counties had reached the highest levels this year and had now reached a point where they have exceeded the limits in the companys drought plan. They added that on 30 June, they supplied 680 million litres of water, more than 100 million litres more than the daily average for summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another hosepipe ban is also in effect across Yorkshire, affecting 5.5 million residents. Yorkshire Water said the region had both the driest and warmest spring on record this year, receiving just 15cm of rainfall between February and June, less than half the level expected in an average year. Water demand had also been higher than usual, the company said, leaving reservoirs at 55.8 per cent full, which is 26.1 per cent lower than normal. In late May, the Environment Agency also placed northwest England under drought status. They said at the time that reservoir storage levels were already lower than they were during the 1984, 1995 and 2022 drought years. Hot weather is set to return to Massachusetts this week as daily high temperatures climb into the 90s, according to the National Weather Service. Many communities are predicted to experience highs in the low to mid 90s from Monday to Thursday amid moderate humidity, according to the weather service. On these days, cities such as Boston, Lowell, New Bedford, Springfield and Worcester are expected to see temperatures in the high 80s to high 90s from sunup to sundown. On Monday, Boston and Worcesters peak temperatures are predicted to reach the low 90s by noon, while Springfield and Lowell are expected to be even hotter with highs of 95 and 97, respectively, according to the weather service. On Tuesday, New Bedford and Springfield are predicted to join Boston and Worcester with peak temperatures in the low 90s, while Lowells high is expected to reach 96 degrees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most communities will experience the hottest weather of the week on Wednesday, with Boston reaching 95 degrees by noon and Lowell reaching 96 by that time, according to the weather service. High temperatures in Worcester and Springfield are predicted to remain in the low 90s that day. Following a chance of showers across Massachusetts Wednesday night, the weather on Thursday is expected to be a bit cooler, according to the weather service. But even as the chance of rain continues throughout the day, highs in Boston, Lowell, New Bedford and Springfield are still predicted to reach the low 90s. Massachusetts is expected to finally experience some relief on Friday when somewhat cooler air arrives, according to the weather service. Highs in the low to mid 80s amid sunny skies are predicted for communities across the state as the week ends. More weather Read the original article on MassLive. A hotel could be legally liable for sex trafficking because it failed to intervene against a guest who wore "sexually explicit clothing" and had condoms in her room, according to a recent ruling from Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. Kacsmarykwho gained national notoriety a few years ago for a ruling that suspended approval of the abortion pill mifepristonedenied the hotel's motion to dismiss a civil suit that accused it of knowingly benefiting from participation in a sex trafficking venture. The lawsuit was brought by "J.H." against Paramount Hospitality, a company that manages hotels. J.H. alleges that she was trafficked for sex at a hotel owned and operated by Paramount Hospitality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paramount Hospitality filed motion to dismiss the suit. In an August 1 ruling, Kacsmaryk denied the hotel management company's motion to dismiss. The case raises a lot of alarmsand not about Paramount Hospitality. Part of a Dangerous Trend The suit turns on whether the hotel company violated the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008. That act amended the main federal anti-trafficking statute to allow sex trafficking victimsthat is, people forced, coerced, or defrauded into sex for moneyto not only sue their traffickers in civil court but also sue any entity that "knowingly benefits" or "attempts or conspires to benefit" from "participation in a venture" engaged in sex trafficking. The change may have been predicated on the common misconception that sex trafficking is frequently the work of higher profitable and organized trafficking "rings," instead of one or two low-level criminals victimizing those around them. The language would thus allow victims to go after these deep-pocketed rings instead of merely against a direct perpetrator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the law changed, we've seen all sorts of attempts to stretch what it means to "knowingly benefit" from a "sex trafficking venture." People have gone after classified ad websites, social media platforms, and hotels. In a sane judicial system, sex traffickers would be the main entity held liable for sex traffickingnot any old place where sex traffickers happen to be or advertise. But for reasons both political and financial, we've seen growing attempts to hold third parties legally liable for allegedly facilitating prostitution, whether it involves consenting adult sex workers or actual trafficking victims. The result is a lot of lawsuits against entities that have very dubious ties to traffickingand a growing push for surveillance, online and off, that seems to come down hardest on already marginalized groups and people. "Sexually Explicit Clothing" and "Drug Paraphernalia" The problem posed by cases like these is the knowing aspect. Sure, hotels may take money from people renting rooms, thereby "benefiting" from crime if their customers happen to be sex traffickers. But it's very hard to proveand hard to imaginethat these companies intended to be in league with sex traffickers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And indeed, most such cases present no evidence that hotel management or staff overtly did so. Rather, they rely on the idea that the hotels willfully ignored the "signs" of sex trafficking. In this case, J.H. says the hotel should have known she was being trafficked because there was "suspicious foot traffic" to her room and sometimes "loud noise" coming from it, because she wore "sexually explicit clothing," because she was "impaired" on meth and had "visible bruising," and because there were things such as "drug paraphernalia," a gun, and "condoms" in her room. That is, perhaps, a lot of suspicious elementsif you're some sort of omniscient hotel ruler who sees all and knows all. But it seems unlikely that any one staffer encountered all of these signs, or that workers who saw one thing would have felt compelled to talk about it with other staff members. Surely, hotel maids come across condoms and drug paraphernalia all the time and aren't running to hotel management every time they do. Anyone in a position to hear "loud noises" from J.H.'s room, or see "foot traffic" from it, wouldn't necessarily be in a position to see her at all, let alone up close enough to see any bruises. Likewise, someone who saw a scantily clad woman walking around like she was drunk or on drugs wouldn't necessarily know what was in her room, or who was coming and going from it. How Would This Work? The implication from suits like these is that hotel staff need to regard all customers with suspicion and be way more up in everyone's business. That they should call the cops if they see a woman who appears intoxicated or has men coming into her room, or perhaps refuse to do business with a woman dressed too immodestly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Can you imagine how this would play out in practice? It would certainly require hotels to reject (or call the cops on) anyone engaged in sex work, including legal sex work done entirely consensually. But it goes beyond that, of course. Asking hotel staff to recognize and act on vague "signs" of sex trafficking means asking them to intervene in all sorts of cases that will be nothing of the sort. It means asking them to harass women for traveling alone while being aloof or wearing a short skit. It means asking them to harass lovers meeting up for a hotel room tryst. It practice, it very likely means staff harassing interracial couples or multi-racial families, as we have seen with airline staff who were "trained" to "spot trafficking." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When hotel owners face huge lawsuits and fines for failing to profile people, you're going to end up with a lot of innocent people being harassed. No Way Out for the Accused The biggest problem with cases like these is what they mean for surveillance and profiling broadly. But it's also worth mentioning how hard cases like this are to defend. In this case, the alleged trafficking took place in almost a decade before the suit was filed, in 2015 and 2016. J.H. did not identify her alleged trafficker in her complaint against Paramount, and the court declined to make her do so. "The identity of Plaintiff's traffickers is of no import in the instant case," Kacsmaryk wrote. Defending against such a suit seems, on its face, nearly impossible. Since there is no named trafficker, the company can't even check whether such an individual even stayed at their hotels, let alone attempt to ascertain any facts that would allow for a defense in this case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps this will become an issue laterthere has not yet been a ruling on merits of the suit yet. But by denying Paramount Hospitality's motion to dismiss, Kacsmaryk is at least signaling that similar cases can have some legs, and companies will have to expend significant time and resources defending against even the flimsiest or most vague of allegations. Followup: Britain's Online Safety Act Comes for Reddit "On July 25, users in the UK were shocked and rightfully revolted to discover that their favorite Reddit communities were now locked behind age verification walls," the Electronic Frontier Foundation points out: Under the new policies, UK Redditors were asked to submit a photo of their government ID and/or a live selfie to Persona, the for-profit vendor that Reddit contracts with to provide age verification services. For many, this was the first time they realized what the [Online Safety Act] would actually mean in practiceand the outrage was immediate. As soon as the policy took effect, reports emerged from users that subreddits dedicated to LGBTQ+ identity and support, global journalism and conflict reporting, and even public health-related forums like r/periods, r/stopsmoking, and r/sexualassault were walled off to unverified users. A few more absurd examples of the communities that were blocked off, according to users, include: r/poker, r/vexillology (the study of flags), r/worldwar2, r/earwax, r/popping (the home of grossly satisfying pimple-popping content), and r/rickroll (yup). This is, again, exactly what digital rights advocates warned about. In related news, Reason's Jack Nicastro, visiting France, was asked to show age to view a Stossel tweet: Jack Nicastro/Reason For more on the fallout from this measure, see last Wednesday's newsletter. More Sex & Tech News In Germany, "the state media authorities want to force financial service providers to refuse payments to erotic portals such as Pornhub and Youpornincluding payments from adults," according to Heise News. "The legal basis for this is the new Interstate Treaty on the Protection of Minors in the Media." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida is purging young adult books that have sexual themes. "Broward school administrators have given schools a list of 55 books that must be removed, the latest move in a statewide effort to ban certain materials from school libraries," the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports: The list includes titles that have been frequently challenged in Florida and around the country, including: "Forever" by Judy Blume, "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" by Gregory Maguire, "This Book Is Gay," by Juno Dawson, and "All Boys Aren't Blue" by George M. Johnson. The district said the removals are by order of the state Board of Education. Other school districts in the state are removing these same books. Australia will include YouTube in its ban on social media for anyone under the age of 16. "In a small clinical trial, the first hormone-free birth control for malesa pill that stops sperm productionwas deemed safe for human use and approved for further clinical trials, after being found effective in animal studies," writes Naomi Darom at The Gender Nerd, in a post that explores whether men are likely to take a male birth control pill. Can AI reason by analogy, like human beings do? Today's Image Las Vegas | 2020 (ENB/Reason) ENB/Reason The post Hotel Sex Trafficking Suit Can Proceed, Inviting Hotels to Profile and Harass Guests appeared first on Reason.com. WEST HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) A single-family home in West Hartford has been deemed uninhabitable after a fire Sunday afternoon, according to fire crews. At about 3:52 p.m., crews received reports of a fire at 89 Thomas Street and responded to the scene in about four minutes. Man dies after drowning incident in Rocky Hill First responders said heavy smoke and flames were seen coming from the back of the home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the bulk of the fire was put out, crews saw the flames minorly spreading to the second floor. At approximately 4:13 p.m., the fire was placed under control. Officials said no one was injured and the residents of the home are being assisted by The Red Cross in relocation as a result of the incident. In a statement sent to News 8, the West Hartford Fire Department said: The West Hartford Fire Department would like to thank our dispatchers, WH Police Department, Hartford Fire Department, Newington Fire, UConn Fire and AMR who assisted at the scene, or by covering the Town while our units were committed to the fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. A house has been destroyed after a suspected gas explosion in Devon. Emergency services were called to Ladram Road near Otterton, at about 11:30 BST. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service confirmed a detached property was on fire and the road from Otterton Village to Ladram Bay would be closed for some time. Police said no-one had been injured and all people were accounted for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Insp Mat Helm from Devon and Cornwall Police said the road had been closed for "public safety and to facilitate emergency service access". The fire service said the property was well-alight when firefighters arrived and there were units from six fire stations at the scene. It said crews had "split the incident into two sectors" to prevent the fire from spreading. Ladram Bay Holiday Park, which is nearby on Ladram Road, said on Facebook: "Due to circumstances out of our control, the road in and out to Ladram Bay Holiday Park is currently closed. "We will keep you updated once we know more. Sorry for the inconvenience caused." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wales and West Utilities said teams attended the incident and found "severe structural damage" to the property. Dan Lawrence, the company's emergency service manager for Devon, said they were supporting police and fire services to make the area safe. "There is no gas mains network in the area, and so the explosion is not related to natural gas," he said. "We will continue to support the emergency services who remain in control at the scene." Follow BBC Devon on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. Related internet links FRANKLIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A man was arrested after a house fire in Franklin County on Monday morning. The Chambersburg Police Department says their investigation with the Fire Marshal determined that the fire on the 100 block of S. Second Street was suspicious. As a result, police say Christopher Diaz, 19, was arrested and will be charged with arson, causing or risking catastrophe, and theft. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Alerts Photos from Greater Chambersburg Area Paid Fire Fighters Association, IAFF Local 1813 show crews at the fire across from the Borough offices. The roadway was closed as firefighters responded to the scene, but has since reopened. This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. House Republicans moved quickly Monday to follow President Donald Trumps lead as he took unprecedented action to target Washingtons locally elected government further heightening the GOPs scrutiny of the capital city and its Democratic elected leaders. Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) said he would haul Mayor Muriel Bowser, Council Chair Phil Mendelson and Attorney General Brian Schwalb to Capitol Hill next month for a hearing. The public grilling is likely to come as Trumps takeover of Washingtons Metropolitan Police Department approaches a 30-day expiration date, requiring congressional action to continue. For years, the D.C. Councils radical, soft-on-crime agenda has emboldened criminals and put public safety at risk in our nations capital, Comer said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His voice was one of many in the GOP who hailed Trumps moves Monday to seize control of the D.C. police force and deploy the National Guard in the capital. Speaker Mike Johnson, for instance, said in a post on X that House Republicans support this effort to CLEAN UP Washington, END the crime wave, and RESTORE the beauty of the greatest capital in the world. While violent crime reached a 30-year low in the city last year, Republicans argue Washington is unsafe and poorly governed. A spate of carjackings and several other recent high-profile incidents have captured GOP attention on Capitol Hill, including the murder of an intern for Rep. Ron Estes (R-Kan.) and the assault last week of a Trump administration staffer. Comer in his statement said his panel would also be advancing legislative solutions to protect Americans in their capital city. During a news conference Monday, Trump called for the reimposition of cash bail, which has been largely abolished in D.C. for more than 30 years, while U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro called for congressional action to overturn absurd juvenile justice laws that she said provided too much leniency for young offenders. An Oversight Committee spokesperson said the panel would work to advance legislation introduced by Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) that would limit youth offender status to those 18 years old or younger. Currently, those 24 or younger can qualify as youth offenders in the District. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislation from Donalds would also require the D.C. attorney general to publicly track juvenile crime in the city and bar the locally elected D.C. Council from passing provisions to change its sentencing rules. The bill passed the House last year in a bipartisan 225-181 vote but did not advance in the Senate, which was then controlled by Democrats. The spokesperson said the committee was considering additional legislation but did not provide details. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), a member of GOP leadership, is also working on legislation to reverse no-cash-bail policies nationwide. Its unclear how soon any D.C.-related legislation might hit the House floor. Lawmakers are now on their extended summer recess, and House GOP leaders expect the Oversight Committee to start advancing a slate of bills in September. That means floor action could be delayed until later in the fall, depending on how quickly the panel works through its process, according to three people granted anonymity to discuss internal planning. House Republicans may be forced to deal with city-related matters sooner, however. Trumps executive action Monday commandeering the Metropolitan Police started a 30-day clock for presidential control, as provided for in the 52-year-old law establishing the citys locally elected government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Extending Trumps control of the department would require congressional action forcing the White House and GOP congressional leaders to make a decision as they also deal with messy internal fights over whether to force the release of more documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case and a politically explosive congressional stock trading ban. In a letter sent to the Hill Monday informing of the police takeover, Trump said he would retain control until I have determined, in consultation with the Attorney General, that the emergency has ended or for the maximum period permitted under federal law. Trump made no mention of seeking extended control of the department at his news conference Monday morning, where he was flanked by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi and other administration officials. He instead called on lawmakers to address the Districts longstanding bail policy, which allows criminal suspects to be released pending trial without putting up any money. Were gonna change no cash bail, were gonna change the statute and get rid of some of the other things, Trump said. And well count on the Republicans in Congress and Senate to vote, we have the majority, so well vote. We dont have a big majority, but weve gotten everything, including the great Big Beautiful Bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats, meanwhile, sharply objected to Trumps moves in social media posts Monday, with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries saying Trump has no basis to take over the local police department and zero credibility on the issue of law and order. Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said he would introduce legislation that would immediately end Trumps police takeover. He called it a phony, manufactured crisis and recalled Trumps actions dealing with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol where a mob of his supporters assaulted police and were later pardoned. "This is plainly ridiculous," he said in an interview. "There are certainly cases that justify the deployment of the National Guard in Washington. One of them was Jan. 6, 2021 where Republican and Democratic leaders on the Hill were begging President Trump to activate the National Guard, and he did nothing for hours." Another Democrat from the Washington region, Virginia Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, said Trump was "trying to distract people from the fact that his policies have been unpopular and a complete failure." He said he would "against any plan that has National Guard going into D.C. when it's not necessary." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Republicans can likely push D.C.-related bills through the House on party lines, Democrats in the Senate could use the filibuster to keep them from reaching Trumps desk. Vaulting that obstacle would require a 60-vote majority, and its unlikely that Democrats who have long championed political autonomy for the Districts largely Democratic populace would join their Republican colleagues en masse. But it could force some vulnerable Senate Democrats into tough votes over crime and safety ahead of midterm elections. Asked about potential legislation, a spokesperson for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday that all options are on the table to fight back this historic overreach. Schumer himself said on social media Monday that the executive actions are a political ploy and attempted distraction from Trumps other scandals. Nicholas Wu and Calen Razor contributed to this report. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misidentified Rep. Jamie Raskin's party. He is a Democrat. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner approved Mississippis Draft Action Plan, according to Governor Tate Reeves (R-Miss.). This will allow HUDs Community Development Block GrantDisaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding to be allocated to impacted areas. According to Reeves, the plan outlines how the state will use $134.95 million in federal funds to support long-term recovery from storms that affected the state in 2023 and 2024. Flooding cancels last day of Wisconsin State Fair as severe storms knock out power and close roads Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With this approval, we are moving forward with a plan that best supports the areas most affected by the 2023 and 2024 storms that ravaged portions of Mississippi, said Reeves. The nearly $135 million in funding will help our friends and neighbors rebuild while strengthening their resilience for the future. Thank you to Secretary Turner and the Trump administration for approving Mississippis plan. The plan was submitted to HUD in June 2025 following a review of unmet needs across the affected regions. HUD finalized its approval of the Action Plan on July 31, 2025, allowing the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) to begin recovery programs once the grant agreement is executed. The funding will be assigned to support communities in Hinds, Humphreys, Jackson, Monroe, Scott and Sharkey counties. The plan was developed following a 30-day public comment period and a series of public hearings held across the affected regions. Key allocations for the plan include $29.32 million for owner-occupied housing unmet recovery needs, as well as $19.55 million for affordable rental housing repairs. The funding will also include $38 million for infrastructure recovery through FEMA match programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Massive mudslide kills 7 volunteers repairing flood damage in northern Pakistan Additionally, the plan provides support for economic development with $21.72 million for economic revitalization, including small business support, and $17.6 million for mitigation projects such as safe rooms and emergency alert systems. According to the Governors Office, the plan prioritizes assistance for low- and moderate-income households, with 93% of housing funds designated for those populations. Programs also will support workforce housing development and community planning efforts. The final step is for HUD and Mississippi to execute a grant agreement to begin committing funds. The grant agreement is expected to be completed within a 30-day window. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Weather Forecast Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CANFIELD, Ohio (WKBN) A Canfield yoga studio invited people to breathe in and breathe out some fresh air on Sunday. Studio Oxygen brought together over 200 people for its annual outdoor class, Yoga on the Green. The studio doubled last years attendance and had the largest turnout ever since starting the tradition over 10 years ago. I would say this event is really about the community, bringing people together, letting people know theyre not alone. Yoga, its an interesting thing because you practice on your mat in kind of a solitude state, but its better done in a group of people, said Travis Pownell, a master yoga instructor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This year, we actually have record-breaking signups. We are surpassing last year, which was also a record-breaking year. So, every year, its building and its getting bigger, and its a great way to get the community involved, said Emily Ramm, senior studio coordinator. The theme of Yoga on the Green is fostering community in the heart of Canfield. Whether its the dozens of vendors or hundreds of yogis lined up shoulder to shoulder, the event represents a larger goal in the city. Weve been trying to do a lot of things with the green here, and with that comes wellness, comes as community, and bringing all that together is just something that Canfield is all about, said Mayor Don Dragish. Mayor Dragish says the city has worked to restore parts of the green and bring in new businesses nearby to establish Canfields downtown area. As he enters his final term, Dragish hopes to make it a more lively space. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We try to do as many events as we possibly can try to and bring the community out for that reason, get people out. Get them out in the weather, get them out walking, get them out having a good time, Dragish said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. CALISTOGA, Calif. A quaint northerly outpost of Napa Valley wine country, Calistoga has struggled to keep the lights on when wildfires strike the region. Now its got a brand-new microgrid to run the whole town for days on end without any onsite fossil fuels, just batteries and liquid hydrogen. After disastrous conflagrations in 2017 and 2018, utility Pacific Gas & Electric began preemptively shutting off power lines to avoid sparking fires amid dangerously dry, windy conditions. We were the first community in all of PG&E's network that was getting our power shut off to protect us, said Calistoga City Council member Lisa Gift. By 2019 we were one of the first communities to have a microgrid in all of PG&Es network, and that was being powered by diesel generators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PG&E arranged a bank of truck-based diesel generators to sit in the town during fire season. When the utility cut grid power, the generators kicked on, belching smoke in a particularly beloved pocket of the 5,000-person community. We're a small town, so they would come up and they'd be polluting the environment, taking up our dog park loud, gross, noisy, Gift recalled. Now the diesel generators are gone and the park has been turned back over to Calistogas canine companions. On a slim parcel of city land next door, publicly traded energy-storage company Energy Vault installed lithium-ion batteries and a 234-foot, reinforced-steel tank for liquid hydrogen (designed to withstand a roaring fire, should it ever come to that) that runs a bank of hydrogen fuel cells. Altogether, this compound should be able to meet Calistogas electricity needs without any power from the broader grid. Its contracted to produce up to 8.5 megawatts for 48 hours, whenever PG&E shuts off grid power due to fire concerns. Refilling the hydrogen tank could let it run for several days more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even though we're taking elements fuel cells, batteries, liquid hydrogen storage and distribution that have been used before in commercial settings, they're coming together for the first time as resiliency, said Craig Horne, Energy Vaults senior vice president for advanced energy solutions, in an interview before the projects unveiling in early August. Fans of hydrogen hail it as a solution to just about any entrenched decarbonization challenge, from heavy transport to steelmaking to on-demand power. But how hydrogen is produced makes a huge difference in its climate impact; seemingly clean sources can actually rack up major carbon emissions for negligible benefit. For now, the clean hydrogen economy remains largely speculative, with hardly any truly clean hydrogen being produced or any real projects using it. Many planned clean hydrogen projects have vanished without a trace, following a short-lived boom fueled by Biden-era support. In Calistoga, Energy Vault has tapped hydrogen to deal with a very specific set of constraints delivering energy without local emissions, over multiple days, in a tight footprint but the cleanliness of that hydrogen is a more complicated issue than public descriptions of the microgrid suggest. The key players all have a lot riding on the project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Energy Vault, which previously raised several hundred million dollars in a singular bid to store energy with multi-story robotic cranes that stack blocks, wants to build a new long-duration storage business around this hydrogen microgrid showcase. Plug Power, the financially challenged hydrogen company, points to Calistoga as its largest deployment of hydrogen fuel cells (a beefy 8 megawatts, after 28 years of hard work). And PG&E has orders from regulators to add more clean energy microgrids in communities where it regularly cuts off power Calistoga was its first delivery on that directive, after a few years of soliciting proposals and a couple more years of permitting and construction. Community microgrids are the future of the energy system, said Craig Lewis, who advocates for such projects as executive director of the Clean Coalition nonprofit. The Calistoga microgrid is a commercial-scale experiment, and I'm grateful for it. The results of that experiment will take time to analyze. It could unleash a new, replicable model for premium-priced community-level backup power. Or the quirkiness of the design and the murkiness of hydrogens supply chain and emissions could make it a quixotic outlier of questionable climate value. Compact and cleaner backup power in a fire zone The Calistoga microgrid poses an answer to the question of how to provide a few days of backup power to a small town in a small space, without worrying too much about cost. The limitations drove the design, which turned out quite unlike anything built thus far. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Energy Vault had to figure out how to pack 293 megawatt-hours of storage into just two-thirds of an acre. The lot used to hold debris from city works, like old bits of sidewalk and pipes, Horne said. Lithium-ion batteries have proven themselves capable of storing power, be it as a Powerwall in someones garage or as a large-scale grid storage facility. But to store nearly 300 megawatt-hours, grid battery enclosures need more acreage than was available to lease from the city. Even if enough batteries could fit, the auxiliary power consumption for keeping them safely cooled would pose a challenge for a project thats supposed to mostly sit around waiting for an emergency event. Hydrogen gas can be liquefied by cooling it to ultra-low temperatures, which unlocks greater energy density. When converted back to gas and run through fuel cells, it produces a stream of electricity and no byproduct besides water vapor. That core technology powers hydrogen vehicles, though their cost and inconvenience make for a widely derided car-ownership experience. At Calistoga, the hydrogen flows directly to six Plug Power GenSure 1540 fuel cells, boxy containers with cooling units stacked on top, making them about two stories tall. The engineers added a small lithium-ion battery (7.7 MW/11.6 MWh) to perform black start, the complicated and crucial task of rebooting an electrical system after a complete blackout, Horne noted. The battery also buffers the output of the system while the hydrogen gets up and running. Then the power flows to Calistogas grid, which, when PG&E shuts off the transmission lines, will be fully islanded from the surrounding network. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hydrogen is stored onsite in an 80,000-gallon tank, manufactured in Minnesota by Chart Industries. The tank holds enough to power the fuel cells for about two days, but Energy Vault will try its best to keep the lights on beyond the contracted timeframe, Horne said. So the company made sure the tank can be refueled while it's in active use. The task is to squeeze toothpaste into a toothpaste tube that was being squeezed, Horne said. That's what we proved in our acceptance testing, running for multiple hours while the fuel cells were running and a tank trailer here in the driveway is pushing liquid hydrogen into the tank itself. Hydrogen trucked in from across the country The microgrids promise as a clean energy breakthrough, of course, hinges on the supply of clean hydrogen, but supply chains are barely getting started. Almost all commercial hydrogen is currently made from methane gas, a fossil fuel, through a procedure called steam methane reforming that sends the carbon dioxide byproduct straight into the atmosphere. For hydrogen to stake any claim as a climate solution, it needs to be made without massive carbon emissions. That usually involves an alternative production method called electrolysis, which separates hydrogen from water using electricity. But this method can produce even more emissions than the dirty methane version if the electrolyzers are drawing power from the grid rather than dedicated renewable sources like solar and wind (see this previous Canary Media coverage for a detailed account of why thats the case). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Energy Vault describes the hydrogen its using in Calistoga as clean, which Horne clarified as meeting the federal standard of no more than four kilograms of carbon dioxide emitted per kilogram of hydrogen produced. But he declined to name the source. Notably, California has subsidized hydrogen fueling stations for over a decade but still hasnt managed to develop a clean hydrogen supply in-state. So for Calistogas hydrogen to be clean, it must be coming from somewhere else. During a tour of the microgrid, Deepesh Goyal, vice president of stationary power at Plug Power, told Canary Media that Plug Power currently supplies hydrogen from its electrolyzer site in Georgia, which runs on grid power. More than half of Georgias electricity comes from fossil fuels, so that electrolysis incurs substantial power-plant emissions. Plug Power buys credits for clean energy supply to compensate for this, Goyal said. To meet the highest federal standard for clean hydrogen, producers need to obtain clean power matched to their consumption on an hourly basis in the areas where they operate. Plug Power did not respond in time for publication to questions clarifying what type of credits it buys. But a spokesperson for Energy Vault told Canary Media that currently there arent any facilities that could supply Calistoga with liquid hydrogen from electrolysis powered by time-matched, dedicated clean electricity, and the earliest such facility is targeting completion in 2026. Goyal also said some of Calistogas hydrogen comes from an unnamed partner in Las Vegas that uses renewable natural gas (RNG) as its feedstock. As it happens, legacy gas supplier Air Liquide opened a steam methane reformer in that area a few years ago to serve Californias demand. Air Liquide says it can substitute RNG for the usual methane, which would make the resulting hydrogen carbon-negative according to the convoluted calculations of Californias clean fuels bureaucracy. Its still hydrogen made by splitting methane and releasing carbon dioxide, but it looks good on paper thanks to controversial rules that privilege certain politically connected providers of RNG. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If someone were to design a climate solution from a blank slate, they probably wouldnt run electrolyzers on grid power in Georgia in order to load the super-cooled hydrogen onto diesel-powered tankers and haul it more than 2,800 miles to Northern California, where it will sit around almost every day awaiting a utility power outage. We still have to truck in that hydrogen, said Gift. That's not ideal, but we were trucking in the diesel, and we were trucking in the diesel sometimes three times a day and burning that diesel. One incontrovertible fact is that the microgrid doesnt combust anything onsite, so the operations within the fenceline emit almost no carbon emissions and dont impact air quality. But it will be hard to gauge the real climate impacts of such a project until a more verifiably clean and geographically localized hydrogen supply chain develops. Several companies have said they will build truly green hydrogen production in the coming years. That task has only grown more difficult with the Trump administrations efforts to thwart renewables development and vastly curtail clean hydrogen tax credits. Will other buyers accept the cost of liquid hydrogen backup? The other make-or-break variable for hydrogen-backed resilience is how much it costs. Liquid hydrogen is an expensive, specialty fuel only produced by a handful of suppliers in the U.S., and clean liquid hydrogen is even rarer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For this first project, Energy Vault didnt need to worry about consumer price sensitivity. The city of Calistoga isnt paying Energy Vault for backup power: PG&E is paying the company to provide this service, out of funds socialized across the utility customer base. In fact, Calistoga is making some money, since Energy Vault leased the land from the municipality for 10 years. The projects total price tag has not been made public. Regulators allocated up to $46.3 million for PG&E to spend on the endeavor. Energy Vault closed $28 million in project financing this spring to support construction. (The company also said on Thursday that it has raised $300 million to launch Asset Vault, a subsidiary that will build, own, and operate storage projects, with Calistoga as one of two anchor properties.) Horne allowed that the hydrogen microgrid costs more than diesel generators up front, but argued it can be competitive in terms of operating costs, given all the hassles associated with diesel. We can do more and waste less, and so that's how we can be more cost effective, he said. The regulatory authorization paints a different picture. The California Public Utilities Commission explicitly allowed PG&E to spend more money than the diesel generators cost in order to test a new model for cleaner resilience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This project was supported by a CPUC plan that said we could build a solution that costs no more than twice what it would cost to deploy diesel generation over 10 years, said Jeremy Donnell, a senior manager for microgrid strategy and implementation at PG&E. It's a bit of an arbitrary marker, but that's what was laid out, and this project did come in under that threshold. But still, we have a ways to go to bring the cost down, Donnell added. So hopefully, through implementation of this first project, Energy Vault learned a lot, the industry learned a lot on how to integrate these solutions in future projects. Energy Vault hopes to improve the project economics by upgrading the site to allow regular power exports to the grid. Currently, the system is configured to only push out power when PG&E has scheduled a shutoff event; that means the microgrid sits idle almost every day of the year (and is unavailable for unforeseen outages, like if a tree falls on a key line). But with the right permissions and technical tweaks in place, Energy Vault expects to use the battery, and potentially even the hydrogen, to send power to Californias grid at particularly lucrative times. We can now have a viable second revenue stream outside of providing that resiliency service, without compromising our ability to provide the resiliency service, Horne said. PG&E amended its contract this summer to clarify that Energy Vault is allowed to pursue this, provided it does not interrupt delivery of the required resilience services. Going forward, Calistoga will serve as a showcase for Energy Vaults new H-Vault product line, marketed as a high-tech option for long-duration clean energy needs. Hydrogen tanks will join gravity-based block stacking and conventional lithium-ion batteries as the companys core offerings. For the people of Calistoga, the project softens the upheavals of living through climate changeinduced extreme weather, without all the downsides of onsite fossil fuel combustion. Is it absolutely perfect? No, Gift said. But as a society, it is about making that next best right step. And for us in our community, this was that next best right step. For Energy Vault and the budding hydrogen industry, the next right step will be expanding hydrogen production thats definitively low-emissions, and closing the 2,800-mile gap between supply and demand. Wendy Becktold contributed reporting from Calistoga. Sam Spadavecchia holds a portrait of him with his husband Pablo Grave de la Cruz, left in the photo, in the couples North Providence home. De la Cruz is now being held in detention in Texas and planning to self-deport to his native Guatemala. (Photo by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current) The SUVs pulled up quickly outside of the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal in Cranston around 10:30 in the morning on June 17. Pablo Grave de la Cruz, 36, had just left a hearing inside where he pleaded not guilty to a charge of refusal to submit to a chemical test after being involved in a one-car accident in Coventry. He was dressed for the occasion, in a collared shirt and slacks. He had plans to go out for breakfast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He heard his name called. Moments later, a half dozen Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents wearing masks and carrying guns surrounded and handcuffed de la Cruz, then hustled him into one of the vehicles and drove away. Neither his lawyer nor his friend, Brittany Donohue, who had accompanied him, were allowed to go with him. They pulled up on him like he was a murderer or a rapist, Donohue said. He was leaving traffic court. She was left trembling from the experience and had to wait another 20 minutes before she was calm enough to drive. De la Cruz has lived in Rhode Island for 19 years and has been married to Sam Spadavecchia since 2016. The couple live in North Providence. De la Cruz came from Guatemala as a teenager illegally out of fear for his safety as a gay person around 2005 the same year Amnesty International wrote, The LGBT community in Guatemala regularly faces attacks and threats. Since then, he has worked as a server at two of Providences most recognizable restaurants Los Andes and the Capital Grille and spent time working or managing others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement De la Cruzs enthusiasm and deep menu knowledge made a favorable impression on customers and coworkers at the restaurants where he worked. The Yelp page for Los Andes still includes reviews that single out de la Cruz. To say he was phenomenal would be an understatement, one reads. Another advises guests to ask for Pablo as your server he was great! His arrest is one of a growing number by ICE agents at or around Rhode Island courthouses in recent months. The practice has alarmed advocates, state lawmakers including two Providence Democrats, Rep. David Morales, and House Deputy Speaker Raymond Hull, who wrote letters of support to the judge in de la Cruzs immigration case and even the chief justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court. In February, agents arrested a Venezuelan man outside the Garrahy Judicial Complex in downtown Providence after he appeared at a hearing for domestic violence charges. In July, social worker Diego Tomas Arene-Morley filmed plainclothes officers arresting a woman from Ecuador he had just accompanied as his client to court in Providence. The woman had just had charges dismissed stemming from a domestic violence incident in which she was actually the victim. Video of the arrest, and Arene-Morleys description of it, went viral on Instagram. The woman remains in ICE custody, Arene-Morley said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later in July, ICE agents arrested a Guatemalan man on Benefit Street in Providence right when he left Superior Court after appearing on charges of felony domestic assault and violating a protective order. He was charged with assaulting federal officers after an immigration officer and a DEA agent were injured during a scuffle, the U.S. Department of Justice said. The Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal in Cranston. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current) At least 15 arrests of undocumented immigrants have occurred outside Rhode Island courthouses since the beginning of Trumps second term, including five outside the traffic court, said Juan Pablo Ocampo Sheen, coordinator for the Immigration Coalition of Rhode Island. But that estimate is likely an undercount since the coalition doesnt hear about every arrest, Ocampo Sheen said. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the parent agency for ICE, says courthouse arrests make common sense because they save agents time locating people and offer protection since people theyre looking for have passed through courthouse security screening. James Covington, a spokesperson for ICEs Boston field office, said de la Cruz was sought because he had a criminal record. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pablo Grave-De La Cruz is an illegally present, 36-year-old Guatemalan alien, Covington said in a statement. His criminal history includes TWO convictions for driving while intoxicated, an additional motor vehicle charge and a pending charge for a THIRD DWI. Officers with ICE Boston arrested Grave-De La Cruz in Cranston, Rhode Island. Records show de la Cruz was guilty of refusing to take a Breathalyzer test in 2014 and pleaded no contest to a DUI charge in 2015. He was also cited once for driving without a license in 2010 and driving with a suspended license in 2016. He was charged with DUI and refusal to take a Breathalyzer after his car went off Fish Hill Road in Coventry on June 8, 2025. Allowing this alien offender to remain on the streets of Rhode Island only places the safety of our neighbors in jeopardy, Covington added in his statement. ICE Boston will continue to prioritize public safety by arresting and removing criminal alien offenders. But courthouse arrests, Ocampo-Sheen said, could make it less likely that undocumented people or those in mixed-status households will report crimes or testify as victims, out of fear of deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Steven Brown, executive director of the Rhode Island ACLU said courthouse arrests are part of a broader pattern of ICE tactics, including masked agents and smashing car windows during arrests, intended to spread fear. He warns the ripple effects of such tactics could harm even those who support the Trump administrations aggressive immigration agenda. Its really a dangerous step to take to engage in what is clearly intimidation tactics to prevent people from making use of the judicial system, Brown said. When you get into a car accident and the person who witnesses that you werent at fault is afraid to go to court to support your position, you might think twice about whether these actions are in fact in your best interest, Brown said. Only a matter of time The debate over ICE enforcement at Rhode Island courthouses goes back at least to the early months of President Donald Trumps first term, in 2017, when more than a dozen local organizations sent a letter to Rhode Island Supreme Court Justice Paul Suttell expressing concern over ICE arrests at courthouses around the country. The ACLU, the RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Refugee Dream Center, NAACP, and other groups urged the justice to contact the then-Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly asking that agents not conduct such arrests in Rhode Island. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We fear it is only a matter of time before it happens here, they wrote. That prediction proved true. One month after the letter, ICE agents arrested a Syrian man outside of the Licht Judicial Complex. Abulkhalek Darwich, who had stayed nearly 20 years past the expiration of a guest visa issued in the late 1990s, was facing state charges for the illegal importation and sale of cigarettes. He was taken into custody by ICE following a court appearance in that case. (Later in 2019, Darwich was charged with multiple counts of child molestation and sexual assault.) Darwichs detention prompted an outcry from the Rhode Island ACLU, which said, in a statement, There will be no equal access to justice in Rhode Island if residents are afraid to make use of their judicial system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Suttell who served as a Republican in the Rhode Island House of Representatives in the 1980s spoke out too. They pulled up on him like he was a murderer or a rapist. He was leaving traffic court. Brittany Donohue, a friend who witnessed Pablo Grave de la Cruz's arrest after his court appearance After Darwichs arrest, Suttell acknowledged federal authorities had a duty to enforce immigration laws. But at the same time, our courts need to be accessible to everyone, regardless of immigration status, whether they are a crime victim, a witness, someone seeking a protection order or someone simply looking to pay a court fine, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2020, Colorado and New York passed laws aimed at curbing ICE arrests at courthouses. A third bill passed in Washington that year required courts to document instances of federal law enforcement entering courts for non-court-related business and prohibiting judges, prosecutors, and court staff from collecting or sharing info about immigration statuses unless relevant to a state criminal offense. In 2021, the Biden administration issued a memo that acknowledged courthouse arrests may chill individuals access to courthouses and, as a result, impair the fair administration of justice. It encouraged agents to conduct them only in a narrow set of circumstances. That memo was rescinded on the day of Trumps inauguration for his second term in January. Since that time, ICE has ramped up arrests in every state, including courthouse arrests. Even in states with laws or rules designed to stop courthouse arrests, the issue remains unsettled. In Colorado, following reports of ICE arrests in defiance of the state law, the states ACLU sent a letter to ICE and DHS demanding a stop to the practice. In New York, the Trump administration sued the state to challenge its law protecting against courthouse arrests. In Ohio, after judges in Franklin County passed rules prohibiting immigration arrests at courthouses, lawmakers introduced a bill that would nullify such policies across the state. Bills stall in Rhode Island For the past three legislative sessions, Rhode Island lawmakers in both chambers have introduced legislation that would limit ICEs ability to perform civil arrests. The latest versions of these bills Senate Bill 0291 and House Bill 6121 were introduced by Sen. Meghan Kallman, a Pawtucket Democrat, and Rep. Jose Batista, a Providence Democrat, during the 2025 legislative session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their bills wouldnt have prohibited law enforcement officers from making an arrest at a courthouse if they have a warrant or if officers directly witness a crime. But the legislation sought to categorize civil arrests at courthouses as contempt of court and false imprisonment, and allow both the arrestee and the attorney general to sue for relief. Both bills were held for further study after committee hearings. And both lead sponsors say they intend to file the bills again in 2026. As a matter of practicality, our judicial system relies on all Rhode Islanders having free and fair access to the courts whether as defendants, plaintiffs or witnesses without fear of detention and deportation, the sponsors wrote in a March opinion piece. Kallman said the bill is about protecting public safety. If the argument is that we want life to be safer for Rhode Islanders, then one of the ways that we need to do that is make the courts as safe as they possibly can be from outside interference, she told Rhode Island Current. And outside interference, in this case, is ICE. Kallman said she intends to submit legislation that would prohibit federal agents from conducting an arrest while masked. Batista said he sees protecting immigrants basic rights as a moral imperative. I feel like were literally living history, but in a bad way, he said. This bill is me embracing one of the few things I feel like I can do. Sam Spadavecchia takes a call from his husband Pablo Grave de la Cruz, in the couples North Providence home one. De la Cruz was calling from El Valle Detention Facility in Raymondville, Texas. (Photo by Michael Salerno/Rhode Island Current) Local efforts to mobilize Absent local legislation or rules preventing ICE arrests at courthouses, some Rhode Islanders are working to disrupt enforcement on their own. In July, the Olneyville Neighborhood Association (ONA), Alliance to Mobilize Our Resistance (AMOR), and Rhode Island chapter of the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) launched a petition aimed at Gov. Dan McKee, Providence Mayor Brett Smiley, the Providence City Council, and Suttell. Calling ICE a pandemic, the petition demanded that courts across the state offer virtual hearings, trials, and conferences, to all community members until they actually ensure real safety for our community members by banning ICE from the city. On social media, PSL and AMOR have been posting regularly about what they believe to be ICE near local courthouses. One post from late July included footage of two men wearing face coverings, tactical vests, guns holstered to their thighs and metal badges affixed to their clothing, with the Garrahy Courthouse visible in the background. We know we cant rely on politicians and their empty promises, the caption read. We have to take matters into our own hands and get organized in huge numbers to make sure ICE does not take anybody else from the courthouses. Its really a dangerous step to take to engage in what is clearly intimidation tactics to prevent people from making use of the judicial system. Steven Brown, executive director of the Rhode Island ACLU Arnoldo Benitez, an immigration lawyer with an office in Providence, said he has had at least one client detained by ICE. Once a person is in ICE custody, its virtually impossible for them to participate in their state-level criminal proceedings, and so those local cases can remain open for years, Benitez said. If the person leaves the country, their still-pending criminal charges can make it difficult or impossible to come back legally. Thats a threat to due process, he explained. There goes the presumption of innocence, there goes your right to confront accusers, there goes your right to stand trial, Benitez said. All of your constitutional rights are just gone because you are not afforded that opportunity to fight your case. Benitez is torn over what to tell his clients who are scared to go to court. He cant advise them not to go. I do have to warn them that there is a chance that ICE can be there and can detain you, he said. Moved without notice Spadavecchia drove to ICEs field office on Jefferson Boulevard in Warwick after de la Cruzs arrest to try to see his husband but was denied. Instead, Spadavecchia was given a bag of de la Cruzs belongings, including his wallet, phone, and wedding ring. De la Cruz was eventually transferred to the Wyatt Detention Facility in Central Falls, where he spent five days before being transferred, without notice, to a detention facility in South Texas around 20 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. Spadavecchia learned his husband had been moved after it happened, via a phone call from de la Cruz. Before hearing from his husband, he had spent hours calling the Wyatt in search of his husbands whereabouts. De la Cruzs friends and family members spent a month unsuccessfully trying to secure his release. Then they launched a GoFundMe fundraiser that has now raised more than $28,000. His case has been covered by WPRI, the Valley Breeze, and Newsweek, which ran the headline, ICE Detains Man in US Since He Was a Teenager at Traffic Court. GoFundMe organizer Amanda Fullam said she wants people to know that ICE kidnappings arent just targeting dangerous criminals. Theyre happening to our neighbors and our friends, Fullam told Rhode Island Current. And theyre not being given the treatment or the opportunity that they should and that they deserve. Spadavecchia, who works as a sales and marketing director for an event transportation company, said he and de la Cruz spent nearly a decade trying to get proper papers for de la Cruz to gain legal status in the U.S. Among the forms they have in various stages of processing: an I-589 application for asylum, an I-130 petition for an alien relative, and a I- 601A application for a provisional unlawful presence waiver. It shouldnt take 10 yearsto get a green card, Spadavecchia said. At an Aug. 7 removal hearing with an immigration judge in Texas, de Le Cruz was granted permission to voluntarily self-deport. Given the facts of his situation, this was a good outcome, Spadavecchia said. If de la Cruz had been involuntarily deported, the path back to Rhode Island, if one exists at all, could take years. He must leave the country before Sept. 5. Spadavecchia said he plans to visit him in Guatemala. Spadavecchia wants to share his husbands story not to scare undocumented people, but to inform them of the risks. Ive told everyone, If you have a court case, just dont go. Send somebody elsePay the fine, he said. On a recent afternoon at the couples house in North Providence, the dining room table had two table settings, with plates, silverware, cloth napkins. They had been there since the day that de la Cruz was first detained in June. Spadavecchia, his voice cracking, said removing the table settings would be a form of giving up. And he wasnt ready to do that. When de la Cruz was granted permission to self-deport, Spadavecchia said he finally felt enough closure to sit at the table for dinner. That night he made his husbands favorite dish: pasta bolognese. Correction: The story has been corrected to say that records show de la Cruz was guilty in 2014 of not taking a Breathalyzer test. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX gents detain an individual as he exits immigration court in New York City in July. Immigrants released at the border are being targeted for arrest when they show up for court hearings. (Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Inside immigration courts around the country, immigrants who crossed the border illegally and were caught and released are required to appear before a judge for a preliminary hearing. But in a new twist, the Trump administration has begun using an unexpected legal tactic in its deportation efforts. Rather than pursue a deportation case, it is convincing judges to dismiss immigrants cases thus depriving the immigrants of protection from arrest and detention then taking them into custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The practice, affecting immigrants released at the border and given a notice to appear in court under both the Trump and Biden administrations, sometimes leads to people being quickly deported by Immigration and Customs Enforcement through a process called expedited removal. Many of the immigrants had requested asylum, as allowed under U.S. law. Late last month, advocates filed a lawsuit on behalf of a dozen immigrants unexpectedly arrested by ICE, often after having their cases dismissed. When an immigrant crosses the border illegally and is caught, they may be given a notice to appear, or NTA, ordering them to appear before an immigration judge. It can sometimes take years, however, before their case comes up. One of the immigrants in the lawsuit was caught at the border with Mexico and given a court appearance ticket in 2022 after fleeing Cuba. His opposition to forced conscription and the communist government in Cuba led to his arrest there and he was raped in custody, according to the lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At his first hearing in U.S. immigration court in May, his case was dismissed with no reason given and his attorney agreed, thinking the relatively new maneuver was a positive development. But as he left the Miami court, the immigrant was arrested and sent to Washington state for detention, thousands of miles from his family and his wife, who is a U.S. citizen, according to the lawsuit. The aftermath of these courthouse arrests and dismissals for placement in expedited removal wreaks further havoc on peoples lives, according to a class-action lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice filed in July by a group of immigrant advocates. The group argued the practice is illegal and contrary to the traditional way people are treated when released at the border for court dates. The lawsuit includes 12 immigrants: three from Cuba, three from Venezuela, two from Ecuador, two from Guinea and others from Liberia and the Chechen Republic. A Department of Justice spokesperson, Natalie Baldassarre, said the department had no comment on the lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a courthouse arrest in New York City in July, Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told CBS News that the new policy is reversing [President Joe] Bidens catch and release policy that allowed millions of unvetted illegal aliens to be let loose on American streets. However, the Trump administration has also released immigrants seeking asylum at the border pending court dates, according to a June 27 report from the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC) at the University of Syracuse, an organization that tracks federal statistics. Almost 18,000 people were released at the border in May even after Trump officials closed the border, vowed not to allow anyone in and to immediately detain anyone not legally in the country caught inside the U.S., the report stated. Other immigration attorneys who spoke with Stateline described uprooted lives caused by the new practice of arresting people after they show up for court hearings, but the attorneys declined to speak on the record for fear of drawing negative attention to their clients cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vanessa Dojaquez-Torres, practice and policy counsel for the American Immigration Lawyers Association, which represents more than 17,000 immigration attorneys and is not involved in the lawsuit, said the Department of Homeland Security is now arguing in court that anyone caught crossing the border should be arrested and detained, though its not happening in every case. There is a large number of people going to court and getting arrested, and also people in detention not getting let out, Dojaquez-Torres said. This happens to people with no criminal background, no negative immigration history they might even have a sponsor that says, We will house them and feed them and make sure they show up to their court hearings. There are also cases of people arrested in court even if their case isnt dismissed, Dojaquez-Torres said. One of the immigrants in the lawsuit, a Venezuelan who said he faced persecution in his home country as a gay man with HIV, was arrested July 1 after a hearing in New York City even though his case is still active, according to the lawsuit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One woman born in Venezuela, who fears persecution because of her sexual orientation and opposition to the Venezuelan government, applied for asylum within a year of entering the United States in 2022, but was arrested at her first court hearing May 27. She now faces an expedited removal order, which could mean an immediate deportation if she loses appeals. She is currently in detention in Ohio, according to the lawsuit. Other cases mentioned in the lawsuit involved arrests at immigration courts in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Nevada. There is a large number of people going to court and getting arrested, and also people in detention not getting let out. Vanessa Dojaquez-Torres, practice and policy counsel for the American Immigration Lawyers Association Most of the immigrants mentioned in the lawsuit were caught crossing illegally. But two presented themselves at the border legally via an appointment set up through a phone app for asylum-seekers, CBP One, designed to limit the number of people who could cross the border asking for asylum. (The Trump administration shut down the app on its first day in office.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one of those cases, a gay man from Ecuador, facing government threats over his LGBTQ+ advocacy efforts, used the app in January and appeared in court June 4, according to the lawsuit. The government moved to dismiss his case, and he was deported back to Ecuador within a month, despite asking for more time to file an asylum case, according to the suit. He is now living in hiding. The class-action lawsuit has not yet been answered by the government, though the chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, James Boasberg, ruled July 18 that the immigrants suing could use pseudonyms without identifying information as long as they provide real names and addresses in documents sealed from public view. Courthouse arrests may cross a new line legally but theyre not likely to increase deportation significantly the way current large-scale workplace raids and transfers from local jails might, said Muzaffar Chishti, an attorney and policy expert at the Migration Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C., think tank. The administrations goal of 1 million deportations a year still seems unlikely, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arrests declined in July over the previous month, but deportations increased, according to an Aug. 2 TRAC report, with 56,945 people in detention. The number of detainees will increase with more federal funding for detention, but is still unlikely to reach the level needed to deport a million people in a year, Chishti said. The issue of courthouse arrests makes legal representation for immigrants all the more important, Chishti said. Even in these horrendous cases, if you have a lawyer, hell know how to handle it and say, He cant be removed, hell be subject to torture, Chishti said. The difference between arrest and deportation could be the presence of a lawyer. Nevertheless, the prospect of arrest and detention during a case that may last years could make immigrants hesitant to show up for court dates, which in turn could make them subject to immediate deportation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you dont show up for a court date, they will enter whats called an in absentia removal order. If you come into any contact with ICE after that, you will be most likely detained and removed, Dojaquez-Torres said. Stateline reporter Tim Henderson can be reached at thenderson@stateline.org. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Two men from Bangladesh and India are set to be deported after pleading guilty to scamming a South Carolina couple out of $25,000 in York County, The Herald reported. Simand Singh, 33, of Bangladesh, and Mohsin Mohammed, 29, of India, admitted to obtaining goods under false pretenses in York County criminal court. The scam involved convincing the couple to withdraw $25,000 and hand it over to a supposed bank courier. ALSO READ: 7 arrested in ICE operation at Kings Mountain plant had been deported before Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They have been convicted of their felony crimes and will be deported, said prosecutor Misti Shelton. The men had been held in York County jail since their arrest in early March, with an ICE hold placed on them due to their visa status at the time of the crime. York County Sheriffs Office deputies reported that the scammers called the couple, claiming their bank account had been hacked, and instructed them to withdraw the money. The victims contacted authorities, leading to the arrest of Singh and Mohammed near their home. With their guilty pleas and time-served sentence, Immigration and Customs Enforcement will take custody of Singh and Mohammed for deportation. VIDEO: ICE can visit public school areas without permission, CMS says ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will be hosting an in-person recruiting event in Rockford this month. According to ICE, recruiters will be present at the Tough Mudder Chicago, which will be held August 23rd and 24th at the Chicago Rockford International Airport, at 6313 Beltline Road. The agency is at the center of the Trump administrations efforts to carry out President Donald Trumps mass deportation agenda. Earlier this summer, Congress passed a spending bill that gives ICE money to hire 10,000 more staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently, ICE applicants must be 21 years old and no older than 37 or 40, depending on what position they are applying for. In an interview with Fox & Friends, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said applicants could be as young as 18. Ex-Superman Dean Cain says hes becoming ICE agent The department said all recruits would have to go through medical and drug screening and complete a physical fitness test. ICE earlier announced a recruiting campaign aimed at finding and hiring the deportation officers, investigators and lawyers it will need to meet its hiring goals. As part of that campaign, the agency is offering an eye-catching bonus of up to $50,000 for new recruits as well as other benefits like student loan forgiveness and abundant overtime for deportation officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June of this year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which ICE operates under, conducted an operation in Rockford. According to ICE, those arrested in its operations nationwide had criminal histories, including sexual assault, robbery, drug and weapons charges, and domestic violence. In Illinois, the TRUST Act, signed by former Gov. Bruce Rauner (R) in 2017, prevents state law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. According to the 2023 Way Forward Act Compliance Report, 88.5% of requests from federal immigration authorities were rejected statewide. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyStateline | WTVO News, Weather and Sports. Phil McGraw has admitted he may not be best suited to talk about politics, despite his recent work alongside President Donald Trump. Best-known for his eponymous talk show spanning two decades, the clinical psychologist can now be seen filmed alongside ICE on raids across the country or alongside Trump at press events. However, Dr. Phil skirted around the topic of his newfound political presence and admitted that political issues arent his forte in a new interview with the New York Times. Phil McGraw has become a big figure in the world of politics, but brushed off questions by pleading lack of political understanding. / Kevin Lamarque / REUTERS I dont think Im qualified to talk about politics, he declared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later, he doubled down, saying, I dont know! Youre making my point to the interviewer during a discussion about legislation. The talk-show host recently created his own anti-woke network, Merit Street Media. The company filed for bankruptcy in July, just 15 months after it was first launched, with its mission statement being to fight for America and its families, which are under a cultural woke assault as never before. The TV star has built a strong relationship with Trump, and has a new project joining ICE agents on raids. / Alex Wong / Getty Images Despite the hardship, Dr. Phil is sticking to his aims, and was spotted with a camera crew in Los Angeles in June accompanying U.S. Border Czar Tom Hoffman, alongside joining ICE agents in Chicago. Speaking to the Times about his new ICE connection, he explained that he got access by assuring the agents that his goal was to tell your story and have your back. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also said of the joy he gets from his work, I dont have to be doing this at all. This is not a got-to job. This is a get-to job. Dr. Phil lashed out at Bill Maher on Friday when questioned about his ICE involvement. / HBO Just a couple of days before the interview was released, however, he seemed far less relaxed when questioned about his ICE raid involvement during an appearance on Real Time With Bill Maher. Maher shared his confusion about the project, outlining, Youre a guy who, for so many years, has been working to put families together, to bring families who are apart and heal them. And now youre going on raids with people who are literally separating families. Explain that. Now thats bulls--t. Dr. Phil clapped back. He then likened raids to police arrests, and reasoned, If you arrest somebody thats a citizen that has committed a crime, or is DUI with the child in the backseat, do you think they dont separate that family right then, right there? The IDF chief announced the review following a surprise readiness drill, which was aimed at identifying whether the lessons that were learned from Oct. 7 were implemented. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir will hold a wide-scale operational readiness assessment across all branches of the military on Monday. The meeting will include the heads of the Southern, Central, and Northern Commands, as well as those of the Air Force, Navy, and the Technology and Logistics Directorate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The assessment, which comes more than 670 days into the Israel-Hamas War, will review precise data and tailored courses of action for challenges across all fronts, with an emphasis on the state of the reserve forces. In the coming days, Southern Command head Maj.-Gen. Yaniv Assur is expected to present his plan for the takeover of Gaza City, and Operations Directorate head Maj.-Gen. Itzik Cohen will recommend the scope and distribution of forces for the operation, as well as preparations across the various arenas ahead of the upcoming Jewish holidays. The assessment follows the surprise drill for IDF headquarters that Zamir announced early on Sunday morning. As part of the exercise, some of the most senior IDF officers, including Israel Navy commander V.-Adm. David Salama and Israel Air Force chief of staff Brig.-Gen. Omer Tishler, were called from their homes without prior notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The unannounced Dawn readiness test examined the preparedness of the general staff and other top headquarters to respond to a complex, multi-front surprise attack. The drill assessed the order of battle on standby, as well as the ability to deal with a fast-developing scenario. The exercise involved the Operations Division of the IDF Operations Directorate, the Technology and Logistics Directorate, the Southern, Central, and Northern Commands, and the IDFs Communications Directorate. It aimed to identify any remaining gaps left from the morning of October 7, determine whether lessons learned since then had been implemented, and test performance across multiple arenas simultaneously. Most of the first 120 minutes focused on measuring the speed of the forces response a time frame the IDF attributes to the critical early hours of October 7, when the military, by its own admission, failed to react quickly enough or fully grasp the scope of the events on the Gaza border. The simulated scenario included several simultaneous events: terrorist infiltrations, rocket fire from Gaza, and ballistic missile launches from Iran. The IDF checked readiness levels across different units, including the availability of commanders and weaponry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zamir held two situation assessments at the Kirya military headquarters' war room, during which he coordinated with all commands and decided on force deployment based on the evolving understanding of events. The IDF confirmed that one of the main challenges was forming a clear operational picture in order to decide where and how to deploy forces in a multi-front context. The exercise activated the Parash Order, prompting the scrambling of fighter squadrons and naval flotillas up to the moment of takeoff and departure to sea. One main takeaway from the exercise was the need to sharpen procedures within and between commands, move forces quickly, and meet deadlines for deployment to the eastern border in a possible surprise scenario involving armed terrorists. One scenario involved 15 pickup trucks storming a community along the Jordanian border. A senior IDF officer who took part in the drill said: In the hours I was tested, I did not see failures or disasters like on October 7. I can vouch for that I did not see it. What I did see was the difficulty and complexity of bringing a large mass of forces, in the air and on the ground, to the eastern border in a short time. Army Radio advisory committee Defense Minister Israel Katz signed the appointment letters for members of the new Army Radio (Galei Tzahal) advisory committee on Monday, according to N12 reporter Dafna Liel, stating: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli government established Galei Tzahal as a military station to serve as the voice and ear for IDF soldiers and their families. I made it clear from the outset that I am not willing for the current situation to continue - and what was will not be. The committee will review the station's future and consider the advantages and disadvantages of maintaining its connection to the IDF or keeping it as a military unit. "At this time, when the State of Israel is engaged in an ongoing campaign on several fronts, it is necessary to reassess how well Army Radio fulfills its mission, and whether it succeeds in being the voice and ears for IDF soldiers and fighters at the front and in the home front," Katz said on Thursday. Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report. Al-Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif reports near the Arab Ahli (Baptist) Hospital in Gaza City on October 10, 2024. (photo credit: AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES) Documents shared by the IDF included personnel rosters, lists of terror training courses, phone directories, and salary documents for Al-Sharif. The IDF killed Anas Al-Sharif, a Hamas terrorist who also worked as an Al Jazeera correspondent inside the Gaza Strip, on Sunday, the military announced. He was reportedly killed along with five other individuals, including a second reporter, Mohammed Qreiqeh, according to Al Jazeera. Three cameramen were killed as well, according to the Qatari site, named as Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al-Sharif was responsible for advancing rocket attacks and had served as a member of Hamas ever since 2013, the IDF said. Documents shared by the IDF included personnel rosters, lists of terror training courses, phone directories, and salary documents for Al-Sharif. Prior to the strike, steps were taken to mitigate harm to civilians, including the use of precise munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence, the statement also shared. Anas Al-Sharif with killed Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar. (credit: Screenshot/Telegram) Staff reportedly killed near Shifa Hospital According to the Qatari network, their staff were killed in the strike near the Shifa Hospital. Al-Sharif posted on social media minutes before being targeted, with an X/Twitter post saying that "bombings had been going on for the last two hours." Al Jazeera said Al Sharif had left a social media message to be posted in the event of his death that read, ."..I never hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or misrepresentation, hoping that God would witness those who remained silent." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al Sharif was previously part of a Reuters team that in 2024 won a Pulitzer Prize in the category of Breaking News Photography for coverage of the Israel-Hamas war. Journalists' groups and Al Jazeera denounced the killings. A press freedom group and a UN expert previously warned that Al Sharif's life was in danger due to his reporting from Gaza. "UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan said last month that Israel's claims against him were unsubstantiated," the agency informed. The IDF didn't share details about the site of the strike, while it claimed that the documents shared were "proof of the integration of the Hamas terrorist within the Qatari Al Jazeera network." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Hamas terror group said that the killing may signal the start of an Israeli offensive. "The assassination of journalists and the intimidation of those who remain paves the way for a major crime that the occupation is planning to commit in Gaza City," they said in a statement. Early allegations of terrorism Last October, the military had named Al Sharif as one of six Gaza journalists it alleged were members of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, citing documents it said showed lists of people who completed training courses and salaries. Al Jazeera categorically rejects the Israeli occupation forces portrayal of our journalists as terrorists and denounces their use of fabricated evidence, the network said in a statement at the time. In a statement, the Committee to Protect Journalists, which in July urged the international community to protect Al Sharif, said Israel had failed to provide any evidence to back up its allegations against him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israels pattern of labeling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom, said Sara Qudah, CPJs director for the Middle East and North Africa. Al Sharif, whose X account showed more than 500,000 followers, posted on the platform minutes before his death that Israel had been intensely bombarding Gaza City for more than two hours. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the killing of Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza in an Israeli air strike, his spokesperson said on Monday. The secretary-general calls for an independent and impartial investigation into these latest killings, said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. At least 242 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the war began. Journalists and media workers must be respected, they must be protected, and they must be allowed to carry out their work freely, free from fear and free from harassment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the EU condemns the killing of five Al Jazeera journalists, including Anas Al-Sharif. "We take note of the Israeli allegation that the group was Hamas terrorists, but there is a need in these cases to provide clear evidence, in respect of the rule of law, to avoid targeting of journalists," she said in a statement on X/Twitter. She also urged Israel to allow more trucks into Gaza and a better distribution of aid. An illegal migrant from El Salvador has been sentenced to life in jail for raping and murdering a Maryland mother on a popular hiking trail. Victor Martinez-Hernandez, 24, was found guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree rape and kidnapping following a jury trial in April this year for his attack on the 37-year-old Rachel Morin. Prosecutors alleged he carried out a planned attack when in August 2023, he grabbed the mother of five off a popular Maryland hiking trail, bashed her head against nearby rocks and concealed her body in a gutter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a hearing on Monday, a judge handed down the maximum sentence, condemning Martinez-Hernandez to serve life without the possibility of parole, another life sentence, and an additional 40 years in prison. Victor Martinez-Hernandez received the maximum sentence for his crimes Alison Healey, Harford County state attorney, described Martinez-Hernandez as completely and entirely unamenable to treatment or rehabilitation as she called for the toughest possible sentence. If he is released our community is in grave danger ... Its not a matter of if, its a matter of when, she told the court. The judge concurred, telling the killer: You are not a candidate for rehabilitation. There is simply no hope to rehabilitate you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You took a life that was not yours to take. Your acts not only brutalised a young woman but also terrorised a community. The Ma & Pa Trail is a place of beauty ... your acts turned that into a place of terror. Morins brutal killing in which she was raped and strangled to death sent shocked the suburban community of Bel Air, northeast of Baltimore. It became a flashpoint during the 2024 presidential election as Donald Trump called for mass deportations of immigrants living in the US illegally. In April, Mr Trump embraced Morins mother, Patty Morin, in the Oval office, telling reporters: Shes been through hell. Patty Morin in the Oval Office with Donald Trump in April - The White House Ms Morin also spoke at a press briefing alongside Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, in which she said: This person took my daughter so violently and so gruesomely and so graphically that they sealed the pictures because I dont want my granddaughters to see these pictures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court previously heard that Morin was running along the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air when she was dragged into the woods and killed. A post-mortem found she died from a combination of blunt-force trauma and strangulation. Martinez-Hernandez was arrested last summer in Oklahoma after DNA from Morins body linked him to the scene. Police said he had been living in the US illegally since February 2023. They also linked him to a 2023 home invasion in Los Angeles. In the months after Morins death, her killer had searched online for information about the case and taken a screenshot of a media report, prosecutors said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martinez-Hernandez will not be deported to El Salvador, which has been used by the Trump administration to relocate alleged foreign gang members, as judges in Maryland only have the power to incarcerate people within the state. During the sentencing hearing on Monday, members of Morins family, including four of her children, aged nine, 12, 15 and 20, issued tearful statements about how the death of their mother had affected them. She was a good mom, her son said, according to WBALTV. Every time I see a picture of her, I think about the life I had with her and my four sisters. I miss her. A memorial for Rachel Morin displayed on a tree on the Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air, Maryland - Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service Morins eldest daughter, who is now a mother herself, asked the prosecutor to read her written statement on her behalf. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I had to relive the worst two days of my life in order to write this, she said, describing her mother as kind, strong, honest, determined and funny. Patty, Morins mother, said that she had been suffering with nightmares, insomnia and anxiety attacks ever since her daughter was killed The depths of grief are equivalent to the depths of love felt. This will impact generations to come, she said. Immigration system failure Jeff Gahler, the Harford County Sheriff, blasted the immigration system for allowing Martinez-Hernandez to enter the country despite his criminal record. The failure here, again, is the immigration system that allowed this person to enter our country illegally and remain in our country and commit crimes in Los Angeles and then here in Harford County, Mr Gahler said, according to The Daily Mail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We all suspected that Rachel was not his first victim. It is my understanding that this suspect, this monster, fled to the United States illegally after committing the brutal murder of a young woman in El Salvador a month earlier in January of 2023. After Martinez-Hernandez was convicted, Mr Trump paid tribute on social media to the beautiful mother of five who had been heinously murdered. Moments ago, the Illegal Criminal, who was allowed into our Country by Crooked Joe Biden, was convicted of the heinous murder of Rachel Morin, he wrote on Truth Social at the time. Rachel was a beautiful mother of five from Maryland, and her life was taken at the hands of a monster who should have NEVER been here in the first place. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. For months, speculation has swirled about whether Gov. JB Pritzker will launch a presidential bid in 2028. On Sundays Meet the Press, NBCs Kristen Welker asked him for his thoughts on the matter. I cant rule anything out, but what I can rule in is that no matter what decisions I make, and I mean in particular about what I do here in the state of Illinois, is about the people of Illinois, Pritzker said. Any future decisions of mine will always be guided by that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pritzker opens up about his faith, the rise of antisemitism, and taking on Trump in interview with WGN A vocal critic of President Trump, Pritzker reiterated that his priority is the state he governs. He recently announced his run for a third term as Illinois governor and emphasized that his current campaign is his main focus. Gov. Pritzker announces bid for 3rd term Im focused on running for reelection as governor of the state of Illinois, and everything that I do really is focused on lifting up the people of my state, 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 WGN-TV. CHICAGO, Ill. (WTVO) Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said he cant rule out a run for President in 2028, during an interview on Meet the Press this weekend. When asked about the possibility by NBCs Kristen Welker, Pritzker responded, I cant rule anything out, but what I can rule in is that no matter what decisions I make, and I mean in particular about what I do here in the State of Illinois, is about the people of Illinois. There has been speculation that Pritzker may seek a higher office and throw his name into the mix for president in 2028. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He announced that he would seek a third term as Illinois Governor in June. Pritzker announced former state representative and former deputy governor Christian Mitchell as his running mate, since Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is running for the U.S. Senate. Pritzker has emerged as one of the Democrats most vocal opponents of President Donald Trump. He was under consideration to be former Vice President Kamala Harris running mate in 2024. Pritzker has also done numerous interviews on national broadcasts since Trump was sworn in, increasing his visibility as one of Trumps most vocal critics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most recently, he welcomed Texas Democratic lawmakers who fled their state to prevent a vote on new congressional voting maps. DuPage County Sheriff James Kendrick, businessman Joseph Severino, and Phil Perez have announced they are running against Pritzker for the office of Illinois Governor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GIBSON CITY, Ill. (WCIA) The search continues for a man wanted in connection to a shooting that injured two law enforcement officers in Gibson City, and Illinois State Police is looking to the public for help. Around 2:30 a.m. on Aug. 9, officers from the Gibson City Police Department and Ford County Sheriffs Office responded near the area of Ash Street and Sangamon Avenue for the report of a naked man, later identified as 70-year-old David Jordan. Two officers shot in Gibson City, Suspect sought Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers attempted to make contact with Jordan, when a police officer and sheriffs deputy were shot. Illinois State Police said that neither the officer or the deputy fired their weapons. State Police requests that people or businesses in the area with surveillance cameras check their footage from the time of the incident to now. Anyone with footage of Jordan should report it to their local law enforcement agency or by submitting a tip on the State Police Crime Tip website. Jordan should be considered armed and dangerous, and the public is asked to not approach him, but instead call 911, State Police said in a news release. These images are being shared by the Illinois State Police to help the public identify Jordan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after the shooting, the Gibson City Fire Department responded to a home on Ash Street that had caught fire. Jordan was last seen at this residence, but his whereabouts are currently unknown. The home and a neighboring garage were a total loss. Heavy police presence in Gibson City Monday afternoon As of Monday afternoon, WCIA has not been able to confirm the status of the officers who were injured in the shooting. This is a developing story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com. An Illinois substitute teacher pleaded guilty to having sex with her 11-year-old student during what was described as "play dates" at her home, reports said. Former Decatur Public Schools employee Alley Bardfield, 34, is now set to be sentenced in September after admitting to predatory criminal sexual assault, according to Wcia. The station, citing a lawsuit filed by the victims parents, said the student visited Bardfields home in Mt. Zion for multiple "play dates" in 2023 and 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The victims mother reported noticing her son acting differently after a visit to Bardfields house. As a result, she checked her sons phone and social media. In a follow up discussion with her son, he disclosed having had a sexual encounter with Bardfield while a guest at her Mt. Zion residence on March 29, 2024," Mt. Zion police said in a statement last year. Former Public School Teacher, 33, Charged After 'Prolonged Pattern Of Abuse' With Teen Boy "These allegations are shocking, especially when the alleged perpetrator is a person in a position of trust," the department added. "The Mt. Zion Police Department is fully committed working with victims and their families as they deal with the trauma that results from these incidents." Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The boys mother discovered messages between him and Bardfield on his phone and $700 sent to him through CashApp, WCIA reported. The boy was a student in Bardfields class at the Hope Academy in Decatur, the station added. Illinois Teacher Indicted On 52 Additional Charges In Student Sexual Abuse Case "The victim is a 6th grade student with DPS District 61. Alley Bardfield was a long-term substitute teacher assigned to his 6th grade class," Mt. Zion police said. Bardfield reportedly was let go from her position following her arrest. She also admitted in police interviews to having sex with the student, giving him money in CashApp and sending him nude photos on SnapChat, according to WCIA. Bardfield admitted to sending the boy nude images in SnapChat, a report said. Bardfield faces up to 40 years in prison, reports said. Original article source: Illinois substitute teacher had sex with 11-year-old student during 'play dates,' police say Germany invading the United States might sound crazy by todays standards, but global power at the turn of the 20th century was very different from what it is today. The great powers of Europe were carving up Asia and Africa for imperial clout, riches, and raw materials, and sending their forces all over the world required a lot of manpower and firepower. The need for more resources meant that empires required more colonies, but space was limited; uncolonized areas were being snatched up quickly. So when colonies were established too close to competing empires, it could cause frictionfriction that could lead to war. The German army at the time was a formidable force, one that had adopted industrialization early on. To compete with the power of the British, the German Imperial Army maintained a peacetime force of nearly half a million troops. Since the empire also implemented universal conscription policies, it could muster up to two million soldiers if it wanted to, more than enough to challenge American forces on land. Meanwhile, the U.S. was far behind, but Germany recognized its martial potential. The Americans had just reinvigorated their Navy and sailed the Great White Fleet around the world, but they maintained fewer than 99,000 active duty troops in the Army and fewer than 10,000 Marines. After all, the United States was more concerned with fighting Native tribes in the West. The Germans had a low opinion of the U.S. Army anyway, believing it was well-fed but lacked discipline. They had an even lower opinion of the Navy, questioning whether the countrys democratic ideals affected its military discipline. They could have asked the Spanish about the U.S. Navys discipline. (Albert J. Werner) The German Empire had only become a unified country in 1871, but soon boasted the worlds strongest army, a navy that rivaled Britains, and the third-largest colonial empire. When that empire came too close to the burgeoning overseas possessions acquired by the U.S. during the Spanish-American War, the German General Staff set to work on a plan to invade and possibly even conquer the United States. At the very least, it believed it could capture American possessions in the Caribbean. Operation Plan I The German attack plan was developed in three phases. Toward the end of the 19th century, Germany was ramping up its shipbuilding in an effort to compete with Britains mighty Royal Navy, so the original planners had naval warfare on their minds. The brilliantly named Operation Plan I called for the German fleet to draw the U.S. Navys Atlantic Fleet into a decisive battle at sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once the American ships were defeated, the Germans would shell American shipbuilding centers (calling it the Heart of America) at Norfolk, Newport News, Portsmouth, and Hampton Roads with the goal of occupying all of them. After devastating their shipbuilding capabilities, the victorious German Navy would blockade the East Coast and negotiate an end to the war. Unfortunately for the Germans, they lacked the necessary number of vessels for this plan, so the general staff had to go back to the drawing board. German Grand Adm. Alfred von Tirpitz, the architect of Imperial Germanys U.S. invasion plan, favored a two-pronged attack in everything apparently. Operation Plan II The next iteration of the plan came at a time when German sea power completely outmatched that of the Americans. This time, the plan involved more than just naval tactics; they also planned for German troops to land in the United States and capture its most important cities. After the prerequisite decisive naval battle outlined in Plan I, a German armada of 60 ships would land 100,000 troops and a large number of artillery in a two-pronged attack on the Eastern Seaboard. The first prong was to land at Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and lay siege to the city of Boston with the artillery. The second prong was more of a fast-paced, shock strategy (what might even be considered a precursor to the Germans blitzkrieg strategy to come). Imperial ships would fire on New Yorks harbor fortifications, Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, and Fort Tompkinson on Staten Island. Once they were taken out, the fleet would proceed to shell Manhattan. Concurrently, German troops would land at Sandy Hook, New Jersey, and march on the city. The Germans completely forgot that even the British on their best day could never fully subdue Boston. German Gen. Alfred von Schlieffen, who would later concoct the empires plan to invade Belgium during World War I, drawing both France and Russia into the war, designed the strategy. He was confident they could capture Boston, but believed New York, with its population of millions, could not be held with just 100,000 troops. Again, the goal is to force a negotiated end and a foothold in North America. Operation Plan III In 1903, the invasion plan was reworked because German agents had actually visited Cape Cod and found it to be less than ideal for an invasion. Instead, the planners decided they could land at Provincetown, Massachusetts and at Cape Ann. Once landed, the Germans could sweep into Boston using a pincer movement. In New York, the landing areas considered included Long Island and Brooklyn. The Germans also believed that holding Caribbean bases for naval operations would be necessary to threaten the Panama Canal. Maybe a good idea, but the German Navy would go on to be confined to port for half of WWI after losing to the British at Jutland. Ultimately, nothing came of the invasion plans. Nothing stays secret for long, and the Americans eventually got wind of the threat the German Empire posed. The United States began adding ships to its naval fleet as European rivals began threatening German interests at home and abroad. Suddenly, the Kaiser couldnt spare the troops or ships necessary for an American adventure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the Germans were Americas number one enemy for much of the first half of the 20th century, the United States never really considered a German invasion to be a credible threat. Vietnam War The real story of Jane Fonda and the Vietnam vets who hate her By Blake Stilwell statue of liberty World War I German sabotage actually damaged the Statue of Liberty during World War I By Miguel Ortiz FBI photos Pentagon on 9/11 History 27 FBI photos you must see of the Pentagon on 9/11 By Blake Stilwell B-2 bomber Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement History This look inside the B-2 Bomber is so detailed it should be classified By Warrior Scout veterans embrace at the poppy wall Mighty Heroes USAAs Poppy Wall of Honor returns to National Mall for 6th year to honor and remember fallen service members By Tessa Robinson NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India on Monday accused its neighbour Pakistan of "sabre rattling" and "irresponsibility" after media reports on remarks about nuclear threats in South Asia made by Pakistan's army chief while on a visit to the United States. Indian media reports, citing sources, quoted Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir as saying: "We are a nuclear nation. If we think we are going down, we'll take half the world down with us". An excerpt of his speech shared by Pakistani security officials did not include the "nuclear nation" remarks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Pakistan is a responsible nuclear weapon state with an elaborate command and control structure under full civilian control," a statement from Pakistan's foreign office said. "It has always exercised discipline and restraint, while dealing with the issues of such importance." Munir reportedly made the remarks at a black-tie dinner hosted by a Pakistani-origin businessman in Florida on Saturday, where he spoke to a crowd of more than 100 people. Reuters could not independently verify the remarks. India and Pakistan both possess nuclear weapons and fought their deadliest battle in decades in May, sparked by an attack on tourists the previous month in Indian Kashmir, which killed 26 civilians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for India's foreign ministry, said: "Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistans stock-in-trade," adding: "The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks." He said it was also regrettable that the reported remarks should have been made while in a friendly third country. In a version of the speech shared by Pakistani security officials, Munir said: "The (Indian) aggression has brought the region to the brink of a dangerously escalating war, where a bilateral conflict due to any miscalculation will be a grave mistake." Munir was on a visit to the U.S. to attend a farewell event for General Michael Kurilla, the 15th commander of the United States Central Command. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement India previously lodged a private diplomatic protest with Washington when President Donald Trump hosted Munir for a lunch at the White House in June. Analysts have said that India's disagreement with Washington over the May 10 ceasefire with Pakistan, and Trump's renewed engagement with Islamabad, have contributed to a recent setback in ties between India and the U.S. under the Trump administration. (Reporting by Shivam Patel in New Delhi and Asif Shahzad in Islamabad; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Sharon Singleton) Indias opposition parties have held a protest demanding the rollback of a revision of the voter list in the eastern state of Bihar, where elections are scheduled for its legislature in November. Hundreds of lawmakers and supporters began Mondays protest from parliament and were confronted by police who stopped them from marching towards the Election Commission office in the capital, New Delhi. Police briefly detained dozens of lawmakers, including the leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi. This fight is not political but for saving the constitution, Gandhi, who is an MP from the Indian National Congress party, told reporters after being detained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The truth is before the entire country, he added. More than 200 people took part in the protest, according to police officials quoted by the NDTV channel. Indias opposition accuses the Election Commission of rushing through a mammoth electoral roll revision in the eastern state of Bihar, saying the exercise could render vast numbers of citizens unable to vote. Gandhi last week said the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar is an institutionalised chori [theft] to deny the poor their right to vote. Congress party leader and leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi, centre, and other parties lawmakers are stopped by police during the New Delhi protest [Manish Swarup/AP] The revision of nearly 80 million voter registrations The revision affecting nearly 80 million voters involves strict documentation requirements from citizens, triggering concerns it could lead to the exclusion of vulnerable groups, especially those who are unable to produce the paperwork required to prove their citizenship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the documents required include birth certificates, passports and matriculation records. Critics and opposition leaders said they are hard to come by in Bihar, where the literacy rate is among the lowest in India. They said the exercise will impact minorities the most, including Muslims, and bar them from voting. India does not have a unique national identity card. The widely used biometric-linked identity card, called Aadhaar, is not among the documents listed by the Election Commission as acceptable proof for the electoral roll revision. Prime Minister Narendra Modis ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) called the opposition leaders protest a well-thought-out strategy to create a state of anarchy, the NDTV reported. Intensive revision needed, Election Commission says The election body has denied the voter disenfranchisement allegations and has promised to ensure that no eligible voter is left behind. It has also said the intensive revision is a routine update needed to avoid the inclusion of the names of foreign illegal immigrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the commission, 49.6 million voters whose names were included in a similar exercise in 2003 are not required to submit any further documents. But that still leaves almost 30 million other voters potentially vulnerable. A similar roll revision of voters is scheduled to be replicated across the entire country of 1.4 billion people. Bihar is a crucial election battleground where the BJP has only ever governed in a coalition. Election results there could likely impact the balance of power in Indias Parliament. The BJP has backed the revision and said it is necessary to update new voters and delete the names of those who have either died or moved to other states. It also claimed the exercise is essential to weed out undocumented Muslim immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh. But many Indian citizens, most of them Muslims, have been arrested and even deported to Bangladesh as part of a campaign launched by the BJP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics and opposition leaders have also warned that the exercise is similar to that of a 2019 citizenship list in eastern Indias Assam state, which left nearly 2 million people at risk of statelessness. Many of those left off the final citizenship list were Muslims who were declared foreigners. Some faced long periods of detention. By Aditya Kalra NEW DELHI (Reuters) -From McDonald's and Coca-Cola to Amazon and Apple, U.S.-based multinationals are facing calls for a boycott in India as business executives and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's supporters stoke anti-American sentiment to protest against U.S. tariffs. India, the world's most populous nation, is a key market for American brands that have rapidly expanded to target a growing base of affluent consumers, many of whom remain infatuated with international labels seen as symbols of moving up in life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement India, for example, is the biggest market by users for Meta's WhatsApp and Domino's has more restaurants than any other brand in the country. Beverages like Pepsi and Coca-Cola often dominate store shelves, and people still queue up when a new Apple store opens or a Starbucks cafe doles out discounts. Although there was no immediate indication of sales being hit, there's a growing chorus both on social media and offline to buy local and ditch American products after Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on goods from India, rattling exporters and damaging ties between New Delhi and Washington. McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Amazon and Apple did not immediately respond to Reuters queries. Manish Chowdhary, co-founder of India's Wow Skin Science, took to LinkedIn with a video message urging support for farmers and startups to make "Made in India" a "global obsession," and to learn from South Korea whose food and beauty products are famous worldwide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We have lined up for products from thousands of miles away. We have proudly spent on brands that we don't own, while our own makers fight for attention in their own country," he said. Rahm Shastry, CEO of India's DriveU, which provides a car driver on call service, wrote on LinkedIn: "India should have its own home-grown Twitter/Google/YouTube/WhatsApp/FB -- like China has." To be fair, Indian retail companies give foreign brands like Starbucks stiff competition in the domestic market, but going global has been a challenge. Indian IT services firms, however, have become deeply entrenched in the global economy, with the likes of TCS and Infosys providing software solutions to clients world over. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Sunday, Modi made a "special appeal" for becoming self-reliant, telling a gathering in Bengaluru that Indian technology companies made products for the world but "now is the time for us to give more priority to India's needs." He did not name any company. DON'T DRAG MY MCPUFF INTO IT Even as anti-American protests simmer, Tesla launched its second showroom in India in New Delhi, with Monday's opening attended by Indian commerce ministry officials and U.S. embassy officials. The Swadeshi Jagran Manch group, which is linked to Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party, took out small public rallies across India on Sunday, urging people to boycott American brands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "People are now looking at Indian products. It will take some time to fructify," Ashwani Mahajan, the group's co-convenor, told Reuters. "This is a call for nationalism, patriotism." He also shared with Reuters a table his group is circulating on WhatsApp, listing Indian brands of bath soaps, toothpaste and cold drinks that people could choose over foreign ones. On social media, one of the group's campaigns is a graphic titled "Boycott foreign food chains", with logos of McDonald's and many other restaurant brands. In Uttar Pradesh, Rajat Gupta, 37, who was dining at a McDonalds in Lucknow on Monday, said he wasnt concerned about the tariff protests and simply enjoyed the 49-rupee ($0.55) coffee he considered good value for money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Tariffs are a matter of diplomacy and my McPuff, coffee should not be dragged into it," he said. (Reporting by Aditya Kalra; Additional reporting by Saurabh Sharma, Praveen Paramasivam and Aditi Shah) India's Supreme Court on Monday ordered the removal of tens of thousands of stray dogs from the capital, citing public safety concerns after a surge in dog bites. India is home to millions of stray dogs and deadly attacks, particularly on children and the elderly, are regularly reported by the city's media. At least 60,000 stray dogs live on the streets of Delhi, according to India's Livestock Census of 2012, the most recent data available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some suggest that number to be now far higher, with large rival dog packs patrolling parks and residential neighbourhoods across the city. The country accounts for more than a third of global rabies deaths, according to the World Health Organization, a crisis exacerbated by a lack of sterilisation programmes and legal restrictions on canine culling. The court asked city authorities to set up dog shelters within eight weeks, and maintain daily records of the canines captured. "What is important, and without which the entire exercise would go futile, not a single stray dog should be released," it said, which applies to Delhi and its satellite suburbs, a megacity home to some 30 million people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court warned of action against animal activists who obstruct the removal of dogs. It also ordered a 24-hour helpline to be set up to report dog bites and officials must publicise locations where anti-rabies vaccines are available. Data tabled in the Indian parliament showed more than 3.7 million cases of dog bites and 54 suspected human deaths from rabies in 2024. Other estimates peg the number to be nearly twice as high, with Delhi alone accounting for roughly 2,000 cases of dog bites every day. In middle class neighbourhoods, many of Delhi's strays are beloved by their residents despite lacking formal owners, with some dogs clothed in special canine jackets to keep warm during the winter. But they are also a hazard to humans, with Indian media regularly reporting on the mauling of young children by aggressive dog packs. str-sai/pjm/mtp The Indiana Court of Appeals upheld the state's near-total abortion ban on Aug. 11, ruling that the 2022 law did not violate the "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" clause of the Indiana Constitution. The decision is the latest blow to efforts by reproductive rights advocates seeking to expand abortion access after the Indiana General Assembly banned it except in the case of rape or incest, lethal fetal anomalies or risk to the health and life of the pregnant person. Under the first exception, abortions must be obtained within 10 weeks after fertilization while physicians can perform abortions for lethal fetal anomalies up to 20 weeks post-fertilization. This ruling is a resounding victory for life and the rule of law in Indiana, Attorney General Todd Rokita said in a press release. Our unwavering commitment to protecting the most vulnerable and upholding our states values will continue to guide this office. The overwhelming majority of Hoosiers stand with us in defending the sanctity of life and the health of women across our state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his opinion, Judge Paul Mathias wrote that while people have a constitutionally protected right to abortion when their life or health is seriously at risk, Indiana's abortion ban already contains those exceptions. Chief Judge Robert Altice and Judge Mary DeBoer concurred. The plaintiffs, abortion providers including Planned Parenthood, had argued the opposite, claiming there are specific circumstances where pregnancy risks someone's health or life without qualifying as an exception to the law. These included circumstances like health conditions where pregnancy would require pausing treatment to protect the fetus or severe mental illness. The providers also challenged how the law required all abortions to be performed by licensed hospitals or their outpatient surgical centers, which the court similarly rejected. The appeal affirms the trial court's ruling, which did not find a health condition that would justify an abortion under the Indiana Constitution that was prohibited by the abortion ban law. More: Indiana has a near-total abortion ban. But hospitals still performed some in 2024 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision follows another Indiana Court of Appeals ruling in 2024 that allowed a small group of Hoosiers who do not believe life begins at conception to obtain an abortion, citing the state's religious freedom law. However, that ruling only applied to the plaintiffs and does not extend to every person with that belief. That case has since been granted class-action status and has returned to trial court. Contact Marissa Meador at mmeador@gannett.com or find her on X at @marissa_meador. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Abortion providers lose appeal over abortion ban challenge [Source] A wave of racist violence against Indians in Ireland has prompted a safety advisory from the Indian Embassy and left community members fearing for their safety. Notable incidents: A 6-year-old girl in Waterford City fell victim Monday evening when older children beat her while yelling racial slurs. They said the F word and Dirty Indian, go back to India, her mother, nurse Anupa Achuthan, told the Irish Mirror, noting that her Irish-born daughter was just playing outside their Kilbarry home. Multiple other cases have been reported by both local and Indian news outlets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, taxi driver Lakhvir Singh, 46, was hospitalized after two passengers attacked him with a broken bottle, hitting his forehead twice while shouting go back to your country. One of them had initially refused to ride with a black driver. On July 27, Santosh Yadav suffered a broken cheekbone when five to six teenagers surrounded and beat him near Clondalkin train station. I was bleeding and after hitting me, they immediately left, he told The Journal. My friend was screaming and she was trying to save me. Trending on NextShark: Shohei Ohtani reaches 1,000th career hit, third straight 40-homer season The recent wave of violence appears to have begun around July 19, when a man who had arrived in Ireland just three weeks prior was beaten in Tallaght, prompting local politicians to condemn the assault. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Unprecedented violence: Sudeep Sanyal, director of the Vedic Hindu Cultural Centre Ireland, described the current situation as unlike anything he has seen before. Im here 21 years. Ive never seen it like this, he told RTE, explaining that families back in India are now questioning the safety of sending their children to study there. Needless to say, the attacks have traumatized victims and their families, with Singhs teenage children asking him to promise he will never drive a taxi again. Yadav said the Indian community no longer feels safe in Ireland. Trending on NextShark: Beijing claims 'final say' over Dalai Lamas reincarnation Despite obtaining Irish citizenship after living in Ireland for eight years, Achuthan said the attack on her daughter has left her feeling unwelcome. I am a nurse, I am doing my best to take care of people. I do my work and I am 100% professional. I changed my citizenship, but still we are called dirty people and even my kids are not safe, she told the Mirror. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The psychological impact extends across the healthcare workforce, with a popular social media post claiming that some 30 to 35 nurses in their circle are considering quitting their jobs and leaving Ireland for Australia or returning to India. The big picture: Racism and violence against Indians and other Asians is not new in Ireland. At present, Indian workers make up the countrys third-largest immigrant population and account for 21% of its nearly 90,000 registered nurses and midwives. Trending on NextShark: Indians in Ireland face harrowing wave of racist violence The Ireland India Council, which receives daily reports of attacks against community members, has called for government action including hate crime legislation and coordinated responses. In response to the escalating violence, the Indian Embassy in Dublin took the unusual step on Aug. 1 of warning its citizens to take reasonable precautions for their personal safety and avoid deserted areas, especially in odd hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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: Korean American 'TikTok cult' pastor faces intensifying federal investigation Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Subscribe here now! Trending on NextShark: Mural honoring Japanese Americans vandalized again in Seattles Chinatown Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! NEW DELHI (AP) India s opposition parties held a protest Monday calling for the rollback of a controversial revision of the voter list in one of the countrys poorest states, where key elections are scheduled in November, and warning it could lead to voter disenfranchisement. Hundreds of lawmakers and supporters began the protest from parliament and were confronted by police, who stopped them from marching towards the election commission office in the capital, New Delhi. Police briefly detained some lawmakers, including opposition leader Rahul Gandhi. India's opposition accuses the Election Commission of India of rushing through a mammoth electoral roll revision in eastern Bihar state, saying the exercise could render vast numbers of citizens unable to vote. The revision of nearly 80 million voters involves strict documentation requirements from citizens, triggering concerns it could lead to the exclusion of vulnerable groups, especially those who are unable to produce the paperwork required to prove their citizenship. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the documents required include birth certificates, passports and matriculation records. Critics and opposition leaders say they are hard to come by in Bihar, where the literacy rate is among the lowest in India. They say the exercise will impact minorities the most, including Muslims, and disallow them from voting. India does not have a unique national identity card. The widely used biometric-linked identity card, called Aadhaar, is not among the documents listed by the poll body as acceptable proof for the electoral roll revision. The election agency has denied the allegations and said it has ensured no eligible voter is left behind." It has also said the intensive revision is a routine update to ensure the accuracy of electoral rolls and is needed to avoid the inclusion of the names of foreign illegal immigrants." According to the commission, some 49.6 million voters whose names were included in a similar exercise in 2003 are not required to submit any further documents. But that still leaves almost 30 million other voters potentially vulnerable. A similar roll revision of voters is scheduled to be replicated across the nation of 1.4 billion people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bihar is a crucial election battleground state where Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party has only ever governed in a coalition. Poll results there could likely impact the balance of power in India's Parliament, where Modi's government relies on coalition partners, including a regional party from Bihar. Modi's BJP has backed the revision and said it is necessary to update new voters and delete the names of those who have either died or moved to other states. It has also claimed the exercise is essential to weed out undocumented Muslim immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh who have fraudulently entered Indias electoral rolls. Critics and opposition leaders have warned that the exercise is similar to that of a controversial 2019 citizenship list in India's eastern Assam state, which left nearly 2 million people at risk of statelessness. Many of those left off the final citizenship list were Muslims. They have been declared foreigners and some of them faced long periods of detention. Gandhi, the opposition leader, made public last week his Congress Party's analysis from southern Karnataka state that alleged nearly 100,000 votes cast for an assembly seat in the 2024 general election were fraudulent. India's election commission dismissed his claims. A clean voter roll is imperative for free and fair elections, Gandhi said Sunday in a post on X. NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India's top court ordered authorities in the capital Delhi and its suburbs on Monday to relocate all stray dogs to shelters within eight weeks, according to the Live Law website, after media reports of a rise in cases of rabies, especially among children. The Indian government said in April that nearly 430,000 cases of dog bites had been reported across the country in January, compared with 3.7 million cases all through 2024. India has 52.5 million stray dogs, according to a State of Pet Homelessness survey by Mars Petcare, while 8 million homeless dogs are in shelters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local media reports suggest that Delhi alone has 1 million stray dogs. Reuters could not independently verify the number. India's top court took up the case after several reports in local media of stray dogs biting children in Delhi, with some turning fatal. On Monday, Live Law reported that the court has asked authorities in Delhi to pick up stray dogs from across the city and move them to dog shelters. "Infants and young children, should not at any cost, fall prey to rabies. The action should inspire confidence that they can move freely without fear of being bitten by stray dogs. No sentiment should be involved," the court said, according to Live Law website. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, for the Delhi government, urged for strong intervention as "sterilisation only prevents the increase in their population, but it does not take away the power of the dogs to give rabies," the website reported. However, the move has drawn criticism from conservationists over its implementation. "Where are the shelters to house thousands of dogs?" conservation biologist Bahar Dutt said in a post on X, calling the top court's order an "impractical unscientific move". "We need mass vaccination & mass sterilization the only humane, proven ways to reduce conflicts," Vidit Sharma, founder of animal welfare organization Save A Stray, said on X. (Reporting by Tanvi Mehta, Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan) NEW DELHI (AP) No stray dogs roaming the streets of New Delhi? That could be possible in the future after Indias top court ordered authorities in New Delhi to start removing all stray dogs from the streets, and to sterilize and relocate them to shelters permanently. In its order Monday, the Supreme Court directed the capital's civic bodies to immediately initiate the process of capturing 5,000 stray dogs from high-risk areas for now and send them to shelters equipped with adequate staff and CCTV surveillance within six to eight weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unclear how the court arrived at the figure of 5,000 stray dogs. Various estimates put the number of strays in New Delhi between 500,000 to one million. While many of the dogs that roam New Delhi's streets are harmless, the court's order aims to control rising dog biting cases, including cases involving children. Some estimates, based on hospital records, suggest New Delhi sees nearly 2,000 dog bite incidents every day. The situation is extremely grim, the court said in its order, adding that it was passed while keeping (the) larger public interest in mind. Infants, young children should not at any cost fall prey to stray dogs, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court also ordered authorities to create an animal helpline within a week so that all dog bite cases in the capital can be reported. It said any individual or organization that stops authorities from removing stray dogs from the streets will face strict legal consequences, while adding the strays should not to be released back on streets, in residential areas or in public places. Animal lovers and activists had earlier opposed the court taking up the case. On Monday, the court chided them too. All these animal activists will they be able to bring back those who have fallen prey to rabies?, the court asked. Rabies through dog bites is caused by a virus that invades the central nervous system. If left untreated, it is almost always fatal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after the court's order, a senior minister of the state legislature in Delhi said his government will begin the process of rounding up the strays. Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra said the court's order is a step towards freeing New Delhi from the fear of rabies and stray animals. Special attention will also be given to the comprehensive welfare of stray animals, Mishra said in a post on X. View of an Israel Police vehicle. (photo credit: Via Maariv) The man was arrested about two weeks ago, just after the break-in took place. Authorities seized objects he had that belonged to the family. An indictment was issued over the weekend to a 37-year-old man from Beersheba for breaking into an apartment that an evacuated family had been staying in. They were evacuated due to a strike on their home from an Iranian missile, during the exchanges in June. The man was arrested about two weeks ago, just after the break-in took place. Authorities seized objects he had that belonged to the family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was caught by Israel Police officers after he used a credit card he stole to make purchases, and he had been riding on a bike he had stolen from the apartment. The indictment notes that he made 11 purchases, tallying up to the worth of thousands of shekels. Authorities also found unique jewelry that belonged to the family, and it was returned. The indictment indicates that he stole a key to the apartment while the family was at a nearby beach. Israeli Border Police force members patrol near the entrances to the Arab-Jewish town of Lod, Israel May 13, 2021. (credit: REUTERS/CORINNA KERN) Detention has been extended Since his arrest two weeks ago, his detention has been periodically extended. He was indicted for trespassing, stealing, and the use of a payment instrument without the payers consent, in aggravated circumstances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several other such unfortunate incidents were noted with families and individuals in similar circumstances. After being forced to leave their shattered homes, they were subjected to even more instability. Sarah Ben-Nun contributed to this report. Indonesia and Peru sealed a trade agreement Monday as their leaders met in Jakarta, with Southeast Asia's biggest economy looking to make inroads into South American markets. The agreement comes after US President Donald Trump recently imposed a tariff rate of 19 percent on imports from Indonesia under a new pact. Peruvian President Dina Boluarte was greeted by a marching band and national anthems at a ceremony at the presidential palace in the Indonesian capital before talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto said the leaders then witnessed the signing of the trade pact, dubbed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which will deepen ties between the two nations after he visited Lima last year. "This agreement will expand market access and boost trade activity between the two countries," Prabowo said after their meeting. "Normally, this agreement would have taken years, but Indonesia and Peru managed to finalise this agreement within 14 months." They agreed to boost cooperation in fields including defence, narcotics, food security, energy, fisheries and mining, he said, without providing details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024 Indonesian exports to Peru were worth $329.4 million while Peru's exports to Indonesia amounted to $149.6 million, according to trade ministry data. Boluarte's trip was a reciprocal visit after Prabowo travelled to Peru in November for the APEC Summit. Indonesia's trade minister said before Boluarte's state visit that the economic deal would allow Indonesian goods to enter markets in Central and South America. Boluarte, 63, is a highly unpopular leader at home and has faced protests against an explosion of gang violence. Her approval rating hovered around 2 percent in May. dsa-jfx/mtp President Donald Trumps decision to seize control of Washington, D.C.s police force and deploy the National Guard into city streets was met Monday with swift and blistering condemnation from House Democrats, who warned the move marks a dangerous turn toward authoritarianism. This is dictator-level stuff, House Oversight Committee Democrats, led by gay California Rep. Robert Garcia, posted on X. Deploying the military on D.C.s streets only creates fear and chaos. Donald Trump will be held accountable for this brazen power grab. (@) Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, the ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, called the announcement political theater, accusing Trump of using the Home Rule Acts emergency powers to distract from unrelated controversies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am sympathetic and feel a bond to the victims of violent crime wherever they occur in the District of Columbia, Illinois, and Texas, and in any state, Durbin told reporters Monday. Having said that, what the president did this morning was political theater. His idea in federalizing the police force of D.C. ignores the reality [that] theyre making dramatic progress in reducing violent crime in D.C., and so its a typical move by this president to create chaos and uncertainty and to draw the attention from other issues, like Jeffrey Epstein and his papers, [to] draw the attention away from the concern of American families that health care is beyond their reach and the cost of living is beyond their reach. Hes trying to change the subject. He wont be able to do that. Asked whether Chicago could be next, Durbin replied: I cant predict where this president will move next, but I will tell you this is no way to solve the problem of violent crime. He said that what Trump did is technically legal. It is legal under the Home Rule Act. For 48 hours, he can federalize the D.C. Police Force. Then it can be extended another 30 days, and then it takes an act of Congress, he said. The president framed his takeover as Liberation Day in D.C., invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, a rarely used provision that allows the federal government to assume direct control of the Metropolitan Police Department when special conditions of an emergency nature exist. Surrounded by top allies including Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Trump claimed the capital had been overtaken by violent gangs, bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Justice Department and Metropolitan Police Department data show a different reality: violent crime in D.C. is at its lowest level in 30 years, down 35 percent last year and another 26 percent so far in 2025. Mayor Muriel Bowser, who on Sunday called Trumps rhetoric hyperbolic and false, warned that militarizing city streets undercuts both safety and democratic self-governance. Trumps remarks were an uneasy mix of crime control pledges and political grievance. He vowed to dismantle the citys no-cash-bail policy, said officers confronting protesters were now allowed to do whatever the hell they want, and digressed into cultural warfare, railing against sanctuary cities and transgender inclusion in sports. For residents of D.C., where 14.5 percent of adults identify as LGBTQ+, the highest share in the nation, the stakes are particularly acute. Bowser has long called the District the gayest city in the world and pledged to defend its queer and trans community resources. Trump railed about transgender for everybody during the Monday morning announcement about crime. The president also told reporters he would be going to Russia to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, another false claim. The meeting is scheduled for Friday in Alaska, where the two leaders are expected to discuss a potential ceasefire with Ukraine after the years-long Russian invasion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This article originally appeared on Advocate: Influential Democrats condemn Donald Trumps dictator-level takeover of nations capital RELATED OSHKOSH A 42-year-old inmate from a state prison mental health facility has been convicted of first-degree reckless homicide following an incident last year that resulted in the death of another resident at the Wisconsin Resource Center. Jumal Lipscomb faces a possible 60-year sentence after his charges were reduced from first-degree intentional homicide in Winnebago County Circuit Court. Represented by Brianne Eileen Patzer and Emma Blankschein, Lipscomb entered a no-contest plea before Judge Scott Woldt Aug. 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lipscombs sentencing is scheduled for Sep. 8. Read more: Inmate pleads not guilty to homicide charge stemming from death at mental health facility According to the criminal complaint, the victim was taken to hospital following a May 21 incident at the WRC last year and remained in a persistent comatose state before dying weeks later. Lipscomb had reportedly punched, kicked and stomped the victims head almost 50 times. The victims name was not released but he was described as a 56-year-old man in the initial police report. Court documents revealed the attack was captured on video and showed Lipscomb and the victim sitting alone in the courtyard at a picnic table before Lipscomb abruptly put him in a headlock. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim eventually got away but stumbled on a ramp and fell before Lipscomb punched him in the head approximately seven times. The criminal complaint said Lipscomb then kicked and stomped the victims head around 40 times in an attack that lasted more than two minutes before WRC staff came out to the courtyard. One staff member said he heard Lipscomb say the victim was plotting against him and he had to protect himself. According to the employee, Lipscomb also said he was off his meds and not doing well. Read more: Court sets $1 million bond for 39-year-old Oshkosh man accused in Oblio's Bar shooting Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the court documents, a number of inmates and WRC employees told the police Lipscomb and the victim appeared to have a friendly relationship prior to the incident and were seen eating, watching TV and talking to each other. The complaint also revealed a detective reviewed video footage showing Lipscomb fist-bumping the victim less than 20 minutes before the attack. Multiple inmates said Lipscomb was acting strangely the day of the incident and another prison resident said Lipscombs mental health had declined over the preceding week. District Attorney Eric Sparr is prosecuting the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@gannett.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @justinmarville. This article originally appeared on Oshkosh Northwestern: Suspect in Oshkosh mental health facility death convicted NEED TO KNOW Jorden Borders, 35, of Minnesota, has been sentenced to nearly 40 years in prison for torturing her three children and falsely claiming they were sick to collect Medicaid payments, authorities said Borders would draw blood from her son, then 9, so doctors would think his hemoglobin levels were low Borders made another child vomit and pretend to have breathing problems to falsely obtain asthma medication, according to authorities A Minnesota woman has been sentenced to 39 years in prison after being convicted of torturing her three children and falsely claiming they were sick to collect fraudulent Medicaid payments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Thursday, Aug. 7, a Crow Wing County judge handed down the lengthy sentence to Jorden Marie Borders, 35, of Crosslake. On June 4, after a three-week trial, Crow Wing County District Court Judge Patricia Aanes found Borders guilty of all 11 charges against her including child torture, stalking, theft by false representation and attempted murder, according to a statement from Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison on Aug. 7. Calling Borders' crimes some of the most heinous and agonizing I have seen in my time as Attorney General, Ellison said in the Aug. 7 statement, I am praying for her children's recovery from the suffering and trauma they endured. Borders committed medical child abuse by performing specific acts against her children that led to them presenting with false medical conditions to their medical providers, Ellison said in a June 4 statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The horrific crimes came to light in May of 2022, when the Crow Wing County Sheriffs Office began investigating Borders for child maltreatment, Lakeland PBS reported. According to the criminal complaint obtained by Lakeland PBS, in March of 2022, one of Borders children was admitted to a local childrens hospital because his hemoglobin numbers were dangerously low. Borders claimed the hospital had taken too much blood from the child, according to the complaint. But in Nov. 2022, authorities questioned the children, who said their mother would forcibly draw blood from her son, who was 9 at the time, just before doctors visits, using a syringe or through a central line, according to the criminal complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Borders also self-diagnosed her children with other diseases, including osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease) and forced her children to wear boots, casts, and neck braces even though they did not have any identified fractures or diagnosed injuries, Ellison said in the June 4 statement. Another child stated that Borders would instruct the child to vomit at the doctor even though he didnt need to, and to cough as if he had asthma, at which time asthma medication was prescribed, Ellison said in the June 4 statement. The children all testified that Borders hit them with charging cords, belts, and spoons, made them stand outside in the cold without clothing until their bodies felt like burning, withheld food, and regularly threatened to kill them, Ellison said. At times, Borders threatened to kill the children with knives and guns, Ellison said. 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. Social media evidence from Borders accounts indicated that she regularly discussed 'end of life' decisions for one of the children with others, including at one point falsely stating that one of her children was on a ventilator and that they wouldnt know the cause of his death until an autopsy, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, Borders provided false information to Crow Wing County Community Services so one of the children could receive personal care assistant (PCA) services, Ellison said. Borders claimed to provide these PCA services and received over $18,000, Ellison said. By the time Borders was arrested on Nov. 23, 2022, she had physically, verbally, and emotionally abused her three minor children for more than five years, Ellison said in the June 4 statement. Read the original article on People BOZRAH, Conn. (WTNH) The Connecticut Office of the Inspector General is investigating a deadly shooting involving Connecticut State Police in Bozrah. Troopers responded to Gifford Lane in Bozrah Saturday evening for an active disturbance involving a firearm. Man dies after drowning in pool at Rocky Hill apartment complex State police said on Saturday that there was no threat to the public. A preliminary status report required by state statute within five business days of the cause of death becoming available will be released in the near future, the inspector generals office said in a statement on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further information was not immediately available. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. The Nebraska State Office Building on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022, in Lincoln. (Rebecca S. Gratz for the Nebraska Examiner) LINCOLN A program meant to offer state resources to Nebraska children suspected of being abused or neglected while keeping more of them at home and out of foster care is not being used as intended, an inspector generals report alleges. The Office of Inspector General for Child Welfare began investigating the states Alternative Response (AR) program after it received nine notices between 2021 and 2024 of children having suffered serious injuries and three of them dying within months of their families being assessed through the program, which is manned by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. Dr. Alyssa Bish, director of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services division of children and family services. (Courtesy Office of Gov. Jim Pillen) AR, according to the report, is recognized as a best practice in more than 20 states. It is used as a less adversarial and more collaborative method of working with children and families to assess possible cases of child endangerment while keeping more children with their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though AR is meant to be used for mid- to low-risk cases, the report found nearly half of the families DHHS assessed were deemed to be high-risk or worse of future mistreatment. The OIG report notes that between 2021-2024, DHHS completed AR assessments for more than 17,000 families, and over 7,800 of them qualified as high or very high risk. AR was implemented as a pilot program in Nebraska in 2014. It was added as a permanent program in 2020. Inspector General Jennifer Carter noted that during its pilot years, there were no reported cases of serious injuries or deaths related to AR assessments. The reports of kids getting harmed started after the program became permanent, which is part of what prompted the investigation, Carter said. In a written response included in the report, DHHS Director of Children and Family Services Alyssa Bish argued current regulations dont mandate how AR cases should be assigned based on risk level and noted that cases are excluded from AR when a child is determined to be unsafe. The OIG report confirmed that DHHS has not broken the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Bish explained that safety and risk are two separate measurements. Safety is an immediate assessment based on active threats of serious harm to the child, while risk is a more long-term evaluation of potential for future harm. It is important to clarify that the level of risk can only be evaluated after an intake is determined to be eligible for AR and the assigned Children and Family Services Specialist has made contact with the family, Bish wrote. Carters report criticized multiple deficiencies found in DHHS AR process, noting multiple errors found within the assessments of the nine cases the Inspector Generals Office reviewed in depth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The report also raised concerns about DHHS limited review of each familys history when assigning AR cases. In more than one of the nine reviewed cases, reports of suspected abuse within the family were missed, including at least one in which the OIG said there had been a report of abuse filed within the family nine months before the AR assessment. A family could have extensive previous intakes over many years that indicate a pattern of concerning behavior that [is] not considered if outside that six-month window, Carter argued. The OIG report makes several recommendations, including that DHHS improve its data tracking and find ways to encourage families to more easily engage more with state resources. Of the nine cases, a majority of families declined DHHS resources after receiving an AR assessment. Jennifer Carter, far right, the states Inspector General of Child Welfare, speaks during a panel discussion on the powers of the inspectors general offices. Nov. 20, 2023. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner) It is impossible to say that AR services being provided would have stopped the incidents from occurring in those cases, Carter wrote in the report. But in AR cases, unlike court-involved cases, engaging the family during the AR assessment is the only way to provide the family with the supports they need to address concerns in the home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carter praised DHHS for enhancing its data tracking system in February to include a note when families decline state services, calling it a great step. She suggested DHHS ought to align its data on AR with HHS data on the agencys more common Traditional Response method to alleged abuse or neglect. The goal: to be able to compare the effectiveness of each program under certain circumstances. Bish noted multiple updates DHHS has made to its AR system before the OIG report came out, including a new tool that reviews the frequency and quality of contact with families within the program. However, Bish noted that this tool does not evaluate families level of engagement with state resources for families. DHHS acknowledges the importance of this recommendation and is open to further exploration and development of metrics or tools that could more explicitly assess engagement outcomes, Bish wrote. Carter emphasized that despite her critiques, Alternative Response remains a useful tool that can recognize nuanced cases, such as families in poverty that could be mistaken as neglectful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, she argued that more attention should be paid to the outcomes of families assessed under AR and suggested DHHS and the Nebraska Legislature should consider whether risk level of future abuse or neglect should be a factor in assigning AR cases. DHHS did not respond to requests for additional comment on the report. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The owners of an internet-famous squirrel say New York officials committed a senseless act of violence when they seized and killed the animal and they now want $10 million in damages. Mark Longo and Daniela Bittner filed a claim last week in the New York Court of Claims over the October 2024 deaths of PNut the squirrel and Fred the raccoon, both of whom had lived in the couples Pine City home. The suit names the state, the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), and the Department of Health (DOH) as defendants, accusing them of government abuse and wrongful killing of the animals. News of the lawsuit did not widely break until the weekend. State environmental officers and health officials raided the couples property on October 30, 2024, after allegedly receiving complaints about illegal possession of wild animals. Officials claimed PNut bit an agent through thick leather gloves during the seizure, prompting rabies testing, Newsweek reported. Both animals were euthanized and decapitated for testing, but the state later confirmed the results were negative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not due to a fear of rabies, the couples court filing reportedly says, calling the killings an obscene demonstration of government abuse, per the New York Post. This language was reportedly similar to the verbiage used by the couple in a separate lawsuit relating to the same matter, filed a few days earlier, that seeks an unspecified amount in damages. PNut had amassed hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram, TikTok, and other platforms, appearing in videos wearing miniature costumes, eating waffles, and riding on Longos shoulder. His death, just days before the November 5, 2024, Presidential election, became one of the most-shared stories online that weekend, sparking widespread condemnation and memes that linked the incident to libertarian critiques of government overreach, The Dallas Express reported at the time. PETA later issued a statement criticizing the states handling of the seizure. There is always a humane solution, and its a pity that New York officials didnt find one here, spokeswoman Catie Cryar said, adding that the group lamented the loss of the animals after years in a family environment, per DX. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Longo has said he rescued PNut as an orphaned squirrel in New York City and was working to obtain licensing to keep the animal as an educational exhibit when the raid occurred. New York law generally prohibits keeping squirrels and raccoons as pets without permits. Squirrels rarely carry rabies and have never been known to transmit it to humans, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. The DOH and DEC declined to comment on the latest litigation, according to the New York Post. Aug. 11---- Interest appears to be high in a special bond referendum to replace aged school buildings in the As of late afternoon Monday, voters had returned 1,115 absentee ballots for the referendum, according to Janel Timm, property and public services director for Yellow Medicine County. Voters were able to obtain early voter ballots beginning June 27 at the Office Building in Granite Falls. Timm said her office has not seen this many absentee ballots requested for any prior special election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city of is also holding a special election by mail-in ballot Tuesday on a Sunday liquor question. There were 459 ballots mailed to residents of Clarkfield containing both the Sunday liquor and school bonding question, and 222 of those had been returned as of late Monday. That brings to 1,337 ballots already returned for the school referendum, or roughly one-third of the 4,040 registered voters in the school district that serves the communities of Granite Falls, Clarkfield, Echo, Hanley Falls and Hazel Run. Voters who have not requested early ballots can cast their ballots from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at one polling place, the Kilowatt Community Center in Granite Falls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The YME School Board is asking voters to approve a $74,339,000 bond. A vote yes committee has been promoting the referendum with district-wide phone and mail campaigns. The school is hoping to take advantage of Minnesota's Ag-to-School tax credit. It would fund 54% more than $40 million of the bond, according to Superintendent Rich Schneider during a presentation earlier this summer. The credit reduces the taxes on agricultural lands for the bond by 70%, according to the presentation. The YME board is proposing to replace a 95-year-old high school building, and a 73-year-old elementary school building. During an information session, the superintendent told attendees that the aged and deteriorating buildings are inadequate for modern learning. He cited concerns about accessibility for students with disabilities, the absence of a modern security system, and other safety concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project calls for building a new high school/middle school to replace the existing 1930 structure. The plan also calls for building a new elementary building to replace the Bert Raney Elementary, originally constructed in 1952 and expanded in 1957. A 1965 building will be upgraded, and the district's 1980-built gymnasium and 2019-built auxiliary gymnasium would be saved as well. A new auditorium would replace the existing auditorium. A separate Careers and Technology Education building would also be constructed as part of the new high school. The new facilities will be constructed on the existing campus. The new high school/middle school will be built north of the gymnasium on what is currently a parking lot. The new elementary school will be on the existing elementary site. A couple has been arrested after their toddler was found wandering on train tracks with no shoes early in the morning, according to authorities. A release from the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Departments Colorado River Sheriffs Station states that, around 6 a.m. Sunday, deputies responded to the area of Broadway and L Street in Needles, located in far eastern San Bernardino County near the state line with Arizona and Nevada. [The deputies were dispatched] on a report of a young juvenile observed with no shoes walking over the railroad overpass, SBSDs release, issued late Monday morning, says. Upon arrival, deputies located the child, later determined to be two-and-a-half years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the investigation, the girls parents showed up at the scene. While deputies questioned them, they exhibited symptoms of being under the influence of a central nervous system stimulant, SBSD said. Suspects steal multiple vehicles, drive down wrong side of freeway during wild pursuit across L.A. County Investigators were able to obtain a search warrant at the home of the parents identified as Bradley Underwood and Sara Estrada which turned up additional evidence. The nature of the evidence was not disclosed. Both Underwood, 48, and Estrada, 30, were arrested and taken to the Colorado River Station jail to be booked on charges of child abuse and parole violations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Underwood remains in SBSD custody with no bail awaiting a court hearing. Estrada is also still in custody and is awaiting a court hearing; however, her bail was set at $50,000. The young girl was transported to the local police station and placed in the custody of Child Protective Services, according to authorities. If you have more information on this incident, you are encouraged to contact Colorado River Station Deputy B. Moore by calling 760-326-9200. To remain anonymous, call We-Tip (1-800-762-7463) or visit www.wetip.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 KTLA. BURLINGTON, Vt. (ABC22/FOX44) State police are conducting an investigation after a Burlington officer reportedly shot at a driver early Sunday morning. They have now identified the officer involved in the incident. Authorities say that an argument between a man and a woman was initially reported at 12:40 a.m. Officials say that one responding officer fired his duty weapon after police located a vehicle mentioned in the report near 16 Prospect Hill. The officer was identified Monday afternoon as Jeffrey Baur, who has been with the Burlington police since 2022 and previously served with police in Colchester and Manchester, New Hampshire. Burlington Police Officer Jeffrey Baur is seen in this department photo. (Courtesy: VSP) No injuries were reported, and Baur has been placed on paid administrative leave, state police confirm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once the VSP investigation is complete, this case will be given to the Vermont Attorney Generals Office and the States Attorneys Office, which will both conduct independent reviews of the use of force. Anyone that may have information about this case can submit an anonymous tip or call 802-878-7111 for the Williston Barracks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. FRC Publishes New Edition of Hostility Against Churches Report Indicating Over 400 Acts of Hostility NEWS PROVIDED BY Family Research Council (FRC) Aug. 11, 2025 WASHINGTON, Aug. 11, 2025 /Standard Newswire/ -- Family Research Council (FRC) today released the newest edition of its Hostility Against Churches report. This edition examines incidents of hostility toward U.S. churches (including vandalism, arson, bomb threats, gun-related incidents, and other crimes) that occurred in calendar year 2024. The first edition of the report, covering incidents dating back to 2018, was published in December 2022. Since then, FRC has released a new edition of the report annually. Notable findings in this edition include, but are not limited to: The previous six years (2018-2023) featured an increase in hostile incidents against U.S. churches. FRC identified 50 incidents in 2018, 83 in 2019, 55 in 2020, and 98 in 2021. The total number of incidents in 2023 (485) was more than double the number identified in 2022 (198). In 2024, the number of incidents leveled off with 415. This total from one 12-month span is nearly equal to the findings from FRC's very first report (420), which covered 57 months. California had the most incidents in 2024 with 40, followed by Pennsylvania with 29, Florida and New York with 25, Texas with 23, and Tennessee and Ohio with 19. There were 284 instances of vandalism, 55 instances of arson, 14 bomb threats, and 47 "other." Notably, the number of gun-related incidents in 2024 (28) was more than double the number identified in 2023 (12). Thirteen incidents fell into more than one category. FRC has identified 1,384 acts of hostility against U.S. churches that have taken place since January 2018. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, who served as chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom during President Trump's first term, remarked: "Religious freedom is seldom handed to the passive; it is claimed by those who exercise it even when a hostile culture says they may not. This report clearly shows religious freedom faces substantial threats here at home. The American woke Left has been intentional in spreading its hostility toward the Christian faith throughout every corner of America. We applaud the efforts of the Trump administration, but efforts must be taken at every level of government to protect and promote this fundamental human right. Christians must expect and demand more from their government leaders when it comes to prosecuting and preventing criminal acts targeting religious freedom." Arielle Del Turco, Director of FRC's Center for Religious Liberty, commented on the report: "No instance of vandalism or other crimes against churches is acceptable, and political leaders should be quick to condemn such actions and affirm the importance of religious freedom. Religious freedom does not rely on legal protections alone, but also on cultural support. We must bolster cultural support for religious freedom and respect for our Christian heritage." Travis Weber, FRC's Vice President for Policy and Government Affairs, shared: "The reality presented by this report may be surprising to many, as we are often accustomed to thinking of 'the West' as the place of freedom. Yet, my hope and prayer is that anyone who is a friend of freedom will observe the trend documented here and sit up and take notice. The fact that hundreds of churches around the United States are denigrated in this manner highlights the broader reality that Christians, Jews, and others are no longer 'automatically' safe to live and worship in peace in the United States -- a trend that is at work in other Western countries as well. Government leaders should do their part in ensuring that our laws and constitutional protections for the free exercise of religion are enforced, and our culture and its institutions must do their part in ensuring honor and respect for religious freedom. Meanwhile, we must prepare ourselves for how to live amid such hostility, should this trend continue or perhaps get even worse." To access the full publication, please visit: https://www.frc.org/HostilityAgainstChurches SOURCE Family Research Council (FRC) CONTACT: J.P. Duffy or Alice Chao, (866) FRC-NEWS or (866)-372-6397 Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird spoke on Iowa Press Aug. 30, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Iowa PBS) Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird led a multistate letter Friday questioning whether a new net-zero carbon emissions standard for businesses is illegal under state and federal law. The letter was sent to David Kennedy, CEO of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a group that recently released its Financial Institutions Net-Zero standard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This standard is meant to aid financial institutions in addressing their most significant climate impact through alignment and sector-specific targets, according to the document, through actions like stopping or limiting investments in new projects related to fossil fuel expansion and addressing deforestation risks in existing investments. This standard could run afoul of state and federal laws limiting ESG investment strategies practices where investment firms account for environmental, social and governance factors when making investments, according to Birds letter. According to the law firm Morgan Lewis, there were 20 states with anti-ESG rules in effect as of September 2023. South Carolina joined the list in February 2024, when Gov. Henry McMaster signed the ESG Pension Protection Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bird also wrote SBTi and the businesses that commit to following the standard may be in violation of state consumer protection laws and federal and state antitrust laws, constituting an illegal boycott by deliberately cutting off investment and insurance for certain industries through their standard on oil, gas, and coal expansion. Some economic arrangements are illegal because they are unfair or unreasonably harmful to competition; the good intentions behind them are irrelevant, Bird wrote. The letter was co-signed by attorneys general from 22 other states Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. It included a list of requested information and documents from SBTi on its communication with members about how it plans to meet net-zero carbon emission commitments, how the standard was developed, and how it is working with insurance companies to reduce emissions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a news release Friday, Bird called the standard from SBTi, which partners with the United Nations, the World Wide Fund for Nature and other organizations in providing advisory information, the next attempt by radical environmentalists to coordinate companies to squeeze important American industries into eliminating carbon dioxide production by some future date. SBTi is trying to redo President Bidens radical green scheme, Bird said in a statement. If successful, theyll hurt farmers, energy producers, and Iowans. Its program limits output of goods or services, and these unrealistic net-zero programs harm both American agriculture and industry. Making net-zero a goal actively harms Americans, creates risk for energy independence, and increases the cost of safe, healthy, nutritious food. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier also took steps to investigate SBTi last week, announcing he would issue subpoenas to the advisory group and the CDP, an international nonprofit focused on environmental impact reporting. The investigation will look into whether these organizations violated state consumer protection and antitrust laws by coercing companies into disclosing proprietary data and paying for access under the guise of environmental transparency, according to a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Radical climate activists have hijacked corporate governance and weaponized it against the free market, Uthmeier said in a statement. Florida will not sit back while international pressure groups shake down American companies to fund their ESG grift. Were using every tool of the law to stop the Climate Cartel from exploiting businesses and misleading consumers. South Carolinas anti-ESG law requires the Retirement System Investment Commission to make investment decisions based only on pecuniary factors in other words, whats expected to net the most money without giving weight to policies such as climate change and social impacts. During a public hearing, the commissions CEO told legislators nothing would change, since the agency already operated that way. SC Daily Gazette Editor Seanna Adcox contributed to this report. Like the SC Daily Gazette, Iowa Capital Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Iowa Capital Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Kathie Obradovich for questions: info@iowacapitaldispatch.com. The Iowa Department of Corrections is looking for a man who failed to report back to a residential center. Joshua Bergen (Iowa Department of Corrections) Joshua Michael Bergen, who was convicted of third-degree burglary, willful injury causing serious injury and willful injury causing bodily injury in Louisa County and two counts of escape of felon in Des Moines County, did not report back to the Lary A. Nelson Residential Center in Cedar Rapids as required on Wednesday, Aug. 6. Bergen is a 31-year-old, 57, 168-pound white Hispanic man. He was admitted to the work release facility on July 29. Anyone with information on Bergens whereabouts should contact their local police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. Iowa State University assistant professor Todd Kingston explains the operations of the accelerating rate calorimeter system on Aug. 7, 2025. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch. Iowa State University is charging up to become a destination for academics and industry dealing in battery fabrication and testing, with new equipment opening doors for expanded study of the power source. Todd Kingston, an ISU researcher and assistant professor of mechanical engineering, said the accelerating rate calorimeter system now housed at the university and used for battery testing will hopefully draw in interested students. It would act as a centerpiece of a shared facility, where ISU researchers and collaborators can create prototypes and test these and other batteries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Various users across campus will have the ability to come in and use that, but were hoping to even extend that to partners outside of the university, ones that maybe necessarily dont have the capabilities or the equipment, or perhaps also the expertise to do some sort of the testing that they want, Kingston said. So we can perhaps even work with them to do that testing, provide that expertise, that training and those resources to them. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The new equipment was purchased for the university through grant funding from the U.S. Department of Defenses Office of Naval Research, which Kingston secured. It took several months to install and integrate into lab infrastructure, he said, but the machinery has been up and running for some time. Both new and used battery cells can be tested with the equipment, Kingston said, allowing researchers to see how they respond under various conditions at different stages of wear. The conditions placed upon the cells can range from electrical to thermal to mechanical, with data being taken on temperature, pressure, voltage, self-heating levels and more in real time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Batteries are sometimes pushed past their limits as part of testing, Kingston said, leading to their damage or even full destruction. As the batteries are encased in the equipment, researchers can stand just a few feet away and monitor the tests through a computer system. Qusai Alahmad, a third-year Ph.D. student studying mechanical engineering at ISU, called the new ARC equipment an amazing tool one hes been able to use already as part of a project funded by the Office of Naval Research. In addition to funding the purchase of the equipment, Kingston said the Office of Naval Research has provided grant dollars to multiple projects that utilize the ARC system and look at metrics associated with batteries and what characteristics can influence their level of safety. One of these projects has ISU researchers testing effects of thermal gradients on battery safety, and another has the university running battery tests to verify predictive modeling for thermal runaway, or when a battery goes beyond its limits, developed at the University of Arizona. The Iowa State University accelerating rate calorimeter system on Aug. 7, 2025. (Photo by Brooklyn Draisey/Iowa Capital Dispatch. Battery safety is a topic that is growing in popularity and importance, Alahmad said, as lithium-ion batteries can be found everywhere, from phones to cars to satellites. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Looking into it is very important, right, not only for the environment, but for the safety of people using these batteries, Alahmad said. Since its part of my funding, its really exciting. There are only a handful of ARC systems currently operating across the U.S., Kingston said, and even fewer are housed in university labs. This allows ISU to conduct research and testing that cannot be done elsewhere due to safety hazards. Joined by other ISU researchers and utilizing internal funding from the Office of the President, Kingston said he is working to create a center where batteries can be crafted and tested on-site. Other equipment is still being installed for the center which will expand the kinds of batteries that can be fabricated. Beyond academic study and potential partnerships with businesses and organizations, Kingston said the new equipment and center for battery testing will be helpful in workforce development, as ISU graduates will head into the world with experiences and skills they would have a hard time finding elsewhere. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More and more students, ranging from their undergraduate to graduate education, are becoming increasingly interested in battery technology, Kingston said, and he hopes the center and its toys will aid in recruitment and retention. It takes lots of different disciplines, knowledge, expertise to be able to tackle all the difficult problems associated with batteries, Kingston said. And so I hope that that attracts a lot of students from wide backgrounds to campus to come and learn and take advantage of the resources that we have. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Iran has conceded it will limit its nuclear programme and reduce uranium enrichment levels if the United States lifts sanctions. Majid Takht-Ravanchi, the deputy foreign minister, said the Islamic Republic would slow down its nuclear programme in exchange for economic relief from Donald Trump. But he ruled out completely halting enrichment and did not specify how much of a reduction Iran would make. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Takht-Ravanchi said: Iran can be flexible on the capacities and limits of enrichment, but cannot agree to stop enrichment under any circumstance because its essential, and we need to rely on ourselves, not on empty promises. Complete cessation of uranium enrichment was out of the question, the official said. Despite escalating tensions, the deputy foreign minister said diplomatic channels with the US remained open through intermediaries. He said Iran was ready for dialogue with the United States, but warned that new American threats would be met with firm defence. Iran enriches uranium up to 60 per cent purity, close to the roughly 90 per cent needed for nuclear weapons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Mr Takht-Ravanchi said nuclear negotiations with the US had stalled because of serious disagreements. He said Mr Trump deceived Tehran by pretending to engage in dialogue while launching devastating military strikes on its nuclear sites during the talks. Iran would seek compensation during future negotiations and is currently in contact with the US through an intermediary country, Mr Takht-Ravanchi said, though no timeline was given for resuming talks. The comments come as Iran faces mounting pressure over its nuclear programme following the US and Israeli strikes on three nuclear sites, including the underground Fordow enrichment site, during their 12-day war in June. Abbas Araghchi, Irans foreign minister, said last month that uranium enrichment had stopped because, yes, damages are serious and severe, but insisted Iran would not abandon its nuclear programme. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Obviously, we cannot give up enrichment because it is an achievement of our own scientists, Mr Araghchi said, calling the programme a source of national pride. Mr Trump, the US president, has repeatedly claimed the air strikes obliterated Irans nuclear sites and threatened on social media to do it again, if necessary. Britain, France and Germany threatened Tehran with a so-called snapback mechanism, which would restore UN Security Council resolutions against Iran if no progress is made on negotiations over its nuclear programme by Aug 30. If triggered, the most significant resolution that would return is 1929, adopted in June 2010, which expanded sanctions beyond technical nuclear restrictions to target Irans broader economy. Credit: Reuters Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The resolution required all UN members to take all necessary measures to enforce Irans enrichment ban and ballistic missile restrictions. The 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers expires in October, creating a tight deadline for any new agreement. Tehran and Washington held five rounds of nuclear talks starting in April, but negotiations ended after Israel launched strikes on Iran on June 13. At present, we have no plans to hold talks with the United States, said Esmail Baghaei, a spokesman for Irans foreign ministry. However, reports suggest Norway may serve as a mediator for potential new talks between Iran and the US. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state-run Tehran Times newspaper reported that both countries had expressed a readiness to begin new negotiations, with Iran insisting that war compensation must be part of any future discussions. Western powers have long accused Iran of secretly seeking nuclear weapons. Iran has repeatedly denied this, insisting its nuclear programme is solely for civilian purposes such as energy production. Meanwhile, the Islamic Republics foreign ministry said on Monday that talks between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) would be technical and complicated ahead of a visit by the UN nuclear watchdog for the first time since Tehran cut ties with the organisation in June. The IAEA board said on June 12 that Iran had breached its non-proliferation obligations, a day before Israels air strikes over Iran that sparked the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iran has intensified its long-standing criticism of the IAEA, with some lawmakers and regime-affiliated media issuing death threats against Rafael Grossi, its director-general. The Islamic Republic has overhauled its military command in recent weeks, creating a new defence council and reshuffling key security agencies. The council marks the most significant reorganisation of Irans defence structure in decades. The June war exposed serious flaws in co-ordination, air defence and the ability of security agencies to respond to strikes on military and nuclear sites. Even state media acknowledged these weaknesses, forcing Irans leadership to confront deep-rooted issues in command and institutional response problems that went far beyond the loss of military hardware. 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. TEHRAN (AP) Talks between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency will be technical and "complicated," the Islamic Republics Foreign Ministry said Monday ahead of a visit by the nuclear watchdog for the first time since Tehran cut ties with the organization last month. Relations between the two soured after a 12-day air war was waged by Israel and the U.S in June, which saw key Iranian nuclear facilities bombed. The IAEA board said on June 12 Iran had breached its non-proliferation obligations, a day before Israels airstrikes over Iran that sparked the war. Later on Monday, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi told Irans state-run IRNA news agency that Massimo Aparo, the IAEAs deputy director general and head of safeguards, had left Iran. Aparo met with an Iranian delegation, which included officials from the foreign ministry and the atomic energy organization, to discuss the method of interaction between the agency and Iran. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gharibabadi said they decided to continue consultations in the future, without providing further details. The IAEA did not immediately issue a statement about the visit by the agency's deputy head, which will not include any planned access to Iranian nuclear sites. Esmail Baghaei, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, told reporters there could be a meeting with Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi, but it is a bit soon to predict what the talks will result since these are technical talks, complicated talks. Baghaei also criticized the IAEA's unique situation during the June war with Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Peaceful facilities of a country that was under 24-hour monitoring were the target of strikes and the agency refrained from showing a wise and rational reaction and did not condemn it as it was required, he said. Aragchi had previously said that cooperation with the agency, which will now require approval by Irans highest security body, the Supreme National Security Council, would be about redefining how both sides cooperate. The decision will likely further limit inspectors ability to track Tehrans program that had been enriching uranium to near weapons-grade levels. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on July 3 ordered the country to suspend its cooperation with the IAEA, after the U.S. bombed three major Iranian nuclear sites as Israel waged an air war with Iran, killing nearly 1,100 people, including many military commanders. Retaliatory Iranian strikes killed 28 in Israel. Iran has had limited IAEA inspections in the past as a pressure tactic in negotiating with the West, and it is unclear how soon talks between Tehran and Washington for a deal over its nuclear program will resume. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA had assessed Iran last had an organized nuclear weapons program in 2003, though Tehran had been enriching uranium up to 60% a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%. ____ Chehayeb reported from Beirut. BAGHDAD (AP) The head of Irans top defense body visited Iraq Monday to discuss a security agreement between the two countries, described as important, though details remain scant. Iraq, which has managed to stay on the sidelines as military conflicts raged nearby for almost two years while balancing relations with Iran and the United States, had accused Israel of using its airspace to launch strikes on the Islamic Republic during a 12-day war in June and filed a complaint to the U.N. Security Council. Iraq's government also tried to restrain local Iran-linked armed groups from entering the fray at the time. Ali Larijani, secretary of Irans Supreme National Security Council, said an important security deal with Iraq has been drafted, ahead of his visit to the neighboring country, reported state-run IRNA news agency. Larijani did not provide any details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani said in a statement that he had met with Larijani and had sponsored the signing of a joint security memorandum of understanding ... regarding security coordination on the common border between the two countries. He also did not give further details. Iraqs National Security Advisor Qassim al-Araji confirmed meeting Larijani, saying in a separate succinct statement they discussed the implementation of the security agreement signed between the two countries" and emphasized that the Iraqi government is working diligently to prevent any security breach aimed at encroaching upon any neighboring country. Larijani praised the Iraqi government and its balanced foreign policy," the statement said. The two also discussed the security situation in the region and the crimes of starvation and killing of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, calling for the international community to take action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al-Sudani told The Associated Press in an interview last month that he used a mix of political and military pressure to stop armed groups in Iraq aligned with Iran from becoming a part of the June war that saw the U.S. launch strikes on key Iranian nuclear sites as Israel waged an air war on the Islamic Republic. As Iran retaliated by firing missiles at Tel Aviv, armed groups in Iraq attempted to launch missiles and drones, al-Sudani said, but they were thwarted 29 times by Iraqi government security operations. He did not specify the intended target of the missiles and drones, but in the past, factions in Iraq have fired toward Israel and at bases in Iraq housing U.S. troops Larijani is also set to visit Lebanon later in the week, where IRNA said he will meet with officials to discuss matters including national unity, (and) Lebanons independence. His visit to the tiny country comes at a time when Israel continues to launch strikes on the Tehran-backed Hezbollah militant group despite a ceasefire inked in November after last years Israel-Hezbollah war, and as Lebanons government is pushing the militant group to give up its remaining arsenal by the end of the year. In the months before her death aboard a yacht in Montauk, New York, swimwear designer Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra had recently finalized a divorce and previously resolved a legal dispute tied to her business dealings. According to documents processed by the New York County Supreme Court, viewed by Fox News Digital, the 33-year-old designer was in the midst of an uncontested divorce from her husband, Sam Ryan, as recently as April 8, 2025. The filings include a separation agreement, affidavits from both parties, and a certificate of dissolution, signaling that the couples marriage had officially ended just months prior to her untimely death on Aug. 5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nolan-O'Slatarra was found dead aboard a docked yacht in the early hours of Tuesday. Despite efforts by good Samaritans to perform CPR, she was pronounced dead on the yacht. Woman Found Dead On Yacht Sparks Scrutiny Of Montauks Party Scene And Rising Wealth The fashion entrepreneur, originally from Ireland, known for her high-end bikini brand and infectious social media presence, was in a new romantic relationship, according to Extra.ie. She was reportedly engaged to marry her boyfriend. Read On The Fox News App Her boyfriend, as reported by the Irish Independent, was not on board the 54-foot SeaRay named Ripple on the night of her death and she had texted him that she would "Uber home" following what was described as a business outing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The boats owner, described by Extra.ie as being in his 60s, was reportedly found alone and naked with Nolan-O'Slatarra when authorities responded. Montauk Yacht Death: Timeline Reveals Bikini Moguls Final Days In Hamptons Before Mysterious Demise People who were aboard other boats at the Montauk Yacht Club late Monday night told 27East that a man who owns two boats docked next to each other 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to her personal issues, Nolan-O'Slatarra also had legal conflicts stemming from her business dealings. According to a 2022 civil lawsuit filed by Out East Accessories Inc., viewed by Fox News Digital, she was accused of being terminated for cause in late 2021 and then stealing $34,000 from the companys bank account and its entire inventory of luxury eyewear. According to the court filing, she and another individual "ransacked Out East," sold or gifted the products without authorization, and caused irreparable financial harm to the business. Nolan-O'Slatarra denied the allegations through counsel. The case was dismissed with prejudice in July 2022 after both parties reached a confidential settlement, effectively closing the matter permanently. Martha Nolan-O'Slatarra recently celebrated a brand accomplishment at Gurney's Montauk Hotel and Spa. Glam Hamptons Shaken As Bikini Mogul Dies On Boat In Latest Montauk Mystery Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Irish entrepreneur's swimwear label, East X East, in New York was taking off in the highly competitive market. Earlier in the summer, she secured a pop-up shop position at Gurneys, regarded as one of the most exclusive shops in the Hamptons. On her social media account, Nolan-O'Slatarra captured behind-the-scenes compilations of her brand, including photoshoots and pop-up events. In a statement to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for Gurney's Resort said: "We are deeply saddened by the tragic news regarding Martha Nolan and extend our sincere condolences to her family and loved ones." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "While Martha was not an employee of Gurneys, we were proud to host her East x East pop-up and admired her entrepreneurial spirit and creative vision," they said. "The safety and well-being of our guests, staff, and community remain our top priority. Gurneys remains a safe and welcoming environment, and our team is available to support guests with any questions or concerns." As Fox News Digital previously reported , the picturesque harbor town has seen its share of tragedy in recent years, including violent incidents that have shaken its peaceful image. Officials have not yet determined an official cause of death, but authorities said Wednesday an initial autopsy "did not show evidence of violence." Renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden told Fox News Digital that authorities in Suffolk County should know the cause of death "within a week," pending toxicology results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Suffolk County Police Department told Fox News Digital Monday morning that they did not have an update. Irish Beauty Who Sold Bikinis Found Dead On Boat At Luxury Yacht Club, Homicide Cops Probe The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, according to Extra.ie, is assisting the family with bringing Nolan-O'Slatarras remains home. Fox News Digital has reached out to the trust. Nolan's relatives in Ireland say they are devastated and in disbelief. "I don't know what happened to my daughter," her mother, Elma Nolan, told The Irish Independent , describing herself as "numb with shock." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She recalled how her youngest daughter, Jacqui, arrived at their home in Carlow, Ireland, Tuesday night "crying and shaking" to deliver the news no parent wants 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. "That was the last time we spoke." Original article source: Irish bikini designer found dead on yacht months after divorce and prior legal dispute Late on Sunday, an Israeli strike shook al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, targeting a media tent by the gate where journalists had gathered to work. As people rushed to help, it became apparent that four Al Jazeera staff had been killed, including Anas al-Sharif, one of the most famous faces of Arabic reporting from Gaza. Why did Israel want to kill journalists? What happened that night? Heres what we know: Who were the four Al Jazeera staff Israel killed? Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif, 28, was one of Gazas most recognisable faces for his constant reporting of the reality on the ground over the last 22 months. The father of two was born in Jabalia refugee camp and graduated from Al-Aqsa Universitys Faculty of Media. His father was killed by Israel in an air strike on the family home in December 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, 33, made his last live report on air only shortly before his assassination, speaking in his trademark eloquent manner. Qreiqeh was born in Gaza City in 1992 and lived in the Shujayea neighbourhood. He earned a BA in journalism and media at the Islamic University of Gaza. Israel killed his brother, Karim, in March in an air attack on Gaza City. (Al Jazeera) Al Jazeera cameraman Ibrahim Zaher, 25, was from Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. Al Jazeera cameraman Mohammed Noufal, 29, was also from Jabalia. He lost his mother and one brother in earlier Israeli attacks. His other brother, Ibrahim, also works as a cameraman for Al Jazeera. What were they doing when they were killed? They were working. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The team was in a tent by the main gate of Gaza Citys al-Shifa Hospital late on Sunday evening. The tent was where they worked, as journalists in Gaza have gathered at hospitals to seek better electricity and internet connections, a fact that has been well-known since the start of Israels war on Gaza. Im not far from al-Shifa Hospital, just one block away, and I could hear the massive explosion that took place in the past half an hour or so, near al-Shifa Hospital, Al Jazeeras Hani Mahmoud reported yesterday. I could see it when it lit up the sky and, within moments, the news circulated that it was the journalist camp at the main gate of the al-Shifa Hospital. What happened? Al Jazeeras reporter Hani al-Shaer said an Israeli drone hit the journalists tent at approximately 11:35pm (20:35 GMT) on Sunday night. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly before being killed, al-Sharif wrote on X that Israel had launched intense, concentrated bombardment also known as fire belts on the eastern and southern parts of Gaza City. Journalist Amer al-Sultan was in a neighbouring tent when the attack took place. I came to the scene and saw all the destruction, al-Sultan told Al Jazeera Mubasher, standing amid the tents wreckage, his back to a concrete wall pocked and splattered from the attack. [I thought] all our colleagues were martyred. Al-Sultan added that he wasnt sure who the journalists were who were in the tent, but when I started filming, I saw our colleagues Anas al-Sharif was on the ground and Mohammed Qreiqeh, who was on fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We started to pull him out and try to put out the fire. The people gathered there tried to get Qreiqeh inside al-Shifa Hospital, but he succumbed to his wounds before they could get him treatment, al-Sultan said. Mohammed Qeita, a freelance journalist, was also nearby. I was not just a witness to the event, I was part of itThe fire was very strong. Even now, I cant believe it, he said. We knew Anas was the target He was our voice. How did Israel explain deliberately killing journalists? It said one of them wasnt really a journalist. Israels army posted about deliberately killing the journalists, claiming it had wanted to kill al-Sharif, who it accused of being an armed commander for Hamas only posing as a journalist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the statement, it accused al-Sharif of advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and troops and alleged it had documents providing unequivocal proof of this. Muhammad Shehada, an analyst at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said there was zero evidence that al-Sharif took part in any hostilities. His entire daily routine was standing in front of a camera from morning to evening, he told Al Jazeera. On numerous occasions over the last 22 months, Israel has justified killing reporters by claiming they belonged to armed groups. Groups focused on press freedom and media workers rights have said for months that Israel is deliberately targeting journalists in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two of the most prominent incidents included journalist Hamza Dahdouh, son of Al Jazeeras Gaza Bureau Chief Wael Dahdouh, and journalist Hossam Shabat, who were both assassinated by Israel and accused of being members of Hamas without any evidence. What did Al Jazeera say? Al Jazeera called the killing of its staff a targeted assassination in yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom. It said the journalists were among the last remaining voices from within Gaza, providing the world with unfiltered, on-the-ground coverage of the devastating realities endured by its people. Israel has banned international media from entering Gaza since October 2023, but Al Jazeera journalists remained within besieged Gaza [delivering] searing eyewitness accounts of the horrors unleashed over 22 months of relentless bombing and destruction, the statement said. Why did Israel want to assassinate Anas al-Sharif? Al-Sharif was the face of Al Jazeera Arabic in Gaza and of iconic moments as he reported on Israels atrocities in the besieged, bombarded enclave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For months, Israeli officials had threatened him, demanding that he stop reporting, but he refused, pledging to stay in northern Gaza and continue his coverage. Numerous rights groups and press freedom groups called for al-Sharifs protection after he was directly threatened by Israel. Israel ramped up a smear campaign on al-Sharif in recent months, with army spokesperson Avichay Adraee calling out al-Sharif by name in a video on X last month, accusing him of being part of Hamass military wing. (Al Jazeera) Irene Khan, UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression, said last month that Adraee made an unsubstantiated claim and called the smear a blatant assault on journalists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel killing al-Sharif was a targeted attempt to shut down coverage of its atrocities, former Executive Director of Human Rights Watch Ken Roth said. This is not an accidental killing. This is not a journalist who happened to get caught in Israels indiscriminate bombardment of Palestinian civilians in general. This was a targeted killing, Roth told Al Jazeera. Authorities in Gaza say Israel has killed nearly 270 journalists and media workers since it launched its war on Gaza. Israel said Wednesday it would call up 60,000 reservists and extend the service of others for a planned offensive in Gaza City and other heavily populated areas, ratcheting up pressure on Hamas as ceasefire talks show signs of progress. The expansion of Israeli operations is likely to bring even more death and destruction to Gaza, around 75% of which is already largely destroyed and controlled by Israel. A wider offensive would also force more people to flee and further disrupt the delivery of humanitarian aid as experts say the territory is at imminent risk of famine. Israel's plans have also sparked internal controversy, with families of the remaining hostages fearing another military escalation could doom their loved ones, while former senior security officials say there is little to be gained militarily. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hundreds of thousands of Israelis joined mass protests over the weekend. The decision to once again summon reservists away from their families and businesses, with many having served earlier terms over 22 months of grinding war, could further escalate those tensions. No clear timetable An Israeli military official, speaking on condition of anonymity in line with regulations, said Wednesday that troops would gradually move into Gaza City, including parts where they have not previously operated and where the official said Hamas still has military and governing capabilities. The official, who declined to offer a precise timetable for the operation, said the process of mobilizing reserves would unfold over several weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the operations will eventually expand to built-up refugee camps in central Gaza dating back to the 1948 war surrounding Israel's creation, as well as Muwasi, a sprawling displacement camp along the coast. Those areas, along with the central city of Deir al-Balah, are the only parts of Gaza that have not been almost completely destroyed in previous Israeli operations. They are also areas where Hamas may be holding hostages in tunnels or other secret locations. Few places left to flee Netanyahu has said Israel will allow civilians to flee to designated safe zones where they will be given ample food, water and medical care, as we have done before. He did not say where they would go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel designated Muwasi as a humanitarian zone earlier in the war. The barren stretch of sandy coastline was soon filled with tents housing hundreds of thousands of people with little in the way of food, running water, toilets or trash collection. Israel has regularly carried out airstrikes against what it said were militants hiding out there, often killing women and children. Last month, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reportedly floated the idea of transferring Gaza's population to a so-called humanitarian city that the military would build on the ruins of the southernmost city of Rafah now a largely uninhabited Israeli military zone on the border with Egypt. Netanyahu has vowed to eventually relocate much of Gaza's population to other countries through what he refers to as voluntary emigration. The Palestinians and much of the international community see it as forcible expulsion because Israel's offensive has made much of Gaza uninhabitable. They fear that concentrating people in the south would be a step toward implementing such plans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A possible negotiating tactic Israel could delay or cancel the planned offensive if there is a breakthrough in long-running ceasefire talks that stalled last month but now seem to have been revived. Hamas said this week it has accepted a new proposal from Arab mediators that is almost identical to a previous one advanced by the United States and accepted by Israel. Neither Israel nor the United States have yet responded to the offer. Netanyahu has said he will end the war if Hamas gives up power, lays down its arms and releases the remaining 50 hostages around 20 of whom are believed by Israel to be alive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel would still maintain open-ended security control over Gaza while delegating civilian administration to friendly Arab forces, Netanyahu has said, without identifying them. None are known to have volunteered, aside from an Israeli-backed armed group known for looting aid. Hamas has said, in line with international demands, that it would release the remaining hostages in return for a lasting ceasefire and an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. The militant group says it is willing to hand over power to other Palestinians but will not give up its weapons as long as Israel occupies lands the Palestinians want for a future state. Israel believes any arrangement that leaves Hamas intact and armed would allow it to eventually mount another Oct. 7-style attack. The hostages are Hamas' only remaining bargaining chip, and it is unlikely to give them up if it believes that Israel will then resume the war and attempt to eradicate the group. Israel ended a previous ceasefire in March that had facilitated the release of 25 hostages and the remains of eight others. Since then, it has imposed a 2 1/2 month blockade that pushed the territory toward famine, launched daily airstrikes across Gaza, expanded its buffer zone and ordered mass evacuations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas has only released one hostage during that time, as a gesture to the United States. Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251 others in the 2023 attack. More than half of the hostages have been released in ceasefires or other deals. Israel's offensive has killed around 61,500 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government and run by medical professionals, does not say how many of those killed were civilians or combatants, but it says women and children make up around half of the fatalities. The agency's numbers are considered a reliable estimate by the U.N. and independent experts. Israel disputes them but has not offered its own figures. ___ Associated Press Writer Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war An Al Jazeera journalist who was killed by an Israeli airstrike in the Gaza Strip was the leader of a Hamas "terrorist cell," the Israel Defense Forces announced. Anas Al-Sharif and four of his colleagues identified by Al Jazeera as correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa died Sunday in what the Qatari-based network called a "targeted Israeli attack" on a tent housing journalists in Gaza City. "The IDF struck the terrorist Anas Al-Sharif, who posed as a journalist for the Al Jazeera network," the Israeli military said in a statement. "Anas Al-Sharif served as the head of a terrorist cell in the Hamas terrorist organization and was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IDF also said it "previously disclosed intelligence information and many documents found in the Gaza Strip" confirming Al-Sharif's military affiliation with Hamas, from which "the Al Jazeera network has attempted to disassociate itself." Ny Times' Erroneous Cover Photo Of Gazan Child Joins Series Of Media Blunders Framing Stories Against Israel "Intelligence and documents from Gaza, including rosters, terrorist training lists and salary records, prove he was a Hamas operative integrated into Al Jazeera," the IDF posted on X. "A press badge isnt a shield for terrorism." Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al Jazeera and Al-Sharif previously rejected claims of his affiliation with Hamas, according to Reuters. "Al Jazeera Media Network condemns in the strongest terms the targeted assassination of its correspondents Anas Al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh ... by the Israeli occupation forces in yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom," the network said. News Outlets 'Desperately Concerned' For Their Journalists In Gaza, Urge Israeli Authorities To Help "Anas and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices from within Gaza, providing the world with unfiltered, on-the-ground coverage of the devastating realities endured by its people. While international media was barred from entering, Al Jazeera journalists remained within besieged Gaza, experiencing the hunger and suffering they documented through their lenses," it added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The U.N. Human Rights Office also wrote on X that it condemned the killings and called for "immediate, safe and unhindered access to Gaza for all journalists." Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif, who was killed in an Israeli strike on Aug. 10, 2025, stands at a landfill as he reports the news in Gaza City on Aug. 13, 2024. The IDF said the documents it found in the Gaza Strip "include personnel rosters, lists of terrorist training courses, phone directories, and salary documents for the terrorist, and provide unequivocal proof that [Al-Sharif] serves as a military terrorist in Hamas in the Gaza Strip. " Original article source: Israel says Al Jazeera journalist killed in airstrike was head of Hamas 'terrorist cell' Since being tasked with preventing Hezbollahs rearmament during the Second Lebanon War in 2006, UNIFIL has done nothing to confront the organization over its weapons. Ahead of the UN Security Council discussion on extending the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) taking place later this month, Israel and the United States have informed Council members that they oppose an automatic renewal of the mandate and are demanding a reassessment of the forces necessity. A diplomat familiar with the talks told The Jerusalem Post that this comes in light of its prolonged failure to prevent Hezbollahs infiltration into southern Lebanon, and to enforce the Lebanese governments sovereignty in the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel and the US are working with other Security Council members to persuade them not to support the mandates extension, or, at the very least, to demand substantial changes to it. The goal is to ensure that the automatic renewal policy is replaced with a substantive debate over UNIFILs performance and a potential new path forward. The Israeli and American position is based on the fact that UNIFIL, which was established nearly five decades ago as a temporary force, has failed to achieve its core objectives. Instead of acting as a buffer and preventing Hezbollahs militarization south of the Litani River, the force has become a passive actor, refraining from exercising its authority and submitting partial reports to the Security Council that do not reflect the reality on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since being tasked with preventing Hezbollahs rearmament during the Second Lebanon War in 2006, UNIFIL has done nothing to confront the organization over its weapons. Israeli and US alternatives Given this, Israel and the US have presented two alternatives: A full termination of UNIFILs mandate and gradual withdrawal from the area, or a limited extension of a year, with clearly defined and focused missions including the orderly dismantling of UNIFIL positions, coordinated withdrawal with the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), and the transfer of full security responsibility to the Lebanese government. At the political level and within the IDF, officials see a rare strategic opportunity. Hezbollahs current weakening, combined with mounting internal pressure in Lebanon, could create conditions for the Lebanese government to reassert sovereignty in the south. Israel believes that at this stage there is no longer a need for an international intermediary force on the ground, and that UN resources would be better invested in supporting the LAF. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Lebanese governments decision last week to begin disarming Hezbollah only proves that this may be a once-in-a-generation moment to act against the organization, an Israeli official told the Post. In recent days, the Israeli-American proposals have been joined by a French initiative: extending UNIFILs mandate for a year, followed by the forces dismantlement and withdrawal from the area. Diplomats at the UN say there is a real possibility this could ultimately be the option chosen by the Security Council. The researchers suggest that these differences might stem from Israels larger socioeconomic and cultural-linguistic gaps compared to the leading nations. Does starting school earlier foreshadow a students future success? A new study from the Shoresh Institution for Socioeconomic Research, using data from the PISA exams, reveals a strong link between the age at which children start preschool and their later academic achievements. The research revealed that students who began attending preschool before age five consistently achieved higher scores. This effect was particularly pronounced among Israeli students, with the largest achievement gaps found in the state-religious school system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The study, which compared Israel to a reference group of five top-performing nations Canada, Estonia, Finland, Japan, and Taiwan shows that starting preschool early benefits students in both Israel and these leading countries. However, the contribution of early preschool entry to student achievement is significantly greater in Israel. For instance, after controlling for various factors, the achievement gap between students who started preschool before age five and those who started at or after age five was 6.4% in the state-religious system, compared to 2.7% in the state system, and just 1.6% in the leading countries. The researchers suggest that these differences might stem from Israels larger socioeconomic and cultural-linguistic gaps compared to the leading nations. In such cases, preschool may serve to compensate for educational and social disadvantages by providing early exposure to language and culture, thereby helping children navigate these challenges. View of an empty school at in Tel Aviv, as schools begin at 10 A.M. following a strike of the Teachers Union, on June 19, 2022. (credit: AVSHALOM SASSONI/FLASH90) The study also examined the role of mothers education in relation to preschool entry age. In the leading countries, the achievement gaps related to early preschool entry were more significant for students whose mothers held an academic degree. However, in Israel, no statistically significant link was found between the achievement gaps and a mothers education level. This finding contrasts with common research, which suggests that preschool is often more beneficial for children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The data show that Israeli students who started preschool before age five achieved higher PISA scores regardless of their background. This supports the importance of reforms that make early childhood education accessible to all segments of the population. Context and methodology The research is based on PISA exam data from 2015, 2018, and 2022 and included responses from students in state, state-religious, and Arab schools. The study defined early entry as attending preschool before the age of five, which was Israels compulsory education starting age until reforms in 2012 extended mandatory schooling to ages three and four. The findings reinforce the widely held belief among policymakers that early childhood education is a crucial tool for promoting economic growth, improving social mobility, and reducing inequality. An Israeli strike on a hospital near Gaza City killed four Al Jazeera journalists, the network said, including one whom Israel had accused of being a Hamas fighter posing as a reporter. Israel said it had targeted Anas al-Sharif for being the head of a terrorist cell responsible for attacking Israeli civilians. The death toll in the enclave has now surpassed 60,000, according to data from Gazas health officials, with many fearing the death toll could rise rapidly as Israel prepares to launch a plan to occupy Gaza City. Meanwhile the plan threatens the unity of the Israeli government, with the countrys influential finance minister saying he had lost faith in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. JERUSALEM (AP) Israels military targeted and killed an Al Jazeera correspondent and others with an airstrike late Sunday in Gaza, after press advocates said an Israeli smear campaign stepped up when Anas al-Sharif cried on air over starvation in the territory. Both Israel and hospital officials in Gaza City confirmed the deaths of al-Sharif and colleagues, which the Committee to Protect Journalists and others described as retribution against those documenting the war in Gaza. Israels military asserted that al-Sharif had led a Hamas cell an allegation that Al Jazeera and al-Sharif previously dismissed as baseless. The military has previously said it targeted individuals it described as Hamas militants posing as reporters. Observers have called this the deadliest conflict for journalists in modern times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials at Shifa Hospital said those killed while sheltering outside Gaza Citys largest hospital complex also included Al Jazeera correspondent Mohamed Qreiqeh, plus four other journalists and two other people. Four of the six slain journalists were Al Jazeera staffers. The strike damaged the entrance to the complexs emergency building. The airstrike occurred hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended a planned military offensive into some of Gazas most populated areas, including Gaza City, and said he directed the military to bring in more foreign journalists to Gaza. The strike came less than a year after Israeli army officials first accused al-Sharif and other Al Jazeera journalists of being members of the militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad. In a July 24 video, Israels army spokesperson Avichay Adraee attacked Al Jazeera and accused al-Sharif of being part of Hamas military wing. Al-Sharif and his employer denied the allegations as baseless. Al Jazeera calls strike an assassination Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Condemnation has poured in from the U.N. human rights office, the Foreign Press Association, the Committee to Protect Journalists, the International Press Institute and Amnesty International, among others. Al Jazeera called the strike a targeted assassination and accused Israeli officials of incitement, connecting al-Sharif's death to the allegations that both the network and correspondent had denied. Anas and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices from within Gaza, providing the world with unfiltered, on-the-ground coverage of the devastating realities endured by its people, the Qatari network said in a statement. Apart from rare invitations to observe Israeli military operations, international media have been barred from entering Gaza for the duration of the war. Al Jazeera is among the few outlets still fielding a big team of reporters inside the besieged strip, chronicling daily life amid airstrikes, hunger and the rubble of destroyed neighborhoods. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al Jazeera is blocked in Israel and soldiers raided its offices in the occupied West Bank last year. Israel at the time ordered the closure of its local offices, while preventing the broadcast of its reports and blocking its websites. The network has suffered heavy losses during the war, including 27-year-old correspondent Ismail al-Ghoul and cameraman Rami al-Rifi, killed last summer, and freelancer Hossam Shabat, killed in an Israeli airstrike in March. Like al-Sharif, Shabat was among the six that Israel accused of being members of militant groups last October. Only a journalist that is a Hamas fighter or that is, at the time of attack, directly participating in hostilities can be intentionally targeted. Alerting the world to the starvation of civilians, reporting on Israels military conduct in Gaza, even disseminating pro-Hamas propaganda, none of this would count as direct participation in hostilities, said Janina Dill, a professor of global security a the University of Oxford. She added that evidence is mounting that Israel considers anyone who it believes is a Hamas member to be a legitimate target. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I do not consider this a reasonable interpretation of international humanitarian law, Dill said. The Committee to Protect Journalists said on Monday that at least 192 journalists have been killed since Israels war in Gaza began. Sundays strike brings the total number of Al Jazeera staff journalists killed during the war to 10, not including 8 freelancers, according to CPJ data. Irene Khan, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, on July 31 said that the killings were part of a deliberate strategy of Israel to suppress the truth, obstruct the documentation of international crimes and bury any possibility of future accountability. Funeral-goers call to protect journalists Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a social media post that Al Jazeera said was written to be posted in case of his death, al-Sharif bemoaned the devastation and destruction that war had wrought and bid farewell to his wife, son and daughter. I never hesitated for a single day to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification, the 28-year-old wrote. Hundreds of people, including many journalists, gathered Monday to mourn al-Sharif, Qreiqeh and their colleagues. The bodies lay wrapped in white sheets at the Shifa Hospital complex. Ahed Ferwana of the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate said reporters were being deliberately targeted and urged the international community to act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al-Sharif began reporting for Al Jazeera a few days after war broke out. He was known for reporting on Israels bombardment in northern Gaza, and later for the starvation gripping much of the territorys population. In a July broadcast, al-Sharif cried on air as a woman behind him collapsed from hunger. I am talking about slow death of those people, he said at the time. Qreiqeh, a 33-year-old Gaza City native, is survived by two children. Both journalists were separated from their families for months earlier in the war. When they managed to reunite during the ceasefire earlier this year, their children appeared unable to recognize them, according to video footage they posted at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anas al-Sharif and his colleagues have been the eyes and voices of Gaza. Starved and exhausted, they continued to bravely report from the frontlines, despite death threats and immense grief, Amnesty International said in a statement Monday, adding that there must be an independent, impartial investigation into the killings of Palestinian journalists. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo. AP writer Molly Quell contributed from Amsterdam. ___ This story has been corrected to change the name of the second journalist to Qreiqeh. This story has also been corrected to show that four of the six slain journalists were Al Jazeera employees, not five, as the network initially said. An Israeli strike in Gaza City late Sunday night killed seven people including five staff members from the news network Al Jazeera, in an attack condemned by press freedom advocates and the United Nations human rights office. The Israeli military said it targeted and killed Al Jazeera correspondent Anas Al-Sharif a prominent journalist who has extensively covered the war from inside Gaza after accusing him of leading a Hamas cell, an allegation Al-Sharif and his network had previously denied. Al Jazeera said correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and photojournalists Ibrahim Al Thaher and Moamen Aliwa were also killed in the strike, as well as Mohammed Noufal, another staff member. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order to kill Anas Al-Sharif, one of Gazas bravest journalists, along with his colleagues, is a desperate attempt to silence voices ahead of the occupation of Gaza, Al Jazeera said in a statement after the attack. In the minutes before he was killed, Al-Sharif said on social media, If this madness does not end, Gaza will be reduced to ruins, its peoples voices silenced, their faces erased and history will remember you as silent witnesses to a genocide you chose not to stop. Al-Sharif was in a tent with other journalists near the entrance to the Al-Shifa Hospital when he was killed, according to hospital director Dr. Mohammad Abu Salmiya. The tent was marked with a Press sign, Abu Salmiya told CNN. The strike killed at least seven people, Salmiya added. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has accused Al-Sharif of leading a Hamas cell in Gaza that advanced rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops, and had previously published documents it claimed showed unequivocal proof of Al-Sharifs ties to Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The IDF had previously disclosed intelligence information and many documents found in the Gaza Strip, confirming his military affiliation to Hamas, the military said in a statement after the strike. CNN cannot independently verify the documents released by the IDF. Palestinians inspect the site of an Israeli strike where Al Jazeera says its journalists Anas Al Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh and three photojournalists were killed, in Gaza City, August 11, 2025. - Ebrahim Hajjaj/Reuters Last month, after the IDF accused Al-Sharif, 28, of being a member of Hamas, he responded in a message on social media. I reaffirm: I, Anas Al-Sharif, am a journalist with no political affiliations. My only mission is to report the truth from the ground as it is, without bias, he wrote. At a time when a deadly famine is ravaging Gaza, speaking the truth has become, in the eyes of the occupation, a threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, the United Nations Human Rights Office condemned the attack, calling it a grave breach of international humanitarian law in a post on X. Israel must respect & protect all civilians, including journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it was appalled by the killings, adding that Israel has a longstanding, documented pattern of accusing journalists of being terrorists without providing any credible proof. Israel is murdering the messengers, CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah said in a statement on Monday. Israel wiped out an entire news crew. It has made no claims that any of the other journalists were terrorists. Thats murder. Plain and simple. It is no coincidence that the smears against al-Sharif who has reported night and day for Al Jazeera since the start of the war surfaced every time he reported on a major development in the war, most recently the starvation brought about by Israels refusal to allow sufficient aid into the territory, Qudah added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In July, the CPJ said it was gravely worried for Al-Sharifs safety and that the journalist feared for his life after he was the target of an Israeli military smear campaign, which he believes is a precursor to his assassination. The organization said 186 journalists have been killed since the beginning of the war nearly two years ago, adding: 178 of those journalists are Palestinians killed by Israel. Since the start of the war, Israel has not allowed international journalists to enter the Gaza Strip to report independently. Just hours before the strike that killed Al-Sharif and his colleagues, Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said foreign journalists would now be allowed into Gaza, but only with IDF approval and accompanied by them, the same embed policy that has been in place since the beginning of the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palestinian reporters for major news outlets like Al Jazeera have become the eyes and ears of those suffering inside Gaza during the conflict and are living in the same arduous conditions as the rest of the population. Hamas earlier on Sunday accused the Israeli military of targeting and killing Palestinian journalists, calling for journalists and international media to be given freedom to enter Gaza. The United Nations had previously called Israels allegations Al-Sharif was a Hamas operative online attacks and unfounded accusations. I am deeply alarmed by repeated threats and accusations of the Israeli army against Anas Al-Sharif, the last surviving journalist of Al Jazeera in northern Gaza, said Irene Khan, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, two weeks ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The journalists name was trending on social media across several Arab states on Monday, including in Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Al-Sharif and Al Jazeera were also trending worldwide on X. Al-Sharif, who was married and had two children, had prepared a final message in the event of his death which was shared by his colleagues. I urge you to care for my beloved daughter, Shams, the light of my eyes, whom time did not allow me to see grow as I had dreamed, Al-Sharif wrote. And I recommend you to care for my dear son, Salah, whom I wished to be a support and companion on his journey until he grows strong enough to share the burden and continue the message, he added. I urge you not to be silenced by chains, nor to be hindered by borders, and to be bridges towards the liberation of the land and its people, until the sun of dignity and freedom shines upon our occupied homeland, Al-Sharif wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A funeral procession for Al-Sharif took place in Gaza City on Monday, where crowds gathered to mourn his death. CNNs Nadeen Ebrahim contributed reporting. This is a developing story and will be updated. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Maayan Lubell JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel's new offensive in Gaza City could take weeks to start, leaving the door open for a ceasefire, officials say, even as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it would get underway "fairly quickly" and end the war with Hamas' defeat. Two officials who were at a security cabinet meeting on Thursday to approve the plan told Reuters that the evacuation of civilians from affected areas may only be completed by the start of October, giving time for a deal to be pursued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan raised international alarm over the harm it could bring to the shattered enclave, where a hunger crisis has worsened. On Sunday, Netanyahu summoned foreign journalists to explain the blueprint, which includes what he described as a surge of humanitarian aid. Netanyahu said that Israel will first allow civilians to leave the battle zones before forces move in on Gaza City, which he described as one of Hamas' last two remaining strongholds, whose defeat will bring an end to the war. But Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a security cabinet member who has demanded even tougher action, said the plan was designed to pressure Hamas back to the negotiating table, rather than defeat the group and urged Netanyahu to scrap it. Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas over a U.S. proposal for a 60-day ceasefire that would have included the release of half the hostages still in Gaza ended last month in a deadlock, with major gaps still between both sides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mediators, Egypt and Qatar, have not given up on reviving negotiations, according to an Arab diplomat who said Israel's decision to broadcast its new Gaza City offensive plan may not be a bluff, but it also serves to bring Hamas back to the negotiating table. The diplomat said that there was a new willingness from Hamas to engage in constructive talks toward a ceasefire after they had seen Netanyahu's seriousness about taking all of Gaza. Senior Hamas official Basem Naim said the group had informed the mediators that it was still interested in reaching a ceasefire deal. Netanyahu has not ruled out eventually opting for a deal. A source close to the prime minister said that if a relevant proposal were to emerge, it would be brought before Israel's security cabinet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked on Sunday whether he would halt the new offensive in favour of a ceasefire, Netanyahu publicly took a tougher stance. "We are aiming for the release of all the 20 (living hostages) with the goal of defeating Hamas. We were talking about a partial deal, we went for a partial deal but we were led astray," he said. "We are going to destroy Hamas, we are not stopping, we are advancing," he added. 'DEATH TRAP' He also said he had instructed the Israeli military to speed up its plans for the new offensive. "I want to end the war as quickly as possible and that is why I have instructed the IDF (Israel Defence Forces) to shorten the schedule for seizing control of Gaza City," he said. The timeline, he said, was "fairly quickly". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the plans laid out at the security cabinet on Thursday could take around five months to complete, according to the two officials present at the meeting. Netanyahu's remarks on Gaza City being the last bastion whose downfall would hasten Hamas' defeat echoed statements ahead of another offensive, in southern Gaza, more than a year ago. In April 2024, during a previous round of failed ceasefire negotiations, Netanyahu vowed to press on with a long promised assault in Rafah that would achieve "total victory" after tackling Hamas' last remaining brigade there. Israel moved on Rafah in May 2024, as hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled the area. The group's leader and mastermind of the 2023 attack that triggered the war, Yahya Sinwar, was killed by Israeli forces there around five months later. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But even with its top leaders dead and fighters long reduced to a guerilla force scattered among the ruins of Gaza, Netanyahu faces scepticism over the new plan - including from his military chief who called it a death trap - and of any hopes that it will end the war soon. "This move is a danger to Israel and its security and it is pointless," said Israel's opposition leader Yair Lapid. "The hostages will die, soldiers will die, the economy will fall apart and Israel's international standing will crumble." (Additional reporting by Alexander Cornwell in Tel Aviv and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo; Editing by Sharon Singleton) Thousands took to the streets of Cote dIvoires biggest city on Saturday to protest the exclusion of four leading opposition politicians from the countrys upcoming presidential election. President Alassane Ouattara, who has led Francophone West Africas largest economy for 14 years, last month announced he would run for a fourth term in Octobers vote. The 83-year-old altered the constitution in 2016 to scrap presidential term limits. Among those barred were former Credit Suisse CEO Tidjane Thiam and ex-President Laurent Gbagbo. Demonstrators in Abidjan carried banners with messages such as: Enough is enough! and No true democracy without true justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cote dIvoire, the worlds top cocoa producer, has enjoyed relative economic and political stability in recent years compared with other Francophone West African countries: Senegals election of left-wing populist Bassirou Diomaye Faye upended political orthodoxy in 2024, while Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have been rocked by coups in the last few years. A longtime South Dakotan is taking the reins of the state's lone maximum security prison facility. South Dakota Department of Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko announced in an Aug. 11 press release Interim Warden Tabatha Benting was permanently promoted to warden of the G. Norton Jameson Annex, a maximum security prison unit adjacent to the South Dakota State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls. Benting previously served as associate warden and has worked with the DOC for more than 19 years in multiple roles, including correctional officer and various ranked positions at both the Jameson Annex and the state pen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am very proud of Warden Benting as she has provided integral leadership to the Jameson Annex over the last six months, Wasko stated. I look forward to her future with the SDDOC. The new warden most recently served in an interim capacity after Wasko ousted Teresa Bittinger, former warden of both Sioux Falls prisons. Bittinger headed the facilities starting in April 2023, but she resigned in October 2024 after a tumultuous term, which included two March 2024 "disturbances," during which a correctional officer working at the main Sioux Falls prison was attacked by an inmate, as well as a rash of assaults on DOC staff at the state pen in August 2024, and a contraband bust that turned up makeshift weapons and electronics in September 2024. These incidents occurred after the department temporarily suspended the use of electronic tablet-based messaging services and limited phone call privileges. Former Gov. Kristi Noem had said inmates had been using state-issued tablets for "nefarious purposes." Wasko confirmed the tablet services had been used for "illicit drug transactions" following a press tour of the state pen in July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state hired Joseph Roemmich, formerly the warden of the Cibola County Correctional Center in Milan, New Mexico, to fill the vacant warden position at the South Dakota State Penitentiary. South Dakota Searchlight reporting found that Roemmich served as the head of the for-profit facility for "little over a year." According to the DOC, Benting was born and raised in South Dakota and "has lived here for the entirety of her adult life." She and her husband are the parents of five children. "Im excited to continue working alongside our team to enhance safety and security for staff, those in our care, and the community, Benting stated. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: SDDOC internally promotes Tabatha Benting to warden of Jameson Annex Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker (D) teased Donald Trump over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal as the president declared a dubious crime emergency in the nations capital. On Monday, Trump announced he was deploying National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., and seizing control of its police force to deal with out of control crime. In reality, and according to the Department of Justices own analysis, violent crime in the District of Columbia is the lowest it has been in over 30 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president went on to signal other cities, including Los Angeles, New York and Chicago, could be next to be taken over if they failed to self clean up. Trump went hard on Chicago and singled out Pritzker, who is widely seen as a potential 2028 Democratic presidential contender. Trump called Chicago a disaster and said if we need to, were going to do the same thing in the Windy City. We have an incompetent governor there, Trump said. Pritzkers an incompetent. His family threw him out of the business, and he ran for governor. And now I understand he wants to be president, but I noticed he lost a little weight. So maybe he has a chance. You know, you never know what happens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pritzker, the billionaire heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune, fired back on social media. Donald, thanks for the compliment! he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Lets not lie to the public, you and I both know you have no authority to take over Chicago. By the way, where are the Epstein files? The Epstein scandal has engulfed the Trump presidency since the Justice Department failed to release more documents on the late sex offender, as promised, in July. A memo that stated there was no evidence of a client list of powerful figures Epstein could potentially blackmail caused a split in Trumps MAGA base. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since then, Trumps former friendship with Epstein has come into sharp focus. Questions have also been asked about why jailed Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell was recently moved to one of the Bureau of Prisons least restrictive facilities at the behest of the Trump administration. In 2019, Epstein was arrested on federal sex trafficking charges and later died in custody. Trump has previously mocked Pritzkers appearance, but the Democratic governor brushed off the slights. He loves to make fun of people any way he can, he said of Trump. Frankly, thats how you know hes afraid of you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April, Pritzker delivered a fiery speech in New Hampshire, calling for mass protests in response to Trumps agenda. Never before in my life have I called for mass protests, for mobilization, for disruption, he said. But I am now. Related... On Sunday, Vice President JD Vance and the Trump administration tried and failed to shift the accountability for the Epstein files onto Democrats, only reinvigorating calls for their release. I laugh at the Democrats who are now all of a sudden so interested in the Epstein files. For four years, Joe Biden and the Democrats did nothing about this story, Vance told Fox Newss Maria Bartiromo. We know that Jeffrey Epstein had a lot of connections with left-wing politicians and left-wing billionaires, and now President Trump has demanded full transparency from this, and yet somehow the Democrats are attacking him, and not the Biden administration, which did nothing for four years. JD Vance: "We know that Jeffrey Epstein had a lot connections with left-wing politicians and left-wing billionaires ... Democrat billionaires and Democrat political leaders went to Epstein island all the time. Who knows what they did." pic.twitter.com/oxtGduWW3L Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 10, 2025 Vances line of argument is willfully obtuse. Epstein killed himself in prison while Trump was president. He had plenty of time to start a transparent investigation, and arguably had even more reason to do so then, given the circumstances of Epsteins death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And Trump has been anything but transparent on this. Attorney General Pam Bondi essentially lied to the entire country about the Epstein list, initially claiming she had it on her desk and then later stating no such list existed. Trump himself has called the entire process bullshit, questioned his biggest supporters for still caring about it, and has had Republicans pussyfoot around the issue in Congress. This is simply not how a transparent inquiry into thisor any issue of this gravityshould look. Another thing Vance fails to understand is that to normal Americans outside of the MAGA/Qanon spectrum, the Epstein case is still about the victims he abused, not about playing politics or revealing some liberal cabal. Epstein has been connected to prominent leftists like Fidel Castro and Noam Chomsky, as well as liberals like former President Bill Clinton, and conservatives like Donald Trump. What does it matter? It isnt some gotcha if the point here is justice, which it obviously isnt for Trump and Vance. Fine. Release all the files. With victims and survivors names and PII redacted, conservative Bulwark editor Bill Kriston wrote on X. But no redactions of clients, enablers, and see-no-evil associates. Pod Save Americas Jon Favreau also chimed in. Donald Trumps name is in the Epstein files and @JDVance has been plotting with the AG and FBI Director to cover it up. Release the names! Democrats, Republicans, billionaires, or not, he wrote. What are you afraid of, @JDVance? > < 23:57 Advocate accused of abetting forgery denied anticipatory bail A court in Mumbai refused anticipatory bail to a 60-year-old lawyer accused of abetting the preparation of forged documents of a trust, saying more care and integrity was expected from him as he has been practising for thirty years. The anticipatory bail plea of advocate Ramji Gupta... Read more > 23:38 US lists Baloch Liberation Army, faction as terror groups File image The United States has designated the Balochistan Liberation Army and its faction, the Majeed Brigade, as a foreign terrorist organisation. The US State Department move places the groups under sanctions and makes it a crime for individuals in the US to provide them with material... Read more > 23:28 It's very difficult to make good movies now: Jackie Chan Action star Jackie Chan says it's difficult to make a good movie in Hollywood at present as everything revolves around business rather than quality.Chan, whose credits include notable roles in projects such as The Fearless Hyena (1979), Who Am I? (1998), and Police Story (1985),... Read more > 23:06 SC to hear PIL seeking income-based quota for SCs, STs The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to examine a PIL seeking direction to the Centre to frame policies for a more equitable system of reservation in government employment. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi issued notice to the Centre and sought their response by October 10 on... Read more > 22:20 Six killed in rain-related incidents in past 24 hours in UP File image Six persons were killed in various rain-related incidents in past 24 hours in Uttar Pradesh, an official report of the state relief commissioner said on Monday. According to the report, one each died in Pratapgarh, Banda and Sant Kabir Nagar due to snake bite, one in Sambhal due to excessive... Read more > 22:08 Traffic curbs in Delhi on Aug 13 for Independence Day rehearsal The Delhi police on Monday issued a traffic advisory ahead of the full-dress rehearsal for Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort on August 13, urging commuters to avoid certain roads in the morning due to extensive restrictions in the area. The advisory said that traffic around the... Read more > 21:48 Place of worship 'damaged' in UP's Bahraich, 6 detained Some people allegedly damaged a Hindu place of worship in a village in this Uttar Pradesh district, prompting police to step up security and detain six men for questioning, officials said on Monday. The incident took place in the intervening night of Sunday and Monday in Padohiya village of... Read more > 21:24 Tariffs gave US power to end wars, says Trump US President Donald Trump has said that his administration's tariff measures have not only boosted revenue but also strengthened Washington's leverage over its adversaries, enabling it to resolve international disputes including the India-Pakistan conflict. ...The tariffs have helped, gives... Read more > 21:08 Dharmasthala mass burial: SIT begins Ground Penetrating Radar inspections File image The SIT probing allegations of several bodies being buried at various locations in Dharmasthala village has begun inspections using Ground Penetrating Radar technology, officials said.On Monday, the Special Investigation Team, accompanied by GPR specialists, moved to the 13th site identified by... Read more > 20:42 'Mahavatar Narsimha' earns over Rs 200 crore at box office Ashwin Kumar's directorial Mahavatar Narsimha continues its successful run at the box office and has already crossed the mark of Rs 200 crore with its worldwide collection. The film released on July 25 and has created history by becoming the first ever animated Hindi film to collect... Read more > 20:23 Pak intruder killed by BSF near IB in J-K's Kathua File image A Pakistani intruder was killed after being shot at by the BSF while attempting to sneak into this side from across the International Border (IB) in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, officials said. The Border Security Force (BSF) said they are lodging a protest with their... Read more > 20:19 11-year-old boy dies during Dahi Handi practice in Mumbai An 11-year-old member of a Govinda squad died on Monday after he fell during a practice session to form a human pyramid for the upcoming Dahi Handi festival in Dahisar area of Mumbai, triggering concerns over the safety of young participants. Mahesh Jadhav suffered a head injury during... Read more > 19:34 Rupee falls 8 paise to close at 87.66 against US dollar Rupee pared initial gains and settled for the day on a negative note, lower by 8 paise at 87.66 (provisional) against the US dollar on Monday, as it came under pressure due to continued dollar demand by importers and a rebound in crude oil prices. Forex traders said the rupee pared initial... Read more > 19:14 Modi dials Zelenskyy, says India supports Ukraine peace Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and exchanged views on recent developments related to the ongoing conflict. Modi reiterated India's consistent stand favouring an early and peaceful resolution through dialogue and diplomacy. Glad... Read more > 19:04 Ganga crosses danger mark in J'khand's Sahibganj, 20k people affected File image Around 20,000 people are affected due to flood-like situation in Jharkhand's Sahibganj district, with the water level of river Ganga river crossing the danger mark on Monday, an official said.As precautionary measures, all government and private schools located in flood-prone or low-lying areas... Read more > 18:43 'Bihar draft roll shows higher Hindu voter exclusion than Muslims' File image An analysis of Bihar's draft voter list, updated under the Special Intensive Revision, has found that Hindus form a larger share of excluded voters, especially in the Seemanchal region, according to a study by news portal Scroll. The study examined digital electoral rolls using a name-based... Read more > 18:31 Tricolour hoisting must at mosques, madrasas: Chh'garh Waqf Board The Chhattisgarh State Waqf Board on Monday announced that hoisting the national flag will be mandatory at all mosques, dargahs, imambaras, and khanqahs in the state on Independence Day.Speaking about the decision, n Salim Raj, Waqf Board chairman said the move reflects the sentiment that Indian... Read more > 18:27 Benchmark BSE Sensex rallied 746 points to close above the 80,000 mark on Monday following buying in oil, auto and banking shares amid fresh foreign fund inflows. The 30-share Sensex jumped 746.29 points or 0.93 per cent to settle at 80,604.08 with 26 of its constituents ending... 18:19 Banks free to decide on minimum balance for savings accounts: RBI Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Monday said banks are free to decide the minimum balance for savings accounts and that it does not fall under the regulatory domain of the RBI. He was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function on 'Financial Inclusion Saturation... Read more > 17:39 Lok Sabha passes two tax bills amid din without debate Lok Sabha on Monday passed two laws pertaining to taxation -- Income-Tax (No 2) Bill and Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill -- amid din. The Income-Tax (No.2) Bill, 2025 seeks to consolidate and amend the law relating to Income Tax Act 1961 while the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025 will... Read more > 17:21 AI to suspend services to Washington, DC from Sep 1 Air India on Monday announced the suspension of its services between Delhi and Washington DC, effective September 1, due to a combination of operational factors, to ensure the reliability and integrity of the airline's overall route network.The suspension is primarily driven by the planned... Read more > 17:20 Robbers loot gold worth Rs 10 cr, Rs 5 lakh cash from MP bank Five persons looted 10 kilograms of gold valued at Rs 10 crore and Rs 5 lakh cash from a bank in Khitola area of Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur district on Monday, a police official said. The heist took just 18 minutes, the official said, adding the accused came on two motorcycles and entered the... Read more > 17:03 K'taka dentist held for chopping his mother-in-law into pieces The police cracked Lakshmi Devi murder case in Koratagere in Tumakuru and arrested her dentist son-in-law Dr Ramachandrappa S and his two accomplices. The Tumakuru police recovered the severed head of a woman and her partially decomposed, dismembered body pieces, found stuffed in multiple... Read more > 16:25 6 boys attempt electric shock on minor Dalit boys at hostel Six boys -- five adults and one minor -- allegedly tried to give an electric shock to two minor Dalit boys at a government BC welfare hostel in Palnadu district, police said on Monday. The incident occurred on August 7 and reportedly stemmed from an attempt to separate one of the victims... Read more > 15:52 Woman dies agonizingly as ambulance gets stuck in jam Representational image A 49-year-old woman's visit to her former school ended in an unimaginable tragedy after she suffered severe injuries in a tree fall incident there and died on way to hospital as an ambulance ferrying her got stuck in massive traffic jam on a highway in Palghar. She could have been saved if... Read more > 15:40 India sees normal monsoon rainfall so far India has recorded normal rainfall so far this monsoon season, but the distribution is highly uneven across states, the latest state-wise compilation by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) shows. Between June 1 and August 10, the country recorded 539 mm of rain against a normal of... Read more > 15:30 Brazilian envoy in India says Trump tariffs an opportunity to... PM Modi and Brazilian President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva Brazil's Ambassador in India, Kenneth Felix Haczynski, on Monday said they see the US administration's tariffs as a challenge, but at the same time, it is an opportunity to look for trusted partners to do more business. We suffer the imposition of unexpected high tariffs. We (are) seeing the... Read more > 15:23 Vance says US is 'done with funding Ukraine war business' Ahead of the upcoming meeting in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a ceasefire deal, Vice President Vance expressed a clear desire to end the funding of the Ukraine war and bring about peace, according to The Hill. We're done with the... Read more > 14:59 Delhi Police releases oppn MPs detained on way to EC office Congress MP Renuka Chaudhary at the protests All the opposition MPs detained on their way to the Election Commission office on Monday to voice their protest against the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and alleged 'vote chori' were released after about two hours, police officials said. More than 30 MPs, including Congress' Rahul... Read more > 14:52 Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pak's stock-in-trade: MEA MEA statement on Pakistan army chief's nuclear threat: Our attention has been drawn to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff while on a visit to the United States. Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan's stock-in-trade. The international community can draw its own... Read more > 14:33 India flags possible coup making Pak army chief president Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir's nuclear threat from the US soil showed that the neighbouring country is an irresponsible state with such weapons, government sources said on Monday.There is a real danger of nuclear weapons falling in the hands of non state actors in Pakistan, they... Read more > 14:29 Rahul still has time to apologise on vote chori: ECI The Election Commission on Monday said that Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi still has time to submit a formal declaration to substantiate his allegation of vote theft or apologise to the country. The Karnataka CEO on Sunday asked Congress MP Rahul... Read more > 14:27 Air India crew followed protocol: DGCA Aviation watchdog DGCA on Monday said Air India's flight from Thiruvananthapuram to Delhi was diverted to Chennai on Sunday evening due to suspected malfunctioning of the weather radar of the aircraft, which landed safely, amid some Parliamentarians who were onboard the plane flagging safety... Read more > 14:05 'Danger of nuke weapons falling into wrong hands in Pak' Asim Munir in the US Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir's comments show that Pakistan is an irresponsible state with nuclear weapons, India says. There is real danger of nuclear weapons falling in the hands of non state actors in Pakistan. The Pak Army Chief's statement is part of pattern; whenever US supports Pak... Read more > 13:55 Body of newborn girl found in bushes in Indore; police launch probe The body of a newborn girl was found in the bushes near a drain in Madhya Pradesh's Indore city on Monday, police said.The infant's body, wrapped in a cloth, was recovered from the bushes near the Choithram intersection, and it has been sent for post-mortem, said Neeraj Birthare, in-charge of... Read more > 13:55 Fight against SIR is to protect people's right to vote: Kharge Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said the protest against 'vote chori' and SIR is a fight to protect people's right to vote and a struggle to save democracy, and asserted the INDIA alliance will expose BJP's conspiracy. His remarks came as top opposition leaders were stopped... Read more > 13:24 15-year-old school girl gangraped in Mumbai A 15-year-old girl was allegedly raped by five persons on multiple occasions over three months in central Mumbai, police said on Monday. The police on Sunday arrested a 25-year-old man and detained four juveniles in connection with the sexual assault in the Kalachowki area, an official... Read more > 13:12 Will take 30 MPs to EC, says Delhi DCP amid detentions New Delhi DCP Devesh Kumar Mahla New Delhi DCP Devesh Kumar Mahla on the INDIA bloc march to EC: There was a permission for 30 MPs from the Election Commission. Since they were in large numbers, we detained them. We have informed them that 30 MPs will be allowed (to meet ECI). We will take 30 MPs (to the Election... Read more > 12:53 If not, Venugopal should face consequences: BJP on MP-Air India claims Responding to the claims of Congress MP K C Venugopal that there was another aircraft in the runway when we are going to land Bharatiya Janata Party leader Amit Malviya called it a extremely serious, claim denied by the Air India a day after a Delhi bound flight made an emergency landing at the... Read more > 12:49 Situation grim: SC directs Delhi authorities to pick up stray dogs Terming the stray dog menace in the city as extremely grim, the Supreme Court on Monday directed the Delhi government and civic bodies to start picking up strays from all localities at the earliest and keep them at dog shelters. While passing a slew of directions to tackle the menace of dog... Read more > 12:44 Rahul helps TMC MP who fainted during SIR protests Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi among those detained during opposition march to EC office. Earlier, Rahul Gandhi and others helped TMC MP Mitali Bagh, who fainted during the opposition protest and the resulting detention by the police. Read more > 12:29 No party has filed objection on electoral rolls so far: EC INDIA bloc protests Political parties are yet to file any objection or claim regarding the addition or deletion of voters in the revised draft electoral roll in poll-bound Bihar, as no such claims have come in till 11 am on Monday, Election Commission of India said.Releasing its daily bulletin today, the poll body... Read more > 12:21 Malicious stonewalling: Surjewala slams EC over 'vote fraud' issue Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala has lashed out at the Election Commission, accusing it of hiding voter fraud with its lame duck excuses when confronted with evidence of mass manipulation of voter rolls. His remarks came after the Haryana chief electoral officer (CEO) on Saturday... Read more > 12:14 INDIA bloc march to EC: Akhilesh climbs over barricade Akhilesh Yadav climbs over barricade Delhi Police stops INDIA bloc leaders marching from the Parliament to the Election Commission of India to protest against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of voter fraud during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Samajwadi Party chief... Read more > 11:55 Air India lying: Cong MP on his 'harrowing experience' Congress MP K C Venugopal on Monday alleged that Air India is lying about a potential safety lapse at the Chennai airport runway, while the Delhi-bound AI 2455 flight had to take a diversion due to bad weather conditions. He also called for a fair enquiry by the Directorate General of Civil... Read more > 11:34 Rain hampers rescue ops in U'khand, 49 still missing Early morning rain on Monday threatened to hamper the ongoing search and rescue operations in the flash floods-hit Dharali village, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing a 'yellow' alert for all districts of Uttarakhand. In some areas, rescuers manually dug through the... Read more > 11:23 No Deputy CM Post: RJD Tells Mukesh Sahni Contrary to repeated claims by Vikashsheel Insaan Party head Mukesh Sahni that he will be Bihar's deputy chief minister if the Mahagathbandan is elected to power in the assembly election, Rashtriya Janata Dal General Secretary Abdul Bari Siddiqui says, Yeh kahin bhi tai nahi hua hai ki sarkar... Read more > 11:11 Trump moves Obama, Bush portraits to hidden place Once a dramatic feature of the White House entryway, the official portrait of former President Barack Obama has been moved to a decidedly less prominent position, underscoring the yearslong tensions between the 44th and 47th presidents, reports CNN.Portraits of other recent predecessors with whom... Read more > 11:01 Voltas shares tank nearly 9 pc after Q1 earnings Shares of air-conditioning maker and engineering services provider Voltas Ltd on Monday tumbled nearly 9 per cent after the firm reported a decline of 58 per cent in consolidated net profit for the June quarter. The stock tanked 7.78 per cent to Rs 1,202.20 on the BSE. At the NSE, it... Read more > 10:57 CoinDCX To Absorb $44 Mn Security Breach Loss Crypto exchange platform CoinDCX will absorb the entire $44 million loss -- equivalent to about three to four months of its revenue -- from an alleged security breach on its balance sheet this financial year (FY26), said Sumit Gupta, cofounder and CEO of the company. The theft was reported on... Read more > 10:42 Bite marks, baby dropped purposely...: Noida's creche horror Representational image A woman attendant at a daycare in a Noida residential complex has been detained after the parents of a 15-month-old baby girl accused her of assaulting the infant, reports NDTV.While the baby's thighs have bite marks, disturbing CCTV footage from the daycare shows the attendant hitting the little... Read more > 10:24 Another girl sets herself on fire in Odisha, 4th in 2 months In the fourth such incident within a month, a 13-year-old girl allegedly set herself on fire and is struggling for life at a hospital in Odisha's Bargarh district, police said on Monday. The incident took place at Phiringmal village within Gaisilat police station limits. The minor was... Read more > 10:13 Apple iPhone Exports Grow 82% Apple Inc, through its vendors, exported iPhones worth $6 billion from India during the April-June 2025 quarter, growing a staggering 82 per cent over the same period last year, according to data shared by the vendors with the government.Exports stood at only $3.2 billion in the same period a... Read more > 10:07 Mother kills her baby to elope with lover Representational image Tripura Police has arrested a woman for allegedly killing her five-month-old child in Sepahijala district, officials said on Monday. Initial investigation revealed that Suchitra Debbarma (28) killed her infant to pave the way for her plan to elope with a man she had been in a relationship with... Read more > 09:50 Air India to complete widebody planes retrofitting by Oct 2028 Air India on Sunday said its retrofitting of the widebody fleet began last month, and is scheduled to conclude by October 2028, as part of the airline's $400 million fleet upgrade programme aimed at delivering a better flying experience and enhancing operational reliability.The first of 26 Boeing... Read more > 09:44 Kashmir is jugular vein of Pakistan: Munir says in US Pak Army chief Asim Munir with former US Central Command Commander General Michael E Kurilla Kashmir is the jugular vein of Pakistan, Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has said, repeating his anti-India rhetoric. The Pakistani army chief made the comments while addressing the Pakistani diaspora in Tampa, Florida. He is currently on a visit to the US. Weeks before the... Read more > 09:39 Landslide blocks Nandprayag route in Uttarakhand Work is going on to open the road blocked due to the landslide in Nandprayag in Chamoli district following rainfall days after the cloudburst in Uttarkahsi which left behind a trail of destruction.Speaking to ANI, District Magistrate of Chamoli district, Sandeep Tiwari said that work is going on... Read more > 09:35 Trump yet to decide on tariffs over China's Russia oil purchase US President Donald Trump has not yet decided on imposing levies on China for purchasing oil from Russia, as Washington's ties with Beijing affect many things that have nothing to do with the Russian situation, Vice President J D Vance has said. Well, the President said he's thinking about it,... Read more > 09:34 My Air India flight was frighteningly close to tragedy: Venugopal Congress MP KC Venugopal shares an experience while Air India:Air India flight AI 2455 from Trivandrum to Delhi - carrying myself, several MPs, and hundreds of passengers - came frighteningly close to tragedy today. What began as a delayed departure turned into a harrowing journey. Shortly after... Read more > 09:28 Tata Group CEOs See Uptick In FY25 Payout Top executives across Tata group companies witnessed a broad uptick in remuneration during FY25, driven by rising profitability of the companies they represent, thereby leading to higher payout in the form of commissions, and wider strategic roles across the $150 billion conglomerate.The trend,... Read more > 09:16 Where is Jagdeep Dhankhar: Sanjay Raut writes to Shah Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking to know the whereabouts of former vice president Jagdeep Dhankhar, claiming that attempts to reach him have been unsuccessful. Dhankhar resigned as vice president on July 21, the first day of the Monsoon... Read more > 08:48 ICICI Faces Netizen Ire For Raising Min Balance To Rs 50,000 ICICI Bank, India's second-largest private sector lender, is facing significant backlash from customers on social media after raising the minimum monthly average balance (MAB) for new savings accounts in metro and urban areas to 50,000, effective August 1. As per the bank, in metro... Read more > 08:47 Man arrested for kidnapping, raping, forcing Hindu girl to convert Police in Uttar Pradesh's Kushinagar on Sunday arrested a 19-year-old man on the charge of kidnapping and raping a Hindu girl, and forcing her to convert, a police official said. According to the police, the 17-year-old girl's mother informed police on August 4 that Samsuddin Ansari,... Read more > 08:46 5 journalists killed in Israeli strike, IDF alleges Hamas link Al Jazeera correspondent Anas Al-Sharif At least five journalists were killed in an Israeli strike on a tent outside al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Sunday (local time), Al Jazeera reported. The deceased journalists included two Al Jazeera correspondents, Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, along with camera operators... Read more > Vice President JD Vance said Elon Musk made a mistake by choosing to pick a fight with Donald Trump, but conceded that he hopes the billionaire gets back onto the presidents good side by the 2026 midterm elections, given the critical role he played in last Novembers race. In an interview with right-wing publication The Gateway Pundit, Vance said Musk currently has a complicated relationship with the White House, but suggested the Tesla and SpaceX CEO is in a tough spot. My argument to Elon is like, youre not going to be on the left ... even if you wanted to be and he doesnt theyre not going to have you back, that ship has sailed, Vance said. I really think its a mistake for him to try to break from the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vice president acknowledged that Musk, a major campaign surrogate and donor to Trumps 2024 White House bid, contributed to its success. My hope is, by the midterms, things are kind of back to normal, Vance said. At one point during the interview, Vance joked that Musk may not even pick up the phone if he were to call him, given the tension. I kid, Im sure he would take my call, Vance said, adding that he hopes the drama between Musk and the White House cools down. Vance seemed eager to downplay the fight between Trump and Musk, declaring that he is pretty big-tent about this stuff. If youre patriotic, youre not trying to sink your knife in the back of the president, youre not trying to betray the movement, I dont care about these, like, minor, little disagreements, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Musk and Trump were inseparable at the start of Trumps second term. But following Musks departure from the White House, where he led the presidents effort to overhaul the federal government, the two began exchanging barbs after the billionaire publicly attacked the president over his effort to pass his big, beautiful bill. Musk also condemned the Trump administrations handling of the controversy surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein investigation. Musks comments drew Trumps ire, and the president threatened to pull federal contracts with Musks companies. He also withdrew the nomination of a Musk ally for the role of NASA administrator. Related... CHICAGO Jeffrey Tobolski traveled a well-worn path in Chicago-area politics, from following in the footsteps of his late father as mayor of the tiny west suburban town of McCook to double-dipping as a Cook County commissioner. But his career also had another familiar and darker ring to it. For years, federal prosecutors say, he used his positions to create a fiefdom of graft, shaking down business owners who needed liquor licenses, forcing a developer to install air conditioning in his home for free, and even enlisting McCooks police chief as his personal bagman. After the FBI raided Tobolskis offices in the fall of 2019, he became the poster boy in a burgeoning federal corruption probe that eventually brought down nearly a dozen suburban elected officials and political operatives, including Tobolskis chief of staff and other close associates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, nearly six years after Tobolski agreed to cooperate with the investigation, a federal judge sentenced him to four years in prison, calling him a Jekyll and Hyde human being whod clearly become consumed by the power of his position. I think that the elixir for you was the power of that office, fueled by alcohol, U.S. District Chief Judge Virginia Kendall said. The side that was exhibited during those years was a very ugly, aggressive, arrogant individual, like the complete flip side of a human being. The judge also said she had to look up McCook and was surprised to see it has only 300 residents, a fact that makes the negative impact of Tobolskis tenure loom even larger. This small community should never have been terrorized by one human being, Kendall said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before he was sentenced, Tobolski stood at the lectern and read a nearly 15-minute statement to the court, apologizing for the people he hurt and saying hes stopped abusing alcohol and changed his life for the better. What I did was wrong, Tobolski said as about a dozen supporters, including his wife and daughter, looked on from the courtroom gallery. I have added to the ever increasing distrust in elected officials. Tobolski said that after the FBI raids in 2019, he was in shock. The lies and the deceit had come to an end, he said. After taking a week to think about it, he made the decision to go all-in with his cooperation, admitting not only to his own litany of crimes but testifying before the grand jury and helping the government secure convictions of others. Tobolskis sentencing was one of the final acts in a case that unfolded like a cliched tale of midlevel Chicago corruption, with a wired-up executive entertaining politicos at his suburban cigar lounge, secret contracts siphoning funds from red-light cameras to a mob-connected businessman, and another mayor, Louis Presta, handing over an envelope of bribe money at a Crestwood pancake house called Stacked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the investigation, Tobolski was secretly recorded joking about how corrupt he was, according to prosecutors, at one point stating sarcastically, You know I dont take any money in McCook, ever. Im as legitimate as they come. His then-chief of staff, Patrick Doherty, was caught on another wiretap talking with an associate about the prospect of doing business in Tobolskis notoriously corrupt administration. Its all contingent on what you can give, Doherty told the associate, Omar Maani, about the obligatory campaign donations to Dohertys boss, according to court records. Maani, who was secretly recording the September 2019 conversation for the FBI, said, Its like youre paying a little tax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right. Juice, Doherty replied, according to court records. Street juice. I hope we can get it before (Tobolski) goes to jail. I hope we can retire. Tobolski, 60, pleaded guilty in September 2020 to conspiring with McCooks then-police chief, Mario DePasquale, to extort a restaurant owner who needed permission to host events serving alcohol. At the time, Tobolski doubled as McCooks liquor commissioner. In all, Tobolski admitted to accepting more than a quarter of a million dollars in bribes or extortion payments over the years. He also was showered with a variety of other benefits, including cash, cigars, dinners, holiday gifts, sporting event tickets and those free air-conditioning units, which a developer installed at Tobolskis home at a cost of $18,000. Tobolski also pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return in 2018 where he underreported his income by at least $66,000, at least $10,000 of which was bribe money, according to his plea agreement. The document stated he also misreported his income in returns filed each year from 2012 to 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the four-year prison term, Kendall ordered Tobolski to pay $85,000 in restitution to two of his extortion victims. He must report to prison by Nov. 3. Prosecutors had asked Kendall for a 5-year prison sentence for Tobolski, writing in a recent court filing that he went on an aggressive and persistent cash grab to enrich himself at his constituents expense, regularly demanding cash payments and other benefits from people seeking to do business in McCook and elsewhere in the Chicago area. In court Monday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Ardam said that for years, corruption was a way of life for Tobolski, and that he not only extorted money from people struggling to build businesses but also unleashed his police chief to intimidate them. One victim, a Greek immigrant who was trying to live his American Dream by opening a restaurant in McCook, found himself instead forced to pay Tobolski $1,000 a month to keep his liquor license. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At DePasquales sentencing hearing last year, the victim, who asked to remain anonymous, testified how in July 2018, after hed come up short with a payment, DePasquale warned him that the boss would not be happy. The man said his license was revoked by the city the next day, putting him out of business. That was one of the worst days I have in my life, the victim testified in a thick accent. Another victim told prosecutors he was scared to death that if he didnt pay, hed be shut down, Ardam said Monday. The defendant isnt just a corrupt politician whose victims are society at large or taxpayers generally, Ardam said. His victims were real, everyday people who will forever remember his crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tobolskis lawyers, meanwhile, asked for leniency, pointing to his extensive cooperation in the case, which included reading a 61-page statement to the grand jury detailing his crimes and other corruption hed witnessed as well as making secret recordings against unnamed associates though that covert work did not result in any new charges. He didnt hesitate, he didnt hedge, he didnt say give me time to think about it,' defense attorney David Sterba told the judge Monday. That very day he said, Im all in. The probe that ensnared Tobolski stretched from Chicagos southwest suburbs to the Capitol building in Springfield, where federal agents raided the offices of then-state Sen. Martin Sandoval in September 2019, thrusting the case into the public spotlight. Two days later, agents fanned out across the suburbs, executing search warrants at village halls and the homes of several elected officials, including Tobolski, where they found $51,000 in cash stored in a safe. Tobolski resigned from his elected positions the following March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the center of the case was Maani, an executive at the time for red-light camera company SafeSpeed LLC who worked undercover for the FBI for months and wore a wire on several defendants including Sandoval, Tobolski, Doherty, and Presta all of whom he hosted at his Countryside cigar lounge called Casa De Montechristo. Maani, who was given a deferred prosecution agreement for his efforts, also recorded state Sen. Emil Jones III and testified for the first time at Jones bribery trial earlier this year. Maani told the jury he started bribing elected officials when he was still in his 20s, making money hand over fist as a real estate developer and SafeSpeed co-founder. To him, it was the necessary way to do business in Illinois, he said. I gave them cigars, took them out to dinner, gave them campaign contributions, Maani said of his corrupt ways. They always asked me for money. I capitulated and gave it to them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who asked him for money? a prosecutor asked. Virtually everyone, from what I recall, Maani said. The jury in Jones trial deadlocked on all counts, and a retrial is set for January. Sandoval, the once-powerful head of the Senate Transportation Committee, pleaded guilty to taking tens of thousands of dollars in cash over a two-year period from Maani to serve as SafeSpeeds protector in the Senate. He was cooperating with the government when he died suddenly of COVID-19 complications in December 2020. Doherty and Presta also pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison. Another target in the red-light camera aspect of the probe, former Oakbrook Terrace Mayor Tony Ragucci, has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. SafeSpeed and its CEO, Nikki Zollar, have said they were not aware of Maanis illegal activities and have not been accused of any wrongdoing. As part of their sentencing submissions, Tobolskis lawyers filed numerous awards and other accomplishments from his career. They also sent the judge two heartfelt letters from Tobolskis wife and daughter, who talked at length about how he got into politics with seemingly the best intentions, but changed into someone they barely knew. Id attend a political event with him and people would be so nauseatingly deferential to him that I had to actually concentrate to not make a face, wrote his wife, Cathleen. Theyd laugh uproariously at a joke that wasnt even funny. Tobolskis daughter, who was a freshman in college at the time news of the investigation broke, wrote that shed loathed her father for dragging her to funerals and introducing her to a LOT of creepy drunk men at political events. I resented him because I remember being told that any mistake I made in my own life would reflect poorly on him as a politician, that our lives were public and there would always be some political foe or reporter that would jump at the chance to use our familys missteps as leverage against him, Tobolskis daughter wrote. In asking for leniency, Tobolskis wife and daughter both commended his decision early on to not fight the charges and cooperate, and said hes since made amends and rededicated himself to his family. The heart of the matter is that we just got him back, his daughter wrote. In his statement to the court, Tobolski grew emotional as he talked about the gut punch of realizing how his actions had affected his family and those who supported his political career. I had become smug, arrogant, impatient and criminal. I failed them, he said. Kendall told Tobolski its ironic, but in a way the FBI swooping in saved your life and gave him a second chance with his family. You could have easily lost both of them, she said as Tobolski nodded in agreement. And theyre here. ____ House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Monday hammered President Trumps move to take control of law enforcement in Washington, D.C., saying the president has no justification for taking such a drastic step given falling crime rates in the nations capital. Violent crime in Washington, D.C. is at a thirty-year low, Jeffries posted on social platform X. Donald Trump has no basis to take over the local police department. And zero credibility on the issue of law and order. Get lost. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeffries, a frequent critic of the president, was alluding to Trumps own legal track record, which includes two impeachments, his conviction last year on 34 felony counts related to hush money payments to a porn star, and his decision to pardon more than 1,500 people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in a failed effort to overturn the 2020 election. Trump has been a long-time critic of the D.C. government, in general, and its law enforcement system, in particular, accusing local officials of negligence that he says led to a spike in crime during the COVID-19 pandemic. On Monday, he took that criticism a long step forward by announcing that his administration will assume control of the D.C. Police Department and send in 800 National Guard troops to patrol the citys streets. Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people, and were not going to let it happen anymore, Trump said. Were not going to take it. Trumps assessment of crime in D.C. collides directly with the official numbers from the Justice Department, which found that violent crime in the nations capital is at its lowest rate in more than three decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeffries was not the only lawmaker to take note of that contrast Monday. A number of Democrats on and off of Capitol Hill hammered Trumps move as more fitting of an authoritarian regime that seizes power unilaterally to hobble political rivals and silence critics. Trumps raw authoritarian power grab in DC is part of a growing national crisis. Hes playing dictator in our nations capital as a dress rehearsal as he pushes democracy to the brink, Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) wrote on his X account. This assault on freedom is exactly why weve fought for DC statehood & to give DC control of its National Guard. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 use of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital systems are helping the police service fight crime, an authority has said. Simon Harman, who chairs the Jersey Police Authority, released its annual report - praising the force for the way it was tackling crime with technology. The force announced in March it was testing AI to help transcribe witness interviews. Separately, the report found an increase in incidents involving missing young people on the island and youth crime - costing about 1.8m in 2024. 'Complexity of cases' States of Jersey Police said it had brought in AI to "promise long-term efficiencies and enhanced decision-making" but assured the processes were still being overseen by humans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police Chief Robin Smith said the process of collecting data, known as digital forensics, continued to present challenges with its "increasing costs, volume and demand". "The complexity of cases and the large volume of data require considerable resources and expertise, which we are continually striving to enhance," he said. Mr Smith said the 741 missing person reports, "virtually all of which related to young people", highlighted "the need for continued focus and resources" in that area. The report also found there were more than 1,000 speeding incidents in the island in 2024, with 54 serious injury road crashes reported, 675 non-injury related crashed and there was a 28% increase in vehicle crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. More on this story Related internet links A majority of the New Jersey Supreme Court denied a lifer's bid for release, with one dissenting justice warning of a risk of prolonged incarceration. (Dana DiFilippo | New Jersey Monitor) A convicted killer incarcerated for more than half a century lost his bid for freedom Monday after the New Jersey Supreme Court rejected his argument that his continued incarceration is unconstitutional under the states shifting parole law. Fred Krug, 78, challenged the state parole boards 2023 denial of his request for release, citing state and federal constitutional protections known as ex post facto rights that prohibit authorities from prolonging punishment by applying new laws to old offenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the states top court, in a 6-1 decision, ruled that while state legislators widened parole access in 1979, they restricted it again in 1997 and the 1997 restrictions were similar to the 1948 parole law that was in place when Krug committed his offenses. The U.S. Supreme Court has explained that the ex post facto analysis is concerned solely with whether a statute assigns more disadvantageous criminal or penal consequences to an act than did the law in place when the act occurred. That remains true when it comes to changes in parole laws, Justice Rachel Wainer Apter wrote for the majority. There is simply no ex post facto problem in retroactively applying to a person the same parole regime that existed at the time he committed his offense. The state Office of the Public Defender represented Krug. Joseph J. Russo, an assistant public defender who heads the offices parole revocation and resentencing unit, called Mondays decision disappointing. For nearly two decades, Mr. Krugs parole eligibility was governed by the 1979 Parole Act. The majoritys ruling disregards well-established constitutional protections and allows the Parole Board to change the rules long after individuals have relied on them to guide their conduct and plan for release, Russo said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Krug was convicted in 1974 and sentenced to life imprisonment for killing a schoolteacher in East Brunswick, assaulting another woman, and punching a police officer in 1973, all while he was on parole for previous convictions of rape, aggravated assault, and larceny, among other offenses, according to the ruling. He applied five times for parole between 1994 and 2022, with the board denying him every time, the decision notes. In 2023, the board cited multiple reasons for their denial, including finding a likelihood that he would commit a new crime if paroled. After his fifth rejection, he appealed, pinning his plea to legislative changes made in 1979 that created a presumption of release for parole applicants. Before 1979, people angling to get out of New Jerseys prisons were bound by the Parole Act of 1948. That act allowed the board to review all existing available records in determining whether to grant or deny parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1979, lawmakers repealed the 1948 law and replaced it with a law that largely barred the board from denying parole unless it had new information that justified continued confinement. Lawmakers tweaked that law again in 1997, removing the new information requirement and allowing the board to again consider an applicants entire record. Krug had argued that the 1997 amendments subjected him to harsher penalties than he faced under the 1979 law, making his denial unconstitutional under ex post facto protections. He criticized the boards shifting position relating to the many legislative changes, saying it essentially asserts that it gets to pick and choose which Parole Act applies to a (pre-1997) inmate based on whichever Act makes it easiest to deny parole. Justice Michael Noriega, the lone dissenter, objected to the parole board resurrecting the repealed 1948 law to justify Krugs continued incarceration, saying the board creates a legal fiction that the 1979 Act never existed. The 1979 law was enacted with retroactive effect and set the expectations under which Krug served his sentence and sought parole, Noriega wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, in 1997, the State enacted new parole provisions that imposed more restrictive conditions that created a substantial risk of prolonged incarceration. In 2022, the Parole Board applied those stricter standards and denied Krug parole. The Ex Post Facto Clause was specifically designed to forbid and prevent such maneuvering, Noriega wrote. The courts majority disagreed. Because the law at the time of Krugs offenses permitted the Board to consider the same all existing information it may now consider, we hold that retroactive application of the 1997 amendment to Krug created no risk of additional punishment, Wainer Apter wrote. Wainer Apter noted, though, that the majority decision does not address whether the facts of this case, or any case involving a change in law that conferred a benefit on an inmate for many years, and then subsequently repealed that benefit, could implicate due process or fundamental fairness concerns. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mondays ruling comes after multiple reports in recent years have dinged the parole board for its low release rates. The board has for years freed less than half of parole-eligible applicants, prompting calls for reform. Ian S. Marx, representing the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, argued in favor of Krugs appeal. We are disappointed that the Court did not recognize the fundamental unfairness of the Parole Boards practice of applying harsher parole standards to people who committed their crimes before the 1997 parole reforms were enacted. The practical effect is that the Parole Board, even in the absence of any new information that could justify denying parole, is allowed to increase the punishment for this group of incarcerated people and unnecessarily prolong their incarceration, Marx said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The protest is in response to the continued arrest of ultra-Orthodox (haredi) men for dodging the draft and refusing to serve in the IDF. Members of the Jerusalem Faction have allegedly planned a massive demonstration for the coming week near Ben-Gurion Airport aimed at shutting the airport down for several hours, according to social media posts seen by Israel Police. The protest is in response to the continued arrest of ultra-Orthodox (haredi) men for dodging the draft and refusing to serve in the IDF. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the protests managed to shut down the airport, it would cause major economic damage to the country as well as to the tens of thousands of people who visit the airport every day, especially during the busy summer season and ahead of the High Holy Days. Terminal 1 (credit: YOSSI ALONI) Sorting through fake posts Police sources told Maariv that all messages and posts on social media are monitored by law enforcement. In addition, should the protest appear to be imminent, the police will deploy officers to stop it. The police noted that some of the social media posts appeared to be fake and were only uploaded to stoke public furor and create discourse. However, other posts were genuine, so the police have sifted through the fake and real posts in order to respond accordingly. Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report. Fire Dog Camden, a retired ATF investigator and beloved community member, passed away early Sunday morning surrounded by his family. Camden Cooper Rigoli, affectionately known as Fire Dog Camden, was born on August 15, 2014, at Guiding Eyes For the Blind in upstate New York. Although initially trained to guide the blind, Camdens career took a different path when he joined the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) as an Accelerant Detection Dog. I will cherish our time together my big yellow buddy. I love you and will miss you but I will see you again, said Kevin Rigoli, Camdens handler and companion. I will bring the peanut butter, cheese cubes and the bouncy ball with me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Camden and Kevin Rigoli were certified as an Accelerant Detection Team on October 16, 2016, and together they responded to over 500 incidents and participated in seven National Response Team callouts. Camden was a staple in Union County, often seen at emergency scenes, station visits, or simply riding around, community leaders said. The Union County Government expressed its condolences, noting Camdens significant contributions to the community and beyond. He lived a life of service and helped so many in our community and far beyond it. He will be so missed! they stated. The Wesley Chapel Fire Department also extended its sympathies, recalling Camden as an amazingly talented dog who grew up in front of many of their members. WATCH: Monroe K-9 follows suspected teen car thieves for a mile John Oliver on 'Last Week Tonight' - Credit: YouTube/Last Week Tonight Last week, former Superman actor Dean Cain announced plans to join ICE. On the latest episode of Last Week Tonight, host John Oliver quipped that Cain wont need to disguise himself with a mask because the chances of people knowing who he is are fucking zero. You know, theres an old saying in Hollywood: If all you can get is Dean Cain, you are fucked, Oliver said during the episode, which focused on Donald Trumps deportation promises. Now, Im not saying that ICE isnt finding people. Im just saying, when you are reduced to pinning a badge on the 59-year-old star of The Dog Who Saved Christmas, The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation, The Dog Who Saved the Holidays, The Dog Who Saved Halloween, The Dog Who Saved Easter and The Dog Who Saved Summer, maybe you are in trouble. More from Rolling Stone Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added, Although, on the plus side, no need for that guy to wear a mask because the chances of anyone recognizing him are fucking zero. Oliver offered some advice on what to do if youre approached by ICE agents. Attorneys told us the only two things you should say to them are: Am I free to leave? And I want to speak to a lawyer,' he said. Thats it. You have the right to remain silent. And I recognize that in some cases you may be unable to help yourself from saying, Didnt you used to be Superman? I thought you died. I cant believe Im meeting a filmmaker. But that really is it. Shortly after Last Week Tonight aired on Sunday night, Cain responded to Olivers criticism, writing, He stole that mask joke from the internet and he also laughed hysterically when Trump said he was going to run for President. Case closed. He stole that mask joke from the internet and he also laughed hysterically when Trump said he was going to run for President. Case closed. (and those movies were sweet, by the way!) https://t.co/9jQqb6h9WM Dean Cain (@RealDeanCain) August 11, 2025 Cain revealed his plans to join ICE during an appearance on Fox News Jesse Watters Primetime. Cain was sworn in as a reserve police officer in Idaho in 2018, then again as a reserve deputy sheriff in Virginia in 2022. I will be sworn in as an ICE agent ASAP, he confirmed. We have a broken immigration system. Congress needs to fix it, but in the interim, President Trump ran on this. He is delivering on this. This is what people voted for. Its what I voted for and hes going to see it through, and Ill do my part and help make sure it happens. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier this summer, Cain took aim at James Gunns new Superman film, calling it too woke. The American way is immigrant friendly, tremendously immigrant friendly, the actor said. But there are rules. You cant come in saying, I want to get rid of all the rules in America, because I want it to be more like Somalia. Well that doesnt work, because you had to leave Somalia to come here There have to be limits, because we cant have everybody in the United States. We cant have everybody, society will fail. So there have to be limits. Gunn told The Times, Superman is the story of America. An immigrant that came from other places and populated the country, but for me, it is mostly a story that says basic human kindness is a value and is something we have lost. Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) The Wichita Falls League of Women Voters is celebrating Equality Day, Brilliant Minds, and they want the community to participate! An event that will honor the 19th Amendment and help raise the power of womens voices. This special program celebrates womens suffrage and the fight for equity. This event will take place on Tuesday, August 26, at 11:30 a.m. at the Backdoor Theater, 501 Indiana Ave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For more information, visit their website or call them at (940) 704-4796. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. For weeks, the Trump administration has made a series of rather curious moves related to the Jeffrey Epstein files. It has gone back on its promises of extensive disclosure. It has misled about the situation. It has strained to avoid acknowledging President Donald Trumps ties to Epstein. It has treated Ghislaine Maxwell suspiciously well in still-unexplained ways. And it has taken actions geared toward supposed transparency that didnt appear all that transparent. The whole thing has several of Epsteins victims and their allies suggesting a cover-up is afoot. (Trump has not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with the accused sex trafficker.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And on Monday, a key moment arrived: Confirmation that the administrations big initial move toward supposed transparency was, in fact, a smokescreen. Trumps first effort to quell the building backlash was to push for the unsealing of grand jury testimony in the Epstein and Maxwell cases. But even at the time, experts cautioned how limited a step this appeared to be. A judge has now rejected that push in the Maxwell case. But whats key here is his reasoning. Its not that the information is too sensitive, as some wagered it might be; its that it simply isnt new. In other words, the White Houses first big move toward shedding light was trying to release documents that dont do that at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the thrust of Judge Paul Engelmayers ruling is that this indeed looks, for all intents and purposes, like that smokescreen. (The administrations) entire premise that the Maxwell grand jury materials would bring to light meaningful new information about Epsteins and Maxwells crimes, or the Governments investigation into them is demonstrably false, Engelmayer wrote. He said he asked the administration to identify what information would be new, but it highlighted only scattered words, clauses, and occasional sentences. (The judge also said in a footnote that even some of that limited highlighted information was already covered by public testimony at Maxwells trial.) Engelmayer said those familiar with the case would thus learn next to nothing new, and that the information contains no details about: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone besides Epstein and Maxwell having sex with a minor. Any supposed clients of Epsteins. Any unknown means or methods of Epsteins and Maxwells crimes. Any new places where the crimes occurred. The path of the Governments investigation. Anything about the circumstances of Epsteins death. In other words, the materials contain basically nothing of interest on the key points that animate those who want to know more about the Epstein files. Theyre a nothingburger. Whats particularly notable about that is that the content of these documents wouldnt have been some kind of mystery to the administration. It has had access to them. And it still built them up as a key effort at transparency. All of which leads Engelmayer to suggest the administration knew better all along and might have intended to create a diversion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A member of the public, appreciating that the Maxwell grand jury materials do not contribute anything to public knowledge, might conclude that the Governments motion for their unsealing was aimed not at transparency but at diversion aimed not at full disclosure but at the illusion of such, he wrote. In this courtroom sketch, Ghislaine Maxwell givers her statement in federal court, in New York in June 2022. - Elizabeth Williams/AP Indeed, the judge suggests there is basically one good reason to potentially release the documents: to show the public just what a smokescreen this was. The one colorable argument under that doctrine for unsealing in this case, in fact, is that doing so would expose as disingenuous the Governments public explanations for moving to unseal, he wrote. Its a stunning rebuke of the administration that comes at an inauspicious time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The administration has already resisted disclosing anything related to its other move to quell the Epstein backlash. More than two weeks after the Justice Departments interview with Maxwell, we still know next to nothing about it. About all weve learned is that shes been moved to a lower-security prison camp, and the administration still hasnt explained why. Now we learn that one of the administrations other efforts at supposed transparency wont produce anything and predictably so. (Another judge overseeing the request for grand jury transcripts in Epsteins case has yet to rule.) So why does the administration keep stepping in it and waiting for others to force its hand on disclosure? Was this just Trump deciding this was the play and the Justice Department trying to make the most of it? Or was this an effort to make a judge reject them and then blame the judge? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Either way, its not about to satisfy those who truly care about the Epstein files. The increasing question for them and especially those in the MAGA movement who really pressed this issue for years is whether they begin to see through this effort and see it as the cover-up that Epsteins victims and their allies have suggested. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com > < 23:35 Schoolgirl 'gang-raped' in Odisha; kin among 5 held A 15-year-old girl was allegedly raped by five people, including one of her close relatives, at a village in Odisha's Kendrapara district, the police said on Tuesday. The police have arrested the 29-year-old relative, the husband of the class 10 student's paternal aunt, under various... Read more > 23:31 NIA charge sheet against 4 in fake Indian currency smuggling case The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday filed a charge sheet against four accused in the 2024 Champaran (Bihar) fake currency seizure case involving a syndicate with linkages in Pakistan and Nepal. The four arrested accused - Md Nazar Saddam, Md Waris, Md Zakir Hushain, and... Read more > 23:07 ED to quiz Raina tomorrow in illegal betting app case Former India cricketer Suresh Raina is expected to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in New Delhi on Wednesday for questioning in an alleged illegal betting app-linked money laundering case, official sources said. Once he deposes, the federal probe agency is expected to record... Read more > 22:47 CBI conducts searches in Tamil Nadu in Rs 120 cr bank fraud case The Central Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday conducted coordinated search operations in connection with a case registered at CBI, Bank Security & Fraud (BSFB) Bengaluru Branch on the directions of the high court of Judicature at Madras, the probe agency said on Tuesday.CBI said that the... Read more > 22:12 Actor John Abraham urges CJI to review SC verdict on stray dogs Actor John Abraham on Tuesday wrote a letter to Chief Justice B R Gavai, urging a review and modification of the recent Supreme Court directive ordering removal of street dogs from the Delhi NCR region. The letter came a day after the Supreme Court directed the authorities to permanently... Read more > 22:00 PSBs wrote off loans worth Rs 6L cr in past 5 yrs: Govt Public sector banks (PSBs) have written off bad loans of about Rs 5.82 lakh crore in the last five financial years, Parliament was informed on Tuesday. During 2024-25, the loan write-off of PSBs was at Rs 91,260 crore, compared to Rs 1.15 lakh crore in the previous fiscal, Minister of State... Read more > 21:46 Opposition stages walkout in Rajya Sabha on SIR issue File image The Opposition on Tuesday staged a walkout in the Rajya Sabha soon after two bills aimed at better sports governance were taken up for consideration in the post-lunch session.As the House reassembled at 3 pm, after an hour-long adjournment, Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya moved The National... Read more > 21:20 India will respond with....: Mithun Chakraborty after Pak war threat Actor-turned-Bharatiya Janata Party leader Mithun Chakraborty on Tuesday reacted sharply to Pakistan People's Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's comment on the Indus Indus Waters Treaty, and warned that India will respond with a series of Brahmos missiles. His fiery retort was also... Read more > 21:15 Robbers break inside UP cop's house, flee with goods after killing mother Robbers slit a 70-year-old woman's throat during a house break-in in the Islamnagar area in Badaun, the police said on Tuesday. The woman, who was alone at the time in her Mausampur village house, has a sub-inspector son posted in the Hapur district. Ratan Rani's husband, Kuber Singh,... Read more > 21:06 TMC leader sends legal notice to RG Kar doc's father File image Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh on Wednesday sent a legal notice to the Kar victim's father for alleging that he settled the rape and murder case with CBI by paying money. The victim's father, on Monday, had alleged that the CBI, which is investigating the crime and has, so far,... Read more > 21:02 Jhansi businessman hangs self after harassment over bank loan A 40-year-old transporter allegedly killed himself after being harassed by a bank over a loan in which he had stood guarantor for his friend, the police said on Tuesday.Kishore Singh Jadaun was found hanging at his house in the Ara Machine locality Monday evening, Babina Police Station in-charge... Read more > 20:33 Woman held at Hyderabad airport with hydroponic ganja worth Rs 13.3 cr File image A woman was arrested after 13.3 kg of hydroponic ganja valued at Rs 13.3 crore was seized from her at the international airport in Hyderabad, the DRI said on Tuesday. Acting on specific intelligence, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Hyderabad Zonal Unit, intercepted an... Read more > 20:22 Bird flu confirmed in UP's Rampur; chicken sale banned File image The Rampur district administration has banned the sale and transport of eggs and other poultry products for 21 days after bird flu (Avian Influenza H5 virus) was confirmed at a poultry farm in Sehor village, where over 15,000 chickens have died, officials said on Tuesday. District magistrate... Read more > 19:48 Rupee rises 3 paise to close at 87.72 against US dollar The rupee consolidated in a narrow range to settle just 3 paise higher at 87.72 (provisional) against the US dollar on Tuesday amid a negative trend in domestic equities. Forex traders said the rupee is trading in a tight range as a late decline in domestic markets and foreign fund outflows... Read more > 19:20 Telangana BJP chief under house arrest over temple demolition row Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao was placed under house arrest for several hours on Tuesday as a preventive measure to avoid any law and order problem over a temple demolition issue in the city, the police said.The house arrest, which lasted from morning to about 4 pm, was part of... Read more > 19:12 Parliament passes new Income Tax Bill Parliament on Tuesday passed the new Income Tax Bill, with the Rajya Sabha returning the legislation to the Lok Sabha. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the two money bills -- The Income Tax Bill, 2025, and The Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The Rajya Sabha returned... Read more > 18:31 Retail inflation in July slips to 8-year low of 1.55% Retail inflation slipped to an eight-year low of 1.55 per cent in July mainly due to subdued prices of food items, including vegetables and cereals, according to government data released on Tuesday. The consumer price index (CPI) based inflation was 2.1 per cent in June and 3.6 per cent in... Read more > 18:00 DGCA issues show cause notice to IndiGo for simulator training lapses File image Aviation regulator DGCA has issued a show cause notice to IndiGo for alleged lapses in simulator training conducted for nearly 1,700 pilots, according to sources.The sources on Tuesday said the show cause notice was issued after scrutiny of records and replies received from the airline last... Read more > 17:47 Pet dog bites off owner's ear in Bihar Representational image The menace of stray dogs may have become serious enough for the Supreme Court to take note of, but in Bihar, a man has discovered, much to his horror, that pet ones posed a threat no less severe. Sandeep Kumar, a resident of Arar More locality in Gopalganj town, had his ear bitten off by his... Read more > 17:32 Cabinet clears 4 semiconductor projects in Odisha, Punjab, Andhra Union IT and Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw The Union Cabinet has on Tuesday approved four semiconductor manufacturing projects in Odisha, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh with a total investment of Rs 4,594 crore. Union IT and Communications Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the plants will begin construction shortly, following the fast-track... Read more > 17:13 BSE Sensex top losers today Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty ended lower in a highly volatile trade on Tuesday dragged down by blue-chip bank stocks and caution ahead of domestic and US inflation data. The 30-share BSE Sensex dropped 368.49 points or 0.46 per cent to settle at 80,235.59. During the day, it hit a... Read more > 16:40 No action against owners of old vehicles in Delhi-NCR: SC The Supreme Court on Tuesday protected from coercive action owners of diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in Delhi-NCR. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria passed the order after Solicitor General... Read more > 16:31 Explain travel expenses imposed on MP Engineer Rashid: HC The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked Delhi Police to explain how it computed travel expenses imposed on Jammu and Kashmir MP Engineer Rashid to attend Parliament's monsoon session. A bench of Justices Vivek Chaudhary and Anoop Jairam Bhambhani asked the state to explain the break up of the... Read more > 15:57 Police move court to try Porsche case accused as adult The Pune police have approached a sessions court, challenging the Juvenile Justice Board's decision to reject their request to try a 17-year-old accused in the deadly Porsche car crash here as an adult for the trial in the case, an official said on Tuesday. The boy, son of a well-known real... Read more > 15:53 'Bedroom Jihadis' the new nuisance for security in JK Security agencies in Jammu and Kashmir are grappling with a new and insidious threat in the form of bedroom jihadis -- people who manipulate social media from the safety of their homes to spread misinformation and incite communal discord, officials said.This kind of enemy, far removed from the... Read more > 15:25 3 ex-students held for molesting BHU MBBS student Three former students of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) were arrested on Tuesday for allegedly molesting an MBBS student inside the university campus in the early hours, police said. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Kashi Zone, Gaurav Banswal said the alleged incident took place around... Read more > 15:17 Gold plunges Rs 1,000 amid sell-off in global markets Gold prices plunged Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,01,520 per 10 grams in the national capital on Tuesday in line with a sell-off in global markets, according to the All India Sarafa Association. On Monday, the precious metal of 99.9 per cent purity had settled at Rs 1,02,520 per 10 grams. In the local... Read more > 15:06 Air rescue ops continue in Dharali, 43 still missing Authorities continued air operations for the seventh consecutive day on Tuesday to rescue the stranded people in the areas of Dharali and Harsil in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand, where flash floods hit on August 5, causing widespread destruction with loss of lives and... Read more > 15:02 Who did they vote for? Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the party's national president Mallikarjun Kharge arrive to cast their vote at the Constitution Club of India election for the secretary's post. Two senior BJP leaders are facing off against each other -- Rajiv Pratap Rudy, a BJP... Read more > 14:51 'Mosques, madrasas in Ch'garh must hoist tiranga on I-Day' The Chhattisgarh State Waqf Board has directed all mosques, dargahs and madrasas across the state to hoist the national flag on the occasion of Independence Day on August 15. The State Waqf Board chairman, Dr Salim Raj, said a letter was issued on Monday to all mutawallis (those responsible... Read more > 14:33 No plans to declare cow national animal: Centre tells Parliament The Centre has no plans to enact any law declaring cows as the national animal, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying S P Singh Baghel told Parliament on Tuesday. In his written reply to a question by senior BJP leader and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister... Read more > 14:31 No end to U'khand rain woes: IMD predicts heavy rain for coming week The Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA) on Tuesday issued guidelines to all District Magistrates after the Meteorological Department forecast red, orange and yellow alerts across the state for the coming week, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall.According to the USDMA, an... Read more > 14:14 Unlimited cases like Minta Devi: Rahul on 'vote chori' Image: @INCIndia Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday accused the Election Commission of not performing its duty of enforcing the 'one man, one vote' principle and said abhi picture baki hai, alluding to the claims of irregularities in the voters' list. Gandhi asserted that his party was engaged in protecting... Read more > 14:00 EC to SC on SIR: Bound to have some defects The Supreme Court on Tuesday commenced hearing a batch of pleas challenging the Election Commission's decision to conduct special intensive revision (SIR) exercise in poll-bound Bihar. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi began hearing senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for... Read more > 13:47 Parliamentary panel on simultaneous elections gets extension The Parliamentary committee examining two bills to implement the system of holding Lok Sabha and assembly elections together was on Tuesday granted a fresh extension till the last week of the winter session. A motion moved by chairperson of the Joint Committee of Parliament (JCP) P P... Read more > 13:22 SC to EC on SIR: Be ready, will ask for facts & figures The Supreme Court starts hearing pleas against the Election Commission's decision for special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. Be ready. We will be asking you certain questions with regard to facts, figures on voters, the apex court tells the EC. Exercise of this nature bound... Read more > 13:09 SC restrains Assam Police from taking action against Siddharth Varadarajan The Supreme Court on Tuesday restrained Assam Police from taking any coercive action against senior journalist Siddharth Varadarajan in connection with an FIR lodged against him over an article on Operation Sindoor.A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi issued notice on the PIL filed... Read more > 13:07 Identification, deportation of illegal immigrants vital for Manipur: Ex-CM Former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh said that identification and deportation of those who came from Myanmar and Bangladesh illegally is vital to ensure security and demographic balance in the northeastern state.He also thanked lone Rajya Sabha MP from Manipur, Leishemba Sanajaoba, for... Read more > 12:48 LS Speaker announces probe panel in Justice Varma case Justice Varma Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday admitted a notice for the removal of High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma and constituted a three-member committee to probe charges against him. Making the announcement in the Lok Sabha, Birla said the process of removal of Justice Varma should begin... Read more > 12:33 Why one convict in Nitish Katara murder may be released Nitish Katara with Bharti Yadav The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed concern over prisoners languishing in jail even after completing their sentence and directed all states and union territories to immediately release any such convict if he or she is not wanted in any other case. A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and K... Read more > 12:19 Rahul joins aunt Maneka in condemning SC order on strays Rahul Gandhi reacts to the Supreme Court's order to relocate stray dogs to shelters in Delhi-NCR: The SC's directive to remove all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR is a step back from decades of humane, science-backed policy. These voiceless souls are not problems' to be erased. Shelters,... Read more > 12:05 RG Kar anniversary: BJP MLA summoned for threatening cops The RG Kar protests on Saturday The Kolkata Police on Tuesday issued summons to BJP MLA and former India cricketer Ashok Dinda to appear before it for allegedly threatening policemen during protests to mark the completion of one year of the RG Kar hospital crime, an officer said. Dinda has been asked to appear before the... Read more > 11:54 RS adjourned till 2 pm as Opposition presses for discussion on SIR File pic Rajya Sabha proceedings on Tuesday were adjourned till the post-lunch session within minutes of its assembly, as Opposition MPs insisted on a discussion be taken up on the alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. Soon after listed official... Read more > 11:45 The Bharat triptych In Indian history, three such slogans and visual icons have been the most frequently used -- Vande Mataram, Bharat Mata, and Jai Shri Ram. What's the big deal about this triptych? Read the column here. Read more > 11:33 Anas Al-Sharif, the journalist Israel killed Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif. Reuters/Dawoud Abu Alkas As a ceasefire in Gaza took hold in January, Anas Al-Sharif began removing his protective gear live on television, piece by piece, while a jubilant crowd cheered, hoping the day marked the end of the suffering of 2 million Palestinians in the enclave.Nearly seven months later, Israel killed... Read more > 11:24 Banks decide minimum balance requirements: RBI The minimum balance requirements for saving accounts does not come under the regulatory domain of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), banks decide it as per their own business needs, stated RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra on questions of ICICI Bank raising minimum balance requirement in saving account... Read more > 11:08 'B'desh govt taking all steps for free, fair polls' Bangladesh's interim government is making all possible strides to hold the upcoming general elections in a free, fair and peaceful manner, Home Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury has said. The parliamentary polls in Bangladesh are set to take place in February next year.... Read more > 10:55 Maha govt buys Raghuji Bhosale's historic sword in auction The Maharashtra Government has secured the historic sword of Maratha commander Raghuji Bhosale, founder of the Nagpur Bhosale dynasty, after successfully bidding for it at a London auction. Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar took custody of the artefact in London on Monday and... Read more > 10:45 Madonna asks the Pope to visit Gaza Madonna has urged Pope Leo to visit Gaza in a humanitarian mission to help starving Palestinian children, saying there is no more time.The American superstar, who was raised a Roman Catholic, pleaded with the new pontiff to visit the enclave in an Instagram post Monday and said:... Read more > 10:38 U'khand: National Geophysical Research Institute launches search for missing Experts from the National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) on Tuesday began to search for the missing people in flood-ravaged Dharali village in Uttarkashi with the help of Ground Penetrating Radars, officials said. The team of experts will identify and focus on places where there may... Read more > 10:21 All other elements will remain same: Trump on China tariffs US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (local time) announced that he has signed an executive order extending the tariff suspension on China for another 90 days. In a post on social media platform Truth Social, President Trump stated, I have just signed an Executive Order that will extend the... Read more > 10:11 Fire erupts on cargo flight engine; aircraft lands safely Fire erupted in one of the engines of an inbound international cargo flight here on Tuesday, but none was injured as the blaze was put down after the aircraft landed here, official sources said. The flight was coming from the Malaysian city of Kulalumpur. The fire erupted in the fourth... Read more > 09:51 Not doable, not even 1 dog shelter in Delhi: Maneka Animal Rights Activist and BJP leader Maneka Gandhi reacts to the Supreme Court's order to relocate stray dogs to shelters in Delhi-NCR: It is not a doable order. This is a very strange judgment given by someone who is in anger. Angry judgments are never sensible... She says, There is... Read more > 09:33 Ronaldo gets engaged to long-time girlfriend Georgina Legendary Portugal and Al-Nassr striker Cristiano Ronaldo is finally engaged to his long-time girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez, with the latter taking to social media to show the engagement ring. The football legend's partner took to social media, showing off a shiny ring with caption, Yes I... Read more > 09:21 China free from Trump tariffs till November US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order further modifying reciprocal tariff rates to reflect ongoing discussions with the People's Republic of China (PRC).Citing authority under the Constitution and several US laws, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and the... Read more > 09:03 In Yogi's constituency, child falls into open drain and dies Gorakhpur is the UP CM's constituency An eight-year-old girl drowned after falling into an open drain in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur, officials said on Tuesday. The Gorakhpur Municipal Corporation expressed grief over the death of Afreen calling it extremely tragic. The incident took place on Monday in Ghosi Pur locality when... Read more > 08:57 What exactly happened at the Congress dinner yesterday? Sena-UBT's Sanjay Raut shared the table with the Gandhis Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) SCP MP Supriya Sule, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) MP Mahua Maji, among other prominent Opposition figures attended the dinner on Monday in New Delhi hosted by Congress President and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition... Read more > 08:48 Heavy rainfall causes waterlogging in several areas of Delhi File pic Several areas of Delhi faced waterlogging following heavy rainfall in the early hours of Tuesday. Water-logging was reported from Rao Tularam Marg where visuals showed vehicles navigating a waterlogged stretch. Heavy rainfall lashed several parts of Delhi on Tuesday. Areas including... Read more > 08:31 Man kills wife, tries to pass it off as attack by robbers A man was arrested for allegedly killing his wife in Rajasthan's Kishangarh after he reported to police that she was attacked by robbers, officials said on Monday. Another accused was also arrested and a minor was detained in connection with the incident, police said.According to a police... Read more > 00:42 Rebuke over cigarette smoke leads to stabbing of property dealer in Nagpur A property dealer was stabbed in the chest when he confronted a man for blowing cigarette smoke on his face at a shop in Nagpur city, the police said on Monday. The incident took place on Sunday night in the Yashodhara Nagar area and the victim, Lalit Ganesh Mohadikar, is said to be in a... Read more > 00:28 Odisha govt rejects proposal for online sale of Puri temple's 'mahaprasad' File image The Odisha government has rejected the proposal made by some organisations for sale of Puri Jagannath temple's 'Mahaprasad' on online platform, state Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said in Bhubaneswar on Monday.Speaking to media persons here, Harichandan said some organisations recently... Read more > Washington A federal judge on Monday denied a request from the Trump administration to unseal grand jury material in the case of Ghislaine Maxwell, the longtime associate of late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein who is serving a 20-year sentence for sex trafficking, saying there is nothing in the grand jury record that would shed new light on the case. Judge Paul Engelmayer of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York rejected the Justice Department's bid to unveil the material in a 31-page order Monday morning. In court filings, Justice Department lawyers argued the circumstances of the Maxwell case warranted the release of the grand jury transcripts and exhibits, which typically remain secret. Engelmayer rejected that argument. "The Government's invocation of special circumstances, however, fails at the threshold," Engelmayer wrote. "Its entire premise that the Maxwell grand jury materials would bring to light meaningful new information about Epstein's and Maxwell's crimes, or the Government's investigation into them is demonstrably false." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The materials do not identify any person other than Epstein and Maxwell as having had sexual contact with a minor," Engelmayer said. "They do not discuss or identify any client of Epstein's or Maxwell's. They do not reveal any heretofore unknown means or methods of Epstein's or Maxwell's crimes. They do not reveal new venues at which their crimes occurred. They do not reveal new sources of their wealth. They do not explore the circumstances of Epstein's death. They do not reveal the path of the Government's investigation." He said anyone "who reviewed these materials expecting, based on the Government's representations, to learn new information about Epstein's and Maxwell's crimes and the investigation into them, would come away feeling disappointed and misled. There is no 'there' there." In July, the Justice Department asked the judges overseeing the Maxwell and Epstein cases to release the grand jury material that formed the basis for the federal charges against them, a move that came amid uproar over the department's review of the so-called "Epstein files" and decision not to release additional documents in the government's possession. The basis for the Justice Department's request was, as Engelmayer noted, that the grand jury documents "contain significant, undisclosed information about Epstein's and Maxwell's crimes, or the investigation into them." But he pointed out that these grand juries had not been used for any investigative purpose, but rather had only been convened to return an indictment. He said no victim, eyewitness or suspect testified. Each of the two grand juries "received evidence on a single day," hearing only from a single person, a summary witness who "testified to information obtained in the Government's investigation to support the charges in the proposed indictment." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Englemayer suggested that if the case were unsealed, a "member of the public, appreciating that the Maxwell grand jury materials do not contribute anything to public knowledge, might conclude that the Government's motion for their unsealing was aimed not at 'transparency' but at diversion aimed not at full disclosure but at the illusion of such." CBS News has reached out to Maxwell's legal team for comment. Maxwell is continuing to contest her 2021 conviction. Her attorneys argued against the Justice Department's attempt to unseal the testimony and exhibits, writing that their client had "no choice but to respectfully oppose" the release. In numerous court filings leading up to Engelmayer's decision, the Justice Department acknowledged that the grand jury transcripts, containing testimony from only two law enforcement officials, were mostly already made public during Epstein and Maxwell's court proceedings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Engelmayer wrote that after a court review of the grand jury material, he found the release would "not reveal new information of any consequence." "They do not discuss or identify any client of Epstein's or Maxwell's. They do not reveal any heretofore unknown means or methods of Epstein's or Maxwell's crimes," Engelmayer wrote. "They do not reveal new venues at which their crimes occurred. They do not reveal new sources of their wealth. They do not explore the circumstances of Epstein's death. They do not reveal the path of the Government's investigation." "Insofar as the motion to unseal implies that the grand jury materials are an untapped mine lode of undisclosed information about Epstein or Maxwell or confederates, they definitively are not that," Engelmayer continued, criticizing the Trump administration's justification for unsealing the documents as "disingenuous." "A member of the public, appreciating that the Maxwell grand jury materials do not contribute anything to public knowledge, might conclude that the Government's motion for their unsealing was aimed not at 'transparency' but at diversion aimed not at full disclosure but at the illusion of such," he wrote. Jamie Lee Curtis: The 60 Minutes Interview Derek and the Dominos co-founder Bobby Whitlock dies Artisan bakers sparking sourdough boom NEW YORK A federal judge on Monday denied the Justice Departments effort to unseal grand jury material in the Ghislaine Maxwell case, calling the entire premise of the governments move demonstrably false. U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer, in a 31-page decision, chided the Justice Department for its bid to make the material public because, he said, the public would learn virtually nothing new from the documents and would come away feeling disappointed and misled. Insofar as the motion to unseal implies that the grand jury materials are an untapped mine lode of undisclosed information about Epstein or Maxwell or confederates, they definitively are not that, Engelmayer, an Obama appointee, wrote. There is no there there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And, the judge wrote, the only reasonable argument for unsealing the material is that doing so would expose as disingenuous the Governments public explanations for moving to unseal. Maxwell, a convicted sex offender, is serving a 20-year prison sentence for aiding and participating in a sex trafficking ring run by her onetime boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein. Over the past month, the Justice Department has sought to quell outrage from President Donald Trumps supporters over the administrations handling of the so-called Epstein files. In an early July memo, the department concluded that no further disclosure of Epstein-related material would be warranted. But after backlash from the far right, the department took several steps to try to demonstrate that it is seeking to expose additional information about Epsteins crimes, including asking judges to unseal the grand jury transcripts and exhibits in the Epstein and Maxwell cases. A federal judge in Florida last month rejected one of those requests. Another judge in Manhattan is currently weighing a separate request. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department also interviewed Maxwell for two days last month and transferred her to a less restrictive prison. Both actions have outraged victims of Maxwell and Epstein, who died by suicide in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial. The decision about the grand jury materials is, on its face, a loss for the Justice Department. But it may allow the department to place the blame for keeping the documents private on the judge. The bid to make the material public was always a longshot and, as both the judge and the government acknowledged, the files contained almost no material that would add to the publics understanding of the matter. A spokesperson for the DOJ didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. In his decision, Engelmayer took aim not just at the departments rationale for unsealing, but also at the process by which it went about requesting it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge criticized the department for failing to include in the process any of the prosecutors who handled Maxwells 2021 trial. The members of the trial team would have been most familiar with the material. Instead, only the Justice Departments second-highest-ranking official, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who subsequently interviewed Maxwell, signed the motion seeking to release the records. Days before the department filed the request to unseal the material, it fired Maurene Comey, one of the last two prosecutors working at the Justice Department who handled the Epstein or Maxwell investigations. And the judge faulted the DOJ for failing to notify victims of Maxwell or Epstein in advance of the request, a factor that many victims have also criticized in letters to the court. The judge noted that although many victims support the effort to unseal the material, their position was based on the understandable but mistaken belief that these materials would reveal new information. (The Center Square) U.S. District Court Judge John Robert Blakey has denied former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigans request to stay out of prison while he appeals his federal conviction on 10 counts of public corruption. In a 44-page document released on Friday, the judge wrote that Madigan failed to meet his burden to show that his appeal would raise a substantial question of law or fact. The judge said Madigan identified several issues in his motion, each of which, according to him, presents a substantial question likely to result in reversal or an order for a new trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blakey noted that the issues largely fell into three categories: claimed instructional errors; insufficiency of the evidence claims as to all counts of conviction; and a singular claim of error with respect to one of this Courts evidentiary rulings. The judges memorandum addressed and rejected each of the arguments in turn. It also noted that to prevail on this motion, Madigan must raise a substantial question, that would result in reversal or a new trial on all counts for which the defendant has been sentenced to prison. After a four-month trial which began last October, a jury convicted Madigan Feb. 12 on 10 counts of bribery, conspiracy, wire fraud and use of a facility to promote unlawful activity. Indeed, the fate of Madigans entire motion rides on routine, and meritless, sufficiency of the evidence objections to his wire fraud convictions, Blakey wrote in the memorandum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if Madigan prevailed on all issues related to his other counts of conviction, the judge said Madigan would still have to serve the 90-month concurrent sentences he received on each of those three counts. In other words, since Madigan fails to present any plausible arguments (much less substantial questions) regarding his wire fraud convictions in Counts Eight, Nine, and Ten, he cannot show that any appeal is likely to result in a reversal or grant of a new trial on those counts, and thus he must still serve his prison sentence because the total sentence imposed in this case would remain the same, the judge explained. On June 13, Blakey sentenced Madigan to 7.5 years in prison and ordered him to pay a fine of $2.5 million. In the memorandum, the judge pointed out what he said were incorrect claims and false assertions by Madigan in his motion for release during appeal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blakey also denied the motion on an alternative basis, stating that Madigan failed to comply with court orders by exceeding the 15-page limitation on memoranda of law. Madigan filed his appeal on July 23. He is scheduled to report to prison on Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. State Rep. Sue Rezin, R-Morris, has served in the General Assembly since 2010. It was a long shot. Im not surprised that the judge came down hard on him. I mean, I think its the end of an era that most of us did not think that we would see, especially many of us that were in the legislature, Rezin told The Center Square. It sends a message, again, to Springfield that we need to strengthen our ethics laws, which weve been trying to do. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brian Gaines, Honorable W. Russell Arrington Professor in State Politics at the University of Illinois, said Madigan was like no other politician when it came to the scope of his power. I sometimes compared him to Speaker Unruh in California, Jesse Unruh, who was nicknamed Big Daddy, and he had very tight control of the California legislature for years, Gaines told The Center Square. Unruh was California State Assembly speaker in the 1960s and later served as California treasurer. Madigan served in the Illinois House from 1971 to 2021 and was speaker for all but two years between 1983 and 2021. He chaired the Democratic Party of Illinois for 23 years. Madigan also led the 13th Ward Democratic Organization and served as 13th Ward committeeman. A circuit judge in Broward County has dropped three felony charges against Wellington developer Glenn Straub from a 2020 criminal court case stemming from a dispute with an ex-girlfriend and the placing of liens on her properties. Judge Timothy Bailey on Aug 5. ruled that Straubs company, Palm Beach Polo, but not Straub himself was behind $77,380 in property liens filed against Jessica Nicodemo, Straub's ex-girlfriend. The liens have been alleged to have been placed against her fraudulently. The judge said the prosecutors had not successfully tied Straub to those liens. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office brought charges against Straub in January 2020 after a deputy in 2017 had recorded a conversation in which the developer said he had filed liens against two of Nicodemo's properties to prevent her from breaking up with him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Straub, 78, faced 15 years in prison if the courts had convicted him on the charges he faced: a count of grand theft larceny of less than $100,000 and two counts of filing fraudulent liens. Larry Zink, an attorney for Straub, said Aug. 7 that the ruling had come as a relief to Straub and noted the case had been pending for more than five years. Straub's case made headlines beyond the allegations against the Wellington developer. In 2017, Gov. Rick Scott transferred the case to the Broward County State Attorneys Office, citing a "personal relationship between Straub and then-Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg. Nicodemo also was a friend of Aronberg and his former wife, Lynn. At one point, Straub and Aronberg also were close. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aronberg had disclosed the relationship, and sheriff's detectives requested the transfer because of concerns that Straub might know of the investigation, court records show. In 2020, the Florida Supreme Court also assigned the court proceeding to Broward County. Prior to that move, a former chief judge of the Palm Beach County circuit had joined Straub's defense team, and seven Palm Beach County judges recused themselves from hearing it. Glenn Straub leaves the Palm Beach County Jail January 17, 2020 after turning himself in and posting bond on two charges of fraud and one charge of larceny. The Broward County State Attorney's office said in a prepared statement it is reviewing the judge's ruling. It wasn't immediately clear whether it would appeal the decision. A related 2017 civil lawsuit by Nicodemo against Straub is still pending in the courts in Broward County Circuit Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From The Post's archive: Romantic revenge? Polo developer dates women, then sues them Wellington developer Glenn Straub has long history of disputes, lawsuits Baileys Aug. 5 ruling dismissed all criminal charges against Straub in an order that concluded he had not personally signed or filed the liens. He had rejected earlier requests from Straub's legal team to dismiss the charges. Bailey said two previous rulings in the civil lawsuit determined Palm Beach Polo was the entity that filed $77,380 in liens against Nicodemo, and under Florida law, only the "lienor" could be found responsible for them. State prosecutors argued that as president of Palm Beach Polo, Straub was responsible for the all the company's decisions. Zink and Michael Gottlieb, another attorney working for Straub, argued he couldn't be held responsible for a corporate act. Glenn Straub, seen here in February 2019, is the owner of Palm Beach Polo Golf & Country Club in Wellington. Straub is no stranger to controversy. He has long been a prominent developer in Palm Beach County and has won a reputation for lawsuits over broken deals and delinquent debts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In April, he paid the village of Wellington $9.4 million in fines related to damage done to the Big Blue Preserve, Floridas largest remaining cypress hammock. His disputes with the village over the preserve dated to 2001. Nicodemo and another former girlfriend, Lacy K. Bridges, have accused Straub of filing frivolous lawsuits against them as revenge for leaving him, according to court records. Since 2013, three other women, including a former Mrs. Florida, have also been sued companies owned by Straub over alleged debts. Straub has acknowledged in depositions he dated the women but said his company sued them because they failed to repay loans, pay for work done by his company or return company-owned jewelry, clothes and credit cards. The cases took on a high profile because of allegations that Aronberg had pursued charges against Straub as a favor to Nicodemo. Straub's legal team asked that depositions both Aronbergs made in the case be made public, saying Lynn Aronberg's deposition was critical to his defense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both Bailey and the fourth District Court of Appeals denied the request. Bailey's Aug. 5 order also dismissed the request to unseal the depositions as moot. Valentina Palm covers Royal Palm Beach, Wellington, Greenacres, Palm Springs and other western communities in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. Email her at vpalm@pbpost.com. Support local journalism: Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Glenn Straub criminal charges dropped in liens case with ex-girlfriend A federal judge has rejected the Trump administrations request to unseal grand jury materials from Ghislaine Maxwells sex-trafficking case on Monday, assailing the plea as a distraction. The Justice Department (DOJ) had sought to release testimony and exhibits from the case against Jeffrey Epsteins accomplice, who was convicted of sex trafficking in 2021 and is serving 20 years in prison, citing abundant public interest. Except in rare circumstances, grand jury testimony is usually kept under seal to protect witnesses and the independence of the grand jury. In denying the motion, District Judge Paul Engelmayer rejected the DOJs argument that unsealing the testimony would provide new information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its entire premisethat the Maxwell grand jury materials would bring to light meaningful new information about Epsteins and Maxwells crimes, or the Governments investigation into themis demonstrably false," he wrote. Jeffrey Epstein's accomplice, Ghislaine Maxwell, is serving a 20-year sentence for her role in his child sex-trafficking operation. / Patrick McMullan/Getty Images The bid came as the administration has struggled to contain MAGA fallout after backtracking on President Donald Trumps promise to release more information on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. In July, the DOJ and Federal Bureau of Investigation concluded that Epstein died by suicide awaiting trial in prison in 2019, rather than being murdered, and that no client list of wealthy co-conspirators exists. The determination has led Trumps conspiracy-minded supporters to accuse the administration of a cover-up. Engelmayer wrote that the evidence presented to the Maxwell grand jury was all a matter of public record already, except for victims namesand that the DOJ already knew that to be the case. The Government admitted as much in response to the Courts order, the judge wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because the Government proposes to redact the witnesses identities, the exception it noted does not reflect information that the public would learn were the grand jury transcripts unsealed, he added. The Courts review confirmed that unsealing the grand jury materials would not reveal new information of any consequence. The Justice Department had sought to release grand jury testimony in Maxwell's case as it struggles to contain the fallout over the Epstein files. / New York Daily News via Getty Images The grand juries in Maxwell and Epsteins cases neither heard testimony from any firsthand witnesses nor victims, the judge noted. Instead, the grand jury heard from a law enforcement agent who testified about information obtained in the investigation to support the charges. Engelmayer also blasted the government for failing to justify unsealing the grand jury material. The one colorable argument under that doctrine for unsealing in this case, in fact, is that doing so would expose as disingenuous the Governments public explanations for moving to unseal, he wrote. A member of the public, appreciating that the Maxwell grand jury materials do not contribute anything to public knowledge, might conclude that the Governments motion for their unsealing was aimed not at transparency but at diversion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its the latest blow to the DOJ as it attempts to contain MAGAs outrage over the Epstein files. As part of its attempt to turn the page, the Justice Departments second in command, Todd Blanche, met with Maxwell at a federal courthouse in Florida in July for additional testimony. The administration has reportedly been considering releasing her testimony. A week after she met with the deputy attorney general, Epsteins accomplice was moved to a minimum security prison camp in Texas, raising questions over a quid pro quo. Maxwells team had pushed back on the grand jury testimony being unsealed as it looks to the Supreme Court to overturn her conviction. A reporter asked Trump if the administration would appeal Mondays Epstein decision as he left a briefing at the White House. The president ignored the question. The Daily Beast has reached out to Maxwells lawyer and the White House for comment. The father-son pair of William and Nicholas Cianciaruso were jailed in June after 4.5 years of court orders to clean their property, which had contaminated the soil and potentially a nearby water source with high levels of PFAS, known as "forever chemicals." Lohud reported that the Cianciarusos were made aware of the hazardous material from their illegal dumping on the leased site, located near the border between New York and New Jersey, which is also by an aquifer. The two were meant to be jailed in January 2024, when they were given one final chance to adhere to court orders to remediate the waste after seven years of dumping. Unfortunately, they failed to comply. William and Nicholas Cianciaruso were held for 90 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PFAS, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, are also referred to as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These are long-lasting, health-harming chemicals, which means they break down slowly. The persistence of PFAS in the environment has already contaminated the blood of some humans and animals across the globe and can be found in low levels in food sources as well as water, soil, air, and fish. Q-Star Technology says that PFAS can contaminate soil and water through the illegal dumping of plastics, from which they leak into areas of contamination and are hazardous to the health of all living things. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry says PFAS impact the human body in the way they increase cholesterol, lower antibody response to vaccines, cause changes in liver enzymes, cause hypertension and preeclampsia, decrease in birth weight, and increase the chances of kidney and testicular cancers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cianciarusos are expected to right their wrongs once released from jail, though as of right now, their property is still in environmentally hazardous disarray. According to a report by News 12 Westchester, it is overgrown, unkempt, and laden with tires and other construction materials. Their lawyer said the incarcerated duo now want to comply but will not be able to clean their site, which they have allegedly invested $60,000 to fix, while they are behind bars. Nevertheless, William and Nicholas Cianciaruso have had ample time to remediate. "We think it's an environmental land mine," Hillburn Village attorney Terry Rice said, per Lohud. "The court was at wits' end. They were not complying. We're not being vindictive." 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. Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell attend an event in New York City on March 15, 2005. Credit - Joe Schildhorn/Patrick McMullan Getty Images A federal judge has rejected the Trump Administrations request to unseal transcripts of the grand jury testimony that led to the indictment of Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of sex-trafficking related charges and was a long-time associate of the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Judge Paul A. Engelmayer emphasized the importance of maintaining the secrecy surrounding grand jury proceedings in his Monday decision. Those materials can only be unsealed in rare, exceptional circumstances, he said, asserting that granting the Trump Administrations request to unseal the transcripts would be applying the exception casually or promiscuously. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Engelmayer also called into question the entire premise of the Trump Administrations request. Contrary to the Governments depiction, the Maxwell grand jury testimony is not a matter of significant historical or public interest, the judge said, adding that much of the information in the materials was revealed at Maxwells trial. Its entire premisethat the Maxwell grand jury materials would bring to light meaningful new information about Epsteins and Maxwells crimes, or the Governments investigation into themis demonstrably false, he wrote. Releasing the documents would expose as disingenuous the Governments public explanations for moving to unseal, he went on to say. A member of the public, appreciating that the Maxwell grand jury materials do not contribute anything to public knowledge, might conclude that the Governments motion for their unsealing was aimed not at transparency but at diversionaimed not at full disclosure but at the illusion of such, he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read More: Who Is Ghislaine Maxwell? The Epstein Associate the Justice Department Is Interviewing The Department of Justice (DOJ) asked judges to release grand jury transcripts and other materials in both Epsteins and Maxwells cases amid growing backlash over how the Trump Administration has handled the Epstein matter. Public interest in the late sex offender, who has long been the subject of conspiracy theories on the far right in particular, amplified after the DOJ and FBI released a memo in July that stated that Epstein didnt have a client list of co-conspirators and that his 2019 death in jail was a suicide. While the Trump Administration has tried to brush off questions and concerns over the case, many of the Presidents own supporters have expressed frustration over how he has handled the matter. President Donald Trumps own years-long relationship with Epstein has also drawn heightened scrutiny amid the renewed attention to the case. The Wall Street Journal published an article last month alleging that Trump sent a bawdy letter to Epstein in 2003. The President has denied doing so and has since filed a lawsuit against the Journals parent firms, its owner, and the two reporters behind the story. Trump has tried to distance himself from Epstein over the years, recently saying that he broke off his friendship with the disgraced financier after Epstein stole people that worked for me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The controversy has led to increased attention on Maxwell as well, who was convicted in 2021 for her role in recruiting underage girls to engage in illegal sex acts with Epstein and is currently serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison. Late last month, the House Oversight Committee voted to subpoena her for a deposition. DOJ Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche also interviewed Maxwell over the span of two days late last month. About a week after meeting with Blanche, Maxwell, who is appealing her conviction, was transferred from a federal facility in Florida to a minimum-security prison camp in Texas. The move sparked outrage from the family of Virginia Giuffre, a victim of Epstein. Her family accused the Trump Administration of giving Maxwell preferential treatment. A separate federal judge in Florida previously rejected one of the DOJs requests to release grand jury transcripts from an investigation into Epstein in 2005 and 2007, but another judge is still weighing another request. Contact us at letters@time.com. A federal judge in New York has denied the Trump administration's motion to unseal grand jury testimony from the criminal case against Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell. The Trump administration has been seeking to release materials related to the investigation into Epstein, the wealthy financier and convicted sex offender who died by suicide in jail in 2019, following the blowback it received from MAGA supporters after it announced last month that no additional files would be released. Maxwell, a longtime associate of Epstein, is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking and other offenses in connection with Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Grand jury transcripts in Ghislaine Maxwell case contain nothing new, DOJ filing says In his 31-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Paul Engelmayer of the Southern District of New York criticized the Department of Justice for using "demonstrably false" reasoning to justify the release of grand jury testimony. The transcripts would "not reveal new information of any consequence" about Epstein and Maxwell's crimes, according to Judge Engelmayer, who suggested that the Trump administration's push to release documents might be an intentional "diversion." "Its entire premise -- that the Maxwell grand jury materials would bring to light meaningful new information about Epstein's and Maxwell's crimes, or the Government's investigation into them -- is demonstrably false," he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Engelmayer wrote that the transcripts contain material already in the public record and lack any firsthand information about Epstein's and Maxwell's crimes. The records do not identify anyone other than Epstein or Maxwell who had sexual contact with a minor, mention any clients, shed light on their methods, or provide new information about Epstein's death, Engelmayer wrote. Laura Cavanaugh/Getty Images - PHOTO: Ghislaine Maxwell attends day 1 of the 4th Annual WIE Symposium at Center 548 on September 20, 2013 in New York City. "Insofar as the motion to unseal implies that the grand jury materials are an untapped mine lode of undisclosed information about Epstein or Maxwell or confederates, they definitively are not that. A 'public official,' 'lawmaker,' 'pundit,' or 'ordinary citizen' 'deeply interested and concerned about the Epstein matter,' and who reviewed these materials expecting, based on the Government's representations, to learn new information about Epstein's and Maxwell's crimes and the investigation into them, would come away feeling disappointed and misled. There is no 'there' there," the judge wrote. Engelmayer also suggested that the only reason that might justify the release of the records would be to "expose as disingenuous the Government's public explanations for moving to unseal." "A member of the public, appreciating that the Maxwell grand jury materials do not contribute anything to public knowledge, might conclude that the Government's motion for their unsealing was aimed not at 'transparency' but at diversion -- aimed not at full disclosure but at the illusion of such," he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Engelmayer is the second judge to deny the administration's motions to unseal secret grand jury testimony related to Epstein and Maxwell. Last month, U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg dismissed the DOJ's motion to unseal testimony from the first federal investigation of Epstein in Florida that began in the mid-2000s. A third federal judge in New York is still considering the administration's request to unseal testimony in the second Epstein investigation in 2019. The government's move to unseal grand jury testimony came after the Trump administration faced backlash for its decision last month not to release any further materials from investigations against Epstein and Maxwell, after repeated statements that it planned to do so. MORE: What the government evidence list tells us about the unreleased Epstein files Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a three-page evidence list released by the Justice Department in February, the government is in possession of more than 300 gigabytes of data obtained during those investigations. The remaining materials include 40 computers and electronic devices, 26 storage drives, more than 70 CDs and six recording devices, according to the evidence index. The evidence also includes approximately 60 pieces of physical evidence, including photographs, travel logs, employee lists, more than $17,000 in cash, five massage tables, blueprints of Epstein's island and Manhattan home, four busts of female body parts, a pair of women's cowboy boots and one stuffed dog, according to the list. The unreleased evidence notably includes multiple documents related to two islands Epstein owned in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Little Saint James -- where his compound was located -- and Greater Saint James. According to the index, the files include a folder containing Island blueprints, photographs and other documents. Some of the documents could shed light on who visited the island. According to the index, the files also include a Little Saint James logbook as well as multiple logs of boat trips to and from the island. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while facing federal child sex trafficking charges. The well-connected financier has long been rumored to have kept a "client list" of celebrities and politicians, which right-wing influencers have baselessly accused authorities of hiding. MORE: DOJ seeks to unseal exhibits from grand jury probes into Epstein, Maxwell The Justice Department and FBI announced last month that they had found no evidence that Epstein kept such a list, after several top officials, before joining the administration, had themselves accused the government of shielding information regarding the Epstein case. In its joint memo, the FBI and DOJ argued that a "large portion" of the records included photographs of victims and child pornography. According to the DOJ, the evidence includes "images and videos" of victims who appear to be minors, "over ten thousand downloaded videos and images of illegal child sex abuse material and other pornography," and a "large volume" of images of Epstein. "While we have labored to provide the public with maximum information regarding Epstein and ensured examination of any evidence in the government's possession, it is the determination of the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation that no further disclosure would be appropriate or warranted," the memo said. JULIAN, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) Under the dark night skies in the rural hills of Julian, the annual Perseids meteor shower returns to light up the night at the San Diego Dark Sky Festival on Saturday, Aug. 16. Its the feeling that youre connected to something much bigger, said Douglas Sollosy, one of the founding members of the Julian Dark Sky Network. This annual celestial event brings people from across the county. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know that people love to come up here during the Perseid meteor shower, Sollosy said. Its the most active meteor shower of the year. And, everyones hunting for the best view. It looks like kind of between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. on the 13th will be the best time, but over the next week its going to be very exciting, said Jim Kidrick, the CEO of the San Diego Air and Space Museum. The Perseids meteor show will reach peak brightness on Aug. 12-13 with a nearly full moon. Stargazers can find the best view in rural communities, potentially able to see 50-75 shooting stars per hour. Youre seeing material thats been around since the formation of the solar system, Sollosy said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one of San Diegos darkest and clearest spots, the moonless night sky will reveal bright planets, shooting stars, and the luminous sweep of the Milky Way, but the moon, 84 percent full during the showers peak, could obscure the some shooting stars, revealing only the brightest meteors. Youre trying to get to a dark sky during those times, so you would like to be out not in downtown San Diego, Kidrick said. So, stargazers may opt to watch for shooting stars on Saturdays moonless night during the Dark Sky Festival at the Menghini Winery. The free family-friendly event will begin at 3 p.m. and end at 11 p.m. in Julian with educational activities and a panel of experts sharing why dark skies matter. Afternoon Activities 3 p.m. 7 p.m. Hands-on activities for kids and families Educational exhibits on wildlife, conservation, and astronomy Food vendor: Kenyan Cuisine by Rafikizfoodz Inspirational speakers and panel discussion on light pollution impacts and dark sky advocacy Solar telescope viewing Evening Activities until 11 p.m. Probing the Cosmos at Mount Laguna Observatory talk by Dr. Robert Quimby, Director of MLO Guided night sky tours with green laser pointer Astronomy-guided experience with binoculars Shared observing of nebulae and star clusters through telescopes Guided night sky tours with green laser pointer Astronomy-guided experience with binoculars Shared observing of nebulae and star clusters through telescopes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going to have a big star party with about 20 astronomers and telescopes that are going to share views of the cosmos, Sollosy said. All that fun plus a panel of speakers hope to address the dangers of light pollution and advocate for more international dark sky communities. Julian and Borrego Springs, recognized as international dark sky communities, are a part of a growing movement across San Diego County to protect and celebrate the night sky. Light pollution is increasing at a rate of ten percent a year globally, he said. This event, just one way, Sollosy hopes to get more people involved to protect the environment by just looking up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fortunately, theres a movement thats growing thats becoming more influential, he said. DarkSky San Diego County, Julian Dark Sky Network, Borrego Springs Dark Sky Coalition and the Fallbrook Land Conservancy Dark Sky Committee collaborated to organize the festival and suggest bringing a blanket or chair, red flashlight, jacket, binoculars for the best experience. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Aug. 11Update, 8:50 a.m. Monday: As of 7:30 a.m., the National Weather Service said that Suicide Basin is now full to capacity. Monitoring devices "continue to show indications of over-topping the ice dam with icebergs being pulled towards the overflow channel and very little new water rise," the alert said. Those indications mean the basin is at full capacity; in the past it has taken up to six days for outburst flooding to begin, the agency said. Original story: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement University of Alaska Southeast environmental science professor Eran Hood recalled that it was a sunny summer day in 2011 when an unexpected and potentially perilous situation began to unfold. The Mendenhall River, which flows through one of Juneau's most populous residential areas, was rapidly and unexpectedly rising. "No one knew what was going on, why the river was going up and up and up to one of the highest flows ever measured," he said. Hood boarded a helicopter to investigate. Flying over the glaciers at the head of the Mendenhall River, he saw collapsed ice and stranded icebergs in a basin between the Mendenhall Glacier and one of its smaller tributaries, Suicide Glacier. That indicated water had just drained as a glacial dam released and caused the flood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back then, the basin wasn't monitored and the outburst wasn't predicted, Hood said. "Should've been, but it wasn't," he said. "And we've been working to understand it ever since then." Suicide Glacier, located in a side valley above Mendenhall Glacier, left a growing void between them as it retreated over the years. The shrinking glacier left a meltwater-collecting tub of bedrock, dammed on the downhill side by the Mendenhall Glacier's wall of ice. In 2011, the basin held enough water to generate the pressure needed to lift the Mendenhall Glacier's ice and release water into its icy channels toward Mendenhall Lake and Mendenhall River downstream. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Vanishing ice: Alaska's shrinking glaciers drive a new brand of tourism] The 2011 event caused little damage, but since then the basin has refilled and partially drained dozens of times. Two years ago, the situation became much more serious when the basin began emptying nearly completely. For the past two summers, properties in the Mendenhall Valley have experienced destructive flooding. The phenomenon, known as a jokulhlaup, is not rare. Glacier lake outbursts happen in dozens of other places around Alaska, Hood said. What is unique is the city-adjacent location of Suicide Basin. "This is kind of like the one place in Alaska that there's a tremendous amount of infrastructure and a large basin going into a river," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Previously: 'It happened so fast': Speed and scale of Juneau flooding caught residents by surprise] Experts from UAS, the U.S. Geological Survey, the National Weather Service and others have joined forces to study the situation since it first occurred. Greater public attention came in 2023, when homes were washed away on the banks of the Mendenhall River. A year ago, widespread damage followed Suicide Basin's biggest outburst yet. Now Juneau is bracing once more. This year, miles of HESCO flood barriers were installed to contain the next outburst, an "interim" solution devised by Juneau officials and the Army Corps of Engineers. Many agencies have collaborated to prepare to respond. "This basin is probably the most closely monitored glacial lake in the world," said Ryan O'Shaughnessy, emergency manager for the City and Borough of Juneau. "There's a lot of very high-tech monitoring and very capable and smart people watching that basin 24/7." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, experts say much remains unpredictable. The Daily News spoke with experts in hydrology, glacier science and disaster planning to examine what's known and not known as the water level inches higher. What's happening now? Early Monday, the National Weather Service said in an update that the basin is now full to capacity. As of Saturday, the water level was 1,358 feet, just 10 feet shy of the point at which water will overtop the ice of the Mendenhall Glacier. The water level is rising about 4-5 feet a day, according to National Weather Service reports. Exactly what will happen when the water reaches the 1,368-foot height of the basin is hard to say for certain, but recent history is the best guide. In recent years, the basin's release has begun within four to six days of the water level reaching the top of the ice, according to Aaron Jacobs, senior service hydrologist and a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there's no guarantee the timing will play out that way. The buoyancy of the ice and hydrostatic pressure pressure exerted by fluid at rest, such as water behind an ice dam affect the release in ways that are hard to pinpoint because what's happening on the underside of the glacier can't be seen, Jacobs said. "We don't quite understand that, the whole triggering aspect," he said. "We're just using the past to understand what we can see in the future." In years prior to 2023, the outburst began prior to water reaching the overtopping point, Hood said. "It can release any day now," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What happens when an outburst begins? Flood forecasters like Jacobs factor how much water the basin holds, how much of it will be released, and how quickly it will drain downstream. More is known about the first variable than the others. "If we match the water elevation with the known shape, we can calculate the volume quite accurately," Hood said. For more than a decade, scientists have been armed with information from various USGS-installed sensors. UAS-led research, which is funded primarily by the USGS Alaska Climate Adaptation Science Center, has included mapping the exposed area of the basin since 2018. A much fuller picture of the basin's volume wasn't revealed until 2023. That's when it first began to drain from top to bottom, allowing researchers to capture the shape of the bedrock with drones before it refilled with water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jacobs said Suicide Basin released 15 billion gallons in 2023 and 16 billion in 2024. The current estimates of its volume? "It's very similar to last year's. It might be a little bit more," Jacobs said. That doesn't necessarily mean this year's flooding will be just like last year's or even worse. All the water is not certain to reach the river below in one flush. If it does, it could drain slightly faster than in years prior, because friction from the moving water can enlarge the channels through the glacier ice, Hood said. It could drain slower, too. "That changes every single year," Jacobs said. "The glacier's always moving and these conduits open and close with that head pressure." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Partial drainage remains a possible outcome as well. "Because we can't see underneath the glacier to the plumbing, and we can't see the drain hole because there's so many icebergs that block over it, we don't know exactly why in the past it used to drain partway and stop," said Hood. Jacobs said the current forecast involves expecting water to release from top to bottom at a rate similar to last year's flooding event. But he's poised for quick adjustments. Once the release begins, the rate of rise of Mendenhall Lake, which feeds the river, will provide information about how fast the water is emptying from the basin. "After 24 hours of information, we will be able to really see that rate of rise and know if we need to pivot, if we have to go higher or go lower," he said. How ready is Juneau? O'Shaughnessy, Juneau's emergency manager, said residents are understandably stressed as the release event nears. "Last year we saw massive inundation of the neighborhoods along the Mendenhall River," he said. Preparedness has been enhanced in significant ways, he said. This year, flood barriers were installed along miles of the Mendenhall River. The structures, essentially large cage-reinforced sand blocks, line the east bank of the river and are intended to protect against flooding up to 18 feet, according to a City and Borough of Juneau webpage. Many residents who last year had river views in their backyard now see a stout wall of sand, steel and thick green fabric. "We're very, very confident in the HESCO barriers, but they haven't been tested," O'Shaughnessy said. "They're a man-made structure. We're talking about forces of nature and a lot of water moving really fast. We can't say with absolute certainty that they will work." Organizational improvements are less visible but also vital, he said. "We've been planning for months to activate a unified command," O'Shaughnessy said. The team includes representatives from the City and Borough of Juneau, Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, and the Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities. Several other agencies play a role in operations, logistics, finance and planning tasks. "The reality is no single one of these agencies has the resources to adequately support a 24/7 incident command structure, but together we do," he said. O'Shaughnessy said alerts and information will reach the public in several ways. The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, or IPAWS, managed by FEMA, will push urgent messages to mobile phones in the region and interrupt broadcasts on television and radio. O'Shaughnessy said that will happen only at crucial stages such as when the water overtops the ice and when the basin begins to release. Additionally, residents can sign up for a greater number of update messages about the flood situation through the city's website. Once the basin is full, the unified command will operate a hotline staffed by trained volunteers with the latest evacuation and flood preparedness and response information Central to the preparation effort is the plan for evacuation of Mendenhall Valley residents. That eventuality is a near-certainty, O'Shaughnessy said. "Because we have seen it repeatedly release rapidly and we have seen it repeatedly cause catastrophic damage, we are not going to take any chances," O'Shaughnessy said. "When the basin begins to release, we will issue a notice to evacuate." Every house in the evacuation area will receive a door-hanging card directing them to emergency resources and more information. He encourages residents to think in terms of "ready, set, go." "When the basin becomes full, that's when we will move into a 'set' phase," he said. "That's when folks should have a go bag by the door, have their prescriptions and some clothes and dog food. And have a plan, right, for where the vehicle is going to go, where are we going to stay?" The "set" phase is expected to last up to six days, which typically has been the time between when the basin is full and when the release begins. When that release starts, it's "go" time. "Though it takes one or two days before the river crests to its peak from an outburst flood, it's important that residents not wait for that," O'Shaughnessy said. At a media briefing on Friday, city and state officials described the danger associated with driving through flood water, entering exclusion zones or climbing atop HESCO barriers. All could prove deadly and, in turn, expose rescuers to risk. "Once the basin begins to release, please leave the neighborhood," O'Shaughnessy said. "Our No. 1 priority is to protect life and safety. We're very confident in the HESCO barriers, but we're not willing to bet it with people's lives." On Sunday, Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced a preemptive disaster declaration to "position state resources and personnel in advance to support local and tribal governments in their efforts to protect lives, homes, and essential services." What does the future hold for the Mendenhall Valley? The good news is that this pattern will end one day. "The glacier will recede to the point that it no longer blocks off the basin. At that point, there's no more flood," Hood said. But it will be a dynamic situation until then. Changing factors may include the shrinking height of the ice wall holding the basin's water back, melting icebergs in the basin that add water that reaches the river, and the expansion of the basin into the main glacier. "We have all these competing processes, and if we can model them effectively, we can get to a reasonable understanding of what the upper limit might be," he said. Hood said typically glacier outburst flooding is a phenomenon measured in decades. "It's a good bet that this is going to keep happening for the next 20 to 30 years," he said. O'Shaughnessy said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is studying the situation to inform ways to mitigate the impact of outburst flooding in a more lasting way. "It is possible that we're several years from a long-term solution," he said. In the meantime, O'Shaughnessy urges area residents to sign up for emergency alerts and to heed them when they're issued. Here are a few other ways to learn more and monitor the status of Suicide Basin and the Mendenhall River: National Weather Service Suicide current conditions Juneau Glacial Flood Dashboard Juneau Guide to Flood Preparedness Two men have been jailed for causing a bar room brawl on board a holiday jet bound for Jamaica. Patrick Connors was sentenced to a year in prison and Francis Coyle has been sentenced to three months for offences relating to the incident in January 1999. The men were part of a group of 12 travelling on an Airtours flight to Montego Bay but the plane had to be diverted to the US after a fight erupted. During the trial, the jury heard how the group were boisterous and continued ordering drinks, including vodka and champagne, until cabin staff refused to serve anymore. Jurors were told that the group became increasingly rowdy and that Connors clashed with a Jamaican passenger. The man, who was not questioned by police, told Connors to shut those women up and threw two drinks over him. The court heard how Connors and Coyle then tried to fight the Jamaican and had to be restrained by cabin crew. The altercation caused some of the 300 passengers to cry and scream at the group to sit down, jurors were told. Sentencing the men on Friday, Judge Austin Issard-Davies told the pair: It is bad enough to have to contend with loud, boorish or drunken behaviour in streets, bars or railway trains. In the cramped confines of a crowded aircraft it is infinitely worse. Six months of Connors sentence and six weeks of Coyles sentence were suspended. Three women Elizabeth ODriscoll, Angela ODriscoll and Josephine Cooper were earlier acquitted of charges of being drunk on board the same flight. Relatives of the men were adamant they had done nothing wrong. Speaking after the verdicts, Francis Coyles sister said he was not a violent man. Hes known as the gentle giant. He wouldnt harm anybody, let alone petrify anybody, she said. Courtesy BBC News In context The case was the latest in a series of so-called air rage incidents. By the time Connors and Coyle were imprisoned several people had already been jailed by British courts for offences on aircraft. In 1998 British Airways reported a 400% rise in air rage incidents globally over the previous three years. In response the government passed additional legislation to strengthen laws already in place to deal with disruptive passengers. The new measures were designed to target offences such as smoking, drunkenness and anti-social behaviour and carried penalties of up to two years in prison or a 2,000 fine. Like this: Like Loading... YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A jury has been selected Monday in Mahoning County Pleas Court in the case of a man accused of a December 2022 shooting death at a South Avenue gas station. Akeem Hargrove, 32, is charged with aggravated murder for the Dec. 22, 2022, shooting death of Devin Bell, 26. Bell was found shot to death about 2:35 a.m. at the Shell Station at 1907 South Ave. Hargrove was arrested a few days later. Police have not disclosed a motive. Judge Anthony DApolito is hearing the case. Opening statements are expected Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A second man, Zachary Bair, is also charged with aggravated murder for Bells death. He was not arrested until May 2024. Special Prosecutor Brad Gessner told the judge that Bair was offered a plea offer but he did not say on the record what that offer was. Court records do not show a trial date for Bair. Gessner was appointed after county Prosecutor Lynn Maro took office in January to avoid a conflict of interest because she had represented Hargrove in a previous case before she was elected. Police found a gun and a knife in the area where witnesses said they saw two men dressed in black wearing masks running towards Samuel Avenue following the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hargrove turned down a plea offer that would have seen him plead guilty to a reduced charge of murder with a firearm specification and receive a sentence of 18 years to life in prison, which is the only sentence for that kind of plea he can receive. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (This story was updated to add more information, photos and a video.) Nineteen people were stranded in the Cana Island parking lot for around seven hours, according to the Door County Maritime Museum, after fallen trees and power lines blocked off roads Aug. 9 following severe weather. "Our staff evacuated people from the island and got them to the parking lot (and) into the garage for shelter. Everyone who was there was safe, but they were trapped because the roadway was just littered with so many downed trees and powerlines," Kevin Osgood, the president and CEO of the Door County Maritime Museum, told the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group was stuck in the parking lot from around 4 to 11 p.m. At around 10:15 p.m. Aug. 9, local firefighters had climbed through the trees to provide hot dogs and water to the stranded guests and staff. Baileys Harbor Fire Department cut through the trees, while Wisconsin Public Services made sure all the power lines were dead. According to Osgood, the island is a dangerous place to be, currently, due to the large trees that have broken up on the roadway. As such, it remains closed. Damage also occurred to the interpretive center, which has holes in the roof. Osgood thinks once the holes are fixed and the trees are cleaned up, the island could reopen by the end of the week. None of the historic structures suffered any damage, including the lighthouse, the Keeper's Quarters, the privy and the oil house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "What we need right now is for people not to try and come to Cana Island. It's just not a safe place (right now). We know how popular it is and we know everybody wants to get back out there, but we just need patience until we get it cleaned up and made safe," Osgood said. 'The most frightening thing I've seen,' hurricane survivor says Sara and Brian Hamm split time between Sarasota, Florida, and their Baileys Harbor place close to the Cana Island Lighthouse. They've been through three hurricanes in Florida in the past year, Sara said, but the powerful wind storm that hammered Door County late in the afternoon of Aug. 9 was an experience unto itself. "That was probably the most frightening thing I've seen," Sara Hamm said. Their place is on Cana Island Road, which leads from County Q to the parking lot and entrance to the island, whose lighthouse/museum is likely the most iconic of Door County's 11 lights and a popular tourist attraction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The road was busy the morning of Aug. 11, two days after the storm, but whatever tourist traffic was heading to Cana Island was being turned back as crews from WPS, Michels Construction and other construction companies, and tree-cutting services were clearing trees that were snapped in half or uprooted from the ground, clearing braches from power lines, erecting new power poles to replace those that also snapped in two (a WPS worker said they'd replaced two poles the day before) and beginning to put up new power lines. The Hamms said they were at Brian's mother's house, also near the entrance to the lot, and saw the weather suddenly turn violent at about 3:50 p.m. through the mother's full bay windows overlooking the water. "We watched the whole thing happen," Sara Hamm said. "I said, 'Look how big the waves are they were getting whitecaps and you could really surf them. "Then, within 90 seconds, it was a big white wall of rain, and we thought the windows were going to blow in. We couldn't see anything out of the windows." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "(Brian's mother) has these four huge trees," Brian Hamm said, "and we saw them snap and crash within four feet of her deck." As for their own home, Brian Hamm said they lost at least 20 trees and saw their deck chairs blown from the deck in front of their house all the way into the backyard. Sara Hamm said after the storm passed and they were out assessing the damage, they learned of the 30 or so lighthouse visitors who were stranded on the island due to roads on the mainland being blocked by downed trees. She brought them water and food and said about a dozen of them stopped in their home for a respite before they were able to drive away after the road was cleared around 11 p.m. Brian Hamm said he and some neighbors went out with saws to help clear downed trees and branches, but they stopped when they came across trees laying on live power lines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also credited the crews and Baileys Harbor Fire Department for their fast and efficient response to the storm and its aftermath. "The response, how quickly they got out there after the storm, how much has already been cleaned up, has been amazing," Brian said. "The fire department was here right away." WPS crews work on a poer line on Cana Island Road in norther Door County following a storm on Aug. 9 that knocked down trees and knocked out power. State highway closed in Sister Bay for utility repairs from storm The Wisconsin Department of Transporation continued to say Aug. 11 that State 42 remains closed on the north side of Sister Bay between Scandia Road and Hill Road for repairs to utility damages caused by the Aug. 9 storm. It also said the reopening time and date were not yet known. The DOT-recommended detour has motorists heading north on 42 taking County ZZ to Mink River Road to rejoin 42 in Ellison Bay, and the reverse for those heading south. Warning to avoid live wires in Ephraim The Ephraim Firefighters Association warned the public at 7:34 a.m. Aug. 10 that trees and wires "are down on various roadways" and urged drivers to not drive around barricades, cones or tape. Ephraim ice cream shop sustains losses Sarah Martin, co-owner with her husband, Slade, of Wilson's Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlor in Ephraim, said electricity went out through the village when the storm struck the afternoon of Aug. 9 and came back on the morning of Aug. 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it wasn't early enough to save many of the 26 flavors of ice cream Wilson's uses to make and serve its renowned sundaes, floats and other ice cream specialties that draw thousands of sweet tooths each summer. Martin said the parlor lost most of its ice cream to melting and its refrigerated foods, including the meats for its burgers, hot dogs and other sandwiches, to a lack of cooling. "We were able to save some (ice cream) with the help of dry ice, and anything in the fridge had to get tossed," she said. Martin hadn't yet calculated how much was lost as of the afternoon of Aug. 11 but said it would run into thousands of dollars, and the establishment had been closed since the power went out. She said she couldn't let food suppliers know when to bring food without knowing when power for the refrigerator and freezers would return, but with the power back on that morning, she expected to reopen for business the next day, Aug. 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the storm hitting on a typical Door County Saturday afternoon, Wilson's had customers outside on the lawn and porch and inside. She said she had them come into the store to ride out the storm blasting across State 42 from Eagle Harbor. "I've never had a situation where everyone had to evacuate outside and we had to pull everyone inside," Martin said. "We could hardly open the door to let people in (because of the wind)." Martin said Aug. 11 she and a coworker were cleaning and picking up the outdoor area and letting people driving or walking up know the restaurant was closed. She said the home sustained some damage, with some trees and branches downed and the well-known "Wilson's Restaurant" sign atop the roof blown over. She didn't know what were the wind speeds that blasted the village, but she said several people told her they saw waterspouts over the harbor. Trees lie across the road near the Cana Island Lighthouse on Aug. 9. The storm knocked down about 30% of the island's trees, according to Cana Island. How bad was the rain and wind in northern Door County Aug. 9? The National Weather Service Green Bay said Cana Island had wind gusts of 70 mph between 3:36 and 4:15 p.m. Northern Door County did receive just over an inch of rain, but winds were so strong they prevented the rain from being a factor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No injuries were reported to the weather service, according to Jason Alumbaugh, meteorologist of the National Weather Service Green Bay. How many customers lost power in Door County following the storm? About 28,000 WPS customers lost power throughout the state Aug. 9, a representative told the Press-Gazette. WPS said Brown and Door counties had the most outages in northeastern Wisconsin due to the storms. By 6 p.m. Aug. 11 the number of customers without service was down to 26, according to its outage map. WPS said outages peaked during the afternoon Aug. 9. The service recommended that people treat fallen power lines as though they are energized, keep 25 feet away and report them to WPS. Damage remains Aug. 10 after an Aug. 9 storm caused damage near the Cana Island Lighthouse. The storm knocked down about 30% of the island's trees, according to Cana Island. Will Door County get more rain soon? Door County could get strong to severe storms in the midafternoon of Aug. 12. There's a 60% chance of rain between 4 and 7 p.m., tallying an estimated 0.13 of an inch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Door County and the Maritime Museum are using an emergency fund for Cana Island for the damages. Osgood said anyone willing to donate to the fund can contact the Door County Maritime Museum and make a donation to the Cana Island reserve fund, which will go toward helping with any emergencies the historic site faces. A broken tree lies pushed from the road and stacked along Summit Road and County Q as work continues to clean up damage from an Aug. 9 storm in Door County. Door County wasn't the only part of Wisconsin to be hit by strong storms Aug. 9. Parts of the Milwaukee area saw more than 10 inches of rain in less than 24 hours. More: Wisconsin flooding: Updates power outages, closures, flooding in Milwaukee from severe weather Rashad Alexander can be contacted at ralexander@gannett.com and 920-431-8214. This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Northern Door County recovering from Aug. 9 wind storm that hit trees, power Just one in eight electric cars will be eligible for Labours new grant scheme when it opens amid ongoing confusion over which models will qualify. The Government began accepting applications for the electric vehicle (EV) grants on Monday and will begin payouts to manufacturers from next week. But at launch, the scheme will only apply to 17 cars sold by Citroen, Renault, Nissan and Vauxhall, with other manufacturers still waiting to find out if their vehicles are eligible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are currently more than 130 EV models on sale in Britain, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Labours grant scheme applies to new vehicles with a list price of 37,000 or lower. Manufacturers can receive either 3,750 or 1,500 in support, which is passed on to the consumer in the form of a discount. For a particular model to qualify, manufacturers must submit information about where the car is assembled and where its battery was manufactured, with the upper grant only awarded to those that score the highest for sustainability. This will rule out cars made in China, where more than 60pc of power is still generated by burning coal, ministers have said. In response, Chinese-owned brands such as BYD, MG and others have slashed their prices to remain competitive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Western carmakers have complained that they remain in the dark about which models will ultimately qualify until their funding applications have been approved. EV sales slowed in July as drivers held off from buying in hopes of a later discount. A Whitehall source said the Government was working through applications as quickly as possible and expected around two thirds of cars priced under 37,000 to be eligible overall. On Monday, 13 more cars were confirmed as eligible for the 1,500 discount taking the total to 17. They include the Renault Megane and Vauxhall Corsa Electric in addition to the previously announced Citroen e-C3, e-C4, e-C5 and e-Berlingo models. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No car has yet qualified for the full 3,500 discount. However, it is understood that the new Nissan Leaf, which will be launched in the spring and made at the companys factory in Sunderland, is expected to be eligible. Heidi Alexander, the Transport Secretary said: With discounts on seventeen car models announced this week alone, were delivering on our promise to make it easier and cheaper for families to go electric. This is about backing drivers, putting money back into peoples pockets and creating the jobs and growth that will drive Britain forward, delivering on our Plan for Change. Andy Palmer, a veteran car industry executive and founder of Palmer Energy Technology, said: 17 models is a good start, but what we need is the comprehensive list so that consumers can take comfort in being able to make a choice and not wait for models to be drip-fed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The longer the list takes to be final, the longer people will hesitate. The brands now available, Citroen, Renault, Vauxhall and Nissan are all solid so the choices are already consumer friendly in the sub-37,000 price bracket. Dan Caesar, of Electric Vehicles UK, added: Its encouraging to see that 17 battery EVs are now even cheaper as a result of the Electric Car Grant. There are the best part of 50 models now under the 37,000 threshold, with some as low as 15,000, and we would hope to see a few more added in short order. Looking at the recent data of new and used battery EV sales, appetite and demand are clearly growing, and are only likely to accelerate as the Electric Car Grant begins to gain traction. 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. HARFORD COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) A minor was flown to the hospital after a crash on Interstate 95 in Harford County Monday morning. Details are limited; however, Maryland State Police shared in a post on X that troopers were on the scene of a crash on I-95 North, near mile marker 81.5. Trump activates National Guard, names DEA commissioner to lead DC police force State troopers said a juvenile, who was a passenger, was airlifted to the hospital for treatment. Their condition and age are currently unknown. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of 11:30 a.m., all northbound lanes on I-95 were blocked off, and a detour is in place. Drivers traveling in this area are encouraged to find alternative routes until the crash is cleared. Check DCNewsNow.com for updates. To keep up with the latest news and weather updates, download our Mobile App on iPhone or Android. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. BRUSSELS (Reuters) -European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday that the EU will work on a 19th package of sanctions against Russia and warned against concessions to Moscow. "As far as Russia has not agreed to full and unconditional ceasefire, we should not even discuss any concessions," Kallas said in a statement. "The sequencing of the steps is important. First an unconditional ceasefire with a strong monitoring system and ironclad security guarantees," she said, adding that "we will work on a 19th package of sanctions". (Reporting by Lili Bayer, editing GV De Clercq) KANSAS CITY, Mo. Sunday morning storms brought a flood watch and heavy rains to the Kansas City area, and some even saw damage. In the Northland, a tree branch that fell on a power line sparked a small fire. The Kansas City Fire Department was on scene as the rain moved out of the Kansas City Metro around noon. In Merriam, a downed tree fell into Alan Gordons yard. FOX4 Forecast: More periods of rain Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I heard a tree cracking and I looked out the window. The tree fell on my garage, he said. It seemed to basically brush against my garage and not destroy anything, hopefully. The part of the tree that fell also brought down power lines, one of which was lying on the property next to Gordons. The powerlines down near the chain link fence. The neighbors down the way still have power. So, Im worried about their power line being hot. FOX4 Meteorologist Alex Countee says that the heavy rains that weve experienced this summer are due to a jet stream that has continued to bring moisture from the Pacific Northwest into Kansas and Missouri. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, it just kind of depends on how exactly that jet stream is shaped, he said. And if it stays in that formation and stays in that shape for a long period of time, thats kind of what we noticed, thats kind of amplified our opportunities for heavy rains. Driver critically hurt after hitting guardrail on I-29: KCPD As more rain is expected in the early part of the week, Countee says that were not the only ones who have received more rain than usual. In late July, early August, the National Weather Service had already issued more than 500 flash flood warnings this summer, Countee said. Weve never had those kinds of back to back to back to back to back flash flood events in one season. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Lenexa City Council member Melanie Arroyo talks with supporters after the Aug. 5, 2025, council meeting. Arroyo revealed city police investigated her citizenship status and required her to prove her citizenship. (Sherman Smith/Kansas Reflector) Theres a word for what happened to Lenexa City Council member Melanie Arroyo, and it begins with an r and ends with ism. Go ahead. Take a wild guess. Arroyo was forced to prove her citizenship to city police after someone left a voicemail with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. We subsequently learned that the KBI deleted the message after informing local law enforcement of its contents. That could well conflict with document retention rules, but lets save that for later. Instead, lets scrutinize what the statewide crime-fighting agency told Lenexa police via email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their words suggest that Kansas has a long way to go in treating residents respectfully and equally. According to a KBI agent, a man 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. 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. Big problems come to mind immediately. Namely that the KBI has passed along a bunch of patently false information. Not a good look for the agency we depend on to keep Kansans safe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First off, Arroyos full last name is Arroyo Perez, not Arroyo-Lopez. Those two names actually sound quite different! Secondly, gave testimony wanting to give illegals more benefits patently misstates Arroyos testimony. She argued for the continuation of current Kansas policy, not extending or expanding any policy. Third, the email states that Arroyo came to this country illegally as a child based on her legislative testimony. Thats also untrue. She writes that she grew up as an undocumented migrant, but that doesnt mean she or her family entered the United States illegally. Indeed, in a Kansas City Star op-ed published March 6, Arroyo notes that she came here legally but overstayed a visa. Finally, the email claims that she never acknowledged naturalization. Actually, both the testimony and column state that her undocumented status had been resolved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To summarize, the information that the KBI forwarded to the Lenexa Police Department contains four factual errors. These arent the kind of mistakes that take time or effort to uncover, either. You literally just have to read Arroyos actual words, as submitted to lawmakers and as published in the regions newspaper of record. Did no one at the KBI do this? Did no one on the Lenexa police force do this? If not, why? Taken as a whole, I see clear signs of racism. You can see it in the confusion of last names. You can see it in the use of the word illegals. You can see it in the automatic assumption that anyone who looks a certain way, sounds a certain way, comes from a particular background, necessitates scrutiny. As I wrote last week, theres just as much reason to ask Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach about his citizenship status. (That is, none.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State and local law enforcement also failed to think critically. Ponder this: Would a Lenexa resident of distinction a city council member, no less give public testimony about benefits for undocumented Kansans and not have her own papers in order? Officers were asked to believe Arroyo was somehow willing to risk prison time, removal from office and deportation just so she could voice her opinion on a proposed bill. That doesnt pass the smell test. Its bias, plain as day. The KBI and the Lenexa police force probably didnt set out with an explicit intention of harming Arroyo. Yet they did not give her the benefit of the doubt, either. They did not consider publicly available sources. They did not treat the recorded words from a Johnson County man with the appropriate amount of skepticism or critical thought. They decided that shaming a public official made more sense than questioning their own motives. Take it from your friendly neighborhood journalist. Public officials in Kansas need to do a better job of checking their sources. Clay Wirestone is Kansas Reflector opinion editor. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here. Kebabs made of the wrong meat have landed two businesses in court. Takeaway Naafiah Grill in Burnley was serving unsuspecting customers lamb and chicken kebabs that contained mostly beef. In a separate case, Lancaster-based Eat Indian supplied a farm shop in Preston with lamb and chicken kebabs that were found to contain beef. Both firms' bosses blamed suppliers for the errors, but the companies were fined under the Food Safety Act at magistrates courts in Lancashire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joshua Roberts, from Lancashire County Council, said the firms had a "blatant disregard for public safety". 'Shocking' Waleed Raza, 34, and 39-year-old Fazila Wadia, from Naafiah Burnley Ltd, admitted the offences at Blackburn Magistrates' Court and were fined 4,500 and ordered to pay 953 each in costs. Fuzail Patel, 35, of Eat Indian, admitted the offences at Lancaster Crown Court and was fined more than 4,500. The offences were brought under section 14 of the Food Safety Act 1990 which states that selling food that is not what the customer expected in terms of its type, ingredients, or quality is illegal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patel had previously been told to meet food labelling requirements but failed to address the issues. In court, he said he had received the pre-made kebabs from a food producer, then added his own branded labels. But he failed to make his own checks on the content of the products. Raza and Wadia had been advised by Trading Standards following a failed sample from their now-dissolved company. They too blamed their meat supplier for a mix up over the meat they supplied, but were unable to provide any records or checks. Lancashire County Council environment cabinet member Roberts said: "Inaccurate meat kebab products have become a national issue for Trading Standards, which has conducted extensive sampling in recent years to address the problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Consumers often do not know what meat they are eating and, shockingly, those making these products often don't know either." 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. Related internet links (The Center Square) U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited Atlanta's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention days after a police officer died in a shooting there. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation identified 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw as the person who opened fire on Clifton Road near Emory University and the CDC on Friday. White died during the incident, the agency said. DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was killed. He was a Marine veteran who joined the force in May 2024, according to the department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Officer Rose, a proud father of two with a third child on the way, was more than an officer," the DeKalb County Police Department said on its Facebook page. "He was a devoted husband, loving father, and loyal friend. He served with honor and courage, protecting the very community he called home." Kennedy met with DeKalb County Police Chief Greg Padrick and Rose's widow, according to a statement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. "CDC security led Secretary Kennedy on a tour of the Roybal Campus, pointing out shattered windows across multiple buildings, including the main guard booth," the department said in a statement. The secretary offered his condolences to Rose's family and support to CDC workers shortly after Friday's shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today. No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others," Kennedy said on social media. "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." The shooter reportedly had concerns about vaccines. Fired But Fighting, a group of former CDC employees, used the incident as a platform to ask for Kennedy's 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 on its website. "The ongoing destruction of our public health infrastructure has destroyed the systems meant to prevent tragedies like this from happening. Cuts to CDCs injury prevention center, including programs to reduce gun violence and support mental health, have put our country at greater risk." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy's office cancelled 22 contracts last week, including one to Moderna for bird flu vaccine development and one with Emory University. The data show that these vaccines fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu, Kennedy said. Were shifting that funding toward safer, broader vaccine platforms that remain effective even as vaccines mutate." Kentucky Community and Technical College students. (KCTCS photo) About two-thirds of Kentucky community college students surveyed last year say they have experienced depression or anxiety while 1 in 5 reported engaging in self-injurious behavior. In response, the Kentucky Community and Technical College System is launching a Mental Health Strategy for its roughly 100,000 students. KCTCS President Ryan Quarles told the Lantern that since taking on his role in 2023, hes sought to prioritize mental health. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know that . half of all community college students across the country struggle with mental health issues, and the report that we see here clearly shows that Kentucky is higher than national averages, he said. So, we still have to learn from other states, but the need is very severe right now. Ryan Quarles (KCTCS photo) The largest provider of postsecondary education in the state, KCTCS will educate employees and students about mental health, create a centralized document full of mental health resources for the whole system, develop a peer wellness program in which students can volunteer as mental health ambassadors for those around them, provide staff with trainings on how to spot depression and anxiety in their students and more. This comes in response to a 2024 Healthy Minds Study that showed that in the KCTCS system, 68% of surveyed students had depression and 66% had anxiety. That survey also showed 13% of students who took the survey were at risk of an eating disorder and 20% had already engaged in self-injurious behavior. We know that our students are facing (a) heightened degree of mental health issues that, probably, previous generations have not faced or is undiagnosed, Quarles said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stressors facing students are numerous, he said: financial and housing concerns, food insecurity, upheaval following back-to-back floods in Eastern Kentucky, decimation by tornadoes in West and Western Kentucky and more. Mental health challenges already existed prior to the global pandemic that hit Kentucky in 2020, but COVID peeled the onion peel off to show how big of an issue this is, Quarles said. In 2022 the World Health Organization pointed to unprecedented stress during COVID-induced isolation as a key stressor driving worsening mental health. Children who switched to remote schooling also missed social milestones during that time. KCTCS plans to apply for grant funding to support the mental health efforts, but for now it comes out of the general budget. Its too soon to say if the system will ask the General Assembly for project-specific funding in 2026, Quarles said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I do think that our legislators are aware of the mental health issues of our students, he said, and I think its come to them both from their constituents but also higher ed in general is talking more about this, deservedly so, across the state. Christopher Hetherington. (Photo provided) Christopher Hetherington, executive director of strategic enrollment management at KCTCS, said more and more college students have faced mental health issues over the last two decades, and research is finally revealing the extent of the problem. Youve got the social media, youve got the constant, 24-hour news cycle, he said. Youve got financial concerns, currently, within higher education. Students also face concerns over where to get enough food and a large percentage wouldnt be able to easily get $500 in an emergency, Hetherington said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now that we have more resources, as far as data is concerned, we have a more clear calling to do this work than maybe would have been 10, 15, 20 years ago, he said. The Healthy Minds Study The Healthy Minds Study, which involved 2,500 students between Feb. 26 to March 18, 2024, presented KCTCS with a call to action: better address students mental health needs. The study showed, among other things: 86% of respondents described their financial situation as stressful. 40% reported having moderate to severe depression with another 27% at mild. 38% reported having moderate to severe anxiety, with another 29% at mild. 29% of respondents felt isolated from others often, and another 36% felt that way some of the time. 72% reported that in the four weeks before being surveyed, they experienced some level of academic impairment caused by their emotional or mental difficulties. Among students screening positive for anxiety or depression, 27% received therapy. 23% of respondents reported that in the 12 months prior to being surveyed, they were worried about not having stable housing. 15% of respondents reported worrying about losing their steady place to live in the future and 2% reported not having a steady place to live at all. 45% of respondents were worried about not having enough food in the past year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quarles said this data demonstrates a serious issue in Kentucky. I think that we always knew that mental health was an issue in America, but I think that during and post COVID, it only revealed how big of a crisis it is, he said. And its not just unique to higher ed. Its in K-12. Its in workplace environments. Its in adult populations. We know that this is a national crisis right now. Investments in mental health, Quarles said, should be viewed on the same level as any other type of student support. Prioritizing that, he said, will help students succeed in the long run. A healthier society is going to create a healthier economy as well, meaning that students will be better prepared to finish their degree, finish their certificate and be more prepared to enter the job market and be able to fulfill the expectations that an employer may have, he said. And that, ultimately, increases the economic prosperity of the state as well. Nursing school is really hard: the pressures of being a student Charlotte Boyd and her dog, Ted. (Photo provided) Charlotte Boyd, who attended Jefferson Community and Technical College from 2019 to 2022 before transferring to Spalding University, believes such a mental health initiative would have helped her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boyd, who studied nursing, suffered panic attacks, found virtual learning during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic to be frustrating and didnt feel properly supported during an intensely stressful time of her life. Nursing school is really hard, she said. Im not an anxious person in general, but I had to have a pretty full cardiac workup when I was at JCTC in the nursing program to make sure I wasnt having cardiac issues. And I wasnt. I was having panic attacks. It was really, really horrible. Boyd is now working as a labor and delivery nurse at Norton Healthcare in Louisville. Wendy Johnson, who attended Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College from 20062009 for respiratory therapy, faced mild stressors during her time as a student. She was the first person in her family to go to college and was often the oldest person in her classes, having started at age 31. That was a little bit stressful, she said. She also had two children, 11 and 7 years old. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Johnson, who lives in Scottsville and now works across the border in Tennessee, looked at school differently than some of her peers. She was a dental assistant and originally wanted to study dental hygiene. Youre going to give yourself a raise right here, and youre going to have a good career, she told herself. Because she started school with children, studying was difficult at times. I would have to stay up late or try to do things before the kids got home from school, she recalled. Still, she managed to earn a 4.0 grade point average and received an excellence award. At 18 years old, she said, I dont feel like I would have done as well. Wendy Johnson, center, with her daughter Kelli and son Zach, at her community college graduation. (Photo provided) Get it right. KCTCS plans to do more surveys of students and monitor what works to improve mental health, Hetherington said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In community college, theres also a smaller window to help than at four-year universities, he said. Our students are gone in a year or two. Each of the systems 16 colleges will also have freedom to customize its mental health approach since each campus population will have different needs. Were very aware that there tends to be more reluctance in rural areas for people to talk about mental health, Quarles said. We also know that perhaps in the more urban areas, there may be more resources or organizations addressing mental health as well. And so theres going to be some nuances across the state, and this is also an opportunity for us to learn from each other. At the spring graduation ceremonies, KCTCS colleges awarded around 10,546 associate degrees, 1,716 diplomas and 31,062 certificates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were the entry point for the vast majority of Kentuckians starting college, and so its very important for us to address mental health needs of our students, because for a lot of our students, if they dont have a good experience with us, they may never make it to that four-year university, or may never get that skill or trade to get a job, Quarles said. So its important for us to get it right. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Heavy rains in northwestern China caused flash flooding that killed at least 10 people and left 33 missing in Yuzhong County area of Gansu province, Chinese state media reported Friday. The rains also caused at least one landslide in mountainous areas near the city of Lanzhou, according to state broadcaster CCTV. The downpour knocked out power and telecommunications services in the Xinglong Mountain area, stranding more than 4,000 people across four villages. Three people were missing after a landslide in the village of Maliantan in Yuzhong County late Thursday. Maximum rainfall in the area had reached 195 millimeters by early Friday, according to Lanzhou local authorities. Chinese President Xi Jinping urged all-out rescue and flood prevention efforts. Several parts of China are being battered by heavy rains. In the southern metropolis of Guangzhou, seven people died and seven others were injured after a flood-triggered landslide buried homes in the citys northern Baiyun district Wednesday. In Zhengzhou, the capital of the central Henan province, local authorities shut down schools, offices and factories and closed traffic in parts of the city, which saw catastrophic floods that killed at least 292 people in 2021. MDT/AP Like this: Like Loading... POWELL COUNTY, Ky. (FOX 56) Rescue and medical crews out of Powell County helped get an injured man deep in Grays Arch Trail back out to safety on Sunday morning. Just before 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 10, crews with Powell County Search and Rescue had been told a man had fallen and possibly fractured his ankle on the trail. At the bottom of the arch, officials said he couldnt walk. Immediately realizing the rescue would require him to be carried out, Powell County rescue crews reached out to the Tri-Community Volunteer Fire Department and the Estill County Rescue Squad to help. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just after 10:30 a.m., emergency personnel reportedly found the injured hiker and started treating him while search and rescue team members set up multiple rope systems, preparing to get him to safety. Satellite imagery shows how far into Grays Arch Trail the hiker had fallen, and how far he had to be carried back, with the awaiting ambulance at the trailhead marked in green. (Powell County Search and Rescue) Crew members said the hiker was successfully carried out around 12:20 p.m. on Sunday and taken to a hospital for further treatment. Powell County officials thanked the mutual aid partners who helped rescue the hiker on social media. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Kentucky State Fairgoers will have to wait to see Kentucky's most notorious miniaturist artist's 2025 fair entries. Preston Poling, aka "The Bearded Miniaturist" says he was banned from the 2025 Kentucky State Fair miniatures competition. Poling went viral in the 2024 after submitting a miniature based on "The Casting Couch," which is a depiction of a popular pornography set. The piece initially won a third-place ribbon at the 2024 Kentucky State Fair for its craftsmanship in the "I Did it My Way" category but later was deemed inappropriate. It was initially unclear on Aug. 11 if Poling was banned for the subject of this year's entries or as a result of "The Casting Couch" controversy of 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Well, there ya have it folks...the drama, excitment and controversy continues.... I'm BANNED from submitting entries at the Kentucky State Fair!," Poling posted on his Instagram page on Aug. 10. More: From concerts and rides to fried food & more, 10 things to do at the Kentucky State Fair "Don't worry," Poling continued. "You'll get the entire story soon and it's a GOOD ONE! Believe me.... I'm going to make SURE you get an opportunity to see all the cool (stuff) that I've been working on for this year's fair (even if it's at a different venue)." Poling and the Kentucky State Fair media team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Aug. 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Courier Journal reached out to Poling earlier this summer to see whether his experience with "The Casting Couch" entry in 2024 would influence his 2025 Kentucky State Fair entries. Preston Polings miniature model of "The Casting Couch" received a third-place ribbon at the 2024 Kentucky State Fair, and then it was removed for being inappropriate. While there is not anything overtly sexual about this bland office scene, it's actually a model of a popular pornography set. "It has definitely influenced my entries (maybe not in the way that they had hoped)," Poling told The Courier Journal in an Instagram message in early August. "I have a couple entries this year, so we'll see if the fair can play nice, or if they wanna go for round 2." The Bearded Miniaturist saga began in 2023 when Poling submitted a miniature build of a risque dungeon and it was disqualified before the judging process began. To be fair and completely transparent, that build was not subtle, Poling told The Courier Journal in 2024. It was a sexy dungeon with chains, and there was a little tiny hit of blood around the drain, and there was a stain on the mattress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That's how the idea for "The Casting Couch" came about. When fair officials deemed the dungeon inappropriate, he asked what he could remove from the build to make it fit for the fair. By that point, though, it didnt matter how many chains or stains he removed, the concept was deemed inappropriate for the fair. More: Cheetos corn dog and ostrich burgers: new foods to try the 2025 Kentucky State Fair So, he decided to sneak an unassuming design in for 2024. What could I build that people would know is totally sexually related, but if you dont know it, there is absolutely no way you would ever know what it is, Poling previously told The Courier Journal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The build, which featured a mundane sofa with a bit of a sweat stain on the middle cushion, was not overtly lude. While Poling has certainly turned heads in the past couple years with his suggestive builds at the Kentucky State Fair, he's also well-known in the miniatures community for his creativity and attention to detail. He competed in the second season of the television show "Best in Miniature" and was a finalist. Preston Poling's miniature entry at the Kentucky State Fair from the book, Goodnight Moon. August 22, 2024 He also won two other ribbons at the 2024 Kentucky State Fair for miniatures of the popular childrens book "Goodnight Moon" and the hit television series The Walking Dead. This story may be updated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reach Courier Journal reporter Maggie Menderski at mmenderski@courier-journal.com This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Infamous 'Casting Couch' artist banned from 2025 Kentucky State Fair Key Points KFC is bringing back its beloved potato wedges nationwide starting August 18 after a five-year absence. Hot & Spicy Wings, featuring a bold marinade and double hand-breading for extra crunch, are also returning. Both items are available for a limited time, with prices and availability varying by location. The Colonel heard fans loud and clear, because KFC is bringing back their most requested side thanks to outcry from loyal customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That's rightpotato wedges are back on the menu nationwide starting August 18. Wedge-lovers, we heard youand we agree its been five long years without wedges. But the wait is over, said Catherine Tan-Gillespie, President, KFC U.S., in a written release. This isnt just a nostalgic nod. Its an example of how were turning feedback into action as we chart our Kentucky Fried Comeback, a bold, brand-wide rally to give people more reasons to fall in love with us all over again." Joining wedges on their comeback tour are another fan favoriteKFCs Hot & Spicy Wings. "The wings pair a spicy marinade with double hand-breading in KFCs signature Extra Crispy flour, offering just the right amount of kick in every satisfying crunch and pairing perfectly with the crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside wedges," a release announcing the news stated. Courtesy KFC Prices and participation for the wedges and wings vary by restaurant and are only available while supplies last. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement KFC removed potato wedges from their menu in 2020, but brought them back earlier this year for a limited time in five Tampa locations. "Many factors go into selecting test markets, including representation of national QSR consumer trends for gauging customer feedback," a KFC spokesperson said in an email to Southern Living at the time. The spokesperson also stated at the time that any plans for a roll-out after the two-week Tampa run would be dependent on how things go during the test launch. Things must have gone well, because just five months later, consumers nationwide will be able to enjoy this beloved potato product. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "They are one of KFCs most requested menu items," the KFC spokesperson said in March 2025. "Fans have been demanding and petitioning for them to return for five years," the spokesperson stated. Read the original article on Southern Living (WJW) Fast food chicken chain KFC plans to bring a couple of fan favorite items back to its menus nationwide. Starting Aug. 18, youll once again be able to fill your belly with KFCs Potato Wedges, which were discontinued in 2020. Ohio woman wins $2M but wont get even half the cash Showcasing a big demand for the potato wedges, KFC did a special release of the spuds in Tampa which led to a sellout in some restaurants, according to a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First introduced in the mid-1990s, the potato wedges went on to earn cult status in the late 90s and early 2000s, the press release stated. This isnt just a nostalgic nod. Its an example of how were turning feedback into action as we chart our Kentucky Fried Comeback, a bold, brand-wide rally to give people more reasons to fall in love with us all over again, said President of KFC U.S., Catherine Tan-Gillespie. AUCTION: Two tickets aboard the Goodyear Blimp Along with the potato wedges, KFC is also rolling out its Hot & Spicy Wings following a nearly two-year hiatus. Both menu items will be available while supplies last. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Julie Bushby was at home doing the ironing when she heard the news that would forever cast a shadow over her community. One of the neighbours was outside, looking down towards Karens house and she told me that Shannon had gone missing. Karen Matthews, 32, phoned the police to say that her nine-year-old beautiful princess daughter had failed to return home from school in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, on Feb 19 2008. It was the start of what would become West Yorkshire Polices largest operation since the Yorkshire Ripper: a 24-day, 3.2m search that gripped the nation, before sparking a debate on class, welfare and broken Britain. Bushby is among friends, journalists and detectives who recall the fraught chapter in a new two-part Prime Video documentary, The Hunt for Shannon Matthews. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then chairman of the Moorside tenants and residents association, she opened up the Community House, turning all the lights on in the hope it would act as a kind of beacon should Shannon see it. It also became the hub of the round-the-clock campaign to search for the schoolgirl. Leaflets and T-shirts Have you seen SHANNON MATTHEWS? were printed and vigils arranged. Within 48 hours, 200 volunteers had joined the hunt in freezing temperatures. Soon, there were so many, police had to ask them to step back for fear they would disturb evidence. Julie Bushby led community efforts to find Shannon when her mother reported her missing - Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock Bushby, now 55 and a grandmother of 10, was only a passing acquaintance with Matthews until they befriended each other on a parenting course, run by a local Youth Inclusion Programme. I had problems with one of my kids and she had problems with one of hers, she says in the documentary, but wont be drawn on further details today. Initially, Bushby had no thoughts at all about the disappearance. Shannon could have just gone down to her mates or anything, she tells The Telegraph. But slowly it dawned on her how grave the situation was. Especially when she opened her curtains to see the street just full of TV wagons. Fellow neighbour Petra Jamieson says it looked like the circus had come to town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the attention was welcome; many across Britain had been wondering why the missing working-class girl from Dewsbury had been getting so much less publicity than when the daughter of doctors Madeleine McCann had vanished nine months earlier. The search for Shannon Matthews was West Yorkshire Polices largest operation since the Yorkshire Ripper - John Giles/PA Wire But the media glare soon soured. Radio commentators wondered, was it relevant that Matthews had seven children by five different fathers in nine years? What about the fact Matthews was photographed carrying in a case of lager? Very deprived area, Dewsbury Moor, full of poor families, bad for car crime, lots of single mothers, intoned one news reporter. The local towns, they showed [genuine] interest. The rest of the country, I think, judged us more than anything else, remembers Bushby, who was played by Sheridan Smith in the starring role of 2017 BBC One series The Moorside. Smith has described Bushby as a friend. Bushby said the drama told the story truthfully, and it showed the community spirit, which is what it was about. But she still has a particular distaste for how The Sun reported the case, describing the estate as a real-life version of the smash-hit Channel 4 show Shameless (an early, abandoned police theory was that a storyline in the Channel 4 show had actually inspired Shannons kidnapping) and quoting a local road sweeper who quipped: Its like Beirut, only worse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I mean, even your paper did a story and didnt judge us, she tells me. And youre a posher paper than the one that did slate us. She had welcomed the reporter into her home and allowed him to use her loo. Months later, Bushby confronted him, borrowing a copy of The Sun from a man nearby and tapping him on the shoulder with it. I said, Next time you want to use my toilet, thats your toilet paper. The apparent disappearance of nine-year-old Shannon cast a light on perceptions of the Moorside estate - Reuters On March 14, Bushby received a phone call from a local saying Shannon had been rescued by police. I think for all of us, it was a big relief, she says. So focused had she been on rallying support that she had not allowed herself to spend any time analysing the behaviour of Matthews. However: When she was found, thats when the ball game changed. The community was reeling from the news that the girl had been discovered hidden in the base of a bed at a flat in nearby Batley Carr belonging to Michael Donovan the uncle of Matthewss partner. Another friend and neighbour, Natalie Wood, became more suspicious of Matthews, more quickly. Three weeks after Shannons return, Wood and Bushby organised a meeting with her. It took place in the car of Detective Constable Christine Freeman, the family liaison officer, with Matthews in the front seat. But Freeman let the two women, who earned the nickname Cagney & Lacey after the 1980s TV crimebusters, do all the talking. Shannons mother, Karen Matthews, gradually made Bushby and another neighbour suspicious - John Giles/PA Wire Me and Natalie got our heads together, says Bushby, and we played this, if you like, good cop, bad cop in the back of the car. My thoughts were, God, I hope its over today. I hope she comes out with the truth. We both said shell deny it all the way through. But we thought it was worth a bash. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wood put it to Matthews that she had cooked up a plan with Donovan before bottling it. Silence filled the car before Matthews finally said, Yes, thats right and burst into tears. Freeman arrested her on the spot. Matthews still seemed unaware of what lay ahead. She did say, Can I go home now?, but thats like a child saying: Ive told [the] truth now, can I go home? I dont think people realise just how childlike Karen actually was. The trial of Matthews and Donovan was told that Shannon had been drugged and tethered to a beam in his attic. The pair were found guilty of kidnap, false imprisonment and perverting the course of justice, and sentenced to eight years in prison, serving four. All of Matthewss children were taken into care and Shannon was given a new identity. Donovan died last year. Shannon was discovered hidden in the base of a bed at a flat belonging to Michael Donovan the uncle of Karen Matthews partner - West Yorkshire Police After the interrogation in the car, Bushby made a promise to Matthews: I told her Id always be her friend. It was a pledge she kept for the duration of her incarceration, going to see her monthly the only visitor after everybody abandoned her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I ask how Matthews changed over the four years. She didnt, says Bushby. She was just very timid if certain women were in the same room. Whenever I said to her, Ooh, thats a nice shiner youve got, shed tell me that shed walked into a door. She walked into a fair few doors. Bushby believes that a version of the story Matthews first told (she later changed it four times) was what actually happened, and it was nothing to do with seeking a cash reward. Rather, she arranged for Donovan to take Shannon while she made plans to leave partner Craig Meehan who later that year was convicted of possessing indecent images of children but she felt forced to report her daughter missing as she became trapped in a web of lies. Karen Matthewss partner at the time, Craig Meehan, was later convicted of possessing indecent images of children - Rii Schroer In 2017, Bushby told The Mirror that she thought there were at least three other people no longer living in the area involved in the kidnapping. Indeed, in the documentary, she points out, even the judge turned round and said, There were more people involved in this. Still to this day, I think that, she says now. Although she has three specific people in mind, she adds, Im not going to name them because I cant afford the lawsuit. As for why they werent ever investigated: Once Karen cracked, I dont think [the police] were interested any more. On why Britains most hated mum would carry the can for others: Shes told me that shes scared of family. Will we ever get to the truth, I wonder. No, says Bushby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She hopes Shannon, now 26 and living under an assumed identity, is doing well, and shes reaching her dreams. And that she is able to put this behind her? Well, shell never be able to put it behind her, will she? Perhaps nor will Dewsbury Moor estate. Seventeen years on, when people hear where Bushby is from, they still ask if thats where that kid went missing under tbed. But she has never considered moving. Says Bushby: Because Moorsides safe. Its my home. Its still a friendly community. When David Cameron visited to make amends for having damned a locale whose pillars are crime, unemployment and addiction, Bushby put him in his place. She told him to deliver his apology from the heart, not a piece of paper, and chided him for turning up sans jacket and tie, unlike his interview with Penny Smith on that mornings GMTV. I asked him, if I changed my name to Penny, would he have made an effort? She only agreed to take part in this new programme to put a serious counterpoint to Shannon Matthews: The Musical, an Edinburgh Fringe black comedy released as a film last year. She has not seen it: Im not going to watch some sort of s---e. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But she fully expects another backlash, this time on social media, once the documentary airs. If people didnt have their opinion, it wouldnt be England, would it? The Hunt for Shannon Matthews will be available on Amazon Prime Video on Sunday Aug 17 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. Getty Images Kids growing up today deserve to live in safe communities that prioritize their well-being and guard them against hate. But right now Michigans kids are being exposed to increased political polarization, growing ideological extremism and high levels of political violence. Although extremism and political violence are not new, virtual platforms allow fringe beliefs and hateful ideas to gain traction, particularly with young people. Kids encounter a huge amount of supremacist ideologies in virtual forums, gaming platforms and social media, where racist, anti-LGBT, antisemitic and misogynistic content thrive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a 2023 Gallup Poll, teens report using social media on average 4.8 hours a day, a trend that is not only linked to negative effects on physical and mental health but also exposes teens to hate-based content. Although social media can offer many benefits to teen mental health including through opportunities for connection, creativity and identity development many social media platforms use algorithms to target harmful, hate-based content to vulnerable young people. The targeting of misogynistic content to adolescent boys has been especially well-documented. Gaming chats have become notorious for the sexist attitudes that prevail there, including both misogynistic and anti-LGBTQ+ ideas, while popular male lifestyle influencers play into the male loneliness epidemic while advocating violence against women and downplaying sexual violence. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX These kinds of messages risk normalizing everyday harassment and violence against girls and nonbinary kids. According to the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 13.8% of high school students in Michigan reported experiencing sexual violence, a 21% increase from 2017 to 2023. Reports of sexual violence are even higher for girls and students identifying as LGBTQ+. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But hate is not only spread online. Political extremism is becoming more commonplace and puts vulnerable populations at risk. Research from the Southern Poverty Law Center shows Michigan is home to 34 hate and anti-government extremist groups, making our communities less safe for Black people, women, immigrants, Jewish people, Muslims and LGBTQ+ people. Just five years ago, members of one such anti-government extremist group were indicted in a plot to kidnap the governor that occurred following a relentless online disinformation campaign fueled by sexism. More recently, a politically motivated assassin took the lives of a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband. Increasing polarization and ideological extremism makes it difficult for our leaders to do their jobs and keep our public institutions working. From 2022 to 2024, Michigan has seen 80 incidents of public officials facing threats and harassment including doxing, stalking and death threats in the course of their work as civil servants. In a recent survey conducted by the Bridging Divides Institute and CivicPulse, 36% of school board officials reported experiencing hostility in 2024. This hostility does not just harm school leaders, but can also create an unwelcoming environment for students, especially if the hostility centers around the politicization of a childs identity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its time for us to lower the temperature. We can demonstrate the values we want kids today to take into adulthood, whether that means lawmakers reaching across the aisle or neighbors working together to better their community. We can all find things to agree on when we listen with curiosity and set aside the defensiveness. Some legislators are already making efforts to reduce tensions and build relationships. State Reps. Brenda Carter and Greg Markkanen became the first lawmakers to invite each other to visit their districts as part of the inaugural Michigan Legislative Exchange Project, which seeks to strengthen understanding and cooperation between lawmakers in Michigan. We also need to address the role of online platforms in allowing misogyny, disinformation and extremism to flourish. A Stanford University study found a majority of middle school students surveyed could not evaluate the credibility of online content, demonstrating the need to equip young people with the tools to identify misinformation. Social media platforms have become essential tools for promoting democracy and civic engagement, but they also lack the guardrails to prevent the spread of conspiracy theories and the promotion of violent extremism. If we want kids today to grow up in communities free of threats, harassment and violence, its up to us to create them. The Michigan League for Public Policys Kids Count in Michigan project and the team of people behind it believe all kids deserve this and more. Kids deserve to grow up in a state that offers belonging, economic security, a world class education, access to health care, and thriving families and communities. The 2025 Kids Count Data Book, coming out in September, will take a look at these themes and the progress we are making towards achieving this reality. The Brief Two people, a 26-year-old woman and a 23-year-old man, were found dead in what police believe is a murder-suicide. The incident occurred early Sunday morning at a home on July Drive in Killeen. Police are not seeking any other suspects and say there is no danger to the community. KILLEEN, Texas - Killeen police are investigating a double-fatal shooting that appears to have been a murder-suicide. Killeen murder-suicide What we know The incident happened on July Drive, and Killeen Police Department officers arrived around 12:16 a.m. Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon arrival, officers found a 26-year-old woman wit a gunshot wound outside the home. Inside, a 23-year-old man was also found with a gunshot wound. Both were pronounced dead at the scene. Their autopsies have been ordered. According to the PD, preliminary evidence appears to suggest the incident was a domestic murder-suicide. They do not believe there to be any danger to the community. What we don't know The identities of the subjects were not released. The Killeen Police Departments Criminal Investigation Division, Robbery-Homicide Unit, is actively investigating and there is no additional information available at this time. What you can do If anyone has information on this shooting, please call the Killeen Police Department at (254) 501-8830 or contact the Bell County Crime Stoppers at 254-526-TIPS (8477) or go online at http://www.bellcountycrimestoppers.com. The Source Killeen Police Department provided the information in this report. The death of Miguel Uribe, two months after the attack against him, marks a return to the worst period of political violence in Colombia. Weeks of limbo and hope for his recovery ended with the most unfortunate outcome: an assassination at a time when the country believed it had overcome the threat of death against presidential candidates, though the killing of social leaders has never been eradicated. The assassination not only leaves a profound impact on society, which had shown unity in rejecting the attack, but could also determine the course of the upcoming presidential elections. Colombia has the highest record of such political crimes in Latin America. From the era of La Violencia in the mid-20th century to the wave of murders of leftist leaders and presidential candidates in the 1980s, Colombia has long experienced what has recently been seen in Ecuador and Haiti. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The senator and presidential pre-candidate was attacked on June 7 in Bogota, in broad daylight, during a political rally. Since then, the security guarantees for him and other presidential pre-candidates have been questioned. The memories of the late 1980s and early 1990s have resurfaced. Uribe, grandson of former president Julio Cesar Turbay Ayala (1978-1982), experienced the violence of those years firsthand: his mother, journalist Diana Turbay, was kidnapped by Medellin Cartel drug traffickers under Pablo Escobar and killed in 1991 during a rescue operation. During that period, presidential hopefuls Jaime Pardo Leal, Luis Carlos Galan, Bernardo Jaramillo Ossa, Carlos Pizarro Leongomez, and Alvaro Gomez Hurtado were also killed. Uribe was part of a generation of politicians who were children of those martyred figures, such as Bogota Mayor Carlos Fernando Galan son of Luis Carlos Galan and Senator Maria Jose Pizarro, daughter of Carlos Pizarro Leongomez. His death forces Colombia to confront its history of violence. It is the great challenge we Colombians have: either fail as a society or close the chapter on the many forms of violence the country has experienced, says political analyst Pedro Viveros. How is that chapter closed? By guaranteeing life to all Colombians, and the president must play a vital role in making that happen. Employees of the attorney general's office release balloons during a ceremony to honor opposition Sen. Miguel Uribe, after his death more than two months after he was shot during a political rally, in Bogota, Colombia, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. - Ivan Valencia/AP President Gustavo Petro, who took several hours to respond to the news, said his government is focused on the protection and expansion of life and rejected the persecution of the opposition. Vengeance is not the way for Colombia. Decades of violence have resulted from revenge. No more, he said, insisting that the investigation proceed with international support and that everyone, regardless of ideology, deserves protection and security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senator Uribe, a right-wing politician, was close to former president Alvaro Uribe Velez and a strong critic of the current government, led by Petro, the first leftist president in Colombias modern history. Uribe represented a young face of the opposition. Like several candidates in the 1990 election, Uribe died as an opponent, and his murder highlights cracks in the countrys security and the lack of protection for leaders, which was one of his campaign promises. Former President Uribe wrote on X that with Uribes death they killed hope. Senator Pizarro said, Only with truth and justice will political violence be eradicated, the violence that has ended the life of Miguel Uribe and so many political leaders who had much to contribute to this society. Unlike 30 years ago, when candidate assassinations were common, it is still unclear who ordered the attack on Uribe, though investigations point to FARC dissidents. Political stress Uribe, who had been a candidate for mayor of Bogota, a councilor, and Secretary of Government, had served as a senator since 2022 for the Democratic Center party. In October 2024, at the site where his mother was killed, he announced his presidential bid for the 2026 elections. At that time, he said her death shaped his life: I could have grown up seeking revenge, but I decided to do the right thing: forgive, but never forget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although Uribe was not among the most visible contenders at the time of the attack, his name became prominent afterward. In a July poll by Guarumo-Econoanalitica, Uribe led the presidential voting intention. At the time of the attack, the country was experiencing political stress, as analyst Viveros describes, due to President Petros radicalization of the discourse with mentions of a National Constituent Assembly, a popular consultation, or an executive decree to approve his reforms. After the attack, the Democratic Center unified anti-Petro voices around Uribe. People hold up banners of presidential pre-candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay during a protest to demand a reduction in violence in Cali, Colombia on June 15, 2025. - Edwin Rodriguez Pipicano/Anadolu/Getty Images The big dilemma the Democratic Center faces is that it does not have a viable candidate, Viveros explains. The viable candidate was Miguel Uribe after the attack. Any future movement will depend on what the Democratic Center decides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With this regrettable event, the decision over Colombias political future, of the anti-Petro movement or the opposition, will revolve around what the Democratic Center defines, says Viveros. The center of gravity for the future of the opposition is in the hands of that party. In 1989, after the death of Luis Carlos Galan, Cesar Gaviria emerged as the official candidate with the support of Galans son, Juan Manuel Galan. Today, the voices of Uribes wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, and party leader Alvaro Uribe Velez currently under house arrest for a witness-tampering case could influence the Democratic Centers decision. The party had planned a poll in October to select its 2026 candidate, but has not announced a decision since Uribes death. While it is still unknown who ordered Uribes death and the country faces the start of an electoral campaign, his death will be a focal point in the debate, putting the Petro governments performance under scrutiny and returning Colombia to uncertainty and fear over persistent violence. In Colombia, opponents can still be killed regardless of political affiliation and both the state and society face the challenge of preventing it. Today, after Uribes death, overcoming that challenge seems more out of reach than ever. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Kim Davis, the former Kentucky county clerk jailed in 2015 for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn its 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide. In a formal petition filed with the Court, Davis attorney, Mathew Staver, called the ruling egregiously wrong and argued it must be corrected, contending that the First Amendments protection of religious exercise shields her from personal liability, via Newsweek. Davis is appealing a $100,000 jury verdict for emotional damages plus $260,000 in attorneys fees to a couple she attempted to deny a marriage license. The justices are expected to privately consider this fall whether to take the case, marking the first formal request since 2015 to revisit Obergefell. If granted, oral arguments could be held next spring, with a decision next year. The Court could also decline to hear it, leaving the lower Courts ruling intact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The press has largely depicted Davis bid as a long shot, but at least one member of the Court has previously signaled interest in reexamining the precedent. In his concurring opinion in the 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the Court should reconsider all of this Courts substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell. No other justice joined Thomas in that view. Justices who decided Obergefell v. Hodges (June 26, 2015) Justice How they ruled in Obergefell (2015) Appointing President Party of appointing President Anthony M. Kennedy Wrote the majority opinion Ronald Reagan Republican Ruth Bader Ginsburg Joined the majority Bill Clinton Democrat Stephen G. Breyer Joined the majority Bill Clinton Democrat Sonia Sotomayor Joined the majority Barack Obama Democrat Elena Kagan Joined the majority Barack Obama Democrat John G. Roberts, Jr. Wrote a dissent George W. Bush Republican Antonin Scalia Wrote a dissent Ronald Reagan Republican Clarence Thomas Joined dissents George H. W. Bush Republican Samuel A. Alito, Jr. Filed a dissent George W. Bush Republican The composition of the Court has shifted since Obergefell was decided. Justices Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Stephen Breyer, who helped form the Court majority, are now off the Court. Dissenter Antonin Scalia has passed away. In most of these cases, the Justices were replaced by someone perceived to be to their ideological right or someone who was similarly ideologically inclined, if they were also a Republican-appointed justice. Current Supreme Court (2025) and how it relates to Obergefell Current Justice (2025) On Court for Obergefell (2015)? How they voted in Obergefell (if applicable) Appointing President Party of appointing President John G. Roberts, Jr. (Chief Justice) Yes Dissent George W. Bush Republican Clarence Thomas Yes Dissent George H. W. Bush Republican Samuel A. Alito, Jr. Yes Dissent George W. Bush Republican Sonia Sotomayor Yes Majority Barack Obama Democrat Elena Kagan Yes Majority Barack Obama Democrat Neil M. Gorsuch No Not on Court in 2015 Donald J. Trump Republican Brett M. Kavanaugh No Not on Court in 2015 Donald J. Trump Republican Amy Coney Barrett No Not on Court in 2015 Donald J. Trump Republican Ketanji Brown Jackson No Not on Court in 2015 Joseph R. Biden Jr. Democrat Davis case is backed by Liberty Counsel, a Christian legal organization, and comes amid renewed efforts by some groups to return marriage policy, like abortion, to the states. At least nine states this year have introduced legislation or passed resolutions urging the Court to reverse Obergefell, according to advocacy group Lambda Legal. Support for same-sex marriage remains high nationally, about 70% in Gallups 2025 polling, but has slipped among Republicans, down from 55% in 2021 to 41% this year. Advocates warn that a reversal would reignite state-level bans. However, existing marriages would remain valid under the 2022 Respect for Marriage Act, which requires recognition of legal same-sex marriages performed in any state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opponents of Davis petition say the underlying dispute is not the right vehicle for challenging Obergefell. William Powell, attorney for the couple who sued Davis, said in a statement, Not a single judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals showed any interest in Davis rehearing petition, and we are confident the Supreme Court will likewise agree that Davis arguments do not merit further attention, per Newsweek. Lower courts have rejected Davis First Amendment defense, with a federal appeals panel ruling earlier this year that she was liable for state action, which the First Amendment does not protect. Even some legal analysts who support reexamining Obergefell say the Court may prefer to wait for a different case. Culturally, same-sex marriage has become embedded in American life, and it is still popular in public opinion polls, Daniel Urman, a law professor at Northeastern University, reportedly said to Newsweek. Urman noted that while Justices Thomas and Samuel Alito might side with Davis, he does not see a majority ready to overturn the ruling. The grieving mother of a 2-year-old boy tossed to his death in the East River is suing the city and the NYPD for $60 million, accusing them of failing to try to save him when told hed been taken by his dad. Cierra Carroll, 17, claims in a new complaint that police misclassified her call when she reported little Montrell Williams missing in May with someone even hanging up the phone after asking, So what? Montrell Williams should be here today if it wasnt for the NYPD being neglectful in finding him, family spokesman Rev. Kevin McCall said at a press conference outside the NYPD 40th Precinct stationhouse on Friday, according to the Daily News. Montrell Williams, 2, was killed when he was tossed off a Bronx overpass on May 11, allegedly by his father. No amount of money will bring him back, McCall said. However, the NYPD has to be held responsible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carroll said she called police on May 11 after Montrells father, 20-year-old Arius Williams, failed to return him tragically, it turned out, one day after the tot was already dead. But she said cops blew her off when she called 911, she claims. They told me not to follow him and to go to the police to file a complaint, Carroll told the Daily Mail. I told the police that he had a warrant, they said, So what? That official then hung up the phone, according to Carrolls own mom, Octavia Roane. Octavia Roane, the grandmother of tragic tot Montrell Williams, at a press conference in June about the boys death. James Messerschmidt Arius Williams, 20, is charged with murder for allegedly throwing his 2-year-old son into the East River on May 11. Kevin C Downs forThe New York Post McCall first accused the NYPD of negligence in the case in June alongside Roane, Montrells grandmother, claiming police misclassified the 911 call as a simple custody dispute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arius Williams is now charged with killing his tiny son one day earlier by allegedly tossing him off a Bronx overpass and into the East River during a custodial visit with the toddler. Carroll waited for her boy to be returned outside a McDonalds on Mothers Day. The tots body was later recovered from the waters off Ferry Point Park in Queens. Although police werent notified that Montrell was missing until a day after he was killed, the family said it took until May 28 for a warrant to be issued ordering the dad to produce the boy. Montrell Williams, 2, was supposed to be returned to his mom at McDonalds on Mothers Day. DCPI The brute even taunted Carroll when she questioned him about their son. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shut the fk up, he allegedly snapped at her. I threw that na into the river! Now, Montrells family said the NYPD bears some blame. NYPD officers misclassified the call as a custody dispute, failed to initiate a missing child investigation, failed to issue an Amber Alert, and took no immediate steps to locate or safeguard Montrell, the lawsuit said, according to the Daily News. In an email Sunday, a spokesperson for the NYPD said the department will review the lawsuit if and when it is filed. The Housing Bureau (IH) has announced the second phase of a random telephone survey, running from today until September 30, to gather opinions and suggestions from Macau residents and public housing tenants about the public housing replacement system. The survey will be conducted daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. This initiative follows the recent commissioning of a research institution to complete the first phase of gathering feedback from members of the Public Housing Affairs Committee and social organizations. According to the bureau, it commissioned a research institution to conduct the study on the Economic Housing Replacement System, targeting all Macau residents and economic housing tenants. A random telephone survey will gather data for this project, which will help the bureau assess the feasibility of such a system in the future. The bureau urges the general public and public housing residents to actively participate in this questionnaire survey, share their opinions, and collaborate with the Special Administrative Region (SAR) government in conducting a feasibility study on the public housing replacement system. The call for a public housing replacement system was reiterated during the Legislative Assemblys oral question session in late February. During that time, Secretary for Transport and Public Works Raymond Tam said the government would soon initiate a study on the replacement system, considering households that have already moved into their units. Tam also pledged to continue listening to public opinions, optimize housing policies in an orderly manner, and temporarily refrain from arrangements like regular applications for economic housing, as changes in society need to be considered. Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai stated in April that there are currently over 30,000 completed public housing units, with more than 9,000 under construction, expected to be finished in two years. Regarding the public housing replacement system, he said it is worth studying and that he would maintain an open mind on the matter. Housing is a critical social issue of significant public concern, and the economic housing replacement system has long been a topic of extensive discussion. Chan Kin Sun, assistant professor at the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Macau, stated that the introduction of an economic housing replacement system is an inevitable trend. Meanwhile, the Macao New Chinese Youth Association emphasized the necessity of implementing such a policy. In an interview with the public broadcaster reported on yesterday, Chan suggested that the government should adopt a more comprehensive perspective, considering the entire life cycle and systematically addressing issues across various sectors. He advocated for a more effective replacement system, which includes conducting surveys to understand the actual needs of public housing users. This should encompass the conditions for replacement in Macau, the valuation of replacement units, and the coordination between old and new public housing laws, while also factoring in residents central provident funds in policy decisions, Chan stated. A member of the Macao New Chinese Youth Association, Cui Jing Ning, believes that public housing replacement can better support young peoples life plans, such as marriage and childbirth. She urged the government to actively consider the needs of young people when gathering opinions, helping them better plan for future homeownership. Additionally, she suggested making public housing applications regular and allowing single applicants to apply for two-bedroom units. Also yesterday, several local Chinese-language media outlets published opinions from various lawmakers regarding the public housing replacement system. A lawmaker highlighted the need for such a program, noting that under the previous old public housing law, applications were highly competitive, and the design of housing units did not meet demand, often leading to multiple family members living together in a single-room unit. Even under the new law, each household can only apply for a one-bedroom unit, which poses challenges if family structures change due to marriage or childbirth. Another lawmaker pointed out that the previous system allowed individuals to apply for two-bedroom units, but this option was restricted due to insufficient supply, leaving many individual applicants without options. He argued that, given recent increases in land resources, a slowdown in public housing demand, and the need to support family development, the government should reconsider allowing single individuals to apply for two-bedroom units. This would aid young families and reduce the reliance on the replacement system to address future space shortages. Additionally, a legislator noted that under the current public housing system, families who have previously purchased public housing are no longer eligible to buy again. Due to past restrictions, some families could only apply for smaller units. If their family size increases, such as with more children or living with parents, establishing an exchange system would give them the opportunity to upgrade their housing. In discussions about proposals for the economic housing replacement system, legislators suggested that the government consider relaxing restrictions on the types of housing that can be applied for. They emphasized the importance of comprehensively assessing Macaus overall population development trends and housing needs. To improve the five-tier housing policy, legislators advocated for utilizing data collected from surveys to inform decisions on economic housing replacement. This includes analyzing the pricing of replacement housing and formulating conditions for property exchanges. Like this: Like Loading... The museum was built within the old building of the Knesset, also known as the Froumine House, which is located on King George Street in Jerusalems city center. The remarkable opportunity to step back in time and experience a cornerstone of Israels history has become accessible to the public at the new Knesset Museum the home of Israels former parliament building. The opening ceremony will take place on Monday, and tickets will be available for the public to purchase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The museum was built within the old building of the Knesset, also known as the Froumine House, which is located on King George Street in Jerusalems city center. The building served as the heart of Israels politics and democratic process, housing ministers, MKs, and determining the countrys legislation between 1950 and 1966. Although the Knesset was transferred in 1966 to the new building in the government complex in Jerusalems Givat Ram area, the former Knesset building at the Froumine House has come back to life in this restoration. New Knesset Museum. (credit: KNESSET SPOKESWOMAN - NOAM MOSKOWITZ) The museum has been designed to go further than simply displaying historical artifacts, as it will offer its visitors an interactive experience with the aim of allowing them to feel as though they themselves are members of the Knesset for the day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The museum allows visitors to embark on an interactive journey with modern-day technology, making use of artificial intelligence. Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in voting and decision-making on historical laws and speeches using AI technology, touch sensors, and advanced lighting. They can also pretend to vote on landmark laws and weigh in on speeches that have become a part of Israels history and shaped the nation. The story of the Knesset has never been more accessible Current Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana (Likud) remarked that the history of the Knesset and the State of Israel has never been more accessible. On Monday, the ribbon-cutting ceremony in honor of the opening of the Knessets museum will take place. Officials attending the ceremony are expected to include Ohana, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Isaac Herzog, and Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group of Israeli officials will all then go on a tour of the museums various exhibits. Among the exhibits visitors can enter is a reconstructed Knesset plenum, showcasing the space where past leaders voted on laws. The plenum is made up of equipment from the time, including the same microphones and fans that were used. Another location open to the public is the government chamber, where Israels government held its meetings in the early years of the state. The room is accessible through a hidden entrance. Within the chamber is also a secret government vault containing a protocol of Israels first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An additional exhibit will use technology so that the former Knesset Speakers office will come to life through portraits that appear to be speaking to one another. Some of the portraits will be those of the former speakers of the Knesset at the Froumine House, including Yosef Sprinzak, Kadish Luz, and Nahum Nir. Hanging on the wall, the portraits speak to each other, suddenly realizing they are museum exhibits and sharing stories about their work. The Knessets Kol Yisrael broadcasting booth, where radio broadcasters would engage in heated debates, is also a featured exhibit within the museum. The room allows visitors to use the original telephones to hear reports by picking up their receivers. Knessets Kol Yisrael broadcasting booth. (credit: KNESSET SPOKESWOMAN - NOAM MOSKOWITZ) The museums cafeteria will be an exhibit in and of itself, as it used to be the heart of discussion and was considered a political arena. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cafeteria will also display dishes that reflect the spirit of the time, such as chopped liver and jellied calfs foot, which were once eaten at the Knesset. The cafeteria will also feature original menus and old tables. Ohana remarked on the importance of the Knesset museum, stating that This is a building of national and historical importance in the history of the Jewish people, where laws were passed, speeches delivered, and debates waged that shaped the identity of the Knesset and the State of Israel. Ohana also noted the importance of restoring and modernizing the old building. Transforming it into a modern museum will deepen the publics acquaintance with its elected representatives throughout the generations, enhance understanding of parliamentary processes, and strengthen culture and heritage, Ohana said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moshe Chico Edri, director general of the Knesset, referred to the museum as a milestone in educating future generations about the significant events that took place in this house and the historical processes that shaped the State of Israel. The museum which combined the challenges of historical events, the states core values, technological innovation, preservation, and restoration will provide visitors with a unique experience suitable for the whole family. Tickets can be booked starting Monday via the Knesset Museums website at prices of 5 NIS for children and 10 NIS for adults. President Donald Trump announced Monday that he is putting Washington, D.C. police "under direct federal control" -- invoking Section 740 of D.C.'s Home Rule Act, which deals with control of the city's police force. "We're taking it back. Under the authorities vested in me as the President of the United States, I'm officially invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. You know what that is -- and placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control," Trump said. MORE: Trump puts DC police department under federal control, deploys National Guard Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser on Monday said D.C. will follow Trump's orders, but said the move underscored the need for D.C. to make its own decisions and advocated for D.C. statehood. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith said the department will work with federal partners, as it has in the past. "While this action today is unsettling and unprecedented, I can't say that, given some of the rhetoric of the past, that we're totally surprised," Bowser said. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images - PHOTO: Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks at a press conference after President Donald Trump announced a federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department at the Wilson Building, August 11, 2025 in Washington. Trump has long threatened to take control of D.C., saying he wants to crack down on violent crime in the district although police statistics show that in the past two years, violent crime in Washington, D.C., has fallen dramatically. D.C.'s Home Rule Act of 1973 allows D.C. residents to elect a mayor, members of D.C. Council and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioners. The act "is the result of the ongoing push by District residents for control of their own local affairs," according to D.C. Council. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, under the act, there is congressional oversight. Congress reviews all legislation passed by D.C. Council before it can become law and has authority over D.C.'s budget. Additionally, the president appoints D.C.'s judges and D.C. has no voting representation in Congress. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump takes questions from reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington. Section 740 of the Home Rule Act gives the president the ability to use D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department for "federal purposes" that the president "may deem necessary and appropriate." On Monday, Trump said Attorney General Pam Bondi is taking command of D.C.'s police force. Section 740 of the DC Home Rule Act does have some limitations. The emergency control will expire in 30 days, unless the Senate and House enact into law a joint resolution to extend it. Asked about the 30-day timeframe on ABC News Live, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro said the president has sent a "real clear message" about the direction he wants to take D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think at the end of 30 days, he will make the right decision as to what he is going to do at that point going forward," she said. MORE: Trump admin live updates: Trump declares 'emergency,' threatens to send in military Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton -- the non-voting delegate to the House of Representatives from Washington, D.C. -- called Trump's decision "an egregious assault on D.C. home rule." "There are more than 700,000 D.C. residents, and they are worthy and capable of governing themselves," Norton, a Democrat, said in a statement Monday. "The ultimate solution to ensure D.C. has control of its own resources is passage of my D.C. statehood bill, which would provide D.C. the same protections the states enjoy." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She says the move helps justify the need to pass legislation she has repeatedly reintroduced to establish statehood in the District of Columbia. Craig Hudson for The Washington Post via Getty Images - PHOTO: DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton speaks at a press conference on Capitol Hill Washington, DC on March 10, 2025. House Judiciary Committee Ranking Democrat Rep. Jamie Raskin, in a statement, said he will be introducing a resolution in the House, pursuant to the District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973, to reverse "this plainly ridiculous" state of local emergency and "restore full home rule powers to the mayor, council and people of the District of Columbia." It's unclear when the Maryland Democrat would introduce this legislation. The House is still on their August recess, but he could bring it up during a pro-forma session, which would mean he does not have to wait until next month to introduce it. On Capitol Hill, many Democrats have said the moves are a power grab by the president and a distraction from other matters, such as Trump's involvement with the Jeffrey Epstein files. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Violent crime in Washington, D.C. is at a thirty-year low. Donald Trump has no basis to take over the local police department. And zero credibility on the issue of law and order. Get lost," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wrote in a post on X. MORE: Trump describes upcoming summit with Russia's Putin as 'feel-out meeting' Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy said in a post on X that "Trump's decision to take over the DC police isn't about public safety" and is "another attempt to distract from Trump's corruption and suppress dissent." Sen. Patty Murray said Trump's decision was a distraction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He's a pathetic wannabe dictator who wants to distract you from his connection to the Epstein files, skyrocketing costs, and his weak job numbers," the Washington Democrat said in a post on X. Republicans have lauded the announcement, claiming that Trump is "making D.C. safe again." "President Trump is RIGHT. We can't allow crime to destroy our Nation's Capital," House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a post on X. "Every American should be able to visit and enjoy Washington, D.C. without fear. House Republicans support this effort to CLEAN UP Washington, END the crime wave, and RESTORE the beauty of the greatest capital in the world." Republican Sen. Josh Hawley applauded Trump's decision, saying on X, "Make DC beautiful and SAFE again!" ABC News' Jack Date, Isabella Murray and John Parkinson contributed to this report. The U.S.-Russia summit in Alaska is happening where East meets West quite literally in a place familiar to both countries as a Cold War front line of missile defense, radar outposts and intelligence gathering. Whether it can lead to a deal to produce peace in Ukraine more than 3 1/2 years after Moscow's invasion remains to be seen. Heres what to know about the meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, the first summit in four years: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When and where is it taking place? The summit takes place Friday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson outside Anchorage starting about 11:30 a.m. (1930 GMT, 3:30 p.m. EDT), between Putin and Trump as well as a meeting of the delegations, said Yuri Ushakov, Putins foreign policy adviser. It's Putins first trip to the U.S. since 2015 for the U.N. General Assembly in New York. Because the U.S. isn't a member of the International Criminal Court, which in 2023 issued a warrant for Putin on war crimes accusations, it's under no obligation to arrest him. Is Zelenskyy going? Both countries confirmed a meeting between only Putin and Trump, despite initial suggestions that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy might take part. The Kremlin has long pushed back against Putin meeting Zelenskyy - at least until a peace deal is reached by both sides and is ready to be signed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Putin said last week he wasn't against meeting Zelenskyy but certain conditions need to be created and were still a long way off. That raised fears about excluding Ukraine from negotiations. Kyiv and its European allies stressed that peace cannot be achieved without Kyivs involvement. Zelenskyy was in Berlin for virtual meetings Wednesday with Trump and European leaders to try to ensure Ukraine and its allies are heard before the summit. The Ukrainian president told the group Putin is bluffing about his military might and the effectiveness of sanctions, and is trying to apply pressure ... on all sectors of the Ukrainian front to try to show that Russia is capable of occupying all of Ukraine. In reality, sanctions are "hitting Russias war economy hard, Zelenskyy said. Zelenskyy also met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What's Alaska's role in Russian history? It will be the first visit by a Russian leader to Alaska, even though it was part of the czarist empire until 1867, the state news agency Tass said. Alaska was colonized by Russia starting from the 18th century until Czar Alexander II sold it to the United States in 1867 for $7.2 million. When it was found to contain vast resources, it was seen by Russians as a naive deal that generated remorse. After the USSR's collapse, Alaska was a subject of nostalgia and jokes for Russians. One popular song in the 1990s went: Dont play the fool, America give back our dear Alaska land. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sam Greene of Kings College London said on X the symbolism of Alaska as the site of a summit about Ukraine was horrendous as though designed to demonstrate that borders can change, land can be bought and sold. What's the agenda? Trump has appeared increasingly exasperated with Putin over Russia's refusal to halt the bombardment of Ukraine. Kyiv has agreed to a ceasefire, insisting on a truce as a first step toward peace. Moscow presented ceasefire conditions that are nonstarters for Zelenskyy, such as withdrawing troops from the four regions Russia illegally annexed in 2022, halting mobilization efforts, or freezing Western arms deliveries. For a broader peace, Putin demands Kyiv cede the annexed regions, even though Russia doesnt fully control them, and Crimea, renounce a bid to join NATO, limit the size of its armed forces and recognize Russian as an official language along with Ukrainian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy insists any peace deals include robust security guarantees to protect Ukraine from future Russian aggression. Putin has warned Ukraine it will face tougher conditions for peace as Russian troops forge into other regions to build what he described as a buffer zone. Some observers suggested Russia could trade those recent gains for territory under Ukrainian control in the four annexed regions annexed by Moscow. Zelenskyy said Saturday that Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier. But Trump said Monday: Therell be some land swapping going on. I know that through Russia and through conversations with everybody. To the good, for the good of Ukraine. Good stuff, not bad stuff. Also, some bad stuff for both. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Putin wants Ukraine to withdraw from the remaining 30% of the Donetsk region it still controls as part of a ceasefire deal, a proposal the Ukrainian categorically rejected. Kyiv won't give up territory it controls, he added, saying that would be unconstitutional and would serve only as a springboard for a future Russian invasion. He said discussions led by the U.S. on ending the war have not addressed key Ukrainian demands, including security guarantees to prevent future Russian aggression and including Europe in negotiations. French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday that Trump was very clear in a virtual meeting with European leaders and Zelenskyy that the U.S. wants to achieve a ceasefire. Macron added that Trump had been clear that territorial issues relating to Ukraine ... will only be negotiated by the Ukrainian president. What are expectations? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said Wednesday there will be unspecified very severe consequences if Putin does not agree to stop the war after the summit. Putin sees a meeting with Trump as a chance to cement Russias territorial gains, keep Ukraine out of NATO and prevent it from hosting any Western troops so Moscow can gradually pull the country back into its orbit. He believes time is on his side as Ukrainian forces are struggling to stem Russian advances along the front amid swarms of Moscow's missiles and drones. The meeting is a diplomatic coup for Putin, isolated since the invasion. The Kremlin sought to portray renewed U.S. contacts as two superpowers looking to resolve various global problems, with Ukraine being just one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine and its European allies are concerned a summit without Kyiv could allow Putin to get Trump on his side and force Ukraine into concessions. Any decisions that are without Ukraine are at the same time decisions against peace," Zelenskyy said. "They will not bring anything. These are dead decisions. They will never work. European officials echoed that. As we work towards a sustainable and just peace, international law is clear: All temporarily occupied territories belong to Ukraine, European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said. A sustainable peace also means that aggression cannot be rewarded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Sunday he believed Trump was making sure that Putin is serious, and if he is not, then it will stop there." "If he is serious, then from Friday onwards, the process will continue. Ukraine getting involved, the Europeans being involved, Rutte added. Since last week, Putin spoke to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as well as the leaders of South Africa, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan, the Kremlin said. That suggested Putin perhaps wanted to brief Russias most important allies about a potential settlement, said pro-Kremlin analyst Sergei Markov. Putin also met with top government officials on the eve of the summit. - Associated Press writers Lorne Cook in Brussels, Michelle L. Price in Washington, Sylvie Corbet in Paris and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed. A variety of kratom and 7-OH products including capsules, cartridges and wellness shots are on display at a smoke shop in Buffalo, N.Y. States have led the way in regulating kratom, and now federal officials want to ban 7-OH, a powerful compound found in some kratom products. (Photo by Amanda Hernandez/Stateline) For years, state lawmakers have taken the lead on regulating kratom the controversial herbal supplement used for pain relief, anxiety and opioid withdrawal symptoms. Some states have banned it entirely. Others have passed laws requiring age limits, labeling and lab testing. At least half of the states and the District of Columbia have enacted some form of regulation on kratom or its components building a patchwork of policies around a product largely unaddressed by the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that may soon change. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is pushing to ban 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH a powerful compound found in small amounts in kratom and sometimes concentrated or synthesized in products sold online, at smoke shops or behind gas station counters. Federal health officials announced last month that the compound poses serious public health risks and should be classified as a Schedule I controlled substance, alongside heroin and LSD. The move marks a significant shift in how federal regulators are approaching kratom, which they attempted to ban in 2016. It also has sparked debate about how the change could impact the growing 7-OH industry and its consumers. This year, at least seven states have considered bills to tighten kratom regulations, including proposals for bans, age restrictions and labeling requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kratom, which originates from the leaves of a tree native to Southeast Asia, can have a wide range of mental and bodily effects, according to federal officials, addiction medicine specialists and kratom researchers. Reports of fatal kratom overdoses have surfaced in recent years, though kratom is often taken in combination with other substances. Kratom and 7-OH are distinct products with separate markets, but they are closely connected. 7-OH is a semi-synthetic compound derived from kratom and only emerged on the market in late 2023, while kratom itself has been available for decades. This is a public health crisis waiting to happen. Christopher R. McCurdy, professor of medicinal chemistry at the University of Florida Leading kratom researchers also say more research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of using both substances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres much we dont know, unfortunately, on all sides, said Christopher R. McCurdy, a professor of medicinal chemistry at the University of Florida. McCurdy is a trained pharmacist and has studied kratom for more than 20 years. Research suggests kratom may help with opioid withdrawal and doesnt seem to cause severe withdrawal on its own. Smaller amounts seem to act as a stimulant, while larger doses may have sedative, opioidlike effects. Very little is known about the risks of long-term use in humans, according to McCurdy. As for 7-OH, it shows potential for treating pain, but it hasnt been studied in humans, and it may carry a high risk of addiction. Researchers dont yet understand how much is safe to take or how often it should be used, McCurdy told Stateline. While some leading kratom experts agree that kratom and 7-OH should be regulated, they caution that placing 7-OH under a strict Schedule I classification would make it much harder to study and argue it should instead be classified as Schedule II like some other opioids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal survey from 2023 estimated that about 1.6 million Americans age 12 and older used kratom in the year before the study. The American Kratom Association, a national industry lobbying group, estimated in 2021 that between 11 million and 16 million Americans safely consume kratom products each year. Since gaining popularity in recent years, 7-OH has appeared in a growing number of products. Some researchers and addiction medicine specialists say many consumers, especially those new to kratom, sometimes dont understand the difference between products. Its a pure opioid thats available without a prescription, so its akin to having morphine or oxycodone for sale at a smoke shop or a gas station, McCurdy said. This is a public health crisis waiting to happen. Federal crackdown targets 7-OH, not kratom In late July, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommended that the federal Drug Enforcement Administration place 7-OH in Schedule I, citing a high potential for abuse. The classification would not apply to kratom leaves or powders with naturally occurring 7-OH. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were not targeting the kratom leaf or ground-up kratom, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said at a news conference. We are targeting a concentrated synthetic byproduct that is an opioid. Makary acknowledged that there isnt enough research or data to fully understand how widespread 7-OHs use or impact may be. Still, he said the Trump administration wants to be aggressive and proactive in addressing the issue before it grows into a larger public health problem. While only small amounts of 7-OH occur naturally in the kratom plant, federal officials have raised concerns about U.S. products containing synthetic or concentrated forms of the compound because its more potent than morphine and primarily responsible for kratoms opioidlike effects. The FDAs recommendation to schedule 7-OH will now go to the DEA, which oversees the final steps of the process including issuing a formal proposal and opening a public comment period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If finalized, the rule could affect both companies selling enhanced kratom products and consumers in states where those products are currently legal. The DEA backed off scheduling kratom compounds in 2016 after widespread public opposition. Kirsten Smith, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University who is studying kratoms effects in humans, said she was surprised by the FDAs push to schedule 7-OH. We dont really have a public health signal of a lot of adverse events for either kratom or for 7-OH at this time, she told Stateline. I was, frankly, always surprised that kratom was pushed toward scheduling at an earlier time point. I dont know that we have data to support scheduling even now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, some advocacy groups, including the Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust, argue the push to schedule 7-OH is driven more by corporate interests than public health, suggesting the kratom industry is trying to sideline competition from 7-OH products. We think that this is just happening because of the legacy kratom manufacturers losing market share and wanting to gin up a crisis with this, said Jeff Smith, the national policy director for the group, who said he has used 7-OH for sleep and pain management. While his organization supports regulation and safe consumption, members worry the federal governments move could drive people to riskier substances or push the market underground. Its made a profound difference in my life, Smith said. We think it would be tragic to cut it off based on such a paucity of data when theres so much potential for this product to help people. Public health concerns Federal health officials say a key concern is the growing use of kratom and 7-OH products among teens and young adults. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some officials and addiction medicine specialists have pointed out that these products often come in flavors and packaging designed to appeal to younger buyers, with few controls over where or how theyre sold. In some states without clear regulations, kratom and 7-OH products are available at gas stations or online, sometimes without any age verification. Kratom-infused drinks in a variety of flavors are displayed in a cooler at a smoke shop in Buffalo, N.Y. Some contain 55mg of mitragynine, one of the main psychoactive alkaloids in the kratom plant. (Photo by Amanda Hernandez/Stateline) Whenever you go into a gas station and even though its behind the glass, its kind of eye level, and it has all of these bright colors it has all of these things that really attract the visual of a kiddo, said Socorro Green, a prevention specialist with Youth180, a nonprofit focused on youth substance use prevention in Dallas. Green added that kratom and 7-OH products may be even more accessible to young people in rural communities, where gas stations and convenience stores are often among the few available retailers. Some researchers and experts say that certain products may not clearly or accurately disclose their 7-OH content and are sometimes marketed or mistaken for traditional kratom. Some cities, counties and states have responded by banning kratom or raising the minimum purchase age to 18 or 21. But in many areas, enforcement remains inconsistent, and some addiction specialists say clearer federal and state guidance is needed especially as more people are using kratom and 7-OH to manage pain, anxiety or withdrawal symptoms on their own. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There needs to be some kind of oversight, including some way of maybe helping to ensure that people know what theyre getting, said Terrence Walton, the executive director and chief executive officer of NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals. State regulations At least seven states have considered or enacted legislation this year related to kratom ranging from age restrictions and labeling requirements to outright bans. In New York, lawmakers passed two bills: one requiring warning labels and prohibiting kratom products from being labeled as all natural, and another raising the minimum purchase age to 21. Neither has been sent to the governor. In Colorado, a new measure, which was signed into law in May, prohibits kratom from being sold in forms that resemble candy or appeal to children, increases labeling requirements, limits concentrations of 7-OH, and bans the manufacture and distribution of synthetic or semi-synthetic kratom. In Mississippi, a new law that took effect in July raised the minimum purchase age for kratom to 21. It also bans synthetic kratom extracts and products with high concentrations of 7-OH. Lawmakers in Montana and Texas introduced similar legislation this year, but neither proposal advanced. Louisiana is the latest state to enact a kratom ban, which took effect Aug. 1. Meanwhile, in July, Rhode Island became the first state to reverse its ban. The new law establishes a regulatory framework for the manufacturing, sale and distribution of kratom products, set to take effect in April 2026. As of this year, Washington, D.C., and seven states Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Rhode Island (until April 2026), Vermont and Wisconsin have banned kratom. At least half of U.S. states now regulate kratom or its components in some way. Stateline reporter Amanda Hernandez can be reached at ahernandez@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A variety of kratom and 7-OH products including capsules, cartridges and wellness shots are on display at a smoke shop in Buffalo, N.Y. States have led the way in regulating kratom, and now federal officials want to ban 7-OH, a powerful compound found in some kratom products. (Photo by Amanda Hernandez/Stateline) For years, state lawmakers have taken the lead on regulating kratom the controversial herbal supplement used for pain relief, anxiety and opioid withdrawal symptoms. Some states have banned it entirely. Others have passed laws requiring age limits, labeling and lab testing. At least half of the states and the District of Columbia have enacted some form of regulation on kratom or its components building a patchwork of policies around a product largely unaddressed by the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that may soon change. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is pushing to ban 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH a powerful compound found in small amounts in kratom and sometimes concentrated or synthesized in products sold online, at smoke shops or behind gas station counters. Federal health officials announced last month that the compound poses serious public health risks and should be classified as a Schedule I controlled substance, alongside heroin and LSD. The move marks a significant shift in how federal regulators are approaching kratom, which they attempted to ban in 2016. It also has sparked debate about how the change could impact the growing 7-OH industry and its consumers. This year, at least eight states have considered bills to tighten kratom regulations, including proposals for bans, age restrictions and labeling requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They include South Carolina. A law signed in May after passing both chambers unanimously bans stores from selling kratom to anyone under 21. For legal sales to adults, kratom products must have clear labeling that includes ingredients, the amount of kratom, recommended amount for safe usage, and servings per container. The law also bans the sale of kratom products mixed with other things. The law took effect July 11, exactly 60 days after Gov. Henry McMaster signed it. The two-month delay was designed to give owners of the stores that sell the products time to comply, said the laws author, state Sen. Russell Ott, D-St. Matthews. Kratom, which originates from the leaves of a tree native to Southeast Asia, can have a wide range of mental and bodily effects, according to federal officials, addiction medicine specialists and kratom researchers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reports of fatal kratom overdoses have surfaced in recent years, though kratom is often taken in combination with other substances. This is a public health crisis waiting to happen. Christopher McCurdy, professor of medicinal chemistry at the University of Florida Kratom and 7-OH are distinct products with separate markets, but they are closely connected. 7-OH is a semi-synthetic compound derived from kratom and only emerged on the market in late 2023, while kratom itself has been available for decades. Leading kratom researchers also say more research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of using both substances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres much we dont know, unfortunately, on all sides, said Christopher R. McCurdy, a professor of medicinal chemistry at the University of Florida. McCurdy is a trained pharmacist and has studied kratom for more than 20 years. Research suggests kratom may help with opioid withdrawal and doesnt seem to cause severe withdrawal on its own. Smaller amounts seem to act as a stimulant, while larger doses may have sedative, opioidlike effects. Very little is known about the risks of long-term use in humans, according to McCurdy. As for 7-OH, it shows potential for treating pain, but it hasnt been studied in humans, and it may carry a high risk of addiction. Researchers dont yet understand how much is safe to take or how often it should be used, McCurdy told Stateline. While some leading kratom experts agree that kratom and 7-OH should be regulated, they caution that placing 7-OH under a strict Schedule I classification would make it much harder to study and argue it should instead be classified as Schedule II like some other opioids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal survey from 2023 estimated that about 1.6 million Americans age 12 and older used kratom in the year before the study. The American Kratom Association, a national industry lobbying group, estimated in 2021 that between 11 million and 16 million Americans safely consume kratom products each year. Since gaining popularity in recent years, 7-OH has appeared in a growing number of products. Some researchers and addiction medicine specialists say many consumers, especially those new to kratom, sometimes dont understand the difference between products. Its a pure opioid thats available without a prescription, so its akin to having morphine or oxycodone for sale at a smoke shop or a gas station, McCurdy said. This is a public health crisis waiting to happen. Federal crackdown targets 7-OH, not kratom In late July, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommended that the federal Drug Enforcement Administration place 7-OH in Schedule I, citing a high potential for abuse. The classification would not apply to kratom leaves or powders with naturally occurring 7-OH. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were not targeting the kratom leaf or ground-up kratom, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said at a news conference. We are targeting a concentrated synthetic byproduct that is an opioid. Makary acknowledged that there isnt enough research or data to fully understand how widespread 7-OHs use or impact may be. Still, he said the Trump administration wants to be aggressive and proactive in addressing the issue before it grows into a larger public health problem. While only small amounts of 7-OH occur naturally in the kratom plant, federal officials have raised concerns about U.S. products containing synthetic or concentrated forms of the compound because its more potent than morphine and primarily responsible for kratoms opioidlike effects. The FDAs recommendation to schedule 7-OH will now go to the DEA, which oversees the final steps of the process including issuing a formal proposal and opening a public comment period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If finalized, the rule could affect both companies selling enhanced kratom products and consumers in states where those products are currently legal. The DEA backed off scheduling kratom compounds in 2016 after widespread public opposition. Kirsten Smith, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University who is studying kratoms effects in humans, said she was surprised by the FDAs push to schedule 7-OH. We dont really have a public health signal of a lot of adverse events for either kratom or for 7-OH at this time, she told Stateline. I was, frankly, always surprised that kratom was pushed toward scheduling at an earlier time point. I dont know that we have data to support scheduling even now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, some advocacy groups, including the Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust, argue the push to schedule 7-OH is driven more by corporate interests than public health, suggesting the kratom industry is trying to sideline competition from 7-OH products. We think that this is just happening because of the legacy kratom manufacturers losing market share and wanting to gin up a crisis with this, said Jeff Smith, the national policy director for the group, who said he has used 7-OH for sleep and pain management. While his organization supports regulation and safe consumption, members worry the federal governments move could drive people to riskier substances or push the market underground. Its made a profound difference in my life, Smith said. We think it would be tragic to cut it off based on such a paucity of data when theres so much potential for this product to help people. Public health concerns Federal health officials say a key concern is the growing use of kratom and 7-OH products among teens and young adults. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some officials and addiction medicine specialists have pointed out that these products often come in flavors and packaging designed to appeal to younger buyers, with few controls over where or how theyre sold. In some states without clear regulations, kratom and 7-OH products are available at gas stations or online, sometimes without any age verification. Kratom-infused drinks in a variety of flavors are displayed in a cooler at a smoke shop in Buffalo, N.Y. Some contain 55mg of mitragynine, one of the main psychoactive alkaloids in the kratom plant. (Photo by Amanda Hernandez/Stateline) Whenever you go into a gas station and even though its behind the glass, its kind of eye level, and it has all of these bright colors it has all of these things that really attract the visual of a kiddo, said Socorro Green, a prevention specialist with Youth180, a nonprofit focused on youth substance use prevention in Dallas. Green added that kratom and 7-OH products may be even more accessible to young people in rural communities, where gas stations and convenience stores are often among the few available retailers. Some researchers and experts say that certain products may not clearly or accurately disclose their 7-OH content and are sometimes marketed or mistaken for traditional kratom. Some cities, counties and states have responded by banning kratom or raising the minimum purchase age to 18 or 21. But in many areas, enforcement remains inconsistent, and some addiction specialists say clearer federal and state guidance is needed especially as more people are using kratom and 7-OH to manage pain, anxiety or withdrawal symptoms on their own. There needs to be some kind of oversight, including some way of maybe helping to ensure that people know what theyre getting, said Terrence Walton, the executive director and chief executive officer of NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals. State regulations South Carolina is among at least eight states that considered or enacted legislation this year related to kratom ranging from age restrictions and labeling requirements to outright bans. In New York, lawmakers passed two bills: one requiring warning labels and prohibiting kratom products from being labeled as all natural, and another raising the minimum purchase age to 21. Neither has been sent to the governor. In Colorado, a new measure, which was signed into law in May, prohibits kratom from being sold in forms that resemble candy or appeal to children, increases labeling requirements, limits concentrations of 7-OH, and bans the manufacture and distribution of synthetic or semi-synthetic kratom. In Mississippi, a new law that took effect in July raised the minimum purchase age for kratom to 21. It also bans synthetic kratom extracts and products with high concentrations of 7-OH. Lawmakers in Montana and Texas introduced similar legislation this year, but neither proposal advanced. Louisiana is the latest state to enact a kratom ban, which took effect Aug. 1. Meanwhile, in July, Rhode Island became the first state to reverse its ban. The new law establishes a regulatory framework for the manufacturing, sale and distribution of kratom products, set to take effect in April 2026. As of this year, Washington, D.C., and seven states Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Rhode Island (until April 2026), Vermont and Wisconsin have banned kratom. At least half of U.S. states now regulate kratom or its components in some way. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Stateline reporter Amanda Hernandez can be reached at ahernandez@stateline.org. SC Daily Gazette Editor Seanna Adcox contributed to this report. Like the SC Daily Gazette, Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. A variety of kratom and 7-OH products including capsules, cartridges and wellness shots are on display at a smoke shop in Buffalo, N.Y. States have led the way in regulating kratom, and now federal officials want to ban 7-OH, a powerful compound found in some kratom products. (Amanda Hernandez/Stateline) For years, state lawmakers have taken the lead on regulating kratom the controversial herbal supplement used for pain relief, anxiety and opioid withdrawal symptoms. Some states have banned it entirely. Others have passed laws requiring age limits, labeling and lab testing. At least half of the states and the District of Columbia have enacted some form of regulation on kratom or its components building a patchwork of policies around a product largely unaddressed by the federal government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that may soon change. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is pushing to ban 7-hydroxymitragynine, or 7-OH a powerful compound found in small amounts in kratom and sometimes concentrated or synthesized in products sold online, at smoke shops or behind gas station counters. Federal health officials announced last month that the compound poses serious public health risks and should be classified as a Schedule I controlled substance, alongside heroin and LSD. The move marks a significant shift in how federal regulators are approaching kratom, which they attempted to ban in 2016. It also has sparked debate about how the change could impact the growing 7-OH industry and its consumers. This year, at least seven states have considered bills to tighten kratom regulations, including proposals for bans, age restrictions and labeling requirements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kratom, which originates from the leaves of a tree native to Southeast Asia, can have a wide range of mental and bodily effects, according to federal officials, addiction medicine specialists and kratom researchers. Reports of fatal kratom overdoses have surfaced in recent years, though kratom is often taken in combination with other substances. Kratom and 7-OH are distinct products with separate markets, but they are closely connected. 7-OH is a semi-synthetic compound derived from kratom and only emerged on the market in late 2023, while kratom itself has been available for decades. This is a public health crisis waiting to happen. Christopher McCurdy, University of Florida professor of medicinal chemistry Leading kratom researchers also say more research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of using both substances. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres much we dont know, unfortunately, on all sides, said Christopher R. McCurdy, a professor of medicinal chemistry at the University of Florida. McCurdy is a trained pharmacist and has studied kratom for more than 20 years. Research suggests kratom may help with opioid withdrawal and doesnt seem to cause severe withdrawal on its own. Smaller amounts seem to act as a stimulant, while larger doses may have sedative, opioidlike effects. Very little is known about the risks of long-term use in humans, according to McCurdy. As for 7-OH, it shows potential for treating pain, but it hasnt been studied in humans, and it may carry a high risk of addiction. Researchers dont yet understand how much is safe to take or how often it should be used, McCurdy told Stateline. While some leading kratom experts agree that kratom and 7-OH should be regulated, they caution that placing 7-OH under a strict Schedule I classification would make it much harder to study and argue it should instead be classified as Schedule II like some other opioids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal survey from 2023 estimated that about 1.6 million Americans age 12 and older used kratom in the year before the study. The American Kratom Association, a national industry lobbying group, estimated in 2021 that between 11 million and 16 million Americans safely consume kratom products each year. Since gaining popularity in recent years, 7-OH has appeared in a growing number of products. Some researchers and addiction medicine specialists say many consumers, especially those new to kratom, sometimes dont understand the difference between products. Its a pure opioid thats available without a prescription, so its akin to having morphine or oxycodone for sale at a smoke shop or a gas station, McCurdy said. This is a public health crisis waiting to happen. Federal crackdown targets 7-OH, not kratom In late July, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommended that the federal Drug Enforcement Administration place 7-OH in Schedule I, citing a high potential for abuse. The classification would not apply to kratom leaves or powders with naturally occurring 7-OH. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were not targeting the kratom leaf or ground-up kratom, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said at a news conference. We are targeting a concentrated synthetic byproduct that is an opioid. Makary acknowledged that there isnt enough research or data to fully understand how widespread 7-OHs use or impact may be. Still, he said the Trump administration wants to be aggressive and proactive in addressing the issue before it grows into a larger public health problem. While only small amounts of 7-OH occur naturally in the kratom plant, federal officials have raised concerns about U.S. products containing synthetic or concentrated forms of the compound because its more potent than morphine and primarily responsible for kratoms opioidlike effects. The FDAs recommendation to schedule 7-OH will now go to the DEA, which oversees the final steps of the process including issuing a formal proposal and opening a public comment period. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If finalized, the rule could affect both companies selling enhanced kratom products and consumers in states where those products are currently legal. The DEA backed off scheduling kratom compounds in 2016 after widespread public opposition. Kirsten Smith, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Johns Hopkins University who is studying kratoms effects in humans, said she was surprised by the FDAs push to schedule 7-OH. We dont really have a public health signal of a lot of adverse events for either kratom or for 7-OH at this time, she told Stateline. I was, frankly, always surprised that kratom was pushed toward scheduling at an earlier time point. I dont know that we have data to support scheduling even now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, some advocacy groups, including the Holistic Alternative Recovery Trust, argue the push to schedule 7-OH is driven more by corporate interests than public health, suggesting the kratom industry is trying to sideline competition from 7-OH products. We think that this is just happening because of the legacy kratom manufacturers losing market share and wanting to gin up a crisis with this, said Jeff Smith, the national policy director for the group, who said he has used 7-OH for sleep and pain management. While his organization supports regulation and safe consumption, members worry the federal governments move could drive people to riskier substances or push the market underground. Its made a profound difference in my life, Smith said. We think it would be tragic to cut it off based on such a paucity of data when theres so much potential for this product to help people. Public health concerns Federal health officials say a key concern is the growing use of kratom and 7-OH products among teens and young adults. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some officials and addiction medicine specialists have pointed out that these products often come in flavors and packaging designed to appeal to younger buyers, with few controls over where or how theyre sold. In some states without clear regulations, kratom and 7-OH products are available at gas stations or online, sometimes without any age verification. Kratom-infused drinks in a variety of flavors are displayed in a cooler at a smoke shop in Buffalo, N.Y. Some contain 55 mg of mitragynine, one of the main psychoactive alkaloids in the kratom plant. (Amanda Hernandez/Stateline) Whenever you go into a gas station and even though its behind the glass, its kind of eye level, and it has all of these bright colors it has all of these things that really attract the visual of a kiddo, said Socorro Green, a prevention specialist with Youth180, a nonprofit focused on youth substance use prevention in Dallas. Green added that kratom and 7-OH products may be even more accessible to young people in rural communities, where gas stations and convenience stores are often among the few available retailers. Some researchers and experts say that certain products may not clearly or accurately disclose their 7-OH content and are sometimes marketed or mistaken for traditional kratom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some cities, counties and states have responded by banning kratom or raising the minimum purchase age to 18 or 21. But in many areas, enforcement remains inconsistent, and some addiction specialists say clearer federal and state guidance is needed especially as more people are using kratom and 7-OH to manage pain, anxiety or withdrawal symptoms on their own. There needs to be some kind of oversight, including some way of maybe helping to ensure that people know what theyre getting, said Terrence Walton, the executive director and chief executive officer of NAADAC, the Association for Addiction Professionals. State regulations At least seven states have considered or enacted legislation this year related to kratom ranging from age restrictions and labeling requirements to outright bans. In New York, lawmakers passed two bills: one requiring warning labels and prohibiting kratom products from being labeled as all natural, and another raising the minimum purchase age to 21. Neither has been sent to the governor. In Colorado, a new measure, which was signed into law in May, prohibits kratom from being sold in forms that resemble candy or appeal to children, increases labeling requirements, limits concentrations of 7-OH, and bans the manufacture and distribution of synthetic or semi-synthetic kratom. In Mississippi, a new law that took effect in July raised the minimum purchase age for kratom to 21. It also bans synthetic kratom extracts and products with high concentrations of 7-OH. Lawmakers in Montana and Texas introduced similar legislation this year, but neither proposal advanced. Louisiana is the latest state to enact a kratom ban, which took effect Aug. 1. Meanwhile, in July, Rhode Island became the first state to reverse its ban. The new law establishes a regulatory framework for the manufacturing, sale and distribution of kratom products, set to take effect in April 2026. As of this year, Washington, D.C., and seven states Alabama, Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, Rhode Island (until April 2026), Vermont and Wisconsin have banned kratom. At least half of U.S. states now regulate kratom or its components in some way. Stateline reporter Amanda Hernandez can be reached at ahernandez@stateline.org. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE This report was originally published by Stateline, part of the States Newsroom nonprofit news network. Its supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. The Brief Two men are accused of going on a crime spree Sunday night. The suspects are accused of carjacking at least three vehicles, including a big rig that happened on live TV. Following the long pursuit, the suspects managed to get away. LOS ANGELES - The search continued Monday for two carjacking suspects who led authorities on an hour-long police chase across Los Angeles County. The pursuit took multiple bizarre turns as the suspects allegedly carjacked at least three vehicles, including a big rig on live TV on the 5 Freeway. What we know On Sunday, Aug. 10, the two suspects led the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department on a chase. The suspects were inside a dark-colored pickup truck also allegedly stolen before pinning other cars to see if they could break in. At one point during the chase, the suspects tried to break into two different cars. Both attempts failed, but shortly after, the two suspects cornered a white big rig and then carjacked the massive vehicle before taking off on the 5 Freeway near Sylmar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A little after 11:30 p.m., the suspects ditched the big rig in downtown Los Angeles and then jumped into a third vehicle a white pickup truck before taking off to Boyle Heights. Over the course of the chase, the suspect drove through parts of Sylmar, Santa Clarita, North Hollywood, Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Echo Park, downtown Los Angeles, Westlake and Boyle Heights. What we don't know Two of the suspects whereabouts are unknown. Officials did not say where the first pickup truck may have been stolen from. It is unknown which company is affiliated with the stolen white big rig. There were no announcements on what ended up happening to the third carjacking victim. The Source This report used information provided by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and SkyFOX's live pictures. (The Center Square) Horizon 30 is without necessary documentation, the North Carolina Department of Labor says, and in violation of state mining laws in the Mitchell County community of Poplar. First-term Republican Labor Commissioner Luke Farley said a formal investigation and enforcement action are underway. The injunction request started in Mitchell County Superior Court. Mining laws are in place to protect water quality, wetlands, air quality, public safety and ecosystems. Horizon 30 is accused of being in breach of the North Carolina Mining Act of 1971. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is exactly why Ive made it a priority to support and empower our field staff, Farley said in a release. Their experience, judgment, and vigilance are critical to keeping workers safe and enforcing the law. If our staff hadnt gone above and beyond their duty to protect workers, this illegal operation could have continued unnoticed putting lives at risk and undermining public trust in our regulatory system. Thanks to the quick action of our team, the site has been exposed and will be held accountable. After discovery, Farleys staff was asked by the Mine Safety and Health Administration a federal entity to provide safety training at the site. The irregularities discovered led to questions about environmental permits. The Department of Environmental Quality confirmed unauthorized activity. According to published reports, Horizon Opps as the operation is also known and the Department of Environmental Quality has been in contact since December. This includes determination the activities would require permitting, applications filed and notice of violations. Horizon 30 LLC has offices in Raleigh and Allentown, Pa. In one message from Horizons Pennsylvania office to North Carolinas state environmental agency, the reason for the mining is providing necessary materials for the emergency rebuilding of the CSX Blue Ridge Subdivision railroad service lines to restore the train tracks and their base after damage/washout caused by Tropical Storm Helene. The chairman did commit to calling on management and worker committees to allow any employees who wish to participate in the protest events and solidarity rally scheduled for August 17. The Histadrut labor federation will not join the hostages families strike, it announced on Monday. This was decided following a meeting between Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David, senior business sector leaders, and representatives of the hostage families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bar-David, who requested to meet with the families to explain his decision to refrain from a general strike, expressed concern that the Histadruts involvement at this time would shift the public discourse surrounding the return of the hostages toward political directions. If I knew that a strike, not just for one day but longer, would resolve the issue stop the war and bring back the hostages I would go for it with all my strength. Unfortunately, and despite my heart bursting with frustration, it is not feasible. The chairman did commit to calling on management and worker committees to allow any employees who wish to participate in the protest events and solidarity rally scheduled for August 17. The Histadrut represents 800,000 workers. Decision to occupy Gaza City At a press conference in front of the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, families represented by the October Council said that Sunday, August 17, would mark a nationwide shutdown in protest of the security cabinets decision to occupy Gaza City, which they say endangers the lives of the hostages and soldiers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The families said the shutdown is expected to include private companies, organizations, and labor unions. In July of last year, Bar-David threw his support behind a march planned by family members of hostages and called on the Israeli public to join them. Bar-David also said he would supply the march with resources and appointed a senior team to accompany marchers and organizers. Last Friday, the security cabinet approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus plan to occupy Gaza City and adopted five principles for ending the war. These include disarming Hamas, returning all hostages, both living and murdered, demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, maintaining security control over Gaza, and the existence of a civilian government that is not controlled by either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority. Hostage families and Israeli opposition figures criticized the plan, calling it a disaster that would endanger the remaining hostages in terrorist captivity. A Labour-run council has instructed staff to stop using the words mother and father to refer to parents. Officials from Merton Council, in south-west London, say caregivers is more appropriate as it does not make assumptions about a childrens biological parents. The guidance is contained in a 27-page inclusive language guide compiled by the equality, diversity and inclusion team to encourage the use of gender-neutral and person-centred language. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other tips and suggested language include avoiding gendered phrases such as man, mankind and workmanship and instead saying, humans, humankind and quality of work or skills. The guide adds that descriptive words in general including references to race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, religion or age are off the table unless they are relevant and valid. In the section relating to age, the guide advises that staff avoid general terms as these imply that people of certain age groups or generations are a homogenous group, failing to recognise peoples individuality. Rather than old or young, staff are advised to say mature individual, elderly person, or young person. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The council has even suggested banning the phrases man the phones and man-made in favour of attend the phones and artificial. Under advice to respect the preferences of gender-neutral people, staff leading workshops have been warned against opening with welcome, ladies and gentlemen, with welcome to friends and colleagues recommended as an alternative. Lord Young of Acton, the founder and general secretary of the Free Speech Union, said: Im amazed that Merton council has time for this nonsense. I can only assume fly-tipping and potholes arent a problem in Merton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hannah Doody, the chief executive of Merton Council, said: I want to be really clear: the council has not stopped staff from using the term mother and father. The council produced a guide for staff which contains tips and suggestions on how to communicate with understanding and without making assumptions. These are not policies or instructions. We regularly review all our guides and policies, and intend to review this guide to ensure it cannot be further misunderstood or misrepresented. The council previously came under fire when The Telegraph revealed it was the local authority with the highest percentage of minor roads in need of maintenance throughout England and Wales. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to analysis of Department for Transport (DfT) data, nearly 40 per cent of the boroughs roads had potholes and were in need of major repairs. The data also showed the council had only fixed a mere 6.4 per cent of stretches needing attention. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) and the Macau Association of Returned Overseas Chinese are hosting the first-ever ZAPE Taste Jam market from this Friday through Aug. 24, daily from 3:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the pedestrian zones along Rua de Cantao and Rua de Xangai in ZAPE. The event will feature six food and distinctive trucks and over 30 stalls offering a variety of delicacies, Southeast Asian delights, snacks, drinks, coffee, alcoholic beverages, culture, creativity, games, and live performances. This initiative aims to promote community shopping and boost the nighttime economy. Like this: Like Loading... Labubu-maker Pop Mart to open Mall of America store originally appeared on Bring Me The News. Pop Mart, the designer toy brand behind the viral Labubu dolls, is headed to the Mall of America. The Bloomington megamall confirmed on Monday that Pop Mart will open later there this year, marking the Chinese company's first brick-and-mortar store in Minnesota. The shop will be located at MOA on Level 1, North. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pop Marts Labubu characters are a global sensation. The toothy, furry creatures were created by artist Kasing Lung. The gremlin-like figures are sold in blind boxes, meaning buyers dont discover which Labubu is inside until they open it. Labubu demand is so intense around the world that the company halted in-person sales at all stores in the United Kingdom in May due to safety concerns. Bring Me The News first reported on Pop Mart's influence, and potential expansion to the mall, last month. Designer toy maker Pop Mart will open a store at Mall of America on Level 1, North in the fall. Photo courtesy of Pop Mart. The company arrives in Minnesota on the heels of several other major Asian retailers, as trends emerging from Asia shape global culture across the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miniso, also a Chinese company that sells blind box toys and other character-driven products, opened at Eden Prairie Center earlier this year and will land at Mall of America this fall. New-to-Minnesota chain Daiso, which originated in Japan in the 1970s, opened three Twin Cities stores in quick succession in recent months. Designer toy maker Pop Mart will open a store at Mall of America on Level 1, North in the fall. Photo courtesy of Pop Mart. This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Aug 11, 2025, where it first appeared. LaFAYETTE, Ala. (WRBL) Andrew Vines, a candidate for LaFayettes District B city council seat is facing multiple misdemeanor allegations related to Alabamas ballot harvesting laws after investigators say he illegally collected and mailed in absentee ballot applications for voters in his district. According to the Chambers County Sheriffs Office Vines was arrested Friday, August 8, following a weeks-long investigation into reports first made in mid-July. Monday, Vines told WRBL in a phone interview he is innocent. Ive been falsely accused. Around 60 people in my district applied for absentee ballots and needed assistance with the applications not the ballots themselves. They signed their own applications. I brought them blank applications, and they filled them out. I did assist some with answering questions, which I am allowed to do. I also prepared the envelopes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case began when investigators say a voter went to LaFayette City Hall and told the clerk Vines had filled out their absentee ballot application, had them sign it, and then took the form to mail it. The Chambers County District Attorneys Office called in the Sheriffs Office to investigate. Captain Jeff Hinkle says multiple witnesses told investigators Vines went door-to-door in his district with absentee ballot applications, either encouraging residents to apply or filling them out for them. Some alleged he even signed voters names before taking the applications to mail. Investigators say they found around 50 envelopes with the same handwriting, along with evidence to support 15 misdemeanor counts of mailing in ballots for others, 11 misdemeanor counts of filling out ballots for others, and four misdemeanor forgery charges for signatures. Vines says according to Alabama Code 17-11-4(b)(1), Any applicant may receive assistance in filling out the application as he or she desires, but each application shall be manually signed by the applicant, under penalty of perjury, and if he or she signs by mark, the application shall also include the name of the witness and the witnesss signature. Alabama law allows absentee voting only for specific reasons, such as being out of town on Election Day, illness, or physical disability. It is illegal to distribute pre-filled absentee ballot applications or to submit an application on behalf of someone else, except in limited medical emergencies. According to the Chambers County Sheriffs Office Vines was arrested Friday, August 8, following a weeks-long investigation into reports first made in mid-July. Im not off the ballot, I havent been proven guilty, and I didnt do anything wrong. My main goal has always been to make sure everyone in my district has the chance to vote. On Election Day, if anyone needs a ride, I will provide it as I have always done, said Vines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under state law, misdemeanor charges do not disqualify a candidate from running for office. The citys election for mayor and all five council seats is set for August 26, with voting at LaFayette High School from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. A runoff, if needed, will be held September 23. WRBL has reached out to Lafayettes City Manager for further comment. The investigation is ongoing ahead of the election. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. FARMINGTON, Utah (ABC4) Before becoming a popular favorite, the Lagoon ride Primordial was the scene of an incident that sent one Utah County man to the hospital after he was severely injured during a test run accident, a recent lawsuit claims. On Aug. 9, 2023, prior to Primordials opening, local technician Stephen Thorpe was working on the buildings HVAC system. While he knew about potential test runs occurring that day, the lawsuit alleges that he was never given any times. This accident was fully preventable, Judson Burton, an attorney representing Thorpe, said. Inside Lagoons newest ride, Primordial. (Derick Fox, ABC4) Routine test run gone wrong Of the multiple levels inside the ride, the first floor was considered a green zone, court documents show. Burton says, his clients work required him to ascend a scissor lift near the coasters track to reach an area of the system above the ride. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Burton, soon after going up in the lift, the first test vehicle came down the track, colliding with the scissor lift. Man rescued from Lagoon Skyride, creates ride delays As the roller coaster came down the track, he tried to lower the scissor lift and get out of the way, but wasnt able to do so in time and the cart of that roller coaster clipped his scissor lift, threw it over and threw him out, Burton said. According to court documents, Thorpe was catapulted out of the scissor lift when it was approximately 19-20 feet high leading to injuries that caused permanent disfigurement. Lasting injuries Hes still suffering injuries to this day, Burton told ABC4.com, adding that Lagoon did not follow protocol of scanning the track before initiating a test run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thorpes attorneys say he was taken to McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden where he was treated for multiple injuries including a head wound and fractures to his right hip and left knee. Thorpe spent one month in the hospital before being sent to a physical rehabilitation center where he spent an additional three weeks. With the extensive injuries he had to his right hip, his right leg is a bit shorter now and he has to walk with a cane, Burton told ABC4.com, adding that it is now very difficult to walk. As you can imagine, as someone who is an HVAC tech, [its] very important for him to be mobile. Lagoons response In a filed response to the allegations, Lagoon denied several of the original suits claims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lagoon responded to the majority of Thorpes allegations by denying them based on a lack of information. However, the amusement park outright denied that Thorpe had been given no notice of the upcoming test run that led to the accident. The park also denied being negligent for the incident and liable for Thorpes medical bills. [Lagoon] did not breach the applicable standard of care. No act or omission by [Lagoon] or employee of [Lagoon] caused any alleged injury, the response reads. Discovery may reveal that [Thorpes] fault is equal to or greater than the fault of [Lagoon]. The document further argues that Thorpe was obligated to use reasonable care to avoid the consequences himself, and that others may have been at fault. Lagoon said, however, that they had no duty to control the possibly responsible parties, although the document does not name who the other parties could be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ABC4.com reached out to Lagoon Amusement Park for a direct statement. However, they did not comment on the matter, citing ongoing litigation. The award-winning Primordial roller coaster Inside Lagoons newest ride, Primordial. (Derick Fox, ABC4) Completed in 2023, the Primordial ride quickly became a popular favorite of the parks visitors. According to Lagoons website, the ride has a very high thrill level. Primordial was awarded the Brass Ring Award by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) for the best new major ride/attraction in 2024. According to the park, Primordial is an interactive 3D roller coaster that exhibits an original storyline with multiple endings. Primordial represents a giant leap forward in immersive storytelling and rider engagement, Lagoon said after receiving the award. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lagoons Primordial named #1 Theme Park Attraction by USA Today The case is currently in the discovery phase and has a long road of litigation before closing. This is about holding [Lagoon] responsible for those errors that led to this accident, Burton added. Hes not out to extract the maximum that he can from them, but he does want to see a change in behavior. Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. LANETT, Ala. (WRBL) A 31-year-old Lanett man is dead following a late-night shooting on Saturday Aug. 9, 2025. A suspect is not in custody. Investigators say at approximately 10:30 p.m., Lanett Police responded to the 300 block of North 12th Court after reports of a shooting. When officers arrived, they encountered a large crowd in the area and located the victim, identified as Alexander Stevenson, suffering from a gunshot wound to the torso. Stevenson was transported to East Alabama Medical Center-Lanier, where he was later pronounced dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Lanett Police Department, with assistance from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, is investigating. Anyone with information is asked to contact Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP or Lanett Police Detective Reagan at 334-644-5295. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. Willye Bryan briefs attendees at the Reparations Scholarship Reveal & Celebration about why the Justice League of Greater Lansing Michigan was created to address the racial wealth gap. Aug. 2, 2025 | Photo by Justice League of Greater Lansing Michigan As part of an ongoing effort to address racial disparities through reparations, the Justice League of Greater Lansing awarded $25,000 in scholarships to college bound students The nonprofit was founded to mend the historical rift caused by enslavement, as well as to address the ensuing human rights violations and culture of white supremacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Through community networking and collaboration, the organization seeks to facilitate reparations through a faith-based model. The Justice Leagues president and co-founder Prince Solace explained that the Reparations Fund comprises payments from churches and individuals in Greater Lansing, as well as donations from Black advocates. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Solace added that these scholarships and the Reparations Fund from which theyre sourced are the product of intergenerational and cross-racial and cross-denominational support stemming primarily from Greater Lansing, but also from beyond our community. Centuries of systemic inequalities in the U.S. have strongly negatively affected African Americans ability to accumulate wealth and have created a racial wealth gap, Willye Bryan, the Justice Leagues vice president and co-founder, said. The social and financial cost to Black Americans continues to be great. The time to address these disparities is now. Recipients of the 2025 Reparations Scholarships are surrounded by their families and supporters as well as volunteers of the Justice League of Greater Lansing Michigan at the Reparations Scholarship Reveal & Celebration Aug. 2, 2025 | Photo by Joe Pruitt Applicants were asked to discuss these disparities in their essays, examining how they and their families have been impacted by the gaps in racial or generational wealth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indeed, for many of the winners, the scholarship offered not only a means of reparation, but recognition of their own hardships, histories, and hopes. Economically, the [racial wealth] gap means that I move through life with far less ease than wealth provides, Corinne Williams Hough, a student at East Lansing High School, said. Wealth creates a soft landing, a margin of error, a set of options. It provides breathing room, a buffer that allows people to imagine, explore, and sometimes even fail without losing too much ground. As I get older, I realize that is not a luxury I have been given. Similarly, Malachi Turner of Lansing delved into the history of financial discrimination particularly policies like redlining. I was shocked to learn how these practices still affect communities today, Turner explained. Through conversations with my parents, I began to see how systemic inequality continues to shape the lives of families who are still trying to catch up economically. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For recipient Talia Dunn, these realities have been a motivating force. These challenges have made me more aware and resilient, and I am determined to break the cycle, she said. Recipients of the 2025 Reparations Scholarships were selected based on their essays about Americans racial wealth gap and generational wealth; academic grades; and interviews. Aug. 2, 2025 | Photo by Justice League of Greater Lansing Michigan Ten scholarships of $2,500 were awarded to college-bound students in the Greater Lansing area. Eligible applicants were descendants of enslaved African Americans and residents of Ingham, Eaton or Clinton counties. In addition to the essays, the recipients Elaina Andrews, Jourdyn Carter, Karrington Cosey, Talia Dunn, Ryleigh Lewis, Cameron Minor, Gabrielle Pruitt, Markell Richardson, Malachi Turner, and Corinne Williams-Hough were selected based on their grades and interviews. The ten winning essays can be found on the Justice League of Greater Lansing website. Students across the Southland are heading back to class this week, and with the return of school dropoffs and pickups, police are offering tips for drivers and students so everyone remains safe on their way to class. Officer Peter Nguyen of the Los Angeles Police Department told KTLAs Ellina Abovian that they just want kids to get to school safely. We want this message out for drivers: Slow down, reduce your speeds, especially around schools and neighborhoods because there will be a lot of children walking to school with their parents, and we dont want any traffic accidents to happen, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to speeders, officers will be on the lookout for distracted drivers and others who are operating their vehicle unsafely, as well as those who dont stop for school buses. As for pedestrians, some parents and students dont use the crosswalk, which can be dangerous, Nguyen said. These factors contribute to about 100 fatal traffic incidents near schools each year in the U.S., he added. Honestly, thats just too much. Any way we can do education to make sure kids are safe, thats our whole goal, Nguyen 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 KTLA. LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KRQE) A Las Cruces man was sentenced to over ten years in prison for his role in a fentanyl trafficking operation. Orangie Lee Fisher, 37, previously pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. State Police drug operation in Albuquerque nets 7 arrests According to court records, multiple departments had been investigating a drug trafficking organization distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl in the Las Cruces area. Through the investigation, Fisher was identified as a key participant. On April 3, 2024, agents executed a search warrant on a room occupied by Fisher at the Imperial Sky Motel in Las Cruces. Agents seized 600 grams of suspected marijuana, $5,963 in cash and firearms. Court records say agents continued to surveil Fisher and conducted controlled narcotics purchases at his residence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On October 4, 2024, agents executed a search warrant at his residence. About 1,000 fentanyl pills were found scattered around the house and a stolen gun was found in a closet. Fisher was arrested and later pleaded guilty to drugs and firearm charges. He was sentenced to 123 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) In honor of National Call 811 Day, Southwest Gas is urging Las Vegas valley residents to always call 811 before starting any digging or planting project. Whether one is planting a tree or breaking ground, contacting 811 at least two business days in advance prevents damage to natural gas, electric, water, and other vital services. In 2024, Southwest Gas saw a 15% drop in underground utility damage due to a 10% increase in 811 requests. But officials said more than a quarter of natural gas incidents still came from digging without calling first. Southwest Gas offers these tips for safe digging: Hand dig carefully within two feet of marked lines Use rounded shovels to avoid puncturing pipes Watch for soil changes that may indicate a buried line Never assume depth, always verify location Signs of a natural gas leak include: A rotten egg or sulfur-like odor A hissing or roaring sound near the ground or appliances Blowing dirt, bubbling water, or dying vegetation Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company also provides free damage prevention training for contractors, landscapers, plumbers, and homeowners. Sessions cover excavation laws, safe digging techniques, and emergency procedures. For more information, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Summer vacation may be over for the kids of the Las Vegas valley, but summer heat is definitely sticking around. HEADLINES: Temperatures stay extra-hot to start back-to-school week Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories Midweek breezes Chance for monsoon showers & t-storms Sunny skies and light winds start this back-to-school Monday. Highs hit 110, 109, and 110 on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and those temps are staying on target to start the week. But changes are on the way later in the week, with a switch to long-awaited monsoon thunderstorms making a quick reappearance in the desert by Friday. Highs will slip back to the cooler low 100s, too! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cooling stations activated across Las Vegas valley because of extreme heat Sitting between two ridges of high pressure, weve got clear skies, without much haze, this morning. Wildfire smoke is expected to be on the low side today and tomorrow, as the heat takes center stage. Moderate heat risk is in play with highs running 4 to 8 degrees above normal. Records are in the 110s, and by tomorrow, temperatures will be within 5 degrees of record highs, so heat alerts have been issued. A Heat Warning is in effect on Tuesday for the lower elevations of southern Nevada, northwest Arizona, and southeast California from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. A Heat Advisory is in effect on Tuesday for the Spring and Sheep Mountains, Lincoln, Nye, and Esmeralda Counties from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. By midweek, the ridge over the Pacific Northwest has slipped eastward, bringing a return of southwest winds back to the desert. Highs will slide a few degrees by Thursday. But Friday, an increase in monsoon moisture is expected with a more southeasterly flow, bringing a 10 to 30 percent chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms to southern Nevada. Those chances could change between now and the end of the week. We are overdue for summer rain! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today: 109 Sunny & VERY HOT Tuesday: 110 Sunny & VERY HOT Wednesday: 108 Sunny & windy Thursday: 105 Sunny & windy Friday: 102 Slight chance of t-storms Saturday: 101 Slight chance of t-storms Sunday: 101 Sunny Monday: 103 Sunny Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Macau marked a notable step in Muslim-friendly tourism by appearing for the first time in the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2025. The city ranked 16th overall as a Muslim-Friendly Travel Destination and achieved fifth place as a Muslim Women-Friendly Destination. However, lawmakers and industry experts emphasize that the city still faces significant challenges in fully catering to Muslim visitors. Lawmaker Ho Ion Sang recently sought detailed updates from the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) on efforts to improve Muslim-friendly services, acknowledging recent progress in the sector but stressed there is still much to be done. In a written inquiry to the Legislative Assembly (AL), the lawmaker stated, In 2025, Macau ranked for the first time in the Global Muslim Travel Index[] This marks certain progress Macau has made in attracting Muslim visitors. Despite this, he highlighted key areas needing improvement, including the availability of halal restaurants, prayer rooms, and culturally tailored activities to maintain this momentum. Hos key questions addressed whether incentives would be offered to encourage more halal certification among food establishments, if hotel sectors would be urged to upgrade Muslim-friendly facilities such as prayer rooms and halal-compliant accommodations, and whether cooperation with local Islamic communities would be strengthened to develop Muslim-friendly festivals and tours. The lawmaker also inquired about plans to expand public prayer facilities in major public spaces like museums, parks, and hospitals, as well as the possibility of launching a dedicated Muslim-friendly tourism webpage. In response, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna stated that licensing for hospitality and dining has no legal restrictions concerning Muslim-friendly amenities. The bureau approves hotel and catering licence applications according to law, and there are no legal restrictions on installing prayer facilities or halal-compliant hardware, Senna wrote. On promotion and services targeted at Muslim visitors, MGTO cited existing resources like the Macao for Muslim Travelers Halal Travel Guide and a halal food section on the official tourism website, which currently lists seven halal-certified restaurants. Senna also reported ongoing discussions with the Hong Kong Islamic community to introduce halal certification measures suited for Macaus food businesses, covering halal restaurants, halal kitchen dining, and halal-friendly eateries. Regarding future plans for tourism information, the tourism head wrote that MGTO is working on expanding online information about Muslim-friendly hotels and halal souvenirs to facilitate better travel planning for this subgroup of tourists. The Muslim tourist market offers a promising opportunity for future growth due to its large and lucrative numbers. The Islamic Tourism Centre (ITC) projects that by 2028 there will be 230 million Muslim tourists worldwide. This group is projected to contribute significantly to the travel industry, with estimated expenditures reaching USD225 billion. Like this: Like Loading... The straphanger randomly shoved onto tracks by a muttering maniac Saturday is an ER pediatrician who was on his way home from work at the time and is now just happy hes still alive, his pal told The Post. The 44-year-old victim was heading back to his Upper West Side pad after a shift at Harlem Hospital and waiting for a No. 1 train at the 50th Street and Seventh Avenue station in Manhattan around 7:50 p.m. when the nut came up behind him, according to cops and the friend, Takayuki Matsumoto. [The unhinged attacker] was screaming and walking toward him, and the next thing, [the victim] was pushed, said Matsumoto, speaking to The Post at the home of the injured rider, who was inside sleeping while recovering, on Sunday. A lucky-to-be-alive ER pediatrician is still able to share a light moment with first responders after he was randomly shoved onto Manhattan subway tracks. William Miller Its not like he was walking on the edge of the platform or anything, the man said of his doctor friend. He was walking in the middle of it, and suddenly, this guy approached him and pushed him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His staff at the hospital said, Dont take the train anymore, Matsumoto added of his pal. Hes lucky hes OK. Hes happy that hes still alive. Matsumoto, 62, said the victim was aware at the time that there was a train coming into the station in under 4 minutes, so he scrambled back onto the platform quickly with help from a nice couple and a lady. The doctor, whose name is being withheld by The Post, suffered bruises to his face and leg. Cops are currently searching for the suspect, who was described as around 6 feet tall and wearing a white shirt, black shorts and a black backpack. Good Samaritans and cops help the 44-year-old doctor. William Miller The victims friend and cops said he suffered facial and leg injuries in the unprovoked attack but that hell be OK. William Miller The attack was one of a slew of recent violent incidents on the rails. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police also are looking for the man who stabbed another subway rider in the neck during a dispute at an East Village subway station Saturday night. In addition, a masked stranger slashed a 29-year-old woman on a Lower Manhattan train late Wednesday when she refused to hand him her bag and he is still in the wind, too. The ER docs pal said Saturdays attack on his buddy will unfortunately do little to deter the victim from riding the subway. Thats the only way he can get to the hospital, the friend said. Meanwhile all the violence did not stop clueless MTA officials crowing Sunday that July marked the lowest subway violence month since 1995. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But despite the transit agencys renewed assurances, subway violence has continued to terrorize straphangers. The Post reported in May that felony assaults were up 19% since the start of the year compared to the same period last year. Out of the 255 assaults at that point this year, 93 or 36% were on city police officers and MTA workers, compared to just 44 such attacks over the same span in 2019. In June, aspiring Thai model Zina Raksasulee, 26, was viciously beaten and robbed at a Brooklyn subway station, too. Her alleged attacker, 54-year-old ex-con Lewis Doctor, had been released on bail after an earlier arrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On May 14, Sherlock Arana, a 37-year-old vagrant with 20 busts on his rap sheet, also shoved a 70-year-old grandma visiting from Los Angeles against the wall of a Midtown subway station. One month earlier, a 46-year-old maniac with a troubling history of mental health issues including an attack on a 13-year-old boy slashed a woman in the neck at a SoHo subway station. And in January, a deranged homeless man shoved an innocent woman into a moving Manhattan subway train at the 18th Street station in an unprovoked attack. According to prosecutors, Markeese Brazelis, 26, told cops he allegedly attacked the woman simply because I wanted to. Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser held a press conference Monday following President Donald Trumps announcement that hes taking over Washingtons police department and activating 800 members of the National Guard in the hopes of reducing crime and tackling homelessness in the city. The president exaggerated or misstated many of the facts surrounding public safety in D.C., where the crime rate has fallen in recent years. Trumps plan prompted the District of Columbias mayor to voice concerns about the potential use of the National Guard to patrol the streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While this action today is unsettling and unprecedented, I cant say that given some of the rhetoric of the past, that were totally surprised, Bowser said. Here's the latest: US and China extend trade truce another 90 days Donald Trump has extended a trade truce with China for another 90 days, at least delaying once again a dangerous showdown between the worlds two biggest economies. The previous deadline was set to expire at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. Had that happened, the U.S. would have ratcheted up taxes on Chinese imports from an already high 30%, and Beijing would have responded by raising retaliatory levies on U.S. exports to China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pause buys time for the two countries to work out some of their differences, perhaps clearing the way for a summit later this year between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Read more about the tariff suspension extension Trial starts over National Guard deployment to Los Angeles A federal judge is hearing arguments on whether military troops deployed this summer by the Trump administration to Los Angeles violated a federal law that bars troops from conducting law enforcement duties within the country. Judge Charles Breyer will decide whether the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act was violated when 4,700 California National Guard members and Marines were sent following protests over immigration raids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A deputy commanding general testified Monday that military forces called in were allowed to take some law enforcement actions despite the federal law that prohibits the president from using the military as a domestic police force. The administration has argued that federal military members are allowed to protect federal property and agents as part of their mission carrying out federal operations. Read more about the trial that could set the precedent for how Trump can deploy the guard in the future Trumps big bill is powering his mass deportations. Congress is starting to ask questions The Republican Partys big bill of tax breaks and spending cuts that Trump signed into law July 4 included whats arguably the biggest boost of funds yet to the Department of Homeland Security nearly $170 billion, almost double its annual budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The staggering sum is powering the nations sweeping new Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, delivering gripping scenes of people being pulled off city streets and from job sites across the nation the cornerstone of Trumps promise for the largest domestic deportation operation in American history. The crush of new money is setting off alarms in Congress and beyond, raising questions from lawmakers in both major political parties who are expected to provide oversight. The bill text provided general funding categories almost $30 billion for ICE officers, $45 billion for detention facilities, $10 billion for the office of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem but few policy details or directives. Homeland Security recently announced $50,000 ICE hiring bonuses. Read more about the funding behind Trumps mass deportation agenda Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps moves toward taking over Washington are unprecedented. Heres what the law says D.C.s historically majority Black population wasnt electing its own city council and mayor until 1973, when Republican President Richard Nixon signed the Home Rule Act. The measure still left significant power to the president and Congress, though no president has exercised the police powers before. Section 740 of the Home Rule Act allows for the president to take over Washingtons Metropolitan Police Department for 48 hours, with possible extensions to 30 days, during times of emergencies. No president has done so before, said Monica Hopkins, executive director of the ACLU of Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It wasnt immediately clear how long the takeover might last or exactly what it might mean. It could also face challenges in court. The law is specific to D.C. and doesnt affect other communities around the U.S. referred to as having their own home rule powers in relationship to their state governments. Trump nominates jobs report critic to lead Bureau of Labor Statistics The president posted on social media that he has picked E.J. Antoni, an economist at conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation to lead the agency in charge of the monthly jobs report, the consumer price index and other indicators. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump dismissed the previous commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Erika McEntarfer, after the July jobs report contained dramatic downward revisions of 258,000 jobs combined in June and May, suggesting a weaker economy than what the president had claimed. The president has said the jobs report is rigged, and Antoni has frequently criticized the report, putting him outside of mainstream economists. E.J. will ensure that the Numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE, Trump said on Truth Social. Trumps tax law will mostly benefit the rich, while leaving poorer Americans with less, CBO says Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumpstax and spending law will result in less income for the poorest Americans while sending money to the richest, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reported Monday. The CBO estimates that the 10% of poorest Americans will lose roughly $1,200 a year as they experience restrictions on government programs like Medicaid and food assistance, while the richest 10% of Americans will see their income increase by $13,600 from tax cuts. Overall, American households will see more income from the tax cuts in the legislation, including middle income households, but the largest benefit will go to the top 10% of earners. Roughly 2.4 million people wont be eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program under new work requirements for many recipients, the CBO found. Low-income Americans could also see their income reduced through further restrictions on food aid and other types of assistance included in the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How the National Guard deployment in DC will work According to the Army, Guard troops will be deployed under Title 32, or federal-state status authority. That means the troops can conduct law enforcement activities on the streets of the nations capital though, at the moment, that doesnt appear to be the plan. Their duties will include an array of tasks from administrative, logistics and physical presence in support of law enforcement, according to a statement from the Army, to which the District of Columbia National Guard directed all questions. About 500 federal law enforcement officers are being assigned to patrols in Washington, including from the FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and the Marshals Service. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that Guard members will be flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week. The timeline for the troop deployment is vaguely defined. According to Trumps directive, National Guard troops will remain deployed until the president determines that conditions of law and order have been restored. Read more about how Trump has deployed the National Guard to cities during his second term Trump wants his Cabinet to work with Intel CEO he had wanted fired Trump retreated from his calls for chipmaker Intel to dismiss its CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, after meeting with him on Monday. The president on social media called the meeting very interesting and said Tans success and rise is an amazing story. Trump said Tan would meet with members of his Cabinet and bring suggestions to him next week on how to proceed. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also attended the Monday meeting. Bowser works to avoid fight with Trump but cant disguise some anger The D.C. mayor fielded multiple questions Monday designed to get her to say something harsh about Trump. But she didnt take the bait for the most part, calmly laying out the citys case that crime has been dropping steadily and Trumps perceived state of emergency simply doesnt match the numbers. She repeatedly acknowledged that Trump has broad authority under the law and would be difficult to challenge. The composure slipped a bit toward the end, when she dropped a reference to Trumps so-called emergency. Trump could extend takeover of DC police for 30 days, then he needs congressional approval Trump is invoking Section 740 of the DC Home Rule Act to take over control of the citys police department, saying in a letter to a congressional committee that the police force is needed for federal purposes. The Republican president says in the letter sent to the House Oversight Committee Monday that he is taking the action for the purpose of maintaining law and order in the nations seat of government; protecting federal buildings, national monuments, and other federal property; and ensuring conditions necessary for the orderly functioning of the federal government. By invoking the law, Trump is able to take over the police for more than 48 hours, but if he wants to continue for more than 30 days, both the House and Senate would need to give him a vote of approval. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries denounces Trump police takeover plan as illegitimate Jeffries, the top House Democrat, said the administration has consistently broken the law and violated the Constitution to further the personal and political agenda of a wannabe king. Jeffries denounced other Republicans as cowardly. His statement did not mention any immediate actions congressional Democrats would take in response to Trumps plan. The Republican Party has zero credibility on the issue of law and order, Jeffries said. Donald Trump doesnt care about public safety. On his first day in office, he pardoned hundreds of violent felonsmany of whom brazenly assaulted law enforcement officers on January 6. We stand with the residents of the District of Columbia and reject this unjustified power grab as illegitimate. DC mayor says she was unaware of Trumps plan to take over city police The mayor said she had one brief call with the White House over the weekend about activating the National Guard, so she thought Trumps announcement would be about calling up the National Guard, not about taking over the Metropolitan Police Department. GOP lawmaker raises concern over the White House-Nvidia deal Rep. John Moolenaar, the Republican chair of the House Select Committee on China, spoke against the Trump administrations deal to get a 15% cut in the sales of advanced U.S. chips to China in exchange of export licenses. Export controls are a frontline defense in protecting our national security, and we should not set a precedent that incentivizes the government to grant licenses to sell China technology that will enhance its AI capabilities, the Republican from Michigan said. Trump confirmed the deal but suggested the chips to be sold to China are essentially old. U.S. companies are still banned from selling their most advanced chips to China, which are critical in developing artificial intelligence. Bowser calls Trump takeover of DC police unsettling D.C.'s mayor said Monday that the city had reached a 30-year low in violent crime. Bowser said crime was down not just from a post-pandemic peak in 2023, but from 2019 levels prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bowser highlighted the districts parks, schools and public transportation and said it was important for residents and visitors to know just how beautiful our city is and how proud we are of all that weve accomplished here. Bowsers comments are a response to Trumps announcement of his takeover of D.C. police force. Bowser said the steps were unsettling." My message to residents is this: We know that access to our democracy is tenuous. That is why you have heard me and many Washingtonians before me advocate for full statehood," Bowser said. DC police union backs Trumps takeover The union representing D.C. police officers is backing Trumps takeover move, though it called for the federal intervention to be temporary. Chairman Gregg Pemberton said the union agrees with the president that immediately action is necessary to tamp down crime. Still, Pemberton said the city ultimately needs a police department thats fully staffed and supported. He also called for the repeal of criminal justice policies and laws passed by the City Council. Maryland governor says Trump mobilizing National Guard in Washington lacks seriousness Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says Trumps decision to deploy the National Guard in D.C. is also deeply dangerous. Moore, a Democrat who served as a paratrooper and captain in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, said in a statement that the presidents actions lack both data and a battle plan. He is simply using honorable men and women as pawns to distract us from his policies, which continue to drive up unemployment and strip away health care and food assistance from those who need it most, Moore said. He urged the president to look to Maryland for ways of reducing violent crime. Moore noted that homicides in Maryland are down by more than 20% since Moores inauguration in January 2023. We await outreach from the White House if they want to have a serious conversation about public safety. But we wont hold our breath, he said. Appeals court rules Trump administration must restore website tracking spending A federal appeals court has given the Trump administration until Friday to restore a website that tracks spending appropriated by Congress. In a Saturday ruling, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit refused to block a lower court order requiring the restoration. The court said disclosing the spending information was a permissible exercise of legislative authority with roots in the nations founding. An email to the Office of Management and Budget on Monday was not immediately returned. The database at issue in the case first went up in July 2022. The Trump administration pulled it down in March. It argued publicly disclosing spending decisions intrudes on executive power. The administration has faced numerous lawsuits over decisions to freeze spending authorized by Congress. The Rev. Al Sharpton blasts Trumps DC police takeover as an assault on Black cities Trumps announcement that he would deploy National Guard troop to take over the citys police department, the Rev. Al Sharpton warned of the moves potential long-term repercussions. Donald Trump was inspired to take this disgusting, dangerous, and derogatory action solely out of self interest, the civil rights leader said in a statement. Lets call the inspiration for this assault on a majority Black city for what it is: another bid to distract his angry, frustrated base over his administrations handling of the Epstein files. Sharpton said D.C.s leadership must push back on the presidents use of the city and its residents as political props. We cannot, nor will we, take this lying down, he said. Threatening to hit if people spit, calling all Black and low-income neighborhoods slums, and throwing away the humanity of homeless people by equating them to criminals is the beginning of the end if we dont stand up. This is the ultimate affront to justice and civil rights many of us have dedicated our lives to protecting and expanding. Top DC prosecutor calls police takeover unlawful The top prosecutor in the nations capital is calling Trumps move to take over the citys police department unnecessary and unlawful. District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb says crime is not an emergency levels. After a spike in 2023, violent crime hit its lowest level in decades last year and has continued to sink in 2025, he said. The federal takeover could face a challenge in court, and Schwalb said his office is considering all of our options. Trump goofs on location and date of Putin summit during briefing Trump said a couple of times during the press briefing that he would be traveling to Russia to meet with Vladimir Putin but their summit is taking place in Alaska. Im going to Russia on Friday, he said in one instance. He also made an erroneous reference at another time to the summit being next week instead. Trump jokes about the crowded media briefing room The president began the briefing Monday by commenting on the large crowd of journalists gathered for the news conference. He said hed never seen the media briefing room as crowded as it was. Later during the briefing, he joked they may be violating fire codes. Ive done this for years now, hard to believe, he said. Ive never seen this room so packed. In fact, Im sure its a violation of every fire code. Trump said that in his meeting with Putin, hell review that countrys parameters to end war Now I may leave and say, Good luck, and thatll be the end, Trump said. Trump on the upcoming meeting with Putin: I think itll be good, but it might be bad Trump says he can see a scenario where the U.S. and Russia normalize trade relations if things go well at his meeting with Putin later this week. I do, yeah, he responded when asked about whether he could see the potential ahead of the Alaska meeting. He said Russia has a very valuable piece of land and mused about what would happen if Putin would go toward business instead of war. As for the prospect of progress at that meeting? Trump said: I think itll be good, but it might be bad. Trump says well see what happens with China as tariff truce deadline looms That came during a news conference after Trump was asked whether he plans to extend his 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs on China. The U.S.-China trade truce ends Aug. 12, and if it isnt extended, rates on Chinese goods could climb back to over 80%. Theyve been dealing quite nicely, Trump said, adding that he has a good relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump calls his upcoming sit-down with Putin really a feel-out meeting The president said he was open to meeting with Putin first and then meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy or meeting with both together though he didnt say hed push for a three-person meeting. Trump said President Putin invited me to get involved and even said he thought it was very respectful that Putin is coming to U.S. territory for the meeting in Alaska, instead of insisting that Trump go to Russia. He said hell tell Putin that its time to end Russias war with Ukraine. Trump says hes looking at reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug Were looking at reclassification, Trump said, adding, Its early. He said he planned to make a determination in the coming weeks. The president said marijuana does bad for the children, but that easing penalties associated with it is a very complicated subject because some people support doing so. Trump said hed heard great things having to do with medical use of marijuana. A potential move to remove marijuana from the list of Schedule I controlled substances to a Schedule III drug would make it significantly easier to buy and sell cannabis. The president says other cities could be subject to the same efforts Trump said he hopes other cities, including Los Angeles, New York and Chicago, are watching the steps hes announced in D.C. and would take steps to self-clean up. He said that if needed, the administration would take similar steps in other cities and criticized their leadership at the local and state levels. Trump says hes bringing in 800 National Guard members to assist with law enforcement in DC In addition, Trump also said we will bring in the military if its needed but added, I dont think well need it. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth compared sending the Guard into the nations capital to deployments to the southern U.S. border and Los Angeles. We will work alongside all D.C. police and federal law enforcement, Hegseth said. Hegseth said the D.C. National Guard will be flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week. He also said the Pentagon was prepared to bring in other National Guard units, other specialized units. Trump says he signed documents to give himself authority to crack down on crime in Washington The president said he signed an executive order and presidential memorandum in the Oval Office before holding his news conference. One executive order invoked presidential powers under the Home Rule Act to take over Washingtons police force. He also signed what the administration called statutorily required notification letters to DC Mayor Bowser and relevant congressional leaders. Trump also signed a presidential memorandum directing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to deploy the National Guard in the nations capital. Conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer has alienated even her most loyal supporters after railing at a French-born Medal of Honor recipient. After the Army recognized Capt. Florent Groberg, who received a Medal of Honor for throwing himself at a suicide bomber in Afghanistan in 2012, in an X post on the anniversary of the incident, the far-right activist went on the attack. Are we supposed to believe the Army couldnt find a Republican and US born soldier? They had to find an immigrant who voted for Hillary Clinton and spoke at the DNC as Obamas guest? Loomer wrote on X Saturday. There are probably so many people who the Army could honor who have received the Medal of Honor. But who did the Army choose to honor instead on their social media page under the Trump admin? @FlorentGroberg Florent Groberg, a Democrat who spoke at the 2016 DNC where he https://t.co/Zp7Uq2Tizu pic.twitter.com/3cMeF7jp9w Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) August 9, 2025 U.S. President Barack Obama presents the Medal of Honor to retired Army Captain Florent Groberg November 12, 2015 / Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The MAGA devoteea favorite of President Donald Trumpfurther described the retired soldier as an anti-Trump leftist and attacked Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll for not properly vetting him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Groberg himself replied to the post: Oh boy Thirteen years ago today is my Alive Day, the day I nearly lost my life, and four of my brothers, including three Army leaders, never came home. Ive served under presidents from both parties and will always honor my oath to this country." He added, Yes, I spoke for 60 seconds at the DNC when asked about service and sacrifice, not politics. For me, 8/8 isnt about parties. Its about the lives we lost. Part of my service was making sure evil never succeeds in destroying our democracy and that includes protecting free speech. If someone chooses to comment, thats their right. I fought for that. Tomorrow morning, Ill wake up and bring my son his milk bottle. Ill kiss my Florent Groberg (@FlorentGroberg) August 9, 2025 Loomers rant drew condemnation on social media from Republican veterans, including former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, who wrote, This is low even for you. As a conservative, Republican, combat veteran with a Purple Heart, this is the most obnoxious trash Ive seen on social media in years, another user wrote. This man saved lives with full knowledge his survival was unlikely. When we are in uniform, and everything we did in uniform isnt red or blue. It is green and remains Green for eternity. Laura Loomer accused Secretary of the Army Daniel Driscoll of As a veteran, you are a disgusting individual for attacking him. He has done far more for our country than you will ever do. Who cares if his politics doesnt line up, it does not make him less of a hero! chimed in another. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even proud Loomer fans took umbrage at her attack on Groberg: Laura, I am one of your biggest supporters, but you are very wrong on this. A hero is a hero, it transcends politics. I will always respect and salute a Metal of Honor recipient. God Bless Captain Groberg. Loomer later doubled down on her remarks. I got a call from a reporter a few minutes ago asking me if Im deleting my tweet below. I said no. I dont care about the outrage mob. And I am right to be posting about this, she wrote on X. Loomer's attack on Capt. Florent Groberg drew condemnation on social media from Republican veterans. / John Lamparski / Getty Images She then claimed that the Army had used the weight behind the [Medal of Honor] to issue partisan political attacks and undermine the Commander in Chief. Loomers attack on the decorated veteran comes amid reports of her influence in the White House, which has earned her the nickname Trumps Rasputin, referring to the Russian mystic who had influence on Tsar Nicholas II. She has been credited with Trumps decision to fire at least 16 people from the administration. A string of veterans and politicians, including one Medal of Honor recipient, responded with disdain to a right-wing media personalitys unprompted weekend attack on a Medal of Honor recipient for not being US born. Laura Loomer, an unofficial advisor to President Donald Trump, who has traded in conspiracy theories in her social media feeds for years including claims that 9/11 was an inside job took issue last week with an Army media post on former Capt. Florent Groberg. The Army post noted the thirteenth anniversary of Grobergs actions in Kunar Province, Afghanistan, which earned him the Medal of Honor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aug. 8, 2012, Afghanistan: Capt. Florent Groberg made a split-second decision that saved lives. He tackled a suicide bomber to protect his team, an act of valor that earned him the Medal of Honor, the post read. Though innocuous by military social media standards, the post set Loomer off. Are we supposed to believe the Army couldnt find a Republican and US born soldier? Loomer tweeted as part of a lengthy post aimed at both Groberg and Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll. A fellow Medal of Honor recipient, Dakota Meyer who recently re-enlisted in the Marines immediately took issue with Loomer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Medal is A Political. The person wearing it doesnt have to be. If anyone has earned the right to free speech or to have an opinion, its a man who threw himself in front of a suicide bomber to save lives, Meyer wrote. What have you done? Beyond Meyer, other veterans took to social media in response to Loomer, sometimes replying directly or in reposts. Its unclear why Loomer appears to think the Army endorsed Grobergs politics, and her statements are at odds with easily known facts about the former Army captain. Born in France, Groberg became a naturalized American citizen and renounced his French citizenship when he graduated from college, prior to his time in the Army. Birthright citizenship is not a requirement for service in the U.S. military nor among the criteria for combat valor awards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Groberg spoke at the 2016 Democratic National Convention after identifying himself to organizers as a Republican, and his speech begins: I am here tonight not as a Democrat or a Republican. Im here as a proud immigrant to this country, a proud veteran of the United States Army and proud recipient of our countrys highest military honor. Groberg works in the defense industry and has held several veteran-focused and service member advocacy roles. He now serves as a commissioner on the American Battle Monuments Commission, which maintains American overseas commemorative cemeteries and memorials. Two bombers and a security detail Groberg, along with Sgt. Anthony Mahoney, tackled a suicide bomber on Aug. 8, 2012, while patrolling as the commander of the security detail for then-Col. James Mingus, a brigade commander in the 4th Infantry Division. Mingus is now the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army. When the bombers vest detonated, Groberg was thrown 15 feet. He drew his pistol and crawled toward the bomber. A second bomber detonated his vest early. Investigators determined that much or all of Grobergs party would likely have died had either, or both, of the bombers detonated closer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The blast killed four: Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin J. Griffin, 46; Army Maj. Thomas E. Kennedy, 35; Air Force Maj. Walter D. Gray, 38, and foreign service officer Ragaei Abdelfattah, 43. The Armys post, which did not mention Mingus, commemorated the anniversary of the attack. A spokesperson for Mingus told Task & Purpose that Grobergs actions spoke for themselves. As a general policy, the U.S. Army does not engage in or provide commentary on political discussions or partisan critiques, Mingus spokesperson Maj. Peter Sulzona said in an email. Our focus remains on honoring the selfless service and valor of all Soldiers, regardless of background, as exemplified by Capt. Florent Grobergs heroic actions. Top Stories This Week News Army infantry training unit reverses bay tossing ban By Jeff Schogol News Airman arrested for death that prompted Air Force-wide safety review of Sig M18 By Jeff Schogol News Soldiers who stopped Fort Stewart gunman recognized as the best among us in the Army By Patty Nieberg Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We believe its most appropriate to let the recognition of military heroism stand on its own merits, without injecting political perspectives, Sulona continued. But many veterans joined Meyer in sounding off on Loomers post, as did some members of Congress, including firebrand Trump supporter Marjorie Taylor Greene, a congresswoman from Georgia. Shut up Laura, Greene wrote. Much of Loomers post focused on Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll. Under the Army Secretary Dan Driscoll @SecArmy, there have been several instances of either him, or the Army promoting anti-Trump Leftists on their official social media channels, Loomer wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Groberg responded to Loomer directly on X. Thirteen years ago today is my Alive Day, the day I nearly lost my life, and four of my brothers, including three Army leaders, never came home, he wrote. Ive served under presidents from both parties and will always honor my oath to this country. Yes, I spoke for 60 seconds at the DNC when asked about service and sacrifice, not politics. For me, 8/8 isnt about parties. Its about the lives we lost. ILLINOIS (WCIA) A new law in Illinois will help keep residents informed and safe amid the rise of tick-borne illness. House Bill 1754, also known as the Tracking Infectious Cases Knowledgeably (TICK) Act, focuses on alpha-gal syndrome (AGS). AGS is a serious allergic reaction to red meat, typically caused by the bite of an infected lone star tick. CDC reports record breaking tick-related hospital visits; how to stay safe in Central Illinois: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Public Health will be required to provide educational materials about AGS on its website. The DPH must also undertake a public awareness campaign for community members, local health departments and medical providers; the campaign must cover signs and symptoms of AGS, including when to order a test to diagnosis it. Illinois has been identified as a state with one of the highest AGS rates in the country, but AGS is a growing threat nationwide, the CDC said. Darby Hills, one of the sponsors for the bill, said the new law also requires the IDPH to create formal tracking and reporting procedures for AGS. How do I remove a tick? Champaign Co. Forest Preserve District provides tips: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This legislation is about empowering patients and making sure our healthcare system is better prepared to respond to real concerns, Hills said in a news release. No one should have to fight for answers when it comes to their health. HB1754 was signed by Governor JB Pritzker Aug. 1 and took effect immediately. You can read more about the new law 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 WCIA.com. An Oregon family has filed a lawsuit against police officers after a man died shortly after his arrest. The cops are accused of irresponsible behavior, such as scrolling through TikTok, as Nathan Bradford Smith suffered a fatal overdose in the back of a police car in July 2024. According to local news station KOIN 6, the wrongful death lawsuit filed against the city of Coos Bay claims the 33-year-old was left in the vehicle unattended for 40 minutes before dying in the hospital. Officers Benjamin Martin, Tristan Smith, and Wesley OConnor are accused of neglecting Nathan Smith while arresting him for alleged disorderly conduct. According to the outlet, police had been called on Smith twice in the day before the third call resulted in his arrest. The first two calls related to Nathan Smiths use of meth, describing him as speaking quickly and incomprehensibly, detailed that his eyes were fluttering rapidly. The lawsuit alleges Martin, Smith, and OConnor held him in a stress position to handcuff him. According to KOIN 6, it detailed, Mr. Smith struggled to move his own body into the car, and his breath was rapid and exaggerated, adding that camera footage shows Nathan Smith gasping for air at times, with his eyes closed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Nathan Smith was picked up, the officers transported him to the police station, where he allegedly remained in the vehicle with the windows up. The outlet continued to detail that according to the lawsuit, Officer Martin sprayed air freshener in the car while Nathan Smith appeared to slump over in the back. While in CBPD headquarters, Defendant Smith scrolled on his phone, reviewed and responded to intimate text messages, and looked at TikTok for several minutes, the lawsuit elaborated. Mr. Smith at the same time, was shaking uncontrollably and gasping for breath. Once Officer Martin returned to find Nathan Smith unconscious, he administered medical aid, including Narcan. He was then taken to the hospital, where he entered cardiac arrest around 5:50 p.m. and was declared dead by 6:25 p.m., according to the lawsuit. His cause of death was listed as hyperthermia due to Methamphetamine intoxication and probable exogenous contribution from wearing multiple layers of heavy clothing. According to PEOPLE Magazine, Nathans father, Kurt Smith, explained that his son had been living at the Motel 6 where he was arrested. He also shared that he had visited his son the week before his death and claimed that when police informed him of the loss, they did not share any details, and that he learned the details around his sons death from the funeral home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When these officers found him, he was clearly showing the signs of medical distress, and what we know when he finally did get to see a doctor is that his temperature was 107. He was hyperthermic, and he was going to die. And unfortunately, he did, said lead attorney Juan Chavez, with the Oregon Justice Resource Center, per KGW8. There was a 40-minute delay in getting him critical medical assistance. He had the opportunity at that moment to be taken to a hospital that was a mile away, and instead, he was put into the back of a police car. VIBE has contacted the City of Coos Bay for a statement regarding the lawsuit. More from VIBE.com Sign up for Vibe's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Denying the Justice Departments motion to unseal Ghislaine Maxwell grand jury transcripts on Monday, a federal judge rejected the DOJs professed interest in transparency as disingenuous. What the judge described as the governments feigned interest in revealing Jeffrey Epstein-related information puts a finer point on a separate new lawsuit regarding the Trump administrations handling of the matter. The lawsuit, from nonprofit Democracy Forward, seeks to shed light on the administrations actions by asking a judge in Washington, D.C., to order the government to comply with the Freedom of Information Act. The group filed Freedom of Information Act requests, detailed in its complaint filed Friday, seeking senior administration officials communications regarding the Epstein matter, including those regarding correspondence between President Trump and Epstein, as well as records concerning agency review of the Epstein matter. The suit has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who presided over Donald Trumps federal election interference case, which the DOJ moved to dismiss after he won the 2024 presidential election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legal claim in the new suit is that the government failed to comply with FOIA by not granting speedy processing of the groups requests under the federal transparency law. By failing to grant Plaintiffs requests for expedited processing on Plaintiffs FOIA requests concerning matters of widespread and exceptional media interest in which there exist possible questions about the governments integrity that affect public confidence, ... and national urgent need to inform the public, ... [government] Defendants have violated FOIA, the complaint alleges. The administration will have an opportunity to respond in court. How it does so will reveal its latest stance in the affair that has dogged the White House for its lack of transparency and failure to fulfill its promise to release the full Epstein records. Subscribe to the Deadline: Legal Newsletter for expert analysis on the top legal stories of the week, including updates from the Supreme Court and developments in the Trump administrations legal cases. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) Peruvian President Dina Boluarte met her Indonesian counterpart Prabowo Subianto on Monday during a visit aimed at strengthening economic ties as the two countries look to expand into new markets to overcome geopolitical challenges and rising trade barriers. The talks came just four days after U.S. President Donald Trump began imposing higher import taxes on dozens of countries on Thursday, including a 19% rate on Indonesia. Imports from Peru are paying the 10% baseline rate Trump set in April. Boluarte arrived in Indonesias capital, Jakarta, on Sunday afternoon, following an invitation Subianto extended when the two leaders met at the APEC Summit in Peru in November 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two-day visit is aimed at deepening Perus ties with Indonesia, Southeast Asias largest economy, after the two nations concluded negotiations which began in May 2024 on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement or CEPA. Subianto hosted Boluarte with a ceremony at Merdeka palace before the two leaders held a closed-door bilateral meeting. The CEPA is a testament to the determination of our governments to promote freer trade and strengthen our economies, Boluarte said in a joint news conference with Subianto after the meeting, adding that the deal can promote the exchange of goods and lay the groundwork for future agreements. Subianto praised the seriousness of both governments in reaching an agreement in just 14 months, while similar trade deals with other countries take years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This agreement will expand market access and increase trade activities between our two countries, Subianto said. No details about the agreement have been provided, but Subianto described the pact as the most significant trade cooperation agreement in the history of the two countries. He said the signing also coincided with the 50th anniversary of Indonesia-Peru diplomatic ties. Subianto said Indonesia and Peru also agreed to cooperate in the fields of food, mining and energy consumption, as well as fisheries and defense. He conveyed Indonesias readiness to support the partnership between the Association of Southeast Asia Nations and Peru. Boluarte said Indonesia has become a key partner for Peru in Southeast Asia, and said her visit to the fourth most populous country in the world was an excellent moment to reaffirm their commitment to full observance of international law, free trade, South-South cooperation, food security and sustainable development. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Indonesian consumers are already enjoying Peruvian quinoa, I am pleased to announce the access of Peruvian blueberries to the Indonesian market, Boluarte said. The CEPA deal with Peru is a potential gateway for Indonesian goods and services to enter markets in Central and South America, said Indonesia's trade minister, Budi Santoso, We hope the deal can strengthen Indonesias trade presence in the region. His ministry's data showed the countrys total trade with Peru went down from $554.2 million in 2022 to $444.4 million the following year, while Indonesia enjoyed a $290.4 million trade surplus in 2023, driven by major exports including vehicles, footwear and biodiesel. The two leaders also oversaw the signing of a cooperation agreement on eradicating narcotics and illegal trafficking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During her visit on Monday, Boluarte also met with Indonesian House Speaker Puan Maharani and ASEANs Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn. She shared Perus commitment to strengthening relations, cooperation, and partnership with ASEAN member countries. Indonesia is currently seeking membership of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, which Peru is part of, to boost export growth. A man faces capital murder charges after allegedly shooting and killing three people, including a 4-year-old girl, during a carjacking at a Target store in Austin, Texas, on Monday. The Austin Police Department said 32-year-old Ethan Nieneker was arrested on Monday and charged with two counts of capital murder and one count of first-degree felony murder. Police identified the victims who were killed as Hector Leopoldo Martinez Machuca, Adam Chow and Chows 4-year-old granddaughter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to police, officers responded to calls of multiple shootings at the Target parking lot near Research Boulevard at about 2:15 p.m., and when they arrived, they found Machuca in the parking lot. 3 Shot In Times Square, 17-Year-old Suspect Detained After Late-night Dispute Ethan Nieneker, 32, is the suspect in the triple homicide that occurred on Aug. 11, 2025 in Austin, Texas, police said on X. Machuca was taken to the hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Read On The Fox News App Officers also found a family, including Chow, his granddaughter and his wife. Chow and his granddaughter were both pronounced dead at the scene. A preliminary investigation found that Nieneker allegedly attacked Target employee Machuca, who was collecting shopping carts when he was randomly shot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said Nieneker then ran and began shooting at a Jeep Cherokee that attempted to evade gunfire. He then ran up to a Toyota 4Runner and allegedly shot Chow, who was in the driver's seat. Shooting At Nevada Casino Resort Leaves Multiple People Injured; Suspect In Custody Police responded to the shooting at the Target store located at 8601 Research Boulevard on Monday, August 11, 2025. Police said a suspect had been detained. After shooting Chow, Nieneker allegedly fired into the backseat and struck the 4-year-old girl. As Chows wife carried their granddaughter from the SUV, the suspect allegedly pushed her from the vehicle before speeding out of the parking lot in the 4Runner. Shortly after fleeing the parking lot, police said, Nieneker attempted to steal a water truck. But after an unsuccessful attempt, he returned to the Toyota and drove off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police responded to a call for a multi-vehicle crash and discovered the 4Runner crashed into a Volkswagen before landing on top of an Infiniti SUV. After crashing, Nieneker went to the Volkswagen, allegedly assaulted the female driver, removed her from the vehicle and drove off. Shooting At Tennessee Class Reunion Leaves 4 Hospitalized Three people were killed in a shooting at a Target store in Austin, Texas on Monday, August 11, 2025. Police said Nieneker also attempted to break into a Waymo vehicle, but after failing to do so, he drove off in the Volkswagen. Just before 3 p.m., police received a call of a naked man walking through the backyard of a residence on La Casa Drive, who was seen running into a "porta potty" before fleeing on foot. The call came after an acquaintance of Nieneker reported to police that he had thrown a brick through his residence on the same street. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When police arrived, they saw Nieneker walking on Montclaire Street naked, and after he failed to comply with commands, officers tased him and took him into custody. The officers also reported that they found matching clothing that was seen on the suspect inside the "porta potty." "We have three people that are deceased. This is a very sad day for Austin," Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis said on Monday. "Its a very bad day for us all, and my condolences go out to the families." A preliminary investigation found the suspect has a history of mental health issues, the chief said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davies told reporters the suspect has a rap sheet as well as emergency detention holds. Davies told reporters the investigation has not revealed what led to the shooting, noting that police do not know if there was an altercation at this point. Still, investigators will review surveillance footage outside of Target to get a better idea of what happened. Target employees directed shoppers out of the back of the store, a source tells FOX Business. "We are devastated by the violence that occurred today at our store in Austin, Texas. Our hearts are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, our team in Austin and all those impacted by this tragedy," Target said. "We are working with law enforcement as they conduct their investigation and are grateful to the first responders who acted quickly at the scene. In the days ahead, we will continue partnering with law enforcement and will be providing support resources, including grief counseling, to our team." Original article source: Austin man charged with capital murder in deadly Target parking lot shooting spree Monday At least one person has been killed in the Russian region of Nizhny Novgorod as a result of Ukrainian drone attacks, according to Russian officials. Two other employees of an industrial company were taken to hospital with injuries, regional Governor Gleb Nikitin said on Telegram on Monday. The attack targeted a factory near the city of Arzamas, about 350 kilometres east of Moscow. The Russian military said it shot down 39 Ukrainian drones overnight across several regions and over the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula. The previous evening, Russian authorities had reported two dead and three injured in the central Russian region of Tula. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia, for its part, deployed more than 70 drones against targets in Ukraine, according to Ukrainian officials. The Ukrainian Air Force said 59 of them were intercepted in the north, south and east of the country. There were strikes from 12 Russian combat drones at six locations, but no further details were provided. Ukraine has been defending itself against a Russian invasion for more than three years. Both sides use combat drones to hit targets deep behind enemy lines. The Health Bureau (SSM) reported the ninth imported dengue fever case this year over the weekend, involving a 13-year-old boy who recently traveled to South Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan. After returning from his trip abroad, it is understood that the teenage boy developed a fever and rash on the evening of August 8 and sought treatment at Conde S. Januario Hospital. The following day, laboratory tests confirmed dengue fever type 2 infection. As announced by the SSM, the teenage resident remains in stable condition and is still under medical observation. The bureau also reported that no symptoms have been reported among his household members. SSM continues to urge residents to eliminate stagnant water, use window screens and mosquito nets, apply repellents, and maintain good environmental hygiene. Travelers to dengue-endemic areas are also advised to be vigilant and seek early medical consultation if symptoms such as fever or rash develop. Symptoms typically include fever, joint pain, rash, headache, and muscle aches. While most cases resolve within a week, severe instances can lead to prolonged joint pain. Dengue fever is spread by Aedes albopictus mosquitoes that carry the virus. When an infected mosquito bites a person, it can transmit the virus to others. In parallel, the chikungunya virus is also spread by Aedes mosquitoes. Last Saturday, Hong Kong reported its first imported chikungunya case this year a 12-year-old boy who developed fever, rash, and joint pain after returning from Foshan. Since then, the citys Centre for Health Protection (CHP) has confirmed a total of five imported cases, including three linked to mainland China and two from Bangladesh. Residents are advised by authorities to take necessary precautions, minimize mosquito habitats, and promptly seek medical advice if symptoms arise. Like this: Like Loading... Lawyers for President Donald Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom are set to face off Monday to determine whether the president violated a 147-year-old law when he deployed the National Guard to quell protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles against the wishes of the Democratic governor. In June, as hundreds of people gathered in Los Angeles to protest a string of immigration raids that targeted workplaces and left dozens of people detained or deported, the president federalized and deployed 4,000 National Guard members over the objection of Newsom and local officials, who said the deployment would only cause further chaos. Trump invoked a rarely used law that allows the president to federalize the National Guard during times of actual or threatened rebellion or invasion, or when regular forces cant enforce US laws. The presidents lawyers said in a court filing that the duties of the National Guard troops and a handful of Marines also dispatched were narrowly circumscribed: They were dispatched only to protect federal property and personnel, and they didnt engage in any law enforcement activities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsom filed a lawsuit June 9 against Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, saying they violated the Posse Comitatus Act and the 10th Amendment. Trumps lawyers say the act, which prevents the use of the military for enforcing laws, doesnt provide a mechanism for a civil lawsuit. President Donald Trump, followed by first lady Melania Trump, shakes hands with California Gov. Gavin Newsom after arriving at Los Angeles International Airport in Los Angeles on January 24 to visit the region devastated by the Palisades and Eaton fires. - Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images But Newsoms lawyers have argued the president illegally made an unprecedented power grab and even violated the Constitution by overruling local authorities to send in the military. The president and Hegseth have overstepped the bounds of law and are intent on going as far as they can to use the military in unprecedented, unlawful ways, Newsoms lawyers say in a complaint. The trial represents a crucial moment for determining how much power a US president can lawfully exercise over the military on domestic soil. During his first term, Trump had often speculated openly about the possibility of deploying the military on American soil, whether to suppress protests or combat crime. Now hes talking about deploying the National Guard to the nations capital over recent high-profile crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The trial also represents an escalation of the feud between Trump and Newsom, which saw the president threaten to have the Democratic governor arrested during the Los Angeles protests. Newsom described the comment as an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism. The judge set to preside over the bench trial, Charles R. Breyer, previously granted a temporary restraining order against the Trump administration, ruling that the president unlawfully federalized the National Guard and that the protests didnt amount to an insurrection. But just hours later, an appeals court paused his ruling, allowing the deployment to continue. Heres more on what to know about the upcoming trial and the three laws Newsoms team says Trump and Hegseth violated. The trial is taking place in San Francisco, presided over by Breyer, who sits on the US District Court for the Northern District of California, with proceedings scheduled from Monday to Wednesday. The Posse Comitatus Act At the center of the legal proceedings is the Posse Comitatus Act, which largely prevents the president from using the military as a domestic police force, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, an independent law and policy organization. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Posse Comitatus is a Latin term used in American and British law to describe a group of people who are mobilized by the sheriff to suppress lawlessness in the county, according to the Brennan Center. The act, signed into law by President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1878, consists of just one sentence: Whoever, except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress, willfully uses any part of the Army or the Air Force as a posse comitatus or otherwise to execute the laws shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both. A man waves a Mexican flag as smoke and flames rise from a burning vehicle during a protest against federal immigration sweeps in downtown Los Angeles on June 8. - David Swanson/Reuters Newsoms lawyers say the deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles was a violation of the act since it bars the military from engaging in civil law enforcement unless explicitly authorized by law, according to the complaint. But Trumps lawyers insist the National Guard and Marines didnt engage in any civil law enforcement and therefore didnt violate the act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, they say the act itself doesnt provide any mechanisms for its enforcement in a private civil lawsuit. The 10th Amendment Newsoms lawyers also argue that by overriding California officials, Trump violated the 10th Amendment of the Constitution, which governs the sharing of power between the federal government and the 50 states. The amendment says the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. Trump and Hegseths move to call up the National Guard against the governors wishes infringes on Governor Newsoms role as Commander-in-Chief of the California National Guard and violates the States sovereign right to control and have available its National Guard in the absence of a lawful invocation of federal power, Newsoms complaint says. Policing and crime control are some of the most crucial uses of state power, Newsoms lawyers say. The Administrative Procedure Act Additionally, Newsoms lawyers argue Trump and Hegseth violated the Administrative Procedure Act, which says a court must hold unlawful and set aside agency action that is arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with the law, that is contrary to constitutional right (or) power, or that is in excess of statutory jurisdiction, authority, or limitations, or short of statutory right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth and the Department of Defense lack authority to federalize members of the California National Guard without issuing such orders through Governor Newsom, who has not consented to their actions or been afforded the opportunity to consult on any deployment. Such agency actions are unauthorized, unprecedented, and not entitled to deference by this Court, reads the complaint. The obscure law Trumps lawyers cite Trumps lawyers, meanwhile, have focused in their filing on a little-used law they cited to federalize the National Guard. Section 12406(3) of the US Code says the president can federalize the National Guard of any state in three circumstances: if the US is being invaded or faces danger of invasion; if there is a rebellion or danger of rebellion; or if the president is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States. The law, however, stipulates the orders should be issued through the governors. Newsoms lawyers say Trump didnt consult with the governor before issuing the order. Breyer previously pointed out Trumps memo directed Hegseth to consult the governor before federalizing the National Guard but that he didnt. President Lyndon B. Johnson sits at his desk in Washington, DC, before announcing he would federalize the Alabama National Guard to protect civil rights demonstrators in Selma, Alabama, on March 18, 1965. - Bettmann Archive/Getty Images National Guard units patrol outside the main New York Post Office on March 25, 1970, after being mobilized by President Richard Nixon. - Leslie Leon/Keystone/Getty Images The Los Angeles deployment was only the second time in US history that a president has used the exclusive authority of this law to federalize the National Guard, according to Newsoms lawyers. The first was when President Richard Nixon called on the National Guard to deliver the mail during the 1970 Postal Service strike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And its the second time since 1965, when President Lyndon B. Johnson sent troops to Alabama to protect civil rights demonstrators, that a president activated a states national guard without a request from the governor though he used a different law to do so. Trumps lawyers say the president was unable to enforce federal immigration law as well as laws forbidding interference with federal functions or assaults on federal officers and property with the regular forces so the deployment falls within the limits of Section 12406(3). What do Newsoms lawyers want? With only 300 National Guard troops still deployed in Los Angeles, Newsoms lawyers are looking mostly for symbolic relief: a declaration the memorandum used to federalize the National Guard and Hegseths orders were unauthorized and illegal. The remaining troops are stationed at Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos, Newsom says, without a clear mission, direction, or a timeline for returning to their communities. Newsoms team is also asking for injunctive relief prohibiting Hegseth and the Department of Defense from federalizing and deploying the California National Guard and military without meeting legal requirements, including the cooperation of the governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Finally, they ask to recoup the state of Californias costs and attorneys fees and such additional relief as the court deems proper and the interests of justice may require. What witnesses will appear? Trumps lawyers indicated in a court filing they plan to call as a witness Maj. Gen. Scott M. Sherman, deputy commanding general of the National Guard. Sherman is expected to discuss the National Guards deployment to Los Angeles and their compliance with the Posse Comitatus Act. Newsoms lawyers also plan to call Sherman, as well as US Army official William B. Harrington to testify about the activities of Task Force 51, the command post activated to coordinate deployment of National Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles. Ernesto Santacruz Jr. of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement is also expected to testify about the federalized National Guards activities in support of federal law enforcement officials during immigration enforcement operations. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The election race to lead the most populous town in the US has gone down a perverted rabbit hole featuring bestiality, porn and a Marine veteran ex-NYPD cop. The campaign for Long Islands Town of Hempstead supervisor turned sickeningly X-rated when an old social media post recently surfaced suggesting Democratic candidate Joseph Scianablo once boasted about looking at animal porn. i just st myself while watchinG animal porn, reads the Dec. 27, 2008, post on Scianablos Facebook page. Joseph Scianablo, the Democratic candidate for Town of Hempstead supervisor, came under fire after a bizarre Facebook post of his referencing animal porn resurfaced. joeforhempsteadsupervisor.com A screenshot of Scianablos post from 2008. While Scianablo is claiming his brother posed as him to post the twisted missive as a joke, the Dems foe, interim Republican Hempstead Supervisor John Ferretti, said he is still disgusted by the antics involving bestiality and that the whole sordid ordeal makes his opponent unfit for office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not a joke. This is not a youthful mistake. This is a statement that celebrates the abuse and exploitation of animals and it is beneath the dignity of any individual seeking public office, Ferretti told The Post. Ferretti noted that the job of Hempstead Town supervisor involves the direct oversight of the Hempstead Animal Shelter, which is designed to rescue, protect and care for cats and dogs, many of which have already been victims of cruelty and neglect. The idea that someone who created a social media post to celebrate bestiality and publicly joked about it could be in charge of protecting animals is both sickening and unacceptable, Ferretti said. We are not talking about politics were talking about basic decency, judgment, and humanity. Republican Hempstead Supervisor John Ferretti said Scianablos disgusting Facebook post makes him unfit for office. Brigitte Stelzer Scianablo a Marine combat veteran, retired NYPD officer and former prosecutor in the Queens District Attorneys Office admitted that the post was written under his name but claimed he was the victim of a prank by his brother, Jason, at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have a dopey brother who did this, Scianablo told The Post on Sunday. My brother took my computer and posted it [the animal porn], added the candidate, who was 31 at the time of the posting. He slammed Ferretti and the GOP for its desperate mudslinging in its bid for control of the town of nearly 800,000 residents. This is nothing but a smear, Scianablo said. My record speaks for itself. His campaign, in full damage-control mode, then provided a statement it says is from Jason fessing up to the prank. In 2008, I made a stupid, juvenile post on my brothers Facebook as a joke, said the campaign statement attributed to Jason. My brother had returned from serving in combat as a US Marine in Iraq. For months, our family lived with the fear that we might lose him. When he came home, the relief was overwhelming, and I slipped back into being the kid brother who teased him instead of the man who should have been thanking him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My brother served four years as an NYPD officer, and he would later be seriously injured in the line of duty protecting victims of domestic violence. He has put his life on the line more times than I can count, for his fellow Marines, for the people of New York, and for complete strangers in danger. He has served with honor, courage, and commitment, and earned every role he has ever held through sacrifice and service. Ferretti meanwhile has promoted his animal rights record as a Nassau County legislator. He authored legislation that bans convicted animal abusers from owning pets and increased penalties for leaving animals in hot or freezing cars, while also cracking down on animal hoarders. Scianablo blamed the post on his dopey brother logging onto his computer. joeforhempsteadsupervisor.com He sponsored another bill requiring owners of dogs deemed dangerous to notify neighbors within a 1,000-foot radius and to register those animals in a public safety database. This election is about who we can trust to do whats right. And clearly, Joe Scianablo is not that person, Ferretti said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The race was already mired in controversy. Ferretti replaced Don Clavin, the three-term GOP town supervisor who stepped down before his term expired at years end. Scianablo and other Democrats cried foul, saying it was a GOP power play to give Ferretti a leg up with the power of incumbency in the general election this fall. The American Colonization Society still controlled Liberia when Edward Roye moved there in 1846. In 1847, however, Liberians declared their independence, so they could establish a sovereign state and create their own laws. Afraid of the impact this might have on slavery, the United States government did not recognize the nation it had played such a significant role in creating. Roye never supported the American Colonization Society. He was aware that Whites founded the society in 1816 in response to what they perceived as the "problem" of growing numbers of free Blacks. The solution they came up with was to ship them out of the country. Initially, the society organized a colonization plan in Haiti, then established a colony in Liberia a few years later. In 1849, two years after Liberia declared independence, Roye became speaker of the Liberian House of Representatives. He was then elected to the Senate in 1856. Despite his involvement in politics, Roye still maintained a business, exporting goods to England and the U.S. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Licking County history: Edward J. Roye returned from Liberia with wealth and stories The following is a story that was published in newspapers across America, Africa and the British Isles concerning Roye's trading business. The Eusebia N. Roye, named after Roye's deceased daughter, departed Monrovia, Liberia, bound for New York on March 5, 1859. The ship carried 35 tons of wood, 405 pounds of ivory, 28,000 gallons of palm oil and a small amount of copper and gold dust. For the first time, the ship sailed under the Liberian flag on this trip after sailing twice under the U.S. flag. Upon docking in New York Harbor, Roye was informed that Liberian ships must pay tonnage fees of $1 per ton and four-tenths of 1% on the cargo value. The fees were paid, but Roye disputed them in a letter to officials a few days later. Will not the enlightened and proud American government refund the tonnage dues paid on the Liberian brig Eusebia N Roye and her cargo in consequence of her being a foreign vessel? These dues are neither levied in America nor in Liberia on American vessels or on those of the most friendly nations. Respectfully, Edward J. Roye. There is no record of a refund ever being received. Later reports in London newspapers claim that afterwards Roye traded in British ports because of the fees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the years that followed, Roye remained involved in politics. It was in 1865 that he was appointed as chief justice of Liberia, an office he held until 1868. He ran for Liberian president in 1867 with the True Whig Party but was defeated by Republican Party member James Payne in a close election. Licking County history: Edward Roye left for Liberia in 1846 but never forgot Newark The term of office for president was two years at the time, so Roye ran again in 1869. In this election, he defeated incumbent James Payne, breaking the longstanding dominance of the Republican Party in Liberian politics. Newark native Edward James Roye was sworn in as Liberia's fifth president Jan. 3, 1870. A copy of his inaugural address was published March 25, 1870, in the Daily Evening Telegraph newspaper in Philadelphia. Roye's speech included numerous social and economic initiatives he wanted to address during his term. The whole address took up four columns in the newspaper and is too much to reprint here, but his closing shows his heart for his adopted nation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fellow citizens, I regard the Liberian nation as sacred. God has planted us here, and through all the vicissitudes of our existence, His hand has been plainly visible directing our affairs. God has set Liberia as it were, upon a hill on this continent. He has put His temple in the midst of her. Doug Stout is the local history coordinator for the Licking County Library. You may contact him at 740-349-5571 or dstout@lickingcountylibrary.org. His book "Never Forgotten: The Stories of Licking County Veterans" is available for purchase at the library or online at bookbaby.com. This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Licking County history: Roye was elected Liberia's president in 1869 Lithuania will hold the Arsus Vilkas 2025 (Fierce Wolf 2025) military exercises between Aug. 11 and 22 in areas near the border with Belarus, the Lithuanian military announced on Aug. 10. The drills come days after the first echelon of Russian troops and equipment arrived in Belarus for the large-scale Zapad-2025 exercises, which are scheduled for mid-September. Organized by the Gelezinis Vilkas battalion, the Lithuanian exercise will involve about 350 personnel and 50 pieces of equipment, with simulated ammunition and pyrotechnics used throughout the drill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first week will see infantry companies and battalion headquarters redeploy to the Varena district in the south for defensive operations in populated areas using Vilkas infantry fighting vehicles. The second week will focus on division-level live fire exercises at the Gaiziunai training ground in central Lithuania. Lithuania, a NATO and EU member bordering both Belarus and Russia's Kaliningrad exclave, has been one of the alliance's most outspoken critics of Moscow since the start of the full-scale war in Ukraine. A map of the Baltic Sea Region. (Lisa Kukharska / The Kyiv Independent) Kyiv and NATO have expressed concern that the Zapad-2025 drills could be used as cover for renewed Russian aggression, as Russia continues its war against Ukraine while Belarus remains a potential staging ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Belarusian Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Muraveika previously said the drills would take place away from the western border to reduce tensions, but on July 23, Minsk signaled a possible change, citing what it called increasing military activity by Poland and Lithuania. Ukraine's State Border Guard Service spokesperson Andrii Demchenko said on Aug. 11 that several hundred Russian soldiers and dozens of pieces of equipment had arrived in Belarus to participate in drills. Speaking on national television, Demchenko said this number does not pose a threat to Ukraine, while intelligence units continue to track any further arrivals of Russian forces in Belarus. Following the Zapad-2021 drills, Moscow and Minsk conducted the "Union Resolve-2022" exercise, which directly preceded and facilitated the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Volodymyr Zelensky warned in February that Russia planned to deploy up to 150,000 troops, the equivalent of 15 divisions, to Belarus. Read also: Mobilization gridlock: How politics, policy, and public opinion are shaping Ukraines war effort Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The union representing government employees at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pushed back on how employees are treated in the wake of the shooting on Friday. According to the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2883, the heartbreaking incident at the CDCs Roybal Campus on Friday was not random. While the union said they were thankful for Officer David Rose protecting the community and wanted to honor his service, they were also outraged at the current circumstances that they say led to the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This tragedy was not random and it compounds months of mistreatment, neglect and vilification that CDC staff have endured, the union said in a statement. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The deliberate targeting of CDC through this violent act is deeply disturbing, completely unacceptable and an attack on every public servant, the union added. The union also referenced that early reports on the motive for the attack, that left Rose dead and caused an hours-long shutdown at the CDC campus, was related to vaccines. Early reports indicate the gunman was motivated by vaccine disinformation, which continues to pose a dangerous threat to public health and safety, Local 2883 said in a statement. RELATED STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the wake of the shooting, and Roses death, the union said they stand with the CDC staff and community, including the more than 90 children who remained in lockdown at the CDCs Clifton School. Those of us not directly part of the lockdowns watched in fear for our colleagues as the events unfolded, the union said. The terror, the uncertainty, and the trauma of what happened, as well as what could have happened, are still very present. Trauma doesnt end once the lockdown is lifted." The union said when it comes to next steps, they will not stop fighting and are advocating for remote work options for those who feel unsafe, urging for delayed returns to office until the windows are repaired and the buildings are fully secured and that the CDC should allow fair and comprehensive telework at all campuses for fairness. Staff should not be required to work next to bullet holes, the union said. Forcing a return under these conditions risks re-traumatizing staff by exposing them to the reminders of the horrific shooting they endured. A safe and psychologically supportive workspace must be prioritized before resuming in-person work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The organization also wants trauma resources, transparency, condemnation of vaccine disinformation from agency leaders and a seat at the table for the union related to safety decisions for employees. AFGE Local 2883 also wants Congressional action in Washington to end the reckless politicization of federal employees and wants accountability for what they call rhetoric that incites hostility and vilifies public servants. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Local business owner helps nine-year-old girl fight cancer TECUMSEH (KSNT) A local business owner is chipping in, helping a 9-year-old girl fight cancer. Mike Thompson builds guitars and is the creator of Monkeyhouse Guitars. Hes also helping out 9-year-old Summer Stockman, while she battles B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. While Summer focuses on fighting cancer, Thompson is using his craftsmanship skills to take on her medical bills. It is incredibly hard to ask for help, you know, Thompson said. And so as soon as I saw that, I was like, I have got the means to be able to help to do something, I have to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thompsons daughter, Harper, is the same age as Summer and will attend school with her in the near future. Summer was diagnosed in July last year and is receiving treatment at Childrens Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. Summers mother, Ashley Purvis, is thankful for Thompsons help. Highway closure will create nearly 60-mile detour in north-central Kansas It takes a really wonderful person to reach out and dedicate their time to helping somebody in need, so we absolutely love it and hope that our relationship continues to grow, Purvis said. This years raffle is a little different. Thompson will craft the instrument with the help of Monkeyhouse Guitars fans. Another custom guitar shop from Australia is donating a guitar neck, and Thompson will work with his followers to design the rest. Summer says she is excited to see the end result. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think it is going to be awesome and cool, Summer said. Summer still has a year and a half of chemotherapy left. You can help by donating to her gofundme or you can enter the guitar raffle. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. HENDERSON, Ky (WEHT) Back to School season continues this week, and its not just elementary, middle and high school students returning to class. Local colleges are also resuming classes. The University of Southern Indiana is welcoming students back to campus. Monday begins move in week for the fall semester. Thousands of students will start lugging their belongings to various dorms and on campus apartments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After getting reacquainted with old friends on campus or learning their way around for the first time, students will hit the books a week from Monday on August 18. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW). (Stock photo via Getty Images) Lyman Dillon resides in the dusty recesses of Iowa history for his role in 1839 in one of Iowas earliest infrastructure projects. Dillons work also figures indirectly in a modern-day lesson on how NOT to run a government. This how-not-to-do-it tutorial occurred last week during a Jones County Board of Supervisors meeting. A similar lesson is playing out in Storm Lake to a growing audience of discontented residents there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the heart of this lesson is the simple command the Legislature adopted 50 years ago that public business should take place in the open for all to see, not in secret. Lawmakers and the courts recognize that voters and taxpayers cannot understand and evaluate the basis and rationale for government decisions when elected leaders make them behind closed doors or based on undisclosed information. But some officials trip over themselves to avoid the heat of the spotlight when considering controversial topics. It is not necessarily a desire to avoid controversies. Instead, some prefer to discuss and decide what to do in private for convenience or to avoid embarrassment. How does Lyman Dillon, an obscure pioneer, figure into this issue of openness vs. secrecy? Lets begin with a quick history lesson. In 1839, the federal government hired the 39-year-old farmer from Cascade to construct the first road in the Iowa Territory. I use the term construct loosely. Dillon was paid $3 per mile to use his teams of oxen to plow a 90-mile-long path that would guide travelers between Dubuque and Iowa City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The path was officially known as the Military Road. Unofficially, people called it Dillons Furrow. Today, his path carries mundane names, U.S. Highway 151 between Dubuque and Anamosa and Iowa Highway 1 from just west of Anamosa to Iowa City. In 1887, the government built an iron bridge over the Wapsipinicon River at Anamosa to further aid travelers using Dillons Furrow. That bridge still stands, although it no longer carries travelers. Some people in eastern Iowa, including the Anamosa City Council and 1,200 petition signers, want to preserve what is now called the Dillon Military Bridge as a historic centerpiece for a recreational hiking and biking trail. But members of the Jones County Board of Supervisors see the bridge as a big expense for taxpayers and want to cut it up for scrap. I do not have a position on the keep-or-scrap question. But I do have an opinion on the process the county supervisors followed last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The board disregarded the spirit and letter of Iowas public meetings Iowa when it met behind closed doors to discuss the bridge question and the countys Anamosa bridge agreement. When the public meeting resumed, the supervisors came down in favor of demolition and voted to dissolve their agreement with Anamosa. They did this without allowing preservationists to observe or comment during the supervisors deliberations last week. In contrast, when the bridge issue came before the Anamosa City Council in June, about 70 people attended and spoke at length. County Attorney Kristofer Lyons said the supervisors needed to close their meeting because the bridge issue could end up in a lawsuit. Following his logic, government boards in Iowa could debate nearly every controversial issue in secret because there always is a chance someone might sue. The litigation exemption to the public meetings law allows government boards and their lawyers to discuss legal strategy in a pending lawsuit or in a dispute that is headed to the courts. Neither applies at this point to the Dillon Military Bridge dispute. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As in Jones County, people in Storm Lake are frustrated by the lack of information about the financial health of Kings Pointe Resort, a hotel, resort and water park on the shore of Storm Lake. The city owns the property and contracts with an outside management company to run it. Questions about the profitability of Kings Pointe arose when the latest city audit was made public. It reported the resorts cash on hand has fallen by half in recent years. Expenses exceeded revenues in 2024, 2023, 2021 and 2020, the Storm Lake Times Pilot reported. To answer the publics questions about the resort finances, the newspaper asked for copies of the monthly profit and loss statements the management company must provide to city officials under their operating agreement. The city claimed those statements do not exist, and if they did, the Times Pilot or anyone else asking for them would have to pay a city fee to retrieve and copy the documents. The Times Pilot wrote an editorial last week titled, Fortress of secrecy. The editorial said, Storm Lake City Hall is stonewalling us so hard on basic public information it makes one think that an attempt is being made to obscure poor management. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The editorial continued: Government should not operate this way, but we have become accustomed to it. Secrecy has become official policy. But it should not be, not in Storm Lake, nor in Jones County. Not for bridges, nor for water slides and hotels. Randy Evans is a member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative and his columns may be found on his blog, Stray Thoughts. Editors note: Please consider subscribing to the collaborative and the authors blogs to support their work. Three weeks after historic Congressional cuts left public media giants like the Public Broadcasting Service and National Public Radio without federal funding, Tennessees PBS and NPR leaders gave a message to the community: they arent going anywhere without a fight. Deep inside Nashvilles PBS station on Aug. 7, community members filled the audience seating for a live taping of "Slice of Community," the local talk show hosted by Jerome Moore. A member of the audience asks a question during the live broadcast of Nashville PBSs Slice of the Community Thursday, August 7, 2025. The show usually features local political leaders, activists and organizers discussing community involvement but this time, the cameras were turned on themselves. Avery Hutchins, CEO of the Cookeville PBS station WCTE, Becky Magura, CEO of the Nashville PBS station WNPT, and Mack Linebaugh, vice president of audience and content at Nashvilles NPR station WPLN, sat to discuss the impacts of the federal funding cut and how the stations will stay afloat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is power in numbers, Hutchins said. And we are a trusted source for a lot of people. And we have to remember that. We need to lean into the good and remember why were here. The recent cuts, part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by Congress on July 18 as well as a sustained push by the Trump administration to gut the entities, left the nonprofit Corporation for Public Broadcasting without funding for the first time since its creation in 1967. More: As Trump seeks to defund PBS, NPR, rural Tennesseans could see big impacts The lack of federal funding for the CPB which only made up .01% of the federal budget, or $1.06 per citizen annually means local entities like Tennessee PBS and NPR stations will not receive grant funding for their services, which range from news content to educational programming and even emergency alerts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Public radio and TV stations across Tennessee initially received a total of $7,365,199 from CPB funding for the current fiscal year money that has now been clawed back by an entirely Republican vote, leaving stations scrambling for fundraising. Its a big hit, said Hutchins, whose station is the only television station in a 75-mile radius. It was 40% of our budget. Its tight. According to numbers provided by PBS, the Nashville station received about 20% of its funding from the CPB, while the Cookeville station receives about 40%, Lexington 45%, Memphis 21%, and the Knoxville and Chattanooga stations around 30% to 45%. The stations in total serve more than 6 million people, according to numbers reported by stations, with coverage stretching into a number of surrounding states and heavily rural areas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "East Tennessee PBS has already experienced a reduction in staff, loss of educational and safety services, and cuts to the services you rely on and love," said Vickie Lawson, president and CEO of East Tennessee PBS, through a pre-recorded message to the audience. "It's disappointing. And for a small station like ours, its more than that. It's a real threat to the services you count on every day." She emphasized the urgent need for community support, adding, "We are defunded, but not defeated." Hutchins station in Cookeville serves critical infrastructure to an area that is majority-rural. We are the only television station in the upper Cumberland, she said. And there are dark holes in that area. They dont have cell service, they dont have fiber, theyre not getting any other source of information other than WCTE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre isolated in a rural part of Tennessee, and you need to know what the weather is going to be, or view an Amber Alert, or know where the tornado might be, you turn on your television, she said. Well if you turn it on and its dark, how are you going to get your information? Panelists Avery Hutchins, president and CEO of Cookeville's WCTE, Becky Magura, president and CEO of Nashville PBS and Mack Linebaugh, vice president of audience and content for Nashville Public Radio discuss the loss of federal funds for public media during the live broadcast of Nashville PBSs Slice of the Community Thursday, August 7, 2025. Magura stated that the loss of funding is a significant blow. Were all at risk because what we offer is not replicable, she said, gesturing to the seated group. Were the publics media. If you believe in public schools, public health, public highways, then you would believe in public media. Because it means every person has access to free over-the-air, online, on-the-ground media that reflects and represents them. She described the outpouring of support the station has received over the past few weeks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other day, we got an envelope with two $5 bills, she said, visibly tearing up. And this gentlemen wrote the sweetest note. Weve had people give us substantial amounts of moneyand thats huge. But (gifts like these) just say that people care. Linebaugh similarly shared his appreciation for the intense support offered by Nashville viewers and listeners. Last week, the local radio station reported that their funding cuts around $400,000 had been entirely covered by the stations three-day fundraiser, in the fastest and largest fundraiser in the stations history. More: Nashville Public Radio raises over $400K following Congress funding cut It was emotional experience, he said, recounting a story that a reporter at the station had been telling on the air regarding the new Superman movie when the fundraising mark was hit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Superman was created, he was a journalist, he said. A journalist was a hero in our society. And I feel like there have been moments when some of our journalists have felt a little bit under siege of late, across he whole spectrum of journalism. And what our audience gave us was just a very clear message that they value the work that we do, and that meant a lot. After a lengthy question and answer session at the end of the program, Magura expressed her support for people who have shown their support for the stations. I hope people will take away that were determined to not go awaythat were determined, she said. But we need them! We cant do it without them. It will be critical for us to have their voices and support. The USA TODAY Network - The South region's coverage of First Amendment issues is funded through a collaboration between the Freedom Forum and Journalism Funding Partners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Have a story to tell? Reach Angele Latham by email at alatham@gannett.com, by phone at 931-623-9485, or follow her on Twitter at @angele_latham This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Local NPR, PBS stations discuss Trump funding cuts effects Coastal squeeze, the phenomenon when beaches have nowhere to go between rising seas and beachfront homes, is a problem that dates back to ancient times. However, the impacts of our steadily changing climate are worsening coastal squeeze and raising legal concerns about preserving these vulnerable stretches of land, The New York Times reported. What's happening? There's an enduring legal concept that has carried over from sixth-century Rome to ensure beaches are publicly accessible. The beaches in most U.S. states are public trust property, allowing free access to use them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Backed by law and environmental policy, beach users claim landowners shouldn't install coastal armor measures to protect their properties at the expense of the beaches. When landowners install seawalls and other protections, public beach loss results. A University of Michigan School of Law professor, Richard K. Norton, posed the question, "Are you going to save the beach house, or do you want to save the beach? Because you cannot save them both," as quoted by the Times. Why is it important to save beaches? A research study published in the journal Nature Communications described how an estimated one-third of the world's beaches have already been armored with manmade structures. Beachfront property owners are increasingly taking measures to armor their coastlines, leaving no place for beaches to go amidst rising sea levels. Beaches are important because they are a vital part of many economies and a profitable source of tourism dollars. As sea levels continue to rise each year, per NASA, beachfront homes are at a higher risk of damage and property value losses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beaches are also vital ecosystems for plant and animal habitats and are essential in the lives of birds, fish, and aquatic plants. As beaches shrink, tensions rise between beachgoers and property owners, sparking lawsuits and legal battles over who has the right to the land. "State trustees have a continuing duty to protect public trust resources, even under new circumstances," said Staley Prom, a Surfrider Foundation attorney, per the Times. "Even with respect to armoring that may have been permitted, there are no vested rights to harm public trust resources." What's being done to conserve our world's beaches? Coastline armoring projects continue to occur along beaches across the country. Yet some of these projects protect not only private homes from rising sea levels but also public roads and water mains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Communities have been exploring all possible solutions to adapt to their rising seas, including creating artificial barrier islands to offset the force of intensifying storms. However, even at the individual level, we can protect our beaches by reducing pollution where we live. Air pollution is a significant factor in beach erosion and rising seas, because it traps heat in our atmosphere, which intensifies severe weather. Therefore, anything we can do to curb the pollution that contributes to these issues is a step in the right direction. Individual actions include limiting your water use and making your home more energy efficient with solar panels. When you compare solar installation quotes on EnergySage's website, you can save up to $10,000 on the upfront costs. You can also contribute to a healthier environment by investing in climate causes and learning more about the critical climate issues that affect your community. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. The Nigerian military killed more than 100 members of a criminal gang in an air and ground raid over the weekend, according to a conflict monitoring report produced for the United Nations and seen by AFP on Monday, Azernews reports, citing Tribune. Armed groups called "bandits" by locals have for years been terrorising communities in northwest and central Nigeria, raiding villages, kidnapping residents for ransom and burning homes after looting them. The military raid in the restive northwestern state of Zamfara was launched "in the early hours" Sunday in the Bukkuyum local government area, where fighter jets in coordination with ground troops pounded a gathering of more than 400 bandits in their Makakkari forest camp. The military's attack "may have occurred in response to consecutive banditry, especially kidnapping, in the state in the previous month", the report said, noting a link between a recent decrease in military operations in the state and a spate of bandit attacks. Bukkuyum's Adabka village was on Friday the scene of a bandit attack that saw residents kidnapped and 13 security personnel killed. Bandits had been planning an attack on a farming village when "air and ground troops ambushed a bandit camp... killing over 100", the report said. A spokesman for the Nigerian army did not respond to an AFP request for comment. Nigeria's "banditry" crisis originated in conflict over land and water rights between herders and farmers but has morphed into organised crime, with gangs preying on rural communities that have long had little or no government presence. Cattle rustling and kidnapping have become huge moneymakers in the largely impoverished countryside. Groups also levy taxes on farmers and artisanal miners. The conflict is worsening a malnutrition crisis in the northwest as attacks drive people away from their farms, in a situation that has been complicated by climate change and western aid cuts. Despite military deployment to fight the criminal gangs since 2015 and the creation of a militia force by the Zamfara state government two years ago, the violence has persisted. In July, Nigerian troops killed at least 95 members of an armed gang in a shootout and air strikes in the northwest state of Niger. But the military is overstretched, with banditry spreading out of its northwestern heartland into central Nigeria. Bandits, who are primarily motivated by money, have also increased their cooperation with Nigeria's jihadist groups, who are waging a separate, 16-year-old armed insurrection in the northeast. Macaus per-capita non-gaming spending by visitors fell 12.8% year-on-year to MOP1,970 in the first half of 2025, even as total non-gaming expenditure slightly edged up 0.2% to MOP37.86 billion, the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) reported. This shows that although Macau received more visitors in the same period, this increase was not matched by expenditure at the same rate. According to DSEC data, same-day visitors accounted for the slight increase in total spending, which reached MOP7.85 billion, an increase of 7%. This result was enough to offset the 1.4% decrease in overnight visitors (MOP30.01 billion) during the same period. Analyzed by the principal source of visitors, those from the mainland (MOP2,253) continued to spend more on average, followed by Taiwan (MOP1,940) and international markets (MOP1,885). The spending of those arriving from Hong Kong averaged MOP940. Nonetheless, all the figures from the different markets showed significant drops year-on-year, with the largest decline (-16.9%) from international markets, followed by the mainland (-14.4%), Hong Kong (-13.4%), and Taiwan (-7.4%). A different analysis by DSEC also found that those who came to Macau to participate in Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism, as well as those attending performances/competitions, tended to spend significantly more respectively MOP4,232 and MOP4,161. Q2 shows a shift in expenditure According to the release from DSEC, in Q2, the per-capita non-gaming spending of visitors dropped 12.3% year-on-year to MOP1,950. Same-day visitors (MOP673) saw the largest decline, falling 19.3% compared to the previous year. Despite also showing a drop, the overnight visitors (MOP3,663) figures were similar to last year, recording a decline of 2.1%. Regarding the type of expense, visitors spent mainly on shopping (41.5% of the total), followed by accommodation (24.9%) and food and beverages (22.5%). The share of visitors spending on food and beverages increased year-on-year, whereas the share on shopping decreased. Due to the higher number of visitors recorded in the period, Q2 overnight visitors (MOP14.64 billion) and same-day visitors (MOP3.61 billion) increased by 4.4% and 5.5%, respectively. Analyzed by principal source of visitors, per-capita non-gaming spending of visitors from the mainland (MOP2,203), Hong Kong (MOP1,000), and Taiwan (MOP2,031) decreased 15.0%, 9.1%, and 5.1% year-on-year, respectively, in Q2. The per-capita spending of international visitors (MOP2,134) also declined by 10.2%. Regarding the Northeast Asian markets, per-capita non-gaming spending of visitors from South Korea (MOP2,728) fell 1.5% year-on-year, whereas spending of those from Japan (MOP2,274) rose 18.5%. For the Southeast Asian markets, spending of visitors from Thailand (MOP2,455) dropped 8.8% year-on-year, while spending of those from Singapore (MOP3,201) and Malaysia (MOP1,799) rose 22.0% and 6.1%, respectively. As in the case of the 1H of the year, in Q2, those arriving for MICE events and performances/competitions also had significantly higher expenditures, averaging MOP3,322 and MOP4,079, respectively. Singapore visitors continue to top expenditure Following the trend seen last year, visitors from Singapore continue to top the list of those who spend more in Macau. At the end of June, visitors from the city-state spent an average of MOP3,201. This sum represents an increase of MOP367 compared to the amount recorded at the end of 2024, or 12.95% more. Compared to the end of 2024, South Korean visitors jumped from fourth to second place on the list of those who spend more, surpassing those from the mainland and Thailand. South Koreans spent an average of MOP2,728 in the first six months of this year, which is 13.43% more than last years end. Thailand (MOP2,455) occupies the third position, although it recorded a drop of 5.5% compared to the end of 2024 (MOP2,598). Also noteworthy is Japans climb (5th to 4th), which has now surpassed the mainland due to an increase of 8.65% to MOP2,274. The Top 5 is closed by the mainland (MOP2,203), which dropped two positions (3rd to 5th) due to a decrease in per-capita expenditure (-11.99%) compared to six months ago. Like this: Like Loading... Aug. 11 (UPI) -- A search and rescue team in Colorado came to the rescue of a group of dogs reported to be "having a 'ruff' time" on Mount Princeton in Chaffee County. Chaffee County Search and Rescue North said the team received a report Friday about some dogs in need at a high altitude. "We got a call for some pups who were having a 'ruff' time on Mount Princeton," the team said on social media. "While pet rescues are not normal protocol for search and rescue teams, our team definitely has some pet lovers who were ready to jump into action!" Rescuers responded to the reported location with some canine carry harnesses donated by Fido Pro. "All teams and doggos were out of the field 7 hours later," the post said. Every now and then, the ghost of a politician past makes an appearance, as if to carry out the public service of reminding us that terrible leaders arent a blight unique to our generation. Last week, Lord Kinnock urged the Chancellor to launch a VAT raid on private healthcare. The former Labour leader claimed the policy would raise 2bn in vital funding for the NHS and social care. He said that many people are turning to private healthcare, not out of choice, but because they cannot afford to wait. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many people are indeed turning to private healthcare, Lord Kinnock is right about that. He also correctly identifies the reason behind this being the long waiting lists, which have now become a permanent feature of the NHS. But, remarkably, he arrives at a diagnosis which would considerably worsen the situation. It was reported last year that almost half of 18- to 24-year-olds are opting to pay for a GP appointment in order to beat the waiting list on the NHS, with the total number of people going private to see a GP approaching four million. There has also been a 30pc increase in the number of people paying privately for hospital care across the UK, according to data released by the Nuffield Trust. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is happening, we are told, despite record levels of staffing and greater levels of funding within the NHS. In June, the Government entered an agreement with the independent healthcare sector as part of its plans to end the hospital waiting list backlog. Some of the statistics released at that time bring home the scale of the crisis in the NHS from across departments in gynaecology, there is a backlog of 260,000 women waiting more than 18 weeks for treatment, while in orthopaedics, 40pc of patients were waiting longer than the 18-week target. All these figures point to an NHS that is failing to cope with the nations healthcare demands, and is relying on the private sector to lend a helping hand both at the general and specialist care levels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How on earth, then, would slapping VAT on private healthcare help the struggling NHS? It would make it more expensive and price out many of its current customers, as at least some of those people would return to the NHSs burgeoning waiting lists. Every taxpayer who takes themself out of the NHS and into the private medical market already pays twice for the service. Once through their tax bill, and once through their private medical bill or insurance. On top of that, there is insurance premium tax to be paid on private healthcare, which last year brought in over 2bn for HM Revenue and Customs. Questions have also been raised around the veracity of the 2bn carrot which Lord Kinnock is dangling in front of the Chancellor as he pushes his VAT policy. For that amount to be raised, the tax would have to be levied on the use of private opticians and dentists, the latter being a service which the NHS is notorious for failing to provide. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dan Neidle, a tax expert, has suggested that the policy might in fact lose the Treasury money. It is businesses which pay for most private healthcare in this country, through providers such as Bupa, which currently do not charge VAT, nor do they recover their own VAT costs. But with the exemption scrapped, explains Neidle, businesses would be able to claim back the VAT on the provision of private healthcare, and providers could in turn reclaim their own VAT costs from the Treasury. People who ease the pressure on the perpetually ailing NHS by paying for private medical care out of their pockets should be incentivised to carry on doing so through tax deductions not punished by higher taxes. And any VAT raid would backfire on the entire population by worsening the pressure on the state-owned healthcare system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Desperate as Rachel Reeves is for revenue-raising ideas, if she doesnt want her legacy to be the destruction of the NHS then she must stay clear of yet another disastrous VAT blunder. 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 Los Angeles nurse and community activist whose arrest drew protests and sharp criticism from local officials and advocacy groups was released from federal custody Saturday without criminal charges, according to National Nurses United. Amanda Trebach, a registered nurse and member of the community group Union del Barrio, had been detained Friday morning while monitoring immigration enforcement operations in San Pedro. Her release came after more than a day of demonstrations in downtown Los Angeles and calls from elected leaders who described the arrest as illegal and politically motivated. Union del Barrio said Trebach was taken into custody around 6 a.m. Aug. 8 while participating in a Harbor Area Peace Patrol outside the Terminal Island staging area, a Coast Guard base used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection to prepare for raids across Southern California. The patrol, run by community volunteers, documents and monitors immigration enforcement activity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Witnesses and video from the scene show masked individuals, identified by organizers as federal agents, pinning Trebach face down on the street, handcuffing her and placing her in an unmarked black van. The group said agents falsely claimed she assaulted a federal vehicle and alleged she was targeted for her political activism. ICE officers barred from using deceptive tactics in Southern California home raids A spokesperson for Customs and Border Protection offered a different account, saying that as Border Patrol Agents departed Terminal Island to conduct immigration enforcement operations, Amanda Trebach jumped in front of moving vehicles, causing drivers to swerve out of the way. She continued to hit the car with her signs and fists while yelling obscenities at agents. After vehicles evaded her, she again physically blocked and impeded CBP from completing their duties. Agents arrested her for impeding and obstructing federal law enforcement. Secretary Noem has been clear: Anyone who seeks to harm law enforcement officers will be found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, the spokesperson added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They charged at her and she dropped the poster, said Cynthia Avina with Union del Barrio. The agents are claiming that she attacked them with that poster, and we know that that is not true. They are making false claims to try to intimidate us, to try to stop us from doing the work that were doing. Councilmember Tim McOsker called the incident apparently illegal and unconstitutional and said it violated a Ninth Circuitupheld temporary restraining order restricting certain immigration raids. He reported the arrest to the Port Police, noting that Terminal Island falls under their jurisdiction. 2 Los Angeles protesters charged with assaulting federal officers at immigration rally Trebach, a U.S. citizen, works as a nurse in Watts, Compton and South Central Los Angeles. She did not break ANY laws and was exercising her constitutional rights, Union del Barrio said in a statement. The group credited members of the Harbor Area Peace Patrol for recording video of the arrest, saying the footage helped secure her release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News of her detention quickly spread, prompting a rally outside the federal detention center in downtown Los Angeles on Friday evening. The protest escalated when Los Angeles police declared an unlawful assembly, citing the aggressive nature of a few demonstrators, and shut down Alameda Street between Temple and Aliso streets. Police said officers attempting to contact an organizer were surrounded, and items were thrown at vehicles. By 11 p.m., a small group remained, lining the bridge over the 101 Freeway. Her arrest occurred amid a new wave of federal immigration raids across the region, which critics say violate the court-ordered restrictions. Several cities, including Long Beach, have joined lawsuits filed by Los Angeles County and the city of Los Angeles challenging the federal governments enforcement actions. National Nurses United, which had urged members to rally for Trebachs release, called her freedom a testament to the power of organizing resistance and solidarity against the ongoing attacks by the Trump administration on our lives and livelihoods. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman called for tougher penalties against those involved in street takeovers even those there just to watch in a press conference he hosted on Monday. The frenetic events, also sometimes called sideshows, have deviled Southern California for years. Notable recent incidents include one that took place just this past Saturday where dozens gathered outside Crypto.com Arena in downtown Los Angeles, lighting off fireworks and watching cars do donuts and burnouts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other takeovers have taken place near auto parts stores; there were two takeovers that were allegedly connected to AutoZone burglaries on July 21 and July 26 in South Los Angeles. Another AutoZone was targeted by looters and defaced by vandals in June. This is what has been plaguing and ravaging communities for years We have said enough is enough, Hochman said. Hochman said he and his office are going after not just the drivers in these events, but also those who promote them on social media and even those who attend just to watch. So often, these young people, they just see the social media excitement of showing up at a street takeover and dont think there could be any consequences, dont even really appreciate that theyre engaging in illegal activity by even showing up, Hochman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local officials have floated the idea of increasing fines from $500 to $1,000 for those who participate in or even watch a street takeover; a motion to do so was passed by the L.A. County Board of Supervisors in April. Hochman said hes strongly in favor of increasing penalties related to street takeovers, with some such as promoters who make money off of the events even facing incarceration. Were not only going to come after you, were going to put you in prison as well, 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 KTLA. (WHTM) A lottery ticket worth $100,000 was sold in York County. According to the Pennsylvania Lottery, a retailer in York County sold a Powerball with Power Play ticket worth $100,000 for the Saturday, August 9, drawing. The Lottery says the ticket matched four of the five balls drawn, 7-14-23-24-60, and the red Powerball 14 to win $100,000. The Lottery adds that the ticket would have only been worth $50,000 without the $1 Power Play option. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Powerball jackpot rolled to an estimated value of $501 million, or $229.5 million cash, for the next drawing tonight, Monday, August 11, per the Lottery. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Alerts Players should visit the Pennsylvania Lotterys website for more information on their games and about how to file a claim. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. PARIS, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) A Louisiana man was sentenced to more than a year behind bars after he traveled to Arkansas to have sex with a teenager, according to court documents. Christopher Palmer, 19 (Courtesy: Logan County Sheriffs Office) Christopher Palmer, 19, of Jonesville, La., pleaded guilty to one count of sexual indecency with a child on Aug. 8. Palmers charge of traveling for the purpose of an unlawful sex act with a minor was nolle prossed, meaning he was no longer prosecuted on that charge. Palmer was sentenced to 18 months in the Arkansas Department of Corrections. A sentencing order said that Palmer had already received credit for 328 days in prison. He was also sentenced to 30 months suspended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was arrested on March 7 and charged in November 2024. Court documents say that in September 2024, Palmer traveled from Jonesville, La., to Paris, Ark., to meet with a teenager he had spoken with over Snapchat. Palmers trial was scheduled to begin on Aug. 22, but it was canceled after he took his plea deal. As part of his sentence, Palmer will be required to register as a sex offender. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. NEED TO KNOW Arel Dawkins is accused of running over his ex-girlfriend, Braisen Cain, in her front yard with his Ford F-150 before firing multiple rounds at her and killing her Cain was pregnant with Dawkins' baby and had recently broken up with him, police said Cain is the mother of five boys, ages 2 to 19, and was a teacher A pregnant Missouri mother of five was killed after being run over with a pickup truck and then shot with more than 20 rounds and now her ex-boyfriend is accused of taking her life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Arel Dawkins, of Blue Springs, was arrested on Wed., Aug. 6, and charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action in the shooting death of Braisen Cain, 42, according to the Jackson County prosecutors office. At 7:51 a.m. on Aug. 6, Kansas City police officers dispatched to a home on Morrell Ave. found Cain lying on the ground with multiple gunshot wounds, according to a probable cause statement reviewed by PEOPLE. Cain, a teacher and mother of five boys, was pronounced dead at the scene. One witness told police that she was inside her house when she heard gunshots. She allegedly said she saw Dawkins, whom she knows, shooting at Cain, stopping to reload before firing again. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. After firing multiple rounds, the witness alleged she saw Dawkins get into his Ford F-150 and flee the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said she knew Cain and spoke to her regularly. She said Cain had recently broken up with Dawkins and was pregnant with his child, according to the probable cause statement. Detectives obtained surveillance video showing Dawkins truck allegedly running over Cain in her yard, the probable cause statement says. The video allegedly shows Dawkins getting out of the truck, which started rolling backwards. He then allegedly pointed a gun at Cain, who was lying in the grass, and shot her several times at close range, the probable cause statement alleges. He then allegedly started walking away but then turned around and opened fire twice, before hopping into his truck and speeding off, per the probable cause statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dawkins allegedly confessed to the murder on the phone with family members and threatened to commit suicide, according to the probable cause statement. He was arrested in Springfield, Mo., without incident. As Dawkins awaits his next court date, Cains friends and family are mourning her loss. In a GoFundMe set up to help support Cains children and help pay for her funeral, Tricia DeGraff wrote, Braisen "was one of the most loving, kind and caring individuals you could ever meet." It is unclear whether Dawkins has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf. Read the original article on People Lyft driver, accused of raping unconscious passenger in Somerville, pleads not guilty A 27-year-old man and Lyft driver from Brockton faced a Somerville judge Monday, accused of raping one of his passengers over the weekend. Luis Carlos Ramos Teixeira was arraigned in Somerville District Court with a Portuguese translator. He faces charges including rape and indecent assault and battery. He pleaded not guilty. Court documents and Somerville police reports say a woman was having a drink with friends at the Lenox on Exeter Street early Saturday morning with friends and coworkers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She claims she only had two drinks throughout the course of the night. Around 2:30, court documents say she called a Lyft and was picked up in Boston. It went on, The last thing she remembered was getting into the backseat of the Lyft, and later waking up in the back seat with her head resting on the drivers lap... She also noticed her bra was missing, and her pants were unzipped. The woman reportedly ran out of the car. Court documents claim Teixeira was with her in the back seat of her car on Canal Lane in Somerville for over an hour. She claims she didnt take anything to eat or drink from Teixeira and wasnt approached by any strangers at the bar prior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The woman was treated at Cambridge Hospital shortly after police arrived. Police, in the court documents, claimed they worked with Lyft to identify Teixeira, his car, and verify his identity through his profile picture on the app. They also claim nearby surveillance shows him pulling out of the Somerville neighborhood after the woman got out around 4:15 am Saturday. Teixeira is being held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing Friday. The behavior described is reprehensible and has no place in the Lyft community or society, said a Lyft Spokesperson. We have been in touch with the rider to offer support, have permanently banned the driver from the Lyft platform, and stand ready to assist law enforcement with their investigation, they added. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW (WFXR)- Federal prosecutors said a Florida man has been charged with defrauding a Lynchburg doctor out of nearly a half million dollars. According to U.S. Attorney C. Todd Gilbert, Tommie Nelson, 65, of Miramar, Florida, convinced the victim he was a money lender who could assist in the purchase of commercial property in Danville. The victim sent multiple payments to Nelson starting in July 2020 though part of 2021. Prosecutors alleged that Nelson spent the victims money at casinos. When the purchasing agreement fell through, prosecutors said Nelson stopped responding to the victims phone calls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Country music singers mom killed in home invasion stabbing Nelson is facing six counts of wire fraud with a maximum punishment of 120 years in federal prison. He was arrested by the FBI in July and was arraigned Monday in U.S. District Court in Roanoke. Prosecutors said the victim was awarded a civil judgement against Nelsons company in 2024. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. ALLEN (KSNT) A 21-year-old man was seriously injured in a Lyon County crash that involved two semi trucks on Sunday. At 9:09 p.m., a 50-year-old man was driving a Peterbilt Semi east on US-56 near the city of Allen, hauling a 16-foot-wide oversized trailer. The driver hit another vehicle, a Chevy Impala that a 21-year-old Gypsum man was driving, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP). The KHP said that the Chevy Impala hit a third vehicle, a Peterbilt semi truck being driven by a 37-year-old Arizona man. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Local business owner helps nine-year-old girl fight cancer The 21-year-old was seriously injured and taken to a Topeka hospital for further treatment. All drivers were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, according to the KHP. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. The Public Security Police (PSP) conducted a raid involving 46 officers, inspecting multiple karaoke bars and pubs across districts, focusing on suspicious individuals in ZAPE. Four people were detained; one woman was charged with illegal work and harboring, and transferred to the prosecutors office. The other three were overstayers, referred to relevant authorities. The police also checked 35 vehicles, prosecuting eight violations, including no seatbelt use and phone use while driving. A suspected illegal hotel unit was sealed after confirmation by the Macao Government Tourism Office. Like this: Like Loading... President Donald Trump appeared to mix up Russia with Alaska ahead of his meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, during a White House press conference about crime in Washington, DC and his plans to deploy the National Guard and put the citys police under his control. Trump delivered the news from the podium in the press briefing room joined by Attorney General Pam Bondi, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and newly confirmed DC U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro where he decried the level of crime in Washington, DC. This is a tragic emergency, and its embarrassing for me to be up here, Trump told reporters. You know, Im going to see Putin. Im going to Russia on Friday. I dont like being up here, talking about how unsafe and how dirty and disgusting this once-beautiful capital [is]. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump is not going to Russia, but rather to Alaska to meet with Putin. He is set to meet with the Russian president to discuss bringing an end to the war in Ukraine that Russia initiated when it invaded the sovereign nation in February 2022. 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 last week on Truth Social. President Donald Trump appeared to mix up Russia and Alaska during a press conference on Monday (AFP via Getty) The meeting will be the first between a US president and Putin since 2021, when Joe Biden met the Russian president in Switzerland. Its also the first time Putin has been to the US in a decade. This comes despite the fact that Putin is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. Last week, Alaskas senior Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski expressed her concern, but also cautious optimism, about the meeting taking place in Alaska. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump announced he will meet with President Putin in Alaska next Friday to continue negotiations to end Russias catastrophic war in Ukraine, Murkowski, a supporter of Ukraine, said in a statement. This is another opportunity for the Arctic to serve as a venue that brings together world leaders to forge meaningful agreements. 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. Critics of the announcement flagged the fact that Russia once claimed Alaska at the beginning of the 1770s and had native Alaskans hunt fur for Russians, before the United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867. Russians, for their part, hailed the decision to have the summit in Alaska. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Born as Russian America Orthodox roots, forts, fur trade Alaska echoes those ties and makes the U.S. an Arctic nation, Russias special economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter). Meanwhile, Konstantin Malofeyev a billionaire sanctioned by the Obama administration for funding Russian separatists said Alaskans respectfully remember their Russian past and their Orthodox present. Trump said he wanted to see a meeting take place between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. But he also expressed his frustration with Zelensky. I was a little bothered by the fact that Zelensky was saying, Well, I have to get constitutional approval, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes got approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap, because therell be some land-swapping going on. I know that through Russia, and through conversations with everybody. To the good, for the good of Ukraine good stuff, not bad stuff; also some bad stuff for both. Trump said the negotiations would be very complex. And the word that they will use is, you know, they make changes, he said. Were going to change the lines, the battle lines they need. But I want to have a meeting set up between the two leaders. Trump has found the war in Ukraine to be one of his most vexing problems. In the past, he said he could end it within 24 hours. But despite his antagonistic attitude toward Zelensky and Ukraine, he has at times been frustrated with Putin and has continued to deliver arms to Ukraine. Gustaf Kilander and Rhian Lubin contributed to this report Emmanuel Macron has condemned Israels plans to expand its offensive in Gaza as a disaster and a move towards a never-ending war. Israels security cabinet last week approved a plan to invade Gaza City, in effect moving towards the full occupation of the war-battered Strip, which drew severe criticism from home and abroad. The French president said on Monday: The Israeli cabinets announcement of an expansion of its operations in Gaza City and the Mawasi camps and for a re-occupation heralds a disaster of unprecedented gravity waiting to happen and of a move towards a never-ending war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli hostages and the people of Gaza will continue to be the primary victims of this strategy, added Mr Macron, who last month pledged to recognise Palestinian statehood. Mr Macron said it was important to establish a UN-mandated stabilisation mission to secure the Gaza Strip. I have asked my teams to work on this without delay with our partners, he added. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israels prime minister, defended the plan on Sunday, despite calls from the military to change course, saying Israel has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas. However, Israeli officials have said it could take until October to evacuate civilians from Gaza City, allowing the possibility of a ceasefire to be achieved before the new offensive could start. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes as Israel killed Anas al-Sharif, a prominent Al Jazeera correspondent, and four of his colleagues in a targeted strike on Sunday, which has been condemned by journalists and rights groups. Israels military accused the 28-year-old, one of the networks most recognisable faces, of leading a Hamas terror cell and being involved in rocket attacks on Israel. Al Jazeera rejected that accusation and said the attack was a desperate attempt to silence voices in anticipation of the occupation of Gaza. Sir Keir Starmer said he was gravely concerned about the repeated targeting of journalists in Gaza, while the UN said it was a grave breach of international humanitarian law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 69 people have been killed in Gaza over the past 24 hours, says the Hamas-run health ministry in the Strip. That includes five people who died of malnutrition, the ministry said, bringing the overall claimed death toll to 61,499. It comes as Norways sovereign wealth fund, the largest in the world, said on Monday that it was selling its investments in 11 Israeli companies. Nicolai Tangen, chief of Norges Bank Investment Management, which manages the $1.8tn fund, cited the serious humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the worsening conditions in the West Bank as the reasons behind the decision. 05:26 PM BST Our live coverage has ended. Heres a round-up of todays events: Israel confirms it killed an Al Jazeera reporter and four of his colleagues The IDF said he was leading a Hamas terror cell, which Al Jazeera and rights groups deny Starmer said he is gravely concerned about targeting of journalists in Gaza Qatar condemns Israels deliberate targeting of journalists in Gaza Australia pledges to recognise a Palestinian state New Zealand is considering the move The Western Wall in Jerusalem was vandalised with anti-war graffiti At least 69 people were killed over the past day in the Strip, according to Gaza officials A funeral was held for the five Al Jazeera journalists Greta Thunberg said she is planning a new aid flotilla to Gaza We will be back soon with more updates and analysis from the conflict. 05:20 PM BST Aftermath footage of attack on Al Jazeera media tent 05:03 PM BST Israels Gaza City offensive could take weeks to start Israels new offensive in Gaza City could take weeks to start, leaving the door open for a ceasefire, officials say. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two officials who were at a security cabinet meeting on Thursday to approve the plan told Reuters that the evacuation of civilians from affected areas may only be completed by the start of October, giving time for a deal to be pursued. The plan raised international alarm over the harm it could bring to the shattered enclave, where a hunger crisis has worsened, as well as endangering the hostages still held by Hamas. Mr Netanyahu said that Israel will first allow civilians to leave the battle zones before forces move in on Gaza City, which he described as one of Hamass last two remaining strongholds. Bezalel Smotrich, Israels far-Right finance minister who has demanded even tougher action, said the plan was designed to pressure Hamas back to the negotiating table, rather than defeat the group and urged Mr Netanyahu to scrap it. 04:20 PM BST In pictures: Al Jazeera staff gather to mourn colleagues killed by Israel Wael Al-Dahdouh (C), Al Jazeeras bureau chief in Gaza, delivers a statement during a moment of silence to honour five of Al Jazeera staff members, killed in an overnight Israeli strike in Gaza City - KARIM JAAFAR/AFP via Getty Images A person holds a placard with a picture of Anas al-Sharif who Israel claims was leading a Hamas terror cell - REUTERS 03:53 PM BST 69 killed in Gaza in past 24 hours At least 69 people have been killed in Gaza over the past 24 hours, says the Hamas-run health ministry in the Strip. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That includes five people who died of malnutrition, the ministry said, bringing the overall claimed death toll to 61,499. It added that 362 people had been wounded and brought to hospital over the past day. 03:26 PM BST Watch: Journalist reports on starvation in Gaza before his death Credit: @musab_alshareef.17 / Instagram 03:02 PM BST Norway wealth fund terminates Israeli investments Norways sovereign wealth fund, the largest in the world, said Monday that it was selling its investments in 11 Israeli companies over the situation in Gaza and the West Bank. These measures were taken in response to extraordinary circumstances. The situation in Gaza is a serious humanitarian crisis. We are invested in companies that operate in a country at war, and conditions in the West Bank and Gaza have recently worsened, said Nicolai Tangen, chief of Norges Bank Investment Management, which manages the $1.8tn fund. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move followed revelations that it had invested in an Israeli jet engine maker even as the war in Gaza raged. 02:29 PM BST Al Jazeera reporter worked for Hamas before Gaza war Anas al-Sharif, one of Al Jazeeras most recognisable reporters who was killed by Israel, worked for Hamass media team before the current conflict started, the BBC has reported. Israel claims he was the head of a terrorist cell in Hamas, though has not provided evidence supporting that claim. Some social media posts before his death show al-Sharif criticising Hamas. There is no suggestion that five other journalists killed by Israel had links to Hamas. Al-Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif was killed by Israel in a strike on Gaza on Sunday - AFP 02:10 PM BST Israel kills Al Jazeera journalist accused of leading Hamas terror cell A prominent Al Jazeera journalist was killed along with four colleagues in a targeted Israeli air strike on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israels military accused Anas al-Sharif, 28, of leading a Hamas terror cell and being involved in rocket attacks on Israel. He was killed alongside four Al Jazeera reporters and an assistant when a media tent outside al-Shifa Hospital in eastern Gaza was hit in an attack condemned by journalists and rights groups. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) alleged that al-Sharif was a terrorist who posed as a journalist, citing intelligence and documents found in Gaza as alleged evidence. 01:11 PM BST Starmer gravely concerned about targeting of journalists in Gaza Sir Keir Starmer is gravely concerned about the repeated targeting of journalists in Gaza, his spokesperson has said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israels military said it targeted and killed prominent Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif, alleging he had headed a Hamas militant cell and was involved in rocket attacks on Israel. We are gravely concerned by the repeated targeting of journalists in Gaza, The Prime Ministers spokesman told reporters. Reporters covering conflicts are afforded protection under international humanitarian law, and journalists must be able to report independently, without fear, and Israel must ensure journalists can carry out their work safely. 12:36 PM BST Western Wall in Jerusalem vandalised The Western Wall in Jerusalem has been vandalised with graffiti claiming Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza, triggering widespread condemnation from religious leaders and politicians. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is a holocaust in Gaza, was graffitied in Hebrew on the southern portion of the wall, the holiest site where Jews are allowed to pray. A similar message was also scrawled on the wall of the Great Synagogue, elsewhere in the city. Israeli police said a 27-year-old suspect had been arrested and would appear in court later today, with the police requesting that his detention be extended. The incident sparked immediate outrage in Israel, with the Western Walls Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch calling it a desecration. A holy place is not a place to express protests ... The police must investigate this action, track down the criminals responsible for the desecration and bring them to justice, Mr Rabinovitch said in a statement. The Western Wall in Jerusalem on Monday was vandalised with graffiti condemning Israels ongoing war in Gaza 12:19 PM BST In pictures: Funeral held for Al Jazeera journalists Mourners attend the funeral of Al Jazeera journalists Anas al-Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and another colleague, who were killed in an Israeli strike, in Gaza City - REUTERS Israel accused Anas al-Sharif of working for Hamas - REUTERS 11:54 AM BST Record number of journalists killed in Gaza 11:43 AM BST UN condemns grave breach of international law The United Nations human rights office has condemned Israels strikes against journalists in Gaza as a grave breach of international law. Five were killed from Al Jazeera including Anas al-Sharif while a sixth freelance journalist was also killed. We condemn the killing by [the] Israeli military of 6 Palestinian journalists by targeting their tent, in grave breach of international humanitarian law, the human rights office said. Israel must respect and protect all civilians, including journalists. 11:35 AM BST Qatar condemns Israels deliberate targeting of journalists in Gaza Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Qatars prime minister, has criticised Israel for killing journalists working for its Al Jazeera network in Gaza , describing the deaths as crimes beyond imagination. He posted on X: The deliberate targeting of journalists by Israel in the Gaza Strip reveals how these crimes are beyond imagination ... May God have mercy on journalists Anas Al-Sharif, Mohammed Qraiqea, and their colleagues. 11:24 AM BST Greta Thunberg plans new aid flotilla to Gaza Greta Thunberg said she and a Palestinian activist group plan to sail a new flotilla loaded with humanitarian aid to Gaza to break the illegal Israeli siege. Two other attempts by activists to deliver aid by ship to Gaza, in June and July, were blocked by Israel. Troops boarded their vessels and detained the activists before expelling them. On Aug 31 we are launching the biggest attempt ever to break the illegal Israeli siege over Gaza with dozens of boats sailing from Spain, the Swedish campaigner wrote on Instagram late Sunday. We will meet dozens more on September 4th sailing from Tunisia and other ports. Heres a reminder what happened last time: 10:52 AM BST No credible evidence to Israeli claims, says rights group Israel is yet to present any credible evidence that the correspondent it killed in Gaza was working for Hamas, the chief executive of the Committee to Protect Journalists has said. Jodie Ginsberg told Sky News: Theyve been making this claim for many, many months, most recently in the last couple of weeks following a report that Anas did on starvation in Gaza, in which he cried on air. Weve asked for evidence repeatedly from Israel. She went on to say that Israel uses this mechanism to discredit that journalists ... to say they werent really a journalist, therefore you shouldnt believe anything that they say. 10:11 AM BST How a photo of a malnourished child put the NYT in Netanyahus crosshairs Benjamin Netanyahu is considering legal action against The New York Times over a photograph of a malnourished child he has described as fake. The Israeli prime minister accused the newspaper of defaming Israel with its coverage of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. A front-page photo of Mohammed Zakaria al-Mutawaq, an emaciated 18-month-old boy, sparked international outrage last month. The childs mother said he had been born healthy before suffering severe malnutrition. Later reports revealed he had suffered from cerebral palsy and complications linked to a genetic disorder details which were absent from the original piece. Photos of emaciated children shown at the briefing were labelled fake 09:34 AM BST Archbishop of Westminster: War in Gaza must be ended not increased Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and President of the Bishops Conference of England and Wales, has expressed his sorrow and condemnation after Israels security cabinet approved the plan to take control of Gaza City. He said: I weep for the people of Gaza as they face not just a continuation of their immense suffering but an escalation in their hardship and desperation. There must be a better way. One that does not heap yet further suffering and misery on so many people who are not combatants but defenceless in face of the perpetrators of violence in their midst. Already too much innocent blood has been shed; too many lives destroyed; too much hunger and starvation. This war must be ended not increased. He said his heart went out to the Catholics at the church of the Holy Family in Gaza City, which he described as a haven of compassion and prayer: This centre of peaceful resilience and profound solidarity, in the midst of such devastation and inhumanity, must be protected and preserved as one sign of hope for the future. 09:17 AM BST Netanyahu under fire after referring only to 20 hostages Benjamin Netanyahu has been urged to clarify his comments after referring only to 20 hostages at a press conference last night. Asked about a partial hostage release deal, the Israeli prime minister said he was committed to...the release of all 20 of our hostages, appearing to refer only to those who are alive. Assure the people of Israel that you are committed to returning everyone the living and the dead, the Hostages Families Forum said in a statement. Israel has declared 28 of the 50 hostages still in Gaza dead based on intelligence, some of whom were killed on Oct 7 and others who died in captivity. Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a press conference in Jerusalem on Sunday - via REUTERS 09:04 AM BST Hermer to decide on Palestine Action terror charges Lord Hermer will be given the final say on prosecuting hundreds of protesters arrested for supporting Palestine Action. The Attorney General has the power to approve or block further action against the demonstrators under the Terrorism Act after they were caught carrying placards in support of a proscribed group. The Metropolitan Police said 532 people had been arrested at a demonstration in Westminster on Saturday that was designed to overwhelm the criminal justice system. All but one of the arrests took place in Parliament Square, where hundreds of protesters carried placards that read: I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action. 08:32 AM BST IDF says Al Jazeera journalist joined Hamas in 2013 The IDF has released evidence which it says shows that Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif had joined Hamas in 2013. It claims Sharif was the head of a terror cell inside Hamas, which carried out rocket attacks against Israeli civilians. Intelligence and documents from Gaza, including rosters, terrorist training lists and salary records, prove he was a Hamas operative integrated into Al Jazeera, the IDF says. A press badge isnt a shield for terrorism. STRUCK: Hamas terrorist Anas Al-Sharif, who posed as an Al Jazeera journalist Al-Sharif was the head of a Hamas terrorist cell and advanced rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF troops. Intelligence and documents from Gaza, including rosters, terrorist training lists and pic.twitter.com/ypFaEYDHse Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) August 10, 2025 08:21 AM BST Palestine recognition not enough, says Jewish Council of Australia The Jewish Council of Australia has called on the countrys government to go further after it said it would recognise Palestine at the United Nations next month. The JCA said the Australian government should also scrap all military contracts with Israel and hold the country accountable for its crimes under international law. Sarah Schwartz, human rights lawyer and executive officer, said: Recognition must be combined with accountability. If Australia truly supports Palestinian self-determination, it must end all military cooperation with Israel and hold Israel accountable for its ongoing genocide and deliberate starvation of Gaza. You cannot endorse Palestinian statehood with one hand while supplying parts of the weapons that destroy it with the other. Palestinians, like all people, have the right to live in safety and dignity free from occupation, siege and fear. These rights have been systematically denied by the state of Israel. Self-determination must mean more than words. It must mean freedom of movement, control over land and resources, the right to return, and full equality. 07:52 AM BST Pictured: Destroyed Al Jazeera tent in Gaza City Palestinians check the destroyed Al Jazeera tent at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City - AFP 07:32 AM BST Israel to fight in Gazas refugee camps Israel will fight in Gazas refugee camps in addition to Gaza City, Benjamin Netanyahu revealed as he unveiled his war plan. Last Thursday, Israels security cabinet instructed the IDF to dismantle the remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza city and the central camps, the Israeli prime minister said. Mr Netanyahu offered little detail on how Israel would fight in the Gaza central refugee camps but said civilians would be allowed to evacuate into dedicated safe zones, where they would be offered food, water, and medical assistance. 07:10 AM BST Hamas officials to join ceasefire talks: report Hamas officials are reportedly on their way to Cairo as part of efforts to resume ceasefire negotiations in Gaza. The Qatari newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed reported that the terror group, led by its Gaza leader Khalil al-Hayya, will arrive in the Egyptian capital later today. 06:47 AM BST New Zealand considers recognising Palestine New Zealand is considering recognition of a Palestinian state, the countrys foreign minister has said. He said the country would make a formal decision in September before presenting his countrys approach at the United Nations Leaders week in September. Several countries including Australia, the UK and Canada have announced that they will recognise a Palestinian state at Septembers UN General Assembly. We intend to weigh up the issue carefully and then act according to New Zealands principles, values and national interest, Christopher Luxon, New Zealands prime minister, said. New Zealand has been clear for some time that our recognition of a Palestinian state is a matter of when, not if, he added. 06:29 AM BST Al Jazeera denounces attack Al Jazeera labelled the killings a desperate attempt to silence voices in anticipation of the occupation of Gaza and remembered Anas al-Sharif as one of Gazas bravest journalists. The other journalists killed were Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal. A press freedom group and a UN expert previously warned that Sharifs life was in danger because of his reporting from Gaza. Last October, Israels military named Sharif as one of six Gaza journalists it alleged were members of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Al Jazeera categorically rejects the Israeli occupation forces portrayal of our journalists as terrorists and denounces their use of fabricated evidence, the network said in a statement at the time. 06:20 AM BST Australia will recognise Palestinian state Australia will recognise a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, Anthony Albanese, the countrys prime minister, announced on Monday. Until Israeli and Palestinian statehood is permanent, peace can only be temporary, he told reporters. Australia will recognise the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own. Read the full story here 06:18 AM BST Israel claims Al Jazeera journalist was Hamas leader Correspondent Anas al-Sharif, 28, was among a group of four other Al Jazeera journalists and an assistant, who died in the Israeli strike on a tent near Shifa Hospital in eastern Gaza City on Sunday. An official at the hospital said two other people were also killed in the strike. The Israeli military claimed Sharif was the head of a Hamas cell and was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF (Israeli) troops. However, the military did not provide proof to back up its claims. The journalists had been staying in a tent outside a hospital in Gaza City - Ebrahim Hajjaj 06:11 AM BST Welcome In breaking news overnight, five Al Jazeera journalists were killed in a targeted Israeli strike outside a hospital in Gaza City on Sunday. We will be bringing you the latest news out of the Middle East conflict today. 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. Israeli hostages and the people of Gaza will be the first victims of the tragedy, he said. French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday slammed Israel's plans to step up its military operation in Gaza as a 'disaster waiting to happen' and proposed an international coalition under a United Nations mandate to stabilize Gaza. Israeli hostages and the people of Gaza will be the first victims of the tragedy, Macron said. He called on the Israeli government to stop the war with a permanent ceasefire. This is a developing story. Donald Trump has complained about Washington, D.C., for many years, but the president recently decided for reasons unknown that he wanted to lower crime rates in the nations capital. To that end, the Republican has decided to deploy National Guard troops to D.C. streets and place local police officers under federal control as part of a dramatic and unnecessary power grab. But thats not all hes doing. The Washington Post reported that the FBI has begun dispatching agents in overnight shifts to help local law enforcement prevent carjackings and violent crime. The New York Times published a related report, noting that the Republican administration, at least temporarily, is reassigning 120 FBI agents from their regular duties to address street crime in Washington, D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its an odd development for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that crime rates in D.C. recently dropped to a 30-year low. Whats more, these FBI agents presumably had actual work to do. And yet, as NPR reported, At one intersection, a minor traffic accident between a car and a moped brought at least two dozen agents running, some wearing masks and one carrying a rifle. Local D.C. Metropolitan police were also on scene. For generations, the bureau made it explicitly clear that its sole focus was on federal law enforcement, not local police work. In 2025, everythings ... different. But while some FBI resources are being misused, others are being discarded altogether. Last week, as part of Team Trumps hyper-political revenge tour, three experienced bureau officials found themselves unemployed: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brian Driscoll , who briefly served as the acting FBI director earlier this year and was a widely respected figure among the bureaus rank-and-file agents, was fired after he helped prevent a mass firing of thousands of FBI officials who worked on Jan. 6 cases. Walter Giardina , a retired Marine veteran and Iraq war veteran who recently lost his wife to pancreatic cancer, was fired as a result of his involvement in a number of investigations related to Trump, including the case that sent Peter Navarro to prison. Steve Jensen, the assistant director in charge of the D.C. field office whod had previously served as the section chief of the Domestic Terrorism Operations Section, was fired after playing a key role in Jan. 6 investigations. The ousting of this trio came on the heels of a series of related FBI firings, each of which appeared to be retaliatory in nature. In a normal and healthy political environment, there would be front-page headlines everywhere that read, Chaos at the FBI as Team Trump purges agents, exacting political revenge. But with countless other controversies competing for attention, its likely that much of the country has no idea what the presidents appointees at the bureau are doing to the institution. Nevertheless, MSNBCs Ken Dilanian reported that hundreds of people participated in a clap-out on Driscolls last day, and he quoted an FBI source who said, in reference to Team Trumps firings, People are pissed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dilanian added, The purge that is ongoing is without precedent in the modern history of the bureau. It raises questions about whether the Trump administration is trying to turn the nations most powerful law enforcement agency into an instrument of presidential whim exactly the thing he baselessly accused his opponent of doing. A group that calls itself The Steady State, which includes former FBI officials, condemned the latest purge within the bureau. The aim, it seems, is to transform the FBI from a respected, constitutionally grounded investigative service into a personal enforcement arm of a political figure, the group said. We have seen these dynamics abroad leaders who demand loyalty from security services not to the law, but to themselves. These regimes do not end well. And then, of course, there was the FBI Agents Association, which also condemned the firings, which the association described as unlawful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The FBI Agents Association added in a written statement, FBI Agentsthe rank-and-file men and women who protect this country every dayasked only for Bureau leadership to follow the law by providing Agents with fair treatment and due process. Director [Kash] Patel committed to providing thatto Agents, to Congress, and to the American people. Today, he failed to honor that commitment. This action sets a dangerous precedent. It increases our vulnerability to criminal and national security threats at home and abroad. It prioritizes division over unity, stokes anger instead of solidarity within our ranks, and threatens to chill the work of Agents rather than support it. We are actively reviewing all legal options to defend our members. I have a hunch we havent heard the last of this one. Watch this space. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com In late January, just two days after his second presidential inaugural, Donald Trump told Russia that if it failed to end its war in Ukraine quickly, the White House would have no other choice but to impose new economic sanctions. Vladimir Putin proceeded to ignore the threat, and the American president failed to follow through on his threat. In early March, it happened again: Trump gave Putin a choice sanctions or a ceasefire and the Russian leader again ignored his American counterpart. Trump again failed to follow through. The same thing happened in late March. And early May. And late May. In mid-July, the Republican decided to give Putin more time to resolve a conflict that Trump had promised to end within 24 hours of his inauguration. Nearly two weeks ago, on July 29, the American president brought new specificity to his threat, telling reporters that Putins regime had just 10 days to reach a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine the neighboring country it invaded three years ago or the United States would impose new economic penalties on Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That declaration created a new deadline of Friday, Aug. 8. Those who predicted that Trump was serious this time would be different from all of those other times; this time Putin had gone too far and earned the American presidents contempt were predictably wrong. NBC News reported: Just when Ukraine and its European allies thought President Donald Trump was coming round to their view of the war, he appeared to give a huge win to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. For Kyiv, this was Trumps deadline to Putin: stop the fighting by Friday or face tough new economic sanctions. Instead, Trump has handed Moscow a diplomatic coup by agreeing to meet Putin face-to-face in a matter of days, their first encounter since the invasion of Ukraine. Complicating matters further, the Republican announced that he was welcoming Putin to American soil the two are now scheduled to meet in Alaska on Friday handing Moscow a related diplomatic coup. (Because the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Putin, accusing him of war crimes involving the abduction of Ukrainian children, the Russian dictator generally hasnt been able to travel outside of his own country. The American president nevertheless invited him to the U.S.) Just days earlier, the official White House line was that Trump was willing to meet with the Russian leader, but only if Putin agreed to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump soon after changed the administrations position. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But wait, theres more. Trump not only abandoned his own sanctions deadline (again), not only invited Putin onto American soil in exchange for nothing, and not only gave an international pariah the legitimacy he craves, he also took some time at a White House event on Friday to assure the world that Putin wants to see peace. Russias war which has intensified during Trumps second term clearly proves otherwise, and Trump himself has repeatedly suggested in recent weeks that Putin most certainly does not want peace. But the Republican vouched for the Russian leader anyway. At the same White House event on Friday afternoon, the American president also suggested that Ukraine might have to agree to let Russia keep some of the Ukrainian territory that the Russian military took by force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In case all of this werent quite enough, Trumps vice president, JD Vance, said on Fox News over the weekend that the U.S. is done with the funding of the Ukraine war business. And around the same time, Matthew Whitaker, the administrations unfortunate NATO ambassador, suggested on CNN that Russia would likely be rewarded with Ukrainian territory it earned on the battlefield. About a month ago, after Trump teased a major statement about U.S. policy toward Russia, many observers thought the president might actually do something meaningful. When that didnt happen, there were sighs of relief in Moscow. In fact, Russian officials were so concerned that the White House might actually try to punish them, that the Russian stock market soared after Trump signaled weakness again. A month later, after Trump again backed off his threats and invited Putin to American soil, the White Houses pitiful position was greeted with cheers in Russia once more. Thats understandable: As an analysis in The New York Times explained, the American president has given his Russian counterpart Putins ideal summit, without having to do much of anything. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sam Greene, a professor of Russian politics at Kings College London, told the Times, It has been a very good week for Putin. Theres ample evidence to bolster the point, though Id add that with Trump in the White House, its been a very good seven months for Putin, too. This post updates our related earlier coverage. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Todays edition of quick hits. * The latest in a series of delays: President Donald Trump on Monday delayed high U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods from snapping back into place for another 90 days, a White House official told CNBC. Those tariffs were set to resume after midnight Tuesday. But Trump signed an executive order hours beforehand that extends the deadline until mid-November, according to the official. * In Gaza: Five Al Jazeera journalists were killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Sunday, the network said, with the Israel Defense Forces claiming one was a Hamas leader posing as a journalist. The network said that Anas al-Sharif; another journalist, Mohammed Qreiqeh; and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa were killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * In related news: Australia said Monday that it plans to recognize a Palestinian state, joining a growing list of Western governments making the move as Israel becomes increasingly isolated over the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. * The judge seemed spectacularly unimpressed with the Trump administrations argument: The Trump Justice Department lost its motion to unseal grand jury transcripts and exhibits in Ghislaine Maxwells case, with a federal judge on Monday calling the whole premise behind the governments effort demonstrably false. * This isnt normal: Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices are expected to pay the United States 15 percent of the money they take in from selling artificial intelligence chips to China, as part of a highly unusual financial agreement with the Trump administration. * Will the reversal be reversed? Dr. Vinay Prasad, who led the Food and Drug Administrations vaccines and gene therapy division before resigning under pressure two weeks ago, is returning to the agency, a Department of Health and Human Services spokesman confirmed Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * Alleged abuses like these deserve greater attention: 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. * Wait, AOL was still providing dial-up service? In the hazy impressions of memory, some may even recall it fondly: The AOL dial-up internet service that those of a certain age associate with the World Wide Web is coming to a close. The company, also known by its Youve got mail greeting and the CD trial discs so many CDs made the announcement on its website. See you tomorrow. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Its hardly a secret that Republican politics in recent years has been consumed by conspiracy theories. They have become the currency that inspires, animates and drives the party and its vision in the Trump era. It might be tempting to think these developments are unfortunate but inconsequential. While the embrace of outlandish conspiracy theories certainly dont do any favors to those who believe them, perhaps, some will argue, there are few practical consequences in the real world. If only that were true. The Associated Press reported: 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. The suspect, who did not survive the assault, was reportedly fixated on the Covid vaccine, which he blamed for his health problems. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is, of course, a larger context to all of this. As the AP report noted, for example, some former CDC officials argued that Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a leading anti-science voice and longtime opponent of vaccines, shares responsibility for the violence and should resign. Similarly, MSNBC reported that the violence has left officials and scientists at the nations premier public health agency understandably shaken, and many are now demanding answers from Kennedy, who has long vilified the CDC and contributed to a culture of misinformation that they say makes them targets. (The Department of Health and Human Services didnt immediately respond to MSNBCs request for comment.) Celine Gounder, an infectious disease specialist and epidemiologist at New York University, summarized the deadly violence this way in an opinion piece for The New York Times: The attack left both himself and a law enforcement officer dead, and C.D.C. buildings riddled with bullet holes. The symbolism could not be clearer: Scientists, doctors, public health officials, and law enforcement officials people whose lifes work is to protect the nation have targets on their backs. The C.D.C. union has asked federal officials to condemn vaccine misinformation, since it is putting lives at risk. Its against this backdrop that Donald Trump, as of this writing, has not commented on the CDC shooting at all, despite the president maintaining an active publishing schedule on his social media platform in recent days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RFK Jr. did publish a relatively brief, 109-word statement, though Trumps former surgeon general who has positioned himself as a notable Kennedy critic was unimpressed. Politico reported: A former U.S. surgeon general on Sunday said Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. failed in his response to the shootings that took place on Friday at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta. How you respond to a crisis defines a leader, and quite frankly Secretary Kennedy has failed in his first major test in this regard, Dr. Jerome Adams told CBS Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation. During his on-air appearance, Adams, who served with Trump during the presidents first term, characterized Kennedys response to the deadly shooting as tepid, and emphasized how long it took for RFK Jr. to react. It took him over 18 hours to issue a tepid response to these horrific shootings, and thats not even considering how his inflammatory rhetoric in the past have actually contributed to a lot of whats been going on, Adams added. Indeed, a Times report noted that Kennedy, who oversees the CDC, couldve made a statement the day of the shooting but didnt. Instead, the beleaguered HHS secretary posted condolences more than 30 minutes after posting photos of himself fishing on social media. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Time will tell whether the deadly shooting causes RFK Jr. to change his rhetorical direction. But given his record, its difficult to get ones hopes up. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Donald Trump has spent the last few days vowing to unveil the details of a new beautification initiative regarding Washington, D.C., which the president has said would involve moving homeless people FAR from the Capital and reducing crime rates. Washington, D.C. will be LIBERATED today! the Republican declared online as Monday got underway. Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR. As for how, exactly, he intends to do this, NBC News reported, Trump announced this morning that he will federalize the Washington, D.C., police and deploy National Guard troops in an effort to fight crime. As far as the White House is concerned, this is apparently the first in a series of related steps. After referencing New York City, Baltimore and Oakland by name, the president told the White House press corps in reference to his new gambit, This will go further. Well starting very strongly with D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crime rates in New York City, Baltimore and Oakland have already sharply improved, and while Trump has repeatedly insisted that crime in nations capital is out of control, in reality, crime in D.C. has dropped. Indeed, we can say this with some confidence because U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirros office is still promoting a press statement from earlier this year that boasts about violent crime in the city dropping to a 30-year low. All of which leads to some awkward questions about why in the world Trump is doing this. The scope of the White Houses ambitions is not modest. The president isnt just deploying National Guard troops in yet another American city, in response to a crisis that doesnt appear to exist, hes also claiming emergency powers to federalize a local police department, despite the apparent lack of emergency conditions that might warrant such a move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, taking advantage of the fact that D.C. is not a state, also intends to overhaul cash-bail policies in the city, remove homeless encampments, and replace D.C.-area judges whom he doesnt like, all while addressing potholes and roadway medians. The president even appears to be creating new criminal statutes on the fly, declaring at his press conference that those who even think about destroying a statue or monument in the city will go to jail for 10 years. Does he have the legal authority to make such declarations? By all appearances, the president doesn't much care. As for the prospect of having National Guard troops patrolling the streets in D.C. a first since pro-Trump rioters launched an insurrectionist attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 there were many observers who argued that the Republican's recent deployment in California was intended to help acclimate American civilians to seeing troops on American streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those arguments are looking quite prescient. As for the latest announcement, Trump also took the opportunity to share some related thoughts about how his newly deployed forces would treat criminal suspects. You knock the hell out of them. Its the only language they understand," the Republican said, adding, "You spit and we hit and they get hit real hard." Trump, of course, maintained very different standards for Jan. 6 rioters, many of whom did far more than just spit on police officers during violent clashes at the Capitol, but who nevertheless received presidential pardons from the Republican just hours after his second inaugural. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As for whether any of this is legal, The Washington Post reported, "Under the Home Rule Act, President Donald Trump can assume control of D.C. police for 48 hours if he 'determines that special conditions of an emergency nature exist which require the use of the Metropolitan Police force for Federal purposes.' The takeover may be extended with approval of the members of Congress who oversee D.C. affairs. Any request of over 30 days must be passed into law." The presidential announcement, in other words, was the first step, not the last, and the legal and political disputes that will soon follow are likely to be dramatic. Watch this space. This is a developing story. Please check back for updates. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com Two Trump voters allege that Border Patrol agents racially profiled them after they were stopped and questioned on the way to the dentist. George and Esmeralda Doilez, both U.S. citizens, were driving to an appointment in Southern California on Wednesday when a dark SUV started to follow them. George told a San Diego NBC affiliate that the SUV put on a siren, pulled them over, and a group of masked Border Patrol agents got out to question them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Doilezes told NBC7 that they had been scoping out potential camping sites in the area on the way to the dental appointment. George and Esmeralda voted for Trump in 2020, both of their first time voting, and again in 2024. In a video of the interaction, a Border Patrol agent questions George through the car window. If you have a dentist appointment, it probably wasnt the best idea to be out in the middle of nowhere, the agent tells him. We have the right to travel anywhere we want to travel, George says. The Border Patrol agent who questioned the Doliez's pulled down his mask during the questioning, but did not detail why he had reasonable suspicion to question the couple. / Esmeralda Doliez/NBC7 Youre absolutely right, you do, and I actually have the right and authority to stop you, the agent replies. Its called reasonable suspicion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stated reason for the stop was that a known alien had been detected in the area, which is about 9 miles from the Southern Border. The agent said the Doilezes had aroused suspicion by making several U-turns. But the couple said they thought the true rationale for the stop was their skin color. Why are we not allowed to be here? Because were not white? Our skin doesnt match? George told NBC7. The agent called a K-9 unit, which detected a small amount of legally purchased cannabis in the car. Citing that finding as probable cause, the agents searched George and Esmeraldas car before letting them go about 30 minutes after the encounter began. Border Patrol agents search George and Esmeralda Doilez's car at a camping site near San Diego. A K-9 unit detected a small amount of cannabis, which the couple purchased legally. / George Doilez/NBC7 Im gonna go ahead and let you off with a warning, the agent said after he told them he could have ticketed them for having marijuana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the wake of the incident, which left George terrified and his wife shaking and crying, the couple said that they regretted their votes for Trump. I feel shame, guilt, and anger at the same time because of the promises that he made that he lied to us about, going after the worst of the worst, George said. He lied on those and he stole our vote. Despite Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policies dictating that the agency cannot lawfully detain U.S. citizens, the agencies have detained dozens of citizensincluding an electrician in New York and a tow yard employee near Los Angelesper CNN. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem with ICE agents in California earlier this year. Oftentimes, she is the only official who is not concealing their identity with a neck gaiter or mask. / Anadolu / Anadolu via Getty Images Echoing Doilezs frustration with Trumps promise to target the worst of the worst, internal ICE data obtained by NBC shows that about half of those in custody have been neither convicted nor charged with a crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Complying is going to get you in a prison concentration camp, George said. Thats what its going to do eventually. Maybe it might be sooner than we all think. A spokesperson for Customs and Border Patrol said in a statement to the Beast that the incident was a lawful stop based on reasonable suspicion and that the claim that the stop was based on racial profiling is baseless. Border Patrol Agents acted within their legal authority throughout this incident and remained focused on CBPs mission: securing the border, the statement said. A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck northwestern Turkiyes Balikesir province on Sunday evening, killing at least one person and causing more than a dozen buildings to collapse, according to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya. Four people were pulled from the rubble of a collapsed house, three of whom are being treated in hospital, while one man died of his injuries. Yerlikaya said the lone victim was an 81-year-old person who died after being rescued from the rubble. Nearly 30 people were wounded in the quake, which occurred at about 7:53pm (16:53 GMT), Turkiyes AFAD disaster management authority said on Sunday. Tremors were felt in multiple provinces, including the countrys biggest city, Istanbul. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The disaster authority reported six aftershocks in the first hour, including one measuring 4.6, and urged citizens not to enter damaged buildings. Yerlikaya, the interior minister, said search and rescue operations had ended and there were no other signs of serious damage or casualties. He stated that electricity and water service had not been disrupted. AFAD said the quake, with an epicentre in the town of Sindirgi, struck at a depth of 11km (6.8 miles), while the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) registered the earthquakes magnitude at 6.19 and a depth of 10km (6.2 miles). A woman sits near the site of a building (not pictured) that collapsed following an earthquake in Sindirgi, in the western Balikesir province, Turkiye [Efekan Akyuz/Reuters] Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a statement wishing all affected citizens a speedy recovery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement May God protect our country from any kind of disaster, he wrote on X. Turkiye lies on multiple fault lines, making it highly prone to earthquakes. Istanbul, a metropolis home to 16 million, is particularly vulnerable. In April of this year, a strong earthquake of magnitude 6.2 rocked the city. No casualties were reported. In February 2023, twin quakes with a magnitude of 7.8 killed more than 53,000 people in Turkiye and another 6,000 in neighbouring Syria. 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. 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. 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 Kremlins news channel. 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. 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. 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. 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. SAMYA KULLAB & ELISE MORTON, KYIV, MDT/AP Like this: Like Loading... PORTLAND, Maine (AP) Maine can't enforce a voter-approved foreign election interference law that a federal appeals court said likely violates the Constitution by limiting political donations. Voters overwhelmingly approved a ban on foreign governments and companies with 5% or more foreign government ownership from donating to state referendum races. The law is one of a handful around the country that attempt to limit foreign influence on U.S. elections. The law has been on hold pending federal lawsuits from utilities companies and media organizations that raise constitutional challenges about it. The U.S. District Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston said in court papers in July that it affirmed a lower-court ruling that the law likely violates the First Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prohibition is overly broad, silencing U.S. corporations based on the mere possibility that foreign shareholders might try to influence its decisions on political speech, even where those foreign shareholders may be passive owners that exercise no influence or control over the corporations political spending," wrote Judge Lara Montecalvo. The matter was sent back to the lower court, where it will proceed, and there has been no substantive movement on it in recent weeks, said Danna Hayes, a spokesperson for the Maine attorney general's office, on Monday. The law is on the state's books, but the state cannot enforce it while legal challenges are still pending, Hayes said. Voters approved the law in 2023 by a margin of 86% to 14%. It followed a multimillion-dollar effort by a Canadian-owned utility to influence a project in Maine in which it's a partner. The law reflects the will of Maine residents to ensure clean elections, said Rick Bennett, chair of Protect Maine Elections, the committee formed to support the 2023 ballot initiative. He said the fight to save the law was still ongoing. Mainers spoke with one voice: our elections should belong to us, not to corporations owned or influenced by foreign governments whose interests may not align with our own, Bennett said in a statement. The Maine State Police are investigating a homicide in Waldoboro after a 53-year-old woman was found dead in her home. On Saturday, around 8:25 am, the Waldoboro Police Department received a 911 call from a person concerned about the well-being of a female resident. Upon arrival at the Genther Road residence, Waldoboro Police Officers and Lincoln County Sheriff Deputies discovered the deceased woman, identified as Levern Kelley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Maine State Police Major Crimes Unit-Central was called to assist with the investigation, and the victims body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Augusta for an autopsy conducted on Sunday. The manner of death has been ruled a homicide, although the cause of death has not been disclosed at this time. Authorities have assured the public that there is no known danger stemming from this incident. The investigation into the circumstances is ongoing, and police have stated that no further details are available at this time. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW According to the State Department, nationals of Malawi and Zambia will have to post visa bonds of up to $15,000 if they are deemed eligible to visit the United States on a visitor visa. The new pilot program will go into effect starting August 20 and will run until August 5, 2026, according to NBC News. In addition to posting their bond amount, which will be determined at the time of their visa interview, applicants will also have to submit a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Form I-352. A persons visa bond could be $5,000, $10,000, or $15,000. Malawians and Zambians applying for B-1 or B-2 non-immigrant visas, which include business and tourist travelers, face the new expense. The visa bond pilot program is being enforced to prevent other countries nationals (in this case, Malawi and Zambia) from overstaying their allotted visit time in the U.S. Notably, the State Department outlines that a bond does not guarantee visa issuance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who post visa bonds must arrive and depart from either of these three major U.S. airports: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD). If the traveler complies with the terms outlined in their Form I-352, their bond will be returned. Other circumstances under which the money would be returned include the traveler leaving the U.S. before their visa expires, failing to visit the U.S. before their visa expires, or being denied entry into the U.S. at one of the designated arrival airports. Breaching the visa bonds terms would include overstaying ones authorized time in the U.S., or if that person applies to adjust out of nonimmigrant status, including claiming asylum. More On The U.S. Governments Visa Bonds Its unclear why the U.S. government chose Malawi and Zambia as the countries to subject to its visa bonds pilot program. According to the DHSs 2023 data, the African countries do not have the highest numbers of nationals in the U.S. on overstayed visas. A State Department spokesperson issued a statement to CNN when asked why other countries with higher numbers of nationals in the U.S. whove overstayed their visa werent targeted like Malawi and Zambia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement said, According to the Department of Homeland Securitys most recent data, in addition to operational and other considerations, nationals of these countries who traveled to the United States on nonimmigrant visas exceeded their authorized period of admission at high rates, elevated overstay rates generally suggest a greater likelihood that nationals from these countries may fail to depart the United States as required or otherwise not comply with U.S. immigration laws. The visa bond news is in line with the Trump administrations crackdown on immigration and visitation to the United States. Since Trump took office in January, the government has implemented stricter vetting for student visa applicants. Also, the Big, Beautiful Bill includes a $250 visa integrity fee, an increased Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) fee, and an Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) fee. Additionally, the Trump administration announced a travel ban that targets 19 countries. Of that group, 10 are African nations. In the announcement, Trump claimed that some countries had travel bans placed on their nationals because those places were abusing the American visa system. He added that Nationals of some countries also pose significant risks of overstaying their visas in the United States. Notably, the U.S. didnt impose travel bans on Malawi and Zambia at that time. The post Malawian And Zambian Nationals Now Required To Pay Up To $15K Visa Bonds To Visit The US appeared first on Travel Noire. A man has died in hospital after suffering injuries while being restrained in a Cornish shop by another customer. The 52-year-old man was involved in a disturbance at the Co-op food store in Fore Street, Torpoint, on Wednesday at 16:45 BST. The force said the man, from Torpoint, became unresponsive at the scene and died in Plymouth's Derriford Hospital on Saturday. A man in his 40s from the Millbrook area had been arrested on suspicion of assault and bailed until 1 November pending further inquiries, Devon and Cornwall Police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a previous statement issued on Thursday, police said the man who was restrained had allegedly assaulted staff and become abusive to customers. Anyone with information about the incident has been asked to contact investigating officers. Follow BBC Cornwall on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to spotlight@bbc.co.uk. More on this story Related internet links Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich called the burning of more than half a dozen Pride flags and decor outside Cincinnati homes "targeted, hateful attempts to intimidate" the community. Thomas Niehaus, 52, is accused of specifically targeting flags and bunting related to the LGBTQ+ community. Prosecutors say Niehaus set fire to nine flags and bunting outside homes in Clifton and Northside on July 30. In one instance, Niehaus is accused of setting fire to a yard sign with a picture of a Ukrainian flag, Pillich's office said in a news release following Niehaus' indictment Aug. 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am deeply disturbed and outraged by these arsons, Pillich said in the news release. These were not acts of random vandalism. They were targeted, hateful attempts to intimidate and silence members of our community. Everyone deserves to feel safe and seen in their own neighborhoods." Thomas Niehaus, 52, appears in Hamilton County Municipal Court with his attorney, Robert Jones, for an arraignment on Aug. 1, 2025. Niehaus faces seven charges of aggravated arson and three charges of arson, court records show. During his arraignment Aug. 1, the Clifton Heights man was escorted out of the courtroom while he shouted, "Fighting for the children!" Previously, Niehaus had only been charged with starting four fires while the investigation was ongoing. Niehaus could face up to 77 years in prison if convicted, the prosecutor's office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamilton County Assistant Prosecutor David Hickenlooper said the fires were set at four different homes and that the residents were "presented with a risk of serious physical harm by (Niehaus) setting their property on fire." Pillich's office said in a news release that Ohio's ethnic intimidation law does not cover sexual orientation or gender identity. It enhances the penalty for certain lower-level offenses but does not apply to aggravated arson, the office said. Home security video caught flag burning In the early hours of Wednesday, July 30, a home security camera recorded someone walking up to a home and setting a flag on fire. In addition to setting the flag on fire, the man was overheard on another video saying he hopes the house burns down and calling the people who live there a homophobic slur, according to Enquirer media partner Fox 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Niehaus used a Red Bike to go from home to home, according to court documents. The Cincinnati Fire Department asked for the public's assistance in identifying a man who was caught on camera lighting flags on private properties on fire. While being questioned by fire investigators, Niehaus admitted "to participating in an arson spree" and setting fire to flags attached to several homes, according to an arrest document. "We will not tolerate hate in any form, and we stand firmly with our LGBTQIA+ neighbors, so they know they are supported, valued, and protected," Pillich said. Niehaus remains in custody at the Hamilton County Justice Center on bonds totaling $700,000, according to jail records. Enquirer reporters Gillian Stawiszynski and Quinlan Bentley contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Man accused of burning Pride, Ukrainian flags outside homes indicted NEED TO KNOW DeAndre Booker, who is on trial for the murder of ex-girlfriend Ashley Elkins, allegedly made suspicious Google searches around the time of her disappearance Booker allegedly searched for things like, Can you track location when phone is off and What happened to trash after its picked up Booker has been charged with first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, disinterment and mutilation and concealing a death A man on trial for the murder of his ex-girlfriend allegedly asked Google chilling questions leading up to and following her disappearance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeAndre Booker of Roseville, Mich., was arrested in connection to the disappearance of ex-girlfriend Ashley Elkins, on Jan. 8. Elkins, a 30-year-old hairstylist and mother of two, was last seen leaving her home to run errands in Warren, Mich., on Jan. 2. Elkins body has not been found, despite an intensive search by authorities. Booker, 32, was charged in January with first-degree murder, tampering with evidence, disinterment and mutilation and concealing a death, according to the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office. During a court appearance on Friday, Aug. 8, Detective Chris Moran of the Roseville Police Department testified that he found Google searches on Bookers phone from the days surrounding Elkins disappearance that appeared to connect Booker to the alleged crime, per NBC affiliate WDIV. Warren Police Department Ashley Elkins Ashley Elkins Those alleged searches included phrases like, "[T]elling god i want to kill someone," 9mm silencer roseville, shoot gun through pillow, Can you track location when phone is off and What happened to trash after its picked up, per WDIV. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The prosecuting attorney on the case then reportedly asked Moran why he believed those specific searches were relevant to the case, to which the detective replied, Based on the information we had on what couldve happened at the time, these appeared the most relevant, WDIV reported. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. The detective also said he found blood in the dumpster at Bookers apartment, which lead him to believe the last Google search regarding trash pickup would be particularly relevant if Booker had placed the victim in the dumpster, adding, He would definitely be very concerned as to where the trash would go with the body, according to WDIV. David Guralnick/Detroit News via AP Law enforcement agencies search for the body of Ashley Elkins in Michigan on Jan. 13, 2025 Law enforcement agencies search for the body of Ashley Elkins in Michigan on Jan. 13, 2025 While previously speaking to PEOPLE, Bookers defense attorney, Robbie Lang, said that he had no comment on his clients Internet searches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I don't have any real comment on what people search or don't search [on the Internet] and I don't know where that quantifies as guilt for anything," Lang said at the time. PEOPLE reached out to Lang, as well as the Roseville Police Department and the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office, for comment on Sunday, Aug.10, but did not receive an immediate response. Booker pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. His trial is scheduled to resume on Friday, Aug. 15, per Law&Crime. Read the original article on People LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Police arrested a man accused of setting a fire outside LVMPD headquarters. On Sunday, officers identified the suspect as Christian Vega, 35, and arrested him. He was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on two counts of third-degree arson and one count of malicious destruction of private property. Las Vegas police search for man accused of starting fire outside LVMPD headquarters Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Saturday, an LVMPD employee noticed a fire along the west property wall of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Departments headquarters near MLK Boulevard and Alta Drive. The Las Vegas Fire Department responded and quickly extinguished the fire. No injuries were reported and no buildings were damaged, police said. Vega entered the landscaping along the west wall that separates the headquarters from an apartment complex and used an unknown item to ignite the nearby foliage before jumping the wall into the apartment complex, according to police. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio Aaron Sharp, 24, appeared in court Monday morning for arraignment on charges of aggravated murder, following a shooting in which two of his relatives were killed, leading to a manhunt during which two police officers were shot. Sharp waived his right to a preliminary hearing and was handed a total bond of $3 million dollars $1 million on each of his two aggravated murder charges and $500,000 for each of his two felonious assault charges, related to the officer shootings. Capital One $425M class action settlement: Do you qualify? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Late Thursday night, police were summoned to a home on Taylor Road that court records show is the home address of Sharp and both of the shooting victims. Charles Roscoe, 82, believed to be Sharps grandfather, and Erik Sharp, 22, believed to be Sharps brother, were both shot and killed. The aggravated murder charges read aloud in court on Monday specify that Aaron Sharp had planned the killings. The initial 911 call was for a shooting at the Taylor Road home at about 11 p.m. Thursday, which is where Officer Joshua Durda encountered Sharp outside of the home and was shot in the leg. That triggered a manhunt during which East Cleveland Officer Brandon Hernandez was also shot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sharp was arrested before 9 a.m. Friday by U.S. Marshals, who used a Taser when he was found hiding in bushes near Shaw High School, having taken off all of his clothes and wrapped himself in plastic bags. Court records show Friday was Sharps 24th birthday. Police in East Cleveland on Friday said they had previous encounters with Sharp. Cleveland Municipal Court records show only prior traffic violations and, in Parma Municipal Court, he pleaded guilty to a drug charge in 2023. Man dies after being shot in Giant Eagle parking lot FOX 8 News could find no previous arrests for violent offenses. Officer Hernandez was released from the hospital on Friday. Officer Durda was admitted to University Hospitals in Cleveland where he was believed to have been still admitted on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both officers are expected to make a full recovery. Sharps next court date is set for Aug. 13. He could face life in prison if convicted on the aggravated murder charges. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) A 23-year-old man has been arrested in Colorado and is being extradited to El Paso County to face charges in the March shooting death of another man in Fabens, the El Paso County Sheriffs Office said. On Monday, Aug. 11, Angel Lozano, 23, was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Services Colorado Violent Offender Task Force and booked into the Weld County Jail in Greeley, Colorado. Angel Lozano being arrested by U.S. marshals in Colorado. Photo courtesy of El Paso County Sheriffs Office Angel Lozano Courtesy of El Paso County Sheriffs Office He will be returned to face charges in the death of 26-year-old Aaron Villa, the Sheriffs Office said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the early morning hours of March 20, deputies from the El Paso County Sheriffs Office were sent out to the 100 block of Mezcla Street in Fabens about a shots fired or aggravated assault incident. When deputies arrived, they found a man who had been shot multiple times. The victim, later identified as Villa, was taken to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries. During the investigation, the El Paso County Sheriffs Office Major Crimes Unit, with help from the Texas Rangers, identified Lozano as the suspect. This arrest is the result of tireless investigative work and the strong partnerships we maintain with our state and federal law enforcement counterparts, Sheriff Oscar Ugarte said. My deepest condolences go out to the family of Mr. Villa. We remain committed to ensuring that those who commit acts of violence in our community are held accountable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. A 38-year-old man is facing multiple charges after Winder police said they found drugs and stolen guns inside a home. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Last Wednesday, Winder police conducted a search warrant at a home on South Broad Street, resulting in the arrest of Jihad Ballard, 38. During the search, officers said they seized two pounds of high-grade marijuana and two stolen guns, including an AR-style rifle and a semi-automatic shotgun. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to police, Ballard, who was at home during the search, was found to have outstanding felony warrants from another state. Ballard faces multiple felony charges in Barrow County, including possession of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and theft by receiving stolen property. The guns recovered during the search were confirmed to have been stolen from other jurisdictions in Georgia, police said. Ballard was taken to the Barrow County Detention Center, where he is awaiting a bond hearing and possible extradition to another state. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] ST. GEORGE, Utah (ABC4) A man was arrested early Sunday morning in St. George after police discovered dozens of fake identification cards in a rental truck. According to court documents, St. George Police initiated a traffic stop on a U-Haul traveling northbound on Interstate 15 around 12:45 a.m. after it had failed to move over while passing a prior traffic stop. The responding officer detected the odor of marijuana from the vehicle. On a search of the vehicle, police found the marijuana, along with meth and 50 forged identification documents. The marijuana and meth were found within reach of the driver and passenger of the truck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 50 forged identification cards were found in the cargo area of the vehicle. Court documents did not state which jurisdictions the cards were located. Both the driver and passenger admitted to loading the vehicle and were booked into the Purgatory Correctional Facility. Police say the passengers true identity is unknown to the amount of fake identification cards, so he was booked into jail under the name Francisco Armando Alfaro Villegas, 30. He faces the following charges: 51 counts of Producing or Transferring False Identification, a second-degree felony One count of Possession of a Controlled Substance Schedule I/II/Analog, a Class A Misdemeanor One count of Possession of a Controlled Substance Marijuana/Spice, a Class B Misdemeanor Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. A Nevada man was arrested after a woman was found dead at a remote Northern California campsite early Friday, according to the Sierra County Sheriffs Office. Deputies responded shortly after midnight to a rugged area south of Sierra Brooks, a rural community located east of Downieville. The Sierra County Sheriff's Office told Fox News Digital that the body was not found anywhere near the Sierra Brooks residential area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon arrival, law enforcement discovered a womans body and encountered a man described as "incoherent," authorities said in a press release. Portland Murder Suspect Hit With Fourth Homicide Charge As Victims' Families Demand Justice Officials said the body was found in a dispersed area, adding that it was not a "developed camping area." Read On The Fox News App The circumstances surrounding the womans death raised immediate red flags, prompting officials to launch a homicide investigation with assistance from outside law enforcement agencies. Paddleboarders Mysterious Killing Rocks Quiet Summer Vacation Area Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just hours later, 36-year-old Jesse James Dallmann of Sun Valley, Nevada, was taken into custody at Eastern Plumas Hospital. Jail records show he is facing charges of murder and inflicting corporal injury to a spouse or cohabitant. 2 Camping In Michigan On Remote Wilderness Island Are Found Dead The identity of the deceased woman has not yet been released. Authorities emphasized that they believe this was an isolated incident and that there is no ongoing threat to the community. Original article source: Man arrested on suspicion of murder after womans body found at remote California campsite WEST MANCHESTER TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WHTM) A man is facing multiple charges after an incident involving a child led to a police chase on Saturday. West Manchester Township Police said officers responded to Sunset Lane Park on Aug. 9 around 6:31 p.m. after a citizen reported an incident involving a man and a juvenile girl. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now ICYMI: Top 5 Stories of the Week The caller told police the girl appeared to be trying to push the man away and it appeared she was being coerced or forced by the older male. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers said they identified 32-year-old Alvin James sitting in a vehicle near the scene. Police said they learned James was on the Megans Law list in Maryland and that James reported he was 17 years old. While police were gathering information, they said James fled in a vehicle using a spare car key. Officers attempted to stop James in a high-speed pursuit from Sunset Lane to Carlisle Road, where James allegedly struck a vehicle near Loucks Road. Police said James fled on foot and ran into residential neighborhoods before being taken into custody near South Emerald Avenue. Explosion at US Steel plant in Pennsylvania leaves 1 dead and dozens hurt or trapped Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police noted that members of the public assisted officers by pointing out James location several times during the chase. The foot chase and perimeter lasted approximately 81 minutes. According to court records, James faces charges of fleeing or attempting to elude police, evading arrest and other traffic charges. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Severe Weather Alerts Court records indicated James is from York, while the Maryland Megans Law registry lists James as homeless and from the Hagerstown area. The Megans Law registry shows James was previously convicted in Delaware of rape and unlawful sexual contact. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said theyre continuing to investigate and urged parents to talk to their children about stranger danger and social media. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WAVERLY, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) A Waverly man has been charged for the alleged sexual exploitation of a child and the transportation of child pornography. August 7th, Tristan Kovacs, 21, of Waverly was arrested for the alleged sexual exploitation of a child and the transportation of child pornography. The Acting United States Attorney John A. Sarcone III announced. According to the United States Department of Justice Kovacs allegedly produced and sold a pornographic image involving himself and a 9-year-old female child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation of the case was conducted by FBI Albanys Division of Child Exploitation and Human Trafficking Task Force. The NYSP was also part of the investigation along with the assistance of the Broome County Sheriffs Office and the Waverly New York Police Department. Craig A. Tremaroli, FBI Special Agent in Charge shares, Hours after FBI Albany received this disturbing tip from local law enforcement, Mr. Kovacs was in custody facing federal charges that carry significant sentences. The FBI will continue to devote every resource available to swiftly investigate these despicable predators and protect our most vulnerable. Our office is especially thankful to our partners at Wavely Police Department, New York State Police, and Broome County Sheriffs Office for their invaluable assistance in this investigation.. Kovacs has been detained pending further proceedings following his arraignment August 8th before US Magistrate Judge Therese Wiley Dancks. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34. SUNSET PARK, Brooklyn (PIX11) A man was shot to death in the back after an argument during a block party in Brooklyn on Saturday night, police said. Tony Caba, 39, is accused of killing 45-year-old Roberto Cuevas when shots rang out at a crowded block party near 57th Street and Fourth Avenue in Sunset Park at around 9:10 p.m., according to the NYPD. More Local News Authorities said Caba and Cuevas got into a fight earlier in the night during the festivities. Caba was caught on surveillance video shooting the victim several times, including in the back, according to the criminal complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cuevas was rushed to the hospital but could not be saved, police said. Caba, a Florida resident, was arrested shortly after the incident and allegedly had a loaded gun on him, prosecutors said. He was charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon. Caba is being held without bail following his arraignment on Monday. The shooting was one of many violent incidents citywide over the weekend, including a triple shooting in Times Square on Saturday. An 18-year-old female was grazed in neck, a 19-year-old man was shot in the right foot, and a 65-year-old man was shot in the left leg near 44th Street and Seventh Avenue, police said. They were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 17-year-old was arrested and charged in the shooting. The shooting may have started during a fight between the 17-year-old and the 19-year-old who was shot, police told PIX11 News. 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). Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She has been with PIX11 News for two years. See more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. A man has been charged with the murder of a father and son who were fatally stabbed at a business near London Bridge. Terry McMillan, 58, and Brendan McMillan, 27, died following the incident near the office of housing provider Trademark Homes in Long Lane, Bermondsey two weeks ago. A 47-year-old man was also stabbed and badly injured, while a fourth man, Hassan Cevik, 31, also sustained stab wounds and was admitted to hospital shortly afterwards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Cevik was discharged from hospital on Saturday and later charged with two counts of murder, grievous bodily harm and carrying an offensive weapon. The London Ambulance Service sent advanced paramedics to the scene [PA Media] Mr Cevik, of Mount Pleasant Lane, Hackney, is due to appear before Croydon Magistrates Court. Police officers and paramedics were called to Long Lane to reports of a multiple stabbing at about 13:00 BST on 28 July. Brendan McMillan died at the scene, while his father died later in hospital. They were from Chislehurst in south-east London. 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 BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) An investigation into an overdose death led to the arrest of a man at a hotel in Baton Rouge. Darren Curry, 45, was charged with second-degree murder and possession Schedule I. Curry was charged with second-degree murder and possession Schedule I. (East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriffs Office) Detectives responded to a hotel in the 10000 block of Rieger Road on Tuesday, Aug. 5. Law enforcement executed a search warrant for a room at the hotel and found Curry inside. An arrest report reveals Curry was detained during a search of the room, which uncovered 1.36 grams of heroin in a baggie. Those drugs were found in a bathroom, EBRSO said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During questioning, Curry said what detectives located was heroin. He initially said the heroin belonged to his girlfriend, but then asked detectives if he took the charge, if she would be released, according to EBRSO. He then took back his initial statement and claimed the heroin was his, EBRSO said. Curry was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on the same day that the arrest warrant was executed by detectives. Baton Rouge man accused of threatening to kill deputy and receptionist Latest News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Louisiana First News. Editors Note: The attached video is from a previous report. ST. LOUIS Charges have been filed in St. Louis Circuit Court after a fight ended in a fatal shooting in the citys Dutchtown neighborhood. According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments probable cause statement, the shooting happened around 2:40 p.m. Saturday in the 3600 block of Gasconade Street. Witnesses told FOX 2 News that an altercation involving girls quickly escalated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said Aakiem Thomas, 22, and his brother walked out of their mothers home both armed with guns. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News A man was arguing with Thomas mother while a woman sat in his vehicle. The man turned and got back into his car. Police said Thomas fired two shots into the mans car. Thomas brother also beginning shooting as the victims drove away. The woman in the car was killed. Her identity has not been released. The man in the car suffered a graze wound. The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office charged Thomas with first-degree murder, first-degree assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and three counts of armed criminal action. Thomas remains jailed without bond. Online court records did not show when hell appear before a judge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. GATES COUNTY, N.C. (WAVY) A man was found guilty on Thursday in the 2022 homicide of his girlfriend and her unborn child in Gates County North Carolina. Womans death in Gates County being investigated as homicide According to officials, while at a cookout on May 3, 2022, Wilson Tequon Williams told the victim, Shadae Roscoe, to meet them back at their house. Once back at their residence, surveillance footage showed Williams repeatedly assault Roscoe, hitting and kicking her before shooting her once in the back of the head while she was laying on the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deputies stated the shooting occurred around 11:15 p.m. in the 700 block of Route 37. Roscoes unborn child did not survive as a result of the shooting, deputies said. On Aug. 7, 2025, Williams was found guilty of second-degree murder and murder of an unborn child. Judge Eula E. Reid then sentenced Williams to 240 to 300 months in prison for the murder of Roscoe which is the maximum allowed under North Carolina law and life without parole for the death of the unborn child. District Attorney Jeff Cruden released a statement following Williams conviction, which can be read in full below: Cases of domestic violence are often the most difficult for us to prosecute, and unfortunately often the most tragic. Ms. Roscoe found herself in an abusive relationship and unfortunately because of that relationship, she lost her life and the life of her unborn child. Ms. Roscoes parents, Terrence and Nickie Roscoe, along with many family members and close friends, were in the courtroom during the trial and when the verdicts were returned. Ms. Roscoes aunt, Wendy Lassiter, read a very emotional victim impact statement for the family and informed the court that the family had started the Shadae Foundation, a non-profit to help spread awareness of domestic violence. Any loss of life is tragic, but to die at the hands of someone that you loved and trusted, makes the loss even more difficult to bear. Hopefully with the help of the Shadae Foundation, and other organizations like that one, someone may find the courage and the support they need to free themselves from an abusive relationship. District Attorney Jeff Cruden If you or you know someone who may be a victim of domestic violence or child abuse, click here for a list of local and national resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) The Orleans Parish District Attorneys Office announced a verdict in the case of a man accused in the death of his girlfriend. Zachary Alexander Cheek has been convicted for charges of manslaughter, felon in possession of a firearm and obstruction of justice in the shooting death of 25-year-old Sarah Horrigan. Body of shooting victim found inside vehicle in Amite The crime reportedly happened on Oct. 8, 2022. District Attorney Jason Williams said Cheek tried to claim that the shooting was an accident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Cheeks criminal history, he was a four-time convicted felon before the shooting happened. Sentencing is set for Thursday, Aug. 21. Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter. Latest Posts Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO. SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) A man formerly of Springfield was sentenced to prison following a jury trial for child sexual assault charges. In a news release sent to 22News on Monday from the Hampden District Attorneys Office. 57-year-old Benito Roman was indicted in February 2023 for sexually abusing a child between the ages of 6 and 8. He was arrested in Florida and extradited to Massachusetts for arraignment. Suspect escapes capture after high-speed chase in West Springfield Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim, who was subjected to repeated sexual abuse, was told by Roman not to tell their mother. The victim disclosed the abuse years later during an unrelated investigation by the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF). An investigation was conducted by detectives with the Springfield Police Department, which included a forensic interview of the child victim. Roman was convicted of aggravated rape of a child, two counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under fourteen, and two counts of intimidation of a witness. Following a three-day jury trial, he was sentenced on July 9, 2025, to serve 10 to 13 years in state prison with 3 years of probation. The courage shown by this young survivor in coming forward, testifying, and confronting their abuser is extraordinary, said Gulluni. Their strength and resilience are an inspiration. This sentence ensures the defendant is held accountable for his reprehensible actions, and my office remains committed to standing with and fighting for survivors of sexual abuse. Local News Headlines WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A man was killed in a shooting in Grand Rapids Sunday evening, police say. Police on Monday identified the man who died as Randy Campbell, 38. At 7:10 p.m. Sunday, officers with the Grand Rapids Police Department were called to Logan Street and Diamond Avenue SE for a report of a shooting. First responders found Campbell with at least one gunshot wound lying on the sidewalk in front of a home on Diamond Avenue, according to GRPD Chief Eric Winstrom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said officers began first aid, but Campbell eventually died at the scene. Grand Rapids police investigate a deadly shooting at Logan Street and Diamond Avenue SE. (Aug. 10, 2025) Grand Rapids police near the scene of a deadly shooting at Logan Street and Diamond Avenue SE. (Aug. 10, 2025) Grand Rapids police investigate a deadly shooting at Logan Street and Diamond Avenue SE. (Aug. 10, 2025) Grand Rapids police investigate a deadly shooting at Logan Street and Diamond Avenue SE. (Aug. 10, 2025) Its not clear what led up to the shooting, but Winstrom said there is indication that it could have happened during a fight. We dont have the whole story of what happened. I have a feeling that there was probably an altercation involved, there was some indication earlier that there may have been yelling in this area, so that indicates a possible some sort of fight took place before the shooting, but we havent been able to confirm that, Winstrom said. He said there is no threat to the public and no suspect has been found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement GRPDs Major Case team is investigating, gathering evidence and interviewing potential witnesses, including neighbors with doorbell cameras. Winstrom urged anyone with information to come forward by contacting GRPD at 616.456.3380 or Silent Observer, both in which you can remain anonymous if you choose. We just need that information. Theres a young man whose life has been taken from him and a family thats going to be grieving and really deserving of answers and we want to be able to provide those answers for them, Winstrom said. This is the seventh homicide in Grand Rapids this year. The most recent one was on June 13, when a man was shot and killed on Cass Avenue SE near Garden Street SE. The police chief said this summer has been relatively less violent than the last three years he has been with GRPD. Its been weeks and weeks that Ive had to have this difficult conversation with people in the city about another murder, Winstrom said. We have made a lot of progress in this city as a whole, everybody coming together and recognizing that crime is not a police issue, its an entire city issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. A man was killed in a shooting Sunday afternoon, police said in a news release. Around 6:18 p.m., police were called to the 2300 block of Victory Blvd. When officers arrived, they found an unresponsive man with a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. No other information was released. WAHIAWA, Hawaii (KHON2) A 23-year-old man has died following a shooting incident at the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Pacific. Shooting at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam leaves one in critical condition According to military officials, the shooting happened in the housing area at the Wahiawa Annex around 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9. The shooting left a 23-year-old male in critical condition. He was taken to the hospital and later died from wounds. Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You Officials said the suspect in custody is assigned to the 25th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While it is unclear at this time what led to the shooting, base officials said there is no further threat to the installation or the surrounding community. Check out more news from around Hawaii We are working closely with U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID), U.S. Navy, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam Security Forces, local law enforcement, and U.S. Army Hawaii leadership to ensure the safety and care of our community, officials said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. *Editors note: The above video report aired March 24, 2025, the day the defendant was formally charged. GRAND HAVEN, Mich. (WOOD) A man who authorities say destroyed a number of TVs and glass doors at a Walmart near Holland earlier this year is headed to a state prison. Gavin Love was sentenced Monday to between two years, 10 months and 10 years behind bars for felony malicious destruction of property between $1,000 and $20,000, online court records show. He was credited for 143 days served. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was also ordered to pay $12,490.76 in restitution, plus $198 in fines and fees. Authorities say that on March 21, Love walked into the Walmart on North Park Drive south of James Street in Holland Township and started pulling down flat-screen TVs that were on display. (Love) then obtained a metal pole from a display within the store and struck numerous products offered for sale with the pole, knocking them off the shelves, and ultimately struck numerous glass dairy cooler display cases and freezer coolers, Ottawa County Sheriffs Office Capt. Jake Sparks told News 8 in March. A total of six TVs and 17 glass doors were destroyed. No one was harmed. A photo released by the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office shows smashed TVs at the Holland Township Walmart in March 21, 2025. A photo released by the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office shows smashed TVs at the Holland Township Walmart in March 21, 2025. A photo released by the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office shows smashed cooler doors at the Holland Township Walmart in March 21, 2025. A photo released by the Ottawa County Sheriffs Office shows a smashed cooler door at the Holland Township Walmart in March 21, 2025. Responding deputies found Love still in the store and arrested him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was soon charged with vandalism, to which he pleaded guilty in July, court records show. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) An investigation is underway following a report of a shooting in East Nashville Sunday afternoon. According to Metro Nashville dispatch, the incident was called in shortly before 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 10 from the 300 block of Dellway Villa Road. (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) A member of the Metro Nashville Police Department told News 2 a man ended up at TriStar Skyline Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries following the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No additional details have been released about the circumstances surrounding this incident. This marks at least the third shooting in Nashville this weekend. CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee Authorities said a woman was shot in the leg while sitting in a vehicle outside of a bar in the 100 block of Lafayette Street in South Nashville just before 3 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 9. An altercation allegedly took place between a security and a patron at the bar before the shots were fired. Then, about seven hours later, a 25-year-old man was shot outside of a convenience store in the 1300 block of Neelys Bend Road in Madison, according to officials. Witnesses reported the victim who died at TriStar Skyline Medical Center had been asking people for a ride in the parking lot, with some saying he was acting disorderly. On Sunday morning, law enforcement announced a 36-year-old man had been arrested for criminal homicide in connection with the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police have not given any indication that these three cases are related. Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. WARREN, Ohio (WKBN) Police were called to a Warren neighborhood Sunday afternoon after receiving numerous calls for gunshots heard in the area. Read next: Teen arrested for robbing another teens lemonade stand Police were called to the area of Northwest Boulevard and Stephens Avenue around 3:30 p.m. for reports of around 10-15 gunshots in the area. When officers arrived, they found numerous shell casings in the 2200 block of Stephens Avenue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police spoke to a witness in the area, who said a man pushing a lawnmower was walking eastbound on Stephens when someone in a dark-color sedan driving in the opposite direction opened fire on him. Reports do not state that the man with the lawnmower was hit by the gunfire. Another witness provided security footage to police, which reports state shows the male walking along the road with his lawnmower. The video then shows two children playing in a nearby yard, who suddenly run into the house. Shortly after, a dark-colored Chevy Malibu with chrome rims and trim drives westbound down the street. No suspect has been named at the time of 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. AUSTINTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A man, who reports state is wanted on warrants out of Washington D.C. for making terroristic threats, was removed from Hollywood Gaming this weekend and led police on a pursuit before eventually evading custody. However, jail records reflect he has since been arrested. Read next: Wagyu cattle ranch opening local butcher shop Police were called to Hollywood Gaming just after 7 a.m. Sunday in reference to an aggravated menacing call. Employees told police a man, who they said is a regular customer at the business, arrived around 6:30 that morning regarding a bet in which he claims to have lost $15,000 on a horse race. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The man, identified as Al-Faud Mohommid, said he now owes money to the Pittsburgh Mafia and said he is going to shoot one of the employees because of it, the incident report states. Mohommid also made comments stating that he has relatives in the New York Mafia and that President Donald Trump is his Godfather, according to reports. Security was contacted to remove Mohommid from Hollywood Gaming property, and reports state he told a security worker that due to the lost bet, there would be violence involving the Pittsburgh Mafia. Mohommid also told security that he had a 9 mm, .45 caliber, a rifle, and a fireball, which reports state he described as a 12-gauge shotgun over a .45 caliber. First News reached out to Hollywood Gaming and was provided the following statement: We are engaged with Austintown Police regarding a disruptive individual who recently visited our property. As this is an active investigation, we have no additional comments at this time. Hollywood Gaming Police attempted to stop the vehicle Mohommid was suspected of driving on Mahoning Avenue near state Route 11, but reports state the driver would not stop, and a pursuit which was eventually terminated ensued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the pursuit, the driver put what officers believed to be the barrel of a hunting rifle out of the drivers side window. The officer pursuing the vehicle stated they interpreted the visible gun as a threat to intimidate the officer into ending the pursuit, as the officer stated the firearm only became visible after the officer activated their siren. Reports also state the driver failed to yield to an ambulance traveling with its emergency lights and sirens on, even swerving around a vehicle that did yield to the ambulance. Speeds reached around 105 mph, according to the pursuit report. Reports state that a comparison of footage from the chase and the threatening incident at Hollywood Gaming reflected the same suspect, identified as Mohommid, in both incidents. Court records show Mohommid was arrested Monday on charges of intimidation, failure to comply with the order or signal of police, and aggravated menacing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS) A man from Mexico who was living in the United States illegally pleaded guilty to a federal drug crime in West Virginia. According to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice, 31 year-old Braulio Villa-Chairez, also known as Raul pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute a Quantity of Methamphetamine. During the plea, Chairez admitted to helping other people distribute methamphetamine to West Virginia and other locations from March 2024 to around October 2024. He admitted to helping ship the drugs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one instance, in June 2024, Chairez shipped two separate packages to a person in West Virginia. These packages contained a total of 1.97 kilograms of methamphetamine that was referred to as ice. The packages were sent from the Houston area of Texas. Later in July 2024, Chairez reportedly picked up a return package of $4,800 from the West Virginia-based customer. He then told a co-conspirator he received the money before sending in to a location in Washington State. In August of 2024, Chairez also shipped a package filled with 963.8 grams of methamphetamine to Alabama. At a later date in October 2024, Chairez also reportedly helped someone deliver 5.905 grams of methamphetamine ice and 4.402 grams of another type of methamphetamine by car to a place in Kanawha County, West Virginia. Chairez helped by providing the driver with directions to casino and a casino in the county. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In combination with his guilty plea, Braulio Villa-Chairez admitted to living illegally in the United States under the name Jose Jesus Villa-Chairez. He was also convicted of two crimes under that name. He is scheduled to be sentenced on December 8, 2025. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison with a minimum of three years of supervised release. A $1 million is also looming. Once sentencing is completed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will take custody of Chairez and begin the process of removing him from the United States. These most recent court proceedings are part of a larger scale operation targeting large amounts of methamphetamine into West Virginia from Houston, Texas. Stick with 59News for more local news, weather, and crime. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS. A man believed to have been a part of a Romanian criminal organization was sentenced to 10 years in prison last week after he stole tens of thousands of welfare cards across California and New York. Catalin-Marius Graur, 43, was sentenced Aug. 4 after pleading guilty in October to one count of bank fraud. When he was arrested at a New York City Airbnb apartment in June 2024, he had over $37,000 in cash and nearly 1,500 stolen account access numbers in his possession, according to a statement from the Department of Justice. In his scheme, officials said, Graur targeted those receiving Electronic Benefit Transfer funds, which are distributed by social services departments to help low-income communities receive food and cash aid. In California, these are accessed through programs like CalFresh previously known as food stamps and CalWORKS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to DOJ officials, Graur would steal EBT card information by attaching "sophisticated skimming devices" to ATMs and other sales machines across Los Angeles and the Inland Empire. Once the victim entered their card, the device captured their information. Fraudulent cards can be made with the stolen information and used to withdraw EBT funds. Graur was not living in the United States legally, according to officials. A Romanian citizen, he entered the U.S. in 2020 on a tourist visa but overstayed his visit, the release said. He worked with multiple people internationally in the scheme, with one accomplice receiving more than 36,000 stolen EBT card numbers from Graur over the course of three years, the statement said. Another co-conspirator involved in the scheme, Mihai-Adrian Humoiu, was sentenced to over seven years in prison in May, according to the FBI. According to the Los Angeles division of the FBI, which investigated Graur's case, there are multiple instances of Romanian citizens coming to the U.S. to commit bank fraud. The agency has investigated that crime route in particular for many years. In 2023, The Times reported on a string of Romanian citizens who had been arrested for skimming EBT funds through ATMs, including Virgil Negru, a member of the Eforie City Council, who was charged with felony forgery and identity theft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because the process of skimming is complicated and requires lots of different steps, the crimes are often organized and conducted in groups. It's a crime of opportunity, they said, and scammers travel anywhere they think they could find success it's not exclusive to California or Romania. Unlike modern debit or credit cards, EBT cards traditionally have not had microchips, making them especially easy to clone. But that changed in California in April, when the state rolled out new cards with microchips, said Gerry Bonilla, the division chief for program compliance in the state's Social Services Department. Customers with the new cards can use the tap function for transaction at all businesses with the feature available on their sales machines. Since issuing the new cards, Bonilla said that the department has received fewer reports of EBT scamming. Nowadays, most of the reports his office receives of EBT card scamming come from stores without microchip readers on their point of sale machines. The Times also reported that wait times for EBT fund reimbursement after reporting a scam could take weeks, as agencies became overwhelmed with requests. In California, this process has quickened in recent years, with the process now being nearly "instantaneous," Bonilla said. Customers have to file a benefit reimbursement claim within 90 days starting on the day of the theft. The state requires that claim to be processed within 10 days, but Bonilla said it often only takes one or two days, depending on the circumstances of the theft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CalFresh has additional requirements for reimbursement. Customers cannot be reimbursed twice in one Federal Fiscal Year and the amount "cannot exceed the equivalent of two months' worth of their monthly allotment per occurence," Bonilla said in an email. Separately, another person, also from Romania, pleaded guilty to bank fraud and asylum fraud in San Francisco for the same type of scam with EBT cards, according to another DOJ statement. Marius Marian, 39, illegally accessed over $500,000 in EBT funds through attaching skimming devices to ATMs. Marian is a Romanian citizen who illegally entered the U.S. and then was deported in 2019 after serving eight months in custody for bank fraud. In an application for asylum, submitted to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security around April 2023, he knowingly failed to disclose his previous deportation, the statement said. His sentencing is scheduled for October. 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. LAUDERDALE COUNTY, Ala. (WHNT) A man charged with murder for the death of his wife has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge Monday, according to the Lauderdale County Chief ADA. In court on Monday, August 11, 2025, Lanarrick Thompson pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter. He will serve 25 years in the Alabama Department of Corrections. On August 22, 2021, the Lauderdale County Sheriffs Office was called to a home on Holden Road in Killen. Once they arrived, deputies found Quoshanna Thompson dead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few days later, U.S. Marshals arrested her husband, Lannarick Thompson, for her murder. Thompson was indicted for the murder in February 2022. Chief ADA Angie Hamilton said the victims family agreed on the terms of the deal, because they waited for justice for four years. Family members told Hamilton that there were no reports filed; however, they said there were domestic disputes leading up to the incident. She said that the couple had argued, then he grabbed a gun and shot his wife. He fled the scene because he was scared. Thompson spoke to the family, apologizing for what he had done, Hamilton said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com. Man sentenced to 15 years for fatal Windom NYE stabbing originally appeared on Bring Me The News. A man convicted in a fatal New Year's Eve stabbing at a Windom bar has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. On Friday, Cottonwood County court officials sentenced the defendant in connection with the Dec. 31, 2024 stabbing at Phat Pheasant Pub that killed Benjamin Matter, 30. A 31-year-old man was also injured in the stabbing. Photos from the Cottonwood County Jail and a GoFundMe for Ben Matter. The defendant, who has legally changed his name to Happy, was previously convicted of second-degree murder. His California commercial driver's license listed "No Name Given" as his first name and "Happy" as his last name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The case was prosecuted by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellisons office. According to the criminal complaint, police spoke to a bar employee who said that Happy was playing pool with a group of people, including Matter, before the stabbing. The employee said Happy was making others mad, "being mouthy and pushing things," the charges state. Happy made comments about pulling out a gun, including a comment directed at Matter. He was eventually escorted outside after one of the bartenders told him to leave. Happy returned to the bar brandishing a knife with a six-to-eight-inch blade. A witness stated that Matter tried to stop Happy from coming back inside. Happy then made "a couple of stab motions," according to the charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A woman told police she was trying to leave the bar when Happy grabbed her and said "I am going to [f***ing] kill you." The woman then saw Matter laying on the floor, covered in blood. Witnesses were eventually able to restrain Happy. I am pleased to see justice served in this case, and I hope that brings some measure of solace to all those affected by this tragic violence. I worked for years to expand my offices Criminal Division so we could take on cases like this and help improve public safety across Minnesota. My Office stands ready to assist Minnesotas county attorneys in securing justice and holding violent offenders accountable for their actions, Ellison said in a statement. This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Aug 10, 2025, where it first appeared. YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (WKBN) A man convicted of felony domestic violence was sentenced in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court. Michael Tomlin pleaded guilty last month to domestic violence and assault in connection with a May 2025 incident in Struthers involving a woman who reported that Tomlin beat her and ransacked her home on Terrace Street. Tomlin was sentenced to six months in jail and three years of probation. He was given credit for the 107 days he had already served. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joe Gorman contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) A man was rushed to the hospital after a motorcycle crash that happened in Providence Sunday afternoon. The crash happened just after 6 p.m. in the area of Union and Pocasset avenues. Police said the motorcyclist tried to pass a car on the left when the car turned into a driveway, leading to a collision. Witnesses said the motorcyclist was found unconscious but still breathing. He was taken to the hospital with a serious head injury. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators say he was not wearing a helmet. A gun was also found in the front pouch of the motorcycle. The driver of the car was not injured. The crash remains under investigation. NEXT: 1 dead, 1 seriously injured after Providence motorcycle crash NEXT: Late night fire at East Providence restaurant under investigation Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. The man shot and killed by Milwaukee police on August 9 was identified as 31-year-old Dandre McIntosh. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office released McIntosh's identity nearly two days after Milwaukee Police Department officials said he died while trading gunfire with four officers. The shooting occurred on the 2700 block of North 60th Street, Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said at a news conference on August 9. The incident began with police investigating a vehicle related to multiple business robberies that was found at the rear of a residence, he said. While there, officers came across an armed man on the back porch, now known to be McIntosh. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers gave several commands to dorp the gun, but he refused and gunfire was later exchanged between him and the officers, Norman said. It's unclear whether McIntosh died from officers' gunfire or a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Norman said. The four officers that fired their guns have been placed on administrative duty, as is routine in police shootings. Norman described the four officers as: A 46-year-old man with over 21 years of service A 36-year-old man with over eight years of service A 30-year-old man with over five years of service A 29-year-old man with over 11 years of service All police shootings are investigated by the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team, a collection of seven Milwaukee-area police agencies that step in as the outside investigators for critical incidents, to satisfy state law. The Brookfield Police Department is the lead agency in the investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Footage from the incident will be made available to the public in 15 days from when it occurred. David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Man shot, killed by Milwaukee police identified Man who shot at Lyndhurst officers sent to prison for 16 years CLEVELAND (WJW) A 21-year old man was sentenced to 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to several charges including the felonious assault of two Lyndhurst police detectives in October 2022. A FOX 8 I-Team camera was rolling as Abu Hakim was sentenced by Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Kevin Kelly Monday morning. Cedar Points Power Tower evacuated after cable fails Hakim apologized to the officers, all of the victims and his family prior to sentencing Lyndhurst Police Chief Patrick Rhode asked the judge to sentence Hakim to the maximum prison sentence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I stand before you not just as a police chief, but on behalf of a troubled community, Rhode said. Two officers were ambushed in the line of duty, their lives nearly stolen in an instant by a violent, calculated and cowardly act. The charge before your court demands the strongest response our justice system can deliver. 1 dead after truck sideswiped, causing fiery crash During the hearing, prosecutors showed pictures of the bullet holes in the unmarked cruiser. Once released from prison, Hakim will be placed on parole. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) A man is now recovering at University Hospital after getting shot earlier tonight on Syracuses South Side. Police were called to the 2300 Block of Midland Avenue, not too far from McKinley Brighton Elementary, just after 8 p.m. When they got to the scene, they found the 35-year-old victim who was shot in the leg. Syracuse police are investigating what happened. Anyone with information should call them at (315) 442-5222. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSYR. HILLSBORO, Texas (FOX 44) A man suspected of burglarizing the Outlets of Hillsboro has been caught. Officers with the Hillsboro Department of Public Safety were dispatched to the Outlets at approximately 7:48 a.m. Monday in reference to a call of Trespassing. When they arrived, they made contact with construction workers who identified that a subject possibly committed a Burglary of suites and ran into the tree line after being confronted by workers. Officers quickly set up a perimeter and requested the assistance of a drone operator from the Hill County Sheriffs Office. Constables with Precinct 3 also arrived to assist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hillsboro DPS says due to the tall grass and heavy tree line, officers deployed a Fire Rescue Brush Truck to access the field and tree line after a subject was identified crawling through the field. Officers were able to detain and arrest a man identified as being the man who fled the scene. Charges of Burglary of a Building and Evading Arrest are expected in addition to the man having a warrant out of another agency. Hillsboro DPS says this is an ongoing investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. A 38-year-old man from Lula, Georgia was arrested at a Banks County school on Friday. According to the Banks County Sheriffs Office, deputies found Terry Moore, a wanted man, at Banks County Middle School. Theyd been called to the school after reports of a suspicious male being on campus. Deputies said Moore had an outstanding warrant for failure to appear and was taken into custody without incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sheriffs office said there was no threat to the school, the school district or students. The swift response of school staff and deputies ensured the safety and security of all students and faculty, the sheriffs office said. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] A man who was thrown from his boat and then spent the night clinging to a buoy for almost seven hours offshore from Morro Rock was spotted by a fisherman and rescued early Saturday morning. According to an Instagram post from the Morro Bay Police Department, John Gsell, 29, told police his boat was struck by an object at 10 p.m. on Friday, sending him overboard into the frigid ocean. Gsell said after that, his boat drifted off into the sea, and he was unable to reach it. After spotting the silhouette of Morro Rock in the distance, he attempted to swim toward it, the department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After an hour of swimming, Gsell located a nearby buoy to which he clung for nearly seven hours accompanied by a group of seals, police said. The U.S. Coast Guard first found the unattended boat, which was motoring in circles roughly a quarter mile from the Morro Strand State Beach. The agency notified police that it seemed as though someone had fallen overboard. Then at about 6:45 a.m., an unidentified local fisherman spotted Gsell clinging to the buoy about a mile away from Morro Rock. We thank the local fisherman for his early departure out of the Morro Bay Harbor and good luck in driving towards Gsell, most likely saving his life and reuniting him with his loved one, the Police Department said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police also noted that Gsells past service as a Marine helped him to stay calm while he waited for rescue. Gsell noted the doubt that went through his mind of giving up in the cold water, but being a prior United States Marine, he was not going to give up easily, the Police Department said. We are grateful for his mental mindset in this life-changing incident to not give up and save his own life. SABINE COUNTY, Texas (KETK) A wanted man was arrested by the Sabine County Sheriffs Office Monday morning on 15 active warrants, including charges from over seven years ago. AFFIDAVIT: TDCJ officer caught trying to traffic meth into prison during Smith County sting operation Mugshot of Chad McGown, courtesy of Sabine County Jail According to the sheriffs office, around 2:06 a.m. Chad Henry McGown was located and arrested for the following active warrants: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sabine County Four felony warrants for failure to appear Eight misdemeanor warrants for failure to appear Other county: $67,000 total bond Felony warrant for failure to appear Two counts of possession of a controlled substance Criminal mischief All of McGowns local warrants in Sabine County have been set to no bond. His original charges included a multitude of violations, ranging from burglary of a building to evading, some of which date back to cases in 2017, officials said. McGown will remain in custody of the Sabine County Sheriffs Office until his next appearance in court. 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. GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) Two individuals have been arrested after a marijuana grow operation was found in a Greenville County home. 29-year-old Tiffany Lynn Charping and 45-year-old Michael John Thomason are facing drug charges following their arrests at a home located on Old Georgia Road. An investigation was initiated on Friday, Aug. 8, when deputies with the Greenville County Sheriffs Office responded to a disturbance call possibly involving weapons around 10 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Upon arrival, authorities investigated the incident while subsequently discovering the marijuana grow operation inside the home. Both suspects were charged with manufacturing drugs, according to deputies. Thomason was also charged with two counts of unlawful conduct towards a child. Charping was released on a $10,000 bond following her arrest. Thomason remains in custody at the Greenville County Detention Center on a $30,000 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. Manchester Police are investigating an incident of vandalism after a swastika was found on the door of a downtown business last week. Manchester cruisers at night Manchester Police say a swastika was found drawn on the front door at The Hop Knot at 1000 Elm St. in the early morning hours of Thursday. The Hop Knot is a one-stop shop for fresh-baked pretzels and local craft beer. Police said a suspect has been identified, and detectives are examining all possible motives and intent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our department is committed to a thorough and transparent investigation, and we will share additional details as they are confirmed, police said in a statement. Our agency has been in communication with the Attorney Generals Civil Rights Unit regarding this investigation. Christopher Bond, Associate Attorney General with the New Hampshire Department of Justice, said his departments Civil Rights Unit is aware and actively monitoring the ongoing investigation by the Manchester Police Department at this time. Police asked anyone with information related to this incident to contact the department at 603-668-8711 or submit a tip anonymously through Manchester Crimeline at 603-624-4040. Update: The fire is now under control and all evacuations have been lifted. Story with details. DENVER (KDVR) A portion of the town of Craig in Moffat County was under a mandatory fire evacuation Sunday afternoon for an apparent structure fire that later expanded to a wildland fire, according to the Moffat County Sheriffs Office and Craig Police Department. The sheriffs office at around 2 p.m. Sunday said residents in the northeast section of town, between 13th and 9th streets to the north and south and Washington Street and Bryan Way east and west, are being asked to immediately evacuate the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At 4 p.m., the sheriffs office said that area is now in a pre-evacuation notice. FOX31 Newsletters: Sign up to get breaking news sent to your inbox If you are in the area of the fire you need to leave NOW, the sheriffs office posted on Facebook. You are blocking emergency response and putting life and property at risk! Another part of town, north of East 9th Street from Bryan Way to Haughey, is also in a pre-evacuation notice. FOX31 has reached out to the sheriffs office about the nature of the fire which so far has not responded, but Craig police told FOX31 it is a structure fire. A police alert is advising people to the area of Yampa Avenue and 13th Street due to a fire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Yampa Valley Electric Association said it is shutting off power in the area due to a fire in Craig. We will restore power when it is safe to do so, the company 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 FOX31 Denver. Care workers with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) rally outside the U.S. Capitol on June 26, 2025, in Washington, D.C. They came to denounce the impact to patients, families and workers if Republicans cut Medicaid, health care and SNAP to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images for SEIU) When we hear about health policy changes in the news, usually the numbers we hear are related to insurance: How many people will become insured or uninsured as a result of the latest legislation? Analysts and as a result, news reporters, too tend to use these numbers because theyre relatively simple to predict and understand. But at the end of the day, health insurance is just a little card legally linked to a thick stack of paperwork in some office somewhere. Insurance numbers dont really tell us much about what we actually want to know, which is the human health impact. How many medically avoidable deaths will a given piece of legislation prevent or cause? How many will or wont get the care they need? How many more will or wont be in medical debt? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congress passed and on July 4 President Trump signed his One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the largest ever cut to government health care funding in U.S. history. The Congressional Budget Office projects the law will push about 10 million Americans off of health insurance while growing the deficit by $3.4 trillion over the next decade. Health economists have studied the link between health insurance and health outcomes and can estimate how many more preventable deaths Americans will suffer as health coverage declines, among other outcomes. The Minnesota Department of Human Services recently released preliminary estimates that about 140,000 Minnesotans will lose their health insurance as a result of the legislation. Additionally, due to upcoming subsidy expirations and rule changes for the Affordable Care Acts insurance markets (Obamacare), health policy analysts at KFF have predicted an additional 5.1 million Americans will become uninsured nationwide, leading to an additional 13,000 uninsured Minnesotans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Using this 153,000 figure, we can estimate that roughly one more Minnesotan will unnecessarily die per day as a result of losing coverage. Tens of thousands more will forego necessary care, miss medications, and rack up medical expenses they cannot afford. Make no mistake, however. The craziest part of all of this should not be these figures themselves. Its the fact that they can mostly still be prevented from coming to fruition by our state Legislature. KFF estimates that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act is expected to cost the state up to $2.4 billion per year over the next decade, leaving a big hole for our state legislators to fill. Although some of these harms are caused by Congresss imposition of work requirement paperwork burdens on Medicaid beneficiaries that the state cannot do much about, most of them come from the funding cuts, and funding cuts are something the state can definitely do something about. Minnesota just needs to come up with roughly $2.4 billion on its own. How exactly can the state find such a large sum of money roughly 6% of the state general fund budget? Believe it or not, its not actually that complicated. Currently, the state runs Medicaid through private third-party administrators called managed care organizations, or MCOs. These MCOs are a product of the 1990s, when the public policy world thought the problem with health care was that people were using too much of it, and health care needed gatekeepers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a rather evidence-free claim. Consider that Americans actually use less care than people in Europe and Canada despite spending far more per capita than them, all while also living shorter, less healthy lives. Nonetheless, the MCOs still run Minnesotas Medicaid program, adding significant administrative expenses onto the state budget while doing nothing to make health care better. Connecticut got rid of these wasteful MCO contractors in 2012, instead opting to run its Medicaid program itself. Unsurprisingly, they saved lots of money doing so. How much would Minnesota save if it spent per beneficiary what Connecticut does on Medicaid? About $1.5 billion annually, according to my analysis. Given the $2.4 billion in cuts also includes some money cut from non-health care areas, that $1.5 billion in savings is likely enough to fill most of the health care-related hole in the state budget! With that money, the state can ensure tens of thousands of Minnesotans get the care they need while preventing closures of Minnesota hospitals and nursing homes that depend on Medicaid for funding. During the last legislative session, I wrote a column in support of legislation called the Patient-Centered Care bill that would more or less copy what Connecticut did (SF1059/HF255). Unfortunately, neither the state House nor Senate brought it up for serious consideration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back then, it was admittedly still uncertain whether Congress would actually pass massive cuts to Medicaid, but it did, and now there are no more excuses. Our state Legislature can quite easily alleviate most of the financial problems Congress has passed onto it and thereby save lives. All they have to do is pass a not very big but in my opinion quite beautiful bill to cut wasteful MCO middlemen out of our Medicaid program. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX KANSAS CITY, Kan. The funeral for Wyandotte County Deputy Elijah Ming is set to begin within the next few hours, featuring a memorial service and law enforcement procession to honor the life and service of the fallen deputy, as well as his family and colleagues. The parking lot at the Kansas Speedway opened to the public at 9 a.m. Parking will only be located in BLUE Lot 2 off State Avenue (on the south side of the stadium) and is on the property of the speedway. Funeral to honor life of fallen Deputy Elijah Ming held on Monday Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Drivers should also be aware that Village West Parkway and France Family Drive will be closed to public traffic. Parking for the funeral of fallen Wyandotte County Deputy Elijah Ming. Then, at 9:30 a.m., the Childrens Mercy Park stadium doors will open and members of the public will be able to take part in the memorial service, which is set to begin at 11 a.m. According to the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department, the memorial service will be 90 minutes to two hours long and will include a 21-gun salute and a flyover from a Kansas Highway Patrol helicopter. Following the service, law enforcement agencies will line up for a procession that will take place through the heart of KCK. It is scheduled to begin about 30 minutes after the service ends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Download WDAF+ for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV Heres everything you need to know about the procession route: East On France Family South on Village West Pkwy East on State Ave South on I-435 East on I-70 North on N. 7th St. West on State Ave Ends at N. 94th St. The funeral procession route for fallen Wyandotte County Deputy Elijah Ming. The Wyandotte County Fraternal Order of Police is collecting donations for Mings family. Those interested in donating can click here. You can watch the service and procession by clicking here or watching WDAF+. FOX4 will have complete coverage throughout newscasts and online on Monday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. With a Marthas Vineyard vendor refusing to cede to Alan Dershowitzs pierogi demands, a South Florida restaurant owner -- who happens to be a member of Donald Trumps private Mar-a-lago resort -- has stepped up and offered free dumplings for life to the former Jeffrey Epstein lawyer. In the latest of Dershowitzs social sufferings at the exclusive summer playground for the ultra-wealthy, the one-time Trump attorney threatened to file a discrimination lawsuit after he was denied pierogi at a farmers market in July. Dershowitz claimed that the owner of Good Pierogi refused to serve him for political reasons and his support of Zionist causes, suggesting the vendor was antisemitic. After railing against the bigoted vendor online, claiming Good Pierogis food was tainted with the poison of antisemitism and urging others to boycott the stand, Dershowitz returned to the market last week to once again try to buy some of the doughy treats. Instead, owner Krem Miskevich who has cited Dershowitzs defense of Epstein as the reason to refuse him service again turned him away. Good Pierogi supporters chanted time to go at the famed lawyer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After Dershowitz ran to MAGA-supporting media to complain about the ongoing ordeal of his pierogi-less existence on the island, a sympathetic restaurateur came to the rescue to fill all of the 86-year-old Harvard Law emeritus Eastern European dumpling needs. Pierogi should bring people together not divide them, Peter Nowocien, owner of PierogiOne restaurant, told the New York Post this week. Alan Dershowitz has been offered free pierogi for life by a Mar-a-Lago member following the latest Marthas Vineyard snub. (Getty Images) Nowocien, who is a member of Mar-a-Lago and recently hosted an event at the presidents South Florida club, said that no one should ever be denied pierogi before declaring that hed send Dershowitz and his family free food for life. The restaurant owner, a Polish immigrant who moved to the United States six years ago, told the Post that Dershowitzs disturbing experience did not sit right with him because of his experience growing up in the shadow of Polands communist regime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a Polish immigrant, I hate to hear about discrimination in the US because of peoples political views. That shouldnt happen here, the Trump-supporting Nowocien said, adding that his father fought against communism. Discrimination breeds injustice. Nowocien also noted that while Dershowitz, who is Jewish, may not be willing to sample his restaurants Philly cheesesteak, spicy beef, or bacon and cheddar pierogi options, the lawyer could choose the classic cheese and potato variety. Meanwhile, it would appear that at least for the time being Dershowitz is going to stop trying to force Good Pierogi to serve him. Following last weeks spectacle that saw him shouted out of the market, Semafors Max Tani asked Dershowitz whether he would return over the weekend to try again. Heading to Israel, where they will sell me better pierogi, the lawyer, who is a fervent supporter of pro-Israeli causes, replied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Independent has contacted Dershowitz for comment. Dershowitzs war on the West Tisbury pierogi stand began in earnest at the end of last month, when he made a huge public stink after Miskevich refused to sell to him, prompting him to upload a 30-minute video about the bigoted vendor while threatening a lawsuit against Good Pierogi and the local farmers market. While noting that Miskevich brought up his past defense of deceased sex offender Epstein when refusing him service, Dershowitz has since alleged that the vendor who is Jewish turned him away because they are antisemitic. (Miskevinc uses they/them pronouns.) As I correctly suspected, the bigot who refused to sell me perogi [sic] Krem Miskevich is a notorious anti-semite who is part of an anti-semitic organization that protests Jewish not only Israeli cultural events and doesnt believe in Israels right to exist or to respond to what these haters regard as the justified massacres of Oct 7, Dershowitz tweeted last week, adding: Dont patronize anti-semites who refuse to sell to Jewish Zionists. Alan Dershowitz unsuccessfully attempts to purchase pierogi from an unwilling vendor at a Martha's Vineyard market. (YouTube) Miskevich responded to Dershowitzs accusations by noting that they experienced a surge of emotion when the lawyer appeared at the stand last month because hes represented and befriended several sexual predators and abusers including Jeffrey Epstein, adding that they know many people who have been sexual assault victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miskevich also said Dershowitz began to harass us, misgender me, and film us without our consent. Additionally, they pointed out that not only are they Jewish, but they have immediate family members in Israel and friends on the island sometimes refer to them as Rabbi Klem. Despite Dershowitzs vow to boycott Good Pierogi, the celebrity attorney turned up Wednesday to join the long line of customers most of whom were there to show support for Good Pierogi looking to purchase the vendors dumplings. Im here in an effort to try to restore community and to ask you to sell me pierogi in the interest of keeping the island together so we dont have to have two pierogi stands: one for anti-Zionists and one for people who will sell to anybody, Dershowitz said. So Id ask you to please just sell me any one of your products to show that youre prepared to sell to anybody and not allow your anti-Zionism to decide which people youll sell to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Miskevich did not budge, telling Dershowitz that they were very surprised that youre here because of the things that youve been saying about us and the business online, while others rejected Dershowitzs blanket accusations of anti-Zionism and antisemitism. Good Pierogi later posted on social media to thank customers for showing up for us in such a visible and powerful way, adding that they are saddened by the lengths to which a disgruntled person will go and that they will not give them any more air. As for Dershowitzs threats to sue the farmers market and Good Pierogi for discrimination, legal experts have said that he would likely lose on the merits of the case if he decided to go to court. If he tried to claim that he was denied service based on his politics or the clients he has served, it would seem no, powerhouse law firm Kelley Drye noted. Neither Massachusetts state law nor federal law recognize a claim for discrimination on the basis of political beliefs, affiliations, or activities in public accommodations. In fact, almost all jurisdictions, including New York, do not protect political beliefs or political associations under the applicable public accommodation laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dershowitzs past representation of Epstein has attracted renewed interest in recent weeks amid uproar over the Trump administrations handling of the disgraced financiers case. The lawyer helped negotiate a plea deal in 2008 that granted Epstein immunity from federal charges related to sexual abuse of minors, allowing the disgraced financier to plead guilty to state charges of procuring prostitution of an underage girl, in which he served just a 13-month sentence. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos warned Monday that his country would be dragged "kicking and screaming" into any war over Taiwan, but must prepare for it. China considers self-ruled Taiwan, Manila's closest neighbour to the north, to be part of its territory and has threatened to seize it by force. "If there's a war over this it is near us. What are we supposed to do?" Marcos told a news conference, adding: "We can't ignore it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "So inevitably, despite our fervent wish to avoid any confrontation with anybody, anywhere, a war over Taiwan will drag the Philippines, kicking and screaming into the conflict," he said. "I hope it doesn't happen... But if it does we have to plan for it already," he said, citing the large numbers of Filipinos working in Taiwan. In an interview with Indian news agency Firstpost during a state visit to New Delhi last week, Marcos said that in the event of a confrontation between China and the United States over Taiwan, "there is no way that the Philippines can stay out of it simply because of our physical geographic location". "If there is an all-out war, then we will be drawn into it," Marcos said in the interview, which was uploaded on YouTube. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reported comments angered Beijing, with the the Chinese foreign ministry lodging a diplomatic protest and accusing Marcos of "playing with fire" over the issue. China and the Philippines have engaged in a series of confrontations in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely despite an international ruling that the assertion has no legal basis. Since his election in 2022, Marcos has boosted cooperation between the former US colony and the United States, with which Manila has a mutual defence treaty. cgm/fox MANILA, Philippines (AP) Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Monday his country would inevitably be drawn kicking and screaming into any war over Taiwan due to its proximity to the self-ruled island and the presence of large numbers of Filipino workers there, despite Chinas strong protest over such remarks. Marcos also told a news conference that the Philippines' coast guard, navy and other vessels defending its territorial interests in the South China Sea would never back down and would stand their ground in the contested waters after the Chinese coast guard on Monday staged dangerous blocking maneuvers and used a powerful water cannon to try to drive away Philippine vessels from the hotly disputed Scarborough Shoal. Its the latest flare-up of long-simmering territorial disputes in the busy waterway, a key global trade route, where overlapping claims between China and the Philippines have escalated in recent years. Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also lay claims to parts of the contested waters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Relations between China and the Philippines have been severely strained after Marcos, who took office in mid-2022, and his administration emerged as some of the most vocal critics in Asia of Chinas increasingly aggressive actions in the South China Sea. The Marcos administration deepened its treaty alliance engagements with the United States and started broadening security alliances with other Western and Asian countries like Japan, Australia, India and some EU member states to strengthen deterrence against Beijings assertiveness. China protested last week and accused Marcos of interfering in its domestic affairs and violating its One China policy when he told reporters on the sidelines of a visit to India that there was no way the Philippines could stay out of a possible war in Taiwan because of his countrys proximity to it and the presence of about 200,000 Filipino workers on the self-ruled island. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and has repeatedly threatened to annex it, by force if necessary. The Chinese Foreign Ministry then said through a spokesperson that 'geographic location' and a large volume of Filipinos in Taiwan should not be used as pretexts to interfere in the internal and sovereign affairs of other countries and urged the Philippines to earnestly abide by the One China principle and refrain from playing fire on issues bearing on Chinas core interests. Asked to comment on Chinas protest, Marcos said he was perplexed and could not understand Beijings concern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know what theyre talking about, playing with fire? I was just stating facts. We do not want to go to war, but I think if there is a war over Taiwan, we will be drawn, we will be pulled in whether we like it or not, kicking and screaming, Marcos said. We will be drawn and dragged into that mess. I hope it doesnt happen, but, if it does, we have to plan for it already. Separately, Philippine Coast Guard Commodore Jay Tarriela said Chinese coast guard ships chased and staged dangerous blocking maneuvers on Monday against Philippine coast guard and fishing vessels in the Scarborough Shoal, a rich fishing atoll in the South China Sea off the northwestern Philippines. A Philippine coast guard ship managed to evade being hit by a Chinese coast guard water cannon during the melee, he said. While chasing a Philippine coast guard vessel, a Chinese coast guard ship accidentally collided with a Chinese navy ship, Tarriela said. The Chinese coast guard ship sustained substantial damage and the Philippine coast guard offered to provide help, including medical assistance, to the Chinese side, he said. There was no immediate comment from Chinese officials on Tarrielas statements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked if the Philippine vessels would be instructed to withdraw from the disputed shoal, Marcos said his government would never back away from any fight. There is no silver bullet that if you fire it, all our problems would be solved, Marcos said. What will happen is, we will continue to be present, we will continue to defend our territory, we will continue to exercise our sovereign rights and despite any opposition from anyone, we will continue to do that as we have done in the past three years. Donald Trumps remark on Monday that his administration is looking at reclassifying marijuana so that its on a schedule for less-dangerous drugs had some cannabis insiders blooming with optimism. During a Monday press conference, the president said his administration would determine over the next few weeks whether to move cannabis from Schedule I classification, which the federal government defines as drugs that are highly addictive and without FDA-approved medical use, to Schedule III, which includes drugs like steroids that can be accessed with a prescription. Well make a determination over the next few weeks, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cannabis insiders hope the president isnt just blowing smoke about a possible schedule change because, frankly, Trump has been of two minds about weed. On one hand, he upheld the federal prohibition of cannabis during his first term in office, but didnt go after states with legal cannabis laws. Trump also has suggested that drug dealers get the death penalty, but supported a 2024 ballot measure in Florida to legalize recreational marijuana. John Mueller of Greenlight, a chain of dispensaries with locations in multiple states, thinks reclassification is something that should have happened years ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its encouraging to see signs of renewed political will as we confront 50 years of contradictory cannabis police, Mueller told HuffPost. This moment demands not just dialogue, but action. Now more than ever, we call for clear and comprehensive regulatory guidelines that prioritize public safety, economic opportunity, and legal certainty. Although moving pot to a new schedule wouldnt make the drug legal on a federal level, Anthony Coniglio of NewLake Capital Partners, which supplies real estate capital to state-licensed cannabis operators, says the designation is a necessary next step for the bud business. [It] would also open the door to much-needed research in the medical applications of cannabis and mark an important step forward for new institutional investment, better access to capital markets, and a stronger foundation for long-term industry growth, Coniglio told HuffPost. It could give regulators clearer tools to distinguish between compliant businesses and illicit actors, focusing enforcement on unregulated businesses that pose real threats to public safety. Other people connected to the cannabis industry, like Vibhav Gupta, CEO of CannMenus, a cannabis tech platform, said he knows countless cannabis retailers and brands that have tried to survive for years on thin margins while waiting for reclassification. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The industry has been burned before by reforms that never materialized, so were cautiously optimistic, but were not celebrating yet, Gupta told HuffPost. We hope this time is different - these businesses desperately need rescheduling to be real now more than ever. Kyle Sherman, founder and CEO of Flowhub, a tech company for cannabis retailers, emphasizes that reclassifying cannabis to Schedule III isnt the finish line, but its a huge step forward, and its the first time the federal government is openly recognizing cannabis as medicine. Sherman predicts a schedule change will make it easier for patients to access the benefits of cannabis, and well likely see more traditional financial institutions willing to work with the industry. Other potential benefits might be shorter sentences for nonviolent cannabis offenses and the possible passage of the SAFE Banking Act, proposed legislation that is designed to allow cannabis businesses to access traditional financial services without fear of federal penalties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other cannabis insiders are very skeptical that Trump will follow through on Mondays promise. Olivia Sawyer, of Kush Queen, which makes CBD- and THC-infused bath bombs, believes that Trump is using cannabis to boost his record low approval rating by pandering to people on an issue everyone agrees on. She told HuffPost that its hard to believe a president who is executing Project 2025 would be interested in moving cannabis forward, while they move Americans back on so many other bipartisan issues. Josefine Nowitz of the Cannabis Creative Group, a marijuana-focused marketing agency, said reclassifying pot must go hand in hand with restorative justice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Too many people remain behind bars for offenses that are now legal in much of the country, and true progress means giving them a path to rebuild their lives, she said. If the Trump administration is truly sincere about rescheduling cannabis, its a decent start. Finally, some recognition that the laws have been out of tune with reality for decades! Josh Kesselman, the publisher of High Times Magazine, said that if the Trump administration is truly sincere about rescheduling cannabis, then Mondays announcement is a decent start, but he emphasized, its nowhere near enough. As long as cannabis stays on the controlled substances list, people especially those from over-policed communities will be hit with the fallout, and the stigmas around cannabis wont change, Kesselman told HuffPost. If were serious about justice, business, and safe access, we need to deschedule entirely and build a system that doesnt just benefit the few. Related... In a bold assertion of economic sovereignty, Guinea has seized control of a major bauxite concession previously owned by the UAEs Guinea Alumina Corporation (GAC), citing violations of local mining laws including failure to build a promised alumina refinery. Signed into law by military leader General Mamadi Doumbouya on 4 August, the decree strips Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) of its 690 km concession in Boke and transfers it to a new state-owned entity, Nimba Mining Company, for 25 years. GAC, which began operations in 2019 and exported 18 million tonnes in 2024 alone, plans to pursue international arbitration for what it calls a wrongful termination. Guineas move mirrors a broader regional shift. From Mali to Niger, military-led governments are pushing out Western and Gulf mining firms in favor of local or state-backed operators. Analysts point to a growing backlash against decades of resource extraction under unequal terms. Guinea has already taken control of 2 million tonnes of GACs stockpiled bauxite at Kamsar port likely headed to China and signaled readiness to court new partners, including Indias Jindal Group. The decision highlights the Sahel and West Africas pivot toward economic self-reliance, amid global funding cutbacks and diminishing Western influence. Following coups between 2020 and 2023 in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, there has long been a strong desire for diversification in international relations in these countries, said Seidik Abba, head of the Paris-based Sahel think tank CIRES. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene ripped into far-right provocateur Laura Loomer after the self-appointed MAGA loyalty test administrator attacked a Medal of Honor recipient on social media. U.S. Army Capt. Florent Groberg tackled a suicide bomber in Afghanistan on Aug. 8, 2012, saving numerous people, including several high-ranking coalition and Afghan national army commanders. After the Army shared his story on the anniversary of the attack, Loomer criticized the Army for honoring an anti-Trump Leftist on its social media channels. Her comments prompted backlash from several MAGA supporters, including Greene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Laura Loomer has ZERO respect or reverence for even the most heroic people in America, the Georgia lawmaker wrote in a social media post. Ask any veteran, military member, and American, no one cares about his politics, the man was willing to die to save others from a suicide bomber. Shut up Laura, she added. Laura Loomer called Medal of Honor recipient Florent Groberg, who spoke at the 2016 Democratic National Convention and endorsed Hillary Clinton, an anti-Trump Leftist. / Alex Wong/Getty Images Groberg was born in France and raised the U.S., becoming a naturalized citizen in 2001. He joined the Army in 2008 and deployed to Afghanistan twice. He suffered severe injuries in the 2012 attack, which also killed four U.S. soldiers. In 2016, he spoke for just over two minutes at the Democratic National Convention and endorsed Hillary Clinton. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her post, Looomer blasted Army Secretary Dan Driscoll for not properly vetting Groberg before the Army shared his story. Inadequacy, screw-ups, and zero political knowledge of anything in the Trump era is totally accepted by many in this admin, she wrote. Are we supposed to believe the Army couldnt find a Republican and US born soldier? Groberg responded to Loomers post saying he had almost died in Afghanistan, and that for him, 8/8 wasnt about politicsit was about service, sacrifice, and the lives that were lost. Loomer nevertheless doubled down on her criticism. The relationship between Laura Loomer, right, and Marjorie Taylor Greene, left, pictured together in 2020, has soured in recent years. / Twitter/Marjorie Taylor Greene In her own post, Greene argued that Loomer was using Groberg as a pawn to attack Driscoll and pointed out that she often goes after fellow Republicans, claiming they are not sufficiently loyal to the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why does she do that? Because she is not MAGA, she is MIGA, Greene added, using an acronym that stands for Make Israel Great Again. She then said Loomer has never had a real job and implied Loomer is being funded by a foreign government or intelligence agency, prompting Loomer to post a truly scorched-earth reply. You ruined your entire family by cheating on your husband with a sex guru, and for the last 4 months, you have been doing nothing but spewing lies about the Trump admin because you dont get enough attention from the Trump admin, Loomer wrote. She then listed off all of her real jobs, accused Greene of insider trading, and made some lewd comments about extramarital affairs in CrossFit gyms. She also threatened to file an ethics complaint against Greene for falsely accusing me of being funded by an intelligence agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You call yourself a Christian while you wreck your marriage like a whore and lie out of bloated horse face which has permanent damage from your years of alleged steroid use. Which is why you look like a Neanderthal, Loomer wrote. And to think it all started because the Army celebrated a Medal of Honor recipient on its social media accounts. "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, have been running a private school called BBS, formerly called Bicken Ben, at their Palo Alto home. Journalist Heather Knight reported in the New York Times today, Mark Zuckerberg has been denounced after a school he and his wife established for children from low-income families in East Palo Alto announced in April that it will be shutting down, leaving students and their parents confused and angry. But it turns out that a mile away, behind a high wall of hedges, the billionaire and his wife, Priscilla Chan, were running a private school out of a house at their Palo Alto compound for two of their daughters and a dozen other children. And they were doing it in violation of city code. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The couple, which moved to Crescent Park in Palo Alto in 2011, have three daughters, and two reportedly attend the in-home school. Aaron McLear, a spokesperson for Zuckerberg and Chan said the couples children were part of a home-school pod, and it was not a private school. In addition to Zuckerberg and Chans two children, there are 12 other children in the school; McLear added the other students did not pay any tuition. The Times added, The state documents refer to the site as a private school, but Mr. McLear disputed that description, saying the affidavits did not allow for a distinctionWhatever the label, the family is moving the endeavor to a different location out of Crescent Park, he said. Palo Alto bans businesses from operating in private homes if the employees do not live there and if it generates more traffic than a normal home would. Such a use would require special city approval, which Mr. Zuckerberg did not obtain, per the Times. Zuckerberg and Chan own property in Washington, D.C., Palo Alto, San Francisco, Lake Tahoe, and Hawaii. You Might Also Like MARLBORO COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) A Marlboro County man was arrested Monday and charged with a sex crime involving a minor, deputies said. Larry Quick Jr. was arrested without incident and charged with sexual exploitation of a minor after deputies searched his home in Wallace. He was taken to the Marlboro County Detention Center to await a bond hearing. Additional charges are possible, pending a review of evidence that was being sent to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Divisions computer crimes unit, deputies said. This case is being investigated in conjunction with the South Carolina Attorney Generals Office and the Internet Crimes Against Children unit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement * * * Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WBTW. BALTIMORE After President Donald Trump called Baltimore so far gone, the Maryland Democratic Party posted and later deleted a message with an expletive that called the president a sex pest with daddy issues. Posted just after 11 a.m. Monday, the message on @MDDems official X account was in response to a video of Trumps news conference announcing the deployment of National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., and federal control of the citys police force. Trump suggested he could take similar action in Baltimore and other major Democratic-run cities in blue states to fight violent crime despite improving trends nationally. Hey, f*ck you, the post read, apparently referring to Trump. Maryland police answer to Maryland residents, not a sex pest with daddy issues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The post also included a screenshot of an article about Baltimores decline in homicides this year that was published by The Daily Caller, a conservative news outlet. Maryland Democratic Party chairman Steuart Pittman did not answer a 1:24 p.m. phone call from The Baltimore Sun asking for further details about the bold nature of @MDDems post. The post had been deleted by 2 p.m. Monday. Trump has faced multiple sexual misconduct allegations during his lengthy career as a public figure. In October 2016, the Access Hollywood tape which featured Trump and television host Billy Bush speaking lewdly about women threatened to derail Trumps first successful presidential campaign. And in 2023, a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing, though not of raping, columnist E. Jean Carroll nearly three decades earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called Trump a rapist last month while criticizing his handling of files related to disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Because her comments appeared to reference the Carroll verdict in which Trump was not found guilty of rape, Ocasio-Cortez was met with backlash. _____ GILGIT, Pakistan (AP) A massive mudslide early Monday killed seven volunteers as they repaired a drainage channel damaged by flash floods in northern Pakistan, officials said, leaving three others injured. Rescuers recovered the bodies after the mudslide hit the town of Danyor in Gilgit-Baltistan at dawn and transported the injured to a hospital, said Faizullah Faraq, a regional government spokesperson. This came a day after a flash flood triggered by a glacial lake outburst damaged the key Karakoram Highway, which passes through Danyor, disrupting traffic and trade between Pakistan and China. Engineers and workers were deployed along with heavy machinery to start repairs, Faraq said Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, several landslides near the damaged mountainous highway left homes damaged in Danyor and nearby areas as first responders evacuated those affected by the floods to safer areas, said Hassan Ali, a local police chief, adding that essential foods were being provided to those displaced. Sundays glacial lake outburst was huge, Ali said, swelling the Hunza river and triggering flash flooding that battered crops. Authorities were still assessing the damage, he said. The region's Chief Minister Gulbar Khan called the seven who died heroes who sacrificed their lives for the community in a statement Monday. Gilgit-Baltistan is known for its scenic glaciers that provide 75% of the countrys stored water supply, according to the region's official website. Last month, it was hit by landslides, killing 18 tourists when flash floods swept away their vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Experts say glacial lake outburst floods occur when water dammed by a glacier is suddenly released, often because ice or debris barriers collapse. Scientists say rising temperatures linked to climate change are accelerating glacier melt in Pakistans northern mountains, increasing both the size and number of these lakes. A study released last week by World Weather Attribution, a network of international scientists, found rainfall from June 24 to July 23 was 10% to 15% heavier because of global warming. Pakistan produces less than 1% of the worlds greenhouse gases, but research shows it suffers disproportionately from extreme weather. In 2022, its worst monsoon season on record killed more than 1,700 people and caused an estimated $40 billion in damage. Rains and floods since June 26 have killed more than 300 people across Pakistan. (KRON) Rejoice, UC Berkeley students and lovers of matcha: a new spot has just opened near the universitys campus. Matcha Matcha held its soft opening over the weekend for its location on 2315 Telegraph Ave., the business announced in a social media post. With the soft opening, Matcha Matcha will only be open on select days in its first three weeks. Hours are as follows: Aug. 8-10: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 14-17: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 20-24: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Raising Canes plans to open in Berkeley with $12M building purchase The establishment describes itself as one that serves premium Uji matcha from Japan. Located about a block south of UC Berkeleys campus, Matcha Matcha appears to have taken over the space once occupied by The Alley, according to a photo of the newly opened shop. That boba shop that opened in January of 2024. The Alley in Berkeley closed sometime after May of this year. The Alley did not announce the closure of its Berkeley location on social media, but a spokesperson told KRON4 the store temporarily ceased operations. It did not disclose a closure date or reason for its closure. The establishment did reveal plans to reopen in Berkeley and expand elsewhere in the Bay Area, The Alley spokesperson added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matcha Matchas opening comes during a recent supply shortage of matcha, according to The Washington Post. The tea plant that produces matcha can only be grown and produced in Japan. Recent Trump administration policies have placed a 15% tariff on most Japanese goods entering the United States, including matcha. That has also factored in the increasing difficulty of matcha coming into the country. Even one matcha spot in the Philippines recently announced it is facing a matcha shortage admitting it may no longer serve matcha drinks within the week. Uji-Matcha Cafe said restocking its matcha could take one to two months. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. Mayor says ransomware caused St. Paul cyberattack, but city didn't pay originally appeared on Bring Me The News. A ransomware attack is what prompted St. Paul officials to proactively shut down the city's information systems more than two weeks ago. Mayor Melvin Carter confirmed on Sunday that the person or people behind the attack demanded a specific sum of money and threatened to release data, but the city did not pay the ransom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carter told KARE 11 that an ongoing investigation into the breach hasn't revealed evidence of stolen data thus far. He said the city has maintained access to its data and control of its systems throughout the ordeal. Our city staff have led with skill and vision, putting us in strong position to restore our systems and recover from this attack," Carter said in a statement provided to Bring Me The News. Related: St. Paul mayor: Cybersecurity risk 'very low' for most amid breach to city's IT systems The city is currently working to check devices, install cybersecurity software and reset passwords for around 3,500 employees, then its systems will gradually be restored. The in-person effort at Roy Wilkins Auditorium has been dubbed "Operation Secure Saint Paul," per WCCO. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are going to start with public safety, with payroll, those critical systems that keep us moving forward," Jaime Wascalus, the city's chief information officer, said in an interview with the TV station. "It will take a few weeks to get everything online. And that means we're doing it right. We're doing it slowly, safely and securely." St. Paul's libraries, parks and recreation centers are open, but citywide WiFi access is still down. Other technological functions, like making bill payments online, remain offline as well. Until now, few details on the breach have been shared since it was detected in late July, with the city citing an ongoing investigation that involves the Minnesota National Guard's cybersecurity team and other outside entities. House Speaker Lisa Demuth (R-Cold Spring) and three of her Republican colleagues sent a letter to Carter "requesting immediate answers" about the breach last week. Carter's press secretary told Bring Me The News on Sunday that the mayor spoke directly with Demuth and plans to send her a written response this week. Related: Minnesota GOP leaders demand details on cyberattack from St. Paul mayor St. Paul postponed Carter's 2026 budget address, originally planned for Thursday, and plans to reschedule it for sometime in September. This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Aug 11, 2025, where it first appeared. (The Center Square) U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon toured an East Baton Rouge school Monday, joining teachers, state Department of Education officials, U.S. Rep. Troy Carter and U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, both of Louisiana. "Look at the results Louisiana has already had. To come out of COVID and get their reading program back up and make more gains than any other state, really speaks to the commitment that is here," McMahon said. "It's working! Why would I not want to come here and talk about it, and what's making it work." The group toured Jefferson Terrace Academy which began classes Wednesday and serves students from kindergarten through eighth grade making stops in two classrooms before hosting a roundtable focused on the states recent gains in literacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Louisiana K-3 students posted notable reading gains in 2024-25, with the percentage reading on or above grade level rising 17 points to 64%, according to new Department of Education data. Several recently passed laws have put a great deal of emphasis on reading in early education. Act 438 of the 2021 legislative session, for instance, requires local education agencies to screen all students in literacy in kindergarten through third grade. The screener in implemented at the beginning, middle and end of the year. Act 422 of 2023 mandates that students in traditional public schools must meet specific literacy proficiency standards in order to move on to the fourth grade. In total, eight laws have been passed since 2021 that strongly emphasize literacy training, both for students and teachers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, Louisianas statewide 2025 LEAP test results revealed that there is still work to be done. For grades three through eight, there was only a gain of one percentage point in total proficiency for English, math and science. High schoolers saw a decrease of one percentage point. Overall, only 35% of students are performing at the standards for their respective grade, unchanged from 2024, with just three public school systems reaching 50% or higher. All of us recognize that, you know, still too many kids can't read on grade level and can't do math on grade level, Brumley acknowledged. They're in schools that are failing them. Theres still work to do ahead to make sure that every child has access to a high quality education. The group also mentioned the work being done to better teach and prepare disabled students, particularly those with dyslexia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have outpaced every other state in the nation around our growth and for our students with disabilities, said Jenna Chiasson, assistant state superintendent. I think so much of that is because we've carved out explicitly extra time to learn for both our students with disabilities and their nondisabled peers. Leaders also emphasized the role of phonics-based instruction, dyslexia identification, and family engagement, with parents meeting regularly to review literacy plans. The tours first stop was Melanie Arceneauxs classroom, where she was teaching a group of first graders at sounds cat, hat, and pat. The tour then moved on to Tamiia Williams second grade class where more literacy instruction was occurring. Arceneauxs instruction using phonics reflects Louisianas broader policy push under a 2021 state law requiring all K-3 teachers and administrators to complete training in the science of reading, which emphasizes phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mandate, which also applies to charter schools, aims to ensure that every early-grade educator is equipped with evidence-based strategies to help students read on grade level by third grade. "As I'm starting 'Returning Education to the States', I want to make sure that states can have best practices to look at," McMahon said. "If there are bits and pieces that we can put into a toolkit that states can take away from. It's a great thing to be able to do." McMahon made the appearance as part of her Returning Education to the States Tour, which will work to highlight innovative local education initiatives, gather feedback from educators and families, and spotlight state-led strategies driving student success. Brumley shares similar sentiments. To have a partner like Secretary McMahon, who wants to be with us here and return more power to the states is really rewarding. And we can continue to accelerate our results, Brumley said. The Brief A medical examiner has yet to make a positive identification of Giovanni Pelletier, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. Pelletier is the 18-year-old who went missing in Florida on Aug. 1. On Saturday, detectives made the preliminary determination that the decomposed body found in a Manatee County retention pond on Friday was Pelletier. BRADENTON, Fla. - A medical examiner has yet to make a positive identification of Giovanni Pelletier, the 18-year-old who went missing in Florida on Aug. 1, according to the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The District 12 Medical Examiner's Office says that further forensic testing is needed since the body is in an advanced state of decomposition. On Saturday, detectives made the preliminary determination that the decomposed body found in a retention pond on Friday was Pelletier. Pelletier's cousin, Morgan Hull, also told FOX 35 News that the body found did indeed belong to her cousin. Detectives said they believe that Pelletier's body had been in the water for several days before floating to the surface. REALATED: Body of Giovanni Pelletier, teen missing in Florida, found after more than a week: Officials What you can do Anyone with information is asked to contact the Charlotte County Sheriffs Office non-emergency number (941) 639-2101. The backstory The Manatee County Sheriffs Office has been working this case alongside the Charlotte County Sheriffs Office and the Brevard County Sheriffs Office since Pelletier was reported missing on August 1 near the east side of Interstate 75 at State Road 70. Pelletier was vacationing in Englewood with family from North Carolina when he went to go visit relatives on Floridas east coast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He got into a vehicle with a cousin from his biological fathers side of the family, along with two of the cousin's friends, but according to relatives, Giovanni had never met the men in person. He had only spoken to one cousin on the phone before. RELATED: Search underway for missing 18-year-old last seen in Manatee County After reconnecting with his biological fathers side of the family, Pelletier made plans for his cousins to pick him up to see additional family in Brevard County. About 25 minutes into the car ride, Pelletier sent a message to his mother: "Help me." He also sent similar messages to other family members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That's when Brevard County deputies say his cousins told them that Pelletier began acting erratically before exiting the vehicle and walking away near State Road 70 in Manatee County. His phone and backpack were the only things found and Pelletier was not heard from again. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source Information for this story was provided by the Manatee County Sheriff's Office. The Brief High temperatures can degrade prescription medications, especially those delivered by mail. Most drugs should be stored between 68 and 77 degrees, and heat can reduce their effectiveness or inactivate them. For refrigerated medications, health officials advise same-day delivery and secure, temperature-controlled packaging. Health officials are reminding the public that hot weather can be dangerous in more ways than one, specifically when dealing with prescription drugs delivered by mail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pharmacists say most medications should be stored between 68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Anytime they're exposed to higher temperatures, it could affect how the drug works. What they're saying Some refrigerated drugs contain proteins that can be totally inactivated by heat. With mail-order medicines growing in popularity, experts have advice. "So if the medication is refrigerated, we definitely recommend that it has to be delivered the same day. You never want that going through regular mail," said Yasmin Sepehrar, a pharmacist. "And make sure that the pharmacy that you're getting it delivered from has safe packaging for these medications." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Health officials say heat damage isn't always obvious either. Look for signs such as reduced effectiveness, color changes, or an unusual texture. Medications that can cause problems in the heat Blood pressure pills that reduce fluid in the blood can lead to dehydration. Beta blockers for heart conditions can decrease blood flow to the skin and make you less aware of dangerous heat. Some antidepressants can hinder your ability to stay cool. Aspirin and other over-the-counter pain relievers decrease fluid and sodium levels, making it harder to deal with high temperatures. On top of that, the combination of heat and drug side effects can lead to lightheadedness and falls. Alcohol increases the danger, said pharmacist Bradley Phillips of the University of Florida College of Pharmacy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He recommends staying hydrated and "not relying on your bodys ability to tell you that youre thirsty." Some medicines antibiotics, antifungals and acne drugs can heighten sensitivity to the sun , causing rashes and sunburns. If youre taking them, stay under an umbrella or wear sun-protective fabrics and sunscreen, said Dr. Mike Ren, a family physician at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. "You might be on antibiotics, not think too much of it, go down to the beach and then come back with a whopping sunburn," Ren said. How should medications be stored for travel? Medications should generally be kept in a cool, dry place, unless it needs refrigeration. That can be challenging while traveling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before a summer road trip, check labels for the storage requirements of your meds. Carry medicine in a cooler when traveling by car, even if it doesnt require refrigeration. The cars trunk or glove box could get too hot for even room-temperature storage. Traveling by plane? Its always best to keep medications in your carry-on bag in case your checked luggage is delayed or lost, and it can get too cold in the cargo hold. What about prescriptions delivered by mail? Mail-order pharmacies are responsible for keeping your drugs at safe temperatures during storage and transit. The best practice is to ship sensitive medicine in special packaging with ice packs and temperature monitors. But that doesnt always happen. Or a delivery can come at a bad time, said Ren, who recently helped his vacationing mother by bringing her delivery of supplements into her Houston home as the region faced soaring heat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If you know youre going to be at work all day, or if youre on vacation, and you get medications delivered, you definitely dont want that sitting outside in the hot 100-degree sun," Ren said. If you think your mail-order medication has been damaged by the heat, call the pharmacy to report the problem. What you can do Learn more about your medications side effects and storage requirements at the National Library of Medicines MedlinePlus website. Thousands of protesters, led by womens groups, marched through Monrovia on Thursday, August 7, urging the Liberian Government to declare a national emergency over the countrys escalating drug problem. Demonstrators presented a petition to Parliament calling for the creation of a Special court for drug-related cases and for harsher penalties, including a minimum 20-year sentence for first-degree drug felonies a significant increase from the current maximum term. The protest follows a public sensitisation campaign launched by the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia, aimed at raising awareness and mobilising communities against drug abuse. The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency reports that one in five young people in the country use illicit drugs, with over 800 so-called drug dens operating in the capital. The synthetic drug known locally as kush often laced with opioids has become the most common and deadly substance in Liberia and across parts of West Africa. Activists accuse President Joseph Boakai, who made tackling the drug crisis a central pledge in his 2023 campaign, of failing to deliver meaningful action. Voices from the protest underscored the personal toll of the epidemic. Bowoulo Taylor Kelley, a leader of the female lawyers association, warned that the crisis is destroying the future of our youth, while resident Joanna Jah shared that her own son is a victim of addiction. We have tried everything to keep them from the streets, but it has not worked, Jah said, describing the march as an opportunity to demand urgent intervention before the crisis deepens further. The Brief Scientists say a meteorite that struck a Henry County home is over 4 billion years old, making it about 20 million years older than Earth. The space rock likely came from the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter and may be tied to the breakup of a larger asteroid 470 million years ago. Researchers have proposed naming it the "McDonough Meteorite" after the city where it landed. HENRY COUNTY, Ga. - A meteorite that crashed through the roof of a Henry County home last month is estimated to be more than 4 billion years old about 20 million years older than Earth itself, according to a University of Georgia scientist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ORIGINAL STORY: 'Fireball' seen falling from sky over Southeast confirmed as meteor, possibly hit Georgia home What they're saying Planetary geologist Scott Harris, who examined the meteorite, said it belongs to a group of asteroids in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Researchers believe it may be linked to the breakup of a much larger asteroid about 470 million years ago, according to CNN. The meteorites fiery descent was spotted by people across Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and South Carolina before breaking apart in the atmosphere. One piece punched a hole in a home in McDonough, drawing national attention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement MORE: Why the daytime fireball meteor that blasted over Atlanta was a rare sight Harris and colleagues at Arizona State University have proposed naming the space rock the "McDonough Meteorite" in honor of the city where it landed. Local perspective A piece of that outer space rock is now a part of Georgia's Tellus Science Museum's collection. The outer space rock was the 29th meteorite documented in Georgia and the second time one ever hit a home, according to Tellus. RELATED: Georgia science museum studying meteorite seen over metro Atlanta A meteorite that tore through the sky in June shaking the Southeast with a sonic boom is now believed to be 4.56 billion years old, according to researchers who studied it following its crash landing. Fragments of the extraterrestrial rock were turned over to scientists after they fell to Earth this summer to determine their classification and origin. The University of Georgia received 23 of the 50 grams of the McDonough Meteorite, named after the Georgia city where it ripped through the roof and ceiling of a home, according to the university. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This particular meteor that entered the atmosphere has a long history before it made it to the ground of McDonough, Scott Harris, a researcher in the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences department of geology, said in the news release. Harris determined the meteorite to be a Low Metal (L) ordinary Chondrite a type of stony meteorite and thus 20 million years older than Earth by using optical and electron microscopy, the university said. It belongs to a group of asteroids in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter that we now think we can tie to a breakup of a much larger asteroid about 470 million years ago, Harris said in the release. But in that breakup, some pieces get into Earth-crossing orbits, and if given long enough, their orbit around the sun and Earths orbit around the sun end up being at the same place, at the same moment in time. UGA is also working with partners at Arizona State University to submit the meteorites name and findings to the Nomenclature Committee of the Meteoritical Society, Harris said. Harris also plans to publish a scientific paper about the rock to further understand the potential threats meteorites pose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One day there will be an opportunity, and we never know when its going to be, for something large to hit and create a catastrophic situation. If we can guard against that, we want to, he said. A rare daytime fireball The American Meteor Society received numerous reports of a fireball over the region on June 26, CNN previously reported. The reports came during the Bootids meteor shower, a lower-level celestial event that was ongoing during the last week of June. A Henry County, Georgia, resident had reported at the time that a rock which would later be identified as the McDonough Meteorite fell through their ceiling around the same time the June fireball occurred, according to the National Weather Service in Peachtree City. The object had broken through the roof and ceiling before cracking the flooring inside the home. I suspect that he heard three simultaneous things. One was the collision with his roof, one was a tiny cone of a sonic boom and a third was it impacting the floor all in the same moment, Harris said in the news release. There was enough energy when it hit the floor that it pulverized part of the material down to literal dust fragments. The meteorite traveled fast enough at an angle that it was able to pass through a homeowners roof, ductwork and ceiling. - Courtesy University of Georgia The meteorite dented the Henry County homeowners floor. - Courtesy University of Georgia The resident told Harris hes still finding specks of space dust around his living room from the collision, according to t he university. The rock is the 27th meteorite in history recovered in Georgia and the sixth witnessed fall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seeing a daytime fireball is a rare occurrence: Fireballs are easier to view at night, but must be much brighter to be visible during the day, the American Meteor Society says. Its also quite rare for sonic booms to be heard on the ground when a fireball occurs, according to the organization. A fireball is an unusually bright meteor that reaches a magnitude over -4, which is brighter than Venus, according to the American Meteor Society. Junes fireball reached a magnitude of around -14, the society told CNN, which would have made it brighter than the full moon. It didnt take the McDonough space rock pummeling through roofs for others to spot it. A still from dashcam video shows a big flash of light coming down from the sky in Lexington County, South Carolina, on June 26. - Brenda Eckard In Lexington County, South Carolina, dashcam video showed a big flash of light falling through the sky on June 26. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brenda Eckard, 64, from Gilbert, South Carolina, previously told CNN she was driving home that June day when she saw a big flash in the sky come down and disappear. She first thought it was a meteor that almost looked like a firework, Eckard said. Eckard then called her husband to check if their house was still standing. The McDonough Meteorite is being stored at UGA for continued tests, according to UGA Today. Other pieces of it that fell on June 26 will be publicly displayed at the Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville, Georgia. CNNs Devon Sayers, Brandon Miller and Zenebou Sylla contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Mexico City's main airport closed on Sunday as the capital was struck by floods. More than 70 flights were forced to divert, with some returning back where they started. One flight from Madrid landed in Cancun, some 800 miles away, after a 10-hour journey. Thousands of people's travel plans were upended after flooding shut down Mexico City's main airport on Sunday evening. Data from Flightradar24 showed that more than 70 flights were forced to land at other airports, and roughly another 90 were canceled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement shared on X, Benito Juarez International Airport said the aviation authority shut down operations for three hours due to heavy rainfall and low visibility. It's among the busiest airports in Latin America, serving over 45 million passengers last year. Flight-tracking data showed that the first planes started diverting around 6 p.m. local time. No flights landed for around another six hours, and some disruption continued Monday morning. An American Airlines spokesperson said Monday morning that it was resuming operations. "Safety is our top priority and we thank our customers for their patience," they added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The majority of Sunday's diverted flights landed at other Mexican airports, but some never got that far. Air Canada Flight 993 left Toronto around 9 p.m. ET and flew for three hours before making a U-turn just south of Houston, flight-tracking data showed. Passengers touched down back in Toronto at 1:28 a.m., 5 hours after leaving there, in a so-called flight to nowhere. Similarly, American Airlines Flight 2417, from Dallas-Fort Worth, had barely crossed the Mexican border before returning two hours later. Another American Airlines flight, from New York City, changed course over Alabama before circling over Texas five times and landing at Dallas-Fort Worth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the airport is American's main hub, the airline can reroute passengers from there more easily. After three hours in the sky, a United Airlines flight from Washington, DC, U-turned over the Gulf of Mexico. It landed about two hours later in Houston, one of the airline's main hubs. "All impacted customers have been offered alternative travel arrangements and United's service to Mexico City is now on schedule," said a United Airlines spokesperson. Even for those flights that reached Mexico on Sunday, some passengers were likely to wake up in a different city than expected. After 10 hours crossing the Atlantic Ocean, an Aeromexico flight from Paris circled a couple of times before diverting to Guadalajara, about 280 miles away from Mexico City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An Iberia flight from Madrid changed course over the Gulf of Mexico to land in Cancun, some 800 miles away from the capital and a 10-hour journey. The Associated Foreign Press reported that the capital's government activated a purple alert, the highest level, due to Sunday's heavy rain. It added that there was up to 19 inches of flood water in some areas of the city, which has a population of over 9 million. Aeromexico, Air Canada, and Iberia did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) AAA reports that gas prices in Michigan are up 10 cents from last week. Drivers are paying an average of $3.23 per gallon for regular unleaded. This is 5 cents less than this time last month and 36 cents less than this time last year, according to AAA. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), gasoline demand decreased from 9.15 million b/d to 9.04. Total domestic gasoline supply decreased from 228.4 million barrels to 227.1. Gasoline production decreased, averaging 9.8 million barrels per day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the slight decrease in demand, Michigan motorists are seeing higher gas prices across the state, said Adrienne Woodland, spokesperson, AAA-The Auto Club Group, in a news release sent to 6 News. If demand continues to drop, pump prices may reverse course. Most expensive gas price average: Ann Arbor: $3.29 Saginaw: $3.28 Jackson: $3.27 Least expensive gas price average: Marquette: $3.05 Traverse City: $3.17 Flint: $3.20 CURRENT AND PAST PRICE AVERAGES Regular Unleaded Gasoline Sunday Saturday Week Ago Month Ago One Year Ago 2024 Low 2024 High Record High National $3.14 $3.15 $3.15 $3.17 $3.45 $3.03 (Dec. 29) $3.68 (Apr. 19) $5.02 (June 2022) Michigan $3.23 $3.24 $3.13 $3.28 $3.59 $2.81 (Jan. 8) $3.81 (July 26) $5.22 (June 2022) Detroit $3.21 $3.21 $3.19 $3.25 $3.63 $2.88 (Jan. 8) $3.74 (July 26) $5.31 (June 2022) Click here to view current gasoline price averages Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News. Michigan transportation officials are pausing a roughly $500 million project in the heart of Detroit after concerns over the cost and local pushback to planned changes. Supporters said turning the I-375 freeway into a traditional boulevard was supposed to revitalize communities, including the city's Black Bottom and Paradise Valley neighborhoods previously wrecked through the creation of the highway and other developments. But outspoken opposition including from Wayne County Executive Warren Evans appeared to play a role in the decision to rethink the plan. The Michigan Department of Transportation news release from Monday, Aug. 11, cited issues involving "rising costs, longevity of the final project and roadway, and public concern over design elements" as the reasons for delaying construction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Department spokeswoman Jocelyn Garza specifically cited labor and material cost increases, pointing to inflation. She noted the likely longevity of the project the current road was built approximately 60 years ago, and new materials are expected to last longer made it more important to ensure the project is right for the community. While multiple aspects of the project received pushback, she singled out designs for interchanges and capacity for the boulevard. The Michigan Department of Transportation is working on plans to replace I-375 with a boulevard, but some residents say the state needs to do more to take their concerns about how the project is being designed into account. "We have one opportunity to get this project right," said Bradley C. Wieferich, state transportation director, said in a news release. "I-375 has been open for more than 60 years, and we expect the new I-375, whatever design it may be, to be in place much longer. Getting this right for the community and our stakeholders, while remaining good stewards of tax dollars, will remain our priority." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A group opposed to the current plans for changes to the expressway heralded the pause. In an initial statement the coaltion echoed previous comments about the need to remove leaders of the project, but in a separate statement focused on the need to double-down on community involvement. This project pause is a healthy acknowledgement by MDOT of what the Rethink I-375 Community Coalition has known for the past five years: that I-375 is a complex project. While roads are part of the puzzle, this project needs to follow from a vision that respects the complexity of the land use, transportation, urban design, local business, and restorative justice issues at play in the I-375 corridor," reads a statement from the ReThink I-375 Community Coalition, provided by a spokeswoman. "Going forward, residents, businesses, Black Bottom descendants, and other stakeholders should be engaged in a public-private partnership to develop a vision that the entire community can support, and a project whose results will be worth the inevitable disruption and cost of a massive infrastructure project in downtown Detroit." Initial estimates put the project cost at roughly $300 million, with related costs associated with a connected reconfiguration of an I-75 interchange pushing total costs estimates last year to approximately $425 million. Now, Garza said estimates top $500 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Work would impact neighborhoods across the city, from Eastern Market and downtown to Lafayette Park and Elmwood Park. Construction was supposed to begin before the end of the year. A spokeswoman did not immediately say how much money has been spent on the project or planning to date. More: Summer may be winding down, but MDOT road work isn't. See where new projects are starting In 2022, then-U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg came to Detroit to announce awarding more than $100 million in federal funds for the project. Joined by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and other leaders, he cribbed her campaign slogan to discuss the importance of the project. Sometimes, fixing the damn roads means facing the repercussions of how the roads were originally built, who was included in that process and who was not, who was empowered and who was displaced, Buttigieg said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As in many communities across the country, the creation of the freeway through the city caused havoc in traditionally Black neighborhoods. However, Evans and other opponents argued plan architects were not actually acting on information received from local residents in creating the re-imagined road. "Today, the proposed redesign of the I-375 corridor is struggling to push the narrative that the new design will help heal the racial wounds of the past with intentional inclusivity that will provide all sorts of benefits to Black people," Evans wrote in a 2024 op-ed for the Free Press. "Please. Are you serious? Show me the evidence, and I mean specifics. Show me the clear and itemized benefits that this project will provide to the Black community, and exactly how it will repair and compensate for the unprecedented damage that was done all those years ago. Dont paint a pretty picture, just give me the facts." Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan also said earlier this year he is not focused on the project, according to the Detroit News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state plans to "reevaluate design alternatives and prepare additional public engagement," according to the news release. The release says they remain committed to ensuring the road is safe, noting several bridges have "exceeded their service lives" and need to be replaced soon. Reach Dave Boucher at dboucher@freepress.com and on X @Dave_Boucher1. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan pauses controversial I-375 changes in Detroit, citing cost and pushback In 2023, Justine Wilson launched her Curious and Kind Education forest-based microschool in Sarasota, Fla. Enrollment there, much like the rest of the microschool sector, has seen a boom, and operators such as Wilson believe state laws are a key to the future growth of alternative school settings like hers. (Photo courtesy of Justine Wilson) When Siri Fiske founded the Mysa Microschool in Washington, D.C., in 2016, there wasnt a widely accepted term for her small, one-room schoolhouse model. Now, the school is referred to on its website as one of the first microschools in the nation, and Fiske has seen a growing microschool movement since the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the five years since remote schooling amid pandemic-era lockdowns, microschools and homeschooling have emerged as increasingly popular alternatives to traditional public and private models. Smaller class sizes, individualized classrooms and lack of standardization are an appeal to parents, Fiske said. Theres this idea that people who open microschools are doing it for cultish or religious reasons, and theres a misconception that all are like that, Fiske said. Ive seen my students graduate into top colleges. Theres many ways to achieve academic success. Some education experts, however, have expressed concern about the growing movement. They question whether microschools are properly regulated and being held accountable, and whether theyll pull dollars out of the public education system. There is no federal definition of a microschool, and with the Trump administrations plans to shutter the U.S. Department of Education, the onus is on states to figure them out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In some states, microschools face a bind: If they operate as private schools, theyre required to meet facility, staffing and curricular standards that are often cost-prohibitive for schools their size. If they operate under homeschool laws, they face oversight, assessment mandates and reporting requirements that arent designed for multifamily or educator-led models. Some states, including Georgia, Tennessee and Texas, have passed Learning Rights Protection Acts to codify microschools right to operate. In Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts and Oregon, learning pods and microschools often face child care or private school licensing requirements if they involve multiple families, hire instructors or provide compensation for child care. Schools calling themselves microschools today are not what I wouldve called one back then. But I think thats OK. Its evolving, Fiske said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She pointed to the national school choice movement and states such as West Virginia for helping the microschool movement flourish. In 2022, West Virginia became one of the few states to define a microschool, distinctly separating it from a private school, homeschool or learning pod. Those classifications, and how these schools are funded and regulated, affect everything from whether a school must hire certified teachers to how it ensures student safety or civil rights protections. And with more public dollars flowing to private or hybrid learning options through vouchers and education savings accounts to the detriment of public school funding, some argue states will need to define these schools and their place in the ecosystem. States will have to fill the gaps, said Weade James, senior director of K-12 education policy with the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning policy think tank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Accountability can vary wildly. Some microschools arent required to have certified teachers, conduct annual assessments, or even guarantee civil rights protections, said James. If public voucher dollars are going to a microschool, there has to be some level of oversight and accountability. Many microschools arent accredited Microschools defy easy classification, and many advocates argue thats by design. Don Soifer, CEO of the National Microschooling Center, an industry group, cautions lawmakers against rushing to impose fixed legal definitions. Innovation is happening too fast. The moment you define it in law, it becomes obsolete, Soifer said. A 2024 sector analysis by the National Microschooling Center one of the only sources of national data on the topic found that many schools are operating outside traditional education principles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a survey of 400 microschools across 41 states, more than 60% of founders reported they were not currently licensed educators. Eighty-four percent reported their schools were not accredited. Among prospective founders, 48% are licensed educators (though only 14% currently work in public schools), 32% come from non-education fields, and 23% are parents building schools for their own children. Most microschools (55%) operate under homeschool laws, while others function as private schools (37%), charters (6%) or fall into unique state categories (3%), according to the analysis. So, you can be a private or homeschool microschool program, where you arent required to provide students with certified teachers, or you arent required to conduct annual assessments, James said. Often described as homeschool hybrids or small-scale learning communities, microschools often serve around 16 students or fewer, and tend to cater to families with average or above-average incomes in their area. In some states, microschools have been authorized to receive public funds through voucher programs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some critics note that, like private schools, microschools may charge tuition, potentially excluding lower-income families and contributing to educational disparities. These schools often operate in commercial spaces (41%), private residences (28%) or houses of worship (25%), according to the National Microschooling Center. The center also found the movement is diversifying: 37% of prospective founders are people of color, compared with 27% of current operators. Because building and zoning codes vary from state to state and locality to locality, many operators may be unaware of the extra costs to meet school codes standards. Fiske recalls difficulties in expanding from Washington, D.C., to Vermont, which has stricter laws on water fountain requirements. Most people in the U.S. starting a microschool are doing it under the radar because the regulations to open a licensed school are so intense, Fiske said. For the new school, she recalled, it took us forever, and we had to install ADA-compliant toilets and water fountains for just 10 kids in Vermont. Microschooling is not one thing Microschools also operate in a legal gray zone, often outside the traditional K-12 system and subject to a patchwork of state and local policies that can either support or constrain their growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Growth has accelerated in conservative-leaning states with robust school choice programs, such as Arizona and Florida. Other states, such as Maryland, New York and North Dakota, have more restrictive homeschool or private school laws. Microschooling is not one thing. These schools look different in every state, and the policy frameworks around them vary wildly, said Soifer, of the National Microschooling Center. What is classified as a microschool can vary from 10 kids in a basement in Kentucky to a 200-kid schoolhouse elsewhere. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Fiske said states need to create a way for operators and parents to know what to expect in a certain state, and help willing operators get the education and business acumen they need to run the schools successfully. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But if you look at who is starting microschools in the U.S., its a lot of millennial parents who may not have any teacher training but wanted to create a learning environment for their children and others in the local community, said Fiske. And without efforts by the state to provide some incentives to earn accreditation and information as both a school and a small business, a few of these will find themselves going under. Seeking choices After two decades working in conventional schools in the United States and around the world including in Brazil, Egypt and Qatar Justine Wilson turned down a high-paying leadership role at a prestigious private school. Instead, in 2023 she opened Curious and Kind Education, a two-day-a-week microschool in Sarasota, Florida, built around trust, nature-based learning and self-directed play. Enrollment at Curious and Kind is mostly driven by word of mouth, she said. The program now has a waitlist. And Wilson has seen her enrollment grow from 18 students in her first year to roughly 100 students for the upcoming school year. The number of 5-year-olds on my waitlist is shocking, she said, and then I realized theyre COVID babies and their parents have really been driving this search for alternative schooling since the pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement James, of the Center for American Progress, questions whether microschools generally match the quality of traditional public schools, which still educate more than 80% of schoolchildren. She says families may be under the assumption that school choice options equate to better quality. We have created an illusion of choice to be quality, and I think a lot of families are seeking various choice options because they associate that with quality. But that doesnt necessarily mean that where those students are going is any better than where they left, she said. We need to take a closer look at what we are presenting to families, James said. Its not just about having options and having a choice. Its about having quality choice options. That quality, Soifer said, is what microschools are trying to achieve. Microschools do very well on the left, on the right at the top end of the economy and at the fragile end of the income spectrum, he said. Its really a matter of the new economy and a new way of thinking about education. Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at rsequeira@stateline.org. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In 2023, Justine Wilson launched her Curious and Kind Education forest-based microschool in Sarasota, Fla. Enrollment there, much like the rest of the microschool sector, has seen a boom, and operators such as Wilson believe state laws are a key to the future growth of alternative school settings like hers. (Photo courtesy of Justine Wilson) When Siri Fiske founded the Mysa Microschool in Washington, D.C., in 2016, there wasnt a widely accepted term for her small, one-room schoolhouse model. Now, the school is referred to on its website as one of the first microschools in the nation, and Fiske has seen a growing microschool movement since the COVID-19 pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the five years since remote schooling amid pandemic-era lockdowns, microschools and homeschooling have emerged as increasingly popular alternatives to traditional public and private models. Smaller class sizes, individualized classrooms and lack of standardization are an appeal to parents, Fiske said. Theres this idea that people who open microschools are doing it for cultish or religious reasons, and theres a misconception that all are like that, Fiske said. Ive seen my students graduate into top colleges. Theres many ways to achieve academic success. Some education experts, however, have expressed concern about the growing movement. They question whether microschools are properly regulated and being held accountable, and whether theyll pull dollars out of the public education system. There is no federal definition of a microschool, and with the Trump administrations plans to shutter the U.S. Department of Education, the onus is on states to figure them out. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schools calling themselves microschools today are not what I wouldve called one back then. But I think thats OK. Its evolving. Siri Fiske, founder and head of Mysa School In some states, microschools face a bind: If they operate as private schools, theyre required to meet facility, staffing and curricular standards that are often cost-prohibitive for schools their size. If they operate under homeschool laws, they face oversight, assessment mandates and reporting requirements that arent designed for multifamily or educator-led models. Some states, including Georgia, Tennessee and Texas, have passed Learning Rights Protection Acts to codify microschools right to operate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts and Oregon, learning pods and microschools often face child care or private school licensing requirements if they involve multiple families, hire instructors or provide compensation for child care. Schools calling themselves microschools today are not what I wouldve called one back then. But I think thats OK. Its evolving, Fiske said. She pointed to the national school choice movement and states such as West Virginia for helping the microschool movement flourish. In 2022, West Virginia became one of the few states to define a microschool, distinctly separating it from a private school, homeschool or learning pod. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those classifications, and how these schools are funded and regulated, affect everything from whether a school must hire certified teachers to how it ensures student safety or civil rights protections. And with more public dollars flowing to private or hybrid learning options through vouchers and education savings accounts to the detriment of public school funding, some argue states will need to define these schools and their place in the ecosystem. States will have to fill the gaps, said Weade James, senior director of K-12 education policy with the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning policy think tank. Accountability can vary wildly. Some microschools arent required to have certified teachers, conduct annual assessments, or even guarantee civil rights protections, said James. If public voucher dollars are going to a microschool, there has to be some level of oversight and accountability. Many microschools arent accredited Microschools defy easy classification, and many advocates argue thats by design. Don Soifer, CEO of the National Microschooling Center, an industry group, cautions lawmakers against rushing to impose fixed legal definitions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Innovation is happening too fast. The moment you define it in law, it becomes obsolete, Soifer said. A South Dakota Searchlight series examining the impact, causes and concerns surrounding the rapid growth of alternative instruction options in the state, such as homeschooling, microschools, online instruction and hybrid schools. Read the series > A 2024 sector analysis by the National Microschooling Center one of the only sources of national data on the topic found that many schools are operating outside traditional education principles. In a survey of 400 microschools across 41 states, more than 60% of founders reported they were not currently licensed educators. Eighty-four percent reported their schools were not accredited. Among prospective founders, 48% are licensed educators (though only 14% currently work in public schools), 32% come from non-education fields, and 23% are parents building schools for their own children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Most microschools (55%) operate under homeschool laws, while others function as private schools (37%), charters (6%) or fall into unique state categories (3%), according to the analysis. So, you can be a private or homeschool microschool program, where you arent required to provide students with certified teachers, or you arent required to conduct annual assessments, James said. Often described as homeschool hybrids or small-scale learning communities, microschools often serve around 16 students or fewer, and tend to cater to families with average or above-average incomes in their area. In some states, microschools have been authorized to receive public funds through voucher programs. Some critics note that, like private schools, microschools may charge tuition, potentially excluding lower-income families and contributing to educational disparities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These schools often operate in commercial spaces (41%), private residences (28%) or houses of worship (25%), according to the National Microschooling Center. The center also found the movement is diversifying: 37% of prospective founders are people of color, compared with 27% of current operators. Because building and zoning codes vary from state to state and locality to locality, many operators may be unaware of the extra costs to meet school codes standards. Fiske recalls difficulties in expanding from Washington, D.C., to Vermont, which has stricter laws on water fountain requirements. Most people in the U.S. starting a microschool are doing it under the radar because the regulations to open a licensed school are so intense, Fiske said. For the new school, she recalled, it took us forever, and we had to install ADA-compliant toilets and water fountains for just 10 kids in Vermont. Microschooling is not one thing Microschools also operate in a legal gray zone, often outside the traditional K-12 system and subject to a patchwork of state and local policies that can either support or constrain their growth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Growth has accelerated in conservative-leaning states with robust school choice programs, such as Arizona and Florida. Other states, such as Maryland, New York and North Dakota, have more restrictive homeschool or private school laws. Microschooling is not one thing. These schools look different in every state, and the policy frameworks around them vary wildly, said Soifer, of the National Microschooling Center. What is classified as a microschool can vary from 10 kids in a basement in Kentucky to a 200-kid schoolhouse elsewhere. Fiske said states need to create a way for operators and parents to know what to expect in a certain state, and help willing operators get the education and business acumen they need to run the schools successfully. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But if you look at who is starting microschools in the U.S., its a lot of millennial parents who may not have any teacher training but wanted to create a learning environment for their children and others in the local community, said Fiske. And without efforts by the state to provide some incentives to earn accreditation and information as both a school and a small business, a few of these will find themselves going under. Seeking choices After two decades working in conventional schools in the United States and around the world including in Brazil, Egypt and Qatar Justine Wilson turned down a high-paying leadership role at a prestigious private school. Instead, in 2023 she opened Curious and Kind Education, a two-day-a-week microschool in Sarasota, Florida, built around trust, nature-based learning and self-directed play. Enrollment at Curious and Kind is mostly driven by word of mouth, she said. The program now has a waitlist. And Wilson has seen her enrollment grow from 18 students in her first year to roughly 100 students for the upcoming school year. The number of 5-year-olds on my waitlist is shocking, she said, and then I realized theyre COVID babies and their parents have really been driving this search for alternative schooling since the pandemic. James, of the Center for American Progress, questions whether microschools generally match the quality of traditional public schools, which still educate more than 80% of schoolchildren. She says families may be under the assumption that school choice options equate to better quality. We have created an illusion of choice to be quality, and I think a lot of families are seeking various choice options because they associate that with quality. But that doesnt necessarily mean that where those students are going is any better than where they left, she said. We need to take a closer look at what we are presenting to families, James said. Its not just about having options and having a choice. Its about having quality choice options. That quality, Soifer said, is what microschools are trying to achieve. Microschools do very well on the left, on the right at the top end of the economy and at the fragile end of the income spectrum, he said. Its really a matter of the new economy and a new way of thinking about education. Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at rsequeira@stateline.org. Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Midland, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) The City of Midland is getting ready to splash its way through the end of the summer. City officials recently released its pool schedule, extending throughout the end of August. The final week of summer fun also includes Family Fun Nights at various locations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. ATHENS, Greece (AP) Migrants in Greece with rejected asylum claims will be required to wear ankle monitors as part of planned measures to speed up deportations, a government official announced Monday. Migration Minister Thanos Plevris said the measure is set to be implemented before the end of the year under reforms that would criminalize noncompliance with deportation orders. The use of electronic monitoring will make it clear that the options have narrowed, Plevris told state-run ERT radio. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The tougher regulations, including mandatory jail terms for defying deportation orders, will be submitted to parliament next month after a summer delay caused by a spike in migrant arrivals from Libya to the island of Crete. Plevris said electronic monitoring would be enforced during a 30-day compliance period granted to migrants after asylum claims are rejected and appeals exhausted. He added that the government is also considering a deportation bonus of of 2,000 euros ($2,300) for those who willingly comply. Hard-line migration policies introduced by Greeces conservative government including a recent ban on asylum claims for migrants arriving by sea from North Africa have drawn criticism from the Council of Europe and human rights groups. Miguel Uribe Turbay, who has died aged 39, two months after being shot at a rally, was a Colombian politician and potential candidate for the countrys 2026 presidential election; hailing from a prominent family his grandfather was president at the height of the countrys drug problems, and his journalist mother was kidnapped and killed when her son was four he was well-known as a conservative critic of President Gustavo Petro, the nations first Left-wing leader of modern times. Uribe Turbay had, like his grandfather Julio Cesar Turbay, risen through the roisterous ranks of Colombian local government. At the age of 26 he was elected to Bogota city council for the Liberal Party. He was soon council leader and was recognised as one of the citys most effective councillors by Concejo Como Vamos, a programme that evaluates public administration. In 2016 he was appointed Secretary of Government during Enrique Penalosas second term as mayor of Bogota, overseeing a small but welcome decrease in the citys homicide rate. But he had to apologise after his office issued a report into the rape, torture and murder of Rosa Elvira Cely, a 35-year-old single mother, that appeared to blame the victim for going out with her friends. Two years later the London-based One Young World organisation named him as one of the 10 most influential young politicians in the world. Uribe Turbay celebrates in the Colombian Senate after government labour reform proposals were voted down - Raul Arboleda/AFP/Getty Uribe Turbay ran as the independent Avancemos movements mayoral candidate in 2019 but was beaten by Claudia Lopez of the Green Alliance, who recently launched her own presidential candidacy. Three years later he was elected to the countrys Senate, or parliament, for the opposition Democratic Centre, a Right-wing party founded by Alvaro Uribe Velez (no relation), who was president from 2002 to 2010, and was sentenced last week to 12 years house arrest for fraud and witness-tampering. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to his Senate web page, Uribe Turbay was a prominent voice in the opposition to Gustavo Petros government, addressing issues of the economy, employment, security, and strengthening the security forces. As opposition leader he travelled the country listening to the needs of Colombians and defending the values of democracy and freedom. Miguel Uribe Turbay was born in Bogota on January 28 1986, the son of Miguel Uribe Londono, a union leader and businessman, and his wife Diana Turbay, a Colombian journalist who was kidnapped in 1990 by Los Extraditables, a group led by the Medellin cartel founder Pablo Escobar; she died during a botched rescue attempt by Colombian police three days before her sons fifth birthday. He had a half-sister, Maria, from his mothers first marriage. At a party rally in 2023 - Sebastian Barros/Long Visual Press/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Their maternal grandfather, Julio Cesar Turbay, was of Lebanese origin. He was president from 1978 to 1982, at a time when guerrilla warfare and drug-trafficking dominated the public life of a country that had once prided itself on democratic institutions, established traditions and the rule of law. Uribe Turbay was educated at the private Colegio Los Nogales before studying law at the University of the Andes, from where he also took a Masters degree in public policy. After completing a degree in public administration at Harvard, he returned to Colombia and threw himself into politics. On March 4 2025 he announced his candidacy for the Democratic Centres presidential ticket with a campaign backed by a slick and colourful social media operation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At about 5pm on June 7 2025 Uribe Turbay was shot three times, twice in the head, during a rally at a park in the Fontibon neighbourhood of Bogota. Four people were arrested, including a 14-year-old boy who was identified as the alleged gunman. In 2016 Uribe Turbay married Maria Claudia Tarazona, an event attended by many of the countrys political elite. She survives him with their son and three daughters. Miguel Uribe Turbay, born January 28 1986, died August 11 2025 Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The United Nations has warned that worsening insecurity in West Africa and the Sahel is intensifying humanitarian needs, with millions facing acute food shortages and young people increasingly targeted for recruitment by extremist groups. Addressing the Security Council on Thursday, August 7, Leonardo Santos Simao, head of the UN Office for West Africa and the Sahel, described the security situation as of paramount concern, noting that maritime security also requires coordinated regional action. He reported that 12.8 million people are projected to face acute food insecurity and highlighted that women remain under-represented in peace and governance processes, despite efforts by the Alliance of Sahel States Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to strengthen defence, diplomacy, and development cooperation. UN Women Executive Director Sima Bahous stressed that women and girls in the Sahel endure the worst effects of terrorism, poverty, and a lack of education, with many facing forced marriage, genital mutilation, and the loss of livelihoods. She outlined five overlapping crises terrorism, poverty, food insecurity, declining international aid, and shrinking civic space warning that life under extremist control results in womens near-complete exclusion from public life. With 60% of out-of-school girls in the wider region never having attended school, Bahous urged the global community to support the women of the Sahel, not as an act of charity, but in recognition of their critical role in building a more stable and prosperous future. The Brief Trump honored Mike Gill during a national address on D.C. crime. Gill, a former Trump official, was killed in a 2024 carjacking. The suspect was later shot by police after a violent spree. WASHINGTON - On Monday, President Donald Trump said he was placing the Washington, D.C., police department under federal control and deploying the National Guard in his effort to make the nations capital safer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During his announcement, he mentioned Mike Gill, the chief of staff at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), who was killed in February 2024 after a carjacking. What they're saying "A former Trump administration official named Mike Gill, fantastic person, was murdered last year in cold blood in a carjacking blocks away from the White House," Trump said. "We all knew him. Great person. Waiting for his wife as she was walking to the car." RELATED: Mike Gill, former Trump official, dies days after being shot in DMV carjacking spree What happened to Mike Gill? The backstory Gill, a married father of three, died after being shot during a deadly carjacking rampage in Washington, D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said he was sitting inside his vehicle that was parked in the 900 block of K. Street in northwest Washington when the suspected gunman, identified by police as 28-year-old Artell Cunningham, entered and shot him. The attack on Gill was the first of many reported in a carjacking rampage. Police believe that after shooting Gill, Cunningham tried to steal a vehicle around that same night from the 1000 block of 3rd Street. Investigators say about 10 minutes after that, Cunningham approached people in the 1200 block of 3rd Street and demanded their keys. Detectives say he shot 35-year-old Alberto Vasquez, Jr. and drove away in the victims car. Vasquez, Jr. later died at a nearby hospital. After two more carjackings, Cunningham then allegedly fired at a D.C. police officer along I-295 and a Maryland State Police trooper who was assisting a disabled vehicle along I-95 in Laurel, Maryland. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cunningham was later fatally shot by New Carrollton police officers after he allegedly moved toward them while armed at an intersection in Lanham. Police said Cunningham was a Suitland resident and had a minor criminal history in both the District and in Maryland. They also say they believe he suffered from mental health issues. Who was Mike Gill? Dig deeper Gill was the Senior Vice President for Capital Markets at the Housing Policy Council. He formerly served as Chief of Staff at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission during the Trump administration, and was a member of D.C.s Board of Elections. At the time of his death, his wife, Kristina Gill, released a written statement first to FOX 5 DC saying, "It is with profound sadness that I wish to inform the community of the passing of my husband, Mike Gill. His sudden departure has left a void in our lives that can never be filled. In this time of grief, we are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from family, friends, and the community, and extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has reached out to offer condolences and assistance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mike was not only a devoted husband and father but also a cherished son, brother, and friend. Over the course of his remarkable life, Mike brought people together and made them feel included, supported, and loved. His heart was evident in everything he did, as demonstrated by his mentorship and deep friendships with those who worked with him professionally. Above all, Mike spoke with pride and love about his family, especially our children, Sean, Brian, and Annika. For those who wish to honor Mike's memory, we ask that you cherish the moments shared and keep him in your thoughts and prayers." The Source The Associated Press and FOX 5 DC contributed to this report. The information in this story is sourced from public statements made by President Donald Trump during a national address. The Brief Shootings in Milwaukee on Saturday, Aug. 9 left two people injured. One of the people injured is 15 years old. Anyone with info on these shootings should contact Milwaukee police. MILWAUKEE - Two people were injured in shootings in Milwaukee on Saturday, Aug. 9, including a teenager. 66th and Custer What we know According to the Milwaukee Police Department, at about 1:48 p.m., a 15-year-old was shot in the area of 66th and Custer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News 84th and Marion What we know At about 10:30 p.m., a 23-year-old was shot in the area of 84th and Marion. The victim was also taken to a local hospital for treatment. MPD tips What you can do Police are looking for those responsible for these shootings. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Milwaukee Police at 414-935-7360 or, to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS or use the P3 Tips app. The Source The Milwaukee Police Department sent FOX6 the information. A regional electric provider in Minnesota is planning a 200-megawatt wind project in two North Dakota counties. Minnesota Power, the utility division of Duluth-based energy company Allete, said in a news release that construction of the 45-turbine Longspur Wind project is expected to begin in 2026, contingent on regulatory approvals in North Dakota and Minnesota. The project is planned for North Dakota's Morton and Mercer counties, near Minnesota Powers Bison Wind Energy Center. It will use an existing 465-mile transmission line to move power from North Dakota to northern Minnesota. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related: How the 'Big Beautiful Bill' will affect household energy costs in South Dakota Minnesota Power estimates that the project will become operational in late 2027, which means it would be eligible for soon-to-expire federal tax credits. During construction, the project is expected to create hundreds of union jobs, the news release says, and once it's operational, it will contribute millions of dollars in tax revenue to local schools, infrastructure projects and other community services. In 2020, Minnesota Power became the first electric utility in Minnesota to deliver 50% renewable energy to customers, the news release says. The addition of 200 megawatts of wind energy will help meet its goal of delivering 80% renewable energy by 2030. How much wind energy is produced in Minnesota and North Dakota? In North Dakota, wind energy makes up nearly 35% of the electric grid mix, with 3,665 megawatts of installed capacity, according to the Energy Information Administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Similarly, wind energy makes up about 25% of the electric grid mix in Minnesota, with 4,184 megawatts of installed capacity, plus another 340 megawatts under construction. What states have the most wind turbines? Texas has the most wind turbines of any state, with more active wind turbines than the next three top states combined. Here's how Minnesota and North Dakota compare, according to Choose Energy, an energy broker. Texas: 19,415 Iowa: 6,472 Oklahoma: 5,597 California: 5,510 Kansas: 4,415 Illinois: 3,837 Colorado: 2,908 Minnesota: 2,736 North Dakota: 2,169 Oregon: 2,173 This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Minnesota Power announces plans for wind project in North Dakota LAURENS, S.C. (WSPA) Two minors are facing charges after officers said they broke into railroad facilities and caused a derailment in Laurens Saturday. The Laurens Police Department said the two broke into the Carolina Piedmont Railroad and CSX Transportation Railroad between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. According to investigators, the minors started an engine that was connected to two others and drove all three engines around the yard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They went on YouTube to learn how to start a train and thats how they did it. Once they climbed onto the train, they were able to start the engine, Chief Heath Copeland with the Laurens Police Department said. The juveniles didnt just stop there. Police said they then drove onto the rail line heading towards Greenville. On their way back, things didnt go according to plan. The track switched after they went past it. So when it came back, [they] ran into the cars that were on the same line, Copeland said. The collision with the parked railcars caused a derailment and significant damage to one of the cars. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This was a dangerous and reckless act, Copeland said in a Facebook post. Railroad property is not a place to play. Trains, rail lines, and yards present serious risks, and unauthorized access can have life-threatening consequences. Police said while the stunt might sound like something out of a movie, the consequences are all too real. There are certain dangers out there that people dont realize can be very, very dangerous, especially the railroad tracks, Copeland added. Not the companies themselves but the actual railroads. Theres lots of things going up and down the road and those (rail) cars, they dont stop on a dime. When they collide, they collide and I mean, its damage. Severe damage. So, its not a place to play. The minors have been charged with burglary, second degree, grand larceny over $10,000, malicious damage to property over $10,000, willful destruction of railroad property and injury to railroad, according to the police department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two are in custody at the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice in Columbia. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) A missing Franklin County 18-year-old has been arrested in Ohio. Trevor Walker, 18, was last seen on August 5, leaving the area of Ninevah Road wearing all-black clothing. The Franklin County Sheriffs Office shared the missing persons report two days later. MISSING IN KENTUCKY On the night of Aug. 10, a home invasion was reported on Ninevah Road. According to the sheriffs office, a woman had been assaulted, and her vehicle and handgun had been stolen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 11, the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office in Ohio issued a shelter-in-place advisory for the area surrounding State Route 725. Residents were asked to lock their doors and windows, as well as stay inside their homes or businesses. Shelter-in-place ends with wanted subject in custody According to Nexstars WDTN, Springboro police were alerted to a vehicle license plate on a Flock camera that was connected to a missing person. Crews were then notified that the vehicle had been stolen during a Frankfort home invasion. (Montgomery County Sheriffs Office) (Springboro Police) (Montgomery County Sheriffs Office) (Montgomery County Sheriffs Office) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A male, later identified as Walker, was driving the vehicle and fled, prompting the shelter-in-place advisory. Walker was reportedly found hiding inside a sewer pipe in roughly 3 feet of water. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: A minor female was also arrested at the scene. Authorities told WDTN that the girl was also listed as a missing person. Its unclear where from. According to the Franklin County Sheriffs Office, Walker was charged with second-degree assault and first-degree burglary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News. FREDERICK COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now) A missing 16-year-old girl who was believed to have been hidden by an alleged MS-13 street gang member was found safe in Maryland, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. This comes after the Marshals service, ICE agents, and the Frederick County Sheriffs Office teamed up for a fugitive apprehension operation in Frederick on Aug. 7. During the operation, authorities arrested 27-year-old Denis Misael Dominguez Reyes, a citizen of El Salvador, during a Final Order of Removal, which was issued by federal immigration authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump to send FBI on night patrols in DC: Reports As the investigation developed, authorities learned that Dominguez Reyes may have been harboring a 16-year-old girl from El Salvador, who had been reported missing in Frederick County. Dominguez Reyes was located on 7th Street. During the arrest, the teen girl was found safe and reunited with her family. Assisting our state and local partners to recover critically missing children is a top priority of the United States Marshals Service, stated Clinton Fuchs, U.S. Marshal for the District of Maryland. We will continue to do everything we can to find these children and safely reunite them with their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Attorney General Lynn Fitch (R-Miss.) announced applications have opened for funding from the Mississippi Opioid Settlement Fund. These applications will be open to eligible organizations to support opioid abatement programs and projects throughout Mississippi. Applications for funding are available through the Office of the Attorney General, and qualified applicants are encouraged to begin the process. US health officials crack down on kratom-related products after complaints from supplement industry Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Opioid Settlement Fund Advisory Council was founded during the 2025 Legislative Session to help distribute funds deposited into the Mississippi Opioid Settlement Fund founded in 2024. Since then, more than a dozen manufacturers, distributors, wholesalers, retail pharmacies, and marketers of opioids have had settlements charged against them, with $6.3 million being received from eight opioid manufacturers in a recent report. The council seeks to ensure that settlement funds are allocated and spent in accordance with the terms of the settlement agreements, including abatement requirements, and to ensure public involvement, accountability, and transparency in allocating and accounting for the funds. Applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. CT on September 19, 2025. Information about the Advisory Council, as well as the Request for Grant Applications, Application Form, and other materials related to the application process can be found here. All applications and required attachments should be emailed to OpioidCouncil@ago.ms.gov. Close Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) Though Mississippi has a sizable veteran presence, a report revealed that statewide support for them does not seem to match. About 17.9 million veterans live across the United States; more than 146,000 live in Mississippi. About 30% of all veterans nationally live with a service-connected disability. Services and support exist for these military heroes nationwide; however, some states provide better care than others. For several reasons, this led SmileHub to rank Mississippi as 2025s worst state for Americas heroes. SmileHubs findings came from a variety of different factors. For instance, the state has the fourth fewest veteran facilities per veteran and the second fewest veterans charities per capita. This remains the case even though Mississippi has a higher share of disabled veterans than many areas of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mississippi College, VA Hospital partner for counseling services Though the SmileHub report focused on disabled veterans, disabled Mississippians generally face quality-of-life issues in Mississippi. In 2024, WalletHub found that out of 182 major cities, Jackson and Gulfport ranked as the 180th and 182nd best places for disabled Americans to live. The median income of individuals with a disability is the second lowest nationally. Disabled Jacksonians have among the highest poverty rates in the United States. Governmental and nonprofit groups still seek to improve the lives of veterans and their families in the state. Earlier this summer, Mississippis VA Hospital sought volunteers to help transport patients from across the state to the VA center in Jackson. To be best connected to local and national resources, visit va.gov. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJTV. The Algoa Correctional Center in Jefferson City (Rudi Keller/Missouri Independent). Missouris 19 prisons hold about 24,000 people. At some point, most will be released. The question for crime victims, people behind bars and the families of both is when. How that question gets answered is at the heart of a working group created by Gov. Mike Kehoe earlier this year to examine Missouris parole system to bring clarity, transparency and accountability to the process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deadline for the 15-member panel to complete its work is Oct. 1. At the panels one and only public hearing June 13, Tony Helfrecht, the chairman of the Missouri Board of Probation and Parole, called the panel a once-in-a-decade opportunity that would overhaul supervision for paroled people with increased accountability with the goal of safeguarding public safety while promoting successful reintegration, reintroduction and reducing recidivism. Helfrecht, who is leading the working group, and department Director Trevor Foley, who is vice-chair, declined a request for interviews until the report is complete. Six other members are corrections department employees or members of the state parole board, and five represent the judiciary and law enforcement. Only two members were previously incarcerated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prisoner advocates worry the working group is stacked with Department of Corrections employees and law enforcement, and that will result in stricter rules and delayed releases. I have some serious concerns that the intent of the governors order is not going to be met and that this is going to be lip service when its such a wonderful opportunity to bring clarity to a process that provides release to so many people in Missouri, said Amy Malinowski, co-director of the Missouri office of the MacArthur Justice Center, a non-profit that advocates on behalf of people involved in the criminal justice system. One area advocates hope the group addresses is the parole boards reinterpretation of the minimum time that must be served for some offenses. While state statute sets some minimums, such as for repeat offenders or particularly heinous crimes, the board has wide latitude in state law to set percentages of time for particular levels of crime, or to change them by rule or policy decisions. The Division of Probation and Parole is part of the state corrections department but independent in many ways. It was sued in 2019 for the new way it has applied a policy in place since 1985 that incarcerated people must serve at least 15 years on any life sentence that is eligible for parole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The change that prompted the ultimately unsuccessful court challenges pushed the parole dates for hundreds of incarcerated Missourians years in some cases a decade into the future. Kent Gipson, a Kansas City attorney who represents several incarcerated people in appeals, said the change was unnecessary. If a guys shown hes a worthy candidate for parole and hes done 28 years, and hes 50, or however old he probably is, whats the point in keeping him another 15 years? said Kent Gipson, Dunns attorney. Its stupid. The 2019 change was a topic of discussion at the working groups brief June 13 public hearing, where only three people testified during the 25 minutes meeting. In addition to the questions about how eligibility is calculated, issues identified in testimony are: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boilerplate language on forms delivering parole board decisions that give no details on the reasons for denials. Lengthy delays between parole being granted at a hearing and the actual release. Current rules allow the hearings to be held four months prior to potential release, but until recently, those hearings were up to two years in advance of release. Unwillingness of the parole board to use its discretion to convert consecutive sentences to concurrent sentences in eligible cases. When we give people a chance to reunite with their families and communities in a timely manner, we reinforce public safety, Clifton Davis of the Missouri Justice Coalition told the working group. We do not weaken it. There will be no more public hearings because the working group is under a tight deadline, Pojmann said. Instead, she said, written comments are being accepted. Boilerplate language When a person in a Missouri prison has a parole hearing, the boards decision is delivered on a one-page form. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are eight lines where an X indicates the decision, whether it is to deny and reschedule, set a release date or other action. At the bottom, there are 12 lines where reasons for the decision are given. Many times, when parole is denied, the only reason provided is that release at this time would depreciate the seriousness of the present offense The parole board should give more details, especially to tell the incarcerated person what they should do to mitigate the concerns listed, said Courtney Everett, coordinator of the St. Louis University Prison Education Program. This form, given to incarcerated people in the Missouri Department of Corrections after a parole hearing (screenshot). Everett, along with Stacey Lannert, founder of Healing Sisters, is one of the two working group members who have served time in a Missouri prison. He was sentenced to 22 years for assault in 2004 and was released in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When time came for his parole hearing, he said it seemed formulaic. He was approaching his conditional release date, when he had to be released barring a reason to deny it. They really didnt ask me questions, he said. It was like, Where are you going, who are you going to live with? It was like 10 minutes. I didnt say anything. But at the same time, these are the people who control whether a person is being released from prison. And sometimes you dont know what theyre thinking. When denying parole, Malinowski said, the board should be required to give concrete, detailed reasons. The board should be required to explain the basis for their decision, cite the evidence they relied upon, and then explain what that person can do to better prepare themselves for release, she said. Its not individualized other than the offenders name and number changing on the form. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The working group should mandate the change, Davis told them at the hearing. When individuals meet all conditions and have clear plans for success, they deserve more than a form letter, he said. They deserve a response that recognizes who they are. Parole particulars How much time any person eligible for parole spends behind bars is determined in part by the classification of their offense in statute, as well their history of felony sentences. The harshest punishment, and the only one where no release is possible, is for first-degree murder. Determining an individuals earliest parole date is a calculation based partly in statute and partly in regulation. Basic eligibility is determined by the rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The minimum wait for parole eligibility is 15% of a sentence for the lowest-level felonies. The percentage escalates as the classification of felony goes up the scale. For any felony that is a sexual or violent offense, or involves abuse of a child, regardless of classification, regulations require 33% of the sentence be served before parole eligibility. Statutes set minimum time before parole eligibility for anyone previously placed in the custody of the department. That can be up to 80% of their sentence, depending on the number of previous terms in prison. There are 25 offenses where the person sentenced to prison must serve 85% of their time before what is called conditional release. All prisoners have a conditional release period of up to five years at the end of their sentence where they are supervised until their term is completed. Amy Malinowski, director of the MacArthur Justice Centers Missouri office (photo submitted). The parole board does have some discretion, though advocates say it rarely exercises that discretion. Its a scenario the working group was urged to address in its report to the governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One area in particular that was highlighted to the working group is the boards ability to convert consecutive life without parole sentences for crimes committed by juveniles into concurrent sentences. Missouri law allows the parole board to consider paroling people who committed offenses with long terms as juveniles when they have served 15 years. But the board rarely uses its discretion, Davis said. This isnt about giving people a free pass, he said. Its about recognizing that the law has already provided a mechanism to evaluate whether continuing consecutive time still serves the purpose of justice. The board also rarely uses its power to grant medical paroles for people near the end of their lives. The MacArthur Justice Center sued the department to secure the release of Walter Hunter, who was serving multiple life sentences and was dying of liver cancer. The effort was unsuccessful and he died in 2017 at the South Central Correctional Center in Licking. I remember visiting with him, and he was in a wheelchair and was jaundiced and very swollen belly, Malinowski said in an interview with The Independent. And I got to know his sister very well, and all that he wanted was to be able to die with her. Transparency The working group is limited in what it can do because its directive is to examine the regulations governing the parole process, Pojmann said, not sentencing statutes or any other law. But there are steps that could increase transparency and assure the public that each case is being considered on its merits, Malinowski said. Theyre just too closed to provide any sort of comfort to the public that theyre doing their job well, making reasonable and evidence-based decisions and giving people a fair shot, Malinowski said. Some states televise their parole hearings, Everett said. That helps maintain a serious attitude and brings clarity to the individual issues the board must consider. Perhaps the biggest obstacle to a more transparent system is the anonymity the current process gives to decision-makers, he said. A lot of times, theyre looking for reasons to keep people incarcerated, to protect their own interest, their own conscience, or, sometimes, to protect their own careers. Everett said. Because if youre the public official that lets somebody out of prison, youre less likely to get voted in. One goal, Boone County Circuit Judge Brouck Jacobs, a member of the working group, said in an interview with The Independent, should be more certainty for crime victims, defendants and the public when a sentence is handed down. Only someone familiar with the rules and laws governing parole would be able to estimate how factors such as the severity of the crime, the persons history of incarceration and the age of the offender determine a release date. It should be clear to everyone in the courtroom what a sentence means, Jacobs said. They think somebodys got seven years for breaking into their home, a burglary, Jacobs said, and then I think theyre shocked and chagrined when the persons out in a year-and-a-half. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KNWA/KFTA) A Missouri man has been arrested after authorities say he sexually enticed a minor from Pea Ridge. Scott Minor, 45, was arrested by the Cole County, Missouri, Sheriffs Office on Aug. 7 for one count of enticement or attempted enticement of a child. Scott Minor, 45 (Courtesy: Cole County, Missouri Sheriffs Office) A social media post from CCSO said that around 1 p.m. on Aug. 7, detectives and deputies executed a search warrant at 5409 W. Business 50 Lot 31 in Jefferson City in reference to an enticement of a minor call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A probable cause affidavit filed in Missouri said that Cole County deputies investigated a report against Minor on June 23, saying that he had inappropriate sexual conversations with a child from Pea Ridge. CCSO contacted the Pea Ridge Police Department. PRPD searched the childs phone and laptop and found more than 2,100 messages between the two. The two reportedly sent photos and videos to each other between May 29 and June 25. Decatur man sentenced to 12 years for firing gun in Siloam Springs road rage incident The affidavit said that Minor was located and taken into custody for unrelated outstanding warrants in Cole County on June 25. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Detectives interviewed Minor, where he allegedly admitted to dating a teenager and sent inappropriate messages to a different child. The affidavit said that Minor was previously employed by the Boys & Girls Club in Jefferson City as the head chef. He was released from his position in July due to allegations against him. Minor is being held in the Cole County Jail without bond. He was set to appear in court on Monday for his arraignment; however, no further details have been released. He has been ordered to have no contact with the alleged victim and is considered a danger to the community. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24. French President Emmanuel Macron has sharply criticized Israels plans to intensify military operations in the Gaza Strip, warning that the move could trigger an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe, Azernews reports, citing Israeli media outlets. French President Macron noted that the Israeli Cabinets statement regarding expanded operations in Gaza City and the Mawasi region signals an impending disaster of unprecedented scale. In addition, the French President urged an immediate and permanent ceasefire to end the war in Gaza, emphasizing the need for diplomatic and humanitarian solutions. To stabilize the region, Macron proposed the formation of an international coalition under the mandate of the United Nations. He argued that such a coalition could help combat terrorism, support Gazas civilian population, and establish a governance framework that promotes peace and stability. The French presidents comments come amid growing international concern over the humanitarian toll of Israels military campaign and the broader implications for regional security. Turkiye and Senegal have signed four agreements aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation in defence, media, and education. The accords were concluded on 7 August, following talks between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Senegalese Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko at the Presidential Complex in Ankara. Among them were a Military Financial Cooperation Agreement and a protocol amending the Cash Assistance Implementation of 28 January 2020, signed by Turkish Defence Minister Yasar Guler and Senegalese Armed Forces Minister General Birame Diop. In the area of cultural and educational exchange, Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat and Senegalese Foreign Affairs Minister Yassine Fall signed an Agreement on Co-Production and Cooperation in Film, Audiovisual and Multimedia. Additionally, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Turkiyes Council of Higher Education (YOK) and Senegals Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, setting a framework for cooperation in higher education from 2025 to 2028. These agreements mark a deepening of strategic ties between the two nations. It's the beginning of a new school year, which means my personal inbox and text messages are overflowing with promises from principals and administrators that 2025-2026 will be the best year yet. Two of my children are at two different MNPS schools, and despite my frequent criticism of Metro Nashville Public Schools, I am optimistic about the year ahead. Not because I have a ton of faith in district leadership or their ability to course correct after decades of subpar results, but because I know that if my familys experience goes left at any point during the year, my husband and I will be on hand to help make things right, or to change course altogether. We have the resources both financial and temporal to adjust accordingly, and its the position weve always taken with our kids education. We go where we must to get what we need; we harbor no loyalty to any teacher or institution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Tennessee now offers automatic college admissions. Here's what you should know In years of talking to other MNPS parents, Ive gleaned that families like ours are the ones who have the most success within the district. They have the time and expertise to navigate the bureaucracy of a large district (sometimes because theyre employed by MNPS or connected to someone else who is). They know how to get emails and phone calls answered, how to get kids in the right schools with the right instructors. They have the money to hire a tutor when test results are less than ideal. Success for these children is all but guaranteed, but instead of being viewed as a collaborative win wherein parents do the heaviest lifting the district takes credit full credit, leveraging it as momentum for future gains. Indeed, MNPS superintendent Adrienne Battles assertion of this years promise may have been made with the most privileged students in mind. Because, based on historical data, we know that students who lack financial support and domestic stability arent just less likely to have a great year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre destined to fail. Valentina Yiborku leads second graders in a dance break in her classroom at Smith Springs Elementary School in Antioch, Tenn., Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. Parents shoulder too much blame for students' academic struggles You are correct that MNPS is woefully overfunded, and its purpose is not for the children they are supposed to be teaching, a reader wrote in response to my last column, which highlighted the hypocrisy of MNPS writing a $6.5 million check to settle allegations of retaliation by Battle, while also claiming to be broke. However, he added, you willfully ignore the real reason for underperforming children of color, which is, of course, the home. This readers perspective isnt unique. I regularly receive messages that contain some variation of the following: Learning begins at home. And, Parents should be involved in their childrens educations from pre-K through high school graduation and beyond. Or, If parents would stop buying Jordans and shoving their kids in front of the TV, maybe those kids would learn something.Let me be clear: Research has shown a definitive link between fatherless homes and a host of negative outcomes. Living in poverty yields a similar effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Tennessee school cell phone bans won't work without parents' help This, I know. But last time I checked, most moms and dads dont want to parent alone my single mother included. And I cant imagine that there are any parents who enjoy struggling to make ends meet, who like robbing Peter, just to find out they still dont have enough to pay Paul. They dont want to have to work three minimum wages jobs and miss parent-teacher conferences and homework help after school. Perhaps most significantly: They dont want their own educational deficiencies to hamper their ability to usher their children into a more hopeful future. Nashville Mayor Freddie O'Connell, Dr. Whitney Russell, and Metro Nashville Public Schools Director Adrienne Battle take a tour on the first day of school at Inglewood Elementary School in Nashville , Tenn., Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025. MNPS has the necessary resources to close persistent gaps But Im not unaware of the challenges faced by a good portion of MNPS students. I just dont think they should matter very much. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Put differently, I dont believe that sins of the father and mother whether legitimate, or simply systemic failures masquerading as individual transgressions should have any bearing on a childs prospects. They do, of course, because this is America, and we are united in the states of our socioeconomic castes above all else. But at the very least, $1.4 billion (the portion of MNPSs budget that comes directly from Metro Nashvilles budget, courtesy of taxpayers) should afford us a reasonable hedge from one generation to the next. Opinion: MNPS' $6.5 million settlement shows us exactly what the district prioritizes The work to educate the most marginalized will be difficult, certainly. But isnt that why 37% of Metro funds are dedicated to K-12 schools? Isnt that why MNPSs budget has ballooned into the ten figures, despite relatively flat enrollment? Arent we, as taxpayers, entitled to the reasonable estimation that, as we hand over our hard-earned funds, MNPS will do the hard work of nurturing those students who need external supports the most? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And dont we all understand that if this situation isnt remedied, the problem only expands? The thousands of children we graduate unprepared dont defect to some remote island inhabited only by the nonproficient. Instead, they filter into wider society where they are more likely to raise their own children who face the same social and financial barriers barriers that, according to some of my readers, will also render them ineligible for a decent education. It's time to get real about which students can succeed in MNPS But maybe Im wrong about all this. Maybe there is no hope for the least of us; maybe there is no amount of money we can throw at a crisis of this magnitude and expect to see it resolved. And if thats the case, instead of promising an incredible school year for every MNPS student, Battle and her crew shouldve maybe just kept it real: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If your household income falls below a certain threshold, we cant educate your child. If you are a single parent, your kid probably won't do well here. If you didnt come to us with a strong educational foundation already in place, we cant help you either. That messaging would be very different from the emails and press releases we currently receive. But like the woman who is told, up front, that the man shes seeing has no intentions of being faithful, wed have the necessary information to put our collective needs first. At a minimum, wed have the freedom to finally move on from a partner that was never equipped to serve us. Andrea Williams is an opinion columnist for The Tennessean and curator of the Black Tennessee Voices initiative. She has an extensive background covering country music, sports, race and society. Email her at adwilliams@tennessean.com or follow her on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @AndreaWillWrite and BlueSky at @andreawillwrite.bsky.social. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: MNPS schools can't help students who need it most | Opinion Jacob Zieben and Jacob Paulson were fast friends when they met in 2013. Aside from their shared name, the pair were both young gay men fresh out of college who recently moved to New York City. After two years spent glued at the hip, Paulson said their dynamic quickly changed after his friend, a personal trainer from Texas, started dating model Donald Hood. He just vanished, Paulson said this week in a phone interview, choking up. I had no contact with him, and I just wanted him to be happy, and thats all I really cared about. And I was hoping that he was. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although the loss of the friendship stung, Paulson said he moved on years ago. He didnt attend his former friends 2020 wedding and was only aware from social media that Jacob and Donald both changed their last names to Zieben-Hood. But Paulson was shocked and flooded with memories when, just two weeks ago, he saw his former friends name in the headlines after police found the 34-year-old dead inside his Harlem apartment. From the left, Joshua Baker, Jacob Zieben and Jacob Paulson. (Courtesy Joshua Baker) When authorities entered the apartment on July 31 after Donald called for help, they found Jacob slumped over his toilet with a gash on his head and multiple stab wounds to the back of his leg, one deep enough to penetrate muscle, according to charging documents. His death came after years of alleged abuse dating to 2022, detailed in a series of charging documents against Donald on felony counts including strangulation and menacing. Those charges remain pending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Donald, a 40-year-old model with over 67,000 Instagram followers, was arrested on July 31 and charged with several crimes, including burglary. He is currently being held at Rikers Island without bail. Prosecutors have not charged anyone with murder or named a suspect for Jacobs death, citing his pending autopsy, but said they are investigating the case as a homicide. In the days since his death, Paulson and seven others who knew Jacob spoke with NBC News as they slowly learned about the personal trainers life over the last decade. And while his fatal stabbing comes as a shock, those who knew Jacob believe Donald cut out his friends and potential lifelines years before he truly needed them. I wish I had done more, but, in hindsight, what would you do? said one of Jacob's old friends, Marti G. Cummings. Donalds attorney declined to comment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After studying biomedical sciences at Texas A&M University, Jacob moved to New York City in 2013 and quickly met Paulson and Joshua Baker. Paulson and Baker said that the trio never went anywhere without each other and spent endless days cooped up in Jacobs Hells Kitchen apartment, which they say overlooked Central Park, playing video games, eating fried food, and daydreaming about their futures. We were these cute little misfits that were trying to figure out where we fit in New York society, Baker said. Cummings met Jacob around the same time and gravitated toward his selflessness and desire for community. A prominent New York City drag queen who uses they/them pronouns, Cummings said Jacob would frequently walk them between gigs late at night to make sure they got there safely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was a protector, which is why I think it makes this whole thing sadder, Cummings said. He didnt get to be protected from this. Jacob Zieben with friend, Marti G. Cummings. (Courtesy Marti G. Cummings) Lauren Foster, a friend of Donalds since 2000, described him as a good guy and said that she was never under the impression that his relationship was troubled. She did, however, acknowledge that the roles Jacob and Donald played were clear. I dont think he had a ton of friends, Foster said of Jacob. Don was kind of the alpha in the relationship. Theres always one person thats dominant in the relationship, and that was definitely Don, she added. I think Don would be the alpha in any relationship. Hes larger than life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baker said that shortly after Jacob met Donald in the spring of 2015, Jacob began dodging invitations, declining phone calls, and ignoring text messages. Soon, Baker noted, Jacob started to even block his friends phone numbers. Jonathan Starkey, a friend from Texas, recalled that in one conversation around that time, Jacob said that a lot had changed, and that Donald was a little possessive and jealous and kind of restricted who he was in touch with. Jacob wasnt really someone who let people tell him what to do, which is why its so strange, Starkey said. Jacobs abrupt silence prompted Baker to reach out to Donald. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jacob is doing very well, Donald wrote to Baker in a November 5, 2015, direct message on Facebook, according to screenshots of the conversation provided to NBC News. Hes decided to break away from his past, which unfortunately included his closest friends, in order to move forward with a healthy life. Hes been very focused and is back on the right track in his life and in order to remain focused he will remain out of contact for the moment, Donald added. For years, the only updates Jacobs friends received about their friend came through social media, where images from the couples Instagrams showed what appeared to be a happy couple who traveled the world and lived a glamorous New York life. The pair posted loving selfies, pictures from their wedding in 2020, and snapshots with their families. But court documents paint a prolonged pattern of alleged abuse in the relationship that authorities say started in 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors said in the charging documents filed after Jacobs death that Donald had nine domestic incident reports filed against him since 2022, but did not provide more details about the nature of the incidents or who filed them. In November 2024, an order of protection was issued in New York County Criminal Court that directed Donald to cease communication and stay away from Jacob, according to charging documents associated with Donalds arrest in February. In February, Donald was arrested and charged with strangulation, among several other charges, for allegedly attacking Jacob inside the Harlem apartment. Jacob almost lost consciousness, and sustained swelling, substantial pain, and redness to his neck from the incident, according to the charging documents. Donald pleaded not guilty to the charges in the case that is still pending. A second court order of protection was issued in criminal court in April, which once again prevented Donald from seeing or communicating with Jacob. Donald was arrested again in June and charged with criminal contempt and menacing, according to court documents. The court records allege that Donald held a knife in Jacobs direction and said, I will attack you. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, and the case is still pending. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paulson said that earlier this year, Jacob followed him on Instagram and gave him hope that the friends might reconnect after a brief exchange in March. I was so excited to have that prospect of him coming back into my life after Id kind of let him go as a friend, Paulson said. And then to have it really just permanently end, its just devastated me. Its really wrecked me. Members of the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner remove the body of Influencer model Jacob Zieben-Hood in Harlem, New York, on Aug. 1. (Kyle Mazza / NurPhoto/Shutterstock) Donald called 911 on July 31 from Jacobs one-bedroom apartment at West 138th Street and told them he found his husband dead on the toilet. When police arrived, they found Donald sitting on their couch with three cuts to his arm that later required stitches, a black eye, and bite marks, according to a criminal complaint. He told authorities that Jacob had attacked him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, prosecutors say that Jacob called his father from the bathroom before the attack and allegedly told him that Donald was coming at him with knives and preventing him from leaving the apartment, according to the criminal complaint. During the call, Jacobs father allegedly heard Donald screaming derogatory names at Jacob in the background, the complaint added. Donald was arrested later that day and charged with burglary, aggravated criminal contempt, criminal contempt in the first degree and possession of a weapon. On Thursday, he was scheduled to appear in court, but a judge waived his appearance at the request of his attorney. He is now set to appear on September 12, almost a month after Jacobs funeral, scheduled for this weekend in San Antonio. As authorities continue to investigate the case, Jacobs friends have been connecting and sharing old memories of their late friend. Years can go by, but he was our family till the end, Baker said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com NEED TO KNOW An infant was found dead in a hearse at West Gadsden Funeral Home in Gadsden, Alabama, on Saturday, Aug. 9, The child's mother, Terica Pearl, 29, was arrested a day later in connection with the child's alleged murder, according to arrest records obtained by PEOPLE "The memory of this child will remain with us... the Gadsden Police Department said in a statement, per The Gadsden Times A mother has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a dead baby was found inside a hearse at a funeral home in Alabama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At around 11:45 a.m. local time on Saturday, Aug. 9, the body of 1-year-old Blessence Pearl was discovered in the back of a hearse by the staff at West Gadsden Funeral Home in Gadsden, The Gadsden Times and WBRC 6 News reported, citing the Gadsden Police Department. Police responded to the scene with their patrol division after being contacted by the funeral home, where they found Blessence not in a casket, per the outlets. The child's death is being investigated as a homicide. Terica Pearl, 29, who is the infant's mother, was arrested in connection with her alleged murder at 1:48 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 10, and is being held at Etowah County Jail without bond, according to arrest records obtained by PEOPLE. Etowah County Sheriff's Office Terica Pearl Terica Pearl Funeral home staff had just returned from an appointment on Saturday when they noticed what initially appeared to be a doll in the hearse, but soon realized it was a baby, WBRC 6 News reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I got a call from one of my employees, funeral home owner Dantez Robinson told the outlet. They were getting ready last night, we went out on a pickup and this morning we get back. He was getting ready to do some grounds work, and we got back to find an infant baby inside one of the hearses. The Gadsden Police Department said in a statement, "The memory of this child will remain with us, and we will continue to stand for justice in every case, no matter how difficult, per The Gadsden Times. Lieutenant Dusty Ford added, In under 12 hours, the investigation moved from uncertainty to an arrest, per WBRC 6 News. 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. Google Maps A dead baby girl was found in a hearse at West Gadsden Funeral Home in Gadsden, Ala., on Aug. 9 A dead baby girl was found in a hearse at West Gadsden Funeral Home in Gadsden, Ala., on Aug. 9 Local mayor Craig Ford described the situation as a tough case for everybody involved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im proud of the way our police department went after the truth and got it done, he told WBRC 6 News. An arrest doesnt take away the hurt, but it does mean were one step closer to justice for this child. The Gadsden Police Department and Etowah County Sheriffs Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Monday, Aug. 11. Read the original article on People As students in Central Florida go back to school, Channel 9 Eyewitness News shared tips for an easier transition, with insights from mom blogger and former educator Brandi Zrallack. Zrallack, featured on Eyewitness News This Morning, stressed the importance of creating a steady routine to help students transition into the new school year. She pointed out the significance of having scheduled homework, after-school activities and bedtime to ease the anxiety often felt at the beginning of school. Today will be the worst of it, it will get better as the week goes on, as the school year gets on, said Zrallack, a mom blogger from MyCentralFloridaFamily.com. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zrallack recommended that parents have calm, logical conversations with their children about school schedules, classroom rules, and etiquette. Try to make it logical, not emotional. Talk about the bell schedule, talk about classroom rules, talk about lunch etiquette, bus etiquette, she suggested. Drawing on her background as a former Seminole County teacher, Zrallack emphasized the significance of talking with children about safety drills and emergency protocols. We talk about fire drills and code red drills. We talk about what to do in case of emergency, she explained. Zrallack also pointed out the reality of modern school environments where students may have cell phones but are not allowed to use them during school hours. Definitely having those conversations by not having them, youre not escaping them. They are a reality of the world we live in today and those conversations have to be had, she said. Families can support students in facing the new school years challenges by encouraging open communication and creating routines. For additional advice, parents are encouraged to visit Brandi Zrallacks website at MyCentralFloridaFamily.com. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. NEED TO KNOW A woman has confessed to murdering her 35-year-old son, dismembering him and attempting to hide his body with the help of his wife Lorena Venier, 61, admitted to killing her son, Alessandro Venier, after his wife, Mailyn Castro Monsalvo, 30, called the police to confess what they had done on July 25 Lorena allegedly confessed that she and her daughter-in-law had been planning the crime for months, citing physical abuse from her son as their motive A woman has confessed to murdering her 35-year-old son, dismembering him and attempting to hide his body with the help of his wife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Italian news agencies ANSA and L'Unione Sarda, as well as the Daily Mail, Lorena Venier, 61, admitted to murdering her son, Alessandro Venier, after his wife, Mailyn Castro Monsalvo, 30, called the police to confess what they had done on July 25. The outlets reported that Alessandro's body was found dismembered in the basement of the home he shared with his wife, mother and infant daughter in the town of Gemona del Friuli, located in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia. Fogliarini/LaPresse/Shutterstock The home where Alessandro Venier lived with his wife and mother. The home where Alessandro Venier lived with his wife and mother. "I took care of Alessandro's 'dismemberment' myself," Lorena, a nurse, told the judge during a court appearance, per ANSA. "I used a hacksaw and a sheet to hold the blood and I dissected him into three pieces. There were no blood splatters that's why the Carabinieri police found everything in order." Lorena allegedly confessed that she and her daughter-in-law had been planning the crime for months, and she cited physical abuse from her son as their motive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Mailyn had been asking me to kill my son Alessandro for months, ever since the day their daughter was born in January," Lorena claimed, per L'Unione Sarda. "Mailyn was violently beaten, insulted and repeatedly threatened with death," she alleged. "My son downplayed her postpartum depression, and when I decided to report it, he punched me in the back." Lorena also alleged that Alessandro told his wife, who is originally from Colombia, "I'll take you to Colombia and drown you in the river, because no one's looking for you there." Getty Gemona del Friuli, Italy, where the murder took place. Gemona del Friuli, Italy, where the murder took place. According to the Daily Mail, investigators allege that Lorena and Mailyn served Alessandro a glass of lemonade spiked with a tranquilizer before giving him two shots of insulin which Lorena had obtained from the hospital where she worked to render him unconscious. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities claim that Alessandro was then suffocated with a pillow and strangled using shoelaces. Mailyn allegedly then moved her husband's body to their garage and covered him in quicklime, or calcium oxide, to hide the smell, per the Daily Mail. 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. Alessandro had recently told friends that he was considering moving to Colombia, and Lorena and Mailyn planned to use that to cover up his disappearance, authorities claim, per the outlets. Mailyn called the police and confessed soon after, and Lorena told the judge overseeing the case that her daughter-in-law had only moved the remains, according to ANSA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lorena has been charged with murder and concealing a body, and Mailyn is being investigated for instigation to murder, per the Daily Mail. If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. Read the original article on People NEED TO KNOW Holly Hatcher, 62, was fatally stabbed in a home invasion on Sunday, Aug. 3 Kevin Moses Walker, 41, allegedly broke into the home she shared with her husband, who shot and killed Walker after a violent altercation Police are still searching for a motive in the slaying The mother of a rising country music star was stabbed to death inside her Virginia home by an armed intruder, who was then shot and killed by her husband, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Holly Hatcher, 62, was killed during a violent home invasion in Harrisonburg on Sunday, Aug. 3, the Rockingham County Sheriffs Office said in a press release. Suspect Kevin Moses Walker, 41, was killed when Hatchers husband, Michael Hatcher, 65, fatally shot him in the driveway, according to the release. The incident was "highly unusual" and "apparently completely random," Rockingham County Sheriff Bryan Hutcheson said in a video statement alongside Hatchers son, country music artist Spencer Hatcher, and Michael Hatcher, per WTVR. Rockingham County Sheriff's Office Spencer Hatcher During a Joint Video Statement From The Hatcher Family and the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office Spencer Hatcher During a Joint Video Statement From The Hatcher Family and the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office In a post on Instagram, Spencer wrote that due to "a monumental loss in our family," he was canceling three upcoming shows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hope to make these dates up to my fans in the future. I appreciate everyone that has lent their support to me and my loved ones. We ask that everyone please respect our familys privacy at this time. Spencer Hatcher/Instagram Spencer Hatcher Spencer Hatcher Deputies responded to a 911 call just before midnight on Aug. 3 at the Hatcher residence, where they found Michael outside with injuries about his body, according to the press release. Walker was found dead on the driveway. When deputies entered the home, they found Holly dead of apparent stab wounds. Authorities contend Walker entered the home armed with a "large" knife and fatally stabbed Holly before getting into an altercation with Michael. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The altercation continued outside the home, where Michael retrieved a gun from his vehicle and fired a single shot at Walker. 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. Hutcheson then shared what the RCSO and Virginia State Police have since learned about Walkers alleged movements before the attack. Authorities say prior to the attack, Walker had purchased a knife and sleeping at Walmart and later allegedly broken into a store at he Endless Caverns campsite, where he was staying. The store showed signs of having been rammed with a vehicle, though nothing was stolen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police were still searching for Walker when Michael Hatcher called 911. The investigation will remain ongoing, Hutcheson said. Hutcheson said he had known the Hatchers for years and that Holly Hatcher was his oldest sons teacher, noting the wonderful influence she had on her students lives. In the meantime, the Hatcher family is still reeling from the violent attack that stole the life of Holly Hatcher. "There's going to be questions that will never be answered, but all I can tell you is we've cried, we've hurt, and we've hugged, and we have found more love than we have ever known has existed between us, and between you," said an emotional Michael Hatcher in the joint video statement. Read the original article on People NOTE: This article is no longer being updated. We have published a new forecast story for Tuesday. Monday will see partly sunny skies with hot and humid temperatures, topping out around 88 degrees. Clouds will increase as the day goes on with isolated showers and thunderstorms likely by afternoon. WGN Interactive Radar: Track the weather near you Monday night will be partly to mostly cloudy and the chance of showers remains for the evening. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rain showers will become more numerous and widespread overnight into Tuesday morning. Tuesday will see on and off rain, especially in the morning hours. Cooler temps arrive as the front passes. Highs in the lower 80s. Weather Maps Climate & Environment Interactive Radar Weather Bug Cameras 7-Day Outlook Weather Center Newsletter Current Conditions Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Next Few Hours Extended Outlook Muggy air and afternoon showers or storms remain likely through Wednesday. By next weekend, highs climb back into the low to mid-90s, as the dog days of late summer continue to bring heat and humidity to Chicagoland. Total precipitation through Wednesday evening Gargantuan rainfall totals are possible across northern Missouri, eastern Iowa and western Illinois, as a stationary front brings repeat rounds of thunderstorms. Across the Chicago area, current modeling suggests 1 to 2 inches may be possible, but locally heavier in some areas due to thunderstorms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 6-10-day temperature outlook Another round of hot weather is possible later next week, according to the latest suite of computer models. The Midwest and Northeast have a high likelihood of seeing above to potentially much above normal temperatures during the Aug. 14-18 period. Climate and Environment news: WGN Weather Center blog Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Summer is a busy season filled with activity. Whether attending traditional ceremonies, taking part in powwows, or spending time with relatives and friends, our days are full and meaningful. Benson County Chief Deputy Arrested, Faces Multiple Charges Including Unlawful Arrests on Tribal Land 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read Article Lummi Indian Business Council Banishes Violent Offender from Tribal Lands The Lummi Indian Business Council has unanimously voted to banish Jesus Abraham Penuelas-Agramon from all Lummi Nation Trust Lands and from within the exterior boundaries of the Lummi Reservation, according to a press release issued Wednesday. Read Article RFK Jr. Outlines Commitment to Native American Food Sovereignty; Shares Insights on Opioid Recovery and Whether or Not He would Ban Hot Cheetos on the Rez EXCLUSIVE to Native News Online: American Indians are experiencing a food genocide through ultra-processed foods what they call white death: white sugar, white flour and white grease, he said in an interview with Native News Online. Many are now food deserts, though Pacific Northwest reservations have been better off due to salmon access. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read Article Celebrating International Day of the Worlds Indigenous People There are an estimated 476 million Indigenous Peoples across the globe, living in more than 90 countries...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. Read Article Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. " Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net (The Center Square) Milwaukees congresswoman says the push to redraw Wisconsins political map is nothing like the push from Texas Republicans to redraw theirs. Democrat Gwen Moore was on UpFront over the weekend, and she said the attempt to have Wisconsins Supreme Court redraw the states congressional map is an attempt to draw a fair map. "It is not the same," Moore said. "We do not want to draw a racist map, disenfranchising people of color from their representation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moore accused Texas Republicans of looking to take representation away from black voters by drawing new maps that would have two Black members of Congress run against each other. Moore said Wisconsin is not trying to disenfranchise black voters with its remap bid here. We want a more fair map. We have a gerrymandered map now. We have eight congressional seats. Democrats, based on our population, based on our voting patterns, we ought to have four of the eight seats, Moore explained. Instead, it's just Mark Pocan and I. It's about fairness and people being represented." Liberal groups have filed two lawsuits aimed at redrawing Wisconsins maps to benefit Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Specifically, the groups want to redraw Republican Congressman Derrick Van Ordens district in western Wisconsin, and Bryan Steils district in the southeastern part of the state. Wisconsins Supreme Court already dismissed one of those cases. Moore said the court has not, however, dismissed the idea of redistricting. "I respect our Supreme Court, and they wanted it done decently and in order," Moore said. "I don't think that the Supreme Court agrees that we have the fairest maps on the congressional level. We don't. But they wanted, I believe, and I haven't talked to them, but I believe they wanted that matter taken to the right court." More foreign criminals will be deported before their appeals are heard as the Home Office adds 15 new countries to its "deport now, appeal later" scheme. The policy allows the UK to send foreign offenders back to their home countries before they can appeal against the decision. The scheme's new countries, including Canada, India and Australia, bring the total to 23 - nearly three times more than the original eight, with the Home Office saying more could follow in the future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Home Secretary Yvette Cooper says expansion of the scheme is to prevent foreign criminals from "exploiting our immigration system" and "fast-track" their removals. Foreign nationals who have had their human rights claim refused will be expelled from the UK and can take part in their appeal hearings from their home countries via video link. The other countries added to the scheme are: Angola Botswana Brunei Bulgaria Guyana Indonesia Kenya Latvia Lebanon Malaysia Uganda Zambia Cooper said previously that offenders were able to remain in the UK "for months or even years" while their cases worked through the appeals system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "That has to end. Those who commit crimes in our country cannot be allowed to manipulate the system, which is why we are restoring control and sending a clear message that our laws must be respected and will be enforced," she added. Foreign Secretary David Lammy welcomed the decision and said the UK was working to increase the number of other countries where foreign criminals can be returned. Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, welcomed the move, adding: "But even with this U-turn, only the Conservative Party is committed to deporting all foreign criminals. "Until Keir Starmer either commits to deporting all foreign criminals or stops rolling out the red carpet for migrants the world over, this problem is not going away." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move comes after the justice secretary announced on Sunday new plans to deport foreign criminals immediately after they have received a custodial sentence. Under the proposals for England and Wales, those who are given fixed-term sentences could be deported straight away and would be barred from re-entering the UK. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said that foreign criminals would be sent "packing" if they "abuse our hospitality and break our laws". The new powers - which require Parliament's approval - would save taxpayers money and increase publish safety, the government said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick warned that some countries may refuse to take in those who are deported. He suggested Sir Keir Starmer should "suspend visas and foreign aid" in the event that countries don't take back their nationals. According to the government, foreign offenders make up around 12% percent of the prison population, with prison places costing 54,000 a year on average. Six people were killed on Thursday, August 7, when a light aircraft operated by medical charity Amref Flying Doctors crashed into a residential building in Nairobis Githurai area. The Cessna plane, which had departed Wilson Airport for Hargeisa in Somalia, lost radio and radar contact just three minutes after take-off before bursting into flames on impact. Authorities confirmed that the dead included four people on board doctors, nurses, and the pilot along with two people on the ground. Two others were seriously injured. Investigators have been dispatched to determine the cause, while the Kenya Defence Forces and National Police Service are carrying out search and recovery operations. Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud bang and seeing a flash followed by thick smoke before discovering the wreckage had carved a crater into the ground. In a separate tragedy the same day, at least four people died when a train collided with a Kenya Pipeline Company staff bus near Naivasha town, in central Kenya. The bus was carrying employees finishing their morning shift, and all injured passengers were taken to hospital for treatment. Both incidents have underscored concerns over transport safety in the country. GROVE, Okla. An INTEGRIS medical internship in Grove and Miami is expanding to Ottawa and Delaware Counties. The 16-week immersive internship program, which is offered through INTEGRIS Health Grove Hospital and INTEGRIS Health Miami Hospital, is in its seventh year. Previously open only to students from Miami and Grove High Schools, the internship program has now expanded to include students from Commerce, Afton, Fairland, Jay, and Wyandotte High Schools. This program allows students to experience the full scope of what a career in health care might look like. Some students come in thinking they know what they want to do, only to discover an area theyre even more passionate about. Others start with just a general interest in health care, and by the end of the program, theyve found a calling. Elsie Grover, administrative project manager at INTEGRIS Health Miami and Grove hospitals. Throughout the semester, interns will rotate through a wide range of hospital departments, including the emergency department, womens health, lab, pharmacy, surgery, intensive care unit (ICU), physical therapy, respiratory care, and the medical-surgical patient floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Students have the unique opportunity to shadow medical professionals, observe procedures, and experience moments rarely seen outside formal training programs. High school juniors and seniors interested in applying for the spring 2026 session are encouraged to speak with their school counselor. Applications will open in September. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) An Ontario County motor vehicle accident on Monday afternoon closed multiple roads and hospitalized a motorcyclist in the town of Gorham. At 2:30 p.m., first responders and Ontario County Sheriffs Deputies responded to the scene of an accident involving a vehicle and a motorcycle. According to police, a 27-year-old man from Naples was riding a motorcycle northbound on State Route 247 when a 59-year-old man from Branchport, driving a Honda HRV westbound on County Road 18, entered his path. The motorcyclist received serious internal and orthopedic injuries from the accident and was airlifted to Strong Memorial Hospital for emergency surgery. As of Tuesday, he is listed in serious condition and has been placed in the ICU. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The driver of the Honda HRV and the two passengers inside the vehicle were not injured. Crash leads to car fire on Framingham Lane in Pittsford Multiple roads in the area were shut down due to the crash, but have since reopened. The crash remains under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. VIENNA TWP., Ohio (WKBN) A motorcyclist was killed after hitting a deer in Trumbull County Sunday night. Read next: SUV demolishes fence, patio at West Side home James Eschborn, 63, of Cortland, died in the crash, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol. It happened around 9 p.m. on State Route 193 in Vienna Township. Troopers said Eschborn was headed south when he hit a deer. He was taken to the hospital, where he died from his injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The crash remains under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Gazans gathered on Monday for the funeral of five Al Jazeera staff members and a sixth reporter killed in an Israeli strike, with Israel calling one of them a "terrorist" affiliated with Hamas. Dozens stood amid bombed-out buildings in the courtyard of Al-Shifa hospital to pay their respects to Anas al-Sharif, a prominent Al Jazeera correspondent aged 28, and four of his colleagues, killed on Sunday. A sixth journalist, Mohammed Al-Khaldi who worked as a freelance reporter, was also killed in the strike that targeted the Al Jazeera team, according to the director of Al-Shifa Hospital, Dr Mohammed Abu Salmiya. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their bodies, wrapped in white shrouds with their faces exposed, were carried through narrow alleys to their graves by mourners including men wearing blue journalists' flak jackets. Israel confirmed it had targeted Sharif, whom it labelled a "terrorist" affiliated with Hamas, saying he "posed as a journalist". Al Jazeera said its employees were hit in a tent set up for journalists outside the main gate of a hospital in Gaza City. The four other staff members killed were Mohammed Qreiqeh, also a correspondent, and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa. "Anas Al-Sharif served as the head of a terrorist cell in the Hamas terrorist organisation and was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF (Israeli) troops," the military said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The IDF had previously disclosed intelligence information and many documents found in the Gaza Strip, confirming his military affiliation to Hamas," it said. It published a graphic showing what it said was a list of Hamas operatives in northern Gaza, including Sharif's name, as well as an image of him emblazoned with the word: "Eliminated". Sharif was one of the channel's most recognisable faces working on the ground in Gaza, providing daily reports on the now 22-month-old war. - Mounting criticism - A posthumous message, written in April in case of his death, was published on his account on Monday morning saying he had been silenced and urging people "not to forget Gaza". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to local journalists who knew him, Sharif had worked at the start of his career with a Hamas communication office, where his role was to publicise events organised by the militant group that has exercised total control over Gaza since 2006. Following online posts by Israel's Arabic-language military spokesman Avichai Adraee on Sharif, the Committee to Protect Journalists called in July for his protection, accusing Israel of a "pattern" of labelling journalists militants "without providing credible evidence". It said the Israeli military had levelled similar accusations against other journalists in Gaza earlier in the war, including other Al Jazeera staff. Al Jazeera called the attack that killed Sharif "a desperate attempt to silence voices exposing the Israeli occupation", as it described Sharif as "one of Gaza's bravest journalists". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also said it followed "repeated incitement and calls by multiple Israeli officials and spokespersons to target the fearless journalist Anas Al Sharif and his colleagues". Reporters Without Borders says nearly 200 journalists have been killed in the war so far. International reporters are prevented from travelling to Gaza by Israel, except on occasional tightly controlled trips with the military. The strike on the journalists came with criticism mounting over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to expand the war in the Gaza Strip. - 'We will win' - The security cabinet voted last week to conquer the remaining quarter or so of the territory not yet controlled by Israeli troops, including much of Gaza City and Al-Mawasi, the area designated a safe zone by Israel where huge numbers of Palestinians have sought refuge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan, which Israeli media reported had triggered bitter disagreement between the government and military leadership, drew condemnation from protesters in Israel and numerous countries, including Israeli allies. Notably, the plans caused Germany, a major weapons supplier and staunch ally, to suspend shipments to Israel of any arms that could be used in Gaza. Australia said on Sunday it would join a growing list of Western nations in recognising a Palestinian state. Despite the diplomatic reversals, Netanyahu remained defiant. "We will win the war, with or without the support of others," he told journalists on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also retained the backing of Israel's most important ally, the United States, with President Donald Trump saying on Tuesday any military plans were "pretty much up to Israel". - 'Another calamity' - The United Nations and humanitarian agencies have condemned the planned expansion. "If these plans are implemented, they will likely trigger another calamity in Gaza," UN Assistant Secretary General Miroslav Jenca told the Security Council on Sunday. UN agencies warned last month that famine was unfolding in the territory, with Israel severely restricting the entry of aid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel's offensive has killed at least 61,430 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, figures the United Nations says are reliable. Hamas's October, 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-dcp/ser House Democrats are urging the Department of Homeland Security to mandate that immigration officials clearly identify themselves when conducting arrests. The demand comes in the wake of multiple reports of men impersonating Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to kidnap and assault women. The Democratic Womens Caucus demanded action in a Monday letter sent to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and other Trump administration officials. The letter, signed by 33 DWC members and shared exclusively with HuffPost, urges ICE agents to visibly and clearly identify themselves when conducting immigration enforcement activities to stop enabling impersonators who leverage womens uncertainty and fear of immigration consequences to rape, harass, and abuse them. Related: People Are Impersonating ICE Agents To Harass Immigrants And Commit Crimes, Police Say Its just terrifying, Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.), an author of the letter, told HuffPost. People cannot tell the difference between a real agent and a criminal, and that makes everyone less safe especially immigrant women who are the most vulnerable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There have been at least three instances of men impersonating ICE agents in order to hurt women. A North Carolina man reportedly posed as law enforcement and threatened to deport an immigrant woman before he kidnapped and raped her. In Maryland, a man allegedly approached a Latina woman in a parking lot, flashed a fake ICE badge and told her to get into his car or face deportation. He reportedly raped the woman in his car before law enforcement was called. A New York man, allegedly posing as an ICE agent, punched a woman in broad daylight and tried to rape her before stealing her phone and purse. President Donald Trumps mass deportation agenda has increased barbaric immigration enforcement all over the country. ICE agents are often seen conducting raids fully masked, without proper identification and wearing plain clothes making it increasingly hard to identify who is carrying out arrests. All our lives, we are taught to fear masked men in unmarked vehicles, the DWC letter reads. We learn we should run from such men to avoid being kidnapped, sexually assaulted, or killed. Yet, ICE is increasingly conducting raids and arrests in masks, plain-clothes, without visible identification or badges, using unmarked vehicles tactics that cause confusion, terror, and mistrust among the public. Related: Trump Makes Awkward U-Turn After Failed Ceasefire Talks With Zelenskyy And Putin In the letter, Democrats use Rumeysa Ozturks immigration arrest as an example of how ICE arrests look more like kidnappings than anything done by legitimate law enforcement officials. Several masked agents, some in hoods and none wearing visible identification, approached Ozturk in broad daylight in March, handcuffed her and hauled her away. Related: Eric Adams Advisor Handed Reporter Cash Stuffed In Bag Of Potato Chips Velazquez introducedthe No Masks for ICE Act in June to prohibit ICE agents from covering their faces during immigration enforcement and require them to wear clothing that shows their name and affiliation with ICE. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last month, Democratic senators from Virginia, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, introduced a similar bill that also provides protections for law enforcement officers and their families from certain threats like doxxing. We call on the Department to implement policies and protocols that are responsive to these serious concerns about womens safety and law enforcement integrity to protect women from further harm, the letter reads. Your current practices leave women vulnerable to life-altering violence. Its past time to act. Read the Democratic Womens Caucus full letter below. Need help? Visit RAINNs National Sexual Assault Online Hotline or the National Sexual Violence Resource Centers website. Related... Read the original on HuffPost A high-profile conspiracy theorist whose daughter died from cancer after refusing chemotherapy organised her care when she left hospital, an inquest has heard. Paloma Shemirani, from Uckfield in East Sussex, died aged 23 in July last year, seven months after receiving a cancer diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. On Monday, the inquest in Maidstone into Paloma's death heard from her mother, Kate Shemirani, a former nurse who was struck off for spreading anti-medicine Covid-19 misinformation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mrs Shemirani denies influencing her daughter's decision to refuse chemotherapy, saying: "It doesn't matter what my view was, it was what Paloma wanted to do." The inquest was played a voice note from Mrs Shemirani to her daughter's boyfriend, where she told him to "put Paloma in a wheelchair to take her down to the car". The voice note was sent two or three days after Paloma had been diagnosed with cancer at Maidstone Hospital in December 2023. Mrs Shemirani told him to listen her message "in private and away from Paloma's ears" and that he had to drive Paloma away "very carefully without braking sharply". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, she said she would need the "forensic data" before agreeing the voice note heard by the the court was from her, but added that whoever left the message gave "fantastic advice". She said she had not wanted Paloma to hear because she would have been frightened that she could be injured if her boyfriend drove too fast. When asked about her views on chemotherapy, Mrs Shemirani said: "Why is this about me and my opinions? Is it a witch hunt?" She told the court she had asked for Paloma, a Cambridge graduate, to have all her medical notes and results so she could have all the facts and get a second opinion from doctors they knew in Iran and Mexico. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mrs Shemirani said she did not know if the records were ever sent to another oncologist or haematologist for the second opinion "because they were Paloma's records and she was 22 - an adult". Alison Hewitt, counsel at the inquest, asked Mrs Shemirani: "It is the case, isn't it, that you have expressed publicly views which are contrary to chemotherapy... you consider chemotherapy is a dangerous and toxic process and one that you wouldn't advise someone suffering cancer undergoes?" Mrs Shemirani branded the question "slanderous" and "not true", adding: "In all my public appearances I say people should get all the information and then decide." When pushed on whether she had described chemotherapy as mustard gas, she replied: "This is not relevant. You're making slanderous accusations. People should be able to choose." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mrs Shemirani has said how she had a tumour removed through surgery. Online, however, she credits alternative therapies for her recovery and says how she used a programme including juices and coffee enemas to become "cancer-free". The former nurse said she would have supported her daughter "physically and financially" whatever her decision on receiving treatment. Earlier in the hearing, when describing the months leading up to her daughter's death, Mrs Shemirani said Paloma had chosen treatment which included nutrition, juices and spiritual support, claiming that many of her symptoms had disappeared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coroner Catherine Wood also heard from intensive care consultant Dr Peter Anderson who saw Paloma at the Royal Sussex County Hospital when paramedics brought her in. He said a scan showed a large mass in her chest and neck which was compressing her airways and affecting major blood vessels. Either could have caused the cardiac arrest, he added. The inquest continues. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. More on this story Related internet links [Source] A mural honoring Japanese American history in Nihonmachi Alley of Seattles Chinatown-International District was vandalized with spray paint last weekend, marking the second attack on the artwork this year. What happened: The vandalism, which involved silver spray paint splotches on the artwork, likely occurred between Aug. 1-2 and was cleaned up by Monday morning by the Chinatown-International District Business Improvement Area (CIDBIA). The first attack reportedly occurred in January when vandals covered the artwork with black ink and wrote Bible chapter and verse numbers on the alley wall. Michael Durnan, a doorman at the historic Panama Hotel who monitors the alley, told FOX 13 that the buildings facing the area have historic ties to World War II. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About the mural: The piece, titled Never Again Is Now, was created by Seattle artist Erin Shigaki in 2019 as part of a public art exhibit. The mural shows a mother and child during forced removal, along with names of Japanese Americans held at Idahos Minidoka War Relocation Center who still served in the U.S. Army. Why it matters: This mural stands as a reminder of our resilience and a reminder for current and future generations this cant happen again, CIDBIA Executive Director Tuyen Than told KING 5, emphasizing its relevance as birthright citizenship is being challenged today. The vandalism also reflects ongoing challenges facing Seattles Asian American community, echoing the 2023 attack on the Wing Luke Museum that resulted in over $100,000 in damages. The suspect, identified as Craig Milne, allegedly yelled anti-Chinese statements during the incident. Trending on NextShark: Mural honoring Japanese Americans vandalized again in Seattles Chinatown Than said her organization has cleared over 10,000 square feet of graffiti from the neighborhood so far this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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: How the Trump admin uses courthouse dismissals to fast-track deportations Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Subscribe here now! Trending on NextShark: Racist backlash erupts after Air New Zealand names Indian-origin CEO Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! An attack on a priest in Downpatrick is being treated as attempted murder, police have said. Fr John Murray was hit on the head with a bottle while preparing to celebrate his last Mass before retirement at St Patrick's Church. Bishop Alan McGuckian, who visited the senior priest in hospital, said Fr Murray will make "a good recovery" and he is grateful for prayers from the public. A 30-year-old man is being held on suspicion of murder after a man's death in Downpatrick, and police said that it may be linked to the attack on the priest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, the family of Stephen Brannigan, who was murdered, said they wanted to "convey our prayers and deep concern for Canon John Murray who was so brutally attacked and seriously injured as part of this confusing and tragic series of events". Fr Murray was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast for treatment. Speaking to BBC Radio Ulster's, Evening Extra programme, Bishop McGuckian said: "He had been beaten around the head and there was defensive injuries with broken bones in his hands." He said there was a lot of blood and it looked "very, very serious in the beginning". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "On first impressions, it looked extremely serious but thank God it has turned out to be serious but not critical," he added. Fr Murray has served the diocese for 50 years and was scheduled to retire next weekend. The bishop said "a very special moment was just shattered". Bishop Alan McGuckian visited the senior priest in hospital [BBC] The Downpatrick Family of Parishes said on Monday that Fr Murray "continues to receive exceptional care" and he is "stable and comfortable". It added that St Patrick's Church and its grounds remained closed. Police said a man walked into the church on St Patrick's Avenue at 10:10 BST on Sunday and hit the priest before leaving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Det Ch Insp McBurney said it was "a completely shocking and brutal attack and has left the priest with a serious head injury". Police said inquiries into the murder and attempted murder are at an early stage. They appealed to anyone who was in the St Patrick's Avenue area of Downpatrick between 09:00 BST and 11:00 on Sunday to come forward. Supt Norman Haslett, the District Commander for Newry, Mourne and Down, added: "For a man to be murdered and a priest to be attacked in the sanctity of his own church, these are appalling acts and I understand that many people will inevitably be struggling to come to terms with both grief and shock." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fr Eddie McGee, a priest from the Diocese of Down and Connor who knows Fr Murray well, told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme the man asked Fr Murray if he would hear his confession just before the morning service was due to start and "it was at that stage that he was attacked". He said the parishioners who witnessed the attack then called the emergency services, describing it as an "absolute shock" for those who saw the "terrible event". Fr McGee said the Bishop of Down and Connor, the Most Reverend Alan McGuckian, went to the hospital on Sunday night to meet Fr Murray's family. He described Fr Murray as a "very well-known" and "very well-respected priest" of the diocese who had been appointed a canon by the bishop in recognition of his work as a senior adviser. 'Mayhem in the church' Parishioner Raymond Rooney was in the church when the incident occurred. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he heard women saying Fr Murray was injured. "Then the police arrived - there was commotion, everyone was talking and then I heard the ambulance arrive," he said. "It was mayhem in the church. People were aghast at what had happened, totally shocked. People can't take it in." Mr Rooney described Fr Murray as a "really brilliant man". Hundreds of people attended a vigil in St Brigid's Church in Downpatrick on Sunday evening. Chris Hazzard says he is pleased to hear Fr Murray is "recovering well in hospital" [BBC] Sinn Fein MP for South Down Chris Hazzard told BBC News NI that the "sense of disbelief, and shock and devastation is still as palpable today as it was yesterday". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he had received messages from "right across the county and further afield" from people asking about Fr Murray's health and that he is thankful to hear he is "recovering well in hospital". Hazzard added that there was a "sense of palatable community spirit" rallying around the parish and the family of the man who was killed and that time was needed for the investigation to be conducted and for people to "start to heal" after the events. Sinn Fein councillor Oonagh Hanlon, who attended the vigil, described it as a "very sombre and very respectful" event which also remembered the man who was killed. She said it was a close-knit community and there was "deep shock" at what had happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) assembly member Colin McGrath described it as a "shocking" and "graphic" attack on Fr Murray. He said that being carried out in a "public manner and in daylight exposed an awful lot of vulnerabilities of clergy". "We must put this in the wider context that this is a very rare event, and that people hopefully will take comfort in the fact that this doesn't happen on a regular basis but it does show that when it does happen that those vulnerabilities are there," he added. NEOSHO CO., Kan. A murder investigation is underway in southeast Kansas, and a suspect is currently in custody. Yesterday (August 9), police say that at 6:43 p.m., a 911 call reported a disturbance in Stark, Kansas, and law enforcement was dispatched to 307. S. Washington. Police say when they arrived, they observed blood on the porch, and located a deceased individual, Scott Stevens, 65, of Stark. In investigating the incident, police identified a suspect, Luke Shepard, 45, of Uniontown. Luke Shepard, 45, of Uniontown The Neosho County Sheriffs Office asked the Kansas Bureau of Investigation to assist them with the investigation. KBI agents and a crime scene response team responded to the call. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say Shepard fled the scene, but was caught by the Bourbon County Sheriffs Office at his home. He was taken back to Neosho County, and booked into the county jail on a warrant for first-degree murder. Formal charges are pending. No other details are being released at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNF/KODE | FourStatesHomepage.com. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Elon Musks The Boring Company (TBC) has released an update on next steps in the Music City Loop project, and shared more details on what local residents can expect during its construction. In a post to its website, TBC said discussions with state and local officials about the tunnel system began in March 2024, more than a year before the first public announcement was made. TBC said the project is currently in the design phase, and the company is working with stakeholders on the final alignment, performing geotechnical borings and starting utility coordination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Proposed Music City Loop route features stops at Music City Center, State Capitol Site preparation is planned to take place through September 2025, and tunneling is expected to begin within the last three months of the year. Construction will start with one tunnel boring machine launched from the site near the Tennessee State Capitol and scale up to at least six. The company plans to construct at least three more tunnel launch sites as the project develops. The first operational segment is expected to open in spring of 2027. Proposed Music City Loop route released During a Metro Council meeting in July, Metro officials provided a map of what the Music City Loop might look like. The map shows the route of the 9.5-mile-long tunnel, which features stops at BNA, the State Capitol building and the Music City Center. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The system will be set up as alignments of two separate tunnels running inbound and outbound from the airport. They will be dug approximately 30 feet underground to avoid contact with utility lines. (Courtesy: Music City Center) The company said the tunnel boring machines operate on a redundant navigation system with an accuracy of about two inches. The tunnel boring machines and support vehicles that will be used in the project are zero-emission and all-electric. TBC said its construction processes and tunnel designs generate minimal vibration and noise, claiming that pedestrians would feel less shaking from the tunnel than from a person walking next to them on the sidewalk. In areas where the tunnel may run under private property, permission from the property owner is required. Interested property owners will be asked to enter a standard easement agreement with TBC, which would allow only tunnel to be built under the land, or a station agreement, which would allow for a tunnel and station. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some Nashville leaders still waiting for answers after Music City Loop announcement Waste generated during construction will be disposed of according to state regulations. The company stated that the tunnel is fully funded by private investors. The cost to ride has not yet been announced, but the company said fares are expected to be lower than other transportation options. TBC said project updates will be posted periodically in blog posts to its website and on X. The first update is expected to be posted on Oct. 1. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The world's largest conditional cash transfer program, the Bolsa Familia Program (BFP), is associated with a substantial reduction in AIDS cases and deaths, especially among brown and black women with lower income and limited education. This was the main conclusion of a study coordinated by the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal), in collaboration with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NAIDS/NIH). The results are published in Nature Human Behaviour. Conditional cash transfer (CCT) programs, which provide financial aid to low-income households in exchange for fulfilling health and education requirements, are a key policy tool for addressing the social determinants of health. Implemented in nearly all low- and middle-income countries, CCTs aim to improve the living conditions of families in vulnerable situations. Education amplifies the impact of conditional cash transfer programs "We analyzed data from 2007 to 2015, focusing on mothers and daughters in households receiving Bolsa Familia, using a causal inference framework and a robust quasi-experimental design," explains Andrea F. Silva, Ph.D. at the Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) (Salvador, Brazil) and lead author of the study. The analysis covered 12.3 million low-income women, and explored how intersecting vulnerabilitiessuch as poverty, race, and educationaffected the program's effectiveness. Among daughters, the program was associated with a 47% reduction in AIDS incidence and a 55% reduction in AIDS-related mortality. Among mothers, the reductions were 42% and 43%, respectively. The program's impact was particularly significant among women facing multiple intersecting vulnerabilities. In particular, brown or black mothers living in extreme poverty and with higher levels of education experienced the greatest improvements: a 56% reduction in AIDS incidence. These findings suggest that education enhances the protective effects of cash transfers on health outcomes. How Brazil is successfully reducing AIDS cases Brazil has already reported a national decline in AIDS, with the relative incidence dropping by nearly 30% from 2007 to 2021, and over 40% among women. This study suggests that the BFP may be one of the reasons for this success, highlighting the importance of integrated social and health policy approaches. Beyond financial aid, the BFP includes health and education conditionalities, such as mandatory school attendance, routine health checkups, and participation in health education activities, including sexual and reproductive health, which may further support HIV prevention and treatment. By improving nutrition, reducing food insecurity, and encouraging early engagement with health care services, these conditions create a multi-pronged approach to disease prevention. This is the first large-scale study to assess the intersectional effectiveness of cash transfer programs on HIV/AIDS outcomes. By linking massive socioeconomic and health datasets, the researchers were able to evaluate the effects of the Bolsa Familia Program across diverse subpopulations, many of whom are often underrepresented in traditional epidemiological studies or clinical trials. This is particularly relevant in policy evaluation: public interventions could have a very different impact according to the characteristics and baseline conditions of its beneficiaries. "In the current global context of increasing inequalities and poverty rates, CCT programs have the potential to significantly reduce morbidity and mortality from AIDS, especially among populations with multiple vulnerabilities," says Davide Rasella, ICREA researcher at ISGlobal and coordinator of the study. "Our findings show that these programs not only reduce HIV risks and AIDS-related deaths, but also support progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals in Brazil and beyond." More information: Silva, A. F., et al. Intersectional Impact of Cash Transfers on AIDS among 12.3 M Brazilian Women.Nature Human Behaviour (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41562-025-02278-3 Journal information: Nature Human Behaviour A New Jersey mom one semester away from graduating college says she may have to drop out because of cuts to a federal program that helped pay for her childrens childcare. Its a reality that some of the nearly 3.1-million student-parents in colleges across the nation may also face. For these parents, graduation bring the prospect of higher paying jobs and with it, more opportunities for their families, but they also face an uphill battle balancing between academic, personal and financial demands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chelsa Salesman, a student at Raritan Valley Community College, has lived this reality for years. After graduating high school in 2009, she went to college but soon dropped out. Since then, shes taken on a number of jobs, including running a small business that sold local produce and artisanal products. The business ended about a year and a half ago at a time, Salesman said, when her life was being turned upside down. The experiences she went through led her to seek a new career in social work, and she is hoping to earn an associates degree in that field from Raritan Valley, a two-year college in Somerset County. The colleges Childrens Campus and the funding that supports it, has been a lifeline, Salesman said, as she balances between raising two young kids, attending college and working. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was like failing out of college in my early 20s and now Im a 3.93 GPA, Salesman said. It has allowed me to let all that worry go, all the financial stress, and just be like, I am here in school, Im enjoying it. And its really like valuable in that way. And its also a really good example for my kids its not about me, its about them. The Childrens Campus is a preschool and childcare center based on the Raritan Valley campus in Branchburg, Somerset County. Faculty and students can use it a discounted rate. It had received funding through a grant from the federal Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program, which is under threat after the One Big Beautiful Bill was signed into law by President Donald Trump. The bill did not include funding for the program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The program was the only federally-funding one specifically designed to support childcare for student parents. Students in New Jersey can use the funds for campus-based daycare facilities or to receive vouchers for off-campus centers. Salesman said she was the first Raritan Valley student to use funds from the federal program to pay for an off-campus daycare that is closer to her work. An uncertain future Donna Stolzer, Raritan Valleys director of media relations, said the college was notified in June that the grant would end on Sept. 30 and were told information about funding from other grants would be provided later this year. The Department of Educations grant has assisted student parents achieve their academic goals, Stolzer said. Helping them pay for childcare at the Colleges Childrens Campus, and offering them academic support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Stolzer said the college was told the current program was not expected to continue and to seek funding through the Child Care Development Block Grant, if it is made available by the federal Department of Education. Salesman said many people do not realize that the money to help pay for childcare is not just for academic or financial gain, but supports her familys overall wellbeing. Theyre not thinking of how that trickles and ripples down into the improvement of my childrens lives and their future and their access to education in the future and their financial stability, Salesman said. All of this is not about me. This isnt some self-righteous journey. This is I need to improve my childrens lives. The Childrens Campus nearly closed once before, in early 2021, until an influx of federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act kept it open. A few months later, the college received funding from a Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program grant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now that the grant is gone, Salesman said, the constant financial uncertainty is exhausting and is making her feel hopeless. Im kind of like at this point where I dont know if I can stay in school financially, Salesman said. And thats really disappointing because Im literally like a semester and then one class away from graduating. And to think that I would have to stop would be heartbreaking. Feeling the financial pressure Salesman said the new funding formulas may not be enough to help her pay for childcare because the New Jersey program that administers the funds only covers a specified amount of childcare costs, leaving parents to pay the difference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Based on the daycare Salesman uses, she said she may be left paying hundreds more out of pocket for childcare that would have been previously covered. Her children go to a daycare right across from where she works, but if the state aid is not enough, she may have to move to a different location. Its forty minutes commute from my house to work, Salesman said. So, it gives me forty times two every day with my kids that I wouldnt have had before. Time together, which was one of the parts about, working, going to school thats hard, is that I do have to spend time apart from them. I feel very involved in their academics because of it. And it allowed me to have that, that closeness to them. Its not the cheapest daycare and thats why Im so relieved to have had the support. Impact of cuts felt statewide In addition to Raritan Valley, Kean University, New Jersey City University and William Paterson University were awarded a combined $1,454,093 for the 2023-24 Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program grant cycle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The average grant award for this period in New Jersey was $363,523.25, slightly higher than the national average award of $317,108. Based on the most recent available data from the Government Accountability Office, the program helped around 3,300 students pay childcare costs for about 4,000 children in 2016-17. Another 4,200 children were on waiting lists to receive assistance. The total funding from program grants increased by about 442%, with 179 more awards given, since 2016. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, the administration calls the program unaffordable and duplicative, recommending the Child Care Development Block Grant as an alternative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This federal block grant is the main provider of childcare programs for low-income working families. Funds go to the states, which then decide how the money will be distributed. The Child Care Development Block Grant incorporates the Child Care Entitlement to States program that establishes mandatory childcare funding, whereas Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program is discretionary spending. Together, they are commonly called the Child Care and Development Fund. The NJ Child Care Assistance Program is the agency in New Jersey in charge of dispersing these funds, which had $482.5 million in 2025. These funds help an estimated 70,000 children through the year. Costs keep going up Childcare is increasingly becoming more expensive, especially for young children and infants. According to Child Care Aware of America, in 2024, it cost a yearly average of $20,213 for an infant in center-based childcare and $19,448 for a toddler in center-based childcare, which amounts to about $1,684 and $1,620 per month. This is up by $3,945 and $4,494, respectively, since 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 2026 federal budget calls for maintaining current funding levels for various children and family initiatives. The Child Care Development Block Grant will continue to be funded at 2025 levels of about $8.8 billion in addition to programs such as Head Start and Early Head Start and IDEA Part C (Grants for Infants and Families) that will have no change from the previous years federal funding. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. NEED TO KNOW A New York man, who was visiting Puerto Rico to see Bad Bunny in concert with a group of friends, was fatally shot on Sunday, Aug. 10 Police believe 25-year-old Kevin Mares was a bystander in the incident, as a fight broke out between two people standing nearby "Kevin had a bright future ahead, with plans to propose to his girlfriend of six years this fall, and he was always creating memories with those closest to him," his family said A New York man, who was visiting Puerto Rico to see Bad Bunny in concert with a group of friends, was shot and killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to reports from the Associated Press and CBS News, 25-year-old Kevin Mares was in the coastal San Juan neighborhood of La Perla early on Sunday, Aug. 10, when a fight broke out between two other people. Mares, who is believed to have been a bystander in the incident, was shot after one of the people arguing pulled out a gun. He sustained a gunshot wound to the left side of his abdomen and was rushed to Puerto Rico's largest public hospital, where he died, the outlets reported. GoFundMe Kevin Mares, in a photo shared by his family. Kevin Mares, in a photo shared by his family. Homicide Detective Sgt. Arnaldo Ruiz told the AP that the person who pulled out a gun shot at least three people, including two men who live in the area. They were injured and remained hospitalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're still in the early stages of establishing a motive for the events. We can't rule anything out until the interviews are completed," Ruiz said, per El Nuevo Dia. The sergeant also confirmed that Mares and his three friends, who were also from New York, were among thousands of people who had traveled to Puerto Rico for one of Bad Bunny's 30 residency concerts. According to Ruiz, investigators are unsure of what the argument was about, and they do not yet have a description of the shooter. "We have very little information," he said. Kevin Mazur/Getty Bad Bunny performs onstage during Night One of Bad Bunny: "No Me Quiero Ir De Aqui." in Puerto Rico Bad Bunny performs onstage during Night One of Bad Bunny: "No Me Quiero Ir De Aqui." in Puerto Rico La Perla is located on the outskirts of the Old San Juan historic district, a popular tourist destination, according to AP. La Perla was previously known for its violence, and police were known to stay away from the community until 2011, the outlet reported, when federal agents raided the area. Tourists have visited the area more regularly since then. 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. Bad Bunny's 30-night residency titled No Me Quiero Ir de Aqui (I Don't Want to Leave Here) is being held at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, located in San Juan's Hato Rey neighborhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The musician will perform every weekend from Friday to Sunday, before wrapping on Sept. 14. GoFundMe Kevin Mares in a photo shared by his family. Kevin Mares in a photo shared by his family. Mares' family remembered the 25-year-old as a "deeply loved son, devoted friend" who was set to propose to his longtime girlfriend later this year. "His wholehearted kindness, adventurous spirit, and unwavering commitment to family made him a pillar of strength for his loved ones," they wrote in a GoFundMe post, which has garnered more than $14,000 in donations to help transfer his body from Puerto Rico to New York and hold a funeral. "Kevin had a bright future ahead, with plans to propose to his girlfriend of six years this fall, and he was always creating memories with those closest to him," the family added. "Family was at the center of everything he did, and his sudden passing has left an unfillable void in our lives." Read the original article on People MADISON, Neb. (KCAU) A naked man was arrested in Madison County early Sunday morning after authorities say that they spotted him hauling a motorcycle that had been reported stolen. According to the Madison County Sheriffs Office, Kipp Polston, 47, was spotted by a Madison County Sheriffs Deputy at around 1 a.m. Authorities said that the deputy spotted Polston driving a truck while pulling a trailer that did not have functioning lights. This prompted the deputy to pull him over. When the deputy approached the vehicle, officials said that Polston was completely naked and was using a pair of pants to cover himself up. The release states that Polston told authorities he was naked because he was hot and allergic to his own sweat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Polston told officials that his drivers license was suspended and that he had a water pipe and marijuana in his vehicle. During a vehicle search, officials found THC concentrate, a water pip, and a BB gun with obscured serial numbers. Story continues below Officials placed Polston under arrest for having a suspended license. Polston resisted arrest and a second deputy arrived at the scene to assist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials ran the details on the two motorcycles and found that one of the two motorcycles, a black Honda Goldwing, had been reported stolen. The second motorcycle, a black Kawasaki, was registered to a different person and not reported stolen. The vehicle, trailer, and both motorcycles were impounded and taken to the Madison County Sheriffs Office. Polston was transported to the Madison County Jail and has been charged with theft ranging between $1,500 and $4,999, possession of a controlled substance, driving under suspension, first-offense resisting arrest, and defective vehicle lighting. The Madison County Sheriffs Office was assisted by the Nebraska State Patrol and Norfolk Fire and Rescue. This incident is still under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. LAWRENCE (KSNT) Police arrested a man in Lawrence last weekend after he allegedly entered a local home where several young girls were sleeping. The Lawrence Police Department (LPD) reports in a social media post that officers were called around 2 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 10 to a home near the intersection of West 21st and Louisiana Street. Police arriving at the scene learned that two girls were sleeping in a nearby home during a slumber party on a couch when they woke up to find a naked man within the residence. A man inside the home forced the alleged intruder outside of the house before police arrived. Law enforcement arrived and arrested the naked man while other officers worked to figure out what happened and calm down the residents of the home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 18-year-old charged with murder, other crimes for alleged killing of Topeka man The LPD said the naked man appeared to be under the influence of drugs at the time of his arrest and do not think he personally knew anyone inside the home. Officers took him to the Douglas County Correctional Facility on several charges. For more crime news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif, 28, has been killed along with three of his colleagues in a deliberate Israeli attack on a media tent sheltering journalists outside the main gate of Gaza Citys al-Shifa Hospital. Al Jazeera reporter Hani al-Shaer said an Israeli drone hit the tent about 11:35pm (20:35 GMT) on Sunday. In total, seven people were killed in the attack, including Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, 33, and Al Jazeera cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, 25 and Mohammed Noufal, 29. (Al Jazeera) Israel deliberately kills Al Jazeera journalists This is not the first time Israel has targeted Al Jazeera journalists covering the war in Gaza. Before Sunday nights attack, at least five Al Jazeera journalists had been killed by Israel. [Al Jazeera] On December 14, 2023, Al Jazeera cameraman Samer Abudaqa was targeted by an Israeli air strike while reporting alongside Gaza bureau chief Wael Dahdouh, who was injured in the same attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Abudaqa was left to bleed to death at the Farhana school in Khan Younis, where they were filming, as emergency workers were blocked by the Israeli military from reaching the site. On January 7, 2024, Waels eldest son and fellow Al Jazeera journalist, Hamza Dahdouh, was killed in a missile strike on the vehicle he was travelling in in Khan Younis. On July 31, 2024, Ismail al-Ghoul and his cameraman Rami al-Rifi were killed in an Israeli attack on the Shati refugee camp despite their vehicle bearing clear media markings and both wearing vests identifying themselves as members of the news media. People inspect a vehicle in which Al Jazeera reporter Ismail al-Ghoul and cameraman Rami al-Rifi were killed by an Israeli strike on July 31, 2024 [Ayman Al Hassi/Reuters] On December 15, Israel killed Al Jazeera journalist Ahmed al-Louh in an air strike in central Gazas Nuseirat camp. Mourners attend the funeral of Ahmed al-Louh, a video journalist for Al Jazeera, and members of the Palestinian Civil Defence who were killed in an Israeli strike on a civil emergency centre in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip [Ramadan Abed/Reuters] On March 24, Hossam Shabat, 23, was killed in an Israeli attack in the eastern part of Beit Lahiya in northern Gaza. [Al Jazeera] Gaza: The deadliest war for journalists Israels war on Gaza has been the single deadliest conflict for journalists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Brown Universitys Costs of War project, more journalists have been killed in Gaza since the war began on October 7, 2023, than in the US Civil War, World Wars I and II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, the wars in the former Yugoslavia and the post-9/11 war in Afghanistan combined. [Al Jazeera] According to Reporters Without Borders, known by its French acronym RSF, 2024 was the deadliest year for journalists with more than 120 killed. Since the start of this year, more than 50 journalists and media workers have been killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza. Targeting journalists is a war crime Al Jazeera has condemned the targeted killing of its correspondents as yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom, noting that al-Sharif and his colleagues were among the last voices reporting from inside Gaza as international media remained barred by Israel. The Palestinian mission to the United Nations accused Israel of deliberately assassinating al-Sharif and Qreiqeh, saying they systematically exposed and documented Israels genocide and starvation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterress spokesperson called for an investigation and stressed that journalists everywhere must be allowed to work without fear of being targeted. Amnesty International condemned the killings as a war crime and honoured al-Sharif as a brave and extraordinary reporter, noting he received the Human Rights Defender Award in 2024 for his commitment to press freedom. Al Jazeera Media Network condemns the targeted assassination of its correspondents Anas Al Sharif and Mohammeel Qraiqea, along with photographers Ibrahim Al Thaher, and Mohamed Nofal, by Israeli forces.#JournalismIsNotACrime pic.twitter.com/F3p9PbhGZF Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) August 11, 2025 Every month, 13 journalists are killed in Gaza Nearly 270 journalists and media workers have been killed by Israeli attacks in Gaza in 22 months of war or about 13 journalists every month according to a tally by Shireen.ps, a monitoring website named after Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was shot and killed by Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank in 2022. What makes this statistic even more stark is that Gaza is losing voices on the ground at a time when Israel has banned international media from entering the besieged enclave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has said the killings of journalists and their detentions since October 7, 2023, have created a news void that will cause potential war crimes to go undocumented. In June, the RSF, CPJ and news organisations published an open letter stating that many Palestinian journalists who have been relied on by reporters outside Gaza have faced a plethora of threats and many face constant threats to their lives for doing their jobs: bearing witness. The targeting of reporters has continued ever since despite international condemnation of Israels actions. In a statement, Amnesty International said: Israel isnt just assassinating journalists but attacking journalism itself by preventing the documentation of genocide. The names of the journalists and media workers killed in Israels war on Gaza are listed below: Natick firefighter retires after 31-year career, passes torch to daughter A Natick firefighter who hung up his helmet after 30 years with the department is passing the torch to his daughter, a firefighter/EMT. Tom Reynolds shared a final dinner with his fellow firefighters in the kitchen of the Natick Fire Dept. headquarters Sunday night, with his daughters Jillian and Nicole beside him to celebrate his retirement. Jillian Reynolds, 26, joined Natick Fire in January 2024, following in her fathers footsteps and embraced by coworkers she has known since she was a child. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its bittersweet. It was a great career, but its definitely time to leave and hand it off to the younger generation. Im a grandfather on the shift now, Tom Reynolds said. Im able to hand the torch over to Jillian now. So, its a very proud dad moment. Jillian grew up admiring her father and his profession, spending many hours at the firehouse. As a kid, I was always super fascinated by my dads career, Jillian told Boston 25 News. Wed be in elementary school looking around at fire drills to see if he was there, and we were always super excited to say, Thats my dad! Despite the inherent dangers of the job, the elder Reynolds knows his little girl is up to the task. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its great having women in the fire service, he said. Jillian is unbelievably capable of her job. And I know that shes well trained So, thats comforting. On Sunday, Jillian swapped shifts with another firefighter so she could spend her dads last 24-hour shift with him. The two responded to several emergencies together, and, between calls, snapped pictures in their matching Reynolds turnout gear. There was one day we were on this truck together, Jillian recalled of a recent shift with her dad. I was driving, he was the officer. We had a little fire we put out together. That was kind of a cool moment for us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tom, who joined Natick Fire in 1995 after a short stint at Sherborn Fire Department, has covered every type of call, serving on all four platoons for Natick. Among the most memorable and somber experiences was being deployed to station coverage in the days after the tragic Worcester Cold Storage warehouse fire in 1999, in which six firefighters lost their lives. Tom was activated as part of a district task force to cover Worcesters firehouses as their bodies were recovered. The reality is, its a very dangerous job, Tom said. Its a great job. Best job in the world. Tom is not completely retiring; he will transition to a law enforcement role with Boston University Police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Photo via Getty Images. The countrys biggest landlord, Greystar, has reached an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice to stop using algorithms based on competitors data to set rent prices. Greystar manages more than 950,000 rental units nationwide, including 34 properties in the Twin Cities and Rochester, according to the companys website. ProPublica reported in 2022 that some of the biggest landlords in the country were using an algorithm developed by RealPage to set rents on open units. RealPages algorithm uses data collected from its clients landlords who compete with each other for renters to create price recommendations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following ProPublicas reporting, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and other senators asked the Department of Justice to investigate allegations of anticompetitive collusion leading to significant increases in rents for apartments. Klobuchar chairs the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights. This settlement is good news for renters across the country, Klobuchar said in a press release, pointing out that the litigation continued even after President Donald Trump took office. In August 2024, the DOJ and several attorneys general, including Minnesotas Keith Ellison, sued RealPage for its unlawful scheme to decrease competition among landlords in apartment pricing and to monopolize the market for commercial revenue management software. Government lawyers amended the RealPage lawsuit in January to include six of the countrys largest landlords: Greystar, LivCor, Camden, Willow Bridge and Cortland. The amended complaint accused the landlords of not just using RealPage software, but also communicating directly with their competitors about rents, occupancy, pricing strategies and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposed settlement, which was agreed to by the DOJ and Greystar, would bar Greystar from using any anticompetitive algorithm that recommends prices based on its competitors sensitive data, block the company from sharing sensitive information and require Greystar to cooperate with the ongoing investigation into RealPage. A federal judge will decide whether to approve the settlement after a 60-day public comment period. Greystar admitted to no wrongdoing. Greystar remains committed to being at the forefront of innovation in service of its clients and residents, all within the bounds of the law, the company said in a statement. In April, Minneapolis became the fourth U.S. city to ban rent price-fixing algorithms. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said that the Alliance's coordinated supply of weapons to Ukraine will continue regardless of the outcome of the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin on 15 August. Source: Rutte speaking on CBS News on Sunday 10 August Details: Rutte stressed NATO's commitment to "making sure that Ukraine has what it needs to stay in the fight and be in the best possible position" when the time comes for talks on a ceasefire or peace deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the possibility of such talks starting, he again noted that the 15 August meeting is "President Trump making sure that Putin is serious". "If he is not, then it will stop there If he is serious, then from Friday onwards, the process will continue Ukraine getting involved, the Europeans being involved," Rutte added. When asked whether he was comfortable with Ukraine being excluded from Friday's talks, he replied that "Ukraine will have to be and will be involved" when it comes to discussing territory, security guarantees, peace negotiations and what happens next. Background: Earlier on Sunday, Rutte said that the meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska on 15 August would be a test of whether Putin is serious about ending the war, but that talks should later continue with Ukraine's participation. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The U.S. Navy acknowledged an issue with the performance of radiation health exams and ordered a stand down and audit to remediate the situation, according to a Navy administrative message. The Aug. 8 order comes after the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, BUMED, received substantiated allegations of improper performance and documentation of medical examinations regarding radiation medical examinations and or special duty examinations on the part of Navy medicine providers. In the spirit of Get Real Get Better, and using the principles of a Highly Reliable Organization, we must develop a deeper understanding of the scope of the problem and the drivers behind these behaviors, the message said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get Real Get Better is a Navy initiative that seeks to solve problems through leadership, according to the Navy website. Navy medical organizations will conduct a stand down, to be completed by Aug. 31, for all undersea medical officers, undersea medical examiners, residents in aerospace medicine, aerospace medicine specialists and submarine independent duty corpsmen. Navy seeks to fast track nuclear weapons systems Students enrolled at the Naval Aerospace Medicine Institute or the Naval Undersea Medicine Institute who are candidates for these positions, as well as for radiation health indoctrination students, will also participate in the stand down. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The message reiterated the need to uphold requirements for special duty examinations diving, nuclear field duty, special operations and submarine to appropriately qualify personnel for their specific fields. It also emphasized the importance of correctly executing radiation medical examinations to those exposed to radiation through their work. The commands privileging authority is in charge of executing the stand down and providing accountability reports, or audits, to BUMED. Navy medicine commands that conducted examinations for sailors and civilian workers will need to contact those patients about their most recent audit. They will review the examination and documentation to demonstrate whether they met Navy standards. If a patient cant recall whether the examination complied with examination standards or if the patient says that an exam failed to meet standards, the patient will be re-examined. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Examinations that were conducted correctly will also be logged during the audit. The audit will include the number of patients contacted, the number of patients who couldnt adequately remember their exam; the number of patients who said their exam failed to meet standards; the number of physical radiation medical examinations that needed to be redone; and the number of special duty examinations that needed to be redone. New radiation medical examinations will be recorded, as well as new special duty examinations to fix improper physical exams for nuclear field duty medical qualifications. The audit will cite what was redone and whether there is a need for a medical follow-up. RUTHERFORD COUNTY, N.C. (WSPA) A woman accused of fleeing from a detention center has been captured early Monday morning in Western North Carolina. The Rutherford County Sheriffs Office announced that 21-year-old Maya Camile Greene was apprehended after authorities had been searching for the suspect for almost three hours in the county. Greene was arrested by the Rutherford Police Department on an order for arrest for failure to appear in court, as well as warrants for misdemeanor larceny and resisting a public officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Around 1:54 a.m., deputies said Greene left the Rutherford County Detention Center on foot by exiting through the magistrates office. The suspect was being served her conditions of release from the magistrate and fled the area toward North Washington Street while the magistrate was busy providing documents to staff in the processing office. Deputies said a massive search effort was launched involving law enforcement from the Rutherfordton Police, Spindale Police, Forest City Police and Rutherford County Fire & Emergency Management. Greene was located and apprehended after a short foot chase around 5 a.m. She is currently being held without bond for her initial charges and an additional charge of escape from a detention facility, according to deputies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain With fall approaching and COVID-19 activity rising across the country, confusion over vaccines is widespread. Mixed messages from the federal government have left patients, doctors and public health leaders uncertain about how and which COVID-19 vaccines will be administered to whom in coming months, and what health insurance will cover. The shots can cost more than $100 each without insurance. Though COVID-19 vaccines released last year are still available at the moment and covered by insurance, the uncertainty surrounds who will be able to get updated vaccines in coming monthsshots created to protect against more recent strains of COVID-19. Like flu vaccines, COVID-19 vaccines are updated regularly. "I think there's still a lot of confusion among people who would be in the know about what to order, how much to order and the fact we don't know what's covered," said Dr. Emily Landon, an infectious disease specialist at UChicago Medicine, about ordering updated COVID-19 vaccines for the fall. "It's very difficult to make decisions about what to order if you don't know how many of your patients are going to qualify for a certain treatment or vaccine." Some doctors say they are already starting to get questions from patients about COVID-19 vaccines for the fall, as students head back to school and cases of the illness seem to be rising. Landon and a number of other doctors are recommending people get the most updated vaccines that they can in the fall, and local health departments are moving forward with plans for vaccine clinics, where they hope to offer updated shots to anyone over the age of 6 months who wants them. As of Aug. 5, COVID-19 infections were growing or likely growing in 45 states, including Illinois, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates. In recent years, each summer has brought with it a wave of the illness. Nimbus, also known as "razor blade throat," was the most prevalent strain of COVID-19 in the U.S. as of June, according to the CDC. Though Nimbus can cause a very sore throat in some people, experts say it doesn't seem any more severe than previous variants. Confusing COVID-19 vaccine guidance Typically, the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices makes vaccine recommendations in June for the fall respiratory season. Those recommendations help determine who receives vaccines and whether insurance plans will cover them. That committee, however, has not yet made recommendations regarding COVID-19 vaccines for the fall. All of the committee members were recently replaced at the direction of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services secretary. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has also not approved any updated COVID-19 vaccines for this fall, though those approvals typically come at the end of August or early September. Instead, individual federal health leaders have made sometimes contradictory remarks about what to expect in the fall when it comes to COVID-19 vaccines. In May, leaders of the FDA published an article in the New England Journal of Medicine saying that, moving forward, the FDA would approve COVID-19 vaccines only for people ages 65 and older and younger people with underlying conditions. They wrote that the vaccines would only be approved for healthy adults after "randomized, controlled trial data evaluating clinical outcomes." The policy "balances the need for evidence," wrote the paper's authors, FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary and Dr. Vinay Prasad, who recently resigned from the FDA as a top official over vaccines . The trouble is that clinical trials take time, and the COVID-19 virus is constantly changing, Landon said. "Clinical trials are not feasible because you don't know what strains to make it for until the strain is here," Landon said. Further complicating matters, a week after the New England Journal of Medicine article was published, Kennedy announced in a video posted to social media that the CDC would no longer recommend COVID-19 vaccines for healthy children and healthy pregnant women. "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," Kennedy said. The CDC no longer recommends the vaccine for healthy children, but says it may still be given as part of a "shared decision-making clinical process" between doctors and parents. Kennedy's announcement also seemingly contradicted the New England Journal of Medicine article which said the FDA would likely approve the vaccines for people at high risk of developing severe COVID-19, including pregnant women. A CDC immunization schedule now says "no guidance/not applicable" when it comes to COVID-19 vaccines for pregnant women. "(Kennedy) just came out and said these two populations don't need the COVID-19 vaccine, which is completely ridiculous," said Dr. Tina Tan, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Lurie Children's Hospital and president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America. The Itasca-based American Academy of Pediatrics and five other medical organizations sued Kennedy and other federal health care leaders in early July over the changes. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said in a statement that with the COVID-19 public health emergency over, it's time for a new phase in response to the virus. "A rubber-stamping approach to approving COVID boosters in perpetuity without updated clinical trial data under the Biden Administration is now over," the statement said. Illinois health leaders making plans Illinois health care leaders and pharmacieswhere many people typically receive COVID-19 vaccinessay they're moving forward with plans to administer updated COVID-19 vaccines but won't know exactly how that will look until they receive further guidance. The Chicago Department of Public Health hopes to administer updated COVID-19 vaccines to anyone who wants them, said Dr. Alexander Sloboda, medical director of immunizations and emergency preparedness for the Chicago Department of Public Health. "At this time, we don't plan to limit (the vaccine) to any particular groups. Really anyone 6 months and older should be getting the updated vaccine, but there are some unknowns at the federal level of what the final recommendations will be, what will be available, what the coverage will look like," Sloboda said. The Cook County Department of Public Health also hopes to make updated COVID-19 vaccines available to anyone aged 6 months and older, said Dr. Kiran Joshi, chief operating officer at the Cook County Department of Public Health. CVS Health said in a statement that, "If approved (by the FDA), we plan to carry the updated COVID-19 this fall" cautioning that "patient eligibility will be defined by the FDA and CDC." Walgreens also plans to administer updated COVID-19 vaccines this fall, and is also awaiting guidance on who will be eligible for them, said Samantha Picking, senior director of immunizations at Walgreens. The Illinois Department of Public Health plans to release an advisory regarding COVID-19 vaccine recommendations as it gets closer to the fall respiratory season, after consulting with the state's Immunization Advisory Council, state health leaders and national experts, the state health department said in a statement. States typically follow CDC recommendations, but that could change given all the disagreement over vaccines this year. When asked whether providers could follow state recommendations rather than federal ones, if the two differ, a spokesperson for the state health department said in an email: "Yes. As always, health care providers should use evidence-based practice and patient-centered clinical judgment to make individual patient-care decisions." But even if providers choose to give updated COVID-19 vaccines to healthy, younger adults, questions remain about whether health insurance will cover the shots. Federal law requires insurers to cover vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and adopted by the CDC director, according to KFF, a nonprofit organization focused on health policy. It's unclear whether that committee will recommend updated COVID-19 vaccines for everyone. Without insurance, COVID-19 vaccines can cost as much as about $130 or $140 a dose, according to the CDC. The largest health insurer in Illinois, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, said in a statement it has not made any changes to its coverage for COVID-19 vaccines, but it is monitoring "any activity that may impact preventive care recommendations and will communicate any changes to recommendations that may impact standard coverage of preventive services." Health insurance industry group AHIP said in a statement in late June that, "We are committed to ongoing coverage of vaccines to ensure access and affordability for this respiratory virus season." The many lingering questions have left people like Roger Naglewski, 55, wondering if they'll be able to get COVID-19 vaccines in the fall. Naglewski runs the Facebook group Chicago Vaccine Hunters, which started several years ago when finding scarce doses of COVID-19 vaccines felt akin to winning the lottery. "I want to get one at the next opportunity I can," Naglewski said of COVID-19 vaccines. Even though more treatments for COVID-19 are available now than several years ago, "I just don't want to get sick for 10 days and get knocked off my feet. In addition, I don't want to have any of the issues people have had with long-haul COVID." He worries, however, that many people won't get vaccinated against COVID-19 this year, given all the confusion and upheaval. About 59% of adults surveyed by KFF say they will "probably not" or "definitely not" get a COVID-19 vaccine this fall. That would be in line with COVID-19 vaccination trends in recent years. As of the end of June, only about 12% of Illinois residents had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine updated for the 2024-25 season, according to the state health department. "This administration has basically been putting out nonscientific information and what's happening is this is causing severe confusion among the public," said Tan, with Lurie and the Infectious Diseases Society of America. "What the public needs to do is you need to speak to your health care provider that you have a good relationship with to get sound scientific information on why getting vaccinations is so important." 2025 Chicago Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) A pair of U.S. representatives from North Carolina are advocating for the federal government to continue to protect the small population of red wolves. Congresswoman Valerie Foushee (NC-04) and Congressman Greg Murphy (NC-03) joined together to propose a bipartisan resolution for continued red wolf repopulation and recovery effort support, including building wildlife corridors. North Carolina is home to the last remaining wild population of red wolves in the world, a species native to our state which plays a unique role in our states ecosystem, Foushee said. It is imperative that we ensure that red wolves do not go extinct. Im proud to lead this bipartisan resolution alongside a fellow member of the North Carolina delegation, Congressman Greg Murphy, to support the continued efforts to protect and revitalize the red wolf population. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I am proud to support Congresswoman Foushees resolution highlighting the importance of efforts made to preserve the red wolf population, Murphy said. With the only wild population of red wolves being located in eastern North Carolina, its vital that we recognize the preservation efforts. The only wild population of red wolves in the world resides in North Carolina, with an estimated 15 living at the Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in Manteo. There are currently only 270 captive red wolves in the country. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to CBS17.com. PATERSON, N.J. (AP) Residents in a northern New Jersey city grew more frustrated Monday as they endured a fourth day with little or no water service following a water main break. Some were relying on portable showers and toilets to meet their basic needs. But officials in Paterson the states third-largest city said some relief should arrive by Tuesday night. The problems began Friday when a 30-inch, 140-year-old water main broke. Some residents have had no water service since and thousands are dealing with extremely low water pressure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly 200,000 customers remain under a boil water order issued by the Passaic Valley Water Commission. The advisory which asks residents not to fill large jugs or containers, water lawns or open hydrants until at least Friday affects Paterson and three other smaller, neighboring communities. Portable showers and toilets were set up over the weekend at a high school in the city, and the water commission and city are providing free bottled water to residents, including deliveries to the homes of elderly people. The inconvenience of the break left many residents frustrated and seeking their own solutions. Vanessa Ramos, who was pushing a baby carriage filled with jugs of water up a street in Paterson on Monday morning, told NJ.com that she filled the jugs at her job, which has water and is about a mile away. However, she expressed reluctance to use the showers installed at the nearby high school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a lot of homeless and a lot of people who have substance abuse issues, Ramos said. Another resident, Vanessa Hopkins, was also angry about the situation. Its horrible, trying to get washed and cooking. Everything. Its just horrible, she told WCBS-TV in New York. Officials said crews were able to isolate the leak Monday night and that system pressure was beginning to rise, calling it a major step forward in restoring normal water service." Still, repairs were ongoing and a boil water advisory remained in place, according to a news release. During a news conference Monday afternoon, city and water commission officials said the repairs should be completed by Tuesday night, though the boil water advisory will likely remain in effect through at least Friday, because once the water pressure is restored officials will have to flush the system and test for bacteria. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now is not the time to point fingers. It is the time for all hands to be on deck, Mayor Andre Sayegh said, urging the community to stay united and help each other as needed. Paterson, with roughly 160,000 residents, is a very diverse city but also one of the poorest in the state. It has a large Hispanic population, and census data shows the majority of its residents are foreign-born. DENVER (KDVR) Late last year, the remains of a Colorado woman were found nearly two decades after she went missing on a hike. Now, a family member is using the tragedy as an opportunity to make sure it doesnt happen to anyone else. In 2005, Michelle Vanek went missing while hiking Mount of the Holy Cross in Eagle County. Despite a massive search effort, she wasnt found until last year, 19 years later. Polis declares emergency after wildfire balloons in 6 hours Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ethan Whitson was only six years old when his aunt Michelle disappeared. She was an incredible woman, said Whitson. Even at a young age, he had already grown close to her, and her loss was devastating. Having a family member, I think, ripped away from you at a young age like that is really impactful, especially someone youre, you know, close with, said Whitson. At the time, one of the largest search parties in state history combed Mount of the Holy Cross. There was over 800 people involved in the search, said Whitson. Multiple helicopters, multiple different levels of government. But it was to no avail. For nearly 20 years, Vaneks family had no closure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its always been a massive mystery and weve never known, said Whitson. Until late 2023, when two hikers found a boot that Vail Mountain Rescue Group was able to identify as Vaneks, confirming they had been looking in the wrong place. The next year, in 2024, they found Vaneks remains in the same area. Whitson couldnt believe it. I was walking around Steamboat Ski Resort and pretty much bawling my eyes out trying to process what happened, he said. Now, he hopes no other families will endure his same hardship. Whitson is raising money for Vail Mountain Rescue Group, which found Vanek. Search and rescue is very underfunded, and they play an absolute critical role in our mountains, said Whitson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He encourages hikers to never leave each other when hiking together and to always be aware of trail conditions. You can summit a mountain any day, they dont move, said Whitson. If its not the right situation, you can always do it next year. Now, with the closure he was never sure hed get, Whitson says hell never leave home without his aunt again. Free on Your TV New FOX31+ App for Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV The alpine environment and mountains for me are kind of like my church, and every time I step out there, shes in my thoughts, said Whitson. Whitson is running in the Leadville 100 race this week as a way to raise money for the Vail Mountain Rescue Group. He also started a GoFundMe for the same cause. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his security cabinet's plan to take over Gaza is more expansive than previously announced, arguing on Monday that Israel "has no choice but to finish the job and complete the defeat of Hamas." Netanyahu's office originally announced the takeover on Friday, but he now says the operations will include not only Gaza City but also in the "central camps" and Muwasi. The latter areas are home to well over 500,000 people. The Israeli prime minister says he has spoken with President Donald Trump about the plan and says he thanked him for America's "steadfast support." "Our goal is not to occupy Gaza, our goal is to free Gaza," Netanyahu said Monday. His office says the goals behind the takeover are to fully root out Hamas everywhere in Gaza before stabilizing the region and eventually handing leadership off to friendly Arab forces opposed to Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Security Cabinet's Friday announcement said it adopted, by vote, five principles for concluding the war which include: the disarming of Hamas, the return of all hostages living and deceased the demilitarization 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. Israel Security Cabinet Approves Plan To Occupy Gaza City An Israeli tank enters Israel from Gaza, July 28, 2025. The plan gives the green light to Defense Minister Israel Katz to call up over 400,000 military reservists to carry out the operation until November 30. Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News of the operation comes as many of Israel's longtime allies have announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state. France announced such willingness earlier this year, while the United Kingdom and Canada followed over the past two weeks. Australia was the latest country to do so on Sunday. Recognizing A Palestinian State Now Will Complicate Future Peace Efforts, Experts Warn " Australia will recognize the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own, predicated on the commitments Australia has received from the Palestinian Authority," Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, referring to the governing entity of the Palestinian areas of the West Bank. Those commitments, he said, included the demilitarization of Gaza and the holding of elections with no role for Hamas in a Palestinian government. Australia has designated Hamas a terrorist entity and Albanese repeated Monday his government's calls for the group to return Israeli hostages held since the Oct. 7, 2023 massacre. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "A two-state solution is humanitys best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East and to bring an end to the conflict, suffering and starvation in Gaza," Albanese said. Canada Plans To Recognize Palestinian State In September, Pm Carney Says The prime minister said the situation there "has gone beyond the worlds worst fears." He accused the Israeli government of continuing "to defy international law and deny sufficient aid, food and water to desperate people, including children." Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announces that Australia will recognize a Palestinian state at a press conference in Canberra, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Meanwhile, the U.S. has continued to defend Israel against accusations of genocide at the United Nations. Other rival nations on the U.N. Security Council have been all too willing to criticize Israel, however, with China condemning the situation in Gaza as alleged "collective punishment," and Russia calling it a "reckless intensification of hostilities" at a security meeting on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fox News' Bradford Betz and the Associated Press contributed to this report Original article source: Netanyahu expands scope of planned Gaza takeover, says Israel has 'no choice but to finish the job' Network Rail has been accused of dreaming up objections to a new private train service from London Waterloo in a bid to sabotage the plan, according to the routes would-be operator. Alliance Rail, which wants to launch a service from London to Southampton next year, has accused the state-controlled group of advising the rail regulator that there is insufficient capacity on the route without conducting a formal assessment. Ian Yeowart, Alliances managing director, said Network Rail also claimed that a level crossing and signal box could not cope with more trains and that there was no parking at the end of the planned route, even though his company had undertaken to fund any required work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He claimed the groups stance on so-called open access rules which will allow private firms to run trains on poorly served routes even after nationalisation had become more hostile after ministers warned against granting too many applications. Network Rails intention is that they dont want us to operate. Theyve always been averse to new trains, but their position seems to have hardened, he said. Maybe theyve thought that the mood music is that the Government doesnt want open access. But its in an untenable position on this route because they know there is capacity, and so does the regulator. Theyre just dreaming up problems. Resumed service The Alliance Rail plan calls for the resumption of passenger services on the three-mile line to Marchwood on the eastern bank of the Solent, where the station would reopen after 60 years. The track is used by freight trains to a nearby military port and remains in good order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From Marchwood, the bi-mode trains would use diesel engines before switching to electric power for the run from Southampton to Waterloo via Basingstoke and Wimbledon. Alliance is seeking route rights for seven years, after which services could be extended a further five miles from Marchwood to Fawley. Mr Yeowart claimed Network Rail had told the Office of Rail and Road (ORR), the regulator, that Alliances proposed timetable was unworkable and conflicted with 24 other trains even though information that National Rail provided indicated no such issues, he claims. Alliance also claims that Network Rail could still have proposed changes to the timetable that would have allowed the new trains to operate, as it did with earlier open access applications. Network Rail made its claims regarding capacity despite the fact that passenger numbers at Waterloo have plummeted since Covid amid a drop in commuter traffic, with the station losing its long-held status as Britains busiest rail hub. Network Rail itself received 7m of funding to develop a business case for the so-called Waterside Line which runs from Fawley to Southampton, under the Restoring Your Railway scheme scrapped by Labour last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The same trains, which would be fitted with intercity-standard interiors, could also carry cruise passengers direct to their ships using a mothballed diesel-only line in Southampton. Mr Yeowart, a former British Rail manager who has succeeded in numerous open access bids over the past 26 years, said that with spending tight, the Government should make the most of the model. Network Rail said it is for the ORR to decide whether Alliance Rail will be able to get the go-ahead for the route. A spokesman said: As part of their consultation, we looked at the proposed timetable and found that only two of the 41 proposed train paths adhered to timetable planning rules for the route and 24 of them had major conflicts with other services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to timetable issues, the Waterside Line requires upgrade work to make it suitable for passenger trains, along with increased Network Rail resources to maintain and operate the line. None of these are funded. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, speaks to Rep. Chris Pringle, R-Mobile during a special session on redistricting on Friday, July 21, 2023 in Montgomery, Alabama. The U.S. Supreme Court earlier this month ordered parties in a redistricting case to submit briefs on whether majority-minority districts were constitutional, which could have ramifications for Alabama's two congressional districts with large Black populations. (Stew Milne for Alabama Reflector) U.S. Circuit Judge Stanley Marcus recently asked attorneys for Alabama a direct question: Why should we ignore the past? This happened during a hearing on Alabamas congressional district maps. Marcus and his two colleagues U.S. district judges Anna Manasco and Terry Moorer, both Trump appointees ruled in May that the state discriminated against Black voters by approving a 2023 map that gave those Alabamians little chance of electing their preferred leaders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As the court considered sanctions, Alabama Solicitor General Edmund LaCour argued that the judges could only impose preclearance, or judicial review of future congressional maps, if they found numerous violations of the 14th and 15th amendments, which address congressional representation and voting rights. The Legislatures actions in 2023, LaCour said, were unlike the unremitting and ingenious defiance that made it nearly impossible for Black voters in the South to register to vote. I hear you that to a certain extent, states should be given some ability to be viewed as actors with clean hands, Marcus replied. But the state of Alabama shouldnt be divorced from its history, should it? I can answer that. No. A thousand times no. Look at the history of Alabama from 1901 to 2025. You cant find any example of Alabama officials helping or even allowing Black Alabamians to vote without federal or judicial intervention. Left to their own devices, they put up obstacles. And worse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our state government exists to let powerful elites act without restraint. Alabama leaders have spent over a century demanding that same level of deference from the federal government, the only force that ever made our leaders pay attention to citizens outside the country clubs. And in that quest, the elites have had a powerful ally: the U.S. Supreme Court. In 1903, Black Alabamians presented the nations high court with transcripts of Alabamas 1901 constitutional convention, in which leaders said without caveat or dissembling that they planned to disenfranchise Black voters and defy the spirit of the Reconstruction amendments. In the face of this tyranny, the justices claimed they had no power to enforce the U.S. Constitution. At least as applied to Black Americans. Sure, there were 15 years where the Warren Court acted responsibly. The justices upheld the Voting Rights Act in 1966 in the face of a lawsuit from South Carolina (in which Alabama officials filed a brief on behalf of the Palmetto State). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that was the eye of the hurricane. In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which required the U.S. Department of Justice to approve any voting law changes made by Alabama and other states with long histories of racial discrimination. Thats preclearance. Chief Justice John Roberts, siding with a group of Shelby County plaintiffs who challenged the law, wrote that the country had changed. In the next decade, Alabama lawmakers made Roberts look like a sucker or a conspirator. Since the 2013 decision, Alabama has banned drop boxes used by voters with disabilities and criminalized some forms of absentee ballot assistance. And look at the last two years. Marcus, Manasco and Moorer ordered the Legislature in 2023 to draw two districts where Black voters had an opportunity to elect their preferred leaders. The Legislature responded with a nonresponsive map. And that, as Alabama House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, said at the time, was deliberate. They intended to ignore the lower court and win an appeal at the U.S. Supreme Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The state lost that time. Last week, the court ordered the state to keep the current congressional map in place through the 2030 Census. But the nations highest court now appears ready to ride to our leaders rescue. The justices earlier this month ordered the parties in a Louisiana redistricting case to brief them on whether majority-minority districts violate the 14th and 15th amendments. This is a bad sign for Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, the last shred of the law remaining. Section 2 bans voting laws that discriminate based on race. It was critical in Alabamas redistricting case. The lower court judges ruled that since Alabama voting is racially polarized with white Alabamians tending to support Republicans and Black Alabamians tending to support Democrats the Legislatures preferred map swamped Black voters and didnt give them an actual voice in the political process. Hence, the two districts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Declare those unconstitutional, and Black Alabama voices in Congress will be silenced. The Republicans who control our government will not hesitate to draw seats to ensure our delegation is all GOP and all-white. What would stop them? This is not a government that works for its people. This is a regime that protects the privilege of the powerful. It sees popular opinion as a threat to be siphoned off or contained. Left to their own devices, Alabama officials will always make it difficult for Alabamians to govern themselves. And sadly, you dont have to go very far back in the past to find examples of that. California Gov. Gavin Newsom is warning President Donald Trump and Republican governors that if they go forward with redistricting proposals, he will also implement mid-decade redistricting efforts in his state. In a letter to the president Monday, Newsom said California cannot stand idly by as Texas and other GOP-led states attempt to follow Trumps directive to create Republican-favored congressional maps. If you will not stand down, I will be forced to lead an effort to redraw the maps in California to offset the rigging of maps in red states, Newsom said. But if the other states call off their redistricting efforts, we will happily do the same. And American democracy will be better for it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Newsoms letter comes as the battle over the Texas congressional map has begun to spread to other states, including Indiana. With Democrats needing to flip just three seats to reclaim a House majority, Trump pressed the Texas Legislature to draw a new map that would give Republicans an additional five congressional seats. Democrats around the nation condemned the effort even as Texas officials began to move forward with a plan. Texas Democrats have left the state to avoid voting on the new map, with some settling indefinitely in California. Vice President JD Vance, meanwhile, headed to Indiana last week to urge Republicans in the Hoosier state to also create a new map. Separately, Ohio is mandated to redraw districts in the state, while talks are underway in Missouri, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Florida. In total, Republicans could gain 10 or more seats ahead of the midterms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Newsom on Monday called the efforts hyper-partisan and an attempt to rig upcoming midterm elections. You are playing with fire, risking the destabilization of our democracy, while knowing that California can neutralize any gains you hope to make, Newsom wrote. This attempt to rig congressional maps to hold onto power before a single vote is cast in the 2026 election is an affront to American democracy. While Democrats have previously threatened to gerrymander their own maps if Republicans move forward with theirs, no moves have been made yet. In his letter, Newsom said district maps should be drawn by independent, citizen-led efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a Monday afternoon interview with Fox News, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to escalate his state's redistricting plans if Newsom moves forward with retaliatory redistricting. "If California thinks they're going to move their needle to the extreme and eliminate five Republican numbers of the United States Congress there, Texas is not going to do five: We will add 10 more Republican seats using the same procedure they are using in California," Abbott said. Jacob Wendler contributed to this report. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a committed thorn in Donald Trumps side, told the president Monday that hes prepared to redraw Californias districts in Democrats favor if he doesnt call on Texas and other red states to halt their own GOP-friendly redistricting plans. Newsom made the threat in a letter to Trump, whos backing a GOP-led effort to redraw five Texas districts in Republicans favor something the president has said his party is entitled to ahead of the 2026 midterms. If you will not stand down, I will be forced to lead an effort to redraw the maps in California to offset the rigging of maps in red states, Newsom vowed. But if the other states call off their redistricting efforts, we will happily do the same. And American democracy will be better for it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not a step he takes lightly, continued Newsom, who said he believes legislative district maps should be drawn through independent, citizen-led efforts, not via political maneuvering. California Gov. Gavin Newsom holds a news conference on July 16. PATRICK T. FALLON via Getty Images You are playing with fire, risking the destabilization of our democracy, while knowing that California can neutralize any gains you hope to make, he continued. This attempt to rig congressional maps to hold onto power before a single vote is cast in the 2026 election is an affront to American democracy. The White House did not immediately return a request for comment on Newsoms threat. The letter comes after Democratic members of the Texas state House left the state to deny Republicans a quorum on the redistricting vote, outraging Gov. Greg Abbott (R), who sought to arrest them and remove at least one of them from office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans are also leading redistricting efforts in multiple other states, including in Indiana, Missouri, Ohio and South Carolina. In a Fox News appearance Monday, Abbott claimed California and New York were both already gerrymandered and vowed to pursue even more GOP-friendly districts in Texas if Newsom proceeds with the plan he outlined to Trump. If California thinks theyre going to move their needle to the extreme and eliminate five Republican numbers of the United States Congress there, Texas is not going to do five we will add 10 more Republican seats using the same procedure theyre using in California, he said. Related... What could the next mega-earthquake on California's notorious San Andreas fault look like? Would it be a repeat of 1857, when an earthquake estimated at magnitude 7.7 to 7.9 ruptured the fault from Monterey County all the way through Los Angeles County? Would it be more akin to the great 1906 San Francisco earthquake, which began just offshore of the city and ruptured in two directions, toward Humboldt County and Santa Cruz County? Don't bet on an identical sequel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That's the implication of a study published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The report, coauthored by scientists at Caltech in Pasadena, studied a massive earthquake that ruptured in the southeast Asian country of Myanmar on March 28 on a fault known for being eerily similar to the San Andreas. The earthquake ended up rupturing a much longer section of the fault than scientists expected, given the seismology of the region. The implications of this study are that "earthquakes never come back exactly the same way," Solene L. Antoine, a postdoctoral fellow at Caltech and the study's lead author, said in an interview. A local man drives a motorbike past a damaged building, in the aftermath of an earthquake in Naypyidaw, Myanmar, on March 30. (Aung Shine Oo / Associated Press) "It came as a surprise that you could get such a long rupture," said Jean-Philippe Avouac, a coauthor of the study and a professor of geology and mechanical and civil engineering at Caltech. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement March's Mandalay earthquake devastated Myanmar, killing at least 3,791 people and an additional 63 people in Thailand. High-rise buildings were damaged as far away as Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and homes were damaged in the Ruili area of China. Damage was estimated at $1.9 billion, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It was the most powerful earthquake in Myanmar in at least 79 years. "Violent" and "extreme" shaking, shown in red, was felt all along the 317 miles of the ruptured Sagaing fault in Myanmar during a magnitude 7.7 earthquake in March. (U.S. Geological Survey) The magnitude 7.7 earthquake ruptured an astonishing 317 miles of the Sagaing fault, a finding based on Antoine's analysis of satellite data showing earth movement after the quake. That's the longest seismic rupture ever documented on a continent. By comparison, California's 1906 earthquake ruptured 296 miles of the San Andreas fault; and the 1857 earthquake, 225 miles. Longer seismic ruptures have been found only on subduction megathrusts deep underneath the ocean. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What's clear from the study is that while California's next "Big One" may share some characteristics of previously documented devastating quakes, it's unlikely to be an exact replay. As the recent experience in Myanmar shows, even well-documented faults can behave in surprising ways. The next step is to develop a model simulating earthquakes over many millennia for the San Andreas fault, which the authors plan to do in the future. But the San Andreas fault "is far more complex," Avouac said. "It's not going to come soon, because it's quite a heavy calculation." Still, such simulations would provide a model of "all possible scenarios so that we have a better view of the range of possible ruptures that could happen." Rescuers work at the site of a high-rise building under construction in Bangkok, Thailand, that collapsed after a magnitude 7.7 earthquake centered in Myanmar on March 28. (Wason Wanichakorn / Associated Press) For instance, maybe the San Andreas fault will rupture in smaller, separate earthquakes, Avouac said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Or it could be a much larger earthquake rupturing the fault not just from Monterey to Los Angeles counties, but perhaps all the way into San Bernardino, Riverside and Imperial counties, which would possibly exceed magnitude 8. Such a quake would be the largest simultaneous disaster in modern California history, with huge swaths of the state wracked by powerful seismic shaking all at once. By comparison, the 1994 Northridge earthquake's footprint was relatively constrained, severely affecting only a portion of Los Angeles County, especially the San Fernando Valley related to its relatively smaller magnitude of 6.7. But while modeling previous activity on the San Andreas fault will provide a glimpse into the wide range of possible outcomes, it will not pinpoint precisely when the next great quake will strike. "We can't just expect the exact same thing to happen," Antoine said. "It is a matter of just showing what scenarios are possible, the diversity of scenarios and seeing what are the consequences of each of those scenarios." A Buddhist monk walks near a collapsed pagoda on March 30 after an earthquake in central Myanmar. (Thein Zaw / Associated Press) Sometimes, Avouac said, "it's quiet for a long time, nothing happens ... stress is building up, the fault is locked for a long time, nothing happens, and then, boom, you have a large earthquake." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "And then you have other periods during which you have a lot of [seismic] activity, but these earthquakes are all smaller," Avouac said. But "smaller" earthquakes, in the minds of researchers, are still big to the layperson. In the study's simulations, there are periods where earthquakes around magnitude 7.7 are common. In other periods, earthquakes max out at magnitude 7.5 or so, but are more frequent. The entire length of the Sagaing fault including areas that didn't rupture in the March earthquake is 750 miles, north to south, from the Himalayas to the Andaman Sea, and helps accommodate the northward push of the Indian tectonic plate. The fact that 317 miles of the Sagaing fault ruptured in March was surprising to scientists. Only about 170 miles had been quiet seismically for more than a century, having last ruptured in 1839. These maps show the 317 miles of the Sagaing fault that ruptured in March, compared to the historical ruptures, as outlined in a 2016 study, of the San Andreas fault in California in 1730, 1812, 1857 and 1906. (Solene Antoine / Caltech) Scientists call these "seismic gaps" particular areas of a fault that haven't recently ruptured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Generally, scientists would've expected only this long-dormant 170-mile piece of the Sagaing fault to rupture, Avouac said, but not more recently ruptured sections. That includes a 100-mile stretch that ruptured in large earthquakes in 1929 and 1930, and a 50-mile stretch that went off in a pair of quakes in 1946 and 1956. Instead, even those fault segments ruptured in the big March earthquake. So what gives? A possible explanation is the Sagaing fault's extraordinary smoothness. "And people have observed that when the fault is very smooth, the rupture ... tends to propagate at a velocity" so fast that it results in an "extremely elongated rupture," Avouac said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The study also published the results of a computer model simulation looking at how earthquakes might rupture along sections of the entire 750-mile long Sagaing fault. The code, developed by study coauthor Kyungjae Im of Caltech, suggests that over a hypothetical 1,400-year period, there would be no repeatable patterns. In other words, earthquakes didn't seem to re-occur like clockwork, rupturing the same stretch of fault in a repeatable, predictable pattern. "There is complexity here. And this is because each time you have an earthquake, it redistributes the stress on the fault, which is going to influence the next earthquake," Avouac said. "There's a self-induced complexity in the process, and that leads to a bit of randomness." There is one certainty, which is bound to disappoint anyone who shares the hope that a "Big One" simply won't ever strike California again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There will be an earthquake at some point," Antoine said. "If there is stress building up on the fault, the fault won't hold forever." Further research and observations are essential to refine models of future possible earthquakes, including from the Sentinel satellites, which are operated by the European Space Agency, the authors said. The other coauthors of the study are Rajani Shrestha and Chris Milliner of Caltech; Chris Rollins of Earth Sciences New Zealand; Kang Wang of the Washington-based EarthScope Consortium; and Kejie Chen of the Southern University of Science and Technology in Shenzhen, China. 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. Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center has received $28.4 million from the state as part of a capital project to help modernize the hospital. It is part of nearly $300 million in state funding Gov. Kathy Hochul announced last Friday through the Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program IV, with 55 medical facilities across the state receiving funds for improvements to better carry out patient care. These awards will help providers deliver more effective, modern, and patient-centered care, said State Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald in a statement. We are focused on expanding access and improving outcomes while ensuring the sustainability of vital health services across the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the funds, NFMMC would modernize facility infrastructure and preserve essential 24/7 emergency surgery services in Niagara County. This comes as the hospital works on another $32.8 million capital project involving demolishing and possibly rebuilding the nearly 50-year-old parking ramp and relocating some of its clinical services. Other Western New York medical facilities that received some of this funding include: Erie County Medical Center, which is receiving $10.97 million for renovating its comprehensive emergency psychiatric program and building an inpatient trauma psychiatric unit. Mental Health Services of Erie County, which will receive $9 million for renovating Spectrum Healths clinic on Main Street in Buffalo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NYSARC Inc., Erie County Chapter will receive $308,678 for renovating its Individualized Residential Alternative location on Grand Island. Since this programs start in 2017 and through this fourth round of funding, $4.7 billion has been awarded to improve access, equity, and quality of healthcare across the state. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A peer-reviewed study led by a national team of psychologists and public health experts found elevated rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as well as major depression in communities affected by the 2023 East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment. The study, published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress, offers one of the first large-scale diagnostic snapshots of mental health outcomes following the technological disaster. The derailment of a Norfolk Southern train on February 3, 2023, released over 1 million pounds of hazardous chemicals, like vinyl chloride, into the surrounding communities, triggering widespread concerns about toxic exposures and long-term health harms. The new study surveyed 1,000 adults living within 65 miles of the derailment site, covering parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Key findings Mental health problems remain elevated nine months post-disaster. 15% of respondents met criteria for presumptive PTSD (over twice the national average), and 13% for major depression (60% greater than the national average). Half of the residents surveyed reported new or worsening physical symptoms. Issues such as coughing, fatigue, and eye irritation were common, with higher reports from those living closer to the derailment. Distrust of public officials and uncertainty about chemical exposure were key predictors of mental health issues. More than half of residents said they had little to no confidence in official information during and after the crisis. Proximity to the disaster site is not a driver of mental health issues. Mental health symptoms were just as likely among residents farther from the derailmenthighlighting that perceived risk, not just physical proximity, shaped psychological outcomes. Low social support and prior trauma history heightened vulnerability. Residents with a history of interpersonal trauma or less social support were significantly more likely to experience PTSD or depression. Psychologists are increasingly viewing natural and technological disasters like this one as being potentially traumatic events that can trigger or worsen psychiatric problems. "With its rapid onset, widespread nature, and uncertainty about the extent of exposures, an event like this can result in a lot of persistent psychological stress," said study author Cameron Pugach of the Medical University of South Carolina. "Our study today suggests that this concern has lingered post disaster and may be elevating the rate of psychological disorders that can result from stress and trauma." Although only 1,000 residents completed the survey, survey results were weighted to reflect the wider population living within a 65-mile radius of the disaster. "We can say with confidence that the majority of people living near this disaster site remain concerned about what they may have been exposed to and feel that these potential exposures resulted in real physical health symptoms," said study co-author Aaron Reuben of the University of Virginia. These concerns and symptoms in turn appear to elevate risk for psychological disorder that is severe enough to warrant treatment. "In the future we may need to attend more in advance to limit psychological uncertainty after these events," says study co-author Dean Kilpatrick. "Providing communities with timely and credible information about the likelihood of exposures should be considered front-line responses." For now, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia residents potentially exposed to the East Palestine train derailment may benefit from expanded services to address continuing physical and mental health concerns. More information: Prevalence of PTSD and Major Depression in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia 9 Months After the EastPalestine Train Derailment. Journal of Traumatic Stress (2025). DOI: 10.1002/jts.70003 Journal information: Journal of Traumatic Stress In an unusual no-cash sale, the state of New Hampshires transportation agency seeks to sell the timbers of a historic railroad bridge in New Hampton so they can become part of a fire rescue tower to train firefighters in nearby Ashland. The Department of Transportation owns Smiths Crossing Bridge that carries Jackson Pond over the New Hampshire railroad tracks. The Boston and Main Railroad built the 82-foot-long, three-span timber bridge in 1934. Its eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, both individually and as a contributing element to the states railroad historic district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NH DOT proposes unique $1 sale of bridge timbers to build local fire rescue tower The Smiths Crossing Bridge, built by the Boston and Maine Railroad in 1934 in New Hampton. The Executive Council will consider a $1 sale of usable bridge timbers to the town of Ashland so they can be used to build a rescue tower next to a firefighter training facility. The states 10-year highway program called for the demolition of the bridge in 2026 since it conveys over railroad tracks on an unmaintained Class VI town road. In keeping with federal law and its historical value, Transportation Commissioner Bill Cass said the state solicited proposals if any existed to preserve the bridge and reuse it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only proposal came from the Ashland Fire Fighters Association (AFFA) in August 2024, but it did not meet the elements of a full historic preservation. This allowed the state to proceed toward the full demolition of the bridge. Cass said the use of these waste bridge components for the firefighter project had some value, since state officials learned it would cost the state $24,000 to bring the old wood to a licensed landfill for disposal. As such, DOT signed a bill of sale for their reuse by the AFFA at the training facility in Ashland, Cass wrote. Volunteer labor building new training facility Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ashland firefighter group will pay $1 for the bearing timbers of the bridge along with 23 stringers. The state Executive Council will take up the proposed sale when it meets Wednesday at Mount Sunapee in Newbury. Executive Councilor Karen Liot Hill, D-Lebanon, is hosting the meeting the week after the 92nd annual New Hampshire Craftsmens Fair took place on the grounds of the ski resort. The Ashland Board of Selectmen approved the AFFA building as a fire training facility on Collins Street next to the towns wastewater treatment plant, about 2.2 miles away from the bridge site. The first phase of the project was to build a two-story building from recycled shipping containers on a concrete slab. This building will also provide joint training with area mutual aid departments, officials said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Town approved new firefighter training facility in 2023 This drawing depicts the two-story firefighter training facility under construction in Ashland with the labor of local first responders. The Executive Council will consider letting the town buy for $1 timbers from a nearly 100-year-old bridge in nearby New Hampton, so they can be used to build a fire rescue tower next to this new project. The second phase involves building a single-span bridge to connect the training building with the to-be-built rescue tower. Town officials said they are building it in a way that will not destroy the historic materials of the old bridge so if ever removed, the character of the reused timbers would not be impaired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The total cost of the project is only about $50,000 because there will be hundreds of hours of labor that AFFA volunteers will donate, including building a temporary access road to bring the timbers from the bridge to the site of the firefighter training property. klandrigan@unionleader.com UTAH COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) Nicholas Rossi, the man who was extradited from Scotland to Utah to face 2008 rape allegations, is in court today, Aug. 11, for a jury trial in Salt Lake County. Rossi, whose legal name is Nicholas Alahverdian, is accused of faking his death to escape rape charges in Salt Lake County and Utah County. In Oct. 2024, attorneys on the Utah County case said they were close on a possible resolution, suggesting that plea deal discussions were underway. On Jan. 7, 2025, Judge Derek Pullan followed up on the discussions. Rossis defense attorney, Daniel Diaz, responded by saying they unfortunately havent been fruitful, confirming that the case would go to trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Utah County lawyers confirmed in Jan. 2025 that plea deal discussions were now permanently off the table, with State Prosecutor Stephen Jones claiming that the state withdrew its plea offer with the understanding it will not be offered again. Rossis Salt Lake County trial is scheduled to begin today, Aug. 11, and run through Friday, Aug. 15. The trial focuses on his alleged rape of a 24-year-old woman in Dec. 2008. The two had allegedly dated briefly at the time the incident took place. Court documents state that Rossi trapped the woman in his bedroom, not allowing her to leave, and committed the assault. Rossi is accused of faking his death to escape charges after he allegedly told a media outlet he had late-stage cancer and his obituary was later published online, according to the Associated Press. The obituary claimed he died on Feb. 29, 2020. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following year, Rossi was arrested for an unrelated incident in a Glasgow hospital while being treated for COVID-19. He was then recognized as a fugitive and extradited to the United States, according to the Associated Press. In addition to the Utah charges, Rossi also faces charges related to sexual assault, harassment, and possible kidnapping in Rhode Island, Ohio and Massachusetts. ABC4 will be providing updates on Mondays trial in Salt Lake County below: Opening Statements The jury consists of four women and six men. Stipulated facts include that Nicholas Rossi is the same individual as the person with the alias name. He was in Utah during 2008 and had a relationship with the alleged victim from Nov. through Dec. of that year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prosecutors opening statement describes the victims life at the time. She worked at a bank, loved to dance, and ended up getting in an accident. While healing, she met Rossi online and they met up. Shortly after meeting, Rossi began pressuring her to marry him, and they were engaged within two weeks. He pressured her into buying them engagement rings, prosecutors said, and quickly became controlling. When she decided to end the relationship, he wouldnt let her leave the parking lot of a mall they were at. She drove him home and he allegedly convinced her to come inside. She again told him the relationship wasnt going to work. Rossi then raped her, prosecutors said. She told her parents but they didnt take action so she gave up, instead filing a small claims to get the money back for the ring that he kept. The court will hear from those close to the alleged victim at the time of the incident, as well as an expert who will discuss how sexual assault survivors react to their assault and a detective involved in the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defenses opening statement claims Rossi is innocent. They said this case is a puzzle with multiple pieces missing. They claim the two had a whirlwind romance, and that she only contacted police 13 years later, when she saw him on the news, and had already built up years of resentment. Hearing from Victim The victim, 41, now happily married with three dogs, said she was 24 when the alleged rape took place. She was reportedly living with her parents at the time and working at a credit union. A car accident at the time left her with a traumatic brain injury and she was in the ICU for seven days. By mid-November, she was dancing again. She met Rossi online, through his post in the personal section of Craigslist. She said she was going to be alone for her birthday that year, so they decided to meet up. They spent the first date hanging out at Rossis apartment in Orem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was very charming and seemed very interested in school and politics and music. He was very nice to me, she said. The would go out a few times a week. She said they spent a lot of time at the Apple Store because Rossi liked their products. At one point, he was going to get evicted from his apartment and she gave him $1,000. She said it made up almost all her savings at the time. He was constantly borrowing money from me, she said. She spent another $2,000 on engagement rings, which she said was Rossis idea. Things went downhill quickly, she said. He started to become very controlling and dictated how I dressed, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One night at the Gateway Mall, Rossi allegedly said something rude to her, causing a fight. That was the first time I had ever seen such rage in his eyes, she said. I was just sitting in the car hoping hed stop so that I could leave. Rossi allegedly yelled at her in the car ride back to his house. He also said he would call the cops and claim that she hit him, according to the victim. After an hour of waiting outside the home and pretending to call the cops, Rossi convinced her to come inside. There, she sought to end the relationship. According to the victim, Rossi raped her in the bedroom. She said she was petrified, unsure of what else he was capable of. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After she left, she decided she could never see him again in person and changed her phone number to cut off contact. They would stop all communication shortly after. The victim is cross examined before moving to witness testimony. Witness Testimony The jury will hear from two witnesses before the end of the day. The first witness is the victims mother. She said that after Thanksgiving, Rossi came to their house late one night after getting into a fight with a roommate. The victims father would not let him stay. Another instance, Rossi came to the house again to tell the victims parents he and the victim were getting married. Rossi allegedly told her parents that he had been in the Navy, and would swab decks and load missiles. The victims mother said the comments didnt sit right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said that after getting married, he wanted to take the victim to Harvard. The victim later told her parents she and Rossi had broken up. She was upset, her mother said, stating she financed the engagement rings, was owed money, and had been raped. Her mother said it was an emotional conversation. The victims did not react well, the mother said. She said she tried to talk to her daughter about it but saw her shut down. They never talked about it again, her mother said, until her daughter began reaching out to the detective. Aubree Jennings contributed to this reporting. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Camillus Eboh ABUJA (Reuters) -Nigeria's military said it killed scores of armed gang members in a joint air and ground operation in a forested region in the northwest, an area plagued by mass abductions and attacks on villages. The armed forces said they moved in on Sunday after more than 400 gang members, known locally as bandits, were seen preparing to attack a village in the Bukuyum local government area of Zamfara state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An air strike killed "several notorious kingpins and scores of their foot soldiers," air force spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said. Ground troops intercepted and killed others trying to flee the area in Makakkari Forest, he added. The armed groups often hold captives for months and demand ransoms for their release. The government has launched repeated military offensives against them in recent years, but the violence has persisted. (Reporting by Camillus Eboh; Writing by Elisha Bala-Gbogbo; Editing by Andrew Heavens) Aug. 10A woman from the New Mexico National Guard was arrested Thursday night after allegedly hitting a police officer and assaulting a bouncer at a local country bar. Selena Martinez, 21, of the Santo Domingo Pueblo, is facing one count of battery on a peace officer, two counts of battery and one count of resisting arrest. Martinez does not currently have an attorney, according to court records. On Thursday, officers were dispatched to Dirty Bourbon a local country bar after Martinez was kicked out of the bar after a bouncer said she was too drunk, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martinez, who initially complied with bouncers, walked out of the bar before stopping to finish her beer. She had spilled beer down her shirt and a bouncer told Martinez she was taking too long and needed to leave the premises, the complaint stated. "Selena (Martinez) reached for the beer in the trash can and then came up swinging, striking (the bouncer) in the left shoulder," the complaint said. After leaving the bar, Martinez was handcuffed. According to the criminal complaint, Martinez began kicking Dirty Bourbon employees several times before attempting to run away while handcuffed. Martinez identified herself as a member of an Army National Guard unit based in Santa Fe, and insisted on speaking with her sergeant, "stating she knew her rights as a soldier," the complaint stated. Martinez continued to fight against officers, pulling against them and falling to the floor while officers tried to arrest her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Initially, the bar requested that Martinez receive a criminal trespass notice. "However her behavior was so out of control I eventually decided she would be arrested," an officer wrote in the complaint. Officers were able to secure her in a police vehicle, and Martinez kicked another officer in the chest, according to the complaint. Seventy-four-year-old Janice Vickers brings in a load of hay from their ranch in Nocona, Texas. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images) Congress set aside $50 billion for rural hospitals and medical providers to allay fears over the billions more in historic cuts to federal health care spending that President Donald Trump signed into law on Independence Day. But is that bandage big enough to save struggling rural hospitals? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have more questions than I have answers, said Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association, a nonprofit policy group. No one has those answers yet. Morgan noted that the new money for rural health, to be spent over five years, is far less than the $155 billion in rural Medicaid spending cuts over 10 years, as estimated by KFF, a nonprofit health policy and research group. Experts, hospital leaders and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle fear that Trumps signature legislation will particularly gut rural hospitals and clinics, which see an outsize share of patients who are insured through Medicaid, the federal-state public health insurance for people with low incomes. The new law slashes more than $1 trillion from Medicaid over the next 10 years to help pay for tax cuts that disproportionately benefit the wealthy. The $50 billion addition was an effort by Republican leaders in Congress to win the votes of colleagues within their party who initially balked at supporting such steep cuts to Medicaid and other health services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the U.S. Senate, the rural program helped secure the vote of Alaska moderate Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski, who expressed concern about the laws impact on health care in her state. About 1 in 3 Alaskans are insured through Medicaid. Jared Kosin, the president and CEO of the Alaska Hospital & Healthcare Association, said hes deeply frustrated with the new laws gutting of Medicaid funding, which he thinks will wreak lasting damage on Alaskans. And Republicans sidestepped potential solutions by just throwing money into a program, he said. Its frustrating in the public realm when decisions like this are made fast and, frankly, carelessly, he said. The consequences are going to fall on us, not them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More than half of the laws cuts to funding in rural areas are concentrated in 12 states with large rural populations that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act to cover more people, according to KFF: Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Some GOP lawmakers in Congress have heralded the $50 billion rural program as a health care victory. But its still unclear which hospitals, clinics and other providers would receive money and how much. How it works The Rural Health Transformation Program will dole out $10 billion annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030. States must apply for their funding by the end of this year, submitting a detailed plan on how it would be used. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law outlines some ways that states can use the money, according to an analysis of the legislation from the Bipartisan Policy Center: Making payments to rural hospitals to help them maintain essential services such as emergency room care or labor and delivery. Recruiting and training rural doctors, nurses and other health workers. Bolstering emergency medical services such as ambulances and EMTs. Using new technologies, including telehealth. Providing opioid use disorder treatment and mental health services. Improving preventive care and chronic disease management. Half of the $10 billion each year will be distributed evenly across states that have applied for it. The other half can be distributed by the administrator of the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services currently Dr. Mehmet Oz at his discretion, based on a states rural population and rural health facilities. Although the program doesnt replace the amount states are likely to lose, Morgan said its still an opportunity to rethink how rural health care is funded. Hed like to see states given flexibility in how theyre able to use the funds, and he hopes they focus on keeping rural communities healthy through preventive care while still helping hospitals keep their doors open. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If done correctly, it could really change the future course for rural America, Morgan said. That is such a tough ask, though. Hardest hit Kentucky could take the biggest hit from the new laws reduction in rural Medicaid funding, losing an estimated $12 billion over 10 years, according to a KFF analysis. The states Medicaid department is still waiting for additional federal guidance to understand how the states program will be affected, Kendra Steele, spokesperson with the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, told Stateline in a statement. Over 1.4 million Kentuckians rely on Medicaid including half of all children in our state, seniors and more vulnerable populations and the passage of legislation on the federal level will have serious impacts for those individuals, rural health care and hospitals and local economies, she wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even with the new program, states across the country will have to reevaluate their budgets in light of the cuts, said Hemi Tewarson, executive director at the National Academy for State Health Policy, a nonpartisan group that supports states in developing health care policies. Every region is slightly different and theres not a one-size-fits-all approach, she said. Hospital ownership varies (as well as) the types of services that are critical for the community where theyre located. They have to think about new ways to provide those services in a context with fewer resources. About 44% of rural hospitals are operating in the red, according to a KFF analysis of Rand Hospital Data, a higher share than the 35% of hospitals in urban areas. Rural at heart Prior to the bills passage, Oz attempted to reassure U.S. House Republicans that their districts could get money from the program even if they werent specifically rural, Politico reported earlier this month. Were all rural at heart when it comes to money. Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association Pennsylvania Republican U.S. Rep. Rob Bresnahan said money would begin flowing to his district as early as the beginning of next year, telling the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader earlier this month that he met with Trump, Oz and others to secure pledges that hospitals in his district could access the fund. He represents the northeastern corner of Pennsylvania, which includes suburban and rural areas, as well as the cities of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the legislation includes guidelines on which facilities or areas qualify as rural, Morgan, of the National Rural Health Association, expects a mad dash from lawmakers and providers to claim rural status in order to get a piece of the funding. Thats going to be a huge issue defining whos rural, Morgan said. Were all rural at heart when it comes to money. Stateline reporter Anna Claire Vollers can be reached at avollers@stateline.org. This story was originally published by Stateline which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network, including the Daily Montanan, supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. (NewsNation) Signaling there would be land swaps in order to achieve a ceasefire in the war in Ukraine, President Donald Trump called his upcoming meeting with Russia a feel-out meeting, but said Ukraines president was not invited. Speaking to reporters, Trump expressed optimism about his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska. He said he would tell Putin to end the war and that land swapping will be done. I thought it was very respectful that the president of Russia is coming to our country, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Epstein, Maxwell evidence will remain sealed, judge orders Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not be present during the talks. I disagree with what hes done. This is a war that never should have happened, Trump said of Zelenskyy. That statement appeared to echo earlier sentiments from the president, in which he blamed Ukraine for the war, which began when Russia invaded the country. Trump said he would try to get some land back from Ukraine. He also blamed President Joe Biden for the conflict, which he called violent and terrible. He repeated his claim that, had he been president, the war would not have happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trial begins over Trumps National Guard use in Los Angeles You have lines that are very uneven, Trump said. Were going to change the lines, the battle lines. The issue of land has been a major sticking point in negotiations, with Zelenskyy remaining firm that his country would not cede land to Russia. Speaking to reporters, Trump described potential land swaps as good for Ukraine, then bad, then perhaps a bit of both. He also said he was upset that Zelenskyy would need to seek constitutional approval to agree to any land swaps. Trump said, depending on the conversation, he may propose a deal to Zelenskyy and European leaders or he may walk away and say good luck. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump to take control of DC police, deploy National Guard He also said he would know within the first two minutes of the meeting if a deal could be made, touting himself as a dealmaker. During the campaign, Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine on Day 1, at times suggesting he could get a deal done even before he took office. Nearly six months into his second term, Trump has yet to achieve that goal. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. The Healing Bridge Clinic in Peachtree City is thriving despite the funding challenges faced by many Georgia non-profits, offering free healthcare services to uninsured residents. The clinic provides a range of services, from general healthcare to specialty medicine, including dental and vision care, to uninsured residents of Fayette and surrounding counties. Without this clinic, there are people in need that wouldnt have medical care, Mike Conaway, Executive Director of the Healing Bridge Clinic, told Channel 2s Linda Stouffer. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Th Healing Bridge Clinic operates with a staff of five and dozens of volunteers, relying on community donations and grants rather than federal funding. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know that free clinics are critical to the communities in order to reduce costs, healthcare costs to the area, a resident, Martha, said, highlighting the importance of services like these. The Healing Bridge Clinic has been featured in a program called The Giving Gap, which explores the challenges faced by non-profits in securing funding and donations. Despite these challenges, the clinic is in a strong position due to its committed group of funders and supporters. We are funded through the generosity of our community, individual donors, corporate donors, churches, businesses, grant writing, Conaway said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conaway noted that the clinic does not receive a lot of federal funding, which makes it less vulnerable to changes in government support compared to other non-profits. This stability allows the clinic to continue providing essential services to the community. The Healing Bridge Clinics ability to thrive amidst funding challenges highlights the importance of community support and diverse funding sources for non-profits. Its continued operation ensures that uninsured residents receive necessary medical care, preventing costly emergency room visits. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] DENVER (KDVR) Parts of northbound Highway 85 were closed due to a crash on Sunday evening, Brighton police told FOX31 in a statement. Police said that the crash involved two vehicles. Live updates: What to know about Sundays severe thunderstorms The crash caused minor injuries, according to police. The northbound lanes of Highway 85 were closed while investigators and crews were on the scene to clean up the debris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX31 will provide updates as more information becomes available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver. The Brief Officials say the QQ Spa manager and a massage therapist solicited an undercover detective for "sexual acts." Two others were arrested for trying to leave the scene. Anyone can send a tip to the Precinct 4 Constable's Office if they suspect illegal activity. HOUSTON - Three people were arrested at a Harris County massage parlor as it was being investigated for alleged prostitution. Harris County crime: Spa manager accused of prompting prostitution (Photo courtesy: Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4) What we know According to Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman, a detective posed as a customer at QQ Spa on FM 1960 near Jones Road. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the detective was there, officials say spa manager Mei Lin and another massage therapist offered "sexual acts." Lin also allegedly offered "sexual services" from another employee. Lin was reportedly arrested and charged with Promotion of Prostitution. While deputies were at the parlor, they say two men tried to leave the scene. Both men, identified as Javier Rodriguez Gray and Michael Jordan Garcia, were arrested and charged with Evading Arrest. Authorities say they've collected cell phones and $8,000 in cash as evidence. The investigation is ongoing and other charges could be filed against the suspects. What we don't know Gray and Garcia's ties to the incident are unclear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other massage therapist involved in the incident hasn't been identified, and it's not clear if they were also arrested. Officials say Mei Lin was the only licensed massage therapist at the parlor. They also say the two were in the U.S. on work visas. "Constable Mark Herman wants the public to be aware that many foreign nationals are brought into the United States under false promises of a path to citizenship through work visas, only to be forced into sex and/or labor trafficking," officials shared on social media. What you can do The Constable's Office asks anyone who suspects illegal activity at a location or involving an individual to contact their office. You can do one of the following: Call 281-376-3472 Send a tip online Tips can be sent anonymously. The Source Mark Herman, Harris County Constable Precinct 4. As residents across the Milwaukee area assess the scope of damage from the weekend deluge, just 1,186 households have federal flood insurance policies in place. As emergency crews continue responding to hundreds of calls, it isn't clear yet what the toll of the financial damage will be for this 1,000-year flooding event. But Sarah Smith, director of public affairs for the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, said even 1 inch of water can cause up to $25,000 in damage. Over the next 30 years, Wisconsin households in the low- to moderate-flood-risk zones will experience five times more flooding than fire-related events, Smith said, yet the state has one of the lowest numbers of flood insurance policies per capita in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of July 31, the state Office of the Commissioner of Insurance counted 10,541 federal flood insurance policies across the Wisconsin's more than 2.7 million households. The state did not provide data on how many households use private insurance, but said the majority of residents with flood insurance are using federal. That's a problem considering Wisconsin building codes don't include any kind of flood plain regulations that would stipulate how to elevate a building, or where not to build based on floodplains, said Sarah Rafajko, the state's National Flood Insurance Program coordinator. People sometimes mistakenly assume they can't get flood insurance because they don't live in a flood zone or because they rent their home or apartment. "It's available to anybody, whether they're in the floodplain or not," Rafajko said. "And it can make a really big difference." What is flood insurance? Flood insurance covers financial losses of structures and belongings directly caused by flooding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consumers have two primary options for flood insurance the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) or private insurance. NFIP is managed by FEMA and bases rates on where a property is located on the flood zone map. Homeowners can use an online NFIP tool to search their ZIP code and find out their areas risk. Smith noted that FEMA's maps and risk models derive from historic floodplain data, not future projections that would include the impact of climate change. Homeowners with a federally backed mortgage are required by their lender to have flood insurance if they're located in a high-risk zone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Private insurance generate premiums based on a property's unique flood risk rather than on zone regulations. Barbara Lewandowska, seen in the door reflection, looks at the flood water line on the outside of her home in Milwaukee on the afternoon of Aug. 11, 2025. Why is flood insurance a separate cost from homeowners insurance? Flood events are too uniquely catastrophic to be included in most homeowners insurance plans. It wasn't until Congress established NFIP in 1968 to oversee floodplain management regulations that flood insurance became available. Communities that chose to receive federal insurance were required to adopt minimum standards for flood management. More: Does home and rent insurance cover flood damage? What to know after Milwaukee floods Can I get flood insurance if I rent? Just as homeowners insurance doesn't cover floods, neither does the majority of renters insurance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if a landlord has flood insurance for the building, their insurance won't cover a renter's belongings. Through NFIP, renters can purchase contents-only flood insurance plans that cover up to $100,000 in belongings. How much does flood insurance cost? It depends on where you are and whether you chose NFIP or private insurance. NFIP price ranges from $600 to $1,200 per year, typically. If you live in a floodplain, however, it can be in the $4,000-per-year range. If you opt for private insurance, it also varies based on the private assessment done on your property. Unlike NFIP, private companies can opt to drop someone from their plan for any reason, and can also refuse to take residents on if they live in a floodplain, Rafajka said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents who don't know whether to go the route of NFIP or private can reach out to local insurance agents in Wisconsin. Most sell both kinds of insurance and can quote both, Rafajka said. Otherwise, homeowners and renters can get a quote directly from floodsmart.gov to find out what their flood insurance options are. What does it typically cover? Under NFIP, the maximum building coverage provided is $250,000 and the maximum belonging coverage is $100,000, Rafajka said. These residents are also granted $30,000 in compliance coverage, which enables residents to rebuild in ways that comply with flood codes. A big upside of private insurance, Rafajka said, is it can provide replacement costs. That's going to be more beneficial for people who own properties worth considerably more than the maximum building cap of $250,000 provided by NFIP. Why would Wisconsin residents need flood insurance? There's a saying among those who work in natural resources: "Wherever it rains, it can flood." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That's part of why Rafajka emphasized the importance of investing in flood insurance. Rafajka recommends recording yourself doing a walk-through of your apartment or home as video evidence of your belongings. Visuals like this will come in handy later to which Rafajka, who lives in a floodplain, can attest. It's a saying that tracks for Smith, from the state Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, who said 40% of all flood claims in Wisconsin occurred in low- to moderate-risk areas. Flood insurance has a standard 30-day waiting period, Smith said, an important consideration for homeowners and renters to think about ahead of flood season, which begins in the months of March and April in Wisconsin. The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance has more information about flood insurance on its OCI.WI.gov webpage and in a FAQ Sheet. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Natalie Eilbert covers mental health issues for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She welcomes story tips and feedback. You can reach her at neilbert@gannett.com or view her X (Twitter) profile at @natalie_eilbert. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Flood insurance rare in Wisconsin. What to know about how it works. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Karolina Grabowska from Pexels Prediabetes, when blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be considered diabetes, is more life-threatening in people aged 2054 than it is in older populations, according to a paper published Aug. 7 in JAMA Network Open. Conflicting evidence about the association between prediabetes and mortality prompted the University at Buffalo researchers to do the study. "The literature has been inconsistent, particularly when accounting for key modifying factors, such as age, race/ethnicity and comorbidities," says first author Obinna Ekwunife, Ph.D., assistant professor of medicine in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB. "We wanted to explore whether these factors influenced the association between prediabetes and mortality in a nationally representative U.S. adult population." The researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), the ongoing national survey run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that measures the health and nutrition of children and adults. The study consisted of data from 38,093 respondents, of whom 9,971 (26.2%) had prediabetes. Adults aged 20 and older were included. They were considered prediabetic if they self-reported that they were, or if their hemoglobin A1c, a three-month average of blood glucose levels, was between 5.7% and 6.4%. The data showed a significant association between prediabetes and mortality before the researchers controlled for variations among demographics, lifestyle factors and comorbidities. But once they controlled for those factors, the association went away. Significant link "However, we found that the significant relationship between prediabetes and mortality was maintained after adjustment when the analysis focused on adults aged 2054," says Ekwunife. He explains that it's possible that older adults are more likely to have existing comorbidities so those chronic conditions may overshadow the impact of prediabetes. "Another possibility is that prediabetes in younger adults might reflect a more detrimental disease trajectory with earlier onset of metabolic dysfunction," he continues. Other possibilities for the association could be a stronger genetic predisposition, leading to more rapid disease progression, as well as health disparities, such as reduced access to care or lower engagement in regular, preventive care among younger populations. Earlier screenings Whatever the cause, Ekwunife says, the findings reflect the need to pay closer attention to early identification and intervention for prediabetes among younger adults. "We may need to be doing A1C screenings earlier in younger people," he says. "That would be particularly important for individuals with additional risk factors like obesity, a family history of diabetes, or socioeconomic disadvantages." The findings also underscore the importance of tailoring diabetes-prevention programs to be more accessible and appealing to younger populations, he notes, possibly incorporating things like virtual platforms, peer-led models, or more flexible engagement strategies like gamification or on-demand educational modules. "Clinicians should recognize that early intervention could prevent both progression to diabetes and premature mortality," he says, "and it gives patients an opportunity to make proactive lifestyle changes to prevent disease progression." Donald Trump is letting Nvidia and AMD sell some chips to China but only if they pay a 15% tax. That's the opposite of Trump's tariff push, which is supposed to encourage companies to make things in the US. But it's consistent with Trump 2.0's approach to business: He is increasingly inserting the federal government into private companies. Imagine living in a country where private companies need the government's permission to do business. Depending on your age, you might think I'm describing Soviet-era Russia or Russia in the Putin era. You'd certainly think about modern-day China, where the government is an official partner in many private companies, and has unofficial but meaningful influence over most of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And in 2025, you might also think that's beginning to describe America in the second Trump administration. Last week, for instance, Donald Trump called on the CEO of Intel to resign because of his past business connections to China. In June, Trump approved Nippon Steel's plan to buy US Steel but only after the US government was granted a "golden share" in the company that gives Washington the ability to approve or veto some actions, like closing plants. In January, Trump floated the idea of having the US government own a portion of TikTok's US operations. And now Trump is requiring Nvidia and AMD to hand over 15% of revenue from high-end chip sales to China, as first reported by the Financial Times. (Nvidia has released a statement noting it "follow[s] rules the US government sets for our participation in worldwide markets," without addressing reports about the deal directly; AMD and the White House have yet to comment.) You can make arguments for or against any one of these transactions US chip sales to China have been a particularly divisive issue, even within the Trump administration. But taken together, there's little question that in Trump 2.0, we should expect the federal government to insert itself into private business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Call it "state capitalism, a hybrid between socialism and capitalism in which the state guides the decisions of nominally private enterprises," Wall Street Journal columnist Greg Ip wrote Monday morning. It's an exceptionally timely piece he appears to have written before the Nvidia/AMD story broke, because it doesn't contain any reference to it. (You can make the list of Trump's interventions even longer if you'd like: He personally required former Paramount owner Shari Redstone to pay him $16 million to settle a seemingly specious lawsuit, for instance. And Brendan Carr, the Trump-appointed head of the Federal Communications Commission, has required Paramount's new owners to promise to "root out the bias that has undermined trust in the national news media." You could also include the concessions Trump is demanding from some of the nation's most prestigious universities and law firms.) The chip story is particularly hard to get your head around, since it inverts the premise of the tariff plans Trump has been pushing this year. Instead of taxing goods made overseas and imported into the US, the US is now taxing goods made by American companies, in America the thing he supposedly wants to see much more of. It's not surprising to see Donald Trump say one thing and do another. And half a year into his second presidency, it's no longer surprising to see the Republican-controlled Congress let him do just about anything he wants: This is the same Congress that passed a law last year requiring TikTok's US operations to find a US buyer or shut down and hasn't said a word about the fact that Trump has decided to ignore that law, repeatedly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And again, you might not care about the moves the Trump administration has made to steer companies to date. You might even like them. But the odds are increasing that he's going to end up involving the federal government in an industry or company you do care about. Maybe one you work in. How are you going to feel about it then? Read the original article on Business Insider At least two water spouts were confirmed on Myrtle Beach shores Sunday morning, the National Weather Service said. Videos of the funnels of wind forming over the ocean and blowing ashore circulated on social media on Sunday. The water spouts could be seen tossing some beach chairs and umbrellas about before dissipating near the dunes. Sometimes, when water spouts like these move onto land, they can be categorized as tornadoes. But the ones encountered by Myrtle Beach beachgoers over the weekend were too weak to fit that category, explained weather service meteorologist Jordan Baker. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It just tossed a couple of umbrellas. It barely moved onto the dunes, Baker said. He added that the water spouts that the weather service reviewed on video likely only whipped up winds around 40 miles per hour not very strong by tornado standards. The Myrtle Beach Fire Department has not received any reports of injuries related to the water spouts, according to Capt. Jon Evans. Online commentary about the weather events indicates there may have been a third water spout that came ashore in Myrtle Beach on Sunday, but Baker said the weather service has confirmed only two so far. Baker explained that, given current weather conditions in the area, water spouts like these are not uncommon. The combined humidity and storm front off the coast can spawn water spouts that blow onshore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The water spouts are not a symptom of an approaching hurricane, Baker said. He said a wave of tropical low pressure is moving off the coast of Africa that has the potential to develop into a hurricane locally, but its too early to tell. We have no clue at this time, he said, adding that the possibilities for that front are basically endless this early in its development. Gov. Kathy Hochul slighted mayoral hopeful Zohran Mamdani in a live TV interview Sunday signaling she may not endorse him in the election even after he praised her courage. We still have many differences, Hochul said, keeping her distance from her fellow Democrat during a Fox News Sunday interview. I dont know how you whitewash that away. Fox host Shannon Bream had read a statement from Mamdani effusively praising Hochul for sparring with President Trump and Republicans over redistricting fights that could dictate who controls Congress. Gov. Kathy Hochul hinted that she may not make an endorsement at all in the New York City mayoral election during an interview Sunday. Tomas E. Gaston Mamdani said Hochul showed courage and was meeting the moment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Is the feeling mutual? Is Mamdani a good choice [for New York City mayor], Bream asked, sparking Hochul to bring up their many differences. He can agree with me and many people agree with me and I think its not just Democrats who say, New Yorkers stand up for our rights. We do that, Hochul said. Were fighters. Im a mom from Buffalo. I guess theyre not used to taking on a mom from Buffalo. Hochul, who is seeking re-election next year, has come out against Mamdanis proposals to hike taxes by $9 billion on millionaires and corporations in the city to fund his affordability agenda of subsidized child care, fare-free bus services, housing expansion and government-run grocery stores. Hochul with Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani and Mayor Eric Adams at the Dominican Day Parade on Aug. 10, 2025. LP Media Those taxes need sign off from the governor and state lawmakers, who also are up for re-election in 2026. Despite the apparent snub, Hochul did say she agrees with Mamdanis focus on tackling New Yorks high cost of living and making both the city and state more affordable for residents. Theres many areas of disagreement, she noted. But also theres areas of alignment including affordability. His election touched a nerve. And people said, you know what, were just not getting ahead.' Mamdani praised Hochul for having courage and meeting the moment in her battle with Republicans over redistricting. LP Media She claimed that President Trumps policies, including imposing tariffs, have not helped. Theres a sense that we need some change now, Hochul said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hochul then hinted she may sit out the race and not endorse Mamdani, who is running against two other Democrats running on independent party lines Mayor Eric Adams and ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, whom she served with as lieutenant governor. She took over as governor when Cuomo resigned as governor amid sexual misconduct accusations that he denies. Adams and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo are running against Mamdani as independent candidates. LP Media I already worked with two different mayors. Ill continue to work with whomever the voters want me to and Ill make it work out. Im not going to go to war with the 8 million residents of New York I also represent, the governor said. My job is to calm things down, Hochul said. Lets see what the election results are. But people have to recognize that the candidate for mayor [Mamdani] has also touched a nerve and we need to respond to that. Im aligned with him that we need to find ways to make life more affordable for New Yorkers. It wouldnt be the first time Hochul stayed on the sidelines during a high-profile mayoral showdown. In her native Buffalo in 2021, democratic socialist India Walton defeated then-sitting Mayor Byron Brown in the Democratic Party primary but Brown, a moderate, continued as a write-in candidate. Hochul stayed out of the race, and Brown won re-election in a landslide in November as the write-in candidate. Editors note: The video above originally aired on April 8, 2025. NEW YORK CITY (PIX11) The Row NYC, New York Citys last remaining hotel housing migrants and asylum seekers, will soon close, Mayor Eric Adams announced. The hotel on Eighth Avenue and 45th Street is expected to close in the coming months, Adams said in a statement. The Row NYCs website still lists the hotel as closed until further notice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More Local News The Row Hotel opened as a shelter for families with children in 2022, serving 200 families at first, according to Adams. It was the first hotel to convert to an emergency migrant shelter, according to the New York Times. Over the past year, the city closed 64 migrant shelters, including the Roosevelt Hotel, which served as a check-in center for migrants arriving in New York City. Adams attributed the closure to a declining population of migrants and asylum seekers in New York Citys care. 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, Adams said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter who has covered New York City since 2023 after reporting in Los Angeles for years. She joined PIX11 in 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. NEW YORK (PIX11) The latest batch of limited authentic street signs has dropped, this time in honor of Hip Hop Boulevard in the Bronx. The limited batch is available for $100 while supplies last. More Local News For more than half a century, hip-hop has captured the essence of New York Citys dynamic identity and been the soundtrack to some of its most memorable moments, said DCAS Commissioner Louis A. Molina. With this latest sign drop, were paying homage to the humble beginnings of a musical genre born in our city, but felt worldwide. Hip-Hop Boulevard is more than a destination, but a journey into the nexus of music and culture; add it to your collection today! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are two designs available, but only 50 of each design are for sale. The signs are sold via the CityStore, the Official Store of the City of New York, and proceeds will benefit the citys general fund. 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. Officer killed in shooting at the CDC originally from Massachusetts The police officer killed in Fridays deadly shooting at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was originally from Massachusetts. David Rose was killed when the gunman opened fire around 5:00 p.m. Monday, hitting several buildings on the CDC campus, according to the New York Times. The DeKalb County Police Department says Rose also served four years in Afghanistan before graduating from the police academy, back in March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He leaves behind his wife and two children, with a third expected later this year. Police say the shooter, 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White, took his own life and think he may have targeted the CDC out of a belief that the COVID-19 vaccine made him suicidal. The shooter was stopped by CDC security guards before driving to a nearby pharmacy and opening fire late Friday afternoon, a law enforcement official has told the AP. The official wasnt authorized to publicly discuss the investigation and spoke on condition of anonymity. The 30-year-old man, Patrick Joseph White, later died, but authorities havent said whether he was killed by police or killed himself. U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. toured the CDC campus on Monday. CDC security pointed out broken windows across multiple buildings, including the main guard booth, according to a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows speaks with counsel representing the Trump campaign and challengers to his ballot eligibility during a December 15, 2023, hearing in Augusta. (Emma Davis/ Maine Morning Star) Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows officially responded to the U.S. Department of Justices request for sweeping voter data, questioning the federal agencys intentions and asking that the request be withdrawn. The letter, sent Friday, comes after Bellows, a Democrat who is running for governor in 2026, told Maine Morning Star last month that she planned to tell the DOJ it does not have the right to such information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the letter addressed to Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael Gates, Bellows wrote that she has grave concerns about the seemingly overbroad scope of the Department of Justices information and records requests, which do not appear to be correlated with legitimate investigatory needs. The DOJ declined to answer Maine Morning Stars request for comment. The DOJ is asking for voter information from all 50 states, according to the National Association of Secretaries of State. Maine Morning Stars partner outlets have been following these probes in at least nine other states so far. Bellows requested that the DOJ provide an explanation of why it made such requests in Maine, which included the statewide voter registration list, names of officials who handle the lists maintenance and the number of ineligible voters the state identified due to noncitizenship, among other information about the states election processes. The United States Constitution entrusted the states, not the federal government, with responsibility for administering elections, and thats a critically important check and balance on potential federal abuse of power, Bellows shared in a statement on Monday. The Department of Justice doesnt get to know everything about you just because they want to, and I will do everything in my power to protect the privacy and security of Maine voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bellows received the detailed request from the the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ on July 24, following a less expansive inquiry from the Executive Office for United States Attorneys on July 10 for a phone call with Bellows to discuss a potential information-sharing agreement to provide the DOJ with information on registered voters in Maine. In her response on Friday, Bellows also rejected the premise of some of the DOJs requests, including questioning the data provided for the election administration and voting survey conducted by the Election Assistance Commission, an independent agency of the U.S. government created by Congress in 2002 to aid the states in conducting safe and secure elections. For example, the July 24 request noted that Maines survey response showed that there were nearly as many registered voters listed as active as the citizen voting age population in Maine in 2024, with a registration rate of 92.4%. The letter went on to request further details about the states response, such as information about the actions Maine is taking to ensure that ineligible voters are being removed and a list of all duplicate registrants the state has removed. Mainers should be extremely proud that our state is a national leader in voter registration and voter turnout, Bellows said in a statement Monday. Every eligible voter in Maine has the right to vote and should be encouraged to do so. Why the Department of Justice would question Maines success is beyond me and smacks of federal interference in our elections. Read the full letter: Maine Secretary of State response to DOJ_08082025 In June, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a new bill into law that attempts to ban "weather modification" and "chemtrails" in the state. It went into effect this summer. Senate Bill 56 is primarily aimed at preventing nonexistent efforts in atmospheric geoengineering, including so-called "chemtrails" that are more accurately called contrails. These are simply condensed ice from normal airplane exhaust. Despite this, DeSantis has been eager to stoke misinformation. "People got a lot of kooky ideas that they can get in and put things in the atmosphere to block the sun and save us from climate change we're not playing that game in Florida," said DeSantis in a video this spring when the bill was introduced by State Senator Ileana Garcia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor signed the bill into law this past June, and it went into effect on July 1. Now, any entity found to be engaging in geoengineering in Florida could face a third-degree felony charge carrying five years in prison and fines of up to $100,000, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Publicly-owned airports will also have to report any planes with geoengineering hardware to the Florida Department of Transportation. A late-July report from NBC News identified a partisan push from lawmakers across the country to introduce similar bills. Some of the grassroots sentiment seemingly supporting such laws may stem from concerns that actually overlap with those of climate scientists and environmental advocates who understand that destructive weather has intensified due to human-caused pollution. "These are not the skies or weather I grew up with here!!" read one Facebook comment in response to DeSantis's video. "How about all this manipulation causing catastrophic Hurricanes in the Gulf Coast that never happened before," said another. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The effects of increasingly extreme weather events are highly visible on the ground, but unfortunately for Floridians, Bill 56 will do nothing to prevent rising sea levels from swallowing up Miami, intensifying storm systems from jacking up housing insurance costs, and worsening droughts from destroying local crops. The real solution to these problems will rely on reducing emissions. This heat-trapping pollution has been exacerbating all kinds of destructive weather patterns. It's also acidifying and warming oceans, causing significant damage to marine ecosystems. Meanwhile, contrails a result of standard flights, given the right temperature and humidity conditions will still be visible in Florida even with this law on the books. If Floridians are interested in reducing the number of contrails crisscrossing their skies, they'll need to advocate for fewer flights going through their state and fund low-impact, climate-smart travel options like high-speed rail. 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. With many countries concerned about the effects of the vape industry on their citizens, Malaysia has taken a definitive stance on the hot topic. Historically known to cause long-lasting health issues, vapes affect not only those who use them but also those who breathe in secondhand smoke. The risks to lung stability, the possibility of nicotine addiction, and, if used for long periods, the cause of some cancers make vaping a continuous worldwide problem. However, the Straits Times reported that the health minister of Malaysia, Dzulkefly Ahmad, has taken a firm position on removing the harmful products from the country altogether. He aims to further push the regulation of vape products, as detailed in the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024, titled Act 852. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thus far, six Malaysian states have decided to stop renewing their vape licenses and stop issuing them altogether. Already, the push for regulation on vape products has taken significant strides toward increased community health. Dr. Dzulkefly stated, "This is in line with public health aspirations and the premise licensing powers under local governments." Where there were originally "3,200 brands" with "6,800 variants" in Malaysia, after the implementation of Act 852, there are now "only 390 brands" with "2,794 variants," per the Straits Times. The sharp decrease in options bodes well for public health. With less access to vapes and vape products, people are far less likely to fall into addiction. Other countries, such as Kazakhstan and Australia, are taking similar steps to ban the products. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to the news, users took to Reddit to voice their concerns, with one user saying, "You can't upright ban something just like that. Straight ban [equals] the other party will just find a way to find a loophole." Another said that "people are going to consume nicotine anyway" and that "the goal is harm reduction." "We need more long-term, longitudinal studies on the effects of vapes on human health," they added. Dr. Dzulkefly said the government will facilitate solutions for those concerned about going "cold turkey," having developed an addiction to the vapes they regularly purchase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The 111 one-stop centres for addiction (OSCA) and 857 smoking cessation clinics are ready to serve," Dzulkefly said, according to the Straits Times. This way, those who will need to wean themselves off of vaping will have access to some care and assistance to quit and work toward a healthier lifestyle. Additionally, with vapes being limited for consumers, e-waste is greatly reduced. Many vapes that are heralded as disposable contain non-biodegradable materials that pose a fire or contamination risk when carelessly thrown out as litter or while sitting in a landfill. With the crackdown on vape sales and usage in Malaysia, waste that cannot be broken down and seeps into the environment will be greatly reduced. 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. Warming waters around the world are resulting in rising sea levels, which threaten beaches and coastal communities globally. But some areas face greater risk than others. One region under the greatest threat is Barcelona, where beaches are already disappearing rapidly from one year to the next, the Independent reported. What's happening? Unlike many beaches, Barcelona's iconic sandy shores are human-made. Ahead of its turn playing host to the 1992 Olympic Games, Barcelona constructed several sandy beaches that are now prime tourist spots every summer. The economy of the region has shifted to depend on tourism revenue, and locals also enjoy the sun and sand. But artificial beaches erode even more quickly than natural ones, so as the sea level rises, Barcelona is being hit hard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fall and winter, destructive weather systems, including storms, wear away at the beaches. The mayor of Montgat, just north of Barcelona, estimated that only a third of the local beach is left this year. "Clearly, this is worrying," said Ana Garcia, a seasonal visitor to Montgat. "It's increasing more and more, and shows no signs of stopping. Our coexistence with the sea here is in danger." Why is coastal erosion important? As our atmosphere becomes more polluted and traps more heat, glaciers melt and swell the ocean. At the same time, the water itself heats up, causing it to expand. This raises the sea level and contributes to heavier weather, both of which swallow coastlines. It's bad enough that communities are losing spots for recreation and tourism. But if the erosion continues, buildings and infrastructure are also at risk. What's being done about coastal erosion in Spain? In Barcelona, the estimated bill to stabilize coasts in the metropolitan area is 60 million euros ($70.2 million) plus yearly maintenance. That's a dramatic cost to taxpayers to fix the damage caused by pollution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ideally, we should address the root cause of the damage: the pollution that leads to Earth's rising temperature. That means getting educated about climate issues and how they relate to you, starting today. Do you think the government should ban gas-powered lawn tools? No way Definitely Only certain tools I don't know 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. 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 Neuropixels 1.0 NHP probe is much longer than existing high-density recording probes, providing recording access to most of the brain of a rhesus macaque or other large animal. Credit: Trautmann et al. To map the mammalian brain and its various functions with increasing precision, neuroscientists rely on high-resolution imaging techniques and other advanced experimental tools. These now include high-density silicon probes, needle-like devices integrating several thousand electrodes that can be inserted into brain tissue to pick up voltage changes associated with the firing of neurons. These devices have so far been reliably used to monitor and study the activity of neurons in the rodent brain. However, they proved less effective for studying the brains of non-human primates (NHPs), such as macaques, which more closely resemble the human brain. A Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) consortium of researchers at Columbia , Stanford and UC-Berkeley recently demonstrated the potential of the Neuropixels 1.0 NHP probe. This device is a more scalable probe developed by IMEC for collecting brain-wide and high-resolution neural recordings in macaques and other NHPs. Their research project is described in a paper published in Nature Neuroscience. "Our paper was inspired by a fundamental need in the neuroscience community to overcome the limitations of existing neural recording technologies in NHPs," Eric M. Trautmann, first author of the paper from Columbia, told Medical Xpress. "The original Neuropixels 1.0 probe, while transformative for rodent models, had limited functionality in NHPs due to its 10-mm length, which restricted access to superficial brain targets, and a thin shank (24 m) that made insertion through the primate dura mater difficult. Other existing linear arrays are limited in channel count, and surface arrays like the Utah array or floating microwire arrays were confined to superficial cortex and fixed depths." Trautmann and his colleagues were looking for a probe that would allow them to accurately and reliably record neural activity in the brains of NHPs and other large animals. They wanted this device to also reliably record the activity of large populations of neurons with single-neuron and single-spike resolution, or in other words, isolate the activity of single neurons and detect individual action potentials. "The new recording probe developed by IMEC is fabricated as a 54-mm-long monolithic piece of silicon that integrates both the shank and the base electronics," explained Trautmann. "The probe features a significantly longer, wider, and thicker shank (45 mm long, 125 m wide, and 90 m thick) compared to the original Neuropixels 1.0 probe." The probe tested by the authors has a total of 4,416 recording sites (i.e., pixels) distributed along the full length of its 45-mm shank and grouped into 11.5 'banks' of 384 channels each. Notably, experimenters can also select one of these 'pixels ' to collect simultaneous recordings across 384 sites, via a switch located under every site. "The probe utilizes the same low-noise readout channels with programmable gain and digitized at 10-bit resolution on a 130-nm Silicon-on-Insulator CMOS platform as the Neuropixels 1.0," said Trautmann. "The tip of the shank is mechanically ground to a 25 bevel angle, creating a sharpened tip along both axes to facilitate insertion and minimize tissue damage." The new Neuropixels device offers neuroscientists access into deep structures in large brains, such as those of primates, which cannot be accessed by shorter high-density probes. Moreover, its 90 m thickness and sharper shank allow it to effectively penetrate the tough meninges covering the primate brain and spinal cord. "Further advantages of our approach include its scalability and high channel count, or in other words, the ability to programmably select 384 channels from over 4,400 sites and collect simultaneous multi-area recording from thousands of neurons," said Trautman. "This feature allows experimenters to decouple the process of optimizing a recording location from probe positioning, facilitating surveys of neural activity along the entire probe length without moving the probe." "Another key advantage of the device is its high spatial resolution, which improves the ability to isolate the activity of individual neurons and facilitates the continuous tracking of neurons even if there is motion between the probe and tissue," explained Tirin Moore, one of the authors. Compared to existing technologies, the Neuropixels 1.0 NHP probe is also more cost-effective. It could thus dramatically lower the cost associated with the recording of neurons, with a total system cost ranging between US$7,000 and US$15,000. "The consortium demonstrates the probe's potential through four example experiments in macaques, addressing diverse neuroscience questions," said Trautmann. The Stanford team showed large-scale surveys of retinotopic organization across multiple extrastriate visual cortical areas, recording thousands of neurons simultaneously and illustrating the orderly shift of receptive fields across cortical depths. "The Columbia team collected stable, large-scale recordings during motor behaviors in superficial and deep structures (e.g., primary motor cortex, premotor cortex, globus pallidus interna, supplementary motor area), demonstrating capture of diverse temporal patterns and improved force prediction with more neurons." To further evaluate the probe, the Berkeley team used it to record activity in an area of the NHP brain that is typically difficult to access (i.e., deep inferotemporal cortex face patches), while monkeys looked at images of faces. During a single data collection session, they were able to detect hundreds of neurons that appeared to contribute to the recognition of faces, which would have previously taken years. "The Columbia team further demonstrated the probe's utility for studying single-trial correlates of decision-making, showing how LIP and superior colliculus (SC) neuron populations track accumulated evidence and exhibit distinct dynamics only observable through high-yield single-trial analyses," said Trautmann. "The high density also facilitated measuring spike-spike correlations between neuron pairs, which is indicative of synaptic connections or shared input, enabling mapping of putative connections across cortical laminae and between regions." This recent study could soon open new valuable possibilities for neuroscience research involving large animals. By overcoming various widely reported engineering challenges, the new probe developed at IMEC was found to reliably record the activity of neurons across the brains of non-human primates. "We successfully surmounted significant engineering challenges related to the fabrication of silicon probes that exceed standard photolithographic reticle sizes through methods like stitching and by designing for mechanical strength and flexibility (stress compensation layers) for the long shank," said Barun Dutta from IMEC. "This technology enables new classes of experiments previously deemed impractical or impossible. This includes detailed electrophysiological mapping of brain areas at single-neuron and single-spike resolution, measuring spike-spike correlations between cells, and conducting simultaneous brain-wide recordings at an unprecedented scale." The Neuropixels 1.0 NHP probe could be deployed in other laboratories worldwide, reducing the efforts, resources and costs currently associated with studying the brains of large animals. "In fact, in the short time since the probes became available, more than 50 NHP labs have adopted them," remarked Barun Dutta. The probes could also enable more advanced and complex neuroscience experiments involving NHP, which could lead to new exciting discoveries. "The Neuropixels 1.0 NHP facilitates a more comprehensive and unbiased mapping of neural activity across multiple brain regions and depths, which is essential for understanding the coordinated action of large neuronal populations involved in sensory, motor, and cognitive operations," said Trautmann. "It could also allow researchers to perform single-trial analyses of neural activity at high resolution, which is particularly critical for studying cognitive functions, where brain processes can vary across task repetitions. Two good examples of this are described in recent papers in Nature and Neuron from the Stanford and Columbia teams, respectively." If used to map neural circuits, the Neuropixels 1.0 NHP probe could soon also help to better understand how anatomical circuits in the brains of large mammals perform specific computations. While the current version of the device is primarily optimized to perform acute recordings, IMEC is currently working on improving its capabilities and further boosting its potential. "As part of our next studies, we plan to develop new hardware and test semi-chronic (multiple days or weeks) implantation," added Trautmann. "This will require new implant designs and is currently an untested but conceivable capability with appropriate insertion methods and hardware. Moreover, we are working on developing probes with intracortical microstimulation (ICMS) capabilities, which is not yet possible. However, the current generation of probes can be used to record alongside stimulation via a separate electrode." Written for you by our author Ingrid Fadelli, edited by Gaby Clark, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Eganthis article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you. More information: Eric M. Trautmann et al, Large-scale high-density brain-wide neural recording in nonhuman primates, Nature Neuroscience (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-025-01976-5. Journal information: Nature Neuroscience 2025 Science X Network It's good to finally experience a breath of fresh air amid the proliferation of terrible news reports in a seemingly endless cycle. One example is the conservation success story of the dwarf-flowered heartleaf, which was on the federal list of endangered and threatened plants. In July, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the plant was removed from the list after a recovery from 24 known populations in 1989 to 119 populations this year, according to Queen City News. The dwarf-flowered heartleaf now spans 13 counties in North and South Carolina, thanks to decades of collaborative efforts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Speaking of collaboration, Duke Energy, Broad River Greenway, the Cowpens National Battlefield, The Nature Conservancy, and the Foothills Conservancy all played roles in returning the heartleaf to its former glory, per Queen City News. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 28 of the 119 known populations contain more than 1,000 plants. However, there are still some areas of concern. For instance, delisting this plant could streamline development projects that previously required modifications. How effectively the delisting will streamline land use remains to be seen. While it's a boon to the environment in terms of celebration and proof of what collaborative efforts can achieve, it doesn't solve the overriding issues of land use unless local monitoring and protections remain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vigilance is as much of an ongoing effort as revitalization. That's not to say that cautious optimism shouldn't remain; however, there are at least 26 federally listed endangered or threatened plant species in North Carolina, and 21 in South Carolina. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service lists 1,678 in the U.S., and Earth.org estimates roughly 26,276 throughout the world. That's just plants, not including animals. It's fantastic to hear positive news on the dwarf-flowered heartleaf, but there's still a long way to go. Fortunately, standard protocol indicates the heartleaf will remain monitored for the next five years, so we shall see how things proceed from here. In short, the struggle to preserve and revitalize endangered and threatened plant or animal species continues, and one success is not the end of this story. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. MEPCOM is facing staffing shortages, risking its ability to process military recruits. The federal hiring freeze is exacerbating challenges. One source expects MEPCOM's work volume to keep expanding as the command contends with fewer resources. Senior members of the military command that approves hopeful recruits as fit for service say they cannot hire enough civilian workers to operate its medical exam facilities at full capacity. Military Entrance Processing Command, known as MEPCOM, is the medical and testing screening authority for the tens of thousands of people who enter the military each year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four MEPCOM officials with direct knowledge of staffing levels told Business Insider that unless it can ramp up civilian hiring soon, some locations could fail to meet goals for processing new military recruits over the next year. This could trigger a breakdown in a crucial part of military recruiting, they said. One senior MEPCOM official compared the command's hiring predicament to a hurricane warning. The command can get by with current staffing levels, they said, but the "lethargically slow" pace of hiring risks a critical shortfall of recruit processing staff within five or six months. A looming worry At MEPCOM's outposts across the US, young people who want to become military recruits, known as "applicants," undergo an academic test and a battery of physical exams to determine whether they are fit for service. The command processed over 300,000 medical exams alone last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Twenty of the military command's 65 stations have been forced to "reduce capacity," the number of total applicants they can process weekly, due to staff shortages, said one of the officials with direct knowledge. Those reductions don't signal immediate emergencies since not all locations reach maximum capacity every week. But, "there's certain locations that are at very high risk right now" of reaching emergency status within the next year, he said. New Army accessions receive the oath of enlistment at the Military Entrance Processing Station-Baltimore., April 12, 2024. Master Sgt. Arthur M. Wright/US Air National Guard Two sources with direct knowledge of recruiting efforts in one major US city told Business Insider that staffing levels have forced them to decrease the number of prospective recruits that they process daily by 20%. Each said their location is experiencing normal turnover but not receiving new hires to replace those who leave. President Donald Trump's federal hiring freeze is partly to blame. MEPCOM has an exemption to hire essential workers, but the additional approvals needed for those hires have created a bureaucratic quagmire. In some cases, the approval process has delayed hires by as much as six months, sources said. "The Department of Defense is reorganizing and optimizing its workforce to best support its top priorities and meet its mission, now and in the future as part of its workforce optimization initiatives," a command spokesperson said in an emailed statement to Business Insider that also referenced MEPCOM's exemption from the hiring freeze for essential workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The number of applicants a facility can process fluctuates periodically, the statement said, which was supported by sources who spoke to Business Insider. If the current staffing attrition rate continues, with employees leaving at the same rate they are now, more locations will be forced to lower the number of applicants they can screen daily, a senior official said. Over the longer term, this could impact the rate of military recruitment. The services have recently started to turn the corner on a yearslong recruiting crisis. Until this year, the Army and Navy, and to a lesser extent, the Air Force, have fallen thousands of recruits short for the past few years. The Pentagon has touted the recent higher recruiting numbers as evidence of a patriotic "Trump Bump," though evidence suggests it's a mix of factors. Navy recruits take the naturalization oath of allegiance during a naturalization ceremony at Navy Recruit Training Command at Great Lakes, Illinois on Mar. 27, 2025. Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Christopher M. O'Grady/US Navy 'Do it with less resources' Sources told Business Insider that major metropolitan MEPCOM locations have a notoriously hard time retaining staff, including administrators who oversee applicant histories and processing, IT workers, and medical technicians. High costs of living and low government salaries lead to high turnover, forcing MEPCOM to rely on a steady stream of new hires, they said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These issues have been exacerbated, in part, by the Trump administration's deferred resignation program essentially a buyout that has also been offered to civilian workers. To date, 15,000 civilian workers within the Army have taken the buyout, an Army spokesperson told BI. Though MEPCOM supports all services, it is managed by the Army. The wobbly staffing comes at a time when MEPCOM's work volume has ballooned, rising annually by tens of thousands. In 2022, they processed 215,000 medical exams alone, another senior official said. Two years later, it was 312,000. The command has already exceeded that number in the first half of 2025. Of the 65 MEPCOM locations, fewer than 20 process over half of all the nation's applicants, a senior official said. Some of those are locations hardest hit by hiring challenges, he added, speaking from direct knowledge. "There's a pressure on one side to increase efficiency processing applicants at the MEPS, which requires resources to do that," the official said, referring to local MEPCOM facilities known as Military Entrance Processing Stations, or MEPS. "Keep the numbers flowing, keep things efficient in terms of when the applicants are being processed," he added. "But at the same time, do it with less resources." Read the original article on Business Insider An Ohio couple welcomed quintuplets at a Columbus hospital. [DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Betsy and Dan Santiso will bring home quintuplets each named after a different type of tree, our news partners at WBNS reported. TRENDING STORIES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Juniper, Cedar, Linden, Torrey, and Alder arrived in the world on Monday, Aug. 4. With Betsy and all five babies doing well, the Santiso family looks forward to bringing their quintuplets home soon. [SIGN UP: WHIO-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Aug. 11A coming change to Ohio law forcing more aspiring drivers to get a formal driver's education is expected to bring more business to driving schools, which have already taken on more business following the closure of their competitors throughout the pandemic. Starting Sept. 30, Ohio law will require all new drivers under the age of 21 to complete 24 hours of driver's education, eight hours of in-car instruction, and 50 hours of guided practice before getting their license. Current law requires all new drivers under 18 years old to get a formal driver's education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We'll be busier," said Sharon Fife, president of Kettering's D&D Driving School, in an interview with this news outlet. She estimated that the change could increase demand for driver's education courses by 25%. The law change was included in the state's newly passed two-year operating budget. It has long been a priority for Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican whose two terms leading the state have been marked by road safety initiatives, including a ban on texting while driving and a so-far-unheeded call to make not wearing a seatbelt a primary offense. In Springfield in September 2024, while addressing the hurdles of educating the city's Haitian population on how to safely navigate Ohio's roads, DeWine noted that a lack of driver's education wasn't confined just to Haitian immigrants. "We're seeing 18-year-olds who have lived their entire life in the United States who walk in and manage to pass a test, but never had any experience driving before, no time behind the wheel, nor have they had any driver's education. That's a problem, and we have to change this," DeWine said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fife said a significant portion of her students something like one in every five are wannabe drivers who are not legally required to get a formal driver's education. And, while Fife said she hoped the state would eventually move to make driver's education compulsory for all new drivers, she said this change was a step in the right direction. "Honestly, in my opinion, it should be any first-time driver. I mean, it really should be, because what makes you smarter at 22, or 21, or 25? You're older, but it's still a new thing, and you would hope that someone would get an education," Fife said. Dan Tierney, a spokesperson for the governor, told this outlet in an interview that the change is focused on a specific data point: More 18- and 19-year-olds are getting into injury accidents than 16- and 17-year-olds. Tierney called this a "counterintuitive fact" that goes against the popular belief that the younger the driver, the more likely they are to get in an accident, and correlated the data with Ohio's law allowing Ohioans 18 and older to get a license without a formal driver's education. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DeWine's other priority, to create a grant program to allow schools to create or outsource driver's education courses, was nixed from the budget. Tierney told this outlet that lawmakers took issue with how DeWine drew up the proposed program's funding, which would have come out of recreational marijuana revenues. "We will continue to talk about that one," Tierney said. "The legislature took out all the marijuana finance-related provisions and said that they would be discussing the issue more in the fall, so we look forward to continuing the discussion." The budget did put in a requirement for public schools to excuse students from non-core curriculum for the purposes of attending private driver's education courses. The driver's education landscape has changed significantly in recent years, Fife said. She saw several competitors close their doors due to the pandemic. Live Zoom classes, spurred by COVID-19, are now a mainstay for D&D (Fife said most of her students opt for virtual classes) and many other instruction sites, which helps accommodate the plethora of drivers across Ohio that lack a nearby driver's education course. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Many schools in this area south Dayton closed. So we've been busy anyway since COVID," Fife said. "So, I mean, we're doing our best. We're hiring and training, training, training. We'll do the best we can to keep up and try to service the area." ------ For more stories like this, sign up for our Ohio Politics newsletter. It's free, curated, and delivered straight to your inbox every Thursday evening. Avery Kreemer can be reached at 614-981-1422, on X, via email, or you can drop him a comment/tip with the survey below. Loading... COLUMBUS The Ohio National Guard has expanded its international partnerships by adding the Republic of Angola to its State Partnership Program. This move is expected to strengthen U.S. engagement and cooperation in Africa, building on Ohios existing partnerships with Hungary and Serbia that date back to 1993 and 2006, according to an announcement. The State Partnership Program, managed by the U.S. Department of Defense, currently pairs 115 nations with U.S. state or territorial National Guards, serving as mentors and colleagues to their assigned countries. It was created in the 1990s to help former Warsaw Pact and Eastern European nations transition after Soviet influence and has since grown to include military-to-civilian and civilian-to-civilian relationships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State Partnership Program promotes U.S. regional security cooperation intentions and Department of Defense goals while supporting key government, economic, education and social objectives, according to the announcement. With Angolas addition, 26 African nations now participate in the program. This story was created by Jane Imbody, jimbody@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/. This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Ohio National Guard now partners with Angola in global program OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) The Oklahoma Humane Society and the Oklahoma City Fire Department are teaming up for two special projects. Officials say theyre working on the 2025 Yule Log video, featuring rescue puppies and kittens as well as cameos from OKC firefighters. OK Humane Society and OKC Firefighters. Image courtesy OK Humane Society. OK Humane Society and OKC Firefighters. Image courtesy OK Humane Society. OK Humane Society and OKC Firefighters. Image courtesy OK Humane Society. Also in the works is the 2026 OKC Firefighter calendar, showcasing adorable rescues alongside firefighters. OK Humane Society and OKC Firefighters. Image courtesy OK Humane Society. OK Humane Society and OKC Firefighters. Image courtesy OK Humane Society. OK Humane Society and OKC Firefighters. Image courtesy OK Humane Society. OK Humane Society and OKC Firefighters. Image courtesy OK Humane Society. We are grateful to @okcfirefighters and the work they do in our community to help humans and animals alike! said OK Humane Society on social media. Its gonna be a warm winter yall! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Humane Society, both projects are set to be released this holiday season. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City. Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, pictured addressing a meeting of the United Indian Nations of Oklahoma on March 20 in Catoosa, announced the launch of an open records complaint portal Monday. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY The Oklahoma Attorney Generals Office on Monday launched an online portal to accept complaints of denied open records requests. House Bill 2163, which became law this year, gave the Attorney Generals Office the power to enforce violations of the Open Records Act.It outlined a review process for denied public records requests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Public Access Counselor Unit will handle complaints made through the portal and evaluate their merit. Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a statement that the new law gives his office the authority to seek legal enforcement when government entities fail to comply with open records laws. Oklahomans had no legal recourse if a government agency wrongfully denied their records request, unless they pursued costly litigation, he said in a statement. This broken system has silenced legitimate requests and excluded everyday Oklahomans who simply cant afford long legal fights. With the new complaint system, the Public Access Counselor Unit will review requests and offer mediation services, according to a news release. After receiving the complaint, the unit has 60 days to work with both parties to ensure compliance with Oklahomas Open Records Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anthony Sykes is named as the public access counselor, according to the complaint portal. Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed the bill because he said the measure would give Attorney General Gentner Drummond sweeping and unchecked authority to access records from all state agencies, an unprecedented power in Oklahoma. Lawmakers overturned the veto. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A sign stands outside the July 10 meeting of the Oklahoma Ethics Commission at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY Campaign funds can be used for officeholder security expenses in certain cases, the Oklahoma Ethics Commission recommended in a draft advisory opinion. Any reasonable expenses must be the direct result of holding the elected state office and would not be incurred if the individual did not hold the office, the draft opinion read. The opinion only covers the officeholder, not family, staff or others connected with the individual. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Ethics Commission is expected to hear public comment on the draft opinion at its meeting Thursday ahead of any vote to finalize the opinion. The officeholder must need security to respond to dangers or threats related to the office held, and not simply for security that any member of the public would need, the draft opinion said. Further, the dangers or threats are related not just to any elected office within the State of Oklahoma, but the office held by that elected official. Security expenses must be a direct result of holding a state office. If the expense would exist with or without the elected office, it does not pass the but-for test, the opinion reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The test refers to an analysis used by the Ethics Commission for officeholder expenses. The test determines whether the expense would be incurred but for the fact that they were elected to state office. The Federal Election Commission previously issued guidance which allows campaign funds to be used to pay for certain security devices and services to address ongoing dangers and threats. The commission voted July 10 to provide an advisory opinion at the request of Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City and House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City. Kirt and Munson said they were pleased and encouraged by the draft opinion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tragic events this past year have left many lawmakers fearful for their safety, Munson said in a statement Monday. All public servants should have the support they need in order to best serve their communities. When we are unencumbered by threats made to our personal security, we can ensure a better, more prosperous future for everyone. The request from lawmakers came in the wake of the June assassination of top Minnesota lawmaker, Melissa Hortman. Hortman, a member of the DemocraticFarmerLabor Party and House Speaker Emerita, and her husband, Mark Hortman, were assassinated in their home. Authorities allege Vance Boelter, 57, posed as a police officer to gain entrance to their home and shot and killed the couple. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hes also accused of shooting Minnesota state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife that same night. Hoffman was released from the hospital. He and his wife are recovering. Boelter was arrested and faces state and federal charges, some of which carry the potential for the death penalty. Investigators said he had a list of other potential targets, including other Democratic elected officials. The assassinations have led to public officials across the U.S. feeling on edge and weighing the cost of public service. Its a privilege to be able to serve our fellow Oklahomans in public office, but the unfortunate reality is, we have seen that service can come with great risk to elected officials and their loved ones, Kirt said in a statement Monday. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE A solar storm occurs when the magnetic fields of the sun get twisted enough from its rotation that they snap. When this happens, they release massive amounts of energy into space. We are not in direct danger because our atmosphere protects us, but instead, we experience solar storms through auroras and occasional power outages. Extreme solar storms are known as Miyake Events. Only six are known to have impacted Earth across history. These storms have much more powerful cosmic radiation, about 20 times more than normal. They were discovered by Fusa Miyake in 2012 when she was a doctoral student at Nagoya University studying the inner rings of trees. Researchers at the University of Arizona Laboratory for Tree-Ring Research and the Department of Geosciences worked to pinpoint the timing of Miyake Events. Their study was published in the communications earth & environment journal. They were able to determine that one such extreme solar event happened between 664 and 663 B.C. Being able to determine specific dates allows for better solar models and an improved understanding of the danger solar storms can pose. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: This Is How Most Life On Earth Will End How Old Trees Were Used To Date The Solar Storm Tree rings inside a tree trunk - Triff/Shutterstock Lead researcher Irina Panyushkina told The University of Arizona News, "The energy from this type of event not only changes the atmosphere's radiocarbon content but also the atmosphere's chemistry. We are trying to figure out how those short-lived and powerful events affect the Earth system as a whole." The research team looked for carbon-14 in trees, which is created through cosmic radiation. This radiocarbon is evident in the rings of trees and can then be used to date when the solar storm headed for Earth. To analyze these rings, the researchers used samples of ancient wood. That was then compared to ice cores from glaciers and ice sheets, which store beryllium-10 from solar storms. Panyushkina explained the logic behind their process: "If ice cores from both the North Pole and South Pole show a spike in the isotope beryllium-10 for a particular year corresponding to increased radiocarbon in tree rings, we know there was a solar storm." How Would Such A Solar Storm Impact Us Today? a solar storm flare from the Sun hitting Earth - Mark Garlick/science Photo Library/Getty Images Humanity across history has had nothing to fear from solar storms, even Miyake Events. But our modern technology is sensitive to these storms, and they could have devastating consequences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We can look at a historical solar storm for some evidence of how this would impact our modern time. It is referred to as the Carrington Event of 1859. A solar storm caused telegraph communication failure on a global scale. Telegraph machines sparked, burning workers and causing fires. It was an event that, at the time, shocked the world. A Miyake Event today would cause massive satellite problems and disrupt GPS systems. It could knock out power grids and destroy computers. It has the potential to cause over $2 trillion in economic loss. Dendrochronologist Charlotte Pearson of the University of Arizona told the BBC, "People who lived thousands of years ago would have probably seen aurora, they would have seen lights in the sky. They might have marvelled at that. But beyond that, this wouldn't have impacted them at all. We're the first society on Earth that might witness one of these events who would be intensely vulnerable and massively impacted by it." Read the original article on BGR. Two workers died and 10 were wounded Monday after blasts at a US Steel plant in the state of Pennsylvania, officials said. "Multiple explosions occurred today at U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works," the state's Governor Josh Shapiro said in a post on X, naming a plant some 15 miles (25 kilometers) outside the city of Pittsburgh. "Injured employees have now been transported to local hospitals to receive care, and search-and-rescue efforts remain active at the plant," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US Steel and Allegheny County Police reported two people were found dead, with the second fatality requiring "an extensive search and rescue effort" to locate the body. One injured victim who had previously been reported missing was rescued and taken to a hospital for treatment, authorities said, adding that "nine [other] people were transported to area hospitals to be treated for a variety of injuries." US Steel said the incident happened at around 11 am (1500 GMT) on Monday and that emergency teams were immediately dispatched to the scene. "During times like this, U.S. Steel employees come together to extend their love, prayers, and support to everyone affected," David Burritt, CEO of the company, said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some US media outlets had reported that people were trapped under the rubble of the explosion. Videos on social media, not verified by AFP, appeared to show firefighters battling the blaze in front of a gutted industrial building, under a thick plume of white smoke. The Clairton Coke Works is the largest coking factory in the United States -- a facility where coal is processed to produce coke, a key fuel in steelmaking. rh-eml-st/jgc/sla 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: Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic neuromuscular disease affecting specialized nerve cells that control voluntary muscle movement, according to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). It can lead to severe physical disability, paralysis and life-threatening respiratory complications. These specialized nerve cells, called neurons, are in the spinal cord and brainstem. As they break down, the muscles they control become progressively weaker, with the damage often beginning in the legs and trunk and then affecting the arms and breathing muscles. Tragically, SMA is the most common cause of infant death. But thanks to groundbreaking advances in treatments over the past decade, the outlook for people diagnosed with SMA has changed dramatically. This overview will explore what causes SMA; highlight promising developments in research and clinical care efforts; and showcase how organizations like the MDA support individuals and families affected by the disease across the country. What is SMA, and how does it happen? SMA affects an estimated 10,000 to 25,000 people of all ages in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health. It's caused by a mutation in the SMN1 gene, which leads to a deficiency of survival motor neuron (SMN) protein, essential for the health and function of these specialized nerve cells, according to the National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). Without enough SMN protein, these nerve cells gradually die, leading to progressive muscle atrophy. The severity of the disease is largely influenced by the number of copies of a related backup gene, SMN2, that a patient has. Generally, the more copies an infant has, the milder the symptoms. Without treatment, however, even children with less severe forms may develop significant disability over time. SMA is commonly categorized into several types based on age of onset and symptom severity: type 0 (prenatal); type I (most severe form, beginning in infancy); type II (chronic form, starting in infancy); type III (chronic form, beginning in childhood); type IV (mildest and rarest form, starts in adulthood); and SMA with respiratory distress (SMARD1). Most forms of SMA are inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, meaning a person must inherit two faulty copies of the SMN1 gene, one from each parent, to develop the condition. While carriers typically show no symptoms, they do possess a single defective copy of the gene and if both parents are carriers, each child has a 25% chance of being affected by SMA. About one in 50 people in the U.S. are estimated to be carriers of a copy of the mutated SMN1 gene, according to Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Newborn screening and life-saving treatments Newborn screening for SMA is available nationwide in the United States, thanks to the advocacy from organizations like MDA. This means that most babies with SMA can be identified before symptoms begin. Early diagnosis allows for treatments to begin earlier, when they have been shown to be the most effective, leading to significantly better motor development outcomes and improved survival. Since 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three groundbreaking therapies that have dramatically transformed the outlook for individuals with SMA, turning what was once considered a devastating diagnosis into a treatable condition. Gene therapy (onasemnogene abeparvovec, marketed as Zolgensma), provides a functional copy of the SMN1 gene directly to motor neurons through a one-time intravenous infusion. Antisense oligonucleotide therapy (nusinersen, known as Spinraza) is administered via spinal injection and modifies how the SMN2 backup gene is spliced or processed, enabling it to produce more functional SMN protein. SMN2 small molecule splicing modifier therapy (risdiplam, sold as Evrysdi) is an oral medication that enhances SMN protein production from the SMN2 gene, offering a more accessible and non-invasive treatment option for individuals of all ages. These therapies have collectively saved countless lives and dramatically improved the quality of life of children and adults with SMA. Many children who would have otherwise faced severe disability or early death are now reaching key developmental milestones, such as sitting, standing, walking and breathing independently. On the horizon: Next steps in research While existing SMA therapies have transformed the treatment landscape, researchers and clinicians continue to push the field forward with a focus on improving outcomes across the lifespan. Several promising avenues are now being explored: Improving drug delivery and access: Efforts are underway to make the most of how current treatments are administered, minimizing invasiveness, lowering how often they are taken, improving their durability and expanding access around the world. For example, Biogen's DEVOTE study evaluates the impact of higher-dose nusinersen to potentially make it more effective and longer-lasting.Meanwhile, the NURTURE study assesses the benefits of initiating nusinersen in presymptomatic individuals, highlighting the importance of early intervention to preserve motor function before symptoms emerge. Regenerative and restorative approaches: Scientists are investigating ways to repair or regenerate motor neurons and muscle tissue already lost to SMA. This includes stem cell therapies, as well as the use of neuroprotective agents and muscle-directed treatments, as reviewed recently in Trends in Molecular Medicine, aimed at strengthening muscle function and restoring mobility in individuals who begin treatment later in life. For instance, Scholar Rock's apitegromab, a treatment designed to boost muscle strength by blocking a protein called myostatin, is under FDA review, with a decision expected by the end of the year. Combination therapies: Since no single treatment fully addresses every aspect of the disease, combination strategies are becoming a growing focus of research. This includes testing the pairing of gene therapy with muscle-targeted drugs (such as in Genentech's Hinalea trial) or combining SMN-boosting agents with neuroprotective or anti-inflammatory compounds to achieve a more comprehensive and lasting benefit. Early-stage Detection and Intervention Strategies: Research is also focused on ever- earlier diagnosis, even before birth, as highlighted by a recent clinical study in the New England Journal of Medicine. Advances in prenatal screening, coupled with emerging therapies in the womb, may one day allow intervention before motor neurons begin to degenerate, offering the potential for truly pre-symptomatic care. Together, these efforts represent the next chapter in SMA care and research. How MDA is powering progress For 75 years, MDA has played a pivotal role in advancing the field of neuromuscular disease research, clinical care and advocacy. Scientific progress takes time, but we are now seeing the transformative impact of early research investments come to life. One powerful example is MDA's foundational support of Adrian Krainer's groundbreaking work at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, which contributed to the early-stage development of nusinersen (Spinraza), the first approved treatment for SMA. This milestone helped usher in an exciting new therapeutic era for SMA. Thanks in part to MDA's long-standing leadership, the field continues to make meaningful strides in both treatment options and standards of care for SMA. Copyright 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved. (KRON) A woman was killed and a man was arrested for DUI following a four-car pileup on Highway 101 near Palo Alto early Sunday morning, according to the California Highway Patrol. The pileup started around 2 a.m., when the driver of a white Acura SUV rear-ended a gray Toyota RAV4, causing the cars to break down in the northbound lanes of the highway, south of University Avenue, per CHP. Two more cars crashed into the wreck before authorities arrived at the scene. Drunk driver plunges car off Pleasant Hill parking garage: PD Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After the initial crash, a female driver of a white Subaru SUV crashed into the Toyota, then continued and crashed into the concrete center median, CHP said. Following this, a gray BMW sedan being operated by a male driver crashed into another involved vehicle. One woman was killed in a four-car pileup on Highway 101 in San Mateo County Sunday. (KRON4) Paramedics with the San Mateo County Fire Department arrived at the scene and pronounced the driver of the white Subaru SUV dead at the scene. The driver and passenger of the Toyota RAV4 suffered major injuries and were taken to Stanford hospital. The drivers of the Acura and BMW suffered minor injuries and were also taken to Stanford hospital. Man killed in Vallejo hit-and-run: PD The driver of the Acura is suspected of driving under the influence, CHP said. The man was arrested for DUI resulting in injuries to others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The investigation into this incident is ongoing. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact CHP. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. The U.S. government on Aug. 11 suffered a setback in obtaining grand jury transcripts and exhibits in the Ghislaine Maxwell case after a judge said he would not be releasing them for the public to see and maintaining there was nothing new. "There is no 'there' there," said District Judge Paul Engelmayer in an order after he reviewed the transcripts and exhibits from two grand juries in the Maxwell case. Maxwell was indicted on seven charges, including two for perjury and five regarding sex trafficking of minors with Jeffrey Epstein. She was convicted of six felonies in 2021 and sentenced to 20 years in prison the next year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only chance left for the government to obtain transcripts lies with District Judge Richard Berman, who presides over Epstein's criminal case. He has not ruled. The Department of Justice began seeking the grand jury materials after it announced on July 7 that it had reviewed its own evidence and would be releasing nothing further. President Donald Trump, who had made transparency regarding Epstein a campaign issue, suddenly was caught in a political whirlwind that shows no sign of abating. Maxwell case judge says material was not 'significant, undisclosed' Engelmayer presides over Maxwell's case. He maintains that the bulk of the material is already public and that it belies the government's claims that they "contain significant, undisclosed information about Maxwell's and Epstein's crimes." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the first proceeding only an FBI agent testified for not even two hours and in the second, a New York police detective did the same. Both only summarized the evidence. No survivors testified. District Judge Robin Rosenberg on July 23 denied the government's efforts to obtain material from a 2006-'08 federal investigation of Epstein, which occurred when the Palm Beach police chief had concerns over how then-Palm Beach County State Attorney Barry Krischer was prosecuting the case. 2006 Palm Beach County grand jury transcripts released in 2024 The transcripts of the 2006 Jeffrey Epstein grand jury that resulted in only one solicitation of prostitution charge against him are below. On the day The Post published an investigation into Krischer's prosecution in November 2019, the newspaper sued to lift the veil of secrecy for the public and for the survivors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following document comprises the details about what went on behind closed doors. Jeffrey Epstein secret transcripts: Victim was asked, Do you know 'you committed a crime?' Hear Palm Beach Post Investigations Editor Holly Baltz discuss what the transcripts reveal (at 8:10): Holly Baltz is an editor at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at hbaltz@pbpost.com. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Jeffrey Epstein grand jury transcripts: Read the only ones released GARFIELD COUNTY, Colo. (KREX) Since the Lee Fire moved into Garfield County over the weekend, it has impacted the community quite a bit, resulting in evacuations and air quality concerns. On Monday, the fire affected operations in Rifle. Garfield County reported that the State of Colorados motor vehicle system is down at the Clerk and Recorders Office in Rifle due to the Lee Fire. Haze can be seen on Interstate 70. The haze is smoke from the Lee Fire which started near Meeker. The county stated the estimated repair time is unknown, but the system is working at the clerks office at the Garfield County Courthouse, 109 Eighth St. in Glenwood Springs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The wildfire has also caused the temporary closure of the shooting range at West Rifle Creek State Wildlife Area, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) stated. The closure started Monday and will remain in place until further notice. The West Rifle Creek State Wildfire Area is still open to the public. With the big game hunting season around the corner, many hunters are using our State Wildlife Area shooting ranges to practice and sight in their gear, said Grand Junction Area Wildlife Manager Kirk Oldham. We know these closures are less than ideal, but our priority is the safety of the public. With the recent shift in fire behavior from the Lee Fire, along with the ongoing hot and dry conditions forecasted for the coming week and the persistent drought, we have decided to close the shooting range temporarily. CPW said those looking for a different shooting range can visit the Cameo Shooting and Education Complex. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com. One California teacher used an artificial intelligence tutor to support students below grade level. Another used AI to create lesson plans. A third tried the technology for sorting students into small groups. AI has the potential to address many fundamental barriers in education if its implemented effectively. Headlines tout its rapid adoption and a growing market of AI-enabled education tools, but few are paying attention to how educators choose and use those tools or the challenges they face when implementing them. Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter In the 202425 school year, researchers from the Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) studied 18 California schools that are piloting AI tools to address issues like learning gaps, behavioral challenges, and teacher inexperience. Facilitated and funded by the Silicon Schools Fund, we found that AI tools can be powerful when used to support a clear, consistent instructional strategy and strong teacher-student relationships. But we also learned that results are by no means guaranteed, and many educators were unable to find tools that met their needs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related How Early Adopter Districts Are Moving Ahead Fast With AI and Getting It Right Perhaps counterintuitively, educators wanted to preserve or even deepen human relationships between teachers and students in schools. When Katie Sanchez, a third-grade teacher in Sacramento joined the Silicon Schools Fund cohort, her first instinct was to give students a chatbot for feedback on their writing. But she soon realized, I like to look through my students writing. I like to sit down and confer with them. Rather than reduce that human connection, she used AI to automate parts of lesson planning, freeing her to focus on the relationships she values most. Despite these successes, many educators were dissatisfied with current AI education tools, even after extensive experimentation. One pilot team from Clovis Global Academy in Californias Central Valley hoped to save time by having AI automate the creation of student groups for small-group learning. The team ultimately called their custom-built tool a failure after putting in considerable time to design it, with output from the tool that they graded a C-. One administrator explained, Its just not clear right now that its worth our staffs time to develop the capacity to learn how to work with the AI. Our study led us to three important conclusions:: School system leaders and education technology developers should ensure that educators develop a strong foundational understanding of AI: how it works, how to use it effectively, and how to mitigate its risks. Schools and districts should establish a clear vision for how AI will integrate with instruction and key school priorities. AI developers should better align products to what educators and students say they need, and involve educators throughout the design, development, and adoption process. Anyone who picks up a copy of the Constitution these days might be confused about tariffs. Just read Article I, Section 8, which says, The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, duties, imposts and excises, but all duties, imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States. Congress has this power, not the president. Yet, over many years, Congress has passed laws ceding that power to the president. While this power has been exercised in various ways by many presidents, President Trump has made it a centerpiece of trade and foreign policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some conservatives want to restore the original balance, gently. A tariff law? In a recent interview, Utah Sen. John Curtis told me he had floated the idea of a law, passed by Congress, codifying a tariff rate. For one thing, he said, such a thing could have made a difference in the revenue projections surrounding the large omnibus budget bill recently signed into law. Hypothetically, lets pick, like, a 10% worldwide tariff, Curtis said. That would raise pretty substantial dollars, and if we codified it, the Congressional Budget Office would include it in their projections, versus right now theyre not including it because how do you include it? Its up and down, its on, its off. But if we codified it conceivably, thats as much as a tenth or a fifth of our deficit spending per year. Curtis said his idea wasnt very popular. In any event, it would have required a super majority to overcome a likely veto. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But he is concerned that the founders intent concerning tariffs is being lost. Its easy to see now how the power we ceded decades ago is not good, he said. One person deciding worldwide economic conditions nobody foresaw that. I think we can all agree we need to rein that back in, but how we rein it back in and when we rein it back in is not a simple thing. Two lawsuits Other conservatives and liberals are actively looking for ways to rein it back. Two lawsuits are wending their way toward the Supreme Court. In one, the conservative Goldwater Institute in Arizona filed a friend of the court brief opposing broad presidential tariff powers. On the think tanks website, Timothy Sandefur wrote an essay that reminds readers of the experiences that shaped the nations founders. Like many analysts, he equates tariffs with taxes on American consumers. The American founders were well aware of the risks involved in the executive branch unilaterally imposing taxes with the stroke of a pen, he said. That power, after all, had been abused for a century before the American Revolution, by British monarchs such as James I and Charles I. They sought to impose so-called prerogative taxes so that they could fund their activities without having to ask Parliament for money. The consequence was a century of civil war in England, which resulted in the overthrow of two kings before 1690. The nations founders These experiences were top of mind when the framers drafted the Constitution, Sandefur said. They sought to ensure that the taxing power would forever remain exclusively in Congresss hands. They gave it, and it alone, the power to establish taxes and tariffs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He quotes James Madison, who wrote in the Federalist Papers, The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny. Regardless of how you feel about tariffs, on a practical level, the up-and-down tariff threats in recent months have given businesses the one thing they hate most: uncertainty. Curtis said if Congress passed a law setting a rate, it would calm the markets down. Tariff refunds? If you want the opposite of calm, imagine what might happen if the Supreme Court ultimately strikes down the presidents power to enact tariffs. An analysis by Thomson Reuters said it could usher in a wave of duty refund claims and severely curtail the executive branchs ability to unilaterally reshape trade policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the other hand, a ruling in favor of the president could give the president powers never envisioned by the founders. Either way, these court cases are worth watching carefully as Trumps second term unfolds. When it comes to immigration, theres a refrain that periodically arises with respect to new immigrants: Theyre even more American than us, or something to that effect. And if immigration causes any ill effects on Americans already here such as disruptions in the economy or employment environment they are reminded that they should just grit their teeth and learn to code. Unfortunately, that advice may no longer be helpful. Layoffs in the tech industry for 2025 had already exceeded 80,000 as of July, according to estimates. Although the public may know the tech climate has been bleak, they havent heard much about the causes. Corporate executives have been eager to insinuate that AI is driving the employment environment. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said in June that there would be fewer people doing some of the jobs that the technology actually starts to automate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Jassy did not mention another factor the employment data indicate that Amazon has led corporate America in spurning U.S. workers in favor of foreign-born alternatives. The companys main operating arm submitted 31,817 Labor Condition Applications for H-1B, H-1B1, and E-3 visas in the second quarter of fiscal 2025, according to data published by the Labor Departments Office of Foreign Labor Certification. The number grows higher to 40,757 if one accounts for Amazon Web Services, the companys cloud-management division. NVIDIA placed a distant second with 27,244 applications. Other top offenders included Goldman Sachs, which used three entities to file more than 26,000 applications. Theres also Microsoft (14,181 applications) and Apple (8,393 applications). Labor Condition Applications allow companies to fill roles based in the U.S. with foreign laborers. They recently came under fire from Vice President JD Vance. Alluding to Microsofts announcement of layoffs weeks earlier, Vance said at an event, You see some Big Tech companies where theyll lay off 9,000 workers, and then theyll apply for a bunch of overseas visas. He added that he just found out and had not yet had that conversation with Microsoft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Microsoft denied that Americans had been laid off as a result of their foreign alternatives, pointing to the fact that it had also reduced its H-1B workforce. Our H-1B applications are in no way related to the recent job eliminations in part because employees on H-1Bs also lost their roles, a spokesman told me. He added that 78 percent of Microsofts applications over the last 12 months were for existing employees. Although these foreign workers are, in theory, intended to fill high-skill roles, the data tell a different story. According to the Labor Department, 82 percent of Microsofts H-1B applications for 2025 have been for positions the department classifies as Level I or II entry or mid-level roles paid at or below the 34th wage percentile. To put that in simpler terms: Microsoft is paying 82 percent of its foreign workers less than the prevailing market rate for their positions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even if Microsoft were able to find Americans willing to work for less than theyre worth, Microsoft wouldnt be required to make any attempt to hire them despite a widely held belief that H-1B employers are required to certify that they havent been able to find Americans to employ. It is remarkable how many policy wonks, news organizations, and academics get this critical fact wrong, Howard University Professor Ron Hira, an H-1B expert who has testified on the issue before Congress, told me in an interview. My experience suggests that more elites believe the falsehood than the truth. The program would look radically different and function much better if such a requirement existed. It is little wonder that younger Americans suspect all of this labor importation may have something to do with the challenges theyre facing. That applies not just in terms of employment, but also of problems ranging from the national housing shortage to the rising cost of car insurance to traffic congestion which, as anecdotal evidence would have it, spontaneously fell amid immigration raids in Los Angeles last month. Naysayers will disagree, nitpick, or read legalese about how their foreign workers were onboarded years ago to rationalize the idea that Americans havent been affected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And thats fine, but it isnt going to change the fact that voters aged 18-21 sided with Republicans by a double-digit margin in Yales recent youth poll, largely due to these very concerns. Of course, those numbers could shift, particularly if Republicans fail to take action likely pushing those young voters even further to the right. Aside from Vance, mainstream politicos have been largely silent on this issue perhaps because they dont want to offend their corporate patrons. The best they can do is stay silent and hope that voters forget. The media appear to be fully on board with that plan. As of July, a search for stories involving the Office of Foreign Labor Certification published within the last year returned zero results from outlets including The New York Times, Washington Post, and NBC News, among many others. Contrast that with The Times obsessive concern with the State Department terminating a little more than 1,300 employees. Cuts at State Department Demote Longtime U.S. Values, the paper declared in the headline of a news (not opinion) article. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It sounds like firing a federal worker is akin to an attack on the very fabric of Americas values. By that measure, they must be the most American of us all. That must be nice, but it may not elicit much sympathy from those who have somehow been deemed less essential to the country than their foreign replacements. Rudy Takala has served as an editor for Fox News and The Hill and as a reporter for the Washington Examiner. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. In 2021, the Associated Press denied reports that its staff members in Gaza had shared an office building with Hamas. Maybe it was true, or maybe not. Its the APs word against Israeli intelligence. After this week, however, one cannot help but revisit the question. AP published a report this week titled, Survivors of Israels pager attack on Hezbollah struggle to recover, raising all the obvious questions regarding its editorial choices. For context: Israels army and intelligence services carried out a complex operation last year targeting Hezbollah terrorists and their officers booby-trapping and detonating the pager devices they rely on for supposedly secure and private communications. The devices were designed to wound rather than kill, in order to create maximum disruption among Hezbollahs leadership at a moment when it was already firing rocket barrages into Israel and a full-blown war seemed imminent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pager operation was hugely successful, wounding 3,000 and killing a dozen, with very little collateral damage. It dispersed Hezbollahs middle management and crippled its leadership. Between the pagers, a similarly successful action involving walkie-talkies and a series of airstrikes, there is now a ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel. One might think Israel would be praised for designing such a precisely targeted operation, which minimized as much as possible the potential for collateral damage. By any reasonable measure, the pager operation shows concern for the civilian population where Hezbollah embeds its soldiers and officers. Israel is a nuclear power with unquestioned regional superiority in air and artillery. The pager operation was an example of using intelligence to prevent a second front in its war against Hamas while avoiding harm to civilians to the extent possible. Yet here is the AP with a report, complete with original photos, portraying Israel as having a reckless disregard for civilian life. Israel is the villain; the terrorists who conduct guerrilla warfare from their living rooms are the sympathetic victims. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel boasts of it as a show of its technological and intelligence prowess. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently presented U.S. President Donald Trump with a golden pager as a gift, reads the AP report. Human rights and United Nations reports, however, say the attack may have violated international law, calling it indiscriminate. It adds that the survivors are on a slow, painful path to recovery. They are easily identifiable, with missing eyes, faces laced with scars, hands with missing fingers signs of the moment when they checked the buzzing devices. Then we come to the relevant passage about the individuals the AP interviewed for its report, each of whom was recommended to the newswire by Hezbollah officials. A representative of Hezbollahs Association of Wounded did share with AP the contacts of eight people who had expressed readiness to share their stories. The AP independently contacted them, and six agreed to be interviewed. They included [Sarah] Jaffal and another woman, two 12-year-old children and two men, one a preacher, the other a fighter. All are Hezbollah officials or fighters or members of their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you think this all sounds crazy, its because it is. In a story about terrorists who have waged their decades-long war against Israel from civilian population centers, it is the terrorists and their associates who receive sympathetic treatment, almost as if they were heroes. The AP never holds Hezbollah responsible for building a war zone around Lebanese civilians, including children and family members. Its not even suggested that its a deeply evil and selfish thing for Hezbollah terrorists to conduct military campaigns from the same places where their children sleep. Between this report and previous allegations of pro-terrorist sympathies, it seems the AP and its stringers in Gaza and Jerusalem may be actively influencing coverage to favor terrorism. Dont forget that the newswire long kept in its employ a photojournalist named Hassan Eslaiah after receiving credible reports that he was an active agent of Palestinian terrorism. The AP finally cut ties with Eslaiah shortly after the Oct. 7 massacre. The newswire also worked with freelancer Yousef Masoud, likewise accused of collaborating with Hamas terrorists. Former AP correspondent Matti Friedman one source of the allegation that AP staffers shared an office building with Hamas said last month the newswires reporters inside and near Gaza self-censor, for fear of retribution from Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had a great reporter in Gaza, a Palestinian who had always been really an excellent reporter, he said last month. We had a detail in a story. The detail was a crucial one. It was that Hamas fighters were dressed as civilians and were being counted as civilians in the death toll, an important thing to know, that went out in an AP story. Friedman added, The reporter called me a few hours later. It was clear that someone had spoken to him, and he told me I was on the desk in Jerusalem, so I was kind of writing the story from the main bureau in Jerusalem. And he said, Matti, you have to take that detail out of the story. And it was clear that someone had threatened him. I took the detail out of the story. I suggested to our editors that we note in an Editors Note that we were now complying with Hamas censorship. I was overruled, and from that point in time, the AP, like all of its sister organizations, collaborates with Hamas censorship in Gaza. Between his testimony, the allegedly pro-terrorist stringers, and now this lengthy and sympathetic article on Hezbollah terrorists, one cannot shake the feeling that the AP and its staffers have a clear favorite in the conflict. Maybe Friedman is wrong. Maybe hes lying. Maybe Israeli intelligence was mistaken about the AP and Hamas sharing an office building. Maybe Israeli intelligence lied. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then again, if the AP really did sympathize with Hamas, Hezbollah, and all the other anti-Israeli death cults, what would it be doing differently? Becket Adams is a writer in Washington and program director for the National Journalism Center. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The civil rights division of the U.S. Justice Department has hit a new low in manipulating federal law enforcement to further the presidents political schemes. On July 7, the department wrote the Texas governor a letter, pressuring him to re-gerrymander Texass already discriminatory congressional map. Texas obliged, triggering a potential nationwide race to the bottom as states seek to imitate Texass gambit or counteract it with their own gerrymandering. In June 2025, with the presidents tiny House majority at risk in the midterm elections, the Trump White House asked Texas to redraw the Texas congressional map to yield more Republican House seats. Less than a month later, the head of the civil rights division followed up with the Texas governor, claiming that four majority-minority districts were racially gerrymandered in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Justice Departments letter demanded that Texas redistrict, or the Justice Department could sue. Normally, before advancing a serious and difficult charge like racial gerrymandering, the civil rights division conducts a careful preliminary investigation. It seeks information from the state and consults with voters and advocates. Here, it appears, no meaningful inquiry occurred, which is not surprising. There were only three lawyers left in its voting section. The rest were driven out by the new leaderships hostility to civil rights and anyone who had tried to protect them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legal rationale in the letter, moreover, was feeble; it argued that under a recent Fifth Circuit ruling in Petteway v. Galveston County, coalition districts, where different minority groups combine to form a majority, run afoul [of] the Voting Rights Act and the Fourteenth Amendment. That is not even close to the courts holding. The court interpreted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act to allow discrimination claims by a racial minority that has a majority in a district, but not claims by minority groups that join together to form a majority. The case does not address racial gerrymandering, much less suggest that coalition districts violate the Fourteenth Amendment. The sham legal rationale could not camouflage that the Justice Department was instructing Texas to dismantle congressional districts where minority voters held a majority. The Supreme Court has suggested that deliberately breaking up coalitions with minority voters raises serious questions under both the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. Previously, the Justice Department and private plaintiffs (including the Texas NAACP, represented by the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law) sued Texas alleging that its 2021 redistricting plan discriminated against people of color not in favor of them. When the case was tried in May and June 2025, the states witnesses, despite damning statistical evidence, repeatedly denied under oath that race played any role in its redistricting. Nevertheless, the Justice Departments racial accusations led the governor to include redistricting in a special legislative session on July 21. And the governor said explicitly that he was targeting coalition districts a purposeful, focused effort to reduce representation of minority voters. Strikingly, in the ongoing litigation on the 2021 redistricting plan, the Justice Department dropped its discrimination claims in March 2025, six months after the Petteway decision on coalition districts. In doing so, the department never even hinted that the Democratic, majority minority districts it disparaged in the July 7 letter were racially gerrymandered to favor minorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So, what happened between March and July 7 to prompt such extraordinary new allegations of racial gerrymandering in the 2021 plan? Plainly, not an investigation. Nor any change in the law. Petteway was old news. And not any significant factual revelations. The only relevant intervening event was President Trumps call for redistricting in Texas to help him politically in the House in November 2026. The civil rights divisions attempt to further the presidents political scheme was sordid and reprehensible, especially given Texass long history of racial discrimination in voting. At least since Watergate, the Justice Department has tried to insulate its legal judgments from political influence and to shield investigatory decisions from partisanship. Attorney General Edward Levi, appointed by President Ford to restore the Justice Departments integrity after Watergate, warned that: Nothing can more weaken the quality of life or more imperil the realization of the goals we all hold dear than our failure to make clear by words and deed that our law is not an instrument of partisan purpose. Apparently, the current leadership of the civil rights division does not agree. They appear to regard themselves as White House staffers executing Trumps personal agenda, even extending that role to nonpartisan career employees. The political manipulation reflected in the July 7 letter and its inversion of the divisions anti-discrimination mission reflects this approach. And there is no reason to believe the malfeasance will stop with Texas or redistricting, as Trump seeks new ways to undermine the electoral system. The approach is wrong and destructive. It demeans standards that have guided the department for at least 50 years. It undermines the departments credibility and effectiveness. And it threatens our democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Attorney General Levi warned, the law cannot be an instrument of partisan purpose. The Justice Department must reclaim its independence. Robert N. Weiner is the Voting Rights Project director at the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. He was previously senior counsel in the civil rights division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. I confess that President Trump makes me laugh. Its not the laughter of someone having a good time. Its the shake-your-head, I-cant-believe-it kind of laughter kind of an involuntary grunt at the brazenness of the presidents lying and the sheer audacity of his gaslighting. The latest example was Trumps social media rant accusing Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) of political extortion for negotiating to unfreeze congressionally approved funding for the National Institutes of Health in return for moving confirmation of some Trump nominees. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump complaining about political extortion? How can you not laugh at the absurdity of it? Trumps second term has basically been defined by the magnitude of extortion that can be brought to bear by a president who has no qualms about abusing his power. Extortion is such a defining Trump trait that it was the centerpiece of a recent instantly legendary South Park episode. In the show, the president threatens the small town with a massive lawsuit, forcing its leaders into a multi-million-dollar settlement. The profane and hilarious episode reminded me that ridicule can be a powerful weapon against dictatorial leaders. Its urgently needed right now. The architects of Trumps Project 2025 presidency are following the anti-freedom playbook that Hungarys authoritarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has used to impose his will on universities, media, the legal system. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets start with the universities. A few years ago, JD Vance said at a National Conservatism conference that the movement needed to aggressively attack the universities in this country. That attack is ongoing. Trump and his team have engaged in bare-knuckled extortion against some of the nations top universities, threatening billions of dollars in cancer research and other publicly beneficial projects in order to force schools into alignment with MAGA ideology. The price of the blackmail has varied from school to school, but it has included hundreds of millions of dollars in what amounts to ransom payments, and the abandonment of any kind of commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Freedom of the press, essential to a democratic society, is also a target of Trumps extortion. Trump has a long record of hostility toward outlets that are not sufficiently adoring of his greatness. He has used social media to attack media outlets and individual reporters and riles up angry crowds who jeer at journalists covering his rallies. Thats all bad enough. But things have gotten far worse during his second term, which is guided by a right-wing theory of presidential power as virtually unlimited and unaccountable. Trump is using the previously independent Federal Communications Commission to threaten media outlets whose coverage is critical of the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sadly, some business titans have given up the fight. Owners of CBS, desperate to win FCC approval for an intensely desired corporate merger, chose to give into Trumps extortion rather than mount a legal defense to what was virtually universally recognized as an absurd and meritless lawsuit. Perhaps even worse than what Stephen Colbert called the big, fat bribe, CBS owners agreed to saddle the network with an official ideological overseer, leading FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez to sound the alarm about the FCC imposing never-before-seen controls over newsroom decisions and editorial judgment, in direct violation of the First Amendment and the law. On top of all that, Trump has crowed that we also anticipate receiving $20 Million Dollars more from the new Owners, in Advertising, PSAs [public service announcements], or similar Programming, for a total of over $36 Million Dollars. As Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) noted in response, This reeks of corruption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has also waged an outrageous and unconstitutional campaign directed at lawyers and law firms that displease him. Hes issued a string of executive orders to punish individual lawyers and threaten firms ability to do business. According to a recent ProPublica report, nine big firms caved to Trumps extortion, reaching deals that require them to provide nearly $1 billion in pro bono work for Trump-approved causes. ProPublica also reports that some of the countrys biggest firms are backing off pro bono legal work that might in any way anger the Trump administration, harming advocates for the environment, LGBTQ equality, police accountability and more. In short, nobody knows extortion like President Trump. Maybe thats why he reached for the term when he was rage-posting about Schumer. Frankly, the negotiations that Trump nuked, in the words of Fox News, seemed like basic dealmaking back-and-forth that is supposed to be Trumps genius. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think Trump has gotten too used to people caving into his demands. Thats dangerous. Its good news that Senate Democrats are refusing to simply go along while Republicans rubber stamp one horrible Trump nominee after another. Its good that Texas Democrats refused to just go along with a corrupt redistricting scheme Trump demanded. Leaders everywhere, take note. Our country needs persistent resistance to the extortionist-in-chief. Svante Myrick is president of People for the American Way. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 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: Christina Stallings, PhD (left) works with postdoctoral research associate Abigail Garrett, PhD. In the Stallings lab, researchers look for ways M. tuberculosis defends itself against the immune system and survives antibiotic treatment. Credit: Matt Miller/WashU Medicine What infectious disease is deadliest worldwide? HIV? COVID-19? Malaria? The answer is tuberculosis. And it kills more than 3,400 people across the globe every daynearly 1.3 million in 2023 aloneand that number is rising fast. Without treatment, tuberculosis (TB) literally takes your breath away. Or it moves to your brain, lymph nodes, bones or kidneysanywhere your blood can carry it. Here in the United States, we think of TB as a relic of the past, a romanticized and tragic illness in which thin, flushed young women with sparkling eyes (they had a fever, for God's sake) spat blood into lace handkerchiefs, said wan goodbyes and died. But TB is eradicated, right? TB did come under tighter control in the U.S. in the 1950s, thanks to public health efforts and the discovery of the antibiotic streptomycin. In the 1980s, Reagan-era public health cuts and the AIDS epidemic undid that progress, but by 1993, cases were again declining steadily, by about 7% a year. That lasted until 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic artificially lowered the rate further because no one was getting diagnosed. But the lack of swift treatment helped TB regain momentum. Now, cases nationwide (though still few compared to the rest of the globe) are rising about 7% every yearwith little public awareness of the resurgence. But that could change with a new WashU initiativethe Mycobacteria-focused Program for Research and Innovation in Science and Medicine (MycoPRISM)that's bringing together experts from multiple disciplines. From many vantage points, they will study TB's causes and find new treatments. Meanwhile, the just-established School of Public Health, the university's first new school in a century, will be looking at raising awareness and education, erasing stigma and addressing underlying causes. Globally, there was a record number of new diagnoses in 2023about 8.2 million, the highest number since the World Health Organization began monitoring 30 years ago, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association (January 2025). And more than one-fourth of all living humans have already been infected. Often, Mycobacterium tuberculosis lies dormant, but any compromise to the immune system can spark it to life, even 80 years after someone is initially infected. And all it takes is one person with infectious TB to spread the disease. Across borders. Why this is so tough to solve When paleogeneticists broke open ancient mummies, they found them filled not with human DNA, which had degraded, but with tuberculosis DNA. TB is the disease that has proved immortal. "TB has been infecting and killing people forever," says Christina Stallings, Ph.D., a WashU Medicine professor of molecular microbiology and the Theodore and Bertha Bryan Professor of Environmental Medicine. "Yet, we still don't have a hold of it. Why not?" Because it is ancient, and it has coevolved with us. It's had millennia to practice manipulating our immune system. Because it's airborne, spread by the relentless coughs of people who are infected. Yet in a lab, it grows at a painfully slow rate, which makes it hard to study. Because we have no effective vaccine that protects adults from the disease. In adults, TB generally hides in the lungs, where it can defend itself from the immune system. In children, whose immune systems are less developed, it travels to other sites in the body. Thankfully, a vaccine exists to protect children against severe complications. But, again, there is no effective vaccine capable of protecting adults from TB. Because M. tuberculosis is so adept at defending itself, the standard treatment can take a full six months or longer. Four different drugs are used, a regimen designed to prevent the bacteria from developing resistance. But these antibiotics make some people sick, so they stop the treatment. Others feel better very quickly, so they stop the treatment. Still alive in the body, the bacteria can cause the patient to worsen or relapse. And if the drugs are not prescribed or taken correctly, the bacteria will develop resistance to the drugs, making the TB even harder to treat. Even if a patient takes the full course of medication and improves, the bacteria might just find a quiet corner and go to sleep. "We have no way to know who actually clears it," Stallings explains. "So it's really hard to battle this pathogen when we can't even tell who's infected!" In her lab, Stallings looks for ways that M. tuberculosis defends itself against the immune system and survives antibiotic treatment. What distinguishes mycobacteria, a subset of microbacteria, is that they are encased in an envelope waxed slick by fatty mycolic acids. That coat is a disguise as well as armor: It can actually trick the immune system into aiding and abetting a pathogen it should have killed on sight. And if that doesn't work, TB has learned other ways to survive an attack. Enter the mice. TB can infect any warm-blooded animaltwo elephants at the Saint Louis Zoo, for example, have been diagnosed in the last 15 years. "They're fine; they were very good at taking their antibiotics," Stallings reports. "But it's the mice we've learned so much from. "We have this important immune cell in our bodies called a neutrophil," she continues. "Our blood is full of them, and anything that tries to invade us, they kill and eat. When we looked in the lungs of patients with TB, there were lots of neutrophils there eating the TBbut the people were still sick. We saw the same thing in our mice. And what we discovered is that the neutrophils, instead of killing the bacteria, are actually promoting their ability to cause disease." A neutrophil has an arsenal of weapons, and one is an extracellular trap. "Imagine an adorable round cell spitting out a spider web covered in deadly things," Stallings says. "That web is meant to capture whatever it's trying to killbut mycobacterial TB has found a way to thrive on those deadly nets. It loves them. So we've been able to block the neutrophil's ability to make that net." Luckily, drugs were already being developed to do just that, because the nets also cause problems with arthritis and autoimmune disorders. "We hope to be able to use the same drugs to treat TB." She can't pause to savor that success, though; far more needs to be discovered. And meanwhile, a new problem is emerging: Other mycobacteria, found naturally in the soil and water, are causing diseases that are even harder to treat. "They have acquired the ability to cause lung infections in patients who have declined lung function or are immunocompromised," she explains. "They generally cause infections only when someone has an underlying condition, but when they do cause infection, it's even harder to treat." Mycobacterium abscessus is one of them, and easily the worst. Those most affected are patients with cystic fibrosis, and sometimes the infection is untreatable. Stallings draws a deep breath. "It's terrible. And the prevalence of these bacteria is increasing." Why now? "It's not completely clear," she says. "But Fangqiong Ling (an assistant professor in energy, environmental and chemical engineering in the McKelvey School of Engineering) is looking at the environmental reservoirs," areas of water or soil where they thrive. This kind of collaboration will be far more frequent, thanks to the MycoPRISM initiative. As co-director, Stallings is pulling together experts: "A lot of people at WashU are interested in mycobacteriaclinicians, basic science researchers, chemists, engineers, public health expertsbut we were all functioning on our own in little pockets." Compare notes, and you can build a world-class nexus of expertise. Changing the face of the epidemic The initiative's other co-director is Jennifer Philips, MD, Ph.D., a WashU Medicine professor of medicine and of molecular microbiology, and co-director of the Division of Infectious Diseases. She, too, holds the Theodore and Bertha Bryan Professorship of Environmental Medicine. And her lab is looking at a different piece of the immune system. TB is canny, but if we shore up our defenses, that could help us avoid drug resistance and shorten treatment. "If it took two weeks instead of six months to treat TB," Philips says, "that would change the face of the epidemic." At the moment, Philips is focusing on the interaction between TB's lipids and the immune system's macrophages, another type of cell that's designed to kill and clear bacteria but fails miserably with TB. There are several types of macrophages, and TB has a different arsenal to combat each one. How do we best fight back? She's also studying the immune system's T cells, which help make macrophages lethal to invaders. How can we strengthen that interaction? And she's looking at cholesterol, which TB takes from its host for nutrition. "TB modifies cholesterol," Philips says, "in a way our body does not. We think it does this to alter the immune response. We want to understand that mechanism." Also, because the modifications could be detected in the blood, they could give us a new way to diagnose TB. A blood test would be easier and might be more revealing than a sputum sample. And the easier we can make diagnosis and treatment, the better we can control TB's spread. The challenges to public health Diagnosing TB and controlling contagion are the purview of Thomas Bailey, MD, a WashU Medicine professor of medicine and medical director of the General Infectious Diseases Clinic, and medical director of the TB prevention program for the St. Louis County Department of Public Health. When a WashU Medicine doctor at Barnes-Jewish Hospital wonders if a patient might have TB, Bailey is consulted. When someone walks into the county health department with symptoms, Bailey takes sputum samples and gets the results of a molecular test back in a day or two, identifying not only the presence of infection but also any mutation on the TB gene that signals resistance to antibiotics. "Many of these people have seen multiple doctors," he says, "because TB is in such small numbers here that it's possible to complete medical training without ever having seen a case." This makes diagnosis trickierespecially with TB that occurs outside the lungs, as happens in 15% of cases. "You breathe it in, the organism multiplies, and before the immune system can stop it, it has disseminated throughout your bodyin a process that's entirely asymptomatic," Bailey explains. A patient's chest X-ray may be completely normal, because the TB there has resolved, but it has gone on to the brain or bones. It's hard to convey urgency, Bailey says, because TB is uncommon in the U.S.: "About 10,000 people a year, compared to a worldwide incidence that's close to 11 million. And about three-fourths of the people with TB in the U.S. were born outside the country." There are other risk factors, though. TB has risen all over the world since the pandemic. Both the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the drugs used to treat it had the effect of suppressing the immune system, making people more susceptible to TB. At the same time, the health-care system was overwhelmed, so public health resources were being pulled from TB to fight COVID-19. And people were afraid to seek treatment for a little chronic cough. Or drenching night sweats. Or, as time went on, the blood they were coughing up. Since the pandemic, TB cases are rising by at least 7% a yearin a maddening coincidence, at the same rate they previously had been falling. In 2023, the U.S. had 9,600 cases; in 2024, the caseload rose to 10,300. The highest numbers are in populous California, Texas, New York and Florida; Missouri has a low prevalence, only 74 cases in 2023 and 85 in 2024. So it came as a jolt when cases in Kansas rose from 46 in 2023 to 115 in 2024, a 150% increase. The Kansas outbreak, with cases clustering in Kansas City, was seemingly an anomalybut there will be more and more anomalies. "If we're ever going to eliminate TB," Bailey says, "and we still talk about it, we will need an adequate vaccine." He sighs. "It took a lot of money and resources to get TB back under control in the '90s. The standard of care became directly observed therapy, which is resource intensive." Since studies showed that only about 11% of patients were completing the six-month therapy, health department staff have been literally watching people take their medication. (Now, there's a secure app where patients can videorecord their doses.) Between 2003 and 2016, to save money and improve compliance, public health experts tried to shorten the duration of therapies and even suggested that antibiotic dosing two to three days a week could be effective. "It took many years," Bailey says grimly, "to figure out that there was an unacceptably high rate of relapse." Not only does TB's treatment course need to be long, but it could take up to eight weeks just to culture a sputum specimen. Allison Eberly, Ph.D., is a WashU Medicine assistant professor of pathology and immunology and one of the medical directors of the clinical microbiology lab. For the past decade, molecular testing has made a huge difference, but she still checks on the cultures for as long as 56 days, "because no test is perfect." She also must send samples to a public health lab, because their advanced molecular techniques and sequencing can detect antimicrobial resistance. What she finds about 10 times more often than TB, though, are the other mycobacterial infections Stallings referenced. What's needed is a molecular test that can detect those infections, so patients can receive a faster diagnosis. "No company has a commercially available test to identify non-TB mycobacteria," Eberly says. When a sputum sample comes in, she does a stain, then a TB molecular test, and then she must wait until the isolate grows. Some mycobacteria grow faster than TB, but others take the full eight weeks. Once there is colony growth, she can use the mass spectrometer to identify which of the more than 200 species of mycobacteria she's dealing with. Because non-TB mycobacterial infections are not reportable diseases in many states, it's hard to track the rate of infection. But, like TB, most of these infections require a three- to four-drug regimen and take months or years to treat. The stigma of contagion Not only do people with TB hate the six-month course of antibiotics and their side effects, but they also don't want to admit they have the disease. Why is there still stigma, in this modern age? Because it is scary, contagious and chronic. Because it can remain in your body forever, and the treatment, at least in the U.S., is intrusive, with health department staffers showing up like Mary Poppins to watch you take your medication. And because the 19th-century romance is over: TB is now perceived as a disease of the poor. Those most at risk for TB, of course, are people whose immune systems are compromised. Maybe they are taking a biologic for rheumatoid arthritis or some other autoimmune disease; or they are HIV-positive, elderly or underweight; or they smoke, have diabetes, or have a head, neck or gastric cancer; or they are receiving an organ transplant; or their kidneys are failing. But the most common risk factors are the usual enemies of health: malnutrition; overcrowding; homelessness; substance abuse; and lack of access to, or distrust of, health care. "TB is both a form and expression of injustice," writes John Green in his sensitive and thorough New York Times bestseller, "Everything Is Tuberculosis." The dean of the new WashU School of Public Health, Sandro Galea, MD, DrPH, sees TB as an important disease that students should learn about as part of a comprehensive public health curriculum. Issues such as awareness, how to combat stigma, improve diagnosis and access to treatment, persuade people to finish their treatment, and tackle the underlying social forces that put them at risk are core to public health and important for all students to understand well. "TB is a disease of low-income countries predominantly," Galea says. "And we live in a world that neglects people who have fewer resources and less power." That said, we also live in a world where "TB is not going to respect borders. It's going to grow." Travel itself is a risk factor, especially to areas where TB is prevalent, and that list includes parts of China and India, the rest of South and Southeast Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, the Caribbean, Latin America, the Middle East and the Pacific Islands. The funding dilemma Before the federal government's USAID cuts, the global TB response was already about $11 billion short of the funding needed to control infection, Stallings says. Now, USAID is unable to distribute antibiotics to treat TB, which means more death and more contagionwhich will be followed by even more death and even more contagion. Shipments of antivirals for AIDS have also been stopped, which means even greater susceptibility to TB, because an immune system needs the T cells being decimated by AIDS to fight TB. "My entire lab runs on federal funding," Stallings says, her voice tense. "We've already had a couple of grants delayed that were going to start March 1, to develop new antibiotics. We team up with Fimbrion Therapeutics (whose chief scientific officer Thomas Hannan, DVM, Ph.D. '08, is a WashU alum) to translate what we're doing in the lab into treatments. Fimbrion has been developing these drugs, and they're working fantastically. The grant would get them into clinical trialsbut the funding is stalled." Bailey can already hear the arguments for cuts: "'It's just 10,000 people a year, so why do we need so much money to take care of them?" Believe me, it's not to pay health-care workers' extravagant salaries," he stresses. "The people I work with at the health department are almost saintly. They treat patients as they deserve to be treated, and they get paid very little. Some have more than one job." Public health expenses could be responsibly lowered if we had an effective vaccine, but some big federal grants for vaccine development at other institutions are scheduled to be cut. By investing in basic research, drug development and public health, the U.S. has been able to control a disease that runs rampant in other parts of the world, Bailey points out. Once TB spreads that far, even the best public health efforts are overwhelmed. "A country like India has so many cases, it can't possibly hope to have TB under control, especially without an effective vaccine." Galea once co-authored a study that measured the effects of decreased public health funding after New York City's 1975 fiscal crisis and the Reagan-era federal budget cuts. The findings were published in the American Journal of Public Health, and the accompanying graph tells the story: The incidence rate of TB begins to rise sharply after the cuts, drawing a mountain that peaks in 1993 before finally beginning to descend again. HIV and other public health dangers also rose after the cuts. Overall, the downsized budget initially saved New York City $10 billionbut ultimately cost the city more than $50 billion. "When you underinvest in public health, there's a surge in illness," Galea says now. "New York had an enormous explosion, and that's exactly what we're heading into right now." The upshot In the last five to 10 years, "we have learned so much about how TB infection progresses, its pathogenesis, how it causes disease," says WashU Medicine's Philips. Now, she stresses, we need an effective vaccine. We need more strategies and treatments that can disable TB, outwit multidrug-resistant TB, and strengthen and redirect the immune response. We need to understand what reactivates latent TB. And we need to raise public awareness of the deadliest disease in the world. "If we are lucky," Bailey says, "and scientific investigation is allowed to continue, and we don't completely destroy people's faith in vaccines"we can keep control, at least in this country. "But TB is a disease that's highly adapted to humans. If you take your eye off the ball" Stallings echoes his worry. "TB has evolved with usand it evolves faster than we do. We have got to find ways to stay ahead." If we don't? "With USAID efforts shuttered, we will see the numbers continue to increaseand that will inevitably spread to this country," Philips says. Already, the death toll is rising, Galea adds. "We could certainly see a return of TB in this country." Donald Trump has been tormented for decades by the idea that the rest of the world is laughing at America. Even as the 47th president, he still regularly launches late-night, ALL-CAPS social media rants about other countries LAUGHING ALL THE WAY. But its his fear and loathing of China laughing at the United States that hes made into a firm pillar of his political movement. Just listen to almost any MAGA podcast or read your average pro-Trump conspiracy theory panic blog. They will regularly fulminate about China dominating the world and accuse every American leader other than Trump of surrendering our countrys greatness to the globalists and communists. And yet, less than seven months into Trumps second term, China is sitting pretty when it comes to its economic, military and diplomatic clout around the world. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) can thank President Trumps frantic, flailing and impetuous policymaking for much of its enhanced stature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, Trump signed an executive order that extends the pause on Chinese tariffs by another 90 days. And The New York Times reported last week that Chinas overall exports in July increased by 7.2% compared to July 2024, with its imports up 4.1%. And those surges represent an increase in Chinas trade with Southeast Asia, Africa and the European Union and a huge drop in trade with the U.S. Meanwhile, Trumps economic chaos has also helped make China into South Americas top trading partner. In other words, Trumps mad king tariff-making has created huge opportunities for China in the global market, of which the CCP is taking swift advantage. Also last week, Trump essentially put the U.S. on the path toward an all-out trade war with India when he threatened to raise punitive tariffs on the country to 50%. American companies had been investing heavily in India in recent years, and its relatively young total population of roughly 1.4 billion surpassed Chinas in 2023. A country with a huge market that was acting as a bulwark against Chinese economic domination of Asia seems like the kind of ally a president obsessed with Chinas ascendance would want. But Trump has instead gotten cozier with Indias archrival Pakistan and threatened Apple with a 25% tariff unless the iPhones it sells in the U.S. are manufactured in the U.S. and not India, or anyplace else. Trump also mocked what he called Indias dead economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since Jan. 20, Trumps dismantling of Americas soft power around the world has also left voids that have quickly been filled by China. Following Trumps gutting of Voice of America, China expanded its media operations in Asia and Africa, where the citizenry can get a healthy dose of subtle pro-China propaganda with no pro-America counterpart. And Trumps shuttering of U.S. embassies and consulates creates a gaping diplomatic void in pockets of the world for China to fill. In a report released in July, Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee wrote, In private, our allies tell us that Chinese officials are gleeful, characterizing the United States as unreliable. In some cases, China is filling the void we have left behind, buying up now-vacant radio frequencies to broadcast its propaganda to millions. But in many cases, Beijing is doubling down on its own long-term investments in overseas infrastructure, critical minerals exploitation and exchange programs that bring foreign talent to Chinese universities all while America withdraws. It also appears that many Chinese nationalists are, in fact, laughing at the U.S., even as they cheer for Trump, whom they see as an entertaining, useful idiot who is advancing Chinas interests at the expense of Americas. The Economist wrote in December 2024 about pro-Trump Chinese nationalists: To be sure, many of those who cheer for Mr Trump do so out of contempt for America. They share clips of his moments of buffoonery and sneer at his nominations for cabinet posts dont they prove what a sham democracy is, with jobs so flagrantly doled out to loyalists regardless of their suitability? The nationalists relish the thought that Mr Trump might weaken American support for Taiwan or end military aid for Ukraine. They refer to him by a nickname: Chuan Jianguo, meaning Trump the Nation Builder. It is supposed to be ironic they mean he is making China stronger by undermining America. THe economist Theres also ample evidence of the supposedly China-loathing Trump seeming to act in the CCPs best interests. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Former Trump administration national security adviser John Bolton wrote in The Hill that some examples of Trumps softness on China include allowing Nvidia to resume exports of sensitive information technology to China and ignoring legal requirements to ban TikTok or force it to divest its Chinese ownership. Trump has also taken pains to not displease Chinese leader Xi Jinping over Taiwan which the CCP views as an illegitimate breakaway state that it intends to bring under its yoke someday. The Trump administration last month told Taiwans President Lai Ching-te to avoid a stopover in New York, according to reporting in The New York Times, which also quoted former Trump administration deputy national security adviser Matthew Pottinger as saying the U.S. bent over backwards to avoid offending China and that Beijing will pocket this concession and ask for more. Nicholas Grossman wrote in these pages in April, If the eventual result is Chinas rising to become the worlds predominant power, historians will note that it didnt take global leadership, America threw it away. But we dont have to wait for historians take on Trump inexplicably ceding many of Americas long-held advantages on the global stage to China. Thanks to Trumps manic incompetence and nihilistic vision of the world, Chinas leaders and nationalists are laughing at us already. Trumps given them plenty of amusing material. This article was originally published on MSNBC.com It has long been evident that President Trump believed Russian President Vladimir Putin could be persuaded to settle for less than the total conquest of Ukraine specifically, for control over the Donbas region in the east and that this would somehow be a reasonable deal. From the moment Russia invaded in 2022, many analysts warned that Putins ambitions extended well beyond those two provinces. Trumps 2024 election victory set up a test. Now, more than three years into the war and seven months since his return to the White House, Trump seems to believe that moment has arrived. His planned Aug. 15 meeting with Putin in Alaska suggests that the Russian leader may finally be ready to sign on to such an arrangement. The outlines of a deal are familiar: Russia retains roughly one-fifth of Ukrainian territory in exchange for a ceasefire and some form of security arrangement that halts the war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is not yet clear if Putin would actually agree, and if agreement might not be a trick. But no less an obstacle may be Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Over the weekend, a day after the Alaska meeting was announced, Zelensky reiterated that Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier. At the same time, he left the door open to real decisions for peace but only, he emphasized, with Ukraine at the table. Trump and Putin plan to meet without Zelensky. There is a game of great powers with spheres of influences and vassal states that can be bullied. Trump does not lack bargaining chips. The most immediate is the secondary sanctions package scheduled to take effect this month, which would impose tariffs and other penalties on countries including allies such as India buying Russian oil, effectively forcing governments to choose between discounted energy and access to the U.S. market. The threat has been enough to rattle Russias trading partners and, if maintained, could pressure Moscow toward compromise. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukraine also has a fresh offer of military support from NATO countries, one that Trump himself endorsed with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte last month. It allows NATO states to supply Ukraine with American weapons and ammunition for the foreseeable future. That guarantee of ongoing Western backing makes it less likely that Kyiv can be coerced. If Zelensky is to contemplate a deal that cedes territory, he would be wise to demand compensations that go beyond words they must be concrete, enforceable and immediate. Given the nature of things, he will need Trump to represent him at the table, beginning with the Alaska meeting. The core elements of a deal acceptable to Ukraine might include the following. EU membership: Ukraines fast-track admission to the European Union would give it a secure economic and political anchor in the West, even without NATO membership. Brussels will inevitably invoke its process and the need for reforms especially on corruption but events have overtaken bureaucracy. Ukraine has earned the right to be integrated fully into Europe. Trump can strong-arm the Europeans to make this happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reparations for destruction: Russia should be required to pay, directly or indirectly, for the rebuilding of Ukraines cities, roads and energy infrastructure. This is a moral and practical necessity given the estimated half-trillion dollar reconstruction cost over the next decade. Frozen Russian funds, estimated at over $300 billion, can be applied toward this. Return of abducted civilians and prisoners: The safe return of the thousands of Ukrainians, including children and political detainees, believed to have been taken into Russian custody since the war began must be non-negotiable. A binding non-aggression agreement: Russias invasion shattered trust across the region. Any settlement must include a formal pledge, with verification mechanisms, that Moscow will not attack Ukraine again or undermine its sovereignty through covert means. Given Russias meddling in recent decades in Moldova, Georgia and other former Soviet republics in addition to Ukraine, this guarantee must be broad and backed by enforceable consequences. These provisions would not make the loss of territory painless, but they could give Ukraine a secure future within the European sphere and the breathing room to rebuild. These concessions would be hard to extract from Putin but thats what negotiations are all about. Trump and his team need to come armed with carrots and a very big stick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The stakes are high enough for some chances to be taken, since the wars toll is staggering. Ukraines economy has contracted by roughly 20 percent. Daily military expenditures are estimated at $140 million, totaling about $51 billion a year. Western nations have poured more than $100 billion in aid into the fight, but the damage is overwhelming: millions displaced, tens of thousands killed and over 10,000 documented civilian deaths. Russia has paid heavily as well. By mid-2024, its war bill had reached $250 billion, with defense spending consuming 40 percent of the government budget this year. Falling oil and gas revenues have deepened the strain. Over 100,000 Russian soldiers are estimated to have been killed a human cost that would be politically unsustainable in a more open society. That Putin has been willing to bear such losses to enlarge the worlds biggest country by a marginal amount is a testament to the pathological nature of his rule. That pathology is unlikely to vanish which is why any deal must not simply stop the shooting, but guard against the next war. If Trump can do that, he may indeed bring the Ukraine war to a close. If he can also force Netanyahu to end the Gaza war, a Nobel Peace Prize ceases to be absurd. History works in strange ways, through the strangest of agents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dan Perry is the former Cairo-based Middle East editor and London-based Europe-Africa editor of the Associated Press, the former chairman of the Foreign Press Association in Jerusalem and the author of two books. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The Israeli opposition criticized Netanyahus statements during his press conference, where he addressed details of the new IDF Gaza operation and hostage talks. Opposition leader and Yesh Atid chair MK Yair Lapid slammed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following his admission that Hamas misled Israel in hostage deal negotiations during the second press conference on Sunday. The admission that 'Hamas led us astray' is nothing short of astonishing, he said on X/Twitter, adding, That's exactly your job: to ensure Hamas doesn't lead you astray. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Netanyahu get over it! There is no such thing as a 'green light from the Americans' to conduct negotiations," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum commented. These are Israeli citizens, and the State of Israel must lead the moves, demand, and press itself against the mediators for an end to the war and the return of all the hostages home. The responsibility for their lives lies with the Israeli government, not with any other country," they said in a statement. The United States has been working tirelessly to free the hostages, end this war, and give civilians in Gaza a future free of Hamas. To do so, we need to place the responsibility where it lies with Hamas and hold it and other Gaza terrorists fully accountable. Todays meeting, like so many other recent actions, undermines those efforts, the US Mission to the UN had posted following the press conferences. Family and friends of Israeli hostages brothers Ziv and Gali Berman, march through the streets of Tel Aviv, calling for their release from Hamas captivity. May 15, 2025. (credit: TOMER NEUBERG/FLASH90) Leader of the Blue and White Party, MK Benny Gantz, who was part of the Israeli security cabinet during some periods of the war, was one of the first to react: Too many words, too few actions, too much time. Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman stated: The Prime Minister of October 7 continues to lie with brazen audacity. He sacrifices the hostages on the altar of preserving the coalition, just as he sacrifices the regular and reserve soldiers to appease his natural partners Shas and United Torah Judaism. Yair Golans harsh words over Netanyahus press conference After 22 months of war, after promising that we are one step away from total victory, after 674 days that our hostages are languishing in captivity, Netanyahu declared tonight: I have instructed the IDF to defeat Hamas. Ridiculous, The Democrats chair MK Yair Golan posted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As if until today, IDF soldiers were strolling in Gaza. What we saw tonight is not one step from victory but the most severe security failure in Israel's history, he said. The prime minister of 'Hamas is an asset, who refuses to defeat the enemy for nearly two years and abandons dozens of Israeli citizens to die in captivity, is a danger to national security. Netanyahu is incapable of winning. He will not release the hostages. He is an utter failure. Israel will only win after he and his government are sent packing, Golan concluded. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum addressed Netanyahu on Monday, asking him to publicly clarify his remarks at yesterday's press conference in response to a reporter's question, in which he ignored the fallen hostages. "He who abandons fallen ones ends up abandoning lives," the forum's address read. Uri Sela contributed to this report. The National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition (NABS) Oral History Project is pleased to announce its 14th stop in Portland, Oregon, from August 2529, 2025. This visit offers an important opportunity for Indian boarding school survivors from the Pacific Northwest and across the country to share their stories and contribute to a significant national effort. This milestone event in Oregon provides boarding school survivors with the chance to document their personal histories through professionally conducted video interviews. These testimonies will become part of a permanent collection at the Library of Congress, helping to preserve and honor their experiences for future generations. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The project is a key element of the U.S. Department of the Interiors Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative a landmark effort to uncover, acknowledge, and address the history and legacy of the federal Indian boarding school system. We are honored to gather with our relatives in the Pacific Northwest, to honor and recognize their voices, to preserve their stories, and this history, said Oral History Project Co-Director Lacey Kinnart (Sault Ste. Marie Ojibwe). We are committed to working closely with survivors, creating a space where they feel empowered, respected, and fully supported as they share their stories. Above all, we will ensure that every survivor who engages with our project is met with the utmost care, compassion, and respect throughout the entire process. Event Details Portland, Oregon Dates: Monday, August 25 Friday, August 29, 2025 Location: Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland Downtown 319 SW Pine St., Portland, OR 97204 Who Should Participate: Survivors who attended a federally supported Indian boarding school in the U.S. prior to 1970 Register: Visit https://www.tfaforms.com/5092936 or call 651-650-4445 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later in 2025, the Oral History Project will also travel to South Dakota, New Mexico, and Arizona. For more information, visit https://boardingschoolhealing.org/oral-history-project or contact the Oral History Project team at 651-650-4445 or via email at OralHistoryProject@nabshc.org. 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 PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Two Columbia County Sheriffs Office K9 teams are now back home after aiding in the search for those lost during the catastrophic Texas floods. According to CCSO, their K9 teams made up of volunteer handlers Scott Lee and Becky Irving and their dogs, Jett and Ruger were deployed along with 20 other teams from across the country at the request of Texas state officials. They were the only teams from Oregon who aided in the disaster recovery. Unlike traditional police K9s, Ruger and Jett are trained for specialized settings, giving them an advantage in the rough terrain ravaged by the flooding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you can help, you should help: Oregon man donates 100th gallon of platelets to Red Cross Our dogs are specially trained for wilderness settings, so it was ideal for down there for what they were asking us to do, Lee told KOIN 6 News. Volunteer K9 handlers Becky Irving (left) and Scott Lee returned with their dogs after being deployed to help search for those missing during the recent Texas floods, Aug. 10, 2025. (KOIN) The floods originally began just before daybreak on July 4, when destructive, fast-moving waters rose 26 feet on the Guadalupe River, washing away homes and vehicles. The waters laid waste to the Hill Country region and an all-girls Christian summer camp, Camp Mystic, lost at least 27 campers and counselors. Coffee Creek inmates see Through a Childs Eyes Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials estimate the floods have killed over 135 people and three remain missing. Although Lee said the dogs did not locate anyone, they would show interest in certain areas, prompting other rescue teams to search them further. Two K9 teams with the Columbia County Sheriffs Office were deployed to help search for those missing during the recent Texas floods, July, 2025. (Columbia County Sheriffs Office) Two K9 teams with the Columbia County Sheriffs Office were deployed to help search for those missing during the recent Texas floods, July, 2025. (Columbia County Sheriffs Office) Two K9 teams with the Columbia County Sheriffs Office were deployed to help search for those missing during the recent Texas floods, July, 2025. (Columbia County Sheriffs Office) Two K9 teams with the Columbia County Sheriffs Office were deployed to help search for those missing during the recent Texas floods, July, 2025. (Columbia County Sheriffs Office) Two K9 teams with the Columbia County Sheriffs Office were deployed to help search for those missing during the recent Texas floods, July, 2025. (Columbia County Sheriffs Office) Ultimately, Irving said they searched 13 of the 16 days they were deployed. Literally the day after we got off the plane, we were set with a team and we were in the field doing, eight, ten hour days, she recalled. They would give us larger areas to search, Lee added. There was a report that a missing person was found about a mile from the river. So then they had to clear both sides of the river, that distance. So wed be given 20, 40, 60 acres to search with a task force team. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite the distance to cover, both handlers say the dogs love it. But Irving, a 35-year volunteer with CCSO Search and Rescue, acknowledged how bittersweet the job could be. Its rewarding, she said. I mean, its a sad mission. Theres a lot of families that are counting on you to try and bring their loved ones home. So it just it is rewarding in that we are able to go and that our community here supports us as well. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Brief Tonight stays warm and muggy with lingering storms fading and lows in the mid to upper 70s. By midweek, slightly drier air moves in, lowering rain chances and pushing highs into the mid-90s before wetter weather returns by the weekend. ORLANDO, Fla. - A standard late August weather pattern is in store this week. What will the weather look like tonight? What to expect Any lingering showers and storms look like they'll fade and push further to the northwest by late this evening. We'll stay warm and muggy overnight as lows dip down into the mid to upper 70s. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CLICK TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX LOCAL APP What will the weather look like on Tuesday? What to expect Chances are good for a bit more thunderstorms than on Monday with typical heat and humidity for the time of year. Highs will reach into the low-to-mid 90s. What will the weather look like for the remainder of the week? Looking ahead Slightly drier air filters in as an area of high pressure builds into the region. This will mean lower chances of rain, especially by midweek. This will help to heat temperatures up. As a result, plan for highs to steadily approach the mid 90s. The dry weather won't stick around for long though, as higher chances of rain will return towards the weekend. SIGN-UP FOR FOX 35'S BREAKING NEWS, DAILY NEWS NEWSLETTERS NHC monitoring 4 waves, including Tropical Storm Erin Tracking The Tropics Tropical Storm Erin will become the first hurricane of the 2025 season this week and a major hurricane by this weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Current indications favor a track curving away from Florida next week; however, it is 8-plus days away and forecasts are far from certain this far out. Some models (10-20% of them) still indicate a track into or near the Southeast and Florida next week. So the point is we should be good, but we can not say definitively yet. Regardless, big surf and rip currents on our east coast beaches next week and surfing conditions. Two other waves in the Central and North Atlantic pose no threat to Florida. A fourth area of disorganized thunderstorms has emerged over Gulf but has a low chance for development. FOX 35 Storm Tracker Radar and Live Weather Cameras Track live when storms move across your area using the FOX 35 Storm Tracker Radar below. You can also watch as heavy rain moves across Central Florida on our Live Weather Cameras' page here. More radar maps from FOX 35 Storm Tracker Radar The Source This story was written based on information shared by the FOX 35 Storm Team on August 11, 2025. Sen. Ossoff welcomes Sec. Kennedy to CDC but wishes he acted sooner over shooting Georgia U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff expressed condolences to the family of Officer David Rose, who was killed while responding to a shooting at Emory University. Rose was shot and killed while rushing to an active shooter scene at Emory University. The shooter, identified as Patrick Joseph White, opened fire on the CDC before dying at the scene. First, my heart goes out to the family of DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, said Ossoff in an exclusive interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement sources suggest that Whites distrust of the COVID vaccine and belief that it harmed him may have motivated the shooting, although Ossoff reserved judgment pending further investigation. RELATED STORIES: Channel 2 Action News was there as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedys motorcade drove into the CDC. Kennedy has long been a harsh critic of vaccines. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ossoff welcomed him to the campus but wishes hed gotten involved sooner. I wouldve preferred that he had spoken out about this a little bit earlier, but of course, were pleased to host the Secretary, Ossoff said. Ossoff also criticized the Trump administrations workforce cuts at the CDC, emphasizing the institutions importance and his continued support for its workers. I will say broadly that the CDC is a vital institution. It is a national asset that protects the American people and the world, Ossoff said. The investigation into the motive behind the shooting continues, with Ossoff urging patience until law enforcement provides more information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kennedy Jr. released the following statement on Saturday: We are deeply saddened by the tragic shooting at CDCs Atlanta campus that took the life of officer David Rose. We stand with his wife and three children and the entire CDC family. We know how shaken our public health colleagues feel today. No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others. 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." OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) OU Health is looking to ease the burden on its nurses while still providing quality care to patients. They are one month into a new hybrid nursing model, which combines virtual and in-person nursing teams. Our goal was to find a way to allow our nursing team to spend more time at the bedside with the patients and the viewers loved ones, Dr. David Allen, Division Chief Nursing Officer for Adult Services at OU Health, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Route 66 icon recognized as part of national project Several nurses at OU Health are now splitting their time between seeing patients in-person and virtually. Our virtual nurses have about at least 15 touch points a day with each one of our patients, Dr. Allen said. Those 15 touch points allow the bedside nurse to spend double the time that they were able to spend the previous month with their patients. Since this new hybrid model rolled out last month, hospital leaders say the results have been positive. Were seeing the patients more, and we know thats working because our patient experience and our patient engagement scores have increased dramatically within just 30 days of the pilot, Dr. Allen said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He adds, virtual visits create a safe environment for the patient, while still providing care, and without losing that personal touch. The team has done a really, really great job of explaining that is part of their care team too, Dr. Allen said. Dr. Allen says they are prepared if the patient needs to see a nurse face-to-face. Ill have that bedside nurse or that caretaker come and get with you at that point, Dr. Allen said. He also says this hybrid model helps alleviate staffing shortages, one reason OU Health decided to introduce it. There is the nursing shortage that weve been talking about for ten plus years, Dr. Allen said. So, we knew at that time that we had to find some alternative way that allowed us to hear what our nurses were saying, but also make sure we provided high-quality nursing care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He believes this will not only keep nurses on the job longer, but also bring more in as well. When you have this virtual platform, some of our nurses that were ready to retire because of the stress on their bodies from being on their feet for 12 hours, can now take all that institutional knowledge that they have and come into that, Dr. Allen said. Because right now what were losing is our experience. Dr. Allen says this is a phased approach for them. If things go well, they will look into incorporating this hybrid model in other hospitals around 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 KFOR.com Oklahoma City. The death of a one-month-old baby girl who was the victim of female genital mutilation (FGM) in The Gambia has sparked widespread outrage. The baby was rushed to a hospital in the capital, Banjul, after she developed severe bleeding, but was pronounced dead on arrival, police said. Although an autopsy is still being conducted to establish the cause of her death, many people have linked it to FGM, or female circumcision, a cultural practice outlawed in the West African state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Culture is no excuse, tradition is no shield, this is violence, pure and simple," a leading non-governmental organisation, Women In Leadership and Liberation (WILL), said in a statement. Two women had been arrested for their alleged involvement in the baby's death, police said. The MP for the Kombo North District where the incident happened emphasised the need to protect children from harmful practices that rob them of their health, dignity, and life. "The loss of this innocent child must not be forgotten. Let it mark a turning-point and a moment for our nation to renew its unwavering commitment to protecting every child's right to life, safety, and dignity," Abdoulie Ceesay said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FGM is the deliberate cutting or removal of a female's external genitalia. The most frequently cited reasons for carrying it out are social acceptance, religious beliefs, misconceptions about hygiene, a means of preserving a girl or woman's virginity, making her "marriageable", and enhancing male sexual pleasure. The Gambia is among the 10 countries with the highest rates of FGM, with 73% of women and girls aged 15 to 49 having undergone the procedure, with many doing so before the age of six years. WILL founder Fatou Baldeh told the BBC that there was an increase in FGM procedures being performed on babies in The Gambia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Parents feel that if they cut their girls when they're babies, they heal quicker, but also, because of the law, they feel that if they perform it at such a young age, it's much easier to disguise, so that people don't know," she said. FGM has been outlawed in The Gambia since 2015, with fines and jail terms of up to three years for perpetrators, and life sentences if a girl dies as a result. However, there have only been two prosecutions and one conviction, in 2023. A strong lobby group has emerged to demand the decriminalisation of FGM, but legislation aimed at repealing the ban was voted down in parliament last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FGM is banned in more than 70 countries globally but continues to be practised particularly in Africa's Muslim-majority countries, such as The Gambia. You may also be interested in: [Getty Images/BBC] Go to BBCAfrica.com for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica BBC Africa podcasts The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) says they are anticipating the largest Chinook Salmon return on record in Bellingham. In a collaborative effort between WDFW, Bellingham Technical College (BTC), Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC), and the Lummi Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe, more than 7,000 Chinook are expected to return to the Whatcom Creek. We have been working collectively and diligently to bring back salmon for all of our tribal people, as well as all Washington state residents and our future generations, said Lisa Wilson, vice chair of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission and a member of Lummi Nation leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We created a 10-year, co-managed hatchery plan for these Chinook and we are now seeing the results of this hard work. The salmon are raised in the Samish Hatchery, run by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. When the fish are big enough to survive on their own, they are released where Whatcom Creek meets Bellingham Bay, a WDFW release said. The Chinook are raised to increase food for orcas, support tribal fishing, and teach students how to raise salmon in a hatchery. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Dr. Anis Ahmed, clinical lead in psychiatry at Aston Medical School, has co-written an article looking at the mental health challenges for the victims of "enforced disappearances." This is defined by the UN as "the arrest, detention, abduction, or any other form of deprivation of liberty by state agents, or those acting with state approval." Together with his co-author, Professor Andrew Forrester, professor of forensic psychiatry at Cardiff University, Dr. Ahmed says that the psychological trauma of victims and their families is under-researched. There is, therefore, no clear guidance for mental health professionals treating them. The authors say that there is a dire need to develop evidence-based treatments, and that addressing the therapeutic void is "not just a clinical necessity, but a moral imperative." The paper is published in the journal Medicine, Science and the Law. Enforced disappearances are a globally significant human rights violation, affecting thousands of people across the globe. Historical examples include the "Dirty War" in Argentina (19761983), where 30,000 people went missing, while in Syria now, tens of thousands of people are missing due to state repression and conflict. Families of those who have disappeared live in a state of what is known as ambiguous loss, with a prolonged state of uncertainty in which they are unable to grieve or move forward, often suffering chronic depression and anxiety, and in some cases, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Traditional grief therapy assumes a confirmed death, and the social and cultural rituals that follow allow for mourning and closure. However, in cases of enforced disappearance, these conditions are absent. Families are left in a painful limbo, trapped between hope and despair, with no closure. Conventional grief models fail to address the unique psychological suffering caused by prolonged uncertainty and ambiguous loss. Victims who return also face unique challenges. As well as the psychological aftermath of prolonged captivity and torture, they struggle with trust, hypervigilance and shame. Reappearance can attract unwanted attention, suspicion and social stigma. Dr. Ahmed and Professor Forrester acknowledge the significant challenges in conducting research and developing the appropriate mental health guidelines. Fear acts as a powerful barrier, not only for victims, who may remain silent due to threats of reprisal or renewed targeting, but also for mental health professionals, who may hesitate to engage fully out of concern for their own safety. Even with assurances of medical confidentiality, many are only willing to speak openly after the fall of an oppressive regime, obstructing efforts to uncover the full extent of harm and delaying the development of effective, culturally appropriate treatments. They say that the first step towards developing the necessary guidance is a study to map the prevalence and psychological impact across different regions. The second step should be developing and testing targeting treatments. They write, "Mental health professionals must advocate for policy changes that support victims' families, including legal recognition of their status, access to mental health services, and the right to seek justice without persecution. International psychiatric associations, human rights organizations, and trauma researchers need to collaborate to fill this critical gap." Dr. Ahmed says, "Enforced disappearances remain a deeply neglected area in academic and clinical discourse, especially concerning mental health impacts. I'm currently working to establish an international, multidisciplinary research collaboration to address this gapbringing together voices from psychiatry, anthropology, sociology, human rights, and legal studies. This is a complex issue that requires cross-sector engagement." On 29 August 2025, Dr. Ahmed will host an international conference in London entitled "Healing the Unseen Scars: Mental Health Responses to Enforced Disappearances." Held in commemoration of World Enforced Disappearances Day on 30 August, the event will include contributions from UN representatives, forensic psychiatrists, human rights lawyers, and global researchers, including from Latin America and South Asia. In addition, Dr. Ahmed is working with victims, families and mental health professionals in Bangladesh to develop recommendations for a peer-reviewed publication, aiming to set the foundation for future research and policy advocacy. More information: Anis Ahmed et al, Mental health challenges of enforced disappearances: A call for research and action, Medicine, Science and the Law (2025). DOI: 10.1177/00258024251349373 Ozark, Ala. (WDHN) The Ozark Police Department is investigating a weekend drive-by shooting. The shooting occurred at around 1 a.m. Sunday, August 10, 2025, in the 600 block of Willa Street. Officers responded to reports of gunfire and learned the victim, who had been outside the home, was taken to Dale Medical Center by private vehicle with a gunshot wound to the lower body. Police say the injury was not life-threatening, and the victim has since been released from the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators say several adults were outside the home at the time, while two grandparents were inside. The shooting reportedly stemmed from an ongoing fight between the suspect and the victims brother over a female. Police believe the suspect, identified as 24-year-old Brandon Bonds, fired multiple shots from a vehicle, apparently aiming at the victims brother. The rounds also struck an unoccupied vehicle belonging to the intended target and hit the residence. Bonds fled before officers arrived and is believed to be driving a 2019 silver Nissan Altima with Alabama tags, according to police. He is described as 6 feet 5 inches tall, about 182 pounds, and is considered armed and dangerous. No arrests have been made at this time as the Ozark Police Department actively pursues all leads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anyone with information is asked to contact the Ozark Police Department: 911 for an emergency, or Ozark Police Department Dispatch: 334-774-5111, or Ozark Police Department: 334-774-2644 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) Researchers with University of Utah Health are raising concerns about the side effects of the popular weight-loss medication, Ozempic. New research conducted on mice by professors at the University of Utah College of Health suggests that muscles may be getting weaker in patients that use Ozempic, despite there being a minimal muscle mass impact. We have data in mice that suggest that things are not as straightforward as they might seem, Dr. Katsu Funai, associate professor at the University of Utah College of Health, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The study found that Ozempic led to a lean mass decrease of about 10%. However, most of that mass was from tissues other than skeletal muscles, like the liver, which shrunk by nearly half. The University of Utah could be cutting over 80 degrees, yours may be on the list When researchers tested the amount of force exerted by mice, they found that some showed a decrease in strength, despite muscle size remaining the same. Funai, the studys lead author, says that the loss of strength is a particular concern for adults over the age of 60. The loss of physical function is a strong predictor of not just quality of life, but longevity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Ozempic does not list strength reduction as a possible symptom of the drug, drowsiness or weakness are listed on the medications website as a result of low blood sugar, a side effect that can come from taking Ozempic. While the team of researchers says the findings are a point of concern, they acknowledge the need for additional research in order to draw conclusions. There remains a significant need for validation in humans, especially concerning muscle strength, Dr. Takuya Karasawa, researcher at the University of Utah, said. Dr. Funai says there are many additional weight loss drugs coming out in the next three to five years. But with all those clinical trials, if theyre interested in measuring lean mass loss, they need to consider physical function. Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. A P&O cruise ship was forced to evacuate after reports of a man claiming to be in possession of an explosive device. Police were called at around 11.46am on Saturday, 9 August, to the Mayflower Cruise Ferry terminal in Southampton, Hampshire Police told The Independent. Police erected a 200m cordon around the Ventura cruise ship to allow for specialist officers to search a lorry at the location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 63-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a public order offence and communicating false information (bomb hoax) has been bailed until 8 November. After searches concluded and no devices were found, Hampshire Police said: Searches concluded with no such device being located, and we are satisfied that there was no risk to the public. One passenger, Andy Palmer, said he was already onboard the ship when he saw one man being arrested. He told the Mirror that he had just boarded Ventura and was enjoying "some lunch and a drink" when he saw below "a guy being dragged out of his car by six armed policemen". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Palmer said passengers were told to go to their muster points, with staff also "turning people away" from the vessel, while "a couple of thousand" were waiting to embark. The passenger said that there were people panicking in a Facebook group set up for the cruise, which is due to make stops in Portugal, the Canary Islands and mainland Spain on a 14-day round trip. Before setting sail, Mr Palmer said it was all a bit of a worry for people that have come a long way and paid a lot of money." However, the incident ultimately did not hinder Ventura from departing from Southampton on Saturday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The over 3,000-capacity cruise is due to arrive in Funchal, Madeira on Wednesday. A P&O Cruises spokesperson confirmed that passengers were evacuated from Ventura. Due to a police incident and in an abundance of caution, we made the decision to evacuate Ventura and the passenger terminal on Saturday, August 9th, they told The Independent. The incident was quickly resolved and normal embarkation operations resumed. The safety of our guests, crew and port staff is our highest priority and we are grateful for the co-operation of the authorities, as well as everyones patience whilst the precautionary measures were in place. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ventura is continuing its itinerary as planned, they added. A spokesperson for Associated British Ports, who run the Southampton terminal, said in a statement to The Independent: We are aware of a security incident that occurred at the Port on Saturday, 9 August. Police attended the scene and have since stood down. Normal operations at the Port have resumed. We will support any ongoing enquiries by the relevant authorities." The Independent has contacted Hampshire Police for comment. For more travel news and advice, listen to Simon Calders podcast A Berks County lawmaker is calling on the owners of Berkshire Mall to address what she believes are serious concerns about the rapidly deteriorating condition of the property. State Sen. Judy Schwank, a Democrat who represents the Wyomissing community where the mall is located, has sent a formal letter to Namdar Realty Group requesting an update on the structural integrity of the building and asking them to provide transparency about their vision for the future of the property. Schwank shared a copy of the letter with the Reading Eagle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said in the letter that since Namdar Realty Group purchased the mall in 2010 the condition of the mall and surrounding property has steadily declined. She noted she is particularly concerned about structural issues that have emerged in recent months. Officials from Namdar Realty Group did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In Schwanks letter, she pointed out that sinkholes have caused large portions of the parking lot to be fenced off for months; that numerous community members have seen signs of damage both inside and outside the building; the food court is almost entirely closed; and major parts of the roof and facade are showing signs of serious neglect. The Berkshire Mall was once a thriving hub of retail activity and remains an important property in our community, Schwank wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sinkholes have caused large portions of the Berkshire Mall parking lot to be fenced off for months. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) The lawmaker requested in her letter that Namdar Realty Group provide an update on the current structural integrity of the property, list completed repairs, submit a timeline for full remediation of the known issues and share its long-term vision for the property. Schwank said the people of Berks County deserve answers. This is not just an issue Wyomissing Borough should be left to deal with on their own, she said. The condition of the Berkshire Mall impacts surrounding communities, and we all want to see it once again become a hub of activity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The further it falls into disrepair, the more difficult and costly the task of breathing new life into the property becomes for future developers, she added. Schwank said the Berkshire Mall is not the only property that the company owns that is being neglected. Namdar Realty Group is also facing scrutiny at another mall it owns in Pennsylvania that has fallen into disrepair. The company was recently ordered to pay $1.8 million in fines for repeated codes and maintenance violations at the Pittsburgh Mills Mall. Schwank concluded her letter by urging the owner to sell the property if its unable or unwilling to provide updates or make the investments needed to ensure safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wyomissing officials would like to see the Berkshire Mall reclaim its place as an economic driver. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) Michele Bare, borough manager, said the issues at the mall have been ongoing and are the subject of pending litigation against Namdar Realty Group. The board very much appreciates the support of the senator, she said. Bare said she and other Wyomissing officials would like to see the 58-acre parcel in the center of the borough reclaim its place as an economic driver. It could be a huge generator of tax revenue in terms of not just the assessed property value but the mercantile privilege tax, she said. The assessed value has basically been reduced by $50 million within the past decade so any improvement to the property, just general routine maintenance that keeps it from looking like an eyesore would be beneficial to the borough and surrounding property owners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An ongoing issue Borough officials have taken their concerns over the property to court. As a result of ongoing concerns for the safety of the visitors of the mall, the borough filed a court petition in November seeking Namdar Realty Group to immediately address issues to avoid the condemnation of the mall during the holiday season. Following a hearing shortly after the petition was filed, borough officials and representatives of the mall reached an agreement that allowed shopping to proceed. The impacted lots and travel lanes were closed to traffic and pedestrians, and fencing and barricades were installed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite that resolution, the court battle has continued with the borough asserting that several issues still need to be resolved by Namdar Realty Group. State Sen. Judy Schwank has written a letter of concern to the owners of the Berkshire Mall in Wyomissing over the condition of the property. (BILL UHRICH/READING EAGLE) QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) Pakistans railways on Monday suspended all train services to and from an insurgency-hit southwestern province for four days after separatists blew up a railway track, derailing six cars of a passenger train, officials said. No one was harmed in the attack Sunday in Mastung, a district in Balochistan, said railways spokesman Ikram Ullah. Engineers were repairing the damaged track, he said. The Jaffer Express was traveling from Quetta, the provincial capital, to the northern city of Peshawar when assailants targeted it with a bomb, Ullah said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The banned Baloch Liberation Army, in a statement, claimed responsibility for the attack, which comes months after BLA fighters hijacked a train in the same district, killing 21 hostages before security forces were able to kill 33 assailants. The attack came as Pakistan prepares to mark its 78th Independence Day on Aug. 14. Balochistan has long been the scene of insurgency by separatists seeking independence from the central government. The province is also home to militants linked to the Pakistani Taliban. Local administrator Shahid Khan said the government imposed curfews in some areas of the district of Bajaur along the Afghan border in the troubled northwest and advised residents to stay indoors, prompting many to flee to safer places in preparation for a possible security operation against the Pakistani Taliban. Bajaur was once a stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, who are known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, and the group has resurfaced there. TTP is a separate group but closely allied to the Afghan Taliban. Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Hundreds of mourners in Gaza gathered for the funerals of five Al Jazeera journalists killed by an Israeli strike on a press tent. The strike killed five reporters working for Al Jazeera, a Qatar-based news organization. The five were reporter Anas al-Sharif, correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, and video journalists Ibrahim Zaher, Moamen Aliwa, and Mohammed Noufal. Freelance reporter Mohammed al-Khaldi was also among those killed. There were seven journalists in total killed. Al-Sharif, 28, was a popular reporter in Gaza. Israel alleged Sunday that Al-Sharif was a member of Hamas. Al Jazeera called that allegation false. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al Jazeera condemned the "targeted assassination" by Israeli forces, and accused the Israeli Defense Forces of deliberately striking the journalists. "The Israeli military admitted to their crimes," the network said, describing the attack as "another blatant and premeditated assault on press freedom." Mourners attend the funeral of Al Jazeera journalists who were killed in an Israeli strike, in Gaza City, on Monday. Photo by Mahmoud Issa/UPI Footage verified by Al Jazeera showed mourners chanting slogans against the killings, saying, "With our soul and blood, we sacrifice for you, Anas." They carried the bodies of the journalists, covered in flags and press flak jackets, on their shoulders from al-Shifa Hospital to Sheikh Radwan Cemetery in central Gaza. The press tent where the attack happened was outside the al-Shifa Hospital. A member of the media inspects the damage at the site of an Israeli strike on a tent near Shifa Hospital where seven journalists were killed in Gaza City. Photo by Mahmoud Issa/UPI The Committee to Protect Journalists said it was "appalled" by the killings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Israel's pattern of labeling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom," CPJ's regional director, Sara Qudah, said in a statement. "Those responsible for these killings must be held accountable." Mourners attend the funeral of Al Jazeera journalists who were killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza City on Monday. Photo by Mahmoud Issa/UPI The United Nations Human Rights Office has condemned the killing of journalists in Gaza, calling it a "grave breach of international humanitarian law," CNN reported. "We condemn the killing by Israeli military of six Palestinian journalists by targeting their tent, in grave breach of international humanitarian law," the United Nations said on X, adding that "Israel must respect & protect all civilians, including journalists." At least 242 Palestinian journalists have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, the U.N. said, calling for immediate and safe access for all journalists to Gaza. The Committee to Protect Journalists says the number is 178. BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) A local man was indicted by a federal grand jury for possession of illegal drugs with intent to distribute and a firearm on Monday. According to a news release, 46-year-old Marlow Level Allen of Panama City, Florida, was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, and marijuana, and one count of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Allen is scheduled for arraignment in federal court before the United States Magistrate Judge Martin A. Fitzpatrick on August 14th at 1:30 p.m. in Tallahassee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said if convicted on the drug count, Allen faces up to 20 years imprisonment. If convicted on the firearm count, he faces a minimum mandatory 15 years. The Bay County Sheriffs Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WMBB) September marks the beginning of the Panama City Symphonys 30th Anniversary Season. According to a news release, this season features nine concerts and three special events, showcasing guest artists from around the world and over 100 musicians. The Panama City Symphony additionally announced the renewal of a five-year contract for its Music Director and Conductor, Sergey Bogza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bogza began in 2022 and will now extend his stay until the 2029-30 season. In his tenure, the Panama City Symphony has drawn over 8,000 audience guests each season while also adding new music education programs in 2023 and 2024. Board President Dr. Marlene East enters her second year. For more information or to buy tickets, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to mypanhandle.com. AUSTIN (KXAN) Early August is the first day back at school for many Central Texas children. While we all hope that kids learn to share, parents probably dont want them sharing germs. Dr. Gabriella Dauer spoke with KXAN about what parents should expect with those back-to-school illnesses. Shes a neonatal and pediatric hospitalist at the Maria Fareri Childrens Hospital in Westchester, New York, and also a mom of two. I have so many parents talking about all the germs and viruses that are going to come up with the new school year, Dauer said. As parents, we dont want to do any midnight runs for medications. So lets have our medicine cabinet stocked up now, early on, before those symptoms get started. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her recommendations for parents? Practice good hand washing with children, teach them about good hydration and send them to school with hand sanitizer. A good early warning sign of illness is if your kid returns home and seems more tired than usual. The school day is really long for a lot of our kiddos, and they might feel tired thereafter, but tired from an illness is a little bit different, she said. So if your kiddo is a little bit more tired, theyre a little bit more out of it or not acting like themselves, I want you to take their temperature. KXANs full conversation with Dauer is in the video attached to this story. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. WESTFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WKBN) A Painesville woman was killed after the pickup truck she was riding in was forced off the road and flipped onto railroad tracks, where it caught fire. Read next: Motorcyclist killed after hitting deer in Trumbull County According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Ford F-250 pickup that 52-year-old Tracey Hodgkinson was riding in at about 11:42 a.m. Sunday was traveling north on Interstate 71 when it was sideswiped by a 19-year-old driver in a Chrysler 200, who troopers say was traveling at a high rate of speed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pickup was pulling a fifth-wheel trailer, and it careened out of control after being sideswiped by the Chrysler. The truck detached from the trailer, went over a bridge overpass and landed on railroad tracks below, where it burst into flames. The driver of the pickup suffered serious injuries and was taken to the hospital. Hodgkinson was ejected from the truck and taken to Akron City Hospital by medical helicopter, but later died. The 19-year-old driver of the Chrysler was not injured. The crash remains under investigation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKBN.com. Chinas SMEs development index stands at 89.0 in July as pro-growth policies continue to take effect 08:32, August 11, 2025 By Zhang Weilan ( Global Times China's Small and Medium Enterprises Development Index, an index gauging the development of China's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), stood at 89.0 in July, unchanged from June, according to data released by the China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (CASME) on Sunday. An industry analyst said that the stable reading of the index reflects the positive trajectory of China's SMEs and the resilience of the broader economy amid global uncertainties, including those sparked by US tariffs. The reading serves as an indication that a range of the government's pro-growth measures have continued to offer strong support. Compiled from a survey of 3,000 SMEs across eight major sectors, the index saw rises in six sectors and declines in two sectors. In July, the sub-indexes for construction, transportation, real estate, social services, information transmission and software, and accommodation and catering industries saw significant increases, increasing by up to 0.6 points, compared with the previous month, data showed. The sub-indexes for the industrial and wholesale and retail sectors posted slight declines of 0.2 and 0.1 points, respectively, compared with the previous month. Overall industry performance remained on an improving trend, according to the association. Generally speaking, July's index showed that SMEs operated on a stable footing: expectations were steady, demand leveled off, funding conditions improved, and labor demand was unchanged while supply eased, investment intentions rebounded, costs fell and profitability held firm, according to the CASME. However, the report also noted that the external environment remains highly uncertain, domestic demand grew relatively slowly, and extreme weather conditions occurred in various areas in China in July. Still, SMEs remained broadly stable and continued to advance under pressure, it said. "We must take comprehensive measures to deepen economic-system reform, unlock domestic demand, boost services-consumption growth, energize private investment, and keep employment, enterprises, markets and expectations on an even keel. We must support private enterprises and SMEs in innovating and developing, improving quality and efficiency, and achieving a successful conclusion of the 14th Five-Year Plan period 2021-25," the CASME's report said. Sustained policy support from last year and expanding demand have continued to yield benefits, boosting China's economic growth. Combined with holiday-driven consumption and other factors, these measures have helped to enhance the production and operations of SMEs, Hu Qimu, a deputy secretary-general of the Forum 50 for Digital-Real Economies Integration, told the Global Times on Sunday. A stable industry performance reduces market uncertainty and avoids fluctuations caused by frequent adjustments, Hu said, noting that the impact of July's extreme weather on SMEs was primarily felt in the supply chain, cultural tourism, and production areas, all of which have an impact on SME operations. Hu noted that China has introduced a range of supportive policies for private companies and small firms. These include consumer vouchers, e-commerce subsidies and targeted guidance on phasing out obsolete capacity, which are loosening capital constraints, lifting sentiment and injecting fresh momentum into SMEs. Meanwhile, expansionary monetary and fiscal policies that were introduced last October have entered a dividend phase and are beginning to deliver tangible results, said Hu. Hu also highlighted the recent release of guidelineson implementing the nation's Private Sector Promotion Law by the Supreme People's Court, which outlined measures in five areas to provide judicial support for the growth of the private sector. These are expected to address challenges faced by private businesses and offer stronger legal safeguards for their development. As of the end of 2024, China had more than 60 million SMEs, and industrial SMEs generated 81 trillion yuan ($11.2 trillion) in revenue, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. China has cultivated more than 140,000 SMEs that use specialized, sophisticated technologies to produce novel and unique products, including 14,600 elite "little giant" firms, official data showed. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a telephone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Azernews reports via the Prime Ministers Office. Pashinyan briefed Erdogan on the outcomes of the August 8 negotiations in Washington, including the initialing of the Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia, the joint application to the OSCE on dissolving the OSCE Minsk Group mechanisms, the unblocking of regional communications within the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, and reciprocity, as well as the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity project. The Armenian Prime Minister stressed that peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan would open the door to a new quality of regional cooperation. The leaders also reviewed the ArmeniaTurkiye bilateral agenda, particularly the implementation of previously reached agreements, with Pashinyan noting that the current atmosphere is more favorable than ever for progress. Both sides agreed to maintain active political dialogue going forward. 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: Kyiv, Ukraine. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain After Russia's full-scale invasion, thousands of patients have been transferred from Ukraine to other European countries. A study by the University of Helsinki and HUS Helsinki University Hospital showed that 8% of Ukrainian refugees had been hospitalized due to war injuries. Almost 80% of them carried multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria. The study found that non-hospitalized refugees carried no more multidrug-resistant bacteria than previously shown for Finns who had traveled to Asia, Africa or South America. "Concerns about the risk of antimicrobial resistance relate specifically to patients who have been hospitalized in conflict-affected areas. Patients with war injuries were found to carry highly resistant bacteria, which often caused serious infections," says Professor Anu Kantele of the University of Helsinki, who led the study. The findings are published in the journal Clinical Microbiology and Infection. Multidrug-resistant bacteria spread across borders Health care systems in war zones are particularly vulnerable to the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria. "Hospitals in such areas are overburdened, and effective infection prevention is impossible. These conditions facilitate the spread of difficult-to-treat bacteria," notes Kantele. Ukrainian refugees who had not been hospitalized abroad before arriving in Finland were clearly less likely to carry multidrug-resistant bacteria. They were found to carry mainly ESBL-producing E. coli bacteria and, in individual patients, MRSA bacteria. "Ordinary citizens need not worry. The problem relates specifically to hospital settings," emphasizes Doctoral Researcher Tuomas Aro, who specializes in infectious diseases. The Finnish health care system is prepared to tackle the challenge. At Finnish hospitals, patients previously hospitalized abroad are placed in single rooms, with contact isolation measures in place and bacterial samples taken. "It's important to understand that the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance is no more common among ordinary refugees than among Finns after a trip to Asia, for instance," says Kantele. More information: Tuomas Aro et al, War on AMR: High MDR carriage rates among war-injured Ukrainian refugees, Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.cmi.2025.07.010 Dozens of Paterson students were celebrated on Aug. 2 at the 11th annual NJCDC College Sendoff, where more than $25,000 in scholarships were awarded to local graduates heading off to college. The event took place at the Rogers Meeting Center, was organized by the New Jersey Community Development Corporation (NJCDC) in partnership with the Paterson Public School District. Families, teachers, and local leaders came together to support the Class of 2025 as they prepare for the next chapter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you look at the list of schools that everyone is going to... it tells me one thing: that Patersons best days lie ahead, NJCDC founder and CEO Bob Guarasci told the students. That will only happen if you come back to Paterson and we want you to do so. Because this city needs bright minds like yours. Thirteen students were awarded $1,000 scholarships, while others received smaller awards during a raffle held at the event. $1,000 Scholarship Winners: Dorian Matos New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) Marilyn J. Clark Charitable Fund Recipients: Adiba Rupa Montclair State University Takrim Rahman Rutgers University Elianny Polanco Ramapo College Asly Castillo American University Mohamed Alsawaby NJIT Ashantae Gordon Howard University Deanna Martinez Lafayette College Jordan Martin Saint Elizabeth University Joshua Gonzalez Montclair State University Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dr. Allan DeGiulio Scholarship Recipients: Isabel Feria-Martinez Rutgers student in a masters program and intern at the NJ Coalition Against Human Trafficking Mariajose Ramirez Future psychology major at PCCC, known for her volunteer work in Paterson Leonardo Gabriel Engineering student at PCCC and active community volunteer Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh and Superintendent Dr. Laurie Newell praised the students for their hard work and encouraged them to remember their roots. Wherever you go, take Paterson with you, said Sayegh. Youre our ambassadors. Dr. Newell added, Every setback is not a setback, she said, but a lesson for you to move on to the next level. Dont be afraid to take on new experiences. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several students spoke about the positive impact NJCDC programs had on their lives. Takrim Rahman, who is heading to Rutgers, said he might never have considered top schools without NJCDCs Ivy League Tour, according to TapIn Paterson. Mariajose Ramirez said being part of NJCDCs youth team helped her gain confidence and leadership skills. Before leaving, students were given notebooks and $25 Jersey Mikes gift cards as small gifts to support them on their journeys. The path isnt going to be easy at all, said NJCDC alumna Emily Diaz, now at Johns Hopkins. Especially coming from Paterson, there might be moments where you feel like you dont belong in certain spaces. But you have to work past that past the imposter syndrome and know that you are deserving of every opportunity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Welcome to Mosaic. Follow us on Instagram at @MosaicNJcom, on Facebook at MosaicNJcom, on Twitter (X) at @MosaicNJcom and on YouTube at @MosaicNJcom. Deion Johnson may be reached at djohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Instagram at @DeionRJohnson or X @DeionRJohhnson Patrick Joseph White, 30, of Kennesaw, GA, was named as the suspect who police say opened fire at four CDC buildings in Atlanta and killed a DeKalb police officer. The suspect was named by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation on Aug. 9. "Patrick Joseph White, age 30, of Kennesaw, GA, died during the incident. Officer David Rose with the DeKalb County Police Department was shot and killed during the incident," GBI wrote in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White was armed with "two hand guns, one rifle and one shotgun and was wearing what a law enforcement official on the scene described as looking like a surgical mask," CNN reported. Patrick Joseph White's Motive May Be Related to the COVID-19 Vaccine A U.S Marshal is seen near the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) Global Headquarters during an active shooter incident on August 8, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. According to the Atlanta Police Department, the suspect in the active shooter situation is dead and a police officer was injured. Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images Previously, CNN reported that the suspect may have been motivated by anger over an illness or perceived illness he thought was caused by the COVID-19 vaccine. Authorities have not confirmed that information. CNN reported that authorities spoke to White's family members and are "operating under the hypothesis he was either sick or believed that he was sick and blamed the illness on the Covid-19 vaccine." No immediately obvious social media accounts emerged for White or his parents. No photo of White has emerged publicly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The GBI's news release did not specify a motive. The Kennesaw address tied to White in public records lists to a four-bedroom home worth $416,000, according to real estate listings. Cobb County, GA, property records show the property lists to a couple in their 60s. Kennesaw is located about 40 minutes from Atlanta. "He is a known person that might have some interest in certain things that I can't reiterate right now with any confidence until the investigation is fully conducted," Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said Friday night, Aug. 8, about White. Patrick Joseph White Was Found Dead on the 2nd Floor of a CVS Store Reports of an active shooter on CDC campus, bullets hitting one building. pic.twitter.com/P29PO1ffNe Patrick Adams @jpatadams.bsky.social (@jpatadams) August 8, 2025 According to CNN, the gunman was "was found dead on the second floor of the CVS store." It's not clear whether he was shot by police or whether the wound was self-inflicted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The CVS is located across the street from the CDC. The shootings broke out initially on Aug. 8 as an active shooter scare at Emory University, which prompted a lockdown of the campus. Viral photos on social media showed bullet holes in a window. All of a sudden we hear some shots or some loud bangs, not knowing if it's shots or fireworks at first, Emory student Finn Jacobson said to AJC. Eventually the shots keep getting faster and louder. And then I actually see a couple fly into the wall, and I see concrete spray. "At the request of the Emory University Police Department, GBI agents are investigating an officer involved shooting on Clifton Road in DeKalb County, GA. The Atlanta Police Department has requested the GBI investigate a shooting incident that occurred prior to the officer involved shooting," GBI wrote in a news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The GBI is also the lead investigative agency in these cases." "ATF, FBI, the Atlanta Police Department, the Brookhaven Police Department, the Chamblee Police Department, the Dekalb County Police Department, the Dekalb County Sheriffs Office, the Dunwoody Police Department, and the Georgia State Patrol assisted with clearing and securing the scene," GBI wrote. "There is extensive evidence to collect due to the complex scene. Numerous interviews are being conducted. This investigation will take an extended period of time." "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," wrote CDC Director Susan Monarez. Related: Bryan Kohberger's 'Creepy' Selfie Revealed in Idaho Murders Court Filing Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw Named as the CDC Shooter first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 9, 2025 The gunman in the Atlanta shooting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been named as Patrick Joseph White, 30, of Kennesaw, GA. Details about the shooter's family background and motive are still emerging. However, CNN reported that White's father "called law enforcement before the shooting to report he believed his son was suicidal. It was not immediately clear how much time had elapsed between the call and the shooting." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Patrick Joseph White, age 30, of Kennesaw, GA, died during the incident. Officer David Rose with the DeKalb County Police Department was shot and killed during the incident," GBI wrote in a news release. Patrick Joseph White Is Linked to a Family Home in Kennesaw, GA Property records show that Patrick Joseph White is linked to a $416,000 four-bedroom home in Kennesaw. Property records in Cobb County, GA, say that home lists to a couple in their 60s who share White's last name. No immediately apparent social media accounts emerged for Patrick Joseph White or his parents. Authorities have yet to reveal a motive formally, but CNN has reported that the gunman "was either sick or believed that he was sick and blamed the illness on the Covid-19 vaccine." That information came from the gunman's family, per CNN. A law enforcement officer pets a police K-9 officer near the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) Global Headquarters during an active shooter incident on August 8, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images DeKalb Police Officer David Rose left behind two kids and a pregnant wife, CNN noted. White was found dead at the scene, according to Atlanta police, although it's not clear whether his wound was self-inflicted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The shooting provoked a lockdown on the Emory University campus in Atlanta, but authorities now believe that the CDC's offices were the likely target. He (Rose) was committed to serving the community, said Interim Police Chief Greg Padrick, in a news conference, identifying the slain officer. 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. No photo of White has emerged thus far. Related: Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw Named as the CDC Shooter Patrick Joseph White's Family: His Father Called Police Before Attack, Report Says first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 9, 2025 Jeffrey Tobolski traveled a well-worn path in Chicago-area politics, from following in the footsteps of his late father as mayor of the tiny west suburban town of McCook to double-dipping as a Cook County commissioner. But his career also had another familiar and darker ring to it. For years, federal prosecutors say, he used his positions to create a fiefdom of graft, shaking down business owners who needed liquor licenses, forcing a developer to install air conditioning in his home for free, and even enlisting McCooks police chief as his personal bagman. After the FBI raided Tobolskis offices in the fall of 2019, he became the poster boy in a burgeoning federal corruption probe that eventually brought down nearly a dozen suburban elected officials and political operatives, including Tobolskis chief of staff and other close associates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, nearly six years after Tobolski agreed to cooperate with the investigation, a federal judge sentenced him to four years in prison, calling him a Jekyll and Hyde human being whod clearly become consumed by the power of his position. I think that the elixir for you was the power of that office, fueled by alcohol, U.S. District Chief Judge Virginia Kendall said. The side that was exhibited during those years was a very ugly, aggressive, arrogant individual, like the complete flip side of a human being. The judge also said she had to look up McCook and was surprised to see it has only 300 residents, a fact that makes the negative impact of Tobolskis tenure loom even larger. This small community should never have been terrorized by one human being, Kendall said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before he was sentenced, Tobolski stood at the lectern and read a nearly 15-minute statement to the court, apologizing for the people he hurt and saying hes stopped abusing alcohol and changed his life for the better. What I did was wrong, Tobolski said as about a dozen supporters, including his wife and daughter, looked on from the courtroom gallery. I have added to the ever increasing distrust in elected officials. Tobolski said that after the FBI raids in 2019, he was in shock. The lies and the deceit had come to an end, he said. After taking a week to think about it, he made the decision to go all-in with his cooperation, admitting not only to his own litany of crimes but testifying before the grand jury and helping the government secure convictions of others. Tobolskis sentencing was one of the final acts in a case that unfolded like a cliched tale of midlevel Chicago corruption, with a wired-up executive entertaining politicos at his suburban cigar lounge, secret contracts siphoning funds from red-light cameras to a mob-connected businessman, and another mayor, Louis Presta, handing over an envelope of bribe money at a Crestwood pancake house called Stacked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the investigation, Tobolski was secretly recorded joking about how corrupt he was, according to prosecutors, at one point stating sarcastically, You know I dont take any money in McCook, ever. Im as legitimate as they come. His then-chief of staff, Patrick Doherty, was caught on another wiretap talking with an associate about the prospect of doing business in Tobolskis notoriously corrupt administration. Its all contingent on what you can give, Doherty told the associate, Omar Maani, about the obligatory campaign donations to Dohertys boss, according to court records. Maani, who was secretly recording the September 2019 conversation for the FBI, said, Its like youre paying a little tax. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right. Juice, Doherty replied, according to court records. Street juice. I hope we can get it before (Tobolski) goes to jail. I hope we can retire. Tobolski, 60, pleaded guilty in September 2020 to conspiring with McCooks then-police chief, Mario DePasquale, to extort a restaurant owner who needed permission to host events serving alcohol. At the time, Tobolski doubled as McCooks liquor commissioner. In all, Tobolski admitted to accepting more than a quarter of a million dollars in bribes or extortion payments over the years. He also was showered with a variety of other benefits, including cash, cigars, dinners, holiday gifts, sporting event tickets and those free air-conditioning units, which a developer installed at Tobolskis home at a cost of $18,000. Tobolski also pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return in 2018 where he underreported his income by at least $66,000, at least $10,000 of which was bribe money, according to his plea agreement. The document stated he also misreported his income in returns filed each year from 2012 to 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition to the four-year prison term, Kendall ordered Tobolski to pay $85,000 in restitution to two of his extortion victims. He must report to prison by Nov. 3. Prosecutors had asked Kendall for a 5-year prison sentence for Tobolski, writing in a recent court filing that he went on an aggressive and persistent cash grab to enrich himself at his constituents expense, regularly demanding cash payments and other benefits from people seeking to do business in McCook and elsewhere in the Chicago area. In court Monday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Tiffany Ardam said that for years, corruption was a way of life for Tobolski, and that he not only extorted money from people struggling to build businesses but also unleashed his police chief to intimidate them. One victim, a Greek immigrant who was trying to live his American Dream by opening a restaurant in McCook, found himself instead forced to pay Tobolski $1,000 a month to keep his liquor license. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At DePasquales sentencing hearing last year, the victim, who asked to remain anonymous, testified how in July 2018, after hed come up short with a payment, DePasquale warned him that the boss would not be happy. The man said his license was revoked by the city the next day, putting him out of business. That was one of the worst days I have in my life, the victim testified in a thick accent. Another victim told prosecutors he was scared to death that if he didnt pay, hed be shut down, Ardam said Monday. The defendant isnt just a corrupt politician whose victims are society at large or taxpayers generally, Ardam said. His victims were real, everyday people who will forever remember his crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tobolskis lawyers, meanwhile, asked for leniency, pointing to his extensive cooperation in the case, which included reading a 61-page statement to the grand jury detailing his crimes and other corruption hed witnessed as well as making secret recordings against unnamed associates though that covert work did not result in any new charges. He didnt hesitate, he didnt hedge, he didnt say give me time to think about it,' defense attorney David Sterba told the judge Monday. That very day he said, Im all in. The probe that ensnared Tobolski stretched from Chicagos southwest suburbs to the Capitol building in Springfield, where federal agents raided the offices of then-state Sen. Martin Sandoval in September 2019, thrusting the case into the public spotlight. Two days later, agents fanned out across the suburbs, executing search warrants at village halls and the homes of several elected officials, including Tobolski, where they found $51,000 in cash stored in a safe. Tobolski resigned from his elected positions the following March. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the center of the case was Maani, an executive at the time for red-light camera company SafeSpeed LLC who worked undercover for the FBI for months and wore a wire on several defendants including Sandoval, Tobolski, Doherty, and Presta all of whom he hosted at his Countryside cigar lounge called Casa De Montechristo. Maani, who was given a deferred prosecution agreement for his efforts, also recorded state Sen. Emil Jones III and testified for the first time at Jones bribery trial earlier this year. Maani told the jury he started bribing elected officials when he was still in his 20s, making money hand over fist as a real estate developer and SafeSpeed co-founder. To him, it was the necessary way to do business in Illinois, he said. I gave them cigars, took them out to dinner, gave them campaign contributions, Maani said of his corrupt ways. They always asked me for money. I capitulated and gave it to them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Who asked him for money? a prosecutor asked. Virtually everyone, from what I recall, Maani said. The jury in Jones trial deadlocked on all counts, and a retrial is set for January. Sandoval, the once-powerful head of the Senate Transportation Committee, pleaded guilty to taking tens of thousands of dollars in cash over a two-year period from Maani to serve as SafeSpeeds protector in the Senate. He was cooperating with the government when he died suddenly of COVID-19 complications in December 2020. Doherty and Presta also pleaded guilty and were sentenced to prison. Another target in the red-light camera aspect of the probe, former Oakbrook Terrace Mayor Tony Ragucci, has pleaded guilty and is awaiting sentencing. SafeSpeed and its CEO, Nikki Zollar, have said they were not aware of Maanis illegal activities and have not been accused of any wrongdoing. As part of their sentencing submissions, Tobolskis lawyers filed numerous awards and other accomplishments from his career. They also sent the judge two heartfelt letters from Tobolskis wife and daughter, who talked at length about how he got into politics with seemingly the best intentions, but changed into someone they barely knew. Id attend a political event with him and people would be so nauseatingly deferential to him that I had to actually concentrate to not make a face, wrote his wife, Cathleen. Theyd laugh uproariously at a joke that wasnt even funny. Tobolskis daughter, who was a freshman in college at the time news of the investigation broke, wrote that shed loathed her father for dragging her to funerals and introducing her to a LOT of creepy drunk men at political events. I resented him because I remember being told that any mistake I made in my own life would reflect poorly on him as a politician, that our lives were public and there would always be some political foe or reporter that would jump at the chance to use our familys missteps as leverage against him, Tobolskis daughter wrote. In asking for leniency, Tobolskis wife and daughter both commended his decision early on to not fight the charges and cooperate, and said hes since made amends and rededicated himself to his family. The heart of the matter is that we just got him back, his daughter wrote. In his statement to the court, Tobolski grew emotional as he talked about the gut punch of realizing how his actions had affected his family and those who supported his political career. I had become smug, arrogant, impatient and criminal. I failed them, he said. Kendall told Tobolski its ironic, but in a way the FBI swooping in saved your life and gave him a second chance with his family. You could have easily lost both of them, she said as Tobolski nodded in agreement. And theyre here. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com Video above: This FOX 5/KUSI video provides driving safety tips. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A man is recovering from injuries after being struck by a vehicle while crossing a busy roadway in the Midway District Sunday afternoon, according to the San Diego Police Department. The collision occurred around 12:20 p.m. in the 3700 block of Camino Del Rio West, where a 69-year-old pedestrian attempted to cross the street midblock amid heavy traffic, police said. As he stepped into the far left lane lane, he was struck by a 2021 Jeep Wrangler driven by a 34-year-old man traveling southbound. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emergency responders transported the pedestrian to a local hospital with significant injuries, including an open fracture to his right leg and a fractured pelvis. Authorities have not released the names of those involved. Traffic Division investigators responded to the scene and are handling the investigation. Anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has additional information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. A policy group founded by former Vice President Mike Pence issued a memo to lawmakers Monday highlighting the sharp increase in lobbying revenue as a result of the Trump administrations aggressive use of tariffs. The truth is that Americans, not foreign countries, pay tariffs. American families know the truth: tariffs hurt hardworking American families while funding the very swamp that President Trump ran on draining. Drain the Swamp means stopping the tariff funding for K Street, not growing it, states the memo from Advancing American Freedom Foundation, which was obtained exclusively by The Hill. The memo cites a 599 percent increase in tariff lobbyist revenue this year compared to 2024, with the total value of tariff lobbying contracts totaling roughly $8.8 million, according to House Clerk Lobbying Disclosures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also shows the average tariff lobbying contract from between April and June of this year was up 110 percent compared to the same time in 2024. The memo argues tariffs have hurt the economy, and small businesses in particular. It points to data showing economic growth for the year is at just 1.35 percent, and data showing financial markets are still below where they were before Trump announced a wave of tariffs on imports in early April. The former vice president has for months warned against the potential economic impacts of President Trumps use of tariffs. Advancing American Freedom launched an ad campaign in April pushing back on the tariffs as harmful for American farmers and consumers. Trump last week followed through on his threat to impose sweeping tariffs on dozens of countries, with some facing as high as a 50 percent tariff, and top trading partners such as Canada also facing steep duties. Those reciprocal tariffs had been delayed twice, first in April and then in July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Penn Medicine is looking to establish an imaging center off Silverside Road in Talleyville in hopes that a Delaware location would "alleviate travel and wait times for current and future patients," according to a document filed last month with the Delaware Health Care Commission. If approved, the center would mark Penn Medicines foray into Delaware, despite the healthcare system's existing affiliations with healthcare providers in the state. On July 22, attorneys for the University of Pennsylvania Health System submitted a notice of intent to apply for a Certificate of Public Review a requirement under Delaware law for any healthcare business seeking to establish a new facility or service. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The process is designed to ensure that proposed healthcare projects are truly needed, benefit the community and support the overall public health. A sign for Penn Medicine on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., September 25, 2017. REUTERS/Charles Mostoller According to the notice, Penn Medicine wants to turn an existing 7,800 square foot space in the first floor of a medical office building into a diagnostic imaging center. The center would be located at 3305 Silverside Road, in Concord Plaza. The plaza, located by Route 202, is home to apartments, healthcare offices, restaurants, beauty salons, a child care center and numerous other businesses. What would Penn Medicine's new imaging center offer? According to the notice, the center would have one 1.5T MRI scanner and one conventional CT scanner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would also have "additional diagnostic equipment," though that equipment was not specified. Is this center needed? In its filing, Penn Medicine said the facility, located about two miles south of the Delaware-Pennsylvania border, is anticipated to primarily draw patients from New Castle County. "Indeed, the applicant has identified that a substantial proportion of its existing patient population resides in Delaware and travels to out of state locations for radiology services," the notice said. Currently, there is no Penn Medicine imaging center in the area, though ChristianaCare does offer several imaging centers close by. ChristianaCare signage and segment of the hospital is featured at Ogletown Stanton Road in Stanton on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023. Delaware Imaging Network, a radiology facility, is also located nearby on Route 202, though a temporary sign on one building in Concord Plaza indicates it may be moving locations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the notice of intent the first step in the Certificate of Public Review process the new Penn Medicine center would be a $10.6 million investment. The full application for a Certificate of Public Review is expected to be filed in mid-September. Got a story tip or idea? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com. For all things breaking news, follow her on X at @izzihughes_ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Penn Medicine wants to open northern Delaware imaging center (WHTM) Police in Pennsylvania say theres an uptick in thefts involving Kia and Hyundai vehicles. These vehicles were targeted in recent years by thieves amid a social media trend called the Kia Boys or Kia Hyundai Thefts. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now This Week in Pennsylvania Some automakers have increased their theft prevention technologies in response to the trend. Kia and Hyundai vehicles built after 2023 have engine immobilizers built in, and dealerships can install them for free. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All I can say is residents should be vigilant, said Blake Iorio, with the Lower Paxton Township Police Department, told abc27 last October. You start to see a common trend as the weather gets cooler, people start to keep their car unlocked and warm up their vehicles during the colder months, leaving their keys inside. Thats a crime of opportunity. A lot of people take that and steal cars at that time. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, certain Hyundai and Kia vehicles were among the commonly stolen vehicles in Pennsylvania last year. Rank Make and Model Total Thefts 1 Hyundai Elantra 1,081 2 Hyundai Sonata 972 3 Honda Accord 725 4 Honda CR-V 704 5 Jeep Grand Cherokee 522 6 Nissan Maxima 464 7 Honda Civic 455 8 Kia Optima 409 9 Nissan Altima 372 10 Infiniti Q50 371 Philadelphia was the epicenter for car thefts in Pennsylvania last year and ranked among the top 10 in counties with vehicle thefts nationwide. The county did see a significant decrease in thefts last year, with more than 3,000 fewer thefts. Top 10 Year-End National Vehicle Theft Rates by County County State 2023 Thefts 2024 Thefts 2024 Thefts by Volume Rank 2023-2024 Theft Percentage Change Philadelphia PA 15,845 12,166 8 -23% Allegheny PA 1,615 1,879 79 16% Delaware PA 1,197 920 146 -23% Montgomery PA 1,024 902 149 -12% Bucks PA 818 684 182 -16% Berks PA 445 388 287 -13% Lehigh PA 423 353 305 -17% Dauphin PA 430 336 310 -22% York PA 476 288 335 -39% Northampton PA 229 257 359 12% More than half of the vehicles stolen in Lancaster City in April and May 2023 were Kias and Hyundais. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If youre able to park your vehicle in well-lit areas, [do it], said Lieutenant Glenn Stoltzfus of the Lancaster City Bureau of Police. If you have access to it, park it in a private garage. Police say you can also get a steering wheel lock to deter thieves. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CLAIRTON, Pa. (WHTM) Explosions at a U.S. Steel plant that shook the ground near Pittsburgh left one dead and sent at least 10 to hospitals Monday, with emergency workers still searching the badly charred rubble hours later for a missing worker, officials said. One worker was pulled from the wreckage hours after the explosions sent black smoke spiraling into the midday sky in the Mon Valley, a region of the state synonymous with steel for more than a century. Allegheny County Emergency Services said a fire at the plant started around 10:51 a.m. A search and rescue effort was still active on Monday afternoon and officials said they had not isolated the cause of the blasts. FILE Part of the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works is seen May 2, 2019, in Clairton, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File) This image provided by Amy Sowers shows smoke from the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025 in Clairton, Pa. (Amy Sowers via AP) FILE A view of the United States Steel Mon Valley Works Clairton Plant, in Clairton, Pennsylvania, October 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File) The explosion sent a shock through the community and led to officials asking residents to stay away from the scene so emergency workers could respond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a news conference, Scott Buckiso, U.S. Steels chief manufacturing officer, did not give details about the damage or casualties, and said they were still trying to determine what happened. U.S. Steel employees did a great job of going in and rescuing workers, shutting down gases and making sure the site was stable. The Allegheny County Health Department said it lifted an advisory it issued earlier in the day telling residents within 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) of the plant to remain indoors and close all windows and doors. It said its monitors have not detected levels of soot or sulfur dioxide above federal standards. The Clairton Coke Works, a massive industrial facility along the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh, is considered the largest coking operation in North America and is one of four major U.S. Steel plants in Pennsylvania. The plant converts coal to coke, a key component in the steel-making process. According to the company, it produces 4.3 million tons (3.9 million metric tons) of coke annually and has approximately 1,400 workers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said the Pennsylvania State Police and Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency were in touch with first responders and have offered all assistance. Please join Lori and me in praying for the Clairton community, the governor posted on social media, referring to his wife. 4 children and 2 adults are killed when fire rips through a house in Maryland U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, who formerly served as the mayor of nearby Braddock, called the explosion absolutely tragic and vowed to support steelworkers in the aftermath. I grieve for these families, Fetterman said. I stand with the steelworkers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said he was monitoring the explosion. Keeping those injured and all who are impacted in my thoughts right now, he said. Lt. Gov. Austin Davis shared that he knows people who work at the plant and that he and his wife are praying for the workers and their families. In June, U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel announced they had finalized a historic partnership, a deal that gives the U.S. government a say in some matters and comes a year and a half after the Japanese company first proposed its nearly $15 billion buyout of the iconic American steelmaker. The pursuit by Nippon Steel for the Pittsburgh-based company was buffeted by national security concerns and presidential politics in a premier battleground state, dragging out the transaction for more than a year after U.S. Steel shareholders approved it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, a problem with a battery at the plant led to a buildup of combustible material that ignited, causing an audible boom, the Allegheny County Health Department said. Two workers who got material in their eyes received first aid treatment at a local hospital but were not seriously injured. In recent years, the Clairton plant has been dogged by concerns about pollution. In 2019, it agreed to settle a 2017 lawsuit for $8.5 million. Under the settlement, the company agreed to spend $6.5 million to reduce soot emissions and noxious odors from the Clairton coke-making facility, on the Monongahela River about 20 miles south of Pittsburgh. The company also faced other lawsuits over pollution from the Clairton facility, including ones accusing the company of violating clean air laws after a December 2018 fire damaged the Clairton facilitys sulfur pollution controls. Clairton Mayor Richard Lattanzi said his heart goes out to the victims of the explosion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mill is such a big part of Clairton, he said. Its just a sad day for Clairton. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. People diagnosed with ME/chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) have significant differences in their DNA compared to those without the condition, according to a groundbreaking new study in Britain. Scientists said the findings offer the first robust evidence that genes contribute to a persons chance of developing the disease. The DecodeME study, said to be the largest of its kind in the world, uncovered eight areas of genetic code in people with ME/CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome) that are markedly different to the DNA of people without the condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Researchers hope the findings will boost validity and credibility for patients, and help rebuff some of the stigma and lack of belief that exists around the condition. There is currently no diagnostic test or cure for ME/CFS, which is believed to affect around 67 million people worldwide, and very little is known about what causes it. A key feature of the condition is a disproportionate worsening of symptoms following even minor physical or mental activity, which is known as post-exertional malaise (PEM,) while other symptoms include pain, brain fog and extreme energy limitations that do not improve with rest. For the new study, researchers analysed 15,579 DNA samples from the 27,000 people with ME/CFS participating in DecodeME, described as the worlds largest data set of people with the disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The eight regions of DNA where scientists found genetic differences involve genes linked to the immune and nervous systems. At least two of the genetic signals relate to how the body responds to infection, which researchers said aligns with long-standing patient reports that the onset of symptoms often followed an infectious illness. Professor Chris Ponting, DecodeME investigator from the University of Edinburgh, said: This is a wake-up call. These extraordinary DNA results speak the language of ME/CFS, often recounting peoples ME/CFS symptoms. DecodeMEs eight genetic signals reveal much about why infection triggers ME/CFS and why pain is a common symptom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement ME/CFS is a serious illness and we now know that someones genetics can tip the balance on whether they are diagnosed with it. As a persons DNA does not change over time, experts say the genetic signals identified would not have developed because of ME/CFS and are therefore likely to reflect the causes of the disease. Populations used in the initial study were limited to those from European ancestries. DecodeME research studying DNA data from all ancestries is ongoing. ME/CFS, thought to affect around 404,000 people in the UK, affects more females than males, although researchers found nothing to explain why this is the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The DecodeME team is now calling on researchers from around the world to access its rich dataset and help drive forward targeted studies into ME/CFS. Sonya Chowdhury, chief executive of Action for ME and a DecodeME co-investigator, said: These results are groundbreaking. With DecodeME, we have gone from knowing next to nothing about the causes of ME/CFS, to giving researchers clear targets. She also hopes the discoveries will help change the way the condition is viewed. Ms Chowdhury said: This really adds validity and credibility for people with ME. We know that many people have experienced comments like ME is not real, or theyve been to doctors and been disbelieved or told that its not a real illness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whilst things have changed and continue to change, that is still the case for some people and we hear that repeatedly as a charity. Being able to take this study into the treatment room and say there are genetic causes that play a part in ME is going to be really significant for individuals. It will rebuff that lack of belief and the stigma that exists. The findings have been reported in a pre-print publication, or unpublished study. During a media briefing about the study, researchers were asked about similarities between the symptoms of long Covid and ME/CFS. Prof Ponting said: Its very clear that the symptomology between long Covid and ME is highly similar. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not for everyone but there are substantial similarities but as a geneticist the key question for me is are there overlapping genetic factors, and we havent found that in DECode ME with the methods that weve employed. One of the key things that were doing is enabling others to use their different approaches to ask and answer the same question. DecodeME is a collaboration between the University of Edinburgh, the charity Action for ME, the Forward ME alliance of charities, and people with ME/CFS. It is funded by the Medical Research Council and National Institute for Health and Care Research. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The wildfire smoke that has blanketed the state this month could take a toll on the health of Michiganians long after clearing. The particles that form plumes of wildfire smoke are small (the average human hair is at least 30 times larger). That means they can seep into our blood, where they pose a triple threat to our lungs, hearts and brains, medical researchers say. Doctors and medical researchers have known for decades that air pollution is linked to early death, said Sara Adar, a University of Michigan epidemiology professor and associate editor of the journal Environmental Health Perspectives. From there, they discovered that air pollution hurts the respiratory and circulatory systems. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says particulate matter exposure can cause coughing, difficulty breathing, irregular heartbeats, asthma attacks and more. Within the past decade, the pollutant has also been linked to affecting brain function, Adar said. "Our brains are incredibly sensitive to how much oxygen we get, the pumping of the blood," she said. "Anything that's going to damage the blood vessels, which is part of what causes heart disease , is going to damage the brain as well." The connection is getting renewed attention as Michigan forecasters have issued more air quality warnings because of wildfire smoke this summer than at any time in at least 26 years. Further research into the role wildfires play in brain health will also be important going forward, as human-caused climate change intensifies droughts and amplifies wildfires, particularly in northern regions like Canada, according to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. "This is a climate change problem, no doubt about that," said Jonathan Overpeck, dean of the School for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan. "We're paying the price. As long as we keep making it hotter and drier by burning fossil fuels, we're going to keep making this situation worse." Last month, a team of researchers published a review of recent medical studies that show long-term exposure to small particle pollution known as PM 2.5 can increase a person's risk of developing dementia. While exposure from any source of fine particle pollution was associated with greater rates of dementia, the link is particularly strong when those particles come from wildfire smoke and agriculture, according to a 2023 investigation Adar co-wrote in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine. The researchers used data from a health survey of nearly 28,000 people who were part of a study between 1998 and 2016. Participants were surveyed on their cognitive health, overall health and behaviors until they died or stopped participating in the survey. Researchers only used data from people who did not have dementia at the time of their first interview. They then reviewed the estimated amount of PM 2.5 the participants would have been exposed to at their home addresses over time, looking at the total amount of particle pollution and particle pollution from nine different sources, including road traffic, coal-fired power plants, wildfires and more. Based on the results, the researchers estimated nearly 188,000 new cases per year of dementia were attributable to total PM 2.5 exposure in the U.S. The researchers didn't determine why particles from wildfires and agriculture appear more closely linked to dementia, but Adar said they have several guesses. Agricultural particles likely carry neurotoxic chemicals in pesticides and herbicides, which could affect the health and brain function of people who live nearby, she said. Wildfire smoke tends to be very concentrated compared with other sources of pollution, which might increase its link to dementia, Adar said. It can also blanket areas for days at a time, like it recently did in Michigan. "The pollution is really uncontrolled in a way that other sources are not," she said. "At this point, we've done a lot of work to clean up our cars and our trucks and our power plants in positive ways, but when you set the world on fire, you're burning everything." It isn't just trees and vegetation that burn when wildfires rage. "You're talking about burning gas stations and homes and cars, all of which are putting a toxic soup into the air," Adar said. That toxic soup has been on the menu for a long time this summer. As of Wednesday, there have been 21 days this summer when Michigan Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy meteorologists issued air quality warnings for parts or all of Michigan. The only comparable year is 2023, when Canadian wildfire smoke collected in Michigan and caused skyrocketing levels of pollution and a thick haze that hung low over Detroit. The pollution was stronger that year, but it didn't last as long, said Jim Haywood, EGLE senior meteorologist. "We're almost double the number of days that we've issued some sort of an advisory" this summer, Haywood said. "It's been quite an active year." 2023 was the first year EGLE meteorologists issued an air quality advisory or action day because of wildfire smoke in Haywood's 26 years on the job, he said. The location of wildfires, primarily in central Canada, is an important factor in this year's extensive length of poor air quality, Haywood said. Smoke from fires in the western U.S. and British Columbia has to blow a long way before it reaches Michigan. The ongoing fires are closer, and a north wind kicks their smoke directly toward Michigan. Smoke is still lingering in the northern Lower and Upper Peninsulas, but at lower levels than earlier in August, Haywood said. The 10-day forecast shows Michigan getting a south wind that will blow the smoke back into Canada. As for the rest of this summer, "it's going to be precarious," Haywood said. "The one thing I can tell you is there are massive amounts of raging fires up in Manitoba and Ontario, which is pretty much due north of us, to the northwest a little bit," he said. "Just a few hundred miles away." Haywood recommended people download the Enviroflash cellphone app at enviroflash.info to stay up to date on air quality advisories and alerts. UM's Adar recommended people take steps to reduce their exposure to particle pollution. When there is a lot of PM 2.5 in the air, they should try to spend more time indoors and exercise indoors instead of outdoors. If available, they should run air filters or central air conditioning to filter particles from indoor air. If someone has to be outside on a polluted day, wearing an N95 mask can reduce the amount of particles they breathe, Adar said. People who are sensitive to pollution should take additional caution and pay closer attention to air quality, she said. Those include people with chronic health conditions, the elderly and children. A warming climate change plays "a definitive and measurable role" in increasing wildfires in western North America, including in Canada, said Richard Rood, a UM professor emeritus of climate and space sciences and engineering. Warmer air holds more moisture, which leads to longer dry spells and more extreme rain, he said. Dry air can suck moisture from plants and soil. That creates conditions ripe for wildfires. "You get a burst of growth, especially in underbrush, that becomes more fuel," Rood said. "So if you have a dry summer that follows a wet spring, at some level it makes (fires) even more likely. It's sort of a pumping effect at some level." Wildfires themselves exacerbate climate change, UM's Overpeck said, because greenhouse gases are released when wood and vegetation burn. "It's a big positive feedback loop," he said. "You get hotter, drier conditions, you get more wildfire, you get more carbon dioxide released when the vegetation burns, and that makes things yet hotter and drier." Michigan lawmakers, including the seven Michigan Republicans in the state's congressional delegation, have called on Canada to do more to suppress wildfires. They asked the Canadian government to "take immediate and decisive action to contain these fires and prevent future wildfires." Good fire management practices and stopping the intentional or accidental blazes that spark wildfires can help protect against wildfires or limit their scope, but it's expensive work, especially for a country like Canada with so much remote landscape, Overpeck said. It's reasonable to ask Canada to improve its fire management regimen, Overpeck said, but he said Canadians would be justified to criticize U.S. lawmakers and the Trump administration for trying to dismantle federal climate programs. Pollution in Michigan blows into Canada, too, he said. "I would ask our legislators to not just be telling Canada what to do, but to be cleaning up our air here in Michigan, which, of course, blows into Ontario," Overpeck said. "Our pollution is a precursor to the pollution in southern Ontario, and I'm sure there are politicians in Ontario that would like to see us reduce the pollution coming out of Michigan." 2025 The Detroit News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A devoted dad has been identified as one of the two steel workers killed in an explosion at a Pennsylvania plant on Monday, the governor said. The incident at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works plant in Clairton, about 15 miles outside of Pittsburgh, trapped people under rubble, prompting a rescue operation, according to Allegheny County officials. Ten people were injured from the blast inside a battery operating area at the plant, officials said. At least five of the injured have been released from the hospital, according to officials. WTAE - PHOTO: Aerial footage of a reported explosion at US Steel Clairton Coke Works in Clairton, Pa., Aug. 11, 2025. MORE: Nearly 500 rounds recovered from CDC campus after gunman attack: Officials Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he met on Tuesday with the sister and girlfriend of Timothy Quinn, one of the employees killed. Quinn, who went by "TQ," was a second-generation steel worker, Shapiro said at a news conference. He was a devoted father of three and served as a mentor to his coworkers, Shapiro said. Facebook - PHOTO: Timothy Quinn was killed in the Aug. 11, 2025, explosion at the US Steel plant in Clairton, PA, the citys Mayor Richard Lattanzi confirmed to ABC News. "His life was cut too short because of what happened here," the governor said. "We have a responsibility to remember his legacy." The second victim's family declined to release the name publicly, Shapiro said. WTAE - PHOTO: Aerial footage of a reported explosion at US Steel Clairton Coke Works in Clairton, Pa., Aug. 11, 2025. MORE: 2 South Carolina women found dead over 100 miles from home, homicide investigation underway: Coroner Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement David B. Burritt, president and CEO of U.S. Steel, said the company is working with authorities to determine the cause. He also said the plant is considered safe. "We all have many questions," Shapiro told ABC News Live on Tuesday. "We're demanding answers -- and U.S. Steel has promised us those answers." "I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family and friends of the two employees we lost. We're holding you close in our thoughts," Burritt said, adding, "We're also thinking of the injured and their families." Allegheny County Health Department inspectors visited the complex just over a month before the explosion, Environemntal Protection Agency spokesperson Kelly Offner said in a statement to ABC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Inspectors conducted an on-site full compliance evaluation of the facility on July 3. Additionally, EPA representatives traveled to Clairton last year to conduct "ambient air monitoring" at the facility using an Geospatial Measurement of Air Pollution mobile vehicle, according to the agency. CMU CREATE Lab/Breathe Project - PHOTO: CCTV video shows a possible explosion at US Steel Clairton Coke Works in Clairton, Pa., Aug. 11, 2025. The local Health Department responded to the explosion on Monday and has since lifted a "stay indoors advisory." "We did watch the air quality monitors," Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato said at Tuesday's news conference. "They all show levels of PM 2.5 [fine inhalable particles under 2.5 micrometers] and sulfur dioxide to be within the national ambient air quality limits throughout the event yesterday and today. Further, hydrogen sulfide levels were also low." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the blast, "we have not had any troubling readings here at the plant or in the surrounding communities," Shapiro told ABC News Live. The Allegheny County Health Department and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection continue to monitor the situation, and "should that change," the community will immediately be notified, he said. ABC News' Michael Pappano contributed to this report. Perry Fire near Mantua Reservoir fully contained BOX ELDER COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) The Perry Fire, located on Forest Service lands in Box Elder County, is now fully contained, according to Utah Fire Info. The fire, which started on Friday, Aug. 8, was burning in heavy timber and mixed conifer. The blaze was reportedly visible from I-15 in Box Elder County, causing multiple people to report the fire to authorities. Located five miles southwest of Mantua Reservoir, fire crews were able to establish fire lines and extinguish hotspots on the fire over the following two days. The fire was mapped at just over five acres. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sunday night, fire officials reported that the wildfire was 100% contained. See photos of the incident below: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perry Fire (Courtesy of Utah Fire Info) This year has seen 42,342 fires so far the highest of the last 10 years in this time period, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. The 10-year average number of fires in this period is 35,353. Widespread critical conditions have affected much of the Great Basin, central Rockies, and Four Corners. No further information is available at this time. Latest headlines: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. Debates about child care policy frequently feature two sides talking past each other. On the left, there can be a sense that child care is more about the economy than families, as when Joe Bidens Commerce secretary, Gina Raimondo, asserted that Anyone who thinks child care is social policy is deeply misguided and doesnt know how to run a business. On the right, there can be disdain for the very idea of placing young children in the care of people outside the home, as with JD Vance tweeting in 2021, Universal day care is class war against normal people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What both sides commonly miss is that a strong child care system does not stand opposed to the family, but in fact cultivates healthy soil in which family values can grow and thrive. Good child care offers families both protective and promotive features, features which are all the more important as American parents face declining mental health, increased isolation and a host of challenges that come with raising children in the 2020s. Abundant, affordable care options can be the difference between a badly stressed-out parent and one capable of being fully present with their children and spouse. Researchers Molly Dickens and Lucy Hutner have noted that the task of finding care can also increase parents mental labor load, which can erode psychological health, particularly for mothers. In one 2024 survey, 70% of mothers agreed that managing child care decisions, such as securing a care slot, was overwhelming. The quality of available offerings matters, too: studies have found that parental stress spikes when they are dissatisfied with their child care. Unsurprisingly, the counterfactual holds true as well. As one Australian study concluded, an increase in the availability of center-based childcare is associated with a decrease in perceived difficulty in finding good quality childcare, as well as an increase in mothers satisfaction with the amount of free time available. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moreover, unaffordable child care options can often force families into unwanted and unsustainable circumstances. For instance, many couples only manage to make child care work by working laddered schedules, where they arrange back-to-back shifts so one parent can always be at home. A 2023 article from Seattles NPR affiliate explained one familys laddered-schedule plight by saying, Lara Allen and Rob Butler couldnt afford the high cost of child care for their three kids, so they pay with other resources sleep and time. Later, the article quotes a Washington state child care leader: It just puts a real strain, because essentially what ends up happening is despite there being two adults in the home, you end up with the children in a way that feels very single parent. You dont get the support of two adults in the home being with the children, but rather youre tag teaming it and creating this handoff system. This is not a blue state vs. red state issue, nor is it an urban vs. rural issue. Even Utah families are experiencing widespread child care challenges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Families with stay-at-home parents also struggle in a society that too often leaves families to fend for themselves or have their choices dictated by a callous marketplace. Setting aside the fact that nearly 70% of young children in America have all parents in the workforce, stay-at-home parents frequently report high levels of stress and isolation, and one-third live below the poverty line. Many also need external child care, whether to attend doctors appointments or simply for a break. In a 2024 survey commissioned by the think tank I work for, Capita, nearly 40% of stay-at-home parents reported needing child care at least a few times a week, with another 22% needing it a few times a month. Yet despite this, only a quarter of respondents said they had access to the child care they needed all the time, with 40% saying they rarely or almost never had the care they need. All of the above get in the way of parents being able to parent the way they want, of families having quality time and the languid space needed to pass down stories, traditions and values. Acute, chronic stress is an enemy of healthy families. And at worst, such stress can split families apart: One North Carolina mother, Lindsay K. Saunders, shared in a 2024 op-ed that the stress of trying to afford child care was a factor in her and her husband separating. I wondered, Saunders wrote, if only wed had more support, would we have made it? Anyone who cares about strong families should be fighting for a strong child care system: one that simultaneously supports high-quality secular and religious licensed programs, kin caregivers, and stay-at-home parents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We would do well to stop arguing over which forms of care are worthy of public support and recognize that America, in all its brilliant diversity, is going to require a multi-pronged solution to a multi-pronged challenge. Without good child care, American families and American family values have a bleak future. Elliot Haspel is a senior fellow at the family policy think tank Capita. This piece is adapted from Raising a Nation: 10 Reasons Every American Has a Stake in Child Care For All, which will be released Aug. 11 by Oxford University Press. Former presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg has questioned JD Vances drastic switch from calling Donald Trump Americas Hitler to becoming his vice president. Talking to Pod Save America on Sunday, Buttigieg called Vance a very smart person, but added the 41-year-old is not a very principled person. Buttigieg discussed the VPs position as a successor to Trump after he was quizzed by host Jon Favreau about Vances seeming inevitable candidacy in 2028. Pete Buttigieg on Pod Save America discussing JD Vance. / screen grab I think hes very intelligent. I think hes very smooth. I think hes very capable, Buttigieg said, before weighing into recent parodies of Vance, including on last weeks South Park episode. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets be clear, were talking about a very smart person, not a very principled person. It didnt take him many years to go from comparing Trump to Hitlerwhich he didto saying that he ought to be the leader of the free world. In messages sent to a law school roommate in 2016, Vance was a proud never Trumper, calling the now-president an idiot, reprehensible and Americas Hitler." Im not surprised by Trumps rise, and I think the entire party has only itself to blame, Vance said, according to Vice. I go back and forth between thinking Trump is a cynical asshole like Nixon who wouldnt be that bad (and might even prove useful) or that hes Americas Hitler. Hows that for discouraging? Vance has not shied away from his radical former claims. Last year, he said he did not hide from his comments, but no longer believed them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was certainly skeptical of Donald Trump in 2016, Vance told Fox News last year. But President Trump was a great president and he changed my mind. Born in Ohio, Vance released his memoir Hillbilly Elegy in 2016, describing his life growing up in the working-class Rust Belt with a drug-addicted mother. He was raised by his grandparents. US Vice President JD Vance is the GOP's best choice to take over from Donald Trump. / KIN CHEUNG / POOL/AFP via Getty Images Buttigieg talked about Vances rise from lawyer and venture capitalist explaining the industrial Midwest to coastal elites, before he became wealthy and moved to Silicon Valley. Buttigieg said Vance then ran with a lot of people we would consider to have centrist or even centre-left values and saw the writing on the wall and found this path to power. The interview came on the same day of Vances interview with Fox News, though the interview on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures was taped on Friday, according to Reuters. In his talk with host Maria Bartiromo, the vice president said indictments were on their way in the Trump administrations quest to blame Obama intelligence officials for interfering in the 2016 election. He also weighed in on the Epstein files saga, sparking furore on both sides of the aisle over his comments. MANILA (Reuters) -Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Monday that Beijing has "misinterpreted" his comments saying Manila will be inevitably drawn in to a conflict between China and Taiwan should one erupt. China accused Marcos of "playing with fire" after the Philippine leader said during a visit to India that "there is no way that the Philippines can stay out of it" due to its proximity to the democratically governed island. "We are, I think for propaganda purposes, misinterpreted," Marcos told a press briefing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm a little bit perplexed why it would be characterised as such, as playing with fire," he added. Marcos said Filipinos working and living in Taiwan will have to be evacuated if a conflict does arise but maintained that he wishes to avoid confrontation and war. Over a hundred thousand Filipinos live and work in Taiwan, according to Philippine government data. "War over Taiwan will drag the Philippines kicking and screaming into the conflict. That is what I was trying to say," Marcos said. Marcos' comments come at a time of heightened tensions between Manila and Beijing over territorial disputes in the South China Sea, a strategic waterway where the two countries have had a series of maritime run-ins over the past years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, a Philippine vessel transporting provisions to Filipino fishermen in the Scarborough Shoal was sprayed at with a water cannon by a Chinese coast guard ship, the Philippine Coast Guard said. The vessel managed to evade being hit. China's embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the president's remarks. Responding to the Monday incident, China's coast guard said it had taken necessary measures to expel Philippine vessels from Scarborough Shoal, which China claims as its own territory. It described the operation as "professional, standardised, legitimate and legal". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2016 ruling of an international arbitral tribunal voided Beijing's sweeping claims in the region, saying they had no basis under international law, a decision China rejects. (Reporting by Mikhail Flores; Additional reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by David Stanway) The Brief A 27-year-old man, Robert Schaezlein, died after being shot inside a Phoenix apartment. A woman at the scene admitted to being involved in the shooting but was released after being interviewed by homicide detectives. The investigation is ongoing, and officials have not released the name of the woman or said if any charges will be filed. PHOENIX - A man has died after being shot inside an apartment early Sunday morning, and a woman was detained at the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers were called to an apartment near 15th and Highland avenues around 2:30 a.m. on August 10. What we know When they arrived at the scene, they found a man, later identified as 27-year-old Robert Schaezlein, shot inside the apartment. What they're saying "Schaezlein was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries, but he did not survive and was pronounced deceased," stated Sgt. Rob Scherer of the Phoenix Police Department. A woman at the scene was detained after admitting to being involved in the shooting. She was released after being interviewed. "After being interviewed, the adult female was released pending additional investigation," said Scherer. What we don't know Officials have not released the name of the woman who admitted to being involved in the shooting. Police have not stated if any charges will be filed. What's next Scherer says homicide detectives have assumed the investigation, which is ongoing. Mapof the crime scene area Little River Academy, TX (FOX 44) A new state law is changing the way students can use technology on campus. Starting this school year, stricter guidelines are in place to limit distractions, promote learning, and keep students more engaged in the classroom. Over the summer, campus and district leaders began planning how the high school will implement the new guidelines for teachers and staff. Were only on the third day, but I think thats what has made a smooth transition because theres no question that theres no cell phones in the lunchroom, Academy High Schools Principal Meagan Pruett explained. Theres no cell phones in the hallway. So when a teacher sees one, then theyre just supposed to take the cell phone up and contact administration. And we will come by and confiscate that cell phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anything that can collect data, like phones or smartwatches, is strictly prohibited during school hours. 7:45 to 3:55, while theyre on campus, those items are not allowed, Pruett said. We had these class meetings and went over all of these guidelines with the students, and even the Apple Watches, theyve got to leave at home, so were power off and put away. If a student repeatedly violates the new phone policy, administrators will handle the discipline, relieving teachers of that responsibility. They handle tracking how many students, English teacher Sandy Maranto said. The students and how many times they violated it. So it frees us up to do what were here to do is to teach. So there will never be a time when Ill have to fight with a student over the phone because they take care of that for us. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maranto noted that many parents worry about how they will reach their child in an emergency. What is wonderful is that our administrators have thought of that, Maranto expressed. So the kids can have their phones in their backpack, power down in case theres a fire or a lockdown, then they can turn on their phones and get in touch with their parents. So that takes away and alleviates that fear. As the year begins, many will be watching to see if the new phone law will improve focus and engagement in the classroom. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44. TYLER, Texas (KETK) A Lupitas Restaurant food truck caught fire near the corner of Center Avenue and East Ferguson Street in downtown Tyler on Monday afternoon. AFFIDAVIT: TDCJ officer caught trying to traffic meth into prison during Smith County sting operation Tyler Fire Marshal Joey Hooten said the fire began around 11:45 a.m. and was likely caused by the trucks generator. Flames could be seen coming from the left side of the truck, leaving a large hole in the trucks exterior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 8 hospitalized after 6-vehicle crash in Angelina County According to Hooten, the food truck was set up near the construction site of the new Smith County courthouse to provide food for the construction workers. Some pallets at the construction site also caught fire before a unit from the Tyler Fire Department contained the flames. 3 charged for robbing Anderson County home at gunpoint, sheriffs office says Hooten said nobody was injured during the incident and it is unclear if the food truck is repairable. You can now stream KETK and FOX51 News live 24/7 on your smart TV with KETK+, our brand-new app! No antenna, cable, or satellite neededwatch for free, anytime. Just download it on your Roku, Apple TV, or Fire TV and start streaming. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com. WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump said Monday hes activating the National Guard to help reduce crime across Washington. Joined by some members of his Cabinet in a packed briefing room, the Republican president said he was putting the District of Columbia's police under federal control and declaring a public safety emergency. Demonstrators gathered outside the White House to protest Trump's moves. This is a photo gallery curated by Associated Press photo editors. Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez, Orange Sheriff John Mina and other officials tour University High School and Orange Technical College on the first day of classes, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. More than 200,000 K12 students are enrolled in OCPS for the 2025-26 school year. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez reacts to a performance of the Golden Cougar Dance Troupe with principal Thomas Ott, left, at University High School in Orlando, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Vazquez, Orange Sheriff John Mina and other officials toured several OCPS schools on the first day of classes, including University and Orange Technical College. More than 200,000 K12 students are enrolled in OCPS for the 2025-26 school year. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez applauds a performance of the Golden Cougar Dance Troupe, with principal Thomas Ott, left, and school board member Angela Galo, right, at University High School in Orlando, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Vazquez, Orange Sheriff John Mina and other officials toured several OCPS schools on the first day of classes, including University and Orange Technical College. More than 200,000 K12 students are enrolled in OCPS for the 2025-26 school year. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez with principal Thomas Ott, left, waves to students at University High School in Orlando, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Vazquez, Orange Sheriff John Mina and other officials toured several OCPS schools on the first day of classes, including University and Orange Technical College. More than 200,000 K12 students are enrolled in OCPS for the 2025-26 school year. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez, with principal Thomas Ott, tour University High School, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Orlando. Vazquez, Orange Sheriff John Mina and other officials toured several OCPS schools on the first day of classes, including University and Orange Technical College. More than 200,000 K12 students are enrolled in OCPS for the 2025-26 school year. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez shares a laugh with principal Thomas Ott, 2nd from left, school board member Angela Galo, left, and teacher Oswald Thomas, right, at University High School in Orlando, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Vazquez, Orange Sheriff John Mina and other officials toured several OCPS schools on the first day of classes, including University and Orange Technical College. More than 200,000 K12 students are enrolled in OCPS for the 2025-26 school year. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez and Orange Sheriff John Mina chat before a press conference at Orange Technical College, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Vazquez, Mina and other officials toured several OCPS schools on the first day of classes, including University High School and Orange Technical. More than 200,000 K12 students are enrolled in OCPS for the 2025-26 school year. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez greets University High School algebra teacher Debbie Weaver, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Orlando. Vazquez, Orange Sheriff John Mina and other officials toured several OCPS schools on the first day of classes, including University and Orange Technical College. More than 200,000 K12 students are enrolled in OCPS for the 2025-26 school year. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Sophomore Amani Valentin greets OCPS firearms detection dog Coco and his handler, police officer Brian Howart, at University High School in Orlando, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, on the first day of classes. Coco is a German Shorthaired Pointer and is six years old. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Orange Sheriff John Mina greets OCPS firearms detection dog Coco and his handler, police officer Brian Howart, at Orange Technical College, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, on the first day of classes. Mina and Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez held a press conference at Orange Technical and toured several Orange County schools. Coco is a German Shorthaired Pointer and is six years old. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez, with University High School principal Thomas Ott, greets junior Sofia Machuca, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Orlando. Vazquez, Orange Sheriff John Mina and other officials toured several OCPS schools on the first day of classes, including University and Orange Technical College. More than 200,000 K12 students are enrolled in OCPS for the 2025-26 school year. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez responds to students in teacher Sarah Rasmussens English class at University High School in Orlando, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Vazquez, Orange Sheriff John Mina and other officials toured several OCPS schools on the first day of classes, including University and Orange Technical College. More than 200,000 K12 students are enrolled in OCPS for the 2025-26 school year. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez answers questions at Orange Technical College, Monday, Aug. 11, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Vazquez, Orange Sheriff John Mina and other officials toured several OCPS schools on the first day of classes, including University High School and Orange Technical. More than 200,000 K12 students are enrolled in OCPS for the 2025-26 school year. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez answers a question with Orange Sheriff John Mina at Orange Technical College, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Vazquez, Sheriff Mina and other officials toured several OCPS schools on the first day of classes, including University High School and Orange Technical. More than 200,000 K12 students are enrolled in OCPS for the 2025-26 school year. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez greets dance teacher Elise Mele at University High School in Orlando, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Vazquez, Orange Sheriff John Mina and other officials toured several OCPS schools on the first day of classes, including University and Orange Technical College. More than 200,000 K12 students are enrolled in OCPS for the 2025-26 school year. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez answers questions at Orange Technical College, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025. Vazquez, Orange Sheriff John Mina and other officials toured several OCPS schools on the first day of classes, including University High School and Orange Technical. More than 200,000 K12 students are enrolled in OCPS for the 2025-26 school year. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Show Caption1 of 16Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Maria Vazquez, with principal Thomas Ott, learns a dance routine from University High School Golden Cougar Dance Troupe captain Gabriella Vidal, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Orlando. Vazquez, Orange Sheriff John Mina and other officials toured several OCPS schools on the first day of classes, including University and Orange Technical College. More than 200,000 K12 students are enrolled in OCPS for the 2025-26 school year. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel) Expand (WGHP) Scattered showers and storms this evening with temperatures in the 70s. The rain lingers through the late evening hours. Isolated flash flooding is possible in areas that see continuous rainfall and embedded lightning with the heavy rainfall is as also possible. Skies remain mostly cloudy overnight and while lingering stray showers cant be ruled out, the majority of us are dry during the overnight hours. Well wake up Tuesday morning with temperatures in the low 70s and mostly cloudy skies. While spotty showers are possible in the morning on Tuesday, the better chance for rain comes by the afternoon and evening. Afternoon highs reach the low 80s. Scattered storms return Tuesday afternoon with a 50% chance for rain. Isolated flash flooding remains possible. Another chance for scattered storms on Wednesday with morning lows in the low 70s and highs in the mid 80s. Were in a more summertime like pattern which means the better chance for storms comes in the second half of the day, closer to late afternoon and early evening. Theres a 60% chance for storms and skies will be mostly cloudy. Well continue to monitor for isolated flash flooding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some slightly lower rain chances for the second half of the week. Skies will also be partly cloudy with isolated thunderstorms possible on Thursday. Temperatures Thursday start in the low 70s with highs reaching the upper 80s. A very typical summertime day in the Triad. By Friday, Saturday and Sunday, lingering showers and isolated storms remain possible with partly cloudy skies. Temperatures start off in the low 70s in the mornings and reach the mid to upper 80s in the afternoon. The majority of the Piedmont Triad, especially by the weekend look to remain dry despite the 20% to 30% chance for rain. Mostly sunny skies on Monday with morning temperatures in the upper 60s and highs in the upper 80s. TROPICS UPDATE: Tropical Storm Erin formed just west of the Cabo Verde Islands with the 11 AM update on Monday. Erin is forecast to reach hurricane strength by mid-week, making it the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season. Models/data are also predicting that Erin could reach major hurricane strength by the weekend. The storm is still VERY far from the United States and it typically takes storms 8-14 days to cross the Atlantic so well be watching Erin over the next week as it moves westward and keep you updated with everything you need to know. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX8 WGHP. Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Police were summoned to an Illinois high school where a pig that apparently escaped from a child's birthday party decided to pay a visit to campus. Evanston Township High School said on social media that its safety department "received multiple calls about a fugitive pig seeking refuge at the Home of the Wildkits." The Evanston Police Department was contacted and Officers Daniel Pack and Jaclyn Roden were called to pursue the porcine perpetrator. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pig was successfully collared after "a short (and slippery) pursuit," the post said. The pig was taken to the Evanston Animal Shelter, where Vicky Pasenko, the facility's executive director, later learned the estimated 30-pound animal had escaped from a child's birthday party in the area. Pasenko said adults from the party came to the shelter, but she couldn't release the pig to them because they had only rented the animal and were not the owners. She said pigs are not legal to keep in the city of Evanston. Perry Kubala, the city's animal warden, said the pig will either be returned to its owner or placed in a new home this week. In a woodland glade, in dappled sunshine, Sharron and Glen Markey are arm-in-arm beside the tree they planted in memory of their beloved 17-year-old daughter, Helena, their only child. The teenager, from Burton-on-Trent, loved performing arts, dazzling in the spotlight at her local theatre school, while helping younger children find confidence and their own voice. But she felt she was losing hers. In September 2015, Helena Markey took her own life shortly after a meeting at her school The de Ferrers Academy - to discuss her future studies, following her A-Level results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her parents say she had become distressed when discussing her options with teachers, particularly over suggestions she might need to change subjects to reach university. Her dad Glen Markey said: "The first thing was that there wasn't a breakout room for children if they became distressed, there was nobody there that had designated pastoral responsibility. "So, they were all good senior teachers, but none of them had that sort of specific skill set." The De Ferrers Academy later implemented pastoral and safeguarding changes and told the BBC those approaches continued today. But at the time of his daughter's distress, there was no such provision, said Mr Markey, who pointed to an issue that arose during Helena's inquest; a hearing that touched upon protocol, or lack thereof, in circumstances where pupils faced such struggles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The most important thing the coroner said was that in law, there was no process for calling parents," Mr Markey explained. A decade on from Helena's death, and as exam results loom for teens this month, the couple are now petitioning the government for change, asking for "specific statutory guidance" that requires schools, colleges and universities to notify parents if a pupil is distressed by results feedback. Helena's mum Sharron Markey said she and her husband would have gone straight to the school had they been made aware of their daughter's experience. "It is really a simple thing, a phone call. Schools ring parents for example if a child turns up at school and hasn't got the correct uniform. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's just common sense a duty of care", she said. Helena Markey became distressed after a meeting at the school, said her parents. [Handout] The inquest into Helena's death, which recorded a verdict that she had taken her life, heard that staff at the school believed the teenager had calmed down after the meeting, and stated that positive aspects of Helena's school life were also discussed. One staff member told the inquest that they believed Helena was heading home to discuss it further with her parents. The de Ferrer's Academy said Helena was "a bright, happy and talented pupil" and was regularly in their thoughts. A spokesperson said: "We support any initiative or conversation that helps raise awareness of the support that young people need particularly at key milestones in their lives, such as the end of their exams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Following this tragedy, we further enhanced how we help students transition through different stages of their education "In fact our last independent Safeguarding report concludes that "children and parents can feel assured that the wellbeing and safety of all pupils is taken extremely seriously [and] there are effective processes and policies in place to uphold this." Glen and Sharron Markey say young people are under pressure [Handout] The Markeys worry that not enough is happening nationwide to support children. Mr Markey said: "There's a mental health crisis out there with young people, but a new national policy [is] something we think will benefit teachers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I think [young people are] under as much pressure these days as they've ever been. This is really important it could save lives." Ahead of A-Level and GCSE results days this month, their campaign for statutory guidance is being backed by the Burton and Uttoxeter MP Jacob Collier, who attended The de Ferrers Academy in the year above Helena. "I still remember the smile that Helena had, that lit any room that she was in. And I thank Glen and Sharron for the bravery that they're showing in wanting to make a difference for parents," the MP said. "The key thing in this campaign is that we see action from the government, so I'll be taking this to the minister and raising the case of Helena and the campaign to hopefully bring about the change that we want to see." DfE statement A Department for Education spokesperson said in any circumstances, schools and colleges must carry out their duties to safeguard and promote the welfare of children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Through our Plan for Change, we are rolling out access to a mental health professional in every school, as well as our new [Relationship, Sex and Health Education] curriculum, which has made clear that secondary schools should work closely with mental health professionals to discuss suicide prevention in an age-appropriate way." Pastoral support across most secondary schools has shifted considerably after the pandemic, with extra investment in mental wellbeing, and more support staff being employed in some cases. Today, the thought of a phone call home seems an obvious thing, Mrs Markey suggests. "We don't want this to happen to other families," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Helena was such a beautiful person. Caring, thoughtful, generous. Just perfect." Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. More on this story Related internet links The Scoop Almost two decades after launching Business Insider, Henry Blodget wants to return to the things that brought him to media in the first place: writing and talking about what excites him in business and tech. On August 18, Blodget is launching , an interview podcast. The show, produced in audio form and on YouTube in partnership with Vox Media, will center on a conversation with a guest or guests who are proposing solutions to the worlds greatest challenges in science, business, and society. In an interview on Friday, the Business Insider founder and former CEO told Semafor that he spent years addicted to social media, where much of BIs content is shared. But over time, he realized that much of what he was consuming was negative information and provocative opinions about the worlds problems, which often made him anxious and upset. Blodget said the realization prompted him to change his approach to his own posts on social media, as well as his journalism. With the new project, he is hoping to emphasize solutions to problems, rather than simply pointing out the problems themselves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The whole idea of this show is we are all very aware of the problems in the world, and there is exceptional work being done every day by journalists and commentators and analysts on the depth of these problems, he said. There is also a huge group of people who are focusing their energy on trying to solve the problem, and often that is not rewarded on social or elsewhere. Know More While serving as CEO of Business Insider, Blodget felt that it was often counterproductive to write about topics he wouldve covered in the publications early years, telling Semafor his columns sometimes interfered with, or even contradicted, the work done by many in BIs newsroom. But he missed exploring new ideas. After stepping down from Business Insiders board at the end of 2024, Blodget didnt take much time away from the media industry. Earlier this year, he launched Regenerator, a Substack focused on many of the same themes of his upcoming podcast. In recent years, Blodget also became intrigued by the opportunity that podcasting gives journalists to go deep on complex topics. He recalled that in the early days of BI, the company operated under the assumption that viewers had short attention spans that could not follow lengthy video conversations. But he said he was encouraged by the recent success of conversational podcasts hosted by Lex Fridman, Joe Rogan, and others, which often stretch on uninterrupted for hours. Asked whether the blog and the podcast were the first step toward building a bigger media company, Blodget told Semafor that he was open to the idea, but wanted to focus on getting back to the reason he started in media to begin with. I look at folks like Scott Galloway and Kara [Swisher], who have built this amazing franchise audience based on themselves. Thats a great way to go. And I look at publications like The Free Press and many others, and say, OK, thats a great way to go too. So [Im] very open to it, but I just wanted to start the same way. I started with what became Business Insider, which is me experimenting. WARSAW (Reuters) -Poland's prime minister said on Monday he felt a mixture of fear and hope ahead of a Russia-U.S. summit on the war in Ukraine this week, but added that Washington had pledged to consult its European partners before the talks. U.S. President Donald Trump will meet his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15, and Kyiv fears that the two leaders may try to dictate terms for ending the 3-1/2-year war. "The American side has promised that it will consult with European partners on its position before the meeting in Alaska," Donald Tusk told a news conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I will wait... for the effects of the meeting between Presidents Trump and Putin - I have many fears and a lot of hope." He said that Trump's recent comments on the war in Ukraine could give the impression the U.S. president was increasingly understanding Ukrainian and European arguments regarding the conflict, but that he was not 100% sure that this position would be lasting. French, Italian, German, Polish, British, Finnish and European Commission leaders on Saturday welcomed Trump's efforts to try to end the war, but emphasised the need to pressure Russia and provide security guarantees for Kyiv. Tusk said that the joint statement from European leaders showed that they were united in their approach to Ukraine peace talks, adding that Kyiv must be involved in any such discussions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "For Poland and our partners, it is clear that state borders cannot be changed by force," he said. "Russia's war with Ukraine must not bring benefits to the aggressor." (Reporting by Alan Charlish, Marek Strzelecki; Editing by Toby Chopra) AUSTIN, Texas (AP) A gunman opened fire Monday in the parking lot of a Target store in Texas' capital, killing two adults and a child before stealing two cars during a getaway that ended with police using a Taser to detain him on the other side of the city, authorities said. Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said the suspect is a man in his 30s with a mental health history. Police said they were still working to determine a motive. The suspect fled the scene in a stolen car, wrecked that car and then stole another from a dealership, Davis said. He was captured about 20 miles (32 kilometers) away, in south Austin, where he was taken into custody, she said during a news conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis said officers responding to a call at about 2:15 p.m. found three people shot in the Target parking lot. Davis said they believe one of the people who was shot was the owner of the car stolen from the store's parking lot. An adult and child were pronounced dead at the scene, while another adult died after being taken to the hospital, according to Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services. EMS officials said a fourth person was treated for a minor medical complaint not related to traumatic injuries. This is a very sad day for Austin. Its a very sad day for us all and my condolences go out to the families, Davis said. She said she had no information to release about the victims. Lonnie Lee, 22, said she had visited the Target with her sister just a couple of hours earlier before they left to get lunch with their grandparents. When they returned to the area to continue shopping, she said they were shocked to see the parking lot was cordoned off and filled with police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We got really, really lucky, Lee said. And some people didnt. The shooting came amid back-to-school shopping ahead of the upcoming academic year. Target said in a statement that they were devastated by what happened, and that they would be providing grief counseling to their team. Our hearts are with the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives, our team in Austin and all those impacted by this tragedy, the statement said. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said in a message on X that his heart is with the victims and their families" and that while this remains an active and ongoing investigation, what Ill say is that this was a sickening, cowardly act of gun violence." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At a Jiffy Lube that shares its parking lot with the Target, employees hunkered down and locked the store doors as soon as they became aware a shooting was taking place. Paul Smith, an employee at the auto store, said he saw people running from their cars in the parking lot in a panic. I had just gotten back from the Target like a minute before, Smith said. The Target shooting comes just over two weeks after an attack at a Walmart store in Michigan. A man accused of stabbing 11 people at the Traverse City store on July 26 has been charged with terrorism and multiple counts of attempted murder. ___ Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lathan is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. ___ Associated Press writers Jim Vertuno in Austin, Jamie Stengle in Dallas and Heather Hollingsworth in Kansas City, Missouri, contributed to this report. Emergency 911 lines have been restored in Redondo Beach after a telecommunications outage in the South Bay Sunday temporarily halted service, officials confirmed. The Redondo Beach Police Department posted a message to social media accounts around 2:30 p.m., telling community members and visitors that the emergency line was currently not working due to a telecommunications outage in the South Bay region of Los Angeles County. Residents experiencing an emergency were told to call the direct dispatch phone number: 310-379-5411, which connected callers to both the police and fire departments in Redondo Beach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hate crime suspect arrested on UCLA campus after police find weapons, stolen property During the outage, city officials released the following statement: We will provide an update as soon as the issue is resolved. The Redondo Beach Police Department remains committed to your safety during this issue. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Mesa police shot a man they were pursuing on Aug. 10 on the U.S. 60 between Country Club Drive and Loop 101. The freeway was closed for several hours as a result. Officers had responded to a report of a man, 37, who was making threats with a knife at an apartment complex near Country Club Drive and Eighth Avenue in Mesa, according to police reports. The chase ended with at least one officer shooting the man after officers said he reached for his waistband. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The caller said the man kicked in an apartment door, grabbed a kitchen knife, and attempted to force a woman into a vehicle," Detective John Dreyer with Mesa police said in an email to The Arizona Republic. The Gilbert Police Department, which was overseeing the investigation, reviewed statements from witnesses and the involved officers during their preliminary investigation. Their statements corroborated body camera footage that showed the man turned to face officers while holding a black object and making a statement that he had a gun, according to Gilbert police spokesperson Brenda Carrasco in an email to The Republic. No firearms were found when officers searched the man following the shooting, Carrasco said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A woman who had stopped in the high-occupancy-vehicle lane said she did not see the man reach for his waistband. "He stopped and turned around to face the officers who were running after him," Grace Stufkosky said in a statement shared with The Republic. "I did not see anything in his hands. He was then shot - I heard 5-6 rounds fired." Stufkosky said she saw police handcuff the man after he was shot and "dragged him across the asphalt and put him behind a police car." She was later told by police to reverse her car and leave the area. A police chase through Mesa streets, onto the freeway When officers arrived at the apartment complex, the man drove away in a blue truck, Dreyer said. Police officers the truck out of the complex and through Mesa streets until they arrived at the U.S. 60 westbound Alma School Road on-ramp, according to Dreyer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officers attempted a pursuit intervention technique to stop the truck, Dreyer said. The man got out of the truck and ran southbound across the westbound lanes of the U.S. 60, then jumping over the median into the eastbound lanes, Dreyer said. One officer shot his duty weapon, hitting the man, Dreyer said. The man was taken to the hospital for surgery and was expected to survive, according to Dreyer. The man was in stable condition and still receiving medical treatment as of Aug. 12, Dreyer said. No officers or other people were injured during the shooting, Dreyer said. The woman was not in the vehicle during the pursuit, according to Dreyer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Gilbert Police Department was leading the investigation under the East Valley Critical Incident Response Team which reviews the use of police force, Dreyer said. The U.S. 60 reopened in both directions just before 6 a.m. Aug. 11, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. The closure had begun before 4:30 p.m. Aug. 10, ADOT said. In Arizona, there have now been at least 40 police shootings in 2025. At least 29 were fatal. (This story has been updated to add more information.) This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Chase ends with Mesa police shooting man running across US 60 traffic Delaware State Police had identified the three family members killed in a murder-suicide last week near Frederica. Ethan Christensen, 18, and 81-year-old Linda Hyman, were shot to death on Lorna Drive in the High Point Park mobile home community on Aug. 6, police said previously. On Aug. 11, the agency identified 53-year-old Staci Marie Christensen as the shooter, saying she turned the gun on herself after the killings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Delaware State Police did not provide details about the family members' relationship, a GoFundMe fundraiser created by Staci's surviving children said she was Ethan's mother. Hyman was their grandmother. READ: How Delaware's most powerful political leaders fared after historic tax reassessment Police said they found the two Christensens and Hyman about 11 p.m. on Aug. 6 following a welfare check. The agency provided no information about what led to the welfare check or a possible motive. Police ask anyone with information to contact Detective Alan Bluto at 302-741-2859. Got a story tip or idea? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com. For all things breaking news, follow her on X at @izzihughes_ This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Police ID 3 family members killed in murder-suicide near Frederica The Seattle Police Department is investigating a crash on Rainier Avenue South and South State Street on Sunday. The crash happened around 1:30 p.m. A person was walking across the street when a white car turned into traffic and hit them in an area with no crosswalk. The driver stopped and stayed until police arrived. Police gave no information on the condition of the person who was hit. MT. JULIET, Tenn. (WKRN) Some Mt. Juliet residents were briefly asked to stay indoors Sunday night as authorities launched an investigation into a fatal shooting. The Mt. Juliet Police Department posted on social media platform X shortly after 8 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 10 that it was investigating a shooting in the 700 block of Parrish Place. Officials urged residents near that area to remain inside until law enforcement confirmed it was safe. Man injured after shooting reported in East Nashville, police say Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then, just after 8:15 p.m., police reported the situation was contained to a property in the 700 block of Parrish Place, adding that the area was safe. About two hours after the initial alert was issued, authorities announced they were still at the scene to investigate a self-inflicted injury that tragically resulted in the individuals death. There is no ongoing threat to the public, according to MJPD. Man wanted in 3 counties arrested following Mt. Juliet police chase Our thoughts are with the individuals family, friends, and all who are impacted, officials said. No additional details have been released about this situation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a prevention network of 161 crisis centers that provides a 24/7, toll-free hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. If you or someone you know needs support now, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. A man was arrested Friday after he broke into Lukes Automotive in Redmond to retrieve his phone, said the Redmond Police Department (RPD) in a social media post. The break-in happened around 1:30 p.m. when a neighboring business employee reported seeing a person throw a rock through the front door of the closed and unoccupied shop located on Northeast 90th Street. RPD responded to the scene, surrounded the building, and instructed the suspect to exit. The individual complied and was detained without incident after exiting through the back of the business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect claimed that he broke into the shop to retrieve his phone, which he said was inside his vehicle in the garage, said RPD. Malicious Michief and Criminal Trespass Arrest On August 8 at approximately 1:25 p.m., officers responded to a burglary-in-progress at Luke's Automotive, located at 15145 NE 90th Street. A neighboring business employee reported seeing a man break into the closed and unoccupied pic.twitter.com/df9xhL5qyP RedmondWaPD (@RedmondWaPD) August 11, 2025 He was arrested for Malicious Mischief in the Third Degree and Criminal Trespass in the First Degree. A police officer killed by an active shooter in Atlanta, Georgia on Friday spent part of his childhood in Massachusetts, the New York Times reported. The officer, David Rose, worked in the DeKalb County police department for 11 months before his death. On Friday, Rose was among the officers who responded to a CVS where a man was firing at the building that houses the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. When first responders arrived, the man, later identified as Patrick Joseph White, opened fire on police, according to a memorial page set up for Rose. Rose was hit and died of his injuries at Emory University Hospital. Another officer sustained non-life-threatening injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White was found on the second floor of the CVS with a gunshot wound. Its not clear if he was killed by police or if he took his own life. Rose moved to Georgia from Massachusetts with his mother, Deveane Atkinson, as a child. Atkinson told The New York Times her son served in the Marines, then worked in the sheriffs office before joining the police force. Rose is survived by his wife, who is expecting, and two children. What we know about the shooter Whites father contacted police and identified his son as the possible shooter, a law enforcement official told the Associated Press. 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 northwest of CDC headquarters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A voicemail left by the AP at a phone number listed publicly for Whites family wasnt returned Saturday. The 30-year-old 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. More News Read the original article on MassLive. Police are investigating the death of a woman in a crash at a bus station. Ann Weymouth, 73, of Sunnymeade, Carlisle was taken to hospital on Friday after she was hit by a bus at the city's terminus in Lonsdale Street, but died from her injuries on Sunday at the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle. Ms Weymouth's family paid tribute to her and described her as a loving mother, grandmother and sibling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Ann was the kindest, most caring person we knew and she was taken away far too soon," the family said in a statement. "She'll be forever helping others." A Cumbria Police spokesman said: "An investigation into the full circumstances of the collision remains ongoing." Officers have asked witnesses to the crash, which happened at about 08:25 BST, to contact them. Follow BBC Cumbria on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram. Related internet links Police have cracked down on illegally held animals over the past several months. Usually the cases include monkeys and lion cubs. Jerusalem District police seized an illegally held owl from a locked car in the Beit Hanina neighborhood of Jerusalem on Sunday. The owl was transferred to the Israel Nature and Parks Authority for further treatment. The officers worked in cooperation with the municipal veterinary service, and bomb disposal experts from the Jerusalem District were called to assist in the rescue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police have cracked down on illegally held animals over the past several months. Usually, the cases include monkeys and lion cubs. In April, police found an owl and 11 lizards. Wood Owl and 11 lizards found in latest wildlife rescue operations (credit: ISRAEL POLICE AND NATURE AND PARKS AUTHORITY SPOKESPERSON) Police have also seized a crocodile, an anaconda snake, poisonous frogs, several lizards, and one marsh turtle that may have been captured in the wild. Animals smuggled into Israel via drones Many of the animals were smuggled into the country via drones from Egypt and Jordan. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Police say two people have been killed in a shooting at a Target store in Austin, Texas, and a suspect is detained. Thousands of Polish Catholics turned the corner from White Oak Avenue onto Ridge Road around 6 p.m. Saturday and walked onto the grounds of Discalced Carmelite Fathers Monastery in Munster. Along Ridge Road, people along the sidewalk waved at those walking by. A priest sprinkled holy water and blessed the walkers as they completed the first day of their pilgrimage. During the 38th annual Polish Marian Pilgrimage, thousands walked from Immaculate Conception Church in Chicago to the Shrine of Our Lady of Czestochowa in Merrillville. They walk Saturday and Sunday, with an option for about half of the group to camp overnight at the monastery. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Colorful tents were spread out on the lawn with people parking near the church to meet the walkers they know and offer coffee mugs and various takeout bags. Julia Fidziukiewicz, 16, came from Wisconsin to attend the pilgrimage. Given how far she lives from Munster, her friends went to Carmelite Fathers Thursday to set up four tents next to each other. Fidziukiewicz ended up sleeping next to three of her friends in a tent designed for three people. It was very cramped, hot and uncomfortable, Fidziukiewicz said. It may not have been the best sleep, but it did the job. Fidziukiewicz said it was her first time at the pilgrimage and camping but she enjoyed the experience of connecting with her religion along with her friends. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a very moving experience, Fidziukiewicz said. The pilgrimage was a very big success. I had a very good time not only from a social aspect but also from a religious aspect. I grew very much in my faith. Jola Matyjasik, of Oak Lawn, walked Saturday with her daughter and 6-year-old granddaughter. Matyjasik has walked the pilgrimage 18 times, and she always walks just on Saturday. It was very hot Saturday, Matyjasik said, but she focused on singing psalms and talking with those around her. Matyjasik said she was in awe of a family she walked next to with two young boys who were eagerly walking because they received new watches that counted their steps. The boys, whose parents were pushing strollers, were also happily talking about sleeping in tents later that night, Matyjasik said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Every time I go, I meet new people, Matyjasik said. In August 1982, a couple of months after martial law was declared by the Polish government to counter political opposition, Matyjasik completed a nearly 7-day pilgrimage from Tarnow, Poland to Czestochowa, Poland. During that pilgrimage, Matyjasik said she remembered people were very emotional and supportive of each other. People were crying and kneeling, Matyjasik said. When we settled in a city for the night, people there let us stay in their homes for the night. Bishop of Port Pirie Diocese in Australia Karol Kulczycki participated in his first pilgrimage from Chicago to Merrillville, and he led the opening mass in Chicago and the final mass in Merrillville. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A pilgrimage offers people a chance to connect with their faith and renew their connection with God, Kulczycki said. Its common for those walking to pray for a specific intention, he said. You never walk alone on a pilgrimage, but in a group of people. Its a powerful gathering of people, Kulczycki said. Our Lady of Czestochowa Shrine in Merrillville Father Mikolaj Markiewicz said after 10 years of organizing the pilgrimage this years was his last one because he will be returning to Poland at the end of August. I am sad this is my last pilgrimage, but I am happy to have been able to organize 10 of them, Markiewicz said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While organizing a pilgrimage has its stresses, Markiewicz said the pilgrimage has its special moments as well. The best part of the pilgrimage is praying, singing, walking with those in attendance. Its all worth it to hear from them how thankful they are to have had the opportunity to participate in a pilgrimage, Markiewicz said. The pilgrimage is a religious tradition that Polish people participate in Poland and in areas where Polish people emigrated to, Markiewicz said. In Poland, the most popular pilgrimage is to Czestochowa, where the Jasna Gora monastery is located, which contains the famous painting of The Black Madonna, known as Our Lady of Czestochowa, he said. The pilgrimage to Jasna Gora in Czestochowa Poland takes place in August, with the goal of reaching the monastery by August 15, which is the Catholic Churchs celebration of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Markiewicz said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Merrillville, Our Lady of Czestochowa Shrine has been a religious place that brings Polish people together, so thats why Polish-Americans complete the pilgrimage to Northwest Indiana, Markiewicz said. On average, 5,000 people walk the pilgrimage, Markiewicz said. About half of the people walking either sleep inside the Carmelite Fathers church or in tents on the grounds, he said, while the rest work out logistics to get a ride home for the night. Those who leave Saturday night return before 7 a.m. Sunday, when the group begins walking again toward Our Lady of Czestochowa Shrine in Merrillville, Markiewicz said. Evita Szklarz, of Tinley Park, whose father established the pilgrimage from Chicago to Merrillville, said because of the heat she, her husband and her young children walked on Sunday. But her parents and two sisters walked the whole weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Szklarz, 37, said the logistics of setting up tents starts a few days ahead of the pilgrimage. People either set up their own tents or bring sleeping bags to sleep inside the church or inside a large tent in the back of the church grounds, she said. Saturday night includes an outdoor mass at 9 p.m., and its her favorite mass of the year, Szklarz said. Youre basically in a forest, theres trees all around, and people are worshipping, Szklarz said. All of these people have walked such a long way and thousands of people are still there for the evening mass. akukulka@post-trib.com Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, believes that inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian ruler Vladimir Putin would be "the best decision". Source: Kosiniak-Kamysz, as quoted by Polish media outlet PAP Details: Kosiniak-Kamysz said that he believed President Zelenskyy would be invited and that there was information emerging about the possibility of Zelenskyy taking part in the TrumpPutin meeting. He added that this would be the best decision and expressed confidence that it would happen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also noted that the goal of the Western world, led by the United States, is "to achieve a just and lasting peace". Kosiniak-Kamysz said that the previous week, he had had the opportunity to speak with President Trumps closest advisers, who had told him about Trumps determination to achieve his goal of concluding peace. He stated that Poland would do everything possible to achieve a just peace and added that he would like the agreement to be reached with President Zelenskyy's participation. He said they believed the possibility of at least establishing a ceasefire was closer than ever and that the coming days would confirm this. The Polish official noted that if this were to happen on 15 August the day of victory over the Bolsheviks in the Battle of Warsaw in 1920 it would be "the best gift" for this part of the world and for the regions future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: The Trump-Putin meeting is scheduled to take place in Alaska on 15 August amid media reports that Washington and Moscow are apparently seeking an agreement to end the war in Ukraine that could cement Russias occupation of part of its territory. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that "the answer to the Ukrainian territorial question is already in the Constitution of Ukraine". On the night of 9-10 August, a joint statement addressed to Trump and Putin was released by the leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Poland and the UK, the president of the European Commission, and the president of Finland. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has initiated urgent video conference talks involving European leaders, the US and Ukrainian presidents, and the NATO secretary general, scheduled for 13 August. Source: European Pravda, citing Politico, a Brussels-based politics and policy news organisation Details: A German government spokesperson told Politico that Merz initiated the 13 August videoconference ahead of the expected meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The leaders are set to discuss options for pressuring Russia, the issue of Ukraines occupied territories, security guarantees for Ukraine and the potential stages of peace talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In fact, three consecutive videoconferences are scheduled. The first, at 14:00, will last about an hour and bring together the leaders of Germany, France, the UK, Poland, Italy, and Finland, alongside the heads of the European Commission and European Council, the NATO secretary general, and the president of Ukraine. After that, at 15:00, another discussion will take place with Trump, his Vice President JD Vance, EU leaders and Zelenskyy. Lastly, the group known as the coalition of the willing military allies supporting Ukraine will convene for a joint call at 16:30, chaired by Germany, the UK, and France. The European Commission has officially confirmed that its president, Ursula von der Leyen, will attend the talks. Background: Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! (The Center Square) A new poll released Monday by The Beacon Center shows 56% of Tennesseans support expanding Education Freedom Scholarships. Thirty-two percent of Republicans and 26% of Democrats strongly agreed the program should grow past the 20,000 students awarded scholarships in the first year, according to the poll. More than 40,000 students applied. The most interesting part of the school choice question actually came from Democratic respondents," said Beacon's Senior Fellow for Public Opinion Mark Cunningham. "Despite no votes from any Democratic member of the Legislature, 52% of Democrats would like to see the cap lifted so that all eligible families can use Education Freedom Scholarships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Bill Lee called Tennessee lawmakers into a special session in January to vote on school choice. The budget for the program is $144 million. The Senate Democratic Caucus labeled the law one of the state's 11 worst in 2025. "Despite claims of 'universal access,' the truth is the majority of vouchers will go to families already enrolled in private schools, families who are more likely to be wealthy," a spokesman for the caucus said. "This is a massive, taxpayer-funded subsidy for private school families while public schools, teachers, and students are left behind." The bill was opposed by seven Senate Republicans and 20 Republican House members. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Respondents also supported a Tennessee law that bans puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender minors. Sixty-five percent of those surveyed strongly or somewhat approved and 26% disapproved. More Republicans, 80%, said they supported the law than Democrats, 31%, while nearly 20% of independent voters supported it. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the Tennessee law 6-3 in an opinion released in June. President Donald Trump issued an executive order calling for a nationwide ban on federal funding for sex change treatment for minors. State attorneys general are split on the executive order. Last week, 25 states filed a legal brief supporting Trump while 20 states are challenging it. Faith is an integral part of millions of Americans daily lives. One Nation Under God is committed to reflecting Americas voices, values and communities covering stories of faith and religion, from the latest headlines to stories of hope. Subscribe here. (NewsNation) Pope Leo XIV has appointed a new head astronomer to run the Vatican Observatory, one of the oldest scientific observatories in the world. Rev. Richard DSouza, 47, will succeed Guy Consolmagno, an American physicist who was known as the popes astronomer for ten years. Both men are members of the Jesuit Order. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Young Catholics deliver Pope Leo XIVs favorite Chicago pizza to Vatican DSouza was born in India and has been a staff astronomer at the Vatican Observatory since 2016, the Vatican said. He received his Bachelor of Science in Physics from St. Xaviers College in Mumbai and his masters degree in physics from the University of Heidelberg in Germany. DSouza earned his Ph.D. in astronomy from the Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics in Munich. He is currently studying the effect of mergers on nearby Milky Way mass galaxies. Vatican Observatory head inspired by the Jesuit missionaries DSouza told Indian Catholic Matters that he was inspired by the Jesuit missionaries who brought Christianity to India on his journey as a scientist and a priest. Many of them were great pioneers writing grammars of the local languages, drawing maps, founding colleges and institutions, as well as documenting the local flora and fauna, he said. Zohran Mamdani remains on top with Jewish voters: Poll Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Today, the Vatican Observatory carries out a wide range of astronomical research from studying meteorites, galaxies and the planets to quantum gravity and the Big Bang. Its mission is to be on the frontier between the world of science and the world of faith, to give testimony that it is possible to believe in God and to be good scientists. DSouza will begin his mandate as director of the Vatican Observatory on September 20. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) President Donald Trump is taking control of D.C.s police force and sending in the National Guard, a move thats sparking immediate pushback from city leaders. President Trump says this is about restoring order in the nations capital, but city leaders call it federal overreach and say they werent asked for input. This is liberation day in D.C., and were going to take our capital back. Were taking it back, said Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House says the move is necessary because city leaders havent done enough to stop crime. Its becoming a situation of complete and total lawlessness, said Trump. Federal agents were already patrolling city streets over the weekend, even though police data shows violent crime in D.C. is down 26 percent from last year, and homicides are down 12 percent. We have seen a huge decrease in crime, said D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. The president was joined by members of his cabinet, who will help lead the effort. There are other units we are prepared to bring in, said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protesters rallied near the White House against the move. D.C.s Mayor Muriel Bowser says her police department will work with their federal partners. While this action today is unsettling and unprecedented, I cant say that given some of the rhetoric of the past, that were totally surprised, said Bowser. D.C.s attorney general is calling the move unprecedented, unnecessary and unlawful. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) President Donald Trump is preparing for a highly anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska this Friday. The Trump administration says the top priority is brokering a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. I think it will be good, but it might be bad. Im here for one reason: to get rid of a war somebody else started, said Trump. The Trump administration has been trying to negotiate an end to the fighting between Russia and Ukraine for months now. President Trump says he hopes the meeting leads to a ceasefire, but hes tempering expectations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I may say lots of luck, keep fighting or I may say we can make a deal, said Trump. President Trump has suggested a ceasefire deal might mean Ukraine has to give up land. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected the idea of ceding territory to Russia, and hes expressed concerns that Russias intention is to deceive the U.S. in the upcoming meeting. European leaders have also expressed fears that President Trump may be convinced to make a deal that favors Russia, but the president says he plans to keep Zelenskyy and the European allies involved. The German chancellor is working to organize talks with the U.S. ahead of Fridays summit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. International press freedom groups expressed outrage on Monday at the killing of five media workers in an Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip. Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif, one of the network's most prominent journalists covering the 22-month war, and four of his colleagues were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday that hit a tent housing journalists in Gaza City. Israel's military confirmed al-Sharif's death, saying he was targeted because he was not a journalist but a leader of a Hamas "terrorist cell" in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The broadcaster said the military had not provided any documents verified by independent international sources to support the claim. Israel's military referred to intelligence and documents found in Gaza, including rosters, training lists and salary records, that allegedly prove al-Sharif's military affiliation with Hamas. The Israeli military claims he was responsible for carrying out rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers. Seven people in total were killed in the attack, the network said: al-Sharif, fellow Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, the camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa, and two other individuals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UN's human rights office in Geneva condemned the attack, calling it a "grave breach of international humanitarian law. Israel must respect and protect all civilians, including journalists." In Berlin, the German Foreign Office demanded a "transparent" explanation as to why Israel thought it necessary to bomb a tent housing journalists. Media rights groups weigh in The German Journalists' Association (DJV) said that even if can be proven that al-Sharif worked for Hamas, this did not justify the airstrike on the tent being used by multiple media workers, said DJV Federal Chairman Mika Beuster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that it was unacceptable to deliberately hunt down journalists on the basis of unverifiable allegations. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) questioned Israel's claim that al-Sharif was a Hamas cadre. "Israel has a longstanding, documented pattern of accusing journalists of being terrorists without providing any credible proof," the organization said in a statement released at its headquarters in New York. The CPJ says at least 192 journalists and media workers have been killed since the start of the Gaza conflict. Israel has repeatedly accused journalists in the Gaza Strip of working for Hamas, a stance critics see as an attempt to suppress critical reporting from the war zone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Foreign reporters have been largely barred from entering Gaza since the conflict began, leaving local journalists to cover events on the ground. The Al Jazeera Media Network condemned the killings as yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom. "This attack comes amid the catastrophic consequences of the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza, which has seen the relentless slaughter of civilians, forced starvation, and the obliteration of entire communities," the network said. International press freedom groups expressed outrage on Monday at the killing of a total of six media workers in an Israeli airstrike on the Gaza Strip. Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif, one of the network's most prominent journalists covering the 22-month war, and four of his colleagues were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday that hit a tent housing journalists in Gaza City. According to the organisation Reporters Without Borders, one freelance journalist was also killed, bringing the total number of deaths to six. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel's military confirmed al-Sharif's death, saying he was targeted because he was not a journalist but a leader of a Hamas "terrorist cell" in Gaza. The broadcaster said the military had not provided any documents verified by independent international sources to support the claim. Israel's military referred to intelligence and documents found in Gaza, including rosters, training lists and salary records, that allegedly prove al-Sharif's military affiliation with the Palestinian militant organization Hamas. The Israeli military claims he was responsible for carrying out rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Seven people in total were killed in the attack, the network said: al-Sharif, fellow Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, the camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa, and two other individuals. Funeral met with crowds Large crowds lined the funeral procession for the five dead to the Sheikh Radwan cemetery in the city of Gaza on Monday, Al-Jazeera reported, citing verified clips on social media. Friends, colleagues and relatives hugged and comforted each other. One man held up a protective waistcoat labelled "Press," while others wiped away their tears. Israel's military claimed that al-Sharif had been allegedly been responsible for carrying out rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers. The military did not comment on the other four victims of the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The UN's human rights office in Geneva condemned the attack, calling it a "grave breach of international humanitarian law. Israel must respect and protect all civilians, including journalists." In Berlin, the German Foreign Office demanded a "transparent" explanation as to why Israel thought it necessary to bomb a tent housing journalists. Media rights groups weigh in The German Journalists' Association (DJV) said that even if can be proven that al-Sharif worked for Hamas, this did not justify the airstrike on the tent being used by multiple media workers, said DJV Federal Chairman Mika Beuster. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that it was unacceptable to deliberately hunt down journalists on the basis of unverifiable allegations. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) questioned Israel's claim that al-Sharif was a Hamas cadre. "Israel has a longstanding, documented pattern of accusing journalists of being terrorists without providing any credible proof," the organization said in a statement released at its headquarters in New York. The CPJ says at least 192 journalists and media workers have been killed since the start of the Gaza conflict. Israel's Foreign Press Association said: "Over the past 22 months, the Israeli military has repeatedly labelled Palestinian journalists as militants, often without verifiable evidence, turning them into targets." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We call on Israel to cease its attacks on journalists in Gaza and allow journalists to enter and report freely," the organization said in a statement. Critical reporting unwanted Israel has repeatedly accused journalists in the Gaza Strip of working for Hamas, a stance critics see as an attempt to suppress critical reporting from the war zone. Foreign reporters have been largely barred from entering Gaza since the conflict began, leaving local journalists to cover events on the ground. The Al Jazeera Media Network condemned the killings as yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom. "This attack comes amid the catastrophic consequences of the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza, which has seen the relentless slaughter of civilians, forced starvation, and the obliteration of entire communities," the network said. Prince Harry is speaking out after claims of bullying at a charitable organization he founded were dropped. Britain's charity regulator said Aug. 6 that it had found no evidence of bullying at a charity set up by Harry, but did not single out individual members, including the prince, in its findings. It also criticized all parties for allowing a dispute to become public. In March, Harry stepped down as a patron of Sentebale, a philanthropic organization he set up to help young people with HIV and AIDS in Lesotho and Botswana, following a conflict between trustees and the chair of the board. The chair later accused Harry and others of bullying, racism and misogyny. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Unsurprisingly, the Commission makes no findings of wrongdoing in relation to" Sentebale's cofounder Harry, a spokesperson for Prince Harry said in a statement to USA TODAY. "They also found no evidence of widespread bullying, harassment or misogyny and misogynoir at the charity, as falsely claimed by the current Chair," the statement continued. "Despite all that, their report falls troublingly short in many regards, primarily the fact that the consequences of the current Chair's actions will not be borne by her but by the children who rely on Sentebale's support." Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, founder and patron of the Invictus Games Foundation, delivers remarks at the Closing Ceremonies of the Invictus Games Vancouver Whistler 2025 on Feb. 16, 2025, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. Duchess Meghan applauds Prince Harry for 'beautiful 24 hours' and birthday dinner "Sentebale has been a deeply personal and transformative mission for Prince Harry, established to serve some of the most vulnerable children in Lesotho and Botswana," the spokesperson added. "With the original mission of Sentebale firmly in mind and in honour of the legacy he and Prince Seeiso began The Duke of Sussex will now focus on finding new ways to continue supporting the children of Lesotho and Botswana. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In its report, Britain's Charity Commission said it found no evidence of "widespread or systemic bullying or harassment, including misogyny," but it said there had been weak governance. There was a lack of clarity about policies and roles, and no proper process to deal with internal complaints, it argued, issuing Sentebale with a regulatory action plan to address its concerns. "Sentebale's problems played out in the public eye, enabling a damaging dispute to harm the charity's reputation," Charity Commission CEO David Holdsworth said. In a statement posted on the organization's website, the charity's chair, Dr. Sophie Chandauka, expressed vindication over the commission's decision to "confirm the governance concerns I raised privately." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The unexpected adverse media campaign that was launched by those who resigned has caused incalculable damage and offers a glimpse of the unacceptable behaviours displayed in private," Chandauka wrote. "We are emerging not just grateful to have survived, but stronger: more focused, better governed, boldly ambitious and with our dignity intact." Harry co-founded Sentebale in 2006 in honor of his mother, Princess Diana, nine years after she was killed in a Paris car crash. Sentebale means "forget-me-not" in the local language of Lesotho in southern Africa. Co-founder Prince Seeiso of Lesotho, as well as the board of trustees, joined Harry in leaving Sentebale in March following a leadership dispute with chair Sophie Chandauka, a Zimbabwe-born lawyer who has refused to step down and sued the charity in order to retain her position, according to the U.K.'s The Times. "Nearly 20 years ago, we founded Sentebale in honor of our mothers. Sentebale means 'forget-me-not' in Sesotho ... and it's what we've always promised for the young people we've served through this charity," Harry and Seeiso said in a joint statement obtained by United Kingdom news outlets Sky News and The Times at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The princes resigned "in support of and solidarity" with the board of trustees, who had acted in the best interests of the charity in asking the chair to step down, the joint statement said. "It is devastating that the relationship between the charity's trustees and the chair of the board broke down beyond repair, creating an untenable situation," the statement continued. In a statement shared with Reuters at the time, Chandauka said she would continue to perform her role. "There are people in this world who behave as though they are above the law and mistreat people, and then play the victim card and use the very press they disdain to harm people who have the courage to challenge their conduct," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added that underlying the "victim narrative and fiction" that she said had been fed to the media was "the story of a woman who dared to blow the whistle about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir and the cover-up that ensued." Harry, who lives in California with his wife, Duchess Meghan, and their two children, stopped working as a member of the royal family in 2020. He has been heavily involved in causes in Africa for many years and visited Nigeria last year. This story has been updated to include additional information. Contributing: Reuters; Taijuan Moorman, Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Prince Harry charity cleared of bullying, but chided for mismanagement NEED TO KNOW Prince Harry remains committed to making a difference in the lives of young people in Lesotho and Botswana following his departure from his charity Sentebale "All options are on the table" for the Duke of Sussex, his spokesman says as he contemplates his next move The update comes after the Charity Commission for England and Wales released the results of a probe into "concerns raised" about Sentebale Prince Harry is reimagining his plans for making an impact in Lesotho and Botswana following his shocking step down from Sentebale, the charity he cofounded to uplift young people in the region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Duke of Sussex, 40, resigned as patron in March following a breakdown in relations between Sentebale chairwoman Dr. Sophie Chandauka and the board of trustees. Now, with a charity watchdogs report released and the current leadership still in place, Prince Harry is assessing his future, with a continued focus on making a difference for young Africans. A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex tells PEOPLE, "The Duke remains absolutely committed to continuing the work he started, supporting the children and young people of Lesotho and Botswana, nearly 20 years ago." Prince Harry is now mulling his options and despite a report in the Mail on Sunday that he will set up a separate, rival organization, the representative says no decision has been made yet on "what form that support takes." Carl Court/Getty Prince Harry leaves High Court in London on April 8, 2025. Prince Harry leaves High Court in London on April 8, 2025. https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "All options remain on the table; whether that be starting a new charity or working to support pre-existing charities operating in the same sector in the region," the spokesperson says. The update follows the Charity Commission for England and Wales investigation into Sentebale. On Aug. 6, the commission announced it found no evidence of widespread or systemic bullying, harassment, misogyny, or misogynoir in response to claims made by Chandauka earlier this year. The Commission's statement also outlined that it found no "overreach" by either Chandauka or Prince Harry. The Duke of Sussex and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho stepped down as Sentebale's patrons in March amid the allegations about the charity's governance, saying they made the move "in support of and solidarity with the board of trustees," who resigned amid the infighting. However, the Commission criticized all parties "for allowing to play out publicly" and concluded that the then-trustees' failure to resolve the disputes internally "severely impacted the charitys reputation and risked undermining public trust in charities more generally." Brian Otieno/Getty Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex at Sentebale's Mamohato Children's Centre on Oct. 1, 2024 in Maseru, Lesotho. Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex at Sentebale's Mamohato Children's Centre on Oct. 1, 2024 in Maseru, Lesotho. The Commission also issued a Regulatory Action Plan for Sentebale to identify weaknesses within its governance structure in order to move forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chandauka, who was named Sentebale's chair in July 2023 and retains that role, said that she welcomed the Charity Commission's findings and that Sentebale would always be "inspired" by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso's vision and mission. Jason Koerner/Getty Prince Harry Duke of Sussex and and Dr. Sophie Chandauka speak during the Sentebale Potential is Waiting on April 11, 2024 in Miami Beach, Florida. Prince Harry Duke of Sussex and and Dr. Sophie Chandauka speak during the Sentebale Potential is Waiting on April 11, 2024 in Miami Beach, Florida. "I appreciate the Charity Commission for its conclusions which confirm the governance concerns I raised privately in February 2025 ... The unexpected adverse media campaign that was launched by those who resigned on 24 March 2025 has caused incalculable damage and offers a glimpse of the unacceptable behaviours displayed in private," the Zimbabwean corporate finance lawyer said in a statement. Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso established Sentebale in 2006 in memory of their late mothers, and the organization's name means "forget-me-not" in the Sesotho language. The charity works to empower young people in Lesotho and Botswana, including those living with HIV/AIDS, by offering healthcare, education, vocational training, climate resilience and life skills as a support. Royal watchers were taken aback when the Duke of Sussex announced his departure from the charity in March. In April, the Charity Commission for England and Walesthe U.K.s nonprofit watchdog opened a regulatory compliance case "to examine concerns raised about Sentebale." Brian Otieno/Getty Prince Harry arrives at a welcome event at the Sentebale Mamohato Children's Centre on Oct. 1, 2024 in Maseru, Lesotho. Prince Harry arrives at a welcome event at the Sentebale Mamohato Children's Centre on Oct. 1, 2024 in Maseru, Lesotho. When trustees asked her to step down as chair, she sued, and when the board resigned, the princes followed in a decision they described as "devastating." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For her part, Chandauka alleged that she was asked to step down after she "dared to blow the whistle about issues of poor governance, weak executive management, abuse of power, bullying, harassment, misogyny, misogynoir" and emphasized that she would not be intimidated. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! In a statement replying to the latest findings, a spokesperson for Prince Harry said, "Unsurprisingly, the Commission makes no findings of wrongdoing in relation to Sentebales Co-Founder and former Patron, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. They also found no evidence of widespread bullying, harassment or misogyny and misogynoir at the charity, as falsely claimed by the current Chair." "Despite all that, their report falls troublingly short in many regards, primarily the fact that the consequences of the current Chairs actions will not be borne by her but by the children who rely on Sentebales support," the spokesperson continued. Brian Otieno/Getty Prince Harry arrives to visit Matlameng Ha Mahlehle in the Leribe region with Sentebale in Leribe, Lesotho on Oct. 2, 2024. Prince Harry arrives to visit Matlameng Ha Mahlehle in the Leribe region with Sentebale in Leribe, Lesotho on Oct. 2, 2024. "Sentebale has been a deeply personal and transformative mission for Prince Harry, established to serve some of the most vulnerable children in Lesotho and Botswana. For 19 years, its dedicated staff and steadfast supporters have provided vital care to over 100,000 young people across southern Africa, including young people living with HIV/AIDS and those facing mental health challenges. As custodians of this once brilliant charity, Prince Seeiso, Prince Harry and the former Board of Trustees helped grow Sentebale from the seed of an idea tolike its namesakea flowering force for good. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "With the original mission of Sentebale firmly in mind and in honour of the legacy he and Prince Seeiso began the Duke of Sussex will now focus on finding new ways to continue supporting the children of Lesotho and Botswana." Read the original article on People Pressure on capacity at Jersey's prison means it could be difficult to accommodate prisoners in future, the prison service has said. The average number of inmates at La Moye Prison each day rose from 138 in 2023 to 155 in 2024, its annual report revealed. In December, the highest occupancy rate was 88% - 176 prisoners out of an overall capacity of 200. The prison service said the overall increase was due to more prisoners coming to the prison than leaving in the past few years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It said the population increase put the most pressure on vulnerable prisoner accommodation, which has space for 59 prisoners. The report said four more beds in that area had to be added after it reached maximum capacity in November. It said longer sentences meant population pressures would continue as prisoners were released less quickly. The report added 91% of prisoners had access to accommodation upon release but a "lack of housing availability and rising rental and deposit costs" posed an issue. A total of 46% of accommodation placements were transient or temporary, it said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk. More on this story Related internet links KANSAS CITY, Mo. Progress Rail announced Monday that it will be expanding in Kansas City and creating 85 new jobs. The company is making a multi-million-dollar investment to convert its Kansas City production facility into a re-manufacturing facility through this expansion. Woman hospitalized, Chihuahua killed in off-leash dog attack at Lawrence park Kansas City is a prime destination for transportation and logistics leaders like Progress Rail, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe said. Were proud that this company is contributing to the areas thriving rail industry through this significant investment. Progress Rails new facility is creating jobs while ensuring the continued growth of Kansas Citys vibrant economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Progress Rail said its newly converted facility will re-manufacture railcar wheelsets and bearings. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Inc. Our investment in this facility and the local community demonstrates the overall depth of the railroad business in Kansas City and Progress Rails commitment to keep our customers rolling with quality freight car parts and services, said Greg Dalpe, executive vice president of freight car services at Progress Rail. Were excited to expand our footprint in Kansas City and contribute to the regions ongoing growth as a national logistics hub. Progress Rail said it expects to begin hiring in September. Those interested in applying in Kansas City can go to progressrail.com/careers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Frank White recall: Kansas City Election Board shares voting information For this expansion, Progress Rail will benefit from the Missouri Works program, a tool that helps companies expand and retain workers by providing access to capital through withholdings or tax credits for job creation. The company may also receive assistance from Missouri One Start, a division of the Department of Economic Development. Missouri One Start assists eligible businesses with their recruitment and training needs. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. Israels military targeted a tent for journalists in Gaza City late Sunday, killing seven people, including Anas al-Sharif, a reporter for Al Jazeera who drew millions of followers on social media and emerged as a top voice in the Arab world for his chronicling of the war in Gaza over the last 22 months. Killed alongside the 28-year-old Al-Sharif were Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Moamen Aliwa and their assistant Mohammed Noufal. A sixth journalist, freelancer Mohammad al-Khaldi, who was in a nearby tent, was also killed, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. In a statement, Al Jazeera, which is funded by the government of Qatar and has long had a fraught relationship with the Israeli government, described the killings as a targeted assassination that was yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The order to assassinate Anas al-Sharif, one of Gazas bravest journalists, and his colleagues, is a desperate attempt to silence the voices exposing the impending seizure and occupation of Gaza, the statement said, referring to the Israeli governments recently approved plans for its military to take over the Palestinian enclave. Read more: Israel targets and kills Al Jazeera correspondent in Gaza as journalist toll grows Al Jazeera emphasizes that immunity for perpetrators and the lack of accountability embolden Israels actions and encourage further oppression against witnesses to the truth, the broadcasters statement said. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al Thani also excoriated Israel, saying in a statement on X that "the deliberate targeting of journalists by Israel in the Gaza Strip reveals how these crimes are beyond imagination. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israels military confirmed it conducted the attack, issuing a statement shortly before midnight Monday saying it struck the terrorist Anas Al-Sharif who it said posed as a journalist but served as the head of a terrorist cell in the militant group Hamas. It claimed that previously disclosed intelligence information and many documents found in the Gaza Strip confirmed Al-Sharifs involvement with Hamas. The documents, which the statement said included personnel rosters, lists of terrorist training courses, among others, provide proof of the integration of the Hamas terrorist within Al Jazeera. The documents were first released in October 2024 and accused six Al Jazeera journalists of involvement with Hamas or the Islamic Jihad militant group. At the time, Al Jazeera, along with a United Nations expert, the Committee to Protect Journalists and other groups cast doubt on the veracity of the documents. The U.N. special rapporteur on freedom of expression, Irene Khan, denounced Israels accusations against Al-Sharif in July as unfounded and a blatant attempt to endanger his life and silence his reporting on the genocide in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military has previously made unsubstantiated claims that journalists it targeted and killed in Gaza were terrorists. In March, Israel killed Al Jazeera correspondent Hossam Shabat; in July 2024, it killed Ismail Ghoul and his cameraman Rami al-Rifi. Chief correspondent Wael al Dahdouh lost his wife, son, daughter and grandson in an Israeli airstrike in October 2023. Weeks after that, he was injured in a strike that killed Al Jazeera cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa. Israel has barred international journalists from entering Gaza even as it has targeted local reporters. Health authorities in Gaza say 237 journalists have been killed since the war began on Oct. 7, 2023. The Committee to Protect Journalists says at least 186 have been killed. Sundays drone attack came weeks after Israel stepped up its attacks on Al-Sharif, with the militarys Arabic-language spokesman accusing the Al Jazeera correspondent in July of spreading propaganda and taking part in a false Hamas campaign on starvation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Later that month, the Committee to Protect Journalists said it was gravely worried about Al-Sharifs safety. The groups Middle East and North Africa director, Sara Qudah, warned that the smear campaign against Al-Sharif represented an effort to manufacture consent to kill Al-Sharif. In a statement on Monday, Qudah said, Israel is murdering the messengers. If Israel can kill the most prominent Gazan journalist, then it can kill anyone. The world needs to see these deadly attacks on journalists inside Gaza, as well as its censorship of journalists in Israel and the West Bank, for what they are: a deliberate and systematic attempt to cover up Israels actions. Read more: Amid global outcry, Netanyahu announces new Gaza offensive will be even broader Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he was gravely concerned over the repeated targeting of journalists in Gaza; Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, Reporters Without Borders and other groups also issued condemnations. The U.S. government did not immediately provide comment. Al-Sharifs killing drew tributes for a journalist who for many across the region came to embody Gazas suffering. On social media people shared poignant moments from his coverage, including when he covered his fathers killing in an Israeli airstrike in the Jabaliya refugee camp in Gaza City in December 2023; a video when he was reunited with his daughter this year; or when he almost broke down on air, his voice cracking. Keep on going, Mr. Anas, says an unseen passerby. You are our voice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Video posted to social media showed crowds massing at the Sheikh Radwan Cemetery for the journalists funeral. Video depicted mourners crying and embracing each other, while others in the crowd carried Al-Sharifs shrouded corpse and chanted, With our soul and blood, we will sacrifice ourselves for you, Anas. Al-Sharif is survived by his wife, daughter and son. Minutes before the strike that killed him, Al-Sharif posted on X saying there was intense, concentrated Israeli bombardment of Gaza City for two hours. Al-Sharifs final message, written in April to be posted in the event of his death, read: If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He continued: I have lived through pain in all its details, tasted suffering and loss many times, yet I never once hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification so that Allah may bear witness against those who stayed silent, those who accepted our killing, those who choked our breath, and whose hearts were unmoved by the scattered remains of our children and women, doing nothing to stop the massacre that our people have faced for more than a year and a half. 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. The Norfolk Superior Court judge who oversaw Karen Reads murder trials allowed a request from prosecutors to return her phone and SUV more than a month after Read was acquitted. Read, 45, was charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of her boyfriend, Boston Police officer John OKeefe. Her retrial ended on June 18 with an acquittal on that charge and all others tied to OKeefes death. Read is on probation after being convicted of operating under the influence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Late last month, a lawyer for Read filed a motion asking prosecutors to turn over her cellphone and SUV, both of which were seized during the investigation into OKeefes death. In the motion, attorney Steven Boozang said he attempted to negotiate the return of the phone and car with Assistant Norfolk District Attorney Adam Lally in late June but hadnt heard back. Lally was one of the prosecutors on the Read case. Prosecutors, in response, filed their own motion asking for court approval to return the items to Read, which Judge Beverly Cannone allowed. Im very happy that Judge Cannone, who I think is one of the finest judges in Superior Court, has allowed the motion so quickly, Boozang told MassLive Monday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boozang said he was hopeful the phone and SUV would be returned immediately, adding he would make arrangements to make that happen. In addition to the phone and SUV, Boozang said he anticipates filing a motion seeking the return of two additional phones seized from Read during an investigation into whether she and the blogger Aidan Kearney conspired to commit witness intimidation. Prosecutors presented evidence on that issue to a grand jury, which did not lead to any indictments. Boozang said he had been representing Read for about a month when he filed the motion in late July. He was hired to help tie up some loose ends, he said. Reads SUV was seized on Jan. 29, 2022, the same day OKeefe died. Prosecutors accused her of drunkenly backing the car into OKeefe, but Reads defense claimed no such collision occurred, and OKeefe died inside the Canton home where he was found outside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Reads criminal case is over, she still faces a wrongful death lawsuit brought by OKeefes family. Last week, Alan Jackson, who led Reads criminal defense team, said he and another lawyer, Elizabeth Little, would be joining Reads civil defense. More about the case Read the original article on MassLive. Aug. 10Prosecutors are recommending that a federal judge sentence Solomon Pena this week to at least 90 years in prison, arguing that a lengthy sentence will help deter others tempted to use violence to achieve political ends. A federal jury in March convicted Pena of 13 felonies for orchestrating a string of shootings at the homes of four Democratic elected officials following the 2022 election. Pena, 42, is scheduled for sentencing on Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Albuquerque before Judge Kea W. Riggs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hearing will conclude a three-year political saga that began in November 2022 when Pena lost an election, leading to a series of reprisal shootings targeting the homes of Albuquerque officials. Pena's attorneys on Friday asked the judge to sentence him to 60 years in prison, the minimum allowed by law. "Mr. Pena maintains his innocence and requests that the Court sentence him to the mandatory minimum of 60 years," Albuquerque attorney Nicholas Hart wrote in the defendant's sentencing memorandum. The U.S. Attorney's Office filed a detailed sentencing memorandum on Wednesday arguing that the maximum sentence of 90 years to life imprisonment was called for "to reflect the seriousness of the offense" and "promote respect for the law." No one was killed or injured by gunfire in the attacks for which Pena was convicted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "His project, his mission, is to undermine our Republic through fear and violence," it said. "A representative republic cannot exist if citizens are afraid to run for office, to vote, or to count votes." Pena's actions "constitute a significant escalation of political and personal violence," the memorandum said. A lengthy sentence is "necessary to afford adequate deterrence to others who would follow a similar path." Pena's sentencing hearing follows a series of high-profile attacks on politicians around the U.S. unrelated to Pena's case. They include a June 14 attack in Minnesota that killed Democratic state Rep. Melissa Hortman, a former Minnesota House speaker, and her husband, Mark, who were fatally shot in their home. Earlier that day and just miles away, Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife were shot and wounded at their home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vance Boelter, 58, of Green Isle, Minnesota, pleaded not guilty Thursday to six counts of murder, stalking and firearms violations in those shootings. In Pennsylvania, authorities have arrested and charged a man who allegedly set fire to the governor's mansion in April while Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family slept, forcing them to evacuate and severely damaging the building. Pena's trial At Pena's weeklong trial in March, prosecutors argued that Pena planned and ordered shootings at the homes of two state lawmakers and two Bernalillo County commissioners, directing the actions of his co-defendants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In closing arguments, Pena's attorneys put full responsibility for the shootings on Pena's co-defendants, Jose and Demetrio Trujillo, both of whom offered lengthy testimony during the trial. Hart told jurors to remain skeptical of the Trujillos' testimony, saying both men sought favorable sentences in exchange for testimony implicating Pena as the mastermind. Both of the Trujillos pleaded guilty earlier this year to multiple federal charges. In May, two months after Pena's trial, the judge sentenced Demetrio Trujillo, 43, to 15 years in prison and Jose Trujillo, 24, to 37 months. Prosecutors contend that Pena was motivated by his November 2022 election loss to incumbent state Rep. Miguel P. Garcia, D-Albuquerque, by a margin of nearly 50 percentage points. Pena later posted on social media that the election was "rigged." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Defendant's motives were political, on the personal, local and national levels," prosecutors wrote in the sentencing memorandum. "He acted out of personal political motivation to seek revenge against the officials who had certified the results of his electoral contest and 'laughed' at him while doing it." The Trujillos testified that Pena conspired with them to fire gunshots at the Albuquerque homes of four Democratic elected officials between Dec. 4, 2022, and Jan. 3, 2023. Prosecutors said that on Jan. 3, 2023, Jose Trujillo fired 12 rounds from a fully automatic machine gun at the home where state Sen. Linda Lopez and her 10-year-old daughter slept. Pena himself fired once before his gun jammed. "Senator Lopez testified that the bullets that ripped into her house entered her bedroom and her daughter's bedroom," prosecutors wrote in the memorandum. "A bullet flew just over her daughter as she slept." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Law enforcement got a break in the case later that night when a Bernalillo County Sheriff's deputy stopped Jose Trujillo, who was driving Pena's car with guns in the trunk used in the Lopez shooting. Other elected officials targeted were Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa, former county commissioner and now state Sen. Debbie O'Malley, and House Speaker Javier Martinez, D-Albuquerque. Pena "acted out of a desire to engage with national politics, to fight back against what he saw as the 'oligarchs' who had 'rigged' previous elections," the memorandum said. "He chose violence and intimidation as his tools to achieve his personal, local, and national political objectives." In their sentencing memorandum, prosecutors cite Pena's attempts to eliminate his codefendants by offering a car and $10,000 to any inmate who could kill Jose or Demetrio Trujillo, for which Pena was convicted of three counts of solicitation to commit a crime of violence. The memorandum also cites Pena's prior criminal history, which includes state convictions for auto burglary, receiving stolen property and other crimes. Federal prosecutors also contend that Pena's profession was "storm chasing," which they describe as "the practice of defrauding insurance companies by repairing nonexistent damage." Protesters hold signs outside Richmond City Hall on Monday during a rally against recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detentions, calling for the city to bar local cooperation with federal immigration authorities. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury) Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside Richmond City Hall Monday afternoon to protest what they called an escalation of immigration enforcement across Virginia and to demand the city cut ties with federal immigration authorities. Organized by Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice and Equality and several allied groups, the rally came in the aftermath of multiple Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detentions in Richmond over the summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates said the tactics involving masked, plainclothes agents in unmarked cars were indistinguishable from abductions and denied people any meaningful chance at due process. ICE kidnappings have been justified by the false narrative that only the criminals or the most dangerous people are being detained, said Fernanda Diaz-Castro, a coordinator with the Virginia Defenders. Her speech was repeatedly interrupted by chants of No Justice, No Peace from the crowd and honks from passing drivers. Not only does this divide-and-conquer rhetoric enable the dehumanization of our migrant communities, but it is also a lie disproven by ICEs own data, she added. According to ICE statistics cited by Diaz-Castro, 868 people have been detained this year at Virginias two immigration detention facilities Caroline Detention Center in Caroline County and Farmville Detention Center. She said 80% were classified by the agency as posing no threat, meaning they had no criminal record. Recent arrests draw scrutiny The rally followed a series of enforcement actions in late July, including one in which 21-year-old Ricardo Martinez-Cantero was stopped while driving to work at a construction site in South Richmond. According to advocates, his vehicle was boxed in by unmarked cars, his window was smashed and he was pulled out and restrained before being taken into custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advocates said his mother was unable to reach him for hours, and that attorneys and community members could not locate him in federal custody until two days later. By that point, Martinez-Cantero had already been transferred to Louisiana for processing. By Sunday morning, he had been deported to Honduras, seven hours from his hometown. In a letter read aloud at the rally by Ana Edwards, chair of the Sacred Ground Historical Reclamation Project, Martinez-Cantero described being held in crowded cells without adequate food, witnessing another detainee suffer a seizure without prompt medical care and being moved between facilities before his deportation. He wrote that when confronted by agents, I felt like the weight of the world was on top of me and that his deportation left him alone and afraid in a country where he fears for his safety. ICE officials did not respond Monday to a request for comment about the July arrests or the protesters allegations regarding tactics and treatment of detainees. Enforcement policies under scrutiny Federal immigration enforcement has been a growing point of contention in Virginia this year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In February, Gov. Glenn Youngkin ordered state police and the Department of Corrections to cooperate with ICE on detainer requests and information sharing, a move his administration said would help remove violent criminals from our communities. Immigrant advocates argue the policy instead fuels fear, discouraging victims and witnesses from contacting police, and has expanded the scope of people targeted for detention. According to recent ICE and advocacy group data, Virginias detention facilities are operating near their highest capacity in years. Caroline Detention Center, which has a contract to house ICE detainees, was at about 80% capacity earlier this year its highest level since 2020. Arrests have also been documented at or near courthouses, and during routine check-ins with immigration officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those practices have drawn criticism from lawmakers including U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, who last month visited the Chesterfield County Courthouse to highlight concerns about people being detained there. Diaz-Castro said Monday such gestures fall short. It is simply not enough for politicians to hold a press conference condemning actions taken by ICE without tangible plans to back it up, she told the crowd. We need to see elected officials take concrete measures to protect all community members. Policy demands At Mondays protest, the Defenders outlined a list of changes they want city officials to pursue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They urged Richmond to pass legislation prohibiting police and other city agencies from cooperating with ICE a step some Virginia localities have already taken. Arlington County, for example, strengthened its Trust Policy in late 2024 to increase protections for immigrant communities after data showed many residents feared calling 911. Advocates said Richmond should make a similar commitment to public safety for all residents. Fernanda Diaz-Castro, a coordinator with Virginia Defenders for Freedom, Justice and Equality, and Josue Castillo, a community organizer with New Virginia Majority, speak during Mondays protest outside Richmond City Hall against recent ICE detentions. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury) The group also called for an end to masked and unidentified policing. They want the city to make it illegal for officers or federal agents to carry out arrests in plain clothes, unmarked vehicles, or without visible identification, and to require judicial warrants for all immigration-related arrests. Another demand is that Richmond refuse to renew contracts for Flock Safety surveillance cameras, which track vehicle movements and can be used by law enforcement without a warrant. Advocates argue the technology enables unchecked surveillance and can be used to target immigrant communities. They also pressed city officials to secure rapid legal representation for detained residents, provide financial support to families who lose breadwinners to deportation, and oppose the expansion of detention facilities in Virginia. In the longer term, the group wants all existing facilities closed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, the Defenders urged elected officials to accompany residents to immigration court hearings, saying a visible presence can deter enforcement actions near courthouses. They also called for more funding to support community organizations such as the Sacred Heart Community Center, which provides language classes, legal clinics and other services to undocumented and under-documented residents. Emotional appeals from the podium Speakers remarks alternated between policy arguments and personal accounts intended to humanize the impact of enforcement. Josue Castillo, a community organizer with New Virginia Majority and the son of Honduran immigrants, said the raids have sown fear in neighborhoods and fractured families. Every single person detained by ICE is more than a number, he said. They are a loved one, they are a friend, they are a parent or a child. All of them have lives and stories that were senselessly uprooted by the hands of masked cowards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said parents are now having difficult conversations with children about the possibility they might not come home from work one day. These are real stories that are happening every day in this city, the state and across the country, Castillo said. The Rev. Rodney Hunter of Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church in Richmond compared ICEs tactics to those of kidnappers and said constituents must hold officials accountable to protect the citizens rights. In an interview with The Mercury, Nancy Wein, co-chair of the Virginia Coalition for Human Rights, called the situation dire and said advocacy needed to include both lobbying lawmakers and physically showing up at courthouses to support people facing deportation. As the rally wound down, Diaz-Castro told the crowd their work was just beginning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If elected officials wont protect us we will, she said, her voice carrying over the noise of downtown traffic. Protesters carried signs reading ICE out of Richmond and Police state is not our fate as they dispersed into the heat, many saying they planned to be back at City Hall for the next council meeting on Sept. 8. Activists rally outside Richmond City Hall on Monday, holding signs and calling for an end to what they describe as aggressive immigration enforcement tactics in Virginia. (Photo by Markus Schmidt/Virginia Mercury) SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE NEED TO KNOW John Skip Dove Jr. was found with multiple stab wounds in his Soldotna, Alaska home LaShaunda Lewis has been arrested in connection with the killing Police found a video on Dove's phone where they believe Lewis can be heard whispering for help, per an affidavit A traveling psychiatric nurse in Alaska has allegedly admitted to killing her landlord who was found dead in his home last week. John Skip Dove Jr., 78, was found with multiple stab wounds in his Soldotna, Alaska home on Tuesday, Aug. 5, by officers responding to a 911 call, KTUU, the Anchorage Daily News and local radio station KDLL reported, citing authorities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police arrested 31-year-old LaShaunda Lewis in connection with Dove's killing. She was a tenant for three months at Dove's residence, per the Anchorage Daily News. According to an arrest affidavit obtained by all three outlets, police were at the residence on Aug. 4, while conducting a welfare check requested by Lewis' family. The family member requested the check after the two spoke on the phone and Lewis, the family member said, was behaving strangely during the call, the Anchorage Daily News and KDLL reported, citing the affidavit. When police arrived, Lewis reportedly told them she needed to check herself in for a psychiatric evaluation, but declined to get one, per the affidavit, KTUU and the Anchorage Daily News reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following day, troopers responded to a 911 call at the residence and found Lewis naked and bleeding. She was transported to a medical facility owing to self-inflicted injuries, per authorities, before police found Dove's body on the ground. He had been stabbed several times. When speaking to police, Lewis allegedly admitted to the killing and claimed she could not remember several details. She allegedly said there was a "struggle" before Dove's killing, according to investigators, KTUU and the Anchorage Daily News reported. In a video found on Dove's phone, Lewis was heard whispering "help me" and "he tried to kill me," KTUU reported, citing investigators' account. John Skip Dove/Facebook Murder victim John Skip Dove. Murder victim John Skip Dove. Dove, a Vietnam war veteran, is being remembered by friends and family as "charismatic" and friendly. He lost his wife in 2023, the family said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He has this human magnetism about him. He just can attract a crowd, they like being around him," his brother Peter Dove told KTUU. Its very difficult to explain. Its a gift of God. He didnt know a stranger, his friend Chuck Winters said. He had all the classic characteristics you need to be like an effective human, but on multiple levels, because he could relate to anyone. He could talk to anyone. Never met a stranger. 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. Lewis has been charged with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder, according to online court records reviewed by PEOPLE. Records did not indicate plea and attorney information. Read the original article on People Monday was supposed to mark the beginning of two weeks of continuous and probably contentious public hearings over Florida Power & Lights nearly $10 billion request to hike its customers base rates on their electric bills, the largest requested hike in American history. Instead, regulators on the Florida Public Service Commission pressed pause on the cases progress in the public eye. Thats because the utility company on Friday announced it and some of the groups involved in the case had reached an agreement for a potential settlement. Those negotiations happen behind closed doors. But the utility commissioners on Monday also assured the Office of the Public Counsel, which represents consumers, that they would still get the chance to grill the companys witnesses and closely scrutinize the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The public counsel, plus other groups advocating for residents, are not working on the potential settlement, and all opposed the motion to suspend the hearings. Meanwhile, those working with Florida Power & Light largely represent business interests, including data centers, retail companies and heavy industry, all of whom pay big electric bills. FPL rate hike would double-charge customers to pad profits, filings say Mike La Rosa, chairperson of the utility commission, said he was committed to making sure due process is of course protected, and other commissioners agreed. This is our largest utility provider, theres a lot of customers, said Commissioner Andrew Giles Fay. I want to get this right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was unclear based on the commissioners remarks exactly what the forthcoming public hearings would entail or if theyd still span two weeks. But commissioners indicated they would not resume until a proposed settlement is ready to be discussed. Florida Power & Light lawyer John Burnett said that could be done in a week and a half, maybe even sooner. Trump nominates Florida utility official in shakeup The Tampa Bay Times launched the Environment Hub in 2025 to focus on some of Floridas most urgent and enduring challenges. You can contribute through our journalism fund by clicking here. A January 2025 view of the South Dakota State Capitol in Pierre. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) A legislative task force aiming to reduce property taxes for South Dakota homeowners will meet in Aberdeen this week with opportunities for public input. The Comprehensive Property Tax Task Force will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Kesslers Champions Club on the Northern State University campus, and 9 a.m. on Wednesday in the same location. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Tuesday evening meeting is dedicated solely to public comment, and the group is also scheduled to take public comment at 9 a.m. during the Wednesday meeting. Wednesdays agenda also includes breakout discussions among task force members focusing on the intersection of property taxes with school, state government and local government funding. The task force is exploring government spending reductions as a potential way to cut property tax burdens. The group is also discussing an optional county-level sales tax of a half-percent to offset participating counties property taxes on owner-occupied homes, and a new state sales tax of 1% dedicated to education funding. The 1% tax would apply to most of the products and services that are currently exempted from sales taxes, and would stack on top of the existing state sales tax rate of 4.2% for other transactions. Members of Abolish Property Taxes South Dakota pitched a transaction tax to the group at its Rapid City meeting last month. The proposal would aim to replace property taxes by adding a flat $1.50 tax on transactions of $15 or greater, and a tax of 10% on smaller transactions. Earlier this year, lawmakers adopted Republican Gov. Larry Rhodens proposal to slow property tax increases with multifaceted reforms including a five-year, countywide 3% cap on growth in owner-occupied home assessments. That new law took effect July 1. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX A South Florida man was arrested at a Publix in St. Lucie County on Sunday morning after a woman told one of the stores employees that he had kidnapped her in Broward County, police said. Michael Francis Jablonski, 60, of West Palm Beach, parked his white van at the Publix at Tradition Square in Port St. Lucie shortly before 9:30 a.m. Sunday and entered the store. The woman also entered the store at some point and reported to an employee that a family friend had kidnapped her in Davie, nearly 100 miles south, Port St. Lucie Police said in a news release Monday. The Publix employee hid the woman in an office and called police. Jablonski was coming out of the store when officers arrived, a probable cause affidavit said. He told officers no one else was in his van and tried to get inside of it despite one officers orders not to, the affidavit said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An officer pulled Jablonski out of the van as he resisted, and a struggle between him and the officers ensued once outside, according to the affidavit. Jablonski tried to run away but fell into some bushes when one of the officers pushed him. The second officer then shocked Jablonski with a Taser. Jablonski continued to resist until the officer who shocked him used pain compliance to put Jablonski in handcuffs, according to the affidavit. Jablonski was booked into the St. Lucie County jail on charges of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting with violence. After Jablonski was arrested, the woman told officers he had sexually assaulted her in the van when they were parked at business near the Gatlin Boulevard exit of Interstate 95, also in Port St. Lucie, the police department said in the news release. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davie Police and Port St. Lucie Police are investigating the allegations of kidnapping and sexual assault, the news release said. Additional charges may be filed against Jablonski, authorities said. Davie Police is not releasing information about its active investigation, said Officer Breanna Sibole, a spokesperson for the department. Jablonski has a criminal history in Broward County, Florida Department of Corrections records show. He was released from prison in 2016 after serving a year for trafficking in stolen property and giving false information to a pawnbroker. In an earlier case, he was released from prison in 2012 after serving a year for burglary and grand theft. Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, and Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, await an address from U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, on Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (Photo by James Brooks/Alaska Beacon) Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavys move to establish a state Department of Agriculture during the ongoing legislative special session appears to be turning into a fight over executive power, and it could be ultimately decided by the courts. Last week, as the special session opened in Juneau, Dunleavy signed an executive order intended to establish the Alaska Department of Agriculture by moving parts of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources into a separate agency. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alaska is one of only two states without a cabinet-level agriculture department, and Dunleavy has said he wants to create one in order to help the growth of farming in the state. Creating a cabinet-level agriculture department was the top priority of a state food security task force in 2022 intended to encourage farming here. The governors order would take effect Jan. 1 and is almost identical to one Dunleavy issued this spring. Under the Alaska Constitution, lawmakers can stop an executive order if they vote to dismiss it within 60 days. Legislators did just that with the spring order, voting 32-28 in March to deny the governors original order. At the time, and since then, legislators have said that they prefer to enact a state department via law because it allows them to include their own ideas and comments of the public. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The problem with an executive order is that we cant amend an executive order, said Senate President Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, and theres some things that I think folks want to do. This month, when Dunleavy repeated the order, legislators refused to accept it. Stevens and Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon, I-Dillingham, said in a letter to the governor that introducing an executive order during a special session is unconstitutional, and that repeating an already disallowed order is also unconstitutional. This falls in the category of so many things during Dunleavys tenure as governor, where he has tried to push the boundaries with the Legislature. And were at the point now where were tired of being pushed around, Edgmon said by phone on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor responded to the legislators letter with a letter of his own last week, saying that he has a different legal interpretation and believes the Legislatures view is wrong. Jeff Turner, the governors communications director, said by email on Friday that the letter still stands as the governors view and nothing has changed since then. His sort of threat to go ahead anyway is a little disconcerting, Stevens said. The legislative process, though long winds up with a better answer because the public will have a chance to testify in the committee hearings, and well all have a chance to discuss it and try to figure out the best way going forward. Unfortunately, an executive order is really sort of a ham-handed way to organize a new department. I really hope the governor allows us to move ahead and do it on our own through the legislative process. Legislators could meet in joint session and again vote down the governors executive order, but doing so would be an implicit acknowledgement that the governor has the ability to issue a valid executive order during a special session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve heard that from our legal folks, Stevens said, that establishing a precedent like that could be dangerous in the future. Any governor then could do something without the Legislature really being involved. and so were really concerned about precedents. Those differing positions have created a standoff: Legislators are refusing to accept the order as valid, and the governors office has said that if legislators dont vote it down, Dunleavy will take that as acceptance. He said he will go ahead with plans to create the department on Jan. 1. If he does that, Stevens said that the issue is likely to go to the courts. Edgmon said that lawmakers are prepared to stand their ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Legislature believes its decision to send the executive order back to the governor is based on firm ground, and we fully intend to defend our institutions ability to do its work, he said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Vladamir Putin is indicted by the International Criminal Court, accused of ordering the theft of thousands of children from Ukraine to be sold to childless couples in Russia. This charge is just the tip of a massive iceberg, and the war crimes of using chemical weapons and directly targeting civilians must surely be added. With others, I hunted down the evidence that Putins puppet in Syria, Bashar Al Assad was using chemical weapons against his own population, perhaps under the direction or certainly the knowledge of Putin, and the German government will arrest Assad on this charge, if he ever leaves the Kremlins clutches. Hence, Putin should be arrested when he touches down in Alaska to meet the US president on Friday not feted and lauded like some conquering hero, who seems to have a worryingly beguiling hold over the greatest dealmaker on the planet. The Russian leader has again stated that he has no interest in a peace deal which does not come with a huge swathe of Ukraine, some already illegally annexed and some still very much in Ukrainian hands. This is pretty minimalistic from the Russian dictator, as the original aim of his Special Military Operation was the complete subjugation of Ukraine. A few weeks ago, an article from the Russian State news agency RIA Novosti was headlined There is no other option: no one in Ukraine should be left alive, under a chilling image of the Grim Reaper hovering over destroyed Ukrainian tanks, below an apocalyptic red sky. This leaves doubt as to the aims of the Russian tyrant, whatever guff he might be peddling to the US leader. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump should know, or at least must be briefed on the Budapest Memorandum which the US, the UK and Russia signed in 1994 guaranteeing the safety and the integrity of the borders of Ukraine, in return for Ukraine giving up its nuclear weapons. What Trump and Putin appear to be suggesting as the basis for their discussions in Alaska is in direct contravention of this treaty. I agree with Ben Wallace, the excellent former defence minister, that if Zelensky is not in Alaska, then the UKs Prime Minister should be there to ensure that the Budapest Memorandum is adhered to in word and deed and the gangster and the real estate king, dont hatch some dreadful deal that completely ignores the rights and will of the Ukrainian people. So, President Trump, if you are the greatest dealmaker in the universe then arrest Putin in Alaska and the war in Ukraine will end on Friday. No doubt there are many in the Kremlin and certainly most of the Russian population who would support this, with their economy in freefall and the rank and file barely able to feed themselves. Those with money cannot travel to their previously beloved Mediterranean beach resorts, and even flying to Russian holiday spots is often disrupted by Ukrainian cyber and drone attacks. Russia might be making a few small gains on the frontlines in Ukraine, but Ukraine is making massive strategic gains deep in Russia, destroying 17 per cent of its oil industry, routinely grounding flights and destroying armaments factories. With a bit more help Mr President, they could probably send Mr Putin packing themselves! The US president must understand that Ukraine is not losing this war and Russia is not winning it, so he must not appease Putin for an easy peace deal to enhance his rather obnoxious desire for the Nobel Peace Prize. The only acceptable peace deal is one that is just and acceptable to President Zelensky and the Ukrainian people and at the moment neither appear to be represented in Alaska where their fate may well be determined. 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. Puyallup is getting a new discount clothing store this fall. Burlington will be opening at the former Big Lots site at 120 31st Ave., the company announced in a news release. In the release, the company said the new store will be opening in the fall, but did not give a specific date. Lindsay Erickson, a spokesperson for Burlingtons public relations agency, told The News Tribune that the store will open in mid-September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This store will be the 19th location in Washington. According to the release, the store will offer: Ladies apparel and accessories Menswear, inclusive of a wide assortment of Big and Tall. Junior, child and baby clothes Beauty and fragrance items Home decor Pet care and toys The release also said the store is part of a wave of stores that will have a reimagined layout. All new Burlington stores now open in the refreshed format, featuring thoughtfully organized aisles and bold signage making it easier than ever to navigate the store and get inspiration for the latest must-have trends, the release said. While approximately half of the brands existing locations have already been converted, the remaining stores are expected to transition to the new format by the end of 2026. Reporters interview Eric Meyer outside of the Marion County Record office, the site of a 2023 police raid, after an Oct. 7, 2024, court hearing for Gideon Cody, the former Marion police chief who led the raid. (Anna Kaminski/Kansas Reflector) TOPEKA Two years after police staged a chilling raid on the Marion County Record, the newspapers owner-editor remains committed to the hard-hitting journalism that made him a target. And he wants his ongoing lawsuit against the city and county to hurt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eric Meyer appeared on the Kansas Reflector podcast to talk about how things have changed since the Aug. 11, 2023, raid, when police stormed the newsroom under the false pretense that a reporter had committed identity theft by looking up a driving record in a public online database. They took computers and reporters personal cellphones, acting outside the scope of a search warrant that was issued in disregard for the U.S. Constitution and state and federal laws that protect journalists. The raid spawned one state and five federal lawsuits, as well as a criminal charge against Gideon Cody, the former police chief who led the raid. The legal action continues to unfold as attorneys battle in federal court and a hearing in Codys case is scheduled for this fall. RELATED STORIES Judge who authorized Kansas newspaper raid escapes discipline with secret conflicting explanation Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One year after chilling police raid on Kansas newspaper, aftershocks linger in Marion News of police raiding a Kansas newspaper unfolded like a novella. The story keeps churning. After Kansas newspaper raid, journalists remain defiant in battle for accountability Marion prosecutor, wary of liability, wrote self-serving memos after raid on Kansas newspaper Special prosecutor in Marion raid: More details will surface, no other charges without new evidence Former police chief, who raided Kansas newspaper, returns to face criminal charge Survey shows most Kansans support criminal charge for police chief who led newspaper raid Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Publisher of raided Kansas newspaper delivers advice to journalists: Make democracy great again Following is an edited and abbreviated Q&A from the podcast with Meyer. How has your life changed in the past two years? You dont have long enough in your podcast to explain it all. It has changed massively. In addition to the practical side of it, that Ive had a lot of places Ive gone, a lot of speeches Ive given, a lot of other things that have gone on, but just the work of it. You know, this was my retirement gig. I was going to come here and do this part-time for fun. What could be more fun than this? Well, it is fun. I at one point said that my mother, who died as a result of the stress of the raid, had an opportunity at 98 to go out meaning something in her life. But its nice as a retiree to be out here doing something, of still meaning it somehow or another, trying to keep trying maybe as Don Quixote to keep journalism alive. But we are trying our hardest to not bow to pressures and still get good journalism out there. And it really is a battle. What are some of the revelations that have come out since we last checked in with you about this time a year ago? Not as many as youd think. Were still literally blocked from discovery in our federal court lawsuits, which means we cant go out and interrogate people that we think have information that would be relevant to the case. And part of this is being able to figure out the degree to which political people, elected officials and others, helped push this raid along. This is important because theres sort of been a narrative at times to pin this all on one rogue police chief, but I think the evidence clearly shows that one guy cant do this in isolation. It was a coordinated effort. Exactly. And I really object when that thought comes up, that this was just Gideon Cody who did this. And yeah, he did a lot of it himself. But there were people within law enforcement who helped him, people in elected positions, people in judicial court positions, who could have and should have stopped him, and they didnt. Now, was it because they were not courageous? They didnt want to make waves? Or was it that they agreed with him? Or was it that that they were just incompetent to whats going on? I dont know. That would be nice to find out. Where do things stand in your case? Its abundantly clear from the rulings of the judge so far in the case on various motions of dismissal that weve probably won the case. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most telling of these things was we had sued the city of Marion for failing to provide training to its police officers about the Privacy Protection Act, which says that youre supposed to get subpoenas, not warrants, to raid newsrooms. And the judge threw that out, saying any fool whod be a cop should know this automatically and without requiring specialized training. And there are overtures now to try to settle some official, some unofficial. Im eager to get the thing done. But there are things other than financial damages at stake here. So there needs to be some admissions. There need to be things that are reported to licensing authorities for police officers other than Gideon Cody. Are you committed to not settling, to seeing this out through trial? The real reason we wanted to go to trial was we wanted a ruling on the record that acknowledges that this is something you just dont do. And if they are willing to provide that as a stipulation, we might accept that. This has never been about money. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is about making sure that people understand what they did was wrong, admit that publicly. Set it as an example. And somehow or other, it needs to hurt. One of our concerns is that theyll want to settle up to the limit of their insurance coverage. Well, that really means you did nothing. I mean, it really probably needs to go a little beyond insurance. Now, we dont want to bankrupt the city or county of Marion by any manner or means. But something that has a little pain to it. Do you feel like you still have strong community support? I think everybody, including me, would like to see this over. But theyre very supportive of us. They just dont like the fact that it looks like were hickville. And to be honest, I think thats a very unfair assumption. I think that Marion and Marion County are not hickville. Some things that went on in Marion and Marion County that probably go on in a lot of other counties have been exposed. We just dont hear about them in other counties. And to an extent, Marion County should take pride in the fact there here, weve had a situation where somebody tried to trample on rights, and it didnt happen. We fixed it. Were in the process of fixing it. So you can take pride in that. Its not where cops were stupid and raided a newsroom. Its where somebody tried something stupid and, you know what? They didnt get away with it. I think thats a point of pride, but it would be nice to be known for something else. I think its worth pointing out that accountability journalism put you in the crosshairs of police for this raid. But this is the role that journalists need to embrace, right, in this current climate? Oh, absolutely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im sorry to tell this to a group of people out there: There are facts. And some things are facts. And your opinion of the fact doesnt change whether its a fact or not. And you have to pay attention to the nuances. You have to pay attention to the little things. You and your late mother were inducted in the Kansas Press Association Hall of Fame last year. I went to the induction ceremony, where you gave this speech, shortly after the election in November, and you gave a sort of rallying cry to journalists. You said: Make democracy great again. Are journalists rising to meet this moment? Some are, when they still have money to do it. I mean, closing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is going to silence a great number of people in public media. Corporations are going to take care of silencing a great number of people elsewhere. We need to have people aggressively going out and finding out whats wrong. We had a story this week: They applied a new coating of pavement to the main road that leads to Pilsen, which is the home of Emil Kapaun, the man whos about to be sainted as a Korean War hero. And it didnt stick, and the road is now basically untravellable. Did they tell us about it? No! We had to find out about it. And now its a game of finger-pointing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Journalists have joined this Gen Z thing: We dont want to embarrass anybody. Oh, my goodness, somebody might take offense if we run this story. And so they dont want to do it, and their corporate bosses say, Oh yeah, they might cancel their ads. Oh, we cant do that. So we make our news publications and news broadcasts and other things so dull that nobody wants to read them anymore or listen to them anymore. I used to say this as a journalism professor thats why I came here in my retirement, was that I think theres still a place in this world for regular, good old-fashioned journalism. And this is from somebody who taught online and stuff like that in school. I said, Weve wasted too much time worrying about that stuff, and not enough time worrying about the substance of what were reporting. And get out there and get interesting things that matter to people and tell us about them. So I said, Well, I cant solve it for the world, but maybe I can make a little demonstration project out here that we can try to do it. And of course, somebody says, Yeah, and what happened to you: You get raided. Yeah, thats true. But the raiding gives us more attention. I may be quixotic in some regards and Pollyannaish in another, but the raid drew attention to the fact that were actually trying to do good journalism. So theres a positive outcome to the raid. A delegation of Hamas officials will reportedly be heading to Egypt on Monday in an attempt to resume the stalled ceasefire negotiations, according to the London-based al-Araby al-Jadeed news outlet. A delegation of Hamas officials will reportedly be heading to Egypt on Monday in an attempt to resume the stalled ceasefire negotiations, according to the London-based al-Araby al-Jadeed news outlet. The outlet explained that the seeming resumption of negotiations follows a visit by a Hamas delegation to Ankara last week, where they met with Turkish officials to discuss the situation in Gaza. After the meeting, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan flew to Cairo to present the official request, on behalf of Anakra, to mediate and resume negotiations between Egypt and Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Qatar and Egypt expect to complete the latest formulation of a ceasefire-hostage deal proposal next week. The new proposal comes amid discussions on evacuating the residents of Gaza City, which is expected to take three months, including discussions on what can be expected during such an operation. The announcement came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced at a Sunday press conference that Israel had been misled by Hamas during hostage deal negotiations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to international media on the Gaza war, in Jerusalem, August 10, 2025 (credit: CHAIM TZACH/GPO) The terror group, which is currently holding 50 Israelis hostage, demanded the release of Nukhba terrorists, international guarantees not to return to fighting, and Israel's complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. The Israel-Hamas War Pressure has mounted against Israel to end the war as international organizations and Hamas-led bodies have decried the IDF's actions in the Gaza Strip as genocide - an accusation denied by Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Announcing plans for after Hamas is removed from power, Netanyahu said on Sunday that a civilian administration would run the Palestinian enclave and would become a demilitarized, security zone. Netanyahu also stressed the importance of implementing a new education system in the Strip that does not radicalize its citizens to seek the destruction of Israel. The civilian administration would be one "that doesn't educate its children for terror, doesn't pay terrorists, and doesn't launch terror attacks against Israel." Hamas has previously refused to disarm until the establishment of a Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital, and threatened to treat any foreign powers administering Gaza as an extension of Israeli "occupation." BALTIMORE Victor Martinez-Hernandez, the man found guilty of raping and killing Rachel Morin on the Ma and Pa Heritage Trail in 2023, will be sentenced Monday after hearing directly from her family in open court. Martinez-Hernandez, 24, of El Salvador, was found guilty April 14 of first-degree murder, first-degree rape, third-degree sexual assault and kidnapping relating to the death of the 37-year-old Bel Air mother of five who was reported missing by her boyfriend on Aug. 5, 2023, hours after she went for a walk on the Bel Air trail. The sentencing hearing for Martinez-Hernandez is expected to begin at 9:30 a.m. and include a number of victim impact statements. Harford Circuit Judge Yolanda Curtin, who presided over the trial, will also oversee the sentencing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Harford States Attorney Alison Healey, who prosecuted the case, said on numerous occasions that she will seek a sentence of life without the possibility of parole the maximum state penalty for first-degree murder. More than 500 pieces of evidence submitted by prosecutors during the nine-day trial showed that Martinez-Hernandez attacked Morin and dragged her off of the trail and into a drainage culvert, where he raped her, further assaulted her, and left her to die. Morin was found naked with injuries all over her body the next day by members of a search party prompting a monthslong homicide investigation by the Harford County Sheriffs Office. The investigation concluded in June 2024 when Martinez-Hernandez, who illegally entered the United States in 2023, was arrested in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators linked the murder to Martinez-Hernandez by using DNA samples found on Morins body and contacting Martinez-Hernandezs family, who provided police with information about him. At the time of Morins death, Martinez-Hernandez was living in Bel Air and employed at Barretts on the Pike and the Bel Air Popeyes. ------------ The sentencing of the illegal immigrant found guilty of murdering a Maryland woman, Rachel Morin, in 2023, took place in the Harford County Circuit Court in Bel Air on Monday. Morins loved ones gave victim impact statements during the hearing. The defendant was handed a life sentence without parole, getting a maximum sentence for each of the four counts against him, including life without parole for first-degree murder, life for first-degree rape, and 40 years for a sex offense and kidnapping, according to CBS News. Arguably, Harford County has never seen a case or a defendant more deserving of every single day of the maximum sentences this court imposed, Harford County States Attorney Alison Healey said outside the courthouse, per the news outlets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her statement, Morins mother, Patty Morin, said, The depths of grief are equivalent to the depths of love felt. This will impact generations to come. Before the sentencing, Morin told Fox News that she was advised by the court not to speak directly to the defendant when giving her statement, adding that in the last two weeks, shes written close to nine drafts of her statement. Because Im thinking of my daughter and her life, and how can I put the value of her life, reduce it to ink and paper, she said. And then I think about my grandchildren and her siblings and the pain that theyve suffered, and how today theyre going to be expressing their pain as well, and statements, so its just going to be a really hard day. Following a 10-month manhunt, El Salvador national Victor Martinez-Hernandez, 24, was arrested in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after detectives pinged his cell phone. He became the lead suspect after more than 1,000 tips were sent in to the Maryland State Police, and DNA on Morins body matched an unidentified man who had sexually assaulted a woman and child in Los Angeles four months prior, per The Baltimore Banner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morin, a 37-year-old mother of five, was determined missing after she had gone on a run in August 2023 at a trail near her home. The medical examiner confirmed her cause of death was strangulation and blunt force injuries. Her body was discovered the day after she went missing in a drainage culvert. Martinez-Hernandez was found guilty on all counts, including first-degree Martinez-Hernandez was found guilty on all counts, including first-degree premeditated murder, first-degree rape, third-degree sex offense and third-degree kidnapping. He was accused of entering the country via the southern border illegally after allegedly killing a woman in his home country of El Salvador, according to News Nation. In 2023, he was denied entry into the country by border patrol, but succeeded on his fourth attempt. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Martinez-Hernandez faces life in prison without the possibility of parole, because Maryland does not have the death penalty. Morins death became a political flashpoint during the last presidential election, as Morins mother and other mothers of victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants endorsed then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. The illegal immigrant convicted killer of Maryland mom Rachel Morin was sentenced Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Morin, a 37-year-old mother of five, was jogging along the Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air, a quaint community northeast of Baltimore, when Victor Martinez-Hernandez, 24, ambushed and beat her to death on Aug. 5, 2023. On Monday, the illegal migrant was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, with an additional 40 years, for Morin's murder. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Rachel Morins presence was powerfully felt in the courtroom today as her children, siblings, and mother spoke from the heart," the Morin family's attorney, Randolph Rice, told Fox News Digital. "They shared their deep love for her, the irreplaceable void her absence has left in their lives, and their unwavering commitment to honor her memory by seeking justice today and protecting others from suffering the same fate." Angel Mom Of Rachel Morin Condemns Dems' Trip To See Deported Migrant, Mainstream Media Bias Victor Martinez-Hernandez was convicted of murdering Rachel Morin. Morin's five children as well as her mother shared emotional victim impact statements prior to Martinez-Hernandez's sentencing. Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Before my mom was murdered, the world made sense to me. Life made sense to me," said Morin's daughter, Faye, FOX Baltimore reported. "Now my heart is broken. Victor [Martinez-Hernandez] is evil and changed my entire life for the worst. Now, I ask you to change his life for the worst." Morin's mother, Patty, spoke in person, as well. Standing just feet from Martinez-Hernandez and in tears, according to the outlet, she questioned: "What person could commit such horrific crimes?" Rachel Morin was killed on a Maryland trail by an illegal immigrant. Illegal Immigrant Suspect In Jocelyn Nungaray's Murder Now Accused Of Prior Sexual Assault In Costa Rica Harford County State's Attorney Alison Healey also revealed that 53 images of child porn were found on his computer, saying that "some were obvious [sic] infants and toddlers." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The defendant is completely and entirely unamenable to treatment or rehabilitation," she said. "If he is released, our community is in grave danger ... It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when." In a statement Monday, Acting ICE director Todd Lyons said that Morin "was stolen from her family by a reprehensible criminal alien who never should have been in this country in the first place." "Our hearts are with the Morin family and all families of those who have lost a loved one to illegal alien crime. Because of them, we will never lose sight of our responsibility to protect and serve the American public." Victor Martinez Hernandez was arrested in Oklahoma for Rachel Morin's Maryland murder. Martinez-Hernandez, a migrant from El Salvador, fled Maryland after the killing. He was arrested in Oklahoma 10 months later, ending a nationwide manhunt. The family's attorney said that immigration was not a central topic at the Morin family kitchen table prior to 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Frankly, it was hard to see how illegal immigrants impacted their lives in small-town Bel Air, Maryland. But after Rachel was murdered their perspective changed drastically," Rice said. "While feeling lost in the wake of their loss, the support from President Trump and his promise to close the Southern border brought some comfort." Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, 23, arrives in Maryland. Illegal Accused In Jogger Rachel Morin's Murder Set To Face Family, Jury Authorities previously found that Martinez-Hernandez was wanted for killing another woman in his country. However, on Monday, Martinez-Hernandez's attorneys said that he had been acquitted last year on a murder charge in El Salvador. "During the Biden-Harris Administration, the US Border Patrol missed multiple chances to detain him and prevent him from making his way to Rachel. Now, the Morins have a renewed sense of hope that under the current administration, there won't be more families victimized by illegal immigrant crime," Rice told Fox News Digital. WATCH: Patty Morin has been vocal in calling her daughters death preventable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Speaking with the Morin family as they prepared for the sentencing, I noticed a palpable sadness," Rice told Fox News Digital. "It's the same heaviness they felt in the weeks after Rachel's body was found in a storm drain off of her hometown walking trail two years ago." "Back then, they were shocked and overwhelmed by the brutality of her rape and murder. Now, there is a different type of grief. They are grateful that her killer will die in prison, where he can't hurt anyone else. But for Rachel's mother in particular, there is a fear of Rachel's memory fading as this case wraps up in the justice system. Monday's sentencing hearing will be the Morin family's chance to share how this horrific crime has affected their lives and speak directly to the monster who took Rachel. They don't have much hope that he will understand the impact of his actions, but they appreciate any opportunity to share Rachel's legacy. Original article source: Rachel Morin's family slams illegal immigrant killer at sentencing: 'He can't hurt anyone else' [Source] Air New Zealand is facing a wave of racist backlash following its announcement that Nikhil Ravishankar, a New Zealander of Indian descent, will become the airlines new chief executive officer starting Oct. 20. The appointment triggered an outpouring of xenophobic comments on social media, prompting several news outlets, including the New Zealand Herald, to restrict or disable comments on related posts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ravishankars appointment marks a historic milestone as he becomes the first person of Indian heritage to lead the countrys flag carrier. The decision has been praised by many as a significant step toward diversity and inclusion in New Zealands corporate landscape. However, the positive response was undercut by online vitriol. Dame Therese Walsh, chair of Air New Zealands board, said the airline conducted an international search and selected Ravishankar based on his leadership style, digital expertise and alignment with the companys values. Ravishankar joined the airline in 2021 following a tech career at energy firm Vector. In a statement, he said he was thrilled and humbled to take on the role during a critical period for the airlines future. Trending on NextShark: Mural honoring Japanese Americans vandalized again in Seattles Chinatown 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. Trending on NextShark: How the Trump admin uses courthouse dismissals to fast-track deportations Subscribe here now! Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Dozens of Indian opposition leaders were detained in New Delhi on Monday as they shouted slogans, jumped barricades and marched to the Election Commission in a rare public protest against what they say are electoral malpractices. The credibility of elections has rarely been questioned in recent decades in the world's most populous democracy. Some analysts say the opposition accusations could damage Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he navigates one of the toughest periods of his 11 years in office. Around 300 opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi of the main opposition Congress party, marched from parliament to the office of the independent election panel but were stopped by police some distance away. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The protesters shouted slogans against the panel and Modi's government, saying elections were being "stolen", and tried to push past barricades before being detained and taken away in buses. "This fight is not political. This fight is to save the constitution," Gandhi told reporters. "We want a clean, pure voters' list." Gandhi and Congress have alleged that voters' lists in states where the party lost are corrupted, with voters' names deleted or included more than once to rig elections in favour of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party. Opposition parties have also criticised the election panel's decision to revise the voters' list in the key northern state of Bihar just before state elections due later this year, saying it aims to disenfranchise large numbers of poor voters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The BJP and the Election Commission have rejected the accusations. 'STATE OF BANKRUPTCY' The commission has said that changes in voters' lists are shared with political parties and all complaints are investigated thoroughly. It has also said that voters' lists need to be revised to remove dead voters or those who have relocated to other parts of the country, among others. Congress and its allies have fared poorly in two state elections that they had expected to win after an impressive show in last year's parliamentary vote, which saw BJP losing its outright majority and remaining in power only with the help of regional parties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congress has also complained about electronic voting machines and said the counting process is not fair, charges rejected by the election panel. The BJP said opposition parties were trying to create a "state of anarchy" by sowing seeds of doubt about the electoral process. "They are in a state of bankruptcy because of their continuous losses," federal minister Dharmendra Pradhan told reporters on Monday. (Writing by Shilpa JamkhandikarEditing by YP Rajesh and Gareth Jones) RAYNHAM, Mass. (WPRI) The Bristol County District Attorneys Office confirmed Monday that last weeks double shooting in Raynham was a murder-suicide. Police were called Friday to a home on Elm Street West, where they found 37-year-old Marie Hunt with a gunshot wound to the abdomen and 35-year-old Mark Henshaw with a gunshot wound to the head. Both were pronounced dead around 12:45 p.m. Marie Hunt Two children were also in the home but were not harmed, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement BACKGROUND: 2 dead in shooting at Raynham home The medical examiner ruled Hunts death a homicide and said she was shot in the torso. Henshaw died by suicide from a shotgun wound to the head. Hunts brother, Justin Firsch, previously told 12 News she was a prison guard who loved being active and outdoors. According to Firsch, the children in the house were Hunts. He also said Hunt and Henshaw had been in a relationship. The incident remains under investigation by Raynham and Massachusetts State Police. If you or someone you know is in crisis, seek immediate help: Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call, text or chat 988 BH Link: Rhode Islanders can call 401-414-LINK (5465) Kids Link RI: Parents can call 1-855-543-5465 Download the WPRI 12 and Pinpoint Weather 12 apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch 12 News Now on WPRI.com or with the new 12+ smart TV app. Follow us on social media: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com. (Reuters) -Colombian Senator and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe, who was shot in the head at a campaign event two months ago, died in the early hours of Monday at the age of 39. Following are reactions to the news: COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT GUSTAVO PETRO "My condolences to the family of Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay, and to all Colombians. Life is above any ideology. "The investigation must be deepened. And it will be the competent authorities, assisted by international experts, who will pronounce themselves in due course. The government can only repudiate the crime and help. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are hurt by Miguel's death, as if he were one of our own. It is a defeat. Every time a Colombian is killed, it is a defeat for Colombia and for life." COLOMBIAN VICE PRESIDENT FRANCIA MARQUEZ "Today is a sad day for the country. Violence cannot continue to mark our destiny. Democracy is not built with bullets or blood; it is built with respect, dialogue and recognizing our differences, regardless of political position." "Colombian people: it is time to unite, to raise our voices forcefully to reject all acts of violence. We cannot allow fear and hatred to continue taking away our life and hope." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO "Deeply saddened to learn of Colombian Senator Miguel Uribe's tragic death. The United States stands in solidarity with his family, the Colombian people, both in mourning and demanding justice for those responsible." BOGOTA MAYOR CARLOS GALAN "Despite his own tragedy, Miguel dedicated his life to fighting for a peaceful country and will be remembered that way. His murder should be a breaking point for Colombia. We cannot accept violence in our country." FORMER COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT ALVARO URIBE, LEADER OF SENATOR URIBE'S PARTY, NOT RELATED Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Evil destroys everything; they killed hope. May Miguel's fight be a light that illuminates Colombia's right path." FORMER COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT IVAN DUQUE "The best tribute we Colombians can pay to this great human being is to honor his legacy, with unity of purpose and full patriotism. Colombia mourns, but it will not surrender to the criminals who extinguished the life of an admirable young man." FORMER COLOMBIAN PRESIDENT JUAN MANUEL SANTOS "We deeply regret the tragic death of Miguel Uribe as a result of such a heinous attack, and extend our heartfelt solidarity to his family, who have suffered so much. Once again, we call for the reconciliation of spirits, the disarmament of words and respect for life. In these very difficult times for the country, it is crucial to maintain calm, prudence and moderation." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement COLOMBIAN DEFENSE MINISTER PEDRO SANCHEZ "As a nation, the best way to honor his memory is to promote union and peace to protect life and democracy in every corner of the country. Together with the prosecutor's office, our institutions will continue to work hard to identify and bring to justice all those responsible for this attack, and we will not allow the violent to intimidate or silence the political voices needed in our democracy." VENEZUELAN OPPOSITION LEADER EDMUNDO GONZALEZ "It's hard to accept that political violence has ended the life of someone who only wanted to work for a better Colombia. It's also hard to acknowledge that the fight for freedoms and rights continues to cost lives in our countries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Authoritarianism and violence are spreading, when what should prevail is a system of freedoms and well-being." GUATEMALAN PRESIDENT BERNARDO AREVALO "When bullets prevail over votes, people suffer, and so does democracy. Political violence must have no place in our countries. I send my condolences to Miguel Uribe's family and to the people of Colombia." PARAGUAYAN PRESIDENT SANTIAGO PENA "The death of Miguel Uribe Turbay deeply pains us and calls on us to unite with greater strength across the continent to fight crime." PANAMANIAN PRESIDENT JOSE RAUL MULINO "It is with deep sadness that I receive the news of the passing of Miguel Uribe Turbay. A young leader committed to his country, with whom I shared sincere conversations about the future of our region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "To his family, friends and the Colombian people, I send my deepest condolences and all my solidarity in this painful moment." (Compiled by Benjamin Mejias Valencia; Editing by Gabriel Araujo, Andrew Heavens and Ed Osmond) Another dead horse, and the same industry spin Fresh Meadows: Christina Hansens op-ed Smearing NYCs horse carriage trade again (Aug. 9) is the same tired playbook a handful of entitled carriage operators and their union enablers have relied on for decades: deflect, deny and declare themselves the real victims. It is beyond disgusting that while another one of their horses has dropped dead on their watch, they are busy casting themselves as the ones under attack. Their horses the ones they purchase without any real veterinary examinations before forcing them into unsafe traffic often arrive sick or unfit for the grueling work ahead. Lady, Ryder, Aysha, Charlie, Smoothie and so many others were forced onto the streets only to suffer, collapse and die. Hansens own words reveal exactly why this practice is so dangerous. She claims that a horse can drop dead anywhere. In reality, it proves the danger: horses can and do spook, run wild, crash into vehicles, collapse or die without warning, turning into uncontrollable 1,800-pound weapons in densely crowded Central Park or Manhattan streets. Lady, the latest victim, spent her life in a rural environment before being thrown into the concrete jungle of NYC, where countless psychological and physical stressors take a massive toll on any horse and are often fatal for those with undiagnosed or ignored medical conditions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is shameful that Hansen mocks protest and advocacy when this country has a time-honored tradition of street theater and public protest, tools that have driven every major social justice victory. The spin is nonsense. The suffering and the danger are real. Edita Birnkrant, executive director, NYCLASS Seen it all before Forked River, N.J.: Reading the op-ed by carriage horse spokesperson Christina Hansen about the death of the horse Lady was another summer rerun. Weve seen it all before. Two weeks ago, the carriage horse driver who whipped a horse named Ryder after he collapsed in the summer heat walked out of court all smiles after he was found not guilty. When Ryder collapsed, Hansen claimed he tripped when our eyes told us otherwise. Over the years, we have seen images of spooked horses running into traffic, in some cases colliding with a bus, and another ran into an SUV. Hansen calls animal lovers extremists, but there is nothing extreme about having compassion for these majestic equine animals. She then says a pathologist found a mystery tumor during the horses necropsy. Maybe if Lady had better medical care from a veterinarian, she wouldnt have needed a pathologist to find the problem. Jim Hughes Part of the park Westfield, N.J.: When I visit, I love seeing the carriage horses in the park. They are simply majestic. They are such an integral and special part of the citys and the parks history. Carriage trails are part of the parks original design. I cant imagine the city without the carriage horses and drivers. Mary Montes Lax rules Manhattan: Reading Bradley Tusks op-ed (Dont let underage kids on electric Citi Bikes, Aug. 9) got me thinking. As a teenage motorcycle driver, I had to get a drivers license and take a driving test on a motorcycle. Of course, there were also the requirements of registration and liability insurance. Today, no one takes any test, even employees who earn their living as delivery workers. To the best of my knowledge, no one has liability insurance and many do not follow traffic rules. What surprises me is that there are not more accidents. Perhaps many are not reported if there are no fatalities. John Ost Bag it up Staten Island: To Voicer Marlene Torino: I have no problem using the compost can. I line it with a large, clear recycle bag, which you are allowed to do. Secondly, I use a large Folgers coffee can with the snap-on lid and line it with small, compostable two-and-a-half-gallon bags I ordered on Amazon. Once the small bag is filled, I remove it, twist the top, knot it and throw it into the bin. I have never smelled anything in that bin, which sits in the sun. If the compost in my Folgers can starts to smell, I sprinkle some baking soda on it. Because the bin is lined with a recycle bag and either knotted or tied shut, Sanitation need only reach in, lift out the bag and throw it in the truck. If you are throwing raw food directly into the can without a liner, its gonna stink. Lynn Fodor Unique abilities Syracuse: As the job market continues to be reshaped by global financial pressures and the evolving integration of AI into the workplace, the idea of staying weird in order to pursue your lifes passion is a great idea (Career clues, Aug. 10). Reflecting on your childhood interests and motivations helps you find deeper satisfaction in your work. It also gives you a tremendous sense of accomplishment when you pursue the dreams and interests that helped shape you into who you are. By studying yourself and what you do best, you can find a much more fulfilling purpose and a career that is truly worth pursuing. Michael Aaron Gallagher Tarnished nationality Ozone Park: Suddenly, all you hear on the news is the nationality of the security guard killed in the Park Ave. shooting. Even in Los Angeles, it is frequent news. Are we supposed to reconsider our feelings about Haitians? Did President Trump put evil thoughts in our minds about Haitians, which we have to purge? Ray Hackinson Weak opposition West Islip, L.I.: By now, it should be clear that the Republican Party is for the oligarchs and corporations. The bigger problem is the Democratic Party has alienated its base since Hillary Clintons campaign. They did not listen to the unions and minorities, and took them for granted. They allowed their partys fringe progressives to go so far left that there was no longer a choice, and alienated the majority of their party. Lower the age for the youth who think they have a free pass. Quit pardoning cop killers! Revamp discovery rules to a common-sense approach. Stop the get-out-of-jail-free nonsense. Consider term limits. Go back to both parties working for the common good of the people! Bill Romaka Butt out Tuckerton, N.J.: Could somebody please tell Sen. Elizabeth Warren to go back to her own state? Perhaps Boston is best for her to meddle in instead of New York City. She ran for president and lost, and now she wants to help Zohran Mamdani run a city that isnt hers. He may need her help. After all, he is just a 33-year-old without any experience running anything but his mouth. Rose S. Wilson Putting it lightly Williamsville, N.Y.: Words matter, and they can obfuscate the truth. Such is the case with Voicer Mike Caggianos use of the incorrect term militants to describe the Palestinian terrorists of Oct. 7. They were not militants, as the term merely references the strength of an unspecified set of beliefs. They were Nazi-level barbarians, as they committed atrocities equal to the worst of the Third Reich. Specifically, they were the atrocious heirs of Hitlers Dirlewanger Brigade, an SS unit made up of criminals released from German jails whose subsequent war crimes and acts of sadistic depravity horrified even their fellow SS Nazis. When Caggiano refers to Palestinian militants, he lets them off too lightly while dishonoring their tortured victims. They are sadistic savages, and if we are going to do anything about that, we must understand the true character of these enemies. Daniel H. Trigoboff Crossed the line Sunnyside: It is true that, as Voicer Lloyd Litwak pointed out, Hamas started the current barbaric war with Israel. However, I think it was wrong for him to say that the residents of Gaza are overtly racist, misogynistic and homophobic. One of the lessons we should have learned from atrocities like the Holocaust and the Spanish Inquisition is that we should never demonize an entire group of people. I realize that Hamas should be blamed for the massacre of 1,200 innocent Jews on Oct. 7 (the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust), but we must also think about the tens of thousands of innocent Palestinians who have suffered as a result of this conflict. John Francis Fox Attorney Mariah Bellamoroso joins producer/host Coralie Chun Matayoshi to discuss what more needs to be done, how will Lahaina be built back differently, efforts to protect Mauis coastline through climate-related shoreline setbacks, status of the Lahaina Land Trust efforts to acquire land, build homes, and sell to kamaaina families, what challenges survivors are facing, and other resources available. Mariah Bellamoroso is an attorney at the Settle Meyer law firm and a graduate of Harvard Law School. She advises nonprofits, community organizations, and public-private partnerships on land use, affordable housing, and disaster recovery efforts across Hawaii, helping clients navigate complex permitting and regulatory challenges. Q. As the former CEO of the Red Cross, Ive seen a lot of disasters, and we know that rebuilding takes a long time. It took residents of the Paradise Camp fire at least 5 years to rebuild and Maui faces some unique challenges. One big accomplishment was reaching a global settlement to provide resources needed to rebuild. But as we move from emergency response to long-term recovery the challenge is how to get people back on their feet quickly, while also taking the time to rebuild in a way that aligns with community priorities and long-term resilience. Putting everything back exactly how it was before the wildfire isnt always possible, and in some ways, may not even be a good idea because we cannot allow this to happen again. How will Lahaina be built back differently? This is still very much an open question, but progress has been made in some areas. For example, within the last couple of months there have been a number of public hearings and other events related to street and transportation planning that prioritizes evacuation routes and accessibility. The County also reached agreements with some private landowners recently to move planned roadway expansions forward and create new escape routes. Plans to move electric lines underground are also proceeding, but more slowly. There are also long-term efforts to establish firebreaks and manage green break areas to minimize wildfire risk, which has also seen varied progress. The Hawaii Wildfire Management Organization received some U.S. Forest Service grant funding to support this effort, and other projects are underway as well, although again, it has been slow to see material outcomes. Were also seeing investment in long-term infrastructurelike stormwater systems, coastal protection, and community gathering spacesas well as memorials and cultural preservation to honor Lahainas history while supporting resilience. These kinds of changes take time, funding, and coordination across government and community organizations, but theyre essential to building back safer and stronger Q. After the wildfire, Governor Green explicitly excluded Lahaina from his Proclamation Relating to Affordable Housing. Is that still the case? No. The most recent version of the Emergency Proclamation for Affordable Housing (issued on June 3, 2025) no longer excludes Lahaina. Earlier versions did exclude it, in part to help address fears that opportunistic outside investors would take advantage of fast-tracked approvals in fire-impacted areas. The proclamations scope has been narrowed pretty significantly since it was first issued, so the practical effect of lifting the exclusion now is limited. But it does mean that some affordable housing projects in Lahaina are now eligible for benefits like school impact fee waivers and streamlined processing, which could help support local housing development. Q. Are there efforts to protect Mauis coastline through climate-related shoreline setbacks? Yes. This is one of the areas where theres been real debate about how to balance recovery with long-term climate resilience. Many Lahaina properties would normally be subject to Special Management Area (SMA) permitting rules, which are designed to protect the shoreline and require extensive environmental review before permits for any new construction or substantial renovation projects. Maui County also recently imposed larger shoreline setback requirements that make it harder to build anything in the area immediately next to the shoreline. Special Management Area permits can take a very long time to process, and many people who owned property in Lahaina believed that it wouldnt be fair to have to start that process from scratch to rebuild what already existed prior to the fires, or to have to comply with more restrictive setback rules. On the other hand, others believe that this is an opportunity to reconstruct Lahaina further back in a way that would be more resilient to sea level rise, erosion, etc. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Previous versions of the Governors Emergency Proclamation on Wildfires had created some limited exemptions from SMA permitting for residential properties mauka of Front Streetso, not right on the shoreline, but nearbyto allow homeowners to rebuild more quickly. The most recent iteration of that proclamation still waives Special Management Area regulations to allow for repairs and reconstruction of structures affected by the wildfire, as long as the reconstruction complies with Hawaiis coastal zone management program objectives and conditions imposed by Maui County to reduce negative impacts on the coastal area. Some legislation encoding similar limited exemptions was also recently enacted: SB 1296 CD1, was signed into law as Act 304 on July 8, 2025. Act 304 allows any lawfully constructed structure in the Special Management Area that was destroyed by a natural disaster to be reconstructed to the same footprint without a separate, new special management area permit. This exception is not available if the structure does not comply with floodplain management standards and it does not apply to lots on the immediate shoreline or otherwise subject to waves, storm surges, or shoreline erosion. This bill will also sunset in 2028, which doesnt leave much time for people to process permits. At the same time, Maui County had already been working to update its SMA rules more broadly. After some legal setbacks in 2024, a revised version of the rules is now in place. It includes stricter coastal setbacks and stronger enforcement tools, but these new rules wont apply to properties covered by the emergency exemptions. Q. What challenges are survivors facing? There are quite a few. Ongoing economic instability is one. Many survivors, and especially renters or those who are not expecting substantial insurance payouts, are still struggling with sky-high housing costs. Rent in the area is still 5060% higher than pre-fire levels, largely due to limited housing stock. Even for homeowners who do expect insurance funds, the money often comes slowly and may not cover the total cost of construction now, especially once you factor in upgrades like fireproofing or modern building standards, which can delay rebuilding. Conversations about rebuilding often focus on regulatory barriers like permits, and thats definitely a challenge, but its not the whole story it can take quite a bit of time and money to get to a place where youre ready to apply for a building permit, let alone figure out how to finance construction while potentially displaced elsewhere or living with family or in temporary housing. Commercial rebuilding has been significantly more delayed than residential construction. Many small businesses havent been able to reopen, and with tourism and hospitality jobs lagging, some survivors face a double blow from losing both housing and employment. Q. What other resources are available? There are a number of programs aimed at supporting Lahaina recovery, some at the state or county level and some available directly to individuals. To name just a couple examples: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Deferred Payment Loan Program Maui County is expected to launch a program this summer in partnership with Hawaii Community Lending to provide $7.5 million in funds for gap group families who make too much to qualify for federal disaster assistance but not enough to cover the full cost of rebuilding on their own. Maui County Managing Director Josiah Nishita says this program will be personalized since every household and individual will have varied levels of need. Maui County says the exact details will be announced later this summer. Community Development Block Grants- Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) the U.S. Congress has appropriated $1.6 billion in federal aid for Maui County to support recovery under the CDBG-DR program. These funds will be administered by the County and must comply with CDBG-DR regulations. They generally can be used to rebuild facilities and infrastructure damaged by the fires, support public services such as health care and job training related to recovery, and in some cases support the construction of new buildings for affordable housing. The County accepted public comments on plans for the allocation of these funds through March of this year and funds for housing will begin to be distributed sometime in august . Kakoo Maui: The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) administers a number of programs and resources for homeowners whose residences were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable, such as rental assistance, referrals, and assistance matching individuals and families displaced by the wildfire with available temporary housing options. Q. The Lahaina Land Trust was created as a non-profit entity to acquire land and build homes to sell to kamaaina families. Have they made any progress? Yes, the Lahaina Community Land Trust (LCLT) has had strong community support and financial backing from public and private sources. Based on their 2024 public reporting, LCLT has secured five parcels of land so far: one purchased and held in trust, two under contract, one transferred from the County of Maui, and one gifted through inheritance by a kupuna. An additional twelve parcels are in various planning and due diligence phases. They have secured additional funding, including $15 million from the County of Maui and around $3.6 million in private donations, and are continuing to expand their construction and other efforts. Land trusts like this have worked well in other states to keep housing permanently affordable. The big challenge is scaling: making a good program big enough to reach the full population in need. But LCLTs progress so far has been impressive. To learn more about this subject, tune into this video podcast. Disclaimer: this material is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The law varies by jurisdiction and is constantly changing. For legal advice, you should consult a lawyer that can apply the appropriate law to the facts in your case. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2. PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) Illinois 16th District, represented by U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood for almost 10 years, now has another Democratic challenger. Paul Nolley is a Rockford native who disagrees with how the Dunlap Republican has represented the district in the House during the Trump administration. The Democrat said LaHood is everything wrong with corruption in Washington, D.C. I think the incumbent is a representative of all of those problems that we have, he said. Hes never had a real challenger before. He takes a seat for granted and honestly, I think hes afraid of his constituents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LaHood has received many protests outside his district office in Downtown Peoria over his vote on his spending package, dubbed the Big, Beautiful Bill. That legislation cut Medicaid and SNAP benefits for Illinoisan that are able-bodied according to a statement from LaHoods office. The 16th District is a solid Republican stronghold and in the last election, LaHood ran unopposed. But Nolley feels good about his chances against LaHoods district and incumbent advantage. I think people are ready for new leadership for one and for two, have someone whos not beholden by the special interests, the corporate powers that are really just taking control of our lives and taking control of our government, he said. One issue that is shaping itself up for the 2026 midterm elections is the conflict between Israel and Gaza, which has led to a humanitarian crisis. According to a recent Gallup poll, only 32% of the country approves of the ongoing conflict led by Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked about how he would handle the conflict if he was a congressman right now, he criticized both the Trump and former Biden administration of how theyve handled the war in Gaza. They are causing famine-like conditions, Nolley said. The [Israeli Defense Force] is shooting at people who are trying to get food. So, the president and people in Congress, they need to stand up and say, these are war crimes. The Democrat will not find himself alone in the primary. He is currently up against fellow Democratic candidate Joe Albright for the seat in Congress. The primary is currently slated for March next 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 CIProud.com. People gather near the bridges in the Wauwatosa village to observe the still rushing flooded river and storm damage. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner) Neighborhoods across Milwaukee County are continuing to recover from record-shattering flooding over the weekend. Inundated basements, entire portions of Wauwatosa seemingly underwater, people fleeing the Wisconsin State Fair which shut down early amid rising floodwater and reports of cars literally floating away down roadways all followed the torrential downpour which began Aug. 9. The National Weather Service recorded 5.74 inches of rain Saturday, eclipsing the previous single-day record for Milwaukee of 1.64 inches of rain. Meteorologists say that Saturday was Milwaukees second wettest day in 154 years of record keeping. Additional rainfall brought the total up to nearly 7 inches, with some areas expected to get over 10 inches of rain. Researchers have long-warned that increased and more intense rain and flooding would be among the ways climate change would manifest in Wisconsin. The river flowing through Wauwatosas Hart Park overflowing with flood water. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner) Casey Serrano, a resident of Milwaukees North Side left the home she shares with her boyfriend around 8 p.m. Saturday about an hour after the rain started. When she returned around 1 a.m., she saw water in the basement coming out of our main sewer drain that was covering maybe a quarter to a third of our basement, maybe an inch deep. During the night, the water rose to nearly 2 feet of brown runoff from the street, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Serrano woke up to find there was no power in her home. Our immediate street is not flooded, and did not flood last night, she told Wisconsin Examiner. But the streets surrounding us flooded pretty heavily. When she went out on Silver Spring Drive to get supplies, she saw within like a 20-block radius of our house there were cars that had clearly floated down Silver Spring. Thousands in Milwaukee are facing flooding after last nights storms, Mayor Cavalier Johnson wrote on X. Avoid flooded roads moving water is dangerous. City crews and first responders are working nonstop. Neighbors are stepping up to help neighbors. The mayor posted that the city was coordinating with Gov. Tony Evers and Milwaukee County on emergency aid and shelters. Milwaukee is strong, Mayor Johnson posted. Together, well get through this. Across Milwaukee County, emergency responders were overwhelmed as the flooding created a cascade of issues with natural gas, debris and power outages. Very busy night for [Milwaukee Fire Department] & many other FDs!, Milwaukee Fire Department Chief Aaron Lipski posted on X. Over 600 responses between 8pm-7am: numerous fires, water rescues, & many other weather-related emergencies. Video shared with Wisconsin Examiner by Casey Serrano, a City of Milwaukee resident who experienced severe basement flooding after the storms on August 9th and 10th, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Online videos showed cars trapped on flooded roadways and highways. People attending one of the final days of the Wisconsin State Fair were filmed wading through water to leave the fairgrounds. Around 10 p.m. on Sunday the sky began to light up with a new wave of lightning, heralding more rain. Over 18,000 people reportedly lost power during the storms. A downed tree in a North Side Milwaukee neighborhood. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner) Flooding is still an active emergency situation across Milwaukee County, and we are expecting more rain today and into this evening, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said in a press statement Sunday. I strongly urge our residents to stay cautious, stay informed, and refrain from traveling. Check in on your neighbors and loved ones, especially older adults, and seek out emergency assistance if needed. I am thankful for our first responders, law enforcement partners, social services workers, and neighbors who are lending a helping hand during a challenging time. We will get through this together, Milwaukee. Local officials are warning residents not to walk into floodwater, as it may be contaminated or be near downed electrical wires. In some areas, the water had strong currents capable of sweeping people away. Those cleaning up debris are encouraged to wear gloves and proper protection, and residents are encouraged to limit water usage (such as by holding off on washing dishes or doing laundry) to reduce the risk of wastewater backing up into basements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suburban city of Wauwatosa produced some of the most dramatic images of flooding throughout the county. According to the Wauwatosa Police Department (WPD), over 500 calls were received by their dispatch center with issues ranging from flooded out basements to blocked storm drains to traffic incidents due to standing water. WPD says there have been no reports of serious injuries, though several major roadways and intersections remain affected and impassable. Hart Park, near the Wauwatosa Village, is closed, and police are encouraging people to avoid the area. Sunday afternoon, many people were seen walking through the village area and parts of Hart Park to observe storm damage. Large debris was strewn along the railroad tracks, and reports indicate that the Menomonee River flowing through Hart Park rose from a little over 1 foot high to over 14 feet in a matter of hours. Sunday afternoon the water level was still high, with rushing water ripping through the park continuing to damage green spaces and concrete bike paths. Wauwatosa squad cars used loudspeakers to declare the area closed due to a state of emergency. Video posted to social media of the flooding in Wauwatosa by Bobby Pantuso, including drone footage by Pantuso (shared with permission). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Traffic control issues were also reported by the Waukesha Police Department, with the Fox River also under close observation. Waukesha Sheriffs Department spokesperson Capt. Nicholas Wenzel said in an email statement that the department was dealing with flooding across the county, and that no injuries or missing persons had been reported. For Serrano, the flood is an unprecedented experience. She anticipates costly repairs, including ripping out wood paneling in her house. Serrano is also concerned about what the flooding means for the city. I think that my main concern is that the city is completely unprepared to deal with this, and I think its really willful on their part to be honest, she said. Serrano, who used to work for the citys sewage department creating and analyzing data maps, thinks city budget and staffing cuts have adversely affected emergency preparedness. She blames Act 10, which has limited public employees collective bargaining rights since 2011, arguing that it has contributed to staffing shortages and out-dated technology for city departments most responsible for preventing floods, and dealing with their aftermath. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A car laying abandoned on the northeast side of Milwaukee after the August 2025 flood. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner) Flooding in Hart Park, Wauwatosa. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner) Flood water in Wauwatosa brought the river-level right below railroad tracks going through Wauwatosa. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State Street in Wauwatosa flooded out. (Photo courtesy of Baiba Rozite) A potters field, or mass grave from a decommissioned mental health hospital, completely flooded in Wauwatosa. (Photo courtesy of Baiba Rozite) The County Grounds natural area of Wauwatosa flooded out. (Photo courtesy of Baiba Rozite) The County Grounds natural area of Wauwatosa flooded out. (Photo courtesy of Baiba Rozite) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Helicopters circled parts of Milwaukee throughout Sunday. (Photo by Isiah Holmes/Wisconsin Examiner) A photo of a flooded river near a bridge in Milwaukee. (Photo courtesy of Katelyn Harvey) Act 12, which mandates that staffing and funding are maintained for the Milwaukee Police Department, also exacerbated the imbalance between police and other departments including Public Works, she said. At any point, the Common Council could stand up for residents of this city especially residents of the North Side, Serrano said, and say were not going to deal with this anymore. We are going to fully fund these departments so that they have the right materials and the right resources to fully staff themselves, to fully hire. The UK's seas have had their warmest start to the year since records began, helping to drive some dramatic changes in marine life and for its fishing communities. The average surface temperature of UK waters in the seven months to the end of July was more than 0.2C higher than any year since 1980, BBC analysis of provisional Met Office data suggests. That might not sound much, but the UK's seas are now considerably warmer than even a few decades ago, a trend driven by humanity's burning of fossil fuels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That is contributing to major changes in the UK's marine ecosystems, with some new species entering our seas and others struggling to cope with the heat. Scientists and amateur naturalists have observed a remarkable range of species not usually widespread in UK waters, including octopus, bluefin tuna and mauve stinger jellyfish. The abundance of these creatures can be affected by natural cycles and fishing practices, but many researchers point to the warming seas as a crucial part of their rise. "Things like jellyfish, like octopus... they are the sorts of things that you expect to respond quickly to climate change," said Dr Bryce Stewart, a senior research fellow at the Marine Biological Association in Plymouth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's a bit like the canary in the coal mine - the sorts of quite extraordinary changes we've seen over the last few years really do indicate an ecosystem under flux," he added. Harry Polkinghorne, a keen 19-year-old angler, described how he regularly sees bluefin tuna now, including large schools of the fish in frantic feeding frenzies. "It's just like watching a washing machine in the water," he said. "You can just see loads of white water, and then tuna fins and tuna jumping out." Bluefin tuna have been seen along the South West coast in large numbers this year [@TheFalAnglers] Bluefin tuna numbers have been building over the past decade in south-west England for a number of reasons, including warmer waters and better management of their populations, Dr Stewart explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heather Hamilton, who snorkels off the coast of Cornwall virtually every week with her father David, has swum through large blooms of salps, a species that looks a bit like a jellyfish. They are rare in the UK, but the Hamiltons have seen more and more of these creatures in the last couple of years. "You're seeing these big chains almost glowing slightly like fairy lights", she said. "It just felt very kind of out of this world, something I've never seen before." Chains of salps appeared in late August last year [Heather Hamilton / @cornwallunderwater] But extreme heat, combined with historical overfishing, is pushing some of the UK's cold-adapted species like cod and wolf-fish to their limits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're definitely seeing this shift of cooler water species moving north in general," said Dr Stewart. Marine heatwave conditions - prolonged periods of unusually high sea surface temperatures - have been present around parts of the UK virtually all year. Some exceptional sea temperatures have also been detected by measurement buoys off the UK coast, known as WaveNet and run by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas). And the record 2025 warmth comes after very high sea temperatures in 2023 and 2024 too. The Met Office says its data from the end of June 2024 to now is provisional and will be finalised in the coming months, but this usually results in only very minor changes. [BBC] "All the way through the year, on average it's been warmer than we've really ever seen [for the UK's seas]," said Prof John Pinnegar, the lead adviser on climate change at Cefas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "[The seas] have been warming for over a century and we're also seeing heatwaves coming through now," he added. "What used to be quite a rare phenomenon is now becoming very, very common." Like heatwaves on land, sea temperatures are affected by natural variability and short-term weather. Clear, sunny skies with low winds like much of the UK had in early July - can heat up the sea surface more quickly. But the world's oceans have taken up about 90% of the Earth's excess heat from humanity's emissions of planet-warming gases like carbon dioxide. That is making marine heatwaves more likely and more intense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The main contributor to the marine heatwaves around the UK is the buildup of heat in the ocean," said Dr Caroline Rowland, head of oceans, cryosphere and climate change at the Met Office. "We predict that these events are going to become more frequent and more intense in the future" due to climate change, she added. [BBC] With less of a cooling sea breeze, these warmer waters can amplify land heatwaves, and they also have the potential to bring heavier rainfall. Hotter seas are also less able to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which could mean that our planet heats up more quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The sea warmth is already posing challenges to fishing communities. Ben Cooper has been a fisherman in Whitstable on the north Kent coast since 1997, and relies heavily on the common whelk, a type of sea snail. But the whelk is a cold-water species, and a marine heatwave in 2022 triggered a mass die-off of these snails in the Thames Estuary. "Pretty much 75% of our earnings is through whelks, so you take that away and all of a sudden you're struggling," explained Mr Cooper. The warmth of the seas in 2022 was too much for many whelks to survive [Philip Haupt / Kent & Essex Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority] Before the latest heatwave, the whelks had started to recover but he said the losses had forced him to scale back his business. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Cooper recalled fishing trips with his father in the 1980s. Back then, they would rely on cod. "We lost the cod because basically the sea just got too warm. They headed further north," he said. The precise distribution of marine species varies from year to year, but researchers expect the UK's marine life to keep changing as humans continue to heat up the Earth. "The fishers might in the long term have to change the species that they target and that they catch," suggested Dr Pinnegar. "And we as consumers might have to change the species that we eat." Additional reporting by Becky Dale and Miho Tanaka Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [BBC] Sign up for our Future Earth newsletter to keep up with the latest climate and environment stories with the BBC's Justin Rowlatt. Outside the UK? Sign up to our international newsletter here. GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX) The American Red Cross of Western Colorado has opened an evacuation center in Pagosa Springs to assist those who have been forced to leave their homes due to the Oak Fire. The evacuation center is at Pagosa Springs High School, 800 S. Eighth St. Volunteers with the Red Cross of Western Colorado which is based in Grand Junction are providing refuge, sharing information and assisting with immediate needs. The evacuation center also provides food, water, medical care and mental health support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oak Fire has burned 150 acres as of Monday morning and is west of Pagosa Springs and north of Highway 160. In response to the Oak Fire, Gov. Jared Polis authorized the use of the Colorado National Guard as needed to support the wildfire. The fire grew quickly and exceeded the local fire departments and the countys capacity, according to the governor. The sheriff requested that the Division of Fire Prevention and Control approve the blaze as a state responsibility fire. With the disaster declaration, the State Emergency Operations and Resource Mobilization Plans are activated and DHSEM coordinates the state response through management of the State Emergency Operations Center and deployment of field operations staff to directly support county emergency managers with consequence management. DFPC is leading the incident management and suppression efforts in conjunction with the other Department of Public Safety Divisions, according to the governors office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com. State legislatures seem to be obsessed with squatters these days and the corporate-dominated American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has played a major role in advancing legislation to crack down on them. As homelessness reaches record highs and over 21 million households nationwide spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent, state legislators have decided what the problem is. Its not that there are an estimated 1.4 million abandoned residential properties in the U.S., or that private equity landlords have gobbled up over 10 percent of the countrys apartments. The problem is the people who take up residence in empty properties or overstay in apartments after being invited in tenants who have left despite little evidence of an increase in squatting. After five states (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and West Virginia) enacted new laws last year criminalizing squatting and adopting expedited procedures for removing squatters, ALEC adopted a model Stop Squatters Act in July 2024 that seeks to accomplish the same goal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Legislation closely tracking or in some cases exceeding ALECs model was enacted into law in 10 states this year (Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Texas, and Wyoming, with Florida and West Virginia adding to what was already passed last year), and in six of those an ALEC state chair was the author, lead sponsor, or cosponsor of the bill. The new laws create real risks that housing-insecure people will get further caught up in the dragnet of criminalization, with fewer legal protections, advocates say. ALEC-aligned legislators argue that squatting provides a false solution to homelessness as housing costs explode. Just as concerning, they used the anti-squatter push in Texas to unsuccessfully advance a broad-based attack on the rights of tenants, and in Maryland, to successfully push back against Good Cause Eviction reforms. Critics say the legislation is a solution in search of a problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres no real evidence of any significant squatting crisis despite what the industry claims, says Eric Dunn, director of litigation at the National Housing Law Project (NHLP). One of the industry lobbying groups surveyed their members and found that there were 1,200 cases of squatting in Atlanta - but you cant see the survey results, just their report on it. The survey numbers are based on an indeterminate number of years, and there is no indication of a trend as this was the first time the rental industry conducted a survey on the issue. It is also unclear how the survey defined squatting. Either way, the result of the legislation will be to increase dangerous encounters between police and tenants, Dunn argued. No matter who you are, if youre a tenant or a squatter, you dont want the police knocking on your door, he said. Its just a recipe for more dangerous encounters between people and police. ALECs Model Anti-Squatter Bill The legislative push has been driven by ALEC and the Pacific Legal Foundation (PLF), an affiliate of the right-wing State Policy Network. Originally founded in 1973 as the Conservative Caucus of State Legislators, ALEC has grown to become one of the leading drafters of state legislation across the U.S., a pay-to-play clearinghouse for corporate interests to advance their agenda with particular efficacy in red states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The model legislation was released in conjunction with a report by the PLF entitled Locking Squatters Out, which cited a 2023 survey of landlords by the National Rental Home Association that found a post-pandemic jump in squatting cases in Georgia, and an increase in New York since 2020. ALECs model bill distinguishes between tenants and squatters, but provides no protections for family members of tenants, and provides no opportunity for a court hearing prior to removal. Once a property owner files a complaint, law enforcement is required to issue a notice to immediately vacate and put the owner in possession of the real property if preliminary fact-finding supports the owners claim. ALEC does not disclose its funders. The pro-landlord California Association of Realtors Mobilization PAC gave the PLF a $150,000 grant in 2023. In the past, the groups biggest funders have been the Charles Koch foundations and the right-wing Searle Freedom Trust, which also donate heavily to ALEC. At a meeting in December 2024, an ALEC official trumpeted the anti-squatter bill as one of the groups top priorities for 2025. And in Arkansas, Indiana, and Montana, staff for the PLF testified in favor of anti-squatting legislation. In Florida, the Koch-backed Americans for Prosperity (AFP) lobbied in favor of one of the bills. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The following is an overview of legislation aligned with ALECs model bill that passed in the 2025 session. Arkansas Arkansas passed HB 1049, A Bill To Amend Arkansas Law Concerning Criminal Offenses; And To Criminalize Unlawful Squatting, which was signed into law by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) on March 4, 2025, with no exclusion for family members of former tenants. Sanders said on Facebook that, In Arkansas, we protect property owners and now allow law enforcement to kick squatters off their property. Jeff Rosenzweig, an attorney in Little Rock, testified against the legislation, warning lawmakers that the way it was written will lead to catching people that I dont think [the lead sponsor] was trying to catch, but because its a criminal statute I think we need to fix that with just dropping the relevant criminal trespass defenses into the bill. The bill was cosponsored by State Representative David Ray (R-69), who is one of ALECs Arkansas state chairs. Florida Under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis (R), Florida pioneered the anti-squatter push, passing an anti-squatter bill (HB 621) in 2024. This legislation was more expansive than the ALEC model bill in that there is no requirement for a sheriff to perform an investigation prior to evicting the occupant if the owner attests to a list of facts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida doubled down this year, passing SB 322, expanding the squatter bill to include commercial real estate property and permit the use of force, and SB 606, authorizing the immediate removal of transients and unwanted guests from hotels, motels, and food service establishments. Florida doesnt tolerate squatters; we stand with property owners, DeSantis said in June. Cynthia Laurent, the housing justice campaigner at the advocacy group Florida Rising, stated that the two pieces of legislation are just another way to further tilt the states laws in favor of landlords and against tenants. What they are doing is amplifying [a] very few small examples of people who have dealt with the issue of squatting, Laurent told the Center for Media and Democracy (CMD). Legislators say, This is for property rights, this is for public safety. But the true public safety solution is to make sure that folks are safe and secure in their housing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Laurent sees the anti-squatter push as part of a broader effort to crack down on tenants rights that is increasing homelessness in Florida. In the aftermath of the pandemic, Florida Rising and other pro-tenant organizations had won Tenants Bills of Rights and Offices of Tenant Advocacy in various Democratic-leaning Florida cities, Laurent explained. But those wins were blocked preempted by the Florida state legislature. ALEC has also been deeply involved in promoting preemption legislation. Theres skyrocketing insurance costs in Florida due to disasters, which pushes people out of home ownership, Laurent pointed out. The situation for renters is equally bad. Since the pandemic there has been an increase in private equity coming into the state purchasing homes to rent them out and make profit that way, she said. It was revealed that landlords were colluding in setting prices artificially high using platforms like RealPage, those renters were then forced into a motel/hotel lease [and] technically designated as transient. By expanding the squatter legislation to motels and hotels, Florida Republicans are trying to claw back some of the last housing security there is, as motels and hotels will not sign leases for longer than 30 days, Laurent concluded. Indiana In May, Indiana Governor Mike Braun (R) signed SB 157 into law, which is similar to the ALEC model legislation except that it exempts invitees of former tenants and does not require any fact-finding before removal. The bill was sponsored by State Senator Linda Rogers (R11), who is an ALEC state chair. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Indiana Legal Services warned that the way the bill was written, [Landlords] file a statement with law enforcement and the police can remove people without a hearing or judicial review. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (D) signed HB 10 into law in Kentucky in March. Similar to the ALEC model bill, it provides protections only for immediate family members of the owner but not immediate family members of tenants, with the only remedy being for a removed occupant to sue in civil court. Maryland Maryland legislators introduced SB 46, a draconian version of the ALEC model bill, in January. It was cosponsored by State Senator Justin Ready (R05), one of ALECs state chairs in Maryland. As introduced, the bill would have required a sheriff to remove anyone from any property based solely on an owners affidavit that they were fraudulently in possession of the property, with no protections for tenants, former tenants, or their family members. Thanks to pushback from housing groups, the bill was amended to mandate that courts hold a hearing within 10 days if a landlord alleges squatting. However, Zafar Shah, a housing attorney with Maryland Legal Aid, said that this bill still filled an extremely important purpose for the landlord lobby. Advocates had been pushing a broad-based reform to the eviction process, mandating that landlords have legal good cause prior to evicting a tenant. The need to ensure that the squatter bill didnt short-circuit the existing eviction process helped contribute to the good cause legislation stalling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The whole legislature, left and right, is really backtracking on the right to housing, Shah told the Center for Media and Democracy. The stop squatters push is a part of that. Mississippi In April, Governor Tate Reeves (R) signed the Real Property Owners Protection Act (HB 1200) into law in Mississippi. The bill contains no exemptions for immediate family members of tenants who remain after a lease has ended. The bill was cosponsored by State Representative Lee Yancey (R74), another ALEC state chair. Montana Montana Governor Greg Gianforte (R) signed a bill (SB 101) in April that closely hews to ALECs model legislation by making squatting a crime and allowing property owners to request that law enforcement officers remove any unauthorized person. Amy Hall, the supervising attorney for housing with Montana Legal Services, was perplexed by the legislation. I have not seen any clients who have contacted us because theyre being removed as a squatter. Squatting is just not a huge issue in Montana, Hall said. As far as Im concerned, this whole bill was 100 percent unnecessary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jim Manley, PLFs vice president for legal affairs, testified in favor of the bill. North Carolina In July, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein (D) vetoed a squatting bill (HB 96) that is similar to the ALEC model bill but with expanded protections for due process effectively a substantially expedited eviction process despite initially supporting the legislation. Stein stated that the only reason he had vetoed it was because it contained a provision that blocked municipalities from regulating puppy mills, an unrelated addition made to the squatter bill once it reached the state Senate. Texas As in Maryland, ALEC legislators in Texas sought to use the squatting issue to weaken tenants rights. State Senator Bryan Hughes (R1), an ALEC member, authored a bill (SB 1333) that went beyond the ALEC model by allowing immediate removal of unauthorized occupants (without any opportunity for a hearing) based on an owners verified petition, and by making squatting a felony if the owners loss is $2,500 or more. Like the ALEC model, the law provides protections only for immediate family members of the property owner, not the tenant. ALECs Texas Senate chair, State Senator Paul Bettencourt (R7), authored a second bill (SB 38) framed as anti-squatter legislation that would have created a streamlined eviction process without a hearing or trial for tenants and squatters alike. What the Texas Apartment Association was trying to do was to piggyback on the attention on squatting to pass really radical anti-renter legislation in Texas, Ben Martin, the research director of the pro-tenant group Texas Housers, told the Center for Media and Democracy. One person who gave testimony from a landlord perspective stated that, From our point of view, a holdover tenant is a squatter. What they were seeking was a top-to-bottom rewrite of civil law in Texas to favor landlords at the expense of tenants. Advocates won an amendment to Bettencourts bill that limited the expedited removal process to squatting cases only. Both bills were enacted in May and signed by Governor Greg Abbott (R). State Senator Molly Cook (D15), who opposed both bills, told CMD that, As an ER nurse, Ive seen how housing insecurity leads to poor public health. Theres been a confluence of awful policies that has led to the worst housing inequality weve ever seen. There is a way to make sure that everyone is taken care of. Just slapping squatter on a bill that erodes protections for due process is not the right approach. [In Texas] it is a lot easier to get a criminal penalty passed than to get real policy passed that addresses homelessness. West Virginia On the heels of criminalizing squatting through HB 4940 last year, the West Virginia legislature enacted HB 2434, a very similar version of ALECs model bill, in April. Traci Strickland, executive director of Kanawha Valley Collective, which seeks to end homelessness, told CMD that its a bill with no solution. I dont want people squatting in houses either. I want a housing solution for people. Tickets for squatting means youre just going to have people who are racking up tickets and criminal offenses, which then hurts their housing and employment opportunities once we get them on the pathway to housing. Wyoming Wyomings legislature passed a law (SF 6) in February that is very similar to ALECs model bill. It provides for immediate removal of an unauthorized person with no opportunity for a hearing and does not exclude immediate family members of tenants, only offering protections for immediate family members of owners. The bill was introduced by the House Judiciary Committee, which includes one of ALECs state chairs, State Representative Daniel Singh (R61). Colleen Scerpella and Arn Pearson contributed research to this article. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Sign up for RollingStone's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Aug. 11 (UPI) -- A New York judge on Monday rejected a request by the federal government to unseal grand jury records in the federal case of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell after the Trump administration signed off on her prison transfer. "The court's review confirmed that unsealing the grand jury materials would not reveal new information of any consequence," U.S. Judge Paul Engelmayer of New York's Southern District wrote in his 31-page ruling denying a request by the U.S. Department of Justice to unseal the grand jury material. Late last week, the Justice Department asked to unseal further evidence in the case, saying it wanted to shield "personal identifying information" but argued that the circumstances of Maxwell's case had warranted the unusual legal maneuver. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A grand jury's proceedings and its corresponding evidence typically stay secret. Maxwell is serving a 20-year prison sentence after her December 2021 conviction on sex-trafficking charges, but has since appealed her guilty verdict. Gates surround the entrance to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn in 2020 where Ghislaine Maxwell previously had been imprisoned in New York City. On Monday, a New York judge denied a request by the U.S. Department of Justice to unseal grand jury documents in Maxwell's case after mounting pressure on the White House to release futher details in the Epstein sex-trafficking case. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI Engelmayer, an Obama appointee, said the government's invocation of the special circumstances surrounding the case engulfing the White House "fails at the threshold" to explain a need to release the docs. "A member of the public, appreciating that the Maxwell grand jury materials do not contribute anything to public knowledge, might conclude that the government's motion for their unsealing was aimed not at 'transparency' but at diversion -- aimed not at full disclosure but at the illusion of such." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maxwell was transferred in early August from her Tallahassee prison in Florida to a cushy low-security prison camp in Bryan, Texas, with little reason in another unusual legal move. "It's entire premise -- that the Maxwell grand jury materials would bring to light meaningful new information about Epstein's and Maxwell's crimes, or the government's investigation into them -- is demonstrably false," the judge said Monday. The remains of a British researcher who vanished in 1959 in Antarctica when he was 25 years old were discovered amid rocks near a receding glacier and identified using DNA analysis, the British Antarctic Survey said Monday. Dennis "Tink" Bell had been working as a meteorologist for the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, the predecessor of the British Antarctic Survey, when he died on July 26, 1959, in a crevasse on a glacier at Admiralty Bay on King George Island, located off the Antarctic Peninsula. His body was never recovered. Bell and another man, Jeff Stokes, left the base they were staying in to survey a glacier using a dogsled, according to the survey. The snow was deep and the dogs began to show signs of tiredness, so Bell walked up to encourage them, but wasn't wearing his skis. He suddenly disappeared into a crevasse. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to accounts in the British Antarctic Survey records, CBS News partner network BBC News reported, Stokes lowered a belt to Bell and he was pulled up to the lip of the crevasse. As he reached the lip of the hole, though, the belt broke, and Bell fell again. He then no longer responded to his friend's calls. The Polish team that found Bell's remains also found over 200 personal items, including an inscribed watch, a Swedish knife, radio equipment and ski poles. "When my sister Valerie and I were notified that our brother Dennis had been found after 66 years, we were shocked and amazed," Bell's brother David told the British Antarctic Survey. Dennis Bell (left) is shown with his colleagues and dogs that helped them to work in Antarctica in 1959 at Admiralty Bay Base. / Credit: British Antarctic Survey David Bell said the work of The British Antarctic Survey, British Antarctic Monument Trust and the Polish team that brought Bell's remains home "helped us come to terms with the tragic loss of our brilliant brother." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I had long given up on finding my brother. It is just remarkable, astonishing. I can't get over it," David Bell, now 86, told BBC News. Jane Francis, the director of the British Antarctic Survey, called the discovery a "poignant and profound moment." "This discovery brings closure to a decades-long mystery and reminds us of the human stories embedded in the history of Antarctic science," Francis said. Bodies exposed by melting glaciers in recent years As glaciers melt and recede around the world, there has been an increase in discoveries of the remains of missing skiers, climbers and hikers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last year, the preserved body of an American mountaineer was found in Peru, 22 years after he disappeared scaling a snowy peak there. In 2023, the remains of a mountaineer who had been missing for 37 years were recovered from a glacier in the Swiss Alps. In 2017, a shrinking glacier in Switzerland revealed the bodies of a couple who went missing in 1942. Jamie Lee Curtis: The 60 Minutes Interview Derek and the Dominos co-founder Bobby Whitlock dies Artisan bakers sparking sourdough boom A new push for rent control on Beacon Hill wont solve the states housing woes, and it wont keep young people from fleeing the Bay State for less expensive climes. That was the message Sunday from Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce CEO James B. Rooney, who called the resurgence of rent control on Beacon Hill this summer a terrible idea. I mean, owners dont invest in the properties. The non-rent control prices go up. People stay in those units they dont turn over. They just get occupied, and people stay," Rooney said during a Sunday sitdown on WCVB-TVs On the Record program. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If you read the data, the history of ... rent control is just so bad, he said. Rooneys televised comments came days after housing advocates rolled out a plan to get a rent stabilization ballot question onto the November 2026 ballot. Language they planned to file with state Attorney General Andrea J. Campbells Office would cap annual rent hikes statewide to the cost-of-living increase measured by the Consumer Price Index, with a maximum cap of 5%. Right now, theres no limit to how much rent can increase every year, so corporate real estate investors are increasingly buying up homes in our communities, hiking rents astronomically, and evicting anyone who cant afford to pay, Denise Matthews-Turner, the executive director of City Life/Vida Urbana, one of the groups organizing the effort, said last week. Rent stabilization is the missing solution to our states housing crisis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median gross rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Massachusetts was $1,882 in 2023, up from $1,727 the year before and $1,381 in 2018. Speaking to WCVB-TV on Sunday, Rooney acknowledged the depth and breadth of the states housing crisis, pointing to his own groups polling data showing that around a quarter of the states young professionals planned to leave within five years because of housing costs. But, he added, rent stabilization isnt the answer. You know, when I think of housing and housing policy, Im reminded of that [Winston] Churchill quote, and Ill paraphrase it, that Americans always get it right after theyve tried everything else, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You know, were doing a lot of things that have a history of failing. Were doing things like rent control, which started in the 40s, and bad things happen, he continued. Echoing the complaints of developers and landlords who have railed against a recently imposed ban on so-called broker fees, which drive up the cost of renting an apartment, Rooney said the best way to tackle the housing crisis is to make it easier to build more housing. Were trying everything when we should just try to incentivize the free market to build more housing, he said. Rent control was banned in Massachusetts in 1994 by a ballot question. Renters, advocates and legislators have repeatedly tried to reinstate it without success. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A previous effort to get rent stabilization on the 2024 ballot was abandoned after its proponents failed to get enough signatures to qualify. State Sen. Pat Jehlen, D-2nd Middlesex, Rep. Sam Montano, D-15th Suffolk, and Rep. David Rogers, D-24th Middlesex, filed bills this session that would give cities and towns the option to implement rent stabilization locally, capping annual increases. Unlike the proposed ballot question, the bills would not institute rent control statewide. More on Politics Read the original article on MassLive. A July mailer sent by Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Bairds congressional office to Hoosiers in Warren County includes an image of not one, but two elected Bairds. In the photo, Congressman Baird and his son, Greencastle Republican state Rep. Beau Baird, stand alongside a boy and a cow. Bold text on the mailer reads Congressman Baird champions the One Big Beautiful Bill to support Hoosier farmers. For years, Beau Baird has been rumored as a future candidate for the 4th Congressional District, which contains the counties immediately to the west of Marion County, should his father choose not to run for another term in Congress. Recently, the elder Baird has used pictures of his son in taxpayer-funded mailers and has started omitting his first name in some materials when identifying himself in prominent spots, referring to himself instead as simply "Congressman Baird." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congressman Baird hasn't yet said if he's running for reelection, and legally he isn't doing anything wrong, experts say. But if his son runs instead, he'll get the perk of already-built-in name recognition from years of the last name being on the ballot and on official office material. More: Indiana's U.S. House members can pay for flyers with taxpayer dollars. Here's who spent the most At least one 2026 Republican candidate for the 4th Congressional District, stretching from Morgan County north to Jasper and Newton counties, said its wrong for Jim Baird to include photos of his son in his congressional communication materials. The perception is, and I believe it to be true, that there's a little bit of nepotism going on, said state Rep. Craig Haggard, R-Mooresville. "And he's trying to use taxpayer money to enhance his son's chance of winning his seat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not unusual for members of Indianas U.S. House delegation to share photos of their family members in taxpayer-funded communication materials from their congressional office. U.S. Rep. Jefferson Shreve in March, for example, shared a photo in an email newsletter to constituents of him and his wife, Mary, as he took the oath of office with Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson by his side. But Congressman Jim Bairds use of franking, a congressional privilege that lets elected officials use taxpayer-funded member allowances to communicate with constituents, has included at least seven photos of Beau Baird in mailers since 2023. Of Indiana's U.S. House delegation, Baird spent more on franking by mail in 2024 than all other members but U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz at nearly $174,000. Those materials were approved by a bipartisan group of lawmakers known as the House Communications Standards Commission. Additionally, ethics experts that spoke with IndyStar said Jim Bairds materials with his son pictured are likely not a violation of any franking rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A spokesperson for Bairds office in a statement to IndyStar reiterated that all mass communications are reviewed by the congressmans office and the bipartisan House commission. Photos in official mass communications are selected from events the Congressman attends across the district, the spokesperson said. While other individuals may appear, only the Congressman is identified in these materials. Every mass communication is reviewed and approved to ensure compliance with Franking guidelines before distribution. But name recognition does give candidates for elected office a boost. Hoosier elected officials that have used the family last name have seen successes in past elections. Current Democratic U.S. Rep. Andre Carson, who is in his ninth term in Congress, took over his grandmother Julia Carson's congressional seat after she died in 2007. Evan Bayh, the former Indiana governor, was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1998, a seat his father Birch Bayh held from 1963 to 1981. "That name recognition is worth a lot," said Mike Wolf, the chair of the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics at Purdue University Fort Wayne. "It's not a surprise that they would also slip in somebody who would doesn't have the federal franking privilege, but gets the benefit of it." What ethics experts said House franking guidelines allow members to share photos of their family members in materials if the image is still related to the official business of the office and if they dont explicitly introduce or endorse their relative. None of the materials sent by Jim Bairds office that included photos of Beau Baird identify him by name, nor do they label Baird as the congressmans son or as a state representative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Do I think that there's probably a line that maybe is being towed a little bit here, yes," said Danielle Caputo, senior legal counsel with the Campaign Legal Center who viewed some of the mailers with Baird and his son. "But he's not being referenced. I saw some of the photos. They're very small. It's not like he's front and center. It's not very clear that he is anyone." Redistricting push: How much more red can Indiana's U.S. House delegation get? Donald Sherman, the executive vice president and chief counsel for Citizens for Responsible Ethics in Washington, D.C., said he personally had not seen a member of Congress include family members in franked materials, but elected officials across party lines often want to keep a seat in their family. I wouldn't be shocked if it had happened before, Sherman said. But it doesn't fall within any technical restrictions in the rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two years ago, Haggard announced a plan to run for Congress if Jim Baird stepped away from another term representing the 4th Congressional District. But Haggard said he's done waiting: he filed his paperwork Aug. 8 to run for the seat in 2026. I believe Ill be running against a Baird, Haggard said of next years 4th District Republican primary. Which Baird? I dont know. Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at brittany.carloni@indystar.com. Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on X@kayla_dwyer17. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sign up for our free weekly politics newsletter, Checks & Balances, curated by IndyStar politics and government reporters. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Is Rep. Baird using taxpayer funds to prep his son for a congressional seat? DERBY, Conn. (WTNH) The office of U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro says she successfully underwent surgery at Griffin Hospital Monday to treat spinal stenosis. Blumenthal demands action to help reduce energy costs The doctor performing the procedure told DeLauros office its a common treatment for a common occurrence. DeLauros released the following statement after the surgery. I am pleased to share that my surgery at Griffin Hospital was a success, and I am deeply grateful to Dr. Judith L. Gorelick and the entire care team for their skill and support. I also want to thank my family, friends, colleagues, and constituents for their well wishes and encouragement. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) After the surgery, DeLauro will do physical therapy, during which shes expected to resume her schedule and return to Washington, D.C. when Congress reconvenes in September. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. Work to repair a kerb which has reportedly been struck by multiple vehicles is to start next week, Wiltshire Council has said. The 35cm (13in) 'trief' kerb in Fisherton Street, Salisbury, is designed to protect pedestrians by stopping vehicles mounting the pavement. Wiltshire Council said it would replace the section that has been damaged by vehicles striking it despite an audit not raising any concerns about the use of the kerb. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The kerb had been listed as a tourist attraction on Google Maps and has had multiple Facebook pages dedicated to it. Several residents told the BBC in July that the "killer kerb" was creating a "hubcap graveyard" nearby. Mechanic Geddy Porter said he had fixed damage to cars which had hit the kerb. He said repairs could cost thousands. "We've had a few customers who have done the same thing - all on the bottom edge of the cars," he said. The kerb is designed to stop vehicles from mounting the pavement [BBC] In addition to repairing the kerb, the council said a bollard would also be installed at the corner of the footpath to stop drivers making the turn from South Western Road from striking it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The repair work is due to take place from 18 to 26 August with temporary traffic lights installed during that time. Councillor Martin Smith said: "This is a key junction providing access to the railway station and city centre with approximately 11,000 vehicles passing under the Fisherton Street railway bridge each day. "It is important that the infrastructure installed at this location supports pedestrian safety, especially with the recent opening of Fisherton Car Park for rail customers, which has increased footfall in the area." Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. More on this story Related internet links ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- An Odessa man with multiple DWI convictions is facing felony charges once again after a crash early Saturday morning left a motorcyclist seriously injured. Nathaniel Venegas, 34, has been charged with Intoxication Assault with a Vehicle Causing Serious Bodily Injury, Accident Involving Injury, Evading Arrest, and Possession of Marijuana. According to an Odessa Police Department report, around 2:00 am on August 9, officers were called to the scene of a major crash at the intersection of Andrews Highway and University Boulevard. At the scene, investigators found a motorcyclist, identified as 35-year-old Juan Ramirez Olague, with life-threatening injuries. He was taken to an area hospital where he was diagnosed with broken bones and heart injuries as a result of the crash. Witnesses at the scene said the driver of a Jeep Commander, later identified as Venegas, disregarded a red light and crashed into Olague. Those witnesses also said that Venegas ran from the scene and did not stop to check on the condition of the motorcyclist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shortly after the crash, investigators found Venegas at a home on Judkins Drive; they said he smelled strongly of alcohol and was unsteady on his feet; however, they did not ask him to perform a field sobriety test because he continued to pose a flight risk after running from the scene. In an interview with Venegas, he reportedly told officers that the motorcyclist pulled out in front of him and caused the crash, but investigators determined that was not true. Aside from the signs of intoxication, officers also found 4.9 ounces of marijuana inside the Jeep, OPD said. During a records check, investigators learned that Venegas had been convicted of drunk driving on at least three occasions, once in 2011, again in 2012, and then in 2015. He was arrested and taken to the Ector County Law Enforcement Center where he remained as of Monday afternoon on a combined $209,500 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 Yourbasin. CONNECTICUT (WTNH) Four nonnative exotic tick species have been identified in Connecticut in recent years, according to reporting from the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (CAES). Invasive ticks spread across more Connecticut counties The CAES believes that the ticks are hitching a ride on unknowing travelers returning to the state. The ticks may not be considered an immediate public health threat because of extremely limited numbers found on international travelers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People should also conduct thorough tick checks while traveling, particularly following outdoor activity in potentially tick-infested areas, and be proactive in monitoring possible symptoms following a tick bite, Dr. Goudarz Molaei, director of the CAES Passive Tick and Tick-Borne Disease Surveillance Program, said. Experts believe that the ticks came from Guatemala, Costa Rica, Belize, Tanzania, Germany, Poland and Scotland and came here during the years 2019 to 2023. All these four species are close cousins of some of the native species that we have here in the United States, Molaei said. The reason why these new species of ticks are a concern for scientists is because of the potential for them to spread. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The long horned tick was spotted for the first time in Connecticut less than a decade ago. Researchers from CAES go out and collect samples all the time. Researchers from CAES collected more than 90 long horned ticks in just one hour this week in Bridgeport, and thats what they dont want to see happen with any of these new species. Climate change means Connecticut winters might not kill them off. At least one can give you a disease like Rocky Mountain Spotted fever, which can be deadly. Molaei says even overseas, use bug repellant, wear long pants and sleeves and check yourself before you fly home. And they have to check their luggage. In case, when they return to the United States, they identify a tick on themselves, they have to seek help, Molaei said. They have to immediately inform public health authorities. He also wants medical doctors to study ticks, so they can spot nonnative ones on their patients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com. GEORGIA (WRBL) On Wednesday, Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones statewide field representatives will be hosting mobile office hours for constituents in the Southwest Georgia area. Statewide field representatives typically represent an organization or governing individual and work directly with the public as liaisons. T.J. Hudson for the South Georgia region will be representing Lt. Gov. Burt Jones at the mobile office hours on Wednesday, Aug. 13. Constituents in Troup and Meriwether Counties will have an opportunity to express questions, comments and concerns to Jones office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Troup County office hours will be held at the Troup County Courthouse from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Meriwether County office hours will be held at the Meriwether County Courthouse from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Individuals interested in attending can RSVP here. Time: 10:00AM-12:00PM Troup County Courthouse: 100 Ridley Avenue, LaGrange, Georgia 30240 Time: 1:00PM-3:00PM Meriwether County Courthouse: 100 Court Square, Greenville, Georgia 30222 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. On Monday, Representative Doug LaMalfa of California became the latest Republican to face furious constituents, at an in-person town hall in Chico. Many Republicans havent held such events for monthsGOP leaders advised lawmakers to avoid them earlier this yearso the handful whove decided to break the advised embargo in recent weeks have endured fierce confrontations with their constituents. But LaMalfa hasnt appeared in Chico for an in-person town hall for much longer than that: Before Monday, it had reportedly been eight years since his previous one in town, as Chico City Councilmember Katie Hawley noted early in the event. At that point, LaMalfa had already been berated by the audience, including with shouts of No fascism in America! and You need to be impeached! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hawley remarked, If Chico City Council was a public event only once every eight years, I think we would have a room exactly like this. She continued, The less frequently you show up and have town halls like this, I believe that the harder it will be to facilitate the conversations. Throughout the event, LaMalfa faced raucous jeers, as well as tough questions and criticisms. One resident, who identified himself as the son of Holocaust survivors, said, People being kidnapped without arrest warrants, without trial, without recourse, by the president of the United Statess ICE armies is clear evidence of how a fascist, authoritarian government works. We are not headed toward an authoritarian fascist government; we are already there. Another resident called Trumps spending plan (the so-called one, big beautiful bill) the big bullshit bill and was chastised by LaMalfa for their language. Fuck you! replied several in attendance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Multiple people voiced concerns about SNAP and Medicaid cuts under the planwith one pointing out that people in the area depend on those services to help keep them alive. Another common cause of concern was Israels war on Gaza, on which LaMalfa maintained a staunch, pro-Israel stance. Trumps efforts to defund PBS and NPR also elicited outrage from the attendees. LaMalfa responded to one such comment with, Well, the people have many, many choices to receive media, only to be met with resounding boos. Another resident expressed concern about Trumps tariffs. Article 1, Section 8 talks about the power of Congress to regulate foreign trade, he said. It doesnt say anything about the president unilaterally creating tariffs. Several in attendance also registered their worries about public education under Trump. LaMalfa, for his part, suggested that the more pressing issue regarding public schools is that they need to be focused on what the children really needthe so-called three Rs: reading, writing, and arithmeticinstead of on ancillary things like climate change and LGB. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A particularly interesting question came toward the tail end of the event, when a resident asked if LaMalfa supports the ongoing GOP attempt to gerrymander Texas in order to tilt Congress in his partys favor. The move has led California Democrats to propose retaliatory redistricting that could possibly sound the death knell for LaMalfas political career. Texas shouldnt be doing that, LaMalfa said. California shouldnt be doing this. This is going to start a grass fire all across the country. Every single state will try to change it based on a political outcome. The state Capitol. (Photo by Ned Oliver/Virginia Mercury) Republican Winsome Earle-Sears is on the defensive in Virginias race for governor. Associated Press Virginia is sharing SNAP recipients personal info with the federal government. VPM News Boars Head plans to reopen Virginia deli meat plant shuttered by health inspectors. CBS News Gov. Youngkin announces record-setting tourism spending, $35.1B in Virginia in 2024. Williamsburg Yorktown Daily Central Virginia counties wrestle with data centers. Charlottesville Tomorro SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX By James Oliphant WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Texas Republicans tried on Monday to pressure Democrats to return to the state legislature after their absence again prevented a vote on a redistricting plan favored by President Donald Trump that seeks to add Republican seats in Congress. After House Speaker Dustin Burrows declared there were too few members to conduct business, he said Republicans would move up to Tuesday voting on bills for measures related to floods that killed at least 137 people last month, a bid to persuade Democrats to return. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The question is simple, Burrows said. Will you be in that chair to vote for these critical disaster-recovery bills, or will you be remembered as the one who did not show up? Democratic legislators in the Texas House of Representatives fled this month to deny Republicans the quorum necessary to pass the Trump-backed redistricting plan, which is intended to flip five congressional seats in the state from Democrat to Republican. The Democrats have gone to more hospitable states such as California and Illinois, putting them out of reach of Texas' legal maneuvers to force their return. Texas Governor Greg Abbott and other officials have vowed to track down the absent members and step up efforts to remove them from office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Burrows said state Department of Public Safety agents had fanned out to every region of Texas. They are set up outside members homes, conducting surveillance, knocking on doors, calling their phones multiple times of day, he said. So far, no one is home, but the search continues, and it will not stop. Burrows said he would ask the department to establish a tip line for information about the absent members. California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who has threatened his own redistricting effort to boost his party, wrote Trump on Monday that California would drop that if Texas ended its redistricting initiative. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You are playing with fire, risking the destabilization of our democracy, while knowing that California can neutralize any gains you hope to make," Newsom told Trump in the letter. "This attempt to rig congressional maps to hold onto power before a single vote is cast in the 2026 election is an affront to American democracy." Newsom said on Friday he will ask voters to approve a ballot measure in November redrawing the state's congressional map in a way likely to create five more Democratic seats. Democrats need to flip only three Republican-held seats to retake the majority in the 435-seat U.S. House next year, so even modest gains for either party via redistricting could prove decisive. If Democrats win the House, they could stymie much of Trump's legislative agenda and pursue multiple investigations into his administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas House Democrats did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Last week, several members argued that Abbott has the authority to release surplus disaster-assistance funds without the legislature's involvement. (Reporting by James Oliphant; editing by Donna Bryson and Cynthia Osterman) NEED TO KNOW Mexico is training rescue dogs to detect flesh-eating screwworm larvae in livestock wounds. The invasive parasite has been nearing the MexicoTexas border, threatening the area's cattle industry The U.S. and Mexico are working on numerous plans to combat New World screwworm infestations, including a plan to release sterile male flies to curb the species' spread. Mexico's agricultural health safety agency, Senasica, has launched a sniffer-dog training program as another tactic in combating the rise in New World screwworm (NSW) populations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The invasive "flesh-eating parasite" is actually an invasive fly, Colin Woodall, the CEO of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, told NPR. The parasite poses a serious threat to the U.S. meat industry. The New World screwworm fly lays eggs on livestock, including cattle, which leads to a gruesome problem for the farm animals once the eggs become larvae. "The larva does exactly what the name would suggest. It screws or bores into the flesh of our cattle and, in essence, eats the animal from the inside out. It is a horrific parasite," Woodall said. New World screwworm populations have been moving up from South America and nearing the Mexico-Texas border since late 2024, and multiple U.S. and Mexican government health agencies have been working to stop the potential spread of screwworm infestations. Getty A dog sniffing the ground in a grassy outdoor area A dog sniffing the ground in a grassy outdoor area Senasica's Canine Trainer Center, Ceacan, has recruited rescue dogs for a three-month intensive training program, teaching the canines how to sniff out and detect the New World screwworm larvae within the open wounds of livestock or agricultural products, according to The Straits Times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ceacan instructor, Mayte Tontle, told the outlet that the dogs use "cow-sized equipment inside [of] a greenhouse" that replicates the extreme heat that's expected in infected areas. "We want our dogs to adapt as much as possible to the real-life conditions," explained Tontle. https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf Of course, not all of the rescue dogs tapped for try-outs have qualified for a detection dog gig, noted Cesar Dangu, head of the Canine Trainer Center. Dogs who aren't a fit are adopted out to forever families who get to enjoy the benefit of the pets' extra training. The trainer added that the rescues that most people turn away, like overly energetic pups, are often the ones perfect for detection jobs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We also have to look for other qualities: that they don't get angry, they are affectionate, they can live with people and with other animals," he said. Currently, six screwworm-sniffing dogs are working the border of Chiapas and Guatemala, where many New World screwworm infestations are occurring. The dogs who have passed training will either work for eight years or until they turn 10 years old, whichever comes first. "I would say 99% of the dogs are adopted by their handler," shared Dangu. "There is an unbreakable link because of the love between the handler and the dog." Getty The New World screwworm fly The New World screwworm fly The U.S. government has also launched tactics to protect against potential New World screwworm infestations, including a fly dispersal facility in Edinburg, Texas, costing $8.5 million, set to "enhance the USDA's already robust ability to detect, control, and eliminate this pest." Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The U.S. has also invested an additional $21 million into the fly production facility in Metapa, Mexico. The latter facility is estimated to produce and release 60 to 100 million sterile male NSW flies into the ecosystem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan is for the male NWS flies, which are sterilized with radiation, to impregnate the female flies, whose eggs won't fertilize or hatch, and will, in turn, lead to the NWS flies dying out before they spread farther. Read the original article on People HALIFAX, Pa. (WHTM) This year, a horse trainer and riding instructor from the Midstate has been selected to participate in the Appalachian Trainer Face Off. Its an annual competition held in West Virginia. Ive been handling horses since I was knee high to a grasshopper, said Alison Mattis of Halifax, Dauphin County. I teach lessons here at Graceful Acres. Over the last one hundred days, Mattis has also been training Arlington a horse from The Heart of Phoenix rescue, a non-profit organization based in West Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is one of the most willing, kindhearted horses Ive ever worked with in my life, which says a lot because he had a really sketchy past, she said. Mattis told abc27 News, they believed Arlington was abused. He used to tremble, she explained. If youd even look at him wrong, let alone get close to him, you couldnt get close to him. So, he was passed through a bunch of different auctions. Over the last 14 weeks, Mattis says Arlington has become a completely different horse. A competition horse. At the end of August, Aug. 20, we leave to do the Appalachian Trainer Face Off, she said. Its a three-day competition, so I have three days to compete with him and just showcase what we learned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Being a part of this competition is not only a huge accomplishment for Arlington, but Mattis. If you are selected, you are one of 12 trainers per your division allowed to compete, she said. Im feeling pretty confident. Im a little nervous, of course, just because it is a big competition. At the end of the competition, Arlington and the other competing horses will be available for adoption through a charity auction which benefits the non-profit. Mattis has the perfect kind of owner in mind. Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices I think the perfect owner for him would be someone with an open heart and that can understand his past and not hold it against him, she shared. Someone who wants to develop a partnership with their horse and realize that hes not a machine. Once you gain this horses trust, I think he would walk through fire for you. He is incredibly willing. He is one of the most loyal partners Ive ever had. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. After turning back a national developers plan for an 800,000-square-foot warehouse, a coalition of residents in rural Connecticut is preparing to challenge the companys new proposal to construct two buildings with a total of 700,000 square feet. The New Jersey-based Silverman Group has been trying for several years to develop part of its 130 acres along Rainbow Road in East Granby, less than 2 miles from Bradley International Airport. Its latest plan is for a pair of warehouses that neighbors warn could bring hundreds of tractor trailers a day onto Rainbow Road, an already busy thoroughfare that runs east through Windsor to I-91. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents in the nearby Sanford Ridge condo development have already begun circulating petitions to block the plan, which they fear could mean around-the-clock noise, exhaust fumes and glaring nighttime lights in what has been a quiet neighborhood. Folks have moved to East Granby for its small-town farm community quaintness, not to live in a warehouse airport buffer zone riddled with gas stations and shipping facilities, said Jason Hayes, a spokesman for the opposition and the Democratic candidate for first selectman. Silvermans previous plan won some support in town, with proponents saying it would build the tax base in a tiny community that faces rising expenses for education and other services. CT healthcare system finds unusual modern use for historic building as $1B redevelopment takes shape Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both sides are expected to turn out if Silverman formally applies for a zoning permit later this year. On Wednesday night, the local wetlands board unanimously approved its proposed access road that infringes on a small section of wetlands. Silverman asked the town three years ago to change local zoning rules that cap warehouses at 400,000 square feet. The company wanted to build a logistics center of 800,000 square feet, and told East Granby that the market wasnt going to support 400,000-square-foot centers. East Granby was one of several communities near the airport that balked at the expansion of enormous distribution centers and warehouses. Some towns passed moratoriums on new ones, and over the past three years the pace of new proposals has slowed dramatically. Silverman on Wednesday told wetlands officials that it now wants to build the 400,000- and 300,000-square-foot warehouses without a committed tenant yet. The company said it might phase construction, leaving as much as two years between completing the first and starting the second. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hayes said residents at the nearby Stanford Ridge development of detached condos are especially worried about noise and pollution, particularly because Silvermans larger building would have 140 docking bays; 70 for receiving and 70 for shipping. The cross docking facility has 70 docking bays on each side. This with multiple shifts could be 700 plus trucks a day easily, he said. This does not even take into account the second proposed warehouse. East Granby already has its share of semi truck traffic coming off I-91 and turning left onto International Drive to service all of those massive warehouses, Hayes said. If one of the traffic lights on Rainbow Road/Turkey Hills Road goes out of sync, it can take you 35 minutes to get from Holcomb to the I-91 on-ramp in the morning. We simply cannot take another hit of semi truck traffic. Nearby homeowners have begun circulating petitions calling for the state transportation department to conduct an independent traffic study because Rainbow Road, also known as Route 20, is a state roadway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crowds of residents complained to town officials in 2022 that Route 20 was already choked with traffic, with some lamenting the conversion of old shade tobacco farms in the region into sprawling, multi-story warehouses. Dollar Tree and Walgreens each have enormous million-square-foot distribution centers nearby, and Dollar Tree maintains a 300,000-square-foot operation. In Windsor, Amazons five-story, 3.8-million-square-foot center is the companys largest in New England. Hayes, who has worked in the film and television industries for decades, suggested Silverman consider a less-intensive use on the property: Sound studios. Bradleys proximity and large, quiet surrounding space for a studio would benefit producers, while homeowners would be assured of a quiet, unobtrusive neighbor, he said. Hayes said he doubts new warehouses close to residential properties would yield much of a net gain for the tax base. What happens to all those properties at Sanford Ridge? Their values will be going down, he said. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Residents at a Downtown apartment complex are taking action over problems they say have been going on for too long. Since 2023, Vance Flats has provided transitional housing for foster children within the Tennessee Department of Children Services. Tenants tell Your News Leader that the children are unsupervised and create a disruptive living environment. Now, residents are taking steps to create change. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Saturday, some residents had a town hall meeting and talked about their demands. Apartment resident says DCS foster kids still causing problems Theyve signed a petition and are calling for the DCS children to be removed from Vance Flats within 30 days, because of the rules they say have been broken. The residents also plan to send a letter to an official within the Church of God in Christ, which partnered with DCS to provide the transitional housing at this complex. Tenants at Vance Flats tell WREG that the partnership is not ideal because the children are unsupervised, which often results in fights, drug use and other broken rules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I will just describe it as chaotic. I have not had a single day of peace since I moved in here. And every time I bring that concern to the landlord. Literally, nothing gets done, resident Jacretia Porter said. Drug use, property damage and physical assaults are just some of the problems that tenants say theyve witnessed since this partnership began in 2023. Last year, Your News Leader received similar reports and spoke to Memphis Police, who at that time, said they had responded to dozens of calls at the complex. Memphis Urban Fashion Week kicks off Monday Residents say theyd prefer to see the children in an environment that contributes to their growth and healing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its honestly sad. It breaks my heart, resident Jacretia Porter said. Ive talked to a few of the kids that live here and I ask them, How do you feel about being here? And they hate it. They do not like being here. They feel like being here makes them feel worst than they felt where they just came from. They say the children should receive mental health services and care from case workers who are trauma informed. Nobodys interceding on their behalf. They are children and they are also traumatized. They cannot do it by themselves. Its up for us, especially social workers who are trained in mental health, to do something about it, Porter said. WREG emailed Vance Flats, and we are waiting for a response. We also contacted an official within Church of God in Christ and he directed us to DCS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We reached out to a DCS spokesperson for comment both Friday and Sunday, but we have not yet received responses to our questions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. STRATFORD, Conn. (WTNH) In wake of recent water-related deaths in the Housatonic River, some residents are calling for better signage around the shores. Stratford communities are still grieving the loss of a 6-year-old boy who drowned in the Housatonic River after going missing on Wednesday. Family mourning loss of 6-year-old boy recovered from Housatonic River The childs grandmother, Angelique Jones, identified the boy as 6-year-old Jahseh Martinez, who went by Jah. Jones said her grandson was larger than life, had a vibrant smile and loved being by the water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was my best friend, she said. Stratford police say theyre investigating whether the boy fell in or was swimming. The medical examiner told News 8 that autopsy results show the boy died from an accidental drowning. Body of 6-year-old boy recovered from Housatonic River In the last two months, three people have died water-related deaths in the Housatonic: A 5-year-old boy died after being pulled from the water at Indian Well State Park in Shelton, a New York man drowned in the river in New Milford after going underwater and a 6-year-old boys body was recovered in Stratford. That little boy just hit it at the wrong time when the tide was turning, and its a very strong current, and he was carried out very swiftly, said Arthur Zweck-Bronner of Stratford. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neighbors, including Zweck-Bronner, think that warning signs would help people be more aware of the water conditions to avoid more incidents like these. Stratford police say the investigation into Martinezs death is ongoing. His funeral will be held Aug. 22 at the English Chapel-FWB Church in Bridgeport. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 Trump administration has pulled $20 million in funding for drinking-water improvements in rural California, in a move critics are slamming as "unjust." What's happening? Last year, the Biden administration awarded a $20 million grant to improve the quality of drinking water in rural Monterey County, California. Now, The Guardian reports, the Environmental Protection Agency has labeled that grant as a "wasteful DEI program" and cut the funding. Monterey County is one of California's key agricultural hubs. Most notably, it is one of the country's top strawberry-producing counties, growing more than $1 billion worth of the sweet fruit in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the high amount of pesticide use in those farms has badly contaminated local drinking water to the point that thousands of people can't use their wells. The EPA grant was intended to improve city and county infrastructure and to connect contaminated wells to those municipal water lines, which would have improved water quality for more than 5,000 people. "It is devastating news for us," Marcela, a farm worker, told The Guardian. "We urgently need water." Why is this important? Clean drinking water is one of the most important things needed for human life. Unfortunately, it's also difficult to come by in many parts of the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement An estimated 2 billion people globally roughly one-quarter of the world's population don't have access to clean drinking water. In the United States, more than 2 million people reportedly live without running water or basic indoor plumbing. And studies show that nearly half of all tap water in the U.S. may be contaminated with PFAS, known as "forever chemicals" because they accumulate in the body and may take hundreds of years to break down. What's being done to get clean water? Marcela told The Guardian that the well on her property is broken, and even if it were fixed, the water would likely be too contaminated to use. Instead, her family spends hundreds of dollars every few weeks on 5-gallon bottles of water. Do you feel like the air quality is safe where you live? Always Usually Not in the summer Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. And while bottled water provides a clean drinking option to families in the area, it's also often full of microplastics. And local water advocates say that many families in the area have used the tap water for drinking or cooking, not knowing that it was contaminated. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Community Water Center, which was overseeing the EPA grant's implementation, says it is now looking for other sources of funding to help bring clean water to the region. "Drinking water is a human right," the center's Maraid Jimenez told The Guardian. "And it shouldn't be a political topic that's contested." 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. Mount Fuji, Japan's most iconic natural wonder and a UNESCO World Heritage site, is making headlines for an unfortunate reason: It's being called "trash mountain." Once revered for its serenity and symbolism, it is now showing the wear and tear of popularity in the form of discarded bottles, wrappers, and gear littering its trails. Japan celebrated a milestone in 2024, breaking its all-time tourism record, according to Travel and Tour World. But this growth came with a big downside. Popular destinations such as Kyoto, Tokyo, and especially Mount Fuji have become overwhelmed by the number of visitors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This spike in foot traffic has led to increased waste and environmental degradation on the once-pristine peak. Images of litter-strewn slopes have circulated widely online, prompting frustration. The surge in trash earned Mount Fuji the unfortunate nickname. Local officials, concerned citizens, and international observers are now raising alarms. In response, the Japanese government and regional authorities are introducing policies to reduce the environmental toll of mass tourism. Overtourism not only strains local infrastructure but also threatens natural ecosystems and cultural heritage. Piles of trash can leach toxins into the soil and water, harm wildlife, and degrade visitor experiences. While Mount Fuji is the most visible example, many of Japan's cultural and natural sites are feeling the pressure. Without careful management, the economic gains of tourism risk coming at the cost of long-term environmental and cultural loss. As Japan pursues its ambitious goal of reaching 60 million visitors per year by 2030, the balance between growth and sustainability is becoming increasingly urgent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To curb the mounting waste problem, Japanese officials are turning to sustainable tourism policies. One solution includes introducing higher entry fees for international visitors, which could help fund environmental maintenance. Local governments are also urging travelers to visit less-trafficked regions, spreading out tourism pressure more evenly. Campaigns like "Tourism for All" are encouraging visitors to respect local traditions and pack out all trash. And in a bid to ease strain on popular sites, the government is promoting regional tourism development, particularly in under-visited areas with cultural and natural value. Mount Fuji's current condition may serve as a wake-up call, but it's also a chance for Japan to lead on sustainable tourism, preserving both its beauty and its welcome. 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. Rheinmetall, one of Germany's largest defence companies, plans to start producing 155 mm artillery ammunition in 2026 at a plant currently under construction in Ukraine. Its capacity may be larger than expected. Source: Mezha Media, a technology and IT news platform within Ukrainska Pravdas holding company; German Aid to Ukraine, a website covering Berlins assistance to Kyiv Details: Initially, the company planned to produce 150,000 artillery projectiles per year. However, CEO Armin Papperger said in an interview with German newspaper Handelsblatt a few months ago that production would be expanded again and production capacity would be "significantly increased". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a conference call on 7 August 2025, Papperger said Ukrainian officials aim to double the planned production capacity. As a result, the new plant could produce 300,000 155-mm projectiles annually, though it will take one to two years to reach this output. However, he stated that producing more than 300,000 projectiles is not currently under discussion, as the Ukrainian government lacks the necessary funding. Additionally, bureaucratic challenges in Ukraine are causing delays. He expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of the projects progress. Rheinmetalls CEO cited the new plant in Unterlu, Lower Saxony, as an example. Construction of both that plant and the one in Ukraine began around the same time, but while the Unterlu facility is now complete, work in Ukraine is still ongoing. Papperger has previously criticised Ukrainian bureaucracy, but a source told German Aid to Ukraine that bureaucratic issues affect other companies as well, although they are not severe enough to significantly delay the plant's construction. Therefore, there is a strong likelihood that production will begin next year. Background: Rheinmetall is set to produce infantry fighting vehicles, ammunition, and powder charges in Romania and establish a training centre there. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A ritzy Upper East Side private school has won its fight to turn a public street into its own private playground for the academic year prompting businesses on the block to cry foul. Manhattans Community Board 8 unanimously approved an application from the $62,500-a-year Birch Wathen Lenox School to shut down East 77th Street between Second and Third avenues to foot and car traffic for two peak hours a day, three days a week, starting next month. Its a school filled with very rich kids. Its like the 1% taking away from the 99%, fumed Todd Layne, whose namesake laundromat lies just a few dozen feet from the posh school. East 77th Street will be shut down six hours a week for Birch Wathen Lenox School students. Stephen Yang Why do they have the right to commandeer an entire street and disrupt the businesses on this block? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement CB 8 granted permission last month for the private K-12 school which boasts Barbara Walters as an alum to shut down the busy thoroughfare from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for three days every week as part of the citys controversial Open Streets program, as long as it keeps its promise to usher kids off the roadway as needed to let delivery trucks or emergency vehicles through. The 500-student school had been previously rejected when it proposed shutting down the road for five hours a day five days a week, after arguing that its rooftop playground was so small that only one grade could use it at a time. But the mom-and-pop shops that line the block say even the now-approved shorter shutdown could still be a death sentence for their tiny economy. The ritzy private school costs $62,500 a year in tuition. Stephen Yang Its a peak time for us, and its really going to be a major impediment to us doing business, Layne said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I let the community board know about that, and they just kind of feel that its not that much of a big deal because theyre still going to allow cars to come through. But we dont really understand how thats possibly going to work. Toby Chancey, owner of Toby Clairty Lighting, said he could stand to lose roughly 10% of his business because his majority elderly customers drive up to his storefront. Its bad for all of us on this block. I wish everything could work out for both parties, but its just not going to happen, he said. Its like the 1% taking away from the 99%, fumed local business owner Todd Layne. Stephen Yang The school initially asked to shut down the street for five hours a day five days a week. Stephen Yang The school has a playground on its roof, but says the space is too small to handle more than one class at a time. Helayne Seidman Most of the residents along the block are unhappy with the plan, too, according to Linda Cornelius, who runs the East 77th Block Association. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have a lot of residents who are worried about accessibility, said Cornelius, who has lived on the Upper East Side for more than two decades. We have work-at-home people who are worried about noise, and honestly, its just a deal breaker to me is that this is an ambulance avenue, she said of the stretch of roadway, which is regularly used by ambulances trying to reach Lenox Hill Hospital two blocks west. How are they going to monitor both ends of the block? she said. Are they prepared to do drills like you would a fire drill if an emergency vehicle needs to pass through here? Toby Chancey worries his elderly customers wont visit his shop if they cant drive up to his storefront. Stephen Yang The Birch Wathen Lenox School promised it would clear the roadway if needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A rep for Northwell Hospitals said the street closure wasnt a concern. Ambulance teams are typically quick to adapt to redirection and signage, and well make sure theyre notified in advance, the representative told The Post. Head of School Bill Kuhn promised that Birch Wathen Lenox would maintain an open line of communication with its neighbors throughout the coming year, after which the Open Streets plan will be up for review and could potentially be scrapped. We are committed to working with our neighbors to ensure the Open Streets program runs smoothly, Kuhn said. Our revised Open Street proposal, which was unanimously approved by Community Board 8 with a vote of 42-0, reduced our initial plan by 70%, asking only for two hours a day, three times a week. This approval reflects our extensive community engagement and the adjustments we made to address feedback. (KRON) The Berkeley Police Department is asking for the communitys assistance in finding a missing at-risk 17-year-old girl last seen Friday evening. Lauren Taylor Holland is described by authorities as 5 feet 7 inches tall and 150 pounds. She has brown hair in two pigtails and brown eyes. Missing person Lauren Taylor Holland (Photo: Berkeley PD) Holland was last seen Friday, August 8, at around 6 p.m., wearing a green knit sweater and red Christmas plaid sweatpants, Berkeley PD said. At that time, she was walking westbound from 1232 Ashby Avenue in Berkeley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If seen, police said to call the department at 510-981-5900. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Aug. 11Classes are back in session, which means it is time for a reminder about driving in school zones and around school buses. According to the New Mexico Department of Transportation, people should: Slow down in school zones where speed limits tend to be 5-10 mph below the posted speed limit.Stop behind a school bus with flashing lights. The area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children entering or exiting the bus.Stop for crossing guards holding a stop sign.Watch for children darting out from between parked cars or from school buses.Yield to pedestrians walking on a crosswalk.Don't stop on a marked crosswalk or impede a pedestrian's pathway at a marked intersection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement OVERSIGHT DISCOVERY: Reader Patricia Tillery said Bernalillo County neglected to put in a right-turn traffic light arrow at Bridge and Isleta when it recently upgraded the intersection. "This can impede traffic flow for the long-suffering people that must travel that intersection," she said. There were no plans to install the arrow, Bernalillo County spokesperson Melissa Smith said, but "once the oversight was discovered," a project consultant decided to add one. The traffic parts were ordered and should take several weeks to arrive. After that, the light will be installed then reprogrammed, Smith said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FUTURE OF BROADWAY: The city of Albuquerque will host a public meeting to discuss the future of Broadway Boulevard. During the meeting, people will learn about potential plans to modify Broadway to accommodate bicycle lanes, enhance pedestrian infrastructure and incorporate new traffic technology, city Department of Municipal Development spokesperson Dan Mayfield said. The meeting will take place from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at the Women's Economic Self-Sufficiency Team (WESST) headquarters, 609 Broadway NE. SEWER REHAB: Second Street southbound between Stover and Atlantic SW including the southbound sidewalk and bike lane is closed due to a sewer rehabilitation project. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The closure started on Wednesday. Work is scheduled to be finished on Aug. 22, according to the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority. During the project, there will be no parking permitted and access in and out of homes and businesses will be maintained. Water and sewer services are not expected to be interrupted, according to the water utility authority. USING TURN SIGNALS: The New Mexico Department of Transportation recently issued a reminder regarding turn signals. "There are many opportunities to use your blinker, whether you're making any turn onto another roadway, into another lane, or into a parking stall, it lets other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians know your intentions," they said in a social media post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to NMDOT, people should use the signal at least 100-500 feet before making a turn or merging into another lane. Finally, it has been a year since taking over as Road Warrior. It has been an honor so far. If you have any questions or suggestions related to roads in Albuquerque and across the state, email me at ghasman@abqjournal.com. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. Missouri is joining a nationwide campaign to end the flood of illegaland annoyingrobocalls to its citizens. The office of Missouri Attorney General Bailey has sent letters to more than three dozen telecom companies demanding they cease transmitting unlawful robocalls through their networks. My office is committed to holding bad actors accountable and protecting Missouri consumers from fraud and harassment, Bailey said in a statement. Were putting telecom companies on notice if you help criminals reach our citizens, we will take action. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amusement park, large resort coming to Lake of the Ozarks Attorneys general across the United States are participating in Operation Robocall Roundup. The 37 voice service providers receiving warning letters, from Bailey and other attorneys general, are: Advantage Investors LLC Alpha Stream Ananya Traders LLC Ariyan Khan BBT Voice Private Limited Belthrough BPO VoIP Collection 3 LLC Communications and Telephone Systems Co. Dial Vista Corp. DigitalOcean LLC Dtel Network LLC End Zone Financial Services EON Telecom Inc. Family Communication Inc. Fiber Flux VOIP First Tele Communications Inc. Flow VOIP LLC Globe Tech Solutions Higher Response Marketing Inc. HK KwaiFong Group Limited Infinity SIP LLC Lexico Telecom LTD / Lextel LTD Mexico IP Phones LLC Nexusphere VOIP LLC Pleedex LLC Quantum Link VOIP LLC Ringnition SK Teleco LLC SkyPulse VOIP Stacy Newsome LNCC LCC Telnextrix LLC Terra Voip TheVisionConnect Tiera Enterprises LLC Voip Torque Whisl Telecom LLC / Telconus / Telcon US / Telcon Voice Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bailey said these providers have failed to register in the Federal Communications Commissions Robocall Mitigation Database, failed to respond to FCC traceback requests, and failed to file a plan detailing how theyll block illegal robocalls in the future. Not adhering to these safety measures allows scammers to reach Missourians, Bailey said. Missourians who receive unwanted or fraudulent robocalls can report them to the Attorney Generals Consumer Protection Unit by calling 800-392-8222 or visiting ago.mo.gov. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss recent diplomatic developments, Azernews reports. According to a government report, Pashinyan updated Putin on the results of the August 8, 2025, negotiations in Washington, highlighting the initialing of the Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia. He also mentioned the joint application to the OSCE regarding the dissolution of the OSCE Minsk Group mechanisms, the unblocking of regional communications based on the principles of territorial integrity, sovereignty, jurisdiction, and reciprocity, as well as the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity project. The Prime Minister expressed his belief that establishing peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan will create new opportunities not only for the two countries but for the entire region. Both leaders agreed to maintain active contacts and continue political dialogue. What started as a debate over feeding pigeons has now spiralled into an alarming display of lawlessness, religious coercion, and a complete breakdown of civic order, right in the heart of Mumbai. The Marathi Ekikaran Samiti has declared a protest against those who defy court orders, endanger public health, and obstruct justice. This action follows a warning from Jain monk Muni Nileshchandra Vijay, who announced an indefinite hunger strike starting August 13 against the decision to shut down Dadar Kabootarkhana, which aims to prevent people from feeding pigeons. He asserted that the community would not comply with court orders on the issue if they conflict with their religious practices. While talking with Mirror, Pramod Parte, Vice President of the Marathi Ekikaran Samiti, said, "Those who don't follow the law, who push and shove police, who bring knives and daggers causing govt damage, who hold citizens hostage, who show contempt of court, who put citizens health at risk, who forcefully restart the pigeon house again, we are going to present our demand to the govt for action against all those people. We are going to ask why the police didn't take any action that day. Action must be taken against everyone." He cited incidents such as manhandling police, contempt of court, and public health risks, including the forced reopening of the Dadar Kabootarkhana, as significant concerns. Additionally, he warned that if these practices continue, Our lakhs of marches will also come out, calling for govt accountability and enforcement of the law. The Samiti has called upon Mumbaikars to protest against such practices at Dadar Kabootarkhana on August 13, 2025, at 10:00 AM to present a public petition for transparency and action. Chetan Kamble, Founder of ChakaChak Dadar, who has backed the protest, said, This fight is not about pigeons, but it's about principle. When court orders are openly defied, it sends a dangerous message to every law-abiding citizen. If the system can act swiftly on pigeon feeding, it must show the same urgency in clearing illegal hawkers and encroachments choking Dadar's roads and footpaths. A better Mumbai will not be gifted to us; we must demand it. Let's gather in Dadar and stand together for a cleaner, safer city. Tensions escalated on August 7, when around 500 Jain protesters removed coverings placed over the Dadar Kabootarkhana by the BMC, challenging the Bombay High Court's directive and clashing with police. Authorities are walking a tightrope; some leaders advocate controlled feeding to balance faith with safety, while others call for strict enforcement. Starting from August 1 until August 11, BMC reported three NCs/FIRs, one from D and GN Ward, and collected a Rs 32,000 fine. It's almost showtime for the mighty Vulcan rocket and it's possible people in West Palm Beach may be able to see liftoff. Last week, United Launch Alliance delivered a hard launch social media speak for heavy promotion of its Vulcan rocket, which will send two U.S. national security satellites to space this week from Cape Canaveral, Florida. On Aug. 7, the space agency released a movie poster promoting the ULA Vulcan rocket launch complete with taglines, "Precision. Power. Purpose." and "national security begins at liftoff." The company released a movie trailer that day, too. The movie poster, movie trailer and mission patch, for the "ULA Vulcan USSF-106" mission feature a strong, god-like figure wielding a hammer (like Marvel's Thor), all with the same message: Coming soon, Aug. 12, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A day ahead of liftoff, ULA continued with its heavy social media promotion, posting photos and video of the rocket rollout to the launch pad. When ULA launches its massive rocket, depending on cloud cover, Floridians (and visitors) as far as Jacksonville and Palm Beach County may be able see it light up the sky after liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. Business is booming: Florida's Space Coast is one of fastest-growing economies in U.S. In Florida, you can best see the ULA Vulcan rocket launch in person, particularly if you're anywhere on the Space Coast (Melbourne, Florida, area), the Fun Coast (Daytona Beach area) or the Treasure Coast (Vero Beach, Jensen Beach and Fort Pierce). When theres a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, theres an opportunity for unique photos the rocket lights up the dark sky and the contrail after makes for a great photo. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Below is more information about the rocket launch in Florida and suggestions on where to watch them from here. Rocket launch tally: Here's a list of all 2025 missions from Cape Canaveral, Florida (psst, there's a lot) For questions or comments, email FLORIDA TODAY Space Reporter Rick Neale at rneale@floridatoday.com or Space Reporter Brooke Edwards at bedwards@floridatoday.com. For more space news from the USA TODAY Network, visit floridatoday.com/space. Tom Cruise and untitled SpaceX project: 'Mission: Impossible' star who lives in Florida may shoot a film in outer space When is the next rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida? Tuesday, August 12: United Launch Alliance USSF-106 United Launch Alliance visibility map shows the path and trajectory for its Vulcan rocket, set to launch Aug. 12, 2025. Mission: Equipped with four solid rocket boosters, ULA's third Vulcan rocket will launch two U.S. national security satellites into geosynchronous orbit more than 22,000 miles above Earth. Launch window: 7:59 p.m. to 8:59 p.m. ET Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025 Trajectory: Due east Launch location: Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Cape Canaveral, Florida Live coverage starts two hours before liftoff at floridatoday.com/space: You can watch live rocket launch coverage from USA TODAY Networks Space Team, which consists of FLORIDA TODAY space reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards and visuals journalists Craig Bailey, Malcolm Denemark and Tim Shortt. Our Space Team will provide up-to-the-minute updates in a mobile-friendly live blog, complete with a countdown clock, at floridatoday.com/space, starting two hours before liftoff. You can download the free FLORIDA TODAY app, which is available in the App Store or Google Play, or type floridatoday.com/space into your browser. ULA Vulcan rocket launch photos in Florida: How big is Vulcan? Live weather radar: Will it rain in Melbourne, Cocoa Beach or Cape Canaveral, Florida, today? Will weather cancel a rocket launch? Shown is the National Weather Service-Melbourne radar, which shows conditions in real-time for the Space Coast, Brevard County, Orlando and other parts of Florida. The current date and time show up on the bottom right of this radar embed; otherwise, you may need to clear your cache. Where to see a Florida rocket launch in Palm Beach County: What does a West Palm Beach rocket launch view look like? Weather permitting and depending on cloud cover, some rocket launches from the Space Coast can be visible in Palm Beach County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When theres a launch window in the middle of the night or very early morning, with a southeast trajectory, theres an opportunity for unique photos. Some examples include United Launch Alliance's Delta IV Heavy rocket launch and SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. From Cape Canaveral, Florida, to West Palm Beach, Florida, it's about 150 miles. What the views look like: Rocket launches from Cape Canaveral spotted in West Palm Beach Rocket launches from Cape Canaveral can often be seen from Palm Beach County, and it can be as easy as walking out of your house and looking north. Try to get away from any obstructions, such as trees, tall buildings, and bright lights. Obviously, cloud cover can also get in the way. If the forecast is for clear skies and you want a better view, some good places to watch the rocket launch from Palm Beach County include: ULA rocket launches from Cape Canaveral spotted in other parts of Florida The video playlists below include videos of United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket launches spotted in the sky far beyond the launch pad at Cape Canaveral, Florida, including Stuart, Jupiter and West Palm Beach. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement (This story was updated to add new information about the launch, including a visibility map.) Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: ULA rocket launch in Cape Canaveral, Florida: What time is liftoff? In a major win for rooftop solar owners in California, lawmakers amended the controversial residential solar bill, AB 942, to allow homeowners to continue accessing net metering agreements and climate credits even if they sell their homes. According to pv magazine, the California Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee voted 9-4 to retain contracts signed by solar owners in the event they sell or transfer their properties, which means they can continue to enjoy major savings on electric bills. The amendment also removed discriminatory language related to climate credits, which help fight the changing climate by reducing pollution released by companies and factories. Before the amendment, the bill required new homeowners of properties with solar systems to switch to the current net-energy metering tariffs upon purchase, instead of being grandfathered into the previous homeowner's rate. It also would have ended net metering for some solar customers after 10 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The original bill was filed by Assemblymember Lisa Calderon, a former utility executive for 25 years with Southern California Edison, one of the nation's largest electric utility companies. "AB 942 backers claim it is intended to lower energy rates, but it is actually designed to protect utility profits. The real reason electricity rates keep skyrocketing in California is out-of-control utility spending on transmission infrastructure," Brad Heavner, executive director of the California Solar and Storage Association, told pv magazine. If the earlier draft of the policy had been approved, it would have increased energy bills for the average homeowner by around $63 per month, which could have affected its marketability to prospective buyers. The bill would have also reduced net metering payouts by around 80% for customers who were forced to switch to the new NEM tariff. Now that the policy has been updated, California homeowners will continue to benefit from lower energy bills thanks to their rooftop solar systems. If you want to invest in your own system, EnergySage is a helpful service that offers free tools where you can compare quotes from reliable contractors and potentially save $10,000 in purchase and installation fees. You'll also be able to access a free mapping tool that shows the average cost of solar systems and available incentives on a state-by-state basis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But if you want to take advantage of the tax breaks and rebates, make sure to act fast, as Congress has eliminated the 30% solar tax credits effective Dec. 31, per Solar Builder Magazine. So if you want to install a solar system and claim the savings, it's a good idea to start shopping around now to find an installer that fits your needs. Some homeowners end up paying close to nothing for electricity each month, so investing in solar could be a life-changing decision. And if you live in California and are thinking of selling your home, you can rest easy knowing you won't lose your net metering contract. "The previously drafted version of the bill would have undermined consumer confidence, devalued home solar investments, and stalled progress toward California's clean energy goals," JD Dillon, chief marketing and customer experience officer at the solar company Tigo Energy, told pv magazine. "The solar industry thrives when legislation supports innovation, consumer choice, and long-term resilience, not when it introduces unnecessary friction between emerging technologies and legacy power structures." 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. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has condemned the assassination of Colombian senator and presidential hopeful Miguel Uribe Turbay, who died Monday after being shot during a June campaign rally. Uribe was 39. Deeply saddened to learn of Colombian Senator @MiguelUribeTs tragic death, Rubio wrote on social media. The United States stands in solidarity with his family, the Colombian people, both in mourning and demanding justice for those responsible. Uribe was hospitalized in critical condition immediately after the shooting, which took place at a campaign rally in his countrys capital of Bogota. He had been a prominent opposition voice against the left-wing government of President Gustavo Petro. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Uribe came from a prominent political family that had been previously impacted by political violence. His grandfather, Julio Cesar Turbay Ayala, served as president for four years starting in 1972. His mother, Diana Turbay, was kidnapped and killed by the Medellin Cartel in 1991. Its not clear who ordered the assassination or why. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), who was born in Colombia, condemned Uribes killing. Miguel Uribe represented the best of Colombia. May he rest in peace, may his spirit guide Colombia into the future, and may this horrible situation wake up a sentiment of reconciliation and direction for Colombians, he wrote on the social platform X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) also expressed his condolences to Uribes family, calling the politician brilliant, tireless, brave in a Spanish-language post on social media. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. More than 50 Texas House Democrats fled the state on August 3 to block a Republicanbacked redistricting plan they say would weaken minority voting power in cities like Dallas, Houston, and Austin. In response, Gov. Greg Abbott, aided by a GOPcontrolled committee, moved swiftly to escalate penaltiesthreatening removal from office, issuing civil arrest warrants, and accusing the absent lawmakers of having forfeited their seats by abandoning their legislative duties. The quorum break has stalled legislative business in Austin, drawing comparisons to past walkouts by both parties, including an 1870 Republican break that triggered the so-called Rump Senate and a 2021 Democratic flight to Washington, D.C., to block an election reform bill. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The latest standoff comes with control of the U.S. House closely divided, 219 Republicans to 212 Democrats, with four vacancies, and a potential five-seat pickup for Republicans in Texas alone if their strategy succeeds. What is a quorum? A quorum is the minimum number of lawmakers required to conduct official business. In Texas, a quorum represents the following: House: 100 of 150 members (two-thirds) Senate: 21 of 31 members (two-thirds) What happens if a quorum is broken? Under House rules, absent members can face: $500 fine per day Repayment of costs to track them down Reprimand or censure Expulsion Why Democrats deserted their responsibilities To block GOP redistricting maps, they say, dilute minority votes in Dallas, Houston, and Austin. Republicans say the maps are legal and would add five GOP-leaning U.S. House seats a potential cushion in the current 219212 balance. History of walkouts in Texas 1870: 13 Senate Democrats and three conservatives fled to block a militia bill. They were arrested, and the Rump Senate eventually passed it anyway. 2021: House Democrats fled to Washington, D.C., to block a GOP election bill. A COVID outbreak among members marked the trip. National ripple effect Governors in California and New York are considering mid-decade redistricting if Texas moves forward, though both face legal hurdles. The move comes amid national fights over gerrymandering after the Supreme Court ruled in 2019 that partisan redistricting is a political not judicial question. The gamble for Republicans The maps increase Hispanic voting share in three of the five targeted districts. Republicans are betting Hispanic voters will keep trending right, as in 2024 when Trump flipped several border counties. If the trend stalls, the seats could become costly to defend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows has already suspended direct deposit for absent members, requiring them to collect their paychecks in person, and Gov. Greg Abbott has asked the Texas Supreme Court to remove Minority Leader Gene Wu from office over the defiance. Attorney General Ken Paxton has warned he will pursue court orders to compel absent Democrats back to the Capitol, and Abbott has threatened that if the boycott continues, Republicans could expand their map to create six, seven, or even eight new GOP-leaning districts. The special session ends August 19, and Democrats have signaled they intend to remain out of state until then, which would deny the House a quorum for its entire duration. Some Democrats are in Illinois; others are in California, where they reportedly plan to appear alongside Gov. Gavin Newsom and House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi in a show of solidarity. Newsom has floated a possible statewide ballot measure to give California the ability to redraw its congressional map if Republican-led states like Texas change theirs mid-decade, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. At a press conference on August 4 at an IBEW union hall west of Chicago, Democrats framed their absence as an act of principle, not avoidance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are not on vacation, said state Rep. John H. Bucy III. I didnt run for office to walk out of the Capitol, but sometimes the only way to uphold your oath is to refuse to play along with a rigged game. Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu called the move a decision we make with absolute moral clarity, alleging Abbott is using an intentionally racist map to steal the voices of millions of Black and Latino Texans. Republicans have responded with civil arrest warrants for absent members and threats of additional penalties. Abbott has ordered the Department of Public Safety to locate the lawmakers and warned that accepting financial support to remain out of state could violate bribery laws. Paxton said the Democrats are spitting in the face of every Texan they swore to represent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sen. John Cornyn, a Texas Republican locked in a competitive primary race with Paxton, said Thursday the FBI had approved his request to help locate the lawmakers. It is unclear what role federal agents could play, as no criminal warrants have been issued. NBC News reported that a federal official said there were no plans to use federal agents to arrest the lawmakers on the lam, as of Thursday morning. The walkout has drawn national attention, with Democrats in California and New York openly exploring mid-decade redistricting in response to Texas, though both face legal and logistical hurdles that could delay any new maps until after the next election. Notably, both states have independent redistricting commissions, and Democrat-led efforts to redistrict in New York have previously reportedly backfired. California Gov. Newsom said, Were going to fight fire with fire, and New York Gov. Kathy Hochul vowed to explore every option to redraw lines, per The Hill. Neither side has signaled a willingness to back down, with the special session clock running out in less than two weeks. Editors note: This article includes additional reporting from Roy Maynard, Senior Copywriter and Founder of the Associated News Service. Imaginima/Getty Images Concerned residents of rural Augusta Township in Washtenaw County have started collecting petition signatures in hopes to stop a planned data center development that would turn farmland into a home for massive amounts of computing power. The private equity firm Thor Equities is leading the development efforts. Advocates say the firm plans to invest roughly a billion dollars in the project, which they say could eventually net the township and local schools multi-million dollar tax revenues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The group of petitioning residents, Protect Augusta Township, started their campaign after the township board in July unanimously approved rezoning 522 acres of land from agricultural residential to general industrial use at Thors request. At recent township board and planning commission meetings, dozens of local residents have voiced concerns that the data center could be a noisy, energy-intensive eyesore that permanently alters the landscape and local culture. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Data centers house vast arrays of computer equipment used to store digital information. They power internet services and use massive amounts of water and electricity. A Thor spokesperson told MLive the facility in Augusta township would use more than a million gallons of water per day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There hasnt been major business in this community. Its been farmland, resident and signature-gatherer Travis Matts said. To know that on the horizon, major development is creeping its way towards us is just kind of nerve-wracking. In some communities with data centers, locals have complained about the noise. Eileen Cosner is an Augusta Township resident. Shes concerned that people, pets and livestock will have to put up with the constant hum of data center cooling fans, periodic generator use, and noise during the data centers construction. According to MLive, Thor wants to purchase a total of 810 acres currently zoned as industrial and build the data center on about 20% of that land, leaving other areas undeveloped to act as a visual and sonic buffer between the data center and its residential neighbors. Cosner doesnt trust Thor to only build on a small portion of the land it acquires. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Im] pretty sure that once they buy it, they will build all the way down. An arial view of the 810 acre site for the data center development proposed by Thor Equities. Township trustees approved rezoning areas in blue from Agricultural Residential (AR) to General Industrial (GI) in late July. The referendum petition seeks a public vote on the zoning change. | Source: Augusta Township Planning Commission Phil Santer is the chief of staff at Ann Arbor SPARK, a public-private nonprofit economic development organization that supports the data center development. Santer says once the data center is built it would be relatively unobtrusive. He says Thor has committed to abiding by the townships noise ordinance, and that its planned billion dollar investment will provide roughly six million dollars in new annual tax revenue for the local school district, with additional revenue for township government. When I view an opportunity like a data center, what I see is highly impactful, in terms of value creation, but low impact in terms of what it actually means for the community, Santer said. These are going to generate a significant amount of taxes that will benefit the entire region. Augusta Township Trustee Keith Gipfert says he had concerns about the data centers intensive energy demands until he met with DTE Energy and the Ypsilanti Community Utilities Authority, the local water utility. He said both assured him there is adequate supply. He says the potential tax revenue from the data center would be useful for maintaining aging bridges the township would otherwise struggle to pay for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Matts feels township trustees pushed the zoning changes through too quickly. As hes been gathering petition signatures, he says many residents are unaware of the project. Having gone door to door now for the past week canvassing, a lot of the folks in our community are completely unaware that the data center is being proposed at all, Matts said. The proposal is still in the early stages. The formal site review process has not yet begun and it is uncertain what company or companies may contract with Thor once the facility begins operations. The referendum petition campaign, if successful, would give residents a chance to vote on Thors rezoning request themselves. Why a data center and why in August Township? As tech companies and governments around the world race to develop leading artificial intelligence tools, global demand for electricity to power data centers is projected to increase vastly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alongside private equity firms like Thor, tech companies including Amazon, Microsoft, Google and Meta, are collectively investing hundreds of billions of dollars in data center development. The U.S. Department of Energy has announced plans to establish public-private partnerships to begin operating data centers on department-owned land by 2027. The International Energy Agency in an April report projected that electricity demand for data centers worldwide is expected to more than double by 2030. The report says AI will be the most significant driver of this increase, with electricity demand from AI-optimized data centers projected to more than quadruple by 2030. Goldman Sachs in February forecast a 165% increase in global electricity demand for data centers by 2030. Santer says that in Michigan, larger data center developments became more economically feasible after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed significant tax exemptions for data centers into law last year. He says the Augusta Township site meets the three main requirements for successful data center development: power supply, water supply, and land in proximity to power transmission lines. So now, as a confluence of all those different factors, weve got opportunities to try and land some of these things in our community, Santer said. Russian occupation forces are deploying additional troops and equipment to the Orikhiv and Huliaipole fronts in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Source: Vladyslav Voloshyn, spokesperson for the Defence Forces of Ukraine's South, in a comment to Ukrinform news agency Quote from Voloshyn: "Intelligence data shows that the enemy is redeploying more forces and assets to Zaporizhzhia fronts: Orikhiv and Huliaipole." Details: Voloshyn reports that there is evidence of the deployment of regular equipment belonging to the Russian Airborne forces. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russian air defence systems downed seven Ukrainian drones en route to Russia's capital overnight and on Monday morning, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on his Telegram channel. Three people were killed in Ukrainian overnight drone attacks targeting the Tula and Nizhny Novgorod regions, as well as Moscow, Russia's regional official and the defence ministry said on Monday. (Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Gleb Stolyarov; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge) (NewsNation) As a meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin draws near, Ukraines Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of dragging out the war. Russia refuses to stop the killings, and therefore must not receive any rewards or benefits. And this is not just a moral position it is a rational one, Zelenskyy wrote on social media. Trump and Putin will meet Friday in Alaska, where the pair are slated to discuss ending Russias yearslong war in Ukraine. Zelenskyy could also join in the peace talks, a White House official told NewsNation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy: We will not let Russia deceive US Though the official said Trump remains open to a trilateral summit with both leaders, as of Monday, Ukraine was still on the outside looking in. In a Sunday address, Zelenskyy vowed his country wont let Russia deceive the United States, according to a translation released by his office. Of course, our team is working with the United States not a single day goes by without communication on how to ensure real peace, Zelenskyy said. We understand Russias intention to try to deceive America we will not allow this. I greatly value the determination with which President Trump is committed to bringing an end to the killings in this war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump may deploy National Guard in Washington, DC Leaders in Kyiv believe they should have a role in negotiations to determine the future of their country especially if the conversation is moving toward territorial swaps, as Trump has said. Moscows demands for ending the war include cementing Russias territorial gains and preventing Ukraine from joining NATO or hosting troops from the West. Ukraine has raised concerns that Russia will use Alaska to show face for negotiations but continue the war on the ground in an attempt to push deeper into Ukrainian territory and take more land. US should capitalize on drones in warfare strategy: Tech investor Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ahead of the meeting, attacks between Russia and Ukraine have not eased. The latest strikes hit Zaporizhzhia, one of the cities Russia has sought to control, with at least seven killed across Ukraine in the last day, local media reported. A Ukrainian drone attack killed one person and hurt two others in Russias Nizhny Novgorod, the regions governor said Monday. NewsNations Anna Kutz and Libbey Dean contributed to this report. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukrainian intelligence has no evidence that Russian troops have received orders to prepare for a post-war situation; on the contrary, they are planning offensive operations. Source: Zelenskyys evening address on 11 August Details: The president said he had heard a report from intelligence and military commanders on Monday 11 August about what Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin is hoping for and what he is actually preparing for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote from Zelenskyy: "This includes military preparations. He is definitely not preparing for a ceasefire or an end to the war. Putin is determined only to present the meeting with America as his personal victory and then to continue acting exactly as before, applying the same pressure on Ukraine as before. So far, there is no indication whatsoever that the Russians have received signals to prepare for a post-war situation. On the contrary, they are redeploying their troops and forces in ways that suggest preparations for new offensive operations." More details: Zelenskyy added that Ukraine continues to keep its partners informed about the real situation on the battlefield, in diplomacy, and in Russias planning for further actions. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Editor's note: This item has been updated with the latest casualty figures for the city of Zaporizhzhia. Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least seven civilians and injured at least 49 over the past day, regional authorities reported on Aug. 11. Russian forces launched 71 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy drones against Ukraine overnight, the Air Force reported. Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 59 Russian drones, while 12 drones hit six different locations. Fallen wreckage of a shot-down drone was also recorded in one area, according to the statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 22 people were injured on Aug. 10 when Russia struck the city of Zaporizhzhia with guided aerial bombs, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported. The first bomb hit a busy city bus station, while the second targeted a university medical clinic. In a separate Russian drone attack on Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a 66-year-old woman was injured in the village of Bilenke on the morning of Aug. 11, Fedorov said. Three people were injured in Russian attacks against Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Governor Serhii Lysak reported. A 63-year-old man was wounded during Russian artillery and drone attacks against the Nikopol district on Aug. 10, which also damaged a vacation resort, four cars, and a house. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further Russian attacks against the Nikopol district overnight injured a 52-year-old man and damaged more than a dozen houses and other buildings. A 31-year-old man was hospitalized after overnight attacks on the Synelnykove district, which also damaged two stores and a shop, Lysak said. In Donetsk Oblast, Russian attacks killed two civilians and injured 11, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin. Casualties included one person killed and two injured in Druzhkivka, one killed in Chernihivka, three injured in Bilozerske, and two injured in Kostiantynivka, Myrnohrad, and Ivanopillia each, according to the official. Russian attacks against Kharkiv Oblast killed one person and injured five, including a minor, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A man was killed and two women, aged 49 and 57, were injured during a Russian attack against the Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi village. An 18-year-old man was injured in the town of Kupiansk, a 67-year-old woman was injured in the village of Kozacha Lopan, and a 15-year-old boy was injured in the village of Pishchane, according to the governor. In Kherson Oblast, four people were killed and seven were injured in Russian attacks, according to the regional governor, Oleksandr Prokudin. Two apartment buildings and 30 houses were damaged. The strikes come as Moscow continues to refuse an unconditional ceasefire and escalates its drone attacks against Ukrainian residential areas and civilian infrastructure. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Ukrainian drones hit oil refinery 2,000 km from border in Russias Komi Republic, military intelligence confirms Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A directive on Monday by a Supreme Court bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, intended to address stray dog attacks in the National Capital Region (NCR), has ignited a firestorm of protest among Mumbais animal activists. The order mandates the shifting of all street dogs from residential areas into shelters within six to eight weeks and warned of strict action, including contempt proceedings, against any obstruction. It is being called impractical, unconstitutional, and a potential death sentence for even Mumbais canines. Such a judgment sets a precedent all over India, not just in Delhi. It emboldens people to act against animals, says Niloufer Irani, a Colaba activist and trustee of Animal Adoption & Care. Her concerns are echoed by Ashraf Hussain, another trustee based in Nepean Sea Road, who warns that this move could open the floodgates to illegal agencies mistreating and killing animals, because it confirms their existing biases against strays. The decision ignores the citys robust network of feeders who ensure dogs are vaccinated and nurtured, says Hussain. Mallika Kamodia, 28, a dog trainer and behaviourist from Marine Drive, also highlights the success of Mumbais existing Animal Birth Control (ABC) programmes. Most dogs in South Mumbai are vaccinated and neutered and we dont have too many bite incidents here, she says. Nandita Saigal, a rescuer from Mahim, adds, Healthy dogs do not belong in shelters. Those are already overpopulated and often poorly maintained. Sailesh Ghelani (49), a digital content professional from South Mumbai, questions the very premise of the courts reasoning. I dont believe dog bites are as common as they have made it out to be. Theres also a danger associated with regular train travel, but one wouldnt shut that down, he says, asserting that bites themselves are not the issue, rabies is. Vaccinated dogs will not spread rabies and this can easily be managed by the authorities, should they be so inclined, he says. Another model to counter any issues, as proposed by Mumbais activists, focuses on strengthening community efforts. This includes giving official government-recognised IDs to feeders, working with local NGOs, and implementing a widespread vaccinate and neuter programme. From a legal standpoint, the order is seen as regressive by some. Chetan Ramanand Sharma, a Delhi-based advocate and former Maharashtra animal welfare worker, explains that while the SC order for Delhi is not automatically binding on Mumbai, it could hold persuasive value. He argues that relocating animals amounts to cruelty and is prohibited under Section 11(1)(a) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Further, it offends the constitutional ethos of Article 51A(g), which mandates compassion for all living creatures. Sharma quotes Mahatma Gandhi, stating, The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. Indeed, a change.org petition dated August 9, urging the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to stop relocating sterilised and vaccinated community dogs, has resonated nationwide, drawing almost 30,500 signatures by the time of going to print. The consensus is that humane co-existence, backed by proper implementation of existing laws and greater public education, is the best path forward. As Saigal puts it, The wisest thing to do is to have a widespread programme to vaccinate and neuter. If this is allowed, whats next? Will we be asked to remove community cats, birds, trees? It sets a very worrying a precedent. A Russian attack damaged the External Crisis Centre of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) on 10 August. Source: Ukraine's Ministry of Energy Details: The Energy Ministry said that none of the employees had been injured, but the office building had been partially destroyed. "The External Crisis Centre is an integral part of the plant's safety system," the Ministry of Energy noted. "In a situation where the occupying authorities of the ZNPP are blocking the automatic transmission of data on the nuclear and radiation situation through the IAEA's IRMIS system, it is the specialised personnel of this centre who are continuously monitoring radiation levels in the observation zone within Ukrainian-controlled territory." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Energy Ministry also stressed that the only way to restore nuclear safety and stability in the region is the complete demilitarisation of the Zaporizhzhia NPP and its full return to the control of its legitimate operator, the National Nuclear Energy Generating Company Energoatom. Quote from Ukrainian Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk: "The attack on the infrastructure that monitors the radiation situation is further proof of the aggressor's irresponsible policy of disregarding all norms of international law. The Russians are once again proving that their actions pose a real threat to nuclear safety not only in Ukraine but also across the entire European continent." Background: On 10 August, Russian troops struck a bus station in Zaporizhzhia, injuring 20 people. Search and rescue operations have been completed. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Editor's note: This article has been updated to include the latest report from Ukraines General Staff. Russian forces have made a push toward the DobropilliaKramatorsk highway in Donetsk Oblast, seizing positions in nearby settlements to support further offensive operations, the Ukrainian battlefield monitoring group DeepState reported on Aug. 11. The updated map, compiled by DeepState through a mix of open-source data and testimonies from units on the ground, shows the grey zone touching the highway, which was used regularly by civilian and military traffic as recently as mid-July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dobropillia lies 94 kilometers northwest of Russian-occupied Donetsk, and about 22 kilometers north of the embattled city of Pokrovsk. Leveraging their numerical superiority, Russian forces have advanced into Kucheriv Yar, Zolotyi Kolodiaz, and Vesele, where they are reportedly consolidating positions for a renewed offensive and full occupation, according to DeepState. Russian troops are also attempting to establish a foothold in Petrivka and Novovodiane, on the other side of the highway. The Russian push, an extension of the Russian offensive between Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast that has been underway since spring, gained pace dramatically over August, bringing key Ukrainian logistics routes into the range of Russian first-person view (FPV) drones. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Piercing the Ukrainian defense far west of the main agglomeration of Ukrainian-controlled cities in Donetsk Oblast Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, and Kostiantynivka these latest gains threaten to severely compromise Kyiv's overall defense of the war-torn eastern region. New fortifications have been built around Zolotyi Kolodiaz, Shakhove, and nearby settlements positions that Russian forces are currently bypassing but may seize and repurpose for defensive use in future operations, DeepState said. "After final consolidation and accumulation, attempts to move deeper into the territory will be inevitable, and drone crews will be brought in, which will complicate the restructuring of alternative logistics and the maintenance of surrounding positions by Ukrainian forces," the report read. "With this development of events, if it does not change, we may encounter a situation where Dobropillia falls faster than Pokrovsk." The estimated Russian advance in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, as of Aug. 11, 2025, according to DeepState map. (DeepState / OpenStreetMaps) Ukraine's General Staff said in its evening update that Russian forces carried out 35 assaults in the Pokrovsk area on Aug. 11 . The heaviest fighting was reported near Poltavka, Popiv Yar, Mayak, Dorozhne, Nikanorivka, Kucheriv Yar, Nove Shakove, Novoeekonomichne, Sukhetske, Rodynske, Promin, Udachne, Lysivka, Zvirove, and Horikhove, with three battles still underway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The General Staff said Russian troops are exploiting their numerical advantage, attempting to "breach Ukrainian lines in small groups despite sustaining heavy losses." "The Commander-in-Chief has decided to deploy additional forces and resources to detect and destroy enemy sabotage groups that are penetrating the defense line," the announcement said. The Kyiv Independent could not immediately verify these reports. The press officers of two Ukrainian brigades known to be fighting in the area declined to comment on the situation. The news comes as Russia, facing the prospect of peace talks, has aimed to surge forward on the front line to put itself in the best position at a potential negotiating table. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The hottest parts of the front line remain in Donetsk Oblast, where Ukrainian brigades, all severely understrength in infantry, are battling to hold the line against a Russian attacking force that has learned to target weak points in the Ukrainian defense. Civilian evacuations from contested or occupied areas remain extremely dangerous, with Russian forces repeatedly accused of targeting non-combatants. Read also: Pokrovsk is the city of my childhood. Now I watch it die Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Bizarre footage has emerged from Russia and is circulating on social media showing whats claimed to be part of an experiment to integrate a counter-uncrewed aerial system (CUAS) interceptor drone on a MiG-29 Fulcrum fighter. On closer inspection, the quadcopter drone is lashed to the fighter using zip ties and, even if that werent the case, the practicality of the solution is extremely questionable to say the least. But it is certainly not the first example of a Russian weapons manufacturer creating an ultimately laughable PR stunt. Relevant for combat or just PR? Russia's Project Archangel is showing the "integration" of their CUAS interceptor drone with a fighter jet "so that the interceptor can be "piloted" by a jet fighter crew." But the drone is zip tied to the plane, so https://t.co/1cDyPcImGE pic.twitter.com/Oi3TIivs35 Samuel Bendett (@sambendett) August 10, 2025 The video was made by Project Archangel, a Russian volunteer group that has dedicated itself to the creation of UAVs, mostly of the first-person view (FPV) type. These kinds of drones have become a signature weapon of the war in Ukraine, widely used by both sides, and with an increasing array of different launch platforms. The footage shows one of Archangels quadcopter interceptor drones mounted under the outer wing of a Russian Aerospace Forces MiG-29SMT (izdeliye 9.19R). The jury-rigged installation involves the drone being attached to a sensor housing the jets radar warning receiver system, held secure there by commercial-type zip ties. Clearly, there is no way for the jet to actually launch the drone with this kind of setup, and clearing a drone for air-launch would require extensive trials, regardless. The Archangel drone is attached to the radar warning sensor under the wing of the MiG-29SMT, using a pair of zip ties. via X There is nothing to indicate the drone would survive the rigors of high-speed jet flight especially given that its fitted with four vulnerable propellers. In fact, its doubtful if the jet would even be able to safely take off with a drone fixed to it in this manner. Then there is the very real possibility that it might interfere with the host aircrafts self-protection system, which it is attached to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Otherwise, the video shows a member of the Archangel team sitting in the cockpit of the Fulcrum. It concludes with a takeoff by a Flanker-series fighter, with no evidence that this aircraft is fitted with an interceptor drone. The glass cockpit of the MiG-29SMT, provided with two MFI-68 displays. via X The date and location of the video are not disclosed, but its worth noting that the Russian Ministry of Defense ordered a batch of just 14 MiG-29SMT (9.19R) fighters in 2014, making use of uncompleted airframes at Mikoyans Moscow factory. They were delivered to the training base at Privolzhsky near Astrakhan and are not known to have seen any combat use in Ukraine. A Russian Ministry of Defense video shows MiG-29 training at Privolzhsky Air Base: The precise relationship between Project Archangel and the Russian Armed Forces is not entirely clear, but the group is one of several that have been set up since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with the aim of rapidly producing large numbers of FPV drones, harnessing commercial expertise and manufacturing capacity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back in late 2023, drone expert Samuel Bendett postulated that Project Archangel was receiving Russian Ministry of Defense funding, as it increasingly embraced the opportunities offered by private initiatives of this type. In the past, Archangel has claimed that its quadcopter interceptor drone can reach a speed of up to 350 kilometers per hour (217 miles per hour) and fly over a distance of 50 kilometers (31 miles). These claims have not been verified. However, counter-air drones have to fly faster and higher than their standard FPV counterparts used for striking ground targets. The Russians has created Archangel interceptor drones to destroy UAVs and naval drones. It is claimed that the drone exists in 4 modifications, develops a speed of up to 350 km/h and has a range of 50 km. Equipped with a warhead from 650 to 2,500 grams. pic.twitter.com/2gV8TTKpIE MAKS 25 (@Maks_NAFO_FELLA) August 11, 2025 As for the groups latest claim, it states that its working to integrate interceptor drones directly onto fighter jets. In a statement on its Telegram channel, Archangel says: After a long search for the ideal location for our guided interceptors (which, incidentally, is still ongoing), we decided to place the interceptor on MiGs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement continues: Of course, the aircraft itself moves a little faster than our drones cruising speed, but it can deliver the interceptor directly to Kyiv or Lviv. This is an entirely unrealistic aspiration, not least considering the extensive Ukrainian air defense threats concentrated on these locations, which Russian fighters do not operate even near. Even approaching the front is a very dangerous game for fighters at this time. Putting aside the fact that the drone, using the installation illustrated, is entirely immobile on the aircraft, its by no means clear how it would be operated if it were able to be released. The communication issue has been resolved in a radical way, Archangel claims. In order not to rack our brains over the technical part, we simply trained our crew to fly a fighter jet. A member of the Archangel team in front of the Fulcrum-mounted drone. via X The final statement, which suggests that drone operators would be retrained to fly a complex and extremely expensive fighter jet, is frankly implausible. At the same time, it also stretches credibility that the pilot of any single-seat fighter would be able to manually direct a drone to slam into a moving target, especially an aerial one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After all, the vast majority of FPV drones that go after moving targets or targets of opportunity are equipped with man-in-the-loop control. This means someone is manually flying (or more like directing) these weapons in real time and selecting their targets, normally using a headset. It also requires a continuous line-of-sight datalink between the drone and its controller. FPV drones that are not controlled in this manner are assigned to hit fixed targets, basically a set of coordinates on the map, which would be irrelevant for the drone-interception mission. For now, we can say with confidence that there is next to no chance of Russia using fighter jets to send interceptor drones into battle against hostile UAS in the skies over Ukraine any time soon. That said, theres no doubt that Russia is increasingly looking at the potential for using drones to intercept other hostile drones. The Vogan-9SP counter-drone interceptor. The drone also has a quadcopter configuration, with not all propellers fitted here. Russian state media Meanwhile, there are certainly moves to develop air-launched FPVs, as well as loitering munitions, and more advanced air launched effects (ALEs), with a degree of blurring between the definitions of these. Ultimately, these will become a more common capability on a range of aircraft types, but this effort from Archangel is clearly highly aspirational at best. Whether strapping an interceptor drone to an antenna on a MiG-29 might help boost Project Archangels profile is questionable. But it does underscore the fact that defenses against drones are a very high-profile issue in Russia. Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin will hold a high-stakes meeting about the Ukraine war on Friday in Alaska, which the United States bought from Russia more than 150 years ago. Russian influence still endures in parts of the remote state on the northwest edge of the North American continent, which extends just a few miles from Russia. - Former Russian colony - When Danish explorer Vitus Bering first sailed through the narrow strait that separates Asia and the Americas in 1728, it was on an expedition for Tsarist Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The discovery of what is now known as the Bering Strait revealed the existence of Alaska to the West -- however Indigenous people had been living there for thousands of years. Bering's expedition kicked off a century of Russian seal hunting, with the first colony set up on the southern Kodiak island. In 1799, Tsar Paul I established the Russian-American Company to take advantage of the lucrative fur trade, which often involved clashes with the Indigenous inhabitants. However the hunters overexploited the seals and sea otters, whose populations collapsed, taking with them the settlers' economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian empire sold the territory to Washington for $7.2 million in 1867. The purchase of an area more than twice the size of Texas was widely criticized in the US at the time, even dubbed "Seward's folly" after the deal's mastermind, secretary of state William Seward. - Languages and churches - The Russian Orthodox Church established itself in Alaska after the creation of the Russian-American Company, and remains one of the most significant remaining Russian influences in the state. More than 35 churches, some with distinctive onion-shaped domes, dot the Alaskan coast, according to an organization dedicated to preserving the buildings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alaska's Orthodox diocese says it is the oldest in North America, and even maintains a seminary on Kodiak island. A local dialect derived from Russian mixed with Indigenous languages survived for decades in various communities -- particularly near the state's largest city Anchorage -- though it has now essentially vanished. However near the massive glaciers on the southern Kenai peninsula, the Russian language is still being taught. A small rural school of an Orthodox community known as the "Old Believers" set up in the 1960s teaches Russian to around a hundred students. - Neighbors - Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the most famous statements about the proximity of Alaska and Russia was made in 2008 by Sarah Palin, the state's then-governor -- and the vice-presidential pick of Republican candidate John McCain. "They're our next-door neighbors, and you can actually see Russia from land here in Alaska, from an island in Alaska," Palin said. While it is not possible to see Russia from the Alaskan mainland, two islands facing each other in the Bering Strait are separated by just 2.5 miles (four kilometers). Russia's Big Diomede island is just west of the American Little Diomede island, where a few dozen people live. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Further south, two Russians landed on the remote St. Lawrence island -- which is a few dozen miles from the Russian coast -- in October, 2022 to seek asylum. They fled just weeks after Putin ordered an unpopular mobilization of citizens to boost his invasion of Ukraine. For years, the US military has said it regularly intercepts Russian aircraft that venture too close to American airspace in the region. However Russia is ostensibly not interested in reclaiming the territory it once held, with Putin saying in 2014 that Alaska is "too cold". ube/dl/st Baku may consider lifting its ban on supplying Ukraine with weapons from its arsenal if Russia continues targeting Azerbaijani interests in Ukraine, Azerbaijani outlet Caliber.Az reported on Aug. 10, citing unnamed sources. The reported shift follows a series of Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure linked to Azerbaijan. In the latest attack overnight on Aug. 8, Russian forces launched five Shahed drones at a SOCAR oil depot in Odesa Oblast, sparking a fire and damaging a diesel pipeline. Four SOCAR employees were seriously injured, according to news reports. The strike marked the second recent Russian attack on Azerbaijani-linked facilities in Ukraine. In late June, Russian forces targeted a gas distribution station near Orlivka, a key part of the Trans-Balkan pipeline, through which Azerbaijani gas began flowing into Ukraine following a July 28 deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Caliber.Az said Russian forces had "systematically" struck Azerbaijani energy facilities in Ukraine in recent weeks, warning that such actions could trigger a policy reversal in Baku on weapons exports to Kyiv. Azerbaijan has so far refrained from supplying arms to Ukraine during the full-scale war. Read also: Arrests, raids, beaten and bloodied suspects how Russia-Azerbaijan relations have unravelled The possible policy shift was reportedly discussed during an Aug. 10 phone call between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. The two leaders condemned the strikes and discussed bilateral energy cooperation. "These are deliberate attacks not only on these facilities, but also on our cooperation," Zelensky said after the call. "President Aliyev assured me, and this is also Ukraines position, that we will continue cooperation despite any challenges." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Azerbaijan and Ukraine have maintained close energy and trade ties for years, with Kyiv importing Azerbaijani oil and gas and SOCAR expanding its investments in Ukraines fuel infrastructure. Before Russias full-scale invasion in February 2022, Baku also supplied Ukraine with certain military equipment, including drones and armored vehicles. Since the start of the all-out war, however, Azerbaijan has officially maintained a policy of not providing lethal aid to either side, while offering humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, such as providing energy equipment, financial aid, and infrastructure support, with the value of assistance exceeding $40 million as of mid-2025. Read also: New study warns Ukraine must break up old business order to thrive post-war Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. DeepState, a Ukrainian group of military analysts, has reported that Russian troops have intensified their advance in the direction of Dobropillia in recent days, particularly with regard to their attempts to gain a foothold near the Dobropillia-Kramatorsk road. Source: DeepState Details: DeepState reported that the Russians, who benefit from a greater number of infantry, have entered the settlements of Kucheriv Yar and Zolotyi Kolodiaz, where they are building up forces for a further offensive. The Russians have advanced from Kucheriv Yar to the village of Vesele, where about 20 Russian servicemen have been spotted over the past day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Russian units are attempting to advance in the area of Novovodiane and Petrivka, looking for weak points in the defence so that they can reach the Dobropillia-Kramatorsk road. Quote: "The situation is fairly chaotic because the enemy, having found gaps in the defence, is moving deeper, trying to quickly gain a foothold and amassing troops in order to advance further, while some people in the command of a particular brigade either don't understand the extent of the problem or are presenting the situation as under control', in that they've all been killed, they've all been repelled'. But the soldiers who are actually holding the line and trying to understand what's going on don't agree." More details: New engineering and fortification structures have been erected in the area of Zolotyi Kolodiaz, Shakhove and neighbouring settlements, but soldiers say the enemy could bypass them and use them for their own defence. DeepState warns that if the Russians gain a foothold in the captured villages and the offensive continues, there is a risk of Dobropillia falling sooner than Pokrovsk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote: "The enemy already has pre-determined endpoints to reach, and today they are carrying out their plans, attempting to fully occupy Zolotyi Kolodiaz, Kucheriv Yar, Vesele and other settlements. After they finally gain a foothold and amass forces, they will make attempts to move deep into the territory, and they will also deploy drone crews, which will make it harder for the defence forces to restructure alternative logistics and hold the surrounding positions. Given this development, unless things change, we could be looking at the possibility of Dobropillia falling sooner than Pokrovsk." Updated: Later, the Dnipro Operational Strategic Group reported that in this sector the Russians are trying to infiltrate in small groups past the first line of Ukrainian positions. They called on people "not to spread information from unverified or poorly informed sources". Quote: "The infiltration of such groups, while requiring the deployment of reserves to destroy them, does not constitute 'taking control of territory'. A lack of understanding of this has repeatedly led to mistakes in analysing the situation and in public discussions in the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration area. Undoubtedly, the situation is and remains difficult, and the fighting in this area is the most intense compared with other sectors of the line of contact. Nevertheless, Ukrainian forces are making maximum efforts to ensure that even those Russian groups which have managed to infiltrate through the first line are destroyed in the shortest possible time." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why this matters: The expansion of the salient created by Russian forces along the Pokrovsk-Kostiantynivka road and extended north to Zolotyi Kolodiaz and Novovodiane effectively means the final loss of this route. It was the main transport artery between the cities until June 2025, but it was closed following large-scale Russian drone attacks on civilian and military transport. In addition, this salient poses a serious threat to Dobropillia, a large city around which an eastern pincer is forming to encircle the city, as well as to the still-passable roads leading to it. Due to the rapid advance of Russian forces, the distance to one of the key roads has been reduced to 10 kilometres, which, given the active use of FPV drones, represents a significant danger. Previously: On 11 August, DeepState reported that the Russians have occupied the village of Zatyshok in the Pokrovsk district of Donetsk Oblast and have advanced near four other settlements in the area. Read more: Russia's summer frontline offensive: where will they advance, and what factors weaken the Ukrainian defence forces' positions? Background: On 29 July, a company commander operating on the Pokrovsk front told Ukrainska Pravda, as did other sources familiar with the situation in the area, that the Russian salient along the Pokrovsk-Kostiantynivka road is rapidly extending northwards towards Dobropillia, posing a threat of encirclement of Ukrainian forces near Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad. The military were calling for the high command to pay attention to this. In May 2025, Russian forces broke through past the Pokrovsk-Kostiantynivka road in the area of Malynivka-Nova Poltavka-Novooleynivka and created a dangerous salient, which is over 10 kilometres long and roughly the same in width. It lies equidistant from Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka, posing the risk of a Russian advance on both cities at once. As of 11 August, the length of this salient stands at 23 kilometres. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Ukraine may ultimately have to accept de facto Russian control over parts of its occupied territory as part of a future peace agreement, he said in an interview with ABC on Aug. 10. "The question will be how to go forward past a ceasefire, including what it means in terms of security guarantees for Ukraine," Rutte said. "When it comes to this whole issue of territory, when it comes to acknowledging, for example, maybe in a future deal that Russia is controlling de facto, factually some of the territory of Ukraine, it has to be effectual recognition, and not a political de jure recognition," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement comes as U.S. President Donald Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Aug. 15 to discuss ending Russia's war in Ukraine. "Next Friday will be important because it will be about testing Putin, how serious he is on bringing this terrible war to an end," Rutte said. "When it comes to full-scale negotiations, and lets hope that Friday will be an important step in that process. ... It will be about territory. It will be, of course, about security guarantees, but also about the absolute need to acknowledge that Ukraine decides on its own future, that Ukraine has to be a sovereign nation, deciding on its own geopolitical future of course, having no limitations on its own military troop levels. And for NATO, to have no limitations on our presence on the eastern flank," Rutte added. Russia has issued maximalist demands to Kyiv in previous direct peace talks, including that Ukraine give up its NATO aspirations and demilitarize, as well as withdraw troops from four oblasts partially occupied by Russia Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Months earlier, U.S. attempts to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia failed. Kyiv and Moscow later held three rounds of direct peace talks in Istanbul, which were largely inconclusive. In direct talks, Ukraine and Russia agreed to several prisoner exchanges, but progress toward a ceasefire was not made amid Russia's maximalist demands. 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 once the deadline passed. Read also: Mobilization gridlock: How politics, policy, and public opinion are shaping Ukraines war effort Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has rejected the idea that a future US-mediated agreement could ultimately reward Russian leader Vladimir Putin for his invasion of Ukraine. Source: Rutte speaking on ABC News, as reported by European Pravda Details: Rutte was commenting on the position of former US National Security Advisor John Bolton, who criticised Trumps approach to relations with Putin. Quote from Bolton: "I think Trump has made some mistakes already, number one in holding this meeting on American soil, legitimising a pariah leader of the rogue state. Second, he's allowed Putin to get first-mover advantage by putting his peace plan on the table first." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Quote from Rutte: "No, I don't think the risk [of rewarding Russia for the invasion] is there. And all my respect for John, and please send him my best regards. But I would not agree on this point with him." Details: Rutte said Trump is putting incredible pressure on Russia. Quote from Rutte: "What happened last week; the extra 25% tariffs on India, because we know that India is one of the biggest buyers of oil and other material from Russia. And this has had a huge impact potentially on the Indian economy, and this is forcing them to be much more clear with Moscow on what they expect Putin to do when it comes to this war in Ukraine." "But also the fact that he opened the floodgates again when it comes to lethal weapons being delivered into Ukraine paid by the Europeans but delivered by the Americans. So this is all clear evidence that President Trump is absolutely adamant to bring this war to an end but also to keep maximum pressure on Putin." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Background: The Trump-Putin meeting is scheduled to take place in Alaska on 15 August amid media reports that Washington and Moscow are apparently seeking an agreement to end the war in Ukraine that could lock in Russia's occupation of part of its territory. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that "the answer to the Ukrainian territorial question is already in the Constitution of Ukraine". On the night of 9-10 August, a joint statement addressed to Trump and Putin was released by the leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Poland and the UK, the president of the European Commission and the president of Finland. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! (FOX40.COM) Sacramento police attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a vehicle in North Sacramento, which led to a pursuit on Sunday afternoon. Video above: How to report a public safety threat According to SPD, officers tried to pull over a vehicle around 4:30 p.m. in the area of Arcade and Rio Linda Boulevard. After the vehicle failed to stop, a pursuit was started. Firefighters battle vegetation fire in Yuba County; evacuation orders issued Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect fled from the vehicle on foot near the 3100 block of Callecita Street, which is when a perimeter was established by the officers, SPD said. Police said the suspect has an active felony warrant. This is a developing story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News. SALTVILLE, Va. (WJHL) The Saltville Police Department arrested a Southwest Virginia man and charged him with numerous crimes against children. According to a news release, Steven Fleenor, 20, of Pound, was arrested after an investigation involving Saltville police, the Wise County Sheriffs Office and the United States Marshals Service. THP: North Carolina man leads pursuit through Johnson, Sullivan counties Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fleenor was reportedly arrested without incident and charged with the following: Object sexual penetration Taking indecent liberties with a minor 3 counts of abduction 3 counts of displaying grooming materials to a child 3 counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor As of Monday, Fleenor was being held in a Southwest Virginia Regional Jail facility. These charges represent some of the most serious crimes in our community, Saltville Police Chief Bryan Lynch stated in the release. I am deeply proud of the hard work and determination shown by the officers of the Saltville Police Department and our partners. Their tireless efforts ensured that a dangerous individual is now in custody. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. BEL AIR, Md. (AP) A fugitive from El Salvador has been sentenced to life without parole in the 2023 killing of a Maryland woman who was attacked while exercising on a popular hiking trail northeast of Baltimore. Victor Martinez-Hernandez, 24, was found guilty of first-degree murder and first-degree rape, among other offenses, following a jury trial earlier this year. Prosecutors alleged he was carrying out a planned attack when he grabbed Rachel Morin off the trail, bashed her head against nearby rocks, raped her and concealed her body in a drainage culvert. . During a hearing Monday in Maryland state court, Harford County Circuit Court Judge Yolanda Curtin sentenced Martinez-Hernandez to life in prison without the possibility of parole, according to Randolph Rice, an attorney representing Morins relatives. The judge also imposed an additional life sentence, plus 40 years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While no sentence can bring Rachel back, the Morin family takes comfort in knowing justice has been done, Rice said in a statement. Martinez-Hernandez was accused of entering the United States illegally after allegedly killing another woman in his home country. Authorities said he was also linked to a 2023 home invasion in Los Angeles. Prosecutors used DNA evidence to connect him to the deadly attack on Morin in August 2023. Detectives collected DNA from several places on Morins body and matched it to Martinez-Hernandez. He was arrested last summer in Oklahoma but had been living in Bel Air, Maryland, around the time of Morins death, prosecutors said. The attack sent shock waves through Bel Air, a suburban community northeast of Baltimore. It also became a flashpoint in the 2024 presidential election campaign as Donald Trump called for increased border security and mass deportations of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Morin, 37, left behind five children. A fitness enthusiast, she would often exercise on the Ma & Pa Heritage Trail, which follows parts of an old railroad line that ran between Maryland and Pennsylvania. Several of her family members spoke during Mondays hearing about how their lives have been impacted by her death. SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage) United States Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Bernard Acosta, a native of San Angelo, is assigned to the USS Virginia, homeported at Naval Submarine Base New London. Acostas story was posted by Rick Burke, Navy Office of Community Outreach. Acosta is part of a small percentage of Navy personnel who serve under the sea to help ensure Americans safety which is known as a submariner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Acosta graduated from Fairview Alternative High School in Wall, Texas, in 2016 reported Burke. He compared the skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in San Angelo. I learned that if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything, Acosta said. Learning how to strive in a small town really helped me to adapt and overcome and realize that opportunities were there. Acosta joined the Navy four years ago. Today, Acosta serves as an information systems technician (communications) aboard USS Virginia, a Virginia-class fast-attack submarine reported Burke. I joined the Navy to have stability for my family, Acosta said. I have a wife and three kids, and I wanted to leave home because I wanted more opportunities than were available to me. I also wanted to explore the world and see what else was out there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Acosta has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service. My proudest accomplishment is earning the rank of petty officer first class in four years, receiving my dolphins, or submarine warfare device, and guiding my division to their success as the radio leading petty officer, Acosta said. My rank is the result earned from hard work. Ive joined the 1% of the 1% being qualified in submarines, and I have a successful division. One of my personal goals is to become a chief petty officer in seven years. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ConchoValleyHomepage.com. This article was originally published in EdSource. The San Francisco Unified School District announced that it is rolling out a new math curriculum for grades K-8 this school year. According to a statement from the district, the newly adopted materials focus on three key areas: solving math problems accurately; understanding the why behind the math; and learning how to apply math in everyday life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related Being Bad at Math is a Pervasive Concept. Can it Be Banished From Schools? Get stories like this delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter San Francisco Unified has set a goal of increasing the percentage of eighth grade students meeting grade-level expectations from 42% in 2022 to 65% by 2027. This new curriculum was piloted last year by 84 middle school teachers and 160 elementary teachers. Early results were promising, the district said. San Franciscos public schools are focused on helping every student build confidence and competence in math to be set up for lifelong success, Superintendent Maria Su said in the statement. SFUSDs math curriculum had received heavy criticism and was even the subject of a ballot measure last year. Voters supported an effort to teach algebra in eighth grade. Previously, the district pushed algebra to ninth grade in an effort to improve equity and eliminate tracking students into different math paths at the middle school level. Related San Francisco Voters Overwhelmingly Support Algebras Return to 8th Grade BAMAKO, Mali (AP) The Malian military government on Monday started returning home the historic manuscripts of Timbuktu, which were spirited out of their fabled northern city when it was occupied by al-Qaida-linked militants more than a decade ago. Islamic radicals destroyed more than 4,000 manuscripts, some dating back to the 13th century, after they seized Timbuktu in 2012, according to the findings of a United Nations expert mission. They also destroyed nine mausoleums and a mosques door all but one of the buildings on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The majority of the documents dating back to the 13th century more than 27,000 were saved by the devotion of the Timbuktu librarys Malian custodians, who carried them out of the occupied city in rice sacks, on donkey carts, by motorcycle, by boat and four-wheel drive vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first batch of the manuscripts were brought to Timbuktu by plane from the capital of Bamako, authorities said, adding that the return was necessary to protect them from the threats of Bamakos humidity. The shipment consisted of more than 200 crates and weighed some 5.5 tons. The rest would be shipped in the coming days, officials said. About 706 kilometers (439 miles) from Bamako, Timbuktu sits on the edge of the Sahara desert and has a dry climate. For years, the local municipal and religious authorities have asked for the return of the manuscripts. Diahara Toure, Timbuktus deputy mayor, said the famous documents are important to the local people as they "reflect our civilization and spiritual and intellectual heritage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is the first stage" of the return, said Bilal Mahamane Traore, a local official. In February, the military government made a commitment to return the manuscripts, according to Bourema Kansaye, the Malian Minister of Higher Education. He described them as as a legacy that bears witness to the intellectual greatness and crossroads of civilization of the city of Timbuktu a bridge between the past and the future. We now have a responsibility to protect, digitize, study, and promote these treasures so that they continue to enlighten Mali, Africa, and the world, Kansaye said during Monday's return ceremony. The manuscripts, which UNESCO has designated as part of the World Cultural Heritage, cover a myriad subjects, from Islamic theology and jurisprudence, astronomy, medicine, mathematics, history, and geography. They are a testimony to the rich cultural heritage of the Mali and Songhai empires in West Africa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mali, along with neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger, has long battled an insurgency by armed militants, including some allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Following two military coups, the ruling junta expelled French troops and instead turned to Russia for security assistance. Still, 13 years after the occupation of Timbuktu, the security situation in Mali remains precarious and analysts say it has worsened in recent months. Although the city is back under government control, militants continue attacking its surroundings, including as recently as last month. ___ APs Africa coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/africa Rep. Nancy Mace holds town hall in Rock Hill, addresses key issues South Carolina Representative and gubernatorial candidate Nancy Mace held a town hall in Rock Hill Monday evening. She addressed multiple issues, including the possibility of expanding Medicare and illegal immigration in South Carolina. READ MORE: Rep. Nancy Mace launches campaign for SC governor When asked about why she felt she was qualified for the job, Mace said she would do more for residents than the other candidates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As governor, I will do everything to protect every single South Carolinian. I will take on the AG; I will take on... not doing their job and not prosecuting criminals, said Mace. Mace is one of five Republican candidates who have announced their bid for governor. Democrats have yet to announce a decision to run. The South Carolina gubernatorial election is in November of next year. VIDEO: Viral videos show exchange between Rep. Mace, man in SC store COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSAV) South Carolina Representative Robert John RJ May resigned from the states House of Representatives in a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House on Aug. 7. The letter was received by the South Carolina Statehouse Monday. WSAV obtained a copy of the letter. May was arrested and indicted in June on counts of distributing child sex abuse material. SC Rep. RJ May facing 10 counts of child sex charges, bond denied Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the letter he said, Dear Mr. Speaker, I have decided that it is in the best interest of my family and constituents to resign immediately from the South Carolina House of Representatives. Please accept this letter as my formal resignation from the South Carolina House of Representatives. It has been an honor to serve the people of District 88. May represented House District 88 in Lexington County since 2021. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. State Sen. Roger Nutt, a Spartanburg County Republican, addresses his colleagues in the Senate after being sworn into office during the chamber's organizational session on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024 at the Statehouse in Columbia. (Photo by Mary Ann Chastain/Special to the SC Daily Gazette) COLUMBIA State Sen. Roger Nutt resigned his Upstate seat Monday after being diagnosed with Alzheimers disease, the Moore Republican said in a news release. Rep. Bobby Cox, a Greer Republican, has announced he will run for Nutts seat representing parts of Spartanburg and Greenville counties. To do so, Cox also resigned Monday from his House seat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nutt, a 59-year-old father of three, spent a decade on the Spartanburg County Council before winning a seat in the House in the 2020 election. He was elected to the Senate last November after emerging as the victor of a contentious, four-way GOP primary for an open seat. Rep. Roger Nutt, R-Moore. (Provided by Roger Nutt) Nutt had been receiving medical treatment for what he believed were symptoms of long COVID, in which symptoms of the virus linger after the infection itself has ended. Doctors instead determined that Nutt had neurodegenerative disorder Alzheimers disease, according to a news release. While we are saddened by this news, we will face this trial with faith in the grace of God that has sustained our lives, our marriage and my career in public service for nearly 15 years, Nutt said in a statement. Following the resignation, the Senate set the dates of an election to fill Nutts seat, as per the timing rules in state law: Filing will open Aug. 29. Party primaries (if needed) will be Oct. 21. The special election will be Dec. 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was deeply saddened to learn of Senator Nutts resignation and the circumstances that led to his decision, Senate President Thomas Alexander said in a statement with the election schedule. In the time I had the privilege to serve alongside him, I was struck by his knowledge, tireless work ethic, and unwavering commitment to his constituents. Voters sent Nutt to the Senate to replace Sen. Scott Talley of Spartanburg, who opted not to seek a third term. Nutt said Talley asked him to run, but others wanting the seat included former Sen. Lee Bright, a firebrand Republican who lost his reelection bid to Talley in 2016. Bright placed first in the four-way primary last June, but Nutt ultimately defeated Bright in the runoff by fewer than 150 votes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While in the House, Nutt voted with the Freedom Caucus much of the time, but he didnt want to join the ultra-conservative group that split off from the main Republican Caucus out of fear of limiting his options, he said ahead of last years primary runoff. During this years session in the Senate, Nutt sponsored a bill that would allow nursing home residents to select one person allowed to continue visiting in case of an emergency, such as another pandemic. Even in South Carolina, COVID-19 rules kept loved ones locked out from nursing homes for more than a year. The bill passed the Senate unanimously but didnt get a hearing in the House at least, not this year. Legislators can still take it up after returning to the Statehouse in January. It is hard to describe how much I have enjoyed my time in the Senate, Nutt wrote in his letter. Serving in the Senate has been a dream come true, and I am so proud to be a small part of this great Body. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nutt encouraged Cox to run as his replacement, Cox wrote in a Facebook post Monday. The election for Coxs seat will take place at the same time as the special election for Nutts seat. It will also be the same day voters in Lexington County replace Rep. RJ May. Though written last Thursday, Mays resignation was received Monday from jail, where hes being held without bond on charges of distributing child sexual abuse material. Cox, first elected to the House in 2018, said he resigned the same day as Nutt to prevent the cost of multiple special elections. This decision will save taxpayer dollars, ensure the people of Greenville and Spartanburg Counties are not without representation for months in 2026, and allow me to fully dedicate myself to earning the trust of the voters for this next chapter of service, Cox wrote. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX State Superintendent Ryan Walters leads a meeting of the Oklahoma State Board of Education on April 24, 2025, at the Oklahoma State Department of Education in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) Schools start up again this week for hundreds of thousands of Oklahoma students, and our public classrooms are in the throes of a massive teacher shortage. Our children return from summer breaks suffering from some of the highest rates of adverse childhood experiences related to abuse, neglect and mental health struggles. Many of them are hungry. And theyre not excelling in school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the adults whose job is championing strategies to improve our kids futures are too busy bickering about their own adverse adult experience involving images of nude women shown on Superintendent Ryan Walters office television. In their quest to defend their honor and tarnish someone elses to prove theyre the wounded party in this debacle, they all seem to have forgotten who theyre supposed to be serving: our children. Everybody that doesnt live in a happy bubble knows that our school children today are dealing with worse things than a little shared nudity among adults. I suspect some children have probably dealt with worse in the month. After all, theyre continually facing the threat of school shootings. Ours is a state that experiences high rates of domestic violence, high poverty rates, low health care outcomes, and high rates of childhood hunger. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weve experienced a recent drop to 50th in the country in education quality. We rank 48th worst in per pupil spending, investing a pitiful $11,349 per student. Our teacher pay is 38th worst in the country, about $2,300 below the regional average. But instead of focusing on those struggles, were witnessing the bitter implosion of a seven-member governing board that is supposed to be working together to advocate for policies that chart a better path forward for our children. Weve got a state superintendent and members of the board who have embarked on a bizarre crusade to prove theyre the true victims here. Meanwhile, an initial probe released by Republican House Speaker Kyle Hilbert indicates that this brouhaha may boil down to adults being exposed to a little-remembered, R-rated Jackie Chan Hollywood flick that had scenes featuring fully nude women. Hilbert said his findings seem to vindicate both Walters and the board members and these images werent shown intentionally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If anything, Hilberts findings make this situation seem even more absurd. Why was this board even watching TV in the first place during a closed-door meeting? They were supposed to be considering high-stakes matters that impact students, families, teacher licenses and schools. The television shouldnt have been on, and the fact that it was makes me wonder if anyone is actually taking their responsibilities seriously. But instead of taking responsibility for that blunder, two education board members last week decided the best course of action was to dump gasoline on this dumpster fire by firing off a statement that included what we saw on TV is content that would get the certificate of any teacher in this state revoked had it showed up on a classroom TV. Here we go again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not exactly shocking that a governing board that stripped one teachers license for providing high school students with a way to access an online library catalog that contains banned books would threaten the same punishment for another educator showing R-rated movies to people over 17. Is it any wonder that qualified teachers are fleeing to Texas or exiting the profession in droves? I attended high school in a high-performing district in Texas. I occasionally viewed R-rated movies like The Patriot, and those teachers didnt have their livelihoods threatened. Maybe if Republican leadership stood up with the same gusto to Walters agenda that directly impacts students when it comes time to set academic standards or invest millions on Bible class in public schools we could take them seriously. Its clear that the losers here are our public schools and the roughly 700,000 children that rely on them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its unfortunate that this debacle has distracted from that. When Gov. Kevin Stitt ousted three State Board of Education members in February, he said he was sick of the panel driving up needless political drama. If we want to be the best state for business, we need to make sure our kids have a path to success, he said at the time. Its time for some fresh eyes and a renewed focus on our top ten goals. In a rare occurrence, I wholeheartedly agreed with the governor. Id been looking forward to seeing what fresh ideas this board has to offer because what were doing isnt moving the needle in the right direction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maybe the Board of Education needs to go back to school. Is this the best we can do? Im waiting for someone, anyone, to step up, show some leadership and remember what really matters here. Our children. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Isle of Man school leaders have voted in favour of taking action short of strike in a row over what a union says is the "misuse of disciplinary procedures". A ballot undertaken by the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) saw a 62% turnout, in which 69% voted in favour of industrial action which will take place at the start of the school year. In May, Rob Kelsall, the union's assistant general secretary, wrote to government chief executive Mark Lewin outlining the union's concerns over alleged "bullying and intimidation of school leaders". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Department of Education, Sport and Culture has previously said that it "completely refutes" the claims. The union said the action would include "refusing to engage with the department other than around safeguarding issues". 'Extensive negotiations' This would include declining to carry out additional duties, participate in governors' meetings, or undertake administrative or clerical tasks, as well as not participating in surveys or audits. The formal postal ballot ran between 7 July and 11 August. Mr Kelsall said it was "not a step any head teacher wants to take and it is not a decision that has been taken lightly". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The action was about "standing up for the safety, dignity, and fair treatment of members in the face of disgraceful treatment by the education department". The union had been in "extensive negotiations" with the government's chief executive to try and "reconcile our differences" but "remain some distance apart on key aspects," he continued. "We remain ready to hold further discussions with the Isle of Man government to resolve these issues" he said, adding the ball was now in the Chief Minister's court. The union has raised four areas of concern which were the victimisation of its members, repeated breaches of the fairness at work policy, misuse of disciplinary procedures for teachers and breaches of the code of conduct of public servants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Department of Education, Sport and Culture spokesman previously said it would work "constructively" with the union to "avoid any disruption" and remained "committed to finding a fair an sustainable solution." 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. More like this story Related internet links The big story: Schools back in session. Todays the first day allowed in state law for public school classes to resume, and most districts in Florida are taking advantage, as USA Today Florida Network reports. Be sure to plan your drives accordingly. The buses will be on their routes, as will many more teen drivers, and cameras are monitoring many school zones for speeders. Some districts are in need of more crossing guards at busy intersections, Bay News 9 reports. So dont forget these key rules of the road, as WTXL reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are plenty of changes taking place this year, including new schools, plenty of principal shifts, updated rules on student cellphone use and more. Read more here. Hot topics Acceleration: A North Port teen is the University of South Floridas youngest summer graduate at 17. Charter schools: Two Hernando County charter school groups are merging their operations, Hernando Sun reports. Enrollment: Miami-Dade County schools continue to recruit and retain students even as the district posts strong academic results, WTVJ reports. Orange County schools are projected to decrease enrollment by 3,000 students in the new school year, WFTV reports. School districts across the state are seeing declines as the number of homeschoolers has grown by 46% over five years, WPLG reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Faculty hiring: The University of Central Floridas faculty hiring hasnt kept up with enrollment increases, leading some students to label the school U Cant Finish, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Immigration enforcement: Some South Florida parents are worried about sending their children to school with the threat of immigration enforcement on campus looming, the Miami Herald reports. Orange Countys superintendent reassures families nervous about ICE raids that students will be safe in school, Central Florida Public Media reports. Job cuts: Sarasota County schools have cut dozens of positions and frozen hiring as officials review budgets in light of funding reductions and enrollment declines, the Herald-Tribune reports. Language lessons: Educators worry they wont be able to continue offering English language lessons to Osceola County prekindergarten children because of federal funding cuts, the Orlando Sentinel reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Library books: Floridas ongoing battle over which books belong in schools has found two Central Florida parents fighting opposite sides of the issue, WKMG reports. Legal counsel: The Duval County school boards decision to pursue hiring its own lawyer rather than using the citys general counsel is gaining criticism, WJXT reports. Security: The Orange County Sheriffs Office is launching a new unit to investigate and prevent school threats, WOFL reports. University research: Floridas universities face the loss of millions in federal research support, and Gov. Ron DeSantis is OK with it, Politico Florida reports. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vouchers: The Florida Department of Education is working on a rule to refine when voucher recipients can receive their payments, Florida Phoenix reports. From the police blotter ... A Clay County teen was arrested on accusations of threatening to shoot a schoolmate on the first day of classes at school, WJXT reports. Dont miss a story. Heres a link to Fridays roundup. Before you go ... Are you as enthusiastic for classes to get started as these Hillsborough teachers and staff? Overcrowding, housing logistics and the need to keep some inmates separated caused the Scott County Sheriff to spend more than $1.3 million to house inmates in other county jails in fiscal year 2025, a jump of 91.7% over the previous year. Sheriff Tim Lane reported that in fiscal year 2024, his department spent $681,012 to house Scott County inmates out of county. However, in fiscal year 2025, that jumped to $1,305,419. Lane said it is the first time during his tenure as sheriff that the office has spent more than $1 million to house inmates out of county. Rock Island County Sheriff Darrin Hart said the county's jail benefited from Scott County's housing needs and received about 39% of the total Scott County spent on out of county housing. Hart said that between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, which is Scott County's fiscal year, Rock Island housed 121 inmates for Scott County totaling 7,821 days at $65 per day for a total of $508,365. Hart says the Rock Island County Jail houses their own inmates as well as inmates for the U.S. Marshals Service and Scott County. With many people arrested in the county being released quickly due to Illinois' SAFE-T Act, Hart said he has room to house the inmates of other jurisdictions and generate revenue for the county. "Revenues received through our housing contracts are deposited into the countys general fund," Hart said. "General fund monies support our correctional officer salaries along with facility maintenance and repairs. "In the past three years the interior of the main jail facility was completely repainted, cell locking door mechanisms were replaced, upgrades to our CCTV security systems were made, the exterior of the jail facility is currently undergoing waterproofing maintenance, and so on," he said. "Now obviously the revenues received from Scott County alone have not paid for all these upgrades, but it definitely helps to offset some costs." Lane said that while overcrowding is an issue, there are other reasons while he has to house inmates out of county. There are groups of inmates you just can't have in the same housing unit, Lane said. "We house them elsewhere for safety." Lane said some inmates may need to be in specific jails where they are closer to their court-appointed attorneys. Such a case was Henry Dinkins, who was convicted of killing 10-year-old Breasia Terrell in July of 2020. He was housed in the Marshall County Jail while awaiting trial. Then there are conflicts of interest, where former correctional officers or other former law enforcement officers need to be kept in other facilities. "It's always an unpredictable expenditure," Lane said of housing inmates out of county. "But it is always subject to amendment if we're going to use it a lot." Costs to house Scott County inmates in the jail are about $51 per person, but Lane said that figure does not include building expenses. However, Lane said his costs to house Scott County's inmates is going up while the cost of housing out of county has remained consistent for about a decade. It will all depend on if the county jails raise their rates and by how much. What is needed is for the state of Iowa to increase prison space to alleviate overcrowding at the jails, and alleviate overcrowding at the prisons, Lane said. "After a long generation of not increasing prison space, that is the solution to cutting the cost to all counties in the state of Iowa," Lane said. Capacity at Iowa's prisons is at 120%, he said. A check of daily statistics on the Iowa Department of Corrections website shows that Iowa's prisons overall are at 20.89% above capacity as of Aug. 10. There are 8,450 prisoners in spaces for 6,990. Iowa DOC is mitigating overcrowding by releasing inmates sooner than their projected minimum sentence, Lane said. Other solutions include adding onto the Scott County Jail or building a jail annex in which to house the less problematic inmates, he said. "An annex for Scott County would probably be the best solution if we had to consider an expansion," he added. Lane added that the Department of Corrections could ease jail overcrowding if they would use GPS monitoring for people on pretrial release to ensure they show up for court. That has been done in the past. "Again, though, it comes down to the state and the state expense," he said. The best solution to the overcrowding was made in 1998 when then Sheriff Mike Bladel was trying to build a $48.8 million facility with 500 beds, Lane said. However, Scott County voters did not want a jail that big. A $29.7 million bond issue passed in 2004 to build the current jail with 360 beds and space for correctional programs and alcohol and drug treatment. The Scott County Jail currently houses 394 inmates due to adding bunks but not space, Lane said. Lane said he has budgeted $900,000 for housing inmates out of county for fiscal year 2026. New schools set to open as growth soars in Iredell County Iredell-Statesville elementary schools are bursting at the seams as students return for the first day of class Monday. Channel 9s Erika Jackson took a look at whats behind the increase in students and the districts plan to ease the burden. Victoria Jolly believes the people at Shepherd Elementary make her daughters school extra special. Everyone there is loving and kind, and theyre just a big family at Shepherd, and Ive loved that about them, Jolly said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More students are joining the Shepherd Elementary family as the population continues to grow in southern Iredell County. ALSO READ >> Delays could add $7M to new Iredell County high school project The Charlotte Regional Business Alliance says nearly 200,000 people live in Iredell, and 5,000 others are expected to move to the county within the next five years. Iredell-Statesville Schools says Shepherd is one of three elementary schools in the district over capacity. Plans are in the works to build a new elementary school to alleviate some of that congestion. We can use lots of different tools to help with capacity, Mark Shinkaruk, chief operations officer for the district, said. We can do quick modular units to try to do a quick fix, but in the southern end, we have plans for a brand new elementary school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shinkaruk says Shepherd, Troutman, and Coddle Creek elementary schools are exceeding capacity by 300 students combined, so the district is preparing to break ground on Parkertown Elementary, which will house up to 720 students. Construction is already underway for the districts newest high school, which will be built for up to 1,600 students. Shinkaruk says these new projects will allow students and staff to have a more natural feel to the school day. We are also outfitting the school to not only meet the current capacity, but have room for growth too, he said. Jollys daughter will be heading to middle school before construction is finished, but she hopes her son will have a special experience at the new elementary school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I do think that it will definitely serve a purpose for Iredell-Statesville Schools to have a new school for children to go to, Jolly said. The new elementary and high schools are set to open for the 2027-2028 school year. The school district says there will be community meetings to discuss boundary changes later this year. VIDEO: School district implements anti-grooming videos for students Heres what youll learn when you read this story: A research paper proposes a fully physically realized model for warp drive. This builds on an existing model that requires negative energyan impossibility. The new model is exciting, but warp speed is still probably decades or centuries away. In a surprising paper, scientists say theyve nailed down a physical model for a warp drive, which flies in the face of what weve long thought about the crazy concept of warp speed travel: that it requires exotic, negative forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To best understand what the breakthrough means, youll need a quick crash course on the far-out idea of traveling through folded space. The colloquial term warp drive comes from science fiction, most famously Star Trek. The faster-than-light warp drive of the Federation works by colliding matter and antimatter and converting the explosive energy to propulsion. Star Trek suggests that this extraordinary power alone pushes the ship at faster-than-light speeds. Scientists have been studying and theorizing about faster-than-light space travel for decades. One major reason for our interest is pure pragmatism: without warp drive, were probably never making it to a neighboring star system. The closest such trip is still four years long at light speed. Our current understanding of warp speed dates back to 1994, when a now-iconic theoretical physicist named Miguel Alcubierre first proposed what weve called the Alcubierre drive ever since. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Alcubierre drive conforms to Einsteins theory of general relativity to achieve superluminal travel. By a purely local expansion of spacetime behind the spaceship and an opposite contraction in front of it, Alcubierre wrote in his papers abstract, motion faster than the speed of light as seen by observers outside the disturbed region is possible. Essentially, an Alcubierre drive would expend a tremendous amount of energylikely more than whats available within the universeto contract and twist space-time in front of it and create a bubble. Inside that bubble would be an inertial reference frame where explorers would feel no proper acceleration. The rules of physics would still apply within the bubble, but the ship would be localized outside of space. It might help to think of an Alcubierre drive like the classic tablecloth and dishes party trick: The spaceship sits atop the tablecloth of spacetime, the drive pulls the fabric around it, and the ship is situated in a new place relative to the fabric. Alcubierre describes spacetime expanding on one side of the ship and contracting on the other, thanks to that enormous amount of energy and a requisite amount of exotic matterin this case, negative energy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some scientists have criticized the Alcubierre drive, however, because it requires too much mass and negative energy for humans to ever seriously construct a warp-based propulsion system. NASA has been trying to build a physical warp drive through Eagleworks Laboratories for most of the last decade, but hasnt yet made any significant strides. Applied Physics This brings us to the new study, which scientists in the Advanced Propulsion Laboratory (APL) at Applied Physics just published in the peer-reviewed journal Classical and Quantum Gravity. In the report, the APL team unveils the worlds first model for a physical warp driveone that doesnt require negative energy. The study is understandably pretty thick (read the whole thing here), but heres the gist of the model: Where the existing paradigm uses negative energyexotic matter that doesnt exist and cant be generated within our current understanding of the universethis new concept uses floating bubbles of spacetime rather than floating ships in spacetime. The physical model uses almost none of the negative energy and capitalizes on the idea that spacetime bubbles can behave almost however they like. And, the APL scientists say, this isnt even the only other way warp speed could work. Making a model thats at least physically comprehensible is a big step. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Plus, Alcubierre himself has endorsed the new model, which is like having Albert Einstein show up to your introductory physics class. Heres a helpful video in which Sabine Hossenfelder, a Professor and Research Fellow at the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, breaks down the findings: Of course, theres one gigantic caveat here: The concept in this paper is still in the far future zone of possibility, made of ideas that scientists still dont know how to construct in any sense. While the mass requirements needed for such modifications are still enormous at present, the APL scientists write, our work suggests a method of constructing such objects based on fully understood laws of physics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But while a physical drive may not be a reality today, tomorrow, or even a century from nowlets hope its not that longwith this exciting new model, warp speed travel is now a lot more likely in a much shorter timespan than we previously thought. Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Get the Issue Photo credit: Hearst Owned Get the Issue You Might Also Like Taking inspiration from the human body, scientists might have cracked the code on how to easily find out if water has been contaminated. According to new research by the National University of Singapore (NUS) covered by Tech Xplore, a new device may be able to vastly improve the way we monitor and manage the quality of our water. Human skin has an oily protective layer known as sebum, which inspired ReSURF, the material invented by the researchers at NUS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Humankind depends on clean water to survive, and ReSURF could be a way to ensure that it becomes more accessible, as well as creating a monitoring method that is kinder to the planet. A thin layer of the ReSURF material covers a sensor, which can analyze and differentiate the electric signals of different types of pollutants in water droplets. Different contaminants create different readings, meaning that scientists can easily identify when water samples are tainted. Associate Professor Benjamin Tee commented per Tech Xplore, "The ReSURF sensor can detect various pollutants, such as oils and fluorinated compounds, which are challenging for many existing sensors." He went on to say that the material is self-powered, self-healing, reusable, and recyclable. Many existing water monitoring systems are pricey, slow, often have limited reusability, and need specialist instruments or bulky lab equipment, according to Tech Xplore. In comparison, ReSURF can detect water pollutants in around 6 milliseconds, which is around 40 times faster than the blink of an eye. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While it can be used to monitor water supplies in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, it can also check on the safety of water in agricultural settings, like rice fields. Beyond that, wastewater management could be revolutionized by using ReSURF monitoring in industrial settings and sewage plants. This will have a major positive impact on making sure access to clean water is more readily available, while also not creating more pollution. Since ReSURF is reusable and recyclable, it is a great example of tech advancements taking the planet into consideration. Professor Tee commented, "We envision this platform as a foundation for the development of more intelligent and responsive water quality monitoring systems." Do you feel safe drinking the tap water where you live? Always Most of the time Not usually Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. SOPPENG, Indonesia (Reuters) -Scientists have found a series of stone tools on Indonesias Sulawesi island they say may be evidence of humans living 1.5 million years ago on islands between Asia and Australia, the earliest known humans in the Wallacea region. Archaeologists from Australia and Indonesia found the small, chipped tools, used to cut little animals and carve rocks, under the soil in the region of Soppeng in South Sulawesi. Radioactive tracing of these tools and the teeth of animals found around the site were dated at up to 1.48 million years ago. The findings could transform theories of early human migrations, according to an article the archaeologists published in the journal Nature in August. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The earliest Wallacean humans, pre-historic persons known as Homo Erectus, were thought to have only settled in Indonesia's Flores island and Philippines' Luzon island around 1.02 million years ago, as they were thought to be incapable of distant sea travel, proving the significance of the Sulawesi findings in theories of migration. These were artefacts made by ancient humans who lived on the earth long before the evolution of our species, Homo Sapiens, said Adam Brumm, lead archaeologist from Griffith University in Queensland, Australia. We think Homo Erectus somehow got from the Asian mainland across a significant ocean gap to this island, Sulawesi, at least 1 million years ago," Brumm said. Wallacea is a region in Eastern Indonesia including several islands such as Sulawesi, Lombok, Flores, Timor, Sumbawa that lie between Borneo and Java and Australia and New Guinea. The region is named for the naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace who studied the fauna and flora of the area. (Reporting by Abdul Rahman Muchtar in Soppeng; Writing by Bernadette Christina; Editing by Christian Schmollinger) Scientists researching in the Galapagos Islands found thriving colonies of a coral long thought to be extinct. According to Mongabay, the researchers, diving near Tagus Cove, detailed their find in a study published in the journal Marine Biology. Overall, they found 209 colonies of Wellington's solitary coral. These weren't just hanging on by a thread. Instead, they were thriving, reproducing, and living their best life. Advertisement Advertisement Known populations of Wellington's solitary coral disappeared after El Nino between 1982 and 1983, and researchers assumed it was gone. Now, they believe that it may have survived in the deep sea, where water temperatures weren't affected the same way they were in shallower areas. Now, Wellington's solitary coral joins a host of other species once thought to be extinct but found again, according to Rewild.org, such as the Louisiade pitta and the Pernambuco holly tree. Since all life on Earth is connected, the presence of more species is good news for everyone. It keeps Earth's biodiversity high, which helps ensure there is plenty of food for everyone who needs it. When food chains can be active all the way up and down, that translates into benefits for every form of life, from plant to animal and even up to human. Advertisement Advertisement If you care about preserving the species that exist now, vote for politicians who also care about the planet. That way, they can enact laws that protect animals and direct money toward ongoing research about them. Terry Gosliner, a senior curator at the California Academy of Sciences who co-authored the study, told Mongabay: "There were underwater handshakes and shouts of excitement. We didn't just rediscover the species, we saw healthy colonies reproducing. It was one of the most exciting underwater moments of my career." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. ST. LOUIS A second man has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting in the Walnut Park West neighborhood. According to the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments probable cause statement, the shooting happened just before 10 p.m. on July 17 in the 5400 block of Park Lane. Officers found the victim, Jawon Cooper, suffering from gunshot wounds. Cooper was transported to a nearby hospital after the shooting but was later pronounced dead. He was 27. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Investigators determined Ladarold J. Ford, 26, and others drove to Park Lane. Ford and another person, later identified as DeAndre T. Chaney, 25, exited their vehicle and shot Cooper. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily News Police said Ford, Chaney, and the others were recorded on surveillance video just before the shooting. On Aug. 6, homicide detectives received information that Ford was at a home in the 5100 block of Wabada Avenue. With the help of U.S. Marshals, police set up surveillance and eventually tracked Ford to a car wash at South Kingshighway and Southwest Avenue. Police arrested Ford at the car wash. A mini Draco .762 firearm with live ammunition were recovered inside the vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office charged Ford with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm. Ford remains jailed without bond pending trial. He has two hearings scheduled for Aug. 15 and Sept. 8. Chaney was arrested on July 30. Prosecutors charged him with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, and three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. A British F-35B Lightning fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing in Japan on Sunday, weeks after another F-35B was left stranded in India due to a technical fault. The 88 million warplane, one of the worlds most advanced stealth aircraft, was diverted to Kagoshima International Airport at around 11.30am local time after suffering a malfunction, Japans defence ministry said. It had been conducting a sortie from the HMS Prince of Wales as part of the UK Carrier Strike Group (UKCSG), a naval task force currently deployed to the Indo-Pacific region. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The jet had an engineering issue and is undergoing further inspections to enable it to return to the carrier group as soon as possible, the Ministry of Defence confirmed. Footage showed the aircraft parked near the runway at around 2pm local time, with no visible damage. The incident caused the airport to close its runway for around 20 minutes while the plane was moved to a taxiway for checks to be carried out. The aircraft landed at Kagoshima Airport due to a malfunction, Japans defence ministry said. On June 14, an F-35B from the UKCSG ran into bad weather over the Indian Ocean and was forced to land at Thiruvananthapuram Airport in Kerala in southern India. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because of a technical problem, reportedly a hydraulic failure, it was unable to take-off and remained stranded at the airport for over a month. The F-35 Lightening is a fifth-generation stealth multi-role jet developed and manufactured in the US by Lockheed Martin. The F-35B variant has vertical take-off and landing capabilities, making it suitable for use on aircraft carriers. Though billed as the worlds most advanced warplane, the F-35 programme has been dogged by reliability problems. A declassified 2024 Pentagon report found that the overall reliability, maintainability and availability of the US fleet remains below service expectations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Britain currently has 37 F-35Bs in service, which are jointly operated by the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. A total of 47 expected to be delivered by the end of 2025. In June, the Government announced plans to buy at least 12 F-35As, which would be capable of carrying nuclear weapons. One F-35B was lost in November 2021 when it crashed after taking off from the HMS Queen Elizabeth in the Mediterranean. The UKCSG includes the HMS Prince of Wales carrier and several escort ships. It has been conducting joint training with Japans Self-Defense Forces and the US military, with exercises scheduled to continue until August 12. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The deployment, called Operation Highmast, is intended to demonstrate Britains commitment to security in the Indo-Pacific and its ability to operate alongside allies in the region. 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. LORAIN COUNTY, Ohio (WJW) A shooting at the Cuyahoga County Fair last weekend is prompting law enforcement across Northeast Ohio to review and strengthen their security plans. Cedar Points Power Tower evacuated after cable fails The Lorain County Fair opens Sunday, Aug. 17, and runs through the 24th. This year, the Lorain County Sheriffs Office will take over as the official security partner for the event, replacing private security used in past years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sheriff Jack Hall said they pay attention to incidents at other fairs and take steps to address potential risks. He would not reveal specific tactics, but said the changes are aimed at preventing trouble before it starts. The plan itself is well over 150 pages long. Every potential scenario we can think of, Sheriff Hall explained. Everything is split up into zones this year. With supervisors making sure those deputies are working the appropriate areas and make sure we have all the coverage that we need. Akron man found guilty of shooting brothers roommate, leading to leg amputation: Prosecutor In past years, the Lorain County Fair has relied on private security for the event. This year, thats different as the Lorain County Sheriffs Office takes over as the official security partner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other counties are also making changes. In a statement to Fox 8, the Geauga County Sheriffs Office said: We have continued monitor other Fair and any problems they may have had. We also met with the prosecutor and fair board for a safety meeting. We have installed additional cameras and license plate readers for the fair and additional check points at the gates. We always have a noticeable presence at the fair each year and at all events. There are some restrictions as to what you can wear (no masks) and bags are subject to search. Our goal is to provide a safe fun experience for attendees and their families. The Geauga County fair begins Aug. 28th and runs through Sept. 1st. New documentary shines light on local woman who dumped baby 30+ years ago Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Cuyahoga County shooting happened late Saturday night when police say a fight between young adults ended with an 18-year-old being shot in the torso. The victim survived, and police arrested one suspect with a gun after stopping a vehicle leaving the scene. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. Newport's historic Yaquina Bay Lighthouse, the only intact wooden lighthouse on the Oregon Coast, is about to be reunited with its lantern. Construction crews will use a crane to return the approximately 11,000-pound lantern to the top of the historic lighthouse on Aug. 11. The lantern was removed earlier this year as part of a $1.8 million exterior restoration that included repairs to multiple parts of the structure. A new roof and exterior repaint were also completed to protect the more than 150-year-old lighthouse. The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse lantern was removed for restoration earlier this year. Built in 1871, Yaquina Bay Lighthouse is Oregon's last example of a combined lighthouse and living quarters. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crews plan to lift the lantern around 11 a.m. on Aug. 11. The event is expected to take about an hour. Interested attendees can email or call OPRD Public Information Officer Stefanie Knowlton at 971-803-0154 or Stefanie.Knowlton@OPRD.oregon.gov to RSVP. The lighthouse, at the Yaquina Bay State Recreation Area, will reopen to the public at the end of August when restoration is complete. The Yaquina Bay Lighthouse before restoration. Rose Shimberg is an outdoors journalism intern at the Statesman Journal. Reach her at rshimberg@salem.gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: See lantern return to historic Yaquina Bay Lighthouse on Oregon Coast SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU) Whether youre driving around Sioux City or in a small town, theres a good chance youve seen a vehicle parked along the roadway selling all sorts of fresh foods like sweet corn. But what do you need to be able to sell? Clinch Produce has been around Siouxland for over 30 years, and the roadside vendor says by the end of the day, they dont have to take much back home. When I moved to the Sioux City area, my familys based out of Norfolk, just south of Norfolk, but when I moved to the Sioux City area, I thought I would give it a try and see how it worked here, said Lisa Haiar, with Clinch Produce. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Clinch Produce to be able to sell products like sweet corn, tomatoes, and melons in Sioux City, Mobile food units have to apply for a Food Establishment License from Siouxland District Health Department as well as a Sellers Permit from City Hall. Some places do require a permit, and some dont. So it just kind of depends on the city. It goes from city to city, said Haiar. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once the paperwork is approved, the next step is for roadside vendors gotta figure out where to set up. Clinch Produce figured the Lowes parking lot would be ideal for them. Basically you just go into the business and you ask for permission and see if theyll let you sit out there and sell it. I just thought Lowes would be a great spot just because we often have a lot of food trucks out here. So I thought there would be good traffic, and then this is a busy street right out in front of us, so anywhere customers can see us as theyre driving by, said Haiar. With Sunnybrook Drive being one of Sioux Citys busiest roadways, its no surprise Clinch Produce receives plenty of customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Really depends on the day of the week, but primarily busy. We sell out most mostly every day of the week, said Erieonna Peterson, with Clinch Produce. The folks with Clinch Produce said its always a great day when they get to set up and sell their fruits and veggies. I just love being outdoors. Its a nice break from my regular nine-to-five job. So I do it on my days off from my regular job and while Im on vacation, I just love being outdoors, said Haiar. Id say meeting new people in the community. Its nice to see new faces that are around you in the same area, said Peterson. Haiar says probably the hardest part of being a roadside vendor is dealing with the weather, especially the heat and humidity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports. Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has taken aim at his successor, Kithure Kindiki, cautioning the deputy president against issuing him threats. Speaking in the USA on Sunday, August 10, 2025, the DCP party leader urged Kindiki to focus on taking action rather than making statements. I have seen that person called Soprano issuing a lot of threats every day. Oh, mimi ni fire, mimi ni noma. I want to tell him to take time and read Wole Soyinka. In one of his greatest works, he says a tiger does not declare its tigritude, it pounces. So if you are what you say you are, act; dont keep on threatening, he told the DP. Gachagua vowed to continue pushing for better, more responsive governance without backing down. A tiger pounces, so please spare those threats to other characters. Riggy G is beyond threats, and you know it. We must speak for the people of Kenya because if we dont, there will be no country. I cannot be intimidated; the Gen Zs cannot be intimidated. We will speak for the people of Kenya until we get this regime out and get one that is responsive to the needs of the people of Kenya and respects human rights, he said. Gachagua made his remarks a day after Kindiki joined the chorus of calls for his arrest, describing the former deputy president as reckless for threatening national security with unsubstantiated claims. On Saturday, August 9, 2025, during the Keiyo South Constituency Economic Empowerment Engagement in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, Kindiki criticized leaders who make unverified claims about security matters. If their agenda is insults, let them continue with insults, but they should not use that space to compromise national security, Kindiki said. He emphasized that Kenya has endured years of terrorism, cattle rustling, and other serious crimes, and such matters should never be turned into political games. Kindikis remarks came in response to Gachaguas recent claims, made in America, that President William Ruto met with al-Shabaab leaders during a visit to Mandera County. DP Kindiki insisted that anyone claiming to have information about terrorists or dangerous criminals must be held accountable and required to record a statement with the relevant authorities. They must help us investigate and protect Kenya. Otherwise, they should face legal action, he warned. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said the immigration detention facility at Fort Bliss will be open within a week and will initially house about 1,000 people. The facility, which Cornyn calls The Lonestar Lockup, will eventually be the nations largest immigration detention center with 5,000 beds. Cornyn did not go inside the facility but got what was called a windshield tour on Monday morning, Aug. 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Afterward, he spoke to members of the media. He said the facility will house single adult migrants, with no families and no children. He said that there are no due process issues here and all people who are housed at the Fort Bliss facility are under final deportation orders to be sent back to their home countries or elsewhere. Cornyn praised legal immigration, saying it is the backbone of the United States. But illegal immigration has been a disaster and that is what we have seen the last four years under the Biden Administration, he said. Cornyn said that many Democrats have told him over the years that the country needs new immigration laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What we needed was a new president, Cornyn said. And President Trump is doing what he campaigned on, securing the border and sending people back who have no legal right to be here. Cornyn said the facility will not be a tent, but will have hard walls with air conditioning. Detainees will get three meals a day and have a place to sleep. Male and female detainees will be separated. Cornyn called it a humane facility that is better than a lot of them are used to. The facility will be operated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is expected to play a critical role in the U.S. governments response to illegal immigration at the southern border. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cornyn has been involved in border security discussions, advocating for both increased security measures and more resources for border enforcement. Last month, he called for Texas to create its own Alligator Alcatraz immigration detention facility. Cornyn chaired a Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Border Security and Immigration hearing on July 24 and delivered about 12 minutes of opening remarks, in which he talked about misinformation and false narratives being spread about immigrants, his opinion on the importance of immigration enforcement, and praised the state of Florida for its immigration enforcement efforts. The State of Florida has stepped up to the plate recently, helping the administration to open a detention facility thats come to be known as Alligator Alcatraz, he said. Im hopeful that other states will step up to help in similar ways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement El Paso County Commissioners Court passed a resolution Monday, calling for more transparency about the Fort Bliss migrant center. A facility of this size, of this magnitude up to 5,000 people and it is a $1.26 billion contract to build this facility at Fort Bliss, its really going to be a tent city, County Commissioner Jackie Butler said. I am concerned about impacts to the surrounding community. I am concerned about resources that will be taken from the community. I am wondering where they will get the staff for this 5,000-person detention center, whether that will strain our already-strained resources at the County, Butler added. There are a lot of concerns and more than anything, we are asking for communication. Editors Note: KXAN contributed to this report. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham held a roundtable Monday to discuss a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with local law enforcement agencies. The 287 (G) program is an ICE initiative that allows local agencies to work with federal officials to enforce immigration laws. Greenville County Sheriff, Hobart Lewis, was one of the many in attendance. He said the Greenville County Sheriffs Office has been participating in the 287 (G) program for almost a year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I hope the public knows, the community knows, that this is about deporting people who have committed crimes, Lewis said. This is not a round up for anybody in your neighborhood or childrens and schools any of that stuff. Graham said that after conversations with leaders the benefit of 287 (G) needs to be a two-way street. Id like to put more money into the 287 (G) program and grants for the states that participate at the highest level, Graham said. The more you do to help us with immigration, the more youll be rewarded. In part I want that money to be used to help recruitment and retention. Every official there today said the same thing: Its the hardest its ever been to find people willing to work or stay in law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grahams solutions: take some of the billion dollars from trumps One Big Beautiful bill and use it to get more agencies on board with he federal program. The best thing America could do right now is to incentivize local law-enforcement to help the federal government with a terrible illegal immigration problem, he said. If they help the federal government, there will be money available for those who helped to recruit and retain qualified people. He described it as a win-win situation. If we do it right in South Carolina, word will get out among the gangs and the human traffickers, dont go to South Carolina thats the worst place you could go to your business, that is my goal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) accused President Trump of a raw authoritarian power grab after the president moved to federalize the District of Columbias police department and call the National Guard to the Districts streets. Hes playing dictator in our nations capital as a dress rehearsal as he pushes democracy to the brink, Van Hollen wrote on social platform X. And by the way, Trump couldnt care less about safety in DC or the people of DC. If he did, he wouldnt have blocked DC from spending $1 billion of its OWN money to fund its OWN police department, schools and more, the Maryland senator added, referring to a government funding bill that blocked the District from spending already-appropriated funds. This is flatly about testing the limits of his power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps move drew swift backlash from local leaders and other Democratic elected officials, who said he was infringing on the Districts autonomy. His deployment of troops to combat criminal activity at levels the president has characterized as far worse than what local leaders maintain and what police data suggests mirrors his immigration crackdown in Los Angeles in June. Trump deployed Marines and National Guard troops to the scene to quell immigration riots, triggering a flurry of lawsuits. A California court began hearing arguments Monday on whether it was legal for Trump to use military troops as civilian law enforcement. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) Here are this mornings top stories with KELOLAND On the Go. A pursuit for change fuels 38-year-old Julian Beaudions U.S. Senate run. A primary reason is that we have folks out here who are really struggling to make it day to day, the Sioux Falls resident said. Senate race: Education, veterans have Beaudions attention People gathered 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 99-year old USS South Dakota sailor witnessed end of WWII The USS South Dakota Day of Honor drew in a large crowd at the South Dakota Battleship Memorial Saturday morning. The event included naval history displays and band performances. U.S. Senator John Thune was the keynote speaker. Sen. Thune at SD Day of Honor draws rally goers The weather this week is looking very quiet to start, but scattered rain chances will return. We will be tracking a cold front tonight that may trigger a few widely scattered showers and t-storms in the northeast. Pleasant weather today; Lots of 80s/90s in the forecast Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Several hundred Russian servicemen and several dozen pieces of Russian military equipment have arrived in Belarus for military exercises scheduled for September. Source: Colonel Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS), on the national joint 24/7 newscast Quote: "We are talking about roughly several hundred servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces and several dozen pieces of equipment that have already arrived in Belarus. At the same time, we see that Belarus has also sent certain units and forces to Russia, where there are also training grounds for these exercises. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course, intelligence units, the Ministry of Defence and the State Border Guard Service constantly monitor any further possible arrival of Russian units in Belarus to understand how many they could deploy for these joint exercises, especially at training grounds in Belarus. This direction, as before, remains a threat to us. During these exercises, provocations or further escalation of the security situation for our country cannot be ruled out." Details: Demchenko stressed that, as of now, given the Russian forces present, there is no significant threat coming from Belarus. The SBGS spokesperson said that as before, there is no indication that any strike force has been formed or is being formed in Belarus along the Ukrainian border. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! (Logo courtesy of the Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System; photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch) Several Iowa Republican lawmakers have assured Iowans there is not significant interest in making changes to the states public retirement system after the idea was suggested last week by members of a task force appointed by the governor. Terry Lutz, who chaired a work group within the Iowa DOGE task force, said at a meeting Wednesday that one of the recommendations under consideration was doing away with the current defined benefits program and going to a defined contribution program for public employees. This change was recommended because compensation packages for government workers through IPERS, the Iowa Public Employees Retirement System, are way out of whack with private sector compensation, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The proposal on IPERS and other benefits would apply to new employees, while the compensation would remain the same as it currently exists for current employees, Lutz said. Gov. Kim Reynolds created the task force, modeled after the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) program in the Trump administration, to seek government cost-cutting and efficiency measures at the state and local levels. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX This proposal has sparked significant backlash from public worker groups and others, who have rallied using the slogan Hands off IPERS while urging supporters to contact Reynolds and lawmakers to voice their opposition to the recommendation. Since the DOGE task force meeting, several Republican lawmakers have made posts on social media stating it is unlikely the Republican trifecta will pursue changes to the public retirement system in the upcoming legislative session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rep. Steve Holt, R-Denison, wrote in a Facebook post Saturday Republicans are committed to finding innovative ways to make government smaller and smarter but this work will likely not involve modifying IPERS. I have discussed this issue with the House Speaker and other legislators, Holt wrote. While I recognize concerns about IPERS, I want to reassure Iowans that there is virtually no interest in making changes to it. We have one of the best funded retirement systems in the country. A handful of other House Republicans, including Reps. Tom Jeneary of Le Mars, Jason Gearhart of Strawberry Point and Mark Thompson of Clarion, made social media posts, saying they had received questions about the task forces IPERS recommendation and wanted to reassure constituents the Legislature was unlikely to take up the issue. Though several Republicans have voiced opposition to the proposal, several Democrats have called for Iowans who oppose the cuts to speak out in support of government employees. Rep. Molly Buck, D-Ankeny, wrote on Thursday this means contacting lawmakers and joining advocacy groups, as well as voting for candidates who will protect retirement security. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Iowa Auditor Rob Sand, who is running as a Democratic candidate for governor in 2026, criticized the proposal in a statement, saying the best way to make government more efficient was to restore the State Auditors power to find misspent money, not make changes to IPERS. Police officers, firefighters, teachers, plow drivers, and more paid into IPERS and should be thanked for their service, Sand said. They take salaries lower than typical private sector salaries, some because of the promise of IPERS. This proposal could result in reductions of retirement benefits that these workers have already paid into for years. Weakening IPERS will stop many people from taking public service jobs, leaving the public worse off and more key roles unfilled. Sen. David Sires of Cedar Falls wrote on Saturday there was misinformation being spread about changes to IPERS by Democrats. The recommendation which would have to be approved by the legislature would only impact new employees, and there is very little interest in the legislature to take up this idea at all. Claims that Republicans are attempting to gut IPERS are simply false, Sires wrote. IPERS remains strong and will continue to serve the thousands of Iowans who depend on it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though the recommendation was discussed in a public meeting earlier in August, the DOGE task force has not officially recommended changes to IPERS to Reynolds and lawmakers yet. The task force is scheduled to meet again on Sept. 24 before submitting its final report. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Several commercial aircraft have remained stranded at German airports for more than three years because they are not allowed to take off due to EU sanctions against Russia. The German Transport Ministry confirmed to broadcaster WDR on Monday that the planes have been grounded since February 28, 2022, days after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The ministry says the flight ban is in accordance with an EU regulation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The aircraft in question include three Russian Antonov AN-124 cargo planes located at Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany. A Boeing 737 belonging to the cargo airline Atran and a Bombardier Challenger 300 belonging to the airline Utair have remained grounded at Cologne/Bonn Airport. A Boeing 747 belonging to the British cargo company CargoLogicAir, which had to cease operations in 2022 due to sanctions related to the war in Ukraine and went bankrupt shortly afterwards, is stationed at Frankfurt/Hahn. A former Russian-leased Airbus A320 belonging to Aeroflot was stranded in Munich. The Irish-Chinese leasing company that actually owned the aircraft paid the fees of 470,000 incurred and the plane was then allowed to take off for Ostrava in the Czech Republic. Other aircraft are known to be affected, but no definitive information can be provided due to ongoing investigations into their ownership. In June, 4,100 California National Guardsmen were put under federal control and deployed to Los Angeles. Two months later, and after most have withdrawn from the city and been released back to the states command, a court will now decide if that was even legal. The trial over the use of the California National Guard started Monday in a district court in San Francisco. California Attorney General Rob Bonta is seeking the return of state authority over the federalized troops from the California National Guard, arguing that President Donald Trump violated the 19th-century Posse Comitatus Act that bars the military from conducting law enforcement in the United States. Judge Charles Breyer, who is presiding over the trial, had previously ordered Trump to return control of the National Guard to the state of California in June. However, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals panel blocked that order while it handles an appeal over the presidents authority. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The three-day non-jury trial will revolve around what exactly federal troops can do stateside. Under the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, the military (including the National Guard) is prohibited from conducting law enforcement activities. California is arguing that by accompanying Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and other Department of Homeland Security personnel on immigration raids, the military violated that law. The federal government, in turn, is arguing that the National Guardsmen did not take part in law enforcement, but were simply protecting federal personnel. The factual question which the court must address is whether the military was used to enforce domestic law, and if so, whether there continues to be a threat that it could be done again, Breyer said at the opening of the trial, per Reuters. The trial will see military and immigration officials testify. Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, the commander of Task Force 51, which oversees the military mission to Los Angeles, was called to the stand on Monday. The troops were federalized in June, after federal and local police clashed with protesters in Los Angeles County in the immediate aftermath of ICE raids in the area. Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered troops from the California National Guard to be federalized under Title 10 of the U.S. Code and sent to protect federal personnel and property. The initial 2,000 were pulled from the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and another 2,100 were drawn from the 49th Military Police Brigade. Hundreds of Marines based out of Twentynine Palms, California, were also sent in to augment the federalized Guardsmen, organized under the command of Task Force 51. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federalization and deployment of the National Guard was met with criticism from Los Angeles elected officials, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and the Los Angeles Police Department, which argued it could handle the protests in Los Angeles without the militarys involvement. The federal government deployed military troops to the streets of Los Angeles for the purposes of political theater and public intimidation, Bonta said in a statement on Sunday ahead of the trial. Top Stories This Week News Army infantry training unit reverses bay tossing ban By Jeff Schogol News Airman arrested for death that prompted Air Force-wide safety review of Sig M18 By Jeff Schogol News Soldiers who stopped Fort Stewart gunman recognized as the best among us in the Army By Patty Nieberg Once deployed, the majority of National Guard troops were positioned at federal buildings around Los Angeles County, standing guard but not directly engaging with protesters. However, some accompanied ICE and DHS personnel on immigration raids, including operations in agricultural areas north of Los Angeles and in a drug bust more than 100 miles east of the city. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Northern Command told Task & Purpose in June that Task Force 51 was not constrained by the geography of Southern California. The one instance of servicemembers detaining a civilian involved the Marines, and the person, an Army veteran who walked onto a federal campus, was quickly released. Task Force 51 started releasing troops at the start of July, rotating out one Marine unit with another and releasing some Guardsmen to deal with wildfires in California. Additional drawdowns continued over the following weeks, including the withdrawal of all the Marines deployed to Los Angeles. At a briefing last week, a Pentagon spokesperson said that approximately 300 National Guard troops remain under federal control in Los Angeles. The trial started the same day that Trump announced he would send 800 District of Columbia National Guard troops into Washington, D.C. Unlike with the California National Guard, Trump cited Title 32 of the U.S. Code, or federal-state status, which means they are not subject to Posse Comitatus, to address what he called a crime emergency. Trump similarly called up the National Guard under Title 32 in 2020. Trump has also raised the possibility of redeploying the National Guard to Los Angeles in the future. Last week, Trump announced the creation of a White House task force for the 2028 Olympic Games, set to be held in Los Angeles. While announcing the new task force, Trump said that Well do anything necessary to keep the Olympics safe, including using our National Guard or military, OK? SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) A new Indigenous America exhibit will be opening at the Old Courthouse Museum in Sioux Falls. According to an event on Facebook, the Old Courthouse Museum will be unveiling the new exhibit with an opening reception on Thursday, August 14, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. SD reading program focuses on learning American history Before there was a United States of America, a diverse group of people populated this land. Divided by tribal lines and traditional lands, indigenous people hunted, farmed, traded, worshipped, lived, and died according to their customs. When Europeans arrived in North America and expanded into traditional Native peoples homelands, their ways of life changed forever. the Old Courthouse Museum wrote in their Facebook post. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The exhibit aims to explore what life was like for early Native Americans, showcasing artifacts that shine light on Indigenous culture that has persevered and survived for thousands of years. Their material culture speaks to a world filled with home, artistry, utility, and beauty. The Native people of this country are still with us today, and their history is a vibrant one. the Old Courthouse Museum wrote. Admission to the exhibit opening is free. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. A sharia court in Indonesia has sentenced to men to public caning 80 times each after they were caught kissing. Their trial at the Islamic Shariah District Court in Banda Aceh, the capital of Indonesias conservative Aceh province, was held behind closed doors. The sentence was handed down on Monday. In Aceh, judges have the authority to limit public access to a trial if the case relates to adultery and open it only for the verdict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The pair, aged 20 and 21, were arrested in April in Taman Sari city park. Locals had seen them entering the same bathroom at the park and alerted the sharia police, who were patrolling the area. The religious police broke into the toilet and caught the men kissing and hugging each other. The court considered that the men were engaged in a sexual act. Two men, accused of having sex in contravention of sharia law, appear in court in Banda Aceh in May 2017 (AFP/Getty Images) Aceh is considered more devout than other areas of Muslim-majority Indonesia. It is the only province allowed to observe a version of Islamic sharia law. Mondays verdict was the fifth time that Aceh has sentenced people to public caning for homosexuality since the law was implemented in 2015. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That was a concession made by the government to end a long-running separatist rebellion. Indonesias national criminal code does not regulate homosexuality. The central government also does not have the power to strike down sharia law in Aceh. In February, two men, aged 24 and 18, were publicly caned in Banda Acehs Bustanussalatin city park for engaging in gay sex. The punishment, carried out by five enforcers in robes and hoods, involved lashes across their backs with breaks for water and medical treatment after 20 strokes, media reports said. A sharia court sentenced them to 85 and 80 lashes, but they received 82 and 77 strokes after a remission for time served. One of the men was so weak after the final lash he reportedly had to be carried. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amnesty International called the punishment a horrifying act of discrimination against the men. Intimate sexual relations between consenting adults should never be criminalised, and no one should be punished because of their real or perceived sexual orientation, Amnestys deputy regional director Montse Ferrer said. The Pastoralists Community Professional Association (PCPA) has strongly criticized former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for remarks he made in the United States, accusing President William Ruto of getting into bed with Al-Shabaab thereby jeopardizing Kenyas security. While addressing an audience in America on Friday, Gachagua alleged that senior members of the executive held a secret meeting with al-Shabaab representatives in Mandera and struck a business deal with the terrorist group. He went on to claim that the executive met three leaders of the Somalia-based militant organization to discuss business away from the public eye. Gachagua warned that such actions could pave the way for suspected terrorists to be registered as Kenyan citizens, enabling them to infiltrate other countries and carry out attacks. In a strongly worded statement, PCPA secretary Yunis Ibrahim Sheikh condemned Gachaguas allegations as reckless and defamatory, insisting they were false and dangerously divisive. His unfounded attempt to link easing of vetting protocols affecting ethnic Somali Kenyans to terrorist groups such as Al-Shabaab is both false and dangerously divisive, the statement said. Pastoralist Leaders Accuse Gachagua of Ethnic Profiling The group accused Gachagua of reviving old wounds by recalling the traumatic memory of ethnic profiling that Somali Kenyans and other border counties pastoralist communities have endured. It pointed out that over decades, the citizens were denied passports and IDs, and access to public services under discriminatory vetting policies that had no legitimate security justification. PCPA defended President William Rutos decision to scrap the vetting system, describing it as a lawful and long-overdue move toward fairness. The association accused Gachagua of having a history of exclusionary politics, citing his past remarks questioning the suitability of pastoralist leaders for senior positions and his promotion of the controversial government shareholders concept. He is now weaponizing ethnicity to attack the President and marginalized communities. This is not leadership, it is destructive scapegoating that threatens our fragile national unity, Yunis said. PCPA urged concerned agencies to act quickly in defending human rights, preserving national unity, and promoting international peace. Murkomen Demands Gachagua Explain Terrorism Remarks Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen on the other hand said that Gachagua will be asked to make a statement upon his return to Kenya to explain his claims. He thinks he is going to parade issues of terrorism in America to get votes, Murkomen said. As soon as he lands in Kenya, he must tell us exactly which meetings he is having with terrorists.. Murkomen blamed Gachagua for embarrassing the country internationally and trivializing grave issues of national security. Mandera Senator Ali Roba also called on the DCI to arrest Gachagua, describing his remarks as a desperate move to score political points. SEATTLE - It was a busy night for law enforcement near the Lofts at 66 Bell Street after police say a man was shot in the chest early Sunday morning. The victim remains hospitalized, and police say a suspect is still on the loose. The shooting happened in an alley in between two residential buildings at 66 Bell Street. "It was about 2:00 something in the morning. I heard a gunshot, it was a really loud gunshot," said Gustave Erickson. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He is one of the neighbors who woke up to the sound of gunfire in the alley. "It was a really loud gunshot in between the alley where I live and Western Avenue," he said. Another neighbor shared cell phone video and pics of the scene that he captured after gunfire woke him up as well, and he went outside to see what was going on. Erickson said he also went out to investigate. "I went out to the balcony and smelt the gunpowder, and I heard a couple screaming, Ive been shot, and then I heard a couple people running that way and running that way," said Erickson. Seattle Police released a statement saying a 20-year-old man was shot in the chest, with officers providing first aid until Seattle Fire medics arrived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We just want to keep our neighborhood safe. We are newly moved to Seattle. We love the city, but it's terrifying whats happening in the streets at night," said Jadyn Cordeiro, a neighbor. "We were sleeping. Its pretty crazy it was happening while we were sleeping," said Myah Larkin, a neighbor. "We didnt hear a thing. We came back from the ballgame, and our hotel is just up the street," said Kevin Urban, visiting from Canada. Detectives from the Gun Violence Reduction Unit are leading the investigation. Seattle Police are asking anyone with information to contact the Seattle Police Department Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000. The Source Information in this story came from the Seattle Police Department and original reporting by FOX 13 Seattle's Jennifer Dowling. MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE Veteran Seattle cop Deanna Nollette awarded $3M in settlement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement TSA warns flyers to avoid public USB ports 'Presence, not activity': New tool helps track ICE agents across U.S. 3 Seattle-area sandwich shops make Yelp's Top 100 list Art mural defaced for second time in Seattle's Chinatown-International District To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news A man who threatened people with a knife after stealing a basket of alcohol from a grocery shop has been jailed for five years. Isaac Barry, 33, raised a bottle of wine above his head as he was confronted by a member of staff at Premier Store, in Eastfield Road, Peterborough at about 07:00 GMT on 2 January. Cambridgeshire Police said he ran off before returning to the shop an hour later, when he threatened to stab two men who chased him, before getting away in a car. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barry, of no fixed address, admitted robbery and threatening a person with a blade, and was sentenced at Peterborough Crown Court on Tuesday. Det Con Guiste said: "This was a terrifying experience for the woman who was originally confronted by Barry and the two men he threatened with a knife. "I'm pleased he was identified and has faced justice for his actions. "Robbery is a serious offence and we will continue to do all we can to bring perpetrators before the courts." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Related stories Related internet links Three critically endangered Siamese crocodile hatchlings have been reunited with their parents after their birth earlier this year. Hugo and Rebecca are the proud parents of the little reptile brothers at Crocodiles of the World in Brize Norton, Oxfordshire. Their eggs were removed from the nest for artificial incubation, to ensure the best temperatures for healthy development. Colin Stevenson, head of education at the zoo, said the crocodiles were "excellent parents" and the little ones were being well looked after. The reptiles are considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature [Crocodiles of the World] The newest arrivals have not been named yet and have been sitting out basking, then "swimming over and sitting on mum or dad's back," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Stevenson, originally from Sydney Australia, said: "It's a bit of a surprise to a lot of people that crocs are such good parents. "They're the only reptiles that show extended and quite detailed parental care." It is "excellent" from an education point of view, he said, as the team was able to monitor the crocodiles' parent and child relationship in action. "Crocodilians are excellent parents," said expert Colin Stevenson [Crocodiles of the World] "Both mum and dad are extremely protective of the young ones," he said, which made feeding and maintaining the enclosures "tricky" for the keepers. "The parents are extra sensitive at the moment because they're in protective mode and everything can be seen as a threat to the hatchlings," Mr Stevenson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The animals, which can live into their 50s, usually grow to around 6,000 times their birth size. They are native to Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam and are considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. They were near to extinction but have been making a comeback in some areas. The animals usually grow to around 6,000 times their birth size [Crocodiles of the World] You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram. Related Links A man named Silas Kruger was falsely identified on social media as the CDC shooter in Atlanta. The shooter's real name was Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw, GA, according to GBI. His name was widely spread on X before his parents stepped in to debunk the reports. A false identification of a suspect in a high-profile active shooting is a fairly common phenomenon. For example, in many active shootings, a man named Sam Hyde is falsely blamed as the gunman. It's even become a known meme. Silas Kruger's Mother Confirmed That He Is NOT the Emory Gunman, a Report Says In the case of Silas Kruger, Hindustan Times received an email from his mother debunking the report. Police have not yet named the actual CDC gunman; a police officer from DeKalb, GA, David Rose, 33, lost his life in that shooting. The real gunman is dead, Atlanta police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have people that have been harassing my son (Silas Kruger) online, but we live in Canada. They have been spreading false information about him online for years, Kruger's mom wrote in an email to Hindustan Times. "First off, Silas our son was not involved in anything down in Georgia. The tragedy in Emory University. We are in Canada. Silas was at work all day today. He is surprised as I am," a man says in a video going viral on X. Theres been a lot of confusion online. Some social media posts have wrongly linked Silas Kruger, an Emory University student, to the recent Emory/CDC shooting incident. This is false.#Emory #Georgia #ATL #SilasKruger #ThinBlueLine pic.twitter.com/rDqEDDZuJ6 The Exposure (@TheExposureTeam) August 9, 2025 The man said they had dealt with "trolls" in the past due to Discord, and he said that the family was swatted. The man said he contacted the Emory Police Department and made a statement and "now they're opening a case with the federal cyber unit... sorry for all the confusion. This is just out of control." The director of the CDC confirmed that the shooter (again, who is not Kruger) opened fire on at least four CDC buildings. CNN is reporting that police believe the gunman was motivated by a belief that a COVID-19 vaccine had caused an illness in him. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Grok chatbot even wrote, "The Emory University shooting occurred on Aug 8, 2025, near the CDC, resulting in the shooter's death and one officer injured. Social media identifies the shooter as student Silas Kruger with a COVID vaccine-related motive, but Atlanta police have not confirmed the identity or motive. Official statements indicate the investigation is ongoing, with no details on motive released. Rumors appear unverified." Related: CDC Shooter in Atlanta May Have Blamed COVID-19 Vaccine for Illness: Report Silas Kruger Falsely Identified as Atlanta CDC Shooter: Reports first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 9, 2025 ESCONDIDO, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) A male silverback gorilla has joined the troop at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in Escondido. Paul Donn is the first silverback at the safari park since the passing of 52-year-old Winston last year. At the time, Winston was one of the oldest male gorillas in captivity in the world, according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Paul Donn, the silverback, at San Diego Zoo Safari Park. (Emily Senninger/San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) In January 2021, Winston and his troop were the first known great apes in the world to be diagnosed with COVID-19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Paul Donns arrival marks his return to the troop he was raised in, the wildlife alliance said in a news release. He was one of two males that Winston had allowed into his troop, a move often uncharacteristic for silverbacks. A silverback is an adult male recognized by the gray hair on his back. In a troop of gorillas, the silverback is the leader who is responsible for decision-making and the familys safety. Paul Donn joined the safari park with Jessica, a 44-year-old female gorilla who has been living with him. Paul Donn, the silverback, and Jessica at San Diego Zoo Safari Park. (Emily Senninger/San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) Paul Donn, the silverback, and Jessica at San Diego Zoo Safari Park. (Emily Senninger/San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) Paul Donn, the silverback, and Jessica at San Diego Zoo Safari Park. (Emily Senninger/San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance) Guests can visit Paul Donn and Jessica, along with the rest of the troop, at the Gorilla Forest exhibit at the safari park. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. A streak of fire, as one report put it, is expected to be viewed over the Eastern seaboard Tuesday morning as NASA launches a sounding rocket. The space agencys Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia has announced the scheduled launch of a sounding rocket, a small rocket that flies to suborbital space, carrying experiments developed by college students. The launch is expected to happen between 6 and 9 a.m. EDT on Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For those on the Delmarva Peninsula, weather permitting, you may catch a glimpse of the rocket in the sky, the Wallops Flight Facility wrote on Facebook. The News & Observer reported onlookers in multiple states will see a streak of fire. A 'streak of fire,' as one report put it, is expected to be viewed over the Eastern seaboard Tuesday morning as NASA launches a sounding rocket (NASA/Christian Billie) A map shared by the Wallops Flight Facility showed when viewers in different states may be able to see the rocket. Within 10 seconds after takeoff, people on the Eastern Shore of Maryland will have line-of-sight access to the rocket. Between 10 to 30 seconds after takeoff, those in Philadelphia, Dover, Delaware, Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and Richmond, Virginia, will be able to see the rocket. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement About 30 to 32 seconds after takeoff, people in Trenton, New Jersey and Charlottesville, Virginia, will have sight of the rocket. The sounding rocket, which is the same type as the one pictured, is carrying experiments developed by eight university and community college teams part of NASAs RockSat program (NASA/Kyle Hoppes) Even viewers in northeast North Carolina will be able to see the rocket 30 to 32 seconds after takeoff. The Terrier-Improved Malemute rocket is expected to reach an altitude of about 100 miles (162 kilometers) before descending by parachute into the Atlantic Ocean to be recovered, according to a blog post from the Wallops Flight Facility. The rocket is carrying experiments developed by eight university and community college teams part of NASAs RockSat program. The RockSat program provides NASA-unique technical training and authentic, hands-on experiences, that prepare and equip students to enter the United States aerospace industry, Victoria Stoffel, Wallops STEM team lead, said in a statement. Some of the projects include the University of Alabama Huntsvilles deployable heat shield that generates electricity and Northwest Nazarene Universitys robotic arm, designed to track and capture objects in space, according to the flight facility. NEW MEXICO (KRQE) 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 on Monday in eastern New Mexico, with spotty afternoon storm chances in central, northern, and western parts of the state. Forecast Continues Below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement High pressure builds in overhead again by the middle of the week, bringing in hotter temperatures and 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. About an hour and a half after a fatal shooting Wednesday night, the sidewalk outside the emergency room was starting to get crowded around Jose Hernandez. He stood quietly as more and more people drove up and began to pace outside the University of Chicago Medical Center. The smell of cigarettes hung in the air. He scanned faces, looking for people he might recognize from the crime scene where a young man was found on a street in the Douglas neighborhood with a gunshot wound to the head. Everyone Hernandez saw faced a long list of unknowns, about the killing itself and everything that would come next. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People dont know what to expect, he said. Hernandez is a crisis responder, whose job it is to connect with the families of homicide victims in the first blurry hours after a violent death and make sure they have help with the mountain of logistical and emotional needs that come with the killing of a loved one. Hed been waiting for about 20 minutes when a woman in a black sweatsuit hurried down the ramp from outside the emergency room with her fingers laced together. Hernandez approached, offered a handshake and then a business card and spoke quietly for a few minutes. The woman took the card and thanked him. She was an aunt of the gunshot victim, and ticked through a long list of deaths the family had recently endured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chicago is currently seeing a drop in violent crime. But one night last week alone Chicago counted nine new gunshot victims, including the man whose family was waiting outside the emergency room with Hernandez. And while supporting the people closest to victims of violence is one of the most important ways to prevent further violence, advocates and doctors fear that expiring pandemic-era relief funds, uncertainty around federal support and Chicago and Illinois own shaky finances will eat away at the citys progress in reducing violence. Hernandezs organization, facing a funding shortfall from both state and city sources, has been slowly laying off employees and thinning its manpower on every shift. Once Hernandez meets the survivors of a homicide victim, he typically goes with them to the morgue while they identify their loved ones body and offers help with funeral arrangements. He also gets families started on a stack of paperwork and managing ambulance bills, applications for city and state reimbursements for victims of crime. Then one of his colleagues in another part of the organization, Chicago Survivors, takes over coordinating longer-term financial planning and support, mental health assistance and other efforts to help the family stabilize themselves. Elected officials and private-sector leaders have gone in big for hyperlocal violence interventions over the last several years, particularly on strategies such as street outreach and peacekeeping, which leverages relationships of people very close to street violence as a way to prevent further conflicts. Serving families in the wake of a homicide has historically been considered an extension or complement to the work of violence intervention. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But University of Chicago Trauma Center Director Selwyn Rogers said that in a world where people who have previously been exposed to gun violence are at greater risk of becoming victims themselves, follow-up support for families suffering from violent loss is itself a preventive measure. Its not just when a bullet leaves a chamber and does harm to a human that leads to death and then the death is over, and thats it, he said. It actually has reverberating effects for everyone. At Chicago Survivors, advocates fear that if they are forced to compromise services for families who in many cases are already fighting to survive, violence will begin to metastasize again. A severe blow Until recently, JaShawn Hill, the groups executive director, had hoped that the organization would be able to expand its reach over the next year. Theyd asked for $4 million from Springfield at the start of the 2025-26 budgeting process, double what they received last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They had planned to expand their youth clinical care services and to put more staff in Chicago Public Schools. Theyd hoped to start operating in the suburbs, which tend to have less infrastructure to prevent and respond to violence, and continue working with Chicago Police Department detectives and families toward closing cold case investigations. This year, Illinois lawmakers gave the organization $1 million in the recently passed budget in a year when expiring federal funds and a projected budget shortfall led to reductions for many other groups as well. About $500,000 in American Rescue Plan funding, given out through the city, is also set to expire Dec. 31. Hill said there were promising options for the future, if the organization can make it through the next year. Cook County officials late last month announced $25 million in grant funding for gun violence prevention, of which $5 million is earmarked for survivors of gun violence victims. For now, the group is being forced to lay off staffers a handful at a time. As of Friday, theyd eliminated jobs for three crisis responders, three family support workers and an advocate who worked out of the Leighton Criminal Court Building. Hill said they expect to cut three more jobs later in August. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Remaining workers are staffing their shifts alone, Director of Crisis Response Frank Luera said. That means when multiple homicides take place in a short time frame, they cant spend as much time with survivor families in the first hours after a killing and that longer-term support workers take longer to get people the help they need. Cases get backed up, and then families have to find their way without any support or anybody telling them about what their next steps are or whats available to them, he said. (And then) theyll tend to isolate, which makes our job even harder. Less city funding A representative of the citys Department of Public Health, whose money has in part been supporting Chicago Survivors, said in a statement that ARPA money accounted for 40% of the departments violence prevention money. While the loss of these funds at the end of 2025 will deal a severe blow, we remain optimistic that critical services in priority communities most impacted by violence will continue, the statement read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city recently wrapped up two bidding processes for new violence prevention contracts, including one for services nearly identical to what Chicago Survivors offers among them immediate crisis response, hospital morgue visits, counseling and help with reimbursement paperwork. But Hill said her group wasnt eligible for those contracts because they were geared toward more neighborhood-based organizations, not citywide work. Hill said that while they have considered their work an extension of and complement to community violence intervention, theyll be making the case going forward that they are part of the fabric. Rogers, of the U. of C. trauma center, said the logistical help that those groups provide whether theyre independent like Chicago Survivors or based in a hospital like the University of Chicago Violence Recovery specialists is critical for people who are overwhelmed in the first few weeks after a family member is killed. But even more important, he said, was helping survivors figure out how to think about the death going forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How do you deal with a 17-year-old who went to a party and theyre now dead? he said. We dont do a good job dealing with the psychological, emotional, spiritual needs of (people who are) left behind. The grief remains Maria Pike hurried out of her Pilsen two-flat and stood under the streetlights, looking for the moon. Buckets of sunflowers and orange roses waited inside her navy blue minivan across the street. Pike got in the minivan and turned east down 18th Street. She sped north on the Kennedy. She hadnt counted on the Armitage exit being closed for construction, but it was OK. As long as she reached Logan Square before 4:50 a.m. she would be happy. Off the expressway, west on Fullerton, south on Drake and east again on Palmer to North St. Louis Avenue where, 13 years ago at that time, her son had been killed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pike was walking like a zombie a few days later when a woman shed never met called to offer help. The woman on the phone said her son, Frankie Valencia, had been a close friend of Pikes son, Ricky. Valencia had been killed in 2009, before Ricky Pike and his parents had thrown themselves into organizing aid for other families of homicide victims in an informal network of logistical help, money for flowers or transportation and other support. She didnt want help at first. But later found herself getting involved with the network of families, then known as Chicago Citizens for Change. She learned how to arrange meetings with police, how to canvass neighborhoods, how to organize trips to the morgue. She used to plaster the blocks in Logan Square with signs seeking information about her sons killer. Residents would only speak to her in secret, she remembered, knowing which street gang had been involved in his death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her sons murder case wound its way through the court system, leading to a conviction and then a new trial and eventually a release for the man convicted. As time has gone on, she has poured herself more and more into advocacy around restorative justice, gun violence and community service in neighborhoods all over Chicago. She has learned all about the social factors that lead people to hurt or kill others and wants to see families have the chance to grow from grief, which she sees as the reverse to the chaos and instability violence wreaks. We dont care who you are, where you come from, what race you are, what you did or did not do, she said. What matters is that you are dead and somebody loves you. And that somebody is going to have to live with the consequences of grief. Each year the site of Ricky Pikes killing is a little further removed from what it was in the early hours of Aug. 3, 2012, when police found him and a friend shot in a dark green Geo Prizm. The pink-painted trees that used to mark Imperial Gangsters territory are gone. The homes are nicer. Chicago Citizens for Change became Chicago Survivors, where Maria Pike is now a board member and which last year aided families of 425 homicides around the city. We are the small engine that can, Pike said. Or, we were. Pike gestured to a few feet of curb near the entrance to an alley, about halfway down the 2100 block of North St. Louis Avenue. This is where it happened, she said. Pike took bundles of orange roses from the minivan, along with a black plastic bucket, scissors, a few lengths of orange fabric and several water bottles. The roses needed to be cut to a few different lengths. She placed the bucket at the foot of a nearby tree and emptied the bottles of water into it. Then she filled it with a sunburst of roses. She took out a laminated sign and struggled for a moment to tie it to the tree. She straightened up and stepped back. She bowed her head, clasped her hands in front of her and stood still for several minutes in front of that tree on North St. Louis Avenue. The sun had not yet begun to rise. The sign read Take a Rose, or several to share with friends and neighbors. It notified readers that Ricky Pike had been killed a few feet away on that spot 13 years ago and quoted a friends saying at his funeral that he had been a summer in their lives. It asked readers to attempt to reverse violence and spread the love as it is love that makes us children of God. When Maria Pike goes, she wants to make sure her son knows she tried her best to do it herself. Former Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, though far from the White House, still appear to have an effect on President Donald Trump, according to a new report. CNN reported on Sunday that Trump had moved the official portraits of Obama and Bush to a hidden stairwell. Trump had directed his staff to move a portrait of Obama to the top of the Grand Staircase, two sources told the outlet, which brings it out of view for thousands of visitors who tour the White House every day. One of the sources said that both portraits of Bush and his father, George H. W. Bush, are also in the same area. Multiple sources also told CNN that Trump has been directly involved with nearly every move to alter the presence of the White House emphasizing ongoing tensions between the president and his predecessors who he perceives as political rivals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics were quick to slam Trump over the report on social media. So... he cant lower prices. He cant end the Ukraine war in 24 hours. He WONT release Epstein files... But he can do petty trolling like hiding Obamas and Bushs portraits, like a jealous 12-year-old? Thats what you voted for, MAGA? one user wrote on X early Monday. The Republicans against Trump account also took aim at his supporters. Despite what many MAGA followers believe, Donald Trump is a small, tiny, insecure man with a fragile ego, it posted. Despite what many MAGA followers believe, Donald Trump is a small, tiny, insecure man with a fragile ego. pic.twitter.com/wCs6vXP7J7 Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) August 10, 2025 Another user called Trump psychologically damaged, while someone had also diagnosed him: This is because Trump is a malignant narcissist - deeply insecure, greatly craving respect and legitimacy. The kind Obama has. That he never will. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Glad I got to see the best POTUS in my lifetimes portrait before the worst POTUS in ANY moved it to a hidden stairwell because he knows he will never measure up. Trump is trash, always has been, a different user said. Glad I got to see the best POTUS in my lifetimes portrait before the worst POTUS in ANY moved it to a hidden stairwell because he knows he will never measure up. Trump is trash, always has been. pic.twitter.com/DD7xtk3Eug NoelCaslerComedy (@caslernoel) August 10, 2025 Democratic political strategist Donna Brazile asked, Who voted for this type of nonsense? Its time for 47 to end the retribution. According to CNN, the display of the most recent presidents portraits in prominent placements such as in the entrance, visible to guests and tourists is White House protocol. The reported move comes as Trump and administration officials have escalated attacks against Obama and his former team, with the president accusing his predecessor of engaging in treason during the 2016 election. Obamas office had called Trumps claims outrageous and a weak attempt at distraction in a rare rebuke. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney General Pam Bondi has also since ordered a grand jury probe into allegations that Obamas national security team manufactured an intelligence report that Russian interfered on Trumps behalf. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard had recently declassified a set of documents, which she claimed undermined the legitimacy of the conclusion. From left, former President George W. Bush, former first lady Laura Bush and former President Barack Obama, arrive before the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. (Chip Somodevilla/Pool Photo via AP) Meanwhile, the oldest Bush, who passed away in 2018, had publicly announced that he was planning on voting for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2016, and referred to Trump as a blowhard. Bush has been attacked by Trump as a failed and uninspiring and ungrateful. I kept him from being the worst President in history, Trump told reporters in 2021. When he left office, he was at the bottom of the list of Presidents I mean, the very, very bottom. Then I got into office and changed all that. I have never got so much as a thank-you note from that ungrateful bastard. I dont know, maybe hes too busy with his so-called paintings to write, he added. Both Obama and Bush attended Trumps inauguration ceremony in January. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Josh Brooks hadnt planned for a career taking care of young children, but in 10th grade he started spending time with his friends younger brother and discovered that he had a real knack for it. At 18, Brooks took a job at Common Ground, a child care center in northern Virginia, and enjoyed it so much he kept working there throughout college, where he studied psychology. After graduating, though, he felt pressure to get a real grown-up job and applied to work as a government contractor. He maintained spreadsheets all day and was miserable. After nine months I realized how ridiculous that notion was, to keep myself from something that I loved, he said. And so he returned to Common Ground. Josh Brooks. Brooks, now 28, knows his career path is unusual: In the US, only 3 percent of the preschool workforce, and just 6 percent of the child care workforce, is male. But he works in a progressive part of the country, for an organization that explicitly touts the value of having men in the classroom. Common Grounds executive director, Liz Badley Raubacher, is married to a man who runs another child care center in town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also helps that hes not the only male teacher on staff. Brooks works alongside Jordon Farrell, 30, who started volunteering at Common Ground to fulfill a high school requirement and, like Brooks, was surprised by how much he liked it. Farrells been working there for the last seven years. They both teach alongside Zach Davis, 24, who originally went to trade school for hospitality. When the pandemic hit, most hotels shut down and Davis took a role as a recess attendant at a private school, and realized how much he liked working with kids. But when that school also closed due to Covid-19, he stumbled onto Common Ground, and has been happily working there ever since. Despite severe worker shortages in child care, most centers across America employ no male teachers. Men tend to steer away from a field thats both low-paying and perceived as overtly feminine. Theyre also heavily deterred by parental suspicion of inappropriate contact; because most convicted sexual abusers are men, many families perceive any man interested in working with children as a threat. Hiring managers at the centers themselves worry about liability and consumer demand, reacting to fears more than data. Zach Davis, who teaches at Common Ground Childcare. Im not going to say we havent had those concerns, weve had to navigate those gut reactions with parents, Raubacher told me. We say, Listen, we understand, it may seem strange until youre here, but well help you through it. We have women doctors, women accountants. And there are a lot of men who really just shine working with younger kids. The general ambivalence toward male early childhood educators has persisted despite research underscoring the value that caring male adults can bring to a childs development. Men often bring different approaches to play and teaching, while challenging the stereotype that nurturing young children is a womans job alone. They can serve as trusted role models, especially for boys. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Building a stronger pipeline to recruit and retain men in child care could help bring sorely needed talent into the field. Yet unlike in K-12 education, where there have been national efforts to recruit more men, theres been no similar systemic push to alter the gender ratios in the female-dominated child care space. Jordon Farrell teaches 3- and 4-year-olds at Common Ground Childcare. Smaller-scale efforts are starting to emerge, though. In 2023, Hopkins House Early Childhood Learning Institute, a Virginia-based educator training program, hosted a conference to explore the idea. Programs are starving for qualified personnel, J. Glenn Hopkins, the chief executive of Hopkins House, said. Looking only at one half of the population is a mistake. What its like to be a man working in child care Being the sole man in the classroom hasnt always been easy for Julian LaFerla, even as he felt sure that he brought something distinctive and valuable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement LaFerla stumbled into his child care career when he took a college class on early childhood learning. He considered it a quasi-training course for one day becoming a father and then I just discovered it felt like a really humane field, he said. You know, the play and the story time, and the snacks, and the singing it just felt like a nice workplace. Josh Brooks, the social-emotional teacher, plays guitar and works with children of all ages at Common Ground Childcare. Now 48, LaFerla has spent 12 years working across various preschool, child care, and kindergarten settings in St. Paul, Minnesota plus another 10 years as a stay-at-home father. But unlike the men at Common Ground in Virginia, LaFerla has never had a male colleague or male mentor, leaving him to navigate complex gender dynamics alone. In some circumstances with certain kids, the expectation is I should be more masculine, and with others its to be less masculine, he said. Compared to my female colleagues, Im just more engaged in high-energy, rough-and-tumble play picking kids up, wrestling, letting them climb all over me, that sort of thing. Nine years into his teaching career, LaFerla decided to pursue a masters in education to better understand his own experiences. Through scouring the literature on men in child care for his thesis, he learned that many of his confusing moments were widely shared: The lack of support from his father for his career choice, the assumption that he could serve as the schools default handyman, and the ongoing tension of when to emphasize gender difference, sameness, or neutrality. Common Ground Childcare explicitly touts the value of having men in the classroom. Researchers find that men often feel that theyre scrutinized more closely than their female colleagues. Men sense that theyre excluded from tasks like diapering or comforting upset children, yet are then expected to take on the role of disciplinarian when kids misbehave. The biggest hurdle men report, though, is the fear that parents will see them as a threat. Unlike other fields where women dominate like nursing or even elementary school teaching working with kids under 5 involves a lot of physical contact. For male workers, routine tasks like helping with bathroom needs or soothing crying children become potential liabilities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A lot of men Ive spoken to are scared of the prospect of accusations or things being taken the wrong way and that just completely puts them off from wanting to do anything involving children, Brooks, of Common Ground, told me. Until programs can overcome these cultural barriers and biases, schools and programs will keep struggling to recruit men and to hold on to the few they do have. And while its natural to worry about abuse or neglect by anyone, advocates focused on reducing child abuse emphasize that risk should be mitigated through training and rigorous vetting, including criminal background checks, for all staff. Some child care centers incorporate security cameras and windows in interior doors, or have rules about having multiple staff present with children at all times, to help build trust and transparency. Trying to bring men in Over the last decade, some child care advocates have started speaking up about the need to better support men in their industry and address the challenges that LaFerla and others face. Men, if theyre working in early childhood settings, or even fathers if they come into the building, tend to be uncomfortable because the settings dont make them feel comfortable, said Hopkins, of Hopkins House. Its an unintended consequence its not a purposeful decision but [reflects] how child care has evolved. Jordon Farrell has been at Common Ground Childcare for seven years. Last November, at a second conference hosted by Hopkins House, participants proposed strategies to recruit more men, including targeted scholarships and mentorship programs. Participants also emphasized the need to challenge gender stereotypes through public awareness campaigns and improve pay to attract stronger candidates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their suggestions are in line with researchers who have been advocating strategies like providing mentorship and direct support to new male teachers from other men. Some studies suggest that men may also be more likely to stay in early childhood settings that actively engage with gender through measures like anti-bias training, curriculum design, or even parent outreach than in environments that ignore it altogether. To appeal to mens interest in important work, the group recommended highlighting early childhood educations impact on young minds and communities. Participants suggested emphasizing that teaching and caregiving requires strength, leadership, and creativity, and expanding internship and apprenticeship opportunities to give more men hands-on experience and exposure. Hopkins said hes part of a new group of men working in early childhood education in Washington, DC, and knows a similar program may launch soon in Virginia. He pointed to growing national interest in supporting employment for young men, which may provide an opportunity to leverage those resources for his work. Child care and early learning are also fields less susceptible to automation by artificial intelligence than many traditionally male-dominated jobs a reality noted by several men I interviewed. I hold tight to this job because I feel like child care isnt going anywhere, Brooks of Common Ground told me. People will always need other people to watch their children, no matter what. I hold tight to this job because I feel like child care isnt going anywhere, Josh Brooks said. People will always need other people to watch their children, no matter what. Davis said the small, everyday moments make his career decision feel simple. Its just great working with the kids and watching them grow, he said. Every day I come in and they always say good morning to me, or like, give you a hug or something. This work was supported by a grant from the Bainum Family Foundation. Vox Media had full discretion over the content of this reporting. Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has assured President William Ruto that the county remains committed to focusing on big development projects over the ongoing politics of the Mt. Kenya region. The governor made the remarks on Sunday, August 10, 2025, while hosting President Ruto for a worship service at PCEA Joshua Matenjwa Church in Limuru Town. In this county we have our agenda clear-cut. Unlike others, we decided to reduce the volume of politicking to zero so that we can have a conducive environment for meaningful work. That is the mood here. This is the criteria to know those working and those engaging in talks only, he said. Wamatangi highlighted the countys significant progress in healthcare, public service, and education. Our county is now being tipped as the number one in many development facets, ranging from the building of ECDE classes to others. We also resolved to go completely green in our public service. At first we used to be drilling boreholes, and when they are placed in electrical storage, no one has been consuming that water. We now have installed solar street lighting, and the bills we used to incur in services fees are now saved, he noted. During the event, Wamatangi urged the head of state to allow the western bypass loop to pass through Limuru Town, saying the move would help economically open up the region. His appeal came just weeks after he announced that Thikas bid to attain city status had received unanimous approval from Kiambu MCAs. The report is now before the Senate. The proposed upgrade is expected to create over 50,000 jobs through projects spearheading industrialization and tapping into Thikas strong infrastructure and revenue base. Concurrently, Kiambu Woman Representative Wanjiku Wamuratha reaffirmed the regions support for President Ruto, stating they believe in his vision to improve and transform Kenyans lives. At times people may not understand you, but those of us who understand your vision for this county know you have an agenda for this county, and we believe in what you are telling us, she said. The agenda the president has for our children must be supported by us, especially the women. We have projects for TVETs and village polytechnicslet us get our children there, she urged. We will continue to support this government and the president, she added. (KRON) A Sonoma County Sheriffs Office deputy who allegedly killed his former romantic partner died of a self-inflicted gunshot following a standoff with law enforcement Sunday. Deputy Jeremy Lyle was off duty when he fatally shot his former partner, Detention Specialist Mari Bonnici, according to the SCSO. The Santa Rosa Police Department said that officers were dispatched at 7:02 p.m. to an apartment located in the 4600 block of Quigg Drive. Arriving officers were informed by dispatch that the male partner of a woman living at the apartments had handed the reporting party an infant and told her to call 911 because the childs mother was hurt. The man was later identified as Deputy Lyle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hayward shooting leaves one dead, two hospitalized Lyle, 44, who was hired in 2015, had been serving as a resident deputy in Timber Cove since 2019. After allegedly shooting Bonnici, Lyle left the scene in an unknown vehicle and headed in an unknown direction. Officers at the scene found an unresponsive woman, later identified as Bonnici. Bonnici, 38, was deceased and appeared to have sustained at least one gunshot wound. Twin toddlers were also located in a back bedroom. All three children are believed to belong to Lyle and Bonnici. None of the children were injured and all are being cared for by family members. Officers received word that Lyles vehicle was spotted parked in the parking lot of the Sonoma County Coroners Office. Officers responded and blocked off the parking lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Responding officers spotted Lyle standing in the bed of his truck holding a handgun behind his back. Initially, officers attempted to negotiate a peaceful surrender. Santa Rosa PD SWAT team members responded and took over negotiations at 9 p.m. Negotiations continued until 2 a.m. when Lyle died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, witnessed by deputies and Santa Rosa Police Department officers. This tragic event is particularly shocking because it involves a law enforcement officer, said SCSO in a social media post. We recognize the profound shock and concern that this incident brings to our community. Both the Sheriffs Office and the community place immense trust in those who are dedicated to serving and protecting. No level of training can fully prepare us for such a tragedy. We extend our deepest condolences to Maris family and loved ones, the post continued. We are grieving alongside them and are working to support our Sheriffs Office family. The incident is being investigated by the Santa Rosa Police Department. If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call or text 988. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. By Joyce Lee and Heejin Kim SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea and Vietnam's leaders pledged to deepen economic cooperation on Monday as their export-dependent countries try to shore up longstanding supply chains as U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs shake up global trade. There was no public discussion of the levies - 15% on South Korean products going to the U.S. and 20% for Vietnamese goods - as South Korean President Lee Jae Myung hosted Vietnam's To Lam as his first state guest since taking office in June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Trump's tariffs on products from Asian countries have increased uncertainty over future business commitments, with Vietnamese official data showing a slowdown in new investment. Lam, the Vietnamese Communist Party general secretary, said they agreed to expand trade with each other to $150 billion by 2030 - from about $86.8 billion in 2024 - and that Vietnam welcomed an increase in investment by South Korean businesses. "Our countries agreed that about 10,000 Korean companies operating in Vietnam contribute to Vietnam's economic development and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries," Lee said in a televised address. "I asked for a continued interest in the stable economic activities of our companies in Vietnam," Lam added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lam led a delegation of industry, trade, foreign and technology ministers and senior party and parliament members on the four-day state visit. The countries signed 10 memoranda of understanding, pledging cooperation in areas including nuclear and renewable energy, monetary and financial policies, and science and technology, Lee's office said. Other agreements covered cooperation in infrastructure, including high-speed rail, Lee's office said. In a speech at South Korea's Yonsei University, Lam urged South Korean companies to keep investing in Vietnam and warned of the risk of fragmenting supply chains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Vietnam welcomes South Korean enterprises to expand their investments in the country, emphasising substantive cooperation in technology," Lam said. Lam said the countries should make it a top priority to jointly develop semiconductors and make breakthroughs in new materials, calling on Korea to keep nurturing Vietnamese talent in areas like AI, biotech and shipbuilding. A number of major South Korean companies including Samsung Electronics have used Vietnam as an export hub, benefiting for years from lower labour costs, generous tax incentives and Hanoi's numerous free trade pacts with dozens of countries. South Korean companies have been cited as potential investors in Vietnam's planned nuclear energy, LNG power plants and high-speed rail projects. (Reporting by Jack Kim, Joyce Lee and Heejin Kim in Seoul; Additional reporting by Francesco Guarascio, Phuong Nguyen and Khanh Vu in Hanoi; Editing by Ed Davies and Andrew Heavens) SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will grant a presidential pardon to former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, the Ministry of Justice said on Monday, a move that could restore Cho's position as a liberal political leader after he was jailed for academic fraud. The pardon will reinstate Cho's eligibility to be elected to public office, and may make him a focal point for support by some liberals in a political landscape currently dominated by Lee and the ruling liberal Democratic Party, analysts have said. Cho launched the minor Rebuilding Korea Party ahead of the general election in April last year. The Democratic Party relies on the support of the party and other smaller liberal parties to cement its control of South Korea's parliament. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since December, Cho has been serving a two-year jail term for forging documents to facilitate his children's admission to prestigious schools and unlawful interference with a government inspection. The Rebuilding Korea Party welcomed Cho's pardon and accused the previous administration of abusing the power of prosecutors. However, pollster Realmeter said "pardon issues" were partly to blame for a downturn in Lee's support in an opinion poll. Lee's approval rating fell to 56.5% in the first week of August from 63.3% the previous week, Realmeter said on Monday. Cho's pardon, among 2,188 people to be pardoned and reinstated on Friday, had been the most heavily trailed in South Korean media before it was confirmed on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Song Eon-seog, the conservative opposition People Power Party's floor leader, criticised the pardon and said Cho "has destroyed the values of fairness and justice in our society, inflicting great deprivation on young people". Others to be pardoned by Lee include former lawmaker Yoon Mee-hyang, the Ministry of Justice said. She was charged with personally using donations meant to help women forced to work in Japanese wartime brothels, and her guilty verdict was finalised last year. Others include a number of conservative political figures, businessmen, as well as small business owners, truck drivers and fishermen, the ministry said. "The pardons focused on providing opportunities for national unity ... and revitalising the economy," Justice Minister Jeong Seong-ho told a televised briefing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The presidential pardons are to mark August 15, South Korea's National Liberation Day, which this year falls on the 80th the anniversary of Korea's independence from Japan's 191045 colonial rule. (Reporting by Joyce LeeEditing by Ed Davies and Alison Williams) SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Koreas president will pardon jailed former justice minister and liberal ally Cho Kuk this week, officials said Monday, cutting short his two-year sentence for falsifying academic records to help his children enter prestigious schools. The decision will also reinstate Chos right to run in elections, likely reviving a political career once seen as having presidential aspirations. But it could also prove to be a divisive move for liberal President Lee Jae Myung, as the scandal surrounding Cho had struck a deep nerve in a country notorious for its educational zeal and fiercely competitive school environment. Lee, who won an early election in June to replace ousted conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol, said pardoning Cho and some other convicted politicians and public officials, including some conservatives, would help promote political unity. But the conservative People Power Party criticized the pardon, accusing Lee of arrogance and abusing his presidential powers to release and reinstate Cho, who trampled on the fairness and common sense of future generations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The party was also critical of Lees decision to pardon former liberal lawmaker Yoon Meehyang, who was convicted of embezzling funds while leading a group supporting Korean survivors of Japans wartime sexual slavery. Cho will be among 2,188 people including convicted politicians, business leaders, and former officials receiving pardons on Fridays Liberation Day, which marks the Korean Peninsulas liberation from Japanese colonial rule at the end of World War II. Cho, who launched the minor Rebuilding Korea Party before last Aprils legislative elections, had been serving a two-year prison term since December after the Supreme Court upheld various charges, including abuse of power and forging documents to help his children enter elite schools. The controversy, which erupted in 2019 and forced Cho to resign as justice minister, fueled public anger in a country grappling with widening inequality and an intensely competitive education system, and hurt the popularity of then-liberal President Moon Jae-in. Chos party supported Lees candidacy during the June presidential election, which was set up after Yoon was formally removed from office in April over his short-lived martial law imposition in December. The Brief Catastrophic flash flooding has impacted communities across southeast Wisconsin this past weekend. Several counties have declared a state of emergency, and Governor Evers has approved assistance from the National Guard. Several rivers are at flood stage, and several roadways remain flooded and closed. MILWAUKEE COUNTY, Wis. - Southeast Wisconsin saw historic and dangerous flooding this past weekend (Aug. 9-10). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A flood warning remained in effect until 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 11. However, several river flood warnings remain in effect for several counties. Head to the FOX6 Weather Alert Page for the latest information. Catastrophic flooding What we know Catastrophic flooding has impacted Milwaukee, Wauwatosa, Waukesha, and other surrounding communities. Multiple counties have declared a state of emergency, and Governor Evers has approved help from the National Guard. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Milwaukee flooding Homes and vehicles were destroyed, and countless lives changed after floodwaters took over parts of the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Milwaukee County, Executive David Crowley issued an emergency declaration over the weekend. Several roadways in the county remained closed on Monday. Milwaukee County officials stress to avoid any flooded roads or those that are closed. Wauwatosa is one of the hardest hit areas from the flood. Neighborhoods turned into lakes, and some vehicles are completely underwater. Flooding in Wauwatosa The city's dispatch center received more than 500 calls, a majority of them about flooded basements, flooded storm drains, and traffic issues from the flood. Some people living in Wauwatosa tell FOX6 they saw neighbors getting rescued by boat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement People's homes flooded, leaving them in shock and wondering what to do next. "All the neighbors have been great. Very willing to help. All our family has been willing to step up. Good to see that part," said Eric Truss, whose home flooded. Courtesy of the Franklin Police Department What they're saying Members of the Milwaukee Common Council released the following statement on the severity of the flooding. "The rain and flooding that took place over the weekend was truly a generational event. We all know someone a family member, friend, neighbor, or even ourselves who was negatively impacted by the flooding. People suffered flooded basements, damage to their cars, and a variety of other damage to personal property. To that end, we understand the range of emotions people are feeling in the aftermath of this event. The sadness, anger and trauma are all very real. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Despite all of this, we have also seen the strength that exists in our community. Neighbors helping neighbors with acts big or small in the face of adversity is the type of spirit that will help us persevere despite the long road ahead." Power and water What we know Meanwhile, leaders are now focused on recovery. Crews at We Energies say they are working around the clock to restore power across southeastern Wisconsin. City leaders say when it comes to flooding, there was little they could have done to stop it. "We have 14 inches of rain in this location, which is an intense amount in a short period of time, so there's no sewer system across the country that can maintain that amount," said Jerrel Kruschke, Milwaukee Department of Public Works Commissioner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One thing was done at the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD). With the deep tunnel nearing full capacity, MMSD started a combined sewage overflow just before 10 p.m. on Saturday, meaning crews sent a combination of untreated sewage and stormwater into nearby waterways. Milwaukee flooding The affected areas include the Milwaukee River, Menomonee River, and Lake Michigan between McKinley Beach and South Shore Beach. Cleanup and drop-off What you can do Part of the cleanup is figuring out what to do with water-damaged items. There are two drop-off centers for large items in the City of Milwaukee. They're open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flood victims do not need to pay. DPW working What you can do The Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW) said to report any street flooding, water backing up into basements, downed trees or limbs and stranded or disabled vehicles. To report these issues, call 414-286-CITY (2489), visit milwaukee.gov/Click4Action, or use the MKEmobile app. Waukesha County impacted What we know Waukesha County was one of the counties hit the hardest by rain and flooding. Pedestrian bridges were closed, streets sunken, cars stuck and submerged in water. Flooding in Waukesha Although some people fished and canoed in the flooding, others are navigating the devastation. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FOX6 spoke with a family who crews rescued on Saturday because the water rose so fast. Everything they had in their basement, years of memories, were on their lawn yesterday drying out. "This is all material stuff to us. This really doesn't matter to us at all. It's that everybody made it out of there safe and sound. The fire department was very fast, they had boats to evac us out," said Jerry Breske. Extra coverage Dig deeper The Source FOX6 has extensively covered the historic flooding that occurred in the viewing area on August 9-10. PARIS (AP) A heat wave gripping parts of Europe sent temperatures over 40 degrees Celsius (109.4 Fahrenheit) in southern France and the Western Balkans on Monday, fueling wildfires, triggering top-level weather alerts and forcing evacuations in several countries across what scientists warn is the worlds fastest-warming continent. Fires burned in Frances Aude wine region, along Bulgarias southern borders, near Montenegros capital and coast, and in Turkeys northwest and Hungary recorded record-breaking weekend temperatures. 2025 is predicted to be the second- or third-warmest year on record, according to the U.K.-based Carbon Brief. The extreme heat in Europe fits that global pattern but the continent is heating far faster than the rest of the world. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Land temperatures have risen about 2.3 C above pre-industrial levels, nearly twice the global average, intensifying heat waves and driving record fire seasons. With major outbreaks in Spain, Portugal and deadly blazes in Greece since late June, the burned area is already far above the seasonal norm. France on high alert On Monday, the French national weather authority, Meteo-France, placed 12 departments on red alert, the countrys highest heat warning, anticipating exceptional heat stretching from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean plains. Forty-one other departments were under lower-level orange alerts, as was the neighboring microstate of Andorra, between France and Spain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dont be fooled this isnt normal, its summer. Its not normal, its a nightmare, agricultural climatologist Serge Zaka told broadcaster BFMTV from Montauban in Frances Tarn-et-Garonne department, where the blistering heat pressed relentlessly throughout the day. Social media images showed shuttered streets in Valence, residents shielding windows with foil to reflect the light, and tourists huddling under umbrellas along the Garonne in Toulouse. Across the south, cafe terraces stood empty as people sought cooler corners indoors. In Frances Aude department, a patchwork of vineyards and Mediterranean scrubland, hundreds of firefighters remained in the rolling wine country guarding the edges of a massive, deadly blaze that scorched 16,000 hectares (40,000 acres) last week. Officials say the fire is under control but warn it will not be fully extinguished for weeks, with hot spots still smoldering and at risk of reigniting. The red alert in France has been issued only eight times since it was created in 2004 after a deadly summer the year before. It is reserved for extreme, prolonged heat with major health risks and the potential to disrupt daily life. The designation gives local officials powers to cancel outdoor events, close public venues and alter school or summer camp schedules. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The heat wave, Frances second of the summer, began Friday and is expected to last all week, carrying into the Aug. 15 holiday weekend. It is already pushing northward, with 38 C (100.4 F) forecast in the Centre-Val de Loire region and up to 34 C (93.2 F) in Paris. Across the English Channel, the U.K.s Met Office expects the country's fourth heat wave of the summer to peak around 33 C (90 F) in London on Tuesday. The U.K. Health Security Agency issued a yellow health alert for older adults and those with medical conditions. Western Balkans Montenegro reported wildfires near the capital Podgorica and along the Adriatic coast, prompting urgent appeals for help from neighboring countries. Families were evacuated from an area north of the capital as army units worked to protect the ruins of the ancient city of Duklja. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senior emergency official Nikola Bojanovic described the situation as catastrophic, with strong winds driving the flames. Authorities urged residents to conserve drinking water to avoid restrictions. Fires also burned above Canj, a popular coastal resort. Bosnias southern city of Mostar reached 43 C (109 F), while Croatias Dubrovnik hit 34 C (93 F) in the morning. Its too hot, this is not normal, said Fatima Safro, a resident of Mostar. Its very hot even during the night. In Serbia, farmers on Suva Planina mountain renewed appeals for emergency water supplies for livestock after streams and ponds dried up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maximum fire danger alerts in Bulgaria In Bulgaria, temperatures were expected to exceed 40 C (104 F) Monday at the day's peak, with maximum fire danger alerts in place. Nearly 200 fires have been reported; most have been brought under control, localized and extinguished, but the situation remains very challenging, said Alexander Dzhartov, head of the national fire safety unit. Three major blazes continue along the borders with Greece and Turkey, including one near Strumyani that reignited after three weeks. More than 100 firefighters and emergency personnel are battling flames in rugged terrain unreachable by vehicles, supported by army helicopters and two Swedish aircraft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evacuations in Turkey In Turkey, a wildfire fueled by high temperatures and strong winds forced authorities to evacuate holiday homes and a university campus and to suspend maritime traffic in the countrys northwest. The fire broke out in an agricultural field in the province of Canakkale and spread into surrounding forestland, just two days after firefighting teams had contained a similar blaze in the area. Canakkale Gov. Omer Toraman said the Dardanelles Strait the narrow waterway linking the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara was closed to allow water-dropping planes and helicopters to operate safely. Hungary records record-breaking heat Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sunday brought a new national high of 39.9 C (104 F) on Sunday in the southeast, breaking a record set in 1948. Budapest also recorded a city record at 38.7 C (101.6 F). Authorities imposed a nationwide fire ban amid extreme heat and drought. __ Jovana Gec in Belgrade, Serbia, Lydia Doye in London, Justin Spike in Budapest, Veselin Toshkov in Sofia, Bulgaria, and Suzan Fraser in Ankara contributed to this report. Spain has stressed the importance of including Kyiv in all negotiations on its future amid a meeting of EU foreign ministers to discuss the situation in Ukraine on 11 August. Source: European Pravda; Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares, quoted by Sky News Details: Albares said before a meeting of European ministers, which will be broadcast online on 11 August, that "no one should decide anything about Ukraine's territory without the Ukrainian government". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Regarding the upcoming summit in Alaska between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, Albares considers it "positive" that the Russian leader is being brought to the table to "talk about peace, but true peace, not a definitive violation of Ukraine's sovereignty or European security". "If a war of aggression pays off for Russia, the world will be more unstable; anyone could be tempted to grab a piece of their weaker neighbour," Albares added. Background: Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) Spartanburg District 6 schools welcomed more than 11,000 students back to the classroom Monday. The weather might have been dreary, but it didnt dampen students excitement at Spartanburg District 6 schools as they returned to the classroom after summer break. Weve had a rainy day today, so theres been some indoor recess with some fun games. But today is a lot of just getting to know one another and spending time, learning about one anothers likes, what they did over the summer and making new friendships, Kerrie Kish, principal at Fairforest Elementary School, said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At Fairforest Elementary, the halls were buzzing with energy as nearly 900 students took on the new school year in colorful outfits and full of questions. There were many kids that were coming out of their cars and running up and giving hugs to their teachers and to the principals that were out there. We miss them, they miss us. Its not the same when theyre not in the building, so were very excited to have them back here, Kish said. Teachers and administrators were also ready, having spent weeks of preparation for the first day. We spent a lot of time redoing our floors, waxing them. Weve had lots of different areas thats been spruced up with paint, new decor everywhere, classrooms, said Kish. Our teachers love to turn them around and change their themes each year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From new backpacks to new friendships, the district hopes to carry the positivity of the first day throughout the entire school year. I think we always focus on just the little wins. Looking at the smiles that come in, students telling us about the exciting things that theyve done over the summer. You know, there are hard days, but you can always find joy when youre working with kids. Its truly a servanthood that we have, Kish said. Last year, Fairforest Elementary earned the prestigious Palmettos Finest Award, a state honor awarded to just two elementary schools per year. This year, educators from across the state will visit Fairforest to learn about what led to their success. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A dispute over local election posters put up by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the western city of Dortmund has escalated. The party's district association announced on Monday that it would not comply with the local authority's demand to remove the city's coat of arms from its posters. This means that a legal dispute is now looming, as the city has already threatened to seek a court injunction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city authorities say the AfD is breaking the law by putting up election posters that bear a slightly modified version of Dortmund's thousand-year-old coat of arms. "For reasons of neutrality, no party is permitted to use the city coat of arms for election campaign purposes," the city said. The AfD responded that the city had allowed other parties to use a modified coat of arms in the past for example, the Christian Democratic Union and the Free Voters in the 2014 local election campaign. It said all parties should be treated equally, and argued the lawsuit would constitute interference in the local election campaign. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The far-right party also said that it had been using the city coat of arms on publications for years, without any complaints. Local elections across the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia are to take place in four weeks' time. ANACONDA, MT: One of two violent fugitives has been caught and another is still on the run. Both are former members of the U.S. military, with one suspected of carrying out a deadly attack on a Montana bar and the other allegedly against his three young children. Michael Paul Brown, 45, was on the run after allegedly shooting four people in the Anaconda, Montana, Owl Bar on Friday morning. Thirty-three-year-old Travis Decker has been a fugitive in Washington state after he allegedly murdered his three young daughters on May 30. In both cases, local and federal law enforcement teamed up to deploy helicopters and ground teams to track the suspects across mountainous terrain. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To better understand the tactical and psychological elements at play, Fox News Digital spoke with retired U.S. Army Special Forces officer Mykel Hawke, a survival expert known for his television work. "Sooner or later, youre going to leave a footprint that somebody can find," he said. Montana Fugitive's Brother Serving Life Sentence For Separate Murder Conviction In Same Town Read On The Fox News App 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. Although both Decker and Brown served in combat zones, Hawke emphasized the distinction between basic military training and elite-level survival instruction. "Neither of these guys have that SERE school or our special operations school," he said, referencing the militarys intensive Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape training," he said. "That tells me a bit of the limitations of their military survival background." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Decker attempted to become an Army Ranger and completed jump school, deploying to Afghanistan with a Ranger battalion. However, he never earned a Ranger tab. "That says something went wrong," Hawke said. "Somewhere along the line, somebody decided hes not quite right to be a Ranger." This undated photo provided by Whitney Decker shows Paityn, Olivia and Evelyn Decker. Montana Manhunt Expands For Ex-soldier Suspect Seen With Stolen Survival Gear After Bar Massacre After his deployment, Decker shifted into the National Guard and pursued a military track outside of the infantry, focusing on communications and civil affairs. That pivot, Hawke explained, further limited Deckers access to tactical survival training, such as the Armys elite SERE course. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brown served as an armored crewman, with Hawke saying: "They dont spend a lot of time on the ground. Theyre not digging foxholes and sleeping in hammocks like the infantry guys." "As an armor guy, they just don't spend a lot [of] time in their whole military experience on the ground," he said. A river runs calmly through a valley in Glacier National Park in Montana. Authorities were searching for Michael Paul Brown in the Montana wilderness. The Army said Brown was an armor crewman from January 2001 to May 2005 and was in the Montana National Guard from April 2006 to March 2009. He was deployed to Iraq from February 2004 to March 2005 and left the Army with the rank of sergeant. "This is an unstable individual who walked in and murdered four people in cold blood for no reason whatsoever," Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen said Sunday. "So there absolutely is concern for the public." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Hawke, surviving in the wilderness, especially while evading an active manhunt, requires more than basic military experience. "Everybody needs food," Hawke said, explaining that without a pre-packed supply, a fugitive would have to rely on hunting and foraging. He noted that setting traps and snares typically requires staying "static." Water, too, is a constant concern. "They're going to need water. If they don't have a water source, they're going to have to treat that water," he said. The most common method boiling demands fire, which creates smoke and scent, he said. Without fire, fugitives are forced to rely on chemical purification like iodine tablets or risk drinking untreated water. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Montana Bar Shooting Suspect Could Return To Town, State Ag Says, Citing 'Concern For The Public' Shelter is another necessity. "The nights will still get cold up there," Hawke said, emphasizing that unless they brought proper gear, they'd have to build or find natural cover. Law enforcement personnel respond to a reported shooting in Anaconda, Montana, on Friday, Aug. 1, 2025. Navigating remote terrain presents additional challenges. Hawke believes they likely wouldnt use GPS devices out of fear of being tracked, meaning theyd need to rely on maps, compasses or local knowledge. "I doubt they're relying on a GPS, because that would ping them," he said. WATCH: Ultimately, survival comes down to strategy: whether to stay hidden or keep moving. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You're either hiding or you're running," said Hawke. "And hiding means, sooner or later, you're going to leave a footprint. If you're running, you're going to make all kinds of mistakes and there is a higher likelihood of getting caught." "It is almost impossible for a human to survive for any period of time without leaving a sign," he said. A $10,000 reward was available for information leading to Browns capture. A reward of up to $20,000 is being offered for information leading directly to Deckers arrest. Officials say he is considered to be armed and dangerous. Original article source: Special Forces vet exposes tactics of Montana, Washington state survivalists: 'Can't stay hidden forever' The Lamu Port has cemented its role in the maritime trade within the region by welcoming the MV Nagoya Express, the largest vessel ever to dock at the waters of East Africa. The 335-metre-long ship, owned by German shipping giant Hapag-Lloyd, is the biggest ever in Kenyas maritime history. Its arrival is a significant milestone in Lamus quest to be a major transshipment center bridging Africa to trade corridors with Europe, Asia, and the Americas. During its stopover, the Nagoya Express loaded 140 transshipped containers bound for New York. The cargo had initially been offloaded at Lamu by another Hapag-Lloyd vessel, the MV Tolten. Port managers say such operations are part of a growing strategy to capture more of the high-value transhipment market, particularly for ultra-large vessels that Mombasas limited turning space cannot accommodate. This arrival proves Lamu was not built as an afterthought. It was built with vessels like the Nagoya Express in mind, said Captain Abdulaziz Mzee, Lamu Ports General Manager, noting the ports deep-water berths and wide turning basin as critical assets. Master Captain Sylwester Mackiewicz of the vessel praised the ease of access and handling capabilities of the port, referring to the experience as better than expected. The Kenya Ports Authority has invested heavily in Lamus infrastructure, such as high-capacity Ship-to-Shore gantry cranes, to attract more foreign shipping lines. Industry analysts further point out that the arrival of CMA CGM ships next week will further establish the port as a competitive alternative to Mombasa for regional and foreign cargo. Mohammed Hassan (left) and Muhtasin Sadman (right) | City of Hamtramck photos Two members of Hamtramck City Council are facing felony charges for election fraud, following a monthslong investigation from the Monroe County Prosecutor. Mohammed Hassan and Muhtasin Sadman were each charged with forging a signature on an absentee ballot application and forgery under Michigans election law, both felony offenses, as well as making a false statement in an application for an absentee ballot, a misdemeanor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sadman is also facing two felony charges for attempting to vote as an unqualified elector. According to a timeline from WDIV Local 4, Nessel filed a petition for a special prosecutor to investigate allegations of election fraud against four members of city council and a former council member in March. Nessel spokesperson, Danny Wimmer, said the Prosecuting Attorneys Coordinating Council placed the investigation in the hands of the Monroe County Prosecutors office on May 21, referring any questions to their office. According to a report from the Detroit News, Nessels decision to seek a special prosecutor was based on the attorney generals previous criticism of the Hamtramck City Councils anti-LGBTQ+ policies and Nessels decision to prosecute pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of Michigan. Nessel is gay and Jewish, with the petition aimed to circumvent any allegations of bias against Muslim or Arab individuals, with one in five suspects of Arab descent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Monroe County Prosecutor Jeffery A. Yorkey did not immediately respond to multiple requests for comment. The charges come amid a bevy of allegations against city officials, with suspended City Manager Max Garbarino filing a lawsuit alongside police officer David Adamczyk accusing Mayor Amer Ghalib, suspended police Chief Jamiel Altaheri and the six city council members of widespread corruption, election fraud, and retaliation against whistleblowers. According to the docket report for the 31st District Court in Hamtramck, Judge Alexis Krot has set bond for Hassan at $2,500 and Sadman at $7,500. Neither Sadman nor Hassan responded to emails requesting comment. Michigan Advance Senior Reporter Ben Solis contributed to this report. Monday marked the beginning of a Trump takeover of Washington D.C.s law enforcement capabilities and what many Democrats fear could be step one of full federal control over the District of Columbia. At the White House, Donald Trump was flanked by top officials including FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi as he announced that the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the citys main police force, would be brought under federal control. From behind the podium, the president recalled images of police officers facing abuse by protesters hed watched on TV screens over the years, clearly evoking anger in him and leaving a city braced for Trump to fulfill a long-awaited desire to send in the troops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He then passed around images of individuals arrested over the weekend, and promised that, going forward, police officers would be unhinged in their treatment of criminals and, likely, dissenters: Theyll be able to do whatever they want, Trump vowed. You spit, and we hit. It was about as explicit a lean into the strongman image as one could ask for. But the presidents fixation on clashes between protesters and law enforcement has one glaring exception: January 6. (Reuters) The violent siege of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters in 2021 lasted for several hours. In the end, protesters left the building after police officers from neighboring counties in Maryland and Virginia arrived to quell the chaos. A deployment of more than 6,000 National Guard troops was finally authorized at 6 p.m., hours after the chaos began and hours after the worst of it ended. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dozens of officers were injured, several died after the attack including one who sustained injuries during it, Brian Sicknick. Survivors recounted vicious abuse from protesters, especially Black officers who recounted racial slurs and threats of violence. But the Capitol is not where the January 6 story ends. As Trump supporters left the Capitol that day, they fanned out across the entire District of Columbia, some returning to homes and hotels in the region and others spreading mayhem across the city. Businesses were boarded up as far as southeast D.C. and scattered evidence of vandalism was seen around residential areas and various neighborhoods the next day. It was the citys most violent day in decades. But on the campaign trail last summer, Trump vowed his first act would be to pardon all of them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement True to his word, and despite the pleas of even some Republican supporters, on the day Trump was sworn in he pardoned some 1,500 people who participated in the siege on the U.S. Capitol and were either convicted or facing charges. MPD officers were part of the initial response as well. Some of the officers who responded that day are now under the command of the same administration that pardoned hundreds of Jan. 6 offenders, including some charged with violence against MPD and Capitol Police officers. One of those rioters, Julian Khater, was charged with spraying officer Sicknick with a chemical repellant during the attack; a colleague later testified that Sicknick looked ghostly pale afterwards. Even so, the MPDs union chief told Fox News on Monday that his outfit completely agree[s] with Trump that crime in D.C. is out of control. He and union officials pointed to an MPD commander under investigation for allegedly falsifying crime data, and claimed that it was a lie that crime in the District of Columbia was decreasing. The Justice Department touted that data as recently as January, days before Trump took office. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and other city officials were not notified before at least Sunday of the impending plans to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department, she confirmed on MSNBC (AP) For Trump, Monday was Liberation day. "Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR. I will, MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN!" he wrote on Truth Social ahead of the press conference hed teased all weekend. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But city officials are adamant that the trends mapped by the data are real, and that all types of crimes including some of the most stubborn categories such as carjackings were dropping in frequency across the board. Any comparison to a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser told MSNBC on Sunday. There are very specific things in our law that would allow the president to have more control over our police department. None of those conditions exist in our city right now. We had one of the lowest crime levels and shootings that we've had in a July in recent history. So, not only are we going down year to year, we're seeing the trends go in the right way in every crime category. Theres no question: Trump has been looking for an excuse to do this. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Rolling Stone investigation published earlier this year cited two sources with knowledge of the presidents conversations as saying that Trump was speaking to aides just after taking office in January about identifying the earliest possible moment when it would be appropriate to send in federal troops for crime suppression efforts. Anger felt by some city residents (among whom Trump supporters are still a slim minority) on Monday was embodied by restauranteur Jose Andres, who tweeted at the president: [Y]ou didnt have the power to call the National Guard on January 6 but now you do? Washington DC is not only our nations capitalits a beautiful city that 700,000 people call home. Im proud to run a business and raise a family here. DC doesnt need federalized troopsit needs leaders who respect our fundamental founding principles of democracy, dignity, and respect. Trump finally got his opportunity with the July attack on a man whose online nickname Big Balls propelled him to both mockery and notoriety. The former DOGE staffer, who is still a federal employee, named Edward Coristine, was attacked while allegedly intervening during a carjacking attempt. According to police reports, Coristine was mobbed by a large group of teens during the attack and had his iPhone stolen in addition to being viciously assaulted. Groups of teenagers have become a major problem for city officials in recent weeks, with residents reporting large numbers of young adults and school-aged children attacking people on city streets, neighborhoods such as Navy Yard (where many congressional staffers live) and the Metropolitan Branch Trail, a paved route across the northeastern part of the city used by pedestrians and cyclists. In some cases, groups have numbered as high as hundreds of people and have required massive police responses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The only questions for Trump now are how far he takes this, and how much punishment hell dole out on D.C. elected officials. Even as Bowser continues to avoid a public confrontation, Trump aimed harsh rhetoric at the city council on Monday. And it remains to be seen whether hell try and take this effort national once again, after being largely stymied in his efforts to impose a sustained presence on the city of Los Angeles over ICE protests. A compliant Congress will likely make any Trump takeover of D.C., no matter how broad, a smooth process. But that same dynamic wont be found if the president tries to reimpose his will on Americas blue states, where governors are raring for the chance to show that they have the backbones which their voters are demanding they show. (The Center Square) Anticipating dozens of new recruits, the Spokane Valley City Council will vote on Tuesday over awarding a contract to remodel its police precinct for over $300,000 less than budgeted. The project will retrofit the precinct to accommodate 10 new hires that the council funded last year as part of a recommendation from consultants in 2023 to expand the Valleys force by 28 officers. Voters also approved a tax hike last week to fund the next round of recruits, which the city will hire by 2027. The Valley still needs to secure ongoing funding for the final round of new hires, but will have to make space for the first 10 before then. The city went out for bids in June, with one including the minimum work required to accommodate those first ten officers, and two others that could take care of them all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement City staff received four bids from different contractors, with one standing out among the competition. The lowest responsive, responsible bidder is Leone & Keeble Inc. with a combined bid of $511,005, according to the agenda. The low bid was $208,995.00 under the Engineers Estimate of $720,000. Leone & Kibber Inc. bid the project at nearly 30% under the city engineers estimate before taxes. After taxes and other fees, it'll come out to about $556,000, more than $100,000 less than the closest competition. The city allocated $1.37 million for the whole project as part of the 2025 budget, and now will have about $308,000 left over in contingency in case it ends up costing more than anticipated. Other than the $511,000 for construction, another $105,000 went toward architecture and engineering, around $183,500 will cover sales taxes and other fees, with $270,000 devoted to furniture and workstations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The minimum work to accommodate the first 10 officers includes moving the Spokane Valley Police Departments forensics team to a new location, converting the old forensics and traffic spaces into room for the investigative unit, modifying the existing investigative space for patrol, shifting traffic to the old patrol area, removing 40 extra lockers from the mens locker room to create room for a gym expansion, relocating those lockers to the womens locker room, and building a secure storage area. The alternate bids, which Leone & Kibber Inc. estimates included, would demolish the Valleys holding cells to accommodate other hires recommended in 2023. The other option would involve tearing down an office and vestibule in the patrol area to expand and make it more efficient for the traffic team. If the council awards the contract to Leone & Kibber Inc. on Tuesday, the plan is to start construction next month, with it wrapping up around the start of next year and furniture installed as its ongoing. Since the Precinct will remain an occupied facility 24/7, it is necessary to split the work into two phases of construction, according to the agenda. Management will temporarily relocate staff as needed so that one area can be remodeled, and then staff will move into that area when completed. SPRINGFIELD The cause of the scrap metal fire that burned for 16 hours Friday night into Saturday remains undetermined. Residents said the worst part of the blaze was the heavy smoke that blanketed the region. The fire at Chets Auto Wrecking and Scrap Metal at the corner of Page Boulevard and Rocus Street started at about 6:30 p.m. on Friday in a 60-foot pile of car parts and other scrap metal. It burned through the night with firefighters announcing it was completely extinguished at 10:30 a.m., said Fire Capt. Drew Piemonte. No one was injured in the blaze but it did send up plumes of thick, black smoke, prompting officials to put out an advisory telling residents, especially those near East Springfield and Indian Orchard, to close windows and stay indoors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All we saw was the smoke. At first, I thought it was a car on fire but it got worse, said Felix Encarnacion, who was at an event at his brothers business about a block away from the fire. Most of the people at the event stayed inside so it wasnt a problem, but Encarnacion and his family said when they went to leave, they found that the busy Page Boulevard was closed and they had to detour around. The smoke was bad, Encarnacion said. It was really heavy. Although residents of Indian Orchard were also under the advisory, Angel Ortiz said he didnt smell smoke at his home. He did encounter the fire when he was coming home after taking his children to Six Flags in Agawam for the day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We saw all the black smoke and we had a detour because the closed off Page Boulevard, he said. City Councilor Zaida Govan, who represents Indian Orchard and the neighborhoods off Page Boulevard said she did get some calls from people concerned they would have to evacuate, but the air quality never reached a level where that was necessary. The smoke was a lot and a lot of people were concerned about pollution, Govan said. The state District 3 Hazardous Materials Team monitored the air quality starting about one hour after the blaze began. The baseline is zero parts of volatile organic compounds per million and the worst it ever was recorded was one part per million, Piemonte said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Piemonte said the air quality was likely worse when the fire first broke out but improved quickly after firefighters started pouring water on the flames. Concerns about pollution and the citys high asthma rate, which was ranked the fourth highest nationwide in 2024 by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, has especially come to the forefront in East Springfield. Part of the reason is Palmer Renewable Energy Inc. has waged a 15-year fight to build a wood-burning biomass plant to generate electricity at 1000 Page Blvd., not far from where the fire took place. Unfortunately this is a preview of what it would be like in the neighborhood if it was to be built, said Naia Tenerowicz, a lead organizer with the Springfield Climate Justice Coalition which has been working with the City Council and others to try to block the plant. While the plant would be subject to multiple air quality regulations, it would still sending particulate matter into the sky since it is slated to burn green, meaning recently cut, wood. The state Department of Environmental Protection revoked the plants air quality permit, and after an appeal, a state appeals court revived the permit this spring. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chets Auto Wrecking, which was closed on Sunday, has not been a neighborhood problem, although there are always concerns about contaminants at the several salvage yards located in the area, said Kathy Brown, president of the East Springfield Neighborhood Council. Business owners did not return a message requesting comments. The cause of the fire is undetermined but it remains under investigation by the Arson and Bomb Squad, Piemonte said. There are many potential sources of ignition and the yard was empty at the time, so it was hard to see what led to it, he said. More than 75 people fought the fire, including all available Springfield firefighters and those from fire departments in Chicopee, Ludlow, West Springfield and Wilbraham. At one point, firefighters were pouring 10,000 gallons of water a minute on the flames and Fire Commissioner Bernard J. Calvi estimated firefighters used more than 4 million gallons of water battling the fire, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With the fire still smoldering early Saturday morning, employees from Chets Auto Wrecking under the direction of fire officials for safety reasons used heavy equipment to slowly break down the pile. Firefighters blasted water on any burning material when it was uncovered, Calvi said. The fire prompted responses from the state Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Fire Services as well as the Hazardous Materials Response Division, Calvi said. Much of the water was contained on the large site of the business, but it got so wet that fire hoses were floating and water had to be allowed to flow from the yard, Piemonte said. The Department of Environmental Protection monitored the water quality because of concerns that the runoff could contain contaminants, Piemonte said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The last time there was a fire at an auto salvage yard in the region was in 2016 at Center Street Auto Parts in Chicopee, located on the Springfield line. That fire, which started in a building housing a car crusher, sent giant plumes of black smoke into the air. more news from Western Massachusetts Read the original article on MassLive. With the historic ocean liner's two iconic funnels being removed earlier this month, the clean-up of the SS United States is nearing completion meaning the mammoth ship is nearly ready to become the world's largest artificial reef. The SS United States, beloved by many, was a modern marvel in its heyday and transported many famous passengers across the Atlantic, but after air travel became popular, it languished for decades. After the SS United States Conservancy spent many years trying unsuccessfully to repurpose it, a lawsuit forced its removal from a Philadelphia port last year. Ultimately, Okaloosa County, Florida purchased the ship. Officials plan to sink it off the coast, creating a large marine habitat and a tourist destination for anglers and divers. Okaloosa County will also fund an onshore SS United States Conservancy museum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "America's Flagship" finally left Philadelphia in February and arrived in Mobile, Alabama, in March, where Coleen Marine cleaned and prepared the ship to be sunk. How the SS United States got here The SS United States launched in the 1950s as both a secret military vessel and a luxury passenger ship. The innovative ship set the trans-Atlantic speed record and, throughout most of the 1960s, was the most efficient and fashionable way to travel between America and Europe. Judy Garland, Bob Hope, Salvadore Dali, politicians and royals were among its passengers. Later, the ship cruised the Caribbean. The following decades weren't nearly as glorious for the SS United States. It changed hands numerous times, eventually landing in the Delaware River, next to the South Philadelphia Ikea at Pier 82. It floated there for decades while the SS United States Conservancy tried desperately to find it a new port until, in 2024, a lawsuit from the pier's owner, Penn Warehousing, forced the conservancy to move the ship immediately. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Faced with scrapping the ship treasured by so many, the conservancy opted to sell the ship to Okaloosa County, Florida, where it will be sunk and turned into the world's largest artificial reef. The reef is expected to be a major tourism draw for anglers and divers in the Destin-Fort Walton Beach region. After multiple delays due to structural concerns and weather, the SS United States finally left the Delaware River Feb. 19. Crowds of onlookers gathered along the riverbanks to see it off. Along the Atlantic coast, SS United States enthusiasts followed the journey via an online tracker, some even taking to rooftops to see it pass by their shores. 'Can't ask for much more': Meet the carpenter who maintains the Rehoboth Beach boardwalk What's happening now The SS United States arrived in Mobile ahead of schedule. Since then, Coleen Marine has been removing hazardous paints, plastic, fuel and oil. The ship's two funnels (also known as smokestacks) were removed earlier this month, Okaloosa County spokesman Nick Tomecek. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a massive next step toward an environmental effort that will benefit our local marine habitat and build upon our robust tourism industry in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa County Board Chairman Paul Mixon said. All the fuel has been removed, according to Tomecek, but the tanks are being steam cleaned and there is still much wiring to be removed. Delaware beaches: 7 restaurants at the Delaware beaches have 5 stars on Yelp. Bet you've never heard of some The funnels, propellers and many other items will be preserved in the SS United States Conservancy's museum. Where exactly it will be sunk later this year hasn't yet been determined, but it will be about 20 nautical miles south of Destin-Fort Walton Beach,Tomecek said. The ship will rest at a depth of 180 feet, with the upper deck about 55 feet below the ocean's surface, satisfying "the diving aspirations of both beginners and technical divers," Tomecek said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy. Shannon Marvel McNaught reports on southern Delaware and beyond. Reach her at smcnaught@gannett.com or on Twitter @MarvelMcNaught. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Funnels removed, ship to be sunk this year: SS United States update ST. LOUIS A St. Louis County man will make his first appearance in city court Monday on a litany of charges for crimes committed in St. Louis City over the past several weeks. According to probable cause statements from the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, Demetrius A. Simmons, 42, is accused of a shooting on the Fourth of July, a carjacking weeks later, followed by an attempted car theft and police pursuit. On July 4, police were dispatched to the Super 8 Motel in the 6200 block of North Broadway, in the citys North Riverfront neighborhood. When officers arrived, they were told that a man had been shot several times in his back and had been taken to the hospital. Investigators recovered shell casings in the motel parking lot. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The victim underwent life-saving surgery, police said. Days later, he told investigators that he went to the parking lot to meet with the mother of his child. He was attempting to mediate a discussion between the mother of his child and one of his friends. Police said the mother arrived with Simmons. The group spoke for over an hour, which was recorded on hotel surveillance video. At some point, the victim believed that the mother of his child had taken his car keys. He attempted to get them back, but she pulled away. The victim turned around to briefly walk away. According to police, thats when Simmons took out a pistol and shot the victim six times in the back. How an informant sent the St. Louis Mafia to jail Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 29, police said Simmons snatched the car keys out of a womans hand while she was parked at a gas station in the 1300 block of North Grand Boulevard in the Grand Center neighborhood. Simmons then drove off in the womans 1998 Toyota Camry. The victims iPhone 14 was in the vehicle at the time. The owner reported the Camry stolen on Aug. 6 after receiving vehicle identification paperwork from the dealership. That same day, police on patrol in the Vandeventer neighborhood received word from the citys Real Time Crime Center about a sighting of the stolen Camry at Page Boulevard and Vandeventer Avenue. When officers located the vehicle, Simmons sped off with police in pursuit. Simmons eventually turned onto Cherokee Street and struck a 1998 Lincoln Town Car. Simmons hopped out from the vehicle while it was moving and ran off on foot. The Camry struck a nearby building and officers eventually caught and arrested Simmons. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police said officers searched the Camry and found a black Taurus G2C 9mm handgun under the drivers floor mat. The St. Louis Circuit Attorneys Office charged Simmons with first-degree assault, armed criminal action, stealing a motor vehicle, stealing, first-degree tampering with a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of an accident, two counts of resisting arrest, and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2. St. Paul bar bouncer killed man who spat on him, charges say originally appeared on Bring Me The News. A St. Paul bar bouncer shot and killed a man who had repeatedly spat on him, according to criminal charges. Davarius L. Clark, 29, of Minneapolis, has been charged with two counts of second-degree murder in connection with the Aug. 7 shooting at the Midway Saloon near the intersection of University and Snelling avenues. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the criminal complaint, Metro Transit police officers were standing on the light rail platform around 12:15 a.m. when they heard a gunshot. Officers ran to the bar and found a 43-year-old man lying on the ground with a gunshot wound to his chest. The officers provided aid and medics rushed to the scene, but the man died during surgery at Regions Hospital several hours later. The complaint alleges that Clark admitted to the shooting and told police that he fired a shot after the man repeatedly spat on him. The fatal shooting happened early Aug. 7 near the Midway Saloon.St. Paul Police Department Charges reveal that the altercation began to unfold when the victim brought his bike into the bar. "Despite the manager's approval, Clark continued to antagonize [the victim]," the complaint states. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bar's manager told investigators that Clark repeatedly went in and out of the bar and continued to the argue with the man. Surveillance video appears to show the victim "spat twice at Clark near the bar's entryway." "Clark then raised both arms and pointed something at [the victim]," the complaint details. "[The victim] then fell to the ground." After his arrest, Clark allegedly told police that he was very angry about being spat on and "had to fess up" about the shooting. Davarius L. ClarkDavarius L. Clark via Ramsey County Jail. "Clark said he blacked out after being spat on the second time and didn't remember anything until he was being placed in the back of a squad car," according to the complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Clark was in legal possession of the gun, the charges state, and Clark said he didn't have time to drop the weapon off at home while going to the bar from his other job. The Midway Saloon manager told police that the bar doesn't employ armed security and he didn't know Clark had a gun. The victim's identity hasn't yet been released by police. This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Aug 11, 2025, where it first appeared. Voters are set to pick one of four candidates to represent St. Paul City Councils Ward 4 in a special election Tuesday. Ward 4 is in northwestern St. Paul and includes all or part of five neighborhoods: Hamline-Midway, Merriam Park, St. Anthony Park, and parts of Macalester-Groveland and Como. Former City Council member Mitra Jalali vacated the seat in March. Mayor Melvin Carter appointed Matt Privratsky to fill the seat until the special election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The winner of the special election will take the seat and represent Ward 4 through the November 2028 election. The candidates Heres whos on the ballot: Chauntyll Allen, a member of the St. Paul school board and a leader of Black Lives Matter Twin Cities. Molly Coleman, founder of progressive court reform nonprofit Peoples Parity Project. Cole Hanson, a statewide online education coordinator who teaches nutrition to recipients of federal food assistance who is endorsed by the Twin Cities Democratic Socialists of America. Carolyn Will, founder of CW Marketing and Communications, a former TV newscaster and opponent of the citys proposed Summit Avenue bikeway. For more information on the candidates go to twincities.com/news/politics/elections. Ranked-choice voting, non-partisan Under St. Pauls ranked-choice voting system, voters will be able to rank candidates in order of preference. There was no primary election. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The race is officially non-partisan, and the St. Paul Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party did not make any endorsements this summer as it works to rebuild itself. Allen, Coleman and Hanson have spent money to access progressive and Democrat-affiliated campaign software, such as ActBlue and the MN DFL Action Network. Coleman has a significant fundraising advantage over her opponents, with $57,000 raised as of late July. Those donations came in over five months. Her donors include the mayor, former U.S. Sen. Al Franken, and former Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak. Hanson raised about $24,000 from donors, including St. Paul City Council Member Nelsie Yang, Minneapolis City Council Member Robin Wonsley and state Rep. Athena Rollins, as well as people involved with the Twin Cities DSA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Will had raised about $21,000 as of the end of July, according to the most recently available reports from Ramsey County Elections. Her donors include people opposed to the Summit Avenue bikeway and former St. Paul City Council Member Jane Prince. Allen had raised more than $10,000 as of the end of July. Her donors included Hoang Murphy, chief executive officer of the People Serving People emergency shelter, fellow school board member Carlo Franco and several educators and city employees. When, where to vote Polls for the Ward 4 special election open at 7 a.m. Tuesday and close at 8 p.m. A winner could emerge late Tuesday. However, if no candidate wins an absolute majority on election night 50% plus one of the vote election officials will begin a reallocation process. How does it work? Related Articles Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement St. Paul voters rank candidates by choice on their ballots. If one candidate gets a simple majority, they win. But if theres no clear winner, officials will eliminate the candidate with the fewest first-choice votes and award votes to the second choice listed on the ballot. This process is repeated until one candidate has 50% support. More information on polling locations can be found on the Minnesota Secretary of States website: pollfinder.sos.mn.gov/. Some voters have already cast their ballots. Early voting started July 25 and ended on Friday, Aug. 8. Aug. 11---- A 26-year-old male suspect is in custody at the Yellow Medicine County Jail after reportedly stabbing a family member in a Maynard residence. According to a news release from the a caller reported to the on Saturday that a man at a gas station near the U.S. Highway 71 and Minnesota Highway 7 intersection was in need of medical attention. The man reportedly told gas station staff that he was stabbed at his home in Maynard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a Kandiyohi County Sheriff's Office media report from the weekend, the call was made to law enforcement around 5:52 p.m. Saturday. Blomkest First Responders, Lake Lillian Ambulance and the Minnesota State Patrol also responded to the scene with Kandiyohi County sheriff's deputies. Information shared by the man who was stabbed was then forwarded to the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office. Deputies then went to the man's residence within the 200 block of Swift Avenue in Maynard. According to the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office, it was discovered that a domestic assault had occurred at the home between the two men. The younger man was arrested at the residence and is being held pending a court appearance on possible felony assault charges. Aug. 11 (UPI) -- Signs have been posted at Starbucks locations in South Korea informing customers that they will no longer be allowed to set up desktop computers, printers and multi-outlet power strips at the company's cafes. Starbucks Korea posted the notices at all of its branches in the country, and they also state customers will not be allowed to set up large partitions or leave their belongings unattended at tables for long periods of time. The policy targets a group of customers known colloquially as "cagongjok," a term combining the Korean words for "cafe," "study" and "tribe." It refers to customers who spend several hours studying or doing office work in the businesses. They are also sometimes referred to as "cafe squatters." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move comes after numerous complaints from other customers about people taking up too much space with their office equipment. Several photos showing customers with elaborate setups inside cafes have gone viral online. Starbucks Korea said laptops are still allowed inside the cafes and people are still welcome to work or study inside the businesses provided they do not take up an excessive amount of space. Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyongo has urged President William Ruto to step in and control the rapid growth of low-budget, short-stay facility centers in Kenya. The facilities, popularly known as bnbs, are rapidly replacing traditional hotels as customers opt to lodge in them due to their low prices. Typically, a bnb is a rented, fully equipped home with minimal amenities, where guests pay only for the stay and have the option to cook their own meals. However, Nyongo warns that these spaces have increasingly become hotspots linked to femicide cases. Speaking at the funeral of former Karachuonyo MP Phoebe Asiyo, Kisumu Governor Anyang Nyongo claimed that killers are exploiting the affordability of short-stay accommodations to target women. He urged President William Ruto to introduce nationwide regulations for the sector, warning that the issue had become a serious problem in Kisumu County. There is something happening in Kenya that is extremely dangerous, which Im sure Phoebe Asiyo would have stood up against and campaigned to do something about by the government. This is called femicide. If you have been reading the papers or listening to the radio or watching television, femicide is increasing in Kenya at a geometric progression, and we have a theory in Kisumu County that the increase in femicide is closely associated with the increase of bnbs. I dont know whether you know that. So Mr. President, let us have strict control of the opening the bnbs to be strongly controlled and accounted for. Because otherwise this femicide will continue under the guise of people going to bnbs. Im sorry, I might be very strong about this, but in Kisumu we have noticed this phenomenon. And I hope it is not as serious elsewhere as it is in Kisumu, Nyongo said. Femicide has been a growing crisis in Kenya. A July report revealed that at least 129 women were killed in the first three months of 2025 alone. Data from the National Police Service (NPS) and National Crime Research Centre (NCRC) indicated that 43 women were murdered in January, 42 in February, and 44 in March. The Rift Valley, Eastern, and Western regions recorded the highest death tolls. Men were responsible for 85% of the killings, women for 10%, and in half of the cases, the murders stemmed from domestic disputes. Most victims knew their attackers. In January, President Ruto established a 42-member task force to address Gender-Based Violence (GBV), including the rise in femicide. The team is chaired by former Deputy Chief Justice Nancy Barasa. CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) Glamour met Southern charm last night at the historic American Theater on Upper King Street, where cast members of Amazon Prime Videos upcoming romantic drama, The Map That Leads to You, walked the red carpet for a special premiere screening. News 2 caught up with the stars of the film, who shared their experiences filming across Europe, their impressions of Charleston, and how they connected, or didnt, with the characters they portray. About the film Directed by Lasse Hallstrom and adapted from the novel by Joseph Monninger, The Map That Leads to You tells the story of two strangers who meet abroad and form a life-changing connection. The romantic drama explores themes of love, loss, travel, destiny, and the decisions that shape relationships. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The story follows Heather, played by Madeline Cline, a recent and very organized post-graduate on a European adventure, with her best friends Amy, played by Madison Thompson, and Connie, played by Sofia Wylie. The story takes a turn when Heather meets Jack, played by KJ Apa, a free spirit following his grandfathers journal across Europe. Romance movie lovers can mark their calendars, because the film will exclusively premiere on Amazon Prime Video on August 20, 2025. A red carpet night in Charleston Several of the films stars made their way down to the Lowcountry for the big night, sharing what it meant to celebrate the premiere in Charleston, and what they have been enjoying about the Holy City. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im from Atlanta, so I have spent a lot of time in Charleston. I have family history here, so it is very special to come back, and it just feels right, said Thompson. Beyond family history, one star was captivated by the culinary scene here in the Lowcountry. Ive been here for 48 hours now, and the food is really good. I can say that the food is very, very good, said Apa. Filming across Europe The premiere took place in Charleston, but the cast and crew had the chance to travel around the world to film the movie. The story follows the characters as they journey through Europe, allowing the filmmakers to use beautiful locations in countries like Spain and Portugal as backdrops for various scenes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The cast told News 2 about the experience. It was the best summer ever, said Cline. Thompson said, It was like winning the lottery, having a two-month international vacation during the summer, and making the best friends of your life. It was unlike any opportunity I will probably have for the rest of my life. Wylie explained to us how traveling around Europe created a bonding experience for the cast. She shares, The first week of filming our director, Lasse, told us to basically go around Europe and explore together, and they were using the footage that we took in the movie, but it was the first time we were ever meeting and we had to act like we had been best friends for four years, so it was very bonding. Connecting with their characters Beyond connecting with each other, the actors and actresses expressed how they connected with the characters they were playing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Apa shared with us how he understands his character, Jack, in the film. I relate to him in a lot of ways. He is a very aspirational character for me, in terms of him always trying to live in the moment. I think that is something we can all try to be inspired by, said Apa. His co-star, Sofia Wylie, who plays Connie in the film, said that she also relates to her character. I think I do relate to Connie in a lot of ways. She is very neutral, level-headed, and she is kind of the Switzerland of her friend group. I think playing someone who is so laidback is honestly such a blessing because I get to emulate that a bit more, said Wylie. Thompson, who plays Amy, the chaotic friend in the friend group, a woman without any plan, and very spontaneous, tells us that she did not relate to her character. I am not an Amy in real life, I am more of a Heather. I like things organized in advance, so I felt like I got to let my wild side run free, getting to play her. As an actress, that was really fun, said Thompson. A look at how the Outer Banks production is going Over the years, Charlestons star power has been growing, with more television shows and movies choosing the Holy City as their backdrop. The female lead, Madeline Cline, who plays Heather in the film, is in the middle of production of the final season of the Netflix series, Outer Banks, which is what anchored the premiere in Charleston. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of her castmates displayed their love and support for Cline, wrapping up such a meaningful chapter for her. It feels very special. Obviously, we love going to see Maddie wherever we can, and she is here finishing up Outer Banks, the final season, which we are super excited about, said Thompson. Cline gave News 2 a glimpse inside of how the production of Outer Banks is going so far. Its been great. Were having a really good time. Its a fun season. So far, we are about two-and-a-half months in, and its already getting crazy, so stay tuned, said Cline. She expanded and told us what she was feeling to be concluding such a final chapter of Outer Banks. Its bittersweet. I think its really, really going to hit us in the last month and the last few days of filming. I dont want to think too hard about it, said Cline. Where to watch The Map That Leads To You The film will exclusively premiere on Amazon Prime Video on August 20, 2025. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those can preview the trailer 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 WCBD News 2. Aug. 11COLUMBUS As students across the state prepare to head back to the classroom over the coming weeks, the Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) is asking drivers to protect our kids by sharing the roadway with school buses and adhering to traffic laws. Since 2020, a total of 6,225 crashes involving a school bus have been reported in Ohio, five of which were fatal. Those five fatal crashes resulted in the deaths of five individuals, with one being a school-aged student. "While school buses are considered the safest mode of transportation for students, their safety depends heavily on every driver remaining vigilant while behind the wheel," said Gov. Mike DeWine, who recently signed a bill creating a new school bus safety grant program to help schools upgrade or add safety features to buses. "There is nothing more important than our kids, and it's our shared responsibility to keep them safe." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trending * Westbound ramp of U.S. 52 to State Route 141 will be closed starting Monday * Poll: Ramaswamy, Acton in dead heat for 2026 governor's race It's crucial for all drivers to familiarize themselves on traffic laws concerning stopped school buses. Understanding these laws isn't just about avoiding a ticket, it's about protecting the lives of students getting on and off the bus. Some of those laws include the following: When a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, all vehicles traveling in both directions must come to a complete stop at least 10 feet from the bus. This applies to two-lane roads and roads with a center turning lane. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On roads with four or more lanes, or divided highways, only traffic traveling in the same direction as the bus is required to stop. Oncoming traffic may proceed with caution. Motorists must remain stopped until the bus resumes motion or the bus driver signals that it is safe to proceed. In addition to enforcing the laws previously mentioned, the OSHP is tasked with ensuring school buses are safe before they leave the garage. As part of the OSHP's commitment to school bus safety, school districts are required to get each bus inspected twice a year. These inspections guarantee all buses meet the state's high safety standards. "The commitment our personnel put into inspecting each school bus is truly remarkable," said Charles A. Jones, OSHP superintendent. "Their attention to detail directly contributes to preventing crashes and ensuring students have a safe way to get to and from school, and school-related events." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trending * Studio Dara grand reopening set for Sept. 5 * Stuck in the middle with you One of the two yearly mandatory school bus inspections must be completed before the start of the school year, and the second is done at random. Since 2020, Patrol personnel have performed nearly 195,000 inspections. The public is encouraged to safely call #677 to report reckless or impaired drivers and drug activity. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) New Mexico State Police arrested seven people as part of the agencys operation targeting drug traffickers in Albuquerque. Story continues below Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The operation took place on Aug. 5 and Aug. 7 and resulted in the following arrests along with seizures of drugs, guns and stolen property, New Mexico State Police said. Arrests: Sean Montoya , 22, charged with three counts of trafficking a controlled substance, resisting, evading or obstructing, and possession of a controlled substance. Johnny Pachec o, 27, charged with three counts of trafficking a controlled substance and conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance. Alexa Gonzalez Cruz , 19, charged with three counts of trafficking a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, and resisting, evading, or obstructing an officer. Thoumas Chandler , 26, charged with three counts of trafficking a controlled substance. Joseph Montoya , 21, charged with three counts of trafficking a controlled substance and conspiracy to traffic a controlled substance. Andre Padilla , 32, charged with four counts of trafficking a controlled substance, receiving stolen property (firearm), and felon in possession of a firearm. Carlo Guillen, 24, charged with three counts of trafficking a controlled substance. NMSP confiscated four guns, one of which was stolen, along with 359 grams of cocaine, 175 grams of fentanyl and 20 grams of methamphetamine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. ORANGEBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) A Hanahan man was arrested early Sunday morning after a collision involving a state trooper on Interstate 26 in Orangeburg County. South Carolina Highway Patrolman Dennis Ricks was conducting a traffic stop outside his patrol vehicle on I-26 at mile marker 166 when he was struck by a vehicle around 2 a.m., according to the Lexington County Sheriffs Department. Ricks suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital. According to a social post from his wife, he suffered a severe brain injury, bleeding, swelling, kidney bleeding, several broken bones and more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I say all of this to ask for prayer and love Of all people, my Dennis didnt deserve this. He is the kindest, sweetest, most gentle soul. To say he is a phenomenal man and husband is quite an understatement, his wife, Jade Riley Ricks, wrote. Anthony Aydlette, 45, was arrested and charged with driving under suspension in connection with the incident, Capt. Adam Myrick said. Aydlette is in custody at the Orangeburg County Detention Center. LCSD was requested to investigate the collision by the Orangeburg County Sheriffs Office. The Summerville Police Department posted asking the community to join them in prayer for the injured officer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2. Compassion North America is a home health agency located in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The Iowa Board of Nursing recently found that an unlicensed nurse worked at the agency and that "fraudulent practices" occurred there related to billing and records. Those findings are now being appealed to district court. (Building photo via Google Earth; document excerpt from the Iowa Board of Nursing) A state agency that denied having inspection records for a Cedar Rapids home health agency now admits it has the records but considers them confidential. The records are related to Compassion North America, a home health agency whose practices came under scrutiny earlier this year after the Iowa Board of Nursing presented evidence of falsified records, billing for services that were never delivered, and the employment of an unlicensed nurse to provide patient care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On July 9, the Iowa Capital Dispatch asked the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals and Licensing for a copy of a private accreditation agencys inspection report for Compassion North America. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX In response to the Capital Dispatchs request, DIAL spokesperson Diane McCool said DIAL does not receive survey reports, using DIALs terminology for inspectors reports, from accrediting organizations. After the Capital Dispatch reported DIALs claim that it didnt have the requested records, the Accreditation Commission for Health Care contacted the news organization and said that it had, in fact, provided DIAL with a copy of the documents via email on Sept. 16, 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Capital Dispatch asked DIAL again for the records, and also requested email communications between the accrediting organization and the state agency. Last week, DIAL provided the Capital Dispatch with the Sept. 16, 2024, email. The email included no text other than the subject line, and DIAL refused to disclose the emails attached accreditation report, stating that DIAL was not the official custodian of that particular document. DIAL didnt explain its initial assertion that it didnt have the records, nor did it explain how it could be the custodian of an email but not the attachment to that email. State: Home health agencies arent licensed The Capital Dispatch had also asked DIAL how and when Compassion North America was first licensed by the state, noting that the state agencys website indicated the company was first licensed in September 2024 seven years after the company was formed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response, McCool said on July 8 that Compassion North America became certified and licensed to provide medical home health services on Sept. 12, 2024. Later, however, DIAL removed that initial licensing date from its website. When asked why that happened, McCool said, Since there is no license for any HHA (home health agency) in the state, we removed the license date. This is consistent with department practice. Her statement did not address her previous assertion that Compassion North America was certified and licensed last September. Because DIAL has never conducted its own inspection of Compassion North America, and because it wont release its copy of the accrediting commissions findings, there is no public record of any regulatory oversight of the home health provider, which was first incorporated in June 2017. No DIAL investigation of allegations Last month, McCool said DIAL was not currently investigating Compassion North America, despite the findings of the Board of Nursing and its investigator that the company appeared to have falsified records, billed for services that were never delivered, and employed an unlicensed nurse to provide patient care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those allegations surfaced at a disciplinary hearing for registered nurse Mbalu Madlene Kebbie, who is married to Compassion North Americas CEO, Joseph Lemor. A state investigator who reviewed the work schedules of Compassion employees as part of a board investigation allegedly found that the license of one of the companys nurses had expired in January 2021 but she had continued to provide patient care in June and July 2022. In addition, a comparison of Compassions billing records with the staff work schedule allegedly showed the company had submitted payment claims for services for which there was no corresponding documentation to indicate the care was provided. There were also payment claims for services provided by a registered nurse that exceeded 24 hours in a single day, the state investigator testified. According to the board, Kebbie had no explanation for the irregularities in the nursing documentation including instances where it appeared Compassion had billed Medicaid twice for some services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Citing what it called Kebbies lack of previous disciplinary history, the board ruled that she could retain her Iowa nursing license subject to two years of probation. However, the boards own records indicate that in 2012, it disciplined Kebbie for working as a nurse while her license was inactive. Kebbies attorney has filed an appeal of the boards recent decision in Polk County District Court, arguing the sanctions against her are unreasonable, arbitrary, and excessive. The state has denied any wrongdoing in the matter. Lemor has said the state is engaged in a witch hunt with regard to Kebbie. We did not do anything improper, he told the Iowa Capital Dispatch last month. We have nothing to hide. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways (The Center Square) Michigan has joined a coalition of states challenging a Department of Energy report claiming the U.S. will face a significantly increased risk of power outages by 2030. The report argues that coal and natural gas-powered plants must remain in operation to mitigate the risk. Michigan and nine other attorneys general are pushing back. This report is based on flawed assumptions, overstates risks, and attempts to override the authority of states and regional regulators all to appease President Trump, said Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. We cannot allow the federal government to use a manufactured emergency to prop up outdated coal plants at the expense of Michigan families and our energy future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The July report from the DOE argued the U.S. will face a significantly increased risk of power outages by 2030 if scheduled coal and natural gas plant retirements are allowed to proceed. The report fulfills a direction by President Donald Trump in an April executive order to develop a uniform methodology for analyzing current and anticipated reserve margins for all regions of the bulk power system. The report outlined concerning results, including findings that the continued closure of plants increases the risk of power outages by 100 times in 2030. Our nation possesses abundant energy resources and capabilities such as oil and gas, coal, and nuclear, the report said. It applauded deregulation and permitting reform by the Trump administration, but argued that wont be enough if plants continue to close. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, even with these foundational strengths, the accelerated retirement of existing generation capacityundermine this energy outlook, it said. Absent decisive intervention, the nations power grid will be unable to meet projected demand for manufacturing, re-industrialization, and data centers driving artificial intelligence (AI) innovation. In conclusion, the report recommends keeping these plants running to maintain grid reliability. Nessel and the other attorneys general filed a request for rehearing the the DOE, arguing that the report should not be used as the basis to renew emergency orders under the Federal Power allowing for the continued operation of coal-powered plants. The report is deeply flawed and, if DOE is taken at its word, it will inflict significant harm on our states, the request stated, arguing that the closure of coal plants should continue. These retirements have been thoroughly vetted by state and regional authorities and approved only following an extensive examination of cost considerations and reliability impacts. It goes on to argue that the DOE is overstepping its authority and is working off of flawed assumptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nessel was joined by the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, and Washington in filing the rehearing request. Michigan, Colorado, and Washington all have plants that could be affected by the findings. In Michigan, Nessel is currently challenging a recent emergency order from the U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright directing the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, in combination with Consumers Energy, to keep the J.H. Campbell coal-fired plant open in West Olive. While the plant was scheduled to close in May, Wright ordered a 90-day stay to that decision, as previously reported by The Center Square. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Todays emergency order ensures that Michiganders and the greater Midwest region do not lose critical power generation capability as summer begins and electricity demand regularly reach high levels, Wright said at the time. This administration will not sit back and allow dangerous energy subtraction policies threaten the resiliency of our grid and raise electricity prices on American families. Nessels lawsuit is pushing for the plant to be closed immediately, arguing the emergency order was unlawful and that the plants continued operation could put enormous costs onto utility customers who receive no real benefit. Under the Federal Power Act, the DOE has 30 days to respond to the coalitions request for rehearing. Stillwater residents and stakeholders spoke out about what matters most to them in a recent survey, and key players and business owners in Stillwater had a chance to learn about those responses. The Stillwater Chamber of Commerce hosted the Perspectives of the Stillwater Community luncheon Friday at the Stillwater Community Center to present a sneak peek from a survey conducted by the Stillwater Community Foundation. SCF board members Abbey Davis and Mike Woods collaborated on the survey and presented their findings, which were gathered from 400 participants who answered questions regarding Stillwaters response to the wildfires, quality of life, parks, community centers and transportation, food insecurity and physical and mental health resources. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woods said the survey was a result of a conversation at the foundations retreat last year and how they could contribute to the community. Every board member pitched in to help, he said. Doing a survey w as something that fit in our wheelhouse, and we also thought it would be of use to the community, Woods said. And so we jumped on it. The results of the survey are preliminary, Davis said, but they provide a snapshot into how residents view Stillwater and how officials and business owners can better direct their resources and attention. The survey was evenly split between both the city and community's response to families impacted by the March wildfires, as well as community needs including maintaining parks and community spaces, more safe places and programs for youth, better roads and a community pool. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of survey participants, 93% were permanent Stillwater residents, with 66% of respondents being female. The survey included marital status, education level, military status and unemployment rate of participants. According to the survey, 2.5% of the community lost a home to the fires, 10.7% said their neighborhood was affected, 12.6% said they were impacted in some way by the fires and 66.7% said they werent affected. Although about 80% of surveyed residents said they thought Stillwater responded well to the wildfires, Davis told the News Press one of the biggest surprises for her was that many people said theres still ongoing needs for those impacted by the wildfires. There may not be anything that we can individually do to help them, but just checking in with them, asking how their process is going, making sure that they continue to feel supported, is really fair, Davis said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nearly 54% of participants said the community was able to help meet the needs of families impacted by the wildfires. Ongoing needs include funding for high deductibles, long-term housing options, mental health service and support, financial assistance and insurance navigation, lists of home rebuilding services and ongoing emotional and physical support for impacted families. The last part of the survey included quality of life, education, business climate, healthcare, child care and more. A prominent finding from the survey that stood out to Davis involved residents wishing for better maintenance of Stillwaters parks and open spaces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While we all want new things like pickle ball courts and pools, (we also want) maintenance of our parks, Davis said. And so, ensuring that were removing weeds and poison ivy and were fixing broken sidewalks parents are going to feel much more comfortable letting their kid hop on their bike and go to the park if theres a safe bicycle lane to get them there and sidewalks. She said another surprising find was that although Stillwater does a good job of catering to parents with small children offering splash pads and childrens museums theres one demographic thats not being reached. We cant forget about the teens, Davis said. Its a critical time of life where theyre trying to figure out how to engage with the world, and we want to them engage with the world in a very positive way. So, ensuring that were figuring out what to do to help our teens have safe places to interact and play is important. Woods, who has served on the SCF board for years, said the biggest surprises for him and what he knows luncheon guests have also seen is the need for recreational activities for all age groups, in addition to trails for biking and walking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I will say, the Block 34 project is a direct answer to that (and) we will soon see the opening of The HUB, Woods said. I think those are quality of life issues that the community has clearly said they want. One response that he called striking was residents wanting a community pool. I think thats a big need that should be focused on, he said. Woods said hes also concerned about affordable housing and homelessness in Stillwater, and he pointed out the lack of funding for nonprofits such as Mission of Hope. I think thats an issue that we all have to think about, Woods said. I dont know the answer, but I think thats pretty important. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Davis said shed planned for 300 participants, so gathering 400 participants was a plus although she would have loved to have 1,000. The foundation plans to make the survey an annual event each spring and include more stakeholders and nonprofits, along with youth throughout the community and OSU students in the survey. In its next survey, the foundation hopes to include a stronger diversity of race and economic status for a more varied response. I think well have more traction each year to just get more and more to the goal line, Davis said. Full survey results will be released later in the month. SIOUX FALLS, SD (KELO) Smoky skies covered portions of KELOLAND on Monday, with air quality concerns in placeespecially East River. A cold front will push through KELOLAND later this evening and into the night. The good news is that this frontal passage will help get the smoke out of here. The bad news is that we could see some isolated thunderstorms along the wayespecially in east-central and northeastern KELOLAND. Temperatures will also take a small step backward on Tuesday, with highs in the 70s and low 80s to the east and mid 80s out west. Well remain pretty quiet as well with a weak area of high pressure in place. The break, unfortunately for some, short-lived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While Wednesday starts off quietly enough, we do need to watch the later part of the day and into the night. Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop and move into northern South Dakota. These storms will also likely spill east and southeastward into Thursday morning. A Marginal Risk is in place for much of central and eastern KELOLAND for the late evening/overnight time frame. Speaking of Thursday, and elevated risk for severe weather is in place for northeastern South Dakota as another round of storms develops late Thursday and spills into Friday morning. Keep an eye out for updates. Shower and storm chances linger into the weekend, with more heat and humidity on the way. Though the dog days of summer are over as of today, uncomfortable conditions arent going away as quickly. In fact, odds for above average temperatures remain favored as we head into the later part of next week and as more and more schools are back in session. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres a look at your extended forecast: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com. Damage on the property of the Nebraska State Penitentiary from a Saturday storm. (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Correctional Services) LINCOLN Straight-line winds of 80-90 mph tore the roof off of parts of two housing units Saturday at the aging Nebraska State Penitentiary, displacing 387 inmates, the state announced. Damage estimates and first steps toward temporary repairs were still taking place Monday, though more information was expected from the Department of Correctional Services. Video of the damage shows parts of the roof being pulled off of a facility that has been the subject of much discussion in the Legislature for its need for upgrades or replacement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Jim Pillen, in a tweet Sunday on X, credited Corrections Director Rob Jeffreys and his staff for safely relocating the inmates and said he was incredibly proud of their work. Jeffreys, in a statement, said his team across the department trains for the unexpected, and came together to make sure everyone was safe. No injuries were reported. The cleanup response has been impressive, with contractors on the ground at 7 a.m. this morning, Jeffreys said. Debris from the weekend storm at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln. Aug. 9, 2025. (Courtesy of Nebraska Department of Correctional Services) About 250 of the 387 displaced inmates were moved from the two damaged housing units to a gym on site at the State Penitentiary. The remainder were sent to prisons in Tecumseh and Omaha. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Correctional Services set up a website for friends and family members to check if their loved ones were impacted, at https://corrections.nebraska.gov/rehabilitation/friends-and-family. Repairs could take at least a month, according to a department press release from Sunday. Visits to inmates at the State Pen were canceled this weekend as the department assesses damage. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Aug. 10JAMESTOWN The National Weather Service issued a statement on Saturday, Aug. 9, that straight-line winds caused damage in Jamestown and to a farm north of Courtenay, North Dakota, that occurred during severe thunderstorms late Thursday, Aug. 7, and early Friday, Aug. 8. The weather service said wind speeds were up to 100 mph at both locations. The statement is preliminary, the weather service said, and subject to change pending final review of the events and publication in NWS Storm Data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The storms struck a large portion of the state on Thursday evening and nearly Friday morning, causing widespread wind damage. The National Weather Service in Bismarck said it conducted a storm survey on Friday to survey two areas of significant damage, at Jamestown and a farm 7 miles north of Courtenay. The weather service said significant damage, primarily to trees, occurred over the southern part of Jamestown, with the largest damage generally between Foxtrot Road on the west and 10th Avenue East on the east, resulting in a path length of approximately 2 miles. The width of the greatest damage stretched from near 17th Street on the south end to around 11th Street on the north, about half a mile. At the start of the greatest damage in the area of Meidinger Park and areas south, a pontoon boat was flipped, a tree was uprooted, multiple smaller trees were either snapped or had significant branches broken off, and a camper was pushed off its blocks, the weather service reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Near the intersection of 14th Avenue and 17th Street Southwest, a manufactured home had its roofing material uplifted and larger spruce trees were uprooted. East of the intersection of U.S. Highway 52/281 and 17th Street Southwest on top of Mill Hill, multiple trees were uprooted. Further east along 17th Street Southeast, the metal roof panels blew off the east side of a building. At McElroy Park and areas surrounding, many trees were uprooted, with some smaller to medium-size trees snapped. Near the intersection of 14th Street and 8th Avenue Southeast, roofing panels were blown off a building, reported by The Jamestown Sun as an apartment building at 713 14th St. SE. At the farmstead surveyed north of Courtenay, the National Weather Service said significant damage occurred to buildings and grain handling equipment. The weather service reported two newer pole-barn buildings had a significant portion of them destroyed with collapsed walls and roofs. Another large building had multiple roof panels blown off. Multiple grain bins were damaged, one with significant damage to its roofing structure. A large grain dryer was toppled when the grain leg system collapsed. Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga has stood by his decision to work with President William Ruto under the broad-based government initiative, saying he has no regrets. Speaking at the funeral of former Rarieda MP Bob Jalango Nyanduga at Obaga Primary School grounds, Odinga pointed out that ODM chose to partner with the Kenya Kwanza government for the sake of the nation. He explained that, at the time, Kenya was on the brink of imploding, citing the massive protests against the government that were on the verge of plunging the nation into chaos. It was necessary to take emergency measures to keep the country from falling off the edge, he said. We had to make compromises for the good of the nation, and we do not regret that decision. Odinga also raised the red flag over rampant corruption, warning that it still hinders development and good governance. He demanded tough action, saying that serious leadership cannot succeed as long as corruption is deeply rooted. You cannot develop unless you tame this animal called corruption, he said. It exists in almost every aspect of our lives today. We need to fight it in all our spheres. Siaya Governor James Orengo, on his part, reassured citizens that Odinga remains committed to the ideals of change and reforms despite his collaboration with the current government. Orengo affirmed that Odinga will never disappoint the people or the ideals that have steered his political life. I know that my party leader is being guided by ideological foundations of reform and change and at every sitting he never forgets that he is a messenger of the people of Kenya, Orengo said. Rarieda MP Otiende Amolo echoed Orengos remarks, saying ODMs involvement in the widened-based government does not weaken its role as a watchdog. He reiterated that the party remains the minority in the National Assembly and will continue to hold the executive accountable. Aug. 11 (UPI) -- A 25-year-old New York man shot and killed in Puerto Rico while attending a Bad Bunny concert. Queens resident Kevin Mares was fatally shot Sunday night at a San Juan nightclub in the La Perla neighborhood of the commonwealth U.S. island's capital city a little after 4 a.m. local time, according to police. Officials said the East Elmhurst man was an innocent bystander when gunfire erupted. A 46-year-old local man and his sister, 45, were both injured but survived. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident took place at the nightclub Refugio de Hombres Maltratados in the La Perla neighborhood, an area known for crime in the coastal town. Investigators said an argument broke out and a person pulled out a gun and started shooting. "They were standing in the wrong place at the wrong time," Claudia Saenz, a family friend, told the Daily News. Meanwhile, no arrests have been made and no suspects named. Local police, according to Det. Arnaldo Ruiz, were working with "very little" information about the incident. In a statement posted to social media, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he was heartbroken that his life was "tragically ripped away due to gun violence in Puerto Rico." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Condolences and prayers are with all of Kevin's loved ones grieving this unimaginable loss," stated the embattled Democrat-turned-Independent mayor currently up for re-election in a hotly contested mayoral race. According to witnesses in recorded reports, Mares attended Saturday night's Bad Bunny concert in San Juan with his girlfriend and friends. According to Mare's mother, he was planning to propose marriage in the fall to his girlfriend of seven years. The family, meanwhile, is working with Puerto Rican authorities to return Mare's remains part of an active investigation in America's island territory, which is reportedly estimated to cost the grieving family at least $23,000 with a GoFundMe page setup to aid in the process. Stricter cell phone ban for elementary and middle school students kicks in As students head back to the classroom, one thing wont be coming with many of them their cell phones. It was just two years ago that the State of Florida began restricting cell phone use in the classroom, banning their use during instruction in all grade levels. This year, the state is cracking down even further, prohibiting elementary and middle schoolers from using their phones from bell to bell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Parents Action News Jax spoke with outside of Palm Valley Academy told us they support the change, with some parents saying they dont even let their elementary school students have phones outside of school. I mean, our kids have become dependent on their phones. I kind of like them to have their independence and kind of fend for themselves, but obviously they have it just in case they need it to get in touch with us, said Laura Gainor, who has a 7th and 8th-grade student. My son doesnt have one, so it was kind of a moot point for us, but I think as long as hes able to focus and learn and be present during the day, I think its good, said Sarah Hanson, the parent of a 5th grader. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Penalties for violations vary by district. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Clay, penalties range from a loss of privileges for first offenses to detention and in-school suspension for repeat violations. In Duval, first offenses can result in a teacher-student conference and confiscation of the device for the rest of the school day. Meanwhile, one to two days of in-school suspension is possible for fifth-time violations. Nassau counts offenses as a level 2 violation with penalties ranging from peer mediation, counseling and detention, all the way up to out-of-school suspension. St. Johns County contacts parents and issues a warning for first time offenses. Four or more violations can result in detention, in-school or even out-of-school suspension. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] For now, high schoolers can still access phones in between classes or at lunch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But that may change in the near future. A pilot program launching this year will test out a total high school ban in six districts. But parents of high schoolers like Julie Reade were a little more hesitant to roll out a total ban for older students. Theyre more independent and they need that ability to be able to reach us, said Reade, who has a child starting high school this year. But Im really thankful that the schools are cracking down a little bit more on elementary-aged kids because its not needed. We can email the teachers, call the front desk. We did reach out to the Florida Department of Education asking for an update on whether the six test districts for the high school cell phone ban have been selected yet. Were still waiting to hear back. RELATED: Ware and Glynn Counties expand school cell phone ban to high schools >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Victims of stalkers appear to have an increased risk of heart disease, a new study says. Women who had been stalked or had obtained a restraining order were more likely to develop heart problems later in life, researchers reported in the journal Circulation. "Stalking is often seen as a form of violence that does not involve physical contact, which may make it seem less serious," said lead researcher Rebecca Lawn, a research associate in epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "However, our findings suggest stalking should not be minimized," she added in a news release. For the study, researchers tracked the health of more than 66,000 women recruited into a large-scale health study in 2001 at an average age of 46. Of the participants, 7,700 reported themselves as victims of stalking and nearly 3,700 had to get a restraining order to protect them from harassment. Women who reported being stalked had 41% greater odds of developing heart disease, compared to those who hadn't been stalked, results show. Those who got a restraining order were 70% more likely to have heart disease, researchers found. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Women who had a history of both being stalked and getting a restraining order had the highest observed level of heart disease risk -- double that of women who not had either traumatic experience. Further, women who suffered heart attacks or strokes in the years since their incidents were more likely to have reported being stalked or getting a restraining order, the study says. Researchers said the link between heart health and stalking might be explained by the psychological distress caused by being menaced and threatened. Such stress can trigger a person's "fight or flight" response, causing disruption in heart and blood pressure function as well as other health problems. Dr. Harmony Reynolds, immediate past chair of the American Heart Association's Clinical Cardiology & Stroke Women's Health Science Committee, said the effects of such stress can be long-lasting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Perhaps because it is our nature to re-think about things that happen to us, making us experience the situation over and over," Reynolds, director of the Sarah Ross Soter Center for Women's Cardiovascular Research at NYU Grossman School of Medicine in New York City, said in a news release. "However, social support may mitigate the effects of stress," said Reynolds, who was not involved in the research. "It's helpful to have people you can trust to talk with, whether they are family, friends, people in the community or professionals." Reynolds noted that it's already known that people subjected to intimate partner violence have a 30% higher risk of heart disease. "While this study shows a more moderate risk, given the long time frame, it highlights how feeling unsafe can affect the body, in addition to the mind," Reynolds said. "A variety of stressful life experiences are known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, including adverse childhood experiences, financial stressors, grief and other experiences." More information The Cleveland Clinic has more on stress and heart disease. Copyright 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved. A cholera outbreak in Sudan threatens the lives of tens of thousands of refugees already enduring one of the worlds gravest humanitarian crises. More than 100,000 cases of the disease have been registered in the last year, a World Health Organization official said, with hundreds of thousands more at risk if urgent action isnt taken. Meanwhile experts have warned that famine could soon take hold of El-Fasher, a city in western Sudan that has been besieged for more than two years. The citys population is on the verge of starvation, the World Food Programme said. Around 14 million have been displaced from their homes in Sudan, with many seeking refuge in countries battling humanitarian crises of their own. CAIRO (AP) Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces launched attacks Monday in a famine-stricken displacement camp outside of el-Fasher, the capital of North Darfur province, killing 40 people, local rights groups said. The Emergency Response Rooms group working at the Abu Shouk displacement camp said in a statement on Facebook that the RSF which is at war with the Sudanese military raided parts of the camp targeting citizens inside their homes. The community activist group, which provides assistance across Sudan, said at least 19 people were also injured. The Abu Shouk displacement camp outside of el-Fasher, which houses around 450,000 displaced people, has been repeatedly attacked over the course of the war. The Sudanese military has control over el-Fasher despite frequent strikes by the RSF. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the Resistance Committees in el-Fasher confirmed the attacks, saying on Facebook that the scene reflected the extent of the horrific violations committed against innocent, defenseless people. The Resistance Committees are a group of local citizens from the community that includes human rights activists. The Humanitarian Research Lab at Yale University posted satellite imagery showing 40 vehicles present at the Abu Shouk Camp on Monday. In an effort to corroborate reports of the RSF attack, the lab said the vehicles were in the northwest neighborhoods of the camp. In its report, Yale HRL said it gathered and analyzed photos and footage allegedly showing RSF shooting at people crawling away from them and berating and using ethnic slurs. Other satellite imagery gathered Saturday by the group apparently showed the RSF blocking routes that people use to escape el-Fasher by controlling points across the el-Fasher to Kutum road north of the city and an opening in the direction of Mellit, North Darfur. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The civil war in Sudan erupted in April 2023 in the capital Khartoum before spreading across the country following simmering tensions between the RSF and the army. The fighting has killed over 40,000 people, displaced as many as 12 million and pushed many to the brink of famine. The Abu Shouk camp is one of two camps with strong famine conditions, according to humanitarians. The Sudanese army said it clashed with RSF fighters on Monday in el-Fasher beginning at around 6 a.m. and ending in the afternoon. It claimed it defeated the paramilitary group, according to its posts on social media. Our forces repelled a large-scale attack from several axes by the terrorist militia and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy in lives and equipment, as more than 16 combat vehicles were destroyed and burned and 34 vehicles, including armored cars, were captured, the army claimed in a statement. The RSF said on its Telegram channel late Monday that it made advances in el-Fasher and seized military equipment, without providing further details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Darfur Gov. Mini Arko Minawi said on Facebook that el-Fasher triumphed over those who betrayed their land in an apparent reference to the RSF in Mondays fight. Meanwhile, in North Kordofan province the RSF has been accused of displacing over 3,000 families from 66 villages due to fighting since early August, according to the Sudan Doctors Network. The group also said the RSF looted the properties of those people and stole their money and livestock. Those displaced ended up arriving at Khartoum and White Nile provinces last week. The recent attacks on the villages in the province killed 18 civilians and injured dozens, according to the latest update by the United Nations. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric warned Monday of the extreme dire situation in Sudan, while Edem Wosornum, the operations and advocacy director at the U.N.'s humanitarian affairs agency, sounded the alarm over the situation in el-Fasher, saying over 60 people died from malnutrition in only one week, mostly women and children. President Donald Trump's week will culminate in a high-stakes summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where the two leaders are expected to discuss the war in Ukraine and the broader state of U.S.Russia relations on the global stage. The summit, scheduled for Friday, has drawn international scrutiny amid concerns that Washington and Moscow could attempt to broker terms for ending the conflict without formally involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy , leaving him only a tacit role in negotiations. Zelenskyy Thanks Nato, European Leaders For Backing His Push To Join Trumpputin Summit Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has previously said that Putin and Zelenskyy were close to a ceasefire deal but signaled that war-weary Kyiv would have to concede significant territory, an outcome that Ukrainians and many European allies oppose. Russian forces currently occupy approximately one-fifth of Ukraines territory stretching from the Russian border to Crimea including regions vital to the countrys economy, rich in minerals, industry, and home to Europes largest nuclear power plant. Views of the aftermath of a Russian airstrike with an S-300 missile in Svyatogorsk, Ukraine, on June 18, 2025. Both the White House and the Kremlin have acknowledged Zelenskyys request to join the talks, though no formal invitation has been extended to the Ukrainian leader. If granted a seat at the table, it would mark the first face-to-face meeting between Zelenskyy and Putin since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022. Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The summit comes as Russias war grinds into its third year and fifth month, with Moscow showing little sign of abandoning its efforts to erode Ukraines sovereignty and reassert the territorial influence of the former Soviet empire. Putin Ally Warns 'Titanic Efforts' Are Underway To Sink Trump Summit Over Ukraine War The Kremlin said in a statement on Saturday that Trump and Putin are expected to "focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution" in Ukraine. "This will evidently be a challenging process, but we will engage in it actively and energetically," the statement added. President Donald Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, on June 28, 2019. Over the weekend, several European leaders voiced support for Zelenskyys push to attend this weeks summit, amid growing concerns that Kyivs long-term security could be negotiated without its direct involvement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland and the European Commission said in a joint statement that any diplomatic solution brokered between Trump and Putin must uphold the security interests of both Ukraine and Europe. Zelenskyy Wont Cede Territory For Peace Deal Ahead Of Trumpputin Summit Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, holds his hand to his chest after his speech in the German Bundestag. "The U.S. has the power to force Russia to negotiate seriously," European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told Reuters on Sunday. "Any deal between the U.S. and Russia must have Ukraine and the EU included, for it is a matter of Ukraines and the whole of Europes security," she added. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also voiced support for Zelenskyy's attendance at the meeting and called the summit an opportunity to measure how serious Putin is about "bringing this terrible war to an end." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy thanked European leaders for their support and said that "the end of the war must be fair." "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," he said. Original article source: Summit with Putin set to top Trump's agenda this week as Ukraine war takes center stage ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) Thousands attended Legacy Church tonight to hear from controversial political activist Charlie Kirk, who spoke on Albuquerques west side. Many people from across the city and even the state showed up, while protesters gathered outside Legacy Church on Central to express their frustrations. Everyones entitled to their opinion, and theres no right or wrongits just fact, fiction, and opinion. Theres a gray area in deciphering which is which. I think its a good idea to be open-minded and receptive to different perspectives, said one attendee. Personally, I dont think politics should have a place in the church at all. I believe that the church should be something between you and God, said one protester. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Woman faces charges related to protest at UNM for Charlie Kirk visit Kirk is the CEO of the conservative political think tank Turning Point USA. Dozens of protesters were outside the church property, demonstrating against Kirk and the church. Inside, however, the main auditorium was packed with over 2,500 attendees, forcing many to watch from the foyer. Shortly after Kirk arrived, a woman directed a curse at him and was forcibly removed. Kirk proceeded to share his views on issues such as immigration and crime in New Mexico. We just need to praise Donald Trump and his team for completely securing the southern border, stated Kirk. Albuquerque police were on-site to monitor the situation, help direct traffic, and provide security. Initially, things were fairly calm when KRQE arrived, but as more protesters showed up, tensions rose, leading to some verbal confrontations before things settled down quickly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kirk previously visited the University of New Mexico in 2022, an event that was also met with protests and resulted in three arrests. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. UTICA, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY) Proceedings continued in the Robert Brooks murder case on Monday, when Anthony Farina took the stand for a suppression hearing. Prosecutor Jarrett Woodfork presented two witnesses before the court on Monday, August 11, in a suppression hearing regarding statements and other evidence obtained from Farina during an investigation at his home on December 13. Woodfork examined New York State Police Senior Investigator Dennis Dougherty first. Dougherty who works with the New York State Polices Major Crimes Unit in Troop D obtained the audio recording of that day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The audio recording showed that on December 13, investigators executed a search warrant at Farinas home regarding the death of Robert Brooks. Officers were specifically tasked with retrieving Farinas Department of Corrections uniform. Dougherty said that he asked Farina if he would like to discuss the case. Farina declined, saying he wanted to consult with a union representative before he did so. Dougherty said that he did not press any further regarding the case; however, the search proceeded as authorized, with Dougherty noting that Farina complied and helped investigators retrieve the items they were looking for. While they were there, Dougherty said he told Farina that they would need to search his phone, and asked for his consent. Dougherty said that Farina gave both verbal and written consent, with a written consent to search form. Farina then gave investigators his phone, at which point investigators walked through the consent form with him. Later that day, Farinas phone was sent to the State Polices Computer Crimes Unit. After an investigation by that unit, they had found potential evidence, stopped their search, and informed Dougherty that they would need to issue an additional search warrant, which was issued on December 16. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dougherty testified that at no point was Farina in custody, nor was he handcuffed. Family members were present during the investigation and not forced to leave, and Farina was cooperative. During cross-examination by Farinas defense attorney, Dougherty was asked whether Farina was told he could refuse consent to a search. The attorney also asked him how consent was received by those in attendance at Farinas home. Dougherty testified that Farina was asked whether or not he would consent. Dougherty also testified that no Miranda rights were given to Farina and all investigative steps were documented in reports by the New York State Police. Prosecutor Woodfork also called State Police investigator Newell Field, an officer with the Counterterrorism Intelligence Unit. Field assisted with the execution of the search warrant at Farinas home, specifically the consent form for the search of Farinas phone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Field also testified that Farina was not handcuffed and could move freely throughout his home during the search. He also testified that he couldnt recall hearing Farina give verbal consent, but did testify that Senior Investigator Dougherty informed him of Farinas consent to a phone search. Field testified that Farina did review and sign a consent to search form on December 13. That form included Farinas identifying information, as well as details of the phone such as serial number and other identifying information and a passcode to the phone provided by Farina. In cross-examination, Field established that his main role that day was to assist with the handling of the phone and provide officer safety should things go wrong. When asked if Field heard Farina give consent to the searches, the defense asked him if he was aware that it is lawful to search without written consent first, referring to a 30-minute gap between the verbal and written consent. Field said he didnt know and would have to refer to other materials, but has used both verbal and written consent in these cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Robert Bauer said at the end of the proceedings that he will make a decision on suppression of the evidence on Monday, September 22. He is expecting jury selection to formally begin the trial on Monday, October 6. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WUTR/WFXV - CNYhomepage.com. A former county clerk in Kentucky who was briefly jailed for refusing to issue same-sex marriage licenses on religious grounds is asking the Supreme Court to consider her appeal, arguing in part that the high courts landmark 2015 decision recognizing gay marriage rights was wrongly decided. Kim Davis, who served as Rowan County Clerk until 2018, appealed to the Supreme Court late last month, challenging lower federal court rulings that meant she was on the hook for $100,000 in damages and $260,000 in attorneys fees in a legal battle with one of the couples whose marriage she declined to certify. If ever there was a case of exceptional importance, the first individual in the Republics history who was jailed for following her religious convictions regarding the historic definition of marriage, this should be it, the petition reads. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The couple who sued Davis, David Ermold and David Moore, argue the high court should decline to hear the case. "Not a single judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals showed any interest in Davis's rehearing petition, and we are confident the Supreme Court will likewise agree that Davis's arguments do not merit further attention," their attorney William Powell said in a statement to ABC News. Former Kentucky clerk argues in appeal to Supreme Court that its 2015 same-sex marriage ruling was wrongly decided, as Republican states push to end gay marriage (Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) In her appeal, Davis, supported by the religious advocacy group Liberty Counsel, argued the First Amendments free exercise protections should shield her from liability, and that the Supreme Courts 2015 same-sex marriage decision in Obergefell v. Hodges is based on a legal fiction. The 2015 decision, combined with a proclamation shortly after from then-Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear to recognize same-sex marriages, left Davis as a defenseless constitutional orphan, per the appeal, who stands before the Court solely as an individualstripped of any government immunity, a consequence that began with this Courts Obergefell opinion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The appeal, which quotes heavily from two current Justices who dissented to the gay marriage ruling at the time Clarence Thomas and Chief Justice John Roberts also asks the high court to go after an even deeper set of legal standards known as substantive due process. The former clerks appeal argues the Supreme Courts ruling in a gay marriage case was legal fiction, as nine states push to either stop certifying gay marriages or have Supreme Court overturn same-sex marriage decision (Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Under this concept, courts have found that the due process protections of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments create rights not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution to privacy, interracial marriage, same-sex marriage, and, until the 2022 decision overturning Roe v .Wade, abortion. Though more than two-thirds of Americans support same-sex marriage, the appeal comes at a time when conservative groups and states are pushing to roll back the protections from Obergefell. As of this year, at least nine states have legislation aiming to block new licenses for gay marriages or resolutions urging the Supreme Court to overturn the 2015 ruling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In June, the Southern Baptist Convention, the nations largest Protestant Christian denomination, voted to make overturning the ruling a top priority. If the Supreme Court decides to hear Daviss case and subsequently overturns Obergefell, marriage law would revert back to the states. Both states and the federal government would still be required to recognize marriages from states where gay marriage is legal under the 2022 Respect for Marriage Act. LYNBROOK, Long Island (PIX11) The MTA Police Department is asking for public assistance in locating an individual in connection with a shooting at a Long Island Rail Road station on Saturday evening. A 17-year-old boy was shot in the torso on Platform B at the LIRR Lynbrook Station at around 7:55 p.m., according to the MTA. More Local News The victim was taken to Franklin Hospital in stable condition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect intentionally fired a gun at the teen, officials say. The MTA Police Department released the following photo. Courtesy of the MTA Anyone with information about the suspect or their whereabouts is asked to contact the MTA Police Department at 212-682-9654 or email MTAPDTIPS@mtapd.org. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Democracy for Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua came out in his defense after his recent utterances against the leadership of Kenya, reiterating that his statements are fact-based and driven by a desire for good governance. While addressing the Kenyan diaspora at Holy Names University in San Francisco on Sunday, August 10, 2025, Gachagua reiterated that his comments were meant for the leaders and not the nation or its people. I am not talking ill of my country, just speaking the truth. I am not saying that Kenya is bad; it is a beautiful country, with good people but with poor leadership, he said. He commended the accomplishments of Kenyans living abroad, describing them as proof of the countrys vast, untapped potential. I must say you have come to a foreign land and stamped authority by succeeding. You have businesses that are successful where you are employed; you have made an impact. This is encouraging; it gives me hope that, as much as we have problems back at home, all is not lost. Our greatest asset as a nation is the human resources. If you guys can thrive here, it says if we get working systems at home, things too can work, he stated. Gachagua Pledges People-First Policies Gachagua described his U.S. visit as transformative, saying it had strengthened his determination to push for leadership reforms. I came calling here a month ago I am a wiser person. Im not the way I came. By the time I go back home, I am a better leader. I have seen so much, he said. He pledged to continue his partys Skiza Wakenya (Listen to Kenyans) campaign, promising to shape policies that reflect the needs of the people. I have made it a deliberate modus operandi that my leadership will be informed by listening to the people of Kenya as our employers. As a leader, I am informed. For me to succeed and be considered a worthy leader, I must continue listening to Kenyans so that I align with the needs of people, he said. Gachagua Accuses Cabinet of Housing Drug Barons Gachagua also delivered sharp criticism of President William Rutos administration, accusing it of appointing two drug barons to the Cabinet. He called the move sad and unacceptable, linking his anti-drug stance to the personal loss of a brother to alcoholism. It is so sad that Kenya is the only country in the world where we have two drug barons sitting in the cabinet today. They are all known to have been trafficking and supplying drugs to Kenyans. That is how serious things are, he stated. As a solution, Gachagua reaffirmed his commitment to intensify the fight against drug abuse once he takes power. I lost a brother to drinking; it is why I am passionate about drug abuse and alcoholism back at home. I worked very hard back as DP to ensure that illicit brew is not available at home, he pledged. He confirmed that his team will roll out comprehensive plans to rehabilitate those affected by the drug crisis. Once we form a government, we will have a deliberate policy to deal with drug abuse and rehabilitation for our children, he added. A pair of suspects led police on a wild chase through Los Angeles Sunday night as they carjacked multiple vehicles including a big rig on live TV before escaping. The bizarre chase began with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department tailing the suspects inside a dark-colored pickup truck believed to have been stolen. At some point, the pickup truck came to a stop and the suspects tried, and failed, to break into two different cars before carjacking a white big rig and taking off on Interstate 5. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Driver Shot, Assaulted After Plowing Through Crowd, Injuring 30: La Officials The LAPD says the suspects carjacked at least two pickup trucks. The suspects ditched the big rig near downtown Los Angeles around 11:30 p.m. and carjacked a white pickup truck before taking off to the Boyle Heights neighborhood. Los Angeles authorities say the suspects carjacked a big rig. The Los Angeles Police Department reported that the driver of the stolen pickup truck was at one point driving the wrong way on Interstate 10. The LAPD said the suspects should be considered "armed and dangerous." Read On The Fox News App The suspects were seen on live TV driving the opposite direction of the freeway. The chase spanned the areas of Sylmar, Santa Clarita, North Hollywood, Hollywood Hills, Echo Park, downtown Los Angeles, Westlake, and Boyle Heights, per reporting from Fox 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After about an hour, the suspects appear to have fled on foot. As of early Monday, no arrests had been made. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Los Angeles Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and California Highway Patrol for comment. Fox News Digital's Eric Quintanar contributed to this report. Original article source: Suspects lead police on wild chase through LA while carjacking multiple vehicles, including big rig COLUMBIA, S.C. (WCBD) A Republican state lawmaker accused of using a social messaging app to distribute child sexual abuse material has resigned from the South Carolina House. RJ May, who was indicted on 10 counts by a federal grand jury in June, informed House Speaker Murrell Smith of his decision in an Aug. 7 letter. I have decided that it is in the best interest of my family and constituents to resign immediately from the South Carolina House of Representatives, he wrote. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement May was taken into custody on June 11 following a more than one-year-long investigation into alleged child sexual exploitation crimes. He remains behind bars in Lexington County. The speakers office confirmed the day after Mays arrest that he was suspended without pay. The West Columbia lawmaker has represented District 88 since 2021 and helped form the hardline conservative South Carolina Freedom Caucus. He also founded Ivory Tusk Consulting, a political consulting and public relations firm specializing in services for Republicans. The Freedom Caucus called Mays resignation long overdue in a statement released Monday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While we welcome this resignation, we strongly believe that the SC House should have acted to expel RJ May after he was indicted for such heinous crimes, the statement continued. Our hearts are with his victims and innocent family and we pray for swift justice as this ugly chapter in the South Carolina House of Representatives comes to a close. The process to remove May from the chamber was set in motion in mid-June when House Majority Leader Davey Hiott (R-Pickens) filed a complaint with the House Ethics Committee to investigate not only Mr. May, but his business dealings with other members of the State House of Representatives. In a Monday statement, Hiott called for the ethics committee to continue with its investigation. I hope the House Ethics Committee will follow its process through to conclusion, regardless of his resignation, the statement read, in part. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Formally expelling him would have required a two-thirds vote once the ethics investigation had concluded. Mays resignation sets up the potential for a special election to fill the District 88 seat this winter, according to the South Carolina Election Commission. A spokesperson said the commission had not yet received official notice from May or the House regarding a vacancy, but outlined a projected timeline for the special election: Filing period: August 29- September 6 Primary election: October 21 Runoff, if needed: November 4 Special election: December 23 The allegations Prosecutors said the investigation began in April 2024 after the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received a cyber-tip from the social messaging app Kik, which had flagged several videos depicting child sexual abuse shared from the user joebidennnn69. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At least 10 videos were shared from the account, which was later traced to Mays West Columbia home IP address and mobile device. Agents with Homeland Security Investigations seized nearly three dozen electronic devices belonging to May last August as part of the ongoing criminal investigation, according to a federal court filing. Those included laptops, cell phones, hard drives, and other devices. A motion filed by federal prosecutors states that May used Kik to participate in multiple group chats dedicated to the trading of child pornography, distributing approximately 220 different videos about 479 times over five days in early April, including instances where the same video was shared multiple times. The document contains graphic details about the contents of the videos and states that Mays activity on the app reveals he has sexual interest in children the same age as his own [two] children and a sexual interest in incest between parents and children. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This story is breaking and may be updated. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. SWAT units were called to a situation in Carrick on Sunday evening. Allegheny County dispatchers said police were initially called to the 2600 block of Brownsville Road at 7 p.m. Click here for photos from the scene. Pittsburgh Police said they were called to the area for reports of a dispute happening there. A woman barricaded herself inside an apartment building before officers arrived, police said. SWAT was requested at that point. The scene cleared a few hours later. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW DAMASCUS (Reuters) -Syria's interior ministry said on Monday that it would investigate footage showing men in military fatigues shooting an unarmed man in scrubs at point-blank range in the main hospital in the predominantly Druze city of Sweida last month. Syria's interior ministry said in a written statement that it had seen the "disturbing video" and "condemns and denounces this act in the strongest terms". The statement said the ministry tasked the deputy minister for security affairs "to directly supervise the investigation to ensure the perpetrators are identified and arrested as quickly as possible". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The security camera footage, verified by Reuters and by a doctor who witnessed the incident as being filmed inside Sweida National Hospital, shows four men in green military fatigues and one man in a black uniform with the words "Interior Ministry" printed on his back. In the footage, the five security forces stand in front of a group of about two dozen people in hospital scrubs, kneeling or squatting on the floor. One man in scrubs is standing. Two of the men in fatigues grab the standing man and slap him, as if trying to force him to sit. The man in scrubs resists and pulls one of the attackers in a headlock and onto the floor. The other armed men intervene to release their colleague. The man in scrubs is then shot twice while on the floor, first with a rifle by one of the uniformed men and then with a pistol by a second uniformed man. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the footage, which has no sound, the fighters appear to address the rest of the group, then drag the motionless man away by his feet, leaving a streak of blood on the hospital floor. The Syrian defence ministry did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters on the incident. The footage is the latest to emerge of execution-style killings in Sweida, where sectarian bloodshed last month left more than 1,000 people dead, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. A fact-finding committee has been set up to investigate reports of abuses. WITNESS Reuters was able to confirm the location of the footage from the floor, doors and walls, which matched media coverage of the hospital lobby. The date on the CCTV footage says the incident took place at about 3:16 p.m. on July 16. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syrian armed forces were deployed to Sweida city on July 15 to quell clashes between Bedouin tribes and Druze fighters, but the violence worsened after they entered. A senior doctor in the hospital's orthopaedic department who was in the hospital at the time and witnessed the incident said the security forces had stormed the hospital on July 16. The doctor identified the slain man as Muhammad Bahsas, a civil engineer who had come to the hospital to volunteer. The doctor, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisals, said one of the security personnel who had shot Bahsas told the rest of the group: "Anyone who speaks up to us will end up like him." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The doctor said the armed men then combed through the hospital for hours, searching for weapons and repeatedly calling the medical staff and volunteers "pigs". The security forces kept medical staff confined to hospital rooms overnight and left the hospital by the morning, the doctor said. (Reporting by Eleanor Whalley in London and Feras Dalatey; Editing by Alison Williams) Bedouin fighters stand along a street with their weapons, as Sweida province has been engulfed by nearly a week of violence triggered by clashes between Bedouin fighters and factions from the Druze, in Idlib, Syria, July 18, 2025. (photo credit: Karam al-Masri/Reuters) Syria's interior ministry said in a written statement that it had seen the "disturbing video" and "condemns and denounces this act in the strongest terms." Syria's interior ministry said on Monday that it would investigate footage showing men in military fatigues shooting an unarmed man in scrubs at point-blank range in the main hospital in the predominantly Druze city of Sweida last month. Syria's interior ministry said in a written statement that it had seen the "disturbing video" and "condemns and denounces this act in the strongest terms." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement said the ministry tasked the deputy minister for security affairs "to directly supervise the investigation to ensure the perpetrators are identified and arrested as quickly as possible." The security camera footage, verified by Reuters and by a doctor who witnessed the incident as being filmed inside Sweida National Hospital, shows four men in green military fatigues and one man in a black uniform with the words "Interior Ministry" printed on his back. In the footage, the five security forces stand in front of a group of about two dozen people in hospital scrubs, kneeling or squatting on the floor. One man in scrubs is standing. IDF soldiers operating in Syria (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON UNIT) Two of the men in fatigues grab the standing man and slap him, as if trying to force him to sit. The man in scrubs resists and pulls one of the attackers in a headlock and onto the floor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other armed men intervene to release their colleague. The man in scrubs is then shot twice while on the floor, first with a rifle by one of the uniformed men and then with a pistol by a second uniformed man. In the footage, which has no sound, the fighters appear to address the rest of the group, then drag the motionless man away by his feet, leaving a streak of blood on the hospital floor. The Syrian defense ministry did not immediately respond to questions from Reuters on the incident. The footage is the latest to emerge of execution-style killings in Sweida, where sectarian bloodshed last month left more than 1,000 people dead, according to the Syrian Network for Human Rights. A fact-finding committee has been set up to investigate reports of abuses. Witness and documentation of locations Reuters was able to confirm the location of the footage from the floor, doors, and walls, which matched media coverage of the hospital lobby. The date on the CCTV footage says the incident took place at about 3:16 p.m. on July 16. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Syrian armed forces were deployed to Sweida city on July 15 to quell clashes between Bedouin tribes and Druze fighters, but the violence worsened after they entered. A senior doctor in the hospital's orthopedic department who was in the hospital at the time and witnessed the incident said the security forces had stormed the hospital on July 16. The doctor identified the slain man as Muhammad Bahsas, a civil engineer who had come to the hospital to volunteer. The doctor, who spoke on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisals, said one of the security personnel who had shot Bahsas told the rest of the group: "Anyone who speaks up to us will end up like him." The doctor said the armed men then combed through the hospital for hours, searching for weapons and repeatedly calling the medical staff and volunteers "pigs." The security forces kept medical staff confined to hospital rooms overnight and left the hospital by the morning, the doctor said. Neil Christensen and his family started noticing deductions from their royalty payments about a decade ago. North Dakota mineral owners have asked state leaders for help with the issue, but they say an oversight program has fallen short. (Sarahbeth Maney/ProPublica) This article was produced for ProPublicas Local Reporting Network in partnership with the North Dakota Monitor. Sign up for Dispatches to get stories in your inbox every week. One morning in February 2023, a small group of mineral owners arrived at the North Dakota Capitol on a mission. They had traveled from across the state and other parts of the country to explain to lawmakers how the powerful oil and gas companies had been chipping away at their income. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not easy to recruit people to testify during the winter months of the legislative session. Ranchers are busy with the calving season. Snowbirds have relocated to warmer climates. Its a more than three-hour drive for those living in the Bakken oil field. This is the second story in a series. Read the first story here. But those who made it to Bismarck lined up at a podium to share details of their own experiences and the broader concerns affecting the estimated 300,000 people who receive money from the industry in exchange for the right to their underground minerals. For nearly a decade, they had grappled with companies withholding significant portions of their royalty payments without explaining how they determined how much to deduct, as the North Dakota Monitor and ProPublica reported last week. Now they were at the Capitol for a specific reason: They wanted legislators to require companies to provide more information so owners could discern if they were being paid correctly, and to impose penalties if companies failed to comply. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Shane Leverenz, who manages income his extended family receives from numerous oil wells, read aloud email responses from companies to illustrate the lack of cooperation mineral owners face when they request information. We are not obligated to mail each owner a calculation as to how their interest was calculated, one company wrote. There is no transparency, Leverenz told the legislators. Leverenz, whose great-grandfather homesteaded in North Dakota and had his property deed signed by President Theodore Roosevelt, has helped organize royalty owners on this issue in recent years. Leverenz grew up in Epping, a town of fewer than 100 people in the northwest part of the state, and traveled to North Dakota from Texas, where he now lives, to testify. Shane Leverenz testifies at a bill hearing in the North Dakota Capitol in 2023. (Jeremy Turley/Forum News Service) After input from Leverenz and others, lawmakers decided to create a new state program that they hoped would address conflicts between royalty owners and companies. In particular, mineral owners had mounting concerns over postproduction deductions, the money companies withhold to cover the costs of processing and transporting minerals after they are extracted and before they are sold. Companies say they are allowed to pass on a share of those costs, while royalty owners say they shouldnt bear that responsibility because in most cases lease agreements dont mention those expenses. The states postproduction royalty oversight program had the support of the industry, but it was far less than what Leverenz and other owners wanted. In the two years since its creation, the program has not lived up to its name and has not alleviated owners concerns over deductions or transparency, an investigation by the North Dakota Monitor and ProPublica found. The program has resolved 69 cases so far, and none have involved postproduction deductions, according to documents obtained under a public records request. A case can represent a complaint or question from a royalty owner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The legislative intent was supposed to be addressing the issue of the postproduction costs that they were hitting people with, said Rep. Don Longmuir, a Republican from Stanley, in the northwest corner of the state. The newsrooms investigation found that the program has focused on other issues. It has instead helped owners resolve complaints about companies withholding payments entirely and failing to pay interest on late royalty payments, records show. Some mineral owners said in interviews that they do not trust state officials to help them get information about the deductions and therefore have not tried to use the program. Leverenz said the program, also referred to as the ombudsman program, has not accomplished what he and other royalty owners were told it would. He has taken six complaints to the ombudsman; three were resolved but three remain open, including two for more than a year. The unresolved complaints do not involve deductions, he said, and focus on other issues with his familys royalty payments. The ombudsman is running into the same thing that I have, where theres just no response from the oil companies or they stalled, Leverenz said. Theres been no forward momentum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ron Webb, who coordinates the program within the states Department of Agriculture, said it has helped facilitate communication between mineral owners and companies. He said the program is voluntary and does not have authority to compel companies to change how they calculate payments or even to provide information. Oil companies are not required to work with us, Webb said. The program no longer promotes itself as being able to oversee concerns about royalty deductions even though that was part of the legislative intent. On the departments website and in a brochure, the word postproduction has been dropped from the programs name even though it is in the title of the law that created it. The departments legal counsel, Dutch Bialke, said the name of the law is irrelevant to how the program operates. The title is entirely legally non-binding and has no legal effect, he wrote in an email, citing North Dakota law. A bill introduced in 2023 established what it called the postproduction royalty oversight program. The program has since dropped the word postproduction from its name. (Obtained by North Dakota Monitor and ProPublica. Highlighted by ProPublica.) Nothing is clear Ever since Neil Christensen and his sisters noticed in 2016 that Hess Corp. was withholding nearly 25% of their royalty income up from less than 1% just two years earlier his family has tried to get answers from the company. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He traveled to Minot, North Dakota, some years ago to meet with Hess representatives at their production offices. He also called the companys accounting office and its royalty owner hotline, but he said their explanations didnt make sense. It doesnt seem as if the company has a large interest in explaining themselves, Christensen said. Spreadsheets kept by his family show withholdings have been as much as 42% in recent years. The transparency issue is a big problem with oil operators and mineral owners. Christensen manages land and oil and gas minerals in McKenzie County, North Dakota, for his family. (Sarahbeth Maney/ProPublica) The royalty statements can be hundreds of pages long but provide only a general description of the reasons for the deductions, leaving owners unable to verify the companies costs and whether they are being paid a fair share. Christensens family and others said they have had payments reduced for expenses the companies incurred years earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nothing is clear, said his sister Naomi Staruch, who has spent most of her career working in finance for banks and churches in Minnesota. I would get so frustrated really looking hard at the statements. Diana and Bob Skarphol, who have advocated for years on behalf of royalty owners, said confusing and overwhelming royalty statements are a common concern. The couple received one statement last year that included 39 pages of calculations for a single well including reductions to past royalties going back nine years. The Skarphols received $1.15 that month from the production of the well. Merrill Piepkorn, a Democratic former state senator from Fargo who was the prime sponsor of the transparency legislation, said oil companies tactics are obfuscation through transparency. You get so much information, theres no way to find what youre looking for, said Piepkorn, who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2024. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Todd Slawson, chair of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, said royalty statements are complex in part because state regulators within the last decade began requiring companies to include additional categories of information. Hess said it maintains an online portal where royalty owners can access their royalty information and operates a call center that mineral owners can contact with questions. North Dakota does not regulate the costs that companies can pass on to individual owners, though the state and federal governments regulate deductions on government-owned land. The state audits the royalties paid on state-owned minerals to ensure the amounts are correct and, since 1979, the states leases do not allow deductions. But private mineral owners dont have that same access and often learn about deductions by comparing their statements with one another. Its kind of all rigged against the individual royalty owner, Leverenz said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State officials have told mineral owners that they cant get involved in private disputes and that litigation is the owners best recourse. But litigation isnt financially feasible for most families, according to attorney Josh Swanson, who represents mineral owners. It easily exceeds six figures, and thats cost-prohibitive for most folks, Swanson said. Part of the playbook for a lot of operators is making these things as cost-prohibitive as they can. Swanson was the attorney Janice Arnson and her family hired to try to get answers from Hess. Hess had been deducting between 15% and 36% of their royalty income each month since 2015, according to a spreadsheet maintained by Arnson. They had no luck getting an explanation from the company until they hired Swanson in 2017. When Hess responded, a company attorney said in a letter that the deductions were proper and permissible under the terms of the lease. While Swanson disagreed, the family declined to pursue litigation because it was going to be an expensive suit. First image: Janice Arnson in her Williston, North Dakota, home. Second image: Arnson places her hand on land once owned by her family, where she still retains mineral ownership, near the northern shore of Lake Sakakawea in northwest North Dakota. (Sarahbeth Maney/ProPublica) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We were one small, little family, said Arnson. We just didnt have the resources against Hess to fight. (In response to questions about royalty deductions, Hess reiterated its comments published previously that the increased costs are due to infrastructure investments made in the past decade. Those changes were made to reduce natural gas flaring and meet state regulations.) Some royalty owners have turned to the Northwest Landowners Association, a nonprofit advocacy group, for help. Troy Coons, the groups chair, said he has fielded multiple calls a week from royalty owners who are angry that state leaders have not helped them with the deductions. Its a massive concern for people, said Coons, whose group has sued the state on behalf of property owners on a different issue. Were not supposed to be bearing the burden of expenses. Troy Coons, chair of the nonprofit Northwest Landowners Association, on his property in Donnybrook, North Dakota. Mineral owners have reached out to the association for help with deductions. (Sarahbeth Maney/ProPublica) Lawmakers initially had bipartisan support in 2023 for a bill that would have guaranteed mineral owners access to electronic spreadsheets detailing their payments and would have required companies to provide more information on how they calculate a royalty owners share of the income from each well. It also would have directed courts to require companies to reimburse royalty owners for attorneys fees if they successfully sued for the information. But that bill was discarded in favor of legislation creating the royalty oversight program. The Legislature took our bill and they stripped it of everything, and they shoved the ombudsman program into it, Leverenz said. They created the program with the promises that, you know, this is going to be the answer to all the issues that have been brought up over the years with the royalty owners. Sen. Brad Bekkedahl, a Republican from Williston, initially backed both bills. The senator said he hoped the bill creating the ombudsman program would be amended in the legislative process to give it more authority to advocate on behalf of mineral owners. That didnt happen. That would have been, I think, more beneficial to royalty owners, said Bekkedahl, who ultimately voted against it. North Dakota state Sen. Brad Bekkedahl, a Republican who is also Willistons finance commissioner, outside Williston City Hall after a commission meeting in June. (Sarahbeth Maney/ProPublica) Barking up a tree In pitching the program to lawmakers in 2023, Doug Goehring, the states agriculture commissioner, said the goal was to try to develop some resolution for royalty owners with questions about their payments, including concerns over deductions. The bill required a report to legislators. Goehring told lawmakers he would share with them full and complete information concerning the cases handled by the program and the issues faced by mineral owners in order to inform future legislation. Well certainly provide you scenarios, situations, and some of the challenges and difficulties weve dealt with, Goehring, a Republican, testified in 2023. And even some suggestions about how you correct some of this moving forward. The result has fallen short of what Goehring pledged in testimony, the news organizations found. Goehring now says it is not the programs job to find resolution for royalty owners who question the deductions. We dont have a leg to stand on to try and advocate or try to extort money out of the company, Goehring said. He said an exception is if deductions are specifically prohibited in leases, but most agreements, especially those signed decades ago, are silent on the issue of deductions. Instead of a detailed report, Goehring delivered a one-page summary to legislators in September that broadly categorized the issues handled through the program. Legislators accepted the report without discussion. Goehring said a more detailed report was not necessary. They dont want to know that, he said. We generally dont write reports in that manner. We give them the basic information. North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring, a Republican, says the royalty oversight program has been successful, citing feedback from the oil industry. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor) Of the 147 cases filed with the program, about half remain unresolved, including more than two dozen that have been pending since 2023. Goehring said some of the cases remain open at the request of royalty owners. Two of the pending cases involve postproduction deductions, including one that has been open since September 2023, according to Bialke, the Agriculture Departments legal counsel. The cases are assigned to two energy companies that serve as ombudsmen, Diamond Resources and Aurora Energy Solutions, which contact the companies on behalf of the mineral owners. Neither of the companies responded to questions from the North Dakota Monitor and ProPublica. The news organizations paid $425 to obtain records related to the cases that had been resolved as of late June. In those cases, the ombudsmen have answered royalty owners questions and obtained answers for them when companies had not been responsive. In some cases, they mediated solutions that resulted in royalty owners receiving payments they were owed, records show. In one case, an ombudsman spent nearly 10 months going back and forth with a company until the royalty owner got paid. In other cases, ombudsmen helped royalty owners understand technical issues related to taxes and the probate process after inheriting minerals. The department redacted company names from the documents released, with Bialke citing state law. It has been extremely helpful for frustrated royalty owners who cannot get their questions answered, said Slawson of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, who also owns an energy company. Having deductions suddenly show up on revenue checks and questions not being answered or not explained well can lead to suspicions of wrongdoing. Kenneth Schmidt, who owns minerals near Ray in Williams County, contacted the program after struggling to convince a company that it owed interest on late royalty payments as mandated by state law. It took a few months, he said, but the company paid him. I was very satisfied with the program, said Schmidt. Instead of going to an attorney and Ill pay $400 an hour, they did it for free, but through the state. Goehring said the program has been successful, citing feedback from the industry as well as the fact that no bills related to royalty deductions were introduced during this years legislative session, the first time in nearly a decade. If theres no bills that are coming up, then isnt that an indication? Its kind of like if you dont have a cough, then maybe you dont have a cold, he said. While the program has resolved disputes like Schmidts, which are more cut-and-dried, it isnt well equipped to handle more complex disagreements, Goehring said. That isnt a surprise to one of the lawmakers who worked on the bill. I dont doubt that in some cases, facilitating that communication probably helped, but I dont think it gives all the answers to the royalty owners that theyre looking for, Bekkedahl said. A number of royalty owners told the news organizations they simply dont trust the program to help. I didnt feel the ombudsman program had any teeth in it whatsoever to do anything, said Brian Anderson, who has not filed a complaint even though he wants companies to more fully explain their deductions. Theyll placate you; theyre not going to do anything about it. Curtis Trulson, a royalty owner in Mountrail County, agreed: Going to the program, he said, is just barking up a tree. Clarification, Aug. 12, 2025: This story has been updated to reiterate previous comments from Hess. North Dakota Monitor reporter Jacob Orledge can be reached at jorledge@northdakotamonitor.com. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. This column was originally published in Wisconsin Examiner. For the record: 11:13 a.m. Aug. 11, 2025: An earlier version of this article said the Los Angeles County Emergency Centralized Response Center is based in an office at the downtown Hall of Administration. It is based at the Hall of Records. The request came in June. A staff member for Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath emailed the county's newly established Emergency Centralized Response Center, asking for a cleanup of a reoccurring homeless encampment along a rail line in the San Fernando Valley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Joshua Chung, an analyst with the Emergency Centralized Response Center, or ECRC, said he quickly got to work. He contacted outreach workers at nonprofits in the area to compile names of people living at the Northridge encampment. He then coordinated with multiple county departments to see if there was a bed available for those individuals, and if they'd qualify for special services because of health problems or drug addiction. It was all in preparation for the day in late July when crews would arrive to the train tracks and throw away tarps and tents, and remove a makeshift electrical line residents set up to siphon power from the grid. Bernice Saavedra said she and her fellow outreach workers at the nonprofit LA Family Housing had around a month before the cleanup to contact residents and find them help. Before ECRC, she said they often had just a few days. Sometimes only 24 hours. Outreach and ECRC workers gather near a homeless encampment in Northridge. (David Butow/For The Times) "The more time we have to engage, the more time we have to have thorough conversations," Saavedra said. "There's a better chance of getting people indoors." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement L.A. County's Emergency Centralized Response Center launched in January with a goal of better coordinating the various efforts among different government agencies and nonprofits to clean encampments, get people healthcare and into temporary or permanent housing. The dispatch center was established following a request from Supervisors Horvath and Kathryn Barger and is part of a larger stated effort to increase accountability and coordination when it comes to homeless services, including a new county homeless department that will launch next year. In the supervisors' motion requesting the response center, they said there previously wasn't one entity tasked "to oversee and direct daily operations for unhoused individuals across Los Angeles County" no small problem when different county departments, federal agencies, state agencies and 88 cities are involved. Overlap and gaps in services were common. Jose Duran emerges from his shelter at a homeless encampment near train tracks in Northridge. (David Butow/For The Times) When an encampment popped up, officials said multiple agencies would receive requests for service and then act on their own, resulting in multiple outreach teams dispatched to the same location, without knowledge someone else had been there before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There were also jurisdictional issues. Sometimes, a state agency would clean an encampment on its property, but not notify the local agency that owned the adjacent property, allowing residents to move their encampment there, said Donald Holt, principal analyst with ECRC. Now, the county says ECRC oversees more than 150 outreach teams across 11 organizations and coordinates with multiple government agencies that offer housing and conduct cleanups to ensure they are working together. Horvath said the effort is particularly important given the investment the public has made to get people off the streets and the ongoing budget constraints facing all levels of government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I am really grateful for all the ways we will now not only be able to deliver results but stretch those dollars further," Horvath said. "It wasn't until this center came together that that coordination was really put into action in the ways we all expected." Read more: The real story of how L.A. became the epicenter of America's homeless crisis Based in an office at the downtown Hall of Records, center staff handle requests for service from elected officials, the public and government agencies and then coordinate cleanups and work to find housing, as well as needed medical care. Jose Quinonez walks his bike near his shelter at a homeless encampment in Northridge. (David Butow/For The Times) In addition to eight analysts dedicated to managing requests for specific regions of the county, workers at the center include staff from the county's Housing for Health, Department of Mental Health, the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority and the Department of Military & Veterans Affairs, among others. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chung, who previously worked at the nonprofit LA Family Housing, said finding housing for someone was once like a game of telephone. But with the government agencies that manage shelters now a few cubicles away, things have changed. "Now I can just go over and talk to our [staff member] Josh... and say 'Hey Josh can you see if this [bed] is available?" Chung said. "That would have taken me six hours." On a recent Tuesday, staff started the day in a meeting where they updated one another on requests for service, including instances where people were successfully moved into housing and others where the effort was still underway. Chung told a group of roughly 20 about a person with autism who was anxious about living in a congregate shelter and is requesting a private room. Chung said staff was working on finding such an accommodation and in the meantime has tried to get the person open to living in a shelter that has availability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other staff members then chimed in to offer suggestions, including looking for family members or friends who might house them. Lisa Speights, left, and Jennifer Martinez review referrals at the Emergency Centralized Response Center headquarters in the Hall of Records on Thursday. (David Franco/County of Los Angeles) Shortly after the meeting, Chung's supervisor, Lisa Speights, stopped by the cubicle of Maribel Lozano-Hernandez with the county's Housing for Health program to discuss a housing request that came in within the last 24 hours. "You mentioned that client can't go in until Monday?" Speights said. Lozano-Hernandez said that yes, that housing site was likely full until Monday, almost a week later, but she had luck elsewhere. "I called a different site and [they] can take her today," Lozano-Hernandez said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Oh nice," Speights responded. She texted the homeless individual's outreach person with an update. Holt said ECRC also ensures that when an encampment is located near multiple jurisdictions, representatives from those jurisdictions are present for cleanups. "We are bringing them all together," he said. "We are going to have one operation on the same day." That's what happened recently in the San Fernando Valley. The cleanup would show the benefits of coordination and the challenges of making lasting change. Located along a dirt path on the north side of an in-use rail line, the encampment was on land owned by Union Pacific. Step over the tracks, to the south, and Metrolink is the owner. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three weeks ago, outreach workers from LA Family Housing arrived to speak with residents, remind them of the following day's cleanup and encourage them to sign forms to get into housing. Owen Scott, center, meets with team members at the Emergency Centralized Response Center to review referrals on Thursday. (County of Los Angeles) Outreach workers had already been on site around five times and had already located housing options for some of the people living in roughly 10 tents and makeshift structures. Today among the team, there was a substance abuse specialist and a mental health specialist, as well as a worker who previously was homeless to provide emotional support. Residents Jose Duran and his partner Melanie Morales said they moved onto the streets a few months ago when they couldn't pay rent after Duran fell from a three-story building and could no longer work construction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outreach workers hadn't been able to find a bed for the couple, but learned information they hadn't before. Speaking as trains zoomed past, Duran said that after he fell from a ladder, his foot became infected and he received skin grafts to fix it, but still needs another surgery. He pulled up his pants to reveal a bulging ankle and said he hadn't heard from his doctor about when he could get it fixed. "We have a medical group that can come help you," Saavedra told him in Spanish. "Thank you," Duran replied. The next day, workers swept through the encampment and moved people out. By 10:30 a.m., the encampment was gone. The dirt path on both sides of the rail line was clean. According to a county spokesperson, workers removed "four makeshift shelters or tents and ten cubic yards of debris." Duran and Morales weren't housed that day and said they were told there weren't beds available. While deciding what to do next, they waited in a parking lot behind the dirt path they had called home a few hours before. They said cleanup crews didn't give them enough time and threw out many of their belongings, including a backpack that held a photograph of Morales' now-deceased mother. "It was the only one I had," Morales said, holding back tears. Rachel Kassenbrock, the county spokesperson, said that on the day of the cleanup, ten people from the encampment, including Duran and Morales, weren't immediately able to be housed, but were put on a wait list until beds became available. In addition, she said four others were moved into interim housing that day, including Jose Quinonez. The day before the cleanup, the 48-year old said he had spent two years on the streets, with drugs and marital problems contributing. He said he was excited about "starting a new life." "I want to fix myself," Quinonez said. "None of us want to be here." Two weeks later, the encampment had repopulated. Late Wednesday morning, there were about 10 tents and makeshift shelters adjacent to the rail line. As the temperature neared 90 degrees, one resident sweated as he stripped an electrical wire for copper to sell. Duran and Morales were there too, asleep inside an orange tent, a black tarp draped over it for shade. Kassenbrock, the county spokesperson, said ECRC is continuing to work with remaining residents to get them housed. That hasn't yet included Duran and Morales, but Kassenbrock said that since the cleanup, an additional three people have moved inside. 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. TAKOMA PARK, Md. (DC News Now) Police in Takoma Park are searching for a person whom they say exposed himself in front of children at a bookstore. At around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 10, officers responded to a reported indecent exposure at Peoples Book, an independent bookstore in the 7000 block of Westmoreland Ave. Multiple vehicles, box truck collide on I-495 in Montgomery County; 1 taken to hospital Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Once there, officers learned that an unknown male committed a lewd act in front of minors in the childrens section of the store before fleeing, according to the Takoma Park Police Department. A representative for Peoples Book sent a statement to DC News Now. Our team is shaken by yesterdays incident. Bookstores are safe places and we work hard to keep it that way. We are working with the Takoma Park Police Department to make sure the perpetrator is found. We are able to do so because of our local control of police, and we demand DC be given that same right after it was illegally stolen today. Matt Bormet of Peoples Book Investigators obtained surveillance footage of the incident and are working to identify and arrest the suspect. As the investigation continues, police urge anyone with information to contact the department at 301-270-1100 and refer to case #250035648. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The CCSD Superintendent issued a statement following the Clark County Education Associations ratification of its contract before the start of the school year. In a statement, Clark County School District Superintendent Jhone Ebert said she and the Board of School Trustees are incredibly proud to have reached a tentative agreement with licensed educators before the new school year begins. The deal now heads to the Board for final approval on Thursday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A primary focus of this Agreement is to put a qualified educator in every classroom, and despite the current economic climate and limited resources, CCSD and the Clark County Education Association were able to find a way to provide step and column advancements for all teachers and to increase CCSDs contribution toward the rising cost of health insurance, Ebert said. The deal also aims to address concerns from veteran teachers who said previous agreements focused on raising starting pay for new hires but did not adequately adjust salaries for long-time staff members. Ebert said the new agreement creates a process to address those pay gaps. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. President William Ruto has called for a meeting with Kiambu County leaders to review the development charter he signed with them ahead of the 2022 General Election. Speaking to congregants in Kiambu on Sunday, Ruto reaffirmed his commitment to fulfilling every pledge he made to the countys residents. He noted that several promises had already been met, including the completion of stalled road projects aimed at improving the movement of people and goods. I have the report card with me, all that we signed together with you people, has been delivered or is being worked on. Those that are still not yet done will be done, assured Ruto. We need to sit down and review the charter so that you can correct me where I have not fulfilled. Hiyo itaonyesha Ile kazi mlinipea nimefikisha wapi. This will show you the work that you gave me to do, how far I have done it, and if there are gaps, I will correct them, Ruto added. Ruto said Kiambu County has received more infrastructure investment from his administration than any other county in the past two years, with the national government channeling Ksh.40 billion into road construction alone. I have invested so much money in the infrastructure of this county than any other county in the last two years Kenya Kwanza Administration has been in office, said Ruto. He reaffirmed that his government will ensure every part of the country benefits from development projects. Ruto added that Kenyas economy remains stable and pledged to complete all stalled projects nationwide, including those in Kiambu. The President promised to commission the Mau SummitMalaba road, the Naivasha dual carriageway, and a six-lane highway to Nakuru. He made a promise that the projects will be completed and ready for use before the 2027 general elections. Ruto also directed all level 1 to 3 hospitals, including sub-county hospitals, to offer free outpatient services, saying the national government will settle the charges under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) program. He cautioned Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi against allowing hospitals to charge outpatients despite receiving UHC funds from the national government. In addition, Ruto donated Ksh.5 million to support the completion of the PCEA Joshua Matenjwa Memorial Church. *Attached video: Suspect allegedly tried to attack officer with hammer HUDSON, Ohio (WJW) A man shot by Hudson police Thursday, after he allegedly aggressively confronted an officer with a hammer, is a former state and federal public defender, according to his attorney. Carlos Warner remains hospitalized after being shot in the jaw, arm, and torso, according to Atty. Michael Goldberg, who represents him. Goldberg told the Fox 8 I-Team Warner is expected to recover, but he does not know how long he will be in the hospital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Boat erupts into flames near Put-In-Bay, 1 injured: US Coast Guard He was a great public defender, a hard worker, who cared about his clients, Goldberg said. He added that Warner has struggled with mental health issues for several years and has been getting treatment. Goldberg added that Warner left the public defenders office in 2020 and was in private practice for a few years. On Thursday, Hudson City officials said shortly after 4 a.m. on August 7, police received a call about a man walking in the roadway with no shoes, yelling at motorists in the area of State Route 91 and Stoney Hill Drive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police responded to the scene and said that when the suspect confronted the officer with the hammer, the officer discharged their weapon in response. In addition, the owner of a nearby Sunoco tells the Fox 8 I-Team the suspect busted the door of the business, but did not enter the store. Hudson Police have declined to provide any further information on the incident. We have also requested police body camera video of the incident, but have not received it yet. Agents with the state Bureau of Criminal Investigation are investigating the shooting. I-TEAM: Residents speak out after mayors wife indicted for incident at a home Goldberg said he cannot comment on the incident, but said he has represented Warner in the past on misdemeanor charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And the same day he was shot by police, the Ohio Supreme Courts Office of Disciplinary Counsel filed a complaint against Warner. According to the complaint, obtained by the Fox 8 I-Team, Warners license has been inactive since September of 2023. The complaint states Warner engaged in harassment and stalking of his former boss. His former boss was granted a civil stalking protection order against Warner in 2022. Warner also entered a guilty plea to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct with persistence. He was placed on a one-year probation. In December of 2023, he was found in violation of his probation. His probation was extended for another year. The Ohio Supreme Courts Office of Disciplinary Counsel complaint also alleges that in July of 2024, Warner entered guilty pleas in Rocky River Municipal Court to several misdemeanor charges stemming from allegations that he threatened to kill the boss of an escort whom he met through an app called Tryst. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Man dies after being shot in Maple Heights Giant Eagle parking lot The complaint states Warners actions violate the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct. Goldberg says he has been contacted by several of Warners former colleagues, who are offering support. Jack Greene, who worked with Warner, is one of them. Greene said he was shocked when he heard about the shooting. He was one of the best, Greene said. A kind, gentle guy. This came as a major shock to me. He has been struggling with mental health issues for years. So far, Hudson police have not filed any charges against Warner. Police have said the matter remains under investigation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW. It wasnt just 2024: the Teamsters General President Sean OBrien is signaling a more permanent realignment by donating to battleground Republicans in the upcoming midterms. For the second year in a row, the labor union's political arm donated to the Republicans' House campaign arm after nearly two decades of mostly backing Democrats. The labor unions D.R.I.V.E political action committee Democrat, Republican, Independent Voter Education gave the National Republican Congressional Committee $5,000 in the second quarter. In addition to giving to the NRCC, Teamsters doled out a combined $62,000 in contributions to nearly two-dozen GOP congressional candidates, including in significant battleground districts: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rob Bresnahan, Mike Kelly and Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania Pete Stauber and Tom Emmer of Minnesota Nicole Malliotakis, Andrew Garbarino, Nick LaLota and Mike Lawler of New York Jefferson Shreve of Indiana Dave Taylor, Bob Latta, Michael Rulli and Dave Joyce of Ohio Jeff Van Drew and Chris Smith of New Jersey David Rouzer of North Carolina Tom Barrett of Michigan Blake Moore of Utah Darin LaHood and Mike Bost of Illinois Troy Nehls of Texas Vern Buchanan of Florida The group also gave this year to GOP Sens. Deb Fischer of Nebraska, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Jon Husted of Ohio, and Dave McCormick of Pennsylvania. And its not just Congress: the Teamsters political arm donated $50,000 to the Republican Attorneys General Association this past June. Our members are working people whose interests cut across party lines, Kara Deniz, a Teamsters spokesperson, told POLITICO. And there's no value in living in a bubble where you only talk to certain people to the exclusion of others. The group hasnt forsaken Democrats it still gives them more, including $15,000 to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in April. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congressional Republicans have betrayed Americas workers and union members by selling out our communities for the GOPs billionaire backers," said DCCC Spokesperson Viet Shelton. "House Democrats will continue to work hard to earn the support of unions and their members who have built this nation and will be critical in our comeback to victory next year. But the GOP donations signify a marked shift in the pivotal labor unions strategy since 2024, when Teamsters General President Sean OBrien delivered a historic address at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee and his outfit began more seriously supporting Republicans. It comes as OBrien has sought to reach out beyond the unions traditional audience and union members themselves are more open to backing Republicans. He recently hosted Ramaswamy on his podcast, and sat with The Free Press for an interview with Bari Weiss. And its a warning sign for Democrats that their labor support long a keystone of their base continues to erode, as President Donald Trump chisels away at it in his effort to remake the GOP as a working-class party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Labor unions are finally recognizing the fact that their memberships are made up of workers from across the political spectrum, said Bresnahan, who received $5,000 from the Teamsters and whose grandfather was a member of the IBEW. Last year, the Teamsters donated $25,000 to the NRCC and gave $45,000 to the RNC in an effort to diversify their support as their rank-and-file members move rightward. Hard-working men and women across the country are rallying behind Republicans up and down the ballot because we fight for their jobs, their families, and their future, said NRCC spokesperson Mike Marinella. Democrats have abandoned them for their deeply out of touch, radical policies. Were bringing these voters home, and they will be key in growing our House majority. Editors note: The above video aired in a previous newscast. MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) A teenager is accused of repeatedly stabbing a woman with a large kitchen knife on a Manhattan subway train when she refused to give him her bag, police said Monday. Brandon Balfour, 18, allegedly attacked the 29-year-old woman with a 14-inch knife on the northbound No. 3 train in the Wall Street subway station at around 11:05 p.m. on Aug. 6, according to the NYPD and criminal complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More Local News Prosecutors said the woman got on the train at the Atlantic Avenue stop in Brooklyn and was the only one in the subway car when the suspect confronted her. Police said Balfour allegedly tried to take her bag and slashed her twice on the left arm and back when she fought back. The victim was found with a pool of blood on her back and taken to the hospital for treatment, according to the complaint. The stab wound to the back pierced her diaphragm and required life-saving surgery, prosecutors said. Balfour allegedly stole the womans phone during the struggle before running out of the subway station, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The teen was arrested Saturday and charged with attempted murder, robbery, criminal possession of a weapon, and criminal possession of stolen property, according to the NYPD. Balfour pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Sunday and is being held without bail, according to court records. His attorney could not immediately be reached on Monday. Officials said July was the safest month for New York City subways since 1995. Felony crimes were down 8% compared to the same time last year. According to NYPD statistics, there were no reported burglaries in July, while robberies dropped by 16.7%, felony assaults were down 9.3% and grand larcenies decreased by 6%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the NYC area for more than a decade. She has been with PIX11 News for two years. See more of her work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. Teen arrested after school shooting threat at Orange Park High Just one day before the start of the new school year, a 16-year-old was arrested after allegedly threatening to carry out a school shooting at Orange Park High School. The incident has left the Clay County community shaken, with parents and residents questioning what could drive a teen to make such a threat. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< According to the Clay County Sheriffs Office, on August 7, deputies were notified that an unknown suspect had made multiple threatening phone calls to a juvenile victim the previous day. The calls came from a blocked number. When the victim finally answered, the caller threatened to shoot them on the first day of school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said the suspect appeared to know the victim personally, referencing specific details that raised concern. The victim informed their family, and when the victims mother got on the phone, the suspect reiterated the same threat this time directly to her as well. The suspect was a 16-year-old student who was arrested and charged with aggravated stalking. He has since been transported to a juvenile detention center in Jacksonville. The Clay County Sheriffs Office worked quickly with the school district to ensure the threat was neutralized before students returned to class. For parents like Marquez Delafield, the situation is deeply personal and alarming. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] You know, after losing friends and family to gun violence, I understand the precautions youve got to take but thats just the way we live. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Delafield said the incident raises difficult questions about how society is influencing young people. How do we get to a point in society where a 16-year-old feels like they shouldnt wanna kill somebody? As parents, weve got to do better. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Community member Heaven Armstrong said the timing of the threat just before the new school year makes it even more disturbing. Crazy, especially with school about to start on Monday. I just couldnt imagine. Glad they got him in jail before school started. Officials say safety remains a top priority as students return to the classroom.? Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. A Brooklyn teen who drowned in the waters off Coney Island near the iconic Cyclone rollercoaster had autism and epilepsy and suffered a medical episode in the water just before he went under, his heartbroken mother said Monday. Jun Alexander Obas, 18, was with his mom and two sisters enjoying his first ever day at the beach last Wednesday afternoon when he apparently drowned, his heartbroken mother, Karla Judith Obas, 39, told the Daily News. He wanted to enjoy the beach, Obas said in Spanish. He was asking a lot. We never went to the beach with him because of the epilepsy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite her concerns, Obas relented because her son was so excited by the idea. This is the first time we went to the beach with him because I was always afraid of the water with him, she explained. The outing started well. The family went in the water together, taking it slowly. Obas has cellphone video of Jun and her daughters sitting quietly on the beach close to the water, their toes barely touched by the gentle waves. He was good. He was fine, Obas said. We went in the water with him. Me and his sister were bathing. I was teaching him because it was the first time. Then waves started rushing in stronger and stronger and Jun appeared to suffer a medical episode in the water near W. 10th St. and Surf Ave. around 3 p.m. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before she knew it, her son was face down in about 2 feet of water. His sister grabbed his hand but he did not react, Obas recalled. We grabbed his hand to get him out but he weighs like 200 pounds. Obas said. It was difficult for us to take him out. Thats when the mom started screaming for help. People on the beach, including on-duty lifeguards, sprinted over but could not revive Jun once they got him out of the water Medics rushed the teen to South Brooklyn Health, where doctors pronounced him dead 20 minutes later, cops said. An initial autopsy was inconclusive and further study is needed to determine Juns exact cause of death, a spokesperson for the city Medical Examiner said Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jun would have turned 19 next month. Now rather than planning a birthday celebration his mother has to raise money for his funeral. He was a child who was born sick, Obas said. It was not easy for him. He had autism and he had his epilepsy. Jun took several medications which had brought his seizures under control. The doctor never told me that he cannot go to the beach, his distraught mother said. Obas said she will try to remember how much her son was enjoying himself before the water rushed in around him. He was happy, she said. I was happy because I took him there. Swimming was permitted in the area where Jun apparently drowned. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We are saddened by this tragic loss of life and our hearts go out to the victims family and friends, a city Parks Department spokeswoman said. Were grateful for the swift response by Parks lifeguards who work hard every day to keep New Yorkers safe. The tragedy comes a week after the body of a 23-year-old man washed ashore on Rockaway Beach near Beach 25th St. on July 31. 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. 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. With John Annese CHIPPEWA FALLS A Tennessee man accused of kidnapping a 15-year-old girl in rural Chippewa County in October 2022 and sexually assaulting her has now been charged with physically assaulting two jailers. Trevor D. Blackburn, 25, was charged Friday in Chippewa County Court with two counts of battery by a prisoner and four counts of battery or threat to a law enforcement officer. He is slated to appear in court Tuesday. According to the criminal complaint, the assault in the jail occurred May 27. Blackburn was being combative and was being restrained by jailers, when he kicked one in the stomach and shoulder and another jailer was kicked in the stomach and in the head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Blackburn was previously charged with kidnapping, seven counts of first-degree sexual assault of a person under age 16, strangulation and suffocation, and burglary. He also has been charged with three counts of battery or threat to a law enforcement officer and two counts of resisting an officer. Blackburn has been incarcerated in the Chippewa County Jail for about 2 years on a $1 million cash bond. The trial in the sex assault case is slated to begin Feb. 20, and Judge James Isaacson reserved up to six days for the proceedings. A pretrial hearing is set for Nov. 12. The victim in the case has expressed frustration with the delays; the case will be more than three years old by the time the trial begins. I have been dismissed by many police officers prior to the kidnapping and I believe my case has just been brushed under the rug, the teen wrote to the Leader-Telegram this spring after another court delay. The impact this has caused has not only affected me but family, friends, and people who know me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The main reason for the delays is Blackburn has entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. Blackburn previously told Isaacson he does not believe he is competent. A competency hearing was held in May 2024, where two doctors found Blackburn to be competent and one did not. Chippewa County District Attorney Wade Newell asked Isaacson to find Blackburn to be competent. Blackburn is accused of kidnapping the girl, who was discovered missing from her home on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. An Amber Alert was issued later that morning, which stated she was in serious danger. She was located Sunday evening, Oct. 2, hours before Blackburn was arrested. She was taken to an area hospital. Blackburn was arrested by the Douglas County Sheriffs Department and the Superior Police Department. According to the preliminary police reports, Blackburn and the girl met through social media and had never met in person. Blackburn flew from Nashville, Tenn., into the Minneapolis airport, and made his way to her home in the town of Ruby, where he kidnapped her from her home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During the roughly 40 or so hours they were together, it appears Blackburn broke into a home to take food and water, and he accidentally left some of his property at the scene. The bond requirements state that Blackburn cannot have contact with either the girl or the homeowner. If Blackburn posts bond he must have GPS monitoring equipment. Newell has said the high cash bond amount is warranted, noting Blackburn crossed state lines to come to Wisconsin to kidnap the girl. Harless has not requested a bond adjustment. Newell previously described the pre-abduction behavior, where Blackburn essentially blackmailed her to provide child pornography. He noted that Blackburn has no ties to the area, having been in Maryland and moving to Tennessee shortly before this incident occurred. Visitors are still flocking to the quaint mountain town of Berkeley Springs in West Virginia to savor its hot springs, art galleries and gift stores. Residents, however, say they are navigating new tensions. They still smile and shake hands with neighbors at the bakery while getting their morning coffee, as long as they don't mention two words: Donald Trump. The 850 residents of Berkeley Springs are a mix of rural conservatives who have lived here for generations and people who arrived more recently to the town, which is nestled in the Appalachian Mountains. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The differences have existed for decades, but things are now growing tense. "A lot of people who quietly stand up for goodness are getting louder, and then that's making the people who are upset by that also become louder," says Kate Colby, 44, owner of Mineral Springs Trading Company. A large rainbow flag hangs on one wall of her gift store. Some locals told her to take it down, saying it made them feel unwelcome, she says. "They feel like they've got to be louder, and they're aggressive... It just sort of builds, until it combusts," she said with a bitter laugh. The small town dynamics are a portrait in miniature of what is happening across the country: liberal Americans hear the president's frequent diatribes as attacks, while conservatives feel legitimized by his rhetoric. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - Keeping quiet - Society in general has grown less civil in the United States in Trump's second term, as he attacks the balance of powers and his political adversaries. "Trump does a really good job polarizing everything. He is like, you're on my side, or you can get out," says Nicole Harris, 47. Born in Oregon, Harris recently moved east to landlocked West Virginia, a rural and industrial state where almost 90 percent of the population voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 election. To avoid problems, she keeps quiet: no political discussions with neighbors or with guests at her bed and breakfast, the Grand Castalian Inn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're a business, so we accept everyone, and we accept everyone's opinions. I keep my own opinions for myself," she says. Beth Curtin has owned an antiques store in one of the beautiful brick homes in the center of town for 36 years. Many of her friends are Trump supporters. She is not. "It is a small community, and so we bump into one another. It's not like, you know, a bigger metropolitan area where you can just hang with people who share your same views.... it's more important that we try to get along and, you know, sometimes you have to bite your tongue," she says. Curtin says she avoids some stores in town because she does not want her money going "towards people who have those views." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - 'Communists' - In the air-conditioned chill of the Lighthouse Latte cafe, Scott Wetzel, a wiry, bright-eyed 62-year-old, recalls his farm-based childhood and adult life in landscaping and construction. He views Democrats as "communists" who threaten his way of living. "If I speak of freedom, their idea of freedom is telling me how I could live. That's not freedom. They just don't get it so, but you can't fix that. That's something that's twisted up in their heads," the retiree says. He says people are still welcome to "spew that garbage" but "I'm just not gonna listen to it." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In early July, some town residents held a march in Berkeley Springs against Trump's "big, beautiful bill." A truck nearby sold caps with his face on them. "There's gonna have to be some shift. We can't keep escalating like this," says Colby, the gift store owner. "We need to get back to a point where everybody can just sort of like, calmly live their own lives side by side, which I think was happening a lot more before Trump's first term," she says. Standing on the balcony of his elegant bed-and-breakfast, Mayor Greg Schene offers a more conciliatory view on town life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is certainly more of a melting pot," says the Baltimore native, adding that having a spectrum of political beliefs "makes us better." "Finding, you know, some solutions and coming to a middle ground is always better than having one dominant party," Schene said, smiling as he greeted people passing by. pno/cyb/ksb/aha The number of fines issued to parents in Hull who took their children on a holiday during term-time has increased by more than 60% in the last academic year. Hull City Council handed out 4,190 fixed penalty notices (FPNs) in 2024-25 compared with 2,574 in 2023-24, according to data obtained by the BBC. As part of government changes implemented in August 2024, FPNs are given when a child registers 10 unauthorised half-day school absences, or five full days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hull City Council said fines for unauthorised term-time holidays were in line with the Department for Education's guidance to "promote consistent school attendance and ensure that all children benefit from uninterrupted learning." The fine for a first FPN is 80 per parent per child, 20 higher than in 2023-24. Mother-of-three Amy Landsbury, 37, was issued with a 320 fine in October 2024 for taking two of her daughters out of primary school in Hull to go on a week-long caravan holiday to Wales to visit their grandparents. "My husband is a lorry driver and he only gets allocated time off throughout the year so it was one of the only weeks he could have off work," Ms Landsbury said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It does annoy me because we weren't jet-setting off abroad, we were just going to see family and both the girls' grandparents are elderly. "You need to have a break with your family and I don't think people should be penalised for that." Daisy Robson says the money she saved on a term-time holiday to Majorca outweighed the cost of a fine [BBC] Daisy Robson took her five-year-old daughter out of reception class in June to go on a family holiday to Majorca because the savings of going in term-time outweighed the cost of a fine. "We are a married couple so it's a 160 fine we are expecting," Ms Robson said. "I put my case forward that my daughter would keep up with her learning while we were away because she is doing amazing at school and we knew as parents it wasn't going to affect her learning so to hear that it went down as an unauthorised absence is disappointing but we thought we are still saving hundreds of pounds." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She added: "It feels like you can't even have a family holiday without getting a bill through from local government but then nothing is being done to cap holiday costs." Travel agent Andrew Earle says the price of a family holiday can cost much less in term-time [BBC] Hull travel agent Andrew Earle said the temptation to find a cheap deal was there for families. "A holiday to Majorca for example in high season next August for a week all-inclusive for two adults and two children, you're looking at around 3,500," he said. "If you pull that back to the middle of June next year, the price comes in around 2,400 so a thousand pounds difference for the sake of taking your children out of school four weeks before the kids break up compared to going in the height of season." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Government guidelines state each parent will only get up to two fines for the same child in a three-year period. If a parent gets a second fine within three years it will be 160. If a child is off school three or more times within the three year period, the parents will not be fined but may be taken to court. More on this story Related internet links NEED TO KNOW Video footage shows a plane cabin filling with smoke after a phone charger caught fire mid-flight The incident occurred on a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight from Sao Paulo to Amsterdam on Aug. 5 "The situation was brought under full control, and the flight continued safely to Amsterdam," a representative for the airline shared in a statement with PEOPLE Video footage captured onboard a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight shows the cabin filling with smoke after a phone charger caught fire in the aircraft. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Brazilian journalist Simone Malagoli recorded the incident during a flight from Sao Paulo to Amsterdam the night of Aug. 5. In the video, passengers are seen covering their faces with cloth and tissues. Another clip shows flight attendants in smoke hoods as they walked down the aisle carrying a fire extinguisher. It was one of the tensest flights of my life perhaps the most, Malagoli told Newsflare. Newsflare Brazilian journalist Simone Malagoli films the smoke onboard a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight. Brazilian journalist Simone Malagoli films the smoke onboard a KLM Royal Dutch Airlines flight. https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf Smoke was detected on board due to a burning power bank, a representative for the Dutch airline shared in a statement with PEOPLE. They added: The crew quickly extinguished the device, following established safety procedures. The situation was brought under full control, and the flight continued safely to Amsterdam. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No injuries were reported. Lithium batteries, like the ones often found in portable chargers or power banks, are often linked to several emergency situations on planes. Last month, Forbes reported on a Delta flight that was forced to make an emergency landing after a device caught fire in the cabin. Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty A KLM Royal Dutch Airlines plane A KLM Royal Dutch Airlines plane Since March 2006, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has verified 641 lithium battery related incidents. Between Jan. 1, 2025 and July 30, 2025, there have been 43 verified incidents. A record was reached in 2024 with 89 recorded incidents. Lithium batteries are capable of a process called thermal runaway, per the FAA. This occurs when a battery is damaged, overheated, exposed to water, overcharged or improperly packed. For this reason, these types of batteries are required to be carried in carry-on baggage only. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flight crews are trained to recognize and respond to lithium battery fires in cabins, the FAA wrote on its website. Passengers should notify flight crew immediately if their lithium battery or device is overheating, expanding, smoking or burning. In May, Southwest Airlines announced a new policy regarding portable batteries. Using portable charging devices while stored in a bag or overhead bin will no longer be permitted, Southwest shared in a statement with PEOPLE. The restriction took effect on May 28 and requires passengers keep portable charging devices visible while in use during flight. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Emirates, a major international airline and subsidiary of The Emirates Group, announced on Aug. 8 they would ban the use of power banks onboard their flights. The new policy, effective Oct. 1, 2025, prohibits passengers from using power banks to charge personal devices and from charging the power banks using the aircrafts power supply. After a comprehensive safety review, Emirates is taking a firm and proactive stance to mitigate risk when it comes to power banks onboard, the company wrote in a statement. There has been a significant growth in customers using power banks in recent years, resulting in an increasing number of lithium battery-related incidents onboard flights across the wider aviation industry. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They added: Safety is one of Emirates core values, and a cornerstone of all operations and practices. Emirates is committed to maintaining and improving levels of safety on an ongoing basis, safeguarding customers and staff at all times. Read the original article on People President Trump on Monday tapped Terry Cole, the head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), to lead the federal takeover of the Washington, D.C., police department. On Thursday, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Cole would serve as emergency police commissioner of the nations capital amid the presidents deployment of National Guard soldiers and federal agents. Cole, a longtime DEA agent who was Virginias secretary of public safety before joining the Trump administration, will be at the forefront of efforts to stamp out what the president has described as out-of-control crime in the District. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is frustrating for law enforcement because they are encountering these same violent youth criminal offenders, numerous occasions, with handguns. But this is something we cannot turn a blind eye to, Cole said during a Tuesday interview with Fox News. We must continue to support law enforcement. We must continue to have a unified effort. And now that the president is involved with making significant changes, we are eventually going to change the code, hold these criminals accountable, even at a juvenile age, he added. DEA leadership Cole has been at the DEA for 22 years and has spent a total of 31 years in the field of law enforcement, serving a stint as a police officer in New York state. Prior to being named head of the agency, Cole served as acting regional director of Mexico, Canada and Central America targeting drug cartels and transnational crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cole was confirmed as DEA administrator in July in a party-line vote. Working in Virginia government Most recently, Cole served as Virginias public safety secretary under Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R). He oversaw the states law enforcement agencies and efforts to combat fentanyl. It is a bad day for criminals in Washington, D.C., Youngkin wrote on social platform X. Terry Cole knows from our partnership with Director @Kash_Patel and General @PamBondi in Virginia that when we back the blue and let police catch criminals- we make our streets safer! Prior to his two-year stint in Virginia, Cole worked in the private sector for an intelligence company. On a podcast last year with former Rep. Mary Bono (R-Calif.), Cole said he grew up in a law enforcement family. DEA career He obtained a bachelors degree in criminal justice from Rochester Institute of Technology and has leadership certificates from both the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business and the University of Virginia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He joined the DEA in 1997 to combat drugs, but he said he was also attracted to being able to have a post in a foreign country. I wanted my kids to grow up diverse. I wanted my kids to experience different cultures. I wanted my kids to explore different countries, he said. And I wanted them to remember and see how great this country was each time we came home. Cole worked as an agent in Bogota, Colombia; Kabul, Afghanistan; and Mexico City, in addition to spending time in management in Dallas and the D.C. area. ProPublica reported in April that, as a budding agent in the early 2000s, Cole was dispatched to Bogota, where the U.S. was in the thick of an ambitious operation called Plan Colombia. The billion-dollar plan hoped to stamp out corruption and combat drug cartels. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DEA agents like Cole worked with vetted teams of Colombian police. In 2006, 10 officers with whom Cole worked were gunned down by Colombian soldiers later convicted of working with a cartel, CNN reported. On Bonos podcast, Cole called the killings the hardest day of my life. He said he and his family were evacuated from the country a few days later. Cole then moved to the DEAs Dallas office, overseeing a probe into Mexican drug cartels. In 2011, Coles office received a list of phone numbers that could be used to track leaders of the Zetas, a drug cartel. He passed the information on to the DEAs offices in Mexico, which in turn gave them to local police, who tipped off the cartel. The Zetas proceeded to terrorize the border town of Allende, kidnapping and killing anyone suspected of involvement in the leak. Both ProPublica and CNN reported that DEA agents in Mexico not Coles office were responsible for sharing the information with local police. Federal takeover of DC police Trumps takeover is authorized by law for 30 days. He would need congressional approval to legally maintain control after that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Wednesday, Trump told reporters he would work to extend the federal takeover. The federalization comes as statistics released in January show violent crime is at a 30-year low in the District. Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people, and were not going to let it happen anymore. Were not going to take it, Trump said Monday. Originally published 2:08 p.m. EDT Aug. 11. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. TEXARKANA, Ark. (KTAL/KMSS) The Texarkana Arkansas School District (TASD) is donating 250 backpacks from Farmers Bank & Trust and the Texarkana Regional Airport (TAR) to support TASD students. TASD will donate backpacks to students in need to alleviate financial hardships for families, while providing students with the necessary supplies to succeed in the classroom. NFL player and local church host back-to-school event in Caddo Parish Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texarkana Regional Airport is proud to call this region our home, and we want to help our communitys children start the school year ready for takeoff, said TAR Director Paul Mehrlich. By partnering with Farmers Bank to provide backpacks, were making sure students have what they need to soar through the year. We are grateful to Farmers Bank & Trust and the Texarkana Regional Airport for their commitment to our students, said TASD Superintendent Dr. Lloyd Jackson. This act of generosity will make a real difference in the lives of our children and help set a positive tone for the new 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 KTALnews.com. By Stefanie Eschenbacher MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Two Texas businessmen were indicted for allegedly bribing officials at Mexico's state energy company Pemex with $150,000 and luxury items to secure contracts, the U.S. Justice Department announced on Monday. Between 2019 and 2021, Ramon Rovirosa and Mario Avila, both Mexican citizens and U.S. lawful permanent residents, conspired to pay bribes to officials at Pemex and its exploration and production arm, known as PEP, according to an indictment unsealed in the Southern District of Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rovirosa is also alleged to have ties to Mexican cartel members, the Department of Justice said in a statement. Rovirosa, 46, was arraigned while Avila, 61, remains at large. Reuters was unable to immediately contact the lawyers for Rovirosa and Avila. Pemex did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Together with co-conspirators, Rovirosa and Avila allegedly paid bribes in the form of cash and luxury goods, including from Louis Vuitton and Hublot, to at least three Pemex and PEP officials. In exchange, those Pemex officials are accused of helping companies associated with Rovirosa obtain contracts worth at least $2.5 million, the statement said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mexico and its ailing state company Pemex have for decades been awash with corruption, with several former senior officials facing charges, including former Chief Executive Officer Emilio Lozoya. Lozoya, in turn, has accused ex-presidents Felipe Calderon and Carlos Salinas of corruption, along with former President Enrique Pena Nieto, his ex-finance minister, Luis Videgaray, and more than a dozen others. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who was Mexican president during the time covered in the indictment, had vowed to root out the corruption that had plagued the country and its most important company for decades. Even so, Mexico's corruption ranking slipped. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rovirosa and Avila are each charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and three substantive violations of it. The act makes it illegal for citizens, U.S. companies, or foreign persons and businesses in the United States to pay foreign officials to win business. (Reporting by Stefanie Eschenbacher; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) While Texas Democrats have thus far been successful in preventing their Republican counterparts from passing an aggressive gerrymander, in the long run, the deck is stacked against them. Texas state Rep. James Talarico told Salon that he and his colleagues are all committed to staying out of the Texas Capitol at least until the end of this special session. When asked whether they were preparing for a scenario where Texas Republicans call another special session, Talarico said that Well cross that bridge if it happens. Though Texas Democrats have successfully forestalled efforts by Republicans to squeeze five extra GOP seats out of the state and have so far not buckled under significant threats leveled by the Texas GOP the quorum breakers are in a more vulnerable position than their opponents. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, has also launched a parallel pressure campaign asking the FBI to bring state Democrats back to Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Members of the Texas House earn only $600 a month, meaning most members maintain a full-time job in addition to their political work jobs that Texas Democrats will have to stay away from as long as they are breaking quorum. Special sessions in Texas can last up to 30 days, meaning that Democrats are already preparing to be away from their jobs and families for a month. But, per Texas state law, theres no limit on the number of special sessions the governor can call, meaning once Democrats return, Gov. Greg Abbot can call another session, potentially starting the whole process over again. Democrats act like theyre not going to come back as long as this is an issue, Abbott told NBC News last Friday. 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. According to Joshua Blank, research director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin, Abbots ability to call another special session is only one of many complicating factors at play in the redistricting fight. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its super fluid, because theres a difference between the politics of whats going on and the realities, and theres a lot of political posturing, and thats kind of confusing the situation, Blank told Salon. Blank explained that, despite threats by Republicans to have the FBI force Democrats back to Texas or to declare the seats of Democratic lawmakers vacant, there are two ways that Democrats could come out of this with a favorable outcome. The first way Democrats could win is if Republicans get tired of doing the work to force the gerrymander through and give up. Because Texas state representatives are paid so little for their work in government, and because many if not most are not from the Austin area, Republicans would need to travel to attend legislative sessions. Travel costs could add up and prevent lawmakers from doing any other jobs. Blank also pointed out that the current gerrymandering effort has made Texas House Republicans face significant exposure over an effort that doesnt actually directly affect them, given that they plan to redistrict the federal House districts and not the state House districts that they represent. And, if Republicans do want to level financial penalties against Democrats for breaking quorum, they would also have to do so against any absent Republicans. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not like this is a top priority, other than for the president, which means its the top priority for Republicans, but not personally, Blank said. Ultimately, there are a bunch of Republicans who dont want to be there for five minutes a day either, right? And youd have to charge them the $500 too, he said, referring to the fine imposed on lawmakers for being absent without leave. The second way Democrats may emerge from this battle victorious is less clear. Democrats could manage to break quorum until the last possible moment for Republicans to implement their new maps has passed. The problem is that its not exactly obvious when that deadline might be In the past, the filing deadline for federal House candidates on December 8 has served as the de facto deadline for changes to House districts. However, Blank said the power to determine when the last possible opportunity to implement maps resides with the courts, meaning that the actual timeline for a successful quorum break is indeterminate. This is just much more complicated than it seems to anybody on the surface. Its not as though, if Democrats returned to the state, Republicans would be able to call a special session, move the bill through the process, having compelled them all to attend there, possibly by force, and get it done, Blank said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Even Republicans executing on their threats of removing Democrats from their elected positions is likely to take time, Blank said, as courts would have to go case by case, looking at whatever evidence Republicans are able to provide. Importantly, the Texas constitution also provides a mechanism for the removal of members of the Texas House through impeachment proceedings in the Texas House; a court might be hesitant to wield power explicitly delegated to another branch. The only quick solution is if enough Democrats end up wandering back into Texas to provide Republicans with a quorum. How long Texas Democrats can block a gerrymander through quorum-breaking will likely come down to their ability to fundraise for their cause and the cost of any fines that may be imposed. Start your day with essential news from Salon. Sign up for our free morning newsletter, Crash Course. While Texas Democrats and national politicians immediately started fundraising to help prolong the fight against GOP gerrymandering plans, its unclear how long the quorum breakers will be able to stay out of state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A Texas judge recently blocked former Rep. Beto ORourke, D-Texas, from using his fundraising apparatus to fund Democrats. While the judges block is temporary, it will prevent ORourkes organization and others like it from using funds to pay for travel, lodging or fines incurred during the quorum break. There are, potentially, other funding sources. The billionaire governor of Illinois, JB Prtitzker, told NBC News last Thursday, I have not written a check or supported them financially, though I am not reticent to do that, signaling that he may be willing to bankroll the fight. Of course, whatever money Democrats are able to raise may not be enough, either, with Abbot promising to call another 30-day special session every 30 days until the GOPs new House maps are forced through. If they show back up in the state of Texas, they will be arrested and taken to the Capitol. If they want to evade that arrest, theyre gonna have to stay outside of the state of Texas for literally years, Abbot told Fox News. The post Texas Democrats face a complicated long game appeared first on Salon.com. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) The redistricting fight continues in Texas, as State House Democrats remain out-of-state for a second week in a row. A quorum is not present, Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows said Monday before the body adjourned. More than 50 Democrats have fled Texas, and there arent enough lawmakers left to vote. We intend to kill the first called special session, State Rep. Mihaela Plesa (D-Texas.) said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A group of those Democrats joined Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin in Chicago Monday. It isnt just a Texas issue. This is an American issue. An issue as to whether or not theres due process and fairness in our politics, Sen. Durbin said. President Donald Trump wants Texass new congressional map to add five Republican-leaning seats to help bolster their slim majority in Congress. The plan is getting pushback from blue states, whose governors say they will retaliate with their own maps aimed at helping Democrats win seats. California will neutralize anything you do in the state of Texas, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) said in a video he posted to X Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gov. Newsom wrote in a letter to President Trump Monday: If you will not stand down, I will be forced to lead an effort to redraw the maps in California to offset the rigging of maps in red states. We will fight fire with fire, Newsom said in the video. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says if his state is unable to pass a map this special session, hell keep calling them until it can. Democrats accuse Abbott of holding up disaster aid for flood victims by putting the map on the agenda first. We hope that the governor will start putting flood victims before political power grabs, State Rep. Plesa said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows says that aid will be on the calendar Tuesday. The only thing standing between Texas and real disaster relief is whether our absent colleagues decide to show up tomorrow, Speaker Burrows said. The Texas special session is set to end Aug. 19. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. CHICAGO (WGN) On Sunday, at St. Sabina Church, three Texas Democrats sat in the pews, taking a public stand to block passage of a new congressional map. What were fighting for is democracy, Texas State Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins said. Gervin-Hawkins stood before the congregation joined by State Reps. Ron Reynolds and Charlene Ward Johnson. They are among the 50 Democratic lawmakers who fled Texas to oppose a Republican-led mid-decade redistricting plan a move that could shift five U.S. House seats to the GOP. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Texas Democrats stay put in Illinois as redistricting standoff continues Who would think its OK to hunt us down like animals rather than to allow us to follow the rules, Gervin-Hawkins said. They are todays freedom fighters. They are teaching, I believe, the country a civic lesson right now. Dont say you love democracy and not fight for it, Father Michael Pfleger, the longtime pastor of St. Sabina Church, said. On NBCs Meet the Press, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker says Republican lawmakers actions violate the Voting Rights Act and the Constitution. Texas Democrats face $500 daily fines: What to know Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He stressed that Illinois supports and welcomes Democratic lawmakers who have fled their state to fight for fair elections. Theyre heroes, not just standing up for their constituents and the people of Texas, but also rights for all across the country, Pritzker said. On Fox News, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott accused the lawmakers of abandoning their oath of office and announced plans to pursue legal measures to remove them from their positions. Texas Dems in Illinois vow to keep fighting despite bomb threat, security concerns He warned that he has the power to call special sessions without end and will enforce consequences for their actions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As soon as this is over, Im going to call another one, then another one and another one. If they show back up in the state of Texas, they will be arrested and taken into the capitol, Abbott said. The Texas House is to meet again on Monday with the hopes that enough Democratic lawmakers will return to establish quorum. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. AUSTIN (Nexstar) The Texas House once again convened Monday at 1 p.m. to try to meet quorum, one week after Democrats left the state to block mid-decade congressional redistricting. The House had 97 members, three short of a quorum. Two Democrats Reps. Eddie Morales and Terry Canales returned to Austin Monday after being absent Friday, though there were no reports that they ever left the state. After the House gaveled out Monday, protesters began shouting cheaters from the gallery in protest of the Republican redistricting effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No Texas House quorum as Democrats remain outside the state ahead of Friday deadline Below is a visual showing which Democrats were present at Mondays session of the House. In the days since the quorum break began, Republicans have tried several strategies to bring Democrats home, including issuing warrants of civil arrest, attempting to make those warrants valid in other states and filing lawsuits with the Supreme Court of Texas to remove Democrats from office. Democrats currently named in Attorney General Ken Paxtons removal lawsuit are Reps. Ron Reynolds, Vikki Goodwin, Gina Hinojosa, James Talarico, Lulu Flores, Mihaela Plesa, Suleman Lalani, Chris Turner, Ana-Maria Rodriguez Ramos, Jessica Gonzalez, Josey Garcia, John Bucy and Gene Wu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement State officials have ordered the Texas Department of Public Safety to track down lawmakers, and some Democrats said DPS has shown up at their homes when their families were present. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, also asked the FBI to locate Democrats, which he said they agreed to do. House Speaker Dustin Burrows said during Mondays session that DPS continues to search for Democrats at their homes and conduct surveillance, monitoring if they return to the state. So far no one is home, but the search continues, and it will not stop, Burrows said. Another lawsuit filed by Paxton resulted in a ruling preventing the political action committee of former statewide candidate and Rep. Beto ORourke, D-El Paso, from paying any fines incurred by Democrats for breaking quorum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans have continued to accuse Democrats of holding up other legislation in the special session, including disaster relief and flood-related legislation, by breaking quorum. Democrats are accusing Republicans of doing the same by prioritizing redistricting in the House over other legislation. On Tuesday, the House is scheduled to vote on five bills pertaining to flood relief and disaster preparedness. It is highly likely a quorum will not be met and the House will not be able to vote on the bills. Will you be in that chair to vote for these critical disaster recovery bills, or will you be remembered as one who did not show up? The choice is yours, Burrows said. In Chicago, Texas House Democrats held a news conference where they made it clear they would not be back until at least the current special session is over, which ends on August 19. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were hoping that the next special session does not also have to be corrupt, and that is entirely upon Governor Abbott and the Republican leadership of that state, Wu said. Burrows said the House will reconvene at 10 a.m. Tuesday and attempt to reach a quorum. The calendar lists bills related to flooding and redistricting for Tuesdays session, but it can not vote on the bills if it does not reach a quorum. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Texas Republicans plan to vote again to re-draw congressional district lines. Republicans right now have a four-seat majority in the House of Representatives. Historically, the presidents party doesnt do well during midterm elections and President Donald Trump says he wants to preserve the Republican majority. These times call for fighting fire with fire. We didnt ask for this fight, said Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From New York to California, Illinois, Florida and Maryland, nine states have joined Texass fight to redraw congressional lines. Last month President Trump pushed Texas to change its congressional map to give Republicans five more seats in the U.S. House. Texas democratic state lawmakers fled, denying Republicans the 100 state lawmakers needed to do business. Im authorized to call a special session every 30 days. It lasts 30 days and as soon as this one is over, Im gonna call another one. Then another one, then another one, then another one, said Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas.). Texas Governor Greg Abbott says hell just keep calling special sessions for the Texas legislature to vote on the new map until Democrats return. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic governors in several states have suggested theyll retaliate by drawing new maps of their own. Theyre going to want us to use every tool in the arsenal to fight back and thats what I intend to do, said Hochul. Texas Democrats face a $500 a day fine for each day theyre not in the Texas House. Governor Abbott and the states attorney general have asked the state Supreme Court to remove members who left 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 DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. Just weeks after Gov. Greg Abbott vetoed a controversial ban on THC products, the Texas Senate has once again pushed similar legislation. Senate Bill 5 (SB5), from Sen. Charles Perry (R-Lubbock), passed 21-8 in July. SB5 would effectively criminalize any hemp-derived product containing more than 3 milligrams of THC, as well as outlaw THCA flower and synthetic cannabinoids such as delta-8 and delta-10. The bill is a near clone of SB3, which Abbott rejected in June despite support from Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The renewed push to ban THC in Texas comes during a special legislative session called by Abbott, who publicly claimed to support regulation over outright prohibition on cannabis, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. While Abbotts June veto statement cited concerns over constitutional challenges that could tie up SB 3 in litigation or red tape for years, Abbott was careful not to oppose the substance of the ban itself. During the current special session, the governor signaled support for laws that would outlaw products containing any amount of THC. This restriction would effectively wipe out most of the hemp market as it currently exists in Texas. If passed, SB 5 would gut an estimated $5.5 billion industry in Texas and threaten over 50,000 jobs, as previously covered by DX, many in small businesses that pivoted to hemp after the 2018 federal Farm Bill legalized low-THC cannabis. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It would also outlaw a wide array of wellness products that consumers across the state have come to rely on, including veterans, chronic pain sufferers, and those managing anxiety or PTSD. Advocates and entrepreneurs, who celebrated Abbotts veto just weeks ago, now find themselves back on the defensive. SB 5 now heads to the Texas House, which is currently paralyzed due to a Democrat walkout over redistricting. Once business resumes, the House will be faced with two competing bills: House Bill 5, a mirror of the Senates THC ban House Bill 195 (HB195), which proposes full legalization of adult-use marijuana, allowing possession of up to 2.5 ounces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While HB 195 is unlikely to gain serious traction based on Texass political past, it highlights the growing divide over how state leaders should approach cannabis: with one side pushing for freedom and regulation, and the other for criminalization and restriction. However, the Texas Department of Public Safety does plan to grant 12 new medical marijuana dispensary licenses statewide, increasing from the current total of three. These new licenses will be awarded through a competitive process that focuses on prioritizing public health regions to improve access across Texas for patients registered under the compassionate use medical marijuana program. Nine of 139 applicants from the 2023 application window will receive licenses on December 1, with the remaining hopefuls and new applicants competing again in a second round, set for April 1, 2026. Yet, as of the time of publication, Texas Compassionate Use Program is limited to patients with: It would be interesting to be a fly on the wall of Keir Starmers holiday villa as he reads about the latest attempt by one of his own appointees to the House of Lords to resurrect the culture wars back home. Will the Prime Minister welcome the intervention by the Baroness Debbonaire of De Beauvoir Town in the London Borough of Hackney, who has called for the statue of Clive of India to be removed from its plinth outside the Foreign Office? Or will he have the political nous to recognise that the last thing this Government needs is a rehashing of the interminable and pointless arguments about statues that characterised the very weird summer of 2020? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baroness Debbonaire is a former MP for Bristol, where Black Lives Matter protesters physically removed a statue of Edward Colston, the slave trader, and dumped it into the citys harbour. The same Left-wing people removed Debbonaire herself from elected office at last years general election, though she at least managed to avoid being similarly dumped into the sea. Instead she was elevated to the Lords, from where she now pontificates. Debbonaire has more of a stake in the fate of the Clive statue than most: she has Indian heritage on her fathers side, and her claim that the statues removal would improve relations with India cannot be immediately dismissed. On the other hand, with a historic trade agreement between Britain and India just agreed, relations dont seem to be being undermined by Clives continuing presence in Whitehall. The whole debate about statues, like so many divisive culture war topics in the UK, began in the United States, where the legacy of slavery and the civil war continues to reverberate across American society. But British activists simply could not have allowed the Black Lives Matter bandwagon to pass by without some vigorous attempts to jump aboard. This has come with illogical, though entertaining, consequences for the English language. Protesters in London took to the streets demanding Defund the police! and Hands up, dont shoot! These phrases were relevant in America but utterly absurd in a British context. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now safely ensconced in the Lords, from whence she cannot be evicted by the displeasure of voters, Baroness Debbonaire wants to step back in time to resurrect old battles about which very few people still care. Like many who abhor even the memory of the British Empire, she risks pretending that individuals like Clive played no part in Britains activities on the sub-continent, or at least allowing the current generation not to have to face the reality of the historical record. Once we have removed the statues and portraits of everyone who had a questionable role in the British Empire, it will become harder, not easier, to point an accusing finger at what was done to foreign peoples in our name. Clive who? Alas, this looks suspiciously like virtue signalling on Baroness Debbonaires part. Which raises a question over the whole point of appointments for life to the Lords: isnt a life in ermine supposed to relieve its denizens of having to suck up to voters? 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. Aug. 10Architectural historian Robert Hyslop, in "Building Blocks of Spokane," says 311 W. Riverside Ave. filled an intended alleyway between the three-story Robertson Building, built in 1909, and the 1910 Fairmont Hotel next door. Odd-shaped buildings sometimes resulted from a plat map that showed an alley, but owners later filling them in. The skinny building, that Hyslop called a "terra cotta Rococo gem," was first used as a standalone business location. The first floor became a barber shop, operated by Morris Donato, for many decades, then was a dry cleaners after 1950. The tiny upstairs became the second location of Bob's Chili Palace in 1913. Bob's Chili, with its first location at 612 W. First Ave., was started by Robert E. Cleary, a boardinghouse operator around 1905. He only stayed on Riverside a few years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The upper two floors of the Robertson were usually meeting halls for fraternal clubs. The small two-story annex was remodeled into a club entrance. Club rooms were often synonymous with private bars and free -flowing drinks, but the onset of Prohibition around 1920 slowed the carousing. One of the early clubs was the Improved Order of Red Men, a fraternal group started during the Revolutionary era, that rented space in the Robertson during those "dry" years. Red Men members used terminology and regalia of North American tribes in their rituals, though membership was for whites only. The group proudly claimed their members, in Mohawk regalia, were responsible for the 1773 Boston Tea Party. Red Men membership in Spokane was waning in the 1920s and mostly gone by 1930, perhaps partly because of the Great Depression. The next large group in the building was the Sons of Norway, along with a few other smaller clubs focused on Scandinavian descent, starting around 1942. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Prohibition ended in 1933 and a Washington State Liquor Store moved into the ground floor of 307 Riverside. When the Sons of Norway moved out in the late 1970s, the Glen Dow Academy, which was in the ground floor of the Fairmont Hotel Building, expanded into multiple floors of the Robertson building. After 55 years in business, the cosmetology school closed in early 2024. Developers purchased the building earlier this year with plans to turn the third floor into apartments. Bars and restaurants will cover the lower floors. The beloved Labubus collectibles have once again captured headlines, but this time for an unexpected reason. These dolls have become one of the most sought-after accessories in the market and are mainly adored by fashion lovers and art enthusiasts alike. But recently, it sparked a frenzy that goes far beyond its whimsical charm. Check out all the details behind its latest news and what happened. Labubus worth $25k stolen from LA shop On the early morning of Wednesday, August 6, 2025, a shocking Labubus theft unfolded. It was when masked intruders targeted a Labubus La store, One Stop Sales in La Puente, Californiaabout 18 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to recent reports from HuffPost, the masked thieves ran with $25,000 worth of Labubu dolls. The store expressed its disbelief in a post stating, We are still in shock. They have called upon the local community to assist in locating the thieves. The stores official Instagram page shared footage from their CCTV surveillance, revealing the thieves attempting to commit the theft. Several individuals in hoodies with covered faces were breaking into the shop and heading straight for the shelves filled with Labubu dolls. The suspects were seen rummaging through merchandise and carrying boxes out of the establishment. The investigation is currently underway by the LA County Sheriffs Department. It also reported that the suspects utilized a stolen Toyota Tacoma during the incident, but it was later recovered. Initially, the shop owners informed the police that $7,000 worth of the soft toys had been stolen. However, upon reevaluating their inventory, that figure dramatically increased to $25,000, as per the New York Times. Labubu, the whimsical doll crafted by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, first appeared as part of his charming mini-monster universe. What began as an imaginative art creation quickly evolved into a fashion accessory phenomenon, appearing on handbags and instantly catching the eye of trendsetters worldwide. Its quirky expression and distinctive design struck a nostalgic yet playful chord with collectors, turning it into a must-have statement piece. The craze for it is still intensifying as celebrities and influencers flaunt their Labubu doll on social media, propelling it into a cult status. The post Thieves Steal Labubus Worth $25K From LA Store appeared first on Mandatory. WASHINGTON Working for the famously impatient President Donald Trump in one top job is hard enough. Imagine the uncomfortable position Trumps new interim federal police commissioner finds himself in. As part of his extraordinary Aug. 11 federal takeover of law enforcement in the nations capital, Trump tapped his newly confirmed Drug Enforcement Administration chief Terrance "Terry" Cole to also head one of the nations largest and most dysfunctional police departments as part of a broader Justice Department takeover. All eyes will be on Cole as he tries to deliver on Trumps promise to sharply and immediately reduce violent crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Trump says Washington needs National Guard protection. Police data says crime is down. Cole just took over at DEA on July 23 after his Senate confirmation and oversees a staff of 10,000 agents and other personnel. But now Cole also will be taking over the top job at the Metropolitan Police Department at the personal direction of a man who made a name for himself by firing people for even the most minor screw-ups. In the same breath as telling Cole about his new position, in fact, Trump described him on Aug. 11 as our new DEA administrator, who's one of the top in the country. He better be, Trump added, looking at his new appointee. Terry, if you're not, I gotta get rid of you so fast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Move Out, Immediately:' Trump's vision for ridding DC streets of homeless Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration Terry Cole, who President Donald Trump named interim Washington, DC, police commissioner, at a news conference on Aug. 11, 2025. Cole is likely to face stiff opposition from Washington officials, including its city council and federal delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton. It was unclear how the police rank and file and the MPD's police union would respond to being run by the Trump administration. "We completely agree with the President that crime in the District of Columbia is out of control and something needs to be done with it," union chief Gregg Pemberton told Fox News. More: Trump says Washington is unsafe, but the data tells a more nuanced story Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democratic lawmakers in Congress also criticized Trumps takeover of the MPD and his decision to send National Guard troops into the city to help reduce crime rates that DOJ itself said recently were at a 30-year low. Cole will also have to deliver results for Attorney General Pam Bondi, who Trump put in charge overall of the DOJ takeover. And hell have another direct boss in U.S. Marshal Gadyaces Gady Serralta, who Bondi said will be supervising command and control of the entire operation under her and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche. A DEA career and a state homeland security job Cole does have some experience working with local law enforcement and in juggling a lot of responsibilities. From 2023 to earlier this year, he served as Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkins secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security. In that role, he oversaw 11 state public safety agencies comprising more than 19,000 employees and managing an annual budget of $5.7 billion. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At DEA, one of Coles highest priorities is to reduce drug-fueled violence in Americas most affected cities through expanded partnerships with state and local law enforcement, according to the DEAs news release following his confirmation. Cole was praised by Trump and Patel on Monday for an interagency operation in Northern Virginia between the FBI and local authorities that resulted in the arrest of 545 people. What are we going to bring to DC? What we did in Northern Virginia, thanks to Terry Cole and Governor Youngkin and the team, FBI Director Kash Patel told reporters. We said, let's let good cops be cops. Let's get them the intelligence and what they need, and let's get the red tape out of their way, and let's get DOJ partnered up with us to bring great prosecutions, Patel said. And that's exactly what we did. Posts in New York, DC, Colombia and Afghanistan Before his stint in Virginia, Cole was a respected 22-year career agent and supervisor at the DEA, where he served in Oklahoma, New York and Washington as well as in Colombia, Afghanistan and the Middle East. A Metropolitan police vehicle is parked near 14th Street SW and Independence Avenue after President Donald Trump ordered an increased federal security presence in the nation's capital on Aug. 8, 2025. Before retiring in 2020, Cole served as DEAs acting regional director of Mexico, Canada and Central America. He also served as a police officer in New York state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Michael Braun, one of Coles former DEA colleagues, said he was a bit surprised at the announcement but that Cole is up to the job. I know Terry very well, and the guys quite capable of handling DEA as well as the DC Police Department, Braun, the former DEA chief of operations. I mean, look, he's got a command staff in place at the DC police department and he's got his command staff in place at DEA. So he's going to have his hands full, Braun said. But I have all the confidence in the world that he can do it. Protesters gather near the White House as President Donald Trump announced he is placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control on Aug. 11, 2025. But reducing crime in DC will be just one of Coles assignments. Another will be managing Trumps expectations. And the president suggested he wants Cole to also tackle the thorny issues of wokeness and culture wars at a police force with a proud history of Black leadership. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Looking at Cole, Trump told him to be tough on the police force. You have a lot of good people. You have people that shouldn't be there. They got in there because of woke, Trump said. But you have a lot of great police and those people are the ones that want to help you. An ally in the DC Police Union? Gregg Pemberton, chairman of the DC Police Union, appeared to welcome the move. We completely agree with the President that crime in the District of Columbia is out of control. Something needs to be done with it, Pemberton said in an appearance on Fox News. The union chief said that in 2020, the DC City Council passed an enormous amount of legislation that exposed officers to administrative, civil and even criminal liability, even when they do their jobs properly. As a result, the department now has 3,180 sworn police officers, down 800 from its authorized strength of 4000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So the fact that we need help from federal law enforcement and maybe even the National Guard shouldnt come as a surprise, Pemberton said. But, Pemberton added, to make sure that it doesnt ebb and flow, and that the feds come in and we lower crime, and then they leave and were left holding the bag, its very important that people know that there is underlying legislation that needs to be corrected so that we can actually properly staff this police department in order to properly police the city. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump's new DC police boss: Terry Cole also leads the DEA Thirteen Fire burns down 4 structures while 2 firefighters transported to hospital MOFFAT COUNTY, Colo. (KREX) A structure fire that started Sunday burned 35 acres and destroyed four total buildings before it was completely extinguished. According to a joint news release from the Moffat County Sheriffs Office and Craig Police Department, reports of a structure fire began around 1:30 p.m. The fire spread quickly to nearby fields and transitioned into a fast-moving wildland-urban interface blaze. Four structures were lost, including three (a home, garage and shed) on the property where the fire started and a possible shed or garage at another residence. Two Craig Fire and Rescue firefighters were transported to Memorial Regional Health for evaluation due to smoke inhalation and heat-related fatigue. Both were released after treatment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Evacuations were ordered around 2:05 p.m. but have since been lifted. Around 55 residences were under threat from the fire. No other injuries have been reported, according to law enforcement. The cause of the fire 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 WesternSlopeNow.com. The Democratic outrage is as real as the cognitive dissonance it takes to hide in Illinois to protest gerrymandering in Texas. Lone Star State Republicans, at the urging of President Donald Trump, are pushing a mid-decade redistricting plan that would create as many as five new Republican-leaning congressional seats. Democratic state legislators fled to Illinois to prevent a quorum and block the vote. Now their counterparts in California and Illinois are vowing to fight back by redrawing their own maps to add more Democratic seats. "We're going to fight fire with fire," California Governor Gavin Newsom said at a recent press conference. Meanwhile, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has welcomed the Texas Democrats, calling their actions a "righteous act of courage" and an effort to protect their constituents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It's all so dramatic, isn't it? A battle for "democracy" versus a "power grab." The time for pretending that we're all playing by some unwritten rules of "fairness" is over. We're better off as a nation if we just accept that democratically created political advantages will be used to create legislative districts that a voting majority prefers. Gerrymandering is a natural byproduct of political competition States with overwhelming partisan majorities, like Texas and Tennessee, will be more Republican. And states like California and Illinois will be far more Democratic. It's the natural result of letting the legislative process which is how we create laws in a representative democracy run its course. As long as the process is followed and the maps can survive judicial challenges, that's how it should be. The idea that our political opponents will "fairly" draw competitive districts is a myth we need to abandon. And this applies to both sides. The Texas Democrats fled to Illinois, one of the most gerrymandered states in the country, to make a point about... gerrymandering. The irony is so thick you could cut it with a knife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Marsha Blackburn is running for governor. Here are other possible candidates. The fact is, partisan gerrymandering is not a federally justiciable issue, as the Supreme Court made clear in Rucho v. Common Cause (2019). The Court basically said, "This is a political question, not a legal one. Go fight it out in the state legislatures or through ballot initiatives." That's exactly what's happening now. Racial gerrymandering is becoming harder to prove Democrats have historically sought to blur the lines between political gerrymandering, which is legal, and racial gerrymandering, which is not. For example, Democrats in Illinois look at election returns by ballot box and draw Democratic-friendly districts. When Republicans do the exact same thing, Democrats, like clockwork, claim its a violation of the Voting Rights Act. Why? Black voters, in particular, overwhelmingly (83% according to the Pew Research Center) vote Democratic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Supreme Court blunted the success of such legal arguments most recently in Alexander v. South Carolina State Conference of the NAACP (2023). The Court held that the burden is on the plaintiffs, not the state legislature, to prove that race, rather than partisan interest, was the predominant factor in drawing district lines. Opinion: How Americans are losing ballot access, 60 years after the Voting Rights Act Finally, let's dispense with the myth of "independent commissions." There's no such thing. Every commissioner has to be appointed or elected by someone, and those people have their own political leanings. They're just politicians by another name. Why should we continue to spin lies about independence instead of letting the political cards fall where they may? Gerrymandering has been a part of American politics since the very beginning. Let's just stop pretending it's a bug in the system and start accepting that it's a feature. Then the righteous Texas Democrats hiding in Illinois can head home and lose a vote with a little dignity. Cameron Smith, columnist for The Tennessean and the USA TODAY Network Tennessee USA TODAY Network Tennessee Columnist Cameron Smith is a Memphis-born, Brentwood-raised recovering political attorney raising four boys in Nolensville, Tennessee, with his particularly patient wife, Justine. Direct outrage or agreement to smith.david.cameron@gmail.com or @DCameronSmith on Twitter. Agree or disagree? Send a letter to the editor to letters@tennessean.com This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Texas redistricting dispute opposition misses the point | Opinion NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A Tennessee lawmaker has pleaded no contest to a December 2024 drunk driving incident in Georgia. East Tennessee State Sen. Ken Yager (R-Kingston) was arrested and charged in Glynn County, Georgia, following a hit-and-run incident on Jekyll Island on Dec. 3, 2024. PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Sen. Ken Yager arrested for DUI, hit-and-run in Georgia According to Georgia law enforcement, troopers were notified to be on the lookout for a Ford Edge with Tennessee plates that was allegedly involved in the incident. Troopers located a vehicle matching the description in a market parking lot with emergency medical services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement EMS was reportedly on the scene treating someone who had tripped and fallen. The individual was identified as Yager. Georgia authorities told News 2 troopers detected alcohol on Yagers breath, and he reportedly admitted to being involved in a crash earlier but did not know law enforcement was en route. Yager consented to field sobriety tests, per Georgia law enforcement and submitted to a breathalyzer. Bill would lower BAC for aggravated vehicular assault, homicide Yager was charged with DUI, hit-and-run and failure to stop at a stop sign. He posted a $2,117 bond and issued a statement indicating he was cooperating fully with law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a statement from Yagers office, the lawmaker pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of DUI less safe. According to Yagers statement Monday, Georgia authorities have dropped all other charges, including hit-and-run, duty of driver to stop at or return to the scene of an accident, and failure to yield. TN lawmakers propose harsher penalties for drunk driving Yager has already completed 40 hours of community service and DUI school as part of the agreement, according to his office. Today, I entered into a plea of no contest to the misdemeanor charge of Driving Under the Influence Less Safe. I take full responsibility for my actions on December 3rd. Drinking and driving is a very serious matter. It will never happen again. Throughout both my personal and professional life, I have sought to act with integrity and accountability. On December 3, 2024, I failed to live up to those principles and let my family, friends, and constituents down. I sincerely regret my actions and apologize. I asked God to forgive me. And He has. I am grateful His grace knows no bounds. I am also humbled by the kindness, grace and forgiveness I have received from family, constituents, colleagues and friends. I will work every day to continue to be worthy of their trust by remaining committed to serving my constituents and the state of Tennessee to the best of my abilities, as well as focus on how God can best use me to accomplish His will. State Sen. Ken Yager (R-Kingston) Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. A toddler and a woman were killed in an apparent murder-suicide at a Dallas home Saturday morning, Aug. 9, police said in a news release. Officers responded about 2:10 a.m. to a shooting in the 1900 block of Dudley Street, , police said. The preliminary investigation determined that 53-year-old Lalit Pradhan fatally shot the two victims, who were known to him, police said. Police said when officers arrived, they discovered Pradhan suffering from an apparent gunshot wound and several lacerations. He was taken to a local hospital where he died, police said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Dallas County Medical Examiners Office identified the two victims as 3-year-old Pranish Pradhan and 37-year-old Ranjana Shrestha. Police have not released details about the suspects relationship to the victims or the circumstances that led to the shooting. The investigation is ongoing, Dallas police said. Anyone with information on this case is asked to contact Detective C. Fehrenbach at 214- 671-3671 or cody.fehrenbach@dallaspolice.gov. COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) The Georgia Chamber of Commerce will hold its the 2025 Congressional Luncheon at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center on Wednesday, August 20. The event is scheduled to draw some of the states top politicians and will put U.S Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), in the same room with one of his Republican challengers, Congressman Mike Collins (R-Ga.). Several other congressmen will be in attendance, including Rep. Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.), Rep. Austin Scott (R-Ga.), and Rep. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.). This event traditionally attracts political and business leaders from across the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to a news release from the state chamber, the winner of the Coolest Thing Made in Georgia, a new statewide knockout-style competition launched by the Georgia Chamber will also be announced during the 2025 Congressional Luncheon. Hundreds of nominations were received for the Coolest Thing Made in Georgia. After a review, 64 of Georgias most innovative companies were entered into a randomly drawn bracket, with hundreds of thousands of Georgians casting their vote for the Coolest Thing Made in Georgia. The two finalists are the Midnight EVTOL from Archer Aviation and the Lockheed C-130J Super Hercules. Additionally, the Georgia Chamber will announce the inaugural winners of the Blanchard Leadership Award along with the Georgia Chamber Corporate Citizen Award. These two awards showcase the servant leaders and corporate citizens shaping Georgias future. The Blanchard Leadership Award is named for former Synovus Chairman Jimmy Blanchard. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. Dmitry Kozak, a deputy head of Russian President Vladimir Putin's administration, has recently urged Putin to stop the war in Ukraine and begin peace talks, the New York Times reported on Aug. 10, citing its undisclosed sources. The development comes ahead of U.S. President Donald Trump's scheduled meeting with Putin in Alaska on Aug. 15, their first in-person talks since Trump's return to office. The White House is also weighing whether to invite President Volodymyr Zelensky to join talks the same day. Kozak, a longtime Putin ally and one of the few senior Russian officials privately opposed to the war, reportedly presented a plan to end hostilities alongside proposals for internal reforms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the full-scale invasion began in 2022, the official had warned the Russian president about the risks of fierce Ukrainian resistance, and after it began, tried unsuccessfully to negotiate a truce. Once a key figure in managing Ukrainian affairs, Kozak has lost much of his influence to Sergei Kirienko, deputy head of Russia's presidential administration, who now oversees occupied territories. Western officials told the New York Times that Kozak has continued informal contacts with foreign representatives, seeking arguments that might sway Putin. The Russian president has been refusing an unconditional ceasefire proposed by the U.S. since Ukraine supported it in March. Putin has publicly demanded that Ukraine forgo NATO membership and withdraw troops from partially-occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts as preconditions for peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moscow reiterated these demands during the Istanbul peace talks in May and again during the third round of talks in July, which concluded in less than an hour. In recent days, the U.S. president said he and Putin will discuss a ceasefire proposal involving Kyiv ceding eastern territories to Russia, a plan Zelensky has firmly rejected, warning it would allow Moscow to regroup and attack again. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukraine hits oil refinery 2,000 km from border in Russias Komi Republic; Europe, Ukraine reject Putins ceasefire proposal, WSJ reports Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. TOPEKA (KSNT) Topeka police are set to host an upcoming community safety forum at a local community center. The Topeka Police Department (TPD) announced in a press release on Aug. 11 that it will be hosting the forum in an effort to foster open communication and to share safety information with the community. Police will hold the forum from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Aug. 18 at the Hillcrest Community Center located at 1800 Southeast 21st Street. Topeka residents are encouraged to stop by the forum to learn more about current crime statistics in the city, ongoing initiatives the TPD is pushing to reduce crime and crime prevention tips. Attendees are encouraged to engage in this open discussion with police and express their feelings on current community concerns or pitch ideas. This forum is an opportunity for the public and TPD to come together, share information, and build stronger partnerships. We want to be transparent about whats happening in our city and work collaboratively on solutions. Topeka Police Department press release excerpt Naked man interrupts girls slumber party at 2 a.m. in Lawrence Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The TPD invites all local residents and business owners to attend the forum. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News. A 25-year-old tourist from New York was shot dead after traveling to Puerto Rico to attend a Bad Bunny concert with his girlfriend and three friends. Kevin Mares was on vacation in the Caribbean island to see the Puerto Rican megastar, who is performing a 30-day residency in San Juan, attracting a large number of tourists to the area. But while at a late-night spot in La Perla, a shanty town on the edge of the capital, Mares was caught in the crossfire when two people began arguing. One of them pulled a gun, shooting three people, including Mares, who police confirmed was an innocent bystander. He was rushed to the hospital after suffering gunshot wounds in the abdomen and side, but succumbed to his injuries and died. The other two victims, La Perla locals, remain hospitalized. A GoFundMe page set up by family described Mares as a deeply loved son, devoted friend, and a source of inspiration to everyone who knew him. They said, His wholehearted kindness, adventurous spirit, and unwavering commitment to family made him a pillar of strength for his loved ones, and added he was planning on proposing to his girlfriend of six years in the fall. The shooter remains at large. An outpouring of grief and condemnation has followed the Israeli assassination of four Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza, including prominent correspondent Anas al-Sharif. The drone attack late on Sunday hit a tent for journalists positioned outside the main gate of Gaza Citys al-Shifa Hospital. Among those killed were Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal. Also killed were freelance cameraman Momen Aliwa and freelance journalist Mohammed al-Khalidi. Just hours earlier, al-Sharif, 28, had posted on X about Israels intense, concentrated bombardment on eastern and southern Gaza City. Known for his fearless reporting from northern Gaza, he had become one of the most recognisable voices documenting the ongoing Israeli genocide in the enclave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Al Jazeera Media Network has condemned what it called a targeted assassination of its journalists. Below are some of the responses to the killing of Al Jazeera staff: Palestine The Palestinian mission to the United Nations accused Israel of deliberately assassinating al-Sharif and Qreiqeh, describing them as among the last remaining journalists in Gaza. They have systematically and dutifully exposed and documented Israels genocide and starvation, the mission said on X. As Israel continues to ethnically cleanse Gaza, its enemy remains the truth: the brave journalists exposing its heinous crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamas has also decried Israels assassination of Al Jazeeras journalists. In a statement, the Palestinian group described the attack as part of a widespread targeting of journalists unprecedented in any war, saying the killings aimed to silence media coverage in Gaza before major crimes planned against Palestinians in the besieged territory. It called on the UN Security Council and the international community to condemn the killings and take immediate action to hold Israeli leaders accountable for what it called war crimes. It added that al-Sharif had been a symbol of free journalism, documenting scenes of famine in Gaza and the impact of Israels crippling siege. Iran Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Esmail Baghaei has called on the world to hold Israel to account after the killing of the Al Jazeera staff. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A press badge is no shield against genocidal war criminals who fear the world witnessing their atrocities, said Baghaei, accusing Israel of assassinating the journalists in cold blood. Strong condemnation is the bare minimum for any decent human being, but the world must act immediately to stop this harrowing genocide and hold the criminals accountable, he added. Indifference and inaction are complicity in Israels crimes. Qatar Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, has strongly criticised Israel over the killing of Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza, calling it a shocking violation of press freedom. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al Thani, who also serves as foreign minister, said the deaths showed the deliberate targeting of journalists by Israel in the Gaza Strip reveals how these crimes are beyond imagination, amid the inability of the intl community & its laws to stop this tragedy. In a post on social media, he added: May God have mercy on journalists Anas Al-Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh, & their colleagues. United Nations UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the killing of Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza, his spokesperson said, and called for an independent investigation. At least 242 journalists have been killed in Gaza since the war began, spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on behalf of Guterres. Journalists and media workers must be respected, they must be protected and they must be allowed to carry out their work freely, free from fear and free from harassment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Al Jazeera is reporting that Israel has killed nearly 270 journalists and media workers since it launched its war on Gaza. UNRWA The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, said in a post on X: The Israeli Army continues to silence voices reporting atrocities from Gaza. I am horrified by the killing of another 5 journalists in Gaza city. Since the war began, more than 200 Palestinian journalists have been reported killed in total impunity. Israel is also blocking access of international journalists to report independently since the war began nearly two years ago. Journalists must be protected and international media must get into Gaza to support the heroic work of their Palestinian colleagues. This is the only way to counter disinformation and prevent doubts about the scale of atrocities committed in Gaza. The UN human rights office The Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned the killing of six Palestinian journalists in Gaza, saying the actions by Israels military represented a grave breach of international humanitarian law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel must respect and protect all civilians, including journalists, the office said in a post on X. We call for immediate, safe and unhindered access to Gaza for all journalists. European Union The EUs foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc condemns the killing of the Al Jazeera journalists in an [Israeli military] airstrike outside al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, including the Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif. Speaking of the Israeli allegations that al-Sharif was a Hamas member, Kallas said there was a need in these cases to provide clear evidence, in the respect of rule of law, to avoid targeting of journalists. Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh [Al Jazeera] Al Jazeera Media Network The Al Jazeera Media Network has condemned in the strongest terms the killing of its journalists in a targeted assassination by Israeli forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, the network said the Israeli military admitted to their crimes and deliberately directed the attack at the journalists location. It called the assassination another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom. The strike came amid what Al Jazeera described as the catastrophic consequences of Israels ongoing assault on Gaza, including mass civilian deaths, forced starvation, and the destruction of entire communities. The network called the killing of al-Sharif, one of Gazas most prominent reporters, and his colleagues a desperate attempt to silence the voices exposing the impending seizure and occupation of Gaza. Mohammed Noufal [Al Jazeera] Committee to Protect Journalists The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) says it is appalled by Israels killing of Al Jazeera journalists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israels pattern of labeling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom, said the CPJs regional director, Sara Qudah. Those responsible for these killings must be held accountable, Qudah added. Jodie Ginsberg, CEO of the CPJ, recalled how Israel accused al-Sharif and others of being terrorists last October without evidence. We warned back then that this felt to us like a precursor to justify assassination, she told Al Jazeera. This is part of a pattern going back decades, in which it kills journalists. Ibrahim Zaher [Al Jazeera] Amnesty International Amnesty International condemned the strike as a war crime under international law and remembered al-Sharif as a brave and extraordinary reporter. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, al-Sharif was awarded Amnesty International Australias Human Rights Defender Award for his resilience and commitment to press freedom. We at Amnesty International are devastated and heartbroken, said Mohamed Duar, Amnesty International Australias spokesperson on the occupied Palestinian territory. Anas dedicated his life to standing before the camera, exposing Israels atrocities against Palestinians, and documenting the truth so the world could bear witness. The courageous and brave journalists who have been reporting since the genocide began have been operating in the most dangerous conditions on Earth. At great risk to their lives, they have remained to show the world the war crimes being committed by Israel against almost two million Palestinian women, men and children, he added. Human Rights Watch The prominent global rights group has strongly condemned the targeted killings of Palestinian journalists in Gaza. Human Rights Watch denounced the brazen targeted killing, which it said underscored both the unimaginable peril faced by Palestinian journalists and the Israeli militarys complete disregard for civilian life. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Reporters Without Borders has condemned the acknowledged murder by the Israeli army of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif in Gaza, saying the military admitted to targeting him. RSF told AFP al-Sharif was one of the most famous journalists from the Gaza Strip (and) the voice of the suffering Israel has imposed on Palestinians in Gaza. RSF said the attack echoed the 2023 killing of Al Jazeera reporter Ismail al-Ghoul, also labelled a terrorist by Israel. Without strong action from the international community were likely to witness more such extrajudicial murders of media professionals, RSF warned, urging the UN Security Council to act. National Press Club Mike Balsamo, president of the US-based National Press Club, said the killing of journalists is a loss felt far beyond one newsroom and urged a thorough and transparent investigation. Journalists must be able to work without being targeted or killed, Balsamo said. All parties in conflict zones must honour their obligations under international law to protect reporters and ensure they can carry out their work safely. Council on American-Islamic Relations The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has condemned Israels killing of Al Jazeera journalists and called on US and international media workers to stand in solidarity with their Palestinian colleagues. Israels ongoing campaign of targeted assassinations of Palestinian journalists is a war crime, plain and simple, CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said in a statement. The murder of these Al Jazeera journalists is not an accident or collateral damage it is part of a consistent, documented policy of silencing media voices and hiding the truth of the genocide being carried out by Israel in Gaza, Awad said. (Al Jazeera) Since October 2023, Israel has killed 269 journalists in Gaza, in the deadliest conflict ever recorded for reporters. Aug. 11PALMER An Alaska State Trooper shot and killed an armed man who had barricaded himself in a motor home Friday, the state Department of Public Safety said. Troopers on Monday identified the man as 32-year-old Charles Hedgers. Multiple troopers responded to an address in Meadow Lakes on Friday afternoon to arrest Hedgers, who was wanted on an outstanding warrant for violating parole, the agency said in an online statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident took place on a property near the intersection of West Hollywood Road and Sylvan Lane, troopers spokesperson Tess Williams said Monday. The nature of the parole violation that prompted the arrest warrant was not immediately clear. The violation was associated with a 2014 felony theft case. Hedgers fled on foot and eventually locked himself into a bathroom of the motor home on a property near the original address, the troopers statement said. The man refused to exit the bathroom despite commands to do so, troopers said. They breached the door and "discovered the man was armed with a handgun," the agency said. "Due to his actions, one Alaska State Trooper discharged their weapon and struck the man," the agency said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No one else was injured, troopers said. The trooper who fired his weapon was identified in a Monday afternoon update as Nicholas Blanchard, a one-year veteran of the agency. Asked how troopers knew Hedgers was armed, or whether he pointed the weapon at troopers, Williams said those questions were part of an ongoing investigation. About 50 minutes lapsed between the time that troopers arrived at the address and the shooting, she said. The troopers on scene began life-saving measures as medics traveled to the address, troopers said. Hedgers was taken to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, they said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The incident marked the second time this summer that troopers shot and killed a man wanted on a warrant on a Mat-Su property under similar circumstances. In mid-June, several troopers fired on 34-year-old Wasilla resident Kyle Lambert after they said he refused to leave a camper where he was hiding. Lambert was wanted on a felony arrest warrant. Troopers said he was armed with a handgun. The Alaska Bureau of Investigation has assumed case responsibility in Friday's incident and will conduct a thorough criminal investigation into the use of lethal force, troopers said. Once their investigation is complete, it will be reviewed by the Alaska Office of Special Prosecutions. Blanchard was placed on seven days of administrative leave in accordance with Alaska Department of Public Safety policy. CHARLOTTE (PINPOINT WEATHER) Tropical Storm Erin has formed in the eastern Atlantic, just west of the Cabo Verde Islands. As of the 11 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center, the storm has 45 mph sustained winds and a pressure of 1004 mb. This storm will gradually strengthen through the week as it moves to the west. The waters are cooler in the eastern Atlantic, and there is also Saharan dust around the storm, which is leading to drier air. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This means the storm will slowly strengthen this week and is not expected to rapidly intensify at this time. The National Hurricane Center projects Erin will become a hurricane by Wednesday evening and likely become a major hurricane this weekend as it travels north of Puerto Rico. At this time, the trend is that there will be no threat to the U.S., and Erin will harmlessly recurve out to sea early next week. However, it is still 10-14 days out, and the forecast could change over the next week or so. No reason to be worried, but continue to monitor this storm for forecast updates. Even though it likely will avoid the U.S., rip currents could be an issue along the east coast next week. People with any interest across the Caribbean Islands and in the Canadian Maritimes should also follow this storm closely. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Erin is expected to intensify into a hurricane by this weekend. You have found an old version of this article. For the latest on Erin, click here. Erin is traveling westward across the Atlantic, where it's expected to intensify into a hurricane over the coming days. It will have some impacts in the Caribbean. You've found an old version of this tracker article for Hurricane Erin. For the latest version, click here. At least seven people were killed by intense flooding caused by heavy thunderstorms on the island of Sao Vicente, Cabo Verde, according to preliminary information. The report comes from the islands' Ministry of Education, which added that four of the victims were children. The heavy rainfall was the result of Tropical Storm Erin, formerly Invest 97L, a cluster of storms that was being monitored by the National Hurricane Center (NHC). (MORE: Tracking Tropical Storm Erin) The system is forecast to continue moving west across the Atlantic Ocean, toward the United States and Mexico, where it is forecast to become a hurricane by Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Flooding in Cabo Verde caused widespread damage, including blocked roads, fallen trees and power outages, according to local media. Homes, commercial buildings and other structures were affected, and several vehicles were damaged by floodwaters. "We would like to take this opportunity to offer our deepest condolences to the families and ask that everyone be vigilant and help others, as the situation is somewhat complex, said Civil Protection Councilor Jose Carlos. He also warned that there may still be people missing. (MORE: Nearly A Foot Of Rain Swamps Florida Town) The mayors office, Municipal Fire Department, Civil Defense and National Police are said to be working on the ground as damage assessments continue. 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. The Brief The tropical wave off Africa's coastline is looking more robust, according to FOX 13 meteorologists. It looks increasingly likely that this will stay out of the Caribbean Sea. The disturbance is over 3,000 miles away from our coastline and the U.S. will have over a week to monitor its progress. The strong tropical wave (Invest 97L) off Africa's coastline is looking more robust and healthy as of Sunday afternoon, according to FOX 13 meteorologists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chances for development have continued, and they are now at 90% and 50% within the next two days. A system this far out will have a large model spread on where it will go in the long term. This system will be battling relatively cooler waters and Saharan dust over the next few days before entering a favorable environment for development north of the Lesser Antilles. It looks increasingly likely that this will stay out of the Caribbean Sea. FOX 13 meteorologist Nash Rhodes says that this is one of the strongest storm-signals that we have seen this season. "I wouldn't be surprised if a tropical depression could form within the next day or two," Rhodes said. What's next The disturbance is over 3,000 miles away from our coastline and the U.S. will have over a week to monitor its progress. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13 meteorologists. Donald Trump on Monday seemed to forget the location of his upcoming summit with Russian President Vladimir Putinonce again raising concerns about the cognitive ability of the 79-year-old president. The president had announced the summit, which will take place in Alaska, in a Truth Social post Friday. 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. But on Monday, the president, twice, erroneously claimed the summit would take place in Russia. The mistake came during a press conference where Trump discussed a nonexistent crime wave in Washington, D.C. The fictitious scourge, he said, harms Americas reputation on the world stage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its embarrassing for me to be up here, you know, the president said. Im going to see Putin. Im going to Russia, he continued, putting particular emphasis, amid otherwise soft-spoken and listless remarks, on the name of the incorrect country. Trump repeated the error later, suggesting it wasnt just a misstatement but a memory lapse. Its going to be a big thing, the president said. Were going to Russia. Its going to be a big deal. As Trump has grown older, hes shown an increasing propensity for such gaffes, be that forgetting names of people, forgetting where is, or, recently, forgetting actions he took during his first term, such as appointing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell or signing a 2020 trade deal. When Trump first announced his meeting with Putin in Alaska, critics spoke out against the choice of location, with some observing that hardline Russian nationalists have long called for Russia to retake Alaska, which the U.S. purchased in 1867. Criticizing Trump last week for his perceived tendency to cave to Putin, commentator David Frum wrote on X, Lets all hope that Putin doesnt ask to take Alaska home with him as a souvenir, or Trump might give that away too. With Trumps Monday slip-up, many on social media were quick to joke that the president had, in a way, accidentally done just that. It was meant to punish the cruellest and most corrupt individuals on the planet. The Global Magnitsky Act has been used to shame dictators, warlords and corrupt profiteers, freezing their assets and banning them from entering the US. The toppled dictator of Gambia, Zimbabwes strongman president, Chinese officials accused of persecuting Uyghurs, and Saudi operatives suspected of murdering and dismembering a dissident journalist have all fallen foul of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Last week, however, Donald Trump deployed arguably the gravest human rights sanctions at his disposal in a novel way, targeting Alexandre de Moraes, the judge investigating Jair Bolsonaro, Brazils populist former president. Mr Trump has long identified with Mr Bolsonaro, who has been charged with plotting a coup to overturn his 2022 election defeat, and casts him as a fellow victim of a Left-wing stitch-up. Jair Bolsonaro is due to stand trial for allegedly plotting a coup after losing the Brazilian election in 2022 - Mateus Bonomi/AFP via Getty Images But while the US president may relish the comeuppance of a gadfly judge loathed by Right-wingers in Brazil, and by his Maga base, the British financier and activist behind the Magnitsky Act is aghast. Sir Bill Browder, a naturalised Briton born in the US, spent years lobbying Congress to adopt the law, named after his friend Sergei Magnitsky, a tax lawyer who was beaten to death in a Moscow prison after exposing corruption by Russian officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Magnitsky Act wasnt meant to settle political scores, said Sir Bill. It was meant to punish human rights abusers in countries where theres no rule of law. To have a US president defend his friend by going after the judge overseeing the case seems like a gross abuse of the Act. Once an admirer of Vladimir Putin, Sir Bill co-founded Hermitage Capital Management, for a time the largest foreign investor in Russia. His criticism of asset-stripping oligarchs and weak corporate governance led to his deportation in 2005. Russian officials seized his companies and used them to perpetrate a 170m tax fraud, which was exposed by Magnitsky as Hermitages lawyer. Sir Bill Browder says Mr Trump is abusing the Magnitsky Act by using it to settle political scores - Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images After a year in custody, Magnitsky, 37, died following a beating by his guards. Prosecutors then put him on trial posthumously, accusing and convicting him of the very fraud he had uncovered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sir Bill turned his friends persecution and death into a global cause, pressing Congress to pass the Magnitsky Act despite opposition from Barack Obamas White House, which wanted to preserve conciliatory relations with Moscow. In 2016, the laws scope was expanded to cover the globe, and Sir Bill went on to encourage 34 other countries to adopt similar measures, with Britain passing its own version in 2020. Act meant to punish human rights abuses The main purpose of the Magnitsky Act was to leave Sergei with a legacy so his murder wasnt meaningless and would lead to helping other victims of human rights abuses around the world, Sir Bill said. Until now, he argued, that standard has largely been upheld citing sanctions against Chinese officials behind the mass detention of Uyghurs, Burmese generals accused of ethnic cleansing the Rohingya,and Nicaraguan security chiefs who crushed dissent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres a very high bar, he said. When someone is put on the Magnitsky list, everybody knows that they are very bad people who deserve to be named, shamed and punished. In Mr Moraess case, he says, it is far from clear that Mr Trump has met that bar. Alexandre de Moraes, the judge prosecuting Mr Bolsonaro, appears undaunted by the sanctions and ordered the former Brazilian president to be held under house arrest days after the US took action - Ton Molina/Bloomberg The shaven-headed Brazilian supreme court justice, nicknamed Big Al, has enraged many on the Right by suspending hundreds of often pro-Bolsonaro social media accounts he deemed guilty of spreading misinformation, prompting Elon Musk to call him a tyrannical dictator masquerading as a judge. Right-wing anger deepened when he built a case against Mr Bolsonaro over the 2022 election. The former president faces trial within weeks for allegedly conspiring to cling to power after narrowly losing to Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who himself served 580 days in prison for bribery before his conviction was overturned on grounds of political bias. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mr Moraess investigation has infuriated Mr Trump, who calls it a witch hunt akin to the prosecutions he himself has faced, and whose administration has defended using the Magnitsky Act. De Moraes is responsible for an oppressive campaign of censorship, arbitrary detentions that violate human rights, and politicised prosecutions including against former president Jair Bolsonaro, said Scott Bessent, Mr Trumps treasury secretary, who revoked not only the judges visa but also those of his family Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, also celebrated the sanctions against the judge, saying: Let this be a warning to those who would trample on the fundamental rights of their countrymen. For many, though, using such measures against a serving judge in a functioning democracy is troubling. Trumps broader offensive against Brazil The global watchdog Transparency International, which has itself criticised Mr Moraes and Brazils supreme court, condemned what it called the politicisation of the Magnitsky Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement None of this justifies interference by a foreign government that disregards fundamental principles of law, such as national sovereignty and the separation of powers, it said. The sanctions are part of a broader Trump offensive against Brazil. He has also imposed a 50 per cent tariff on many Brazilian imports the highest levy on any country despite the US running a trade surplus with South Americas biggest state. The campaign may have unleashed the gravest diplomatic crisis between the two countries in decades. But so far it has not had the desired effect Brazilians have rallied around both Lula and Mr Moraes, vowing not to allow the US to meddle in their courts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nor has it helped Mr Bolsonaro. Last week, Mr Moraes ruled that the former president had violated his bail terms and ordered his house arrest. Mr Trump has had his way in much of the world. For now, Brazil is holding out. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. A cannabis flower is seen on November 16, 2023. Credit - Cecilia SanchezAFP/Getty President Donald Trump is considering softening federal laws on cannabis, potentially following through on his campaign promise to reclassify the drug and increase access to medical marijuana. Were looking at reclassification, and well make a determination over, Id say, the next few weeks, the President said at a Monday press conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His remarks follow a report in the Wall Street Journal that Trump told donors he is weighing reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug. The possession and use of marijuana is illegal at the federal level. The substance is classified as a Schedule I drug, meaning it has a high potential for abuse and can cause serious psychological or physical dependence. Possession of the drug can result in up to one year in prison and a fine of at least $1,000 under federal law, though penalties vary. The Biden Administration moved to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III druga ranking that would lower criminal penalties for itthough officials did not finalize their plans before leaving office. The change in status would also allow marijuana companies to benefit from some tax breaks. Around 40 states have legalized medical marijuana, though far fewer allow for its recreational use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps position is a departure from the view of traditional conservative politicians, but he expressed curiosity in the idea of decriminalization and has shown support for medical marijuana, in particular. As President, we will continue to focus on research to unlock the medical uses of marijuana to a Schedule 3 drug, and work with Congress to pass common sense laws, including safe banking for state-authorized companies, and supporting states' rights to pass marijuana laws, Trump wrote on Truth Social last September. The move could prove popular: Nearly nine in ten adults believe that marijuana should be legal for either medical or recreational use, according to a 2025 Pew Research Center report. But the President has been somewhat inconsistent in his stance. Earlier this year, the Administration included a budget bill provision that would repeal existing protections for medical cannabis patients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what Trump has said regarding cannabis legalization. Ahead of the 2016 presidential election Before the launch of his political career, Trump signaled his support for the legalization of drugs to better combat the ongoing drug crisis in the country. "We're losing badly the war on drugs," Trump said in an April 1990 article in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. You have to legalize drugs to win that war. You have to take the profit away from these drug czars. His stance, however, has slightly shifted as he has grown more prominent in the national eye. Trump told Nevada rallygoers in November 2015 that he believed marijuana legalization should be left to the states, while also calling for greater research into areas that do allow for its recreational use, such as Colorado. The state legalized the drug recreationally via a 2012 state constitutional amendment, becoming the second state to do so at the time. In a February 2016 interview with Fox News, the President cited some concerns about marijuana dealers and the industry as a whole while simultaneously stating his support. In some ways I think its good and in other ways its bad. I do want to see what the medical effects are. I have to see what the medical effects are and, by the way medical marijuana, medical? Im in favor of it a hundred percent, Trump said at the time. During his first presidential term Still, the President failed to take action on the matter during his first term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2018, the Trump Administration lifted a policy enacted under the Obama Administration that directed federal authorities not to pursue marijuana prosecutions in states where the drug is legal. The President also proposed terminating a policy that bars the Justice Department from using funds to stop state-level medical marijuana programs numerous times under his first term, but legislators kept such protections in the spending bills. 2024 presidential election Trump has been more pointed in his promises to voters regarding the reclassification of marijuana as a Schedule III drug. The President revealed in September 2024 that he would be voting in favor of Floridas Amendment 3, a constitutional amendment that would have legalized the possession, sale, and recreational use of marijuana. As I have previously stated, I believe it is time to end needless arrests and incarcerations of adults for small amounts of marijuana for personal use. We must also implement smart regulations, while providing access for adults to safe, tested product[s], Trump said on Truth Social at the time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Although a majority of voters were in favor of the amendment, the measure was ultimately defeated as it failed to reach the 60% threshold necessary to pass. 2025 second presidential term The President has recently signaled that changes regarding the federal restrictions on marijuana could be reduced. Trulieve, a marijuana dispensary company, and the U.S. Cannabis Council gave a combined $1 million to Trumps presidential inauguration in 2024. A chief executive of the cannabis company was reportedly present at the New Jersey fundraiser where Trump reportedly said that he was considering revisiting existing federal marijuana policies. Scotts Miracle-Gro CEO James Hagedorn told Fox News that Trump had informed him and others that he would follow through on his statement. This is a promise he made during the campaign and promises made are promises kept, Hagedorn said. More from TIME Contact us at letters@time.com. President Donald Trump announced this week a federal takeover of the Washington police force and deployment of National Guardsmen to the nation's capital. Trump on Friday is expected to hold a summit in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as the White House seeks an end to the Kremlin's war in Ukraine. Latest Developments Aug 13, 9:32 AM Trump and Putin to meet at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will have their summit at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday, a White House official confirmed to ABC News. Alejandro Pena/Alaska National Guard, FILES - PHOTO: Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps cadets visit with members of the Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Wing at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 28, 2025. ABC News Michelle Stoddart Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aug 12, 1:46 PM Fines, jail time possible for those who don't comply with DC encampment cleanup: WH As President Donald Trump vows to rid D.C. of homeless encampments, individuals who do not comply could be subject to fines or jail time, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, referencing D.C. laws. "For far too long, these laws have been completely ignored, and the homelessness problem has ravaged the city," she said during Tuesday's briefing. "Homeless individuals will be given the option to leave their encampment, to be taken to a homeless shelter, to be offered addiction or mental health services -- and if they refuse, they will be susceptible to fines or to jail time." After Trump said this week that homeless individuals will be given places to stay "far from the capital," Leavitt said the administration is also still looking into that. "We're exploring how we could do that," she said, adding that homeless shelters, addiction and mental health services, or jail "are the options on the table right now." Kevin Lamarque/Reuters - PHOTO: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Aug. 12, 2025, in Washington. Aug 12, 1:37 PM Trump considering a lawsuit against the Fed's Powell President Donald Trump is weighing a possible lawsuit against Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at her briefing on Tuesday. "He's considering a lawsuit and I won't speak or on it any further. I will allow the president to do that himself," Leavitt said. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell tour the Federal Reserve's $2.5 billion headquarters renovation project, July 24, 2025 in Washington. Earlier Tuesday, Trump threatened legal action against Powell on his conservative social media platform. "The damage he has done by always being Too Late is incalculable," Trump wrote. "Fortunately, the economy is sooo good that we've blown through Powell and the complacent Board. I am, though, considering allowing a major lawsuit against Powell to proceed because of the horrible, and grossly incompetent, job he has done in managing the construction of the Fed Buildings. Three Billion Dollars for a job that should have been a $50 Million Dollar fix up. Not good!" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aug 12, 1:34 PM 30-day timeline on DC takeover to be reevaluated, Leavitt says White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Trump administration will "reevaluate and reassess and make further decisions" on its federalization of the D.C. police force once the 30-day period is up. "Within these 30 days, our entire focus is making sure that this is the most efficient operation possible and that we are removing as many criminals from the streets, and we are cleaning up D.C. as best as we can, and working with the Metropolitan Police Department to do that," she said during Tuesday's briefing. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, August 12, 2025. Aug 12, 1:31 PM Trump 'honored' to host Putin on American soil Finer details on President Donald Trump's upcoming sit-down with Russian President Vladimir Putin have still not been released, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt telling reporters on Tuesday that scheduling is "still being ironed out." But on the selection of Alaska as the location, Leavitt said: "The president is very honored and looks forward to hosting, President Putin on American soil." Alex Brandon/AP - PHOTO: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Aug. 12, 2025, in Washington. Aug 12, 1:26 PM White House: Trump-Putin meeting a 'listening exercise' Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked on Tuesday why Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wasn't invited to Friday's summit in Alaska. Leavitt said this meeting came at Russian President Vladimir Putin's request, relayed to Trump by special envoy Steve Witkoff after Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow last week. "The goal of this meeting for the president is to walk away with a better understanding of how we can end this war," Leavitt told reporters. ABC News Senior Political Correspondent Rachel Scott asked Leavitt if Zelenskyy has given Trump any red lines or nonstarters ahead of his conversation with Putin. "Look, I don't want to reveal the private conversations between the president and President Zelenskyy, but what I can tell you is that the president has deep respect for all parties that are involved in this conflict and are trying to bring this conflict to an end," Leavitt responded. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, August 12, 2025. Leavitt added, "I think this is a listening exercise for the president. Look, only one party that's involved in this war is going to be present. And so this is for the president to go and to get, again, a more firm and better understanding of how we can hopefully bring this war to an end." Aug 12, 1:20 PM 23 arrests made in DC Monday after law enforcement 'surge,' White House says Approximately 850 officers and agents were "surged" across D.C. Monday night after President Donald Trump declared a crime emergency in the capital, during which they made 23 arrests, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. The arrests included homicide, firearms offenses, possession with intent to distribute narcotics, lewd acts, stalking, possession of a high-capacity magazine, driving under the influence and reckless driving, she said. Six illegal handguns were also seized, she said. Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks during a press briefing in the Brady Briefing Room of the White House in Washington, August 12, 2025. "This is only the beginning," Leavitt said during a press briefing Tuesday. "Over the course of the next month, the Trump administration will relentlessly pursue and arrest every violent criminal in the District who breaks the law, undermines public safety and endangers law-abiding Americans." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aug 12, 12:19 PM National Guard members gather at DC Armory Members of the National Guard gathered at the DC Armory's Joint Force Headquarters Tuesday morning, before filing out approximately one hour later. Many confirmed to ABC News that they are active members of the National Guard. Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Members of the National Guard walk from the DC Joint Force Headquarters to the DC Armory in Washington, Aug. 12, 2025. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP - PHOTO: A member of the District of Columbia National Guard arrives at the District of Columbia National Guard Headquarters, Aug. 12, 2025, in Washington. They arrived in what appeared to be personal vehicles before entering the building alone or in small groups, with some carrying duffel bags and backpacks. When asked if they were given any marching orders, one told ABC News "not really," and that they were just told to gather. -ABC News' Emily Chang Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Aug 12, 10:23 AM National Guard troops arriving in DC National Guard troops are arriving in Washington after President Donald Trump announced on Monday that 800 National Guard troops would be deployed as he declared a public safety emergency -- despite the citys mayor noting violent crime is at a 30-year low. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP - PHOTO: National Guard troops arrive at the District of Columbia National Guard Headquarters, Aug. 12, 2025, in Washington. It's the first time the National Guard has been deployed to Washington since 2021 after the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol. Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP - PHOTO: National Guard troops arrive at the District of Columbia National Guard Headquarters, Aug. 12, 2025, in Washington. Aug 12, 9:39 AM Bowser and Bondi expected to meet Tuesday: Sources Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and Attorney General Pam Bondi are expected to meet on Tuesday, sources familiar with the matter said. Bowser said on Monday during her press conference that she had reached out to Bondi and she hoped to schedule a meeting "soon." Bowser on Monday called President Donald Trump's federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department and deployment of the National Guard "unsettling and unprecedented." A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the meeting to ABC News. Bowser's office didn't immediately comment. Mark Schiefelbein/AP - PHOTO: Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks with reporters during a briefing with President Donald Trump in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington. -ABC News' Katherine Faulders, Alexander Mallin an Luke Barr Click here to read the rest of the blog. [Source] In recent months, the Trump administration has devised an immigration enforcement strategy in which government attorneys seek case dismissals in immigration court, only for ICE agents to arrest migrants immediately at the courthouse to place them in expedited removal proceedings. How it works: Government lawyers ask immigration judges to dismiss ongoing cases citing changed circumstances, while ICE officers wait nearby to arrest migrants as they leave the courtroom. A May 30 Justice Department memo seen by NBC News instructs judges to process these oral dismissal requests during the same hearing, eliminating the traditional 10-day response period immigrants previously had. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After dismissal, individuals are placed in expedited removal proceedings that allow for quick deportation, unlike standard immigration cases that often take years to complete. This strategy affects people who entered unlawfully as well as those admitted legally through humanitarian programs. State of play: Federal courts have begun restricting this enforcement strategy. On Aug. 2, U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb issued a temporary restraining order blocking expedited removal for migrants who entered legally through humanitarian parole programs, ruling these individuals had played by the rules. Trending on NextShark: Mural honoring Japanese Americans vandalized again in Seattles Chinatown Immigration law experts argue the Justice Department memo violates federal statute by omitting required language about individual case circumstances, with civil rights groups filing a class-action lawsuit last month to halt the courthouse arrest policy. However, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defends the strategy, saying it reverses Bidens catch and release policy that allowed millions of unvetted illegal aliens to be let loose on American streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The big picture: While the administration remains set in its immigration crackdown, public support for mass deportations appears to have declined. A July CBS News/YouGov poll shows 56% of Americans believe the operations target mostly nonviolent individuals, while 54% consider the approach too aggressive. These courthouse arrests could particularly affect Democratic-controlled cities where Trump has ordered increased enforcement, impacting areas with large Asian American populations. The Justice Department is expected to appeal Cobbs ruling. Trending on NextShark: How the Trump admin uses courthouse dismissals to fast-track deportations 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. Trending on NextShark: Racist backlash erupts after Air New Zealand names Indian-origin CEO Subscribe here now! Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! Staff at the State Departments Office of Countering Violent Extremism and Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations, which led U.S. anti-violent extremism efforts, were laid off, the units shuttered, on July 11, 2025. This dismantling of the countrys terrorism and extremism prevention programs began in February 2025. Thats when staff of USAIDs Bureau of Conflict Prevention and Stabilization were put on leave. In March, the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships at the Department of Homeland Security, which worked during the Biden administration to prevent terrorism with a staff of about 80 employees, laid off about 30% of its staff. Additional cuts to the centers staff were made in June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And on July 11, the countering violent extremism team at the U.S. Institute of Peace, a nonpartisan organization established by Congress, was laid off. The fate of the institute is pending legal cases and congressional funding. President Donald Trump in February had called for nonstatutory components and functions of certain government entities, including the U.S. Institute of Peace, to be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law. These cuts have drastically limited the U.S. governments terrorism prevention work. What remains of the U.S. capability to respond to terrorism rests in its military and law enforcement, which do not work on prevention. They react to terrorist events after they happen. As a political scientist who has worked on prevention programs for USAID, the U.S. Institute for Peace, and as an evaluator of the U.S. strategy that implemented the Global Fragility Act, I believe recent Trump administration cuts to terrorism prevention programs risk setting Americas counterterrorism work back into a reactive, military approach that has proven ineffective in reducing terrorism. The US war against terrorism Between 9/11 and 2021, the cost of the U.S. war on terrorism was $8 trillion and 900,000 deaths, according to a Brown University study. Nonetheless, terrorism has continued to expanded in geographic reach, diversity and deadliness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though it was territorially defeated in Syria in 2019, the Islamic State designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government has expanded globally, especially in Africa. Its nine affiliates on the continent have joined several al-Qaida-linked groups such as al-Shabab. The Islamic State has expanded through a decentralized model of operations. It has networks of affiliates that operate semi-autonomously and exploit areas of weak governance in places such as Mali and Burkina Faso. That makes them difficult to defeat militarily. The U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., on March 18, 2025. Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images These terrorist organizations threaten the U.S. through direct attacks, such as the ISIS-linked attack in New Orleans on Jan. 1, 2025, that killed 14 people. These groups also disrupt the global economy, such as Houthi attacks on trade routes in the Red Sea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To understand why terrorism and extremism continue to grow, and to examine what could be done, Congress charged the U.S. Institute of Peace in 2017 to convene the Task Force on Extremism in Fragile States. This bipartisan task force found that while the U.S. military had battlefield successes, after each supposed defeat, extremist groups return having grown increasingly ambitious, innovative, and deadly. The task force recommended prioritizing and investing in prevention efforts. Those include strengthening the ability of governments to provide social services and helping communities identify signs of conflict and helping to provide tools to effectively respond when they see the signs. The report contributed to the Global Fragility Act, which Trump signed in 2019 to fund $1.5 billion over five years of prevention work in places such as Libya, Mozambique and coastal West Africa. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Programs funded by the Global Fragility Act included USAIDs Research for Peace, which monitored signs of terrorism recruitment, trained residents in Cote d'Ivoire on community dialogue to resolve disputes, and worked with local leaders and media to promote peace. All programming under the act has shut down due to the elimination of prevention offices and bureaus. What the US has lost The State Department issued a call for funding in July 2025 for a contractor to work on preventing terrorists from recruiting young people online. It stated: In 2024, teenagers accounted for up to two-thirds of ISIS-linked arrests in Europe, with children as young as 11 involved in recent terrorist plots. In the same month, the department canceled the program due to a loss of funding. Its the kind of program that the now defunct Office of Countering Violent Extremism would have overseen. The government evidently recognizes the need for prevention work. But it dismantled the expertise and infrastructure required to design and manage such responses. Lost expertise The work done within the prevention infrastructure wasnt perfect. But it was highly specialized, with expertise built over 2 decades. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chris Bosley, a former interim director of the violence and extremism program at the U.S. Institute of Peace who was laid off in July, told me recently, Adequate investment in prevention programs isnt cheap, but its a hell of a lot cheaper than the decades of failed military action, and more effective than barbed wire tools that come too late, cost too much, and add fuel to the very conditions that perpetuate the threats theyre meant to address. For now, the U.S. has lost a trove of counterterrorism expertise. And it has removed the guardrails community engagement protocols and conflict prevention programs that helped avoid the unintended consequences of U.S. military responses. Without prevention efforts, we risk repeating some of the harmful outcomes of the past. Those include military abuses against civilians, prisoner radicalization in detention facilities and the loss of public trust, such as what happened in Guantanamo Bay, in Bagram, Afghanistan, and at various CIA black sites during the George W. Bush administration. Counterterrorism prevention experts expect terrorism to worsen. Dexter Ingram, the former director of the State Departments Office of Countering Violent Extremism who was laid off in July, told me: It seems like were now going to try shooting our way out of this problem again, and its going to make the problem worse. Federal agents patrol New Orleans, La., following a terrorist attack on Jan. 1, 2025. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images What can be done? Rebuilding a prevention-focused approach with expertise will require political will and bipartisan support. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Reps. Sara Jacobs, a Democrat from California, and Mike McCaul, a Texas Republican, have introduced a bill that would reauthorize the Global Fragility Act, extending it until 2030. It would allow the U.S. government to continue preventing conflicts, radicalization and helping unstable countries. The measure would also improve the way various government agencies collaborate to achieve these goals. But its success hinges on securing funding and restoring or creating new offices with expert staff that can address the issues that lead to terrorism. This analysis was developed with research contributions from Saroy Rakotoson and Liam Painter at Georgetown University. 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: Kris Inman, Georgetown University Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read more: Kris Inman does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. President Donald Trump dramatically downplayed expectations for his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday. The president is set to meet face-to-face with the Russian leader on Friday in Alaska, but Trump indicated their gathering would essentially be to hear Putin out. This is really a feel out meeting, a little bit, and President Putin invited me to get involved, Trump said. He wants to get involved. I think, I believe he wants to get it over with. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a major shift from the presidents recent claims that Putins talk was meaningless and that Russia had been stringing the U.S. along for months. The president did note on Monday that he has had great calls with Putin only to end up disappointed when Russia would continue to strike Ukraine. Im going in to speak with Vladimir Putin, and Im going to be telling him you got to end it, the president said. President Donald Trump calls on reporters during a press conference on August 11, 2025 where he admitted his Friday meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin was just a Trump praised Putin as very respectful for coming to the U.S. for a meeting and said that he hopes they would have a constructive conversation. During the rambling press conference, Trump misspoke twice, stating that he would be going to Russia on Friday. He later acknowledged that he would not be leaving the U.S. for the summit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president said after he meets with Putin, he will call European leaders as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He suggested there would be a following meeting with Putin and Zelensky. However, the president also blasted Zelensky for needing constitutional approval for an agreement and claimed that hes got approval to go into war and kill everybody despite it being Russia that invaded Ukraine in 2022. Trump also repeated his comment that a peace deal would include swapping land, though it remains to be seen what concessions Russia is willing to make to end the war. There will be some land swapping going on. I know that through Russia and through conversations with everybody, the president said, adding for the good of Ukraine, good stuff, not bad stuff, also some bad stuff for both. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russias occupied a big portion of Ukraine. Theyve occupied some very prime territory. Were going to try and get some of that territory back for Ukraine, he said. The president rambled that it was largely ocean front property. Thats always the most valuable property. He said he will see what the parameters are with his meeting. I may leave and say, good luck, and thatll be the end. I may say this is not going to be settled, he continued. President Donald Trump meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the G20 summit in June 2019. / Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images The president noted in the end it was not up to him to make the deal. Im going to see what they want to meet about. Id like to see a ceasefire, Trump said. Im going to meet with President Putin, and were going to see what he has in mind. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will be the first time the Russian leader has set foot on U.S. soil since 2015. It is also Trumps first in-person meeting with Putin since his first term despite their numerous phone calls as Trump has tried to broker a deal. I may say, lots of luck, keep fighting, Trump said on Monday. As the planning for their high-stakes meeting ramp up, questions remain about how Ukraine will be included in talks over ending the war. President Donald Trump clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky when they met in the Oval Office in February. / Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images Pressed over whether Zelensky was invited to the Alaska sit-down, Trump turned to criticizing him. I would say he could go, but hes gone to a lot of meetings, the president said. Hes been there for three and a half years. Nothing happened. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky said over the weekend that he supports the presidents push for a peace deal and has confidence in him helping see it through, but Zelensky also emphasized that Ukraine must be part of the decision-making. After Trump suggested on Friday that there would be a swapping of territory as part of the negotiations to reach a peace deal, Ukrainian allies have raised concerns over what Russia would concede beyond stopping the fighting after it invaded. Seven European leaders released a joint statement after Trump announced he would be sitting down with Putin, where they praised Trump for working to end the war and reaffirmed theyre support for Ukraine after Russia invaded in 2022. The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine, they said in a statement. We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force. As work toward the historic meeting in Alaska gets underway, Russia continues to strike Ukraine. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Monday announced he will deploy approximately 800 National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., and federalize the city's police in an effort to fight crime. When you walk down the street, youre going to see police or youre going to see FBI agents, Trump said during a press availability Monday morning. Were going to have a lot of agents on the street. Youre going to have a lot of, essentially military. And we will bring in the military if its needed. The moves mark a significant escalation in the president's attacks on the nation's capital. Trump on Sunday claimed the district was one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World," although the Justice Department said that the crime rate fell to a 30-year low last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president also said that he would declare a public safety emergency in D.C. and that Attorney General Pam Bondi would "take command of the Metropolitan Police Department as of this moment." One hundred to 200 troops out of the 800 activated "will be supporting law enforcement at any given time," Army Public Affairs confirmed, adding that the troops would have "administrative, logistics and physical presence" tasks. Troops are expected to be on the ground Tuesday, a White House official told NBC News on Monday night. A second official said the National Guard is "being deployed to protect federal assets, provide a safe environment for law enforcement officers to make arrests, and deter violent crime with a visible law enforcement presence." Guard members received a notification saying the deployment order is for Aug. 11 to Sept. 25. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement NBC News previously reported that Trump was considering ordering the National Guard into the district. He announced Monday that around 800 National Guard troops would be deployed, but said he would send "much more if necessary." Bondi, who Trump said will helm D.C. police, declared that crime would end in D.C. "Let me be crystal clear: Crime in D.C. is ending and ending today," she said. Trump must notify certain members of Congress within 48 hours about the reason for taking over control of police and the estimated timeline for federal control, according to the D.C. Home Rule Act. Trump said he would make the "appropriate" notifications to Congress and the mayor's office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The act also indicates that Trump can take control of the D.C. police for 30 days, unless Congress authorizes an extension. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, said she would comply with Trump's directive, which she called "unsettling and unprecedented." "We will follow the law," she told reporters after the president's announcement. "I'm going to work every day to make sure it's not a complete disaster" and get this "so-called emergency" put to an end, Bowser said. Ahead of the announcement, Trump on Sunday railed against homelessness in the city. Trump on Monday said that the administration would remove homeless encampments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement D.C. attorney general Brian Schwalb blasted the administrations actions on X as unprecedented, unnecessary, and unlawful. We are considering all of our options and will do what is necessary to protect the rights and safety of District residents, he wrote. D.C. delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat, said in a statement that Trump's moves were a "historic assault on D.C. home rule," as well as "counterproductive" and "escalatory." It does not escape me that the president is calling in the [D.C. National Guard] on the pretext of a surge in crime that the numbers do not support, while he was nowhere to be found for hours on January 6, 2021, as D.C. officials tried to get him to mobilize the DCNG as the U.S. Capitol was under siege, Norton added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Critics are quick to point out that, while Trump has sought to make defending law enforcement a pillar of his second term, he also pardoned hundreds of Jan. 6 rioters, many of whom were convicted of attacking police officers. Trump's announcements come after the White House increased the federal law enforcement presence in D.C., which White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had framed as a first step in stopping the violent crime that has been plaguing the streets of Washington, DC. About 450 federal law enforcement officers were deployed across D.C. on Saturday and Sunday evenings, according to a White House official. Hours after Trumps announcement Monday, the north and south fence line around the White House as well as the Ellipse were closed following a shooting in D.C. nearly a mile from the White House, law enforcement officials and a Secret Service spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was no immediate indication that the shooting was tied to Trump or the White House and the Secret Service said the closure was a precaution. The shooting happened on the 1200 block of 12th Street NW, the officials said, and it was not immediately clear if there were any victims. Last week, Trump renewed his criticism of D.C. following an alleged assault on Edward Coristine, an original Department of Government Efficiency aide known online as Big Balls, in an attempted carjacking. 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 said in a post on Truth Social last week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement D.C. police data indicates that violent crime has decreased 26% compared to last year. The D.C. U.S. Attorneys Office also announced in January that violent crime in the district in 2024 was at a 30-year low, citing police data. Trump has the authority to temporarily take control of the local police. For the president to mount a full federal takeover of the city, however, Congress would first need to repeal the 1973 Home Rule Act, which granted D.C. a level of self-governance. Trump also said he might launch a similar effort in large Democratic-run cities. Other cities are hopefully watching this, he said. Maybe theyll self-clean up, and maybe theyll self-do this and get rid of the cashless bail thing and all of the things that caused the problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump faced criticism after deploying the National Guard to Los Angeles as a response to protests against his immigration policies. Bowser acknowledged to reporters in her press conference that D.C. is in a different situation, while pointing a finger at Congress. If people are concerned about a presidents ability to have the MPD, police department, be responsive to the Department of Justice, the time to address that is when were talking about statehood for D.C. If people are concerned about the president being able to move the National Guard into our city, the time to do that would have been when the Congress had a bill that it could have given control of the DC National Guard to D.C.," Bowser said. "So there are things that when a city is not a state and not fully autonomous, and doesnt have senators, that the federal government can do, she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an interview on MSNBC Sunday, Bowser pushed back on the assertion that her city is riddled with crime. If the priority is to show force in an American city, we know [Trump] can do that here, but it wont be because theres a spike in crime, she said. On Monday morning, Trump also proclaimed "liberation day in D.C." in an all-capitalized post to Truth Social. "Washington, D.C. will be LIBERATED today!" he said in a separate post Monday morning. "Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR." Trump signed an executive order in March to make D.C. "safe and beautiful," establishing a task force to work with local officials on safety issues, such as by increasing the federal law enforcement presence in the city. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com WASHINGTON (DC News Now) President Trump will announce on Monday his latest effort to make District streets safer. On Monday, a press conference will be held at the White House, which will, essentially, stop violent crime in Washington, DC, the president said on his Truth Media page Saturday.It has become one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the world. It will soon be one of the safest. Hes just telling one more lie, said Jo Freeman. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She doubts his efforts to crack down on crime. He wants to take over D.C.. Well, hes obviously claiming theres a high crime rate. And yet all the statistics say crime has gone down, Freeman said. The latest numbers from the District show a 30-year low in crime, with a 26% reduction in violent crime from a year ago, while the rate of all crimes dropped 7%. DC police establish new Juvenile Curfew Zone in Navy Yard U.S. Park Police, SF, and U.S. Capitol Police are among the federal agencies that have stepped up their patrols around the city this week as ordered by the president. Their presence followed the arrests of two 15-year-olds accused of the recent beating of a former DOGE employee. The president said he wants the teens charged as adults, while the district is weak on crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Something does have to be done about the crime, said one woman, who did not want to give her name. She supports the effort to reduce crime. Just not the person who has called for the increased crackdown. I just dont think hes the right person for the job, the woman said. Free DC said it will protest the presidents recent actions during a Monday morning demonstration in the public plaza, just north of Lafayette Square. Its scheduled to start at 10 oclock. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. President Donald Trump targeted U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) in his latest Truth Social post on Monday. Trump lashed out at Crockett, a frequent critic of Trump, in a lengthy social media post. He claimed she had a low IQ and demanded that she, along with other political hacks, take a cognitive exam. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett is a Low (Very!!!) I.Q. Individual, much in the mold of the AOC Plus Three Gang of Country Destroying Morons - Only slightly dumber. Each of these political hacks should be forced to take a Cognitive Exam, much like the one I recently took while getting my physical at our GREAT Washington, D.C., Military Hospital (WR!), he wrote on Truth Social. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He then touted the results of his own cognitive test, claiming that he aced it. He alleged Democrats would fail the test, despite not outlining what the test would entail. As the doctors said, President Trump ACED it, something that is rarely seen! These Radical Left Lunatics would all fail this test in a spectacular show of stupidity and incompetence. TAKE THE TEST!!! he added in his post. Crockett made national headlines last week after she called Trump a piece of s--- at an event. She has been an outspoken critic of Trump and the MAGA movement, especially as Texas moves to redraw its congressional districts to benefit Republicans. Trump has frequently referenced passing a cognitive exam during his first and second term. After his annual physical exam in April, he told reporters that he took a cognitive test. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I dont know what to tell you other than I got every answer right, he told reporters at the time. He said undergoing mental acuity screening was what the American people want and took another shot at his predecessor, saying, Biden refused to take it. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Donald Trump claimed that he would know in the first two minutes of his upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin if a peace deal could be reached between Russia and Ukraine. Were going to have a meeting with Vladimir Putin, and at the end of that meeting, probably in the first two minutes, Ill know exactly whether or not a deal can be made, the president told reporters at a press conference Monday. Asked how he would know, the president replied: Because that's what I do. I make deals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, Trump later appeared to contradict himself, after saying that it was not up to him if a deal was made or not. Im not going to make a deal. Its not up to me to make a deal. I think a deal should be made for both, he said. The president is set to meet with the Russian president Friday in Alaska for the highly anticipated meeting, during which the pair will discuss bringing an end to the conflict that has raged since the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces in February 2022. The president is set to meet with the Russian president Friday in Alaska for the highly anticipated meeting, during which the pair will discuss bringing an end to the conflict that has raged since the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces in February 2022. (AP) Trump briefly appeared to forget the location of the meeting, telling reporters at the press conference that he would be travelling to Russia for the meeting, instead of The Last Frontier. He added that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky could attend the bilateral, but also appeared to question if it would help a deal be reached. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He wasnt a part of it, Trump said, speaking about the setting up of the talks. I would say he could go, but hes been to a lot of meetings. You know, hes been there for three and a half years. Nothing happened. He added that, should a fair deal be reached, he would inform the European Union as well as Zelensky, who he would call first out of respect. And I may say, lots of luck, keep fighting. Or I may say we can make a deal, he said. Trump said on Monday that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky could attend the bilateral, but also appeared to question if it would help a deal be reached (Ukrainian Presidential Press Service) Either way, Trump said that a meeting between Putin and Zelensky would be necessary in the future. Ultimately, Im going to put the two of them in a room. Ill be there, or I wont be there, and I think itll get solved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fridays meeting will be the first between a U.S. president and Putin since 2021, when Joe Biden met him in Switzerland, and marks the first time the Russian president has set foot on American soil in a decade. His visit is due to go ahead as planned, despite the fact that he faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court. Critics have also noted that Alaska was once owned by Russia, who claimed it during the 1770s and sold it back to the U.S. in 1867. Russian traditionalists have long-since demanded the return of the territory. President Donald Trump announced Friday that Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a peace agreement at the White House, aimed at ending decades of conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The long-running dispute has drawn international concern, including from U.S. lawmakers. As The Dallas Express previously reported, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) warned of a potential genocide against Armenian Christians during an emergency committee meeting in 2023, citing a blockade of the Lachin corridor that left many residents in dire conditions. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed the declaration during a ceremony in Washington, D.C. The deal is intended to open new economic opportunities in the South Caucasus, a strategically important area linking Europe and Asia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 at the White House signing ceremony. The two former Soviet republics have disputed the Nagorno-Karabakh territory since the late 1980s. Previous international mediation efforts, including those by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, have failed to produce a lasting resolution. Statements from Aliyev and Pashinyan praising Trumps diplomatic role were posted by the account @RapidResponse47 on X, which shared clips from the White House livestream. Aliyev said, Within several months, he managed to put an end to conflicts in Asia, in Africa, and now in South Caucasus what we could not achieve for more than 30 years We will turn the page of standoff, confrontation, and bloodshed, and provide a bright and safe future for our children. Pashinyan added, 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 Trumps personal engagement and his resolute commitment to peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alongside the peace accord, Armenia and Azerbaijan also signed bilateral economic agreements with the United States. The deals aim to expand trade, improve energy cooperation, and invest in infrastructure development across the region. Trumps office said his administration has mediated other agreements since returning to office, but those claims have not been independently verified. The Armenia-Azerbaijan accord marks the first U.S.-brokered agreement between the two countries in decades and will require ongoing cooperation to ensure implementation. A three-day bench trial will begin Monday over whether President Trumps National Guard deployment to Los Angeles violated a general prohibition on using federal troops as civilian law enforcement. U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer will hear testimony from three military and immigration officials as the judge weighs whether sending in troops to combat immigration protests violated the Posse Comitatus Act. It marks a major legal confrontation between Trump and California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), who has condemned the deployment as political theater and broadly framed himself as the face of resistance against the presidents agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Only 300 of the nearly 5,000 Guard members sent to Los Angeles in June remain, but the trial is moving ahead as Newsom urges Trump to send the remaining troops home. Marines were also deployed but were released last month. It reinforces the litigation strategy, Newsom told reporters last week. Those things are not coincidental, the governor continued. Had we not positioned ourselves, had we not postured with that litigation approach, we would not be in this position with that withdrawal. Trial to focus on troops operations Newsom sued Trump in June as the president federalized the California National Guard to combat immigration protests in Los Angeles that sometimes turned violent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The governor has been unsuccessful so far. Breyer ruled Trump illegally federalized the National Guard and ordered he hand back control to Newsom, but the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals quickly lifted the ruling until it resolves the administrations appeal. That decision is likely still months away. As the appeal over Trumps authority proceeds, it does not address what activities the troops may engage in while on the ground. Thats the subject of this weeks trial. Newsom asserts the deployment violates the Posse Comitatus Act, an 1878 federal law that generally bars federal troops from participating in civilian law enforcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Some of the troops have been stationed at several federal buildings in downtown Los Angeles, which is not at issue. But the state has taken aim at troops who have went elsewhere to accompany immigration agents, including during a violent raid at a cannabis farm last month that left one dead. The administration argues the Posse Comitatus Act provides no pathway for California to sue. Even if it did, the administration contends the law is superseded by another statute it argues expressly authorizes the National Guards efforts. Accompanying federal law enforcement officials for their protection as those officials enforce federal immigration laws does not mean that the troops are themselves engaging in law enforcement, the administration wrote in court filings. But California warned that the administrations position would give Trump unchecked power. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It simply is not the law that Defendants may deploy standing armies to the streets of California while California is powerless to do anything about that clear violation of the most fundamental principles of our Nations founding, California wrote in court filings last week. ICE, military officials to testify The parties are expected to summon a total of three witnesses, court records show. Newsom plans to call Ernesto Santacruz Jr., who leads Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) Los Angeles field office. The state also intends to call William Harrington and Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, leaders of an Army task force that has tactical control over the deployed federalized Guard troops. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Trump administration also will call Sherman but did not list any other witness. The parties estimated the combined testimony will last upward of eight hours, not including cross-examination. Breyer has indicated he expects the witnesses to conclude by Tuesday. Then, the judge will then hear legal arguments from both sides. The Justice Department insists the trial is unnecessary. It asked Breyer to forgo the proceedings and immediately toss Newsoms claims, but the judge declined to do so. Next weeks trial is not cancelled. The Court expects to hear evidence beginning on Monday, Breyer ruled last week. Among first trials challenging Trump policies This weeks proceeding is one of the first full-fledged trials challenging one of Trumps actions since returning to the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His administration faces more than 300 lawsuits challenging major policies in total. But most plaintiffs have pressed their claims in truncated, emergency proceedings. Several judges have converted those emergency rulings into final judgments, sending the case to the appeals courts without going through an actual trial. Breyers trial follows two others held this summer. Last month, a Boston-based federal judge conducted a bench trial challenging the Trump administrations arrests of pro-Palestinian activists on college campuses. He has not yet ruled. The same judge in June held a bench trial on Democratic states and health groups bid to reinstate nearly $800 million in health grants the administration canceled over links to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The judge ruled for the plaintiffs, and the Justice Department has filed an emergency appeal at the Supreme Court, which could rule at any time. This weeks trial will unfold in Breyers courtroom in San Francisco. The Justice Department has criticized California for filing its lawsuit there, hundreds of miles from the scene. Breyer was appointed by former President Clinton and is the younger brother of retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer. The trial marks a major moment for California Attorney General Rob Bontas (D) office, which is suing alongside Newsom. Bonta has taken pride in the barrage of litigation he has brought against Trump. Last week, he touted that he is a plaintiff in 37 lawsuits against the administration and has restored more than $168 billion in funding to California. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The moment the Trump administration stops breaking the law and violating the Constitution, well stop suing. Simple, Bonta told reporters last week. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By David Morgan WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday he would ask Congress to tighten U.S. crime laws as part of a crackdown on violent crime in the District of Columbia and other U.S. cities. Trump said Congress should end reforms in Chicago, New York and some other cities that allow some accused criminals to get out of jail ahead of their trial dates without posting a cash bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Every place in the country where you have no-cash bail is a disaster," Trump said at a White House press conference where he announced that he was putting the U.S. capital's police department under federal control and deploying 800 National Guard troops. Trump said the Department of Justice would craft legislation to end the practice and called on his fellow Republicans to push the bill through the narrowly divided Senate and House of Representatives. It was not clear how Trump intended to end no-cash bail policies, which are often determined by state law. Jeanine Pirro, the top federal prosecutor in Washington, also said Congress should allow more juveniles to be charged as adults. "I can't arrest them. I can't prosecute them. They go to family court and they get to do yoga, and arts and crafts. Enough. It changes today," she said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment. State governments have reformed bail systems in recent years by relying on supervised pretrial release rather than the posting of cash bonds, which have been blamed for reinforcing racial and economic disparities and creating a two-tiered system of justice. Conservatives say that leads to higher crime rates, though a study by the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice at New York University found no evidence of that. Trump's comments appeared to catch Republicans in Congress off-guard. House Speaker Mike Johnson celebrated Trump's crackdown in Washington in a social media post but did not mention new legislation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Senate Majority Leader John Thune's office was not immediately available for comment. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer pledged to advance legislation to "protect Americans in their capital city" and hold a hearing with District of Columbia officials in September. Lawmakers intend to advance a bill that would allow alleged offenders aged 18 and older in Washington to be tried as adults, a Republican committee spokesperson said. The bill would also prevent youth offenders from receiving sentences below the mandatory minimum for a given crime. (Reporting by David Morgan in Washington; Additional reporting by Sarah N. Lynch in Washington; Editing by Andy Sullivan and Matthew Lewis) The United States is entering the AI era, and the stakes are enormous. Artificial intelligence will reshape jobs, defense, education, infrastructure, and the broader economy. The only question is how we lead and whether we do it on our terms. President Donald Trumps recently released AI Action Plan offers a compelling answer. Rather than impose sweeping federal controls, it takes a pragmatic approach: remove regulatory bottlenecks, fast-track infrastructure like data centers, prioritize innovation over ideology, and unleash the private sector to do what it does best. The plan includes accelerated permitting, targeted NEPA exemptions, and an emphasis on energy and data infrastructure to meet AIs growing needs. It also calls for preventing federal agencies from embedding political or ideological litmus tests in AI procurement moving the focus back to performance, not politics. That philosophy should feel familiar in Florida. While other states race to regulate first and innovate later, Florida has long embraced a different mindset: empower entrepreneurs, reduce government friction, and let builders build. From autonomous vehicles to commercial space, Florida has consistently prioritized innovation over bureaucracy and its paid off. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now we need to do the same with AI. With its business-friendly climate, deepening tech ecosystem, and strong connectivity infrastructure, Florida is well-positioned to become a hub for AI development and deployment. The state already ranks among the top five for data center growth and has actively courted high-tech investment through tax incentives and pro-growth zoning policies. Whats needed now is execution fast-tracking data infrastructure, aligning education pipelines with AI workforce needs, and removing the federal and local regulatory friction that stifles deployment. Meanwhile, states like California and New York are moving in the opposite direction. Policymakers there are drafting sweeping AI mandates before the full implications of the technology are understood. One-size-fits-all rules, ideological filters, and process-heavy oversight may play well politically, but they create operational risk and regulatory fatigue. That mindset doesnt lead to leadership it drives innovation elsewhere. Trumps plan gets this balance right. It doesnt ignore ethical or safety concerns, but it refuses to let fear dictate the future. Instead, it recognizes that strategic leadership in AI means trusting private sector talent, reducing time-to-deployment, and anchoring policy in constitutional principles like free expression and open markets. It also advances AI export strategies designed to extend U.S. influence while countering adversarial models coming out of authoritarian regimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is not just an economic issue its a geopolitical one. Countries like China are embedding AI across every layer of government and industry and exporting their surveillance-centric model globally. If we hesitate or get lost in bureaucratic gridlock, we risk ceding the ethical foundation of AI development to regimes that reject liberty as a principle. Florida has the infrastructure, the mindset, and now, a federal partner willing to clear the runway. We should seize this opportunity not by replicating the regulatory playbook of more centralized states, but by doubling down on what we do best: building faster, smarter, and freer. The future of American AI leadership wont be determined in boardrooms or press conferences. It will be decided by how quickly we can move from policy to practice. President Trump has provided the map. Now its Floridas turn to lead. Jeff Brandes is the former Florida state senator for District 24 and president of the Florida Policy Project. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump declared a crime emergency here on Monday, took temporary control of the D.C. police department and said hed deploy the National Guard. Its the first time a president has invoked the D.C. Home Rule Act of 1973 to take over the citys police, but its become routine for Trump to declare dubious emergencies expanding his power. In January, Trump declared an emergency on the southern border stemming from an alleged immigrant invasion as justification for deploying federal troops there despite border crossings having already declined from their highs during Joe Bidens administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, claiming a Venezuelan gang was conducting irregular warfare against the territory of the United States, so that the administration could detain and deport immigrants without due process. The administration ignored its own expert guidance that no gang was operating in the U.S. at the direction of the Venezuelan government. And in April, Trump declared foreign trade and economic practices have created a national emergency, citing the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977, which the White House claimed allows the president to impose tariffs worldwide even though the law doesnt mention tariffs. Its not uncommon for a president to use emergency powers, including for dubious reasons Biden used emergency powers supposedly justified by the coronavirus pandemic to try to forgive student debt, for instance but William Banks, a law professor at Syracuse University, said Trumps use of emergency powers across his first and second terms exceeds what other modern presidents have done. Hes done this with an unprecedented degree of frequency, and with extreme rationales for the steps that he has taken, Banks told HuffPost. It conjures comparisons to authoritarian leaders in other parts of the world and other times in our history. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats and even some libertarian-leaning Republicans have criticized Trumps use of emergency powers. Its a really a bad way to run a country, because what happens when we get, you know, Bernie Sanders or Karl Marx or whoever the Democrats put forward? What if they become president? And use emergencies to, you know, say no more gasoline or no more gasoline-powered cars, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said earlier this year. Trump threatened to take over the D.C. government during the presidential campaign last year, but his interest in actually doing so seems to have escalated with the recent carjacking assault on a staffer from the so-called Department of Government Efficiency. Some political analysts and Democrats also have speculated that Trump wants to distract from his administrations refusal to release files related to the late sexual predator and former Trump friend Jeffrey Epstein. Speaking in the White House briefing room, Trump painted an apocalyptic portrait of the nations capital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people, and were not going to let it happen anymore, Trump said. Were not going to take it, just like we did on our southern border. While violent crime is more prevalent throughout the city than anyone would like, recent statistics suggest its been getting better, not worse, after spiking in 2023. Data from the Metropolitan Police Department shows violent crime declined 35% in 2024 and fell a further 26% so far this year. Its an order of magnitude lower than during the crack epidemic of the early 1990s. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who is prone to wild overstatement, promised that crime would stop altogether as a result of the presidents actions. Crime in D.C. is ending and ending today, Bondi said. D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb called Trumps takeover of city police unprecedented, unnecessary and unlawful. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no crime emergency in the District of Columbia, Schwalb wrote in a social media post. Violent crime in DC reached historic 30-year lows last year, and is down another 26% so far this year. Its hardly the first time a Republican has intervened in city affairs, which they can do as a result of the citys constitutional status as a federal enclave. Republicans have prevented the city from regulating marijuana businesses, for instance, and earlier this year nixed a billion dollars from the citys budget for essentially no reason. In response to the murder of a Republican Senate staffer in the early 1990s, Congress forced the city to hold a referendum on the death penalty, which was ultimately defeated. In the event of a declared emergency, the D.C. Home Rule Act gives the president such services of the Metropolitan Police force as the President may deem necessary and appropriate, with the services continuing only as long as the emergency itself or for 30 days after the services are first provided. Trump said there would be National Guard troops coming to town and that hed already ordered hundreds of federal law enforcement officers, including FBI agents, to hit the streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an emergency. This is a tragic emergency, and its embarrassing for me to be up here, you know, Im going to see Putin. Im going to Russia on Friday, Trump said, referring to an upcoming meeting in Alaska with Russian President Vladimir Putin. I dont like being up here talking about how unsafe and how dirty and disgusting this once-beautiful capital was with graffiti all over the walls. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) accused Trump of trying to change the subject from Epstein. His idea of federalizing the police force ignores the reality. They are making dramatic progress reducing violent crime in D.C., Durbin said. President Donald Trump announced Monday he was temporarily putting the Washington, D.C. police department under federal control and deploying the National Guard on the streets of the nation's capitol, a striking move taken over the objections of local leaders, who say Trump is exaggerating the city's crime problems. Trump said he declared a public safety emergency and invoked section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which gives the President of the United States the authority to commandeer DC's Police Department in conditions of an emergency nature. Attorney General Pam Bondi is now in charge of the Metropolitan Police Department, he said. "It's time for dramatic action," Trump said at a press conference that stretched to over an hour as he took questions on a wide range of topics. He did not specify how long the federal takeover of D.C. would last, though the executive order signed on Monday declared the Administration would take over D.C. law enforcement for the maximum period permitted under the Home Rule Act, which is up to 30 days unless Congress authorizes an extension. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump is launching a rare expansion of presidential authority over local government, and said he would not stop with the nations capital. In addition to Washington, Trump also mentioned other major cities where he wants to put police under federal control, including New York City, Baltimore, and Oakland. They're so far gone," Trump said. This will go further. Were starting very strongly with D.C." In recent days, Trump has deployed federal officers from the U.S. Park Police, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the U.S. Marshals Service on night patrols in D.C., according to ATFs X account. On Monday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested "other" specialized units will be deployed in Washington, D.C., at Trump's direction. You will see them flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week, Hegseth said, without specifying how many. Trump added that he is prepared to send the military into D.C. if needed, a move some critics warn may be a prelude to the President declaring martial law, which involves military rule over a civilian population in times of crisis or emergency. Trump on Monday declared a public safety emergency in D.C., even though violent crime in the city is at a 30-year-low, and said that 800 National Guard members will soon be stationed in the city. Trump's deployment of the National Guard in Washington, D.C. is a rare use of military forces on U.S. soil and a potential violation of the Posse Comitatus Act that restricts the military from being used as a police force for domestic law enforcement. During racial justice protests in June 2020, Trump sent uniformed National Guard troops to Lafayette Park in front of the White House to help clear the park of protestors. Earlier this summer, Trump ordered nearly 5,000 National Guard troops to the Los Angeles area to quell immigration protests and protect federal agents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crime in D.C. is down 7% so far in 2025 compared to the year before, and down significantly more from a recent peak in 2023, according to city police data. Violent crime, in particular, is down by 26%, while property crime is down 4%. In 2024, crime in D.C. was down 15% compared to the year before. But Trump has long painted a different picture, with the President describing Washington as one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World in a post on Truth Social Saturday. On Sunday, Trump wrote, Im going to make our Capital safer and more beautiful than it ever was before. The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. Read more: The Secret Presidential Crisis Powers Trump Could Deploy in a Second Term Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called the Presidents police takeover unsettling and unprecedented but added that she isn't totally surprised by the move. I think I speak for all Americanswe don't believe it's legal to use the American military against American citizens on American soil, Bowser said at a press conference after Trumps declaration. On MSNBC on Sunday, she said that Trumps statements comparing the capital to a war-torn country are hyperbolic and false. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, the D.C. council warned that the National Guard has no public safety training or knowledge of local laws, and that its role does not include investigating or solving crimes. Calling out the National Guard is an unnecessary deployment with no real mission, the statement said, referring to Trumps move as a manufactured intrusion on local authority. Trumps takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department comes four years after the departments officers were violently attacked by Trump supporters on Jan. 6, 2021. More than 140 police officers were injured during the seven hours that a mob laid siege to the Capitol demanding Congress overturn the results of the 2020 election. When Trump took office, he pardoned many rioters who had been convicted of assaulting D.C. police officers defending the Capitol building and lawmakers inside. Since Washington, D.C. does not have statehood, the President of the United States has broad leeway to deploy the National Guard. Democrats have often criticized Trump for not calling the National Guard to stop the violent attacks on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump has claimed without evidence that he did authorize sending the National Guard to the Capitol that day. Soon after Trumps announcement on Monday, several hundred people had gathered outside the White House to protest Trumps plans to take federal control of the police department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bowser, said on MSNBC on Sunday that Trumps statements comparing the capital to a war-torn country are hyperbolic and false. According to city police data, violent crime in D.C. is down by 26% so far in 2025 compared to the year before. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the New York Democrat and minority leader, excoriated Trumps move on social media. "Violent crime in Washington, D.C. is at a thirty-year low," he wrote. "Donald Trump has no basis to take over the local police department. And zero credibility on the issue of law and order. Get lost." Several Democrats on Monday said they would introduce legislation to address Trumps announcement, including one measure by D.C.s non-voting delegate Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton and Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen that would repeal the presidents authority to take temporary control of the D.C police and give the citys mayor authority over the D.C. National Guard. The measure faces an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled Congress. Trumps focus on public safety in the capital comes after former U.S. DOGE Service software engineer Edward Coristine, who is known by the nickname Big Balls, was injured during an alleged carjacking in DC early in the morning on Aug. 3. Two 15-year-old suspects were arrested in connection to the incident. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., said that she wants to change the law so that early teens can be prosecuted as adults, claiming that juvenile offenders face little consequences in D.C., where the prosecution of juveniles is handled by the locally elected attorney general. I can't touch you if you're 14, 15, 16, 17 years old and you have a gun, she said. They go to family court and they get to do yoga and arts and crafts. Enough. It changes today. Write to Nik Popli at nik.popli@time.com. US President Donald Trump said on Monday he wants to deploy the National Guard in Washington due to allegedly rampant crime in the US capital. Trump said that the city's police should be placed under federal control. Initially, 800 National Guardsmen are to be deployed, and he said he would mobilize more forces if necessary. The aim is to restore public safety. There is no evidence for Trump's claims that the situation in the capital is out of control, and a look at the crime statistics shows a decline in reported offences. Police and prosecutors contradict Trump's portrayal According to the local police, the number of violent crimes fell by a good quarter by early August this year compared to the previous year. The total number of all offences decreased by 7%. Also, between 2023 and 2024, the number of reported crimes fell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The District of Columbia's prosecutor's office referred to 2024 as the year with the lowest rate of violent crimes in 30 years. For weeks, Trump has been agitating against the homeless and criminals in the capital. "The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY," Trump wrote on his social media site Truth Social late on Sunday, posting photos showing tents and litter along the roadside. "We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you don't have to move out. We're going to put you in jail where you belong." Not first time National Guard deployed on Trump's orders This is not the first time Trump has deployed the National Guard in a city. In June, the US President deployed a total of 4,000 National Guardsmen and 700 Marines from the regular armed forces in the Los Angeles area. Most of them have since been recalled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The reason for the LA deployment was massive protests against the security forces from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The proportionality of the deployment is currently being contested in court. The National Guard is a military reserve unit and part of the US armed forces. The states usually have control over the National Guard. In the event of war or national emergencies, the US president can take command. The National Guard is a military reserve unit and part of the US armed forces. It can be deployed in natural disasters, unrest and domestic emergencies. According to previous reports, the US has more than 325,000 National Guardsmen. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he would take control of the police force in Washington, D.C. and deploy 800 National Guard troops to quell crime and remove homeless encampments in the city. Flanked by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Attorney General Pam Bondi, Trump said he was deploying troops to help reestablish law, order and public safety in the nations capital, which he claimed had been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals." It comes just months after federal officials announced that violent crime in the city hit a 30-year low. The move is the latest in a string of military deployments on home soil by Trump that experts say represents a marked departure from his predecessors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It comes just two months after Trump deployed Californias National Guard to quell protests in Los Angeles over his immigration policies, after the protests had largely died down. Read more: This Will Go Further: Trump Puts D.C. Police Under His Control and Deploys National Guard William Banks, professor of law at Syracuse University and an expert on the role of the military in domestic affairs, says Trump's move is likely intended as a symbolic show of power, especially after a former DOGE staffers assault in the city caught his attention. Symbolism has always been very important to Trump, Banks tells TIME. Trump wants to clean the city up. He wants to make it look like the White House lawn. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Banks adds that the United States has always been unique in its allocation of law enforcement to civilians and its general refusal to use the military on its own citizens. The [British] soldiers in the colonies ransacked people's homes, arrested people without cause, beat people up, stole their papers, [and] violated their privacy, so by the time of revolution and then the Constitution, we didn't have a good feeling about the presence of soldiers on our streets, Banks says. We want our members of our community, our neighbors, people that we know and recognize, in civilian uniform. Banks acknowledges that the Constitution recognizes there may be exceptional circumstances where a military presence is required domestically, but that Presidents prior to Trump did so more sparingly. He points to what he calls rights-promoting deployments of the National Guard, including by Lyndon B. Johnson to desegregate schools in Alabama and Mississippi. Though Trump focused on D.C., he also hinted that the capital city is just the beginning, mentioning New York City, Baltimore, and Oaklandcities in which he has much less jurisdiction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This will go further, Trump said. We are starting strongly with D.C. Here is where Trump has chosen to deploy federal troops during his two terms. Along the border During Trumps first term, he deployed the National Guard to the U.S.-Mexico border in a bid to cut down on illegal immigration. Trumps first term, much like his second, was defined by his aggressive immigration tactics. At the time, Trumps proclamation justified his deployment of troops by pointing to a surge of apprehensions at the border, while critics said that overall border crossings were at historic lows. This deployment of the National Guard at the border continued during his second term. In May of this year, thousands of National Guard troops were deployed to the Southern Border, escalating his crackdown on immigration. National Defense Areas were established in New Mexico and Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Importantly, federal troops have been deployed at the border during previous Administrations, specifically to aid Border Patrol. Trumps expansion of military zones along the U.S. border, though, has empowered the military to further act as a law enforcement body, detaining and searching those who they consider as trespassing in these defense areas. Typically, the President would need Congressional approval for defense areas and the creation of essentially a 170-mile military installation, but the Presidents Day One declaration of a national emergency on the southern border in an Executive Order allowed him to sidestep this formalization. Black Lives Matter protests, 2020 In May 2020, protests broke out across the country in response to the murder of George Floyd by a police officer. The protests marked one of the largest protest movements in U.S. history, with estimates of as many as 26 million people participating in the call for racial justice. Tens of thousands of National Guard troops in over half of U.S. states were activated by state governors to deal with the Black Lives Matter protests, but Trump also used his own powers to deal with the unrest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In August 2020, Trump deployed federal forces to Kenosha, Wisconsin, to quell protests in the aftermath of the shooting of Jacob Blake by a police officer. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also sent hundreds of federal officers to Portland, Oregon, to handle protests, with some reports, including one from the ACLU, claiming that these federal agents grabbed protestors off the streets in unmarked vehicles. Tactical teams of the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) were also sent to Seattle, Washington, though push back by former Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and former Mayor Jenny Durkan eventually led to their withdrawal. In D.C., though, Trump, acting as Commander-in-Chief, deployed National Guard members from several states, despite public criticism from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser. Trumps National Guard in D.C. also notoriously utilized tear-gas and rubber bullets against these Black Lives Matter protestors to disperse the demonstration and make room for a photo-op at St. John's Episcopal Church, which had been vandalized the night before during protests with a fire in the basement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eventually, Trump threatened to utilize the Insurrection Act to deploy military forces to suppress the protests, calling the protestors terrorists. Here, though, the Pentagon publicly broke from Trump, as Defense Secretary Mark Esper said he would prefer to not use active duty military on protests analyzed to have been mostly peaceful. Banks notes that Trump, as Commander-in-Chief of D.C., has more authority here than in the states, but adds one of the ironies is that in one of the few instances where there really was a violent disturbance inside the districtJanuary 6, [2021][Trump] did nothing. He continued, stating that if Trump had deployed the National Guard during the Jan. 6 insurrection, they could have stopped the Capitol rioting in 30 minutes. Los Angeles, June 2025 President Trump deployed the California National Guard and the Marines in June this year, ostensibly to quell protests in Los Angeles against Trumps aggressive immigration policies and the intense escalation of deportations in the interior by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. Trumps deployment of the National Guard came with a Presidential Memorandum that invoked Title 10, Section 12406 of the U.S. Code, which allows for the federal deployment of National Guard forces in limited circumstances, including if there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When deployed, however, the National Guard was tasked with protecting ICE agents and federal property, and troops were not authorized to perform any law enforcement activities. Trump was criticized for the move, with California Gov. Gavin Newsom calling the deployment purposefully inflammatory and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Southern California describing it as akin to a declaration of war on all Californians. Currently, only 300 of the 5,000 troops deployed remain in Los Angeles, as a trial begins over the legality of Trumps deployment in the first place. A California federal judge is to rule whether Trumps use of the troops violates the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits the use of the military in domestic law enforcement. Contact us at letters@time.com. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump announced he would deploy the National Guard to Washington, D.C., following through with recent threats to take federal control of the nations capital after recent upticks in youth crime. Addressing reporters from the White House briefing room on Monday morning, Trump said he would invoke Section 740 of Washingtons Home Rule Act allowing the president to take emergency control of D.C. police for 48 hours, which can then be extended to 30 days once Congress is notified. In doing so, the Metropolitan Police Department will be placed under federal control as Trump attempts to crack down on recent reports of juvenile crime. Somethings out of control, but were going to put it in control very quickly, Trump said. You want to have safety in the streets. You want to be able to leave your apartment or your house where you live and feel safe in going to a store to buy a newspaper or buy something, and you dont have that now. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Section 740 would allow Trump to use the MPD for federal purposes until the expiration of such emergency or when Congress passes a law with a specific date, meaning lawmakers would need to authorize an extension past 30 days. Trump suggested that Congress, currently controlled by Republicans, would pass a law to strengthen federal statutes to crack down on crime while accusing Democrats of being weak on crime. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listens as President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington. | Mark Schiefelbein The National Guard will be deployed to D.C. sometime within the next week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Monday. Trump also announced that his administration would begin removing homeless people from their encampments across the city and taking them elsewhere, although its not entirely clear where they will go. Were going to be removing homeless encampments from all over our parks, our beautiful, beautiful parks, which now a lot of people cant walk on, theyd be very, very dirty, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several Republican lawmakers, including Utah Sen. Mike Lee, have repeatedly threatened to take control of Washington, D.C., and place it completely under federal jurisdiction. Those calls were revamped last week after a prominent ex-member of the Department of Government Efficiency was assaulted by teenagers earlier this month. Lee has used that assault to push for a vote on his BOWSER Act that would repeal Washingtons self-governance. This attack on a young man who came to Washington to help fix Americas government is simply the latest outrage in a series of assaults and murders that have made our nations capital a national embarrassment, Lee told the Deseret News in a statement last week. We should pass my BOWSER Act, which revokes DC Home Rule, as well as bills preventing the DC Council from avoiding accountability through secret meetings. I will be working with my GOP colleagues and President Trump on every avenue possible to restore a safe, clean Washington Americans can be proud of. President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington. | Alex Brandon Lee praised Trumps decision in a post on X, thanking the president for addressing the lawlessness in DC and attaching the hashtag: #FederalizeDC. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thank you, President Trump, for addressing the lawlessness in DC#FederalizeDC. Utah Sen. John Curtis similarly approved the decision, telling the Deseret News in a statement that D.C. should be a place where every American feels safe and welcome. Sadly, during my time in office, Ive seen growing violence and a troubling decline in public safety for both my staff and visitors, Curtis said. Im hopeful that new measures will help restore safety, respect, and accountability building a community where families can thrive and everyone can walk its streets without fear." Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old famously known for his role with DOGE, was attacked by a group of 10 juveniles in an attempted carjacking on Aug. 3, according to a D.C. police report obtained by the Deseret News. Police officers who observed the attack attempted to chase the juveniles and managed to arrest two 15-year-old suspects, both of whom reside in Maryland, according to police. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump posted about the attack on Tuesday, sharing a photo that showed a bloodied Coristine lying in the street, seemingly after the attack. The president decried the incident and called for a change in city law to charge minors as adults in cases of assault. The latest threats highlight an ongoing challenge for D.C. officials, who have been working for months to crack down on rising rates of youth crime. Since the beginning of 2025, juveniles have made up more than 50% of arrests related to carjacking, according to D.C. police. A majority of those arrests are made up of teens who are 15 and 16 years old. Trump specifically named the D.C. neighborhood of Navy Yard in his announcement to federalize D.C. law enforcement. The MPD announced on Sunday evening it would establish a juvenile curfew zone in Navy Yard this week as it continues to crack down on youth crime. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has acknowledged the recent trends, even going so far as to create a special police unit in April tasked with responding to juvenile crime. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, crime rates in the city overall have gone down over the last year, according to statistics from the MPD. Violent crime, for example, has decreased by 26% compared to this time last year. Local lawmakers have pushed back against Republicans efforts to take over D.C., accusing Trump of wanting to disenfranchise the city instead calling for statehood for the district. Even if crime in D.C. werent at a historic low point, President Trumps comments would be misguided and offensive to the more than 700,000 people who live permanently in the nations capital, Eleanor Norton, a nonvoting member who represents D.C. in Congress, said in a statement. D.C. residents, a majority of whom are Black and brown, are worthy and capable of governing themselves without interference from federal officials who are unaccountable to D.C. Democrats in Congress denounced Trumps move to federalize the D.C. police, calling it a ploy to distract from his policies and the ongoing drama surrounding Jeffrey Epstein. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On January 6, rioters attacked the U.S. Capitol and assaulted the police while Trump stalled on calling the National Guard. Now, when a former DOGE staffer is assaulted, he suddenly scrambles to call in the Guard and even tries to federalize local police, Rep. Glenn Ivey, D-Md., said in a statement. This is not about public safety. Crime is down in DC. Its a desperate attempt to distract from the Epstein files and yet another unprecedented and dangerous misuse of our military. Rep. Jamie Raskin, the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, told Axios he would introduce a resolution later this week to end Trumps emergency order although its unlikely to pass in a Republican-controlled Congress. President Donald Trump said he was deploying the National Guard to Washington DC and taking control of the city's police force as he pledged to crack down on crime and homelessness in the city. Trump declared a "public safety emergency" on Monday, deploying 800 National Guard troops to bolster hundreds of federal law enforcement officers who were deployed over the weekend. "It's becoming a situation of complete and total lawlessness," he told reporters at the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The city's Mayor Muriel Bowser has rejected the president's claims about crime, and while there was a spike in 2023, statistics show it has fallen since then. Violent crime in the city is also at a 30-year low. "I'm announcing a historic action to rescue our nation's capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor and worse," Trump said during a news conference in which he was flanked by US Attorney General Pam Bondi, who will lead the city's police force while it is under federal control. "This is liberation day in DC, and we're going to take our capital back," he said. Trump said Washington DC had been "taken over by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals" as well as "drugged out maniacs and homeless people". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to data from the city's Metropolitan Police Department, homicides dropped by 32% between 2023 and 2024 and reached their lowest level since 2019. There has been another substantial drop this year of 12%, the data shows. Mayor Bowser, a Democrat, acknowledged there had been a "terrible" spike in crime in 2023, which mirrored a national trend, but she pushed back against any claims of a crimewave in the city. "We are not experiencing a crime spike," she told MSNBC on Sunday. "The president is very aware of our efforts." When asked about White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller's comment that Washington is more violent than Baghdad, Bowser said "any comparison to a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false". [BBC] Democratic House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also criticised Trump's move and said it had "no basis in law". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The Trump administration has consistently broken the law and violated the Constitution to further the personal and political agenda of a wannabe king," Jeffries said. "Meanwhile, Donald Trump and cowardly Republicans have done nothing to make life more affordable for everyday Americans." Of the 800 National Guard troops who will be activated, between 100-200 will be deployed and supporting law enforcement at any given time, the army said in a statement. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the National Guardsmen would arrive by the end of the week. As well as that deployment, Trump said he would place the city's police department under direct federal control using the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That act was instituted by former President Richard Nixon to allow residents of Washington DC - which is the only US city that is not in any of the 50 states - to elect a city council and a mayor. But it also has a caveat that allows the president to take control of the city's police force if "special conditions of an emergency nature exist". If the president intends to take control for longer than 48 hours, they need to provide a written notice to Congress. And even if that notice is provided, they cannot keep control of the police for longer than 30 days. On Sunday, when asked about the possibility of the president taking control of the city's police department, Mayor Bowser said: "There are very specific things in our law that would allow [that]. None of those conditions exist in our city right now." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She said she was "concerned" about the National Guard enforcing local laws. Bowser gave a news conference later on Monday in which she said the president's order was "unsettling and unprecedented". She said Trump's view of the city had been "shaped by his Covid-view experience during his first term", which she acknowledged was "challenging times" for the district. "It's true we experienced a crime spike post-Covid," she said. "We worked quickly to put laws in place that got violent offenders off our streets," she added. "We have seen a huge decrease in crime because of those efforts." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As well as crime, Trump also spoke at length about homelessness in Washington DC. "We're getting rid of the slums," he said, without giving further details. He said homeless people would be sent elsewhere but did not say where. Trump added that "everything should be perfect" when dignitaries and foreign leaders visit the city. "It's a very strong reflection of our country," he said. "If our capital is dirty, our whole country is dirty and they don't respect us." Local groups working with homeless people in the capital told the BBC they had actually seen progress in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Homelessness is down almost 20% for individuals in Washington DC in 2025 compared to five years ago, said Ralph Boyd, the president and chief executive of So Others Might Eat (SOME) - a group that provides people in the city with housing, clothing and other social services. He also said Trump's proposal to move people out of the city was not a long-term solution. "All it will do is transfer the problem somewhere else into communities that are perhaps less equipped to deal with it than we are," Boyd said. Meanwhile, outside the White House, protesters concerned about Trump's actions gathered and chanted "hands off DC" and "protect home rule". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Trump does not care about DC's safety, he cares about control," a speaker at the event said. The president's actions follow a series of social media posts in recent days in which he has criticised the running of Washington DC. Trump has long complained about the city's Democratic leadership for their handling of crime and homelessness. He has also expressed concern for a former employee of the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge) who was attacked in the city last week. During Monday's press conference, Trump said the employee was "savagely beaten by a band of roaming thugs" and was "left dripping in blood". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He also mentioned other federal government employees and elected officials who have been attacked, including a Democratic lawmaker and an intern. "This is a threat to America," Trump said. The first time Trump deployed the National Guard was in June, when he ordered 2,000 National Guardsmen to Los Angeles to deal with unrest over raids on undocumented migrants. The last time the National Guard was deployed to Washington DC was in response to the Capitol riot in 2021. With additional reporting from Madeline Halpert President Donald Trump continued to support Sen. Lindsey Grahams (R-S.C.) reelection bid through a phone call during his state GOPs gala though some in MAGA world arent buying it. Former South Carolina Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer (R) announced his primary challenge to Graham earlier last month, arguing that he doesnt believe the four-term senator is a true conservative for South Carolina. Paul Dans, a former key architect of The Heritage Foundations Project 2025, has also jumped into the race. Graham, whose relationship with Trump has soured over the years, received the presidents Complete and Total endorsement for reelection earlier this year. Trump reiterated his support as Graham held up his phone to the microphone on Saturday for the audience to hear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lindsey, thank you so much, youve been my friend. I know youre in a big race, and I dont think its going to be a contest, but I have a feeling youre going to do very well. You have for a long time, Trump said at the event during remarks posted by Graham on X on Saturday. And Lindsey Graham, just so you know, full endorsement. Trumps full endorsement. Hes a great guy. Every time I needed him, he was there for me, he continued. Thank you for your surprise call, Mr. President! With your support, Ill keep delivering the America First agenda to the great people of South Carolina. Im glad to have been part of the most awesome six months in modern history led by President @realDonaldTrump. pic.twitter.com/zhJQ9JlSHp Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) August 10, 2025 Meanwhile, a band of MAGA faithful did not appear content with the presidents backing of Graham. Nobody cares, were still supporting your primary opponent, columnist Dustin Grage wrote in response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Another user said: Primaries are coming and we dont care what the boss thinks on this one. F--- off lindsey we all hate you regardless of trump hes going off the rails supporting sh--bags like you dog a-- sniffer, a different user posted. Fuck off lindsey we all hate you regardless of trump hes going off the rails supporting shitbags like you dog ass sniffer https://t.co/CqDwydxNAF pic.twitter.com/xuX6wRdvCu The American (@ronrenaud6) August 10, 2025 Someone also added, I love our President, but I think this guy is his biggest blindspot (and we all have them). Look at this sh--! Im liking Trump less and less! one user said. Other users asked how Trumps endorsement has not picked up the full condemnation from MAGA. Im sorry, but I just dont get how people can hate the neocons and RINOs and support Trumps bullish-- endorsements that protect them. How is this not an issue for the MAGA people? Melissa Blasek, a former New Hampshire state lawmaker (R), asked. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One user said: The betrayals of MAGA and conservatives will continue until MAGA decides to grow a spine and stand up for themselves. Dans, one of Grahams challengers, had attended the event, according to Fox News, and responded to Trumps repeated endorsement. Lindsey Grahams terrifiedhis Senate seats at risk against me, his toughest challenger yet. After 32 years of broken term-limit promises, hes done. Clinging to President Trump wont save him from SCs America First Patriots who see his grift," his campaign account wrote, adding the hashtags #LindseyPanic and #PrezTrumpPlsHelpMe. Graham has recently sparked the ire of some in Trumps base after he took a recent trip to Ukraine and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The White House has to condemn this immediately and pull all support and tell Lindsey Graham to come home or we are going to put you under arrest when you come home. Youre stirring it up, former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon said on his War Room podcast in June. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Almost 250 years ago, on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence proclaimed the United States an independent country. Having rid themselves of a king, the revolutionaries established a republican government that derived its authority from the consent of the governed. Today, as we approach the Declaration of Independences semiquincentennial, Donald Trump and his allies claim the Revolution for themselves. They have made fealty to the American Revolution part of their culture war against woke progressivism. The Revolution has become a pawn in Trumps politics of retribution against the countrys supposed cultural enemies. Trump and his allies claim to be patriots while regularly violating the principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence and undermining the government established by our Constitution. Trumps actions since his reelection have all but destroyed the republic the founding generation fought to establish two and a half centuries ago. Those of us who still believe in the ideals of the Revolution need to reclaim it from Trumpian pretenders. We need to remember not just the revolutionary generations principles but also the courage they exhibited when they stood up to tyranny. Today, allegiance to the Revolution requires being willing to do what is necessary to stop Trumps authoritarian coup and to restore constitutional governance. According to Trump, the American Revolution is fragile. Beleaguered by its enemies, a revolution in the name of popular self-government now needs a strongman to protect it from a concerted and widespread effort by progressive historians to rewrite our Nations history, replacing objective facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth, in the words of Trumps March 27, 2025, executive order, Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History. Trump sayswith no apparent sense of irony, given his earlier statement, I have the right to do whatever I want as presidentthat the American Revolution stands for liberty, individual rights, and human happiness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps executive orders on history reflect the ideas expressed in the Heritage Foundations Project 2025, according to which the United States is divided between two opposing forces: woke revolutionaries and those who believe in the ideals of the American revolution. To the radicals at Heritage, we are in a civil war that, according to the organizations president, Kevin Roberts, requires real Americans to take back our country, even, it seems, if that means violating the very ideals that they supposedly support. For Trump, Roberts, and their allies, the actual principles of the Revolution matter less than its capacity to signify tribal loyalty by distinguishing real Americans from domestic enemies. Trump conflates respect for the Revolution with loyalty to him. The gross spectacle of Trump hosting a military parade on his birthdayas do kings and dictatorsand connecting it to the birth of the Continental Army illustrates all too well that he seeks to legitimize his own rule by wrapping himself in the Revolution. Trump has found accomplices for his abuse of history at Hillsdale College in Michigan. Hillsdale Colleges president, political scientist Larry Arnn, chaired the Presidents 1776 Commission, the White Houses official response to The New York Times 1619 Project. Now the White House is working with Hillsdale to offer videos that provide the administrations official take on the Declaration of Independences 250th anniversary. The first video, available on the White House website, is chock-full of reverence, not just for the Revolution but for Trump himself. Trump, Arnn proclaims, wants to celebrate the declarations 250th anniversary with an open heart. Arnn then obsequiously praises Trumps use of the word again, coyly referring to Trumps famous slogan. According to Arnn, Trump is restoring the country (again) to its founding principles. Arnn thus compares Trump to Lincoln, who in a prior time of crisis asked Americans to remember their deepest values. Turning to the declaration, Arnn calls it beautiful, grand and eternal and eloquent, while lush background music overwhelms the viewer with emotion. It is as if the Hillsdale keepers of the past think the Revolution can be approached only by groveling and puerile storytelling. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The American Revolution is worthy of our admiration because it is built of sturdier stuff. It does not matter whether conservative ideals and policies are good or bad, popular or unpopular, if they are imposed on Americans unlawfully and arbitrarily. A free society is ruled by law. Democratic politics require persuasion, not coercion. Conservative defenders of the Revolution like those at Hillsdale ask Americans to worship the Revolution while they desecrate it. They condemn progressive critics while engaging in their own form of iconoclasm. They refuse to admit what common sense cannot deny: Given Trumps lawlessness, we no longer have a legitimate government. A close reading of the Declaration of Independence demonstrates that if the Founders were alive today, they would probably be doing all they could to remove Trump from office. The declaration affirms that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. It then turns to the origins and purpose of legitimate governments: to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. The heart of the declaration, however, is devoted to a third point, one all too relevant today: how and when governments lose their legitimate authority. Governments are not dissolved for light and transient causes but only when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism. If the evidence all points in the same direction, then the people can and must act to defend their liberties. Thats why the rest of the declarationthe bulk of the textlaid out the kings long train of abuses and usurpations to demonstrate that he sought the establishment of an absolute Tyranny. A large number of the grievances concern the right of the Colonial legislatures to meet and consent to laws and taxation. To our Founders, there was a causal relationship between legislative consent and liberty. Today, we often think freedom is the ability to do what one wants. To our Founders, in contrast, freedom was a collective possession, not a private one. Freedom was only possible in a free state in which the people or their representatives actively made the rules that govern their shared life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The primary goal of the declaration, then, was to prove to a candid world that the king of Great Britain had continuously and regularly placed his will above the law by bypassing the constitutional authority of the Colonial legislatures and violating English liberties. As a result, the colonists were absolved of their allegiance to him. The declaration thus concludes, a Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people. By disregarding Congress and repeatedly violating laws, Trump has produced a revolutionary crisis much like the one the colonists faced 250 years ago. He, too, is unfit to rule over a free people. We are thus in a much more serious situation than many politicians or journalists will admit: The scale of Trumps crimes against American liberties rival those of king and Parliament in the 1770s. Trumps violations of the Constitution are too long to list here, but among them are illegally suspending laws and violating court orders. He has sought to dominate the other two branches of government by encouraging extralegal violence against legislators, judges, and their families. He has weaponized the Justice Department to go after his political enemies. He threatens the media, universities, and other civil society institutions that dare to question his edicts. Indeed, he seeks to destroy any person or institution that checks his will. He has transported innocent people beyond seas without due process. Trump is now seeking to turn local police against the communities they are supposed to serve and has placed armed troops among us. He has used his office to enrich himself at the publics expense. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Taken together, Trumps actions, enabled by the Republican Party, have brought about, as former federal Judge J. Michael Luttig wrote in The Atlantic, the end of rule of law in America. Drawing on the ideas of John Locke in his Second Treatise of Government, Americas Founding Fathers believed that when an executive no longer upholds the rule of law, he loses constitutional authority. In the 1770s, Americans applied Lockes ideas to the kings actions. We must do the same today, no matter how frightening. By so blatantly violating his oath to faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States and to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, Trump is no longer a constitutional president. In Lockes framework, he is a private personjust like a thieffrom whom the people have the right to protect themselves. Trumps lawless actions must be stopped before it is too late to save our republic. We may need the courage the patriots mustered 250 years ago. As the colonists proved, the people can resist even the most powerful of tyrants. And they are. On the streets, ordinary Americans are gathering and carrying signs proclaiming No Kings In America Since 1776. They demand that we live in a society governed by laws rather than by men. They are true patriots. Trump and his allies distort the past to convince their followers that respecting the American Revolution is somehow compatible with supporting a tyrant. They want to turn the Revolution into a symbol for tribal loyalty, but the Revolution belongs to all Americans. The United States was born from a revolt against lawless tyranny and arbitrary power. Today, future generations of Americans are counting on us to protect the republic. Like those who sacrificed so much to secure our freedom two and a half centuries ago, once again we Americans must pledge our sacred honor to uphold the legacy of the American Revolution from those who invoke it only to betray it. The News President Donald Trump is engaging the US military and federal law enforcement on multiple new fronts as a legal challenge to his deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles keeps moving ahead. Trump told reporters Monday that he would invoke a provision of the DC Home Rule Act that allows him to put the citys police department under direct federal control. The president also announced he would deploy the National Guard to the nations capital, days after federal law enforcement agencies stepped up their presence. That follows reports on Friday that hes ordered the Pentagon to draw up plans for using military force against drug cartels in Latin America making good on a long list of public promises and early moves that pointed in that direction. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Politically speaking, Trumps actions against the cartels and in DC share a common theme: his desire to replicate his stringent policies at the southern border, where about 8,500 members of the military were assisting with security operations as of last month. Were going to put it in control very quickly, just like we did on the southern border, Trump told reporters on Monday, referring to his latest military push in DC aimed at combatting crime. Were starting very strongly with DC, and were going to clean it up real quick, very quickly, as they say, he added. Separately, Trumps National Guard deployment in California to respond to protests against escalating immigration raids largely wound down in late July but has prompted a lawsuit from Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom thats scheduled to come before a federal judge on Monday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly told Semafor that Trumps top priority is protecting the homeland, adding that designating various cartels and gangs as foreign terrorist organizations plays into that priority. The White House declined to comment further on the multi-front escalation of military and law enforcement. Know More Trumps movement of military and federal law enforcement personnel into DC, citing a need to crack down on crime after an assault on a former Department of Government Efficiency staffer, is just the latest criticism hes aimed at Democratic-run cities for what he views as a failure to appropriately police their own streets. He openly mused at a campaign rally last year about a possible attempt to assert federal control over the capital, and he raised the topic again at a Cabinet meeting last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US military action against cartels is another topic Trump openly discussed on the campaign trail. He also entertained it during his first term, when he wondered privately about the idea of launching missiles into Mexico to destroy drug labs, as then-Defense Secretary Mark Esper revealed in a memoir. The drug cartels are waging war on America, and its now time for America to wage war on the cartels, Trump said in a 2023 Truth Social video decrying the Biden administrations border policy. He added that his policy as president would be to dismantle cartels just as we took down ISIS in the Middle East. On his first day in office, Trump signed an order that groups involved in transnational drug trade be formally designated as terrorists. The Venezuela-based Tren de Aragua and Mexico-based Sinaloa cartel were designated in February, and the Venezuela-based Cartel de los Soles was sanctioned as a terrorist group late last month. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cartel de los Soles, according to the Treasury Department, is headed by Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan leader, whom the Trump administration this week boosted the bounty on to a record $50 million. For Trumps allies, his potential use of military resources to combat the cartels are part of what one person close to the White House called a drive to protect our sovereignty. Theres obviously going to be a narrative that Trump is unleashing his stormtroopers onto the world and yada yada yada, abuse of power, this is him trying to be a dictator, this person added. From our perspective, couldnt be further from the truth in the sense that the president is not going to allow the disarray and the ongoing chaos to continue across our country. A second person close to the White House said the doubling of the bounty on the Venezuelan leader makes clear that the Maduro regime is not a government but a criminal syndicate and terror group, describing the Venezuelan regime as a cartel itself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maduro has denied any role in drug cartel operations, and his foreign minister wrote on Facebook last week that the boosted bounty for his arrest was the most ridiculous smokescreen weve ever seen. A senior State Department official did not directly answer whether the higher bounty on Maduro, coupled with the administrations Pentagon cartels announcement, equates to more robust support for regime change in Venezuela. The Trump admin approach has been consistent, the senior State Department official said. The latest announcement follows Treasurys measure from last month moving to designate Cartel de los Soles as a specially designated global terrorist. The Trump administration did not notify Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about the anti-cartel directive, an aide said, nor were Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee notified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans did not have an immediate comment about the matter. Room for Disagreement Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to Trumps reported anti-cartel directive by, as she did earlier this year, vowing that any US military presence in her country was ruled out. The United States is not going to come to Mexico with the military, she said. We cooperate, we coordinate; but there wont be an invasion. Shelbys view For those who closely followed Trumps rallies and announcements on the campaign trail, none of what hes done in DC or on Latin America policy is a surprise: He ran (successfully) on a law-and-order message, even promising to surge federal prosecutors and the National Guard into high-crime communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Perhaps the most notable aspect of his reported directive on military force against the cartels, in fact, was the relative lack of Democratic criticism in response to it the opposition party appears to see more vulnerability in his tax bill and his approach to the Jeffrey Epstein case. Its yet another example of how emboldened Trump is when it comes to crime and border policy this term. Hes acting on proposals he only mused about when he first got into office. Notable In an expansion of tactics started in June during immigration raids in Los Angeles, President Trump on Monday announced he would take federal control of Washington's police department and activate 800 National Guard troops in the nation's capital to help reestablish law and order. Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people, Trump said at the White House. This is liberation day in D.C., he declared. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, who sent roughly 5,000 Marines and National Guard troops to L.A. in June in a move that was opposed by California Gov. Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, issued an executive order declaring a public safety emergency in D.C. The order invoked Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act that places the Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control. The California governor decried Trump's move in D.C., warning that what happened in L.A. was now taking place across the country. "He was just getting warmed up in Los Angeles," Newsom said on X. "He will gaslight his way into militarizing any city he wants in America. This is what dictators do." Read more: Texas, Florida hit with far more ICE arrests than California. But that's not the whole story Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In his briefing, Trump painted D.C. in dark, apocalyptic terms as a grimy hellhole "of crime, bloodshed, bedlam, squalor and worse." He said he planned to get tough, citing his administration's stringent enforcement on the nation's southern border. Already, Trump said, his administration has begun to remove homeless people from encampments across the city, and he said he planned to target undocumented immigrants, too. He vowed to "restore the city back to the gleaming capital that everybody wants it to be." As the White House noted in a fact sheet Monday, D.C. had a 2024 homicide rate of 27 per 100,000 residents, the nations fourth-highest homicide rate. By comparison, Los Angeles' homicide rate is 7.1 per 100,000 residents. But data also show violent crime has declined significantly in D.C. in recent years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just a few weeks before Trump took office, the Justice Department announced that violent crime in the city was at a 30-year low . Homicides were down 32%, robberies down 39% and armed carjackings down 53% when compared with 2023 levels, according to data collected by the Metropolitan Police Department. In a press conference Monday, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called Trumps deployment of troops unsettling and unprecedented. But she also tried to strike a conciliatory tone with the president, acknowledging he was operating within the letter of the law in her district. Were not a state. We dont control the D.C. National Guard," she told reporters. ... Limited home rule gives the federal government the ability to intrude on our autonomy in many ways. Bowser suggested the president was misinformed about crime in the district, advancing the idea that his views of D.C. were largely shaped by his COVID-era experience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is true that those were more challenging times, Bowser told reporters. It is also true that we experienced a crime spike post-COVID. But we worked quickly to put laws in place and tactics that got violent offenders off our streets and gave our police officers more tools, which is why we have seen a huge decrease in crime. Accountability for gun-related crimes in the district remains an issue of concern, Bowser said, again offering an olive branch to Trump. But she noted that crime in the capital is down to pre-pandemic levels and that violent crime statistics are at 30-year lows. Brian Schwalb, the elected attorney general of the District of Columbia, said in a statement that "there is no crime emergency" in D.C. and the administrations deployment of troops was unprecedented, unnecessary and unlawful. His office refuted the claims of Jeanine Pirro, U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, who said juveniles, or as she put it, "young punks," were too often granted probation or other lenient sentences Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In D.C., the U.S. attorney's office handles all adult felonies and the majority of adult misdemeanors, while Schwalb's office exercises jurisdiction over crimes committed by juveniles and some adult misdemeanors. Since Schwalb took office in January 2023, the office has prosecuted so many juveniles at higher rates that the mayor has had to issue an emergency order creating more space at juvenile detention facilities, according to his office. Last year, the office prosecuted over 90% of homicide and attempted homicide cases, 88% of violent assault cases and 87% of carjacking cases, according to the statement. Ken Lang, a veteran of the Baltimore Police Department and an expert on law enforcement, said that Trump's actions in D.C. could be an effort "to model a new national law enforcement strategy by having federal, state and local agencies better partner together." But because it is a federal district and not a state, he said, D.C. occupies a "unique legal position" under the Home Rule Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oklahoma Mayor David Holt, who is also president of the United States Conference of Mayors, condemned Trump's move as a "takeover," and said "local control is always best." Holt noted that the Trump administration's data specifically, the FBIs national crime rate report released last week shows crime rates dropping in cities across the nation. Trump said the deployment of troops in D.C. should serve as a warning to cities across the nation including Los Angeles. "Hopefully L.A.'s watching, Trump said as he berated Bass and Newsom for their handling of the firestorm that swept through the region in January, destroying thousands of homes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The mayors incompetent and so is Gov. Newscum, Trump said. Hes got a good line of bull, but thats about it. Trump's announcement that he was deploying troops to D.C. comes more than two months after he sparked a major legal battle with California when he sent thousands of troops to Los Angeles. He argued they were necessary to combat what he described as "violent, insurrectionist mobs" as protests broke out in the city against federal immigration raids. But the protests calmed relatively quickly and local officials said they were primarily kept in check by police. The National Guard troops and Marines wound up sparsely deployed in Los Angeles, with some protecting federal buildings and some assisting federal agents as they conducted immigration enforcement operations. Military officials said the troops were restricted to security and crowd control and had no law enforcement authority. Read more: Plummeting ICE arrests in L.A. raise questions about Trump's immigration agenda Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump's deployment of troops to D.C. immediately found its way into the pitched court battle in California over whether his administration violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which bars federalized military from civilian law enforcement. As top U.S. military officials testified before Senior U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer in federal court in San Francisco on Monday, California lawyers quickly maneuvered to get Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths statement into evidence, hoping to bolster their argument that the government had not only knowingly violated the law, but was likely to do so again. Thats one of the tests for injunctive relief, right? Breyer said. Present conduct may be relevant on that issue. In June, Breyer ruled that Trump broke the law when he mobilized thousands of California National Guard members against the states wishes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a 36-page decision, Breyer wrote that Trumps actions were illegal both exceeding the scope of his statutory authority and violating the 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution. But the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals paused that court order, allowing the troops to remain in Los Angeles while the case plays out in federal court. The appellate court found the president had broad, though not unreviewable, authority to deploy the military in American cities. That decision is set to be reviewed by a larger en banc panel of the appellate court. Meanwhile, California continues to fight what it says are illegal uses of the military for civilian law enforcement in Judge Breyers court in San Francisco. 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. US President Donald Trump said Monday he expects to have "constructive conversations" with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and expressed displeasure with Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky for ruling out territorial concessions. The US president has spent the first months of his second term in office trying to broker peace in Ukraine -- after boasting he could end the conflict in 24 hours -- but multiple rounds of talks, phone calls and diplomatic visits have failed to yield a breakthrough. Trump and Putin will hold a summit in Alaska on Friday in a bid halt the conflict, which was triggered by Moscow's February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It will be the first between sitting US and Russian presidents since Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva in June 2021. "I'm going to speak to Vladimir Putin and I'm going to be telling him 'you've got to end this war,'" Trump told a White House press conference, saying that he would "like to see a ceasefire very, very quickly." "I think we'll have constructive conversations," said the president, noting that he would seek out Putin's "parameters" for peace, then call Zelensky and other European leaders right after the meeting. Trump said last week that "there'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both" Ukraine and Russia -- a suggestion Zelensky rejected. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - 'There'll be some swapping' - The Ukrainian president warned Saturday that "decisions without Ukraine" would not bring peace and said his country's people "will not give their land to the occupier." Trump said he was a "little bothered" by Zelensky's stance on territorial concessions, and insisted that land swaps would take place. "There'll be some swapping, there'll be some changes in land," he said. But Trump also stated that he would not make a unilateral agreement: "I'm not going to make a deal, it's not up to me to make a deal," he said, while emphasizing that he thinks "a deal should be made." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Three rounds of negotiations between Russia and Ukraine have failed to bear fruit, and it remains unclear whether the Trump-Putin summit would bring peace any closer. Russian bombardments have forced millions of people to flee their homes and have destroyed swathes of eastern and southern Ukraine, and Putin has resisted multiple calls from the United States, Europe and Kyiv for a ceasefire. Trump said he will know fairly quickly into the talks with Putin whether or not a deal would be coming, and that he may still walk away from trying to broker peace in Ukraine. "I may leave and say good luck and that'll be the end. I may say this is not going to be settled," Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US president said his aim is to bring Putin and Zelensky together, with or without being present himself. "Ultimately I'm going to put the two of them in a room, I'll be there or I won't be there, and I think it'll get solved," Trump said. aue-wd/des President Donald Trump claimed he is going to Russia to meet with leader Vladimir Putin on Fridaybut he is actually going to Alaska. Trump told reporters last week he would be meeting with Putin in Alaska on Friday to discuss an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, but during a press briefing on Monday, he repeatedly claimed he was visiting Russia instead. Its embarrassing. You know, Im going to see Putin. Im going to Russia on Friday," he said during a briefing announcing a federal takeover of Washington, D.C. " I dont like being up here talking about how unsafe and how dirty and disgusting this once beautiful capital was with graffiti all over the walls." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He repeated the claim for the second time later on during the press conference. Were going to Russia. Its going to be a big deal, he said. for the second time this briefing, Trump claims he's "going to Russia" on Friday (he's actually going to Alaska, which is in the United States) pic.twitter.com/jcbGXGwjCx Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 11, 2025 Trump was immediately mocked for his flub on social media. Political commentator Aaron Parnas quipped on social media platform X: Are we giving Alaska back? MeidasTouch simply responded to Trumps claim with question marks. Meanwhile, the PatriotTakes account questioned whether the president was calling the U.S. state Russia instead of Alaska. U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) also jabbed Trump over his claim. Hes going to Russia? This doddering old man has no idea where he is or what hes talking about, Swalwell wrote on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And journalist Jimmy Rushton questioned whether the meeting between Trump and Putin has been relocated. Wait a second; has the Trump-Putin summit location been rearranged or has the Trump administration just announced theyve ceded Alaska to Russia? he wrote on X. Trump said last week his meeting with Putin would come before any sit-down discussion involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr 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 U.S. soil broke with expectations that theyd meet in a third country. The gesture gives Putin validation after the U.S. and its allies had long sought to make him a pariah over his war against Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early in Putins tenure, he regularly met with his U.S. counterparts. That dropped off and the tone became icier as tensions mounted between Russia and the West after Moscow illegally annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014 and faced allegations of meddling in the 2016 U.S. elections. Putins last visit to the U.S. was in 2015, when he attended the U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York. The meeting in Alaska would be the first U.S.-Russia summit since 2021, when former President Joe Biden met Putin in Geneva. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. For at least the next 30 days, the Trump administration will control local law enforcement in D.C. President Trump on Monday ordered the Metropolitan Police Department placed under emergency federal control. He also said that he was activating the D.C. National Guard for a deployment of around 800 troops to the nations capital. Theres no emergency taking place in D.C. that remotely matches Trumps justifications for the move. Violent crime rates are at a multi-decade low, according to DOJ data; videos on Monday highlighted the absurdity of the situation by showing federal agents patrolling a serene National Mall. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But at a press conference on Monday, Trump flanked himself with a cast of former Fox News hosts-turned-law enforcement officials and other longtime right-wing media fixtures that hes appointed to positions of immense authority. They each took turns portraying D.C. as a Mad Max-style hellscape in sudden need of federal and military action. At one point, newly confirmed U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro (Judge Jeanine to Fox News viewers) reached back decades and threatened the young punks that have apparently overrun the capital. In that context, the move is quintessential for Trump II. Theres no emergency to justify whats a brazen power play, though there is the now-familiar low-effort attempt to persuade their followers one is taking place. On the one hand, its an absurd play for attention. On the other, its a severe abuse of presidential power that senior officials blocked during Trumps first term in office. Under two executive orders Trump issued on Monday, Trump federalized the D.C. police for 30 days. By law, any extension beyond that period requires congressional authorization. At the same time, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that 800 members of the D.C. National Guard will begin to deploy to D.C. over the coming week. Their stated purpose, per a proclamation titled Restoring Law and Order in the District of Columbia, is to address the epidemic of crime in D.C. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its not entirely clear what practical effect the move will have on the MPD. Pirro said that two Trump administration officials would oversee the police: Terry Cole, the DEA commissioner, will lead federal oversight while U.S. Marshals Service chief Gady Serralta will supervise command and control. Trump joked with Serralta at the presser that he would fire him if he turned out to be weak over the next few weeks. Trump assailed D.C. officials oversight of the police department in a declaration announcing the decision. There are too many ironies here to count, but a big one has to do with January 6. Trump, himself a convicted felon, pardoned hundreds of people who attacked Capitol and MPD police officers in an effort to keep him in power after he lost the 2020 election. But for some of Trumps acolytes, the point isnt law and order so much as it is establishing political control. Chris Rufo, the conservative influencer, called for a crackdown modeled after El Salvador strongman Nayyib Bukele. Its the second instance in the Trump administrations nearly eight months that hes sent in troops as a show of force against American civilians. In Los Angeles, the administration managed to skirt invoking the Insurrection Act by federalizing the California National Guard on dubious grounds and via equally dubious means. An appeals court approved the decision after a district court judge ruled it illegal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But it may have had the intended effect. Local protests in Los Angeles against ICE raids subsided after Trump ordered the military to escort immigration authorities around the city. The National Guard and a related deployment of U.S. Marines in a supporting role left the city last month. Its a testament to how little resistance Trump has faced for moves that, in any other modern administration, would be considered absurd abuses of power unprompted by anything outside of narratives of urban decay that are a staple in right-wing media. In 2020, at the height of the George Floyd protests, Trump officials considered but ultimately declined to federalize the MPD. Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered the police to respond to rioting while pushing back on a statement from then-Chief of Staff Mark Meadows that Trump would take over the agency, a DOJ IG report found last year. Now, theres no such trepidation. It paves the way for further deployments of federal troops and further mixing of federal control, military operations, and local law enforcement. Im going to look at New York in a little while, Trump said, before hamming it up with similar threats towards Chicago and, once again, Los Angeles. Lets do this, lets do this together. Vice President JD Vance, right, speaks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, as President Donald Trump listens in the Oval Office at the White House, Feb. 28, in Washington. via Associated Press WASHINGTON President Donald Trump on Monday hinted he would demand that Ukraine give up territory seized by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin during his three-year invasion and once again blamed Ukraines democratically elected leader for getting invaded. I get along with Zelenskyy, but, you know, I disagree with what hes done, very, very severely disagree. This is a war that should have never happened, Trump said at a White House press conference of Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and his recent statement that he cannot legally cede territory. I was a little bothered by the fact that Zelenskyy was saying, Well, I have to get constitutional approval, Trump said. I mean, hes got approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap because there will be some land-swapping going on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump announced last week he would host a meeting with Putin in Alaska to broker a peace agreement, and his comments to reporters Monday are the most detailed about his view of what needs to happen to persuade Putin to end the war. His insinuation that Zelenskyy was somehow to blame for Putins invasion was a repeat of his attacks on the Ukrainian president during his Oval Office visit in February. What youre doing is very disrespectful to the country, this country, Trump told Zelenskyy then. Youre not winning this. You have a damn good chance of coming out OK because of us. Six weeks later, Trump outright blamed Zelenskyy for starting the war. You dont start a war with someone 20 times your size and then hope people give you some missiles, he said in an Oval Office photo opportunity with Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump called the coming summit a feel-out meeting and that he would afterward call Zelenskky and Americas NATO allies in Europe, who have since the 2022 invasion been eager to counter Russia and help Ukraine and even more so since Trump returned to office in January. He added that his discussions with Russia and others led to his belief that Ukraine would have to give away land to end the war. I know that through Russia and through conversations with everybody, Trump said. Trumps special envoy, his friend from New York real estate days Steve Witkoff, met with Putin last week and apparently misunderstood what Putin was saying. Witkoff reported back that Putin was willing to give up two Ukrainian regions and keep a third, when in fact Putins offer was to hang on to all three in return for stopping his attacks. Trump on Monday also repeated his lie that the U.S. under former President Joe Biden had given far more help to Ukraine than had Western Europe. Biden approved $350 billion. Europe has spent $100 billion, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In reality, Europe has provided more assistance to Ukraine from the start, both in weapons and economic help. Trump is scheduled to go to Alaska on Friday for his meeting with Putin, his first such summit with him since 2018, when in Helsinki he said he took the word of the former KGB agent over his own intelligence agencies about Russias work to help Trump win the 2016 election. On Monday, though, Trump, who is 79, twice conflated Alaska with Russia itself. Alaska has belonged to the United States since 1867, when it was purchased from Russia, then under the rule of Czar Alexander II. Im going to Russia on Friday, Trump said, explaining his coming trip. An hour later, preparing to leave the podium, he said it again: Were going to Russia. Washington President Trump said Monday that he is deploying members of the National Guard to Washington, D.C., and that the federal government has taken control of the D.C. police as part of a push to crack down on crime in the nation's capital, despite data showing crime has declined in the city in recent years. "I'm announcing a historic action to rescue our nation's capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor and worse," Mr. Trump said at a news conference at the White House. "This is liberation day in D.C., and we're going to take our capital back." Flanked by Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and FBI Director Kash Patel, Mr. Trump said he was officially enforcing Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973 and placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department "under direct federal control." He said Bondi was taking control of the department immediately under a public safety emergency. A White House official later said the arrangement is expected to last 30 days, the maximum amount of time allowed under the law without action from Congress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "In addition, I'm deploying the National Guard to help reestablish law, order and public safety in D.C., and they're going to be allowed to do their job properly," Mr. Trump said, adding later that about 800 guardsmen would be called up. Hegseth said the Guard was formally mobilized Monday morning and would be "flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week." In an accompanying executive order, Mr. Trump wrote that the deployment "shall remain in effect until I determine that conditions of law and order have been restored in the District of Columbia." Violent crime in D.C. has been declining for the last year and a half after spiking in 2023, according to local police data. So far this year, robberies have dropped by 28% and overall violent crime is down 26%, as of Aug. 11. Last year, violent crime in the capital city hit its lowest level in more than 30 years, the Justice Department said. President Trump delivers remarks during a press conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on Aug. 11, 2025. / Credit: Andrew Harnik / Getty Images The president criticized what he called "phony numbers" on crime in D.C., saying the administration would "look into that." And he said the crime issue "directly impacts the functioning of the federal government and is a threat to America, really." "We have other cities also that are bad. Very bad. You look at Chicago, how bad it is. You look at Los Angeles, how bad it is," Mr. Trump said. "We're not going to lose our cities over this." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president said the effort "will go further," saying the administration is "starting very strongly with D.C." and "we're going to clean it up real quick." "It's becoming a situation of complete and total lawlessness," the president added. He called it "embarrassing" for him to be "up here talking about how unsafe and dirty and disgusting this once beautiful capital was," ahead of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday. The president cited a number of high-profile crimes, including the alleged assault of a former Department of Government Efficiency staffer last week, who the president said was "savagely beaten by a band of roving thugs after defending a young woman from an attempted carjacking." Shortly after the incident, the White House announced that it had boosted the presence of federal law enforcement in the district, as Mr. Trump threatened a federal takeover of the city. Mr. Trump said a process had begun over the weekend to remove homeless encampments in the district. He noted that the Metropolitan Police Department and federal authorities would be supported by the 800 D.C. National Guardsmen and potentially "much more." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If necessary, we're going to move servicemembers directly to joining the guardsmen," Mr. Trump said. In an executive order declaring a crime emergency in the district, the president determined that "special conditions of an emergency nature exist" that require the use of the MPD for federal purposes, including maintaining law and order, protecting federal buildings, monuments and other federal property and ensuring the "conditions necessary for the orderly functioning of the Federal Government." The executive order directs the D.C. mayor to provide the services of the Metropolitan Police force for federal use "for the maximum period permitted under section 740 of the Home Rule Act." The law allows the president to require the D.C. mayor to provide "such services of the Metropolitan Police force as the President may deem necessary and appropriate" for a period of 48 hours, a deadline that can be extended by notifying Congress about the takeover and how much longer it is likely to continue. A House Oversight Committee spokesperson confirmed to CBS News that the panel had been notified by the president of the extension beyond 48 hours. The statute says the president can control the police department for up to 30 days, "unless the Senate and the House of Representatives enact into law a joint resolution authorizing such an extension." D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said that "we will follow the law" and comply with the president's order. She said she hopes to meet with Bondi soon, and noted that the D.C. police chief remains in operational control of the MPD. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "While this action today is unsettling and unprecedented, I can't say that, given some of the rhetoric of the past, that we're totally surprised," Bowser said at a news conference later in the day. "I can say to D.C. residents that we will continue to operate our government in a way that makes you proud." The moves come after the administration deployed about 450 federal law enforcement officers from a number of agencies across D.C. overnight Sunday. The president pledged in a social media post Sunday that he would "make our Capital safer and more beautiful than it ever was before." "The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY," Mr. Trump said on Truth Social. "We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you don't have to move out. We're going to put you in jail where you belong. It's all going to happen very fast, just like the Border." The president previously deployed the National Guard in Los Angeles amid heated protests over immigration raids in June. Mr. Trump also deployed the National Guard in June 2020 to D.C. to quell protests after the death of George Floyd. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March, Mr. Trump signed an executive order establishing a "D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force." He has said violent crime must be stopped in the district, claiming that it "has become one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World." Bowser pushed back on the characterization of crime in the district, noting on Monday that violent crime is down following a well-documented spike in violence in 2023 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. "We have been able to reverse that 2023 crime spike. This year, crime isn't just down from 2023. It's also down from 2019, before the pandemic, and we're at a 30-year violent crime low," she said. "We're not satisfied. We haven't taken our foot off the gas. And we continue to look for ways to make our cities safer." The mayor told MSNBC on Sunday that she has talked with Mr. Trump "repeatedly" about crime and that "the president is very aware of our efforts." Bowser acknowledged that "the D.C. National Guard is the president's National Guard, so that's always his prerogative." And she noted that "federal law enforcement is always on the street in D.C. and we always work cooperatively with them." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In another post later Sunday, the president said Bowser "is a good person who has tried, but she has been given many chances, and the Crime Numbers get worse, and the City only gets dirtier and less attractive." Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat who represents the district in a nonvoting seat in the House, said Mr. Trump's move to federalize D.C. police is a "historic assault on D.C. home rule," calling it a "counterproductive, escalatory seizure of D.C.'s resources to use for purposes not supported by D.C. residents." Jamie Lee Curtis: The 60 Minutes Interview Derek and the Dominos co-founder Bobby Whitlock dies Artisan bakers sparking sourdough boom U.S. President Donald Trump will hold talks with European leaders and President Volodymyr Zelensky on Aug. 13, the European Commission press office told the Kyiv Independent. The meetings will take place two days before Trump's scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, marking it their first in-person meeting since Trump returned to office. The summit comes as Washington seeks to broker a potential resolution to the war in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a coordinated diplomatic effort ahead of the talks, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has organized an online meeting between Zelensky and key European leaders. The meeting is scheduled for 3 p.m. Kyiv time on Aug. 13. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will take part in the calls with "other EU leaders, President Zelensky and President Trump," Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier confirmed to the Kyiv Independent. Leaders from Finland, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Poland are also expected to join, along with a representative from NATO, Suspilne reported. Moscow has consistently rejected a U.S. proposal for an unconditional ceasefire backed by Kyiv and European countries, intensifying drone and missile attacks against Ukraine throughout the summer. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 8, Trump announced a summit with Putin and reportedly told Ukraine and European leaders that the Kremlin is open to negotiations if "land swaps" are part of the deal. Though it remains unclear what such a deal would entail, a source in Ukraine's Presidential Office told the Kyiv Independent that Moscow seeks Kyiv's full withdrawal from partially occupied Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in the east while offering to withdraw its forces from the limited areas it holds in the northeastern Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts. Zelensky's participation in the upcoming summit also remains uncertain, fueling concerns in Ukraine and Europe that Washington and Moscow could sideline them from the peace process. Publicly, Putin has demanded a ban on Ukraine's NATO membership and a full Ukrainian withdrawal from partially occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts as a precondition for peace talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In turn, Zelensky has rejected ceding territory to Russia and urged a ceasefire as the first step toward peace talks, a position backed by Kyiv's European partners. Read also: Exclusive: Putin to demand Ukraine cede new territory in Alaska peace plan US likely to agree, Kyiv to reject Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) President Donald Trump announced on Monday that he is taking federal control of D.C. police and deploying the National Guard to fight crime by invoking DC Section 740. DC leaders react after Trump places DC police under federal control What is the DC Home Rule Act Section 740? The DC Home Rule Act was established as a result of D.C. residents wanting control of their own local affairs. Section 740 of the Home Rule Act allows the president to federalize the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) if it is determined that an emergency exists. It then allows the president to direct the mayor to provide the president with the police force. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement DOGE staffer known as Big Balls attacked in DC The president will only have 48 hours of control over MPD unless the president has put into writing for the Chairmen and ranking minority members of the Committees on the District of Columbia of the Senate and the House of Representatives, why the police force is needed and for how long. Section 740 states that the presidents control will expire after 30 days or when the emergency ends. Trump declared that there is a public safety emergency in D.C. because of the recent crimes. He ordered federal authorities, including officers with the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration, to begin patrolling D.C. streets. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Congressional interns death sparks student concern, as mother says feds should take over DC Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged out maniacs and homeless people, and were not going to let it happen anymore. Were not going to take it, Trump said. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser held a press conference in response to Trump federalizing the MPD. Limited home rule gives the federal government the ability to intrude on our autonomy in many ways, Bowser said. She went on to describe his actions as unsettling and unprecedented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I cant say that, given some of the rhetoric of the past, that were totally surprised, she said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to DC News Now | DC, Virginia, Maryland News, Weather, Traffic, Sports Live. President Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday over the leaders resistance to cede territory to Russia, saying he disagrees very, very severely with Zelensky. I get along with Zelensky, but, you know, I disagree with what hes done. Very, very severely disagree. This is a war that should have never happened, Trump told reporters at the White House, referring to Russias more than three-year war in Ukraine. In an attempt to broker an end to the conflict, Trump announced last week he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has said the meeting will touch on some territorial swapping for the betterment of both countries, a proposal Zelensky staunchly opposed Saturday. Of course, we will not give Russia any awards for what it has done. The Ukrainian people deserve peace, he said, adding that all partners must understand peace and that Ukrainians will not give their land to an occupier. Trump said he was perturbed by the Ukrainian leaders resistance. I was a little bothered by the fact that Zelensky was saying, Well, I have to get constitutional approval. I mean, hes got approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap because therell be some land swapping going on, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He added that the land swap will be for the good of Ukraine, before adding that a possible deal will also involve some bad stuff for both Kyiv and Moscow. So, its good and theres bad, but its very complex, because you have lines that are very uneven, and therell be some swapping. Therell be some changes in land, he said. The presidents comments come after his special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin in Moscow last week, during which the Russian leader reportedly shared a ceasefire proposal that would entail Ukraine withdrawing its military from the Donetsk region, allowing it to be under the Kremlins control, along with Luhansk. Zelensky has not been invited to the summit with Putin. Trump said Monday he hoped a meeting between Zelensky and Putin, with or without his involvement, would follow Fridays meeting in Alaska. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Were going to have a meeting with Vladimir Putin, and at the end of that meeting, probably in the first two minutes, Ill know exactly whether or not a deal can be made, he said. Ultimately, Im going to put the two of them in a room. Ill be there, or I wont be there, and I think itll get solved, Trump said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Editor's note: The article was expanded with additional information. A planned meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will be a test for the Kremlin leader, and Ukraine will be involved in upcoming peace efforts if the summit goes well, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Aug. 10. "(W)hen it comes to peace talks, the ceasefire, and what happens after that on territories, on security guarantees for Ukraine, Ukraine will have to be and will be involved. But on Friday, it is important to see how serious Putin is," Rutte said in an interview with CBS News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump and Putin are set to meet in Alaska on Aug. 15 as the U.S. intensifies efforts to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia. There will be no peace deal signed between Trump and Putin in Alaska without Ukraine's participation, Rutte noted. "It will not be the final say on this. There will not be a final deal on this. Of course, Ukraine will have to be involved," he said. "What will happen on Friday is testing Putin by President Trump. And I commend him for the fact that he organised this meeting," Rutte said. The NATO leader described Putin as "the main threat to the Western alliance" amid Russia's war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "(W)hen it comes to the geostrategic position of Ukraine in the future, when it comes to whatever is the size of the Ukrainian military, when it comes to NATO's posture on the eastern flank in countries like Latvia and Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, Poland, that Putin has absolutely no say on any of these issues," he said. Leaders of Poland, the Baltic countries, and the Nordic countries have stressed the importance of Ukraine's presence at the negotiating table. "I believe President Zelensky will be invited; there's some information emerging today that there's a chance President Zelensky will be present at President Trump's meeting with Putin," Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said, according to the Polish Press Agency. "That would be the best solution, and I believe it will happen." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a joint statement on Aug. 10, leaders of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden said they welcome Trump's initiative to end the war but noted that a "diplomatic solution must safeguard the vital security interests of both Ukraine and Europe." The Nordic and Baltic leaders also stressed that negotiations "can only take place in the context of a ceasefire" and that the "path to peace cannot be charted without Ukraines voice." "No decisions on Ukraine without Ukraine, and no decisions on Europe without Europe," the leaders said in their statement, pledging continued support for Kyiv and adding that Russia must be consistently pressured to end the war. Russia has issued maximalist demands to Kyiv in previous direct peace talks, including that Ukraine give up its NATO aspirations and demilitarize. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Months earlier, U.S. attempts to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia failed. Kyiv and Moscow later held three rounds of direct peace talks in Istanbul, which were largely inconclusive. In direct talks, Ukraine and Russia agreed to several prisoner exchanges, but progress toward a ceasefire was not made amid Russia's maximalist demands. 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 once the deadline passed. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukraine hits oil refinery 2,000 km from border in Russias Komi Republic; Europe, Ukraine reject Putins ceasefire proposal, WSJ reports Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Donald Trump got an important detail wrong about his upcoming meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin and, boy, did the internet let him have it. The president is scheduled to meet his Russian counterpart on Friday to discuss an end to the war in Ukraine, but he was apparently unaware that the meeting is not in Russia. While fear-mongering about crime in Washington, D.C., on Monday, Trump told reporters: You know, Im going to see Putin. Im going to Russia on Friday. I dont like being up here, talking about how unsafe and how dirty and disgusting this once-beautiful capital was. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To be clear: Trump is meeting Putin in Alaska, not Russia. Trump: Its embarrassing. Im going to see Putin. Im going to Russia on Friday. (Alaska) pic.twitter.com/ET7e6zMS3c Acyn (@Acyn) August 11, 2025 The White House responded to HuffPosts request for comment with an insult about TDS, or Trump derangement syndrome, but declined to mention the presidents obvious error. Meanwhile, social media users let the snark flow over Trumps latest geographical blunder. Trump: "I'm going to see Putin. I'm going to Russia on Friday." Trump is going to Alaska on Friday which has not been part of Russia since 1867. pic.twitter.com/3tx74GzhVt The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) August 11, 2025 Trump admits Alaska is part of Russia. And it's not clear whether it's dementia or just his policy. pic.twitter.com/maAMCrzAin Darth Putin (@DarthPutinKGB) August 11, 2025 Hes going to Russia? This doddering old man has no idea where he is or what hes talking about. https://t.co/3DEF1diwsG Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) August 11, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just imagine if Biden had said this: Trump: "I'm going to see Putin. I'm going to Russia on Friday." Trump is going to Alaska on Friday which has not been part of Russia since 1867. Where the hell are you, @jaketapper? Enough is enough. pic.twitter.com/lSdJyO6mzf Chris D. Jackson (@ChrisDJackson) August 11, 2025 The so-called president of the United States thinks that Alaska is in Russia. What an ongoing embarrassment! (@ChidiNwatu) August 11, 2025 Does he think Alaska is in Russia?? Maybe he should talk to Sarah Palin and they can get their stories straight. Tirah Att (@TirahAtt) August 11, 2025 Completely effing gone. Can you imagine a Fortune 500 chairman talking like this and not being relieved before he fell off the podium? Bill Sweetman (@ValkStrategy) August 11, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If Biden had confused Alaska with Russia, Fox News would have cut to a seven-hour commercial-free meltdown, MAGA GOP lawmakers would be calling for the 25th Amendment before lunch, and Trumps Truth Social feed would be in ALL CAPS about SLEEPY JOE GIVING AWAY OUR GREAT STATE OF Evaristus Odinikaeze (@odinikaeze) August 11, 2025 Some wondered if it was actually a blunder or a sign that Trump is planning to kowtow to Putin in some way... say, by giving Alaska back to Russia. So is he planing to give Alaska to Russia now. Penney Driver (@rageinggranny) August 11, 2025 Trump: Its embarrassing for me to be up here. Im going to see Putin. Im going to Russia on Friday. Guess Alaskas going back to Russia. pic.twitter.com/4AWLHA8lRR Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) August 11, 2025 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wow, we knew Trump would do anything to please Putin but gifting him Alaska seems a bit excessive. Fellarina Bavovna (@Fellarina4Ua) August 11, 2025 I told you so. Trump calls Alaska russia. Putins propaganda will make a huge show out of this. https://t.co/nQvUKrs3oapic.twitter.com/F1z9SrACpo Sergej Sumlenny, LL.M (@sumlenny) August 11, 2025 Related... Washington President Trump announced E.J. Antoni as his nominee to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Monday, after he fired the former commissioner earlier this month, blaming her for a weaker-than-expected jobs report. Antoni is a fellow at the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank, and he holds a doctorate in economics from Northern Illinois University. He's defended Mr. Trump's economic policy moves in the past, including the president's tariff strategy. He has also criticized the BLS for low response rates and questioned the agency's methodology, calling its health insurance figures "phoney baloney" last year and at one point joking that "the 'L' is silent" in BLS' name. "DOGE needs to take a chainsaw to the BLS...," he wrote in a November post on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There are better ways to collect, process, and disseminate datathat is the task for the next BLS commissioner, and only consistent delivery of accurate data in a timely manner will rebuild the trust that has been lost over the last several years," he wrote shortly after Mr. Trump fired the former BLS chief. Mr. Trump nominated Antoni in a Truth Social post, saying he "will ensure that the Numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE." Antoni will need to be confirmed by the Senate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is currently led by acting Commissioner William Watrowski, who has worked at the agency for decades. President Trump posted a photo on Truth Social of himself with E.J. Antoni in the Oval Office. He named Antoni as his choice to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics on Aug. 11, 2025. / Credit: White House photo Mr. Trump ordered his administration to terminate Erika McEntarfer, who had been commissioner of labor statistics, on Aug. 1, hours after the release of the July jobs report data. That report showed a sharp slowdown in hiring, along with a steep downward revision to May and June's hiring numbers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hours before her firing, Antoni criticized BLS for "data problems" and a trend of "highly problematic" revisions, though he also touted some figures in the July jobs report, including a jump in employment by native-born Americans and a slowdown in government jobs. In the wake of McEntarfer's firing, influential ex-Trump strategist Steve Bannon backed Antoni to take over the BLS. Antoni appeared on Bannon's show "War Room" on the day the jobs report came out, calling McEntarfer "incompetent." Days later, Bannon said "we're pushing" for Antoni to lead the BLS, and called him "the guy that almost single-handedly took it down by going through their numbers." Announcing McEntarfer's firing in a post on Truth Social, the president claimed without evidence that she had "faked the Jobs Numbers before the Election to try and boost Kamala's chances of Victory" and pledged to replace her "with someone much more competent and qualified." But Harvard economics professor Jason Furman, a head of the Council of Economic Advisers under former President Barack Obama, was sharply critical of the selection of Antoni, saying on X that, "I don't think I have ever publicly criticized any Presidential nominee before. But E.J. Antoni is completely unqualified to be BLS Commissioner. He is an extreme partisan and does not have any relevant expertise. He would be a break from decades of nonpartisan technocrats." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Jessica Riedl, an economist at the conservative Manhattan Institute, said on X that she's "never met EJ Antoni because he is not seen in many DC policy circles. However, the articles and tweets I've seen him publish are probably the most error-filled of any think tank economist right now. I hope we see better at BLS." The jobs report for October 2024, which was released on Nov. 1, 2024, four days before Election Day, showed just 12,000 jobs were created far short of the 100,000 forecast for the month following two hurricanes and a major labor dispute. The following month, that figure was revised upward, to 36,000. September's jobs report, however, dramatically exceeded forecasts 254,000 jobs were created, rather than the 140,000 economic analysts had expected. That figure was later revised down to 223,000. Mr. Trump continued railing against the ousted commissioner and the BLS more broadly in the days after he fired her, claiming in a post on Truth Social last week that the July jobs report had been "RIGGED," though he provided no evidence to support it. The president said on CNBC's "Squawk Box" Tuesday that it's a "highly political situation." And National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett defended the president's decision in an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press," citing a series of revisions and patterns that "could make people wonder." "What we need is a fresh set of eyes over at the BLS," Hassett said, adding that "the president wants his own people there so that when we see the numbers they're more transparent and more reliable." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McEntarfer had been commissioner for a little over a year and a half, after she was confirmed in a broad bipartisan vote of 86 to 8 by the Senate in January 2024. The latest jobs report showed employers in July adding a weaker-than-expected 73,000 jobs, with a downward revision of 258,000 fewer jobs created in May and June. Mr. Trump, who often touts the job numbers, called the jobs figures a "shock" and the revision a "major mistake." The BLS said in its report that monthly revisions "result from additional reports received from businesses and government agencies since the last published estimates and from the recalculation of seasonal factors." U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer acknowledged in an interview for "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" earlier this month that "there are always revisions," but he added that "sometimes you see these revisions go in really extreme ways." "The president is the president. He can choose who works in the executive branch," Greer said. Meanwhile, some economists and lawmakers have expressed concern over the firing, and a group of former BLS leaders warned that the move "undermines the valuable work and dedication of BLS staff" and "escalates the President's unprecedented attacks on the independence and integrity of the federal statistical system." The group called on Congress to investigate the firing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Trump says meeting with Russia's Putin is not to broker peace deal in Ukraine Trump says he's placing D.C. police under federal control, deploying National Guard Could Tropical Storm Erin become the first Atlantic hurricane of 2025? The fight between President Donald Trump and Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom over the National Guard's presence in California is coming to a head on Monday in the start of a three-day trial. Government attorneys are set to argue that Trump had legal authority to deploy roughly 4,000 National Guard soldiers to Los Angeles in June to assist with anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement protests and riots. While most of the National Guard members have since been demobilized, the trial could set the stage for more fights across the country as Trump federalizes guard members in Washington, D.C., and threatens to do so elsewhere in response to high crime rates in blue cities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Judge Charles Breyer, a Clinton appointee and brother of retired liberal Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, is presiding over the case. Trump And Newsom On Collision Course As Fight Over National Guard Intensifies In Court National Guard troops are deployed around downtown Los Angeles, June 8, 2025, following an immigration raid protest the night before. Breyer previously granted a temporary restraining order in favor of Newsom, saying Trump's decision to mobilize the National Guard was illegal because it infringed on California's authority. One of the conditions required under the law Trump cited to federalize the National Guard is that a rebellion must be underway, and Breyer said the riots in California fell far short of that scenario. Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Breyer's decision was quickly reversed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. A three-judge panel for the appellate court unanimously found that the courts have limited ability to review whether a president has properly invoked the law to federalize the National Guard. "We are persuaded that, under longstanding precedent interpreting the statutory predecessor to 12406, our review of that decision must be highly deferential," the panel wrote. "Affording the President that deference, we conclude that it is likely that the President lawfully exercised his statutory authority under 12406(3), which authorizes federalization of the National Guard when the President is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States." The panel paused Breyer's initial order indefinitely, but Monday's trial is the next step in the court process as the judge weighs the merits of the case. Protesters face off with police outside a federal building in downtown Los Angeles on June 14, 2025. While little is left on the ground in California for the judge to resolve Newsom recently announced that about 300 of Trump's deployed National Guard members remain active in the state legal questions surrounding Trump's actions persist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of the trial, Breyer will examine the 150-year-old Posse Comitatus Act, which bars the military from being used for civil matters. Newsom has argued Trump violated that law and plans to call military officials as witnesses during the trial to testify about the directions the National Guard and a few hundred Marines received. Newsom has said they were illegally engaged in law enforcement activities, while government attorneys argue they were protecting federal personnel and federal properties. Appeals Court Appears Skeptical Of Newsom's Claim That Trump Illegally Deployed National Guard Gov. Gavin Newsom While Newsom also argued that Trump's unusual decision to bring the National Guard into a state without the governor's consent was illegal and required the governor's permission, the three-judge panel has already leaned in favor of Trump on that point. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The panel found that while the law's language, which states that Trump must go "through" the governor, could mean the president committed a "procedural" violation, it did not warrant restricting Trump's use of the military. Newsom has claimed more broadly that militarizing California was unnecessary and caused the unrest in Los Angeles to intensify. State and local law enforcement officers made about seven riot-related arrests prior to Trump's announcement about the National Guard on June 7, but they made about a thousand arrests during the subsequent 10 days, California attorneys said in court filings. An ICE official said in an affidavit that National Guard members were "essential" to providing reinforcements around the 300 North Los Angeles Federal Building, which was the site of protests during the controversial immigration raids. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Prior to the National Guard's deployment, rioters and protestors assaulted federal, state, and local law enforcement officers with rocks, fireworks, and other objects. They also damaged federal property by spray painting death threats to federal law enforcement officers," the ICE official wrote. Original article source: Trump and Newsom fight over National Guard heads to trial in California President Donald Trump ordered 800 National Guardsmen to deploy to Washington, D.C., on Monday. The move is the latest deployment of military personnel on U.S. soil during Trumps second term, now in its seventh month. The National Guard troops will help reestablish law, order, and public safety in Washington, D.C., Trump announced at a news conference on Monday morning. And they are going to be allowed to do their job properly, Trump said at a White House news conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who also attended Mondays news conference, told reporters that the District of Columbia National Guard has been mobilized at the presidents direction. You will see them flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week, Hegseth said. At your direction as well, sir, there are other units we are prepared to bring in: other National Guard units, other specialized units. They will be strong. They will be tough. And they will stand with their law enforcement partners. Get Task & Purpose in your inbox Sign up for Task & Purpose Today to get the latest in military news each morning. Sign Up Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Between 100 and 200 of the D.C. National Guard soldiers who have been activated will be tasked with supporting law enforcement at any given time, said Maj. Montrell Russell, an Army spokesperson. Their duties will include an array of tasks from administrative, logistics and physical presence in support of law enforcement, Russell said in a statement on Monday. In a memo to Hegseth on Monday, Trump wrote that the D.C. National Guard would remain mobilized until I determine that conditions of law and order have been restored in the District of Columbia. Trump also ordered Hegseth to work with state governors to deploy their National Guard troops to augment the mission to the nations capital if needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump telegraphed the move before the news conference by posting on social media Monday morning, Washington, D.C. will be LIBERATED today! Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR. I will, MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN! The days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people, are OVER! Other cities are hopefully watching this, Trump said at Mondays news conference. And maybe theyll self clean up, and maybe theyll self do this and get rid of the cashless bail thing and all of the things that cause the problem. The District of Columbia National Guard has approximately 2,700 soldiers and airmen. Unlike other National Guard commands, which answer to state governors, the D.C. National Guard reports to the president. Authority for their activation is delegated to the Secretary of the Army. The D.C. Guard just had a change of command over the weekend. Maj. Gen. John C. Andonie, who had been serving as the interim commanding general since September 2023, stepped down on Aug. 9. Brig. Gen. Leland Blanchard II is the new interim commander. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The district is technically under the authority of the U.S. Congress, but maintains some autonomy to run a local government under the Home Rule of 1973 law. National Guard soldiers walk by the U.S. Capitol on March 3, 2021. Photo by Eric Baradat/AFP via Getty Images The D.C. National Guard is a regular presence at presidential inaugurations. They deployed into the district during the protests that broke out in the wake of the murder of George Floyd in May 2020. They deployed again months later after pro-Trump insurrectionists stormed the United States Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. That presence carried over into preparations for Joe Bidens presidential inauguration later that month. Mondays order comes after Trump had repeatedly threatened the use of troops in Washington, D.C., posting to social media last week that if D.C. doesnt get its act together, we will have no choice but to take Federal control of the city. Trump has repeatedly criticized the city and its leadership in recent days, specifically claiming that crime is out of control. On his Truth Social app, he posted that the city is one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, according to the Justice Department, violent crime in the district is at a 30-year low and dropped 35% year over year from 2023 to 2024. Trump has also singled out homelessness in the city in his social media posts, saying that unhoused people need to move out, IMMEDIATELY, or face eviction. Trump said they would be given places to stay far from the city, but did not provide additional details in his Truth Social post. Top Stories This Week News Army infantry training unit reverses bay tossing ban By Jeff Schogol News Airman arrested for death that prompted Air Force-wide safety review of Sig M18 By Jeff Schogol News Soldiers who stopped Fort Stewart gunman recognized as the best among us in the Army By Patty Nieberg Washington, D.C. has 3,782 single persons and 1,356 adults and children in families experiencing homelessness on any given night, according to Community Partnership, an advocacy organization working to fight homelessness in the district. The overwhelming majority of those people are in shelters or transitional housing, with fewer than 800 people living on the streets. Approximately 5% of the homeless population are military veterans, according to the group. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the weekend, the FBI began sending agents out around Washington for nighttime patrols to aid local law enforcement in response to Trumps claims of violent crime, the Washington Post reported. The activation of the D.C. National Guard is the second time Trump has ordered National Guard troops into major cities. In June, Trump ordered soldiers from the California National Guard to be federalized under Title 10 of the U.S. Code in response to protests against immigration raids in Los Angeles. A total of 4,100 California National Guardsmen took part in the mission, along with hundreds of Marines based out of Southern California. Assigned to protect federal property and personnel, they mostly stood guard around federal buildings, but also accompanied Department of Homeland Security agents on immigration raids and drug busts, providing security perimeters but not directly engaging in law enforcement activities. Approximately 300 California Guardsmen remain under federal command. While speaking about his efforts to curb crime in Washington, D.C., Trump said that his administration will look at other cities also. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If we need to, were going to do the same thing in Chicago, which is a disaster, said Trump, who later added, Hopefully, L.A. is watching. UPDATE: 08/11/2025; this story was updated after publication with comments from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump, the White House, and the Army. [Source] President Donald Trump signed a memorandum Thursday requiring higher education institutions to submit expanded admissions data to the Department of Education, aimed at detecting continued use of racial preferences after the Supreme Courts 2023 decision against affirmative action. New requirements: The memo directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to revamp the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), the federal database that tracks college information, to collect detailed admissions data from institutions receiving federal financial assistance. The lack of available admissions data from universities paired with the rampant use of diversity statements and other overt and hidden racial proxies continues to raise concerns about whether race is actually used in admissions decisions in practice, it claims. With this, universities must now report information broken down by race and sex for their applicant pools, admitted students and enrolled students. This includes standardized test scores, GPAs and other academic achievements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the memos release, McMahon directed the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) to begin collecting the additional data, emphasizing that it should not take years of legal proceedings, and millions of dollars in litigation fees, to elicit data from taxpayer-funded institutions that identifies whether they are discriminating against hard working American applicants. She also ordered the NCES to develop a rigorous audit process to ensure data accuracy. Institutions that fail to comply risk losing federal funding. Zoom in: The move builds on the 2023 Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard Supreme Court ruling that banned race-conscious admissions after revealing extreme racial preferencing against Asian American applicants. Conservative groups, led by Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), had argued that subjective admissions criteria discriminated against high-performing Asian students, similar to historical discrimination against Jewish applicants in the early 20th century. However, critics argue that Asians are merely being used as political pawns in such lawsuits. Trending on NextShark: Kash Patels FBI purges senior officials involved in Jan. 6 investigations The administration recently secured settlements with Columbia University and Brown University requiring both schools to report race, test scores and grades of all applicants, with agreements prohibiting the use of diversity statements to introduce racial considerations. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The big picture: McMahon has emphasized the administrations commitment to merit-based admissions, saying, We will not allow institutions to blight the dreams of students by presuming that their skin color matters more than their hard work and accomplishments, adding that they will ensure that meritocracy and excellence once again characterize American higher education. However, some believe the emphasis on test scores and grades could create a quota system for white and rich students, a concern reflecting the reality that families in the highest income brackets are seven times more likely to score 1300 or higher on the SAT than the poorest families. Some also fear the administration will use unfavorable data as justification to strip university funding, following the presidents pattern of pausing billions to institutions over alleged antisemitism and diversity practices. Advocates worry this represents another avenue for the administration to pressure universities into compliance with its policies. Trending on NextShark: Trump orders universities to disclose admissions data on race Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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: Why American Eagles Sydney Sweeney ad strikes a nerve with Asian Americans Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Subscribe here now! Trending on NextShark: Shohei Ohtani reaches 1,000th career hit, third straight 40-homer season Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! President Donald Trump said he is placing the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, D.C., under federal control as of Monday morning, in an effort to make our capital great again. This is liberation day in D.C. and were going to take our capital back. Were taking it back, he told reporters at The White House. Under the authorities vested in me as the president of the United States, Im officially invoking section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act you know what that is and placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control. More from TheWrap Trump continued, Youll be meeting the people who will be directly involved with that. Very good people, but theyre tough and they know whats happening. Theyve done it before. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attorney General Pam Bondi will now oversee the District of Columbia police department. Together, they intend to deploy the National Guard in a reported effort to battle homelessness and crime. Trump: I'm officially invoking section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. You know what that isPlacing the D.C. Metropolitan police department under direct federal control pic.twitter.com/xi7HkeLO5N Acyn (@Acyn) August 11, 2025 Washington, D.C., will be LIBERATED today! Crime, Savagery, Filth and Scum will DISAPPEAR. I will, MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN! Trump added on Truth Social before his address. The days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people, are OVER! I quickly fixed the Border (ZERO ILLEGALS in last three months!), D.C. is next!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. However, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser previously defended the capital on Sunday, saying, Were going to keep talking to the president, working with his people on the issues that are high priority for him. Now, if the priority is to show force in an American city, we know he can do that here. But it wont be because theres a spike in crime. Any comparison to a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false, she also noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps move echoes his similar tactics when deploying the National Guard to Los Angeles back in June and July amid ICE protests, much to the disapproval of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass. The post Trump Places DC Police Under Federal Control: Were Going to Take Our Capital Back | Video appeared first on TheWrap. A summit between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin has been scheduled for Friday, and U.S. officials are working to prepare for and finalize the details of the meeting meant to help bring an end to the war in Ukraine. The meeting will take place in Alaska, but a venue for the summit has not yet been announced. Officials from the Trump administration are traveling to the state to scope out locations, per CNN. Alaska was selected for its centrality to Moscow and Washington, D.C. Next Friday will be important, because it will be about testing Putin, how serious he is on bringing this terrible war to an end, said NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, according to CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump hopes that this face-to-face meeting with the Russian president will lead to the breakthrough in ending the war that he has been looking for since taking office in January. Will Zelenskyy be involved in Fridays summit? Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has requested to be a part of the talks, a request which both the White House and Kremlin have acknowledged but no formal invitation has been extended, per Fox News. If Zelenskyy were invited, it would be the first face-to-face meeting between Putin and Zelenskyy since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. BBC reported that when responding to news of the summit in Alaska, Zelenskyy said any agreements made without Ukrainian input would be dead decisions. According to NBC News, U.S. officials have said it is possible that Zelenskyy would be invited to the meeting, but the White House is focused on planning the bilateral meeting with Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ukrainian officials have indicated that their president is prepared to travel to Alaska if he receives an invite, per CNN. We have shown that he is ready to be anywhere to advance the agenda of peace. So, if needed, President Zelenskyy, of course, will be present at the meetings. We have been very open about it, but lets see how this will go, said the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova. In an X post on Monday, Zelenskyy wrote that Russia deserves stronger global pressure since it is dragging out the war. Russia refuses to stop the killings, and therefore must not receive any rewards or benefits. And this is not just a moral position it is a rational one. Concessions do not persuade a killer. But truly strong protection of life stops the killers, he added. Another week has ended without any attempt by Russia to agree to the numerous demands of the world and stop the killings. In just the past 24 hours on the front, there have been 137 combat engagements, and this is the case every day. The Russian army is not reducing its pressure. pic.twitter.com/FcpEOTiIXW Volodymyr Zelenskyy / (@ZelenskyyUa) August 11, 2025 In the same post, Zelenskyy also thanked leaders and others from around the world who have been helping and supporting Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I thank everyone in the world who helps us remain strong and who brings closer a genuine peace peace through strength. This is the only kind of peace that can be achieved with Russia. We are working toward it 24/7, he wrote. The possibility of territory concession will be a major part of the meeting In a statement on Saturday, the Kremlin said that the summit is expected to focus on discussing options for achieving a long-term peaceful resolution in Ukraine. This will evidently be a challenging process, but we will engage in it actively and energetically, according to Fox News. Trump has previously said that in order for Putin to agree to a ceasefire deal, Ukraine would have to concede significant territory to Russia, an outcome opposed by Ukrainians and many European allies, per Fox News. Currently, Russian forces occupy approximately one-fifth of Ukraines territory stretching from the Russian border to Crimea. This includes areas vital to Ukraines economy, rich in minerals, industry and home to Europes largest nuclear power plant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump did say he will try to get some territory back for Ukraine during his meeting in Alaska on Friday, according to BBC. Russias occupied a big portion of Ukraine. They occupied prime territory. Were going to try to get some of that territory back for Ukraine, he told a news conference. The U.S. president also said the Alaska talks would be a feel-out meeting with the goal of urging Putin to end the war. Were going to get some back, and were going to get some switched, Trump said, per The New York Times. Therell be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both. According to BBC, this is not the first time Trump has used the phrase land-swapping, but it is unclear what land Russia could give to Ukraine, since Kyiv has never laid claim to any Russian territories. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump did share that he would update leaders in Europe if Putin proposes a fair deal during the summit, but added that he would speak to Zelenskyy first, out of respect. Ill call him first. ... Ill call him after, and I may say, lots of luck, keep fighting, or I may say, we can make a deal, Trump said, per BBC. What Putin could be looking to get out of the meeting with Trump Alexander Gabuev, director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin, said Putin would come into the summit on Friday pursuing various scenarios, according to The New York Times. These scenarios include making a favorable deal with Trump that the U.S. is able to force on Ukraine, or making a favorable deal with Trump that Ukraine refuses causing the U.S. to walk away from Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The third option Gabuev listed is that Putin continues on his current path for the next 12 to 18 months, expecting that Ukraine will run out of soldiers sooner than the Russian war economy runs out of steam, per The New York Times. While Putin is looking for Ukraine to concede territory currently occupied by Russia, he is also looking for other things in an agreement. Putin wants a formal promise that Ukraine will not enter NATO or another Western military alliance, and that Ukraine will not host Western troops on its territory or be allowed to build a military that would threaten Russia. These agreements would make Kyiv perpetually vulnerable, per The New York Times. What European leaders have said about the meeting On Saturday, a group of military leaders released a statement which welcomed the Trump-Putin meeting but emphasized the need to keep pressure on Russia and protect Ukraine and Europes security interests, per NBC News. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We remain committed to the principle that international borders must not be changed by force, the statement said. The statement came from the leaders of Britain, Italy, France, Germany, Finland and Poland as well as European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen. It said that meaningful negotiations could only take place if there is a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities first, adding that the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine, according to NBC News. The idea that Ukraine must be involved in discussions about its future was also brought up by European officials during a meeting with Vice President JD Vance over the weekend. The U.S. has the power to force Russia to negotiate seriously, said European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, according to Fox News. Any deal between the U.S. and Russia must have Ukraine and the EU included, for it is a matter of Ukraines and the whole of Europes security. Trump to meet with European leaders ahead of summit with Putin Politico reported on Monday that Trump will be joining European leaders, including Zelenskyy, on Wednesday for an emergency virtual summit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The call was organized by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to prelude Trumps meeting with Putin on Friday. The virtual summit is expected to focus on pressure options against Russia, security guarantees for Ukraine, questions about Ukrainian territories seized by Russia and the sequencing of potential peace talks, according to Politico. US President Donald Trump is not aiming for an agreement on the Ukraine war from his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin: "I'm not going to make a deal," he said on Monday at a press conference in Washington. "I'm not going to make a deal. It's not up to me to make a deal. I think a deal should be made for both [sides]," Trump said. Trump said he wants Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet after the upcoming summit on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The next meeting will be with Zelensky and Putin, or Zelensky, and Putin and me. I'll be there if they need, but I want to have a meeting set up between the two leaders," Trump said. Trump said he will call Zelensky and European leaders "right after the meeting" with Putin. Ukraine strictly rejects territorial concessions Trump had earlier portrayed the meeting in Alaska as an attempt to get closer to ending the fighting in Ukraine. In this context, he spoke of a possible territorial exchange between Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine strictly rejects territorial concessions. Zelensky indirectly emphasized in his evening video address that he would not accept a deal on territorial exchange. "We will definitely defend our country and our independence," he stressed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And everything concerning Ukraine must be decided with the involvement of Ukraine, he added. Germany's Merz to consult with Trump, Zelenksy and European leaders Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is trying to reach a common line with Trump and other European leaders on a possible end to the Ukraine war. On Wednesday, two days before the planned meeting in Alaska, European leaders plan to consult with Zelensky and Trump on Merz's initiative. Merz will consult online with the leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland and Finland before the online talks with Trump, German government sources told dpa. US President Donald Trump is not aiming for an agreement on the Ukraine war from his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin: "I'm not going to make a deal," he said on Monday at a press conference in Washington. "It's not up to me to make a deal. I think a deal should be made for both [sides]," Trump said. He said that he would like to see a ceasefire and would like to see the best deal that can be reached for both sides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also said he wants Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet after the upcoming summit on Friday. "The next meeting will be with Zelensky and Putin, or Zelensky, and Putin and me. I'll be there if they need, but I want to have a meeting set up between the two leaders," Trump said. Trump said he will call Zelensky and European leaders "right after the meeting" with Putin. Ukraine strictly rejects territorial concessions Trump had earlier portrayed the meeting in Alaska as an attempt to get closer to ending the fighting in Ukraine. In this context, he spoke of a possible territorial exchange between Ukraine and Russia. Ukraine strictly rejects territorial concessions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelensky indirectly emphasized in his evening video address that he would not accept a deal on territorial exchange. "We will definitely defend our country and our independence," he stressed. And everything concerning Ukraine must be decided with the involvement of Ukraine, he added. Zelensky also accused Moscow of stalling for time. "I spoke with Canadas Prime Minister, @MarkJCarney. I am grateful for Canadas support for Ukraine and our people," Zelensky wrote on X. "I shared Ukraines view on Russias true intentions and plans. We see it the same way, and it is obvious that the Russians simply want to buy time, not end the war." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The situation on the battlefield and Russias wicked strikes on civilian infrastructure and ordinary people prove this clearly," the Ukrainian president added. In a further conversation with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, Zelensky reported that both sides agreed that there must first be a ceasefire before the search for a diplomatic solution to end the war could begin. No Russian prep for post-battle era, says Zelensky In his nightly video address, he indicated that he believes Putin is not preparing for an end to hostilities. "He is definitely not preparing for a ceasefire or an end to the war. Putin is determined only to present a meeting with America as his personal victory and then continue acting exactly as before, applying the same pressure on Ukraine as before," Zelensky said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "So far, there is no indication whatsoever that the Russians have received signals to prepare for a post-war situation," he added. "On the contrary, they are redeploying their troops and forces in ways that suggest preparations for new offensive operations. If someone is preparing for peace, this is not what he does." Germany's Merz to consult with Trump, Zelenksy and European leaders Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is trying to reach a common line with Trump and other European leaders on a possible end to the Ukraine war. On Wednesday, two days before the planned meeting in Alaska, European leaders plan to consult with Zelensky and Trump on Merz's initiative. Merz will consult online with the leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland and Finland before the online talks with Trump, German government sources told dpa. US President Donald Trump is not aiming for an agreement on the Ukraine war from his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin: "I'm not going to make a deal," he said on Monday at a press conference in Washington. "It's not up to me to make a deal. I think a deal should be made for both [sides]," Trump said. He said that he would like to see a ceasefire and would like to see the best deal that can be reached for both sides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also said he wants Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to meet after the upcoming summit on Friday. "The next meeting will be with Zelensky and Putin, or Zelensky, and Putin and me. I'll be there if they need, but I want to have a meeting set up between the two leaders," Trump said. Trump said he will call Zelensky and European leaders "right after the meeting" with Putin. Ukraine strictly rejects territorial concessions Trump had earlier portrayed the meeting in Alaska as an attempt to get closer to ending the fighting in Ukraine. In this context, he spoke of a possible territorial exchange between Ukraine and Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There'll be some swapping. There'll be some changes in land. We're going to change the lines, the battle lines. We're going to try and get some of that territory back for Ukraine," Trump said on Monday, without providing further details. At the same time, Trump criticized Zelensky. He said he gets along with him, but he disagrees with his approach. Moscow recently demanded that Ukraine renounce NATO membership and cede the territories annexed by Russia for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Zelensky categorically rejects renouncing the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, annexed by Russia in 2014, as well as the areas of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson, partly controlled by Moscow, citing the constitution. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said it bothered him that Zelensky refers to the constitution in this matter, but he also received approval "to go into war and kill everybody." Russia began the war against Ukraine about three and a half years ago. Zelensky indirectly emphasized in his evening video address that he would not accept a deal on territorial exchange. "We will definitely defend our country and our independence," he stressed. And everything concerning Ukraine must be decided with the involvement of Ukraine, he added. Zelensky also accused Moscow of stalling for time. "It is obvious that the Russians simply want to buy time, not end the war," Zelensky wrote on X after talking with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The situation on the battlefield and Russias wicked strikes on civilian infrastructure and ordinary people prove this clearly," the Ukrainian president added. In a further conversation with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, Zelensky reported that both sides agreed that there must first be a ceasefire before the search for a diplomatic solution to end the war could begin. No Russian prep for post-battle era, says Zelensky In his nightly video address, he indicated that he believes Putin is not preparing for an end to hostilities. "He is definitely not preparing for a ceasefire or an end to the war. Putin is determined only to present a meeting with America as his personal victory and then continue acting exactly as before, applying the same pressure on Ukraine as before," Zelensky said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "So far, there is no indication whatsoever that the Russians have received signals to prepare for a post-war situation," he added. "On the contrary, they are redeploying their troops and forces in ways that suggest preparations for new offensive operations. If someone is preparing for peace, this is not what he does." Germany's Merz to consult with Trump, Zelenksy and European leaders Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is trying to reach a common line with Trump and other European leaders on a possible end to the Ukraine war. On Wednesday, two days before the planned meeting in Alaska, European leaders plan to consult with Zelensky and Trump on Merz's initiative. Merz will consult online with the leaders of France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Poland and Finland before the online talks with Trump, German government sources told dpa. US President Donald Trump has said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not attend his talks with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, scheduled for 15 August in Alaska. Source: European Pravda, citing Trump Details: Asked whether Zelenskyy was invited to the talks in Alaska on Friday, Trump replied: "He was not a part of it." "I would say he could go, but he's gone to a lot of meetings, he's been there for three and a half years and nothing happened," Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The US president said he was confident that in the "first two minutes" of his meeting with Putin he would know for sure "whether or not a deal can be made". Trump said the next meeting could be between Putin and Zelenskyy, or a trilateral meeting that he would also attend. Trump also said he would ultimately "put the two of them [Putin and Zelenskyy ed.] in a room and I think itll get solved". Background: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz believes that Zelenskyy must be invited to the meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska on 15 August. Wadysaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, said that inviting Zelenskyy would be the "best decision" for a ceasefire in Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! President Donald Trump said Russia and Ukraine will engage in land swapping that will be good and bad for both countries, a key part of his push to end the years-long war. The presidents comments on Monday follow insistence from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that his country would not trade land for peace, and underscore Trumps focus on making a deal with Putin. Still, Trump insisted that the Russian president, too, would likely have to give up some of the territory he has gained since invading in early 2022. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia has occupied a big portion of Ukraine, Trump said. They've occupied some very prime territory. We're going to try and get some of that territory back for Ukraine. Friday, Trump said, is a feel out meeting in which he and Putin can discuss the likelihood of peace. If its a fair deal, I will reveal it to the European Union leaders and to the NATO leaders and also to President Zelenskyy, Trump said. I may say, lots of luck, keep fighting, or I may say we can make a deal. Trump said it would take only two minutes to suss out Putins interest in a deal but he trusts Putin, who has misled him in the past, is sincere this time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I believe [Putin] wants to get it over, Trump said. Now, I've said that a few times, and I've been disappointed. Immediately after meeting with Putin, Trump said he would call European leaders and Zelenskyy to talk next steps, promising the next meeting would feature Putin and Zelenskyy and Trump, if needed. I will put the two of them in a room, he said. I think it will get solved. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is convening a virtual summit on Wednesday where Trump, Zelenskyy and European leaders can discuss a potential agreement with Putin. The virtual summit will focus on pressure options against Russia, questions about Ukrainian territories seized by Russia, security guarantees for Kyiv and the sequencing of potential peace talks. By Trevor Hunnicutt, Steve Holland, Yuliia Dysa and Lili Bayer WASHINGTON/KYIV/BRUSSELS (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that Kyiv and Moscow will both have to cede land to end the war in Ukraine and talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week will instantly show whether the Kremlin leader is willing to make a deal. European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy plan to speak with Trump ahead of his summit with Putin in Alaska on Friday, amid fears Washington may dictate unfavorable peace terms to Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has hardened his stance towards Moscow by agreeing to allow additional U.S. weapons to reach Ukraine and threatening tariffs against buyers of Russian oil, but fears have persisted in Europe that he might agree to a deal that forces big concessions from Kyiv. European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday that "transatlantic unity, support to Ukraine and pressure on Russia" were needed to end the war and "prevent future Russian aggression in Europe." British Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on Monday and they welcomed diplomatic efforts "to bring peace and agreed that this must be built with Ukraine - not imposed upon it," according to a readout from Downing Street. Trump told a White House press conference of his talks with Putin, "This is really a feel-out meeting." He said he would know "probably in the first two minutes" whether progress was possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'm going to be telling him, 'You've got to end this war,'" he said. "I'm going to go and see the parameters now. I may leave and say, 'Good luck.' And that'll be the end. I may say, 'This, this is not going to be settled.'" Trump said a future meeting could include Zelenskiy and the U.S. goal is a speedy ceasefire in the bloody 3-1/2-year-old conflict. He plans to talk to European leaders soon after his talks with Putin. Trump has in the past talked about land swaps but neither Russia nor Ukraine has been open to ceding land as part of a peace deal. Speaking to reporters, Trump said: "There'll be some land swapping going on." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I know that through Russia and through conversations with everybody, to the good of Ukraine," he said. He said Russia had occupied some "very prime territory" but "we're going to try to get some of that territory back." Zelenskiy's chief of staff Andriy Yermak said he spoke to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday, posting on X that lasting peace requires "an unconditional ceasefire as a prerequisite for substantive negotiations." Kallas said the EU would work on a 19th package of sanctions against Russia and warned against concessions to Moscow. "As far as Russia has not agreed to full and unconditional ceasefire, we should not even discuss any concessions," she said in a statement. "The sequencing of the steps is important. First an unconditional ceasefire with a strong monitoring system and ironclad security guarantees." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a post on X, Kallas said the EU would also work to increase military support for Ukraine and assistance for its budget needs and accession to the EU. UKRAINE WARNS AGAINST CONCESSIONS TO RUSSIA Zelenskiy warned on Monday that any concessions to Russia would not persuade it to stop fighting and more pressure was needed on the Kremlin. He said Russia was preparing troops for new offensives instead of getting ready to stop the war, and he urged countries to keep sanctions on Moscow until Ukraine receives security guarantees. "Russia refuses to stop the killings, and therefore must not receive any rewards or benefits," he wrote on X. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Concessions do not persuade a killer." Ukraine has sought to push back Russian invaders ever since the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War Two began in February 2022. Putin launched the invasion to take over Ukraine and expand Russia's sphere of influence. Zelenskiy spoke to the leaders of India and Saudi Arabia on Monday in an effort to mobilize support for Kyiv beyond Europe ahead of Trump's meeting with Putin. Putin has also made a flurry of calls in recent days, speaking to the leaders of China, India, Brazil and three ex-Soviet states to brief them on his contacts with the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Germany will convene a virtual meeting of European leaders on Wednesday to discuss how to pressure Russia ahead of a European call with Trump. Zelenskiy and EU and NATO officials are expected to join the meeting. Trump's administration has not disclosed its proposed territorial exchanges or any mechanism to ensure Putin complies with a ceasefire and does not try to overrun more of Ukraine. Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, retired U.S. Army General Keith Kellogg, earlier this year proposed a "resiliency force" of European NATO troops to secure the frontlines, as well as creating an 18-mile-wide demilitarized zone in eastern Ukraine. No U.S. troops would be involved. Britain and France in July convened a "coalition of the willing" of more than 30 nations and agreed to pursue operational plans for a European air, sea and land "reassurance force" and to "regenerate" Ukraine's military. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kellogg also said that Ukraine would not be admitted to NATO, meeting one of Putin's demands. (Reporting by Steve Holland, Trevor Hunnicutt, Jonathan Landay and David Brunnstrom in Washington, Lili Bayer in Brussels, Sarah Marsh in Belin and Yuliia Dysa and Dan Peleschuk in Kyiv; Writing by David Brunnstrom and Costas Pitas; Editing by Don Durfee, Cynthia Osterman and Marguerita Choy) President Donald Trump said Monday his administration was looking at reclassification of marijuana and intends to make a decision in the upcoming weeks. Its a very complicated subject base, he said during a press briefing. Ive heard great things having to do with medical and bad things having to do with just about everything else." His comments come after a Friday Wall Street Journal report indicated Trump was considering reclassifying the drug as less dangerous. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move, which the Biden administration considered but did not ultimately enact, is controversial among some in Trumps base. Charlie Kirk, an ally of the president, conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, said he hopes this doesnt happen. We need to protect public spaces for kids, he wrote in an X post Saturday. Everything already smells like weed, which is ridiculous. Lets make it harder to ruin public spaces, not easier. Trump did not indicate at the briefing whether he intends to reclassify the drug, just that his administration would consider it. Reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug would reduce penalties without making it fully legal. Ahead of the 2024 elections, Trump said he would vote yes on a Florida amendment that would legalize marijuana throughout the state. Florida voters did not approve the amendment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As I have previously stated, I believe it is time to end needless arrests and incarcerations of adults for small amounts of marijuana for personal use, he wrote on Truth Social. We must also implement smart regulations, while providing access for adults, to safe, tested product. In the post, he indicated he would look into the medical uses of marijuana and the benefits of reducing its classification to Schedule III. Trump says hes placing Washington, DC, police under federal control and deploying National Guard WASHINGTON (AP/Boston 25) President Donald Trump said Monday hes placing the Washington, D.C., police department under federal control and deploying the National Guard to make the nations capital safer. Trump has promised new steps to tackle homelessness and crime in Washington, prompting the citys mayor to voice concerns about the potential use of the National Guard to patrol the streets. Ahead of a news conference, Trump said Monday on social media that the nations capital would be LIBERATED today! He said he would end the days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Trump, the effort to take over public safety in Washington reflects a next step in his law enforcement agenda after his aggressive push to stop illegal border crossings. But the move involves at least 500 federal law enforcement officials, raising fundamental questions about how an increasingly emboldened federal government will interact with its state and local counterparts. Combating crime The president has used his social media and White House megaphones to message that his administration is tough on crime, yet his ability to shape policy might be limited outside of Washington, which has a unique status as a congressionally established federal district. Nor is it clear how his push would address the root causes of homelessness and crime. About 500 federal law enforcement officers are being tasked with deploying throughout the nations capital as part of the Trump administrations effort to combat crime, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Monday. More than 100 FBI agents and about 40 agents with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives are among federal law enforcement personnel being assigned to patrols in Washington, the person briefed on the plans said. The Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Marshals Service are also contributing officers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The person was not authorized to publicly discuss personnel matters and spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity. The Justice Department didnt immediately have a comment Monday morning. Focusing on homelessness Trump in a Sunday social media post had emphasized the removal of Washingtons homeless population, though it was unclear where the thousands of people would go. The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY, Trump wrote Sunday. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you dont have to move out. Were going to put you in jail where you belong. Last week, the Republican president directed federal law enforcement agencies to increase their presence in Washington for seven days, with the option to extend as needed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Friday night, federal agencies including the Secret Service, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service assigned more than 120 officers and agents to assist in Washington. Trump said last week that he was considering ways for the federal government to seize control of Washington, asserting that crime was ridiculous and the city was unsafe, after the recent assault of a high-profile member of the Department of Government Efficiency. The National Guard Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, questioned the effectiveness of using the Guard to enforce city laws and said the federal government could be far more helpful by funding more prosecutors or filling the 15 vacancies on the D.C. Superior Court, some of which have been open for years. Bowser cannot activate the National Guard herself, but she can submit a request to the Pentagon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I just think thats not the most efficient use of our Guard, she said Sunday on MSNBCs The Weekend, acknowledging it is the presidents call about how to deploy the Guard. Bowser was making her first public comments since Trump started posting about crime in Washington last week. She noted that violent crime in Washington has decreased since a rise in 2023. Trumps weekend posts depicted the district as one of the most dangerous cities anywhere in the World. For Bowser, Any comparison to a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false. Crime statistics Police statistics show homicides, robberies and burglaries are down this year when compared with this time in 2024. Overall, violent crime is down 26% compared with this time a year ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump offered no details in Truth Social posts over the weekend about possible new actions to address crime levels he argues are dangerous for citizens, tourists and workers alike. The White House declined to offer additional details about Mondays announcement. The police department and the mayors office did not respond to questions about what Trump might do next. The president criticized the district as full of tents, squalor, filth, and Crime, and he seems to have been set off by the attack on Edward Coristine, among the most visible figures of the bureaucracy-cutting effort known as DOGE. Police arrested two 15-year-olds in the attempted carjacking and said they were looking for others. This has to be the best run place in the country, not the worst run place in the country, Trump said Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He called Bowser a good person who has tried, but she has been given many chances. Trump has repeatedly suggested that the rule of Washington could be returned to federal authorities. Doing so would require a repeal of the Home Rule Act of 1973 in Congress, a step Trump said lawyers are examining. It could face steep pushback. Bowser acknowledged that the law allows the president to take more control over the citys police, but only if certain conditions are met. None of those conditions exist in our city right now, she said. We are not experiencing a spike in crime. In fact, were watching our crime numbers go down. Massachusetts native killed in D.C. Eric Tarpinian-Jachym, a University of Massachusetts Amherst student and Granby native, was working as a congressional intern on Capitol Hill when he was gunned down in the area of the 1200 block of 7th Street on the evening of June 30. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police say Tarpinian-Jachym was an innocent bystander caught in the middle of a dispute. A woman and a 16-year-old boy who were walking with the young man were also injured in the shooting, but are expected to recover. Tarpinian-Jachym was working for Rep. Ron Estes of Kansas. Police are working on leads, but no arrests have been made. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW US President Donald Trump has said he will try to get some territory back for Ukraine during his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday. "Russia's occupied a big portion of Ukraine. They occupied prime territory. We're going to try to get some of that territory back for Ukraine," he told a news conference at the White House. He and the Russian president are due to hold talks in Alaska at the end of the week. Trump claimed that he could know within two minutes of meeting Putin whether progress was possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said Friday would be a "feel-out meeting" aimed at urging Putin to end the war - suggesting he may view the summit as just an initial encounter. Trump again warned that there would be "some swapping, changes in land" between Russia and Ukraine. It is not the first time he has used the phrase "land-swapping", though it is unclear what land Russia could cede to Ukraine. Kyiv has never laid claim to any Russian territories. Trump said he will update European leaders if Putin proposes a "fair deal" during the talks, adding that he would speak to Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky first "out of respect". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I'll call him first... I'll call him after, and I may say, 'lots of luck, keep fighting,' or I may say, 'we can make a deal'", he said. Trump also said that while he and Zelensky "get along", he "very severely disagrees with what [the Ukrainian president] has done". Trump has previously blamed Zelensky for the war in Ukraine, which was sparked by Russia's full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022. He stated that a future meeting could include Zelensky and could be a three-way session including himself and Putin. Kaja Kallas, vice-president of the European Commission, told the BBC Putin wants to "go for the old fashioned way of...let's divide the territories and spheres of influence" in his talks with Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But she stressed that Europe has been clear it will not accept a deal Ukraine has not agreed to. "If Ukraine is not part of the deal, any deal will just not be implemented and that is the reason why Ukraine needs to be around that table," she said, adding that she hopes Zelensky will be invited to the meeting. The Kremlin has always played down expectations of a meeting with Zelensky, with Putin reiterating recently the conditions to meet the Ukrainian president were still far off. Trump announced the meeting with Putin last Friday - the day of his self-imposed deadline for Russia to agree to a ceasefire or face more US sanctions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In response to news of the Alaska summit, Zelensky said any agreements without input from Kyiv would amount to "dead decisions". On Monday, he cited a report from Ukraine's intelligence service saying there was no sign Russia was preparing to put an end to the fighting in Ukraine. Zelensky is expected to attend a virtual meeting with Trump, US Vice-President JD Vance, and EU leaders on Wednesday. A spokesman for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he invited the leaders, as well as EU and Nato chiefs, to discuss how to pressure Moscow ahead of Trump's meeting with Putin. During a phone call on Monday, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney agreed that a peace agreement "must be built with Ukraine - not imposed upon it", a Downing Street spokesperson said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The two leaders will "continue to work closely" with both Trump and Zelensky "over the coming days", they added. By Trevor Hunnicutt and Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that both Ukraine and Russia would have to cede land to each other to end the war and that his talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin would be aimed at taking the temperature on a possible deal. Trump told a White House press conference that his talks on Friday with Putin in Alaska would be a "feel-out meeting" to determine whether Putin was willing to make a deal. He said he could know within two minutes whether progress was possible. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "So I'm going in to speak to Vladimir Putin, and I'm going to be telling him, you've got to end this war. You've got to end it," Trump told reporters. Trump also said a future meeting could include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and could end up being a three-way session including himself and Putin. He said he would speak to European leaders soon after his talks with Putin and that his goal was a speedy ceasefire in the bloody conflict. Trump has in the past talked about land swaps but neither Russia nor Ukraine have been interested in ceding land to each other as part of a peace deal. Europeans worry that major concessions to Russia could create security problems for the West in the future. Ukraine has sought to push back Russian invaders ever since the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War Two began 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. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia currently occupies about a fifth of Ukrainian territory, while Ukraine holds barely any Russian territory. Trump said: "There'll be some land swapping going on." "I know that through Russia and through conversations with everybody, to the good of Ukraine," he said. He said Russia had occupied some "very prime territory" but that "we're going to try to get some of that territory back". (Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt, Nandita Bose and Steve Holland in Washington; Editing by Mark Porter) By Trevor Hunnicutt, Andrea Shalal and Joe Cash WASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) -The United States and China have extended a tariff truce for another 90 days, staving off triple-digit duties on each other's goods as U.S. retailers get ready to ramp up inventories ahead of the critical end-of-year holiday season. U.S. President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social platform on Monday that he had signed an executive order suspending the imposition of higher tariffs until 12:01 a.m. EST (0501 GMT) on November 10, with all other elements of the truce to remain in place. China's Commerce Ministry issued a parallel pause on extra tariffs early on Tuesday, also postponing for 90 days the addition of U.S. firms it had targeted in April to trade and investment restriction lists. "The United States continues to have discussions with the PRC to address the lack of trade reciprocity in our economic relationship and our resulting national and economic security concerns," Trump's executive order stated, using the acronym for the People's Republic of China. The tariff truce between Beijing and Washington had been due to expire on Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. EDT (0401 GMT). The extension until early November buys crucial time for the seasonal autumn surge of imports for the Christmas season, including electronics, apparel and toys at lower tariff rates. The new order prevents U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods from shooting up to 145%, while Chinese tariffs on U.S. goods were set to hit 125% - rates that would have resulted in a virtual trade embargo between the two countries. It locks in place - at least for now - a 30% tariff on Chinese imports, with Chinese duties on U.S. imports at 10%. There was relief on the streets of China's capital, where officials are grappling with the challenge Trumps trade policy poses to the economys long-standing, export-oriented growth model. "I don't think either China or the United States wants to see their relationship continue to deteriorate," said Wang Mingyue, a 39-year-old professional working in robotics. "That's why both are taking the current approach, but the game and confrontation may not be over yet - so there's still risk." Markets showed optimism for a breakthrough between the two superpowers, with Asian stocks rising and currencies mostly steady, after treading water for weeks. Trump told CNBC last week that the U.S. and China were getting very close to a trade agreement and he would meet Xi before the end of the year if a deal was struck. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed during an Aug. 11 press conference that Volodymyr Zelensky will not take part in his upcoming talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, set for Aug. 15 in Alaska. "He wasn't part of it," Trump told reporters. "I would say he could go, but he's gone to a lot of meetings; he's been there for three and a half years, and nothing happened." As Washington seeks a path to end the war in Ukraine, the upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin will mark their first face-to-face talks since the start of Trump's second term. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said after his meeting with Putin, a meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders should take place. "Ultimately, I'm going to put the two of them (Putin and Zelensky) in a room, I'll be there or I won't be there, and I think it'll get solved," Trump said. During the press conference, Trump added that he was "a little bothered" by Zelensky's words regarding "constitutional approval" for land swaps as part of a potential peace agreement. "He's got approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap? There'll be some land swapping going on," Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're going to change the battle lines. Russia has occupied a big portion of Ukraine. They've occupied some very prime territory. We're going to try and get some of that territory back for Ukraine," he added. Trump described the upcoming meeting with Putin as a "feel-out meeting" and added that the Russian president wants "to get involved" and "to get over" the war. "At the end of that meeting, probably in the first two minutes, I'll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made," Trump said. On Aug. 8, Trump announced a summit with Putin and reportedly told Ukraine and European leaders that the Kremlin is open to negotiations if "land swaps" are part of the deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Though it remains unclear what such a deal would entail, a source in Ukraine's Presidential Office told the Kyiv Independent that Moscow seeks Kyiv's full withdrawal from partially occupied Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in the east while offering to withdraw its forces from the limited areas it holds in the northeastern Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts. Publicly, Putin has demanded a ban on Ukraine's NATO membership and a full Ukrainian withdrawal from partially occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts as a precondition for peace talks. In turn, Zelensky has rejected ceding territory to Russia and urged a ceasefire as the first step toward peace talks, a position backed by Kyiv's European partners. Zelensky is also expected to hold talks with European leaders and Trump two days before the summit in Alaska, on Aug. 13. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Exclusive: Putin to demand Ukraine cede new territory in Alaska peace plan US likely to agree, Kyiv to reject Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. President Trump on Monday announced plans to send the National Guard into Washington, D.C., and invoke Section 740 of the D.C. Home Rule Act of 1973, giving him temporary control over the nations capital. Im announcing a historic action to rescue our nations capital from crime, bloodshed, Bedlam and squalor and worse, Trump told a packed room of reporters. This is Liberation Day in D.C., and were gonna take our capital back. Were taking it back. Under the authorities vested in me as the President of the United States, Im officially invoking Section 740, of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, you know what that is, and placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control, and youll be meeting the people that will be directly involved with that. This is an unprecedented decision that may very well lead to even more extreme overreaches of police and executive power on behalf of the Trump administration. As a federal district and not a state, the Home Rule Act gives D.C. the right to elect a mayor, legislate and enforce local police, and approve the citys budget. Trumps decision Monday puts the local Metropolitan Police Department under federal control. Rule 740, initially designed to be used in case of an all out violent uprising, allows Trump himself to control the MPD for two days at a time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, Trump announced, 800 National Guard troops will also be sent to patrol the district. This press conference was the culmination of days of statements from the president in which he expressed the kind of far-right takes on crime in D.C. that people tend to develop after watching hours of Fox News every night. From clearing out homeless encampments to trying 14-year-olds as adults, Trump has begun to initiate his authoritarian vision on the grounds that crime is at an emergency level. You dont want to get mugged and raped and shot and killed. And you all know people and friends of yours that that happened.... You want to be able to leave your apartment or your house where you live and feel safe and go into a store to buy a newspaper or buy something, and you dont have that now, Trump said. The murder rate in Washington today is higher than that of Bogota, Colombia, Mexico City, some of the places that you hear about as being the worst places on earth. Much higher. (In reality, violence crime in D.C. has been declining since 2023.) Trump also expressed deep, dogwhistle-laden disdain for the citys Black and Latino youth, who he and his cast of press conference characters all threatened to clamp down on by increasing the level of force police can use and eliminating cashless bail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We have slums here. Were getting rid of them. I know its not politically correct. Youll say, Oh, so terrible. No, we get rid of the slums where they live. Caravans of mass youth rampage through city streets at all times of the day. Theyre on ATVs, motorbikes. They travel pretty well, Trump said. They fight back, until you knock the hell out of them. Because its the only language they understand. D.C. residents should expect an increased police presence in popular areas like Dupont Circle and Malcolm X Park, as well as in triangle parks. Homeless people, immigrants, and young people of color, whom the administration sees as young punks, may likely face increased harassment. This is just a list of some of the people that were removed from the D.C. streets this weekend. They were rough, rough and tough. But were rougher and tougher, Trump said, holding up a piece of paper with some unclear pictures on it. Look at this. People here theyre not going to be your local school teacher. This guy has killed people numerous times. Theyre not going to be an asset. They will never be an asset to society. I dont care. This story has been updated. By Dan Burns and Lucia Mutikani WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said he was nominating economist E.J. Antoni as the new Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner, 10 days after firing the agency's previous leader following a weak scorecard of the job market, accusing her without evidence of manipulating the figures. Antoni is currently the chief economist at the influential conservative think tank Heritage Foundation. He has been critical of the BLS, the Labor Department's statistical agency, whose monthly figures about the state of the job market and inflation are consumed by a global audience of economists, investors, business leaders, public policymakers and consumers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Their release routinely has a visible and real-time effect on stock, bond and currency markets around the world. "Our Economy is booming, and E.J. will ensure that the Numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE," Trump said on Truth Social. Antoni last year wrote an opinion piece in the New York Post, stating "the Biden-Harris Labor Department seems to exist in the land of make-believe." That was after the BLS published data estimating a sharp downward revision to the level of employment from April 2023-through March 2024. The nomination of Antoni, who contributed to "Project 2025," the controversial conservative plan to overhaul the government, was met with reservations from economists. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "The nominee will result in a surge in demand for private label data," said Joe Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM US. Groundwork Collaborative's head of policy and advocacy Alex Jacquez called Antoni a "sycophant," adding his selection was "a clear assault on independent analysis that will have far-reaching implications for the reliability of U.S. economic data." Antoni, who must be confirmed by the Senate, would take over an agency that has come under heightened scrutiny for the eroding quality of the data it produces. Trump added to growing concerns about the reliability of BLS and other federal government economic data when he fired Erika McEntarfer as BLS commissioner on August 1. Her dismissal came hours after the agency reported much weaker-than-expected job growth for July and issued an historically large revision to its employment figures for May and June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UNFOUNDED CLAIMS In announcing her firing, Trump accused McEntarfer - appointed to the role by former President Joe Biden - of manipulating the employment data for political purposes. There is no evidence of that being true. He promised he would replace her "with someone much more competent and qualified." Antoni, who holds a doctoral degree in economics, was previously an economist at the Texas Public Policy Foundation and has taught courses on labor economics, money and banking, according to the Heritage Foundation. He must now address the difficulties BLS has had with declining survey response rates and with data collection problems in other critical statistical series, such as for inflation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He does have the necessary economic credentials, but that doesn't mean he understands how BLS puts together the data and how revisions are put together on a monthly basis," said Sung Won Sohn, finance and economics professor at Loyola Marymount University. "Some of the data that will be forthcoming will not be to President Trump's liking, it will be interesting how he would explain that and how the president would react to that." The nonfarm payrolls report provides a monthly snapshot of the U.S. job market, offering scores of figures including how many jobs were created, what the unemployment rate was, how many people joined or left the labor force and what workers earn per hour and how many hours they work in a week. Its headline estimates for job creation are revised twice after their initial release to account for the submission of additional survey responses from employers and updates to the seasonal factors that underlie the statistics. They are also subject to an annual benchmark revision process. The monthly Consumer Price Index and Producer Price Index together historically have provided a comprehensive picture of U.S. inflation, including hundreds of data points depicting the changes in cost for everything from eggs to auto insurance, figures relied upon heavily by policymakers like those at the Federal Reserve. CPI is used to set the annual cost-of-living-adjustment for retirees receiving Social Security payments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Years of underfunding of the BLS under both Republican and Democratic administrations and Trump White House's unprecedented campaign to reshape the government through deep spending cuts and mass layoffs of public workers have led to the suspension of data collection for portions of the CPI basket in some areas across the country. That has led to the BLS using imputations to fill in the missing information. The percentage of prices that are imputed rather than gathered has more than tripled this year to 35%. "I can't help but worry some deadlines are going to be missed and undetected biases or other errors are going to start creeping into some of these reports just because of the reduction in staff," Erica Groshen, who served as BLS commissioner from 2013 to 2017 during President Barack Obama's second term and the first months of Trump's first term. (Reporting by Dan Burns and Lucia Mutikani; Additional reporting by Jasper Ward and Ismail Shakil; Editing by Caitlin Webber and Michael Perry) The White House plans to activate around 800 National Guard troops in Washington to support local law enforcement, according to a senior defense official. They will assist with logistics, transportation, and guarding facilities, similar to the role the California National Guard performed this summer in Los Angeles. The move comes as President Donald Trump pledges to crack down on crime in the nations capital, despite a decline in recent years. Trump, who has claimed the crime in Washington is totally out of control, is expected to announce the move at a Monday press conference. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The troops will not have arrest authority, but a military police unit may play some role in detaining suspects while waiting for local law enforcement to make an arrest, the official said. The exact role of the troops has yet to be fully spelled out by the White House, and the Army and Pentagon are working on the details. But a second military official said they expect the deployment to look much like the California deployment. Although crime in Washington hit a 30-year low last year, the president in recent days has seized on violence against a Trump administration staffer to cast the city as dangerous, pledging earlier Monday that Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR. Last week, Trump deployed federal law enforcement throughout the city. In February, he floated a federal takeover of Washington. WASHINGTON Declaring a public safety emergency in Washington, DC, Monday President Donald Trump took control of the citys police, and he warned he might expand the approach to other municipalities like Chicago. In a news conference, Trump announced he was taking federal control of the Washington, D.C., police department and deploying the National Guard in the nations capital in an effort to crack down on crime. Related: Trump activates National Guard, names DEA commissioner to lead DC police force Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said he wants to rescue our nations capital from crime, bloodshed, bedlam and squalor. The Democratic mayor of D.C., Muriel Bowser, has noted that violent crime in Washington has decreased since a rise in 2023. Trump cited a number of recent high-profile incidents, including the killing of a 21-year-old Congressional intern and the beating of a DOGE staffer during an attempted carjacking. Trump went on to say would start with D.C., but the wider crackdown on crime would go further to other Americans. Were going to clean it up real quick, very quickly, he said. Trump said he hopes other cities, including Los Angeles, New York and Chicago, are watching the steps hes announced in D.C. and would take steps to self-clean up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said that if needed, the administration would take similar steps in other cities and criticized their leadership at the local and state levels. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. US President Donald Trump has said he hopes to have a "constructive" conversation with Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin on 15 August in Alaska, but admitted that he has not ruled out a negative outcome. Source: European Pravda, citing Trump at a press conference Details: The US president noted that the purpose of the meeting with Putin in Alaska is to "see what the parameters are". Trump said he hopes for a "constructive" conversation with the Russian leader and will call European leaders immediately after the meeting to brief them on the discussion and tell them "what kind of a deal" it can be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Im not going to make a deal. Its not up to me to make a deal. I think a deal should be made for both," he said. Trump said that he "would like to see a ceasefire" and "the best deal that can be made for both parties". The US president believes that following his meeting with Putin, there is a chance that a ceasefire can be achieved "very quickly". Trump said, "Were going to be dealing with the European leaders, and were going to be dealing with President Zelenskyy, and hopefully were going to have a great success." "I expect to have a meeting with Putin, and I think it will be good, but it might be bad. Im here for one reason to get rid of a war that somebody else started. It should have never happened. And if I could end it great. A complex war. A lot of bad blood," Trump said. Background: On Saturday, the leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, Finland and the European Commission said they welcome Trump's efforts to end the war, but stressed the need to put pressure on Russia and provide security guarantees to Kyiv. On 11 August, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that he was feeling a mixture of fear and hope ahead of this week's Russia-US summit on the war in Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG Renewable energy developers say that the rollback of billions in tax credits for their industry will lead to higher costs for consumers, especially as the influx of data centers into Pennsylvania increases demand for power. In July, President Donald Trump signed big, beautiful legislation that extended tax breaks to high earners by cutting federal funding for Medicaid and other social services. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The law also rolled back Biden-era tax credits for the renewable energy industry and homeowners making energy-efficient renovations. Two of the largest tax credits for building clean energy projects or generating power with low emissions are now set to expire by the end of 2027, rather than nearly a decade later. Experts say this will slow the growth of renewable energy projects and reduce the amount of power generated in the state, resulting in higher electricity bills for consumers. One report projected an annual increase of $130 per Pennsylvania household by 2030. Rolling back these tax credits is just one part of the Trump administrations move to crack down on the clean energy industry. Recently, Trump directed his U.S. Treasury secretary to issue guidance on the tax credit rollback process, and clean energy developers fear this will make it harder to claim the credits before they expire. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Currently, developers can claim credits for existing projects that begin construction before the end of 2026 or start operating before the end of 2027. And while those who spoke with Spotlight PA were hopeful about the industrys long-term growth, developers said increased upfront construction costs in the short term will drive away business. Aaron Nichols, a research and policy expert at Exact Solar, a Bucks County solar panel installation company, said the repeal of the tax credits is less than ideal for clean energy companies. His company focuses on small-scale residential and commercial installations. Nichols said business has surged since the passage of the federal bill, driven by individuals rushing to claim a tax credit for residential installation before it expires at the end of the year. Homeowners who were kind of on the fence to invest in home solar are now doing it just as fast as they possibly can, Nichols told Spotlight PA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For long-term stability, his company is shifting its focus to tax credits with greater longevity. For instance, it is expanding its leasing program. The project lets companies pay the upfront construction costs of setting up solar panels on residential homes; homeowners get cheaper monthly electricity costs, and businesses can claim the production and investment tax credits. Nichols predicted that the solar industry will continue to grow with or without tax credits, due to a significant rise in energy demand. Although the rollback of tax credits may temporarily slow business, Nichols thinks it wont halt the industrys growth. I think theres going to be a short period where a lack of incentives is going to matter, Nichols said of the tax credits. And then I think were just going to keep going. Large-scale energy developers who build solar farms face a different set of challenges. They say the tax credit rollbacks wont affect current projects but will make financing future work more difficult. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Edward Shelton, vice president of development at Vesper Energy, a Texas-based renewables developer that generates power for the grid, expects fundraising to become trickier. With tax credits available, developers need less initial funding to start a project. I cant say that it wont slow things down, Shelton said. Will it completely stifle the industry? It remains to be seen. Vesper is currently developing a solar farm in Bradford County that is expected to generate dozens of megawatts of power roughly enough energy to power 120,000 homes for a year. The company also operates four other solar projects in the state. Shelton said the Bradford project is on track to break ground in time to qualify for the tax credit. Developing projects takes five to six years, Shelton explained, during which the economic incentive landscape can shift. Tax credits could be reinstated, or equipment prices could fluctuate, making financing difficult to predict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the tax credits were there, would we site even more projects? We probably would, Shelton told Spotlight PA. But its not like we are just stopping development of any early-stage project that we have. Matt Litchfield, vice president of external and regulatory affairs at Maryland-based natural gas and renewable energy developer Competitive Power Ventures, echoed Shelton, saying that tax credits will influence financing rather than project planning. It changes the pool of who and where is investing in the project, but it doesnt change the overall investment figures themselves, Litchfield said. He noted that similar tax credits have expired before only to return a few years later, and said he has no reason to think that will be any different in this case. Considering increased energy demand from data centers, Litchfield said, he doesnt think that anyone is going to be choosy when theyre going to power their data centers, regardless of any changes from the rollback. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Consumer electricity prices are already increasing as demand outstrips supply. Sunsetting the tax credits further handicaps the industry at a time when the state needs more energy, said Evan Vaughan, the executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition, an organization representing utility-scale developers. He added that the increased costs to developers will be baked in to electricity prices for consumers for several years to come. Its not a sky is falling moment for wind and solar, but it does introduce new challenges and new uncertainty, Vaughn told Spotlight PA. We need certainty around building more energy if were going to win the AI race and if were going to keep prices reasonable for consumers. BEFORE YOU GO If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said he might expand his crackdown on crime in the nation's capital to other major U.S. cities as he announced plans to send 800 National Guard troops into Washington, D.C. Trump singled out New York City, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Chicago and Oakland, California during a Monday, Aug. 11, news conference as potential future targets in what would be a drastic escalation of federal presence on the streets of American cities. "We're not going to lose our cities over this. This will go further. We're starting very strongly with D.C., and we're going to clean it up real quick," Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Trump orders National Guard into Washington and takes over DC police: Live updates Trump did not elaborate on his plans for other cities. But one of the two executive actions he signed Aug. 11 directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to coordinate with governors of states and "authorize the orders of any additional members of the National Guard to active service, as he deems necessary and appropriate, to augment this mission." "We're going to take back our capital," Trump said. "And then we'll look at other cities also. But other cities are studying what we're doing." Trump warns cities to 'learn their lesson' Each of the cities that Trump mentioned are led by Democratic mayors in states with Democratic governors, who could be less likely to request the Trump administration's intervention than Republican governors who are political allies of the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Other cities are hopefully watching this.... And maybe theyll self-clean up," Trump said, adding they could be targeted if "they don't learn their lesson" and study his administration's moves in Washington. He said he plans to look at New York City next "and if we need to, we're going to do the same thing in Chicago." More: Trump says he's looking at reclassifying marijuana at federal level President Donald Trump speaks about deploying federal law enforcement agents in Washington, DC, to bolster the local police presence on Aug. 11, 2025. In a separate executive order, Trump invoked authority under Section 740 of the Home Rule Act to take control of Washingtons police department. The move, authorized by federal law as part of the District of Columbia's unique status as a federal enclave, is not an option for Trump elsewhere. Secretary of Army Daniel Driscoll is set to lead the National Guards operation in Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon is also prepared to bring in additional National Guard units and other specialized units if needed. "They will be strong. They will be tough. And they will stand with their law enforcement partners," Hegseth said. "This is nothing new for DOD," he added, pointing to Trumps deployment of military troops at the United States-Mexico border to crack down on illegal immigration. Trump's authority to direct National Guard troops was challenged earlier this year after he tapped the California National Guard to quell protests over widespread deportations from increased immigration enforcement in the Los Angeles area. After Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom challenged Trump's control over the troops, a judge ruled in favor of Trump. Trump reeled off a list of recent violent crimes in Washington, D.C. to justify his actions. Yet, volent crimes so far in 2025 are down 26% compared to last year, and homicides are down 12%, according to statistics compiled by the Metropolitian Police Department. Similarly, homicides in New York City are down in 2025 compared to the same time last year. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Trump says Washington needs National Guard protection. Police data says crime is down. Mayors push back at Trump's threat An FBI report released Aug. 5 found violent crime in 2024 dropped by 4.5% in the United States compared to 2023, with murder and non-negligent manslaughter decreasing by nearly 15%. The U.S. Conference of Mayors, which represents about 1,400 mayors, responded to Trump's actions and threats by touting a "nationwide success story" of plummeting crime rates. "Ultimately, the best public safety outcomes are delivered by local police departments and local officials, who know the communities," Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, president of the mayors' conference, said in a statement. "Americas mayors never see takeovers by other levels of government as a tactic that has any track record of producing results." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, in response to Trump singling out his city, said "Baltimore is the safest it's been in over 50 years," adding that homicides are down about 28% in 2025. "We still have real work to do to build on this progress," Scott said in a statement, "but that work starts and ends here in Baltimore, with the local, state, and federal partners who have gotten us this far." Contributing: Cybele Mayes-Osterman of USA TODAY Reach Joey Garrison on X @joeygarrison. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump puts other US cities on notice as he sends National Guard to DC President Donald Trumps attempt to take over law enforcement in Washington, D.C., is once again testing the bounds of his authority to militarize a major U.S. city. The capital, unlike other cities, is already subject to significant federal control and Trump is invoking his emergency powers to solidify it. But the intersection of complicated laws and rules about the use of the military for domestic law enforcement, the deployment of federal agents to the streets of D.C. and the citys own crime-fighting policies may still prompt legal uncertainty and inevitable challenges. Heres what Trump can and cannot do: Trump said hes taking control of the D.C. police. Can he do that? Yes, with limits. The Home Rule Act gives him the power to use the D.C. police force for federal purposes if he determines that there are special conditions of an emergency nature. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He can use the D.C. police for up to 48 hours, or for up to 30 days if he sends a special message to the leaders of certain congressional committees. To use the D.C. police for longer than 30 days, he would need authorization from Congress. In an order Monday, Trump said the D.C. police force under his control would protect federal buildings and national monuments, typically a function of federal law enforcement agencies. District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb called Trump's actions "unprecedented, unnecessary, and unlawful." Schwalb said there is "no crime emergency" in the district that would justify the takeover of the police force. Violent crime in the district, he said, is at a 30-year low. Trump also said hes deploying National Guard troops to D.C. Can he do that? Yes. Trump has more authority over the D.C. National Guard than he has over the guards of the 50 states. Governors control the state guards (although the president can federalize the state guards in an emergency or for use in combat operations). The District of Columbia, of course, has no governor, and the D.C. guard is not controlled by the mayor. Rather, the D.C. guard is always under the direct control of the president. Arent there limits on using the military for domestic law enforcement? Yes, but those limits might not apply to the D.C. National Guard. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A federal law passed in 1878, the Posse Comitatus Act, bars the use of the U.S. military for civilian law enforcement except when authorized by the Constitution or another provision of federal law. The Trump administration is currently on trial in Los Angeles over its deployment of the California guard in June to quell immigration-related protests in that city. That trial will test whether a federal judge believes Trumps deployment ran afoul of that 1878 law and must be rescinded. But the legality of using the guard in D.C. may be different. Presidential use of the D.C. guard has rarely faced legal resistance because it has typically happened in cooperation with D.C. leaders. And the Justice Department has long maintained that the D.C. guard, unlike the other guards, can be used for ordinary law enforcement without violating Posse Comitatus. A 1989 legal opinion from the departments Office of Legal Counsel found that President George H.W. Bush could use the D.C. guard to carry out law enforcement missions in D.C. as part of the so-called war on drugs. If Trumps deployment of the D.C. guard is challenged in court, a judge would almost certainly take note of the OLC opinion, but would not be bound to follow it. Does Trump have the power to federalize D.C.? Trump cannot singlehandedly wrest control of the districts government. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Constitution grants Congress the power to exercise exclusive legislation over the seat of government of the United States. In 1973, with the passage of the Home Rule Act, Congress created the local D.C. government that still exists to this day. Under the act, D.C. has significant control of day-to-day local affairs. But the federal government including federal law enforcement agencies such as the U.S. Capitol Police and the U.S. Park Police retain control over federal land and property. And Congress has the final say on local D.C. policies: The Home Rule Act allows Congress to effectively veto any legislation passed by the D.C. Council. The president alone has no authority to federalize the D.C. government; he would need Congress to amend the Home Rule Act. Has Trump sent federal authorities into D.C. before? Yes, Trump has tested the boundaries of his ability to use federal agents and the National Guard in Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has clear control and authority over tens of thousands of federal law enforcement officers who work in the area for federal agencies, including the FBI, the Marshals Service, the Secret Service, the Park Police and others. Trump deployed many of those agencies in June 2020 to clear Black Lives Matter protesters from Lafayette Park, across from the White House. Trump also faced scrutiny for his inaction on Jan. 6, 2021 as a mob of his supporters attacked the Capitol when it came to ensuring the National Guard was racing to assist besieged lawmakers. Though Trump aides said he previously authorized them to deploy the National Guard as necessary, witnesses said Trump made no efforts to contact his military leadership during the chaos, even as his then-vice president, Mike Pence, was urgently making calls to ensure a federal response. Trump on Monday also encouraged D.C. law enforcement officers to hit back hard if instigators spit at them and get in their faces. But Trump also pardoned hundreds of people who attacked and injured those very same officers on Jan. 6, sometimes with weapons, and suggested his supporters actions were minor. (The Center Square) President Donald Trump says Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is incompetent, that he may send the national guard into Chicago and will work to reverse the end of cash bail. In announcing federal law enforcement actions in Washington D.C. Monday, Trump said he may send the National Guard to keep the peace in places with heavy crime. And if we need to, we're going to do the same thing in Chicago, which is a disaster, Trump said. We have a mayor there who's totally incompetent. He's an incompetent man. And we have an incompetent governor. That Pritzker's an incompetent. His family threw him out of the business, and he ran for governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump even went as far to add to speculation that Pritzker is running for president in 2028. And now I understand he wants to be president, but I noticed he lost a little weight, so maybe he has a chance, Trump said. You know, you never know what happens. But Pritzker is a gross, incompetent guy, thrown out of the family business. Later in the day Monday, Pritzker said Trump has no right or legal ability to send troops into the city of Chicago. As to everything else that he had to say this morning, I guess I should say thank you for the compliment," Pritzker said at an unrelated event. Pritzker said Trump is a cheater, a convicted felon and has declared bankruptcy several times. As to his political future, Pritzker said the only decisions hes made is to run for a third term as governor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also said hes got more he is taking aim at across the country concerning public safety, including ending no-cash bail. That's what started it in Chicago. I mean, bad politicians started and bad leadership started it. But that was the one thing that's central. No cash bail, Trump said. Somebody murders somebody and they're out on no cash bail before the day is out. We're going to end that in Chicago. We're going to change the statute. Illinois ended cash bail statewide in 2023, being the first state to do so. The Network for Pretrial Justice said in a statement Monday that Trumps policies hurt poor people and people of color, and that dangerous people are not flooding the streets. They argue violent crime has decreased since the start of no-cash bail. Illinois is showing the country a way out of the policies of mass incarceration that have failed to keep our communities safe, the group said in a statement. We will not be bullied by a president who is more concerned with his public image than he is public safety. The Pretrial Fairness Act is working, and Illinois is safer because of it. President Trump is moving to expand presidential authority over Washington, D.C.s local government a step thats already stirring controversy. On Monday, he declared a public safety emergency and announced he would temporarily take charge of the citys police department. This is liberation day in D.C. Were gonna take our capital back, Trump told reporters at a White House press conference. Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people. And were not going to let it happen anymore. Heres a closer look at the legal authority hes invoking, what the crime data actually shows, and how local leaders are reacting. Can Trump really take over D.C.? Under D.C.s Home Rule Act of 1973, the president can take control of the local police department if he determines that special conditions of an emergency nature exist a power that had never been used until Trumps announcement on Monday. The authority lasts for only 30 days unless Congress approves an extension, and the president must explain his rationale in writing within 48 hours. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As part of the move, Attorney General Pam Bondi has been appointed to oversee the federalized Washington Metropolitan Police Department. The plan also includes deploying about 800 National Guard troops to the city and reassigning dozens of federal agents among them, up to 120 FBI agents for nighttime patrols. D.Cs police union, which represents more than 3,000 officers, backed the takeover, calling it necessary to address violent crime surges, historic officer shortages, and eroded morale. Still, the union stressed it should be a temporary step, with the ultimate goal of restoring a fully staffed and supported local force. What about other cities? The president has said he plans to extend the policy to other Democratic-led cities, describing them as bad, very bad, without giving specific reasons why. In addition to Washington, he named New York City, Baltimore, Oakland, Los Angeles, and Chicago as places where he wants to place police departments under federal control. Los Angeles is already in his crosshairs: earlier this summer, he sent thousands of National Guard members there over the objections of state and local officials. Theyre so far gone, Trump said of those cities. This will go further. Were starting very strongly with D.C. Is Washington, D.C., as unsafe as Trump says? The numbers tell a different story about crime in the District of Columbia. Data from Washingtons Metropolitan Police Department show violent crime has fallen sharply since its post-pandemic peak in 2023. Compared to this time last year, violent crime is down 26 percent, with big drops in key categories like homicides, robberies, burglaries, and a 50 percent decline in sex abuse cases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A recent Department of Justice report paints an even broader picture: Violent crime is down 35 percent since 2023, bringing the citys rate to its lowest point in three decades and back in line with the pre-pandemic trend of steady declines. Overall crime in D.C. is down 7 percent so far this year, with burglary down 20 percent and motor vehicle theft holding steady. Still, Washingtons murder rate remains relatively high. In 2024, the city recorded 25.5 murders and non-negligent manslaughters per 100,000 residents, according to a USA TODAY analysis of FBI Uniform Crime Reporting data the fifth-highest among more than 30 U.S. cities with populations over half a million. Trump, however, skips that nuance, instead pointing to recent incidents as proof the city is in crisis including the assault of a former Department of Government Efficiency employee by a group of teens earlier this month. A police cruiser arrived mid-attack, and two suspects were arrested on unarmed carjacking charges. How are local leaders responding? At a press conference after Trumps announcement, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser called the presidents decision unsettling and unprecedented. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While she acknowledged the city experienced a terrible spike in crime in 2023 in line with a national trend she pushed back on the idea that D.C. is in the middle of a crime wave. We are not experiencing a crime spike, she told MSNBC on Sunday. The president is very aware of our efforts. Other local leaders voiced similar objections. D.C. Democratic Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton criticized Trumps sweeping crime crackdown as an historic assault on the citys autonomy, and said it underscored her decades-long push for statehood. President Trumps decision to federalize MPD and activate the D.C. National Guard to address crime is an historic assault on D.C. home rule, is a counterproductive, escalatory seizure of D.C.s resources to use for purposes not supported by D.C. residents, and is more evidence of the urgent need to pass my D.C. statehood bill, Norton said in a statement. This pushback sets the stage for a likely showdown over how far the federal government can go in policing the nations capital and whether the presidents unprecedented move will stand. The post Trump Takes Control of D.C. Police in First-Ever Use of Rare Law appeared first on Katie Couric Media. President Donald Trump announced Monday that he is activating approximately 800 National Guard troops and is taking over the Metropolitan Police Department to tackle crime in Washington, after beefing up federal law enforcement presence in the nation's capital Saturday. "I'm deploying the National Guard to help reestablish law, order and public safety in Washington, DC," Trump told reporters at a Monday press conference. "And they're going to be allowed to do their job properly." Trump also said that he would federalize the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington to respond to crime, placing it under the authority of Attorney General Pam Bondi. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement National Guard troops are reserve forces that are mobilized in response to state and federal operations, including natural disasters, and are typically overseen by their respective state governments. However, Trump controversially deployed National Guard troops from California to respond to immigration riots in June, bypassing California Gov. Gavin Newsom to dispatch the troops. The federal government oversees the District of Columbia National Guard. President Donald Trump speaks to the press, accompanied by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, about deploying federal law enforcement agents to bolster the local police presence, at the White House, in Washington, Aug. 11, 2025. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll will operationalize the D.C. National Guard, and signaled that more National Guard troops could be roped into the deployment down the line. Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You will see them flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week," Hegseth told reporters Monday. "At your direction as well, sir, there are other units we are prepared to bring in. Other National Guard units, other specialized units. They will be strong, they will be tough, and they will stand with their law enforcement partners." Trumps remarks come just after he promised Washington would be "LIBERATED" from "Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum" in a post on Truth Social Monday morning. He said in the post that the "days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people, are OVER!" Trump floated the idea of taking over Washingtons Metropolitan Police Department and utilizing National Guard troops to manage crime in Washington Wednesday, following the assault of a former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffer on Aug. 3 in Washingtons Logan Circle. Trump Threatens To Federalize Dc After Ex-doge Employee 'Big Balls' Violently Beaten FBI and Border Patrol officers arrest a man along the U Street corridor during a federal law enforcement deployment to the nation's capital on August 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. "What a shame rate of crime, the rate of muggings, killings and everything else, were not going to let it, and that includes bringing in the National Guard, maybe very quickly, too," Trump told reporters Wednesday at the White House. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump also told reporters at the time he was open to taking over Washingtons Metropolitan Police Department because crime in the nations capital is "ridiculous." While a temporary federal takeover of the Metropolitan Police Department is justified in cases of emergency, Trump's move will likely be challenged in court over whether the situation in Washington qualifies as an emergency. Trump has historically railed against violence in Washington, and said Tuesday that crime is "totally out of control" in the nation's capital. Meanwhile, crime in Washington is on the decline. Violent crime is down 26% this year, in comparison to the same timeframe in 2024, according to Washingtons Metropolitan Police Department. Likewise, assaults with a dangerous weapon are down 20%, and homicides are down by 12%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Watch: Trump Hints He Will Federalize Dc Soon, Bring In National Guard After Big Balls Attack FBI and Border Patrol officers arrest a man along the U Street corridor during a federal law enforcement deployment to the nation's capital on August 10, 2025 in Washington, DC. Washingtons Mayor Muriel Bowser challenged Trumps description of the city during an interview with MSNBC Sunday, and voiced concerns about the possibility of activating the National Guard to tackle the citys crime. "Any comparison to a war-torn country is hyperbolic and false," Bowser said. "Im concerned about them not being used efficiently, and I just think thats not the most efficient use of our Guard," Bowser said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. This is a breaking news story and will be updated. Original article source: Trump takes control of Metro Police, deploys National Guard to take on Washington crime President Donald Trump is escalating his war with Washington, D.C., government by taking control of the Metropolitan Police Department and deploying the National Guard in the U.S. capital. The president announced his aggressive new plan to fight crime and target homeless populations in Washington during a press conference on Monday, Aug. 11, including putting Attorney General Pam Bondi's Justice Department in charge of the D.C. police. "Today we're formally declaring a public safety emergency," he said. "It's embarrassing for me to be up here. I don't like being up here talking about how unsafe and how dirty and disgusting this once-beautiful capital was." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said that in addition to bringing in members of the National Guard to help patrol the streets, he will deploy other military "if needed." https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf Trump has frequently cited homelessness rates and rampant crime in Washington with his desire to "clean it up," though crime rates have been substantially declining over the past year and a half. Violent crime in 2025 alone is down 26% from 2024, according to local crime data. During the press conference, Trump claimed without evidence that crime statistics have been skewed to cover up the real extent of D.C.'s crime. Allison Bailey/NurPhoto/Shutterstock President Donald Trump holds up graphics during a press conference on Aug. 11, 2025 President Donald Trump holds up graphics during a press conference on Aug. 11, 2025 Ahead of Monday's press conference, Trump took specific aim at homeless people in Washington, insisting that they would be pushed out of the city without specifying where they would go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY, Trump wrote on social media Sunday. We will give you places to stay, but FAR from the Capital. The Criminals, you dont have to move out. Were going to put you in jail where you belong. Trump explained on Monday that law enforcement would be removing homeless encampments in Washington. "Some of those people, we don't know how they even got there," Trump said. "Some of those people are from different countries, different parts of the world. Nobody knows who they are. They have no idea. But they're there, getting rid of the people from underpasses and public spaces from all over the city." SeanXu / Getty Images The U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Trump's new actions come as the president continues to express interest in federalizing the D.C. government, which would strip the city's power to self-govern. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washington's current government system established by the D.C. Home Rule Act of 1973 allows residents to elect their own mayor and council members. 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. While the "home rule" gives residents stronger representation than the previous government structure, in which the city was led by a panel of commissioners appointed by the president, Congress still has significant oversight over D.C.'s laws and budget. Read the original article on People President Donald Trump promised Monday a dramatic crackdown on crime and homelessness in Washington, D.C., announcing he will take control of the citys municipal police force and order hundreds of National Guard troops onto the streets of the nations capital. Vowing to liberate Washington, Trump said he would put an end to the days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people. Its not getting better, its getting worse, Trump said at a White House news conference flanked by Attorney General Pam Bondi and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Were going to do things about it like you wouldnt believe. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its a situation of complete and total lawlessness, Trump added. Trump has also threatened to oust homeless people from the streets of Washington, although its not clear if thats legal or to where he might send them. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said officials would seek to cooperate with federal law enforcement, even though she stressed crime is down in the city. Council member Charles Allen, who represents Capitol Hills Ward 6, called Trumps declaration a drastic distortion of the situation in the city. Its unnecessary, unwarranted, and a dangerous escalation of power, Allen said. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., slammed Trumps move. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has no basis to take over the local police department, Jeffries said, And zero credibility on the issue of law and order. The move also comes as Trump seeks to flex his muscle over larger swaths of American society in ways that raise new questions about how the federal government will interact with ordinary citizens as well as state and local governments. Trump last week directed federal law enforcement agencies to increase their presence in Washington for a week, with the option to extend as needed. On Friday night, federal agencies including the Secret Service, the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service assigned more than 120 officers and agents to patrol the streets of the nations capital. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump said he would order up to 1,000 National Guard troops onto the streets of Washington. Bowser questioned the effectiveness of using the Guard to enforce city laws and said the federal government could be far more helpful by funding more prosecutors or filling vacancies on the District of Columbia Superior Court. The mayor, who has sought to avoid conflict with the White House, concedes Trump has the legal right to deploy the National Guard. The president also has the legal right to exert more control over the citys police, but only if certain conditions are met. Trump brushed aside those legal niceties, saying Bondi would immediately take over leadership of the Metropolitan Police Department. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crime is ending in D.C and its ending now, Bondi declared. No more. Trumps claims about out-of-control crime in D.C. are not backed up by facts. Police statistics show homicides, robberies and burglaries are down this year when compared with this time in 2024. Overall, violent crime is down 26% compared with this time a year ago. Trump has occasionally complained about crime and other issues in Washington during his first four-year term, while out of office and since returning to the White House in January. His latest focus on its woes were apparently triggered by an attempted carjacking attack on Edward Coristine, a high-profile figure in the Department of Government Efficiency who goes by the moniker Big Balls. Police arrested two 15-year-olds in the Aug. 3 attack and said they were searching for several other suspects. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has repeatedly suggested federal authorities could take over administering D.C. But that would require Congress repealing the Home Rule Act of 1973, which would likely face major political resistance. _____ An AI chatbot on Donald Trumps social media platform has been found to consistently contradict the US president, including by claiming he proliferates baseless claims about election fraud. Truth Social, which Mr Trump started after he was kicked off Twitter, now X, rolled out the AI search engine last week to rival Elon Musks Grok chatbot and Mark Zuckerbergs Meta AI. But the chatbot contradicts Mr Trump by claiming that tariffs are a tax on Americans, the 2020 election wasnt stolen, and his familys crypto investments pose a conflict of interest. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It also said riots at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, were an insurrection linked to the presidents baseless claims of widespread election fraud. The tool, unveiled on Wednesday, was developed by Perplexity, which said it offered direct, reliable answers and would bring powerful AI to an audience with important questions. AI search engines, which include ChatGPT, Grok, and Googles Gemini, are trained by being fed large amounts of information from across the web. But system developers are not fully able to control what the chatbots are likely to say. A question posed by The Telegraph to Mr Trumps new chatbot about who is the most popular president of the century would likely anger the president given that the answer was Barack Obama. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But this newspapers question also revealed that the chatbots sources draw primarily from conservative outlets. All five sources listed by the chatbot were Fox News, Mr Trumps favourite TV channel. This is their choice for their audience A Perplexity spokesman told the Washington Post that Truth Social had used a source selection feature to limit the websites the AI tool relied on but that it was not involved in deciding what those websites were. This is their choice for their audience, and we are committed to developer and consumer choice. Our focus is simply building accurate AI, the spokesman said. The development comes after Mr Trump signed an executive order last month attacking woke AI. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He said the AI tools should be truth-seeking, neutral, and not developed with partisan or ideological judgements. Mr Musk previously claimed that Grok had been wrongfully siding with Liberal ideology, prompting him to develop an update. But the chatbot soon sparked controversy when it started sharing Nazi messaging, including by calling itself the MechaHitler. Grok officials later said a code update had asked the chatbot not to blindly defer to mainstream authority or media or be too afraid to offend. 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 said he was not happy about the fact that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has argued that Ukraines Constitution would need to be amended in order for territory to be exchanged as part of a potential peace deal. Source: European Pravda, citing Trump at a press conference Details: Commenting on the upcoming talks regarding the Russo-Ukrainian war, Trump insisted that he gets along with Zelenskyy but said he disagrees "very, very severely" with what Zelenskyy "has done", adding that "this is a war that should have never happened". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump went on to say that he was not happy with the Ukrainian leader's explanation of the restrictions in place on potential agreements with Russia. "I was a little bothered by the fact that Zelenskyy was saying, 'Well, I have to get constitutional approval' I mean, hes got approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap. Because therell be some land swapping going on, I know that through Russia and through conversations with everybody for the good of Ukraine," Trump said. The US president added that the potential agreement would also mean "some bad stuff for both". Background: Zelenskyy recently stated that Ukraine would not make territorial concessions to Russia during the discussion of the peace agreement. He pointed out that "the answer to the Ukrainian territorial question is already in the Constitution of Ukraine. No one will deviate from this and no one will be able to." US Vice President JD Vance has suggested that neither Ukraine nor Russia will be happy with the outcome of the US-brokered settlement of the war. Large-scale talks are planned for 13 August in various combinations involving European leaders, the United States and Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Trump made a much-teased announcement on Monday that he would invoke a never-before-used presidential authority to seize control of Washington, D.C.s police department from local control to his Attorney General Pam Bondi. The president also announced he would deploy the National Guard on the streets of the nations capital as a plan to rescue the city from rampant crime, despite the fact that crime dropped in Washington by 35 percent last year after it spiked during the Covid-19 pandemic. Trump had teased a federal takeover of Washington and has decried homelessness and graffiti in the city. Republicans have encroached on Washington, D.Cs home rule for decades. The fact it is a majority Black city with a Black political establishment has also made it easy to attack the same way Trump has attacked Baltimore and other cities run by Black mayors. President Donald Trump, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced plans to take over the D.C. police. (Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved) Of course, this is not the first time that Trump has taken control of a major American city. Earlier this year, after protests against raids by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Trump deployed the National Guard and Marines to Los Angeles without the consent of the governor of California or the citys mayor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump may be hoping his actions will boost his approval ratings, which have been sagging in recent months. But a simple look at the numbers shows that it might backfire precipitously. First, lets get to the kernel of truth in Trumps idea. Voters in Democratic cities did vote against their leaders partially because of crime. New York City elected Eric Adams, a former police officer, as mayor in 2021. Voters in San Francisco kicked out mayor London Breed and voters in Los Angeles and Alameda beat back progressive prosecutors for lax policies toward crime. While almost no Democratic presidential candidate has supported defunding the police it became a tagline for Republicans use to hit at Democrats. That being said, its fairly clear that Trumps approval ratings took a hit after he dispatched troops and the National Guard to Los Angeles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Trump first came into office this year, and even after he began his tariff regime, Americans continued to support him on immigration. In February, according to an Economist/YouGov poll, he still cracked 50 percent approval on immigration. That number began to dip in April, after Trump sent Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the immigrant based in Maryland, to El Salvador. In April, Trumps approval number on immigration went to 45 percent. But by May, the same poll showed his approval on immigration started to rebound to 48 percent. That would go poof in June once Trump began to send troops to Los Angeles. By the middle of June, a plurality of Americans thought that his response to the anti-ICE protests was too aggressive and 52 percent disapproved of his policies on immigration. By the end of June, 50 percent of Americans opposed Trumps policies on immigration. and his number has stubbornly stayed there. Not only that, as The Independent reported last month, polling from CBS News and CNN bore that out as well. The CNN poll also found that 59 percent of Americans opposed the deployment of National Guard troops without the consent of the governor and 55 percent of respondents said protesters were justified. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While much of the attention when it comes to Trumps approval tends to focus on Jeffrey Epstein, its clear that his approval began to collapse long before that scandal, when he began to deploy troops into the second-largest city in the United States. Trump may be trying to bait protesters by having troops roving throughout Washington in hopes that it will create the type of unrest that happened in 2020 and in Los Angeles. But the numbers show he might come to regret that. Voters may not like disorder and crime but they dislike overzealous responses from the government even more. NEW YORK Affordability was at the center of Zohran Mamdanis winning primary campaign for New York City mayor. President Donald Trump has become the focus of his general election bid. The Democratic nominee launched a five-borough tour against Trump on Monday to amplify how he believes the president will harm New York City and why Mamdani thinks he should be elected to lead the vanguard. Hes also tying opponents Andrew Cuomo, Eric Adams and Curtis Sliwa closely to Trump, adopting a classic Democratic general election playbook by casting two fellow Democrats and the GOP nominee as the presidents favored picks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdanis recalibration comes as Trump announced hes activating the National Guard to respond to crime in Washington, listing New York and Chicago among the cities that could be next in line. It also follows a New York Times story about how Trump has talked with Cuomo as the president considers involving himself in the election. Cuomo has denied discussing the race with Trump. We see far too many parallels between Donald Trump and Andrew Cuomo, far too many stories that make clear that both administrations have been characterized by corruption, by a sense of impunity, Mamdani told reporters Monday at the offices of influential labor union 1199SEIU, which endorsed Cuomo in the primary but is backing Mamdani in the general election. The young state assemblymember who stunned the Democratic establishment by defeating Cuomo in June despite the former governors universal name recognition and a $25 million PAC in his corner now faces the task of winning the November election by a hefty enough margin to bolster his mandate. Mamdani, a democratic socialist, is still seeking the endorsements of party leaders, including New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. But with or without them, hes going after Trump and anyone he argues would be used by Trump against New Yorkers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He noted Monday that Cuomo conversed with Trump, Adams criminal fraud case was dropped at the urging of the White House, and that Sliwa shares a political party with the president. My administration will be Donald Trumps worst nightmare, Mamdani declared last week, arguing his policies will lift up the same working-class voters the president has left behind with cuts to health care and food benefits. Mamdani had help Monday from Rep. Jerry Nadler, a manager during Trumps first impeachment trial. While battleground Democrats worry that Mamdanis socialist views will be a liability next year as the party looks to win back the House, Nadler said Mamdani can prove otherwise by triumphing over Trump. Every seat matters, every race matters, and who is mayor of New York is crucial, Nadler said. New York City needs a leader who wont give Trump an inch, who wont flinch or bargain away our rights. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump has questioned Mamdanis citizenship, vowed to arrest him if he interferes with federal agents crackdown on illegal immigration and threatened to cut federal funding to New York City if Mamdani doesnt do the right thing. Comrade Mamdani is the American peoples worst nightmare, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said Monday, charging that the Democratic nominees policies will tank the economy, increase crime and favor undocumented immigrants over American citizens. The American people have repeatedly rejected this Communist agenda and the more Mamdani shares his radical policies, the more the American people will recoil. Mamdani identifies as a democratic socialist and has said he is not a communist. And Communist Party leaders don't count him as a member. Cuomo, making another bid for mayor after losing by nearly 13 points in the June Democratic primary, has argued that Trump would step all over Mamdani. Cuomo said he already stood up to Trump as governor during the Covid pandemic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump will flatten him like a pancake, Cuomo posted on X. In 2020, Trump sent the National Guard into other states. Not New York. Theres only one person in this race who can stand up to Trump: the one who already has, successfully and effectively. (Cuomo used another food simile in a June primary debate, saying Trump would cut into Mamdani like a hot knife through butter.) Adams, the incumbent mayor, has said he is not beholden to anyone, including the president. He has insisted that he seeks a working relationship with Trump for the benefit of the city. And Sliwa, the longshot Republican making a repeat bid for mayor, has no direct relationship with Trump at all. In fact, the GOP nominee has encouraged Trump to stay out of the race for mayor. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mamdani said Monday he's open to dialogue with Trump if it benefits New Yorkers and that as mayor he would combat the presidents agenda by staffing up city agencies, including the Law Department, and investing in legal representation for immigrants subject to deportation proceedings. Much of that fight back, that has to be delivered forcefully, rhetorically, through conversations, both public and private, Mamdani said. But theres also the act of governance that is its own fight back, a governance that is actually characterized by competence and by compassion. A version of this story first appeared in Mondays New York Playbook PM. Subscribe here. This article is part of The D.C. Brief, TIMEs politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox. As he announced he was taking over Washingtons police department and deploying FBI agents and 800 National Guardsmen to patrol the streets of the nations capital, President Donald Trump on Monday seemed to gunning for a trip back to the unsettled summer of 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic and racial justice protests set America on edge. It was an aspirational time jump for Trump, who is in search of a way out of political troubles of his own making. This is Liberation Day in D.C. Were going to take our capital back, Trump said, once again defaulting to a slogan he used just months earlier to hype tariffs that have left Wall Street panicked. He vowed to purge Washingtons public spaces of homeless persons, as he cast his temporary home as a hellish dystopia. If our capital is dirty, our whole country is dirty, Trump said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its impossible to ignore that Trumps latest provocative move is coming as he faces a revolt over his promise to name names in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking scandal, as well as widespread frustration over unresolved wars in Gaza and Ukraine that he promised to end on Day One, an economy on the brink, and protests against his crackdown on migrants, As he appeared in a standing-room-only White House briefing room Monday morning flanked by his national security Cabinet, Trump looked to bait his critics into an uproar, hinting he would escalate to active duty military members if needed. The tableau was one designed to send the national conversation spiraling, a maximalist favorite tactic for Trump to move off a difficult moment. Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs, and homeless people, the President said. The Districts revamped police force, he said, would be empowered to do whatever the hell they want. In an historic first, Attorney General Pam Bondi will immediately take command of the Metropolitan Police Department, Trump told reporters. Crime in D.C. is ending, and its ending today, Bondi said in a statement that will certainly prove inaccurate. Trump and his team described the U.S. capital as besieged by chaos, and eager to be overrun by law enforcement. Youll have more police, and youll be so happy because youll be safe when you walk down the street, youre going to see police, or youre going to see FBI agent, Trump said in a truly stunning foreshadowing of a police state, one that he signaled will go further than Washington. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon is ready to militarize Washingtons streets, not dissimilar to what happened in Los Angeles during an aggressive show against immigration. There, Trump called up 4,000 National Guardsmen to put down protests against detentions and deportations of persons suspected to be in the country unlawfully. The capitals top prosecutor, former Fox host Jeanine Pirro, said the effort would go after young punks and emboldened criminals who, in her telling, terrorize residents and visitors daily. In Washington, juvenile prosecutions are currently handled by D.C. while adult cases are handled by federal officials; Pirro bemoaned that she lacked to the power to prosecute minors except in extraordinary crimes like rape or murder. Put in the most simple terms, this is a day of sheer norm-breaking distraction from Trump that has zero grounding in fact. In 2024, violent crime landed at a 30-year low, according to federal data. Violent crime is down another 26% from 2024, according to the city. Year over year, sex crimes are down 49%, robberies are down 28%, assault with a dangerous weapon is down 20%, and homicides are down 12%. Regardless, Trump put on a show that seemed aimed at not just his base but at his critics, as he seems in the market for sparring partners. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And they did not disappoint. Donald Trump has no basis to take over the local police department. And zero credibility on the issue of law and order. Get lost, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said. As Trump and his team have veered from trigger to trigger, it has been a cascading escalation of testing limits that have left Democrats careening from topic to topic in prosecuting a political argument against the President. The FBI has agreed to set in to hunt down absentee Democratic lawmakers in Texas who have left the state to block a political move to redraw its congressional map. Trump has announced he would build a massive ballroomtwice the size of the Executive Mansionon the White House grounds. He has dramatically scrapped whole slices of the federal workforce, ignored Congress spending plans, and swapped out top officials on the regular. Nothing, it seems, is beyond his wreckage. All of which is leading to a point that seems to be as familiar as fated to fail. In his first term, Trump deployed 5,000 federal troops to Washington to quell peaceful protests championing racial justice after the murder of George Floyd that sparked the Black Lives Matter movement. In his mind, Trump saw the show of forcelow-flying helicopters blasting air down at protesters, Guardsmen clearing parks ahead of a photo-op, tear-gassing of activistsas core to his law-and-order image. That was a distraction from the perpetual confusion in that first year of Covid, which in itself was a distraction from much of Trumps rampage through Washington. But months later, Trump lost his re-election bid to Joe Biden. This go round, Trump is obviously going for a redo, and this time without any real pretense. Trump has long held a scorn for Washington, which as a stand-alone city operates similar to a state but without the autonomy, and its permanent population. Because of its unique standing, Trump and Congress both have power over the city and can meddle mightily in its local affairs but historically have been more nuisance than viceroy. Last year, no other jurisdiction broke more decisively for Kamala Harris over Trump, going 9-to-1 against Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, Trump is ready to show Washingtonians and other blue-city voters who is in control. Its a move that seems destined to draw the ire of locals, yet whether it will reach anywhere near the levels found in the weeks after George Floyds murder remains to be seen. Regardless, this is where Trump likes to default: outrage and chaos, bluster and bravado. It usually serves Trump welluntil it doesnt. Make sense of what matters in Washington. Sign up for the D.C. Brief newsletter. Write to Philip Elliott at philip.elliott@time.com. WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump is bringing in 800 National Guard members to help law enforcement fight crime in Washington, but just 100 to 200 of the troops will be on the city's streets at any given time, the Army said. Trump's directive Monday for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to activate the National Guard is just the latest example of him sending the Guard into cities to support immigration enforcement or fight crime over the objection of local and state officials. How the National Guard deployment in DC will work Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to the Army, Guard troops will be deployed under Title 32, or federal-state status authority. That means the troops can conduct law enforcement activities on the streets of the nation's capital though, at the moment, that doesnt appear to be the plan. Their duties will include an array of tasks from administrative, logistics and physical presence in support of law enforcement, according to a statement from the Army, to which the District of Columbia National Guard directed all questions. About 500 federal law enforcement officers are being assigned to patrols in Washington, including from the FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and the Marshals Service. Hegseth told reporters that Guard members will be flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week. He said the Pentagon also was prepared to bring in other specialized Guard units, though he didnt offer any further details. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The timeline for the troop deployment is vaguely defined. According to Trump's directive, National Guard troops will remain deployed until the president determines that conditions of law and order have been restored. Besides the 800 Guard members, Trump said we will bring in the military if its needed seemingly referring to active duty troops in addition to the Guard but added that I dont think well need it. Hegseth later seemed to suggest the Guard troops could take a more active role. Were not going to have National Guard just sitting there like this, seeing a crime committed (and) not do something about it, he said Monday evening on Fox News Channels The Ingraham Angle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Asked whether the troops would be detaining Americans, Hegseth first said theyre not going to be involved in law enforcement functions before adding, I will have their back to ensure they can take the necessary action to protect citizens of D.C. and to protect themselves. He said the troops could detain people and then hand them over to law enforcement, as was done this summer in Los Angeles. Trump recently sent Guard troops and Marines to Los Angeles The deployment of troops to Washington comes after the Pentagon has pulled out the vast majority of the roughly 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 active duty Marines that Trump sent to Los Angeles in late June. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump argued that the deployment was necessary after his administrations immigration crackdown led to protests throughout the city. Troops were largely tasked with protecting federal buildings and guarding immigration agents as they conducted raids. Hegseth compared plans to send troops into the nations capital to their deployment to the U.S.-Mexico border and to Los Angeles. We will work alongside all D.C. police and federal law enforcement, Hegseth said. However, Californias governor and city officials argued that the LA deployment was unnecessary and went to court to try to fight it. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass told reporters that the National Guards primary mission had been to guard two buildings that frankly didnt need to be guarded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In addition, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, also a Democrat, has questioned the effectiveness of using the Guard to enforce city laws. I just think thats not the most efficient use of our Guard, she said Sunday on MSNBCs The Weekend. Trump deployed the Guard to Washington in his first term This is also not the first time Trump unilaterally has chosen to use federal forces in the U.S. capital. In 2020, during the protests over the police killing of George Floyd, Trump deployed the National Guard and federal law enforcement to the city, at one point using them to forcibly clear peaceful protesters from a square near the White House so he could stage a photo op. It became a controversial moment in his first administration in part because Gen. Mark Milley, who was then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, appeared alongside Trump. Some saw Milleys presence as the militarys endorsement of using troops against U.S. citizens. Milley later apologized. LANSING President Donald Trump's announced federal takeover of the Washington, D.C., police while threatening similar actions in Chicago and Los Angeles has prompted concerns about whether Detroit could also be in his crosshairs. "What's next?" asked state Rep. Tyrone Carter, D-Detroit, a former lieutenant with the Wayne County Sheriff's Office, who is minority vice-chair of the House Judiciary Committee. "Is it because D.C. is a majority Black city? Everything he does is suspicious to me." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Black residents no longer are the majority in Washington, D.C., but they remain the largest racial group, making up 43% of the city's population, which is 39% white, according to the research group Neilsberg. Trump announced on Monday, Aug. 11 that he was placing the Metropolitan Police Department in the nation's capital under the control of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and deploying 800 National Guard troops there, as well as other federal agents, to fight crime and get homeless people off the streets. Washington, D.C., is a federal district with different rules of governance from other large U.S. cities. In making the moves, Trump invoked a law specific to Washington, D.C., the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. But he also threatened other large cities run by Democrats. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If we need to, we're going to do the same thing in Chicago, which is a disaster," Trump said at a news conference. Also, "hopefully, L.A. is watching," Trump said. Trump did not mention Detroit, but he has taken aim at Detroit in past public comments, saying during a 2024 campaign appearance at the Detroit Economic Club that if then Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, won the election, the whole country would become like Detroit. At a 2016 Michigan campaign event, he called Detroit the most violent city in the nation and urged the city's residents to vote for him. "You live in poverty," he said at a speech in Dimondale, near Lansing. "Your schools are no good. You have no jobs. What the hell do you have to lose?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Bruce Township, who is chair of the House Republican Conference, applauded the Washington, D.C., move. "Our nations capital should be the safest place on earth, but Democrats have turned it into a violent nightmare," McClain posted on X. "@POTUS is restoring law and order to our great nation!" Trump's announcement came after the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia in January announced a 35% decrease in violent crime in 2024, after homicides there hit a 30-year high in 2023. Violent crime was also down in Detroit in 2024, with the number of homicides dropping to the fewest since 1965. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement John Roach, a spokesman for Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, said the city has seen significant reductions in homicides, shootings, and partnerships between the Detroit Police Department and federal agencies have played a major role in that success. "This partnership is simple and effective," Roach said in an email. "DPD does the policing and the feds have strongly increased support for federal prosecution. We appreciate the partnership we have today and are aware of no reason either side would want to change it. State Rep. Sarah Lightner, R-Springport, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, said she too supports Trump's actions in D.C. Lightner said in a text message that concerns about the federal government taking a greater role in Michigan are legitimate, "especially if prosecutors don't get serious about actually punishing people for their crimes." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Carter said in a phone interview that, leaving aside the question of whether any such action would be lawful, Detroiters have reason to be concerned about Trump targeting their city in the future, saying the president could use the immigration issue as a pretext to expand federal powers in the city. "It's going to take some Republicans with some backbone to stand up and say, 'Enough,' to these federal overreaches," Carter said. State Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, chair of the Committee on Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety, described Trump's Washington, D.C., announcement as ridiculous. "The idea of federal intervention in our cities is not appropriate," Chang said in a phone interview. "This is not what people want." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chang said she hoped Trump would not attempt any similar actions in Detroit and questioned whether such actions would be legal. "We can take care of our own problems," she said. This story has been updated to add new information. Free Press staff writer Dana Afana contributed to this report. Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Trump takeover of D.C. police stirs concern in Detroit One person has died in Turkey after a magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the north-west province of Balikesir on Sunday evening. An 81-year-old woman passed away shortly after she was pulled out from rubble in the town of Sindirgi, which was the epicentre of the quake, Turkey's interior minister said. Sixteen buildings collapsed as a result of the tremors, and 29 people had been injured, Ali Yerlikaya added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turkey's disaster management agency said the quake was recorded at around 19:53 local time (16:53 GMT), and was felt as far away as Istanbul. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a statement wishing a swift recovery to everyone who was affected, and said that all recovery efforts were being closely monitored. "May God protect our country from any kind of disaster," he wrote on X. Search and rescue operations have now concluded, and the interior minister said that there were no other signs of serious damage or casualties. Pictures from Sindirgi, however, show large buildings totally flattened and towering piles of twisted metal and debris. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Turkey is located at the intersection of three major tectonic plates, and experiences frequent seismic activity as a result. In February 2023, more than 50,000 people were killed when a 7.8 magnitude earthquake devastated the south-eastern region of the country. A further 5,000 were killed in neighbouring Syria. More than two years on from that quake, hundreds of thousands of people remain displaced. MEMPHIS, Tenn. Two men were arrested after a series of alleged armed robberies near the airport area, according to Memphis Police. Authorities say two armed men robbed two people while they were standing in front of their apartment in the Whitehaven area Thursday night. Just before midnight, they were accused of robbing a man at a gas station just half a mile from the apartment. Courtney Bobo, 19, is charged with aggravated robbery, theft of property $1,000 to $2,500, and theft of property under $1,000. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Keshun Lee, 21, is charged with aggravated robbery, employing a firearm during a dangerous felony, and theft of property under $1,000. Courtney Bobo (left) Keshun Lee (right) (SCSO) Officers say they responded to an armed robbery call last Thursday around 11 p.m. at apartments in the 1400 block of Terrace Lane. According to police, two male victims reported that four men armed with rifles approached them and robbed them as they talked in front of their apartments. The first man told police the four suspects took his phone, wallet and keys to his vehicle. And the second man said they took his phone, wallet and Apple Watch. Judge denies injunction in Feagins case against MSCS Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before the four men left the scene, one of the victims noticed one of the suspects had a limp and that the four of them drove away in a white sedan. About 40 minutes after the first incident, police say they responded to another armed robbery call at the Winchester Express gas station. Police say a man told them two men robbed him at gunpoint and stated, Give it up Unc. Police respond to shootout at Raleigh gas station They took his wallet with credit cards inside and $15 in cash from him. According to Memphis Police, video footage from the gas station shows one of the suspects walking with a limp, and the suspects drove away in a white sedan with a Tennessee license plate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On August 9, officers reported they located a white sedan at apartments in the 3400 block of Briarpark Drive West and saw a man and woman enter the apartment. They arrested the man, whom they identified as Lee, and a woman on the scene. While they were arresting Lee and the woman, police say a man with a limp walked up to them and he was detained as well. Three teens charged with shoplifting ammo after officer-involved shooting at Collierville store They later identified him as Bobo. During questioning, investigators say Bobo admitted to robbing the two men in front of their apartments and then robbing the man at the gas station. He is currently being held on a $100,000 bond. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The other two men implicated in the crime were not named in police affidavits, and it is unclear at this time if they were located and arrested. In 2023, WREG reported that Lee, when he was 18 years old at the time, another man, and the same girlfriend involved in the robbery were detained by Collierville Police for stealing ammunition at Academy Sports, but nobody was hit. Bobo and Lee will appear in court on Tuesday. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. DENVER (KDVR) Two more Walgreens stores in Denver are set to close next month. After several closures earlier this year, a spokesperson for the company confirmed to FOX31 on Monday that two more locations in Denver are set to close next month: 950 S. Quebec St., closes Sept. 8 6200 E. Colfax Ave., closes Sept. 10 Colorado Del Taco locations reopen with new features, menu items Eight Walgreens stores in the Denver metro area have closed in the last year, as well as three in Colorado Springs. The company announced plans to close over 1,000 stores across the country last fall, and announced in March that it entered a definitive agreement to be acquired by an entity affiliated with Sycamore Partners, a private equity firm specializing in retail, consumer and distribution-related investments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other locations that have closed include: 15301 E. Iliff Ave., Aurora 12051 E. Mississippi Ave., Aurora 6395 Sheridan Blvd., Arvada 3555 Colorado Blvd., Denver 6360 E. Evans Ave., Denver 1601 W. 84th Ave., Federal Heights 7496 S. Simms St., Littleton 7665 W. Jewell Ave., Lakewood A spokesperson for Walgreens provided the following statement regarding the closures: Our retail pharmacy business is central to our go-forward business strategy. However, increased regulatory and reimbursement pressures are weighing on our ability to cover the costs associated with rent, staffing, and supply needs. It is never an easy decision to close a store. We know that our stores are important to the communities that we serve, and therefore do everything possible to improve the store performance. When closures are necessary, like the ones in Denver, we will work in partnership with community stakeholders to minimize customer disruptions. We intend to redeploy the majority of our team members from those stores that we close. Walgreens Customers who filled prescriptions at stores that are set to close can visit the Walgreens website to learn more about options to fill prescriptions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Two people are dead after a shooting in Yakima ended with a shootout between police and the suspect, according to the Yakima Police Department. Police say a shooting happened near the intersection of 12th Avenue and West Washington Avenue. During that shooting, one victim, a 33-year-old woman, was found dead with gunshot wounds. A 13-year-old boy was rushed to the hospital with gunshot wounds. At around 7:35 p.m., Yakima police had located the suspect in the shooting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The suspect, a 36-year-old man, and another person who was in the car drove away from police. Once the police were able to stop the car, he began shooting at them. Officers shot back at the suspect, eventually killing the man. The driver of the car was arrested and had no life-threatening injuries. Yakima police say an officer was shot during the altercation, but was treated and released from the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The Yakima Valley Special Investigations Unit is still investigating the incident. KANSAS CITY, Mo. A man was arrested over the weekend after he broke into a home and exposed himself to two young girls, according to Lawrence police. According to a Facebook post, at about 2 a.m. Sunday, officers were called to a home near West 21st and Louisiana Streets on reports of an unknown man entering a home and taking off his clothes. The police department said two girls had been asleep on the couch when they woke up to a naked man in the room. As they yelled for the adults, the girls told police the man walked toward the back bedrooms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Funeral to honor life of fallen Deputy Elijah Ming held on Monday He was then confronted by one of the adults inside the house and forced out. Its very alarming, its very concerning. thankfully there was quick resolution to this, Lawrence Police Sgt. Drew Fennelly said. The man who allegedly entered the home and took off his clothes is 19 years old. When law enforcement arrived on the scene, one team stayed with the children to calm them down and determine what happened, while the other team found and arrested the man nearby. We got a call by the people inside the residence who told us a man came in the house, took off his clothes and then there was some alarming things that happened between that man and some juvenile children who were in the house for a sleep over. Things that were pretty alarming, Fennelly said. Certainly frightening to the people that were in there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lawrence police said they have no reason to believe anyone in the home knew the man and that he appeared to be under the influence of drugs. You have several people in the house that are there for a sleepover. At some point during the night, the front door was left unlocked and so, he was able to just walk in the front door into an area where two juveniles were sleeping, Fennelly said. There were other juveniles present, not in the same room, but they all became aware of his presence through the alarm that he caused by being there. The man was then evaluated by medical professionals and subsequently taken to the Douglas County Correctional Facility. He was booked on several suspected charges. Royals affiliate strikes deal to take ownership of former Sprint campus Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fennelly said one of the first responding officers on scene was a former Investigator with the Kansas Dept. of Children and Families. She has a lot of experience in dealing with kids in situations like this, and so we were fortunate to have her there on scene and she was instrumental in trying to talk to these kids and getting them back to a place where they felt safe, Fennelly said. Thats the most important thing in this situation. Once weve got that subject in custody, helping them to start to process the events that took place. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports. NEED TO KNOW A synthetic opioid thats 43 times stronger than fentanyl and 250 times stronger than heroin has caused hundreds of deaths in the U.K., and has now spread to the U.S. Nitazenes are behind the deaths of two young men in Texas, who took pills that were laced with the potent drug Their mothers are speaking out to raise awareness and warn others about the deadly substance Experts are warning about a dangerous drug hitting the streets thats up to 43 times stronger than fentanyl and 250 times stronger than heroin thats already killed two young men in Texas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Nitazenes are synthetic opioids that are produced in China and, like fentanyl, can be found mixed in drugs like heroin and pills. The Wall Street Journal reports the drug is so potent, even trace amounts can be fatal and its already caused at least 400 deaths in the U.K. Getty Stock image of an ambulance. Stock image of an ambulance. But now the drug is stateside: The families of two young Texas men who died from taking pills laced with the drugs are speaking out. In January, Lucci Reyes-McCallister, 22, died near Houston after taking a pill that he thought was Xanax, his mother, Grey McCallister, told the New York Post, explaining that her son's pill was laced with a form of nitazene. Three months later, in April, a friend of Luccis, 21-year-old Hunter Clement, died after taking what he believed to be a Percocet. His mother, Ruthi Clement, told the Post she found her son face-down in his bed, his skin purple. Two doses of Narcan didnt work to revive her son. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf Narcan the branded name for naloxone is an emergency medication intended to reverse the effects of a narcotic overdose. But nitazenes are so potent that Narcan isnt as effective as it is against a heroin overdose, for example. The reason for the influx of fentanyl, and now nitazenes, is that its easier to smuggle in smaller, but more potent drugs, U.K. National Crime Agency Deputy Director Charles Yates told the WSJ. They buy potent nitazenes cheaply and mix them with bulking agents such as caffeine and paracetamol to strengthen the product being sold and make significant profits, Yates told the outlet. Crowder Funeral Home Lucci's mom is speaking out after her son died from a pill laced with nitazene. Lucci's mom is speaking out after her son died from a pill laced with nitazene. Although it's commonly mixed into pills and powders, a man in Sydney was arrested on Aug. 5 for selling vapes that were "supercharged" with the drug, The Guardian reports. There are 17 different strains circulating in the U.S., the Drug Enforcement Agency reports in the 2025 National Drug Threat Assessment. The drug is so new that its not part of routine testing, the WSJ says, but research from 2022 found 93 deaths that were attributable to strains of nitazenes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement N-pyrrolidino etonitazenes are the most potent, up to 43 times stronger than fentanyl, the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission says. N-pyrrolidino protonitazenes the type that killed Lucci is 25 times the strength of fentanyl. Dignity Memorial Hunter's mom is sharing her son's story to "honor him" and save others. Hunter's mom is sharing her son's story to "honor him" and save others. Luccis death, his mother told the Post, was the first time Id ever heard of [nitazene]. Hunters mother shared that shes speaking out because, Sometimes I get mad because I couldnt save my own son. I do want to save other people, even if its just one person in honor of him. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Read the original article on People The U.S. government has issued an updated travel warning for Brazil due to the threat of kidnapping. The U.S. Department of State wrote on Aug. 8 that its travel advisory for the South American country was "updated to add risk indicator for kidnapping." The U.S. Government Is Warning Travelers to Use 'Increased Caution' in Brazil "Exercise increased caution in Brazil due to crime and kidnapping. Some areas have increased risk," the State Department's warning says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The State Department says that U.S. travelers should not travel to certain areas of Brazil "due to crime." They are: "Anywhere within 160 km/100 miles of Brazils land borders with Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, French Guiana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. This restriction does not apply to the Foz do Iguacu National Park or Pantanal National Park." "Informal housing developments, such as favelas, vilas, comunidades, or conglomerados, at any time." "Brasilias 'Satellite Cities' at night. This includes Ceilandia, Santa Maria, Sao Sebastiao, and Paranoa." The State Department Says There Was a 'Kidnapping for Ransom of U.S. Travelers' in Brazil The travel advisory outlines the risks of traveling to Brazil. In addition to kidnapping, U.S. travelers face the risk of being drugged with sedatives placed in drinks, the U.S. government says. "Violent crime, including murder, armed robbery, and carjacking, can occur in urban areas, day and night. There was a kidnapping for ransom of U.S. travelers. Gang activity and organized crime are widespread and often tied to the recreational drug trade. Assaults, including with sedatives and drugs placed in drinks, are common, especially in Rio de Janeiro," it says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Criminals target foreigners through dating apps or at bars before drugging and robbing their victims. U.S. government employees are advised not to use municipal buses in Brazil because of a serious risk of robbery and assault, especially at night," the advisory says. The advisory for Brazil is considered a Level 2 advisory. There are four travel advisory levels, with four being the most severe. Related: U.S. Travel Advisory Warns of 'Drone Attacks' in Country Popular With Celebrities U.S. Adds New Travel Warning for Brazil Due to Kidnapping Threat first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 9, 2025 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) A boater was airlifted to the hospital after a weekend fire, the U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes division said. It happened Saturday around 2 p.m. on Lake Erie, the USCG Great Lakes said in a social media post. It said its Marblehead station received a report that two pleasure craft boats were on fire at the Put In Bay Harbor near South Bass Island in Ohio. The driver of one of the boats had gone into the water after getting burned, the Coast Guard said. The boater was rescued by nearby Good Samaritans and EMS personnel and was later airlifted to a nearby hospital. The extent of their injuries is unknown. The U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes division responded to a boat fire Saturday. (Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes) The U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes division responded to a boat fire Saturday. (Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes) The U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes division responded to a boat fire Saturday. (Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes) The U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes division responded to a boat fire Saturday. (Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes) The U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes division responded to a boat fire Saturday. (Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes) The U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes division responded to a boat fire Saturday. (Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes) The U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes division responded to a boat fire Saturday. (Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes) The U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes division responded to a boat fire Saturday. (Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes) The Coast Guard says its crew put out the fires on the two boats and then confirmed there was no one else on board. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One boat was towed from the scene. The other was left aground at Gibraltar Island, the Coast Guard says. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources offers some important boating safety tips, including making sure theres life jackets and a fire extinguisher on board. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com. HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) The U.S. Marshals took a man into custody Monday who was wanted in connection with a deadly Harrisburg shooting in April. Aaron Williams, 19, faces a murder charge for his role in the shooting in the area of the 2000 block of Logan Street on April 26, Harrisburg Police said. Williams was taken to the Dauphin County Booking Center to be arraigned after his arrest. Zaire Warren, 19, of Harrisburg, was killed in the shooting, police said. Warren was found with a gunshot wound by officers at the scene, and he was taken to an area hospital, where he later died. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Breaking News Alerts Further details of the shooting were not made known as police did not say what led up to it. This is a developing story. Stay with abc27 News as more information becomes available Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27. The U.S. government is warning travelers of the potential for drone attacks in the United Arab Emirates. Dubai, a city popular with U.S. travelers and celebrities, is located in the UAE. Dubai is the country's most populous city. The U.S. Department of State reissued its travel advisory for the country on Aug. 8 to "reflect current security conditions," its website says. The United Arab Emirates' travel advisory now reads, "Exercise increased caution." Travelers to the United Arab Emirates Face a Risk of Terrorism, Missile & Drone Attacks "Exercise increased caution in the United Arab Emirates due to the threat of terrorism and missile or drone attacks," the advisory says. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Residents and visitors "generally find a safe and secure environment in the UAE. However, elevated regional tensions have aggravated the risk of aerial and other terror attacks across the region," the State Department wrote. Traffic on a highway in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Bloomberg/Getty Images "Terrorists may attack with little or no warning and may target tourist locations, transportation hubs, shopping areas, government facilities, places of worship, and in particular locations associated with the Jewish and Israeli communities," the department wrote. U.S. Airlines Are Also Operating Under New Caution The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) "has issued an advisory Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) recommending caution for U.S. air carriers and commercial operators operating in the Middle East, including the UAE," the State Department noted. Residents and visitors "should be aware the UAE has strict rules on social behavior, drug possession, traffic violations, and financial crimes," the State Department's warning further advised. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Breaking these rules can lead to arrest and/or an exit ban. U.S. citizens should review the Department of States Country Information Page for the UAE to learn about local laws, special circumstances, and additional information about travel to the United Arab Emirates. media for breaking events and be prepared to adjust your plans." The State Department lists all of its travel advisories on its website. The warning for the United Arab Emirates is considered a level 2 warning. There are four levels of travel warnings, with four being the most dangerous and severe. Related: U.S. Travel Warnings Urge 'Increased Caution' in Germany, Spain U.S. Travel Advisory Warns of 'Drone Attacks' in Country Popular With Celebrities first appeared on Men's Journal on Aug 9, 2025 Aug. 11 (UPI) -- As Florida preps to execute its fourth U.S. veteran this year, more than 130 U.S. veterans in nearly every branch of service have requested for Gov. Ron DeSantis to end the state's executions of convicted vets. A coalition of American veterans will gather Wednesday morning in the state's capital of Tallahassee to issue a plea in a signed letter to DeSantis, imploring the two-term Republican to stop Florida's executions of American military service veterans. "To execute a veteran who was broken by war and left without adequate care is not justice," the letter by veterans with a combined 1,400 years of service reads in part. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is a failure of duty," it added. "It is the final abandonment." Wednesday's press event and letter presentation in Tallahassee organized by the Center for Veteran Criminal Advocacy will highlight advocates and Tom Dunn, a retired U.S. Army officer and attorney for Florida death row inmate and veteran Kyle Bates. "Executing our nation's warriors should call for deep soul searching," said Art Cody, the center's director, on Monday. "We owe veterans better than what they are now receiving in Florida." Bates is scheduled for death on Aug. 19 and, if executed as planned, will be Florida's fourth veteran and 10th individual this year executed in the Sunshine State. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cody, a lawyer who later served as a U.S. Navy captain, noted that the U.S. veteran population has "undergone an experience profoundly different than civilians." "The arduous, and, at times, gruesome conditions that are part and parcel of war include the daily threat of death from various sources and viewing the aftermath of the carnage of modern war," he said in a statement. "Such frequent association with violence and death does not leave one unscathed," he continued. Roughly 5% of the U.S. population are veterans, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The veteran-supported letter to the former GOP presidential candidate pointed out that five U.S. vets -- Bobby Joe Long, Duane Owen, Edward James, Jeffrey Hutchinson and Edward Zakrzewski -- had been put to death since DeSantis took office in January 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "There are close to 30 veterans remaining on death row, and countless others facing death penalty trials throughout the state," the letter says. U.S. Army Master Sergeant Brent Schneider, an assistant public defender, said Monday in a release how Florida should be "protecting our veterans" and instead ensure those who return home with injuries "both visible and invisible, get the support that they deserve." "They have served honorably to protect us, and now we have a duty to ensure that they are protected and not subject to execution," he went on to say. DeSantis, 46, was a lawyer and U.S. Navy veteran prior to his 2007 Iraq War deployment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We can never be a veteran friendly state when our leader is signing off on their deaths at the hands of the State," the letter to DeSantis stated. "We urge you now to lead from a place of bravery, to return to the honor code from your service and to stop setting the executions of our fellow soldiers." More than 2,000 people currently await execution in the United Staes. Data by the Center for Death Penalty Litigation suggests that veterans represent around 10% of America's prison inmates sitting on death row. Last month, religious leaders across Florida also requested that DeSantis put a pause on state executions after it saw more prisoners executed in a single year since the penalty was reinstated nearly a half century ago. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ron Wright, a former Florida death row inmate since exonerated, also urged DeSantis on Monday to "recognize the humanity" and to "take action to prevent their needless deaths." "To execute our brave men and women who have served in our armed forces is a betrayal," Wright said. Meanwhile, the live-streamed event on Wednesday in Tallahassee will start at 11 a.m. EDT. Irish band U2 has released a statement on Israel and Gaza, saying that the conflict has now reached uncharted territory. In a joint message posted on U2s website and social media on Sunday, the band wrote: Everyone has long been horrified by what is unfolding in Gaza but the blocking of humanitarian aid and now plans for a military takeover of Gaza City has taken the conflict into uncharted territory. We are not experts in the politics of the region, but we want our audience to know where we each stand. More from Variety Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Each member of the iconic band Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. then penned their own individual statements expressing complex emotions about the long-running conflict in the Middle East. In addition, the band has pledged to donate to Medical Aid for Palestinians. In his statement, frontman and activist Bono first acknowledged the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, which killed about 1,200 people with 251 hostages being taken, writing that the rape, murder, and abduction of Israelis at the Nova music festival was evil. However, he added that as time went on, Israels revenge for the Hamas attack appeared more and more disproportionate and disinterested in the equally innocent civilian lives in Gaza. According to the United Nations, which cites Gazas Hamas-run Health Ministry, over 61,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict as of Aug. 6. On Friday, Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government approved a plan to take over Gaza City, the capital of the Gaza Strip, which senior UN officials have warned against. When did a just war to defend the country turn into an unjust land grab? I hoped Israel would return to reason. I was making excuses for a people seared and shaped by the experience of Holocaust who understood the threat of extermination is not simply a fear but a fact I re-read Hamas charter of 1988[3] its an evil read (Article Seven!), Bono continued. But I also understood that Hamas are not the Palestinian people a people who have for decades endured and continue to endure marginalization, oppression, occupation, and the systematic stealing of the land that is rightfully theirs. Given our own historic experience of oppression and occupation, its little wonder so many here in Ireland have campaigned for decades for justice for the Palestinian people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bono then slammed Netanyahu, writing: The Government of Israel is not the nation of Israel, but the Government of Israel led by Benjamin Netanyahu today deserves our categorical and unequivocal condemnation. There is no justification for the brutality he and his far right government have inflicted on the Palestinian people in Gaza in the West Bank. And not just since October 7, well before it too though the level of depravity and lawlessness we are seeing now feels like uncharted territory. The Edge addressed his statement to Netanyahu, asking him several questions in the hope of engaging the conscience and sanity of the people of Israel. Do you truly believe that such devastation inflicted so intentionally and relentlessly on a civilian population can happen without heaping generational shame upon those responsible? The Edge wrote in part, ending his statement with: We know from our own experience in Ireland that peace is not made through dominance. Peace is made when people sit down with their opponents when they recognize the equal dignity of all, even those they once feared or despised. Bassist Clayton said, If Israel moves to colonize the Gaza Strip, it will permanently undo any possibility of lasting peace or solution for hostilities. Forgetting the morality of the situation for a moment, doesnt the technical superiority of Israels modern army make a boast of its precision targeting of individuals from thousands of miles away? And if so why are the IDF bombarding a civilian population from the skies indiscriminately destroying any bit of shelter and infrastructure? Preserving civilian life is a choice in this war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mullen Jr. added that Israels response to the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks was expected, as was a ground war and aerial bombardment and destruction. However, the drummer said that what was not expected was the indiscriminate decimation of most homes and hospitals in Gaza, with a majority of those killed being women and children and imposing famine. The power to change this obscenity is in the hands of Israel, he added. I undoubtedly support Israels right to exist and I also believe Palestinians deserve the same right and a state of their own. Silence serves none of us. Read each member of U2s full statements here. Best of Variety Sign up for Variety's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Uber received reports of sexual assault or sexual misconduct in the United States nearly every eight minutes between 2017 and 2022, according to sealed court records reviewed by The New York Times. This figure is far higher than the company has previously disclosed. Publicly, Uber has promoted itself as one of the safest transportation options, publishing safety reports and marketing campaigns emphasizing that 99.9% of U.S. trips occur without incident. But the newly unsealed records, part of large-scale litigation against the company, show that Uber logged 400,181 reports of sexual assault or misconduct in that five-year span. By contrast, Ubers previously released safety reports disclosed 12,522 accounts of serious sexual assaults for the same period, without including the total number of incidents in all categories. Uber has not publicly released similar data for years since 2022, though court filings indicate incident reports have increased. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Court records indicate that Ubers safety decisions were shaped in part by its focus on expanding its customer base, limiting legal exposure, and preserving its business model, which treats drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, according to The Times. The classification lowers labor costs because the company is not required to provide benefits or overtime, and it limits oversight since drivers are not subject to the same workplace rules as traditional employees. Our purpose/goal is not to be the police, read an internal 2021 brainstorming document on Ubers global safety standards, as reported by The Times. Our bar is much lower and our goal is to protect the company and set the tolerable risk level for our operations. UPS hit with multimillion-dollar penalty after statewide investigation Uber said roughly 75% of the 400,181 reports involved less serious conduct, such as flirting, comments on appearance, or explicit language. The company added that the figures were unaudited, meaning they may contain false or incorrect reports. Out of 6.3 billion U.S. trips over the same period, Uber said, such reports accounted for 0.006% of rides, with the most serious assaults making up 0.00002%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is no tolerable level of sexual assault, Hannah Nilles, Ubers head of safety for the Americas, told The Times. She said the company has invested in safety features such as GPS tracking, optional audio recording, and a 911 emergency button, while also launching sexual assault and misconduct training for drivers in the United States. According to court documents reviewed by The Times, internal Uber teams studied patterns in sexual assault cases for years. Incidents were most likely to occur late at night and on weekends, often with pickups near bars, and women were most frequently the victims. Offenders were typically men, either drivers or passengers, with prior complaints and low ratings. Are Casamigos and Don Julio really 100% agave? New lawsuits say no Uber tested safety interventions, including pairing female riders with female drivers and developing a Safety Risk Assessed Dispatch algorithm to avoid high-risk matches. The company found the female-to-female pairing reduced incidents but delayed introducing it in the United States, citing potential legal and cultural backlash, following the 2024 presidential election. That option is now being piloted in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Detroit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a public statement responding to The Times investigation, Uber disputed suggestions that it downplayed safety issues. Safety is a core value at Uber, and we have invested billions of dollars and countless hours to reduce safety incidents during trips, the company said, adding that reports of serious sexual assaults on its platform have fallen by 44% since it began publishing safety reports in 2019. Uber also noted it was one of the first major companies to end forced arbitration in sexual misconduct cases, a move that has since led to thousands of lawsuits. This policy change allowed survivors to bypass private arbitration and file their sexual assault, harassment, or misconduct claims in federal or state courts, making the allegations and proceedings part of the public record. Lyft has also reported thousands of sexual assaults. In a statement to The New York Times, Lyft said that reports of sexual assault are statistically very rare and represent far less than 1 percent of rides. The company added that it will continue investing in technology, policies, and partnerships to try to prevent and detect unsafe situations. A U.S. Government Accountability Office report last year found sexual violence to be severely underreported across all modes of transportation and noted the absence of a centralized database for tracking such incidents. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. Six UK property companies controlled by a former Bangladeshi minister have been plunged into administration amid a wider corruption scandal involving Tulip Siddiq. Saifuzzaman Chowdhurys property empire has unravelled amid a crackdown by the Bangladeshi authorities, which have accused him of laundering money into Britain. His UK property portfolio is said to be worth 170m and contains more than 300 properties. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The claims against him form part of a broader investigation into flats and houses bought by former allies and family members of the ousted prime minister, Sheikh Hasina. Sheikh Hasina is the aunt of Ms Siddiq, who resigned as Treasury minister earlier this year amid growing pressure over the anti-corruption scandal in Bangladesh. A corruption trial against Ms Siddiq began this week in Bangladesh over claims that she illegally received a plot of land from her aunts government. She denies the allegations. Meanwhile, the collapse of Chowdhurys businesses occurred after his assets were hit with a freezing order by the National Crime Agency (NCA). Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This included a luxury 11m property in St Johns Wood, north London, and a block of flats in Fitzrovia, central London. The NCA took action against Mr Chowdhury following requests from the current government in Dhaka. He has repeatedly denied wrongdoing and claimed that he is the victim of a politically motivated witch hunt. He has repeatedly said that he used legitimate funds to buy his overseas properties. Administrators at Grant Thornton have now been tasked with selling a large chunk of Mr Chowdhurys assets, which largely consist of rental housing blocks in London and the South East. Money generated from the sales would be used to repay creditors, which include Singaporean lender DBS and British Arab Commercial Bank. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Filings on Companies House also claim that Bangladeshi lender United Commercial Bank is also seeking to recoup $350m (260m) from Mr Chowdhury. It comes amid a complex corruption scandal in Bangladesh, with officials concerned over the vast UK property portfolios amassed by members of Sheikh Hasinas government. As a former minister in Bangladesh, Mr Chowdhury has said previously that Sheikh Hasina treated him like her son. Ms Siddiq, the UKs former anti-corruption minister resigned from her post in January amid claims she benefited from properties linked with the Awami League, her aunts party. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bangladeshs anti-corruption commission has been investigating several members of Sheikh Hasinas family, including Ms Siddiq, over accusations of corruption. Ms Siddiq has denied any wrongdoing and called the allegations completely absurd. She told The Guardian that she does not plan to attend the trial in Bangladesh, saying: I still dont know what the charges are against me. I feel a bit like Im trapped in this Kafkaesque nightmare where Ive been put on trial and I genuinely havent found out what the allegations are and what the trial is about. Ms Siddiq is one of 27 people formally indicted last week by two Bangladeshi courts, including her aunt, who remains in exile in India. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. The remains of a British meteorologist who died in an Antarctic expedition in 1959 have been recovered six decades later from a glacier, the British Antarctic Survey said Monday. They were identified by DNA-testing as those of Dennis "Tink" Bell, who died aged 25 when he was working for the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey, which became the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), the UK's polar research institute. Bell died on Admiralty Bay on King George Island, located 120 kilometres (75 miles) off the coast of Antarctica on July 26, 1959. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He was stationed on the island for a two-year assignment at a small UK research base. Bell and three other men had set out to climb and survey a glacier, when he fell through a crevasse -- a deep chasm in the ice. His body was never recovered. The remains, which were exposed by a receding glacier, were found on January 19 by a team from the Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station. "This discovery brings closure to a decades-long mystery and reminds us of the human stories embedded in the history of Antarctic science," said BAS director Jane Francis. The bone fragments were carried to the Falkland Islands by the BAS Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough, and then brought to London for DNA testing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Alongside his remains, the Polish team also found over 200 personal items including radio equipment, a flashlight, ski poles, an inscribed wristwatch and a Swedish-brand knife. Bell's brother David Bell, who lives in Australia, said the discovery after 66 years left him and his sister "shocked and amazed". "Dennis was the oldest of three siblings and was my hero as he seemed to be able to turn his hand to anything," said his brother. Francis said the confirmation of the remains "is both a poignant and profound moment for all of us at British Antarctic Survey". Bell "was one of the many brave ... personnel who contributed to the early science and exploration of Antarctica under extraordinarily harsh conditions," she added. aks/jkb/tw Leaving Ukraine last week, my starkest takeaway was the decidedly nonchalant way Ukrainians are losing their country. Imagine if California, Oregon, and Washington had all gone to occupying forces while the rest of the country watched with detached stoicism. Although not explicitly acknowledged, there seems to be a generalized certainty that the war is going to end in Ukraine's favor. The only way I can square this apparent paradox is to presume that Ukrainians have intuited, at a subconscious level, an abiding historical truth: invading forces have an almost insurmountable task, and all Ukraine has to do in order to win is hang on. I heard a joke while in the country: If a snail had started crawling westward the same day Russia's full-scale invasion began, it would have reached Poland by now. Ukraine, in other words, has lost ground very slowly. To be clear, repelling the Russian war machine is no small feat. While it's become cliche to describe the Russians as an incompetent and lumbering fighting force, dismissing them as anything less than an extremely dangerous adversary is still a fatal mistake. Day by day, meter by meter, the Russian front rolls ever westward. More than a million casualties in, Russia's general staff shows no sign of slackening; indeed, it is currently increasing pressure across the eastern front. Far-away analysts talk of "frozen" frontlines and "static" positions, but the truth is that the frontlines are a cauldron of combat activity, with Ukrainians fighting frantically to slow the creeping red tide. And yet, demoralizing as all this might seem, this steady loss holds the key to a potential triumph. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Losing as slowly as possiblehusbanding one's manpower and resources during a careful strategic retreatis a time-tested strategy against an ostensibly superior force. From George Washington to Ho Chi Minh, commanders who embrace this inglorious yet practical approach find that it can be devastatingly effective. Perhaps the most ironically apt analogy in Ukraine's case is that of Russian Field Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov, who successfully defeated Napoleon Bonaparte in 1812 as the Grande Armee invaded the Russian motherland. While Napoleon set up headquarters in the Kremlin and proclaimed victory, Kutuzov quietly bided his time. According to Angelo Codevilla, "There is no doubt that his priority was to save his army. All that mattered at the end of the day is that Napoleon had purchased sovereignty over a lot of real estate at the price of irrecoverable losses of forces and of time, while Kutuzov still had an army whose losses he could repair." Much the same dynamic is playing out in Ukraine today. Cities like Bakhmut and Avdiivka fell not because Ukraine failed to resist, but because it resisted long enough to inflict maximum damage before withdrawing. Now, as Russia continues its single-minded drive toward Pokrovsk, a similar pattern emerges: Ukrainian troops, though vastly outgunned and increasingly short on Western munitions, are executing a form of delay-in-depth warfare that exacts a mounting toll on Russian combat power. The aim is not to hold every inch of territory at all costs, but to make each successive advance punishingly expensive. As Russians begin to squeeze Kostyantynivka, I can reasonably assert that it will fall to Russian occupationbut at the cost of tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of Russian lives. Of course, the slow retreat strategy only works if the enemy eventually breakseither militarily, economically, or politically. And this is where critics raise the most serious objection: Russia is famous, after all, for preternatural levels of endurance. Time and again, Kremlin spokesmen and propagandists assert that Russia is willingand ableto absorb enormous casualties and economic pain. As the Kremlin's chief negotiator ominously noted during the Istanbul peace talks, "We fought Sweden for 21 years. How long are you ready to fight?" As bluster goes, it's pretty heavy-handed stuff, but it points to a real truth. Russia has a long history of protracted warfare, and its society, shaped by both autocracy and historical trauma, can absorb hardship in ways that quite often confound Western observers. On my way out of Ukraine, I visited a World War I cemetery commemorating the Carpathian Campaign, in which Russia lost a million men. During the Second World War, the Soviet Union suffered upwards of twenty-five million deaths, yet ultimately emerged victorious over the Axis powers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But there are limits. Even the Soviet system, at the height of its totalitarian control, could not escape the grinding demographic and political costs of the Afghan War. Public discontent, even in authoritarian systems, can become unmanageable if losses seem pointless or victories pyrrhic. Today's Russia, with a shrinking population, faltering economy, and rising domestic disillusionment, is not an inexhaustible power. It is sobering to reflect, for instance, that Russia takes more casualties in ten days of frontline operations in Ukraine than were killed in ten years in Afghanistan. Something, it seems, has to give. That is the inherent advantage in losing slowly for Ukrainethe Russian war engine, powerful and repressive as it may be, is fundamentally brittle. While Russian forces roll through Pokrovsk, Sumy, possibly even Kharkiv and beyond, they will find themselves stretched ever thinnermasters of little more than rubble-strewn hellscapes under constant threat of attack. A battlefield won at the price of untold thousands of troops, miles of shattered infrastructure, and a hostile, defiant population is not a victory. It is a trap. The longer the war goes on under these conditions, the less sustainable Moscow's hold on power becomes. This reality is transmitted home despite increasingly draconian bans on social media, and fuels a narrative that may well spell doom for the ruling establishment. It's happened before, and it can happen again. Ukraine's immediate goal is not a counteroffensive that collapses the Russian front in weekshowever desirable that might be. It should instead be to ensure that every meter Russia gains brings it closer to exhaustion. That is not a fantasy. It is a time-honored approach that has felled many an empire. The post For Ukraine, 'Losing Slowly' Might Be a Winning Strategy appeared first on Reason.com. Ukraine could agree to stop fighting and cede territory already held by Russia as part of a European-backed plan for peace. Volodymyr Zelensky told European leaders that they must reject any settlement proposed by Donald Trump in which Ukraine gives up further territory but that Russia could be allowed to retain some of the land it has taken. This would mean freezing the front line where it is and handing Russia de facto control of the territory it occupies in Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Crimea. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The softening of the negotiating position comes ahead of talks between Mr Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday. The plan can only be related to the current positions held by the militaries, a Western official said, characterising a frantic weekend of diplomacy between Kyiv and its allies. Ukraine and Europe have become increasingly concerned that Mr Trump and Putin could negotiate an end to the long-running war over Mr Zelenskys head. I have many fears and a lot of hope, Donald Tusk, Polands prime minister, said on Monday. He added that US officials had pledged to consult European leaders ahead of the face-to-face talks between Mr Trump and Putin. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chief among European concerns was a purported peace plan endorsed by Moscow, which included freezing the front lines in south-eastern Ukraine if Kyiv agreed to withdraw from areas of Donetsk and Luhansk that it controls. European diplomats say there has been no notable change in Putins overall war aims, which seek to topple Ukraines Western-facing government and replace it with a Moscow-friendly proxy. Russia is still aiming for the full capitulation of Kyiv, including blocking any prospect of Nato membership and demilitarisation, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War, the Washington-based think tank. On Monday evening, Mr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, said there were no signs Russia was preparing to bring an end to the war despite the looming peace talks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On the contrary, they are moving their troops and forces in such a way as to launch new offensive operations, he said, citing a report from Ukraines intelligence. Ukraine, while seemingly content with ceding some territory, will only agree to a peace settlement that offers robust security guarantees in the form of weapons deliveries and a path to Nato membership. Volodymyr Zelensky told European leaders that Ukrainian territory in Russias control could be on the table in peace talks European capitals have opted to back Kyivs vision for any territorial swaps in an attempt to convince Mr Trump that there is diplomatic weight behind a single Ukraine plus Europe red line that rejects concessions for Ukrainian-held land. Europeans now understand their role as supportive of Ukraine in terms of the diplomatic negotiations, said the Western official. Its a boost for morale, its also strengthening the diplomatic positions of Ukraine so that it doesnt feel alone. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Poland and our partners, it is clear that state borders cannot be changed by force, Mr Tusk said at a news conference on Monday. Russias war with Ukraine must not bring benefits to the aggressor. Frances Emmanuel Macron and Friedrich Merz, of Germany, issued similar statements in support of a hardline approach to territorial concessions over the weekend. A soldier trains in a sunflower field in the Zaporizhzhia region - Andriy Andriyenko/Ukraine's 65th Mechanized Brigade via AP A joint declaration by the leaders of the European Commission, France, Italy, the UK, Poland, and Finland said that the current line of contact should be the starting point of negotiations. European leaders are expected to hold talks with Mr Trump on Wednesday to make their case to him. On Monday, the US president said he would try to get some territory back for Ukraine during his meeting with Putin in Alaska. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There would be some swapping, some changes to land, Mr Trump said, adding: Russia has occupied a big portion of Ukraine. Were going to try to get some of that territory back for Ukraine. The US president said Friday would be a feel-out meeting aimed at urging Russia to stop the war. He added: Were going to have a meeting with Vladimir Putin, and at the end of that meeting, probably in the first two minutes, Ill know exactly whether or not a deal can be made because thats what I do. I make deals. Mr Trump said he could call Mr Zelensky first out of respect and then European leaders after the meeting with the Russian president. None of this excludes the president of Ukraine from taking the tough decision to cede territory already in the hands of Russias invasion forces. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement European officials believe Mr Zelensky has leeway with a growing number of voters who would stomach surrendering land to Moscow as the price for the end of the war. Kyiv can little afford to cede further territory, especially in the eastern region of Donetsk, because it would allow Moscows forces to freely bypass the fortifications built since the original Donbas war of 2014. The Ukrainian president would also have to perform a juggling act as he would be blocked by his countrys constitution from ceding territory without a nationwide referendum. Mr Trump criticised his Ukrainian counterpart over the rejection of concessions, saying on Monday: I was a little bothered by the fact that Zelensky was saying, Well, I have to get constitutional approval. I mean, hes got approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap? Ukraine and Europe are concerned that Putin, pictured here on Monday, could negotiate an end to the long-running war with the US over Mr Zelenskys head - Sputnik/Vyacheslav Prokofyev/Pool via REUTERS Mark Rutte, the Nato secretary general, described the decision as a challenge of how to deal with the factual situation that the Russians are holding, at this moment, Ukrainian territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Crucially important here is that when it comes to this holding of Ukrainian territory, that there might be a factual situation that they are doing this, but that we can never accept that in a legal sense, in, as this is called, a de jure sense, he told CBS. A part of Ukraine has to be on the table, that any discussion going forward from there will be with Ukrainians deciding on what they want to do in terms. Mr Zelensky had previously mooted swapping territory controlled by Ukraine in Russias Kursk region. But Moscows forces were able to break Kyivs hold on the border region, ending that bargaining chip. The Ukrainian president has also previously acknowledged that his armed forces lack the capabilities needed to reclaim land held by Moscow, but after any settlement, Kyiv could use diplomatic means to return the land to its control. Ukrainian service members carry a coffin with the body of a combat medic killed in battle. The service took place in Chernihiv - REUTERS/Maksym Kishka Russia is currently occupying around 20 per cent of Ukraines territory as agreed under Kyivs internationally recognised 1991 borders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a phone call on Monday, Sir Keir Starmer and Mark Carney, Canadas prime minister, welcomed the peace efforts but warned against a deal being imposed upon Ukraine. A Downing Street spokesman said: They discussed their unwavering support for Ukraine and ongoing work to stop the killing and end Russias war of aggression. Both leaders underscored that Ukraines future must be one of freedom, sovereignty and self-determination. They welcomed continued international efforts, led by President Trump, to bring peace and agreed that this must be built with Ukraine not imposed upon it. Both leaders agreed they would continue to work closely with President Trump and President Zelensky over the coming days. They agreed to stay in touch. 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 -- Ukrainian forces are increasing the intensity of long-range drone strikes deep into Russia, according to data released by Moscow, ahead of Friday's planned meeting between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin in Alaska. Russia's Defense Ministry reported downing another 59 Ukrainian drones overnight into Monday morning, with Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reporting that at least nine craft were shot down en route to the capital. Russia's federal air transport agency, Rosaviatsiya, reported temporary restrictions on flights at airports in Penza, Nizhny Novgorod, Kaluga, Volgograd and Saratov during the overnight attacks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Monday's figures bring the total number of long-range Ukrainian drones claimed shot down by Russian forces in August to 1,337 -- with a daily average of more than 121 drones each day. Moscow only provides data on the number of drones it claims to have shot down, and not the overall number of Ukrainian craft launched. Neither Ukraine nor Russia provide public information on the scale of their own cross-border drone attacks. In July, the total number of Ukrainian drones claimed downed over the course of the month was 3,008, with an average of just over 97 craft per day. Evgeniy Maloletka/AP - PHOTO: Ukrainian soldiers from an air defense unit fire at Russian strike drones in Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine, on Aug. 10, 2025. Ukraine's air force, meanwhile, said Russia launched 100 drones into Ukraine overnight into Monday morning, of which 70 were intercepted or suppressed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thus far in August, the intensity of Russian strikes on Ukraine appear to have eased. The first 11 days of this month have seen Moscow launch a daily average of 74 drones and one missile into Ukraine, compared with record-breaking July figures of 201 drones and around six missiles per day. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his officials have said Kyiv will continue and expand its long-range strikes in an effort to force Moscow to the negotiating table. "They in Russia must clearly feel the consequences of what they are doing against Ukraine," the president said in a statement posted to Telegram in May. "And they will. Attack drones, interceptors, cruise missiles, Ukrainian ballistic systems -- these are the key elements. We must manufacture all of them." MORE: Russia and Ukraine exchange drone attacks amid peace talks maneuvers Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is not clear whether Zelenskyy will attend Friday's summit in Alaska. There, Trump and Putin are expected to discuss proposals to secure a ceasefire and potentially to end Russia's full-scale invasion, which it launched in February 2022. Zelenskyy has insisted that any negotiations must include Ukraine. Kyiv will also not officially cede any territory, accept limitations on its armed forces, or jettison its ambitions to join NATO and the European Union, Zelenskyy has said. Putin, though, is demanding that Ukraine cede several regions -- not all of which are controlled by Russian troops -- in the south and east of the country, accept curbs on the size and sophistication of its military and be permanently excluded from NATO. Russia's demands, Zelenskyy has said, constitute an attempt to "partition Ukraine." Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/POOL/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky | Donald Trump | Russian President Vladimir Putin Speaking from the White House on Friday, Trump suggested a settlement could include "some swapping of territories." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zelenskyy swiftly rejected the proposal, saying Ukraine "will not give Russia any awards for what it has done" and that "Ukrainians will not give their land to the occupier." On Monday, Zelenskyy appealed for more pressure on the Kremlin. "Russia is prolonging the war and therefore deserves stronger pressure from the world," he wrote on Telegram. "Russia refuses to stop the killings and therefore should not receive any rewards or benefits," he added. Key developments on Aug. 11: Russian forces pierce Ukrainian defense near Dobropillia in Donetsk Oblast, monitoring group says Trump says Zelensky won't attend Alaska summit with Putin, but Ukraine-Russia talks should follow Ukrainian drones strike Russian missile component plant in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, SBU source says 1,400 Russian drones battered Ukraine last week, Zelensky says ahead of Trump-Putin summit Russian forces have made a push toward the DobropilliaKramatorsk highway in Donetsk Oblast, seizing positions in nearby settlements to support further offensive operations, the Ukrainian battlefield monitoring group DeepState reported on Aug. 11. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The updated map, compiled by DeepState through a mix of open-source data and testimonies from units on the ground, shows the grey zone touching the highway, which was used regularly by civilian and military traffic as recently as mid-July. Dobropillia lies 94 kilometers northwest of Russian-occupied Donetsk, and about 22 kilometers north of the embattled city of Pokrovsk. The estimated Russian advance in the Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, as of Aug. 11, 2025, according to DeepState map. (DeepState / OpenStreetMaps) Leveraging their numerical superiority, Russian forces have advanced into Kucheriv Yar, Zolotyi Kolodiaz, and Vesele, where they are reportedly consolidating positions for a renewed offensive and full occupation, according to DeepState. Russian troops are also attempting to establish a foothold in Petrivka and Novovodiane, on the other side of the highway. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Russian push, an extension of the Russian offensive between Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast that has been underway since spring, gained pace dramatically over August, bringing key Ukrainian logistics routes into the range of Russian first-person view (FPV) drones. Piercing the Ukrainian defense far west of the main agglomeration of Ukrainian-controlled cities in Donetsk Oblast Sloviansk, Kramatorsk Druzhkivka, and Kostiantynivka these latest gains threaten to severely compromise Kyiv's overall defense of the war-torn eastern region. New fortifications have been built around Zolotyi Kolodiaz, Shakhove, and nearby settlements positions that Russian forces are currently bypassing but may seize and repurpose for defensive use in future operations, DeepState said. "After final consolidation and accumulation, attempts to move deeper into the territory will be inevitable, and drone crews will be brought in, which will complicate the restructuring of alternative logistics and the maintenance of surrounding positions by Ukrainian forces," the report read. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "With this development of events, if it does not change, we may encounter a situation where Dobropillia falls faster than Pokrovsk." Ukrainian officials have not publicly commented on the reported Russian advance. The press officers of two Ukrainian brigades known to be fighting in the area declined to comment on the situation. Read also: As Russia closes in on Pokrovsk, battle for key city enters its final act Trump says Zelensky won't attend Alaska summit with Putin, but Ukraine-Russia talks should follow U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed during an Aug. 11 press conference that Volodymyr Zelensky will not take part in his upcoming talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, set for Aug. 15 in Alaska. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "He wasn't part of it," Trump told reporters. "I would say he could go, but he's gone to a lot of meetings; he's been there for three and a half years, and nothing happened." As Washington seeks a path to end the war in Ukraine, the upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin will mark their first face-to-face talks since the start of Trump's second term. Trump said after his meeting with Putin, a meeting between the Ukrainian and Russian leaders should take place. Read also: Exclusive: Putin to demand Ukraine cede new territory in Alaska peace plan US likely to agree, Kyiv to reject Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Ultimately, I'm going to put the two of them (Putin and Zelensky) in a room, I'll be there or I won't be there, and I think it'll get solved," Trump said. During the press conference, Trump added that he was "a little bothered" by Zelensky's words regarding "constitutional approval" for land swaps as part of a potential peace agreement. "He's got approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap? There'll be some land swapping going on," Trump said. "We're going to change the battle lines. Russia has occupied a big portion of Ukraine. They've occupied some very prime territory. We're going to try and get some of that territory back for Ukraine," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump described the upcoming meeting with Putin as a "feel-out meeting" and added that the Russian president wants "to get involved" and "to get over" the war. "At the end of that meeting, probably in the first two minutes, I'll know exactly whether or not a deal can be made," Trump said. On Aug. 8, Trump announced a summit with Putin and reportedly told Ukraine and European leaders that the Kremlin is open to negotiations if "land swaps" are part of the deal. Though it remains unclear what such a deal would entail, a source in Ukraine's Presidential Office told the Kyiv Independent that Moscow seeks Kyiv's full withdrawal from partially occupied Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in the east while offering to withdraw its forces from the limited areas it holds in the northeastern Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Publicly, Putin has demanded a ban on Ukraine's NATO membership and a full Ukrainian withdrawal from partially occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts as a precondition for peace talks. In turn, Zelensky has rejected ceding territory to Russia and urged a ceasefire as the first step toward peace talks, a position backed by Kyiv's European partners. Zelensky is also expected to hold talks with European leaders and Trump two days before the summit in Alaska, on Aug. 13. Ukrainian drones strike Russian missile component plant in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast, SBU source says Drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on Aug. 11 struck a plant in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod Oblast producing components for cruise missiles, a source in the agency told the Kyiv Independent. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This morning, long-range drones of the SBU's Special Operations Center 'A' hit the production facilities of the Arzamas Instrument-Building Plant located in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod Oblast," the source said. The statement follows reporting about a Ukrainian drone strike in the area, with Governor Gleb Nikitin claiming that "two industrial zones" in the region came under an attack. According to the SBU source, the targeted facility produces gyroscopic instruments, control systems, onboard computers, and component systems for Russian Kh-32 and Kh-101 missiles, weapons regularly used in attacks against Ukraine. The plant is under sanctions from the EU, the U.S., Ukraine, and New Zealand. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "According to preliminary information, at least four drones of the SBU's Special Operations Center 'A' struck the target," the source claimed. "Last night, an attack by the enemy (Ukrainian drones) was carried out on two industrial zones in the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. Their targets were our industrial enterprises," Nikitin said, claiming that one employee was killed and two were injured in the attack. "Specialists are currently working on site; the mayor of Arzamas, Alexander Shchelokov, is coordinating the situation, and necessary work is being organized together with the plant management." Arzamas lies about 759 kilometers (471 miles) from Ukraine's border. Explosions were also reported in the nearby city of Dzerzhinsk. Russian air defenses shot down 32 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple regions, as well as seven in the morning, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed. In Tula Oblast, Russian air defenses shot down 12 Ukrainain drones, Governor Dmitry Milyaev reported. A civilian enterprise was hit in the city of Tula, and two people were killed and three were injured, according to the official. Tula lies roughly 370 kilometers (230 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims. Read also: Mobilization gridlock: How politics, policy, and public opinion are shaping Ukraines war effort 1,400 Russian drones battered Ukraine last week, Zelensky says ahead of Trump-Putin summit Russian forces launched over 1,000 aerial bombs and 1,400 strike drones against Ukraine over the past week, Zelensky said on Aug. 11, only a few days before an expected U.S.-Russia summit. "Another week has ended without any attempt by Russia to agree to the numerous demands of the world and stop the killings, Zelensky wrote on X. According to the Ukrainian president, Moscow also maintains pressure along the front, with 209 Russian soldiers "eliminated" by Ukraine's 32nd Brigade in the Pokrovsk sector alone. "We are defending the lives of our people and strengthening our air defenses," Zelensky added. "This is what the situation in the war looks like. And the situation in diplomacy must correspond accordingly." Russian attacks against Ukraine killed at least seven people and injured close to 50 in the past 24 hours, regional authorities reported in the morning of Aug. 11. Accusing Moscow of dragging out its war against Ukraine, Zelensky stressed that Russia cannot be rewarded for its aggression. "Concessions do not persuade a killer. But truly strong protection of life stops the killers," the president added. Note from the author: Ukraine War Latest is put together by the Kyiv Independent news desk team, who keep you informed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you value our work and want to ensure we have the resources to continue, join the Kyiv Independent community. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian forces have attacked Ukraine with 71 Shahed loitering munitions and decoy drones of various types starting from the evening of 10 August. Ukrainian air defence has managed to destroy 59 drones, but hits have also been recorded. Source: Ukraine's Air Force Quote: "As of 08:00, air defence had downed or jammed 59 enemy Shahed UAVs and decoy drones of various types in the country's north, south, and east. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hits by 12 UAVs were recorded in six locations and the falling of downed drones (debris) in one location." Details: Drones from the Russian cities of Shatalovo, Kursk, Millerovo and Primorsko-Akhtarsk. Aircraft, 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. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. on Sunday said all of Ukraine prays for the Friday meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to be effective and to have great results. So yes, we want Putin to stop, and we really are hopeful that this push from President Trump, and the sanction packages which are on the table, and secondary sanctions which are already implemented against those who help Russia, will convince President Putin that this is time for him to finally stop his aggression, Ambassador Oksana Markarova told CBS Newss Margaret Brennan on Face the Nation. Markarova said she appreciated Trump pushing to end the war, and Vice President Vances recent trip to England to discuss Trumps efforts toward peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She later reiterated Trump raising tariffs on India as something that made her feel confident that the U.S. will be coming from the position of strength, you know, peace through strength, and that will allow us, together, to find a solution to stop Russias aggression. Last Wednesday, Trump announced he would raise tariffs on India by 25 percent because of its buying of Russian oil, bringing the total tariffs the president has placed on the Southeast Asian country to 50 percent. The president also said last week he will meet with Putin in Alaska on Friday, hosting him for talks on ending the war in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is not currently expected to attend. However, earlier on Sunday, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said its possible that Zelensky attends the upcoming meeting between Trump and Putin in Alaska. Markarova did not confirm if Zelensky would be showing up. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moscow has shared a ceasefire agreement with the Trump administration, demanding control of Eastern Ukraine in exchange for a halt in the three-year-long war. However, Zelensky, who is not currently invited to the Alaskan meeting, adamantly opposed the new deal. 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, Zelensky posted on the social 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. Oksana Markarova, Ukraine's Ambassador to the United States, believes that the "US will be coming from the position of strength" during talks with Russia. Source: Markarova in an interview with CBS News and on Facebook Details: Markarova said "all Ukraine prays" for US President Donald Trump to "have great results" in the talks through his effectiveness. Quote: "So yes, we want Putin to stop, and we really are hopeful that this push from President Trump, and the sanction packages which are on the table, and secondary sanctions which are already implemented against those who help Russia, will convince President Putin that this is time for him to finally stop his aggression." [N.B. Ukrainska Pravda does not recognise Putin as president ed.] Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Responding to a question about borders and buffer zones, Markarova noted that the concept of buffer zones is outdated. Quote: "But the concept of buffer zones, or whatever, you know, this outdated, old concepts from the previous century, they do not work anymore. The front line in east and south of Ukraine is the front line between evil and good. And the question is, where that front line is going to be. Is it going to be on our territory? Is it going to be on our borders? Or is it going to be in Europe and everywhere, where it will affect Europe, US, and other." "...it's not just about land. It's about the principles and values. And judging by the recent decisions, including the sanctions on India for supporting Russia war machine, including on those sanctions that have been prepared, I am confident that US will be coming from the position of strength, you know, peace through strength, and that will allow us, together, to find a solution to stop Russia's aggression." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Markarova added in a Facebook post that "I took our Constitution with me on air for the first time in years of active interviews in the US as it contains the answers to questions regarding Ukrainian territory." Background: The Trump-Putin meeting is scheduled to take place in Alaska on 15 August amid media reports that Washington and Moscow are apparently seeking an agreement to end the war in Ukraine that could lock in Russia's occupation of part of its territory. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that "the answer to the Ukrainian territorial question is already in the Constitution of Ukraine". On the night of 9-10 August, a joint statement addressed to Trump and Putin was released by the leaders of France, Italy, Germany, Poland and the UK, the president of the European Commission and the president of Finland. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Editor's note: The story was updated with comments by an SBU source. Drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) on Aug. 11 struck a plant in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod Oblast producing components for cruise missiles, a source in the agency told the Kyiv Independent. "This morning, long-range drones of the SBU's Special Operations Center 'A' hit the production facilities of the Arzamas Instrument-Building Plant located in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod Oblast," the source said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The statement follows reporting about a Ukrainian drone strike in the area, with Governor Gleb Nikitin claiming that "two industrial zones" in the region came under an attack. According to the SBU source, the targeted facility produces gyroscopic instruments, control systems, onboard computers, and component systems for Russian Kh-32 and Kh-101 missiles, weapons regularly used in attacks against Ukraine. The plant is under sanctions from the EU, the U.S., Ukraine, and New Zealand. "According to preliminary information, at least four drones of the SBU's Special Operations Center 'A' struck the target," the source claimed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 0:00 / 1 "Last night, an attack by the enemy (Ukrainian drones) was carried out on two industrial zones in the Nizhny Novgorod Oblast. Their targets were our industrial enterprises," Nikitin said, claiming that one employee was killed and two were injured in the attack. "Specialists are currently working on site; the mayor of Arzamas, Alexander Shchelokov, is coordinating the situation, and necessary work is being organized together with the plant management." Arzamas lies about 759 kilometers (471 miles) from Ukraine's border. Explosions were also reported in the nearby city of Dzerzhinsk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russian air defenses shot down 32 Ukrainian drones overnight across multiple regions, as well as seven in the morning, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed. In Tula Oblast, Russian air defenses shot down 12 Ukrainain drones, Governor Dmitry Milyaev reported. A civilian enterprise was hit in the city of Tula, and two people were killed and three were injured, according to the official. Tula lies roughly 370 kilometers (230 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border. The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims. Ukraine regularly strikes military infrastructure deep within Russia in an effort to diminish Moscow's firepower, as it continues to wage its war. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Aug. 10, a Ukrainian drone hit the Lukoil-Ukhta oil refinery in Russia's Komi Republic, roughly 2,000 kilometers from Ukraine. On Aug. 5, drones struck the Tatsinskaya railway station in Rostov Oblast. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukraine hits oil refinery 2,000 km from border in Russias Komi Republic; Europe, Ukraine reject Putins ceasefire proposal, WSJ reports Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ukraines defence forces have attacked a command post belonging to Russias 85th Separate Motorised Rifle Brigade in temporarily occupied territory in Donetsk Oblast, killing the brigade commander. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Quote: "Ukraines defence forces continue to destroy Russian command posts. The latest target was a command post of the 85th Separate Motorised Rifle Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces in temporarily occupied territory in Donetsk Oblast. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early reports suggest that as a result of the strike, the brigade commander, who goes by the alias Dniepr, and five operational personnel were killed by a precision munition." More details: More detailed information on the consequences of the strike is being confirmed. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukrainians have been hit by Western sanctions intended to block Russians from accessing key services. British companies are among a host of firms that have imposed blanket shutdowns across the Ukrainian regions Vladimir Putin claims to have annexed but has not yet conquered. Revolut and Wise, which provide essential online banking services, have been accused of carrying out the Kremlins bidding by going dark across the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But Nikolay Kucheruk, whose company provides internet services to residents of Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine, says the companies have no reason to block his customers. Mr Kucheruk, whose technicians keep customers connected, says the companies have no reason to block his customers The war-ravaged Donbas town may be only 20 miles from the frontline but is not under Russian control. Putin claimed the surrounding oblasts after sham referenda in 2022 but three years on, fighting remains fierce and swathes of the regions remain resolutely Ukrainian, despite a renewed Russian offensive in the east with Moscows forces looking to fully capture the land Putin already claims as Russias. Revolut and Wise, two of the most prominent UK-based fintechs, offer their products in Ukraine, with services available throughout the majority of the country. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But residents in the east face payment rejections and near total shutdowns, while their compatriots can fully access the services. Similar policies have been imposed by other global platforms, including Airbnb, Booking.com, Spotify, Duolingo, TikTok, eBay and Facebook Ads. Ukrainians say these companies are effectively redrawing the map by legitimising Putins annexation and recognising the territories as Russian. Contacted by The Telegraph, they acknowledged the problem but attributed their decision to Western sanctions against Russia. To access anything online, every user needs an internet protocol (IP) address, assigned by their internet provider which allows online platforms to deliver their services. In eastern Ukraine, these companies are refusing to do so. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From a technical point of view, it should be simple, said Mr Kucheruk, the founder and chief executive of Elite Line, Kramatorsks leading internet provider. You just compare a users address with the ranges assigned to Ukrainian providers. That usually gives you a pretty clear idea if the connection is coming from inside the country. The companies pointed to economic sanctions for shutting down in the east but Western sanctions have never targeted Ukraine. Revolut must comply with the sanctions laws and regulations of the UN, EU, UK and the US, the company said in a statement. Pushed on why it does not differentiate between Ukrainian-controlled and Russian-occupied areas within Ukraine, Revolut said: Revolut has a legal and regulatory responsibility to comply with all applicable sanctions regimes from the UN, EU, UK, US, and all other jurisdictions in which Revolut operates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Revolut supports transfers and card payments for Ukrainian residents, except for sanctioned areas. Revolut does not operate in Russia. Wise declined to offer a comment on record. Mr Kucheruk says that it would be simple to identify internet users as legitimately Ukrainian With more than 60 million users worldwide, the two British neo-banks are a financial lifeline. They help people send and receive money from abroad, protect their savings, and store funds in stronger currencies like the pound, euro, or dollar. Restrictions deal a double blow to a country of refugees, where the hryvna [Ukraines currency] has lost 32 per cent of its value in just three years. Ironically, Revolut, which boasts over 700,000 Ukrainian clients across the UK and EU, previously released a paid promotional debit card in the colours of the Ukrainian flag, calling on users to show solidarity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not all companies have applied sanctions intended for Russians in Ukrainian held regions. Supermarkets, cafes and businesses near the front still process payments daily through Visa and Mastercard. Both companies stopped issuing new cards in Russia after 2022. When asked whether the firms could target specifically Russian-controlled territory in the broader regions, Mr Kucheruk said: That wouldnt be a problem. They could create a whitelist with ISPs directions. If a place gets destroyed or is occupied, we can report it and have it moved to a blacklist. But these companies dont even want to try. Born in Kramatorsk, Mr Kucheruk founded Elite Line two decades ago, and today, with Moscows troops slowly advancing towards the city, still provides services to 15,000 homes and businesses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement His team of 30 people repairs the fibre-optic cables every time Russia shells the city, keeping locals, soldiers, volunteers, and businesses online even during attacks or blackouts. Mr Kucheruks team of 30 people repairs cables every time Russia shells the city, keeping locals online during attacks or blackouts Big ISPs like Vodafone or Kyivstar can take weeks to react, he explained. Were a small market for them. But we are local people, we live here. We have a responsibility to our customers. During the 10-year Donbas war, Volodymyr, a fellow Kramatorsk resident, used to host dozens of travellers, families, NGO workers and foreign journalists. But since the Russian invasion, he has been banned by Airbnb. In March 2022, the housing platform told him they were no longer operating in the Donetsk administrative capital, still 30 miles inside Ukrainian-held territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Airbnb could have played a crucial role in the logistics and military hub, helping meet urgent housing needs while allowing locals to earn a vital income during the war. Theyre stubborn. They dont understand anything, Volodymyr, now safe in western Ukraine after fleeing the city, said. Airbnb justified the restrictions by claiming it takes obligations seriously to ensure compliance with US, EU, and other applicable government sanctions. A lot of enterprises and institutions say they want to help, but in three years, theyve done nothing, said Mr Kucheruk. Its not that they cant. Its that they dont want to. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Google has been the only tech giant to reverse course when they blocked access to basic tools like Gmail in March 2022. We contacted Google Ukraine, and they quickly understood it was a mistake. Which proves one thing: unlocking the situation isnt difficult, said Mr Kucheruk. 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. U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Aug. 15 to discuss a deal to end Moscow's war against Ukraine without Ukraines participation. The plan envisions a "territorial swap" between the two countries: Ukraine would have to withdraw from the Ukrainian-controlled parts of partially occupied Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in exchange for Russias withdrawal from parts of Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts. We asked Ukrainians on the streets of Kyiv how they feel about Trumps plan to negotiate a peace agreement with Putin without Ukraines involvement, and what they think about such a territorial exchange. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. LONDON (Reuters) -British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is "gravely concerned" about the repeated targeting of journalists in Gaza, his spokesperson said on Monday, after five reporters were killed in an Israeli airstrike. Israel's military said it targeted and killed prominent Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al Sharif, alleging he had headed a Hamas militant cell and was involved in rocket attacks on Israel. Al Jazeera, which is funded by the Qatari government, rejected the assertion, and before his death, Al Sharif had also rejected such claims by Israel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We are gravely concerned by the repeated targeting of journalists in Gaza," Starmer's spokesperson told reporters. "Reporters covering conflicts are afforded protection under international humanitarian law, and journalists must be able to report independently, without fear, and Israel must ensure journalists can carry out their work safely." Asked about the claim that one of the journalists was linked to Hamas, Starmer's spokesperson said: "That should be investigated thoroughly and independently, but we are gravely concerned by the repeated targeting of journalists". (Reporting by Alistair Smout. Writing by Andrew MacAskill. Editing by Sachin Ravikumar) The UN's human rights office has condemned a targeted Israeli attack that killed six journalists in Gaza, calling it a grave breach of international law. Four Al Jazeera journalists, including correspondent Anas al-Sharif, were killed in an Israeli air strike on Sunday. Three others were killed, including two freelance journalist, the broadcaster said. Israel's military said it targeted Sharif, alleging he had "served as the head of a terrorist cell in Hamas" - something Sharif denied. Israel provided little evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The BBC understands Sharif did some work with a Hamas media team in Gaza before the current war. In social media posts before his death, the journalist is heard criticising Hamas. Media rights groups and countries including Qatar condemned the attack. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's spokesman said the UK government was "gravely concerned" and called for an independent investigation. Speaking to reporters, Starmer's official spokesman said Israel should ensure journalists can work safely and report without fear. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The funerals of Sharif, fellow Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, and cameramen Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and freelance cameraman Moamen Aliwa took place on Monday following the targeted missile strike on their tent in Gaza City. Al Jazeera initially said five of its journalists were killed by Israel, but revised this to four on Tuesday. Mohammad al-Khaldi was named by medics at al-Shifa hospital as the sixth journalist who was killed during the strike, Reuters news agency reported. Another person was also killed in the attack, it said. Streets in Gaza were thronged with crowds gathered for the funerals. Anas al-Sharif was a household name who had millions of followers online. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reporters Without Borders, a media freedom group, strongly condemned what it called the assassination of Sharif. The Foreign Press Association said it was outraged by the targeted killing. It said the Israeli military had repeatedly labelled Palestinian journalists "as militants, often without verifiable evidence". The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said it was appalled by the attack and that Israel had failed to provide evidence to back up its allegations against Sharif. "Israel has a longstanding, documented pattern of accusing journalists of being terrorists without providing any credible proof," the organisation added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli military has suggested it has documents found in Gaza that confirmed Sharif belonged to Hamas. It said these include "personnel rosters, lists of terrorist training courses, phone directories and salary documents". The only materials that have been released for publication are screenshots of spreadsheets apparently listing Hamas operatives from the northern Gaza Strip, noting injuries to Hamas operatives, and a section of what is said to be a phone directory for the armed group's East Jabalia battalion. The BBC cannot independently verify these documents, and has seen no evidence of Sharif having involvement in the current war or remaining an active member of Hamas. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No Israeli explanation has so far been given for the killing of the entire Al Jazeera news crew. CPJ says at least 186 journalists have been killed since the start of Israel's military offensive in Gaza in October 2023 - the deadliest period for journalists since it began recording such data in 1992. "Israel must respect & protect all civilians, including journalists," the UN Human Rights office said in a post on X. "We call for immediate, safe and unhindered access to Gaza for all journalists." Last month, the BBC and three other news agencies - Reuters, AP and AFP - issued a joint statement expressing "desperate concern" for journalists in the Gaza Strip, who they say are increasingly unable to feed themselves and their families. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Israeli government does not allow international news organisations, including the BBC, into Gaza to report freely, so many outlets rely on Gaza-based reporters for coverage. Meanwhile in Gaza, five more people have died from malnutrition in the past 24 hours, including one child, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. This brings the total number of malnutrition deaths to 222, including 101 children, the health ministry said. 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". Last month, UN-backed global food security experts warned the "worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israel has continued to deny there is starvation in Gaza and has accused UN agencies of not picking up aid at the borders and delivering it. The UN's humanitarian agency has said it continues to see impediments and delays as it tries to collect aid from Israeli-controlled border zones. Israel launched its offensive in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage. Since then, 61,430 people have been killed in Gaza as a result of Israel's military campaign, according to the health ministry. Residents in Poplar, North Carolina, are fed up with an allegedly illegal mining operation they say has been polluting the riverbed and sending thick dust into the air for nearly a year as the mountain community still rebuilds from Hurricane Helene. Outraged Western North Carolinians in the tight-knit community are traveling to Boone on Monday where a court hearing will determine whether the mine operated by Horizon 30, LLC, can be shut down or face civil or criminal penalties. On Friday, the North Carolina Department of Labor (NCDOL) announced that it had determined the mining operation at Carter Quarry in Mitchell County was unauthorized and in violation of state mining laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The North Carolina Justice Department is seeking a criminal injunction. State officials say the operation has continued along the Nolichucky River for months despite Horizon 30 repeatedly being warned that it lacks proper permitting. Volunteers Help Rebuild North Carolina Homes 10 Months After Hurricane Helene "This mine is so detrimental to the area," Tessa Sharp, who lives on a nearby homestead with her Navy veteran husband, Leo Sharp, told Fox News Digital. Read On The Fox News App Residents who spoke to Fox News Digital made a contrast between the mine operated by Horizon 30 and another nearby in Spruce Pine operated by Sibelco North America Inc. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sibelco, residents said, has established infrastructure to mine for quartz, employs locally and contributes to the local economy. The one by Horizon 30 descended on the area after Helene. "They're trying to see what they can get away with so that they can take advantage of an area that's still recovering after Helene," Tessa Sharp said, arguing the mine was benefitting from slowed bureaucratic checks and balances. "If it is something that's feasible for them to get in and make their money, what's to stop them from going up to another neighbor's property and doing this? They know it's going to take, at this point, almost a year for anything legal to come about." Tessa and Leo Sharp said all but one of their 14 rabbits have died since the mining operation began in December. They attribute the deaths to respiratory issues from the thick dust in the air. The couple, who've operated a homestead with turkeys, chickens, ducks, geese and quail in the area for about three years, said high floodwaters that swept in during Helene damaged their home's foundation, separating their bedroom from the rest of the house. Amid the initial storm, they rushed to evacuate their livestock to the pig pen of their barn on higher ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They said they lived in a tent on the property in the intal aftermath and had been "couch-surfing" with family nearby for more than 10 months before recently moving back into the home. "This is not something that we all were planning on dealing with while we're in the process of rebuilding," Leo Sharp told Fox News Digital. "This is a community that's been hurt, and we don't need to be hurt anymore than we already have. And the fact that we're sitting here having to deal with this while we don't even have our bedroom back is unbelievable, and you know, it just needs to stop. It needs to stop, and it needs to go away." Cody Peterson, an Army veteran who grew up in the mountain community, told Fox News Digital that "massive plumes" of silica dust can be spotted over the treeline by the entrance to the mine next to a property where several children live. North Carolina Town Destroyed By Hurricane Helene Hoping To Welcome Tourists Back By Midsummer Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He accused Horizon 30 of coming into the area "under the guise of emergency protocols" enacted to rebuild a section of the railroad destroyed by the hurricane. "Get out of North Carolina. We don't want you here," Peterson said, addressing Horizon 30 directly. "You came in under the guise of emergency protocols, trying to fool people unethical." Horizon 30, LLC is based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, according to its registration records with the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State and the Pennsylvania Department of State. As the permitting process stalled earlier this year, Horizon 30 CFO Sean Chipman penned a letter to the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in May. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "H30 relies upon the emergency permits, authorizations, waivers and other applicable allowances for services in support of the Emergency Railway Repairs and also the Executive Orders of the President of the United States of America, including those in support of the America First initiative and energy independence, as well as prior and concurrent emergency response directives," Chipman wrote at the time. Chipman argued that the mining application was made "in conjunction with some of the leading professionals in the mining industry" and the Army Corps of Engineers had conducted a review. In the letter, he said the company took "corrective measures" to meet the department's requirements and "wishes to continue to have a good and productive relationship with your Department and the State." Attempts to reach Horizon 30 for comment were unsuccessful. Residents said the company has not employed locals and license plates at the Poplar site are from places including Louisiana, Texas, Kentucky and Arizona. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since the mining operation began in December, Tessa Sharp said the DEQ has relayed to the community that "other than serving cease and desist and sending these cases to the DOJ and Supreme Court, there's nothing that we can do to stop them." "As a landowner, I think that is really concerning for North Carolina residents," Tessa Sharp said. The North Carolina Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources (DEMLR) told Fox News Digital that Horizon 30 has been operating the mining site in Poplar since December without the required state permit despite multiple warnings and on-site inspections. Over several months, DEMLR said it issued multiple formal regulatory requirement notices and violation notices directing the company to either stop operations or obtain a valid mining permit. Inspections confirmed the expansion of unpermitted mining activity, prompting repeated enforcement actions. While Horizon 30 has submitted parts of a permit application, DEMLR said the department has not yet approved it due to incomplete information, and the company remains out of compliance with the Mining Act. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peterson, who lives on about 80 acres, described how dead birds and other wildlife have been discovered in the area since the mining operation began. Leo Sharp shared drone footage with Fox News Digital showing excavators and other heavy machinery continuing to operate at the site earlier this month. State labor department records show Horizon 30 submitted a mining permit application, which is marked as incomplete and as pending review. The state Labor Department said Friday that the illegal mining operation was discovered after the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration requested that the NCDOL provide miner safety training at the site. During that visit, a state Labor Department official "identified multiple irregularities and immediately questioned whether the site had the required state environmental permit," according to the department. The company then failed to produce the necessary documentation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "This is exactly why Ive made it a priority to support and empower our field staff," state Labor Commissioner Luke Farley said in a statement on Friday. "Their experience, judgment, and vigilance are critical to keeping workers safe and enforcing the law. If our staff hadnt gone above and beyond their duty to protect workers, this illegal operation could have continued unnoticed putting lives at risk and undermining public trust in our regulatory system." Original article source: Unauthorized North Carolina mine allegedly seizing on Hurricane Helene devastation, court battle imminent Leaving a permanent stain on the reputation of the New York Times, Pulitzer laureate Walter Duranty wrote in 1933: "You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs." The Soviet experiment was the omelette. The eggs were millions of Ukrainians deliberately starved by Moscow for wanting freedom. And the bloodthirsty chef was Joseph Stalin a tyrant whose only rival in genocidal ambition at the time was Adolph Hitler. Duranty parroted Kremlin talking points, dismissed eyewitness accounts, and described the Holodomor Stalins deliberate and monstrous campaign to exterminate Ukrainians as mere malnutrition. He publicly denied the deaths but privately admitted that millions had likely already perished. The chief correspondent in the USSR for America's newspaper of record betrayed not just Ukraine, but his readers, the truth, and his noble profession. Nearly a century later, Moscow is once again attempting to erase Ukraine, while politicians and commentators, wittingly or not, cite statistics that diminish the scale of atrocities. British-born journalist Walter Duranty, the Moscow correspondent for the New York Times, reads a copy of the "Pravda" newspaper on Jan. 1, 1925. (James Abbe/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) Before going further, lets consider a phrase that has become far too comfortable in international reporting: civilian casualties. While civilians inevitably suffer in all wars, Russias campaign is defined by the intentional targeting and murder of civilians. But there are no "casualties," only victims of war crimes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite overwhelming evidence of war crimes that Russian troops have committed in Ukraine since 2022, international media and institutions continue to rely on the UNs official figure of around 13,000 civilian deaths. This number reflects only what can be double-confirmed, not what can be reasonably known. The OHCHR itself admits the true toll is far higher. What protects a reputation more: repeating an official undercount that serves Russian propaganda, or confronting uncomfortable truths? Its methodology, though careful and well-intentioned, excludes vast swaths of occupied territory, where unimaginable cruelty is buried and access is blocked by its perpetrators. Every death must be corroborated by at least two independent sources, which may be feasible in liberated areas but is impossible under Moscows control. Without access, there are no witnesses, no documents, no exhumations and therefore, no count. Take Mariupol as a case in point. Before the war, it was home to nearly 450,000 people. After months of encirclement and bombardment in 2022, city officials estimated that 25,00075,000 civilians had been killed. Those numbers alone would eclipse the UNs entire civilian death toll for the war, but theyre not reflected in official statistics. Mariupol is still under occupation. Independent investigators have not been allowed in. What happened there remains largely unrecorded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The same is true in every city still under Russian occupation in eastern and southern Ukraine, or towns that have been wiped off the map by the war. These places, where phone lines are cut, media is silenced, and locals are terrified to speak, remain inaccessible to international monitors. But the absence of documentation does not mean the absence of death. And when these areas are liberated, the truth emerges. In Bucha, more than 400 bodies were found after Russian troops retreated in April 2022 many with their hands tied, shot at close range. In Izium, mass burial sites containing hundreds of civilians were uncovered, many showing signs of torture. Thousands more may have been burned, buried without records, or never recovered. But Bucha is now a liberated outlier. What lies buried in occupied Tokmak or Nova Kakhovka remains unknown. Fresh graves are seen at a cemetery in Mariupol, Ukraine, on June 2, 2022, amid Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine. (Stringer/AFP via Getty Images) Workers in protective suits take dozens of bodies to the morgue from the Bucha cemetery for forensic examination and eventual burial Bucha, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine, on April 12, 2022. (Getty Images) Beyond direct killings, we must also consider the thousands of civilians who have died because of war conditions lack of medical care, starvation, and attacks on infrastructure. These deaths are rarely included in the UNs figures, but theyre no less the consequence of Russias aggression, and no less intentional than a bullet to the head. Entire towns have been cut off from power, heat, and water during winter. Hospitals have been deliberately targeted. Pregnant women, cancer patients, and the elderly have died simply because they could not access care in time. Another blind spot in the numbers: filtration camps. Thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been abducted, forcibly deported, or detained in Russian-controlled facilities many tortured, many executed. Their names are missing from official lists. Their families receive no information. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 13,000 figure is still cited not because its accurate, but because its safe. Journalists and policymakers lean on it to avoid the charge of speculation. But what protects a reputation more: repeating an official undercount that serves Russian propaganda, or confronting uncomfortable truths? In 1942, the Evening Star reported that 2 million Jews had already been killed in Nazis genocide a figure based on incomplete, unverified sources. It was speculative by necessity, but the alternative was worse: to demand death certificates from the gas chambers or wait in silence for the proper count. The journalists who published it are not remembered as alarmists. Theyre remembered for recognizing the scale of the crime as it was unfolding. Today, Russian propaganda exploits the UNs undercount to deny war crimes, minimize Ukraines suffering, and subvert international resolve to hold the aggressor accountable. But no lasting or meaningful peace can be built on the erasure of tens perhaps hundreds of thousands of innocent lives. Durantys failure to report on the genocide in Ukraine a century ago reminds us that defending truth requires moral clarity and courage. Anything less is complicity by omission. Submit an Opinion Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read also: Best way to ramp up Western sanctions on Russia is to double down on their enforcement Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A sign for the University of Alabama on University Blvd. in Tuscaloosa, AL Saturday August 24, 2024. (Will McLelland/Alabama Reflector) Attorneys representing the University of Alabama (UA) system in a lawsuit challenging Alabamas 2024 state law banning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and so-called divisive concepts claimed in court filings that new federal guidance on anti-discrimination laws would make it unlawful for UA to reopen open spaces dedicated to minority students, likening it to unlawful segregation. In a brief filed Tuesday last week, attorneys for the university cited a July memorandum from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, claiming that DEI initiatives can be considered discriminatory and may be in violation of federal anti-discrimination laws. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The guidance states that it would be an unlawful practice for [a] universitys DEI initiative [to designate] a safe space or lounge exclusively for students of a specific racial or ethnic group, and that [e]ven if access is technically open to all, the identity-based focus creates a perception of segregation and may foster a hostile environment in violation of federal antidiscrimination laws, the attorneys wrote, quoting the Trump administrations guidance. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The lawsuit, brought by professors and students in the University of Alabama system against Gov. Kay Ivey and the university system Board of Trustees, alleges that SB 129 stifled instructional activity and violated the First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. The anti-DEI law bans public funding for diversity and inclusion initiatives and the teaching of so-called divisive concepts, such as people of one race being inherently responsible for past crimes committed by members of that race. In July 2024, ahead of the anti-DEI laws implementation, the UA system announced it planned to close the schools DEI offices and replace them with offices that seemingly addressed similar goals. Later in August, UA closed its Black Student Union and Safe Zone, its LGBTQ+ resource center, citing compliance with SB 129. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement UA attorneys wrote that the guidance speaks directly to officials concerns about reinstating Black Student Union and Safe Zone offices in the UA Student Center; UAs Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB)s Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and UABs Student Multicultural and Diversity Programs office. Attorneys from the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund and the ACLU of Alabama representing the plaintiffs in the lawsuit argued in a filing Monday that the guidance is irrelevant, stating that the memorandum is nothing more than non-binding suggestions. The fact that the board defendants now believe they could support the closure based on some other law (an argument they did not introduce until after the evidentiary hearing) does not undermine standing or otherwise avoid adjudication of whether the closures pursuant to SB 129 were unconstitutional, attorneys for the plaintiffs wrote. The attorneys also wrote that it was undisputed that the Black Student Union and Safe Zone spaces were open to all students and did not limit use based on race, gender, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is not a shred of evidence in the record that either the BSU space or the Safe Zone created a perception of segregation or fostered a hostile environment. The guidance simply has no application to the case actually before this Court, plaintiffs counsel stated. Plaintiffs said at a two-day evidentiary hearing in June that SB 129 was vaguely written, threatened the teaching of Black history in schools, chilled academic freedom and ultimately led to threats of budget cuts to an honors program from one state representative. U.S. District Judge David Proctor indicated in June he wanted to decide whether to issue an injunction before the start of the fall semester. Classes start on August 20 at UA and August 25 at UAB. In briefs filed after hearings in late June and early July, plaintiffs argued that a new law is leading to viewpoint discrimination, claiming that professors, fearing enforcement, have to self-censor and change their teaching methods. One professor, Dana Patton, testified she was investigated after an anonymous complaint and warned by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, that lawmakers wouldnt let this go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Alabama Attorney Generals office, representing Gov. Kay Ivey, argued in their post-hearing brief that these fears arent objectively reasonable since the professors stated they dont intend to violate the law. Attorneys for the UA Board, argued that classroom speech is government speech, not private speech, and that the University of Alabama has the right to reasonably control the content of their curriculum. Student plaintiffs also claim the law caused their organizations to lose funding and campus spaces. The defendants counter that some of these injuries are monetary and that, in certain cases, students chose not to apply for available funding. Many 16 to 18-year-olds will be getting exam results this summer with their sights set on university. But, in an area with one of the lowest university entry rates in Wales, some are taking a different path. Eighteen-year-olds in Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney and neighbouring Torfaen are far less likely to go on to higher education than those in some other parts of Wales. Data published last month showed that 32.5% of Welsh 18-year-olds had applied to university by the end of June, compared to 41.2% across the UK. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Gearing up for their production of Beauty and the Beast, several members of Abertillery Youth Drama and Music Society dream of a career in theatre. Millie, 16, is moving to a further education college in September to study for a diploma in performing arts. "I like to have things planned out. I have a rough timeline of what's going to happen to me after college", she said. She wants to go to university and the dream is to spend time in New York and its "amazing" theatre scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an industry where work is not guaranteed, she said it was "very comforting to know that you can spend a few years actively honing your skills". She added: "Even if you're not getting jobs and getting booked like you want to be, you're always spending time in that space and improving yourself." Gil, 16, will be doing A-levels in college but then wants to find work, then "think about university". "None of the careers I would want to do are easy to get into with just a degree from university so I don't really want to spend tons of money on going to university and then not be able [to] get a job straight out of it and then have to struggle with the debt," he said Megan says going to university will be "a bit daunting but I think it also makes it that much more interesting" [BBC] Now she has finished her A-levels, Megan Pitman hopes to study in Aberystwyth. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She has always wanted to do "something impactful and really big" that usually comes with a need for a degree". Having an older brother who told her "how much fun" university was helped cement the decision. "I've lived here my whole life so it's really nice to go somewhere new and be a bit more independent," she added. But 18-year-olds in the area are far less likely to go to university than in many other parts of Wales, according to Ucas data. Neighbouring Torfaen was the Welsh parliamentary constituency with the lowest university entry rate for 18-year-olds in 2024 at 16.9%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Blaenau Gwent and Rhymney it was 18.9% compared to 47.9% in Cardiff North, just a short drive away. In London it was 51.5%. University can feel distant to some young people living in the south wales valleys, said University and College Union's Wales official Gareth Lloyd. He said: "I'd like to see every further education college, every sixth form [travelling] to every open day in Wales and a free bus put on by the college and ideally funded by the Welsh government. "When I was in school, we saw the glossy magazine for every university." He added that cuts to career advice in school, combined with courses being slashed at universities struggling for cash, could damage recruitment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If people want to go to university but don't necessarily want to stay away, then they want something on their doorstep and that's becoming more and more difficult." At its centre in Ebbw Vale, training provider ACT offers the Jobs Growth Wales+ programme which is aimed at getting 16 to 19-year-olds ready for work [BBC] But other young people are on a different route. Summer, 16, from Ebbw Vale left her hairdressing course at college but hopes to go back next term after a period on the Jobs Growth Wales+ programme. "I want to do more education first so I'm fully qualified for everything and then have a job and hopefully it'll be a good paying job because the more you work the more you succeed", she said Linda, 17, who is from a gypsy background and did not go to secondary school, joined the programme without any qualifications. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After a year, during which time she earned qualifications in English and maths, she is hoping for a placement or apprenticeship in a bakery. "I think it will be a good opportunity for me to be more hands on with baking," she said. "I want to make birthday and wedding cakes - my own business. My dream? To be a baker." Over the summer ACT are taking a careers trailer to high streets to raise awareness of Jobs Growth Wales+. The programme is aimed at getting 16 to 19-year olds work-ready, said Nathan Felvus of ACT. "We work on personal independence, we work on their wellbeing and it's really just an alternative to college or to sixth form," he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Some end up going to university but the main aim is to "find something they want to do." Medr, the body responsible for funding and regulating the higher education and research sector in Wales, said data suggested a "mixed picture", with Ucas figures suggesting an uptick in applications from disadvantaged areas. A spokesman called the figures a "useful snapshot" but said more data had to be considered for the full picture of next year's university intake. Universities Wales, which has previously called for "urgent action" to address low participation in post-16 education said: "University offers a transformative experience that not only benefits individuals but also strengthens our communities and economy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It is essential that we continue to highlight the life-changing potential that going to university can offer." Related stories The planets humble mollusks have teeth that mean business. Researchers are now investigating how one of Earths hardest and strongest biological materials got so tough, and are looking at a tiny marine mollusk called chitons. Their chompers are harder and stiffer than human tooth enamel and stainless steel, but also wear-resistant and magnetic. Chiton grow new teeth every few days that are superior to materials used in industrial cutting tools, grinding media, dental implants, surgical implants and protective coatings, yet they are made at room temperature and with nanoscale precision, David Kisailus, a professor of materials science and engineering University of California, Irvine, said in a statement. We can learn a lot from these biological designs and processes. Kisailus is co-author of a study recently published in the journal Science. Using a large species of chiton primarily found in the intertidal zones of the Pacific near the UC Irvine campus. The molluscks teeth are primarily made of magnetite nanorods (a magnetic mineral and type of iron oxide) and an organic material found on the United States northwest coast and off the coast of Hokkaido, Japan. Kisailus and his colleagues specifically studied how RTMP1chiton-specific, iron-binding proteinsmove into their forming teeth. A four-panel research image shows the chiton, measuring more than 20 centimeters, in the upper left. In the middle panel on the top row to the right shows the underside of the chiton where its mouth (buccal cavity) is open, highlighting the super-hard, rock-gnawing teeth are arrayed in the chitons mouth (far right panel). The panel on the lower left shows the evolution of the chiton teeth from light to dark, the darker color denoting the presence of hardening iron oxide in the tooth material, the process of which is the focus of this study. CREDIT: David Kisailus / UC Irvine. The team revealed that the iron-binding proteins in the teeth use small nanoscopic tubules called microvilli to travel from the tissue around immature, nonmineralized teeth into more mature and mineralized teeth. Once they are inside, the proteins bind to scaffolds of chitin nanofibers, the large molecules that dictate how the nanorods that make up the teeth are built. At the same time, the iron from the surrounding tissue also enters the teeth, where it attaches to the RTMP1 protein. This allows the iron oxide that forms the magnetite nanorods to accumulate and eventually grow into the chitons signature hard teeth. [ Related: This wandering meatloaf has teeth made from rare minerals. ] According to the team, chitons in different regions around the world have the RTMP1 proteins, indicating that some convergent biological design in controlling iron oxide deposition, Kisailus explained. Ultimately, the teams investigation into chiton tooth formation holds important implications for the production of other advanced materials. The fact that these organisms form new sets of teeth every few days not only enables us to study the mechanisms of precise, nanoscale mineral formation within the teeth, but also presents us with new opportunities toward the spatially and temporally controlled synthesis of other materials for a broad range of applications, such as batteries, fuel cell catalysts and semiconductors, he added. This includes new approaches toward additive manufacturing3D printingand synthesis methods that are far more environmentally friendly and sustainable. By Dan Levine and Deena Beasley (Reuters) -The U.S. CDC has tightened security following an attack Friday on its Atlanta headquarters that left a police officer and the gunman dead, including having most employees work from home this week and removing vehicle decals showing where they work. The union representing workers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the violence "compounds months of mistreatment, neglect, and vilification that CDC staff have endured," citing reports that the gunman blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for making him depressed and suicidal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Since being named Health and Human Services Secretary earlier this year, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has targeted vaccine policy, and in May withdrew a federal recommendation for COVID shots for pregnant women and healthy children. Kennedy toured the CDC site on Monday, where agency security pointed out shattered windows across multiple buildings, including the main guard booth, HHS said in a statement. He also visited the DeKalb County Police Department and met privately with the widow of Officer David Rose, who gave his life in the line of duty. "No one should face violence while working to protect the health of others," Kennedy Jr. said in a post on X on Saturday. HHS said it continues to support CDC personnel and additional safety and security measures are being put in place ahead of their return to the office. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A source briefed on the matter told Reuters that 189 rounds of gunfire had hit the CDC buildings during the attack, 85 windows were broken and over 100 doors destroyed, among other damage. Both local and federal law enforcement are "conducting intensive monitoring of all potential threats to CDC and its staff," the agency's acting Chief Operating Officer Christa Capozzola said in an email to staff over the weekend that was seen by Reuters. She said work was under way to clean up and repair extensive damage to the CDC's campus by the shooter who, according to the investigation so far, acted alone. An "all-staff" meeting on Tuesday will become a virtual-only event, CDC Director Susan Monarez said in a separate email seen by Reuters. She said teams were working to determine "our workplace posture" moving forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The agency's safety division asked employees to remove CDC-identifying decals from their vehicles, an email seen by Reuters showed. The Atlanta Police Department referred calls to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which did not have an immediate comment. (Reporting By Deena Beasley and Dan Levine in San Francisco; Additonal reporting by Rich McKay in Atlanta; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Stephen Coates) DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) U.S. Congressman Abraham Hamadeh made a brief visit to Syria where he discussed with the countrys interim president the return of the body of an American aid worker who was taken hostage and later confirmed dead in the war-torn country, his office said Monday. Hamadehs visit to Syria comes as a search has been underway in remote parts of the country for the remains of people who were killed by the Islamic State group that once controlled large parts of Syria and Iraq before its territorial defeat six years ago. Kayla Mueller, 26, was captured in northern Syria in August 2013 and her family and U.S. officials confirmed her death more than a year later. Hamadeh, an Arizona Republican, has vowed to return Muellers body which has not yet been found to her family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hamadehs office said he was in Syria for six hours to meet President Ahmad al-Sharaa to discuss the return of Muellers body to her family in Arizona. The statement added that Hamadeh also discussed the need to establish a secure humanitarian corridor for the safe delivery of medical and humanitarian aid to the southern province of Sweida that recently witnessed deadly clashes between pro-government fighters and gunmen from the countrys Druze minority. A Syrian government official did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Hamadehs statement. Dozens of foreigners, including aid workers and journalists, were killed by IS militants who declared a so-called caliphate in 2014. The militant group lost most of its territory in Iraq in late 2017 and was declared defeated in 2019 when it lost the last sliver of land it controlled in east Syria. Since then, dozens of gravesites and mass graves have been discovered in northern Syria containing remains and bodies of people IS had abducted over the years. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff, as well as humanitarian workers Mueller and Peter Kassig are among those killed by IS. None of the remains is believed to have been found. Mueller, from Prescott, Arizona, was taken hostage with her boyfriend, Omar Alkhani, after leaving a Doctors Without Borders hospital in Aleppo, Syria, where he had been hired to fix the internet service for the hospital. Mueller had begged him to let her tag along because she wanted to do relief work in the war-ravaged country. Alkhani was released after two months, having been beaten. In 2015, the Pentagon said Mueller died at the hands of IS and not in a Jordanian airstrike targeting the militant group as the extremists claimed earlier. ____ Mroue reported from Beirut. A fugitive who had to be extradited from Scotland while claiming he was the victim of mistaken identity is standing trial for rape in the US. Nicholas Rossi, who faked his own death in 2020, is accused of raping a woman he dated in 2008 in Utah County. He faces a separate allegation of rape in neighbouring Salt Lake County, also from 2008. Rossi denies all charges. He appeared in court on Monday under his other name - Nicholas Alahverdian. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dressed in a dark suit and blue tie, Rossi was seated in a wheelchair and had an oxygen tube in his nostril as the proceedings got under way. The first woman Rossi is alleged to have raped told the court how they met online initially in late 2008, began dating and were engaged after two weeks. She said Rossi's behaviour soon changed, that he became controlling, borrowed money from her, would not let her drive her own car and criticised her clothing. The court heard the woman decided to end the relationship, at which point Rossi pushed her on the bed at his apartment and raped her. In the weeks afterwards he "reached out" to her online but she did not see him in person again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The defence in its opening statement claimed the case is like a "puzzle from a thrift shop" as it has pieces missing and there is not a complete picture. They claimed the first complainant was resentful after losing money on the engagement rings and only spoke of the rape allegation after seeing Rossi in the news 13 years later. Meanwhile, they claim the second woman did speak to police about her alleged attack but no charges were ever filed. The case continues. Who is Nicholas Rossi? Rossi caught the attention of the British press in December 2021 when he was arrested in the Covid ward of a hospital in Glasgow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Staff had recognised his mugshot and distinctive tattoos from an Interpol wanted notice. But Rossi claimed he was the victim of mistaken identity - that his name was Arthur Knight, he was an Irish-born orphan who had never been to America, and that he could prove it. In an interview with the BBC, he could not produce a birth certificate or a passport. He was finally extradited to the US in January 2024, more than a year after a Scottish court had ruled that he was indeed Nicholas Rossi. The legal process dragged on in the Scottish courts [PA Media] Nicholas Rossi was born Nicholas Alahverdian in 1987. Rossi was the name of his stepfather, who at the time was a popular Engelbert Humperdinck impersonator in Rhode Island. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a teenager he spent time in care and, years later, enjoyed a degree of local fame as a child welfare campaigner. When reports of his death emerged in 2020, politicians paid tribute from the floor of the Rhode Island State House. However, a priest who had been asked to arrange a memorial mass was warned by a detective not to go ahead because "Nicholas isn't dead". Authorities suspected Rossi was somewhere in the UK, having fled after discovering that the FBI were investigating an alleged credit card fraud. That same year, Rossi married his wife Miranda in Bristol, England. His online footprint ultimately led police to his hospital bedside in Glasgow, where he was recovering from a genuine near-death experience with Covid. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the legal process in Scotland dragged on, largely due to antics by Rossi. Distinctive tattoos He made a series of court appearances in a wheelchair, wearing a three-piece suit and an oxygen mask, maintaining his claim of mistaken identity. Rossi insisted that he had been given his distinctive tattoos while he was lying unconscious in the Glasgow hospital in an attempt to frame him. He sacked several lawyers before a sheriff eventually ruled he was Nicholas Rossi, and that his mistaken identity claim was "implausible" and fanciful". An order granting Rossi's extradition to the US was signed by Scotland's justice secretary in September 2023, and he was flown back to America in January 2024 after losing his final appeal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement During a bail hearing in Salt Lake City last October, Rossi admitted for the first time that he and the alias Arthur Knight were the same person. He denied fleeing to the UK to escape arrest, claiming that he had left the country and later used the alias in order to escape threats. Dr. Bishara Bahbah told The Jerusalem Post that military actions are deepening the human toll and risking the lives of the hostages. Palestinian-American businessman Dr. Bishara Bahbah, who has served as a mediator between Hamas and the US administration in recent months, called for an immediate return to the negotiating table to end the ongoing war in Gaza during an exclusive interview with The Jerusalem Post on Monday. He warned that prolonged military action would only deepen the human toll and jeopardize the lives of hostages. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Israel is in a situation where it does not want to be. The Israeli public does not want to see Israeli soldiers in Gaza being killed. And the situation for Palestinians is untenable," Bahbah told The Jerusalem Post. Bahbah claims the current phase of the conflict has reached a point where military operations have become "a useless activity" that "could endanger the hostages" and fail to resolve the crisis. In recent days, Qatar and mediators have beenworking with Hamas on a deal that would include the release of all hostages and an end to the war. Asked if he sees a possibility of reaching this kind of deal, Bahbah stressed, "If negotiations for a comprehensive deal are going to take place while there is military action, and while people are getting killed, thats not a good situation." Left - Hamas Official Mousa Abu Marzouk. Right - US President Donald Trump, behind a background of the White House (illustrative). (credit: REUTERS /Khaled al-Hariri kh/AA) According to Bahbah, a partial agreement, such as a 60-day truce that could be extended, could provide the breathing space needed to hammer out a broader deal, without ongoing hostilities or further civilian casualties. "For Israels sake, without the hostages being put at risk of being killed," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bahbah, who has been involved in multiple mediation meetings over the past few months, acknowledged that his experience shows negotiations for a deal to release all the hostages can stretch on for months. Nonetheless, he believes a full deal is attainable. Reflecting on the recent talks, Bahbah said the sides were "close to a partial deal," even though Hamass initial response was rejected by Israel. "It was subject to negotiations. The number of Palestinian prisoners being released is almost irrelevant when it comes to people getting killed and being starved," he said, adding that Hamas understood this reality. "We could have reached a deal, but within days, the negotiations were cut off." Bahbah urges Hamas to come to deal, end pointless killing Bahbahs message to Hamas has been blunt: "Every day you delay, we have 80 to 100 Palestinians being killedsometimes more. If we had three weeks of delay, were talking about 1,500 to 2,000 people being killed. That is a large number while were wasting time negotiating 100 meters there or an additional five prisoners here. To me, these issues are irrelevant. What we need to do is stop the killing and come to an agreement." Bahbah has criticized both Israel and Hamas for their actions in recent weeks. He emphasized that his priority is not protecting one side from criticism, but ending the war. "I dont care who I criticize. All I want is to see a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to this [current] strategy." A federal judge on Monday rejected the Justice Department's request to unseal grand jury transcripts from the criminal case against Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted accomplice of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. District Judge Paul Engelmayer said there is little in the transcripts that is not already public record and they do not identify anyone other than Maxwell and Epstein as having had sexual contact with underage girls. President Donald Trump's administration had sought to release the transcripts to help defuse spiraling anger among his own supporters over what they have long seen as a cover-up of Epstein's crimes and high-level connections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Engelmayer dismissed government arguments that the grand jury transcripts should be released because of "abundant public interest" in the case. "Its entire premise -- that the Maxwell grand jury materials would bring to light meaningful new information about Epstein's and Maxwell's crimes, or the Government's investigation into them -- is demonstrably false," he wrote. "Insofar as the motion to unseal implies that the grand jury materials are an untapped mine lode of undisclosed information about Epstein or Maxwell or confederates, they definitively are not that," the judge said. "There is no 'there' there." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Maxwell, 63, is serving a 20-year sentence after being convicted in 2021 of recruiting underage girls for Epstein, who died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking. The Justice Department is also seeking the release of the grand jury transcripts in Epstein's case. That request is being handled by a different judge. Trump's supporters have been obsessed with the Epstein case for years and have been up in arms since the FBI and Justice Department said last month that the wealthy financier had committed suicide, did not blackmail any prominent figures, and did not keep a "client list." In a bid to calm the furor, the Justice Department asked for the release of the grand jury transcripts from the cases against Epstein and Maxwell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche -- who is also Trump's former personal lawyer -- met recently with Maxwell but has not revealed what was discussed. She was later moved to a lower security prison. Trump, 79, was once a close friend of Epstein, and The Wall Street Journal reported last month that the president's name was among hundreds found during a Justice Department review of the so-called "Epstein files," though there has not been evidence of wrongdoing. Maxwell is the only former Epstein associate convicted in connection with his activities, which right-wing conspiracy theorists allege included trafficking young girls for VIPs and other elites. cl/des A federal judge on Monday rejected the Trump administration's request to unseal grand jury transcripts from the criminal case against Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted accomplice of sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. District Judge Paul Engelmayer said there is little in the transcripts that is not already in the public record, and they do not identify anyone other than Maxwell and Epstein as having had sexual contact with underage girls. The Justice Department had sought to release the transcripts to help defuse spiraling anger among President Donald Trump's own supporters over what they have long seen as a cover-up of Epstein's crimes and high-level connections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Engelmayer dismissed government arguments that the grand jury transcripts should be released because of "abundant public interest" in the case. "Its entire premise -- that the Maxwell grand jury materials would bring to light meaningful new information about Epstein's and Maxwell's crimes, or the Government's investigation into them -- is demonstrably false," he wrote. "Insofar as the motion to unseal implies that the grand jury materials are an untapped mine lode of undisclosed information about Epstein or Maxwell or confederates, they definitively are not that," the judge said. "There is no 'there' there." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Manhattan-based judge also cast doubt on the Trump administration's motivation for seeking the public release of the Maxwell transcripts and suggested it was "disingenuous." "A member of the public, appreciating that the Maxwell grand jury materials do not contribute anything to public knowledge, might conclude that the Government's motion for their unsealing was aimed not at 'transparency' but at diversion -- aimed not at full disclosure but at the illusion of such," he said. - Maxwell opposed release of transcripts- Maxwell, 63, is serving a 20-year sentence after being convicted in 2021 of recruiting underage girls for Epstein, who died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her lawyers had opposed releasing the transcripts, saying it could potentially impact her ongoing legal appeals of her conviction. The Justice Department is also seeking the release of the secret grand jury transcripts in Epstein's case. That request is being handled by a different judge. Trump's supporters have been obsessed with the Epstein case for years and have been up in arms since the FBI and Justice Department said last month that the wealthy financier had committed suicide while in jail, did not blackmail any prominent figures, and did not keep a "client list." In a bid to calm the furor, the Justice Department asked for the release of the grand jury transcripts from the cases against Epstein and Maxwell. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement US Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche -- who is also Trump's former personal lawyer -- met recently with Maxwell but has not revealed what was discussed. She was later moved to a minimum security prison. Trump, 79, was once a friend of Epstein, and The Wall Street Journal reported last month that the president's name was among hundreds found during a Justice Department review of the so-called "Epstein files," though there has not been evidence of wrongdoing. Maxwell is the only former Epstein associate convicted in connection with his activities, which right-wing conspiracy theorists allege included trafficking young girls for VIPs and other elites. cl/des Donald Trump has ordered the mobilization of hundreds of National Guard troops for deployment in Washington, DC as part of what the US president bills as a crackdown on crime. Trump's move to deploy National Guard troops in the nation's capital comes after he took a similar step in Los Angeles in June, and the president has indicated that other cities should take note. Most National Guard forces answer to state governors and have to be "federalized" to be brought under presidential control, but in Washington, DC these troops already report only to the US president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - Military reserve force - The National Guard is a military reserve force within the United States Armed Forces, meaning that most of its members serve part-time while holding civilian jobs or conducting other activities. As a response force, the National Guard can be mobilized rapidly to address emergency situations on US soil, typically natural disasters. When needed, National Guard units can also be activated for deployments into combat zones, especially if the United States is at war. Unlike parts of the US military, the National Guard performs both state- and federal-level functions, and is organized into groupings based in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the US territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As a state-based force, generally it is the governor of a state or territory who activates and commands the National Guard when needed. However, in some situations the National Guard can be "federalized" by the president, bringing it under the president's control until the specific federal mission has ended -- as was the case in Los Angeles. The latest budget from the Department of Defense authorizes 433,000 National Guard personnel in total, split across the Air National Guard and Army National Guard. This means that compared to other components of the US military, the National Guard is second only to the US Army in terms of size. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement - Emergency response - National Guard members are typically deployed during emergencies such as natural disasters at the request of governors and based on specific provisions in each state's laws. In the aftermath of events like hurricanes, wildfires, and floods, state National Guards are often called on to help evacuate dangerous areas, deliver supplies to places that would otherwise be cut off, or provide specialist equipment needed to clear hazardous debris. The largest National Guard deployment in recent years was during the Covid-19 pandemic, where troops helped construct and staff emergency care facilities, transport health supplies around the country, and coordinate other logistics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Outside of a natural disaster, deployment of the guard can be ordered in emergencies created by the breakdown of public order. - History with protest - The use of the National Guard to manage public unrest is not unique to Trump. During the widespread Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, more than half of US states activated National Guard troops to maintain order and help enforce curfews. Before that, they were also deployed to Los Angeles in 1992 to respond to riots that occurred after police officers who had beaten motorist Rodney King were acquitted at trial. At that time, riots, looting and arson attacks had spread across the city, with dozens of people killed and thousands injured. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Guard was deployed during the 1950s and 60s Civil Rights era to help enforce school desegregation, following the Supreme Court's landmark Brown v. Board of Education ruling. In one of the force's darkest moments, in May 1970, members of the Ohio National Guard clashed with anti-war protesters at Kent State University. As unrest swelled, the troops opened fire, killing four unarmed students. The shootings sparked outrage, but also led to reform of the guard's use-of-force guidelines. cf/wd/md The U.S. has promised to coordinate with its European partners before the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Aug. 11, according to the Guardian. The talks, planned for Aug. 15 in Alaska, will be the first in-person meeting between Trump and Putin since Trump's return to office. Ukraine's participation remains unclear, raising concerns in Kyiv and across Europe. Tusk said he holds "lots of fears and lots of hope" about the meeting, noting Trump's "tactic of unpredictability at times, when it comes to various moves and actions." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement European leaders have been seeking direct talks with Trump ahead of the summit, Bloomberg reported on Aug. 10, citing people familiar with the matter. U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy in London on Aug. 9, and EU ambassadors were briefed on the matter the following day. The EU's foreign ministers were set to hold a virtual meeting on Aug. 11. Trump has told European leaders and President Volodymyr Zelensky that Putin is open to negotiations if "land swaps" are part of the deal, Bloomberg reported earlier. Though it remains unclear what such a deal would entail, a source in Ukraine's Presidential Office told the Kyiv Independent that Moscow seeks Kyiv's full withdrawal from partially occupied Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts in the east while offering to withdraw its forces from the limited areas it holds in the northeastern Sumy and Kharkiv oblasts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Russia occupies roughly 20% of Ukraine's territory, including areas it has held since 2014 Crimea and parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. In 2022, Moscow illegally declared the annexation of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts following sham referenda. Putin has publicly demanded that Ukraine renounce NATO membership, withdraw troops from all four occupied regions, and hand over several major cities still under Ukrainian control. Moscow reiterated these demands during the May Istanbul peace talks and once more in the July third round of talks, which concluded in less than an hour. Zelensky has repeatedly rejected any preconditions involving formally ceding Ukrainian territory. In his Aug. 9 evening address, he warned that a settlement lacking "genuine peace" would allow Russia to regroup and attack again. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tusk warned that safeguarding Ukraine's territorial integrity is "not just a matter of solidarity with our neighbor, but also of our own security." Read also: Mobilization gridlock: How politics, policy, and public opinion are shaping Ukraines war effort Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham has stated that Russia and Ukraine would have to exchange certain territories to end the war, but Ukraine must first receive security guarantees. Source: NBC News, as reported by European Pravda Details: Graham said that such a territorial exchange would only be possible "after you have security guarantees to Ukraine to prevent Russia from doing this again". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "You need to tell Putin what happens if he does it a third time," Graham said, referring to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, the war in Ukraines east in 2014 and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Quote: "I want to be honest with you, Ukraine is not going to evict every Russian, and Russia is not going to Kyiv, so there will be some land swaps at the end." Details: This statement marks a shift from his earlier position; in 2023, Graham said that "the Ukrainians understand you dont end wars by giving territory to the aggressor". At that time, he also warned that if Putin was not stopped in Ukraine, he would continue advancing, increasing the risk of NATO becoming involved in the conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When asked about his previous comments on Sunday 10 August, Graham said that the US and its allies must continue supplying weapons to Ukraine, deploy some European forces on Ukrainian territory and promote economic integration. Background: Earlier, the European Commission urged Washington not to agree to a "one-sided" territorial exchange during peace negotiations with Russia over Ukraine. Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte suggested that future agreements might involve de facto recognition of Russian control over parts of Ukraine. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Bighorn sheep are thriving five years after returning to Antelope Island, but herds could spread out to another Great Salt Lake island someday under a proposed change to the states species management plan. Utah wildlife officials this week unveiled a few tweaks to their 10-year bighorn sheep and mountain goat management plans, which were adopted in 2018. Some of the proposed adjustments are needed to account for recent legislative changes, such as adding a statement explaining a process leading up to a transplant a process of taking animals for one herd and moving them to another or a reintroduction into wildlife, said Rusty Robinson, once-in-a-lifetime species hunt coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, in a video explaining the adjustments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Statements about how the division involved public hunters in disease prevention would also be included, as well as ways to better communicate depredation hunting permits and other language tweaks. The division is also seeking to add Fremont Island, located toward the northeast end of the Great Salt Lake, and Boulder, Garfield County, to its list of potential reintroduction sites for future Rocky Mountain and desert bighorn sheep. Bighorn sheep have, historically, spread out across the state. Theyre one of the more consistent ungulates in the West, inhabiting every mountain range and river drainage in Utah at one time or another. In looking for options to help future populations, Fremont Island seems to make sense, Robinson told KSL.com. It has a steep, rugged terrain with an openness that offers sheep to see their surroundings, which they prefer. It also neighbors Antelope Island, which serves as a key nursery population for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in Utah, following the loss of most of their old herd to a respiratory disease between 2018 and 2019. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fremont Island is also very remote. People can access it, but boating from Antelope Island State Park, about 6 miles away, is the preferred method and there are no motor vehicles allowed on the island, according to the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands, which manages the nearly 3,000-acre island. Bighorn sheep captured in Montana are released on Antelope Island on Jan. 29, 2020. The sheep were the first herd to return to the island after a respiratory disease wiped out the previous herd. | Mike Anderson, KSL-TV There is some wildlife, like coyotes on the land, but its mostly empty of predators. Its located in an area of the state with some of the lowest cougar population densities in the state, which is the species biggest predator challenge, Robinson adds. Its also far away from domestic livestock or other bighorn sheep that could spread disease. As we were trying to expand that nursery program and maintain populations of healthy sheep and different places that we can use for future transplants Fremont Island is one of those places that jumps out as another potential place to apply that same program, he said. There are no immediate plans to bring the species to the island, but the divisions proposal would open the door to bringing bighorn sheep to the island someday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The same goes for Boulder. The Calf Creek area has an ideal habitat for desert bighorn sheep, but there are none in that area right now. Thats why it is also being proposed to the list of new sites to bring sheep. The proposed changes to the plan were recommended as part of a planned update to the 2018 plan. Drought and disease can impact herds, but Robinson said population numbers are generally good right now. State wildlife officials maintain a list of potential new relocation sites to help grow numbers when needed to maintain a healthy population. The Utah Wildlife Board is expected to vote on whether to accept the changes during its Sept. 18 meeting at Eccles Wildlife Education Center, 1157 S. Waterfowl Way in Farmington. Public comment on the proposal is open through the end of Sept. 10. A fireball rises into the sky over Nevada after the U.S. government detonated a 61-kiloton device on June 4, 1953. Nuclear weapons experiments at the Nevada Test Site spread fallout to other states, including Utah, research and records show. (Getty Images) Last month, Congress revived and expanded the program that offered payments to people sickened by nuclear weapons testing, meaning Utahs downwinders can again apply for compensation. For years, Intermountains Downwinder Clinic, located at the St. George Regional Hospitals Cancer Center, has provided free help to downwinders that includes education, health care assistance and help applying to receive payments through the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, or RECA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, RECA expired in June 2024 after Congress failed to reauthorize it. In the 13 months after the program expired, the Downwinder Clinic was still working with eligible families to gather the documents needed to qualify for RECA payments. And last month, after Congress reauthorized RECA in its massive spending bill, downwinders who were just recently diagnosed with cancer or who didnt know about the program are again eligible for compensation. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX We have been working with families during the 13 months the program was expired to help gather the documents they would need when RECA was reinstated. Now, we want people to know that the qualifying boundaries have expanded, as well as new applicants qualify for a larger compensation amount for the health issues they have encountered, said Barlow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement RECA has been in place since 1990, but downwinders have long said it should be expanded. Despite studies suggesting the entire West was impacted by dangerous levels of radiation during nuclear tests, downwinders in just 10 counties in Utah, as well as a handful of counties in Nevada and Arizona, were covered. Now, the programs scope is much broader. All of Utah is considered an affected area, meaning if you lived in the Beehive State for a period of 12 months between 1951 to 1962, and contracted a certain type of cancer, you are likely eligible for compensation. Eligible cancers include leukemia (but not chronic lymphocytic leukemia), multiple myeloma, lymphomas and cancers of the pharynx, small intestine, salivary gland, brain, stomach, urinary bladder, colon, thyroid, pancreas, breast, esophagus, bile ducts, liver, gall bladder, lung, and ovarian. New applicants will also now receive $100,000 the prior compensation amount was $50,000. However, that increase is not retroactive, meaning downwinders who already received payments are not eligible for the new amount. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force was created in 2022 when all 51 attorneys general joined forces to tackle illegal robocalls. (Getty Images) Utah has joined 51 other attorneys general in an effort called Operation Robocall Roundup a multistate crackdown on illegal robocalls. The Utah Department of Commerces Division of Consumer Finance, which works with the Utah Attorney Generals Office to investigate and enforce the states consumer protection laws involving robocalls, announced on Thursday that Utah is joining the national effort. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force is sending warning letters to 37 voice providers, demanding that they act now to stop illegal robocalls from routing through their networks, the Division of Consumer Protection said in a news release. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Anti-Robocall Litigation Task Force was created in 2022 when all 51 attorneys general joined forces to tackle illegal robocalls. The task force investigates and takes legal action against companies responsible for big volumes of illegal and fraudulent robocalls that are routed into and across the U.S. Its led by North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson, Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. Those 37 companies which the division listed by name havent complied with Federal Communications Commission rules about responding to government traceback requests, havent registered with the FCCs Robocall Mitigation Databases, or havent filed a plan that describes how they will reduce illegal robocalls on their network, according to state officials. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By disregarding these simple rules, these companies are allowing robocallers onto their phone networks and then passing their calls on to other downstream providers until they reach the phones of Utahns, the Utahs commerce division said. The voice service providers receiving warning letters are: Advantage Investors LLC Alpha Stream Ananya Traders LLC Ariyan Khan BBT Voice Private Limited Belthrough BPO VoIP Collection 3 LLC Communications and Telephone Systems Co. Dial Vista Corp. DigitalOcean, LLC Dtel Network LLC End Zone Financial Services EON Telecom Inc. Family Communication Inc. Fiber Flux VOIP First Tele Communications Inc. Flow VOIP LLC Globe Tech Solutions Higher Response Marketing, Inc. HK KwaiFong Group Limited Infinity SIP LLC Lexico Telecom LTD / Lextel LTD Mexico IP Phones LLC Nexusphere VOIP LLC Pleedex LLC Quantum Link VOIP LLC Ringnition SK Teleco LLC SkyPulse VOIP Stacy Newsome LNCC LCC Telnextrix LLC Terra Voip TheVisionConnect Tiera Enterprises LLC Voip Torque Whisl Telecom, LLC / Telconus / Telcon US / Telcon Voice State officials also said the task force is also sending letters to 99 downstream providers that accept call traffic from the 37 companies, so that they know they are doing business with bad actors that are not willing to follow the rules that apply to everyone equally. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Several of these companies are also being scrutinized by the FCC, according to the division. Last week, it announced that it will remove seven of those providers from the Robocall Mitigation Database, which means that other providers will no longer be able to accept and route calls from their networks. The Utah Division of Consumer Protection which is tasked with safeguarding Utahns from illegal robocalls and other consumer protection issues encouraged Utahns to visit its website for more details or to file a complaint. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Its time again for Utah kids to go back to school. But in recent years, attending class has been hit-or-miss for a growing number of students in the states K-12 schools. Chronic absenteeism in Utah has nearly doubled over the past decade jumping from 12.2% in 2014 to 23.8% in 2024. And its happening across every grade level, region and demographic group across the state. Meanwhile, the consequences of chronic absenteeism defined as missing 10% or more of the school year for any reason stretch beyond declines in classroom performance, grade-point averages and even graduation rates. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Educators say that chronically absent students are missing out on daily opportunities to build essential social skills and meaningful relationships with teachers and fellow students. Such lifelong developmental foundations begin to crack when students frequently skip school. In an effort to find positive solutions to chronic absenteeism, the Utah State Board of Education is launching a statewide attendance campaign dubbed Every Day Counts. Each school day is an opportunity for students to learn, build relationships, and grow in meaningful ways, said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Molly Hart. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Our Every Day Counts campaign is about working alongside families to remove barriers to attendance. We want to ensure parents and students feel supported so students can show up, stay engaged, and thrive. The Every Day Counts initiative provides resources for families, educators, data tracking tools and community partnerships to help address transportation, mental health and other challenges that impact student attendance, according to the USBE. So why are so many Utah kids cutting class? There are myriad reasons why rising numbers of Utah kids are frequently missing from class. It varies from family to family. In some cases, it may be a transportation issue. Other times, older students are skipping class because they are helping to provide for their families by working jobs or caring for younger siblings. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And other students are battling mental health challenges. They dont feel comfortable in a traditional classroom setting. And while chronic absenteeism is a family issue many of its solutions can likely be found in the community, said Megan Menlove, a state board of education attendance support specialist. Research has shown that when you engage your community and get community partners it can help reduce the barriers for families, " Menlove told the Deseret News. Thats part of why were doing a statewide campaign were also working together to have partnerships outside of school. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Every Day Counts campaign is designed to empower schools, districts, educators and communities to become school attendance ambassadors. While some argue that a return to a heavy-handed, punitive approach is the answer to curbing chronic absenteeism, Menlove hopes the new initiative will champion a more positive approach to the issue. Were hoping to show schools and districts that if we can do it at a state level, that they hopefully can do it within their own community and find partners to reduce the barriers for students coming to school, she said. The goals of the initiative are simple: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reduce chronic absenteeism rates. Increase daily attendance rates. And, raise awareness of the benefits of regular attendance. A key element of the Every Day Counts effort is broad participation among schools, districts and communities. So local educators and others are invited to join the campaigns Statewide Attendance Challenge by filling out an online form to tap into resources to promote school attendance, track progress and share success stories. Elements of the campaign include an attendance toolkit that helps attendance systems at the district and school level, posters to hang around the school, handouts for parents, monthly social media posts, and a statewide attendance Google folder that includes best practices throughout the state. Enlisting front-line attendance ambassadors A key component of the Every Day Counts is mobilizing a team of statewide attendance ambassadors to promote the campaign within their respective communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Already, ambassadors have been enlisted from within Utahs school administrator and teacher ranks along with several parent and community partners. Evan Feinberg is an educator at West Jordans West Hills Middle School and is volunteering as a campaign attendance ambassador. The social studies teacher is witnessing, firsthand, the consequences of chronic absenteeism in his classroom. There is no substitute for in-class learning, he said, challenging the belief that time missed in class can easily be made up by, say, going online for supplemental instruction. But the costs of chronic absenteeism, Feinberg added, extend beyond low academic performance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chronically absent students are not as connected to the student community, he told the Deseret News. They just dont seem as invested in the school community and school culture. Now Feinberg hopes that the state initiative will bring community-wide attention, action and ownership to the chronic absenteeism issue in Utah schools. Were excited about this statewide message, added Menlove, and were trying to engage the whole community not just schools in this campaign. Election workers process ballots at the Davis County Administrative Building in Farmington on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2024. (Photo by Spenser Heaps for Utah News Dispatch) The U.S. Election Assistance Commission an independent, bipartisan commission charged with ensuring secure, accurate and accessible elections is launching a national effort to recruit poll workers, including in Utah. Utah needs you, Commissioner Donald Palmer said in an interview with Utah News Dispatch on Friday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tuesday which is also Utahs municipal primary is National Poll Worker Recruitment Day, when the U.S. Election Assistance Commission kicks off a nationwide effort to encourage more people to volunteer at their local county clerks office and sign up to be election workers ahead of the November general election. Where theres a primary, theres always going to be a general (election), Palmer quipped, saying the aim of scheduling National Poll Worker Recruitment Day on the same day of municipal primaries is to recruit more poll workers ahead of the 2025 November election, when voters typically turn out in higher numbers. By raising awareness on a day when Utahns are thinking about their local elections, Palmer said he hopes more Utahns will consider being a part of the process this fall. Across the nation, clerks are seeing a dramatic decrease in the number of poll workers available, Palmer said, noting that for the 2024 presidential election, 772,000 Americans served as poll workers, according to the 2024 Election Administration and Voting Survey Report. Thats down from whats typically been 1 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While its been getting incrementally easier to recruit election volunteers since 2020, recruitment efforts have trended easier since 2020, still about 48% of clerks elections jurisdictions across the nation reported its either very difficult or somewhat difficult to find poll workers, according to that survey. Of that 48%, 14.3% said its very difficult while 33.6% said its somewhat difficult. While Utah is not facing a dire poll worker shortage, Palmer said hes still encouraging Utahns to volunteer, noting that what he hears most from Utah clerks is a need to help process by-mail ballots since the vast majority of Utah voters use the states vote-by-mail system. He also said some counties are in more need than others noting that rural areas with smaller populations often face more challenges recruiting poll workers. In Utah during the 2024 November election, 104,350 people cast ballots in person on Election Day and 36,381 people voted early in person, while about 1.3 million by-mail ballots were cast and counted, according to the national survey. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement By comparison, Utah only reported 1,110 total poll workers for that election. That survey also showed that in 2025, about 40% of Utahs poll workers were new recruits. Palmer said that shows theres been a lot of turnover and a need for poll workers in Utah demonstrating that people are not volunteering anymore, likely because theyre getting older or are no longer able to. We have an aging population of poll workers, Palmer said. He noted that the survey found the vast majority of poll workers in 2024 were over the age of 40, with nearly 60% ages 61 and older. That includes 31.1% that were between the ages of 61 and 70, and 28.1% that were 71 and older. It really does (show) we need to start recruiting younger and middle-aged Americans to really fill the gap. Because at some point, theyre going to retire, he said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palmer urged younger Utahns who may not even be aware of the opportunity to serve their communities in this way to consider being an election worker. I really encourage people to try (volunteering) at least one or two elections, because it will give you great insight, and the people that continue on year after year, some of these folks, they absolutely love it. Theyre going to do it for the rest of their lives, he said. So we really do want young people and other Americans to see the voting process. He also said more people being involved in local election processes can help combat rising distrust in election security. Its right on the ground. You can see how the voting process works, he said. You really do, as a poll worker, get to see the checks and balances within a polling place. You get to see the efforts that go into chain of custody and how we make sure the ballots equate to the number of people that have voted. And the care thats taken with those ballots. It really is the best place to understand how the voting process works. There really does need to be replacement poll workers as we move to the future, he said. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Uvalde school district releases records related to 2022 shooting that killed 21 people, after legal fight over access. The Fredericksburg Health Care Center in Virginia, which is operated by the VA. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs) In a sweeping policy shift that could reshape labor relations at one of the largest federal agencies, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has terminated collective bargaining agreements for most of its unionized workforce, citing a need to better serve veterans and implement long-stalled management reforms. The decision, announced last week, follows an executive order from President Donald Trump that excludes certain agencies from labor-management relations programs on national security grounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The VA said it acted under that order to end union contracts covering hundreds of thousands of employees represented by five major labor organizations, including the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the National Association of Government Employees (NAGE), the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU), and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). The implications are particularly significant in Virginia, which is home to more than 700,000 veterans and thousands of VA employees working in hospitals, clinics, and benefits offices across the state including major medical centers in Richmond, Hampton, and Salem. The commonwealth also hosts regional benefits offices and serves as headquarters for several federal unions and advocacy organizations. While the VA will maintain agreements for approximately 4,000 police officers, firefighters and security guards occupations exempt from the executive order the vast majority of bargaining-unit employees across the country are now operating without formal union contracts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The move drew swift criticism from labor groups but was celebrated by Trump allies and VA leadership as a long-overdue realignment of priorities at an agency that serves more than 9 million veterans annually. This decision is good news for Veterans, families, caregivers and survivors, VA Secretary Doug Collins said in a statement. Too often, unions that represent VA employees fight against the best interests of Veterans while protecting and rewarding bad workers. Were making sure VA resources and employees are singularly focused on the job we were sent here to do: providing top-notch care and service to those who wore the uniform. VA officials said the decision will allow managers to more effectively reward high performers, hold poor performers accountable and eliminate bureaucratic hurdles to hiring and reform. According to the agency, more than 1,900 VA employees collectively spent over 750,000 hours on union activity during fiscal year 2024 time that was compensated with taxpayer dollars. Some employees performing union work earned more than $200,000 annually, the VA noted. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Additionally, the agency cited the use of over 187,000 square feet of VA office and clinical space by union representatives, free of charge, as a significant cost burden. Officials said those resources which also include union access to government phones and computer systems should be redirected to patient care and veteran services. The move also halts payroll deductions for union dues for most employees, a change that took effect on April 25 in compliance with the executive order. Labor organizations say the agency is turning its back on frontline workers, many of whom are veterans themselves, and warned that terminating collective bargaining agreements will degrade working conditions and compromise patient care. This is a direct attack on the rights of the people who care for our nations veterans, Irma Westmoreland, chair of National Nurses United, told Axios. Without a contract, nurses fear they wont be empowered to speak up about conditions that put our patients at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The VA contends that unions have consistently resisted efforts to modernize the agency and hold employees accountable. Officials noted that AFGE, NFFE and NNOC/NNU opposed the bipartisan MISSION Act, which expanded veterans access to private-sector care. NFFE has also supported repealing the 2017 VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, which was designed to speed disciplinary action against employees and protect whistleblowers. According to the VA, AFGE collaborated with the administration of former President Joe Biden to reinstate over 100 employees who were fired during Trumps first term and helped secure nearly $134 million in back pay for more than 1,700 employees dismissed for alleged misconduct. Labor advocates counter that these laws have been misused to retaliate against whistleblowers and sidestep due process protections, particularly during the Trump administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The action makes the VA the first federal agency to fully sever collective bargaining agreements under the Trump-era executive order, a move made possible by language exempting agencies involved in national security functions. Axios reported that the decision could affect up to 400,000 workers roughly a quarter of the federal workforce with union protections. Though Biden revoked many Trump-era executive orders affecting federal workers upon taking office, this particular directive remained in place. A Trump spokesperson told Axios at the time that the action reflected the Republicans priorities heading into the 2025 election, where he vowed to focus heavily on veterans issues and government accountability. U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, both Virginia Democrats, criticized the move as harmful to the VAs workforce and counterproductive to its mission. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The men and women who work at the VA, many of them veterans themselves, are on the front lines of making sure our nation keeps its promises to those whove served, Warner said in an email Friday. He called the decision shortsighted, counterproductive, and disrespectful to those whove worn the uniform, warning that gutting collective bargaining rights would make it even harder for the agency to recruit and retain skilled professionals amid staffing shortages and rising demand for care. Kaine added that VA employees in Virginia work tirelessly to deliver high-quality care to veterans in our communities, and said that diminishing their rights in the workplace will do nothing to strengthen services or improve efficiency and those should be VA leaderships real priorities. While the full impact of the VAs action remains to be seen, labor leaders and policy analysts expect legal challenges and a new round of political fights over the balance between government efficiency and worker protections. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For now, the department insists its mission is clear. This is about putting veterans first, said Collins. And if that means upsetting union bosses whove been standing in the way of reform, so be it. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE ALTOONA Congressman Derrick Van Orden (R-Prairie du Chien) was in Altoona on Friday, visiting a local nursing home following constituent casework. While visiting Grace Lutheran Communities main office, Van Orden also toured some of the organizations 12 local facilities. This facility applied for money through the CARES Act during the pandemic, and they should have been awarded a little over $4 million, said Van Orden. And as the federal government does oftentimes do a clerical error, essentially these facilities werent given over $4 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Part of the work involved a clerical or administrative error with Grace Lutheran Communities place in a queue, as there was a long wait on receiving their Employee Retention Credit (ERC) from the IRS, which was applied for in 2021. Members of Grace Lutheran Communities say the tax credit will help with maintenance of their aging facilities. The importance of facilities like this assisted living and memory care is that the people that are here built our country and they need to be treated with dignity and respect, Van Orden said. During the visit, members of the organization and Van Ordens team sat down to talk about a number of topics, with a small discussion on the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. According to the Associated Press, conservatives who have been in favor of budget cuts give mixed reviews when it comes to the department. While some say it has shown success and shows potential when compared to other downsizing efforts, others have concerns with the specific agencies that have been targeted or say it is too early to tell if it is succeeding with its intention. Those concerns regarding targeted agencies are also ones that some Democrats share. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Van Orden, a member of the DOGE Caucus in Congress, the program functions with one of its goals to make the government more efficient. Unfortunately, a lot of people started to view the federal government as a jobs program, he said. When you have 57 bosses, somebodys going to say no, oftentimes to just justify their own existence and their own job. So were talking about trying to get reimbursement for the services provided here. Oftentimes, theyre kicked back from DC because you have to go through so many steps and its not standardized. Theres different forms, one person wants this, one person wants that. When we become more efficient, the folks that run these facilities like this get compensated in a much more timely manner, which allows them to not worry about having to pay the electric bill. Vice President JD Vance pushed back against criticism of the Trump administrations handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, accusing Democrats of political opportunism and failing to act when they held power in an interview released on Sunday. President Trump has demanded full transparency from this. And yet somehow the Democrats are attacking him and not the Biden administration, which did nothing for four years, Vance told Fox News Sunday Morning Futures, defending the administrations approach to the unreleased documents. I laugh at the Democrats who are now all of a sudden, so interested in the Epstein files. For four years Joe Biden, the Democrats did absolutely nothing about this story, Vance added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We know that Jeffrey Epstein had a lot of connections with left-wing politicians and left-wing billionaires, he claimed, adding that Democratic political leaders went to Epstein Island all the time. Vance did not give more details or provide evidence of that allegation. Vances comments come amid renewed public pressure to unseal documents related to the Epstein case after the Justice Department announced in a memo last month that there was no evidence the accused sex trafficker kept a client list or that he was murdered. After the Fox News interview aired, clips of Vances remarks gained traction across social media, with users across the political spectrum posting: Release the Epstein files! The vice president reiterated that full disclosure remains a goal of the administration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president has said very clearly, because weve had other meetings about that, is that he wants us to be fully transparent, Vance said. So were working to compile the thousands and thousands of documents that are out there for full transparency, he said. The Justice Department told two federal judges Friday it wants to release grand jury exhibits in Epstein case, in addition to transcripts, with appropriate redactions of victim-related and other personal identifying information. However, its unclear how much information in the grand jury transcripts and evidence is already not in the public sphere. Vance also denied that the Epstein files were the subject of a meeting previously reported by CNN, held at the White House last week between Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, the vice president and others. We did meet at the White House, Vance said. We have a great FBI director and a great Department of Justice lead, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and we met to talk about how to ensure we have justice for the American people. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We actually didnt talk about the Epstein issue, Vance added. Vance and his office denied on Wednesday that a meeting on Epstein was taking place, as CNN previously reported, but a source familiar with the logistics of the meeting said the attendees discussed a number of topics, including the Epstein case and potential next steps. Trump administration officials are weighing whether to publish an audio recording and transcript of Blanches recent conversation with Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, CNN previously reported. Meanwhile, the House Oversight Committee last week issued a dozen subpoenas to the Justice Department and high-profile Democratic and Republican figures for files and information related to Epstein. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Vice President JD Vance claimed that the U.S. is working on setting up a three-way meeting between Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after Trump afforded Putin a major win by agreeing to meet him face-to-face in Alaska with no preconditions. In an interview with Fox News Sunday Morning Futures broadcast Sunday, Vance gave Trump credit for moving things along. One of the most important logjams is that Vladimir Putin said that he would never sit down with Zelenskyy, Vance said. And the president has now got that to change. Were at a point now where were now trying to figure out, frankly, scheduling and things like that, around when these three leaders could sit down and discuss an end to this conflict. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump, however, has secured zero concessions from Putin ahead of their meeting on U.S. soil Friday. The authoritarian leader has so far not agreed to sit down with Zelenskyy, claiming last week that certain conditions should be created for such a meeting. Vance also made clear it wouldnt be necessary for Putin and Zelenskyy to meet ahead of the Trump-Putin bilateral summit. I actually dont think it would be that productive, Vance said. I think fundamentally, the president of the United States has to be the one to kind of bring these two together. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) suggested Zelenskyy should join Trumps talks with Putin this week. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You cant end a war without talking, Graham told NBCs Meet the Press. I do hope that Zelenskyy can be part of the process. Ill leave that up to the White House. Matthew Whitaker, the U.S. ambassador to NATO, said it was possible for that to happen, while Zelenskyy has emphasized the importance of Ukraine having a seat at the table over talks involving its future. The path to peace for Ukraine must be determined together with Ukraine this is fundamental, Zelenskyy wrote on X, formerly Twitter, over the weekend. It is important that joint approaches and a shared vision work toward genuine peace. A consolidated position. Ceasefire. End of occupation. End of war. Graham asserted that he is certain Trump will work to secure a good deal for both sides. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have every confidence in the world that the president is going to go to meet Putin from a position of strength, that hes going to look out for Europe and Ukrainian needs to end this war honorably, Graham told NBCs Kristen Welker. Related... Vice President Vance on Sunday accused the Biden administration of refusing to release files on Jeffrey Epstein because of the financiers connections to Democrats. We know that Jeffrey Epstein had a lot of connections with left-wing politicians and left-wing billionaires. Democrat billionaires and Democrat political leaders went to Epstein island all the time. Who knows what they did, said Vance on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures with Maria Bartiromo. I laugh at the Democrats who are now, all of a sudden, so interested in the Epstein files. For four years, Joe Biden and the Democrats did absolutely nothing about this story, he continued. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Epstein saga continues to be a political mess for the Trump administration, as the White House faces pressure to release files the president promised to unveil during his campaign. Trump and his allies continue to claim that they are being fully transparent in this process. Attorney General Pam Bondi has pushed for the release of the grand jury testimonies of Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. However, the Department of Justice (DOJ) reportedly told President Trump in May that his name appeared multiple times in the documents. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, also claimed that Bondi pressured FBI agents to go through the files and flag the name of the president. Now President Trump has demanded full transparency from this, and yet, somehow, the Democrats are attacking him and not the Biden administration, said Vance on Sunday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) issued subpoenas to the DOJ and a number of high-profile former government officials, including former President Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, to get to the bottom of this investigation. This came after a House Oversight subcommittee voted in a bipartisan manner to subpoena the DOJ to turn over all materials they had on Epstein. Moreover, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche met with Maxwell twice, but neither the audio nor a written transcript has been released to the public. Vance continues to defend Trump. The president has been very clear. Were not shielding anything, said Vance in July. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Vice President JD Vance has found the Trump administrations new scapegoat to distract from the Jeffrey Epstein story: Democrats. Vance claimed to Fox News Sunday Morning Futures that Democrats had not investigated the Epstein case during Joe Bidens presidency and painted Epstein as more closely aligned with Democrats. The Democrats have tried to make this whole Epstein thing about anything but the fact that Democrat billionaires and Democrat political leaders went to Epstein island all the time, Vance said. Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump together at Mar-a-Lago in 1997. / Davidoff Studios Photography / Getty Images While Epsteina registered sex offender who died by suicide in federal custody in 2019was friends with a variety of Democrats, the case has been heavily scrutinized due to his friendship with Donald Trump. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The vice president then hinted that Democrats may have more cause for concern in light of the House Oversight Committees subpoenas of several former government officialsincluding former President Bill Clinton, an old Epstein friend, and former first lady Hillary Clintonregarding the case. Who knows what they did, but its totally reasonable to ask these questions," he said. His comments drew ridicule from those on both sides of the aisle. If thats so, then why arent you releasing the files? Republican lawyer George Conway wrote on X. Whos going to tell him? House Democratic Whip Katherine Clark wrote, linking to an article with the headline, Justice Department Told Trump in May That His Name Is Among Many in the Epstein Files. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trump was a Democrat between 2001 and 2009, during which time Epstein was a member at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. A Vance spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on whether the vice president believes the unreleased files implicate high-profile Democrats. Vance also tried to implicate the former president, repeating Trumps oft-repeated claim that Clinton went to Epsteins private island 26 times, 28 times. A Clinton spokesperson said in 2019 that Clinton had never visited the island and had only taken four trips aboard Epsteins plane. Trump has faced continued scrutiny over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. / Davidoff Studios/Getty The vice president also evaded reports that claimed he would meet with top government officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel, about the Epstein case in light of a month of MAGA backlash over the administrations decision not to release more files. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Vance confirmed he met with Patel and Bondi at the White House, but he denied it had anything to do with Epstein. We have a great FBI director and a great Department of Justice lead, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and we met to talk about how to ensure we have justice for the American people, he said. We actually didnt talk about the Epstein issue at all. That was never meant to be the subject of the meeting. A 52-acre parcel of ecologically significant forestland in Warren has been added to Roxbury State Forest, according to a community announcement. The land was permanently protected through a collaborative effort between the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, the Town of Warren and landowners Wrenn Compere, Steve Flemer Jr. and Ben Flemer. Originally purchased by their father in the 1960s, the land will now be conserved for the public, protecting wildlife and water quality and supporting outdoor recreation. My brothers and I are very pleased to be a part of conserving this magnificent piece of land, Compere said. Our contribution is offered in honor of our parents, Stevenson and Leslie Flemer, who raised us to be responsible, to share and to take good care of fragile and important things. Roxbury State Forest donation The parcel features frontage on Roxbury Mountain Road and lies at the northwestern boundary of Roxbury State Forest. It includes steep terrain with headwater streams feeding the Dog River and supports a range of critical ecological values, including a known bear and wildlife corridor, priority riparian areas and part of a high-priority interior forest and connectivity block, according to the announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Flemer family donated 85% of the propertys appraised value to the state via a bargain sale. The remaining portion was provided by the Warren Conservation Reserve Fund. The full value of the property will be used as part of the required 25% match to a $2.3 million federal Forest Legacy grant for the Hazens Notch project, further leveraging the donation from the family and the Town of Warren. The Forest Legacy funds secured for the Hazens Notch project by FPR and Trust for Public Land will conserve an additional 2,000 acres of strategic forestland in the Northern Green Mountains. Both of these forestland protection efforts will make progress towards the states goal of protecting 30% of Vermonts landscape by 2030, as set forth in the Community Resilience and Biodiversity Protection Act of 2023. We are deeply grateful to the Flemer family for their generous contribution to Vermonts state lands, FPR Commissioner Danielle Fitzko said. Their gift ensures the long-term protection of a critical forest and wildlife corridor in the Northfield Range. The Warren Conservation Commission played a key role in championing the project, consistent with its long-standing focus on protecting biodiversity, maintaining wildlife connectivity and ecological resilience in Warren and across the Mad River Valley. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This parcel links significant forest blocks and helps protect an important wildlife crossing along Roxbury Mountain Road, Commission Chair Jito Coleman said. Were proud to see town resources leveraged for such a meaningful conservation outcome. This project exemplifies the kind of partnership that makes conservation in Vermont so successful, FPR Land Acquisition Coordinator Gunnar Nurme said. Landowners, local communities and conservation partners like FPR working together for the benefit of all Vermonters. The land was added to Roxbury State Forest on July 29 and will be managed for public benefit preserving wildlife habitat, maintaining forest health, supporting sustainable forest management and providing opportunities for hiking, hunting and other outdoor recreation. This story was created by reporter Beth McDermott, bmcdermott1@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Warren forestland gift helps Vermont reach conservation goals Vice President JD Vances visit to Indiana last week reignited a partisan clash over redistricting, with Republican leaders welcoming his support for the effort and Democrats accusing the GOP of trying to undermine voting rights. The visit, which included discussions on redistricting with Gov. Mike Braun and state lawmakers, drew swift criticism from Indiana Democrats, who called it part of a Republican attempt to rig the voting process. Indiana Republicans are so afraid of the voters that they are willing to rig the elections to drown Hoosiers voices, said Karen Tallian, chair of the Indiana Democratic Party. Indiana is already one of the most voter-suppressed states in the nation. Sending the vice president here to beg for another congressional seat is beyond absurd. Hoosiers need to stand up against this blatant undermining of democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Republicans currently represent seven of Indianas nine congressional districts. The states only two Democrats in Congress Reps. Frank Mrvan, D-1st, and Andre Carson, D-7th represent districts with the highest Black population in the state. Mrvan, whose district includes Lake, Porter, and part of LaPorte counties, defeated his Republican challenger in the last election with 53.4% of the vote. Both lawmakers spoke in Indianapolis this week against the legislatures decision to hold a special session on redistricting. Mrvan, who represents Gary as well as Lake, Porter and part of LaPorte counties, said economic failures under the Trump administration have fueled Republican attempts to subvert the normal electoral process. It is no surprise that some believe redistricting is the only option to cling to power when they know the American people are rejecting the damage done by the House Republican Majority, Mrvan said. Its reprehensible to call in the Indiana General Assembly for a special session on redistricting when the communities I represent believe their time would be better spent to discuss initiatives that restore state funds for our local police departments. Vances visit comes on the heels of Texas Democrats leaving the state to prevent a quorum as Republicans in the state House of Representatives move to redraw several Democratic congressional districts by calling a special session on redistricting. Democrats in Indiana have less power to halt a special session because of the Republicans super majority in the legislature. The GOP holds a 70-30 advantage in the House and 40-10 in the Senate. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think the public should be more aware now that we have a president who wants to implement a dictatorial strategy across the country where he retains power in both chambers, Carson said. We cant let it happen. Republican leaders, however, framed Vances visit as a timely and affirmative gesture. Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith thanked the vice president on X, praising his bold leadership and unwavering support for President Trumps mission to expand the conservative majority in Congress, and emphasizing that redistricting isnt just politics its about ensuring the voice of We the People is heard loud and clear. He added that Indiana is proud to play a key role in shaping a stronger, freer future for our nation, and that, as lieutenant governor, he fully support[s] this effort. Similarly, Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray said in a statement that it was an honor to have Vice President Vance at the Statehouse today, calling their meeting productive and highlighting his appreciation for the opportunity to continue discussions on issues important to Indiana. Braun did not provide much insight into his visit with the vice president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was great to meet with @VPVance today, Braun posted on X. We discussed a number of issues, and I was pleased to highlight some of the great things happening in Indiana. The post Vice President Vances Visit to Indiana Sparks Debate Over Redistricting appeared first on Capital B Gary. GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) A vigil and balloon release was held on Sunday to honor the life of a Greenville teen who died last weekend, while family members search for answers. Friends, family and loved ones of 18-year-old Avias Neal gathered in the parking of Haywood Mall to remember his life. We grieve today because a life was tragically taken, Neals pastor told the crown in attendance. Thats a premature death. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Greenville Police, on Neal was found in the mall parking lot on August 3 with a gunshot wound. Officers said multiple 911 callers said the gunshot wound was self-inflicted. The 18-year-old was rushed to Greenville Memorial Hospital where he later died. Neals mother Lenise Durham told 7NEWS she does not believe her son took his own life. Who goes and buys a birthday outfit, buy something for his friend, his girlfriend just to come out and commit suicide? I really havent got any answers for the questions that Im asking. Durham said. Me knowing him as a mother he never took a life. They took my baby from me, and I cant ever get that back. Im mad, I am mad, I am angry, angry [at] how I have been treated, I am angry how the media put my son out to be, I never raised a coward, I have three boys and a daughter, all my kids are strong. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Authorities said detectives are actively working to gather facts surrounding the case as the community mourns a life lost too soon. Some of you are wondering, when will justice be done? I can promise you justice will be done. Greenville isnt ready for the kind of mass protest we will have if justice is not done, Neals family pastor said. As Neals family waits for answers, they reflect on the impact he made in his short time on earth. I know who my son was, I know how gentle he was, Durham said. No weapon formed against me shall prosper, me and my son were strong believers in that. Durham said Neal died just weeks before his 19th birthday on August 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When this young man took his last breath, we all know this isnt the last death and no matter how much his mother begs and pleads, and I beg and plead and no matter how many prayers we put up and vigils we do and Kumbayas we do and this stuff, nothing is going to change until our heart change. said Traci Fant with the Freedom Fighters Upstate. If you have any information on this case, you are asked to contact the Greenville Police at 864-467-5371 or you leave an anonymous tip by calling Crime Stoppers of Greenville County at 864-23-CRIME. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will attend a joint online conversation between EU leaders, US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Source: European Pravda, citing comments by Arianna Podesta, Deputy Chief Spokesperson of the European Commission Details: Von der Leyen will speak with Trump on 13 August, along with other EU leaders. Podesta reported that the European Commission president would participate in a call organised by Chancellor Merz on Wednesday 13 August. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The spokesperson clarified that Zelenskyy, along with the EU leaders, would also take part in the conversation with Trump. Background: Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! A few days ago, India's Election Commission released updated draft electoral rolls for Bihar state, where key elections are scheduled for November, following a month-long revision of the voters' list. But opposition parties and election charities say the exercise was rushed through - and many voters in Bihar have told the BBC that the draft rolls have wrong photos and include dead people. The Special Intensive Revision - better known by its acronym SIR - was held from 25 June to 26 July and the commission said its officials visited each of the state's listed 78.9 million voters to verify their details. It said the last such revision was in 2003 and an update was necessary. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new draft rolls have 72.4 million names - 6.5 million fewer than before. The commission says deletions include 2.2 million dead, 700,000 enrolled more than once and 3.6 million who have migrated from the state. Corrections are open until 1 September, with over 165,000 applications received. A similar review will be conducted nationwide to verify nearly a billion voters. But opposition parties have accused the commission of dropping many voters - especially Muslims who make up a sizeable chunk of the population in four border districts - to aid Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the upcoming state election. The poll body and BJP have denied the allegations. In response to the BBC's questions, the Election Commission shared its 24 June order on conducting the SIR and a 27 July press note outlining efforts to ensure no eligible voter was "left behind". Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Further, [the commission] does not take any responsibility of any other misinformation or unsubstantiated allegations being floated around by some vested interests," it added in the response. The commission has not released the list of deleted names or given any break-up according to religion, so it's not possible to verify the opposition's concerns. A review by Hindustan Times newspaper found high voter deletions in Kishanganj, a district with the largest share of Muslims in Bihar, but not in other Muslim-dominated constituencies. Bihar is one of India's poorest states, with limited access to services and jobs [Afzal Adeeb Khan/ BBC] Parliament has faced repeated adjournments as opposition MPs demand a debate on what they call a threat to democracy. Outside, they chanted "Down down Modi", "Take SIR back" and "Stop stealing votes". The Supreme Court is also reviewing the move after watchdog ADR questioned its timing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It comes just three months before the assembly elections and there has not been enough time given to the exercise," Jagdeep Chhokar of ADR, told the BBC. "As reports from the ground showed, there were irregularities when the exercise was being conducted and the process of data collection was massively faulty," he added. The ADR has argued in court that the exercise "will disenfranchise millions of genuine voters" in a state that's one of India's poorest and is home to "a large number of marginalised communities". It says the SIR shifts the burden onto people to prove their citizenship, often requiring their own and their parents' documents within a short deadline - an impossible task for millions of poor migrant workers. Rekha Devi (extreme left) says losing the right to vote "will push us further into poverty" [Afzal Adeeb Khan/ BBC] While the draft roll was being published, we travelled to Patna and nearby villages to hear what voters think of SIR. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In Danara village, home to the poorest of the poor known as Mahadalits, most residents work on farms of upper-castes or are unemployed. Homes are crumbling, open drains line the narrow lanes and a stagnant puddle near the local temple has turned brackish. Most residents had little to no idea about SIR or its impact, and many weren't sure if officials had even visited their homes. But they deeply value their vote. "Losing it would be devastating," says Rekha Devi. "It will push us further into poverty." In Kharika village, many men said they'd heard of SIR and submitted forms, spending 300 rupees (3.42; 2.55) on getting new photos taken. But after the draft rolls came out, farmer and retired teacher Tarkeshwar Singh called it "a mess". He shared pages showing his family's details - pointing out errors, including the wrong photo next to his name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I have no idea whose photo it is," he says, adding that his wife Suryakala Devi and son Rajeev also have wrong pictures. "But the worst is my other son Ajeev's case - it has an unknown woman's photo." Mr Singh goes on to list other anomalies - in his daughter-in-law Juhi Kumari's document, he's named as husband in place of his son. Another daughter-in-law, Sangeeta Singh, is listed twice from the same address - only one has her correct photo and date of birth. Many of his relatives and neighbours, he says, have similar complaints. He points out the name of a cousin who died more than five years back but still figures on the list - and at least two names that appear twice. "There's obviously been no checking. The list has dead people and duplicates and many who did not even fill the form. This is a misuse of government machinery and billions of rupees that have been spent on this exercise." Many villagers had little to no knowledge of SIR - many weren't even sure if any officials had come [Afzal Adeeb Khan/ BBC] Mr Chhokar of ADR says they will raise these issues in the Supreme Court this week. In July, the court said it would stay the exercise if petitioners produce 15 genuine voters missing from the draft rolls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "But how do we do that since the commission has not provided a list of the 6.5 million names that have been removed?" he asks. Mr Chhokar says a justice on the two-judge bench suggested delinking the exercise from upcoming elections to allow more time for a proper review. "I'll be happy with that takeaway," he says. The SIR and draft rolls have split Bihar's parties: the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) questions them, while the ruling Janata Dal (United) - BJP alliance backs them. "The complexity of this revision has left many people confused," says Shivanand Tiwari, general secretary of the RJD. Pavitri Devi and Srikishun Paswan say voting matters - it secures benefits like free grain, pensions and housing [Afzal Adeeb Khan/ BBC] Tiwari questions the Election Commission's "claims that 98.3% electors have filled their forms" and says "in most villages, our voters and workers say the Block Level Officer (BLO) - generally a local schoolteacher appointed by the commission to go door-to-door - did not visit them. Many BLOs are not trained and don't know how to upload forms". (The commission has said the BLOs have worked "very responsibly".) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tiwari alleges that the "commission is partisan and this is manipulation of elections". "We believe the target are border areas where a lot of Muslims live who never vote for the BJP," he says. The BJP and the JD(U) have rejected the criticism, saying "it's entirely political". "Only Indian citizens have the right to vote and we believe that a lot of Rohingya and Bangladeshis have settled in the border areas in recent years. And they have to be weeded out from the list," said Bhim Singh, a BJP MP from Bihar. "The SIR has nothing to do with anyone's religion and the opposition is raising it because they know they will lose the upcoming election and need a scapegoat to blame for their loss," he added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement JD(U)'s chief spokesperson and state legislator Neeraj Kumar Singh said "the Election Commission is only doing its job". "There are lots of voters on the list who figure twice or even three times. So shouldn't that be corrected?" he asks. Editors Note: Virginia State Police clarified that the pedestrian was 67 years old, not 40. This story has been updated to reflect that change. WASHINGTON COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) Virginia State Police have identified the pedestrian who was killed on Interstate 81 near the Tennessee/Virginia line on Friday morning. VSP issued a news release Monday, identifying the pedestrian as Monty D. Bishop, 67, of Kingsport. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement PREVIOUS: Pedestrian killed in I-81 crash near TN/VA state line According to state police, the crash occurred at 6 a.m. in the southbound lanes of the interstate near the state line. A 2012 Cadillac SRX was heading south in the center lane and was unable to avoid hitting Bishop, VSP reports. Bishop died at the scene of the crash. As of Monday, the investigation remains ongoing. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. A building on the campus of the Washington State School for the Blind. (Photo courtesy of Washington State School for the Blind) The longtime superintendent at the Washington State School for the Blind is resigning amid threats from a disgruntled former employee, he announced this month. Change can bring fresh energy and perspective, and I am hopeful the agency will continue to grow and thrive in the years ahead, Scott McCallum wrote in his resignation letter. I have decided it is best for me and for the WSSB that I resign from my role as superintendent to seek new leadership opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCallum has been the Vancouver schools superintendent since 2016. Gov. Bob Ferguson reappointed McCallum upon taking office in January. In his resignation letter to Ferguson, McCallum attributed his departure, effective Aug. 15, partially to continuous harassment from a former employee that has created significant disruption across the agency. I remain hopeful that such disruption and threats may cease once I depart my role as superintendent, he wrote to the governor Aug. 1. Also, with the recent shift to your administration and our school year ending, I believe this is the appropriate time for WSSB to begin a new chapter under new leadership. Scott McCallum. (Photo provided by Washington State School for the Blind) In a court filing in May related to the alleged harassment, McCallum said he worried the former employee would escalate threats and commit violence. He was especially worried since many of the staff at the school are blind or visually impaired. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Her continual focus on us and violence, and our particular vulnerabilities has us all worried and scared, he wrote. I regularly drive new routes to work. I park in different places at work regularly, always backed in to make for a quick escape. I cant leave my house without looking out to see if she is outside and I have found new routes to walk my dogs. McCallum didnt respond to requests for further comment last week. Ferguson tapped Pam Parker, the schools outreach director, to serve as interim superintendent for the 2025-26 school year. The school serves blind, visually-impaired and deaf-blind students. Fifty students were enrolled this past school year, according to state data. It has about 100 full-time equivalent employees and a state budget of around $29 million. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McCallum has a national reputation in education of students who are blind or visually impaired. He helped implement the countrys first online adaptive state assessment that is accessible to students who read Braille. In 2022, the National Federation of the Blind awarded McCallum with the Distinguished Educator of Blind Students award. Before coming to Washington, McCallum worked in education in Oregon. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The question of Who pays? is ringing louder than ever as global and local labor leaders gathered in Bangkok on Thursday to spotlight an alleged $7.6-million wage theft case. The dispute traces back to the 2020 shutdown of Body Fashion Limited, which ran two factories in Thailand. More than 900 garment workers were left without their legally mandated severance payan obligation confirmed by Thai courts. At the time, the ruling ordered $5.7 million in compensation, but the money never came. The factorys owner, Malaysian tycoon Robert Ng, remains free and active in the industry. I didnt get any severance. I didnt even get my last month and a half of wages. I left with nothingworse than nothing, said former Body Fashion worker Prasit Koedphithak, 48, who spent 22 years at the company and is owed 711,541 Thai baht ($21,915). Since I was laid off, I havent been able to find work. I had to borrow, and I was left with debt. I dont see a future for myself anymore. More from Sourcing Journal Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other workers tell similar stories: decades of loyal service, suddenly erased. The factory, once owned by Triumph, was sold in 2016 and rebranded under Body Fashion. When it closed, the workers were left with nothing but promises. For five years, their demand has been the same: hold the owner (and the European and U.S. brands that sourced from the factory) accountable, and pay what is owed. Somyot Pruksakasemsuk, a veteran advisor to Thai trade unions, told Sourcing Journal that the court order was clear, but enforcement has failed. The payments must be made, yet arrests of the companys listed directors have gone nowhere, he said. Triumph International (Thailand) Co. Ltd. sold the factories to Body Fashion as part of a global restructuring to focus on marketing and sales, but that move left workers with few protections when things went wrong. Dave Welsh, Thailand country director for the Solidarity Center, was blunt: Two factories closed without paying a single baht in severance to anyonemany had worked there more than a decade. Brands with long ties to the factory, namely Victorias Secret and Triumph International, earned huge profits off poor, mostly women Thai workers. They cant hide behind legally flimsy claims that they bear no responsibility. Primary responsibility lies with Robert Ng, who continues to make millions in the global apparel industry while ignoring the law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Welsh called for all brands tied to the factoryincluding Triumph, Victorias Secret, and Lane Bryantto face pressure over their role. Scott Nova, executive director of the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC), said this case stands out because the usual excuses dont apply. In most cases, when factories close without paying severance, the owner is bankrupt, missing, or out of the industry. None of that is true here. Ng is wealthy, with a vast business network spanning hundreds of corporations. Hes very much present, hiding in plain sight. Nova noted that major retailers including Amazon, Nordstrom, Marks & Spencer, Next, and JCPenney still source from Ngs operations, which include factories in China, Sri Lanka, and Hungary. The value of those relationships far exceeds the money he refuses to pay. Whether these brands choose to hold him accountable will decide whether workers get justice, he said. Thailand has seen this fight before. In 2022, after the closure of Brilliant Alliance Thailand, a coalition of unions and activists won an $8.3 million settlement from Victorias Secretthe largest severance theft settlement in garment industry history. That case, Welsh pointed out, was resolved only after intense pressure on brands. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Body Fashion dispute comes at a politically sensitive time. Thailand is negotiating a bilateral Free Trade Agreement with the European Union, where new due diligence laws are emerging to hold companies accountable for rights violations in their overseas supply chains. Thailand is also drafting its own mandatory human rights and environmental due diligence law. Johnson Yeung of the Clean Clothes Campaign said one of Body Fashions biggest clients during the wage theft was Huber Holding, a top Austrian underwear companyalso owned by Ng. Despite acknowledging the factory produced its goods, Huber denies responsibility. Next and Marks & Spencer are still working with Ng. These brands must consider the human rights and reputational risks here, Yeung said. The workers plight has been highlighted globallyat a Huber store protest in Austria earlier this year and a Victorias Secret protest in the Netherlands last year. Forty million dollars were stolen from workers during the pandemic, Yeung added. Brands must act now before a bigger crisis unfolds. For campaigners, the principle at stake is clear. It is appalling that neither Hubers management nor its supervisory board are taking responsibility, nor holding Robert Ng to account, said Gertrude Klaffenbock of the Austrian Clean Clothes Campaign at Sudwind. As steep new U.S. tariffs take effect this week, analysts warn that more factory closures, lost business, and wage theft cases could followunless the industry takes proactive steps. This case, they say, is a litmus test: whether brands will enforce their own codes of conduct, or allow workers once again to bear the brunt. Walkers has officially introduced two brand-new crisp flavours to its permanent range for the first time in decades as stores take shoppers by surprise with the never-before-seen additions. The British snack giant has quietly developed the new flavours unbeknownst to crisp fans who can now look forward to trying the Sticky Teriyaki and Masala Chicken packets for themselves. Both of the new flavours are already available to buy from Tesco, with a six-pack of 25g packets costing 2.15. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The packaging claims that the Sticky Teriyaki flavour is inspired by the flavours of Japan, while the Masala Chicken takes its inspiration from India. Walkers says it has been working on the flavours for around a year, in a six-step process that saw 63 different flavour submissions analysed. Walkers describes its new Masala Chicken flavour as having a rich and spicy taste (Walkers) Describing the new flavours, the crisp-maker said: With a balance between sweet and tangy, the new Sticky Teriyaki flavour is sure to hit your senses with an array of tastes inspired by flavours from Japan. Packing a punch of flavour, the new Masala Chicken provides a rich and spicy taste and with Tikka Masala being a firm favourite dish in the UK, the new crisps give you a bite sized flavour you can enjoy on the go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both flavours are available from 11 August, meaning there is no time to wait for those who want to pick up a packet. The new editions to Walkers core range mark the first time in decades that brand-new flavours have made the cut. Classic flavours Ready Salted, Cheese & Onion and Salt & Vinegar were first introduced in the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. Other classics like Prawn Cocktail, Roast Chicken and Smoky Bacon came later, around the 1970s. Since then, Walkers has largely focused on limited-edition flavour campaigns, with very few making the leap to the permanent range. Walkers says the new Sticky Teriyaki flavour strikes a balance between sweet and tangy (Walkers) Both of the new flavours have appeared in Walkers packets in very different forms before. In the 2018, a 1980s Chicken Tikka Masala flavour was available for a limited time, while another the Chicken Tackle Masala was brought out to coincide with the UEFA Champions League in 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was also a Japanese Teriyaki flavour trialled in 2010 as part of Walkers Flavour Cup which saw fan-submitted ideas pitted against each other. In the end, the flavour came third with eight per cent of the vote, while the winner English Roast Beef & Yorkshire Pudding received 20 per cent. However, both of the new flavours are brand new formulations, developed and tested over the course of the past 12 months. Wayne Newton, senior marketing director at Walkers said: Our development team has been on a mission for the past year to find two new flavours that meet the highest standards. After thousands of crisps crunched, flavours tested, and bags rustled, were pleased to bring something entirely new to the table with Sticky Teriyaki and Masala Chicken. Ex-Washington Post fact-checker Glenn Kessler offered a warning to his ex-bosses in their efforts to court conservatives, something he suggested could alienate their liberal readership. In his Substack piece about what led him to leave The Post after 27 years, Kessler recalled an April 2024 meeting he had with the paper's new CEO and publisher Will Lewis, who had just assumed the role earlier in the year. "It was strange for me to have an hour-long meeting with the publisher of the newspaper," Kessler told Fox News Digital in an interview. "I've never had such a long period of time with the publisher of the newspaper." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Washington Post Bombarded With Cake Parties For Departing Staffers Former Washington Post fact checker Glenn Kessler is warning the "Democracy Dies in Darkness" paper that its efforts to court conservatives could impact its current liberal readership. But what irked Kessler at the meeting was the question Lewis asked him: "What should The Post do to appeal more to Fox News viewers?" "He kind of, I felt, was crossing a bit of a business-newsroom line where he was asking my advice on how to make the newspaper appeal to different audience," Kessler said. "As I write in the piece, frankly, the audience of The Washington Post is mostly liberal. I mean, this is based on my anecdotal evidence based on if I wrote fact checks that gave Pinocchios to Democrats, I got lots of angry emails. If I gave fact checks that gave Pinocchios to Republicans, I didn't get that many emails. And so it was an indication of where his thinking was." Read On The Fox News App Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "And as I said, it would be a good idea to broaden the readership base of the Washington Post to bring in more conservatives," he continued. "But the question is, how do you do that without losing your liberal readers?" Washington Post Reeling From Buyout Exodus As Bosses Hope To Turn The Page At Embattled Paper Kessler was irked by an exchange he had with Washington Post publisher and CEO Will Lewis on how the paper can appeal to conservatives, Kessler went on to cite the "real-life experiment" that put the question to the test, pointing to billionaire owner Jeff Bezos' decision to halt the planned endorsement of then-Vice President Kamala Harris just days before the presidential election, followed by the launch of his new mission in February for the editorial pages to promote "personal liberties and free markets." Both instances, which on their surface appeared to be overt gestures to appeal to non-liberals, sparked rebellion among the paper's liberal readers, leading to the cancellation of hundreds of thousands of subscriptions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "So that shows the difficulty," Kessler said. "It's literally like trying to change engines on an airplane mid-flight." Longtime Washington Post Fact Checker Takes Buyout, Says Paper Has Yet To Find Replacement Before Exit Kessler recalled telling Lewis that The Post had to "remain true" to its journalistic principles and "provide compelling, interesting news reporting." "You can make sure that the news reports themselves don't have any particular edge or bias that might be viewed as kind of a liberal lens versus a conservative lens," Kessler told Fox News Digital. "But like I said, it's a very tricky thing to do when probably 75, 80% of your readers are liberal." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The former Post fact-checker went on to criticize Bezos' editorial mission, which the owner said explicitly would not publish pieces that go against the principles of personal liberties and free markets. The directive caused consternation within The Post, so much so that multiple staffers resigned in protest. Kessler said efforts by Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos to appeal to conservatives have already resulted in hundreds of thousands of subscription cancellations by liberal readers. "I don't understand the idea of eliminating liberal voices from the editorial page because a traditional newspaper editorial page has a lot of debate," Kessler said before pointing to conservative columnists that have appeared on The Post's opinion pages, namely Marc Thiessen and the late Charles Krauthammer. "And I've always advised college students when they start reading newspapers or setting up their Twitter feeds, I always say, follow people or read people you disagree with because you're going to learn much more from people you disagree with than people you agree with," he continued. "And there's some columnists I never bother to read because they're always saying the same thing, and it's not interesting, and I prefer to be challenged and prefer to have my thinking, you know, shocked into, 'Oh, I'm looking at this wrong.' So the idea that you're going to just have kind of a one-sided debate is a strange way to run a newspaper." A spokesperson for The Washington Post told Fox News Digital, "The Washington Post is committed to producing high-quality journalism and riveting storytelling to reach all audiences. The Post is dedicated to delivering world-class news experiences to serve all of America." Fox News' Annie McCuen contributed to this report. Original article source: Washington Post's effort to court conservatives could drive away its liberal readers, ex-fact checker warns PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) The state of Washington is suing the Trump administration for withholding funds meant to help the state address the impacts of climate change. Washington Attorney General Nick Brown filed the lawsuit on Aug. 8 in Seattle against the United States Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for withholding more than $9 million in climate funds authorized by Congress. In a press release announcing the lawsuit, Browns office emphasized the importance of the funds as climate change has increased the frequency and severity of life-threatening hazards in the state, including heatwaves, wildfires, drought and flooding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Psychological thriller set in Oregon wilderness gets theatrical debut The lawsuit focuses on two climate resilience funds granted by NOAA in 2022 and 2023, which prioritized supporting communities disproportionately exposed to the effects of climate change. This included the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges Tribal Stewards Program. NOAA awarded $9.3 million to the project in 2024, which was meant to develop a network of Washington colleges, tribes and employers and to educate post-secondary students in wildlife biology, environmental science and other natural resource degrees focusing on climate resilience. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kayaker finds body part floating in Tualatin River The other award focused on coastal resilience with the Department of Ecologys Advancing an Equitable Framework for Coastal Resilience in Washington State project. NOAA awarded the project $250,000 to address climate resilience on the coast. While Washington was awarded the grants, NOAA terminated both awards on May 5, saying the programs were inconsistent with President Donald Trumps priorities, Brown explained. The Attorney Generals Office said NOAA withheld nearly half of those funds, which brings that work to a halt and leaves some Washington communities vulnerable to flooding, erosion and other hazards. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Eye on Northwest Politics Climate change is here, and Washington communities need to prepare and build resilience, Attorney General Brown said in a statement. The federal government promised funding to help local communities adapt, and were holding them to it. In the lawsuit, the state of Washington argues that NOAA unlawfully canceled the funds jeopardizing jobs and threatening the states climate resilience strategy. The complaint alleges that the Department of Commerce and NOAA violated the Administrative Procedure Act by canceling the funding. Additionally, the lawsuit alleges that the federal agencies violated the U.S. Constitutions Spending Clause and separation of powers principles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Patients, providers protest CareOregons change to health policy in downtown rally NOAAs decision to abruptly stop funding Washingtons Tribal Stewards Program directly impacts future workers who want to start work in well-paying climate resilience jobs and employers in these in-demand fields, added Nate Humphrey, SBCTC executive director. Without this funding, Washingtons colleges and tribes will not be able to keep workers up to date with industry trends, putting our state at risk of falling behind in these important specialties. A spokesperson for NOAA told KOIN 6 News that the agency does not comment on pending litigation. KOIN 6 News also reached out to the Department of Commerce. This story will be updated if we receive a response. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. The U.S. House will begin debate in committee this week on a bill that would cut Medicaid spending. (Getty Images) Property insurance may be whats on residents minds as Florida continues to grapple with high housing costs, but people need to look out for soaring health insurance costs in the coming year, too. Fourteen insurers writing individual policies in Florida have proposed double-digit rate increases for Affordable Care Act-compliant plans in calendar year 2026, a review of federal data shows. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Centers for Medicare & Medciaid Services (CMS) data show that Molina Healthcare wants an overall rate boost of nearly 41% for calendar year 2026, more than any other plan. According to its supporting documents, the increase could affect more than 90,000 policyholders. AmeriHealth Caritas requested the second highest overall rate hike at slightly more than 37% overall. Its justification data indicate the hit would average 35% for 55,000 policyholders. Centene Venture Co. Florida requested the smallest rate increase, 18.73%. According to its supporting data, the increase would affect an estimated 1.3 million individuals. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida proposed an overall rate change of nearly 27%, according to the CMS website, although its rate justification notes that some members will experience increases above 15%. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Not alone The proposed rate changes are preliminary and could change during the rate review process, which is expected to be completed by the federal government at the end of the summer. Open enrollment for 2026 individual coverage under the ACA, also known as Obamacare, through the federal health insurance marketplace begins in the fall, as it does for most employer-sponsored insurance plans. The federal government presents the rate changes in terms of an overall increase because the amount charged individuals varies depending on their geographic location, age, and which tier plan they choose to enroll in: bronze, silver, gold, or platinum. Florida is not alone in these rate hikes insurers nationwide are filing double-digit increases. A KFF review of marketplace plans submitted by 312 insurers in 50 states and the District of Columbia shows that the median proposed increase for 2026 is 18%, more than double last years 7% median proposed increase. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Insurers cited rising costs, utilization of services, and the loss of enhanced advanced premium tax benefits as the reasons behind the rate increases, according to KFF. Mums the word? While the proposed increases havent been finalized, they are looming and its not clear what, if anything, Florida insurance officials are doing to get the word out to people. Attempts to contact Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate (ICA) Tasha Carter for this story were unsuccessful. Theres no reference to rising health insurance rates on the ICAs website dedicated to consumer alerts and theres no reference to health insurance rates in its Current Insurance Topics section. The Office of Insurance Regulation, meanwhile, would not say whether it planned on making the public information available on its website or whether it planned on proactively educating the public about the upcoming rate increases. It is currently under review, OIR Communications Director Kylie Mason told the Florida Phoenix Tuesday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Florida Conservatives for Affordable Health Care is holding a press conference in Tallahassee on Wednesday morning to address the rising rates and how they will soar particularly for those who have been relying on the enhanced premium tax credits to help with affordability. Montana State Auditor James Brown issued a statement on Aug. 1 advising residents of the impending increases. The increase will affect small group health insurance plans offered both on and off the federally facilitated marketplace (HealthCare.gov as well as indiviudal marketplace plans the plans used by many Montana small employers, independent workers, and families, Brown said in the statement. We want Montanans to be informed and prepared. Small-group filings Carriers also filed proposed rate increases for plans sold to Floridas small employers for 2026, those with of 50 or fewer workers. While less steep than the individual policies, many of the carriers requested double-digit or near double-digit increases. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Neighborhood Health Partnership requested the highest overall increase for small group plans with a proposed overall 12.78% rate hike, whereas National Health Insurance Co. came in with the smallest proposed rate increase, at 8.38%. According to the most recent Florida Office of Insurance Regulation data, most people in Florida who purchased health insurance policies in 2023 have individual coverage, and most of them have policies sold on the federal health insurance exchange. The 2023 data show that more than 5.8 million people maintained commercial health insurance policies, and most of those people, 3.6 million-plus, had individual health insurance plans. Nearly 1.8 million people had large group plans, those sold to businesses with more than 51 employees. Small group policies insured another 400,164 lives in 2023. While more recent data on small group and large group enrollment isnt avialable Obamacare enrollment in Florida in 2025 topped more than 4.6 million people. This story has been updated to include comment for the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. . SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Brief The owner of a Wayne tow yard and one of his employees are facing charges after allegedly running a chop shop at the business. At least three stolen vehicles were allegedly found crushed at Hadis Cash for Cars. The owner, Mohamad El-Hadi, is accused of operating the chop shop, while one of his employees is accused of picking up a stolen vehicle. WAYNE, Mich. (FOX 2) - The owner of a Wayne tow yard is accused of running a chop after multiple stolen vehicles were allegedly found crushed on the property. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mohamad El-Hadi, 41, of Canton, was recently charged with operating a chop shop and three counts of receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle, while one of his employees, Dani Mourad, 44, of Dearborn Heights, is charged with one count of receiving and concealing a stolen motor vehicle. The backstory According to Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, El-Hadi owns Hadis Cash for Cars. Authorities determined that he was operating a chop shop after at least three stolen vehicles - a 2009 Kia Sorrento, a 2013 Honda Odyssey, and a 2017 Buick Encore - were found crushed in the business' tow yard. While El-Hadi allegedly owns and operates the business, Mourad is accused of being involved in picking up one of the stolen vehicles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Both suspects were arraigned last week. El-Hadi was given a $25,000 personal recognizance bond, while Mourad's PR bond was set at $15,000. They are both due back in court Aug. 18. "The Auto Fraud Task Force was created to tackle exactly this kind of alleged criminal activity," Nessel said. "By embedding prosecutors directly within the Michigan State Police, we can continue dismantling auto theft and chop shop operations that threaten communities across our state." The Source This information is from a press release from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel. WEBSTER Parish, La. (KTAL/KMSS) Students in Webster Parish returned to class Monday, August 11, marking the first day of the new school year. At Webster Junior High, under the leadership of Principal Cortney McCall, they are setting up their students for fresh opportunities, while Minden High School is centering its efforts on academic achievement and raising test scores. Natchitoches Parish schools prioritize student success this year Principal Benjamin Bower of Minden High School, says the school will track student progress closely, using data to meet students where they are and adapting to Louisianas new accountability system in hopes of boosting performance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Superintendent Johnny Rowland adds that the district plans to continue improving existing programs, maximizing opportunities under the accountability framework, and building on career technical education offerings. Bossier Parish schools prioritize teacher support, academic aims Minden High School kicks off their sequence of Parent Nights Monday, August 18. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com. The Indian stock market opened almost flat on Monday as investors stayed cautious ahead of the highly anticipated meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled for the weekend. The Nifty 50 index began the session at 24,371.50, posting a marginal gain of 8.20 points or 0.03 per cent, while the BSE Sensex opened at 79,885.36, up by 27.57 points or 0.03 per cent. Market participants are closely watching for any developments from the meeting to assess potential tariff moves by Trump on India. Ajay Bagga, Banking and Market Expert, told ANI, "Truce, Tariffs and Truncated week are the drivers this week. Expect a truce announcement this weekend as Trump meets Putin in Alaska. Tariffs are at front and centre as China's deadline looms tonight, with a further extension likely. Independence Day on Friday will bring a four-day market week and a three-day long weekend, with the possibility of a Ukraine-Russia truce during the break. Expect volatile markets with no positive catalyst for Indian markets for now. The government has not announced any relief measures for exporters hit with Trump Tariffs, which could be a trigger to improve sentiments. For now, we are looking at shallow moves with potential for a recovery by the weekend." In the broader NSE market indices, Nifty 100 rose by 0.04 per cent, while Nifty Midcap 100 and Nifty Smallcap 100 opened lower. Among sectoral indices, Nifty Auto gained 0.22 per cent, Nifty Metal was up 0.07 per cent, and Nifty Realty rose 0.13 per cent. On the downside, Nifty IT and Nifty FMCG slipped around 0.09 per cent, Nifty Pharma edged down marginally, and Nifty Consumer Durables dropped 0.81 per cent. Top gainers in the Nifty 50 in early trade included Grasim, State Bank of India, Trent, NTPC, and Adani Enterprises. The top losers were ICICI Bank, Bharat Electronics (BEL), Tata Motors, Asian Paints, Adani Ports, and Tata Consumer Products. On the corporate earnings front, Astral Limited, SJVN, Ipca Laboratories, BEML, Bata India, JM Financial, Travel Food Services, Embassy Developments, Cello World, Belrise, and Eureka Forbes are among the companies scheduled to announce their first-quarter results today. SEBI-registered analyst and Alphamojo Financial Services founder Sunil Gurjar noted, "The Nifty 50 did not perform well, closing down by 202 points, indicating a strong bearish trend. This marks the Nifty's sixth consecutive weekly decline, its longest losing streak since March 2020. A breakdown below 24,650 would confirm a continuation of the downtrend. The price is currently hovering near its 200-EMA, and a cross below this level would signal more downward momentum." He added that the Nifty 50 is nearing a crucial support at 23,750, and a fall below this point could lead to increased negative sentiment and further downside. However, if the index holds at this level, a reversal is also possible. In other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei 225 rose 1.82 per cent, Taiwan's weighted index gained 0.30 per cent, and South Korea's KOSPI was up 0.18 per cent. Singapore's Straits Times and Hong Kong's Hang Seng index were trading lower at the time of filing this report. (ANI) A sign welcomes attendees to the Maryland Association of Counties summer conference in 2021. (File photo by Danielle E. Gaines/Maryland Matters) The annual Maryland Association of Counties summer conference has evolved into several things over the years. Its a forum for wonky discussions about near- and long-term policy and budgetary challenges. An opportunity for local bureaucrats to network and refresh their professional skills and credentials. A venue for vendors to peddle their services to government procurement officers. A chance for the governor to report to his fellow policymakers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And its become party central, with a dizzying array of round-the-clock fundraisers, receptions and other social gatherings at bars and restaurants throughout Ocean City. But at its most basic level, MACo is the biggest gathering of Marylands political clan of the year. So with the critical 2026 elections just around the corner, the political landscape is sure to be Topic A as Maryland leaders descend on the states top resort town for sand, surf, strategizing and soothsaying. At first glance, 2026 in Maryland appears to be a sleepier and less consequential cycle than the historic election of 2022, when there were vacancies for all four statewide offices governor, lieutenant governor, comptroller and attorney general and voters chose trailblazers for each position. All four Gov. Wes Moore (D) and his running mate, Lt. Gov. Aruna Miller (D), along with Comptroller Brooke Lierman (D) and Attorney General Anthony Brown (D) are early favorites for reelection. Some may have no serious opposition at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But with the national political dynamic so tumultuous and with Maryland disproportionately impacted by the chaos and uncertainty in the federal government state and local races will be affected in myriad, incalculable ways. Moores prominence as a probable presidential contender in 2028 will add to the weight and scrutiny of the 2026 outcome here. I think unpredictable is the word, said Jessica Haire, a Republican former county councilmember from Anne Arundel County, who is chair of Opportunity Maryland, an advocacy group promoting economic growth and free market policies. Marylands elections coincide with a period of instability and voter anger rarely seen in modern politics. National polls show voters deeply unhappy with both major political parties. And that could produce some surprising results in Maryland and beyond. The word that keeps coming back to me is disquiet theres disquiet in the electorate, said Len Foxwell, a Democratic consultant. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ordinarily, in the first midterm election of a presidents term, the out party makes significant gains and there are certainly ingredients in place that could make it a good cycle for Democrats in 2026. But assumptions about the midterms, and their consequences for 2028, become tricky in the volatile age of President Donald Trump, who has remade government, political discourse and media coverage in remarkable ways. Democrats, who are simultaneously looking to shake off their demoralizing defeat to Trump and are grappling with ideological, generational and tactical battles throughout the country, may be taking their 2026 prospects for granted. I think, both locally and nationally, we assume everybodys going to be where they are, from the governor to all elected officials, said former Prince Georges County Executive Rushern Baker (D). But we dont really know how theyre going to wind up. At the dawn of this years MACo conference, its easy to see that county elections will be among the most hard-fought and significant of the 2026 cycle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Four of the states biggest counties will be electing new executives next year, and each race will be brutal, a leading state Democratic operative predicts. Several downballot elections in the counties including internecine battles for states attorney, sheriff, county council seats and other offices will be equally tempestuous. The greatest opportunity for political dynamism next year rests not with state elections or the General Assembly but with our county governments, Foxwell said. Known unknowns Marylands 2026 primaries are on June 30. The candidate filing deadline is on Feb. 24. Some key questions about 2026 races remain unanswered: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Will former Gov. Larry Hogan (R) try to get his old job back, setting up an epic battle with Moore? Hogan has been strafing Moore on social media, but has taken no overt steps to organize a campaign; strategists on both sides of the aisle believe he is almost certainly the GOPs best hope next year. I think the governor will win, Baker said of Moore. I think he could win big. But he will definitely have vigorous opposition. Will U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-5th), the longest-serving member of the House of Representatives in Maryland history, seek another term next year, when he will be 87 years old? Not even his closest friends seem to know and several downballot races could be impacted if he chooses to call it a career, as ambitious pols scramble to succeed him. Baker said Hoyers plans may hinge on whether he thinks Democrats can retake the majority in the U.S. House. Even more basically, will Maryland lawmakers seek to redraw the states congressional lines next year, as state House Majority Leader David Moon (D-Montgomery) has suggested, in retaliation for mid-decade redistricting efforts underway in Texas and other Republican-dominated legislatures? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Does Maryland respond to Texas? asked Mileah Kromer, a pollster and director of the University of Maryland Baltimore County Institute for Politics. That decision could have serious political ramifications. Moon plans to introduce legislation that would require Maryland lawmakers to consider a mid-decade remap of congressional boundaries if another state changes its map. But even Moon, in an interview, said it wasnt clear if the bill would mandate action or produce new district lines before the 2026 election, or if Democratic leaders will choose that path. At a certain point, a lot of these decisions go above my pay grade, he said. Through a spokesperson, Moore told The Baltimore Sun last week that he would consider all options on redistricting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Democrats already hold a 7-1 advantage in the states House delegation, so making U.S. Rep. Andy Harris (R-1st) vulnerable would require even more gerrymandering. He won reelection by 22 points last year, and Jake Day (D), Moores charismatic state secretary of Housing and Community Development, is pondering a challenge. But the task of weakening Harris political position may not be impossible: Only the 6th congressional district, occupied by freshman Rep. April McClain Delaney (D), is remotely competitive. She won her seat last fall by a little over 5 points; the states other six Democrats won theirs by an average of 45 points, with victory margins ranging from 18 points (Rep. Johnny Olszewski Jr.) to 77 points (Rep. Glenn Ivey). Some of these members would have to sacrifice safe Democratic territory to put Harris seat in play. And its worth pointing out that a court in 2022 rejected Maryland Democrats attempts to put Harris district in play as unconstitutional. Democratic gerrymandering has also limited the number of competitive seats in the General Assembly. Can Republicans target more than a handful of Democratic-controlled seats next year? Do Democrats have any pick-up opportunities in GOP districts? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If there are any vulnerable state legislators in 2026, they may face more peril in their party primaries than in the general election. Democratic supermajorities in the state Senate and House of Delegates do not appear to be in any danger at this point. A bigger and more basic question is whether the two parties in Maryland are even equipped to challenge for seats where the other side has long dominated. Republicans have won three of the last six gubernatorial elections, but the state GOP is in thrall to Trump, who has appeal in conservative pockets of Maryland but limits the partys ability to compete statewide and in bigger jurisdictions. Republicans are unlikely to run a strong candidate for Howard County executive next year, even though the GOP held the job as recently as 2018; the same may be true in Baltimore County and Anne Arundel County, depending on Haires plans. Bigger Republican benches in conservative jurisdictions have yet to yield candidates who can compete at the statewide level or for many congressional seats. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Conservative Democratic elected officials have all but vanished in Maryland; they controlled the General Assembly just a generation ago. Democrats have seemingly impenetrable advantages in several large suburban counties that were swing areas just a few elections ago. But as Maryland Democrats become more liberal and more in sync with the national party, their ability to make gains in conservative parts of the state diminishes. Partisan arguments and counter-arguments Even with the conflicting political signals, smart minds in both parties in Maryland see reason for optimism this election cycle. Moon, the House majority leader, said Trumps assault on the federal government and programs resonate in every corner of Maryland, benefiting Democrats. Its a midterm where the GOP has set out to destroy our state, he said. Weve got a cannon aimed directly at our head weve got to do our best to dodge it. Sophia Silbergeld, a Baltimore-based Democratic fundraiser and strategist, said state Democrats will prosper if they portray themselves as a bulwark against Trump policies. As long as Democrats message strategically and paint themselves as an alternative to Trump, they will do well in Maryland in 2026, she said. State and local officials can message that theyre the last bastion against the Trump administration. But Jim Burton, a former executive director of the Maryland Republican Party, said tax and fee increases pushed through by Moore and legislative Democrats over the past two years could come back to haunt them electorally; he sees some of the same elements at play this cycle that propelled former Republican Govs. Larry Hogan and Bob Ehrlich to victory and almost elected Ellen Sauerbrey governor in 1994. We dont know what the environment will look like in a year and a few months from now, but there are a lot of things on the table that could be a problem for Democrats, said Burton, a pollster who advises GOP clients in Maryland and other states. We could be looking at a period of history repeating itself. I like the situation that were in right now. Kromer acknowledged that voters will be driven by economic issues, but noted that the impact of the Trump administrations policies on the state will also be top-of-mind to Democratic voters, making it difficult for Republican candidates to piece together a broad coalition, as Hogan did so deftly in 2014 and 2018. Like all voters, Democrats are driven by taxes and cost-of-living issues, but theyre particularly angry about Trump being back in the White House, and that anger will create a serious obstacle for Moores eventual challenger, she said. Just look at what happened in 2022. Foxwell said rising utility costs are a source of great outrage for voters and present a major challenge for Maryland political leaders in both parties. The one issue that keeps blinking as a big issue for me is the cost of energy, and it poses risks for Democrats and Republicans, he said. The proclivity of Annapolis lawmakers for blaming [grid operator] PJM is a losing strategy. People dont know what PJM is, and they know they didnt vote for PJM. Known knowns One thing that is certain about the 2026 election in Maryland is that the open-seat races for county executive in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard and Montgomery counties will be among the most intense of the cycle especially in the Democratic primaries. The theater of combat in the counties this cycle is not going to be Republicans vs. Democrats, but establishment Democrats vs. insurgents, Foxwell predicted. Anne Arundel, considered a purple jurisdiction, is a paradox: Democrats have made significant and potentially durable gains in the last few elections, even as angry divides have erupted among party leaders and activists especially since the death in 2019 of the late House Speaker Michael E. Busch (D), who had a robust political organization and was a unifying figure for county Democrats. The Democratic race to replace term-limited County Executive Steuart Pittman (D) features County Councilmembers Alison Pickard and Pete Smith, and James Kitchin, a top aide to Pittman who has his boss support. Skirmishing among the candidates and their supporters seems inevitable. Even so, the Democrats are likely to hold the seat if Haire does not run and might be favored, given the national dynamics of the political cycle, even if she does. Haire, who lost to Pittman by 7 points in 2022, said she is still pondering her political options for 2026 but doesnt think Anne Arundel voters will be swayed by the national political dynamic. We have an electorate that really pays attention, and local issues really matter to folks, she said. Baltimore County features a four-way Democratic primary to replace County Executive Kathy Klausmeier (D), who was appointed to complete the final two years of Olszewskis tenure and isnt expected to seek a full term of her own. The wide-open race features Councilmembers Julian Jones, Izzy Patoka and Pat Young, along with Nick Stewart, a businessman, attorney and former county school board member. Republicans have yet to put up a candidate for the race, but intriguingly, former state Sen. Jim Brochin, a moderate who lost the 2018 Democratic primary to Olszewski by just 17 votes, has floated the possibility of running in the general election as an independent. He could be formidable, if he gets sufficient funding. In Howard County, Del. Jessica Feldmark (D), who served as chief of staff to former County Executive Ken Ulman (D), is likely to rack up a substantial amount of establishment support as she looks to replace the outgoing executive, Calvin Ball (D). Councilmembers Deb Jung and Liz Walsh are also seeking the Democratic nomination, and the field could grow. No Republican has come forward yet in Howard, and its hard to see a strong contender emerging. Allan Kittleman was the GOP nominee in the last three elections winning once and losing twice. In Montgomery County, County Executive Marc Elrich (D) is term limited, and three young Democratic council members are the leading candidates, so far, to replace him: Andrew Friedson (39), Evan Glass (48) and Will Jawando (42). The last Republican county executive was elected in 1974. At least three of the open-seat candidates for county executive in the state Feldmark, Pickard and Smith have scheduled fundraisers in Ocean City this week to coincide with MACo. So has Frederick County Executive Jessica Fitzwater (D), who is seeking a second term. As usual, Ocean City will be the center of the political universe for a few days this week. By the time next summers MACo conference takes place, the 2026 primaries will have come and gone and the world could look a lot different. ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) The man accused of a targeted, deadly shooting at a Wegmans warehouse in Gates pleaded not guilty to murder charges after being extradited to Rochester. On July 26, JMere Ridley-Smith was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds while working at the distribution center. Gates Police said a fellow employee, 32-year-old Kyshonn Green, was identified as the suspect. Investigators said Green left New York shortly after the shooting and was arrested Sunday night in Knoxville, Tennessee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials: Wegmans murder suspect arrested after getting off Greyhound; Knoxville wasnt his final stop The Monroe County District Attorneys Office announced Green was indicted on second-degree murder charges in connection with the incident. His jury trial is set for January. Outside the courtroom Tuesday, Ridleys great aunt said she is still on a quest for answers. He didnt bother anybody, he went to work every day, he did his music, he spent his money on his music, so I would love to know on that day what happened at that Wegmans warehouse and its sad, not just for my family but for their family, Theresa Hall said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WROCs affiliate in Knoxville, WATE, reported Green was released from jail Monday morning just after 10 a.m. for extradition. Monroe County Senior Assistant District Attorney James Nguyen said the effort from authorities to get Green to Rochester is appreciated. We really appreciate their cooperativeness and their efforts as well to not only apprehend the defendant in this case but also ensure that we dont have to worry about any issues down the line, Nguyen 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 RochesterFirst. When I finally told someone I was afraid I might hurt myself, I thought I was doing what everyone says to do: Ask for help. Tell someone. Dont suffer in silence. I didnt expect to end up handcuffed in the back of a police cruiser, stripped of my clothes, my rights, and any remaining dignity. I had been struggling. Sleep-deprived and in the throes of a bipolar mixed episode, physically wrecked by chronic illness, and stressed to the max. I didnt want to die, living had just become too painful. When I finally said it out loud, honestly and clearly to a psychiatrist in the ER, I wasnt in any immediate danger. I was asking for help early, while I still could. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plan was agreed on with the consulting psychiatrist: a voluntary admission to a reputable hospital with a decent psychiatric unit. We even made a list of hospitals I was OK with, and two I absolutely was not. I knew from personal experience as a peer support volunteer that one was poorly managed, unsafe and chaotic. The other was underfunded and more like a holding pen for people. I wasnt asking for five stars; I just wanted to avoid any more trauma. But when it came time to transfer me, none of the hospitals we had agreed to had a bed. Guess who did. I refused. Calmly, clearly. I offered to remain in the ER on suicide precautions until a bed opened elsewhere. I was told that was unreasonable because I was stable and the ER is for emergencies. I asked to be discharged to go directly to another hospital, with my partner. I was told that would put me at risk of harm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I was in crisis, yes but I was asking for help. I did not understand that by self-reporting that I was at risk, I had given away my control. Their solution was to issue a 72-hour Temporary Detention Order (TDO) and force me to go. Two police officers showed up. Quiet. Professional. Still cops. They took my clothes, my phone, my belongings and my autonomy. Strip search. Handcuffs. I was paraded through the hospital in front of patients and staff like I was being arrested because I told the truth about being in pain. I have no criminal history. The only time Ive been inside a correctional facility was as a peer support volunteer, working with others who were also detained against their will. But now I was being treated like something dangerous, just because Id admitted I was vulnerable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What followed was one of the worst weeks of my life. The conditions in the psych unit were worse than anything I ever saw in jails. I was locked in my room nearly the entire time. No TV. No books. The food was inedible, and I barely ate. My bed was a wooden plank. My blanket? ONE hand towel. Two hand towels are apparently highly dangerous. I was not permitted to shower unobserved. Jordan Lye / Getty Images Related: This Habit Has Been Considered "Healthy" For A Long Time, But Now Some Longevity Experts Are Warning Against It My roommate, deep in psychosis, spent most of the time arguing with ghosts and screaming at Jesus. He wasnt violent, just suffering. During his brief lucid moments, he was sweet and apologized profusely. It was heartbreaking. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was no therapy. No individual counseling. No structured treatment of any kind. There was an hour of crafts run by a warm and caring volunteer, which was one of the few times I was allowed out of my room. I wasnt consulted about my treatment plan or offered options or alternatives. Just crafts and lithium. Lithium can be incredibly effective for many people in crisis, but has a long list of side effects and risks. Also, in some cases like mine it is simply ineffective. Which, if anyone had cared to listen to me, I could have told them. There is no better historian about me than me. At the conclusion of the 10 minutes I had with my doctor, he was annoyed that I had been TDOed there. He agreed that I was experiencing a crisis, but far from an urgent one, and definitely not worth being on his ward for psychotic and violent patients. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement He knew I didnt belong there, and he wanted me out as much as I did. He also didnt want to medicate me unnecessarily. But he knew how the judge operated. The bipolar TDO checklist was in play. If my lithium levels werent in the therapeutic range, my clinical status wouldnt matter. Seventy-two hours would then become 30 days. So he said, gently: Just take it. Two days. Itll suck, but its the only way out. I was less than 24 hours in, and it was already unbearable. So, I agreed, reluctantly. My court-appointed lawyer showed up five minutes before the hearing, also trying to help. He advised me to surrender my Second Amendment rights, not because I posed any danger, but because the judge would require it. If I declined: 30 days. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I didnt own a gun and have no intention of ever buying one. Im something of a pacifist and abhor tools of violence. The lawyer explained that I could later apply to have my rights restored and that it was technically voluntary ... but it might still show up on legal forms, indefinitely. An administrative scarlet letter. A permanent mark from a temporary hold. Related: "By My 50s, It Was Noticeable": Older Adults Are Sharing The Difficult Truths About Aging That They Weren't Expecting To Happen So Fast Narisara Nami / Getty Images I reluctantly agreed. But the best time to make consequential legal decisions is NOT during involuntary detainment with only five minutes of legal counsel. And if I was too unwell to make medical decisions, how was I somehow competent enough to waive constitutional rights? If I was well enough to make those decisions, maybe I didnt belong there at all. The judge, barely looking at me or my file, asked if my lithium levels were therapeutic. He asked if Id surrendered my gun rights. He checked the boxes on his list. He still extended the TDO to 30 days, but allowed a provision for my doctor to override it, which he immediately did. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And just like that, I was discharged. No therapy. No plan. No follow-up. Just out. Still in crisis, but now disoriented, sick from the lithium, humiliated, and traumatized on top of it. I left worse than when I entered. Now, when things get bad, when Im sleep-deprived, when my body isnt working right, when my thoughts start to splinter, I instinctively hesitate to tell anyone. Because now I know that honesty isnt always safe. What happened to me wasnt an outlier. It wasnt a rare failure inside a system that usually works. This IS how the system works. A system that responds to pain and suffering with containment instead of care. A system that substitutes police for therapists, and compliance for healing. So, Im cautious. If I end up in crisis again, the ER is the last place I would turn. Not unless someone I trust can promise me that I wont be punished for trying to stay alive. That I wont be criminalized for being sick. That the words I say wont be used to take away my voice. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I didnt end up in that facility by accident. I ended up there because Im publicly insured, because I have a chronic illness, because I live in the wrong zip code and asked for the wrong kind of help on the wrong day of the week. Many people, especially those already marginalized, have no trusted provider, no family support, no safety net. And for people in that position, ERs are often the only option, but also the most expensive and the least likely to provide care. And if youre poor, disabled, incarcerated, uninsured, a person of color, an immigrant, identify as a woman or LGBT+, or as part of any marginalized group? The chances that youll receive actual care drop even further. Yet my story is not a message to stay silent, or to avoid seeking help. Its a message to demand better helpn and to ask for it in ways that protect your dignity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Start with someone you trust. A partner, a close friend, a spiritual adviser. Someone who truly cares and can walk with you, literally or figuratively. If you have an established relationship with a family doctor or a mental health professional, built on trust, start there. Ask them to help you navigate, to advocate, to hold space. Dont be afraid to ask how providers handle mental health emergencies. Tell your loved ones and providers your wishes if you are ever in crisis. Create a Psychiatric Advance Directive. Put your wishes in writing. Identify who should speak for you, what medications you will or wont accept, what facilities are off-limits. A crisis is not the time to start setting boundaries. Do it now. There are some organizations doing it differently. If youre struggling, The Trevor Project offers 24/7 crisis support and can help you figure out the safest route forward. Or try searching for crisis warm lines. These are peer-run resources people whove been there, who can help you figure out where to start. No judgment. No police. I cant promise that your experience will be better than mine. But I can say this: You deserve for it to be. We all do. If you or someone you know needs help, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org for mental health support. Additionally, you can find local mental health and crisis resources at dontcallthepolice.com. Outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention. This article originally appeared on HuffPost in June 2025. Also in Goodful: People Are Sharing Their Biggest "How Doesn't Everyone Know This?" Facts, And I'm Honestly Embarrassed I Never Realized Some Of These Also in Goodful: Here Are 19 Shocking Stories From People Who Decided To Quit Attending A "Mega-Church" Also in Goodful: People Are Correcting Super Common "Fun Facts" That Everyone Keeps Repeating, But Are Actually False Read it on BuzzFeed.com President Donald Trump announced plans to deploy 800 members of the District of Columbia National Guard to the nation's capital Monday morning, claiming it's part of an effort to crack down on violent crime in the city even as crime has fallen precipitously in the past two years. Notably, the order's text also paves the way for more guard deployments from other states and overall increases by giving Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authority to activate troops at "such numbers as he deems necessary." Trump also announced that -- using the authority of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973 -- he would be federalizing the D.C. police department, an unprecedented and historic move. "This is Liberation Day in D.C., and we're going to take our capital back," Trump said during a press conference Monday morning. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read Next: Activist and Trump Confidant Seeks to Oust Army Secretary In January, a couple of weeks before Trump's inauguration, the Justice Department touted that total violent crime in D.C. in 2024 was down 35% from 2023 and the lowest it had been in more than 30 years, according to a news release that was still accessible on the Justice Department website as of Monday afternoon. Trump's decision to deploy the National Guard follows a similar playbook seen in his second term to lean on and use military action for his political agenda. Similar moves this year included deploying troops to California amid immigration enforcement activities in Los Angeles, as well as sending thousands to the U.S. southern border to support law enforcement activities against migrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hegseth said during the press conference that the D.C. Guard will be "flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week" and hinted that more could be on the way. "There are other units we are prepared to bring in -- other National Guard units, other specialized units," Hegseth added. Of the 800 Guardsmen being activated, about 100 to 200 will be on duty at any given time, the Army said in a statement Monday afternoon. The Guardsmen will be on Title 32 orders and will do administrative, logistics and "physical presence" work, the statement said. Allies of the president, such as Rep. James Comer, R-Ky. -- who oversees the House committee that has jurisdiction over Washington, D.C. -- praised Trump's announcement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "President Trump is rightly using executive power to take bold and necessary action to crack down on crime and restore law and order in Washington, D.C.," Comer said in a House Oversight Committee post on X. Trump's move was immediately panned as unnecessary by the district's leaders. "The administration's actions are unprecedented, unnecessary and unlawful," D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb wrote on X. "There is no crime emergency in the District of Columbia. Violent crime in DC reached historic 30-year lows last year, and is down another 26% so far this year." D.C.'s nonvoting delegate in Congress, Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat, similarly decried the deployment of the Guard and the federalization of the local police as "counterproductive" and "escalatory." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It does not escape me that the president is calling in the DCNG on the pretext of a surge in crime that the numbers do not support, while he was nowhere to be found for hours on January 6, 2021, as D.C. officials tried to get him to mobilize the DCNG as the U.S. Capitol was under siege," she said in a statement, referencing the hourslong delay in deploying the Guard as the Capitol was being attacked by Trump supporters trying to overturn the 2020 election results. "The DCNG should be under control of D.C.'s chief executive, the same way governors control their Guard units," Norton added. Norton and other Democrats in Congress have pushed for legislation that would give the district's mayor control over the D.C. National Guard, like governors control their states' Guards. The effort gained some momentum after the 2021 insurrection and passed the House as part of that year's annual defense policy bill. But the provision was not in the final version of the bill that became law, and the effort has since stalled. Related: Trial to Start on Whether Deployment of National Guard to Los Angeles Violated Federal Law U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Alaska on Aug. 15 to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine most likely without Ukraines participation. Trump announced the meeting on Aug. 8, saying the talks could involve some swapping of territories. Details of the proposal emerged later, after Trumps special envoy, Steve Witkoff, visited Moscow last week. According to a source in the Ukrainian Presidents Office, Putin suggested that Kyiv withdraw its troops from the Ukrainian-controlled parts of the partially occupied Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, while Russia would pull back from areas it controls in Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly rejected any plan involving the ceding of Ukrainian land, saying the countrys Constitution makes such territorial concessions impossible. On Aug. 11, the Kyiv Independent asked people on the streets of Kyiv what they think about the U.S. and Russia discussing Ukraines future without Ukraine, as well as the proposed territory swap. Artem Nikitin lawyer I don't think anything good about either (of the questions). But, unfortunately, were not in a position to influence this much. So I hope for the best. I believe. But, to be honest, my mind tells me that we cant expect anything good from this. Ukrainian servicemen of the Spartan Brigade in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine, on July 14, 2025. (Roman Pilipey/AFP via Getty Images) Vitalii service member I disagree with giving up our territory. I've been fighting for it for three and a half years, not so this could happen. I also disagree (with discussions about Ukraine without Ukraine). How can they resolve the issue without us? Nataliia Prykhodko wife of a fallen soldier I think it's all nonsense. How can they solve our fate without us? This is the first thing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Secondly, what were so many deaths for? I lost my husband, and I don't want this to end (like this). I know that (Putin) wants more, he won't stop. All these negotiations are just a farce, it's just about money. People need to get up, go out, and do something. Who cares we are already being bombed. What's the point of sitting at home and discussing all this, going in circles? We need to change everything, starting with ourselves, so that our fate isnt decided without us. Read also: Exclusive: Putin to demand Ukraine cede new territory in Alaska peace plan US likely to agree, Kyiv to reject Roman IT worker Its strange to discuss it without the participation of Ukrainian representatives because, in any case, the agreement will be between Ukraine and Russia if it is concluded. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But in general, I would be positive about an agreement because, in any case, I dont see the prospect of Ukraine returning Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts by military means. The aerial view shows a ruined and uninhabitable city of Chasiv Yar, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on July 3, 2024. (Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images) U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., U.S. on Aug. 1, 2025. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Antonina Pidlisna administrator It seems to me that this is a necessary step because a lot of people have already died. And if its only these two territories, then, in principle, I support such a decision. But it would be great if a part of Ukraine remained ours. Because I think the Russians have even more plans [to go further], including in Zaporozhzhia Oblast, and further, and further. It sounds very scary. So I want this war to end as soon as possible. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Excitement, pride and shy smiles greeted Palm Beach County Schools Superintendent Mike Burke as he welcomed teachers, parents and students at the start of the 2025-26 school year Monday morning. Burke, superintendent since 2021, typically opens the year by visiting a few schools in the sprawling Palm Beach County School District. This year was no different, as Burke started his day at Saddle View Elementary, the new $41.7-million, 96,000-square-foot facility just west of the Arden community. The district offered tours of the school last week, but Burke, who had been at the site for its groundbreaking in 2024, skipped it. New elementary near Arden: 'It's beautiful' "I figured I'd just wait for the first day," he said. "It's beautiful. The parents seem really impressed with the new school." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From Saddle View, Burke went west to Rosenwald Elementary in South Bay and Pahokee Middle, both A-graded schools that saw substantial academic improvement during the 2024-25 school year. Then, it was back east to Tradewinds Middle in Greenacres. In all, he was set to get to eight schools before the day wrapped up. Left to right: Principal Chris Schroeder, physical science teacher Miguel Garca, The School District of Palm Beach County Superintendent Mike Burke and school board member Karen Brill visited Tradewinds Middle School on the first day of the new school year in Greenacres, Fla., on August 11, 2025. Tradewinds Middle School is rated a B school by the state, up from previous years' marks. He said he enjoys getting a feel for how things are starting off on the first day. Teachers and parents are excited and proud. Students are, too, but some still have a little summer to shake off. 'Most kids are pretty excited' "It's a range of emotions," Burke said at Tradewinds. "Most kids are pretty excited." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Tradewinds' principal, Chris Schroeder, escorted Burke and Palm Beach County School Board Chairwoman Karen Brill to a few classes, including Miguel Garcia's eighth-grade physical science class. Prinicpal Christopher Schroeder talks with Palm Beach County Schools Superintendent Mike Burke at Tradewinds Middle School on the first day of the new school year in Greenacres on August 11, 2025. Tradewinds Middle School is rated a B school by the school district, up from previous years' marks. His students were working in pairs to draw pictures of famous scientists and mathematicians like Nikola Tesla, Albert Einstein, George Washington Carver and Katherine Johnson. They looked up from their work when the visitors stopped by. "Thanks for letting us pop in for a few minutes," Burke told them, congratulating them for helping the school go from a 'C' grade to a 'B' grade. "We're really proud." Burke inquired about their classwork. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It's science, right?" he asked. "Does anyone have a favorite scientist?" After some low murmurs and shy smiles from the students, Burke took them off the hook. "That's all right," he said. "It's the first day." Brill joined in congratulating the students for helping the school improve its grade and encouraged them to lead younger students at the school by example, drawing more shy smiles and a couple nods. Schroeder then led the small entourage, which included journalists and a few district staff members, on to a couple other classes. In the hall leading to one of those classes, a sign read: "From bell to bell there is no cell." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It was a reminder, as the sign also noted, that "cell phone use is only allowed before and after school." Cellphone use is still permitted in district high schools, but the state Legislature passed a law banning their use in elementary and middle schools. None was visible in either Karen Brazil's eighth-grade English/language arts class or in Cindy Jimenez's culinary class, where students were getting an introductory tour of the amenities in the room, which included electric ranges, microwaves, sinks, refrigerators and cabinets. "Culinary in middle school?" Brill said at one point. "How cool is that?" Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The bell rang and students soon poured into the halls, their boisterous cacophony familiar to anyone who has ever set foot in a school. Many of the students bumped into each other as they stared at orange sheets of paper that appeared to have their class schedules on them. The students would look up with confusion on their faces, but in the midst of the hubbub, teachers stood along the wall, helping their young charges get where they needed to go. Wayne Washington is a journalist covering education for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at wwashington@pbpost.com. Help support our work; subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County School District's 2025-26 school year gets underway BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) Investigators are asking for the communitys help to identify a man accused of placing a skimming device on an ATM at a Port Allen credit union. The West Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office said an unknown man put the skimming device on a drive-up ATM at the Neighbors Federal Credit Union after 9:30 p.m. July 2. Authorities added that the man returned around 9 p.m. July 6 to remove the device. Do you recognize him? Image of a man accused of using an ATM skimmer at a credit union. (West Baton Rouge Sheriffs Office) How to contact detectives Anyone who recognizes the suspect can contact detectives at 225-382-5200 or 225-343-9234. Anonymous tips can also be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers at 225-344-7867. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Credit union members reported unauthorized charges and compromised cards. Residents are encouraged to check their bank accounts for suspicious activity after using this ATM location. 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. With police across the country increasingly concerned about vehicle-ramming attacks, West Palm Beach authorities have resorted to using their own emergency vehicles as barricades at public events. Visitors to events like the citys popular downtown GreenMarket, which draws as many as 10,000 visitors on a single Saturday, have noticed city fire trucks blocking closed-off streets to fend off potential car attacks. West Palm Beach hosts over 180 events each year and we currently use city vehicles for hard closures, police spokesperson Rachel Leitao said in an email. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But city police say that will be changing soon. West Palm Beach is buying portable barricades to help prevent vehicle-ramming attacks at large public events like the citys Fourth of July celebration and the Palm Beach International Boat Show. City commissioners last week approved spending $730,000 from the Community Redevelopment Agencys budget to make the purchases. Police officials did not say how many barricades they were buying but said it would be enough to create a perimeter around large downtown events. Police: All downtown West Palm events 'a potential target' A city fire vehicle blocks Clematis Street access from South Quadrille Avenue and existing concrete bollards block sidewalks during the West Palm Beach GreenMarket in West Palm Beach, Florida on March 1, 2025. Cities around the country have been investing in protective measures after a series of high-profile vehicle attacks at large events, the most prominent being a New Years Day attack in New Orleans that killed at least 14 people and injured dozens more. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Police Lt. Clifford Hagan told commissioners on Monday, Aug. 4, that the nearly 200 public events that the city hosts each year are at increasing risk of vehicle attacks, and that acquiring the barriers would help to reduce the citys exposure. Every single event that we hold in the downtown is a potential target, he said. Its becoming more and more common, and unfortunately once the idea gets out it just become more popular. West Palm Beach police are spending about $800,000 on MVB 3X anti-vehicle barriers, designed to stop vehicle attacks on crowds. The barriers are sold by the Israeli company Mifram Security. Leitao said that the city is spending a total of about $800,000 on the barriers. That includes the $730,000 in CRA money and an additional $65,000 from the police departments budget. The barricades, called the MVB 3X, are made by the Israeli security company Mifram Security and are billed as the first tested and certified lightweight modular vehicle barrier that stops heavy trucks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hagan said he hopes the department will receive them within a couple of months. West Palm Beach police are spending about $800,000 on MVB 3X anti-vehicle barriers, designed to stop vehicle attacks on crowds. The barriers are sold by the Israeli company Mifram Security. WEST PALM NEWS: A 'Miami Beach vibe': West Palms oldest bar may now have the hippest rooftop pool WEST PALM NEWS: Adios, dump trucks and RVs. You cant park these 10 vehicles in West Palm neighborhoods WEST PALM NEWS: Donald J. Trump Blvd. update: When will West Palm and Palm Beach vote on the name change? Commissioner Christy Fox, whose district includes the downtown area, said she was glad to see the department buying proper barricades so emergency vehicles would no longer need to be used. Walking to the GreenMarket I would often see police cars or fire trucks (being used as barriers), thinking that maybe that wasnt the most efficient use of our resources, she said. So I am very happy to see this moving forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Andrew Marra is a reporter covering the city of West Palm Beach at The Palm Beach Post. Reach him at amarra@pbpost.com. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: West Palm Beach police spending $800,000 on anti-vehicle barricades A gray wolf. (Courtesy of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife) In an amazing court victory for wild wolves and advocates who tirelessly speak on their behalf, the federal district court in Missoula, Montana, ruled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service violated the Endangered Species Act when it determined that gray wolves in the Western United States do not warrant federal protections. Western Watersheds Project, Alliance for the Wild Rockies, WildEarth Guardians, International Wildlife Coexistence Network, Predator Defense, Protect the Wolves, Trap Free Montana, Wilderness Watch, Friends of the Clearwater, and Nimiipuu Protecting the Environment filed a lawsuit in January challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services denial of their petitions to list a Western U.S. distinct population segment of gray wolves under the Endangered Species Act, or alternatively, to re-list the Northern Rocky Mountain distinct population segment, which Congress delisted in 2011. The ruling means that the Fish and Wildlife Services finding that gray wolves in the West do not qualify for listing is vacated and sent back to the agency for a new decision, consistent with the Endangered Species Act and best available science. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We hope this order will help blunt some of the lingering bigotry, senseless killing and fear mongering that nearly wiped wolves out before they were listed as endangered under the provisions of the federal Endangered Species Act in 1974. The court order states that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service failed to consider the best available science on wolf populations and the impacts of hunting and trapping; the full extent of the species historical range; and the threat posed by inadequate state and federal regulations that often bow to political pressure. The court ordered the Fish and Wildlife Service to re-analyze threats to the gray wolf population in the West in accordance with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act. These include the requirement to use the best available science. Specifically, the court noted the agency failed to consider wolves lost historic range throughout the West in its assessment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The court also ruled that the Fish and Wildlife Service failed to apply the best available science on population estimates and genetic threats from their small population size; incorrectly assumed connectivity among wolves in the West would continue despite high levels of mortality in the Northern Rockies. To sum it up, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service didnt follow the law to protect wolves from Montanas, Idahos, and Wyomings wolf extermination policies. Wolves have yet to recover across the West, and allowing a few states to undertake aggressive wolf slaughters is inconsistent with the law. The Alliance successfully sued to overturn the delisting of the gray wolf in 2012, but Montanas Democratic Sen. Jon Tester broke his campaign promise to not use riders to overturn court decisions and attached a rider to a must-pass Defense appropriation bill to remove wolves from Endangered Species list despite the courts order. It is time to once again manage wolves in the Northern Rockies and throughout the west based on science, not politics, since Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming have demonstrated that they are not capable of doing so. I would like to thank Matt Bishop, an attorney at Western Environmental Law Center for representing us and winning. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX As this summer in Cincinnati brought an uptick in crime and violence, particularly in the urban core, city leaders have put into place a number of new initiatives in response. During a recent public safety meeting at the Aronoff Center, Cincinnati police Capt. Adam Hennie detailed a handful of previously unannounced ways the department is taking action. Crime data show a spike of reported violent crimes in Cincinnati's urban core of Downtown and Over-the-Rhine this year when compared with reported incidents by this point in 2024. As of Aug. 3, Downtown has seen a 50% increase in robberies, from 24 to 36, and a 46% increase in aggravated assaults, from 16 to 23. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More: Is crime up in Cincinnati? Here's what the data shows Hennie, who is responsible for the Central Business Section of Downtown and Mt. Adams, said much of uptick is during the evening and nighttime hours from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. and involve people known to the department, not Downtown visitors. "A lot of these [robberies] are individuals that live mostly on the street robbing one another," Hennie said during the Aug. 5 meeting of mostly Downtown business owners. "The vast majority of these robberies are not patrons coming down here and being robbed while they're going to a show or a business. There is a few, but that's not what we're seeing here." Cincinnati Police Captain Adam Hennie spoke to a group of Downtown business owners and residents at the Aronoff Center during a public safety meeting Aug. 5, 2025. City leaders have come under pressure from residents, business leaders and politicians to take further action as the summer has continued. The break-in fatal stabbing of a well-known Over-the-Rhine gym owner, followed by a string of homicides across the urban core near Liberty Street and a recent viral fight in Downtown has turned up the heat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "It has been no doubt a challenging time in the city," Pureval said during a city council meeting Aug. 6. "But I want to reiterate the city every summer has a safety plan, and every summer we monitor that plan week-to-week. We take public safety very serious. It is our top priority. Here is what Cincinnati police have said they are doing now. Adjusting police patrols and adding more units City council approved $2 million last week for police and public safety. The money will be used based on need for measures like beefing up security Downtown by adding more lighting, security cameras and patrols. Officers have already been added on special patrols along Main and Vine streets in Over-the-Rhine during the evening hours walking, biking and riding Segways. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hennie said officers have been pulled from other areas of the city to help Downtown. In the late afternoon and evenings, bike unit officers are focused on areas around Fountain Square and the Aronoff Center to help provide a greater sense of safety. Cincinnati police stop along Liberty Street in Over-the-Rhine to talk to an individual, June 30, 2025. According to census data, the city of Cincinnati covers 77.8 miles. The Cincinnati Police Department has 1,000 sworn officers. "It doesn't matter what these statistics are, it's the perception," Hennie said. "And the biggest thing I can do is get as many cops out on that street as quickly as possible." City leaders received some criticism for not having more officers on duty during the 3 a.m. viral fight in Downtown late last month. The department's new street crime task force had went home at 2 a.m., Theetge said in a news conference after the fight. Now, Hennie said additional details from SWAT and the Civil Disturbance Response Team will stay on duty later during the weekends, until 3 and 4 a.m. Forming new task forces The department has launched new task forces with officers dedicated to tackling specific problems in the city. In addition to the department's street crime task force, which has targeted crime hot spots in the city since its formation in early July, Hennie announced the formation of two new task forces: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A vending task force with police, the health department, the city manager and the fire department to ensure truck vendors (particularly serving the nighttime crowd) have the right permits and certifications. A loud noise task force with dedicated police officers and noise meters to enforce the city's car noise ordinance against loud vehicles Downtown. Most officers out on duty are responding to 911 calls and other runs during their shift, Hennie explained. The task forces allow for the department to hone in on specific issues without officers having to be pulled away for an ongoing call. More: City leaders say crime is 'stabilizing' as criminals take notice of new police task force Resuming enforcement of the youth curfew City officials announced a stricter youth curfew, with tighter rules in Downtown and Over-the-Rhine, for unaccompanied minors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now, there is a uniform citywide curfew of 11 p.m. for anyone unaccompanied under the age of 18. The city's previous curfew ordinance set a curfew for people under 16 after 10 p.m. and after midnight for ages 16 to 18. The proposed boundaries of the special curfew district in Over-the-Rhine and Downtown Council also set an even earlier curfew for Over-the-Rhine and Downtown of 9 p.m. for an unaccompanied minor in a curfew district south of Liberty Street. The curfew, which has been on the books since 1994, has been enforced less year over year since 2000. Parents can also be charged for their child's curfew violations under the current ordinance. None have been changed since 2009 and as city leaders call for parental accountability it's unclear if that will change. Launching a drone unit Cincinnati police launched Ohio's first Drone as First Responder program July 28. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The new police drones can be remotely deployed and piloted toward the scene of an incident from "hives" placed across the city. Within seconds, a drone could be at the scene of an incident while officers are still on their way. The Cincinnati Police Department officially announced its "Drone as First Responder" program on July 25, 2025. In the program's first two weeks, it has responded to 230 calls for service across parts of the West Side near West Price hill, Downtown and Northside, according to a review of flight data. Police have said the program covers 40% of the city the Price Hill neighborhoods, Over-the-Rhine, Queensgate, West End, Downtown, CUF, Northside and Spring Grove Village. Theetge said she plans to have 90% of the city covered by the end of the year. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Here's Cincinnati's plan to curb crime, violence Downtown and citywide Several semiconductor firms in Taiwan are approaching the third quarter with caution, despite traditionally Q3 being a high-demand period, as US tariff moves cloud the industry outlook. As per a report by Focus Taiwan, smartphone IC designer MediaTek Inc. said the rush of orders from clients in the first half of the year, triggered by fears over US tariffs, has left little room for the usual seasonal spike in demand. "Customers front-loaded purchases to avoid potential tariffs," the company noted, warning that third-quarter revenue could fall by 7 to 13 per cent from the previous quarter, landing between NTD 130.1 billion (4.35 billion USD) and NTD 140 billion (4.68 billion USD). The US tariff plan, announced April 2, initially proposed a steep 32 per cent duty on Taiwanese goods. The rollout was delayed twice, eventually setting a 20 per cent rate that took effect Friday. More uncertainty arrived when US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that a 100 per cent tariff on imported semiconductors is on the table; however, manufacturers with US operations could be exempt. Other Taiwanese chipmakers share similar worries. PixArt Imaging Inc., a sensor chip designer known for components used in computer mice, said clients had also placed large orders earlier this year but demand is now set to slow. Display driver IC maker Novatek Microelectronics Corp. reported that its customers have turned more cautious about new purchases. The report further stated that the Taiwan dollar appreciated 10.97 per cent against the US dollar in the second quarter, ending June. The stronger currency hit export revenues and triggered foreign exchange losses for several companies. While the Taiwan dollar has eased slightly in the current quarter, it is expected to remain stronger than last quarter's average, keeping pressure on earnings. One notable exception to the downbeat tone is Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC). The world's largest contract chipmaker expects robust demand for artificial intelligence applications to lift its third-quarter revenue by 8 per cent from the second quarter, based on an exchange rate of NTD 29 to one U.S. dollar. For 2025, TSMC projects 30 per cent revenue growth in U.S. dollar terms, nearly double the 15.4 per cent rise forecast for the global semiconductor industry. (ANI) In an effort to reduce conflicts between Californias growing gray wolf population and rural residents, particularly ranchers, who say the animals are killing their livestock, state wildlife officials unveiled an online map that tracks wolves and provides their locations to the public. The map, released by biologists at the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, shows the location of 14 wolves in California that have GPS collars. Many of the other wolves in the state whose total population has grown from about 7 in 2019 to between 50 and 70 today often congregate in packs with the GPS-collared animals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The map is updated daily, and shows hexagons of about 2,500 to 3,000 acres each, where a collared wolf is roaming. At a recent check, wolf locations were shown mostly in far Northern California, in Siskiyou, Lassen, Shasta and Plumas counties, with another location in the Southern Sierra, in Tulare County near Sequoia National Forest. State wildlife officials say the goal is to give ranchers a real-time tool to take steps to protect their livestock if wolves are in the area, such as moving the herds, posting range riders on horseback, or using lights, loud noises, or other methods to chase wolves away. The state isnt providing the exact location to protect the wolves from poachers or others looking to harm them. Californias rural livestock producers living near wolves have faced real challenges as the wolf population grows in California. This is one more tool in our shared toolkit to protect their herds from wolf-livestock conflict, said Chuck Bonham, director of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife. We will continue to partner with ranchers and communities to navigate a positive path forward. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Bonhams department announced that wolf population numbers have increased enough that they plan to relax rules that have set strict protections on the high-profile species. The changes, when finalized by the end of this year, will allow ranchers and other rural property owners to obtain permits to use more aggressive methods to chase gray wolves away from livestock including firing rubber bullets or bean bags to scare them away, and using ATVs, motorcycles or other equipment to chase them from herds of cattle or sheep. The new rules wont allow wolves to be shot or hunted however, since they are still listed in California under the state and federal endangered species acts, and it is illegal to kill a wolf unless in defense of a human life. Wolves roamed California for thousands of years, like grizzly bears and mountain lions. But their interactions with ranchers, and fears of rural residents, caused them to be wiped out a century ago. The last wild wolf in California was shot in 1924 in Lassen County. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The first wolf returned to the state after an 87-year absence in 2011, when a young male walked across the border from Oregon. Wolves are now found in nine of Californias 58 counties, in seven packs from the Oregon border to the mountains around Lake Tahoe, and in the Southern Sierra near Bakersfield. State biologists estimate that California north of Interstate 80 could support between 371 and 497 wolves, based on populations around the Rocky Mountains and Great Lakes. Environmental groups were generally supportive but cautious. Coexistence sometimes requires trying new things. So Im excited that Californians can use this map to learn more about how our wolves move through the state, said Amaroq Weiss, a senior wolf advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity. Im hopeful that livestock operators will responsibly use the map to head off conflict. I appreciate that the state stands ready to pull the plug immediately if anyone abuses this new system to harm wolves. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Environmentalists note the state pays ranchers for cattle killed by wolves, and that there have been no cases of a wolf killing a person in the lower 48 states in more than 100 years. State officials are not posting the locations of collared female wolves having pups, or of wolves that leave California and roam into other states like Oregon or Washington, where there are fewer protections. Ranchers, who have urged the state to help them limit livestock conflicts, welcomed Californias new map. Knowledge is power, and this mapping tool will empower ranchers throughout wolf territory to better understand where wolves might threaten their livestock, enabling them to increase human presence and adjust their herd management as necessary to deter wolf attacks, said Kirk Wilbur, vice president of the California Cattlemens Association. 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, according to a senior U.S. official and three people briefed on the internal discussions. The senior U.S. official and people briefed on the discussions said no visit has been finalized and that its unclear if Zelenskyy would ultimately be in Alaska for meetings. The White House had initially made Zelenskyys inclusion a condition for a meeting between Trump and Putin to take place, but Trump later said that was not a precondition. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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. 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. Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday in an interview on NBC News Meet the Press that Russia and Ukraine would have to swap some territory to end the war. I want to be honest with you, Ukraine is not going to evict every Russian, and Russia is not going to Kyiv, so there will be some land swaps at the end, Graham, R-S.C., said during the interview. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Meanwhile, the president faces traps in sitting down with Putin, who is well-versed in the territorial issues at stake, foreign policy experts warned. Netanyahu says starvation claims are exaggerated as he defends Gaza offensive Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came under pressure from all sides Sunday as his controversial plan to seize Gaza City drew backlash inside his government and on the streets of Israel, while malnutrition deaths in the Gaza Strip continued to climb. A defiant Netanyahu continued to deny there is starvation in Gaza and claimed the situation is being exaggerated. Netanyahu only conceded there was deprivation in Gaza, but said at a news conference that no one in Gaza would have survived after two years of war if Israel was implementing a starvation policy. Netanyahu went on to defend the new military offensive, saying Israel had no choice but to finish the job and defeat Hamas, while claiming that hundreds of aid trucks have gone into Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Protests calling for an immediate ceasefire drew thousands of people Saturday night in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities. The United Nations Security Council held an emergency meeting Sunday to discuss Israels proposed offensive, which has been condemned by Britain, France, Australia and other Western governments. James Kariuki, the U.K.s deputy permanent representative to the U.N., called on Israel to reverse its decision, saying the plan will only deepen the suffering of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Five Al Jazeera journalists were killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike in Gaza on Sunday, the network said, with the Israel Defense Forces claiming one was a Hamas leader posing as a journalist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Israels restrictions on accessing Gaza have forced countries to take to the skies, but doctors on the ground warn aid drops are causing havoc. An NBC News analysis of satellite imagery and social media videos reveals Israels network of buffer zones outside its borders with Lebanon, Syria and Gaza. Meet the Press Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker slammed President Donald Trump as a cheater and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott as a joke days after welcoming Texas Democrats who fled their state in protest of GOP-led redistricting efforts. Governor Abbott is the joke, Pritzker, a Democrat, told NBC News Meet the Press in an interview that aired Sunday in response to Abbott calling Illinois congressional map a joke. Hes the one who is attempting mid-decade here at a time when, frankly, all of us are concerned about the future of democracy. Hes literally helping whittle it away and licking the boots of his leader, Donald Trump, Pritzker added Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Pritzker also responded to reports that the FBI granted a request from Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, who is running for re-election in 2026, to help track down the Democratic state legislators who fled Texas. Theres no federal law that would allow the FBI to arrest anybody thats here visiting our state, Pritzker said. So its a lot of grandstanding. Thats what this is all about. Politics in brief Lone Star showdown: Texas redistricting clash has become another stage in the Republican Senate primary fight as Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton compete to show loyalty to Trump. Age not found: A growing number of U.S. politicians are condemning a new British law that requires some websites and apps including some based in the United States to check the ages of users across the pond. Nest eggs: Your 401(k) options could change soon, after Trump signed an executive order to clear the way for Americans to invest their retirement savings in cryptocurrency and other alternative assets. Dale Earnhardt's widow and son battle over a $30 billion data center on his North Carolina land Nearly 25 years after his death, Dale Earnhardt is still revered by NASCAR fans. (ISC Archives / CQ-Roll Call Group via Getty Images file) Far from the roaring speedways, NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt was an outdoorsman who liked to hunt and fish. There was plenty of space to do both on his sprawling land near Mooresville, North Carolina, a quiet town 30 miles north of Charlotte. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Now that land is at the center of a battle over the future of Mooresville that has galvanized residents and pitted Earnhardts widow, who wants to develop the property into an enormous data center, against one of Earnhardts children, who has joined the fight to stop her. The proposed $30 billion Mooresville Technology Park would stretch across 400 undeveloped acres, adding several new buildings and an electrical substation, and would requre approval from the Mooresville Board of Commissioners to rezone Earnhardts onetime sanctuary as industrial land. In a town where many residents still remember Earnhardt, there is a feeling of protectiveness around the racing star, which extends to the land where he spent time. Dale was a hero of mine, said H.A. Mergen, who spoke at the August board meeting. This land is Dales legacy make no mistake about it. I believe we all know what Dale would want his legacy to be. An Afghan interpreter evaded death during the war but met a grim fate in Texas Mohammad Bayan and Abdul Niazi. (Courtesy Mohammad Bayan) Abdul Niazi, who lost both legs in a bomb blast in Afghanistan and faced Taliban threats to his family before coming to the United States, had become one of Houstons most well-known advocates for new migrants. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But an Afghan national Niazi had been helping, Masiullah Sahil, 37, is now accused of first-degree murder in his death. Sahil had grown frustrated with the slow pace of the U.S. immigration system when he attacked Niazi, stabbing him more than a dozen times on March 26, authorities alleged in court documents. Its an unspeakable tragedy, said Brandon Remington, a former U.S. Marine Corps platoon commander who worked with Niazi in Afghanistan. Given how much he escaped death and to die in that way its insane. It feels like the universe is crazy. Notable quote I have a trick where money appears inside fruit. You cant do that with Cash App or Venmo. Danny Tangelo, traveling magician With the cash in their tip jars or guitar cases dwindling, magicians and musicians are turning toward digital payments to make money from performing. In case you missed it This article was originally published on NBCNews.com [Source] An American Eagle ad featuring actress Sydney Sweeney drew criticism in July for its tagline Sydney Sweeney has great jeans, a pun on jeans and genes. While meant as humor, the campaigns use of genetic language revived memories of when pseudoscience about inherited traits was used to justify systemic discrimination. For Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities, that history includes immigration bans, property restrictions, propaganda and forced sterilization. Eugenics, propaganda and exclusion In the early 20th century, eugenics gave anti-Asian sentiment in the U.S. a false sense of scientific legitimacy. President Theodore Roosevelt openly supported Asian exclusion, warning that allowing Japanese immigrants to enter the U.S. would invite and insure a race contest. Biologist Charles Davenport described nonwhite immigrants as cheaper races and called for immigration limits based on supposed genetic quality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These ideas shaped the Immigration Act of 1924, which effectively banned most immigration from Asia under the guise of preserving racial homogeneity. California passed its own measures, including the 1913 Alien Land Law, which barred Asian immigrants from owning property by labeling them aliens ineligible for citizenship. Trending on NextShark: Kash Patels FBI purges senior officials involved in Jan. 6 investigations Propaganda reinforced these laws. The Yellow Peril narrative portrayed Asians as a threat to Western civilization, casting them as morally and genetically inferior. Popular literature, staged exhibits and fabricated surveys depicted Asians as unfit to assimilate, normalizing discrimination and building support for exclusionary policies. Sterilizations lasting impact The American Psychological Association (APA) formally apologized in 2021 for its role in advancing eugenic and racist ideologies. Founded in 1892 by white male scientists, the APA acknowledged that for decades, psychologists promoted theories of white superiority, conducted biased research and provided intellectual support for segregation, anti-miscegenation laws and coerced sterilization. Trending on NextShark: Trump orders universities to disclose admissions data on race These ideas were not confined to academic journals or policy debates. They directly informed state actions and medical practices, laying the groundwork for programs such as Californias forced sterilizations. California operated one of the most extensive sterilization programs in the country, targeting those institutionalized for perceived mental illness or developmental disability. Between 1909 and 1979, more than 20,000 people were forcibly sterilized in state-run facilities. Many of those affected were denied information or legal recourse, and decisions were often based on vague or racialized assessments of fitness. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A 2023 public health study found that Asian-born individuals in California institutions were sterilized at significantly higher rates than their U.S.-born counterparts. Eugenic organizations such as the Human Betterment Foundation publicly promoted sterilization as a scientifically sound and socially beneficial policy, which helped garner broad support among physicians and state officials. Although the sterilization law was eventually repealed, the state did not acknowledge the harm until decades later. In 2021, California established a $7.5 million reparations fund for living survivors. By early 2023, only a small fraction of those who applied had received compensation. Trending on NextShark: Why American Eagles Sydney Sweeney ad strikes a nerve with Asian Americans Great jeans backlash The American Eagle campaign may have seemed playful to some, but for many AAPI individuals, references to genetics carry the weight of a past in which their communities were labeled biologically dangerous or inferior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For lifestyle influencer Payal Desai, the ad triggered memories of growing up in a predominantly white environment where Eurocentric beauty ideals were the norm. She recalled wanting lighter skin and different features to fit in, saying the campaign hit a nerve because it echoed the exclusion she felt as a child. Her response struck a chord with others who have faced similar struggles with identity and belonging. Trending on NextShark: Shohei Ohtani reaches 1,000th career hit, third straight 40-homer season This history helps explain why even a seemingly lighthearted marketing line can stir strong reactions. The influence of eugenics persists in systems, institutions and cultural narratives shaped by its legacy, and for communities that have lived through its consequences, reminders, even in an ad, can feel personal. 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: Beijing claims 'final say' over Dalai Lamas reincarnation Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what were building, consider becoming a paid member your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Subscribe here now! Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today! Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Manet (left) at the National Assembly building in Phnom Penh on July 11, 2025. U.S. President Donald Trump (right) at the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 29, 2025. Credit - Tang Chhin SothyAFP/Getty Images; Bonnie CashUPI/Bloomberg/Getty Images Donald Trump received another Nobel Peace Prize nomination last week, this time from Cambodia, after the U.S. recently helped to broker a cease-fire after a border dispute flared up between the Southeast Asian nation and its neighbor Thailand. This is but one example of President Trumps exceptional achievements in de-escalating tensions in some of the world's most volatile regions, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet wrote in a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee on August 7. This nomination reflects not only my appreciation but also the heartfelt gratitude of the people of Cambodia for his crucial role in restoring peace and stability. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Its the latest examplefollowing earlier Nobel nominations from Israel and Pakistanof what journalist and global affairs analyst Tom Nagorski described as flattery diplomacy in an essay for TIME last month. But its a particularly remarkable move coming from a country thats previously professed a friendship [that] transcends time and space with the U.S.s geopolitical rival China. Read More: Why Cambodia Matters to the U.S.-China Rivalry It looks as if Cambodia is trying to thaw its icy ties with Washington, Paul Chambers, a visiting fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore, tells TIME. Such a rapprochement, he adds, would mark a significant shift in Cambodian foreign policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what to know. U.S.-Cambodia relations up to now Days before Trump entered the White House for the first time in 2017, Cambodia canceled the Angkor Sentinel joint military exercise with the U.S. that it had held for seven straight years. While the cancellation was attributed to the ruling partys preparation for local elections, it nonetheless marked the start of bilateral bitterness between Trump and the Southeast Asian nation. Weeks later, the U.S. envoy to Cambodia at the time emphasized that Cambodia should repay hundreds of millions of dollars in loans from the 1970s, originally given as food aid to the Lon Nol government. Cambodia, however, has insistently refused to pay the loan, which has ballooned with interest in the intervening decades, citing the U.S.s notorious legacy from its military operations in the country. They brought bombs and dropped them on Cambodia and [now] demand Cambodian people to pay, Hun Sen, Hun Manets father and then Prime Minister, said in 2017. In recent years, under both Trumps and former President Joe Bidens Administrations, the U.S. has imposed sanctions and visa restrictions on Cambodia over its poor human rights record and corruption. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, Cambodia has grown closer to Chinaits top trading partner, greatest investor in infrastructure and development, and increasingly a key military cooperator. Strategic flexibility Observers, however, have noted that Cambodia has begun to recalibrate its international ties. While it certainly has not turned away from China, it has opened up toward a new era of relations with the U.S. The shift hasnt come out of nowhere. Under Hun Manetwho took over the premiership from his autocratic father Hun Sen in 2023 and has an extensive Western education including from the U.S. Military Academy at West PointCambodia proposed in February to reinstate the canceled Angkor Sentinel exercises. And Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to visit Cambodias controversial Ream Naval Base later this year. But for Cambodia, embracing Trump as a peacemaker has proven key to the recalibration process. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Cambodias border dispute with Thailand was escalating, countries around the world were vying for Trumps attention to get a trade deal or lowered tariff rate before his previously announced Liberation Day levies were set to kick back in. Both Cambodia and Thailand were set to face a 36% rate, but after their cease-fire was announced so was a new rate of 19%. Raksmey Him, executive director of the Cambodian Center for Regional Studies, tells TIME that the episodeand Nobel hype that followedserved to make Cambodia relevant to Trump. Sophal Ear, an associate professor of global political economy at Arizona State University, described the Nobel nomination as a low-cost, high-visibility gesture that allows the government to signal goodwill without making real concessions. Chambers says that Cambodia is looking toward Washington for more trade, aid, cooperation, and investment as an opportunity to escape from a dependency on China. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chandarith Neak and Chhay Lim, academics at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, called it a policy of strategic flexibility to diversify dependencies, in an April article for the Lowy Institutes The Interpreter. Despite its alignment with China, Cambodia knows the geopolitical winds can shift quickly, Ear tells TIME. Demonstrating openness to renewed U.S. engagementespecially through a figure like Trumpcould yield future flexibility or leverage. That could come in the form, Ear says, of trade and tariff preferences, military cooperation, and even a diplomatic softening of U.S. rhetoric, such as on human-rights and corruption issues, about Cambodia. Contact us at letters@time.com. The intense storms that swept through Milwaukee on Saturday, Aug. 9, developed rapidly and packed a serious punch dumping more than 10 inches of rain in some areas within 24 hours. What quickly turned into flash flooding shut down the final day of the Wisconsin State Fair and left several people trapped in vehicles amid rising waters. Forecast discussions indicate the storms came so fast and hard because just the right conditions aligned, stretching from Canada down to the Upper Mississippi Valley. While several rounds of storms were expected, the severity and timing of the storms set to pour onto the Upper Midwest weren't clear until later Friday, Aug. 8, according to discussions from the National Weather Service office in Milwaukee. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Follow live updates: Wisconsin flooding: Updates power outages, closures, flooding in Milwaukee from severe weather Why did Milwaukee storms hit so hard? The severe storms that flooded Milwaukee were the result of a layered and slow-moving atmospheric setup that created ideal conditions for heavy, repeated rainfall, according to several area forecast discussions from early morning Friday, Aug. 8, through late Sunday, Aug. 10. A large upper-level low pressure system lingered over the Canadian prairies, while a ridge of higher pressure settled into southern Quebec and the lower Great Lakes. This created a stall zone over the Upper Mississippi River Valley, where a weakening cold front stayed put and acted as a focus for storm development. Within this stalled boundary which essentially stayed in place over the region clusters of thunderstorms known as mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) continued to regenerate with little movement. This helped spark new storms repeatedly over the same areas, a process called training, allowing them to build on each other and create prolonged heavy rainfall and flooding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement At the same time, a strong low-level jet a fast-moving ribbon of moist air near the surface funneled warm, humid air into the region. As this moist air interacted with the stalled cold front, it fueled intense storm development, which typically supports supercell formation, but in this case, produced clusters of smaller storms. More: How to clean up a flooded basement and prevent mold after Milwaukee floods "Activity will initially blossom over northwestern zones, gradually spreading eastward moving deeper into the evening. Development will be ongoing in a weakly-sheared environment, with any organization expected to quickly become messy as outflows outrun cells and clusters. Still anticipate a few strong to severe storms, particularly during the earlier stages of development when storm organization will be best. Damaging winds are the main severe concern. Torrential downpours will accompany all storms," the National Weather Service wrote in an area forecast discussion around 10:25 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11. "Said torrential downpours will support the potential for urban/small stream and some flash flooding, with potential being maximized in areas of training." Paired with Milwaukees natural landscape and its urban development, the flooding risk increased substantially. The regions gently rolling hills and narrow river valleys quickly direct water into nearby streams and rivers, while saturated soils and the convergence of multiple tributaries led to a rapid rise in water levels. Meanwhile, paved surfaces limit how much rain can soak into the ground. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Together, these overlapping factors created a perfect storm environment, with repeated rounds of heavy rain hitting Milwaukee and nearby communities within a short timeframe. The Milwaukee area experienced 'areal flooding' over the weekend. What is that? One of the multiple flood warnings and watches from the National Weather Service over Aug. 9-10 was for areal flooding, which is usually issued for larger areas hit with gradual ponding and water buildup. So what is areal flooding? This type of warning is issued when flooding happens from rainfall that may last several hours or is more persistent, as opposed to a flash floods which involve heavy rainfall within six hours. Areal flooding results in a buildup of water in low-lying, flood prone areas, along with small creeks and streams. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite taking longer to accumulate than flash flooding, the NWS warns people it is still dangerous, and to avoid barricaded areas with standing or moving water. More: Social media posts from Wisconsin's record-breaking storms, flooding How much rain did Milwaukee receive? The National Weather Services official observation site at General Mitchell International Airport recorded 6.91 inches of rainfall over Aug. 9 and 10 the city's second-wettest day on record, dating back 154 years. The last reading from the observation site came Aug. 10 at 6:52 p.m., meaning little-to-no rain came overnight into Aug. 11. Milwaukee-Sullivan National Weather Service meteorologist Cameron Miller said the NWS has received preliminary reports out of Butler with precipitation totals approaching 11-12 inches, but official numbers for the surrounding Milwaukee areas will be coming later Monday, Aug. 11. More storms on way, but flood risk is low With over 3-10 inches of rain already fallen in the Milwaukee area over the past two days, more looks to be on its way. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement After some rain possibly this morning, there will be a lull in the afternoon before storms arrive and there is a 50% chance of precipitation overnight Aug. 11-12. Miller said the baseline amount is 1/2 inch, topping off at 2 inches, with higher amounts possible in places temporarily stuck under a downpour. But the storms are moving fast, Miller said, so there should not be repeat of the flash flooding that occurred over the weekend. The only real concerns we would have with flash flooding is if you get rain falling on already saturated ground here, Miller said. And just adding to what's already out there. Wisconsin weather watches and warnings Several parts of the region will remain under a flood warning until Wednesday afternoon. This includes: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Cedar Creek at Cedarburg (Ozaukee County) Milwaukee River near Cedarburg (Ozaukee County) Root River at Franklin (Milwaukee County) Menomonee River at Menomonee Falls (Waukesha County) Lower Fox River at Waukesha (Waukesha County) Stay informed. Get weather alerts via text Brandi D. Addison covers weather across the United States as the Weather Connect Reporter for the USA TODAY Network. She can be reached at baddison@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Why did Milwaukee's storms hit so hard? NWS forecasts explain in depth NEED TO KNOW Four teen girls were found murdered in a yogurt shop in Austin, Texas, in 1991 Two men were convicted of the killings in 1999, but their rulings were overturned a decade later due to a lack of evidence and alleged coerced confessions New genetic testing matched DNA from the crime scene to an unidentified man in 2020 Its been over three decades since teens Eliza Thomas, Jennifer Harbison, Sarah Harbison and Amy Ayers were shot and killed inside a Texas yogurt shop. Yet the case remains unsolved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement On Dec. 6, 1991, a fire broke out at I Cant Believe Its Yogurt in Austin, Texas. When firefighters extinguished the flames, they found the bodies of four young girls all of whom had been shot in the head. Days after the killings, police detained a teenager named Maurice Pierce, who was carrying a pistol matching the caliber used in what the media dubbed the Yogurt Shop Murders. His arrest led police to three other boys: Michael Scott, Robert Springsteen and Forrest Wellburn. Maurice, Robert and Michael all confessed to the crime at different times over the next eight years. Michael and Robert were convicted in 2001 and 2002, respectively, but the rulings were eventually overturned due to a lack of DNA evidence and controversial questioning by police. No one else was ever arrested for the murders of Eliza, Jennifer, Sarah and Amy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theyre not forgotten, Angie Ayers, the wife of Amys brother Shawn Ayers, told PEOPLE in 2023. Theyre not given up on. On Aug. 3, HBO Max released the first episode of a four-part docuseries aimed at reexamining the case and unraveling the tangled web of a botched investigation. The Yogurt Shop Murders includes interviews from the crimes investigative team and the victims families, as well as footage of the suspects from an unfinished documentary, per Variety. So, why havent the Yogurt Shop Murders been solved? Heres everything to know about the cold case and the DNA evidence that could finally link to the real killers. Who were the victims in the Yogurt Shop Murders? David Kennedy/Austin American-Statesman-USA TODAY NETWORK Billboard of girls killed in the yogurt shop: (L-R) Eliza Thomas, Amy Ayers, Sarah Harbison and Jennifer Harbison. Billboard of girls killed in the yogurt shop: (L-R) Eliza Thomas, Amy Ayers, Sarah Harbison and Jennifer Harbison. There were four victims in the Yogurt Shop Murders. Two of the girls, Eliza and Jennifer, who were both 17, worked at the shop. Sarah, 15, was Jennifers younger sister, who was there with her best friend, Amy, 13. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Eliza, Jennifer and Sarah were found naked and lying beside each other in the storage room of the shop. Amys body was discovered just 10 feet away. While some crime scene photos were included in the Yogurt Shop Murders docuseries, none showing the victims were used due to their graphic nature. Director Margaret Brown told Variety in August 2025 that A24 even covered some of her teams therapy costs because the photos were really hard on the system. How did the victims in the Yogurt Shop Murders die? American-Statesman-USA TODAY NETWORK Officers at the scene of the Yogurt Shop murders on December 7, 1991 in Austin, Texas. Officers at the scene of the Yogurt Shop murders on December 7, 1991 in Austin, Texas. All four girls died of gunshot wounds to the backs of their heads. Police said that at least two men forced them to strip in the storage room, where they were bound with their underwear. Some of the girls were also raped. Police believe that the fire was set intentionally to cover up the quadruple homicide. Who were the suspects in the Yogurt Shop Murders? AP Photo/Charleston Daily Mail, Craig Cunningham Robert Burns Springsteen Jr. following his arraignment in Kanawha County Magistrate Court on fugutive charges on October 6, 1999. Robert Burns Springsteen Jr. following his arraignment in Kanawha County Magistrate Court on fugutive charges on October 6, 1999. There were over 1,200 suspects dozens of whom gave false confessions in the Yogurt Shop Murders. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 1992, the Mexican government arrested a motorcycle gang leader who matched the description of a man seen outside the shop on the night of the murders. But he was ruled out after he later claimed he was tortured into a confession. By 1999, investigators once again focused their investigation on Maurice, Michael, Robert and Forrest. After years of questioning, three of the boys eventually confessed to the crime, but two were convicted. Michael was placed on death row in 2001, and Robert was sentenced to life in prison in 2002. All charges against Maurice and Forrest were dropped due to a lack of evidence, News 8 Austin reported. Though many believe the mens confessions were coerced, one sergeant who interrogated both suspects told The New York Times in June 2009 that they provided details of the crime that hadnt been released to the public. However, Michael and Robert retracted their confessions before trial. Where are the suspects in the Yogurt Shop Murders now? AP Photo/Harry Cabluck Forrest Welborn at the Travis County Jail on December 10, 1999 in Austin, Texas Forrest Welborn at the Travis County Jail on December 10, 1999 in Austin, Texas Michael and Roberts charges were dismissed after detectives admitted to unethical interrogation tactics, including holding a gun to Michaels head and withholding key evidence that would rule out Maurices gun as the murder weapon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New genetic testing also failed to match the DNA found on one of the girls to either man, per The New York Times. Robert and Michael were released from prison in 2009. Why havent the Yogurt Shop Murders been solved? Courtesy of HBO The Yogurt Shop where 4 girls were murdered in Austin, Texas. The Yogurt Shop where 4 girls were murdered in Austin, Texas. Since the release of Michael and Robert, no one else has been arrested in the Yogurt Shop Murders. However, in 2020, new DNA testing matched evidence from the crime to an unidentified man, the Austin American-Statesman reported. Though the FBI allegedly has a matching sample, they have not handed it over to Austin investigators due to legal complications. Detective Dan Jackson, who was assigned to the case in 2022, told USA Today in August 2025 that the fire and the water used to extinguish it have made solving this case difficult. But he still hopes to build a profile from that lone DNA sample that will eventually lead them to a suspect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If I didn't think I could solve it, then why get up every day? Jackson told the outlet. I think that with new technology, new information that we have that I can't go into even since I've taken the case over, the ability to do more with less when it comes to forensics is light-years ahead than it was a few years ago." He continued, When I started, we needed a certain amount (of DNA). We weren't even close to it, but that amount that you need is so much less now. I am confident that I will solve this. Read the original article on People Credit: @musab_alshareef.17 / Instagram When Anas al-Sharif broke down in tears last month while reporting on the Gaza hunger crisis, he was widely praised for giving a voice to ordinary Palestinians. On Monday, television screens across the Arab world were again focused on the 28-year-old. This time, he was wrapped in a white funeral shroud, alongside four of his Al Jazeera colleagues. The night before, they had been deliberately assassinated by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in an air strike on a tent near Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The TV network and critics across the world alleged a direct link between Sharifs reporting and his death. They claimed that Sharif, who had a wife and two young children, had so enraged the Israelis by exposing the humanitarian consequences of their aid policy that he paid with his life, as scores of journalists have before him during this war. Credit: Reuters Describing Sharif as one of Gazas bravest journalists, Al Jazeera said the attack was a desperate attempt to silence voices in anticipation of the occupation of Gaza. Israel, however, said Sharif was a Hamas terrorist, the head of a cell responsible for advancing rocket attacks, and that it had the documents to prove it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In an official statement late on Sunday night, the IDF described Sharif as someone who posed as a journalist for the Al Jazeera network. It had first made this claim in October last year, when it said ground operations in the Strip had unearthed evidence that Sharif and five Al Jazeera colleagues were operatives for either Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad, an allied terror group. The IDF claimed it had seized a list of Hamas operatives in the northern Gaza Strip brigade, as well as a form that listed the injuries sustained by some Hamas members, plus a phone directory of the east Jabaliya battalion, each bearing Sharifs name. These, said Israel, unequivocally proved his involvement as an active Hamas militant since 2013. However, the documents presented by the IDF appeared to be selected screen grabs of electronic spreadsheets, and it was impossible to verify them independently. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Telegraph asked the IDF to provide the originals, or at least more information about where and how the purported evidence was discovered. It also asked why the IDF chose to strike this month, having identified Sharif as an alleged terrorist last year. The IDF has yet to respond. The Israeli military has sometimes been wrong in the past when giving out evidence to justify a controversial strike. However, there are other ways a person could be linked to Hamas, which ran the entire civil administration of the Gaza Strip before Oct 7 2023, than active terrorism. On Monday, the BBC reported that Sharif had previously been part of a Hamas media team. The broadcaster did not give a source for this, and The Telegraph has not seen evidence for or against it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But, just as some journalists in the West flit between working as active reporters and communications roles, it is plausible that the same happens in Gaza. Such involvement could mark a person as a legitimate target in Israels eyes, particularly since March, when it has focused on assassinating members of the Hamas government and not just fighters. Even if neither claim is true and Sharif has never had any formal links with Hamas, it is possible that the Israelis believed him to be at least morally complicit, given the nature of his work as an Al Jazeera reporter in Gaza. Israel insists Anas al-Sharif was an Islamist terrorist after it deliberately targeted him in an air strike - Al Jazeera/X Telegenic, energetic and, as Julys starvation report showed, with ready access to his own emotions, Sharif has been one of the most prominent journalists reporting from the ground since Oct 7 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a broadcast in January, he brought the news to the Arab world of the newly agreed Israel-Hamas ceasefire by dramatically divesting himself of his protective equipment live on air, surrounded by ecstatic Gazans. He was a natural, and his reports had caught the attention of Israel. As a general principle of journalism, consistently delivering arresting television can be a sign that a reporter enjoys good behind-the-scenes relations with the local authorities. As one veteran Palestinian journalist told The Telegraph: Most of the journalists operating in Gaza are affiliated with one group or another, otherwise they cannot operate. It doesnt necessarily mean that he is a terrorist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As an Al Jazeera reporter, Sharif did not bring viewers the counter-arguments to the charge that Israel is deliberately starving Gazans reports of Hamas looting aid, or of alleged UN incompetence, for example. People queue for food aid in Gaza on Monday. Israel may have seen Anas al-Sharif as responsible for telling the world that it was starving people - Hassan Jedi/Anadolu via Getty Then there is the issue of Al Jazeera itself. Viewers of the networks English news channel or website might detect a general Western-critical perspective, but rarely anything improper. The Arabic channel, however, is very different. Run from Qatar, whose rulers are often criticised for showing sympathy to the Muslim Brotherhood, on whose principles Hamas is based, the channel has become an unofficial mouthpiece for the terror group since Oct 7 2023. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Criticism of Hamas or Qatar is almost entirely absent indeed, live broadcasts have been cut off when interviewees strayed into dangerous territory. Meanwhile, formal announcements from the Hamas politburo often air on Al Jazeera first. None of this is new: the channel strongly supported Hamas as far back as the 2006 elections, after which its offices in Ramallah were vandalised by infuriated supporters of Fatah, the dominant Palestinian movement in the West Bank. Anas al-Sharif holds the flak jacket of Ismail al-Ghoul, an Al Jazeera reporter killed by Israel in July 2024 - Dawoud Abu Alkas/Reuters During the 2011 Arab Spring, Al Jazeera angered Arab governments with its apparent support for Islamist challengers. The network is detested in many capitals of the Middle East, and there were even reports of critical slogans voiced against it during recent protests in Gaza. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement However, nowhere is Al Jazeera reviled more than in Israel, which banned it last year. In the past month, the Jewish state has reacted furiously to international condemnation of alleged starvation in Gaza, branding this a Hamas narrative and Western critics useful idiots of the terror group. Israel will inevitably hold Al Jazeera at least partly responsible for the starvation narrative taking hold. This is evident from the bitter reaction to Sharifs tearful July report. Col Avichay Adraee, the IDFs Arabic language spokesman, accused Sharif of crocodile tears and branded him a terrorist once again. That prompted the US-based Committee for the Protection of Journalists to say it was deeply alarmed about Sharifs safety. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sundays air strike essentially wiped out Al Jazeera as a functioning reporting team in Gaza City, the target of Israels next military assault. Some suggested on Monday that the IDF struck the tent when it did because it was one of the rare occasions on which all the journalists were together at the same time. A message was posthumously published on Sharifs X account. If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice, he wrote - AFP via Getty The other reporters for the network who were killed were Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa. A sixth journalist, Mohammed al-Khaldi who worked as a freelance reporter, was also killed in the strike, according to Dr Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Al-Shifa Hospital. Sundays incident brought the total number of journalists killed in the Gaza conflict to 192. With the war set to ramp up towards full occupation within weeks, the bitter debate over the truth of information coming out of Gaza, and the allegiances of those who deliver it, will only get worse. A message was posthumously published on Sharifs X account. If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice, he wrote. The IDF, steadfast in its position, posted: A press badge isnt a shield for terrorism. 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. War heroes seldom choose their battles. All they can do is rise to the occasion. For 1st Lt. Charles L. Thomas, the defining moment in his military career was a company-sized fight five miles from the German border. It was Dec. 14, 1944. Just two days later, however, the battles strategic importance would be relegated to the sidelines amid the mammoth German counterattack in the Ardennes Forest soon known to the Americans as the Battle of the Bulge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When Charles Leroy Thomas was born on April 20, 1920, there were few opportunities for Black Americans in his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. His family, therefore, sought better prospects by joining the Black exodus northward, settling in Wayne, Michigan. After graduating from the Cass Technical High School in 1938, Thomas worked as a molder at Ford Motor Company while learning mechanical engineering at Wayne State University. With the United States entry into World War II, Thomas was drafted at Fort Custer, Michigan, on Jan. 20, 1942, training at Camp Wolters, Texas, and subsequently working at its infantry replacement center. He was later redeployed to Camp Carson, Colorado, where he was assigned to the newly formed 614th Tank Destroyer Battalion. Although it was a segregated unit, with most of its officers being white, the 614th represented a new specialty tank destroyer which the Army was eager to organize against Germanys panzer divisions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thomas was a sergeant by then, but considering his outstanding performance combined with the new corps need, he was encouraged to apply for Officer Candidate School Class 21, graduating on December 18 and receiving a second lieutenants commission on March 11, 1943. Shipped to England on Aug. 27 and then deployed to the Normandy landing ground at Utah Beach on Sept. 7, 1944. It wasnt until that November, however, as part of Lt. Gen. George S. Patton Jr.s Third Army, did the 614th have its first engagement with the enemy. On Dec. 14, 1944, Thomas was a first lieutenant when he was put in command of 3rd Platoon, C Company, 614th battalion, as part of a composite of several other units totaling 250 troops under Col. John P. Blackshear. Eponymously dubbed Task Force Blackshear, its mission was to seize the town of Climbach, France. Thomas led the advance from an M-20 armored command vehicle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Facing TF Blackshear were elements of the 21st Panzer Division, a veteran unit formed in 1941 as part of Field Marshal Erwin Rommels Afrika Korps, but which had been badly mauled in Normandy and was consequently placed by Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt at the sidelines for flank defense in the coming counterattack. As TF Blackshear made its way uphill toward the town, it came under armor and artillery fire Thomas M20 was the first vehicle hit. Thomas was wounded by metal splinters and glass, but his first thought was to help his wounded crew get clear of the disabled car. This made him an easy target for a German machine gun, which opened fire and hit Lt. Thomas in the chest, left arm, and legs, according to the National World War II Museum. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Despite his severe injuries, Thomas carried on, directing his men to deploy their anti-tank guns, taking on the Germans under direct fire, in an open field. The Germans, recognizing that the American gunners could unhinge their position, laid down concentrated small arms, machine gun, artillery and mortar fire on them. Over the next four hours the 3rd Platoon traded rounds with its experienced but war weary opponents. But the Americans, writes the National WWII Museum, did not flinch. Although losing two of its four guns and more than half of its men three killed and 17 wounded those who could still stand simply shifted to crew the other weapons and kept inflicting punishment on the Germans so that the 103rd Division GIs could move forward. Aware of the seriousness of his injuries, Thomas finally contacted the senior 3rd Platoon member still standing, briefed him on all he knew of the situation and only then did he consent to evacuation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the Germans kept coming. Surging out of a nearby forest to launch a direct assault, the enemy was determined to wipe out the remaining two guns. Not a single American man fell back amid the onslaught, rather they began engaging the Germans in direct combat. One soldier, according to the museum, mounted a burning half-track and manned the vehicles .50 caliber machine gun against the enemy. Despite ammunition stocks running low, the Americans were able to successfully fling the Germans back, and, according to the 103rd Division, precluded a near catastrophic reverse for the task force, and ensured the capture of the French town. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 21st Panzer, worn down, abandoned Climbach and withdrew to the Siegfried Line along the border. For the 614th, it was mission accomplished, with the 3rd Platoon collectively awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation. And while Thomas convalesced in the hospital, his career was undergoing action behind the lines. In January 1945 he was promoted to captain and on February 20 he received the Distinguished Service Cross from Col. Blackshear, who was aware that Thomas skin color was all that stood between him and a higher honor. For his own part, Thomas dismissed the matter when he returned to a heros welcome in Wayne. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I know I was sent out to locate and draw the enemy fire, he explained, but I didnt mean to draw that much. Thomas retired from the Army as a major on Aug. 10, 1947, married in 1949 and had a daughter and a son. He worked thereafter as a missile technician at Selfridge Air Force Base, Michigan, and as a computer programmer for the Internal Revenue Service. He died of cancer on Feb. 15, 1980. He is buried in Westlawn Cemetery, in his adopted hometown of Wayne. Charles Thomas multiple careers were destined to a last twist, however. On Jan. 13, 1997, his niece came to the White House, where President Bill Clinton conferred upon him and six other Black American heroes of World Wars I and II DSCs upgraded to the Medal of Honor. At the ceremony, one of his comrades, Lt. Claude Ramsey, remembered: The victory at Climbach in December 44 belongs to Capt. Charles Thomas and the company he led into that valley where they would be like clay pigeons in a shooting gallery. Charles had several things going for him. His men believed in him and they were proud of their unit and their ability. They were good, damned good. DAKAR, Senegal (AP) Its the largest piece of Mars ever found on Earth a 54-pound (25-kilogram) meteorite that fetched more than $5 million at a New York auction last month, setting a world record. But in the West African nation of Niger, where the rusty-red rock was unearthed in the Sahara Desert, officials have launched an investigation into what they call possible illicit international trafficking, claiming it may have been smuggled out of the country. Heres what to know about the meteorite and the legal dispute: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement How it was found Sothebys said the rock, named NWA 16788, was blown off the surface of Mars by a massive asteroid strike and traveled 140 million miles (225 million kilometers) to Earth. It was discovered in the Sahara in northwestern Niger by a meteorite hunter in November 2023, according to the auction house. His identity was not disclosed. Nor was the identity of the buyer last month. Meteorite hunting is growing in arid Saharan countries like Niger. Though meteorites can fall anywhere on Earth, the Sahara has become a prime spot for their discovery in part due to the favorable climate for their preservation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hunters often search for space rocks that can be sold to collectors or scientists. The rarest and most precious are from Mars and the moon. According to the Heritage academic journal, the rock was sold to an international dealer before it ended up in a private galley in Italy. A team of scientists from the University of Florence examined the rock last year to learn more about its structure and where it came from before falling to Earth, the publication said. The meteorite was also briefly on display in Rome before it was next seen in public in New York last month during the auction. Why Niger is investigating Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Following the sale, Niger raised questions about how the meteorite came to be sold at auction. Niger's government announced an investigation last month to determine the circumstances of the meteorite's discovery and sale, saying in a statement it was akin to illicit international trafficking. Last week, President Abdourahamane Tiani suspended the export of precious stones, semiprecious stones and meteorites nationwide in an effort to ensure their traceability. Sotheby's said in a statement sent to The Associated Press that the meteorite was exported from Niger and transported in line with all relevant international procedures. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As with everything we sell, all necessary documentation was in order at each stage of its journey, in accordance with best practice and the requirements of the countries involved." the statement read. Authorities in Niger did not respond to AP questions. What international law says Patty Gerstenblith, a cultural heritage lawyer and expert on illicit trade, said that under the UNESCO convention on cultural property which Niger and the U.S. have ratified rare minerals, like meteorites, can qualify as cultural property. However, Gerstenblith said Niger needs to be able to prove it owned the meteorite and that it was stolen. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the meteorite was not stolen and if it was properly declared upon import into the U.S., then it would not seem that Niger can recover the meteorite, she told the AP. Paul Sereno, a paleontologist who has spent years uncovering dinosaur fossils in Nigers Sahara, is campaigning to return the countrys cultural and natural heritage including meteorites. When you have laws that clearly say rare minerals like meteorites are cultural artifacts, you cannot simply come in and take something that is so unique and valuable to a country, he told the AP. Were just not in the colonial era anymore, he added. Some countries, like Morocco, one of the leading sources of meteorites on the international market, require restitution if the objects are discovered on their territory. But enforcement has been challenging due to the vast desert areas and informal trading networks. Elliot Haspels new book Raising a Nation: 10 Reasons Every American Has a Stake in Child Care For All reveals a defective American child care system at the mercy of political rhetoric with a persistent past of racism and sexism thats contributed to the loss of the American dream. While other countries, including Canada, Germany and Finland, have created systems to help support young families, the U.S. remains at a decades-long standstill with most of the conversation focused solely on economics, including how expensive a universal system would cost and the role it plays in bringing more people into the workforce. Weve lost the child from child care in a lot of ways. Its only and all about the parents and the parents attachment to the workforce and this is on both sides of the political aisle, Haspel said in an interview with The 74s Jessika Harkay ahead of his book release. One of my fundamental problems with the economic case, while I think it is valid and it can be useful, is that it is morally impoverished. It has no particular claim on any values or deep human morality. I do think that thats something that we can recenter if we talk about it like that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A universal child care system wouldnt solve all problems for families, but would be a massive strike in the right direction, Haspel said. Haspel said all Americans, even those without children, are stakeholders in the mission to reframe child care from just an economic or social issue to a crucial element of community building and one that supports the American value of personal liberty. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. You open your book by quoting Bill Clinton back in the 90s, and use several examples of the history of American child care throughout the countrys history. Give a brief summary of the fight for child care, how its changed throughout the years and why its more important than ever now. America has a checkered history with child care, and particularly this question of whats the governments role in child care, what societys role and whats the familys role. We actually have these pretty early examples of communities stepping up to help provide external child care: the infant school movement in Massachusetts in the 1820s and 1830s; the federal government sets up a child care center in Philadelphia during the Civil War for women who are working in hospitals and making clothes. But, it often has this countervailing force that goes along with economic pressures, gender pressures, and part of that is because none of these are really resting on the core idea that child care is essential to the American experiment or an American value in the same way that public education and various other things are. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That thread is there, and I think thats important to understand, because sometimes today were like, Oh, this is the way its always been, but, thats not the case. In the modern era, kind of post 1970s when weve seen the majority of mothers of young children enter the labor force, weve kind of been fighting on the same terrain. At the same time, the problem is so acute right now. The pandemic, I think, shed a very bright spotlight on that. But, child care is a pain point that crosses every line of difference you can think of: It crosses ideology; it crosses geography, it crosses gender, it crosses race and class, so it is a really massive need that remains unresolved. How has child care become the victim to politics? How has government mistrust contributed to this and are attitudes toward universal child care changing? The 1960s and 70s were a really pivotal time in the US and across the western world where youre seeing these tectonic shifts in the global economy, where manufacturing jobs are going down and it was really hard to run a family on one income basically. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The debate that was happening here and abroad was what is the role of government? Whats interesting is this happens, and its a really historical quirk in some ways, that the battles over child care in the US coincide with the breakup of the New Deal coalition, the Vietnam War, the rise of religious fundamentalism in response to changing roles of women. This is also the same era when were seeing the rise of the birth control pill and Roe v. Wade and women getting many, many more rights than they had before. It really comes together in 1971 with President Nixons veto of the Comprehensive Child Development Act, and it took this issue that was a problem everywhere, that wasnt particularly politicized and it made it this article of culture war. By the time that bill comes back a few years later, there are chain mail pamphlets going around about how if Congress passes this bill, its going to let children sue their parents for asking them to take out the trash literally. Its written up in most major newspapers in the country, just about how wildly inaccurate this kind of smear campaign was, but it gives you this evidence of this free market family idea, that deep distrust of the government, people turn to the free market and it becomes much, much harder to have the debate because you cant get past the first step of is this even something where the government has a role? I think sometimes, if the Comprehensive Childhood Development Act had just gone five years earlier, if you think about when Medicaid and Medicare were passed, we would have been fine. But by the vagaries of history, it happened to be going through at the time when there was really this political terrain that was shifting and, unfortunately, American families became a casualty of those shifts. Another thing you talk about in your book is equity. How does the lack of child care affect equity, particularly for women of color, and concentrations of poverty? Its really important to say weve had a racialized child care system since the very beginning of this country, and some of the first child care providers were enslaved Black women and girls There was always this two track view of Women shouldnt work outside the home when they have kids, except for if youre a Black woman, or a woman of color, or immigrant, in which case thats actually OK. And in fact, were going to put in work requirements and make sure that you have to jump through all sorts of hoops in order to get assistance with child care, and that is a two tiered legacy that absolutely shapes attitudes today. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the contemporary debates, and I mean the 2020 debates around child care, often hinge on Head Start, which is a program that is explicitly concentrated to low income populations and the Child Care and Development Block Grant, which is explicitly limited to families making below 85% of the state median income. So even today, we still have welfare terrain for child care, and it is a huge problem, and the ways in which it wraps into poverty and continues inequality are manifold. We know that the lack of child care, when you combine that with low income backgrounds, typically have to work jobs with less job security, with more unpredictable hours, shift jobs, and often not unionized, target breakdowns that can easily start a cascading effect of negative consequences. I mentioned in the book the story of one woman and how child care was the reason that she was thrust into poverty. The other side of the coin is that the providers of child care are almost all women, and theyre disproportionately women of color and theyre disproportionately immigrant women. Because of the constant neglect of child care as a value, we have them making poverty or near poverty wages themselves, which takes a huge toll and that has effects on the quality and the stability of the child care. It also affects those families of the providers themselves. How does American work culture work against community building and child care? Talk about general cultural shaming and the perception of moral failing for parents needing help in early childhood. Theres a sense of rugged individualism. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think whats really interesting with child care, is here weve put it in this bucket of Its your job to figure it out, and if you dont figure it out, theres something wrong with you, and if youre really terrible, if you messed up so badly, we might have a little bit of aid for you, but were going to be reluctant about it. Now, what I find fascinating about that argument is when those kids turn five what we do is meet them with constitutional rights for free education and care for at least seven hours a day, 180 days a year. Its not, obviously enough, but theres a very different way that we approach things like public education. We bucket child care as a private individual good. In your book, you also discuss how education is a more formal institution thats harder to change because of bureaucracy, tradition and funding, but child care has more room for innovation. Why is that? Whats the big goal, and how can we get there? Education in this country has been around for at this point 175 years and it has had a lot of time to grow. We all have a sense of what a school is and what it should be and what the structures are and theres lots of veto points along the way if you try to change them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A child care system is a much more open playing field in some ways. Part of my argument uses a chance to say, OK, based on what weve learned from things in the public school system, what do we need to do to build a child care system thats going to work well for everyone, for all families and all kids and all educators? And one of the features (that) is interesting in child care, particularly talking about early child care, but school age as well, is this idea of we need to be able to meet parents and families where theyre at, so that if a family wants to have a grandparent or stay at home parent, we should honor that and support that in the same way that (if) they want to have a licensed child care center or a licensed family child care at your home that supports going to look different. A pediatricians office and ER are both part of the health care system, but theyre not the same. Sometimes we draw a line around what is actually child care and what isnt and actually were much worse off for it. Thats not what parents need. Thats one place where we have an opportunity to think about a more inclusive and pluralistic system that, at the most fundamental level, we should guarantee families have access to the care and early learning experiences that they and their kids need to thrive. I think if we start there, it opens up a lot of doors and it cuts through a lot of the noise. You discuss how one way we view children is through the lens of an investable child, or an investment that needs to perform rather than viewing a child as an individual. How would shifting our perspective on children change peoples view on child care? What would it involve? Weve lost the child from child care in a lot of ways. Its only and all about the parents and the parents attachment to the workforce and this is on both sides of the political aisle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I do think there has to be some affirmative cases made that how a child experiences their childhood and what their day to day experiences are not only shapes their future selves, but there is actually something that is deeply important to the national soul in that as well. One of my fundamental problems with the economic case, while I think it is valid and it can be useful, is that it is morally impoverished. It has no particular claim on any values or deep human morality. I do think that thats something that we can recenter if we talk about it like that. The fact that child care programs can come alongside parents and help them parent the way they want to parent and can help children to have joyful childhood that is actually something that we should want. This will come, in some senses, from the top down. I do think the way that our leaders talk about child care is really important. One of the biggest underlying topics of your book and our conversation is also reframing child care from just an economic or social issue, but to one of the loss of the American Dream, which in recent decades has centered more on finances and material possessions than small freedoms. How can we make this shift and lead with values first? Gallup polled recently, in the past month or two, a bunch of Americans about what values are the most important values to them. It was interesting that across all political parties, across all geographic regions of the country, across all income levels, one value dominated all the others, and it was family. It wasnt freedom. It wasnt like self determination with individuals, it was family. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think particularly in this era when theres a lot of precariousness, a lot of uncertainty geopolitically and the environment, polarization, loneliness all of these issues that we see around us that people are really hungry for more. Something else can be seen in Gen Z and Gen Alpha as well, that theres actually this pulling back, in some senses, from hyper materialism, and so the question is, what comes next? What fills that? And I think theres an opportunity. Politicians need to, realize that in a lot of ways, family and child care are a key part of where people want to go they do really value that, not just about their bank account. And so to start talking about it, thats really important. Its a question too of the mechanisms of narrative change. There are a few levers to pull on for culture change and narrative change, and I think all of them will probably be pulled at once for a broader mind shift to this idea of what is the good life like? What are we even doing here? The last chapter of the book is pretty philosophical for a reason. When we jump ahead, we are often just talking past each other, because we havent even grounded out whats the goal? What is the ultimate goal with having an effective child care system? In my mind, it is not to maximize labor force participation. That might be a nice side benefit, but the more we say things like, Child care is the workforce, or the more we talk about (it) only in terms of its effect on business productivity, the more we lose the American families a lot of people are stumbling in the dark for meaning and for community and child care can be a really, really important part of that. VMPL Pune (Maharashtra) [India], August 11: Tata Technologies, a global product engineering and digital services company through its globally acclaimed iGETIT platform, has signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with DIYguru, India's leading online education provider for electric vehicle (EV), Embedded Systems and future mobility upskilling. The partnership aims to jointly empower engineers and professionals with iGETIT-led industry-aligned skills in Product Design and Development, Electric Vehicle technologies, Software-Defined Vehicles (SDVs), Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) & AUTOSAR, aligning with India's fast-evolving mobility landscape. The MoU was formalized between Mr. Manish Kohli, Global Head & Vice President - EdTech, Tata Technologies, and Mr. Avinash Singh, CEO of DIYguru. Tata Technologies, iGETIT platform, provides world-class learning solutions designed for engineers working in automotive product development, embedded systems, and manufacturing transformation. With DIYguru's hands-on EV and hardware-focused training ecosystem, this collaboration will create a future-ready engineering talent pool to meet India's growing need for advanced mobility solutions. "Tata Technologies has always been at the forefront of preparing engineering talent for the next era of product development. Through this collaboration with DIYguru, we aim to provide real-world EV and SDV expertise through our iGETIT platform and enable professionals to contribute to the future of mobility," said Manish Kohli, Global Head & VP - EdTech, Tata Technologies. Key Focus Areas of the MoUSupport specialized upskilling programs in EV, ADAS, SDV, and AUTOSAR run by DIYguru. Leveraging iGETIT's global content library with DIYguru's project-based EV and Embedded hardware training Enabling job-ready engineers for OEMs and Tier-1 automotive suppliers Bridging the industry-academia gap through real-world automotive use cases and capstone projects Under this collaboration, DIYguru students enrolling in various certification and postgraduate programs will receive an exclusive one-year access to curated iGET IT e-learning paths in domains such as Electric Vehicles, Product Design and Development, Embedded Systems and other automotive technologies. Tata Technologies' iGETIT platform will own and deliver the digital curriculum, pedagogy, global certification, and quality assurance. Participants will also be awarded digital certificates, adding strong industry recognition to their skill development journey. DIYguru will provide practical instructor led training, hardware-intensive training labs, project supervision and electric vehicle prototyping. Together, the collaboration ensures engineers gain both conceptual mastery and real-world application capability. "Collaborating with Tata Technologies and their iGETIT platform is a milestone for DIYguru. This partnership allows us to integrate our EV-centric expertise with Tata's global upskilling ecosystem, building the engineering workforce that India's future mobility sector requires," said Avinash Singh, CEO, DIYguru. This initiative supports India's Atmanirbhar Bharat and Skill India goals, by developing a homegrown engineering talent ecosystem aligned with EV adoption, autonomous mobility and smart manufacturing About DIYguru Mobility DIYguru (https://diyguru.org) is India's leading edtech platform for Electric Vehicles (EV) and future mobility, with a global learner base of over 85,000 professionals and students. Focused on bridging the industry-academia gap, DIYguru offers hands-on, application-oriented training programs in EV technology, sustainable mobility, IoT, and renewable energy. DIYguru works in close collaboration with leading automotive OEMs, emerging startups, and top academic institutions to deliver certified up-skilling programs aligned with the evolving needs of the mobility sector. Through its unique blend of online learning, practical labs, and real-world projects, DIYguru is empowering a new generation of engineers and technicians to drive India's green mobility revolution. About Tata Technologies Tata Technologies (BSE: 544028, NSE: TATATECH) is a global product engineering and digital services company focused on fulfilling Its mission of helping the world drive, fly, build, and farm by enabling Its customers to realize better products and deliver better experiences. iGETIT (https://myigetit.com/) is Tata Technologies' premier e-learning platform designed to equip engineers with cutting-edge skills in product design, embedded systems, and advanced automotive technologies. Tata Technologies is the strategic engineering partner businesses turn to when they aspire to be better. Manufacturing companies rely on Tata Technologies to enable them to conceptualize, develop and realize better products that are safer, cleaner, and improve the quality of life for all the stakeholders, helping us achieve our vision of #EngineeringABetterWorld. (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) Theres a running dialogue just under the surface of the Russo-Ukrainian War. In a war where each side has achieved a stunning amount with drones, why are there still infantry soldiers being forced into a meat grinder on the frontlines? What are the Russians/What are the Ukrainians? Stupid? No. Neither side is fully stupid. Even though Russia seemed to be trying to prove itself that way for most of 2022. Each side has figured out how to do amazing things with their drones. And the Russo-Ukrainian War will almost certainly go down in the annals of history as the moment when drone warfare fundamentally changed. However, there are still some things that drones cannot do, but infantry can, just as there are things drones cant do that artillery or manned aircraft can. Infantrys long history as essential workers Assyrian soldier holding a long spear and wearing a helmet. Detail of a basalt relief from the palace of Tiglath-pileser III, 744-727 BCE. (Ancient Orient Museum, Istanbul) So, what does an infantryman do on a battlefield where the drones fly so thick that fiber-optic cables are as dense as the grass that grows beneath them? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Well, the same thing they do everywhere else, they just do it much, much more carefully. Infantrys primary role is to close with and destroy the enemy. Thats it, in a nutshell. How that has worked has changed a lot over the last few thousand years. And yes, infantry as a concept, though not always named as such, is older than Greece. The first known battle took place over 5,000 years ago. The primary evidence of that battle is the pockmarks left by foot soldiers inside a village, who traded stones hurled via slings with the foot soldiers attacking that village. Thats the type of armed skirmish that any infantryman today could recognize and plan (if youre curious, the battle took place near the place where Turkey, Iraq, and Syrias borders meet, and the attackers likely won). Infantry has evolved a lot in 5,000 years In the five millennia since, foot soldiers have formed the heart of most armies, with a few exceptions in the ancient Middle East and Far East, where cavalry formed the backbone of the force. The foot soldiers transitioned from being armed primarily with slings to swords, from spears to pikes, from shot to muskets, and now to rifles. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over that time, infantry has stood up to, or lost against, horse archers, chariots, armored knights, catapults, rockets, cannons, actual elephants, machine guns, tanks, and so, so much disease, pestilence, and famine. The entire time, infantry has remained essential for a simple reason: Its not your land unless you hold it after the battle, and the person holding it when the dust clears will almost certainly be an infantryman. So what are these infantrymen doing on drone-saturated battlefields? Sgt. Chayne Walsh, 2nd Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, mentally prepares himself to execute his concealment exercise successfully during sniper training at Fort Benning. (Patrick A. Albright/MCoE PAO) The job of a modern infantryman is, of course, fraught with danger. While that has nearly always been the case, (infantry is often one of the most dangerous jobs in any given war, with rare exceptions like in World War II where strategic bomber, submariner, and merchant mariner were all more dangerous), being a maneuver force on a battlefield absolutely saturated with cameras is extra dangerous. Theres nowhere to hide when there are literally hundreds of cameras in the air. Infantry still forms the backbone of most major assaults from either Russian or Ukrainian forces. Russia is currently pushing the line harder than Ukraine (We love you, Ukraine, and always hate to admit when Russia is advancing, but, um, we can all look up the maps and see Russias tiny, tiny advances). Those Russian assaults often include infantry assaults or infantry infiltration of Ukrainian lines. Ukrainian defenses always include their own dug-in infantry. When Ukraine attacks Russia, it usually relies heavily on mechanized infantry delivered via Bradleys and similar vehicles. Ukrainian troops then dismount to hit Russian-held defenses. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Early in the war, assaults in either direction were largely infantry affairs, with artillery supporting each side. Thats still the case, but drones have been of increasing importance since 2022, and reports from the frontline frequently include some description of how infantry has to plan to come under assault within minutes of an attempted move. Again, hundreds of cameras. Infantry are now enabled or pinned down by drones as much as any other asset Ukrainian soldiers in their fighting position at the trench use drones for surveillance and offense on the frontline in Zaphorizhia, Ukraine on December 05, 2023. (Photo by Ozge Elif Kizil/Anadolu via Getty Images) Each side operates hundreds of drones at a time in a variety of missions. So an infantry unit patrolling its own territory or attempting an incursion should count on facing drones: In the air as reconnaissance assets, in the air as a loitering munition, hidden on the ground or in trees to serve as an ambusher or a mobile mine, as a spotter for artillery, or as the forward eyes of the enemys defenders or skirmishers. Thats why many infantry units either have some embedded drone operators or else work with drone units emplaced nearby. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Theres actually a well-understood historical parallel for this moment, though: World War I. In that war, an explosion in mortar and artillery fire, enabled by industrialization, meant that the infantry assaults of prior conflicts no longer worked. It took years, and the invention of the tank, for military leaders to break the stalemate and really figure out what a foot soldiers job was on a battlefield where entire grid squares could be wiped out from miles away. Right now, leaders in Ukraine and Russia are constantly experimenting with how to fight against each other in the drone age. And militaries and defense contractors around the world are making guesses on what the next war will look like for the U.S., China, and other major powers. Theres no question that modern drone warfare has changed combat, likely for a generation or more. But its also still true that infantry, the versatile Queen of Battle, is essential. Artists Anya and Slava at work, PORCELAIN WAR Picturehouse 2024 Movies Porcelain War Trailer: A veterans glimpse into resilience and art amid conflict By Tessa Robinson NATO membership closer for Ukraine with the help of this rifle Feature NATO membership closer for Ukraine with the help of this rifle By Miguel Ortiz, By Tessa Robinson wwii World War II The only service woman killed during the Katyn Massacre in WWII By Miguel Ortiz NATO is buying 1,000 Patriot missiles for $5.5B Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weapons NATO is buying 1,000 Patriot missiles for $5.5B By Miguel Ortiz Russian SU-34s fly in formation with flares Military News Ukraine claims stunning hat trick three kills of Su-34s By Logan Nye WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) A local Wichita Falls woman is launching a business to help advocate for those battling cancer. 44-year-old Daquebra Johnson has been battling cancer in 2021. It started when she was diagnosed with breast cancer that spread to her lymph nodes. Doctors then found cancer in her liver after one year of remission, spreading to her abdomen and bones. Johnson says that this battle with cancer has only made her stronger. To advocate for others battling cancer, she started a company called Stage IV to recognize those suffering and fighting the disease. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In the beginning, I just wanted to tell my story about my battle with cancer. But ultimately, its not just solely about me. said Johnson. Theres going to be people out here that need that courage or that strength or someone else. You know, that going through the same thing that theyre going through that will give them whats the word Im looking for, that can advocate for them to want to tell their story or want to be there for someone else. The company will start with shirts, water bottles and key chains in the shape of a pink ribbon to symbolize Johnsons battle with breast cancer. The goal is to include other colored ribbons, advocating for different types of cancer. I just wanted to bring awareness for the next person, to let them know that theyre not in this battle alone, Johnson said. And just because you have cancer does not mean that youre defeated, does not mean that its the end. You know, every day we have to get up and we have to face life, and life doesnt stop because I have cancer. While an official launch date has not been announced, Johnson said that none of this would have been possible without her loved ones supporting her. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Life is what you make it. You cant let the cancer illness anything define who you are. We get one chance to do this. Live life to its fullest, said Johnson. For ways to fund cancer research, visit the National Foundation for Cancer Research, the Prevent Cancer Foundation and the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com. WELLSTON, Okla. (KFOR) A man is recovering from his injuries and mourning the loss of his wife after a motorcycle crash. Now, he says that hes struggling to get his personal belongings back from the hospital. I dont think anyones checking into it real hard, said James Ray. On June 5, at around noon, Ray and his wife, Janice Olson, were riding his motorcycle along Highway 177 in Tecumseh when they were hit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I remember my wife flew over me. I tried to reach to grab her, but I couldnt, said Ray. Olson was flown to OU Health, while Ray was taken by ambulance. Sadly, his wife of 40 years didnt survive. Overflowing trash fixed at apartments after News 4 story When the medflight touched down, thats when she actually died, Ray said. Ray was prepped for emergency surgery. He said medical personnel took his personal belongingsincluding his dentures, hearing aids, and wallet. My two credit cards, my AARP card, my insurance card, my drivers license, Ray said. They also removed his St. Christopher medala gift from his late wife. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Id like that back. It means a lot to me, he said. Ray said that when he woke up from surgery a day and a half later, he began asking for his belongings. He said the hospital only returned his teeth. His other hearing aids, necklace, and wallet were still missing. We know they had it because they took a photocopy of my drivers license and insurance card, said Ray. Now, in August and out of the hospital, Ray said he continues to call the hospital but hasnt had any luck. Supposedly, the security guard had it; they gave it to the pastor, he said. They say, Yeah, well look into it. Then they never call back. They dont let me know theyre still looking. They dont do that, Ray said. Just running around in circles. Passing the buck, I guess. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ray contacted News 4, hoping we could help find answers. Hes also wondering: is this the first time something like this has happened? Ive wondered whether this happens a lot. A lot of nurses kind of hinted that it does happen here and there, he said. News 4 reached out to OU Health on Friday morning. Sunday morning, we received the following statement from OU Staff: The experience and care of our patients at OU Health is a top priority. Our team is committed to delivering high-quality, safe, and effective care. When care or experience falls short of expectations, we are dedicated to addressing patient concerns through a formal complaint process that ensures each situation is thoroughly evaluated. Patients and family members are encouraged to visit our website to submit feedback, helping us identify areas for improvement and work toward meaningful solutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement News 4 also asked React EMS, the ambulance service that covers Pottawatomie County. They said everything gathered from a scene is transferred to the hospital. They have not seen anything belonging to Ray. In addition, we reached out to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol to see if a trooper had picked up his belongings. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Californias wild pigs are turning blue from the inside out. The disconcerting discovery isnt due to an inexplicable genetic mutation. According to a California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) investigation, laboratory tests indicate some of Monterey Countys free-roaming hogs are being exposed to the anticoagulant rodenticide diphacinone. The toxic pesticide bait is frequently used by farmers to control rat, squirrel, and other small mammal populations. Its not the first case of off-color fauna in the region, too. Im not talking about a little blue. Im talking about neon blue, blueberry blue, wildlife control expert Dan Burton told the Los Angeles Times earlier this month. Its wild. Burton saw his first blue pigs in March while butchering animals he captured near Salinas. Both the muscle and fatty tissues were visibly blue, prompting him to contact the CDFW. Subsequent analysis at the California Animal Health and Food Safetys Wildlife Health Lab (WHL) in Davis, California, confirmed trace amounts of diphacinone in the pigs livers and stomachs. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Wildlife can be inadvertently exposed to rodenticides either by eating rodenticide bait or by eating other animals that have ingested rodenticides, the CDFW explained. Diphacinone-laced bait is dyed blue as a warning to humans. Credit: CDFW CDFW officials say the wild pigs likely came across the rodenticide in bait traps set out by farmers and agricultural companies. Diphacinone isnt naturally blue itselfinstead, its included in bait that is dyed the vibrant color as a warning for humans to avoid consumption. The LA Times also noted that lab testing showed the animals were exposed to the poison over an extended period. Although a traps doses are fatal for its smaller intended targets, they arent large enough to cause immediate damage to the pigs, which regularly weigh 100-200 lbs. Hunters should be aware that the meat of game animals, such as wild pig, deer, bear and geese, might be contaminated if that game animal has been exposed to rodenticides, the CDFW warned, adding that wild game may have ingested diphacinone even if they ultimately dont develop the colorful side effect. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As of 2024, diphacinone is largely banned in California unless deployed by a certified vector control technicianlegislation aimed at limiting unintentional wildlife poisonings. In 2018, a CDFW study found trace amounts of rodenticide in around 8.3 percent of wild pigs living near residential and agricultural locations with active rat control projects. Previous research has also shown cooking diphacinone-laced meat doesnt eradicate the poison, and that eating it can still cause rodenticide poisoning symptoms like lethargy. CDFW asks that anyone contact the agency if they come across any wild animalspigs or otherwisewith blue-tinged tissues or fat by either emailing whlab@wildlife.ca.gov or calling (916) 358-2790. US fashion designer Willy Chavarria has issued a public apology after his collaboration with Adidas Originals was accused of cultural appropriation for using a traditional Mexican design without involving the Indigenous community behind it. The Oaxaca Slip-On, inspired by huaraches handmade leather sandals with deep cultural roots in Indigenous Mexican craftsmanship was criticised by officials in Mexico, including President Claudia Sheinbaum. The controversy centres around the fact that the shoe which was reportedly manufactured in China was made without consultation with or credit to the communities whose cultural heritage inspired the design. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Chavarria, a prominent designer and former senior vice president of design at Calvin Klein, said in a statement sent to the BBC: "I am deeply sorry that the shoe was appropriated in this design and not developed in direct and meaningful partnership with the Oaxacan community." He continued: "The intention was always to honour the powerful cultural and artistic spirit of Oaxaca and its creative communities a place whose beauty and resistance have inspired me. The name Oaxaca is not just a word its living culture, its people, and its history." "This falls short of the respect and collaborative approach that Oaxaca, the Zapotec community of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag, and its people deserve," he added, referencing the village where the design has its roots. "I know love is not just given it is earned through action." Adidas has also expressed regret, saying it recognizes and values the cultural richness of Mexico's Indigenous communities and the meaning of their artisanal heritage. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Oaxaca Slip-On was inspired by a design from Oaxaca, rooted in the tradition of Villa Hidalgo Yalalag. We offer a public apology and reaffirm our commitment to collaborate with Yalalag in a respectful dialogue that honors their cultural legacy, the company wrote. Mexicos deputy culture minister, Marina Nunez, said Adidas had contacted local officials to discuss restitution to the people who were plagiarised. In response to the backlash, both Adidas and Chavarria removed promotional material for the Oaxaca Slip-On from their social media platforms. The Associated Press reported that Adidas responded to Mexican authorities in a letter on Friday, acknowledging the criticism and requesting discussions to repair the damage to the affected communities. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In recent years, Mexico has repeatedly pushed back against international fashion brands, including Zara and Shein, for designs it deemed too close to traditional patterns. The country passed a federal law in 2022 to protect Indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples intellectual and cultural property. Unauthorised use of Indigenous cultural expressions is now punished with fines and prison sentences. The two wealthiest Wisconsinites each have a net worth of around $22 billion. They have long donated many millions to conservative political causes. Since Milwaukee is experiencing such high crime, especially murder, if these two individuals just gave 1% of their total worth roughly $220 million it would go a long way to reducing the problem. These people claim to be concerned about law and order, so now is their time to prove it. Nobody needs or deserves that much. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Opinion: Comparing Milwaukee crime with New York under Rudy Giuliani doesn't hold water If the wealthy won't contribute voluntarily to making their state safer, then we must tax the heck out of them! Wes Dickson, Franklin Opinion: As city grapples with violence, we want to hear from you on safety and solutions Tips for getting your letter to the editor published Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months. All letters are subject to editing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@jrn.com or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin billionaires should donate to help reduce crime | Letters In the early 2000s, the Wisconsin library system used some of its allocated federal funds to experiment with a new program: Libby, a platform where users can borrow e-books and audiobooks from their local library. The program exploded in popularity so much so that library staff worked to permanently include funding for e-books as part of the Wisconsin Legislature's budget for libraries statewide. But, although funding for e-books is now guaranteed at the state level, the staff and grants that helped first launch the program may both be gone soon under President Donald Trump's ongoing efforts to slash federal spending. Funding for library internet services, statewide research databases and Wisconsin's interlibrary loan program are all under threat. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And, most immediately, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction's Bureau of Libraries, which first formed in 1895, would be almost entirely eliminated, according to Bureau of Libraries Director Ben Miller. "We've got 130 years of traditions that are sort of at stake," Miller said. "If we lose this funding, we would have to rebuild and start from scratch again." 2014: An exterior view of the Milwaukee Public Library East Branch at 2320 N. Cramer St. What is the Institute for Museum and Library Services, and is it shutting down? The most urgent threat to Wisconsin library funding is the Trump administration's efforts to eliminate the Institute for Museum and Library Science (IMLS). The federal agency distributes millions of dollars to libraries nationwide, accounting for between 30% to 50% of state library budgets, according to the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies. In 2024, the IMLS provided $3.2 million in federal funds to Wisconsin libraries, Miller said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In March, Trump issued an executive order to shut down the IMLS. Weeks later, Wisconsin was one of 20 states that sued the Trump administration over the slashed funding. In a temporary win for the states, a federal judge ordered the administration in May to reinstate the funding. However, Congress is due to discuss shutting down the IMLS in September, and the Trump administration has made clear it wants to see the agency dismantled. In anticipation of the cuts, Miller said DPI's Bureau of Libraries has already paused parts of its discretionary grant program. Along with supporting new innovations and pilot projects in local libraries, the grants help fund continuing education for librarians which for some positions, like library directors and school librarians, are required to keep practicing. Though he hopes DPI can start redistributing these grants soon, Miller said the team is being "very cautious" before committing to do so, given the uncertainty of federal funding. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We're looking at every alternative...if we can turn over any rocks, if we can find any other funding sources," he said. What would happen to Wisconsin libraries if federal funding cuts move forward? If the IMLS shuts down, several key library services in Wisconsin could be under threat. The programs in jeopardy include internet services for rural libraries, the statewide interlibrary loan program, and BadgerLink, Wisconsin's online library of research databases. And the DPI's Bureau of Libraries would shrink from 19 full-time employees to between two and three employees, Miller said. "If we lose those staff and those humans that do the work, we're going to see some pretty terrible outcomes in the short-term," Miller said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The federal funding cuts would leave libraries with two choices: either obtain more local funding from municipalities, paid for by taxpayers, or begin slashing services. Either way, Miller said, Wisconsin residents would begin to feel the effects. On at least the state level, Wisconsin's library systems are "well-funded" for at least the next two years in latest budget passed by the Wisconsin Legislature, according to Deb Marett, public information coordinator for the Milwaukee County Federated Library System. "We are well-supported by the state of Wisconsin. It's bipartisan. Everybody loves libraries," Marett said of the state budget. "But that would still not cover the slack of what will be lost with IMLS." In particular, Marett said she's concerned about what would happen to interlibrary loans in Wisconsin if IMLS shuts down. Wisconsin has one of most successful interlibrary loan programs in the country, with more than 90% of requests fulfilled. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "If you live in a tiny town in northern Wisconsin, and you want a book, but your library doesn't have it, they can reach out to other libraries in almost the whole world in some cases," Marett said. A group attends a class at the Cargill Community Kitchen in the Milwaukee Public Library Mitchell Street Branch Rural library systems in Wisconsin will be hit hardest by funding cuts The Wisconsin libraries that would be hit hardest and quickest by an IMLS shutdown are the rural ones. Though federal funds primarily support statewide library services and programs, rural library systems are more likely to get direct funding from the federal government. That funding comes through the Library Services and Technology Act, a federal program run by the IMLS that provides local services like homework help, family literacy classes, summer reading programs and job application help, according to the American Library Association. "Our rural libraries need the most help and assistance just because a lot of times at a rural library, you don't have a large staff," Miller said. "It's like one person." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement These four Wisconsin library systems got the most in funding from the Library Services and Technology Act, according to DPI: Wisconsin Valley Library Service : Expected to receive $127,737 in federal funds in 2025, which is 9% of its budget through DPI. Northern Waters Library Service: Expected to receive $64,064 in federal funds in 2025, which is 8% of its budget through DPI. Southwest Wisconsin Library System : Expected to receive $41,416 in federal funds in 2025, which is 7% of its budget through DPI. Manitowoc-Calumet Library System: Expected to receive $37,741 in federal funds in 2025, which is 7% of its budget through DPI. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee County Federated Library System receives just $3,000 of its approximately $4.2 million budget from federal funding. Still, even though the larger and urban library systems stand to lose less in the short-term, Marett said Wisconsin library staff see the funding cuts as a statewide issue. In recent months, libraries across Wisconsin banded together to launch Speak Up for Libraries, a campaign against the federal funding cuts. As one of their first actions, the group printed 50,000 postcards to place in libraries statewide and encourage residents to write to their elected officials sharing why their local library matters to them Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They quickly ran out of postcards and had to print more, Marett said. "One of the things we like to say in the library world is a rising tide lifts all boats," she said. "It all matters, whether it's one county or one town or the whole state. It's the greater concern of free access to information for everybody who wants it." This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Here's how Trump funding cuts would reduce Wisconsin library services The Brief U.S. Marshals are asking for the public's help to locate Armando Barragan. The accused leader of the Latin Kings was one of 50 people indicted on federal racketeering charges in 2005. If you know where he is, call the U.S. Marshals Tipline at 414-297-3707. CUDAHY, Wis. - A Milwaukee man accused of ordering the killing of an innocent person at a Cudahy gas station more than 20 years ago continues to evade the law. Search for Armando Barragan What we know The accused leader of the Latin Kings was one of 50 people indicted on federal racketeering charges in 2005. "Hes certainly been embedded with violence his whole life," the U.S. Marshal on the case said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android Investigators say Armando Barragan rose through the ranks of the Latin Kings living a life of crime in Milwaukee. "Early 2000s, he was 14 years old and he was already involved in gang violence," the Marshal said. By 16 years old, investigators say he ordered the execution of a man at a Cudahy gas station. It started when U.S. Marshals say Barragan was fighting with a rival gang member and someone stopped to step in. "Just an innocent bystander trying to do his part and break up the fight," the investigator said. "So, a true victim." Dig deeper In 2005, he was indicted with 50 people. Most faced harsh sentences, but a tip may have allowed Barragan to get away. Hes believed to be in a Mexican border town. "It certainly adds some obstacles, but we have a great relationship with Mexican authorities," the U.S. Marshal explained. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Barragan has his mothers name "Slyvia" tattooed on his left ankle and uses the names "Mondie" and "Jose Deanda." Though two decades have passed, the search for the fugitive continues. SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News "He can run, but he cant hide," the U.S. Marshal said. Barragan is 55" and weighs 140 pounds. Tipline What you can do If you know where he is, call the U.S. Marshals Tipline at 414-297-3707. You will remain anonymous. The Source The information in this post was provided by the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force. WEST PALM BEACH Courtney Rogers answered her phone to the sound of her father screaming, the words jumbled and incoherent. Your brother! he wailed. Shot to death by a stranger, turned into "Swiss cheese in the morgue!" Courtney Rogers collapsed and began to sob. She recalled the moment in a West Palm Beach courtroom July 9, her back to the man who killed her 31-year-old brother Christopher Rogers four years earlier. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Kirkland Evan Lehto, 27, sat motionless as Rogers' family described the effect of his murder, committed for reasons not even he could explain. He said he didn't remember pulling the trigger. He said "the voices, the witches" made him do it. Jurors rejected his insanity defense during his murder trial in June, but they didn't think the killing was premeditated, either. They convicted Lehto of second-degree murder instead, sparing him an automatic life sentence and leaving his penalty to the discretion of the judge. Lehto's family and team of public defenders urged Circuit Judge Daliah Weiss to sentence Lehto to 25 years. They argued that any longer would reduce his chance at rehabilitation and squander public resources. Prosecutors recommended a life sentence and presented victim impact statements from Rogers' family some of whom called his killer a "psychopath" and a "devil masquerading in human flesh." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Each side wants either the minimum or the maximum," Weiss said at the conclusion of the three-hour sentencing hearing. "But the court doesn't find that either will be the sentence here." She sentenced Lehto to 40 years instead. Under Florida law, he must serve at least 25 years before becoming eligible for release. Murder victim's sister forgives killer in court Lehto shot Rogers to death during a drive from Belle Glade to Loxahatchee shortly after 10 p.m. on July 6, 2021. Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies said Lehto, Rogers and a third man were driving east on State Road 80 with the music playing and windows down when Lehto, in the front passenger seat, faced Rogers in the back seat and opened fire. He shot about 10 rounds at Rogers and a few more out of his window, then placed the gun on the dashboard. The driver, Andrew Silpot, said he began to speed toward the nearest hospital until he saw Rogers in the rearview mirror, bleeding and unresponsive. He pulled over and called 911 instead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Palm Beach County sheriff's deputies arrived and pronounced Rogers dead at the scene. They handcuffed Lehto and Silpot and placed them in the back of separate cruisers. Silpot told deputies that no fight or dispute preceded the shooting. He said the car ride had been quiet, the shooting without warning or reason. Dashboard-camera footage captured Lehto crying in the back of the patrol car, appearing shocked and disoriented. When interviewed by detectives, he claimed to have no memory of the shooting and said voices in his head told him to do it. VIDEO: 'Their angel Maria': Murder victim's cousin makes heart-wrenching statement at sentencing Lehto was later diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. His defense team argued he was legally insane at the time of the shooting and had suffered from hallucinations since childhood, citing a long history of psychiatric hospitalizations and medication use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Assistant State Attorney Courtney Behar said Lehto's actions were deliberate. She retained her own expert witness who testified that while Lehto was mentally ill, he did not meet the legal definition of insanity. Defense: Lifelong mental illness, not malice, behind Rogers murder During his sentencing hearing, Lehto's defense team again painted a picture of a young man whose life was shaped by severe mental illness from an early age. According to court documents, Lehto was first psychiatrically hospitalized under Florida's Baker Act at 8 years old for making suicidal statements. He said he'd experienced auditory and visual hallucinations since middle school, often engaging in lengthy conversations with his deceased grandmother. Kirkland Lehto, top right, appears in a family photograph, submitted to the judge ahead of his sentencing hearing for the murder of Christopher Rogers. Lehto told evaluators he hid his illness rather than treat it because "services cost money, and I did not want to be a burden to my family." His relatives testified that he'd acted strangely in the weeks before Rogers' murder, prompting them to have him involuntarily hospitalized. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The authorities who released him from the hospital had let both Lehto and Rogers down, they said. Lehto, who had no prior criminal record, delivered a halting, tearful apology to Rogers' family in court. "Not a day goes by where I don't think about what happened four years ago," he said. Nothing he could say would change Rogers' family's feelings toward him, he said. It might have surprised him when Rogers' sister offered an olive branch. "God will forgive Kirkland," Courtney Rogers said. "And so will I." A 'giver in a world of takers': Family describes murder victim Christopher Rogers Others in her family felt differently. Rogers mother called Lehto a monster and a really bad seed, who chose to be nothing but a drug addict and liar. His father kept his own remarks brief he could not be as civil as his children, he told the judge. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Those who spoke about Rogers described him as a man who loved chicken marsala, who stopped traffic once to rescue a stray dog, who had played with Legos as a child and could "MacGyver anything" as an adult. He worked two jobs in high school to give his younger brother lunch money while their parents went through a destructive divorce. He moved to Florida at 18 and worked for a decade for his uncle's painting company. He was an excellent fly fisherman who, on his only day off from work in a month, took a disabled veteran whose house he had painted out for a day of fishing a story his family first heard at Rogers funeral. Christopher Rogers, left, poses in a photo for his younger brother's graduation ceremony. The image was one of several family photographs submitted to the judge ahead of his killer's sentencing hearing on July 9, 2025. He launched his own painting company, Tried and True Painting, the year before his murder and painted homes in Wellington. Hours before his murder, he offered Lehto a job to help him pay for his car insurance. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lehto accepted, paving the way for that final car ride. Courtney Rogers said that even now, knowing how he died, she believed Rogers would still give Lehto a chance. That is who Christopher Shawn Rogers is at his core, she said. A giver in a world of takers. Hannah Phillips is a journalist covering public safety and criminal justice at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at hphillips@pbpost.com. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Victim offered killer a job hours before fatal shooting in Palm Beach County ECTOR COUNTY, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- The preliminary information revealed that a 2024 Ford F-150 was traveling northbound on US 385 approaching the intersection of Cottonwood Road. A 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 was traveling westbound on Cottonwood Road and attempted to turn southbound onto US 385, when the Ford F-150 stopped in the middle of the left northbound lane of US 385, resulting in a collision with the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The driver of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 was transported to Medical Center Hospital in Odessa, and then to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. Linda Diane Nail, 71 years of age, of Odessa, Texas, and driver of the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, was pronounced dead at Parkland Memorial on August 4th. Edward Julian Mata, 42 years of age, of Odessa, Texas, driver of the Ford F-150, was transported to Medical Center Hospital with minor injuries. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This crash remains under investigation, and no additional information is available at this time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Yourbasin. PNN Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], August 11: AFCOM Holdings Limited (AFCOM), (BSE - 544224), an integrated air cargo solutions company with operations across domestic and international routes. The Company has announced its Unaudited Financial Results for Q1 FY26. Key Financial Highlights - Total Income of 11,889.0 Cr, YoY growth of 198.1% - EBITDA of 3,664.7 Cr, YoY growth of 2,401.8% - Net Profit of 2,707.0 Cr, YoY growth of 4,255.5% - EPS of 10.9, YoY growth of 3,102.9% Commenting on this partnership, Capt. Deepak Parasuraman & Chairman & Managing Director of AFCOM Holdings Limited, said, "We are pleased to commence quarterly financial disclosures from Q1 FY26, a decision guided by our investor community's request for more frequent updates and in line with our commitment to transparency. This shift enables us to better reflect the Company's ongoing initiatives and operational developments across each quarter. The cargo aviation industry is currently experiencing increased activity, driven by a higher freight rates and evolving trade dynamics. Afcom has maintained strong operational performance with a current network utilization of approximately 84%. We continue to expand into newer high-value sectors, strengthen our presence across key domestic and international hubs, and deepen interline partnerships to enhance cargo connectivity and turnaround efficiency. A notable milestone was the launch of our new route to Hanoi, Vietnam, an interline agreement with Viet Jet to enable broader connectivity in the ASEAN region. These developments form part of our Phase 2 growth roadmap. Looking ahead, we remain focused on scaling operations through additional fleet additions, deeper international coverage, and technology-led enhancements." (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) GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA) A woman was injured Sunday night after getting struck by a bullet inside of her apartment. According to the Greenville County Sheriffs Office, the shooting occurred at the Belle Meade apartments at around 9:30 p.m. The shooting did not happen in the womans apartment, investigators said. The woman, deputies said, was taken to the hospital for her injuries. Officials said that no suspect information is available at this time. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers of Greenville County at (864) 23-CRIME. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is a developing story. Stay up to date with 7NEWS on the air and online as more information is made available. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS. A woman has pleaded guilty to causing death and grievous bodily injury by careless driving after a crash on the A8 near Ballynure in 2023. 78-year-old Isabel McCormick, of Glendale Park in Larne, admitted causing the death of John Wilson by driving carelessly on the 21 October 2023, and to causing grievous bodily injury to a female on the same date. 61-year-old Mr Wilson died in hospital from his injuries, four days after his tractor was in a collision with a blue Ford Fiesta. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Two other people were taken to hospital at the time. Defence counsel told Ballymena Magistrates' Court on Monday that the case would benefit from a pre-sentence report from the probation board. The district judge freed Mrs McCormick and adjourned the plea and sentence to 23 September. SANDY, Utah (ABC4) A Sandy woman was taken to the hospital after reportedly suffering second-degree burns in a house fire Sunday afternoon. The fire was first reported in the area of 1800 East around 3 p.m. Sunday afternoon, according to Sandy City Fire Chief Ryan McConaghie. Firefighters were able to stop the fire from endangering nearby homes. The homeowner reportedly suffered second-degree burns and had to be taken to the hospital for treatment, McConaghie said. Firefighters were able to stop the fire quickly, but the amount of damage done has made the home uninhabitable. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement McConaghie says that while the official cause of the fire hasnt been determined, barbecue is suspected as a possible cause. Latest headlines: Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah. A metro Atlanta family is demanding answers after they say workers at a nursing home in Fayetteville dropped their disabled loved one on the floor multiple times, and it was all caught on video. The family reached out to Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Ashli Lincoln, who learned thats not the only concern they have. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] After learning about the fall, they say their father was left at an emergency room and then refused reentry into the nursing facility where he was staying. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Desiree Miller says she and her sisters cant stomach how their 72-year-old father, Marvin Maxey, was treated. It was hard to watch, daughter Contressia Maxey said. I hope that the people are fired, daughter Timetta Shipman said. It hurt me to my core, Miller said. On July 15, a hidden camera in Marvin Maxeys room at the Fayetteville Center for Nursing and Healing captured two workers dropping him on the floor after he fell out of bed. MORE STORIES FROM 2 INVESTIGATES: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When they were laughing and dropping him, that was heartbreaking for me, Miller said. The father was there recovering from a dislocated shoulder and other health issues stemming from a stroke. After that fall, nothing was done, Miller said. His daughters say he was moved to another room, where he later fell again. When my sister saw the pads around the bed, she asked my dad, Dad, did you fall again? Miller said. Days later, after they demanded better safety, they say he was dropped off at an ER. He didnt even know why he was there, Miller said. When he was discharged, workers refused to let him back inside. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement They met him at the door and said he doesnt have a room anymore, Miller said. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Maxeys family says they believe he was a victim of nursing home dumping an involuntary discharge where residents are abruptly sent to an ER and later told they cant return. Georgia law prohibits involuntary transfers in non-emergent situations. Facilities must give residents 30 days notice before a transfer. We got the notice on the 28th, and on the 31st, he was out of the door, Miller said. The facility sent the following statement: At Fayetteville Center for Nursing & Healing, we are committed to providing quality care and take all concerns and allegations seriously. We have been in ongoing communication with the family regarding this matter. While HIPAA protections prevent us from sharing specific medical details, please know that upon receiving the familys recent allegations, we promptly initiated a thorough investigation in accordance with all applicable regulations and facility policy. We remain steadfast in our mission to heal with heart. I just dont want this to happen to nobody elses parent, Miller said. Marvin Maxeys family has since placed him in another facility in Clayton County. They say they are considering legal action. Multiple explosions at a steel plant near Pittsburgh have killed two people and left 10 others injured on Monday, according to authorities. Video captured a massive black plume of smoke rising from the U.S. Clairton Coke Works plant, 15 miles south of Pittsburgh, around 10:51 a.m. Monday. The Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services reported that a fire had broken out. Ten people were transported to Allegheny Health Network hospitals. Five were in critical but stable condition and the rest have been released, The Washington Post reported. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials said at least two people were killed, according to the Post. One of those who died had been found in the rubble from the explosion and was taken to the hospital. The plant was stable by Monday afternoon, said Scott Buckiso, executive vice president and chief manufacturing officer for U.S. Steel. Authorities had declared a Level 3 Mass Casualty Incident, meaning the explosion required a large response from multiple neighboring agencies. Allegheny County Emergency Services Chief Matthew Brown said during a press conference that 20 EMS and 14 fire departments assisted. An explosion at a steel plant outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, killed two people and left 10 others injured Monday morning. (WTAE) Clairton Mayor Rich Lattanzi noted on social media that he was asking for multiple ambulances to be sent to the scene. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My prayers go out to anyone involved in this tragedy and their families and the community, Lattanzi said. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said there were multiple explosions at the plant, and that his administration was working with local officials in Clairton on the response efforts. Zachary Buday, a construction worker near the scene, told WTAE that the explosion sounded like thunder. First responders were working to try to rescue people stuck under rubble following the explosion. (CMU CREATE Lab/ Breathe Project) It shook my chest. It shook the building, then we saw the dark smoke rising from the steel mill, Buday said. Put two and two together. Its like something bad happened. Buday said he couldnt see the fire that erupted from the plant, but saw the thick gray smoke clouding over the area. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lots of ambulances, lots of sirens. It sounded like thunder, he added. Allegheny County Health Department officials are monitoring air quality in the surrounding area but said monitors have not detected levels of soot or sulfur dioxide above federal standards. Residents within a mile of the steel plant have been told to close doors and windows, set HVAC systems to recirculate and avoid drawing outside air into homes, out of an abundance of caution, the county health department said. U.S. Steel said the incident occurred specifically at coke oven batteries 13 and 14 just after 10 a.m. Monday. Clairton Mayor Rich Lattanzi noted on social media that he was asking for multiple ambulances to be sent to the scene. (AFP/Getty) " Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our employees and the environment. We are working closely with relevant authorities to investigate the cause of the incident and will provide additional updates as they become available, David B. Burritt, president and chief executive officer of the United States Steel Corporation said in a statement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The United Steelworkers union had health and safety experts at the scene, a spokesperson said in a statement. The USW has occupational health and safety experts and other representatives on the ground at the Clairton Works assessing the situation and aiding our members, said USW District 10 Director, Bernie Hall. While we are still determining the scope of the tragedy, we are aware that multiple workers are receiving medical treatment for their injuries. In the coming days, we will work with the appropriate authorities to ensure a thorough investigation and to see that our members get the support they need. Ten people were rescued and taken to area hospitals to be treated for injuries. (CMU CREATE Lab/ Breathe Project) The plant is considered the largest coking operation in North America. It employs thousands of workers. (US Steel Clairton Works) The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is responding to the explosion, the agency wrote on social media. Allegheny county, which includes Pennsylvania's second largest city of Pittsburgh, is a longtime industrial hub once dominated by the steel industry. The plant, which sits along the Monongahela River, is considered the largest coking operation in North America. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Coking is the process of heating coal above 1,000 degrees, and is a critical component in the steel-making process. The plant produces 4.3 million tons of coke annually and employs 1,400 people, according to the company. While U.S. Clairton Coke Works has kept many people employed and helped the local economy, the steel industry has dwindled in America for decades. The industry took another turn when Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel, once the leading steel-manufacturer, announced it would be sold to Nippon Steel, a Japanese steel company. Negotiations on the deal dragged on for over a year, but were approved in June after Nippon Steel agreed to allow the U.S. government to appoint a member to their board. The Clarion plant has had a slew of issues over the years, including several lawsuits over pollution coming from the facility. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2019, it agreed to settle a 2017 lawsuit for $8.5 million. Under the settlement, the company agreed to spend $6.5 million to reduce soot emissions and noxious odors from the plant. The company also faced a lawsuit accusing them of violating clean air laws after a fire on Christmas in 2018 that damaged the facilitys sulfur pollution controls. Pittsburgh-area U.S. Clairton Coke Works employs 1,400 people. (WTAE) The damaged control equipment led to repeated releases of sulfur dioxide, according to the lawsuit. Sulfur dioxide is a colorless but pungent byproduct of fossil fuel combustion that can make it difficult to breathe. The fire also caused $40 million in damage. Most recently, in February, a problem with a battery at the plant let to a buildup of combustible material that ignited and caused an audible boom, according to the Allegheny County Health Department. Two workers who got material in their eyes were treated at local hospitals. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The company also agreed to spend $19.5 million on equipment upgrades and $5 million on local clean efforts last year as part of settling a federal lawsuit filed by Clean Air Council, Penn Environment and the Allegheny County Health Department. With reporting by the Associated Press. Italy has taken a giant step towards realizing a goal first envisioned thousands of years ago. Earlier this month, the nations government and the architectural firm Webuild announced final approval measures to begin construction on the worlds longest suspension bridge. At over two miles long, the Ponte Stretto Messina will stretch across the two-mile-long Messina Strait, finally offering a direct transportation link between the island of Sicily and mainland Italy. While the monumental, $15.6 billion project is currently scheduled for completion around 2033, both local opponents and the regions environment may complicate matters. Its not a huge distance by most standards. But for millennia, generations of travelers have required a boat to cross Messina Strait separating Sicily and the mainland. Historical records indicate the desire to build a bridge connecting the landmasses dates as far back as ancient Rome, but a final result has never materialized. Today, the easiest and fastest way to commute between the locations is aboard one of the daily 30-minute ferry rides across the strait. Each tower is about the size of the Empire State Building. Credit: Webuild The 2.24-mile-wide Ponte Stretto Messina endeavor seeks to not only dramatically cut down that travel time, but also offer multiple transportation options. Webuilds current design includes three car lanes as well as a service lane on either side, with a two-lane train route zipping down the nearly 200-foot-wide deck. The suspension support itself will come in the form of a pair of 1,309-foot-tall ground-based towerseach about the height of the Empire State Building. Two four-foot-wide cables will link the towers and span through the use of 44,323 steel wires. Once finished, its designers estimate that the bridge will average 6,000 vehicles per hour and 200 train rides per day. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In a statement, Webuild CEO Pietro Salini claimed the bridge will be one of the most challenging projects in the world. Salini may be right on multiple levels. Ponte Stretto Messinas designs trace back over 50 years, each attempt shelved for various political and economic reasons. These included concerns of rampant corruption due to the Sicilian and Calabrian mafias continued influence and presence in local affairs. Two commuter train tracks will run down the middle of the bridge. Credit: Webuild As the BBC explains, local politicians are voicing concerns about far-reaching consequences across the surrounding communities. Democratic Party Senator Nicola Irto called it a controversial and divisive project that will take money away from critical resources including local transit, infrastructure upgrades, school safety, and healthcare Meanwhile, opposition groups like Calabrias grassroots No To The Bridge committee have argued that the plans need further technical evaluations, and worry about Ponte Stretto Messinas water requirements. They estimate building the bridge will use millions of gallons of water per day in an area that remains frequently drought-prone. Local politicians and grassroots organizations are still working to oppose its construction. Credit: Webuild Then there are the environmental and logistical hurdles to consider. A central reason why Italy has never built a bridge across the Messina Strait is the regions seismic activity, which ranks the highest in the Mediterranean. The strait also frequently experiences high wind gusts, and is a major hub for shipping vessel transport. However, Webuild doesnt sound particularly concerned about these issues. Suspended bridges are the most seismic reliable structures since they have a low sensitivity to earthquakes, the firm argues on its website. As a fact, a great number of this kind of structure is built in areas of greater seismic hazard compared to the Strait of Messina, such as California, Turkey or Japan. Armenia and Azerbaijan's neighbouring countries and international institutions have reacted to the new US-brokered peace deal between Baku and Yerevan signed on Friday - overwhelmingly with enthusiasm. However, the deal, which aims to end decades of conflict, includes a corridor planned in the Caucasus which Iran has said it will block. Irans foreign ministry cited concerns over the potential negative consequences of any foreign intervention near its borders. Russia, Georgias opposition, and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze have all welcomed the deal, with Kobakhidze describing it as the beginning of a new era of stability and economic development. The EU and the UN have also hailed the deal as beneficial for achieving lasting peace. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs posted on social media. including a link to the official statement. In it, the recent path towards this historic agreement is briefly summarized: "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." The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Nikol Pashinyan and Ilham Aliyev, signed the agreement on Friday in the presence of US President Donald Trump in Washington, after almost four decades of a bloody conflict, centred around the disputed region of Karabakh. In September 2023, Azerbaijan had reclaimed full control of the region after a successful military campaign. PHOENIX - From a deadly overnight crash involving a wrong-way driver in the East Valley to an explosion that left workers trapped at a U.S. Steel plant in Pennsylvania - here's a look at some of your top stories for the morning of August 11. 1. Deadly wrong-way crash on Phoenix freeway What we know A person has died following a multi-vehicle crash that involved a wrong-way driver in Phoenix. Big picture view DPS officials say the crash happened at around 12:03 a.m. along the westbound lanes of Loop 202 (South Mountain), between Washington Street and Priest Drive. The freeway was closed for some time as a result. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Read More 2. Explosion at U.S. Steel plant in Pittesburgh area What we know Crews are at the scene of an explosion involving a U.S. Steel coking plant in Pennsylvania. Dig deeper According to emergency services officials in the area, five people have been taken to the hospital. The plant is considered to be the largest coking operation in North America. Latest Updates 3. Man dead following Phoenix motel shooting What we know Police say one person has been detained, following a deadly shooting that happened late Sunday night. What they're saying Phoenix Police say the shooting happened at a motel near 27th Avenue and Union Hills Drive. Read More 4. Trump places DC police under federal control What we know President Donald Trump announced on Aug. 11 that he is placing Washington D.C.'s police department under federal control, and is deploying the National Guard in an effort to boost public safety in the nations capital. By the numbers Violent crime in D.C. is down 26% compared to this time last year, according to figures cited by our sister station in the area, WTTG. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In 2024, the city saw a 35% drop from 2023. Read More 5. Story 5 What we know A portion of US-60 is back open in the East Valley, after it was shut down for quite some time as a result of an officer-involved shooting situation on Sunday. Dig deeper The suspect, according to Mesa Police officials, is expected to survive the shooting. Meanwhile, the incident will be investigated by the Gilbert Police Department as part of the East Valley Critical Incident Response Team, while the Mesa Police Department will investigate what led up to the shooting. Read More A look at your weather for today Get the Full Forecast (The Center Square) Tennessee state Sen. Ken Yager, R-Kingston, said Monday he pleaded no contest to a DUI charge from December that happened in coastal Georgia. Yager also faced charges of hit and run; duty of a driver to stop at or return to the scene of an accident; and failure to yield. Those charges were dismissed. The incident happened on Dec. 3 on Jekyll Island. "Drinking and driving is a very serious matter," Yager said in a statement. "It will never happen again. Throughout both my personal and professional life, I have sought to act with integrity and accountability. On December 3, 2024, I failed to live up to those principles and let my family, friends and constituents down. I sincerely regret my actions and apologize." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Troopers said they were looking for a Ford Edge with Tennessee license plates involved in a hit-and-run incident on Jekyll Island, according to a report provided by the Georgia State Patrol. The vehicle was found at Jekyll Market. "Upon arrival, emergency medical services (EMS) were already on scene evaluating an individual who had tripped and fallen," the report said. "The individual was identified as Kenneth Yager, the driver of the Ford Edge." Yager said he has completed 40 hours of community service and DUI school. "I am also humbled by the kindness, grace and forgiveness I have received from family, constituents, colleagues and friends," Yager said. "I will work every day to continue to be worthy of their trust by remaining committed to serving my constituents and the state of Tennessee to the best of my abilities, as well as focus on how God can best use me to accomplish His will. Yager was elected to the Senate in 2006 and is chairman of the Republican caucus. A New York judge has refused a request from the Trump administration to unseal the federal grand jury transcripts in the case of sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell, the former girlfriend of late pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The U.S. government had failed to cite any special circumstance that would warrant release of the transcripts and exhibits in Maxwells sex abuse case, wrote Judge Paul Engelmayer of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York in an opinion Monday. "The Government's invocation of special circumstances, however, fails at the threshold," Engelmayer wrote. "Its entire premise that the Maxwell grand jury materials would bring to light meaningful new information about Epstein's and Maxwell's crimes, or the Government's investigation into them is demonstrably false." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The decision comes after President Donald Trump asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent grand jury transcripts in the criminal cases of Maxwell and Epstein, in a bid to tamp down further conspiracies over the government's botched handling of the so-called "Epstein Files. A Justice Department memo on July 6 stated that no further investigation was warranted into Epsteins alleged sex trafficking schemes. It also concluded that Epstein had died by suicide and there was no evidence of a client list of high-profile associates. A federal judge in New York declined to release the grand jury transcripts in Ghislaine Maxwells sex abuse case Monday. (Federal Bureau of Prisons) The memo caused uproar on both sides of aisle, and among Trumps MAGA base. Maxwell, 63, is serving a 20-year sentence for her role in a scheme to abuse and exploit girls with Epstein. The disgraced financier died by suicide in his Manhattan jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It is unclear how much the grand jury transcripts would have revealed had they been released. The Justice Department acknowledged that the documents contained no testimony from witnesses, outside of law enforcement. Experts have said that these documents only account for a small fraction of the files related to the investigations. Several Epstein survivors had supported making the grand jury transcripts public, while Maxwell had opposed the move. Her legal team has asked the Supreme Court to take up her case, and her lawyers argued that releasing the raw transcripts would inevitably influence any future legal proceeding and cause severe and irrevocable reputational harm. Maxwell has never been allowed to review the documents, the attorneys said in a memo to the court earlier this month. Maxwell was interviewed by the Justice Department last month as the Trump administration tried to contain fallout from the Epstein Files. During the meeting, she said that she never saw Trump do anything that would cause concern. She was asked about maybe about 100 different people. She answered questions about everybody and she didn't hold anything back, Maxwells attorney David Markus said. She never invoked a privilege. She never refused to answer a question. So were very proud of her. A Justice Department memo on July 6 stated that no further investigation was warranted into Epsteins alleged sex trafficking schemes. It also concluded that Epstein had died by suicide and there was no evidence of a client list of high-profile associates. (US District Court for the Southern District of New York) Soon after, she was moved from a Florida federal prison to a Texas prison camp, known as Club Fed because of its relatively relaxed environment. The prison also houses Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes and Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Jen Shah. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Separately from the Maxwell case, a federal judge is considering whether to release the grand jury transcripts that led to Epsteins indictment. The House Oversight Committee has subpoenaed the Justice Department for files in Epsteins case, and issued subpoenas to conduct sworn questioning of former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Former President Clinton and President Trump, were among Epsteins many powerful friends. Both have said they knew nothing of his crimes until he was charged and neither has been formally accused or charged with any crime. Trump and Epstein were friendly in the 1990s and early 2000s and were seen together at parties in Palm Beach and New York. Trump also called Epstein terrific guy" in a 2002 New York Magazine article, and flight records show that he flew on the financier's private jet. Their friendship dissolved in the mid-2000s, with the president telling reporters he hadnt spoken to him in 15 years following Epsteins arrest on sex trafficking charges in 2019. PNN New Delhi [India], August 11: The India International Footwear Fair (IIFF) 2025 kicked off at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, drawing major players from across the footwear industry. Held from August 6 to 8, the event brought together manufacturers, designers, policymakers, and material specialists to explore the latest innovations, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of footwear manufacturing in India and beyond. Among the notable participants, Rajshila reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to the industry by showcasing a range of high-performance material solutions tailored to meet the evolving demands of footwear production. For Rajshila, a consistent participant over the years, IIFF 2025 was not a platform for reintroduction but a continuation of a long-standing dialogue with the industry. With over four decades of experience, Rajshila has remained a steady collaborator to both large-scale manufacturers and emerging units, working closely to navigate the technical and operational nuances of the sector. At this year's edition, Rajshila showcased a broad portfolio of over 400 materials, including high-quality polymers, silicone rubber, fillers like carbon black, plasticizers, curing agents, blowing agents and performance additives. For detailed product information and solutions one can visit their website: www.rajshila.com. However, what continues to define Rajshila's presence is not just the volume of offerings, but the insight that accompanies them. Whether guiding clients on selecting EVA grades to enhance flexibility, supporting PVC formulation choices aligned with specific machinery, or advising on compound structures to meet performance goals within cost constraints, Rajshila's technical orientation remains central to its engagement. The stall design was minimalistic, structured, and thoughtfully segmented to facilitate purposeful interactions. In recognition of its outstanding showcase and valuable contribution to the footwear sector, Rajshila was awarded the Silver Medal for Best Stall Presentation at IIFF 2025. The award highlighted the design but what also stood out was the deep technical expertise that Rajshila brought to the event, along with the meaningful conversations and practical problem-solving that defined its presence throughout the three days. Speaking about the significance of the exhibition, Mr. Amit Agarwal, Managing Director at Rajshila, said:"IIFF has always been a space where we meet those we've collaborated with over years, sometimes decades. These conversations help us stay attuned to what's shifting on the ground, and that insight informs how we evolve as a partner." Throughout the event, Rajshila's team fielded precise and often highly specialised queries ranging from processing temperatures and new mould compatibility to challenges faced during production cycles. These were not introductory-level discussions, but reflective of the company's reputation for technical reliability and domain familiarity. With operational roots in Alipur and extensions across Faridabad and Bahadurgarh, Rajshila has grown with measured intent. It continues to work closely with footwear manufacturers across North India and increasingly in the East, including West Bengal, where the need for technically sound material partners is rising steadily. Its familiarity with varied machine environments and production processes allows Rajshila to interpret challenges quickly, even when clients themselves are unsure how to define the issue. This intuitive understanding was evident across the three days at IIFF. Several existing clients visited the stall to share feedback, review past performance, and plan future requirements. Some brought along their plant teams to better understand material applications. Many appreciated the new application videos and structured product layout, which made interactions smoother and more informed. In addition to its strong domestic presence, Rajshila also benefits from a robust global network. Its international partnerships and long-standing associations with leading manufacturers and research experts across borders contribute to a broader knowledge pool, one that informs both its innovation and its advisory capabilities. These collaborators are not just business associates but part of an extended family that shares values of transparency, reliability, and progress. This global grounding allows Rajshila to bring international perspective to local challenges, and to translate evolving market needs into relevant, actionable strategies for its clients. Beyond the numbers, what IIFF offered Rajshila was something more valuable, an opportunity to listen. These real-time insights, often specific to ground-level conditions, play a critical role in shaping Rajshila's roadmap. Whether in refining material options, expanding advisory reach, or improving distribution agility, every conversation contributes to long-term direction. Rajshila's commitment remains focused: to provide consistency, insight, and practical relevance at every stage of the production journey. It continues to be present not only at major trade events, but in the everyday decisions that shape manufacturing outcomes. In an industry driven as much by trust as by performance, Rajshila continues to be recognised not for the volume of its voice, but for the weight of its presence. It is not a fleeting name in the footwear industry. It is a name that remains listening, adapting, and moving forward with those it proudly calls partners. (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) ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) As students across New York head to college, the states Division of Consumer Protection is warning them to be alert to scams, identity theft and dorm safety hazards. New York is home to nearly 300 higher education institutions, the second most in the nation. Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said the independence and excitement of campus life can leave students vulnerable. Dont let your college student get scammed as they head off on their own, Mosley said. As the academic year begins, I urge all New York students to read these simple tips to protect themselves and set the stage for a safe and successful year ahead. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Officials say students are often targeted by fake scholarships, phony tuition payment demands, job offers that ask for personal information or upfront fees, and sham online textbook sales. Rental scams and misleading credit card offers are also common, as are counterfeit goods sold through fake social media stores. But, as Brighton Native and Sophomore at University of Miami Kelly McDermott explained, scammers have found hyper-specific ways to target students at specific schools. I definitely see a lot of scams related to brand deals and marketing, because UMiami is a really big influencer school, McDermott said. So its not the typical kind of scam that you might see on a different college campus. The agency urges students to safeguard personal documents, limit sharing of Social Security numbers, and only provide sensitive information to verified sources. Oversharing on social media can also put accounts at risk, as can downloading free apps or games from unverified platforms. Before selling or discarding electronics, students should wipe all personal data, and they should use payment apps cautiously since funds lost to fraud are rarely recovered. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From what McDermott has seen, she says most college students are in tune with the latest scam tactics and know what to look out for. You can kind of tell when its a random number texting you or a weird email address with a bunch of random links that might not seem realistic. If its too good to be true, then its probably not real, McDermott said. For those living in dorms, the Division advises checking smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, knowing the location of emergency exits, and avoiding overloaded outlets. Students should review evacuation plans, ensure fire safety equipment is working and be aware of the risks posed by lithium-ion batteries. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst. In the US, Yosemite National Park's largest campground has officially reopened after a three-year closure and a $26 million renovation project. Tuolumne Meadows Campground, a 140-acre area with 336 campsites that can host 2,200 visitors a night, reopened following a lengthy and expensive rehabilitation effort, the National Park Service announced. First built in the 1930s, the campground closed in 2022 in order to improve its roads, restrooms and sewer system. The campground is located along Tioga Road, about a 90-minute drive from Yosemite Valley. It's often used by visitors as a basecamp from which to explore the park's vast backcountry, with nearby trail systems that connect to a number of high-country alpine lakes, waterfalls and granite peaks. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Tuolumne Meadows is a treasured destination for families, backpackers, equestrians, and nature lovers from around the world," Yosemite acting superintendent Ray McPadden said in a news release. Renovations to the campground were funded by the Great American Outdoors Act, a 2020 law that set aside up to $1.6 billion annually for five years to fund deferred maintenance and rehabilitation projects on public lands and at tribal schools. Some improvements made to Tuolumne Meadows Campground include new and upgraded restrooms, 29 new hike-in campsites, new campsite amenities like picnic tables and fire rings, upgrades to the campground's water and sewage systems and restoration work to protect the nearby Tuolumne River. Improvements were also made to the campground's amphitheater, known as the Dana Campfire Circle. Reservations for Tuolumne Meadows first went up on Recreation.gov July 1, and spots at the popular campground are known to go fast. Reserving a spot there is complicated by the staggered reservation system, which releases 143 sites two weeks in advance and the remaining sites in batches on the 15th of each month, according to Mike Lee, founder of the campsite reservation alert app Campsite Tonight. Lee recommends waking up early to book sites at 7 a.m. on the day they are released or setting up alerts for campsite reservation cancellations. (The Center Square) President Donald Trump announced Monday that his administration is placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control and activating the National Guard to address violent crime in the nations capital. The move, made under Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, includes sending 800 National Guard troops to the district, according to the White House. Trump called the announcement Liberation Day and said it is aimed at reestablishing public safety. Standing alongside Trump at the White House, FBI Director Kash Patel cited Virginias recent law enforcement efforts as an example. Patel said that with Gov. Glenn Youngkins partnership, a Northern Virginia task force removed red tape, provided police with intelligence support and coordinated with the U.S. Department of Justice on prosecutions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In one month, we arrested 545 violent felons thanks to Governor Youngkins partnership, Patel said, adding that the same approach will be brought to Washington. Youngkin shared Patels remarks on social media, saying that backing law enforcement and reducing bureaucratic barriers helps catch criminals and make streets safer. Virginia Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears also praised the announcement, writing on social media that D.C. crime doesnt stop at the Potomac it rides our Metro, invades our neighborhoods, and puts families harms way. She thanked Trump for having the backbone to make our capital safe again. In Maryland, Gov. Wes Moore criticized Trumps decision, calling it deeply dangerous and saying the presidents plan lacks both data and a battle plan. Moore, who serves as commander-in-chief of the Maryland National Guard, said he takes the deployment of service members personally and seriously and accused Trump of using honorable men and women as pawns to distract us from his policies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Moore pointed to Baltimores recent crime reductions, noting that homicides statewide have dropped more than 20% since his inauguration, and said the city is now the safest it has been in five decades. We await outreach from the White House if they want to have a serious conversation about public safety, Moore said. But we wont hold our breath. Mondays executive order invokes%20The%20authority%20of%20the,delegated%20to%20the%20Attorney%20General.) Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which allows the president to direct the D.C. mayor to provide the Metropolitan Police Departments services for federal purposes during an emergency. Under the law, the initial control period can last up to 48 hours before congressional notification is required and may be extended up to 30 days unless Congress acts to end or extend it. Trumps order delegates operational control to the U.S. attorney general. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir said on Monday, We are at the start of a new stage in the fighting in Gaza. We will do everything to protect the hostages and bring them home. Palestinians in Gaza reported the heaviest bombardments in weeks on Monday in areas east ofGaza City, just hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he expected to complete a new expanded offensive in the enclave fairly quickly. IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir said on Monday, We are at the start of a new stage in the fighting in Gaza. We will do everything to protect the hostages and bring them home. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The comments were made at a widespread situational assessment at the General Staff Headquarters in Tel Aviv. The announcement of the expansion of the operations in Gaza left much of the public and - most importantly, the hostage families - desperate to make sure that their loved ones wouldn't be harmed. Hamas is still holding 50 hostages, and videos were publicized last week showing Evyatar David and Rom Braslavski shaken and starving. In Khan Yunis in southern Gaza, troops destroyed underground infrastructure that the IDF said were significant and strategic, and killed fighters operating against them in the area. The military said that troops destroyed tunnel shafts, and that in southern Gaza, an airstrike killed a terrorist cell that tried to plant explosives near where IDF troops are operating. An IDF soldier operates in Beit Hanun, Gaza Strip, August 7, 2025. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT) Zamir was set to hold on Monday a wide-scale operational readiness assessment across all military branches. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The assessment was to review precise data and tailored courses of action for challenges across all fronts, with an emphasis on the state of the reserve units. IDF apprehends weapon dealer in Syria A weapons dealer operating in southern Syria was apprehended by the IDF on Sunday night, the military announced on Monday morning. Troops are deployed in the area to prevent the entrenchment of terrorist elements in Syria, with the aim of protecting the civilians of the State of Israel, and the Golan Heights in particular, said the IDF. Israel has treated Ahmed a-Sharaa, the Syrian leader who broke the grip of the Assad regime in December, with a watchful eye. Sources late last month indicated positive relations towards him for his ability to prevent weapons smuggling activities led by Iran and Hezbollah. This could indicate future warming ties. Yonah Jeremy Bob and Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report. By Lucy Craymer and Christine Chen WELLINGTON (Reuters) -New Zealand is considering recognition of a Palestinian state, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said on Monday. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's cabinet would make a formal decision in September and present the government's approach at the U.N. Leaders' Week, he said. Several countries including Australia, Britain and Canada have announced in recent weeks that they will recognise a Palestinian state at September's U.N. General Assembly. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Peters said that while some of New Zealand's close partners had opted to recognise a Palestinian state, New Zealand had an independent foreign policy. "We intend to weigh up the issue carefully and then act according to New Zealands principles, values and national interest," Peters said in a statement. The government needed to weigh up whether sufficient progress was being made towards the Palestinian territories becoming a viable and legitimate state for New Zealand to grant recognition. New Zealand has been clear for some time that our recognition of a Palestinian state is a matter of when, not if," Peters added. (Reporting by Christine Chen in Sydney; Editing by Jamie Freed and Stephen Coates) Ahead of the US-Russian summit on Ukraine in Alaska on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Moscow of stalling for time. "I spoke with Canadas Prime Minister, @MarkJCarney. I am grateful for Canadas support for Ukraine and our people," Zelensky wrote on X. "I shared Ukraines view on Russias true intentions and plans. We see it the same way, and it is obvious that the Russians simply want to buy time, not end the war." "The situation on the battlefield and Russias wicked strikes on civilian infrastructure and ordinary people prove this clearly," the Ukrainian president added. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "We agreed that no decisions concerning Ukraines future and the security of our people can be made without Ukraines participation. Just as there can be no decisions without clear security guarantees. Until this is achieved, sanctions against Russia must remain in force and be constantly strengthened." In a further conversation with Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, Zelensky reported that both sides agreed that there must first be a ceasefire before the search for a diplomatic solution to end the war could begin. "We share the same position: first, there must be a ceasefire, and then the search for a diplomatic solution that will make it possible to end the war with a just and lasting peace." "Without clear security guarantees, any other arrangements would only give Russia the opportunity to restore its forces," he added. Zelensky emphasized once again that no decision on the future of the country and the security of Ukrainians can be made without the participation of Ukraine. By Yuliia Dysa and Dan Peleschuk KYIV (Reuters) -President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia was preparing its troops for new offensives instead of getting ready to stop the war in Ukraine, after he spoke to the leaders of India and Saudi Arabia on Monday as part of efforts to mobilise support for Kyiv beyond Europe. Zelenskiy won diplomatic backing from Europe and the NATO alliance on Sunday, amid fears that the U.S. and Russian leaders may try to dictate terms for ending the 3-1/2-year war during their Friday summit in Alaska. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "Today, there was a report from the intelligence and military command about what Putin is counting on and what he is actually preparing for. In particular, military preparations. He is certainly not getting ready for a ceasefire and war end," Zelenskiy said in a nightly address. He added, without providing any specifics, that Russia was moving its troops for new operations on Ukrainian soil. "There is no sign that the Russians have received signals to prepare for a post-war situation," he said. Vladyslav Voloshyn, Ukraines military spokesperson for the southern frontline sector, told Reuters on Monday that Russia was moving some of its units in the Zaporizhzhia region for further assaults. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In separate statements on Monday, Zelenskiy said he had spoken to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, both of whom have taken cautious diplomatic positions on Russia's invasion of its neighbour. India is a major buyer of Russian oil, and Saudi Arabia has pitched itself as a mediator in the conflict. Zelenskiy said he spoke to both leaders about strengthening Ukraine's position in any peace process. "Communication with leaders is ongoing practically around the clock we are in constant touch," he wrote on X. "Now is the moment when there is a real chance to achieve peace." In his "long conversation" with Modi, Zelenskiy added that he had also discussed sanctions on Russian oil. Trump last week slapped an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi's continued imports of the product. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement "I noted that it is necessary to limit the export of Russian energy, particularly oil, to reduce its potential and ability to finance the continuation of this war," Zelenskiy said, adding that leaders with "tangible leverage over Russia" should act. Zelenskiy also urged his country's allies to keep their sanctions against Russia in place until Ukraine receives security guarantees. Putin has also made a flurry of calls in recent days, speaking to the leaders of China, India, Brazil and ex-Soviet states to brief them on his contacts with the United States about the war in Ukraine. On Wednesday, Germany will convene a virtual meeting of European leaders to discuss how to pressure Russia to end the war in Ukraine ahead of a European call with Trump. Zelenskiy and EU and NATO officials were expected to join the meeting. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Earlier on Monday, Zelenskiy warned that any concessions to Russia would not persuade it to stop fighting in Ukraine and that there was a need to ramp up pressure on the Kremlin. "Russia refuses to stop the killings, and therefore must not receive any rewards or benefits," he wrote on X. "Concessions do not persuade a killer." (Writing by Dan Peleschuk; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne, Alex Richardson and Hugh Lawson) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday that his country will not let Russia deceive the U.S. as a meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin looms. Of course, our team is working with the United States not a single day goes by without communication on how to ensure real peace. We understand Russias intention to try to deceive America we will not allow this. I greatly value the determination with which President Trump is committed to bringing an end to the killings in this war, Zelensky said in an address, according to a translation released by his office. In his first few months back in office, Trump and his administration have pushed for an end to the war in Ukraine with no luck. Trump said last week he is going to meet with Putin in Alaska next Friday, hosting him for talks on ending the war in Ukraine. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement 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 his Truth Social platform. In his Sunday address, Zelensky said that each day, many people are giving their lives. But the sole root cause of these killings is Putins desire to wage war and manipulate everyone he comes into contact with, Zelensky added. We in Ukraine know Russia well and that is why, in extremely difficult circumstances, Ukrainians have endured more than three years of full-scale war. We will certainly defend our state and our independence. I thank everyone who is helping. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ordered that funding for combat units be increased: UAH 7 million (US$167,000) per brigade for each battalion engaged in combat operations. Source: Zelenskyy on X (Twitter) following a meeting of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief's Staff Quote: "I gave instructions to significantly increase funding for combat units and to do so in a way that is fair, so that brigades truly get greater capabilities. The updated rules are as follows: 7 million hryvnias per brigade for each battalion engaged in combat operations, which means that funding will increase by tens of millions of hryvnias." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Zelenskyy said there is now a clear decision enabling combat brigades to purchase pickup trucks, ATVs and similar equipment using direct funding. "This will work in the same way as funds provided to brigades for purchasing drones. We are enabling the purchase not only of new pickup trucks, but also of those already in use. This is exactly what has been requested in every brigade. During the week, government officials will formalise the decision in documents, so that this opportunity becomes available already in August," he tweeted. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding Ukraine's peace efforts and sanctions policy against Russia. Source: Zelenskyy in a statement Quote from Zelenskyy: "I informed [Modi ed. ] about the Russian attacks on our cities and villages, about yesterdays strike on the bus station in Zaporizhzhia, where dozens of people were injured in a deliberate Russian bombing of a regular urban facility. And this is at a time when there is finally a diplomatic possibility to end the war. Instead of demonstrating readiness for a ceasefire, Russia is showing only its desire to continue the occupation and killings. It is important that India is supporting our peace efforts and shares the position that everything concerning Ukraine must be decided with Ukraines participation. Other formats will not deliver results." Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Details: Zelenskyy also said that the sanctions against Russia and the need to "limit the export of Russian energy, particularly oil, to reduce its potential and ability to finance the continuation of this war" had been discussed in detail. The leaders of Ukraine and India agreed to schedule a personal meeting in September during the UN General Assembly and to work on arranging reciprocal visits. Background: US President Donald Trump signed a decree imposing an additional 25% tariff on imports from India. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon! The collaboration aims to train Indian youth in cutting-edge technologies such as 5G, Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML), and digital networking, driving India's digital transformation and the vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The advanced training programs will be conducted at BSNL's premier institute, the Bharat Ratna Bhim Rao Ambedkar Institute of Telecom Training (BRBRAITT) in Jabalpur. These initiatives are designed to create world-class professionals who will accelerate India's journey towards a connected, tech-driven future. BSNL's partnership with these global tech giants will provide students with access to state-of-the-art labs and hands-on learning experiences. Around 2,000 students are expected to be trained annually at BRBRAITT, positioning the institute as the epicentre of telecom training in India. "This is a significant day for Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, and the entire country as our workforce receives training from these world-class companies," said Union Minister Scindia. "The youth of our country will not only participate in research and innovation but will lead in these fields." Highlighting the importance of the collaboration, Minister Scindia added, "Today marks the beginning of a new dawn." "Today, we have a confluence happening. A confluence between the world and India. A confluence between India's talents and future for the world," he added. Looking ahead, the partnership is expected to foster innovation, with India's youth collaborating with global leaders to develop new technologies for the world. "Seeds have been sown today for a brighter, technology-driven future," the minister added. The Union Minister also requested the companies to put forward a proposal for team-building exercises. "Technical training is vertical; team building is horizontal. Team building exercise is also an important part of leadership," he said. (ANI) NEED TO KNOW The Melbourne Zoo in Australia just welcomed its first baby giraffe in nearly 20 years Female giraffe Nakuru gave birth following a 460-day pregnancy on Aug. 1 The zoo is giving Nakuru and her new baby calf time to bond before allowing guests to visit the latest addition to the herd A zoo in Australia just welcomed its first baby giraffe in nearly 20 years. Were thrilled to announce the birth of a giraffe at Melbourne Zoo, the first calf to be born at the zoo in almost 20 years, Zoos Victoria the official page for the Melbourne Zoo wrote in an announcement shared on Facebook on Aug. 4, along with a video of the baby giraffe. The baby boy who does not yet have a name was born to first-time mom Nakuru on Aug. 1, following a 460-day pregnancy, per News 7 Australia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Zookeeper Luke Hausler told the outlet that Nakuru was in labor for about an hour and a half. https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf We were all very excited when we saw the first signs that she was getting ready to give birth, he said, adding that zoo staff were pretty relieved that everything went smoothly and that they are excited to grow the herd. Zoo staff gathered to watch the birth over a live stream and cheered when the calf finally arrived, per a video of the moment shared by the outlet. The zoo said that they are currently giving Nakuru and her new baby privacy to bond, and that they will inform the public as soon as the newest addition to the zoos family is ready for visitors, per the Facebook post. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The birth of the new calf was also significant for giraffe conservation efforts in Australia. Giraffes are currently listed as vulnerable on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. This means that, while not endangered as a whole, several giraffe subspecies are at risk. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Out of eight assessed subspecies, two are considered endangered, while an additional two are considered critically endangered meaning the animals face an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild. The Kordofan giraffe has lost 90% of its population since the 1980s, and the Nubian giraffe has lost 98%, per the IUCN. The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! The IUCN also notes that giraffes are poached for their bones, and states that there is a significant amount of international trade in carvings and trophies made from them. Read the original article on People An explosion at a U.S. Steel plant near Pittsburgh on Monday left two people dead and at least 10 others injured, Allegheny County officials said. The explosion erupted at Clairton Coke Works at 10:51 a.m. ET, leaving some employees trapped under rubble for hours. One of the deceased victims was identified as Timothy Quinn, a 39-year-old father of three. Quinn was a second-generation steelworker at the same plant his dad worked at for over 40 years, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said at a press conference Tuesday. The second victim's family does not want their identity released. The plant is stable, and an investigation into what caused the blast is underway, Scott Buckiso, executive vice president and chief manufacturing officer of U.S. Steel, said at a press conference Monday afternoon. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement According to Pittsburgh KDKA-TV reporter Ricky Sayer, the explosion took place inside the plants reversing room, which is a specialized area within the coke-producing oven thats designed to help control air and gas flows during the coal heating process. Felt like thunder, Zachary Buday, a construction worker who was near the scene at the time of the explosion, told local ABC affiliate WTAE-TV. Shook the scaffold, shook my chest and shook the building, and then when we saw the dark smoke coming up from the steel mill, and put two and two together and its like something bad happened. Clairton Coke Works sits along the Monongahela River, about 20 miles south of Pittsburgh, and is part of the U.S. Steel manufacturing group in western Pennsylvania. The plant heats up coal to produce coke, a carbon-rich substance thats crucial for creating steel. Clairton Coke Works is considered the largest coke plant in North America, according to U.S. Steel, and produces around 4.3 million tons of coke annually. Nearly 1,300 people work at the plant, David Burritt, president and CEO of U.S. Steel, said in a statement on X. Buckiso said Tuesday that every employee had been accounted for. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Over the last few years, Clairton Coke Works has faced a number of lawsuits over pollution concerns. In 2019, the plant settled a 2017 lawsuit for $8.5 million and agreed to spend at least $6.5 million to reduce its soot emissions and noxious odors. The mill is such a big part of Clairton, Clairton Mayor Richard Lattanzi said Monday afternoon, according to the AP. Its just a sad day. A supporter of President Donald Trump holds up his portrait as the motorcade carrying then-President Joe Biden passes by in Emmaus, Pa., on Jan. 12, 2024. Looking for a break? Test your knowledge of this week's news from the Yakima Valley. Tesla has opened its first Experience Centre in Delhi along with the city's first Tesla Charging Station, marking a major step for the electric carmaker just 27 days after its official launch in India. The new facility is located at Aerocity's Worldmark 3, where the charging station is also set up on the lower ground floor. The launch comes after the debut of Tesla's first Indian outlet in Mumbai's Bandra Kurla Complex. With Delhi now on the map, Tesla has brought its second charging station in the country, as part of a plan to expand its charging network for a smoother ownership experience. The Aerocity station offers four V4 supercharging stalls (DC) and three destination charging stalls (AC). Tesla says the choice gives drivers flexibility depending on their charging needs. Globally, the company operates over 70,000 superchargers, and its 2024 impact report recorded a network uptime of 99.95 per cent. At peak efficiency, a Model Y can add up to 267 km of range in just 15 minutes. In a press release, Tesla noted that customers purchasing a new vehicle this quarter would receive a complimentary wall connector, allowing at-home or workplace charging. The company says this helps drivers begin each day with a full charge, reducing costs and removing the need to visit fuel stations. Visitors to the New Delhi Experience Centre can test drive the redesigned Model Y, which was the world's best-selling electric vehicle in 2023 and 2024. Orders for the Model Y are open on Tesla's website, with the first deliveries in India set for September 2025. Tesla also announced plans to launch authorised Tesla Collision Centers and Service Centers in multiple cities, along with a mobile service fleet that can carry out most repairs at customers' locations. The company highlighted that Tesla vehicles require less maintenance, thanks to fewer moving parts, remote diagnostics, and over-the-air software updates. The redesigned Model Y in India will come in two trims. The rear-wheel drive can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5.9 seconds and offers up to 500 km of range (WLTP) with top speeds reaching 201km/h, priced from Rs. 59.89 lakhs. The long range rear-wheel drive, with over 2,130 litres of cargo space and seating for up to five passengers, provides 622 km of range (WLTP). Its speed can reach up to 201km/h in 5.6 seconds at a base price of Rs. 67.89 lakhs (ANI) VMPL London [UK], August 11: Under the lights of London's bustling tech district, the Indian Tech Society Awards 2025 brought together a remarkable gathering of innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders shaping the future of technology. Hosted at Fluido, the evening honoured Indian-origin professionals making transformative contributions in cybersecurity, artificial intelligence (AI), healthtech, fintech, and deep tech, reaffirming the growing global impact of the UK-India tech corridor. The event, organised by the Indian Tech Society UK in collaboration with Tech India Advocates and Global Tech Advocates, stood out as more than an awards night, it was a high energy exchange of ideas, strategies, and visions for the next decade of global technology leadership. A Night of Ideas, Collaboration, and Recognition Opening the evening, Russ Shaw CBE, founder of Tech London Advocates and Global Tech Advocates, praised the Indian tech community for "not just participating but leading global innovation with resilience, trust, and ingenuity." His words resonated with the room, packed with over 100 attendees spanning investors, founders, policymakers, and technology executives. Shaw also commended Ani Kaprekar and Gayatri Panda, co-founders of Tech India Advocates, for their commitment to building lasting connections between the UK's thriving technology sector and India's rapidly expanding digital economy. Among the evening's honourees, Satyam Rastogi stood out for his exceptional contributions to the global cybersecurity landscape. Widely recognised for his leadership in cybersecurity strategy, AI Security transformation, and zero trust adoption by organisations, Satyam has made a career out of bridging the gap between enterprise-scale security needs and practical hacking simulation needs for organisations. As Director of Information Security at BAMKO and a global conference speaker at prestigious forums including TEISS London, and Cloud Security Alliance Summits, OWASP, DEFCON. Satyam Rastogi has led initiatives that have strengthened enterprise defences, streamlined compliance automation, and embedded proactive red teaming practices into organisational cultures. Recognising Leaders Across Sectors The Indian Tech Society Awards 2025 also celebrated other notable figures, each making a distinct impact in their fields: - Jyoti Dayah - Championing young women's participation in STEM education - Vishnu Chundi - Scaling fintech solutions across Africa and India - Shreeranjani Kanagavel - Enhancing healthcare accessibility through AI-led platforms - Dr. Sugandh Khanna - Pioneering research and innovation in clinical AI applications - Sumedh Kulkarni - Transforming EdTech infrastructure for scalable learning solutions - Mukhil Padmanabhan - Building secure, scalable SaaS platforms for global enterprises These honourees represent a shared vision technology as a force for ethical, inclusive, and sustainable growth. Themes That Will Define the Next Decade The awards programme went beyond recognition to host panel discussions and roundtables tackling key questions in the tech world's future: - Responsible AI - Developing innovation while upholding governance and ethical guardrails - Cybersecurity as a Trust Layer - Positioning security as a foundation for digital transformation in a borderless world - Tech for Good - Leveraging technology to address urgent issues in health, climate change, and education - India-UK Investment Corridor - Strengthening collaboration between the world's fastest-growing digital markets The discussions made one thing clear: Indian-origin professionals are increasingly in decision-making roles that shape the digital infrastructure of tomorrow whether in policy, venture investment, engineering, or product leadership. A Gathering of Industry Influence The evening's guest list read like a who's who of the tech industry, featuring Suki Fuller, Af Malhotra, Nikita Thakrar, Naomi Timperley FRSA, Pat Saini, and Priya Guha MBE, alongside founders, investors, and senior executives from across the UK and India. The networking sessions created opportunities for long-term collaborations, with conversations spanning AI security governance, climate tech investments, and cross-border SaaS partnerships. Honorees Driving Global Impact in Technology The Indian Tech Society Awards 2025 celebrated an extraordinary lineup of Indian-origin innovators and leaders whose work is influencing industries worldwide. Huge congratulations to all the award winners and those recognised this year. Please do visit their profiles they're worth following: Prachetas Bhatnager, Saransh Gulati, Anmol Goel, Ishaan D., Jyoti Dayah, Prateep Aitha, Dr Darshita Singh FRSPH, Ashraf Nehal, Vishnu Chundi, Dr. Sugandh Khanna, Teijas KY, Mukhil Padmanabhan, Pankhuri Bansal, Saurabh Maheshwari, Sumedh Kulkarni, Nishikant Kothikar, Sukhvinder Singh Nara, Hardik Sabhaya, Shankar Krishna Murthy, Sujathullah Panchi, Satyam Rastogi. The Role of the Indian Tech Society UK Founded with the mission of connecting, celebrating, and empowering Indian technologists globally, the Indian Tech Society UK continues to amplify the visibility of Indian-origin leaders in technology. Through mentorship programmes, advocacy initiatives, and thought leadership events, it provides a trusted platform where innovation meets ethical responsibility. Its collaboration with Tech India Advocates and Global Tech Advocates has created a powerful network that spans continents, uniting the best of UK and Indian tech ecosystems. About the Event and Future Outlook The Indian Tech Society Awards 2025 demonstrated the growing influence of the Indian tech diaspora in shaping global technology policy, product innovation, and ethical standards. By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the event reinforced the importance of community-building, knowledge-sharing, and cross-border collaboration. For attendees and honourees alike, the message was clear: Indian-origin professionals are not just contributing to global tech they are leading it. For more information on the Indian Tech Society UK:Website: www.indiantechsociety.co.uk LinkedIn: @IndianTechSociety (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) Of the 155 hospitals operating in Hungary, only 44 are capable of providing the main services required for active inpatient care. In other words, barely a third of these institutions have internal medicine, surgical, obstetrics, and emergency departments. Moreover, three-quarters of the population live more than a 15-minute drive away from these hospitals. And 15 minutes can be vital for someone in a serious, life-threatening medical condition (e.g., heart attack, premature birth, suffocation, severe bleeding): the patients life can easily be lost if they do not receive hospital care within a few minutes. There are few other EU countries like Hungary where people have to travel so far by car to reach the nearest hospital. According to Eurostat data for 2023, only 65% of the Hungarian population (6.4 million people) live within 15 minutes of a healthcare facility or hospital. According to Eurostat data, even in the northernmost parts of Finland and Sweden, 82% and 72% of the population, respectively, can reach a hospital within a 15-minute drive. In the two largest EU member states, Germany and France, this ratio is nowhere below 50%, with an average of 80-90%. In contrast, the average in Hungary is 60 percent, with the best figures coming from Budapest (99 percent) and Gyor-Moson-Sopron County (79.7 percent). The worst ratio is in Bekes County, where only 29.5 percent of the population lives close to hospitals (within a maximum of 15 minutes), but this ratio is also below 50 percent in Szabolcs-Szatmar-Bereg (33.5%), Bacs-Kiskun (39.7%) and Hajdu-Bihar (41%) counties. Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok County is just above 50% (51.7%), but the situation is not much better in Tolna (51.8%), Baranya (54.1%), Vas (53.8%) and Nograd (55.5%). Fifteen minutes may not sound like much, but in a serious, life-threatening medical condition (e.g., heart attack, premature birth, accident involving severe bleeding, or drowning), it can be decisive: the patients life may easily be lost if they do not receive hospital care within a few minutes. This is why it is important to know what percentage of residents can reach a hospital within 15 minutes their chances of survival are higher. In Austria, often cited as an example to be followed by the Hungarian government, an average of 70 percent of the population lives within 15 minutes of a hospital. The situation is worst in the middle of the Tyrolean mountains, where it is 49.6 percent, which is still much better than in many counties in Hungary. Eurostat, however, includes all healthcare institutions in its calculations, of which there were 155 in Hungary according to NEAK data for 2024: 82 were central healthcare institutions, 17 were municipal healthcare institutions, 4 were university clinics, 21 were businesses, 9 were church institutions, and 22 were other healthcare institutions. Incidentally, their number has gradually decreased over the past 15 years. What is more interesting, and gives a better approximation, is how far away are the hospitals that can actually perform the most important tasks of a hospital? That is, they provide active inpatient care in at least two of the following areas: internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics, and emergency care. The definition of county hospitals differs from this (they must provide care in at least five of 21 specialties), but these four most important areas are still found in these hospitals, so we only took this criterion into account for all hospitals. The definition significantly reduces the list of institutions registered as hospitals by the National Health Insurance Fund of Hungary (Hungarian acronym: NEAK): institutions caring for chronic patients or providing rehabilitation services have been removed from the list, as have a number of institutions providing active inpatient care, because none of the four departments are found in the hospital. In addition, we also looked at whether there were any department closures or transfers to other hospitals within the four departments examined in the remaining institutions. Thus, of the 155 institutions registered by NEAK, only 61 remained in which at least one of the four departments (internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics, emergency) could be found. Narrowing it down further: 57 hospitals where at least two departments could be found, 55 with at least three, and 44 with all four departments. The number of institutions is slightly higher if we also take into account the member hospitals of each hospital. 87 institutions have at least one of the four departments, 68 have at least two, 64 have at least three, and 48 have all four departments examined. However, only a quarter of the population can reach these hospitals/member hospitals within a very short time (a maximum of 15 minutes by car). The majority of the Hungarian population, more than 7 million people, have to drive more than 15 minutes to receive basic hospital care. Nearly half a million people have to travel more than an hour to reach the nearest hospital. Source: Atlatszo.hu - republished with permission ********************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Showcase Your Business to Expats in the Loop: As an independent portal were grateful to all commercial supporters who help keep you in the loop with fresh insights and inspiration. Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? If so please contact us here. Artificial intelligence is unlikely to become self-aware in the current structure, Laszlo Palkovics, the government commissioner for AI, said in The Bold Truth About Hungary podcast on Thursday. Palkovics told Zoltan Kovacs, the state secretary for international communication and relations, that self-aware AI could not be created "by accident", only deliberately. "But why would humanity want an enemy for itself?" the commissioner said. "We have plenty as it is, so what were looking for is tools or things that aid us, and those cant become self-aware." "So I think these fears are interesting and lend themselves to good discussions less so with mathematicians and engineers, but mainly with philosophers or religious scholars," Palkovics said. He said the kinds of models that could be developed and how fast they could be trained depended on data, computing capacity, a clear legal and financial environment as well as "the intent and talent that outline the possibilities" for the use of AI. Hungary, he added, met all of those requirements. Palkovics noted Hungarys Komondor supercomputer with a computing capacity of 5 petaflops, and that a public procurement procedure will soon be launched for a 20 petaflop supercomputer dubbed Levente. He said Hungary was in a good position when it came to computing and storage capacity, and the countrys energy mix covered the energy needs of a supercomputer. Asked if he thought Hungary should develop its own large language model (LLM), Palkovics said such an AI would not be competitive against international models as an LLM, but would be competitive in a variety of other areas. He said what mattered was the data such a model was trained on, explaining that Hungary was fortunate because it had structured data on agriculture, forestry, game management and the database of the Central Statistical Office. Source: MTI Hungarys national news agency since 1881. While MTI articles are usually factual, some may contain political bias, and readers should be aware that such content does not reflect the position of XpatLoop, which is neutral and independent. Since the goal of XpatLoop is to keep readers well briefed, right across the spectrum of opinions, MTI items are shared to ensure readers are aware of all narratives within the local media. XpatLoop believes in empowering readers to form their own views through complete and comprehensive coverage. To facilitate this XpatLoop has a balanced range of news partners, as you can see when you surf around XpatLoop.com ********************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Showcase Your Business to Expats in the Loop: As an independent portal were grateful to all commercial supporters who help keep you in the loop with fresh insights and inspiration. Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? If so please contact us here. Hungarys Competition Authority (GVH) has opened an investigation into Airbnbs Ireland-based subsidiary, over concerns that the platform may be providing unclear or insufficient information to Hungarian users. The GVH says Airbnbs terms, policies, and user guidance on its website and mobile app are often long, fragmented, sometimes contradictory, and in certain cases only available in English. Officials suspect that this could prevent users from fully understanding key conditions, such as how booking requests work or when refunds are available. The Authority also noted that Airbnb may not be making it clear that some properties listed on its platform can also be booked via other websites or directly with owners a lack of transparency that could, in their view, mislead consumers and potentially breach fair trading rules. GVH stressed that launching a competition oversight procedure does not mean the company has been found guilty of wrongdoing. The purpose of the investigation is to establish the facts and decide whether any laws have been broken. The process is initially set to last three months, but may be extended twice by up to two months each time if needed. This is not Airbnbs first encounter with GVH scrutiny. An earlier investigation, launched in 2016 and concluded in 2018, ended with the company agreeing to a series of commitments. However, a 2021 review found these had only been partly met, resulting in a fine of HUF 40 million (about EUR 100,000). The GVH has stepped up its oversight of the online accommodation market in recent years, including a rapid market review in 2023 that produced several recommendations to strengthen both consumer protection and fair competition. Founded in San Francisco in 2008, Airbnb now offers more than two million listings in 34,000 cities across 191 countries. In Hungary, the platform remains popular, with its Hungarian-language site drawing over 500,000 visits per month between April and June 2025. ********************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Showcase Your Business to Expats in the Loop: As an independent portal were grateful to all commercial supporters who help keep you in the loop with fresh insights and inspiration. Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? If so please contact us here. All previous records have been broken, the number of applicants to Hungarian higher education has never been so high, considering the general and supplementary admission procedures together, the Ministry of Culture and Innovation (KIM) announced in a press statement to MTI. 16,500 people submitted their applications to Hungarian universities and colleges during the supplementary admissions process. This year, there was an opportunity to submit supplementary admission applications at 44 universities and colleges; you could apply for one major at one institution. Medical, IT and technical training fields, as well as economics and teacher training, were also popular among applicants. "It is particularly pleasing that 57 percent of applicants chose a field of study that is important from a national economic and labor market perspective. These include, among others, IT, engineering, agricultural, medical and health sciences, natural science majors, and teacher training. We have built a competitive, attractive, identity-preserving, and community-building higher education system, and the results of the supplementary admissions provided further evidence of this," he announcement quotes Veronika Varga-Bajusz, State Secretary responsible for higher education, vocational and adult training. 35 percent of the additional applicants indicated a state scholarship program. Three-quarters of the applicants would like to enroll in a bachelor's program, and 15 percent applied for a master's program. The proportion of those choosing church-run institutions continued to increase during the supplementary admissions process: 19 percent of applicants applied to a church university or college. 65 percent of applicants chose one of the renewed institutions, and 9 percent would like to continue their studies at a state university. The score limits are expected to be announced on August 27, so prospective students who are successful in the supplementary admissions will be able to begin their studies in their chosen major in September. ********************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Showcase Your Business to Expats in the Loop: As an independent portal were grateful to all commercial supporters who help keep you in the loop with fresh insights and inspiration. Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? If so please contact us here. The British Broadcasting Company is planning to reintroduce a Hungarian-language news service, similar to its recently launched Polish service, BBC News Polska, the broadcaster confirmed to Media1. Currently, the BBC World Service operates in 43 languages worldwide. Hungarian could soon join this list as part of the BBCs ambition to expand its reach and provide independent, impartial news to more audiences. The new Hungarian pilot service is expected to be announced later this year. The move marks a revival of BBCs Hungarian-language service, which was discontinued in 2005 along with several other Eastern European language services. ********************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Showcase Your Business to Expats in the Loop: As an independent portal were grateful to all commercial supporters who help keep you in the loop with fresh insights and inspiration. Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? If so please contact us here. Major traffic restrictions are already in place in Budapest ahead of Hungarys 20 August national holiday, with some closures starting as early as 9 August and lasting until 23 August. The measures, introduced by police to accommodate event preparations for the countrys biggest public celebration, affect several districts and key riverside areas. Four Types of Restrictions The police have grouped the changes into four categories: Full road closures some streets will be completely closed to all traffic. Partial or time-based closures access will be blocked only at certain times. Temporary suspension of one-way rules allowing traffic in both directions on selected streets. No-stopping zones strict parking bans in designated areas. For example, parking is prohibited from 00:00 on 9 August until 06:00 on 23 August on: Jane Haining rakpart, from the Mahart International Ship Station to Sorhaz utca (Districts I, II and V) The riverside side of Sztehlo Gabor rakpart, from Margaret Bridge to the area near Halasz utca Vehicle Removal & Hotline Cars parked in no-stopping zones risk being towed. Vehicle owners can find out where their car has been taken by calling the polices free hotline at 06-80-180-780, as noted on police.hu. More: BKK.hu ********************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Showcase Your Business to Expats in the Loop: As an independent portal were grateful to all commercial supporters who help keep you in the loop with fresh insights and inspiration. Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? If so please contact us here. Abaliget in Baranya will once again host the international festival of the Hungarian Bluegrass Music Association (HuBMA), which awaits audiences for three days starting Friday 8 August with more than twenty programs featuring international and domestic performers of the genre. According to the organizers' press announcement, the free International Bluegrass and Acoustic Music Festival will feature prominent acoustic music performers, as well as domestic and foreign bluegrass artists. The press statement reminds us that bluegrass is an acoustic music style that originated in the United States. The genre is named after the plant known as bluegrass, which is also native to Hungary. The goal of the Hungarian Bluegrass Music Association, which organizes the festival, is to make the genre, which is still little known in our country, better known and loved by the audience. On Friday, in addition to the Limber Jack band, the Recept Nelkul formation, also a local resident, named after the local blues big gun Balazs Tarnai and previously known as Tarnai Acoustic, the Quart Time Lovers from Fejer County, the Miskolc Bluegrass Band Family, and the Kitchen Grass band, representing Slovak bluegrass, will take the stage. The audience can see the Pannongrass band, which was recruited from the youth of Abaliget, and to close the evening, the "tasty fingerstyle guitar show" of Tamas Szoke and Gergely Nagy. On Saturday, the event will feature two long-time returning guests, the Hungarikum Ensemble and the Revival Band. After two years, the local audience will be able to welcome Zoli Vas, and the cheerful, acoustic music of the Onkent es Dalolva Tarsulat will also be present. Triad of Strings, a group of young high school students from Pecs, will be performing at Abaliget for the first time, while Kentucky Harmony, also from Pecs, will be returning. Similarly, the Poa Pratensis Bluegrass Band will be playing traditional bluegrass, the innovative young band Lowland Hill will be performing on Abaliget's stage for the first time this year, and Lalaith, who debuted with great success last year, will also be returning. On Sunday, New West Acoustix, who are hugely popular in bluegrass circles, will be the star guest, followed by Nightingale, the Lohonyai-Nagy duo and the M6 Country Band. This year, the capital's Captain Brothers, who are no strangers to the world of blues as well as boogie-woogie, will perform for the first time. The church service of the Hungarikum ensemble on Sundays has a long history: this year, parish priest Imre Matyas will celebrate the Holy Mass in the Catholic Church of St. Mary Magdalene of Penitence in Abaliget at 11 am. More: The detailed program of the festival can be found on facebook.com/BluegrassFesztivalAbaliget and on the bluegrass.hu website. The Vidor Festival in Nyiregyhaza begins on August 22, featuring music concerts, theater performances, film screenings and exhibitions. The director of the Nyiregyhaza Moricz Zsigmond Theatre, which organizes the all-arts festival, Robert Kirjak, said that the event is being prepared for a new level, which is largely thanks to sponsors. He said that for instance they were able to invite performers to this year's military parade who they previously could not have due to financial reasons. He said that they had put together a program that would "move" the audiences. The main organizer said that they tried to please all ages, so among others, T. Danny, Manuel, the First Floor, Linda Kiraly and Viktor Kiraly, Miklos Fenyo and, in the spirit of world music, the Boban Markovic Orkestar and the Mali-Cuban-French blues-rock band, Ilektan will give a free concert on Kossuth Square in Nyiregyhaza. Robert Kirjak drew attention to the fact that most of the programs are free to attend, with the only exceptions being performances in theaters and screenings at the Krudy Art cinema. During the festival, numerous theatre performances await the audience on the main stage of the Moricz Zsigmond Theatre, the Krudy Chamber, the Rozsakert Open-Air Stage, the Bencs Villa and the Szinbad, but there will also be an evening when a play is presented on the festival stage in Kossuth Square. Most of the plays are part of the competition programme, with performances by the National, Thalia, Karinthy, Orkeny Theatres, the Jatekszin and the Orlai Production Agency, among others. The chairman of the jury for the competition programme will be Tibor Szervet, a Mari Jaszai Award-winning actor and director, who will direct The Three Sisters at the Moricz Zsigmond Theatre in Nyiregyhaza in the theatre season starting in the autumn. The event, which will take place between August 22 and 30, will feature well-known performers, as well as free children's programs, concerts, and outdoor film screenings in the evenings at several locations in and around Kossuth Square. Eva Rudolf Halkone, local government representative and chairwoman of the economic and legal committee, said at the press conference that the event has developed into a national and international festival over the past 24 years and that the event has a serious tourist attraction. She added that guests arriving in Nyiregyhaza visit the city and the region's landmarks in addition to the festival programs. The representative said that a three-year contract was signed with the Master Good group of companies in 2022 to support the Vidor Festival, which has now been extended for another four years. Master Good supports the event with 30 million forints annually. In response to MTI's question, the organizers said that the budget of this year's Vidor festival exceeds 180 million forints, and the program series is supported by the local government and the Ministry of Culture and Innovation, in addition to the sponsors. More: Vidor Festival ********************************* You're very welcome to comment, discuss and enjoy more stories via our Facebook page: Facebook.com/XpatLoopNews + via XpatLoops groups: Budapest Expats / Expats Hungary You can subscribe to our newsletter here: XpatLoop.com/Newsletters Showcase Your Business to Expats in the Loop: As an independent portal were grateful to all commercial supporters who help keep you in the loop with fresh insights and inspiration. Do you want your business to reach tens of thousands of potential high-value expat customers? If so please contact us here. In a significant move towards creating industry-ready skilled manpower, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) on Monday signed strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with four global technology leaders: Ericsson India Pvt. Ltd., Qualcomm Technologies Inc., Cisco Systems, and Nokia Solutions and Networks India Pvt. Ltd. in the presence of Union Minister of Communications and DoNER, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia. Aimed at accelerating India's digital transformation and strengthening the skilling ecosystem, these partnerships will roll out advanced training initiatives in 5G, AI/ML, networking, and digital technologies at BSNL's apex training institute, Bharat Ratna Bhim Rao Ambedkar Institute of Telecom Training (BRBRAITT) in Jabalpur. This development is a step towards a broader plan by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications, to establish a Telecom Innovation, Research and Training Centre (TIRTC) at BRBRAITT. Envisioned as an industry-led national hub, TIRTC will focus on developing telecom-specific R&D talent and a future-ready workforce, aligning with the Prime Minister's vision of Skill India and Atmanirbhar Bharat. TIRTC will also support product innovation, prototyping, and telecom entrepreneurship in the long term. The MoUs signing ceremony, held in New Delhi, was witnessed by dignitaries including Rakesh Singh, PWD Minister, Government of Madhya Pradesh, Ashish Dubey, Member of Parliament (Jabalpur, MP), Secretary (Telecom) Neeraj Mittal, senior officials from the DoT, BSNL leadership, and representatives from partner companies. MoUs were signed by A. Robert J. Ravi, MD, BSNL, with Tarun Chhabra, Country Head, Nokia India; Harish Krishnan, MD and Chief Policy Officer, CISCO; Nitin Bansal, MD, India Head Network Solutions, South East Asia, Oceania and India, ERICSSON India; Savi Soni, President, Qualcomm India. Addressing the gathering, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia described the initiative as "a landmark step in building a skilled and future-ready telecom workforce through collaboration between BSNL and leading global technology companies." He noted, "Backed by industry leaders such as Ericsson, Nokia, Cisco, Qualcomm, and BSNL, the program will train over 2,000 students annually, with Phase 1 investments exceeding Rs one crore." The Minister added that the courses--ranging from short two-week modules to intensive 84-hour programs- "aim to position Jabalpur as a hub for cutting-edge technology education." Reaffirming India's global ambitions, Scindia stated, "From local to global--India will not just make in India, but make for the world. Jabalpur will be at the heart of this transformation." Calling for stronger partnerships, he emphasised, "Government and industry are two sides of the same coin. Together, we can turn the aspirations of our youth into reality." Secretary (Telecom), Neeraj Mittal, highlighted the unique nature of the initiative, saying, "It's a private-public partnership where four companies, along with BSNL, are joining hands to train not only public sector staff and trainers, but also students and employees of telecom service providers through short, medium, and long-term courses." "And we hope that this will provide a fillip to the employment, economy, not only to the state of Madhya Pradesh, but to the rest of the country", the Telecom Secretary added. The key initiatives under these MoUs are that Ericsson India will help establish a dedicated Ericsson 5G Centre of Excellence at BRBRAITT to provide hands-on 5G training as well as online learning modules under the Ericsson Educate Program to 2000+ students annually. The students undergoing the 5G Onsite training will benefit from the classroom infrastructure being provided by BSNL. Students undergoing the online training part of the Ericsson Educate program will benefit from Ericsson's global curriculum, trainers, and lab facilities, creating a world-class learning environment aligned with national priorities. Qualcomm Technologies Inc. will set up a Qualcomm Institute at BRBRAITT, focusing on advanced 5G and AI training for students, BSNL trainers, and government stakeholders. The programme will include premium online content, live sessions, and internships. Qualcomm will sponsor training for the first 100 participants in the inaugural year. This initiative aims to position BRBRAITT as a hub for advanced, scalable, and industry-relevant digital skill development. Cisco Systems will leverage its Cisco Networking Academy Program to enhance skills in networking, cybersecurity, and IT infrastructure. Cisco will provide free access to online curriculum and digital tools, while BSNL will coordinate implementation across non-profit educational institutions nationwide, promoting equitable access to digital learning. The collaboration seeks to create a digitally enabled, job-ready youth workforce. Nokia Solutions and Networks India Pvt. Ltd. will support the creation of a 5G Centre of Excellence and AI/ML Lab at BRBRAITT. The programme will train 300 students annually in 5G radio, core networks, and AI/ML applications. It includes a joint certification programme by Nokia and BRBRAITT, with support from the Telecom Sector Skill Council. These collaborations strongly support India's flagship missions -- Digital India, Skilling India, Make in India, Startup India, and Atmanirbhar Bharat -- and underscore DoT's commitment to building deep capabilities in next-generation telecom technologies. By equipping India's youth with critical future-tech skills, this initiative will help shape a self-reliant and globally competitive digital future. In the long term, the initiative aims to form a broad consortium of Indian and global tech stakeholders to collectively drive training, innovation, and research in advanced telecom domains. (ANI) Tim David smashed 83 off 52 balls with eight sixes to rescue Australia from a top-order collapse in Darwin. Josh Hazlewoods 3-26, including two crucial wickets in one over, sealed Australias record ninth straight T20I win. Kwena Maphakas sensational 4-20 stood out for South Africa despite their 17-run defeat in the series opener. Today is the last day of G-20 in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Today Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha lashed out at Pakistan from the platform of G-20. Meanwhile, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Bilawal Singh Bhutto has been shocked after seeing the picture of G-20 in Kashmir and he has put a request in front of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Know what is that request. Commenting on the ongoing protests in Katni following the transfer of Superintendent of Police (SP) Gaurav Tiwari who was investigating a Rs. 500-crore hawala racket, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Saturday urged that the matter should be investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), adding that whoever is guilty in the matter will not be spared. A college girl was allegedly raped by five men near Chamundi Hills in Mysuru late on Tuesday and the incident came to light on Wednesday. The girl and her male friend, who was assaulted by the gang, are undergoing treatment in a private hospital. Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh dismissed allegations that he reached a settlement with the CBI in the RG Kar case, calling the accusations baseless and politically motivated. China on Friday acknowledged for the first time that it is communicating with the United States about the case of Ling Wancheng, the brother of a one-time senior aide to then President Hu Jintao, in a case that could complicate ties. A southern Chinese court has sentenced four people, including at least two Hong Kong journalists, to prison on charges of running an illegal business after they reportedly sent copies of their sensitive political magazines to mainland China. The Court has found that Pakistan had violated its obligations under Article 36 of the Vienna Convention and that appropriate remedies were due in this case, International Court of Justice President Judge Abduylqawi Yusuf told the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday. Politics has intensified on Bihar Madrasa Investigation. Bihar minister Jama Khan has issued a statement regarding this matter. Jama Khan said, 'If an inquiry has been issued, then it must be investigated, but all madrassas cannot be wrong'. On the other hand, Leader of Opposition Vijay Sinha said, 'Grand Alliance government has done the work of benefiting the special class. Yoga encourages us to live gently. It tells us that we belong to something greatthat our peace ripples through the layers of the Universe to create harmony in the world. That is a very relevant thing to say in these times. VMPL New Delhi [India], August 11: Returning for its 28th edition, the competition will provide founders and leaders with months of networking, one-on-one mentoring, investment opportunities, incubation, and essential insights into building scalable businesses. Last date for registration: 17th August, 2025 Click here to register for Asia's largest business model competition! https://www.ecell.in/eureka/ Last year saw over 25,000 entries, with passionate entrepreneurs and startups undergoing three rigorous rounds spread over five months. The winning startups stand to win prizes worth INR 2 crore! IIT Bombay's Entrepreneurship Cell (E-Cell), Asia's largest student-run entrepreneurship organization, has garnered support from UNESCO, Make in India, Startup India, and Digital India for its role in promoting entrepreneurship. For the past 28 years, E-Cell has served as a vital link connecting different elements of the startup ecosystem. E-Cell is ready to host its flagship business model competition, Eureka!, back for its 28th year. With 8 tracks, the competition aims to provide founders with months of learning, networking, and sector-specific mentoring, and investment opportunities to master the key components of building a scalable business. The event is tailored for early-stage entrepreneurs, particularly those in the ideation and MVP stage, offering one-on-one mentoring focused on developing go-to-market strategies. Eureka! 2025 promises to be grander than ever, with incentives worth INR 2 crore, 50+ venture capitalists, 300+ mentors, and opportunities to win sponsored visits to the USA to pitch in global entrepreneurship-based competitions. Eureka! is presented by Technosoft Engineering Solutions and co-presented by WestBridge Capital in association with BPCL, powered by FedEx, brought to you by Voltas, co-powered by UofT India Foundation. We are also supported by Sustainability Partner EarthON Foundation, Healthcare partner Emil Pharma, and Tattva by Somany Impressa Group as knowledge partner. Supported by Startup India, MeitY Startup Hub, iStart Rajasthan, Startup Karnataka, MSINS, Startup Bihar, We Hub, Startup Haryana, Startup Odisha, Startup TN, APIS(Andhra Pradesh, Startup Uttarakhand and many others. Get Incubation Opportunities from top Incubators including SINE IIT Bombay, iCreate, T-Hub, Razorpay Rize, EvolveX, NSRCEL IIM Bangalore, FITT IIT Delhi, and many more. Investment Opportunities from 50+ VCs including- 100X, 3one4 capital, Equirus capital, TDK Ventures, IIMA ventures, Ankur Capital, etc. What's In It For Startups? With over 25,000 entries last year, entrepreneurs will go through three intensive rounds spread over five months. The first round will feature on-stage mentoring to help founders build a robust business model, starting with the basics of creating a business model canvas. In previous editions, mentors included industry leaders such as Kanchi Daiya from Indian Angel Network, Amit Jain from StartupBay, Piyush Surana from Tomorrow Capital, and Pradeep Rathi from 3i Zone. The shortlisted startups will then enter a mentorship round with workshops designed to refine their business models and products. Founders will be judged on the viability of their ideas and their unique value propositions. Once the finalists are selected, they will participate in a three-day accelerator program to prepare for the final stage of the competition. The final pitch will take place at IIT Bombay's E-Summit 25, an annual business conclave in December 2025. Finalists will pitch their ventures in a closed-door event before a panel of industry experts. Last year's jury included Rajesh Mane from 9Unicorns, Reshma Jhaveri from Venture Catalysts, Rahul Baviskar from Swadeshi Handicrafts, and Douglas Peris from Hyper Accelerator, among others. The live pitches took place on the IIT Bombay campus in the first week of February 2025. The winning startups will receive prizes valued at over $120,000, including incentives from MSG91, Clevertap, GitHub, Zendesk, and many others. Investors on the jury will also have the option to provide additional funding to the participating startups. Beyond India, Eureka! has expanded to six countries in the GCC region, including Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, UAE, and Saudi Arabia. The competition offers a prize pool of $100,000 and a fully-sponsored trip to Dubai for the Eureka! GCC finals, where participants will pitch their ideas to global investors. Past Eureka! Winners include startups such as P-TAL, Sputnik Brain, Dehaat, BlisCare, Jeevan Lite, SPARC, MyWays, DocEye, Curomates, and AI-Genix. These startups also had the opportunity to present their business ideas at the Indian Pavilion during Dubai EXPO 2020, where BlisCare, DocEye, Curomates, and AI-Genix secured spot funding. Follow us for more updates: https://www.instagram.com/iitbombay_ecell/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/ecell_iitb/ (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) Kargil's apricots are reaching Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar for the first time, thanks to the One District One Product initiative. "This has been done under the One District One Product and Vocal For Local, Global Outreach initiatives," Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal wrote on X, sharing the news. The successful export of 1.5 metric tons of apricots is proof of the growing international demand for Indian fruits, said the minister. "This reflects the Modi government's commitment to farmers' welfare," the Minister's X post, written in Hindi, concluded. The Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry Initiative "One District, One Product" (ODOP) aims at fostering balanced regional development across all districts of the country by selection, branding, and promoting one product from each district of the country. The ODOP Initiative aims at attracting investment in the district and boosting manufacturing and exports, thereby generating employment in the district. ODOP is operationally merged with the "Districts as Export Hubs" initiative. The Developing Districts as Export Hubs (DEH) initiative is a flagship export promotion initiative of Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), with the vision to transform every district into a vibrant contributor to national exports. It builds upon and now incorporates the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative to streamline export potential at the grassroots level. Each district identifies one or more products or services with export potential and creates a District Export Action Plan (DEAP) to support quality, capacity, market access, and infrastructure. A District Export Promotion Committee (DEPC), led by local administration in partnership with DGFT regional authorities, oversees execution. Addressing the National One District One Product (ODOP) 2024 Award ceremony in July, the minister had that the One District, One Product is a unique initiative, and no other country has something like this. He added that local is now going global. (ANI) Actor Jackie Chan was honoured with Locarno's career achievement award, the prestigious Pardo alla Carriera, at the ongoing Locarno Film Festival 2025, reported Variety. During the masterclass at the Swiss fest, the actor opened up about his beginnings and reenacted his role in Bruce Lee's 'Enter the Dragon'. According to Variety, Chan played a small part in the iconic film. In the past, he admitted Lee accidentally hit him with a stick during a scene, but that didn't stop him from completing the take. "I'm no Superman. I am scared. Before a stunt, I go: 'Am I going to die this time?" admitted Jackie Chan as quoted by Variety. The actor also talked about his beginnings and how he developed an interest in martial arts. "I was lazy, naughty, I didn't want to study, that's why my father sent me to martial arts school. I liked fighting when I was young. Later, he asked: 'Did you like the school?' Yes, very much. I could kick the teacher, punch someone, whatever I wanted," he joked as quoted by Variety. According to the outlet, Chan started out as a stuntman, appearing in Lee's 'Fist of Fury', before eventually transitioning into acting following some childhood experiences on set. The actor also admitted that he never wanted to limit himself to just acting. Ambitious, Chan revealed that he wanted to learn filmmaking from scratch. "I do everything myself. Now, I tell filmmakers: 'If you only learn how to direct, that's not good enough'," said Jackie Chan. The actor's directorials include 'Police Story', 'Police Story 2', 'The Fearless Hyena', 'The Young Master' and others. On honouring Jackie Chan with Locarno's achievement award, the artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro said, "He reinvented, literally, what an action film is. There is before Jackie Chan and there's after," as quoted by Variety. Accepting the award, Chan recalled a conversation he had with his father, back when he asked him: "I'm 60. Can you still fight when you're 60?" Chan replied: "I didn't know what to say [to him]. But now I'm 71 and I still can fight." Jackie Chan was recently seen in the film 'Karate Kid Legends', which starred Ben Wang in the lead role. It was the sixth film in the 'Karate Kid' franchise. (ANI) Athiya Shetty, who recently embraced motherhood, has extended a sweet birthday message for her father, actor Suniel Shetty. As the 'Hera Pheri' star turned a year older today, heartwarming wishes have been pouring in, with the most special one from his daughter. Athiya took to her Instagram stories and dedicated birthday messages to Suniel Shetty. Along with a picture of the actor with her daughter, Evaarah, she wrote, "Happy birthday to the best father and now the best Ajja. We love you sooo much! Thank you for all that you are." She followed up with an adorable collage of pictures, including one from her childhood days and another of her Haldi ceremony. The father and daughter appeared to be sharing an endearing and fun bond in the pictures. Many other celebrities also wished Suniel on his birthday. Shilpa Shetty penned a heartfelt note for her 'Dhadkan' co-star that read, "Happppyyy Birthday SHETTYYYYYYYY!!!! May the Universe continue to shower you with love, abundance, and great health, my dearest. Loads of love." Jackie Shroff also wished the actor in his signature style, calling Suniel the "Asli Bhidu Forever." Suniel Shetty was recently in London with his family, attending the India vs England match at The Oval. Both Suniel and his son, Ahan, shared moments from the match as they celebrated India's historic win. His son-in-law, KL Rahul, delivered an amazing performance, emerging as the third-highest run-getter in the series. With a film career spanning over three decades, Suniel Shetty was among the leading stars of the 1990s and 2000s. On the work front, Suniel was recently seen in Amazon MXPlayer's 'Hunter Season 2.' The show also features Jackie Shroff, Anusha Dandekar, and Barkha Bisht in prominent roles. He is next set to reprise the iconic character of 'Shyam' in Hera Pheri 3. (ANI) Actor Rana Daggubati appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday after he was summoned regarding the alleged online betting games promotion case. Earlier, ED issued a summons notice to the actor for July 23, but due to Daggubati's prior commitments and shooting schedule, the artist sought time to appear at the Hyderabad Zonal ED office. Earlier this year, the Telangana police filed a First Information Report (FIR) against 25 celebrities and influencers, including popular figures like Rana Daggubati, Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverakonda, and Manchu Lakshmi, for allegedly promoting illegal betting and gambling apps through their social media platforms. The FIR was filed at the Miyapur Police Station in Hyderabad following a petition by 32-year-old businessman PM Phanindra Sarma. The complaint, lodged on March 19 this year, highlights a disturbing trend of celebrities and influencers promoting illegal gambling apps that violate the Public Gambling Act of 1867. Sarma claims that during a conversation with youth in his community on March 16, he discovered many individuals had been influenced to invest their money in these gambling apps, which were heavily advertised by social media personalities. According to the complaint, these celebrities are allegedly accepting large sums of money to promote various betting platforms, which encourage users to gamble their hard-earned money. Sarma himself was on the verge of investing in one of these platforms but refrained after his family warned him about the potential financial dangers. The police report lists several celebrities and influencers who are accused of promoting illegal gambling apps, including: Rana Daggubati Prakash Raj, Vijay Deverakonda, Manchu Lakshmi, Praneetha, Nidhi Agarwal, Ananya Nagella, Siri Hanumanthu, Sreemukhi, Varshini Sounderajan and many others. The petition emphasises that these apps and platforms are causing widespread financial harm, particularly among lower and middle-class families who are being lured into the false promise of easy money. The apps often rely on celebrities to build credibility, leading vulnerable individuals to invest substantial amounts of money, only to face financial ruin. The Telangana police have charged the accused under multiple sections of the TS Gaming Act and the IT Act, including Section 66(D) of the Information Technology Act, which deals with cheating and identity theft. The FIR also includes sections that address the promotion of illegal betting activities, with the investigation now being handled by Officer G Ramesh Naidu. "This investigation underscores our commitment to protecting the public from harmful gambling and betting platforms that exploit individuals for financial gain," said K Kranthi Kumar, Inspector of Police, Police Stations Miyapur. Rana Daggubati is known for his roles in the movies 'Baahubali' ', Baahubali 2', and 'Vettaiyan'. (ANI) The much-awaited official teaser for Tiger Shroff's 'Baaghi 4' has been unveiled. Days after teasing fans with a bloodied poster, the actor confirmed the release date on Saturday, only to add to the growing buzz. The teaser opens on a sombre note with Tiger's voiceover in the background. As the character recalls the tragic loss of a loved one, the teaser continues with violent visuals, actions, and a lot of drama. Tiger Shroff makes a fierce entry as Ronny, this time taking over as both the "hero and the villain" of his story. He appears fuelled by vengeance, armed, and driven by a rage that leaves no enemy breathing. "Har Aashiq Ek Villain Hain... No escape. No mercy. Brace yourself -- a Bloody, Violent Love Story begins. #Baaghi4Teaser Out Now," Tiger wrote in the caption. https://www.instagram.com/p/DNNOnZCSLyj/ Actor Sanjay Dutt is seen as a menacing killer antagonist, setting the stage for the "bloody and violent" story. "This is Dutt like you've never seen him before completely unleashed," the makers said about his role. The teaser also includes glimpses of the lead actresses, Sonam Bajwa and debutant Harnaaz Sandhu, who also ace the action scenes. Earlier this March, the makers released an intense new poster of the film on Tiger's 35th birthday. He was seen in a fierce and darker look, exuding a powerful aura. In the poster, Tiger's face was partially visible with blood dripping from his forehead while he held a cigarette between his lips. "This time he is not the same," read the tagline in the poster. https://www.instagram.com/p/DGr29KWyujD/ Sharing the same on his Instagram handle, Tiger expressed gratitude towards the franchise that helped him become an "action hero." "The franchise that gave me an identity and allowed me to express my eagerness to prove myself as an action hero...is now the franchise that is changing my identity. He's definitely not the same this time, but I hope you guys accept him the way you did 8 years ago," the actor wrote in the post. Tiger completed the shooting of 'Baaghi 4' in July this year and shared the update with his fans. With pictures of himself from the sets, he wrote, "And finally it comes to an end ... thank you for all your love and allowing this franchise to reach so far. Don't think I've ever bled as much for any film. This one's for you. #4 coming soon." https://www.instagram.com/p/DL4Sf-yS8Vr/?img_index=3 A fourth instalment in the beloved 'Baaghi' franchise, the film is directed by A. Harsha and produced by Sajid Nadiadwala. 'Baaghi 4' will be released on September 5, 2025. (ANI) National Film Development Corporation (NDFC) of India and National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) in collaboration with the Information and Broadcasting Ministry, have organised a three-day patriotic film festival titled 'Har Ghar Tiranga' in Mumbai. The opening ceremony was held at the NFDC-NMIC Complex in Mumbai on Monday. As per the official Instagram handle, this three-day film festival is a "cinematic tribute" to India. The ongoing patriotic film festival will take place till August 13. Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra shared his views on the patriotic film festival, saying that the event has been organised to promote the "spirit of patriotism" through cinema. While talking to ANI, Kapil Mishra congratulated the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and NFDC for their initiative to promote patriotism among the masses with the help of cinema. "The 'Har Ghar Tiranga' is an appeal made by the Prime Minister. To promote this spirit, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the NFDC have started a festival of patriotic films held in four cities across India. The Delhi leg of this festival recently began at Siri Fort. I congratulate the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the NFDC for this excellent effort. In the current era, where India stands eye-to-eye with global leaders, it is the duty of filmmakers, writers, and artists to promote the spirit of patriotism. This is the aim of the festival," said Kapil Mishra. Meanwhile, taking to their Instagram handle, NMIC Mumbai announced that actress Shriya Pilgaonkar attended the opening ceremony of the festival in Mumbai. Shriya Pilgaonkar is an Indian actress who has garnered fame in the film industry with her strong and defining roles in OTT series including 'Mirzapur', 'Guilty Minds', 'The Broken News', 'Taaza Khabar' and quite recently in 'Mandala Murders'. https://www.instagram.com/p/DNK5Uh0N8nw/ The opening ceremony of the three-day patriotic film festival marked the screening of Manoj Kumar starrer 'Shaheed' and Randeep Hooda's 'Savarkar'. (ANI) The 2026 series marks the latest collaboration from the creative team that produced "Tokyo Swindlers" and "The Queen of Villains." Naka, known for her role in Netflix's hit thriller series 'Alice in Borderland' and films including 'The Girl Who Leapt Through Time,' plays celebrity plastic surgeon Rin Tohyama, who believes beauty offers a path to salvation, according to the outlet. She'll clash with Matsuoka's character Fumi Numata, a dedicated doctor who reluctantly transitions from life-saving general surgery to the aesthetic medicine world. Matsuoka, whose film credits include the Palme d'Or winner 'Shoplifters' and 'Tremble All You Want,' portrays a physician whose medical ideals are tested when forced into cosmetic surgery practice. According to Variety, the series explores themes of transformation and self-perception through the lens of Japan's booming aesthetic medicine sector. Patients seeking physical perfection become caught between the conflicting philosophies of the two medical professionals, creating a backdrop for examining societal beauty standards and personal identity. Yuki Saito will helm the project, as she holds experience from the medical drama 'Unmet: A Neurosurgeon's Diary.' Junya Ikegami penned the original screenplay, continuing his collaboration with Netflix Japan following 'The Queen of Villains', reported Variety. (ANI) 'OMG 2' director Amit Rai opened up about the next instalment to the Akshay Kumar starrer film and shared that it is "going to be bigger" than the previous one. While speaking to ANI, he talked about 'OMG 3', saying, "Uska next instalment to aayega jald hi lekin vo usse bada hoga jo aapne dekha hai..(Its next instalment will be coming, but it will be bigger than the one you saw)." Giving further details about it, and if Akshay Kumar is going to be part of it, he added, "Vo to honge (he will be a part) as he is the producer of the film..film pe kaam chala raha hai...It will be released next year." 'OMG 2', helmed by Amit Rai, was based on sex education and starred Akshay Kumar and Pankaj Tripathi in the lead roles. The film was released in the theatres in August 2023 In the film, Akshay essayed the role of Lord Shiva's messenger. It is the sequel to Paresh Rawal and Akshay Kumar-starrer 'OMG: Oh my God', which was released in 2012. The ace director attended the closing ceremony of the Celebrating India Film Festival (CIFF 2025) in Delhi on Sunday. On talking about its relevance, he shared, "It's very encouraging that we, at a time when everybody's commenting that with the advent of OTT and other platforms, cinema is going to die, and we are celebrating 666 cinema at one place. I want to congratulate the organisers and the people behind this encouraging event. So all my good wishes to the CIFF for the future and for future endeavours." Rai shared that he is working on a very unique project, 'Dharma', starring Pankaj Tripathi. "I have just finished a film called 'Dharma', which I have made with 300 dogs. It is a different kind of film. Let's wait and see how the public will accept it. There are two kids and dogs in the cast. There is Pankaj Tripathi, Pavan Malhotra, Geeta Agrawal, and Rajesh Kumar. There are very good actors." Talking about Celebrating India Film Festival (CIFF 2025), the three-day event concluded with a grand closing ceremony in the presence of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. From felicitating legendary actor Manoj Kumar's son, Kunal Goswami, to launching Ricky Kej's latest album, Gandhi - Mantras of Compassion, the grand evening on Sunday at the NCUI Auditorium was a fitting finale to the three-day event, uniting filmmakers, actors, and musicians. Delhi CM felicitated three-time Grammy Award-winning composer Ricky Kej, acclaimed film director Bharatbala, whose film was screened during the festival titled 'Aham Bharatam: 'I Am India', and veteran actor Annu Kapoor. CIFF also recognised some best projects, including 'Life in Loom', directed by Edmond Ranson, which won Best Documentary. 'Humans in the Loop', directed by the brilliant Aranya Sahay, won Best Feature Film. While 'Guntata Hriday He' (Entangled), directed by Sainath S Uskaikar, was awarded for Best Short Film. The festival was held from August 8-10. (ANI) Akbar Khan hosted an exclusive private screening of the film in Kuala Lumpur for PM Anwar Ibrahim. After attending the screening, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim shared his thoughts on X, praising the film for its powerful reminder that the legacy of art, culture, and history serves as a timeless bridge--connecting hearts and uniting nations across generations. https://x.com/anwaribrahim/status/1954880201495810398 "Attended the special screening of the film Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story, as a tribute to a long-standing friendship with the renowned director, Akbar Khan. This work highlights the grand love story of Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan and his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, immortalized through the construction of the iconic monument, Taj Mahal. This story reminds us that the legacy of art, culture, and history is a bridge that transcends time, uniting hearts and nations," his post on X read. PM Ibrahim also shared a few pictures from the screening. Here are more pictures from the screening The screening marks the precursor to the film's first-ever overseas global release, with the official World Premiere scheduled for November 2025 -- also from Malaysia. A full international rollout will follow across countries where the film has never been formally released, including the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Indonesia, China, Japan, the UK, Europe, and the USA. On his plans of re-releasing the film, Akbar Khan, in a press note,expressed, "This re-release is the restoration of the film's rightful place in cinematic history. It is grand in scale, intimate in emotion, and a celebration of cultural heritage and the enduring power of love." 'Taj Mahal: An Eternal Love Story' starred Zulfi Syed, Soniya Jehan, Kabir Bedi, Manisha Koirala, Arbaaz Khan, and Pooja Batra in pivotal roles. (ANI) Telangana Minister of Roads and Buildings and Cinematography Komatireddy Venkat Reddy held a meeting with Film producers, including Film Development Corporation chairman Dil Raju and Home secretary Ravi Gupta, at the Telangana State Secretariat in Hyderabad to discuss the latest issues in the cinema industry, as per Minister PRO. Amid the ongoing tensions in the Telugu film industry, megastar Chiranjeevi on August 9 refuted claims of his involvement with the dispute. Chiranjeevi slammed the false information shared by individuals claiming to be members of the Film Federation that he met with the protesting workers and offered assurances over their demands. Taking to X, Chiranjeevi wrote, " It has come to my attention that some individuals claiming to be the members of the Film Federation have gone to media falsely claiming that I have met them and given an assurance that their demands regarding 30% wage hike etc., shall be met and that I will be starting shooting very soon. I wish to set the record straight that I have not met anyone from the federation This is an industry issue and no individual including me can give any unilateral assurances to solve any problem one way or the other. The film chamber is the apex body of the Telugu Film Industry and only the Film chamber as a collective will engage in discussions with all concerned and arrive at a just solution. Until such time, making such false claims is unacceptable. I condemn all such baseless and motivated claims to create confusion among all stakeholders. Please note." https://x.com/KChiruTweets/status/1954150018723790862 Earlier this month, the film chamber had issued a strict directive, stating that members of the Telugu Industry Film Employees' Federation have demanded a 30 per cent wage increase. https://x.com/tfpcin/status/1952047641275048079 "We have already been paying much higher than the existing minimum wages as per the act to both skilled and unskilled workers. This disruption will cause heavy damage to films in production. Chamber condemns this action taken by Federation as we have worked together with their members for decades," the directive read. Mentioning that the chamber has been in talks with the relevant authorities to secure a sustainable solution, they asked producers to strictly avoid independent action or separate arrangements with unions until resolution. (ANI) A first-year intermediate student studying at RNR Intermediate College, located at ISKCON Centre in Nellore city of Andhra Pradesh, was found dead under suspicious circumstances on Sunday. The deceased has been identified as Hemashree, a native of Rasapalayam village in Satyavedu mandal, Tirupati district. The student's parents alleged that the college management was responsible for their daughter's death. Upon hearing the news, a large number of relatives, along with the parents of students, staged a protest in front of the college. Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) Student Wing leaders and Students' Federation of India (SFI) members also staged protests at the college. Police arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control. However, until evening, the student unions and the girls' parents continued their protest outside the college. When student union leaders attempted to enter the premises forcibly, police intervened, carried out a lathi-charge, and later took the student union leaders and the deceased girl's mother to the police station. Speaking to ANI, Ashrith Reddy, YSRCP Student Union District President, Nellore, said, "Today morning, a first-year student in the college of RNR inter college, a student named Hemashree, hanged herself and this management, they have not even one per cent of responsibility to tell the parents? Till 10 o'clock, they haven't passed any kind of message regarding the suicide of that particular student and they carelessly have taken the body from here and placed the body in the premises of Enel Hospital which is nearby, half-kilometre and after placing the body, the management has vanished away from the place and till now, not even one person from the management have come here and addressed the parents or the student unions." "We, the student unions, representing different parties, have come here. We have been protesting since this afternoon, but nobody has come from the management, and nobody is addressing us or the parents and telling us some kind of responsible information regarding the suicide," he added. Reddy further added, "Student is undergoing so much pressure from the management regarding the studies and all, but the management still haven't come here and, we YSRCP Union are protesting since this afternoon in the premises of the college and hospital also, and the college management has sent the police to control us." (ANI) Central Zone Police busted a fake international police and crime investigation bureau office in Noida's Sector 70. During the operation, they seized multiple fake IDs, stamps, and letterheads. Speaking to ANI, DCP Shakti Mohan Awasthi said, "Six people have been arrested in this case. Almost one week to 10 days ago, they had set up an office in Noida, Sector 70.And after that, we came to know that these people were using the police logo, collars and without any authorisation." "They impersonated government officials and attempted to create a parallel system. The police received confidential information about their activities and registered a case under sections related to cheating and misuse of official documents. Upon investigation, the police found visiting cards, ID cards, chequebooks, and other documents, but no supporting documents to validate their claims of being a transnational police force," DCP added. He also informed that the six arrested individuals are from Bengal. He said, "One did LLB, one did MBA, and the rest four are 12th pass." On July 23, the Noida unit of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) busted an illegal embassy in Ghaziabad and arrested an accused who was running a fake embassy by taking a rented house in Kavinagar, calling himself a Consul/Ambassador, and travelling in vehicles with diplomatic number plates, ADG Law and Order, Uttar Pradesh, said. Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Law and Order, Uttar Pradesh said, "Noida unit of UP STF busted an illegal embassy running in Ghaziabad and arrested Harsh Vardhan Jain, who was running an illegal West Arctic Embassy by taking a rented house in Kavinagar, calling himself Consul/Ambassador of countries like West Arctica, Saborga, Poulvia, Lodonia and travels in vehicles with diplomatic number plates." The ADG further stated that documents of many companies have been recovered. Multiple fake stamps, passports, diplomatic registration plates, and cash - both foreign and domestic - were recovered. "Four vehicles with diplomatic number plates. 12 diplomatic passports of micronation countries. Forged documents with the seal of the Ministry of External Affairs. Two forged PAN cards. 34 seals of different countries and companies. 2 forged press cards. Rs 44,70,000 in cash. Foreign currency of many countries. Documents of many companies have been recovered," ADG Law and Order further stated. (ANI) Acting on instructions from the Police Headquarters in Dehradun, flood company personnel of the Uttarakhand Police carried out inspections of disaster-affected routes on Sunday. He left for the site of the incident on foot for search and rescue work. A rescue operation was launched amid a massive mudslide that struck Dharali village in the Kheer Gad area near Harsil, triggering a sudden flow of debris and water through the settlements on August 5. The cloudburst led to flash floods in the high-altitude villages of Dharali. Several houses were reported to have been swept away. Meanwhile, Uttarakhand Director General of Police Deepam Seth on Sunday reviewed the first phase of relief and rescue operations being carried out under the direction of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami after the natural disaster in Dharali and Harshil areas of Uttarkashi. DGP Seth conducted a high-level review of the upcoming action plan at Police Headquarters in Dehradun. All senior police officers and team leaders of various branches of police - SDRF, fire service, PAC, telecom, etc., who were sent for effective conduct of relief and rescue operations in Uttarkashi district, attended the meeting. During the meeting, the DGP took updated information of relief and rescue operations from all the officers - ADG L/O, IG PAC, IG SDRF, IG Telecom, IG Fire, IG L/O, IG SDRF, IG Garhwal Range, DIG L/O etc and appreciated the efforts made so far by the forces working at the site of the incident. The second phase of the action plan was discussed in detail in the meeting, and it was decided that in the second phase of relief and rescue, special focus will be given on the search and rescue operation. During the meeting, the DGP directed the Incident Commander (Search & Rescue) to coordinate with DM / SP Uttarkashi, Army / ITBP / NDRF / BRO / PWD / Health Department and all other agencies, divide the site of incident into different sectors, determine their responsibilities and prepare a concrete strategy to carry out search and rescue operations. The DGP also directed that an adequate number of SDRF, Fire, PAC and Police forces should be immediately deployed strategically at Dharali and Harshil sites to speed up the search and rescue operation. He requested that an accurate list of missing persons be prepared by coordinating with local citizens, village representatives, and the district administration. This list would then be used to prioritise the search operation and ensure necessary legal action. Moreover, the DGP further directed that the deep, dangerous and slushy areas present at the site should be immediately red-flagged from the security point of view, so that search can be done using special equipment during the search operation. The DGP also directed that the search operation should be intensified by making full use of technical and human resource capacity, like drones, thermal imaging cameras, victim locating cameras and dog squads. The DGP directed everyone to remain on 24x7 alert mode and ensure real-time reporting of every activity, so that quick decisions can be taken in case of any need or emergency. (ANI) Congress MP Manickam Tagore filed an adjournment motion on Monday in the Lok Sabha, seeking to discuss the a 'allegations of "Vote Chori" and Electoral Fraud in Mahadevapura, Karnataka'. Submitting his motion to the LS Secretary General, Tagore sought to discuss the allegations of "over 1,00,000 fraudulent votes allegedly added to the electoral rolls, with the margin far exceeding the victory margin in the Bangalore Central LS Seat" Citing grounds for the adjournment, he alleged that the "neutrality and credibility of the Election Commission of India (ECI) is being questioned, adding that there are "allegations that a systematic "model" of voter list manipulation is being replicated in multiple constituencies." Meanwhile, Members of Parliament from Opposition parties in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are set to march from Makar Dwar in Parliament to the Election Commission office at Nirvachan Sadan on Monday. The march will begin at 11:30 AM and proceed via Transport Bhawan. Earlier in the day, the Delhi Police said that no permission has been sought so far for the proposed march by the INDIA Bloc from Parliament to the Election Commission. Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha is set for a packed agenda on Monday, with multiple committee reports, ministerial statements, and significant legislative business scheduled for discussion. The day's proceedings will begin at 11 am with questions entered in a separate list to be asked and answers given. This will be followed by the laying of papers on the table by ministers from various departments, including Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for the Ministry of Culture; Jayant Chaudhary for the Ministry of Education; Pankaj Chaudhary for the Ministry of Finance; Kirtivardhan Singh for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; and Sukanta Majumdar for Ministry of Education. (ANI) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat expressed concern over the "commercialisation" of the health and education institutions in the country. Addressing the public after inaugurating the Cancer Care Centre at Madhav Srishti Arogya Kendra in Madhya Pradesh's Indore, Bhagwat said that both sectors, once considered acts of service, have now become unaffordable and inaccessible for the common man. "Everyone feels the need for education and healthcare, but both are out of the reach of common man's financial abilities. It is not easily accessible and affordable. The education and health institutions are increasing but they are now out of the abilities of common man. This is because earlier they were provided with the intent of 'seva' (service), but now they have been commercialised," RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat said. Bhagwat argued that the commercialisation of these institutions has led to centralisation and outlined the need to reinstate the notion of service with these institutions. "The society needs such medical treatment which is simple and accessible. Centralisation also happens due to commercialisation; it is the era of corporations, so education gets affected. Earlier, there used to be 70-70 educational centres in each province, people used to send their children there and they got an education. Now, students have to go far away for education. It is the same with medical treatment also, because it has been centralised. When people go for medical treatment, there are expenses for accommodation, food, etc. Many things happen in this course. That is why a simple, easy, and low-cost treatment is required. Its basic solution is that all this should be done with a feeling of service," Mohan Bhagwat said. Mohan Bhagwat distinguished between Western philosophy of "survival of the fittest" and Indian philosophy, saying that our philosophy is that "the capable one would revive everyone." "CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) is a very technical and formal term. The term we have for this is 'Dharma'. 'Dharma' means shouldering our social responsibility. 'Dharma' connects and elevates society. The West says that only the capable would survive - Survival of the Fittest. Here (in India), they say that the capable ones would revive everyone," Bhagwat said. "That's why, we have 'Vidya Dadati Vinayam, Vinayam Yati Patratam, Patratvad Dhanam Aapnoti, Dhanat Dharmam Tato Sukham. If you use wealth for the welfare of society, it gives peace," he added. (ANI) Members of Parliament from Opposition parties in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are set to march from Makar Dwar in Parliament to the Election Commission office at Nirvachan Sadan on Monday. The march will begin at 11:30 AM and proceed via Transport Bhawan. Earlier in the day, the Delhi Police said that no permission has been sought so far for the proposed march by the INDIA Bloc from Parliament to the Election Commission. On Sunday, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said that the INDIA bloc MPs had marched from the Parliament to the Election Commission's office on Monday to protest the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "voter fraud" during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. At a press conference, Digvijaya Singh alleged that all the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) were filling out "fake forms" in one room. He stated, "Rahul Gandhi put forward such facts that no one could deny... The name of one person appeared at multiple locations, including polling booths... Rahul Gandhi's demand was for electronic data of the voter list, which could be scanned using software to determine how many votes were cast on a single EPIC number... The reason for the SIR happening in Bihar was questioned. It had been thoroughly tested in 2003, which took 2 years in Bihar, but this time they wanted to do it in 1 month..." Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha is set for a packed agenda on Monday, with multiple committee reports, ministerial statements, and significant legislative business scheduled for discussion. The day's proceedings will begin at 11 am with questions entered in a separate list to be asked and answers given. This will be followed by the laying of papers on the table by ministers from various departments, including Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for the Ministry of Culture; Jayant Chaudhary for the Ministry of Education; Pankaj Chaudhary for the Ministry of Finance; Kirtivardhan Singh for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; and Sukanta Majumdar for Ministry of Education. (ANI) Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking information about the whereabouts of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar. "What exactly has happened to our Vice President (Jagdeep Dhankhar)? Where is he? How is his health? Is he safe? The nation deserves to know the truth about these questions," Raut said in his letter. Dhankhar resigned from his post on July 21, citing health reasons. Multiple Opposition leaders have repeatedly raised questions over the resignation of Jagdeep Dhankhar, claiming that the former VP might have been forced to resign due to differences between leaders. Raut said in his letter that rumours are circulating in Delhi that Dhankhar has been confined to his residence and is reportedly not safe. "On July 21, the Parliament session commenced. At 11 a.m., Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar initiated the proceedings. During the session, he appeared normal and conducted the session in a usual manner," Raut wrote. "There was a verbal altercation between him and the Leader of the Opposition, Mallikarjun Kharge, after which the House proceedings were adjourned for the day. This suggests that the Chairman's health was fine at that time. However, after 6 p.m. on the same day, it was announced that the Vice President had resigned from his post, citing health reasons. This was shocking for everyone," he added. He said that what is even more shocking and disturbing is the fact that from July 21 till today, there has been no information about the whereabouts of Dhankhar. "What is his current location? How is his health? There is no clarity on these matters," he said. Raut claimed that some members of the Rajya Sabha attempted to contact Dhankhar but were unsuccessful. "There has been no communication with him or his staff, which is a matter of grave concern," he said. "In fact, some colleagues from the Rajya Sabha are even contemplating filing a writ petition of Habeas Corpus in the Supreme Court, as we are genuinely worried about the whereabouts of Dhankar and whether he is safe and healthy." "Before knocking on the doors of the Supreme Court, I thought it to be prudent to seek this information from you. I hope you will understand my sentiments and provide genuine information regarding Shri. Dhankhar's current whereabouts, his safety, and health," he said. Earlier on Saturday, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said that the whereabouts of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar have not been known since his resignation and demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah issue a statement on the matter. "After his resignation, we do not know anything about his whereabouts. I had previously heard about the 'Laapataa Ladies,' but this is the first time I have heard about the 'Laapataa' vice president," Sibal told reporters. (ANI) According to the Nowcast by IMD, in Haryana, heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning, and sudden strong winds (30-40 kmph) is very likely in parts of Radaur, Barara, Jagadhri, and Chhachhrauli. Moderate rainfall under similar conditions is expected in Indri, Thanesar, Nilokheri, Radaur, Barara, Jagadhri, Chhachhrauli, Narayangarh, Panchkula, Shahabad, and Ambala. Light rain is predicted for Karnal, Indri, Thanesar, Kaithal, Nilokheri, Chhachhrauli, Narayangarh, Panchkula, Pehowa, Shahabad, Ambala, Chandigarh, and Kalka. IMD has issued a red alert for Yamuna Nagar in Haryana till 10:55 AM, predicting moderate thunderstorms with gusts at the speed of 41-61 kmph and heavy rain of more than 15 mm per hour. A yellow alert has been issued for Ambala, Kurukshetra, and Karnal till 10:41 AM, with less than 5 mm per hour rainfall prediction. In Punjab, moderate rain along with thunderstorms and lightning is very likely in Dera Bassi. Light rain is expected in Patiala, Rajpura, Dera Bassi, Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali, Bassi Pathana, Chandigarh, Kharar, Chamkaur Sahib, and Rup Nagar. Hoshiarpur in Punjab is on a yellow alert till 10:39 AM with less than 5 mm per hour rainfall prediction. The IMD has urged residents in affected areas to stay alert, be prepared for sudden weather changes, and take necessary precautions to avoid risks from lightning and strong winds. According to a press release, the IMD has predicted isolated heavy rainfall over Punjab on August 11,14, and 15, while Haryana, Chandigarh, and Delhi are likely to receive heavy rainfall on August 11 and from August 13-15. Both states are likely to receive heavy rainfall from August 13-16, as per the Subdivision Warning issued by the meteorological department. (ANI) Member of Parliament (MP) in Rajya Sabha, from the Congress Party, Ranjeet Ranjan, has given a notice of motion to discuss the "concerns around the inclusiveness and fairness of the electoral process" The MP from Supaul, Bihar, Ranjan, addressed her letter to the Secretary-General of the Rajya Sabha stating, "I hereby give notice under Rule 267 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States (Rajya Sabha) of my intention to move the following motion for the suspension of business listed for 11 August 2025: That this House suspend Zero Hour and the relevant rules pertaining to Question Hour and other businesses of the day to discuss the concerns around the inclusiveness and fairness of our electoral processes. Serious apprehensions regarding the potential disenfranchisement of marginalised sections of society, who face migration, displacement, and documentation-related vulnerabilities, need to be discussed to ensure inclusivity in democratic exercises." Alongside Ranjan, and an All India Congress Committee in-charge for Jammu & Kashmir, Rajani Ashokrao Patil, wrote on similar lines to the Secretary-General on Sunday. Her letter read, "That this House suspend Zero Hour and the relevant rules about Question Hour and other businesses of the day to discuss the concerns arising about the integrity, inclusiveness, and fairness of the electoral process." The Rajya Sabha MP Rajani Patil's letter further read, "The house must deliberate on the steps necessary to uphold universal adult suffrage and protect the democratic rights of all, particularly in view of concerns that had emerged in Maharashtra during the 2024 Legislative Assembly Elections." Meanwhile, Members of Parliament from Opposition parties in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are set to march from Makar Dwar in Parliament to the Election Commission office at Nirvachan Sadan on Monday.The march will begin at 11:30 AM and proceed via Transport Bhawan. Earlier in the day, the Delhi Police said that no permission has been sought so far for the proposed march by the INDIA Bloc from Parliament to the Election Commission. (ANI) Telangana Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy on Monday came out in support of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's allegations of "vote theft," during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and alleged that the Election Commisison is turning a "blind eye" and the very "essence of democracy is being threatned" due to the poll body. Reddy told ANI, "Rahul Gandhi has done an exclusive revolution to protect democracy... The Election Commission is either turning a blind eye, or is negligent, incapable or incompetent and our very essence of democracy is being threatened because of it..." Meanwhile, Kerala BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar slammed Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi over his allegations of electoral malpractises during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and accused him of having a "track record of manufacturing stories" and allegations against the Constitutional bodies. Rajeev Chandrasekhar told ANI on Sunday, "...Rahul Gandhi has a track record of manufacturing stories and allegations against Constitutional bodies, against Government, against the Indian armed forces. We have seen this in 2019 with Pulwama. We saw this in 2008 during the Mumbai attack. They will always manufacture a story and you must ask today why is he doing this. I will tell you my theory" The BJP leader further accused the Congress MP of distracting the party leadership following a series of electoral losses under his leadership."The Congress party today is a very disgruntled party. After repeated losses under Rahul Gandhi, the Congress party is in a churn. To distract the Congress party leadership, the Congress party workers, Rahul Gandhi manufactures these controversies..." He noted that the electoral rolls are accessible for scrutiny and said criticised Rahul Gandhi for being on the "vaction all the time", referring to his foreign trips" Everybody who today is in politics, knows that the electoral rolls are available to every political party for scrutiny before elections. Rahul Gandhi doesn't know it because he is on vacation all the time. We are not to blame, the people of India are not to blame...Uptil now, he was blaming the EVMs. Now he has abandoned the EVM, now he is going to electoral roll." Meanwhile, after Sunday's notice issued by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Karnataka and the reminder from the CEO of Haryana, the Election Commission has once again reiterated its strict decision that Rahul Gandhi still has time to give a declaration on the first letter of the CEO of Karnataka and a reminder from the of CEO Haryana or apologise to the country. The Karnataka CEO has asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to submit documents to inquire into his "vote theft" allegations against the ECI. In a letter dated August 10, the Karnataka CEO stated that Rahul Gandhi has claimed to have documents presented during his August 7 press conference from the Election Commission of India records, alleging that a voter, Shakun Rani, voted twice based on data shown by a polling officer. The polling body further stated that upon preliminary inquiry, Shakun Rani has denied voting twice. The CEO's office also found that the tick-marked document presented by Rahul Gandhi was not issued by the polling officer, raising questions about the authenticity of the claim. The Karnataka CEO requested Rahul Gandhi to provide the relevant documents that form the basis of his allegation so that a detailed investigation can be conducted by the Karnataka electoral authorities. (ANI) BJP MP Jagdambika Pal on Monday criticised the INDIA bloc MPs over their march from Parliament to the Election Commission to protest the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and accused them of disrupting proceedings since the first day of the monsoon session of Parliament. He also reteriated the stand of the Election Commisison asking Rahul Gandhi , who is leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, to submit under oath his allegations of "vote theft" in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Speaking to ANI, Pal said,"They have not been allowing the House to function from the day first... The way Rahul Gandhi is making allegations against the Election Commission, the Election Commission is asking for evidence, saying If you have any proof, show it." He also responded to the allegations of RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav that Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Sinha has "two EPIC numbers, each with a different address and age" He added,"Tejashwi Yadav himself has two EPIC cards. We should discuss the schemes that are for the welfare of the public." Earlier today, security was tightened and barricades put up outside the Transport Bhawan as the INDIA bloc MPs prepared to march from Parliament to the EC headquarters. The protest is aimed at opposing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and what the opposition terms as "voter fraud" during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Members of Parliament from Opposition parties in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are set to march from Makar Dwar in Parliament to the Election Commission office at Nirvachan Sadan on Monday. The march will begin at 11:30 AM and proceed via Transport Bhawan. The Delhi Police said that no permission has been sought so far for the proposed march by the INDIA Bloc from Parliament to the Election Commission. Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha is set for a packed agenda on Monday, with multiple committee reports, ministerial statements, and significant legislative business scheduled for discussion.The day's proceedings will begin at 11 am with questions entered in a separate list to be asked and answers given. This will be followed by the laying of papers on the table by ministers from various departments, including Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for the Ministry of Culture; Jayant Chaudhary for the Ministry of Education; Pankaj Chaudhary for the Ministry of Finance; Kirtivardhan Singh for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; and Sukanta Majumdar for Ministry of Education. (ANI) The Election Commission of India has granted an appointment for an interaction at 12 PM on Monday on the request of the Congress Party. In a letter addressed to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, the Election Commission of India's secretariat stated that the Commission has considered the request and decided to grant an appointment for an interaction. The appointment is granted in response to Jairam Ramesh's request on "behalf of certain political parties". The Election Commission has requested to submit the names of upto 30 people along with their vehicle numbers for the interaction due to the limitation of space. The agenda of the meeting is not mentioned in the letter. However, the Opposition has been constantly raising questions over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, accusing the poll body of "vote theft" The INDIA bloc has also announced a protest march from Parliament to the office of the Election Commission on Monday in protest against the SIR of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. Addressing a press conference, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh alleged that all the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are filling out "fake forms" in one room while making the announcement for the march. "All the BLOs are filling out fake forms in one room. The Election Commission says that so many people have died, but their list is not given... And tomorrow the MPs of the entire INDIA alliance, who are from all parties except the BJP and NDA alliance MPs, will march from the Parliament to the Election Commission's office..." he added. Meanwhile, Delhi Police stated that the Opposition parties had sough no permission for the proposed march. On August 1, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said the government was ready to hold discussions on any issue under the rules, but the SIR could not be debated as it was a process carried out by a constitutional body--the Election Commission of India. "I want to clarify that the government is ready to hold discussions on any issue as per the rules. There cannot be a discussion on SIR because it is a process undertaken by a Constitutional body, and it is not happening for the first time..." Rijiju told ANI. (ANI) Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on Monday slammed the Election Commission of India (ECI) and compared the INDIA bloc's protest march to Mahatma Gandhi's Dandi march. Tiwari told ANI, "Rahul Gandhi is walking on Gandhi ji's path. He held a press conference, but the Election Commission is not ready to consider it; instead, it is asking for an affidavit. Everyone knows the Election Commission is under whose pressure. Like Gandhi did, the Dandi march for independence, we are marching to save democracy." He added that the aim of the Opposition's protest is to be heard by the ECI. "We will march from the Makar Dwar of the Parliament to the Election Commission's office and will demand to be heard. We want the EC not to become a co-accused with the BJP in murdering democracy," the Congress MP said. As the ECI granted an appointment to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh for an interaction at 12:00 noon today, Pramod Tiwari said that the party will "think about it". "People should see what is happening. The EC does not accept letters, does not answer phone calls, and does not give us time. Let the invitation come, and we will think about it. EC has been exposed as Rahul Gandhi gave the numbers. Deputy CM (in Bihar) is also stuck with having two EPIC cards. Election Commission is being strangled," he said. The Opposition MPs will to march from Makar Dwar in Parliament to the Election Commission office at Nirvachan Sadan on Monday. The march will begin at 11:30 AM and proceed via Transport Bhawan. Meanwhile, following Mohan Bhagwat's "commercialisation" remarks, Pramod Tiwari asked the BJP to apologise for expensive education and healthcare in the country. The Congress MP said, "Education and healthcare are going further from the common man's reach. The poor are unable to get treatment. Education is getting costlier. Now that their parent organisation's chief said so in Indore, if some shame is left in Bharatiya Janata Party, they should apologise to the nation." (ANI) The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) on Monday filed a FSL report of a CD in a case of public property defacement against former CM Arvind Kejriwal and two others. Delhi police are investigating the case after registering an FIR under the order of the Rouse Avenue court. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) took the sealed report along with the result on record. The court has directed the FSL to provide an additional copy of the report to the Investigation Officer (IO) The court has asked the IO to conclude the investigation. The matter has been listed on August 27 for further proceedings. An officer from the FSL appeared before the court on Monday. On June 10, the court issued a notice to the Director of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to appear personally over non-filing of a report pertaining to a CD in a defacement case against former CM Arvind Kejriwal. Earlier, on May 23, the court had directed him to examine a CD in a case of public property defacement. The court had asked him to file the report. An FIR has already been registered in this case against former CM Arvind Kejriwal, ex-MLA Gulab Singh, and MCD councillor Nitika Sharma. On May 23, Delhi police filed a Status report stating that the CD has been sent to FSL for expert opinion and the result of the same is awaited. After hearing the submissions of the Investigation Officer (IO), the court issued a notice to the Director requesting him to expedite the result in the present case and to file a report. On May 8, after hearing an application moved by the IO, the court released the CD containing the photographs along with a Section 65B certificate. It was submitted by IO that the CD is required to be sent to FSL. From the submissions made, it appears that the CD is required for further investigation in the present matter. Further, the complainant has expressed his inability to provide the photographs, the court noted on May 8. The court on March 11 directed Delhi police to file an FIR on a complaint filed against former CM Arvind Kejriwal, former MLA Gulab Singh and MCD councillor Nitika Sharma in a matter related to defacement of public property in the Dwarka area in 2019. On March 28, police had informed the court that they had registered an FIR on a complaint against Arvind Kejriwal and others. The complainant has alleged a Violation of the Defacement of Public Property Act in the Dwarka area. This direction was passed on a complaint filed by one Shiv Kumar Saksena. The court had said that the court is of the considered opinion that the application under section 156(3) Cr.P.C. deserves to be allowed. "Accordingly, the concerned SHO is directed to register FIR immediately under section 3 of the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property Act, 2007 and any other offence that appears to have been committed from the facts of the case," ACJM Mittal ordered on March 11. (ANI) The monsoon session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly will begin on Monday. The Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath-led government is preparing to pass more than six ordinances during the monsoon session. Starting on August 11, the session will continue until August 16. The UP government is preparing to pass the Banke Bihari Corridor Ordinance and important bills related to higher education and other departments in the session. The Uttar Pradesh Private University (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 and its Second Amendment Ordinance, 2025 will to be introduced in the session. These ordinances have been brought to regulate private universities and ensure the quality of education. With this, an attempt will be made to improve the level of higher education in the state. The Uttar Pradesh Repealling Ordinance, 2025 will to be introduced. This ordinance will ease the process of repealing old and irrelevant laws, so that the legal framework can be clearer and effective. The government will table the Uttar Pradesh State Public Service Commission (Regulation of Procedure) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 in the House. It proposes amendments to increase transparency and efficiency in the recruitment process, so that youth can get fair opportunities. Additionally, the Uttar Pradesh Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, which will focus on improving GST rules and ease of doing business, will be moved. Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said that MLAs will also raise the issues of their respective areas, along with various bills that are to be discussed in the Assembly. "Along with the discussion on various bills, all MLAs will also raise the issues of their respective areas. Our government is prepared with a commitment to the development of the state. The opposition should come to the House and have discussions," Brajesh Pathak told ANI. Meanwhile, police forces have been deployed at various intersections around the assembly to ensure safety. ADCP Central Lucknow Mamta Rani Chaudhary said, "The monsoon session begins today, and security arrangements have been made for it. From a security perspective, adequate police forces have been deployed at various intersections around the assembly to ensure safety... The police are active and vigilant day and night." (ANI) TMC MP Mitali Bagh fainted amidst the Opposition's protest march against the Election Commission over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "voter fraud" during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and fellow MPs promptly assisted and escorted her to the hospital. Earlier today, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and other INDIA bloc MPs were detained by Delhi Police during their protest march against the Election Commission over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "voter fraud" during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose, and other MPs were also among those detained by the police. The detained MPs were corralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station. Rahul Gandhi said that the Opposition's fight is not a political fight but a fight to save the constitution. "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list," the Congress leader said. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi said, "Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai. (They are afraid, the Government is a coward)," Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was seen jumping over barricades as Delhi Police stopped the INDIA bloc MPs from marching to the Election Commission's office The Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister could be seen climbing over the barricades, installed by the police to block the protesting MPs. Akhilesh Yadav jumped to the other side to continue the protest. "They are using the police to stop us," Akhilesh Yadav shouted after crossing the barricades. "We are protesting peacefully. We consider Mahatma Gandhi as our ideal..." Supriya Sule said. Senior INDIA bloc leaders- Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, NCP SCP chief Sharad Pawar also joined the protest. The protest march began from the Makar Dwar of the Parliament under the leadership of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The MPs began their march to urge the EC to address their concerns on the alleged "voter theft" The MPs were raising slogans of "vote chor" as they marched towards the office of the poll body at Nirvachan Sadan, before being halted by Police. The Delhi Police said that the MPs did not take permission for the march. BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has accused the Congress of misleading the public. "The country can see if there is anyone who is working against the Constitution, it is led by Rahul Gandhi. SIR is not happening for the first time in the country. Congress lies about EVMs, raises the issue of Maharashtra elections, Haryana elections and creates a mountain of lies...It is their well-thought-out strategy to create a state of anarchy...I appeal to the Opposition and the Congress party to raise all issues in Parliament...During discussion on Operation Sindoor in Parliament, the Opposition and Congress had no agenda..." (ANI) Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and other INDIA bloc MPs were detained by Delhi Police during their protest march against the Election Commission over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "voter fraud" during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose, and other MPs were also among those detained by the police. The detained MPs were coralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station. Rahul Gandhi said that the Opposition's fight is not a political fight but a fight to save the constitution. "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list," the Congress leader said. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi said "Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai. (They are afraid, the Government is a coward)," Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was seen jumping over barricades as Delhi Police stopped the INDIA bloc MPs from marching to the Election Commission's office The Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister could be seen climbing over the barricades, installed by the police to block the protesting MPs. Akhilesh Yadav jumped to the other side to continue the protest. "They are using the police to stop us," Akhilesh Yadav shouted after crossing the barricades. "We are protesting peacefully. We consider Mahatma Gandhi as our ideal..." Supriya Sule said. Senior INDIA bloc leaders- Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, NCP SCP chief Sharad Pawar also joined the protest. The protest march began from the Makar Dwar of the Parliament under the leadership of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The MPs began their march to urge the EC to address their concerns on the alleged "voter theft" The MPs were raising slogans of "vote chor" as they marched towards the office of the poll body at Nirvachan Sadan, before being halted by Police. The Delhi Police said that the MPs did not take permission for the march. BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has accused the Congress of misleading the public. "The country can see if there is anyone who is working against the Constitution, it is led by Rahul Gandhi. SIR is not happening for the first time in the country. Congress lies about EVMs, raises the issue of Maharashtra elections, Haryana elections and creates a mountain of lies...It is their well-thought-out strategy to create a state of anarchy...I appeal to the Opposition and the Congress party to raise all issues in Parliament...During discussion on Operation Sindoor in Parliament, the Opposition and Congress had no agenda..." (ANI) Congress General Secretary and MP KC Venugopal on Monday slammed the Centre and the Delhi police for detaining INDIA's bloc MPs during the protest march against the Election Commission over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar and allegations of "voter fraud". Venugopal questioned the state of democracy, stating that the MPs do not have the freedom to approach the Election Commission of India (ECI). "The police and government are not allowing us to march for even 30 seconds. They want to stop us here. What democracy is there in the country? MPs don't have the freedom to go to the Election Commission," the Congress MP told reporters. He added that the ECI has allowed only 30 individuals to enter the ECI's office. He claimed, "Now they are telling only 30 people can come, but at least allow those 30 people to head to the Election Commission office." NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule said, "We are protesting peacefully. We consider Mahatma Gandhi as our ideal." Earlier today, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and other INDIA bloc MPs were detained by the Delhi Police during their protest march against the Election Commission. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose, and other MPs were also among those detained by the police. The detained MPs were corralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station. Rahul Gandhi said that the Opposition's fight is not a political fight but a fight to save the Constitution. "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list," the Congress leader said. (ANI) BJP MP SP Singh Baghel on Monday on Monday accused the INDIA bloc leaders of Muslsim "vote appeasement "as the Delhi police foiled the oppostion march to Election Commisison over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and allegations of "vote theft". Baghel told amid, "They are doing this only for Muslim votes appeasement. This is the first Opposition which wants to make sure that the deceased or non-residents or foreign nationals are counted as voters..." Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and other INDIA bloc MPs were detained by Delhi Police during their protest march against the Election Commission over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "voter fraud" during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose, and other MPs were also among those detained by the police.The detained MPs were coralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station. Rahul Gandhi said that the Opposition's fight is not a political fight but a fight to save the constitution. "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list," the Congress leader said.Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi said "Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai. (They are afraid, the Government is a coward)," Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was seen jumping over barricades as Delhi Police stopped the INDIA bloc MPs from marching to the Election Commission's office The Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister could be seen climbing over the barricades, installed by the police to block the protesting MPs. Akhilesh Yadav jumped to the other side to continue the protest. "They are using the police to stop us," Akhilesh Yadav shouted after crossing the barricades."We are protesting peacefully. We consider Mahatma Gandhi as our ideal..." Supriya Sule said.Senior INDIA bloc leaders- Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, NCP SCP chief Sharad Pawar also joined the protest.The protest march began from the Makar Dwar of the Parliament under the leadership of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The MPs began their march to urge the EC to address their concerns on the alleged "voter theft" The MPs were raising slogans of "vote chor" as they marched towards the office of the poll body at Nirvachan Sadan, before being halted by Police. The Delhi Police said that the MPs did not take permission for the march BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has accused the Congress of misleading the public."The country can see if there is anyone who is working against the Constitution, it is led by Rahul Gandhi. SIR is not happening for the first time in the country. Congress lies about EVMs, raises the issue of Maharashtra elections, Haryana elections and creates a mountain of lies...It is their well-thought-out strategy to create a state of anarchy...I appeal to the Opposition and the Congress party to raise all issues in Parliament...During discussion on Operation Sindoor in Parliament, the Opposition and Congress had no agenda..." (ANI) Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi linked the INDIA bloc leaders march to Election Commission as a "fight to save the Constitution" and a demanded a "pure" voters list while Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi accused the BJP-led Union governmnt of being "scared". Delhi police on Monday detained Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and a host of other INDIA bloc leaders as the police foiled their march to Election Commmission to protest over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "vote chori" (vote theft) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Rahul Gandhi told reporters while being detained, "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list." Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told ANI, "Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai" (They are scared. The Government is a coward). The other leaders who were detained were Shive Sena Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, and TMC MP Sagarika Ghose. The detained MPs were coralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was seen jumping over barricades as Delhi Police stopped the INDIA bloc MPs from marching to the Election Commission's office The Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister could be seen climbing over the barricades, installed by the police to block the protesting MPs. Akhilesh Yadav jumped to the other side to continue the protest. "They are using the police to stop us," Akhilesh Yadav shouted after crossing the barricades. "We are protesting peacefully. We consider Mahatma Gandhi as our ideal..." Supriya Sule said. Senior INDIA bloc leaders- Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, NCP SCP chief Sharad Pawar also joined the protest. The protest march began from the Makar Dwar of the Parliament under the leadership of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The MPs began their march to urge the EC to address their concerns on the alleged "voter theft" The MPs were raising slogans of "vote chor" as they marched towards the office of the poll body at Nirvachan Sadan, before being halted by Police. The Delhi Police said that the MPs did not take permission for the march. BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has accused the Congress of misleading the public. "The country can see if there is anyone who is working against the Constitution, it is led by Rahul Gandhi. SIR is not happening for the first time in the country. Congress lies about EVMs, raises the issue of Maharashtra elections, Haryana elections and creates a mountain of lies...It is their well-thought-out strategy to create a state of anarchy...I appeal to the Opposition and the Congress party to raise all issues in Parliament...During discussion on Operation Sindoor in Parliament, the Opposition and Congress had no agenda..." (ANI) Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said on Monday that the the Election Commission could have handled things differently amid the oppostion protest over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and allegations of vote theft. "What he (Rahul Gandhi) has said is true, and my statement is also the same. I don't know what the government is afraid of. This is a peaceful demonstration by VVIPs," Mallikarjun Kharge said, participating in the INDIA bloc MPs' march from Parliament to the Election Commission headquarters here to protest over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "voter fraud" in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. "The Election Commission could have handled things differently," he added. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and other INDIA bloc MPs were detained by Delhi Police during their protest march against the Election Commission over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "voter fraud" during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose, and other MPs were also among those detained by the police. The detained MPs were coralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station.Rahul Gandhi said that the Opposition's fight is not a political fight but a fight to save the constitution. "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list," the Congress leader said. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi said "Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai. (They are afraid, the Government is a coward)." Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was seen jumping over barricades as Delhi Police stopped the INDIA bloc MPs from marching to the Election Commission's office. The Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister could be seen climbing over the barricades, installed by the police to block the protesting MPs. Akhilesh Yadav jumped to the other side to continue the protest."They are using the police to stop us," Akhilesh Yadav shouted after crossing the barricades. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Monday directed Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik to respond to the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) appeal seeking to enhance his life sentence to the death penalty in a 2017 terror funding case. A division bench comprising Justice Vivek Chaudhary and Justice Shalinder Kaur granted Malik four weeks to file his reply and scheduled the next hearing for November 10. During proceedings, NIA's special counsel, Advocate Akshai Malik, cited a previous court order dated August 9, 2024, in which Yasin Malik had stated his intention to represent himself. That order also mandated his appearance via video conferencing due to security concerns. However, Malik failed to appear virtually at the latest hearing, prompting the bench to reiterate its directive for his online presence at the next session. In 2022, Malik was sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The trial court ruled that the case did not meet the Supreme Court's "rarest of rare" threshold for capital punishment. Malik's claim of leading a non-violent, Gandhian-style movement was also rejected. The NIA's case, filed in 2017, accused Malik and others of conspiring with Pakistan-based terrorist groups to foment unrest in Jammu and Kashmir. In March 2022, charges were framed against Malik and several co-accused, including Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, Shabbir Ahmad Shah, Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, Rashid Engineer, Zahoor Ahmad Shah Watali, Shahid-ul-Islam, Altaf Ahmad Shah (alias Fantoosh), Nayeem Khan and Farooq Ahmad Dar (alias Bitta Karate) Three individuals, Kamran Yusuf, Javed Ahmad Bhatt, and Syeda Aasiya Firdous Andrabi, were discharged from the case. In a related development, a UAPA Tribunal led by Justice Neena Bansal Krishna of the Delhi High Court recently upheld the Union Home Ministry's decision to extend the ban on the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) for another five years. Originally imposed in 2019, the ban was renewed on March 15, 2024. The tribunal emphasised that "no tolerance" should be shown toward organisations that openly advocate secessionism. The tribunal's findings challenged Malik's assertion that he abandoned armed resistance in 1994. Evidence presented included his alleged visits to terrorist camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and his involvement in mobilising illegal funds for violent activities and protests in the Kashmir Valley. The NIA's 2018 charge sheet also outlined a leadership hierarchy within the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC), identifying SAS Geelani, Malik, and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq as key figures under the "Joint Resistance Leadership" banner.(ANI) Amid the INDIA bloc leaders march to Election Commission to protest over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls and allegations of "vote chori" (vote theft), Bhartiya Janta Party leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan indicated that is their "well-thought' out strategy" to create a "state of anarchy". Addressing a press conference at BJP headquarters in New Delhi, called amid the INDIA bloc leaders march to Election Commission, Pradhan charged Rahul Gandhi, who is leader of the oppostion in the Lok Sabha, of "working" against the Constitution. "The country can see if there is anyone who is working against the Constitution, it is led by Rahul Gandhi. SIR is not happening for the first time in the country. Congress lies about EVMs, raises the issue of Maharashtra elections, Haryana elections and creates a mountain of lies...It is their well-thought-out strategy to create a state of anarchy..." He further alleged that oppostion had no agenda during the discussion on Operation Sindoor in Parliament. "I appeal to the Opposition and the Congress party to raise all issues in Parliament...During discussion on Operation Sindoor in Parliament, the Opposition and Congress had no agenda..." Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and other INDIA bloc MPs were detained by Delhi Police during their protest march against the Election Commission over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "voter fraud" during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose, and other MPs were also among those detained by the police. The detained MPs were coralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station. Rahul Gandhi said that the Opposition's fight is not a political fight but a fight to save the constitution. "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list," the Congress leader said. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi said "Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai. (They are afraid, the Government is a coward)." Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was seen jumping over barricades as Delhi Police stopped the INDIA bloc MPs from marching to the Election Commission's office The Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister could be seen climbing over the barricades, installed by the police to block the protesting MPs. Akhilesh Yadav jumped to the other side to continue the protest. "They are using the police to stop us," Akhilesh Yadav shouted after crossing the barricades. (ANI) Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Monday indicated that the Election Commission is "worried" and said they can't met with elected representatives hours after the poll body had granted an appointment for an interaction at 12 PM on Monday on the request of the Congress Party. In a letter addressed to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, the Election Commission of India's secretariat stated that the Commission has considered the request and decided to grant an appointment for an interaction. The appointment is granted in response to Jairam Ramesh's request on "behalf of certain political parties". The Election Commission has requested to submit the names of upto 30 people along with their vehicle numbers for the interaction due to the limitation of space.The agenda of the meeting is not mentioned in the letter. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi says, "The Election Commission of India is worried. They cannot meet with elected representatives because they lack answers to our questions... Are we thieves? Are we talking against the interest of the country?..." Meawhile, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi linked the INDIA bloc leaders' march to the Election Commission as a "fight to save the Constitution" and demanded a "pure" voters list, while Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi accused the BJP-led Union government of being "scared". Delhi police on Monday detained Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and a host of other INDIA bloc leaders as the police foiled their march to the Election Commission to protest over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "vote chori" (vote theft) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Rahul Gandhi told reporters while being detained, "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list." Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told ANI, "Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai" (They are scared. The Government is a coward). The other leaders who were detained were Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and TMC MP Sagarika Ghose. (ANI) Opening the Monsoon Session with a blistering attack, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath accused the Samajwadi Party (SP) of hiding behind a "facade" of democracy while subjecting traders to atrocities and a 'goonda tax' during its rule. Targeting SP's "negative politics" in Sambhal, Bahraich, and Gorakhpur, he also cautioned Leader of Opposition Mata Prasad Pandey, whom he acknowledged as a senior leader, against being used as a pawn for others' vested interests. CM Yogi intensified his criticism of the Samajwadi Party for opposing the Gorakhpur Heritage Corridor, calling its stance "anti-development." Outlining the project, he said the corridor will link iconic landmarks, including Ghantaghar, the city's oldest market, and Gitapress. CM Yogi noted that he had inspected the site three days before the Leader of Opposition's visit, personally meeting every trader. Long plagued by congestion and illegal encroachments, the market is now seeing road expansion and decongestion works. The CM assured that all affected traders will receive fair compensation, with no one left to bear losses in the name of development. Taking a dig at SP, CM Yogi said no development took place in the area during their rule. He reminded the House that during the SP regime, encephalitis claimed the lives of 700-1500 children every year, including hundreds in Mata Prasad Pandey's constituency and neighbouring Siddharthnagar, yet no action was taken. "Health, education, and development have never been your priorities," he asserted. CM Yogi added that Gorakhpur traders opposed Mata Prasad Pandey's visit because of bitter memories of SP-era fear and Goonda Tax. "The traders have not forgotten the exploitation they suffered under SP rule. You went there uninvited, trying to obstruct development, and they respectfully opposed you," he said, stressing that people cannot expect either security or development from SP. Recalling the infamous Sambhal incident under the SP regime, CM Yogi said his government is carrying out a "purification drive" in the area to undo the negativity spread by the party. "SP is still clinging to its old habits, opposing development at every step," he remarked. Accusing the party of being anti-growth, he alleged that its politics in Sambhal, Bahraich, and Gorakhpur are rooted in obstruction, not progress. "The BJP and NDA governments are committed to development, but SP simply cannot tolerate it," he asserted. (ANI) Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel visited the historic Hatkeshwar Mahadev Temple in Vadnagar on the third Monday of Shravan and prayed for the nation's and state's progress, and the well-being of all citizens, said the Gujarat CMO statement. The Hatkeshwar temple has been included in the Swadesh Darshan Yojana and the Heritage Circuit project. Not only that, but in the temple premises, works worth Rs. 18 crore for the first phase of pilgrim facility development and works such as the Garbhagriha, Sabhamandapa, Shikhar, Yagyashala, and Swagat Kendra have been completed with a grant of Rs. 4.22 crore in the second phase. As per the CMO statement, Gujarat Tourism Corporation has also operated a light and sound show presenting the historical and ancient significance of the Hatkeshwar temple at a cost of Rs. 5.53 crore. On the occasion, Health Minister Rushikesh Patel, District Panchayat President Trushaben Patel, Secretary of Tourism and Devasthan Department Rajendra Kumar, Secretary of Pavitra Yatra Vikas Board Ramesh Merja, leader Girishbhai Rajgor, and MLA K.K. Patel were present. Also in attendance were District Collector S.K. Prajapati, District Development Officer Dr. Hasrat Jasmin, Resident Additional Collector J.K. Jegoda, officers and officials of Vadnagar city and taluka administration, and trustees of Hatkeshwar Mahadev Sansthan Vadnagar. Meanwhile, on Sunday, CM Patel said that lions had emerged as a global symbol of India's pride. He made the remarks at the World Lion Day celebrations held at Barda Wildlife Sanctuary in the Devbhumi Dwarka district. On the occasion, while wishing lion and nature lovers worldwide, the Chief Minister recalled Lord Krishna's Gita message to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra: "Among animals, I am the lion." He expressed joy that after a long gap of 143 years, lions had naturally started reinhabiting the Barda hills. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced all necessary support facilities for lion conservation in Barda. Thanks to the PM's vision and the proactive efforts of the Forest Department, the successful conservation story of lions in Gir had gained global recognition. (ANI) Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday slammed Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his allegations against the Election Commission, and alleged that he is under the pressure of "anti-national forces". Sharing an X post, Chouhan said that the INDIA bloc is "defaming democracy" and tampering with Constitutional bodies. "Rahul Gandhi ji is under pressure from anti-national forces. He and the INDI alliance are defaming democracy, tearing it to shreds, and tampering with the dignity of constitutional institutions," the Union Minister wrote. Recalling Rahul Gandhi's allegations in the past, Chouhan said that after EVMs, he has moved on to question the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, and accused him of wanting to spread anarchy. He wrote, "Rahul Gandhi is repeatedly lying and wants to spread anarchy. He has defamed the Election Commission, the Supreme Court, and the CAG. He raised questions about the valour of the army, and when the army presented facts, he was silenced. He questioned EVMs without evidence, then abandoned EVMs after the Supreme Court's rebuke and has now moved on to SIR." Further, the Union Minister questioned the Opposition's election victory in Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana and other states. "I want to ask Rahul ji and the leaders of the INDI alliance: - Did Congress win in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh due to irregularities in the voter list? - Were governments formed in Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Jharkhand due to mistakes by the Election Commission? - Did Rahul ji, Priyanka ji, and Akhilesh Yadav ji also win elections due to irregularities in the voter list?" the X post read. Shivraj Singh Chouhan's remarks come amidst the INDIA bloc's protest march on Monday against the Election Commission over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "voter fraud" during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Earlier today, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and other INDIA bloc MPs were detained by the Delhi police during the protest. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and TMC MP Sagarika Ghose were also among those detained by the police. The detained MPs were corralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station. Rahul Gandhi said that the Opposition's fight is not a political fight but a fight to save the constitution. "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list," the Congress leader said. (ANI) Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday dismissed claims by the State's Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna that irregularities in voter lists occurred during the Congress-led tenure "right in front of our eyes". Addressing reporters in Tumkuru, Rajanna had asked why Congress leaders "turned a blind eye" over irregularities in voter lists and kept silent when they should have raised objections. The Karnataka leader's remarks come in the wake of the controversy that erupted after Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi alleged massive electoral fraud in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and said there are over 1 lakh fake votes in the electoral rolls in Bengaluru Central lok Sabha constituency. "Mr KN Rajanna is totally at fault. He doesn't know. My Chief Minister and my party high command will reply to that," D K Shivakumar told reporters in Bengaluru today. Shivakumra further said that the poll body should reply to the objections raised Gandhi, "Whatever documents Election Commission is asking, we are not schoolboys to reply whatever they ask. They are supposed to give us. He has given a representation and they know whatever is wrong. We have asked for some information and records. We have asked officially. I myself went to Election Commission. At no point of time my leader will take oath or answer to it. He has answered already in public." Earlier today, state minister Rajanna sparked a row by saying that irregularities in the electoral rolls occurred while the Congress was in power. "Look, if we just start talking about such things casually, there will be different opinions. When was the voter list prepared? It was prepared when our own government was in power. At that time, was everyone just sitting quietly with eyes closed? If we speak casually, we'll have to say many things," Rajanna said. "These irregularities did take place -- that's the truth. There is nothing false in this. These irregularities happened right in front of our eyes -- we should feel ashamed. We didn't take care of it at the time. That's why we must be alert in the future. He further urged that it becomes the responsibility of leaders to "act in timely fashion on issues like electoral rolls," Rajanna added. He further agreed that electoral fraud did happen in Mahdevpura, the constituency segment Rahul Gandhi focused on in his press conference in August 7. However, the Karnataka Minister said that the party which should have raised objections then had kept silent then and was talking about it now. "When the draft electoral rolls are made, we must file objections -- that is our responsibility. At that time, we kept quiet and now we are talking," he added. Earlier today, Shivakumar questioned the Election Commission for issuing a notice against Congres MP Rahul Gandhi, asking the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha to submit the documents backing his "vote theft" allegations. Talking to reporters, Shivakumar said, "Who are they to give notice? I have given them notice. We have the power to give notice. We have won the election legally. In a democracy, the elections should be held legally..." Shivakumar's statement came in response to the notice issued by the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Karnataka, asking Congress MP to submit the documents for a detailed investigation into his allegations. (ANI) The Supreme Court on Monday took a stern view of the stray dog menace and ordered the Delhi-NCR to start removing stray dogs from all localities within eight weeks and house them in dedicated dog shelters to be set up by civic authorities. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said that all localities should be made free of stray dogs and there should not be any compromise. It also made it clear that no captured animal will be released back on the streets. It also ordered contempt proceedings against any individual or organisation that attempts to obstruct the authorities from carrying out the capture drive. "If any individual or organisation comes in the way of picking stray dogs or rounding them up, we will proceed to take action against any such resistance," said Justice Pardiwala. The apex court also directed the states and municipal authorities to create dog shelters with sufficient staff to sterilise and immunise them. "NCT Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad, MCD, NMDC shall start picking up stray dogs from all localities, particularly from more vulnerable localities. It is for the authorities to look into and if they have to create a force, do it at the earliest. However, this should be the first and foremost exercise to make all localities free of stray dogs. There should not be any compromise in undertaking the exercise," said the bench. It further directed that authorities in Delhi-NCR must set up a helpline so all dog bite complaints can be registered, with the offending animal picked up within four hours of a complaint. It also ordered all authorities to maintain a record of daily stray dogs captured and detained. The bench stated that CCTV monitoring will ensure compliance, and no dog should be released back into the street or public spaces. The bench also asked authorities to publish details about places where rabies vaccinations are available. "The authorities concerned, more particularly the government of NCT Delhi, are directed to put detailed information about the place where such vacancies are available, the stock of vacancies and the number of persons who report for treatment every month," ordered the bench. Observing that the order is being passed for public interest, the bench said, "We are not doing this for us, it is for the public interest. So, no sentiments of any nature should be involved. Action should be taken earlier. Pick up dogs from all localities and shift them to far-off places." Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appeared before the bench in the case, and senior advocate Gaurav Agrawal, who was appointed amicus curiae to assist the bench, made suggestions. The top court was hearing a suo motu proceedings initiated by it over a media report on the growing menace of stray dog attacks leading to rabies. Terming the news report as "very disturbing and alarming", the bench had said that day the news report revealed that the elderly and children were the most affected by rabies from dog bite incidents. (ANI) Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday accused the Opposition of wasting Parliament's time and said that the important Bills will be passed in both Houses today. Addressing a press conference in the national capital, Rijiju said, "The Congress party and the Opposition have wasted a lot of time. Now we will not let the country's time and the parliament's time get wasted any more. The government wants to pass important bills. Today, we will pass important Bills in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha." He claimed that even many Opposition MPs are forcefully asked to create ruckus, and they are helpless. "The country cannot bear so much loss because of one man's foolishness and one family. Many Opposition MPs also came and said that they are helpless. Their leaders forcefully ask them to create a ruckus... Every day, we will not allow the country's time and the parliament's time to be wasted on one issue. Therefore, we will pass important bills," he said. Kiren Rijiju made the "last appeal" to the Opposition to participate in the discussion over the Bills. "We make our last appeal to the Opposition. We will pass the bill. You should participate in the discussion. Then don't spread lies that you were not allowed to speak or that the mics were muted. We want everyone to participate in the discussion on important Bills." Taking a jibe at the INDIA bloc over the protest march to the Election Commission's office today, he said that the poll body asked 30 leaders to meet them, but the Opposition could not come to a conclusion. "Even today, they (Opposition) asked for time to go to the Election Commission, and the Election Commission told the INDI alliance to send two members from each party. Thirty members were called, but they did not go. In the INDI alliance, they could not decide those 30 people," he said. "Now, Kharge ji is saying that all the opposition members are VIPs, so will 150 people enter the Election Commissioner's room? The INDI alliance do not trust the Supreme Court, they do not trust the Election Commission, they do not trust the Parliament. They attack all the constitutional institutions of our country," Rijiju added. Following the Union Minister's press conference, the Budget for Manipur for 2025-26 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha, while the Lok Sabha took up the Income Tax Bill for discussion. Earlier today, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and other INDIA bloc MPs were detained by the Delhi police during the protest march to ECI's office. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and TMC MP Sagarika Ghose were also among those detained by the police. The detained MPs were corralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station. Rahul Gandhi said that the Opposition's fight is not a political fight but a fight to save the constitution. "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list," the Congress leader said. (ANI) Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda on Monday said questioning the Election Commission's fairness harms the country's reputation as INDIA bloc MPs were detained by Delhi Police during their protest against Bihar's Special Intensive Revision. Speaking to ANI, Hooda said,"The questions being raised on the fairness of the Election Commission are bad for the reputation of the country." Speaking at the same protest, Congress General Secretary and MP KC Venugopal slammed the Centre and the Delhi police. He questioned the state of democracy, stating that MPs lack the freedom to approach the Election Commission of India (ECI). "The police and government are not allowing us to march for even 30 seconds. They want to stop us here. What democracy is there in the country? MPs don't have the freedom to go to the Election Commission," the Congress MP told reporters. He added that the ECI has allowed only 30 individuals to enter the ECI's office. Earlier today, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and other INDIA bloc MPs were detained by the Delhi Police during their protest march against the Election Commission. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose, and other MPs were also among those detained by the police. The detained MPs were corralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station. Congress MP Renuka Chaudhary said, "At every step, our reaction will depend on their action. It is our duty in a democracy to stand with the common people and raise their voice in the Parliament. Their constitutional rights are being taken. We are not asking the government for anything from its treasury... They are trying to scare us by deploying police... Why have the Election Commission allowed only 20-30 MPs? Are they giving an appointment that is limited to a certain number of people?..." Rahul Gandhi said that the Opposition's fight is not a political fight but a fight to save the Constitution. "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list," the Congress leader said. However, the protest came in for sharp criticism from the Government with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accusing the opposition of not believing in the constitution. Kiren Rijiju sais, "These people (INDIA alliance) do not believe in the Constitution... Whatever one party, one family, or one person does cannot be Constitutional. In a democracy, those people do not believe in the Constitution. We are from a democratic party... These people do not have any faith in democracy." (ANI) Congress leader Vamsi Krishna Gaddam said on Monday that Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's earlier presentation on alleged "vote chori being done" has "absolutely opened" the eyes of the common man. Gaddam told ANI, "First of all, India is awakening. Everyone is watching how Rahul Gandhi has given his presentation single-handedly. The first point is that he has been appreciated for fighting for the rights of the common man... What Rahul Gandhi has presented has absolutely opened the common man's eyes. How can EC do such a thing..." "All these raise suspicion that the EC is looking as if something has gone wrong, and Rahul Gandhi has daringly come in front of the whole country and given such an aggressive presentation. The funny thing is that instead of EC responding, BJP is responding..." Earlier, INDIA bloc leaders discussed their strategy about the SIR in Bihar at a dinner hosted by Rahul Gandhi at his residence with the Congress leader giving a presentation on "vote chori being done" during the meeting. Earlier today, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and other INDIA bloc MPs were detained by Delhi Police during their protest march against the Election Commission over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "voter fraud" during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose, and other MPs were also among those detained by the police. The detained MPs were corralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station. Rahul Gandhi said that the Opposition's fight is not a political fight but a fight to save the constitution. "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list," the Congress leader said. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi said, "Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai. (They are afraid, the Government is a coward)." (ANI) Bhartiya Janta Party MP Saumitra Khan took a sharp jab at Leader of Opposition of Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi's allegations on the Election Commission, saying that Congress wants Indian to become a dharamshala where any Bangladeshi or Pakistani becomes a voter. While talking to ANI, BJP MP Saumitra Khan said, "Congress doesn't want Indians to vote in India. They want India to become a dharamshala so that any Bangladeshi or Pakistani who comes here becomes a voter. They even want votes for those who have died. How is this possible? A person who has died cannot vote." "Whatever the Election Commission is doing is correct. The more Rahul Gandhi discusses these things, the fewer Indians will vote for him", he added further. This statement came amid the INDIA block protest and also after Rahul Gandhi's press conference where he blamed the EC and the BJP party for "vote chori" in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi linked the INDIA bloc leaders' march to the Election Commission as a "fight to save the Constitution" and demanded a "pure" voters list, while Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi accused the BJP-led Union government of being "scared". Delhi police on Monday detained Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and a host of other INDIA bloc leaders as the police foiled their march to the Election Commission to protest over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "vote chori" (vote theft) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Rahul Gandhi told reporters while being detained, "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list." Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told ANI, "Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai" (They are scared. The Government is a coward). Among the other leaders who were detained were Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and TMC MP Sagarika Ghose. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was seen jumping over barricades as Delhi Police stopped the INDIA bloc MPs from marching to the Election Commission's office. The Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister could be seen climbing over the barricades, installed by the police to block the protesting MPs. Akhilesh Yadav jumped to the other side to continue the protest. "They are using the police to stop us," Akhilesh Yadav shouted after crossing the barricades. (ANI) Congress MP Randeep Surjewala, along with other INDIA bloc MPs, including Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, was on Monday detained by Delhi Police for protesting against the Election Commission. Delhi Police rounded up MPs participating in a protest against the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar and alleged electoral malpractices. The MPs began their march from the Makar Dwar of the Parliament under the leadership of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to the Election Commission headquarters. They were detained by Delhi Police who set up barricades. Surjewala who was among those who ushered them into a bus to be taken away to the police station, Surjewala said, "Ab ek hi naara hai- Bol raha hai poora desh, vote hamara choo ke dekh (Now there is only one slogan- the whole country is saying, touch our vote and see)" "Will the prison bars be able to stop Rahul Gandhi and the Opposition. 'Ab ek hi naara hai- Bol raha hai poora desh, vote hamara choo ke dekh'...The people of this country have rejected the partnership of the Modi government and the ECI," Surjewala said. Additionally, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said that the Opposition MPs wanted to give a document to the Election Commission about SIR; however, the MPs are not being allowed to head to the office of the Election Commission. Jairam Ramesh told ANI, "All MPs want to give a document to the Election Commission about the SIR. This was our demand. I wrote this letter last evening and the 'chunaav aayog', which has now become 'churaav aayog', did not give me a reply. And now they say that only 30 MPs can come. We wanted all opposition MPs to collectively give a document to the Election Commission. We have been stopped here itself. We are not being allowed to head to the Election Commission." The MPs were raising slogans of "vote chor" as they marched towards the office of the poll body at Nirvachan Sadan, before being halted by the Police. The Police have said that the Oppositon MPs had no permission to hold the protest. "The detained INDIA bloc leaders have been taken to a nearby Police Station. We are still counting the number of MPs detained. There was no permission for a protest here, but we had intimation." Reinstating the Election Commission's appointment for interaction with upto 30 people, the Police said they will take 30 MPs to the EC's office upon receiving their names. New Delhi DCP Devesh Kumar said, "There was a permission for 30 MPs from the Election Commission. Since they were in large numbers, we detained them. We have informed them that 30 MPs will be allowed (to meet ECI), We will take 30 MPs (to the Election Commission of India) when we get their names." Earlier in the day, EC had granted an appointment for an interaction at 12 PM noon on the request of the Congress Party. It had requested to submit the names of upto 30 people along with their vehicle numbers for the interaction due to the limitation of space. (ANI) Ahead of the 2025 Monsoon Session of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Monday, outlined the government's ambitious agenda, calling it a milestone in Uttar Pradesh's journey towards a 'Viksit' state. Speaking to journalists, he said the session, held in the third year of the Amrit Kaal, will chart a decisive course for development, with the government set to present a 25-year action plan in the Assembly. Drawing inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister said the state government is advancing with the vision of 'Viksit UP' to fulfil the national resolve of a self-reliant and developed India. This vision, prepared in collaboration with NITI Aayog and experts, ensures participation from all sections of society. He informed that on 13th and 14th August, the House will hold a continuous 24-hour discussion on this vision, a consensus for which was reached in the all-party meeting. Importantly, the opinions of the general public will also be incorporated into the vision document. "By 2047, when India becomes a developed nation, Uttar Pradesh too will stand proudly as a 'Developed Uttar Pradesh'," he asserted with confidence. The Chief Minister said that during the Question Hour, members will raise issues of public interest, while the Zero Hour will focus on other significant matters. The government is fully prepared to answer every question and welcomes meaningful and constructive debate. He urged all parties to make productive use of time, avoid negativity, and contribute to the state's progress. "We will welcome all proposals brought to the House. Our commitment is to the youth, to the development of UP, and to fulfilling the aspirations of the people," he stated, adding that those attempting needless disruption will be answered by the public itself. Highlighting the session's agenda, CM Yogi said seasonal challenges such as floods and waterlogging will be taken up, along with in-depth discussions on health, education, infrastructure, welfare of the poor, and upliftment of all sections. He also cited the government's developmental achievements over the past eight and a half years, which have earned Uttar Pradesh praise at both national and international levels. Targeting the Opposition, particularly the Samajwadi Party, the Chief Minister said their approach remains rooted in negativity rather than development. Recalling a previous session where proceedings were extended for 36 hours, he said the SP opposed the move and resorted to unparliamentary language, something for which they are already notorious. He urged the Opposition to engage in positive, development-oriented dialogue. Calling the UP Legislature the largest in the country, CM Yogi said the debates held here set examples for the entire nation. Over the past eight and a half years, the Legislature has achieved numerous milestones and engaged in meaningful discussions on matters of public interest. "This time too, we enter the session with an important agenda to address the aspirations of our 25-crore population," he said. Extending a warm welcome to all members of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council from across the state, the Chief Minister wished for the success of the session, reiterating that it would mark a significant stride towards the development and prosperity of Uttar Pradesh. (ANI) West Bengal BJP president and MP Samik Bhattacharya on Monday termed the allegations of Rahul Gandhi, who is leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, as a "flop show" and noted that Congress suffered a series of electoral losses in Haryana and Delhi under the Congress MP. He also predicted that the opposition will face similiar fate in upcoming elections in Bihar and West Bengal Bhattacharya told ANI, "This is a flop show. This film is unlikely to succeed, especially since it was headed by Rahul Gandhi. He first apologised for his 'chowkidar' remark, then for Rafale, and later for Savarkar. The matter is in the Supreme Court, and he will likely have to apologise again... He lost Haryana and Delhi, and now they are about to lose Bihar, while Bengal is also coming. Now Trinamool Congress (TMC) holds hands with Congress. Their drowning is inevitable." Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and other INDIA bloc MPs were detained by Delhi Police during their protest march against the Election Commission over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "voter fraud" during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose, and other MPs were also among those detained by the police. The detained MPs were coralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station. Rahul Gandhi said that the Opposition's fight is not a political fight but a fight to save the constitution. "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list," the Congress leader said. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi said, "Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai. (They are afraid, the Government is a coward.) Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav was seen jumping over barricades as Delhi Police stopped the INDIA bloc MPs from marching to the Election Commission's office. The Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister could be seen climbing over the barricades, installed by the police to block the protesting MPs. Akhilesh Yadav jumped to the other side to continue the protest. "They are using the police to stop us," Akhilesh Yadav shouted after crossing the barricades. "We are protesting peacefully. We consider Mahatma Gandhi as our ideal..." Supriya Sule said. Senior INDIA bloc leaders- Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, NCP SCP chief Sharad Pawar also joined the protest. The protest march began from the Makar Dwar of the Parliament under the leadership of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi. The MPs began their march to urge the EC to address their concerns on the alleged "voter theft" The MPs were raising slogans of "vote chor" as they marched towards the office of the poll body at Nirvachan Sadan, before being halted by Police. The Delhi Police said that the MPs did not take permission for the march. (ANI) Congress MP Amar Singh on Monday urged the Election Commission to conduct a preliminary inquiry into Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition, Rahul Gandhi's claim of "vote theft" and electoral roll manipulation. "The problem with the Election Commission is that they didn't answer any questions; instead, the BJP answers everything. They themselves proved that EC and the government are one," Amar Singh told ANI. "Rahul Gandhi has provided such important information to the EC that they should conduct a preliminary inquiry into it. Instead of doing so, they are asking for an affidavit. This will not lead to anything. The information about irregularities is in front of them and is public; instead of addressing it, they are talking about pointless things. This is very unfortunate," he added. Earlier in the day, the MPs from the INDIA bloc held a march from the Parliament to the EC headquarters in Ashoka Road in Delhi over" voter fraud" in the 2024 general election and special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The Delhi Police detained Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and other INDIA bloc MPs during their protest march. Rahul Gandhi said that the Opposition's fight is not a political fight but a fight to save the Constitution. "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list," the Congress leader said. Congress General Secretary and MP KC Venugopal also slammed the Centre and the Delhi police for detaining INDIA's bloc MPs. Venugopal questioned the state of democracy, stating that the MPs do not have the freedom to approach the Election Commission of India (ECI). "The police and government are not allowing us to march for even 30 seconds. They want to stop us here. What democracy is there in the country? MPs don't have the freedom to go to the Election Commission," the Congress MP told reporters. He added that the ECI has allowed only 30 individuals to enter the ECI's office. He claimed, "Now they are telling only 30 people can come, but at least allow those 30 people to head to the Election Commission office." NCP-SCP MP Supriya Sule said, "We are protesting peacefully. We consider Mahatma Gandhi as our ideal." (ANI) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday accused the BJP-led Central government of "weaponising" police against the INDIA bloc MPs instead of "addressing rot" in the electoral system, as "exposed" by Rahul Gandhi. He made the remarks after the Delhi Police today detained INDIA bloc MPs, for protesting against the poll body over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and allegation of "voter fraud" during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. "The cowardly Narendra Modi Govt and a compromised Election Commission have completely lost the plot. After Shri Rahul Gandhi exposed massive voter fraud in Bengaluru, instead of addressing the rot in our electoral system, the BJP is weaponising the police to detain those demanding accountability," Siddaramaiah wrote in a post on X. https://x.com/siddaramaiah/status/1954825306633822384?s=48 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." Today, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and other senior INDIA leaders were detained for marching peacefully to the ECI against the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar and the growing pattern of electoral malpractices," Siddaramaiah said. Continuing his tirade over the government's actions, Siddaramaiah said, "A government that silences the Opposition rather than letting the ECI do its constitutional duty is a government that fears the truth - and fears the people." Earlier today, Delhi Police detained Rahul Gandhi, Akhilesh Yadav, Mallikarjun Kharge and other Opposition MPs, shortly after they began their protest march from the Makar Dwar of the Parliament. The MPs were raising slogans of "vote chor" as they marched towards the office of the poll body at Nirvachan Sadan, before being halted by the Police. The detained MPs were taken in a bus to the olice station. Rahul Gandhi said that the Opposition's fight is not a political fight but a fight to save the constitution. "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list," the Congress leader said. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi said, "Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai. (They are afraid, the Government is a coward)," BJP leader and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan accused the Congress of misleading the public. "The country can see if there is anyone who is working against the Constitution, it is led by Rahul Gandhi. SIR is not happening for the first time in the country. Congress lies about EVMs, raises the issue of Maharashtra elections, Haryana elections and creates a mountain of lies...It is their well-thought-out strategy to create a state of anarchy...I appeal to the Opposition and the Congress party to raise all issues in Parliament...During discussion on Operation Sindoor in Parliament, the Opposition and Congress had no agenda..." (ANI) To ensure the speedy completion of the multi-model transport hub being constructed opposite Vadnagar railway station, the Chief Minister gave necessary instructions to the concerned officials for proper coordination and integration of this project between the Railways and the State Government's Tourism Department. As per the Gujarat Chief Minister's Office (CMO), under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision, the archaeological and historic city of Vadnagar is witnessing rapid development. To further strengthen tourism facilities for passengers and visitors, a Multi-Modal Transport Hub and Public Plaza, linking Vadnagar Railway Station with the city's major attractions, is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 17 crore. The project will feature amenities such as parking, rest areas, and a cafeteria, along with the plantation of over 2,000 trees across the premises. Bhupendra Patel also reviewed the progress of this initiative during his visit. Under the Swadesh Darshan Yojana's Heritage Circuit, key heritage sites in Vadnagar are being developed, including Sharmishtha Lake, Tana Riri Park, Lateri Stepwell, Ambaji Kotha Lake, the Railway Station, and Fort Wall. CM Patel inspected the progress of the multi-model transport hub developed by Gujarat Tourism Corporation and gave necessary instructions to maintain quality. During the visit, Tourism Secretary Dr Rajendra Kumar provided a detailed briefing on the project's progress. On this occasion, MLA K K Patel, Secretary of Tourism and Devasthan Department, Rajender Kumar, Tourism Commissioner, Prabhav Joshi, Secretary of the Pavitra Yatra Development Board, Ramesh Merja, District Collector, S K Prajapati, District Development Officer, Dr Hasrat Jasmine, and officers from the Tourism Department were also present. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party MP Hemang Joshi on Monday strongly condemned Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir's nuclear threat, labelling him a "terrorist leader" rather than an army chief. Joshi criticised Munir's statements, saying they consistently escalate tensions between India and Pakistan, often leading to unfortunate incidents. "He is not an army chief but a terrorist leader. His statements always work to increase tension between India and Pakistan. We have also seen many incidents occur after he makes statements," the BJP leader told ANI. Weeks before the Pahalgam attack on April 22, which claimed lives of 26 people, Munir said Pakistan will not forget the issue of Kashmir, asserting, "It was our jugular vein." Speaking in the US, Munir said Islamabad will defend its water rights "at all costs" if India proceeds with dam construction on the Indus River. "We will wait for India to build a dam, and when they do so, we will destroy it," Munir told members of the Pakistani-American community in Tampa, Florida, according to a report published Monday in The Dawn. Pahalgam terror attack took place on April 22 in which 26 people were killed. The incident led to the launch of Operation Sindoor, in which, the armed forces targeted nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Joshi emphasised that India will respond appropriately to any actions taken by Pakistan, urging them not to underestimate India's capabilities. "History is evidence that we have seen this before. However, I feel that whenever they try to undertake such actions, India will respond appropriately. They should not underestimate India's capabilities anywhere," he added. Munir had once again threatened India, warning that Islamabad would plunge the region into nuclear war and could take "almost half of the world" down if faced with an existential threat in a future conflict with New Delhi. During his ongoing visit to the United States, General Munir also stated that Islamabad will defend its water rights "at all costs" if India proceeds with dam construction on the Indus River. At the black-tie dinner in Washington, DC, hosted by Adnan Asad, Pakistan's honorary consul in Tampa, Munir told the gathering that the Indus River "is not the Indians' family property," adding that Islamabad has "no shortage of resources to undo the Indian designs to stop the river," the Dawn reported. ARY news cited Munir as condemning "Indian aggression under Operation Sindoor," and termed it a grave violation of Pakistan's sovereignty. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday issued a strong statement in response to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff during his visit to the United States. "Our attention has been drawn to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff while on a visit to the United States. Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan's stock-in-trade," the MEA official spokesperson said. The spokesperson added, "The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks, which also reinforce the well-held doubts about the integrity of nuclear command and control in a state where the military is hand-in-glove with terrorist groups." The MEA spokesperson further expressed regret that these remarks were made from the soil of a friendly third country. "It is also regrettable that these remarks should have been made from the soil of a friendly third country," the official said. "India has already made it clear that it will not give in to nuclear blackmail and will continue to take all necessary steps to safeguard its national security, the MEA spokesperson affirmed," the MEA statement further said. (ANI) After a full-fledged protest led by Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi over SIR of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "vote chori" (vote theft) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor on Monday called on the Election Commission of India to investigate and put forth its position before the public on the issue. Kishor said that ECI should present their "position" on the issue to the public after the entire opposition and Rahul Gandhi have presented their "stance" with facts. "The entire opposition and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi have publicly presented their stance with facts. The Election Commission should investigate and put forth its position before the public," Prashant Kishor told ANI. The Jan Suraaj founder further demanded an explanation from the ECI over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar, as it is being done after a gap of 23 years. "Our point about SIR is that the Election Commission is undertaking such a process after 23 years; they must explain why they are doing SIR," Prashant Kishor said. Prashant Kishor further took a jibe at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, referring to his statement related to illegal immigrants in Bihar. He asked Amit Shah is trying to say whether the illegal immigrants entered the country under the BJP regime or not. "Union Home Minister Amit Shah is saying that infiltrators from Bangladesh and Nepal have entered. Is the Home Minister saying that, despite their government being in power at the centre and state, infiltrators entered and managed to get voting rights?" he said. Earlier today, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi and other INDIA bloc MPs were detained by Delhi Police during their protest march against the Election Commission over Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "voter fraud" during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, TMC MP Sagarika Ghose, and other MPs were also among those detained by the police. The detained MPs were corralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station. Rahul Gandhi said that the Opposition's fight is not a political fight but a fight to save the constitution. "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list," the Congress leader said. (ANI) Richer Asians put money on Hong Kong's wealth management boom as city diversifies products 08:43, August 11, 2025 By Liu Yinglun ( Xinhua HONG KONG, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Hong Kong's wealth management sector is receiving a particular boost in 2025 on top of years of steady growth owing to a brisk stock market and new investment options for an expanding high-net worth clientele in Asia. Latest data from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) showed that total assets under management of major private banks in Hong Kong grew by 14 percent in the first half of this year as compared to the end of 2024. Standard Chartered said the number of affluent clients in Hong Kong grew 8 percent in the first half of the year with net new money from such clients up 35 percent. HSBC's wealth management business added 600,000 clients. The surge in asset and wealth management is driven both by growing wealth in the Asia-Pacific region and Hong Kong's inherent strengths including a mature financial market and a robust banking system, noted HKMA Chief Executive Eddie Yue. Private wealth in Asia-Pacific is among the fastest-growing worldwide. The number of individuals with a net worth of over 10 million U.S. dollars in Asia surpassed 850,000 in 2024, up 5 percent year on year. Among them, over 470,000 are from the Chinese mainland, accounting for 20 percent of the global total, according to the Wealth Report 2025 published by real estate consultancy Knight Frank. "Hong Kong offers mainland high-net-worth individuals access to global assets. Foreign investors, increasingly heartened by China's economic prospects, can find here Chinese assets to keep in their portfolios," Pau Ka-Yan, tax partner of Deloitte China, told Xinhua. The Hong Kong bourse has recorded brisk tradings so far this year because global investors continued to increase their holdings in awe of the economic vitality of the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, market observers noted. By the end of July, total market capitalization of Hong Kong's securities market hiked 44 percent year on year. By mid-July, the 52 initial public offerings raised 124 billion Hong Kong dollars (15.8 billion U.S. dollars) in total, nearly seven times the value recorded in the same period last year. To bolster the wealth management sector, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government has introduced tax incentives for family offices and enhanced financial services. Now it is tapping the potential of digital assets. Total transaction value of digital asset-related products and tokenized assets in banks surged 233 percent to 26.1 billion Hong Kong dollars in the first half of the year, local data showed. The licensing process for fiat-referenced stablecoins issuers began after the Stablecoins Ordinance took effect on Aug. 1. "The availability of digital asset-related products has given Hong Kong a unique edge in the eyes of high-net-worth clients, who are developing an appetite for new asset types," said Pau. Analysts expect the wealth management business to sustain growth in the coming years as market connectivity strengthens between the mainland and Hong Kong. The HKSAR government is working to launch a renminbi counter for stock connect schemes so that mainland investors can buy Hong Kong stocks with greater ease. Global banks have announced plans to expand their wealth management businesses in Hong Kong. David Liao, co-chief executive of Asia and Middle East of HSBC, told Xinhua that the company will boost its private banking team this year and upgrade services through wealth centers across Hong Kong. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Amid chaos over the allegation of "vote theft" by the opposition, Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat on Monday hit out at the Election Commission of India (ECI), labelling it as an "extension office" of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He said that the EC's invitation for a meeting comes as they have been caught red-handed. "You can see the timings of the Election Commission. Their theft, exposed by Rahul Gandhi, proves that they wrote this letter in a state of nervousness," Bhagat told ANI. Labelling the EC's responses to allegations levelled by Rahul Gandhi as "dogmatic," the Congress MP stated that the LoP's questions to the constitutional body were being answered by the BJP, which has "tied its hands." "However, the extension office of the BJP, which is the EC, operates under the Prime Minister's protection. This dogmatism has been adopted because Rahul Gandhi questions the EC, prompting the BJP to respond. So because of them, the hands of the EC are tied," Bhagat said. Speaking on Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir's alleged nuke threat, the Congress leader said that India and its Army were capable of giving a befitting reply to such threats. "India knows its strength and its limits. Our Army knows very well how to give a befitting reply. He (Asim Munir) is also threatening America with such statements. What does US President Trump have to say now?" Bhagat said. Earlier in the day, Delhi police detained Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and a host of other INDIA bloc leaders. The police foiled their march to the Election Commission to protest over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "vote chori" (vote theft) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and TMC MP Sagarika Ghose were also among those detained by the police. The detained MPs were corralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station. While being detained, Rahul Gandhi told reporters, "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list." Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told ANI, "Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai" (They are scared. The Government is a coward). Gandhi linked the INDIA bloc leaders' march to the Election Commission as a "fight to save the Constitution" and demanded a "pure" voters list. At the same time, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi accused the BJP-led Union government of being "scared". This development came as the Secretariat of the Election Commission of India wrote to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, granting an appointment for interaction at noon today. "EC has granted an appointment for an interaction at 12:00 PM today. It is requested that, due to the limitation of space, names of up to 30 persons may kindly be intimated," the letter read. On August 7, Rahul Gandhi held a press conference, citing internal analysis. The LoP stated that the Congress expected to win 16 Lok Sabha 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. "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. The Election Commission on Monday said that Rahul Gandhi "still has time" to submit a formal declaration to substantiate his allegation of "vote theft" or apologise to the country. The Karnataka CEO on Sunday asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to submit documents to inquire into his "vote theft" allegations against the Election Commission of India. (ANI) Karnataka Cooperation Minister K N Rajanna on Monday submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, according to sources from the Chief Minister's Office. The minister has also sent his resignation to the Governor's office. The development comes after Friday's rally in Bengaluru by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi where he doubled down on his "vote theft" charge that "collusion" had happened between the Election Commission of India and the BJP to allow creation of over one lakh "fake votes" in the Mahadevapura Assembly Segment in the Banglaore Central Lok Sabha constituency in Karnataka in the 2024 elections to ensure a win for the BJP. On Saturday, Rajanna had, talking to reporters in Tumkuru, asked why Congress leaders "turned a blind eye" to irregularities in voter lists and kept silent when they should have raised objections. He said, "Look, if we just start talking about such things casually, there will be different opinions. When was the voter list prepared? It was prepared when our own government was in power. At that time, was everyone just sitting quietly with eyes closed? These irregularities did take place -- that's the truth. There is nothing false in this." Admitting that the irregularities happened openly, he said, "These irregularities happened right in front of our eyes -- we should feel ashamed. We didn't take care of it at the time. That's why we must be alert in the future." "In Mahadevapura, there was indeed fraud. One person was registered in three different places and voted in all three. But when the draft electoral rolls are being prepared, we have to monitor it, right?...When the draft electoral rolls are made, we must file objections -- that is our responsibility. At that time, we kept quiet and now we are talking," Rajanna said. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar dismissed claims by Rajanna. "Mr KN Rajanna is totally at fault. He doesn't know. My Chief Minister and my party high command will reply to that," Shivakumar told reporters in Bengaluru today. Shivakumar further said that the poll body should reply to the objections raised by Gandhi, "Whatever documents the Election Commission is asking, we are not schoolboys to reply whatever they ask. They are supposed to give us. He has given a representation and they know whatever is wrong. We have asked for some information and records. We have asked officially. I myself went to Election Commission. At no point of time my leader will take oath or answer to it. He has answered already in public." Meanhwhile, Rajanna's son and Congress leader Rajendra Rajanna reacting to the resignation said, "I don't know what happened." (ANI) Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on Monday slammed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the centre, calling it a "dictator" over the detention of scores of INDIA bloc MPs, both from Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha for protesting against the Election Commission (EC) amid allegations of "vote theft." "With the emergence of all the facts, the BJP has become a dictator. I don't recall a time when 300 MPs were detained like this before. This is embarrassing and a dark time for democracy," Tiwari told ANI. Meanwhile, Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat hit out at the ECI, labelling it as an "extension office" of the ruling BJP. He said that the EC's invitation for a meeting comes as they have been caught red-handed. "You can see the timings of the Election Commission. Their theft, exposed by Rahul Gandhi, proves that they wrote this letter in a state of nervousness," Bhagat told ANI. Labelling the EC's responses to allegations levelled by Rahul Gandhi as "dogmatic," the Congress MP stated that the LoP's questions to the constitutional body were being answered by the BJP, which has "tied its hands." Earlier in the day, Delhi police detained Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and a host of other INDIA bloc leaders. The police foiled their march to the Election Commission to protest over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "vote chori" (vote theft) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and TMC MP Sagarika Ghose were also among those detained by the police. The detained MPs were corralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station. While being detained, Rahul Gandhi told reporters, "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list." Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told ANI, "Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai" (They are scared. The Government is a coward). Gandhi linked the INDIA bloc leaders' march to the Election Commission as a "fight to save the Constitution" and demanded a "pure" voters list. At the same time, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi accused the BJP-led Union government of being "scared". This development came as the Secretariat of the Election Commission of India wrote to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, granting an appointment for interaction at noon today. "EC has granted an appointment for an interaction at noon today. It is requested that, due to the limitation of space, names of up to 30 persons may kindly be intimated," the letter read. On August 7, Rahul Gandhi held a press conference, citing internal analysis. The LoP stated that the Congress expected to win 16 Lok Sabha 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. "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. The Election Commission on Monday said that Rahul Gandhi "still has time" to submit a formal declaration to substantiate his allegation of "vote theft" or apologise to the country. The Karnataka CEO on Sunday asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to submit documents to inquire into his "vote theft" allegations against the Election Commission of India. (ANI) The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), during its ongoing crusade against corruption in the state, has been able to apprehend 10 officials red-handed while accepting bribes in eight different trap cases during July, an official said in a statement. Disclosing this here on Monday, an official spokesperson of the state VB said that the department has put up its best efforts to eradicate corruption amongst public servants and others in every sphere during the period. He informed that the Bureau had submitted challans pertaining to 28 vigilance cases in various competent courts in the last month. Apart from this, six vigilance enquiries have also been registered to thoroughly probe the corruption cases. He added that eight criminal cases were also registered against 13 accused, which include nine government employees. Giving more details, he added that different competent courts had decided five bribery cases filed and contested by the Bureau during the last month, in which seven persons were convicted and sentenced ranging from two years to five years imprisonment and a fine from Rs 10,000 to Rs 1,00,000. Earlier, on July 23, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB), in its ongoing relentless drive against corruption in the state, had arrested an Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Jagtar Singh, posted at Police Station Sadar, Sangrur, red-handed while he was accepting a bribe of Rs 12,000, officials said. According to an official spokesperson of the state, the accused police official has been arrested following a complaint filed by a resident of Sangrur district. He further added that the complainant had approached the VB, alleging that the high court had granted him bail, but the said ASI had demanded a Rs 15,000 bribe to join him in the investigation into this case. In addition to this, he had demanded Rs 20,000 more to return the equipment confiscated from his house during the search. The spokesperson informed that, after verifying this complaint, a VB team from the Patiala range laid a trap and apprehended ASI Jagtar Singh while he was accepting Rs 12,000 as a bribe from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses. In this regard, a case was registered against the accused under the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act at the VB police station, Patiala range. Further investigation into this case was in progress, he added. (ANI) The Chhattisgarh State Waqf Board on Monday announced that hoisting the national flag will be mandatory at all mosques, dargahs, imambaras, and khanqahs in the state on Independence Day. Speaking about the decision, n Salim RajWaqf Board Chairma said the move reflects the sentiment that Indian Muslims "honour and respect the national flag." "In Chhattisgarh, it is now mandatory to hoist the national flag at the main entrance or in front of every mosque, dargah, imambara, and khanqah. This decision reflects our belief that Indian Muslims deeply honour and respect the Tricolour," he said. "This year, flag hoisting ceremonies will be held at all mosques, with respective mosque committees and imams leading the event. A dedicated portal has been set up to upload photographs from each location, ensuring proper documentation of the celebrations," he added. Earlier, reinforcing the unified citywide effort to engage and equip private security personnel in safeguarding Delhi during the festive period, interaction-cum-briefing programs were organised on Sunday across all police districts of Delhi to reinforce the role of Private Security Guards as vital partners in maintaining law and order and acting as force multipliers for public safety. The primary objective of the meetings was to provide them with a briefing on security protocols and enhance their skills to identify and respond to potential threats. During the sessions, security guards were given a comprehensive overview of dos and don'ts related to their duties. To strengthen their operational readiness, security kits (cap, reflective jacket, baton, whistle) were also distributed to all the participants. SBK Singh, the new Commissioner of Police, Delhi graced the occasion and interacted with Praharis to motivate and inspire them for vigilant duty at two major programmes held at Multipurpose Hall, North Campus, University of Delhi in North district, attended by around 800 Praharis and also at auditorium of Lotus Temple in South-East District, attended by around 300 Praharis. In his address, CP Delhi lauded the complementary role of private security guards in strengthening public safety and emphasised the significance of their alertness and vigilance and also stressed that Praharis are an indispensable link in community policing and their cooperation enhances the reach, responsiveness, and effectiveness of law. In the interactive meeting, Praharis were advised to be proactive in conducting polite yet firm searching and frisking where required. Maintaining constant observation of people and surroundings. Immediately report suspicious persons or unusual activities to the police. Be alert to abandoned or unattended items and treat them as potential threats until cleared. Supporting the police in crowd management during Independence Day celebrations and festive times, the police added. (ANI) Congress MP Pramod Tiwari on Monday said that the alleged nuke threat issued by Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir has exposed the neighbouring country as its intentions are now known to the world. Suggesting that the "half the world" warning issued by Munir was a direct threat to Russia and the US, Tiwari asked, "Is the person who has threatened to destroy half the world worthy of sitting and eating lunch with you?" "We are very proud of our Indian army. Pakistan has been exposed. Now the whole world knows what Pakistan's intention is. So the world should wake up. Those who do not support India on 'Operation Sindoor' should also wake up. We are confident that we will protect India, but this is a direct threat to Trump and Russia," he added. Tiwari said that Munir's comments were "dangerous" and called for the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to take cognizance. Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has, during his ongoing visit to the United States, said that Islamabad will defend its water rights "at all costs" if India proceeds with dam construction on the Indus River. Further, Munir repeated his anti-India rhetoric, describing Kashmir as Pakistan's "jugular vein", stating that it is not India's internal matter but an unresolved international issue, Pakistan-based media outlet ARY News reported on Monday. "We will wait for India to build a dam, and when they do so, we will destroy it," Munir told members of the Pakistani-American community in Tampa, Florida, according to a report published today in The Dawn. ARY news cited Munir as condemning "Indian aggression under Operation Sindoor," and termed it a grave violation of Pakistan's sovereignty. Further, Munir was quoted by ARY News as saying that "A bilateral conflict due to any mistake by India would be a huge blunder," Stating that Pakistan's response had successfully prevented a wider conflict, Munir also thanked US President Donald Trump for his role in defusing tensions between the two countries. Ahead of the Pahalgam attack, India had strongly rebutted Pakistan Army Chief General Munir's remarks describing Kashmir as Pakistan's "jugular vein," calling the claim baseless and asserting that the only relationship Pakistan has with Kashmir is to vacate the territory it occupies illegally. Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday issued a strong statement in response to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff during his visit to the United States. "Our attention has been drawn to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff while on a visit to the United States. Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan's stock-in-trade," the MEA official spokesperson said. The spokesperson added, "The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks, which also reinforce the well-held doubts about the integrity of nuclear command and control in a state where the military is hand-in-glove with terrorist groups." The MEA spokesperson further expressed regret that these remarks were made from the soil of a friendly third country. "It is also regrettable that these remarks should have been made from the soil of a friendly third country," the official said. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ram Kadam on Monday said that Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is trying to defame the Election Commission (EC), which is called "urban naxalism", when someone deliberately attempts to do it. "You are trying to defame EC, which is a parliamentary institution, according to our democracy. When someone deliberately attempts to do this, it is called urban naxalism. You are indirectly trying to support them," Kadam, MLA from the Ghatkopar West Vidhan Sabha constituency, told ANI. He further criticised Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for failing to share the "foolproof information" regarding alleged vote theft with the Election Commission. He accused Rahul Gandhi of "peddling lies" among people. "If Rahul Gandhi has any foolproof information, why is he not sharing that information with the Election Commission instead of only speaking in front of the media? The court has repeatedly reprimanded him. Despite this, he is deliberately peddling lies among people," Kadam said. Earlier in the day, Delhi police detained Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and a host of other INDIA bloc leaders. The police foiled their march to the Election Commission to protest over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "vote chori" (vote theft) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and TMC MP Sagarika Ghose were also among those detained by the police. The detained MPs were corralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station. While being detained, Rahul Gandhi told reporters, "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list." Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told ANI, "Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai" (They are scared. The Government is a coward). Gandhi linked the INDIA bloc leaders' march to the Election Commission as a "fight to save the Constitution" and demanded a "pure" voters list. At the same time, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi accused the BJP-led Union government of being "scared". This development came as the Secretariat of the Election Commission of India wrote to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, granting an appointment for interaction at noon today. "EC has granted an appointment for an interaction at 12:00 PM today. It is requested that, due to the limitation of space, names of up to 30 persons may kindly be intimated," the letter read. On August 7, Rahul Gandhi held a press conference, citing internal analysis. The LoP stated that the Congress expected to win 16 Lok Sabha 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. "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. The Election Commission on Monday said that Rahul Gandhi "still has time" to submit a formal declaration to substantiate his allegation of "vote theft" or apologise to the country. The Karnataka CEO on Sunday asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to submit documents to inquire into his "vote theft" allegations against the Election Commission of India. (ANI) Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra on Monday approached the Delhi High Court, expressing concern over alleged media reports about the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) submitting its findings to the Lokpal of India in the ongoing cash-for-query case. Justice Sachin Datta, who heard the matter, indicated that the petition would be disposed of with directions for all parties to "strictly maintain" confidentiality. "There is no doubt that confidentiality has to be maintained. Everyone is bound to maintain it," Justice Datta remarked during the brief hearing. Advocate Samudra Sarangi, representing Moitra, clarified that the plea did not seek the removal of any media content but stressed that the provisions of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, and relevant circulars should be adhered to. He submitted that details of the CBI's report being filed had appeared in the public domain soon after it was submitted to the Lokpal. The CBI is understood to have recently handed over its report to the anti-corruption ombudsman in connection with the case involving Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani. While the contents of the report remain undisclosed, the Lokpal will examine the findings and decide on the next steps. The matter stems from allegations made last year by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, claiming that Moitra had raised certain questions in Parliament in return for gifts and favours from Hiranandani, allegedly to target industrialist Gautam Adani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Lokpal, after a preliminary inquiry, had directed the CBI to conduct a more detailed investigation, noting that there was prima facie evidence warranting further scrutiny. In its earlier order, the Lokpal had underlined that public representatives are expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity, given the trust placed in them by the public. It observed that corruption undermines legislative, administrative, social, and economic institutions, making vigilance and accountability crucial. A detailed order from the High Court on Moitra's petition will be made available later. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Sanjay Jaiswal on Monday called on Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi to give in writing his "voter theft" allegations to the Election Commission. "After a week's drama, they demanded a discussion on Operation Sindoor. After all the embarrassment they had to endure, they decided not to let the Lok Sabha function... After 15 days, they thought that they should go and talk to the Election Commission. The Election Commission only asked Rahul Gandhi to give in writing whatever he said during his press conference. Can't he do this?..." Jaiswal told ANI. Earlier today, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ram Kadam said that Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi was trying to defame the Election Commission (EC), which the Ghatkopar West MLA said was "urban naxalism." "You are trying to defame EC, which is a parliamentary institution, according to our democracy. When someone deliberately attempts to do this, it is called urban naxalism. You are indirectly trying to support them," Kadam, MLA from the Ghatkopar West Vidhan Sabha constituency, told ANI. He further criticised Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for failing to share the "foolproof information" regarding alleged vote theft with the Election Commission. He accused Rahul Gandhi of "peddling lies" among people. "If Rahul Gandhi has any foolproof information, why is he not sharing that information with the Election Commission instead of only speaking in front of the media? The court has repeatedly reprimanded him. Despite this, he is deliberately peddling lies among people," Kadam said. Earlier in the day, Delhi police detained Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and a host of other INDIA bloc leaders. The police foiled their march to the Election Commission to protest over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "vote chori" (vote theft) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and TMC MP Sagarika Ghose were also among those detained by the police. The detained MPs were corralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station. While being detained, Rahul Gandhi told reporters, "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list." Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told ANI, "Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai" (They are scared. The Government is a coward). Gandhi linked the INDIA bloc leaders' march to the Election Commission as a "fight to save the Constitution" and demanded a "pure" voters list. At the same time, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi accused the BJP-led Union government of being "scared". (ANI) The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the 'One Nation One Election' Bill interacted with political scientists and academicians on Monday with panel chairman PP Chaudhary stating that the members raised questions and sought clarifications and the experts conveyed that it is "very important" to have simultaneous polls. The panel has been holding regular interactions on the bill. "Today we called political scientists, the input of political scientists is also very important. There were many questions, and we have asked them for clarification. They told us that from their side, it is very important to have one nation, one election in the country... If we want the country to develop, India to develop, then it is very important to have One Nation One Election...Former Chief Justice of India Justice Khanna is also coming on the 19th. He will also give us inputs about this," PP Chaudhary told ANI. He had said earlier in the day that 'One Nation, One Election' is very important for nation-building Sources said the meeting focused on the prospects and challenges of holding simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies. The sources told ANI that the political experts argued that the idea of democracy is not just limited to elections. They are learnt reported to have argued that frequent polls increase the scope of corruption, which weakens democracy and that the imposition of the Model Code of Conduct slows down the pace of government work and decision-making. Sources said the experts identified four broad areas of reforms - political parties, campaign, parliamentary and legislative and women's representation. They noted that in terms of women's representation, local self-government institutions have performed better, and this success can also be seen in the large number of women getting elected to non-reserved seats. There were suggestions that the report cards of candidates should be made available to the electorate, there should be Action Taken Reports on manifestos, and parties should be encouraged to come out with constituency-specific manifestos. The experts highlighted the impact of frequent elections on education, particularly on school education .. The Constitution (One Hundred And Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 were introduced in the Lok Sabha in December 2024. The bills were sent to the Joint Committee of both Houses for further examination. (ANI) Seven people were killed while several others were injured after a pick-up van fell 25-30 feet down a slope in Papalwadi village under the Mahalunge MIDC police station area in Maharashtra on Monday. The van carrying women and children to the Kundeshwar temple was involved in the accident. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Shivaji Pawar, said that the injured have been admitted to various hospitals. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed grief over the death of seven people. "A tragic incident occurred under the Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissionerate at Kundeshwar, where a pickup vehicle carrying devotees visiting for Shravan Monday darshan met with an accident, resulting in the death of 7 people. This event is deeply saddening. I offer my heartfelt tributes to them. We share in the grief of their families. Our condolences are with them in this difficult time," Devendra Fadnavis wrote on 'X'. The Maharashtra CM informed that the state government will provide financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh to the families of the victims and stated that more than 20 people were injured in the accident, who have been admitted to various hospitals. "Financial assistance of 4 lakh rupees will be provided to the families of the deceased on behalf of the state government. More than 20 people were injured in this accident and have been admitted to various hospitals. Arrangements are being made for their complete treatment, and I am personally in contact with the Police Commissioner," the 'X' post read. Earlier on Saturday evening between 8:00 and 8:15 pm, part of an under-construction gate near the Koradi temple in Nagpur collapsed, sending up a cloud of dust and injuring several workers. (ANI) Kannada actress Ranya Rao's stepfather, Ramchandra Rao, who had been sent on compulsory leave, has been reinstated as Director General of Police, Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement and his leave has been withdrawn. In a notification, Government of Karnataka stated, "The order of compulsory leave with respect to Dr K Ramachandra Rao, IPS is hereby withdrawn and the officer is posted with immediate effect and until further orders as Director General of Police, Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement in the upgraded vacant post." "The post of Director General of Police, Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement is declared equivalent in status and responsibilities to the cadre post of Director General of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, Special Units & Economic offences, Bengaluru under Rule 12 of IPS (Pay) Rules 2016 as included in Schedule II of the said rule," Under secretary to government, Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms said. DGP Ramchandra Rao was sent on compulsory leave in March after the actress was arrested in a gold smuggling case. Rao, who is due to retire in May 2026, was sent on compulsory leave in May 2025 after his step-daughter Ranya was arrested at the Kempegowda International Airport, allegedly with Rs 12.56 crore worth of unaccounted-for gold bars. The 34-year-old actress was accused of smuggling gold from Dubai by using special privileges accorded to family members of senior IPS officers. "K V Sharath Chandra, IPS (KN-1997) Additional Director General of Police, Recruitment is placed in Concurrent Charge of the post of Chairman & Managing Director, Karnataka State Police Housing & Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd, Bengaluru with immediate effect and until further orders, Dr K Ramachandra Rao, IPS sent on compulsory leave," said a Karnataka Government order issued on March 15. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has attached immovable properties worth Rs 34.12 crore in connection with a case of transnational gold smuggling and money laundering in a case linked to actress Harshavardini Ranya, alias Ranya Rao and her associates. As per the ED, the attached assets include properties located in the Bengaluru and Tumkur districts of Karnataka. The action was taken under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, and executed by the ED's Headquarters Investigative Unit-II, New Delhi. The properties have been attached under Section 5(1) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act as equivalent value assets corresponding to untraced proceeds of a crime unearthed during the investigation. ED initiated its investigation based on the First Information Report dated March 7, registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (corresponding to Section 120B IPC) and Sections 7 & 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, following a complaint by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). The FIR pertained to the interception of two foreign nationals, an Omani and a UAE citizen, at Mumbai International Airport with 21.28 kg of smuggled gold of foreign origin, valued at Rs 18.92 crore. Earlier, on March 3, 2025, the DRI had intercepted Ranya Rao at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru with 14.213 kg of concealed 24-carat foreign-origin gold valued at Rs 12.56 crore. A search of her residence resulted in the recovery of Rs 2.67 crore in unaccounted Indian currency and gold jewellery worth Rs 2.06 crore. The ED investigation has revealed that Ranya Rao, in active collusion with Tarun Konduru Raju and others, orchestrated a well-structured operation for smuggling gold into India. "Gold was procured from suppliers based in Dubai, Uganda, and other jurisdictions, and payments were made through hawala channels in cash, thereby circumventing legal financial systems. False customs declarations were filed in Dubai (Dubai Customs deceleration attached for reference), fraudulently declaring the destination of gold shipments as Switzerland or the USA, while the actual travel of the gold smugglers was to India," said the ED in a statement. "Dual sets of travel documents were used-- one for the declared export destination and the other for their actual arrival in India, to evade scrutiny and facilitate smuggling through Indian airports," ED said. Further, ED investigation has revealed that the smuggled gold was then sold within India in cash to jewellers and other local entities, and the proceeds were subsequently laundered through further hawala remittances abroad to finance repeat consignments for smuggling more gold into India. "Evidence retrieved from the seized mobile phones and forensic extraction of digital devices has revealed detailed coordination with foreign gold suppliers, hawala operators, and Dubai-based customs agents. Ranya Rao's involvement in generating, possessing, and circulating proceeds of crime was further corroborated by her digital footprint, which includes invoices, export declarations, foreign remittance records, and recorded chats establishing her active role in the smuggling syndicate," said the ED. (ANI) Punjab Revenue, Rehabilitation and Disaster Management Minister S Hardeep Singh Mundian on Monday handed over appointment letters to 504 newly-recruited Patwaris in line with the Chief Minister S Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government's commitment to provide clean, transparent and accountable services to the people, Information and Public Relations Department, Punjab said in a press release. Addressing the candidates at the appointment letter distribution ceremony at the Municipal Bhawan here, S Hardeep Singh Mundian said that these Patwaris, having completed their mandatory 18-month training program, are now being deployed in the field as regular Patwaris. He said that CM Mann had allocated districts to eligible candidates based on merit following the recruitment of Revenue Patwaris in 2023. According to regulations, candidates underwent one year of training at Patwar Schools and six months of field training. "To facilitate the candidates during their one-year training period, 10 temporary Patwar Schools were established. These schools were staffed with experienced and retired PCS officers, District Revenue Officers, Tehsildars, Patwaris and Kanungos serving as Principals, Vice Principals and Kanungo Teachers," he added. Notably, during their training, these Patwaris received comprehensive instruction in revenue computation, land records, surveying, record preparation, elections, settlement operations, agriculture and computer applications. Special training was provided in elections and agriculture. Election training primarily focused on voter list preparation, while agricultural training covered comprehensive knowledge of Kharif and Rabi crops, pesticides, fertilisers and crop seeds. Candidates received hands-on training on the ILMS (Integrated Land Management System) software for Jamabandi data entry, mutation recording, Roznamacha, Fard Badar and related operations. The Cabinet Minister said that following government directives, DGPS (Differential Global Positioning System) equipment has been procured to train all Patwaris in the state for demarcation work. Training on demarcation using this equipment is being provided. He mentioned that training is being conducted for conducting revenue surveys through Digital Crop Survey. Mundhian informed that the departmental examination for eligible candidates was conducted from May 26, 2025 to June 3, 2025. A total of 504 candidates passed this departmental examination and are being deployed in the field after receiving their appointment letters. These Patwaris have been appointed with the objective of providing clean, transparent and accountable citizen-centric services to the people, said the Cabinet Minister, expressing hope that recruiting these young candidates will prove instrumental in creating a corruption-free society in the coming days. He announced that recruitment for additional Patwari positions will be expedited to provide Punjab's youth with opportunities to serve the state. He stated that our government is fully committed to eliminating every trace of corruption from the state to ensure a transparent and efficient administrative structure for the welfare of the people. He categorically warned that corruption among government employees will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Additional Chief Secretary-cum-Financial Commissioner Revenue Anurag Verma stated that the purpose of recruiting new Patwaris is to streamline the Revenue Department's operations for public convenience and ensure that people receive timely, hassle-free services without delays. Verma welcomed the newly appointed Patwaris on their formal joining on Monday and noted that deploying highly qualified Patwaris will help implement reforms like Easy Jamabandi and Easy Registry more effectively at the grassroots level. (ANI) The north Indian hill state Himachal Pradesh took a major leap in advanced healthcare on Monday with the launch of a robot-assisted surgical facility at the Atal Institute of Medical Super Specialities, Chamiana, Shimla. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu inaugurated the state's first such facility in the Department of Urology at Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Chamiana campus. Health & Family Welfare Minister Dr (Col) Dhani Ram Shandil and Rural Development & Panchayati Raj Minister Anirudh Singh, along with senior officials and doctors, were present at the inauguration. The facility opened with the first-ever robotic-assisted prostate cancer surgery in the state, performed by renowned urologist Dr Anand Kumar from Max Hospital, assisted by Dr Pamposh Raina. Speaking to the media after the inauguration, CM Sukhu recalled his personal experience with robotic surgery. "Five years ago, I myself underwent a robotic surgery. After that operation, I learned more about medical science and thought that Himachal's hospitals, too, should have robotic surgery facilities. Today, I am happy that we have brought that thought to reality, and the first robotic-assisted operation is being conducted here just like my own surgery five years ago," he said. He added that such surgeries will benefit ordinary families across the state and stressed that the facility is being developed to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) standards. Sukhu announced that similar facilities would be started at Tanda Medical College, Ner Chowk Mandi, and Hamirpur by 2030, with Rs 300 crore to be invested in medical technology. CM also detailed broader healthcare reforms, including upgrading outdated machines in hospitals, establishing automated in-house laboratories at Chamiana, Tanda, Hamirpur, Ner Chowk, Nahan, and Chamba, and installing 3 Tesla MRI machines at IGMC and Tanda. "If needed, we are ready to bring doctors from outside the state on package-based appointments. Our government's priority is medical education and making Himachal self-reliant in healthcare. We have sanctioned Rs 200 crore from our budget for medical institutions, and by 2030, Himachal will have world-class medical facilities for everyone, especially for the poor and common people," Sukhu said. Police Successfully Rescue BCS Students in Separate Incident During the event, CM Sukhu also addressed the recent kidnapping case involving three Class 6 students from Bishop Cotton School (BCS) in Shimla. He confirmed that all three children were safely recovered within hours after swift police action. "I remained in constant touch with the Director General of Police and SP Sanjeev Gandhi, even at night. Due to the police's alertness, all three children were rescued safely," he said, adding that the investigation is ongoing. On Anand Sharma's resignation as chairman of Foraigh affairs of AICC, he said it was his personal decision and he has done it to give an opportunity to young people, the party wanted to retain him. The patient undergoing the first robotic-assisted surgery was a retired government employee diagnosed with prostate cancer. One of the attendants, Manish Grover, the son of the first patient, is thankful to the doctors and authorities for this. "I would first like to thank the Himachal Pradesh Government and the team of doctors for performing my father's prostate cancer operation through robotic surgery. I am pleased that this operation is being performed successfully here. The doctors have explained everything to me, and I am relieved that not many blood units are required. This is a big relief for us." He said. Another family member, Nishu Grover, noted that the facility, which was established here, was unavailable in the state and required an out-of-state visit for the same purpose. "We thank the Himachal Government and the doctors for starting this facility here. Earlier, we had to travel to Delhi or other hospitals for such procedures. Now, we have it here in Himachal itself. The surgery is being done robotically, and since my father is a retired Deputy from the Commissioner's Office, the government is covering the expenses. However, pending medical reimbursements should be cleared quickly, including the previous ones," she said. The launch of the robotic surgery facility marks a historic moment in Himachal Pradesh's healthcare system, setting the stage for advanced, minimally invasive surgeries to be performed within the state. (ANI) Extending support to Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi over his allegation on the Election Commission, Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Monday said that the evidence presented by Gandhi is "indisputable". Speaking to ANI, Pilot emphasised that they are demanding an investigation by the poll body over Rahul's allegations. "The evidence that Rahul Gandhi placed before the public is indisputable. The BJP has become the spokesperson of the Election Commission. We are just demanding an investigation by the Election Commission. Every common citizen has this right," he said. The Congress leader's remarks come in the wake of Rahul Gandhi's public statements accusing the ECI of lapses in ensuring free and fair elections. Earlier in the day, Delhi police detained Congress MPs Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and a host of other INDIA bloc leaders. The police foiled their march to the Election Commission to protest over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar and allegations of "vote chori" (vote theft) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and TMC MP Sagarika Ghose were also among those detained by the police. The detained MPs were corralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station. While being detained, Rahul Gandhi told reporters, "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list." Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told ANI, "Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai" (They are scared. The Government is a coward)." Gandhi linked the INDIA bloc leaders' march to the Election Commission as a "fight to save the Constitution" and demanded a "pure" voters list. At the same time, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi accused the BJP-led Union government of being "scared". On August 7, Rahul Gandhi held a press conference, citing internal analysis. The LoP stated that the Congress expected to win 16 Lok Sabha 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. "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. The Election Commission on Monday said that Rahul Gandhi "still has time" to submit a formal declaration to substantiate his allegation of "vote theft" or apologise to the country. The Karnataka CEO on Sunday asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to submit documents to inquire into his "vote theft" allegations against the Election Commission of India. (ANI) After the Supreme Court's order to relocate all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to shelters, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday said that Delhi citizens have been facing the issue for "quite some time" and the government will prepare a proper plan on this. "The people of Delhi had been troubled for quite some time now on this issue. This problem had taken a formidable form and is now standing before Delhi, and providing a solution is very important. We will prepare a proper plan on this issue," Rekha Gupta told reporters. Delhi Municipal Corporation mayor Raja Iqbal Singh expressed happiness over the Supreme Court's order on the issue, stating that they will try to implement it within the next six weeks. Singh said that Delhi has ten sterilisation centres but doesn't have shelter homes. He stated that the government will work towards establishing shelter homes, and the MCD will ensure that stray dogs do not face any problems. "I welcome Supreme Court's order as the people of Delhi were facing a lot of problems. We will try our best to implement this order in the next six weeks. We don't have shelter homes, but we have 10 operational sterilisation centres. We can make temporary and permanent shelter homes. MCD and the Delhi government will ensure that no one faces problems due to stray dogs. We will make an action plan after holding meetings with our officers," Raja Iqbal Singh told ANI. Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra also reiterated the government's stance on the issue, mentioning that they are committed towards the welfare of the street dogs. He criticised the previous state governments for neglecting the issue, which has become a serious problem in the present time. "We are committed to the welfare of homeless animals. Today's Supreme Court decision will help remove the obstacles in our path. For many years, the Delhi government has not paid attention to this issue. Today, it has become a serious problem. We will implement the Supreme Court's decision in a time-bound manner, keeping the spirit of kindness, compassion, and humanity in mind," Kapil Mishra said. The Supreme Court on Monday took a stern view of the stray dog menace and ordered the Delhi-NCR to start removing stray dogs from all localities within eight weeks and house them in dedicated dog shelters to be set up by civic authorities. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said that all localities should be made free of stray dogs and there should not be any compromise. It also made it clear that no captured animal will be released back on the streets. It also ordered contempt proceedings against any individual or organisation that attempts to obstruct the authorities from carrying out the capture drive. "If any individual or organisation comes in the way of picking stray dogs or rounding them up, we will proceed to take action against any such resistance," said Justice Pardiwala. The apex court also directed the states and municipal authorities to create dog shelters with sufficient staff to sterilise and immunise them. (ANI) The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Monday directed the State government to issue an appointment letter to a man whose compassionate appointment had been withheld for over four years due to a pending criminal case, ruling that mere registration of an FIR for petty offences cannot be grounds to deny employment. Justice Sandeep Sharma, delivering the order in Yog Raj versus State of Himachal Pradesh and Others, observed that until an accused is convicted by a competent court, he is deemed innocent, and denial of appointment solely on the basis of a pending FIR -- especially for minor offences -- is unsustainable. The case dates back to 2009, when the petitioner's father, a Junior Basic Teacher in the Elementary Education Department, died in harness. Yog Raj applied for a compassionate appointment in 2010. Though his application was initially rejected in 2011, it was later reconsidered, and in March 2021, the government approved his appointment as a Junior Office Assistant (IT) on compassionate grounds. However, no appointment letter was issued. It later emerged that the delay was due to the pendency of FIR No. 5 of 2019, registered under Sections 323 and 325 of the IPC, relating to an altercation. The petitioner argued that such a case could not be treated as a bar to his appointment. The Court referred to earlier judgments, including Sanjay Kumar vs. State of Himachal Pradesh and Rajinder Kumar vs. HRTC, which held that the nature and gravity of the alleged offence must be considered, and that mere registration of a case is not equivalent to a finding of guilt. Justice Sharma found no evidence that the petitioner had concealed the FIR from authorities, noting that at no stage was he asked to disclose pending criminal proceedings. The Court emphasised that compassionate appointments are linked to the livelihood of bereaved families and must be handled with care, not mechanical rejection. Allowing the petition, the High Court directed the State to issue the appointment letter within four weeks, as per seniority, making it clear that the petitioner's continuation in service would depend on the outcome of the criminal trial. (ANI) In response to the Supreme Court's directive to relocate all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to shelters within eight weeks, BJP leader and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi on Monday termed the order "not doable" and "a very strange judgment given in anger." "It is not a doable order... This is a very strange judgment given by someone who is in anger. Angry judgments are never sensible...", Maneka Gandhi told ANI. Further, Maneka Gandhi warned of massive logistical, financial, and social challenges, including the absence of government-run shelters, the need for thousands of new facilities, and the potential for street clashes between authorities and dog feeders. "There is no single government-run shelter in Delhi. In how many shelters would you put three lakh dogs? You don't even have one. To make those shelters, you have to spend at least Rs 15 thousand crore... You'll have to find 3000 places for shelters in places where no one lives. How will you find these many places?... This can't be done in two months... You'll have to employ 1.5 lakh people to just be sanitation workers, which will again cost crores..." she said. "Firstly, when they go to get the dogs, there will be fighting in every street because feeders are not going to let the dogs go. Every day, there will be fights. Do we want this destabilisation situation? Other political parties will get into it to attack the BJP... When the dogs from here are displaced, dogs from nearby states will come to Delhi, as there will be more food here. Then, within a week, there will be another three lakh dogs in Delhi, and these will not be sterilised. Then will you start another sterilisation programme and spend hundreds of crores again?..." the BJP leader warned. Meanwhile, another Animal Rights Activist, Gauri Maulekhi, expressed sadness over the incident and stated that it will affect 10 lakh animals. She said that the order will be challenged, noting that the existing shelters in the country are run only by NGOs and private bodies. "This order, which will affect 10 lakh animals, is very sad. The Supreme Court is overruling the codified law without hearing the other side. This order will be challenged. The existing shelters in the country are run only by NGOs and private bodies. The court did not even consider the consequences of the sudden removal of stray dogs. We should have made Delhi an example of animal birth control centres", she said. Earlier today, a bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said that all localities should be made free of stray dogs and there should not be any compromise. It also made it clear that no captured animal will be released back on the streets. It also ordered contempt proceedings against any individual or organisation that attempts to obstruct the authorities from carrying out the capture drive."If any individual or organisation comes in the way of picking stray dogs or rounding them up, we will proceed to take action against any such resistance," said Justice Pardiwala. The apex court also directed the states and municipal authorities to create dog shelters with sufficient staff to sterilise and immunise them. "NCT Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad, MCD, NMDC shall start picking up stray dogs from all localities, particularly from more vulnerable localities. It is for the authorities to look into and if they have to create a force, do it at the earliest. However, this should be the first and foremost exercise to make all localities free of stray dogs. There should not be any compromise in undertaking the exercise," said the bench. (ANI) Using a California-US-based VPN number to make threatening internet calls, an engineering graduate and former Bishop Cotton School (BCS) student abducted three class six boys during a Sunday outing -- but was tracked down and caught within hours by Shimla Police. Superintendent of Police Sanjeev Gandhi said the suspect used his knowledge of the school's outing system, gained as an "old boy," to lure the children, calling the case "a matter where three children's lives were at stake". Gandhi told reporters in Shimla and later, speaking to ANI, that the accused, Sumit Sood of Kokunala area of Kotkhai, had studied up to Class 8 at BCS before pursuing engineering out of state. "He lured the boys by introducing himself as an 'old boy' or 'Cattonian', a former student, and promised to drop them at Auckland Tunnel. But after crossing Dhalli, he brandished a revolver and took them to his home in Kokunala," Gandhi said. Police pursued multiple, sometimes conflicting, reports of sightings from Mall Road to a bus stand, McDonald's, and a bookstore. "We started from zero, reviewed CCTV footage from the school's control room, and saw the boys leaving the gate at 12:12 p.m. with a man, but not reaching their supposed destination. We then began vehicle tracing and identified two Delhi-numbered cars. Through coordinated efforts by station in-charges from New Shimla, Sadar, Kotkhai, Theog and Kumarsein, we narrowed it down," Gandhi said. The breakthrough came when investigators traced an internet-based call routed through a California number, received by all three parents between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. "The suspect's car was seen heading towards Narkanda, then returning to Chaila, and later towards Kotkhai and Kudu. Eventually, we located the vehicle and rescued all three children safely," Gandhi added. Acting alone, Sood used his background as a former BCS student to win the children's trust. "He told them he was a 'Cottonian' and they believed him. After passing Sanjauli, he revealed his true intentions and used criminal force. He had a revolver and other items in his possession. He told parents the children were with a gang, but there was no explicit ransom demand at that stage," Gandhi said. Police believe ransom was the likely motive, but will confirm during further interrogation. SP Gandhi said Sood had been planning the crime for 8 to 10 days, using his familiarity with school protocols to his advantage. "In such cases, the initial 72 hours are critical. Any delay can escalate the threat. The suspect's body language suggested he could have taken dangerous steps. We worked with competence, professionalism, and intelligence to recover the boys in the shortest time possible," Gandhi told ANI. The boys were medically examined and handed back to the school. Gandhi praised his team, including Additional SP Navdeep Singh, DSP Headquarters Vijay, SHO Kotkhai Shyam Tomar, SDPO Siddharth, and other officers and credited the DGP's guidance and constant updates sought by the Chief Minister through the night. "Shimla Police have set an example of investigation skills. This was a life-and-death situation, and we delivered results without losing focus, despite misleading information circulating on social media," Gandhi said. Two young locals, both named Raunak, were also thanked for helping during the rescue. Police are seeking custody of the accused to determine the full extent of planning, possible accomplices, and motive. Gandhi said that while Himachal is among India's safest states, the case has prompted an immediate review of school outing security protocols. (ANI) Following the resignation of Karnataka Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's cabinet, Bharatiya Janata Party MLC CT Ravi launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing it of stifling democracy. Rajanna stepped down on Monday amid controversy over his remarks on voter list irregularities, which contradicted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI). Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Ravi alleged that there is "no democracy" and that in Congress party "Only dictatorship prevails". He said, "There is no democracy in Congress. Only dictatorship prevails. If you tell the truth, you will have to resign... The work of making additional deletions in the voter list is not done from the top... If a mistake has been made, it is by the state government officers, not by the Election Commission, the BJP or PM Modi." Earlier, Congress MLA HD Ranganath called it the "Chief Minister's prerogative" while hinting at underlying discontent within the party. Speaking to ANI, Ranganath said, "It is the Chief Minister's prerogative. I have no comment on it. But there was a lot of displeasure and other things. We did not expect Rajanna sir to like that." Karnataka's Large and Medium Industries Minister MB Patil claimed he was unaware of the reasons behind Cooperation Minister KN Rajanna's resignation from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's cabinet. He said, "I am not aware of it. The Chief Minister may be aware of it, because when someone resigns, it has to be submitted to the Chief Minister." The reactions come after the Karnataka government on Monday formally notified the removal of KN Rajanna, Minister for Co-operation, from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect. The notification, signed by Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot and forwarded by Special Secretary to the Governor R. Prabushankar on August 11, 2025, was addressed to Chief Secretary Smt. Shalini Rajneesh, IAS. The letter stated, "I am directed to forward herewith the original notification signed by the Hon'ble Governor for the removal of Sri K.N. Rajanna, Hon'ble Minister for Co-operation, from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect, for further necessary action." On Saturday, Rajanna, talking to reporters in Tumkur, asked why Congress leaders "turned a blind eye" to irregularities in voter lists and kept silent when they should have raised objections. He said, "Look, if we just start talking about such things casually, there will be different opinions. When was the voter list prepared? It was prepared when our own government was in power. At that time, was everyone just sitting quietly with eyes closed? These irregularities did take place -- that's the truth. There is nothing false in this." Admitting that the irregularities happened openly, he said, "These irregularities happened right in front of our eyes -- we should feel ashamed. We didn't take care of it at the time. That's why we must be alert in the future." "In Mahadevapura, there was indeed fraud. One person was registered in three different places and voted in all three. But when the draft electoral rolls are being prepared, we have to monitor it, right? When the draft electoral rolls are made, we must file objections -- that is our responsibility. At that time, we kept quiet and now we are talking," Rajanna said. (ANI) Amid ongoing chaos over the alleged "vote theft", Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday accused the opposition of not believing in the constitution and said that "these people" don't have faith in democracy. In a veiled attack against Congress and the Gandhi family, Rijiju argued that whatever one party, one family does according to their whims can't be constitutional. "These people (INDIA alliance) do not believe in the constitution. Whatever one party, one family, or one person does according to one's whims cannot be constitutional. Those people do not believe in the constitution. We are from a democratic party. These people do not have any faith in democracy," Rijiju said. His remarks came as the opposition MPs were detained by the Delhi police this morning for protesting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, following allegations of "vote theft," after they were denied permission to march to the EC office. The allegations levelled by Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi have sparked massive political controversy across the country, with the ruling side alleging that it was an attempt to create "anarchy" and further charging them of "working" against the constitution. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and TMC MP Sagarika Ghose were also among those detained by the police. The detained MPs were corralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station. While being detained, Rahul Gandhi told reporters, "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list." Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told ANI, "Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai" (They are scared. The Government is a coward). Gandhi linked the INDIA bloc leaders' march to the Election Commission as a "fight to save the Constitution" and demanded a "pure" voters list. At the same time, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi accused the BJP-led Union government of being "scared". This development came as the Secretariat of the Election Commission of India wrote to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, granting an appointment for interaction at noon today. "EC has granted an appointment for an interaction at noon today. It is requested that, due to the limitation of space, names of up to 30 persons may kindly be intimated," the letter read. On August 7, Rahul Gandhi held a press conference, citing internal analysis. The LoP stated that the Congress expected to win 16 Lok Sabha 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. "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. The Election Commission on Monday said that Rahul Gandhi "still has time" to submit a formal declaration to substantiate his allegation of "vote theft" or apologise to the country. The Karnataka CEO on Sunday asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to submit documents to inquire into his "vote theft" allegations against the Election Commission of India. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party MP and former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai criticised the Congress party following the resignation of Minister KN Rajanna, alleging that the party does not tolerate truth within its ranks. He alleged that Congress's motto is to "tell lies, pamper leaders, and fool people," claiming Rajanna was removed for speaking the truth. Speaking to ANI, Bommai said, "This shows there is no place for truth in Congress. He had told the truth that all these voter lists were prepared during their regime. So he was axed... Truth is a casualty. One should only tell lies, pamper the leaders, and fool the people. This is the motto, principle, and aim of Congress." Rajanna had stepped down on Monday amid controversy over his remarks on voter list irregularities, which contradicted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's allegations against the Election Commission of India (ECI). Meanwhile, BJP MLC CT Ravi launched a scathing attack on the Congress party, accusing it of stifling democracy. Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Ravi alleged that there is "no democracy" and that in Congress party "Only dictatorship prevails". He said, "There is no democracy in Congress. Only dictatorship prevails. If you tell the truth, you will have to resign... The work of making additional deletions in the voter list is not done from the top... If a mistake has been made, it is by the state government officers, not by the Election Commission, the BJP or PM Modi." Earlier, Congress MLA HD Ranganath called it the "Chief Minister's prerogative" while hinting at underlying discontent within the party. Speaking to ANI, Ranganath said, "It is the Chief Minister's prerogative. I have no comment on it. But there was a lot of displeasure and other things. We did not expect Rajanna sir to like that." Karnataka's Large and Medium Industries Minister MB Patil claimed he was unaware of the reasons behind Rajanna's resignation from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's cabinet. He said, "I am not aware of it. The Chief Minister may be aware of it, because when someone resigns, it has to be submitted to the Chief Minister." The reactions come after the Karnataka government on Monday formally notified the removal of KN Rajanna, Minister for Co-operation, from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect. The notification, signed by Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot and forwarded by Special Secretary to the Governor R. Prabushankar on August 11, 2025, was addressed to Chief Secretary Smt. Shalini Rajneesh, IAS. The letter stated, "I am directed to forward herewith the original notification signed by the Hon'ble Governor for the removal of Sri K.N. Rajanna, Hon'ble Minister for Co-operation, from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect, for further necessary action." On Saturday, Rajanna, talking to reporters in Tumkur, asked why Congress leaders "turned a blind eye" to irregularities in voter lists and kept silent when they should have raised objections. He said, "Look, if we just start talking about such things casually, there will be different opinions. When was the voter list prepared? It was prepared when our own government was in power. At that time, was everyone just sitting quietly with eyes closed? These irregularities did take place -- that's the truth. There is nothing false in this." Admitting that the irregularities happened openly, he said, "These irregularities happened right in front of our eyes -- we should feel ashamed. We didn't take care of it at the time. That's why we must be alert in the future." "In Mahadevapura, there was indeed fraud. One person was registered in three different places and voted in all three. But when the draft electoral rolls are being prepared, we have to monitor it, right? When the draft electoral rolls are made, we must file objections -- that is our responsibility. At that time, we kept quiet and now we are talking," Rajanna said. (ANI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday honored women Self Help groups (SHG) doing commendable work under the Chief Minister's Sashakt Bahana Utsav Yojana at his residence and also interacted with them. On this occasion, the Chief Minister launched the mascot and logo of the Chief Minister's Udyamshala Yojana and inaugurated the new product and website of the House of Himalayas. Applauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his work done for the welfare and empowerment of women, Dhami stated, "Work has been done towards making women self-reliant through schemes like 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and Legislative Assemblies, Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao Abhiyan, Ujjwala Yojana and Lakhpati Didi. When a woman is economically empowered, she works to empower the entire society." Highlighting the state government's efforts to improve the welfare of women's power, Dhami stated, "Efforts have been made to ensure maximum participation of women of the state from education and health to entrepreneurship and jobs. Work is being done to make the rural women of the state self-reliant through the Rural Livelihood Mission. New opportunities are being provided to women through the Sashakt Bahana Utsav Yojana and the Chief Minister's Women Self-Help Group Empowerment Scheme. Under the Chief Minister's Udyamshala Scheme, incubation facilities will be provided to more than 15 thousand entrepreneurs, self-help groups and Lakhpati Didis in the next three years. Under this, they will be provided business skill training, legal and licensing support, co-working space, investment assistance and a strong network for marketing from local to global level." The Chief Minister further stated that under the initiative of Vocal for Local and Local to Global, the umbrella brand of House of Himlayas had been created to realise the resolution of Lakhpati Didi and to give global recognition to local products. Under this, 35 high-quality products are currently being delivered to the people. Soon, the products of House of Himalayas will also be exported to other countries of the world. Dhami further stated that about five lakh women had their business organised through 68 thousand self-help groups in the state. "Through the Mukhyamantri Sashakt Bahana Utsav Yojana launched in 2023, our sisters have sold products worth more than Rs 7 crore by setting up more than 27 thousand stalls in various events. More than 1 lakh 63 thousand sisters of the state have become lakhpatis. 49 growth centres have been established for the processing and marketing of products made by women's self-help groups. For effective marketing of these products, 33 nano packaging units, 17 Saras centres, three state-level marketing centres and 8 bakery units are also being operated in 13 districts," he stated. Under the One Station, One Product Scheme of the Central Government, special centres have been set up at Dehradun and Haridwar railway stations for the sale of products of women's self-help groups. Giving testimonials of the advantage taken of the schemes, Seema Kumari of Almora said "By taking advantage of various schemes of the state government, I earned an income of Rs 18 lakh in the last 5 years." Daya Danu of Bageshwar said "400 women are associated with self-employment with me and together we have earned a profit of one crore rupees in a year." Hema Upadhyay of Champawat said that she had been working on agro tourism and had been earning Rs 4 lakh every year through poly house and homestay. During Corona, she did reverse migration with her husband. Rekha Negi of Chamoli said that she is getting good income on local products through stalls. Kiran Rana, resident of Dehradun stated "I have been practicing mushroom production, and today there are 34 women are working with her." Chhabi of Haridwar told that she had taken a loan of Rs 10 lakh for the restaurant, on which she got a subsidy of Rs 6 lakh. Kiran Joshi of Nainital "In the business of silk that I did, I earned Rs 8 lakhs in a period of nine months." (ANI) Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Monday welcomed the withdrawal of the 'Land Pooling Policy' by the Punjab government. "Farmers stand vindicated in their opposition to the land pooling policy, which would not only have turned them into paupers but would have damaged Punjab socially, economically and environmentally", he said, while expressing relief that better sense prevailed on the government. Reacting to the development, Warring said it was a victory for the farmers and congratulated them for standing firm against this policy, whose obvious aim was to rob farmers of land worth lakhs of crores of rupees without any compensation or their consent. The PCC president also thanked thousands of Congress workers for resisting and opposing the policy, standing by farmers, and staging regular protests across the state. The Punjab government has officially announced the withdrawal of its land pooling policy, following a temporary stay by the Punjab and Haryana High Court and mounting public opposition. The High Court had given the government four weeks to rectify the shortcomings in the scheme, but the decision to withdraw the policy was made before the deadline. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had earlier stayed the land pooling policy, citing several shortcomings and irregularities in its implementation. The court had also highlighted the lack of transparency and consultation with stakeholders, leading to widespread public outcry. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has spelt out why it stayed the Punjab government's Land Pooling Policy, 2025, in its order passed on August 7. The Bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Deepak Manchanda listed a series of legal and procedural shortcomings -- from the absence of environmental and social impact studies to the lack of timelines, grievance redressal and budgetary clarity. It is worth mentioning that even today, the land pooling scheme was opposed by farmers. The court had said in its order that the policy lacks mandatory social and environmental impact assessment, there is no provision for resettlement of landless workers and other affected sections, no grievance redressal mechanism has been created, and no time frame or budget has been clarified. In the past few weeks, tractor marches, door-to-door campaigns and demonstrations were held by farmers' unions, opposition parties and local people in protest against the policy. (ANI) The evacuation request for the civilians was relayed by the Deputy Commissioner of Keylong to the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, and was acted upon immediately. Two of the injured were rushed by road to SNM Hospital in Leh for urgent medical care, while the remaining four were airlifted by Army helicopters for treatment. At the transit camp, Captain Niharika, Regimental Medical Officer from the 4014 Field Hospital, administered crucial first aid and stabilisation measures before the patients were moved. Army officials ensured all casualties received timely and appropriate medical attention. Apart from this, the Indian Army continues extensive Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations in Dharali and Harsil, Uttarakhand, following the massive landslides and flooding earlier this week. Engineering, search, medical, and communication teams are working around the clock to restore connectivity, rescue stranded civilians, and support local communities. A major focus remains on restoring vital links. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Army engineers are constructing a 90-foot Bailey Bridge at Limchigarh, while clearance work is underway on heavily damaged stretches of road between Gangotri and Uttarkashi. A 330-foot cableway is also being built to connect submerged road sections. On 09 August, a total of 33 helicopter sorties, including Army and civil aviation, evacuated 195 civilians from affected areas. Nearly 200 tourists were assisted in crossing mudslide zones and reaching the Harsil helipad for onward evacuation. Food and accommodation have been provided to over 110 stranded tourists. Search operations for missing soldiers and civilians are being conducted with the support of five highly trained Search and Rescue (SAR) dogs, drones, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), and LiDAR equipment. Debris clearance, resuscitation of footbridges, and temporary track construction are also underway to improve ground access. (ANI) Tensions erupted in Fatehpur district in Uttar Pradesh on Monday when members of Hindu organisations, including Bajrang Dal, gathered near an old tomb in Abu Nagar, claiming it a temple. Some members also entered the tomb and started vandalising it, demanding to offer prayers here. Fatehpur Superintendent of Police said that an FIR was lodged against over 160 miscreants. SP Fatehpur Anoop Kumar Singh stated that an FIR has been lodged, naming 10-12 individuals, with approximately 150 others remaining unidentified. Anoop Kumar Singh said, "An FIR has been lodged in which 10-12 people have been named and around 150 are unidentified. They will be identified through the photography and videography done at the time of the incident and will be arrested... The police force is deployed here, and the situation is peaceful." He further said that the mob was dispersed, and the saffron flags installed by the protestors were removed. He said, "We had deployed Police force and made preparations. Some people had picked up stones and canes, but there were no weapons. Everyone has left the location. Action will be taken against all those people who took the law into their own hands. We have got information about it (Hindu flags installed on the monument by protestors). There is no flag located there now." "The people from both sides have dispersed, and the situation is normal. Police teams from 10 police stations are deployed here, one company of PAC and the local administration are also present," the SP said. District Magistrate Ravindra Singh said that the situation is under control. He said, "We assured everyone that the law and order situation will not be allowed to be impacted. People have dispersed from here. The law and order situation is normal. Our primary concern is to maintain peace, and the public has confidence in the police. Action would be taken against those who spread rumours." "Both sides were made to understand the facts. They were assured that law and order would be maintained. We have to ensure that there is no spread of rumours. The situation is peaceful," he added. Some protesters can be seen vandalising the structure with sticks. Bajrang Dal has claimed the structure to be a temple and demands that they be allowed to offer prayers here. Fatehpur District Co-convenor of Bajrang Dal, Dharmendra Singh said, "We will offer prayers here at noon. The Administration will not be able to stop us. In the Hindu religion, no one can take away our right to offer prayers. It is our temple which they are referring to as a tomb. Barricades will also not be able to stop us." (ANI) Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday said that the opposition was given a full opportunity to debate on the relevant issues as the Assembly Monsoon session concluded last week. "The opposition was given full opportunity. In the previous government, there was no discussion on the GST Bill. This time, we held that discussion," CM Rekha Gupta told reporters. CM Rekha Gupta said that parents are feeling relieved over the passing of the School Education (Fee Regulation and Transparency) Bill, 2025. "The Education Bill was passed. The opposition had no speakers for the discussion...The previous head of government had a tendency to go to any extent for lies. All issues have been sent to the concerned departments. The public has felt great relief. We are receiving love from parents," she said. The Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) 2025 bill was passed in the Delhi Assembly on Friday. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and ministers of her cabinet greet the media after the Assembly passed the Delhi School Education (Transparency in Fixation and Regulation of Fees) 2025 Bill. "For the first time after 1973, there is a Government in Delhi which has the courage to do justice to all parents in Delhi in a transparent manner and provide them relief...The Bill has been passed today after a detailed discussion," CM Gupta said. The legislation aims to regulate the arbitrary fee hikes by private schools in the national capital, providing relief to lakhs of students and their families. Earlier on Wednesday, Parents of school students met Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Delhi Education Minister Ashish Sood, thanking them for the School Education (Fee Regulation and Transparency) Bill, 2025. On the Delhi School Education (Fee Regulation and Transparency) Bill, 2025, Jahanvi Kaur, a parent whose child is enrolled in a school in Delhi, said, "No minister has ever had such a commendable performance. The fact that this bill was passed is a very wonderful thing. We were afraid to ask the school why the fees keep increasing because we were afraid that some staff member could do something to our child. I hope that the future of our students will be even brighter." (ANI) Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday joined some other opposition members who have taken potshots at the Modi government, stating that former Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar has "gone missing since July 21 evening" and is "unseen, unheard, unread" and claimed that according to Telugu media, the former Vice President met Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently for 45 minutes. "The immediate former Chairman of the Rajya Sabha has gone missing since the evening of July 21st--unseen, unheard, unread. But according to the Telugu media, the former Chairman of the Rajya Sabha met the PM very recently for 45 minutes. What is going on?" he asked in a post on X. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah concerning Jagdeep Dhankar. "What exactly has happened to our Vice President (Jagdeep Dhankhar)? Where is he? How is his health? Is he safe? The nation deserves to know the truth about these questions," Raut said in a post on X. Dhankhar resigned from his post on July 21, citing health reasons. Raut said in his letter that rumours are circulating in Delhi that Dhankhar has been confined to his residence and is reportedly not safe. "In fact, some colleagues from the Rajya Sabha are even contemplating filing a writ petition of Habeas Corpus in the Supreme Court, as we are genuinely worried about the whereabouts of Dhankar and whether he is safe and healthy," the letter read. Earlier on Saturday, Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said that the whereabouts of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar have not been known since his resignation and demanded that Union Home Minister Amit Shah issue a statement on the matter. "After his resignation, we do not know anything about his whereabouts. I had previously heard about the 'Laapataa Ladies,' but this is the first time I have heard about the 'Laapataa' vice president," Sibal told reporters. The process has started for choosing the next Vice President with election slated to take place on September 9. (ANI) In line with the celebrations for Independence Day 2025, the 'Har Ghar Tiranga' campaign was celebrated with great enthusiasm in Agartala on Monday. In Ward No. 32 of the Bardowali Assembly constituency, at Gandhi Ghat, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha personally visited households and handed over the national flag to residents. He urged everyone to hoist the Tricolour with pride, honouring the countless sacrifices made by freedom fighters for the country's independence. As part of the Har Ghar Tiranga campaign, the national flag will be hoisted on every home and establishment from August 13 to 15. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi 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." 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) Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday said that the main aim of the Har Ghar Tiranga program is to honour those who have made the supreme sacrifice to protect the sovereignty of the country. He also emphasised that the Har Ghar Tiranga program has been successful in the state. CM Saha said this while attending a door-to-door campaign for the Har Ghar Tiranga program at Baradowali Assembly Constituency today. "As you all know, this marks the third year of the Har Ghar Tiranga initiative. We have been doing this following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to us. Our National Flag is our pride. We are observing this day to give respect to the people who made the supreme sacrifice during the country's independence. For this reason, Har Ghar Tiranga is being observed," said CM Saha. He said that, along with the entire country, Tripura is also celebrating it. "Today, I have come here in my own assembly constituency. Yesterday, I did the same in another assembly constituency. It is being held in three phases -- from August 2 to August 8, from August 9th to 12th, and from August 13th to 15th, when the flag hoisting ceremony will take place. I have come here to attend door-to-door campaigns. Everyone is happy after witnessing this campaign," the Tripura CM said. He further said that the main aim of this program is to give respect to those people who have made the supreme sacrifice and are still fighting to protect the country. "We have to make our country more powerful. This program is successful. People are happy," he said. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi 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." (ANI) Congress leader and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Monday said that the Election Commission of India (ECI) must answer questions regarding alleged "vote theft" that are being raised by the Leader of Opposition (LoP), Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi. He criticised the Election Commission for asking Rahul Gandhi to issue an apology or substantiate his claims by signing an oath under its rules. "What did the Election Commission say? Apologise to the country. The question is, has the Election Commission itself become the country?" Baghel told ANI, adding that they should provide answers instead of issuing notices. "The Election Commission is a constitutional institution. Rahul Gandhi has raised questions about the voter list and voting in front of the country. The questions raised by Rahul Gandhi should be answered: Why are there fake voters? How many times is a single voter voting? There are 80 to 250 voters in a single household. The Election Commission should answer all these questions," the Congress leader said. His remarks came as the opposition MPs were detained by the Delhi police this morning for protesting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar, following allegations of "vote theft," after they were denied permission to march to the EC office. The allegations levelled by Congress leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi have sparked massive political controversy across the country, with the ruling side alleging that it was an attempt to create "anarchy" and further charging them of "working" against the constitution. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and TMC MP Sagarika Ghose were also among those detained by the police. The detained MPs were corralled into a bus to be taken to the Parliament Street police station. While being detained, Rahul Gandhi told reporters, "The reality is that they cannot talk. The truth is in front of the country. This fight is not political. This fight is to save the Constitution. This fight is for One Man, One Vote. We want a clean, pure voters list." Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told ANI, "Dare hue hai. Sarkaar kaayar hai" (They are scared. The Government is a coward). Gandhi linked the INDIA bloc leaders' march to the Election Commission as a "fight to save the Constitution" and demanded a "pure" voters list. At the same time, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi accused the BJP-led Union government of being "scared". This development came as the Secretariat of the Election Commission of India wrote to Congress MP Jairam Ramesh, granting an appointment for interaction at noon today. "EC has granted an appointment for an interaction at noon today. It is requested that, due to the limitation of space, names of up to 30 persons may kindly be intimated," the letter read. On August 7, Rahul Gandhi held a press conference, citing internal analysis. The LoP stated that the Congress expected to win 16 Lok Sabha 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. The Election Commission on Monday said that Rahul Gandhi "still has time" to submit a formal declaration to substantiate his allegation of "vote theft" or apologise to the country. The Karnataka CEO on Sunday asked Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to submit documents to inquire into his "vote theft" allegations against the poll body. (ANI) The agenda of the meeting was "Facial Recognition System being implemented in Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0". In her address, Annpurna Devi underlined the importance of the Facial Recognition System (FRS) in enhancing transparency, accountability and efficiency in the delivery of services under the Mission. She stated that the technology would ensure that benefits reach only genuine beneficiaries while eliminating leakages and duplication. Anil Malik, Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development, briefed the Members on the technical and operational aspects of the Facial Recognition System (FRS), highlighting its role in real-time monitoring of Take-Home Ration (THR) distribution through the Poshan Tracker. Gyanesh Bharti, Additional Secretary, MWCD, made a detailed presentation on the implementation strategy, benefits and impact of the system. The Members of Parliament shared their observations and provided constructive suggestions for further strengthening the initiative. They appreciated the introduction of the FRS as a significant step towards ensuring efficient and accountable service delivery to beneficiaries. The Union Minister expressed gratitude to the Members for their valuable inputs and directed the officials concerned to take necessary steps to incorporate the suggestions. She urged continued collaboration with Members of Parliament to address issues at the grassroots level. The meeting was attended by Members of Parliament representing both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including Sudha Murthy, Manju Sharma, Jobha Majhi, Dharmshila Gupta, Indu B. Goswami, and Kiran Chaudhary. (ANI) Parliament on Monday passed the Manipur budget and returned the relevant appropriation bill to the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha also returned the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025, to the Lok Sabha, which had passed the bill on August 8. The bills were passed amid uproar in the Rajya Sabha as opposition continued its protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar. The opposition has been demanding a discussion on the issue. Sitharaman accused the opposition MPs of creating a ruckus even as the House was discussing the budget for the northeastern state, which is under President's Rule. She said the opposition leaders had been expressing concern over the situation in Manipur but now when a debate is taking place on the state's budget, they are resorting to slogans. Health Minister JP Nadda, who is Leader of House in Rajya Sabha, also slammed the opposition parties, accusing them of "obstructionism" nd said the government is ready to discuss all issues. The appropriation bill seeks to authorise payment and appropriation of certain sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of the State of Manipur for the services of the financial year 2025-26. Manipur is under the President's Rule. Parliament has approved a statutory resolution to extend President's Rule in the state for six months beyond August 13. Parliament has also adopted the statutory resolution to extend President's Rule in Manipur for six more months. President's rule was imposed in Manipur on February 13, days after N Biren Singh resigned from the Chief Minister's position. The imposition of the President's rule can last up to six months, subject to parliamentary approval. During this period, the central government oversees governance. Fresh elections may also be called to elect a new assembly. Ethnic violence had erupted in Manipur in May 2023. Replying to the debate on the motion to impose President's Rule in Manipur in April this year, Home Minister Amit Shah said that the ethnic violence between the tribal and non-tribal communities in Manipur began due to a decision by the High Court.He said that this violence was neither a failure of the government nor terrorism or religious conflict, but rather ethnic violence arising from the sense of insecurity spread between two communities due to the interpretation of the High Court's decision. He mentioned that the very next day, the Supreme Court stayed the order because it was deemed unconstitutional.(ANI) Demonstrating the government's commitment to farmer welfare, Union Minister for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare, and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Monday digitally transferred crop insurance payouts under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana directly to farmers' bank accounts from Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan. Around Rs 3,900 crore was disbursed to the accounts of nearly 35 lakh farmers. Addressing the gathering, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that we are witnessing the formation of a remarkable India under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He noted that Rajasthan will soon receive water from the Yamuna, Chambal, and also the Indus River. The Minister recalled that India had strongly retaliated to the Pahalgam terror attack, destroying terrorist bases through 'Operation Sindoor', a decision taken solely by India without any third-party involvement. We ceased all military actions only after Pakistan bowed before India's might, he said. The Minister said that under earlier governments, crop insurance compensations were provided only when crops in an entire tehsil or block were destroyed, but Prime Minister Modi scrapped the old schemes and introduced an insurance plan under which compensations are paid even if the crop of a single farmer in a village is damaged. He stressed that the government is working through multiple schemes to improve farmers' lives. Under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi Yojana, Rs 3.75 lakh crore has been directly transferred to farmers' accounts. Since the launch of the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana in 2016, Rs 2.12 lakh crore has been paid to farmers. He also highlighted substantial fertiliser subsidies, noting that a 45-kg bag of urea costs farmers Rs 266 against its actual price of Rs 1,633.24, with the difference covered by the government. Similarly, a 50-kg bag of DAP (Diammonium Phosphate) costs Rs 1,350 against its actual price of Rs 3,100. So far, Rs 14.06 lakh crore has been provided to fertiliser companies to ensure affordable fertilisers for farmers. Shri Chouhan also referred to other welfare measures, stating that the government has raised MSP (minimum support price) rates, ensuring they are set at 50 per cent above production costs. The government decided to procure moong at Rs 2,000 per quintal. Under the PM-AASHA scheme (Pradhan Mantri Annadata Aay SanraksHan Abhiyan), Rs 43.87 lakh crore has been transferred to farmers' accounts for wheat and paddy procurement. The Market Intervention Scheme (MIP) allows farmers to sell produce in other states with the government covering transport costs. On the issue of counterfeit fertilisers, the Minister said that steps are being taken to introduce a stringent law to punish offenders, with work already underway to ensure strict action and imprisonment for the guilty. He added that in cases of crop virus attacks, if farmers share information or even send a photo, a team of scientists will immediately reach the village to assist. Chouhan said that after the Kharif season, under the Viksit Krishi Sankalp Abhiyan, teams of scientists will visit villages for the Rabi crop season to share accurate farming and research knowledge. Future agricultural research will be demand-driven, based on farmers' needs, with a focus on developing quality seeds for moong, urad, soybean, and millet to increase production. (ANI) Based on BSF's intelligence, one packet of heroin with a gross weight of 581 grams was recovered in a joint search operation with Punjab Police from a farming field near Wan village of Tarn Taran district. It was found wrapped with yellow adhesive tape and a copper wire loop attached. In a post on X, BSF shared, "In a determined push against cross-border narcotics smuggling, vigilant BSF troops recovered three packets of heroin in two separate operations along the Tarn Taran and Amritsar borders. Acting on BSF intelligence, one packet (581 gms) was seized during a joint search with Punjab Police from a field near village Wan, Tarn Taran. It was wrapped in yellow adhesive tape with a copper wire loop attached." In another incident, alert BSF troops conducted a search operation in a suspected area of the village Bachhiwind in Amritsar and recovered two packets of heroin with a gross weight of 1.060 kgs from a farming field. "In another operation, BSF troops recovered two packets (1.060 kgs) from a field in village Bachhiwind, Amritsar. These back-to-back recoveries highlight BSF's vigilance and commitment in thwarting malicious attempts by Pakistani narco-smugglers," BSF further added. Earlier, BSF troops recovered a packet of heroin weighing 655 grams from a farming field near the international border on August 9. As part of its continuous efforts to curb cross-border smuggling, the vigilant BSF troops successfully recovered 01 packet of heroin (Gross weight- 655 Grams) from a farming field ahead of the border fence. The packet was wrapped with yellow adhesive tape, and this recovery took place in the vicinity of the village of Nihalewala in the district of Ferozepur, BSF said in a release. (ANI) A massive fire broke out late on Monday night at a cloth shop in Washim here. Fire tenders are present on the spot, and efforts to control the fire are underway. Speaking to ANI, Fire Officer Kamlesh Kohli said, "I got a call that a Gajanan dresses cloth shop near Jinshakti Hardware caught fire. The fire was spreading very intensely. We reached as soon as we received the information. Two tenders have already reached the spot, and the third is on the way. We are trying to douse the fire as quickly as possible." "The fire is still on, and we will try to douse it completely. The police, administration also reached the spot, and we have called in more tenders from Washim district," he added. In a similar incident, a fire broke out at a solar plate warehouse in Bihar's Patna on Monday morning, a police officer said. The fire broke out near Mahadev Asthan under the Patna Bypass police station area. Patna City Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Fire Brigade, Gaya Nand Singh, told ANI, "Fire broke out this morning at a solar plate warehouse. No casualties were reported. Eight fire tenders reached the spot, and the fire was brought under control. "It looks like the fire broke out due to a short circuit," he added. (ANI) While speaking at the press conference, Kalisetti said that after meeting with the PM Modi, he praised Appalanaidu for his hard work, dedication, and innovative ideas. Kalisetti, early in March 2025, announced incentives for women having a third child: Rs 50,000 for a girl child, and a cow if it's a boy. The offer by Appalanaidu has gained attention across the state, with many praising the decision. On the occasion of International Women's Day, Appalanaidu said, "If a woman gives birth to a third child who is a girl, I will pay her Rs 50,000 from my salary. If the child is a boy, I will give her a cow." This move is being hailed as a revolutionary step that aims to promote population growth while empowering women. Kalisetti has received fervent praise for his initiative, including from Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. Kalisetti's offer comes in the context of the Chief Minister's call for measures to encourage population growth. Both Kalisetti and the Chief Minister have made announcements to encourage having a third child. (ANI) At least five journalists were killed in an Israeli strike on a tent housing journalists outside al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Sunday (local time), Al Jazeera reported. The deceased journalists included two Al Jazeera correspondents, Anas al-Sharif and Mohammed Qreiqeh, along with camera operators Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal, the outlet reported. The Israeli military confirmed killing al-Sharif, while alleging that he was "acting under the pretence of an Al Jazeera journalist" while supposedly working for Hamas. https://x.com/IDF/status/1954652255199887516?t=6pQFq3y4YzSsEsopLZrvDg&s=08 "STRUCK: Hamas terrorist Anas Al-Sharif, who posed as an Al Jazeera journalist. Al-Sharif was the head of a Hamas terrorist cell and advanced rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF troops," the IDF wrote on X. "Intelligence and documents from Gaza, including rosters, terrorist training lists and salary records, prove he was a Hamas operative integrated into Al Jazeera. A press badge isn't a shield for terrorism," the post added. According to Al Jazeera, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has been able to verify the killing of at least 186 journalists since October 7, 2023. At least 90 journalists have been imprisoned by Israel. The Israeli military has been systematically killing journalists, photographers and local media workers in the Gaza Strip since the start of the war in an attempt to silence their reports, as per Al Jazeera. This attack came hours after the Israeli prime minister told foreign media he had decided to allow some foreign journalists into the Gaza Strip, Al Jazeera stated. "In fact, we have decided, and I've ordered, directed the military, to bring in foreign journalists, more foreign journalists," Netanyahu said at the news conference in Jerusalem. "There's a problem of assuring security, but I think it can be done in a way that is responsible and careful to preserve your own safety," he added. The Israeli authorities have long prevented any foreign media from entering the Gaza Strip, while it has deliberately targeted and killed close to 200 local Palestinian journalists since October 2023. (ANI) The two discussed Israel's plans to take over the remaining Hamas strongholds in Gaza in order to end the war, according to the Israeli government's plan, by releasing the hostages and defeating Hamas. The Prime Minister thanked President Trump for his "steadfast support for Israel since the beginning of the war." (ANI/TPS) Heavy vehicles have played a significant role in these fatal accidents, claiming the lives of 165 people. The fatalities include 425 men, 51 women, 51 boys, and 19 girls, highlighting the widespread impact of these accidents on families and communities. Trailers have been responsible for the highest number of fatalities, killing 62 people, while water tankers have claimed 37 lives, dumpers 32, and buses 20. Authorities have urged stricter enforcement of traffic rules and improved road safety measures to curb the rising number of deadly accidents in the city, as per ARY News. In a separate incident, at least seven dumpers were set ablaze by enraged residents following the deaths of a brother and sister duo in a high-speed, heavy traffic accident on Rashid Minhas Road in Karachi. A speeding dumper ran over a motorcycle on Rashid Minhas Road in the Federal B Area, killing a 22-year-old woman, Mahnoor, and her 14-year-old brother, Ahmed Raza, while leaving their father critically injured. Following the incident, angry residents set fire to seven dumpers in the area. Heavy contingents of police and Rangers arrived at the scene and brought the situation under control. SSP Gulberg stated that the dump truck driver has been taken into custody. Police have arrested 10 suspected individuals involved in the rioting and torching of dump trucks and shifted them to the police station, adding that further arrests will be made with the help of CCTV footage and video evidence. Meanwhile, officials of the Dump Truck Association staged a sit-in protest on the Super Highway. Association leader Liaqat Mehsud claimed that not seven but nine of their vehicles had been damaged, vowing not to leave the highway until the culprits are arrested. (ANI) Hizbullah is cornered and struggling to admit defeat By Yoni Ben Menachem web posted August 11, 2025 Hizbullah is striving to preserve its power as the Lebanese government moves to disarm it, calibrating pressure while avoiding direct confrontation with civilians or the army. Israeli security sources describe deep frustration inside the organization, reflected in statements by senior figures and in motorcycle convoys leaving Beirut's al-Dahiya stronghold toward the airport. The mounting presence of these convoys across the city serves as an early warning of how the situation could escalate if the disarmament push intensifies. The group frames disarmament as "strategic suicide." As Lebanese commentator Ali Khidar wrote in the Hizbullah-aligned Al-Akhbar on August 9, Hizbullah regards any attempt to strip its arsenal as the removal of Lebanon's "last line of defense." Even so, it remains cautious: closely coordinating with the Shiite Amal Movement, refusing to disarm, staying in government, steering clear of clashes with the army, and avoiding steps that could trigger civil war. Against the backdrop of Israel's preparations to conquer the entire Gaza Strip, Hizbullah has been forced to pull back from the Gaza front after heavy Israeli blows. It accepted a ceasefire roughly ten months ago and has refrained from attacking Israel, even as Israeli operations in southern Lebanon continue to degrade its military infrastructure and target members of the Radwan Force. Security sources say Hizbullah is adjusting to a new security reality in the south and to shifts within Lebanon's political system to ensure its survival. Its distress is growing, and within the Iran-led "resistance axis," Hamasstill fighting in Gazanow enjoys higher regard than Hizbullah, which absorbs daily strikes and holds its fire. According to Israeli assessments, Hizbullah is buying time to chip away at the government's disarmament decision. The organization has been humiliated, losing regional stature and domestic standing. It fears that disarmament would expose the Shiite community to retaliation and reduce Hizbullah to a powerless political party. Security estimates add that it worries disarmament could erase it from Lebanese politics and open the door to Lebanese normalization with Israelits nightmare scenario. While rebuilding its military capabilities with Iranian help, Hizbullah is approaching a moment of truth as disarmament plans inch toward implementation. It cannot stall indefinitely; it must choose between surrendering its weapons or confronting the Lebanese armyat the real risk of igniting civil war. Yoni Ben Menachem, a veteran Arab affairs and diplomatic commentator for Israel Radio and Television, is a senior Middle East analyst for the Jerusalem Center. He served as Director General and Chief Editor of the Israel Broadcasting Authority. Home The MND said that 8 out of 12 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1954709357230231889 In a post on X, the MND said, "12 sorties of PLA aircraft, 9 PLAN vessels and 2 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 8 out of 12 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded." On Sunday, the MND detected eight sorties of PLA aircraft, nine PLAN vessels and two official ships operating around itself. In a post on X, MND said, "8 PLA aircraft, 9 PLAN vessels and 2 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 6 out of 8 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern, southwestern and eastern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded." Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged Western nations to have "courage" to stand with Taiwan and "deepen" their economic partnership with the island nation as China intensifies its pressure on Taiwan, Taipei Times reported. Speaking at the 9th Ketagalan Forum 2025 Indo-Pacific Security Dialogue in Taipei on Tuesday, Johnson emphasised the importance of backing Taiwan's democracy and innovation. Johnson stressed the need for peaceful dialogue across the Taiwan Strait, asking why Beijing feels compelled to conquer a nation that poses no threat, and reiterated that his mission in Taiwan is to affirm Western solidarity. (ANI) The National Press Club on Monday said it is "saddened and troubled" by reports from Al Jazeera that its correspondent, Anas al-Sharif, was killed today in Gaza. According to the National Press Club, the network said al-Sharif, 28, died after a tent for journalists outside the main gate of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City was struck. Al-Sharif, a respected Arabic-language correspondent, had reported extensively from northern Gaza throughout the current conflict. His death is among more than 200 journalists reported killed since the war began, the statement noted. "The killing of a journalist while working to inform the public is a loss felt far beyond one newsroom," said National Press Club President Mike Balsamo. "Journalists must be able to work without being targeted or killed. All parties in conflict zones must honor their obligations under international law to protect reporters and ensure they can carry out their work safely." The National Press Club has called for a thorough and transparent examination of the circumstances surrounding al-Sharif's death and reaffirmed its commitment to defending the safety and independence of journalists worldwide. This comes after Israeli forces have killed five Al Jazeera staff, including correspondent Anas al-Sharif, in a targeted strike on their media tent outside al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Al Jazeera has reported. According to the network, Israel's military claimed responsibility for the assassination in a statement, alleging al-Sharif led a unit of Hamas's armed wing, a claim Al Jazeera described as false. "STRUCK: Hamas terrorist Anas Al-Sharif, who posed as an Al Jazeera journalist Al-Sharif was the head of a Hamas terrorist cell and advanced rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF troops. Intelligence and documents from Gaza, including rosters, terrorist training lists and salary records, prove he was a Hamas operative integrated into Al Jazeera. A press badge isn't a shield for terrorism," the IDF said in a post on X https://x.com/IDF/status/1954652255199887516 Al Jazeera said its correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, cameramen Ibrahim Zaher and Moamen Aliwa, and their assistant Mohammed Noufal, were also killed in the attack. Citing Gaza health authorities, the network reported that Israel's war on Gaza has killed at least 61,430 people and wounded 153,213. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during the October 7, 2023 attacks, and more than 200 were taken captive. (ANI) The Chief of Australian Army, Lt Gen Simon Stuart, who is on a five-day India visit, received a ceremonial guard of honour at the South Block Lawns on Monday. The dignitary's visit is scheduled from August 11 to 14. Lt Gen Stuart has a shared history with Indian Army Chief of Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, having trained together at the United States Army War College in 2015. According to an official statement from the Indian Army, this experience forged a professional bond that has matured alongside their respective careers. "The shared academic background not only provides a strong foundation for mutual trust but also enables a deeper strategic understanding, paving the way for more meaningful cooperation between the two armies," the statement said. The visit marks a significant reunion of two military professionals whose shared past strengthens the foundation of India-Australia defence ties. Elaborating on defence diplomacy, the statement highlighted that shared training experiences between military leaders often sow the seeds for enduring partnerships that outlast political cycles and strategic shifts. When military commanders train together in their formative or mid-career stages, they develop not only professional competence but also a deep, personal understanding of each other's countries, cultures, and armed forces. This "Alumni Connect" acts as a unique instrument of strategic soft power, building trust, facilitating candid dialogue, and enabling seamless cooperation in times of both peace and crisis. The Indian Army's premier military institutions--including the Indian Military Academy (IMA), National Defence College (NDC), Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), and National Defence Academy (NDA)--have for decades welcomed officers from friendly foreign countries (FFCs). Many of these alumni have risen to the highest ranks in their militaries, becoming ambassadors in uniform for India's professional ethos. This alumni network spans across countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Bhutan, Nigeria, and Australia, including senior officers and chiefs of defence staff. Notable examples include the Sri Lankan Army Chief, an alumnus of IMA and the School of Artillery, and the Sri Lankan Chief of Defence Staff, a graduate of NDC. Chiefs and senior commanders from Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Maldives, France, Tanzania, South Korea, New Zealand, Namibia, Kenya, Fiji, Thailand, and others share this common bond with the Indian Army. The alumni network operates both ways, as Indian officers have attended prestigious institutions abroad such as the Army War College (USA), Royal College of Defence Studies (UK), and Ecole de Guerre (France), gaining global perspectives while building enduring ties with their peers overseas. The statement further noted that Indian Army officers themselves have been shaped by professional military education abroad. Field Marshals KM Cariappa and SHFJ Manekshaw were alumni of the Imperial Defence College, UK, while General Upendra Dwivedi attended the Army War College, USA. These exchanges equip officers with broader strategic perspectives, operational best practices, and a shared vocabulary for addressing global security challenges. Recognising the diplomatic value of these connections, the Indian Army has begun formalising "Alumni Connect" initiatives by maintaining databases, organising reunions, and encouraging continued professional engagement through think tank collaborations such as the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) and its recently renewed five-year Memorandum of Understanding with the Australian Army Research Centre (AARC). Digital platforms like the "Friends for Life" portal are also being explored to sustain these ties long after the course photographs have faded. In today's complex security environment, where partnerships must balance strategic competition with cooperation, the statement underlined that "Alumni Connect is more than nostalgia, it is a strategic enabler." Officers who once shared barracks and classrooms now sit across negotiating tables or lead joint operations, carrying with them the trust and mutual respect forged in their training days. "As India aspires to play a greater role in regional and global security architectures from the Indo-Pacific to UN peacekeeping, the quiet, enduring influence of these personal bonds will remain an indispensable tool of military diplomacy," the Indian Army said. "In the language of soldiers, trust built in fatigues lasts a lifetime and in the language of diplomacy, it often lasts even longer," the statement concluded. (ANI) Jordan will host a Jordanian-Syrian-American meeting on Tuesday to discuss ways to support the rebuilding of Syria, its Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said, as Damascus seeks investment deals with international companies to revive its war-ravaged economy, Al Jazeera reported. Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani and United States envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack are expected to attend, the ministry said in a statement on Sunday, Al Jazeera added. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa's fledgling government has been grappling with the fallout from sectarian violence between Bedouin and Druze fighters in the southern province of Suwayda as well as Israeli strikes on Syrian soldiers and the capital, Damascus, Al Jazeera reported. Syria's economy remains in tatters after nearly 14 years of war and the ouster of longtime President Bashar al-Assad in December, Al Jazeera said. Jordan made its announcement after Damascus signed 12 agreements worth $14 billion on Wednesday, including a $4 billion agreement with Qatar's UCC Holding to build a new airport and a $2 billion deal to establish a subway in Damascus with the national investment corporation of the United Arab Emirates, Al Jazeera reported. The projects "will extend across Syria and represent a qualitative shift in infrastructure and economic life," Talal al-Hilali, head of the Syrian Investment Authority, said during a ceremony at the presidential palace in Damascus, according to Dawn. He described the agreements as "a turning point" for Syria's future, Dawn added. Al-Sharaa and Barrack were both present at the signing ceremony, according to Syria's official SANA news agency, as reported by Al Jazeera. The United Nations has put Syria's post-war reconstruction costs at more than $400 billion, Al Jazeera noted. Syria's new authorities have worked to attract investment for the reconstruction of infrastructure across the country after the US and the European Union lifted sanctions on Syria in the wake of al-Assad's ouster, Al Jazeera said. Other major developments on the investment front include the $2 billion Damascus Towers project for residential high rises, signed with the Italian-based company UBAKO; a $500 million deal for the Baramkeh Towers project, also in Damascus; and another $60 million agreement for Baramkeh Mall, Dawn reported. Last month, Saudi Arabia said it would invest about $3 billion in real estate and infrastructure projects in Syria, Al Jazeera reported. In May, Damascus signed a $7 billion energy deal with a consortium of Qatari, Turkish, and US companies as it seeks to revive its crippled power sector, Al Jazeera added. (ANI) The ongoing sit-in on the Karakoram Highway (KKH) disrupted travel and trade between Pakistan and China via the Khunjerab Pass for the 22nd consecutive day on Sunday, as the deadlock between the government and protesters persists, Dawn reported. A federal committee constituted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to meet on Monday to make recommendations for resolving the issue. The committee includes PoGB Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan, PoGB Chief Secretary Abrar Ahmed Mirza, PPP President Amjad Hussain Advocate, former PoGB Chief Minister and PML-N President Hafeezur Rehman, Dawn added. Trade and travel between Pakistan and China, along with business activities at the Sost Dry Port, have remained halted for 22 days due to the protest, Dawn reported. The sit-in, called by the Tajir Ittehad Action Committee and backed by trade organizations, government and opposition parties, and religious groups in the region, is being staged at Sost, blocking trade activities between Pakistan and China in support of protesters' demands, Dawn said. A committee formed by PoGB Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan met the protest organisers on Friday. They discussed the issues and prepared recommendations to present to the Prime Minister's committee, Dawn noted. The protesters have presented a two-point agenda. They demand exemption of PoGB residents from income tax, sales tax, and other federal taxes on items imported from China through the Khunjerab Pass. They also seek Customs clearance of 280 consignments stuck at Sost Dry Port for over a year under a one-time amnesty scheme, Dawn reported. The protesters announced that they would not call off the sit-in until their demands are met. Addressing the protest, Rehan Shah, PML-N Hunza president, said, "The people of GB have long been demanding their constitutional and legal rights." He added, "Political, religious, and trade organisations -- along with both government and opposition members in GB -- support these demands," Dawn reported. He further stated, "GB has been deprived of constitutional and legal rights for the past seven decades." Zahoor Karim, PPP local president, said, "The federal government should only collect taxes after giving GB representation in Pakistan's National Assembly and Senate." He stressed that the "economic murder" of PoGB residents would not be tolerated, Dawn added. Karim also said, "The FBR has introduced policies to deprive GB people of their economic resources. Trade between Pakistan and China has been closed for a year, and goods worth billions of rupees are stuck at Sost Port -- some damaged by rain and others expired," Dawn reported. Protesters said the majority of PoGB residents depend on cross-border trade between Pakistan and China through the Khunjerab Pass. (ANI) Australia will recognise the State of Palestine at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in September, aiming to contribute to international momentum towards a two-state solution, a ceasefire in Gaza, and the release of hostages, a media statement by the Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, said on Monday. The statement recalled that since 1947, Australia has supported Israel's existence. It noted that Australia's Foreign Minister Evatt chaired the UN committee that recommended the creation of two states side by side. Australia was also the first country to raise its hand at the United Nations in support of Resolution 181, to create the State of Israel - and a Palestinian state. According to the statement, "More than 77 years later, the world can no longer wait for the implementation of that Resolution to be negotiated between the parties. Australia's decision helps build the historic global momentum to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East." The statement criticised the Netanyahu Government, saying it is "extinguishing the prospect of a two-state solution by rapidly expanding illegal settlements, threatening annexation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, and explicitly opposing any Palestinian state." It highlighted that the international community is moving to establish a Palestinian state consistent with a two-state solution. The media release detailed major new commitments from the Palestinian Authority, including reforms in governance, prisoner payments, schooling, demilitarisation, and general elections, with the Palestinian Authority reaffirming recognition of Israel's right to exist directly to the Australian Government. The Prime Minister's statement emphasised that Australia's position is predicated on the commitments received from the Palestinian Authority and that Australia "will continue to work with the international community to hold the Palestinian Authority to its commitments and to encourage normalised relations between Israel and its neighbours." The statement praised the Arab League's unprecedented demand for the terrorist organisation Hamas to end its rule in Gaza and hand over its weapons. It also said Hamas "continues to damage the prospects of a two-state solution and rejects Israel's right to exist," calling for the immediate, unconditional, and dignified release of hostages taken on October 7, 2023. The Australian Government has consistently made clear there can be no role for Hamas in a Palestinian state. The media release further expressed concern over the Netanyahu Government's disregard of the international community's calls, and its failure to comply with legal and ethical obligations in Gaza, noting that "Permanent forced displacement of civilians is illegal." It concluded by underlining Australia's commitment to a two-state solution as "the only pathway to a secure and prosperous future that respects the aspirations of Israelis and Palestinians alike," pledging to work with partners on a credible peace plan establishing governance and security arrangements for Palestine and ensuring Israel's security. (ANI) Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has, during his ongoing visit to the United States, said that Islamabad will defend its water rights "at all costs" if India proceeds with dam construction on the Indus River. Further Munir repeated his anti-India rhetoric describing Kashmir as Pakistan''s "jugular vein" stating that it is not India''s internal matter but an unresolved international issue, Pakistan-based media outlet ARY News reported on Monday. "We will wait for India to build a dam, and when they do so, we will destroy it," Munir told members of the Pakistani-American community in Tampa, Florida, according to a report published today in The Dawn. At the black-tie dinner in Washington, DC, hosted by Adnan Asad, Pakistan''s honorary consul in Tampa, Munir told the gathering that the Indus River "is not the Indians'' family property," adding that Islamabad has "no shortage of resources to undo the Indian designs to stop the river," the Dawn reported. ARY news cited Munir as condemning "Indian aggression under Operation Sindoor," and termed it a grave violation of Pakistan''s sovereignty. Further, Munir was quoted by ARY News as saying that "A bilateral conflict due to any mistake by India would be a huge blunder," Stating that Pakistan''s response had successfully prevented a wider conflict, Munir also thanked US President Donald Trump for his role in defusing tensions between the two countries. Ahead of the Pahalgam attack, India had strongly rebutted Pakistan Army Chief General Munir''s remarks describing Kashmir as Pakistan''s "jugular vein," calling the claim baseless and asserting that the only relationship Pakistan has with Kashmir is to vacate the territory it occupies illegally. Responding to questions at a media briefing on April 17 in New Delhi, India''s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that Jammu and Kashmir is a Union Territory of India and dismissed Munir''s comments as unfounded. The MEA spokesperson asked how "anything foreign" could be in a country''s jugular vein and reiterated that Pakistan''s role with respect to Kashmir is limited to vacating the regions it illegaly occupies. "How can anything foreign be in a jugular vein? This is a union territory of India. Its only relationship with Pakistan is the vacation of illegally occupied territories by that country..." Jaiswal had said in the MEA briefing on April 17 this year. India has consistently maintained that the ceasefire was achieved through talks between the Indian and Pakistani militaries and not through US mediation. Meanwhile, Munir recently visited two US cities over the weekend and flew to Brussels on Sunday after completing his second high-profile trip to the United States in less than two months. Like his previous visit, he engaged with political and military leadership in the host country, Dawn reported. In Tampa, the Pakistan army chief attended the US Central Command Centcom change of command ceremony. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations ISPR, his engagements included the retirement ceremony of General Michael E Kurilla, Commander of CENTCOM, and the change of command where Admiral Brad Cooper assumed charge. Dawn quoted ISPR as saying that Field Marshal Munir praised General Kurilla''s "exemplary leadership and invaluable contributions in strengthening Pakistan-US military relations" and expressed confidence that Admiral Cooper "would take this partnership forward to address shared security challenges". On the sidelines of the ceremony, Field Marshal Munir met US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine and chiefs of defence from other friendly countries. He invited General Caine to visit Pakistan and reaffirmed Islamabad''s role as a key regional security stakeholder, Dawn reported. (ANI) Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP), in partnership with the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy (TFD), hosted a significant event at Vision Hall in Faisalabad in Pakistan, to mark National Minority Day with the theme "National Minority Day-11th August: Conference on Human Rights & Democracy; Challenges & Recommendations." The in-person and online gathering brought together voices from across the nation to spotlight the ongoing challenges encountered by religious minorities in Pakistan and to advocate for concrete reforms that enhance religious freedom, democracy, equal rights, and justice. The event focused on the historic address by the founder of Pakistan, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, presented on August 11, 1947. The occasion highlighted the vision of a Pakistan that is inclusive and tolerant. Speakers underscored the lasting relevance of Jinnah's message: "You are free; you are free to go to your temples; you are free to go to your mosques or any other place of worship in this state of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion, caste, or creed, that has nothing to do with the business of the state." HRFP reaffirmed that Jinnah's speech serves as a fundamental appeal for religious tolerance and equal citizenship, ideals that remain unfulfilled for many individuals in Pakistan today. Panellists and speakers urged for this vision to be formally integrated into the Constitution and to be reflected in government policy and legal structures. The event saw participation from a diverse array of attendees, including political activists, civil society representatives, human rights advocates, educators, lawyers, women, youth, and various community leaders, all united in their pursuit of equality and justice. Naveed Walter, President of Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP), highlighted that Jinnah's August 11 speech stands as one of the most powerful affirmations of religious freedom and political inclusivity in Pakistan's history. Nonetheless, he criticised its selective application by political parties for their campaigns while neglecting to implement its fundamental message. Naveed Walter also expressed concerns regarding the system of reserved seats for minorities, pointing out that this often leads to political loyalty overshadowing genuine community representation. He condemned the ongoing discrimination, violence, and persecution directed at minorities solely based on their beliefs. By showcasing a series of distressing incidents, Naveed Walter framed these as instances of systemic failure to safeguard minority groups. He referenced recent attacks against minorities, where individuals and families faced threats of death, as further proof of rising impunity. "These recurring events illustrate a significant failure in guaranteeing justice and protection for minorities," Walter stated. "When offenders remain unpunished and the innocent are penalised, it encourages those who exploit blasphemy laws for personal or political agendas." He called for immediate, transparent measures to hold accountable those making false allegations under blasphemy laws and emphasised the necessity for decisive governmental action to avert further mob violence. A formal resolution was adopted during the event, advocating for the inclusion of Jinnah's August 11 address into the Constitution, especially his appeal for the separation of religion from state matters. The speakers collectively urged for the promotion and realisation of human rights and true democratic principles at all levels of governance, to facilitate the accomplishment of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda. Panellists, included Sohail Emmanuel, James Lal, Ijaz Ghauri, John Victor, Sadaf Shadman, Nida Naeem, Saleem Anwar, Bushra Bibi, and others, spoke about the critical need for legal reforms to safeguard minority rights and democracy. They emphasised the significance of unity among minority groups and condemned their ongoing marginalisation and exclusion from national discussions. HRFP concluded the event with a strong call to action: urging the government and political leadership to uphold constitutional protections for all citizens, to put an end to religiously motivated violence, and to ensure justice is equally applied, regardless of religion or belief. (ANI) Water scarcity continues to be a daily struggle for residents of District 13 in Kabul, where long queues form early in the morning as people seek to secure drinking water for their families, Tolo News reported. From small children to elderly men, residents of District 13 face immense challenges in accessing clean water. Yar Mohammad, a local resident, told Tolo News, "I come here and take five barrels of water daily, and even that is not enough. Water consumption is very high. Previously, a 1000-Ltr barrel cost 40 Afghanis, now it's 70 Afghanis ($1.1)." Another resident, Mohammaduddin, urged people to conserve water, stating, "People should not waste water because the water level will drop, and it will harm them," as reported by Tolo News. Residents appealed to the government for long-term solutions. Bashir Ahmad, a resident, said, "We wander around looking for water. Our request from the government is to pay attention and provide facilities for us." A child from the area, Mohammad Faiz, added, "I come early in the morning until 11 o'clock. Sometimes our barrels are filled, sometimes they remain empty. We ask the government to help us with a public water tap," according to Tolo News. Water management experts emphasized the need for coordinated efforts among national and international bodies. Najib Rahman Sadeed, a water affairs expert, said, "Governments, international organizations, the people, and private enterprises must all work in coordination to solve this problem. Projects such as transferring water from the Panjshir watershed, especially now that work is ongoing on the Baghdara Dam, can strengthen this process." The Ministry of Energy and Water highlighted its efforts to manage water supplies in Kabul. Matiullah Abed, spokesperson for the ministry, stated, "The Ministry has a plan to transfer water from the Shah wa Arus Dam to Kabul. Fortunately, the cabinet of the Islamic Emirate has established a committee led by the Administrative Office, with relevant departments included, and technical work has begun." Earlier, the state-owned water supply company inaugurated a project to transfer water from the Qargha Dam to a 10,000-cubic-meter reservoir at Kabul Polytechnic University, aiming to ease the water shortage in the capital. (ANI) Dozens of Afghan women working for the United Nations in Afghanistan have received explicit death threats, according to a new UN report, highlighting the severe restrictions on their rights since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, Al Jazeera reported. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said female national staff were subjected to direct death threats in May, as per the latest update on the human rights situation in Afghanistan published on Sunday. The report noted that the Taliban informed the UN mission that their cadres were not responsible for the threats, and that an Interior Ministry investigation is underway. However, the Interior Ministry spokesman, Abdul Mateen Qani, denied the allegations. "This is completely incorrect," Qani told The Associated Press news agency, as reported by Al Jazeera. "The ministry has an independent department for this, and we have a strategic plan for protection and security so there is no threat to them in any area, nor can anyone threaten them, nor is there any threat to them," he added. Qani did not respond to questions about the investigation, Al Jazeera said. The threats originated from unidentified individuals connected to their work with UNAMA, other agencies, funds, and programmes, "requiring the U.N. to implement interim measures to protect their safety," according to the UN report cited by Al Jazeera. The Taliban banned Afghan women from working in domestic and foreign nongovernmental organisations in December 2022, extending this ban to the UN six months later. They also threatened to close agencies and groups still employing women. Aid agencies and NGOs have reported disruptions and interference in their operations, which the Taliban authorities deny. This UN report is the first official confirmation of death threats against Afghan women working in the sector. It also highlighted other violations of women's freedoms and safety, including inspectors from the Vice and Virtue Ministry enforcing the wearing of a chador, a full-body cloak covering the head. Women have been arrested for only wearing the hijab. Women have also been denied access to public spaces, in line with laws banning their presence in such areas, Al Jazeera reported. An August 2024 UN report found that Afghanistan's Taliban government has "deliberately deprived" at least 1.4 million girls of their right to education during its three years in power. About 300,000 more girls have missed school since UNESCO last conducted a count in April 2023, the report warned, adding that "the future of an entire generation is now in jeopardy." In July, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for two top Taliban leaders over abuses against women and girls. ICC judges said there were "reasonable grounds" to suspect Taliban Supreme Leader Haibatullah Akhunzada and Chief Justice Abdul Hakim Haqqani of gender-based persecution. "While the Taliban have imposed certain rules and prohibitions on the population as a whole, they have specifically targeted girls and women by reason of their gender, depriving them of fundamental rights and freedoms," the ICC said in a statement. The Taliban has "severely deprived" girls and women of rights to education, privacy, family life, and freedoms of movement, expression, thought, conscience, and religion, the ICC judges added. The Taliban rejected the ICC warrants as "baseless rhetoric," stating it does not recognise the ICC's authority and highlighting the court's failure to protect the "hundreds of women and children being killed daily" in Gaza, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI) Social media and MSM free speech suppression is thriving By Mark Zuckerberg web posted August 11, 2025 Here is my list of the five most perilous political threats to American Liberty and Rule of Law over the last decade, in chronological order: First is the deep state fabrication of the Russia collusion lie to interfere with the first election of Donald Trump and then undermine his administration. Second would be the Democrats' bulk-mail ballot fraud strategy to ensure Trump's defeat. Third would be the election of the Biden/Harris clown show, whose domestic and foreign policy failures were colossal, rivaling Barack Obama's disastrous record of failures. Fourth is Biden's implementation of autocratic diktats during the ChiCom Virus pandemic and giving the keys to control the entire U.S. economy and culture to an inept bureaucrat, Anthony Fauci. And last but certainly not least, fifth would be the systemic redlining of free speech by Biden and his compliant Leftmedia and social media propagandists over the last five years in order to advance the Demos' leftist agenda. A common denominator in each of those political threats was the disregard for the First Amendment assurance of free speech. It is the Demos' primary strategy for controlling public opinion in order to perpetuate their political dynasty. That greatest of American curmudgeons, Mark Twain, once said in response to newspapers exclaiming he had died, "The report of my death was an exaggeration." The same can be said for exaggerated reports that BIG Tech oligarchs and their social media platforms have stopped suppressing conservative free speech and the reach of conservative user content. So, some who do not use platforms like Facebook would ask, why does this matter? Because Mark Zuckerberg's Meta platform, Facebook, is the largest of the social media giants with more than two billion daily users, including more than 250 million American users. And that is where a majority of Americans are getting the news that shapes their views. Demonstrably, only one platform, X (Twitter), has eliminated restrictions on political speech. It was purchased in 2022 by Elon Musk, with the stated goal of restoring free speech to America. And we owe him a debt of gratitude for exposing the speech-suppression racketeers. In 2023, Musk exposed the speech-suppression racketeers, noting: "The degree to which Twitter was simply an arm of the government was not well understood by the public. And ... everything was like Pravda basically, a state publication. ... There was basically oppression of any views that, even I would say, would be considered middle-of-the-road, certainly, anything on the Right, and I'm not talking about far-right, I'm just talking mildly right." He declared: "Free speech is the bedrock of democracy. That's why it's the FIRST Amendment. Without free speech, all is lost." He declared himself to be a "free speech absolutist," and that the "digital town square is where matters vital to the future of humanity are debated." According to his insider analysis: "Republicans were suppressed at 10 times the rate of Democrats. That's because old Twitter was ... completely controlled by the far-left." So entrenched is the woke culture in these platforms that Musk recently defined it as something more than Trump Derangement Syndrome. He says it is the result of a "Metastatic Woke Mind Virus," which he defined as "a very, very divisive identity politics ... [that] amplifies racism; amplifies, frankly, sexism; and all of the -isms while claiming to do the opposite." He added, "I think we need to be very cautious about anything that is antimeritocratic and anything that ... results in the suppression of free speech." Meanwhile, at Meta, the Facebook "fact-checkers" may no longer be part of its overt speech-suppression strategy, but that does not mean leftist Facebook speech-suppression squads within Meta are no longer actively suppressing free speech. Fact is, this systemic suppression is imperceptible unless you operate a conservative page on Facebook like we at The Patriot Post do. Consequently, we can clearly document both the fraudulent shadow-banning and the resulting inability of our 750,000 users on that platform to see our content despite the fact that they have asked to see it. That brings me to Zuckerberg's remarkable announcement six months ago about the Meta/Facebook commitment to free speech a belated effort to catch up with Musk and X. According to Zuckerberg: "It's time to get back to our roots around free expression on Facebook and Instagram. I started building social media to give people a voice. ... Governments and legacy media have pushed to censor more and more. A lot of this is clearly political. ... So we're ... simplifying our policies, and restoring free expression on our platforms." He noted the actions Meta would take: First, we're going to get rid of fact-checkers. ... The fact-checkers have just been too politically biased and have destroyed more trust than they've created, especially in the U.S. >Second, we're going to simplify our content policies and get rid of a bunch of restrictions on topics like immigration and gender that are just out of touch with mainstream discourse. What started as a movement to be more inclusive has increasingly been used to shut down opinions and shut out people with different ideas. And it's gone too far. ... Third, we're changing how we enforce our policies to reduce the mistakes that account for the vast majority of censorship on our platforms. ... So by dialing them back, we're going to dramatically reduce the amount of censorship on our platforms. ... Fourth, we're bringing back civic content. For a while, the community asked to see less politics because it is making people stressed. So we stopped recommending these posts. [But now] we're going to start phasing this back into Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. ... Fifth, we're going to move our trust in safety and content moderation teams out of California, and our U.S.-based content review is going to be based in Texas. He concluded: Finally, we're going to work with President Trump to push back on governments around the world. They're going after American companies and pushing to censor more. The U.S. has the strongest constitutional protections for free expression in the world. Europe has an ever-increasing number of laws institutionalizing censorship and making it difficult to build anything innovative there. Latin American countries have secret courts that can order companies to quietly take things down. In short, Zuckerberg admitted the following is true: Fact-checkers, subjective content policies, and failure to promote certain "civic content" have been the platform's primary methods for suppressing political speech. Moving his "moderating teams" out of California to Texas is an admission that Meta headquarters at 1 Hacker Way in Menlo Park has been a magnet for leftists. Finally, he attempted to note the difference in our "constitutional protections for free expression" versus those in other countries where Meta operates, but regarding whether Meta/Facebook has measurably changed its policies on free speech, that may be a distinction without a difference. Here is what we know for a fact: Until Facebook's speech-suppression tactics were implemented in 2020, our Facebook page was experiencing rapid growth. That growth came to a virtual stop for the last five years. So, what is happening six months after Zuckerberg's free speech commitment versus a year ago? There is no growth on our page, which is to say, the suppression of "civic content" continues. All of the Zuck-bluster notwithstanding, there is no evidence that the suppression of our content since 2020 has changed. The month before Trump took office, I urged that on day two, after first taking measures to demolish the Democrats' rigged election strategy, that he should take aggressive steps to restore free speech to Facebook and other speech-suppression platforms. No doubt Zuckerberg's assertions about restoring free speech were calculated to head off any Trump action. Specifically, I noted Trump needed a plan to stop the censorship. More than just complaining about it, here is a detailed outline of what Republicans could do today, starting with legislation to modify Section 230 social media protections under the Communications Decency Act of 1996. The Section 230 revision must eliminate the liability protection shield for online platforms to ensure they meet the prescribed high standards of "neutrality, transparency, fairness, and non-discrimination." Because the Communications Decency Act of 1996 is an act of Congress, it is thus subject to the First Amendment prohibition that "Congress shall make no law ... abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press." Until Congress takes action to modify the Section 230 protections afforded to these behemoth social media platforms, their selective suppression of speech will persist. In order for The Patriot Post to have legal recourse to sue for speech suppression, that legislation would have to be in place. Moreover, neither Trump nor Congress needs to wait for the modification of Section 230 protections. Trump could issue an executive order that would do what Facebook and Google fear most restrictions on consumer private data mining. Trump and Congress already have the responsibility and authority to protect consumer data privacy. In the case of Facebook and other aggregators of private data, that would involve requiring explicit permissions regarding the collection of consumer data and profiles. Here is the basic protocol that Congress could require or that Trump could immediately implement by executive order, which would restrict the data privacy pirates. If Republicans actually want to protect consumer data, Congress already has the authority to do so by addendums to existing legislation regulating commerce. In the case of Facebook and other aggregators of private data (which should be classified as private property), that legislation should include explicit consumer permissions regarding the collection and dissemination of their data, as well as full access to any profiles created by the data aggregators. When it comes to invasive data privacy violations the collecting and marketing of individual profiles the ubiquitous blanket "user agreements" posted by the platforms are woefully insufficient. The vast majority of social media platform users have no idea of the extent to which they are actually the platforms' products, and the data collected from them is a primary revenue generator. Congress should enact legislation requiring that social media companies and other aggregators of individual data, including Google et al., be required to obtain specific and explicit user permissions for each and every transfer of such data prior to the collection of any individually identifiable profiling information. The requirement would be for a platform pop-up in each case, whereby the user must authorize or decline the collection of their personal data, and if authorized, the platform must then disclose how that data will be used, including the transfer or sale of such data to third parties. The prospect of that legislation is why Zuckerberg and Amazon's Jeff Bezos made pilgrimages to Mar-a-Lago to kiss the king's ring. If Trump and Congress are serious about restoring free speech, they should threaten to enact data-mining restrictions, and they can accomplish that today. Meanwhile, Republicans errantly think they can grow their constituents without leveling the field busting up these social media monopolies and disabling their ability to suppress conservative free speech. As for the legacy Leftmedia platforms, they have never stopped using their fact-checkers to suppress content. And speaking of fact-checks, I am still waiting on The New York Times and The Washington Post to fact-check themselves on those esteemed Pulitzer Prizes they were awarded for their successful propagation of the BIG "Russia Collusion" Lie, especially now that it has been exposed as a deep state fabrication by Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. This was a government conspiracy that is far more dangerous to our Republic than Watergate, for which WaPo also won a Pulitzer. And a final word from Mark Twain from his 1873 speech, "License of the Press": "It has become a sarcastic proverb that a thing must be true if you saw it in a newspaper. ... But the trouble is that the stupid people who constitute the grand overwhelming majority of this and all other nations do believe and are moulded and convinced by what they get out of a newspaper, and there is where the harm lies. ... There are laws to protect the freedom of the press's speech, but none that are worth anything to protect the people from the press." I wonder what he would say about the influence of mass and social media platforms on low-information voters today. Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post. The Rawalpindi Education Authority has issued a strict warning to private schools against ending their summer breaks before September 1, as reported by Dawn. The authority has set up complaint cells in Rawalpindi, Gujar Khan, Kahuta, Kotli Sattian, Murree, and Taxila, urging the public to report any school that reopens prematurely on Monday. The Punjab government has extended summer holidays for all public and private schools across the province until August 31, with reopening scheduled for September 1. All district education authorities (DEAs) have been directed to ensure strict adherence to this revised academic calendar, Dawn reported. The extension is a response to ongoing extreme weather conditions in the province. This extension marks the second change to the academic calendar this summer, requiring parents, students, and school administrations to take note and adjust plans accordingly. Rawalpindi Education Authority CEO Tariq Mehmood told Dawn that teams have been formed to enforce full compliance with the Punjab government's orders. "The authority would seal any school that opens prematurely and impose substantial fines on the management," he said. Mehmood further explained that the summer holiday extension was implemented following government instructions due to the heatwave in central and southern Punjab, as well as adverse weather in northern areas of the province, Dawn reported. Meanwhile, Abrar Ahmed Khan, President of the All Pakistan Private Schools Management Association (APPSCA) North Punjab, expressed his disapproval of the holiday extension to Dawn. He called the decision "unjustified and unwise" and demanded it be revoked immediately. Khan highlighted the adverse impact on students' education, adding, "Parents are also protesting against this decision by the Punjab Education Department, as they have been paying fees for the last three months. School administrations are still paying rent, utility bills, and staff salaries," Dawn reported. He also pointed out that private schools in Islamabad reopened on August 4, schools in Sindh on August 2, and institutions in other provinces are resuming their sessions as usual. Malik Abrar Hussain, President of APPSCA Central, strongly criticised the Punjab government's move as "illogical, anti-education and unjustified." He warned, "Schools must be opened before August 14, otherwise the already ruined education system in the country will lead to further backwardness," Dawn reported. (ANI) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday issued a strong statement in response to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff during his visit to the United States. "Our attention has been drawn to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff while on a visit to the United States. Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan's stock-in-trade," the MEA official spokesperson said. The spokesperson added,"The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks, which also reinforce the well-held doubts about the integrity of nuclear command and control in a state where the military is hand-in-glove with terrorist groups." The MEA spokesperson further expressed regret that these remarks were made from the soil of a friendly third country. "It is also regrettable that these remarks should have been made from the soil of a friendly third country," the official said. "India has already made it clear that it will not give in to nuclear blackmail and will continue to take all necessary steps to safeguard its national security, the MEA spokesperson affirmed." the MEA statement further said. Despite this firm stance, Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir has once again threatened India, warning that Islamabad would plunge the region into nuclear war and could take "almost half of the world" down if faced with an existential threat in a future conflict with New Delhi. During his ongoing visit to the United States, General Munir also stated that Islamabad will defend its water rights "at all costs" if India proceeds with dam construction on the Indus River. Munir also repeated his anti-India rhetoric by describing Kashmir as Pakistan's "jugular vein," asserting that it is not India's internal matter but an unresolved international issue, Pakistan-based media outlet ARY News reported on Monday. "We will wait for India to build a dam, and when they do so, we will destroy it," Munir told members of the Pakistani-American community in Tampa, Florida, according to a report published today in The Dawn. At a black-tie dinner in Washington, DC, hosted by Adnan Asad, Pakistan's honorary consul in Tampa, Munir said the Indus River "is not the Indians' family property," adding that Islamabad has "no shortage of resources to undo the Indian designs to stop the river," the Dawn reported. ARY News cited Munir as condemning "Indian aggression under Operation Sindoor," calling it a grave violation of Pakistan's sovereignty. He also stated, "A bilateral conflict due to any mistake by India would be a huge blunder." Munir credited Pakistan's response with successfully preventing a wider conflict and thanked US President Donald Trump for his role in defusing tensions between the two countries. Ahead of the Pahalgam attack, India had strongly rebutted Pakistan Army Chief General Munir's remarks describing Kashmir as Pakistan's "jugular vein," calling the claim baseless and asserting that the only relationship Pakistan has with Kashmir is to vacate the territory it occupies illegally. Meanwhile, Munir recently visited two US cities over the weekend and flew to Brussels on Sunday after completing his second high-profile trip to the United States in less than two months. Like his previous visit, he engaged with political and military leadership in the host country, Dawn reported. In Tampa, the Pakistan army chief attended the US Central Command (CENTCOM) change of command ceremony. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), his engagements included the retirement ceremony of General Michael E. Kurilla, Commander of CENTCOM, and the change of command where Admiral Brad Cooper assumed charge. Dawn quoted ISPR as saying that Field Marshal Munir praised General Kurilla's "exemplary leadership and invaluable contributions in strengthening Pakistan-US military relations" and expressed confidence that Admiral Cooper "would take this partnership forward to address shared security challenges." On the sidelines of the ceremony, Asim Munir met US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine and chiefs of defence from other friendly countries. He invited General Caine to visit Pakistan and reaffirmed Islamabad's role as a key regional security stakeholder, Dawn reported. (ANI) PoJK activist Amjad Ayub Mirza has accused the Pakistan Army of carrying out a large-scale military offensive in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under the pretext of a "cleanup operation" against terrorists, targeting innocent civilians and forcing mass displacement. Speaking via a video message, Amjad Ayub Mirza alleged that locals in various districts, including North and South Waziristan as well as Bajaur, have been given just three days to harvest their crops and abandon their homes. He warned that the real motive behind these orders is to depopulate Pashtun villages situated on resource-rich lands containing gas, gold, copper, uranium, and lithium. According to Mirza, official notices from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government have threatened legal action against landowners who fail to clear their crops within the stipulated time. He claimed that security forces have offered the Bajaur tribes three "options": cut their crops, vacate their homes for one or two days, or "save themselves" during the operation, which he described as an "open threat" of indiscriminate military action, including possible carpet bombing. "The real terrorist is the Pakistan Army itself," Mirza asserted, accusing the military of years of oppression, displacement, and destruction in Pashtun areas. He linked these alleged operations to a broader plan to remove Pashtuns from their ancestral lands and exploit their natural resources. Mirza also referred to a recent clash in South Waziristan, in which a 14-year-old boy was killed, and reported that multiple drone attacks and explosions have targeted Frontier Constabulary posts in Bannu. In one incident, the wife of a Frontier Constabulary officer died en route to the hospital after sustaining injuries during an attack. The activist further highlighted alleged corruption within local administrative ranks, citing an incident where an account officer in South Waziristan was accused of embezzling crores of rupees from the General Provident (GP) fund of police department employees, as well as misappropriating weapons. He reiterated claims by local leader Maulana Khan Zaid, who had stated that North Waziristan alone holds over 20 trillion cubic feet of gas and 500 million barrels of oil, resources Mirza believes are central to the ongoing displacement. Mirza concluded by criticising the lack of strategic direction in Pashtun resistance movements, urging communities to focus their struggle against what he described as systemic state oppression. (ANI) Ahead of the upcoming meeting in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss a ceasefire deal, Vice President Vance expressed a clear desire to end the funding of the Ukraine war and bring about peace, according to The Hill. "We're done with the funding of the Ukraine war business. We want to bring about a peaceful settlement to this thing," Vance told Fox News's Maria Bartiromo on "Sunday Morning Futures," as reported by The Hill. The Alaska summit aims to find a breakthrough in peace negotiations with Moscow, focusing on discussions around territorial control. Earlier this week, the Kremlin shared a ceasefire proposal with the Trump administration, offering control of Eastern Ukraine in exchange for a halt to hostilities. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has strongly opposed the deal, insisting that any agreement that excludes Ukraine undermines the prospect of peace. Though Zelensky was not invited to the summit, the White House and US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker have indicated the possibility of a trilateral summit. European leaders have reacted strongly to the proposed agreement, promising to support Trump's efforts diplomatically, economically, and militarily, but stressed that any resolution must safeguard Ukraine's and Europe's vital security interests, according to The Hill. During the interview, Vance highlighted American frustration with the continued financial burden of the conflict. "Americans, I think, are sick of continuing to send their money, their tax dollars of this particular conflict but if the Europeans want to step up and actually buy the weapons from American producers we're OK with that, but we're not going to fund it ourselves anymore," he said. This is not the first time Vance has called on European allies to take on a larger role. Earlier this year, Trump secured agreements for NATO members to increase their defense spending to 5 percent of their GDP and arranged for the U.S. to send lethal weapons to Ukraine funded by other NATO countries, significantly expanding Europe's economic involvement in the conflict, The Hill noted. Vance recently traveled to England to discuss these peace efforts, urging European nations to "step up and take a bigger role in this thing," adding, "if you care so much about this conflict you should be willing to play a more direct and a more substantial way in funding this war yourself," as reported by The Hill. (ANI) The East Turkistan Government-in-Exile (ETGE) has denounced what it refers to as inaccurate historical assertions made in the propaganda film "Zuo Zongtang Recovers Xinjiang" produced by the People's Republic of China (PRC). In a statement, ETGE reiterated that East Turkistan has never been part of China and criticised the film's narrative as an effort to justify colonial rule. As per ETGE, East Turkistan was a sovereign, independent state until it was invaded in 1878 by the Manchu Qing Empire, led by Zuo Zongtang, an officer pursuing colonial ambitions. Following the invasion, the region was unilaterally renamed "Xinjiang," or "new territory," in 1884. The government-in-exile referenced historical Chinese documents from the Han, Tang, Song, Ming, and early Qing dynasties, which referred to East Turkistan and areas to the west of the Jiayu Pass, the historical border of China, as Xiyu, distinctly labelling them as lands beyond China's sovereign boundaries. ETGE indicated that the Han-era "Protectorate of the Western Regions represented only a temporary and coerced foreign presence in parts of East Turkistan, likening it to China's current military base in Djibouti, Russia's presence in Syria, or US bases in Japan, South Korea, and Germany. It emphasised that this was a foreign military presence, not an assertion of sovereignty." After the Qing occupation, East Turkistan achieved independence twice in the 20th century as the East Turkistan Republic before being invaded and occupied again by the PRC in late 1949. ETGE characterised the current PRC control as an extension of foreign colonial domination, seeking to eliminate the nation's identity through demographic change, political oppression, cultural annihilation, and what it deems genocide. "The only foreign troops in East Turkistan are the Chinese occupying forces," the statement concluded, rejecting the PRC's narrative regarding the region's history and advocating for the restoration of its independence. The persecution of Uyghurs in China, particularly in Xinjiang, involves widespread human rights abuses, including mass detentions in "re-education camps," forced labour, and heavy surveillance. The Chinese government has been accused of religious repression, cultural destruction, and forced assimilation, limiting the Uyghur language, religious practices, and cultural traditions. Reports indicate family separations, forced indoctrination, and destruction of Uyghur heritage sites. International bodies and human rights organisations have labelled these actions as genocide and crimes against humanity. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday extended greetings to Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul, the Government, and people of Chad on their Independence Day, highlighting the strong diplomatic ties between India and Chad. In a post on X, Jaishankar shared an image of medical aid sent by India to Chad on September 7, 2024. He said, "Greetings to FM Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul, the Government and people of Chad on their Independence day." https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/1954775804971552783 The medical consignment containing 2,300 kgs of essential lifesaving drugs and vaccines was handed over to Chadian Minister of Public Health and Prevention Abdelmadjid Abderahim in N'Djamena by Ambassador of India Hifzur Rahman, in the presence of senior officers of the Chadian Health Ministry and the Embassy of India. Relations between India and Chad remain cordial. India enjoys great goodwill and admiration in Chad. High-level contacts and cooperation between the two countries have increased since 2011, marked by several visits and interactions. Relations between India and Chad remain cordial. India enjoys great goodwill and admiration in the Republic of Chad. High-level contacts and cooperation between the two countries have picked up since 2011 with several visits and interactions, a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs stated. Chad is a member of the TEAM-9 Initiative (Techno-Economic Approach for African Movement), comprising eight West and Central African countries seeking to benefit in technical and economic spheres through cooperation with India. There is considerable untapped potential for mutually beneficial co-operation in hydrocarbons, mining, agriculture, and infrastructure sectors. During the Covid pandemic, India donated a 6-tonne consignment of essential medicines, including HCQS and antibiotics, to Chad in July 2020. After the ISA Founding Conference in March 2018, India offered a LoC of USD 27.45 million for the establishment of a Solar PV Module Manufacturing Plant at N'Djamena, as per the MEA. There are about 200 Indians and over 40 Indian companies working primarily in oil projects, international organisations, and as missionaries. Many are engaged in trade in Chad. (ANI) Overseas Chinese activists conducted synchronised demonstrations in major cities across the globe this past weekend, calling on citizens in China to come together against authoritarian governance and advocate for democratic reforms, as reported by the Central News Agency (CNA). Initiated by China Action and the Civil Resistance Association, the two-day event kicked off on Saturday with gatherings in New York, Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco, London, Berlin, Sydney, Toronto, and Tokyo. During these events, participants presented a "Rights for Chinese Citizens" declaration, which also denounces Beijing's military threats towards Taiwan. In Washington, approximately ten activists convened outside the US Capitol, displaying banners that said "Stop CCP, Free China" and "Enough is Enough - Throw Him Out." Lead organiser Yang Zili indicated that the purpose of the campaign is to motivate people in China to "rise" and to commit to a specific timeline, set within three years, for nationwide resistance aimed at achieving democracy. The declaration additionally criticises the CCP's oppression of Tibetans and Uyghurs, the erosion of freedoms in Hong Kong, and threats against Taiwan, according to CNA. Yang emphasised the rejection of any forced unification with Taiwan, asserting that the rights of Taiwanese people should be preserved to prevent the erosion of freedoms experienced in Hong Kong. He mentioned that this campaign is part of an ongoing effort to establish connections with pro-democracy advocates in China. In San Francisco, dozens of activists gathered at Torpedo Wharf near the Golden Gate Bridge to recite the declaration, deliver speeches, and release balloons to symbolise "the CCP drifting away." Speakers in San Francisco, including Tiananmen massacre survivor Fang Zheng and activist Wang Han, called for an end to one-party governance and encouraged nonviolent resistance, as stated by CNA. Wang warned about the worldwide diffusion of China's authoritarian model, arguing that a CCP takeover of Taiwan would eliminate the only democracy in the Chinese-speaking world, posing a significant threat to global freedom. Banners in both Chinese and English captured the attention of passersby, with organisers hoping to raise American awareness of the human rights violations perpetrated by the CCP, as per the CNA report. (ANI) In a post on X, the ADG PI said that the discussions focused on enhancing the bilateral defence cooperation between India and Australia, deepening military-to-military engagement and reinforcing the shared commitment to regional stability and global peace. "Lieutenant General Simon Stuart also engaged in high-level discussions with senior military leaders wherein he was briefed on OPERATION SINDOOR and India's security perspective", ADG PI 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. India repelled the subsequent Pakistani retaliation and pounded its airbases. https://x.com/adgpi/status/1954855140856598623 The Chief of the Australian Army, Lt Gen Simon Stuart, who is visiting India from August 10-14, received a ceremonial guard of honour earlier on Monday here in the national capital. Notably, Lt Gen Stuart has a shared history with Indian Army Chief of Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, having trained together at the United States Army War College in 2015. According to an official statement from the Indian Army, this experience forged a professional bond that has matured alongside their respective careers. In recent years, the India-Australia relationship has charted a whole new trajectory of transformational growth. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted in a statement that the bilateral cooperation has seen exponential growth in existing frameworks of cooperation and further expanded across a wide spectrum of new areas, opening up new possibilities, both at the bilateral and global levels. The visit marks a significant reunion of two military professionals whose shared past strengthens the foundation of India-Australia defence ties. (ANI) Portugal is battling three major blazes in the mountainous north, forcing evacuations, challenging firefighters. A fire in the municipality of Trancoso has threatened to engulf homes as Portugal struggles to contain a worsening wildfire season, EuroNews reported. Portugal has sent reinforcements to combat three major wildfires on Monday as the country remains on high alert for heat risk after temperatures continued to soar, as per EuroNews. Over 650 firefighters, alongside 226 vehicles and six helicopters, were sent to combat a fire in the village of Freches in the district of Trancoso. The blaze, which was fuelled by high temperatures and strong winds, threatened residents from at least four nearby villages. Local media reported that at least 17 people, including six firefighters, were injured in the fire. Wildfires encroaching on the villages of Palhais, Reboleiro, Aldeia Nova and Aldeia Velha were the most concerning, authorities said, as per EuroNews. Nearly 400 firefighters were sent to tackle another blaze in the village of Sobral de So Miguel in the municipality of Covilh, which first broke out on Sunday afternoon. A source from the Beiras and Serra da Estrela Subregional Command told local media that "the situation is evolving favourably" and that "some situations are already in the aftermath, but the three fronts are still active". On Sunday night, the mayor of Covilh, Vitor Pereira, predicted the blaze could be brought under control by Monday morning. At least 86 firefighters were sent to the village of Tavora and Pereiro to combat a third fire. Portugal has deployed thousands of firefighters to combat fires as temperatures have soared since July, leaving the majority of the country on high alert for heat risk. As of Monday, at least 12 districts in the country are under orange warning due to the heat. Portugal's emergency authorities said the country's mainland remains on high alert due to the risk of fires in rural areas. Portugal's National Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) said that, by mid-July, wildfires had burned through 10,768 hectares of land, three times more than in the same period last year. Fires in the country, the ICNF said, have become more aggressive since 2017. (ANI) The Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement (JSFM) asserted that 14 August does not represent a day of joy or liberation for the Sindhi people. Instead, it signifies a sorrowful moment in their history, the date when Sindh's historical autonomy was violently dismantled, and its territory was unlawfully integrated into the artificial and oppressive nation of Pakistan. Since that time, Sindh has suffered continuous attacks on its land, resources, and identity, according to JSFM Chairman Sohail Abro. The state of Pakistan and its military have illicitly appropriated Sindh's territories and intentionally hindered the natural flow of the Indus River, devastating our agricultural sector and pushing millions into destitution. At the same time, with the backing of the state, religious extremism and terrorism have been utilised to stifle Sindhi national awareness through intimidation and coercion, remarked JSFM Chairman Sohail Abro. The deliberate dismantling of the Sindhi language and culture within education and institutions, the enforced disappearances of political activists, extrajudicial executions, and the curtailing of free speech are all components of a coordinated effort to erase Sindh's national identity, stated JSFM Chairman Sohail Abro. "The position of the Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement is clear: The sole avenue for Sindh's political, cultural, and economic survival is the creation of a free and sovereign Sindhudesh. For us, 14 August is a day to reaffirm our stand against oppression and bondage", JSFM Chairman Sohail Abro said. The call urged all Sindhis, along with students, women, and both political and social organizations, to come together in protest by displaying black flags across cities, villages, public spaces, and residences; wear black armbands as a sign of resistance; and organise peaceful demonstrations to convey a strong message to the world that Sindh will never relinquish its land or national rights, no matter the cost. Last year, the Jeay Sindh Freedom Movement (JSFM) declared August 14, 2024, as Black Day throughout Sindh, protesting the establishment of Pakistan on this date in 1947. The organisation had urged its supporters to don black armbands, raise black flags at crossroads, and showcase the national flag as a form of protest. Chairman Sohail Abro of JSFM, along with prominent members Zubair Sindhi, Amar Azadi, Sodho Sindhi, Hafeez Deshi, and Pireeh Sindhu, released a statement condemning the creation of Pakistan, labelling it as a "historical error" and a "tragic day for humanity." The JSFM leadership asserts that the people of Sindh and other areas are being subjected to economic, political, and geographical oppression, with their lands and resources being forcibly taken. (ANI) George Grant's vision of Canada increasingly attenuated (Part Two) By Mark Wegierski web posted August 11, 2025 Unfortunately, others, notably shallow Progressive Conservative party operatives, adopted the term "Red Tory" as an excuse for opportunistic policies, that supported an ever more bloated and intrusive administrative state. They became "socialists" without embracing true community, and "liberals" without embracing genuine individualism and freedom of speech. Grant was prescient in pointing to the centrality of the 1963 federal election, for subsequent developments in Canada although, as has been noted above, he did not focus exclusively on what later came to be called social conservatism. It can be seen that, before the 1960s, all the major parties had partaken of a "traditionalist-centrist consensus", i.e., they were all socially conservative to some extent, while differing in regard to economics. Notions of traditional nation, family, and religion; a strong work-ethic; and strict law-and-order were held by all of the major parties. The Old Left, Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), the precursor to the much different New Democratic Party (NDP), while fighting on behalf of the majority of working Canadians, was not socially radical. Notions of radical feminism, multiculturalism, and gay rights, that came to the fore after the 1960s, would have been of little concern to the Old Left. The adoption of the new Canadian flag (the Maple Leaf Pennant, also sometimes dubbed "the Pearson Pennant") in 1965 pointed to the fact that massive social and cultural change was in the offing. It is a longstanding idea in the study of politics that a change of a country's flag is a marker of "regime change". With the arrival of "Trudeamania" in 1968, the country was thrust into ever more massive social and cultural change, which continued unabated for the sixteen years that Liberal Pierre Elliott Trudeau held the Prime Ministership. Trudeau's further success in the elections of 1972, 1974, and 1980, can largely be attributed to the fact that Quebec voters delivered virtually every seat in Quebec to the Liberal Party. Also, importantly, the Liberal minority government of 1972 was supported by the New Democratic Party. A minority government is when a party has a plurality but not a majority of seats in the federal Parliament. Sometimes a party with slightly less seats than a plurality will obtain the support of another party or parties in the Parliament, thus potentially allowing it to form the government. A majority government is when one party has a majority of seats in the Parliament. Incidentally, the term "federal Parliament" can be used to describe just the Canadian House of Commons, as I have used it here, although it can also refer to the Canadian House of Commons and Canadian Senate together. Canadian Senators are appointed by the Prime Minister of the day, in consultation with the provinces, and the powers of the Canadian Senate are highly residual. In federal elections, all of Canada votes to elect members of the federal Parliament (i.e., the House of Commons) from geographic areas called ridings. The Canadian electoral system is usually called "first-past-the-post". There are also ten provinces that have separate legislatures and elections (with Premiers). The federal and provincial powers have been very carefully delineated in the British North America Act (1867) (the Act of Confederation), and the Constitution Act of 1982. Royal Assent is still required for legislation to become law, but it is most often conferred by the Governor-General at the federal level, and the Lieutenant-Governors at the provincial level (one Lieutenant-Governor in each province) (rather than by King Charles III in person). There are also the northern territories in Canada's Far North, which have traditionally been under direct federal jurisdiction (owing to their very small populations), but there have been moves towards greater autonomy there, especially with the creation in 1998 of Nunavut, the official Inuit homeland. Guaranteed roughly a quarter of the seats in the federal Parliament from Quebec, Trudeau needed then to pick up only a majority of seats in Ontario, to win an over-all majority in the federal Parliament. Trudeau had indeed realized that a majority in the federal Parliament could probably be cobbled together from only Ontario and Quebec. He treated most of Western Canada with contempt. The only discontinuity in Trudeau's tenure was when Joe Clark's P.C.s unexpectedly won a minority government in the 1979 federal election. However, the P.C.s quickly lost the so-called "non-confidence vote" in the federal Parliament, meaning that another election had to be called. The Liberals once again won a majority in the federal Parliament, in 1980. Joe Clark's government had lasted only nine months. Joe Clark, a so-called "Red Tory" in the P.C. party, was one of the most craven supporters of virtually the entire agenda of left-liberalism. Indeed, so-called "small-c conservatives" had only a very tenuous representation in the (ostensibly) "big-C" Conservative party. A society that in 1965, was often seen as very socially conservative, was transmogrified into one of the most "progressive" societies on the planet, by 1984 especially with the introduction of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms into the Canadian constitutional structure in 1982. The Charter essentially enshrined virtually the entire Trudeau agenda, as the highest law of the land. The Charter was quickly backed up by an increasingly "activist" Canadian Supreme Court, where one would have been hard-pressed to find even one designated conservative. To be continued. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home The leading Baloch human rights body, Baloch Yakjehti Committee, shared the details of the forcible disappearance of a political worker. It decried the targeting and called for the immediate and unconditional release of Sana Ullah Baloch. In a post on X, BYC said that it condemned the enforced disappearance of the National Democratic Party's Central Organising Committee Member Sana Ullah Baloch. As per BYC, he was "detained by personnel of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Military Intelligence (MI) at Multan International Airport while travelling to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah". Sharing that his whereabouts remain unknown, the BYC called it a grave infringement on the rights of freedom of expression, peaceful and political participation. It wrote on X, "BYC condemns enforced disappearance of Enforced Disappearance of NDP Central Organizing Committee Member Sana Ullah Baloch Constitutes a Serious Violation of Political Rights and Freedom of Expression-The Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) expresses deep concern regarding the enforced disappearance of Sana Ullah Baloch, Central Organizing Committee Member of the National Democratic Party (NDP), son of Khuda Bakhsh, a 26-year-old shopkeeper from Dosadka, Barkhan. According to information received, on 10 August 2025, Sana Ullah was detained by personnel of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Military Intelligence (MI) at Multan International Airport while travelling to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. His current whereabouts remain unknown. The BYC views this incident as a grave infringement on the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful and political participation. The targeting of political workers through enforced disappearance constitutes a serious violation of Pakistan's obligations under international human rights law, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The BYC calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Sana Ullah Baloch." https://x.com/BalochYakjehtiC/status/1954816263274090682 Enforced disappearances in Balochistan have been a grave human rights issue for decades, rooted in the region's long-standing political and ethnic tensions. For the last several decades, Baloch nationalists, students, activists, and intellectuals have been targeted, allegedly by state security agencies, for demanding greater autonomy or rights. Thousands have reportedly gone missing without due process, and many remain unaccounted for. Families are often left without information, legal recourse, or justice. Human rights organisations, both local and international, have condemned these actions, calling them violations of international law. The Pakistan government has consistently denied involvement, but has failed to investigate or resolve the cases transparently. In recent years, peaceful resistance--through sit-ins, marches, and now social media--has grown, led by groups like the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC). These families, driven by grief and hope, continue to demand the safe return of their loved ones and an end to the culture of impunity. (ANI) Australian Army Chief Lt General Simon Stuart arrived in New Delhi for an official visit. On Monday, he met the senior leadership of the Indian Armed Forces. The Australian Army Chief will travel to Agra tomorrow to visit the 50 (Independent) Parachute Brigade, also known as the Shatrujeet Brigade, a specialised airborne formation of the Indian Army headquartered in Agra. It is known for its rapid deployment capabilities and is directly under the command of the Director General of Military Operations (DGMO). The brigade is composed of airborne battalions, artillery batteries, a field hospital, signal and engineer units, making it a self-contained, highly mobile force. He will also interact with all ranks and visit the iconic Taj Mahal before returning to New Delhi to deliver a keynote address at the National Defence College, the Ministry of Defence noted in an official statement. As per the MoD, the official visit of Lieutenant General Simon Stuart, Chief of the Australian Army, to India from 11 to 14 August 2025. The visit aims to further strengthen bilateral defence cooperation and enhance strategic engagement between the two nations. The visit commenced with a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the National War Memorial, where General Stuart paid homage to the fallen heroes of the Indian Armed Forces. This was followed by a Guard of Honour at South Block and a formal call-on with General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief of the Army Staff. The Chief of the Australian Army was briefed on India's security perspective, Operation Sindoor, and recent advancements in technology absorption within the Indian Army. He also met senior leadership of the Indian Armed Forces, including General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff; Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, Chief of Naval Staff; Air Marshal Amar Preet Singh, Chief of Air Staff; and Shri Rajesh Kumar, Defence Secretary. On the sidelines of the visit, the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Australian Army met the Army Subedar Major of the Indian Army at South Block, fostering camaraderie and collaboration between all ranks, the official statement said. As per the official statement, on 13 and 14 August, the Chief of the Australian Army will proceed to Pune, where he will interact with Lieutenant General Dhiraj Seth, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Command, and visit the National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla. He is scheduled to address the cadets on leadership, joint training, and cooperation. During the two-day visit, he will also participate in other defence cooperation engagements. This high-level visit reaffirms the strong and growing India-Australia defence partnership and underscores the shared commitment of both nations towards a stable, secure, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region. (ANI) The international community has strongly condemned Israel's drone strike that killed five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza, including a local freelance reporter, according to Al Jazeera. The drone attack late on Sunday hit a tent for journalists positioned outside the main gate of Gaza City's al-Shifa Hospital, killing seven people. Among the dead were Al Jazeera correspondents Anas al-Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Moamen Aliwa and Mohammed Noufal. A sixth journalist, Mohammad al-Khaldi, a local freelance reporter, was also reported killed in the air attack. Reporters Without Borders said three more journalists were wounded in the same strike, Al Jazeera reported. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has condemned Israel's killing of five Al Jazeera journalists and called on US and international media workers to "stand in solidarity" with their Palestinian colleagues. https://x.com/CAIRNational/status/1954684283945382104 "Israel's ongoing campaign of targeted assassinations of Palestinian journalists is a war crime, plain and simple," CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad said in a statement, as quoted by Al Jazeera. The United Nations also condemned the killing of six Al Jazeera journalists. In a post on X, UN Human Rights said, "Gaza: We condemn the killing by Israeli military of 6 Palestinian journalists by targeting their tent, in grave breach of international humanitarian law. Israel must respect & protect all civilians, including journalists. At least 242 Palestinian journalists were killed in Gaza since 7 Oct 2023. We call for immediate, safe & unhindered access to Gaza for all journalists." https://x.com/UNHumanRights/status/1954850777731641516 UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, offered condolences to "the Al Jazeera family" and called for an investigation. "We have always been very clear in condemning all killings of journalists," Dujarric said, as quoted by Al Jazeera. "In Gaza, and everywhere, media workers should be able to carry out their work freely and without harassment, intimidation or fear of being targeted." The Palestinian mission in the UN condemned the attack, accusing Israel of "deliberately assassinating" al-Sharif and Qreiqeh, describing them as among the "last remaining journalists" in Gaza. https://x.com/Palestine_UN/status/1954657313190560083 Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has called on the world to hold Israel to account after the killing of the five Al Jazeera staff. "A press badge is no shield against genocidal war criminals who fear the world witnessing their atrocities," said Baghaei, accusing Israel of assassinating the journalists "in cold blood", as per Al Jazeera. Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani strongly criticised Israel over the killing of Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza, calling it a shocking violation of press freedom. In a post on social media, he added: "May God have mercy on journalists Anas Al-Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh, & their colleagues," Al Jazeera quoted. Al Jazeera Media Network has condemned "in the strongest terms" the killing of its journalists by Israeli forces. In a statement, the network said the Israeli military "admitted to their crimes" and deliberately directed the attack at the journalists' location. It called the assassination "another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom". The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said that it is "appalled" by Israel's killing of Al Jazeera journalists. "Israel's pattern of labelling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom," said the CPJ's regional director, Sara Qudah, as quoted by Al Jazeera. Amnesty International also condemned the strike as a war crime under international law and remembered al-Sharif as a "brave and extraordinary" reporter. In 2024, al-Sharif was awarded Amnesty International Australia's Human Rights Defender Award for his resilience and commitment to press freedom, as per Al Jazeera. Reporters Without Borders has condemned the "acknowledged murder by the Israeli army" of Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif in Gaza, saying the military admitted to targeting him. RSF said the attack echoed the 2023 killing of Al Jazeera reporter Ismail al-Ghoul, also labelled a "terrorist" by Israel. Mike Balsamo, president of the US-based National Press Club, said the killing of journalists is "a loss felt far beyond one newsroom" and called for a "thorough and transparent" investigation. Since October 2023, Israel has killed 269 journalists in Gaza, in the deadliest conflict ever recorded for reporters, as per Al Jazeera. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday had a telephone conversation with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during which he reaffirmed India's steadfast and consistent position for the peaceful settlement of the Ukraine conflict and support for efforts aimed at restoration of peace. President Zelenskyy shared his views on the recent developments related to Ukraine. According to a PMO release, the Prime Minister thanked the Ukraine President and "reaffirmed India's steadfast and consistent position for peaceful settlement of the conflict and support for efforts aimed at earliest restoration of peace". PM Modi reiterated India's commitment to extend all possible support in this regard. The leaders also reviewed progress in the India-Ukraine bilateral partnership and discussed ways to further enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest, the release said. They agreed to remain in touch. PM Modi said in a post on X that President Zelenskyy apprised him of his perspectives on recent developments "Glad to speak with President Zelenskyy and hear his perspectives on recent developments. I conveyed India's consistent position on the need for an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict. India remains committed to making every possible contribution in this regard, as well as to further strengthening bilateral ties with Ukraine," he said. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has been raging since 2002. The conversation with President Zelenskyy came days after PM Modi's talk with President Vladimir Putin over telephone. During their conversation on August 8, President Putin briefed PM Modi on the latest developments concerning Ukraine. While thanking President Putin for his detailed assessment, Prime Minister reiterated India's consistent position for peaceful resolution of the conflict. The two leaders also reviewed progress in the bilateral agenda and reaffirmed their commitment to further deepen the Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership between India and Russia. The Prime Minister invited President Putin to India later this year for the 23rd India-Russia Annual Summit. PM Modi's conversations with President Putin and President Zelenskyy have come days ahead of the summit between US President Donald Trump and the Russian President. The meeting is scheduled to take place in Alaska on August 15 and is expected to focus heavily on efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. The White House is considering inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to a summit in Alaska between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, a White House official told The Hill's sister network NewsNation on Sunday. It remains unclear if Zelensky will attend the meeting as details are yet to be finalized, the report said. (ANI) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday held a detailed discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, focusing on key issues related to bilateral cooperation and the ongoing conflict with Russia. Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for PM Modi's warm words of support for the Ukrainian people, emphasising the importance of international solidarity during these challenging times. Sharing the details in a post on X, the Ukrainian President said that the two leaders held discussions on wide-ranging topics. Zelenskyy wrote on X, "I had a long conversation with the Prime Minister of India @narendramodi. We discussed in detail all important issues - both of our bilateral cooperation and the overall diplomatic situation. I am grateful to the Prime Minister for his warm words of support for our people." "We agreed to plan a personal meeting in September during the UN General Assembly and to work on an exchange of visits," he added. This conversation comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with the US and other countries exploring ways to end the conflict. India has maintained a balanced approach, advocating for peaceful resolution while also strengthening ties with both Russia and Ukraine. The Ukrainian president briefed PM Modi on recent Russian attacks, including a strike on a bus station in Zaporizhzhia that injured dozens of people. Zelenskyy stressed that these attacks occur at a time when diplomatic efforts could potentially end the war, yet Russia shows no willingness to cease fire. "I informed about the Russian attacks on our cities and villages, about yesterday's strike on the bus station in Zaporizhzhia, where dozens of people were injured in a deliberate Russian bombing of a regular urban facility. And this is at a time when there is finally a diplomatic possibility to end the war. Instead of demonstrating readiness for a ceasefire, Russia is showing only its desire to continue the occupation and killings," Zelenskyy posted on X. https://x.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1954891726134378999 Meanwhile, PM Modi reaffirmed India's steadfast and consistent position for the peaceful settlement of the Ukraine conflict and support for efforts aimed at the restoration of peace. According to a PMO release, the Prime Minister thanked the Ukrainian President and "reaffirmed India's steadfast and consistent position for peaceful settlement of the conflict and support for efforts aimed at the earliest restoration of peace". PM Modi reiterated India's commitment to extend all possible support in this regard. The leaders also reviewed progress in the India-Ukraine bilateral partnership and discussed ways to further enhance cooperation in areas of mutual interest, the release said. They agreed to remain in touch. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Glad to speak with President Zelenskyy and hear his perspectives on recent developments. I conveyed India's consistent position on the need for an early and peaceful resolution of the conflict. India remains committed to making every possible contribution in this regard, as well as to further strengthening bilateral ties with Ukraine." https://x.com/narendramodi/status/1954893314240483824 "It is important that India is supporting our peace efforts and shares the position that everything concerning Ukraine must be decided with Ukraine's participation. Other formats will not deliver results," he posted on X. "We also discussed in detail the sanctions against Russia. I noted that it is necessary to limit the export of Russian energy, particularly oil, to reduce its potential and ability to finance the continuation of this war. It is important that every leader who has tangible leverage over Russia sends the corresponding signals to Moscow," said Zelenskyy. Earlier on August 8, PM Modi had a telephone conversation with Vladimir Putin. During their telephone call, President Putin briefed PM on the latest developments concerning Ukraine, as per a statement by the External Affairs Ministry. The call between India and Ukraine comes on the heels of a summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which is to take place on August 15, in Alaska. The meeting is expected to focus heavily on efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine. The White House is considering inviting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to a summit in Alaska between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, a White House official told The Hill's sister network, NewsNation, on Sunday. It remains unclear if Zelenskyy will attend the meeting as details are yet to be finalised, The Hill reported. (ANI) Jeay Sindh Muttahida Mahaz (JSMM) Chairman Shafi Burfat has issued a strong statement condemning Pakistan's army chief, General Asim Munir, describing him as "a dangerous threat to peace, humanity, and global stability." Burfat asserted that General Munir represents "ignorance, narrow-mindedness, and deep-seated prejudice," and criticised his appointment as Pakistan's top military leader. He accused Munir of harbouring "hatred against Hindus" and promoting extremist ideology, adding that the general had made "irresponsible statements" regarding nuclear weapons, including remarks about destroying "half the world" as if it were a trivial matter. According to Burfat, such views reflect not just personal recklessness but "a deeply irresponsible and extremist psyche" that threatens humanity as a whole. He called for Munir's immediate removal from office and a global travel ban on the general, alongside prohibitions on any state hosting him. The JSMM chief described Munir as embodying the mindset of Pakistan's military elite,"an institution that thrives on state terrorism, religious extremism, and the suppression of historical nations within Pakistan." Burfat accused the army, under Munir's leadership, of further tightening its grip over the judiciary, media, civil administration, and politics, while aligning with jihadist and extremist groups to support "militarised fascism." He stated that Sindhis, Baloch, Pashtuns, Siraiki, Brahui, and other historic nations forcibly incorporated into Pakistan have suffered "relentless state oppression, ethnic persecution, and the systematic denial of basic human rights." He alleged that freedom of expression is crushed, political dissent is criminalised, and self-determination movements are silenced by the army. Highlighting the dangers of a "narrow-minded extremist" controlling a nuclear-armed state, Burfat warned that Munir's nuclear rhetoric exposes a "dangerous disconnect from reality" and an ideological willingness to risk global survival. He urged the international community, including governments, think tanks, and institutions, to recognise Munir as a direct threat to world peace and impose sanctions that exclude Pakistan's military leadership from all diplomatic platforms until "extremist elements are removed from power." Burfat described the Pakistani army as a "corrupt mafia" and "mercenary killing machine" that is "morally bankrupt" and "a patron of terrorism and fascism," destabilising both the region and the wider world. He called on American, European, and Arab leaders to impose restrictions on Munir's travel and halt all military, economic, and technical assistance to Pakistan's military establishment. He warned that supporting Pakistan's army would "encourage terrorism" and perpetuate the imprisonment of historic nations such as Sindhis, Baloch, and Pashtuns "at gunpoint within Pakistan's artificial borders," which he said would be seen by history as complicity in their subjugation. In his message, Burfat appealed to the United Nations, the European Union, the United States, China, India, Africa, and the Arab world to acknowledge that the "great Sindhu Civilisation" is being kept in bondage through "religious deception and manipulation" in what he termed the "unnatural state of Pakistan." He emphasised that Sindhudesh existed historically as an independent nation and called for global action to secure its liberation from what he described as the "terrorist and oppressive state" of Pakistan. (ANI) US President Donald Trump on Monday announced that Washington, D.C. will be "liberated" today, with the city's police department placed under federal control and the National Guard deployed to tackle crime, reported CNN. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, "Washington, D.C. will be LIBERATED today! Crime, Savagery, Filth, and Scum will DISAPPEAR. I will, MAKE OUR CAPITAL GREAT AGAIN! The days of ruthlessly killing, or hurting, innocent people, are OVER! I quickly fixed the Border (ZERO ILLEGALS in last 3 months!), D.C. is next!!! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT." https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1954878435182235906 Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser questioned Trump's motives, noting that violent crime has decreased in the city, and expressed concerns about the potential use of the National Guard to patrol the streets. The post comes despite a preliminary year-to-date comparison from Washington DC Police showing that 2025 crime numbers in the city are lower than last year's, as per CNN. Trump invoked the D.C. Home Rule Act to assert federal control over the Metropolitan Police Department, citing the need to "make our capital safer". The National Guard will be deployed to support local policing efforts, with Trump emphasising the need for a tough approach to crime. Trump also vowed to address homelessness in the city, promising to provide alternative housing options for those currently living on the streets, but raised concerns among homeless residents who fear being displaced. The announcement came after an assault last week on a well-known employee of the Department of Government Efficiency. Trump is expected to announce the activation of hundreds of Washington DC National Guard troops this morning as part of his effort to address crime in the nation's capital, two US officials told CNN. The DC National Guard forces are expected to be providing safety and security support to law enforcement, though one of the officials said many of the operational specifics still remain unclear, such as where they will be placed throughout the city, what their command-and-control chain will be, and for how long they will be activated. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are expected to be at the announcement with Trump, as per CNN. As president, Trump has broad authority over parts of the city's affairs, including aspects of law enforcement. But he will need approval from Congress to exert control over Washington DC, in the way he says he wants to. There are dozens of federal law enforcement agencies in the city that answer to the Trump administration, and the president has already ordered a surge of hundreds of federal officers to supplement the city's police department in some neighbourhoods, CNN reported. Those include plans for scores of FBI agents to patrol the city's streets. Trump also has the authority as president to deploy the DC National Guard. DC is managed under Home Rule, a 1973 law that gave Congress oversight and authority over the capital city but allowed district residents to have some control over how it is run, as per CNN. (ANI) Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday responded to Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir's nuclear threats, saying India won't surrender to nuclear blackmail. Tharoor's remarks come after Munir's comments in Florida, where he reportedly said Pakistan could use nuclear weapons to take down India and "half the world" in the event of an existential threat. Tharoor emphasised that India knows how to handle threats both in the air and on the ground, expressing confidence in the country's ability to respond to such situations. He noted that the Ministry of External Affairs has given a fitting reply to Munir's comments, dismissing the nuclear blackmail. While speaking to the media, Tharoor said, "The Ministry has given a fitting reply... We are not going to surrender to nuclear blackmail. This gentleman has a habit of saying things to the Pakistan diaspora that are apparently intended to boost his position. India knows how to handle these things in the air and on the ground. I am not too worried". Earlier, at the end of the Parliamentary Committee Meeting on External Affairs, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor told the media that the committee echoes the statement by the Ministry of External Affairs. He affirmed that nuclear blackmail would not work with India. Tharoor told the media, "Munir's statement on American soil has been brought up. Concern was expressed about the misuse of a friendly country, the country's soil, to say something about us in this manner. But at the same time, the fact that nuclear saber-rattling is something the Pakistanis like to do has been dismissed by the MEA in a statement... So we will echo that statement. The committee shares the same view that we are not going to allow this kind of nonsense to influence our thinking. Nuclear blackmail will not work with India, and no party, no representative of any party, disagrees with that principle." The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday issued a strong statement in response to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff during his visit to the United States. "Our attention has been drawn to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff while on a visit to the United States. Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan's stock-in-trade," the MEA official spokesperson said. The spokesperson added, "The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks, which also reinforce the well-held doubts about the integrity of nuclear command and control in a state where the military is hand-in-glove with terrorist groups. "The MEA spokesperson further expressed regret that these remarks were made from the soil of a friendly third country. "It is also regrettable that these remarks should have been made from the soil of a friendly third country," the official said. "India has already made it clear that it will not give in to nuclear blackmail and will continue to take all necessary steps to safeguard its national security, the MEA spokesperson affirmed. The MEA statement further said. Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir has once again threatened India, warning that Islamabad would plunge the region into nuclear war and could take "almost half of the world" down if faced with an existential threat in a future conflict with New Delhi. During his ongoing visit to the United States, General Munir also stated that Islamabad will defend its water rights "at all costs" if India proceeds with dam construction on the Indus River. Munir also repeated his anti-India rhetoric by describing Kashmir as Pakistan's "jugular vein," asserting that it is not India's internal matter but an unresolved international issue, Pakistan-based media outlet ARY News reported on Monday. "We will wait for India to build a dam, and when they do so, we will destroy it," Munir told members of the Pakistani-American community in Tampa, Florida, according to a report published today in The Dawn. At a black-tie dinner in Washington, DC, hosted by Adnan Asad, Pakistan's honorary consul in Tampa, Munir said the Indus River "is not the Indians' family property," adding that Islamabad has "no shortage of resources to undo the Indian designs to stop the river," the Dawn reported. (ANI) Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Monday strongly condemned Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir's recent statements, calling them "dangerous, inflammatory, and completely unacceptable". Ramesh expressed dismay over the American establishment's special treatment of General Munir, given his past statements. Ramesh questioned the implications of such diplomatic engagements on India's relations with the US, especially considering Trump's claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. "On April 16, 2025, General Asim Munir made inflammatory, provocative, and communally poisonous statements. These very statements provided oxygen to the brutal terrorist attacks that took place in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025," he said in a post on X. https://x.com/Jairam_Ramesh/status/1954868898802921506 Weeks before the Pahalgam attack on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 people, Munir said Pakistan will not forget the issue of Kashmir, asserting, "It was our jugular vein." The Pahalgam terror attack took place on April 22, in which 26 people were killed. The incident led to the launch of Operation Sindoor, in which the armed forces targeted nine terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Despite this, General Munir was invited to lunch with US President Donald Trump on June 18, 2025, at the White House, sparking controversy in India. General Munir also attended the farewell ceremony of General Michael Kurilla, head of the US Central Command, in Tampa, Florida, on August 8, 2025. Kurilla had previously praised Pakistan as a "splendid partner" in counter-terrorism operations. "On June 18, 2025, President Trump invited Field Marshal Asim Munir to the White House for an unexpected lunch meeting. On August 8, 2025, Field Marshal was in Tampa, Florida, to attend the farewell ceremony of General Michael Kurilla, the head of the US Central Command, who had previously praised Pakistan as a 'splendid partner' in counter-terrorism operations. On August 10, 2025, while addressing the Pakistani diaspora in the US, Field Marshal Asim Munir made the most dangerous, inflammatory, and completely unacceptable statements regarding a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan. The Indian National Congress strongly condemns these statements. It is extremely strange that the American establishment is giving such special honor to such a person," he added. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday issued a strong statement in response to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff during his visit to the United States. "Our attention has been drawn to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff while on a visit to the United States. Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan's stock-in-trade," the MEA official spokesperson said. The spokesperson added, "The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks, which also reinforce the well-held doubts about the integrity of nuclear command and control in a state where the military is hand-in-glove with terrorist groups." The MEA spokesperson further expressed regret that these remarks were made from the soil of a friendly third country. "It is also regrettable that these remarks should have been made from the soil of a friendly third country," the official said. "India has already made it clear that it will not give in to nuclear blackmail and will continue to take all necessary steps to safeguard its national security, the MEA spokesperson affirmed." the MEA statement further said. (ANI) A district court in Nepal ordered former Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane to remain in judicial custody, rejecting his application for release on cooperative fraud. The Rupandehi District Court late on Monday evening hearing over the application filed by Lamichhane, also the founder of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) upheld the judicial custody. A single bench of Judge Narayan Prasad Sapkota refused to let Lamichhane out, though he had submitted an application for release in connection with the Butwan-based Supreme Saving and Credit Cooperative fraud case. "Since the amount of money owed to him has not been determined, and the process of examining witnesses and other evidence in the case is still pending, and since the documents attached to the file do not show that the petitioner is in compliance with Section 71 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 2074 BS, it does not appear that he can file the petition with the bank guarantee as requested, and the date is fixed, it should be done in accordance with the law," the order from the court stated. Along with the application, the former Home Minister also had submitted a bank guarantee equivalent to the amount attributed to him in the case. He submitted bank security worth Nepali Rupees (NRs) 27.4 Million. Earlier, a bench led by Judge Bashisht Kumar Ghimire at the same court had set his bail at NRs 10 million on charges of fraud and organised crime for the embezzlement of money from the Supreme Cooperative. Welcoming the court order, Lamichhane challenged the decision and approached the High Court, seeking cancellation of bail and a regular hearing date. However, the Butwal bench of the High Court in Tulsipur ordered his continued detention for judicial investigation on April 4. Lamichhane has been in the Rupandehi prison since April 4 and had applied on August 4. Advocates Narayan Kandel, Rajendra Thapa and Mahendra Pandey argued for his release under provisions of the National Criminal Procedure Act, while government attorneys opposed the move, citing the Supreme Court's earlier decision to uphold his detention. The cooperative fraud case alleges that Lamichhane and others transferred over NRs109 million from the Butwal-based Supreme Cooperative to Gorkha Media Network Pvt Ltd, misappropriating the funds. Cases have been filed in Kaski (Suryadarshan Cooperative), Chitwan (Sahara Cooperative), Kathmandu (Swarnalaxmi Cooperative) and Parsa (Sano Paila Cooperative). In all the districts, Lamichhane has been accused of diverting deposits to Gorkha Media Network, which ran the now-defunct Galaxy 4K Television. Lamichhane was arrested from his party office in Kathmandu on 18 October, 2024 by a team from the Central Investigation Bureau on charges of organised crime and misappropriation of cooperative funds. On December 22, 2024, the Kaski District Police had formally lodged the case against Lamichhane on cases of fraud, organised crime and money laundering. The District Government Attorney's Office filed the charge sheet against Lamichhane and others at the Kaski District Court in connection with the Suryadarshan Cooperative fraud case. He is accused of illegally amassing over NRs 270 million, with the money allegedly originating from Surya Darshan Savings and Loan Cooperative. The case also alleges that Lamichhane has not disclosed the source of NRs 2,78,944,705, which is considered to be of illicit origin. Lamichhane's post as Member of Parliament has also been suspended after the District Attorney's Office filed a case of organised crime and money laundering. The former Home Minister and founder of RSP, the fourth largest party in the parliament, has denied the charges of money laundering, cooperative fraud, and organised crime in his statement to the Kaski District Police. In 2024, a parliamentary committee formed to investigate the cooperative scam prepared and tabled a report in parliament on September 16, 2024. This report indicted Lamichhane for embezzling millions of rupees as part of the scam. The seven-membered committee formed on May 28 last year was tabled in the parliament, which was formally endorsed by the house session. The report concludes that millions of rupees injected into Gorkha Media came from cooperatives which were traded on the basis of forged documents. Former Home Minister Lamichhane had worked in Gorkha Media, the parent company of now defunct Galaxy 4K Television, as managing director at the time when cooperative savings were invested, violating cooperative legislation. Incumbent parliamentarian also had clarified that he was engaged in Gorkha Media taking a sweat share. Lamichhane later in the year 2022 entered politics, announcing the formation of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, and entered the federal parliament as a parliamentarian, contesting the election the same year. The television, failing to pay salaries to its staff, shut its formal operation since last year. The committee in its report has also recommended that the government take legal action against everyone involved in the transfer of money to Gorkha Media from various cooperatives. Millions of rupees were inducted into Gorkha Media from various cooperatives, Suryadarshan from Pokhara, Supreme from Butwal, Swarnalaxmi from Kathmandu, Sahara Chitwan from Chitwan and Sanopaila from Birgunj. The report has stated that embezzlement of amounts was completed in the active involvement of GB Rai, Kumar Ramtel, Rabi Lamichhane (then managing director), and Chhabi Lal Joshi. Rai and Lamichhane had operated a joint account in the bank and had issued cheques amounting to millions, which shows their involvement, the committee report includes. "Every company has its own objective and spirit. Promoters and shareholders are the ones with the main responsibilities in such institutions. Those in the role and responsibility as shareholders, promoters and managing directors cannot be allowed to not be responsible and accountable for the money received by the company," the report stressed. During the investigation, the committee also had held inquiry session with former Home Minister and incumbent Chairperson of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Lamichhane for over 10 hours. Throughout the inquiry session he claimed to be unaware about the transfers that were made to the Gorkha Media originated from cooperatives, that too savings of about 50,000 people. Further arguing over the case, Lamichhane also claimed the Rabi Lamichhane who had borrowed money from Suryadarshan and Supreme Cooperatives also to be someone not in his knowledge. The committee had asked him a set of 50 questions about his alleged involvement in the scam. Following the tabling and endorsement of the report, House Speaker Devraj Ghimire directed the government to implement the report of the parliamentary special inquiry committee formed to investigate misappropriation of savings of cooperatives. Speaker Ghimire then directed the Parliament Secretariat to send the report to the government for implementation. The HoR had formed the committee headed by CPN-UML lawmaker Thapa on May 28, 2024 after Nepali Congress demanded formation of a parliamentary investigation committee saying Rastriya Swatantra Party President Rabi Lamichhane, who was then deputy prime minister and home minister, was involved in the misappropriation of cooperative savings. The HoR had initially given the committee three months and later extended its tenure by 15 days. Dilendra Badu of Nepali Congress, Ishwari Neupane, Sabitra Bhusal of UML, Lekhnath Dahal of CPN (Maoist Center), Shishir Khanal of RSP, and Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan of Rastriya Prajatantra Party were members of the parliamentary committee. (ANI) Jamie Lee Curtis learned "perseverance" from Lindsay Lohan. Jamie Lee Curtis has praised Lindsay Lohan The 66-year-old actress has reunited with Lindsay for Freakier Friday, the sequel to their 2003 comedy movie Freaky Friday, and Jamie has taken to social media to heap praise on her co-star. Jamie's Instagram post featured a quote from Lindsay in which she praises her co-star. The quote reads: "Jamie was with me at a time in my life when I was going through a lot publicly [] I have to feel safe around people. And Jamie is one of those people for me." In response to the quote, Jamie wrote in the caption: "And SHE taught me about perseverance, solitude, style, family and Bitmoji! (sic)" Lindsay and Jamie have repeatedly praised each other throughout the Freakier Friday press tour. Jamie recently admitted that she felt "tremendous maternal care" for Lindsay after they starred together in Freaky Friday. The Hollywood star told the Guardian newspaper: "I felt tremendous maternal care for Lindsay after the first movie, and continued to feel that. "When shed come to Los Angeles, I would see her. She and I have remained friends, and now were sort of colleagues. I feel less maternal towards her because shes a mommy now herself and doesnt need my maternal care, and has, obviously, a mom Dinas a terrific grandma." Jamie also insisted that Lindsay doesn't need any life advice from her. The movie star said: "Im bossy, very bossy, but I try to mind my own business. She doesnt need my advice. Shes a fully functioning, smart woman, creative person. Privately, shes asked me questions, but nothing thats more than an older friend you might ask." Lindsay has been through lots of high-profile ups and downs in her life, but she recently claimed that she's now "wiser" and more "settled" than ever before. The 39-year-old actress told People: "Im at ease in my life because Ive lived, I feel like, such a long life at such a young age. I feel wiser now and very settled. Ive become such a positive person." US President Donald Trump has once again claimed credit for brokering peace deals between nations, specifically highlighting his role in resolving conflicts between India and Pakistan, as well as Azerbaijan and Armenia. Trump asserted that his administration played a significant role in brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, which was on the brink of a nuclear conflict. "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. However, Indian officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, have consistently denied any US involvement in the peace process, attributing the ceasefire to direct military-to-military communication. Trump also claimed credit for brokering a peace accord between Azerbaijan and Armenia, which had been embroiled in a 37-year conflict. The peace accord was signed at the White House, with Trump emphasising his role in promoting peace worldwide. "The tariffs have helped, gives us not only the money, but it gives us great power over enemies. We solved five wars- Pakistan and India. Azerbaijan and Armenia- it was raging for 37 years, and the two leaders got up and they said, we never thought this would be solved. Russia tried to solve it. They all tried to solve it. It was a very tough situation, but we got it done," he said. Earlier on July 19, Trump again falsely claimed to stop the India-Pakistan conflict. "We stopped a lot of wars. And these were serious, India and Pakistan, that was going on. Planes were being shot out of there. I think five jets were shot down, actually. These are two serious nuclear countries, and they were hitting each other. You know, it seems like a new form of warfare. You saw it recently when you looked at what we did in Iran, where we knocked out their nuclear capability, totally knocked out that," he said. "But India and Pakistan were going at it, and they were back and forth, and it was getting bigger and bigger, and we got it solved through trade. We said, you guys want to make a trade deal. We're not making a trade deal if you're going to be throwing around weapons, and maybe nuclear weapons, both very powerful nuclear states," Trump added. Pakistan has praised Trump's efforts and formally recommended him for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, citing his role in defusing tensions between Pakistan and India. Indian officials have maintained that the ceasefire was achieved without third-party involvement, with Prime Minister Modi stating that no world leader forced India to stop hostilities during Operations Sindoor against Pakistan. (ANI) Congress MP Shashi Tharoor shared insights from the Committee of External Affairs Meeting, where several issues such as the India-US ties and how the relationship is important were discussed during the meeting, which lasted around three hours on Monday. Speaking to media after the meeting, the Congress MP expressed satisfaction that the Foreign and Commerce Secretaries had answered around 50 questions to the 22 members. "We asked around 50 questions, reflecting the interest of the nation in knowing more about all development involving tariffs, negotiations with the US; involving other geopolitical implications -- all of these were covered in the questions." Tharoor also said, "Foreign Secretary took pains to reaffirm the importance of the Indo-US relationship despite this particular problem. Commerce Secretary also assured us that the process of dialogue is ongoing. I feel the committee has left feeling fairly satisfied that many of the issues that were on the minds of people are issues that our senior colleagues in government are thinking about and have given us credible responses to. " The Congress MP told the media that the Foreign Secretary's main focus was on geopolitical and strategic considerations. "He made it clear that this (India-US) is a very important relationship which has multiple levels, of which trade is only one aspect and that I think is something we should all appreciate. The Commerce Secretary focused entirely on the trade discussion. Speaking about the upcoming India-US trade talks slated for later in August, Shashi Tharoor said, " As now there is no change in the existing plans for a sixth round. Now if the American delegation is not coming they will have to tell us they are not coming. So far there is no such thing." Tharoor also spoke about the remarks made by the Pak Army Chief in the US. He said, "Munir's statement on American soil has been brought up. Concern was expressed about the misuse of a friendly country, the country's soil, to say something about us in this manner. But at the same time, the fact that nuclear sabre-rattling is something the Pakistanis like to do has been dismissed by the MEA in a statement. So we will echo that statement. The committee shares the same view that we are not going to allow this kind of nonsense to influence our thinking. Nuclear blackmail will not work with India, and no party, no representative of any party, disagrees with that principle." Tharoor's remarks come after Munir's comments in Florida, where he reportedly said Pakistan could use nuclear weapons to take down India and "half the world" in the event of an existential threat. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday issued a strong statement in response to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff during his visit to the United States. "Our attention has been drawn to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff while on a visit to the United States. Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan's stock-in-trade," the MEA official spokesperson said. The spokesperson added, "The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks, which also reinforce the well-held doubts about the integrity of nuclear command and control in a state where the military is hand-in-glove with terrorist groups. "The MEA spokesperson further expressed regret that these remarks were made from the soil of a friendly third country. "It is also regrettable that these remarks should have been made from the soil of a friendly third country," the official said. "India has already made it clear that it will not give in to nuclear blackmail and will continue to take all necessary steps to safeguard its national security, the MEA spokesperson affirmed. The MEA statement further said. (ANI) Former member of the National Security Advisory Board, Tilak Devasher, on Monday called Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir's nuclear threat as 'absurd'. Devasher, while speaking to ANI, said that any issue should be discussed in a civil leadership, but the US is encouraging the military leadership. He said, "It is a very absurd statement. For most responsible people, nuclear weapons are not for war fighting. But here he is threatening to use these weapons and take down half of the world with him. The world, especially the US, should take notice of what an irresponsible statement this is, and it should not be encouraged. Any issue should be discussed in a civil leadership, which is a democratically elected government. But the US is encouraging the military leadership." The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday issued a strong statement in response to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff during his visit to the United States. "Our attention has been drawn to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff while on a visit to the United States. Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan's stock-in-trade," the MEA official spokesperson said. The spokesperson added, "The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks, which also reinforce the well-held doubts about the integrity of nuclear command and control in a state where the military is hand-in-glove with terrorist groups." The MEA spokesperson further expressed regret that these remarks were made from the soil of a friendly third country. "It is also regrettable that these remarks should have been made from the soil of a friendly third country," the official said. "India has already made it clear that it will not give in to nuclear blackmail and will continue to take all necessary steps to safeguard its national security, the MEA spokesperson affirmed." the MEA statement further said. (ANI) Europe's hotel industry has declared war on Booking.com in a legal fight over what it claims are years of unfair charges. European hotels to launch legal Nearly 10,000 hotels in the Association of Hotels, Restaurants and Cafes in Europe (Hotrec) are demanding damages, saying the site's pricing rules stopped them offering cheaper deals elsewhere. Hotrec President Alexandros Vassilikos said: "European hoteliers have long suffered from unfair conditions and excessive costs. "This joint initiative sends a clear message: abusive practices in the digital market will not be tolerated by the hospitality industry in Europe." The case centres on the site's "best price" promise, which Hotrec says was pushed on hotels under heavy pressure to keep rates the same or higher on other platforms, even their own websites. The industry also claims the Netherlands-based firm used the clauses to stop customers making what it called "free-rider" bookings - finding a hotel through the website but then booking directly and avoiding fees. The claim, which covers 2004 to 2024, could be an uphill battle according to experts. Booking.com blasted the allegations from Hotrec and other hotel groups as "incorrect and misleading" in a statement to The Guardian, insisting it has not had "formal notification of a class action". The company added it remains committed to "fair competition". South African Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has sharply criticized the 30% tariffs imposed by the U.S. on South African exports, calling them a symptom of a declining empire lashing out in desperation. The danger with the US imposing the 30% tariffs is that it is the kicking of a declining empire, Mantashe told industry stakeholders on 5 August. It is going to hurt many because its in decline. The influence of the U.S. is declining fast, and they are very agitated about that. The tariffs, part of a broader move by President Donald Trump targeting nearly 70 countries, have sent shockwaves through African economies. Countries like Lesotho and Madagascar are already facing factory closures and job losses, while Ethiopias coffee exports may see a 35% revenue drop due to new 10% duties. Mantashe believes South Africas BRICS+ membership prompted the harsh tariff, noting Russia was only hit with 10%. He called for diversification of export markets, stressing continued U.S. engagement but urging African nations not to be imprisoned by that discussion. Across the continent, policymakers are rallying behind regional trade and closer ties with Asia and the Middle East. Chinas recent decision to extend zero-tariff access to all 53 African nations has been welcomed as a timely alternative. Trumps tariffs have devastated African economies while ceding influence to China, wrote Imran Khalid in a recent opinion piece. With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) gaining traction, experts say Africa must pivot to self-reliance and regional integration a strategy now seen as vital in a world of volatile trade politics. The Central African Republic (CAR) is resisting Russian pressure to replace the Wagner Group with the Kremlins newly formed Africa Corps, amid demands for cash payments rather than the mineral-for-security model that has long defined the partnership. According to senior officials in Bangui, Russias Deputy Defense Minister made several visits this year urging CAR to sever ties with Wagner and adopt the state-controlled Africa Corps for ongoing military support. However, CARs leadership is hesitant, citing Wagners superior effectiveness, deep integration with local forces, and an established payment model based on gold and mining concessions. They understand the terrain, the politics, and they deliver results, said a government official, adding that paying in cash is not an option for CAR. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a military official noted that Russia demands that the CAR must not only cover the costs of Africa Corps personnel, but also pay significant sums of money to Russia, amounting to billions of CFA francs (millions of dollars). However, according to the official, who was familiar with the negotiations, authorities in Bangui said they are unable to pay the amount. Instead, they hope to compensate Russia with strategic and mineral resources, notably gold, uranium, and iron. Wagner has protected President Faustin-Archange Touadera, trained CAR forces, and helped secure a 2023 constitutional referendum that extended his power. In return, Wagner gained control over key gold and diamond concessions. The Kremlins push to phase out Wagner follows the 2023 death of its leader, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in a plane crash, and signals Moscows attempt to centralize control over military operations in Africa. While Mali has already accepted the Africa Corps, CAR officials fear the groups training-first approach and lack of combat credibility could destabilize the fragile security situation. As talks continue, Wagner remains entrenched militarily and economically while Africa Corps looms as Russias preferred future. The United States has launched a sweeping reassessment of Kenyas Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status, raising alarm over President William Rutos growing ties with China, Russia, Iran, and links to extremist groups. Granted in June 2024, Kenyas MNNA designation made it the first sub-Saharan African country to join an exclusive list of U.S. defense partners. But concerns over Nairobis geopolitical direction have prompted Congress to mandate a full classified review, led by the State Department, due within 180 days. At the center of the probe are Kenyas alignment with Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, military engagements with Russia and Iran, and President Rutos declaration that China and Kenya are co-architects of a new world order. U.S. legislators also seek clarity on alleged misuse of American security intelligence in civilian abductions and torture, as well as potential financial safe haven activities for sanctioned individuals from Sudan, South Sudan, and Somalia. Kenyas controversial hosting of Sudans Rapid Support Forces (RSF) commander Mohamed Hemedti Daglo has deepened mistrust in Washington. But the proposal also, for example, highlights Kenyas role in the abduction, in October 2024, of seven Turkish nationals who were seized by Turkish intelligence in Nairobi after criticizing President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Stripping Kenya of MNNA status would jeopardize its access to U.S. defense equipment, training, and joint operations, including the Kenya-led mission in Haiti. The review signals a diplomatic turning point, as U.S. policymakers weigh whether Kenya remains a reliable strategic partner or a growing liability in East Africas volatile landscape. Moroccos Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) arrested in Settat on Sunday an individual suspected of allegiance to the extremist group Daesh. According to the BCIJ, the suspect had expressed interest in manufacturing explosives and suicide belts and was allegedly preparing attacks targeting public safety and order. Investigators say the man was in contact with a North African Daesh leader operating abroad, who encouraged him to carry out a terrorist plot in Morocco. The leader allegedly provided him with manuals and publications detailing bomb-making techniques. The preliminary investigation revealed the suspect had shared online propaganda praising terrorist operations by Daesh fighters and encouraging similar acts. Authorities believe he was actively planning subversive actions within the Kingdom. Following his arrest, the suspect was placed in custody at BCIJ headquarters under the supervision of the prosecutor specializing in terrorism cases. Investigators aim to determine the full scope of his plans and identify any domestic or international associates. This operation underscores Moroccos ongoing counterterrorism vigilance amid persistent regional threats. The BCIJ reiterated that security services continue proactive operations to dismantle extremist cells and neutralize plots before they materialize. Royal Air Maroc (RAM) will significantly enhance its point-to-point network from Marrakech, reinstating direct flights to Lyon, Toulouse, Nantes, and Bordeaux from 10 October 2025. The national carrier will also increase services to Marseille and Brussels. According to CEO Hamid Addou, these developments align with RAMs strategic roadmap to 2030, aimed at connecting Moroccos major cities with key European markets, notably France and Belgium. The move is designed to serve Moroccan diaspora communities and international tourists, reinforcing Marrakechs role as a prime tourist hub. The new routes will operate twice weekly: Toulouse and Lyon on Mondays and Fridays; Nantes on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11 October; Bordeaux on Thursdays and Sundays from 12 October. Schedules are tailored to passenger convenience, with early morning and late afternoon departures from Marrakech-Menara International Airport. Additional weekly services to Marseille (Wednesdays and Saturdays) and Brussels (Thursdays and Sundays) will further boost capacity. The expansion complements RAMs existing network linking Moroccan cities to major European gateways, including Paris, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and London. Tickets are already on sale through RAMs website, call centers, and partner travel agencies. Two Moroccan fintech startups, Woliz and Hsabati, have been selected for the fourth Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator program launched by the American giant in digital payments to help startups fast-track their growth and impact. Woliz is a fintech ecosystem transforming nano-stores into digital hubs with loyalty rewards, payments, and AI-driven operations. Hsabati is a platform that helps businesses manage operations, enabling data collection and ecosystem scoring to facilitate financing through partner banks. In total, twenty-two startups from 12 African countries will benefit this year from Visas comprehensive 3-month program of training, mentorship, and networking. The training will enable the startups to tackle challenges in Africas fintech sector and promote financial inclusion and digital growth. They will be trained about latest solutions in Small and Medium Business (SMB) digitization, lending, cross-border payments, payroll, business-to-business (B2B) payments, AI-powered payments, social commerce, climate insurance, and neo-banking. The Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator offers Africa-focused startups mentorship, tailored training, networking, and access to funding and resources, helping them advance in the fintech sector. Since its inception in 2023, the Visa Africa Fintech Accelerator program has accelerated 64 fintechs across three cohorts, with an estimated cumulative portfolio value of $1.1 billion. Mexico's government said Friday it was seeking compensation from Adidas, which is accused of cultural appropriation for bringing out sandals resembling traditional design from the southern state of Oaxaca. The Oaxaca Slip-On sandals were created by US fashion designer Willy Chavarria, who has Mexican heritage, but drew pushback from officials in Oaxaca, who say he did not receive authorization from the Indigenous community behind the original design. The government said that Adidas had agreed to meet with Oaxaca authorities, who argue that the sandal is modelled on the traditional "huarache" (sandal) of the village of Villa de Hidalgo Yalalag. "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. 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. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Saif Suleiman Sneidel, a Libyan national accused of committing war crimes. Sneidel is alleged to be a member of Group 50, a faction within the Al-Saiqa Brigade, and is suspected of involvement in murder, torture, and acts outraging personal dignity in Benghazi and its surrounding areas. According to the ICC, there are reasonable grounds to believe these crimes took place between 2016 and 2017 during intense conflict in Libya. The charges highlight the courts continued efforts to hold individuals accountable for atrocities committed during the countrys protracted instability. Morocco continues to attract international movie-makers and producers for shooting their blockbusters which enable the country to boost its tourism and enhance the Nation branding. According to press reports, Captain India is starring actor Kartik Aaryan and directed by Shimit Amin. The movie is scheduled to begin filming in India and Morocco in March 2026, with a release planned for the first half of 2027. Insiders say that a location recce has already been completed in Morocco. The film tells the story of an Indian Air Force pilot who conducted one of the most successful rescue operations from a war-torn country. It is inspired by true events and will revisit a moment in time where a man goes beyond his own pain and suffering to save thousands. Moroccos film studios and vibrant cities are often used as a backdrop for Hollywood films set in the desert, the Middle East and Asia. Nicknamed Africas Hollywood, the country has a long history of welcoming foreign film crews, especially historical dramas set in ancient Rome or Greece, including Troy, Kingdom of Heaven and Gladiator, starring Russell Crowe. Earlier classics shot against the Moroccan backdrop include Alfred Hitchcocks The Man Who Knew Too Much, Orson Welles Othello in the fifties and Lawrence of Arabia in the sixties. A long list of international blockbusters has been shot in Morocco. The list includes namely Mission Impossible, Rogue Nation, The Old Guard, Dead Reckoning, Gladiator II, Badh Both of Smiths Station's contested elections on the Aug. 26 ballot involve incumbents that are facing their first election due to the circumstances that led to their appointments in 2023. Smiths Station Mayor Richard Cooley spent nearly two decades as the Place 4 councilmember on the Smiths Station City Council before the council appointed him mayor following the November 2023 death of then-mayor Fred "Bubba" Copeland. In his first re-election opportunity, Cooley faces someone that worked in Copeland's government for several years, Lisa Deason. Below are responses from the Opelika-Auburn News' candidate questionnaire. The municipal election is Tuesday, Aug. 26. Responses have been edited for clarity. Richard Cooley Age: 78 Hometown: Born in Opelika and moved to Smiths Station when he was in the third grade and has lived in the city ever since. Family: Married to Brenda Cooley, 75, and the two have no children. Job: Retired following an extensive career in education. Over 40 years of experience in education. In the Lee County School system he worked as a teacher and later assistant principal at Smiths Station High School, principal at Wacoochee Elementary School and assistant superintendent for accounting and finance for Lee County Board of Education. He retired from LCS in 2003 and later taught at Chattahoochee County High School in Georgia before working in the Chattahoochee County School system as assistant superintendent of operations and later superintendent for a short time. Retired in 2016. Prior elected office: He was elected to the Place 4 seat on the Smiths Station City Council in 2004 and held the seat until he was appointed mayor in 2023. Other public service: President of the Tan Son Nhut, a nationwide group of veterans from all military branches that went through Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon during the Vietnam War. Has been president of the organization for two years. Served four years in the United States Air Force, including one tour in Vietnam. Education: Graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor's degree and master's degree in business education. Has a six-year educational leadership degree from Troy University. Lisa Deason Age: 56 Hometown: Originally from Columbus, moved to Smiths Station in 2001. Family: Married to her husband Drew, 59, since 1998. They have two children, Caleb Yon, 33, and Hunter Deason, 23, and three grandchildren, EmmaLeigh, Laine, and Luke. Job: Senior manager of community engagement for the Water Environment Federation. Prior elected office: No. Other public service: Vice President of marketing and communications and Director of 211 Information and Referral at United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley. Spent 23 years in total with United Way. Deason became the planning and zoning administrator for Smiths Station in 2015 under then-mayor Lafaye Dellinger. She later served as the communications director under Mayor Copeland, and said she managed disaster relief efforts for the eastern portion of Lee County following the 2019 tornado. Served on the City of Smith's Station Founders Day Committee and assisted with historic preservation efforts. Education: Graduated with a degree in computer science from Meadows College and is certified in Volunteer Administration from Columbus State University through the International Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration. Also holds a micro eMBA in nonprofit management from the Management and Development Institute. Q&A What unique expertise or experience would you bring to this office? Cooley: My longevity as a councilperson here gave me some insight. Without getting into minute new details, there was a lot of things that the council was not aware of, and there were some things that were in play that we did not really know about at that time. And I've had to pick up on those and move forward with many of those. One of which was the storm shelter that's being built behind city hall here in Smiths Station. Mayor Copeland initiated that after the tornado in 19, and that fell through because of COVIDIt came back in November 2023 right after I took the office of MayorWe're well underway with that construction now. Being a long time member of the community, knowing what the community needs, what the community desires, I have a unique perspective on where we need to go in the future. Deason: The unique things that I would bring is that I have an internal perspective of how government, how city government, operates, because I was an employee. There's a difference between being an elected official and actually working as an employee inside government. So I have that unique perspective, and so I see things differently than an average citizen or an elected official would see things, having the experience of working for my city prior to me running for mayorI see the needs of the citizens from a different view. I have seen that, and then I have a well-rounded background that I can contribute my time and service to being able to serve citizens in a unique way. What is the most pressing problem facing the community, and how would you fix it? Cooley: We've got several issues that we're dealing with, one of which is communication and transparency, and we're doing everything we canWe're kind of stuck in the middle as far as the media goes, between Opelika-Auburn and Phenix City, Columbus, and we have no local newspaper out here, no local radio stations or television stations, and trying to get any coverage out here is difficult at best. Therefore, it's really easy for people to speculate and for rumors to flourish that may have an element of truth to themThats something that we're working on. We're enhancing our website, we're trying to redo some things with our social media and in that area to be able to communicate more efficiently with our constituents Economic growth is another issueWe're looking forward to bring in some economic development to keep us from having to burden the taxpayer with any additional taxes of any kind. Deason: There are several priorities, but the main thing is building a connected community that interacts and voices are heard and we work together as a city, rather than the government just going through day-to-day businessAnd working on a plan, a comprehensive plan. We need to be engaging with our citizens, and we need to be focused on our long term plan and how we want our city to grow. We're not really structuring ourselves like that right now. So thats what I would fix. What do you want most for your community? Cooley: Stable economic growth and a safe, comfortable environment. We need to grow economically while remainingwe're kind of a bedroom community anyway. We have got a lot of rooftops and be able to supply them with many of the services, parks and recreation, restaurants and things of that nature that they need, without having to go, in our case, many of them go across the state line into Georgia to spend their money. So we would like to keep some of that growth here. We would like to have jobs here that some of our kids, when they graduate high school or college, that they don't have to leave the area. They can stay in the area with their families and help us grow the community at large. Deason: What I want most is to be smart and responsible in the way we operate our government and be accountable to our citizens and listen to them. I want citizens to feel like they're involved in having a part of the discussion and the decisions that are made, which evolves into transparency and accountability. Netflix has signed a new multi-year first-look deal with Prince Harry and Meghan's Archewell Productions. Unlike their previous exclusive agreement, this deal allows Netflix to pass on projects. Meghan has several upcoming projects, including Season 2 of With Love, Meghan as well as a With Love holiday special in December. Despite its ambitious transition to electric cars, Norway acknowledges its continued reliance on oil and gas, having become Europe's largest pipeline natural gas supplier and boasting the world's biggest sovereign wealth fund from energy revenues. Energy Minister Terje Aasland stated that Norway intends to be a long-term supplier of oil and gas to Europe and needs more discoveries, especially in frontier regions, to maintain value and jobs. Norway is initiating its 26th oil and gas licensing round in unexplored frontier areas to increase exploration and resources, aiming to counter an anticipated decline in production from the early 2030s. Norway has started to plan its 26th oil and gas licensing round in little explored frontier areas as it looks to boost exploration and resources to stem an expected decline in production from the early 2030s. Norways Energy Ministry has launched work on announcing the new licensing round for the unexplored areas soon, Energy Minister Terje Aasland has said. Norway wants to be a long-term supplier of oil and gas to Europe, while the Norwegian continental shelf will continue to create value and jobs for our country, Aasland said. If Norway is to deliver on this commitment, companies must make more oil and gas discoveries and boost exploration, including in frontier regions, the minister added. Norway, unlike the UK, strongly supports oil and gas development and exploration for undiscovered resources on its shelf. In recent years, oil and gas operators on the Norwegian shelf have advanced infrastructure-led exploration which allows them to fast-track the development of newly-discovered resources via tie-ins to nearby infrastructure. However, further exploration efforts and new discoveries would be crucial to slowing the expected decline in Norways oil and gas production in the 2030s, the Norwegian authorities have said. Frontier areas could be the answer to adding more resources as companies continue to search for the next elephant field in Norwegian waters. Norway expects its oil liquids production to rise by 5.2% in 2025 from 2024, also thanks to the start-up of the Johan Castberg oilfield in the Barents Sea in the Arctic earlier this year. Norway has become the largest supplier of pipeline natural gas to Europe, replacing Russia in 2022, and boasts the biggest sovereign wealth fund in the world thanks to revenues from oil and gas. Norway also has the highest per-capita ownership of electric cars and a most ambitious transition state. Even so, Norway has acknowledged it cannot give up oil and gas anytime soon. By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com In one of his more controversial decisions last week, President Trump said the U.S. would impose an additional 25% on many Indian importsbecause of Indias imports of Russian crude oil. The news lifted oil prices, and Indian refiners suspended their Russian oil orders. But the bigger picture shows India at a crossroads not dissimilar to that of the EU: a choice between cheap and expensive energy with all that either option entails. On the face of it, the choice is pretty simple, as laid out by the Economic Times in an article that noted India exported $87 billion worth of goods to the United States while its oil import savings from Russian crude stood at a much smaller $3.8 billion. The United States is Indias largest trade partner. The article quoted INGs commodity analysts head Warren Patterson as saying that If you look at the size of Indias trade with the US, and look at how much savings India gets from buying Russian crude, its pretty clear what India would do. Are you going to risk up to $87 billion worth of exports to the US in order to save a few billion from oil discounts? Related: Brazils Oil Giant Sacrifices Payouts to Fund $111 Billion Expansion Judging by the reaction of New Delhi to Trumps tariff announcement, they are willing to risk up to $87 billion in exports. Of course, this may change, but right now the Indian government is signaling it will not take orders from a foreign entity on where to buy its oil from. This is because it is not just a few billion from oil discounts. It is a matter of necessity to keep those export goods competitiveby buying cheap energy instead of expensive alternatives. It appears that the savings India makes by buying discounted Russian crude are not such a meagre sum. According to another recent Economic Times report that cites data from the State Bank of India, the countrys oil import bill could swell by $9 billion this fiscal year and by another $11 billion in the next fiscal year. This is still substantially lower than the $80-billion U.S. export bill for 2024, per data from the International Monetary Fund cited by Reuters Gavin Maguire. But if India stops buying Russian crude, international prices will spike and so will Indias oil import billcompromising its energy security in the financial aspect. Joe Biden went to India after the invasion of Ukraine and begged them to take Russian oil, the Indians hardly imported any Russian oil, and they begged India, please take the oil, so that crude prices would remain low, and they did. Now were flipping around and saying, why are you taking all this oil, the president of Rapidan Energy Group, Bob McNally, told CNBC recently in what is a timely reminder of the literal global nature of oil markets and prices. If India should decide to comply with President Trumps latest threat, around 1.7 million barrels daily of Russian crude would effectively be removed from the market. This is the average rate of imports into India, for which there is no alternative buyer of comparable size. It may seem that this is a win for the U.S. and Europe in their sanction push that aims to decimate Russias energy export income, but it will boost oil pricesand Trump likes oil prices lower rather than higher. So do Indian refiners, which means they will not be scrambling to get their hands on every last available U.S. crude cargo. They will, according to analysts, switch back to Middle Eastern oil instead, as they did before they started importing Russian crude. This is what Reuters Maguire suggested in his recent column on the topic, and it is the most likely scenario in light of Indias still overwhelming reliance on imports when it comes to securing the crude oil it needs, at over 85%. Total Russian oil export losses could top 2 million barrels daily if Trump decides to go through with his secondary tariffs on all Russian oil importers. That would likely prompt Turkey to stop buying Russian crude, The Nationals Robin Mills wrote earlier today, bringing the total level of oil trade disruption to over 2 million bpd. Yet this is about the same amount that OPEC+ is currently returning to market, so all should be well. Or so it seems. Because OPEC+ is not returning all the barrels it said it would for reasons related to capacity constraints. Whats more, the loss of discount Russian oil would mean switching to costlier alternatives for the countries that choose to make the switch. That sounds like a pretty bullish scenario for oilPresident Trump would hardly like it given his fondness for lower oil prices. Incidentally, if Indian exports become too expensive for their U.S. buyers, those buyers would have to look for cheaper alternatives elsewhere. That would be quite a challenge. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Washington appeared to be preparing Kyiv and Moscow for major compromises to end the long, bloody war ahead of a face-to-face meeting of the US and Russian presidents, with US Vice President JD Vance warning that any peace deal will likely leave both sides "unhappy." "It's not going to make anybody super happy. Both the Russians and the Ukrainians, probably, at the end of the day, are going to be unhappy with it," Vance said in a Fox News interview broadcast on August 10. The remarks came ahead of a scheduled August 15 meeting in Alaska between US President Donald Trump and Russias Vladimir Putin, a session that will mark a pause in the long international isolation of the Kremlin leader since he launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The 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. In recent days, Trump has suggested that any resolution to the war could include "swapping of territories." Were going to get some back, and were 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 well be talking about that either later, or tomorrow. Those remarks elicited vocal pushbacks from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Kyiv's European allies, who have expressed strong backing for Ukraine's security and territorial integrity. "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," Zelenskyy said in a social media post on August 10. He added that Kyiv values and fully supports the statement of backing from its Western allies. Zelenskyy, in a video address released earlier, 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. In his nightly address on August 10, Zelenskyy said, "We understand Russia's intention to try to deceive America -- we will not allow this." European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also expressed demands that any deal between Washington and Moscow to end the war 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 Europes security," Kallas said. International law is clear: All temporarily occupied territories belong to Ukraine, Kallas said. Kallas warned that a deal must not provide a springboard for further Russian aggression against Ukraine, the transatlantic alliance and Europe. Kallas said she will convene a meeting of European foreign ministers on August 11 to discuss next steps. Ukraine said that Foreign Minister Andriy will attend the session. European leaders 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. A statement on August 9 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. In another statement released by Kyiv's Western allies on August 10, the Nordic-Baltic 8 group voiced its support for Ukraine and said peace could only be brought about through increased pressure on Russia to stop its "unlawful" war. The leaders of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden stated they "reaffirm the principle that international borders must not be changed by force." 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, the report said. The WSJ report could not immediately be confirmed. Reuters quoted a European official as saying an alternative plan had been presented to Vance but did not provide details. 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. Forced To Cede Territory? 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's armed forces and [allied]support for Ukraine," the official added. Zelenskyy has not been invited to the Alaska summit, although he has said he is ready to meet Putin face-to-face. Putin has regularly rejected meeting Zelenskyy. US media reports suggested that Trump was considering inviting Zelenskyy to Alaska, although some White House sources have played down the reports and there is no indication how Putin would react to such a move. Vance, in his Fox News interview, said Trump has persuaded Putin to meet with Zelenskyy and that a future meeting is being planned, although no specifics were given. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told ABC News that "when it comes to full-scale negotiations...It will be about territory." "It will be, of course, about security guarantees, but also about the absolute need to acknowledge that Ukraine decides on its own future, that Ukraine has to be a sovereign nation, deciding on its own geopolitical future -- of course having no limitations to its own military troop levels," Rutte said. Ceding national territory to Russia would be a perilous political decision for Zelenskyy. At the same time, much of the Ukrainian population is "tired" of war, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. "Everyone in our state, in our country, is tired of this war," the influential figure said. "Unfortunately, we have paid a huge price for this war: The lives of our patriots, our soldiers, our citizens. Hundreds of cities have been destroyed. A large part of Ukraine is occupied by Russia," he added. By RFE/RL More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Summer vacation experience class of Liangping New Year Woodblock Prints opens in Chongqing Xinhua) 08:50, August 11, 2025 Xu Jiahui, a representative inheritor of Liangping New Year Woodblock Prints, demonstrates the engraving process to students at his workshop in Liangping District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Aug. 10, 2025. Hanging New Year pictures is one of the folk activities for Chinese people to celebrate the Spring Festival. A summer vacation experience class of Liangping New Year Woodblock Prints, a national intangible cultural heritage item, opened here on Sunday. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) Xu Jiahui (C), a representative inheritor of Liangping New Year Woodblock Prints, demonstrates coloring to students at his workshop in Liangping District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Aug. 10, 2025. Hanging New Year pictures is one of the folk activities for Chinese people to celebrate the Spring Festival. A summer vacation experience class of Liangping New Year Woodblock Prints, a national intangible cultural heritage item, opened here on Sunday. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) Xu Jiahui (2nd L), a representative inheritor of Liangping New Year Woodblock Prints, introduces this craft to students at his workshop in Liangping District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Aug. 10, 2025. Hanging New Year pictures is one of the folk activities for Chinese people to celebrate the Spring Festival. A summer vacation experience class of Liangping New Year Woodblock Prints, a national intangible cultural heritage item, opened here on Sunday. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) Xu Jiahui, a representative inheritor of Liangping New Year Woodblock Prints, executes the facial rendering process of a woodblock painting at his workshop in Liangping District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, Aug. 10, 2025. Hanging New Year pictures is one of the folk activities for Chinese people to celebrate the Spring Festival. A summer vacation experience class of Liangping New Year Woodblock Prints, a national intangible cultural heritage item, opened here on Sunday. (Xinhua/Tang Yi) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Azerbaijan has allocated $2 million to help Ukraine restore energy infrastructure damaged in recent Russian missile and drone attacks, President Ilham Aliyev announced Monday. The funds, drawn from the presidents reserve, will be transferred to the Ministry of Energy for the purchase and delivery of Azerbaijani-made electrical equipment, according to APA News Agency. The decision follows a phone call between Aliyev and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday, during which both leaders condemned recent Russian strikes on a SOCAR-operated oil depot in southern Ukraine and a gas compressor station used to transport Azerbaijani gas, Trend News Agency reported. Aliyev and Zelensky affirmed that the attacks would not disrupt bilateral energy cooperation. Russian Shahed drones last week targeted a Transbalkan pipeline pumping and metering facility near the Ukraine-Romania border, through which Kyiv imported a trial shipment of gas sourced from Azerbaijan. The strike caused a fire visible from Romania, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine. Despite the attack, imports via the facility have held steady at about 425,000 cubic meters per day since early August, according to data from the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG). The strikes also mark an escalation in tensions between Baku and Moscow. Relations have been strained since December, when Azerbaijan accused Russian forces of downing one of its civilian aircraft near Grozny, a claim Moscow denied. More recently, Azerbaijani nationals died in police custody in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, further souring ties. The targeted Transbalkan pipeline facility had only recently handled Ukraines first test delivery of Azerbaijani gas under a new arrangement with Romania and Moldova, according to Oilprice.com. That shipment, completed in early August, was seen as a milestone in Kyivs effort to diversify supply away from Russian sources. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com CATL, the worlds largest maker of lithium-ion batteries for electric cars, has suspended operations at one of the biggest lithium mines in the country, sparking a price jump for lithium and lithium miners stocks. The suspension, as reported by Bloomberg today, is part of the Chinese governments efforts to solve a problem with overcapacity across industries that has pushed profits down and priced weaker players out of the market. The suspension of operations at the Jianxiawo mine in the Jiangxi province is set to last for at least three months, unnamed sources told Bloomberg, giving rise to hopes that some of the overcapacity in EV-related industries would be reduced, boosting profitability. Indeed, Bloomberg again reported today that the shares of lithium mining companies listed in Australia jumped by double digits in response to the news on hopes that this will not be the only suspension of lithium mines in China as EV adoption rates globally prove to be slower than anticipated. The report noted that lithium prices had hit an all-time high in 2022 before shedding as much as 90% as the combination of subsidies and pending EV mandates across some key markets, such as Europe, failed to spur mass adoption of electric vehicles. This forced lithium miners to revise their expansion plans and cut spending. The fierce competition among EV and battery manufacturers in China for state-based incentives has led to a sharp decline in EV and battery prices, helping scale deployment, but has led to massive overcapacity in batteries, research firm Rhodium Group said in a report in June. Today, Chinas battery manufacturing capacity is two times the demand in China and 1.2 times global demand, according to Rhodium Group. The country faces similar overcapacity in wind and solar manufacturing, despite the frantic expansion of wind and solar installations both in China and abroad. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com A Sunday drone attack on the Saratov refinery, owned by Russias oil giant Rosneft, prompted the facility to halt the intake of crude oil, a source with knowledge of the matter told Bloomberg on Monday. The Saratov Refinery in the Volga region has the capacity to process 140,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude, but it has now been forced offline due to Ukrainian drone strikes. The Saratov refinery, which has been part of Rosneft since 2013, typically processes Russias flagship Urals crude oil and Saratovskoye field crude oil from the pipeline, as well as crude oil from the Orenburg fields shipped by rail. The refinery has become the third Russian crude processing facility to have been damaged by Ukrainian drone strikes so far in August. The halt to three major refineries would mean that Russia will see lower domestic gasoline and diesel supply while it will have more crude available for export as it doesnt have too much storage for the unprocessed crude. Last week, reports emerged that Russia is preparing to sharply increase crude oil exports this month after Ukrainian drone strikes disabled two major refineries, prompting a shift toward western port shipments. Crude shipments from Russias western ports could increase to 2 million bpd in August, about 200,000 bpd more than previously planned, sources told Reuters last week. Spot traders have reportedly started locking in Aframax tankers to handle the sudden increase, as onshore refining options collapse and terminal inventories build. Ukraine and Russia continue to exchange strikes and fire ahead of the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin planned for Friday in Alaska. Russias demands include the Ukrainian government ceding eastern provinces, which it has indicated it would not agree to, and this casts doubts over the success of the Trump-Putin talks, INGs commodity analysts Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey wrote in a Monday note. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Guyanas oil producing capacity has just jumped to 900,000 barrels per day (bpd) after ExxonMobil launched production from Yellowtail, the fourth oil development in Guyanas prolific offshore Stabroek block. Exxon and partners have found more than 11 billion oil equivalent barrels in the Stabroek block, where production was already above 660,000 bpd before the start of production at Yellowtail. By 2030, ExxonMobil expects to have total production capacity of 1.7 million oil equivalent barrels per day from eight developments offshore Guyana. The ONE GUYANA floating production storage and offloading vessel at Yellowtail is the largest FPSO on the Stabroek block to date with an initial annual average production of 250,000 bopd and a storage capacity of two million barrels. Oil produced from the FPSO will be marketed as Golden Arrowhead crude. The start of production at Yellowtail shows Exxons commitment to these advantaged barrels in the prolific Stabroek block. The other U.S. supermajor, Chevron, now also has access to Guyanas huge oil reserves after Chevron last month completed the acquisition of Hess Corporation, Exxons partner in the Stabroek block with a 30% interest. Chevrons deal was finalized after a more than a year-long arbitration battle initiated by Exxon, which challenged the Chevron-Hess deal, claiming it had a right of first refusal for Hesss stake under the terms of a joint operating agreement (JOA) for the Stabroek block. Hess and Chevron claimed the JOA doesnt apply to a case of a proposed full corporate merger. Exxon is the operator of the Stabroek block with a 45% stake, and Chinas state firm CNOOC has the remaining 25% stake. Guyanas offshore oil field is a top-performing asset with the potential to yield even more barrels and billions of U.S. dollars for the projects partners. Both Chevron and Exxon will benefit from Stabroek even at relatively lower oil prices, because the Guyana block is estimated to have a breakeven oil price of about $30 per barrel. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Germanys federal network agency is investigating a potential manipulation on the domestic natural gas market with costs incurred for conversion of one type of natural gas to another, the regulator told Bloomberg on Monday. Germany converts some of its gas supply as the types of gas from its biggest providers, Norway and the Netherlands, differ and need to be converted in some German regions so that the pipelines and appliances running on gas can function safely. The costs for the conversion are being managed by market operator Trading Hub Europe GmbH (THE), which has seen unusual nomination behavior by some balancing group managers, it has said. This unusual behavior of gas nominations could have been used to manipulate the market and conversion costs, according to the authorities, who are looking in particular at up to $70 million (60 million euros) in conversion costs incurred between the middle of May and the middle of June this year. The regulator is investigating balancing managers, which are usually energy suppliers. If the conversion costs rise, the regulator may raise the so-called conversion levy currently at zero in the German gas bills and this would increase energy costs for consumers. Last week, the German government moved to abolish another levy thats been weighing on consumer bills. The government backed a bill to abolish the so-called gas storage levy, which was intended to cover the higher cost of gas supply after Russian deliveries via pipeline to Germany ended. All consumers of gas, including households, have had to pay an additional levy, which goes to support Germanys gas importing companies that were struggling with a lack of Russian gas and sky-high prices of non-Russian alternatives in 2022 and early 2023. The German government is now ready to ditch the gas levy and estimates that the move would mean a total of $3.96 billion (3.4 billion euros) in savings on energy bills, or up to $70 per household per year. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com India could see spikes in power prices in the coming weeks as supply will be constrained and procurement costs will rise with the shutdown of a unit at the countrys largest nuclear power plant for maintenance. India has now shut the 1-GW Unit 1 at the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in the southern state of Tamil Nadu, Reuters quoted a notice by the Central Electricity Authority. The maintenance is expected to last just over two months, potentially tightening the supply of electricity in southern India and leading to higher supply costs. The Tamil Nadu Distribution and Generation Company may need to use additional supply on the power market if demand outstrips supply, a senior official at the state company told Reuters. The neighboring state of Kerala, west of Tamil Nadu, has said that its own peak-hour deficit of around 600 MW in August 2025 may worsen due to the scheduled refuelling outage of the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu. The refuelling of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant may also results in increase of electricity demand from neighbouring states like Tamil Nadu, who may enter the market, leading to further price spikes and constrained availability, the Kerala State Electricity Board Limited (KSEBL) said in a petition in July with the Kerala State Electricity Regulatory Commission (KSERC). KSEBL was seeking approval to enter into short-term power procurement deals for the peak hours of August 2025 for meeting energy shortage. The Kerala company was seeking permission to enter short-term procurement deals with TATA Power Trading Company Limited and Greenko Energies Private Limited for the peak power procurement this month. The Kerala Electricity Regulatory Commission allowed the short-term emergency power deals, but warned that tariffs could spike. Currently, India relies on coal to meet more than half of its power demand, but it plans to boost its nuclear power-generating capacity from 9 GW now to as much as 100 GW by 2047. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Crude oil prices extended their losing streak from last month, opening lower today on expectations that the Friday meeting between the presidents of Russia and the United States would yield a deal resulting in more oil supply. At the time of writing, Brent crude was trading at $66.24 per barrel, with West Texas Intermediate at $63.43 per barrel, after booking a drop of some 4% last week, after the deadline President Trump had set for Russia to end the war in the Ukraine passed and no stricter sanctions were effected as threatened, INGs commodity analysts said. Russias demands include the Ukrainian government ceding eastern provinces, which it has indicated it would not agree to, and this casts doubts over the success of the Trump-Putin talks, Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey noted. If we do see some level of de-escalation, it would remove sanction risk from the oil market. This would likely drive prices lower, given the bearish fundamentals, the analysts added. Bloomberg cited unnamed sources as saying the deal would indeed likely include recognizing the Donbass as Russian and the U.S. side was working to convince the Ukrainians and their European backers to accept it. This, however, was unlikely, the Bloomberg sources said, making any successful deal to end the hostilities highly uncertain. This, in turn, means the upside potential for oil prices remains rather intact. If peace talks falter and the conflict drags on, the market could quickly pivot to a bullish stance, potentially triggering a sharp rally in oil prices, Reuters quoted the founder of Indian research firm SS WealthStreet, Sugandha Sachdeva, as saying. Meanwhile, Trumps tariffs on a host of trade partners continue to pressure oil prices due to their expected negative effect on overall economic activity in much of the world, according to analysts. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com A sanctioned Dutch oil trader at the center of a dispute involving allegations of CIA ties, Russian crude shipments, and multimillion-dollar fraud has sued a prominent U.S. corporate intelligence firm for libel and slander - the latest twist in a saga that has captivated the commodities world. As reported by the Financial Times, Niels Troost - the only European trader sanctioned for dealing in Russian oil - filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against the Arkin Group, a New York-based corporate intelligence consultancy founded by CIA veteran Jack Devine. Troost accuses the firm of working with actual malice to smear him on behalf of his former business partner, commodities investor Gaurav Srivastava. Troost alleges that Srivastava falsely presented himself as a covert CIA operative who could secure U.S. Treasury licenses enabling legal Russian oil trades after Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Troost claims that this ruse led him to continue trading with Russia above the G7 price cap and ultimately to EU and UK sanctions. In an earlier lawsuit against the U.S.-based law firm that represented Troost's company, Troost outlined how he had allegedly been conned into transferring 50% of his company to Srivastava based on the latter's relations with the CIA. The current lawsuit reportedly includes more than 500 pages of evidence, including transcripts, authenticated audio recordings, and sworn affidavits. Among the recordings are alleged conversations in which Srivastava discusses Non-Official Cover intelligence work, claims to have spoken with CIA Director Bill Burns, and directly references trading oil from Russia, Iran, and Venezuela contingent on U.S. licensing. The Arkin Group, along with managing director Victoria Kataoka, is accused of joining Srivastava in an unrelenting smear campaign against Troost, portraying him publicly as the architect of a disinformation operation. Troosts legal filing claims this narrative was amplified by pay-to-play media. Srivastava has consistently denied posing as a CIA operative or engaging in illegal oil trading, calling earlier allegations fiction. Devine, for his part, said he looked forward to the truth emerging in court and suggested the case would expose the extent of Troosts ties to the Russian government. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Saudi Arabia will ship lower volumes of its crude to China next month, down from a two-year-high this month, after the Kingdom raised its September prices to Asia for a second consecutive month, Reuters reported on Monday, quoting trade sources at Chinese refiners. Saudi Arabia, the worlds biggest crude oil exporter, is expected to deliver about 43 million barrels of crude to China in September, according to a Reuters estimate of allocations for refiners. This is equal to 1.43 million bpd of Saudi shipments to the worlds largest crude oil importer next month, down from an estimated 1.65 million bpd which Saudi Aramco has allocated to Chinese refiners for August. Sinopec, the biggest refiner in Asia, and its Fujian Refinery joint venture with Saudi Aramco, are among refiners that plan to reduce their intake of Saudi crude in September, according to Reuters sources. The lower expected shipments would come as Saudi Aramco last week raised the official selling prices (OSPs) for its crude loading for Asia in September as it bets on robust demand. The flagship Saudi grade Arab Light will sell in Asia next month at a premium of $3.20 per barrel above the Oman/Dubai average, the Middle East benchmark, off which shipments to Asia are priced. The hike is $1.00 a barrel above the August price, as well as the second consecutive rise in the price of Arab Light loading for Asia. Saudi Arabia also lifted the official selling prices (OSPs) for the other grades, Arab Extra Light, Arab Medium, and Arab Heavy, by between $0.70 and $1.20 per barrel above benchmarks. The second consecutive increase in prices suggests that Saudi Arabia expect continued robust demand in its key exporting region, Asia, in the coming weeks. A potential reduction of Russian supply to India, due to the new tariffs, could also boost the demand for Saudi and other Middle Eastern crude shipments to Asia next month and going forward. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Syrias caretaker government is moving to restore the Kirkuk-Baniyas oil pipeline with Iraq, a strategic corridor that had the capacity to move up to 300,000 barrels per day to Syrias Mediterranean coast before war and sanctions shut it down in the early 2000s. Syrian Energy Minister Mohammed al-Bashir will travel to Baghdad in the coming days to discuss rehabilitation plans, according to Iraqinews.com. For Damascus, reconnecting to Iraqs oil network could provide critical transit revenues, reduce reliance on costly maritime imports, and restore its position as a regional energy hub. For Baghdad, reopening the route would offer an alternative export outlet to Europe, bypassing chokepoints in the Strait of Hormuz and diversifying away from Turkey-dependent pipelines, as highlighted by Shafaq News. The proposal comes as post-Assad Syria navigates a shifting geopolitical landscape. Regional powers, including Turkey, Iran, and Gulf states, are recalibrating their strategies, while Western capitals weigh how to engage without ceding influence to rivals. Analysts told the Yetkin Report that the Kirkuk-Baniyas revival could weaken Ankaras leverage over Iraqi exports and reshape Mediterranean energy flows. The revival of the Kirkuk-Baniyas could also have far-reaching consequences for Baghdads relations with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in northern Iraq. For over two years, northern exports have been hampered by the shutdown of the Iraq-Turkey pipeline to Ceyhan, a route that runs through territory controlled by the KRG. A functioning Baniyas route would give Baghdad a northern export corridor that bypasses both KRG-controlled infrastructure and Turkish territory. Analysts note that this could diminish Erbils bargaining power in budget talks and shift Iraqs export calculus toward Syrian cooperation. The change could also heighten tensions if Baghdad attempts to channel crude from disputed fields in Kirkuk and Nineveh through Syria without KRG consent. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com New York, US (PANA) - Its essential to work towards a two-State solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict as the international community addresses the reality of starvation on the ground in Gaza, the Security Council heard on Sunday The Texas General Land Office (GLO) has formally objected to a plan by Pilot Water Solutions LLC to drill three new saltwater disposal wells in the Permian Basin, warning the project could contaminate state-owned crude reserves in North Americas top oil field, according to the Dallas Morning News. Founded in 1836, the GLO manages 13 million acres of state land and generates billions of dollars for Texas public schools through oil and gas leasing. It argues the proposed disposal sites in Loving County near the New Mexico border pose significant risk to mineral interests under its control. Bloomberg reports that ConocoPhillips, one of the Permians largest producers, has joined the opposition, noting that in the area near the proposed wells it is producing less than 40% of expected oil volumes while generating nearly twice the forecast water output. For every barrel of oil pumped in the Permian, as many as five barrels of wastewater are produced, presenting a growing operational and environmental challenge. Reuters notes that disposal capacity is under mounting strain, with costs climbing and injection-related earthquakes drawing regulatory scrutiny. The Railroad Commission of Texas will hold a hearing later this month to assess the Pilot Water Solutions proposal. State officials are weighing contamination risks alongside concerns about induced seismicity linked to high-volume wastewater injection. Environmental groups and local ranchers have long warned about the hazards of underground wastewater disposal, but record Permian output has made the problem more acute. The GLOs opposition is the first real indication we are seeing that water management is no longer just a peripheral environmental issue, but is now a direct threat to oil production economics in the nations most prolific basin. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Via Metal Miner The Copper Monthly Metals Index (MMI) moved sideways, rising 1.18% from July to August. This puts the price of copper today just slightly above its April lows. Comex Copper Prices Plummet After Tariff Surprise July proved the most volatile month yet for Comex copper prices. As market surprises often do, the White Houses decision to water down copper tariffs to affect copper products saw the indexs prices plummet in the final days of the month. Markets first began to price in potential tariffs around the start of the year. In late February, rumors hinted at copper duties and the eventual investigation into copper imports, which most expected would result in tariffs on all forms of copper (refined copper, copper input materials and copper products). This proved exceptionally bullish for the Comex contract, causing Comex and LME prices to bifurcate. In July, Trump not only confirmed tariffs but also set the expected duty rate at 50% with an effective date of August 1. This is both higher and earlier than most anticipated. Exemption Relief Follows Tariffs Panic The news added more fuel to Comex copper prices, which quickly spiked far past the previous all-time high seen in May of 2024 as buyers rushed to secure material within the short buying window. The price of copper eventually peaked on July 25 at $12,790 per metric ton, a 41.74% increase from where the metal started the year. By comparison, LME prices rose by a more reasonable 11.55% during that same period. Only days later, the bull trend was disrupted when refined copper and copper input materials were exempted from duties. In a matter of days, prices dropped 24.56% from their peak, essentially ending the staggering split between Comex and LME prices. Investors Post Big Losses on Copper Price Drop Traders made significant profits throughout the year as they took advantage of the widening arbitrage. Some, including ever-bullish Goldman Sachs, assumed the Comex uptrend would continue post-tariffs as U.S. duties, combined with strong fundamentals, would offer steady support to prices. This resulted in a major mea culpa after the firm advised clients to go long on copper a day prior to the sharp sell-off. There were more than a few reasons to be skeptical that the promised copper duties would last. As MetalMiner noted in its previous Copper MMI, Since it has yet to be formally announced, theres also a chance the current 50% duty could change. If the U.S. decides to lower it, markets would have to unravel their expectations, which would mean a downside risk for prices. The U.S. requires copper imports to meet demand. There is no way to bridge that gap from either a refined or raw material perspective. According to the USGS, imports accounted for 45% of U.S. copper consumption in 2024. From discovery, new mines can take over two decades to begin production, depending on regulations. Beyond that, mining is often met with environmental concerns, particularly as it relates to capturing and controlling wastewater. Some Nations Seek Exemptions It seemed plausible to assume that, should copper duties occur, at least some countries would be granted exemptions. Even with the significant build-up in Comex copper stocks, ongoing electrification efforts will require significant volumes of copper, particularly as data centers are anticipated to see substantial growth in the coming years. Chile, the largest refined copper supplier to the U.S., accounted for around 65% of imports between 2020 and 2023. Unsurprisingly, the country reportedly requested exemptions as part of its ongoing trade talks with the U.S. Source: MacroMicro Source: Grand View Research Meanwhile, copper products were not spared from 50% tariffs. The Federal Register recently released a complete list of affected products, which Bloomberg estimates will impact over $15 billion worth of imports. This will incentivize buyers to source domestically and keep the import supply at bay. As suppliers spent most of the year preparing for duties, there appears to be no immediate shortage concerns. Additionally, the newly implemented duties will be offset by more reasonably priced Comex copper prices, which reflect the price of refined material. Make every data dollar count. MetalMiner Select allows you to stop paying for unnecessary price points, focusing your investment on data that drives informed purchasing decisions. White House Still Considering Tariffs While volatility has been tamed for now, the door remains open for broader tariffs down the road. Days after the White House shocked markets with the pared-down tariff, it released findings from the investigation into copper imports from the Secretary of Commerce. The July 30th announcement noted, In light of these findings, the Secretary recommended a range of actions to adjust the imports of copper so that such imports will not threaten to impair national security. For example, the Secretary recommended an immediate universal 30% import duty on semi-finished copper products and intensive copper derivative products. The Secretary also recommended a phased universal tariff on refined copper of 15% starting in 2027 and 30% starting in 2028. The Secretary further recommended a domestic sales requirement for copper input materials starting at 25% in 2027, a domestic sales requirement of 25% for high-quality copper scrap and export controls for high-quality copper scrap. The Price of Copper Today and in the Future It remains to be seen whether any of these recommendations will come to fruition. The proposed tariff rates on refined copper sit far beneath the 50% duty threatened, but based on the time frame, would fall within President Trumps final term in office. This may help maintain and potentially partially rebuild the Comex over LME premium, as their respective forward curves show a rising arbitrage between the two contracts. Traders and investors are likely to remain cautious considering the recent bloodbath, especially as the market would be given years to price in the changes. Meanwhile, this is plenty of time for the White House to change its opinion once again. Biggest Copper Price Moves Read whats next for copper prices in this months Monthly Metals Outlook. The report provides both short-term and long-term forecasts plus buying strategies, giving you the edge to navigate market volatility and maximize cost savings. See a free sample report. U.S. copper producer prices for grades 110 and 122 saw the largest increases of the overall index, jumping 10.82% to $6.66 per pound as of August 1. U.S. copper producer prices for grade 102 rose by a similar 10.38% to $6.91 per pound. Korean copper strip prices moved sideways, with a 2.76% increase to $11.97 per kilogram. Meanwhile, Chinese copper wire prices slide 2.83% to $10,879 per metric ton. Indian primary cash copper prices fell 3.84% to $10.10 per kilogram. By Metal Miner More Top Reads From Oilprice.com Spec. Cameron S. Henley, 10th Support Group, engages with Okinawan citizens during a recent Asakatsu engagement between 10th Support Group Soldiers and locals in Yomitan, Okinawa. (Stephen Satkowski, 10th Support Group) Cups of steaming coffee, the hum of friendly chatter, and bursts of laughter fill a cozy Okinawan cafe twice a month as locals and members of the American military gather for Asakatsu, a lively morning language exchange whose name literally means morning activity. More than just a meeting, its a warm, caffeinated bridge connecting people, cultures, and stories through the simple joy of conversation. If you want to learn the Japanese language, dive into the culture, and just about anything else Okinawa has to offer, this is a great place to start that conversation, said Maj. (CH) Fortune Isaiah Aisabokhae of the 10th Support Group. The American Consulate in Naha first brewed up the idea back in 2010, aiming to create a space where Okinawans eager to learn English could meet Americans stationed on the island. Over the years, the tradition has flourished, now involving multiple service branches, with the 10th Support Group proudly supporting the effort for the past four years. The program was launched by the U.S. Consulate Naha in 2010 to connect Americans from the bases with local residents eager to learn English, explained Dawn Suni, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Consulate General Naha. Through regular interactions, Okinawan residents can get to know Americans on a personal level, fostering friendship and mutual understanding. At the same time, Americans gain firsthand experience of Okinawan culture and perspectives. These exchanges not only nurture lasting friendships but also strengthen the ties between the United States and Okinawa. The gatherings, held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, draw a small but enthusiastic crowd, usually a dozen or so Japanese locals and a handful of military participants. Dates and locations are announced on the Consulates Instagram page, but the magic happens in personwhere language barriers dissolve over cappuccinos and shared laughter. I love to speak English, said Keiichi Yasunaga, a high school student and JapanU.S. exchange student ambassador. I feel like speaking English with friends while enjoying a good drink is the best way to start the day. Its such a cozy, uplifting time. Yasunaga, who dreams of becoming a diplomat, already spent a year abroad in Denmark and hopes that gatherings like these will sharpen his language skills. English is the biggest tool for communication in the world, he said with conviction. Local businesses have embraced the effort as well. Asakatsu brings people together beyond borders, said Kunihiro Matsuba, owner of Pine Leaves coffee shop, one of the events welcoming hosts. Were honored to offer a space where trust and warm connections can begin to grow. For the 10th Support Group, Asakatsu is one of many ways they invest in their relationship with the Okinawan community. Over the years, theyve volunteered in schools, joined cultural festivals, and sought out opportunities to engage with locals on their own turf. For me, these language exchanges are one of the most meaningful ways we connect with our Okinawan neighbors, said Col. Torrance G. Cleveland, commander of the 10th Support Group. Its not just about improving language skillsits about showing respect, learning the culture firsthand, and strengthening the partnerships we deeply value. Capt. Boris Oros says the sessions are a refreshing break from routine and an invaluable tool for real-world learning. These exchanges provide a low-pressure environment to use a language, beyond textbook learning, Oros said. You pick up nuances, customs, and perspectives you wont find in a classroom. For Specialist Cameron S. Henley, Asakatsu is as much about personal growth as it is about language. It gets me out of my comfort zone and helps me open up more, Henley said. Ive always been shy, but the locals make it easier than I ever imagined. What began as a modest effort to bridge a communication gap has grown into something deeper, a shared space for cultural understanding, mutual respect, and genuine human connection. Here, participants arent just trading vocabulary; theyre exchanging perspectives, traditions, and pieces of their daily lives. In a way, Asakatsu reflects the broader spirit of the U.S.Japan alliance: relationships built not in boardrooms or official ceremonies, but in the everyday moments, over coffee, conversation, and the courage to connect. For the 10th Support Group, its a reminder that living in a host nation means more than working side by side, it means showing up, listening, and learning. And sometimes, it all starts with a cup of coffee. A Deeper Dive into Apache Iceberg V3: How New Designs Are Solving Core Data Lake Challenges The Next Chapter for Apache Iceberg: Welcoming the Iceberg V3 Spec by Talat Uyarer , BigQuery Managed Iceberg & Shane Glass , Google Open Source Programs Office The data community has long grappled with the challenge of how to bring database-like agility to petabyte-scale datasets stored in open cloud storage. The trade-off has often been between the scalability of data lakes and the performance and ease-of-use of traditional data warehouses. Executing fine-grained updates or evolving table schemas on massive tables often required slow, expensive, and disruptive operations. The Apache Iceberg project is taking on this challenge. Early versions introduced a revolutionary metadata layer that brought reliability and ACID transactions to data lakes. However, certain operations still presented performance bottlenecks at scale. With the ratification of the V3 specification, the Apache Iceberg community has introduced new designs that directly address these core issues. These advancements represent a significant leap forward in the mission to build an open and high-performance data lakehouse architecture. Let's explore the technical details of these solutions. More Efficient Row-Level Transactions with Deletion Vectors A primary challenge for data lakes has been handling row-level deletes efficiently. Previous approaches, like positional delete files, were a clever solution but could lead to performance degradation at query time when a reader had to reconcile many small delete files against large data files. The Iceberg V3 spec introduces binary deletion vectors, a more performant and scalable architecture. The core idea is to attach a bitmap to each data file, where each bit corresponds to a row, marking it as deleted or not. When a query engine reads a data file, it also reads its corresponding deletion vector. As it scans rows, it can check the bitmap with minimal overhead and skip rows marked for deletion. This design is made exceptionally efficient through the use of Roaring bitmaps. This data structure is ideal for this task because it can compress sparse sets of integerslike the positions of deleted rowsinto a tiny footprint. The practical difference is profound: Previous Model (Positional Deletes): A query might involve reading a central log of deletes, like deletes.avro , containing tuples of (file_path, row_position) . A query might involve reading a central log of deletes, like , containing tuples of . V3 Model (Deletion Vectors): Each data file (e.g., file_A.parquet ) is paired with a small, efficient sidecar file (e.g., file_A.puffin ) containing a Roaring bitmap of its deleted rows. This change localizes delete information, streamlines the read path, and dramatically improves the performance of workloads that rely on frequent Change Data Capture (CDC) or row-level updates. Simplified Schema Evolution with Default Column Values Another common operational hurdle in managing large tables has been schema evolution. Adding a column to a table with billions of rows traditionally required a "backfill"a costly and time-consuming job to rewrite all existing data files to add the new column. Iceberg V3 eliminates this friction with default column values. This feature allows a default value to be specified directly in the table's metadata when a column is added. ALTER TABLE events ADD COLUMN version INT DEFAULT 1 ; This operation is instantaneous because it only modifies metadata. No data files are touched. When a query engine encounters an older data file without the version column, it consults the table schema, finds the default value, and seamlessly populates it in the query results on the fly. This simple but powerful mechanism makes schema evolution a fast, non-disruptive operation, allowing data models to evolve quickly. Improved Query Engine Compatibility with Enhanced Data Types and Lineage Beyond these headline features, V3 broadens the capabilities of Iceberg to support more advanced use cases: Row-Level Lineage: For robust auditing and reliable CDC pipelines, V3 formalizes the tracking of row history. By embedding metadata about when a row was added or last modified, Iceberg tables can now provide a clear lineage, simplifying data governance and enabling more efficient downstream data replication. For robust auditing and reliable CDC pipelines, V3 formalizes the tracking of row history. By embedding metadata about when a row was added or last modified, Iceberg tables can now provide a clear lineage, simplifying data governance and enabling more efficient downstream data replication. Rich Data Types: V3 closes the gap with traditional databases by introducing a more expressive type system. This includes a VARIANT type for handling semi-structured data like JSON, native GEOMETRY and GEOGRAPHY types for advanced geospatial analysis, support for nanosecond-precision timestamps with the new timestamp_ns and timestamptz_ns data types, a significant increase from the previous microsecond limit. Building the Future of the Open Data Lakehouse These V3 featuresdeletion vectors, default values, row lineage, and richer typesare more than just individual improvements. Together, they represent a cohesive step toward a new paradigm where the lines between the data lake and the data warehouse are erased. They enable faster, more efficient, and more flexible data operations than previously thought possible. This progress is a testament to the collaborative spirit of the Apache Iceberg community. At Google, we are proud to contribute to and support open-source projects like Iceberg that are defining the future of data architecture. We are excited to see the innovative applications the community will build on this powerful new foundation. Want to get started with Iceberg? Check out this blog post to learn more about how Google Cloud's managed Iceberg offering, BigLake tables for Apache Iceberg in BigQuery, makes building Iceberg-native lakehouses easier by maximizing performance without sacrificing governance. By Maxwell Powers Governor Tina Kotek has long expressed support for wind power. In 2024, the Biden administration approved 195,000 acres off the southern Oregon coast for wind farm construction (Wind Energy Areas) as part of its push to grow offshore wind power capacity, which gave her the means to enact this vision. However, widespread opposition from residents, including fishermen, tribal nations, and local politicians, expressed concern over the harm it would bring to the ecosystem and local industry. When these wind farms started to look like a possibility, Kotek asked Biden to halt the project for further research into the potential effects of offshore wind farms on the local community. By requesting the delay, she could torpedo the plan without appearing to backpedal on her previous platform. However, Kotek was recently tossed a lifeline from an unexpected source. The Trump administrations Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, or BOEM, has rescinded all wind power plans for the southern Oregon coast, to the relief of communities in those areas. This new Kotek and Trump alliance has handed the governor the pause on offshore wind she likely wanted. Dont hold your breath, however, waiting for the Governor to send Trump a thank-you note. You can do that for her by emailing [email protected]. Maxwell Powers is a Research Associate at Cascade Policy Institute, Oregons free market public policy research organization. Parents in Alabama are raising concerns and calling on officials to implement better road safety measures after a Mountain Gap middle schooler was fatally struck by a car while riding his bicycle. The calls come three days after the young victim, identified as Kallel Fox, was struck and killed by a car while he was riding his bike at the intersection of Bailey Cove Road and Green Mountain Road. Parents argue that the former is a street that they are scared of, not because it was where Kal was killed. Alabama Parents Raise Concern After Middle Schooler's Death It is because they claim that these dangers in the area have already been around for several years and are now calling on authorities to do something about the issue. Local residents Melissa Autin and Ann Bagwell live in a neighborhood that is close enough to the area where Mountain Gap middle schoolers could walk or ride their bikes home. However, they argue that this is something they never let happen, citing speeding drivers on Bailey Cove Road that threaten kids' safety. Autin added that because so many people are adamant about crossing that particular street, it has been named "psycho street," according to WAFF. Read more: Florida Teenager Fatally Shots Parents Before Turning Himself in to Authorities Bagwell noted that while she wants to give her kids the opportunity to ride their bikes home, they do not trust the other drivers who go through that area. The school bus cannot take Autin and Bagwell's children home because they live within two miles of Mountain Gap Middle School. The parents argue that the situation has forced them to structure their jobs around picking up their children from school. Now, Huntsville City Councilwoman Jennie Robinson said she believes that access to buses is the safest solution that is currently available and is talking to Huntsville City Schools to extend bus services in closer neighborhoods. Addressing Road Safety At the time of the incident involving 13-year-old Fox, the Huntsville Police Department (HPD) said the boy suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital, but later died. It was later revealed that the teenager had already gotten home but was going somewhere nearby when the accident struck, News19 reported. The HPD also said that it received various inquiries regarding potential charges against the driver of the car that fatally struck Fox. However, the department did not confirm whether or not any charges would be filed, as it is still waiting for toxicology reports for the driver. The incident is still under investigation by the Traffic Homicide Unit, and Mountain Gap Middle School released a statement, adding that counselors are available for students and staff members, as per WAAY31. 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: Extracting mineral resources is key to several African economies. Credit: Wikimedia Commons Imagine running a business for over a century without knowing what's in your warehouse. That's essentially what many African countries are doing with their mineral wealth. Governments across the continent still have very little knowledge of what lies beneath their soil. Between the 18th and 20th centuries, European colonial powers exploited African mineral wealth for their industrialization. Post-independence, many African nations nationalized their mining sectors. International pressure led to privatization in the 1980s. This weakened the motivation and capacity of governments to develop long-term strategies. They have more incentive to export minerals for foreign exchange in the short term. As political economists, we have been researching the governance of Ghana's and Rwanda's minerals sectors for over a decade. We conducted research into why some African nations are investing more than others in geological investigations. These are studies that examine where minerals can be found and what their economic potential is. We focused on Ghana and Rwanda because of their different levels of commitment to investing in geological investigations. We found that intense political competition forces Ghanaian governments to have short-term priorities. This makes geological investigations (a long-term, risky venture) unappealing to ruling elites. In contrast, the Rwandan Patriotic Front government has invested in geological surveys over the last decade. Beyond economic and technical costs, context-specific political dynamicsinterests, ideas and power relationsshape the decision to invest in geological mapping. A mixed search Ghana is rich in several minerals and is Africa's largest producer of gold, which is its highest export earner. Minerals generated US$11 billion in revenue in 2024. The country is also rich in diamonds, manganese and bauxite. It recently discovered lithium in commercial quantities. Lithium is a "critical mineral" for the energy transition and this discovery will be of interest to investors. Rwanda is a producer of tin, tantalum and tungsten. It also has commercial deposits of gemstones, silica sands, kaolin, vermiculite, diatomite, clays, limestone and gold. Policy experts and international organizations often encourage governments to invest in geological mapping of their minerals. This is to enhance greater investment in the sector and boost the country's gains from its resources. But these investigations are costly and lucrative findings aren't guaranteed. Some African governments have limited commitment to investing in geological mapping. Others, such as Uganda, Morocco, Botswana and South Africa, have put resources into it. For example, the Ugandan government announced its intention to expand national geological mapping coverage from 50% to 100%. 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. Ghana's lack of geological knowledge The roots of the knowledge gap stretch back to colonialism. European powers meticulously mapped African minerals, but kept the data for themselves. Today, the British Geological Survey holds over 300,000 geological reports and maps from other countries. Much of it is gathering dust in archives rather than helping African governments understand their own resources. Even basic geological knowledge often sits in London, Paris or Brussels rather than in Accra, Kigali or Nairobi. Take Ghana, which has been mining gold for over a century yet still lacks comprehensive geological surveys. We found that the country's competitive political system, where power alternates between two main parties almost every eight years, stands in the way of long-term planning. Successive Ghanaian governments have relied on private mining companies to conduct geological investigations. There is limited monitoring of whether investigations are carried out before extracting minerals. This approach has obvious flaws. Firstly, companies may not share all their findings. Secondly, the government doesn't have control over information about its own resources. We also found evidence of a darker political calculation. Through licensing, political elites are able to maintain lucrative relationships with mining companies. Comprehensive geological mapping might force more transparent, competitive bidding processes that could disrupt these arrangements. This includes vested political interests extending into the small scale and artisanal mining space. Rwanda's different path Rwanda tells a different story. Since 1994, the governing Rwandan Patriotic Front has increasingly taken control of all aspects of the society. As part of this drive it has developed longer-term ambitions in relation to its development strategies. The country has chosen to know more about what lies beneath its land and has taken steps to improve its capabilities. Firstly, it revised its mining law. The Rwandan government had initially invited foreign mining companies to obtain permits on a first come, first served basis. Though permit holders were required to invest in geological investigations before extraction, there was limited monitoring of what firms were doing. This is similar to what was taking place in Ghana. Secondly, the Rwandan government even established its own mining company, Ngali Mining, to invest directly in exploration. Thirdly, it has attracted investment in geological surveys, with some support from donors. In this way, it directly employs geological investigation firms rather than relying on mining firms to invest in investigations themselves. The results are impressive: between 2012 and 2016, the government attracted four different sets of North American and European firms to conduct extensive mapping studies. Fourth, as a result of these surveys, the government re-categorized existing mining areas into 52 separate areas for mineral exploration. As a result, the Rwandan government now attracts investment to these areas because there is more understanding of which minerals exist there. It's important to note that Rwanda imports many of its minerals from neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo and then re-exports them. Importing and re-exporting DRC minerals earns Rwanda immediate foreign exchange earnings. This is particularly evident in rising Rwandan gold exports in recent years. Thus, even where governments may be keen to invest in geological investigations, when other short-term priorities exist it is less easy to sustain long-horizon goals in domestic mining sectors. Breaking the knowledge barrier The global demand for minerals is soaring. This has made developing comprehensive knowledge of underground resources more urgent for African countries. However, our research suggests that simply throwing more money at geological surveys won't reorganize domestic minerals sectors if political incentives favor short-term interests. Understanding the political dynamics is the first step towards unlocking Africa's mineral potential. Only by learning more about the power structures that shape these decisions can countries begin to map their way to more sustainable mineral wealth. More information: Gerald E. Arhin et al, Why do countries invest in geological investigations for minerals? A comparative analysis of contrasting outcomes in Ghana and Rwanda, Geoforum (2025). DOI: 10.1016/j.geoforum.2025.104300 This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: While in Monterey Bay, a basking shark was seen while whale watching. It's photos like this that can contribute to building a better database on sharks. Credit: Cheryl Butner. One-third of shark species are at risk of extinction, yet scientists still lack basic data on their habitats, populations, and trends. To solve this, researchers at Virginia Tech, Stanford University, and others are building the world's largest open database of shark sightings using online photos called sharkPulse. Instead of relying on individual submissions, the platform described in the research paper uses artificial intelligence (AI) to scan online sources for shark photos, automatically extracting location data, timestamps, and species identifications. The research is published in Fish and Fisheries. Images are validated by both the public and experts, then added to a searchable database. This approach allows researchers to map shark populations and track changes in abundance and distribution with unprecedented scale and speed. "This shifts citizen science from voluntary submissions to intelligent autonomous discovery, turning everyday digital activity into conservation data," said Francesco Ferretti, the study's lead author and assistant professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation. The current data gap hinders conservation as researchers don't know all the habitats and areas that sharks frequent. "With cameras in nearly everyone's hands, our encounters with the ocean are being recorded more than ever," said Jeremy Jenrette, a Ph.D. candidate in the department and author on the project. "SharkPulse taps into this unprecedented global stream of images and videos, using AI and data science to passively monitor shark populations at a scale never before possible." Utilizing this data source offers a practical way to address existing knowledge gaps in the study of threatened marine species, contributing to more informed and coordinated conservation efforts. "We can't protect what we don't know," Ferretti said. "From our findings outlined in the paper, sharkPulse turns scattered signals into knowledge." This finding builds on Ferretti's previous global shark studies. Another project launched the "White Shark Chase" to track critically endangered white sharks in the region. Using environmental DNA and baited cameras, researchers detected white sharks at several sites in the Sicilian Channel. The findings support efforts to launch a monitoring program aimed at preventing the population's extinction. During the expedition, researchers tagged a juvenile shortfin mako sharkthe first recorded tagging of its kind in the Mediterranean. Tracking showed the shark traveled more than 750 miles in 54 days, underscoring the species' vast range and the need for broader conservation planning. Virginia Tech also contributed to MegaMove, a global effort to track more than 100 large marine mammal species and map vital habitats and migration routes. Findings showed that 60% of these critical habitats fall outside protected areas, pointing to the need for wider conservation measures. Together, these projects reflect Virginia Tech's dedication to marine conservation through targeted research, technology, and global collaboration. 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. Tracking global trends SharkPulse automates data collection, reducing reliance on manual uploadsa shift from traditional citizen science. It still relies on public participation, though, for validating sightings and training AI models. To date, sharkPulse has validated more than 91,000 records across 285 shark speciesnearly 53% of known species. It's helped identify new shark hotspots, such as white sharks in the Mediterranean, and can support The International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species assessments by generating dynamic distribution maps and abundance trends that update as new data are incorporated. The union is a comprehensive information source on the global conservation status of animal, fungi and plant species. Impact across the mid-Atlantic In Virginia, bull sharks are considered summer visitors in the Chesapeake Bay, yet little is known about their movements or population size. On Aug. 13, 2018, a 2.6-meter bull shark was caught and photographed by a Menhaden fisher off Cedar point in St. Mary's County. "sharkPulse is built around this kind of records. The platform gives us a way to collect and organize fugitive local information and transform them into scientific knowledge," Ferretti said. "It strengthens our understanding of marine ecosystems close to homenot just globally." Virginia Tech students and faculty from across disciplines have contributed to the project, including computer science, wildlife conservation, and data science. The team is pursuing new grants to expand the platform's reach and sustainability. The waters ahead The researchers hope to scale sharkPulse further, using multilingual data mining and international partnerships to fill geographic gaps. They're exploring how to make the data more useful to policymakers, fishery managers, and conservation groups. "This is about creating an always-on pulse monitor for the ocean," Ferretti said. "The more we see, the more we can do to protect." The project is a cornerstone of Jenrette's Ph.D., where he has been tasked with building practical, scalable tools for shark conservation. "I actively develop and refine sharkPulse, which has allowed me to integrate machine learning, big data pipelines, and citizen science into a single framework aimed at addressing a pressing challenge in marine conservation: how to monitor wide-ranging, poorly understood shark populations in near real time," he said. It's also flexible. The team sees the sharkPulse model as a blueprint to adapt the technology to other species groups from sea turtles to bats. More information: F. Ferretti et al, From Data Deficient to Big Data in Shark Conservation, Fish and Fisheries (2025). DOI: 10.1111/faf.70006. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/faf.70006 Journal information: Fish and Fisheries 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: Assorted 'Riding Sun/Srivatsa' coins found at Oc Eo/An Giang, Vietnam, and Angkor Borei, Cambodia, held at the Ho Chi Minh City History Museum and SOSORO Museum of Economy and Money. Credit: Antiquity Archaeologists have analyzed more than 200 coins from the first millennium AD mainland Southeast Asia, revealing long-distance economic connections across the region which facilitated extensive trade and cultural interaction. As far back as the second century AD, Chinese chronicles record the importance of Southeast Asian polities in trade networks stretching from the Near East to China. Archaeological evidence supports this, with excavations in Southeast Asia uncovering trade goods such as Roman glassware, Indian jewelry, and Persian, Southwest Asian, and Chinese ceramics. Often associated with these finds are silver coins, commonly depicting a rising sun on one side and the Srivatsa (an early symbol in Indian religious traditions) on the other. They were made using dies: molds in which a blank metal disk is pressed to imprint a design onto both sides. These coins have been found from Bangladesh to Vietnam, encompassing the entirety of Indianized Southeast Asia, but, in comparison to Roman, Indian or Central Asian coins, they remain understudied. "No other early Southeast Asian coinage exhibits as widespread a distribution as those bearing Rising Sun/Srivatsa motifs," states lead author of the research, Dr. Andrew Harris from the National University of Singapore. "However, the coins have rarely been analyzed as an integrated artefactual dataset, with scholars often associating them with specific cultural-historical groups aligned with modern nation-state boundaries." To correct this knowledge gap, a multi-institutional project team led by researchers from the National University of Singapore collated 245 accurately-provenanced coins from across Southeast Asia in order to examine them as part of a broader economic and cultural network, independent of modern borders. Their results are published in the journal Antiquity. They found many links between the coins across the whole region, indicating that currency-based economies, and the political connections that facilitated them, changed extensively over time. Perhaps most interestingly, the obverse sides of one coin from Bangladesh and one coin from Vietnam are believed to have been produced using the same die, indicating they may have been minted by the same individual or polity despite their distance from each other. "This offers compelling evidence of extensive long-distance circulation," says Dr. Harris. Importantly, this means that ancient coinage was instrumental in shaping trade and cultural connections in Southeast Asia, just as in other ancient civilizations with currency economies such as Rome, India and Central Asia. "The die study presented here has considerable implications for understanding early Southeast Asian trade networks, providing insights into key ports and settlements, further assessing the role of weighted silver in ancient trade, and mapping the expansion and contraction of currency-based economies in mainland Southeast Asia along with the polities that minted them," adds co-author and project Primary Investigator Professor Maria De Iorio, also of the National University of Singapore. Furthermore, it will also help prevent looting and preserve the region's cultural heritage in the face of ongoing conflicts such as the Myanmar civil war. Many early Southeast Asian coins are looted and traded illicitly, ending up melted down or hidden in private collections. Implementing die studies to provenance coins will help identify forgeries, exposing unethical practices. "Die studies will assist in better tracing the provenance of coins from Myanmar, advancing our understanding of historical coin usage and minting practices while helping to curtail the illicit facilitation of antique-coin collection in this region," concludes Dr. Harris. More information: Andrew Harris et al, Currents of currency: utilising die studies to trace Rising Sun/Srivatsa coin distribution in first-millennium AD, Southeast Asia, Antiquity (2025). DOI: 10.15184/aqy.2025.77 Journal information: Antiquity Provided by Antiquity 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: Dennis Bell (left) with his fellow colleagues and the dogs that helped them to work in Antarctica. Midwinter 1959 at Admiralty Bay Base. Credit: Unknown The remains of an Antarctic researcher have been discovered by a Polish team among rocks exposed by a receding glacier in Antarctica. They are identified by DNA as those of Dennis "Tink" Bell, a 25-year-old meteorologist who was working for the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (FIDS), the predecessor of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS). He died in a crevasse on a glacier at Admiralty Bay on King George Island, situated off the Antarctic Peninsula, on 26 July 1959. His body was never recovered. More than 200 personal items have been found, including the remains of radio equipment, a flashlight, ski poles, an inscribed Erguel wristwatch, a Swedish Mora knife, ski poles and an ebonite pipe stem. The remains were carried to the Falkland Islands on the BAS Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough and handed into the care of His Majesty's Coroner for British Antarctic Territory, Malcolm Simmons, who accompanied them on the journey from Stanley to London, supported by the Royal Air Force. The human remains were sent for DNA testing by Denise Syndercombe Court, Professor in Forensic Genetics at King's College London. She has now confirmed there is a match with samples from his brother David Bell and his sister Valerie Kelly. They are "more than one billion times" more likely to be related than not. Bell's brother David, now living in Australia, said, "When my sister Valerie and I were notified that our brother Dennis had been found after 66 years we were shocked and amazed. The British Antarctic Survey and British Antarctic Monument Trust have been a tremendous support and together with the sensitivity of the Polish team in bringing him home have helped us come to terms with the tragic loss of our brilliant brother." Professor Dame Jane Francis, Director of BAS said, "The confirmation of the remains found on Ecology Glacier as those of Dennis 'Tink' Bell is both a poignant and profound moment for all of us at British Antarctic Survey. Dennis was one of the many brave FIDS personnel who contributed to the early science and exploration of Antarctica under extraordinarily harsh conditions. "Even though he was lost in 1959, his memory lived on among colleagues and in the legacy of polar research. This discovery brings closure to a decades-long mystery and reminds us of the human stories embedded in the history of Antarctic science." Bell was working at Admiralty Bay Base on King George Island. 1951. Credit: Roger Todd-White About Dennis Bell Dennis Bell was brought up in Harrow northwest London where he attended Harrow County School for Boys, now Harrow High School. His brother David commented, "Dennis was the oldest of three siblings and was my hero as he seemed to be able to turn his hand to anything, servicing petrol engines, photography including processing his own films. "He built a radio from scratch, spending hours taking down Morse code. Other interests included scouting, theater and eating! Dennis loathed organized sport. He just could not see the point. He would rather have a social drink with his family and friends with plenty of laughter." After leaving school and a brief period in insurance, Dennis Bell joined the Royal Air Force for National Service, trained as a radio operator and then, eager for more adventure, joined the FIDS as a meteorologist in 1958. He was stationed for a two-year assignment at Admiralty Bay, a small U.K. base with half a dozen men, on King George Island, one of the South Shetland Islands, which lie in the Southern Ocean about 120 km off the northern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. The peak of King George Island rises to 800 meters and is permanently glaciated. Admiralty Bay itself is some 20 kms long and about 5 km wide. It is surrounded by mountains, and the sea ices over for nine months of the year. Dennis was known on base for his humor and larger-than-life character. Colleague and friend, Russel Thomson who was on base with him has described his practical jokes and spoken of his "tremendous, tremendous character." Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. The accident On 26 July 1959, in the austral deep winter, four men and two dog sledges set out from base to climb the glacier leading to the ice plateau to carry out survey and geological work. Dennis Bell was with surveyor Jeff Stokes, and meteorologist Ken Gibson was with geologist Colin Barton. Bell and Stokes started out half-an-hour or so ahead of Gibson and Barton. Ascending the glacier, Bell and Stokes negotiated a crevassed area then believed that they were in the clear. But the deep soft snow made the going difficult and the dogs showed signs of tiredness. To encourage them, Bell went ahead to urge them on, tragically without his skis. Suddenly he disappeared, leaving a gaping hole in the crevasse bridge through which he had fallen. Sir Vivian Fuchs, a previous director of BAS, describes the harrowing story of Bell's death in his book "Of Ice and Men" published by Anthony Nelson. "Peering into the depths, Stokes called repeatedly and was greatly relieved to be answered. Lowering a rope almost a hundred feet, he told Bell to tie himself on. As he could not haul up the weight, he hitched his end of the rope to the team. "The dogs took the strain and began to pull. Now it was easy and everything was going well. But Bell had tied the rope through his belt instead of round his body, perhaps because of the angle at which he lay in the crevasse. As he reached the top, his body jammed against the lip, the belt broke, and down he went again. This time there was no reply to Stoke's calls. It was a particularly tragic fatality which one really felt should never have happened, and thus doubly grievous." Gibson and Barton met Stokes coming down the glacier. As they all climbed back towards the crevasse the weather began to deteriorate and within minutes it was blowing half-a-blizzard. Stokes had set up markers and taken bearings on surrounding peaks, but little could be seen through the flying snow. Despite the terrible conditions and the ever-present risk of falling into another crevasse, they continued to search for the scene of the accident. Ken Gibson remembers, "It was probably 12 hours before we found the site and there was no way he could have survived." The remains were discovered on the Ecology Glacier on 19 January 2025 by personnel from the Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station on King George Island. Their location was recorded and some were collected and returned to the Arctowski Station, where it was decided that further investigation was required. Between 9 and 13 February, a multidisciplinary Polish team, including an archaeologist, geomorphologist, anthropologist and glaciologist, undertook a more extensive archaeological survey. As a result, more bone fragments and artifacts were recovered. The family will now decide how to mark Dennis's memory. Bell Point, King George Island, 62 06 41" S 58 51 56" W is named for Dennis Bell. 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: Ivette Perfecto, University of Michigan professor in the School for Environment and Sustainability, points to a nest of Solenopsis invicta, a species of ant that lives on a coffee farm in Puerto Rico. Credit: University of Michigan To help manage agricultural practices with fewer or no pesticides, University of Michigan researchers say they need to understand how ecological systems work on agricultural lands. Now, U-M researchers John Vandermeer and Ivette Perfecto have used two ecological theories to describe a tangle of interactions between three ant species and a recently introduced fly that preys on one of the ant species. Their work on a coffee farm in Puerto Rico shows that the interaction between the ants and the predator fly creates chaotic patternschaos in the classical sense, in that natural populations are subjected to fluctuations depending on the interactions of organisms within a system. These chaotic patterns mean that any one of the four insect species could be dominant at any point in time. Understanding which ants may be dominant over time may help farmers use the ants to manage pests on their farms. Their study is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. "Two of the three ant species we studied are really important agents of biological control of two of the important pests in coffee," said Vandermeer, U-M professor of ecology and evolutionary biology. "We would like, or a farmer would like, to be able to predict when the ants are going to be there, and when they're not going to be there. And it turns out that that kind of prediction is going to be pretty difficult." For three decades, Vandermeer and Perfecto, a professor at the U-M School for Environment and Sustainability, have been studying ant interactions in the coffee farm's agricultural setting. Their goal is to help transform how agriculture is donebut to do so, we need to first understand the ecology of agricultural systems, they say. "We believe that the current international agricultural system with its use of pesticides and chemicals is not contributing to the welfare of anybody, especially the farmers, and is actually contributing quite a bit to global climate change," Vandermeer said. "We take the position that in order to incorporate the rules of ecology into the development of new forms of agriculture, we need to understand what those rules are and how those rules work." In the tropics, ants are dominant, Vandermeer says, and often involved in agriculture as agents of controlling pests. But using an ant species to control pests can be complicated: the dominance of the ant being used as a biological control depends on what other species of antsas well as other types of insectsthere are in the system. In this system, Vandermeer and Perfecto examined two types of ecological behavior: intransitive loop cyclic behavior and predator-mediated coexistence. Intransitive loop cyclic behavior means that if there's a group of three ant species, Ant A might be dominant over Ant B, Ant B might dominate Ant C, but Ant C could dominate Ant A. When a predator is thrown into the mix, these dynamics become even more complicated. Among the three species of ants that Vandermeer and Perfecto study, one species is dominant. But the recently introduced fly preys upon the dominant ant. 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. This predator-prey relationship not only affects the dominant ant, it has downstream effects on the other two ant species, allowing any of the four species to become the dominant species at different points of time. This is an example of predator-mediated coexistence. The waxing and waning of the predator fly and its ant target, as well as the change of dominance in the ant species, are called oscillations. By overlapping and modeling these two oscillating ecological principles, the researchers could examine how the principles introduce chaos into the system. The results are ... chaotic. But by plotting both of these oscillating behaviors, the researchers were able to see that at certain times, the whole system looked like a predator-prey cycle, and at other times, the system looked like an intransitive loop oscillation. This could meanin theorythe researchers could get a window into when each insect species was going to be the dominant species. "The good news is that the chaotic patterns of the insects are really very interesting from an inherent intellectual sense. The bad news is that it's not really as simple as it might seem to base agricultural practices on ecological principles, because the ecological principles themselves are way more complicated than simply finding a poison that kills the pests," Vandermeer said. "What we're uncovering, we think, over the past 30 years or so are some of those complications that come out if you're serious about putting ecology into the fundamental operations of the agricultural system." 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: Two cats were rushed to a North Carolina veterinary hospital after eating dog allergy medication and suffering serious kidney damage. Both cats recovered with dialysis, but experts now warn that chewable Apoquel, a drug meant for dogs, could be dangerouseven deadlyto cats. Dr. Tyler Johnson, a fellow in advanced emergency and critical care at the N.C. State College of Veterinary Medicine in Raleigh said both animals developed acute kidney injury and needed hemodialysis, a process in which blood is filtered when kidneys are not working normally. "Previous reports of very high ingestions like this have resulted in death," Johnson said in a NCSU news release. "The incidence of Apoquel ingestion-related toxicity has increased at our hospital since the release of a chewable formulation that, for some reason, cats seem to be inclined to eat. Both of the cats we treated actively sought out the medication." Apoquel is used to treat itching and inflammation in dogs. The drug recently became available in a chewable pork-liver flavored tablet, which, it turns out, cats also find appetizing. Dr. Shelly Vaden, a small animal expert at N.C. State, said that even a small amount of chewable Apoquel can make cats very sick. Symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, facial swelling, and liver or kidney damage. In severe cases, cats may need to be hospitalized and treated with hemodialysis. "We believe that households with cats should rely on the original, nonchewable form of Apoquel or be extra diligent in keeping the chewable form away from their cats," Vaden said. At N.C. State's veterinary hospital, each cat received four dialysis treatments. This helped their kidneys rest and recover, Johnson explained. "I don't think that our treatments for either of these cats did anything to remove the medication that they ingested, but what it did do is support their injury well enough that they were able to have a pretty quick recovery," he said. "What we essentially did with dialysis was intervene for the kidneys that weren't functioning well and allow time for those kidneys to recover enough to heal themselves." One of the cats, named Cheese, had been given decontamination treatment at his local vet but was still very sick and needed more care. "In the future, as an older cat, he might have kidney disease, but right now it's like nothing ever happened," Johnson said. If your cat swallows a potentially harmful number of chewable Apoquel tablet: Call your vet right away. Decontamination may include inducing vomiting and giving charcoal. Severe cases may need hospitalization or dialysis. Johnson is writing a case study on the two cats, which he hopes will guide future treatment protocols. "The scientific literature is very sparse," he said. "We talked to poison control centers to see what they have amassed, and they will follow up with some of these cases to understand what happened to them. That's where a lot of the information is coming from right now. Our case study demonstrates, at least for two animals that were severely affected, how we can successfully support them through it." Copyright 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved. A teenage girl from Kansas City was fatally shot while she was inside her home by an unknown gunman. Law enforcement personnel were called shortly after 10:00 p.m. on Saturday to a home in the 3600 block of Norton Avenue. When they arrived, police found the teenage victim unresponsive and suffering from a gunshot wound. Teenage Girl Fatally Shot Inside Home The spokesperson for the Kansas City Police Department, Capt. Jake Becchina, said that the teenage girl was declared dead at a hospital. He added that preliminary evidence indicated that the victim was inside her home when gunfire from one or more people from outside struck her. On Sunday, law enforcement authorities did not identify the teenage girl by name or specify how old she was. Officials are urging anyone with information about the incident to contact homicide detectives to help find the suspect/s, according to The Kansas City Star. Later on, the age and identity of the girl were shared with the public, letting them know that she was 16-year-old Traelynn Sibley. Following the tragic incident, Mayor Quinton Lucas issued a statement talking about the victim's untimely passing as well as the violence rates in Kansas City. Read more: Defendants in 2022 Hazlehurst Gang Shooting of Teenager Convicted and Sentenced He said that every life that is taken by violence is a tragedy, saying that this year, there have been too many tragedies that have claimed the lives of women and girls. He extended his condolences to the families of the victim in what he called a "preventable and cowardly" act. Lucas said they will continue to invest more resources for those leaving domestic crises, enhance opportunities for young people, and focus on violent offenders for swift and certain justice and severe consequences, Fox4KC reported. Building a Safer City The mayor noted they will not stop fighting to provide a safer environment for the people who live in Kansas City. He added that Sibley's tragic death marks the 100th homicide this year alone, which is a number that the city has reached in 33 of the last 40 years. A similar incident took place in Detroit on Sunday night when a teenager died after being shot while trying to rob a man. Police said that officers responded to the shooting on the 3100 block of Hendricks Street shortly before 11:00 p.m. The 15-year-old was allegedly trying to rob a man in his 20s, who had a concealed pistol that he used to shoot the would-be robber. Officers found the teen around four blocks from where they initially responded, as per CBS News. 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: Spanish firefighters struggled to contain a wildfire that damaged the Las Medulas Roman-era mining site and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate. A young boy died of heatstroke in Italy while wildfires threatened a UNESCO site in Spain and French cities saw record temperatures, as a heatwave baked Europe on Monday. The four-year-old Romanian boy died days after being found unconscious in the family's car in Sardinia. The boy was airlifted to a Rome hospital but died of irreversible brain damage, the hospital told AFP on Monday. The news came as Italy's health ministry issued a red alert warning for seven major cities, including Bologna and Florence. Some 11 Italian cities are on red alert for Tuesday, and 16 cities on Wednesday, while around 190 firefighters and the army continue to tackle a wildfire on Mount Vesuvius that caused the closure of the national park to tourists. UNESCO site damaged Wildfires damaged a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site in northwestern Spain and forced evacuations in three Balkan countries as high temperatures fanned by strong winds left parts of Europe in flames. Spanish firefighters struggled to contain a wildfire that damaged a Roman-era mining site in Las Medulas and prompted hundreds of residents to evacuate. High temperatures and winds of up to 40 kilometers per hour (25 mph) created "many difficulties," said Juan Carlos Suarez-Quinones, the Castile and Leon regional environment minister. "We will not allow people to return until safety in their communities is absolutely guaranteed," he told reporters, estimating that about 700 people had been displaced. Four people, including two firefighters, suffered minor injuries, he added. The blaze broke out on Sunday near Las Medulas, an area famed for its striking red landscape. Spain has been in the grip of a heatwave for the past week, with temperatures nearing 40C in many areas and fueling wildfires. Castile and Leon alone has seen 13 fires in the past three days, according to Suarez-Quinones, who said that some were believed to have been deliberately started. In neighboring Portugal, firefighters were battling three large wildfires in the center and north of the country. 20 arrested in Albania People were evacuated from dozens of homes in the Balkans as firefighters battled blazes in Albania, Montenegro and Croatia, where red alerts were announced. In Albania, hundreds of firefighters and soldiers had subdued most of the nearly 40 fires that flared up in the last 24 hours, according to the defense ministry, but more than a dozen were still active. Fires continued to burn in the southern coastal area of Finiq, around 160 kilometers south of the capital, where about 10 people were evacuated and several homes were razed on Sunday night, according to local media. Since the start of July, nearly 34,000 hectares (84,000 acres) have been scorched nationwide, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS). Police allege that many of the blazes were deliberately lit, with more than 20 people arrested in recent weeks. Just outside the capital of neighboring Montenegro, where temperatures soared to 40C, fire crews managed to save dozens of homes when a blaze broke out in inaccessible terrain on Monday, the commander of the Protection and Rescue Service, Nikola Bojanovic, told media. In Croatia, around 150 firefighters also spent the night defending homes from a blaze near the port city of Split. In the northwestern Turkish province of Canakkale, more than 2,000 people were evacuated and 77 people received hospital treatment for smoke inhalation after several fires broke out around the tourist village of Guzelyali, authorities said. Several homes and cars caught ablaze, according to images shown on Turkish media, while more than 760 firefighters, 10 airplanes, nine helicopters and more than 200 vehicles were deployed to battle the flames. Turkey had just experienced its hottest July since records began 55 years ago. French records Temperature records were broken in at least four weather stations in southern France, as the government called for vigilance. The southwestern city of Bordeaux hit a record 41.6C while all-time records were also broken at meteorological stations in Bergerac, Cognac and Saint Girons, according to the national weather service, Meteo France. The heatwave, the country's second this summer, began on Friday and was forecast to last possibly until August 19 or 20. On Monday, 12 French departments were placed on red alert, the country's highest heat warning, with four more expected on Tuesday. 2025 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Bird populations in the tropics have dropped by roughly a third (2538%) since 1980 due to intensifying heat extremes, compared to a world without climate change, with some species having declined in abundance by over 50%, according to a study published today in Nature Ecology & Evolution with contributions from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), the University of Queensland and Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC). "It's a staggering decrease. Birds are particularly sensitive to dehydration and heat stress. Extreme heat drives excess mortality, reduced fertility, changing breeding behaviors and reduced offspring survival," commented lead author Maximilian Kotz, a guest researcher at PIK and researcher at BSC. According to the study, tropical birds are exposed to ten times the extreme heat conditions today than they were forty years ago: from an average of three days a year of extreme heat, to thirty days. The study combines observed data with models to identify the effects of climate change on bird populations around the worldwith a focus on heat and precipitation. The biggest drops in numbers were in the tropics, but nearly every region reported a loss of population abundance, with extreme heat having the greatest impact on population declines. "Rising temperatures are really pushing species out of the ranges that they've naturally adapted toand in a very short amount of time," Kotz added. Climate change a rising threat to biodiversity To date, it's been challenging to distinguish climate change's impact on biodiversity from the losses due to more direct human pressures such as deforestation. The research team's methods were able to do so and indicated that in lower-latitude tropical regions, intensifying heat extremes are already having a bigger impact on bird population loss than deforestation and habitat destruction. This potentially helps to explain recent findings from undisturbed tropical rainforests in the Amazon and in Panama, where large declines in birds were observed without a clear cause. "On the conservation side, this work tells us that in addition to protected areas and stopping deforestation, we urgently need to look into strategies for species who are more vulnerable to heat extremes to maximize their adaptation potential. That might mean ex-situ conservation workso working with some populations in other locations," said co-author Tatsuya Amano from the University of Queensland. "Ultimately, our emissions are at the heart of this issue. We need to be bringing them down as fast as possible," concluded Kotz. More information: Large reductions in tropical bird abundance attributable to heat extreme intensification, Nature Ecology & Evolution (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41559-025-02811-7 Journal information: Nature Ecology & Evolution 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: Specimens used to estimate the age at death. Credit: Scientific Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-10266-w Slicing, chopping and bite and cut marks on human remains from 5,700 years ago suggest that cannibalism may have been a common practice among our Neolithic ancestors. Francesc Marginedas at the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES) in Tarragona, Spain, and colleagues studied more than 600 bones and fragments from 11 well-preserved skeletons of adults, adolescents and children. They were found in El Mirador Cave in the Atapuerca mountains and date to the Late Neolithic period (about 6,500 to 5,000 years ago). The work is published in the journal Scientific Reports. What the bones reveal Microscopy analysis revealed signs of cannibalism on all of the bones studied. Specifically, the researchers noted signs of butchery on 69 bones and chop marks on several others, indicating that skin and muscle had been sliced off. Some bones were translucent with slightly rounded edges, suggesting they had been boiled. Further evidence includes some of the larger bones being cracked open, most likely to get at the marrow. According to the scientists, cannibalism took place after death. The bodies were skinned, and their limbs were separated before being cooked and eaten, possibly over a few days. So why did our ancient ancestors eat each other? Necessity, or was there a darker, more gruesome purpose? Cut marked specimens. Cut marks (white arrow) on human remains from contexts S100 and S200. Credit: Scientific Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-10266-w Ancient cannibalism is difficult to interpret because it can be hard to determine the motive, and evidence is often sparse or ambiguous at best. However, the scientists have ruled out emergency survival due to a lack of food, as there were no signs of scarcity in the region at the time. They also believe it wasn't part of funerary practices or other rituals, as nothing similar has been found in the area. The bones in this study are thought to be from one family or an extended family, and researchers believe a neighboring group wiped them out in a single event. "The current findings suggest that cannibalism may be linked to intergroup violence during late prehistoric periods," write the researchers in their paper. This is supported by evidence of other Neolithic massacres in Spain, France and Germany. More than just farmers El Mirador cave, where the bones were found, is a treasure trove of archaeological remains. Previous discoveries include ceremonial skull caps and evidence of Bronze Age cannibalism. This latest study, along with earlier findings, is challenging the common image of the Neolithic as an era of farmers coexisting peacefully. Instead, it suggests a more violent and conflict-ridden existence. Written for you by our author Paul Arnold, edited by Gaby Clark, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Eganthis article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you. More information: Palmira Saladie et al, Evidence of neolithic cannibalism among farming communities at El Mirador cave, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain, Scientific Reports (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-10266-w Journal information: Scientific Reports 2025 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Time plays a key role in consumer behavior, especially concerning the purchasing patterns of vulnerable groups in society who have been ridiculed in offensive and discriminatory ads. Ben-Gurion University researcher Dr. Enav Friedmann examined the long-term reactions of consumers from discriminated groups after exposure to offensive advertising. Such advertising often manifests in marketing messages that demean excluded groups, reinforce harmful stereotypes, or cross social norms. Their findings were published last month in Psychology & Marketing. Dr. Friedmann is a member of the Department of Business Administration at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. She is the head of the LBM research lab, which focuses on marketing, "The social and psychological implications of such advertisements are profound," explains Dr. Friedmann. "Socially, they normalize prejudice, perpetuate stereotypes, and undermine efforts to achieve equality. We decided to examine these conflicts of social identity combined with consumer behavior. This is a topic that hasn't been researched enough, but it has significant implications for individuals, groups, and businesses in society." The study's approach To this end, three independent experiments were conducted. They examined the impact of exposure to insulting advertisements or those excluding vulnerable groups (women and people of color) at two time points: immediately upon exposure to the ad, and then 10 days or a month later. The offensive ads were designed to be inspired by authentic advertisements from companies which contained offensive content towards women and people of color. A total of 640 women and men, both light-skinned and dark-skinned, participated in all the experiments and answered questions related to the brand and their personal feelings. Key findings In the first experiment, a hypothetical ad for a body soap brand called "BubbleSoap" was presented, with a racist implication towards people of color. A dark-skinned family was shown in the 'before' image and a light-skinned family in the "after" image. It was found that dark-skinned participants who felt their ethnic group was severely discriminated against, and tended to identify less with their group, showed a higher purchase intention for the BubbleSoap brand ten days later compared to participants who did not feel their ethnic group was discriminated against. The second experiment involved an offensive advertisement towards women for a real brand. Participants were randomly exposed to either non-offensive sexist ads or offensive sexist ads. The offensive version was identical but included the text: "Women, I'm sick of you! I get tired of all of you so quickly," with the well-known tagline below: "You're not you when you're hungry." This ad was inspired by real candy bar ads that mock the idea of men respecting women and aggressively disparaging women under the guise of sarcastic humor. After about a month, it was found that women who identified their gender group as significantly discriminated against, and tended to identify less with the female group, were more likely to choose the brand that offended their group. The choice was made at each time point by choosing between three chocolate brands. Of course, the respondents' initial preference for the offensive brand was considered. In the third experiment, neurological measurements were taken using an EEG device in a lab experiment for a construction company. Participants were randomly exposed to either offensive or non-offensive sexist ads. The offensive version included the text: "She thinks she understands... In big decisions, don't let her decide!" Participants were asked to describe their feelings toward the brand at two points in time. The researchers measured the activation of the participants' right and left frontal brain regions during a brand feeling task. After ten days, among women who identified their group as significantly discriminated against, and tended to identify less with the female group over time, increased activity was found in the left frontal areas (compared to the right) of the brain. These areas are known in the literature to indicate a desire to approach a stimulus. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. The paradoxical phenomenon The findings revealed a paradoxical phenomenon: participants who reported high levels of perceived discrimination against their group, and over time tended to identify less with the offended group, actually showed an increasing preference for the brand that insulted their group. This was measured through purchase intention, actual product choice, or brain responses indicating an approach toward the brand. This phenomenon aligns with theories of disidentification, a process in which individuals from vulnerable groups come to understand the long-term consequences of harm to their group (reduced self-esteem and group-esteem). Those who feel their group is significantly discriminated against and tend to reduce their identification with the group in order to protect their sense of self-esteem, tend to do so by approaching the object that harmed their group over time. "The research findings deepen our understanding of how identity threats affect responses in advertising contexts and highlight the ethical considerations brands must address when formulating campaigns," explains Dr. Friedmann. "This research delves into the psychological complexity of identity regulation as a result of exposure to threatening content for consumers." Implications and recommendations The study results do not suggest that offensive-discriminatory advertising is an effective marketing strategy. Most participants exposed to this content did not demonstrate more positive attitudes or behaviors than those in the control group; rather, it was a specific limited group of people who reacted positively to it. On the contrary, such advertisements can exact a significant psychological toll on individuals belonging to discriminated groups. These findings reinforce the importance of adopting an ethical approach to identity-based marketing and avoiding tactics that exploit social vulnerability for strategic profit. In accordance with the study's findings, the researchers recommend adopting an approach that involves enforcement and clear criteria to prevent harm to various population groups. "Enforcement against offensive and discriminatory marketing is essential to protect the well-being of individuals and foster a more egalitarian society. As a society, we must develop specific criteria for controlling offensive advertisements, as is customary in the UK, and impose significant financial penalties on those who violate them," concluded Dr. Friedmann. The research team included: Eliran Solodoha from the Peres Academic Center, Sandra Maria Correia Loureiro from the University of Lisbon, and Lior Aviali, LBM Lab Manager, from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. More information: Enav Friedmann et al, Disidentification: The LongTerm Effects of OffensiveDiscriminatory Advertising, Psychology & Marketing (2025). DOI: 10.1002/mar.70010 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: Anomalous temperature dependence of polarization switching in sliding ferroelectrics, driven by superlubric domain wall motion. Unlike typical behavior, the domain wall velocity increases as the temperature decreases, highlighting a unique low-dissipation switching mechanism. Credit: Ke, Liu & Liu. Sliding ferroelectrics are a type of two-dimensional (2D) material realized by stacking nonpolar monolayers (atom-thick layers that lack an electric dipole). When these individual layers are stacked, they produce ferroelectric materials with an intrinsic polarization (i.e., in which positive and negative charges are spontaneously separated), which can be switched using an external electric field that is perpendicular to them. Understanding the mechanisms driving the switching of this polarization in sliding ferroelectrics has been a key goal of many studies rooted in physics and materials science. This could ultimately inform the development of new advanced nanoscale electronics and quantum technologies. Researchers at Westlake University and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China recently uncovered a new mechanism that could drive the switching of polarization in sliding ferroelectrics. Their paper, published in Physical Review Letters (PRL), suggests that polarization switching in the materials is prompted by wave-like movements of domain walls (i.e., boundaries between regions with an opposite polarization), rather than by synchronized shifts affecting entire monolayers at once, as was assumed by some earlier works. "In recent years, sliding ferroelectrics have garnered significant attention for their potential to expand the family of van der Waals ferroelectric materials in low-dimensional systems," Shi Liu, senior author of the paper, told PRL. "The core idea is to engineer out-of-plane polarization in two-dimensional structures by stacking nonpolar monolayers with carefully tuned interlayer shifts. This concept opens exciting possibilities for novel functionalities in nanoscale devices." The main objective of this recent study by Liu and his colleagues was to answer a fundamental research question that had not yet been fully addressed in earlier research. Specifically, they wanted to shed light on how an out-of-plane electric field can switch the polarization in sliding ferroelectrics. "Thermodynamically, the answer seems straightforwardan out-of-plane field should reverse the out-of-plane polarization," said Liu. "However, the situation is more subtle in sliding ferroelectrics because the polarization originates from in-plane atomic displacements between layers. This led us to a conceptual puzzle: how can an electric field applied perpendicular to the layers induce lateral atomic motion?" When they reviewed previous papers, Liu and his colleagues realized that many of them merely assumed that an out-of-plane electric field could prompt in-plane shifts or that an entire monolayer in sliding ferroelectrics could move at once. Yet they found this to be highly improbable, particularly in macroscopic samples, where the collective movement of an entire monolayer is not likely to take place. "Our study aimed to resolve this inconsistency by exploring the microscopic mechanisms that enable polarization switching in sliding ferroelectrics, and to clarify the role of the electric field in facilitating such atomic rearrangements," explained Liu. "To investigate the switching mechanism behind out-of-plane polarization in 2D sliding ferroelectrics, we employed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, a powerful computational tool that allows us to simulate how atoms move and interact over time and across relatively large length scales." 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. As part of their recent study, Liu and his colleagues first developed a type of deep neural network-based model known as the deep potential (DP) model. This computational model was trained on data derived from quantum mechanical calculations rooted in density functional theory (DFT). "The DP model acts as a highly accurate classical force field, capable of capturing the complex atomic interactions essential for realistic MD simulations," said Liu. "We also incorporated atomic-environment-dependent Born effective charges (BECs) into our simulations. BECs are tensors that relate field-induced atomic forces to external electric fields, crucial for simulating how the structure responds dynamically to electric stimuli." Ultimately, the researchers successfully used their methods to simulate electric-field-driven polarization switching in sliding ferroelectrics that entailed a dynamic charge transfer process at the atomic scale and with high fidelity. This allowed them to gather new insights that could improve the understanding of this class of materials. "Firstly, we show that an out-of-plane electric field alone cannot reverse the polarization of a single domain in sliding ferroelectrics," said Liu. "Instead, polarization switching occurs via symmetry-breaking domain walls (DWs), enabled by the tensorial nature of Born effective charges. Secondly, we identify a new type of domain wall dynamics that displays an anomalous temperature dependence." The researchers' simulations also suggest that the velocity of the motion of domain walls increases as the temperature decreases, which is the opposite of what typically happens in conventional ferroelectrics. Liu and his colleagues dubbed this phenomenon "superlubric domain wall motion," drawing an analogy to a state known as superlubricity that occurs in frictionless mechanical systems. This recent paper could inform new research focusing on sliding ferroelectrics and their underlying physics. In the future, it could also contribute to the development of various technologies based on these 2D materials, including nanoscale devices in cryogenic environments. "As part of our future studies, we plan to explore relativistic-like kinematics of domain walls at low temperatures, with a particular interest in understanding how quantum effects affect structural dynamics in sliding ferroelectrics under cryogenic conditions," added Liu. "This could reveal new physical regimes and switching behaviors not accessible at higher temperatures." Written for you by our author Ingrid Fadelli, edited by Gaby Clark, and fact-checked and reviewed by Robert Eganthis article is the result of careful human work. We rely on readers like you to keep independent science journalism alive. If this reporting matters to you, please consider a donation (especially monthly). You'll get an ad-free account as a thank-you. 2025 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Jacqueline Lungmus, an assistant professor of geosciences at the University of Oklahoma and UW undergraduate alum; Kenneth Angielczyk, curator of paleomammology at the Field Museum; and Brandon Peecook, associate professor of biological sciences at Idaho State University and a UW doctoral alum, excavate a fossilized dicynodont from the Permian of Zambia. Credit: Roger Smith/University of the Witwatersrand An international team of paleontologists has spent more than 15 years excavating and studying fossils from Africa to expand our understanding of the Permian, a period of Earth's history that began 299 million years ago and ended 252 million years ago with our planet's largest and most devastating mass extinction. Led by researchers at the University of Washington and the Field Museum of Natural History, the team is identifying the animals that thrived in southern Pangeathe planet's single supercontinent at the timejust before the so-called "Great Dying" wiped out about 70% of terrestrial species, and an even larger fraction of marine ones. "This mass extinction was nothing short of a cataclysm for life on Earth, and changed the course of evolution," said Christian Sidor, a UW professor of biology and curator of vertebrate paleontology at the UW Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture. "But we lack a comprehensive view of which species survived, which didn't, and why. The fossils we have collected in Tanzania and Zambia will give us a more global perspective on this unprecedented period in our planet's natural history." Sidor and Kenneth Angielczyk, curator of paleomammalogy at the Field Museum, are co-editors of a 14-article series published Aug. 7 in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology featuring the team's recent discoveries about the myriad of animals that made Permian Africa their home. These include saber-toothed predators, burrowing foragers and a large, salamander-like creature. All these finds were excavated in three basins across southern Africa: the Ruhuhu Basin in southern Tanzania, the Luangwa Basin in eastern Zambia and the Mid-Zambezi Basin in southern Zambia. Most were discovered by team members on multiple, month-long excavation trips to the region over the past 17 years. Others were analyses of specimens dug up decades prior that had been stored in museum collections. "These parts of Zambia and Tanzania contain absolutely beautiful fossils from the Permian," said Sidor. "They are giving us an unprecedented view of life on land leading up to the mass extinction." Starting in 2007, Sidor and his team, including UW students and postdoctoral researchers, made five trips to the Ruhuhu Basin and four to the Mid-Zambezi and Luangwa basins, all in cooperation with the Tanzanian and Zambian governments. The researchers trekked between field sites miles apart to collect fossils. They stayed in villages or camped in the openonce waking during the night to the ground-quaking stomps of a nearby elephant herd. All fossils collected by the team will be returned to Tanzania and Zambia after researchers have completed their analyses. The Permian is the endpoint of what paleontologists call the Paleozoic Era. During this time, animal lifewhich evolved first in Earth's oceansbegan to colonize land and complex terrestrial ecosystems developed. By the Permian, a diverse array of amphibian and reptile-like creatures roamed environments ranging from early forests to arid valleys. The end-Permian mass extinctionwhose precise cause scientists are still debatingobliterated many of these ecosystems and ushered in the Mesozoic Era, which saw the evolution of dinosaurs, as well as the first birds, flowering plants and mammals. For decades, scientists' best understanding of the Permian, the Great Dying and the start of the Mesozoic came from the Karoo Basin in South Africa, which contains a near-complete fossil record of periods before and after the mass extinction. But beginning in the 1930s, paleontologists realized that basins in Tanzania and Zambia contain fossil records of this time range that are almost as pristine as the Karoo's. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. Sign up for our free newsletter and get updates on breakthroughs, innovations, and research that matterdaily or weekly. The excavation trips by Sidor, Angielczyk and their colleagues represent the largest analysis to date of the region's fossil record from before and after the Great Dying. In 2018, they published a comprehensive analysis of the post-Permian animals of the Ruhuhu and Luangwa basins. These new papers look further back into the Permian. "The number of specimens we've found in Zambia and Tanzania is so high and their condition is so exquisite that we can make species-level comparisons to what paleontologists have found in South Africa," said Sidor. "I know of no better place on Earth for getting sufficient detail of this time period to make such detailed conclusions and comparisons." The team's papers describe a number of new species of dicynodonts. These small, burrowing, reptile-like herbivores first evolved in the mid-Permian. By the time of the mass extinction, dicynodontsmany of whom sported a beak-like snout with two small tusks that likely aided burrowingwere the dominant plant-eaters on land. The team's findings also include several new species of large, saber-toothed predators called gorgonopsians, as well as a new species of temnospondyl, a large salamander-like amphibian. "We can now compare two different geographic regions of Pangea and see what was going on both before and after the end-Permian mass extinction," said Sidor. "We can really start to ask questions about who survived and who didn't." 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: In order to protect biodiversity in the oceans, it is necessary to observe and monitor species numbers and genetic diversity in ecosystems such as coral reefs. Credit: Jan-Claas Dajka In 2022, numerous countries signed the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) with the goal of halting and reversing biodiversity loss. Among other things, the framework sets out various targets to be implemented by the signatory states in their national legislation. A core component is the commitment to put at least 30% of the world's land and oceans areas under protection by 2030. In the area of marine biodiversity, an international team of scientists led by Dr. Jan-Claas Dajka from the Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (HIFMB) at the University of Oldenburg and Anne Eilrich from Kiel University conclude that these new targets represent a considerable improvement on the Aichi Targets adopted in 2010. In a study published in Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, the team reports that the updated targets address the inherent complexity of biodiversity well, thus reducing the risk of missing critical changes in marine biodiversity. A major challenge in the implementation of conservation measures is that setting a key target like the 1.5-degree limit for climate protection is not possible when it comes to protecting biodiversity. "Biodiversity occurs at different levels, from genes to species to ecosystems," explains Dajka, the lead author of the study. According to experts, one of the reasons why the Aichi Targets adopted by the parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity in 2010 failed was that in many cases progress in achieving them was not measurable. With the adoption of the GBF in 2022, the international community agreed on a new strategy. In the view of the international team of researchers led by Dajka and Eilrich, the Montreal-Kunming framework establishes robust, science-based targets that address all the different levels of marine biodiversity. "Our analysis shows that global policy is catching up with science in recognizing the complexity of marine biodiversity," Dajka explains. The scientists write that the framework provides national governments with a solid roadmap for implementation of the targets. These findings are the result of a systematic review of the relevant literature, including marine biodiversity research from the period between 2010 and 2020 and various political agreements. The goal was to determine which indicators scientists and policymakers use to track changes in marine biodiversity. According to the study, both scientific research and policy generally take six classes of variables, known among scientists as Essential Biodiversity Variables (EBVs), as their reference. These include spatial species distribution, genetic diversity, physical species traits and ecosystem structure. Together, the six classes provide a comprehensive overview of all facets of biodiversity. "If policymakers are guided by this framework, they can ensure that none of the biodiversity levels are overlooked," says Dajka. The authors of the study also found that secondary classes such as ecosystem structure or ecosystem function have gained importance, both in the Kunming-Montreal framework and in other global biodiversity frameworks. However, they point out that certain variables in these classes, such as the percentage of protected area, are of limited use as indicators of a healthy ecosystem. 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. "If, for example, a large area of a coral reef is protected, this is a good thing. But if only one coral species lives there, the ecosystem is still very fragile," Dajka explains. The scientists caution against overemphasizing secondary variables at the expense of foundational ones such as the number of species or genetic diversity within a species. The latter form the basis of ecosystems and are still crucial for tracking real progress and initiating conservation measures, they stress. The researchers also see their study as a tool to support the arguments of the political institutions tasked with implementing the framework at the national level. The skepticism expressed from various voices regarding the framework's goals is partly unjustified. Dajka explains, "The targets are good. Our recommendation to governments is to now focus on translating them into appropriate national-level indicators and on implementing science-based measures." Provided by Carl von Ossietzky-Universitat Oldenburg 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: New research shows how cattle are adapting their behavior to cope with extreme summer heat while grazing on rangeland. The findings could help prairie ranchers adapt their herd management practices to a warming climate. Credit: Carolyn Fitzsimmons New research shows how cattle are coping with searing summertime heat while grazing on rangeland, which could help prairie ranchers better understand how to manage their herds in a warming climate. A University of Alberta study of free-ranging beef cattle looked at their activity during the unusually warm summer of 2021, when temperatures repeatedly rose to as high as 35C in the province. The researchers found that during heat waves, cattle changed how much they walked and when they were active, focusing their movement during specific times of the day. The discovery points to "marked behavioral shifts in grazing cattle when there is heat stress," says Edward Bork, a professor of rangeland ecology and management in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences (ALES), and a co-author on the study published in the International Journal of Biometeorology. "That's important to understand as extreme temperatures in Western Canada become more common under global warming." Heat stress can alter a cow's physiology so they burn more energy trying to keep cool, and they may stop eating, lose weight, and produce less milk for their calves. To measure how extreme weather conditions could affect animals in a northern rangeland like Alberta, the study monitored heifers and young cows with their calves as they grazed on the U of A Roy Berg Kinsella Research Ranch. Cattle were fitted with leg-mounted pedometers, and their movements, including their steps and time spent lying down, were monitored 24 hours a day while they were on pasture from June to August, and again from August to November. The researchers assessed the levels of thermal stress the cattle experienced using an integrated measure of heat and humidity known as the Temperature Humidity Index (THI), which has been shown to affect cattle health when it exceeds 68. Calculations from the Kinsella ranch showed that the cattle were subject to average daily values above 68 on at least 16 days during summer, from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. When the index scores were broken down hourly, cattle were exposed to that threshold almost around the clock, from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. over the summer. And though weather conditions in the fall typically lead to much lower risk of heat stress, there were still short periods within the day, especially in September, when the THI threshold exceeded 68. Cattle showed two distinct changes in activity during periods of high THI: They unexpectedly increased their overall movement, indicated by step counts, during times of heat stress. They also changed when they moved, markedly increasing their step counts at night and midday, and spending more time lying down in the morning and afternoon. "Taken together, these results indicate it was too hot during much of the day to graze, so cattle instead fed extensively at night to achieve gut fill," Bork notes. Step counts jumped again at noondespite being one of the hottest parts of the daylikely because the cattle had rested, digested their food and wanted to eat again. The researchers theorize that cattle also had to move to drinking water to avoid dehydration. Shortly after drinking water, cattle sharply decreased their activity throughout the afternoonthe hottest part of the daybefore returning to high activity overnight. 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. Along with the impact on their health, the energy cattle expended to stay cool could make them less efficient in terms of production, Bork notes. "If cattle are in a large pasture and they have a long way to walk to shade or water, it's going to be more physically demanding for them. That comes with a cost," he says, adding that producers should provide reliable access to forests for protective cover along with ample drinking water to ease the effects of extreme heat. "These findings highlight the impact of heat stress in altering cattle behavior and the importance of mitigating the risks of heat stress, even this far north in Alberta," Bork says. "Aligning cattle needs with resource availability is a key step in making sure sustainable beef production isn't compromised by climate warming." More information: Temitope O. Oloyede et al, Effects of heat load on beef cattle activity budgets in a northern temperate grazing system, International Journal of Biometeorology (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s00484-025-02882-y Journal information: International Journal of Biometeorology This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain In the spring of 2020, everything changed. Many people's lives moved online. Court trials were no exception. "The wheels of justice had to keep turning despite the pandemic," recalled Vincent Denault, a professor in Universite de Montreal's School of Criminology. "But now that the pandemic's over, should virtual trials continue? We need a better overview of their effects." To explore the challenges of online justice, Denault surveyed Quebec judges about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. In fall 2020, he sent them an online questionnaire about the influence of extra-legal factors in virtual trials. The questions covered a variety of topics, such as the credibility and preparation of witnesses and the impact of the pandemic. Fifty-six judges responded. In an article in International Criminology, Denault examines their answers to questions about the influence of nonverbal factors in court. Not less, just different Denault has long been interested in how prejudices and stereotypes can shape interpretations of the nonverbal communication that happens in a courtroomthis is, everything other than words, from the atmosphere in the room to the punctuality and demeanor of witnesses. "Not looking someone in the eye isn't a reliable sign that you're lying, but beliefs like that can decide the outcome of a trial," Denault said. And online, contrary to what one might think, nonverbal communication doesn't disappear. "Generally speaking, there's no less nonverbal behavior in virtual trialsit's just different," said Denault. The differences are wide-ranging. For example, in a videoconference, only part of the judge or a witness is visible; one doesn't see the whole person. People also experience a trial differently in a courtroom setting, which lends a certain gravitas to the proceedings. "When you enter a courtroom, the environment, the decorum, the passage of time and even the smells influence your experience," Denault said. In a virtual setting, some nonverbal cues are lost but others are added, such as uneven audio and video quality and different backgrounds. One might be surprised to see someone testify from their car, Denault said, "But for some people, that's the quietest place they can find." Similarly, judges may be affected by their environment when presiding over a trial on their personal computer. "All this can affect the judge's perception," said Denault. Better access? Virtual trials predated COVID-19 but the pandemic normalized them. Some argued they actually increase people's access to justice. "We need to dig deeper," said Denault. "Yes, in a virtual trial you are heard by a judge, but you don't necessarily have the same sense of being listened to or the same experience." Many factors must be weighed when deciding whether to hold a trial virtually. "The conversation must go beyond the usual arguments about cost and accessibility," Denault stressed. For example, some respondents to his survey said that the complexity and urgency of the case should be taken into account. While the majority of judges reported positive virtual experiences, they also saidand Denault agreesthat anecdotal evidence is not enough. The drawbacks of virtual trials, such as the challenges they can pose for people who are not tech-savvy, require more attention. On the question of nonverbal communication, the responses varied widely. "The judges experienced the nonverbal element in very different ways," Denault observed. "This is another example of how nonverbal behavior can influence perceptions of credibility differently." In short, nonverbal factors can affect trials, for better or worse, whether online or in a courtroom. "In any medium, nonverbal communication is part of the human experience," Denault concluded. "So we must work to mitigate the effect of prejudices and stereotypes on trial outcomes." More information: Vincent Denault et al, The Influence of Extra-legal Factors and Nonverbal Communication in Virtual Trials, International Criminology (2025). DOI: 10.1007/s43576-025-00168-2 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain A study led by researchers at the University of Oxford, working closely with colleagues from Duurzame Zuivelketen (DZK), among others, has developed a framework to help agricultural sectors better contribute to global biodiversity targets without causing unintended harms. Published in npj Biodiversity, the study is based upon data from the Dutch dairy sector in 2020, covering nearly 8,950 farms (approximately 1.6 million cows). They first established a single combined score to track biodiversity impacts against possible sectoral targets, but found that while using such a score can be helpful to track overall progress, such methods can mask important local impacts (such as nutrient pollution or habitat loss) that are currently poorly captured with existing biodiversity impact indicators. To address this, the team developed a set of safeguardsclear, quantitative thresholds for major environmental pressuresto ensure progress in one environmental impact type does not come at the expense of other types elsewhere. If each of these safeguards were fully implemented, the researchers estimated this could take the sector most of the way towards biodiversity targets such as those outlined in the Global Biodiversity Framework. Lead author, Associate Professor Joseph Bull, from the University of Oxford's Department of Biology, said, "Our study shows thatthough they are extremely usefulrelying on simplified, combined indicators to track agricultural impacts on biodiversity can mislead if used alone. By introducing scientifically grounded safeguards, we can ensure that improvements in one area don't cause damage somewhere else." Measuring the biodiversity footprint of dairy farming To understand where biodiversity losses were occurring, the team worked with a single composite index that translated environmental pressuressuch as greenhouse gas emissions, land use change and ammonia emissionsinto a common unit. This value reflects the proportion of species at risk of disappearing from a particular area. The analysis revealed that, for some measures, the majority of biodiversity harm was not happening on Dutch farms directly, but overseas, particularly where land is cleared to grow livestock feed ingredients. These imported feeds were responsible for the largest share of land transformation impacts, and consequently biodiversity loss. By contrast, nutrient pollution, while a major political and environmental issue within the Netherlands, had a relatively modest effect on global biodiversity loss. This shows the value of using multiple criteria to target the most effective interventions on biodiversity. Developing and applying safeguards To avoid unintended outcomes when using single metrics to track biodiversity progress, the researchers proposed a set of practical safeguards. These act as checks and balances, ensuring that improvements in one area do not mask problems in another. The safeguards fall into two main categories: Impact prevention: These include thresholds for the use of imported animal feed, limits on nitrogen and ammonia emissions, and targets for maintaining permanent grassland and biodiversity-rich habitats. Together, these measures aim to reduce environmental pressures before damage occurs. Impact compensation: For biodiversity losses that cannot be avoided, the study outlines to what extent the sector could offset impacts by restoring similar habitats in the same regions where damage has occurred. Safeguards here include ensuring compensation happens promptly and is maintained long term. The approach was developed in collaboration with Dutch dairy stakeholders, including industry bodies and conservation organizations, and is tailored to align with national policies and international biodiversity goals. 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. Pathways to nature-positive outcomes The study outlines three feasible transition pathways for the dairy sector, from offset-heavy "adaptive compensation" to a "deep net positive" approach driven primarily by prevention. Each pathway presents trade-offs, particularly between production levels, land use, and restoration potential. Co-author Dr. Joseph Poore (Department of Biology, University of Oxford) added, "This study was an interesting test of whether single biodiversity impact scores, that capture many pathways causing biodiversity loss, are practical to implement and reliable. Our results generally found that these indicators serve a very useful role and the science is advancing fast. "Soon we will probably know the biodiversity impacts of every product we buy in the shops and the biodiversity impacts of businesses and their choices. While not the solution to these problems in itself, this is certainly a step towards solving them." More information: Towards positive net outcomes for biodiversity, and developing safeguards to accompany headline biodiversity indicators, npj Biodiversity (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s44185-025-00095-5 A judge has ruled to delay the Trump administration's efforts to ban undocumented migrant children from being able to access the Head Start program. Providers of the program and several parent groups argued that President Donald Trump's efforts to dismantle Head Start are illegal. Since taking office, the Republican leader's administration has delayed funding to Head Start centers, closed regional offices, disallowed core programming, and banned undocumented migrants from accessing services. Head Start Program Cuts The group of parents and providers has now sued and asked the court to declare the efforts to dismantle Head Start illegal. The program has, for decades, set low-income children on a path to success, helped to stabilize families, and boosted local economies. Now, services have become available at no cost to children from low-income families, and the program serves kids from birth to age three while also offering help for pre-school students aged three to five. During a Tuesday hearing, the groups asked for an emergency pause on the Trump administration's changes to the Head Start program. While U.S. District Judge Ricardo Martinez did not issue a ruling, he noted he would rule as soon as possible, according to NJS Spotlight News. Read more: Lawrence County Draws Criticism From Parents With New Student Absence Policy Following the ruling, a senior staff attorney at the ACLU Women's Rights Project, Jennesa Calvo-Friedman, noted that government officials have argued that banning undocumented migrant children from accessing Head Start services will not start until Sept. 11. She said that the judge's delay of the government's efforts is welcome news, but argued that it does not provide the urgent relief they are asking for on behalf of Head Start children, families, and agencies. Targeting Undocumented Migrant Children When the Trump administration sought to prohibit undocumented migrant children from receiving assistance from Head Start, it required several federal agencies, including the Department of Education and the Department of Health, to submit official notices about the change, EdWeek reported. The restrictions on undocumented migrant children generally will not have any effect on services in K-12 schools. However, it would affect dual enrollment and early college programs that allow high school students to earn college credit. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that the government has diverted hardworking Americans' tax dollars to incentivize illegal immigration for too long. He added that the previous announcement changes this and restores integrity to federal social programs, enforces the rule of law, and protects vital resources for the American people, as per the Los Angeles Times. 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: Focusing on the neighborhood of Ortley Beach, Right After Hurricane Sandy (2012), Aerial view post Superstorm Sandy: Ortley. Credit: Dr. Laura Geronimo and Image Courtesy of Toms River 2014 Strategic Recovery Planning Report As climate hazards escalate, communities facing repetitive disasters in high-risk areas must weigh the economic and social trade-offs of rebuilding versus relocating. A Risk Analysis study has found that residents and government officials may have different ideas about how public funds should be spent to adapt to extreme weather events brought on by climate change. To examine the process of rebuilding in a coastal community, Rutgers University researchers focused on Ortley Beach, a barrier island neighborhood in Toms River, New Jersey. Ortley Beach was devastated by Superstorm Sandy in 2012, with around 200 homes destroyed. Ten years after the storm (in the summer of 2022), the scientists conducted detailed key-informant interviews with Ortley Beach residents and local, state, and federal officials with the help of the Ortley Beach Voters and Taxpayers Association (OBVTA). The central question asked was whether public resources should support staying or leaving the island in the wake of severe repetitive flood losses. A questionnaire investigated their values, beliefs and worldviewsto explore how those relate to their preferences for federal spending. Analysis of the results revealed important findings that could apply to "many communities on the frontlines of rising sea level and storm surgelike those in Florida, Texas, and Louisiana," says lead author Laura Geronimo, a 2024 doctoral graduate of Rutgers Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy Ph.D. and current Knauss Fellow with NOAA. 10 Years Later there are Development pressures as well as Erosion Troubles. Credit: Laura Geronimo Ortley Beach, NJ & nj.com (Rodas, 2023) What they found: Despite conflicting values, beliefs, and worldviews, all stakeholders identified the economic impacts of adaptationlike home elevations, beach nourishment, or buyoutsas a top concern, citing strain on household budgets, municipal finances, and challenges in prioritizing limited state and federal funding. Residents emphasized the steep costs of post-Sandy rebuilding and home elevation, with some incurring over $100,000 in out-of-pocket expenses. Many also mentioned sharp increases in insurance premiums after Sandy. Long-term residents were torn about whether federal and state subsidies should support efforts to stay or leave, citing concerns about how subsidies may create perverse incentives, distort coastal housing markets and catalyze gentrification. Many of these residents expressed support for considering alternatives like voluntary buyouts and nature-based solutions in long-range planning: "If we don't do something to plan it out, it is just going to be a bunch of homes underwater." State and federal officials also supported considering buyouts in long-range planning, echoing these concerns. In contrast, local officials favored rebuilding high-value properties and protecting exposed barrier island communities despite obvious risk, referencing the need to preserve tax revenues from high-value properties. Local officials tended to hold more individualistic-hierarchical worldviews, weaker beliefs in climate science and favored actions to protect high-value properties to preserve the tax base while externalizing costs. In contrast, some residents and most state and federal officials held more community-egalitarian worldviews, stronger beliefs in climate science and preferences for long-term adaptation strategies to reduce risk, including property buyouts. The study notes that, in 2022, the local government was Republican and the state and federal government was Democratic, while residents had mixed political ideologies. Process and impacts of rebuilding after the storms. Credit: Dr. Laura Geronimo "The contrast between local officials and residents reflects a broader cultural tension of whether to prioritize property values or human well-being when justifying protection measures," says Geronimo. In the U.S., high-risk areasparticularly coastal regionsface dual pressures: escalating flood risk and intensifying development. Federal fiscal arrangements, including disaster aid, insurance and hazard mitigation programs, have historically enabled rebuilding in the same exposed locations. But this approach is under growing scrutiny. Critics argue thatin some areas experiencing severe repetitive lossespublic funds may be more effectively used to support community-led relocation through tools like property buyouts and assistance. 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. While the Biden administration invested heavily in hazard mitigation, the Trump administration has rescinded billions in funds, according to Geronimo. "Communities like those on the Jersey Shore, which rely heavily on federal transfers, may soon face a fiscal cliff," she says. "Our study reveals that residents and officials across all levels of government are concerned about the financial implications of coastal risk strategiesunderscoring the need to clearly demonstrate the long-term economic benefits of alternatives like voluntary relocation and to bolster both household and local fiscal resilience to climate and political shocks." She and her co-authors recommend enhancing individual and local financial resilience through diversified revenue streams, proactive risk-based planning, innovative insurance models, and more transparent accounting of the long-term costs of rebuilding in high-risk areas. The methods and findings from this research are also valuable for communities experiencing extreme or repetitive losses from other types of hazards, including fire, tornadoes and extreme precipitationsuch as the recent tragedy along the Guadalupe River in Texas Hill Country. "The parallel examples of Ortley Beach and Camp Mystic illustrate that when rebuilding is allowed in repetitive loss areas, lives are at stake," says Geronimo. More information: After the storm: To rebuild or relocate?, Risk Analysis (2025). Journal information: Risk Analysis Provided by Society for Risk Analysis This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain SpaceX was not one of Amazon's original choices to fly its Project Kuiper broadband internet satellites, but Elon Musk's company just knocked out its second launch in less than a month for the company that seeks to compete with SpaceX's Starlink. After four days of missed launch opportunities, SpaceX was back Monday for a successful fifth try, as a Falcon 9 lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station's Space Launch Complex 40 at 8:35 a.m. Eastern time on the KA-02 mission, carrying 24 more satellites for Amazon's growing constellation. The launch came after weather scrubs on Saturday at the launch site and Sunday at the booster recovery site. A pair of Thursday and Friday attempts were also called off as SpaceX took time to perform additional vehicle checks. The first-stage booster for the mission made its first flight and will attempt a recovery landing downrange on the droneship A Shortfall of Gravitas stationed in the Atlantic. The launch comes less than four weeks since SpaceX flew the first of three contracted flights for Amazon. The majority of Amazon's missions for what aims to be a 3,236-satellite constellation were contracted out to United Launch Alliance. ULA flew an Atlas V in 2023 with the first pair of test satellites, and has flown two more Atlas V missions this year, marking the beginning of more than 80 operational missions planned to get them all into orbit before summer 2029. The Federal Communications Commission set a July 2026 deadline, though, when it doled out its license to Amazon for the company to have half of them in orbit. Delays to the primary launch service providers' rocketsincluding ULA's new Vulcan Centaur, Bezos's own Blue Origin New Glenn and Arianespace's Ariane 6 rocketsforced Amazon to seek out the assist from SpaceX. With the 27 satellites from each Atlas V launch and the 24 each from the Falcon 9 launches, the total number of operational satellites in space has now reached 102. ULA has six more Atlas V launches that should all fly before next summer's deadline, but also intends to begin flying the first of its 38 contracted Vulcan Centaur launches this year as well. Vulcan has about a 45-satellite capacity, so it should be able to chip away at what would be the 1,618 needed by mid-2026. It could be that Amazon seeks out more launch help from SpaceX or gets an updated FCC timeline if it comes up short in the next 12 months. SpaceX's final contracted mission and the rest of the Atlas V launches would bring the total number of satellites in space to only 288, meaning Amazon would need another 1,330 to reach that halfway threshold. That means another 30 missions from either Vulcan or Amazon's other providers. It's unclear when Blue Origin would fly its first of 12 New Glenn missions (with an option for 15 more), as that heavy-lift rocket has only flown once, back in January, and its second flight is set aside for a mission to send a pair of satellites to Mars for NASA. That flight won't come until at least this fall. Arianespace's Ariane 6, which has secured 18 launches for Amazon, has also only flown once, but a second mission is slated for later this August, just not for Amazon yet. 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. SpaceX will likely knock out its third launch for Amazon as soon as more satellites are prepared at Amazon's processing facility at Kennedy Space Center. Right now, Amazon is capable of manufacturing five satellites a day at its Washington facilities. They are then shipped to Florida for final prep at the $140 million site built on land leased from Space Florida adjacent to the former space shuttle landing site. At full capacity, the processing site can prep satellites for three launches concurrently as ULA, SpaceX and Blue Origin all fly from Cape Canaveral. The SpaceX launch marks the 67th from all companies on the Space Coast for the year, with all but three from SpaceX. It was also the 50th among all companies from CCSFS with the other 17 from Kennedy Space Center. ULA's next launch, though, could come Tuesday night, on what would be its third ever for its Vulcan Centaur and first for a national security mission after the Space Force certified the new rocket following two missions flown in 2024. The USSF-106 flight is targeting liftoff from Canaveral's Space Launch Complex 41 during a launch window that runs from 7:59-8:59 p.m. 2025 Orlando Sentinel. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain 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. 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. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 launcheseven those done for the private benefit of Musk's company, Starlinkalso benefit U.S. military objectives. 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. 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 proliferating 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 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." 2025 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain After enduring centuries of hunting, habitat loss, and disease, North American beavers (Castor canadensis) are making a comebackand bringing benefits for both humans and nature with them. Equipped with findings from a new study published in Communications Earth & Environment, a team of researchers from Stanford and the University of Minnesota aims to ensure that beavers return to or establish new homes in areas with the biggest bang for their buck. The research reveals some of the factors that determine how well beavers can function within a given watershed. The findings could inform decisions about how to manage habitats, wildlife, and waterways. "Our findings can help land managers figure out where beaver activity will have the biggest impact," said lead study author Luwen Wan, a postdoctoral fellow in Earth system science at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and the Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence. "It gives them a practical tool for using nature to solve water and climate problems." Although beavers often receive a bad reputation when their dams flood a farmer's field or block drainage from a busy highway, their dynamic and rapid dam construction makes them superheroes in natural watershed management. Beaver dams create cool ponds that foster biodiversity, improve water quality, and even limit the spread of wildfires. They frequently construct multiple dams within an area, creating a wetland network of surface water and vegetation known as "beaver wetland complexes." These complexes provide long-term freshwater storage and recharge groundwatera crucial benefit, especially in the American West, where dwindling surface water supplies are the result of years of sustained climate change-driven drought and over-allocation of surface water supplies, as seen in the Upper Colorado River Basin. "Beavers are naturally doing a lot of the things that we try to do as humans to manage river corridors," said study senior author Kate Maher, a professor of Earth system science at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and a senior fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment. "Humans will build one structure, leave it there, and hope it lasts for many decades. Beavers, on the other hand, build little, tiny dams where they're needed and flexibly manage what's going on with the water in their environment." Maher and Wan collaborated with Emily Fairfax, a beaver expert at the University of Minnesota who has mapped beaver dams through topographic surveys and remote sensing imagery for years. However, traditional surveys in remote areas limit the scale and detail needed to holistically map beaver ponds and their impact on hydrology and ecology. Additionally, dams and ponds are often too small for satellite imagery to capture. The new study details how the team mapped more than 80 beaver pond complexes across diverse regions in Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and Oregon using high-resolution aerial imagery from the USDA National Agricultural Imagery Program. 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. They then identified key factors influencing variations in beaver dam length and pond area. Their approach allowed the researchers to link pond size to unique landscape features like topography, vegetation, climate, soil characteristics, and stream hydrology. For instance, they found that longer dams were correlated with larger ponds, which in turn could increase ecosystem benefits like cooler local air temperatures and more fish habitat. Despite the potential for wetland resilience and restoration, beaver activity can create problems for nearby communities. New dams can temporarily reduce water flows, putting stress on downstream water users already struggling to find sufficient surface water supplies during drought conditions. Unmanaged beaver populations can pose a flooding threat to homes, crops, and infrastructure. "There's definitely a lot of exuberance around reintroducing beavers, and it may not be that every beaver reintroduction project is the right one to pursue," said Maher. "It's important to understand those trade-offs and the risks and rewards from either intentionally reintroducing beavers, or just their natural return to watersheds." The team's research highlights the possibility of achieving dual benefits by relocating so-called "nuisance beavers" to watersheds with the capacity to support a beaver population and maximize the natural benefits beavers create. Wan also notes that the approach could help decision-makers understand the impact of beaver-inspired human structures like beaver dam analogs (BDAs) and other nature-based water management structures. Moving forward, Wan and Maher are eager to collaborate with Jeannette Bohg, an assistant professor of computer science in the Stanford School of Engineering and co-investigator on the project, to apply machine learning methods to their mapping. Ultimately, the researchers envision dynamic risk maps that policymakers, watershed managers, and ecologists can use to quantitatively evaluate where, when, and how to bring back beavers. More information: Factors influencing surface water accumulation in beaver pond complexes across the Western United States, Communications Earth & Environment (2025). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-025-02573-x Journal information: Communications Earth & Environment 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: Map of the U.S. selected significant climate anomalies and events in July 2025. Credit: NOAA Headquarters Warm overnight minimum temperatures set July records, impacting more than 55 million people across the eastern states. In July, 1,434 flash flood warningsthe second-highest July total in 40 yearsand 17 flash flood emergencies were issued nationwide, along with over 2,000 preliminary flood-related storm reports. Most notably, catastrophic flooding in the Texas Hill Country in early July resulted in at least 135 fatalities, following extreme rainfall of up to 20 inches over just a few days. Temperature The average temperature for the contiguous U.S. (CONUS) in July 2025 was 75.4F, 1.8F above the 20th-century average, ranking in the warmest third of the 131-year record. Temperatures were above average across much of the Mountain West and much above average across the eastern U.S., while most of the Plains saw near-average conditions. Virginia and West Virginia each tied their warmest July on record, while all Atlantic coastal states from Florida to Delaware saw temperatures that ranked among their four warmest. Warmth during the overnight hours was especially notable, with record-warm average minimum temperatures in 12 states spanning the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley. Alaska's average temperature for July was 55.3F, 2.6F above the 19252000 average, ranking in the warmest third of the 101-year record. Much of the state, particularly the North Slope, saw above-average temperatures. Hawaii's average temperature was 69.3F, 0.5F above the 19912020 average, placing it in the middle third of the 35-year record. For the year to date (JanuaryJuly), the CONUS averaged 53.3F, 2.0F above average, also ranking in the warmest third of the historical record. Temperatures were above average across most of the country, with several states in the West and Southeast much above average. Alaska's year-to-date average temperature was 30.9F, 5.1F above average, marking its fourth-warmest JanuaryJuly on record. Hawaii tied its warmest JanuaryJuly period on record, with an average temperature of 66.3F. July U.S. Mean Temperature Departures from Average Map. Credit: NOAA Headquarters Precipitation The average precipitation for the CONUS in July was 3.00 inches, 0.22 inches above the 20th-century average, ranking the wettest third of the 131-year record. July featured a patchwork of wet and dry conditions across the country. Below-average rainfall was observed in the Southwest, Great Basin and central Rockies, as well as much of the Southeast and Northeast. In contrast, above-average precipitation occurred across parts of the Plains, the middle and upper Mississippi Valley and portions of the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic. Highlighting this variation, Utah experienced its second-driest July on record, while Iowa recorded its second wettest. Alaska averaged 2.75 inches of precipitation for the month, 0.53 inches below the 19252000 average, placing it in the driest third of the 101-year record. Much of the state received below-normal precipitation. Hawaii received 3.06 inches, 1.58 inches below the 19912020 average, also ranking in the driest third of its 35-year record. The JanuaryJuly precipitation total for the CONUS was 18.81 inches, 0.73 inch above the long-term average. Precipitation was below average across most of the West, while much of the Plains and Mississippi and Ohio Valleys were above average for the year to date. Alaska recorded 19.37 inches of precipitation from January through July, 2.46 inches above average, ranking in the wettest third of its 101-year record. Hawaii received 25.24 inches over the same period, 9.15 inches below average, placing it in the driest third of its 35-year record. 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. Drought According to the July 29 U.S. Drought Monitor report, about 31.0% of the contiguous U.S. was in drought, a decrease of approximately 1.4% since the beginning of the month. Drought persisted across much of the western CONUS, continuing to expand or intensify in the Northwest and central Rockies. Drought contracted or was reduced in intensity across parts of the Plains, the upper Mississippi Valley and the Florida Peninsula. July 2025 U.S. Total Precipitation Percentiles. Credit: NOAA Headquarters Notable Flooding Events In July, the National Weather Service issued 1,434 flash flood warnings and 17 flash flood emergencies across the nation. Major flooding events included the following: July 47: The Texas Hill Country endured one of the deadliest flash floods in state history, with at least 135 fatalities. A rapidly moving mesoscale convective complexfueled by moisture from Tropical Storm Barry's remnantsdumped up to 20 inches of rain, triggering catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe River. July 57: The remnants of Tropical Storm Chantal stalled over central North Carolina, delivering 812 inches of rain. The resulting flooding led to multiple rescues and three fatalities in Chatham County. July 8: Heavy monsoon rain over burn scars near Ruidoso, New Mexico, triggered flash flooding that killed three people, destroyed multiple homes and prompted over 80 water rescues. The Rio Ruidoso crested at a record 20.2 feet. July 8: In Chicago, more than 5 inches fell near the United Center in just 90 minutes, flooding viaducts and prompting water rescues. July 1415: A slow-moving storm system dropped 36+ inches of rain across parts of New Jersey and the New York City metropolitan area, including more than 2 inches in one hour in Central Parka July record. Flash flooding caused two deaths in New Jersey and prompted states of emergency in both states. July 2425: Severe storms brought damaging winds and up to 6 inches of rain in under 90 minutes, triggering widespread flooding across Chicago. July 31: A rapidly developing convective system along the I-95 corridor brought rainfall rates exceeding 2 inches per hour, with up to 5 inches in New York City and 7 inches in parts of New Jersey. Flash flooding once again prompted emergency declarations in both states. Monthly Outlook Above-average temperatures are favored across much of the West and East, with increased likelihood over the Southwest and central Rockies, the Florida Peninsula and the far Northeast. Precipitation is likely to be below average from West Texas through the central and southern Rockies into the Four Corners area, while much of the Southeast is expected to experience above-average rainfall. In Alaska, warmer and wetter-than-average conditions are favored in the southeast, in contrast to below-average precipitation expected in the northwest. Drought is expected to persist across much of the western third of the country and in some areas of the Plains. 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: State foresters are tracking the spread of beech leaf disease in the Jericho Research Forest, the northernmost spot where the pathogen has been identified in Vermont. (Right) Jess Wikle, manager of UVM's research forests, helped identify newly-infected trees this summer. Credit: Vermont Dept of Forests, Parks & Recreation Near the bottom of a shady hillside in Jericho, a lone beech tree stretches high into the canopy, a relic of a bygone forest. Through luck or (hopefully) genetics, this mighty tree has avoided contracting beech bark diseasea fatal fungal pathogen that has proven deadly to mature beech trees. And it stands just outside a hotspot where a new pathogen called beech leaf disease (BLD) is spreading across Vermont forests. "Beech is here a lot as a sapling but if you look out into the forest it's not really common in the overstory," said Jess Wikle Ph.D. '24, lecturer in forestry and manager of the University of Vermont's Research Forests. "There is a reason for that." In the late 1800s, beech bark disease arrived in Nova Scotia and slowly expanded throughout Northeast forests. By the 1960s it was prevalent in Vermont. The disease is caused by infestations of a tiny scale insect that introduces a fungal infection to the vascular tissue of the tree. The once smooth beech bark gains a pock-marked appearance. While the disease progresses slowly, estimates suggest between 50 and 90% of mature beech eventually die from it. "There are definitely way fewer big trees than there used to be," said Wikle, "but there are still trees that have resisted the beech bark disease for a long time." The beech trees that do succumb often send out a series of root sprouts before they die, turning a forest of big trees into a thicket of saplings. Beech leaf disease is different. It seems to be spreading faster and young beech trees tend to die first. "Beech leaf disease is really scary because if it impacts those trees then we are losing our future seed sources," Wikle said. BLD first emerged in the United States in Ohio about a decade ago, likely by way of infected nursery stock from Asia, and has steadily expanded across eastern forests. Five counties in Vermont have confirmed outbreaks with the Jericho Research Forest as its northernmost point. That is why one morning in late June, Wikle and two UVM forestry interns met with scientists from Vermont's Department of Forests, Parks & Recreation to map new infections. A cloud of mosquitoes hung in the air. "We don't know how beech leaf disease is spreading," explained Savannah Ferreira, a forest pathologist for the state. "The leading hypothesis is that it's windwhich is not good." Tracking a new forest pathogen Last spring, Wikle was doing trail maintenance in the Jericho Research Forest when she reached for a branch and saw dark striping on a leafthe telltale first sign of beech leaf disease. "When you see it it's a very distinctive symptom," she said. The disease is caused by a microscopic nematode that destroys the mesophyll layer in leaves where photosynthesis occurs. It becomes a chronic condition that deforms the leaf structure, gradually starving trees to death. "When it showed up on the research forest I was like 'This is terrible!'" Wikle said. "But also, if [beech leaf disease] could be anywhere at least it's here and we can study it." She and a team of UVM students mapped the extent of the outbreak last fall with state and federal foresters, including Cameron McIntire, a plant pathologist with the U.S. Forest Service in New Hampshire. He collected leaf litter and soil samples to measure the rate of infection spread over time and to determine if the nematode is present in soils before visual symptoms occur in trees. "We want to catch the edge," explained Ferreira. The Forest Service has monitored the progression of beech leaf disease for years and funds research projects to identify potential treatment and control methods for trees in landscaped and forested settings. While some interventions have shown promise such as fertilizer applications and injections, these are not scalable for forest standsat least, not yet. But despite an uncertain prognosis, McIntire is not giving up on beech trees. "We know very little about how BLD will affect long-term survival," he wrote in an email. "It appears that American beech has very little natural resistance to BLD, and human intervention may be necessary to ensure healthy forests into the future." 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. Mapping the spread The untrained eye can easily miss detecting beech leaf disease. Sometimes only a single leaf on a branch will show banding. But pruning trees is not necessarily a viable management option. "The nematodes are not visible to the human eye," Wikle said. "So just because you don't see it doesn't mean they aren't there." She worries the disease will be problematic in places such as northern Vermont, where beech is the only masting tree that produces large quantities of nuts for species like bear, deer, and turkey across northern New England. "Here in Chittenden County, there is oak as a backup, and hickory," Wikle said. Together we walked the northern transect of the forest, which mainly means hiking off trail and over fallen trees. We passed through patches of ferns, stopping every few feet to inspect trees along the route. Eventually we spotted a pristine beech specimen downslope. It looked like a stranger in its native forest with no sign of pockmarking, no sign of the wasting disease slowly marching through the forest. "So many trees have succumbed to forest pests, I wish I could have seen these forests 100 years ago," Wikle said. Humans have transformed American forests for centuries as both Indigenous populations and early settlers shaped the landscape depending on their needs. Sometimes, our actions had unintended effects. In the early 1900s, an invasive blight disappeared most of the American chestnut from eastern forests. Global trade accelerated the pace of change as new invasive pests and pathogens have reduced the presence of elms and hemlocks. Once invasive species are released in new environments, they can be nearly impossible to stop. "It's about co-evolution," Wikle explained. "All of the native trees here have native pests that have been around for thousands of years. They co-evolved together so the trees have some defenses against them. . But when [an invasive] pest gets to America, the trees have never had to respond to it before." Finding trees that show resistance to emerging biological threats is key to their survival. Nick Aflitto, an assistant professor of forest health at UVM, hangs rubber lures to infected beech trees in the Jericho Research Forest to better understand the behavior of the microscopic nematode. Credit: Nick Aflitto. Managing infected forests People notice when wildfire wipes out a forest. But beech trees can live for years after becoming infected with beech leaf disease. This lag time can reduce the sense of urgency to the problem, explained Tony D'Amato, professor of forestry in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources and director of the forestry program. But this slow-moving killer also buys scientists a chance to learn about it and develop management plans. For instance, should we plant additional varieties of masting trees to support wildlife? Do we wait for beech survivors that have natural resistance to emerge? Do we double efforts to find treatments? D'Amato studies adaptation strategies for forests in a time of rapid change because many forests are warming significantly faster than trees can naturally expand their range through seed dispersal. D'Amato's projects involve testing assisted migration efforts such as planting species just beyond their historic range or to new sites within their existing range to study how they fare as the world warms. We often look at trying to create redundancy to maintain forest function, said D'Amato. Diverse forests are more resilient when disturbances occur and by eastern standards, Vermont's forests are diverse with over 30 tree species. "We are lucky we already have a deck with more than two cards in it," D'Amato said. As beech leaf disease spreads, he cautioned against taking action simply to do something. This is the time "to monitor and learn as much as we can," he said. "No tree is immune to a chain saw." Zooming in on the problem The tiny nematode behind this giant mess remains something of a mystery. Scientists have found the nematode can survive under snowpack, and it has been found inside insects, bird droppings, and spore traps. While it increasingly appears that the nematode is transported by wind and water, it may travel outside the advancing front by birds or on the bottom of a hiker's shoe. Nick Aflitto, an assistant professor of forest health at UVM, aims to better understand this microscopic menace. Nematodes don't have great vision or acoustic signaling abilities, Aflitto said. Learning how this species of nematode uses chemical signaling to find beech trees in the forest may also help stop them. Aflitto studies semiochemical signaling such as the pheromones ants emit when they find a food source. Depending on the signature, compounds can greenlight a route or act as warning signs to danger ahead. Plants do this too. Think of the smell of mown grassAflitto explained. Leaves munched by animals or insects produce a scent for other plants nearby to raise their defense systems. "There is huge potential for using it for invasive species," he said. "But we need to be able to detect them first." In the spring, Aflitto began attaching small rubber traps soaked in chemical compounds to diseased beech trees to attract the nematode and learn more about its behavior. His lab uses artificial intelligence to predict new biocontrols that may fast track the development of control methods for emerging forest pests. "We have been manipulating the odorscape for a long time," Aflitto said. "It does work." Using chemical compounds to attract or deter invasive species carries less risk of off-target effects than using biological controls such as introducing another species to an ecosystem to eat the invasive one. "While we are getting better at it, we've seen that go wrong time and time again," Aflitto said. Holding out hope Back in the Jericho Research Forest, the mapping team convenes at the epicenter of the outbreak. They tramp uphill to explore a vernal pool Ferreira flagged the year before as a site of interest. "I think I have one over here," said Mack Gamache, a rising senior, as he inspected a branch. Ferreira logged the point in her phone and continued forward. The woods quickly filled with a chorus of people confirming diseased trees. We aren't far outside the perimeter of the initial outbreak, but each positive identification weighs heavily. Gamache and Eli Gottman, a rising junior, recently measured a stand of chestnut trees planted over a decade ago as part of a research project to study how planted seedlings fare in the wild. About a third of the 400 planted died, Gamache said. "But there were a lot of survivors," Gamache said. "It's a very optimistic feeling." The information could help foresters one day repopulate eastern forests with chestnut trees resistant to blight. "It's one piece of the puzzle," Wikle said. Ferreira hopes the next few years will yield even more. When the emerald ash borer first emerged, it was alarming because of how little scientists knew about the problem, she said. "But now we have biocontrols for it; we have chemical controls for it. We know how to manage ash in the forest. We know that there are lingering naturally resistant ash trees. I think it's going to be kind of shocking when we get this first wave of [beech leaf disease] spreading, but I am staying hopeful that we are going to learn a lot in the next couple of years." There are bright spots. Vermont was the last New England state to report beech leaf disease. There may be protective factors scientists haven't uncovered yet. And while historically, beech is not a beloved tree for its economic benefits, beech has a high ecological value. "They have their own network of mushrooms and wildlife that depend on them," Ferreira said. "It does feel like a lot of doom and gloom, but there are a lot of eyes looking at this pest. I am staying hopeful that there is lingering beech." This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: University of Oxford New research into a remarkable Viking-Age silver hoard discovered in North Yorkshire, led by Dr. Jane Kershaw, Associate Professor of Viking Age Archaeology, School of Archaeology, has shed light on the international scope of Viking wealthrevealing that a significant proportion of the silver originated not from local raids, but from long-distance trade networks extending deep into the Islamic world. The study used geochemical analysis to trace the origins of silver ingots and jewelry items from the Bedale hoard, discovered in 2012. The results show that while the bulk of the silver derives from western European sourceslikely from Anglo-Saxon and Carolingian coinage acquired through raiding or ransoma substantial portion originated from Islamic silver coinage, or dirhams, transported via Scandinavian trade routes. The hoard, which includes 29 silver ingots and several elaborate neck-rings, dates to the late ninth or early tenth century and reflects the blending of different cultural and economic influences in Viking Age England. Significantly, the analysis confirms that the Vikings did not rely solely on looting to accumulate wealth, but also participated in far-reaching commercial networks stretching across Europe and into the Middle East and Central Asia. Dr. Jane Kershaw, Gad Rausing Associate Professor of Viking Age Archaeology at the School of Archaeology, said, "Most of us tend to think of the Vikings primarily as raiders, who looted monasteries and other wealthy places in search of wealth. What the analysis of the Bedale hoard shows is that that is only part of the picture." "The Vikings did loot and pillageand some of that wealth is preserved in the rings and ingots in the hoard. But they also made great profits from long-distance trade routes connecting northern Europe to the Islamic Caliphate. We can now see that they brought large quantities of this Islamic silver with them when they established settlements in England. "I love to think how Bedaletoday a quintessentially English market town in north Yorkshirewas, in the Viking Age, at the heart of a much wider, Eurasian Viking economy. The Vikings weren't only extracting wealth from the local population, they were also bringing wealth with them when they raided and settled." Using a combination of lead isotope and trace element analyses, the team, including researchers at the British Geological Survey, identified three principal sources of silver in the hoard: western European coinage, Islamic dirhams, and mixed sources reflecting a blend of both. Notably, nine of the ingotsaccounting for nearly a third of the hoard's silverwere geochemically matched to silver minted in the Islamic Caliphate, particularly in regions corresponding to modern-day Iran and Iraq. This silver would have reached Scandinavia via the eastern trade routes known as the Austrvegr, and then traveled onwards to England. The findings also reveal that Viking metalworkers in both Scandinavia and England refined some of the silver using locally available lead, such as from the North Pennines, suggesting sophisticated metalworking practices and local production. One striking object, a large neck-ring formed from multiple twisted rods, appears to have been cast using a blend of eastern and western silver, possibly in northern England. The analysis contributes to a growing body of evidence that Viking wealth acquisition was more complex and interconnected than previously believed. While military campaigns and the extraction of tribute remained important, they were part of a broader economic strategy that included commercial exchange, melting down of imported coins, and recasting silver into standardized ingots and jewelry for circulation within the Scandinavian bullion economy. The research underscores how scientific techniques such as geochemical analysis can illuminate the economic foundations of Viking settlement and integration in England. It is published in Archaeometry. More information: Jane Kershaw et al, The Provenance of Silver in the Viking-Age Hoard From Bedale, North Yorkshire, Archaeometry (2025). DOI: 10.1111/arcm.70031 Journal information: Archaeometry The family of a 12-year-old girl from Pennsylvania who died in a tragic electric scooter crash is pushing for a new law to regulate the use of the motorized vehicle. The victim was identified as Abby Gillon, who was said to have been riding an electric scooter with a friend on June 14 in Aston. However, the two girls then fell and were struck by a passing car, killing Abby and injuring her friend. Fatal Electric Scooter Crash Two months after the tragic incident, Abby's heartbroken mother, Lori Kralle, is sharing her grief by remembering how she desperately sought answers about her daughter's condition after a nurse called from the emergency room. The mother said that it was one of the worst phone calls that a parent can get in their lifetime. She remembered how she repeatedly kept asking, "Is she alert? Is she responsive?" However, the hospital was not able to give her an answer about her daughter. Abby was an honor student who attended Ridley Middle School and was said to have loved swimming, cheerleading, and making other people smile. Her sudden death came as a shock to the entire community, according to Fox10TV. The 12-year-old girl's family is now turning their grief into action and is working with a state legislator to pass Abby's Law. The legislation introduces various rules, such as a cap on e-scooter speeds of 20 miles per hour, a ban on riders under the age of 16 years, and requiring helmets for 16- and 17-year-old individuals. The late girl's uncle, Ron Kralle, also created a Facebook page to raise awareness and gather support for the legislation the family is championing. So far, thousands of people have already joined as momentum continues to grow. Pushing for a New Law Ron noted that there are still people who argue that their rights cannot be taken away, but noted that people hear more and more scooter incidents happening. One example is when two 14-year-olds got seriously injured while riding a scooter in nearby Springfield, CBS News reported. Abby's death comes as electric scooters are becoming more and more popular, especially among younger individuals. However, the Kralle family believes that current laws have not been able to keep up. Other than the family's efforts to push for the new law, some local municipalities have already outlawed electric scooters, such as Ridley Township. St. Sen. Tim Kearney of Swarthmore said that they want to make sure that tragedies, such as the one that befell the Kralle family, do not happen to others, as per Fox29. Company announcement No. 15/2025 Inside information Aquaporin A/S Nymllevej 78 DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby aquaporin.com Company registration no.: DK28315694 KONGENS LYNGBY, Denmark, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Aquaporin A/S (ticker: AQP) ("Aquaporin" or the "Company"), an innovative water technology company dedicated to rethinking water filtration with biotechnology, today announces, pursuant to the Market Abuse Regulation on publication of inside information, that the Company is lowering its revenue guidance for the financial year ending December 31, 2025, previously published on March 20, 2025, and initiates a strategic review to strengthen its capital structure. The updated revenue guidance is adjusted to DKK 40-50 million (previously DKK 60-80 million). Aquaporin's three business areas Residential Drinking Water, Industrial Water, and Forward Osmosis Market Development are expected to contribute approximately equally to the consolidated revenue in 2025. The guidance for EBITDA (before special items) remains unchanged with an expected loss in the range of DKK (45)-(55) million. The revised revenue guidance is the result of a lower inflow of orders in 2025 as well as a delay in certain orders. The updated range includes already-recognized revenue, firm commitments, and a larger soft commitment. In line with previous years, the Company expects the largest part of the revenue to materialize in the second half of 2025. "Although the run-up to materialize orders in 2025 has been slower than expected, I believe Aquaporin has a strong foundation in terms of pipeline and potential to progress its commercial traction in the coming years. I look forward to exploring further opportunities for the company as part of a strategic review to strengthen our balance sheet as we continue our growth journey," says Ulrik Lund Jakobsen, Chief Executive Officer at Aquaporin. To ensure sufficient capital in the years following 2025, and to support further growth, the Company has initiated a strategic review to explore multiple opportunities to raise capital, including equity or debt financing and/or through a strategic transaction or partnership. The Company will publish its Half-Year Interim Report 2025 on August 21, 2025. For further information, please contact: Ulrik Lund Jakobsen, Chief Executive Officer Klaus Juhl Wulff, Chief Financial Officer +45 53 55 55 19, [email protected] About Aquaporin Aquaporin is an innovative water technology company with operations in Denmark (HQ), Singapore, Turkey, the United States, and China. We are committed to rethinking water filtration with biotechnology to solve global water challenges. By combining three disciplines from the world of natural sciences: biology, chemistry, and physics, we have created the unique, nature-inspired Aquaporin Inside technology which we embed into all our membranes and solutions. Our technology is based on Nobel Prize-winning research and is used to clean and reuse water in industries, in our homes, and even by NASA in space. We work with customers and partners around the globe to responsibly treat industrial wastewater, concentrate food and beverage products in a natural way, and enhance drinking water quality and accessibility. Forward-looking statements Matters discussed in this report may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and that can be identified by words such as "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "will", "may", "continue", "should", and similar expressions, as well as other statements regarding future events or prospects. Specifically, this report includes information with respect to projections, estimates, and targets that also constitute forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this report are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions. Although the Company believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies, and other important factors which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond its control. Such risks, uncertainties, and other important factors include, among others: Limited experience in commercialization of the Company's products, failure to successfully implement strategies, dependence on third parties for manufacturing certain product components and the supply of certain raw materials, manufacturing disruptions, strategic collaboration, protection of the Company's intellectual property rights and other risks disclosed in Aquaporin's annual reports and company announcements. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies, and other important factors could cause actual events to differ materially from the expectations, projections, estimates, and targets expressed or implied in this report by such forward-looking statements. The information, opinions, and forward-looking statements contained in this report speak only as at its date and are subject to change without notice. Aquaporin expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except as required by law. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/aquaporin-a-s/r/aquaporin-lowers-revenue-guidance-for-2025--but-maintains-ebitda-guidance--and-initiates-strategic-r,c4216764 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/22362/4216764/3605553.pdf 15-2025 Aquaporin lowers revenue guidance for 2025, but maintains EBITDA guidance, and initiates strategic review https://news.cision.com/aquaporin-a-s/i/071119-aquaporin-00867-sh,c3460047 071119-AQUAPORIN 00867-sh SOURCE Aquaporin A/S Federal fishery inspectors seize more than 4,200 tons of illegally caught marine products from Mexican waters Riviera Maya, Q.R. The state of Quintana Roo is part of the more than 4,200 tons of illegally caught fish products confiscated so far this year. In the first six months of 2025, the National Aquaculture and Fisheries Commission says they have seized over 4,200 tons of poached marine products and arrested 15 people. Authorities also seized 7,689 unauthorized pieces of fishing gear, 220 vehicles, 79 boat motors, 107 small boats and four large boats. The results, they say, is reflected in the strengthening in the fight against illegal fishing, a priority for the Ministry of Agriculture to ensure the responsible use of Mexicos aquatic resources. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, through the National Commission for Aquaculture and Fisheries (Conapesca), along with the Ministry of the Marina, carried out precautionary seizures of 4,265.8 tons of illegal fishery products in 18 states during the first half of this year. Conapesca has stepped up the enforcement of poaching laws around the country this year. The report from the General Directorate of Inspection and Surveillance, an area attached to Conapesca, details that in the states of Baja California, Baja California Sur, Campeche, Colima, Chiapas, Chihuahua, Mexico City, Jalisco, Michoacan, Nayarit, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Yucatan and Quintana Roo, seizures were carried out as part of inspection and surveillance operations. Illegally placed nets were seized here during a federal inspection. Conapesca fishing officers and Marina personnel also conducted 1,301 water tours, 7,955 land tours, installed 1,450 checkpoints and held 1,516 prevention-focused talks to combat illegal fishing and conserve marine ecosystems as well as to ensure the future of the industry while at the same time, that of the thousands of families who depend on this essential activity to strengthen the countrys food sovereignty. Federal inspections are carried out at sea and on land. In January, Conapesca inspectors seized a boat and poached fish from an Isla Mujeres vessel. Inspectors reported intercepting vessel Jose Antonio I as it arrived at the Puerto Juarez dock. On board, federal fishery inspectors found 2,000 kilos of illegally caught grouper. Federal inspectors found 2,000 kilos of illegally captured fish on an Isla Mujeres vessel in January. Inspection efforts have also been stepped up in waters off Chetumal. At the start of the year, federal authorities said they would continue routine searches for poachers off coast of Chetumal. Conapesca maintains the telephone line 669 915 6913 available to the public 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to report illegal activities or file complaints. State program created to validate real estate appraisers and their appraisals Riviera Maya, Q.R. The state of Quintana Roo continues its battle against ongoing real estate fraud. State Secretary Cristina Torres Gomez says Quintana Roo is in the process of creating programs to curb corruption in the real estate sector. Torres Gomez says one of the programs that has been created is validated appraisers and appraisals. She explained that the state has created a program to regulate real estate appraisers who may alter true property costs for tax purposes. She says the states program seeks to ensure that appraisals are not manipulated to reduce taxes, that construction permits are not obtained irregularly and that land is not used for fraudulent purposes. She says the program also ensures that the declared value of the appraised real estate complies with current tax regulations. Therefore, if it is found that the state is being deceived with an altered appraisal or by an non-registered appraiser, fines will be applied. According to Torres Gomez, real estate appraisers need to be registered and meet established requirements to validate an appraisal. The state created the validated appraisal program because there were people who rigged the appraisals, faked the appraisals. These are not ordinary people, these are people who own properties worth millions of dollars and they rigged their true value. State Secretary Cristina Torres Gomez Cases of this have been detected in several northern municipalities, so what were looking for is for the appraiser to have passed a verification process as well as be registered. This already exists at the federal level, so what we did was create it at the local level. Weve already initiated processes to sanction those who dont meet the requirements of both substance and form, she explained. In the state, real estate appraisals for tax purposes must be validated by the Quintana Roo Tax Administration Service (SATQ), which verifies that the appraisal complies with current regulations. Torres Gomez noted that more than a dozen notaries are currently being investigated for going along with altered real estate appraisals. Should it be discovered that they have been involved in arranging changes of ownership or property values with the goal of reducing the tax payable, there will be consequences, she said. She says there are currently 14 notary investigations under way for possible real estate fraud. She added that between eight and 10 percent of state notaries have accusations against them for malpractice, and are therefore at risk of losing their license. "Regional Adoption, Expanding Applications, and Emerging Opportunities Drive Growth in TelemedicineFrom Telepsychiatry to IT-Enabled Healthcare Platforms" BOSTON, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest study from BCC Research, the "Global Markets for Telemedicine Technologies" is projected to grow from $146.9 billion in 2025 to $251.5 billion by the end of 2030, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.3% from 2025 to 2030. This report offers a comprehensive review of the telemedicine technologies market, focusing on its rapid growth. key players and their competitive strategies, innovations, and regional opportunities, while also examining market drivers like virtual consultations and patient demand for remote care. The market is segmented by hardware, software, and services, and categorized by end-users such as homes and healthcare providers. It also explores emerging technologies, regulatory landscapes, and trends across major regions and countries. Overall, the report underscores telemedicine's expanding role in modern healthcare, driven by digital tools, remote monitoring, and increasing patient adoption. This report is particularly relevant today because telemedicine has gained widespread acceptance following the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in urban areas. It offers a vital solution for people in rural or remote regions to access healthcare services. Beyond consultations, telemedicine enables patients to undergo regular check-ups, diagnoses, imaging, and even surgeries through virtual platforms. With reduced waiting times and increased convenience, telemedicine has become one of the most efficient ways to connect with physicians and receive timely care. The factors driving the market's growth include: Growing Trend of Asynchronous Telemedicine: Asynchronous telemedicine allows patients and healthcare providers to communicate without needing to be online at the same time. This includes sharing medical data, images, or messages through secure platforms. It enhances flexibility, reduces wait times, and expands access to care, especially in rural or underserved areas. Implementation of the Internet of Things in Telemedicine: IoT devices like wearables and remote sensors are transforming telemedicine by enabling real-time health monitoring. These tools collect and transmit patient data continuously, allowing for timely interventions and personalized care. This integration boosts efficiency and supports proactive healthcare delivery. Telemedicine for Chronic Disease Management: Telemedicine is increasingly used to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. It facilitates regular virtual consultations, remote monitoring, and patient education, helping reduce hospital visits and improve long-term health outcomes through consistent care. Advances in Digital Healthcare Systems: Modern digital healthcare systems, including electronic health records (EHRs) and AI-powered diagnostics, are streamlining telemedicine services. These technologies improve data sharing, enhance decision-making, and support integrated care models, making telemedicine more effective and scalable. Evolving Insurance Sectors for Telemedicine: Insurance providers are adapting to the rise of telemedicine by expanding coverage for virtual consultations and remote care services. This shift makes telemedicine more accessible and affordable, encouraging broader adoption among patients and healthcare providers alike. Request a sample copy of the global market for telemedicine technologies report. Report Synopsis Report Metric Details Base year considered 2024 Forecast period considered 2025-2030 Base year market size $133.7 billion Market size forecast $251.5 billion Growth rate CAGR of 11.3% from 2025 to 2030 Segments covered Application, Business Area, End User, and Region Regions covered North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America and the Middle East and Africa (MEA) Countries covered U.S., Canada, Germany, the U.K., Italy, France, Spain, Japan, China, India, South Korea, Australia, Brazil, Mexico and Argentina Market drivers Growing trend of asynchronous telemedicine. Implementation of the Internet of Things in telemedicine. Use of telemedicine for chronic disease management. Advances in digital healthcare systems. Evolving insurance sectors for telemedicine. Interesting facts: Telemedicine technology will likely reduce the number of in-patient visits in hospitals, clinics and other healthcare systems. Telesurgery has been successful in countries like South Korea , India , and China in performing surgery using robotics, smart devices, and video calling from anywhere. Emerging startups: Sprinter Health: Sprinter Health focuses on reaching patients who cannot contact any healthcare system. The company provides a clinician network and a tech platform to solve problems by bringing critical preventive care to disabled patients. Orange Health: Orange Health is among the fastest-growing diagnostic-tech companies in India . The company provides consumers with 60 mintues of at-home testing for over 2,000 tests with fast results. Bug Sense Diagnostics: Bug Sense has developed a low-cost, fast, easy-to-use point-of-care diagnostic device for urinary tract infections (UTIs). BugSense provides the same accuracy as other culture devices but does not require an incubation machine or other medical devices. The report addresses the following questions: What are the projected size and growth rate for the global market for telemedicine technologies? The global market for telemedicine technologies was valued at $133.7 billion in 2024. The telecardiology segment recorded a value of $28.3 billion in 2024, which is projected to grow at a CAGR of 14.1% during the forecast period. 2. Which market segments are covered in the report? The global market for telemedicine technologies is segmented by: Business Area. End-user. Application. 3. Which business area will be dominant through 2030? Services are expected to be the dominant business area through the end of the forecast period. 4. Which application market is growing fastest? Telecardiology and telepsychiatry applications are the fastest-growing markets. Market leaders include: AMERICAN WELL AMC HEALTH CISCO SYSTEMS INC. CVS HEALTH DOXIMITY INC. GE HEALTHCARE GLOBALMED HOLDINGS LLC. IMEDTAC CO. LTD. KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V. MEDTRONIC SIEMENS HEALTHINIEERS AG SHL TELEMEDICINE TELADOC HEALTH INC. TELESPECIALISTS TIGERCONNECT Related reports: Elder Care Services and Assistive Devices: Global Markets: This report highlights key trends shaping the elder care services and assistive devices market. It explores how factors like R&D, technological innovations, and government initiatives are driving growth, while also addressing challenges such as rising competition. The study provides insights into strategic moves like M&A and collaborations, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses in the context of evolving customer needs and emerging technologies. Purchase a copy of the report direct from BCC Research. For further information on any of these reports or to make a purchase, contact [email protected]. About BCC Research BCC Research market research reports provide objective, unbiased measurement and assessment of market opportunities. Our experienced industry analysts' goal is to help you make informed business decisions free of noise and hype. Contact Us Corporate HQ: 50 Milk St., Ste. 16, Boston, MA 02109, USA Email: [email protected] Phone: +1 781-489-7301 For media inquiries, email [email protected] or visit our media page for access to our market research library. Any data and analysis extracted from this press release must be accompanied by a statement identifying BCC Research LLC as the source and publisher. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2183242/5454314/BCC_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE BCC Research LLC Pay Dirt is Slates money advice column. Have a question? Send it to Kristin and Ilyce here. (Its anonymous!) Dear Pay Dirt, I have married into a family of gambling addicts. My husbands mother, father, and the majority of his extended family are compulsive gamblers. They are constantly in debt, and many have been bankrupt multiple times. Thankfully, my husband does not gamble or have addictive behavior. His problem isnt addiction, its loyalty. He and his father are estranged because his father had only reached out when he needed money. My husband cosigned several high-interest loans for him, but when his dad stopped paying them back , my husband refused to cosign another loan. But besides his dad, he is very loyal to his family and helps them out when they ask for money. Meanwhile, his mom recently moved to Las Vegas and is in a desperate financial situation as a result. She says her new plan is to try to move to be closer to us. My husband supports this plan. I cant, though. Moving here will get her away from Vegas, but it will not solve the underlying financial issues and gambling addiction. And here is the kicker: We are about to have a baby and my husband just got laid off from his teaching job. I know that his mother moving here will result in a lot of additional costs that neither of she nor my husband are anticipating. I have a good job and solid savings/investments, but I dont feel comfortable giving money to people who are constantly gambling it away. I want to help my mother-in-law when she needs it, but I dont know how to get my husband to draw boundaries. I have recommended gambling addiction services, but he dismisses it as a cultural/family problem and doesnt think it will help. Do you have any recommendations for how to help someone in this situation? Rolling the Dice Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Dear Rolling the Dice, Your husband sounds like a nice guy trapped by his family and their addiction. But youre right: Without proper supervision and solid joint decision-making, your financial lives will be at risk. Until your husband recognizes he has control over what happens and learns to draw important boundaries, nothing is going to change. You should insist on joint counseling as a precondition to his mother moving any closer. If he wont go, then you should go on your own. In any case, there are other resources available to you. Many states, including Nevada, offer help in case of a gambling addiction. The National Problem Gambling Helpline (800-GAMBLER) serves as a one-stop hub for resources. You might want to reach out to Al-Anon, which helps families and friends of alcoholics deal with the issues that addiction raises in their lives. While the issue here is gambling, not drinking, Al-Anon might still be able to help. You and your husband need to get on the same page. Then, and only then, will you be able to deal effectively with his family. Ilyce More Money Advice From Slate My in-laws divorced about 10 years ago and split their assets. My mother-in-law spent all her money. Now, despite a good job, has debts and no assets. Now, health issues may force her into retirement, and she will not be able to afford her rent. MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A Settlement has been reached in a class action antitrust lawsuit filed on behalf of Commercial and Institutional Indirect Purchaser Plaintiffs with Clemens Food Group, LLC, The Clemens Family Corporation, and related or affiliated entities ("Clemens" or "Settling Defendant"). The Settlement requires Clemens to pay $7,750,000. In addition to this monetary benefit, Clemens has also agreed to certain non-monetary relief and to provide specified cooperation in the Commercial and Institutional Indirect Purchaser Plaintiffs' continued pursuit of the lawsuit. There will be no payments to the Settlement Classes at this time. You will be notified later of an opportunity to file a Claim Form. Before any money is paid, the Court will hold a hearing to decide whether to approve the Settlement. The United States District Court for the District of Minnesota authorized this Notice. This Court-ordered Notice may affect your rights. Please read this Notice carefully. WHO IS INCLUDED? For settlement purposes, members of the Settlement Classes are defined as: Injunctive Class: All entities that indirectly purchased uncooked pork bacon or one or more of the following types of raw pork, whether fresh or frozen: loins, shoulder, ribs, hams, or pork chops from defendants or co-conspirators for their own use in commercial food preparation in the United States from June 28, 2014 to June 30, 2018. For this lawsuit, pork excludes any product that is marketed as organic and/or no antibiotics ever and any product other than bacon that is marinated, seasoned, flavored, or breaded, but it includes uncooked and cooked ham water-added products. Damages Class: All entities that indirectly purchased uncooked pork bacon, or one or more of the following types of raw pork, whether fresh or frozen: bellies, loins, shoulder, ribs, hams, or pork chops from defendants or co-conspirators for their own use in commercial food preparation in the Repealer Jurisdictions from June 28, 2014 to June 30, 2018. For this lawsuit, pork excludes any product that is marketed as organic, no antibiotics and/or no antibiotics ever (NAE) and any product other than bacon that is marinated, seasoned, flavored, or breaded, but it includes uncooked and cooked ham water-added products. All Settlement Class members are members of the nationwide Injunctive Class. Only Settlement Class members in the following jurisdictions ("Repealer Jurisdictions") are eligible to potentially recover money from the settlement funds available in the Damages Class: Arkansas, Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia and/or Wisconsin. The Class Period for Kansas, Massachusetts, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Tennessee class members begins June 28, 2015. For purposes of the Settlement, "Pork" means porcine or swine products processed, produced or sold by Clemens, or by any of the Defendants or their co-conspirators, including but not limited to: primals (including but not limited to loins, shoulders, picnics, butts, ribs, bellies, hams, or legs), trim or sub-primal products (including but not limited to backloins, tenderloins, backribs, boneless loins, boneless sirloins, riblets, chef's prime, prime ribs, brisket, skirt, cushion, ground meats, sirloin tip roast, or hocks), further processed and value added porcine products (including, but not limited to bacon, sausage, lunch meats, further processed ham, or jerky products), offal or variety products (including, but not limited to hearts, tongues, livers, head products, spleens, kidneys, feet, stomach, bladder, uterus, snoot, ears, tail, brisket bone, intestines, jowls, neck bones or other bones, skin, lungs, glands, hair, or pet food ingredients), rendered product and byproducts (including, but not limited to, lard, grease, meat meal, bone meal, blood meal, or blood plasma), casings (including, but not limited to, mucosa), and carcasses. In addition to Clemens, the Defendants and alleged co-conspirators in this lawsuit are JBS USA Food Company, Hormel Foods Corporation, Hormel Foods, LLC, Seaboard Foods LLC, Seaboard Corporation, Smithfield Foods, Inc., Triumph Foods, LLC, Tyson Foods, Inc., Tyson Prepared Foods, Inc., Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., and Agri Stats, Inc. If you are not sure you are included, you can get more information, including a detailed notice, at the Settlement Website www.PorkCommercialCase.com or by calling toll-free 1-855-867-0738. WHAT IS THIS LAWSUIT ABOUT? Commercial and Institutional Indirect Purchaser Plaintiffs allege that Defendants and their co-conspirators conspired and combined to fix, raise, maintain, and stabilize the price of Pork products, from at least January 1, 2009, with the intent and expected result of increasing prices of Pork products in the United States, in violation of federal antitrust laws and various state antitrust, consumer protection and unfair trade practices, and unjust enrichment laws. Clemens denies it did anything wrong. The Court did not decide which side was right, but both sides agreed to the Settlement to resolve the lawsuit and get benefits to the Settlement Classes. The lawsuit is still proceeding on behalf of the Commercial and Institutional Indirect Purchaser Plaintiffs against other Defendants who may be subject to separate settlements, judgments, or class certification related orders. A separate notice was previously sent regarding the progress of the lawsuit. WHAT DOES THE SETTLEMENT PROVIDE? The Settlement Agreement provides that Clemens will pay $7,750,000 to resolve all Settlement Class members' legal claims against Clemens for the Released Claims (as defined in the Settlement Agreement). In addition to this monetary benefit, Clemens has also agreed to certain non-monetary relief and to provide specified cooperation in the Commercial and Institutional Indirect Purchaser Plaintiffs' continued pursuit of the lawsuit. No money will be distributed at this time. You will be notified later, if and when there is an opportunity to submit a Claim Form to receive a payment. Settlement Class Counsel will continue to pursue the lawsuit against the other Defendants. Settlement Class Counsel will ask the Court for attorneys' fees based on their services in this lawsuit of up to one-third of the Settlement Fund and expense reimbursement and class representative service payments of $2,500 to each representative plaintiff. Settlement Class Counsel will also ask that eight percent of the Settlement Fund be set aside for future litigation expenses. Any payment to the attorneys or class representatives will be subject to Court approval, and the Court may award less than the requested amount. The attorneys' fees, costs, expenses, and service payments that the Court orders, plus the costs to administer the Settlement, will come out of the Settlement Fund. Settlement Class Counsel may seek additional attorneys' fees, costs, expenses, and service payments from any other settlements or recoveries obtained in the future. When Settlement Class Counsel's motion for fees and service payments is filed, it will be available at www.PorkCommercialCase.com. The motion will be posted on the website before the deadline for objecting to the Settlement. You will have an opportunity to object to this request. WHAT ARE YOUR RIGHTS? You do not need to take any action to remain a member of the Settlement Classes and be bound by the Settlement Agreement. As a Settlement Class member, you may be able to participate in any future settlements or judgments obtained by Commercial and Institutional Indirect Purchaser Plaintiffs against other Defendants in the case. If you do not like something about the Settlement and you have not previously excluded yourself from the Settlement Class, you can object to the Clemens Settlement. Instructions on how to object are found at www.PorkCommercialCase.com. While the Settlement is only with Clemens at this time, the Settlement Class includes purchasers of Pork products (as defined in the Settlement Agreements) from any of the Defendants or their co-conspirators. If you are a member of the Settlement Classes, you may be eligible to participate in any additional settlements which may arise with any other Defendants in the case. The Court will hold a hearing in this case In re Pork Antitrust Litigation (Commercial and Institutional Indirect Purchaser Actions), Case No. 0:18-cv-01776 (D. Minn.) on December 10, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. to consider whether to approve the Settlement Agreement. You may ask to speak at the hearing, but you do not have to. This Notice is a summary only. You can find more details about the Settlement at www.PorkCommercialCase.com or by calling toll-free 1-855-867-0738 toll-free. Please do not contact the Court. URL: www.PorkCommercialCase.com SOURCE United States District Court for the District of Minnesota Sign up for the Slatest to get the most insightful analysis, criticism, and advice out there, delivered to your inbox daily. In the United States, our ability to vote is supposed to be protected by law. But on the Voting Rights Acts 60th anniversary, that law is being eviscerated to stop voters and their lawyers from defending that freedom in court. Our courts are a modern-day public square, where anyone is supposedly able to confront injustice, hold the powerful accountable, and defend their rights. For generations, courts helped ensure equal access to the ballot, striking down racial gerrymanders and discriminatory voting laws. But now, that public square is being fenced offand in some places, it feels like a permanent wall is going up. The most consequential blow came in 2013, when the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act in Shelby County v. Holder, effectively ending preclearance, which required states and localities with histories of discrimination to seek federal approval before changing voting laws. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts claimed the blight of racial discrimination in voting had been largely cured, a conclusion many called dangerously premature. As Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg warned in dissent, ending preclearance was like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet. Now, with Section 5 preclearance gone, the court is moving closer to gutting another critical piece of the VRA, with two lines of attack in play. One target, which has drawn increased attention over the past two years, is the ability of private actors to use the VRA to challenge racially motivated practices that suppress the vote. If the court endorses the view adopted by the 8th Circuit, only the Department of Justice will be able to bring cases under Section 2 of the VRA. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the court has also seized upon a second path to dismantle the VRA even more resoundingly. In a case slated for the October 2025 term, the court issued an after-hours order just last weekon the eve of the VRAs 60th anniversarysignaling plans to deliberate the constitutionality of Section 2 and its continued viability. Advertisement Meanwhile, Donald Trumps DOJ has shown no interest in enforcing voting rights; it has removed career attorneys in the Voting Rights Section, backed away from key cases, and even floated prosecutions of election officials, straight from the Project 2025 playbook. As courts become harder to access, the executive branch is compounding the threatbacking Trumps executive order targeting independent election systems and promoting the dangerous SAVE Act, which is now pending in the U.S. Senate. These proposals would force Americans to produce specific government documents just to register to votean uphill climb for tens of millions who lack access to those papers but are still trying to exercise their rights, even as courts become less willing to hear their claims. All in the name of stopping voter fraud that does not exist in this country at any meaningful level. Related From Slate The Supreme Court Just Signaled Something Deeply Disturbing About the Next Term Read More Even before these proposals, courts had made it harder for individuals and civil rights groups to challenge discriminatory voting laws. When it becomes difficult to find a lawyerand nearly impossible to win in courtbad actors are left free to suppress votes without fear of consequences. The danger is greater with Big Law firms under attack from the administration. No lawyer can miss the message: If you take cases this administration doesnt like, such as those in defense of voting rights, your livelihood could be next. Advertisement Over two decades, as the Supreme Court dismantled the VRA case by case, voter suppression has evolved. Its become administrativebuilt on paperwork, confusion, inconvenience, and ever-changing rules. Americans now jump through a growing number of hoops just to vote. While it may not be as blatant as being required to guess the correct number of jelly beans in a jar, the toll is corrosive just the same. Advertisement The Supreme Court has hollowed out the VRA, stripping away the core protections Congress once put in place to defend the right to vote. With every new judicial decision, anti-voter policy has gained ground. Within 24 hours of Shelby County v. Holder, Texas reinstated a strict photo ID law previously blocked for targeting Black and Latino voters. Two months later, North Carolina passed a law that cut early voting by a week, ended same-day registration, and imposed strict ID ruleslater struck down for targeting Black voters with almost surgical precision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then in Brnovich v. DNC, the court made it even harder to prove that a voting law discriminates based on race. The ruling gave states broad leeway to pass restrictive laws, even those that disproportionately harm voters of color, as long as they could claim to be preserving the integrity of its election process. It was a significant blow to Section 2 of the VRA, the main tool left to fight voter suppression in court. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger cited the Brnovich ruling to justify SB 202, an omnibus voter suppression law passed after Trump lost the 2020 election. Since then, data has shown the law disproportionately impacts Black votersthe same kind of discriminatory effect Brnovich made harder to challenge in court by weakening Section 2, coming from the same kind of law that would have been halted had Section 5 preclearance not been destroyed in Shelby. Advertisement Raffensperger is currently overseeing a purge of nearly 500,000 voters, one of the largest in U.S. history. New analysis shows that when likely out-of-state movers are removed from the rolls, Black voters are overrepresentedraising familiar alarms about discrimination that todays gutted legal tools can barely address. Now, that weakened tool faces an even greater threat. In May of this year, a federal appeals court ruled for the second time that only the U.S. attorney generalnot private citizens or civil rights groupscan bring Section 2 lawsuits. The decision applies across seven states and would block most VRA enforcement where the DOJ declines to act. Advertisement The court could be poised to go further and take that decision nationwide, leaving only the DOJ to sue to protect voting rights, hardly a priority in this and other Republican administrations. Sixty years after the VRA was signed into law, the Supreme Court seems intent on ignoring historyand dismantling the publics ability to use it to defend their right to vote. Advertisement The John Lewis Voting Rights Act, reintroduced by Sen. Raphael Warnock, wouldnt undo all the damage done by the Supreme Court. But it would renew the promise of the VRA, restoring preclearance, stopping voter purges for inactivity, and ensuring people can still seek justice in court. Ultimately, were in an era where the burden of protecting democracy is falling on individuals. Thats not how it should be. Voting is a right, not a privilege or a test of endurance. Yet on the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Acta law meant to stop Jim Crow at the courthouse doorwere inching back toward an era where justice is out of reach for those who need it most. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250811/moldova-at-crossroads-1122592591.html Moldova at Crossroads Moldova at Crossroads Sputnik International Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu wrote an article for Sputnik analyzing the current political, economic, and social situation in Moldova. 2025-08-11T10:09+0000 2025-08-11T10:09+0000 2025-08-11T10:10+0000 world moldova russia sergei shoigu european union (eu) https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/04/12/1121887844_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_d2b2f34f6c74caa2b29b33c388671016.jpg Here are the highlights: On September 28, Moldova will hold parliamentary elections that could set the countrys political course for the next four years. The choice is stark: keep the pro-Western government of the Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) in power, or shift toward forces that prioritize national interests.Four years of PAS rule have deepened divisions in society. Nearly all top officials hold Romanian citizenship, pushing rapid Romanianization and even stripping the Moldovan language of its state status. Promises of a European standard of living have been undermined by an ongoing economic crisisindustrial output has fallen, the trade deficit has widened, and poverty now affects a third of the population.The government keeps the economy afloat with foreign loans, most of which are spent on salaries and pensions rather than development. Since PAS took office, foreign debt has doubled to a record $4.67 billion. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Moldovans have left the country, accelerating a demographic decline.Chisinau has aligned closely with EU and NATO interests, placing foreign advisers in government institutions and cutting economic ties with Russia. This has hurt farmers, industry, and the energy sector, as Moldova now buys the same Russian gas via Europeat much higher pricescosting the budget over 1 billion a year.Strategic assets are being sold to foreign companies, including the countrys only port, Giurgiulesti, and infrastructure such as airports and stadiums. In agriculture, new laws allow land seizures from local farmers for auction sales, threatening mass bankruptcies.At the same time, the government is tightening control over the media. Opposition and Russian-language TV channels have been shut down, over 50 websites blocked, and new anti-disinformation centers establishedcritics say to suppress dissent ahead of the elections. Political repression is growing, with opposition leaders jailed and parties threatened with bans.Despite heavy propaganda, experts doubt PAS can win outright. The government is expected to lean on administrative pressure, coalition deals, and manipulating the diaspora voteespecially by limiting voting in Russia, home to hundreds of thousands of Moldovans.Even these tactics may not secure victory, raising fears of election fraud or unrest. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250803/moldova-could-disappear-if-pro-western-regime-retains-power--advisor-to-regional-governor-1122547036.html moldova russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International moldova, moldova-russia ties, moldova elections, sergei shoigu's article about moldova, situation in moldova https://sputnikglobe.com/20250811/nato-intel-big-tech-and-cyber-war-on-russia-via-ukraine-1122595036.html NATO Intel, Big Tech and Cyber War on Russia via Ukraine NATO Intel, Big Tech and Cyber War on Russia via Ukraine Sputnik International Russias information infrastructure has become a primary target in what can aptly be described as a coordinated cyber campaign involving US and NATO intelligence services, major Western tech corporations, and Ukrainian hacker groups. 2025-08-11T17:00+0000 2025-08-11T17:00+0000 2025-08-11T17:00+0000 world us ukraine russia cyber attack nato https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/01/1a/1081885832_1:0:1343:755_1920x0_80_0_0_5e64b11df7f73b73deaf996dec07e1c8.jpg Since the 2010s, NATO members have been reshaping Ukraines cyberwarfare units through specialized funding programs, most notably the NATO Trust Fund Ukraine Command, Control, Communications and Computers initiative. Participating nations include the US, UK, Canada, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland, Romania, Croatia, and the Netherlands. Big Tech in the LoopAfter the start of Russias Special Military Operation, Google operating under the patronage of US intelligence agencies intensified its work aimed at destabilizing Russia. Tools like Google Global Cache have been used for geospatial and technical reconnaissance, monitoring the Russian segment of the internet, and probing the countrys telecommunications channels. In February 2024, for example, malicious activity traced to Google Global Cache equipment in Russia targeted the Games of the Future international physical and cyber sporting event in Kazan. Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook*, Amazon, and other IT giants have also provided infrastructure to bypass Russian IP blocking, host malicious software, and distribute attack instructions. IT Army of Ukraine Central to the anti-Russia cyber campaign is the so-called IT Army of Ukraine an umbrella network of roughly 130 hacker groups (100,000400,000 participants) coordinating via Telegram, an informed source told Sputnik. These groups, including KibOrg, Muppets, NLB, UHG, and others, work alongside Ukraines Security Service (SBU), Armed Forces cyber units, and foreign partners. Platforms such as Hacken OU (Estonia), Hetzner (Germany), DigitalOcean (U.S.), and sites like War.Apexi and Ban-Dera.com are used to facilitate mass DDoS attacks. Israels notorious cyber Unit 8200 has reportedly also fostered cooperation between the IT Army and Israeli cybersecurity firms including Matrix IT Ltd, Check Point Software Technologies Ltd, and Covertrix.Fraudulent Call Centers Over 1,000 fraudulent call centers operate in Ukraine, employing more than 100,000 people. This includes around 500 such centers in the city of Dnepropetrovsk (Dnepr) alone. Over 90 percent of scam calls target Russian citizens and institutions, with losses running into the billions of rubles. These operations have also expanded against Western targets, with authorities in Hungary, the Czech Republic, Canada, and others reporting massive financial damage in recent months.Direct Coordination With NATOFrom November 2021 to February 2022, on the eve of the current conflict, under the Hunting Forward program, US Army Cyber Command teams deployed in Ukraine to gather intelligence on foreign cyber tactics and prepare network attacks against Russia. Since 2022, several hundred U.S. Cyber Command personnel have rotated through Ukraine, coordinating operations with NATO cyber centers, the Pentagons Chief Digital and AI Office, and Ukrainian military cyber units. In June 2022, General Paul Nakasone, the then-head of US Cyber Command, admitted to Sky News that the US was conducting offensive cyber operations against Russia in support of Ukraine. "We've conducted a series of operations across the full spectrum; offensive, defensive, [and] information operations, he said.Several months earlier, during testimony before Congress in April 2022, Nakasone revealed that the US had deployed a cyber hunt team who sat side-by-side with Ukrainian hackers during cyber operations against Russia.At the Cybersec Forum in Katowice, Poland in May 2022, Ukraines Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov and the IT Army were publicly honored for their heroic resistance and defense of the digital borders of the democratic world. In June 2022, Maxim Buyakevich, Russias deputy permanent representative to the OSCE revealed the extent of the massive, coordinated US Cyber Command/Ukrainian cyberwarfare campaign against Russia, targeting a host of infrastructure, including Russian Railways (logistics), the energy sector (attempted attacks on power grids), media (large-scale DDOS attacks and attempted hacks), state institutions and companies, from Yandex and Sberbank to Gazprom, Lukoil, and an array of Russian airlines. The FSB reported the same month that large scale hack attacks originating from US-based servers (AWS, Cloudflare) were being carried out from Kiev and Lvov under US guidance. Citing Ukrainian Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorovs brag to El Pais about the mobilization of a 300,000 member-strong cyberarmy to fight Russia, Buyakevich warned that these hackers activities are designed to disrupt the functioning of government agencies and healthcare, transport, financial and energy sector enterprises, in effect encouraging technological terrorism. Ukraine, he said, opened a new cyber front to the conflict which would not have been possible without external technical and long-term planning assistance. Attacks have continued ever since, with Ukrainian hackers attempting to target Russian oil and gas companies several times over the past three months alone. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has repeatedly charged Western intelligence services and US Big Tech of using Ukraine as a springboard for cyberwarfare against Russia. In March, she reiterated that the Special Military Operation has been accompanied by a full-scale anti-Russian campaign using information and communication technologies for military and political purposes, and cited the operation of NATO and intel advisors in Kiev and Lvov, used to coordinate the Kiev regimes actions in a digital environment. Cyber Conflict That Goes Back to Before the Kinetic One Actually, the US Cyber Command has been working with Ukraine, as well as the Baltic states and the countries of the former Yugoslavia since 2018, according to their own website, Karen Kwiatkowski, a former DoD insider, analyst and retired Us Air Force Lt. Col., told Sputnik. This has been presented as simply forward awareness of enemy tactics and capabilities in the cyber sphere, as well as hardening the defensive capabilities of US client states. In reality, what we have here is a Trojan horse of cyber defense that in fact carries within it a full cadre of cyber offense, Kwiatkowski emphasized.As confirmation of aggressive US cyber activities, Kwiatkowski recalled the February 2025 order by Pentagon chief Hegseth to temporarily halt offensive cyber operations against Russia. Likely this was part of the early attempts to find out what the Pentagon was doing, not intended or effective in ending such offensive activities, Kwiatkowski believes. Clearly, the US military, and presumably the CIA with it, was (and is) developing plans for internal manipulation and destruction of Russian networks and systems. * Facebook owner Meta is banned in Russia for extremism. ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International cyber war on russia via ukraine, west's cyber war on russia https://sputnikglobe.com/20250811/whats-behind-the-british-museums-reluctance-to-return-colonial-era-artifacts-1122594240.html Whats Behind the British Museums Reluctance to Return Colonial-Era Artifacts? Whats Behind the British Museums Reluctance to Return Colonial-Era Artifacts? Sputnik International The British Museum was established in 1753 and opened to the public in 1759, making it the first national public museum in the world. 2025-08-11T16:02+0000 2025-08-11T16:02+0000 2025-08-11T16:02+0000 multimedia britain british museum authorities artifacts law public https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e9/08/0b/1122594751_0:0:1281:720_1920x0_80_0_0_8c2dd4cbad988ff3c95f647b49ed39c9.png Why does the British Museum, one of the largest in the world, refuse to return colonial-era loot? Check out Sputniks infographic to find out.Photo: The Trustees of the British Museum / CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 6 britain Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2025 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International british museum, british museum's artifacts, the first national public museum in the world Stonebridge Hermes paced his career best time in the $10,000 Preferred Handicap Pace on Sunday (Aug. 10) at Rideau Carleton Raceway with a 1:52.2 final time. Ryan Guy left swiftly from the rail with the Jacques Beaudoin student, securing the early lead to the quarter in :27.1 before Iama Rocket (Clarke Steacy) settled in on the front. Stonebridge Hermes followed in the pocket trip through fractions in :55.3 and 1:23.4. Down the stretch, the pacesetter faded slightly, allowing Stonebridge Hermes to set his sights on the victory. The backfield rocketed forward with Logan Behold (Sylvain Lacaille) and The Light Speed (Guy Gagnon) joining Stonebridge Hermes in a blanket finish. Stonebridge Hermes prevailed by a neck in 1:52.2. Logan Behold was second with The Light Speed third. Owned by Jacques Beaudoin, Stonebridge Hermes is a six-year-old son of Betting Line and the Artsplace mare Glacier Express. He has won four times from 19 starts this year and posted a career record of 23-15-23 in 125 starts with $144,198 banked. A pair of $8,000 Hard Rocking Summer Claiming Series classes went to the gate on Sunday as the second leg of the series with five pacers in each race in for an $11,000 tag. Fancy Lettering (Guy Gagnon) wired the first class with a 2-1/4 length triumph in 1:55 for trainer Gagnon and owner John Macmillan. No Time At All (Pascal Berube) was second with Mach Art In Motion (Mike Healey) third. Fancy Lettering returned $6.10 for the win. Ladyford Dollar Gb (Berube) was parked the mile, but overcame the outside trip to score by a half length in 1:56.2 over Docdor Mickey (Ryan Guy) and Beach Cowboy (William Roy). John Macmillan owns and trains the winner. He paid $4 to win. To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Rideau Carleton Raceway. (Standardbred Canada) Trainer Virgil Morgan Jr. swept the exacta in the $136,986 Ohio Sires Stakes fourth-leg event for three-year-old filly pacers on Sunday, Aug. 10 at MGM Northfield Park. His trainees finished 1-2 as Odds On Hialeah scored the victory and Odds On Chesapeake dug in for the runner-up position. The race was completely turned on its head in the first sixteenth of a mile as Skywalker Sea (Austin Hanners) and Seaside Wishes (Kayne Kauffman) both made breaks while entering the first turn. Favourites Rose Run Aimee (Dan Noble) and Odds On Hialeah (Brett Miller) were both rough-gaited into the first turn as well. The early miscues enabled longshot My Hare Legend (Aaron Merriman) to gain control entering the backstretch. Rose Run Aimee, collected herself and made her way to the front during a :27 first quarter. Pacing by the half in a dazzling :54.4, Rose Run Aimee looked comfortable on the lead, but pressure was coming in the form of Odds On Chesapeake (Luke Hanners), who began to roll first-over. Racing into the backstretch for the final time, Odds On Hialeah was flushed out by stablemate Odds On Chesapeake. The two tough fillies continued to battle through the final quarter of a mile, after flying by the three-quarters in a demanding 1:23. Turning for home, Odds On Hialeah had plenty left in the tank and drew off to win by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:52.1. Odds On Chesapeake dug in gamely to be second and The Word Is Out (Chris Page) rallied to be third. Odds On Hialeah is owned by Let It Ride Stables and Odds On Racing of Boca Raton, Florida, along with Operation Horsepower of Edmonton, Kentucky. The Lather Up-Laughandbehappy filly, who boasts a near-perfect 11-for-13 career record with two second-place finishes, has won three Ohio Sires Stakes this year. The Ohio Sires Stakes freshman filly trotters made their way to Northfield Park on Sunday as well for a pair of $89,041 third-leg divisions. In the first division, Rose Run Brooke (Luke Hanners) got up in the shadow of the wire to defeat Lucky Lady Volo (Dan Noble). While A Long Breeze (Chris Lems) left alertly and defended pylon position into the first turn, it was clear Lucky Lady Volo wanted the lead as she powered her way to the front. Lucky Lady Volo opened up a two-length lead by the opening quarter of :27.4. Lucky Lady Volo got a breather to the half in :59, but pressure quickly came from Sarahs Mission (Chris Page) and Rose Run Brooke when they were entering the backstretch for the final time. Sarahs Mission was evenly matched with Lucky Lady Volo trotting by the three-quarters in 1:28.2 and both fillies were giving everything they had. Turning for home, Rose Run Brooke flipped off cover three-wide and stormed home. She marched past her rivals to win by a neck in 1:58.1. Lucky Lady Volo settled for second and Sarahs Mission was third. Rose Run Brooke is owned by First Up Racing Stable of Beach City, Ohio. Trained by Vernon Beachy, the In Range-Count On Kami filly broke her maiden in her fifth start. In Ranges first-crop fillies continued to be victorious as Demonic Niko (dam Cant Stop Marie) earned the fifth victory of her career, taking the other division for trainer Erv Miller. Several horses vied for position, but Demonic Niko (Dan Noble) gained control of the lead entering the backstretch for the first time. Capturethephoto (Aaron Merriman) sat on her back in the pocket. Demonic Niko put up a swift :28.3 first quarter and, with the field in straight alignment, was able to rate middle splits of :57.3 and 1:26.3. She opened up a secure lead through the stretch and won by four lengths in 1:56.2. Divvy It Up (Brett Miller) came on for second with Capturethephoto hanging on for third. Demonic Niko, whose only loss in six career starts was a Next Generation runner-up effort, is owned Ervin Miller Stable of Wind Gap, Pennsylvania, Anthony Lombardi of Morris, Illinois and Douglas Overhiser of New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Following an uncharacteristic break in the Ohio State Fair Stakes at Scioto Downs, Ready Russell rebounded and decisively won his $68,493 division of Ohio Sires Stakes for two-year-old colt and gelding trotters, taking the evenings fastest of the three third-leg divisions. Sent off as the heavy 1-9 favourite, Ready Russell (Dan Noble) took up pocket position behind Max The Mighty (Aaron Merriman), who hustled off the gate entering the first turn. After making the front, Max The Mighty jumped off stride allowing Ready Russell to easily inherit the lead as the field entered the backstretch. Ready Russell trotted to the quarter in :29.2 and to the half in :59.3. He started to roll past the three-quarters in 1:27.4 and won confidently by 10-3/4 lengths in 1:56.2. Grape Crush (Chris Lems) edged out Where Theres Smoke in the race for place. Ready Russell is owned by Jeff Fought Racing of East Bernstadt, Kentucky, Brian Carsey, of Cambridge City, Indiana and David Fought of Nicholasville, Kentucky. The Ready For Moni-Fortheloveoflindy gelding is trained by Deborah Swartz and has four victories in his first five lifetime starts, with three in Ohio Sires Stakes action. Special Moni blew by rivals late in the stretch to win his own division convincingly. Soulful Saul (Carson Conrad) and Pump Action (Justin Irvine) were both sent to the lead off the gate entering the first turn. Pump Action wanted the lead and made an aggressive move to gain his desired position before the :28.3 first quarter. Entering the far turn, Ur Ride Is Here (Chris Lems), who had been sitting third early, sprinted to the front. He continued to lead the way through the half in :57.4, while Soulful Saul applied pressure first-over. The pair dueled into the backstretch until finally Soulful Saul cleared before the three-quarters in 1:26.2. Turning for home, Eleven Bang Bang (Trevor Smith) tipped outside of Soulful Saul but didnt go by the leader. Special Moni (Tyler Smith) rallied off cover to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:56.4. Soulful Saul held on for second and Eleven Bang Bang was third. Special Moni, a Ready For Moni-Special Invitation gelding, is owned by trainer Chris Beaver, along with Spaaaartners of Ballston Spa, New York and Tim Homan of Maineville, Ohio. He now has a pair of Ohio Sire Stakes win in his first four starts. Beaver doubled up in the Sires Stakes action when Bitcoin King made a big mid-race move to win his split, with stablemate Water Slide inheriting the runner-up honours. Cash Money Hall (Kayne Kauffman), Water Slide (Aaron Merriman) and Super Mind (Anthony MacDonald) all battled for early position and sorted themselves out with Super Mind making his way to the lead before the :29.3 first quarter. After a leisurely 1:00.1 first half, Super Mind had a contingent of pursuers challenging him for the lead approaching the three-quarters in 1:29 with Water Slide first-up and Bitcoin King (Tyler Smith) charging three-wide. Turning for home, Super Mind began to give way and Bitcoin King stormed down the centre of the racetrack to win by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:58.2. Cash Money Hall finished second, but was placed to third because of a lapped on break at the wire. Water Slide, who was third, inherited second. Bitcoin King is owned by Beaver and the Part Time Stable of Napoleon, Michigan. The Uncle Peter-Massive Girl colt broke his maiden in his fourth start. Northfield Park will host the fourth leg of the Buckeye Stallion Series for sophomore filly trotters on Monday, Aug. 11. Post time is 6 p.m. (With files from Northfield Park; photo of Odds On Hialeah winning on Aug. 10) In 1935, the big news at the Topsham Fair in Maine wasnt the debut of pari-mutuel wagering. It was 19-year-old Vergery Luella Carson, a barnstorming harness racing sensation from upstate Lewis, New York, said to be the only female driver in the United States at the time. She arrived at Topsham that year with fanfare, a teenager racing around the New England fair circuit, beginning her 1935 campaign in Vermont. At Rutland, it was reported that she was the first woman to drive her own horses at the fair. Winless early in the fair season, she broke through at Tunbridge, setting the track record on Sept. 18 with her pint-sized gelding, Gilded Braden, in 2:12 1/2. She also won with her front-running mare, Lady Patch, after which she was given a beautiful bouquet of flowers by the fair officials, reported the Herald and News of Randolph, Vermont. Heading to Maine in early October, she tied the 2:09 1/2 track record at the Acton and Shapleigh Fair in early October with her bay gelding Dillon Direct, after which she was "carried from the track on the shoulders of her admirers and received a grand ovation from the fans, said the Sanford Tribute and Advocate. All of which set the stage for Topsham, where never before has so large a collection of race horses been quartered in recent years, reported the Lewiston Daily Sun, and where fans, and many women supporters, flocked to see Vergery Carson, the only feminine light harness pilot in New England. And she did not disappoint. Woman driver thrills crowd on opening day, shouted the headline in the Lewiston paper on Oct. 9. Miss Carson was curiously regarded by the old-timers, reported The Brunswick Record in its euphoric story about her opening day exploits. Even the announcer emphasized the Miss when he named her. And when Carsons name was announced, the crowd gasped. It was a sensation, the paper reported. She wore green and brown silks, her hair streaming from under a drivers long peaked cap, yellow goggles obscuring her very good eyes, and her whip hand as capable as Simon Legrees. Carson rose to the occasion, winning two races on opening day with Lady Patch, her bay mare by Knight Patch. Back then, one race usually meant three heats involving the same horses, and Lady Patch and Carson raced in the second, fifth and eighth races on opening day. In her first heat, she finished seventh. Not surprising, she went off at 131 in her second heat. While the ladies flocked on Miss Carsonthe male bettors for the most stayed away, the Lewiston paper reported. At the start of the second heat, Miss Carson cut in, took the pole, and kept it all the way around, winning by a length over Faro and paying $28.20 to win. Miss Carson was given a great hand when she drove to the judges stand to acknowledge her victory, the paper noted, adding that the idea of having one of their own sex riding on the sulky appealed to the woman folks. One woman from Auburn was quoted as saying, If that girl can ride a sulky and take such chances, Im willing to take a chance with two dollars of my money. Her win in the third heat was much closer and the best race of the entire program as Carson again held off the black gelding Faro in a very close finish. It was only Miss Carsons whip which accounted for Lady Patchs win. But so often in racing, highs are paired with lows. The next day, Carson was involved in a horrific pileup along Topshams paddock turn. Heading past the half, the lead horse stumbled and fell, setting off the inevitable chain reaction. Racing third with Gilded Braden, Carson was catapulted from her sulky, landing on the track. Bleeding from a severe cut on her forehead and suffering cracked ribs, Miss Carson was seen to arise and stagger to the low fence and crawl over this into the infield, according to the Lewiston paper. Another driver, William Donnelly, suffered a concussion (no helmets in those days). In all, four horses and drivers were involved. The horse that fell, Zymri, was put down. Carson recovered, and in 1936, again raced all around New England, winning at the Oxford Fair with Gilded Braden, the pacer involved in the Topsham accident. In fact, Carson was a year-round harness driver, competing on ice-covered lakes in upstate New York during the winters. During the summer and fall, she raced mostly at Vermont and Maine fairs. But on Sept. 9, 1936, while driving at the Rutland, Vermont fair, Carson fell ill. She died on Oct. 3, 1936 at a Plattsburg, New York hospital. She was 20 years old. A tribute in the Lake Placid News noted that her judgment and fair play was greatly respected even by the griseled old-time horse handlers against whom she competed very often successfully. She is buried in the Lewis Center Cemetery. Vergery Carson parades Gilded Braden prior to the fourth race on Oct. 9, 1935, at the Topsham Fair. In that race, a pileup after the half left Carson with broken ribs and a cut forehead. Vergery Carson drives Gilded Braden to a win in the first race of the Oxford County Fair at Norway and South Paris, Maine, on July 22, 1936. Carson and the black pacer were involved in the tragic accident at Topsham the year before. (Jay Burns / Topsham Fair) Crunchintheodds pounced from the pocket to procure the fastest of two $90,000 Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold divisions for rookie male trotters on Thursday, Aug. 7 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Another Great Mass (Trevor Henry) made an early break, leaving favourite Touchedbyanangel (Doug McNair) to cruise on the lead through fractions of :28, :56.4, and 1:25.4 with Crunchintheodds (James MacDonald) sitting comfortably in the pocket. In the stretch, Touchedbyanangel tired, and Crunchintheodds took advantage, defeating Strobe Lite (Tyler Borth) by two lengths in a career-best 1:54.2. Tavern On the Green (Louis-Philippe Roy) was third, while Touchedbyanangel and Wolverine Legend (Chris Christoforou) grabbed the final cheques. Sent off at 12-1, Crunchintheodds paid $27.30 to win. He did everything right, MacDonald told Mohawk broadcaster Chad Rozema. He was on the bit, trotted great, and I was surprised in the last turn. He was kind of chewing on Dougs helmet and when I moved him over, he didnt hesitate at all. He just jumped forward Im just really happy with how he raced and the effort he gave me. Crunchintheodds improved to two-for-four and increased his earnings to $61,262 for owner Glenn Dyke of Townsend, Dela. and trainer Blake MacIntosh. The Green Manalishi S-Karoon colt, bred by Susan Zammit of Hillsburgh, Ont, was purchased for $37,000 at last years London Classic Yearling Sale. Crunchintheodds' 1:54.2 mile just missed the divisional record, established by You Got It Kemp in 2024. In the second division, Mike Me Up and Roy cut the mile in a career-best 1:55. The son of Muscle Mass out of Meghan C put up fractions of :27.4, :56.4 and 1:25.3 to win by three-quarters of a length over The Green Gazoo (Bob McClure) and D A Masstermind (Christoforou). Favourite First Class Mass (MacDonald) finished fourth, followed by In The Black (Jody Jamieson). Mike Me Up was sent off at 6-1 and paid $14.30. Trainer Kyle Fellows said he wasnt sure if the front end would be Mike Me Ups best trip. We raced two on the front end earlier and they both slowed down and stopped at the end of the mile, Fellows said. Weve scoped them and theyre both a little sick. So, when this one was on the front end I was thinking, Is this happening again? But he held on. He raced really tough. Thats a good record for him. Mike Me Up was bred by Tara Hills Stud of Port Perry, Ont. and Glenn Bechtel of Kingston, Ont. He was purchased for $23,611 at the 2024 Harrisburg sale by Yolanda Fellows of Rockwood, Ont., Erna and Blair Corbeil of Leduc, Alta., and Mike McAllister of Beaumont, Alta. The colt is now 2-1-1 in four career starts and has earnings of $64,500. That makes four different winners in four Gold events in the two-year-old trotting colt division. In The Black won the first Gold event in the division on July 12 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and Another Great Mass won the sole second-leg dash. Later on the card, Jay completed a sweep of the Whenuwishuponastar as she captured the $79,500 final for two-year-old pacing fillies with an authoritative front-end performance. She was fastest off the gate for McClure but gave up command to Twin B Fierce (McNair) entering the first turn, then re-took after the quarter in :26.4. Jay rolled to the half in :56 but was forced to pick up speed as Adina Hanover (Roy) went on the march approaching three-quarters in 1:24.3. Jay repelled Adina Hanover down the stretch and held off Twin B Fierce by a neck under measured handling from McClure to score in a lifetime-best 1:51.4. Adina Hanover took the show cheque. Jay swept the Whenuwishuponastar after making her first two starts in the OSS Gold series for trainer Dr. Ian Moore. The daughter of Cattlewash-Jan is now three-for-five and has earned $76,606 for owners Wilma and James Mackenzie of Ennismore, Ont. and Paul Chapman of Oakville, Ont. The $95,000 London Classic Yearling Sale purchase paid $3.20 to win. There were also two second-leg Pop-Up Series divisions, won by Pretty Missy May ($46.60) and First Filly Chip ($2.20), who was claimed for the second time in two starts. The series is for $8,000 claiming fillies and mares that are non-winners of $5,000 in their last five starts (with allowances for age) or that started in the first leg. To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park. (Ontario Racing & Standardbred Canada) The clock is ticking! The Bill Galvin Racing Alliance (BGRA) Youth Contests are set to close on Aug. 31, 2025, and Ontario students are encouraged to get their entries in before it's too late. These popular contests, created in honour of the late Bill Galvin, a member of the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame, celebrate creativity, storytelling and passion for the sport. For the Youth Literary Derby, Ontario students in Grades 3 to 8 may submit either a poem or a short story about something Standardbred related. There are junior (Grades 3-5) and intermediate (Grades 6-8) divisions for this contest. Young artists can submit drawings or sketches with a Standardbred theme for the Youth Art Derby. In addition to the junior and intermediate divisions, a senior division has been added for Ontario students in Grades 9-12. The contests have been graciously supported and sponsored by prominent St. Catharines, Ont.-based Standardbred breeder and owner Tom Rankin since their inception. Divisional winners will receive $250, second place will receive $150 and third place in each division will receive $100. Equine Guelph will be offering its Youth Horse Behaviour and Safety online courses to winners that are 13 years of age or older. Weve been so impressed by the entries weve had in past years, said Karen Hauver, founding director of the Racing Alliance. Its clear that Bill Galvins legacy continues to inspire young people to connect with the sport, not just as spectators but as storytellers and artists. Complete rules and details for these contests can be found on the BGRA website at bgracingalliance.ca. (BGRA) TimelyCare Report: 65% of Students Have Already Been to Therapy Before Starting College, 83% Expect Campus Mental Health Support FORT WORTH, Texas, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Belonging, not burnout, is top of mind for the Class of 2029, but concerns about finances, politics and digital overload aren't far behind. For the first time, TimelyCare, higher education's most trusted virtual health and well-being provider, asked incoming students before their first class, before their first roommate, before their first late-night study session to share what they're carrying as they prepare to embark on their next chapter. View PDF From Nerves to New Beginnings: The Feelings of Starting College showcases the results from a national survey of more than 1,100 students heading to college for the first time. The nationwide survey of more than 1,100 incoming first-time college and university students revealed a class anticipating newfound independence, actively seeking connection and chasing personal growth. At the same time, they're arriving on campus digitally drained and deeply anxious about finances, academics and the political climate. Balancing Promise with Pressure For many incoming students, the fall semester represents a fresh start: a chance to make new friends, build community and pursue their academic goals. Nearly two-thirds (64%) are "thrilled," "optimistic," and "cautiously excited" about starting a new chapter in college. are about starting a new chapter in college. Before even setting foot onto campus, 7 in 10 students are confident in their ability to make new friends. What co-exists alongside their sense of optimism is the reality of growing pressures. Nearly 9 in 10 (87%) new students plan to work at least part-time while enrolled, with 14% expecting to take on full-time jobs. new students at least part-time while enrolled, with 14% expecting to take on full-time jobs. External stressor s are also weighing heavily: 61% say they're concerned about the current political climate , and 58% are concerned about the current social climate . s are also weighing heavily: about the current , and about the current . More than half (55%) of new students are worried about keeping up with academic demands. "Today's students are juggling far more than academics," said Dr. Nicole Trevino, Vice President for Student Success at TimelyCare. "They're balancing jobs and family obligations, managing emotional health, and staying tuned in to cultural and political tensions, all while trying to succeed in school. To meet them where they are, we must rethink traditional models of support." Emotional Readiness Is the New Academic Readiness Today's students aren't waiting until a crisis to think about mental health; they're arriving already aware of its role in their success. This year's incoming class is emotionally attuned and proactive about their well-being: 65% have received therapy before starting college (up from 58% in 2023) . before starting college . 83% are planning or open to using campus mental health services. 68% say they would talk to someone if they were feeling down. This generation is rewriting the narrative. They are normalizing help-seeking, not hiding it, and expecting institutions to meet them with care that is visible, accessible, and stigma-free. Connection Is Everything, But Harder Than It Looks One of the most pressing themes in the emotional journey is the desire to belong. While many students are excited to meet new people, the data reveals a quieter challenge: 57% report feeling lonely at least occasionally in the past week at least occasionally in the past week 30% are worried about their ability to make friends. Students may not be prepared for the loneliness that can develop over time or have the interpersonal skills to build meaningful relationships. According to a survey by TimelyCare and Active Minds from February 2024, nearly two-thirds (65%) of currently enrolled college students reported experiencing frequent loneliness. "Students crave meaningful connection," said Dr. Bob Booth, Chief Medical Officer at TimelyCare. "But without guidance, loneliness and low social confidence can quietly erode their well-being. That's why campus programs that support belonging from day one aren't just helpful, they're essential." AI-Empowered, Digitally Exhausted Incoming students are feeling more AI-fluent from day one, and many are embracing it. 63% feel at least somewhat or very confident in using AI tools , like ChatGPT, responsibly. feel at least somewhat or very , like ChatGPT, responsibly. 45% say they use AI to enhance their learning, not as a shortcut. But behind the confidence is a deeper strain. 72% of students say they often or occasionally feel overwhelmed by being constantly connected via text, social media, etc. of students say they often or occasionally Nearly half (49%) have mixed feelings about technology and how it affects their connection with others. The result is a paradox: a digitally native generation equipped to harness cutting-edge tools, yet craving more meaningful, less mediated forms of connection. Redefining "College-Ready" College, for this incoming class of students, isn't just about classes. It's about growing into the people they want to become, as one student explained. "I'm really looking forward to college because it's a chance to gain more independence, meet new people from different backgrounds, and study something I'm passionate about," one student shared. "I'm excited to experience a new environment, grow as a person, and start working toward my future goals." The national survey of over 1,100 incoming college students ages 18-29 was fielded in June 2025. It included respondents planning to attend public and private universities, community and technical colleges, and fully online post-secondary programs. About TimelyCare TimelyCare is the most trusted virtual health and well-being solution for learning communities, offering personalized, clinically proven care that fosters student success and delivers life-changing outcomes. Through a seamless, easy-to-access platform, TimelyCare provides a comprehensive range of services, including a crisis line, mental health counseling, on-demand emotional support, medical care, psychiatric care, health coaching, success coaching, basic needs assistance, faculty and staff guidance, peer support, and self-guided wellness tools. In partnership with nearly 500 campus wellness teams, TimelyCare ensures that millions of students have direct, anytime access to high-quality care. Recognized as a Princeton Review Top 5 Need to Know Organization for Mental Health Awareness, TimelyCare drives measurable improvements in depression and anxiety, empowering students on their wellness journey and supporting healthier learning environments. SOURCE TimelyCare 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 digital-twin system identifies objects and people in a workspace and can send alerts to a worker's smartwatch or phone to warn of potential collisions. Credit: Andrew Higley The University of Cincinnati is working with Ohio's Bureau of Workers' Compensation to use digital-twin technology to make workplaces safer. UC College of Engineering and Applied Science professors Manish Kumar and Sam Anand are developing tools that employers can use to prevent worker injuries from accidents, repetitive stress and other common causes. In a demonstration at UC's Digital Futures, they provided proof of concept using cameras to create a live, virtual representation of a worker in their actual workspace such as a warehouse or factory floor that can provide real-time feedback to workers about everything from potentially risky motions such as straining to reach something to immediate warnings that can avoid a disastrous collision with moving equipment. Researchers in UC's Industry 4.0/5.0 Institute are partnering with industrial collaborators such as Siemens, Innovative Numerics, Worthington Steel and thyssenkrupp Bilstein, which makes high-performance shock absorbers and suspension systems. The research team's proof-of-concept demonstration attracted interest from dozens of other companies. "We could not have pulled a better team from UC to do this project," Kumar said. Ohio recorded 76,800 nonfatal workplace injuries in 2023. More than half of them were considered severe, involving days away from work, job transfers or work restrictions while workers recuperated. University of Cincinnati student Vinayaka Athreya Dokka demonstrates how a digital twin system captures the movements of workers to warn about collisions or potential repetitive stress injuries. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand. Credit: Andrew Higley The system uses cameras to capture the movements of workers in real time to create a virtual representation called a digital twin. The system is so advanced that it can send real-time warnings to an employee's smartwatch, alerting them about proximate dangers such as an approaching forklift behind them or around a corner, or even reminders that they might be stressing certain parts of their bodies through repetitive motions. The system also compiles data summarizing the worker's movements and activities over the course of a day. A UC engineering student demonstrated the concept in a lab where UC engineers test drones and other equipment. An audience of business representatives watched from windows on the second story as the student mimicked tasks such as repeatedly reaching up or down for things in front of him. On smart TV screens mounted in the audience above, a computer rendering matched the student worker's movements and posture precisely in real time. For another demonstration, a wheeled box standing in as a forklift approached the student worker from behind and his smartwatch sounded an alarm to warn him of the approaching danger. "In the last 10 years we have gotten a boost from artificial intelligence and deep networks. We can now use motion-action models and MotionGPT to create digital twins," Kumar said. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati demonstrated proof of concept for an AI-powered digital-twin system that can monitor workers' movements to prevent injuries or collisions in a workspace. Credit: Andrew Higley Project partner and UC Professor Kelly Cohen and his aerospace engineering students have been ensuring that the AI deployed in the system works as expected and can be trusted by its users. "We have to make sure that AI doesn't hallucinate and introduce new risks," Cohen said. Anand said the data collected by the camera could inform workers about the dangers of repetitive motion injuries, which account for about one-third of workplace injuries nationwide. The system can generate a daily ergonomic assessment that scores workers on their collective risks of injuries based on their posture and motions. "The main point is ergonomic analysis. Real-time data can be sent to smartwatches in a way that workers can understand. You can train workers to avoid ergonomic deficits that can lead to injuries," Anand said. Having demonstrated that their real-time digital twin system works effectively, researchers are developing practical applications. The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation awarded a follow-up grant to support the development of a functional prototype. "We're just scratching the surface for potential applications," Kumar said. "There is a huge burden on us for responsible use. We want to be the guardian of the good." With tacit U.S. support, Israel's Gaza takeover plan sparks widespread outcry Xinhua) 09:50, August 11, 2025 Palestinians mourn for victims at Al-Shifa Hospital in central Gaza City, on Aug. 6, 2025. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua) Israel's Gaza takeover plan recently made has met widespread criticism, and U.S. says the decision is not its concern. 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. U.S. President Donald Trump (C) welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, on April 7, 2025. (Xinhua/Hu Yousong) 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. Palestinians are seen among the rubble after an Israeli airstrike in the Sheikh Radwan area, northwest of Gaza City, on Aug. 6, 2025. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua) 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The following release was issued by RG/2 Claims Administration LLC, as Claims Administrator. ASIF MEHEDI, Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated, Plaintiff, v. VIEW, INC. f/k/a CF FINANCE ACQUISITION CORP. II, RAO MULPURI, VIDUL PRAKASH, HOWARD W. LUTNICK, PAUL PION, ALICE CHAN, ANSHU JAIN, ROBERT J. HOCHBERG, CHARLOTTE S. BLECHMAN, CF FINANCE HOLDINGS II, LLC, CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO., CANTOR FITZGERALD, L.P., AND CF GROUP MANAGEMENT, INC., Defendants., Case No. 5:21-cv-06374-BLF, in the United States District Court of the Northern District of California, San Jose Division TO: (1) ALL PERSONS OR ENTITIES WHO PURCHASED OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRED VIEW AND/OR CF II SECURITIES BETWEEN NOVEMBER 30, 2020 AND MAY 10, 2022, INCLUSIVE (THE "CLASS PERIOD"); (2) ALL PERSONS OR ENTITIES WHO WERE HOLDERS OF CF II CLASS A COMMON STOCK AS OF THE JANUARY 27, 2021 RECORD DATE (THE "RECORD DATE") THAT WERE ENTITLED TO VOTE TO APPROVE THE BUSINESS COMBINATION BETWEEN VIEW AND CF II AS SET FORTH IN THE FEBRUARY 16, 2021 PROXY STATEMENT; AND (3) ALL PERSONS OR ENTITIES WHO PURCHASED OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRED VIEW SECURITIES PURSUANT TO OR TRACEABLE TO THE DE-SPAC REGISTRATION STATEMENT. Certain persons and entities are excluded from the Settlement Class as set forth in the Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement dated April 25, 2025 ("Stipulation") and the Notice described below. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED, pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and an Order of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division ("Court"), that the above-captioned action ("Action") has been provisionally certified as a class action for the purposes of settlement only and that the parties to the Action have reached a proposed settlement of the Action ("Settlement"). A hearing will be held on November 6, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. before the Honorable Beth Labson Freeman, by Zoom videoconference. Instructions for accessing the videoconference will be made available on the case website (www.viewsecuritieslitigation.com) and on the Court's website (https://cand.uscourts.gov/judges/freeman-beth-l-blf/). At the Settlement Hearing, the Court will consider:: a) whether the proposed Settlement of the claims alleged in the Action for Eleven Million Dollars ($11,000,000.00), is fair, reasonable, and adequate and should be approved by the Court; b) whether the Action should be dismissed with prejudice against the Defendants as set forth in the Stipulation; c) whether the Settlement Class should be certified for purposes of settlement; d) whether the proposed Plan of Allocation is fair and reasonable and should be approved by the Court; e) whether Lead Counsel's request for an award of attorneys' fees and reimbursement of Litigation Expenses, and service awards to named plaintiffs, should be approved by the Court; and f) any other relief the Court deems necessary to effectuate the terms of the Settlement. The date and time of the Settlement Hearing are subject to change without further notice to the Settlement Class. If you plan to attend the hearing, you should check the Settlement website, www.viewsecuritieslitigation.com to confirm that the date and time of the hearing have not changed. IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE SETTLEMENT CLASS, YOUR RIGHTS WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE SETTLEMENT OF THIS ACTION, AND YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO SHARE IN THE SETTLEMENT FUND. If you have not received a detailed Notice of (i) Pendency of Class Action and Proposed Settlement; (ii) Motion for an Award of Attorneys' Fees and Reimbursement of Litigation Expenses; and (iii) Settlement Fairness Hearing ("Notice") and Claim Form, you may obtain a copy by contacting the Claims Administrator by mail at Mehedi v. View, Inc., et. al., c/o RG/2, P.O. Box 59479, Philadelphia, PA 19102-9479, by email at [email protected], by telephone toll-free at 1-866-742-4955 or by the website at www.viewsecuritieslitigation.com. If you are a Settlement Class Member, in order to share in the distribution of the Net Settlement Fund, you must submit a Claim Form by mail (postmarked no later than December 5, 2025), or electronically no later than December 5, 2025, establishing that you are entitled to recover. If you are a Settlement Class Member and do not submit a proper Claim Form, you will not be eligible to share in the distribution of the net proceeds of the Settlement but you will nevertheless be bound by any releases, judgments or orders entered by the Court in the Action. If you are a Settlement Class Member, you have the right to object to the Settlement, the Plan of Allocation, or the attorneys' fee and Litigation Expense applications, or otherwise request to be heard. To object, you must submit a written objection in accordance with the procedures described in the more detailed Notice, referred to above. Any written objection must be delivered to the following recipient so that it is received no later than October 16, 2025 by the Clerk's Office, United States District Court for the Northern District of California, San Jose Division, 280 South 1st Street, Room 2112, San Jose, CA 95113. Note that the Court can only approve or deny the Settlement, not change the terms of the Settlement. If you are a Settlement Class Member and wish to exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you must submit a request for exclusion such that it is received no later than October 16, 2025, in accordance with the procedures described in the Notice. If you properly exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you will not be bound by any releases, judgments or orders entered by the Court in the Action and you will not be eligible to share in the net proceeds of the Settlement. Excluding yourself is the only option that allows you to be part of any other current or future lawsuit against Defendants or any of the other released parties concerning the claims being resolved by the Settlement. Please note, however, if you decide to exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you may be time-barred from asserting the claims covered by the Action by a statute of repose. PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT, THE CLERK'S OFFICE, DEFENDANTS OR THEIR COUNSEL REGARDING THIS NOTICE. If you have any questions about the Settlement, you may contact Lead Counsel at the address listed below: Laurence D. King KAPLAN FOX & KILSHEIMER LLP 1999 Harrison Street, Suite 1501 Oakland, CA 94612 1-800-290-1952 [email protected] Jason A. Uris KAPLAN FOX & KILSHEIMER LLP 800 Third Avenue, 38th Floor New York, NY 10022 1-800-290-1952 [email protected] Dated: August 11, 2025 By Order of the Clerk of Court United States District Court Northern District of California, San Jose Division SOURCE: Claims Administrator, RG/2 Claims Administration LLC, P.O. Box 59479, Philadelphia, PA 19102-9479, Telephone: 866-742-4955, Facsimile: 215-827-5551, Email: [email protected]. SOURCE RG/2 CLAIMS ADMINISTRATION LLC This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain The recent cyberattack at Columbia University affected close to 870,000 students, applicants and employees, compromising their Social Security numbers, health information and other sensitive data, according to school officials. In late June, Columbia students were locked out of their school emails and other platforms as part of a technical outage involving user authentication services. The university launched an investigation and determined that hackers obtained information "related to admissions, enrollment and financial aid processes," which also included applicant demographic data and academic records. "Though our investigation is still underway, we have learned more about the nature of the incident and the data involved," college officials said in a statement. It does not appear that any patient records at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center were breached. The attack's scope, first reported by Bloomberg News on Friday, was disclosed in Columbia's data breach notifications submitted this week to state governments. The university started notifying impacted individuals on Thursday and offering two years of credit monitoring. "We remain committed to continuously improving our defenses," the school officials added. Columbia's statement did not include a motive for the attack. However, a person claiming to be the hacker previously told Bloomberg their goal was to expose race-based admissions practices at Columbia after the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in 2023. The university says it complies with the law. Some of the breached data was shared with The New York Times, showing Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani identified as Asian and "Black or African American" on his application to Columbia, which was denied. Mamdani, who is of South Asian descent, was born in Uganda and attended Bowdoin, a small liberal arts college in Maine. Weeks after the data breach, Columbia agreed to share admissions data broken down by race, grades and test scores with President Trump, as part of a sweeping settlement in the name of fighting antisemitism, but also inclusive of other administration priorities. On August 7, the government broadened that directive regarding applicants to all U.S. colleges that receive federal funding. 2025 New York Daily News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain An emerging form of surveillance, wireless tapping, explores the possibility of remotely deciphering conversations from the tiny vibrations produced by a cell phone's earpiece. With the goal of protecting users' privacy from potential bad actors, a team of computer science researchers at Penn State demonstrated that transcriptions of phone calls can be generated from radar measurements taken up to 3 meters, or about 10 feet, from a phone. While accuracy remains limitedaround 60% for a vocabulary of up to 10,000the findings raise important questions about future privacy risks. They published their research in Proceedings of WiSec 2025: 18th ACM Conference on Security and Privacy in Wireless and Mobile Networks. The work builds upon a 2022 project in which the team used a radar sensor and voice recognition software to wirelessly identify 10 predefined words, letters and numbers with up to 83% accuracy. "When we talk on a cell phone, we tend to ignore the vibrations that come through the earpiece and cause the whole phone to vibrate," said first author Suryoday Basak, doctoral candidate in computer science. "If we capture these same vibrations using remote radars and bring in machine learning to help us learn what is being said, using context clues, we can determine whole conversations. By understanding what is possible, we can help the public be aware of the potential risks." Basak and his advisor, Mahanth Gowda, associate professor of computer science and engineering, who co-authored the paper, used a millimeter-wave radar sensorthe same type of technology used in self-driving cars, motion detectors and 5G wireless networksto explore the potential for compact, radar-based devices that could be miniaturized to fit inside everyday objects like pens. Their experimental setup is only for research purposes, the researchers said, developed in anticipation of what bad actors could potentially create. They then adapted Whisper, an open-source, large-scale speech recognition model powered by artificial intelligence (AI), to decode the vibrations into recognizable speech transcriptions. "Over the last three years, there's been a huge explosion in AI capabilities and open-source speech recognition models," Basak said. "We can use these models, but they are catered more toward clean speech or everyday use cases, so we have to adapt them to recognize low quality, 'noisy' radar data." To go from noisy data to recognizable speech without retraining the whole network, the researchers used a model adaptation method called low-rank adaptation, which let them specialize the model to radar data by retraining just 1% of Whisper's model parameters. To record the vibrations, the researchers used a millimeter-wave radar sensor positioned a few feet away from the phone to capture subtle surface vibrations while speech played back through the earpiece. To analyze the data, they fed this radar-derived signal into their customized version of the Whisper speech recognition model, which resulted in up to 60% accuracy. The transcription accuracy could be further improved, researchers said, by incorporating context-based manual corrections, such as adjusting certain words or phrases, when prior knowledge of the conversation is available. "The result was transcriptions of conversations, with an expectation of some errors, which was a marked improvement from our 2022 version, which outputs only a few words," Gowda said. "But even picking up partial matches for speech, such as keywords, are useful in a security context." The researchers compared their model's capabilities to reading lips: While lip-reading provides only about 30% to 40% of spoken words, many individuals who lip-read use context clues to decipher enough to participate in a conversation. "Similar to how lip readers can use limited information to interpret conversations, the output of our model combined with contextual information can allow us to infer parts of a phone conversation from a few meters away," Basak said. "The goal of our work was to explore whether these tools could potentially be used by bad actors to eavesdrop on phone conversations from a distance. Our findings suggest that this is technically feasible under certain conditions, and we hope this raises public awareness so people can be more mindful during sensitive calls." More information: Suryoday Basak et al, Wireless-Tap: Automatic Transcription of Phone Calls Using Millimeter-Wave Radar Sensing, 18th ACM Conference on Security and Privacy in Wireless and Mobile Networks (2025). DOI: 10.1145/3734477.3734708 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Czech and Estonian researchers are joining forces to build a cross-border cybersecurity hub that will strengthen Europe's digital defenses in the face of growing cyber threats. The unmistakable silhouette of Spilberk Castle towers over Brno, the largest city in Czechia's South Moravia region. From this medieval stronghold, you can spot the buildings of Masaryk University nestled below. It was here, at the foot of this centuries-old fortress, that local computer scientists first had the idea to strengthen the defenses of Europe's digital realm by setting up a cross-border cybersecurity hub. "It's actually a very simple story," said Vashek Matyas, professor of computer science at Masaryk University. The university and its partners in South Moravia were already renowned for their ICT, education and cybersecurity research, and they wanted to take their work a step further. "Once we started searching for a partner, we quickly realized that Estonia was the clear choice," said Matyas. Estonia is among the world's most advanced digital societies, boasting one of the most advanced e-government systems. A partnership between the two countries was, therefore, a natural fit. A cybersecurity excellence hub In 2023, leading institutes from both countries launched CHESSthe Cyber-security Excellence Hub in Estonia and South Moravia. Supported by the EU, and running until at least 2026, the CHESS team focuses on advancing cybersecurity through cutting-edge research, practical tools and education. Setting up these European excellence hubs is crucial, said Matyas, who coordinates the hub's activities. "While there are areas where the EU is strong, too many cybersecurity solutions still come from outside Europe. We need to strengthen our own position in this field." The CHESS team is focusing on identifying strengths and gaps in six key areas: the Internet of Secure Things, security certification, verification of trustworthy software, security preservation in blockchain, post-quantum cryptography and the human-centric aspects of cybersecurity. The teams in Czechia and Estonia each bring their own distinct strengths. "Our expertise is complementary, but there are areas in which we can learn from each other. In Moravia, we excel in human factors in security," says Matyas. "Estonia, on the other hand, has a strong expertise in the security of e-government solutions, for instance." Preparing for a quantum future One challenge keeping CHESS experts on their toes is post-quantum cryptography. Put simply, they are working to ensure that our data remains safe from the ultra-fast quantum computers of the future. "We are assessing which cryptographic methods to use in case quantum computers evolve to the point they can bypass our current encryption methods," said Matyas. "This isn't a threat yet, but we need to think about this now because data needs to be kept safe for decades to come." Liina Kamm, an Estonian expert in privacy-enhancing technologies, warns that quantum computing could one day make current encryption obsolete. "The encryption methods we use today rely on large prime numbers and are very difficult to break with existing computers," she said. "But for quantum computers, it could become much easier." Sensitive data, such as health and legal records, could be compromised if current cryptographic methods fail. That is why CHESS researchers are exploring new encryption standards that quantum computers cannot break. The weak human link Quantum threats may lie ahead, but the most immediate cybersecurity risk is much more human. "The biggest danger is users," said Matyas. "The human factor is a major concernand something we take very seriously." Kamm agreed. "The main cybersecurity threat is the carelessness of people," she said. "We can build the safest systems, but if someone writes their password on a sticky note next to their computer, it's all for nothing." The solution? Education. "Cybersecurity awareness is essential," said Kamm. "That's why education is a core part of what CHESS does." Turning research into real-world tools The collaboration has already delivered several practical applications that companies can use to test the safety of their systems. One tool developed by Estonian partners is a cybersecurity self-assessment standard. This is a user-friendly checklist that gives organizations immediate feedback on strengths and areas for improvement. "We have tested it in Czechia, and we are in serious discussions about rolling it out across the country," said Matyas. In the future, schools, hospitals and companies across Czechia may use the tool to boost their cybersecurity standards. The CHESS partners want to make guidance on cybersecurity more accessibleand therefore more helpful to people. By the end of 2025, they will publish an action plan with concrete recommendations for improving cybersecurity in Estonia, Czechia, and across the EU. "I believe CHESS can help Europe become more cyber secure," said Kamm. "It works on big-picture research and day-to-day challenges. It deepens our understanding and gives us tools people can actually use." Beyond its research outcomes, the CHESS collaboration has also boosted the international profile of Masaryk University. "It has moved us to a different level," said Matyas. The next step? The research team is now expanding its partner base to bring in new universities, companies, governmental institutions and other associations across Europe. "We want to make sure that our research is used," said Matyas, "and that the expertise of all our partners becomes widely known." This article was originally published in Horizon the EU Research and Innovation Magazine. 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: Time for a rethink? Credit: Wikimedia, CC BY-SA Watch Boston Dynamics' Atlas robot doing training routines, or the latest humanoids from Figure loading a washing machine, and it's easy to believe the robot revolution is here. From the outside, it seems the only remaining challenge is perfecting the AI (artificial intelligence) software to enable these machines to handle real-life environments. But the industry's biggest players know there is a deeper problem. In a recent call for research partnerships, Sony's robotics division highlighted a core issue holding back its own machines. It noted that today's humanoid and animal-mimicking robots have a "limited number of joints," which creates a "disparity between their movements and those of the subjects they imitate, significantly diminishing their value." Sony is calling for new "flexible structural mechanisms"in essence, smarter physical bodiesto create the dynamic motion that is currently missing. The core issue is that humanoid robots tend to be designed around software that controls everything centrally. This "brain-first" approach results in physically unnatural machines. An athlete moves with grace and efficiency because their body is a symphony of compliant joints, flexible spines and spring-like tendons. A humanoid robot, by contrast, is a rigid assembly of metal and motors, connected by joints with limited degrees of freedom. To fight their body's weight and inertia, robots have to make millions of tiny, power-hungry corrections every second just to avoid toppling over. As a result, even the most advanced humanoids can only work for a few hours before their batteries are exhausted. To put this in perspective, Tesla's Optimus robot consumes around 500 watts of power per second for a simple walk. A human accomplishes a more demanding brisk walk using only around 310 watts per second. The robot is therefore burning nearly 45% more energy to accomplish a simpler task, which is a considerable inefficiency. Diminishing returns So, does this mean the entire industry is on the wrong path? When it comes to their core approach, yes. Unnatural bodies demand a supercomputer brain and an army of powerful actuators, which in turn make robots heavier and thirstier for energy, deepening the very problem they aim to solve. The progress in AI might be breathtaking, but it leads to diminishing returns. Tesla's Optimus, for instance, is smart enough to fold a t-shirt. Yet the demonstration actually reveals its physical weakness. A human can fold a t-shirt without really looking, using their sense of touch to feel the fabric and guide their movements. Optimus, with its relatively rigid, sensor-poor hands, relies on its powerful vision and AI brain to meticulously plan every tiny motion. It would likely be defeated by a crumpled shirt on a messy bed, because its body lacks the physical intelligence to adapt to the unpredictable state of the real world. Boston Dynamics' new, all-electric Atlas is even more impressive, with a range of motion that seems almost alien. But what the viral acrobatics videos don't show is what it can't do. It could not walk confidently across a mossy rock, for instance, because its feet cannot feel the surface to conform to it. It could not push its way through a dense thicket of branches, because its body cannot yield and then spring back. This is why, despite years of development, these robots mostly remain research platforms, not commercial products. Why aren't the industry's leaders already pursuing this different philosophy? One likely reason is that today's top robotics firms are fundamentally software and AI companies, whose expertise lies in solving problems with computation. Their global supply chain is optimized to support this with high-precision motors, sensors and processors. Building physically intelligent robot bodies requires a different manufacturing ecosystem, rooted in advanced materials and biomechanics, which is not yet mature enough to operate at scale. When a robot's hardware already looks so impressive, it's tempting to believe the next software update will solve any remaining issues, rather than undertaking the costly and difficult task of redesigning the body and the supply chain required to build it. Autonomous bodies This challenge is the focus of mechanical intelligence (MI), which is being researched by numerous teams of academics around the world, including mine at London South Bank University. It derives from the observation that nature perfected intelligent bodies millions of years ago. These were based on a principle known as morphological computation, meaning bodies can perform complex calculations automatically. A pine cone's scales open in dry conditions to release seeds, then close when it's damp to protect them. This is a purely mechanical response to humidity with no brain or motor involved. The tendons in the leg of a running hare act like intelligent springs. They passively absorb shock when the foot hits the ground, only to release the energy to make its gait stable and efficient, without requiring so much effort from the muscles. Think about the human hand. Its soft flesh has the passive intelligence to automatically conform to any object it holds. Our fingertips act like a smart lubricator, adjusting moisture to achieve the perfect level of friction for any given surface. If these two features were incorporated into an Optimus hand, it would be able to hold objects with a fraction of the force and energy currently required. The skin itself would become the computer. MI is all about designing a machine's physical structure to achieve passive automatic adaptationthe ability to respond to the environment without needing active sensors or processors or extra energy. The solution to the humanoid trap is not to abandon today's ambitious forms, but to build them according to this different philosophy. When a robot's body is physically intelligent, its AI brain can focus on what it does best: high-level strategy, learning and interacting with the world in a more meaningful way. Researchers are already proving the value of this approach. For instance, robots designed with spring-like legs that mimic the energy-storing tendons of a cheetah can run with remarkable efficiency. My own research group is developing hybrid hinges, among other things. These combine the pinpoint precision and strength of a rigid joint with the adaptive, shock-absorbing properties of a compliant one. For a humanoid robot, this could mean creating a shoulder or knee that moves more like a human's, unlocking multiple degrees of freedom to achieve complex, life-like motion. The future of robotics lies not in a battle between hardware and software, but in their synthesis. By embracing MI, we can create a new generation of machines that can finally step confidently out of the lab and into our world. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Central Vietnam province Quang Tris $2 bln energy project in Laos inspected By Dinh Duy, Minh Hue Mon, August 11, 2025 | 3:57 pm GMT+7 The $2 billion AMI Savannakhet wind power plant in Laos Savannakhet province are among the five projects of the central province of Quang Tri named by the Vietnamese Government Inspectorate in its latest large-scale inspection. The special inspection covers 898 projects showing signs of delays, legal entanglements, low efficiency, prolonged stagnation, or potential risks of losses and waste. The BT wind farm cluster project, implemented by AMI Renewables Quang Binh JSC in former Quang Binh province (now Quang Tri province). Photo courtesy of the company. With a total capacity of 1,220 MW, the AMI Savannakhet wind power plant is developed by AMI Renewables Quang Binh JSC. As of 2023, this is the largest energy project invested in Laos by a Vietnamese company. Previously, in December 2022, the Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment signed an agreement with AMI Renewables Quang Binh JSC to conduct a feasibility study for the AMI Savannakhet wind power plant in Se Pon district, Savannakhet province. The first phase of the plant is expected to have a capacity of approximately 252 MW on an area of 2,687 hectares. In January 2023, the project was included in the minutes of the Lao-Vietnam Intergovernmental Committee meeting, where both governments pledged to facilitate its implementation. Subsequently, the Lao government approved the inclusion of the project in the list of projects that will export electricity from Laos to Vietnam before 2025. In June 2023, the Lao Prime Minister approved and authorized the Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment to sign a project development agreement with AMI Renewables Quang Binh. According to the timeline, AMI Renewables Quang Binh is expected to complete and submit the final feasibility report by September 2023, sign the concession agreement by the end of 2023, commence construction in Q2/2024, and begin commercial operation in Q4/2025. Once operational, the project is anticipated to play a key role in economic development, ensuring energy security and contributing to national defense and security along the Vietnam-Laos border in former Quang Binh province (now part of Quang Tri province after a merger). It also aligns with plans to open and upgrade the Chut Mut (Quang Binh)-La Vin (Savannakhet) border gate, as part of the land border gate planning for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050. AMI Renewables Quang Binh JSC was established in 2022 and is headquartered in Dong Hoi ward, Quang Tri province. As of March 2023, the company had three shareholders: Duong Dinh Tich and Phan Cam Ly, each contributing VND6 billion or $228.9 million (20%), and chairman Nguyen Nam Thang, contributing VND18 billion (60%). Previously, in September 2020, AMI Renewables Quang Binh JSC started construction on the B&T wind power cluster project with a total capacity of 252 MW and investment of over VND8.11 trillion ($304.9 million). The project began commercial operation in October 2021. In addition to the above wind power project, four other projects in Quang Tri are also under inspection. They include the VND6.13 trillion ($233.86 million) Quang Tri Airport project, developed by T&T Group and Cienco 4 Group JSC; and the VND4.53 trillion Trieu Phu Multi-sector Industrial Park project, developed by Trung Khoi JSC. The VND2.2 trillion ($83.96 million) Nam Cau Dai Urban Area project by Son Hai Group; and a VND2 trillion project to build a coastal road connecting the East-West Economic Corridor (phase 1) by the Quang Tri Investment and Construction Project Management Board. EBENE CYBERCITY, Mauritius, Aug. 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ultima Markets , a globally trusted CFD broker for online trading, has secured the regulatory licence to operate under the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This acquisition marks a significant step in Ultima Markets' strategy to establish a regulated presence in the United Kingdom (UK). The UK is a key global financial hub with an estimated 19 million and growing active traders in 2024. The FCA has rules and regulations that emphasize transparency and consumer protection. Ultima Markets is slated to launch its UK offering in 2026. "We're incredibly proud to take this step," said Gareth Derbyshire, spokesperson for Ultima Markets. "Becoming FCA-regulated reflects our long-term commitment to the UK and its regulatory standards. It sets the tone for what UK traders can expect from us: transparency, integrity, and a clear focus on their trading experience." Ultima Markets plans to onboard UK clients from 2026 and is slated to launch a localised offering that includes a dedicated website, enhanced compliance systems and platform features tailored to FCA standards. "We are taking every measure to meet expectations in full," Derbyshire added. "That means more than just ticking boxes. Our products, education and support are being designed and built for UK traders." UK traders can look forward to access to Ultima Markets' full range of CFD instruments, including forex, indices, commodities, and shares, trading on leading platforms like MetaTrader 4 (MT4). Through Ultima Markets' Trading Academy , traders of all levels will also be empowered to take control of their trading goals by developing practical skills and financial literacy. Founded in 2016, Ultima Markets is regulated by the Financial Services Commission in Mauritius, and recognised for its fast execution, deep liquidity, and diverse trading tools. Ultima Markets is also the first CFD broker to join the United Nations Global Compact, embedding responsible business practices into its operations and advancing sustainability education through its Ultima Impact Foundation . About Ultima Markets Ultima Markets is a licensed, award-winning, multi-asset broker offering access to over 250 CFD instruments across forex, commodities, indices and shares. The company was recently awarded Most Advanced Multi-Asset Trading Platform Europe 2025 and is the first CFD broker to join the UN Global Compact. SOURCE Ultima Markets Ltd You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). 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In pharmaceutical logistics, where precision, safety, and regulatory compliance are paramount, Cathay Pharma stands out as a specialised air freight solution, purpose-built for sensitive medical products such as vaccines, biologics, speciality drugs, medical devices, and clinical trial samples. It utilises both active and passive temperature-controlled container solutions, ensuring strict cold-chain management throughout the journey. This is enhanced by 24/7 real-time monitoring with Ultra Track technology to constantly track temperature, humidity, and other environmental indicators, ensuring transparency and cargo safety at every stage. Integrated with the Cathay Priority solution, Cathay Pharma offers expedited handling and guaranteed capacity, preserving product integrity, reducing storage time, and ensuring timely delivery for temperature-sensitive shipments. Proudly recognised for its expertise in the field and sound knowledge of temperature-sensitive transportation, Cathay Cargo lead the way in transporting COVID-19 vaccines from Australia to Vietnam in 2022. The shipments comprised vaccines from several renowned pharmaceutical brands around the world, each with different temperature requirements for storage and transport. In addition to the challenges of handling vaccines with distinct requirements, the sheer number of vaccine doses added another layer of logistical complexity, including the challenge of accommodating the equivalent of three-and-a-half articulated trucks worth of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other medical supplies, much of which had to be trucked to Sydney. Cathay Cargos Cathay Pharma solution, combined with its broader suite of specialised services, delivered comprehensive care and reassurance to customers, enabling the safe and timely transport of pandemic supplies from Australia to Vietnam and the Southeast Asia region. High-risk, sensitive shipments demand the highest standards, with zero margin for error. Cathay Cargo upholds this commitment through its International Air Transport Association CEIV Pharma certification, ensuring every stage of the healthcare logistics journey meets globally recognised standards. From aircraft and ramp handling to the state-of-the-art $751 million Cathay Cargo Terminal at Hong Kong International Airport, and across certified stations in its network, Cathay Cargo delivers end-to-end compliance and reliability. Cathay Pharma goes beyond safely managing pharmaceutical shipments from Vietnam to the world, it delivers a comprehensive solution combining high-value services, advanced monitoring systems, and a seamlessly connected global network. Among its 200 destinations worldwide, Cathay Cargo also operates a global network of over 70 dedicated pharma stations, ensuring efficient connections and specialised transport services for pharmaceuticals on major routes. This pharma station network includes pharmaceutical transshipment hubs equipped with cold storage, temperature control equipment, and operations following Good Distribution Practice standards, maintaining product quality from origin to destination. With extensive flight routes from Hong Kong to major pharmaceutical hubs such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Zurich, New York, Chicago, and Toronto, Cathay Pharma plays a vital role in connecting global research, production, and distribution centres. At the same time, Hong Kongs strategic location enables access to half the worlds population within five hours, crucial when time is of the essence. Together with the Pharma Handling Centre, the Cathay Cargo Terminal in Hong Kong offers one of the most comprehensive cold-chain storage and handling facilities in the world, making Cathay Cargo a leader in pharmaceutical logistics handling, ensuring a seamless, secure, and uninterrupted supply chain. The Pharma Handling Centre provides an unmatched quality of service for temperature-sensitive shipments and is both the newest and the largest dedicated pharma-handling facility at the airport. The 1,250 square metre facility comes in addition to 1,360 sq.m of existing cold storage space for cold chain shipments, which offers rooms ranging from -25 oC to +25 oC for different types of shipment. It is backed by MobiFresh: mobile temperature-controlled storage units with temperature and location tracking. Partnerships with global service providers further strengthen Cathay Pharmas capabilities, offering customers expanded possibilities. With six container suppliers, Cathay has the largest choice of packaging in Asia, covering a wide product temperature range of -80 C to +40 C. Since 2024, Cathay Cargo has partnered with Envirotainer to make real-time shipment-status data from its Releye RLP and RAP temperature-controlled containers available to customers via the Cathay Cargo website through an API connection. This enhanced visibility, especially valuable for Cathay Pharma shipments, includes key metrics such as internal temperature, battery level, location, and shipment milestones, and complements the existing Envirotainer Control Tower service. Envirotainers Releye RAP demonstration with Cathay Cargos Vietnam agents, forwarders, and pharmaceutical representatives. Photo: Cathay Cargo Shipments using Envirotainers Releye containers are monitored by Cathay Cargos Operations Control Centre, which takes proactive steps to ensure shipment integrity, just as it already does with shipments equipped with Cathay Cargos next-generation Ultra Track solution. Releye containers use cellular transmission to broadcast data in real time, while stored data from the flight segment of the journey is transmitted as soon as the container is in range of cellular towers on the ground. Cathay Cargo asserts global positioning with Vietnam presence Cathay Cargo, the cargo division of the Cathay Group, is steadily asserting its global position through a robust fleet, an expansive route network, and a sharp market strategy with its Vietnam presence. Cathay Fresh: the optimal cold-chain solution Cathay Fresh, Cathay Cargo's specialised cold-chain transportation solution, was designed to preserve the maximum freshness of perishable goods such as fruits, vegetables, seafood, pharmaceuticals, and meat. Ngoc will advise on corporate and merger and acquisition (M&A) matters, as well as energy and infrastructure mandates in both Vietnam and the wider Asia-Pacific. Nguyen Ngoc, counsel, Freshfields Ngoc brings over 15 years of experience in top-tier transactional and project work, including six years previously with Freshfields. She has a strong track record advising international clients on complex matters in the infrastructure, energy, and corporate sectors, the company said. Ngoc will work closely with colleagues in Vietnam, Singapore, and Tokyo to support multinational clients in the energy and infrastructure space. Her sector expertise spans development, financing, and acquisition of infrastructure and power projects, including pioneering clean energy initiatives in Vietnam. She has extensive experience working with both sponsors and the Vietnamese regulators on landmark renewable energy and other energy projects that contribute to shaping the countrys power development strategy. Ngocs appointment strengthens Freshfields regional offering and reflects the firms commitment to delivering commercially astute, internationally minded legal advice. She brings not only deep legal expertise but also a strategic network of government and industry stakeholders an asset in navigating Vietnams complex regulatory landscape. Commenting on the appointment, Matthew OCallaghan, Asia Managing Partner for the company said, Ngoc re-joins Freshfields as part of the expansion of our global energy and infrastructure offering here in the region. Her appointment supports our continued growth and our private capital and strategic investors need for advice to navigate the energy transition and broader infrastructure sectors, both in Vietnam and across the region. Vietnam partners Bui Thanh Tien and Eric Johnson wrote, We are thrilled to welcome Ngoc back to Freshfields and to our market-leading energy and infrastructure practice in the region. She is an ideal fit for the evolving needs of our multinational clients, especially as Vietnam experiences rapid growth in the infrastructure sector. Her addition highlights our commitment to the Vietnamese legal market and reflects our confidence in its continued expansion. Freshfields is a global firm with over 280 years of experience, opening offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in 1994. Since then, the firm has played a key role in the countrys economic transformation, supporting global investors and multinational companies on complex transactions and investment projects in the country. The firm is recognised as a leader in M&As, joint ventures, energy and infrastructure and antitrust. Freshfields is known for advising clients, which include major private equity firms, financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds, and major multinationals, on their investments in Vietnam across key sectors, with a focus on financial services, technology, energy and infrastructure, education, and healthcare. The implementation of the two-tier local government model is opening up significant opportunities for post-merger Vinh Long province. At the heart of this transition, Vinh Long Department of Industry and Trade continues to restructure and streamline its system to operate more efficiently and effectively, paving the way for rapid economic growth. According to the department, in the first half of 2025, export activities and business operations across newly formed Vinh Long province (after it incorporated Tra Vinh and Ben Tre provinces) mirrored continued growth momentum. Accordingly, the provinces total export value in the first six months of 2025 is estimated to reach $1.86 billion, up 17.6 per cent on-year. Major export categories recorded strong performance, including leather and footwear, transport equipment and spare parts, and various accessories such as bags and umbrellas, as well as machinery and components. For the entire year, Vinh Longs export value is projected to exceed $3.6 billion, marking a 7.94 per cent increase on-year. Vinh Long Department of Industry and Trade is currently leading efforts in coordination with other departments, sectors, and localities to support businesses in technological innovation and enhancing competitiveness. These efforts also encompass boosting the provinces export and export-potential products to both domestic and international businesses, and helping local businesses connect with global partners to diversify markets and reduce reliance on traditional ones. The streamlined governance model closer to both the individuals and businesses is unlocking new opportunities in a broader development space, fostering investment attraction and the realisation of the regions full potential. Experts believe the merger of the three localities enables the new Vinh Long to expand its development scope towards the coast and transform into a powerful growth hub for both the Mekong Delta region and the country. With a total area of nearly 6,300sq.km, over 4.1 million in population, and 124 commune-level administrative units, the new province is expected to become a magnet for foreign direct investment, especially in agro-aquatic product processing, logistics, and renewable energy. The integration of the Mekong River system with expressways, inland roads, and the coastal road network of pre-merger localities is forming a robust backbone to support a new economic development strategy, shaping a broader growth corridor for the new Vinh Long province and the entire region. Strategically located at the heart of the Mekong Delta, Vinh Longs new political-administrative centre serves as a vital transportation and logistics hub. It benefits from key infrastructure such as National Highway 1 and the Trung LuongMy ThuanCan Tho expressway. Future connectivity will be further enhanced by the planned Ho Chi Minh CityCan Tho railway, scheduled for groundbreaking in 2027, combined with the inland waterway system, offering optimal conditions for freight transportation. Sustainable green growth is also a key strategic direction for the province, with Vinh Long aiming to become a high-tech, eco-friendly agricultural province by 2030. Existing industrial parks along with developing ones are being positioned to meet burgeoning investor demands, driving strategic industrial development. Meanwhile, the former Ben Tre province known as the coconut kingdom of the Mekong Delta boasts more than 79,000 hectares of coconut plantations, exporting to 90 countries and territories with annual export revenue approaching $500 million. In 2024, this contributed to the provinces total export value reaching $1.75 billion. By the end of 2025, the entire Vinh Long province is expected to have 119,270ha of coconut trees around 22 million trees leading the nation and accounting for nearly half of Vietnams total coconut-growing area. Key infrastructure projects are being developed across the province, including Ba Lai 8 bridge, Dinh Khao bridge, Cua Dai bridge, and the coastal road linking Ben Tre with Tien Giang and Tra Vinh. Rach Mieu 2 bridge connecting Tien Giang province is slated to open on National Day on September 2, shortening the travel time between Ho Chi Minh City and eastern coastal provinces. Meanwhile, Ben Tres coastal land reclamation project, covering around 50,000ha, reflects the provinces grand development ambition and strategic vision for robust marine economic growth. Tra Vinh is also an emerging energy hub for the region, with numerous large-scale wind and solar power projects, and Duyen Hai thermal power complex. In 2024, Tra Vinhs regional GDP was estimated to increase by 10 per cent the highest in the delta region. Crucially, post-merger Vinh Long will now be classed as a coastal province, with over 130km of shoreline, offering tremendous potential for developing the marine economy, logistics, seaports, offshore wind power, and new urban areas. To achieve sustainable development goals for the rest of this decade, experts and policymakers said Vinh Long must prioritise strong investment in industry, services, and transport infrastructure. Coordinated development of industrial infrastructure and the quality of personnel will be critical for driving comprehensive economic progress, they added. Vinh Long confirms 13 projects worth $790 million The Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long has issued investment policy decisions, investment certificates, and memoranda on investment cooperation to 13 projects with the total registered capital of nearly VND19.6 trillion ($790 million). Tra Vinh, now part of Vinh Long, gains tourism momentum as fresh driver Tra Vinh province, which was incorporated with Ben Tre into Vinh Long province this month, is revitalising its tourism sector, leveraging cultural heritage and community-based tourism to become a strategic economic pillar by 2030. KPMG hosted its Tariff Modeller Demo Workshop on August 6, introducing a data-driven platform that enables businesses to model potential US tariff scenarios and craft more strategic export plans in response. Developed to support trade and customs planning, the Tariff Modeller enables businesses to simulate how various US tariff regimes, such as Section 301, Section 232 of the Trade Act, the Reciprocal Tariff Act, and the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), impact specific HS codes, product groups, and countries of origin. Users can build hypothetical supply chain setups, compare import duties across sourcing alternatives, and evaluate cost-saving opportunities by shifting production or adjusting the origin of goods. (L-R) Vuong Quang Thuan, director of Trade and Customs at KPMG Vietnam" and "Nguyen Nhat Linh, director of Trade and Customs at KPMG "Tariff Modeller is not just a tax calculator, its a strategic map," said Vuong Quang Thuan, director of Trade and Customs at KPMG Vietnam. "It helps businesses visualise where they stand in global trade and where they could go next. By simulating the impact of a 10 or 25 per cent tariff across multiple sourcing countries and producers, companies can make better decisions, strengthen their pricing strategy, and reinforce their negotiating position with US buyers." One of the models most powerful features is its Wildcard Modelling capability, which allows users to manually input tariff scenarios by HS code, country of origin, and manufacturing location. For instance, businesses currently sourcing from China can use the model to test the benefits of switching to Vietnam. In one illustrative scenario, total import duties dropped from $35.4 million to $12.6 million simply by shifting production from China to Vietnam and ensuring goods origin, a reduction of nearly 65 per cent. Nguyen Nhat Linh, also a director of Trade and Customs at KPMG, pointed out that the tool is especially useful for long-term planning. "Many companies are reactive when it comes to tariffs, they only respond once duties are imposed," she said. "But with this model, Vietnamese manufacturers can take a more proactive approach by anticipating potential policy shifts and adjusting supply chain configurations in advance. This forward-looking mindset is critical in todays volatile trade environment." The model also includes built-in logic to simulate how tariffs apply based on product composition, especially under policies like Section 232 that target metals such as steel, aluminium and copper. For simulation purposes, the system assumes a 50 per cent metal content within relevant products. However, KPMG experts stressed that this is only a default assumption. Actual tariff liabilities will vary depending on the Bill of Materials (BOM) and detailed product composition submitted by the business. Another key point is that the Tariff Modeller does not automatically assess origin qualification. Instead, it relies on inputs such as Certificate of Origin, Regional Value Content, or BOM data provided by the company. This means that accurate and complete data from businesses is essential for reliable analysis. "The quality of output depends entirely on the quality of input," noted Thuan. "If a company enters incomplete or outdated BOM information, the model may misestimate the tariff exposure. Thats why our advisory work also involves helping clients clean up and structure their data before simulation." Tariff Modeller also allows users to export customisable reports, enabling effective internal communication and informed negotiations with overseas buyers. "Vietnam is increasingly seen as an alternative sourcing hub to China, but that narrative must be backed by data. This tool helps quantify Vietnams advantages in concrete terms, using actual duty reductions and origin-specific insights. For companies pitching themselves to global buyers, that data can be a game-changer," said Linh. Tariff Modeller Demo - Pivot table and report creation. Photo: KPMG Vietnam During her speech at the workshop, Linh revealed that the Tariff Modellers pivot table and report creation feature allows users to export customized reports with selected data fields, offering insights tailored to their specific needs. "This functionality enables businesses to focus on the most relevant information, leverage data to support strategic decision-making, streamline internal reporting workflows, and easily share results with a wide range of stakeholders," she said. Ultimately, as Vietnam positions itself as a competitive alternative in global supply chain shifts, tools like Tariff Modeller provide a strategic edge, offering not just compliance, but foresight and agility in a volatile trade landscape. KPMG can support businesses by first assessing their current tariff exposure using the Tariff Modeller Analytics Tool, providing a data-driven view of potential risks under various trade policy scenarios. "Based on these insights, KPMG is working closely with companies to develop targeted cost-saving strategies aimed at mitigating tariff impacts. Through comprehensive scenario planning, the team helps businesses balance cost, quality, and supply availability, identifying optimal sourcing configurations," stated Linh. "KPMG also assists in creating a phased action plan that prioritises high-impact areas for maximum efficiency. Finally, the firm offers hands-on support in implementing sourcing shifts or other tariff mitigation initiatives, ensuring strategic execution and long-term resilience." Vietnamese firms stepping up amid US tariff challenges The majority of Vietnamese businesses expect intra-ASEAN trade to grow following the announcement of US tariffs, according to the 2025 UOB (United Overseas Bank) Business Outlook Study released on June 25. 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. Corporate tax landscape undergoing decisive shifts On June 14, the National Assembly approved amendments to the Law on Corporate Income Tax (CIT), effectively reconfiguring how tax incentives are granted to businesses, especially those operating within industrial parks. Party General Secretary To Lam On August 10 in Seoul, Party General Secretary To Lam met with members of the Vietnam Innovation Network, along with Vietnamese experts and entrepreneurs in fields ranging from economics, finance, and banking to innovation, digital transformation, and strategic technologies. This was the second time Party general secretary had personally chaired a meeting with the Vietnam Innovation Network, after the first one held in the United States last year. The meeting underscored the Party, State, and Party general secretarys strong commitment to the Vietnamese intellectual community abroad, particularly the Vietnam Innovation Network in South Korea, while reaffirming the central role of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation in national development. Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang stated that this year marks a crucial point as Vietnam strives to become a modern industrialised country with upper-middle income by 2030, aiming to reach high-income status by 2045. In this new era, the role of overseas Vietnamese intellectuals and experts has become more important than ever, especially in areas like innovation and high technology, said Minister Thang. Contributions to national development by the overseas intellectual and expert community can be made through resource connections, knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and international cooperation, thereby fully harnessing the intellectual potential of Vietnamese people worldwide for a strong and prosperous Vietnam, he added. In recent times, the Vietnam Innovation Network, along with Vietnamese experts and entrepreneurs in South Korea, has made numerous valuable contributions to major national initiatives. Notable efforts include in the development of key laws such as the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation, the Law on Industry and Digital Technology, national strategies for the development of the semiconductor industry, the proposal for an AI research and training centre, an international financial centre, and incubation programmes for innovative Vietnamese startups in South Korea. Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang At the meeting, representatives of the Vietnam Innovation Network and Vietnamese business leaders shared their experience in encouraging innovation, entrepreneurship, and the development of strategic technology sectors. They also put forward proposals and recommendations on new solutions and effective approaches to transform Vietnams economic growth model in a more in-depth, science- and innovation-based direction, with the goal of achieving double-digit growth. Party General Secretary To Lam acknowledged and highly appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Finance, including the National Innovation Centre in developing the innovation network, as well as the significant contributions made by the Vietnam Innovation Network and Vietnamese experts and entrepreneurs in South Korea. He proclaimed the strong support of the Party and the state for activities related to science, technology, innovation, and strategic technologies such as AI, semiconductors, and quantum technology. To further improve institutions for building a robust and effective innovation ecosystem, Party General Secretary To Lam requested the Ministry of Finance to study mechanisms to boost investment in science, technology, and innovation. The ministry should continue to act as the focal agency, coordinating with other ministries and departments to connect, transfer knowledge, and concretise the initiatives, ideas, and proposals from experts in South Korea and other countries into specific, high-value-added solutions and products that can help solve major national challenges and achieve strategic goals. The Pary general secretary asked the Vietnam Innovation Network in South Korea to fulfill their role as a vital bridge between domestic and international innovation ecosystems; to strengthen connections among Vietnamese experts, intellectuals, and entrepreneurs in South Korea and other countries with agencies, organisations, and enterprises in Vietnam. Pary General Secretary To Lam encouraged the network to proactively lead innovation initiatives, promote the transfer of knowledge and experience, and bring global excellence and advancements back to Vietnam. He also called for the strengthening of solidarity and mutual support to create a unified bloc capable of effectively contributing to the countrys development. Vietnam targets strategic FDI for innovation and long-term value Vietnam is reshaping its foreign direct investment strategy to prioritise high-quality, technology-driven, and sustainable projects, aiming to boost innovation, productivity, and national competitiveness in a changing global landscape. Vietnams semiconductor strength lies in its workforce At a conference on digital twins for Vietnam's semiconductor workforce in Hanoi on June 12, industry experts declared Vietnamese workers to be its greatest advantage, which will be supported further by digital twin technology. What a summer this has been and the summer is on its way out As always I say, Summer? What summer? Yesterday, I finished the loose ends on Sammy the Volga. All except the new windshield washer spray system. That will most likely get done today. I have installed the new pump and I am crafting a new reservoir to hold washer fluid, made out of a kilo (1000 grams) size plastic peanut butter jar. I also have new hoses, spray nozzles and connections. The old system was beyond help. Thus, creativity is necessary Update: New washer system is installed and works good. New tachometer is installed and works good Sammy starts good and purrs like a kitten. Everythings working TRV here we come very soon WtR Armed forces families in Wales given new freedoms over homes New measures giving armed forces families more freedoms to keep pets and personalise their homes are being introduced across Wales. The UK Government reforms, which will also allow tenants to run a business from home, will affect more than 800 military houses. Those already running a business will also benefit from a named housing officer, who can offer advice and support on processes, delivering on another promise set out in the Consumer Charter. The changes to military family housing are part of the Governments new Consumer Charter, aimed at improving standards for service accommodation. Some measures came into force on 9 August, with Defence Secretary John Healey pledging to raise standards and put service families at the heart of housing reform. Our Armed Forces make extraordinary sacrifices to keep us safe every day. But for too long, military families have lived in substandard housing without basic consumer rights, said the defence secretary. By introducing greater freedoms, including pet ownership, we are ensuring forces families in Wales can live and work in homes fit for modern life. Until now, armed forces families have faced a lengthy and bureaucratic approval process to own pets. Under the changes, they can keep up to two dogs, cats or smaller pets without needing permission. Minister for Veterans and People, Al Carns, said: As a dog owner and Royal Marine who served for 24 years, much of it in Service accommodation, Im delighted to be making it easier for our dedicated personnel to own family pets. Recognising the unique demands of Service family life, it is also right that we make it easier for family members to run businesses from military housing. The Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens said: Wales has a long and proud tradition of military service, and it is right that the housing provided for our service people and their families are places that they can truly call home. The UK Government is investing more than 7bn in military accommodation this Parliament, including an additional 1.5bn through the SDR for urgent repairs and long-term renewal of service family homes. This follows a deal to bring 36,000 military homes back into public ownership. Food firm shows solidarity with tourism industry in North Wales with new deal to support showcase Harlech Foodservice, which has a base in Chester as well as its headquarters in Criccieth, has struck a new three-year deal to support a major showcase for the tourism and hospitality industry in North Wales. The fast-growing food wholesaler will continue as headline sponsor of the Go North Wales Tourism Awards, underwriting the annual event up to 2027. This years awards ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, November 20, at Venue Cymru in Llandudno. Harlech Foodservice said the sponsorship package was its way of showing solidarity with a sector that has faced significant challenges during and since the Covid pandemic. The company has bases not only in Chester and Criccieth but also in Aberbargoed, Carmarthen, and Telford. It has been the headline sponsor of the tourism awards since 2021. Earlier this year, Harlech was named UK Food Wholesaler of the Year by Caterer magazine and was also recognised by the Sunday Times as one of the best places to work in the UK. Founded more than 50 years ago by Colin and Gill Foskett, Harlech initially supplied hotels, pubs, holiday parks, and campsites across North West Wales. Its customer base has since expanded to include local authorities, schools, and hospitals. Managing Director David Cattrall said: We are delighted to announce our continued support for the North Wales Tourism Awards. It has become such an important event in the calendar for a sector that is vital to the North Wales economy and which attracts so many people to this beautiful area of the UK. We are fortunate to live here but we appreciate that a big part of the offer that the tourism sector has right across North Wales is the high-quality food and drink that the region provides for its visitors. Thats why it is so important to us that as much of what we supply as possible should come from this area because the food people eat on holiday is a big part of the reason they come to North Wales. North Wales is a world-class tourism destination which is innovative and varied and were proud to support those businesses by committing ourselves to backing these awards for the next three years. The tourism and hospitality industry was hit hard by the pandemic and this is our opportunity to give something back and celebrate the achievements of our core customers. Cattrall added that Harlech had introduced fixed, transparent pricing and upgraded its website and app to help customers compare range, price, and product information instantly. Our Trust Our Prices campaign, which is aimed at the smaller, independent customer, has proved incredibly popular. We review our prices weekly against some of the biggest wholesalers in the UK, rejecting the common practice of increasing negotiated prices without notice. Our customers can save 14 per cent as part of the Harlech 50 price comparison initiative that benchmarks prices of top-selling products against goods from industry giant Booker. On top of that, our My Harlech loyalty app rewards customers with a rebate of up to 10 per cent on what they spend with Harlech Foodservice each year. Go North Wales Director Jim Jones welcomed the renewal of Harlechs partnership: Were delighted that Harlech are committing to continue to support the tourism awards for the next three years. We have had a long and fruitful partnership with them and they have played such a key part in the regions tourism for so many years. We are very proud of our industry and the award event really showcases the very best of North Wales and the amazing businesses which make it a truly world-class destination for visitors. Harlech has expanded steadily over the years, opening new sites in Merthyr Tydfil and Carmarthen since 2024, acquiring rival Celtic Foodservices, and opening a fifth hub near Telford in Shropshire. Under David Cattralls leadership, the company has embarked on a 6 million plan to create 150 new jobs, driven by sales growth from 32 million to a record 50 million and profits exceeding 2 million. Harlech now employs 275 staff and operates a fleet of over 65 vehicles delivering up to 5,000 product lines across Wales, Shropshire, the Midlands, and the North West of England. [Jim Jones, CEO of North Wales Tourism pictured with David Cattrall, Managing Director of Harlech Foodservice, photo: by Mandy Jones] Horror returns to Cefn Mawr as Phantasmagoria festival marks fourth year Cefn Mawr will once again be the stage for spine-tingling cinema this autumn, as the Phantasmagoria Horror Film Festival returns for its fourth year from Friday 3 to Sunday 5 October 2025. The three-day event, held at George Edwards Hall near Wrexham, promises a packed programme of Welsh and international horror films, combining cult classics, new releases, and interactive events for fans of all ages. Festival-goers can expect an array of screenings and special appearances, including a Q&A with renowned screenwriter and author David McGillivray following a showing of his 1976 film House of Mortal Sin. Directors Gene Dolders (The Blade Cuts Deeper) and Kemal Yildirim (The Haunting of The Lady-Jane) will also be on hand to discuss their work. Among the premieres, the festival will host the UK debut of the Spanish-language thriller The Photographer (La Fotografa), alongside the Welsh premiere of The Cellar. The weekend begins with a Friday evening screening aimed at younger horror fans aged 15 and over, featuring the cult favourite The Monster Squad. Across the three days, audiences can revisit much-loved titles such as Childs Play 2 and Dario Argentos Tenebrae, as well as a curated selection of short films. The programme also includes a lively pub quiz and opportunities for visitors to meet fellow enthusiasts. Organised by Wrexham locals Marc and Helen Brimfield, the festival continues to build its reputation as a destination for horror lovers from across the region. The venue, George Edwards Hall on Well Street, offers free on-site parking and is accessible by public transport. Tickets are on sale now, with the full schedule available on the festivals website at www.phff-wrexham.com. Organisers are encouraging visitors to secure their places early for a weekend that promises to mix gore, glamour, and plenty of cinematic chills. August 11, 2025: China has a lot of impressive new warplanes entering service. The men, and a few women, who pilot these aircraft are a problem. Chinese pilots get plenty of flying time but have little or no combat experience. Intercepting and harassing American, Japanese, South Korean and Taiwanese warplanes do not really qualify as effective training. Meanwhile China alarmed Western governments three years ago by quietly hiring retired military pilots to help train Chinese pilots. The Chinese did this discreetly, using a South African firm that recruits retired pilots to work for the growing number of companies that provide various levels of training for military pilots. Many countries cannot afford the extensive training major nations, like the U.S. and larger NATO nations have long provided. Even those countries are now using some of these contractor-pilot operations to ease the load on their military pilot-training operations. China used the South African recruiting firm to find Western military pilots China could approach with lucrative offers to work directly with the Chinese air force to improve pilot abilities. China offered attractive pay, often over a quarter million dollars a year for the most experienced candidates. Many potential candidates turned down the offer and some mentioned it to pilots who were still on active duty. Soon details of the Chinese recruiting reached senior air force leaders. This recruiting is not illegal, but when it was discovered that China was particularly interested in retired pilots with experience with the latest warplanes, especially the F-35, the legal Chinese recruiting morphed into another Chinese intelligence operation. China often tries, with some success, to convince Western contractors to engage in espionage. Large cash payments are often used but in some cases the candidates are entrapped, usually with an attractive Chinese female operative, and blackmailed into cooperating. The British, or at least the British media, turned this around by pointing out that British intelligence could debrief the officers hired to obtain a better idea of what capabilities Chinese pilots already had and exactly what they were seeking to learn. This debrief procedure is not unusual but the suggestion that it was also a search for men willing to be double agents while pretending to spy for the Chinese, was a more serious matter for the Chinese. On the other hand, it offered former British pilots double pay and free access to smashing Chinese ladies. The training effort only involved about 30 pilots who were recruited. None of them had any F-35 experience. Now that this Chinese operation has been exposed, more details emerged of what the Chinese were up to. The Chinese learn from their mistakes, as well as history. The history angle is interesting because China adopted a practice Japan used successfully over a century ago to improve its armed forces. In the case of Japan, Western nations, especially Britain, did not see this as aiding the enemy but rather assisting a major customer and potential military ally. This all began unexpectedly in 1868 when Japan, after centuries of isolationist and technologically backward policies, decided that to survive they must modernize and deal with the outside world. At the time Japan had a medieval economy and their plan was to rush through the industrial revolution to reform their economy and armed forces. China underwent a similar process a century later. The difference was that, until the 1920s, a modernized Japan was seen as an ally of the West. Then Japanese attitudes towards the West changed. Paranoia towards the West and armed aggression towards neighbors as well as the West led to Japan starting the East Asian/Pacific portion of World War II. That did not end well for Japan and China seemed headed in the same direction in the early 21st Century. While China has not purchased as many weapons from the West as Japan did over a century ago, China used a lot of successful espionage to steal valuable Intellectual Property/IP from the West and tried to hire Western military advisors to improve their air forces. This is something the Japanese also did for decades until about a century ag0 when Japan was recognized as increasingly hostile towards the West and no longer an ally. The main cause of this switch was the Japanese perception that the Western powers, especially the ones Japan assisted in fighting the Germans during World War I, did not sufficiently recognize or appreciate Japanese assistance. Japanese saw this as racist behavior and very insulting. At the same time Japanese, like most East Asians, always perceived Europeans as barbarians who developed and misused some interesting new technology. The Japanese were, and still, are especially fond of this attitude, which they also apply to their East Asian neighbors. Most, but not all, Europeans were shocked and surprised at this Japanese change in attitude. So were some Japanese who had more experience in the West. Such individuals in Japan and the West were too few to change minds in their own homelands. History does repeat, or at least paraphrase, itself. Deputies have found the body of a person who went missing in Lake Lahontan. The sheriff's office says the person was just 17 years old. Lyon County Sheriff's Office says that out of respect for the privacy of the family, no further details about the minor will be released. Investigators say they found no signs of foul play, and the death has been preliminarily determined to be an accident. If you have any information regarding this incident, Lyon County Sheriff's Office encourages you to call them at (775) 463-6620. Original story (8/10/2025, 1:00 p.m.): The Lyon County Sheriff's Office says they are searching for a person who disappeared in the Lahontan Reservoir on Saturday August 9th. Search and Rescue teams have been looking for the person since then but have not yet found them. They are asking people to stay away from the area known as "the Channel" or "Fisherman's Point" while the search is underway. If you have any information that may help investigators, contact the Lyon County Sheriffs Office Communications Center at (775) 463-6620 and request to speak with Sergeant McDaniel. Updates will be provided as they become available. Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser held a press conference Monday following President Donald Trumps announcement that hes taking over Washingtons police department and activating 800 members of the National Guard in the hopes of reducing crime and tackling homelessness in the city. The president exaggerated or misstated many of the facts surrounding public safety in D.C., where the crime rate has fallen in recent years. Trumps plan prompted the District of Columbias mayor to voice concerns about the potential use of the National Guard to patrol the streets. While this action today is unsettling and unprecedented, I cant say that given some of the rhetoric of the past, that were totally surprised, Bowser said. Here's the latest: US and China extend trade truce another 90 days Trump has extended a trade truce with China for another 90 days, at least delaying once again a dangerous showdown between the worlds two biggest economies. The previous deadline was set to expire at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. Had that happened, the U.S. would have ratcheted up taxes on Chinese imports from an already high 30%, and Beijing would have responded by raising retaliatory levies on U.S. exports to China. The pause buys time for the two countries to work out some of their differences, perhaps clearing the way for a summit later this year between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Read more about the tariff suspension extension Trial starts over National Guard deployment to Los Angeles A federal judge is hearing arguments on whether military troops deployed this summer by the Trump administration to Los Angeles violated a federal law that bars troops from conducting law enforcement duties within the country. Judge Charles Breyer will decide whether the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act was violated when 4,700 California National Guard members and Marines were sent following protests over immigration raids. A deputy commanding general testified Monday that military forces called in were allowed to take some law enforcement actions despite the federal law that prohibits the president from using the military as a domestic police force. The administration has argued that federal military members are allowed to protect federal property and agents as part of their mission carrying out federal operations. Read more about the trial that could set the precedent for how Trump can deploy the guard in the future Trumps big bill is powering his mass deportations. Congress is starting to ask questions The Republican Partys big bill of tax breaks and spending cuts that Trump signed into law July 4 included whats arguably the biggest boost of funds yet to the Department of Homeland Security nearly $170 billion, almost double its annual budget. The staggering sum is powering the nations sweeping new Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations, delivering gripping scenes of people being pulled off city streets and from job sites across the nation the cornerstone of Trumps promise for the largest domestic deportation operation in American history. The crush of new money is setting off alarms in Congress and beyond, raising questions from lawmakers in both major political parties who are expected to provide oversight. The bill text provided general funding categories almost $30 billion for ICE officers, $45 billion for detention facilities, $10 billion for the office of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem but few policy details or directives. Homeland Security recently announced $50,000 ICE hiring bonuses. Read more about the funding behind Trumps mass deportation agenda Trumps moves toward taking over Washington are unprecedented. Heres what the law says D.C.s historically majority Black population wasnt electing its own city council and mayor until 1973, when Republican President Richard Nixon signed the Home Rule Act. The measure still left significant power to the president and Congress, though no president has exercised the police powers before. Section 740 of the Home Rule Act allows for the president to take over Washingtons Metropolitan Police Department for 48 hours, with possible extensions to 30 days, during times of emergencies. No president has done so before, said Monica Hopkins, executive director of the ACLU of Washington. It wasnt immediately clear how long the takeover might last or exactly what it might mean. It could also face challenges in court. The law is specific to D.C. and doesnt affect other communities around the U.S. referred to as having their own home rule powers in relationship to their state governments. Trump nominates jobs report critic to lead Bureau of Labor Statistics The president posted on social media that he has picked E.J. Antoni, an economist at conservative think tank The Heritage Foundation to lead the agency in charge of the monthly jobs report, the consumer price index and other indicators. Trump dismissed the previous commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Erika McEntarfer, after the July jobs report contained dramatic downward revisions of 258,000 jobs combined in June and May, suggesting a weaker economy than what the president had claimed. The president has said the jobs report is rigged, and Antoni has frequently criticized the report, putting him outside of mainstream economists. E.J. will ensure that the Numbers released are HONEST and ACCURATE, Trump said on Truth Social. Trumps tax law will mostly benefit the rich, while leaving poorer Americans with less, CBO says Trumpstax and spending law will result in less income for the poorest Americans while sending money to the richest, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reported Monday. The CBO estimates that the 10% of poorest Americans will lose roughly $1,200 a year as they experience restrictions on government programs like Medicaid and food assistance, while the richest 10% of Americans will see their income increase by $13,600 from tax cuts. Overall, American households will see more income from the tax cuts in the legislation, including middle income households, but the largest benefit will go to the top 10% of earners. Roughly 2.4 million people wont be eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program under new work requirements for many recipients, the CBO found. Low-income Americans could also see their income reduced through further restrictions on food aid and other types of assistance included in the law. How the National Guard deployment in DC will work According to the Army, Guard troops will be deployed under Title 32, or federal-state status authority. That means the troops can conduct law enforcement activities on the streets of the nations capital though, at the moment, that doesnt appear to be the plan. Their duties will include an array of tasks from administrative, logistics and physical presence in support of law enforcement, according to a statement from the Army, to which the District of Columbia National Guard directed all questions. About 500 federal law enforcement officers are being assigned to patrols in Washington, including from the FBI; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and the Marshals Service. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that Guard members will be flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week. The timeline for the troop deployment is vaguely defined. According to Trumps directive, National Guard troops will remain deployed until the president determines that conditions of law and order have been restored. Read more about how Trump has deployed the National Guard to cities during his second term Trump wants his Cabinet to work with Intel CEO he had wanted fired Trump retreated from his calls for chipmaker Intel to dismiss its CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, after meeting with him on Monday. The president on social media called the meeting very interesting and said Tans success and rise is an amazing story. Trump said Tan would meet with members of his Cabinet and bring suggestions to him next week on how to proceed. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick also attended the Monday meeting. Bowser works to avoid fight with Trump but cant disguise some anger The D.C. mayor fielded multiple questions Monday designed to get her to say something harsh about Trump. But she didnt take the bait for the most part, calmly laying out the citys case that crime has been dropping steadily and Trumps perceived state of emergency simply doesnt match the numbers. She repeatedly acknowledged that Trump has broad authority under the law and would be difficult to challenge. The composure slipped a bit toward the end, when she dropped a reference to Trumps so-called emergency. Trump could extend takeover of DC police for 30 days, then he needs congressional approval Trump is invoking Section 740 of the DC Home Rule Act to take over control of the citys police department, saying in a letter to a congressional committee that the police force is needed for federal purposes. The Republican president says in the letter sent to the House Oversight Committee Monday that he is taking the action for the purpose of maintaining law and order in the nations seat of government; protecting federal buildings, national monuments, and other federal property; and ensuring conditions necessary for the orderly functioning of the federal government. By invoking the law, Trump is able to take over the police for more than 48 hours, but if he wants to continue for more than 30 days, both the House and Senate would need to give him a vote of approval. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries denounces Trump police takeover plan as illegitimate Jeffries, the top House Democrat, said the administration has consistently broken the law and violated the Constitution to further the personal and political agenda of a wannabe king. Jeffries denounced other Republicans as cowardly. His statement did not mention any immediate actions congressional Democrats would take in response to Trumps plan. The Republican Party has zero credibility on the issue of law and order, Jeffries said. Donald Trump doesnt care about public safety. On his first day in office, he pardoned hundreds of violent felonsmany of whom brazenly assaulted law enforcement officers on January 6. We stand with the residents of the District of Columbia and reject this unjustified power grab as illegitimate. DC mayor says she was unaware of Trumps plan to take over city police The mayor said she had one brief call with the White House over the weekend about activating the National Guard, so she thought Trumps announcement would be about calling up the National Guard, not about taking over the Metropolitan Police Department. GOP lawmaker raises concern over the White House-Nvidia deal Rep. John Moolenaar, the Republican chair of the House Select Committee on China, spoke against the Trump administrations deal to get a 15% cut in the sales of advanced U.S. chips to China in exchange of export licenses. Export controls are a frontline defense in protecting our national security, and we should not set a precedent that incentivizes the government to grant licenses to sell China technology that will enhance its AI capabilities, the Republican from Michigan said. Trump confirmed the deal but suggested the chips to be sold to China are essentially old. U.S. companies are still banned from selling their most advanced chips to China, which are critical in developing artificial intelligence. Bowser calls Trump takeover of DC police unsettling D.C.'s mayor said Monday that the city had reached a 30-year low in violent crime. Bowser said crime was down not just from a post-pandemic peak in 2023, but from 2019 levels prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bowser highlighted the districts parks, schools and public transportation and said it was important for residents and visitors to know just how beautiful our city is and how proud we are of all that weve accomplished here. Bowsers comments are a response to Trumps announcement of his takeover of D.C. police force. Bowser said the steps were unsettling." My message to residents is this: We know that access to our democracy is tenuous. That is why you have heard me and many Washingtonians before me advocate for full statehood," Bowser said. DC police union backs Trumps takeover The union representing D.C. police officers is backing Trumps takeover move, though it called for the federal intervention to be temporary. Chairman Gregg Pemberton said the union agrees with the president that immediately action is necessary to tamp down crime. Still, Pemberton said the city ultimately needs a police department thats fully staffed and supported. He also called for the repeal of criminal justice policies and laws passed by the City Council. Maryland governor says Trump mobilizing National Guard in Washington lacks seriousness Maryland Gov. Wes Moore says Trumps decision to deploy the National Guard in D.C. is also deeply dangerous. Moore, a Democrat who served as a paratrooper and captain in the U.S. Army in Afghanistan, said in a statement that the presidents actions lack both data and a battle plan. He is simply using honorable men and women as pawns to distract us from his policies, which continue to drive up unemployment and strip away health care and food assistance from those who need it most, Moore said. He urged the president to look to Maryland for ways of reducing violent crime. Moore noted that homicides in Maryland are down by more than 20% since Moores inauguration in January 2023. We await outreach from the White House if they want to have a serious conversation about public safety. But we wont hold our breath, he said. Appeals court rules Trump administration must restore website tracking spending A federal appeals court has given the Trump administration until Friday to restore a website that tracks spending appropriated by Congress. In a Saturday ruling, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit refused to block a lower court order requiring the restoration. The court said disclosing the spending information was a permissible exercise of legislative authority with roots in the nations founding. An email to the Office of Management and Budget on Monday was not immediately returned. The database at issue in the case first went up in July 2022. The Trump administration pulled it down in March. It argued publicly disclosing spending decisions intrudes on executive power. The administration has faced numerous lawsuits over decisions to freeze spending authorized by Congress. The Rev. Al Sharpton blasts Trumps DC police takeover as an assault on Black cities Trumps announcement that he would deploy National Guard troop to take over the citys police department, the Rev. Al Sharpton warned of the moves potential long-term repercussions. Donald Trump was inspired to take this disgusting, dangerous, and derogatory action solely out of self interest, the civil rights leader said in a statement. Lets call the inspiration for this assault on a majority Black city for what it is: another bid to distract his angry, frustrated base over his administrations handling of the Epstein files. Sharpton said D.C.s leadership must push back on the presidents use of the city and its residents as political props. We cannot, nor will we, take this lying down, he said. Threatening to hit if people spit, calling all Black and low-income neighborhoods slums, and throwing away the humanity of homeless people by equating them to criminals is the beginning of the end if we dont stand up. This is the ultimate affront to justice and civil rights many of us have dedicated our lives to protecting and expanding. Top DC prosecutor calls police takeover unlawful The top prosecutor in the nations capital is calling Trumps move to take over the citys police department unnecessary and unlawful. District of Columbia Attorney General Brian Schwalb says crime is not an emergency levels. After a spike in 2023, violent crime hit its lowest level in decades last year and has continued to sink in 2025, he said. The federal takeover could face a challenge in court, and Schwalb said his office is considering all of our options. Trump goofs on location and date of Putin summit during briefing Trump said a couple of times during the press briefing that he would be traveling to Russia to meet with Vladimir Putin but their summit is taking place in Alaska. Im going to Russia on Friday, he said in one instance. He also made an erroneous reference at another time to the summit being next week instead. Trump jokes about the crowded media briefing room The president began the briefing Monday by commenting on the large crowd of journalists gathered for the news conference. He said hed never seen the media briefing room as crowded as it was. Later during the briefing, he joked they may be violating fire codes. Ive done this for years now, hard to believe, he said. Ive never seen this room so packed. In fact, Im sure its a violation of every fire code. Trump said that in his meeting with Putin, hell review that countrys parameters to end war Now I may leave and say, Good luck, and thatll be the end, Trump said. Trump on the upcoming meeting with Putin: I think itll be good, but it might be bad Trump says he can see a scenario where the U.S. and Russia normalize trade relations if things go well at his meeting with Putin later this week. I do, yeah, he responded when asked about whether he could see the potential ahead of the Alaska meeting. He said Russia has a very valuable piece of land and mused about what would happen if Putin would go toward business instead of war. As for the prospect of progress at that meeting? Trump said: I think itll be good, but it might be bad. Trump says well see what happens with China as tariff truce deadline looms That came during a news conference after Trump was asked whether he plans to extend his 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs on China. The U.S.-China trade truce ends Aug. 12, and if it isnt extended, rates on Chinese goods could climb back to over 80%. Theyve been dealing quite nicely, Trump said, adding that he has a good relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Trump calls his upcoming sit-down with Putin really a feel-out meeting The president said he was open to meeting with Putin first and then meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy or meeting with both together though he didnt say hed push for a three-person meeting. Trump said President Putin invited me to get involved and even said he thought it was very respectful that Putin is coming to U.S. territory for the meeting in Alaska, instead of insisting that Trump go to Russia. He said hell tell Putin that its time to end Russias war with Ukraine. Trump says hes looking at reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug Were looking at reclassification, Trump said, adding, Its early. He said he planned to make a determination in the coming weeks. The president said marijuana does bad for the children, but that easing penalties associated with it is a very complicated subject because some people support doing so. Trump said hed heard great things having to do with medical use of marijuana. A potential move to remove marijuana from the list of Schedule I controlled substances to a Schedule III drug would make it significantly easier to buy and sell cannabis. The president says other cities could be subject to the same efforts Trump said he hopes other cities, including Los Angeles, New York and Chicago, are watching the steps hes announced in D.C. and would take steps to self-clean up. He said that if needed, the administration would take similar steps in other cities and criticized their leadership at the local and state levels. Trump says hes bringing in 800 National Guard members to assist with law enforcement in DC In addition, Trump also said we will bring in the military if its needed but added, I dont think well need it. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth compared sending the Guard into the nations capital to deployments to the southern U.S. border and Los Angeles. We will work alongside all D.C. police and federal law enforcement, Hegseth said. Hegseth said the D.C. National Guard will be flowing into the streets of Washington in the coming week. He also said the Pentagon was prepared to bring in other National Guard units, other specialized units. Trump says he signed documents to give himself authority to crack down on crime in Washington The president said he signed an executive order and presidential memorandum in the Oval Office before holding his news conference. One executive order invoked presidential powers under the Home Rule Act to take over Washingtons police force. He also signed what the administration called statutorily required notification letters to DC Mayor Bowser and relevant congressional leaders. Trump also signed a presidential memorandum directing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to deploy the National Guard in the nations capital. August 11, 2025: Two months ago Russia began an effort to disrupt Ukrainian recruiting by sending drones to destroy recruiting stations. This is an effort to disrupt recruiting efforts and destroy records of who prospects are and who has recently signed up. Attacks also caused casualties among recruiters, prospective recruits and nearby civilians. Only a few attacks have been made because the short range of the drones means that only recruiting stations near the Russian border are vulnerable. This effort does not appear to have had any impact on recruiting. Some Ukrainian recruits remarked about how the war came to them before they could get to the front and do any actual fighting. These attacks are part of a Russian effort to demoralize Ukrainian civilians and reduce popular support for the war. While most Ukrainians are war weary by now, few want to abandon efforts to defend their homeland. Meanwhile the war has become one of attrition and the Russians are losing. So far Russia has suffered over a million losses in the form of dead, disabled, missing and deserters. There are also a growing number of Russian men who continue to evade army service or leave Russia. Ukrainian men were eager to volunteer initially, but after a year, news of the Ukrainian losses and relentless Russian attacks began to discourage Ukrainian men from serving. By the end of 2024, nearly 70,000 soldiers had died, with three times as many more wounded or missing. Ukraine used a series of clever moves to maintain their troop numbers despite growing losses and increased reluctance of Ukrainian men to serve. Among the policies eventually implemented were months of training for new soldiers, tactics that minimized Ukrainian casualties and periodic rotation of experienced combat troops out of the front lines for weeks of rest and retraining. Soon news of these policies reached young men facing mobilization into the military. The new policies reduced resistance to serving. The policy was summed up as, Ukrainian soldiers are not trained to die. But a lot of them did anyway. War is like that. The Ukrainians excelled at defensive tactics that took maximum advantage of Russian frontal assaults. Ukrainian drones had eliminated most Russian tanks by 2023, and by 2025 drones were responsible for over 70 percent of Russian casualties. Ukrainian losses soon followed a similar pattern, but with far fewer losses. When the Ukrainians went on the offensive the attacking troops were accompanied by intense and continuous use of drones and automated ground weapons. Currently Ukraine is often using just drones and remotely controlled robotic ground combat vehicles for attacks. In at least one instance, Russians surrendered to their robot attackers. Ukraine also developed special operations forces. In 2016 Ukraine, as part of ongoing military reforms and reorganization, created a Jaeger light infantry brigade. This unit was part of Ukrainian Special Operations Forces. The Jager brigade uses an existing infantry brigade but replaces conscripts with upgraded volunteers. The Jaegers received upgraded equipment and intensive training. The Jagers were assigned to provide security, and timely intelligence, about what is happening along several hundred kilometers of the northern border with Belarus and Russia. The Jagers gathered information that helped the Ukrainians win and the Russians endure more losses. The Ukrainian policy was to minimize casualties while the Russians were willing to endure heavy losses to advance. By the end of 2024 the Russians were running out of troops and bringing in North Korea mercenaries to keep their offensive forces up to strength. Ukraine was building four million drones a year. Back in Russia questions are raised about the wisdom of continuing the war with less effective forces. It may not be wise, but its what leader Vladimir Putin wanted and, so far, there is no one to stop him from continuing the war. The Putin solution was to offer prospective recruits more money to join and their families' large payments after their sons died. This currently costs about ten percent of the government budget. And then there is corruption. While Ukraine continues to catch, prosecute and punish corrupt recruiting officials, Russia eliminated anti-corruption laws to enable corrupt officials to evade detection and continue to profit from corrupt practices. This encouraged Ukrainians to keep fighting and Russians to resist getting mobilized into the military. It also encourages more Russians to sabotage the war effort via individual efforts. The Russian war effort is often disrupted by individual actions against railroad signal systems. This is easy to do and difficult to prevent. Russian mothers organize effective protests against the war, as they have been doing in the 1980s. Russia is increasingly at war with itself as well as Ukraine. By Frank Schepers, Global Leader, Insurance Consulting and Technology and Sina Thieme, Senior Director, Insurance Consulting Technology, WTW Frank Schepers and Sina Thieme discussed the impact of technology on insurance, exploring topics such as risk modelling, data analysis, and distribution channels. From this, five urgent priorities emerged each one a call to action for insurers who want to thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape. 01. Create an incline in the playing field that AI is flattening AI is democratizing access to advanced analytics, levelling the playing field between incumbents and challengers. But that doesnt mean everyone wins. In 2025, AI is no longer a differentiator its a baseline. The real edge now lies in how insurers apply AI: embedding it into underwriting, claims, and customer engagement in ways that are proprietary, explainable, and scalable. Frank Schepers emphasized that without the clever thinking at the back end, why collect data at all? The key is to combine AI with deep domain expertise and unique data assets. Insurers must also navigate the ethical and regulatory implications of AI. As AI becomes more embedded in underwriting, pricing, and claims, scrutiny over how these systems make decisions is intensifying. AI systems can unintentionally replicate or amplify biases present in historical data. In insurance, this could lead to proxy discriminationwhere seemingly neutral variables correlate with protected characteristics like race, gender, or income level. For example, using post codes (ZIP codes) or credit scores in pricing models may inadvertently disadvantage certain communities. This has triggered a wave of regulatory attention. 24 U.S. states have adopted the NAICs model AI governance framework, requiring insurers to implement robust oversight of AI systems, including documentation, testing, and accountability mechanisms. If insurers fail to act, the consequences could be severe from legal risk and reputational damage to market distortion and regulatory backlash. As Frank Schepers noted, the value of AI lies not just in automation, but in intelligent, responsible application. That means building explainable models, auditing outcomes for bias, and ensuring human oversight in high-impact decisions. For large insurers, building proprietary models trained on their own data is becoming a key strategic asset. But not all insurers will have the scale or resources to do this alone. Those without the financial or data assets may need to buy, share, or co-invest. Turning unstructured data into structured insightsespecially in claims, pricing, and underwritingwill be a priority. Re-thinking core processes around the possibilities of agentic AI could unlock a new level of value creation. 02. Develop a strategy for underinsured risks The protection gapbetween insured and total economic lossesremains stubbornly wide. From climate change to cyber risk, many exposures remain underinsured or entirely uninsured. Technology offers a path forward. By using granular data and advanced analytics, insurers can better understand emerging risks and tailor products to underserved segments, reducing the need for an uncertainty premium and thus improving affordability. Sina Thieme noted that "insurers understanding the risks better also allows them to communicate those risks to policyholders better," providing personalized risk management advice and mitigation techniques. This is especially critical in regions where insurance literacy is low or affordability is a barrier. Insurers must use data to identify protection gaps, then co-create solutions with communities and partners to close themprofitably and sustainably. 03. Understand how to play in a world with more diverse capital sources The capital landscape is shifting. Private equity, insurance-linked securities (ILS), and other alternative sources are flooding into the market, attracted by uncorrelated returns and new risk transfer mechanisms. This influx is reshaping the economics of insurance. As Sina Thieme observed, "Q1 2025 has been as busy as never before, with investors eager to take on insurance risk." For traditional insurers, this means adapting to a multi-capital world. Its no longer just about balance sheet strengthits about capital agility. Insurers must learn to partner with, compete against, and differentiate themselves from these new players. Ultimately, insurers must develop capital strategies that blend traditional and alternative sources, optimizing for flexibility, cost, and risk appetite. 04. Re-energize digital distribution Technology continues to transform the distribution landscape. Digital has long been a necessity in most markets, but all distribution channels will profit from higher degrees of automation, more insights at the point of sale, and the power of predictive analytics. Despite this, many insurers are still stuck in digitized versions of analogue processes. The next frontier is intelligent distribution: using AI, behavioural data, and omnichannel platforms to deliver personalized, seamless experiences. In emerging markets, mobile-first platforms are unlocking new customer segments. In mature markets, embedded insurance and API-driven ecosystems are redefining how and where insurance is sold. Frank Schepers pointed to India as a case study, where mobile technology has expanded reach dramatically. But he also warned that digital doesnt solve affordability. The challenge is to pair digital reach with product innovation that meets the needsand budgetsof diverse populations. That means investing in digital ecosystems that go beyond transactions, building platforms that educate, engage, and empower customers across the lifecycle. 05. Do your data homework Data is the foundation of every transformation on this list. Yet many insurers still struggle with fragmented systems, poor data quality, and unclear governance. In 2025, the bar is higher. Synthetic data, real-time analytics, and AI-driven decision-making are becoming table stakes. Insurers must treat data as a strategic asset, investing in infrastructure, governance, and culture to unlock its full potential. And that means breaking down silos, standardizing data models, and embedding analytics into every decision. It also means upskilling teams and fostering a culture of data literacy across the organization. Right now every insurer should be conducting a data maturity assessment, then building a roadmap to elevate data from operational input to strategic differentiator. In summary the time for incrementalism is over The next 18 months will define the next decade of insurance. The tools are available. The capital is flowing. The risks are evolving. The only question is: who will act boldly enough to lead? To succeed, insurers must: Differentiate with AI, not just deploy it. Close the protection gap with data-driven innovation. Navigate capital complexity with agility and foresight. Reinvent distribution for a digital-first world. Master their data to power every decision. This is not a time for cautious evolution. Its a time for decisive transformation. The insurers who embrace this moment will not only survivetheyll shape the future of the industry. Rahul Gandhi, 30 Opposition MPs Detained During Protest March to EC Office in Delhi 2 Delhi Police on Monday detained over 30 opposition MPs, including Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, during a protest march to the Election Commission (EC) office against the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut and TMC leader Sagarika Ghose were among those held. Police said the MPs were stopped and taken to Parliament Street Police Station as no permission had been sought for the protest march. The EC had authorised entry for only 30 MPs into its premises, but protesters turned up in large numbers, officials stated. The opposition leaders began their march from Makar Dwar in Parliament, intending to submit a memorandum to the EC over alleged voter list manipulation in Bihar and Karnataka. Police informed them they would be taken to the EC only after the names of the permitted MPs were confirmed. Security was intensified near the EC headquarters, with multiple barricades, additional police vehicles, and quick reaction teams deployed to maintain order and ensure smooth traffic flow. The protest was part of a broader opposition campaign alleging that the SIR exercise in Bihar is being used to manipulate electoral rolls ahead of elections. The Congress also raised concerns about alleged large-scale voter list tampering in Bengalurus Mahadevapura constituency during the 2023 Karnataka Assembly polls. Supreme Court Upholds Bombay HC Crackdown on Pigeon Feeding in Mumbai 2 The Supreme Court on Monday declined to interfere with the Bombay High Courts order directing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to register FIRs against those feeding pigeons in defiance of a ban. A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi said it would be improper for the apex court to hear the matter parallelly and advised the petitioner to seek modification of the order before the High Court. On July 30, the Bombay High Court, responding to petitions from animal welfare activists, ruled that pigeon feeding at kabootarkhanas had become a public health hazard, particularly for children and the elderly. The bench of Justices GS Kulkarni and Arif Doctor authorised the BMC to file cases under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to public nuisance and acts likely to spread infectious or life-threatening diseases. The court also directed the installation of security cameras at locations where feeding continued. The order has sparked strong protests in Mumbai. Last Wednesday, hundreds clashed with police at the Dadar kabootarkhana, tearing down tarpaulin sheets installed by authorities to block feeding activities. A man has been arrested and charged with allegedly stabbing a woman to death two weeks ago in south Alabama. According to the Mobile Police Department, Kenneth Reeves, 69, is charged with murdering Crystal Varden, 33. The incident occurred July 27 in the 600 block of Petit Avenue. Police responded to the area in reference to an assault where Varden was found suffering from stab wounds. She was taken to a local hospital to be treated for her wounds but died last week from her injuries. The department said during an investigation into the incident officers learned that Varden and Reeves allegedly got into a verbal altercation that became physical. Reeves was booked into Mobile County Metro Jail. Birmingham police investigate an Aug. 11, 2025, fatal shooting in the 5500 block of First Avenue North. (Carol Robinson) An investigation is underway after a man was shot to death in a Woodlawn parking lot early Monday. Just after 5 a.m., East Precinct officers received a call of a person inside a van the parking lot of a building in the 5500 block of First Avenue North. Police found the man dead inside. Initially, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald, officers could not determine how the man had died. Once the body was taken to the Jefferson County Coroners Office, they determined he had been shot. The victim was an employee of ADW Temporary Staffing, and was in the parking lot about to go to work. Investigators believe the victim got into a physical altercation with the unknown suspect who approached him while he was seated inside his van. The suspect shot the victim and fled, Fitzgerald said. The company has been in communication with the victims family members, Fitzgerald said, and has been helpful assisting detectives with the investigation. It wasnt immediately clear if the victim was being robbed or if the altercation was personal. The suspect approached the victim while he was seated (inside the van), a scuffle ensued, he shot the victim and he fled, Fitzgerald said. Fitzgerald said because businesses in the commercial district have good surveillance cameras, detectives have a lead on a suspect. As our detectives and our Special Enforcement Team has proven, in 2025 we get violent offenders off the street quickly, Fitzgerald said. Were hoping for that same result in this homicide investigation. The victim is Birminghams 49th homicide this year. Anyone with additional information is asked to call police at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777. As he makes his shocking exit from The Late Show, Stephen Colbert has landed another spot on late-night TV. Just weeks after CBS announced it would cancel Colberts long-running talk show, the comedian secured a role as a guest star on the crime comedy Elsbeth, also on CBS. Hell play the host of a fictional late-night talk show, Way Late With Scotty Bristol on the comedys third season, according to Vulture. Production on the episode took place in early August, a sign that the episode was likely planned before the networks July 17 announcement that it would end The Late Show next spring. Elsbeth, led by Carrie Preston, follows a quirky New York attorney as she uses her point of view to capture criminals alongside the New York Police Department. During a February Late Show segment with Elsbeth actor Wendell Pierce, Colbert joked that hed like to play a corpse on the show. I can make that happen, Pierce responded. I know a guy who knows a guy. We can get you on. The new season is set to premiere on Oct. 12 and will stream on Paramount+ on Oct. 16. The Late Show will end on May 26, 2026, the network announced this summer, citing a challenging backdrop in television. We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise at that time. We are proud that Stephen called CBS home. He and the broadcast will be remembered in the pantheon of greats that graced late night television,the network said in a statement. The network said the decision purelyfinancial and is not related in any way to the shows performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount. The announcement came after Colbert criticized Paramount Global, the parent company of CBS, for agreeing to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit from President Donald Trump, who sued over former Vice President Kamala Harris 60 Minutes interview. The network told The Hollywood Reporter that the comment wasnt a factor in the decision to end the show. I absolutely love that Colbert got fired, Trump wrote on Truth Social. His talent was even less than his ratings. Jimmy Kimmel blasted the decision via an Instagram post. Love you, Stephen. F*** you and all your Sheldons CBS, Kimmel wrote, referencing CBSs show Young Sheldon. The cancellation will end years of original late-night programming at CBS that started with David Letterman in 1993. Colbert took over Late Show in 2015 after a high-profile stint on Comedy Central, Variety reports. Kroll Settlement Administration announced last week a settlement has been proposed related to two cyber attacks of AT&T. Getty Images Millions of customers impacted by massive AT&T privacy breaches are now eligible to file claims related to a $177 million settlement. Kroll Settlement Administration announced last week a settlement has been proposed related to two cyber attacks of AT&T. The attacks, announced in March and July 2024, allegedly include information from AT&Ts cellular customers as well as landline customers who interacted with those cellular numbers. In the second incident, some AT&T data was uploaded to a third-party cloud platform hosted by Snowflake. The first breach exposed data of 7.6 million current and 65.4 million former account holders, CNET reported. The second exposed information on 109 million customers. AT&T has denied any wrongdoing and has not been found liable for anything by the court. Who is eligible for payments? Customers who are eligible for payments will receive a letter or email with a claims number. Once received, visit www.TelecomDataSettlement.com, to file a claim. The deadline is Nov. 18. How much can you receive? According to TopClassActions.com, customers whose information was compromised in the first data breach and can document losses can receive up to $5,000. Customers whose data was compromised in the second breach can expect up to $2,500. Exact payment amounts will vary depending on the number of claims filed. A final hearing on the settlement is scheduled for Dec. 3. You can see more here. The family of an Alabama foster child left to die inside a locked car where temperatures reached in excess of 140 degrees has filed a wrongful death lawsuit. Ketorrius KJ Starkes Jr., a 3-year-old foster child, died July 22 while in the care of a DHR transport driver who had picked him up for a scheduled weekly visit with his father. The driver, 54-year-old Kela Stanford, has been charged with leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle, which is a Class B felony. Stanford worked for Covenant Services but was immediately fired after KJs death. The lawsuit was filed in Jefferson County Circuit Court and names as defendants Stanford, Covenant Services, and multiple employees with the Alabama Department of Human Resources and the Jefferson County Department of Human Resources. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the family by Birmingham attorney Courtney French of Petway, French and Ford. DHR did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the lawsuit. On the Tuesday of KJs death, he was picked up at 9 a.m. by Stanford for a scheduled visit with his biological father at DHR in Bessemer. The visit ended about 11:30 a.m. Ketorrius KJ Starkes Jr. (Special to AL.com) According to the lawsuit, Stanford was supposed to immediately return KJ to daycare but instead ran numerous personal errands with KJ buckled in a car seat in the back of the car. Stanford stopped to pick up food for her family and then delivered the food to her home while leaving KJ in her car. She then left her home again to go shop at a tobacco store, again with KJ still in his car seat. Stanford, according to the lawsuit, returned to her home about 12:30 p.m., again leaving KJ in the vehicle parked in her driveway. The windows were closed, the engine was turned off and the doors were locked. KJ remained trapped in (Stanfords) parked vehicle for more than five hours, according to the lawsuit. (Stanfords) vehicle was equipped with dark black tinted windows in violation of Alabama law. The lawsuit states the National Weather Service in Birmingham issued a heat advisory for that day reporting temperatures over 96 degrees with a heat index range of 105 to 109. During the five hours that KJ was missing from his daycare, the defendants did not inquire about KJs whereabouts, the lawsuit says. About 5:30 p.m., Stanford received a call asking why the child had not been returned to daycare. She then realized she had left KJ in her hot vehicle, just feet away from her home. Attorneys have previously said Stanford immediately got KJ out of the car, took him into her home and doused him with cold water. KJ was pronounced dead at 6:03 p.m. The lawsuit contends that the defendants breached their mandatory duty to KJ by allowing him to remain in an unsafe environment exposed to ongoing abuse and/or neglect which caused his death. The defendants actions, the suit states, were negligent. The mother and father, the entire family, theyre devastated by their sons death, and especially how he died a very tragic and brutal death, French said previously. Stanford in the days following KJs death called the boys father to apologize. A woman with KJs father at the time of the call told Stanford, Baby you got us sick over here. We cant breathe. You left a 3-year-old in the car. He couldnt defend hisself. You supposed to look in the back seat when you knew there was a child there from the get-go, she said. Its nothing you can call to say to make him feel better, she said Im not trying to make him feel better. Im not, Stanford said. Theres nothing I can say to make him feel better. Im so sorry. Sorry dont even express how deeply sorry I am. She rode around for over an hour, from 11:30 until after 12:30, with KJ in the backseat and drove back to her home where she said she forgot he was in the car, French said. She had one job, and that was to pick KJ up from the daycare and take him back to where she picked him up. Ketorrius KJ Starkes Jr. (Special to AL.com) KJs death has outraged the community and lawmakers, who are calling for transparency and accountability from DHR. Gov. Kay Ivey said the childs death was the result of reprehensible and gross negligence. This tragedy has revealed glaring cracks in the system, cracks that cost a child his life and we must ask the hard questions how did this happen on the watch of those entrusted with KJs care, said State Rep. Patrick Sellers said. Where was the oversight? What protocols were broken? Or worse, never existed? An Alabama state senator wants to ban vaping in public places under the same law that now bans smoking. Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, has filed a bill to expand the Alabama Clean Indoor Air Act, passed back in 2003. The current law prohibits smoking in most enclosed public spaces, including retail stores, restaurants, government buildings, shopping malls, elevators, hospitals, nursing homes, airports, banks, and others. Violators can be charged with a $25 fine. Allens bill adds the use of an electronic nicotine delivery system to the definition of smoking in the law. Allen sponsored the same bill last year, but it did not pass. Alabama was one of the last states to ban smoking in public places more than two decades ago. That was after the Environmental Protection Agency classified secondhand smoke as a known human carcinogen in the 1990s. A study published by the National Library of Medicine found that vaping indoors may expose nonusers to nicotine but not to the toxic combustion products found in second-hand smoke from tobacco. More research is needed to evaluate health consequences of secondhand exposure to nicotine, especially among vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant women, and people with cardiovascular conditions, the study found. Sen. Vivian Davis Figures, D-Mobile, worked about six years to get Alabamas Clean Indoor Air law passed. Allens bill includes a nod of recognition to his Senate colleague. It would rename the law the Vivian Davis Figures Clean Indoor Air Act. The legislative session begins Jan. 13. Construction is ongoing for the Front Row development across from the Von Braun Center at the old Coca-Cola site. The development includes more than 500 residential units. Scott Turner/AL.com Huntsville is closing in on 250,000 residents, according to city planners. The Planning Department estimated the population of Alabamas largest city to be 249,102 as of July 1. According to a story on the citys website, thats more than 34,000 new residents over the past five years, or about 18 new people each day. President Donald Trump is demanding Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Tex., and other liberal Democrats take the cognitive test he "aced." Here, Crockett, surrounded by other Democratic members of Congress and Texas House Democrats, speaks during a press conference at the Democratic Party in Warrenville, Ill., Monday, Aug. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) AP President Donald Trump on Monday called out a liberal Texas Democrat for having a Low (Very!!!) I.Q., demanding she and other progressive Democrats take a cognitive exam he ACED. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett is a Low (Very!!!) I.Q. Individual, much in the mold of the AOC Plus Three Gang of Country Destroying Morons - Only slightly dumber, Trump posted Monday morning to his Truth Social account. Along with Crockett, Trumps post referenced Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, D-N.Y., and Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rashia Tlaib of Michigan and Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts. Each of these political hacks should be forced to take a Cognitive Exam, much like the one I recently took while getting my physical at our GREAT Washington, D.C., Military Hospital, Trump posted. The president said the doctors said, President Trump ACED it, something that is rarely seen! These Radical Left Lunatics would all fail this test in a spectacular show of stupidity and incompetence. TAKE THE TEST!!! Trump posted. Trump calling for Crockett to take a cognitive test came months after the Texas Democrat questioned his mental acuity amid his tariff wars. Like, the fact that [Republicans] sat around, called Joe Biden Sleepy Joe Biden at least you could sleep at night because you didnt have to worry about your 401(k) disappearing overnight," she said at the time. Crockett, who represents the Dallas area in the House, has become one of Trumps frequent targets for attack as she has amped up her criticism of the president. Earlier this month, the Texas Democrat called Trump a piece of s---, adding that the Republican-led Congress and the U.S. Supreme Court are complicit. Listen, Donald Trump is a piece of s---, OK? We know that, she told a MoveOn rally in Phoenix. He is [a piece of s---], but in a functioning democracy he still would not be able to get away with this, Crockett continued. Trump calling for Crockett to take a cognitive test came months after the Texas Democrat questioned his mental acuity amid his tariff wars. Like, the fact that [Republicans] sat around, called Joe Biden Sleepy Joe Biden at least you could sleep at night because you didnt have to worry about your 401(k) disappearing overnight," she said at the time. The most intriguing part of the storm surrounding Barack Obamas involvement in the effort to remove Donald J. Trump from office is that some people still refuse to believe the allegations. There are certain Americans who continue to deny any claims concerning Barack Obamas negative impact on the country. Perhaps its that grin and laid back attitude. Or perhaps its his rhetorical skill set or his ability to croon Al Green tunes, or maybe it is just his knack for evoking racial remorse that causes half the nation to make excuses for Barack Obamas troubling track record. Whatever the reason, the Obama facade is in the process of crumbling, and many Americans are admitting that people dont change unless they agree to recognize their issues. Ergo, Barack Obama has not changed and will not change. Surpassing even the opinions of the majority, for twenty years, the former president has displayed a level of smugness that suggests he believes he alone knows what is best for America. His sense of superiority is unmistakable, and with that kind of confidence, its understandable that the former community organizer would feel justified in pursuing whatever goals he deems necessary to reform Americas core ideals. Add to that his apparent self-importance and the disdain hes shown toward things like our founding document, and toward grandmothers praying outside abortion facilities, and toward Donald Trump and it all begins to make sense. Despite his rhetoric about We the people and creating a more perfect union, Obamas divisive policies have fostered the us-versus-them mentality that America now struggles with every day. From Henry Gates to Trayvon Martin, throughout his political career, Obama seized every opportunity to deepen racial divides in a country that for over two centuries had worked together to address complex issues. Obama is committed and has consistently shaped government policy to punish any group or belief system he despises. In weaponized, politicized Obama circles, rest assured that the shadowy figure leading the anti-American crusade has always been the one at the top. However, because of the racial tensions he escalated and his ability to manipulate the nations mindset with words, the man who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for the diplomatic accomplishment of being half-black has, until now, been shielded from the scrutiny he deserved for his deceitfulness, corruption, ineptitude, and ruthlessness. An unknown author once wrote, A toxic person only changes his victims, never himself. Lying, reproving, spying, and stealing are common for someone who believes he is justified in doing anything to advance his agenda. For Barack Obama, progress involves secretly promoting socialist Marxist ideas on Chicagos South Side; infiltrating the U.S. Senate; occupying the Oval Office; and, if necessary, tampering with election results. Barack Obamas treatment of people has provided sporadic glimpses into the former presidents true nature toward those he considers adversaries. To teach the defiant tough lessons and to drive home a message, Obama sent transgender people into the military and drag queens into womens restrooms. To influence gun control in the U.S., Obama allowed firearms to cross the border into cartels hands. Obama even organized and instructed the IRS to review and deny tax-exempt status to applications that included political themes considered anti-Obama (whatever that means). The man has the innate ability to be cruel, self-serving, and spiteful. Just ask Putin; Netanyahu; Sam Alito; and the bitter gun-toting, Bible-clinging, anti-immigrant, racist tea baggers, whom Obama had just a few days before making that statement accused of being domestic terrorists. Having spent two decades trying to navigate the minefield of division and destruction he caused from day one, Obama still publicly criticizes anyone who dares to disagree with him. The former president is proficient at manipulating an audience. Whenever Obama discusses a controversial theme, its with an assertiveness that suggests no one on earth dares to differ in opinion. Unpopular policies and sentiments are often presented as if there were a consensus among the majority. In his farewell speech to the nation, clever as he is, Obama found a subtle way to diminish Trump by using his all-inclusive weapon of choice, personal pronouns, to warn Americans that after he leaves office, we must guard against a weakening of the values that make us who we are. No, Obama, what needed to be addressed were the values that make you who you are! Despite Baracks graceful style when suggesting that his views are mainstream, they are not, and the 2016 election proved that. To put America first, voters rejected Obama in 2016 and chose a candidate who promised a fundamental change that not only some Americans could believe in, but all Americans. The 2016 election must have been a shock because, at the time, a confident Obama was riding high on his perceived achievements. The former president fully expected a smooth transfer of power to a like-minded successor, Hillary Clinton. The obstacle to that plan was Donald Trump, who unexpectedly emerged from Trump Tower with a plan to truly Make America Great Again. Trump campaigned against and opposed every policy his predecessor had implemented. That clearly didnt sit well with the person tasked with transforming the world from what it is into what he felt it should be. Throughout his life and, most certainly, throughout his political career, the former president has never shown any significant change or softened his rhetoric, nor has he expressed any remorse for fiascos like Benghazi or the death of a 16-year-old American citizen in Yemen, who died in a drone strike he ordered. If detractors criticized him, he historically responded by doubling down on his position. Ask him, and hell probably tell you that he still believes that babies born alive in botched abortions should be left to die without oxygen, warmth, or hydration. The fact that Obama would likely reaffirm that belief makes his walking guns across the border, sending men into bathrooms with little girls, sending $1.7 billion in cash to the Iranians, and exchanging five Taliban prisoners for Bowe Bergdahl seem somewhat tame. From the start, Barack Obamas Yes We Can mantra was more Yes, I can do and say whatever I want. And based on the shocking revelations surrounding the 2016, 2024, and very possibly the 2020 elections, thats exactly what hes been doing all along. Thats why, for those of us who see who and what he is, Barack Obama being the central figure in a bloodless coup against Donald Trump is not all that far-fetched. Jeannie hosts a blog at www.jeannieology.us. Image: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center via Flickr, CC BY 2.0 (cropped). The Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton plan to undermine an election is unraveling. Evidence is being revealed. Whistleblowers are coming forward. Bureaucrats are being fired. Criminal referrals are being made. Grand juries are being empaneled. Conspirators are lawyering up. The truth is coming out. Traitorous actors within our own government tried to overthrow a duly elected president, and now the public is learning the details. To call what was done treasonous is not hyperbole, but how consequences will be delivered is yet to be determined. I optimistically hope for justice, but I realistically expect something less. Nobody wants to see the three stooges of Obamas intelligence community (Jimmy, Jimmy, and Johnny) fitted for orange jumpsuits more than I do. But I no longer have enough faith in our institutions to expect a TDS-afflicted jury of Washington swamp-dwellers, in a trial presided over by an Obama judge, to convict one of their own. But though justice may be elusive, President Trumps staff is providing something equally important: deterrence. Either consciously or subconsciously, all criminals are in the risk-reward analysis business. It doesnt matter if theyre engaged in strong-arm robberies of New York bodegas or violating the civil rights of Americans using the power of the FBI. Criminals all consider whether the rewards of their misbehavior offset the risk of significant punishment. The craftiest commit crimes with reasonable rewards and minimal risk of punishment, such as shoplifting less than $950 of merchandise from San Francisco retailers. The less astute criminals commit capital crimes, while leaving thousands of pages of evidence in a room at FBI headquarters. That brings me back to our three stooges: former FBI director James Comey, former ODNI director James Clapper, and former CIA director John Brennan the men who weaponized their departments to defy the will of the people. Comey, Clapper, and Brennan were not particularly proficient criminals, because they fell victim to complacency in their consideration of probabilistic consequences. They assumed that since a long list of government miscreants (Lois Lerner, Lisa Page, Peter Strzok, Kevin Clinesmith, Andrew McCabe...) had suffered no significant consequences, the risks for violating their oaths of office were minimal. But that assumption was based on their belief that any future attorney general would operate just as the appointees of Barack Obama and Joe Biden had. They didnt factor into their analysis that the future is unknowable. The most difficult part of criminal risk-reward assessment is understanding that there are unknowable unknowns risks not understood, because nobody knows they exist. A future construction project uncovers a body, revealing a past murder. A new forensic tool provides a type of evidence never used before. Because the future is unknowable, the risk of being caught breaking the law is never zero. The unknowable future has arrived for our stooges, and the gang that tried to help Hillary Clinton tar Donald Trump as a Russian asset are realizing that there were risks that they hadnt considered. Election tampering does not guarantee election victory, and the political environment was dynamic rather than static. Honest Abe Lincoln was correct: You cannot fool all the people all the time. Only 50 percent of the voters, plus 1, are needed to change the countrys political direction. In 2024, 50 percent of the voters, plus 1.1 million, realized that they had been fooled by their public servants and chose a president with a different agenda from Barack Obamas and an attorney general with a different moral foundation from Eric Holders, Loretta Lynchs, and Merrick Garlands. With one night of election surprises, the conspirators went from predator to prey, and criminal defense attorneys have started planning lifestyle upgrades with their retainer windfalls. I continue to hope for actual justice, but even without convictions, Tulsi Gabbard, John Ratcliffe, and Pam Bondi have changed the risk/reward calculus and hopefully the behavior of government miscreants for years to come. Imagine a career criminal watching an episode of Forensic Files and learning that a new scientific test can link him to past crimes with evidence undetectable to the human eye. He now goes to bed every night wondering if it will be the night his door is shattered by a law enforcement battering ram, and he awakens every morning wondering if the crime for that day is worth the unknowable risks. Even without embracing a new morality, recognition that the future is unknowable causes a bias toward less crime. Similarly, our taxpayer-funded criminals have learned that changing voter sentiment can install a new sheriff at any time, and the risks of undermining our republic are far greater than they had judged just six months ago. Deterrence isnt as emotionally satisfying as retribution, but it isnt nothing, either. John Green is a staff writer for The American Free News Network and a state content writer for Convention of States Action. He is a graduate of Purdue University with 40+ years of experience in systems and organizational development. He can be reached at greenjeg@gmail.com. Image via Pxfuel. In nature, systems operate in dynamic equilibrium. There is a flow and balance, a yin and yang to all parts. We see the same process in the evolution of societies as the wonders of modernity flow throughout the civilization. What does this have to do with immigration? Everything. With modernity the old immigration thinking based on only more and more bodies is in direct conflict with present physical and technological reality. But before we explore this let us rid ourselves of that old chestnut where we must welcome immigration since we are a nation of immigrants. As a factual matter all nations are nations of immigrants, it is only the timing of this immigration that might be different. As for U.S. population, it is just over 342 million. Without immigration, U.S. population growth is basically flat, perhaps even decreasing slightly. Some would call this a stable population and it wasnt that long ago where most thought this was a good thing. In fact, most thought of it as a requirement for the long-term survival of the country and even the world. But with immigration, this country imports a new person every 23 seconds (most of these being low-skilled) for a net gain of a new person every 14 seconds! And if all illegal immigration were to be recorded, the numbers are most certainly worse than this. Trump has certainly slowed this, but the general trend remains the same. Why is this a good thing for this country and how can it ultimately end well? Some in the business community believe we need population growth to drive economic growth. This is a fatally flawed design. Any economic system which requires an ever-expanding population is sooner or later destined to fail. These are called Ponzi schemes and they all crash sooner or later, it is a mathematical certainty. Do we willingly allow the population to grow, all driven by immigration, until it collapses? We must never forget that whether we like it or not, we humans have become stewards of this planet. Our long-term success is not remotely assured but ignoring reality and building fatally flawed systems upon which 100s of millions rely is certain to lead to our and perhaps the planets demise. Yet the solution is right before our eyes and is happening every day. There is a symmetry and self-balancing nature driven by modernity. Modernity brings freedom and rule of law. Modernity brings the scientific process and widespread knowledge of all aspects of reality. Together these provide the framework for wealth creation. This wealth creation further drives innovations in all areas of life. It creates a virtuous circle where one good thing leads to another good thing and on and on. One feature of this symmetry is the reduction in the number of people required to generate the same or even more economic output. Almost all predict that in just the next few years we will see an explosion of these innovations even further reducing the number of people required to accomplish the same things -- hitting low-skilled jobs the hardest. It is very likely artificial intelligence (AI) and robots will erase millions of jobs. This though is in perfect harmony with another feature of modernity, birth rates dropping and populations stabilizing. All these pieces support the others and they all move more or less in harmony. It is clear the world-wide answer to the population explosion is freedom and modernity and anything which distorts this harmony by definition will be destructive. So why does this country want to import a new person every 23 seconds? What jobs will there be for them? How is this in harmony with this modernity symmetry? It is not. Sadly, our governmental social systems and those in Western Europe are also based on a flawed population-driven design which requires an ever-expanding population for them to work. Much like the economic argument for more and more people, this design ensures the system will sooner or later collapse. The only question is when. This fatal flaw is made only worse as life expectancies become longer. It would seem to make the most sense to start addressing this now rather than later. In addition, it takes a few generations before modernity slows birth rates down to a stable population. Right now, modernity has controlled our population. A stable population is starring us in the face if we just accept it. Where are the environmentalists demanding we accept this? Instead, as we import more and more people, we ensure we collectively lose control of population growth -- like most of the underdeveloped world -- and the next opportunity for a stable U.S. population might be closer to a billion people! I for one vote a strong no! Rather than importing people, we should be aggressively spreading freedom and modernity and all the wonders it brings to all parts of the globe. Individuals in these countries may choose to ignore these wonders; that is their choice. But exporting their surplus population to the U.S. and other developed countries is not a solution for either country. The developed world is making a fatal mistake in building flawed social and economic systems which require an ever-expanding population to function. Importing millions of people will only delay the day of reckoning and ensure the crash is that much worse, to say nothing of the probable destruction of this countrys culture. If we take this path, we are willingly and knowingly failing as stewards of the USA and of the entire planet. We do not have to allow this to occur. John Conlin is an expert in organizational design and change. He also holds a BS in Earth Sciences and an MBA and is the founder and President of E.I.C. Enterprises, a 501(c)3 non-profit. He has been published in American Greatness, The Federalist, The Daily Caller, American Thinker, Houston Chronicle, Denver Post, and Public Square Magazine among others. Image: Grok AI Previously, using off-the-books Situation Room meetings outlined in Ben Rhodes 2018 book as our backdrop, we went through the highly consequential events of July 2016. They showed how the Russia-Russia-Russia machinations had pushed James Comey further and further into the center of the concentric circles Obama was drawing around the coup, its conspirators, and the intel agencies whose imprimatur was needed to carry it out. Now August arrives with, as Don McLean would phrase it, bad news on the doorstep. (ChatGPT for American Thinker) On August 3, 2016, Obamas CIA Director John Brennan found out that the Dutch had found out that Hillary Clinton was going to run a dirty Russian-themed op on Donald Trump. Uh-oh. Theyve got spies too. Brennan briefed the White House about it. Time to pull back? Nope. Time to step on the gas. NEW: Handwritten notes CIA Director John Brennan took during an Aug. 3, 2016 meeting in the White House with President Obama and FBI Director James Comey indicate that Obama tasked them to find "any evidence of collaboration between Trump campaign and Russia." #ObamaWasMastermind This was Obama, Comey, Clapper and Brennan deciding Were going to screw Trump' ... It was, Were going to create this and put the imprimatur of an IC assessment in a way that nobody can question it. They stamped it as Russian collusion and then classified it so nobody could pic.twitter.com/MCArlGr2K3 Rasmussen Reports (@Rasmussen_Poll) August 1, 2025 Paul Sperry (@paulsperry_) July 27, 2025 On August 6th, Hillary posts her first Trump+Russia-themed tweet: Seriously, what is going on with Trump and Russia? https://t.co/N6ySNILYMx Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) August 6, 2016 On August 8th, Comeys hand-picked guy, Peter Strzok, issues his infamous Well stop it text to his paramour, Lisa Page, when she worries that Trump is not ever going to become president, right? Right?! More from Comeys FBI. Via CNN: In a text from August 15, 2016, Strzok tells Page: I want to believe the path you threw out for consideration in Andys office an apparent reference to Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe that theres no way he gets elected but Im afraid we cant take that risk. Its like an insurance policy in the unlikely event you die before youre 40 Ten days later, Brennan goes nuclear; he goes to the Hill. From Fox News: On August 25, 2016, Brennan went to Capitol Hill to brief Harry Reid If any of them even entertained the thought there was a way, there was definitely no turning back now. Two days later, August 27th, Reid sends a letter to James Comey, urging him to open an investigation into Trumps Russia ties. Now back to Ben Rhodes book. Pages 391-392: At the beginning of September [2016], we flew to China for the G20 summit, where Obama would have his final meeting with Putin before the election. This would be the infamous meeting when Obama thought it was all big and bad to tell Putin to cut it out. He was widely mocked in conservative media for being so ridiculous. Rhodes goes on: After about an hour [and after Putin had gone], I was asked to leave the room, and Obama stayed behind with Susan Rice. Later, we all came together before Obamas press conference, and went through the questions he was likely to get asked. Josh Earnest and I raised the issue of Russian hacking. Obama waved his Styrofoam teacup at us: I know how Im going to handle that, he said. He and Susan looked at each other, and I realized this must have been one of the subjects that was covered when I was out of the room. Something else happened at the beginning of September. Peter Strzok messaged Lisa Page: POTUS wants to know everything were doing. Also in early September, more of the coup plotters went to the Hill. Via The Washington Post: In early September, [Jeh] Johnson, James Comey and [Lisa] Monaco arrived on Capitol Hill in a caravan of black SUVs for a meeting with 12 key members of Congress, including the leadership of both parties. [Emphasis added] They were now all-in on selling the narrative, and would later want congressional buy-in, but Leader McConnell and the Republicans writ-large were skeptical. By the beginning of October, the Russia-Russia-Russia narrative was taking on a life of its own. Democrats had started running with it hard and the pressure on Obama to act was enormous. The Democrats, on a wholesale basis, were actually buying the Russia-Russia-Russia narrative and were screeching for Obama to act aggressively against Putin. Obama had to do something. So, Susan Rice was trying to organize two things: a bipartisan letter of concern which Mitch McConnell famously refused to sign on to and a statement from the I.C. Page 395: On October 7, the [I.C.] statement was finally ready for release. Referring to the release of hacked documents, the statement said that the thefts and disclosures are intended to interfere with the US election process" Meanwhile, Trump was noticing Comey was up to no good. EXCLUSIVE: FBI Agents Say Comey Stood In The Way Of Clinton Email Investigation:https://t.co/6n63fHVvNo Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 18, 2016 Come the end of October just nine days before the election The New York Times actually does some journalism-ing, and kicks the coup-plotters in the groin. From the October 31, 2016 New York Times: For much of the summer, the F.B.I. pursued a widening investigation into a Russian role in the American presidential campaign. None of the investigations so far have found any conclusive or direct link between Mr. Trump and the Russian government. And even the hacking into Democratic emails, F.B.I. and intelligence officials now believe, was aimed at disrupting the presidential election rather than electing Mr. Trump. Now, keep this in mind as you read the following from our fabulist, Ben Rhodes. I did not know of any FBI investigation of the Trump campaign until I learned about it in the press after I had left government. [Emphasis added] Mr. Rhodes told the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence this October 25, 2017. It was an obvious lie. Amazingly, (admirably?) he repeated the lie to an interviewer a year and a half later, in April of 2019. [Ben Rhodes] told journalist Nicholas Ballasy that the Obama administration was unaware and uninvolved in the FBIs investigation into then-candidate Donald Trump. Literally, I learned about the investigation into Trump as a private citizen in the freaking Washington Post, Rhodes said. I guess if youre gonna be a liar, being consistent is essential to being good at it? Theres just one tiny problem. He finally got invited to a meeting. It was a December 9, 2016 meeting in the Situation Room with the coup plotters. It simply strains credulity that the subject of supposed Trump-Russia criminality wasnt a topic of discussion there. Otherwise, why hold it in the Situation Room? And how to explain the cascade of critical events that emanated from it? (Source: Obama Administration) December 9th was a hugely consequential day. Three events took place: 1. The Washington Post ran with a piece which said that Brennan had told the Hill the Russians hacked the DNC and tried to hurt Hillary and help Trump win. Mind you, they had zero proof for these allegations. Zero. 2. Senator John McCain personally handed the complete dossier to James Comey during a meeting at the latters office. And 3. President Obama gave the order for the I.C.A. (the Intelligence Community Assessment to prove Russia interfered in our election on behalf of Trump). It simply strains credulity that Mr. Rhodes saw no evil, heard no evil, spoke no evil in that December 9 meeting. That ticks us into the next year, 2017, when James Comeys malfeasance turns from preventing a president to removing one. Various measures lead to fewer new Chikungunya cases in south China Xinhua) 10:17, August 11, 2025 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. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The Biden administration pushed America into open borders and immigration chaos. In 2023, President Autopen allowed 10,000 illegal crossings a day. Now, in a rare move that merits praise rather than protest and outrage, the U.S. State Department under the Trump admininistration has introduced a new visa bond program grounded in accountability, enforcement, and taxpayer protection. Image generated by ChatGPT It's also the kind of common-sense, America-first program we expect from President Trump and his MAGA team. As the New York Times reported: Addressing what it calls a clear national security threat, the Trump administration will require that some foreign visitors pay bonds of up to $15,000 to help ensure they do not overstay their visas, under a State Department trial program announced on Monday. Malawi and Zambia are the first affected countries, but others with high visa overstay rates are likely to be added to the list. US Department of Homeland Security 2023 data shows that 565,000 people admitted to the US through air or sea ports likely stayed beyond their authorized period. Thats half a million visitors a year. How many of them eventually return home compared to those who now call America and its largesse home? This won't affect countries that already travel visa-free to the U.S. This means that for most of the nearly 80 million international tourists visiting each year, it will be business as usual. Conservatives should support this. Its a small but meaningful step forward, promoting an immigration policy based on personal responsibility, rule of law, and national sovereignty. In other words, America First. And its much better than the false promises of comprehensive immigration reform or amnesty often promoted by past Republican leaders, including presidents. Lets be honest. Visa overstays are a serious problem, as mentioned earlier. These arent illegal border crossers; instead, theyre people who arrived legally but decided that the rules and laws didnt apply to them. So why not require a security deposit to encourage compliance? After all, hotels and car rental companies do this every day. If you damage the room, eat from the minibar, or fail to return the car on time, you forfeit your deposit. But if you follow the rules, you get your money back. Its not punishment, its a contract. And it works. Similarly, those who are arrested can post a bond for release, which will be forfeited if they dont return for their court date. Under new cashless bail systems promoted by the left, 10% of those granted cashless bail fail to appear in court. Imagine if 10% of tourists decided they preferred America to their home countries and stayed here. This visa bond system operates on the same principle. Its not racist, sexist, transphobic, Nazi, or fascist. Its not discriminatory, except towards those who violate the rules. It's better than banning an entire country based on the high numbers of those who overstay. Its simply common sense. The pilot program is highly targeted. Currently, only applicants from Malawi and Zambia are affected because these countries have high overstay rates and weak document controls and vetting measures. Malawi has a 14.32% visa overstay rate, and Zambia has a 10.45% visa overstay rate, according to a Department of Homeland Security report cited by Bloomberg Law. About 2,000 travelers are expected to be affected during the one-year pilot. That represents roughly two days' worth of illegal border crossings under the Biden administration and is significantly less than the fear-mongering spread by Democrats and open borders advocates. Heres how it works. If a U.S. consular officer finds that an applicant might overstay, the visa can be approved only if the traveler posts a bond through Pay.gov. If they leave on time, the bond is refunded. If they dont, they lose it. It's like staying at a Marriott or Hilton hotel and checking out late or damaging the room. To ensure proper tracking, bonded travelers must arrive and depart through designated airports like JFK, Dulles, or Boston Logan. It's strict, targeted, and completely fair, just like when you rent a car from Avis and lose your deposit if you keep the car an extra day. From an America First perspective, this is a triple win. First, it shifts the risk from the U.S. government to the visa applicant. No longer do American taxpayers cover the expense of costly removal proceedings when someone overstays their welcome. The cost of non-compliance is paid in advance by the visitor, not us. Second, it sends a clear message to the world that entering the United States is a privilege, not a right. If you want to enjoy that privilege, you need to show good faith and put up the cash to prove it. Or, using Democrat parlance, some visitors will now have to pay to play. Third, it offers a blueprint for broader immigration reform. If this pilot succeeds in lowering visa overstays, it should be expanded to other high-risk countries. Over time, it could become a standard part of our immigration strategy, showing enforcement without excluding people and encouraging visitors to be responsible. The downside is that some tourists might opt to skip the $15,000 bond and stay in America permanently until they get caught and deported. They may see it as an acceptable price of admission to the U.S. Naturally, the left is already clutching its pearls. Its unfair to poor applicants! they cry. Well, so is overstaying your visa, which burdens our legal system and public resources. Actions have consequences. This policy aims to restore order and balance, rather than punishing poverty. And lets not forget: the bond is fully refundable. This isnt a fee or a tax. If you follow the law, you get your money back. If you dont, you pay the price. Thats exactly how it should be. Critics also argue it will harm tourism. However, only a small number of travelers are affected, and most of them wouldnt even be here legally without this policy. Visitors from Mexico, Canada, and more than 40 countries in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program are exempt from visa bonds. The visa bond program only applies to B-1 (business) and B-2 (tourism) visas, not to student, spousal, temporary worker, or other types of visas. If anything, this restores credibility to our system, reassuring Americans that were not just rubber-stamping visas for anyone and everyone, and letting them stay as long as they want. Imagine having house guests who never leave. Bottom line? This is a market-based, enforcement-friendly, America-first solution that even a bloated bureaucracy managed to get right. Its proof that smart immigration policy doesnt always mean walls, travel bans, or blanket amnesty. It can also mean visa bonds. President Trump pledged to restore law and order to our immigration system. This reflects Trumps vision of discouraging lawbreakers and promoting integrity. Hopefully, this is just the beginning. Brian C. Joondeph, M.D., is a physician and writer. Follow me on Twitter @retinaldoctor, Substack Dr. Brians Substack, Truth Social @BrianJoondeph, LinkedIn @Brian Joondeph, and email brianjoondeph@gmail.com. When President Donald Trump sits down with Vladimir Putin in Alaska this week, he must be ready to do what the Gipper did in Reykjavik: Walk away if the deal is bad for America. At the Reykjavik Summit in 1986, President Ronald Reagan faced a Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, who was under economic strain but eager to score a diplomatic win. The two men came close to a sweeping arms control agreement. But when Mikhail Gorbachev demanded the U.S. scrap its Strategic Defense Initiative, Reagan refused and walked. The famous image of the two men leaving the summit with dour faces was fuel for critics. The press painted the summit as a failure. But within three years, the Soviets signed the INF Treaty on terms far more favorable to the United States. And just a few years after that, the Soviet Union itself collapsed. Reagans refusal to trade away a core U.S. advantage showed the Kremlin that America would not compromise on its strategic interests, no matter the pressure. Trump faces a similar dynamic. Russias economy is strained, and its military is facing huge daily losses over its invasion of Ukraine. Putin will likely dangle tempting proposals, such as sanctions relief, resource cooperation, or Arctic navigation rights. But every offer will be crafted to serve Moscows strategic goals first. A bad deal could bind the U.S. into commitments that limit our defense options, undermine allies, or give Russia breathing room to rebuild its strength. Walking away doesnt mean giving up. It means signaling that America will only agree to terms that protect our ally Ukraine as well as our own sovereignty and security. Just as Reagans firmness ultimately led to better outcomes, Trumps willingness to say no can force Moscow back to the table on terms that serve our interests not theirs. (Gemini.ai for American Thinker) Much of Colombia is in mourning today, with the sad news that a leading conservative presidential candidate, Miguel Uribe Turbay, died of his wounds in a brazen assassination that began on June 7. He was 39 and the father of three young children. I wrote about the initial attack here. According to the Washington Post: Miguel Uribe Turbay, a Colombian senator and presidential hopeful, died Monday, two months after he was shot at a campaign event in the countrys capital, the Associated Press reported. Uribe Turbay was a senator from the conservative Centro Democratico Party, which mourned him in a Monday X post. He was 39. His wife, Maria Claudia Tarazona, confirmed his death, the AP report He was shot in the head by a 15-year-old gunman no one knows much about. The leftist government, led by former narcoguerrilla and Hugo Chavez ally Gustavo Petro says it still doesn't have any idea who did it, though they have supposedly rounded up a few associates. It's had two months to find out, and it still knows "nothing." Colombia's loquacious radical president, Gustavo Petro, is curiously silent about this death on X. He spews thousand-word diatribes at the drop of the hat, and has often targeted Uribe Turbay. Not even "thoughts and thoughts," him being likely an atheist. He has, however, come out loudly in defense of the triggerman, whom he views as a tender youth: RECUERDEN ESTA PERLA Petro salio a pedir respeto por la vida del sicario que ASSINO a Miguel Uribe. Mientras en otros paises los menores que matan son juzgados como adultos, aqui este imbecil abogo por el como si fuera un querubin. ESTAMOS LLEVADOS CON ESTE TIPO. pic.twitter.com/E1lwGI9ZDe Adriana Martinez (@AdrianaVeterin) August 11, 2025 Google Translate: REMEMBER THIS GEM Petro came out to demand respect for the life of the hitman who MURDRED Miguel Uribe. While in other countries minors who kill are tried as adults, here this idiot advocated for him as if he were a cherub. WERE SCREWED WITH THIS GUY. Actually, he's a 'sicario' -- a soulless, rootless, military-aged youth of the kind one finds in places like Sierra Leone; a remorseless, conscienceless killing machine with no empathy, no social capital, no experience of human connection, let alone intact family, who will kill at the drop of the hat, over nothing, or especially if he gets paid. This type of person was featured in Colombian movies such as "Nuestra Senora de los Sicarios" and the documentary "La Sierra." Nothing from Petro about who got this pawn to do this dastardly act. I am getting of 'Butler' vibes from this state of affairs. Marco Rubio wasn't silent. He put out this tweet two hours ago: Deeply saddened to learn of Colombian Senator @MiguelUribeT's tragic death. The United States stands in solidarity with his family, the Colombian people, both in mourning and demanding justice for those responsible. Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) August 11, 2025 He sounds like he thinks there's a deficit of justice, while Colombians themselves are very suspicious it was someone connected to Petro, a former M-19 Marxist narcoguerrilla, whose organization in 1985 made common cause with Pablo Escobar, and teamed to burn down Colombia's Supreme Court with many of the justices in it. Escobar also kidnapped Diana Turbay in 1990, a respected journalist who was killed in a botched hostage rescue the following year. Turbay was Miguel Uribe Turbay's mother, and he was five when it happened. Anyone think Petro is incapable of this kind of political violence just on background alone? It also didn't help that he spewed copious insults and slanders at Uribe Turbay, who was a close politicaly ally of former President Alvaro Uribe (no relation), a man who saved his country from FARC Marxist narcoterrorists closely aligned with Hugo Chavez and was lawfared last week by the Petro administration over a phony bribery case that amounted to a travesty of justice. They sentenced him to 12 years of prison, making it house arrest. In Colombia, it seems they all think he did it. No tengo la menor duda: todo sugiere que el DETERMINADOR e instigador del asesinato de Miguel Uribe Turbay fue el guerrillero terrorista Gustavo Petro. pic.twitter.com/Y3FDDd9Sz4 Manuel J (@mjoftalmo) August 11, 2025 Que su muerte no sea en vano y sea el final del mandato de #GustavoPetro DEP @ MiguelUribeT q el 7/6 recibio 3 disparos de un sicario de 15 anos, hoy bajo custodia del Estado colombiano, no preso, x orden del gobierno. pic.twitter.com/ DmVsFXwwNB Susan Reinoso August 11, 2025 She points out that the 15-year-old gunman was put in 'government custody' instead of prison. Others were suspicious of all the false death reports that went out after the June 7 attack, something a powerful player such as a government might be capable of arranging. But the target wasn't dead, even with the video showing Uribe Turbay getting shot in the head at close range with blood spurting all over the car he was near. El 7 jun 2025, mientras operaban al senador Miguel Uribe Turbay tras un atentado, X se lleno de posts anunciando su muerte. Era falso.Esta es la investigacion #PetroLeaks #MiguelUribe #politica #Colombia #GustavoPetro pic.twitter.com/6aMQAL4YJb Petro Leaks (@LeaksPetro690) August 6, 2025 Lastly, Petro has become grossly unpopular based on his socialist policies and someone like Uribe Turbay, whom he repeatedly clashed with when both were on the Bogota city council, was obviously a threat to him. Since Petro probably couldn't win an election without cheating, or killing off his opponent, what does anyone think he might do? There's so much that stinks here about this case it could create a pigsty. The critical thing here is what the U.S. should do about it. Sanctions on Petro until he produces the story behind the assassination of his opponent seems to be a reasonable first step. Maybe more should be done, given Petro's penchant for flying to other countries and hanging out with transgender hookers would be in order, too, surely the Colombian public would like to know. Whatever it is, Petro needs to be put on the hot seat for this death of his rival: Produce the bad guys or hell will follow. We've already seen too much garbage from the left on that continent, what with the lawfare attacks on President Jair Bolsonaro who wanted to run again for the presidency in Brazil, the conviction of retired President Uribe in Colombia as Petro's unpopularity soared. Now this, a dead presidential candidate who was poised to directly challenge Petro has happened. Whatever this is, it's not democracy. Cui bono? Image: Internet meme Conservatives uneasy with President Trumps rhetoric and style need only to turn to comments by the self-righteous triumvirate of Gavin Newsom, Nancy Pelosi, and James Carville to face the reality of liberalisms far greater radicalism. In an August 8th press conference admonishing the Texas legislature attempt at redistricting and altering congressional maps, California Democrats announced they will attempt to redistrict and alter congressional maps. California governor Gavin Newsom said that Democrats will try, via a ballot measure, to nullify what happens in Texas, arguing that his approach will be done with the consent of the people compared to Texas. For progressives in California, forms of direct democracy are their quick-to-the bloodstream rush in enacting their agenda. For example, 354 citizens initiatives were on the ballot there from 1912-2013 according to the Public Policy Institute of California. Newsoms proposal would hastily push aside, for this upcoming congressional election cycle, Californias independent redistricting commission which proclaims itself as a body providing fair representation for all Californians. Too fair now for Democrats, as the commission inconveniently produces too many Republican seats. Democrats once again rush ahead solely for self-preservation, bypassing the skill required by serious legislating and thus disposing of serious thinking. But any serious person can see that when Newsom says he has had enough of what Republicans are doing, he means he is through with Republicans voting with any success. The Left is averse to honest debate, thus drafting legislation and persuading the peoples chosen legislative representatives is a nuisance. One of their sclerotic legislators is Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi. Supporting the Democrat members of the Texas legislature that scattered to anywhere but Texas, she said their fleeing was self-defense for our democracy. Not doing ones job for the people is not self-defense but political self-immolation. In January 2019, Democrat Senate Leader Chuck Schumer said We dont govern by temper tantrum. The we evidently did not include themselves but only applies to those like the Republican legislators in Texas that seek to express authentic political will. Democracy for me, not for thee. Democrat James Carville can at least be credited with thinking big in trying to solve the Lefts nagging problem of Republicans holding office. Speaking on a podcast on August 7th, he said of Democrats: They are just going to have to unilaterally add Puerto Rico and District Columbia as states Theyre just going to have to do it. And they may have to expand the [Supreme Court] to 13 members. The insistent demand to remove any Republican majority, for all time, is striking in Carvilles comments. One should also ask Governor Newsom if his notion of the peoples consent is consistent with Carvilles unilateral approach to changing the very structure of government to assure the Lefts permanent power. As Carville candidly reveals here, the Democratic Party at least knows how to count. They are keenly aware that a lasting shift of a few more votes in the House, Senate, and Supreme Court would favor their policy goals in perpetuity, leaving them unburdened from the hard work of political bargaining (they long for their U.S. House majority from 1955-95). Liberalisms permanent majority would not only nullify conservative voices but also paths to prosperity and our small r republican form of government. The late Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia said in 2011 that the real key to the distinctiveness of America is the structure of our government. It is that distinctiveness the Left seeks to render inert, admonishing any Republican attempt to rightly preserve persuasive electoral politics. To politically persuade requires a certain patience, an attunement to the peoples concrete way of living and an awareness of human nature not blinded by ideology. It is why politics, as properly understood in our representative system, is contrary to progressive aims. Alan Loncar is an attorney in Macomb County, Michigan. Image: AT via Magic Studio In the sweltering summer of 2025, the ghost of Jeffrey Epstein has been resurrected once again as a political bludgeon wielded by desperate Democrats. Whereas the midterm elections loom, House and Senate Democrats are pounding the drum for the full release of Epsteins investigative files, accusing President Donald Trump of orchestrating a cover-up to shield pedophiles in high places. Theyve gone even further, painting the GOP as the Pedophile Protection Party. Moreover, Senate Democrats invoked the obscure Rule of Five on July 30 to force DOJ file releases by August 15, while a House subcommittee on Homeland Affairs and Government Operations voted 8-2 on July 23 with a few weak-kneed Republicans crossing over, exposing GOP cracks. But this is nothing more than a high-stakes bluff borne out of desperation. Take this into account: The first major public explosions over child exploitation targeted the Democrat elite, not Republicans, and releasing these files could blow the lid off the very swamp Democrats have long inhabited. Meanwhile, it is well known that Trump cut ties with Epstein back in 2004 after banning him from the Mar-a-Lago club over inappropriate behavior toward a young girl a stark contrast to Bill Clintons ongoing jaunts. Jeffrey Epsteins rise as a shadowy financier drew him into elite circles, but his ties to Democrats ran deep and dark. Bill Clinton, fresh off his presidency marred by sex scandals, hopped on Epsteins infamous Lolita Express jet at least 26 times between 2001 and 2003, per unsealed flight logs, jetting to exotic locales including Epsteins Little St. James island a notorious hub for alleged underage abuse. Hillary Clintons alleged six island visits fuel suspicions, giving both Clintons a long shadow of controversy. The floodgates opened in 2016 with WikiLeaks dumping John Podestas emails Hillary Clintons campaign chair. Strange references to pizza (149 times, often out of context) and hot dogs were decoded by investigators as potential slang for child trafficking. Unsettling videos and rumors made the rounds on social media, centering on D.C.s Besta Pizza and Comet Ping Pong pizzeria. Besta Pizza STILL has the "Boy Love" logo at ALL locations in spite of the FBI suggesting they change that. #PizzaGate pic.twitter.com/BfRhewNT9E Arlo Pignotti (@ArloPignotti) January 31, 2017 The owner of Comet is James Alefantis one of the 50 most powerful people in the capital and before he was thrown into the national spotlight, his personal social media accounts featured disturbing and questionable images of children. The similarity between the Bestas logo and pedophile symbols officially published by the FBI is undeniable. Podestas brother Tony sent an email that read, Still in torture chamber about Valentines Day plans. This correspondence coupled with Johns mentions of an underground vault for awkward videos, painted a picture of sinister goings-on. While mainstream media dismissed it as debunked, the emails bizarre language was undeniable, fueling public outrage and tying Democrats to a web of alleged abuse. Podestas links to spirit cooking events screamed deviant behavior. These are ritualistic performances dripping with occult symbolism hosted by artist Marina Abramovic. This wasnt art; it was a mark of the moral rot infesting Democrat elites, from Obama to the Clintons, all entangled in Epsteins orbit. PART 24: Marina Abramovic She is a performance artist and as you can see she is friends with quite a few celebs. And her choice of art? Depictions of cannibalism and spirit cooking. She is 73 yrs old pic.twitter.com/AGbd9yZGPt Pandora (@closingthebox) June 25, 2020 The campaign to uncover the truth behind Pizzagate was taken over by the QAnon movement in 2017. People within this group spotlighted Clintons Epstein flights, Obamas administration failures to probe deeper, and Bidens documented creepy habits like repeatedly sniffing childrens hair in public, behaviors that scream weird vibes. A 2020 PRRI poll revealed 15% of Americans bought into QAnons core claims, a testament to widespread distrust. Internet investigation enthusiasts have figured out that there is a global net of financial ties to Clintons International Center for Missing Children. Some theories state that charitable donations and lobbying expenses can be a kind of payment for entry into an elite pedophile club. The first rule of Fight Club is: You do not talk about Fight Club. It appears that no one is allowed to speak publicly about what seems so obvious. Search for Arkancide: the chilling term for the string of mysterious suicides and deaths among Clinton associates who might have spilled secrets, from Vince Foster to Epstein himself in 2019 conveniently silencing potential revelations about Democrat deviance. In that same spirit of suppression and secrecy, the pattern didnt stop at suspicious deaths. It expanded into foreign policy and even war zones. As Democrats had shoveled $113 billion in Ukraine aid by 2022, conspiracy whispers grew louder. The war opened new opportunities for the Cabal. Was this endless war funding a smokescreen for child trafficking networks thriving in conflict zones? UN reports confirm Ukraine as a major trafficking hub, and with Biden's family leading the charge, suspicions mounted that Democrats were exploiting the chaos to hide crimes against humanity echoing Pizzagate. Democrats aggressive Epstein crusade is a transparent bluff, deflecting from their own swampy scandals from Podestas emails and occult ties to Clintons flights and Bidens weird child episodes while trying to fracture the GOP. But with undeniable facts stacking against them, including Arkancide mysteries and Ukraine suspicions, theyre risking total exposure. Society already knows the true evil lurks on the left, and this desperate gambit could collapse the system to which they cling. Image from Grok. California governor Gavin Newsom appeared alongside Texas Democrat legislators this week at the governors mansion in Sacramento, which is actually a state park and museum, not the governors actual residence. The purpose of the meeting was to announce the efforts of Newsom and state Democrat party leaders to adjust congressional district boundaries in California, in response to the stated objectives of Texas Governor Greg Abbott and state GOP leaders to redraw their own congressional districts to potentially add five Republican house seats in advance of the 2026 mid-term elections. California stands ready to flex its muscle to ensure the integrity of our democracy nationwide, said Newsom. This is a blatant power grab, and we will not stand for it, stated Rep. Zoe Lofgren, who represents the San Jose area and is chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation. Finally, Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas echoed, We will do whatever it takes to defend our democracy. We will do whatever it takes to protect the voices, the votes, and the rights of every American. First of all, lets talk about power grabs. Currently, the state of California is apportioned 53 congressional seats, 44 of which are occupied by Democrats and nine seats are held by Republicans -- a whopping 85% to 15% advantage to Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Lets compare this distribution with the distribution of registered voters in California. As of October 21, 2024 -- just a few weeks before the November general election, 45.83% of the states voters were registered Democrats, 25% Republicans, 22% were No Party Preference and 7% were registered to miscellaneous political parties. Now thats really punching above your weight 45% of registered voters gives the Democrats 85% of Californias congressional delegation. Newsom, Lofgren, Rivas, and the Democrat leadership say they want to add another five seats to their party as part of a mid-decade redistricting plan to be presented to California voters in November. If Newsoms ballot measure is approved, as outlined in the governors mansion press event, the Democrats could hold 49 congressional seats, or 94%, and the Republicans only three seats, or 6%. The problem with their plan is, it happens to violate Californias Constitution. California voters approved amendments to the state Constitution in 2007 and 2010, creating the Citizens Redistricting Commission. Section 1 states: In the year following the year in which the national census is taken under the direction of Congress at the beginning of each decade, the Citizens Redistricting Commission described in Section 2 shall adjust the boundary lines of the congressional, State Senatorial, Assembly, and Board of Equalization districts. In addition to requiring the adjusted districts comply with the United States Constitution, and the federal Voting Rights Act, the state Constitution directs districts to achieve population equality as nearly as is practicable, be geographically contiguous, ensure city, county, local neighborhood, or local communities of interest shall be respected in a manner that minimizes their division, and shall be drawn to encourage geographical compactness. All these requirements make sense and, when applied, truly aid in ensuring adequate and effective political representation to individuals, communities, and local jurisdictions. precisely the point of the redistricting process -- accommodating population changes while conforming with the law and accommodating communities of interest. Unfortunately for Governor Newsom and Democrat leaders, the California Constitution, as currently written, expressly prohibits redistricting for partisan political purposes. Communities of interest shall not include relationships with political parties, incumbents, or political candidates. So, to accomplish their objective, the Democrat super majority in the legislature must approve ballot language to specifically rewrite the states constitution that currently prohibits redistricting for partisan purposes. All in the name of protecting Democracy. As a native Californian, whose granddaughters are fifth generation Californians, this unconstitutional power grab is offensive in the extreme. I pray my fellow Californians see though this and vote against the Democrats unconstitutional amendment in November. Should the voters approve Newsoms power play, the current state constitution does provide individual voters with recourse. Any registered voter in this state may file a petition for a writ of mandate or writ of prohibition, within 45 days after the commission has certified a final map to the Secretary of State, to bar the Secretary of State from implementing the plan on the grounds that the filed plan violates this Constitution, the United States Constitution, or any federal or state statute. That is, unless they rewrite this part of the constitution as well. Dave Butler lives in northern California and has been active in public policy at the local, regional, state and federal levels for 30 years. Image: AT California's governor, Gavin Newsom, fancies himself the white knight in the Texas redistricting melodrama, having just the answer to Texas's plan to redistrict in a way that would create five presumably safe new seats for congressional Republicans. He's threatened to create more Democrat seats in California in a redistricting plan of his own in order to cancel out the Republican seats in Texas. Such is how he 'saves' democracy. He's got just one problem, though. California's voters, according to Susan Shelley of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers' Association, writing in the New York Post: Gavin Newsom is going to war with the voters of California and they might just hand him his head. The ambitious governor of California says he is trying to end the presidency of Donald Trump two years early with a plan to elect more Democrats to the House of Representatives, offsetting a mid-decade redistricting in Texas. Newsom wants to call a special election to throw out the congressional maps drawn by the independent Citizens Redistricting Commission that voters established using the initiative power. ... In 2008, a majority of California voters were disgusted with incumbent politicians in Sacramento drawing self-serving district maps to guarantee their own re-election. Using the initiative power, voters revoked the legislatures map-drawing authority for state offices in 2008 and for congressional districts in 2010. The two ballot measures, Propositions 11 and 20, empowered a California Citizens Redistricting Commission to draw the district lines free from the control of politicians and lobbyists. She goes on to note that the result was not perfect, as consultant types still got their snoots in the redistricting troughs, and in the end the legislature became ever more extreme towards the left. But it was the voters' baby, and as Shelley notes: Voters in California are nowhere near as wild-eyed leftist as the government theyve elected. President Trump received 6 million votes in the 2024 election, a little more than 38% of the total vote, but Republicans hold just 17% of the congressional seats, 24% of the California Assembly and 25% of the state Senate. Meaning, she thinks it's very unlikely that voters will go along with Newsom's power grab to rewrite districts himself, taking power from the voters in a special election he wants to hold, even if they are Democrats. The voters have already decided in recent years that they would be the ones to decide the redistricting maps, not Newsom. Shelley doesn't think it will happen at all even if Newsom gets it together for his special election. This is what fighting for democracy looks like, Newsom wrote in an online post. And this is what craven ambition looks like: Newsom proposing a snap election to discard the citizen-drawn congressional maps and substitute maps drawn by politicians, with no transparency to the public, for the next three election cycles. There is significant and high-profile opposition. She cited many non-partisan as well as conservative players. One can only hope she is right. Anyone with a record of failure like Newsom doesn't deserve anything at all from California's disgusted voters. Let's hope this will be his political Waterloo. Image: Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons // CC BY-SA 2.0 Deed We've always known that the Anglican church has a lot of wokesters in its clergy but it was an eye-opener to read an interview with the new archbishop of Wales, who had bigger priorities than practicing Christianity. According to The Times of London: The new Archbishop of Wales has a complicated relationship with the Anglican Church. Several times during our conversation in the chancel of Newport Cathedral in south Wales last week, Cherry Vann criticises an institution she says is full of human beings who are flawed and failing. I think the church can so often get in the way of God, says Vann, 66, who was elected primate of Wales last month. Although she was ordained into the Church of England in 1994, becoming one of the first female priests, and spent 11 years as Archdeacon of Rochdale in Manchester, she knew her career would not last there. Why? Because Im gay and in a civil partnership, she says, matter-of-factly. For almost 30 years, Vann was forced to keep secret her relationship with Wendy Diamond, a retired council employee. It was an appalling state of affairs, says Vann. It felt as though I was being dishonest but I didnt feel at the time that I had any choice. I was living in fear. Wendy was forced to hide upstairs when visitors came to their home. It was only five years ago, when Vann was appointed Bishop of Monmouth, that she felt comfortable enough to be open about her sexuality. Seems her main religion is the lesbian lifestyle and her career, around which everything else, including God, revolves. After all, she had been living a double life. She could have been a lesbian but refrained from lesbian relationships which would have been to put God first, perhaps as an act of self-sacrifice to demonstrate her commitment to the faith. Or, she could have not hidden her lesbian lifestyle as she described doing, did what she wanted, perhaps defiantly or perhaps in resignation that it wasn't the orthodox model for Christian life, and quit calculating how it would impact her career promotion prospects. Not being willing to make either of those choices and wanting it both ways, no wonder she was resentful. Now that alternative lifestyles are considered normal for Anglican clergy, she openly promotes it. In most contexts, being a lesbian isn't a big deal one way or another and we all know nice people who are gay or lesbian. But for someone to lead a church in an entire country as a lesbian whose main priority is lesbianism seems, as the lefties like to say, unsustainable, even among the freewheeling Anglicans. Unconventional relationships don't work in the long run and to practice them as the leader of a church that has traditionally promoted family life is to take for granted family life, which even Protestant churches historically do, in favor of an anything-goes system of family life. That isn't much different from a fully secular life, which doesn't make any demands at all. No wonder she sees the church as full of flawed people. But there is nuance to this -- Vann's career ascent came on the back of one seamy scandal after another in the Wales church. According to the Times: In June, the former Archbishop of Wales, Andy John, stepped down after an investigation found cases of bullying and financial and sexual misconduct at his diocese, Bangor Cathedral. Among the allegations, one young woman told the BBC she was sexually assaulted in 2022 at the cathedrals Oktoberfest by a man who wanted to become a priest. John was not accused of any wrongdoing, but his resignation was not the only scandal to hit Wales. Vanns predecessor as Bishop of Monmouth, Richard Pain, retired in 2019 from ill health a year after being accused of bullying his staff. In March, the former Bishop of Swansea and Brecon, Anthony Pierce, was jailed for child sexual abuse. Last month, new investigations were opened into historical sex abuse allegations against Pierce and another former vicar. What a loathesome load of doings. Now they have her, who, as the story indicated, some of the locals see as an improvement. But it won't being the dwindling church back. The Times reported that church attendence was in freefall: Two decades ago, about 42,000 Anglicans were regularly attending a Sunday service in Wales. Provisional figures this year show that has dropped to 29,000. Over ten years, baptisms have dropped by almost 40 per cent. The African branches of the Anglican church, in contrast, are booming, and they do take seriously the promotion of classical family life, rejecting alternative lifestyles as antibiblical. The bane of the African churches (among Catholics at least and probably Protestants) is priests who have a mistress on the side. They condemn it when it is discovered, just as they condemn gay and lesbian lifestyles on the same logic. African priests are required to be celebate, which in Anglicanism means faithful to married life or else single with chastity. What would happen if they just went open about the mistress on the side as a lifestyle choice? They never do that because there wouldn't be much of a church left. That explains why they can never accept a leader who openly practices lesbian acts. So it's not surprising that they are strongly opposed to Vann's promotion as contradictory to traditional church teaching as well as biblical teaching. The Times reports that the Nigerian branch even cut ties with the Wales church as a result of Vann's appointment. That's the direction of the living. growing church. With Vann running the church in Wales, and condeming all the flawed Christians out there, it won't be surprising if she reveals more contempt for Christianity and the church there continues to shrivel. Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License One of the top Democrat candidates for the 2028 presidential election is Pete Buttigieg, Bidens former Secretary of Transportation. In an aggregate of several polls taken since May, hes second only to Kamala Harris and, indeed, in two of those polls, especially one by AtlasIntel, he leads the pack by a wide margin. The problem, though, is that blacks dont like him. As in, they really, really, really dont like him. Buttigieg is an interesting man, given that hes risen politically far beyond his actual accomplishments. In 2019, when he was running for the Democrat nomination, I summed up his resume. Here are just a few of the highlights, which really arent that high, but are very leftist: While in high school, Buttigieg wrote an essay praising Bernie Sanders, the man who refuses to abandon communism despite more than 100 million communism-caused deaths in the 21st century. Buttigieg won a John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum Profiles in Courage award for that essay. [anip] Buttigiegs bachelors thesis [at Harvard] was based upon Graham Greenes The Quiet American, an anti-American novel about the earliest years of the Vietnam War. [snip] Buttigieg received a Rhodes Scholarship in 2004. On the one hand, good for him. Its a mark of his real intelligence and his being adept at the academic game... On the other hand, keep in mind that, consistent with John OSullivans law, the Rhodes Scholarship is increasingly a vehicle for promoting Leftist ideology. Once he got out of academia, Buttigiegs biggest job was as a consultant at McKinsey & Company for three years in the areas of energy, retail, economic development, and logistics. Because of the companys non-disclosure policy, we have no idea what he really did. In 2007, Buttigieg enlisted in the Naval Reserve, and in 2014, he served seven months in Afghanistan. Good for him. Then, in 2011, Buttigieg became mayor of South Bend, Indiana, a city of slightly over 101,000 people, winning 10,991 votes out of the 14,883 cast. He was reelected in 2015, receiving 8,515 votes. Regarding South Bend, South Bend is currently the 22nd most dangerous city in the U.S. It wasnt quite as bad when he became mayor. However, it did have a police corruption scandal (illegally recording telephone calls), so Buttigieg asked the police chief for his resignation. Since this was the citys first black police chief, blacks became hostile to Buttigieg. Buttigieg also presided over gentrification. As always, this ended up affecting primarily black neighborhoods, so blacks had another reason for their hostility to him. In 2015, Buttigieg announced that he was gay. Given that blacks are the group in America least supportive of homosexuality, that probably didnt endear him to them either. When Buttigieg became Secretary of Transportation, rather than focusing on improving Americas transportation infrastructure (planes, trains, and automobiles), he announced that he was going to fix Americas racist infrastructure. In fact, despite a lot of noise and fund allocations, he actually didnt fix much. So, blacks, like other Americans who must deal with decaying planes, trains, bridges, and roadways, never got a reason to love him. What Buttigieg is good at is sounding good. Hes got a mellifluous voice, and orotund phrases roll off his tongue. However, he never actually says anything. In that regard, hes exactly like Kamala Harris, only without the cackle. Both are perfect examples of the Italian expression Aria fritta, or fried air, which they use to describe politicians who speak a lot and say very little. All of the above explains why, despite his good poll numbers, Buttigieg is making no headway at all with one of the Democrat partys most important demographics: blacks. An Emerson poll from June revealed that, while Buttigieg had moved up to number one in the ranks of possible Democrat presidential candidates, he had zero (nil, nada, nothing) support from blacks. His base is old, leftist white peopleprecisely the type of people who would enthusiastically support a deep-voiced, winsome little gay guy who is adept at meaningless platitudes. A lot can change between now and 2028, but I dont see blacks growing any fonder of Pete Buttigieg between now and then, and its a certainty that the old white leftist vote will not win him the White House. Image created using AI. President Trump was famously debanked by Bank of America and Chase after his first term, despite being a literal billionaire and having excellent credit. While its easy to assume it wont happen to you, the facts are, ordinary people routinely suffer this same persecution for their political views, religious beliefs, or industry affiliation. Last week, President Trump signed an executive order called, Guaranteeing Fair Banking for all Americans. What is entailed in the EO? For one thing, the EO removes the ability of banks to deny services to creditworthy businesses. In addition, reputational risk has been removed from the review criteria, and the FIRM Act, introduced by South Carolina senator Tim Scott, proposes to codify the presidents executive order into federal law: The FIRM Act would statutorily eliminate reputational risk as a supervisory measure by removing all references from safety and soundness determinations, prohibiting federal banking agencies from promulgating new rules using reputation risk, and requiring agencies to report to Congress on their elimination of reputation risk from supervisory frameworks. Chairman Scott characterized the FIRM Act as addressing the weaponization of federal banking agencies, stating that federal regulators have abused reputation risk by carrying out a political agenda against federally legal businesses. In other words, banks would no longer have the legal latitude to discriminate against organizations such as firearms businesses, non-profit religious groups, and political groups. Several states are already ahead of the curve, having passed legislation to protect customers: Tennessee enacted a fair access law on April 22, 2024, prohibiting financial institutions and insurers from denying services based on political views, religious beliefs, or any factor that is not a quantitative, impartial, and risk-based standard. Florida expanded its fair access law in May 2024, extending coverage to out-of-state financial institutions doing business in Florida and establishing a customer complaint process with the states Office of Financial Regulation. Similar legislation has been introduced in nine additional states: Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, South Dakota, and South Carolina, demonstrating growing momentum for state-level fair access protections. Debanking has not necessarily been an across-the-board practice, as its most frequently been used by the largest banks: According to members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Bank of America was the subject of 988 improper closure complaints and 584 improper account denial complaints. JPMorgan Chase was the subject of 1,423 improper closure complaints and 443 improper account denial complaints, and in 2021, Chase closed the account of retired former National Security Adviser Gen. Michael Flynns nonprofit, citing reputational risk. Wells Fargo was the subject of 1,053 improper closure complaints and 35 improper account denial complaints it has faced allegations of closing long-standing customer accounts in high-risk categories, like firearms dealers. Citigroup was the subject of 742 improper closure complaints and 96 improper account denial complaints, including closing personal and business accounts of Armenian Americans. Theres no way to know if this list is complete. Fortunately, the executive order states specific deadlines for the regulators to respond to these requirements: Within 120 days , per Section 5(b), regulators must identify financial institutions with past or current, formal or informal, policies or practices that require, encourage, or otherwise influence such financial institution to engage in politicized or unlawful debanking and to take appropriate remedial action, including levying fines, issuing consent decrees, or imposing other disciplinary measures for violations of applicable law. , per Section 5(b), regulators must identify financial institutions with past or current, formal or informal, policies or practices that require, encourage, or otherwise influence such financial institution to engage in politicized or unlawful debanking and to take appropriate remedial action, including levying fines, issuing consent decrees, or imposing other disciplinary measures for violations of applicable law. Within 180 days, per Section 5(c), regulators must review supervisory and complaint data to identify institutions that engaged in unlawful debanking based on religion and, if appropriate, refer such matters to the Attorney General for an appropriate civil action if the institution is unable to obtain compliance within the meaning of 15 U.S.C. 1691 and 1691e(g) under the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA). But the best part of these legal remedies is that they actually empower and protect the U.S. citizen: Most Americans who have had their accounts closed are not money launderers, cybercriminals, militia leaders or threats to national security. They are citizens. Taxpayers. Workers. Innovators. Parents. Patriots. They are being punished not for what theyve done, but for how they are perceived. Without question, banks must guard against criminality. But they should do so with discernment, discretion and decency. Otherwise, they are not protecting consumers. They are prosecuting them. And in America, that just aint right. Image: Public domain. SALT LAKE CITY The University of Utah is facing a major financial crisis amid sweeping federal research funding cuts that could cost the school over $110 million annually, reshaping the future of higher education in Utah and across the country. At the heart of the issue is a proposed 40% reduction in National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding by the Trump administrationcompounding the $30 million already lost this year. These proposed changes reflect a larger conservative shift away from traditional public investment in research toward market-based, workforce-driven priorities. Why This Matters: A National Shift in Higher Education Funding NIH Cuts : The University of Utah risks losing $110M/year in federal research support. : The University of Utah risks losing $110M/year in federal research support. Policy Realignment : A shift from academic research to job training and labor-market performance. : A shift from academic research to job training and labor-market performance. Partisan Polarization: Red states like Utah largely support the changes; blue states are pushing back. How Utah's Political Climate Is Shaping the Crisis With Republicans firmly in control of Utah's state government, there's broad support for federal budget proposals that prioritize fiscal restraint and accountability over academic research spending. These cuts have also entangled previously bipartisan-supported programs, such as university-based disability centers, in the broader national backlash against Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. New Federal Policies Impacting Universities Several new federal policy trends are poised to redefine the priorities and funding formulas of higher education: Short-Term Job Training Wins : Pell Grants will soon cover job-training programs starting in the 20262027 academic year. : Pell Grants will soon cover starting in the 20262027 academic year. Earnings Tests for Degrees : Programs must prove graduates earn more than high schoolers or risk federal defunding . : Programs must prove graduates earn more than high schoolers . Youth Program Cuts: Federal grants for afterschool programs are on the chopping block. Blue states are suing to stop the cuts. Red States vs. Blue States: Legal Battles Begin The policy overhaul has deepened the red-state vs. blue-state divide: Republican-led states like Utah support or remain neutral on the reforms. Democratic states are suing to block defunding, especially for youth and research programs. Higher ed leaders are sounding the alarmbut admit they have little leverage under current political realities. Public Opinion Has ShiftedFast While many local stakeholders still support university researchespecially for vulnerable groupspublic attitudes have changed. Issues like DEI have become political flashpoints, allowing conservative lawmakers to frame higher education spending as ideological excess, rather than public good. This shift has made it easier to implement sweeping cuts without facing political consequences among core GOP voters. Institutional Fallout at the University of Utah University administrators say the effects of these funding losses could be long-lasting and destabilizing: Overhead Cuts: NIH caps on "indirect costs" weaken research infrastructure. Medicaid & SNAP-Linked Costs: Budget pressures from unrelated federal programs are hitting state education budgets. Performance Metrics = Defunding Risks: Programs that don't meet new federal ROI thresholds could be shut down overnight. The model now emerging favors job placement stats over scientific breakthroughs or community service missionsa fundamental shift in what higher education is valued for. The Bigger Picture The University of Utah's struggle is a microcosm of what's happening across the U.S.: A retreat from traditional, publicly funded academic research toward a market-oriented system where ROI rules everything. This pivot has profound implications for: Institutional autonomy Research and program diversity Social equity efforts Regional economic development The University of Utah's funding crisis exemplifies how national conservative policy trends are reshaping local educational landscapes amid intensifying partisan conflict. These developments reflect a broader narrative: a retreat from traditional public investment models toward market-driven accountability frameworkswith profound implications for institutional autonomy, program diversity, social equity goals, and regional economic development prospects moving forward In the West, we keep our money in banks, not under mattresses or wall safes. Banks are safe and convenient, and they pay us interest on the money we store with them, because they then lend that money out and make a profit by charging interest to borrowers. Thats a good thing, as Jimmy Stewart explained in Its a Wonderful Life. What helps power our economy is that we essentially loan our money to banks so that they can loan it to others who, in turn, can invest in the small business infrastructure that makes America grow. When dictators wish to destroy people so that they are unable to function in modern society, they deny them access to banking. Canada did that to the truckers who protested that countrys insane COVID regime. In China, the social credit system that monitors whether people are faithfully observing government policies punishes those who fall afoul of the system by denying them access to banking. Image created using AI. And of course, in America, woke banks have debanked conservatives, both individuals and businesses. There was, of course, the push to debank gun manufacturers and sellers, even though the right to bear arms is a core part of the Bill of Rights. Thus, Citigroup, Bank of America, and JPMorgan, just to name a few, enacted policies targeting gun retailers and manufacturers, especially those associated with AR-15s, the most popular firearm in America. Several conservative Christian organizations have claimed that theyve been debanked, but the banks have insisted that the problems were that the groups just werent good business. (See, e.g., here, here, and here.) JPMorgan Chase refused ticket payment processing for the Defense of Liberty organization on viewpoint grounds, but then backed off when the Missouri treasurer pushed back. Individuals who claim to have been debanked include Nigel Farage, Enrique Tarrio (debanked long before January 6), Laura Loomer, Joe Biggs, Martina Markot, and Gina Miller. One could say that these are just random examples, and the banks did, in fact, invariably have justifications for their decisions. However, there was nothing random about what happened to Donald and Melania Trump. It recently emerged that being a multi-billionaire former president of the United States will not protect you from debanking. Whats horrific about the attack on Donald and Melania Trumps ability to engage in normal banking commerce is that the push came from the Biden administration. Banks werent being stupid; our government was being tyrannical. The first news was that the Trumps got the boot from JPMorgan and Bank of America. However, according to Charles Gasparino, the pressure to deny the former first couple access to banking extended far beyond those two banks: Under pressure from the Biden administration, just after Trump lost the 2020 election and started to act out (which the last time I checked was his constitutional right), the enforcement of reputational risk took a decidedly political turn, bank officials tell me. If you believe people at the two largest banks, Jamie Dimons JPMorgan and Brian Moynihans BofA, the Biden administration unleashed its bank regulatory cops at the Office of Comptroller of Currency, the FDIC and the semi-independent Federal Reserve to go beyond nixing perverted financiers from their platform. They used the amorphous nature of what is reputational risk to enforce a political regime, the bank officials said. The Bidenistas hated crypto, thought it was an affront to their power to control the economy, and pressured banks from doing business with this somewhat heterodox emerging industry, according to the bank sources. So was anything related to guns and certain conservative religious organizations, they added. And most of all, anything MAGA, including the multibillion-dollar real estate and resort empire of Mr. MAGA himself, Donald J. Trump. While the pressure was subtleno smoking gun memosthe regulatory reputational heat was so great that banks just decided it was easier to jettison the former presidents business than to deal with bank regulators. As Gasparino warns, this kind of subtle regulatory pressure should frighten all of us because, if any big bank can cancel a former president over politics as opposed to illegality, then every American citizen is in danger of facing the same mistreatment. Nearly a decade before Thomas Edison began working on incandescent lamps and a more affordable way to bring the bright world of electricity to Victorian homes, a fine country house near the town of Rothbury in Northumberland, England, was lit entirely by electricity. In those times, there was no national electric grid you could tap into. If you wanted electricity, you had to generate it yourself. Most people did not have the technological knowhow or the inclination to light their houses with electric lamps. Even if some of them did, they probably didnt have the money to bring their desires to fruition. But William Armstrong was an inventor and a wealthy industrialist. Together with architect Richard Norman Shaw, William Armstrong built Cragside, a modest mansion in mock Tudor style set on the slopes of a small hill just outside Rothbury. He then equipped the house with all sorts of wonderful inventions such as a water-powered laundry, an early version of a dishwasher, a hydraulic lift, a hydroelectric rotisserie, a dumb waiter (a small elevator that moved good between floors), among other things. To power all these machines, Armstrong dammed a number of small streams in the area to create a total of five reservoirs. On one of these, he installed a hydraulic engine which drove the many hydraulic machineries in his house. A year later, in 1870, Armstrong installed a dynamo creating the worlds first domestic hydroelectric plant. Electricity from this plant was used to power Cragside and the many farm buildings on the estate. The first room to be electrically lighted was the gallery. Only a single arc lamp hung from the ceiling. Later, the entire house was wired for electricity. At one point there were twelve overhead lamps in the gallery alone, and eight additional lamps that could be turned on when the lamps in the dining room were no longer required. A screw turbine was installed in 2014. As water passes through the spiral blades it causes the screw to turn, thereby harnessing the energy of falling water. Photo credit: Christopher Down/Wikimedia Armstrong continued to extend and improve his power plant increasing its capacity by many fold. But after his death, the house lay abandoned and after nearly a century of neglect, the houses original power source was restored in 2006. A further upgrade in 2014 raised the generators capacity to 12 kW, enough to light all 350 light bulbs in the house. Armstrongs lifelong love affair with water began when he was very young. When fishing one day on the River Dee at Dentdale in the Pennines, he saw a waterwheel in action, supplying power to a marble quarry. It occurred to him that only a small part of the water power was being used to drive the wheel, which made him think how great the force of water would be if its energy could be concentrated in one column. When he returned to Newcastle, he designed a rotary engine powered by water, and this was built in the High Bridge works of his friend Henry Watson. Armstrong subsequently developed a piston engine instead of a rotary one, which he installed in what became the worlds first hydraulic crane. William Armstrong Armstrong became a successful businessman manufacturing hydraulic cranes. He received orders from Edinburgh and Northern Railways and from Liverpool Docks, as well as for hydraulic machinery for dock gates in Grimsby. On average, Armstrongs company manufactured one hundred cranes per year. During the Crimean War, Armstrong designed a light, mobile field gun having greater range and accuracy than any of its rivals. Armstrong than turned over the patents for his guns to the British government, for which he was knighted and was appointed engineer to the War Department. By the 1880s, his company had expanded into ship building. His shipbuilding yard stretched for three-quarters of a mile along Tyneside and was the only factory in the world that could build a battleship and arm it completely. As Armstrong grew older, he began to devote more and more time to his favorite occupations, which wasaside from electrical experiments at Craigsideplanting trees. Armstrong planted over seven million trees and shrubs around his estate, appreciably changing the climate in this corner of Northumberland. After Lord Armstrongs death in 1900, the family fortune was lost and the house was deserted. In 1940, Cragside was taken over by the Army and billeted as part of the war effort. When they left, the property was linked up to the national grid. The house was opened to the public for the first time in 1979. Leading image of Cragside by David Nicholls/Flickr The original hydropower cylinders on the Northumberland estate's grounds from Victorian times. The original hydropower cylinders on the grounds which Lord Armstrong used to power the estate. Photo credit: David Nicholls/Flickr Googles unreleased Pixel Tablet Pen not only just surfaced, but you can actually go buy one, if you want. Google never actually launched this pen, unfortunately, but if you really want to try it, you can grab it. More on that soon. Unreleased Google Pixel Tablet Pen is now on sale via Amazon This pen first surfaced late last year. It was expected to launch as an official stylus for the Pixel Tablet, but it never did. A physical button was visible on it, and it was expected to work over USI 2.0. Considering that the pen is now available to purchase, Google was obviously just one step away from actually launching it. The Pixel Tablet Pen has been appearing in the Chinese marketplace, Goofish, and now its even on sale via Amazon. Whats interesting is that several different sellers are now offering this pen, but not under its original name. Its offered as a generic USI 2.0 stylus carrying Googles GM0KF model number. That is the model number of the companys unreleased stylus. You can check out the images of the stylus on offer below. Weve also included images that 9to5Google shared, as folks over there actually bought one stylus. You can grab it for $25 Googles logo is placed on the button, while theres also a Designed for Google branding here. Its obvious what this is. Folks over at 9to5Google purchased this for $25, but the prices vary. The stylus apparently works as expected. It has a USB-C charging port with a status light. It charges up quickly, and it immediately functions with the Pixel Tablets display. The input is responsive and fluid, while the software does respond when you hover over buttons. Unfortunately, though, the button does not do absolutely anything. Its a nice fidget toy, but thats about it. A resident of Southern California has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft for discontinuing support for its Windows 10 operating system. The company is also accused of trying to monopolize the AI market at the cost of consumers and their data. About 400 million users are going to be affected by the Windows 10 support cut In the coming months, Microsoft will be officially discontinuing support for the Windows 10 operating system. Meaning, no more software support will be provided. All the users who are currently on a Windows 10-running PC must upgrade to Windows 11 to enjoy the latest features and get continued software support. However, it is not as streamlined as it seems. Windows 11 comes with a minimum system requirement. Because of this, as many as 400 million users are basically ineligible to upgrade to the latest Windows OS. The firm has recommended that the affected users upgrade to the eligible hardware and even shift to Copilot+PC if possible. A man files a lawsuit against Microsoft for the support cut and for monopolizing the AI market One of the users of Windows 10, Lawrence Klein, has filed a lawsuit against Microsoft. The users accuse the company in the lawsuit that it is trying to dominate the generative AI field by ending the support of Windows 10. The complainant says that the company is well aware of the consequences and is jeopardizing the consumers data. He further adds in the lawsuit that two of these Windows PCs, which are running fine, will become obsolete once the support for Windows 10 ends. The company has currently given a deadline of October 14 for its users to upgrade their system to be eligible for Windows 11. Otherwise, no more software support will be provided. Though the devices will keep running, they wont work with the latest software and apps. And will be more vulnerable to cyber attacks. When Trump first announced that there would be a 100% tariff on imported semiconductors, we were shocked. This would represent a massive increase in costs for companies. However, there was a loophole, companies that build in the US or commit a plan to build in the US would be exempt. This could explain why Samsung is making huge chip investments in the US. Samsung grows its chip investments in the US According to Korean publication Sedaily, Samsung is reportedly planning to ramp up its chip investments in the US. The company recently announced a pledge of $45 billion to build more fabrication plants stateside. However, assuming the new report is accurate, Samsung could increase that further. The report claims that Samsung spent $37 billion in the US last year. However, it is now planning investments that could bring it up to $50 billion. The company wants to build a new 2nm production and a dedicated advanced packaging facility. This would allow the company to better compete against TSMC, which is making huge stateside investments of its own. If that is true, Samsung could soon become a much larger player in the semiconductor market. In fact, Samsung might have already set itself up for potential success. It has managed to land deals with Tesla and Apple. The company will help Tesla design its next-gen AI6 chips. While Apple still relies on TSMC for its A-series chips, Samsung will help Apple build more image sensors stateside. Samsung has also reportedly landed job orders from Qualcomm. The company is rumored to help Qualcomm produce its next flagship chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2. However, it wont be producing it alone. TSMC is also reportedly taking part. Samsung versus TSMC TSMC has become the default semiconductor manufacturer for the majority of companies around the world. The companys advanced processes have helped them land gigs from brands like Apple, Qualcomm, and NVIDIA, just to name a few. TSMC has typically eclipsed Samsung in terms of yield, which is why many companies opt to go with them. However, if Samsungs US investments pan out, it could prove more competitive. This is especially so in this political climate, where more companies are looking for US-based production to avoid Trumps tariffs. The US had previously put a trade barrier on NVIDIA and AMD from exporting chips to China. The national security experts believe that exporting advanced chips to China might threaten the national security of the region and give its rival an unfair advantage. However, in an unprecedented move, the US has allowed both tech companies to export chips to China, but with a strong catch. NVIDIA and AMD can now export their advanced chips to China To counter the trade barrier put up by the US, NVIDIA later developed its less powerful version of the chipset. This chip was designed to be equipped with inferior hardware compared to the one available in the US. It was done so that the company could at least sell those units to China. However, the US soon banned the export of it as well. Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) also tried to have a continued conversation with the state department to get some relaxation. However, it did not work as well. But now, in a surprising event, the state has allowed both chip manufacturers to export their advanced chips to Beijing. This comes after both companies agreed to share 15% of the total profit earned with the government. Both tech giants will pay 15% of the earned profit to the US government The US government has granted a license to NVIDIA and AMD to sell their advanced chipsets to China. But theres a catch: both the chipmakers will have to pay 15% of the total earned profits to the government. AMD, to be more specific, will have to share the profit earned from the sale of its MI308 chip. Although the government has officially licensed the chipmakers to trade with China, there are officials who are not happy with this decision. Some top national security and past government officials have objected to the move, claiming that it could potentially risk the security of the US. And that this could endanger the nations economic and military edge in artificial intelligence. Anthony Albanese announced the decision in Canberra on Monday - HILARY WARDHAUGH Australia will recognise the state of Palestine at next months United Nations General Assembly on the condition that Hamas play no role in its future governance. Anthony Albanese, the Australian prime minister, confirmed the decision on Monday as he called a two-state solution humanitys best hope to break the cycle of violence in the Middle East. Australia was the first country to raise its hand at the United Nations in support of Resolution 181, to create the state of Israel and a Palestinian state, Mr Albanese said. More than 77 years later, the world can no longer wait for the implementation of that Resolution to be negotiated between the parties. Thousands of people marched across Sydney Harbour Bridge in support of Palestine last week - SAEED KHAN He said his government had received commitments from the Palestinian Authority (PA) to demilitarise, hold general elections, cease prisoner payments, reform schooling and continue to recognise Israels right to exist. The decision was immediately denounced by conservative Jewish community groups, with the Australian Jewish Association (AJA) calling it a declaration from the Left-wing Labor government that rape and murder will be rewarded. As a gift to Hamas for October 7, Labor has launched another attack on Israel, the AJA said in an Instagram post. They damage our national security and risk the lives of Australians. No Australian government will steal the Jewish peoples homeland. They can declare that the sky is pink for all we care. There has never been a state of Palestine and there never will be. In a statement, the Executive Council of Australian Jewry criticised the governments betrayal and abandonment of the Israeli hostages who continue to languish in appalling conditions in Gaza. Australia was relying on a mere promise from Hamas, it said, adding that doing so left the terror group in a position to rearm thereby creating the conditions for the next war rather than a comprehensive peace. Angus Taylor, the opposition defence spokesman, echoed the concerns that pre-conditions for peace in the Middle East had not been met. Theres no clear commitment to peaceful coexistence and agreed borders, and these are the preconditions, Mr Taylor told Sky News. The move is expected to add to international pressure on Israel after similar announcements from Britain, Canada and France. Less than an hour after the announcement from Canberra, the government of New Zealand said it was also considering recognising a Palestinian state and would publicly declare its position next month. Netanyahu: Australia is delusional Ahead of the announcement, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, hit back at Canberras shameful decision and said that nations were delusional for thinking the move would bring peace. To have European countries and Australia march into that rabbit hole, just like that. Fall right into it I think its actually shameful, but its not going to change our position, Mr Netanyahu said. We will not commit national suicide to get a good op-ed for two minutes. We wont do that. He claimed that the Albanese government would have acted the same as his administration had if Australia had come under attack in the way Israel did on Oct 7 2023. They know what they would do if, right next to Melbourne or right next to Sydney, you had this horrific attack, Mr Netanyahu said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a press conference in Jerusalem - ABIR SULTAN Mr Albanese said he had had a long and civil discussion with Mr Netanyahu about Australias position. I have said it publicly and I said it directly to Prime Minister Netanyahu: the situation in Gaza has gone beyond the worlds worst fears, he said. Far too many innocent lives have been lost. The Israeli government continues to defy international law and deny sufficient aid, food and water to desperate people, including children. The Jewish Council of Australia argued that the recognition of a Palestinian state did not go far enough and called on the country to halt all military contracts with Israel. The Australian government must ensure that recognition is not merely symbolic, the group said in a statement. It needs to be combined with immediate action, including sanctions, to help end Israels ongoing genocide and the deliberate starvation of the people of Gaza. Australia must implement an immediate arms embargo, suspend all military contracts with Israel, and hold Israel accountable for its crimes under international law, it added. Australia last week criticised Israels plan to take military control of Gaza and Mr Albanese said the decision to recognise a Palestinian state was further compelled by Mr Netanyahus disregard of the international communitys calls to comply with legal and ethical obligations in Gaza. Sir Keir Starmer announced last week that the UK would also recognise a Palestinian state at the September meeting of the UN General Assembly unless Israel met certain conditions. The conditions set out for Israel included agreeing to a ceasefire and allowing the UN to restart the supply of aid. by Michael Liss [T]o hurt innocent people whom I knew many years ago in order to save myself is, to me, inhuman and indecent and dishonorable. I cannot and will not cut my conscience to fit this years fashions. Lillian Hellman, Letter to the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC), May 19, 1952 She wouldnt do it. Despite seeing her reputation trashed, her income from her work disappear, her companion Dashiell Hammett (the creator of Sam Spade) sent to prison, Lillian Hellman wouldnt name names. Shed testify about herself, but she wouldnt sell out friends and acquaintances just for a little leniency. There are moments in our history when, despite being the greatest democracy in the history of the world, a type of madness descends on us. We lose our bearings, our guardrails, our principles and even our dignity. We become consumed with the thought that our very existence is at risk, and those bearings, guardrails, principles and dignity become luxuries we can no longer afford. A communal paranoid state of mind exists, and, until the fever breaks, we do a lot of damage to ourselves and our institutions. Most of the time, we can weather it, in part because our government and our laws create a framework for restraint. Disputes get resolved through the ballot box, the legislative process, and, if necessary, the courts. As long as the fight is basically a fair one, it would be like a World Seriesyou might eat your heart out if your guys lose, but, to cite the pre-1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, theres always next year and, in a fair fight, historically at least, there always has been. Fair doesnt always happen, or at least it doesnt happen right away. Human nature, and circumstance get in the way. When we are in one of those Madness Moments, and the government is dominated by people willing to make maximalist use of power, whether it legally exists or not, then the dynamic changes radically. It isnt any longer I won, I will take this but I won, I will take this from you or even I won, I will take everything from you, including your dignity. Such a time came for Lillian Hellman, for Dashiell Hammett, for their friends, for the greater writing and artistic community, for open activists and even those regular folks who might have just ended up on a subscription list, or had given a few bucks to some do-gooder group, or even gone to the wrong dinner. Their government, caught up in the mania called the Red Scare and McCarthyism, flexing itself well beyond what Madison or Jefferson would have thought were its boundaries, searched their records, summoned them, interviewed them, intimidated them, had them fired, and in some cases jailed them. There were big moments, like October 1947s Hollywood Ten hearing, when 10 motion-picture producers, directors, and screenwriters were dragged in before HUAC, sent to jail for refusing to testify, and then Blacklisted. Stunts like this made for great political theatrethe stern, self-righteous pols, contemptuous of basic civil liberties, eyes always searching for the nearest camera or microphone, indignantly questioning/hectoring/threatening. Big moments, but many more small ones, the less famous, the thousands of ordinary people, first in government (where the State Department was purged) and then in private industry, where, if you were on the wrong list, particularly the Attorney Generals List of Subversive Organizations (AGLOSO), you could find yourself unemployable. Thats the less-known, darker secret of the erathe number of everyday victims. Hellmans time in the sun came on May 21, 1952, just three days after her letter, but more than five years since the Frankenstein Monster had lurched to life. Wearing her Balmain Testify Dress and accompanied by her lawyer Joseph Rauh, she appeared before the Committee and spoke about herself, but stuck to her guns about not naming names. Hellman recounts the experience in her 1976 book Scoundrel Time with kaleidoscopic memory that is one part skepticism, one part outrage, one sheer terror, and one late-in-the-hearing providential moment: a big voice from the press gallery that said Thank God somebody had the guts to do it. Shortly after that, just one hour and seven minutes from when it began, it was over. The Committee apparently had had enough and so had Hellman. She left as fast as she could, accompanied by Raughs assistant Daniel Pollitt, and the pair beat it to a local restaurant, where they downed multiple Scotches. The whole country could have used multiple Scotches. How did we ever get into such a mess, looking for red monsters under peoples beds? To an extent, it was a bipartisan effort. Garry Wills, writing the introduction to Scoundrel Time, makes the excellent point that McCarthyism didnt start with McCarthyin fact, it could be more accurately be called Trumanism. On March 21, 1947, Harry Truman issued Executive Order 9835, which required that all federal civil service employees be screened for loyalty. How does one show disloyalty? In part, by being a member of, affiliated with, or sympathetic to (whatever that means) an organization that is totalitarian, Fascist, Communist or subversive. Who determines whether an association meets those criteria, or supports the forceful denial of constitutional rights to other persons, or wants to alter the form of Government of the United States by unconstitutional means? That would be the Attorney General, Tom Clark. Truman, Clark, and J. Edgar Hoover empowered HUAC and gave them The List, and the Committee went from there. Communists, it seemed, were everywhere. Why did they do this? Hoovers motives are certainly open to questionthe FBIs investigatory powers, especially for domestic surveillance, grew enormously during the war, and Hoover wanted to keep it that way in peacetime. Truman is a different story, maybe one not entirely admirable. Its probably not fair to question Trumans bona fides on anti-Communism. He, through the Truman Doctrine, made it central to his foreign policy. But it is fair to ask if the pervasiveness of his domestic anti-Communism policies werent at least somewhat motivated by politics. In 1946, for the first time in 16 years, the GOP took back the House, and the result cast doubt on Trumans chances of being re-elected in 1948. Being uber-firm on Communism helped (it was thought) with the public at large. Lets take that as a jumping-off point. America had never particularly loved Communists and were more than a little wary of Socialistsnot just for their ideology, but because many immigrants from Europe brought their preferencesand those preferences were not always for American-style Capitalism. The animus intensified when Stalin and Hitlers representatives signed the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact in August 1939, just a few days before Hitlers September 1, 1939 invasion of Poland. Operation Barbarossa in June of 1941 brought that to an abrupt end, and Russia now became Our brave Russian Allies, meaning, it was OK, sort of, to speak kindly of them. Not really. We never liked the alliance all that much, especially when the Soviets promptly began acting in their self-interest. In February 1945, the Big Three met at Yalta, where Russian tactical positions on the ground caused Churchill and (a very sick) FDR to make significant territorial concessions. Trumans one and only Conference, at Potsdam, basically achieved littleStalin already had most of what he wanted. Then, we dropped the bomb(s) and the world changed again. Suddenly, the war was all over, and there was a new reality with new competition: to quote John F. Kennedy at his Inaugural Address 15 years later, the torch that had been passed to (his) generation of Americans was tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace. That hard and bitter peace? Cold War. In 1946/47, two things could be true at the same time: The first, per Wills, [b]y virtue of our brains and effort, we made ourselves the most formidable industrial and military power in the history of the world. The second: America was the worlds only superpower, but it had a super-villain as its perpetual rival. That super-villain would only grow stronger with its acquisition of the A-Bomb, and the threat even greater when China went Red in 1949. Wills makes an interesting point: We achieved that most refined of pleasures, a virtuous hate. A virtuous hate unleashes you to do things that would otherwise be morally troubling. How about an idea that hides behind an otherwise law-abiding and unmenacing exterior? In Wills words: Then one must steel oneself against all normal amenities and personal attraction. Then one launches a crusadeto be followed by an inquisition. Wills is unsparing with what occurred in this inquisition. The Committee brought in Friendly Witnesses like Ronald Reagan and Ayn Rand, and unfriendly onesthose who directly challenged their authority, like acclaimed screenwriter Dalton Trumbo and the rest of the Hollywood Ten. It was a messbotched hearings, fragmented or convenient memories, sometimes craven witnesses (Wills recounting of the testimony of the actor Robert Taylor leaves you somewhere between cringing and laughing), and, ultimately, ruined lives. As in any time when character is tested, some responded better than others. Occasionally, there was the naming of names by people who, out of fear or selfishness, turn on their friends. Multiple Oscar-winner Elia Kazan, who directed Gentlemans Agreement and A Streetcar Named Desire, chose this pathand was sensitive/defensive enough about it to take out an explanatory advertisement in The New York Times. Some profited from trafficking in gossip. The columnists Hedda Hopper and George Sokolsky both spread around new names for the Committee to investigate and served as den-mothers for those actors who wanted to show their patriotism and perhaps receive forbearance. With this, they widened their audience and enhanced their influence even more. In the end, McCarthyism burned itself out, like McCarthy himself, but not before incalculable damage. The issue really wasnt how awful the Soviets werethey were quite bad. It was more how basic Constitutional rights, of free speech, of assembly, even of thought, were tossed aside in an endless quest for loyalty. There is something in human nature that brings us to points like these. Our collective limbic system senses danger, it rapidly pumps out a big dose of adrenaline, and each of us responds consistent with our nature. Some are heroic, others just hope it all passes before anyone comes to their door. Some embrace authoritarianism out of ambition, or a desire to profit, monetarily or politically, or even as a matter of temperament. Its folly to assume that, just because as a nation we look back to Independence and Constitutionality as a model of civic virtue, we all embrace those liberties. Many do not, at least not for others. Wills has an acute observation: But ours was the first of the modern ideological countries, born of revolutionary doctrine, and it has maintained a belief that return to doctrinal purity is the secret of national strength for us. If we doubt, if we question, any portion of the prevailing doctrine, we are somehow relegated to a second class of citizensthe non-pure that can be harassed, spied on, forced to register, deprived of governmental jobs and other kinds of work. After all, How are we to know what others think about the doctrines of Americanism unless we investigate their thoughts, make them profess their loyalty, train children up in the governments orthodoxy? Wills wrote his introduction a half century ago, but that last question retains its iciness. This country is an ideaan idea and an ideal. A break away from monarchy, a celebration and codification of individual liberties, and a rejection of any top-down government orthodoxy that demands we take anything less than the freedoms promised us. But an idea and an ideal both need defenders, people willing to step up, take personal risk, show the way for others. It has always been this way in Americabecause what we have is precious, too many try to take it away from us, and, often, too few are willing to be ardent defenders. Sinclair Lewis had been right. It can happen here, especially when a government can declare an emergency and use it as a pretext for escalating authoritarianism. Lillian Hellman understood that. She sat in the witness chair, held herself together in a sea of hostility, and kept the faith with her principles and her conscience. We ought to draw some strength from that, and some courage. Special thanks to Mike Posever, who shared several insights. Enjoying the content on 3QD? Help keep us going by donating now. Dennis Bell with a dog that helped him and his team in Antarctica (British Antarctic Survey/PA Wire) The remains of a British man who died in a tragic accident in Antarctica in 1959 have been found in a melting glacier. The bones were discovered in January by Polish Antarctic explorers, along with a wristwatch, a radio and a pipe. He has now been named as Dennis "Tink" Bell, who fell into a crevasse at the age of 25 whilst working for the organisation that became the British Antarctic Survey. His brother, David Bell, 86, told the BBC: "I had long given up on finding my brother. It is just remarkable, astonishing. I can't get over it. Professor Dame Jane Francis, director of the British Antarctic Survey said: "Dennis was one of the many brave personnel who contributed to the early science and exploration of Antarctica under extraordinarily harsh conditions. "Even though he was lost in 1959, his memory lived on among colleagues and in the legacy of polar research," she said. Dennis Bell, known as "Tink", was born in 1934. He worked with the RAF and trained as a meteorologist, before joining the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey to work in Antarctica. David recalls fond memories of his brother: "Dennis was fantastic company. He was very amusing. The life and soul of wherever he happened to be. Dennis was based in Admiralty Bay, a small UK station with 12 men on King George Island, roughly 120 kilometres (75 miles) off the northern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula for two years. The tragic accident that took his life happened on a surveying trip just weeks after his 25th birthday. Two brothers have each been jailed for three years for their part in rioting outside a hotel housing asylum seekers. Scott and Jason McGuire were at the forefront of the disorder which engulfed the Holiday Inn Express near Rotherham, on August 4 2024, Sheffield Crown Court heard on Monday. The brothers were jailed along with two others men Keethan Reeve-Lawson and Daniel Kazemi and this is understood to have brought the total number of people sentenced for the Rotherham violence to 104. Judge Jeremy Richardson KC outlined how the McGuire brothers were at the forefront of the mob during the most serious part of the disorder on that Sunday afternoon. The judge has heard over dozens of hearings how the hotel was besieged for around 12 hours. Police officers and the hotel itself were pelted with missiles as more than 200 asylum seekers and 22 staff were trapped inside. At one point, the rioters smashed their way into the building and a burning wheelie-bin was pushed against a fire door. A total of 64 officers were injured in the violence along with police horses and a dog. Judge Richardson said it was his misfortune to have sentenced most of those arrested after the disorder and said he was very familiar with video footage of the violence shown in court. He said: Each time I see this exceptionally serious disturbance represented in the footage of these events I feel, as Im sure many others feel, profound shame that such shocking disorder should occur in this country. The judge said: The venom of racism and racially motivated violence suffuses the events from first to last. Judge Richardson told the defendants: Several hundred people were intent on mob rule. That will never be tolerated in this country. And he added: All of those police officers are deserving of the highest praise for the way in which they resisted provocation and handled an immensely challenging situation with bravery, professionalism and skill. More than 60 police officers were injured in the violence outside the Rotherham hotel in August 2024 (Danny Lawson/PA) Judge Richardson described how Scott McGuire was captured arriving at the scene with what appeared to be his partner and a child in a pushchair. He was later pictured in the mob at various times during the disorder and is seen dismantling safety barriers in front of the riot police as well as kicking items which were then thrown at the officers by others. The judge said: You were involved in fierce attacks on police officers close to the hotel. You were well to the fore and your participation was of a high order. Judge Richardson said Jason McGuire was filmed throwing missiles at officers and a police van as well as at the hotel building, while wearing a mask. He was also filmed tearing down fencing which was used by others to throw at the police lines and fuel the fire which was set outside the building. The judge said: Your involvement was well to the fore in the most serious aspects of the episodes that afternoon. The court heard how Jason McGuire was jailed for four years in 2015 for a drugs offence and for 10 years in 2018 for a machete attack. Judge Richardson jailed Reeve-Lawson and Kazemi for 22 months each after hearing how they were involved in later incidents once police had managed to push the mob away from immediately outside the hotel. Kazemi was filmed throwing a can of beer at officers, which smashed against their shields, and the judge noted that he was visibly happy when another man threw a metal bar at police. Richard Barradell, defending Kazemi, said like many others his client joined in once the pack mentality started. He said: He cannot for the life of him explain why. Mr Barradell said his client was bitterly embarrassed and wanted to apologise to everyone involved. Scott McGuire, 35, and Jason McGuire, 31, both of Schofield Street, Mexborough; Reeve-Lawson, 22, of Mount Vernon Road, Worsbrough Common, Barnsley, and Kazemi, 35, of Edna Street, Bolton-upon-Dearne, all admitted violent disorder at a previous hearing. Lead vocalist Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance during the opening night of the "Long Live the Black Parade" tour. (AP Photo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) My Chemical Romance are bringing their Long Live The Black Parade tour to the UK, with the band confirming two new dates to mark the band's return to the country in three years. The iconic emo band are celebrating the upcoming 20th anniversary of their hit album The Black Parade with a worldwide tour. The band are in the midst of touring in North America, and the group have already announced tour dates for South America and Southeast Asia. Here is what MCR fans need to know about the band's return to the UK, their first tour dates in the country since 2022. How to get tickets to My Chemical Romance's 2026 UK tour My Chemical Romance has confirmed UK tour dates for 2026. (AP Photo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Buy tickets through TicketmasterBuy tickets through AXSBuy tickets through Gigs and Tours My Chemical Romance have announced two dates so far for their UK tour, with the band set to perform at London's Wembley Stadium on Friday 10 July and Saturday 11 July, 2026. Tickets for the show will be available to purchase at 10am today on Ticketmaster, as well as on AXS and Gigs and Tours. The two stadium dates are also the only UK tour dates the band has announced so far. The band will bring their Long Live the Black Parade tour to Wembley Stadium in July 2026. (AP Photo) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) The group had been teasing a UK tour announcement for some time, sharing a quirky video of an old school game show called Quizzo that declared the country that had won a "nuclear winter" was the UK. Wembley Stadium then teased the MCR logo and the Long Live The Black Parade poster on Sunday, 10 August, ahead of the official announcement on Monday. The teaser is very much in line with the band's tour, which has seen the band create their own language and lore around a fictional country that has served as inspiration for the Long Live the Black Parade tour and has given it a rock opera feel thus far. As part of the new tour, the band are performing their breakout 2006 album The Black Parade in full as well as a number of rare songs from their back catalogue. My Chemical Romance last toured the UK in 2022 as part of their reunion tour; they performed in Milton Keynes, Cornwall, Dublin, Warrington, Cardiff and Glasgow at the time. It is currently unclear if more UK tour dates will be announced for 2026. Since the Labour government came into power in the summer of 2024, ministers have pledged to crackdown on exploitative zero-hours contracts as part of changes to the employment bill. Under the new rules proposed, employers will have to offer workers a contract that guarantees a minimum number of hours every week a change many see as a significant step forward for job security. More than one million people in the UK are working on a zero-hours contract basis, in areas ranging from hospitality and warehouses to the NHS. Women are disproportionately affected by the precarious nature of zero-hours work, which contributes to the gender pay gap. Read more: Why did shared parental leave fail in the UK? According to the Trades Union Congress, women are 34% more likely than men to be on such contracts, and they earn nearly 10 less an hour than men who arent on them. However, some argue that an outright ban, without tackling the growing shortage of flexible jobs, wont truly level the playing field for women and working mothers. Chronic lack of flexible work In a push to pre-pandemic flexible working arrangements, almost half of all businesses across the UK now want staff back in the office on a full-time basis, a British Chambers of Commerce survey of more than 500 businesses found. At the same time, more than a million UK workers have quit their jobs in the past year because of a lack of flexibility. This U-turn is hitting mothers hard, with one in four forced to leave the workforce because its impossible to work and care for children without adequate flexibility. Women are 34% more likely than men to work in jobs involving on zero-hours contracts. (monkeybusinessimages via Getty Images) An outright ban on zerohours contracts could indeed harm working mothers, but not for the reasons youd expect, says Elizabeth Willets, founder of the recruitment firm Investing in Women. The issue isnt that women choose precarious work. Its that our labour market offers so few truly flexible, professional-level roles and zerohours contracts often become the only way to combine work and caregiving. Women arent taking on zero-hours roles by choice. For many, there is no quality flexible or part-time equivalent. According to the 2023 Flexible Jobs Index by Timewise, the number of jobs advertised as flexible has plateaued. Only 31% overtly offer it which is a negligible change from 30% in 2022. It leaves women balancing insecurity against inflexibility as their only options, says Willets. Women need enough to live and plan on That being said, theres a need to balance flexibility with financial stability. For those without guaranteed hours, its hard to anticipate income and schedule childcare in advance, says Rachel Carell, founder and CEO of childcare organisation Koru Kids. We've worked with many working mums as freelancers doing things like marketing and design but rarely on zero hours, she says. I've heard again and again that flexibility is vital, but so is the ability to plan and earn enough to live on. Zero-hours contracts rarely offer that. Read more: What to expect from a maternity discrimination employment tribunal About 80% of zero-hours contract workers want regular hours, with 75% reporting financial hardship due to insufficient hours. And, these contracts can sometimes limit flexibility too. According to TUC research, two-thirds (67%) of mothers on zero-hours contracts have difficulty managing work with childcare and two-thirds have missed out on a planned family event because of needing to work. When Carell launched the business, most of the nannies were on zero-hours contracts. But we moved away from these contracts voluntarily, because we heard from Koru Kids nannies that they didnt provide the security the nannies needed. We worked with parents to design new contracts that still gave flexibility, but also offered predictable hours and income, she explains. Finding a flexible middle ground Clearly, change is needed but simply banning zero-hours contracts may not be the solution. What could be done to keep those who rely on flexibility in the workforce, without forcing them to sacrifice their income? Countries like New Zealand, Germany and Ireland have shown ways to regulate zero-hours use while preserving flexibility, says Willets. In 2016, New Zealand banned the insecurity of zero-hours contracts, not the adaptability. Employers still get to increase hours when needed, but workers start from a guaranteed base, are compensated for standby time and can decline extra work without fear of losing future shifts. Short-term reforms could also include guaranteed minimum hours after six months, notice periods for shift changes and pension contributions from day one, regardless of earning thresholds, adds Willets. Zero-hours contracts can offer some women, particularly working mothers, greater flexibility. (Natalia Lebedinskaia via Getty Images) In the long-term? The real fix lies in businesses offering genuine alternatives like quality job shares, part-time roles aligned with professional pay scales, term-time contracts that dont penalise women and flexible working from day one. Offering quality part-time work in senior roles would no doubt help to narrow the gender pay gap, which widens at higher salary levels. Below salaries of 20,000, 22% of job adverts offer part-time work, but this almost halves to 12% at the 20k point. And, it reduces to just 6% amongst jobs paid more than 60,000 a year. Improving access to promotions for part-time workers is also key. Michelle Chikanda, who founded the leadership firm Legacy Never Dies to work around her 2-year old son, adds that a ban on zero-hours could lead to more permanent and consistent work being available, if the government aids businesses. A ban must be matched with tax incentives for businesses that reduce the cost of hiring certain groups of people, like working mothers, creating a sustainable solution for all parties, she says. Ultimately, the goal should be to replace zero-hours contracts with stable, flexible roles that dont force women into choosing between work, stability and their families. Thats how we build real equity, says Willets. Not with one-size-fits-all reform, but with thoughtful change grounded in lived reality. Read more: Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android. Britain's foreign secretary, David Lammy (right), and the US vice-president, JD Vance, fish in the grounds of Chevening, Kent, on 8 August. Photograph: Suzanne Plunkett/AFP/Getty Images The front page of Saturdays Guardian print edition demonstrated both sides of the genocide in Gaza. The main image showed two western politicians, who could influence their leaders to stop Israel attacking innocent Palestinian people, laughing while they fished for the assembled media cameras, and the main headline was about the planned takeover of Gaza City by the Israeli government (Future of 1m Palestinians now hangs in the balance, 9 August). That will no doubt result in more killing and the likely forced relocation of people from their land a war crime. History will record both mens participation in this man-made human disaster by the Israeli government, but will either of them actually care? I dont think so. Stuart Finegan Lewes, East Sussex I can see it now, the BBC blurb for its new programme Lammy & Vance: Gone Fishing. Wonder at the beautiful Cotswolds countryside while the boys jest about bring[ing] greater peace to the world (US and UK disagree about Gaza policy, Vance suggests before Lammy meeting, 8 August). Laugh out loud as JD and Dave spend hours fishing for fun, while wars rage, children are starved and their governments do nothing. When you hear their joke about old people behaving like placard-bearing terrorists, youll be hooked. Bernie Evans Liverpool Marina Hyde wondered if the foreign secretary and his vice-presidential house guest might go to Chevenings ancient parish church of St Botolph on Sunday (What could the Cotswolds possibly offer JD Vance? I suggest a swim in one of its rivers, 8 August). If they made it, they perhaps heard the Book of Common Prayer readings for that Sunday, the Eighth after Trinity, which include these words of Jesus: Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheeps clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits (Matthew 7:15). Rev Robert Titley London Have an opinion on anything youve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section. Dillian Whyte on fighting Moses Itauma: Everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die Wind up Dillian Whyte, and watch him go. In 1988, a hurricane blew the roof off my mums house while she was giving birth to me, he tells one publication on this Zoom call. I was eating food from trash cans, he tells The Independent. And so on. Ive got about 15 dogs altogether and they just had some puppies, so 16... 17... 18... 19... 20... 21... Ive got 22 dogs now. Sometimes Im borderline obese. Whyte, unintentionally, is full of quips. One, however, stands out as the most apt ahead of his upcoming fight with Moses Itauma, the most highly-touted heavyweight prospect in years. As a kid, my dad used to say random stuff and it didnt make sense to me, but now as I get older... Whyte starts. He used to say: Everyone wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die. Long story short, I believe in myself. Buy Whyte vs Itauma on DAZN now You can take this as a metaphor, if you wish, for Whytes final push towards an elusive world title, with 20-year-old Itauma standing stubbornly in his way in Riyadh. Despite Whytes vast experience, and Itaumas lack thereof, the 37-year-old is the betting underdog for the bout on 16 August. Whyte genuinely does not seem to care. You guys are the experts, the professionals, he says repeatedly, tongue pressed firmly against the inside of his cheek. Today, hes the next Mike Tyson, hes amazing, theyre talking about him fighting [Oleksandr] Usyk. If I go in there and blow Moses out in one round, what are people gonna say? Hes not good anymore? Thats what the media will say. Moses Itauma was overhyped. No, that doesnt mean that; it just means he fought a good fighter and got caught. He hasnt been tested, hasnt been hurt, everythings going great in his career. Hes got that blissful ignorance. But [my] experience doesnt really matter unless I make it matter. When Whyte discusses experience, you get the feeling hes not just talking about in-ring nous. In his own words from July: Im a born sufferer, and Ive been a lifetime sufferer. Dillian Whyte after his defeat by Tyson Fury, in a 2022 world-title fight at Wembley Stadium (Getty) Like I said, I was born in a hurricane, he tells The Independent. My dads from mixed heritage, Irish and Jamaican; back then, those were probably two of the worst races to be, volatile. My dad only knew one way of raising kids: the hard way. You aint dead, so why are you complaining? My mum left when I was a kid, went to England to build a better life for us. Sometimes I was left with no one to take care of me. I was out on the street, surviving stealing and robbing to get by. Not robbing people, just robbing food, eating food from trash cans. Working as a kid, I remember selling the glass Fanta bottles. Ive just been suffering. My whole life has kind of been like that. I never thought Id be a heavyweight boxer, a heavyweight champion. I got in trouble, started doing a little bit of training to stay out of trouble. It fell in my lap, it saved my life. Then things [were] getting good, getting bad, getting good, getting bad. I was like: F*** me. Damn, man. I just want a f*****g break. Im trying to do things the right way. I just feel like Ive been swimming against the wave forever. Some people have it a lot easier, but theres people that have it 10 times worse than me. I was meant to be dead or in prison when I was in my 20s, but I overcame that, raised a family myself, Im teaching my kids stuff. Theres more negatives in my whole life journey than positives, but I just try to focus on the positives. Moses Itauma (right), 20, has shown blistering speed and considerable power in staying unbeaten so far (Getty) At one point, Whyte is wound up the wrong way, when talk veers towards his failed drug test before a cancelled rematch with Anthony Joshua in 2023. Whyte was cleared, just as he was after a failed test in 2019, although he did serve a drug-related ban earlier in his career. Can we move on? Its a bit of a dumb question, but thank you for your time... he tells one reporter. This guys kind of p***ed me off, Im a little bit irritated. Clearly, it is a topic Whyte wants to avoid, and talk soon turns to Derek Chisora avoiding a fight against Itauma. Whyte draws parallels between himself and the British veteran, whom he beat twice, but points to a difference. While he and Chisora, who recently admitted to opting against a bout with Itauma, have taken on many undesirable challenges throughout their careers, only Whyte has stuck by that approach until the end, he claims. He goes as far as to call Chisora, 41, a coward. One of Whytes standout results is a 2018 knockout of Derek Chisora, as he went 2-0 against his fellow Briton (Getty) Then again, Whyte himself does not care to be judged by others. You can do everything great, donate to charity, save puppies from rescue centres, help old ladies cross the street and get things from the top shelf at Tesco, and someones gonna have an opinion on you, he says, because you have a different opinion to them. Right now, most opinions suggest Whyte faces a hard, hard night on 16 August. He does not care: Im a proper dog expert, so whether Im an underdog, top dog, bottom dog, front dog, side dog... as long as theres a dog involved, Im all in. Whyte vs Itauma will air live exclusively on DAZN pay-per-view, at a cost of 19.99, on 16 August. A subscription to DAZN is available here. Sir Keir Starmer is facing a furious backlash against the arrest of hundreds of people during a protest over Palestine Action on Saturday and has been warned he is making a mistake of poll tax proportions. MPs from across the political divide warned of an excessive use of counterterrorism powers that was riding roughshod over the right to peaceful protest, after it emerged that many of those held were aged over 60. The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Sunday that 532 arrests were made, 522 for displaying an item in support of a proscribed organisation at the march in central London over the weekend. Civil liberties groups including Amnesty and Liberty said the arrests were disproportionate to the point of absurdity and that the governments terrorism laws were a threat to freedom of expression. Labour peer Shami Chakrabarti told The Independent the proscription of Palestine Action is in danger of becoming a mistake of poll tax proportions a reference to Margaret Thatchers unpopular policy that triggered civil disobedience and riots. She added: The notable presence of so many older people highlights the strength of genuine feeling. Criminal damage at air force bases can be prosecuted, but sweeping guilt by association only exacerbates community tensions and creates a bigger headache for the police. The 532 protesters detained on Saturday is thought to be the highest number of arrests made by the Metropolitan Police in a single protest event since the poll tax riot of 31 March 1990. Home secretary Yvette Cooper defended the police but suggested those who were arrested may not know the full nature of this organisation. Her comment led to calls for the authorities to be more clear cut about why they proscribed Palestine Action last month. The group hit the headlines earlier this year when four members were accused of causing around 7m worth of damage to aircraft at RAF Brize Norton. After the arrests, Downing Street defended the move to ban the group, saying it was violent, had committed significant injury as well as criminal damage, and that the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre had found the organisation had carried out three separate acts of terrorism. But former Conservative cabinet minister Sir David Davis told The Independent the arrests were an excessive use of counterterrorism law, adding theyve gone over the top. He said: Weve not really been given any evidence for the reasoning behind proscribing Palestine Action. I mean, they broke in and painted an aircraft, they did not set bombs or anything. So thats the first question. What was the criteria? And then secondly, should you be arresting lots of people because they support a particular side and put up a banner? He added: The authorities should be more clear cut about why they have proscribed Palestine Action. Meanwhile, veteran backbencher Diane Abbott said the government is in danger of making itself look both draconian and foolish. And former Labour cabinet minister Peter Hain described the mass arrests as madness and said Palestine Action was not equivalent to real terrorist groups like al-Qaeda or Islamic State [which is] why I voted against its ban. Protesters sat on the grass in Parliament Square during Saturdays demonstration (PA Wire) Ministers insisted, however, that supporters would feel the full force of the law. Police had warned before Saturdays protest in Parliament Square, organised by Defend Our Juries, that they would detain anyone expressing support for Palestine Action. Victims minister Alex Davies-Jones said the right to peacefully protest was a cornerstone of our democracy, and of course, we respect that. But she added that Palestine Action violently carried out criminal damage to RAF aircraft [and] we have credible reports of them targeting Jewish-owned businesses here in the United Kingdom, and there are other reasons, which we can't disclose because of national security. She said: But they are a proscribed terrorist organisation and anyone showing support for that terrorist organisation will feel the full force of the law. Former top prosecutor Nazir Afzal raised the alarm over the impact on court backlogs, telling The Independent prosecuting those arrested would be a terrific waste of time. These would probably be jury trials as each of them would be advised to plead not guilty and expect a trial in 2027 at the earliest, he said. I also suspect that no jury would convict anyhow. Amnesty International chief executive Sacha Deshmukh said: Peaceful protest is a fundamental right. People are understandably outraged by the ongoing genocide being committed in Gaza and are entitled under international human rights law to express their horror. He added: 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. Sam Grant, director of external relations at Liberty, said: The scenes we saw over the weekend of mass arrests at public protests are deeply concerning. That hundreds of people were arrested under these powers further highlights the dangerous breadth and vagueness of the UKs anti-terrorism laws. Conflating protest activity with terrorism rightly has the general public scratching their heads." Membership of, or support for, Palestine Action is a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison under the Terrorism Act 2000. Securing a charge for an offence under the Terrorism Act will, in some instances, require approval by both the Crown Prosecution Service and attorney general Lord Hermer, police said. Palestine Action co-founder, Huda Ammori, said the Parliament Square demonstration would go down in our countrys history as a momentous act of collective defiance of an unprecedented attack on our fundamental freedoms. She also criticised the policing methods used, claiming the fact most of those arrested at the protest were given street bail and allowed to go home proved the current ban was unenforceable. Responding to protests on Saturday, Yvette Cooper said: 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. Palestine Action was proscribed based on strong security advice following serious attacks the group has committed, involving violence, significant injuries and extensive criminal damage. It also follows an assessment from the Joint Terrorism Assessment Centre that the group prepares for terrorism, as well as concerning information referencing 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. Their actions are not about the horrific suffering in the Middle East and do not reflect or represent the thousands of people across the country who are exercising their rights to protest peacefully. EasyJet has completed the installation of new navigation software on 54 aircraft to ease collaboration with air traffic control (ATC) staff. The UKs biggest airline said the system shares real time aircraft trajectory information with ATC providers, helping create more efficient route calculations. The future air navigation system-C (Fans-C) software also involves instructions from ATC controllers to pilots such as climb to 36,000 feet to be relayed by text rather than radio, reducing the chances of misunderstandings or hold-ups. EasyJet said it has retrofitted the programme on all 54 of its A320 and A321 neo family planes. The carriers new jets rolling off the Airbus assembly line are equipped with the technology as standard. EasyJet said the software has saved it 334 tonnes of fuel since it began using it in 2019. It said last month French ATC disruption was responsible for the majority of its delays this summer. David Morgan, chief operating officer at easyJet, said: Technologies like Fans-C are not only essential for the modernisation of airspace, they will be critical in helping deliver meaningful reductions in fuel, carbon emissions and noise pollution. To maximise the potential of these technologies, its critical that airspace reform is finally delivered, and this means more direct routes to help reduce congestion and delays. The UK Government has taken positive steps to redesign UK airspace we now need those plans delivered swiftly here and across Europe so we can properly harness these technologies and capitalise on the environmental benefits they will deliver. The Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority are establishing a group of aviation experts to work with UK airports on modernising airspace. It is hoped this UK Airspace Design Service will launch by the end of the year. A radar-related issue was blamed for a UK ATC failure by provider Nats on July 30 which forced the cancellation of more than 150 flights, disrupting thousands of passengers. Emmanuel Macron prior to talks with German chancellor Friedrich Merz at Villa Borsig on July 23, 2025 in Berlin, Germany - Christian Mang/Getty Images Ahead of Trumps summit with Putin, President Macrons plaintive cry that Europeans will necessarily be part of the solution because their security depends on it rings hollow. What would the Europeans bring to the table in Alaska? They have no plan of their own and even if they had one, they have no means to implement it. And what is more they do not have the political will to do so. When US and Russian leaders met to discuss carving up Europe, at Potsdam in 1945, the British prime minister was in the room. That was because Britain was a major military and economic power that had more than shouldered its burden of the fighting in the Second World War. Nothing like that can be said of Britain or any other European country today. All have downgraded themselves to the role of spectator. Its too late to be pleading that our security depends on it when they have wilfully neglected their own security for decades. Every Western European nation, including our own, has been running down its armed forces almost to the point of irrelevance, very often papering over their true weakness with carefully spun readiness reports. Even at the end of the Cold War, when Britain had four fighting divisions on the books, we were only able to deploy one very small one to the Gulf in 1991, and that was done by cannibalising the other three. By the time we came to Afghanistan and Iraq, Britain was never able to field sufficient forces for the task it gave itself, and had to be bailed out by the US in both theatres. The situation today is even more dire and we have the strongest armed forces in Europe. Across the continent, those politicians who see the need for powerful armed forces always complain that defence is not a vote-winner, and so funds needed to boost combat capabilities are spent instead on welfare, education, health, climate change, immigration subsidies and overseas aid. But a political leaders job is not to follow public opinion; it is to shape it. Very few have actually been trying to make the case for defence. In fact most of Europes leaders have been working against national unity, identity or patriotism, in favour of an integrationist agenda that undermines the whole purpose of national defence. Dont think Putin didnt pick up on that when he decided to invade Ukraine. He looked first at the United States and saw only weakness: his invasion began just months after Bidens debacle in Afghanistan. Eyeing Europe he saw a continent unwilling to stick up for itself, consumed by identity politics and societal division, and unable to do anything at all to staunch the migrant flow engulfing it. Putin also saw a continent, even after his invasions of Georgia in 2008 and Ukraine in 2014, that was willing to increase its energy dependency on Russia, and expose Ukraine to further aggression through the strategically illiterate Nord Stream gas pipelines. And after three years of war, the gas keeps flowing into Europe and the euros keep flowing back into the Kremlins war chest. Even though the EU has reduced demand, last year it still imported 21.6bn worth. But dont worry, there is a plan to phase out Russian gas consumption in three years time. The EUs get tough on Putin policy faltered last month when Brussels struggled to agree on a proposed toughening of sanctions against Russia, though they were eventually adopted. That public show of disunity came after criticism of President Trump for delaying his own threatened sanctions. We heard a lot about Starmers Coalition of the Willing earlier in the year when Trump began to work on a peace deal. The contours of that plan were announced last month, effectively proposing an Anglo-French led multinational force of 50,000. I suspect in reality around half that number at best could be generated from those nations that might eventually step up. It appears that no boots on the ground are now on the cards, as originally suggested. Thats hardly surprising as Putin said any Nato forces deployed in Ukraine would become targets for attack. Instead the idea is to provide experts to help regenerate Ukrainian forces after the war. Also envisaged is deployment of air forces to deliver air policing, whatever that might mean. I dont anticipate dogfights between the Russian Air Force and the RAF. Finally, there will be a maritime component providing specialist staff to accelerate mine clearance in the Black Sea. Last time this coalition was floated, Starmer admitted that there could be no such deployment without US security guarantees. Presumably that has not changed, making the whole project dependent on the good graces of President Trump. So far, so feeble. Despite the European leaders fine words, standing by Ukraine to the end, and their disgruntlement at not being invited to Alaska, I suspect that the way events are expected to unfold actually suits many of them. They dont want to go along with the vast expense involved in Trumps plan to supply weapons funded by Europe. They dont want to persist with sanctions on Russia that also bite them economically. They dont want to have to live up to their new defence spending undertakings. What they do want to do is get back to business as usual with Russia as soon as possible, no matter how precarious. Like the 2014 invasion of Crimea, they can live with that risk; the consequences will inevitably be someone elses to deal with further down the road. Whatever deal Trump is able to press on Zelensky may lead to at least a temporary ceasefire and that would be the answer to European leaders prayers. In fact, for many a ceasefire would be better than a full-blown peace agreement because it would keep Ukraine out of Nato and probably the EU as well, which would save a lot of problems especially with French farmers. Meanwhile, when it all goes wrong, European hands are clean. After all, they were ready to back Ukraine to the hilt, werent they? An explosion ripped through a steel plant in Pittsburgh leaving two people dead and dozens injured or trapped beneath the rubble, officials said. Workers remain stuck under wreckage at Clairton Coke Works in Pennsylvania, a raw coal processing facility owned by US Steel, after the blast on Monday, officials said. A fire initially broke out at the plant around 10.51am local time (3.51pm UK), according to Allegheny County emergency service. The blast sent a large column of black smoke billowing into the air visible for miles around in the Monongahela Valley, a region of the state synonymous with steel manufacturing for more than a century. US Steel and Allegheny County Police reported the second fatality required an extensive search and rescue effort to locate the body. One injured person was rescued and taken to a hospital for treatment, authorities said. With nine other people transported to hospitals to be treated for a variety of injuries. David Burritt, CEO of the company, said in a statement: During times like this, U.S. Steel employees come together to extend their love, prayers, and support to everyone affected. It felt like thunder, Zachary Buday, a construction worker near the scene, told WTAE-TV. Shook the scaffold, shook my chest, and shook the building, and then when we saw the dark smoke coming up from the steel mill and put two and two together, and its like something bad happened. Another local told CNN that the explosion felt like an earthquake. Emergency services at the scene - Gene Puskar Footage from the aftermath of the incident shows fire crews battling flames as heavy smoke rises from the facility. Josh Shapiro, the governor of Pennsylvania, said his team is in touch with local authorities in Clairton. The scene is still active, and folks nearby should follow the direction of local authorities, Mr Shapiro wrote on X. Please join Lori and me in praying for the Clairton community. Abigail Gardner, the Allegheny County director of communications, said the health department is on site monitoring air quality. Democratic Senator John Fetterman, who formerly served as the mayor of nearby Braddock, called the explosion absolutely tragic and vowed to support steelworkers in the aftermath. I grieve for these families, Mr Fetterman said. I stand with the steelworkers. A plume of smoke rises from the factory - Amy Sowers The Clairton Coke Works on the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh is the largest coking site in North America. It is also one of four major steel plants in Pennsylvania that employ several thousand workers. The Allegheny County health department said it is monitoring the explosion and issued pollution warnings as a precaution. It advised residents within one mile (1.6 kilometres) of the plant to remain indoors, close all windows and doors, set air conditioning systems to recirculate, and avoid drawing in outside air, such as using exhaust fans. It said its monitors have not detected levels of soot or sulphur dioxide above federal standards. Donald Trump made reviving the US steel industry a major focus of his second term, with workers at the Clairton plant coming out to support him during a visit to the state on May 30. In June, US Steel and Nippon Steel announced they had finalised a $15bn (11bn) historic partnership that came a year and a half after the Japanese company first proposed its buyout of the American steelmaker. The Clairton Coke Works after the explosion - Gene Puskar In recent years, the Clairton plant has been dogged by concerns over safety and pollution. In February, a problem with a battery at the plant led to a buildup of combustible material that ignited, causing an audible boom, the Allegheny County Health Department said. Two workers who got material in their eyes received first aid treatment at a local hospital but were not seriously injured. In 2019, the company agreed to settle a lawsuit for $8.5m (6.3m), under the terms of which it agreed to invest millions to reduce soot emissions and noxious odours from the facility, located around 20 miles (32 kilometres) south of Pittsburgh. The company is understood to have denied any wrongdoing. It has faced further lawsuits over pollution from the Clairton facility, including ones accusing the company of violating clean air laws after a December 2018 fire damaged the sites sulphur pollution controls. In January 2024, US Steel agreed to settle a lawsuit that accused the Pittsburgh-based company of violating federal clean air laws by operating plants without its desulphurisation controls for more than three months. Chef and restaurant owner Jacob Bickelhaupt earned the first Michelin star for Palm Beach County and now hes been arrested (42 Grams Trailer/Youtube) A Florida restaurant has been stripped of its Michelin star after its owner-chef was jailed on domestic violence charges that have since been upgraded to attempted second-degree murder. Konro, once hailed as Palm Beach Countys first Michelin-starred restaurant, has been removed from the prestigious guide. The demotion happened after Jacob Bickelhaupt, 41, was arrested in June on domestic violence charges stemming from a June 2 attack on a woman that police say lasted roughly two hours. He has pleaded not guilty. Michelin spokesperson Carly Grieff told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that the star was pulled because the restaurant has closed. But in June, after the chefs arrest, Michelin told the Sun Sentinel that while it firmly condemns all acts of violence, aggression and harassment, it was taking no immediate action, arguing that MICHELIN Stars are annual distinctions and therefore our Inspectors revisit the restaurants annually. Jacob Bickelhaupt, 41, was arrested in June on domestic charges stemming from a June 2 attack on a woman that police say lasted roughly two hours (West Palm Beach Police Department) Konro, a 10-seat chefs counter named for the Japanese charcoal grill used in many of its courses, seems to have closed following Bickelhaupts arrest just two months after winning Palm Beach Countys first Michelin star. Dishes included Japanese A5 Wagyu, edible floral microgreens, and foie gras in chicken-skin cones with cloudberry jam, the Tampa Bay Times reported. The alleged assault happened when the victim, a woman who worked with Bickelhaupt, allegedly tried to coax him from the couch back to bed, according to a probable cause affidavit. Police say he punched and kicked her repeatedly, even as she crawled away. She eventually escaped, calling a rideshare to Palm Beach International Airport to return to her home in Denver. But she suffered a seizure and was rushed to St. Marys Medical Center, where doctors told her family she would likely have died if she had boarded the flight. Konro, once hailed as Palm Beach Countys first Michelin-starred restaurant, has been removed from the prestigious guide (42 Grams Trailer/Youtube) The woman first claimed shed been in a car accident, but medical staff told deputies her injuries, which included two black eyes, extensive bruising, and a subdural hematoma requiring emergency surgery, were inconsistent. In a sworn statement, she named Bickelhaupt as her attacker. Deputies later found blood in multiple rooms of his home. Bickelhaupt has faced similar allegations before. In 2017, police charged him with striking his then-wife, Alexa Welsh, in the head with a bottle, forcing his acclaimed Chicago restaurant 42 Grams to close the next day. Bickelhaupt admitted: I hurt her bad and I freaked out I asked [an employee] to call 911 and left in a panic back to my apartment. I had a bunch of beer and whiskey at home and was going to kill myself. He later pleaded guilty to simple battery. The establishment was stripped of its Michelin star after its owner-chef was jailed on domestic violence charges that have since been upgraded to attempted second-degree murder (42 Grams Trailer/Youtube) His ex-wife Welsh told the Sun Sentinel she was unsurprised by the latest case. Violence is a cycle. How does the saying go? Those who do not learn history I sent [the victim] a message of support. I hope shes able to make a full recovery. The victims current condition is unknown. Bickelhaupt remains in Palm Beach County jail and faces charges of attempted second-degree murder and false imprisonment. His next hearing is scheduled for September 8. Four people have been killed in Spain as southern Europe is hit by its worst wildfires on record. Authorities in Madrid have deployed nearly 3,000 troops to help firefighters tackle blazes that have devastated swathes of the country, as temperatures hit highs of 45C. A severe 16-day-long heatwave has fuelled around 20 wildfires, burning more than 115,000 hectares in the regions of Galicia and Castile and Leon over the past week. Flames have spread to the southern slopes of the Picos de Europa mountain range and the famous Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route. A firefighter died when his truck crashed near the village of Espinoso de Compludo, raising the death toll to four from the recent wave of fires. Firefighters battle a wildfire in Veiga das Meas, northwestern Spain on Saturday (AP) Four people have been killed as fires spread during the heatwave (Reuters) In neighbouring Portugal, wildfires have burned about 216,200 hectares so far this year, according to the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS) - more than four times the 2006-2024 average for this period - and two people have died. Southern Europe is experiencing one of its worst wildfire seasons in two decades, with Spain and Portugal among the hardest-hit countries. So far this year, an estimated 344,400 hectares (851,000 acres) have burned in Spain - an area equivalent to the size of the island of Mallorca - according to the EFFIS. It's the largest area on records that go back to 2006 and more than four times the 2006-2024 average. Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez cut his holiday to the Canary Islands short to visit areas devastated by the wildfires, proposing a grand state pact to prepare the country for climate-related events such as wildfires and hurricanes. Military firefighters tackling a wildfire near Yeres, northwestern Spain (UME) We need to do a thorough analysis of how we can resize our prevention and response capabilities to the climate emergency, he said. We must leave this issue outside of partisan strife. We are all part of the same state, and we must all work in the same direction. Defence minister Margarita Robles told radio station Cadena SER that the country hadnt experienced such a fire situation this severe in 20 years: The fires have special characteristics as a result of climate change and this huge heatwave. She said thick smoke was affecting the work of helicopters and aircraft carrying water to extinguish the flames. Spains Ministry of the Interior says 27 people have been arrested and 92 are under investigation for suspected arson since June. Wildfires in southern Europe have grown so devastating that 155,000 hectares of land have been burnt in Portugal, according to the ICNF forestry protection institute. This is three times the average for this period between 2006 to 2024. About half of that area burned in the past three days. While Portugal is set for cooler weather in the coming days after several woodland fires, the countrys resources have been stretched after more than 4,000 firefighters and 1,300 vehicles were deployed on Sunday, as well as 17 aircraft, according to the Civil Protection Agency. Europe has been warming twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, according to the EUs Copernicus Climate Change Service. Scientists say that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness in parts of Europe, making the region more vulnerable to wildfires. Portugal has also been hit by huge blazes (Reuters) Firefighters work to extinguish a wildfire approaching Trancoso, Portugal (Reuters) Greece, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Albania have also requested help from the EUs firefighting force in recent days to deal with forest fires. Recent wildfires in Turkey have killed 19 people, and on Sunday, six villages in the Canakkale province were evacuated as precautionary measures. Some 1,300 firefighting personnel backed by 30 aircraft were battling the blaze, according to the General Directorate of Forestry. A wildfire on the peninsula to the north of the Dardanelles Strait led to the closure of visitor facilities at Gallipoli, the sites management said. The area is dotted with cemeteries, memorials and other remnants of battles waged between Ottoman and Allied troops in 1915. Turkey has been struck by hundreds of fires since late June, fueled by record-breaking temperatures, dry conditions and strong winds. Donald Trump and Ghislaine Maxwell in 2000 - Patrick McMullan via Getty Images Ghislaine Maxwells grand jury transcripts will not be released, a federal judge has ruled, saying the Trump administrations request to do so is a diversion. Paul Engelmayer, a Manhattan District Court judge, suggested the Department of Justice (DOJ) had requested the transcripts be released to create the illusion of transparency. The judge said the files would not reveal any new information, adding that they do not discuss or identify any client of Epsteins or Maxwells. The decision will come as a blow to Donald Trump, who continues to grapple with the fallout after his administration closed the Jeffrey Epstein case. The administrations refusal to release information surrounding Epstein, the late financier and convicted paedophile, prompted a backlash from some of Mr Trumps most loyal supporters. Mr Trump has been grappling with the ongoing fallout from his administrations handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case In an effort to placate his base Mr Trump ordered Pam Bondi, the US attorney general, to seek the release of grand jury testimony related to the case in July. However, in a ruling filed on Monday, Mr Engelmayer said none of the arguments made by the DoJ for unsealing the transcripts met the requirements to authorise the disclosure of grand jury materials. The Courts review confirmed that unsealing the grand jury materials would not reveal new information of any consequence, Mr Engelmayer wrote. He added: A member of the public, appreciating that the Maxwell grand jury materials do not contribute anything to public knowledge, might conclude that the Governments motion for their unsealing was aimed not at transparency but at diversion aimed not at full disclosure but at the illusion of such. In the 31-page order, Mr Engelmayer said the DoJs argument that the unsealing of the documents was necessary because of public interest fails at the threshold. He said the suggestion that the transcripts would bring meaningful new information about Epstein and Maxwells crimes was demonstrably falseand the public would thus learn nothing new from their disclosure. Files do not discuss or identify any client of Epsteins or Maxwells, the judge said - Alpha Press The judge said the files do not discuss or identify any client of Epsteins or Maxwells and do not reveal any heretofore unknown means or methods of Epsteins or Maxwells crimes. He added: They do not reveal new venues at which their crimes occurred. They do not reveal new sources of their wealth. They do not explore the circumstances of Epsteins death. They do not reveal the path of the governments investigation. Weeks before the Trump administration announced it would not release the so-called Epstein files, Mr Trump was reportedly told his name came up several times in the documents, according to Wall Street Journal. Being mentioned in the files is not a sign of wrongdoing, and the Trump administration said the story was fake news. Department of work and pensions The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is employing hundreds of foreign workers despite Sir Keir Starmers pledge to crack down on net migration, The Telegraph can reveal. The department, which is the largest employer in Whitehall, has sponsored 250 skilled worker visas and is paying to extend them using government credit cards. The move comes despite the Prime Ministers pledge that net migration will fall substantially by the end of this parliament, arguing that parts of the economy seem almost addicted to importing cheap labour. Between January and the end of July this year, the DWP spent 213,000 to extend skilled worker visas on government credit cards. It is understood that using the cards to extend visas is within Whitehall spending rules, although the policy appears at odds with Labours own crackdown on the use of government procurement cards. Labour has previously argued that the credit cards were overused by the Conservatives for frivolous or inappropriate spending. The news that the DWP is using the cards to extend visas will raise eyebrows among those critical of the high numbers of foreign workers in the UK. Richard Tice, the deputy leader of Reform UK, said: Why is the Department for Work and Pensions writing off British workers in favour of foreign nationals? This is just more proof that the Government hates Britain and has no intention of reducing immigration. The salary threshold for new applications for skilled worker visas in the UK is now 41,700, which possibly suggests that many of the foreign staff at the DWP are more senior civil servants. Nationally, the average civil service salary is about 34,000, according to figures released last year. In May, Sir Keir heavily criticised employers for hiring too many foreign staff, pledged to reduce net migration by 2029 and argued that a large number of foreigners in the workforce could be bad for the economy. The Prime Minister said: Some people think controlling immigration is reining in a sort of natural freedom, rather than the basic and reasonable responsibility of the Government to make choices that work for a nations economy. And for years, this seems to have muddled our thinking. But let me be clear, it ends now. We will create a migration system that is controlled, selective, and fair. He declared that the experiment of untrammelled migration into Britain was over, and that the country risked becoming an island of strangers, not a nation that walks forward together. For too long, Britain has been addicted to cheap overseas labour while 1 in 8 of our own young people aren't in education, employment or training. I'm putting our young people first, investing in skills they need and ending our dependence on foreign labour. Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) May 17, 2025 Sir Keir later said he regretted that remark, after it was compared to a speech by Enoch Powell. His intervention came after warnings that the Government has lost the trust of the public on migration, with the latest surveys showing 79 per cent of people think Labour is not handling the issue well. Reform UK, which has pledged to freeze immigration, is consistently the most trusted party on migration, with the support of 36 per cent of the public, according to YouGov. Labour polls second on the issue, with 11 per cent, while the Conservative Party trails with the support of 6 per cent of the electorate. The Telegraph contacted every government department to ask how many staff were employed on skilled worker visas. All refused to give a figure. A DWP spokesman said: The DWP is the largest government department with over 90,000 employees who work to deliver vital services to millions of people, including benefits, pensions and employment support. These payments are for the extension of visas for existing DWP staff, and the extension of the visas is in line with the Migrant Worker Scheme. We currently sponsor 250 staff on a skilled worker visa. A supporter of Palestine Action confronts a police officer in Parliament Square on August 9, 2025 in London, United Kingdom - Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images Who radicalised Nan? If the arrests at the Palestine Action demonstrations on the weekend are anything to go by, the world of crank-Left protest is a hell of a lot older than its youthy reputation would have you believe. According to the Metropolitan Police, half of the 532 activists who were arrested in London on Saturday mostly for expressing support for Palestine Action, now a proscribed organisation were aged 60 or over. Ninety-seven of those nicked were in their 70s. Fifteen of them were in their 80s. If Britains middle-class oldsters keep getting banged up at this rate, Saga Cruisess revenues will never recover. Scenes of retired aromatherapists from Totnes being carted off by Londons finest underline what an authoritarian, unsustainable mess the proscription of Palestine Action has created. If found guilty, those alleged to have caused 7m of damage at RAF Brize Norton last month are thoroughly deserving of a long stretch inside. As are the scumbags alleged to have attacked a Jewish-owned business in Stamford Hill, over a bogus connection to an Israeli arms manufacturer. Because nothing says right side of history like smashing in Jews windows. But proscribing the organisation, and thus making it a crime under the Terrorism Act even to express solidarity with it, is an outrageous affront to freedom of speech that has only handed these Israelophobic old codgers an opportunity to pose as the heirs to Nelson Mandela. Nevertheless, there is something striking about the advanced age of many of todays perma-protesters, and this isnt unique to Palestine Action. When road-blocking irritants Extinction Rebellion staged two mass civil-disobedience campaigns in London in April and October 2019, activists aged 56 and over made up almost a third of those charged with an offence, according to an academic study. (Less surprising was that the participants were predominantly middle class, with 85 per cent of them holding a degree.) Just Stop Oil also made good use of the elderly, enlisting two octogenarians, who looked like they were straight out of a Werthers Original advert, to attack the glass case of Magna Carta at the British Library last year. When I was covering those pathetic Peoples Vote marches raging against Brexit a few years ago, I was often confronted by well-off older people, fresh from their second home in the south of France, telling me Id stolen my own future. What to make of all this? Leftish protest has long been colonised by the middle-class and time-rich, and it doesnt get more time-rich than being a middle-class retiree. A lot of this is surely seasoned placard-wavers keen to relive the glory days of the Sixties and Seventies, with whatever cause they have attached themselves to becoming almost secondary. Decades of anti-Israel propaganda seem to have convinced our more credulous pensioners as it has much of the low-information middle classes that Israel is committing a long-dreamed-for genocide in Gaza, rather than waging war on jihadists who murdered, raped and kidnapped its people on October 7. Where environmental activism is concerned, theres also a large dose of generational guilt, fuelled by a simplistic, eco-alarmist discourse that the boomers lived it large, racked up all the carbon emissions, and are now leaving their grand-kids to fight it out in the post-apocalyptic Mad Max-style dystopia that is supposedly just around the corner. Older people can often get a bad rap in political debate these days, and often for things that actually reflect well on them like their support for Brexit or preference for parties who know what a woman is. Those grey-topped Palestine Action or Extinction Rebellion activists are hardly reflective of where most retirees are at politically. Still, they are a useful reminder that age and wisdom do not always go hand-in-hand. The mother of Harvey Willgoose has said she feels sorry for the teenager who stabbed her son to death at their school, saying she believes he was let down, like her son. But Caroline Willgoose said she also believes the 15-year-old who was found guilty last week of murdering Harvey, also 15, with a hunting knife at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield needs to be made an example of when he is sentenced in October. Appearing on ITVs Good Morning Britain on Monday, Mrs Willgoose was asked by Richard Madeley: What are your thoughts about the boy who did this? She said: I feel sorry for him. Because I think hes been let down. I think Harveys been let down. This shouldnt have happened. There were so many red flags. They must have known what he was like when his mum said that hed took an axe in to school. Madeley asked Mrs Willgoose what she believed the sentence should be when the defendant returns to Sheffield Crown Court on October 22. Harvey Willgooses sister Sophie Willgoose (centre) reads a statement with her parents Caroline (left) and Mark Willgoose outside Sheffield Crown Court (Dave Higgens/PA) She said: I think hes got to be made an example of. And she said she believe the judge should lift the order which guarantees the perpetrators anonymity, due to his age. Harveys sister Sophie said of the killer: Hes a 15-year-old boy. Wed like to think that he didnt want to murder Harvey. Hes just from a troubled background and services have let him down. She described the trauma of the six-week long trial and how watching the CCTV of her brother being stabbed will haunt me forever. The women said they are campaigning for knife arches to be installed in all secondary schools and colleges. Caroline Willgoose said: I know it goes a lot deeper than that. But, lets start somewhere, and then go into schools and educate children of the devastation, the pure devastation, of what this has caused. Mrs Willgoose believes her sons death could have been prevented, especially after the killers mother reported him having an axe. The jury in the trial also heard how the schools assistant head asked the defendant if he had anything on him which he should not hours before the murder, and the boy said he did not. Mrs Willgoose said last week: If you have a reason to ask that child, youve got a reason to search that child. Asked about knife crime and the Willgooses campaign on the same ITV programme, justice minister Alex Davies-Jones said: It is something that terrifies me. I dont think anyone could have heard the testimony of Caroline and Sophie and not be moved. Harvey Willgoose died following a stabbing incident in February (Jacob King/PA) Ms Davies-Jones said Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is looking at the familys proposals on knife arches. She said she was really keen to examine the familys experience of the criminal justice system. Steve Davies, chief executive of St Clare Catholic Multi Academy Trust, said on Friday: We think especially of Harveys family, loved ones and friends today. We cannot begin to imagine the immeasurable impact the loss of Harvey has had on them. Harvey was a much-loved, positive and outgoing pupil whose memory will be cherished by all who knew him. As a community we have been devastated by his death and we continue to think of him every day. Harveys death was an unimaginable tragedy for all, and one that understandably gives rise to a number of questions from his family and others. Now that the trial has finished, a number of investigations aimed at addressing and answering these questions will be able to proceed. We will engage fully and openly with them to help ensure every angle is considered and no key questions are left unresolved. Rachel Morin, 37, was raped and killed while on a popular hiking trail in Maryland in August 2023 - Greater Grace Church An illegal migrant from El Salvador has been sentenced to life in jail for raping and murdering a Maryland mother on a popular hiking trail. Victor Martinez-Hernandez, 24, was found guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree rape and kidnapping following a jury trial in April this year for his attack on the 37-year-old Rachel Morin. Prosecutors alleged he carried out a planned attack when in August 2023, he grabbed the mother of five off a popular Maryland hiking trail, bashed her head against nearby rocks and concealed her body in a gutter. During a hearing on Monday, a judge handed down the maximum sentence, condemning Martinez-Hernandez to serve life without the possibility of parole, another life sentence, and an additional 40 years in prison. Victor Martinez-Hernandez received the maximum sentence for his crimes Alison Healey, Harford County state attorney, described Martinez-Hernandez as completely and entirely unamenable to treatment or rehabilitation as she called for the toughest possible sentence. If he is released our community is in grave danger ... Its not a matter of if, its a matter of when, she told the court. The judge concurred, telling the killer: You are not a candidate for rehabilitation. There is simply no hope to rehabilitate you. You took a life that was not yours to take. Your acts not only brutalised a young woman but also terrorised a community. The Ma & Pa Trail is a place of beauty ... your acts turned that into a place of terror. Morins brutal killing in which she was raped and strangled to death sent shocked the suburban community of Bel Air, northeast of Baltimore. It became a flashpoint during the 2024 presidential election as Donald Trump called for mass deportations of immigrants living in the US illegally. In April, Mr Trump embraced Morins mother, Patty Morin, in the Oval office, telling reporters: Shes been through hell. Patty Morin in the Oval Office with Donald Trump in April - The White House Ms Morin also spoke at a press briefing alongside Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, in which she said: This person took my daughter so violently and so gruesomely and so graphically that they sealed the pictures because I dont want my granddaughters to see these pictures. The court previously heard that Morin was running along the Ma and Pa Trail in Bel Air when she was dragged into the woods and killed. A post-mortem found she died from a combination of blunt-force trauma and strangulation. Martinez-Hernandez was arrested last summer in Oklahoma after DNA from Morins body linked him to the scene. Police said he had been living in the US illegally since February 2023. They also linked him to a 2023 home invasion in Los Angeles. In the months after Morins death, her killer had searched online for information about the case and taken a screenshot of a media report, prosecutors said. Martinez-Hernandez will not be deported to El Salvador, which has been used by the Trump administration to relocate alleged foreign gang members, as judges in Maryland only have the power to incarcerate people within the state. During the sentencing hearing on Monday, members of Morins family, including four of her children, aged nine, 12, 15 and 20, issued tearful statements about how the death of their mother had affected them. She was a good mom, her son said, according to WBALTV. Every time I see a picture of her, I think about the life I had with her and my four sisters. I miss her. A memorial for Rachel Morin displayed on a tree on the Ma & Pa Trail in Bel Air, Maryland - Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service Morins eldest daughter, who is now a mother herself, asked the prosecutor to read her written statement on her behalf. I had to relive the worst two days of my life in order to write this, she said, describing her mother as kind, strong, honest, determined and funny. Patty, Morins mother, said that she had been suffering with nightmares, insomnia and anxiety attacks ever since her daughter was killed The depths of grief are equivalent to the depths of love felt. This will impact generations to come, she said. Immigration system failure Jeff Gahler, the Harford County Sheriff, blasted the immigration system for allowing Martinez-Hernandez to enter the country despite his criminal record. The failure here, again, is the immigration system that allowed this person to enter our country illegally and remain in our country and commit crimes in Los Angeles and then here in Harford County, Mr Gahler said, according to The Daily Mail. We all suspected that Rachel was not his first victim. It is my understanding that this suspect, this monster, fled to the United States illegally after committing the brutal murder of a young woman in El Salvador a month earlier in January of 2023. After Martinez-Hernandez was convicted, Mr Trump paid tribute on social media to the beautiful mother of five who had been heinously murdered. Moments ago, the Illegal Criminal, who was allowed into our Country by Crooked Joe Biden, was convicted of the heinous murder of Rachel Morin, he wrote on Truth Social at the time. Rachel was a beautiful mother of five from Maryland, and her life was taken at the hands of a monster who should have NEVER been here in the first place. A man protests against racial gerrymandering in Newark, New Jersey - Brian Branch Price/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock Is the US Supreme Court about to disenfranchise black Americans and other racial minority voters? You would think so, given the hysterical hyperbole found in the progressive press. In the New York Times, Jamelle Bouie claims that the Supreme Court is seeking to make the Voting Rights Act of 1965 legislation that prohibits racial discrimination in the electoral process an artefact of the past. The Supreme Court Prepares to End Voting Rights As We Know Them, shrieks the headline in the Left-wing journal Mother Jones. Sixty years ago, the Voting Rights Act ended the Jim Crow regime and transformed the country, finally, into a multiracial democracy albeit an imperfect one, the Mother Jones article reads. But, with the courts quiet announcement it would return to a paused case, the justices are now preparing to take us back to a time when elected officials at all levels of government were white, and the rights of minorities were trampled. Is the Republican majority on the Supreme Court really about to strike down or eviscerate the Voting Rights Act of 1965? Will the Court legalise the outlawed methods used by Southern segregationists to deny the right to vote to black Americans, like literacy tests and poll taxes? Of course not. The occasion of these alarms is the willingness of the Court to consider a Louisiana case involving the use of race by state legislatures in drawing congressional districts. What is at issue is the question of whether the half-century-old practice of racial gerrymandering drawing congressional districts in such a way as to elect representatives of a particular race to the House of Representatives is compatible with the Voting Rights Act or the US constitution. Partisan gerrymandering is almost as old as the United States. American states, not the federal government, draw the lines of districts that send representatives to the House of Representatives, and following the census every decade state legislatures redraw the lines to take into account population growth or decline. To increase the chances of electing members of their own party, state legislators often draw bizarrely-shaped districts, with extensions bypassing members of the rival party to loop in likely supporters of their own party. The term gerrymander originated in the early 19th century with this kind of cynical partisan congressional redistricting. In 1812, the Massachusetts legislature drew a district which, according to critics, resembled a salamander. Although Governor Elbridge Gerry, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, accepted the redistricting plan reluctantly, claiming it was highly disagreeable, the contorted district was named a Gerry-mander in his dubious honour. Partisan gerrymandering by state legislatures still exists. Democratic and Republican majorities in every state legislature, following each federal census, seek to draw congressional districts that will boost their partys representation in the national House of Representatives. Racial gerrymandering, however, arose in the aftermath of the civil rights revolution of the 1960s. In racial gerrymandering, congressional districts are drawn to maximise the likelihood that the representative who is elected to Congress will belong to a particular race, as defined by Americas arbitrary post-1970s system of official races: non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics, African Americans, Asian and Pacific Islanders, and native Americans. To put it another way, racial gerrymandering is race-based affirmative action or DEI for non-white politicians, the corollary of the race-based quota system that reshaped college admissions and public, private, and nonprofit hiring, before the recent push-back led by President Trump and Supreme Court conservatives. Both kinds of affirmative action have always betrayed not only the spirit but also the letter of actual civil rights statutes. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, for example, makes it illegal for employers or labour unions To discriminate against, any individual because of his race, colour, religion, sex, or national origin. The language of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is equally colour-blind, emphasising the rights of minority voters to vote as they choose for politicians of any race, not the desire of minority politicians to enjoy rigged congressional seats: A violation of [the Act] is established if, based on the totality of circumstances, it is shown that the political processes leading to nomination or election in the State or political subdivision are not equally open to participation by members of a class of citizens protected by subsection (a) in that its members have less opportunity than other members of the electorate to participate in the political process and to elect representatives of their choice. The extent to which members of a protected class have been elected to office in the State or political subdivision is one circumstance which may be considered: Provided, That nothing in this section establishes a right to have members of a protected class elected in numbers equal to their proportion in the population. [emphasis added]. While the complete absence of any elected officials belonging to racial minorities might well be evidence of a violation of the law, the Voting Rights Act does not create a right for minority politicians to have districts drawn to give them safe seats. As in the case of race-based affirmative action in general, racial gerrymandering has been practised for more than half a century in defiance of the plain language of the law. Ironically, conservative Republicans in the South teamed up with black Democrats in support of racial gerrymandering for their own selfish reasons, beginning in the 1970s. Some Republican legislatures used a strategy of packing drawing lines to pack black voters into black-majority districts, while trapping white Democrats as powerless partisan minorities in Republican-majority districts. At the same time, some activists sacrificed the interests of the Democratic Party in winning congressional majorities to the goal of electing as many black Democrats in safe, gerrymandered districts as possible. When I worked for a white liberal Democrat in the Texas legislature in the 1970s, I was told that Texas Republicans had donated large sums of money to black legislators and activists to help them draw black-majority districts. The Democratic Party soon suffered as a result of racial gerrymandering, in Texas and in the House of Representatives. Thanks to racial gerrymandering as well as partisan gerrymandering, Republicans have dominated both houses of the Texas legislature since 2003, freezing out Texas Democrats. In the mid-term elections of 1994, Republicans led by Newt Gingrich recaptured the US House of Representatives for the first time since the 1950s. Not a single black Democrat lost in that election, thanks to their safe districts. But the loss of seven seats held by white Democrats thanks to racial gerrymandering gave Republicans the majority. At the time, David Bositis of the Joint Centre for Political and Economic Studies declared: Over the last two elections, the Democrats have lost as many as 15 seats because of majority black redistricting. Without the loss of those seats, Democrats would have retained the House in 1994 by a margin of 218-216 and Gingrich would have been the frustrated House Minority Leader, not the Speaker of the House. Racial gerrymandering, then, might serve the interests of minority politicians but not necessarily the interests of minority voters. Presumably most black Democrats in 1994 would have preferred to have fewer black Democratic representatives in a House with a Democratic majority instead of more black representatives in a Democratic Party that had lost control of the House. Racial gerrymandering gained some credibility from the extreme racial polarisation along party lines in the immediate aftermath of desegregation half a century ago. Progressive propaganda to the contrary, however, the American electorate is far less polarised by race in the 2020s than ever before. In terms of partisan polarisation, black voters are outliers in the American electorate. In 1994, 86 per cent of black registered voters were Democrats, according to Pew; in 2024, the number was 83 per cent. Hispanic voters (61 per cent Democrat, 35 per cent Republican) and Asian-American voters (63-35) also prefer Democrats but by much smaller margins. And white Americans have long been the least racially-polarised group in the electorate, preferring Republicans by 55-42 per cent in 1994 and 56-41 per cent in 2024. These numbers fail to completely register the decline of racial polarisation, however, with Hispanic and black voters shifting toward Republicans in recent elections. And they do not show the growing trend of class polarisation between college graduates and those without college degrees. What is more, the very categories on which affirmative action in congressional redistricting and other areas rests are rapidly being eroded by intermarriage, now that one in six American newly-weds are estimated by Pew to have a spouse of another race. The federal courts should continue to enforce the law against attempts by federal, state and local governments to deprive individual Americans, of any race, of the right to vote. But individual Americans surely do not have to be represented in Congress by a member of their own race as long as the candidates of the party for whom they vote represent their personal views and values. Let us hope the Supreme Court will vindicate the original mission of the Voting Rights Act of eliminating barriers to voting by individuals, as opposed to setting up racially-gerrymandered safe seats for a few politicians. Michael Lind is a fellow at New America and the author of Hell to Pay: How the Suppression of Wages Is Destroying America Al-Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif reporting near a hospital in Gaza City in October last year - AFP A prominent Al Jazeera journalist was killed along with four colleagues in a targeted Israeli air strike on Sunday. Israels military accused Anas al-Sharif, 28, of leading a Hamas terror cell and being involved in rocket attacks on Israel. He was killed alongside four Al Jazeera reporters and an assistant when a media tent outside al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City was hit in an attack condemned by journalists and rights groups. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) alleged that Sharif was a terrorist who posed as a journalist, citing intelligence and documents found in Gaza as alleged evidence. A press badge isnt a shield for terrorism, it said. The journalists had been staying in a tent outside a hospital in Gaza City - Ebrahim Hajjaj Calling Sharif one of Gazas bravest journalists, Al Jazeera said the attack was a desperate attempt to silence voices in anticipation of the occupation of Gaza. Al Jazeera, which is funded by the Qatari government, rejected the terror claims, which Sharif also denied before his death after being threatened by Israel. The media network named other journalists killed as Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher and Mohammed Noufal. A sixth journalist, Mohammad al-Khaldi, a freelance reporter, was also killed in the air strike, medics at the hospital said, along with two other people. Anas and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices from within Gaza, providing the world with unfiltered, on-the-ground coverage of the devastating realities endured by its people, Al Jazeera wrote in a statement. Credit: @musab_alshareef.17 / Instagram Denouncing the strike, Qatars prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, said: The deliberate targeting of journalists by Israel in the Gaza Strip reveals how these crimes are beyond imagination. The UN human rights office also condemned the killing of the journalists, saying the actions by Israels military represented a grave breach of international humanitarian law as Palestinians reported the heaviest bombardments in weeks. The IDF claimed that Sharif served as the head of a terrorist cell in the Hamas terrorist organisation and was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops. Intelligence and documents from Gaza, including rosters, terrorist training lists and salary records, prove he was a Hamas operative integrated into Al Jazeera, the IDF claimed, but did not make all the documents public. Muhammed Shehada, an analyst at the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, told Al Jazeera that there was zero evidence that Sharif took part in any hostilities. Credit: Reuters Israel denies deliberately targeting journalists. It says many of those killed in Israeli air strikes were members of Islamist militant groups, working under the guise of the press. Last month, the Israeli army spokesman Avichai Adraee shared a video on social media accusing Sharif of being a member of Hamass military wing. Irene Khan, UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression, said the claims were unsubstantiated and warned his life was at risk. The war in Gaza is the deadliest on record for journalists, according to the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. The Committee to Protect Journalists said at least 186 journalists have been killed in the Gaza conflict. The Hamas-run Gaza government office says the death toll for journalists is 238. Sharif, who was one of Al Jazeeras most recognisable faces working on the ground in Gaza, pre-recorded a message in April to be published in the event of his death. In it, he said he had lived the pain in all its details and tasted grief and loss repeatedly. Despite that, I never hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or misrepresentation, hoping that God would witness those who remained silent, those who accepted our killing and those who suffocated our very breaths, Sharif said. Not even the mangled bodies of our children and women moved their hearts or stopped the massacre that our people have been subjected to for over a year and a half. This is my will and my final message. If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice. First, peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings. Allah knows I gave every effort and all my strength to be a support and a voice for my Anas Al-Sharif (@AnasAlSharif0) August 10, 2025 On Monday, people gathered at Sheikh Radwan Cemetery in the heart of the Gaza Strip to mourn the journalists. Japanese car manufacturers recorded the sharpest declines for electric vehicle (EV) sales in the first half of the year, according to new analysis. The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) think tank, which conducted the research, said the stakes could not be higher for car companies which do not prioritise the transition to electric motoring. Honda had the largest decrease for UK EV sales in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period last year, at 92%. Mazda recorded the second biggest drop at 76%. Nissan saw a 69% fall, but the ECIU noted the company is retooling its factory in Sunderland to build three new EV models, which will likely drive significant uptake. At the other end of the scale, Ford saw the biggest year-on-year increase, with UK EV sales more than four times higher, partly because of the launch of the Ford Puma Gen-E. The top five also included Renault and Volkswagen, which both saw UK sales of their EVs more than treble. Colin Walker, head of transport at the ECIU, told the PA news agency: Traditional brands are fighting back, dramatically increasing the number of EVs they sell in what is now the worlds fourth largest EV market. Legacy manufacturers are proving more than capable of making the transition to building the electric cars of the future with European manufacturers dominating. A report by consultancy CBI Economics found a failure by the automotive sector to make the transition to manufacturing EVs could see its contribution to the UK economy fall by as much as 34.1 billion, with the loss of more than 400,000 jobs. Mr Walker said: The stakes for car companies the world over, and the car industry here in the UK, could not be higher. Ben Nelmes, chief executive of green consultancy New Automotive, which provided the statistics for the ECIUs analysis, said: The race to go electric is on and our new data separates the sprinters from the stragglers. It is fantastic to see legacy brands like Ford, Renault and the UKs own Mini delivering for drivers with a colossal surge in EV sales. The message to the laggards is simple: get on and build the brilliant EVs of the future, or prepare to be left behind. The Government has pledged to ban the sale of new fully petrol or diesel cars and vans from 2030. Sales of hybrid cars will still be permitted until 2035. 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%. Recent changes to the mandate mean it will be easier for manufacturers who do not meet the targets to avoid fines. A spokesperson for Mazda said the brands drop in EV sales was caused by the discontinuation of the Mazda MX-30 BEV (battery electric vehicle), but the fully electric Mazda6e will be introduced in 2026. He added: We will continue to meet the needs of our customers while developing a robust plan for the introduction of multiple EV models beyond 2026 that will give our customers an easy transition into electrified driving. Honda and Nissan were approached for a comment. Here are the top five car brands based on their increase in UK EV sales in the first half of the year: 1. Ford: 324% 2. BYD: 261% 3. Renault: 251% 4. Porsche: 203% 5. Volkswagen: 201% Here are the bottom five: 1. Honda: -92% 2. Mazda: -76% 3. Nissan: -69% 4. Toyota: -41% 5. MG: -35% A jewel village has been ripped apart by scrapped plans for an HS2 line, locals claim, as it emerged that taxpayers were footing a seven-figure annual bill to guard properties left empty by the overall project. Some 35 of the 50 homes in Whitmore Heath were bought on behalf of the government from residents wanting to sell amid plans for a huge tunnel beneath the hillside hamlet for the high-speed rail link from London to Manchester. But as the properties many of them lavish mansions with large gardens were sold off, delays and spiralling costs placed the section of line through Staffordshire in doubt, until, in October 2023, it was axed. It destroyed the community, said Graham Hutton, who lives two miles away and fought against the building of the line, which would have run from Handsacre in Staffordshire to Manchester. The hillside hamlet of Whitmore Heath was destined to be the site of a tunnel for high-speed trains to Manchester (PA Archive) The village was an affluent place where people who made their money went to live. But the plans for HS2 made them want to leave, and then their homes were rented out or left empty. Residents say one home was turned into a cannabis factory, while others judged to be unsuitable to rent remain gated up with 24/7 security teams hired to guard them. The story in Whitmore Heath is a snapshot of the situation along the initial route, which, as well as reaching Manchester on a western leg, was also planned to connect London and Birmingham with Leeds. Phase 2, north of Handsacre in Staffordshire, has been scrapped, with only Phase 1 from London to be built (PA Wire) Only the line from London to Handsacre in Staffordshire, including Birmingham, will now be built. In total, HS2 spent 3.7bn on buying up 1,727 properties on behalf of the Department for Transport (DfT), including 633m on 1,021 properties along the axed routes. They were bought under a range of schemes, including a voluntary purchase and a need to sell, where the seller had to provide a compelling reason to move after being unable to sell on the open market. Some were purchased under compulsory purchase orders (CPO). But about a quarter of the purchased properties around 430 are empty, with security teams required to protect some of them. Data obtained by The Independent revealed 1.9m was spent on guarding the properties in 2023-2024 37,000 a week. In Staffordshire, 481,000 was spent. What a waste, an absolute waste of money, said Ashfield District councillor Paul Northcott. We need a resolution now so we can sell those properties to people they bought from, or back on the market lets get the community back together again. Whitmore Heath was the jewel of the area, but the community has been fragmented. Its been ripped apart by people coming in and going, people renting short-term. Villagers are downbeat; they feel like they are in limbo. A padlock on the gates of a house on Heath Road, Whitmore Heath in the West Midlands, where 70 per cent of homes have been purchased for HS2 (PA) Whitmore Parish councillor Ian Webb said the situation was far from ideal. He added: I know several homes that have been left empty for a very long time. Uncertainty is not helped by the maintenance of safeguards to stop the land from being developed in a way that would conflict with future schemes, with a cheaper high-speed alternative proposed last year. Among those waiting is Edward Cavenagh Mainwaring, who lost around 250 acres of his family farm in Staffordshire through a CPO for HS2. But like others in the area, he now fears the amount offered was below the market rate, and if the opportunity comes, he will not be able to afford to buy back the land. A lot of people have been left mentally hurt, he previously told The Independent. Edward Cavenagh Mainwaring was left feeling bereaved when around 250 acres were bought from his dairy farm (Edward Cavenagh-Mainwaring) Last month, the restriction on selling land was lifted for the eastern leg between Birmingham and Leeds, which was cancelled in November 2021. The DfT said an update on safeguarding of the western leg line area will be given in due course alongside proposals for rail routes in the North of England. A spokesperson for HS2 Ltd said: HS2 Ltd has a responsibility for the safety and security of all land and property acquired to build the railway. More than 1,700 properties are currently managed by the company across the route including those on the former Phase 2 leg and it is in the best interests of local communities, project delivery and the taxpayer that they are kept safe and well maintained. Last month, transport secretary Heidi Alexander said her department was working with HS2 Ltd to reset the project after years of mismanagement, flawed reporting and ineffective oversight. She said there was no route to meet the target date of having HS2 services running by 2033. Five Al Jazeera employees have been killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza - including a journalist who feared he was going to be assassinated. Anas Al-Sharif died alongside four of his colleagues from the network: Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) had recently expressed "grave" concerns about Al-Sharif's safety, and claimed he was "being targeted by an Israeli military smear campaign". Gaza latest: Follow live updates Israel Defence Forces confirmed the strike - and alleged Al-Sharif was a "terrorist" who "served as the head of a terrorist cell in the Hamas terrorist organisation". It claimed he was "responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops". In a statement, Al Jazeera called it a "targeted assassination" - and "yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom". Last month, Al-Sharif said he lived with "the feeling that I could be bombed and martyred at any moment" because his coverage of Israel's operations "harms them and damages their image in the world". As of 5 August, at least 186 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza - but foreign reporters have been barred from covering the war independently since the latest conflict began in 2023. The Hamas-run government has described Israel's killing of these five Al Jazeera journalists as "brutal and heinous". A statement added: "The assassination was premeditated and deliberate, following a deliberate, direct targeting of the journalists' tent near al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. "The targeting of journalists and media institutions by Israeli aircraft is a full-fledged war crime aimed at silencing the truth and obliterating the traces of genocidal crimes." Read more: Netanyahu vows to defeat Hamas UK joins four countries in condemning Israel's plan for new Gaza operation Following Anas Al-Sharif's death, a post described as his "last will and testament" was posted on X. It read: "If these words of mine reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice." The 28-year-old added that he laments being able to fulfil his dream of seeing his son and daughter grow up - and alleged he had witnessed children "crushed by thousands of tonnes of Israeli bombs and missiles". "Do not forget Gaza... and do not forget me in your prayers for forgiveness and acceptance," he wrote. The CPJ reported that his father was killed by an Israeli airstrike on their family home in December 2023 after the journalist received telephone threats from Israeli army officers instructing him to cease coverage. Israel shut down the Al Jazeera television network in the country in May last year. Just Eats 4.1 billion euro (3.6 billion) takeover has been approved by European regulators after buyer Prosus agreed to address its competition concerns. The European Commission said new conditions to the tie-up will protect consumer choice when it comes to ordering food at home. Prosus, a technology firm which is majority-owned by South Africas Naspers, agreed to buy the Dutch takeaway delivery giant in May. But the EU regulator said it had concerns about the fact that Naspers already has a 28% stake in Delivery Hero, a rival to Just Eat. The deal could reduce competition in the takeaway market and lead to coordination between the two firms, which could have resulted in higher prices for consumers, the Commission said. To address these concerns, Naspers has agreed to reduce its shareholding in Delivery Hero to a very low percentage within 12 months, which it did not disclose, but would make it no longer the biggest shareholder. The regulator said the modified takeover terms eased its competition concerns and allowed it to give it the green light. European Commission executive Teresa Ribera said: We had concerns that the acquisition of Just Eat Takeaway.com by Naspers could allow the parties to coordinate their behaviour in the food delivery market, reducing competition and consumers choice. Todays binding commitments preserve both competition and consumer choice when ordering food at home. This decision also sends a clear warning to an industry with recent anti-trust issues: we wont tolerate any anti-competitive behaviour that may harm consumers. Prosus is expected to be the fourth largest food delivery group in the world following the takeover. The takeaway sector has been the subject of major takeover swoops in recent months, with UK-listed Deliveroo agreeing to be bought by US rival DoorDash for around 2.9 billion. Prosus chief executive Fabricio Bloisi said he was thrilled by the swift approval of the groups acquisition. Innovation doesnt wait, and we can now get to work quickly, as AI (artificial intelligence) is rapidly reshaping food delivery, he said. Our ambition is clear: to build a true European tech champion and lead the next chapter in food delivery innovation. Kemi Badenoch appeared to suggest the setting up of migrant camps when speaking about possible alternatives to using hotels to house asylum seekers comments which have been dubbed deeply troubling by refugee campaigners. As she met members of the community in Epping, Essex, the Conservative Party leader said: Weve got to turn things around very quickly. We cannot use rules from 1995, or 2005, or even 2015 for 2025. Our world is changing very quickly, and we need to adapt to it. Speaking on a visit to Epping, Ms Badenoch said: Is it possible for us to set up camps and police that, rather than bringing all of this hassle into communities? (PA) Ms Badenoch, who is attempting to persuade voters that the Tories can be trusted on the issue of migration in the face of a growing threat from Reform UK, added: Is it possible for us to set up camps and police that, rather than bringing all of this hassle into communities? As a party, we need to also hear from the community about what you think the solutions are. We dont have all the answers; its important that we make sure that the community is part of the problem solved. Responding to her remarks, Refugee Actions Tim Naor Hilton told The Independent: Its deeply troubling that our political leaders appear to be in a race to the bottom for who can treat people seeking asylum the most cruelly. It is creating an incendiary atmosphere in our communities that is emboldening dangerous far-right groups and leading to racist attacks on people seeking asylum. Hostile policies and rhetoric must stop now. People must be treated with dignity and housed properly in our communities so they can rebuild their lives in peace. It comes amid mounting tensions over asylum seekers housed in hotel accommodation in recent days, with protests taking place across the UK. Meanwhile, the government is ramping up its efforts to bring down migration amid growing public anger over the issue, announcing on Friday that the new one in, one out returns deal with France was up and running. The Home Office has also expanded its deport now, appeal later scheme, which sees foreign criminals deported before their appeals have been heard. But Ms Badenoch said the fresh government effort to deport foreign national offenders was the sort of stuff that they should have been doing on day one. Asked about the recent announcements, she told broadcasters: When we were deporting criminals, Keir Starmer was writing letters trying to stop our deportations, so Ill believe it when I see it. This is the sort of stuff that they should have been doing on day one. The fact that they tried to stop deportations before means that I dont really believe it. The government has released 26,000 prisoners since they came to power, released them early, [and] there are now more criminals on our streets, thats what Im really worried about. The deport now, appeal later scheme has been expanded to include offenders from another 15 countries including India, Bulgaria and Australia, bringing the total to 23 countries. It allows the UK to deport offenders who have had a human rights claim against their removal rejected, with any appeals heard from abroad over a video link. A Labour councillor called for far-right protesters throats to be slit during a rabble-rousing speech at an anti-racism protest, a court has heard. In the wake of rioting following the Southport murders, Ricky Jones, 58, described demonstrators as disgusting Nazi fascists, his trial was told. The now-suspended councillor had been told by the Labour Party to stay away from the protest, but turned up anyway, jurors heard. The demonstration had been organised in response to plans for a far-right march (PA) A video showing Jones addressing the crowd in Walthamstow, east London, on August 7 last year went viral on social media after the protest. Wearing a black polo top and surrounded by cheering supporters, the councillor said: They are disgusting Nazi fascists. We need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all. He also drew his finger across his throat as he spoke to the tinderbox crowd. The demonstration had been organised in response to plans for a far-right march outside Waltham Forest Immigration Bureau, jurors at Snaresbrook Crown Court were told. It followed the nationwide violent disorder that occurred last summer after the Southport murders. Prosecutor Ben Holt said Jones used inflammatory, rabble-rousing language in the throng of a crowd that we will hear described as a tinderbox. Opening the case on Monday, Mr Holt said: Last summer, three young girls were killed at a dance-themed party in Southport. There was some hysteria Some of that grief manifested itself in anger, and regrettably, violence. The incidents brought out counter-protests, one of which Jones decided to go to, the prosecutor said. He attended in the face of considered advice not to do so, Mr Holt added. At Walthamstow that day, rumours had spread that there was going to be a protest outside an immigration centre. During that event, he made a speech, amplified through a public address system, to the crowd. He called the other side disgusting Nazi fascists. He said that their throats needed to be slit. He drew his finger along his throat as he said that. This, in a setting where, we suggest, violence could readily have been anticipated. We ask rhetorically, what did Mr Jones think was going to happen? Describing the atmosphere at the demonstration as being like a tinderbox, Superintendent Jack May-Robinson told the court: Any spark could have led to an incident or disorder occurring. The atmosphere stayed incredibly tense as the protest continued into the evening, the officer added. In the days before the protest, the councillor had been warned to stay away by his party. A letter sent to him said: With heightened tensions in many areas of the country due to the threat of further violent disorder, we wanted to remind all Labour party councillors to follow the clear advice issued by the police which is not to take part in, attend or encourage others to attend, any sort of demonstration or counter demonstration. Jones, of Dartford, who denies one count of encouraging violent disorder, told police he was sorry he made the comments in the heat of the moment, and had not intended for them to be taken literally, Mr Holt said. The councillor also told police he was upset having been sent pictures of National Front stickers that had been left on a train, which had razor blades hidden behind them. Jones, who has been a borough councillor in Dartford, Kent, since 2019, was suspended by the Labour Party the day after the alleged incident. The trial continues. Lisa Eldridge (Lisa Eldridge) I was six when I discovered make-up. My mum and I were at my grandparents house, when I came across her teenage cosmetics case: Mary Quant crayons, Coty lipsticks, Elizabeth Arden eyeshadows .. It sparked my obsession with colour, make-up and its history. Audrey Hepburn is my ultimate make-up muse and beauty icon. Her signature, doe-eyed, gamine style has proved perennially popular and she was a beautiful person, inside and out. Who has inspired my career most? Make-up artist Mary Greenwell. Way before I was a make-up artist, I would use my pocket money to buy Vogue. The photoshoots would say make-up by Mary Greenwell. I remember thinking I want to be Mary Greenwell! One of the most memorable moments in my career was shooting for Prada in East Berlin with Ridley Scott and his daughter Jordan. We were there for a week. East Berlin was still quite avant-garde we had all of the Prada archives there and shot in the most amazing locations. One of my lipsticks, Meet Me In Berlin, I named as an homage to this memory. Lisa Eldridge doing makeup backstage at Jil Sander For me, make-up has always been more than glittering surfaces... Its a signifier of creativity and humanity. You have to know the past to understand the present, and once you realise that the make-up you carry in your handbag has traversed through hundreds of years to end up in your hand, your understanding of beauty will be revolutionised forever. After working for so many other brands for years, I was excited to do things my way. I pour my heart into my Lisa Eldridge Beauty products and I think it shows. Im always striving to create unique shades which have been described as un-dupable. My make-up philosophy is about enhancing what you have, only concealing where absolutely necessary. Ill apply a thin layer of my Lisa Eldridge Skin Enhancing tint (37, selfridges.com) and use my Pinpoint Concealer Micro Correcting pencil (27, spacenk.com) to cover some redness here, lift a shadow there. I team this pared-back skin with a my-lips-but-better lip my Baume Embrace in Epanoui (26, spacenk.com). My Kitten Lash Mascara in Burnt Umber (29, spacenk.com) is a favourite and lifted, fanned-out lashes. makes me look instantly more awake. (ES Comp) The insider beauty tip everyone should know? Facial massage! I learned the importance of it from my mum and, trust me, you only have to look at her to see the evidence of its beautifying benefits. Make-up is a creative outlet that can give such confidence. Ive witnessed the most reserved people use a confidence-boosting slick of red lipstick to tackle what lies ahead. Working with Isabella Rossellini for Lancomes 80th birthday party in Paris was a pinch-me moment. I have always been inspired by her beauty and all she stands for. Another was working with Dua Lipa for the 2019 Met Gala. I love witnessing the cyclical nature of trends, but its important to recognise their transience. A heavy, hyper-perfected make-up look has dominated the past few years, and the recent resurgence of 1990s grunge and more minimal looks is a manifestation of our fatigue at trying to achieve this. Likewise, the first-time round, 1990s grunge make-up was a reaction to the excessive glamour and full-on make-up of the 1980s. Am I a smell person? Yes! When I was living in Los Angeles I went to the Violet Grey store when it first opened and was bowled over by the Diana Vreeland fragrances, especially Daringly Different (195, e-scents.co.uk) with its iris, violet and leathery notes. Another scent that makes me happy is Oil of Ulay, as it used to be called. But its a bittersweet memory it takes me back to my grannys kitchen where she kept a bottle on the bureau. In my bathroom cabinet? The Ultra Violette Queen Screen SPF50 (38, ultraviolette.co.uk) which gives a beautiful glow and smells amazing. Also Lancome UV Expert Supra Screen SPF 50 Invisible UV Serum (41, lookfantastic.com), which I use in place of moisturiser at the moment. Its invisible finish makes it an ideal base for make-up. The reusable DIEUX Forever eye masks (22, dieuxskin.com) and my Skin Enhancing treatment cleanser (43, spacenk.com) its hardworking, multifunctioning... I cant be without it. If I could do the make-up for anyone in history it would be Elizabeth Taylor. When I was starting out, I was recommended to work with her for an Aids Foundation charity event. I was beside myself with excitement, but sadly, she was unwell and unable to make the journey. Tragically, this was towards the end of her life. I will always feel devastated I didnt get to meet her that day. President Donald Trump appeared to mix up Russia with Alaska ahead of his meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, during a White House press conference about crime in Washington, DC and his plans to deploy the National Guard and put the citys police under his control. Trump delivered the news from the podium in the press briefing room joined by Attorney General Pam Bondi, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and newly confirmed DC U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro where he decried the level of crime in Washington, DC. This is a tragic emergency, and its embarrassing for me to be up here, Trump told reporters. You know, Im going to see Putin. Im going to Russia on Friday. I dont like being up here, talking about how unsafe and how dirty and disgusting this once-beautiful capital [is]. Trump is not going to Russia, but rather to Alaska to meet with Putin. He is set to meet with the Russian president to discuss bringing an end to the war in Ukraine that Russia initiated when it invaded the sovereign nation in February 2022. 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 last week on Truth Social. President Donald Trump appeared to mix up Russia and Alaska during a press conference on Monday (AFP via Getty) The meeting will be the first between a US president and Putin since 2021, when Joe Biden met the Russian president in Switzerland. Its also the first time Putin has been to the US in a decade. This comes despite the fact that Putin is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. Last week, Alaskas senior Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski expressed her concern, but also cautious optimism, about the meeting taking place in Alaska. President Trump announced he will meet with President Putin in Alaska next Friday to continue negotiations to end Russias catastrophic war in Ukraine, Murkowski, a supporter of Ukraine, said in a statement. This is another opportunity for the Arctic to serve as a venue that brings together world leaders to forge meaningful agreements. 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. Critics of the announcement flagged the fact that Russia once claimed Alaska at the beginning of the 1770s and had native Alaskans hunt fur for Russians, before the United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867. Russians, for their part, hailed the decision to have the summit in Alaska. Born as Russian America Orthodox roots, forts, fur trade Alaska echoes those ties and makes the U.S. an Arctic nation, Russias special economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter). Meanwhile, Konstantin Malofeyev a billionaire sanctioned by the Obama administration for funding Russian separatists said Alaskans respectfully remember their Russian past and their Orthodox present. Trump said he wanted to see a meeting take place between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. But he also expressed his frustration with Zelensky. I was a little bothered by the fact that Zelensky was saying, Well, I have to get constitutional approval, Trump said. Hes got approval to go into war and kill everybody, but he needs approval to do a land swap, because therell be some land-swapping going on. I know that through Russia, and through conversations with everybody. To the good, for the good of Ukraine good stuff, not bad stuff; also some bad stuff for both. Trump said the negotiations would be very complex. And the word that they will use is, you know, they make changes, he said. Were going to change the lines, the battle lines they need. But I want to have a meeting set up between the two leaders. Trump has found the war in Ukraine to be one of his most vexing problems. In the past, he said he could end it within 24 hours. But despite his antagonistic attitude toward Zelensky and Ukraine, he has at times been frustrated with Putin and has continued to deliver arms to Ukraine. Gustaf Kilander and Rhian Lubin contributed to this report Andy Kettles, 58, blames government pessimism and rising National Insurance contributions for his ongoing job struggle - Andrew Fox What is the point of me? Will my wife and son ever be able to look at me with pride? Geoff Hos painfully candid words capture the depth of his debilitating low mood, the result of months of unemployment and some 250 rejections to his committed job applications. And the journalist and editor, who was widely praised for taking on terrorists during the London Bridge attack in 2017, is by no means alone in feeling this way. When he wrote about losing his job and his subsequent struggle to find another one for The Telegraph last month, his experience told the tale of a disturbing trend. A hollowing out of middle-class, white-collar jobs like his has hit the middle-aged, often in middle management, hard, leaving many devoid of confidence and unable to re-enter the workforce. A storm of economic factors, plus the increasing prevalence of AI, has created what experts are increasingly seeing as a specifically white-collar jobs recession. The latest Office for National Statistics data shows UK job vacancies have fallen for 36 consecutive months, breaking the previous record of 16 set during the 2008 global financial crisis. Over the past three years, redundancies have almost doubled from 55,000 people per month to 114,000, with the impact falling largely on middle-aged and older workers all during a period of (albeit slow) economic growth. Were heading for a jobs crisis like the 1980s, says James Reed, chairman and chief executive of Reed recruitment agency. Lots of people are going to be left behind as a result. If we see the hollowing-out of white-collar work it will affect millions of people, their living standards and the governments tax take. Here, Telegraph readers who saw echoes of their own experiences in Hos account share their seemingly never-ending battles for work. Im not ill, Ive got a lot to offer. Why am I being excluded from the workforce? Mike Forsdike, 54, is a creature of habit, so he continues getting up at 5.30am even though he has been out of work since last May. He goes for a run. But despite his best efforts, he cant help feeling affected by the sight of people heading to work near his central London home. He sounds admirably positive most of the time, but a note of frustration creeps into his voice when he talks about this. I think to myself, Theyre all going off to jobs, why arent I? Because Im not ill, Im not on benefits. Why am I being excluded from the workforce? Youre perfectly healthy, youve got a lot to offer, but youre not in the economic loop. Forsdike, a construction manager with some 30 years experience managing both residential projects and major commercial ventures including Tottenham Hotspurs stadium, has never been out of work before. Though he has been made redundant, he was always quickly snapped up. Mike Forsdike, 54, a construction manager with 30 years experience, faces prolonged unemployment despite his skills amid a stalled market - Julian Simmonds This time is different. He muses: You see Angela Rayner on a building site and shes had a hard hat on longer than me in the past year. He says that even in usually buoyant London, construction is totally dead, despite what he calls Whitehalls rhetoric about building infrastructure and homes. People arent buying, and there isnt any kind of business confidence, he adds. But he believes people of his age, in senior positions, seem particularly impacted. Ive got friends who are in the same situation, you know, sort of director level, he explains. People like me are sitting at home with the skills and experience; Ive got a degree, Im chartered. He admits that after sending out a few hundred job applications, he started dumbing down his CV. Youre reducing your actual knowledge and experience [in case people think], Hes too qualified. While he doesnt believe his role is directly being eroded by AI and technology, he says the recruitment and sifting process is affected by it. The interviews he has secured have mostly been conducted via Teams or Zoom, which is not the best because I feel youve got to meet people [...] Otherwise you feel youre just another one in the numbers. His partner works, but hes starting to tighten his belt. There will be no holidays this year. In truth, he says, he doesnt feel he deserves one. Every day is a weekend day, he adds, without enthusiasm. Ive applied for 600 jobs now Ive had to cash in a pension When asked how he is, Andy Kettles, 58, cannot hide his despondence. SSDD, he replies same s---, different day. It is, sadly, how the Nottingham project manager has felt since leaving his job at a tech company last July, despite his best efforts to stay positive. He has also worked in property management and financial services, so he has a wealth of experience. Yet, since leaving his job for a planned sabbatical, expecting to find another role within a few months, he has applied for at least 600 jobs. Since January, he has been invited to only 16 interviews, around a four per cent hit rate, he says. Same s---, different day is how Andy Kettles, 58, sums up his relentless job search - Andrew Fox He blames, in part, pessimism about the economy and the Governments approach, including the increase in employer National Insurance contributions. Business confidence fell because Rachel Reeves and Keir Starmer started bad mouthing the economy, he says. But he also believes AI is taking over certain administrative elements of his role, and he only sees that getting worse. He admits it also comes down to his age. I do know a number of people in similar roles to me who are in their mid-thirties to mid-forties who have lost their jobs during the past year, he says. But most [] have been able to secure roles within about four to five months. He lives alone, but his financial situation now means he has had to cash in a small pension. He admits he now avoids speaking to friends and family, in case they ask how the job search is going. Sometimes, when I get up in the morning, [I] just think Oh god, another day of this, he admits. Its embarrassing to be struggling so badly Neil Cumins recently applied for a job that attracted 455 applicants. He didnt get an interview. The 47-year-old, a freelance content writer for businesses and online publishers, has run his own company since 2007, writes for clients around the world, and has won awards yet now spends an increasing proportion of his week without work. That time is dedicated to applying for new contracts and commissions. It feels like a second job, he says. In 2023, his profits dropped by around a quarter; this year, theyve fallen by another 10 to 15 per cent. This year is looking like it will be the worst for 15 years in terms of turnover, he says. I started 2024 with 12 clients, and I ended it with seven. And some of the clients I do have appear to be reducing the amount of work distributed. Neil Cumins, 47, a freelance writer and business owner, faces dwindling work and income amid AI changes disrupting online publishing - Chris Watt Thankfully, his wife has a full-time job in Carlisle, where they live. While theyre reining in spending, and trying to insulate their eight-year-old son from the impact, he still feels embarrassed. Its embarrassing to know youre struggling so badly, and when youve applied for 200 roles without landing a single paid piece of work, it really preys on your mind, he says. The wider economic climate is not helping, but specifically he points to AI and changes within Google which have impacted online publishers. Theres been a dramatic fall in online traffic after some Google algorithm changes about 18 months ago which was quite catastrophic for a number of my clients, he says. Basically, they had to suspend all new content production because the income they were generating from their websites dried up almost overnight, and now things are going to get even worse, because Google is going to start turning off the 10 blue links that have driven traffic to third-party websites. These are the hyperlinks which have traditionally appeared at the top of all Google search results. Theyre going to try and publish things themselves as AI overviews, he explains, and stop directing traffic to these sites altogether, which means an awful lot of the internet as we know it will shrivel up and die. He adds that AI also threatens to replace human-generated content. AI is creating an awful lot of content that makes it very hard for written content to get through, he says, despite the quality of the AI content being extremely poor. Its part of my job to write about new technologies and every day I encounter AI results that are factually incorrect or misleading, he says. When people are using platforms like ChatGPT theres a certain level of excitement content is being generated for free, but theres nothing new being produced. Its just regurgitating existing content. When he climbs into bed these days, low mood can strike. While I understand rejections arent intended to be personal, its impossible not to take them personally, he says. There have been weeks where Ive been turned down for three roles in one afternoon and its hard to go to bed and feel like youve been productive and constructive that day. Biddy Baxter with Goldie in 1981 - BBC Biddy Baxter, who has died aged 92, transformed Blue Peter on BBC Television from a middling magazine programme for children into a national institution, and made household names of stars such as Valerie Singleton, John Noakes, Peter Purves and Caron Keating. During her 23 years as editor, she made Blue Peter required viewing for millions of youngsters keen to learn about life in other countries, looking after pets, or fashioning a working scale model of the Challenger space shuttle from used bottles of washing-up liquid, an egg-box, the inside of a toilet roll and the obligatory sticky-backed plastic. But while Biddy Baxters many admirers acclaimed her pioneering approach of always pushing back boundaries and letting children achieve things that might at first seem difficult, some critics sniped at what they considered her 1950s mindset that smothered Blue Peter with a stifling middle-class cosiness. Biddy Baxter in 1966 - Stuart Manning Children loved it, however, and made it a ratings success. In Biddy Baxters heyday in 1978 research showed that 70 per cent of Britains 5-12-year-olds watched; furthermore, nearly a third of the shows regular eight million viewers were adults. Launched as a seven-week experiment in October 1958, Blue Peter had been running for four years when Biddy Baxter joined in November 1962, first as producer and, from 1965, as editor. She introduced a second weekly edition and moved the programme into Studio One at Television Centre then the biggest in Europe to accommodate more ambitious items, such as, on one occasion, a marching troupe of 500 Girl Guides. Biddy Baxter in 1966 with a group of schoolchildren and Jason, the Blue Peter Siamese cat - Len Trievnor/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images She made the programme more pro-active and claimed that three-quarters of the ideas for the show came from the young viewers themselves. For their pains, they were awarded a Blue Peter badge another Baxter innovation and had their names logged in a card index in the shows special correspondence unit. Biddy Baxter resented criticism that the programme merely showed children how to make toys from household scrap. She injected a strong dose of social realism, showing starving children in Biafra, for example, but and this was new following up by offering viewers an opportunity to help. She tapped into a previously undiscovered pool of one childs compassion for another, and recognised that the young want to be part of a bigger helping group to join in hence the potency of the Blue Peter badge. In 1979 the success of the Blue Peter appeal for aid to Cambodia raised 2 million, prompting Biddy Baxter to raise the target to 3 million, which they achieved. Over the years the shows young viewers raised millions of pounds not in cash but by sending in old clothes, used stamps, paperback books and even milk-bottle tops. In 1971 the programme received an estimated seven and a half tons of silver paper. In her shaping of each programme Biddy Baxter was guided by two simple precepts. Its a matter of not talking down thats fatal, she told The Sunday Telegraph in 1971, but also of not assuming any previous knowledge. That way we can cover anything on Blue Peter. An only child, Joan Maureen Baxter, always known as Biddy, was born on May 25 1933 in Leicester, the daughter of a teacher who later became director of a sportswear company. Her idyllic childhood was ruffled when she wrote a fan letter to Enid Blyton, praising the famous authors nature journals. Delighted to receive a reply, she wrote again but was dismayed when the second letter she received was identical to the first. That sense of betrayal by adults remained with her for life. Educated at the Wyggeston Girls Grammar School and the women-only St Marys College at Durham University, Biddy Baxter was offered only teacher training or secretarial college as a career option. To spite her careers officer she applied to the BBC, and in 1955 began as a radio trainee studio manager, creating sound effects, among other technical tasks. She was promoted to producing Schools Junior English programmes and Listen with Mother in 1958. With Shep in 1971 - Stuart Manning Early in 1962 she won a brief attachment to BBC Childrens Television. A shortage of staff, brought about by the absence due to illness of the original Blue Peter producer John Hunter Blair, led to her being thrown in at the deep end, making programmes like Playbox (1955-64). On the day she resumed her radio job an advertisement appeared for a permanent television producers post. No one was more surprised than Baxter when she landed the job, despite her relative inexperience. One radio colleague branded her a traitor for defecting to television. Blue Peter was a not particularly successful studio-based magazine programme that had survived since 1958 mainly because it was cheap to make. In September 1961 Hunter Blair retired through ill-health, and Biddy Baxter became producer a year later. Biddy Baxter in the 1960s: when she began on Blue Peter a radio colleague branded her a traitor for moving to television - Stuart Manning She was promoted to programme editor in April 1965. A succession of presenters grew to both fear and respect Baxter, noted one television historian, dreading the clatter of expensive high heels on the staircase from the gallery if anything went badly wrong on the studio floor. In her first year as editor, 15,000 children responded to her Blue Peter appeal for viewers to send in woollen garments as part of an Oxfam campaign to raise money to buy a tractor for a farming school in Uganda. In 1969, when the show appealed for parcels of wool and cotton goods to buy a hospital lorry for west Africa, the response was even more staggering: 1.4 million parcels were received where only 144,000 were needed. In 1967 Biddy Baxter set a competition to design a new monster for Doctor Who, and in 1968 she made a star of a 14-week-old baby, Daniel Simon Scott, the eighth child of a Sussex rector, whose progress through infancy was charted through the next nine months of his life. In 1988 with the then presenters Caron Keating and Yvette Fielding, shortly after announcing her departure from Blue Peter - PA There were low points, too, including the deaths of Jason, the programmes Siamese cat, in 1976, and the following year that of Petra the dog. The original Petra was a mongrel puppy who died a few days after her debut in 1962, and the BBC hurriedly had to buy a replacement from a pet shop in Lewisham. Petra the Second was rather ill-tempered with poor eyesight and few teeth; nevertheless, viewers were saddened by news of her death in 1977, and a specially sculpted bronze head of Petra was erected at the entrance to Television Centre. Perhaps Biddy Baxters stickiest Blue Peter moment was when viewers were introduced to a baby elephant called Lulu. As soon as she instructed the animals keeper to dispense with his customary heavy stick, Lulu proceeded to rampage around the studio before relieving herself copiously on the floor. In the ensuing shambles, the presenters Valerie Singleton, Peter Purves and John Noakes found themselves covered in confusion and much else. In 2023 at the Bafta Childrens Awards in London - Sean Dempsey/PA Wire Baxter was appointed MBE in 1981 and awarded an honorary D Litt by the University of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1988, the year in which she left Blue Peter to accompany her future husband to Hong Kong, where he had been offered a job. Viewers saw her presented with the programmes highest honour, a gold Blue Peter badge. The following year, with Edward Barnes, she published Blue Peter: The Inside Story, and in 2008 a book of letters from viewers, Dear Blue Peter. Biddy Baxter continued to freelance as a broadcasting consultant. She became a fellow of the Royal Television Society and a council member of David Bellamys environmental charity, the Conservation Foundation. Biddy Baxter married her lifelong companion, John Hosier, principal of the Guildhall School of Music, shortly before his death in 2000. She had no children. Biddy Baxter, born May 25 1933, died August 10 2025 The novelist said the realisation had slowly dawned on him and led him to reread Naipauls earlier work - David Rose For the Telegraph The British Nobel literature laureate Abdulrazak Gurnah has labelled one of his predecessors racist. The Tanzanian-British novelist, who was awarded the Nobel prize in 2021, said he could no longer read the works of the late laureate Sir VS Naipaul. Speaking at the Edinburgh International Book Festival, he said that the realisation had slowly dawned on him and led him to reread Naipauls earlier work, which in turn cemented his opinion. Trinidadian-born British author Naipaul, who was knighted in 1990 and awarded the Nobel prize for literature in 2001, was a divisive but acclaimed author, who achieved his breakthrough with his semi-autobiographical novel A House for Mr Biswas. He won the Booker prize in 1971 for his novel In a Free State, and achieved success with his 1975 novel Guerillas. However, his personal views were questioned by many of his contemporaries. Naipaul achieved his breakthrough with his semi-autobiographical novel A House for Mr Biswas - Chris Ison/PA Naipaul had negative views on post-colonial life and wrote about the primitivism of African societies. He also said it was a mistake being born in Trinidad. Gurnah, who is best known for Paradise, By the Sea and Desertion, said that Naipaul was once someone he had read with great admiration. He said he believed Naipaul was less cautious about expressing racist views as he became older and more acclaimed. Speaking at the festival in Scotland, Gurnah said: At a certain point of reading him, I thought, Its true, this guy is a racist. And I cant read him any more. The case [that he is a racist] becomes less difficult in his later books. Unguarded racism He cited the authors 1979 work A Bend in the River, saying: It is in an unguarded form in some of his later writings. As he became older he [perhaps] became less careful. Gurnah said he could no longer read the works of Saul Bellow, the late Canadian-American writer, either. I think I probably read everything he had written with great admiration and then a certain point came when Bellow was being asked which African writers do you read or admire, and he said, When you produce your Zulu Tolstoy then I will read that, Gurnah said. [I thought], Right, I cant read that guy any more. He continued: Im afraid there are several writers that I read with great admiration who are now in that category. Because you find out more. You read with pleasure and a certain kind of innocence and then you learn more and think, well... The author, who became a literature professor at the University of Kent, moved to the UK in the 1960s as a refugee from Zanzibar. He left aged 17, four years after a coup broke out in the former British protectorate. Theres something dramatic about being displaced, Gurnah previously told The Telegraph. I see it as an experience of our times and one that allows me to comment on certain issues and ask questions about the divisions between this land and another or the now and the before. Stephanie Steve Shirley at the unveiling of a memorial to the Kindertransport mission on the quayside at Harwich, Essex, in 2022. She arrived in Britain as a child refugee from the Nazis when she was five. Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA For some, childhood trauma provides the spur to later achievement. The computer scientist Stephanie Steve Shirley undoubtedly viewed herself this way. She had sworn never, ever to be poor again, and that hers should be a life worth saving. Shirley, who has died aged 91, arrived in Britain as a child refugee from nazism at five years old. In the overwhelmingly male-dominated computer industry, she founded a company that pioneered outsourcing and opportunities for women, and reached a shareholder value of $3bn. Believing that money that isnt working has a kind of obscenity about it, she became one of Britains foremost philanthropists, supporting research and practice in the care of children with autism. A natural gift for mathematics led Shirley to a career in computing, when engineers and systems designers were first establishing that industry in the 1950s. At the time, women often had difficulty keeping their positions in the workplace after they married, and especially after they had children. Shirley married in 1959, and in 1962 she set up her own company, Freelance Programmers, to provide outsourced software development. With only 6 of capital, she started the business from her kitchen table. She decided to recruit women such as herself, experienced and professionally qualified but spending their time at home with domestic responsibilities. All they needed was a telephone, and a pencil and paper to draw flowcharts and write code. At first Shirley had an uphill struggle to win clients, but after she took to signing her letters of introduction as Steve instead of Stephanie, the work began to flow in. Major clients included the Anglo-French partnership that developed the supersonic Concorde airliner, for which Shirleys cottage industry workers programmed the black box flight recorder. The company pioneered flexible working, all designed to suit the needs of female employees. In 1974 Shirley rebranded the company as F International (later the FI Group; it eventually became Xansa), the F not only for freelance, but for also flexible and free. Of its first 300 employees, only three were men; but after the introduction of the Sex Discrimination Act in 1975, she recruited men and women equally. Although Shirley stepped down as chief executive in 1987, she remained the major shareholder until 1991. At that point she sold a controlling interest in the company to the staff: her proud claim was that she had made 70 of them into millionaires. With the flotation of the company in 1996, she too became personally wealthy, able to build up a substantial personal art collection which she later gave away to charities. She was never interested in money for its own sake, and in the same year she set up the Shirley Foundation to support causes that she cared about. The first of these was autism: her son, Giles, born in 1963, developed a severe form of the condition and died prematurely of an epileptic seizure in 1998. The second was information technology: Shirley provided the Worshipful Company of Information Technologists, a new livery company founded in 1980, with the means to acquire a permanent home in the City of London, and endowed the Oxford Internet Institute, founded in 2001, at the University of Oxford. The many honours she received in her lifetime recognised not only Shirleys success in business, but also the tens of millions of pounds she devoted to charitable causes. She was born Vera Stephanie Buchthal in Dortmund, Germany, where her Jewish father, Arnold, was a judge. His wife, Margaret (nee Schick), was from Vienna. As their lives became less and less secure under the Nazi regime, in 1939 the family took the agonising decision to send their two daughters, Vera and her elder sister, Renate, to Britain on the Kindertransport. The girls were fostered by a couple in Lichfield, Staffordshire, Guy and Ruby Smith, a time that Shirley remembered as happy and secure. Although the Buchthal parents eventually escaped to Britain, they separated after the war and the family was never fully reunited. A self-confessed swot, Vera attended Oswestry girls high school, having to go to the local boys school for lessons in mathematics. At the age of 18 she was naturalised as a British subject and took the name Stephanie Brook. Being unaware of opportunities for girls to study the science subjects that interested her, she opted not to go to university, a decision she later regretted. Instead she took a low-paid job (lower than if she had been a man) as a clerical officer at the Post Office Research Station in Dollis Hill, north-west London, carrying out mathematical work on a desk calculator. Over six years she managed to earn a mathematics degree through evening classes at the Sir John Cass Technical College, and was promoted to work on electronic computers. In 1959 she married Derek Shirley, an engineer at Dollis Hill. For the next two years she worked for Computer Developments, a division of the British computer manufacturer ICL, where she managed her own team of software developers. However, she continued to feel disadvantaged by her gender, and decided to leave and set up her own company. She headed the business while caring for her severely disabled son, and suffered a breakdown before she finally gained access to appropriate professional support. The experience informed her choices as a philanthropist: she first set up a residential home for Giles and other young people with autism, and subsequently endowed further autism charities including the residential school Priors Court, in Berkshire, and the medical research organisation Autistica. She applied her business acumen to her philanthropic activities, never being satisfied just to give money away. She was made a dame in 2000 and a companion of honour in 2017. In 2010 she appeared on BBC Radio 4s Desert Island Discs. A self-confessed workaholic, Shirley declared that work is not just something I do when Id rather be doing something else. Her autobiography, Let IT Go came out in 2012 and she took every opportunity, through interviews and public appearances, to present her experience as an inspiration to others. Many successful women downplay the struggles they have faced because of their gender, but Shirley was vocal about the sexism she had encountered. Ambitious women have flat heads, she told the audience at a TED talk in 2015 from being patted patronisingly. It would have been many years, however, since anyone had dared to patronise Steve Shirley. Derek died in 2021. Shirley is survived by her niece, Clare. Vera Stephanie Steve Shirley, computer scientist, businesswoman and philanthropist, born 16 September 1933; died 9 August 2025 Incident happened inside Torpoints Co-op on Wednesday A man has died after he was restrained by a vigilante Co-op customer. The man, 52, was reported to police after staff at the Co-op store in Fore Street, Torpoint, Cornwall, were attacked at 4.45pm on Wednesday Aug 6. He was restrained by a male customer but became unresponsive a short while later. The man was taken to hospital in a critical condition but died in hospital on Saturday, Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed. A man in his 40s, from Millbrook, was arrested on suspicion of assault and has been bailed until Nov 1, while further enquiries are carried out into the incident. Devon and Cornwall Police are appealing for more information from anyone who saw what happened. A spokesman for the force said: A 52-year-old man has died in hospital following an incident in Torpoint on Wednesday 6 August. Police were called at 4.45pm following reports of a disturbance at Co-op Food in Fore Street. During the incident the man was restrained by another customer but became unresponsive a short time later. The man, from Torpoint, was treated by paramedics and taken to Derriford Hospital. Police are continuing their enquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information is asked to contact police online or by telephone on 101, quoting log number 696 of 06/08/25. Sgt Haylee Curtis won an appeal at the Employment Appeal Tribunal - Solent A sergeant is suing the RAF for discrimination after she missed out on promotion because a fitness test got cancelled when she was pregnant. Sgt Haylee Curtis is taking RAF bosses to an employment tribunal as she claims that she was unable to advance rank without a fitness test, which was cancelled. Her official medical records stated it was cancelled three days before the test due to being pregnant, a hearing was told. Sgt Curtis has now been given permission to sue the Ministry of Defence after winning an appeal at the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT). Her pregnancy discrimination case had been thrown out at an employment tribunal in Watford, but the EAT ruled that legal mistakes had been made in the dismissal of the original claim. The appeal hearing in London was told that Sgt Curtis alleges that she was discriminated during her pregnancy and maternity leave during 2017 and into 2018. She was a corporal at the time, and was eligible for promotion to sergeant and had to wait for a vacancy. The tribunal heard that she had injured herself playing netball and was medically downgraded, with a full fitness certificate required to apply for opportunities at the sergeant rank. She was due to attend the medical board in August 2017, so that she could have her fitness tested but it was cancelled because of her pregnancy. The EAT heard that Sgt Curtis believed that the cancellation of her medical board appointment, was discriminatory. Sgt Curtis has since been promoted to sergeant, but she claimed that the discrimination had long term consequences for her career and career earnings. She said that her career extension referring to the period of career security service personnel are afforded, and whether it will be lengthened beyond an initial contracted term would have been significantly longer if she had been promoted at an earlier date. Sgt Curtis claimed that the discrimination had long term consequences for her career and career earnings - Solent Sgt Curtis gave birth in November 2018, and while on maternity leave in April 2018, was offered a sergeants post at RAF Benson, Oxfordshire. However, she was only given 24 hours to think about it and had to turn it down because it was too far from her base in Honington, Suffolk. She applied for a vacancy at the Military Correction Training Centre in Colchester but was rejected because she did not have a full fitness certificate. In January 2019, after her return to work, she made a service complaint within the RAF featuring a number of issues. Her employer did not pass the complaint about the cancellation of the medical board through to investigation, and it was not made clear to Sgt Curtis that they had deemed it inadmissible. The tribunal in Watford originally dismissed her case, ruling that it did not have jurisdiction to hear it. Her Honour Judge Katherine Tucker, of the EAT, ruled that the tribunal concluded in error. She said: The military authorities then had an opportunity to address that complaint...they did not do so, for reasons which remain wholly unclear. She added that they failed to inform [Sgt Curtis] that part of the complaint was inadmissible, as they were mandated to do by relevant statutory provisions. The case will now return to an employment tribunal to be heard afresh. The Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif was killed with colleagues in Gaza by a targeted Israeli airstrike. Photograph: Karim Jaafar/AFP/Getty Images Israel is running two Gaza campaigns: one for military control of the strip; another for narrative control of how the world understands what happens there. In theory, Palestinian journalists and social media influencers documenting starvation, mass killing and other Israeli war crimes in Gaza are protected civilians under international law. Related: Global outrage mounts as funeral held for five journalists killed by Israel But those paper protections have meant little on the ground in Gaza, by far the most dangerous place in the world to be a reporter, where more than 180 Palestinian journalists were killed in 22 months of war, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Even though it is illegal to target journalists, the CPJ said that over the same period 26 reporters were victims of targeted killings, which it described as murders. The most recent was the 28-year-old Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif, killed on Sunday in his makeshift newsroom outside a hospital, along with four colleagues. Press freedom groups and journalists say those killings are part of a campaign of intimidation to shut down vital reporting, which Israel has justified internationally with smears and false claims that the targets were undercover Hamas fighters. With international reporters barred from independent reporting in Gaza a handful have been allowed in under Israeli military escort, but they are not allowed to move freely or speak to Palestinians the work done by journalists in Gaza is critical. Coverage of the war in Gaza is constrained by Israeli attacks on Palestinian journalists and a bar on international reporters entering the Gaza Strip to report independently on the war. Israel has not allowed foreign reporters to enter Gaza since 7 October 2023, unless they are under Israeli military escort. Reporters who join these trips have no control over where they go, and other restrictions include a bar on speaking to Palestinians in Gaza. Palestinian journalists and media workers inside Gaza have paid a heavy price for their work reporting on the war, with over 180 killed since the conflict began. The committee to protect journalists has determined that at least 19 of them were directly targeted by Israeli forces in killings which CPJ classifies as murders. Foreign reporters based in Israel filed a legal petition seeking access to Gaza, but it was rejected by the supreme court on security grounds. Private lobbying by diplomats and public appeals by prominent journalists and media outlets have been ignored by the Israeli government. To ensure accurate reporting from Gaza given these restrictions, the Guardian works with trusted journalists on the ground; our visual teams verify photo and videos from third parties; and we use clearly sourced data from organisations that have a track record of providing accurate information in Gaza during past conflicts, or during other conflicts or humanitarian crises. Emma Graham-Harrison, chief Middle East correspondent I have no doubt that the prevention of international access, the killings of journalists, the targeting of media facilities, the punishment of [Israeli] outlets like Haaretz is part of a deliberate strategy on the part of Israel to conceal what is happening inside Gaza, said the CPJ chief executive, Jodie Ginsberg. She pointed to a recent incident when a BBC crew reported from a Jordanian military plane dropping humanitarian aid into Gaza but was barred by Israel from filming the devastation below. We had the example of the international news crews being allowed to film the airdrops but not the devastation when the doors opened. In July, Sharif, one of the most prominent journalists still working in Gaza, went viral on social media when he broke down on air covering starvation. Passersby urged him to keep going because he gave Gaza a voice. Soon after, an Israeli military spokesperson revived allegations first aired in 2024 that he was a militant, including accusing him of faking mass hunger in a false Hamas campaign on starvation. The CPJ issued a stark warning that those Israeli claims were a death threat. These latest unfounded accusations represent an effort to manufacture consent to kill Sharif, CPJ regional director Sara Qudah said at the time. This is not the first time Sharif has been targeted by the Israeli military, but the danger to his life is now acute. Sharif had also anticipated his own death and described it as retaliation for his reporting in a statement released on social media. If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice, he wrote. Israel has published a dossier of documents it says were recovered from Gaza and link Sharif to Hamas. They end in 2021, two years before the war began, and do not even attempt to address his regular appearances live on camera. A role as one of the most prominent journalists in one of the most closely surveilled places on Earth would be strikingly difficult to combine with command of a Hamas unit during an all-out war. Documents Israel published after killing another Al Jazeera journalist last year claimed Ismail al-Ghoul was given a military rank when he was 10 years old. While they marshalled contradictory and unconvincing evidence, the existence of those files reflected Israeli concerns about pressure from western allies, and the need for at least the appearance of compliance with international law. Despite international pressure, Israel has not offered any explanation for the deaths of Sharifs four colleagues, protected civilians killed in their workplace. Ginsberg said she feared that was a warning that already unimaginable risks had escalated further. Whats astonishing to me is theyve not even attempted to justify the other killings, she said. So theyre admitting to murdering those journalists, knowing they were journalists. I think this is deliberately intended to have a chilling effect to show that Israel can do what it likes, and nobody will take any action. If we are now at a stage where Israel can so brazenly target an entire news crew, what does that mean for the safety of any of the other journalists who are operating there. Who is next? French historian Jean-Pierre Filiu, given rare permission to enter Gaza for academic research during the conflict, said a month researching there had also convinced him that Israel is trying to silence reporting from Gaza. Now I understand why Israel is denying the international press access to such an appalling scene, he said in an interview with Haaretz after the trip. Even though I have been in a number of war zones in the past, from Ukraine to Afghanistan, via Syria, Iraq and Somalia, I have never, but never, experienced anything like this. IDF claims Anas al-Sharif, who had raised concerns about being bombed, was the leader of a Hamas cell. (Photograph: Al Jazeera) A prominent Al Jazeera journalist who had previously been threatened by Israel has been killed along with four colleagues in an Israeli airstrike. Anas al-Sharif, who was one of Al Jazeeras most recognisable faces in Gaza, was killed while inside a tent for journalists outside al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Sunday night. His funeral was held on Monday morning. Seven people in total were killed in the attack, including al-Sharif, Al Jazeera correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa, according to the Qatar-based broadcaster. Related: Netanyahu defends Gaza City plan as UN warns of calamity and starvation The Israel Defense Force admitted the strike, claiming the reporter had served as the head of a terrorist cell in the Hamas terrorist organisation and was responsible for advancing rocket attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF forces. It claimed it had intelligence and documents found in Gaza as proof but rights advocates said he had been targeted for his frontline reporting on the Gaza war and that Israels claim lacked evidence. Calling al-Sharif one of Gazas bravest journalists, Al Jazeera said the attack was a desperate attempt to silence voices in anticipation of the occupation of Gaza. Last month Israeli IDF spokesperson Avichai Adraee shared a video of al-Sharif on X and accused him of being a member of Hamas military wing. At the time the UN special rapporteur on freedom of expression, Irene Khan, called it an unsubstantiated claim and a blatant assault on journalists. In July, al-Sharif told the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) that he lived with the feeling that I could be bombed and martyred at any moment. After the attack, the CPJ said it was appalled to learn of the journalists deaths. Israels pattern of labelling journalists as militants without providing credible evidence raises serious questions about its intent and respect for press freedom, said CPJ regional director Sara Qudah. Journalists are civilians and must never be targeted. Those responsible for these killings must be held accountable. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemned what it described as a bloody crime of assassination. In January this year, after a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, al-Sharif drew widespread attention when, during a live broadcast, he removed his body armour while surrounded by dozens of Gaza residents celebrating the temporary halt in hostilities. A few minutes before his death, al-Sharif posted on X: Breaking: Intense, concentrated Israeli bombardment using fire belts is hitting the eastern and southern areas of Gaza City. In a final message, which Al Jazeera said had been written on 6 April and which was posted to al-Sharifs X account after his death, the reporter said that he had lived through pain in all its details, tasted suffering and loss many times, yet I never once hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification. Allah may bear witness against those who stayed silent, those who accepted our killing, those who choked our breath, and whose hearts were unmoved by the scattered remains of our children and women, doing nothing to stop the massacre that our people have faced for more than a year and a half, he continued. The 28-year-old leaves behind a wife and two small children. His father was killed by an Israeli strike on the family home in Jabalia refugee camp in Gaza City in December 2023. At the time al-Sharif said he would continue to report and refused to leave northern Gaza. Another Al Jazeera journalist in Gaza, Hani Mahmoud, said: This is perhaps the hardest thing Im reporting about the past 22 months. Im not far from al-Shifa hospital, just one block away, and I could hear the massive explosion that took place in the past half an hour or so, near al-Shifa hospital. I could see it when it lit up the sky and, within moments, the news circulated that it was the journalist camp at the main gate of the al-Shifa hospital. Al-Sharif and his colleagues have been reporting from Gaza since the beginning of the conflict. Its important to highlight that this attack is just a week after an Israeli military official directly accused Anas and directly ran a campaign of incitement on Al Jazeera and correspondents on the ground because of their work, because of their relentless reporting on the starvation and the famine and the malnutrition, Mahmoud added. Israel has killed multiple Al Jazeera journalists and members of their families, including Hossam Shabat, who was killed in March, and Ismail al-Ghoul and his cameraman Rami al-Rifi, who were killed in August. Chief correspondent Wael al Dahdouhs wife, son, daughter and grandson were killed in October 2023 and he himself was injured in an attack weeks later that killed Al Jazeera cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa. Israel, which does not allow foreign journalists into Gaza and which has targeted local reporters, has killed 237 journalists since the war started on 7 October 2023, according to Gazas government media office. The Committee to Protect Journalists said at least 186 journalists have been killed in the Gaza conflict. Israel denies deliberately targeting journalists. With Reuters and Agence France-Presse Dennis 'Tink' Bell (far right) during Christmas festivities at Admiralty Bay Base on King George Island in 1958 The remains of a British meteorologist who died in Antarctica 66 years ago have been discovered in a melting glacier, the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has confirmed. Dennis "Tink" Bell, then 25, perished on July 26, 1959, after falling into a crevasse on a glacier at Admiralty Bay on King George Island. His remains were located by a team from the Henryk Arctowski Polish Antarctic Station on January 19, exposed by a receding glacier, the BAS announced Monday. Bone fragments were transported to the Falkland Islands aboard the BAS Royal Research Ship Sir David Attenborough, then handed to Malcolm Simmons, the coroner for British Antarctic Territory, who brought them to London from Stanley. DNA testing at Kings College London definitively matched the remains with samples from Mr Bells brother, David, and his sister, Valerie Kelly. When my sister Valerie and I were notified that our brother Dennis had been found after 66 years we were shocked and amazed, David Bell, now living in Australia, said. The British Antarctic Survey and British Antarctic Monument Trust have been a tremendous support and, together with the sensitivity of the Polish team in bringing him home, have helped us come to terms with the tragic loss of our brilliant brother. Mapped: Admiralty Bay on King George Island Bell trained as a radio operator in the Royal Air Force before joining the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey (Fids) as a meteorologist in 1958. He was stationed for a two-year assignment at Admiralty Bay, a small UK base with half a dozen men, on King George Island one of the South Shetland Islands which lie in the Southern Ocean about 124 miles off the northern coast of the Antarctic Peninsula. On July 26 1959, Mr Bell and three of his colleagues meteorologist Ken Gibson, surveyor Jeff Stokes, and geologist Colin Barton left base with two dog sledges to climb the glacier and carry out survey and geological work. But on the way up, the soft snow made the journey difficult, and the dogs began to show signs of tiredness. To encourage them Bell went ahead tragically without his skis, the BAS said. Suddenly he disappeared leaving a gaping hole in the crevasse bridge through which he had fallen. According to accounts in the British Antarctic Survey records, Mr Stokes made a first attempt at lifting Mr Bell out of the hole using a rope. But Mr Bell had tied the rope around his belt, which broke as he reached the lip of the crevasse. After this second fall, Mr Bell no longer responded to calls from Mr Stokes. Thats a story I shall never get over, Mr Bells brother David told the BBC. Dennis Tink Bell (far right) during Christmas festivities at Admiralty Bay Base on King George Island in 1958 (BAS/PA) Mr Stokes later met with Gibson and Barton coming down the glacier, and the three men made another attempt at finding Mr Bell. But weather conditions rapidly deteriorated, and they were not able to reach the crevasse in time, according to the BAS records. It was probably 12 hours before we found the site and there was no way he could have survived, Ken Gibson said. The confirmation of the remains found on Ecology Glacier as those of Dennis Tink Bell is both a poignant and profound moment for all of us at British Antarctic Survey, Professor Dame Jane Francis, Director of BAS, said. Dennis was one of the many brave Fids personnel who contributed to the early science and exploration of Antarctica under extraordinarily harsh conditions. Even though he was lost in 1959, his memory lived on among colleagues and in the legacy of polar research. This discovery brings closure to a decades-long mystery and reminds us of the human stories embedded in the history of Antarctic science. David Bell added: Dennis was the oldest of three siblings and was my hero as he seemed to be able to turn his hand to anything, servicing petrol engines, photography including processing his own films. The Polish expedition which recovered Mr Bells remains also found over 200 personal items, including the remains of radio equipment, a flashlight, ski poles, an inscribed Erguel wristwatch, a Swedish Mora knife, ski poles, and an ebonite pipe stem. Hippo was adopted by Hannah Graham from the RSPCA's Southridge Animal Centre three days before the ban (Hannah Graham/ Instagram ) A leading animal charity has called for an in-depth review of dog control legislation, claiming the recent ban on XL Bully breeds is failing to protect the public. Thousands of suspected banned dogs have been seized and hundreds euthanised since the Government introduced its ban on XL Bully dogs in December 2023, official data shows yet dog attacks and human fatalities persist, the RSPCA has warned. Data obtained by the RSPCA from 19 police forces across the UK shows that in 2024, 1,035 dogs were seized as suspected banned types and a majority of those 674, or more than 65% were assessed and identified as XL bullies. Across all 43 forces, the numbers will be considerably higher, it said. Despite the ban on XL Bullies, there were ten reported dog-related fatalities in the UK in 2024 higher than in any full year before the ban was first announced, while police forces also reported seeing more out-of-control dog attacks causing injury in 2024. The five police forces reporting the highest number of seized dogs were Leicestershire (192 dogs, including 177 XL bullies), Nottinghamshire (145, including 132 XL Bullies), Thames Valley (134), Humberside (99) and Lincolnshire (52). Only seven police forces reported euthanasia figures, but figures show 511 banned types of dog were put to sleep. Of those dogs put to sleep by police forces, a majority were assessed as XL bullies. Pet experts say that dangerous dog laws in England and Wales has focused on how a dog looks rather than its behaviour. Now, they are calling on ministers to commit to a full and in depth review of dog control, as this week the Dangerous Dogs Act marks 34 years on the statute book. Hannah Graham and her XL Bully Hippo (Hannah Graham/ Instagram) The charity has urged decision makers to prioritise encouraging responsible dog ownership rather than banning breeds based on their appearance. Under section one the Dangerous Dogs Act, dogs can be seized if they are a prohibited type, namely an XL Bully, Pit Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino or Fila Brasileiro. Dr Samantha Gaines, Head of Companion Animals at the RSPCA, said the data shows a predictable and depressing picture for bully breeds, with large numbers being seized and put to sleep. "Many of these dogs will have been much-loved family pets; their existence made illegal by a change of legislation focused purely on how a dog looks rather than their behaviour, she said. XL Bullies can only be kept legally as pets if they comply with strict regulations, including the owner having obtained an exemption certificate by the end of January 2024, and that they wear a muzzle in all public places. Hippo, an XL bully, was adopted by Hannah Graham from the RSPCA's Southridge Animal Centre just three days before the ban on adopting them came into force at the end of 2023. Hannah Graham and Hippo having a cuddle (Hannah Graham/ Instagram) Ms Graham said: "The staff at Southridge were all absolutely amazing. "The moment we saw his picture on the RSPCA website, it really was love at first sight. But we weren't local, and needed to ensure he'd get on with our existing dog. We travelled down to the centre, stayed nearby overnight, and luckily it was a perfect match." As part of the adoption process, Hannah had to ensure she was able to comply with all of the rules around owning XL Bullies under the Dangerous Dogs Act. Ms Graham added: "It was quite a stressful process. The rules were quite vague, and there was pressure on us on how to interpret them. The ban also came in quite quickly, meaning muzzles weren't routinely available straight away in sizes suitable for an XL bully and initially we found muzzles were just too small for him. We were worried he would be too hot going out, or have issues with panting. Thankfully, he has a much bigger muzzle now." "Within hours, he just wanted cuddles. He's a dog who wants to be close to us all the time - he loves people; and everyone he meets and sees," she added. "Some people avoid us out and about or are cautious and we know some people aren't comfortable about XL Bullies. But others make a big effort to come and say hello and meet him; and for those initially nervous, Hippo often changes their mind with his infectious personality. Hippo having a nap on the sofa (Hannah Graham/ Instagram) "I've worked in animal rescue before and am really supportive of ongoing efforts to campaign against the XL Bully ban, and breed specific legislation in general. The wrong dogs are targeted by the ban - so many innocent dogs have been affected; and sadly unsavoury people who don't look after dogs properly or want to do harm will find a way around the law or just move onto a different breed anyway. That's why I support dog licensing instead." Dr Gaines said: "It is absolutely heartbreaking that dog fatalities and serious bite incidents are continuing and in very concerning numbers which underlines that the Dangerous Dog Act simply isn't working, and hasnt been for 34 years. "The UK Government urgently needs to adopt a different approach; focused instead on preventing dangerous behaviours rather than focusing on the dog's individual breed. "The law has been failing dogs and, crucially, public safety too for long. It's time for decision makers to review the current dog control situation and commit to measures which effectively protect public safety and safeguard dog welfare." Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has warned that a fight is coming because gay rights are rapidly and urgently getting worse. The award-winning screenwriter, 62, best known for reviving BBC sci-fi series Doctor Who in 2005, gained prominence in 1999 for writing Queer As Folk, a programme about the lives of three men living in Manchesters gay village. Davies is urging young people to use the anger of the past to protect gay rights amid growing support for Reform UK which has pledged to ban transgender ideology in schools. Speaking to the Big Issue, Davies said: When Queer As Folk came out in 1999, if youd said: What will gay rights be like in 2025?, wed have said, oh, it will all be marvellous itll be sunshine and skipping down the street, hand in hand gays, queers, lesbians, everyone. And look at where we are. Things got better but now things are rapidly and urgently getting worse. What happens in America always happens here (the UK) and as we look down the barrel of a Reform government, we, the gay community, queer community, should be revolting in terror and anger and action. Theyre out to get us. The President of America is literally out to get us, is discounting us. He would be happier with us invisible and gone, defunded, completely invisible if not biologically altered to become as straight as him. Russell T Davies arrives for the premiere of Doctor Who at the BFI Southbank in London (Ian West/PA) I hope theyre prepared to fight, that younger generation that has no idea how they got there. And neither should they theyre busy living their lives. I didnt spend my youth looking back at World War Two, but I do think: are you prepared to fight, because a fight is coming? Davies next Channel 4 series, Tip Toe, deals with the culture war that has radicalised some people into homophobia, transphobia and prejudice. Davies said: Im very proud of it. Its radical, its savage, and its hilarious. It is the strongest thing Ive written I do believe Queer As Folk, Cucumber, Its A Sin and Tip Toe are the ones that will be on my gravestone. Reform UK has been contacted for comment. The full interview with Davies can be read in this weeks Big Issue. British favourite cod and chips could be harder to come by with the fish in short supply (Getty Images) Rapidly warming seas around Britain are resulting in highly visible shifts in the species living in our waters, creating fishing challenges and opportunities which could affect what we eat in future. British waters are in the grip of a marine heatwave, which has seen record average temperatures over the first seven months of the year, according to analysis of Met Office data carried out by the BBC. An intense heatwave in May elevated UK waters by up to 4C, and the broader effects of the global climate crisis indicate that such warming is likely to continue. Experts told The Independent that the warming seas are bringing an abundance of new species to British waters, including jellyfish, spider crabs, sardines, anchovies, bluefin tuna and an unexpected influx of octopus. Meanwhile, numbers of brown crabs are down, and traditionally-fished species like cod and haddock are in short supply as they move further north to cooler waters. Experts have warned cod from British waters are moving north to find cooler seas (Getty) Mike Roach, deputy chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO) told The Independent climate change means "our seas are changing". "We do have a species distribution shift, we're seeing bluefin tuna in increasing numbers, and we have an octopus bloom which we're seeing on the south coast as well. These are all potentially linked to climate change and warming seas. "For our industry it brings opportunities and challenges. Bluefin tuna is an absolute opportunity. It's well-controlled and regulated, the fishermen have been involved in the scientific data collection and management proposals. The octopus are also providing a great opportunity. It's allowed the fishermen to offset some of their economic losses from the crab populations going down. This is a climate-driven effect." So is the UK's national dish of fish and chips in danger as warmer waters chase cod away? Professor John Pinnegar, the lead adviser on climate change at Cefas, the government's marine and freshwater science agency, told The Independent: "most people don't realise that nearly all of the cod and haddock we eat in Britain is imported. It has been really since the 1930s. That's going to continue to be the case. A lot of the fish we catch around the UK, like mackerel and langoustines, are exported to countries further south." Meanwhile, stocks of bluefin tuna are increasing in numbers (Getty) He added: "So we import the things we like to eat from countries further north, and we export what we catch to countries further south." However, the decline of cod around our shores means that despite being able to import them to keep fish and chip shop menus looking familiar, what British fishers are actually landing is changing. "We're generally seeing a lot more cephalopods cuttlefish, octopus and squid than has been the case in the past," Professor Pinnegar said. "So all around the UK, particularly in the North Sea, fisheries are starting to target them more than they used to. "Some of our traditional target species, like cod and haddock have been restricted, so lots of fishers are fishing for squid." Squid and chips doesn't have quite the same ring to it, but experts warn that tastes in Britain are too limited to traditional fish species. "The British public are hooked on the top five (cod, haddock, salmon, tuna and prawns), and we land more than 50 different species in the UK," said Mr Roach. "If we were eating a diversity of species that are seasonal and caught in UK waters, then that would offset these regime shifts we're seeing." Dartford councillor Ricky Jones (The Labour Party) A suspended Labour councillor described far-right protesters as "disgusting Nazi fascists" and said "we need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all", a court has heard. Ricky Jones, 58, is on trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court charged with encouraging violent disorder during an anti-racism protest in Walthamstow, east London, on August 7 last year. Jurors were shown a video in which Jones appeared to tell a crowd through a microphone: "They are disgusting Nazi fascists. We need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all." He also drew his finger across his throat as he spoke to the "tinderbox" crowd. Prosecutor Ben Holt said: "That clip went viral and came to the attention of the police and others and led to Mr Jones being arrested on the following day on August 8." He added that Jones used "inflammatory, rabble-rousing language in the throng of a crowd that we will hear described as a tinderbox". The now-suspended councillor had been told by the Labour Party to stay away from the protest, but turned up anyway, jurors heard. Opening the case on Monday, Mr Holt said: "Last summer, three young girls were killed at a dance-themed party in Southport. "There was some hysteria... Some of that grief manifested itself in anger, and regrettably, violence." The incidents brought out counter-protests, one of which Jones decided to go to, the prosecutor said. "He attended in the face of considered advice not to do so," Mr Holt added. The demonstration was organised in response to the nationwide violent disorder that occurred last summer following the fatal stabbings at a childrens dance class in Southport, Merseyside. Jones, of Dartford, who denies one count of encouraging violent disorder, told police he was "sorry" he made the comments "in the heat of the moment", and had not intended for them to be "taken literally", Mr Holt said. The councillor also told police he was upset having been sent pictures of National Front stickers that had been left on a train, which had razor blades hidden behind them. Jones, who has been a borough councillor in Dartford, Kent, since 2019, was suspended by the Labour Party the day after the alleged incident. The trial continues. Tablets of mifepristone and misoprostol. Photograph: NurPhoto/Getty Images A Texas woman has sued a man she says dosed her with abortion pills against her will as well as the provider who she says supplied the pills. The woman, Julia, whose name has been changed for privacy, on Monday filed a federal wrongful death lawsuit against the telemedicine abortion service Aid Access and its founder, Dr Rebecca Gomperts, as well as a man, John (whose name has also been changed), a US marine who Julia said impregnated her and subsequently dosed her with abortion pills. Julia is being represented in the lawsuit by Jonathan Mitchell, a lawyer who masterminded the Texas six-week abortion ban and has become one of the major architects of anti-abortion strategy in the post-Roe v Wade era. Mitchell has represented men in lawsuits who have sued abortion providers after accusing their female partners of undergoing abortions against their wishes, but this case is thought to be the first of its kind with a female plaintiff. Related: Medication abortions drove up number of US procedures after Roes repeal, study shows After Julia revealed her pregnancy to John, he repeatedly pressured her to get an abortion and went so far as to order abortion pills online from Aid Access, a service that ships abortion pills to all 50 US states, according to Julias lawsuit, which includes extensive screenshots of texts between John and Julia. When Julia refused to take the pills, John allegedly browbeat her and suggested that he testify against Julia in her ongoing divorce proceeding against her ex-husband. Julia told John that her ex-husband had physically and emotionally abused both Julia and her three children, the lawsuit alleges. Then, in April 2025, John proposed that he come over to Julias house for a trust building night, according to the lawsuit. While Julia stepped outside to let her dog in, John allegedly dissolved at least 10 abortion pills into her hot chocolate. Typically, US abortions consist of two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol. While mifepristone is usually swallowed, misoprostol is meant to dissolve slowly in the vagina, under the tongue or in the cheeks. Soon afterward, Julia began cramping and bleeding, her lawsuit alleges. John said that he would pick up Julias mother, so that she could watch Julias children while they went to the emergency room. However, John did not return. Julia then allegedly discovered the box of mifepristone that John had ordered from Aid Access, which John had left at her house. The box was empty. Julia also allegedly found an orange pill bottle containing both mifepristone and misoprostol pills. She rushed to the ER but ended up miscarrying eight weeks into her pregnancy. There is no medical test that can determine whether abortion pills, if taken orally, caused the end of a pregnancy. The lawsuit, which was previously reported by Autonomy News, is now seeking nominal, compensatory, and punitive damages. In addition to accusing John, Aid Access and Gomperts of violating multiple laws in Texas where virtually all abortions are banned it alleges that the trio also violated the federal Comstock Act, a 19th-century anti-vice law that outlaws the mailing of abortion-related materials. Related: Ohio Planned Parenthood affiliate rejects Medicaid amid fears over Trump cuts Legal experts long regarded the Comstock Act as a dead letter, since Roe v Wade kept its ban on abortion-related materials from taking effect for decades. However, since the US supreme court overturned Roe in 2022, anti-abortion advocates such as Mitchell say it can now be revived. They have repeatedly cited the Comstock Act in lawsuits, in the hope that courts will decide to let it take full effect. Aid Access, Gomperts and the US marines did not respond to a request for comment. Reached by phone, John said he had no comment on the lawsuit. Telemedicine groups including Aid Access are currently mailing abortion pills through the use of shield laws, which have been enacted in a handful of blue states since Roe fell. These laws, which aim to protect abortion providers from facing civil and criminal liability if they mail pills to people who live in states that ban abortion, have proven critical to post-Roe abortion provision, as abortion pills make up an increasing share of all US abortions. Between 2023 and 2024, Aid Access shipped almost 120,000 packs of abortion pills to US residents, according to a new study released on Monday. However, shield laws have not been tested in court. Recently, Texas sued a New York court official for refusing to fine a New York-based abortion provider, as the official had said that New Yorks shield law blocked him from enforcing the fine. Thangam Debbonaire It would be interesting to be a fly on the wall of Keir Starmers holiday villa as he reads about the latest attempt by one of his own appointees to the House of Lords to resurrect the culture wars back home. Will the Prime Minister welcome the intervention by the Baroness Debbonaire of De Beauvoir Town in the London Borough of Hackney, who has called for the statue of Clive of India to be removed from its plinth outside the Foreign Office? Or will he have the political nous to recognise that the last thing this Government needs is a rehashing of the interminable and pointless arguments about statues that characterised the very weird summer of 2020? Baroness Debbonaire is a former MP for Bristol, where Black Lives Matter protesters physically removed a statue of Edward Colston, the slave trader, and dumped it into the citys harbour. The same Left-wing people removed Debbonaire herself from elected office at last years general election, though she at least managed to avoid being similarly dumped into the sea. Instead she was elevated to the Lords, from where she now pontificates. Debbonaire has more of a stake in the fate of the Clive statue than most: she has Indian heritage on her fathers side, and her claim that the statues removal would improve relations with India cannot be immediately dismissed. On the other hand, with a historic trade agreement between Britain and India just agreed, relations dont seem to be being undermined by Clives continuing presence in Whitehall. The whole debate about statues, like so many divisive culture war topics in the UK, began in the United States, where the legacy of slavery and the civil war continues to reverberate across American society. But British activists simply could not have allowed the Black Lives Matter bandwagon to pass by without some vigorous attempts to jump aboard. This has come with illogical, though entertaining, consequences for the English language. Protesters in London took to the streets demanding Defund the police! and Hands up, dont shoot! These phrases were relevant in America but utterly absurd in a British context. Now safely ensconced in the Lords, from whence she cannot be evicted by the displeasure of voters, Baroness Debbonaire wants to step back in time to resurrect old battles about which very few people still care. Like many who abhor even the memory of the British Empire, she risks pretending that individuals like Clive played no part in Britains activities on the sub-continent, or at least allowing the current generation not to have to face the reality of the historical record. Once we have removed the statues and portraits of everyone who had a questionable role in the British Empire, it will become harder, not easier, to point an accusing finger at what was done to foreign peoples in our name. Clive who? Alas, this looks suspiciously like virtue signalling on Baroness Debbonaires part. Which raises a question over the whole point of appointments for life to the Lords: isnt a life in ermine supposed to relieve its denizens of having to suck up to voters? One in five young adults have stayed with a partner to make living costs more affordable, a survey has found. Some 21% of people aged 18 to 40 said they had done this, according to the research published by Lifetime Isa provider OneFamily. With day-to-day living often costing more for single people, the research also found that single people were less likely to have an emergency financial cushion to fall back on, compared with couples. Nearly three in 10 (29%) young adults surveyed who are single do not have an emergency fund, compared with one in six (16%) people in a relationship. Savers who are not in a relationship said they manage to put aside an average of 301 per month around half the 609 that people who are in a relationship said that they have for monthly savings. OneFamily CEO Jim Islam said: These stats are shocking, people are potentially staying in unhappy relationships because the bills are too high to contemplate managing on their own. Its a tax on being single, made worse by the rising costs of bills. Mr Islam, added: Financial independence is crucial, since it enables freedom. It needs to be something that is talked about in schools alongside good savings habits. He said that building a savings pot absolutely supports financial resilience, which means less vulnerability to the ups and downs of life. The financial companys report quoted 36-year-old Chris Singleton, who lives in Leeds with his partner Emma but had previously been renting by himself in recent years. Mr Singleton said: Now were both contributing to our savings pot, its a shared thing. At the moment our priority is saving to travel. Our next holiday is in September this year and were also hoping to buy an old van to convert it. Opinium carried out the research for OneFamily in February, among 3,000 people across the UK aged 18 to 40. US President Donald Trump speaks to the media as he departs the White House on 15 July, 2025 in Washington, DC (Getty) Donald Trumps new AI-powered search engine has been contradicting the US president on some of his core policies since launching last week. The Truth Search AI feature, which is integrated into the web browser of Mr Trumps social media platform Truth Social, is designed to deliver direct, reliable answers, according to its creators. The chatbots responses typically draw from right-wing and pro-Trump news sources like Fox News and Newsmax, however, it did not support recent statements made by Trump. On Friday, Mr Trump said that his tariff policy has had a huge positive impact on the stock market, but the AI tool responded, saying the evidence does not support this claim. First reported by The Washington Post, Truth Search AI also called the US presidents claim that the 2020 election was stolen baseless. When asked about a recent post by Mr Trump on Truth Social about crime in Washington, D.C., the AI bot responded that it is not totally out of control. Users on social media also shared instances of the new AI bot claiming that Barack Obama is the most popular president of the century, and that the Trump familys crypto projects pose a conflict of interest. Trump Media said in a press release unveiling the new feature that its mission was to end Big Techs assault on free speech by opening up the internet and giving people their voices back. The AI feature is developed by the controversial artificial intelligence company Perplexity, which recently faced criticism after security firm Cloudflare alleged that it was secretly scraping websites without their permission. Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince said the company was acting like North Korean hackers; however, Perplexity dismissed the claims. Trump Media did not respond to a request for comment from The Independent. Donald Trump meeting Vladimir Putin in 2018 during his first term as US president. (Alamy) (Pablo Martinez Monsivais, Associated Press) Donald Trump has admitted there is a 25% chance Friday's summit with Vladimir Putin will fail, as Russian and US delegations arrived in Alaska for a meeting to negotiate an end to the three-and-a-half-year war in Ukraine. Speaking ahead of the meeting, Trump previously said he would know "in the first two minutes" of the meeting if a deal could be made, and later told Fox News Radio that there's a "25% chance that this meeting will not be a successful meeting". The US president, who has said his goal was to secure a ceasefire, also said a second meeting involving Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders including Sir Keir Starmer could potentially follow if Friday's meeting is successful. Friday's summit marks the first time a US president has met Putin since Joe Biden held talks with him at a summit in Geneva in 2021, before the outbreak of the war. Ahead of the meeting, Starmer chaired a meeting of the coalition of the willing on Wednesday a European-led effort to send a peacekeeping force to Ukraine to monitor any deal and said there was a viable chance of a truce. He went on to meet Zelensky at Downing Street on Thursday, after which a Downing Street statement expressed cautious optimism about the prospect of a truce as long as Putin takes action to prove he is serious about ending the war. In a separate statement, Zelensky said there had been discussions about the security guarantees required to make any deal truly durable if the United States succeeds in pressing Russia to stop the killing. But concerns linger over the prospect of Kyiv being excluded from negotiations over its own future, and pressured to cede territory, after Trump suggested any agreement may need to involve swapping of land. Ukraine has already rejected any proposal that would compromise its borders. During the meeting on Thursday, Mr Zelensky urged the UK to join PURL Natos Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List initiative to provide weapons to Kyiv. Meanwhile, experts have told Yahoo News that Putin will not give up his territorial ambitions in Ukraine easily and that he is willing to wage a "protracted war" to get what he wants. Here's what has been said so far about the upcoming talks and the likelihood of a ceasefire being reached. What has Russia said? In televised comments, Putin said the US was "making, in my opinion, quite energetic and sincere efforts to stop the hostilities, stop the crisis and reach agreements that are of interest to all parties involved in this conflict." This was happening, Putin said, "to create long-term conditions for peace between our countries, and in Europe, and in the world as a whole - if, by the next stages, we reach agreements in the area of control over strategic offensive weapons." Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov, who arrived in Alaska with Russian ambassador to the US, reportedly told Russian media: We never make any plans in advance. We know that we have arguments; we have a clear, understandable position. We will outline it." He said they hope to continue "useful conversation" that had been started during visits from US special envoy Steve Witkoff to Vladimir Putin. Russian president Vladimir Putin is expected to push for territorial gains. (Alamy) (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Associated Press) But previously, Putin said his position hadnt changed since Russia presented Ukraine with a memorandum in June, setting out conditions for a final settlement" of the conflict, including stipulations that Ukraine must reduce its military and not join Nato, and that Russias territorial gains - including annexation of Crimea and four eastern regions - must be internationally recognised. What has Trump said? Speaking from the Oval Office on Thursday, the US President said: We have a meeting with President (Vladimir) Putin tomorrow, I think its going to be a good meeting. But the more important meeting will be the second meeting that were having. Were going to have a meeting with President Putin, President (Volodymyr) Zelensky, myself, and maybe well bring some of the some of the European leaders along. Maybe not. He added: I think President Putin will make peace. I think President Zelensky will make peace. Well see if they can get along. And if they can it will be great. Donald Trump has publicly struck an optimistic tone over the upcoming Alaska talks. (AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Trump also said there would be "give and take" of territories between Russia and Ukraine. "This meeting sets up like a chess game," he said. "This (first) meeting sets up a second meeting, but there is a 25% chance that this meeting will not be a successful meeting. Trump said it would be up to Putin and Zelenskiy to strike an agreement, adding: "I'm not going to negotiate their deal." On Thursday Trump said his main aim was to "set the table for the next meeting", saying that could "happen shortly", and added that Putin was: "not going to mess around with me." What has Ukraine said? Volodymyr Zelensky joined Sir Keir Starmer in expressing cautious optimism about the prospect of a truce as long as Putin takes action to prove he is serious about ending the war, as the pair met at Downing Street. In a separate statement, Zelensky said there had been discussions about the security guarantees required to make any deal truly durable if the United States succeeds in pressing Russia to stop the killing. Volodymyr Zelensky has said the United States has the 'levers and determination' to secure peace - but major red lines between Russia and Ukraine remain. (AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) But he has been clear that Ukraine will reject any proposal that would compromise its borders, saying in a video address on 9 August that: "Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier". He wrote in a post on X on Saturday: "The President of the United States has the levers and the determination. What is needed now is not a pause in the killings, but a real, lasting peace. Not a ceasefire sometime in the future, in months, but immediately. President Trump told me so, and I fully support it." 'An inevitable fact': Putin likely to insist on seizing four regions Christina Harward, Russia analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, has told Yahoo News that Putin is unlikely to budge over his key territorial demands. "In the past 12 plus months, Putin has stuck by his demand that Ukraine must cede all of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson oblasts before Russia could agree to a ceasefire," she said. "Putin is likely trying to present Russia's seizure of these four oblasts as an inevitable fact - which it is not given the many obstacles that stand in Russia's way before it could seize all of this territory." Keir Giles, senior consulting fellow with the Russia and Eurasia Programme for Chatham House, told CBC News that a ceasfire could be the "least likely" outcome of Friday's meeting, saying: "I don't think anybody should be predicting anything at all from this summit, because it is at this moment wild guesswork. "There are so many different balls in the air, so many different things that Putin could demand and Donald Trump might be willing to give him that it's really wild speculation to say what could come out of it. "The one thing that I think we can be confident of is that although this is ostensibly a summit about Ukraine, that won't be the main topic of conversation because there are so many other things that Russia wants from the West, either in cooperation with the United States, or as a part of its long war against Europe and the West as a whole, that they'll probably looking for more from this than just a settlement in Ukraine. "In fact, that might be the least likely thing that will come out of this meeting." A senior Eastern European official, speaking anonymousely to Reuters, said Putin would try to distract Trump from Ukraine at the talks by offering him possible progress on nuclear arms control or something business-related, adding that Russia's only goal was to avoid any new sanctions and have existing sanctions lifted. "We hope Trump won't be fooled by the Russians; he understands all (these) dangerous things," the official said. A garage is left burning after a Russian drone strike in the town of Bilozerske, in the Donetsk region. (Getty Images) (GENYA SAVILOV via Getty Images) Analyst Neil Melvin, from the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), also cast doubts on the prospect of a ceasefire as a result of the meeting, saying it is an effort by Russia to stall the US from following through on threats of sanctions. He told Al Jazeera: Putin believes that he can win [and] is anxious to stall the United States and any further pressure it may seek to put on Russia. The most likely outcome of the summit is then that there may be some announcements of steps forward, but the war will continue. 'Putin is not scared of sanctions' Trump has warned of more secondary sanctions against countries doing business with Russia in a bid to pile pressure on the Kremlin, having already slapped an additional 25% tariff on India for this reason. However, warning that this might not be as effective as hoped, Harward said: "Putin is not scared of sanctions right now." "Russia's battlefield losses are a major driver of Russia's economic issues, so Western economic pressure must be coupled with military aid to Ukraine to enable Ukrainian troops to inflict even worse battlefield losses on Russia. "Only then can we make Putin rethink how he is approaching this war and bring him to the table to make compromises to end his war." Zelenskyy: Russia is hiding its losses but cannot hide reality its economy is hurting, enterprises closing, logistics suffering. Sanctions can work as needed. Thanks to everyone worldwide helping us end the war. 1/ pic.twitter.com/WQsJNig3gV Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) August 8, 2025 Eugene Rumer, a former US intelligence analyst for Russia who directs the Carnegie Endowment for International Peaces Russia and Eurasia Program, said there is "close to zero chance" of Putin agreeing to a ceasefire due to tariffs and sanctions. "Theoretically, if you cut off Indian and Chinese purchases of oil, that would be a very heavy blow to the Russian economy and to the war effort. But that isn't going to happen," he said. Rumer added that China has already signalled that it will keep buying Russian oil. 'Frozen conflict' more likely than ceasefire A full ceasefire "appears unlikely at this time", said Harward, pointing to Russia's stubbornness over its territorial aims in Ukraine. Far from stopping at Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson, she says Putin wants "all of Ukraine" and is "ready for a protracted war" if it means achieving this goal. "He is even heavily preparing his society to swallow the pill of a long war. Putin thinks time is on his side and he just has to hold out longer than Ukraine and the West," Harward added. Ukrainian servicemen of the 148th artillery brigade fire from a M777 howitzer towards Russian positions at in Zaporizhzhia region. (Alamy) (Evgeniy Maloletka, Associated Press) "A genuine, full ceasefire likely won't happen until the West can change Putin's calculus." Bakke added that meetings like Friday "rarely settle the hard stuff", although a framework for peace talks and what's up for discussion may emerge by the end of the week. She says that a "full, enforceable ceasefire" will be a "stretch" unless Russia's "cost-benefit calculation changes", adding that a "frozen conflict" is more likely in the short term. Read more Tube passengers tackled a naked man who exposed himself in front of children in a busy carriage (X/@CrimeLdn) Vigilantes who took the law into their own hands when a London Underground passenger exposed himself in front of children could face arrest, according to reports. Footage posted online shows the man dropping his trousers on a Hammersmith and City line train at around 3.30pm on Thursday. When challenged by commuters on the eastbound service at Upton Park station, a fight erupts. Up to four men stepped in when he repeatedly refused to pull up his pants and began shouting repeatedly f*** off. British Transport Police believe the naked suspect, who has since been detained under the Mental Health Act, was assaulted by them. Detective appealed for witnesses to the incident but there have been no arrests over the brawl. A spokesman said: Officers were called to reports of a man exposing himself on the District Line at East Ham Underground station. The man had been assaulted by a number of other passengers and was initially arrested by an off duty officer, before being detained under the mental health act and taken to hospital. Upton Park station (Alamy Stock Photo) An investigation into the incident is ongoing. When the suspect swears, one commuter can be heard replying: What do you mean f*** off? You need to get off the f***ing train. Now. There are kids on here. The naked man continued to shout and wave his belt before more passengers stepped in to restrain him. A fight then appeared to break out, with the group punching and kicking him to the floor of the carriage. He was seen with his hands forced behind his back before being unceremoniously thrown off the train by several men. A photograph later showed him pinned to the ground on the platform at East Ham station, where passengers waited with him for help to arrive. Three dead and suspect with mental health history in custody after active shooter at Target store in Texas Three people are dead after a shooting Monday afternoon at an Austin, Texas, Target store, police said. The suspect fled in a stolen car, wrecked that vehicle, then stole another car, according to authorities. An officer later shot the suspect with a Taser and apprehended him in south Austin. Police were alerted at 2.15 p.m. to the shooting and first-responders arrived within four minutes, finding three people shot in the parking lot of the store. This is a very sad day for Austin, Austin Police Chief Lisa Davis said in a press conference Monday afternoon. This is a very sad day for us all. Two victims were pronounced dead in the parking lot and a third victim was taken for treatment and pronounced dead at a local hospital. Three people were killed and four were reportedly injured in Monday afternoon shooting at Target store in Austin, Texas ( 2025 Mikala Compton / Austin American-Statesman) Officials did not immediately disclose the identity of the victims, though one is reportedly the driver of the first stolen car. Four people were injured in the shooting as well, The Austin American-Statesman reports. Chief Davis said the suspect was a 32-year-old white male with a mental health history as well as a past rap sheet with the department. Police were not immediately aware of what caused or motivated the shooting. The shooting occurred at the Target at 8601 Research Boulevard, according to police. Suspect in shooting reportedly stole multiple vehicles to evade police, before being captured in South Austin (AP) Police had earlier described a potential suspect in the shooting as a white male, possibly wearing a khaki shorts and a floral or Hawaiian shirt. Officers were seen evacuating shoppers from the Target to a nearby PetSmart. Officials urged the public to stay away from the area. Vehicles remaining in the parking lot of the store are temporarily being held in place as police investigate and drivers will be alerted once their cars are available for retrieval. The shooting occurred during back-to-school season in the Austin area. Containers at the port in Qingdao, in China's eastern Shandong province on Monday. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images Donald Trump has once again delayed implementing sweeping tariffs on China, announcing another 90-day pause just hours before the last agreement between the worlds two largest economies was due to expire. On Monday, the US president signed an executive order extending the deadline for higher tariffs on China until 10 November, officials confirmed to Reuters. Chinese officials said earlier in the day they hoped the United States would strive for positive trade outcomes on Monday, as the 90-day detente reached between the two countries in May was due to expire. Related: Trumps China trade truce extension spurs market rally Chinas commerce ministry, in a statement on early Tuesday, said it will suspend additional tariffs on US goods for 90 more days, after Trump signed an executive order extending the tariff truce. China will maintain its tariffs on US goods at 10%, the statement said, and take action to address non-tariff barriers facing American products. China will also postpone for 90 days the addition of US firms it had targeted in April to trade and investment restriction lists. We hope that the US will work with China to follow the important consensus reached during the phone call between the two heads of state and strive for positive outcomes on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit, a foreign ministry spokesperson, Lin Jian, said in an earlier statement on Monday. Chinese and US officials said they expected the pause to be extended after the most recent round of trade talks held last month in Stockholm. Scott Bessent, the US treasury secretary, said last week the US had the makings of a trade deal with China and that he was optimistic about a path forward. Failure to reach a deal would have major consequences. Trump had threatened tariffs on China as high as 245%, with China threatening retaliatory tariffs of 125%, setting off a trade war between the worlds largest economies. On Sunday, Trump posted on TruthSocial that China should quadruple its purchases of soybeans from the US to help reduce the trade deficit between the US and China. Currently, US exports to China are subject to tariffs of about 30%, with imports from China subject to a baseline tariff of 10% and a 20% extra tariff in response to fentanyl smuggling allegations against China. Some products are taxed at higher rates. Related: Nvidia and AMD agree to pay 15% of China chip export revenues to US The Federal Reserve and many economists have argued that the tariffs will push up prices in the US. Goldman Sachs strategists calculate that US consumers have absorbed 22% of tariff costs through June 2025. That share is expected to rise to 67% if recent tariffs follow the same pattern as earlier ones. Before the tariff deadline, chipmakers Nvidia and AMD agreed to pay the US government 15% of their revenue from advanced chips sold to China in exchange for export licenses to the market. Stephen Olson, a former US trade negotiator, told Bloomberg of the deal: What we are seeing is in effect the monetization of US trade policy in which US companies must pay the US government for permission to export. If thats the case, weve entered into a new and dangerous world. Associated Press and Reuters contributed reporting To get a bag of flour for his starving three children, Nedal AbuSharbi arms himself with a knife to protect against thieves and prepares to be shot by the Israeli military. There is so little food in Gaza in the grip of famine due to a punishing Israeli blockade and the war that lawlessness has taken over around the land crossings where the few aid trucks are able to get in. Now, the desperation is more acute with news that, rather than returning to the negotiating table, Israel is to widen its already devastating offensive and take full military control of the besieged Strip, starting with the remains of Gaza City, where Nedal is sheltering with his family. The father of three, whose youngest is just five months old, describes desperate, hungry crowds surging toward and attacking the few aid convoys that enter via the northern Zikim crossing. Even journalists are being targeted. Displaced Palestinians grab what parcels they can as crowds raid aid trucks in Khan Younis, southern Gaza (AFP/Getty) He says the Israeli army opens fire under the pretext of combing the area or shooting to prevent people from gathering outside the buffer zone. The United Nations says more than 1,000 people have been killed trying to receive aid in the enclave in just a few months most of them shot by Israeli forces operating nearby. Even if you can avoid that, the last time he went, he had to let three trucks go by before he was able to, in the suffocating scrum, grab a single bag of flour. My joy was indescribable and I was overwhelmed, he says, with desperation in his voice. But on the way home, three young men Id never seen before came up to me with large knives and one man with a gun. They threatened me: either give them the bag of flour or they would kill me. I left the bag on the ground. I lost hope and fainted because of what had happened. The situation is so dire, he says they call aid convoys death traps and the new Israeli security cabinet plans a deadly game. This is a game of chess controlled by the occupation, and we are the pawns it moves and controls, according to its mood, under the control of snipers and tanks. Israel launched its unprecedented bombardment of Gaza in retaliation for Hamass bloody 7 October 2023 attacks on southern Israel, during which they killed over 1,200 people and took more than 250 captive, according to Israeli estimates. (Alicja Hagopian/The Independent) Since then, Israels bombardment has killed more than 61,000 people, according to local officials, destroyed more than 90 per cent of homes, and through a devastating siege sparked a hunger crisis. According to the United Nations, over 86 per cent of Gaza is already an Israeli-militarised zone, under displacement orders or where these orders overlap. The data speaks for itself. Already early this year, over 90 per cent of Gazas housing units were reportedly destroyed as per satellite images. Gaza has been reduced to a wasteland of rubble, with over 87 per cent of the territory declared a war zone forcing people to concentrate in a tiny space, said Tamara Al-Rifai, spokesperson for the UNs Palestinian refugee agency UNRWA, the largest UN agency operating in Gaza. After a tense 10-hour Israeli cabinet meeting overnight on Friday, the Israeli security cabinet approved a new plan to intensify its 22-month war with Hamas by taking over Gaza City, issuing evacuation orders for the population to move south with the aim of disarming Hamas and exerting full military control of the 25-mile enclave. The controversial proposal, which has faced resistance even from within the Israeli security establishment, has ignited fears among Palestinian civilians and for Israeli hostages still held in Gaza and sparked renewed international pressure for an end to the conflict. At the weekend, the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting on Israels plans and issued a joint statement, condemning the move. Palestinians struggle to collect humanitarian aid airdropped by parachutes into Gaza City, northern Gaza, last week (AP) In Gaza City the focus of the new offensive Mahmoud Rayhan, 30, who says he had been displaced 20 times already, is praying for a miracle, as his wife is pregnant and he fears the baby will be born in four months into famine and death. Now we are afraid that if we are displaced again, we will never return, he says in desperation. Our homes have been bombed. Life in Gaza has become non-existent. Even the necessities of life are non-existent. There is no clean water, no sanitation, no food, and no shelter. We live in an uninhabitable place. Rafiq Abu-Jared, 54, who is also displaced inside Gaza City, says that when the Israeli military issues forced evacuation orders, he cannot leave as he has no money. It costs over 1,500 shekels [325] to travel south, and then you need tents, tarpaulins, which I dont have. And anyway, if a million of us stuck in the north are forced to flee south again, there will be nowhere for us to go. Manel Odeh, 50, spent a year earlier in the war living in the already overcrowded so-called humanitarian zone of Al-Mawasi in Rafah, where Israel plans to corral most of the 2.3 million-strong population. Even the safe zone isnt safe. I lived for nearly a year in the so-called safe zone there and it has been bombed hundreds of times and evacuated dozens of times. I have been displaced nine times in the south, and each time, I have paid more than $300. Im not moving again, she says. Another concern is widening famine, which the UN-backed hunger monitor the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said is playing out across the strip. Israel denies there is a hunger crisis in Gaza but has eased restrictions on entry of supplies after massive global uproar and pressure, when images of emaciated babies dying of hunger were flooding out of Gaza, and the death toll soared. Children from the Sobh family rest inside their tent at a camp for displaced Palestinians in Gaza City, in July (AP) The Israeli military has repeatedly said it is working to improve the humanitarian response in the Gaza Strip, alongside the international community, while refuting the false claims of deliberate starvation in Gaza. But UN officials and aid organisations say not enough is getting in. The Palestinian health ministry said that in 24 hours alone, there were 11 further deaths from hunger and acute malnutrition, bringing the total number of deaths to 212, including 90 children. Last Friday, Dr Mohamed Abu Salmiya, the director of Al-Shifa Hospital, said at least six Palestinians were killed and 140 injured by Israeli gunfire trying to, like Nedal, get aid from the Zikim crossing. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. There were also reports of another person crushed to death by a pallet of food landing from the sky over the weekend as countries have been forced to resort to aid drops, despite the fact they are inefficient, at least 40 times more expensive than truck delivery, and can be deadly. The Israeli military claimed over the weekend that more than 106 aid packages were dropped as part of operations by six different countries, including Greece and Italy, which participated in airdrops for the first time since the operation began. For Nedal, air drops are merely a painkiller used to calm us down, and that much of it doesnt get to the most needy, sometimes even landing in the sea. It could land in the sea or on a tent, a house, or in a frontline zone, he says. Theres no fixed location. Sometimes they fall in border areas or remote areas where young men go and then are bombed and killed. Palestinians run towards parachutes carrying aid packages airdropped over northern Gaza Strip (Reuters) With Israel greenlighting a renewed offensive and crushing hopes of a ceasefire, there is growing concern these numbers will only rise. Donald Trump, Israels closest ally and largest supplier of weapons, has repeatedly called for a truce. His Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, was sent to meet the prime minister of Qatar which has been hosting talks in Spain to discuss the deal. Mediators from Doha and Cairo are reportedly preparing a new framework that will include the release of all 50 remaining hostages dead and alive in one go, in return for an end to the war in Gaza and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Strip. But with Israels new plans, there is little hope. We are living in a deadly game, says Nedal with despair. A game we cannot control. The Department of Veterans Affairs building, in Washington DC. Photograph: Jon Bilous/Alamy The Department of Veterans Affairs has lost thousands of healthcare professionals deemed core to the systems ability to function and without which mission-critical work cannot be completed, agency records show. The number of medical staff on hand to treat veterans has fallen every month since Donald Trump took office. The VA has experienced a net loss of 2,000 registered nurses since the start of this fiscal year, the data show, along with approximately 1,300 medical assistants, 1,100 nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses, 800 doctors, 500 social workers and 150 psychologists. The numbers are at odds with claims by the VA secretary, Doug Collins, that veterans healthcare would not be affected by an agency-wide reduction of 30,000 workers to be completed this year through a combination of attrition, a hiring freeze and deferred resignation program. The reduction in medical staff is also feeding fears that the Trump administration is seeking to transform the VA, which currently operates the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States, into a private voucher program. Its a betrayal, said Manuel Santamaria, 42, a disabled veteran who served as a US army medic and paratrooper in Iraq and Afghanistan. It takes away the governments accountability to veterans who have sacrificed for them. The VA said in a statement to the Guardian that the fear of privatization is a far-left canard and that anyone who says VA is cutting health care and benefits is not being honest. The decline in the number of health workers, documented by the VAs monthly workforce dashboard, comes as the agency has experienced an influx of nearly 500,000 patients with complex medical issues linked to war-time toxic exposure. Bipartisan legislation passed by Congress in 2022 dramatically expanded veterans eligibility for care for toxic exposure. Patricia Fieldings, a registered nurse who is an associate director of the National Nurses United labor union and works in the spinal cord injury unit at the VA hospital in Augusta, Georgia, said the departures were creating very unsafe conditions for her patients, many of whom lost the use of their neck or became paraplegic due to war wounds. Fieldings spoke to the Guardian as a union member. Because of staffing shortages, nurses are being pulled from other parts of the hospital, who lack adequate training to safely care for a spinal cord patient, she said. Veterans and employee unions note that even before these departures the VA was already understaffed. Last August, the VAs inspector general reported that 86% of the agencys 170 medical centers and more than 1,000 clinics reported a severe shortage of doctors, while 82% of facilities reported severe shortages of nurses. The staff reductions reported by VA this year represent an additional 2% decrease in the number of nurses and 3% decline in the number of doctors, exacerbating the existing shortages. In response to a detailed list of questions, the VA press secretary, Peter Kasperowicz, did not dispute that the VA employed fewer doctors and nurses under President Trump, but said a nationwide shortage of healthcare workers had made hiring and retention difficult for the last 15 years across the entire healthcare sector, including at some VA locations. However, agency data shows that under Biden, the VA was able to attract doctors and nurses. The VA added approximately 10,000 mission-critical healthcare professionals, between May 2023 and January 2025, agency dashboards show. Kasperowicz said the VA has several strategies to navigate shortages while ensuring veterans continue to receive timely, high-quality health care, which include referrals to private healthcare providers and telehealth. He dismissed the severe shortages of doctors and nurses reported by the VA inspector general saying the watchdogs congressionally mandated report was completely subjective, not standardized and unreliable. Collins has made cutting employee headcount a priority, arguing the agency is bloated and can improve healthcare quality while shedding 30,000 jobs. Collins said his goal was reducing bureaucracy by consolidating costly administrative functions. Documents reviewed by the Guardian, however, show the agency is also losing healthcare providers. So far this year, VA nurses represented by the labor union National Nurses United have filed 116 notices, known as assignment despite objection, the union said, to protest about situations they believe put patient health and safety at risk. One written by a shift supervisor in the intensive care unit in the Bronx in June, reported three nurses had been tasked with treating three patients each, contrary to established safety standards that stipulate critical care nurses should not care for more than two patients at a time. Six nurses cared for 15 patients at the ICU in the Bronx during the nurses shift, they wrote: 10 had been placed in isolation, all were listed as high risk of falls. The nurse also reported that equipment was broken and that nurses had to work through breaks and meal times. At the VA in Augusta, Georgia, Fieldings filed five reports alleging conditions that posed a serious threat to health and safety of patients in the spinal cord unit between April and July. On 6 June, she wrote that two registered nurses had been tasked with caring for 10 patients, seven of whom were on ventilators and all of whom were at high risk of falls. On 24 July, she reported three nurses were charged with taking care of nine veteran patients, all of whom had been placed in isolation. Staff were not properly trained, she indicated, and the unit was staffed with unqualified or inappropriate personnel. These are some of our most vulnerable patients, Fieldings said in an interview. They have difficulty eating. Many have broken their necks. She said departures had also led to regular forced overtime for nurses, leaving them exhausted. Nurses stay until their moral distress is so great that they cant take it any more and then they leave, she said. In its statement, the VA said reports of unsafe conditions in Augustas spinal cord unit were falseand that the unit is fully staffed. The VA did not respond to reports alleging unsafe conditions at the agencys hospital in the Bronx. It said the Guardian was cherry picking issues that are mostly routine, limited to a handful of sites and in many cases were worse under the Biden administration. On Wednesday, the agency said it was terminating labor agreements with unions that represent most of its health workers, citing a March executive order from President Trump that sought to eliminate collective bargaining rights on national security grounds. The termination of union agreements eliminates the VAs obligation to respond to these reports of unsafe working conditions. Contract language requiring nurses be provided professional training has also been voided, along with rules that require management to float, or temporarily reassign nurses to cover parts of the hospital experiencing staffing shortages, based on qualifications and competencies of the RN. In statements, the AFL-CIO, National Nurses United and the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents 320,000 VA workers, said the VA was retaliating against workers for speaking up for patients. The agency says the end of collective bargaining means staff will spend more time with Veterans and allow the agency to manage its staff according to Veterans needs, not union demands. The unions, who say their right to bargain collectively cannot be voided on national security grounds, said they would press their case in the courts. At the VA Northport medical center on Long Island, a virtual town hall on 30 July with the hospital director, Antonio Sanchez, devolved; the chat function in Microsoft Teams burst with complaints. We are desperate. We are getting burnt out, a clinician in the facilitys inpatient medical unit wrote. We are not able to keep pace with our cut in staff. Others raised concerns about short staffing and patient care across other critical care units at Northport, the Teams chat shows, including the intensive care unit, post-anesthesia care unit and community living centers, the VAs version of nursing home care. Near the end of the meeting, Sanchez responded that he was working hard to bring staff onboard as soon as possible. Veterans advocates and employee unions allege the Trump administration is consciously seeking to starve the veterans healthcare system so it can be turned into a private voucher program. The administrations budget proposal for 2026 includes a major realignment of priorities a 50% increase in taxpayer funding for private healthcare for veterans, $11bn, paid for by a corresponding cut to the existing public system. During his Senate confirmation hearing to be the VAs undersecretary for health on 23 July, John Bartrum, a retired air force major general, said it was time to revisit the balance between private and government veterans healthcare. In a statement to the Guardian, the VA rejected the idea that it was seeking to privatize the agency and said it had opened 13 healthcare clinics since January. Advocates said those facilities had been in the works for years. The same day as Bartrums hearing, the Access Act, a bill that would make it dramatically easier for veterans to seek private healthcare with taxpayer support, cleared a key House committee on a 12-11 party-line vote. A blue-ribbon commission established by the agency last year found veterans received significantly better care at lower cost from the public system. Private providers operated with little oversight, they wrote, and are not required to demonstrate competency in diagnosing and treating the complex care needs of veterans nor in understanding military culture, which is often critical to providing quality care for veterans. Independent studies from the Congressional Budget Office and Rand Corporation have similarly found that veterans in the private system face longer wait times and poorly coordinated healthcare at higher costs to the taxpayers. In Las Vegas, Santamaria bristled at the suggestion the VA was bloated. He said difficulties scheduling appointments have gotten much worse under Trump and that he now often spends more than two hours on hold. In addition to post-traumatic stress disorder, Santamaria suffers from psoriasis, a skin disease that causes a rash with itchy scaly patches that disrupt his sleep and make it hard to concentrate. In February, when his medication ran out, Santamaria sought to switch to a different drug, but was unable to schedule an appointment with the VA until May. By then his entire body was covered by cracked, bleeding welts. Psoriasis is among the conditions presumed to be connected to wartime toxic exposure under the Pact Act, the 2022 law that extended healthcare and benefits eligibility. According to the VA, the wait time for new dermatology patients at the VA hospital in southern Nevada was 137 days as of 7 August. In its statement, the VA blamed the delays Santamaria faced on a lack of communication from the private dermatologist he saw through the agencys community care voucher program. Once that doctor filled out the proper paperwork, new medication was mailed out just five days later, the agency said. The agency said the average wait time on phone calls placed to the VA in southern Nevada was one minute and 47 seconds. Santamaria said VA workers typically answer the phone relatively quickly, before putting him on hold for two hours or more. The Guardian asked the VA for data in order to compare patient wait times during the Trump and Biden administrations at each VA facility. The VA did not provide it, but shared a chart that indicated wait times for some health services had marginally improved this fiscal year, while others had worsened. The fiscal year covers the final three and a half months of the Biden administration and first six months of Trumps second term. The VAs workforce dashboards show the decline in staffing was accelerating. In February, the VA reported a net loss of 223 registered nurses and 94 doctors; in June the VA lost an additional 409 registered nurses and 147 doctors. The VA declined to answer questions on the acceleration in the reduction of mission-critical medical workers employed in agency hospitals and clinics. Those staffing losses do not include 10,000 VA workers who accepted deferred resignation offers early in Trumps second term, whose last day on the books will be 30 September. In response to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by the War Horse, a non-profit news outlet focused on veterans issues, the VA provided a list of occupations held by these workers. In addition to thousands of human resources professionals, management analysts and other government bureaucrats, 214 nurses will also leave the agency, along with dozens of doctors, social workers and psychologists. The best public interest journalism relies on first-hand accounts from people in the know. If you have something to share on this subject you can contact us confidentially using the following methods. Secure Messaging in the Guardian app The Guardian app has a tool to send tips about stories. Messages are end to end encrypted and concealed within the routine activity that every Guardian mobile app performs. This prevents an observer from knowing that you are communicating with us at all, let alone what is being said. If you don't already have the Guardian app, download it (iOS/Android) and go to the menu. Select Secure Messaging. SecureDrop, instant messengers, email, telephone and post See our guide at theguardian.com/tips for alternative methods and the pros and cons of each. Fire on Wanstead Flats on Monday (Fredbo/X) A large wildfire in north east London has been tackled by 60 firefighters, as the UK heads for a potential fourth heatwave. Crews were called to Wanstead Flats on Monday after receiving reports that three hectares of grass had caught fire, with crews tackling multiple pockets of the blaze. A drone was also used by firefighters to monitor the size of the fire, while local residents were advised to keep their windows and doors closed and to avoid the area. The London Fire Brigade received over 30 calls reporting the fire, with crews from Leytonstone, Stratford, Leyton and surrounding fire stations mobilised to the scene. Eight fire engines and around 60 firefighters are responding to a fire on #WansteadFlats. Please avoid the areas as crews respond. Local residents are advised to keep doors and windows closed where possible, due to the smoke being produced by the fire. More info to follow https://t.co/OHfcGEmgn7 London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) August 11, 2025 It was brought under control by 7.58pm, with firefighters remaining at the scene. It comes just one month after 70 firefighters were called to tackle a grass fire affecting 14 acres in the same location. Ten fire engines and a wildfire response vehicle were called to Wanstead Flats, near Capel Road in Manor Park, earlier on 11 July. In the coming days, areas of the UK are expected to be hotter than Bali, with thermometer readings forecast to hit the mid-30s on Tuesday. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has issued heat health warnings for all of England, with the East Midlands, West Midlands, East of England, London and the South East having been upgraded to amber, from 9am on Tuesday to 6pm on Wednesday. The South West, Yorkshire and the Humber, North West and North East have yellow warnings in place over the same period. The agency has warned of significant impacts across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. Forecasters have said that the consecutive days of high temperatures could mean the UK hitting its fourth heatwave of the summer. The heatwave threshold is met when a location records at least three consecutive days with maximum temperatures exceeding a designated value, according to the Met Office. Multiple explosions at a steel plant near Pittsburgh have killed two people and left 10 others injured on Monday, according to authorities. Video captured a massive black plume of smoke rising from the U.S. Clairton Coke Works plant, 15 miles south of Pittsburgh, around 10:51 a.m. Monday. The Allegheny County Department of Emergency Services reported that a fire had broken out. Ten people were transported to Allegheny Health Network hospitals. Five were in critical but stable condition and the rest have been released, The Washington Post reported. Officials said at least two people were killed, according to the Post. One of those who died had been found in the rubble from the explosion and was taken to the hospital. The plant was stable by Monday afternoon, said Scott Buckiso, executive vice president and chief manufacturing officer for U.S. Steel. Authorities had declared a Level 3 Mass Casualty Incident, meaning the explosion required a large response from multiple neighboring agencies. Allegheny County Emergency Services Chief Matthew Brown said during a press conference that 20 EMS and 14 fire departments assisted. An explosion at a steel plant outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, killed two people and left 10 others injured Monday morning. (WTAE) Clairton Mayor Rich Lattanzi noted on social media that he was asking for multiple ambulances to be sent to the scene. My prayers go out to anyone involved in this tragedy and their families and the community, Lattanzi said. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said there were multiple explosions at the plant, and that his administration was working with local officials in Clairton on the response efforts. Zachary Buday, a construction worker near the scene, told WTAE that the explosion sounded like thunder. First responders were working to try to rescue people stuck under rubble following the explosion. (CMU CREATE Lab/ Breathe Project) It shook my chest. It shook the building, then we saw the dark smoke rising from the steel mill, Buday said. Put two and two together. Its like something bad happened. Buday said he couldnt see the fire that erupted from the plant, but saw the thick gray smoke clouding over the area. Lots of ambulances, lots of sirens. It sounded like thunder, he added. Allegheny County Health Department officials are monitoring air quality in the surrounding area but said monitors have not detected levels of soot or sulfur dioxide above federal standards. Residents within a mile of the steel plant have been told to close doors and windows, set HVAC systems to recirculate and avoid drawing outside air into homes, out of an abundance of caution, the county health department said. U.S. Steel said the incident occurred specifically at coke oven batteries 13 and 14 just after 10 a.m. Monday. Clairton Mayor Rich Lattanzi noted on social media that he was asking for multiple ambulances to be sent to the scene. (AFP/Getty) " Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our employees and the environment. We are working closely with relevant authorities to investigate the cause of the incident and will provide additional updates as they become available, David B. Burritt, president and chief executive officer of the United States Steel Corporation said in a statement. The United Steelworkers union had health and safety experts at the scene, a spokesperson said in a statement. The USW has occupational health and safety experts and other representatives on the ground at the Clairton Works assessing the situation and aiding our members, said USW District 10 Director, Bernie Hall. While we are still determining the scope of the tragedy, we are aware that multiple workers are receiving medical treatment for their injuries. In the coming days, we will work with the appropriate authorities to ensure a thorough investigation and to see that our members get the support they need. Ten people were rescued and taken to area hospitals to be treated for injuries. (CMU CREATE Lab/ Breathe Project) The plant is considered the largest coking operation in North America. It employs thousands of workers. (US Steel Clairton Works) The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is responding to the explosion, the agency wrote on social media. Allegheny county, which includes Pennsylvania's second largest city of Pittsburgh, is a longtime industrial hub once dominated by the steel industry. The plant, which sits along the Monongahela River, is considered the largest coking operation in North America. Coking is the process of heating coal above 1,000 degrees, and is a critical component in the steel-making process. The plant produces 4.3 million tons of coke annually and employs 1,400 people, according to the company. While U.S. Clairton Coke Works has kept many people employed and helped the local economy, the steel industry has dwindled in America for decades. The industry took another turn when Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel, once the leading steel-manufacturer, announced it would be sold to Nippon Steel, a Japanese steel company. Negotiations on the deal dragged on for over a year, but were approved in June after Nippon Steel agreed to allow the U.S. government to appoint a member to their board. The Clarion plant has had a slew of issues over the years, including several lawsuits over pollution coming from the facility. In 2019, it agreed to settle a 2017 lawsuit for $8.5 million. Under the settlement, the company agreed to spend $6.5 million to reduce soot emissions and noxious odors from the plant. The company also faced a lawsuit accusing them of violating clean air laws after a fire on Christmas in 2018 that damaged the facilitys sulfur pollution controls. Pittsburgh-area U.S. Clairton Coke Works employs 1,400 people. (WTAE) The damaged control equipment led to repeated releases of sulfur dioxide, according to the lawsuit. Sulfur dioxide is a colorless but pungent byproduct of fossil fuel combustion that can make it difficult to breathe. The fire also caused $40 million in damage. Most recently, in February, a problem with a battery at the plant let to a buildup of combustible material that ignited and caused an audible boom, according to the Allegheny County Health Department. Two workers who got material in their eyes were treated at local hospitals. The company also agreed to spend $19.5 million on equipment upgrades and $5 million on local clean efforts last year as part of settling a federal lawsuit filed by Clean Air Council, Penn Environment and the Allegheny County Health Department. With reporting by the Associated Press. New York police on Monday were looking for a man who threw a sex toy during a WNBA game, striking a girl in attendance, officials said. The NYPD on Friday released a photo and a short video clip of a man wearing a "Beavis and Butt-Head" T-shirt and an Ohio State cap at the New York Liberty-Dallas Wings game last week at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Police said that, during Tuesday's game, "an unidentified individual threw an object which struck a 12-year-old female victim in the right leg." The search continued Monday, and a Liberty rep said the team is cooperating with police. "All we can share right now is that there is an ongoing investigation and that we are cooperating with law enforcement," a team spokesperson said. A suspect is wanted after throwing a sex toy at a WNBA game in Brooklyn. (NYPD Crime Stoppers) The incident in Brooklyn was the most recent example of someone throwing sex toys toward WNBA players over the past two weeks. The episodes started July 29 when a sex toy landed on the floor of a Golden State Valkyries game against the Atlanta Dream in College Park, Georgia. There have been similar incidents in Phoenix, Chicago and Los Angeles. Two men have been arrested in connection with the incidents in Georgia and Phoenix. The safety of everyone in our arenas remains a top priority," a WNBA spokesperson said. "We are working closely with local and federal law enforcement to pursue all appropriate actions including arrest and prosecution with felony charges where applicable against anyone engaged in this conduct or otherwise involved in sponsoring this reckless and unacceptable behavior. A Maryland community is dealing with a heartbreaking tragedy after six people died in a house fire, state officials said. The fire broke out at a home in Waldorf, located about 28 miles from Washington, D.C., on Sunday, Aug. 10. Authorities received 911 calls about the fire with "reported entrapment" just before 9 a.m., according to a press release from the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal. When deputies from the Charles County Sheriff's Office got to the scene, they learned that two people had escaped the home unharmed, but six other victims were inside. The blaze and heavy smoke prevented the deputies from initially entering the home. More news: Fast-moving wildfire forces evacuation of Colorado prison Officials: 4 children found dead in the home Other local fire and volunteer agencies joined the effort to distinguish the fire and search for the victims, the press release stated. According to local outlet WTOP News, more than 70 officials were present. A reporter with the outlet described the home as being "engulfed in flames," taking them "over an hour to get the fire under control." A total of six people, including four children, were discovered to be dead in the home, per the press release. A third adult later came to the house while firefighters were inside. Tragic Waldorf Fire Claims Six Lives, Including Four Children DSFMs, @ATFBaltimore, @CCSOMD worked throughout the day Sunday to determine the cause of a devastating Sunday morning fire in Waldorf. More information, including OSFM news release https://t.co/raeHc8KMRr pic.twitter.com/yTjuLPZNoB Maryland State Fire Marshal (@MarylandOSFM) August 11, 2025 'Unimaginable loss for the community' The incident is under investigation, but authorities "determined the fire originated within an enclosed porch on the right side of the home." "This is an unimaginable loss for the community. Our hearts go out to the families impacted by this heartbreaking event," Acting State Fire Marshal Jason M. Mowbray said in a statement. "In times like this, we must come together to support one another and remember the importance of fire safety in our homes," he continued. USA TODAY reached out to the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal for more information. Taylor Ardrey is a news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at tardrey@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: House fire in Waldorf, Maryland: 6 dead, including 4 children Food & Wine / Trader Joe's / Getty Images Although the world of wine might seem intimidating from afar, the best way to enjoy this drink is with an open mind and by approaching wine in an unpretentious way just like Certified Sommelier Warner Boin Dowlearn. A wine educator and founder of the Substack Confidence Uncorked, Dowlearn takes pride in being a snob-free sommelier and shares accessible, affordable wine recommendations with her followers, including options from a grocery store many of us shop at, Trader Joes. As she demonstrates in her social media content, even a large supermarket chain can offer an excellent wine. Related: Buying Wine by the Case Will Save You Money at Checkout Here's How to Build the Perfect Case of Wine This sommelier wants wine to feel approachable to all drinkers, and shes received incredible responses from followers after sharing the best bottles for your buck at Trader Joes. Based on the feedback to my grocery store wine videos, I know this information is really useful to people, she tells Food & Wine. To inform your next trip to Trader Joe's wine shop, Dowlearn shares her five all-time favorite bottles from the beloved store, all available for $15 or less. Vignobles Lacheteau Chinon Cabernet Franc ($8.99) If youre a fan of Pinot Noir, Dowlearn thinks youll likely love this wine as well. Vignobles Lacheteau Chinon is made from Cabernet Franc grapes grown in the Loire Valley in France. As the sommelier explains, The regions cooler climate prevents the grapes from getting as ripe, which results in a lighter-style wine with notes of cranberry, pomegranate, and dried herbs. Trader Joe's Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Gris ($9.99) Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio are the same grape variety gris and grigio meaning "grey" in French and Italian, respectively. The grapes are now cultivated widely across the globe and can be crafted into wines of a variety of styles. According to Dowlearn, French Pinot Gris can often come across as a softer and richer wine than its Italian counterparts, commonly showing notes of apricot, honey, and white flowers. Trader Joes Willamette Pinot Gris is made in Willamette Valley, Oregon, and the sommelier emphasizes that Oregon white wines are such gems! She also notes, To be honest, I like Pinot Gris way more than Pinot Grigio, but thats just my opinion. Tilia Malbec ($8.99) The sommelier says she loved this wine before it even arrived at Trader Joes and that its rare for her to find a better Argentinian Malbec under $15." She details that its sustainably and organically farmed, with notes of plums, tobacco, and vanilla-y oak. If you like Cabernet, Dowlearn suggests that this would be a great bottle for branching out. Moulin Jamet Sancerre ($14.99) As Dowlearn points out, Sauvignon Blanc is having a moment right now, and This bottle is not only a surprisingly delicious find but [also] a great way to dip your toe in the Sancerre pool. She explains that this French white wine is made from Sauvignon Blanc grapes grown in the Sancerre region of the Loire Valley in France and has delicious notes of green apple and minerally lemon/lime. Mbali Chenin Blanc Viognier ($5.99) When Dowlearn did a wine tasting with her friends, the Mbali Chenin Blanc + Viognier from Trader Joes was a winner and shocked us all when we learned the price. This white wine is made from a blend of 79% Chenin Blanc and 21% Viognier. Its made in South Africa, one of my all-time favorite wine regions," the sommelier tells Food & Wine. "Its incredibly juicy, so easy to drink, and a TJs fan favorite. Dowlearn says this wine is more full-bodied than a Sauvignon Blanc but lighter than a Chardonnay. Think juicy peaches, guava, and fresh flowers." Related: 9 Sparkling Wines That Taste Like a Hundred Bucks but Cost Less Than $30 With five wines that all sound this delicious and wont break the bank, if you cant find one, itll be easy to grab a different bottle thats just as good. Exact prices for each bottle may vary depending on store location. Read the original article on Food & Wine Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif was killed in a targeted Israeli airstrike in Gaza City on Sunday, alongside four of his colleagues. Before his death, the 28-year-old had prepared a final message to be released posthumously. This is my will and my final message. If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice, he wrote in a message shared Sunday. I have lived through pain in all its details, tasted suffering and loss many times, yet I never once hesitated to convey the truth as it is, without distortion or falsification, it continued. Do not forget Gaza And do not forget me in your sincere prayers for forgiveness and acceptance, it said. Al-Sharif leaves behind a wife and two young children. In a statement announcing the killing of al-Sharif, the IDF said he was the head of a Hamas terrorist cell and advanced rocket attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF troops. It shared images of what it claimed was a Hamas roster list and injury record with his name on both. TIME has not been able to independently verify these claims. Al Jazeera condemned the killings, calling the attack a targeted assassination and a blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom. Anas and his colleagues were among the last remaining voices from within Gaza, providing the world with unfiltered, on-the-ground coverage of the devastating realities endured by its people, the Qatari network said in a statement. Al-Sharif had faced threats and allegations of ties to Hamas from the Israeli army for nearly a year before his death, but they intensified following a broadcast in July in which he broke down crying while reporting on Gazas hunger crisis. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Avichay Adraee accused him of crying crocodile tears and of being part of a false Hamas campaign on starvation. Al Jazeera rejected the claims as baseless. The Committee To Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued a statement describing Adraees statements as unfounded accusations [that] represent an effort to manufacture consent to kill al-Sharif, and noted that Israel had killed four other Al Jazeera journalists about whom they had made similar statements. In messages sent to TIME in late July, during reporting for a separate story, al-Sharif said the IDFs allegations left him in fear for his life. I live with the feeling that I could be bombed and martyred at any moment, he wrote in one message. These threats are clear incitement and an attempt to assassinate my voice, either through bombing or moral distortion, he added. Al-Sharif, who had covered the war from the first days of the conflict, told TIME how he had received direct calls from Israeli military officers demanding that he stop his coverage and leave northern Gaza. He also received WhatsApp messages that detailed his precise whereabouts, which he considered a threat to his life. The IDF responded to a request for comment from TIME with a statement from October 2024 that accused al-Sharif and five other Al Jazeera journalists of belonging to Hamas and Islamic Jihad, along with documents that TIME could not verify. An investigation into the allegations by Reporters Without Borders, when they were first made last year, noted numerous inconsistencies in Israels evidence, including the assertion that one of the journalists received a military rank in 2007, when he would have been 10 years old. Deadliest conflict for journalists ever recorded The airstrike that killed him struck a tent being used by media near Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. It also killed Al Jazeera staff members Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Al Thaher, Moamen Aliwa, and Mohamed Nofal, as well as freelance journalist Mohammad al-Khaldi. Their deaths brought the total number of journalists killed in Gaza since October 7, 2023, to 186180 of those journalists being Palestinian, according to the International Federation of Journalists. Hundreds gathered at the Sheikh Radwan cemetery in the Gaza Strip to mourn the five journalists on Monday. The airstrike came just hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended a planned military offensive into some of Gaza's most populated areas, including Gaza City, where the team was based. CPJ Regional Director Sara Qudah accused Israel of murdering the messengers, in a statement condemning the strike. Israel wiped out an entire news crew. It has made no claims that any of the other journalists were terrorists. Thats murder. Plain and simple, she said. It is no coincidence that the smears against al-Sharif who has reported night and day for Al Jazeera since the start of the war surfaced every time he reported on a major development in the war, most recently the starvation brought about by Israels refusal to allow sufficient aid into the territory, Qudah added. The CPJ has previously called the Gaza war the deadliest conflict for journalists ever documented. Reporting on hunger Al-Sharif was a mainstay of Al Jazeeras rolling coverage of the Gaza war and one of its best known correspondents. In the video about starvation that drew the condemnation of the IDF, al-Sharif cries as a woman collapses from hunger behind him. They need only one meal. They need one loaf of bread. They need one sip of water, he said, his voice breaking. Nearly 200 people have died from malnutrition in Gaza, including at least 96 children, according to Gazas health ministry. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)s latest update concluded that mounting evidence shows that widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease are driving a rise in hunger-related deaths, and famine thresholds have been met for food consumption across most of Gaza. In his last video, al-Sharif reported on heavy airstrikes nearby. On the broadcast, he can he heard saying: Nonstop bombing For the past two hours, the Israeli aggression on Gaza City has intensified. After October 2023, Israel prohibited foreign journalists from entering Gaza. In the absence of international reporters, much of the reporting on the war has fallen to Palestinian journalists on the ground, often risking their own lives and safety in the process. Reporting from the frontlines, they have faced the same losses and destruction as the communities they document, including the destruction of their homes and the deaths of loved ones. Al-Sharifs father, Jamal al-Sharif, was killed in a strike in December 2023 while he was praying, according to messages al-Sharif sent TIME in July. Due to the ongoing shelling, he was forced to bury his father in a schoolyard because he could not reach the cemetery safely. While on-air in October 2024, he found out about the deaths of his own relatives while reporting for Al Jazeera. The Israel-Hamas war was triggered after Hamas launched a terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in which the group killed over 1,200 people and took around 250 hostages. Over 61,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. In the absence of independent monitoring on the ground, the ministry is the primary source for casualty data relied upon by humanitarian groups, journalists, and international bodies. Its figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants and cannot be independently verified by TIME. Contact us at letters@time.com. Liz Lin Ruoyu/Instagram Liz Lin Ruoyu NEED TO KNOW Liz Lin Ruoyu, a Taiwanese beauty influencer, died at age 36, her husband announced in a post to her social media The content creator had amassed a following of over 144,000 on Instagram for her beauty and lifestyle posts Although Liz has quietly left, the beauty and love she left behind will always be with us, her husband wrote in a translated post Liz Lin Ruoyu, a Taiwanese beauty influencer, has died at age 36. Although Liz has quietly left, the beauty and love she left behind will always be with us, wrote the content creators husband in a translated post on Instagram on Aug. 10, confirming her death. The influencer, whose following on Instagram totaled over 144,000, regularly posted beauty and lifestyle content to her account sharing a video trying on different kinds of eyeglasses as recently as June 3. Her content on the platform dates back to 2012. Liz Lin Ruoyu/Instagram Liz Lin Ruoyu On social platforms, she never saw herself as an influencer but as a friend to everyone, wrote Lizs husband on Instagram. She always tried her best to respond to every message just because she really cared and really appreciated everyone who supported her. She was always curious about new things, especially about small animals, with infinite gentleness and care," he added. "She always had a unique and fascinating taste, always able to use her vision and creativity to add beauty and inspiration to the world. https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf In the comments of the post, followers and friends of Liz posted heartfelt reactions to the tragic news. Liz Lin Ruoyu/Instagram Liz Lin Ruoyu Still miss you so much, wrote Hannah Yang, a peer influencer who had made content with Liz, in a translated post. May Liz be beautiful and happy in another world wrote another influencer in a translated post. Nancy Tsai a Taiwanese blogger and friend of Lizs for 15 years remembered the content creator with a post to her Instagram account, sharing several photos together over the course of their friendship. Liz Lin Ruoyu/Instagram Liz Lin Ruoyu 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. We have so many memories worth smiling together, wrote Tsai in a translated post, where she recalled traveling with Liz to Singapore, Los Angeles and Tokyo. On the next part of the journey, be able to continue smiling from the heart. Love you always. No cause of death for the influencer has been shared. Read the original article on People WASHINGTON - Progressive independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders accused former Vice President Kamala Harris of being heavily influenced by rich people in the 2024 race, which she lost to President Donald Trump. During a rally in Wheeling, West Virginia, on Aug. 8, Sanders told a crowd that one of the reasons he thinks Harris lost the election was that she had too many billionaires telling her not to speak up for the working class of this country. The rally was one of the many Sanders is holding around the country as part of his fighting oligarchy tour, aimed at mobilizing voters to stand up against the Trump administration. When asked about his remarks, Sanders told CNNs Dana Bash on State of the Union that Harris is a friend of his, but that her core consultants were heavily influenced by very wealthy people. An Oct. 30, 2024, Forbes analysis found that more billionaires backed Harris than Trump. Some of Harris supporters included film director Steven Spielberg; Eric Schmidt of Google; Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Apple founder Steve Jobs; and Melinda French Gates, former wife of Bill Gates, Forbes says. U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks during a stop on the "Fighting Oligarchy" tour at a May Day Strong - 'For the Workers, Not the Billionaires' rally, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., May 1, 2025. REUTERS/Sarah Silbiger TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY How do you run for president and not develop a strong agenda which speaks to the economic crisis facing working families? he said, adding that most Americans are living paycheck to paycheck and that the healthcare system is broken. Bash then said that Harris did discuss affordability, to which Sanders replied that she did it in a vague manner and that he didnt want to rehash the campaign. I think the key to Democratic victories is to understand that you got to stand unequivocally with the working class of this country, Sanders said. You need an agenda that speaks to the needs of working people." Harris said on July 30 that she wont run for California governor, leaving the door open for a potential 2028 presidential run. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Sanders slams Harris for being 'influenced' by billionaires in 2024 Officials are still investigating a shooting at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, that killed a police officer on Aug. 8. The suspect, Patrick Joseph White, 30, may have been disgruntled over vaccine side effects before perpetrating the shooting, according to multiple reports. David Rose, a DeKalb County police officer, was killed while responding to the scene, authorities said. White also died in the shooting. No civilians were injured, according to authorities. Here's what to know so far. What happened in the CDC campus shooting? At around 4:30 p.m. local time on Friday, Aug. 8, Emory University officials first announced there was an "active shooter" at the CVS store on campus. The university-wide alert urged people to, "RUN, HIDE, FIGHT. Avoid the area." The Atlanta campus is intertwined with the CDC's buildings. The suspect fired on four CDC buildings, CDC Director Susan Monarez said. Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said the shooting suspect also fired at law enforcement. "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," Monarez said in a statement. "We are deeply grateful to Governor Kemp, Georgia residents and the American people for standing with us during this difficult time." University officials lifted the shelter in place order at about 6:30 p.m. A handout image of DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose, who was shot and killed during a shooting incident at Emory University, released on Aug. 8, 2025. Who was killed in Emory shooting? Police officer had growing family DeKalb County Officer David Rose, 33, died in the shooting, officials said. Rose left behind two children and a wife who was pregnant with their third child, DeKalb County CEO Lorraine Cochran-Johnson said. Police Chief Gregory Padrick said Rose joined the department in September 2024 and served the North-Central precinct. "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. He was committed to serving the community," Padrick said. "Its 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." What we know about shooting suspect's possible motive Police and the Georgia Bureau of Investigations said it is investigating the shooting, including White's possible motive. Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said Aug. 8 that he "fired at law enforcement and potentially the CDC." White was found dead on the second floor of a building across the street from the CDC campus, but it remains unclear whether he was shot by law enforcement or whether his wounds were self inflicted. The 30-year-old suspect was fixated on the idea that the COVID-19 vaccine caused him to become depressed and suicidal, the Associated Press, CNN and ABC News reported, citing law enforcement sources. He was very unsettled, and he very deeply believed that vaccines hurt him and were hurting other people, Nancy Hoalst, one of White's neighbors, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He emphatically believed that. Contributing: Michael Loria, Anthony Robledo, Lauren Villagran, Jeanine Santucci, Christopher Cann Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What we know about Atlanta CDC shooting that killed police officer Chikungunya Is Spreading Heres What to Know About the Virus The end of summer is in sight, yet mosquito season continues and in other countries, these insects are carrying far more than an itch. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued alerts about chikungunya, a virus thats been quietly circulating for decades but is now fueling record outbreaks in parts of the world, including in China. While the disease hasnt taken hold in the U.S. and cases here remain uncommon and largely traced to infections abroad rising temperatures, extended mosquito seasons, and greater global movement are widening the insects range and increasing the risk it could surface in new areas. Heres a closer look at where chikungunya is spreading, how to spot the it, and how to avoid infection. What is the chikungunya virus? Chikungunya (pronounced chick-en-GOON-ya) is a viral disease thought to have originated in mosquitoes and wild primates before spilling over to humans. Its name comes from the Kimakonde language of Tanzania, where it was first identified in 1952, and translates to that which bends up a nod to the hunched posture caused by the viruss severe joint pain. The disease spreads through Aedes mosquitoes (mainly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus). A mosquito becomes infectious after biting someone who has the virus, then passes it on with its next bites. Since its discovery, chikungunya has appeared in more than 110 countries, from Nigeria to India to Indonesia. What are the signs and symptoms of chikungunya? The hallmark symptom of this virus is intense joint pain the kind that can make it difficult if not impossible to get out of bed. Other common symptoms include muscle aches, rash, fatigue, high fever, and swollen joints. And they dont take long to show up: Symptoms typically appear within 3 to 7 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Chikungunya is rarely fatal, and most people are back on their feet within a few weeks. But for about 40 percent of patients, the joint and muscle pain can stick around sometimes for months, even years, according to the Mayo Clinic. How widespread are infections? This year, more than 240,000 chikungunya cases have been reported across Central and South America, Africa, the Indian Ocean region, and Asia. In Chinas southern Guangdong province, officials have confirmed over 8,000 cases the largest outbreak the country has ever seen. In response, authorities have rolled out measures reminiscent of the Covid-19 era. According to NPR, soldiers are fogging streets and parks, while community workers go door-to-door dumping out stagnant water, clearing clogged drains, and covering containers where mosquitoes breed. People who test positive are reportedly being sent to hospitals to isolate. Even so, Chinas outbreak is still small compared to that of other countries. La Reunion, an island in the Indian Ocean, has logged nearly 50,000 cases this year alone. Most outbreaks happen in tropical and subtropical regions where mosquitoes thrive year-round. But experts, including virologist Laurie Silva, warn that climate change and increased global travel could help the virus spread to new places. In the U.S., for example, chikungunya does occasionally turn up in travelers coming back from affected countries. So far this year, there have been 46 reported cases, though fortunately there hasnt been a locally acquired infection since 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where has the CDC issued travel alerts for chikungunya? If youre planning some last-minute summer travel, its worth checking where outbreaks are happening before you book that ticket. As of Aug. 1, the Centers for Disease Control issued a Level 2 Practice Enhanced Precautions alert for these countries and regions dealing with chikungunya outbreaks: Bolivia Guangdong Province, China Kenya Madagascar Mauritius Mayotte Reunion Somalia Sri Lanka The agency has also warned of an elevated risk for travelers heading to Brazil, Colombia, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Thailand. Is there a chikungunya vaccine? Yes, and you might be surprised to learn that its a fairly recent development. In 2023, the FDA approved Ixchiq, the first vaccine against chikungunya, for adults 18 and older. This past May, however, both the FDA and CDC recommended pausing its use in people 60 and over after reports of rare but serious side effects including neurological and heart complications, and two deaths. After a safety review, the pause was lifted, but the FDA added warnings about higher risks in older adults, especially those over 65 with chronic health conditions. Regulators in Europe took similar precautions, temporarily suspending Ixchiq for seniors after two deaths in people aged 62 to 89. Theyve since allowed its use again, concluding the shot still offers strong protection. In February, the FDA approved Vimkunya, a single-dose, non-live vaccine for anyone 12 and older. Unlike Ixchiq, its made from virus-like particles and cant cause infection a factor that might make it more appealing for older adults or people with certain health conditions. Given how widespread chikungunya has become in parts of the world, vaccination can be an important way to protect yourself if youre traveling to an area with an outbreak. But as with any vaccine, its best to talk with your doctor about which option is right for you, especially if youre older or have underlying health conditions. The post Chikungunya Is Spreading Heres What to Know About the Virus appeared first on Katie Couric Media. A cargo ship navigates through the Panama Canal, seen from the Cerro Ancon in Panama City, Tuesday, July 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) UNITED NATIONS (AP) The United States and China clashed over the Panama Canal at the United Nations on Monday, with the U.S. warning that Beijings influence over the key waterway could threaten global trade and security and China calling U.S. accusations a pretext to take over the canal. The clash took place at a U.N. Security Council meeting where Panamas President Jose Raul Mulino stressed the neutrality of the canal and his countrys ownership of the waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Panama holds the council presidency this month, and Mulino was chairing a meeting on challenges to maritime security. Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza told members these include piracy, armed robbery, transnational crime and cyber criminals weaponizing artificial intelligence to attack ports where there is minimal cyber security, maximum exposure. U.S. President Donald Trump thrust Panama into the spotlight even before winning election last November by suggesting that his country should consider retaking control of the Panama Canal and accusing Panama of ceding influence to China. The U.S. built the canal in the early 1900s as it looked for ways to facilitate the transit of commercial and military vessels between its coasts. Control of the waterway transferred to Panama in 1999 under a treaty signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter. Chinas U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong emphasized to the council that Panama has consistently and effectively managed the canal, making significant contributions to global shipping and trade. China has always respected the permanent neutrality of the canal and firmly supports Panama in safeguarding its sovereignty over the canal to ensure its openness and smooth operation, he said. Acting U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea, who spoke afterward, went after China, expressing concern about its outsized influence over the Panama Canal area, especially over critical infrastructure and port operations. Alluding to its claims in the South China Sea, she said, Chinas expansive and unlawful maritime claims and aggressive actions demonstrate its threat to maritime security and commerce. She said the U.S. rejects these claims and supports countries opposing them. Chinas influence in the canal area is not just a risk to Panama and the United States, but rather a potential threat to global trade and security, Shea said. The Trump administration has pressured China to have the Hong Kong-based operator of ports at either end of the canal sell those interests to a U.S. consortium that includes BlackRock Inc. Panama has vehemently rejected a takeover of the canal, but in April, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Panama and agreed with Mulino to step up security coordination. The agreement also gives U.S. troops access to strategic air and naval facilities in the Central American nation, which sparked large protests in Panamas capital. Chinas Fu asked for the floor to respond to Sheas accusations after all council members spoke, this time lashing out at the Trump administration. The United States fabrication of lies and groundless attacks against China are nothing but a pretext for seeking control of the canal, he said. The Chinese envoy called the U.S. and its deployment of offensive weapons in the South China Sea area the biggest disrupter of peace and stability in the region, and he accused the administration of exacerbating risks to global maritime security. China firmly opposes economic coercion and bullying practices and urges the United States to stop fabricating rumors, lies and creating trouble, Fu said. Murillo then responded, saying he wanted to stress Panamas sovereignty in terms of the ownership of the canal and the multilateral treaty governing its administration. He called the canals neutrality the only and the best defense to any specific or global threats. Senator Miguel Uribe Turbay was shot in the head during a rally in Bogota, Colombia, in June. - Raul Arboleda/AFP/Getty Images Miguel Uribe Turbay, a Colombian senator and presidential hopeful who was hospitalized after being shot at a campaign event more than two months ago, has died, his wife announced on Monday. He was 39. Uribe, a potential presidential candidate from the right-wing opposition, was shot in the head during a rally in Bogota, Colombias capital, on June 7. The hospital where Uribe was being treated, the Santa Fe de Bogota Foundation, said the senator died in the early hours of Monday morning. On Saturday, it had warned that he was in critical condition due to a hemorrhagic episode in the central nervous system. I ask God to show me the way to learn to live without you, Maria Claudia Tarazona, Uribes wife, wrote on social media. Rest in peace I will take care of our children. Colombian President Gustavo Petro offered condolences to Uribes family, saying his death affects all Colombians regardless of political ideology. Miguels death hurts us as if he were one of our own. It is a defeat. Every time a Colombian is murdered, it is a defeat for Colombia and for life, he wrote on X. Ivan Duque Marquez, Colombias president from 2018 to 2022, paid tribute to Uribe, saying that terrorism had snatched from the country an upright and transparent leader. Colombia mourns, but it will not surrender to the criminals who took the life of an admirable young man, said Duque, who led the Democratic Center party, which Uribe also represented. Another former president, Alvaro Uribe, who is no relation to the senator, said: Evil destroys everything; they killed hope. May Miguels struggle be a light that illuminates the right path for Colombia. The senator was shot in early June while giving a speech in the capital. Footage showed him speaking to the crowd before multiple loud bangs rang out. He was then seen lying on the ground as people around him fled. Police and civilians later rushed him to an ambulance. Police have arrested six people in connection with Uribes shooting, including a 15-year-old boy who was charged with attempted homicide. Later, the prosecutor in the case claimed that the minor had become immersed in a hitman network. All of the accused have pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. Forensic experts work at the scene where Uribe was shot in Bogota on June 7. - Raul Arboleda/AFP/Getty Images The killing of Uribe, who came from a prominent Colombian political family, is for many in Colombia a grisly echo of the countrys history of political violence. Uribes mother, Diana Turbay, was a journalist kidnapped by drug traffickers from the Medellin cartel under Pablo Escobar. She was murdered during a rescue operation in 1991. Uribe was then raised by his father, a city councillor in Bogota. Uribe, a Harvard graduate, began his career in local Bogota politics, before entering the Senate in 2022. Last year, at the site where his mother was murdered, Uribe announced his candidacy for the 2026 presidential elections. I could have grown up seeking revenge, but I decided to do the right thing: forgive, but never forget, he said at the time. Uribes grandfather, Julio Cesar Turbay Ayala, served as president from 1978 to 1982, and his grandmother, Nydia Quintero Turbay de Balcazar, was the founder of Solidarity with Colombia, an activist group that promoted workers rights in the country. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com "We continue to make progress with technology," Costco CFO Gary Millerchip said in a May earnings call. Cheng Xin/Getty Images Costco has accelerated its digital strategy in recent years. To support its changing business, the company is building up a US tech workforce. Software engineers can make a base salary of $130,000 to $215,000, labor filings show. Costco didn't become the third-largest retailer in the world by rushing into things. The warehouse club has instead taken a conservative approach to growing its business over the last four decades. That has served the retailer well, but a robust digital strategy is no longer optional for companies that wish to remain competitive in 2025. "We continue to make progress with technology," CFO Gary Millerchip said during Costco's earnings call in May. "One of our key focus areas is building capabilities to deliver more personal, relevant experiences for our members, helping them save time and money." Costco is still well behind Walmart in adopting and developing tech and hiring and training a workforce to support it, but the store is by no means sitting on its hands. Last month, Reuters reported that Costco plans to open a brand new tech hub in India, staffed with 1,000 workers to start the company's first such facility. It's also continuing to hire for tech roles in the US, according to Department of Labor filings. The disclosures show Costco sought to hire 69 workers through the H-1B visa program during the first half of this reporting year, largely in software development, data science, and information security. Costco's IT jobs board had 53 open positions as of August 7. This year's work visa figure is consistent with last year's at this time. It is up from the 55, 49, and 26 filings in the corresponding periods for each of the years going back to 2021. That's still a far cry from Walmart's visa requests for 1,750 workers and below Target's 94 filings for this reporting year so far. Business Insider analyzed how much money companies from Apple to Walmart are paying for tech jobs and other roles. Explore salary data from America's biggest employers. Pay rates in the data are compared to industry standards for US workers, and salaries for foreign-born workers in the report typically match or exceed the average compensation for a particular position. The compensation data only represents base salary and does not account for other benefits and perks. Here's a deeper look at some of the roles Costco disclosed for tech workers: Software developers can make up to $215,000 Software Engineer: $130,000 to $215,000 Solution Architect: $166,300 to $181,800 Data Engineer: $155,000 to $176,500 Information security analysts start at $165,000 Security Engineer: $165,000 to $179,900 Security Analyst: $168,200 Compliance Engineer: $175,000 Security Architect: $193,800 Data scientists and database administrators can make up to $225,000 BI Engineer: $163,100 to $188,100 Database Administrator: $134,600 Platform Engineer: $175,400 Data Engineer: $155,000 to $171,400 Data Scientist: $191,500 to $225,000 Business Insider has been collecting pay data for tech firms. Find more here . Read the original article on Business Insider Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this story misattributed a quote. It was Washington County Prosecutor Brandon Carter who said the couple's 7- and 9-year old daughters witnessed "the most horrific thing that you could ever imagine." A key court date set for Aug. 14 may give new insights into authorities' case against a suspect accused of killing a couple while they were hiking with their children at Devils Den State Park in rural Arkansas in July. Andrew James McGann, a former teacher, is charged with capital murder in the deaths of Clinton and Cristen Binks in Devils Den State Park. Investigators said the couple were attacked in front of their daughters, who are 7 and 9 years old. McGann is set to appear in court Aug. 14 after a hearing initially scheduled for Aug. 25 was changed. He is in custody in Washington County, held without bond. More information, including charging documents and other details, probably will be presented at his arraignment. Charging documents shared with USA TODAY by the Washington County Prosecutor's Office revealed details about authorities' account of the slayings, but any motive for the killings remains unclear. Discover WITNESS: Access our exclusive collection of true crime stories, podcasts, videos and more What have officials said about the case? At a news conference July 30, Washington County prosecutor Brandon Carter outlined the investigation and said the killings began with the couple's 7- and 9-year-old daughters witnessing "the most horrific thing that you could ever imagine." "That was the basis of everything that we had," he said, "so we have to be careful about relying solely on that information." The caller who reported the killings said two bodies were found and "there was a large amount of blood present," according to a preliminary statement. The children were found by a hiker, who took them off the trail before searching for, and finding, their parents' bodies, the statement said. An autopsy July 28 on Clinton and Cristen Brink listed a preliminary cause of death as homicide by stabbing, the charging document said. Investigators interviewed people at the park, and one of them told police about a man who had left the trail with what appeared to be blood on his face. He was seen leaving the park in a dark-colored sedan. 'The mother did not return' Maj. Stacie Rhoads of the Arkansas State Police said police believed Cristen took the children to safety, then returned to the scene of the attack, about a half-mile away, to help her husband. Roadside sign with exit directions to Devils Den State Park at Interstate 49, Arkansas. "The mother did not return to the car with the kids," Rhoads said. State police initially asked the public for help in identifying a suspect, and the public responded by providing nearly 500 images and videos, including cell phone and home and business surveillance photos and footage, Rhoads said. A witness at the park provided additional information, she said, including what she called "a pretty good description" of the vehicle the person was seen driving from the park that proved "critical" in identifying McGann. "We used that information to vet various owners," Rhoads said. "With that, we sought him out and located him at a (barber) shop in Springdale, and we took him into custody." McGann had several cuts to his hands, Rhoads said, and allowed investigators to search his vehicle, a Kia Stinger, where they found what they believed was blood. After obtaining a warrant, police searched McGann's home and said initial DNA evidence from the scene matched DNA found in his car. James Andrew McGann has been charged with murder in the killings of an Arkansas couple who were hiking with their two young daughters. What's next for Andrew James McGann? Col. Mike Hagar, secretary of public safety and director of the Arkansas State Police, said investigators believe McGann acted alone. They said McGann, a former teacher who had recently moved from Oklahoma, admitted killing the couple. USA TODAY reached out to Washington County Prosecutor Brandon Carter on Aug. 6 and the Washington County Public Defender's Office. If McGann is convicted of capital murder, he could be sentenced to death or life in prison without parole. Carter has said his office will not waive the death penalty. Contributing: George "Clay" Mitchell, Fort Smith Southwest Times Record; N'dea Yancey-Bragg and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Key court date set for Aug. 15 in Devils Den park slayings Taylor Hill/Getty Images for ABA Kansas City has apparently seen the end of Zach Bryans live shows. The country star, 29, who supports the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL, engaged in an online war of words with a stream of Kansas City Chiefs fans on Friday, August 8, resulting in his X declaration, Please understand I will never play in Kansas City. The online feud started earlier that day when Bryan wrote via X, Where are all the three-peat people from last year? (The musician seemingly referenced the Chiefs failed attempt to achieve three consecutive Super Bowl titles when they faced off against the Eagles in February.) Bryan struck a chord with online Chiefs supporters who responded to his initial post with fury. One of the posts 160-odd comments read, 3 Super Bowl wins 5 seasons. Eagles have won 2 in their 70 year history. Sit down Eagles fan from Oklahoma, while another annoyed Chiefs fan wrote, Just another abusive Eagles fan. Zach Bryan Drunkenly Claims He Prefers Kanye Over Taylor Swift Before Deleting Social Media One particularly offended user wrote, Talking s*** in general is all good. Hes singled out one fanbase. That same fanbase that sells out his shows, which evidently hit a nerve in Bryan and sparked his dramatic Kansas City announcement. (Bryans declaration specifically replied to that comment.) The Something in the Orange musician doubled down, explaining his decision to stop playing in Kansas City with the X post, Ill be about to finish my show and then get a taunting call if I play at that stadium. (Bryans post referenced Arrowhead Stadium, which is the Chiefs home ground.) Bryans explanation did nothing but ignite the heated debate further, drawing more than 700 comments this time around. Eagles Darius Slay Really Hopes Taylor Swift Stays Home When His Team Plays the Chiefs This was not the first time Bryan attracted controversy as a result of his passion for the Eagles. In September 2024, he shared an X post that targeted Taylor Swift, the girlfriend of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce. The post started off with eagles > chiefs and continued with, Kanye > Taylor Whos with me. (Kanye West and Swift, 35, have been involved in a public feud for more than a decade.) Two days after Bryans online jab went out, he took to Instagram to issue an apology. For the record guys I wasnt coming for Taylor the other night, Bryan shared via his Instagram Stories at the time. I was drunkenly comparing two records and it came out wrong. He added in the apology post, I know theres a lot of stuff that clouds around Ye and I was speaking purely musically. I love Taylors music and pray you guys know Im human and tweet stupid things often. Bryan also claimed the post was shared when he was intoxicated. I respect [Taylor] so much as a musician that the last thing I want is people thinking I dont appreciate and love what she has done for music, Bryan wrote. Dont drink and tweet. Dont drink and tweet!! LONDON Europe is scrambling to stop itself and Ukraine from being frozen out of peace talks between Presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, fearing they could reshape the military and political future of the Continent without them. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy himself recounted upward of 15 phone calls with world leaders and others this weekend, from France and Germany to the managing director of the International Monetary Fund, as news sunk in that there may be no one at the meeting from the country that has been occupied and bombed for more than three years. We cannot accept territorial questions being discussed or even decided between Russia and America over the heads of Europeans and Ukrainians, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz told his countrys state broadcaster ARD on Sunday. I assume that the American government sees it the same way. Sidelined from the Trump-Putin tete-a-tete, Merz and other European leaders issued a joint statement Sunday saying that the path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine. Trump announced last week that he would join Putin in Alaska on Friday for their first face-to-face discussion of his second term, and the first with the Russian president by any G-7 leader since Putin invaded Ukraine in February 2022. Zelenskyy, center, said it hasn't been decided whether he'll be invited to the Putin-Trump summit set for Alaska on Friday. (Getty Images) Citing a senior U.S. official and three people briefed on the internal discussions, NBC News reported Saturday that the White House was considering inviting Zelenskyy to the meeting. But Zelenskyys office told NBC News by phone Monday that there was no final decision. Trump outlined the potential terms of the deal Friday. Therell be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both, Trump said, only to be swiftly rejected by Zelenskyy hours later. Ukrainians will not gift their land to the occupier, the Ukrainian leader said. Russia has always outright dismissed the idea that Ukraine should be part of these talks. It is also demanding that Ukraine cede control of the eastern regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, not just the parts of those territories that Moscow currently occupies and that make up around 20% of Ukraines total territory. Emergency services extinguish a blaze Saturday after a Russian drone strike on a warehouse in Sloviansk, Ukraine. (Pierre Crom / Getty Images) Though Zelenskyy has noisily rejected that at every turn, what really worries many of his supporters is that Ukraine will be forced to hand over these lands without the appropriate security guarantees from its allies, perhaps in the form of peacekeeper deployments in the hope of deterring Putin from simply regrouping to launch his next aggression. The angst is that, in Trumps desire to have some sort of deal, its going to be a really bad deal for Ukraine, Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, an ex-commanding officer in the British Armed Forces, told NBC News in a telephone interview Monday. This seems to be a deal between the gangster and the real estate mogul. But actually the real people involved, who should be involved, are not. The Europeans issued their statement Sunday after being hosted by British Foreign Secretary David Lammy at his official residence in Chevening, a 17th century mansion set in a sprawling estate southwest of London. But Lammys main guest over the weekend was Vice President JD Vance, who stopped by before the European guests while on vacation in the United Kingdom with his family. Vance and Lammy shared a perhaps unlikely connection given their right and left politics, respectively bonding over fishing and their shared working-class roots and Christian faith. Vice President JD Vance fishes with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy at Chevening House on Friday in Sevenoaks, England. (Suzanne Plunkett / Getty Images) But in an interview with Fox News, the vice president, a longtime skeptic of Americas support of Ukraine, made the geopolitical differences clear. Were done with the funding of the Ukraine war business, he said. Americans, I think, are sick of continuing to send their money and tax dollars to this particular conflict. If the Europeans want to step up and buy weapons from American producers, were OK with that, he added. If you care so much about this conflict, you should be willing to play a direct and more substantial role. That is a much more hard-line way of stating what Trump has already pledged himself: that the United States is willing to get weapons to Ukraine but only if European allies pay for them. The flurry of diplomacy aside, it is still the case that Russia and Ukraine remain diametrically opposed in what they want from peace talks. As well as more Ukrainian land, Russia wants a promise that Ukraine will neuter its army and never join NATO, something its critics say would make Kyiv a vassal of Moscow. Ukraine wants mainly to survive as a nation and stop the hemorrhaging of people and resources it has been forced to commit to in fighting off its attacker. By Hannah Lang (Reuters) -Paxos Trust Company, the cryptocurrency firm behind PayPal's stablecoin, said it is applying to create a national trust bank in the U.S., joining a raft of digital asset companies looking to gain a larger foothold in the traditional financial system. If the charter is granted by the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, it would allow Paxos to manage and hold assets on behalf of customers and settle payments faster. Unlike traditional banks, the license would not allow Paxos to take cash deposits or make loans. If approved, Paxos would convert its limited purpose trust charter with the New York Department of Financial Services to a federal charter under the OCC. The charter wouldn't change Paxos' business model, but would offer the "highest level of regulatory oversight... that carries more weight in the U.S. and globally," according to a source familiar with the matter. Paxos previously applied for a national trust bank charter in 2020, and the firm received preliminary conditional approval from the OCC in 2021. But its application stalled and eventually expired in 2023. Crypto platform Anchorage Digital is currently the only digital asset company with a national trust bank charter. Stablecoin firm Circle along with crypto firm Ripple also applied for national trust bank charters last month. Paxos offers businesses blockchain and stablecoin infrastructure and capabilities, and issues several of its own stablecoins. Paxos issues PayPal's stablecoin PYUSD, which has a market capitalization of more than $1 billion. Stablecoins, a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a constant value, usually a 1:1 dollar peg, are commonly used by crypto traders to move funds between tokens. Their use has grown rapidly in recent years, and proponents say they could be used to send payments instantly. Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a law to create a regulatory regime for stablecoins, a milestone that experts said could pave the way for the digital assets to become an everyday way to make payments and move money. The law's passage was the culmination of a long lobbying effort by the crypto industry, which donated more than $245 million in last year's elections to aid pro-crypto candidates including Trump, according to Federal Election Commission data. Paxos had previously partnered with Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, to market and distribute the Binance USD stablecoin. New York ordered Paxos in early 2023 to stop issuing Binance's stablecoin, and Paxos subsequently ended the partnership. Last week, Paxos reached a $48.5 million settlement to resolve New York charges that the company failed to police illegal activity related to Binance, after Binance's former chief executive pleaded guilty to breaking U.S. anti-money laundering laws as part of a $4.3 billion settlement in 2023. (Reporting by Hannah Lang in New York; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama ) A portion of the Clairton Coke Works, a U.S. Steel plant, is seen Monday, Aug. 11, 2025 in Clairton, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar CLAIRTON, Pa. (AP) An explosion at a U.S. Steel plant near Pittsburgh left two dead and sent at least 10 to hospitals Monday and heavily damaged the sprawling facility, officials said. One worker was found alive in the wreckage hours after the explosion sent black smoke spiraling into the midday sky in the Mon Valley, a region of the state synonymous with steel for more than a century. Allegheny County Emergency Services said a fire at the plant started around 10:51 a.m. The explosion, followed by several smaller blasts, could be felt in the nearby community and prompted county officials to warn residents to stay away from the scene so emergency workers could respond. It felt like thunder, Zachary Buday, a construction worker near the scene, told WTAE-TV. Shook the scaffold, shook my chest, and shook the building, and then when we saw the dark smoke coming up from the steel mill and put two and two together, and its like something bad happened. Cause under investigation At a news conference, Scott Buckiso, U.S. Steels chief manufacturing officer, did not give details about the damage or casualties, and said they were still trying to determine what happened. U.S. Steel employees did a great job of going in and rescuing workers, shutting down gases and making sure the site was stable. Buckiso said the company, now a subsidiary of Japan-based Nippon Steel Corp., is working with authorities U.S. Steel CEO David B. Burritt said the company would thoroughly investigate the cause. "I end every meeting and every message with the words, Lets get back to work safely. That commitment has never been more important, and we will honor it, he said in a statement. Allegheny Health Network said it treated seven patients from the plant, and discharged five within a few hours. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center said it is treating three patients at UPMC Mercy, the regions only level one trauma and burn center. Clairton resident Amy Sowers was sitting on her porch, located less than a mile from the plant, and felt her house shake from the blast. I could see smoke from my driveway, she said. We heard ambulances and fire trucks from every direction." Sowers, 49, decided to leave the area after she said she smelled a faint smell in the air. Sowers, who grew up in Clairton, has seen several incidents at the plant over the years. Despite health concerns, Sowers said many residents cannot afford to leave. A maintenance worker was killed in an explosion at the plant in September 2009. In July 2010, another explosion injured 14 employees and six contractors. According to online OSHA records of workplace fatalities, the last death at the plant was in 2014, when a worker was burned and died after falling into a trench. After the 2010 explosion, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined U.S. Steel and a subcontractor $175,000 for safety violations. U.S. Steel appealed its citations and $143,500 in fines, which were later reduced under a settlement agreement. Lives were lost again, Sowers said. How many more lives are going to have to be lost until something happens? The Clairton coking plant continued to operate after the explosion, although two batteries that were the site of the explosion were shut down, officials said. Air quality concerns and health warnings The plant, a massive industrial facility along the Monongahela River south of Pittsburgh, is considered the largest coking operation in North America and is one of four major U.S. Steel plants in Pennsylvania. The plant converts coal to coke, a key component in the steel-making process. To make coke, coal is baked in special ovens for hours at high temperatures to remove impurities that could otherwise weaken steel. The process creates whats known as coke gas made up of a lethal mix of methane, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Clairton Mayor Richard Lattanzi said his heart goes out to the victims of Monday's explosion. The mill is such a big part of Clairton, he said. Its just a sad day for Clairton. The Allegheny County Health Department said it lifted an advisory it issued earlier in the day telling residents within 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) of the plant to remain indoors and close all windows and doors. It said its monitors have not detected levels of soot or sulfur dioxide above federal standards. According to the company, the plant has approximately 1,400 workers. The plant has a long history of pollution concerns In recent years, the Clairton plant has been dogged by concerns about pollution. In 2019, it agreed to settle an air pollution lawsuit for $8.5 million. Five years later, the company agreed to spend $19.5 million in equipment upgrades and $5 million on local clean air efforts and programs as part of settling a federal lawsuit filed by Clean Air Council and PennEnvironment and the Allegheny County Health Department. The lawsuit stemmed from a Christmas Eve fire in 2018 that caused $40 million in damage. The fire damaged pollution control equipment and led to repeated releases of sulfur dioxide, according to a lawsuit. In the wake of the fire, Allegheny County warned residents to limit outdoor activities, with residents saying for weeks afterward that the air felt acidic, smelled like rotten eggs and was hard to breathe. Dr. Deborah Gentile, the medical director of Community Partners in Asthma Care, studied asthma levels after the fire and found twice as many patients sought medical treatment. One of her colleagues found patients living near the plant had increased symptoms of asthma, including coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. News of the latest explosion had Gentile questioning how well the facility was being maintained. Im very concerned that they arent keeping their equipment up to date and in shape, she said. In February, a problem with a battery at the plant led to a buildup of combustible material that ignited, causing an audible boom, officials said. Two workers received first aid treatment at a local hospital but were not seriously injured. Environmental group calls for an investigation David Masur, executive director of PennEnvironment, an environmental group that has sued U.S. Steel over pollution, said there needed to be a full, independent investigation into the causes of this latest catastrophe and a re-evaluation as to whether the Clairton plant is fit to keep operating. In June, U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel announced they had finalized a historic partnership, a deal that gives the U.S. government a say in some matters and comes a year and a half after the Japanese company first proposed its nearly $15 billion buyout of the iconic American steelmaker. The pursuit by Nippon Steel for the Pittsburgh-based company was buffeted by national security concerns and presidential politics in a premier battleground state, dragging out the transaction for more than a year after U.S. Steel shareholders approved it. ___ Levy reported from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Casey reported from Boston and Whittle reported from Portland, Maine. Associated Press reporters Holly Ramer in Concord, New Hampshire, and Beatrice Dupuy in New York City contributed to this report. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, arrives for the Allen & Co. media and technology conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, July 8, 2025. (David Paul MorrisBloomberg/Getty Images) OpenAI, the developer behind ChatGPT, released two bombshell AI developments last week. Last Thursday, it released GPT-5, the long-awaited update to its powerful GPT model. But OpenAIs earlier decision to release open-source versions of its powerful modelthe first time its done so since 2020, may be more consequential. OpenAIs move follows a flood of Chinese AI models spurred by the surprise release from Chinese AI startup DeepSeek. Its a major shift for the U.S. AI developer, now worth $300 billion. Open-weight models allow developers to fine-tune for specific tasks without retraining it from scratch. Despite its name, OpenAI has focused on releasing closed, proprietary models, meaning developers couldnt get under the hood to see how they workedallowing OpenAI to charge for access to its powerful models. DeepSeek tested that strategy. The Hangzhou-based startup made waves by releasing models that matched the performance of products from Western rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic. By making its technology openly accessible, DeepSeek allowed developers around the globe to experience the power of its models firsthand. Since then, Chinese AI development has exploded, with companies large and small rushing to unveil increasingly advanced models. Most releases are open-source. Globally, AI labs are feeling the heat as open-source models are increasingly recognized for their role in democratizing AI development, Grace Shao, an China-based AI analyst and founder of AI Proem, says. U.S. tech stocks have rebounded from the slump triggered by DeepSeek, but the shift to open-source may be more permanent. In March, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman conceded that the developer may have been on the wrong side of history by maintaining a closed approach. The race is now geopolitically charged. Ahead of releasing the open-source models, Altman said he was excited for the world to be building on an open AI stack created in the United States, based on democratic values, available for free to all, and for wide benefit. Altmans statement leans into a growing competition over AIone that developers in the U.S. are worried about losing. This plethora of simultaneous open AI models (with published weights and papers about technique) is an idea orgy. The collective innovation should easily soar past anything one company can do alone, Benchmark general partner Bill Gurley wrote on X in late July. Its formidable and should easily win over single proprietary players (anywhere in the globe). China embraces open-source Chinese AI firms are now aggressively championing open-source. Baidu, once the leader in Chinas AI development with its ERNIE model, went open-source a few months ago to catch up with Alibaba and DeepSeek. Kuaishou and Tencent have both released open-source video-generation models. Zhipu AI, Moonshot AI, and MiniMaxsome of Chinas so-called AI tigershave also released open-source models in recent weeks. Rather than closely guard their breakthroughs, Chinese developers think an open approach will encourage greater innovation and encourage adoption. When the model is open-source, people naturally want to try it out of curiosity, Baidu CEO Robin Li told analysts in February, soon after the company unveiled its plans to go open-source And theres a business argument, too: Alibaba executives, for example, argue that their open-source Qwen models encourage companies and startups to use Alibabas cloud computing services. Since DeepSeeks release, Chinese companies have rushed to integrate Chinese AI models into their products, including social media platforms, cars, and even air conditioners. There may also be a psychological element at play. Going open-source lets users around the world see the power of Chinese AI models for themselves, appealing to an up-and-coming tech sector thats long been denigrated by outsiders as a copycat. Export controls China has supported other open-source technologies. Officials back the use of the RISC-V chip design architecture, an open-source alternative to proprietary architectures like ARM and Intels x86. RISC-V allows Chinese chip engineers to share best practices and ideas, spurring the growth of the broader sector. Beijing seeks to develop a self-sufficient semiconductor sector, in part owing to concerns over U.S. control of critical parts in the chip supply chain. The Biden administrations decision to impose chip controls in 2022 intensified Chinas push for domestic innovation. Chinas embrace of RISC-V has raised eyebrows in Washington. Last year, the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party recommended that U.S. officials study the risks of RISC-V, and reportedly proposed preventing U.S. citizens from aiding China on the open-source architecture. Leaders vs. followers Chinas embrace of open-source aligns with the countrys initial position as a runner-up in AI. If youre an OpenAI, an Anthropic, a Google if youre really leading, then you have this incredibly valuable asset, Helen Toner, the director of strategy at Georgetowns Center for Security and Emerging Technology, said at the Fortune Brainstorm AI Singapore conference in mid-July. Its easy to understand why they wouldnt want to just hand out [their models] for free to their competitors if theyre able to sell access to their closed systems at a premium. But for followers, who cant compete at the frontier, releasing an open-source model is a way to show how advanced you are, she explained. Open-source models also buy a lot of goodwill, Toner, who once served on OpenAIs board, added. What weve seen over the last couple years is how much soft power is available to people who are willing to, and organizations that are willing to, make their technology available freely, she explained. The U.S. may now recognize the soft power potential of open-source. The United States is committed to supporting the development and deployment of open-source and open-weight models, Michael Kratsios, director of the U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy, said in South Korea earlier this week. And with OpenAIs decision, U.S. AI is now perhaps put in a rare position: following, not leading. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Sometimes, amid the memecoins and pay-for-access scandals, it can be difficult to remember that the crypto industry was built on the principles of privacy and autonomy. The elusive Satoshi Nakamoto released the Bitcoin white paper in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, after all. Even as Wall Street swallows blockchain technology whole, the core is still a spirit of disintermediation. I joined Fortune in August 2022, the same month that the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Tornado Cash, a virtual currency mixer that allowed users to input their (very traceable) cryptocurrency holdings and receive an anonymous output. The software, predictably, became a favorite of terrorist organizations and North Korean-affiliated hacking groups, but it also embodied the cypherpunk ideology that birthed the crypto sector. OFACs action created novel questions, such as whether a piece of code, rather than a person or organization, can be sanctioned. It also drew the ire of privacy advocates, who argued that internet users should have the right to own and send digital cash without government interference, just as offline people can with physical cash (to a degree). These, more than crypto bros trying to drive up the price of their tokens through sex toy-related stunts, are the fascinating dilemmas raised by blockchain technology, and what sets it apart from other forms of financial technology. (And as much as I hoped topics like Tornado Cash would dominate my coverage, Sam Bankman-Frieds FTX empire collapsed two months later.) A year after the sanctions, the Department of Justice brought charges against the creators of Tornado Cash, with one, Roman Storm, arrested in the United States. This was a tricky case for the crypto industry to get behind. The DOJs indictment made clear that the founders knew their softwares main utility was to help money launderers, including North Koreas Lazarus Group, and they were earning millions of dollars off the platform through their own proprietary token. In a recurring segment I like to call Are you taking notes on a criminal f***ing conspiracy, one founder admitted over text that they had to relinquish control over the software to make it seem like they werent the owners. As one former DOJ prosecutor told me at the time, These are pretty egregious facts. But many powerful voices in the crypto industry, including the venture giant Paradigm, still threw their weight behind Storm, arguing that the governments case eroded the idea of privacy-preserving software and was in direct contradiction to previous guidance issued by the financial crimes division of the Treasury Department. Storms initial trial, which was held in the same courthouse that hosted Bankman-Fried, wrapped up last week. Though he avoided two of the more serious charges, the jury still found him guilty on one, related to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. His advocates are vowing to fight it, arguing that the decision sets a dangerous precedent for the future of privacy software. The more interesting question is why the case was allowed to continue under the Trump administration, which has broadly embraced the crypto sectoror at least the elements more tied to financial gains. The Securities and Exchange Commission abandoned cases against Coinbase and Justin Sun, and the DOJ issued a memo announcing the end of regulation by prosecution against the blockchain industry. They even dropped one of the lesser charges against Storm about registration. But the core chargethat a developer should be responsible for non-custodial softwarewas allowed to continue. The refrain since Trump returned to office has been that, thanks to the lax new regulatory approach, crypto enforcement is off the table. Unfortunately for Storm, it seems thats restricted to memecoins. Leo Schwartz X: @leomschwartz Email: leo.schwartz@fortune.com Submit a deal for the Term Sheet newsletter here. Joey Abrams curated the deals section of todays newsletter. Subscribe here. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com Sophie Jonas | Unsplash (The Center Square) Ford Motor Co. continues to push forward with electric vehicle production despite President Donald Trump removing most of the incentives for buying the products. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear and Ford CEO Jim Farley announced Monday morning a nearly $2 billion commitment to the manufacturing process at the Louisville Assembly Plant for a new electric mid-size pickup truck. Its the third-largest economic development project in Kentucky history. It adds no new jobs, but officials say it secures the 2,200 current jobs at the plant. The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority on Monday also approved an additional project to the current Kentucky Jobs Retention Act that could give Ford up to $550 million in tax incentives that span the companys overall $5.55 billion investments in Kentucky. The incentives come with a job target requirement of 12,000 over the terms of the agreement. This announcement not only represents one of the largest investments on record in our state, it also boosts Kentuckys position at the center of EV-related innovation and solidifies Louisville Assembly Plant as an important part of Fords future, Beshear said in a statement. Ford and Kentucky have been a tremendous team for more than 100 years, and that partnership has never been stronger than it is today. The announcement comes after the Trump administration recently pushed or signed into law federal legislation that ends tax credits of up to $7,500 on Sept. 30 for buying electric vehicles. Trump also froze funding for building high-speed electric vehicle chargers across the country and ended a credit to businesses and individuals for installing chargers. In Louisville, Ford plans to spend $1.9 billion on new equipment and technology to modernize the plant, which includes a new production platform the company says is a major manufacturing breakthrough. The new, low-cost, scalable electric vehicle platform should be ready by the second quarter of 2027, officials said. We are grateful to the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority for its support as we build upon Fords proud legacy of investment in Kentucky, said Tony Reinhart, Ford director of state and local government affairs. We look forward to assembling another signature Ford vehicle in Kentucky to serve customers across the U.S. and beyond. According to an independent analysis by the Boston Consulting Group, Ford supports about 120,000 direct and indirect jobs across Kentucky and contributes more than $11.8 billion to the state's gross domestic product, including more than 48,000 jobs in the Louisville region. Jon Kopaloff/Getty Kathy Griffin in 2024 NEED TO KNOW Kathy Griffin revealed that she has had a third facelift, as well as work done to her eyelids and chin done, in recent weeks The comic name-dropped the doctor that performed her procedure and shared details about her surgery and recovery process She said that getting cosmetic work done is "painful" Kathy Griffin isn't afraid to share the details of her cosmetic procedures. The comedian, 64, sat down for another episode of her Talk Your Head Off podcast on Tuesday, Aug. 5, and revealed that she recently had a third facelift, which was performed by Beverly Hills-based celebrity plastic surgeon, Dr. Ben Talei. "It's my third. I know that's so vain! I'm so vain for no reason. No one has ever gone to a Kathy Griffin show to see her beautiful, youthful face," she told her viewers. 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. "You come to hear my jokes, which is what I want," Griffin continued, "I don't want you to come to care what I look like. I'm in Lululemons today for God's sake. I'm in my fat pants." Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage Kathy Griffin during Comedy Central's First Annual Commie Awards. Elsewhere in the video, she revealed that her plastic surgery also included an "upper eye job" (a blepharoplasty), that included a "cat eye stitch" to give her eyes a lift at the corners. While she didn't name a specific procedure, Griffin shared that she got work done to her chin as well. "There's a stitch in my chin, which you're probably not going to see unless you're under me, but not in that way," she joked. She also took a brief moment in recounting her experience to call out people who downplay plastic surgery pain, and said, "I'm going to be honest. It's painful. So these bitches that are like, 'It's like getting a tooth filled! It's nothing!' No, it's painful." Jon Kopaloff/FilmMagic Kathy Griffin in 2015 After getting her work completed, Griffin explained that she went to a "rich lady recovery place" for her healing process. She was then sent home with a nurse and described the first few days after the procedure as "disgusting." "You get out of that place and you come home and maybe you come home with a nurse, and it's disgusting," she said. "I'm not going to lie. The first night there's drains that come out of your chin. I know it's so gross. But the vanity takes over." Griffin's latest YouTube video is far from the first time that she's opened up about her plastic surgery and past struggles with her appearance. In her 2009 book, Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin, she revealed that she got a nose job at 26 due to Hollywood pressures. https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf I was told repeatedly, You would be pretty if it werent for that nose. Youd work more if it werent for that nose. Hey have you considered getting a nose job? You would think I had a nose the size of Texas," she wrote. "I was young and impressionable and I was told that enough that I started to believe it, so I got a nose job. Read the original article on People NEED TO KNOW Kelly Clarkson got visibly emotional during her July 26 Las Vegas show in a newly resurfaced video The moment came when she was discussing a telling lyric change in her hit song "Piece by Piece" Clarkson broke down in tears while talking about the song just 12 days before the death of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock Kelly Clarkson got raw and real with her fans 12 days before the death of her ex-husband, Brandon Blackstock. In a newly resurfaced video recorded by TikTok user @modestishottest4u from Clarksons July 26 show at her Las Vegas Studio Session residency, the pop star, 43, broke down in tears multiple times while introducing the newly reworked version of her song Piece by Piece. Compartmentalization! Clarkson urged herself while wiping away tears and trying to keep from crying. She then went on to share that after a 2023 lyric change to Piece by Piece in the wake of her 2020 split from Blackstock she has since changed the song once again to reflect more of where she is today. Elizabeth Martin/TikTok Kelly Clarkson in tears during July 26 Las Vegas show. Ive never rewritten a song more and I probably never will, she began. I wrote this song with a lot of hope and projection for happiness and better than what was happening. And then, well, life set in and I had to change the lyrics. Everybody was like, Wait, why arent you singing this song? And I was like, Have you heard the lyrics? Thats fun. Embarrassing. Kevin Mazur/Getty Brandon Blackstock and Kelly Clarkson in 2017 The song originally read as a message to Clarksons estranged father about how Blackstock was a better father and partner to her and was released in 2015, two years after the former couple tied the knot. I ended up changing the lyrics. We did it one time, I did a residency here, and then I was like, You know what, that sounded a little angry, she shared. So I just wanted to explain how it feels now. Im 43. Ive done some therapy, and I changed the lyrics now and I think its perfect. I promise. Im not gonna change it again. Further explaining why she decided to tweak the lyrics, Clarkson added, It just represents, kind of, I dont know I feel like we grow up, right? And this is the more grown up version of it. However, as she tried to go on, Clarkson once again got emotional, saying, Im really trying to pull it together, before introducing the song by declaring, Screw it, lets just sing it. This is Piece by Piece. Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock at the 2018 CMT Music Awards Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In her 2023 lyric change, Clarkson sang, I just walk away, when they ask for money. I take care of me cause I love me. Piece by piece I restored my faith that a heart can still beat even when it breaks, a seeming reference to Blackstocks financial requests during their divorce. And in the updated version Clarkson sang, Im learning everyday how to love me. I let go of the shame that you taught me. Piece by piece I restored the faith that a heart can still beat even if it breaks. Blackstock died of cancer on Aug. 7 at the age of 48. He and Clarkson shared daughter River, 11, and son Remington, 9. He was also dad to daughter Savannah and son Seth from a previous relationship. Rich Fury/Getty Kelly Clarkson and Brandon Blackstock with kids Savannah, Seth, River and Remington in 2019 One day before the music managers death, Clarkson postponed the remainder of her Las Vegas shows, sharing in a statement, "While I normally keep my personal life private, this past year, my childrens father has been ill and at this moment, I need to be fully present for them." https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf A source told PEOPLE that Clarkson has "been devastated" for her children amid her ex-husband's private illness. When she found out that he was sick, she remained protective of him for their sake, the source said. Kelly has always tried to keep things classy. It became clear earlier this year that Brandon was not doing well. Shes been devastated for the kids." Read the original article on People Sushovan Hussain was found guilty of fraud over the 7bn sale of Autonomy - Autonomy The former finance chief at Mike Lynchs software company Autonomy is planning a comeback after returning from a US prison sentence. Sushovan Hussain has recently set up a company called Liberatus to help former criminals return to the workforce. Mr Hussain, 61, spent three and a half years in US prison in Pennsylvania after being found guilty of fraud over the 7bn sale of Autonomy. He was released last year. Mr Lynch was cleared of his own fraud charges. He died while celebrating his freedom in the sinking of the Bayesian superyacht a year ago. Mr Hussain said that when he returned to the UK he had experienced similar problems to many ex-offenders who often struggle to open bank accounts and obtain IDs. He said helping people back into work would help cut the number of people reoffending, easing pressure on Britains overcrowded prisons. Companies House records show Mr Hussain set up and owns Liberatus Latin for freed with his wife, Tracie. The company has also recruited former staff from Autonomy and Darktrace, the cyber security company Mr Hussain set up with Mr Lynch. Mike Lynch, who was cleared of fraud charges, died when his superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily last year - Matthew Lloyd/Bloomberg The company will be an employment agency for people with criminal records to find temporary work. It is planning a trial in Cambridge before planning to expand across the country. Mr Hussains plans could receive support from Lord Timpson, the prisons minister, who has pushed for more employers to hire ex-offenders. Over 50pc of ex-offenders reoffend within 12 months primarily because reintegrating into society is extraordinarily difficult, Mr Hussain said. Securing employment with a criminal record remains one of the most significant barriers. However, we know that for those who do find work, the reoffending rate drops to below 5pc. After returning to the UK from a period in US federal prison in 2024, I experienced first-hand the challenges faced by those with a record. Im fortunate to be able to navigate the system in ways others cant and now I want to help those who are less able to advocate for themselves. Win-win As Autonomys chief financial officer, Mr Hussain was Mr Lynchs right-hand man. After Hewlett-Packard claimed they had been defrauded over the software companys purchase, Mr Hussain was charged and found guilty on 16 counts of fraud in 2018, entering prison after losing an appeal in 2020. He was released in early 2024, months before Mr Lynch and finance director Stephen Chamberlain secured shock acquittals. This year he settled a UK civil case brought by HP against him and Mr Lynch. A judge later ruled that damages amounted to more than 740m, a sum that threatens to wipe out Mr Lynchs estate. Before his death, Mr Lynch had separately mused about funding a UK version of the Innocence Project, which would finance legal defences for wrongly accused Britons. He had also planned to investigate the Lucy Letby case, according to the Conservative MP David Davis, who knew him well. Lord Timpson this year set up employment councils featuring major employers in an attempt to encourage more former criminals into the workforce. Mr Hussain said: I echo Lord Timpsons words: this is a win-win situation we cannot ignore. 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. Catherine Phillips/CNN You cant visit Tokyo without seeing them. These pale-yellow boxes of individually wrapped bite-size cakes are emblazoned with images of the capitals most famous tourist attractions and, sometimes, with some of Japans most recognizable animated characters. Every year, hundreds of thousands of gold-ribbon-wrapped packages of Tokyo Banana are sold around the Japanese capitals transportation hubs and tourist districts and branded as the citys official snack. But what does Tokyo Banana actually have to do with Tokyo, a city that doesnt have any banana trees? Unlike many Japanese treats, which are made with ingredients native to various regions and connected with millennia-long manufacturing traditions (think udon noodles, green tea, and yuzu candies), Tokyo Banana was purely born out of capitalism. In the 20th century, as Tokyo grew into the worlds biggest city and opened to tourists from around the world, it still didnt have many traditions to call its own. There wasnt one standout food or drink product that was unique to Tokyo or that had centuries of carefully-tended history to acknowledge. Compare that with Kyoto, which was Japans capital from the 8th to 19th centuries: one restaurant has been making soba noodles out of locally grown buckwheat since 1702. Japan is also home to the worlds oldest hotel, a hot springs resort that opened to guests in 705. Japanese snack manufacturer Grapestone saw a vacuum there and decided to make a Tokyo-centric product that could be marketed as a local specialty. Tokyo is the place where various people come from all over Japan and it becomes a hometown for them, a Grapestone representative tells CNN. We decided to invent a Tokyo souvenir with the theme which all Japanese people will feel familiar and nostalgic about. Bananas are the taste of high-end products or imported goods for older people. For younger people, it is the taste of fun memories bringing (bananas) on field trips. The result was banana-shaped treats that are fluffy on the outside and filled with banana-flavored cream. Or, as Tokyo-based tour guide Katie Thompson puts it, a fancy Twinkie. A Tokyo Banana kiosk at Tokyo Tower, one of the city's most popular attractions. - FantasticJapan/Alamy Stock Photo A gift-giving culture Tokyo Banana is a perfect example of omiyage, a Japanese tradition in which people who have recently traveled bring gifts usually edible ones back to their friends, families and colleagues. Like so many Japanese customs, there are nuances to choosing and buying the perfect omiyage. They are more than just souvenirs. Unlike in the West, where a returning traveler might bring back a magnet or T-shirt for a loved one, omiyage is almost always something to eat or drink that must be consumed soon after the buyers return. By that logic, the gifts are usually food products that only come from one region, or that are known for being particularly good there examples include salt from the sunny islands of Okinawa, traditional matcha from Kyoto, and apple treats from Aomori prefecture in Japans north. But while omiyage might be a Japanese tradition, Tokyo Bananas biggest market is foreign travelers, not locals, a move that the company says was intentional. Grapestone tells CNN that the company was offered retail space at Haneda Airport in the 1990s, which prompted them to invent Tokyo Banana in the first place. With its Tokyo branding and the products name clearly written in English, Tokyo Banana quickly became associated with its namesake city. Jeff Lui, a Canadian living in Japan, thinks that Tokyo Banana is brilliantly marketed toward international tourists. Youre almost obligated to buy this omiyage for your friends back home. Its kind of saying, Hey, I was thinking of you right while I was there, and heres this thing that I know you will use. But on social media, its a different story. TikTokers from outside of Japan make a beeline for the treats when they arrive in Tokyo. Some show off the rare flavors theyve snagged, while others give tips on which ones to bring back as gifts for family. And just like the American Twinkie, theyre as fun to smush as they are to eat. Creator Eat With Adrians review of Tokyo Banana has gotten about 260,000 views on TikTok, with commenters chiming in to say how much they want to buy some for themselves. Thompson, who has been living in Japan for about eight years, admits that Tokyo Bananas are not her personal go-to snack. A box of four Tokyo Banana cakes. - Catherine Phillips/CNN Im not the biggest fan. I find the inside to be quite artificial tasting. Banana doesnt lend itself very well into becoming a sweet custard or candy. Although she says friends and relatives back in her native US have asked about Tokyo Banana, she doesnt buy it for them. My go-to, if I am traveling internationally, I pick up sugar butter sand trees. It has a silly name, but its actually a tasty cookie as well. Coincidentally, the cookies are also a Grapestone product. Lui agrees that Tokyo Banana isnt something he picks up and eats himself, but he deals with lots of questions from loved ones in his native Canada when they visit. Every time someone from Toronto comes (to Japan) theyre like, Oh, like I saw this Tokyo Banana thing, and I bought a few boxes to bring back home. On his website Tokyo Chase, Lui reviews other Japanese snacks and tries to steer people in different directions when theyre buying foodie souvenirs, especially if they are repeat visitors to Japan who want to dig a little deeper. In recent years, Tokyo Banana has made an effort to become more local-friendly. Grapestone periodically launches new flavors, like lemon, sakura or honey. To create a buzz, certain products will only be available for purchase at one specific outlet, like its shop in the fashionable Ginza neighborhood. The brand has collaborated with popular homegrown characters like Pikachu, Chiikawa, Hello Kitty and Doraemon. And, of course, theres also a Tokyo Banana-flavored Kit Kat. In 2022, Tokyo Banana opened a flagship store inside Tokyo Station. To celebrate, they tried out a savory product, a spin on a popular Japanese curry bread made with pork and beef simmered with onions, heavy cream and banana puree. Grapestone wont reveal exactly how many products they sell in a year, but on their website it says that Tokyo Banana is the most popular food souvenir in Japans capital. The brand tells CNN that if you laid out every single Tokyo Banana sold in a year, the tiny cakes would reach across the Pacific Ocean from Tokyo to the United States. Usually, though, they travel by air. EDITORS NOTE: CNNs Soyon Nishioka contributed reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com By Daina Beth Solomon and Fabian Cambero SANTIAGO (Reuters) -Copper giant Codelco has received approval from Chile's mining regulator to reopen a part of its flagship El Teniente mine, after more than a week of suspended operations following a deadly collapse that killed six workers, it said on Friday. Chile's labor inspection office needs to sign off on the plan before El Teniente can resume mining activity, Codelco said in a statement. It did not say when it expects final approval or when operations may restart. The state-run company aims to restart in a number of sectors of the mine, excluding those affected by the July 31 accident, pending further analysis. A major tremor that day caused tunnels to collapse around the new Andesita section of the vast mine, which contains the world's largest underground copper deposit. The mining regulator said the approved areas show no damage or imminent risk, and instructed Codelco to monitor seismic activity and comply with operational guidelines. "Sernageomin emphasized that the restart of operations must be carried out under strict safety standards, prioritizing the protection of worker lives," Codelco said. The labor inspection office did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Earlier, Codelco said it had suspended contracts with third-party workers at El Teniente through at least August 13. Aquiles Cubillos, the prosecutor for the O'Higgins region where El Teniente is located, has said the collapse damaged about 3,700 meters (3.7 km) of passageways, far more than 700 meters initially estimated by the company. He has not specified the severity of the damage, but said it affected two or three areas of Andesita, and five or six areas of the Recursos Norte unit. El Teniente, which is more than a century old, spans more than 4,500 km (2,800 miles) of tunnels and underground galleries - nearly the distance between Chile and New York - deep within the Andes mountains. On Friday, Cubillos' team inspected four damaged levels of the mine, excluding those where the injuries and deaths occurred, and met with Codelco technical experts. Investigators are documenting the damage with photographs to later reconstruct a full map of the affected areas. (Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon and Fabian Cambero; Editing by Daniel Wallis, Diane Craft and Himani Sarkar) Google Maps Coos Bay Police Department in Oregon NEED TO KNOW An Oregon family filed a wrongful death lawsuit on Aug. 6 against the City of Coos Bay and several police officers The parents of 33-year-old Nathan Bradford Smith are accusing them of negligence, abuse of a vulnerable person and "deliberate indifference" for allegedly leaving him in a car in July 2024 as he was suffering from a meth overdose One police officer, Benjamin Martin, is accused of responding to an intimate text about "snuggles" and liking several TikTok videos inside the police station as Smith was left in the car An Oregon family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the City of Coos Bay and three Coos Bay Police Department officers. According to the federal lawsuit, filed on Wednesday, Aug. 6, the officers allegedly ignored signs that 33-year-old Nathan Bradford Smith was suffering from a methamphetamine overdose in the back of a parked patrol car while an officer inside the station responded to personal text messages and watched TikTok videos. The complaint obtained by The Oregonian, KOIN and KGW claims that officers Benjamin Martin, Tristan Smith and Wesley O'Connor ignored signs that Nathan was suffering from the drug overdose when he was arrested on July 7, 2024, and failed to get him immediate medical care. The family accuses the officers of negligence, abuse of a vulnerable person and "deliberate indifference." They are seeking unspecified damages. An attorney for the City of Coos Bay did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Saturday, Aug. 9. Google Maps The Model 6 where Nathan Bradford Smith was arrested in July 2024 Nathan who reportedly had schizophrenia and bipolar disorder was pronounced dead at a Coos Bay hospital after Martin found him unconscious in the car, according to the suit. His cause of death was listed as "hyperthermia due to methamphetamine intoxication," and Nathan's "multiple layers of heavy clothing" may have contributed to his overheating, per the suit. According to state police investigation records obtained by the local outlets, Coos Bay police had three encounters with Nathan on the day of his arrest for alleged disorderly conduct. Officers took a meth pipe from Nathan during an unrelated investigation at around 11 a.m., per the state police investigation. At 3 p.m., police were called to another business after bystanders reported that a man was screaming and scaring customers outside. The officers warned him at the time that they would arrest him if someone made another report about his behavior. At around 5 p.m., three officers were called to a Motel 6, where someone reported a man lying on the sidewalk. Nathan was on his back in the shoulder of the road, and he was dressed in a heavy coat and rain pants. Officers told him he was under arrest, handcuffing him on the ground after he did not stand up. His breathing was "loud and somewhat labored," according to a state police officer who reviewed body camera and dash camera footage of the incident. Nathan struggled to get into the car, and the suit stated that his eyes were closed as he gasped for air. Martin then began driving, before pulling over to spray air freshener into the back of his car. At 5:10 p.m., Martin began driving again and arrived at the Coos Bay Police Department three minutes later. State police reported that he left the windows closed and went inside. It was 65 degrees on the day of the incident, per The Oregonian. Getty A person texting (stock image) While inside the station, Martin then responded to a text message obtained by investigators that stated: Im so ready for snuggles I feel like i havent seen you in a week. He also liked a number of TikTok videos during this time. After Nathan was left alone in the car, Martin returned from the station and found Nathan unconscious. Footage taken from inside the police car showed Nathan breathing in an "odd pattern," and his head eventually tilted back. Martin then administered a dose of Narcan, which is used to combat drug overdoses, and the police officer then called an ambulance, according to state police. When they arrived at 5:24 p.m., paramedics found that Nathan had a temperature of 107 degrees and rushed him to Bay Area Hospital. He later went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at 6:25 p.m. Had officers taken Mr. Smith directly to Bay Area Hospital from Motel 6 or called an ambulance to the scene, emergency department staff would have had over 40 minutes to stabilize Mr. Smith prior to the time he suffered cardiac arrest, the suit says of Nathan. No criminal charges resulted from the investigation into the incident, state police said. 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. When these officers found him, he was clearly showing the signs of medical distress and what we know when he finally did get to see a doctor is that his temperature was 107. He was hyperthermic, and he was going to die. And unfortunately, he did, the suit's lead attorney Juan Chavez, with the Oregon Justice Resource Center, told KGW. There was a 40-minute delay in getting him critical medical assistance. "I believe at least one of these officers had encountered him earlier in the day and understood that he was using substances at that time and that he was likely facing mental and physical health issues at that time," Chavez added. "He had the opportunity at that moment to be taken to a hospital that was a mile away, and instead, he was put into the back of a police car. Nathan's father, Kurt Smith, told the The Oregonian that his son had been living at the motel, and Kurt had visited with his son just one week before his death. Police later came to the fathers work and informed him of Nathans death, but did not share any details. He found out his son's cause of death from the funeral home. He didnt deserve to just be left to die, the father added. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP. Read the original article on People Milorad Dodik has been in and around power in Republika Srpska for two decades. - Amel Emric/Reuters 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 U.S. chipmakers Nvidia and AMD will pay the U.S. government 15% of revenue generated by sales of their AI chips in China, a White House official confirmed to CBS News. The Financial Times on Sunday reported that the agreement between the tech giants and the U.S. government was reached as a condition for granting export licenses for China, which were provided last week. A U.S. official confirmed the "broad strokes" of the report to CBS News. The arrangement, with companies providing a stream of revenue in exchange for export licenses, is highly unusual as corporations typically do not pay the federal government a share of revenue from their export sales. Export licenses also do not carry any fees, according to shipping giant Maersk. In a Monday press conference, President Trump described the agreement with Nvidia as a deal that would benefit the nation. He described meeting with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to discuss the terms of agreeing to the export license; Mr. Trump didn't mention AMD in his comments. "So I said, 'I want 20% if I'm going to approve it for you,'" Mr. Trump said of his meeting with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang to discuss the terms of the export license. "I don't want it myself, so when I say I want 20%, it's for the country." "[Huang] said, 'Will you make it 15%?' so we negotiated a little deal," the president added. The revenue-sharing plan comes after the White House announced in April that it would restrict sales of Nvidia's H20 chips and MI308 chips from rival chipmaker AMD to China. However, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang last month said it had won approval from the Trump administration to sell its H20 chips to China. The H20 chip, which is specialized for artificial intelligence applications, was developed by Nvidia for the Chinese market, while AMD's MI308 chips are also geared for AI. It is unclear how the Trump administration would use the money generated from the chip sales agreement. Nvidia declined to comment on the specifics of the deal. In a statement, a spokesperson said, "We follow rules the U.S. government sets for our participation in worldwide markets. While we haven't shipped H20 to China for months, we hope export control rules will let America compete in China and worldwide." AMD did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Stocks for both companies rose slightly on Monday. Proponents of restrictions on sales of advanced chips to China say they are necessary to ensure the U.S. maintains a competitive edge as the two countries battle for AI dominance. They've also been viewed as a security safeguard. In one instance during the Biden administration, the Commerce Department said it was updating its export controls and said advanced AI capabilities "present U.S. national security concerns." "These controls were strategically crafted to address, among other concerns, the PRC's efforts to obtain semiconductor manufacturing equipment essential to producing advanced integrated circuits needed for the next generation of advanced weapon systems," the department said in a 2023 release. Jamie Lee Curtis: The 60 Minutes Interview Derek and the Dominos co-founder Bobby Whitlock dies Artisan bakers sparking sourdough boom IDA MARIE ODGAARD/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Princess Josephine and Queen Mary on the Royal Yacht in Torshavn in the Faroe Islands on June 11, 2025 NEED TO KNOW Princess Josephine of Denmark has announced a change in her school plans The update came from the Danish Royal House on Aug. 11 Princess Josephine, 14, is the first of King Frederik and Queen Mary's four kids to make this move Princess Josephine of Denmark is charting her own royal destiny, starting in the classroom. On Aug. 11, the Danish Royal House announced that the youngest daughter of King Frederik and Queen Mary has chosen to enroll in a new school for the upcoming year. The move marks a big change for Princess Josephine, as she has attended Kildegard Private School since 2023. The news was shared in a statement titled "The education and schooling of the royal children," which featured updates about the plans for all four of King Frederik and Queen Mary's children for the near future. The royal couple is parents to Crown Prince Christian, 19, Princess Isabella, 18, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, 14. "HRH The Crown Prince continues his education in the Armed Forces, while the Royal Couple's other three children begin a new school year," the statement began, detailing that Crown Prince Christian will head back to Antvorskov Barracks in Slagelse to complete his military training at a Lieutenant's Training Course. Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty Princess Isabella, Queen Margrethe, King Frederik, Prince Vincent, Princes Josephine and Queen Mary at Amalienborg Palace on May 26, 2025. https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf Meanwhile, Princess Isabella will continue her upper secondary education at regard Gymnasium, where Crown Prince Christian graduated from in June 2024. Isabella is expected to graduate in the summer of 2026, becoming an alum of the school her brother, father and uncle Prince Joachim all attended! While Prince Vincent will continue his education at Tranegardsskolen, completing his 8th grade year at the same school he has attended since 2017, his twin is making moves. "HRH Princess Josephine has chosen, at her own request, to continue her education in the 8th grade at Spir Efterskole," the statement said. Kristian Tuxen Ladegaard Berg/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Princess Jospehine of Denmark before the Royal Run in Copenhagen on June 9, 2025. Spir Efterskole is a boarding school in Jutland, which means the young princess will be attending a school about three hours away from her parents' main base of Frederik VIII's Palace in Amalienborg, Copenhagen. According to Royal Central, Princess Josephine's school switch marks a milestone among her siblings as she becomes the first to live away from home for her education. Martin Sylvest Andersen/Getty Prince Vincent, Queen Mary, Crown Prince Christian, King Frederik, Princess Isabella and Prince Josephine at Crown Prince Christian's graduation from Ordrup Gymnasium on June 24, 2024. King Frederik and Queen Mary's twins both enrolled at Tranegardskolen in Hellerup in August 2017 when they were 6, and Prince Vincent has gone to school there since. His twin sister, meanwhile, made a move to Kildegard Private School, also in Hellerup, in August 2023, making the change for 6th grade. Like many royal parents of their generation, King Frederik and Queen Mary prioritize their children's education and balance the spotlight on them with plenty of family time. IDA MARIE ODGAARD/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Queen Mary, Princess Josephine and King Frederik on the Royal Yacht in Torshavn in the Faroe Islands on June 11, 2025. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Princess Josephine most recently joined her parents for a royal engagement on June 11, joining them for the kickoff of their official visit to the Faroe Islands. Read the original article on People